# dict

Words: normal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: normalis, from  norma;   NORM]//\n  1 usual, typical, or expected:  --A normal working week is 40 hours.//  it is normal (for sb) to do sth//  --It’s normal to feel nervous before an exam.//  quite/perfectly etc normal //  --Her room was untidy, but that was quite normal.//  --She was assessed in the normal way , and placed on the waiting list.//  --All I want is to lead a normal life .//\n  2 someone who is normal is mentally and physically healthy and does not behave strangely:  → abnormal//  --He seems a perfectly normal little boy.//  --They can’t be normal to do something like that.//\nnormal 2 n [U]   the usual state, level, or amount//  --Thankfully, train services are now back to normal .//  --Slowly her heartbeat returned to normal .//  above/below normal //  --Car sales are still below normal for the time of year.//  higher/larger/less etc than normal //  --The journey took longer than normal.//


Words: normality
Meaning:
AmE [U]   a situation in which things happen in the usual or expected way//  --We’re hoping for a return to normality as soon as possible.//  --We’ll soon get back to some semblance of normality .//


Words: normalize
Meaning:
also normalise  BrE   v [I and T] \n  1 if you normalize a situation, or if it normalizes, it becomes normal again:  --Journalists are reporting that the situation has now normalized.//\n  2 if two countries normalize relations, or if relations normalize, the two countries behave in a normal way towards each other again:  -- Relations between the countries were formally normalized in 1997.//  -- normalization/n[hA350][hA359]m[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ n[hA350][hA359]rm[hA353]l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: normally
Meaning:
adv \n  1 usually:  --The journey normally takes about two hours.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Normally, I park behind the theatre.//\n  2 in a normal way:  → abnormally//  --The system seems to be working normally now.//


Words: Norman
Meaning:
adj \n  1 built in the style that was popular during the 11th and 12th centuries in Europe:  --a Norman church//\n  2 relating to the Normans, the northern French people who took control of England in the 11th century:


Words: Norman Conquest
Meaning:
the   the period when the Normans, led by William the Conqueror, took control of England after defeating the English king Harold II, at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. These events had a very great influence on England’s history,  culture, and language, and French became the main language of the ruling class. //


Words: Normandy
Meaning:
a part of northwest France, on the English Channel, that includes the ports of Cherbourg and Le Havre, where boats carrying passengers from England arrive//


Words: Normandy Landings
Meaning:
the   the arrival of the  Allies on the coast of Normandy in 1944, when they began to force German soldiers to leave France. The day on which they landed, 6 June 1944, is called  D-Day.//


Words: normative
Meaning:
adj  formal   describing or establishing a set of rules or standards of behaviour//  --normative guidelines for senators//


Words: Norse
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Early  Dutch noorsch, from  noordsch  ’northern’]//  relating to the people of ancient Scandinavia or their language//  --Norse legends//\nNorse 2 n [U]   the language that was spoken by the people of ancient Scandinavia//


Words: North
Meaning:
the North//  a) the northeastern states of the US, especially during the  Civil War (1861-65) when they fought against the  South. Today, the six states in  New England and the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are usually called the Northeast,and the states to the west of these are called the Midwest. People from the northern part of the US are called Northerners.//  b) the northern part of England, which includes the area north of the Midlands and south of the Scottish border, and contains several large cities, including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Newcastle. //\nnorth 1  North/n[hA350][hA359][hA35F] $ n[hA350][hA359]r[hA35F]/ n  written abbreviation N  [singular, U] \n  1 the direction that is at the top of a map of the world, above the Equator. It is on the left if you are facing the rising sun:  --Which way is north?//  from/towards the north//  --winds blowing from the north//  to the north (of sth)//  --Cheshunt is a few miles to the north of London.//\n  2  the north:  a) the northern part of a country or area//  --The North will be dry and bright.//  the north of//  --the north of England//  b) the richer countries of the world, especially Europe and North America//\nnorth 2  North written abbreviation N  adj [only before noun] \n  1 in the north or facing the north:  --The north side of the building doesn’t get much sun.//  --He lives in North Wales.//\n  2 a north wind comes from the north:\nnorth 3 adv  written abbreviation N   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 towards the north:  --The birds fly north in summer.//  north of//  --Chicago is four hours north of Indianapolis.//  --a north-facing window//\n  2  up north:   informal to or in the north of the country//  --They’ve moved up north.//


Words: North America
Meaning:
the third largest  continent in the world, consisting of Canada and the United States of America, as well as Mexico, Central America, Greenland, and other smaller islands//  -- North American n  adj //


Words: North Carolina
Meaning:
NC a state on the east coast of the US, which produces a lot of tobacco. It was one of the 13 original states of the US.//


Words: North Dakota
Meaning:
ND a state in the northern central US, on the border with Canada, with a small population, good farmland, and mineral mines//


Words: North Island
Meaning:
one of the two main islands of New Zealand, which includes Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city//    South Island//


Words: North Korea
Meaning:
a country in East Asia, west of Japan and east of China, which is officially called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Population: 21,968,000 (2001). Capital: Pyongyang. North Korea was formed in 1945 when Korea was divided into two countries (North and South Korea) by the US and the former Soviet Union.//  -- North Korean n  adj //


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


Words: North Sea
Meaning:
the North Sea//  part of the Atlantic Ocean, between Great Britain and northwest Europe. It is economically important because of its fish, and also for oil and gas which were discovered there in the 1970s.//


Words: North Yorkshire
Meaning:
a  county in northeast England. It consists mainly of farmland. The centre of local government is at Northallerton but the main city is York//


Words: North/South divide
Meaning:
the \n  1 the difference between the rich and poor countries of the world, which is shown by people’s standard of living and by the level of industrial and economic development. The expression the North is used to mean the richer countries which are mainly in Europe, North America, and parts of East Asia, and the South is used to mean the poorer countries of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America:  --Latest statistics suggest the North/South divide is becoming even more pronounced.//\n  2 the difference between the northern and southern parts of a country, shown for example in the amount of money people have, the quality of their health, or their general attitudes and way of life:  --The 1980s property boom in and around London helped to create a North/South divide in the cost of housing.//


Words: northbound
Meaning:
adj   travelling or leading towards the north//  --a northbound bus//  --the northbound lane of the A1//


Words: Northeast
Meaning:
the Northeast//  the northeastern part of the US, including the six states in New England, and the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania//  the northeastern part of England, which includes the industrial areas of Tyneside (around Newcastle) and Teesside (around Middlesborough)//\nnortheast 1  Northeast/n[hA350][hA359][hA35F]i[hA359]st[hA36B] $ n[hA350][hA359]r[hA35F]-/ n  written abbreviation NE  [U] \n  1 the direction that is exactly between north and east:\n  2  the northeast:  the northeastern part of a country//  -- northeast adv //  --He headed northeast across the open sea.//\nnortheast 2 adj  Northeast written abbreviation NE \n  1 a northeast wind comes from the northeast:\n  2 in the northeast of a place:  --the northeast outskirts of Las Vegas//


Words: Northeast Corridor
Meaning:
the Northeast Corridor//  an area of the northeastern US, between Boston and Washington, D.C., which has the highest population  density in the country//


Words: Northeast Passage
Meaning:
the   a way by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, going along the northern coasts of Europe and Asia. It was discovered by the Swedish  explorer Nils Nordenskj[hA179]ld in 1878-79//    Northwest Passage, the//


Words: northeasterly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the northeast:  --They set off in a northeasterly direction.//\n  2 a northeasterly wind comes from the northeast:


Words: northeastern
Meaning:
adj  written abbreviation NE   in or from the northeast part of a country or area//  --the northeastern states of the US//


Words: northerly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the north:  --We set off in a northerly direction .//\n  2 a northerly wind comes from the north:


Words: northern
Meaning:
Northern/n[hA350][hA359][hA171][hA368]n $ n[hA350][hA359]r[hA171][hA353]rn/ adj  written abbreviation N   in or from the north of a country or area//  --a man with a northern accent//  --Northern Europe//


Words: northern hemisphere
Meaning:
n  Northern Hemisphere  the northern hemisphere//  the half of the world that is north of the Equator//


Words: Northern Ireland
Meaning:
the northern part of the island of Ireland, which is politically part of the United Kingdom. It is sometimes called the Six Counties, because it consists of six  counties, or as Ulster, or the Province. Its capital city is Belfast, and its main industries are farming and engineering, especially ship and aircraft building. The population of Northern Ireland is divided between the Protestants (over 50%) and the Roman Catholics (almost 40%). In general, the Protestants want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK, and they are called Unionists or Loyalists. Catholics want Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland, and are called Republicans or Nationalists. The disagreements between these groups have led to a lot of violence.//


Words: Northern Ireland Assembly
Meaning:
the   a political assembly set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. The assembly has 108 members, six from each of the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. The assembly has an executive of up to 12 ministers, whose responsibilities include health, education, environment and finance. //


Words: Northern Lights
Meaning:
n   the Northern Lights//  bands of coloured light that are seen in the night sky in the most northern parts of the world//   aurora borealis//


Words: Northern Marianas
Meaning:
a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines. Population: 74,612 (2001). Capital: Saipan.//


Words: Northern Territory
Meaning:
the Northern Territory//  an area of northern central Australia whose main city is Darwin. It is an extremely large area, but most of it is very dry and its population is very small.//


Words: northerner
Meaning:
also  Northerner/n[hA350][hA359][hA171][hA368]n[hA353] $ n[hA350][hA359]r[hA171][hA353]rn[hA353]r/ n [C]   someone from the northern part of a country//


Words: Northumberland
Meaning:
a  county in northeast England, just south of Scotland and on the North Sea coast, which has many hills and forests and  Hadrian’s Wall//


Words: Northumbria
Meaning:
an  Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the north of England and south of Scotland that was politically important from the 7th to the 9th centuries. This name is often used unofficially to mean Northumberland.//  -- Northumbrian n  adj //


Words: northwards
Meaning:
adv  also northward   towards the north//  --We sailed northwards.//  -- northward adj //  --the northward journey//\nnorthwest 1  Northwest/n[hA350][hA359][hA35F]west[hA36B] $ n[hA350][hA359]r[hA35F]-/ n  written abbreviation NW  [U] \n  1 the direction that is exactly between north and west:\n  2  the northwest:  the northwestern part of a country//  -- northwest adv //  --She rode northwest toward Boulder.//\nnorthwest 2 adj  Northwest written abbreviation NW \n  1 a northwest wind comes from the northwest:\n  2 in the northwest of a place:  --the northwest suburbs of the city//


Words: Northwest Passage
Meaning:
the   a way by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, going along the northern coast of North America. It was first sailed through by Roald  Amundsen in 1903-06//    Northeast Passage, the//


Words: Northwest Territories
Meaning:
the Northwest Territories//  a very large area in northwest Canada east of the Yukon, whose capital is Yellowknife. It covers a third of the area of Canada, but it has a very small population and very cold weather.//


Words: northwesterly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 towards or in the northwest:  --We headed off in a northwesterly direction.//\n  2 a northwesterly wind comes from the northwest:


Words: northwestern
Meaning:
adj  written abbreviation NW   in or from the northwest part of a country or area//  --a town in northwestern Canada//


Words: Norway
Meaning:
a country of northern Europe, in western Scandinavia. Population: 4,503,000 (2001). Capital: Oslo. Norway’s industries include fishing, oil from the North Sea, and wood products from its large forests.//  -- Norwegian n  adj //    Viking//


Words: nose
Meaning:
n   ear, nose, tooth, eye//  ----------//\n   1 on your face:\n   2 (right) under somebody’s nose:\n   3 stick/poke your nose into something:\n   4 keep your nose out (of something):\n   5 turn your nose up (at something):\n   6 with your nose in the air:\n   7 have a (good) nose for something:\n   8 get (right) up somebody’s nose:\n   9 keep your nose clean:\n  10 on the nose:\n  11 keep your nose to the grindstone:\n  12 have your nose in a book/magazine/newspaper:\n  13 by a nose:\n  14 have a nose around:\n  15 put somebody’s nose out of joint:\n  16 nose to tail:\n  17 plane:\n  18 smell:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: nosu]//\n  1 ON YOUR FACE:   [C] the part of a person’s or animal’s face used for smelling or breathing//    nasal, nostril//  --He’s got a really  big nose .//  --He took out a tissue and blew his nose .//  --Stop picking your nose !//  --Someone punched him on the nose .//  --He  broke his nose  playing football.//  --Rachel had a sore throat and  runny nose all day yesterday.//  --Tina wrinkled her nose as if she was smelling bad meat.//\n  2  (right) under sb’s nose:  a) if something bad or illegal happens under someone’s nose, they do not notice it even though it is happening very close to them and they should have noticed it//  --The drugs were smuggled in right under the noses of the security guards.//  b) if something is right under someone’s nose, they cannot see it even though it is very close to them//  --The key was right under my nose all the time.//\n  3  stick/poke your nose into sth:  to become involved in something that does not concern you, in a way that annoys people//    nosy//  --She always has to stick her nose into matters that do not concern her.//\n  4  keep your nose out (of sth):   spoken to avoid becoming involved in something that does not concern you//  --I wish he’d keep his nose out of my business!//\n  5  turn your nose up (at sth):   informal to refuse to accept something because you do not think it is good enough for you//  --My children turn their noses up at home cooking.//\n  6  with your nose in the air:  behaving as if you are more important than other people and not talking to them//  --She just walked past with her nose in the air.//\n  7  have a (good) nose for sth:  to be naturally good at finding and recognizing something//  --a reporter with a good nose for a story//\n  8  get (right) up sb’s nose:   BrE  spoken to annoy someone very much//  --I wish he wouldn’t keep interrupting. It really gets up my nose.//\n  9  keep your nose clean:   spoken to make sure you do not get into trouble, or do anything wrong or illegal//  --Sid’s got to keep his nose clean or he’ll end up back in prison.//\n  10  on the nose:   AmE  spoken exactly//  --He gets up at 6 a.m. on the nose every morning.//\n  11  keep your nose to the grindstone:   informal to work very hard, without stopping to rest//  --Jim had decided he was going to keep his nose to the grindstone.//\n  12  have your nose in a book/magazine/newspaper:  to be reading a book etc, especially with a lot of interest//  --She always had her nose in a book.//\n  13  by a nose:  if a horse wins a race by a nose, it only just wins//\n  14  have a nose around:   BrE  spoken to look around a place in order to try to find something, when there is no one else there//\n  15  put sb’s nose out of joint:   informal to annoy someone, especially by attracting everyone’s attention away from them//  --His nose has been a bit out of joint ever since Marion got here.//\n  16  nose to tail:   especially BrE cars, buses etc that are nose to tail are in a line without much space between them//  --Traffic was nose to tail for three miles.//\n  17 PLANE:   [C] the pointed front end of a plane, rocket etc//\n  18 SMELL:   [singular] the smell of a wine or tobacco//   bouquet//    hard-nosed,  brown-nose,  cut off your nose to spite your face at cut OFF(10),  nose job,  lead sb by the nose at lead1 (16),  look down your nose at sb/sth at look1 (8),  pay through the nose at pay1 (16),  as plain as the nose on your face at plain1 (1),  poke your nose into sth at poke1 (7),  powder your nose at powder2 (2),  rub sb’s nose in it/in the dirt at rub1 (9),  thumb your nose at sb/sth at thumb2 (2)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  big/long nose //  hooked nose/Roman nose (=a nose that curves out near the top) //  snub nose (=a small nose that curves up at the end) //  blow your nose  (=clear your nose by blowing strongly into a piece of cloth) //  wipe your nose //  pick your nose  (=remove dirt from your nose with your finger) //  punch somebody on the nose //  break your nose //  your nose is running  (=liquid is coming out of your nose) //  runny nose  (=when liquid is coming out of your nose) //  blocked nose  (=you cannot breathe easily through your nose) //  wrinkle your nose //  the bridge of your nose (=the upper part, between your eyes) //  ----------//\nnose 2 v   [>always + adv/prep I, T] if a vehicle, boat etc noses forward, or if you nose it forward, it moves forward slowly//   edge//  nose its way along/through etc sth//  --The bus nosed its way along the street.//  --She carefully nosed the car forward through the traffic.//  nose around () [nose around (sth)] phr v//  to look around a place in order to try to find something, when there is no one else there//  --What were you doing nosing around in my office?//  nose into [nose into sth] phr v//  to try to find out private information about someone or something, especially in a way that is annoying//  nose out [nose sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to discover some information that someone else does not want you to discover:  --The media always manage to nose out some interesting facts about a politician’s past life.//\n  2 to defeat someone by a very small amount in a race, competition etc:


Words: nose job
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   a medical operation on someone’s nose to improve its appearance//    plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery//


Words: nosedive
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a sudden very large fall in the price, value, or condition of something:  --The pound took a nosedive on the foreign exchange market today.//  --The economy went into a nosedive .//\n  2 a sudden steep drop made by a plane with its front end pointing towards the ground:  --Everyone screamed as the plane suddenly went into a nosedive .//\nnosedive 2 v [I] \n  1 if a price, value, or condition of something nosedives, it suddenly goes down or gets much worse:   plummet//  --Sales have nosedived since January.//\n  2 if a plane nosedives, it drops suddenly and steeply with its front end pointing towards the ground:


Words: nosegay
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: nose +  English dialect gay  ’something decorative’ (14-19 centuries)]//  a small arrangement of flowers//


Words: nosh
Meaning:
n [U]  informal \n  1  BrE food:\n  2  AmE a small amount of food eaten between meals:   snack//\nnosh 2 v [I]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Yiddish; Origin: nashn, from  Middle High German naschen  ’to eat secretly’]//  to eat//


Words: nostalgia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek nostos  ’returning home’ +  algos  ’pain’]//  a feeling that a time in the past was good, or the activity of remembering a good time in the past and wishing that things had not changed//  nostalgia for//  --nostalgia for the good old days//  --He looked back on his university days with a certain amount of nostalgia.//  --a wave of nostalgia for how great life was in the 1960s//


Words: nostalgic
Meaning:
adj   if you feel nostalgic about a time in the past, you feel happy when you remember it, and in some ways you wish that things had not changed//  --Seeing those old school photographs has made me feel quite nostalgic .//  --a nostalgic look back at the 1950s//  nostalgic about//  --He remained nostalgic about his days as a young actor.//  -- nostalgically/-kli/ adv //  --Tim spoke nostalgically of his first visit to Peru.//


Words: Nostradamus
Meaning:
(1503-66) a French doctor and  astrologer (=someone who studies the movements of theplanets and their influence on events)  who wrote a book describing things that he believed would happen in the future. Some people believe that Nostradamus had special powers, and that his ideas about the future are correct.//


Words: nostril
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: nosthyrl  ’nose-hole’]//  one of the two holes at the end of your nose, through which you breathe and smell things//  --The smell of gunpowder filled his nostrils.//  --the horse’s flaring nostrils  (=widened nostrils) //


Words: nostrum
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: nostrum  ’something of ours’]//  an idea that someone thinks will solve a problem easily, but will probably not help at all//  --an economic nostrum//\nnosy 1  nosey/n[hA353][hA35E]zi $ no[hA35E]-/ adj   comparative  nosier superlative  nosiest //  always wanting to find out things that do not concern you, especially other people’s private affairs//  --Don’t be so nosy! It’s none of your business.//  --a nosy neighbor//  -- nosiness n  [U] //  -- nosily adv //\nnosy 2 n  BrE  informal   a nosy//  a thorough look around a place, especially somewhere that belongs to someone else and is private//  --I’d love to have a good old nosy in Josey’s room!//


Words: nosy parker
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal   someone who is too interested in finding out about other people’s affairs - used to show disapproval//


Words: not
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: nought]//\n  1 used to make a word, statement, or question negative:  --Most of the stores do not open until 10am.//  --She’s not a very nice person.//  --You were wrong not to inform the police.//  --’Can we go to the park?’ ’No, not today, dear.’//  not at all/not ... at all (=used to emphasize what you are saying) //  --The changes were not at all surprising.//  --I do not like his attitude at all.//    no1 //    n’t//\n  2 used in order to make a word or expression have the opposite meaning:  --Edinburgh isn’t far now.//  --The food is not very good there.//  not a lot/much/many etc (=only a few, only a little etc) //  --Not much is known about the disease.//  --Not many people have read the report.//  --Most of the hotels are not that cheap (=they are fairly expensive) .//\n  3 used instead of a whole phrase, to mean the opposite of what has been mentioned before it:  --No one knows if the story is true or not .//  --I hope to see you tomorrow, but if not , leave me a message.//  --’Is Mark still sick?’ ’I hope not .’//    so1 (4)//\n  4  not only:  in addition to being or doing something//  not only ... (but) also ... //  --Shakespeare was not only a writer but also an actor.//  not only do/will/can etc //  --Not only do the nurses want a pay increase, they want reduced hours as well.//\n  5  not a/not one:  not any person or thing//  --Not one of the students knew the answer.//  --There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.//  -- Not a single person said thank you.//\n  6  not that ...:  used before a sentence or phrase to mean the opposite of what follows it, and to make the previous sentence seem less important//  --Sarah has a new boyfriend - not that I care  (=I do not care) .//  --Janice had lost some weight, not that it mattered  (=it did not matter) .//\n  7  not at all:   spoken  especially BrE used to be polite when someone has thanked you or asked you to do something//  --’Would you mind helping me with my suitcase?’ ’Not at all.’//\n  8  - not!:   spoken used, especially by young people, to say that you really mean the opposite of what you have just said//  --I really enjoy spending my day working here - not!//    not half at half3 (5),  not to say at say1 (44)//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not use another negative word (no, nothing, nobody, never etc) with not. Use any, anything, anybody, ever etc: I haven’t got any (NOT haven’t got no) money.| I didn’t know anybody (NOT didn’t know nobody). //  ----------//


Words: notable
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   important, interesting, excellent, or unusual enough to be noticed or mentioned//  notable feature/example //  --A notable feature of the church is its unusual bell tower.//  notable achievement/success/victory //  --Every country in the world signed the treaty, with one notable exception - the United States.//  notable for//  --The town is notable for its busy open-air market.//


Words: notably
Meaning:
W3   adv \n  1 used to say that a person or thing is a typical example or the most important example of something:   especially, in particular//  --Some early doctors, notably Hippocrates, thought that diet was important.//\n  2  formal in a way that is clearly different, important, or unusual:  --Emigration has notably increased over the past five years.//  --Notably absent from his statement was any hint of an apology.//


Words: notary
Meaning:
n  also notary public   plural  notaries  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: notarius  ’writer of documents, secretary’, from  nota  ’note, shorthand character’;   NOTE1]//  someone, especially a lawyer, who has the legal power to make a signed statement or document official//


Words: notation
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a system of written marks or signs used to represent something such as music, mathematics, or scientific ideas//


Words: notch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  an otch, mistaken for  a notch; from early  French oche  ’V-shaped cut’]//\n  1 a level on a scale that measures something, for example quality or achievement:  --Her new book is several notches above anything else she has written.//  --Jackson raised his voice by a notch.//  --The Spartans turned it up a notch in the second half.//\n  2 a V-shaped cut or hole in a surface or edge:  --Cut a notch near one end of the stick.//\n  3  AmE a passage between two mountains or hills:    top-notch//\nnotch 2 v [T] \n  1 to cut a V-shaped mark into something, especially as a way of showing the number of times something has been done:\n  2  AmE to notch something up:  notch up [notch sth → up] phr v//  to achieve something, especially a victory or a particular total or score//  --The Houston Astros have notched up another win .//


Words: note
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 to remind you:\n   2 for studying:\n   3 short letter:\n   4 official letter:\n   5 additional information:\n   6 music:\n   7 money:\n   8 feeling or quality:\n   9 hit/strike the right/wrong note:\n  10 take note (of something):\n  11 somebody/something of note:\n  12 worthy/deserving of note:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: nota  ’mark, character, written note’]//\n  1 TO REMIND YOU:  a)  [C] something that you write down to remind you of something//  --Dave made a note of her address and phone number.//  -- Keep a careful note of any problems you have with the software.//  b)  make a (mental) note to do sth//  to decide that you must remember to do some later//  --He made a mental note to arrange a time to meet her.//\n  2 FOR STUDYING:   notes [plural] information that a student writes down during a lesson, from a book etc//  --Can I borrow your lecture notes ?//  take/make notes (=write notes) //  --I read the first chapter and took notes.//\n  3 SHORT LETTER:   [C] a short informal letter//  --I was going to write Kathy a note , but I decided to call her instead.//  --This is just a quick note to let you know that I won’t be in the office tomorrow.//  --a suicide note  (=a note telling someone that you are going to kill yourself) //  --a thank you note  (=a note to say thank you for something) //\n  4 OFFICIAL LETTER:   [C] an official letter or document//  sick note  BrE  (=a note saying that you are too ill to go to work or school) //  delivery note (=a document showing that goods have been delivered) //  diplomatic note (=a formal letter from one government to another) //    credit note,  promissory note//\n  5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:   [C] a short piece of writing at the bottom of a page or at the end of a book or document which gives more information about something written in the main part//  --The notes are at the back of the book.//  explanatory/guidance notes //  --A set of guidance notes is provided to assist applicants in completing the form.//    footnote(1)//\n  6 MUSIC:   [C] a particular musical sound, or a symbol representing this sound//  high/low note //  --She has a good voice but has trouble hitting the high notes.//  7 MONEY//   [C]  BrE  also  bank note//  a piece of paper money worth a particular amount of money//  American Equivalent:  bill//    coin//  --a ten-pound note//\n  8 FEELING OR QUALITY:   [singular] a type of feeling or quality when someone speaks or does something//  note of//  --There was a note of doubt in her voice.//  --He brought a note of realism into the debate.//  on a ... note//   (=speaking in a particular way) //  --She ended her speech on a personal note.//  --On a more serious note, I’d like to thank everyone for all their support.//\n  9  hit/strike the right/wrong note:  to succeed or not succeed in being right and suitable for a particular occasion//  --Bush is hoping to hit the right note again with voters.//\n  10  take note (of sth):  to pay attention to something//   notice//  --People were beginning to take note of her talents as a writer.//  --His first album made the music world stand up and take note .//\n  11  sb/sth of note:   formal important, interesting, or famous//  --The college has produced several architects of note.//  --The village has a number of buildings of note.//\n  12  worthy/deserving of note:  important or interesting and deserving particular attention//    noteworthy//  --three recent novels that are especially worthy of note//    compare notes at compare1 (5)//\nnote 2 v [T]  formal \n  1 to notice or pay careful attention to something:  --He carefully noted the time when they left the building.//  note (that)//  --Please note that the bill must be paid within ten days.//  --It should be noted that parking without a permit attracts a charge of [hA124]5.//  note how//  --Note how she is holding her racket.//\n  2 to mention something because it is important or interesting:  note that//  --The judge noted that Miller had no previous criminal record.//  note down [note sth → down] phr v//  to write something down so that you will remember it//  --Note down the main points you want to include in your essay.//


Words: note card
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a small folded piece of paper with a picture on it, for writing a short letter//  British Equivalent:  notelet//


Words: notebook
Meaning:
n [C]   1 a book made of plain paper on which you can write notes//\n  2  also notebook computer :  a small computer that you can carry with you//    laptop//


Words: noted
Meaning:
adj   well known or famous, especially because of some special quality or ability//    renowned//  --a noted author//  noted for//  --The city is noted for its 18th-century architecture.//


Words: notelet
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a small folded piece of paper with a picture on it, for writing a short letter//  American Equivalent:  note card//


Words: notepaper
Meaning:
n [U]   paper used for writing letters or notes//    writing paper//  headed notepaper (=with the sender’s address printed on it) //


Words: nothing
Meaning:
pron   [Language: Old English; Origin: nan thing,  nathing  ’no thing’]//\n  1 not anything or no thing:  --Nothing ever happens in this town.//  --There’s nothing in this box.//  --There was nothing else the doctors could do.//  --He had  nothing more  to say.//  --We  know nothing about  her family.//  --I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing .//  --I promised to  say nothing  about it to anyone.//  --We’ve  heard nothing  from her for weeks.//  --There’s  absolutely nothing  to be ashamed of.//  --’Do you know much about business?’ ’ Nothing at all .’//  --She had eaten  virtually nothing  at supper.//  --There’s  nothing wrong  with the data.//  --There’s  nothing new  about this.//  --A brief search was made but they found nothing untoward .//\n  2  nothing but:  only//  --She’d had nothing but bad luck.//\n  3  have nothing against sb/sth:  if you have nothing against someone or something, they do not annoy or offend you//  --I have nothing against him personally.//\n  4 something which is considered unimportant, not interesting, or not worth worrying about:  --’What have you been doing?’ ’Nothing. Just sitting here.’//  --There’s nothing on television tonight.//  --’What did you do last weekend?’ ’Oh, nothing much .’//  --Politics meant nothing  (=was not important) to me for years.//  --The meal was nothing special  (=it was not unusual or interesting) - just fish with a cheese sauce.//\n  5  especially AmE zero:  British Equivalent:  nil//  --We beat them ten to nothing.//\n  6  have/be nothing to do with sb/sth:  if you have nothing to do with someone or something, or if someone or something has nothing to do with you, you are not involved or connected with it//  --He said that he had nothing to do with the decision.//  --As I said, it’s nothing to do with me.//  --That’s got nothing to do with you.//  --I want nothing to do with  (=do not want to be involved) the whole thing.//  --My staff had nothing whatsoever to do with this.//\n  7  for nothing:  a) without paying for something or being paid for something//  --Why pay a plumber when my brother will do it for nothing?//  b) if you do something for nothing, you make an effort but do not get the result you expected and wanted//  --We went all that way for nothing.//\n  8 no money or payment at all:  --This service will cost you nothing.//  --When a car has done that many miles, it’s worth nothing.//\n  9  there’s nothing like sth:  used to say that something is very good//  --There’s nothing like a long hot bath after a day’s climbing.//\n  10  there’s nothing in/to sth:  used to say that what people are saying about someone or something is not true//  --It seems there’s nothing in the rumours that she’s pregnant.//\n  11  if nothing else:  used to emphasize one good quality or feature that someone or something has, while suggesting that it might be the only good one//  --If nothing else, the report points out the need for better math education.//\n  12  come to nothing:  if a plan or action comes to nothing, it does not continue or does not achieve anything//\n  13  be nothing if not sth:  used to emphasize a particular quality that someone or something has//  --You’ve got to admit - he’s nothing if not persistent.//\n  14  nothing doing:   spoken used to refuse to do something//\n  15  (there’s) nothing to it:   spoken used to say that something is easy to do//  --Anyone can use a computer. There’s nothing to it!//\n  16  it was nothing/think nothing of it:   spoken used when someone has thanked you a lot for something you have done for them//  --’Thank you so much.’ ’Oh, it was nothing.’//\n  17  nothing of the sort/kind:   spoken used to say strongly or angrily that something is not true or will not happen//  --’I’ll pay.’ ’You’ll do nothing of the sort!’//\n  18  have nothing on sb:   informal if someone has nothing on you, they are not better than you at something//  --She’s got nothing on you when it comes to writing.//\n  19  there’s nothing for it but to do sth:   BrE used when there is only one thing you can do in a particular situation//  --There was nothing for it but to go back the way we came.//    sweet nothings at sweet1 (13),  to say nothing of at say1 (46),  nothing on earth at earth1 (9)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  nothing else/nothing more //  know nothing (about somebody/something) //  do/say/hear nothing //  absolutely nothing //  nothing at all/nothing whatsoever //  virtually/practically nothing //  nothing wrong //  nothing new //  nothing untoward (=nothing unusual or bad) //  HINT //  Do not use another negative word (e.g. ’not’) with nothing. Use anything with not: Nothing happened.| Didn’t anything happen? //  ----------//\nnothing 2 adv \n  1  be/seem/look nothing like sb/sth:  to have no qualities or features that are similar to someone or something else//  --She’s nothing like her brother.//  --She looked nothing like her photograph.//\n  2  be nothing less than sth:   also be nothing short of sth //  used to emphasize that something or someone has a particular quality or seems to be something//  --His behaviour was nothing short of rudeness.//


Words: nothingness
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 empty space or the complete absence of everything:  --Natalie found him looking into nothingness.//\n  2 the state of not existing:  --Is there only nothingness after death?//


Words: notice
Meaning:
v [I,T not in progressive] \n  1 if you notice something or someone, you realize that they exist, especially because you can see, hear, or feel them:  --He noticed a woman in a black dress sitting across from him.//  --I didn’t notice any smoke.//  --Have you noticed any change in him?//  notice (that)//  --I noticed that her hands were shaking.//  --He never seems to notice when people take advantage of him.//  notice who/what/how etc//  --She hadn’t noticed before quite how grey his hair was.//  notice sb/sth doing sth//  --Did you notice him leaving the party early?//\n  2  be noticed/get (sb) noticed:  to get attention, or to make someone get attention//  --These clothes will get you noticed and enhance your image.//\n  3  sb can’t help noticing sth:   also sb can’t help but notice sth //  if someone can’t help noticing something, they realize that it exists or is happening even though they are not deliberately trying to pay attention to it//  --I couldn’t help noticing the bruises on her arm.//\nnotice 2 n   ----------//\n   1 attention:\n   2 on paper:\n   3 time to prepare:\n   4 until further notice:\n   5 hand in your notice/give (your) notice:\n   6 at short notice:\n   7 book/play etc:  ----------//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin notitia  ’knowledge, familiarity’, from  notus  ’known’]//\n  1 ATTENTION:   [U] when you notice or pay attention to someone or something//  --I waved but they took no notice .//  not take any/much notice (of sth) //  --I did not take much notice of her suggestions.//  --I hope you’ll take notice of what I’m going to tell you.//  --This problem may have escaped your notice so far (=you may not have noticed it) .//  --This never came to my notice  (=I never knew about this) .//  --There are several important matters that I’d like to bring to your notice  (=that I would like you to know about) .//\n  2 ON PAPER:   [C] a written or printed statement that gives information or a warning to people//    sign//  --The notice on the wall said ’No smoking’.//  --I’ll put up a notice about the meeting.//  -- obituary notices  (=about people who have just died) in the newspaper//\n  3 TIME TO PREPARE:   [U] information or a warning about something that is going to happen//    warning//  without notice//  --These rules are subject to change without notice.//  sufficient/reasonable notice //  --They didn’t give me sufficient notice .//  advance/prior notice //  --When you’re on the mailing list, you’ll receive advance notice of upcoming events.//  ten days’/three months’ etc notice (=a warning ten days etc before) //  --They closed the factory, giving the workers only a week’s notice.//  --Firefighters were prepared to rush out at a moment’s notice .//  notice of//  --his failure to give notice of his intention to alter the property//  notice to do sth//  --I’ve been given notice to quit my flat (=I have been told that I must leave by a certain date) .//  --Union members served strike notice  (=warned that they would go on strike) late last night.//\n  4  until further notice:  from now until another change is announced//  --The office is closed until further notice.//\n  5  hand in your notice/give (your) notice:  to tell your employer that you will be leaving your job soon//   resign//  --Jim gave notice on Thursday.//\n  6  at short notice:   BrE on short notice  AmE //  if you do something at short notice, you do not have very much time to prepare for it//  --The trip was planned on short notice.//  --Thanks for agreeing to see me at such short notice.//  --a cancellation at very short notice //\n  7 BOOK/PLAY ETC:   [C usually plural] a statement of opinion, especially one written for a newspaper or magazine, about a new play, book, film etc//   review//  --The new play got mixed notices  (=some good, some bad) in the newspapers.//    sit up (and take notice) at sit up(5)//


Words: noticeable
Meaning:
adj   easy to notice//  --Alcohol has a noticeable effect on the body.//  -- It was noticeable that many of them avoided answering the question.//  noticeable difference/change/increase etc //  --a noticeable improvement in air quality//  -- noticeably adv //  --She has become noticeably more confident.//  --The children were noticeably affected by the divorce.//


Words: notifiable
Meaning:
adj  BrE  technical   a notifiable disease or crime is one that by law must be reported to the government or to the police//


Words: notification
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   official information about something//  prior/advance notification //  --I was given no prior notification.//  notification of//  --You should receive notification of the results within a week.//  official/written/formal notification //  --We received official notification that Harry was missing.//


Words: notify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  notified present participle  notifying third person singular  notifies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: notifier, from  Late Latin notificare, from  Latin notus;   NOTICE2]//  to formally or officially tell someone about something//   inform//  notify sb of sth//  --You will be notified of any changes in the system.//  notify sb that//  --In August we were notified that our article had been rejected.//


Words: notion
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: notio, from  notus;   NOTICE2]//\n  1 an idea, belief, or opinion:  notion of//  --misguided notions of male superiority//  --The traditional notion of marriage goes back thousands of years.//  --She had only a vague notion of what she wanted to do.//  notion that//  --the notion that human beings are basically good//  --She had no notion what he meant.//  accept/challenge/reject etc a notion //  --They reject the notion of group guilt.//\n  2  notions [plural]  AmE small things such as thread and buttons that are used for sewing:


Words: notional
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   existing only as an idea or plan, and not existing in reality//  --Their calculations were based on a notional minimum wage.//


Words: notoriety
Meaning:
n [U]   the state of being famous or well-known for something that is bad or that people do not approve of//  of notoriety//  --John is already a writer of some notoriety.//  gain/win/achieve notoriety (for sth) //  --The local church has gained notoriety for being different.//


Words: notorious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: notorius, from  Latin notus;   NOTICE2]//  famous or well-known for something bad//   infamous//  --a notorious computer hacker//  --notorious cases of human rights abuses//  notorious for//  --a judge notorious for his cruelty and corruption//  -- notoriously adv //  --Statistics can be notoriously unreliable.//  --The program is notoriously difficult to learn.//


Words: Notre Dame
Meaning:
a famous  cathedral (=a large important church)  in central Paris, which is a beautiful  Gothic building from the 12th century, and a popular place for tourists to visit//\n University of  also Notre Dame   a private Catholic university in Indiana, US, which is famous especially for having a very good football team//


Words: Notting Hill Carnival
Meaning:
the   a street  carnival that takes place in the Notting Hill area of West London in August every year, mostly involving black people and famous for the colourful  costumes worn and the steel band music played//


Words: Nottingham
Meaning:
an industrial city in Nottinghamshire in central England. Its industries include chemicals, engineering, and clothing, but it is especially known as a place where  lace (=very fine cloth with patterns of very small holes)  is made. The stories of  Robin Hood take place in this area.//


Words: Nottinghamshire
Meaning:
Notts. a  county in central England consisting mainly of farmland. There also used to be many coal mines, but most of them have now closed down.//


Words: notwithstanding
Meaning:
prep, adv  formal   in spite of something//  --Notwithstanding differences, there are clear similarities in all of the world’s religions.//  --Fame and fortune notwithstanding, Donna never forgot her hometown.//


Words: nougat
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Proven[hA168]al, from  Old Proven[hA168]al noga  ’nut’, from  Latin nux]//  a type of sticky soft sweet with nuts and sometimes fruit//


Words: nought
Meaning:
number \n  1  BrE the number 0:   zero//  --A billion is 1 with 9 noughts after it.//  nought point one/two/three etc (=0.1, 0.2 etc) //\n  2  old use used in some expressions to mean nothing:  --Peace negotiations came to nought  (=were not successful) .//


Words: noughts and crosses
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   a game in which two players write 0 or X in a pattern of nine squares, trying to win with a row of three 0s or three Xs//  American Equivalent:  tick-tack-toe//


Words: noun
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: ’name, noun’, from  Old French nom, from  Latin nomen;   NOMINAL]//  a word or group of words that represent a person (such as ’Michael’, ’teacher’ or ’police officer’), a place (such as ’France’ or ’school’), a thing or activity (such as ’coffee’ or ’football’), or a quality or idea (such as ’danger’ or ’happiness’). Nouns can be used as the subject or object of a verb (as in ’The teacher arrived’ or ’We like the teacher’) or as the object of a preposition (as in ’good at football’).//    common noun,  count noun,  proper noun//


Words: nourish
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: norrir, from  Latin nutrire;   NUTRIENT]//\n  1 to give a person or other living thing the food and other substances they need in order to live, grow, and stay healthy:  --The cream contains vitamin A to nourish the skin.//  --a well nourished baby//\n  2  formal to keep a feeling, idea, or belief strong or help it to grow stronger:  --We need to nourish our hopes and dreams.//


Words: nourishment
Meaning:
n [U]  formal \n  1 the food and other substances that people and other living things need to live, grow, and stay healthy:  --lack of proper nourishment//  --The soil provides nourishment for plant roots.//\n  2 something that helps a feeling, idea, or belief to grow stronger:  emotional/intellectual/spiritual nourishment //  --a child starved for emotional nourishment//


Words: nous
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: ’intelligence’]//  intelligence and the ability to make good practical decisions//   common sense//  --At least she had the nous to ring.//


Words: nouveau riche
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’new rich’]//  having only recently become rich and spending a lot of money - used to show disapproval//   new rich//  -- nouveaux riches n  [plural] //


Words: nouvelle cuisine
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ’new cooking’]//  a style of cooking from France where simple and healthy food is served in an attractive way, usually in small amounts on a big plate//


Words: nova
Meaning:
n   plural  novas  or  novae /-vi[hA359]/ [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’new’]//  a star which explodes and suddenly becomes much brighter for a short time//    supernova//


Words: Nova Scotia
Meaning:
a  province of southeast Canada on the Atlantic Ocean, whose capital city is Halifax. It consists mainly of farmland and forests, and it also produces minerals.//


Words: novel
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: novella;   NOVELLA]//  a long written story in which the characters and events are usually imaginary//    fiction//  --a novel by Jane Austen//  --It took Vikram Seth three years to write his 1,349-page novel ’A Suitable Boy’.//  detective/romantic/historical etc novel //  --a newly published science fiction novel//\nnovel 2 adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: ’new’, from  Latin novellus, from  novus  ’new’]//  not like anything known before, and unusual or interesting//  novel idea/approach/method etc //  --What a novel idea!//


Words: novelization
Meaning:
also  novelisation BrE   n [C]   the story that was told in a film or television series, written afterwards as a book//  --the novelization of Terminator 2//


Words: novella
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Italian; Origin: storia novella  ’new story’, from  novello  ’new’, from  Latin novellus;   NOVEL2]//  a story that is shorter than a novel, but longer than a short story//


Words: novelty
Meaning:
n   plural  novelties //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: novelte, from  novel;   NOVEL2]//\n  1 [U] the quality of being new, unusual, and interesting:  novelty of//  --the novelty of the ideas//  --Many toys have no attraction beyond their novelty value .//  --It was fun for a while, but the novelty wore off  (=it became boring) .//\n  2 [C] something new and unusual which attracts people’s attention and interest:  --Then the Internet was still something of a novelty.//\n  3 [C] an unusual, small, cheap object, often given as a present:  --a selection of novelties and t-shirts//  --a novelty key-ring//


Words: November
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written abbreviation Nov.   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Novembre, from  Latin November, from  novem  ’nine’; because it was the ninth month of the ancient Roman year]//  the 11th month of the year, between October and December//  next/last November //  --He started work here last November.//  in November//  --It snowed in early November.//  on November 6th//  --The final will be played on Sunday November 6th.//  on 6th November//   BrE //  --Five weeks later, on 6th November, they were secretly married.//  November 6//   AmE //  --There will be no performance November 6.//


Words: novice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin novicius, from  Latin novus  ’new’]//\n  1 someone who has no experience in a skill, subject, or activity:   beginner//  --The computer course is ideal for novices.//  novice at//  --I’m still a complete novice at the sport.//  --This trail is not recommended for novice bikers.//\n  2 someone who has recently joined a religious group to become a monk or nun:


Words: NOW
Meaning:
the   the National Organization for Women a large US organization started in 1966, which works for legal, economic, and social equality between women and men. Its first president was Betty Friedan, who also helped to start it//


Words: now
Meaning:
adv   [Language: Old English; Origin: nu]//\n  1 at the present time:  --They now live in the city centre.//  --There’s nothing I can do about this right now  (=exactly now) .//  by now//  --Sonia should have been home by now. Do you think she’s OK?//  up to now/until now//  --Until now, doctors have been able to do very little to treat this disease.//  --Please try to be more careful from now on  (=starting from now) .//  for now//   (=for a short time) //  --Just leave your shoes on the back porch for now.//  just now  especially BrE  (=at the present time) //  --There are a lot of bargains in the shops just now.//\n  2 immediately:  --The bell has rung - stop writing now.//  --If we leave now we’ll be there before dark.//\n  3 used when you know or understand something because of something you have just seen, just been told etc:  --Having met the rest of the family, she now saw where he got his temper from.//\n  4  3 weeks/2 years etc now:  used to say how long ago something started//  --They’ve been going out together for a long time now.//  --It’s been over five years now since I started working here.//  --It’s now a month since we bought the car and it’s broken down three times already.//\n  5  (every) now and then/now and again:  sometimes//  --I hear from him every now and then.//\n  6  spoken :  a) used when getting someone’s attention before continuing what you are saying or changing the subject//  --Now, let’s move on to the question of payment.//  b) used at the beginning of a sentence when asking for information//  --Now what did you say your name was?//  c) used when pausing when you are thinking what to say next//  --Now, let’s see, oh yes - they wanted to know what time you’ll be back on Friday.//  d) used to say that if the situation was different, something different would happen//  --Now if I’d been in charge there’s no way I’d have let them use the van.//  e) used to make someone calm or comfort them when they are angry, upset etc//  --Come on now, don’t cry.//  f) used when telling or reminding someone to do something//  --Now hurry up! I haven’t got all day.//  --Don’t forget now, you have a dental appointment Thursday afternoon.//\n  7  spoken  any day/minute etc now:  very soon//  --The guests will arrive any minute now.//\n  8  spoken  just now:  a) a moment ago//  --Was that you singing just now?//\n  9  spoken  now then:  used to get someone’s attention before telling them to do something or asking them a question//  --Now then, what seems to be the problem here?//  --Now then, try to sit up and have some of this soup.//\n  10  spoken  well now:  used when giving an opinion or asking someone to tell you something//  --Well now, what’s all this I hear about you getting married?//\n  11  spoken  now for sth:  used when saying what you are going to do next//  --Thanks, Norma, and now for a look at tomorrow’s weather.//\n  12  spoken  and now:  used when introducing the next activity, performer etc//  --And now, live from New York, it’s David Letterman!//\n  13  spoken  now now:  a) used to make someone calm or comfort them when they are angry, upset etc//  --Now now, don’t worry. Everything will be okay.//  b)  especially BrE used when telling someone not to behave badly//  --Now now, leave your sister alone.//\n  14  spoken  not now:  used to tell someone that you do not want to talk to them or do something now, because you are busy, tired etc//  --’Tell me a story.’ ’Not now, Daddy’s working.’//\n  15  spoken  now what?:  used when an attempt to do something has failed and you do not know what to do next//  --Kate tried each of the keys, but none of them fit. ’Now what?’ she thought.//\n  16  spoken  now you’re talking:  used to tell someone that you agree very much with what they are saying//  --’Feel like going out for a beer?’ ’Now you’re talking.’//\n  17  spoken  it’s now or never:  used to say that if someone does not do something now, they will not get another chance to do it//  --Quite suddenly, her mind was made up. It was now or never.//\n  18  spoken  now’s the time (for sb) to do sth:  used to say that someone should do something now, because it is the right time to do it//  --Now’s the time to buy a car, while the interest rates are low.//\n  19  spoken  what is it now?/now what?:  used when you are annoyed because someone keeps interrupting you or asking you things//  --’Mom, can you come here for a minute?’ ’What is it now?’//\n  20  spoken  now you tell me!:  used when you are annoyed or amused because someone has just told you something they should have told you before//  --’You didn’t need to make anything for dinner - Dad’s bringing home pizza.’ ’Oh, now you tell me!’//\n  21  now...now...:   literary used to say that at one moment someone or something does one thing and immediately after, they do something else//  --The eagle glided through the sky, now rising, now falling.//\nnow 2 conj  also now that   because of something or as a result of something//  --Now that we know each other a little better, we get along fine.//  --I’m going to relax now the school year is over.//  --Now that I think of it, I acted the same way when I was his age.//


Words: nowadays
Meaning:
S2   adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: now +  a days  ’during the day’ (14-18 centuries)]//  now, compared with what happened in the past//  --Nowadays people are rarely shocked by the sex they see on television.//  --Most people nowadays are aware of the importance of a healthy diet.//


Words: nowhere
Meaning:
S2   adv \n  1 not in any place or to any place:  nowhere to go/live/sit etc //  --I have no job and nowhere to live.//  --Nowhere is drug abuse more of a problem than in the US.//\n  2  get/go nowhere:  to have no success or make no progress//  --The proposal went nowhere in the Senate.//  get nowhere with sb/sth//  --He was getting nowhere with the Bentley case.//  get sb nowhere//  --A negative attitude will get you nowhere.//  --I soon realized that being tough was getting me nowhere fast  (=was not helping me achieve anything) .//\n  3  be nowhere to be seen/found:   also be nowhere in sight //  to not be in a place, or not be seen or found there//  --Typical - another street crime and the police are nowhere to be seen.//\n  4  nowhere near:  a) a long way from a particular place//  --He swore he was nowhere near her house on the night she died.//  b) not at all//  nowhere near ready/full/finished etc //  --The building’s nowhere near finished.//  --She’s nowhere near as pretty as you are.//\n  5  out of/from nowhere:  happening or appearing suddenly and without warning//  --In the last few seconds, Gunnell came from nowhere to win another gold medal.//  --From out of nowhere he asks me to marry him!//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not use another negative word (e.g. ’not’) with nowhere. Use anywhere with not: We had nowhere to go.| We didn’t have anywhere to go. //  ----------//


Words: nowt
Meaning:
pron  BrE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: nought]//  nothing - used especially in the North of England//  --I’ve had nowt to eat since yesterday.//


Words: noxious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: noxius, from  noxa  ’harm’]//  harmful or poisonous//   toxic//  --noxious fumes//


Words: nozzle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: nose]//  a short tube fitted to the end of a hose, pipe etc to direct and control the stream of liquid or gas pouring out//


Words: nr
Meaning:
BrE   the written abbreviation of near , used in addresses//  --Sheffield Park Garden, nr Uckfield, East Sussex//


Words: NSPCC
Meaning:
the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children a British organization that protects children who are being badly treated//


Words: nth
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: n mathematical sign for a number of unknown value +  -th]//\n  1  to the nth degree:   informal extremely, or as much as possible//  --It was boring to the nth degree.//\n  2 [only before noun]  informal the most recent of a long series of similar things that have happened:  --Even after I’d reminded him for the nth time, he forgot.//


Words: nuance
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Old French nuer  ’to make shades of color’, from  nue  ’cloud’]//  a very slight, hardly noticeable difference in manner, colour, meaning etc//    subtlety//  --He was aware of every nuance in her voice.//  nuance of//  --the painting’s delicate nuances of color, tone, and texture//  -- subtle nuances of meaning//  -- nuanced adj //  --a skilful and nuanced performance//


Words: nub
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  Low German knubbe]//\n  1  the nub of the problem/matter/argument etc:  the main point of a problem etc//  --The real nub of the matter is money.//\n  2 [C] a small rounded piece of something, especially a piece that is left after the rest has been eaten, used etc:


Words: nubile
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: ’worth marrying’, from  Latin nubilis, from  nubere  ’to marry’]//  a woman who is nubile is young and sexually attractive - sometimes used humorously//


Words: nuclear
Meaning:
W3   adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: nucleus]//\n  1 relating to or involving the nucleus (=central part)  of an atom, or the energy produced when the nucleus of an atom is either split or joined with the nucleus of another atom:  --France’s reliance on nuclear energy //  --a nuclear power station//  --a nuclear-powered submarine//\n  2 relating to or involving the use of weapons that use nuclear energy:    anti-nuclear//  nuclear bomb/weapon/missile etc //  --the threat of nuclear attack//  --concern about the country’s nuclear weapons program//  --With the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the possibility of a nuclear holocaust  (=a nuclear war that destroys much of the Earth) was greatly reduced.//  --a nuclear testing area//


Words: nuclear bomb
Meaning:
n [C]   a very powerful bomb that uses nuclear energy to kill a lot of people and destroy large areas//


Words: nuclear fission
Meaning:
n [U]   the splitting of the nucleus (=central part)  of an atom which results in a lot of power being produced//


Words: nuclear fusion
Meaning:
n [U]   a nuclear reaction in which the nuclei (=central parts)  of atoms join together, which produces power without producing any waste//


Words: nuclear physics
Meaning:
n [U]   the area of physics which is concerned with the structure and features of the nucleus (=central part)  of atoms//


Words: nuclear reactor
Meaning:
n [C]   a large machine that produces nuclear energy, especially as a means of producing electricity//


Words: nuclear waste
Meaning:
n [U]   waste material from nuclear reactors, which is radioactive//  --the problems of nuclear waste disposal//


Words: nuclear-free
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   places that are nuclear-free do not allow nuclear materials to be carried, stored, or used in that area//  --a nuclear-free zone //


Words: nucleic acid
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: nucleus]//  one of the two acids, DNA and RNA, that exist in the cells of all living things//


Words: nucleus
Meaning:
n   plural  nuclei /-klia[hA366]/ [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’center of a nut’, from  nux  ’nut’]//\n  1 the central part of an atom, made up of neutrons, protons, and other elementary particles:\n  2 the central part of almost all the cells of living things:\n  3 a small, important group at the centre of a larger group or organization:  nucleus of//  --the nucleus of an effective team//  --Marantz and Grohl form the nucleus of the Atlanta operation.//


Words: nude
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: nudus]//\n  1 not wearing any clothes:   naked//  --I did some work as a nude model when I was in college.//  --Have you ever posed nude  (=been photographed or painted while nude) ?//\n  2 done by or involving people who are not wearing any clothes:  --There are several nude scenes in the film.//  --I have no desire to go to a nude beach  (=a beach where people wear no clothes) .//\nnude 2 n \n  1 [C] a painting, statue etc of someone not wearing clothes:\n  2  in the nude:  not wearing any clothes//  --He was standing there in the nude.//


Words: nudge
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 [T] to push someone gently, usually with your elbow, in order to get their attention:  --Jill nudged him in the ribs.//\n  2 [T always + adverb/preposition] to move something or someone a short distance by gently pushing:  --She nudged the glass towards me.//  --David nudged me out of the way.//\n  3 [I always + adverb/preposition] to move forward slowly by pushing gently:  nudge your way to/through etc (sth) //  --I started to nudge my way to the front of the crowd.//\n  4 [T always + adverb/preposition] to gently persuade or encourage someone to take a particular decision or action:  nudge sb into/towards sth//  --We’re trying to nudge them towards a practical solution.//\n  5 [T] to almost reach a particular level or amount:  --Outside the temperature was nudging 30 degrees Celsius.//  -- nudge n  [C] //  --Hannah gave me a gentle nudge .//


Words: nudist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who enjoys not wearing any clothes because they believe it is natural and healthy//   naturist//  -- nudism n  [U] //


Words: nugget
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  English dialect nug  ’block, lump’]//\n  1 a small rough piece of a valuable metal found in the earth:  --a gold nugget //\n  2 a small, round piece of food:  --chicken nuggets//\n  3  nugget of information/wisdom etc:  a piece of valuable information, advice etc//  --It took months to extract that nugget of information from them.//


Words: nuisance
Meaning:
S3   n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: nusaunce, from  Old French nuisir  ’to harm’]//\n  1 [C usually singular] a person, thing, or situation that annoys you or causes problems:  a real/awful/terrible etc nuisance //  --The dogs next door are a real nuisance.//  What a nuisance!  BrE //  --What a nuisance! I’ve forgotten my ticket.//  I hate to be a nuisance.../Sorry to be a nuisance... //  --I hate to be a nuisance, but could you move your car to the other side of the street?//  --Stop making a nuisance of yourself  (=annoying other people with your behaviour) !//  -- It’s a nuisance having to get up that early on a Sunday morning.//\n  2 [U and C]  law the use of a place or property in a way that causes public annoyance:  --The nightclub has been declared a public nuisance .//


Words: NUJ
Meaning:
the   the National Union of Journalists the professional  trade union in the UK for people working in newspapers, magazines, and book production//


Words: nuke
Meaning:
v [T]  informal \n  1 to attack a place using nuclear weapons:\n  2 to cook food in a microwave oven:  --Nuke it for two minutes.//\nnuke 2 n [C]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: nuclear]//  a nuclear weapon//


Words: null
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: nul, from  Latin nullus  ’not any’]//  null and void//   law an agreement, contract etc that is null and void has no legal force//   invalid//  --The contract was declared null and void .//


Words: nullify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  nullified present participle  nullifying third person singular  nullifies  [T] //\n  1  law to officially state that something has no legal force:  --The election results were nullified because of voter fraud.//\n  2  formal to make something lose its effect or value:  --Recent inflation could nullify the economic growth of the last several years.//  -- nullification/n[hA356]l[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: nullity
Meaning:
n [U]  law   the fact that a marriage or contract no longer has any legal force//  --a decree of nullity//


Words: numb
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  From the past participle of  nim  ’to take’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English niman]//\n  1 a part of your body that is numb is unable to feel anything, for example because you are very cold:  --My fingers were so numb I could hardly write.//  --The anaesthetic made his whole face go numb .//\n  2 unable to think, feel, or react in a normal way:  numb with shock/fear/terror etc //  --I just sat there, numb with fear.//  -- numbly adv //  --She watched numbly as Matt walked away.//  -- numbness n  [U] //  --It caused some numbness in my hand.//\nnumb 2 v [T] \n  1 to make someone unable to feel pain or feel things they are touching:  --The cold had numbed her fingers.//  --the numbing effect of the drug//\n  2 to make someone unable to think, feel, or react in a normal way:  --He was numbed by the shock of his wife’s death.//


Words: number
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 number:\n   2 phone:\n   3 in a set/list:\n   4 for recognizing somebody/something:\n   5 amount:\n   6 numbers:\n   7 music:\n   8 magazine:\n   9 have somebody’s number:\n  10 black/elegant etc (little) number:\n  11 somebody’s number comes up:\n  12 somebody’s number is up:\n  13 the numbers:\n  14 by numbers:\n  15 do a number on somebody/something:\n  16 beyond/without number:\n  17 group of people:\n  18 grammar:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: nombre, from  Latin numerus]//\n  1 NUMBER:   [C] a word or sign that represents an amount or a quantity//    numeral, figure//  --They wrote various numbers on a large sheet of paper.//  --Five was her lucky number.//  --an even number  (=2, 4, 6, 8, 10 etc) //  --an odd number  (=1, 3, 5, 7, 9 etc) //  round number (=a number ending in 0) //  --A million pounds seemed a suitably round number.//  be good/bad/no good with numbers  informal  (=to be good, bad etc at calculating things using numbers) //    cardinal number,  ordinal number,  prime number,  whole number//\n  2 PHONE:   [C] a phone number//  --My new number is 502-6155.//  sb’s home/office/work number //  --I gave him my home number.//  mobile/fax number //  --What’s your mobile number?//  --Sorry, you have the wrong number .//\n  3 IN A SET/LIST:   [C] a number used to show the position of something in an ordered set or list//  --Answer question number 4.//  --a number 17 bus//    E number,  No. 10,  number one1 //\n  4 FOR RECOGNIZING SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   [C] a set of numbers used to name or recognize someone or something//  model/account etc number //  --What is your account number, please?//  --Press 1 to change the printer number.//  --Did you get the number (=registration number) of the car? BrE//    box number,  PIN,  serial number//\n  5 AMOUNT:   [U and C] an amount of something that can be counted//   quantity//  the number of sth//  --The number of cars on our roads rose dramatically last year.//  a number of sth//  --We have been friends for a number of years.//  a large/small/significant/growing etc number of sth //  --Doctors believe only a tiny number of people are at risk.//  --The lake produces a good number of  (=a lot of) salmon each season.//  --There was an unusually high number of entries in the competition.//  --They were printed in limited numbers .//  --Young people have been leaving the countryside in large numbers for urban areas.//  --Today’s case brings the number of successful prosecutions in the region to  (=makes the number rise to) thirty-four.//  --There could be any number of  (=many) reasons why she’s late.//  --The condors have dwindled to an estimated sixty in number .//\n  6  numbers [plural] how many people there are, especially people attending an event or doing an activity together:  --Can you give me some idea of numbers?//  student/client etc numbers //  --Visitor numbers increase in the summer.//  --The sheer weight of numbers  (=large number of people) on stage made the performance more impressive.//\n  7 MUSIC:   [C] a piece of popular music that forms part of a longer performance//  --Madonna sang several numbers from her latest album.//    production number//\n  8 MAGAZINE:   [C]  BrE a copy of a magazine or newspaper printed on a particular date//   issue//  number of//  --I was reading the latest number of ’Surfing’.//  -- back numbers  (=old copies) of The Times//\n  9  have sb’s number:   informal to understand something about someone that helps you deal with them//  --Judy had always had his number.//\n  10  black/elegant etc (little) number:   informal a black,  elegant etc dress or suit, especially a woman’s//  --She was wearing a chic little number.//\n  11  sb’s number comes up:  someone has the winning number in a competition//\n  12  sb’s number is up:   also sb’s number has come up //   informal //  a) used to say that someone will stop being lucky or successful//  b) used to say that someone will die - used humorously//  --She told her husband she didn’t mind going when her number was up.//\n  13  the numbers:  a) information about something that is shown using numbers//  --Chris, have you got the numbers yet?//  b) an illegal game in the US in which people risk money on the appearance of a combination of numbers in a newspaper//  -- playing the numbers //\n  14  by numbers:  if you do something by numbers, you do it in a basic way by following a set of simple instructions - used to show disapproval//  --The last thing we want is teaching by numbers.//\n  15  do a number on sb/sth:   informal to hurt or damage someone or something badly//  --Tod really did a number on the old house. I don’t envy the new tenants.//\n  16  beyond/without number:   literary if things are beyond number, there are so many of them that no one could count them all//\n  17 GROUP OF PEOPLE:   [U]  formal a group of people//  one/two/several etc of our/their number //  --Only three of our number could speak Italian.//  --They wanted to choose a leader from among their own number .//\n  18 GRAMMAR:   [U]  technical the form of a word, depending on whether one thing or more than one thing is being talked about//  --’Horses’ is plural in number, while ’horse’ is singular.//\nNumber 10     No. 10//\nNumber 11     No. 11//\nnumber 2 v \n  1 [T] to give a number to something that is part of an ordered set or list:  --They haven’t numbered the pages of the report.//  --All the seats in the theatre are numbered.//  --Each check is numbered consecutively .//  --a numbering system//  number sth (from) 1 to 10/100 etc //  --Number the questions 1 to 25.//\n  2 [linking verb] if people or things number a particular amount, that is how many there are:  --The population of the town numbered about 5,000.//  --The men on strike now number 5% of the workforce.//\n  3  sb’s/sth’s days are numbered:  used to say that someone or something cannot live or continue for much longer//  --I knew my days were numbered at that firm.//\n  4  number among sth/be numbered among sth:   formal to be included as one of a particular group//  --He was a successful corporate lawyer who numbered among his clients J.P. Morgan and Standard Oil.//\n  5 [T]  literary to count something:  --Who can number the stars?//  number off phr v//  if soldiers number off, each one calls out their number when their turn comes//  American Equivalent:  count off//


Words: number crunching
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   the process of working with a lot of numbers and calculating results//  -- number-crunching adj //


Words: number one
Meaning:
n   1 [U] the best, most important, or most successful person or thing in a group//  --Until his marriage, his job was number one in his life.//  --Shearson is number one in the market this year.//\n  2 [U and C] the musical record that is the most popular at a particular time:  --number one in the charts//  --They’ve had three number ones.//\n  3  look out for number one:   also  look after number one//   spoken to look after yourself and not worry about other people, in a way that may seem  selfish//\n  4 [singular, U]  spoken  informal a word meaning urine, used especially with children to avoid saying this directly:\nnumber one 2 adj \n  1 most important or successful in a particular situation:  --The University of Maine has the number one hockey team in the country.//  --Sweden’s number one model//\n  2 first on a list of several things to be considered, done etc:  --item number one on the agenda//  --This has got to be our number one task.//


Words: number plate
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   one of the signs with numbers and letters on it at the front and back of a car//    registration number//  American Equivalent:  license plate//


Words: number two n [singular
Meaning:
U]  spoken  informal   a word meaning solid waste from your bowels, used especially with children to avoid saying this directly//    number one//


Words: numbskull
Meaning:
numskull/n[hA356]msk[hA356]l/ n [C]  informal   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: numb +  skull]//  a very stupid person//   idiot//  --Look what you’ve done now, you numbskull!//


Words: numeracy
Meaning:
n [U]   the ability to do calculations and understand simple mathematics//    literacy//  --The report suggests that students need to improve their numeracy skills.//


Words: numeral
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: numeralis, from  Latin numerus;   NUMBER1]//  a written sign such as 1, 2, or 3 that represents a number//    figure//  -- numeral adj //


Words: numerate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: numerus (  NUMBER1) +  English  -ate (as in literate)]//  able to do calculations and understand simple mathematics//    literate//


Words: numeration
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: numeratio, from  numerare  ’to count’, from  numerus;   NUMBER1]//  a system of counting or the process of counting//


Words: numerator
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Latin numerare;   NUMERATION]//  the number above the line in a fraction, for example 5 is the numerator in 5/6//    denominator//


Words: numerical
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: numerus;   NUMBER1]//  expressed or considered in numbers//  --a numerical code//  --The home team tried to utilize their numerical advantage (=the fact that they had more players than the other team) .//  --Make sure the files are organized in numerical order .//  -- numerically/-kli/ adv //


Words: numerous
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: numerosus, from  numerus;   NUMBER1]//  many//  --Numerous attempts have been made to hide the truth.//  --The two leaders have worked together on numerous occasions .//  too numerous to mention/list //  --The individuals who have contributed to this book are far too numerous to mention.//


Words: numinous
Meaning:
adj  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: numen  ’spiritual force or influence’]//  having a mysterious and holy quality, which makes you feel that God is present//


Words: numismatics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: numismatique, from  Latin nomisma  ’coin’]//  the activity of collecting and studying coins and medals//


Words: nun
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: nonna]//  someone who is a member of a group of religious women that live together in a convent//    monk//


Words: nuncio
Meaning:
n   plural  nuncios  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Early  Italian, from  Latin nuntius  ’messenger’]//  a representative of the Pope in a foreign country//


Words: nuptial
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: nuptialis, from  nubere  ’to marry’]//  relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony//    wedding//  --a nuptial mass//  --nuptial bliss//


Words: Nuremberg
Meaning:
an industrial city in Bavaria, southern Germany, whose German name is Nurnberg. People think of Nuremberg because of the Nuremberg Rallies of the 1930s, when the Nazi Party held very large well-organized public meetings. In 1945-46 the Nuremberg Trials took place there, when many Nazi leaders were judged in a court of law for their war crimes, and some of them were punished by death.//


Words: Nureyev
Meaning:
Rudolf   (1938-93) a Russian  ballet dancer who escaped from the former  Soviet Union in 1961 to live in the West. He often danced with Dame Margot  Fonteyn and was one of the greatest male dancers ever.//


Words: nurse
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   stethoscope//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: nurice, from  Latin nutricius;   NUTRITIOUS]//\n  1 someone whose job is to look after people who are ill or injured, usually in a hospital:  --The nurse is coming to give you an injection.//  --The school nurse sent Sara home.//  --a male nurse//  --a senior nurse//  --a student nurse (=someone who is learning to be a nurse) //  --a psychiatric nurse (=a nurse for people who are mentally ill) //  --a community nurse//\n  2  old-fashioned a woman employed to look after a young child:   nanny//    nursery nurse,  wet nurse//\nnurse 2 v   ----------//\n   1 sick people:\n   2 rest:\n   3 feed a baby:\n   4 your feelings:\n   5 take care of something:\n   6 drink:\n   7 hold:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: nursh  ’to nourish’ (14-16 centuries), from  nourish; influenced by   NURSE1]//\n  1 SICK PEOPLE:  a)  [T] to look after someone who is ill or injured//  --He’s been nursing an elderly relative.//  --After Ray’s operation, Mrs Stallard nursed him back to health .//  b)  [I usually in progressive] to work as a nurse//  --She spent several years nursing in a military hospital.//\n  2 REST:   [T not in passive] to rest when you have an illness or injury so that it will get better//  --Shaw has been nursing a sore ankle, and is not expected to play on Sunday.//\n  3 FEED A BABY:  a)  [I and T]  old-fashioned if a woman nurses a baby, she feeds it with milk from her breasts//   breastfeed//  --information on nutrition for nursing mothers//  b)  [I] if a baby nurses, it sucks milk from its mother’s breast//\n  4 YOUR FEELINGS:   [T not in passive] to keep a feeling or idea in your mind for a long time, especially an angry feeling//  nurse a grudge/grievance/ambition etc //  --For years he had nursed a grievance against his former employer.//\n  5 TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING:   [T] to take special care of something, especially during a difficult situation//  nurse sth through/along etc//  --He bought the hotel in 1927 and managed to nurse it through the Depression.//\n  6 DRINK:   [T]  informal if you nurse a drink, especially an alcoholic one, you drink it very slowly//  --Oliver sat at the bar, nursing a bottle of beer.//\n  7 HOLD:   [T]  literary to hold something carefully in your hands or arms close to your body//  --a child nursing a kitten//


Words: nursery
Meaning:
n   plural  nurseries  [C] //\n  1 a place where young children are taken care of during the day while their parents are at work:\n  2 a place where plants and trees are grown and sold:\n  3  nursery education/unit/teacher etc:   BrE education etc for young children from three to five years old//    nursery school//\n  4 a room in a hospital where babies that have just been born are looked after:\n  5  old-fashioned a baby’s bedroom or a room in a house where young children play:


Words: nursing
Meaning:
n [U]   the job or skill of looking after people who are ill, injured, or old//  --I’d love to go into nursing.//  --the nursing profession//  --psychiatric nursing//


Words: nursing home
Meaning:
n [C]   a place where people who are old and ill can live and be looked after//   old people’s home//


Words: nurture
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  formal \n  1 to help a plan, idea, feeling etc to develop:  --European union is an ideal that has been nurtured since the post-war years.//  --a hatred of foreigners nurtured by the media//\n  2 to feed and take care of a child or a plant while it is growing:  --plants nurtured in the greenhouse//\nnurture 2 n [U]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: norriture, from  Late Latin nutritura, from  Latin nutrire;   NUTRIENT]//  the education and care that you are given as a child, and the way it affects your later development and attitudes//


Words: NUS
Meaning:
the   National Union of Students an organization that represents students at colleges and universities in the UK. As well as supporting the rights of students, it also arranges entertainment, travel, advice centres etc for students.//


Words: NUT
Meaning:
the   the National Union of Teachers one of the main professional  trade unions which represents teachers in England and Wales, in both government and private schools//


Words: nut
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 food:\n   2 tool:\n   3 crazy person:\n   4 golf/opera etc nut:\n   5 sex organ:\n   6 the nuts and bolts of something:\n   7 tough/hard nut:\n   8 a hard/tough nut to crack:\n   9 be off your nut:\n  10 do your nut:\n  11 head:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: hnutu]//\n  1 FOOD:  a dry brown fruit inside a hard shell, that grows on a tree//  --a pine nut//  --roasted nuts//  --We were sitting round the fire cracking nuts  (=opening them) .//  2 TOOL//  a small piece of metal with a hole through the middle which is screwed onto a bolt to fasten things together//  --Use a wrench to loosen the nut.//\n  3 CRAZY PERSON:   informal someone who is crazy or behaves strangely//  --My dad is such a nut.//  --What are you, some kind of nut?//\n  4  golf/opera etc nut:   informal someone who is very interested in golf etc//    fanatic//  --You don’t have to be a sports nut to enjoy skiing.//\n  5 SEX ORGAN:   nuts [plural]  informal a man’s testicles//\n  6  the nuts and bolts of sth:   informal the practical details of a subject or job//  --the nuts and bolts of government//\n  7  tough/hard nut:   informal someone who is difficult to deal with//  --He may have softened a bit in his old age but he’s still a tough nut.//\n  8  a hard/tough nut to crack:  a difficult problem or situation//  --Celtic have lost only once this season and will be a tough nut to crack.//\n  9  be off your nut:   BrE  spoken  informal to be crazy//  --You must be off your nut!//\n  10  do your nut:   BrE  spoken to become very angry or worried//  --I didn’t get home till three - my mum did her nut!//\n  11 HEAD:   BrE  spoken  old-fashioned your head or brain//  sb’s nut//  --Oh come on, use your nut !//\nnut 2   past tense and past participle  nutted present participle  nutting  v [T]  BrE  spoken //  to hit someone with your head//   headbutt//  --He just turned round and nutted me!//


Words: Nutcracker
Meaning:
The   (1892) a  ballet with music by  Tchaikovsky about a girl who dreams that her  nutcracker becomes a prince. It is one of the most popular ballets, and is often performed at Christmas.//


Words: nuthouse
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  informal a place that is loud, unpleasant, and not organized:  --I don’t want to spend another night in this nuthouse.//\n  2  old-fashioned  informal a psychiatric hospital:


Words: nutmeg
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Proven[hA168]al; Origin: noz muscada  ’musky nut’]//  [U] a brown powder made from the seed of a tropical tree, which is used as a spice//


Words: nutraceuticals
Meaning:
n [plural]   foods that are designed to improve health and lower the risk of disease, for example by increasing the amount of vitamins in them, or removing some of the fat//   functional foods//


Words: nutrient
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  nutrire  ’to feed, nourish’]//  a chemical or food that provides what is needed for plants or animals to live and grow//  --The plant absorbs nutrients from the soil.//  -- nutrient adj //


Words: nutriment
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: nutrimentum, from  nutrire;   NUTRIENT]//  a substance that gives plants and animals what they need in order to live and grow//   nourishment//


Words: nutrition
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin nutritio, from  Latin nutrire;   NUTRIENT]//\n  1 the process of giving or getting the right type of food for good health and growth:    malnutrition//  --Nutrition and exercise are essential to fitness and health.//  --a nutrition expert//  poor/good nutrition //  --Poor nutrition can cause heart disease in later life.//\n  2 the science that deals with the effects of food,  vitamins etc on people’s health:


Words: nutritional
Meaning:
adj   relating to the substances in food that help you to stay healthy//  --Cooking vegetables for too long lessens their nutritional value .//  --the nutritional requirements of pregnant women//  --nutritional deficiencies//  -- nutritionally adv //


Words: nutritious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: nutricius, from  nutrix  ’nurse’]//  food that is nutritious is full of the natural substances that your body needs to stay healthy or to grow properly//  --Wholemeal bread is more nutritious than white bread.//  --Nuts and fruit make nutritious snacks.//  --The cookbook contains many simple yet highly nutritious meals.//


Words: nuts
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  informal \n  1 crazy:  --Are you nuts?//  --I’m going to go nuts  (=become crazy) if I don’t find a new job soon.//  --Turn that radio off. It’s driving me nuts  (=annoying me very much) .//\n  2  go nuts:   spoken //  a) to become very excited because something good has just happened//  --The crowd went nuts after the third touchdown.//  b) to become very angry about something//  --Mom’s going to go nuts if you don’t clean this mess up.//\n  3  be nuts about/over sb/sth:  to like someone or something very much//  --My wife is nuts about kids.//\nnuts 2 interjection  AmE  old-fashioned \n  1 used to emphasize that something bad or annoying has happened:  --Nuts! Now we’re going to be late for the movie.//\n  2  nuts to sb/sth:  used when you are angrily refusing to listen to someone or do something//  --’Nuts to that,’ he sneered, and left.//


Words: nutshell
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  in a nutshell:  used when you are stating the main facts about something in a short, clear way//  --Okay, that’s our proposal in a nutshell. Any questions?//\n  2 the hard outer part of a nut:


Words: nutty
Meaning:
adj \n  1  informal crazy:  --It’s another of his nutty ideas.//  --She’s nutty as a fruitcake  (=completely crazy) .//\n  2 tasting like, or containing, nuts:  --This coffee has a rich nutty flavour.//  --a nutty cake//


Words: nuzzle
Meaning:
preposition, T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: nose]//  to gently rub or press your nose or head against someone to show you like them//  --Evan leaned forward and began nuzzling her shoulder.//  nuzzle against//  --The horses were nuzzling up against each other.//


Words: NVQ
Meaning:
n [C]   National Vocational Qualification an examination relating to the skills and knowledge involved in a particular type of work. NVQs are taken in Britain, usually by people who are already working.//


Words: Nyerere
Meaning:
Julius   (1922-99) a Tanzanian politician who was one of the leaders of the country’s fight for independence from the UK. He was the first President of  Tanzania (1964-85) and he strongly believed that African countries should develop their own farming and industry without copying Western economic ideas.//


Words: nylon
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Invented word]//\n  1 [U] a strong artificial material that is used to make plastics, clothes, rope etc:  --nylon fabric//  --The tent was made of nylon.//\n  2  nylons [plural]  old-fashioned women’s stockings that are made of nylon:


Words: nymph
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: nimphe, from  Latin, from  Greek nymphe  ’bride, nymph’]//\n  1 one of the spirits of nature who, according to ancient Greek and Roman stories, appeared as young girls living in trees, mountains, streams etc:\n  2  literary a beautiful girl or young woman:


Words: nymphomaniac
Meaning:
informal  [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: nymphomania  (18-21 centuries), from  Modern Latin nymphae  ’outer parts of the female sex organs’ +  Late Latin mania (  MANIA)]//  a woman who wants to have sex often, usually with a lot of different men//   sex maniac//  -- nymphomania/-ni[hA353]/ n  [U] //


Words: O
Meaning:
o/[hA353][hA35E] $ o[hA35E]/ n   plural  O’s  o’s //\n  1 [U and C] the 15th letter of the English alphabet:\n  2 [U]  spoken zero:  --My phone number is six o four double two (=60422) .//\n  3 [U] a common type of blood:\n interjection   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Natural sound]//\n  1 used when praying to a god or, in the past, when speaking to someone in great authority:  --O Lord, in you I put my trust.//\n  2 another form of oh:


Words: O grade
Meaning:
n [U and C]   an examination in a particular subject which children take in schools in Scotland, usually at the age of 16//    higher//    O level//


Words: O level
Meaning:
n [U and C]   Ordinary level an examination in a range of subjects, done by students in schools in England and Wales, usually at the age of 15 or 16. In 1988, O levels were replaced by GCSEs//    GCSE, A Level//


Words: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Meaning:
the title and first words of a Christmas  carol (=a traditional religious song) . It begins: O little town of Bethlehem,/How still we see thee lie,/Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,/The silent stars go by.//


Words: O’Brien
Meaning:
an important character in the book 1984 by George Orwell. O’Brien pretends to be a friend of the main character Winston Smith, but tricks and tortures him.//


Words: o’clock
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: of the clock]//  one o’clock/two o’clock etc//  one of the times when the clock shows the exact hour as a number from 1 to 12//  --It’s already 9 o’clock.//  --The meeting is at 10 o’clock.//  ----------//  O’clock  //  Do not use  o’clock  for times that include minutes or parts of an hour : ten past nine (NOT ten past nine o’clock) |  I get up at 6.30 (NOT 6.30 o’clock)  //  Do not use  o’clock  when the time is written in the form 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 etc. Write 1 o’clock, 2 am, or simply 3.00. //  ----------//


Words: O’Connell
Meaning:
Daniel   (1775-1847) an Irish politician who forced the government to give rights to Catholics, and worked for an end to the union with Britain//


Words: O’Hara
Meaning:
Scarlett   the main female character in the book and film Gone With the Wind. She is a beautiful, determined, and clever woman.//


Words: O’Keeffe
Meaning:
Georgia   (1887-1986) a US artist who painted large beautiful paintings of flowers and animal bones. Her later paintings were often influenced by the desert scenery of New Mexico, where she went to live.//


Words: O’Neill
Meaning:
Eugene   (1888-1953) a US writer of plays, who won the  Nobel Prize for Literature in 1936. His plays include  The Iceman Cometh and  Long Day’s Journey into Night.//


Words: o.n.o.
Meaning:
BrE   or near/nearest offer used in advertisements to show that you are willing to sell something for slightly less money than you have said in the advertisement//  --Bicycle for sale: [hA124]60 o.n.o.//


Words: oaf
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old Norse; Origin: alfr  ’elf’]//  someone who is stupid or awkward, especially a man//  -- oafish adj //


Words: oak
Meaning:
S3   n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ac]//  a large tree that is common in northern countries, or the hard wood of this tree//  --an oak door//


Words: Oakley
Meaning:
Annie   (1860-1926) a US woman who was very skilled at shooting, and who performed in  Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. The musical show and film  Annie Get Your Gun is based on her life.//


Words: Oaks
Meaning:
the   a horse race for  fillies (=young female horses)  held every year at Epsom in the UK, one of the most important events in British  flat racing (=racing on level ground, not jumping over fences) //


Words: oakum
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: acumba  ’material separated with a comb’]//  small pieces of old rope used for filling up small holes in the sides of wooden ships//


Words: OAP
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   old age pensioner a person who is old enough to receive a pension from the state//  --special rates for OAPs//


Words: oar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ar]//\n  1 a long pole with a wide flat blade at one end, used for rowing a boat:    paddle//\n  2  put/stick/get your oar in:   BrE  informal to get involved in a conversation or situation when the other people do not want you to//  --We were getting along fine until you stuck your oar in.//


Words: oarlock
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Language: Old English; Origin: arloc]//  one of the small pieces of metal on a rowing boat that holds the oars//


Words: OAS
Meaning:
the   the Organization of American States an organization whose members include the US and Canada and most of the countries of Central and South America. Its aims are to preserve peace and to help the economic development of the area.//


Words: OASDHI
Meaning:
Old Age, Survivors, Disability, and Hospital Insurance the  Social Security insurance programme provided by the US government for people who have worked in the US for a certain number of years. The programme provides  pensions (=money for older people who have stopped working) , money for people who have been permanently injured, and  medicare (=medical care for older people) .//


Words: oasis
Meaning:
n   plural  oases /si[hA359]z/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek]//\n  1 a place with water and trees in a desert:\n  2 a peaceful or pleasant place that is very different from everything around it:  an oasis of calm/serenity/tranquillity etc //  --The park was an oasis of peace.//


Words: oast house
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Language: Old English; Origin: ast]//  a round building with a pointed top, built for drying hops//


Words: Oates
Meaning:
Captain Lawrence   (1880-1912) a British  explorer who went with Captain  Scott on his journey to the South Pole. On the way back, Oates was suffering from  frostbite and could no longer walk fast enough, so he deliberately killed himself by going out into the snow, because he did not want to delay the other members of the team. His last words, "I am just going outside, and may be some time", are now often said humorously by someone when they are about to do something difficult or slightly dangerous, and they are not sure when they will return.//


Words: oath
Meaning:
n   plural  oaths /[hA353][hA35E][hA171]z $ o[hA35E][hA171]z/ [C] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: ath]//\n  1 a formal and very serious promise:  oath of loyalty/allegiance/obedience etc (to sb) //  --an oath of allegiance to the Queen//  swear/take an oath //  --Servicemen have to swear an oath of loyalty to their country.//  --The president took the oath of office  (=promised to do a government job well before beginning it) .//\n  2  law a formal promise to tell the truth in a court of law:  on/under oath//  --The evidence was given under oath.//  --Witnesses are required to take the oath  (=make this promise) .//\n  3  written an offensive word or phrase that expresses anger, surprise, shock etc:  --He was shouting out oaths as they led him away.//


Words: oatmeal
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1  BrE crushed oats used in cooking, especially for making  biscuits or porridge:\n  2  AmE a soft breakfast food made by boiling crushed oats:  British Equivalent:  porridge//\n  3 a light brown colour:


Words: oats
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ate (singular)]//  the grain from which flour or oatmeal is made and that is used in cooking, or in food for animals//    sow your wild oats at sow1 (3)//


Words: ob/gyn
Meaning:
n  informal  especially AmE \n  1 [U] the part of medical science that deals with obstetrics and gynaecology:\n  2 [C] a doctor who works in this part of medical science:


Words: obdurate
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obdurare  ’to harden’]//  very determined not to change your beliefs, actions, or feelings, in a way that seems unreasonable//   stubborn//  --They argued, but he remained obdurate.//  -- obduracy n  [U] //  -- obdurately adv //


Words: OBE
Meaning:
n   Officer of the Order of the British Empire a special honour given to some British people for things they have done for their country. OBE is written after someone’s name to show that they have been given this honour//  --John Smith, OBE//  --She’s been given an OBE.//


Words: obedience
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone does what they are told to do, or what a law, rule etc says they must do//  → disobedience//  obedience to//  --obedience to God//  in obedience to sth//  --He lived in obedience to the church’s teachings.//  blind/unquestioning/complete obedience (=complete obedience without any thought) //  --With blind obedience, I allowed my father to organize my life.//  --obedience classes for dogs and their owners//


Words: obedient
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  oboedire;   OBEY]//\n  1 always doing what you are told to do, or what the law, a rule etc says you must do:  → disobedient//  --an obedient child//  obedient to//  --citizens who are obedient to the law//\n  2  your obedient servant:   old use a phrase used to end a very formal letter//  -- obediently adv //


Words: obeisance
Meaning:
n [U and C]  literary   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: obeir;   OBEY]//  respect and obedience to someone or something, often shown by bending your head or the upper part of your body//  make/pay obeisance (to sb/sth) //  --They made obeisance to the sultan.//


Words: obelisk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obeliscus, from  Greek, from  obelos  ’pointed pillar’]//  a tall pointed stone pillar, built to remind people of an event or of someone who has died//


Words: Oberammergau
Meaning:
a town in Bavaria, southern Germany, where a  passion play (=a play telling the story of Jesus’ suffering and death)  has been performed by the people of the town every ten years since 1634, as a way of thanking God for saving them from the  plague (=a very infectious disease that killed large numbers of people) //


Words: Oberon
Meaning:
the king of the fairies and the husband of  Titania in the play  A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William  Shakespeare//


Words: obese
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: obesus, past participle of  obedere  ’to eat up’]//  very fat in a way that is unhealthy//   see usage note  fat1 //


Words: obey
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: obeir, from  Latin oboedire, from  audire  ’to hear’]//  to do what someone in authority tells you to do, or what a law or rule says you must do//  → disobey//  --The little boy made no effort to obey.//  --’Sit!’ he said, and the dog obeyed him instantly.//  obey an order/command //  --Soldiers are expected to obey orders without questioning them.//  obey the law/rules //  --Failure to obey the law can lead to a large fine.//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’obey to’ someone or something. Obey must be followed directly by a noun: He refused to obey their orders (NOT He refused to obey to their orders). //  ----------//


Words: obfuscate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obfuscare, from  Latin fuscus  ’dark brown’]//  to deliberately make something unclear or difficult to understand//  -- obfuscation/[hA361]bf[hA353]ske[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA35A][hA359]b-/ n  [U] //


Words: Obie Award
Meaning:
n [C]   The Village Voice Off-Broadway Award a prize given to plays in the theatres of the  off-Broadway area of New York City//


Words: obit
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin obitus  ’death’, from  obire  ’to go to meet, die’, from  ire  ’to go’]//  an obituary//


Words: obituary
Meaning:
n   plural  obituaries  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: obituarium, from  Latin obitus;   OBIT]//  an article in a newspaper about the life of someone who has just died//


Words: object
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 thing:\n   2 aim:\n   3 an object of pity/desire/ridicule etc:\n   4 money/expense is no object:\n   5 object lesson:\n   6 grammar:\n   7 computer:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: objectum, from  Latin obicere;   OBJECT2]//\n  1 THING:   [C] a solid thing that you can hold, touch, or see but that is not alive//  --an everyday object such as a spoon//  --a small metal object//  --scientists studying plants, animals, or inanimate objects  (=things that are not alive) //    UFO//\n  2 AIM:   [singular] the purpose of a plan, action, or activity//    goal, aim//  object of//  --The object of the game is to improve children’s math skills.//  --My object was to explain the decision simply.//  --The customer will benefit most, and that is the object of the exercise  (=the purpose of what you are doing) .//\n  3  an object of pity/desire/ridicule etc:  someone or something that is pitied, wanted etc//  --She feared becoming an object of ridicule.//  --sports cars and other objects of desire//  --an object of study //    sex object//\n  4  money/expense is no object:  used to say that you are willing to spend a lot of money to get something//  --Money’s no object; I want the best.//\n  5  object lesson:  an event or story that shows you the right or wrong way of doing something//  object lesson in//  --The way ants work is an object lesson in order and organization.//\n  6 GRAMMAR:   [C] //  a) a noun or pronoun representing the person or thing that something is done to, for example ’the house’ in ’We built the house.’//   direct object//  b) a noun or pronoun representing the person or thing that is joined by a preposition to another word or phrase, for example ’the table’ in ’He sat on the table.’//  c) the person who is involved in the result of an action, for example ’her’ in ’I gave her the book.’//   indirect object//    subject//\n  7 COMPUTER:   [C] a combination of written information on a computer and instructions that act on the information, for example in the form of a document or a picture//  --multimedia data objects//  ----------//  HINT sense 2 //  Do not use object to mean ’the thing you are working towards and hope to achieve’. Use objective: We have not yet achieved our objective (NOT our object). //  ----------//\nobject 2 S2   v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obicere  ’to throw in the way, prevent, object’, from  jacere  ’to throw’]//\n  1 [I] to feel or say that you oppose or disapprove of something:  --If no one objects, I would like Mrs Harrison to be present.//  object to (doing) sth//  --Robson strongly objected to the terms of the contract.//  --I objected to having to rewrite the article.//  I object (=used in formal arguments, for example in a court of law) //  --Mr. Chairman, I object. That is an unfair allegation.//\n  2 [T] to state a fact or opinion as a reason for opposing or disapproving of something:  object that//  --The group objected that the policy would prevent patients from receiving the best treatment.//  --’My name’s not Sonny,’ the child objected.//    objector//


Words: object-oriented
Meaning:
adj   object-oriented computer programming languages are based on objects that are arranged in a hierarchy//  --object-oriented programming//  --object-oriented languages//


Words: objectify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  objectified present participle  objectifying third person singular  objectifies  [T]  formal //  to treat a person or idea as a physical object//  --a culture that objectifies women//  -- objectification/[hA353]bd[hA360]ekt[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: objection
Meaning:
S3   n \n  1 [U and C] a reason that you have for opposing or disapproving of something, or something you say that expresses this:  --Her objection was that he was too young.//  objection to//  --Lawyers  raised no objections to the plan.//  --Normally he would have no objection to the whole world knowing his business.//  --Local residents raised strong objections to the building application.//  --He had  moral objections to killing animals for food.//  --the religious objections of some parents//  --The bill was passed over the objections of many Democrats.//\n  2  objection!:   spoken formal said by lawyers to a judge in a court when they think that what another lawyer has just said should not be allowed//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  raise/voice/make an objection (to something) //  have no objection (to something) //  strong objection //  moral objection //  religious objection //  do something over the objections of somebody (=do something despite someone’s objections) //  ----------//


Words: objectionable
Meaning:
adj  formal   unpleasant and likely to offend people//   offensive//  --objectionable odours//  --This programme contains scenes some viewers may find objectionable .//  -- objectionably adv //


Words: objective
Meaning:
W3   n [C] \n  1 something that you are trying hard to achieve, especially in business or politics:   goal//  --He vowed to  achieve certain objectives before the end of his presidency.//  --the best way to accomplish your objectives //  --The degree program has two main objectives .//  --Managers should set specific performance objectives for their teams.//  --The main objective was to improve children’s knowledge of geography.//  --A clear objective was set and adhered to.//  --One of your first business objectives should be to get your own office.//\n  2 a place that you are trying to reach, especially in a military attack:  --The 4th Division’s objective was a town twenty miles to the east.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  achieve/meet an objective //  accomplish an objective (=achieve an objective) //  have an objective //  set an objective (=decide what your objective is) //  main/primary/principal objective //  clear/specific objective //  career objectives //  business objectives //  ----------//\nobjective 2 S3 adj \n  1 based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts rather than on your feelings or beliefs:  → subjective//  objective assessment/measurement/description etc //  --It’s hard to give an objective opinion about your own children.//  --Scientists need to be objective when doing research.//  purely/totally/completely objective //  --the importance of a completely objective, independent press//\n  2  formal existing outside the mind as something real, not only as an idea:  --The world has an objective reality.//  -- objectivity/[hA361]bd[hA360]ekt[hA366]v[hA369]ti $ [hA35A][hA359]b-/ n  [U] //


Words: objectively
Meaning:
adv   if you consider something objectively, you try to think about the facts, and not be influenced by your own feelings or opinions//  --Look at your skills objectively when deciding on a career change.//


Words: objector
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who states or shows that they oppose something//  objector to//  --objectors to the new motorway//    conscientious objector//


Words: objet d’art
Meaning:
n   plural  objets d’art  (same pronunciation)  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’object of art’]//  a small object used for decoration, with some value as art//


Words: obligate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]  especially AmE   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obligare;   OBLIGE]//\n  1 to make someone have to do something, because it is the law, their duty, or the right thing to do:   oblige//  obligate sb to do sth//  --Tenants are obligated to pay their rent on time.//\n  2  be/feel obligated:  to feel that you must do something because it is right or because someone has done something for you//   be/feel obliged//  be/feel obligated to do sth//  --Ava felt obligated to help her mother, even if it meant leaving college.//  be/feel obligated to sb//  --Watson felt obligated to him for the loan.//    oblige//


Words: obligation
Meaning:
W3   n [U and C]   a moral or legal duty to do something//  obligation to//  --America’s obligation to its allies//  --Employers have an obligation to treat all employees equally.//  --Parents are under a  legal  obligation to  educate their children.//  --You  are under no obligation to  buy any more books.//  --Greater resources are needed to meet these obligations .//  --the rights and obligations imposed on them by treaties//  --The government must pay for health care for war veterans - it is an obligation we owe to them.//  --a  moral obligation to help the poor//  --He stayed with the team out of a sense of obligation .//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have an obligation (to do something) //  be under an obligation (to do something)  (=have an obligation) //  be under no obligation (to do something) //  meet/fulfil an obligation  (=do something that is your duty) //  honour an obligation formal (=meet an obligation) //  impose an obligation formal (=make someone have an obligation) //  owe somebody an obligation formal (=feel that you must do something for someone) //  moral/legal/social obligation //  contractual obligation  (=something that a contract says you must do) //  a sense of obligation //  ----------//


Words: obligatory
Meaning:
adj \n  1  formal something that is obligatory must be done because of a law, rule etc:   compulsory, mandatory//  it is obligatory for sb (to do sth)//  --It is obligatory for companies to provide details of their industrial processes.//\n  2 [only before noun] used humorously to describe something that is always done or included in a particular situation:  --She offered him the obligatory cup of tea.//


Words: oblige
Meaning:
S3   v  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: obliger, from  Latin obligare, from  ligare  ’to tie’]//\n  1 [T usually passive] if you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc makes it necessary:  oblige sb to do sth//  --The minister was obliged to report at least once every six months.//  --Circumstances had obliged him to sell the business.//  feel obliged to do sth (=feel that you have a duty to do something) //  --Many parents feel obliged to pay for at least part of the wedding.//\n  2 [I and T] to do something that someone has asked you to do:  --It’s always a good idea to oblige important clients.//  happy/glad/ready etc to oblige //  --If you need a ride home, I’d be happy to oblige.//\n  3  I’d be obliged if:   spoken formal used to make a polite request//  --I’d be obliged if you’d treat this matter as strictly confidential.//\n  4  (I’m) much obliged (to you):   spoken  old-fashioned used to thank someone very politely//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not use oblige when you are talking about making someone do something they do not want to do. Use force or make: No one can force (NOT oblige) you to stay in a job that you hate. //  ----------//


Words: oblique
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: obliquus]//\n  1 not expressed in a direct way:   indirect//  --an oblique reference to his drinking problem//\n  2 not looking, pointing etc directly at something:  --an oblique glance//\n  3  oblique line/stroke etc:  a sloping line etc//\n  4  oblique angle:   technical an angle that is not 90 degrees//  -- obliquely adv //\noblique 2 n [C]  BrE   a mark ( / ) used for writing fractions or for separating numbers, letters, words etc//   slash//


Words: obliterate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obliterare, from  litera  ’letter’]//\n  1 to destroy something completely so that nothing remains:  --Hiroshima was nearly obliterated by the atomic bomb.//\n  2 to remove a thought, feeling, or memory from someone’s mind:  --Nothing could obliterate the memory of those tragic events.//\n  3 to cover something completely so that it cannot be seen:  --Then the fog came down, obliterating everything.//  -- obliteration/[hA353]bl[hA366]t[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: oblivion
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin oblivio, from  oblivisci  ’to forget’]//\n  1 when something is completely forgotten or no longer important:  sink/slip/pass etc into oblivion //  --Wind power presents too many advantages to be allowed to sink into oblivion.//  --The loser’s name has been consigned to oblivion  (=completely forgotten) .//\n  2 the state of being unconscious or of not noticing what is happening:  --the oblivion of sleep//  --He had drunk himself into oblivion.//


Words: oblivious
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   not knowing about or not noticing something that is happening around you//   unaware//  oblivious of/to//  --He seemed oblivious to the fact that he had hurt her.//  seemingly/apparently oblivious //  --Congress was seemingly oblivious to these events.//  -- obliviousness n  [U] //


Words: oblong
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: oblongus, from  ob-  ’toward’ +  longus  ’long’]//\n  1  BrE an oblong shape has four straight sides at 90 degrees to each other, two of which are longer than the other two:   rectangular//  --an oblong table//\n  2  AmE an oblong shape is much longer than it is wide:  --an oblong leaf//  -- oblong n  [C] //


Words: obloquy
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: obloquium, from  obloqui  ’to speak against’]//\n  1 very strong, offensive criticism:\n  2 loss of respect and honour:


Words: obnoxious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obnoxius, from  noxa  ’harm’]//  very offensive, unpleasant, or rude//  --She’s really obnoxious.//  --an obnoxious idea//  --obnoxious odours//  -- obnoxiously adv //  -- obnoxiousness n  [U] //


Words: oboe
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: French hautbois, from  haut  ’high’ +  bois  ’wood’]//  a wooden musical instrument like a narrow tube, which you play by blowing air through a reed//  -- oboist n  [C] //


Words: obscene
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin obscenus]//\n  1 relating to sex in a way that is shocking and offensive:    rude//  --Bradford made an obscene gesture .//  -- obscene phone calls  (=calls from an unknown person saying obscene things) //  --obscene photographs//\n  2 extremely unfair, immoral, or unpleasant, especially in a way that makes you angry:  --Some players earn obscene amounts of money.//  --an obscene act of cruelty//  -- obscenely adv //


Words: obscenity
Meaning:
n   plural  obscenities //\n  1 [U] sexually offensive language or behaviour, especially in a book, play, film etc:  --laws against obscenity//\n  2 [C usually plural] a sexually offensive word or action:    swear//  --drunken youths screaming obscenities//


Words: obscurantism
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   the practice of deliberately stopping ideas and facts from being known//  -- obscurantist adj //


Words: obscure
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin obscurus]//\n  1 not well known and usually not very important:  --an obscure poet//  --The details of his life remain obscure .//\n  2 difficult to understand:  --obscure legal phrases//  -- For some obscure reason , the group is very popular.//  -- obscurely adv //\nobscure 2 v [T] \n  1 to make something difficult to know or understand:  --Recent successes have obscured the fact that the company is still in trouble.//\n  2 to prevent something from being seen or heard clearly:  --The view was obscured by mist.//


Words: obscurity
Meaning:
n   plural  obscurities //\n  1 [U] the state of not being known or remembered:  fade/slide/sink etc into obscurity //  --The group produced two albums before disappearing into obscurity.//  live/work/remain etc in obscurity //  --O’Brien died in obscurity.//  from obscurity to sth//  --She rose from obscurity to stardom.//\n  2 [U and C] something that is difficult to understand, or the quality of being difficult to understand:  --obscurities in the text//


Words: obsequies
Meaning:
n [plural]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin obsequiae, from (influenced by  Latin obsequium;   OBSEQUIOUS)  Latin exsequiae  ’funeral ceremony’]//  a funeral ceremony//


Words: obsequious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: obsequiosus, from  obsequium  ’willingness to obey’, from  obsequi  ’to do what people want’, from  sequi  ’to follow’]//  very eager to please or agree with people who are powerful - used in order to show disapproval//   servile//  --an obsequious smile//  -- obsequiously adv //  -- obsequiousness n  [U] //


Words: observable
Meaning:
adj   something that is observable can be seen or noticed//    noticeable//  --an observable change in behaviour//  -- observably adv //


Words: observance
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when someone obeys a law or does something because it is part of a religion, custom, or ceremony:  observance of//  --the observance of a peace agreement//  --the strict observance of Islam//  --the Memorial Day observance//\n  2 [C] something you do as part of a ceremony, especially a religious ceremony:  --religious observances//


Words: observant
Meaning:
adj \n  1 good or quick at noticing things:  --a quiet and observant person//  --Supervisors are trained to be observant.//  --the writer’s observant eye for detail//\n  2 obeying laws, religious rules etc:  --observant Jews//


Words: observation
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [U and C] the process of watching something or someone carefully for a period of time:  observation of//  --Bloomfield’s approach to linguistics was based on observation of the language.//  --He spent two nights under under close observation in hospital.//  --His orders were to keep the men under observation .//  --Art classes help develop children’s powers of observation .//  -- Careful observation suggests that this is not the case.//  -- Detailed observations were carried out on the behaviour of the students.//  --From their  direct observations , children absorb a model of marriage.//\n  2 [C] something that you notice when watching something or someone:  --Some interesting observations emerged from this research.//\n  3 [C] a spoken or written remark about something you have noticed:  observation on//  --Darwin’s observations on the habits of certain birds//  observation about//  --Paz makes some observations about the role of the critic.//\n  4 [U] the act of obeying a law etc:   observance//  -- observational adj //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  be under observation  (=being watched carefully) //  keep somebody under observation //  somebody’s powers of observation  (=someone’s ability to notice things) //  close/careful/detailed observation //  direct observation //  personal observation //  ----------//


Words: observation tower
Meaning:
n [C]   a tall structure built so that you can see a long way, used to watch prisoners, look for forest fires etc//


Words: observatory
Meaning:
n   plural  observatories  [C] //  a special building from which scientists watch the moon, stars, weather etc//


Words: observe
Meaning:
W2   v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: observer, from  Latin observare  ’to guard, watch’, from  servare  ’to keep’]//\n  1 [T not in progressive]  formal to see and notice something:  --Scientists have observed a drop in ozone levels over the Antarctic.//  observe that//  --It was observed that 40 percent of patients had high blood pressure.//  observe sb doing sth//  --Officers observed him driving at 90 miles per hour.//  --Predators have been observed to avoid attacking brightly coloured species.//\n  2 [I and T] to watch something or someone carefully:  --The police have been observing his movements.//  --One student performs the experiment, while his partner observes.//  observe what/how/where//  --Observe how the people in the group interact.//\n  3 [T]  formal to say or write what you have noticed about a situation:  --’Sid looks ill,’ Doherty observed.//  observe that//  --Keynes observed that humans fall into two classes.//\n  4 [T] to do what you are supposed to do according to a law or agreement:   obey//  --So far the ceasefire has been observed by both sides.//\n  5 [T] to do things and obey laws that are part of a religion or custom:


Words: Observer
Meaning:
The   a serious British Sunday newspaper which generally supports fairly  left-wing political ideas. The Observer is owned by the same company that owns  The Guardian.//


Words: observer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who regularly watches or pays attention to particular things, events, situations etc:  observer of//  --an observer of nature//  --political observers//  --Observers are predicting a fall in interest rates.//\n  2 someone who attends meetings, classes, events etc to check what is happening:  --The UN sent observers to the peace talks.//  --Independent observers monitored the elections.//\n  3 someone who sees or looks at something:  --reports from observers at sea and on dry land//  casual observer (=someone looking at something but not very carefully) //  --A casual observer would have guessed his age at 70.//


Words: obsess
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obsidere  ’to besiege’]//\n  1 [T usually passive] if something or someone obsesses you, you think or worry about them all the time and you cannot think about anything else - used to show disapproval:  be obsessed by/with sth/sb//  --A lot of young girls are obsessed by their weight.//  --Jody’s been obsessed with some lifeguard for months.//\n  2  be obsessing about/over sth/sb:   informal to think about something or someone much more than is necessary or sensible//  --Stop obsessing about your hair. It’s fine.//


Words: obsession
Meaning:
n [U and C]   an extreme unhealthy interest in something or worry about something, which stops you from thinking about anything else//  --Gambling  became an obsession , and he eventually lost everything.//  obsession with//  --an  unhealthy obsession  with being thin//  --The current obsession with exam results is actually harming children’s education.//  --The game pachinko became a  national obsession .//  --He has an enthusiasm for art,  to the point of obsession in my opinion.//  --She looked after him with a devotion  bordering on obsession .//  -- obsessional adj //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  become an obsession //  unhealthy/dangerous obsession //  sexual obsession //  national/American/British etc obsession //  to the point of obsession //  border on/upon obsession  (=be almost as bad as an obsession) //  ----------//


Words: obsessive
Meaning:
adj   thinking or worrying about something all the time, so that you do not think about other things enough - used to show disapproval//  --an obsessive concern with cleanliness and order//  obsessive about (doing) sth//  --I try to stay fit, but I’m not obsessive about it.//  -- obsessively adv //\nobsessive 2 n [C]  BrE  technical   someone whose behaviour is obsessive//


Words: obsessive-compulsive
Meaning:
adj  technical   someone who is obsessive-compulsive tends to repeat particular actions in a way that is not necessary, because they have strong anxious feelings//  --obsessive-compulsive behaviour//


Words: obsidian
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: obsidianus lapis, mistake for  obsianus lapis  ’stone of Obsius’, a Roman traveler said to have discovered the rock]//  a type of rock that looks like black glass//


Words: obsolescence
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 when something becomes old-fashioned and no longer useful, because something newer and better has been invented:\n  2  planned/built-in obsolescence:  when a product is designed so that it will soon become unfashionable or impossible to use and will need replacing//  --the planned obsolescence of some software//


Words: obsolescent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  obsolescere;   OBSOLETE]//  becoming obsolete//


Words: obsolete
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obsolescere  ’to grow old, become disused’]//  no longer useful, because something newer and better has been invented//    out-of-date//  --obsolete weapons//  --computer hardware that quickly became obsolete //  --Will computers render  (=make) books obsolete ?//


Words: obstacle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin obstaculum, from  obstare  ’to stand in the way, stand in front of’]//\n  1 something that makes it difficult to achieve something:  obstacle to//  --Fear of change is an obstacle to progress.//  --The tax puts obstacles in the way of companies trying to develop trade overseas.//  --Women still have to overcome many obstacles to gain equality.//  --We want to  remove all obstacles to travel between the two countries.//  --the single biggest obstacle to a Conservative victory in the next election//  --There are  formidable obstacles  on the road to peace.//\n  2 an object which blocks your way, so that you must try to go around it:  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  put/place obstacles in the way (of something) //  overcome an obstacle //  remove an obstacle //  main/biggest/greatest obstacle //  major/serious obstacle //  insuperable obstacle (=one that makes it impossible to achieve something) //  formidable obstacle (=a very difficult obstacle) //  legal obstacle //  political obstacle //  ----------//


Words: obstacle course
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a line of objects which people have to jump over, climb through etc in a race:\n  2 a series of difficulties which must be dealt with to achieve a particular aim:\n  3 an area of land with special equipment that soldiers must run through, climb over etc, as part of their training:  British Equivalent:  assault course//


Words: obstetrics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: obstetrix  ’midwife’, from  obstare;   OBSTACLE]//  the part of medical science that deals with the birth of children//  -- obstetric adj //


Words: obstinate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obstinare  ’to be determined’]//\n  1 determined not to change your ideas, behaviour, opinions etc, even when other people think you are being unreasonable:   stubborn//  --He was the most obstinate man I’ve ever met.//  --Don’t be so obstinate!//  --an obstinate refusal to obey//\n  2 [only before noun]  BrE difficult to deal with or get rid of:  --obstinate stains//  --a complex and obstinate issue//  -- obstinately adv //  -- obstinacy n  [U] //


Words: obstreperous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obstreperus, from  obstrepere  ’to shout against’]//  noisy and refusing to do what someone asks//    awkward//  -- obstreperously adv //


Words: obstruct
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obstruere  ’to build in the way’]//\n  1 to block a road, passage etc:   block//  --A small aircraft was obstructing the runway.//  --The column obstructed our view of the stage.//\n  2 to prevent someone from doing something or something from happening, by making it difficult:   block//  --The group is trying to obstruct the peace process.//  --He was fined for obstructing the work of the police.//


Words: obstruction
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] when something blocks a road, passage, tube etc, or the thing that blocks it:   blockage//  --an operation to remove an obstruction from her throat//  --Police can remove a vehicle that is causing an obstruction .//  obstruction of//  --an unlawful obstruction of the highway//\n  2 [U] when someone or something prevents or delays a legal or political process:  obstruction of//  --the obstruction of vital legislation//  --He was found guilty of obstruction of justice .//\n  3 [U] an offence in football, hockey etc in which a player gets between an opponent and the ball:


Words: obstructionism
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   when someone tries to prevent or delay a legal or political process//  -- obstructionist n  [C] //


Words: obstructive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 trying to prevent someone from doing something, by deliberately making it difficult for them:  --an obstructive official//  --obstructive tactics//\n  2  medical relating to a blocked tube, passage etc in the body:  --obstructive symptoms//


Words: obtain
Meaning:
v  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: obtenir, from  Latin obtinere  ’to hold on to, own, obtain’]//\n  1 [T] to get something that you want, especially through your own effort, skill, or work:   get//  obtain sth from sb/sth//  --Further information can be obtained from head office.//  --You will need to obtain permission from the principal.//  obtain sth through sth//  --the results obtained through these surveys//\n  2 [I not in progressive] if a situation, system, or rule obtains, it continues to exist:  --These conditions no longer obtain.//


Words: obtrude
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obtrudere  ’to push out at’]//  if something obtrudes, or you obtrude something, it becomes noticeable where it is not wanted//    intrude//


Words: obtrusive
Meaning:
adj   noticeable in an unpleasant or annoying way//  → unobtrusive//  --obtrusive TV antennas//  --The waiters were friendly and not obtrusive.//


Words: obtuse
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obtusus  ’blunt’, from  obtundere  ’to beat against, make blunt’]//  slow to understand things, in a way that is annoying//  --’But why?’ said Charles, being deliberately obtuse.//  -- obtuseness n  [U] //


Words: obverse
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: obversus, from  obvertere  ’to turn toward’]//\n  1  formal the opposite of a particular situation or feeling:   opposite//  obverse of//  --The obverse of victory is defeat.//\n  2  the obverse:   technical the front side of a coin or medal//  → reverse//


Words: obviate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  obviare  ’to meet, be unharmed by’, from  Latin obviam  ’in the way’]//   formal to prevent or avoid a problem or the need to do something//   eliminate//  --The new treatment obviates the need for surgery.//


Words: obvious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: obvius, from  obviam;   OBVIATE]//\n  1 easy to notice or understand:  --The obvious way of reducing pollution is to use cars less.//  --For obvious reasons the police cannot give any more details about the case.//  --The most obvious example of an information source is a dictionary.//  --The obvious question is - does his invention work?//  --The quality of his cooking is immediately obvious .//  it is obvious (that)//  --It was obvious that Gina was lying.//  obvious to//  --It might be obvious to you, but it isn’t to me.//\n  2 behaving in a way that shows you want something very badly, when other people think this behaviour is not suitable:  --I know you really like him, but you don’t have to be so obvious about it.//\n  3  the/an obvious choice:  the person or thing that you would expect everyone to choose//  --Teaching is an obvious choice of career if you like working with children.//\n  4  the obvious thing (to do):  what clearly seems the best thing to do//  --The obvious thing is to speak to her before you make a decision.//\n  5  state the obvious:  to say something that is already obvious so it is not necessary to say it//  --It is stating the obvious, but regular measurement of blood pressure is essential in older people.//  -- obviousness n  [U] //


Words: obviously
Meaning:
adv   used to mean that a fact can easily be noticed or understood//  --We’re obviously going to need more help.//  --Your research has obviously been very thorough.//  --Obviously, this is going to take some time.//  --Cost is obviously important.//  --She frowned and was obviously puzzled.//


Words: occasion
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 time:\n   2 special event:\n   3 cause/reason:\n   4 if (the) occasion arises:\n   5 on occasion:\n   6 on the occasion of something:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin occasio, from  occidere  ’to fall down’]//\n  1 TIME:  a)  [C] a time when something happens//  on ... occasion//  --I’ve seen Jana with them on several occasions.//  --On this occasion we were sitting in a park in Madrid.//  --She had met Zahid on two separate occasions.//  b)  [singular] a suitable or favourable time//  occasion for//  --This was the occasion for expressions of friendship by the two presidents.//\n  2 SPECIAL EVENT:   [C] an important social event or ceremony//  --I’m saving this bottle of champagne for a special occasion .//  --They presented him with a gift to mark the occasion  (=celebrate it) .//  occasion of//  --His funeral was a great occasion of public mourning.//\n  3 CAUSE/REASON:   [U]  formal a cause or reason//  --His remark was the occasion of a bitter quarrel.//  --I had occasion to call on him last year.//\n  4  if (the) occasion arises:   formal if a particular action ever becomes necessary//  --If ever the occasion arises when I want advice, you’re the first person I’ll come to.//\n  5  on occasion:  sometimes but not often//  --On occasion prisoners were allowed visits from their families.//\n  6  on the occasion of sth:   formal at the time of an important event//  --on the occasion of his second wedding//    rise to the occasion at rise1 (9),  a sense of occasion at sense1 (1)//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not use occasion when you mean ’a time when it is possible for you to do what you want to do’. Use opportunity or chance: Do not waste this opportunity (NOT this occasion). //  ----------//\noccasion 2 v [T]  formal   to cause something//  --She had a long career break occasioned by her husband’s job being moved to Paris.//  occasion sb sth//  --Your behaviour has occasioned us a great deal of anxiety.//


Words: occasional
Meaning:
W3S3   adj [only before noun]   happening sometimes but not often or regularly//  --He made occasional visits to London.//  --They had an occasional coffee together after shopping.//  --He only has occasional use of a car.//  --We should have enough money left for the occasional trip.//


Words: occasionally
Meaning:
W3S2   adv   sometimes, but not regularly and not often//  --Occasionally Alice would look up from her books.//  --We only see each other very occasionally  (=rarely) .//    frequency//


Words: Occident
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  occidere  ’to fall’, (of the sun)  ’to set’]//  the Occident//   literary the western part of the world, especially Europe and the Americas//    Orient//


Words: occult
Meaning:
n   the occult//  mysterious practices and powers involving magic and spirits//  --He was a strange man who dabbled in the occult.//  -- occultist n  [C] //\noccult 2 adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: occultus, from  occulere  ’to cover up’]//  magical and mysterious//  --occult practices//  --the occult powers//


Words: occupancy
Meaning:
n [U]  formal \n  1 the number of people who stay, work, or live in a room or building at the same time:  single/multiple occupancy //  --single occupancy room rates//  --Hotels in Tokyo enjoy over 90% occupancy.//\n  2 someone’s use of a building, hotel, or other space, for living or working in, or the period during which they live or work there:  --The day for changing from one occupancy to the next was on a Saturday.//


Words: occupant
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who lives in a house, room etc:    resident//  --The furniture had been left by the previous occupants.//  occupant of//  --Police are still trying to trace the occupants of the house which was destroyed by fire.//\n  2 someone who is in a room, vehicle etc at a particular time:  --Neither of the car’s two occupants was injured.//


Words: occupation
Meaning:
W3S3   n \n  1 [C] a job or profession:  --Please state your name, address and occupation.//  --professional and managerial occupations//  --manual occupations see usage note  job//\n  2 [U] when a large group of people enter a place and take control of it, especially by military force:  occupation of//  --the German occupation of France//  under occupation//  --The area is under occupation (=controlled by a foreign army) .//\n  3 [C] a way of spending your time:   pastime//  --One of my childhood occupations was collecting stamps.//\n  4 [U] when someone lives or stays in a building or place:  --When the first scientists came to the region they found little evidence of human occupation.//


Words: occupational
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   relating to, or caused by your job//  --occupational pension schemes//  --an occupational health centre//  --occupational disease//  --Getting injured is an occupational hazard  (=a risk that always exists in a particular job or activity) of the sport.//  -- occupationally adv //


Words: occupational therapist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone whose job is to help people get better after an illness by giving them activities to do//


Words: occupied
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [not before noun] busy doing something:  occupied with//  --His time was occupied with the children.//  --She’s fully occupied with work.//  --The museum has enough exhibits to keep anyone occupied for an hour or two.//  --I kept myself occupied by watching television.//\n  2 [not before noun] a bed, chair, room etc that is occupied is being used:  --Sorry, this seat is occupied.//\n  3 an occupied place is controlled by an army from another country:  --occupied territories//


Words: occupier
Meaning:
n [C]  especially  BrE \n  1 someone who lives in or uses a particular house, piece of land etc:    resident//  --A large proportion of occupiers now own their homes.//\n  2 a member of an army that has occupied a city or country by force:    owner-occupier at owner-occupied//


Words: occupy
Meaning:
W2S3   v   past tense and past participle  occupied present participle  occupying third person singular  occupies  [T] //  ----------//\n   1 stay in a place:\n   2 fill time:\n   3 control by force:\n   4 fill space:\n   5 occupy somebody’s mind/thoughts/attention:\n   6 use:\n   7 official position:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: occuper, from  Latin occupare]//\n  1 STAY IN A PLACE:  to live or stay in a place//  --He occupies the house without paying any rent.//  --The building was purchased and occupied by its new owners last year.//\n  2 FILL TIME:  if something occupies you or your time, you are busy doing it//  --Football occupies most of my leisure time.//  occupy sb with (doing) sth//  --Only six percent of police time is occupied with criminal incidents.//\n  3 CONTROL BY FORCE:  to enter a place in a large group and keep control of it, especially by military force//    invade//  --an occupying army//  --Students occupied Sofia university on Monday.//\n  4 FILL SPACE:  to fill a particular amount of space//  --Family photos occupied almost the entire wall.//\n  5  occupy sb’s mind/thoughts/attention:  if something occupies your mind etc, you think about that thing more than anything else//    preoccupy//  --Work will occupy your mind and help you forget about him.//\n  6 USE:  to use something such as a room, seat, or bed//  --Many patients who are occupying hospital beds could be transferred to other places.//\n  7 OFFICIAL POSITION:  to have an official position or job//  --Before becoming prime minister, he had already occupied several cabinet posts.//    occupied//


Words: occur
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  occurred present participle  occurring  [I]  formal //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: occurrere, from  currere  ’to run’]//\n  1 to happen:  --A third of accidental deaths occur in the home.//  --The explosion occurred at 5.30 a.m.//\n  2 [always + adverb/preposition] to happen or exist in a particular place or situation:  occur in/among etc//  --Whooping cough occurs mainly in young children.//  --The highest rates of unemployment occur in the inner urban areas.//  occur to [occur to sb] phr v//  if an idea or thought occurs to you, it suddenly comes into your mind//  it occurs to sb to do sth//  --I suppose it didn’t occur to you to phone the police?//  --It never seems to occur to my children to contact me.//  it occurs to sb (that)//  --It had never occurred to him that he might be falling in love with her.//


Words: occurrence
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] something that happens:    occurrence//  frequent/rare/common occurrence //  --Laughter was a rare occurrence in his classroom.//  --Flooding in the area is a common occurrence.//\n  2 [singular] the fact of something happening:  occurrence of//  --The frequent occurrence of earthquakes in the area means that the buildings must be specifically designed to withstand the force.//


Words: OCD
Meaning:
n [U]  medical   obsessive-compulsive disorder a form of mental illness in which a person does the same thing again and again and cannot stop doing it, for example washing their hands many times a day//


Words: ocean
Meaning:
W2S3   n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: oceanus, from  Greek Okeanos name of a river believed to flow around the world]//\n  1  the ocean:   especially  AmE the great mass of salt water that covers most of the Earth’s surface//   the sea//  --She stood on the beach, gazing at the ocean.//  --I like to swim in the ocean when it’s warm enough.//\n  2 [C] one of the very large areas of sea on the Earth’s surface:  --the Pacific Ocean//\n  3  oceans of sth:   informal a lot of something, especially a liquid//  --oceans of champagne//    a drop in the ocean at drop2 (8)//


Words: oceanfront
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  AmE   on the land along the edge of an ocean//  British Equivalent:  seafront//  --oceanfront houses//


Words: oceangoing
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   an oceangoing ship is designed to sail across the sea rather than a river or lake//  --an oceangoing tanker//


Words: ocelot
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Nahuatl  ocelotl  ’jaguar’]//  a large American wild cat that has a pattern of spots on its back//


Words: ochre
Meaning:
BrE  ocher AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: ocre, from  Latin ochra, from  Greek ochros  ’yellow, pale’]//\n  1 a type of reddish-yellow earth used in paints:\n  2 the reddish-yellow colour of ochre:  -- ochre adj //


Words: OCR
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   optical character recognition computer software that recognizes numbers and letters of the alphabet which are written on paper, so that information from paper documents can be scanned into a computer//


Words: octagon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: octagonum, from  Greek, from  okta-  ’eight’ +  -gonon  ’-gon’]//  a flat shape with eight sides and eight angles//  -- octagonal/[hA361]kt[zB024]g[hA353]n[hA368]l $ [hA35A][hA359]k-/ adj //  --an octagonal tower//


Words: octane
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: octo  ’eight’; because it has eight carbon atoms]//  a type of hydrocarbon that is in fuel and is used as a measure of its quality//  --low octane petrol//  --high octane fuel//


Words: octave
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: octava, from  Latin octo  ’eight’; because there are eight notes in the range]//  a) the range of musical notes between the first note of a scale and the last one//  b) the first and last notes of a musical scale played together//


Words: octet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: octo  ’eight’ +  English -et (as in duet)]//\n  1 eight singers or musicians performing together:\n  2 a piece of music for an octet:


Words: octo-
Meaning:
prefix   eight, or having eight//  --octagon (=a shape with eight sides) //  --octopus (=a sea creature with eight arms) //


Words: October
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written abbreviation Oct.   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: Octobre, from  Latin October, from  octo  ’eight’; because it was the eighth month of the ancient Roman year]//  the tenth month of the year, between September and November//  next/last October //  --We moved in last October.//  in October//  --You’re going to be busy in October.//  on October 6th//  --We begin on October 6th.//  on 6th October//   BrE //  --They were arrested on 6th October.//  October 6//   AmE //  --The baby was baptized Monday, October 6.//


Words: octogenarian
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: octogenarius  ’containing eighty’, from  octoginta  ’eighty’]//  someone who is between 80 and 89 years old//


Words: octopus
Meaning:
n   plural  octopuses  or  octopi /-pa[hA366]/ [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek oktopous  ’scorpion’, from  okto  ’eight’ +  pous  ’foot’]//  a sea creature with eight tentacles (=arms) //


Words: ocular
Meaning:
adj  medical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: ocularis, from  Latin oculus  ’eye’]//  relating to your eyes or your ability to see//  --ocular muscles//


Words: oculist
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: oculiste, from  Latin oculus;   OCULAR]//  a doctor who examines and treats people’s eyes//


Words: OD
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  OD’d present participle  OD’ing third person singular  OD’s  [I]  informal //  [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: overdose]//\n  1 overdose to take too much of a drug so that it is dangerous:  OD on//  --He OD’d on sleeping tablets.//\n  2 to see, hear, eat etc too much of something:  OD on//  --children who OD on video games//  -- OD n  [C] //


Words: ODA
Meaning:
the   the Overseas Development Administration the former name of the  DFID (the British government’s Department for International Development)//


Words: odalisque
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Turkish odalik]//  a beautiful female slave in former times//


Words: odd
Meaning:
adj   comparative  odder superlative  oddest //  ----------//\n   1 strange:\n   2 the odd occasion/day/moment/drink etc:\n   3 various:\n   4 not in a pair/set:\n   5 odd number:\n   6 20-odd/30-odd etc:\n   7 the odd man/one out:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: oddi  ’point of land, triangle, odd number’]//\n  1 STRANGE:  different from what is normal or expected, especially in a way that you disapprove of or cannot understand//  --It was an odd thing to say.//  --an odd way to behave//  --They’re an odd couple.//  --There was something odd about him.//  --What she did was unforgivable, but the odd thing was he didn’t seem to mind.//  --She was holding an extremely odd-looking weapon.//  it is/seems odd (that)//  --It seemed odd that he wanted a picture of me. see usage note  unusual//\n  2  the odd occasion/day/moment/drink etc:   especially BrE a few occasions, days etc that happen at various times but not often and not regularly//   occasional//  --Lack of sleep doesn’t matter on the odd occasion.//  --I take the odd day off work.//  --I like the odd glass of wine with my dinner.//  --Jo smokes the odd cigarette.//\n  3 VARIOUS:   [only before noun] not specially chosen or collected//  --Any odd scrap of paper will do.//\n  4 NOT IN A PAIR/SET:   [only before noun] separated from a pair or set//  --an odd shoe//  odd socks/gloves etc (=not a matching pair of socks etc) //  --He was wearing odd socks.//\n  5  odd number:  a number that cannot be divided exactly by two, for example 1, 3, 5, 7 etc//  → even number//\n  6  20-odd/30-odd etc:   spoken a little more than 20 etc//  --I have another 20-odd years to work before I retire.//\n  7  the odd man/one out:   BrE someone or something that is different from the rest of the group or not included in it//  --Which shape is the odd one out?//  --I was always the odd one out at school.//  -- oddness n  [U] //    oddly//


Words: oddball
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   someone who behaves in a strange or unusual way//  -- oddball adj //  --a rather oddball sense of humour//


Words: oddity
Meaning:
n   plural  oddities //\n  1 [C] a strange or unusual person or thing:  --In a class of 120 students there were four women including myself, and I still felt rather an oddity.//\n  2 [U and C] a strange quality in someone or something:  --60s fashions that are remembered for their oddity//


Words: oddly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a strange or unusual way:  --She’s been behaving oddly this week.//\n  2  also oddly enough :   [sentence adverb] used to say that something seems strange or surprising//  --Oddly enough, someone asked me the same question only yesterday.//


Words: oddments
Meaning:
n [plural]   small things of no value, or pieces of a material that were not used when something was made//  --You can make a patchwork quilt from oddments of silk and cotton.//


Words: odds
Meaning:
S3   n [plural]   ----------//\n   1 probability:\n   2 difficulties:\n   3 be at odds:\n   4 horse racing etc:\n   5 it makes no odds:\n   6 pay over the odds:  ----------//\n  1 PROBABILITY:   the odds//  how likely it is that something will or will not happen//  -- The odds are  (=it is likely) that he will commit the same crime again.//  the odds of//  --You can narrow the odds of a nasty accident happening in your home by being more safety-conscious.//  the odds against//  --The odds against a plane crash are around a million to one.//  --I’m afraid that the odds are heavily against her winning (=it is not likely) .//  --The odds are in favour of a Russian victory (=it is likely) .//  -- What are the odds  (=how likely is it) that they will mess up?//  --a new company that has beaten the odds and succeeded (=it was not likely to succeed, but it did) //\n  2 DIFFICULTIES:  difficulties which make a good result seem very unlikely//  -- Against all the odds, he recovered from his terrible injuries.//  --The South Africans  overcame the odds  to beat Australia.//  --The hospital’s director has been  battling against the odds to improve patient care.//  -- The odds are stacked against the young birds, especially in winter.//  --Their job was to hold on despite impossible odds , in order to give the rest of the army time to strike.//  --a little company that battled its way, despite enormous odds , to success//\n  3  be at odds:  a) to disagree//  be at odds with//  --Briggs found himself at odds with his colleagues.//  be at odds over/on//  --The two politicians were at odds over what was the truth.//  b) if two statements, descriptions, actions etc are at odds with each other, they are different although they should be the same//  be at odds with//  --Mark’s account of what happened is at odds with Dan’s.//  --She gave him a sweet smile, totally at odds with the look of dislike in her eyes.//\n  4 HORSE RACING ETC:  the numbers that show how much money you will win if you bet on the winner of a horse race or other competition//  --The odds are 6-1.//  odds of//  --At odds of 10-1 he bet a hundred pounds.//  (at) long/short odds (=high or low numbers, that show a high or low risk of losing) //  --Everyone was surprised when Desert Zone won the race, at very long odds.//  lay/offer (sb) odds  BrE //  --They are laying odds of 8-1 that the Conservatives will win the next election.//\n  5  it makes no odds:   BrE  spoken used to say that what someone does or what happens is not important//  --Pay me now or later - it makes no odds.//\n  6  pay over the odds:   BrE  informal to pay a higher price than is usual or reasonable//  --Most residents live in tiny apartments and pay over the odds for them too.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 2 //  against (all) the odds  (=although there are great difficulties) //  overcome the odds  (=succeed although there are great difficulties) //  battle against the odds //  the odds are stacked against somebody  (=there are great difficulties) //  impossible odds //  enormous/heavy/overwhelming odds //  ----------//


Words: odds and ends
Meaning:
also odds and sods  BrE  informal  n [plural]   small things of various kinds without much value//  --He didn’t keep much in his desk - just a few odds and ends.//


Words: odds-on
Meaning:
adj \n  1  odds-on favourite:  the person, horse etc that is most likely to win a race or other competition//\n  2  BrE  informal very likely:  it’s odds on (that)//  --It’s odds on that she won’t come.//  be odds-on to do sth//  --They must have felt they were odds-on to win.//


Words: ode
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin, from  Greek oide  ’song’, from  aeidein  ’to sing’]//  a poem or song written in order to praise a person or thing//  ode to//  --Keats’ ’Ode to a Nightingale’//


Words: Odin
Meaning:
in Norse  mythology, the king of the gods. He made the universe, and is also the god of war and  wisdom. In German mythology his name is  Wotan, and in Anglo-Saxon mythology his name is  Woden.//


Words: odious
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: odieus, from  Latin odiosus, from  odium  ’hate’]//  extremely unpleasant//  --an odious little man//  -- odiously adv //


Words: odium
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   a strong feeling of hatred that a lot of people have for someone because of something they have done//  --Internationally Reagan attracted odium for his militarism.//


Words: odometer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: odom[hA169]tre, from  Greek hodometron, from  hodos  ’way, road’ +  metron  ’measure’]//  an instrument in a vehicle that shows how many miles or kilometres the vehicle has travelled//  British Equivalent:  milometer//


Words: odor
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: odour, from  Latin odor]//  the American spelling of odour//


Words: odoriferous
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: odorifer  ’carrying a smell’]//   odorous//


Words: odour
Meaning:
BrE  odor AmE   n [U and C]   a smell, especially an unpleasant one//  odour of//  --the faint odour of damp//  strong/unpleasant/pungent/offensive etc odour //  --obnoxious odours from a factory//    body odour//


Words: Odysseus
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, the King of Ithaca and husband of  Penelope, who is the main character in the poem  The Odyssey by  Homer. He spent ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and another ten years travelling home after the war. He is brave, clever, and good at tricking people in order to get what he wants. In ancient Roman stories his name is  Ulysses.//    Iliad, the//    Trojan War, the//


Words: odyssey
Meaning:
n [C]  literary   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  The  Odyssey;   ODYSSEUS]//\n  1 a series of experiences that teach you something about yourself or about life:  --a spiritual odyssey//\n  2 a long journey with a lot of adventures or difficulties:  on an odyssey//  --They departed Texas on a three-year odyssey that took them as far as Japan.//


Words: OECD
Meaning:
n   the OECD//   the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development a group of rich countries who work together to develop trade and economic growth//


Words: Oedipus
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of  Thebes. When he was a baby Oedipus was left to die on a mountain by his father, but he was found and taken to live with the King of Corinth, so he did not know who his real parents were. When he became an adult, Oedipus returned to Thebes and, without knowing who they were, killed his father and married his mother. His story is told in the play  Oedipus Rex by  Sophocles.//


Words: Oedipus complex
Meaning:
n   according to Freudian psychology, when a son unconsciously feels sexual desire for his mother, combined with a hatred for his father//


Words: oesophagus
Meaning:
BrE  esophagus AmE   n   plural  oesophaguses  or  oesophagi /-ga[hA366]/ [C] //  the tube which food passes down from your mouth to your stomach//    digestive system at digestive//


Words: oestrogen
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE  estrogen AmE    a substance that is produced in a woman’s ovaries that causes changes in her body and prepares it for having babies//


Words: oeuvre
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’work’]//  all the works of an artist or writer//  --the oeuvre of Van Gogh//


Words: of
Meaning:
prep   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 used to show what a part belongs to or comes from:  --the back of the house//  --the last scene of the movie//  --the end of the day//\n  2 used to show who something or someone belongs to or has a connection with:  --a friend of Mark’s//  --Avocado salad is a favourite of mine.//  --Product inspection is the responsibility of the employees themselves.//\n  3 used when talking about a feature or quality that something has:  --the cost of the meal//  --the beauty of the scenery//  --the length of the swimming-pool//\n  4 used to show what group one or more things or people belong to:  --some of the students//  --’Sunflowers’ is one of his best-known paintings.//  --Two of the guests are vegetarian.//  --a member of the baseball team//\n  5 used to show what type of substance or thing you are referring to, when talking about an amount:  --two kilos of sugar//  --millions of dollars//  --a bar of chocolate//\n  6 used to say what something contains:  --a cup of coffee//  --several packets of cigarettes//  --truckloads of refugees//\n  7 used to say what type of things or people are in a group:  --a herd of elephants//  --his circle of friends//  --a bunch of bananas//\n  8 :  a) used to state specifically which thing of the general type mentioned you are referring to//  --the city of New York//  --the art of painting//  --the problem of unemployment//  b) used to state specifically what a particular number, amount, age etc is//  --at the age of 52//  --an increase of 3%//\n  9 used to talk about things produced by a famous or skilled writer, artist etc:  --the plays of Shakespeare//  --the paintings of Picasso//  --the work of a great architect//\n  10 used to say what a story, some news etc is about, or what a picture, map etc shows:  --a story of love and loss//  --news of his arrest//  --a photo of Elizabeth//  --a map of Indonesia//\n  11 :  a) used after nouns that refer to actions, or to people who do something, in order to show who or what the action is done to//  --the cancellation of the meeting//  --the killing of innocent children//  --supporters of the project//  b) used after nouns that refer to actions in order to show who or what does the action//  --the ringing of the phone//  --the arrival of a visitor//\n  12 used after some adjectives that describe feelings, to show who or what the feeling is directed towards:  --He’s always been frightened of spiders.//  --Most children want their parents to feel proud of them.//\n  13 used when referring to the day, moment etc when something happened:  --the day of the accident//  --the week of the festival//  --I was at home at the time of the murder.//\n  14 used to say where something is in relation to a place or thing:  north/south etc of sth //  --a historic seaside town 99 km south of London//  to the left/right of sth //  --To the left of the sofa is a table.//  --I live within a mile of here.//\n  15 used to describe a person or thing by saying what their main qualities or features are:  --Albright was seen as a woman of great determination.//  --It’s an area of considerable historical interest.//\n  16 used to say what someone’s age is:  --He has two children, a boy of twelve and a girl of fifteen.//\n  17  it is kind/stupid/careless etc of sb (to do sth):  used to say that someone’s action shows a particular quality//  --It was kind of you to remember my birthday.//\n  18 used to say where someone comes from:  --the people of China//  --Jesus of Nazareth//\n  19 used to show the country, organization, or group in which someone has a particular position:  --King Philip II of Spain//  --the secretary of the tennis club//\n  20 used in dates before the name of the month:  --the 27th of July//\n  21 used to say when something happened:  --the presidential election of 1825//  --one of the biggest upsets of recent years//\n  22  AmE  spoken used in giving the time, to mean ’before’:  British Equivalent:  to//  --It’s a quarter of seven  (=6.45) .//\n  23 used to show the cause of someone’s death:  --He died of cancer.//\n  24  literary used to say what material has been used to make something:  --a dress of pure silk//\n  25  of an evening/of a weekend etc:   BrE in the evenings, at  weekends etc//  --We often used to walk by the river of an evening.//  ----------//  GRAMMAR //  To refer to someone or something that belongs to or is connected with someone, it is usual to use  -’s  or  -s’  (NOT of) with short noun phrases : Dad’s car (NOT the car of Dad) |  a child’s bike (NOT the bike of a child) |  my sister’s boyfriend (NOT the boyfriend of my sister) |  the miners’ strike (NOT the strike of the miners) //  When referring to one of several people or things belonging to or connected with someone, or when using ’this’ or ’that’, use  of + mine/yours/his/hers/ours/theirs : a friend of mine (NOT a friend of me) |  a relation of ours (NOT a relation of us)| that car of yours (NOT that car of you) //  To talk about the person who sang, wrote, painted, or composed a particular work, use  by  not  of : a song by Mariah Carey (NOT of Mariah Carey) //  ----------//


Words: of course
Meaning:
adv \n  1 used to show that other people probably already know what you are saying is true, or expect to hear it:  --Well, she won, of course.//  --You should of course keep copies of all your correspondence.//  --Of course there will be some difficult times ahead.//\n  2  spoken  also course  informal :  used to emphasize that you are saying ’yes’ when someone asks your permission to do something//  --’Can I ring you back in a minute?’ ’Yes, of course.’//  --’Is it OK if I have another cup of coffee?’ ’Course, help yourself.’//\n  3  spoken  also course  informal :  used to emphasize that what you are saying to someone is true or correct//  --’Do you really believe her?’ ’Of course I do!’//  --’I hope this idea of yours works.’ ’Course it’ll work.’//\n  4  spoken used to show that you accept or agree with what someone has just said:  --’Don’t get angry. She’s only thirteen.’ ’Of course.’//  --’The correct answer is 83.’ ’Oh, yes, of course.’//\n  5  of course not/course not:   spoken used to emphasize that you are saying ’no’ to something//  --’Have you been reading my e-mail?’ ’Of course not!’//  --’Do you mind if I bring a friend?’ ’No, of course not.’//  ----------//  POLITENESS //  Use  of course  as a polite and friendly way of agreeing to something :  ’Can I borrow your pen?’- ’Of course’. |  Of course I’ll help you. |  ’Do you mind if I smoke?’ - ’Of course not’. //  Do not use  of course  as a reply when someone asks you for information, because this can sound rude and unfriendly. If, for example, you asked someone  : ’Is this the Swallow Hotel?’  and they said | ’Of course it is’  it would sound as though they thought the answer was obvious and that you were stupid to ask them. //  ----------//


Words: off
Meaning:
adv, prep, adj \n  1 away from a place:  --He got into his car and drove off.//  --Suddenly they turned off and parked in a side road.//  --Once we were off the main freeway, the trip felt more like a vacation.//  --Her husband was off on a business trip somewhere.//  --Are you ready? Off we go.//  --I must be off now (=I must leave) .//  --They were off to Italy (=leaving to go to Italy) and wanted to make an early start.//\n  2 not on something, or removed from something:  --Keep off the grass.//  --As he leaned forward, his hat fell off.//  --Someone had taken the mirror off the wall.//  --Take your coat off.//  --I was trying to scrape the mud off my boots.//\n  3 out of a bus, train, plane etc:  → on//  --I’ll get off at the next stop.//  --Everyone got off the train at Winnipeg.//\n  4 a machine, piece of equipment etc that is off is not working or operating:  → on//  --Will someone switch the radio off?//  --Make sure all the lights are off.//\n  5 not at work, school etc because you are ill or on holiday:    absent//  --My secretary’s been off with flu for the past week.//  --Clare had to stay off school because her mother was ill.//  --You look tired. Why don’t you take tomorrow off?//  --He needs more time off duty for relaxation and rest.//  --’Going to work today, mum?’ ’No. It ’s my day off today.’//\n  6  informal from someone:  --My brother once borrowed some money off him.//  --I got this necklace off a woman outside the market.//\n  7 :  a) used to say how far away something is//  --We could see the cliffs of Shetland about two miles off.//  --Kara’s home was a long way off across the sea.//  b) used to say how much time there is between now and a future event//  --With the exams now only a week off, I had to study hard.//  --Christmas seemed a long way off.//  c) used to say how likely or unlikely something is//  --Any kind of peace agreement still seems a long way off.//\n  8 :  a) only a short distance away from a place//  --Our hotel was just off the main street.//  --an island off the coast of France//  b) connected to a particular room, area, road etc//  --There’s a small bathroom off the main bedroom.//  --a narrow street leading off the corner of the square//\n  9 used to say that a price is reduced by a particular amount:  --If you buy more than ten, they knock 10% off.//\n  10 if an event which has been arranged is off, it will not now take place:    cancelled, postponed//  --The wedding’s off.//  --The race may have to be called off if the bad weather continues.//\n  11  BrE  informal behaviour that is off is rude or is not acceptable:  --She walked out before the end of your lecture, which I thought was a bit off.//  --Look, I know when someone’s being off with me.//\n  12 used to say how much of something someone has:  be well/badly off for sth //  --The school’s fairly well off for books these days.//  -- How are you off for sports equipment? (=do you have enough?) //    well-off,  badly off,  better off//\n  13  off and on:   also on and off //  for short periods but not regularly, over a long period of time//  --We’ve been going out together for five years, off and on.//\n  14 no longer wanting or liking something:  --Toby’s been off his food for a few days.//  go off sth/sb  BrE //  --I used to enjoy tennis, but I’ve gone off it a bit now.//  --She seems to have gone off Mark since he’s grown a beard.//\n  15 no longer taking something such as a drug or medicine:  → on//  --The operation was a success, and she’s off the morphine.//\n  16 :  a) food that is off is no longer fresh enough to eat//    rotten, sour//  --Ugh! The milk’s off.//  --Do you think the meat’s gone off ?//  b) used to say that a particular kind of food is not available in a restaurant although it is on the menu//  --I’m sorry, the fish pie is off today, sir.//\n  17  AmE not as good as usual:  --Sales figures for last year were a little off compared with those of the previous year.//\n  18  AmE not correct or not right:  --Our calculations were off.//  --Guess again. You’re way off  (=very far from being correct) .//    right off, at right3 (2),  straight off, at straight1 (7),  off the top of your head, at top1 (18),  noises off at noise1 (8)//  ----------//  HINT sense 2 //  Do not say ’off of’ something. Say off something: Get off the bus at the airport (NOT Get off of the bus at the airport). //  ----------//\noff 2 adj [only before noun] \n  1  off day/week etc:  a day, week etc when you are not doing something as well as you usually do//  --Brian never usually loses his temper - he must be having an off day .//\n  2  off period/season etc:  a period or season which is not as busy as other times of the year//  --In the off season, there’s hardly anyone staying at the hotel.//\n  3  BrE used to talk about a pair of things such as wheels on a car, to mean the one on the right:  → near//\noff 3 n  BrE \n  1  the off:  the start of a race or a journey//  --The horses were in line, ready for the off.//\n  2  from the off:  from the beginning of something//  --She was doubtful about the interview from the off.//\noff 4 v [T]  AmE  informal   to kill someone//  --The guy who did this ought to be offed.//


Words: off limits
Meaning:
adj   be off limits//  a) if a place is off limits, you are not allowed to go there//   out of bounds//  be off limits to/for//  --Footpaths are, of course, off limits to bikers.//  b) if a subject is off limits, you are not allowed to talk about it//  --Unlike most group discussions, nothing was off limits.//


Words: off-air
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   not being broadcast on the radio or television at the present moment//  → on air//  --off-air television recordings//


Words: off-balance
Meaning:
off balance adj [not before noun] \n  1 in an unsteady position and likely to fall:  throw/knock/push etc sb off-balance //  --The sudden movement of the ship knocked them both off balance.//\n  2  catch/throw sb off-balance:  to surprise or shock someone because they are not prepared for something that happens//  --I was thrown off-balance by some of the more difficult questions I was asked.//


Words: off-Broadway adj
Meaning:
adv   an off-Broadway play is one that is performed outside the Broadway entertainment area in New York City and does not involve as much money as the famous plays on Broadway//


Words: off-centre
Meaning:
BrE  off-center AmE adj [not before noun]   not exactly in the centre of something//  --Place the photo slightly off-centre, so that there is more space on the page.//


Words: off-chance
Meaning:
n  off chance  on the off-chance//  if you do something on the off-chance that something will happen, you do it hoping that it will happen although it is unlikely//  --I just came to see you on the off-chance that Pippa might be here.//


Words: off-colour
Meaning:
adj  BrE  off-color AmE \n  1 sexually offensive:  --off-color jokes//\n  2 [not before noun]  BrE slightly ill:  --She’s been feeling a bit off-colour lately.//


Words: off-cut
Meaning:
n [C]  especially BrE   a piece of wood, paper etc that is left after the main piece has been cut and removed//


Words: off-duty
Meaning:
adj   if someone such as a policeman, nurse, or soldier is off-duty, they are not working//  --an off-duty guard//  --I shall be off-duty on Thursday.//


Words: off-guard
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   catch/take sb off-guard//  to surprise someone by happening when they are not expecting something or prepared for it//  --The sudden snow storm caught us all off-guard.//


Words: off-key
Meaning:
adj   music that is off-key sounds unpleasant because it is played slightly above or below the correct pitch//    in tune//  --The band sounded slightly off-key.//  -- off-key adv //  --Someone upstairs was singing off-key.//


Words: off-kilter
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not completely straight or correctly balanced:  --The paintings were slightly off-kilter.//\n  2 unusual in a strange or interesting way:  --her off-kilter sense of humour//


Words: off-licence
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a shop that sells wine, beer, and other alcoholic drinks, in bottles or cans//  American Equivalent:  liquor store//


Words: off-message adj
Meaning:
adv   a politician who is off-message says things that are different from the ideas of the political party they belong to//  → on-message//


Words: off-peak
Meaning:
adj  especially BrE \n  1 off-peak hours or periods are times that are less busy because fewer people want to do or use something:  --Telephone charges are lower during off-peak periods .//\n  2 off-peak travel, electricity etc is cheaper because it is done or used at less busy times:  -- off-peak adv //


Words: off-piste
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: piste  ’(ski) track’, from  Old Italian pista, from  pistare  ’to press down with the feet’]//  not on the usual ski slopes//  --off-piste skiing//  -- off-piste adv //


Words: off-putting
Meaning:
adj  BrE   if someone’s behaviour or the appearance of something is off-putting, you do not like it or you think it is unattractive//  --Some women found the competitive style of the discussions off-putting.//  -- off-puttingly adv //    put sb/sth off at put//


Words: off-road
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun] \n  1 designed to be used on rough ground as well as on roads:  --an off-road vehicle //\n  2 going over rough ground:  --off-road cycling//  --off-road tracks//  -- off-road adv //


Words: off-screen
Meaning:
adv   when a film actor is not acting//  → on-screen//  --What’s he like off-screen?//  -- off-screen adj //  --off-screen romances//


Words: off-season
Meaning:
n   the off-season//  a) the time of year when not many people are taking holidays//   low season//    high season//  in the off-season//  --Most hotels are closed in the off-season.//  b)  AmE the time of year when a sport is not usually played//  British Equivalent:  close season//  -- off-season adj  adv //  --Take advantage of our special off-season fares.//


Words: off-site adj
Meaning:
adv   happening away from a particular place, especially a place of work//  → on-site//  --the off-site disposal of harmful waste//  --A small team worked off-site on the project.//


Words: off-the-cuff
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   an off-the-cuff remark, reply etc is one that you make without thinking about it first//   spontaneous//  -- off-the-cuff adv //


Words: off-the-peg
Meaning:
adj  BrE off the rack  AmE   off-the-peg clothes are made in standard sizes, not made especially to fit one person//    made-to-measure//  -- off-the-pegoff the rack //   adv //  --It was only a cheap suit, bought off-the-peg.//


Words: off-the-record
Meaning:
adj  off the record  an off-the-record remark is unofficial and is not supposed to be made public//  --The Prime Minister’s remarks were strictly off the record.//  -- off the record adv //


Words: off-the-shelf adj
Meaning:
adv   already made and available in shops rather than being designed especially for a customer//  --off-the-shelf database software//


Words: off-white
Meaning:
n [U]   a white colour that has some yellow or grey in it//  -- off-white adj //  --an off-white blouse//


Words: off-year
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 a year when something is not as successful as usual:  off-year for//  --an off-year for car sales//\n  2  AmE a year in which no national political elections happen:


Words: Offa’s Dyke
Meaning:
a long wall of earth, originally over 100 miles long, put up to mark the border between Wales and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, by King Offa of Mercia in the 8th century. Parts of it can still be seen.//


Words: offal
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: of  ’off’ +  fall]//  the inside parts of an animal, for example the heart, liver, and kidneys used as food//


Words: offbeat
Meaning:
adj  informal   unusual and not what people normally expect, especially in an interesting way//  --offbeat humour//  --She’s a little offbeat, but she’s a wonderful actress.//


Words: offence
Meaning:
W3  BrE  offense AmE   n \n  1 [C] an illegal action or a crime:  --The possession of stolen property is a criminal offence. //  --Punishment for a  first offence is a fine.//  --His solicitor said he  committed the offence because he was heavily in debt.//  --The bill makes it an offence to carry a knife.//  offence against//  --sexual offences against children//\n  2 [U] when you offend or upset someone by something you do or say:  cause/give offence //  --The problem was how to say ’no’ to her without causing offence.//  --Don’t be upset by what he said; he meant no offence  (=did not intend to offend anyone) .//\n  3  no offence:   spoken used to tell someone that you hope that what you are going to say or do will not offend them//  --No offense, but this cheese tastes like rubber.//\n  4  take offence (at sth):  to feel offended because of something someone says or does//  --I think he took offence at my lack of enthusiasm.//\n  5 [U]  formal the act of attacking:  --the weapon of offence used during the attack//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  criminal offence //  serious/minor offence //  first offence  (=the first illegal thing that someone has done) //  commit an offence //  capital offence  (=a crime for which death is the punishment) //  federal offense  American English (=a very serious offence against the law of the US, rather than against state law) //  driving/parking etc offence //  it is an offence to do something //  make something an offence/make it an offence to do something //  a punishable offence //  an offence punishable by/with something //  ----------//


Words: offend
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: offendre, from  Latin offendere  ’to strike against, offend’]//\n  1 [I and T] to make someone angry or upset by doing or saying something that they think is rude, unkind etc:  --His remarks deeply offended many Scottish people.//  be offended by/at sth//  --Liddy was offended by such a personal question.//  --The careful language is designed not to offend.//\n  2 [T] to seem bad or unacceptable to someone:  --A solution must be found that doesn’t offend too many people.//  --Some of these new buildings really offend the eye (=look very ugly) .//\n  3 [I]  formal to commit a crime or crimes:  --Many of the young men here are likely to offend again.//\n  4 [I and T]  formal to be against people’s feelings of what is morally acceptable:  offend against//  --Broadcasters have a responsibility not to offend against good taste and decency.//


Words: offended
Meaning:
adj   someone who is offended is angry and upset by someone’s behaviour or remarks//  feel/look/sound offended //  --Stella was beginning to feel a little offended.//  --I knew that Piers would be deeply offended .//  --I get very offended when he talks to me like that.//  --radio listeners who are easily offended //


Words: offender
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is guilty of a crime:  --Community punishment is used for less serious offenders.//  --At 16, Scott was already a persistent offender  (=someone who has been caught several times for committing crimes) .//    first offender,  sex offender,  young offender//\n  2 someone or something that is the cause of something bad:  --Among causes of air pollution, car exhaust fumes may be the worst offender .//


Words: offending
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1  the offending ...:  the thing that is causing a problem - often used humorously//  --I decided to have the offending tooth removed.//\n  2 relating to or guilty of an illegal offence:  --offending behaviour//  --the offending vehicle//\n  3 making people feel angry or insulted:  --his offending remarks//


Words: offense
Meaning:
n   the usual American spelling of offence//\noffense 2   n [U]  AmE   the part of a game such as American football, which is concerned with getting points and winning, or the group of players who do this//  → defense//  --The Bears are going to have work on their offense this season.//


Words: offensive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very rude or insulting and likely to upset people:  → inoffensive//  --I found her remarks deeply offensive .//  offensive to//  --crude jokes that are offensive to women//  --offensive behaviour//\n  2  formal very unpleasant:  --an offensive smell//\n  3 [only before noun] for attacking:    defensive1 (1)//  --Jan was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon .//  --The troops took up offensive positions.//\n  4  AmE relating to getting points and winning a game, rather than stopping the other team from getting points:  → defensive//  --the Jets’ offensive strategy//  -- offensively adv //  --Rick’s remarks were offensively racist.//  -- offensiveness n  [U] //\noffensive 2 n [C] \n  1 a planned military attack involving large forces over a long period:  --a military offensive //  --A major offensive was launched on August 22.//\n  2  go on the offensive:   also  take the offensive//  to start attacking or criticizing someone before they start attacking or criticizing you//  --Republicans went on the offensive over soaring gasoline prices.//  --The international coalition was ready to take the offensive.//\n  3  charm/diplomatic offensive:  a planned set of actions intended to influence a lot of people//


Words: offer
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: offrir, from  Latin offerre, from  ferre  ’to carry’]//\n  1 [T] to ask someone if they would like to have something, or to hold something out to them so that they can take it:  offer sb sth//  -- Can I offer you something to drink?//  --They offered him a very good job, but he turned it down.//  offer sth to sb//  --Maureen lit a cigarette and offered one to Lucy.//  --The drama school offers places to students who can show talent.//\n  2 [I and T] to say that you are willing to do something:  --I don’t need any help, but it was nice of you to offer.//  offer to do sth//  --My dad has offered to pick us up.//  --The newspaper offered to apologise for the article.//\n  3 [T] to provide something that people need or want:  offer advice/help/support etc //  --Your doctor should be able to offer advice on diet.//  offer an opportunity/chance/possibility //  --The course offers the opportunity to specialize in the final year.//  --A number of groups offer their services free of charge.//  --The Centre offers a wide range of sports facilities.//  offer sth to sb//  --I did what I could to offer comfort to the family.//\n  4  have sth to offer (sb):  to have qualities, opportunities etc that people are likely to want or enjoy//  --Canada has much to offer in terms of location and climate.//  --He felt he had nothing to offer her that she wanted.//\n  5 [T] to say that you are willing to pay a particular amount of money for something:  offer (sb) sth for sth//  --They’ve offered us [hA124]75,000 for the house.//  --The police are offering a reward for any information.//\n  6  offer (up) a prayer/sacrifice etc:  to pray to God or give something to God//\n  7  offer itself:   formal if an opportunity to do something offers itself, it becomes available to you//  --I’ll raise the subject when a suitable occasion offers itself.//\n  8  offer your hand (to sb):  to hold out your hand in order to shake hands with someone//\noffer 2 W1S2 n [C] \n  1 a statement saying that you are willing to do something for someone or give them something:  offer of help/support/friendship etc //  --Thank you for your offer of help.//  --The company withdrew their offer of employment.//  --Have you had any job offers ?//  accept/take up an offer (=say yes to an offer) //  --She accepted their offer of rent-free accommodation.//  turn down/refuse/decline an offer (=say no to an offer) //  --I can’t turn down the offer of a free trip to Milan!//  offer to do sth//  --His offer to resign will be accepted.//\n  2 an amount of money that you are willing to pay for something:  --Will you accept their offer ?//  make (sb) an offer (for/on sth) (=offer a particular amount of money for something) //  --Within 20 minutes they were prepared to make us an offer.//  --The company made an offer of $5 million for the site.//  a generous/good offer //  --’I’ll be interested if Newcastle make me a good offer,’ said the 25-year-old striker.//  be open to offers (=be ready to consider people’s offers and lower your original price) //  --We’re asking [hA124]2500, but we’re open to offers.//    o.n.o.//\n  3 a reduction of the price of something in a shop for a short time:    discount//  --All special offers advertised in this brochure are subject to availability.//  offer on//  --There’s a free offer on orders over [hA124]45.//  --To take advantage of this offer  (=buy something at the reduced price) , complete the attached forms.//\n  4  on offer:  a) available to be bought, chosen, or used//  --Activities on offer include sailing, rowing, and canoeing.//  --I was impressed with the designs on offer.//  b)  BrE for sale for a short time at a cheaper price than usual//  --Lean minced beef is on offer this week.//\n  5  under offer:   BrE if a house that is for sale is under offer, someone has offered to buy it for a particular price//


Words: offering
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a book, play, piece of music etc that someone has written recently:  --the latest offering from Nancy Griffith//\n  2 something that is given to God:\n  3 something that is given as a present to please someone:    burnt offering at burnt2 (2),  peace offering//


Words: offertory
Meaning:
n   plural  offertories  [C]  formal //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: offertorium, from  Latin offerre;   OFFER1]//\n  1 the money people give during a religious ceremony in church:   collection//\n  2 the offering of the bread and wine to God at a Christian church service:


Words: offhand
Meaning:
adj \n  1  BrE not very friendly towards someone when you are talking to them:  --She said you were a bit offhand with her this afternoon.//  --an offhand tone of voice//\n  2 said or done without thinking or planning:  --an offhand remark//  -- offhandedly adv //  -- offhandedness n  [U] //\noffhand 2 adv   immediately, without time to think about it or find out about something//  --I can’t remember offhand where the file is.//


Words: office
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 building:\n   2 room:\n   3 office hours:\n   4 job:\n   5 Office:\n   6 place for information:\n   7 doctor:\n   8 somebody’s good offices/the good offices of somebody:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin officium  ’service, duty, office’, from  opus  ’work’ +  facere  ’to do’]//\n  1 BUILDING:   [C] a building that belongs to a company or organization, with rooms where people can work at desks//  --The department occupies an office just a mile from the White House.//  main/head office (=the most important office) //  --The head office is in Edinburgh.//  --Did you go to the office  (=the office where you work) today?//  at the office//  --Have a nice day at the office.//  local/regional office //  --The agency has a network of regional offices.//  office staff/workers/equipment etc //  --Office staff need well-designed desks and chairs.//  --the increased demand for office space//\n  2 ROOM:   [C] a room where someone has a desk and works, on their own or with other people//  --the manager’s office//  --Sorry, Ann’s not in her office right now.//  --Dan shares an office with Lisa.//\n  3  office hours:  a) the time between about 9:00 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon, when people in offices are working//  --Can you phone again during office hours?//  b)  AmE the time during the day or week when students can meet with their teacher in the teacher’s office//  --Professor Lee’s office hours are from 2 to 4 on Mondays and Thursdays.//\n  4 JOB:   [U and C] an important job or position with power, especially in government//  --the office of President//  in office//  --She was celebrating ten years in office.//  --A provisional military government took office  (=started in an important job or position) .//  hold office (=have a particular important job or position) //  --Trujillo held office as finance minister.//  --a five year term of office  (=period of time working in an important job) //\n  5  Office:  used in the names of some government departments//  --the Foreign Office//  --the Office of the District Attorney//\n  6 PLACE FOR INFORMATION:   [C] a room or building where people go to ask for information, buy tickets etc//  information/ticket etc office //  --the tourist office//  --Is there a lost property office?//    box office,  post office,  registry office//\n  7 DOCTOR:   [C]  AmE the place where a doctor or  dentist examines or treats people//  British Equivalent:  surgery//\n  8  sb’s good offices/the good offices of sb:   formal help given by someone who has authority or can influence people//  through the good offices of sb//  --I managed to obtain a visa through the good offices of a friend in the Service.//


Words: office building
Meaning:
also  office block BrE n [C]   a large building with many offices in it, especially ones that belong to different companies//


Words: Office of Fair Trading
Meaning:
the   OFT a British government organization whose job is to protect people from being cheated by shops and other businesses, and to help customers who have been cheated or treated unfairly//


Words: Office of Manage ment and Budget
Meaning:
the   the OMB a US government organization that provides help for the President in organizing the work of government departments and especially in preparing the  budget (=the official plan for how government money will be used) //


Words: office party
Meaning:
n [C]   a party, especially one held before Christmas, in the office of a company, government department etc for the people who work there//


Words: officer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is in a position of authority in the army, navy etc:  an army/naval/military etc officer //  --a commanding officer of the SAS//\n  2 someone who is in a position in an organization or the government:  --a prison officer//  --the chief medical officer//  --a former Cabinet officer//  --the public information officer//    chief executive officer,  press officer at press office,  probation officer,  returning officer//\n  3 a member of the police:   police officer, policeman, policewoman//  --a request for 400 more officers//\n  4  Officer:   AmE a title for a policeman or policewoman//  --Officer Murdoch//


Words: official
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   someone who is in a position of authority in an organization//  --a government official//  --senior administration officials//\nofficial 2 W2S3 adj \n  1 approved of or done by someone in authority, especially the government:  --an official investigation into the causes of the explosion//  --the official policy on education//  --official statistics about illegal drug use//  --You will have to get official permission first.//  --Finally the letter of appointment came, making it all official.//\n  2 relating to or done as part of an important job or position:  an official visit/engagement etc //  --The President was leaving for a four-day official tour of Mexico.//  --the Queen’s performance of official duties //  --They dined in an official capacity with other European leaders.//  --the Lord Mayor’s official residence//\n  3 an official explanation, account etc is one that is given formally and publicly, but may not be true:  --Many doubted the official version of events.//  --The official line  (=what is said publicly by people in authority) was that the troops were there to protect the King.//\n  4 chosen to represent someone or an organization, or do something for them:  --the company’s official logo//  --the official representative from the American administration//\n  5 an official event is a formal, public event:  --The official opening of the institute was in May.//


Words: Official Birthday
Meaning:
the   the day when the British Queen or King’s birthday is officially celebrated, especially with the ceremony of Trooping the Colour in London. It is not the same as the Queen or King’s own personal birthday, and it is always on the second Saturday of June.//


Words: official receiver
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone whose job is to take care of the financial affairs of a company or a person that is bankrupt//


Words: Official Secrets Act
Meaning:
the   a UK law by which people who work for the government are not allowed to discuss their work with people who do not work for the government or to make known information which should be kept secret. Government workers must ’sign the Official Secrets Act’ (=agree to obey this law) , and they can be put in prison if they break this agreement.//


Words: officialdom
Meaning:
n [U]   government departments or the people who work in them - used when you think they are not helpful//    bureaucracy//


Words: officialese
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   a way of talking or writing used by government officials, that is unnecessarily difficult to understand//


Words: officially
Meaning:
adv \n  1 publicly or formally:  --The new church was officially opened on July 5th.//  --Nothing has yet been officially announced .//  --The scheme was officially launched in May.//  --Has the company officially confirmed the appointment?//  --the number of officially recognized political parties//\n  2 [sentence adverb] according to what someone says publicly, even though this may not be true:  --Officially, the talks never took place.//


Words: officious
Meaning:
adj   too eager to tell people what to do - used to show disapproval//  --an officious traffic warden//  -- officiously adv //  -- officiousness n  [U] //


Words: offing
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: offing  ’part of the deep sea that you can see from the shore’ (17-20 centuries), from  off]//  be in the offing//  to be likely to happen soon//  --Big changes were in the offing.//


Words: offline
Meaning:
adv \n  1 with your computer not connected to the Internet:  → online//  --I work offline most of the day.//\n  2 if computer equipment is offline, it is not directly connected to the computer:  → online//  --The printer was offline all morning.//  -- offline adj //  --offline storage//


Words: offload
Meaning:
v \n  1 [T] to get rid of something that you do not want by giving it or selling it to someone else:  offload sth onto sb//  --The dealer had offloaded some of the shares onto a willing client.//\n  2  offload your worries/emotions/problems etc:   BrE to tell someone about your worries etc in order to make yourself feel better//\n  3 [T] to take something off a truck or ship:  --The men offloaded their cargo.//


Words: offset
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  offset present participle  offsetting  [T] //\n  1 if the cost or amount of something offsets another cost or amount, the two things have an opposite effect so that the situation remains the same:  --Cuts in prices for milk, butter, and cheese will be offset by direct payments to farmers.//  offset sth against sth//  --He was able to offset his travel expenses against tax.//\n  2 to make something look better by being close to it and different:  --His blonde hair offset a deep tan.//\noffset 2   adj   relating to a method of printing in which ink is put onto rollers and the paper then passes between the rollers//  -- offset n  [U] //


Words: offshoot
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something such as an organization which has developed from a larger or earlier one:  offshoot of//  --The company was originally an offshoot of Bell Telephones.//  --the Mafia and its offshoots//\n  2 a new stem or branch on a plant:


Words: offshore
Meaning:
adj \n  1 in or under the sea and not far from the coast:    inshore, onshore//  --offshore oil fields//  --an offshore island//\n  2  offshore banks/companies/investments etc:  banks etc that are based abroad in a country where you pay less tax than in your home country//  --offshore financial centres//\n  3  offshore wind/current etc:  a wind etc that is blowing or moving away from the land//  → onshore//  -- offshore adv //  --a boat anchored offshore//


Words: offside
Meaning:
adj, adv   in a position, usually ahead of the ball, where you are not allowed to play the ball in sports such as soccer and hockey//  → onside//\noffside 2   n   the offside//   BrE the side of a car that is nearest to the middle of the road when you are driving it//    nearside//  -- offside adj //  --the offside headlight//


Words: offspring
Meaning:
n   plural  offspring  [C] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: ofspring, from  of  ’off’ +  springan  ’to move suddenly’]//\n  1 someone’s child or children - often used humorously:  --a young mother trying to control her offspring//\n  2 an animal’s baby or babies:  --a lion and its offspring//


Words: offstage
Meaning:
adv \n  1 just behind or to the side of a stage in a theatre, where the people watching a play cannot see:  → onstage//  --There was a loud crash offstage.//\n  2 when an actor is not acting:  --Offstage, Peter seemed a shy sort of person.//  -- offstage adj //  --offstage noises//


Words: Ofgas
Meaning:
the British government organization whose job is to make sure that the UK gas industry operates safely and does not charge unfair prices//


Words: Ofsted
Meaning:
the Office for Standards in Education the government organization that is responsible for checking the quality of education in British schools//


Words: oft
Meaning:
adv  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//  often//  oft-repeated/quoted etc //  --oft-repeated advice//


Words: Oftel
Meaning:
the British government organization whose job is to make sure that the UK telephone industry treats its customers fairly and does not charge unfair prices//


Words: often
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: oft]//\n  1 if something happens often, it happens regularly or many times:   frequently//  --She often works at the weekend.//  --If you wash your hair too often, it can get too dry.//  -- How often do you see your parents?//  quite/very often //  --I quite often go to Paris on business.//  --Robin is a difficult child; you’ve said so yourself often enough  (=a lot of times) .//  it is not often (that)//  --It’s not often that a government minister will admit to being wrong.//\n  2 if something happens often, it happens in many situations or cases:  --It’s often difficult to translate poetry.//  very/quite often //  --Very often children who behave badly at school have problems at home.//\n  3  all too often:   also only too often //  used to say that something sad, disappointing, or annoying happens too much//  --All too often doctors are too busy to explain the treatment to their patients.//  --This type of accident happens only too often.//\n  4  every so often:  sometimes//  --An inspector comes round every so often to check the safety equipment.//\n  5  as often as not:   also more often than not //   spoken usually//  --More often than not the train is late.//


Words: Ofwat
Meaning:
the British government organization whose job is to make sure that the UK water industry provides safe water, protects the environment, and does not charge unfair prices//


Words: ogle
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  Low German oegeln, from  oog  ’eye’]//  to look at someone in a way that shows you think they are sexually attractive - used in order to show disapproval//  --I didn’t like the way he was ogling me.//


Words: OGM
Meaning:
n [C]   outgoing message the message that you record on your telephone and that people will hear if they telephone you and you do not answer the call//


Words: ogre
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: , perhaps from  Latin Orcus god of the dead]//\n  1 a large imaginary person in children’s stories who eats people:\n  2 someone who seems cruel and frightening:  --Her father sounded like a real ogre.//


Words: oh
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: O 1]//\n  1 used when you want to get someone’s attention or continue what you are saying:  --Oh, look, I think that’s Harry over there.//  --Milk, cereal, juice - oh, and put lettuce on the list too.//\n  2 used when you are giving an answer to a question:  --’Have you met his wife?’ ’ Oh, yes, I know her quite well.’//  --’I hope Jenny won’t be angry.’ ’ Oh, no, don’t worry about that.’//  oh, okay/all right //  --’Can you lend me ten pounds?’ ’Oh, all right, but only until tomorrow.’//\n  3 used to make a slight pause when you are speaking:  --I met your friend in town, oh, what’s her name?//\n  4 used to show that you are very happy, angry, disappointed etc about something:  --Oh, aren’t those flowers gorgeous!//  --Oh, how awful!//  -- Oh, no! I’ve left my keys in the car!//  oh, good/great //  --Oh, good, you’re still here.//  oh, God/oh, dear etc //  --Oh, God, I forgot all about it!//  -- Oh, well, never mind.//\n  5 used to show that you are surprised about something:  --’Frances has left her husband, you know.’ ’Oh, has she?’//  --Oh, I didn’t know that.//


Words: Oh Susanna
Meaning:
a 19th century US  folk song written by Stephen  Foster. Some of the words are: Oh, Susanna! Now don’t you cry for me,/For I’ve come from Alabama/With my banjo on my knee.//


Words: Ohio
Meaning:
1 OH a state in the  Midwest of the US, an important centre of engineering, coal mining, and farming. Its largest city is Cleveland.:\n  2  the Ohio:  a long river in the central US, which used to carry a lot of industrial goods//


Words: ohm
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Georg Simon  Ohm (1787-1854), German scientist]//  a unit for measuring electrical resistance//


Words: oi
Meaning:
interjection  BrE  spoken   used to call someone or attract their attention in a way that is not very polite//  --Oi, you, come over here a minute!//


Words: oik
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal  not polite   an offensive word for someone who you think is not intelligent or well educated, and who speaks or behaves in a rough way//  -- oikish adj //


Words: oil
Meaning:
W2S3   n   ----------//\n   1 fuel:\n   2 natural substance under the ground:\n   3 liquid from plants:\n   4 paint:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: oile, from  Latin oleum  ’olive oil’, from  Greek elaia  ’olive’]//\n  1 FUEL:   [U] a smooth thick liquid that is used to make machines run easily or is burned to produce heat//  --Check the oil level in your car every week.//  --The heating system runs on oil.//\n  2 NATURAL SUBSTANCE UNDER THE GROUND:   [U] the thick, dark liquid from under the ground from which petrol is produced//    crude//  --a rise in the price of oil//  oil industry/company/production etc //  --the importance of protecting our oil supplies//  --an oil refinery  (=factory where oil is made purer) //  vinegar, pepper, oil, salt//\n  3 LIQUID FROM PLANTS:   [U and C] a smooth, thick liquid made from plants or some animals, used especially in cooking or for making beauty products//  --cooking oil//  olive/vegetable/sunflower etc oil //  --coconut oil shampoo//  --Fish oils are supposed to help relieve arthritis.//    castor oil,  cod-liver oil,  linseed oil//\n  4 PAINT:   oils [plural] paints that contain oil//   oil paints//  in oils//  --I usually paint in oils (=using oils) .//    burn the midnight oil at burn1 (20),  pour oil on troubled waters at pour(8)//\noil 2 v [T] \n  1 to put oil onto part of a machine or part of something that moves, to help it to move or work more smoothly:  --The bicycle chain needs oiling.//\n  2 to put oil or cream onto your skin, for example to protect you from the sun:  --I asked Simon to oil my back for me.//\n  3  oil the wheels:   BrE to help something to be done in business or politics successfully and easily//


Words: oil painting
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a picture painted with oil paint:\n  2 [U] the art of painting with oil paint:\n  3  he’s/she’s no oil painting:   BrE used humorously to say that someone is not very attractive//


Words: oil rig
Meaning:
also oil platform  n [C]   a large structure on the land or in the sea, which has equipment for getting oil from under the ground//


Words: oil-rich
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  BrE   an oil-rich country has plenty of natural oil under the ground from which it is able to make a lot of money//  --the oil-rich Gulf States//


Words: oilcloth
Meaning:
n [U]   special cloth that has had oil put on it so that it has a smooth surface and water cannot go through it//


Words: oiled
Meaning:
adj   covered with a layer of oil//  --Place the sausages on an oiled baking tray.//    well-oiled//


Words: oilskin
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] special cloth that has had oil put on it so that it has a smooth surface and water cannot go through it:  oilskin coat/jacket/trousers etc //\n  2  oilskins [plural] a coat and trousers made of oilskin and worn together:\n  3 [C] a coat made of oilskin:


Words: oily
Meaning:
adj \n  1 covered with oil:  --He wiped his hands on an oily rag.//\n  2 similar to oil:  --an oily liquid//\n  3 oily hair or skin contains more natural oil than is usual or desirable:   greasy//  --a shampoo for oily hair//\n  4 oily food contains a lot of oil or fat:  --oily fish//\n  5 someone who is oily is very polite, in a way that other people think is unpleasant and not sincere:  -- oiliness n  [U] //


Words: oink
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From the sound]//  used to represent the sound that a pig makes//  -- oink n  [C] //


Words: ointment
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: oignement, from  Latin unguentum, from  unguere;   UNGUENT]//  a soft cream that you rub into your skin, especially as a medical treatment//    fly in the ointment at fly3 (5)//


Words: OK Corral
Meaning:
the OK Corral//  a  corral (=an area surrounded by fences where animals can be kept)  in the town of Tombstone, Arizona. In 1881 it was the scene of a famous gunfight in which Wyatt  Earp fought with his brothers Morgan and Virgil, who was the  Marshal of Tombstone, and with Doc Holliday, against a group of criminals called the Clanton gang. Three of the Clantons were killed, and Virgil Earp lost his job as sheriff because the people believed that the Earps had murdered the Clantons.The phrase ’gunfight at the OK Corral’ is sometimes used humorously when talking about a fight involving several people.//  --It was more like the gunfight at the OK Corral than a football game.//


Words: OK!
Meaning:
trademark   a British magazine which publishes pictures and articles about famous people//\nOK 1 S1  okay/[hA353][hA35E] ke[hA366] $ o[hA35E]-/ interjection \n  1 used to show that you agree with something or give permission for someone to do something:  --’Can I take the car today?’ ’Okay.’//  --OK, if that’s what you prefer.//\n  2 used to ask someone if they agree with you or will give permission for you to do something:  --I’ll see you at seven, OK?//\n  3 used when you start talking about something new, or when you pause before continuing:  --OK, let’s move on to the next point.//  --Okay, any questions so far?//\n  4 used to tell someone to stop arguing with you or criticizing you:  --OK, OK, so I made a mistake.//  --Look, I’m doing my best, okay?//\nOK 2 S1 adj, adv  okay spoken \n  1 [not before noun] if you are OK, you are not ill, injured, or unhappy:   all right//  --Are you OK?//  --Do you feel OK now?//  --Mum’s doing OK now.//\n  2 [not before noun] something that is OK is acceptable and will not cause any problems:   all right//  --Will half past eight be OK?//  --Does my hair look OK?//  that’s/it’s OK //  --’Sorry I’m late.’ ’That’s OK.’//  -- Is it OK if I leave my bags here?//  --Yeah, the TV ’s working OK.//  it is okay (for sb) to do sth//  --It’s okay for you to go home now.//  it is okay with/by sb//  --I’ll pay you the rest tomorrow, if that’s OK with you.//\n  3 [not before noun] satisfactory but not extremely good:  --’How was the film?’ ’It was okay, but not brilliant.’//  --I think I did okay in the exam.//\n  4 someone who is OK is nice, pleasant, etc:  --I’ve met Jim once, and he seems OK.//  --He’s an OK guy.//\nOK 3  okay  past tense and past participle  OK’d present participle  OK’ing third person singular  OK’s  or //  past tense and past participle  okayed present participle  okaying third person singular  okays  v [T]  informal //  to say officially that you will agree to something or allow it to happen//  --The plans have been okayed, so let’s get started as soon as possible.//\nOK 4 n  okay  give (sb) the OK/get the OK//   informal to give or get permission to do something//  --Did you get the OK from head office?//\nOK 5   the written abbreviation of Oklahoma//


Words: Okeechobee
Meaning:
Lake   a large lake of  fresh (=not containing salt)  water in southern Florida, US. Water flows from it into the Atlantic Ocean through the  Everglades.//


Words: Okefenokee Swamp
Meaning:
the Okefenokee Swamp//  a large area of  swamp land in the US, in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. It is the home of many  alligators and many kinds of snakes and birds. Most of the area is now included in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.//


Words: okey-doke
Meaning:
[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: OK]//  used to show that you agree with someone or give permission for someone to do something//


Words: Okinawa
Meaning:
a Japanese island in the west Pacific Ocean, southwest of Kyushu, where an important battle took place between the US and Japan in 1945 near the end of World War II//


Words: Oklahoma
Meaning:
OK a state in the  Great Plains in the western central US, whose products include oil and grain. Oklahoma has a large Native American population. Its farmlands became part of the  Dust Bowl in the 1930s, when very dry conditions forced many people to leave their farms and look for work in other places, especially California.//


Words: Oklahoma City
Meaning:
the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma. The city was established in one day in 1889, when 10,000 people went to the area and quickly put up tents, so that they could become the owners of land that had just been made available for settlers.//


Words: Oklahoma!
Meaning:
(1943) a  musical (=a play that uses singing and dancing to tell a story)  by Richard  Rodgers and Oscar  Hammerstein about people who moved to Oklahoma in the late 1800s. It was made into a successful film in 1955, and it includes many well-known songs, such as ’Oh what a beautiful morning!’//


Words: okra
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  From a  West African language]//  a green vegetable used in cooking, especially in Asia and the southern US//


Words: old
Meaning:
adj   comparative  older superlative  oldest //  ----------//\n   1 not new:\n   2 not young:\n   3 age:\n   4 that you used to have:\n   5 familiar:\n   6 very well known:\n   7 the old days:\n   8 the good old days/the bad old days:\n   9 be/feel/look like your old self:\n  10 any old thing/place/time etc:\n  11 any old how/way:\n  12 good/poor/silly old etc somebody:\n  13 a good old something:\n  14 old devil/rascal etc:\n  15 old fool/bastard/bat etc:\n  16 the old guard:\n  17 be an old hand (at something):\n  18 be old before your time:\n  19 for old times’ sake:\n  20 the old country:\n  21 an old head on young shoulders:\n  22 pay/settle an old score:\n  23 of/from the old school:\n  24 old wives’ tale:\n  25 of old:\n  26 Old English/Old Icelandic etc:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: eald]//\n  1 NOT NEW:  something that is old has existed or been used for a long time//  → new//  --a pair of old shoes//  --Some of the houses around here are very old.//  --one of our oldest traditions//  --The car’s getting old now, and things are starting to go wrong with it.//  --That story’s as old as the hills  (=extremely old) .//  2 NOT YOUNG//  a) someone who is old has lived for a very long time//  → young//  --an old man//  --a home for old people//  get /grow old //  --I can’t run around like I used to - I must be getting old.//  b)  the old [plural] people who are old//  --the care of the old and sick//\n  3 AGE:  used to talk about how long a person or thing has lived or existed//  5/10/50 etc years old //  --I can’t believe you’re nearly forty years old!//  --a house that’s 300 years old//  -- How old are you?//  --Are you older than Sally?//  --You’re old enough to get your own breakfast now.//  --I’m not coming skating. I’m too old for that now.//  5-year-old/10-year-old etc sb/sth //  --a six-week-old baby//  --a five-hundred-year old sword//  sb is old enough to know better (=used to say that you think someone should behave more sensibly) //  sb is old enough to be his/her/your mother/father (=used to say that someone is too old to be having a sexual relationship with someone else) //\n  4 THAT YOU USED TO HAVE:   [only before noun] your old house, job, girlfriend etc is one that you used to have//   former//  --I met up with one of my old girlfriends at the weekend.//  --My old car was always breaking down.//  --That happened when we were still in the old house.//  --My old boss was awful!//  old flame (=someone with whom you used to have a romantic relationship) //\n  5 FAMILIAR:   [only before noun] old things are things that are familiar to you because you have seen them or experienced them many times before//  --It’s good to get back into the old routine.//  --I enjoyed seeing all the old familiar faces.//  --He comes out with the same old excuses every time!//    it’s the same old story at story(9)//\n  6 VERY WELL KNOWN:   [only before noun] an old friend, enemy etc is someone you have known for a long time//  --Bob’s an old friend of mine.//  --an old colleague//  --They’re old rivals.//\n  7  the old days:  times in the past//  in the old days//  --In the old days people used to fetch water from the pump.//\n  8  the good old days/the bad old days:  an earlier time in your life, or in history, when things seemed better or worse than now//  --We like to chat about the good old days.//\n  9  be/feel/look like your old self:  to feel or look better again after you have been ill or very unhappy//  --It’s good to see you looking more like your old self again.//\n  10  any old thing/place/time etc:   spoken used to say that it does not matter which thing, place etc you choose//  --Oh, just wear any old thing.//  --Phone any old time - I’m always here.//\n  11  any old how/way:   spoken in an untidy or careless way//  --The papers had been dumped on my desk any old how.//\n  12  good/poor/silly old etc sb:   spoken used to talk about someone you like//  --Good old Keith!//  --You poor old thing!//\n  13  a good old sth:   also a right old sth  BrE  spoken used to talk about something you enjoy//  --We had a good old talk.//\n  14  old devil/rascal etc:   spoken used to talk about someone you like and admire//  --You old devil! You were planning this all along!//\n  15  old fool/bastard/bat etc:   spoken  not polite used to talk very rudely about someone you do not like//  --the stupid old cow//\n  16  the old guard:  a group of people within an organization or club who do not like changes or new ideas//  --He’ll never manage to persuade the old guard.//\n  17  be an old hand (at sth):  to have a lot of experience of something//  --I’m an old hand at this game.//\n  18  be old before your time:  to look or behave like someone much older than you, especially because of difficulties in your life//\n  19  for old times’ sake:  if you do something for old times’ sake, you do it to remind yourself of a happy time in the past//\n  20  the old country:   especially  AmE the country that you were born in, but that you no longer live in, used especially to mean Europe//\n  21  an old head on young shoulders:   BrE a young person who seems to think and behave like an older person//\n  22  pay/settle an old score:  to punish someone for something wrong that they did to you in the past//\n  23  of/from the old school:  old-fashioned and believing in old ideas and customs//  --a doctor of the old school//\n  24  old wives’ tale:  a belief based on old ideas that are now considered to be untrue//\n  25  of old:   literary from a long time ago in the past//  --the knights of old//\n  26  Old English/Old Icelandic etc:  an early form of English, Icelandic etc//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: old //  PEOPLE: elderly a polite word used to describe someone who is old //  middle-aged aged between about 50 and 60 years old //  senior citizen/senior (AmE) pensioner (BrE) retiree (AmE) someone over 60 who has stopped working //  senile old and mentally ill //  ancient/geriatric be getting on be past it be over the hill be no spring chicken informal words and expressionsused to describe someone who is old, often used humorously //  geriatric geriatric medicine, care, hospitals etc are for old people //  THINGS/PLACES: ancient ancient civilizations, cities, buildings, traditions etc existed many hundreds of years ago //  prehistoric existing many thousands of years ago //  antique antique furniture, jewellery etc is old and often valuable //  ----------//


Words: old age
Meaning:
n [U]   the part of your life when you are old//  --You need to start putting money away for your old age.//  in (sb’s) old age//  --My mother had a very lively mind, even in her old age.//


Words: old age pension
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   money that is paid regularly by the state to old people who do not work any more//  American Equivalent:  social security//


Words: Old Bailey
Meaning:
the Old Bailey//  the most famous law court in the UK, officially called the Central Criminal Court. It is a crown court (=a court that deals with very serious crimes)  in London, named after the street it is on.//


Words: Old Bill
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old Bill complaining old soldier in cartoons by Bruce Bairnsfather (1888-1959)]//  the Old Bill//   BrE  informal the police//


Words: old boy
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE a man who used to be a student at a school:  --an old boys’ reunion//\n  2  the old-boy network:  the system by which men who went to the same school, belong to the same club etc use their influence to help each other//\n  3  BrE  spoken an old man:  --He’s a nice old boy.//\n  4  BrE  old-fashioned used when speaking to a male friend:  --How are you, old boy?//    old girl//


Words: Old Curiosity Shop
Meaning:
The   (1841) a novel by Charles  Dickens about a girl called  Little Nell and her grandfather, who are forced to leave their shop and give it to a cruel man called Quilp, because the grandfather owes him money. The scene at end of the book in which Little Nell dies is famous for being very sad.//


Words: old economy
Meaning:
n [singular]  also the Old Economy   an economic system that is based on older types of industry such as steel, energy, and machinery//  --Is the Old Economy really dead?//  -- old economy adj  [only before noun] //  --old economy practices//


Words: Old Faithful
Meaning:
a large  geyser in  Yellowstone National Park in the northwestern US, which sends a stream of hot water high up into the air about once every hour//


Words: old fogey
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   someone who is boring and has old-fashioned ideas about things, especially someone old//


Words: old folk
Meaning:
BrE  also old folks  especially AmE  n [plural]   old people - an expression used when talking about old people in a kind way//


Words: old folks’ home
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   a place where old people live and are looked after when they are unable to look after themselves//   old people’s home, nursing home//


Words: old girl
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 a woman who is a former student of a school:  --an old girls’ reunion//\n  2  spoken an old woman:  --She’s a nice old girl!//    old boy//


Words: old hat
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   if something is old hat, a lot of people have said or done the same thing before and it is therefore not new or interesting//  --Most of this is probably old hat to you, isn’t it?//


Words: Old King Cole
Meaning:
a character in a  nursery rhyme (=an old song or poem for young children) . The rhyme goes: Old King Cole/Was a merry old soul,/And a merry old soul was he;/He called for his pipe,/And he called for his bowl,/And he called for his fiddlers three.//


Words: Old Labour
Meaning:
an unofficial name used to talk about the British Labour Party before it was changed by Tony Blair in the 1990s. Old Labour was more  left wing, and supported the idea of increasing taxes to pay for public services such as education and health.//


Words: old lady
Meaning:
n   sb’s old lady//   old-fashioned  informal someone’s wife, mother, or girlfriend//  --Where’s your old lady?//


Words: old lag
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  old-fashioned   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: lag  ’to send to prison’ (1800-1900)]//  someone who has been in prison many times//


Words: old maid
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned  not polite   an offensive word for a woman who has never married and is not young any more//   spinster//


Words: old man
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  old-fashioned  informal someone’s husband, father, or boyfriend:  --I heard her old man beats her.//\n  2  BrE  old-fashioned used when speaking to a male friend:  --Could I have a word with you, old man?//


Words: Old Man of the Sea
Meaning:
The   a character in the story of  Sinbad the Sailor in  The  Arabian Nights, who persuades  Sinbad to carry him on his back, and then twists his legs around Sinbad so that Sinbad cannot get him off. Sinbad makes the old man drunk, gets him off his back, and kills him.//


Words: old master
Meaning:
Old Master n [C]   a famous painter, especially from the 15th to 18th century, or a painting by one of these painters//  --a priceless collection of old masters//


Words: old money
Meaning:
n [U]   people who come from families that have had a lot of money for a long time, which gives them a high social position//  --He invited both the smart set and Perth’s old money.//


Words: Old Moore’s Almanack
Meaning:
a small British  almanac (=a book giving information about the movement of the sun and moon, the times of the  tides etc) which is produced each year and sold in large numbers. It also makes  predictions (=saying what will probably happen in the future)  based on such things as the position of the planets in the sky. Its predictions are often about political events or famous people.//


Words: Old Mother Hubbard
Meaning:
a character in a  nursery rhyme (=an old song or poem for young children) . The rhyme goes: Old Mother Hubbard/Went to the cupboard/To get her poor dog a bone;/But when she came there/The cupboard was bare,/And so the poor dog had none. The expression ’the cupboard is bare’ is sometimes used about a situation in which a person, organization, or government has no money left.//


Words: old people’s home
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a place where old people live and are cared for when they are too old to live by themselves//   nursing home//


Words: old school tie
Meaning:
n   the old school tie//   BrE the situation that exists when people who went to the same private school use their influence to help each other get work or other advantages//  --a system based on social class and the old school tie//


Words: Old Testament
Meaning:
n   the Old Testament//  the first part of the Christian Bible containing ancient Hebrew writings about the time before the birth of Christ//    New Testament//


Words: old timer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who has been doing a job or living in a place for a long time and knows a lot about it:\n  2  especially AmE an old man:


Words: Old Vic
Meaning:
the Old Vic//  a theatre in South London, famous especially for its productions of plays by William  Shakespeare//


Words: old woman
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  old-fashioned  informal \n  1  sb’s old woman:  someone’s wife or mother//\n  2 a man who pays too much attention to small, unimportant details:  -- old womanish adj //


Words: Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
Meaning:
The   a character in a  nursery rhyme (=old song or poem for children) , which starts:There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,/Who had so many children she didn’t know what to do /...//


Words: Old World
Meaning:
n   the Old World//  the Eastern Hemisphere, especially Europe, Asia, and Africa//    New World//  --the civilizations of the Old World//


Words: old-established
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   having existed, been in business etc for a long time//  --old-established merchant banks//


Words: old-fashioned
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not considered to be modern or fashionable any more:  --She wears really old-fashioned clothes!//  --old-fashioned farming methods//  --The idea seems rather old-fashioned now.//\n  2 someone who is old-fashioned has ideas, attitudes etc that were more usual in the past than now:  --He’s very old-fashioned when it comes to music.//


Words: old-growth
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   old-growth forests/rainforest/timber etc//  forests etc that have been growing in a place for a long time, rather than ones planted more recently//


Words: old-school
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   old-fashioned, or relating to ideas from the past//  --He was one of the last old-school comics.//


Words: old-style
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   similar to the type of something that existed in the past//  --old-style communism//


Words: old-time
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   typical of what used to exist, be done etc in the past//  --old-time remedies//


Words: old-world
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   an old-world place or quality is attractive because it is old or reminds you of the past//  --The town has retained much of its old-world charm .//


Words: olde
Meaning:
adj   an old-fashioned spelling of ’old’, used in the names of shops, products etc to make them seem traditional and attractive//  -- ye olde tea shop//


Words: olde-worlde
Meaning:
adj  BrE  informal   a place that is olde-worlde has been decorated so that it looks old-fashioned//  --an olde-worlde pub//


Words: olden
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: old]//  in (the) olden days//   also  in olden times//  a long time ago//  --People didn’t travel so much in the olden days.//


Words: Oldenburg
Meaning:
Claes   (1929- ) a US  sculptor, born in Sweden, important in the pop art movement and famous for his large  sculptures of small ordinary objects, often made of soft materials//


Words: oldie
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   someone or something that is old, especially an old film or song//    golden oldie//


Words: oleaginous
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: oleagineux, from  Latin oleagineus, from  olea  ’olive tree’, from  Greek elaia;   OIL1]//  containing, producing, or like oil//


Words: oleander
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , perhaps from  Latin rhododendron]//  a green bush with white, pink, or purple flowers//


Words: olfactory
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: olfactorius, from  olfacere  ’to smell’, from  olere  ’to smell’ +  facere  ’to do’]//  connected with the sense of smell//  --the olfactory cells in the nose//


Words: oligarch
Meaning:
n [C]   a member of a small group of people who run a country or organization//  -- oligarchic/[hA361]l[hA369]g[hA35A][hA359]k[hA366]k[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]l[hA369]g[hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //


Words: oligarchy
Meaning:
n   plural  oligarchies //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Greek; Origin: oligarchia, from  oligos  ’few’ +  -archia (  -ARCHY)]//\n  1 [C usually singular] a small group of people who run a country or organization, or a country that is run by a small group of people:\n  2 [U] when a country or organization is run by a small group of people:  --Eventually oligarchy took over from democracy.//


Words: oligopoly
Meaning:
n   plural  oligopolies  [C]  technical //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: oligos  ’few’ +  English monopoly]//  the control of all or most of a business activity by very few companies, so that other organizations cannot easily compete with them//


Words: olive
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin oliva, from  Greek elaia]//\n  1 [C] a small, bitter, egg-shaped black or green fruit, used as food and for making oil:\n  2 [C]  also olive tree :  a tree that produces olives, grown especially in Mediterranean countries//  --an olive grove //\n  3 [U]  also olive green :  a deep yellowish green colour//\n  4  olive skin/complexion:  skin colour that is typical of people from countries such as Greece, Italy, or Turkey//\n  5  extend/offer/hold out etc an olive branch (to sb):  to do or say something in order to show that you want to end an argument with someone//  -- olive adj //  --an olive sweatshirt//


Words: Oliver Twist
Meaning:
(1837-38) a novel by Charles  Dickens about a poor boy called Oliver Twist. The most famous scene in the book takes place in the  workhouse when Oliver holds out his bowl and asks for more food, but is punished instead. He runs away to London and then lives with  Fagin, the leader of a group of young thieves who include the  Artful Dodger.//


Words: Olivier
Meaning:
Laurence   (1907-89) a British actor officially called Lord Olivier, who worked in the theatre and cinema for over 50 years and is one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. He is famous for directing and acting in three films of plays by Shakespeare:  Henry V (1944),  Hamlet (1948), and  Richard III (1956). Other films include  Wuthering Heights (1939),  Rebecca (1940), and  Marathon Man (1976). He was also the first director of the  National Theatre in London.//


Words: Olympia
Meaning:
1 an area of flat land and an ancient religious centre in the west of the  Peloponnese in Greece, where the  Olympic Games were held in ancient times:\n  2 a set of large buildings in West London, used for  exhibitions:\n  the capital city of the US state of Washington//


Words: Olympiad
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Olympiade, from  Greek, from  Olympia]//  a particular occasion of the modern Olympic Games//  --the 25th Olympiad//


Words: Olympian
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 like a god, especially by being calm and not concerned about ordinary things:  --He viewed the world with Olympian detachment.//\n  2 relating to the ancient Greek gods:  --Olympian mythology//\nOlympian 2 n [C]   someone who is taking part in, or who has taken part in, the Olympic Games - used especially in news reports//  --the American Olympians//


Words: Olympic Games
Meaning:
also  Olympics n [plural]   the Olympic Games/the Olympics//  an international sports event held every four years in different countries//  --the 1976 Olympic Games//


Words: Olympus
Meaning:
also Mount Olympus   a mountain in northern Greece, the highest mountain in Greece. In Greek  mythology, it was the place where the gods lived.//


Words: Omagh
Meaning:
a town in Northern Ireland which became well known in 1998 when a terrorist group called ’the Real IRA’ planted a bomb there, killing 29 people//


Words: Oman
Meaning:
a country in the Middle East, east of Saudi Arabia and northeast of Yemen. Population: 2,622,000 (2001). Capital: Muscat. Oman is a  sultanate. Its people are Muslims, and its main product is oil.//  -- Omani n  adj //


Words: Omar Khayyam
Meaning:
(?1048-?1123) a Persian  mathematician and poet. He is famous in the west for his romantic poem, the  Rubaiyat, produced in a popular English translation by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859, which is mainly about love, nature and pleasure.//


Words: ombudsman
Meaning:
n   plural  ombudsmen /-m[hA353]n/ [C] //  [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Swedish; Origin: ’representative’, from  Old Norse umbothsmathr, from  umboth  ’commission’ +  mathr  ’man’]//  someone who deals with complaints made by ordinary people against the government, banks, insurance companies etc//


Words: omega
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: o mega  ’big o’]//  the last letter of the Greek alphabet//


Words: omelette
Meaning:
also  omelet AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: omelette, from  Latin lamella  ’thin plate’]//\n  1 eggs mixed together and cooked in hot fat, sometimes with other foods added:  --a cheese omelette//\n  2  you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs:  used to say that it is impossible to achieve anything important without causing a few problems//


Words: omen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin]//  a sign of what will happen in the future//  --The car won’t start. Do you think it’s an omen?//  a good/bad/ill omen //  --The mist seemed like a bad omen and Sara’s heart sank a little.//  omen of//  --He will regard your presence as an omen of good fortune.//  omen for//  --It’s a good omen for the future.//


Words: ominous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ominosus, from  omen]//  making you feel that something bad is going to happen//  --’How long will she be ill?’ he asked. There was an ominous silence .//  --The car is making an ominous rattling sound.//  -- ominously adv //  --The sky looked ominously dark.//


Words: omission
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] when you do not include or do not do something:  omission of//  --The omission of her name was not a deliberate act.//  omission from//  --his omission from the team//\n  2 [C] something that has been omitted:  --Copies of the lists were posted so that omissions could be corrected.//  serious/notable/major omission //  --Your failing to note her mistakes is a serious omission.//  a glaring omission (=one that is very bad and easily noticed) //


Words: omit
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  omitted present participle  omitting  [T] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: omittere]//\n  1 to not include someone or something, either deliberately or because you forget to do it:   leave out//  --Please don’t omit any details, no matter how trivial they may seem.//  omit sth from sth//  --Lisa’s name had been omitted from the list of honor students.//\n  2  omit to do sth:   formal to not do something, either because you forgot or deliberately//  omit to mention/say/tell etc //  --Oliver omitted to mention that he was married.//


Words: omni-
Meaning:
prefix [in nouns and adjectives]   [Language: Latin; Origin: omnis  ’all’]//  everything or everywhere//    all//  --an omnivore (=an animal that eats all kinds of food) //


Words: omnibus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’bus’, from  Latin,  ’for all’, from  omnis;   OMNI-]//\n  1  BrE a radio or television programme consisting of several programmes that have previously been broadcast separately:  --the Saturday omnibus edition of ’Brookside’//\n  2 a book containing several stories, especially by one writer, that have already been printed separately:  -- Omnibus editions of novels tend to be too heavy to be read with comfort.//\n  3  BrE  old-fashioned a bus:\nomnibus 2 adj [only before noun]    AmE an omnibus law contains several different laws collected together//  --an omnibus civil rights bill//


Words: omnipotent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  omni- (  OMNI-) +  potens (  POTENT)]//  able to do everything//   all-powerful//  -- omnipotence n  [U] //


Words: omnipresent
Meaning:
adj  formal   present everywhere at all times//  -- omnipresence n  [U] //  --the omnipresence of God//


Words: omniscient
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: Latin omni- (  OMNI-) +  scientia (  SCIENCE)]//  knowing everything//  --the book’s omniscient narrator//  -- omniscience n  [U] //


Words: omnivorous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: omnivorus, from  omni- (  OMNI-) +  -vorus  ’eating’]//\n  1 an animal that is omnivorous eats both meat and plants:    carnivorous, herbivorous//\n  2  formal interested in everything, especially in all books:  --an omnivorous reader //


Words: on
Meaning:
prep   ----------//\n   1 on a surface:\n   2 supporting your body:\n   3 part hit/touched:\n   4 written/shown:\n   5 attached:\n   6 place:\n   7 position:\n   8 looking/pointing:\n   9 day/date:\n  10 affecting/relating to:\n  11 about:\n  12 orders/advice:\n  13 eat/drink:\n  14 transport:\n  15 money:\n  16 fuel:\n  17 medicine/drugs:\n  18 what’s somebody on?:\n  19 using equipment:\n  20 musical instruments:\n  21 radio/television:\n  22 recorded:\n  23 activity/journey:\n  24 included:\n  25 when something happens:\n  26 compared with something:\n  27 carrying something:\n  28 pay:\n  29 telephone number:\n  30 causing somebody problems:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 ON A SURFACE:  a) touching a surface or being supported by a surface//  --Leave your things on the table over there.//  --People were sunbathing on the grass.//  --The little girl was sitting on her father’s shoulders. see usage note  at//  b) used to say that someone or something moves so that they are then touching or supported by a surface//  --snow falling on the mountainsides//  --He threw himself on the bed.//\n  2 SUPPORTING YOUR BODY:  used to say what part of someone’s body is touching the ground or another surface and supporting their weight//  --She was on her feet in no time.//  --He was on his hands and knees searching for something.//  --Can you stand on your head?//\n  3 PART HIT/TOUCHED:  used to say what part of someone or something is hit or touched//  --I wanted to punch him on the nose.//  --Matt kissed her on the cheek.//\n  4 WRITTEN/SHOWN:  used to say where something is written or shown//  --There’s a diagram on page 25.//  --He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper.//\n  5 ATTACHED:  attached to or hanging from something//  --She hung her coat on a hook.//  --Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times.//\n  6 PLACE:  in a particular place//  --The town is right on the border.//  --Is there a water supply on the island?//  --He grew up on a ranch in California.//  --a store on Fifth Avenue//\n  7 POSITION:  in a particular position in relation to something else//  --You’ll see the school on your left.//  --They live on the opposite side of the town.//\n  8 LOOKING/POINTING:  looking or pointing towards something or someone//  --His eyes were on the stranger standing in the doorway.//  --She trained her binoculars on the house.//\n  9 DAY/DATE:  during a particular day//  --They’ll be here on Tuesday.//  --I was born on July 1st.//  --We’ll see you on Christmas Eve.//\n  10 AFFECTING/RELATING TO:  affecting or relating to someone or something//  --a tax on cigarettes//  --his influence on young people//  --There will be new restrictions on the sale of weapons.//  --What effect will these changes have on the tourist industry?//\n  11 ABOUT:  about a particular subject//  --Do you have any books on India?//  --You can get information on local services by calling this number.//  --an international conference on global warming//\n  12 ORDERS/ADVICE:  as a result of someone’s order, request, or advice//  --He was killed on the king’s orders.//  --I accepted the offer on the advice of my lawyer.//\n  13 EAT/DRINK:  used to talk about what someone usually eats or drinks//  --They live mainly on beans, lentils and rice.//  --Is your baby on solid food yet?//\n  14 TRANSPORT:  a) in or into a bus, train, plane etc//  → off//  --Did you manage to sleep on the plane?//  --Tommy should be on the six o’clock train.//  --She got on the first bus that came along.//  b) riding something//  --a statue of the king on horseback//  --I’ll probably come on my bike.//\n  15 MONEY:  receiving money for a job or as a regular payment//  --He’s on quite a good salary now.//  --She must be on at least [hA124]50,000 a year.//  --the difficulties faced by families on low incomes//\n  16 FUEL:  using a particular type of  fuel or power//  --Most buses run on diesel.//  --Does it work on mains electricity?//\n  17 MEDICINE/DRUGS:  taking a particular drug or medicine regularly//  → off//  --Are you still on antibiotics?//  --The doctor put her on Prozac.//  --A lot of these kids are on heroin by the age of twelve.//\n  18  what’s sb on?:   spoken used to say that someone is behaving in a very strange way, as if they are taking an illegal drug//\n  19 USING EQUIPMENT:  using a machine or piece of equipment//  --He’s been on the computer all afternoon.//  --Is Rachel still on the phone?//\n  20 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS:  playing a musical instrument//  --He played a short piece on the piano.//  --The album features Rick Wakeman on keyboards.//\n  21 RADIO/TELEVISION:  being broadcast by radio or television//  --What’s on TV tonight?//  --Did you hear that programme on the radio last night?//\n  22 RECORDED:  used to say in what form information is stored or music, films etc are recorded//  --The movie is now available on video and DVD.//  --I always keep a backup copy on disk.//\n  23 ACTIVITY/JOURNEY:  taking part in an activity or travelling somewhere//  --She’s on a course all this week.//  --I met him on vacation in Canada.//  --My girlfriend is often away on business trips.//\n  24 INCLUDED:  included in a group or team of people or in a list//  --Are you still on the management committee?//  --Mr Edwards is no longer on the staff here.//  --Whose team are you on?//  --There was no steak on the menu.//  --What’s the next item on the agenda?//\n  25 WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS:   formal as soon as someone has done something or as soon as something has happened//  --Couples are presented with a bottle of wine on their arrival at the hotel.//  --All patients are examined on admission to the hospital.//  on doing sth//  --What was your reaction on seeing him?//\n  26 COMPARED WITH SOMETHING:  compared with another person or thing//  --This essay is a definite improvement on your last one.//  --Sales are 10% up on last year.//\n  27 CARRYING SOMETHING:   informal if you have something on you, you have it in your pocket, your bag etc//  --I don’t have any money on me.//\n  28 PAY:   be on sb//   spoken used to say who is going to pay for something//  --The drinks are on me!//  --Each table will get a bottle of champagne on the house  (=paid for by the restaurant, hotel etc) .//\n  29 TELEPHONE NUMBER:  used to say what number you should use in order to telephone someone//  American Equivalent:  at//  --You can contact me on this number.//\n  30 CAUSING SOMEBODY PROBLEMS:  used when something bad happens to you, for example when something you are using suddenly stops working, or someone you have a relationship with suddenly leaves you//  --Suddenly the telephone went dead on me.//  --Dorothy’s first husband walked out on her.//\non 2 adj, adv [not before noun]   ----------//\n   1 continuing:\n   2 further:\n   3 later:\n   4 wearing something:\n   5 attached:\n   6 written:\n   7 transport:\n   8 light/machine:\n   9 being broadcast:\n  10 events:\n  11 performing/speaking:\n  12 working:\n  13 have something on:\n  14 on and off:\n  15 be/go/keep on at somebody:\n  16 be/go/keep on about something:\n  17 be not on:\n  18 be on for something:\n  19 you’re on:  ----------//\n  1 CONTINUING:  used to say that someone continues to do something or something continues to happen, without stopping//  --We decided to play on even though it was snowing.//  --He went on and on  (=talked for a very long time) about his job all evening.//\n  2 FURTHER:  if you move, walk etc on, you move forward or further towards something//  --If you walk on a little, you can see the coast.//  --We drove on towards Manchester.//\n  3 LATER:  later than or after a particular time//  --Now, forty years on, this is one of the most successful theatres in the country.//  --From that moment on I never believed a word she said.//\n  4 WEARING SOMETHING:  if you have something on, you are wearing it//  --All he had on was a pair of tattered shorts.//  -- Put your coat on . It’s freezing outside.//\n  5 ATTACHED:  used to say that something is attached to something else, especially when it is in the correct position//  → off//  --Is the cover on properly?//  --Remember to put the lid back on.//\n  6 WRITTEN:  used to say that something is written somewhere//  --He was wearing a badge with his name on.//\n  7 TRANSPORT:  in or into a bus, train etc//  → off//  --The train stopped and two people got on.//\n  8 LIGHT/MACHINE:  if a machine, light etc is on, it is operating//  → off//  --Who left all the lights on?//  --The TV’s on, but nobody seems to be watching it.//  --He sat down at the desk and switched on the computer.//\n  9 BEING BROADCAST:  if a radio or television programme etc is on, it is being broadcast//  --What time is ’Star Trek’ on?//\n  10 EVENTS:  if an event is on, it has been arranged and is happening or will happen//  → off//  --The transport union has confirmed that the strike is definitely on.//  --I’d avoid the city centre - there’s some kind of procession on.//  --Is the party still on tonight or have they cancelled it?//\n  11 PERFORMING/SPEAKING:  performing or speaking in public//  --You’re on in two minutes.//\n  12 WORKING:  if you are on at a particular time, you are doing your job at that time//  --I’m not on again until 2 o’clock tomorrow.//\n  13  have sth on:   informal if you have something on, there is something that you must do//  --I haven’t got anything on tomorrow, so I could see you then.//  --We’ve got a lot on at the moment.//\n  14  on and off:   also off and on //  for short periods but not regularly over a long period of time//  --He’s been smoking for 10 years now, on and off.//\n  15  be/go/keep on at sb:   informal to keep complaining to someone or asking someone to do something, especially when this annoys them//  --I’ve been on at him to fix that cupboard for weeks now.//  --I wish you wouldn’t go on at me the whole time!//\n  16  be/go/keep on about sth:   BrE  informal to keep talking about something, in a way that is boring or annoying//  --He’s always going on about money.//  --I don’t know what you’re on about!//\n  17  be not on:   BrE  spoken if something is not on, it is not acceptable or reasonable//  --I’m sorry, what you’re suggesting is just not on!//\n  18  be on for sth:   spoken to be ready or willing to do something that someone has suggested//  --Right, how many of you are on for a drink after work?//\n  19  you’re on:   spoken used tell someone that you accept a bet or an invitation to compete against them//  --’I bet you [hA124]20 he won’t turn up.’ ’You’re on!’//    onto//


Words: on stream adj
Meaning:
adv  on-stream  come/be on stream//  if something new comes on stream, it starts to be used or done//  --Costs should fall as new technology comes on-stream.//


Words: on-message adj
Meaning:
adv [not before noun]   a politician who is on-message says things that are in agreement with the ideas of his or her political party, especially when it appears that he or she is not thinking enough about these ideas//  → off-message//


Words: on-off
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 happening sometimes and not at other times:  --an on-off relationship//  --She had an on-off obsession with Mikey.//\n  2 an on-off switch is the thing you press to make a piece of electrical equipment start and stop working:


Words: on-screen adj
Meaning:
adv  onscreen  appearing on a computer screen, or on a television or cinema screen//  --An on-screen tutorial is included in the price of the software.//  --onscreen violence//


Words: on-site adj
Meaning:
adv [only before noun]   at the place or on the area of land that you are talking about//  → off-site//  --on-site car parking//  --Accommodation is provided on-site.//


Words: on-the-job adj
Meaning:
adv [only before noun]   while working, or at work//    in-service, in-house//  --on-the-job training//


Words: on-the-spot
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   done immediately while you are at a particular place//  --Doctors can often give on-the-spot treatment.//    on the spot at spot1 (5)//


Words: Onassis
Meaning:
Aristotle   (1906-75) a Greek ship owner, famous for being extremely rich, who married Jackie  Kennedy, the  widow of US President John F.  Kennedy, in 1968. Before that he had a long relationship with Maria Callas.//\n Jackie     Kennedy, Jackie//


Words: once
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: one]//\n  1 on one occasion only:  --I’ve only met her once.//  --Paul’s been to Wexford once before .//  (just) the once  BrE  spoken //  --Mrs Peterson came in to see Ruth just the once.//\n  2  once a week/once every three months etc:  one time every week etc, as a regular activity or event//  --Staff meetings take place once a week.//  --They took separate holidays at least once every two years.//\n  3 at some time in the past, but not now:  --Sonya and Ida had once been close friends.//  --She and her husband had once owned a house like this.//  once-great/proud etc //  --It was sad to see the once-great man looking so frail.//  --the once-mighty steel industry//\n  4 in the past, at a time that is not stated:  --I once ran 21 miles.//  --Marx once described religion as the ’opium of the people’.//\n  5  at once:  a) immediately or without delay//  --Now, go upstairs at once and clean your room!//  --When I saw him I recognized him at once.//  b) together, at the same time//  --I can’t do two things at once!//  --Don’t all talk at once.//\n  6  once more/once again:  a) again, after happening several times before//  --I looked at myself in the mirror once more.//  --Once again she’s refusing to help.//  b) used to say that a situation changes back to its previous state//  --The crowds had all gone home and the street was quiet once more.//  c)  formal used before you repeat something that you said before//  --Once again, it must be stressed that the pilot was not to blame.//\n  7  all at once:  a) if something happens all at once, it happens suddenly when you are not expecting it//  --All at once there was a loud banging on the door.//  b) together, at the same time//  --A lot of practical details needed to be attended to all at once.//\n  8  (every) once in a while:  sometimes, although not often//  --I do get a little anxious once in a while.//  --I saw her in the shop every once in a while.//\n  9  never once/not once:  used to emphasize that something has never happened//  --I never once saw him get angry or upset.//  --Not once did they finish a job properly.//\n  10  (just) for once:  used to say that something unusual happens, especially when you wish it would happen more often//  --Be honest for once.//  --Just for once, let me make my own decision.//  --For once Colin was speechless.//\n  11  once and for all:  a) if you deal with something once and for all, you deal with it completely and finally//  --Let’s settle this matter once and for all.//  b)  BrE  spoken used to emphasize your impatience when you ask or say something that you have asked or said many times before//  --Once and for all, will you switch off that television!//\n  12  once or twice:  a few times//  --I wrote to him once or twice, but he didn’t answer.//\n  13  (just) this once:   spoken used to emphasize that this is the only time you are allowing something, asking for something etc, and it will not happen again//  --Go on, lend me the car, just this once.//  --I’ll make an exception this once.//\n  14  once upon a time:  a)  spoken at a time in the past that you think was much better than now//  --Once upon a time you used to be able to leave your front door unlocked.//  b) a long time ago - used at the beginning of children’s stories//\n  15  once in a blue moon:   informal very rarely//  --It only happens like this once in a blue moon.//\n  16  do sth once too often:  to repeat a bad, stupid, or dangerous action with the result that you get punished or cause trouble for yourself//  --He tried that trick once too often and in the end they caught him.//\n  17  once a ..., always a ...:   spoken used to say that people stay the same and cannot change the way they behave and think//  --Once a thief, always a thief.//\n  18  once is/was enough:   spoken used to say that after you have done something one time you do not need or want to do it again//\n  19  once bitten, twice shy:  used to say that people will not do something again if it has been a bad experience//\nonce 2 conj   from the time when something happens//  --Once I get him a job, he’ll be fine.//  --Once in bed, the children usually stay there.//


Words: once-over
Meaning:
n   give sth the/a once-over//  a) to look at someone or something quickly to check what they are like//  b) to clean or tidy something quickly//


Words: oncology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: onkos  ’mass’]//  the part of medical science that deals with cancer and tumours//  -- oncologist n  [C] //


Words: oncoming
Meaning:
adj   oncoming car/traffic etc//  a car etc that is coming towards you//  --He crashed into an oncoming car.//


Words: one
Meaning:
number \n  1 the number 1:  --They had one daughter.//  --one hundred and twenty-one pounds//  --Come back at one (=one o’clock) .//  --Katie’s almost one (=one year old) .//\n  2  one or two:  a small number of people or things//   a few//  --There are one or two things to sort out before I leave.//  one or two of//  --One or two of us knew him quite well.//\n  3  in ones and twos:   BrE alone or in pairs, rather than in large numbers or groups//  --Guests arrived in ones and twos.//\none 2 pron   plural  ones //\n  1 used to mean someone or something of a type that has already been mentioned or is known about:  --’Have you got a camera?’ ’No.’ ’You should buy one’ (=buy a camera) .//  --The train was crowded so we decided to catch a later one (=catch a later train) .//  the one(s) (that/who/which)//  --The only jokes I tell are the ones that I hear from you.//  this one/that one/these ones/those ones//  --I like all the pictures except this one.//\n  2 used to mean someone or something from a group that has been mentioned or is about to be mentioned:  --The children seemed upset. One was crying.//  one of//  --This is one of my favourite books.//\n  3 used to talk about a particular person or thing in comparison with other similar people or things:  one of//  -- One of the men sounded furious, the other frightened.//  --She has two daughters. One is a primary school teacher, the other a musician.//\n  4  the one(s) who/that:  the person or people who//  --I was the one who had been attacked, not Richard.//  -- The only ones who will benefit are the shareholders.//\n  5  one by one:  used when one person or thing in a group does something, then the next, then the next, especially in a regular way//  --One by one each soldier approached the coffin and gave a final salute.//\n  6  one after another/one after the other:  if events happen one after the other, they happen without much time between them//  --One after another, tropical storms battered the Pacific coastline.//\n  7  (all) in one:  if someone or something is many different things all in one, they are all those things//  --It’s a TV, radio and VCR all in one.//\n  8  formal used to mean people in general, including yourself:  --One can never be too careful.//  --Great pictures make one think.//\n  9  I, for one, ...:  used to emphasize that you believe something, will do something etc and hope others will do the same//  --I, for one, am proud of the team’s effort.//\n  10  ... for one:  used to give an example of someone or something//  --There were several other people absent that afternoon, weren’t there? Mr Ashton for one.//\n  11  be one up (on sb)/get one up on sb:  to have or get an advantage over someone//    one-upmanship//\n  12  put one over on sb:   informal to trick someone//  --No one’s going to put one over on me!//\n  13  be at one with sb/sth:  a) to feel very calm or relaxed in the situation or environment you are in//  --She felt as she always did in these mountains: peaceful, without care, at one with nature .//  b)  formal to agree with someone about something//  --He was at one with Wheatley on the need to abandon free trade.//\n  14  informal used in particular phrases to mean ’an alcoholic drink’:  --How about a quick one at the pub?//  have had one too many (=have drunk too much alcohol) //  (have) one for the road (=have one last alcoholic drink before you leave a place) //\n  15  the one about ...:   spoken a joke or humorous story//  -- Have you heard the one about the chicken who tried to cross the road?//\n  16  as one:   written if many people do something as one, they all do it at the same time//  --The whole team stood up as one.//\n  17  a difficult/hard/good etc one:  a particular kind of problem, question, story etc//  --’What do you attribute your long life to?’ ’Oh that’s a difficult one’.//\n  18  one and the same:  the same person or thing//  --Muhammad Ali and Cassius Clay are one and the same.//\n  19  not/never be one to do sth:   informal to never do a particular thing, because it is not part of your character to do it//  --Tom is not one to show his emotions.//\n  20  not/never be (a great) one for (doing) sth:   informal to not enjoy a particular activity, subject etc//  --I’ve never been a great one for watersports.//\n  21  one of us:   spoken used to say that someone belongs to the same group as you, or has the same ideas, beliefs etc//  --You can talk in front of Terry - he’s one of us.//\n  22  one and all:   old-fashioned  or  formal everyone//  --Apologies to one and all.//\n  23  got it in one!:   BrE  spoken used to say that someone has correctly guessed or understood something immediately//  --’You’re not painting the house again are you?’ ’Got it in one!’//\n  24  little/young ones:   spoken used by some people to mean ’children’, especially young children//  --She’s got four little ones.//\n  25  you are/he is a one:   BrE  old-fashioned used to say that someone’s behaviour is amusing, strange or surprising//  --You are a one!//    one-to-one//  ----------//  HINT sense 8 //  This is a very formal use. People usually say or write you instead of ’one’: You can never be too careful. //  ----------//\none 3 determiner   [Language: Old English; Origin: an]//\n  1 used to emphasize a particular person or thing:  --One person I find very difficult is Bob.//  --If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s people who bite their nails.//\n  2  one day/morning/year etc:  a) on a particular day, morning etc in the past//  --One morning I was sitting at my desk when a policeman knocked at my door.//  b) used to talk about a day, morning etc in the future which is not yet exactly known or decided//  --We should go out for a drink one evening.//  --One day she hopes to move to the South Coast.//\n  3 used to talk about a particular person or thing in comparison with other similar people or things:  --Why does my card work in one cash machine and not in another ?//\n  4  It’s one thing to ... it’s (quite) another to:  used to say that the second thing mentioned is very different from the first, and is often much more difficult to do//  --It’s one thing to say we have a goal; it’s another to actually act on it.//\n  5  for one thing:  used to introduce a reason for what you have just said//  --He couldn’t bring himself to say what he thought. For one thing , she seldom stopped to listen. For another , he doubted that he could make himself clear.//\n  6  be one crazy woman/be one interesting job etc:   spoken  especially AmE to be a very crazy woman, be a very interesting job etc//  --You’re one lucky guy.//\n  7  formal used before the name of someone you do not know or have not heard of before:   a certain//  --He was accused of stealing a horse from one Peter Wright.//\none 4 adj [only before noun] \n  1 only:  --Her one concern was to get to the door without being seen.//  --Claire is the one person I can trust.//\n  2  one and only:  a) used to emphasize that someone is very famous//  -- the one and only Frank Sinatra//  b) used to emphasize that something is the only one of its kind//  --I even tried my one and only French joke on them.//\none 5 n [C usually plural]  AmE   a piece of paper money worth one dollar//  --I don’t have any ones.//


Words: one another
Meaning:
W3S3 pron   each other//  --Liz and I have known one another for years.//  --They often stay at one another’s houses.//


Words: One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Meaning:
(1961) a  cartoon film made by Walt  Disney,, about 99 young  dalmatians which an evil woman called  Cruella de Vil wants to kill so that she can use their skins to make a coat. Two more adult Dalmatians save them. Another film was made of the story in 1996 with human actors.The films are based on the book by Dodie Smith.//


Words: one-armed bandit
Meaning:
n [C]   a machine with a long handle, into which you put money in order to try to win more money//   slot machine//  British Equivalent:  fruit machine//


Words: one-dimensional
Meaning:
adj   simple and not considering or showing all the parts of something - used to show disapproval//  --the novel’s one-dimensional characters//


Words: one-horse
Meaning:
adj \n  1  one-horse town:   informal a small and boring town//\n  2  one-horse race:  a race, competition etc which a particular person or thing looks likely to win easily//


Words: one-man
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   performed, operated, controlled etc by one person//  --He does a one-man show in Las Vegas.//  --a one-man business//


Words: one-man band
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  informal an organization or activity in which one person does everything:  --The company is really a one-man band.//\n  2 a street musician who plays several instruments at the same time:


Words: one-night stand
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  informal :  a) an occasion when two people have sex, but do not meet each other again//  --I’m not into one-night stands.//  b) a person that you have sex with once and do not see again//\n  2 a performance of music or a play that is given only once in a particular place:


Words: one-on-one
Meaning:
adj   between only two people//  --Virtually all instruction is in small groups or one-on-one.//  -- one-on-one adv //  --Often, the employer just called in the drivers and bargained with them directly, one-on-one.//


Words: one-parent family
Meaning:
n [C]   a family in which there is only one parent who lives with the children//   single parent family//


Words: one-piece
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   consisting of only one piece, not separate parts//  --a one-piece bathing suit//


Words: one-shot
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  AmE   happening or done only once//  British Equivalent:  one-off//  --This is a one-shot deal. If it doesn’t work, it’s over.//


Words: one-sided
Meaning:
adj \n  1 considering or showing only one side of a question, subject etc in a way that is unfair:    biased, balanced//  --The newspapers give a very one-sided account of the war.//\n  2 an activity or competition that is one-sided is one in which one person or side is much stronger or does much more than the other:  --a very boring, one-sided game//  --The conversation was very one-sided.//  -- one-sidedly adv //  -- one-sidedness n  [U] //


Words: one-size-fits-all
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 a one-size-fits-all attitude, method, plan etc is designed to please everyone or be suitable for every situation, often with the result that it is not successful:  --a one-size-fits-all public education program//\n  2 one-size-fits-all clothes are designed so that people of any size can wear them:


Words: one-star
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   a one-star hotel, restaurant etc has been judged to be not of a very high standard//


Words: one-to-one
Meaning:
adj \n  1 between only two people:  --tuition on a one-to-one basis//\n  2 matching each other exactly:  --a one-to-one correspondence between letters and sounds//  -- one-to-one adv //  --I need to discuss it with him one-to-one.//


Words: one-track mind
Meaning:
n   have a one-track mind//  to be continuously thinking about one particular thing, especially sex//


Words: one-two
Meaning:
n [C]   a movement in which a boxer hits his opponent with one hand and then quickly with the other//  --Ali gives his opponent the old one-two , and it’s all over.//


Words: one-way
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun] \n  1 a one-way street is one in which vehicles are only allowed to travel in one direction:  --the town’s one-way system //\n  2  especially  AmE a one-way ticket is for travelling from one place to another but not back again:  → round-trip//  British Equivalent:  single//\n  3 a one-way process, relationship etc is one in which only one person makes any effort or provides anything:


Words: one-way mirror
Meaning:
n [C]   a mirror which can be used as a window by people secretly watching from the other side of it//


Words: one-woman
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   performed, operated, controlled etc by only one woman//  --a one-woman show //


Words: oneness
Meaning:
n [U]   a peaceful feeling of being part of a whole//  oneness with//  --a sense of oneness with nature//


Words: onerous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: onereus, from  Latin onerosus, from  onus;   ONUS]//  work or a responsibility that is onerous is difficult and worrying or makes you tired//  --an onerous task //


Words: oneself
Meaning:
pron  formal   the  reflexive form of one3(2)//  --It is only through study that one really begins to know oneself.//


Words: ongoing
Meaning:
adj   continuing, or continuing to develop//  --their ongoing search for a new director//  --ongoing negotiations//  --The discussions are still ongoing.//    go on at go1 //


Words: onion
Meaning:
S3   n [U and C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: oignon, from  Latin unio]//  a round white vegetable with a brown, red, or white skin and many layers. Onions have a strong taste and smell//  --Chop the onions finely.//  --red onions//  --home-made onion soup//


Words: online
Meaning:
adj \n  1 connected to other computers through the Internet, or available through the Internet:  → offline//  --All the city’s schools will be online by the end of the year.//\n  2 directly connected to or controlled by a computer:  → off-line//  --an online printer//  -- online adv //  --The reports are not available online yet.//


Words: online auction
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of website in which you can sell things to the person who offers you the highest price//


Words: online banking
Meaning:
also Internet banking  n [U]   a service provided by banks so that people can find out information about their bank account, pay bills etc using the Internet//


Words: onlooker
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who watches something happening without being involved in it//  --A crowd of onlookers had gathered at the scene of the accident.//    look on at look1 //


Words: only
Meaning:
adv \n  1 not more than a particular number, age etc:  --Naomi was only 17 when she got married.//  --There are only a few cars on the island.//  --It’s only eight o’clock.//\n  2 used to say that something or someone is not very important, serious etc:  --It was only a joke.//  --It’s an interesting job, but it’s only temporary.//  --They’re only small cuts, nothing life-threatening.//\n  3 nothing or no one except a particular person or thing:  --Only the president can authorize a nuclear attack.//  --We use only the best ingredients.//  women/men/residents etc only //  --The car park is for staff only.//\n  4 used to say that something happens or is possible in one particular situation or place and no others, or for one particular reason:  --I’ll tell you, but only if you don’t tell anyone else.//  --I ate the food, but only because I was starving.//  --The transfer takes place only when the data is complete.//\n  5 no earlier than a particular time:  only yesterday/last week/recently //  --’When did you e-mail her?’ ’Only yesterday.’//  only then did/would/could etc sb do sth (=at that moment and not before) //  --Only then did she tell him about the attack.//\n  6  only just:   BrE //  a) a very short time ago ago//  --She’s only just got up.//  b) almost not//   barely//  --I only just finished my essay in time.//\n  7  can only hope/wait etc:  used to say that it is not possible to do more than hope etc//  --We can only hope it won’t rain on the day.//\n  8  I can only think/suppose/assume (that):   spoken used when you are giving a reason for something, to say that you do not know something for certain but think that this is the only possible reason//  --I can only assume that it was a mistake.//\n  9  I only wish/hope:   spoken used to express a strong wish or hope//  --’What’s happening?’ ’I only wish I knew.’//\n  10  if only:   spoken used to express a strong wish//  --If only he’d call!//\n  11  you’ll only:   spoken used to tell someone that what they want to do will have a bad effect//  --Don’t interfere - you’ll only make things worse.//\n  12  you only have to read/look at/listen to etc sth:   spoken used to say that it is easy to know that something is true because you can see or hear things that prove it//  --You only have to look at the statistics to see that things are getting worse.//\n  13  only to:  used to say that someone did something, with a disappointing or surprising result//  --I arrived only to find that the others had already left.//\n  14  only too:  very//  --Prices have risen sharply, as we know only too well.//  --Mark was only too happy to agree with her.//    not only ... but (also) at not(4),  only have eyes for sb at eye1 (32),  for sb’s eyes only at eye1 (25)//\nonly 2 adj [only before noun]   [Language: Old English; Origin: anlic, from  an;   ONE3]//\n  1 used to say that there is one person, thing, or group in a particular situation and no others:  --I was the only woman there.//  --He is our only child.//  --I was the only one who disagreed.//  --Cutting costs is the only solution.//  --She’s the only person for this job.//\n  2  the only thing/problem is ...:   spoken used when you are going to mention a problem or disadvantage//  --I could take you. The only thing is Dan might need the car.//\n  3  an only child:  a child who has no brothers or sisters//    the one and only at one4 (2),  (only) time will tell at time1 (36)//\nonly 3 conj  spoken   used like ’but’ to give the reason why something is not possible//  --I’d offer to help, only I’m really busy just now.//


Words: Ono
Meaning:
Yoko   (1933- ) a Japanese artist and musician who was married to John  Lennon. She made several records with Lennon as part of their group the Plastic Ono Band//


Words: onomatopoeia
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek onomatopoiia, from  onoma  ’name’ +  poiein  ’to make’]//  the use of words that sound like the thing that they are describing, for example ’hiss’ or ’boom’//  -- onomatopoeic adj //


Words: onrush
Meaning:
n [singular]   a strong fast movement forward, or the sudden development of something//  onrush of//  --the first onrush of the epidemic//  -- onrushing adj //  --the onrushing tide//


Words: onset
Meaning:
n   the onset of sth//  the beginning of something, especially something bad//  --the onset of winter//


Words: onshore
Meaning:
adj, adv [only before noun] \n  1 on the land, not in the sea:    offshore, inshore//  --onshore oil production//\n  2 onshore winds are moving from the sea towards the land:    offshore//


Words: onside
Meaning:
adj, adv   in a position where you are allowed to play the ball in sports such as football//  → offside//


Words: onslaught
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Dutch; Origin: aanslag  ’act of striking’; influenced by  slaught  ’slaughter’ (13-17 centuries)]//\n  1 a large violent attack by an army:  onslaught on/against//  --In December they launched a full-scale onslaught on the capital.//\n  2 strong criticism of someone:  onslaught on/against//  --his public onslaught on the Conservatives//  under the onslaught of sth//  --He praised his wife for her dignity under the onslaught of the tabloid press.//\n  3  the onslaught of sth:  the effect of something that is unpleasant and could cause damage//  --plants that will survive the onslaught of winter//


Words: onstage
Meaning:
adj, adv   on the stage in a theatre//  → offstage//  --Even today I get nervous before I go onstage .//


Words: Ontario
Meaning:
a  province in the east of central Canada, containing the country’s largest city, Toronto, and over a third of its population//\n Lake   the smallest of the five  Great Lakes, between the US and Canada. Its main port is the Canadian city of Toronto.//


Words: onto
Meaning:
also  on to/[hA361]nt[hA353] before vowels [hA361]nt[hA35E] $ [hA35A][hA359]n-, [hA361][hA359]n-/ prep \n  1 used to say that someone or something moves to a position on a surface, area, or object:  --She watched him walk onto the platform.//  --Don’t jump onto (=into) the bus while it’s moving.//  --Pour the syrup on to the egg mixture.//  --The car rolled over onto its side.//  down/out/up etc onto sth//  --Let’s get back onto the highway.//\n  2 used to say that a room, door, or window faces towards something or allows movement into another place:  --The dining room looks out onto a pretty garden.//  --a gate leading on to a broad track//\n  3  be onto sb:   informal //  a)  also get onto sb //   especially BrE to speak to someone in order to tell them or ask them something//  --A number of people have been onto me complaining about the noise.//  --Get onto the Press Office and find out what’s happening.//  b) to know that a particular person did something wrong or committed a crime//  --The police are onto him.//\n  4  be onto sth:   informal //  a) to have discovered or produced something new and interesting//  --With the new show, we were onto something big.//  be onto a good thing/a winner //  --I think she’s onto a real winner with this song.//  b)  also get onto sth //  to be dealing with something or start dealing with something//  --I’ll get onto it right away.//


Words: ontology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: ontologia, from  Greek ont-  ’being’, from  einai  ’to be’]//  a subject of study in philosophy that is concerned with the nature of existence//  -- ontological/[hA361]nt[hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]nt[hA353]l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: onus
Meaning:
n [singular]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’load’]//  the responsibility for something//  the onus is on sb to do sth//  --The onus is on the prosecution to provide proof of guilt.//


Words: onward
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   moving forward or continuing//  --The company offers flights to Amsterdam with onward travel to The Hague.//  --the onward march of science//


Words: onwards
Meaning:
adv  usually onward  AmE \n  1  from ... onwards:  beginning at a particular time or age and continuing after that//  --from the 1980s onwards//\n  2  literary forwards:  --He walked onwards to the head of the lake.//\n  3  onwards and upwards:  used to say that the development, increase, or progress of something continues//  --With exports strong, the business is moving onwards and upwards .//


Words: onyx
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  Greek,  ’claw, nail’]//  a stone with lines of different colours in it, often used in jewellery//


Words: oodles
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps from  huddle]//  oodles of sth//   informal a large amount of something//  --They’ve got oodles of money.//


Words: oof
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Natural sound]//  a sound that you make when you have been hit, especially in the stomach//


Words: ooh
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Natural sound]//  said when you think something is very beautiful, unpleasant, surprising etc//  --Ooh, that’s nice!//


Words: ooh la la
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: [hA175] la! la!]//  said when you think that something or someone is surprising, unusual, or sexually attractive - used humorously//


Words: oomph
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from the sound of someone making an effort]//  a quality that makes something attractive and exciting and that shows energy//  --It’s not a bad song, but it needs more oomph.//


Words: oops
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Natural sound]//  said when someone falls or makes a small mistake//  --Oops, I’ve spelt that wrong.//


Words: oops-a-daisy
Meaning:
interjection   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: upsy-daisy  (19-21 centuries), from  up-a-day  (18-19 centuries)]//  said when a child falls//


Words: ooze
Meaning:
preposition, T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  OOZE22]//\n  1 if a thick liquid oozes from something or if something oozes a thick liquid, that liquid flows from it very slowly:  ooze from/out of/through//  --The ice cream was melting and oozing out of its wrapper.//  --A cut on his cheek was still oozing blood.//\n  2 to show a lot of a particular quality or feeling:  --Andrew laughed gently, oozing charm .//\nooze 2 n   [Sense: 1; Origin: Old English wase]//  [Sense: 2; Origin: Old English wos]//\n  1 [U] very soft mud, especially at the bottom of a lake or sea:\n  2 [singular] a very slow flow of liquid:


Words: op
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: operation]//  a medical operation//   operation//  --He’s had a minor heart op.//


Words: op art
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: optical art]//  art that uses patterns which seem to move or to produce other shapes as you look at them//


Words: op-ed
Meaning:
adj  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: opposite (the) editorial]//  op-ed page/article//  a page in a newspaper that has articles containing opinions on various subjects, or one of these articles//


Words: op. cit.
Meaning:
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: opus citatum  ’the work quoted’]//  an abbreviation used in formal writing to refer to a book that has been mentioned before//


Words: opacity
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: opacite, from  Latin opacitas, from  opacus;   OPAQUE]//\n  1 the quality that something has when it is difficult to see through:    opaque//\n  2 the quality that something has when it is difficult to understand:


Words: opal
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: opalus, from  Sanskrit upala  ’stone, jewel’]//  a type of white stone with changing colours in it, often used in jewellery//


Words: opaque
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: opacus  ’dark’]//\n  1 opaque glass or liquid is difficult to see through and often thick:  → transparent//  --a shower with an opaque glass door//\n  2  formal difficult to understand:  --an opaque style of writing//  -- opaqueness n  [U] //


Words: OPEC
Meaning:
n   Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries an organization of countries that produce and sell oil//


Words: Open
Meaning:
the   an important national  golf competition, especially the British Open Championship or the US Open Championship//


Words: open
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 door/container etc:\n   2 eyes/mouth:\n   3 not enclosed:\n   4 not covered:\n   5 the open air:\n   6 business/building etc:\n   7 not restricted:\n   8 opportunity:\n   9 not secret:\n  10 honest:\n  11 clothes:\n  12 not yet decided:\n  13 open to something:\n  14 not blocked:\n  15 spread apart:\n  16 an open mind:\n  17 be open to question/doubt:\n  18 welcome/greet somebody/something with open arms:\n  19 an open invitation:\n  20 be an open book:\n  21 the door is open:\n  22 keep your eyes/ears open:\n  23 open weave/texture:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 DOOR/CONTAINER ETC:  not closed, so that things, people, air etc can go in and out or be put in and out//  → closed, shut//  --He threw the door open and ran down the stairs.//  --an open window//  --The gates swung silently open .//  --The bar door flew open and a noisy group burst in.//  --All the windows were wide open  (=completely open) .//  --She looked at the open suitcase with surprise.//  --There was an open bottle of wine on the table.//\n  2 EYES/MOUTH:  not closed, so that your eyelids or your lips are apart//  --I was so sleepy, I couldn’t keep my eyes open .//  --He was fast asleep with his mouth wide open .//\n  3 NOT ENCLOSED:   [only before noun] not enclosed, or with no buildings, walls, trees etc//  --There was open ground at the end of the lane.//  -- open spaces such as parks and gardens//  open countryside/country //  --At weekends people want to leave the town for open countryside.//  --A shoal of fish swam past heading for the open sea  (=part of the sea away from land) .//  --The car’s performance is good, especially going fast on the open road  (=a road without traffic where you can drive fast) .//\n  4 NOT COVERED:  without a roof or cover//  --The president was riding with his wife in an open car.//  --Martin was struggling with the sails on the open deck.//  --an open drain//  open to the sky/air/elements //  --Many of the tombs had been robbed and left open to the sky.//\n  5  the open air:  outdoors//  in the open air//  --The dancing was outside, in the open air.//  --Jane wanted to rush to the door and get out into the open air.//    open-air//\n  6 BUSINESS/BUILDING ETC:   [not before noun] ready for business and allowing customers, visitors etc to enter//  → closed, shut//  --The museum is open daily in the summer months.//  --The offices are also open at weekends.//  --After the security alert, most of the firms affected were open for business on Monday morning.//  --The villagers are anxious that their local school is kept open.//  --I declare this exhibition open (=officially say that it is now open) .//\n  7 NOT RESTRICTED:  allowing everyone, or everyone in a group, to take part in something, know about something, or have a chance to win something//  open to//  --The competition is open to all readers in the UK.//  --In many schools, governors’ meetings are not open to the public .//  --The discussion was then thrown open for the audience’s questions.//  --an open meeting//  --The men’s race appears wide open  (=anyone could win it) .//  --The painting would fetch several hundred dollars on the open market  (=a market in which anyone can buy or sell) .//\n  8 OPPORTUNITY:   [not before noun] if an opportunity, possible action, job etc is open to you, you have the chance to do it//  --The job is being kept open for her.//  open to//  --The 1960s was a period when greater opportunities were open to women.//  --So what other options are open to us?//  --There is only one course of action open to the local authority.//\n  9 NOT SECRET:   [only before noun] actions, feelings, intentions etc that are open are not hidden or secret//  --Her father watched her with open admiration.//  --open hostility between the two nations//  --The party was calling for more open government  (=when the government makes information freely available) .//  --The case will be tried in open court  (=in a court where everything is public) .//  --It is an open secret  (=it is supposed to be secret, but most people know about it) that she is having an affair with another man.//\n  10 HONEST:  honest and not wanting to hide any facts from other people//  open with//  --The couple are quite open with each other about their feelings.//  open about//  --She was quite open about her ambitions.//  --his friendly, open manner//\n  11 CLOTHES:  not fastened//  --the open neck of his shirt//  --She was wearing an open jacket.//\n  12 NOT YET DECIDED:  needing more discussion or thought before a decision can be made//  --The matter remains an open question .//  open to//  --The new rates of pay are open to negotiation.//  --The test results are open to interpretation.//  keep/leave your options open //  --Officers investigating her death are keeping their options open.//\n  13  open to sth:  a) likely to suffer from something or be affected by something//  --The magazine’s editor is open to criticism in allowing the article to be printed.//  --The regulations are open to abuse by companies.//  --He has left himself open to accusations of dishonesty.//  b) willing to consider something new or to accept something new//  --Teachers need to be open to children’s ideas.//  --The committee is open to suggestions.//  --The owners of the building want to sell and are open to offers.//\n  14 NOT BLOCKED:  if a road or line of communication is open, it is not blocked and can be used//  --We try to keep the mountain roads open all through the winter.//\n  15 SPREAD APART:  spread apart instead of closed, curled over, etc//  --At night the flowers were open.//  --Johnson raised an open hand.//  --He was sitting in bed with a book lying open (=with its pages apart so it can be read) on his knees.//\n  16  an open mind:  if you have an open mind, you deliberately do not make a decision or form a definite opinion about something//  --It’s important to keep an open mind as you study the topic.//\n  17  be open to question/doubt:  if something is open to question, there are doubts about it//  --Whether the new situation is an improvement is open to question.//\n  18  welcome/greet sb/sth with open arms:  to be very pleased to see someone or something//  --Mike will be welcomed back into the team with open arms.//\n  19  an open invitation:  a) an invitation to visit someone whenever you like//  b) something that makes it easier for criminals to steal, cheat etc//  an open invitation to//  --The lack of security measures provides an open invitation to crime.//\n  20  be an open book:  to be something that you know and understand very well//  --The natural world was an open book to him.//\n  21  the door is open:  there is an opportunity for someone to do something//  the door is open to//  --Schoolgirls are being told that the door is open to them to pursue careers in science.//\n  22  keep your eyes/ears open:  to keep looking or listening so that you will notice anything that is important, dangerous etc//\n  23  open weave/texture:  cloth with an open weave or texture has wide spaces between the threads//    keep an eye open (for sth) at eye1 (14),  with your eyes open at eye1 (19),  open-eyed//\nopen 2 v   ----------//\n   1 door/window etc:\n   2 container/package:\n   3 eyes:\n   4 mouth:\n   5 start operating:\n   6 shop/restaurant etc:\n   7 start an activity:\n   8 computer:\n   9 meeting/event:\n  10 official ceremony:\n  11 spread/unfold:\n  12 make a way through:\n  13 film/play etc:\n  14 open an account:\n  15 open fire (on something):\n  16 open the door/way to something:\n  17 open somebody’s eyes (to something):\n  18 open your mind (to something):\n  19 open your heart (to somebody):\n  20 the heavens opened:  Phrasal verbs//   open onto/into something//   open out//   open up//  ----------//\n  1 DOOR/WINDOW ETC:   [I and T] to move a door, window etc so that people, things, air etc can pass through, or to be moved in this way//  --Jack opened the window.//  --He opened the drawer of the desk.//  --She heard a door open and then close.//\n  2 CONTAINER/PACKAGE:   [T] to unfasten or remove the lid, top, or cover of a container, package etc//  --Louise opened a bottle of wine.//  --He opened the letter and began to read it.//  --The children were opening their presents.//  --Mark was about to open a beer when the doorbell rang.//\n  3 EYES:   [I and T] to raise your eyelids so that you can see, or to be raised in this way//  --Barry was awake long before he opened his eyes.//  --Carrie smelled coffee and her eyes opened reluctantly.//\n  4 MOUTH:   [I and T] to move your lips apart, or to be moved in this way//  --He opened his mouth but couldn’t think what to say.//\n  5 START OPERATING:   [I and T]  also open up //  if a place such as an office, shop, restaurant etc opens or is opened, it starts operating or providing a service//  --Sarah had recently opened an office in Genoa.//  --French and Scandinavian offices are due to open in the autumn.//  --The Forestry Commission has opened a plant centre selling rare plants.//  --The centre has been a great success since it opened its doors a year ago.//\n  6 SHOP/RESTAURANT ETC:   [I]  also open up //  to start business, letting in customers or visitors, at a particular time//  --What time do the banks open?//  --The bakery opens early.//\n  7 START AN ACTIVITY:   [T] to start an activity, event, or set of actions//  --The US attorney’s office has opened an investigation into the matter.//  --An inquest into the deaths will be opened next week.//\n  8 COMPUTER:   [T] to make a document or computer program ready to use//  --Click on this icon to open the File Manager.//\n  9 MEETING/EVENT:   [I and T] if a meeting etc opens or is opened in a particular way, it starts in that way//  --Hughes, opening the Conference, made a dramatic plea for peace.//  open with//  --The concert opens with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture.//\n  10 OFFICIAL CEREMONY:   [T] to perform a ceremony in which you officially state that a building is ready to be used//  --The new County Hall building was officially opened by the King.//\n  11 SPREAD/UNFOLD:   [I and T] to spread something out or unfold something, or to become spread out or unfolded//  --She opened her umbrella.//  --John opened his hand to show her he wasn’t holding anything.//  --The flowers only open during bright weather.//  --I sat down and opened my book.//  --She opened the curtains (=pulled the two curtains apart) .//  --Dave opened his arms (=stretched his arms wide apart) to give her a hug.//\n  12 MAKE A WAY THROUGH:   [T] to make it possible for cars, goods etc to pass through a place//  --They were clearing away snow to open the tunnel.//  --The peace treaty promises an end to war and opens the borders between the two countries.//\n  13 FILM/PLAY ETC:   [I] to start being shown to the public//  --Paula and Rachael star as mother and daughter in the play, which opens tonight.//  --The film opened yesterday to excellent reviews.//\n  14  open an account:  to start an account at a bank or other financial organization by putting money into it//  --Mary was in the bank to ask about opening a current account.//\n  15  open fire (on sth):  to start shooting at someone or something//  --Troops opened fire on the rioters.//\n  16  open the door/way to sth:   also open doors //  to make an opportunity for something to happen//  --Research on genes should open the door to exciting new medical treatments.//  --If the record is successful, it could open doors for my career.//\n  17  open sb’s eyes (to sth):  to make someone realize something that they had not realized before//  --The purpose of the training is to open managers’ eyes to the consequences of their own behaviour.//\n  18  open your mind (to sth):  to be ready to consider or accept new ideas//\n  19  open your heart (to sb):  to tell someone your real thoughts and feelings because you trust them//\n  20  the heavens opened:   literary it started to rain heavily//    open the floodgates at floodgate//  open onto/into [open onto/into sth] phr v//  if a room, door etc opens onto or into another place, you can enter that other place directly through it//  --The door opens onto a long balcony.//  open out phr v//\n  1 if a road, path, or passage opens out, it becomes wider:  open out into//  --Beyond the forest the path opened out into a track.//\n  2  BrE if someone opens out, they become less shy:  open up phr v//\n  1 OPPORTUNITY:  if opportunities open up, or a new situation opens them up, they become available or possible//  --With a microscope, a whole new world of investigation opens up.//  open sth → up//  --The new international agreement opens up the possibility of much greater co-operation against terrorism.//\n  2 LAND:   open sth → up//  if someone opens up an area of land, they make it easier to reach and ready for development//  --The new road will open up 300 acres of prime development land.//\n  3 DOOR/CONTAINER ETC:  to open something that is closed, locked, or covered//  --Open up, this is the police!//  open sth → up//  --He opened up his case and took out a clean sweater.//\n  4 SHOP/OFFICE ETC:  a) if a shop, office etc opens up or is opened up, someone starts it//  b) if a shop, office etc opens up at a particular time, it starts business at that time//\n  5 DISAGREEMENT/DISCUSSION:   open sth → up//  to start a discussion or argument//  --The article was written with the intention of opening up a public debate.//\n  6 COMPETITION/RACE:  if someone opens up a lead in a competition or race, they increase the distance or number of points by which they are winning//\n  7 TALK:  to stop being shy and say what you really think//  --Last night was the first time that Ken had opened up about his feelings.//\n  8 WITH A GUN:  to start shooting//\n  9 HOLE/CRACK ETC:  if a hole, crack etc opens up or is opened up, it appears and becomes wider//\nopen 3 n \n  1  in the open:  outdoors//  --In the summer, we camped in the open .//\n  2  (out) in the open:  information that is out in the open is not hidden or secret//  --By now the whole affair was in the open.//  --She never let her dislike for him come out into the open. //  --All these concerns need to be brought out into the open .//


Words: Open College
Meaning:
the   a British organization which teaches adults in their own homes by means of radio and television programmes and  correspondence courses (=courses of study in which work is sent between teachers and students by post) . It teaches courses on business and the skills needed to work in many jobs and industries//    Open University//


Words: open day
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a day when a school or an organization invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there//


Words: open house
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C]  AmE a day when a school or organization invites the public to come in and see the work that is done there:  --Parents are invited to attend the open house next Thursday.//\n  2 [U]  BrE if it is open house at someone’s home, people are always welcome to visit at any time:  --He kept open house for a wide range of artists and writers.//\n  3 [C] a party at someone’s house that you can come to at any time during a particular period:  --We’re having an open house Sunday, noon to 5pm.//\n  4 [C]  AmE an occasion when someone who is selling their house lets everyone who is interested in buying it come to see it:


Words: open letter
Meaning:
n [C]   a letter to an important person, which is printed in a newspaper or magazine, usually in order to protest about something//


Words: open market
Meaning:
n \n  1  on the open market:  goods that are bought and sold on the open market are sold publicly rather than privately//  --The painting would fetch millions of dollars if it was sold on the open market .//\n  2 [C usually singular] a system which makes it easy to buy and sell goods with other countries, because there are few restrictions:  --There is now an open market within the European Community.//


Words: open sandwich
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a single piece of bread with meat, cheese etc on top//  American Equivalent:  open-faced sandwich//


Words: open season n [singular
Meaning:
U] \n  1  BrE the time each year when it is legal to kill particular animals, birds, or fish as a sport:  → close season//  open season for//  --the open season for deer//\n  2  open season (on sb):  a time when a lot of people criticize someone, or a group of people//  --It seems to be open season on politicians just now.//


Words: open sesame
Meaning:
n [singular]  BrE   an easy way to achieve something that is usually very difficult//  open sesame to//  --A university degree isn’t always an open sesame to a good job.//


Words: Open Software Foundation
Meaning:
the   OSF an international organization, whose members include large computer companies,  telecommunications companies, and important computer scientists, which is trying to set international standards for the systems that make computers operate. Its aim is for computers made by different companies to be able to work together.//


Words: open system
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a computer system that can be connected with similar computer systems made by other companies//


Words: Open University
Meaning:
OU a British university that teaches adult students mainly in their own homes by means of radio and television programmes and courses of study sent by mail//


Words: open verdict
Meaning:
n [C]   an official decision in a British court saying that the exact cause of someone’s death is not known//  --The jury returned an open verdict. //  --He said there was some doubt over the way Grant had died, and recorded an open verdict .//


Words: open vowel
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   a vowel such as /a/ that is pronounced with your tongue flat on the bottom of your mouth//


Words: open-air
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   happening or existing outdoors//   outdoor//  --open-air concerts//  --an open-air swimming pool//


Words: open-and-shut case
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   a legal case or other matter that is easy to prove or decide because the facts are very clear//


Words: open-door policy
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the principle of allowing people and goods to move into a country freely:  --They’re pushing forward economic reform and an open-door policy.//\n  2 the principle of allowing anyone to come to a place at any time, for example in order to discuss something:


Words: open-ended
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is open-ended does not have a definite answer or definite rules about how it must be done:  --an open-ended question//  --These interviews are fairly open-ended.//\n  2 without a particular ending time:  --an open-ended agreement//


Words: open-faced sandwich
Meaning:
also open-face sandwich  n [C]  AmE   a single piece of bread with meat, cheese etc on top//  British Equivalent:  open sandwich//


Words: open-handed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 generous and friendly:  --an open-handed offer of help//\n  2 done with your hand open:  --an open-handed slap//


Words: open-heart surgery
Meaning:
n [U]   a medical operation in which doctors operate on someone’s heart, while a machine keeps the  patient’s blood flowing//


Words: open-jaw fare
Meaning:
n [C]   the price you pay to travel on a plane, train etc when this includes travel to a place and travel back from a different place//


Words: open-minded
Meaning:
adj   willing to consider and accept other people’s ideas and opinions//  → narrow-minded//  open-minded about/towards//  --She’s quite open-minded about sex.//  -- openmindedness n  [U] //


Words: open-mouthed adj
Meaning:
adv   with your mouth wide open, because you are very surprised or shocked//  --We stared open-mouthed as the plane came down.//


Words: opencast
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]  BrE   an opencast mine is one where coal is taken out of holes in the ground near the surface, not from deep under the ground//  --opencast mining//


Words: opener
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a tool that is used to open cans, bottles etc:  --a can opener //  --a bottle opener //\n  2 the first of a series of games in a sports competition:  --They are hoping to win tomorrow’s opener against New Zealand.//\n  3  for openers:  a)  BrE as a beginning or first stage//  --For openers, the band played a couple of old Beatles songs.//  b)  AmE used to give one reason, explanation etc for something, although there are others you might mention later too//  --It’s tough being a reporter. For openers, there are the long hours.//


Words: opening
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] the time when a new building, road etc is used for the first time, or when a public event begins, especially when it involves a special ceremony:  opening of//  --the official opening of the new theatre//  --the opening of the Cannes film festival//\n  2 [C] a hole or space in something:  opening in//  --a narrow opening in the fence//\n  3 [C usually singular] the beginning or first part of something:  opening of//  --at the opening of the trial//\n  4 [C] a job that is available:  --There are very few openings in scientific research.//\n  5 [C] a chance for someone to do or say something:  opening for//  --His question left an opening for me to say exactly what I thought.//\n  6 [U] when something opens, or is opened:  opening of//  --I was startled by the sudden opening of the door.//\nopening 2 adj [only before noun]   first or beginning//  --the opening match of the season//  --the opening chapter of the book//  --the chairman’s opening remarks//


Words: opening time
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the time that a business opens to the public//  → closing time//  --We arrived at the pub just before opening time.//


Words: opening up
Meaning:
n   the opening up of sth//  when something is made less restricted and more available to people//  --the opening up of opportunities for women//  --the opening up of new areas to cultivation//


Words: openly
Meaning:
adv   in a way that does not hide your feelings, opinions, or the facts//  --Sarah talked openly about her problems.//  --He was openly critical of his colleagues.//


Words: openness
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the quality of being honest and willing to talk about things:  openness of//  --the openness of American society//  openness about//  --her openness about her problems//\n  2 the quality of being willing to accept new ideas or people:  openness to/towards//  --the importance of openness to change//\n  3 the quality of not being enclosed:  openness of//  --the vast openness of the African plains//


Words: openwork
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   an openwork object has a pattern of open spaces between the material that it is made from//  --an openwork stone screen//


Words: opera
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin,  ’works’, plural of  opus;   OPUS]//\n  1 [C] a musical play in which all of the words are sung:    operetta//  --We go to the opera  (=go to a performance of opera) regularly.//  --an opera singer //\n  2 [U] these plays considered as a form of art:  -- operatic/[hA361]p[hA353]r[zB024]t[hA366]k[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //  --operatic performances//  -- operatically/-kli/ adv //    grand opera,  soap opera//


Words: operable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a system which is operable is working:  → inoperable//  --Less than half the rail network was operable.//\n  2 a medical condition that is operable can be treated by an operation:  → inoperable//


Words: operate
Meaning:
W2S3   v   ----------//\n   1 machine:\n   2 business/organization:\n   3 system/process/service:\n   4 medical:\n   5 work:\n   6 soldiers/police:\n   7 operate as something:\n   8 laws/principles:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  operari  ’to work’, from  opus;   OPUS]//\n  1 MACHINE:  a)  [T] to use and control a machine or equipment//  --The Lewis family operated a number of boats on the canal.//  --Clive was experienced in operating the computers.//  b)  [I always + adverb/preposition] if a machine operates in a particular way, it works in that way//  operate in/at//  --Check that the equipment is operating in a safe manner.//  --The bus is designed to operate in all weather conditions.//  --Most freezers operate at below -18[hA131]C.//\n  2 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION:  a)  [I] if a business or organization operates in a particular place or way, it works in that place or way//  operate in/within/from//  --a design company operating from offices in Seattle.//  --A playgroup operates on the campus.//  --They were trying to reduce operating costs .//  b)  [T] to control a business or organization//  --Nuns are operating an emergency hospital.//\n  3 SYSTEM/PROCESS/SERVICE:   [I and T] if a system, process, or service operates, or if you operate it, it works//  --The whole tax system is now operating more efficiently.//  --The new law doesn’t operate in our favour.//  --The car parks operate a pay-as-you-leave system.//  --The bus company operates a Monday to Saturday service.//\n  4 MEDICAL:   [I] to cut into someone’s body in order to repair or remove a part that is damaged//  --Doctors had to operate to remove the bullet.//  operate on//  --the surgeon who operated on Taylor’s knee//\n  5 WORK:   [I] to do your job or try to achieve things in a particular way//  --Most people just can’t operate in noisy, crowded conditions.//  --Older children often like to operate independently.//\n  6 SOLDIERS/POLICE:   [I] if soldiers or police officers are operating in an area, they are working in that area//  operate in//  --Security patrols now operate in some of the most dangerous parts of the city.//  --enemy submarines operating in the Mediterranean//\n  7  operate as sth:  to have a particular purpose//  --The foam operates as a very effective filter.//  --The car’s service manual is designed to operate as a guide for owners.//\n  8 LAWS/PRINCIPLES:   [I] to have an effect on something//  --the laws of evolution operating on each species//  ----------//  HINT sense 4 //  A surgeon does not ’operate’ a part of a person’s body. He or she operates on it: They need to operate on her stomach (NOT operate her stomach). //  ----------//


Words: operating table
Meaning:
n [C]   a special table in an operating theatre which a person lies on when they are having an operation//


Words: operating theatre
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a room in a hospital where operations are done//  American Equivalent:  operating room//


Words: operation
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 medical:\n   2 business/organization:\n   3 work/activities:\n   4 actions:\n   5 machine/system:\n   6 principle/law/plan etc:\n   7 military/police action:\n   8 computers:  ----------//\n  1 MEDICAL:   [C] the process of cutting into someone’s body to repair or remove a part that is damaged//  --a heart bypass operation//  operation on/for//  --She’s going to need an operation on her ankle.//  --He had an operation to reduce the swelling in his brain.//  --She underwent a minor operation on her elbow in the summer.//  --the surgeon who performed the operation //  --The poor man had two major operations in two weeks.//  --an  emergency operation to save his sight//  --a routine knee operation //  --The first indications were that the life-saving operation had gone well.//\n  2 BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION:   [C] a business, company, or organization//  --The firm set up its own property development operation.//  --a microchip manufacturing operation//  --Nolan and Barnes were both involved in the operation.//\n  3 WORK/ACTIVITIES:   [U and C] the work or activities done by a business or organization, or the process of doing this work//  --Many small businesses fail in the first year of operation.//  --The Education Business Partnership has been in operation since 1989.//\n  4 ACTIONS:   [C] a set of planned actions or activities for a particular purpose//  --The UN rescue operation started shortly after dawn.//\n  5 MACHINE/SYSTEM:   [U] the way the parts of a machine or system work together, or the process of making a machine or system work//  --The aircraft’s engine operation was normal.//  in operation//  --Protective clothing must be worn when the machine is in operation.//  --The device has a single button, allowing for easy operation.//  --Careful checks must be made before the factory commences operation.//  --The new investment system came into operation in 1999.//\n  6 PRINCIPLE/LAW/PLAN ETC:   [U] the way something such as a principle or law works or has an effect//  in operation//  --a clear example of the law of gravity in operation//  come/go into operation (=begin to have an effect) //  --The new rule comes into operation on February 1.//  put/bring sth into operation (=make something start to work) //  --A scheme is being brought into operation to see how these changes would work.//\n  7 MILITARY/POLICE ACTION:   [C] a planned military or police action, especially one that involves a lot of people//  --Britain will carry out a joint military operation with the US.//\n  8 COMPUTERS:   [C] an action done by a computer//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have an operation //  undergo an operation formal (=have an operation) //  perform an operation //  major/minor operation //  emergency operation //  routine operation  (=an operation that is often performed) //  life-saving operation //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say that someone ’takes an operation’. Say that they have an operation. //  ----------//


Words: Operation Desert Storm
Meaning:
the name given to the military operation that forced the army of Iraq to leave Kuwait in 1991, during the  Gulf War//


Words: operational
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [not before noun] working and ready to be used:  --The boat should be operational by this afternoon.//  --The new system became operational in March.//  --Our main offices are now fully operational .//    operative1 (1)//\n  2 [only before noun] relating to the operation of a business, government etc:  --Patco accepted full responsibility for operational management.//  -- operationally adv //


Words: operative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 working and able to be used:  → inoperative//  --Only one runway is operative.//  --the steps to be taken before the scheme can become operative //    operational(1)//\n  2  the operative word:  used when you repeat a word from a previous sentence to draw attention to its importance//  --The new system offers fast solutions. Fast being the operative word.//\n  3 relating to a medical operation:  --patients undergoing operative procedures //\noperative 2 n [C] \n  1 a worker, especially a factory worker - used in business:  --the company’s overseas operatives//\n  2 someone who does work that is secret in some way, especially for a government organization:  CIA/FBI/intelligence etc operatives //


Words: operator
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who works on a telephone switchboard, who you can call for help:  --Hello, operator? Could you put me through to Room 31?//\n  2 someone who operates a machine or piece of equipment:  machine/computer/radio etc operator //  --computers which can be used by untrained operators//\n  3 a person or company that operates a particular business:  --new regulations affecting taxi operators//  --Julian travelled with Caribbean Connection, the UK ’s leading Caribbean tour operator  (=company that arranges holidays) .//  --a private operator running regular passenger services//\n  4 someone who is good at achieving things by persuading people to help or agree with them:  --Monsieur Valentin was a formidable political operator.//  --He may not look it, but Newman is a smooth operator  (=someone who is good at persuading people but who you feel you cannot trust) .//


Words: operetta
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: opera;   OPERA]//  a funny or romantic musical play in which some of the words are spoken and some are sung//    opera//


Words: Ophelia
Meaning:
a character in the play  Hamlet by William  Shakespeare. She loves Hamlet, but goes crazy and dies by falling into a river after he ends their relationship.//


Words: ophthalmic
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  medical   relating to the eyes and the illnesses that affect them//  --an ophthalmic surgeon//


Words: ophthalmology
Meaning:
n [U]  medical   the study of the eyes and diseases that affect them//  -- ophthalmologist n  [C] //


Words: opiate
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: opiatus, from  Latin opium;   OPIUM]//\n  1 a drug that contains opium. Opiates can be used to reduce severe pain and help people to sleep.:\n  2 something that makes people stop thinking about the problems in their lives so that they stop trying to make their lives better - used to show disapproval:  --Hollywood movies were seen as an opiate for the people.//


Words: opine
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: opiner, from  Latin opinari  ’to have an opinion’]//  to say what your opinion is about something//  opine that//  --The headmistress opined that the trip would make a nice change.//


Words: opinion
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin opinio]//\n  1 [U and C] your ideas or beliefs about a particular subject:  opinion about//  --The two women had very different opinions about drugs.//  opinion of//  --What’s your opinion of Cathy?//  opinion on//  --He asked his wife’s opinion on every important decision.//  --It’s a terrible shame,  in my opinion , that the building was knocked down.//  --The general opinion is that the new law is a good thing.//  --Politicians should listen to popular opinion .//  --These are just my own personal opinions .//  --Whether or not this is useful is a matter of opinion .//  --Everyone has the right to express an opinion .//  -- Contrary to popular opinion , chocolate is quite good for you.//  --Jody is a person with very strong opinions .//    view1 (1),  in my humble opinion at humble1 (3)//\n  2 [C] judgement or advice from a professional person about something:  --When choosing an insurance policy it’s best to get an independent opinion .//  --My doctor says I need an operation, but I’ve asked for a second opinion  (=advice from a second doctor to make sure that the first advice is right) .//  --They took the painting to get an expert opinion  (=an opinion from someone who knows a lot) .//\n  3  have a high/low/good/bad etc opinion of sb/sth:  to think that someone or something is very good or very bad//  --They have a very high opinion of Paula’s work.//\n  4  be of the opinion (that):  to think that something is true//  --I was firmly of the opinion that we should not give Jackson any more money.//    a difference of opinion at difference(6),  be a matter of opinion at matter1 (12),  public opinion//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  in somebody’s opinion //  general/popular opinion  (=what most people think about something) //  public opinion  (=what ordinary people think about something) //  somebody’s personal opinion //  difference of opinion //  a matter of opinion //  ask (for) somebody’s opinion //  express/give/state an opinion //  strong opinion //  keep your opinions to yourself  (=not say what you really think) //  contrary to popular opinion  (=despite what most people think) //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’according to someone’s opinion’. Say either according to someone or in someone’s opinion . //  ----------//


Words: opinion poll
Meaning:
n [C]   the process of asking a large group of people the same questions in order to find out what most people think about something//  --An opinion poll showed that 70% of adults were against legalizing drugs.//


Words: opinion-makers
Meaning:
n [plural]   people such as politicians or journalists who have a lot of influence on the way other people think//


Words: opinionated
Meaning:
adj   expressing very strong opinions about things//  --I found him very arrogant and opinionated.//


Words: opium
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek opion, from  opos  ’plant juice’]//  a powerful illegal drug made from poppy seeds. Drugs made from opium are used to reduce severe pain//    heroin//


Words: opossum
Meaning:
n [C]  also possum   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Virginia Algonquian; Origin: opassom, from  op  ’white’ +  assom  ’dog’]//  one of various small animals from America and Australia that have fur and climb trees//


Words: Oppenheimer
Meaning:
J. Robert   (1904-67) a US  physicist who led the team of scientists on the  Manhattan Project (1942-45), the secret plan to develop the first  atom bomb//


Words: opponent
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  opponere;   OPPOSE]//\n  1 someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument:  --Graf’s opponent in today’s final will be Sukova.//  leading/main/chief opponent //  --During the primary elections, McCain was Bush’s leading opponent.//  formidable/worthy opponent //  --In debate he was a formidable opponent.//  --He is admired even by his political opponents .//\n  2 someone who disagrees with a plan, idea, or system and wants to try to stop or change it:  opponent of//  --Rodgers was not an opponent of the new airport.//  bitter/vocal/outspoken opponent //  --an outspoken opponent of gun control//


Words: opportune
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: opportun, from  Latin opportunus, from  ob portum  ’toward port’]//\n  1  an opportune moment/time:  a time that is suitable for doing something//  --I waited, hoping for an opportune moment to discuss the possibility of a raise.//\n  2 done at a very suitable time:  → inopportune//  --an opportune remark//  --The law reforms were opportune and important.//  -- opportunely adv //


Words: opportunism
Meaning:
n [U]   using every opportunity to gain power, money, or unfair advantages - used to show disapproval//  --He accused the diary’s publishers of blatant opportunism.//


Words: opportunist
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who uses every opportunity to gain power, money, or unfair advantages - used to show disapproval:  --Voters dislike opportunists - politicians who change their policies according to opinion polls.//\n  2 someone who commits a crime because they have a chance to, and not because they planned to:  --Most burglars are opportunists.//  --an opportunist crime//  -- opportunist adj //  --the opportunist policies of wartime leaders//  -- opportunistic/[hA361]p[hA353]tju[hA359]n[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]p[hA353]rtu[hA359]-/ adj //  --opportunistic thefts from cars//


Words: opportunity
Meaning:
n   plural  opportunities //\n  1 [U and C] a chance to do something or an occasion when it is easy for you to do something:  --This is an  ideal opportunity  to save money on a holiday to Crete.//  opportunity for//  --Games and songs provide the  perfect opportunity  for classroom interaction and language development.//  -- It was a  rare opportunity  to see how ordinary people lived. //  -- For many athletes, the Olympics is a  once-in-a-lifetime opportunity . //  -- I saw it as a  golden opportunity  - the chance I’d been waiting for all along. //  -- a classic example of  missed opportunity  //  -- an event that would  provide an opportunity  for meaningful debate //  --When the  opportunity for promotion came , I wanted to be ready.//  -- I’d like to  take this opportunity to  thank you for all your hard work. //  -- 53% of students leave school  at the earliest opportunity  .//  -- He likes to make his opinions known  at every opportunity . //  -- the view of America as a  land of opportunity  //  -- Our  window of opportunity  for winning the championship is the next couple of seasons. //\n  2 [C] a chance to get a job or improve your situation at work:  --There are fewer opportunities for new graduates this year.//    equal opportunities at equal1 (2)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  opportunity to do something //  ideal/perfect opportunity //  rare/unique opportunity //  once-in-a-lifetime opportunity //  ample opportunity //  golden opportunity  (=a very good opportunity) //  wasted/lost/missed opportunity  (=one you do not use) //  take/seize/use an opportunity //  provide/present/open up an opportunity //  an opportunity comes (along/up) //  an opportunity arises //  take the/this opportunity to do something  (=use a chance to say something you want to say) //  at the first/earliest opportunity  (=as soon as possible) //  at every (possible) opportunity  (=whenever possible) //  land of opportunity  (=a country where you have a lot of good opportunities) //  window of opportunity  (=a time when you can do something) //  ----------//


Words: oppose
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: opposer, from  Latin opponere]//\n  1 to disagree with something such as a plan or idea and try to prevent it from happening or succeeding:  --Congress is continuing to oppose the President’s healthcare budget.//\n  2 to fight or compete against another person or group in a battle, competition, or election:  --He is opposed by two other candidates.//


Words: opposed
Meaning:
adj [not before noun] \n  1  be opposed to sth:  to disagree with something such as a plan or system//  --Most of us are opposed to the death penalty.//\n  2 two ideas that are opposed to each other are completely different from each other:  --The principles of capitalism and socialism are diametrically opposed  (=completely opposite) .//\n  3  as opposed to sth:  used to compare two things and show that they are different from each other//  --Students discuss ideas, as opposed to just copying from books.//


Words: opposing
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1 opposing teams, groups, or forces are competing, arguing, or fighting against each other:  --The opposing armies were preparing for war.//  --The Socialist Party has split into two opposing camps.//\n  2 opposing ideas, opinions etc are completely different from each other:  --Throughout the negotiations Hurst and Jevons took opposing views.//


Words: opposite
Meaning:
prep \n  1  especially BrE if one thing or person is opposite another, they are facing each other:  --The people sitting opposite us looked very familiar.//  --on the wall opposite the door see usage note  front1 //\n  2  play/star/appear etc opposite sb:  to act with someone in a film, especially as the two main characters//  --a comedy in which he stars opposite Julia Roberts//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say that one thing is ’opposite to’ or ’opposite of’ another. Say that one thing is opposite another: There’s a car park opposite the hotel. //  ----------//\nopposite 2 adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin, past participle of  opponere;   OPPOSE]//\n  1 as different as possible from something else:  --I thought the medicine would make him sleep, but it had the opposite effect. //  at the opposite end of the scale/spectrum //  --two parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum//  -- At the opposite extreme, Ashworth’s style is very simple and modern.//  --Bob was quicker than Ed? It’s usually the opposite way round. //  opposite to//  --a political philosophy that was opposite to everything she believed in//\n  2 the opposite direction, way etc is directly away from someone or something:  --She turned and walked off in the opposite direction .//  --But the sign was pointing the opposite way .//\n  3 the opposite side, corner, edge etc of something is on the other side of the same area, often facing it:  --The store was on the opposite side of the street.//  --the drawing on the opposite page//  --They work at opposite ends of the country  (=a long distance apart) , so only see each other at weekends.//\n  4  the opposite sex:  the other sex. If you are a man, women are the opposite sex//  --members of the opposite sex//\n  5  sb’s opposite number:  someone who has the same job in another similar organization//  --a meeting with her opposite number at the Department of Health//\nopposite 3 n [C] \n  1 a person or thing that is as different as possible from someone or something else:  opposite of//  --What’s the opposite of ’optimistic’?//  --She’s quite shy, the exact opposite of Becky.//  --The two men were complete opposites - Simon tall and fair, Clive short and dark.//  --If anything, the opposite was true.//  --Is it sensible to think of masculine/feminine as polar opposites  (=exactly or completely opposite) ?//\n  2  not ... just/quite the opposite:  used to say that something is completely different from what has just been said//  --I didn’t feel sleepy at all - just the opposite, in fact.//\n  3  opposites attract:  used to say that often people who have completely different characters become friends or are attracted to each other//\nopposite 4 adv  especially BrE   in a position on the other side of the same area//  --Hannah lives just opposite.//


Words: opposition
Meaning:
W1S2   n \n  1 [U] strong disagreement with, or protest against, something such as a plan, law, or system:  opposition to//  --There was a great deal of opposition to the war.//  opposition from//  --They  face opposition  from local residents as well as from environmentalists.//  --He is confident in his ability to overcome all opposition with his personal charm.//  --The proposals have aroused the opposition of teachers.//  -- Strong opposition resulted in rejection of the bill.//  --Plans to turn the site into a [hA124]600 million leisure complex have met with stiff opposition .//  --Much public opposition to the new law remained.//  --Workers found themselves  in opposition to  local interests.//\n  2  the opposition:  in some countries such as Britain, the main political party in the parliament that is not part of the government//  --the leader of the Opposition//  --the three main opposition parties //\n  3  in opposition:  in some countries such as Britain, a political party that is in opposition is in parliament, but is not part of the government//  --The Socialists were elected to power after 10 years in opposition.//\n  4 [C,U also + plural verb British English] the people who you are competing against:  --They played well against good opposition.//\n  5 [U and C]  formal when two things are completely opposite:  opposition between//  --the opposition between capitalism and socialism//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  face/meet with opposition //  overcome opposition //  arouse opposition/arouse the opposition of somebody (=make someone feel disagreement) //  strong/fierce/intense/stiff opposition //  public opposition //  in opposition to something //  ----------//


Words: oppress
Meaning:
v [T often passive]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: oppresser, from  Latin oppressus, past participle of  opprimere  ’to press against’]//\n  1 to treat a group of people unfairly or cruelly, and prevent them from having the same rights that other people in society have:  --native tribes oppressed by the authorities//\n  2 to make someone feel unhappy, worried, or uncomfortable:  --The gloom in the chapel oppressed her.//


Words: oppressed
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a group of people who are oppressed are treated unfairly or cruelly and are prevented from having the same rights as other people have:  --oppressed minorities//  the oppressed (=people who are oppressed) //\n  2 someone who is oppressed feels unhappy, worried, or uncomfortable:


Words: oppression
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone treats a group of people unfairly or cruelly and prevents them from having the same rights as other people have//  political/racial/sexual etc oppression //  --They suffered years of political oppression.//  --the struggle against oppression//


Words: oppressive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 powerful, cruel, and unfair:  --an oppressive military regime//\n  2 weather that is oppressive is unpleasantly hot with no movement of air:  --the oppressive heat of the afternoon//\n  3 a situation that is oppressive makes you unhappy, worried, or uncomfortable:  --an oppressive silence//  --an oppressive atmosphere//  -- oppressively adv //


Words: oppressor
Meaning:
n [C]   a person or group that treats people unfairly or cruelly, and prevents them from having the same rights that other people in society have//


Words: opprobrium
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: opprobrare  ’to blame’, from  probrum  ’disgrace’]//  strong criticism or disapproval, especially expressed publicly//


Words: opt
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: opter, from  Latin optare  ’to choose’]//  to choose one thing or do one thing instead of another//  opt for//  --We finally opted for the wood finish.//  opt to do sth//  --Many young people are opting to go on to college.//  opt in phr v//  to decide to join a group or system//  opt in to//  --Employees have the choice to opt in to the scheme.//  opt out phr v//\n  1 to avoid doing a duty:  opt out of//  --You can’t just opt out of all responsibility for the child!//\n  2 to decide not to be part of a group or system:  opt out of//  --Britain wants to opt out of the new European regulations.//\n  3 if a school or hospital in Britain opts out, it decides to control the money that it is given by the government, instead of being controlled by local government:


Words: opt-out
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE \n  1 when a person or group chooses not to join a system or accept an agreement:  --an opt-out clause //  opt-out on/from//  --the government’s opt-out on the euro//\n  2 when a school or hospital in Britain chooses to control its own money, instead of being controlled by local government:  --an opt-out school//


Words: optic
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: optique, from  Medieval Latin opticus, from  Greek, from  optos  ’seen’]//  relating to the eyes//  --the optic nerve//


Words: optical
Meaning:
adj   relating to machines or processes which are concerned with light, images, or the way we see things//  --microscopes and other optical instruments //  -- optically/-kli/ adv //


Words: optical character recognition
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   computer software that recognizes numbers and letters of the alphabet which are written on paper, so that information from paper documents can be scanned into a computer//


Words: optical fibre
Meaning:
BrE  optical fiber AmE n [U and C]   a long thin thread of glass or plastic along which information can be sent through a phone or computer system, using light//


Words: optical illusion
Meaning:
n [C]   a picture or image that tricks your eyes and makes you see something that is not actually there//


Words: optician
Meaning:
n [C]   1  BrE someone who tests people’s eyes and sells glasses in a shop//  American Equivalent:  optometrist//\n  2  AmE someone who makes lenses for glasses:


Words: optimism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: optimisme, from  Latin optimum;   OPTIMUM]//  a tendency to believe that good things will always happen//  → pessimism//  grounds/cause/reason for optimism //  --Recent results must give some cause for optimism.//  --There are grounds for cautious optimism .//  mood/sense of optimism //  --a new sense of optimism in the country//  optimism (that)//  --There was optimism that an agreement could be reached.//  optimism about//  --I don’t share his optimism about our chances of success.//


Words: optimist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who believes that good things will happen//  → pessimist//  --He’s an eternal optimist  (=he always believes that good things will happen) .//


Words: optimistic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 believing that good things will happen in the future:  → pessimistic//  optimistic about//  --Bankers are cautiously optimistic about the country’s economic future.//  optimistic (that)//  --We are still relatively optimistic that the factory can be saved.//  --Andrew took a more optimistic view.//\n  2 thinking that things will be better, easier, or more successful than is actually possible:  --an optimistic estimate//  over-optimistic  BrE //  --somewhat over-optimistic expectations//


Words: optimize
Meaning:
also  optimise BrE   v [T]   to improve the way that something is done or used so that it is as effective as possible//  --They need to optimize the use of available resources.//


Words: optimum
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’best’]//  the best or most suitable for a particular purpose or in a particular situation//  --optimum conditions for growth//  --This design makes the optimum use of the available space.//  -- optimum n  [singular] //


Words: option
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 choice:\n   2 keep/leave your options open:\n   3 computers:\n   4 easy option:\n   5 right to buy/sell:\n   6 at school/university:\n   7 something additional:\n   8 first option:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin optio  ’free choice’]//\n  1 CHOICE:   [C] a choice you can make in a particular situation//  --There are a number of options available.//  --He had two options .//  --This was not the only option open to him.//  option for//  --a range of options for cutting costs//  one/another option is to do sth //  --Another option is to rent somewhere for six months.//  option of doing sth//  --She had the option of staying for an extra year.//  --Teenage mothers often have no option but to  (=have no other choice except to) live with their parents.//\n  2  keep/leave your options open:  to wait before making a decision//  --I’m keeping all my options open for the moment.//\n  3 COMPUTERS:   [C] one of the possible choices you can make when using computer software//  --Select an option from the main menu.//  --a list of options//\n  4  easy option:   also soft option  BrE the choice which will be the least difficult, least strict, or need the least effort, which someone might choose because they are lazy//  --Is community service just a soft option for criminals?//\n  5 RIGHT TO BUY/SELL:   [C]  formal the right to buy or sell something in the future//  option on//  --The government has agreed to buy 20 planes, with an option on a further 10.//  --Connor now owns 302,000 shares and options.//\n  6 AT SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY:   [C]  BrE one of the subjects that you can choose to study at school for an examination, or as part of a course at a college or university//  --advice on choosing your options//\n  7 SOMETHING ADDITIONAL:   [C] something that is offered in addition to the standard equipment when you buy something new, especially a car//\n  8  first option:  the chance to buy or get something before anyone else//  first option on//  --They’ve agreed to give us the first option on their apartment.//


Words: optional
Meaning:
adj   if something is optional, you do not have to do it or use it, but you can choose to if you want to//  → compulsory//  --three optional courses//  --The other excursions are optional.//  optional extra  BrE //  --Leather seats are an optional extra.//


Words: optometrist
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: optometer  ’eye-testing instrument’ (18-21 centuries), from  Greek optos (  OPTIC) +  English -meter]//  someone who tests people’s eyes and orders glasses for them//  British Equivalent:  optician//


Words: opulent
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: opulentus, from  ops  ’power, help’]//\n  1 very beautiful, with a lot of decoration, and made from expensive materials:   luxurious//  --evening dresses in opulent fabrics//\n  2 very rich and spending a lot of money:  --Europe’s opulent elite//  -- opulence n  [U] //  --the size and opulence of the rooms//


Words: opus
Meaning:
n   plural  opuses  or  opera /[hA361]p[hA353]r[hA353] $ [hA35A][hA359]-/ [usually singular] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’work’]//\n  1 a piece of music by a great musician, numbered according to when it was written:  --Beethoven’s Opus 95//\n  2  formal an important work of art by a famous writer, painter etc:    magnum opus//


Words: or
Meaning:
conj   ----------//\n   1 possibilities/choices:\n   2 and not:\n   3 avoiding bad result:\n   4 correction:\n   5 proof:\n   6 uncertain amounts:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: oththe]//\n  1 POSSIBILITIES/CHOICES:  used between two words or phrases to show that either of two things is possible, or used before the last in a list of possibilities or choices//  --Shall we go out to the cinema or stay at home?//  --You can have ham, cheese or tuna.//  ... or anything/sth  spoken  (=or something of the same kind) //  --Would you like a coffee or something?//  --She wasn’t involved in drugs or anything like that .//  --Grapes are usually either green or red.//  --He’s going to do it whether we like it or not .//  --You must do the job yourself or else employ someone else to do it.//    either1 //\n  2 AND NOT:  used after a negative verb when you mean not one thing and also not another thing//  --He doesn’t have a television or a video.//  --Sonia never cleans or even offers to wash the dishes.//\n  3 AVOIDING BAD RESULT:  used to say that something bad could happen if someone does not do a particular thing//  --Wear your coat or you’ll catch cold.//  --Hurry up or we’ll be late.//  --I had to defend myself or else he’d have killed me.//  --You’d better hand over the money,  or else  (=used to threaten someone) .//\n  4 CORRECTION:  used to correct something that you have said or to give more specific information//  --It’s going to snow tomorrow, or that’s what the forecast says.//  --John picked us up in his car, or rather his dad’s car which he’d borrowed.//  --We’ve cleaned it all up, or at least most of it.//\n  5 PROOF:  used to prove that something must be true, by saying that the situation would be different if it was not true//  --He must be at home, or his car wouldn’t be here.//  --It’s obviously not urgent or else they would have called us straight away.//\n  6 UNCERTAIN AMOUNTS:  used to show that you are guessing at an amount or number because you cannot be exact//  --The boy was three or four years of age.//  --I saw Donald leaving a minute or two ago.//  --There’s a motel a mile or so down the road (=about a mile or possibly a little more) .//


Words: oracle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin oraculum, from  orare;   ORATION]//\n  1 someone who the ancient Greeks believed could communicate with the gods, who gave advice to people or told them what would happen:\n  2 a message given by an oracle:\n  3 a person or book that gives advice and information - used humorously:


Words: oral
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: oralis, from  Latin os  ’mouth’]//\n  1 spoken, not written:  --oral history//  --an oral agreement//\n  2 relating to or involving the mouth:  --oral hygiene//  -- orally adv //  --The drug should be taken orally.//  --The statement may be given orally or in writing.//\noral 2  also oral exam  n [C] \n  1  especially BrE a spoken test, especially in a foreign language:  --I’ve got my French oral tomorrow.//\n  2  AmE a spoken test for a university degree:


Words: oral contraceptive
Meaning:
n [C]   a drug that a woman takes by mouth, so that she can have sex without having a baby//   pill//


Words: oral sex
Meaning:
n [U]   the activity of touching someone’s sex organs with the lips and tongue, to give sexual pleasure//


Words: orange
Meaning:
S3   n   segment, pith, peel//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Arabic naranj, from  Sanskrit naranga  ’orange tree’]//\n  1 [C] a round fruit that has a thick orange skin and is divided into parts inside:  --orange juice//  --orange peel//  -- Peel the oranges and divide them into segments.//  --orange groves (=where orange trees grow) //\n  2 [U] a colour that is between red and yellow:  --a bright shade of orange//  -- orange adj //  --an orange shirt//


Words: Orangeman
Meaning:
n   plural  Orangemen //  a member of a Protestant society in Northern Ireland, known as the Orange Order. Orangemen strongly support the idea that Northern Ireland should remain as part of the UK, and they oppose Catholic groups who want Northern Ireland to become part of Ireland//


Words: Orangemen’s Day
Meaning:
July 12, celebrated by Protestants in Northern Ireland with the Orangemen’s Day Parade, which remembers the Protestant success over James II and his Catholic supporters at the Battle of the Boyne//


Words: orangery
Meaning:
n   plural  orangeries  [C]  old-fashioned //  a place, usually next to a large expensive house, where orange trees are grown//


Words: orangutang
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Malay; Origin: orang hutan  ’man of the forest’]//  a large ape with long arms and long orange-brown hair//


Words: oration
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: oratio, from  orare  ’to speak, pray’]//  a formal public speech//


Words: oratorio
Meaning:
n   plural  oratorios  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: , from the  Oratorio di San Filippo Neri, church in Rome where such music was first performed]//  a long piece of music in which a large group of people sing//


Words: oratory
Meaning:
n   plural  oratories //  [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: oratoria, from  orare;   ORATION]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: oratorium, from  Latin orare;   ORATION]//\n  1 [U] the skill of making powerful speeches:\n  2 [C] a small building or part of a church where people can go to pray:  -- oratorical/[hA361]r[hA353]t[hA361]r[hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ [hA350][hA359]r[hA353]t[hA350][hA359]r-, [hA35A][hA359]r[hA353]t[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: orb
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: orbis  ’wheel, circle’]//\n  1  literary a bright ball-shaped object, especially the sun or the moon:  --the red orb of the sun//\n  2 a ball decorated with gold, carried by a king or queen on formal occasions as a sign of power:


Words: orbit
Meaning:
v [I and T]   to travel in a curved path around a much larger object such as the Earth, the sun etc//  --The satellite orbits the Earth every 48 hours.//\norbit 2 n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: orbita  ’wheel-track’, probably from  orbis;   ORB]//\n  1 the curved path travelled by an object which is moving around another much larger object such as the Earth, the sun etc:  orbit around//  --the Moon’s orbit around the Earth//  in/into orbit//  --The Space Shuttle is now in orbit.//  --The telecommunications satellite went into orbit at the end of last year.//\n  2  formal the area of power and influence of a person, organization etc:  within the orbit of sth//  --countries within the orbit of the British commonwealth//


Words: orbital
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to the orbit of one object around another:  --the Earth’s orbital path//\n  2  BrE an orbital road goes around a large city:  --the M25, London’s orbital motorway//\norbital 2 n [C]  BrE   a road that goes around a large city to keep the traffic away from the centre//   ring road//


Words: orchard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ortgeard, probably from  Latin hortus  ’garden’ +  Old English geard (  YARD)]//  a place where fruit trees are grown//  --a cherry orchard//


Words: orchestra
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  orcheisthai  ’to dance’]//\n  1 [C also + plural verb British English] a large group of musicians playing many different kinds of instruments and led by a conductor:  --the Berlin Symphony Orchestra//  --the school orchestra//\n  2  orchestra section/seats:   AmE the area of seats in a theatre close to and on the same level as the stage//


Words: orchestrate
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1  written to organize an important event or a complicated plan, especially secretly:  --The riots were orchestrated by anti-government forces.//  --a carefully orchestrated promotional campaign//\n  2 to arrange a piece of music so that it can be played by an orchestra:  -- orchestration/[hA350][hA359]k[hA369]stre[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA350][hA359]r-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: orchid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: orchis, from  Greek,  ’testicle, orchid’; because of the shape of its roots]//  a plant that has flowers which are brightly coloured and unusually shaped//


Words: ordain
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ordener, from  Latin ordinare  ’to put in order’, from  ordo;   ORDER1]//\n  1 to officially make someone a priest or religious leader:    ordination//  --Desmond Tutu was ordained in 1960.//  ordain sb (as) sth//  --The church voted to allow women to be ordained as priests.//\n  2  formal to order that something should happen:  ordain that//  --The King ordained that deer should not be hunted without a royal licence.//


Words: ordeal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ordal  ’trial, judgment’]//  a terrible or painful experience that continues for a period of time//  ordeal of//  --She then had to  go through the ordeal  of giving evidence.//  -- She was forced to  face the ordeal of  withdrawal symptoms. //  -- He was beginning to wonder if he would  survive the ordeal . //  -- Teresa had a transplant in 1989 and was just  recovering from  that  ordeal  when she suffered a brain hemorrhage. //  -- Soon the whole  terrifying ordeal  would be over. //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  go though an ordeal //  face an ordeal //  survive an ordeal //  recover from an ordeal //  spare somebody the ordeal of doing something  (=not make someone have to do something) //  terrible/dreadful ordeal //  terrifying ordeal //  ----------//


Words: order
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 for a purpose:\n   2 arrangement:\n   3 instruction:\n   4 controlled situation:\n   5 well-organized state:\n   6 for food or drink:\n   7 for goods:\n   8 be out of order:\n   9 be in order:\n  10 be in (good) working/running order:\n  11 social/economic situation:\n  12 be the order of the day:\n  13 the order of things:\n  14 of a high order/of the highest order:\n  15 withdraw/retreat in good order:\n  16 in the order of something/of the order of something:\n  17 religious group:\n  18 take (holy) orders:\n  19 secret society:\n  20 official honour:\n  21 money:\n  22 the lower orders:\n  23 animals/plants:\n  24 computer:\n  25 Order! Order!:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ordre, from  Latin ordo  ’arrangement, group’]//\n  1 FOR A PURPOSE:  a)  in order to do sth//  for the purpose of doing something//  --Samuel trained every day in order to improve his performance.//  --In order to understand how the human body works, you need to have some knowledge of chemistry.//  b)  in order for/that//   formal so that something can happen or so that someone can do something//  --Sunlight is needed in order for the process of photosynthesis to take place in plants.//\n  2 ARRANGEMENT:   [U and C] the way that things or events are arranged in relation to each other, for example showing whether something is first, second, third etc//   sequence//  in ( ... ) order//  --The photographs can be viewed in any order.//  --Make a list of what you have to do, and put them in order with the most important at the top.//  in order of importance/priority/preference etc //  --Students learn the verbs in order of difficulty.//  do sth in order (=do things one after another, according to a plan) //  --Then they call out our names in order and we answer yes or no.//  --Your paragraphs are not arranged in a logical order .//  --My files are in alphabetical order .//  in the right/correct order //  --Replace all the pieces in the correct order.//  out of order/in the wrong order //  --Be careful not to get the cards in the wrong order.//  --He always shaves his face in the same order , right side, then left.//  in reverse order (=in the opposite order to what is usual) //  in descending/ascending order (=starting with the highest or lowest number) //  --The leaflet gives details of all the hotels in the area in descending order of price.//\n  3 INSTRUCTION:   [C usually plural] an instruction to do something that is given by someone in authority//  --The captain had to give the order to abandon ship.//  --I followed your orders to the letter (=I did exactly what you ordered) .//  --I’m not taking orders from him!//  --He received a direct order from the President.//  --She is under strict orders to have a complete rest.//  --The government obtained a court order requiring the editor to reveal his source.//  --I’ve got to take it easy -  doctor’s orders .//  --The company cannot be identified  by order of  the court.//\n  4 CONTROLLED SITUATION:   [U] a situation in which rules are obeyed and authority is respected//  --the breakdown of law and order //  --The riots are a threat to public order .//  keep order/keep sb in order (=stop people from behaving badly) //  --The physics teacher couldn’t keep order in any class.//  --She had trouble keeping her teenage sons in order.//  --The army was called in to restore order .//\n  5 WELL-ORGANIZED STATE:   [U] a situation in which everything is controlled, well organized, and correctly arranged//  --Let’s have some order in here.//  --You need to put your financial affairs in order .//  --She keeps her room in good order .//\n  6 FOR FOOD OR DRINK:   [C] //  a) a request for food or drink in a restaurant or bar//  --The waiter took our orders .//  last orders  BrE  (=the last time you can order a drink before a bar closes) //  --Last orders now please!//  b) the food or drink you have asked for in a restaurant or bar//  --When our order finally arrived we were very hungry indeed.//    side order//\n  7 FOR GOODS:   [C] //  a) a request by a customer for a company to supply goods//  --Goods will be sent within 24 hours of receiving your order .//  --You can always cancel your order if you change your mind.//  --The government has placed an order for  (=asked a company to supply) new weapons.//  --Please complete the enclosed order form .//  on order//   (=asked for, but not yet received) //  --My bicycle is on order.//  make/supply sth to order (=produce something especially for a particular customer) //  --They make hand-made shoes to order.//  b) goods that you have ordered from a company//  --Your order has arrived - you can collect it from the store any time.//    mail order//\n  8  be out of order:  a) if a machine or piece of equipment is out of order, it is not working//  --The phone is out of order again.//  b)  BrE  informal if someone’s behaviour is out of order, it is unacceptable//  American Equivalent:  out of line//  c) to be breaking the rules in a committee, court, parliament etc//  --The MP’s remarks were ruled out of order.//\n  9  be in order:  a) if something is in order, it is correct or right//  --Everything is in order.//  b) to be a suitable thing to do or say on a particular occasion//  --I hear congratulations are in order.//  c) if an official document is in order, it is legal and correct//  --Is your passport in order?//  d) if something that you do is in order, it is allowed by the rules in a committee, court, parliament etc//\n  10  be in (good) working/running order:  in good condition or working well//  --She keeps her bicycle in good working order.//\n  11 SOCIAL/ECONOMIC SITUATION:   [singular] the political, social, or economic situation at a particular time//  social/political order //  --He called the rioters a threat to the social order.//  --The people of South Africa wanted a new order .//  --He dared to challenge the established  (=traditional)  order .//\n  12  be the order of the day:  a) to be suitable for a particular occasion or situation//  --Casual clothes are the order of the day.//  b) to be very common at a particular time - used especially when you disapprove of something//  --Sexual explicitness is the order of the day.//\n  13  the order of things:  the way that life and the world are organized and intended to be//  --People accepted the class system as part of the natural order of things .//\n  14  of a high order/of the highest order:   also of the first order //  of a very good kind or of the best kind//  --an achievement of the highest order//\n  15  withdraw/retreat in good order:  to move away from the enemy in war in an organized way//\n  16  in the order of sth/of the order of sth:   also on the order of sth //   AmE a little more or a little less than a particular amount, especially a high amount//   approximately//  --a figure in the order of $7 million//\n  17 RELIGIOUS GROUP:   [C] a society of monks or nuns (=people who live a holy life according to religious rules) //  --the Benedictine Order//  order of//  --the order of Jesuits//\n  18  take (holy) orders:  to become a priest//\n  19 SECRET SOCIETY:   [C] an organization or society whose members meet for secret ceremonies//\n  20 OFFICIAL HONOUR:   [C] a group of people who have received a special official reward from a king, president etc for their services or achievements//  --the Order of the Garter//\n  21 MONEY:   [C] an official piece of paper that can be exchanged for money//    money order,  postal order//\n  22  the lower orders:   BrE  old-fashioned people who belong to the lowest social class//\n  23 ANIMALS/PLANTS:   [C]  technical a group of animals or plants that are considered together because they  evolved from the same plant or animal//    class1 (5),  species//\n  24 COMPUTER:   [C]  AmE a list of jobs that a computer has to do in a particular order//  British Equivalent:  queue//\n  25  Order! Order!:   spoken used to ask people to stop talking in a meeting or parliament//    pecking order,  point of order,  standing order//    call sb/sth to order at call1 (16),  set/put your own house in order at house1 (7),  be given/get your marching orders at march1 (5),  in short order at short1 (22),  under starter’s orders at starter,  tall order at tall//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 3 //  an/the order to do something //  give/issue an order //  follow/obey orders //  take orders from somebody //  receive an order //  have (strict) orders to do something/be under (strict) orders to do something  (=have been told to do something) //  court order //  doctor’s orders (=when the doctor says you must do something) //  by order of somebody/on the orders of somebody //  ----------//\norder 2 v   ----------//\n   1 ask for food/drink:\n   2 ask for goods:\n   3 tell somebody to do something:\n   4 arrange:  Phrasal verbs//   order somebody around//   order somebody → out//  ----------//\n  1 ASK FOR FOOD/DRINK:   [I and T] to ask for food or a drink in a restaurant, bar etc//  --Anne ordered another glass of wine.//  --Are you ready to order?//  --He sat down and ordered a meal .//\n  2 ASK FOR GOODS:   [I and T] to ask for goods or services to be supplied//  --I’ve ordered a new computer from the supplier.//  order sb sth//  --I’ll order you a taxi.//\n  3 TELL SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING:   [T] to tell someone that they must do something, especially using your official power or authority//  --The court ordered his release from prison.//  --’Stay right there,’ she ordered.//  order sb to do sth//  --Tom was ordered to pay [hA124]300 as compensation.//  --Her doctor had ordered her to rest for a week.//  be ordered back to sth//  --The soldiers were ordered back to their units.//  order that//  --He ordered that the house be sold.//\n  4 ARRANGE:   [T] to arrange something in an order//  --The list is ordered alphabetically.//  order around [order sb around] phr v//  to give someone orders in an annoying or threatening way//  --How dare he order her about like that?//  order out [order sb → out] phr v//  to order soldiers or police to go somewhere to stop violent behaviour by a crowd//  --The governor decided to order out the National Guard.//


Words: order book
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]  especially BrE   a record of how many goods or services a company has been asked to provide, which shows how successful it is financially//  --Our order books are full at the moment.//


Words: order of magnitude plural
Meaning:
orders of magnitude  n [C] \n  1 if something is an order of magnitude greater or smaller than something else, it is ten times greater or smaller in size or amount:\n  2 the scale of the size of something:  --That was a problem but this crisis is of a different order of magnitude.//


Words: Order of Merit
Meaning:
the   OM a special honour given to British people who have done something unusually good in military or  civilian life. Only 24 people have the Order of Merit at any one time.//


Words: Order of the Bath
Meaning:
the   a group of British people who have been given a special title of honour for their achievements. Members of the Order of the Bath have the title ’Sir’ (for a man) or ’Dame’ (for a woman), and it is regarded as a very special honour.//


Words: Order of the Garter
Meaning:
the   a group of 24 British men who have been given a special title of honour for their achievements. Members of the Order of the Garter have the title ’Sir’, and, together with the Order of the Thistle, it is the highest level of  knighthood.//


Words: Order of the Thistle
Meaning:
the   a group of 16 Scottish men who have been given a special title of honour for their achievements. Members of the Order of the Thistle have the title ’Sir’, and, together with the Order of the Garter, it is the highest level of  knighthood.//


Words: ordered
Meaning:
adj  also well-ordered   well arranged or controlled//  --an ordered existence//  --a well-ordered household//    disordered//


Words: ordering
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the way in which something is arranged, or the act of arranging something//  --a different ordering//


Words: orderly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 arranged or organized in a sensible or neat way:  → disorderly//  in (an) orderly sth//  --The tools were arranged in orderly rows.//  --She needs to organize her ideas in a more orderly way.//\n  2 peaceful or well-behaved:  → disorderly//  in (an) orderly sth//  --The elections were conducted in an orderly fashion .//  --They waited in a dignified and orderly manner outside the church.//  -- orderliness n  [U] //\norderly 2   plural  orderlies  n [C] //\n  1 someone who does unskilled jobs in a hospital:\n  2 a soldier who does unskilled jobs:


Words: ordinal number
Meaning:
also  ordinal/[hA350][hA359]d[hA369]n[hA368]l $ [hA350][hA359]rd[hA368]n[hA353]l/ n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: ordinalis, from  Latin ordo;   ORDER1]//  one of the numbers such as first, second, third etc which show the order of things//    cardinal number//


Words: ordinance
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ordenance  ’arranging’, from  Latin ordinare;   ORDAIN]//\n  1  AmE a law, usually of a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity:  --a city ordinance that says parks must be closed at 11 p.m.//\n  2 an order given by a ruler or governing organization:  --a Royal ordinance//


Words: ordinarily
Meaning:
adv \n  1 [sentence adverb] usually:  --Ordinarily, he didn’t like to go to the movies.//  --This is not the price at which the CD is ordinarily sold.//\n  2 in an ordinary or normal way:


Words: ordinary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ordinarius, from  ordo;   ORDER1]//\n  1 average, common, or usual, not different or special:  --It’s just an ordinary camera.//  --The book is about ordinary people .//  --Art should be part of ordinary life .//  --It is good because it is written in friendly, ordinary language.//  out of the ordinary//   (=unusual or unexpected) //  --Anything out of the ordinary made her nervous.//  in the ordinary way  BrE  (=as normal) //  --The money is taxed as income in the ordinary way.//  sb/sth is no ordinary ... (=used to say someone or something is very special) //  --This is no ordinary car.//  --Ruiz is no ordinary prisoner.//\n  2 not particularly good or impressive:  --I thought the paintings were pretty ordinary.//  -- ordinariness n  [U] //


Words: ordinary shares
Meaning:
n [plural]  technical   the largest part of a company’s capital, which is owned by people who have the right to vote at meetings and to receive part of the company’s profits//


Words: ordination
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: ordinatio, from  ordinare;   ORDAIN]//  the act or ceremony in which someone is made a priest//    ordain//  --the ordination of women//


Words: ordnance
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ordenance;   ORDINANCE]//\n  1 large guns with wheels:   artillery//\n  2 weapons, explosives, and vehicles used in fighting:


Words: Ordnance Survey
Meaning:
the   OS an official organization which makes very detailed and correct maps of Britain and Ireland. The maps are used by people walking in the country, and each map has its own OS number.//    US Geological Survey//


Words: Ordnance Survey map
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Because the maps were originally made for the department responsible for ordnance: ordnance  ’military materials’ (14-20 centuries), from  Old French ordenance]//  a map which shows all the roads, paths, hills etc of an area in detail//


Words: ordure
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ord  ’dirty’, from  Latin horridus;   HORRID]//  dirt, especially waste matter from the body//


Words: ore
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ar]//  rock or earth from which metal can be obtained//  --iron ore//  --veins of rich ore//


Words: oregano
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Spanish; Origin: Latin origanum, from  Greek origanon]//  a plant used in cooking, especially in Italian cooking//


Words: Oregon
Meaning:
OR a state in the northwestern US which has beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, and produces fish and fruit. Its largest city is Portland.//


Words: Oregon Trail
Meaning:
the   one of the main paths across the US to the western part of the country, used by  pioneers (=people who are the first to go and live in an unknown land)  in the mid-19th century. The Trail crossed the  Great Plains and the  Rocky Mountains before turning towards Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The journey took around six months, and was extremely dangerous. The pioneers did not have good equipment, and they often suffered from illness or were attacked by Native Americans.//


Words: Orestes
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, the son of  Agamemnon, King of  Mycenae, and Clytemnestra. Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus kill Agamemnon when Orestes is a child. When he becomes an adult, Orestes kills his mother and Aegisthus.//


Words: organ
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 body part:\n   2 musical instrument:\n   3 organization:\n   4 newspaper/magazine:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: organe, from  Latin, from  Greek organon  ’tool, instrument’]//\n  1 BODY PART:  a) a part of the body, such as the heart or lungs, that has a particular purpose//  --the liver, heart, and other internal organs //  --loss of blood flow to his vital organs //  --Extra doses of the hormone caused the animals’ reproductive organs to develop sooner than usual.//  --In Arizona, 480 people are waiting for organ transplants .//  --dying people who have agreed to be  organ donors //  b) a penis - used because you want to avoid saying this directly//\n  2 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT:  a)  also pipe organ //  a large musical instrument used especially in churches, with keys like a piano and large pipes that air passes through to produce the sound//  b) an electronic musical instrument that produces music similar to a pipe organ, but that does not have pipes//  --an electronic organ//\n  3 ORGANIZATION:   formal an organization that is part of, or works for, a larger organization or group//  organ of//  --The courts are organs of government.//  --the decision-making organs//\n  4 NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE:   formal a newspaper or magazine which gives information, news etc for an organization or group//  organ of//  --the official organ of the Communist Party//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  internal organs //  vital organs  (=most important organs for life, for example the heart and brain) //  sexual/reproductive/sex organs //  organ transplant  (=an operation to put an organ from one person’s body into another’s) //  organ donor  (=someone who gives an organ for an organ transplant) //  ----------//


Words: organdie
Meaning:
also  organdy AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: organdi]//  very thin stiff cotton cloth, used as dress material//


Words: organic
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 farming:\n   2 development:\n   3 living things:\n   4 part of something:\n   5 body organs:  ----------//\n  1 FARMING:  relating to farming or gardening methods of growing food without using artificial chemicals, or produced or grown by these methods//  -- Organic farming is better for the environment.//  --organic gardening//  organic food/vegetables/milk etc //  --The shop sells organic food.//  --organic wine//\n  2 DEVELOPMENT:  change or development which is organic happens in a natural way, without anyone planning it or forcing it to happen//  --The company’s path to success was by means of organic growth.//\n  3 LIVING THINGS:  living, or produced by or from living things//  → inorganic//  --Adding organic matter such as manure can improve the soil.//  --Bacteria act on organic waste .//\n  4 PART OF SOMETHING:  a) an organic system or relationship is one in which the parts or people fit well and in a comfortable way with each other//  --an organic relationship between the individual and his community//  --They believe in the organic unity of the universe.//\n  5 BODY ORGANS:  relating to the organs of the body//  --organic diseases//  -- organically/-kli/ adv //  --organically produced cheese//  --A writer’s style must develop organically.//


Words: organism
Meaning:
S3   n [C] \n  1 an animal, plant, human, or any other living thing:  --All living organisms have to adapt to changes in environmental conditions.//  --Genes operate together in determining the characteristics of an individual organism .//\n  2 a system made up of parts that are dependent on each other:  --A society is essentially an organism.//


Words: organization
Meaning:
W1S2  also  organisation BrE   n \n  1 [C] a group such as a club or business that has formed for a particular purpose:  --The public expect high standards from any large organization.//  --the World Trade Organization//  --a voluntary organization which helps disabled people with their transport needs//  --an illegal terrorist organization//  -- international organizations such as the UN//\n  2 [U] planning and arranging something so that it is successful or effective:  --Putting on a show of this kind involves considerable organisation.//  organization of//  --The college has helped Anne with the organization of the event.//\n  3 [U] the way in which the different parts of a system are arranged and work together:  organization of//  --There needs to be a change in the organization of the health service.//  -- organizational adj //  --organizational skills//


Words: organize
Meaning:
also  organise BrE   v \n  1 [T] to make the necessary arrangements so that an activity can happen effectively:  --The course was organized by a training company.//  --Students need to learn how to organize their work.//\n  2 [T] to manage a group of people who are doing something:  --The lawyer helped to organize a group of parents who took action for their children.//  organize yourself//  --The scientists need to organize themselves and work as a team.//\n  3 [T] to arrange something so that it is more ordered or happens in a more sensible way:  --He doesn’t need you to organize his life for him.//  --Organize yourself to arrive at places on time.//\n  4 [T] to arrange things in a particular order or pattern:  --We are learning about how genes are organized.//\n  5 [I and T] to form a trade union or persuade people to join one:  --The law gives workers the right to organize and bargain collectively.//


Words: organized
Meaning:
S3  also  organised BrE   adj \n  1 involving people working together in an effective and well planned way:  → disorganized//  --Organized groups of citizens are more successful at changing the government’s mind.//  --Organized networks of thieves are stealing cattle.//  organized religion (=a religion that has lasted for a long time with leaders and many followers) //\n  2  well/badly/carefully etc organized:  arranged or ordered well, badly, carefully etc//  --a carefully organized campaign//  --I want to work with a well organized team.//  --a highly organized  (=well organized) social system//\n  3 achieving your aims in an effective, ordered, and sensible way:  --It will take me a few days to get organized .//


Words: organized crime
Meaning:
n [U]   a large and powerful organization of criminals//  --Organized crime is involved in drug trafficking.//


Words: organizer
Meaning:
also  organiser BrE   n [C]   someone who makes the arrangements for something that is planned to happen//  --The organizers had expected about 50,000 people to attend the concert.//


Words: orgasm
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: orgasmus, from  Greek orgasmos, from  organ  ’to swell, be excited’]//  the greatest point of sexual pleasure//  --women who have never had an orgasm //


Words: orgasmic
Meaning:
adj \n  1  informal extremely exciting or enjoyable:  --an orgasmic experience//\n  2 relating to orgasm:


Words: orgy
Meaning:
n   plural  orgies  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: orgie, from  Latin orgia (plural), from  Greek]//\n  1 a wild party with a lot of eating, drinking, and sexual activity:  --the drunken orgies of their youth//\n  2 sexual activity in a group:\n  3  an orgy of sth:  used to emphasize that people suddenly do a lot of a particular activity, especially far too much of it//  --an orgy of spending//  --an orgy of violence//  -- orgiastic/[hA350][hA359]d[hA360]i[zB024]st[hA366]k[hA36B] $ [hA350][hA359]r-/ adj //


Words: orient
Meaning:
v  also orientate  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: orienter, from  Old French orient;   ORIENT2]//\n  1  be oriented to/towards/around sth/sb:  to give a lot of attention to one type of activity or one type of person//  --a course that is oriented towards the needs of businessmen//  --A lot of the training is orientated around communications skills.//  --The organization is strongly oriented towards research//\n  2  orient yourself:  a) to find exactly where you are by looking around you or using a map//    disorient, disorientated//  --She looked at the street names, trying to orient herself.//  b) to become familiar with a new situation//  orient yourself to//  --It takes new students a while to orientate themselves to college life.//\norient 2   n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  oriri  ’to rise’]//  the Orient//   old-fashioned the eastern part of the world, especially China and Japan//    the East at east(1a),  Occident//


Words: Orient Express
Meaning:
the   a famous  luxury railway train, used especially by rich people. It used to run (1883-1977) between Paris and Istanbul in Turkey, but there is now a luxury Orient Express train that goes from London to Venice. The train appears in many stories, including Agatha  Christie ’s novel  Murder on the Orient Express (1934).//


Words: oriental
Meaning:
adj   relating to or from the eastern part of the world, especially China and Japan//  --a beautiful oriental rug//  --oriental art//\noriental 2  also  Oriental n [C]  old-fashioned  not polite   a word for someone from the eastern part of the world, especially China or Japan, now considered offensive//    occidental//


Words: orientation
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [U and C] the type of activity or subject that a person or organization seems most interested in and gives most attention to:  orientation towards/to//  --The company needs to develop a stronger orientation towards marketing its products.//  --How can we get students to adopt a serious orientation to learning?//  orientation of//  --He was unhappy with the commercial orientation of the organization.//\n  2 [U and C] the political opinions or religious beliefs that someone has:  political/religious orientation //  --The meeting is open to everyone, whatever their political or religious orientation.//  --The party has a broadly socialist orientation.//\n  3  sexual orientation:  the fact that someone is heterosexual or homosexual//  --Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is still far too widespread.//\n  4 [U] a period of time during which people are trained and prepared for a new job or course of study:  --This is orientation week for all the new students.//\n  5 [C] the angle or position of an object, or the direction in which it is facing:


Words: oriented
Meaning:
adj  also orientated  BrE   giving a lot of time, effort, or attention to one particular thing//  --A lot of the younger students don’t seem to be politically oriented at all.//  --She’s very career orientated.//  --The country’s economy is export oriented.//


Words: orienteering
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Swedish; Origin: orientering, from  orientera  ’to orient’]//  a sport in which people have to find their way quickly across an area in the countryside that they do not know, using a map and a compass//


Words: orifice
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin orificium, from  Latin os  ’mouth’]//\n  1 one of the holes in your body, such as your mouth, nose etc:  --various bodily orifices//\n  2 a hole or entrance:


Words: origami
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Japanese; Origin: ’fold paper’]//  the Japanese art of folding paper to make attractive objects//


Words: origin
Meaning:
W2   n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: origine, from  Latin origo, from  oriri  ’to rise’]//\n  1  also origins :   [plural] the place or situation in which something begins to exist//  origin of//  --a new theory to explain the origins of the universe//  in origin//  --Most coughs are viral in origin.//  --The word is French in origin.//  --The tradition has its origins in the Middle Ages.//  --old folk tales of unknown origin //  country/place of origin (=where something came from) //  --All meat should be clearly labelled with its country of origin.//\n  2  also origins :   [plural] the country, race, or type of family which someone comes from//    extraction//  of French/German/Asian etc origin //  --Two thirds of the pupils are of Asian origin.//  --The form asks for information about the person’s ethnic origin .//  --Immigrants rarely return to their country of origin .//  --She never forgot her humble origins  (=low class or social position) .//


Words: original
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 first:\n   2 new:\n   3 a work of art:  ----------//\n  1 FIRST:   [only before noun] existing or happening first, before other people or things//  --The land was returned to its original owner.//  --The kitchen still has many original features  (=parts that were there when the house was first built) .//  --the original meaning of the word//  --The original plan was to fly out to New York.//\n  2 NEW:  completely new and different from anything that anyone has thought of before//  --I don’t think George is capable of having original ideas !//  --That’s not a very original suggestion.//  --a highly original design//  --His work is truly original.//\n  3 A WORK OF ART:   [only before noun] an original work of art is the one that was made by the artist and is not a copy//  --The original painting is now in the National Gallery in London.//  --an original Holbein drawing//\noriginal 2 n [C] \n  1 a work of art or a document that is not a copy, but is the one produced by the writer or artist:  --The colours are much more striking in the original.//  --I’ll keep a copy of the contract, and give you the original.//\n  2  in the original:  in the language that a book, play etc was first written in, before it was translated//  --I’d prefer to read it in the original.//\n  3  informal someone whose behaviour, clothing etc is unusual and amusing:


Words: original sin
Meaning:
n [U]   the tendency to behave in bad or evil ways, which is in all people according to the Christian religion//


Words: originality
Meaning:
n [U]   when something is completely new and different from anything that anyone has thought of before//  originality of//  --I was impressed by the originality of the plan.//  --Her earlier work shows a lot of originality .//  --A lot of his designs lack originality.//  --a young writer of great originality //


Words: originally
Meaning:
adv   in the beginning, before other things happened or before things changed//  --The family originally came from France.//  --The building was originally used as a prison.//  --We originally intended to stay for just a few days.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Originally, we had planned a tour of Scotland but we didn’t go in the end.//


Words: originate
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition, not in progressive]  formal to come from a particular place or start in a particular situation:  --How did the plan originate?//  originate from//  --A lot of our medicines originate from tropical plants.//  originate in//  --Many Christmas traditions originated in Germany.//  originate with//  --The idea originated with the ancient Greek philosophers.//  originate as//  --The town originated as a small fishing port.//\n  2 [T] to have the idea for something and start it:  --The technique was originated by an Italian artist.//


Words: originator
Meaning:
n [C]   the person who first has the idea for something and starts it//  originator of//  --Professor Adams was the originator of the project.//


Words: oriole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: oriol, from  Latin aureolus, from  aurum  ’gold’]//\n  1 a North American bird that is black with a red and yellow stripe on its wing:\n  2 a European bird with black wings and a yellow body:


Words: Orkney also the Orkney Islands
Meaning:
the Orkneys   a group of islands off the north coast of Scotland, south of the Shetland Islands. Farming and fishing are the main industries, but the islands are also a base for the North Sea oil industry.//


Words: Orlando
Meaning:
a city in Florida, US, which attracts large numbers of tourists, mainly because of  Disney World and the Epcot Center. //


Words: ormolu
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: or moulu  ’gold crushed into powder’]//  a gold-coloured mixture of metals that does not contain real gold//  --an ormolu clock//


Words: ornament
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ornement, from  Latin ornamentum, from  ornare;   ORNATE]//\n  1 [C] a small object that you keep in your house because it is beautiful rather than useful:  --a shelf covered with books and ornaments//  --china ornaments//\n  2 [U] decoration that is added to something:  --The building style is plain, with very little ornament.//  for ornament//  --The coins were only ever used for ornament, not as currency.//\nornament 2   v   be ornamented with sth//  to be decorated with something//  --a silver goblet ornamented with pearls//  richly/exquisitely/lavishly etc ornamented //  --a table richly ornamented with carvings//


Words: ornamental
Meaning:
adj   designed to make something look attractive rather than to be used for a particular purpose//  --ornamental gardens//  --The pillars in the centre are purely ornamental.//


Words: ornamentation
Meaning:
n [U]   decoration on an object that makes it look attractive//  --a bronze plate with gold ornamentation//


Words: ornate
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  ornare  ’to decorate’]//  covered with a lot of decoration//  --an ornate gold mirror//  -- ornately adv //  --an ornately carved chair//


Words: ornery
Meaning:
adj  AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: ordinary]//  behaving in an unreasonable and often angry way, especially by doing the opposite of what people want you to do//  --an ornery kid//


Words: ornithology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: ornithologia, from  Greek ornis  ’bird’]//  the scientific study of birds//  -- ornithological/[hA350][hA359]n[hA369][hA35F][hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ [hA350][hA359]rn[hA369][hA35F][hA353]l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: Orozco
Meaning:
Jose   (1883-1949) a Mexican painter of  murals whose most famous work is ’Man of Fire’ (1936-39).//


Words: orphan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: orphanus, from  Greek orphanos]//  a child whose parents are both dead//  --The war has left thousands of children as orphans.//  orphan girl/boy/child //  --a poor little orphan girl//\norphan 2 v   be orphaned//  to become an orphan//  --She was orphaned when her parents died in a plane crash.//


Words: orphanage
Meaning:
n [C]   a large house where children who are orphans live and are taken care of//  --He was raised in an orphanage.//


Words: Orpheus and Eurydice
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, a husband and wife who love each other very much. When Eurydice died, Orpheus was so upset that he followed her down into  Hades (=the place under the ground where the spirits of dead people live)  and sang to the king and queen there. They allowed Eurydice to leave so long as Orpheus did not look back to see if she was following him. He did look back, however, and so she had to return to Hades. Many stories, plays, and pieces of music have been based on this story.//


Words: orthodontics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: ortho-  ’straight’ (from  Greek;   ORTHODOX) +  Greek odous  ’tooth’]//  the skill or job of helping teeth to grow straight when they have not been growing correctly//  -- orthodontic adj //  --orthodontic treatment//


Words: orthodontist
Meaning:
n [C]   a dentist whose job is to help teeth to grow straight when they have not been growing correctly//


Words: orthodox
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: orthodoxe, from  Late Latin, from  Late Greek orthodoxos,  from  Greek ortho- (from  orthos  ’straight, correct’) +  doxa  ’opinion’]//\n  1 orthodox ideas, methods, or behaviour are accepted by most people to be correct and right:   conventional//  --orthodox medical treatments//  --He challenged the orthodox views on education.//\n  2 someone who is orthodox has the opinions and beliefs that are generally accepted as being right, and does not have new or different ideas:  --Orthodox economists believe that a recession is now inevitable.//  --an orthodox Marxist//\n  3 believing in all the traditional beliefs, laws, and practices of a religion:  --an orthodox Jew//


Words: Orthodox Jew
Meaning:
n [C]   a believer in the religion known as Orthodox Judaism, a form of the Jewish religion that strictly follows the laws given in the holy books called the  Torah, including rules about food and clothes. Men who are Orthodox Jews wear black clothes and large black hats and usually have long beards.//


Words: orthodoxy
Meaning:
n   plural  orthodoxies //  [U and C] an idea or set of ideas that is accepted by most people to be correct and right//  --He challenged the political orthodoxy of his time.//  --These ideas have now become part of educational orthodoxy.//


Words: orthography
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: ortographie, from  Latin, from  Greek, from  ortho- (  ORTHODOX) +  -graphia (  -GRAPHY)]//  the way in which words are spelled//  -- orthographic/[hA350][hA359][hA35F][hA353]gr[zB024]f[hA366]k[hA36B] $ [hA350][hA359]r-/ adj //  -- orthographically/-kli/ adv //


Words: orthopedic
Meaning:
also  orthopaedic BrE   adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: orthopedique, from  Greek ortho- (  ORTHODOX) +  pais  ’child’]//\n  1 relating to the medical treatment of problems that affect a people’s bones or muscles:  --an orthopaedic surgeon//  --the orthopedic ward in the hospital//\n  2  orthopedic bed/chair/shoe etc:  one that is designed to help treat medical problems that affect people’s bones or muscles//  -- orthopedically/-kli/ adv //


Words: orthopedics
Meaning:
also  orthopaedics BrE   n [U]   the part of medicine that treats illnesses or injuries that affect people’s bones or muscles//


Words: Orton
Meaning:
Joe   (1933-67) an English writer of  black comedy, whose most famous plays are Entertaining Mr Sloan (1964) and Loot (1966). He was murdered by his lover Keith Halliwall.//


Words: Orwell
Meaning:
George   (1903-1950) a British writer and journalist who wrote books about politics and who also wrote novels. His real name was Eric Blair. His books  Animal Farm and  Nineteen Eighty-Four are both about political systems in which ordinary people have no power, and are completely controlled by the government. Both novels have had a great influence on the way people think about and write about politics, and political systems like those described in the books are sometimes called Orwellian. Orwell fought on the Republican  (=left wing) side in the Spanish Civil War.//


Words: Osaka
Meaning:
the second largest city in Japan, on the island of Honshu. Osaka is an important port and industrial centre.//


Words: Osborne
Meaning:
John   (1929-94) a British writer of plays who became known as an  Angry Young Man when he criticized British society in the 1950s. His most famous work is  Look Back in Anger.//


Words: Oscar
Meaning:
n [C]   a prize that is given each year in the US for the best film, actor etc in the film industry//  Oscar for//  --Who got the Oscar  (=won it) for best actress?//  --The film won five Oscars .//


Words: oscillate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  oscillare  ’to swing’, from  oscillum  ’swing’]//\n  1  formal to keep changing between two extreme amounts or limits:  --The stock market is oscillating wildly at the moment.//  oscillate between//  --His income oscillated between [hA124]1500 and [hA124]2000 a month.//\n  2  formal to keep changing between one feeling or attitude and another:  oscillate between//  --Her attitude towards me oscillated between friendship and hostility.//\n  3 to move backwards and forwards in a regular way:  --The needle on the dial began to oscillate.//\n  4  technical if an electric current oscillates, it changes direction very regularly and very frequently:


Words: oscillation
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1  formal oscillations are frequent changes between two extreme amounts or limits:  oscillation in/of//  --oscillations in the value of the dollar//  oscillation between//  --oscillating between growth and decline//\n  2  formal oscillations are frequent changes between one feeling or attitude and another:  --The drug causes oscillations of mood in some people.//\n  3  technical a regular movement of something from side to side:  --the oscillations of a pendulum//\n  4  technical a regular change in direction of an electrical current:


Words: OSHA
Meaning:
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration a US government organization that looks after the safety and health of people at work//    Health and Safety Executive, the//


Words: Oslo Agreement
Meaning:
the   an official peace agreement made between Israel and the  PLO (=Palestine Liberation Organization)  in Oslo in 1993, by which Israel agreed to remove its military forces from the  Gaza Strip and  Jericho//


Words: osmosis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: osmose  ’osmosis’ (1800-1900), from  Greek osmos  ’push’]//\n  1 if you learn facts or understand ideas by osmosis, you gradually learn them by hearing them often:  by osmosis//  --Children learn new languages by osmosis.//  --He seems to absorb information through a process of osmosis .//\n  2  technical the gradual process of liquid passing through a membrane:  -- osmotic/[hA361]zm[hA361]t[hA366]k $ [hA35A][hA359]zm[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: osprey
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old French osfraie, from  Latin  ossifraga  ’sea eagle’, from  os  ’bone’ +  frangere  ’to break’]//  a type of large bird that kills and eats fish//


Words: ossify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  ossified present participle  ossifying third person singular  ossifies //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ossifier, from  Latin os  ’bone’]//\n  1 [I]  formal to become unwilling to consider new ideas or change your behaviour:\n  2 [I and T]  technical to change into bone or to make something change into bone:  -- ossification/[hA361]s[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA35A][hA359]s-/ n  [U] //


Words: Ostend
Meaning:
a town and port in northwest Belgium, which is on the North Sea coast and is a popular place for tourists. It used to be well known in the UK because of the many ferries that went there from the south of England, but fewer ferries now make this journey.//


Words: ostensible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Latin ostendere  ’to show’]//  seeming to be the reason for or the purpose of something, but usually hiding the real reason or purpose//  ostensible reason/purpose/aim //  --The ostensible reason for his resignation was ill health.//


Words: ostensibly
Meaning:
adv   if something is ostensibly true, people say that it is true but it is not really true//  --She stayed behind at the office, ostensibly to work.//


Words: ostentation
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  ostentare  ’to show ostentatiously’, from  ostendere;   OSTENSIBLE]//  when you deliberately try to show people how rich or clever you are, in order to make them admire you//  --Her lifestyle was remarkably free from ostentation.//


Words: ostentatious
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is ostentatious looks very expensive and is designed to make people think that its owner must be very rich:  --She carried her car keys on an ostentatious gold key ring.//  --an ostentatious display of wealth//\n  2 someone who is ostentatious likes to show everyone how rich they are:  --He was vain and ostentatious.//  -- ostentatiously adv //


Words: osteo-
Meaning:
prefix  technical   [Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  osteon  ’bone’]//  relating to bones//


Words: osteopathy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: osteo- +  -pathy (as in homeopathy)]//  a way of treating medical problems such as back pain by moving and pressing the muscles and bones//


Words: osteoporosis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: osteo- +  Modern Latin porosis (from  Latin porus;   PORE1)]//  a medical condition in which your bones become weak and break easily//  --the risk of developing osteoporosis//


Words: ostracize
Meaning:
also  ostracise BrE   v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: ostrakizein  ’to send away by voting with broken pieces of pot’, from  ostrakon  ’broken piece of pot’]//  if a group of people ostracize someone, they refuse to accept them as a member of the group//  --She was afraid that if she spoke up her colleagues would ostracize her.//  --He was ostracized by the other students.//  -- ostracism/-s[hA366]z[hA368]m/ n  [U] //  --He suffered years of ostracism.//


Words: ostrich
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ostrusce, from  Vulgar Latin avis struthio, from  Latin avis  ’bird’ +  Greek strouthos  ’ostrich’]//  [Sense: 2; Origin:  Because ostriches were believed to bury their heads in sand so that their hunters could not see them]//\n  1 a large African bird with long legs, that runs very quickly but cannot fly:\n  2  informal someone who does not deal with difficult problems but tries to pretend that they do not exist:


Words: Oswald
Meaning:
Lee Harvey   (1939-63) the man who was believed by the police to have shot and killed the US President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Two days after the President’s death, Oswald was shot and killed by Jack Ruby. Some people believe that Oswald was not the real killer.//


Words: OTE
Meaning:
BrE   on target earnings used in advertisements for jobs to say that the employee will receive the complete pay only if they succeed in doing as much work or selling as many things as the employer wants them to, and will get less pay if they do not succeed//


Words: Othello
Meaning:
the main character in the play  Othello by William  Shakespeare. Othello, a black man, is a very  jealous husband, and kills his wife,  Desdemona, because his friend Iago makes him believe, wrongly, that she is having a sexual relationship with another man.//


Words: other
Meaning:
determiner, adj, pron   ----------//\n   1 the second of two:\n   2 the rest:\n   3 additional:\n   4 different:\n   5 opposite:\n   6 other than:\n   7 none other than somebody:\n   8 the other way around/round:\n   9 the other day/morning/week etc:\n  10 something/someone/somewhere etc or other:\n  11 in other words:\n  12 the other woman:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 THE SECOND OF TWO:  used to refer to the second of two people or things, which is not the one you already have or the one you have already mentioned//  the/your other//  --I can’t find my other shoe.//  --One man was arrested, but the other one got away.//  --He kept shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other.//  --She took it for granted that each knew who the other was.//\n  2 THE REST:  used to refer to all the people or things in a group apart from the one you have already mentioned or the one that is already known about//  the/your other//  --The other hotels are all full.//  --She’s much brighter than all the other children in her class.//  --I chose this coat in the end because the other ones were all too expensive.//  the/your others//  --I can see Julie, but where have all the others gone?//\n  3 ADDITIONAL:  used to refer to additional people or things of the same kind//  --There are one or two other problems I’d like to discuss.//  --I’ve got some other friends I’d like to invite.//  --Have you any other questions?//  among others//   (=used when mentioning one or more examples) //  --The guests included, among others, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson.//\n  4 DIFFERENT:  used to refer to a different person or thing from the one you have already mentioned or the one that is already known about//  --David and Jessica were playing with two other children.//  --You’d better change into some other clothes.//  --Do you envy other women who seem to manage their lives better?//  --Can we discuss this some other time?//  --There is no other job I would rather do.//  --Saudi Arabia produces more oil than any other country.//  --I hope you will learn to show more respect for others (=other people) .//  some ... others //  --Some people are at greater risk than others.//\n  5 OPPOSITE:  used to refer to the thing that is opposite you, furthest from you, or moving away from you//  the other side/end/direction etc //  --You can park on the other side of the street.//  --He lives at the other end of the road.//  --She drove off in the other direction.//\n  6  other than:  apart from a particular person or thing//   except//  --The truth was known to no one other than herself.//  --He doesn’t eat pork, but other than that he’ll eat just about anything.//\n  7  none other than sb:  used to emphasize that the person involved in something is famous, impressive, or surprising//  --Johnson’s defence lawyer was none other than Joe Beltrami.//\n  8  the other way around/round:  the opposite of what you have just mentioned//  --I always thought that rugby was a rougher game than football, but in fact it’s the other way round.//  --Students practise translating from French to English and the other way around.//\n  9  the other day/morning/week etc:  used to say that something happened recently, without saying exactly when//  --I saw Rufus the other day.//\n  10  sth/someone/somewhere etc or other:  used when you are not being specific about which thing, person, place etc you mean//  --It’ll be here somewhere or other.//  --We’ll get the money somehow or other.//\n  11  in other words:  used when you are expressing an idea or opinion again in a different and usually simpler way//  --The tax only affects people on incomes of over $200,000 - in other words, the very rich.//  --So he is a fraud, a common thief in other words.//\n  12  the other woman:  used to refer to a woman with whom a man is having a sexual relationship, even though he already has a wife or partner//  --He left his wife and child and moved in with the other woman.//    another//    each other//    every other at every(5)//    on the one hand ... on the other hand at hand1 (5)//  ----------//  HINT //  When other is used before a noun, it never has an ’s’: We visited other places (NOT others places). //  ----------//


