# dict

Words: craftsmanship
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 very detailed work that has been done using a lot of skill, so that the result is beautiful:  --The carving is a superb piece of craftsmanship.//\n  2 the special skill that someone uses to make something beautiful with their hands:  --Salisbury Cathedral is remarkable for its high standard of craftsmanship.//


Words: craftswoman
Meaning:
n   plural  craftswomen /-w[hA366]m[hA366]n/ [C] //  a woman who is very skilled at a particular craft//


Words: crafty
Meaning:
S3   adj   comparative  craftier superlative  craftiest //  good at getting what you want by clever planning and by secretly deceiving people//   cunning, sly//  --He’s a crafty old devil.//  -- craftily adv //  -- craftiness n  [U] //


Words: crag
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From a  Celtic language]//  a high and very steep rough rock or mass of rocks//


Words: craggy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a mountain that is craggy is very steep and covered in rough rocks:  --the craggy peaks of the Sierra Madre//\n  2 having a face with many deep lines on it:  --his thin craggy face//


Words: cram
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  crammed present participle  cramming //  [Language: Old English; Origin: crammian]//\n  1 [T always + adverb/preposition] to force something into a small space:  cram sth into/onto etc sth//  --Jill crammed her clothes into the bag.//  --A lot of information has been crammed into this book.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition] if a lot of people cram into a place or vehicle, they go into it so it is then full:  cram in/into//  --We all crammed in and Pete started the car.//  --36,000 spectators crammed into the stadium to see the game.//\n  3 [T]  especially AmE if a lot of people cram a place, they fill it:  --Thousands of people crammed the mall Sunday.//\n  4 [I] to prepare yourself for an examination by learning a lot of information quickly:  British Equivalent:  swot//  --She’s been cramming hard all week.//  cram for//  --I have to cram for my chemistry test tomorrow.//  cram in [cram sth → in] phr v//  to do a lot of activities in a short period of time//   pack in//  --We crammed in as much sightseeing as possible during our stay in New York.//


Words: crammed
Meaning:
adj   crammed with/crammed full of sth//  completely full of things or people//   packed//  --The guide is crammed full of useful information.//  --The streets were crammed with people.//


Words: cramp
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: crampe, perhaps from  Low German krampe;   CRAMP2]//\n  1 [U and C] a severe pain that you get in part of your body when a muscle becomes too tight, making it difficult for you to move that part of your body:  --Several players were suffering from cramp.//  --muscle cramps//  have/get (a) cramp //  --One of the swimmers got cramp and had to drop out of the race.//    writer’s cramp//\n  2  (stomach) cramps [plural] severe pains in the stomach, especially the ones that women get when they menstruate:\ncramp 2 v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Partly from   CRAMP1; partly from  cramp  ’tool for holding things together’ (14-21 centuries), from  Low German krampe  ’hook’]//\n  1 [T] to prevent the development of someone or something:   hinder, restrict//  --Stricter anti-pollution laws may cramp economic growth.//\n  2  cramp sb’s style:   informal to prevent someone from behaving in the way they want to//  --Paul said he didn’t want Sarah to come along because she cramps his style.//\n  3 [I and T]  also cramp up :  to get or cause cramp in a muscle//  --He cramped in the last 200 metres of the race.//  --Sitting still for so long had cramped her muscles.//


Words: cramped
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a cramped room, building etc does not have enough space for the people in it:    crowded//  --The kitchen was small and cramped.//  --a cramped apartment//  --The troops slept in cramped conditions with up to 20 in a single room.//\n  2  also cramped up :  unable to move properly and feeling uncomfortable because there is not enough space//  --cramped muscles//\n  3 writing that is cramped is very small and difficult to read:


Words: crampon
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Low German krampe;   CRAMP2]//  a piece of metal with sharp points that mountain climbers fasten under their boots to stop them slipping on ice or snow//


Words: cranberry
Meaning:
n   plural  cranberries  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Low German; Origin: kraanbere, from  kraan  ’crane’ +  bere  ’berry’; because a part of the flower looks like a crane’s beak]//  a small red sour fruit//  --cranberry sauce//


Words: Crane
Meaning:
Ichabod   the main character in the story  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington  Irving. He is chased by the  Headless Horseman.//


Words: crane
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cran the bird]//\n  1 a large tall machine used by builders for lifting heavy things:    hoist//\n  2 a tall water bird with very long legs:\ncrane 2 v [I,T always + adverb/preposition]   to look around or over something by stretching or leaning//  crane forward/over etc//  --The children craned forward to see what was happening.//  --He craned his neck above the crowd to get a better view.//


Words: cranium
Meaning:
n   plural  craniums  or  crania /-ni[hA353]/ [C]  technical //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: Greek kranion]//  the part of your head that is made of bone and covers your brain//  -- cranial adj //


Words: crank
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cranc]//\n  1 a handle on a piece of equipment, that you can turn in order to move something:\n  2  informal someone who has unusual ideas and behaves strangely:  --Zoff was originally dismissed as a crank, but his theories later became very influential.//\n  3  crank call/letter:  a telephone call or letter in which someone says annoying things//\n  4  AmE  informal someone who easily gets angry or annoyed with people:\ncrank 2 v    also crank up //   [T] to make something move by turning a crank//  --Try cranking the engine .//  crank up [crank sth → up] phr v//  to make the sound of something, especially music, louder//  --We cranked up the volume .//  crank out [crank sth → out] phr v//  to produce a lot of something very quickly//  --He cranked out three novels last year.//


Words: crankshaft
Meaning:
n [C]   a long piece of metal in a vehicle that is connected to the engine and helps to turn the wheels//


Words: cranky
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Partly from   CRANK1; partly from  crank  ’loose, not working properly’ (18-19 centuries) (perhaps from  Dutch or  German krank  ’weak, ill’)]//\n  1  BrE  informal strange:    eccentric, weird//  --Organic farming is no longer thought of as cranky.//\n  2  informal bad-tempered:  --I was feeling tired and cranky.//  -- crankiness n  [U] //


Words: Cranmer
Meaning:
Thomas   (1489-1556) an English priest who was  Archbishop of Canterbury, and who was one of the leaders of the  Reformation (=the time when many Christians in Europe left the Catholic religion and started the Protestant religion)  in England. When the Catholic Mary I became Queen of England, she ordered Cranmer to be killed by being burned.//


Words: cranny
Meaning:
n   plural  crannies  [C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: cren,  cran  ’mark cut in a surface’]//  a small narrow hole in a wall or rock//  --The toad hid itself in a cranny in the wall.//    nook and cranny at nook(3)//


Words: crap
Meaning:
n  spoken  not polite   [Sense: 1-6; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: crap  ’outside covering of grain, solid material from melted fat’ (15-19 centuries), from  Middle Dutch crappe  ’piece torn off’, from  crappen  ’to break off’]//  [Sense: 7; Date: 1700-1800; Language: Louisiana French; Origin: French crabs,  craps, from  English crabs  ’lowest throw in a dice game’, from the plural of   CRAB]//\n  1 [U] something someone says that you think is completely wrong or untrue:   rubbish//  --You don’t believe all that crap, do you?//  load/pile of crap  also //  bunch of crap  AmE //  --That’s a bunch of crap! I never said that.//  --He came out with a load of crap about how he’d tried to call me yesterday.//  --Greg’s full of crap  (=often says things that are completely wrong) .//  cut the crap (=used to tell someone to stop saying things that are completely wrong) //  --Just cut the crap and tell me what really happened.//\n  2 [U] something that is very bad or is of bad quality:   rubbish//  --They sell a lot of stuff cheap, but most of it is crap.//  load/pile of crap  also //  bunch of crap  AmE //  --The game was a load of crap.//\n  3 [U] things that are useless or unimportant:  --What is all this crap doing on my desk?//\n  4 [U] bad or unfair treatment:  take/stand for/put up with crap (=to allow someone to treat you badly) //  --I’m not going to take any more of this crap!//  --I don’t need this kind of crap  (=used when you are angry about the way someone is behaving towards you) .//  --I’m tired of you giving me crap  (=saying bad things) about my long hair.//\n  5 [U] solid waste that is passed from your bowels:\n  6 [singular] the act of passing solid waste from your bowels:  take a crap  also //  have a crap  BrE //\n  7  craps [plural]  AmE a game played for money in the US, using two dice:  shoot craps (=to play this game) //\ncrap 2 adj  BrE  spoken  not polite   very bad//  --a crap film//  --I’ve had such a crap day.//  crap at//  --I’m really crap at tennis.//\ncrap 3   past tense and past participle  crapped present participle  crapping  v [I]  informal  not polite //  to pass waste matter from your bowels//


Words: crash
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 car/plane etc:\n   2 hit somebody/something hard:\n   3 loud noise:\n   4 computer:\n   5 financial:\n   6 sport:\n   7 sleep:\n   8 party:\n   9 crashing bore:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from the sound]//\n  1 CAR/PLANE ETC:   [I and T] to have an accident in a car, plane etc by violently hitting something else//    collide//  --The jet crashed after take-off.//  crash into/onto etc//  --The plane crashed into a mountain.//  crash a car/bus/plane etc //  --He was drunk when he crashed the car.//\n  2 HIT SOMEBODY/SOMETHING HARD:   [I,T always + adverb/preposition] to hit something or someone extremely hard while moving, in a way that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of noise//  crash into/through etc//  --A brick crashed through the window.//  --We watched the waves crashing against the rocks.//  --The plates went crashing to the ground.//  --A large branch came crashing down .//\n  3 LOUD NOISE:   [I] to make a sudden loud noise//  --Thunder crashed and boomed outside.//\n  4 COMPUTER:   [I and T] if a computer crashes, or if you crash the computer, it suddenly stops working//  --The system crashed and I lost three hours’ worth of work.//\n  5 FINANCIAL:   [I] if a stock market or shares crash, they suddenly lose a lot of value//\n  6 SPORT:   [I]  BrE to lose very badly in a sports event//  --Liverpool crashed to their worst defeat of the season.//\n  7 SLEEP:   [I]  spoken //  a) to stay at someone’s house for the night//  --Can I crash at your place on Saturday night?//  b)  also crash out //  to go to bed, or go to sleep very quickly, because you are very tired//  --I crashed out on the sofa this afternoon.//\n  8 PARTY:   [T]  informal to go to a party that you have not been invited to//  --We crashed Joe’s party yesterday.//\n  9  crashing bore:   BrE  old-fashioned someone who is very boring//\ncrash 2 S3 n [C] \n  1 an accident in which a vehicle violently hits something else:    collision//  plane/car etc crash //  --41 people were killed in the plane crash.//  --the Clapham rail crash//  --a fatal crash //  --a head-on crash between two trains//  --a crash victim //\n  2 a sudden loud noise made by something falling, breaking etc:  --I heard a loud crash .//  with a crash//  --The branch came down with a crash.//  crash of//  --a crash of thunder//\n  3 an occasion when a computer or computer system suddenly stops working:\n  4 an occasion on which the stocks and shares in a stock market suddenly lose a lot of value:  --the stock market crash of October 1987//


Words: crash barrier
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a strong fence or wall built to keep cars apart or to keep them away from people, in order to prevent an accident//


Words: crash course
Meaning:
n [C]   a course in which you learn a lot about a particular subject in a very short period of time//  crash course in//  --a crash course in Spanish//


Words: crash helmet
Meaning:
n [C]   a very strong hard hat that protects your head, and is worn by racing car drivers, people riding motorcycles etc//


Words: crash landing crash-landing
Meaning:
n [C]   an occasion when a pilot has to bring a plane down to the ground in a rougher and more dangerous way than usual because the plane has a problem//  --He was forced to make a crash-landing in the middle of the desert.//  -- crash-land v  [I and T] //


Words: crass
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: crassus  ’thick, fat, coarse’]//  behaving in a stupid and offensive way which shows that you do not understand or care about other people’s feelings//    insensitive//  --a crass remark //  --an act of crass stupidity //  -- crassly adv //


Words: Cratchit
Meaning:
Bob   a character in the book  A Christmas Carol by Charles  Dickens. Bob Cratchit is a kind poor man who has to work very hard for his employer,  Scrooge. He has a young son, Tiny Tim, who is very ill and cannot walk.//


Words: crate
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: cratis  ’framework of thin woven branches’]//\n  1 a large box made of wood or plastic that is used for carrying fruit, bottles etc:  crate of//  --a crate of beer//\n  2  old-fashioned a very old car or plane that does not work very well:\ncrate 2  also crate up  v [T]   to pack things into a crate//


Words: crater
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’bowl for mixing things, crater’, from  Greek krater, from  kerannynai  ’to mix’]//\n  1 a round hole in the ground made by something that has fallen on it or by an explosion:  --craters on the moon’s surface//\n  2 the round open top of a volcano:


Words: cravat
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: cravate, from  Cravate  ’Croatian’; from the scarves worn by 17th-century Croatian soldiers]//  a wide piece of loosely folded material that men wear around their necks//    tie//


Words: crave
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: crafian]//  to have an extremely strong desire for something//  --She’s an insecure child who craves attention .//


Words: craven
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French crevant, present participle of  crever  ’to burst, break’]//   formal completely lacking courage//   cowardly//  --He had a craven fear of flying.//  -- cravenly adv //


Words: craving
Meaning:
n [C]   an extremely strong desire for something//    longing//  craving for//  --She had a craving for some chocolate.//


Words: craw
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From an unrecorded  Old English crawa  ’stomach of a bird or animal’]//    stick in your craw at stick1 (11)//


Words: Crawford
Meaning:
Joan   (1904-77) one of America’s most famous film actresses, who usually appeared as characters who were very brave and determined, but often also very unhappy. Her films include  Mildred Pierce (1945) and  Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). //


Words: crawl
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: krafla]//\n  1 to move along on your hands and knees with your body close to the ground:  crawl along/across etc//  --The baby crawled across the floor.//\n  2 if an insect crawls, it moves using its legs:  crawl over/up etc//  --There’s a bug crawling up your leg.//\n  3  crawl into/out of bed:  to get into or out of bed slowly because you are very tired//  --We crawled into bed at 2 am.//\n  4 if a vehicle crawls, it moves forward very slowly:  crawl by/along etc//  --The traffic was crawling along.//\n  5  BrE  informal to be too pleasant or helpful to someone in authority, especially because you want them to help you - used in order to show disapproval:  crawl to//  --She’s always crawling to the boss.//\n  6  be crawling with sth:  to be completely covered with insects, people etc//  --The floor was crawling with ants.//  --The whole place was crawling with cops.//\n  7  crawl the Net/web:  if a computer program crawls the Net, it quickly searches the Internet to find the particular information you need//    spider//  --robots that crawl the net searching out e-mail addresses for junk mailing//\ncrawl 2 n [singular] \n  1 a very slow speed:  --The traffic had slowed to a crawl.//\n  2  the crawl:  a way of swimming in which you lie on your stomach and move one arm, and then the other, over your head//    backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly//


Words: crawler lane
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a special part of a road that can be used by slow vehicles so that other vehicles can go past//    fast lane//


Words: crayfish
Meaning:
n   plural  crayfish  [U and C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: crevice; influenced by  fish]//  a small animal like a lobster that lives in rivers and streams, or the meat from this animal//


Words: Crayola
Meaning:
trademark   a company that makes coloured  crayons and other art materials for children, such as coloured pens and paints//


Words: crayon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: craie  ’chalk’]//  a stick of coloured wax or chalk that children use to draw pictures//\ncrayon 2 v [I and T]   to draw something with a crayon//


Words: craze
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: craze  ’to make crazy’;   CRAZED]//  a fashion, game, type of music etc that becomes very popular for a short time//   fad//  craze for//  --She started a craze for this type of jewellery.//  --At that time, scooters were the latest craze .//  fitness/dance/fashion etc craze //  --The jogging craze began in the 1970s.//


Words: crazed
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: craze  ’to make crazy’ (15-19 centuries), from  craze  ’to crack, crush’ (14-20 centuries), from a  Scandinavian language]//  behaving in a wild and uncontrolled way like someone who is mentally ill//  crazed with grief/pain/fear etc //  --He was crazed with grief after the death of his mother.//  --The old woman had a crazed expression on her face.//  --a crazed killer //


Words: crazy
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   comparative  crazier superlative  craziest //  ----------//\n   1 strange:\n   2 crazy about somebody/something:\n   3 angry:\n   4 like crazy:\n   5 go crazy:\n   6 mentally ill:  ----------//\n  1 STRANGE:  very strange or not sensible//   mad//  --The neighbours must think we’re crazy.//  --It’s an absolutely crazy idea .//  --I know this idea sounds crazy , but it may be worth a try.//  crazy to do sth//  --It’d be crazy to go out in this rain.//  --I must have been crazy to agree to this.//  --He often works 12 hours a day - it’s crazy .//\n  2  crazy about sb/sth:  liking someone very much, or very interested in something//  --He’s crazy about her.//  --Dan’s crazy about football.//\n  3 ANGRY:  angry or annoyed//  --Turn that music down. It’s driving me crazy  (=really annoying me) !//  --Dad will go crazy when he hears about this.//\n  4  like crazy:  very much or very quickly//  --We’re going to have to work like crazy to get this finished on time.//\n  5  go crazy:  to do something too much, in a way that is not usual or sensible, especially because you are excited//  --Don’t go crazy and spend it all at once.//\n  6 MENTALLY ILL:  mentally ill//   mad//  --I feel so alone, sometimes I wonder if I’m going crazy .//  -- crazily adv //  -- craziness n  [U] //\ncrazy 2   plural  crazies  n [C]  informal  especially AmE //  someone who is crazy//


Words: crazy golf
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   a golf game, played for fun outdoors, in which you hit a small ball through passages, over bridges and small hills etc//   miniature golf//


Words: Crazy Horse
Meaning:
(?1842-77) a  Native American chief of the  Sioux tribe who united his people and helped  Sitting Bull to win a victory over General  Custer ’s army in the famous battle at the  Little Bighorn//


Words: crazy quilt
Meaning:
n [C]   a cover for a bed, made from small pieces of cloth of different shapes and colours that have been sewn together//


Words: creak
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  From the sound]//  if something such as a door, wooden floor, old bed, or stair creaks, it makes a long high noise when someone opens it, walks on it, sits on it etc//  --The floorboards creaked as she walked across the room.//  --The door creaked open.//  -- creak n  [C] //


Words: creaky
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something such as a door, floor, or bed that is creaky creaks when you open it, walk on it, sit on it etc, especially because it is old and not in good condition:  --creaky stairs//\n  2 an organization, company etc that is creaky uses old-fashioned methods and does not work very well:  --creaky state-owned factories//  -- creakily adv //  -- creakiness n  [U] //


Words: cream
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: craime,  cresme, from  Latin cramum]//\n  1 [U] a thick yellow-white liquid that rises to the top of milk:  --fresh cream//  --strawberries and cream//\n  2 [U] a pale yellow-white colour:\n  3 [U and C] used in the names of foods containing cream or something similar to it:  --cream of chicken soup//\n  4 [U and C] a thick smooth substance that you put on your skin to make it feel soft, treat a medical condition etc:    lotion//  --sun cream//  --face cream//\n  5  the cream of sth:  the best people or things from a group//  --the cream of Europe’s athletes//  --The students at this college are the cream of the crop  (=the best of all) .//\ncream 2 adj   pale yellow-white in colour//  --a cream-coloured carpet//\ncream 3 v [T] \n  1 to mix foods together until they become a thick soft mixture:  --Cream the butter and sugar together.//  --creamed potatoes//\n  2  AmE  informal to hit someone very hard or easily defeat someone in a game, competition etc:  --We got creamed 45-6.//  cream off [cream sb/sth → off] phr v//  to choose the best people or things from a group, especially so that you can use them for your own advantage//  --The best students are creamed off by the large companies.//


Words: creamer
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a white liquid or powder that you can use instead of milk or cream in coffee or tea:\n  2 [C] a small container for holding cream:


Words: creamery
Meaning:
n   plural  creameries  [C]  old-fashioned //  a place where milk, butter, cream, and cheese are produced or sold//    dairy//


Words: creamy
Meaning:
adj   comparative  creamier superlative  creamiest //\n  1 thick and smooth like cream:  --Beat the mixture until smooth and creamy.//  --a soft cheese with a creamy texture//\n  2 containing cream:  --creamy milk//\n  3 pale yellow-white in colour:


Words: crease
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  crest]//\n  1 [C] a line on a piece of cloth, paper etc where it has been folded, crushed, or pressed:  --She smoothed the creases from her skirt.//  --I’ll have to iron out the creases.//\n  2 [C] a fold in someone’s skin:  --the creases on his forehead//\n  3 [singular] the line where the player has to stand to hit the ball in cricket:\ncrease 2 v [I and T]   to become marked with a line or lines, or to make a line appear on cloth, paper etc by folding or crushing it//    crumple//  --Don’t sit on my newspaper. You’ll crease it!//  --These trousers crease really easily.//  --A worried frown creased her forehead.//  -- creased adj //  --This shirt is too creased to wear.//  crease () up [crease (sb) up] phr v//   BrE  spoken to laugh a lot, or to make someone laugh a lot//  --She really creases me up!//


Words: create
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  creare]//\n  1 to make something exist that did not exist before:  --Some people believe the universe was created by a big explosion.//  --Her behaviour is creating a lot of problems.//  --The new factory is expected to create more than 400 new jobs.//\n  2 to invent or design something:  --This dish was created by our chef Jean Richard.//  --Philip Glass created a new kind of music.//  --The software makes it easy to create colourful graphs.//\n  3  create sb sth:   BrE to officially give someone a special rank or title//  --James I created him Duke of Buckingham.//


Words: creation
Meaning:
W2S3   n \n  1 [U] the act of creating something:  creation of//  --The plan should result in the creation of 2000 new jobs.//  --the creation of a single European currency//  --a job creation scheme//\n  2 [C] something that has been created:  --The dress is a stunning creation in green, gold, and white.//  --Most countries have systems of government that are relatively modern creations.//\n  3  the Creation:  the act by God, according to the Bible, of making the universe, including the world and everything in it//\n  4 [U]  literary the whole universe and all living things:


Words: creationist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who believes that God created the universe in the way described in the Bible//  -- creationism n  [U] //  -- creationist adj //


Words: creative
Meaning:
W3S3   adj \n  1 involving the use of imagination to produce new ideas or things:  --This job is so boring. I wish I could do something more creative.//  --I teach creative writing at Trinity College.//  --the creative process of writing a poem//  --Diaghilev did his great creative work in France.//  --a creative solution to the problem//\n  2 someone who is creative is very good at using their imagination to make things:    inventive//  --You’re so creative! I could never make my own clothes.//  -- creatively adv //  -- creativeness n  [U] //\ncreative 2 n [C]  informal   someone such as a writer or artist who uses their imagination or skills to make things//


Words: creative accounting
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of using unusual but not illegal ways to change business accounts to make them look better than they really are//


Words: creativity
Meaning:
n [U]   the ability to use your imagination to produce new ideas, make things etc//  --artistic creativity//  --Teachers have been attacked for stifling creativity in their pupils.//  --Editors complain about the lack of creativity in the ideas put to them.//


Words: creator
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] someone who made or invented a particular thing:    inventor//  creator of//  --Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse//\n  2  the Creator:  God//


Words: creature
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 living thing:\n   2 imaginary or strange:\n   3 a creature of habit:\n   4 something made or invented:\n   5 somebody controlled by something:\n   6 beautiful/stupid/adorable etc creature:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin creatura, from  Latin creare;   CREATE]//\n  1 LIVING THING:  anything that is living, such as an animal, fish, or insect, but not a plant//  --The first living creature sent into space was a dog named Laika.//  creatures of the deep (=animals and fish that live in the ocean) //\n  2 IMAGINARY OR STRANGE:  an imaginary animal or person, or one that is very strange and frightening//  --creatures from outer space//\n  3  a creature of habit:  someone who always does things in the same way or at the same time//\n  4 SOMETHING MADE OR INVENTED:   formal something, especially something bad, that was made or invented by a particular person or organization//  creature of//  --The poll tax was a creature of the Government.//\n  5 SOMEBODY CONTROLLED BY SOMETHING:  someone who is controlled or influenced a lot by something//  creature of//  --He was a creature of the military government.//\n  6  beautiful/stupid/adorable etc creature:   literary someone who has a particular character or quality//  --He was the most beautiful creature Dot had ever seen.//


Words: creature comforts
Meaning:
n [plural]   all the things that make life more comfortable and enjoyable, such as good food, a warm house, and comfortable furniture//    mod cons//


Words: creche
Meaning:
cr[hA169]che/kre[hA35D] $ kre[hA35D], kre[hA366][hA35D]/ n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’bed for a baby’]//\n  1  BrE a place where babies are looked after while their parents are at work:  American Equivalent:  day care center//\n  2  AmE a model of the scene of Jesus Christ’s birth, placed in churches and homes at Christmas:  British Equivalent:  crib//


Words: credence
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin credentia, from  Latin credere  ’to believe, trust, give to someone to keep safe’]//   formal the acceptance of something as true//  give credence to sth (=to believe or accept something as true) //  --I don’t give any credence to these rumors.//  gain credence (=to become more widely accepted or believed) //  --His ideas quickly gained credence among economists.//  lend credence to sth (=to make something more believable) //  --The DNA results lend credence to Hausmann’s claims of innocence.//


Words: credentialed
Meaning:
adj   someone who is credentialed is legally allowed to do a particular job, because they have done the right type of training//  --a newly credentialed teacher//


Words: credentials
Meaning:
n [plural] \n  1 someone’s education, achievements, experience etc that prove they have the ability to do something:  credentials for/as//  --She had excellent credentials for the job.//  --There are doubts over his credentials as a future Prime Minister.//  --He spent the first part of the interview trying to establish his credentials as a financial expert.//  --Her academic credentials include an MA and a PhD.//\n  2 a letter or other document which proves your good character or your right to have a particular position:  --The commissioner presented his credentials to the State Department.//


Words: credibility
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the quality of deserving to be believed and trusted:  damage/undermine sb’s credibility (as sth) //  --The scandal has damaged his credibility as a leader.//  credibility of//  --There are serious questions about the credibility of these reports.//  gain/lose credibility //  --Predictions of economic recovery have now lost all credibility.//\n  2  credibility gap:  the difference between what someone says and what they do//  --a credibility gap between the Government’s promises and their achievements//


Words: credible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: credibilis, from  credere;   CREDENCE]//  deserving or able to be believed or trusted//  credible explanation/story/account etc //  --He was unable to give a credible explanation for his behaviour.//  --Her excuse was barely credible.//  credible threat/challenge/force etc //  --Can Thompson make a credible challenge for the party leadership?//  --a credible alternative to nuclear power//  -- credibly adv //


Words: credit
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 delayed payment:\n   2 praise:\n   3 be a credit to somebody/something:\n   4 have something to your credit:\n   5 in credit:\n   6 the credits:\n   7 on the credit side:\n   8 university:\n   9 amount of money:\n  10 true/correct:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: credit, from  Italian, from  Latin creditum  ’something given to someone to keep safe, loan’, from  credere;   CREDENCE]//\n  1 DELAYED PAYMENT:   [U] an arrangement with a shop, bank etc that allows you to buy something and pay for it later//  on credit//  --56 per cent of new cars were bought on credit.//  --Several stores are offering interest-free credit  (=credit with nointerest charges) .//  --a credit agreement//  --What’s the credit limit on your Visa card?//  credit facilities (=the opportunity to buy something on credit) //\n  2 PRAISE:   [U] approval or praise that you give to someone for something they have done//  credit for//  --Credit for this win goes to everybody in the team.//  --They never give Gene any credit for all the extra work he does.//  take/claim/deserve etc (the) credit //  --She deserves credit for trying her best.//  to sb’s credit//   (=used to say that someone has done something good) //  --To Jamie’s credit, he remained calm.//  --Credit must go to Fiona for making sure everything ran smoothly.//\n  3  be a credit to sb/sth:   also do sb/sth credit //  to behave so well or be so successful that your family, team etc are proud of you//  --She’s a credit to her profession.//  --Your children really do you credit.//\n  4  have sth to your credit:  to have achieved something//  --She already has two successful novels to her credit.//\n  5  in credit:  if you are in credit, you have money in your bank account//  --There are no bank charges if you stay in credit.//\n  6  the credits [plural] a list of all the people involved in making a film or television programme, which is shown at the beginning or end of it:\n  7  on the credit side:  used to talk about the good things about someone or something//  --On the credit side, the book is extremely well-researched.//\n  8 UNIVERSITY:   [C] a successfully completed part of a course at a university or college//  --I don’t have enough credits to graduate.//\n  9 AMOUNT OF MONEY:   [C] an amount of money that is put into someone’s bank account or added to another amount//  → debit//  --The company promised to provide credits to customers who had been charged too much.//\n  10 TRUE/CORRECT:   [U] the belief that something is true or correct//  --The witness’s story gained credit with the jury.//\ncredit 2 v [T not in progressive] \n  1 to add money to a bank account:  → debit//  credit to//  --The cheque has been credited to your account.//  credit with//  --For some reason my account’s been credited with an extra $76.//\n  2  credit sb with (doing) sth:  to believe or admit that someone has a quality, or has done something good//  --Do credit me with a little intelligence!//  --Evans is credited with inventing the system.//\n  3  be credited to sb/sth:  if something is credited to someone or something, they have achieved it or are the reason for it//  --Much of Manchester United’s success can be credited to their manager.//\n  4  formal to believe that something is true:  difficult/hard/impossible etc to credit //  --We found his statement hard to credit.//


Words: credit account
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE an account with a shop which allows you to take goods and pay for them later//  American Equivalent:  charge account//


Words: credit card
Meaning:
n [C]   a small plastic card that you use to buy goods or services and pay for them later//  --We accept all major credit cards.//


Words: credit note
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a document given to a customer who is owed money, for example because they have returned goods//


Words: credit rating
Meaning:
n [C]   a judgment made by a bank or other company about how likely a person or business is to pay their debts//


Words: creditable
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   deserving praise or approval//  --The team produced a creditable performance .//  --She did a creditable job of impersonating the singer Mariah Carey.//  -- creditably adv //


Words: creditworthy
Meaning:
adj  formal   considered to be able to pay debts//  --creditworthy borrowers//  -- creditworthiness n  [U] //


Words: credo
Meaning:
n   plural  credos  [C] //  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Latin; Origin: ’I believe’; the first word of the Creed]//  a formal statement of the beliefs of a particular person, group, religion etc//  --American Express is emphasizing its ’the customer is first’ credo.//


Words: credulity
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   willingness or ability to believe that something is true//  --Advertisers were accused of exploiting consumers’ credulity.//  strain/stretch credulity (=seem very difficult to believe) //  --It strained credulity to believe that a nuclear war would not lead to the destruction of the planet.//


Words: credulous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: credulus, from  credere;   CREDENCE]//  always believing what you are told, and therefore easily deceived//   gullible//  --Quinn charmed credulous investors out of millions of dollars.//


Words: creed
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Latin; Origin: credo;   CREDO]//\n  1 a set of beliefs or principles:  --Marxism has never been weaker as a political creed .//  --a religious creed //  --people of all colours and creeds//\n  2  the Creed:  a formal statement of belief spoken in certain Christian churches//


Words: creek
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kriki  ’bend’]//\n  1  AmE  AusE a small narrow stream or river:\n  2  BrE a long narrow area of water that flows from the sea into the land:\n  3  be up the creek (without a paddle):   spoken  also be up shit creek (without a paddle)  not polite //  to be in a very difficult situation//  --If I don’t get my passport by Friday, I’ll be up the creek.//


Words: creel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from an unrecorded  Old French creille  ’grill’, from  Latin craticula;   GRILL2]//  a fisherman’s basket for carrying fish//


Words: creep
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  crept /krept/ [I always + adverb/preposition] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: creopan]//\n  1 to move in a quiet, careful way, especially to avoid attracting attention:  creep into/over/around etc//  --Johann would creep into the gallery to listen to the singers.//  --He crept back up the stairs, trying to avoid the ones that creaked.//\n  2 if something such as an insect, small animal, or car creeps, it moves slowly and quietly:    crawl//  creep down/along/away etc//  --a caterpillar creeping down my arm//\n  3 to gradually enter something and change it:  creep in/into/over etc//  --Funny how religion is creeping into the environmental debate.//\n  4 if a plant creeps, it grows or climbs up or along a particular place:  creep up/over/around etc//  --ivy creeping up the walls of the building//\n  5 if mist, clouds etc creep, they gradually fill or cover a place:  creep into/over etc//  --Fog was creeping into the valley.//\n  6  BrE  informal to be insincerely nice to someone, especially someone in authority, in order to gain an advantage for yourself:  creep (up) to sb //  --I’m not the kind of person to creep to anybody.//\n  7  sb/sth makes my flesh creep:  used to say that someone or something makes you feel strong dislike or fear//  --His glassy stare made my flesh creep.//  creep up on / [creep up on sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to surprise someone by walking up behind them silently:  --Don’t yell - let’s creep up on them and scare them.//\n  2 if a feeling or idea creeps up on you, it gradually increases:  --The feeling she had for Malcolm had crept up on her and taken her by surprise.//\n  3 to seem to come sooner than you expect:  --Somehow, the end of term had crept up on us.//\ncreep 2 n [C] \n  1  informal  especially AmE someone who you dislike extremely:  --Get lost, you little creep!//\n  2  BrE  informal someone who tries to make you like them or do things for them by being insincerely nice to you:  --Don’t try and flatter her - she doesn’t approve of creeps.//\n  3  give sb the creeps:  if a person or place gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous and a little frightened, especially because they are strange//  --That house gives me the creeps.//\n  4  mission/cost/grade etc creep:  when something gradually starts to go beyond what it was intended to deal with or include//  --He denied that giving civilian tasks to the NATO forces was a case of mission creep.//


Words: creepy
Meaning:
adj  informal   making you feel nervous and slightly frightened//  --There’s something creepy about the way he looks at me.//  --The whole place feels creepy.//


Words: cremate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  cremare  ’to burn up, cremate’]//  to burn the body of a dead person at a funeral ceremony//  -- cremation/kr[hA366]me[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: crematorium
Meaning:
plural  crematoriums  crematoria /-ri[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin cremare;   CREMATE]//  a building in which the bodies of dead people are burned at a funeral ceremony//


Words: creole
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: creole, from  Spanish, from  Portuguese crioulo  ’black person born in Brazil, home-born slave’, from  criar  ’to breed’, from  Latin creare;   CREATE]//\n  1 [U and C] a language that is a combination of a European language with one or more other languages:    pidgin//\n  2  Creole [C] :  a) someone whose family was originally from both Europe and Africa//  b) someone whose family were originally French settlers in the southern US//\n  3 [U] food prepared in the spicy strong-tasting style of the southern US:  --shrimp creole//  -- creole adj //


Words: creosote
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: kreosot, from  Greek kreas  ’flesh’ +  soter  ’preserver’; because it was used as an antiseptic]//  a thick brown oily liquid used for preserving wood//  -- creosote v  [T] //


Words: crepe
Meaning:
crepe/kre[hA366]p/ n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: crepe, from  Old French crespe  ’curled’, from  Latin crispus;   CRISP2]//\n  1 [U] a type of light soft thin cloth, with very small folded lines on its surface, made from cotton, silk, wool etc:\n  2 [C] a very thin pancake:\n  3 [U] tightly pressed rubber used especially for making the bottoms of shoes:  --crepe-soled shoes//


Words: crepe paper
Meaning:
n [U]   a type of thin brightly coloured paper that stretches slightly and is used for making decorations//


Words: crescendo
Meaning:
n   plural  crescendos  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: ’growing’, from  Latin crescendum, from  crescere;   CRESCENT]//\n  1 if a sound or a piece of music rises to a crescendo, it gradually becomes louder until it is very loud:  → diminuendo//  --The shouting rose to a deafening crescendo .//  --The curtains opened as the music reached a crescendo .//\n  2 if an activity or feeling reaches a crescendo, it gradually becomes stronger until it is very strong:  --The campaign reached its crescendo in the week of the election.//


Words: crescent
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: creissant, from  creistre  ’to grow, increase’, from  Latin crescere]//\n  1 a curved shape that is wider in the middle and pointed at the ends:  --a small crescent of pastry topped with cheese//  --a crescent moon //\n  2 the curved shape that is used as a sign of the Muslim religion:\n  3 a street with a curved shape - often used in the names of streets:


Words: cress
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: c[zB024]rse,  cressa]//  a small plant with round green leaves that are eaten raw//    mustard//  --Sprinkle some finely chopped cress over the top.//


Words: crest
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: creste, from  Latin crista]//\n  1 the top or highest point of something such as a hill or a wave:  crest of//  --It took us over an hour to reach the crest of the hill.//\n  2 a special picture that is used as a sign of a family, town, school, or organization:    coat of arms//  school/family crest //\n  3 a group of feathers that stick up on the top of a bird’s head:  --exotic birds with colourful crests//\n  4 a decoration of long bright feathers that soldiers wore in the past on top of their hats:\n  5  be on/riding the crest of a wave:  to be very successful//  --a young film director who is on the crest of a wave at the moment//\ncrest 2 v   [T]  formal to reach the top of a hill or mountain//  --They crested a wooded hill shortly before sunset.//


Words: Cresta Run
Meaning:
the   a deep, steep path with twists in it which is cut into the ice at  St Moritz in Switzerland and used for racing in  bobsleighs (=a special vehicle with metal blades for riding fast over snow and ice) //


Words: crested
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a crested bird has a crest on its head:\n  2 marked by the crest of a family, town, school, or organization:  --crested notepaper//


Words: Cretaceous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: cretaceus, from  creta  ’chalk’]//  the Cretaceous period was the time long ago when rocks containing chalk were formed//


Words: cretin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: cretin, from  French dialect cretin  ’Christian, human being, type of mentally affected person who lives in the Alps’, from  Latin christianus  ’Christian’]//   informal an offensive word for someone who is extremely stupid//


Words: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Meaning:
n [U]   CJD a very serious disease that kills people and that may be caused by eating beef that is infected with BSE//


Words: crevasse
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Old French crevace;   CREVICE]//  a deep open crack in the thick ice on a mountain//


Words: crevice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: crevace, from  crever  ’to break’]//  a narrow crack in the surface of something, especially in rock//  --small creatures that hide in crevices in the rock//


Words: crew
Meaning:
W3S3   n   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: crew  ’additional soldiers, reinforcements’ (15-16 centuries), from  Old French creue  ’increase’, from  creistre;   CRESCENT]//\n  1 [C] all the people who work on a ship or plane:  --The plane crashed, killing two of the crew and four passengers.//  crew of//  --He joined the crew of a large fishing boat.//  --a crew member //\n  2 [C] a group of people working together with special skills:  --a TV camera crew//    ground crew//\n  3 [singular] a group of people or friends - often used to show disapproval:  --a motley crew of students//  --Do you still hang out with  the same crew ?//\n  4 [C] a team of people who compete in rowing races:  --Who will be on the college crew?//\n  5 [C]  informal a group of musicians, especially in garage music:\ncrew 2 v [I and T]   to be part of the crew on a boat//  --The boat is crewed by ten men.//


Words: crib
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: cribb]//\n  1 [C]  AmE a bed for a baby or young child, with bars on the side to stop the baby from falling out:  British Equivalent:  cot//\n  2 [C]  BrE a bed with high sides for a very young baby, which you can move gently from side to side:   cradle//\n  3 [C] a wooden frame in which you put food for animals such as cows and horses:\n  4 [C]  BrE a model of the scene of Jesus’ birth, often placed in churches and homes at Christmas:    Nativity//\n  5 [C]  BrE  informal a book or piece of paper with information or answers to questions, which students sometimes use dishonestly in examinations:\n  6 [C]  AmE  spoken the place where someone lives:  sb’s crib//  --I’m not at my crib, I’m at Jed’s house.//\n  7 [U] the card game of cribbage:\ncrib 2   past tense and past participle  cribbed present participle  cribbing  v [I and T]  especially BrE //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: crib  ’to steal from a basket’ (18-19 centuries), from   CRIB1]//  to copy school or college work dishonestly from someone else//  crib sth off/from sb//  --He didn’t want anyone to crib the answers from him.//


Words: crib death
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE the sudden and unexpected death of a baby while it is asleep//  British Equivalent:  cot death//


Words: cribbage
Meaning:
n  also crib  [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  CRIB1]//  a card game in which players show how many points they have by putting small pieces of wood in holes in a small board//


Words: Crick
Meaning:
Francis   (1916- ) a British biochemist who, with the scientist J.D.  Watson, discovered the  double-helix structure of  DNA. For this work he won the  Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962.//


Words: crick
Meaning:
n [C]   a pain in the muscles in your neck or back that is caused by the muscles becoming stiff//  a crick in your back/neck //  --He was getting a crick in his neck from leaning out of the window for so long.//\ncrick 2 v [T]   to hurt your back or neck by bending or moving in a way that makes the muscles become stiff//  --I cricked my back bending to pick up the suitcase.//


Words: cricket
Meaning:
W3S3   n   [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: criquet  ’stick at which a ball is thrown’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: criquet, from the sound it makes.]//\n  1 [U] a game between two teams of 11 players in which players try to get points by hitting a ball and running between two sets of three sticks:\n  2 [C] a small brown insect that can jump, and that makes a rough sound by rubbing its wings together:


Words: cricketer
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   someone who plays cricket//    batsman, bowler, fielder//  --Her father was a very good cricketer.//


Words: crikey
Meaning:
interjection  BrE  spoken   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Perhaps replacing  Christ]//  used to show that you are surprised or annoyed//  --Crikey, I’m late!//


Words: crime
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: crimen  ’judgment, accusation, crime’]//\n  1 [U] illegal activities in general:  --We moved here ten years ago because there was very little crime.//  --Women commit far less crime than men.//  --Police officers are being given new powers to help  combat crime .//  --the reasons why people turn to crime //  --The town has a relatively low crime rate .//  --The latest crime figures show a drop in the number of robberies.//  --We need to focus more on crime prevention .//  -- Violent crime is on the increase in the city.//  --There has been a rise in serious crime in the area.//  --He became involved in petty crime as a teenager.//  --a police crackdown on car crime //  -- Street crime was rising rapidly in the Russian capital.//  --a new support group for victims of crime //  --Politicians are trying to appear tough on crime .//  --the latest novel by crime writer Ed McBain//\n  2 [C] an illegal action, which can be punished by law:  --He insisted that he had not committed any crime .//  --Rape is a very serious crime .//  --men who have been found guilty of violent crimes //  crime against//  --Crimes against the elderly are becoming more common.//  --The City Council made it a crime to drink alcohol in the street.//  --Police are still busy hunting for clues at the scene of the crime  (=where the crime happened) .//\n  3  a life of crime:  when someone spends their life stealing and committing other crimes, in order to get money to live//\n  4  the perfect crime:  a crime that no one knows has been committed, so no one can be punished for it//\n  5  crime of passion:  a crime, especially murder, caused by sexual jealousy//\n  6  crime against humanity:  a crime of cruelty against large numbers of people, especially in a war//\n  7  crime doesn’t pay:  used to say that crime does not give you any advantage, because you will be caught and punished - used when warning people not to get involved in crime//\n  8 [singular] something that someone is blamed or criticized for doing - use this when you think someone is treated very unfairly:    sin//  -- My only crime is that I fell in love with another girl.//  --Johnson’s biggest crime was that he told the truth.//\n  9  it’s a crime:   spoken said when you think something is very wrong, and someone should not do it//  --It would be a crime to waste all that good food.//    partners in crime at partner1 (5),  white-collar(2)//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  commit crime //  combat/fight crime //  turn to crime (=start committing crimes) //  crime rate (=the amount of crime that happens somewhere) //  crime figures/statistics //  crime prevention //  violent crime //  serious crime //  petty crime (=crime that is not very serious) //  car crime British English //  street crime //  victim of crime //  juvenile/youth crime (=by children and teenagers) //  tough on crime (=always punishing crime severely) //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not say ’make/do (a) crime’. Use commit : Young men are more likely to commit crime.  She has committed a terrible crime. //  WORD FOCUS: crime //  crimes that involve stealing things: robbery,  burglary,  theft,  shoplifting,  fraud,  carjacking //  crimes that involve attacking people : assault,  mugging,  murder,  rape //  someone who commits crimes: criminal,  thief,  crook,  burglar,  mugger,  robber,  pickpocket,  rapist,  offender,  lawbreaker //  See also:  criminal, offence, felony, misdemeanour, organized crime, war crime//  ----------//


Words: crime wave
Meaning:
n [singular]   a sudden large increase in the amount of crime in an area//  --More police officers are being brought in to help tackle the current crime wave.//


Words: Crimea
Meaning:
the Crimea//  a part of the Ukraine nearly surrounded by the Black Sea. The  Crimean War was fought there.//


Words: Crimean War
Meaning:
the   (1853-56) a war between Russia on one side, and Britain, France, Turkey, and Sardinia on the other. It started because Britain and France believed that Russia intended to take control of the Balkans (=southeast Europe) , and it ended when the Russians were defeated and lost control of their naval base at Sevastopol//


Words: criminal
Meaning:
W2S3   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: criminel, from  Late Latin criminalis, from  Latin crimen;   CRIME]//\n  1 relating to crime:  --Experts cannot agree on the causes of criminal behaviour .//  --I was sure he was involved in some kind of criminal activity .//  --She has not committed a criminal offence  (=a crime) .//  --He was arrested and charged with criminal damage  (=damaging someone’s property illegally) .//  --The doctor was found guilty of criminal negligence  (=not taking enough care to protect people in your work) .//\n  2 relating to the part of the legal system that is concerned with crime:    civil//  --The case will be tried in a criminal court .//  --We no longer have any faith in the criminal justice system .//  --The police are investigating the matter, and he may face criminal charges  (=he may be officially accused of a crime) .//  --She usually deals with serious criminal cases .//  --a criminal lawyer //\n  3 wrong, dishonest, and unacceptable:  --It seems criminal that teachers are paid so little money.//  -- criminally adv //  --a hospital for the criminally insane//  -- criminality/kr[hA366]m[hA369]n[zB024]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //\ncriminal 2 n [C]   someone who is involved in illegal activities or has been proved guilty of a crime//  --Police have described the man as a violent and dangerous criminal.//  --a convicted criminal  (=someone who has been found guilty of a crime) //  --The new law will ensure that habitual criminals  (=criminals who commit crimes repeatedly) receive tougher punishments than first-time offenders.//  --Teenagers should not be sent to prison to mix with hardened criminals  (=criminals who have committed a lot of crimes and will never stop committing crimes) .//


Words: Criminal Cases Review Commission
Meaning:
a British organization, set up in 1997, that investigates cases where it is believed a person might have been wrongfully convicted of a crime//


Words: Criminal Justice Bill
Meaning:
the   a series of changes to British law in 1995, officially called the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, which changed the law relating to a person’s right to silence (=their right to say nothing when the policearrest them, or when they are on trial in a court of law) , and also made the laws against  squatting (=living in a building without the owner’s permission)  and  trespassing (=being on someone’s land without their permission)  much stricter.//


Words: criminal law
Meaning:
n [U]   laws concerning crimes and their punishments//    civil law, common law//  --There was not enough evidence to bring a prosecution under the criminal law.//


Words: criminal record
Meaning:
n [C]   an official record kept by the police of any crimes a person has committed//  --He already had a criminal record .//


Words: criminalize
Meaning:
also  criminalise BrE   v [T]   to make something illegal, or to say that someone is a criminal because of something they have done//  → decriminalize//  --The government has introduced new legislation to criminalize computer hacking.//


Words: crimp
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Dutch; Origin: Low German krimpen  ’to make smaller’]//\n  1 to press cloth, paper etc into small regular folds:  --Use a hot iron to crimp the edges.//\n  2 to make your hair slightly curly by using a special heated tool:  --a young woman with crimped blonde hair//


Words: crimson
Meaning:
adj \n  1 deep red in colour:  --The leaves turn crimson in autumn.//  --a crimson dress//\n  2 if you go crimson, your face becomes red because you are very angry or embarrassed:  go/turn/flush/blush crimson //  --The boy blushed crimson.//  crimson with//  --Her face was crimson with embarrassment.//  -- crimson n  [U] //\ncrimson 2 v [I]  literary   if your face crimsons, it becomes red because you are embarrassed//   blush//  --Rachel crimsoned and sat down.//


Words: cringe
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old English cringan  ’to give up’]//\n  1 to move away from someone or something because you are afraid:  --A stray dog was cringing by the door.//  --She cringed away from him.//\n  2 to feel embarrassed by something that you have said or done because you think it makes you seem silly:    wince//  cringe at//  --She cringed at the sound of her own voice.//  --It makes me cringe when I think how stupid I was.//


Words: crinkle
Meaning:
v  also crinkle up  [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old English cringan;   CRINGE]//\n  1 if you crinkle part of your face, or if it crinkles, you move it so that small lines appear on it:  --His mouth crinkled into a smile.//  --He smiled boyishly, crinkling his eyes.//  --Her face crinkled up in disgust.//\n  2 to become covered with small folds, or make something do this:  --The heat was beginning to make the cellophane crinkle.//  -- crinkled adj //  --The pages were brown and crinkled.//\ncrinkle 2 n [C]   a thin fold, especially in your skin or on cloth, paper etc//  --The first crinkles of age were beginning to appear round her eyes.//


Words: crinkle-cut
Meaning:
adj   crinkle-cut vegetables have been cut into long pieces with gentle curves along the edges//  --a bag of frozen crinkle-cut chips//


Words: crinkly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having a lot of small lines or folds:  --She looked fondly at his crinkly face.//  --He smiled his nice, crinkly smile.//  --The paper was brown and crinkly at the edges.//\n  2 hair that is crinkly is stiff and curly:  --He had blue eyes and crinkly fair hair.//


Words: crinoline
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Italian crinolino, from  crino  ’horsehair’ +  lino  ’linen’]//  a round frame that was worn in the past under a woman’s skirt to support it and hold it away from her body//


Words: cripes
Meaning:
interjection  old-fashioned   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Christ]//  used to express surprise or anger//


Words: cripple
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: crypel]//\n  1  old-fashioned someone who is unable to walk properly because their legs are damaged or injured - now considered offensive:    disabled//\n  2  emotional cripple:   informal someone who cannot express their feelings to other people - used to show disapproval//\ncripple 2 v [T] \n  1  old-fashioned to hurt someone badly so that they cannot walk properly:   disable//  --She was crippled in a car accident.//\n  2 to damage something badly so that it no longer works or is no longer effective:  --The industry is being crippled by high interest rates.//  -- crippled adj //  --The pilot guided the crippled helicopter to the ground.//


Words: crippling
Meaning:
adj \n  1 causing so much damage or harm that something no longer works or is no longer effective:  --the crippling effects of war on the economy//\n  2 a crippling disease or condition causes severe pain and makes it difficult or impossible for someone to walk:


Words: crisis
Meaning:
n   plural  crises /-si[hA359]z/ [U and C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek krisis  ’decision’, from  krinein;   CRITERION]//\n  1 a situation in which there are a lot of problems that must be dealt with quickly so that the situation does not get worse or more dangerous:    emergency//  --The country now faces an  economic crisis .//  --The Prime Minister was criticized for the way in which he  handled the crisis .//  --the current  debt crisis //  --a  major political crisis //  --I was relieved that we had  averted  yet another financial  crisis .//  --Oil companies were heavily criticized when they made large profits  during the  oil  crisis  of the 1970s.//  --The car industry is now in crisis .//  --He doesn’t seem to be very good at crisis management .//\n  2 a time when a personal emotional problem or situation has reached its worst point:  --an emotional crisis//  --In times of crisis, you find out who your real friends are.//  --He seems to be going through a crisis .//  --She has reached a crisis point in her career.//  --Both parties experienced an identity crisis  (=feeling of uncertainty about their purpose) at the end of the ’90s.//\n  3  crisis of confidence:  a situation in which people no longer believe that a government or an economic system is working properly, and will no longer support it or work with it//  --There seems to be a crisis of confidence in the economy.//\n  4  crisis of conscience:  a situation in which someone feels worried or uncomfortable because they have done something which they think is wrong or immoral//    midlife crisis//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  economic/financial/political crisis //  deal with/handle a crisis //  energy/oil/housing crisis //  debt/budget crisis //  a crisis erupts/arises //  a major/severe crisis //  resolve/solve/defuse a crisis //  avert a crisis //  in/during a crisis //  be in crisis //  crisis management (=dealing with a crisis) //  ----------//


Words: Crisp
Meaning:
Quentin   (1908-99) a writer and  critic who was born in the UK but went to live in the US. He is known especially for writing   The Naked Civil Servant and for being  homosexual, and for his clever and amusing opinions and strange clothes.//


Words: crisp
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a very thin flat round piece of potato that is cooked in oil and eaten cold//    chip//  American Equivalent:  potato chip//  --a packet of crisps//\ncrisp 2 adj   ----------//\n   1 hard:\n   2 food:\n   3 paper/cloth:\n   4 weather:\n   5 people:\n   6 picture/sound:  ----------//  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: crisp  ’curly’ (10-20 centuries), from  Latin crispus]//\n  1 HARD:  something that is crisp is hard, and makes a pleasant sound when you break it or crush it//  --She kicked at the crisp leaves at her feet.//  --He stepped carefully through the crisp, deep snow.//\n  2 FOOD:  food that is crisp is pleasantly hard or firm when you bite it//   crispy//  → soggy//  --a crisp green salad//  --a crisp, juicy apple//  --Cook the pastry until it is crisp and golden.//  --The meat should be nice and crisp on the outside.//\n  3 PAPER/CLOTH:  paper or cloth that is crisp is fresh, clean, and new//   fresh//  --a crisp, new five dollar bill//  --crisp cotton sheets.//\n  4 WEATHER:  weather that is crisp is cold and dry//  → humid//  --The air was fresh and crisp.//  --a crisp, clear autumn day//  --The weather remained crisp and dry.//\n  5 PEOPLE:  if someone behaves or speaks in a crisp way, they are confident, polite, and firm, but not very friendly//  --Her tone was crisp and businesslike.//\n  6 PICTURE/SOUND:  a picture or sound that is crisp is clear//   sharp//  --an old recording that still sounds remarkably crisp//  -- crisply adv //  --’Take a seat,’ she said crisply.//  -- crispness n  [U] //\ncrisp 3 v [I and T]   to become crisp or make something become crisp by cooking or heating it//  --Cook the chicken until the skin is nicely crisped.//


Words: crispy
Meaning:
adj   food that is crispy is pleasantly hard on the outside//  --a piece of crispy fried bread//\ncrisscross 1  criss-cross/kr[hA366]skr[hA361]s $ -kr[hA361][hA359]s/ v \n  1 [I and T] to make a pattern of straight lines that cross each other:  --Railway lines crisscross the countryside.//\n  2 [T] to travel many times from one side of an area to another:  --They spent the next two years crisscrossing the country by bus.//\ncrisscross 2  criss-cross n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: christcross  ’sign of Christ’s cross’ (15-19 centuries)]//  a pattern made up of a lot of straight lines that cross each other//    zigzag//  --Inside the box was a crisscross of wires.//  -- crisscross adj //  --a crisscross pattern of streets//


Words: criterion
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  criteria /-ri[hA353]/ [C usually plural] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: kriterion, from  krinein  ’to judge, decide’]//  a standard that you use to judge something or make a decision about something//  --the criteria we use to select candidates//  criterion for//  --the criteria for measuring how good schools are//  --Academic ability is not the sole criterion for admission to the college.//  --a set of criteria for identifying people who are genuinely ill and unable to work//  meet/satisfy/fulfil criteria //  --To qualify for a grant, students must satisfy certain criteria.//


Words: critic
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: criticus, from  Greek kritikos, from  krinein;   CRITERION]//\n  1 someone whose job is to make judgments about the good and bad qualities of art, music, films etc:   reviewer//  music/art/film/theatre/literary critic //  --a review by the theatre critic of the Sunday Times//\n  2 someone who criticizes a person, organization, or idea:  critic of//  --Critics of the scheme have said that it will not solve the problem of teenage crime.//  fierce/outspoken critic //  --He has always been an outspoken critic of the government.//\n  3  armchair critic:  someone who criticizes other people but who does not have any proper experience of the activity the other people are doing//  ----------//  word choicecritic, review, criticism, critique //  !! Do not use critic to refer to something that a critic says or writes. //  A review is the usual word for a short article that a critic writes in a newspaper or magazine : His first novel got wonderful reviews.| Have you read the reviews of her play? //  criticism is the activity of publishing opinions about things such as books and films, or a group of essays, lectures etc on this subject : a collection of literary criticism //  A critique is a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas, in the form of a speech, book, article etc : He wrote a critique of capitalism. //  ----------//


Words: critical
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 criticizing:\n   2 important:\n   3 serious/worrying:\n   4 ill:\n   5 the critical list:\n   6 making judgments:\n   7 art/literature:  ----------//\n  1 CRITICIZING:  if you are critical, you criticize someone or something//  critical of//  --Many economists are critical of the government’s economic policies.//  --Many parents are strongly critical of the school.//  --He made some highly critical remarks.//\n  2 IMPORTANT:  something that is critical is very important because what happens in the future depends on it//   crucial//  critical to//  --These talks are critical to the future of the peace process.//  --It is absolutely critical for us to know the truth.//  --Foreign trade is of critical importance to the economy.//\n  3 SERIOUS/WORRYING:  a critical time or situation is serious and worrying because things might suddenly become much worse//  --The fighting has stopped, but the situation is still critical.//  --changes that took place during the critical period at the end of the war//\n  4 ILL:  so ill that you might die//  --He is still in a critical condition in hospital.//  --She is in intensive care, where she remains critical but stable.//\n  5  the critical list:  a) the list of patients in a hospital who are so ill that they might die//  on the critical list//  --Two of the victims were still on the critical list Sunday night.//  take sb off the critical list //  --He was taken off the critical list and is now in a stable condition.//  b) if a system, plan, company etc is on the critical list, it is having severe problems and might fail soon//\n  6 MAKING JUDGMENTS:  making careful judgments about how good or bad something is//  --His book provides a critical analysis of the television industry in Britain.//  --She looked round the room with a critical eye .//\n  7 ART/LITERATURE:  according to critics who give judgments about art, films, theatre, and books//  --The book came out last year to great critical acclaim  (=critics said it was very good) .//  --Her first play was a critical success  (=critics said it was good) .//


Words: critical mass
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the amount of a substance that is necessary for a nuclear chain reaction to start:\n  2 the smallest number of people or things that are needed in order for something to happen or be possible:  --How can we get a critical mass of people involved to keep the club running?//


Words: critical path
Meaning:
n [C]   a way of planning and organizing a large piece of work so that there will be few delays and the cost will be as low as possible//  --Costs can be calculated once the critical path has been established.//


Words: critically
Meaning:
adv   ----------//\n   1 critically ill/injured:\n   2 important:\n   3 serious/worrying:\n   4 criticizing:\n   5 making judgments:\n   6 art/literature:  ----------//\n  1  critically ill/injured:  so ill or so badly injured that you might die//    fatally//  --10 people died and 30 were critically injured in a rail crash yesterday.//  --She is still critically ill in hospital.//\n  2 IMPORTANT:  in a way that is very important//   crucially//  --The success of the project depends critically on the continuation of this funding.//  --This is a critically important meeting.//\n  3 SERIOUS/WORRYING:  in a way that is very serious and worrying//   dangerously//  --Food supplies are at a critically low level.//\n  4 CRITICIZING:  in a way that shows you are criticizing someone or something//  --Mike looked at her critically.//  --He has spoken critically of the government’s refusal to support the industry.//\n  5 MAKING JUDGMENTS:  thinking about something and giving a careful judgment about how good or bad it is//  --We teach students to think critically about the texts they are reading.//\n  6 ART/LITERATURE:  according to critics who give judgments about art, films, theatre, and books//  --The play was critically acclaimed  (=praised by critics) when it opened in London last month.//


Words: criticism
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 remarks that say what you think is bad about someone or something:  → praise//  criticism of//  --My main criticism of the scheme is that it does nothing to help families on low incomes.//  --Despite strong criticism , the new system is still in place.//  --There has been widespread criticism of the decision.//  --We try to give students constructive criticism .//  --Another  criticism levelled at  him was that his teaching methods were old-fashioned.//  --The government’s economic strategy has  attracted  a lot of  criticism .//  --You must learn to  accept criticism .//  --Many employees find it hard to  take  even mild criticism .//  --His actions provoked severe criticism from civil rights groups.//  --the storm of criticism that followed his announcement//\n  2 writing which expresses judgments about the good or bad qualities of books, films, music etc:  --literary criticism//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  strong/severe/harsh criticism //  widespread criticism (=when a lot of people criticize something) //  public criticism //  constructive criticism (=criticism aimed at helping someone improve) //  direct/level criticism at somebody (=criticize someone) //  come in for/attract/draw criticism (=be criticized) //  face criticism //  accept/take criticism (=accept criticism and learn from it) //  provoke criticism (=make people criticize something) //  a storm/barrage of criticism (=a lot of criticism) //  ----------//


Words: criticize
Meaning:
W3S3  also  criticise BrE   v \n  1 [I and T] to express your disapproval of someone or something, or to talk about their faults:  → praise//  --Ron does nothing but criticize and complain all the time.//  be strongly/sharply/heavily criticized //  --The decision has been strongly criticized by teachers.//  --The new law has been widely criticized .//  criticize sb/sth for (doing) sth//  --He has been criticized for incompetence.//  --Doctors have criticized the government for failing to invest enough in the health service.//  criticize sb/sth as sth//  --The report has been criticized as inaccurate and incomplete.//\n  2 [T]  formal to express judgments about the good and bad qualities of something:  --We look at each other’s work and criticize it.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: criticize //  to criticize someone or something very strongly: attack,  lay into,  tear somebody/something to shreds,  pillory,  pan //  to criticize someone unfairly: put somebody down,  slag somebody off (BrE informal),  talk about somebody behind their back,  bitch about (informal) //  to criticize small details: pick holes //  ----------//


Words: critique
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Greek kritike  ’critic’s art’, from  kritikos;   CRITIC]//  a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas//    evaluation//  critique of//  --a major new critique of his work//  --a critique of modern economic theory//\ncritique 2 v [T]  formal   to say how good or bad a book, play, painting, or set of ideas is//    evaluate//  --He offered to critique our plans.//


Words: croak
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From the sound]//\n  1 [I] to make a deep low sound like the sound a frog makes:\n  2 [I and T] to speak in a low rough voice, as if you have a sore throat:  --’Help!’ she croaked, her throat dry with fear.//\n  3 [I]  informal to die:\ncroak 2 n [C] \n  1 the sound that a frog makes:\n  2 a low rough sound made in a person’s or animal’s throat:  --The words came out as a dry croak.//  -- croaky adj //


Words: Croatia
Meaning:
a country in Eastern Europe between Hungary and the Adriatic Sea. Population: 4,334,000 (2001). Capital: Zagreb. It was part of Yugoslavia until 1991.//  -- Croatian n  adj //


Words: crochet
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’hook, crochet’, from  Old French croche  ’hook’]//  to make clothes etc from wool or cotton, using a special needle with a hook at one end//    knit//  -- crochet n  [U] //  -- crocheting n  [U] //


Words: crock
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: crocc]//\n  1  old use a clay pot:\n  2  crocks:   BrE  informal  old-fashioned cups, dishes, plates etc//\n  3  a crock (of shit):   AmE  spoken something that is unbelievable, unfair, untrue etc//


Words: crocked
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  crock  ’to weaken’ (19-20 centuries), from  crock  ’old or worn-out animal’ (15-20 centuries), probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1  BrE  old-fashioned injured or broken:\n  2  AmE  spoken drunk:  --Kitty got totally crocked last night.//


Words: crockery
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: crocker  ’maker of clay pots’ (14-18 centuries), from  crock]//  cups, dishes, plates etc//    cutlery//  --a stack of dirty crockery//


Words: Crockett
Meaning:
Davy   (1786-1836) a US  frontiersman who became a member of  Congress and was later killed trying to defend the  Alamo. //


Words: crocodile
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cocodrille, from  Latin crocodilus, from  Greek,  ’lizard, crocodile’, from  kroke  ’small stone’ +  drilos  ’worm’]//\n  1 [C] a large reptile with a long mouth and many sharp teeth that lives in lakes and rivers in hot wet parts of the world:    alligator//\n  2 [U] the skin of this animal, used for making things such as shoes:  --a crocodile briefcase//\n  3 [C]  BrE a long line of people, especially school children, walking in pairs:\n  4  crocodile tears:  if someone sheds crocodile tears, they seem sad, sorry, or upset, but they do not really feel this way//  --They weep crocodile tears for the poor, but are basically happy with things as they are.//


Words: crocus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’saffron’, from  Greek krokos]//  a small purple, yellow, or white flower that appears in early spring//


Words: Croesus
Meaning:
(?-546 BC) a king of Lydia in  Asia Minor, known for being very rich. People sometimes say that someone is "as rich as Croesus" to mean that the person is extremely rich.//


Words: croissant
Meaning:
n [C]   butter, jam//  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: Old French creissant;   CRESCENT]//  a piece of bread, shaped in a curve and usually eaten for breakfast//


Words: Crompton
Meaning:
Richmal   (1890-1969) a British writer who wrote a famous series of humorous children’s novels, known as the  Just William books, about the adventures of an 11-year-old English schoolboy called William Brown who always gets into trouble//


Words: Cromwell
Meaning:
Oliver   (1599-1658) an English military and political leader who led the army of Parliament against King Charles I in the English Civil War. After defeating the King, he made a  republic (=a country without a king or queen)  called "the Commonwealth", and ruled as Lord Protector until his death.//\n Thomas   (1485-1540) an English politician who became King  Henry VIII ’s chief adviser, and made laws that gave Henry control of all the churches in England, instead of the Pope. He also organized the  Dissolution of the Monasteries.//


Words: crone
Meaning:
n [C]  not polite   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: carogne, from  Vulgar Latin caronia;   CARRION]//  an ugly or unpleasant old woman//


Words: Cronus
Meaning:
also Kronos   in Greek  mythology, a son of  Uranus and one of the  Titans, who became ruler of the world until he was defeated by  Zeus. In Roman mythology his name is  Saturn.//


Words: crony
Meaning:
n   plural  cronies  [C usually plural] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  Greek chronios  ’long-lasting’, from  chronos  ’time’]//  one of a group of people who spend a lot of time with each other - used to show disapproval//  sb’s cronies//  --the senator’s political cronies.//


Words: cronyism
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice of unfairly giving the best jobs to your friends when you are in a position of power - used to show disapproval//


Words: crook
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: krokr  ’hook’]//\n  1  informal a dishonest person or a criminal:  --The crooks got away across the park.//\n  2 a long stick with a curved end, used by people who look after sheep:\n  3  the crook of your arm:  the part of your arm where it bends//\ncrook 2 v [T]   if you crook your finger or your arm, you bend it//


Words: crooked
Meaning:
adj \n  1 bent, twisted, or not in a straight line:  → straight//  crooked smile/grin //  --His lips curled into a crooked smile.//  --Your tie’s crooked.//  --narrow crooked streets//\n  2 dishonest:  --a crooked cop//  -- crookedly adv //  -- crookedness n  [U] //


Words: croon
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: cronen]//  to sing or speak in a soft gentle voice, especially about love//  --Sinatra crooning mellow tunes//  --’My child,’ Sarah crooned.//  -- crooner n  [C] //


Words: crop
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cropp  ’bird’s crop, top part of a plant’]//\n  1 a plant such as wheat, rice, or fruit that is grown by farmers and used as food:    GM//  --The main crops were oats and barley.//  -- crop production //  --crops grown for market//    cash crop//\n  2 the amount of wheat, rice, fruit etc that is produced in a season:   harvest//  crop of//  --this season’s crop of quality pears//  --Fruit growers are gathering in a bumper crop  (=a very large amount of something produced in a season) .//  --increased crop yields //\n  3  crop of sb/sth:  a group of people that arrive or things that happen at the same time//  crop of somebody/something of//  --South Korea’s present crop of elected politicians//\n  4 a short whip used in horseriding:\n  5 the part under a bird’s throat where food is stored:\n  6 a very short hairstyle:\n  7  crop of dark hair/blonde curls etc:  hair that is short, thick, and attractive//  --his reddish crop of shining hair//\ncrop 2 v   past tense and past participle  cropped present participle  cropping //\n  1 [T] to cut someone’s hair short:  --Stella had had her hair closely cropped .//\n  2 [T] to cut a part off a photograph or picture so that it is a particular size or shape:\n  3 [T] if an animal crops grass or other plants, it makes them short by eating them:\n  4 [I]  BrE if a plant crops, it produces fruit, grain etc:  --My strawberries crop in June or July.//  crop up phr v//\n  1 if a problem crops up, it happens or appears suddenly and in an unexpected way:   arise//\n  2 if something such as a name or a subject crops up, it appears in something you read or hear:   come up//  --Your name kept cropping up in conversation.//


Words: crop circle
Meaning:
n [C]   a pattern that appeared in British farm fields, which some people believe were made by creatures from another world//


Words: crop rotation
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice of changing the crops that you grow in a field each year to preserve the good qualities in the soil//


Words: crop-spraying
Meaning:
n [U]    BrE the practice of dropping chemicals from a plane onto crops in order to kill insects//  American Equivalent:  crop-dusting//


Words: cropper
Meaning:
come a cropper//   BrE  informal //  a) to fail in something, especially unexpectedly//  --Swedish investors have come a cropper in London.//  b) to accidentally fall from a horse, bicycle etc//  --She came a cropper on the ski slopes.//


Words: croquet
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French dialect; Origin: ’hockey stick’, from  Old North French,  ’tool with a hook’, from  croc  ’hook’, probably from  Old Norse krokr;   CROOK1]//  a game played on grass in which players hit balls with wooden mallets (=long-handled hammers) so that they roll under curved wires//


Words: croquette
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: croquer  ’to crunch’]//  a piece of crushed meat, fish, potato etc that is made into a small round piece, covered in breadcrumbs, and cooked in oil//


Words: Crosby
Meaning:
Bing   (1904-77) a US singer and film actor who was famous as a  crooner (=someone who sings in a soft, gentle voice) . He is best known for the song  White Christmas from the film   Holiday Inn (1942).//


Words: cross
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 go from one side to another:\n   2 cross a line etc:\n   3 two roads/lines etc:\n   4 legs/arms/ankles:\n   5 cross somebody’s mind:\n   6 cross somebody’s face:\n   7 cross your fingers:\n   8 breed of plant/animal:\n   9 somebody’s paths cross:\n  10 cross that bridge when you come to it:\n  11 cross my heart (and hope to die):\n  12 make somebody angry:\n  13 sport:\n  14 cheque:\n  15 letters:\n  16 cross swords (with somebody):\n  17 cross yourself:\n  18 cross somebody’s palm with silver:  Phrasal verbs//   cross something → off//   cross something → out//   cross over//  ----------//\n  1 GO FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER:   [I and T] to go or stretch from one side of something such as a road, river, room etc to the other//  cross to//  --He crossed to the window.//  cross (over) the road/street/river etc //  --It’s easy to have an accident just crossing the road.//  --He was hit by a car when he tried to cross over the road near Euston station.//  cross the Atlantic/the Channel etc //  --the first steamship to cross the Atlantic//  --An old bridge crosses the river.//  cross over//  --She crossed over to sit beside Dot.//\n  2 CROSS A LINE ETC:   [T] if you cross a line, track etc you go over and beyond it//  --He raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the line for his 100-metres win.//\n  3 TWO ROADS/LINES ETC:   [I and T] if two or more roads, lines, etc cross, or if one crosses another, they go across each other//  --The by-pass crosses Wilton Lane shortly after a roundabout.//\n  4 LEGS/ARMS/ANKLES:   [T] if you cross your legs, arms, or  ankles, you put one on top of the other//  --She was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed.//\n  5  cross sb’s mind [usually in negatives] if you say that an idea, thought etc never crossed your mind, you mean that you did not think of it:   occur to somebody//  -- It didn’t cross her mind that she might be doing something illegal.//  the thought has (never) crossed my mind (=used to tell someone you have thought of the thing they are suggesting, or have never thought of it) //\n  6  cross sb’s face:   written if an expression crosses someone’s face, it appears on their face//  --A look of surprise crossed her face.//\n  7  cross your fingers:  used to say that you hope something will happen in the way you want//  --She hung the washing out, then crossed her fingers for a dry day.//  --The exam’s at two. Will you keep your fingers crossed for me?//\n  8 BREED OF PLANT/ANIMAL:   [T] to mix two or more different breeds of animal or plant to form a new breed//    crossbreed//  --a flower produced by crossing several different varieties//  cross sth with sth//  --These cattle were crossed with horned animals from the highlands.//\n  9  sb’s paths cross:   also cross paths //  if two people’s paths cross, or if they cross paths, they meet, usually without expecting it//  --If our paths crossed I usually ignored her.//  --We didn’t cross paths again until 2001.//\n  10  cross that bridge when you come to it:  used to say that you will not think or worry about something until it actually happens//\n  11  cross my heart (and hope to die):   spoken  informal used to say that you promise that you will do something, or that what you are saying is true//\n  12 MAKE SOMEBODY ANGRY:   [T] to make someone angry by opposing their plans or orders//  --He hated anyone who crossed him.//\n  13 SPORT:   [I and T] to kick, throw, or hit the ball across the playing area in a sport such as football, hockey etc//\n  14 CHEQUE:   [T]  BrE to draw two lines across a cheque to show that it must be paid into the bank account of the person whose name is on it//\n  15 LETTERS:   [I] if two letters about the same subject cross in the post, each was sent before the other was received//\n  16  cross swords (with sb):  to argue with someone//  --I’ve crossed swords with him on a number of issues.//\n  17  cross yourself:  to move your hand across your upper body in the shape of a cross as a sign of the Christian faith//\n  18  cross sb’s palm with silver:   especially BrE to give money to someone when you want them to tell your fortune//    dot the i’s and cross the t’s at dot2 (4),  cross the Rubicon at Rubicon//  cross off [cross sth → off] phr v//  to draw a line through one or more things on a list because you have dealt with them or they are not needed any more//  --Whenever I buy something, I cross it off the list.//  cross out [cross sth → out] phr v//  to draw a line or lines through something you have written or drawn, usually because it is wrong//  --I crossed out ’Miss’ and wrote ’Ms’.//  cross over phr v//\n  1 if an entertainer crosses over from one area of entertainment to another, they become successful in the second one as well as the first:    crossover(2)//\n  2  BrE  old use to die:\ncross 2 W3S3 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 mixture of things:\n   2 mark on paper:\n   3 Christian sign:\n   4 punishment:\n   5 military award:\n   6 sport:\n   7 problem:  ----------//  [Date: 900-1000; Language: Old Norse; Origin: kross, from an unrecorded  Old Irish cross, from  Latin crux]//\n  1 MIXTURE OF THINGS:  a mixture of two things, breeds, or qualities//  cross between//  --The tour manager’s role is a cross between hostess and courier.//  --Their dog is a cross between two well-known breeds.//\n  2 MARK ON PAPER:   especially BrE //  a) a mark (x or +) used on paper, to represent where something is, or where something should be//  --I’ve put a cross on the map to mark where our street is.//  --Please sign your name by the cross.//  b) a mark (x) used on paper to show that something that has been written or printed is not correct//  --My homework got a lot more ticks than crosses.//  c) a mark (x or +) used by someone who cannot write, in order to sign their name//  spire, cross//\n  3 CHRISTIAN SIGN:  a)  the cross//  the cross that Jesus Christ died on//  --Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.//  b) an object, picture, or mark in the shape of a cross, used as a sign of the Christian faith or for decoration//  --Pauline wore a tiny gold cross.//\n  4 PUNISHMENT:  an upright post of wood with another crossing it near the top, that people in the past were fastened to with nails and left to die on as a punishment//\n  5 MILITARY AWARD:  a decoration in the shape of a cross that is given to someone as an honour, especially for military courage//  --He was awarded the George Cross.//\n  6 SPORT:  a) a kick or hit of the ball in a sport such as football, hockey etc, that goes across the field//  b) a way of hitting someone in the sport of boxing, in which your arm goes over theirs as they try to hit you//  --He caught his opponent with a right cross to the chin.//\n  7 PROBLEM:  if you describe something as the cross that someone has to bear, you mean it is a problem that makes them very unhappy or worried, and that continues for a long time//  --I feel sorry for you, but we all have our crosses to bear .//    the sign of the Cross at sign1 (10)//\ncross 3 S2 adj [usually before noun]  especially BrE   angry or annoyed//  get/be cross (with sb) //  --She gets cross when he goes out drinking.//  --Sometimes I get very cross with the children.//  cross at/about//  --She was cross at being interrupted.//  -- crossly adv //


Words: cross-
Meaning:
prefix \n  1 going from one side to the other:  --a cross-Channel ferry (=sailing from Britain to France) //\n  2 going between two things and joining them:  --cross-cultural influences//


Words: cross-border
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   relating to activity across a border between two countries//  cross-border trade/business etc //  cross-border attack/raid //


Words: cross-check
Meaning:
v [I and T]   to make certain that something is correct by using a different method to check it again//  -- cross-check n  [C] //


Words: cross-cultural
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   belonging to or involving two or more different societies, countries, or cultures//    multicultural//  --cross-cultural communication//


Words: cross-current
Meaning:
n [C]   a current in the sea, a river etc that moves across the general direction of the main current//


Words: cross-dressing
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   the practice of wearing the clothes of the opposite sex, especially for sexual pleasure//    transvestite//  -- cross-dresser n  [C] //


Words: cross-examine
Meaning:
v [T]   to ask someone questions about something that they have just said, to see if they are telling the truth, especially in a court of law//  -- cross-examination n  [U and C] //  --He broke down under cross-examination .//


Words: cross-fertilize
Meaning:
also  cross-fertilise BrE  v [T] \n  1 to combine the male sex cells from one type of plant with female sex cells from another:\n  2 to influence someone or something with ideas from other areas:  --In a university students live together, encourage, support and cross-fertilise each other.//  -- cross-fertilization n  [U] //


Words: cross-hatching
Meaning:
n [U]   lines drawn across part of a picture, diagram etc to show that something is made of different material, or to produce the effect of shade//


Words: cross-legged
Meaning:
adv   in a sitting position with your knees wide apart and one foot on top of the other//  --We sat cross-legged on the floor.//  -- cross-legged adj //


Words: cross-purposes
Meaning:
n   at cross-purposes//  if two people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different things but fail to realize this//  --I think we’re talking at cross-purposes.//


Words: cross-refer past tense and past participle
Meaning:
cross-referred present participle  cross-referring  v [I and T]   to tell a reader to look in another place in the book they are reading, so that they can get further information//  cross-refer to/from//  --The author cross-refers to his other books.//


Words: cross-reference
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a note that tells the reader of a book to go to another place in the book, to get further information//  --The book has clear cross-references and a good index.//  -- cross-reference v  [T] //


Words: cross-section
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that has been cut in half so that you can look at the inside, or a drawing of this:  cross-section of//  --a cross-section of a plant stem//  in cross-section//  --The roof beams were 50 centimetres square in cross-section.//\n  2 a group of people or things that is typical of a much larger group:    sample//  cross-section of//  --a wide cross-section of the taxpaying population//


Words: cross-selling
Meaning:
n [U]   when one company helps to sell another company’s products by, for example, advertising the second company’s products at the same time as its own//


Words: cross-training
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 an exercise programme that includes many different kinds of exercise, so that all of your muscles are used:  --Cross-training helps you add variety to your workouts.//\n  2 when people in a company learn about each other’s jobs, so that they understand each other better and work together better as a team:  --Cross-training is a vital part of job rotation.//  -- cross-train v  [I] //


Words: crossbar
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a bar that joins two upright posts, especially two goalposts:\n  2 the metal bar between the seat and the handlebars on a man’s bicycle:


Words: crossbow
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Because it is in the shape of a cross]//  a weapon like a small bow attached to a longer piece of wood, used for shooting arrows with a lot of force//


Words: crossbreed
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  crossbred /-bred/ [I and T] //  if one breed of plant or animal crossbreeds with another, or if you crossbreed them, they breed, producing a new type of plant or animal//  -- crossbred/-bred/ adj //\ncrossbreed 2 n [C]   an animal or plant that is a mixture of breeds//    hybrid//


Words: crossed
Meaning:
adj   if a telephone line is crossed, it is connected by mistake to two or more telephones, so that you can hear other people’s conversations//  --I phoned him up and got a crossed line .//


Words: crossed cheque
Meaning:
n [C]   a cheque in Britain that has two lines across it showing that it must be paid into a bank account//


Words: crossfire
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 bullets from two or more opposite directions that pass through the same area:  --Doctors who tried to help the wounded were caught in the crossfire .//  in crossfire//  --Many civilians were killed in crossfire.//\n  2 situation in which people are arguing, and the results of this affect other people who are not directly involved:  --During a divorce, kids often get caught in the crossfire .//


Words: crossing
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a place where you can safely cross a road, railway, river etc:  --You must give way to any pedestrians on the crossing.//    level crossing,  pedestrian crossing,  pelican crossing,  zebra crossing//\n  2 a place where two lines, roads, tracks etc cross:  --Turn left at the first crossing.//\n  3 a journey across the sea, a lake, or a river:  --The crossing was rough.//


Words: crossover
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] the change a popular performer makes from working in one area of entertainment to another:  --Madonna has made a crossover from rock music to the movies.//\n  2 [U and C] the fact of liking, using, or supporting different types of things or groups:  --There is not much crossover between readers of modern and historical romances.//    cross over(1)//


Words: crosspiece
Meaning:
n [C]   something that lies across another thing, especially in a building, on a railway track etc//


Words: crossroads
Meaning:
n   plural  crossroads  [C] //\n  1 a place where two roads meet and cross each other:    junction, T-junction//  at the crossroads//  --Turn left at the next crossroads.//  --The car was approaching the crossroads.//\n  2 a time when someone has to make very important decisions which will affect their future:  at a crossroads//  --Now farming is at a crossroads in the European Community.//  --a career crossroads//\n  3 an important or central place:  at the crossroads//  --The city was ideally situated at the crossroads to the great trade centres of Europe.//


Words: crosstown
Meaning:
also  cross-town/kr[hA361]sta[hA35E]n $ kr[hA361][hA359]s-/ adj [only before noun]   moving in a direction across a town or city//  --a crosstown bus//


Words: crosswalk
Meaning:
n [C]    AmE a specially marked place for people to walk across a street//  British Equivalent:  pedestrian crossing//


Words: crosswise
Meaning:
adv \n  1 from one corner of something to the opposite corner:  --Halve the potatoes crosswise.//\n  2 two things that are placed crosswise are arranged to form the shape of an ’x’:


Words: crossword
Meaning:
n  also crossword puzzle  [C]   a word game in which you write the answers to questions in a pattern of numbered boxes//  --I like to sit down and do the crossword .//


Words: crotch
Meaning:
n  also crutch  BrE  [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  crutch]//  the part of your body between the tops of your legs, or the part of a piece of clothing that covers this//    groin//


Words: crotchet
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a musical note which continues for a quarter of the length of a semibreve//  American Equivalent:  quarter note//    minim, quaver//


Words: crotchety
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: crotchet  ’small hook, strange idea’ (15-20 centuries), from  French crochet;   CROCHET]//  easily annoyed or made slightly angry//   grumpy//  --a crotchety old man//


Words: crouch
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  Old French crochir  ’to become hook-shaped’, from  croche;   CROCHET]//\n  1  also crouch down :  to lower your body close to the ground by bending your knees completely//    squat//  --He crouched in the shadows near the doorway.//  --Paula crouched down and held her hands out to the fire.//\n  2 to bend over something so that you are very near to it:    lean//  crouch over//  --a young girl crouched over a book//  -- crouch n  [C] //  --She dropped to the ground in a crouch.//


Words: croup
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: croup  ’to croak, cough’ (16-19 centuries), from the sound]//  an illness in children which makes them cough and have difficulty breathing//


Words: croupier
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’person who rides on the back end of a horse, person who stands behind a player and gives advice, croupier’, from  Old French croupe  ’back end of an animal’]//  someone whose job is to collect and pay out money where people play cards, roulette etc for money at a casino//


Words: crouton
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cro[hA17C]ton, from  cro[hA17C]te, from  Latin crusta;   CRUST]//  a small square piece of crisp bread that is served with soup or on salad//


Words: crow
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1,3; Origin: Old English crawe]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  CROW2]//\n  1 [C] a large shiny black bird with a loud cry:\n  2 [singular] the loud sound a cock makes:\n  3  as the crow flies:  in a straight line//  --ten miles from here as the crow flies//    eat crow at eat(7)//\ncrow 2 v [I]   [Language: Old English; Origin: crawan]//\n  1 if a cock crows, it makes a loud high sound:\n  2 to talk about what you have done in a very proud way - used to show disapproval:  crow over/about//  --He was crowing over winning the bet.//\n  3  written if someone, especially a baby, crows, they make a noise that shows they are happy:  --Ben rushed to his father, crowing with pleasure.//


Words: crowbar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Because its flattened split end looks like a crow’s foot]//  a heavy iron bar used to lift something or force it open//


Words: crowd
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a large group of people who have gathered together to do something, for example to watch something or protest about something:  crowd of//  --a crowd of angry protesters//  --a crowd of 30,000 spectators//  --There were crowds of shoppers in the street.//  --A vast crowd gathered in the main square.//  --She mingled with the crowd of guests, exchanging greetings.//  --Saturday’s game was watched by a capacity crowd  (=the maximum number of people that a sports ground etc can hold) .//  --Troops fired tear gas and shots to disperse a crowd of 15,000 demonstrators.//\n  2 [singular]  informal a group of people who know each other, work together etc:  --I didn’t know him; he wasn’t one of the usual crowd.//\n  3  the crowd:  ordinary people, not unusual in any way//  --You have to do things exceptionally well to stand out from the crowd  (=be different from ordinary people) .//  --He wanted to go unnoticed, to be one of the crowd .//\ncrowd 2 v   [Language: Old English; Origin: crudan  ’to press close’]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] if people crowd somewhere, they gather together in large numbers, filling a particular place:  crowd into//  --Hundreds of people crowded into the church for the funeral.//  crowd round/around//  --We all crowded round the table.//  be crowded together//  --the rapid spread of infection in areas where people are crowded together//\n  2 [T] if people or things crowd a place, there are a lot of them there:  --Holiday-makers crowded the beaches.//  --Range after range of mountains crowd the horizon.//\n  3 [T] if thoughts or ideas crowd your mind or memory, they fill it, not allowing you to think of anything else:  --Strange thoughts and worries were crowding his mind.//\n  4 [T] :  a) to make someone angry by moving too close to them//  --Stop crowding me - there’s plenty of room.//  b)  especially AmE to make someone angry or upset by making too many unfair demands on them//  crowd in phr v//  if problems or thoughts crowd in on you, you cannot stop thinking about them//  crowd in on//  --She shut her mind against the fears that were crowding in on her.//  crowd out [crowd sb/sth → out] phr v//  to force someone or something out of a place or situation//  --Supermarket chains have crowded out the smaller shops.//


Words: crowd pleaser
Meaning:
also  crowd-pleaser n [C]   an actor, politician, or sportswoman etc who always pleases an audience (=people watching a performance) //


Words: crowded
Meaning:
adj   too full of people or things//  --a crowded room//  --a crowded street//  --The train was very crowded, and we had to stand.//  crowded with//  --The narrow roads were crowded with holiday traffic.//


Words: crown
Meaning:
W3S3   n   ----------//\n   1 hat for king/queen:\n   2 country’s ruler:\n   3 tooth:\n   4 head:\n   5 hill:\n   6 sports:\n   7 money:\n   8 picture:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: corone, from  Latin corona  ’circle of leaves put on someone’s head, crown’, from  Greek korone]//\n  1 HAT FOR KING/QUEEN:   [C] //  a) a circle made of gold and decorated with jewels, worn by kings and queens on their heads//  b) a circle, sometimes made of things such as leaves or flowers, worn by someone who has won a special honour//\n  2 COUNTRY’S RULER:   the crown//  a) the position of being king or queen//  --The treaty of Troyes made Henry V heir to the crown of France.//  b) the government of a country such as Britain that is officially led by a king or queen//  --He has retired from the service of the Crown.//\n  3 TOOTH:   [C] an artificial top for a damaged tooth//\n  4 HEAD:   [usually singular] the top part of a hat or someone’s head//  crown of//  --auburn hair piled high on the crown of her head//  --a hat with a high crown//\n  5 HILL:   [usually singular] the top of a hill or something shaped like a hill//  crown of//  --They drove to the crown of Zion hill and on into town.//  --The masonry at the crown of the arch is paler than on either curve.//\n  6 SPORTS:   [usually singular] the position you have if you have won an important sports competition//  --Can she retain her Wimbledon crown?//  --He went on to win the world crown in 2001.//\n  7 MONEY:   [C] //  a) the standard unit of money in some European countries//  --Swedish crowns//  b) an old British coin. Four crowns made a pound.//\n  8 PICTURE:   [C] a mark, sign, badge etc in the shape of a crown, used especially to show rank or quality//\ncrown 2 v [T ]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: coroner, from  Latin coronare, from  corona;   CROWN1]//\n  1 to place a crown on the head of a new king or queen as part of an official ceremony in which they become king or queen:    coronation//  --Louis was crowned at Reims in 814.//  crown sb (as) king/queen etc //  --In 1896 Nicholas was crowned as tsar.//\n  2 to make something perfect or complete, by adding an achievement etc:  crown sb with sth//  --a long career crowned with a peaceful retirement//\n  3  be crowned with sth:   literary having something on top//  --Almost every hill is crowned with a little walled village.//\n  4 to put a protective top on a damaged tooth:\n  5  informal to hit someone on the head:


Words: Crown Court
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a court of law in Britain that deals with serious criminal cases and is higher than a Magistrates’ Court//


Words: crown jewel
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  the crown jewels:  the crown, sword, jewels etc worn by a king or queen for official ceremonies//\n  2 the best or most valuable thing that a person or place has:  --Innsbruck’s crown jewel is the old town centre.//


Words: Crown Prosecution Service
Meaning:
the   the CPS the government organization in England and Wales which is responsible for bringing legal charges against criminals //


Words: crowning
Meaning:
adj [always before noun]   used to describe something that makes something complete or perfect, or is the best feature of something//  --The hotel’s crowning glory was a stunning roof garden.//  --his crowning achievement //


Words: crozier
Meaning:
crosier/kr[hA353][hA35E]zi[hA353], -[hA360][hA353] $ -[hA360][hA353]r/ n [C]   a long stick with a decorative curved end, carried by a bishop//


Words: crucial
Meaning:
W2S3   adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’cross-shaped’, from  Latin crux;   CROSS2]//  something that is crucial is extremely important, because everything else depends on it//  crucial to//  --This aid money is crucial to the government’s economic policies.//  crucial in/to doing sth//  --The work of monks was crucial in spreading Christianity.//  play a crucial role/part in sth //  --The city of Mycenae played a crucial role in the history of Greece.//  --The conservation of tropical forests is of crucial importance .//  -- crucially adv //


Words: Crucible
Meaning:
The   a play by Arthur  Miller which describes how innocent women were charged with being  witches and cruelly punished by a court of law in  Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. This play was written in 1953 to show how similar the Salem Witch Trials were to  McCarthyism.//


Words: crucible
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: crucibulum, from  Old French croiseul]//  a container in which substances are heated to very high temperatures//


Words: crucifix
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  crucifigere;   CRUCIFY]//  a cross with a figure of Christ on it//


Words: crucifixion
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] in past times, the act of killing someone by fastening them to a cross and leaving them to die:\n  2  the Crucifixion:  the death of Christ on the cross//\n  3 [C]  also Crucifixion :  a picture or other object representing Christ on the cross//


Words: cruciform
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: crux (  CROSS2) +  English -form]//  shaped like a cross//


Words: crucify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  crucified present participle  crucifying third person singular  crucifies  [T] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: crucifier, from  Late Latin crucifigere, from  Latin crux (  CROSS2) +  figere  ’to fasten’]//\n  1 to kill someone by fastening them to a cross:\n  2 to criticize someone severely and cruelly for something they have done, especially in public:


Words: crud
Meaning:
n [U]  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: crud  ’curd’ (14-20 centuries)]//  something unpleasant to look at, smell, taste etc//  --I can’t eat this crud!//  -- cruddy adj //


Words: crude
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: crudus  ’raw, rough, cruel’]//\n  1 not exact or without any detail, but generally correct and useful:    approximate//  --a crude estimate of the population available for work//\n  2 not developed to a high standard, or made with little skill:  --a crude wooden bridge//  --crude workmanship//\n  3 offensive or rude, especially in a sexual way:   vulgar//  --crude pictures//  --His language was often crude.//\n  4 [only before noun] crude oil, rubber etc is in its natural or raw condition before it is treated with chemicals:\n  5  in crude terms:  expressed in a simple way//  --Private morality, in crude terms, is not the law’s business.//  -- crudely adv //  --crudely built shacks//  -- crudeness n  [U] //  -- crudity n  [U and C] //\ncrude 2  also crude oil  n [U]   oil that is in its natural condition, as it comes out of an oil well, before it is made more pure or separated into different products//  --1000 barrels of crude//


Words: cruel
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin crudelis, from  crudus;   CRUDE1]//\n  1 making someone suffer or feel unhappy:  --His death was a cruel blow .//  --Sometimes life seems unbearably cruel.//\n  2 deliberately hurting people or animals:  → kind//  --The prisoner was a hard, cruel man.//  --cruel jokes about mothers-in-law//  --It was a cruel, tactless thing to say.//  cruel to//  --She was often cruel to her sister.//\n  3  be cruel to be kind:  to do something to someone that will make them upset or unhappy in order to help them in another way//  -- cruelly adv //  --He was cruelly neglected by his parents.//


Words: Cruella de Vil
Meaning:
a cruel and evil woman in the children’s book and  Disney films  One Hundred and One Dalmatians. She pretends to be friendly in order to get the spotted fur of the dalmatian dogs in order to make a coat from it.//


Words: cruelty
Meaning:
n   plural  cruelties //\n  1 [U and C] behaviour or actions that deliberately cause pain to people or animals:  → kindness//  --The children had suffered cruelty and neglect.//  --There was a hint of cruelty in Brian’s smile.//  cruelty to//  --cruelty to animals//  cruelty of//  --the cruelty of the slave trade//  --The deliberate cruelty of his words cut her like a knife.//  --the cruelties of war//\n  2 [U] the unfairness of something that happens:  --the cruelty of life//


Words: cruet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: Old French crue  ’bottle’]//  a thing that holds the containers for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar on a table//


Words: Cruft’s
Meaning:
a famous British competition for dogs, officially called Cruft’s Dog Show, which is held every year in London. Judges at the show decide which is the best animal in the country for each type of dog (the ’best of breed’), and they also decide which is the best dog of all, which gets the title ’Cruft’s supreme champion’.//


Words: cruise
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Dutch; Origin: kruisen  ’to make a cross, cruise’, from  Middle Dutch cruce  ’cross’, from  Latin crux;   CROSS2]//\n  1 [I and T] to sail along slowly, especially for pleasure:  --We were cruising in the Caribbean all winter.//  --an evening spent cruising the River Seine//\n  2 [I usually + adverb/preposition] to move at a steady speed in a car, aircraft etc:  --We were cruising along at 50 miles per hour.//  --We fly at a cruising speed of 500 mph.//\n  3 [I and T] to drive a car slowly through a place with no particular purpose:  --They cruised up and down the coast road.//\n  4 [I]  informal to do something well or successfully, without too much effort:  cruise to//  --The horse cruised to a three-length win.//\n  5 [I and T]  informal to go to a bar or other public place, looking for a sexual partner:  --We went cruising the singles bars.//\ncruise 2 n [C] \n  1 a holiday on a large ship:  --a Mediterranean cruise//  cruise around//  --a cruise around the world//\n  2 a journey by boat for pleasure:


Words: cruise missile
Meaning:
n [C]   a large explosive weapon that flies close to the ground and can be aimed at something hundreds of kilometres away//


Words: cruiser
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a large fast ship used by the navy:  --a battle cruiser //\n  2 a boat used for pleasure:\n  3  AmE a police car:


Words: cruiserweight
Meaning:
n [C]   a boxer who weighs less than 86.18 kilograms, and who is heavier than a light heavyweight but lighter than a heavyweight//


Words: cruising
Meaning:
n [U]  AmE \n  1 the activity of taking a holiday on a cruise ship:\n  2 when young people drive cars slowly down a particular street as a way of being with their friends:  --a sign saying ’No cruising’//\n  3 when someone looks for sexual partners in bars, restaurants, on the street etc:


Words: crumb
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cruma]//\n  1 a very small piece of dry food, especially bread or cake:  --She stood up to brush the crumbs off her uniform.//  --Coat with bread crumbs and bake.//\n  2 a very small amount of something:  crumb of comfort/hope/affection etc //  --There was only one crumb of comfort - Alex hadn’t said anything to Jeff.//


Words: crumble
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: gecrymian, from  cruma;   CRUMB]//\n  1 [I]  also  crumble away:  if something, especially something made of stone or rock, is crumbling, small pieces are breaking off it//  --The old stonework was crumbling away.//  --crumbling colonial buildings//\n  2 [I and T] to break apart into lots of little pieces, or make something do this:  --The fall leaves crumbled in my fingers.//  --[hA13D] cup crumbled goat’s cheese//\n  3 [>I]  also  crumble away:  to lose power, become weak, or fail//  --The Empire began to crumble during the 13th century.//  --our crumbling economy//    that’s the way the cookie crumbles at cookie(3)//\ncrumble 2 n [U]  BrE   a sweet dish of fruit covered with a dry mixture of flour, butter, and sugar and baked//  --apple crumble//


Words: crumbly
Meaning:
adj   something that is crumbly breaks easily into small pieces//  --a nice, crumbly cheese//  --the garden’s crumbly black soil//


Words: crummy
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: crumb]//  of bad quality or unpleasant//  --We were staying in this really crummy hotel.//  --a crummy job//


Words: crumpet
Meaning:
n  BrE   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Perhaps from  crumped, past participle of  crump;   CRUMPLE]//\n  1 [C] a small round bread with holes in one side, eaten hot with butter:\n  2 [U]  informal  not polite an offensive word for someone who is sexually attractive:


Words: crumple
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: crump  ’to curl up’ (14-19 centuries), from  crump,  crumb  ’bent’ (11-18 centuries), from  Old English]//\n  1 [I and T]  also crumple up :  to crush something so that it becomes smaller and bent, or to be crushed in this way//  --Dan tore the page out, crumpled it, and threw it in the wastepaper basket.//\n  2 [I] if your face crumples, you suddenly look sad or disappointed, as if you might cry:\n  3 [I] if your body crumples, you fall down in an uncontrolled way:  crumple to//  --The blow hit him in the head and he crumpled to the ground.//


Words: crumpled
Meaning:
adj \n  1  also crumpled up :  crushed into a smaller bent shape//  --Tom flattened the crumpled paper against his knee.//\n  2 cloth or clothing that is crumpled has a lot of lines or folds in it:  --an old man with untidy hair and a crumpled suit//\n  3 someone who is crumpled somewhere, is lying still in a strange position after they have fallen:


Words: crunch
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular] a noise like the sound of something being crushed:  --The only sound was the crunch of tyres on gravel.//\n  2 [C, singular]  AmE a difficult situation caused by a lack of something, especially money or time:  --Three new teachers were hired to help ease the crunch.//  cash/budget/financial etc crunch //  --Cost cutting had enabled the organization to survive a previous cash crunch.//\n  3  the crunch:   also crunch time  AmE an important time, especially one when a difficult decision has to be made//  -- The crunch came when my bank asked for my credit card back.//  -- When it came to the crunch , she couldn’t agree to marry him.//\n  4 [C] an exercise in which you lie on your back and lift your head and shoulders off the ground to make your stomach muscles strong:   sit-up//\ncrunch 2 v   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cranch  ’to crunch’ (17-19 centuries), probably from the sound; influenced by  munch]//\n  1 [I] to make a sound like something being crushed:  --Their boots crunched loudly on the frozen snow.//\n  2 [I always + adverb/preposition, T] to eat hard food in a way that makes a noise:  crunch on//  --The dog was crunching on a bone.//\n  3  crunch (the) numbers:  to do a lot of calculations in order to find an answer//  --The computer will crunch all the numbers to determine the final score.//


Words: crunchy
Meaning:
adj   food that is crunchy is firm and makes a noise when you bite it - usually used to show approval//  --a delicious crunchy salad//  -- crunchiness n  [U] //


Words: crusade
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: croisade and  Spanish cruzada, both from  Latin crux;   CROSS2]//\n  1 a determined attempt to change something because you think you are morally right:    campaign//  crusade against/for//  --He seems to be running a one-man crusade against cigarette smoking.//\n  2  also  Crusade:  one of a series of wars fought in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries by Christian armies trying to take Palestine from the Muslims//\ncrusade 2 v [I]   to take part in a crusade//  crusade against/for//  --He continued to crusade for free education for all.//  -- crusader n  [C] //


Words: Crusades
Meaning:
The   eight wars led by Christian European kings in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to get control of Palestine from the  Saracens or Muslims//


Words: crush
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cruisir]//\n  1 to press something so hard that it breaks or is damaged:  --His leg was crushed in the accident.//  --Two people were crushed to death in the rush to escape.//\n  2 to press something in order to break it into very small pieces or into a powder:  --Crush two cloves of garlic.//\n  3  crush a rebellion/uprising/revolt etc:  to use severe methods to stop people from fighting you or opposing you//   put down//  --The revolution was crushed within days.//\n  4  crush sb’s hopes/enthusiasm/confidence etc:  to make someone lose all hope, confidence etc//\n  5 to make someone feel extremely upset or shocked:  --Sara was crushed by their insults.//  crush on [crush on sb] phr v//  to have a feeling of romantic love for someone, especially someone you do not know well//  --a guy in my class that I’m crushing on//\ncrush 2 n \n  1 [singular] a crowd of people pressed so close together that it is difficult for them to move:  --There’s always such a crush on the train in the mornings.//\n  2 [C] a strong feeling of romantic love for someone, especially one that a young person has for someone older who they do not know well:    infatuation//  --She had a huge crush on her geography teacher.//  --It’s just a schoolgirl crush .//\n  3 [C]  AmE  informal someone who you have a feeling of romantic love for, but who you do not know well:  --a first date with your crush//


Words: crushing
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun] \n  1 very hard to deal with, and making you lose hope and confidence:  --The Eighth Army had suffered a crushing defeat .//  --Failing his final exams was a crushing blow  (=made him lose hope and confidence) .//  --the crushing burden of debt//\n  2 a crushing remark, reply etc contains a very strong criticism:  -- crushingly adv //  --’That’s fairly obvious,’ she replied crushingly.//


Words: crust
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: crusta  ’crust, shell’]//\n  1 the hard brown outer surface of bread:  --sandwiches with the crusts cut off//\n  2 the baked outer part of foods such as pies or pizzas:  --a thin crust pizza//\n  3 a thin hard dry layer on the surface of something:  --A hard gray crust had formed on the bottom of the tea kettle.//\n  4 the hard outer layer of the Earth:  --deep within the Earth’s crust//    earn a crust at earn(1),  upper crust//


Words: crustacean
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: crustaceus, from  Latin crusta;   CRUST]//  an animal such as a lobster or a crab that has a hard outer shell and several pairs of legs, and usually lives in water//  -- crustacean adj //


Words: crusty
Meaning:
adj \n  1 bread that is crusty is pleasant to eat because it has a hard crust:  --a crusty baguette//\n  2  informal someone who is crusty is bad-tempered:   grumpy//  --a crusty old man//\n  3 having a thin dry hard layer of something on the surface:  --The lake was ringed by crusty salt deposits.//


Words: crutch
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: crycc]//\n  1 [usually plural] one of a pair of long sticks that you put under your arms to help you walk when you have hurt your leg:  on crutches//   (=use crutches) //  --I was on crutches for three months after the operation.//\n  2 something that gives someone support or help, especially something that is not really good for them:  --As things got worse at work, he began to use alcohol as a crutch.//\n  3  BrE the part of your body between the tops of your legs:   crotch//


Words: crux
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin:  CROSS2]//  the crux//  the most important part of a problem, question, argument etc//  the crux of//  --The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again?//  --The crux of the problem lay in the lack of equipment.//


Words: Cry
Meaning:
the Beloved Country   a book by Alan Paton about a black  minister (=Christian priest)  and his family in South Africa in the 1940s. It shows the lack of equality between black and white people, but encourages them not to hate each other.//


Words: cry
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  cried present participle  crying third person singular  cries //  ----------//\n   1 produce tears:\n   2 say loudly:\n   3 cry over spilt milk:\n   4 for crying out loud:\n   5 cry foul:\n   6 animals/birds:\n   7 cry wolf:\n   8 cry into your beer:  Phrasal verbs//   cry off//   cry out//  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: crier, from  Latin quiritare  ’to shout for help (from a citizen), scream’, from  Quiris  ’Roman citizen’]//\n  1 PRODUCE TEARS:   [I] to produce tears from your eyes, usually because you are unhappy or hurt//  --Don’t cry, Laura. It’ll be OK.//  --Upstairs, a baby began to cry.//  --Jamie looked like he’d been crying.//  --I just couldn’t stop crying.//  --That film always makes me cry .//  cry over/about//  --I am too old to be crying over some young guy.//  cry with/in//  --She felt like crying with frustration.//  cry for//  --She could hear him crying for his mother.//  cry your eyes/heart out (=be extremely sad and cry a lot) //  --Oliver, alone, began to cry bitterly  (=cry a lot) .//  cry yourself to sleep (=cry until you fall asleep) //\n  2 SAY LOUDLY:   [T]  written to shout or say something loudly//   cry out//  --’Stop!’ she cried.//  --It was painful, and made me cry aloud .//  cry to//  --’Goodbye then!’ he cried to her.//  cry for//  --I could hear voices crying for help.//\n  3  cry over spilt milk:  to waste time feeling sorry about an earlier mistake or problem that cannot be changed//  --It’s no use crying over spilt milk .//\n  4  for crying out loud:   spoken used when you feel annoyed or impatient with someone//  --For crying out loud, stop nagging!//\n  5  cry foul:  to protest because you think something is wrong or not fair//  --When the ads appeared, it was the Democrats’ turn to cry foul.//\n  6 ANIMALS/BIRDS:   [I] if animals or birds cry, they make a loud sound//  --I could hear gulls crying and the soft whisper of the sea.//\n  7  cry wolf:  to ask for help when you do not need it, so that people do not believe you when you really need help//\n  8  cry into your beer:   informal to feel too much pity for yourself, especially because you think you have been treated unfairly//    not know whether to laugh or cry at laugh1 (3),  cry for the moon at moon1 (4),  a shoulder to cry on at shoulder1 (5)//  cry off phr v//  to say that you cannot do something that you have already promised to do//    cancel//  --Leah and I were going to go to Morocco together, but at the last moment she cried off.//  cry out phr v//\n  1 to make a loud sound of fear, shock, pain etc:  cry out in/with//  --Even the smallest movement made him cry out in pain.//  --John tightened his grip until she cried out.//\n  2 to shout or say something loudly:  --’Why are you doing this?’ she cried out suddenly.//  cry out for//  --I felt too terrified to even cry out for help.//\n  3  be crying out for sth:   informal to need something urgently//  --The kitchen is crying out for a coat of paint.//  --My parents had divorced and I was crying out for love.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: words meaning cry //  be in tears to be crying //  burst into tears to suddenly start crying //  break down (in tears) to suddenly cry a lot, after trying not to cry //  sob to cry noisily, with sudden noisy breaths //  weep (especially written) to cry a lot for a long time //  bawl if a baby bawls, it cries very loudly //  have tears in your eyes to be about to cry //  your eyes water you start to cry, especially because you have been cutting up onions or there is a lot of smoke //  ----------//\ncry 2 W3 n   plural  cries //  ----------//\n   1 sound expressing emotion:\n   2 shout:\n   3 tears:\n   4 cry for help:\n   5 phrase:\n   6 animal/bird:  ----------//\n  1 SOUND EXPRESSING EMOTION:   [C] a loud sound expressing a strong emotion such as pain, fear, or pleasure//  --a baby’s cry//  cry of pain/alarm/delight etc //  --Alice leapt to one side with a cry of alarm.//  let out/give a cry //  --The stone hit him on the forehead and he gave a sharp cry.//\n  2 SHOUT:   [C] a shouted word or phrase//  cry of//  --At last, there was a cry of ’Silence!’, and everyone looked towards the door.//  cry for//  --Fortunately, a passerby heard his cries for help .//\n  3 TEARS:   [singular]  especially BrE a period of time during which tears come out of your eyes, usually because you are unhappy//  --It’s good to have a cry sometimes.//  --I felt much better after I’d had a good cry  (=cried for a long time) .//\n  4  cry for help:  something someone says or does that shows that they are very unhappy and need help//  --I think taking the pills was a cry for help.//\n  5 PHRASE:   [C] a phrase that is used to unite people in support of a particular action or idea//   slogan//  --’Land and Liberty’ was the rallying cry of revolutionary Mexico.//    battle cry(1),  war cry//\n  6 ANIMAL/BIRD:   [C] a sound made by a particular animal//  --the cries of seagulls overhead//    be a far cry from sth at far2 (5),  in full cry at full1 (22),  hue and cry//


Words: crybaby
Meaning:
n   plural  crybabies  [C] //  someone, especially a child, who cries too often without good reason - used to show disapproval//  --Don’t be such a crybaby!//


Words: crying
Meaning:
adj \n  1  it’s a crying shame:   spoken used to say that something is very sad or upsetting//  --It would be a crying shame if the village shop closed down.//\n  2  crying need for sth:  a serious need for something//  -- There is a crying need for a place where our young people can meet.//\ncrying 2 n [U]   when someone produces tears from their eyes, usually because they are unhappy or hurt//  --As he neared her tent he heard the sound of crying.//


Words: cryogenics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cryogen  ’substance producing low temperatures’ (19-21 centuries), from  Greek kryo- (from  kryos  ’very cold’) +  English -gen  ’producing’ (from  Greek -genes  ’born’)]//  the scientific study of very low temperatures//  -- cryogenic adj //


Words: crypt
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: crypta, from  Greek, from  kryptos;   CRYPTO-]//  a room under a church, used in the past for burying people//    vault//


Words: cryptic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: crypticus, from  Greek, from  kryptos;   CRYPTO-]//  having a meaning that is mysterious or not easily understood//  cryptic remark/comment/statement etc //  --a cryptic note at the end of the letter//  -- cryptically/-kli/ adv //


Words: crypto-
Meaning:
prefix  formal   [Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek kryptos  ’hidden’, from  kryptein  ’to hide’]//  secret or hidden//  --a crypto-Communist//


Words: crystal
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Old French; Origin: cristal, from  Latin crystallum, from  Greek krystallos  ’ice, crystal’]//\n  1 [U] very high quality clear glass:  --a set of six crystal glasses//\n  2 [C] a small regular-shaped piece of a substance, formed naturally when this substance becomes solid:  --ice crystals//  --copper sulphate crystals//\n  3 [U and C] rock that is clear, or a piece of this:\n  4 [C]  AmE the clear cover on a clock or watch:


Words: crystal ball
Meaning:
n [C]   a glass ball that you can look into, which some people believe can show what is going to happen in the future//


Words: crystal clear
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very clearly stated and easy to understand:  --I want to make one thing crystal clear - I do not agree with these proposals.//\n  2 completely clean and clear:  --the crystal clear water of the lake//


Words: Crystal Palace
Meaning:
the   a large building made of glass and iron, built in Hyde Park, London to contain the  Great Exhibition of 1851. The building was later moved to South London, but was destroyed by fire in 1936. The name ’Crystal Palace’ is still used for a football team and a district in South London.//


Words: crystallize
Meaning:
also  crystallise BrE   v \n  1 [I and T] if a liquid crystallizes, it forms crystals:  --The liquid will crystallize at 50 degrees centigrade.//\n  2 [I and T] if an idea, plan etc crystallizes or is crystallized, it becomes very clear in your mind:  --Inside her a thought was crystallizing.//  -- crystallization/kr[hA366]st[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: crystallized
Meaning:
also  crystallised BrE   adj   crystallized fruit, ginger, or flowers are made by a special process which covers them with sugar//


Words: CSE
Meaning:
n [U and C]   Certificate of Secondary Education an examination in a range of subjects that was done by students in schools in England and Wales before 1988, usually at the age of 15 or 16//    GCSE//


Words: cub
Meaning:
n [C]   fur, paw, claw//\n  1 the baby of a wild animal such as a lion or a bear:  --a five-month old lion cub//  --a tiger and her cubs//\n  2  the Cubs:  the Cub Scout organization//\n  3 a member of the Cub Scouts organization:    cub reporter//


Words: Cub Scout
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  the Cub Scouts:  the part of the scout organization for younger children//\n  2 a young child who is a member of this organization:    Girl Scout, boy scout//


Words: Cuba
Meaning:
the largest island in the Caribbean Sea. Population: 11,184,000 (2001). Capital: Havana. Cuba has been a Communist state since 1959.//  -- Cuban n  adj //


Words: Cuban missile crisis
Meaning:
the   a dangerous situation which developed in 1962 when the Soviet Union began to build bases for  nuclear missiles in Cuba. US President John F. Kennedy complained to the Soviet government, stopped all ships from going to Cuba, and threatened to take military action. This caused a lot of international anxiety, but after a few days the Soviet Union agreed to remove the missile base//


Words: cubbyhole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  cubby  ’cubby hole’ 1800-1900 From  cub  ’enclosure for cattle’ (16-19 centuries), from  Dutch kub  ’roof covered with straw’]//  a very small space or room, used especially for storing things//


Words: cube
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cubus, from  Greek kybos  ’cube, vertebra’]//\n  1 a solid object with six equal square sides:  --a sugar cube//  --an ice cube//  --Cut the meat into small cubes.//\n  2  the cube of sth:  the number you get when you multiply a number by itself twice, for example 4 x 4 x 4 = 64, so the cube of 4 is 64//\n  3  AmE  spoken a cubicle:\ncube 2 v [T] \n  1 to multiply a number by itself twice:  --4 cubed is 64//\n  2 to cut food into cubes:


Words: cube root
Meaning:
n [C]   the cube root of a particular number is the number that, when multiplied by itself twice will give that number//  --4 is the cube root of 64//


Words: cubic
Meaning:
adj   relating to a measurement of space which is calculated by multiplying the length of something by its width and height//    square//  cubic centimetre/metre/inch etc //  --75,000 million cubic metres of gas//  --the cubic capacity of an engine//


Words: cubicle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: cubiculum, from  cubare  ’to lie’]//  a small part of a room that is separated from the rest of the room//  --a shower cubicle //  --office workers in their cubicles//


Words: cubism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: cubisme, from  cube  ’cube’]//  a 20th century style of art, in which objects and people are represented by geometric shapes//  -- cubist adj //  --cubist paintings//  -- cubist n  [C] //


Words: cubit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: cubitum  ’elbow, cubit’]//  an ancient unit for measuring length, equal to the length of your arm between your wrist and your elbow//


Words: cuckold
Meaning:
n [C]  old use   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from  Old French cucuault, from  cucu;   CUCKOO1]//  an insulting word for a man whose wife has been having sex with another man//\ncuckold 2 v [T]  old use   if a wife or her lover cuckold her husband, they have sex with each other//


Words: cuckoo
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: cucu, from the sound it makes]//  a grey European bird that puts its eggs in other birds’ nests and that makes a sound that sounds like its name//\ncuckoo 2 adj [not before noun]  informal   crazy or silly//  --You’re completely cuckoo!//


Words: cucumber
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cocombre, from  Latin cucumis]//  a long thin round vegetable with a dark green skin and a light green inside, usually eaten raw//


Words: cud
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cwudu]//  food that a cow or similar animal has chewed, swallowed, and brought back into its mouth to chew a second time//  --a cow chewing its cud //


Words: cuddle
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  cull,  coll  ’to hug’ (14-18 centuries), from  Old French coler, from  col  ’neck’]//  to hold someone or something very close to you with your arms around them, especially to show that you love them//    hug//  --Dawn and her boyfriend were cuddling on the sofa.//  cuddle up phr v//  to lie or sit very close to someone or something//  cuddle up to/together//  --The children cuddled up to each other for warmth.//\ncuddle 2 n [singular]   an act of cuddling someone//    hug//  --Come over here and let me give you a cuddle .//


Words: cuddly
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a person or animal that is cuddly makes you want to cuddle them:  --He is the most affectionate and cuddly dog I have ever known.//\n  2 [only before noun] cuddly toys are soft toys designed for children to cuddle:


Words: cudgel
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin: cycgel]//\n  1 [C] a short thick stick used as a weapon:\n  2  take up the cudgels (on behalf of sb/sth):   formal to start to fight for an idea that you believe in//


Words: cue
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1-4; Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  qu, short form of  Latin quando  ’when’, used as a direction in actors’ copies of plays.]//  [Sense: 5; Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: queue  ’tail, cue’, from  Latin cauda]//\n  1 an action or event that is a signal for something else to happen:  cue for//  --Our success was the cue for other companies to press ahead with new investment.//  sb’s cue to do sth//  --I think that’s my cue to explain why I’m here.//\n  2 a word, phrase, or action in a play that is a signal for the next person to speak or act:  --She stood nervously in the wings waiting for her cue.//  miss your cue (=not speak or act when you are supposed to) //\n  3  (right/as if) on cue:  happening or done at exactly the right moment//  --And then, on cue, the weather changed.//  --As if on cue, Sam arrived.//\n  4  take your cue from sb:  to use someone else’s actions or behaviour to show you what you should do or how you should behave//  --With interest rates, the smaller banks will take their cue from the Federal Bank.//  baize, cue, pocket//\n  5 a long straight wooden stick used for hitting the ball in games such as billiards and pool:\ncue 2 v [T]   to give someone a sign that it is the right moment for them to speak or do something, especially during a performance//  --The studio manager will cue you when it’s your turn to come on.//  cue up [cue sth → up] phr v//  to make a cassette, video, or CD be exactly in the position you want it to be in, so that you can play something immediately when you are ready//  --The videotape’s cued up and ready to go!//


Words: cuff
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cuff  ’glove’ (14-16 centuries)]//\n  1 the end of a sleeve:\n  2  AmE a narrow piece of cloth turned upwards at the bottom of a trouser leg:  British Equivalent:  turn-up//\n  3 an action in which you hit someone lightly on the head with your hand open:\n  4  cuffs [plural]  handcuffs:    off-the-cuff//\ncuff 2 v [T] \n  1 to hit someone lightly, especially in a friendly way:  --She cuffed him playfully on the side of the head.//\n  2 to put handcuffs on someone:


Words: cuisine
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’kitchen, cooking’, from  Late Latin coquina, from  Latin coquere  ’to cook’]//\n  1 a particular style of cooking:  --French cuisine//  --vegetarian cuisine//  cuisine of//  --the traditional cuisine of the Southwest//\n  2 the food cooked in a particular restaurant or hotel, especially when it is very good:  --Enjoy the delicious cuisine created by our award-winning chef.//    haute cuisine//


Words: cul-de-sac
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’bottom of the bag’]//\n  1 a road which is closed at one end, so that there is only one way in and out:\n  2 an unhelpful situation in which you cannot make any more progress:  --These ideas lead us into a philosophical cul-de-sac.//


Words: culinary
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: culinarius, from  culina  ’kitchen’]//   formal relating to cooking//  --culinary skills//  --mushrooms dried for culinary use//  --the region’s culinary delights  (=food that tastes very good) //


Words: cull
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: cuillir, from  Latin colligere;   COLLECT1]//\n  1 [I and T] to kill some animals of a group, usually the weakest ones, especially so that the size of the group does not increase too much:\n  2 [T]  formal to find or choose information from many different places:  cull sth from sth//  --The data had been culled from a variety of sources.//\ncull 2 n [C]   the act of killing the weakest animals in a group, especially so that the size of the group does not increase too much//


Words: Culloden
Meaning:
a place in northeast Scotland and also the name of a famous battle that was fought there in 1746, in which the Scots, under  Bonnie Prince Charlie, were severely defeated by the English, under the Duke of Cumberland, second son of King George II//


Words: culminate
Meaning:
culminate in/with [culminate in/with sth] phr v//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  culminare, from  Latin culmen  ’top’]//  if a process culminates in or with a particular event, it ends with that event//  --A series of events for teachers and students will culminate in a Shakespeare festival next year.//


Words: culmination
Meaning:
n [U]   the culmination of sth//  something, especially something important, that happens at the end of a long period of effort or development//  --This little book represented the culmination of 15 years’ work.//


Words: culottes
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: cul  ’bottom, ass’]//  women’s trousers which stop at the knee and are shaped to look like a skirt//


Words: culpable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: coupable, from  Latin culpabilis, from  culpare  ’to blame’, from  culpa  ’guilt’]//\n  1  formal deserving blame:  --Both parties were held to be to some extent culpable.//\n  2  law a culpable action is one that is considered criminal:  culpable homicide/negligence etc //  --He pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.//  -- culpably adv //  -- culpability/k[hA356]lp[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: culprit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: cul (from  culpable  ’guilty’) +  prit  ’ready (to prove it)’]//\n  1 the person who is guilty of a crime or doing something wrong:    victim//  --Police finally managed to catch the culprit.//\n  2  informal the reason for a particular problem or difficulty:  --High production costs are the main culprit .//


Words: cult
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: culte, from  Latin cultus  ’care, worship’, from  colere;   CULTIVATE]//\n  1 [C] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion:  --Anyone who betrayed the cult could be punished by death.//\n  2 [C] a fashionable belief, idea, or attitude that influences people’s lives:  cult of//  --Diet, exercise ... It’s all part of this cult of self-improvement.//\n  3 [singular] a group of people who are very interested in a particular thing:  --O’Brien has a cult of devoted readers.//\n  4 [U and C]  formal a system of religious beliefs and practices:    personality cult//\ncult 2 adj [only before noun]   cult film/band/figure etc//  a film, music group etc that has become very popular but only among a particular group of people//  --the 1980s cult movie ’The Gods Must Be Crazy’//  --The actor James Dean acquired the status of a cult hero.//


Words: cultivate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  cultivare, from  cultivus  ’used for crops’, from  Latin cultus, past participle of  colere  ’to cultivate’]//\n  1 to prepare and use land for growing crops and plants:  --The land was too rocky to cultivate.//\n  2  formal to plant and take care of a particular crop:   grow//  --We cultivated maize and watermelons.//\n  3 to work hard to develop a particular skill, attitude, or quality:  --Try to cultivate a more relaxed and positive approach to life.//  --The company has been successful in cultivating a very professional image.//\n  4 to make an effort to develop a friendly relationship with someone, especially someone who can help you:  --Professor Gladwyn would be an acquaintance worth cultivating.//


Words: cultivated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is cultivated is intelligent and knows a lot about music, art, literature etc:  --a highly cultivated man//\n  2 cultivated land is land that is used for growing crops or plants:  --cultivated fields//\n  3 [only before noun] cultivated crops or plants are ones grown by people:  → wild//  --cultivated mushrooms//


Words: cultivation
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the preparation and use of land for growing crops:  --different methods of soil cultivation//  under cultivation//  --These fields have been under cultivation (=used for growing crops) for years.//\n  2 the planting and growing of plants and crops:  --Terraces for rice cultivation covered the hillsides.//  cultivation of//  --the successful cultivation of tobacco//\n  3 the deliberate development of a particular quality or skill:


Words: cultivator
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  formal someone who grows crops or plants, especially a farmer:\n  2 a tool or machine that is used to prepare land for growing crops:


Words: cultural
Meaning:
W2   adj [usually before noun] \n  1 belonging or relating to a particular society and its way of life:  --the very real historical and cultural differences between our two societies//  --the desire to maintain a distinct cultural identity //  --It is important to look at the political and cultural context in which the novel was written.//  --people who share the same cultural background //  cultural heritage/traditions etc (=ideas, customs etc that have existed in a particular society for a long time) //  --Japan’s unique cultural heritage//    multicultural//\n  2 relating to art, literature, music etc:  --the city’s rich and varied cultural life //  --Students need to have time for relaxation and cultural activities , as well as for academic work.//  --In the later Middle Ages, Prague was an important cultural centre  (=a place, usually a big city, where a lot of artistic and musical events happen) .//


Words: Cultural Revolution
Meaning:
the   a period in China, from 1966 to 1969, when its leader Mao Zedong tried to continue and develop the revolution that brought the Communists to power in China in the 1940s. //


Words: culturally
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a way that is related to the ideas, beliefs, or customs of a society:  --Teaching materials need to be culturally appropriate.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Historically and culturally, Britain has always been linked to the continent.//\n  2 in a way that is related to art, music, literature etc:  --The French are a culturally sophisticated people.//  [sentence adverb] //  --Culturally, the city has a lot to offer.//


Words: culture
Meaning:
W1S2   n   ----------//\n   1 in a society:\n   2 in a group:\n   3 art/music/literature:\n   4 society:\n   5 medicine/science:\n   6 crops:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin cultura, from  cultus;   CULTIVATE]//\n  1 IN A SOCIETY:   [U and C] the beliefs, way of life, art, and customs that are shared and accepted by people in a particular society//  --We speak Danish at home so that the boys don’t lose touch with their language and culture.//  --In our culture, it is rude to ask someone how much they earn.//  --I love working abroad and meeting people from different cultures.//  Western/American/Japanese etc culture //  --A brief history of Western culture.//  modern/contemporary culture //  --Business is one of the major forces in modern culture.//\n  2 IN A GROUP:   [U and C] the attitudes and beliefs about something that are shared by a particular group of people or in a particular organization//  --Every government department has its own particular culture.//  corporate/business/company culture //  --Changing the corporate culture is a long and difficult process.//  culture of//  --In the field of drug development, the culture of secrecy is deep and strong.//  --modern American youth culture //  --the drug culture that is destroying so many young lives today//  --the German political culture//    subculture//\n  3 ART/MUSIC/LITERATURE:   [U] activities that are related to art, music, literature etc//  --If it’s culture you’re looking for, the city has plenty of museums and art galleries.//  --the Italian Ministry of Culture//  popular culture (=the music, books, films etc that are liked by a lot of people) //\n  4 SOCIETY:   [C] a society that existed at a particular time in history//  --This technique was then adapted and refined by the more sophisticated cultures of the ancient world.//  --primitive cultures//\n  5 MEDICINE/SCIENCE:   [U and C]  technical  bacteria or cells grown for medical or scientific use, or the process of growing them//  --It takes two to three weeks to grow the culture from which the presence of handicap can be detected.//  --The laboratories have extensive tissue culture facilities.//\n  6 CROPS:   [U]  technical the practice of growing crops//  --clearing forest for rice culture//\nculture 2 v [T]  technical   to grow bacteria or cells for medical or scientific use//


Words: culture shock n [singular
Meaning:
U]   the feeling of being confused or anxious that you get when you visit a foreign country or a place that is very different from the one you are used to//  --India is where I first experienced real culture shock.//  --Moving to London was a bit of a culture shock after ten years of living in the country.//


Words: cultured
Meaning:
adj   intelligent, polite, and interested in art, literature, music etc//  --a well-read and cultured woman//  --His voice was cultured and unmistakably English.//


Words: cum
Meaning:
prep   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’with’]//  used between two nouns to show that something has two purposes//  --a kitchen-cum-dining room//  --a lunch-cum-business meeting//


Words: cum laude
Meaning:
adv  AmE   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’with praise’]//  with honours if you graduate cum laude, you finish a university degree and are given official praise for special achievement//    magna cum laude,  summa cum laude//


Words: cumbersome
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: cumber  ’to prevent from moving freely, load’ (14-20 centuries) (from  encumber) +  -some]//\n  1 a process or system that is cumbersome is slow and difficult:  --Doctors are complaining that the system is cumbersome and bureaucratic.//  --cumbersome procedures//\n  2 heavy and difficult to move:  --a large cumbersome machine//\n  3 words or phrases that are cumbersome are long or complicated:


Words: Cumbria
Meaning:
a  county of northwest England just south of the border with Scotland. It is popular for its beautiful scenery, including the Lake District National Park.//  -- Cumbrian adj //


Words: cumin
Meaning:
n [U]   [Language: Old English; Origin: cymen, from  Latin cuminum, from  Greek kyminon]//  the seeds of a plant that have a sweet smell and are used especially in Mexican and Indian cooking, or the plant that they grow on//


Words: cummerbund
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Urdu; Origin: kamarband, from  Persian, from  kamar  ’waist’ +  band  ’band’]//  a wide piece of cloth that a man wears around his waist as part of a special suit worn on very formal occasions//


Words: Cummings
Meaning:
E.E.   1894-1962) a US poet known for writing poems with no  capital letters and for playing with the way poems are arranged on a page and with  punctuation, in poems such as anyone lived in a little how town//


Words: cumulative
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: cumulatus, past participle of  cumulare;   ACCUMULATE]//  increasing gradually as more of something is added or happens//  --Learning is a cumulative process.//  cumulative effect (of sth) //  --Depression is often caused by the cumulative effects of stress and overwork.//


Words: cumulus
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin,  ’pile, mass’]//  a thick white cloud with a flat bottom edge//


Words: cuneiform
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  French cuneiforme, from  Latin cuneus  ’wedge’ +  French -iforme  ’-iform’; from the shape of the letters]//  relating to the writing used by the people of ancient Mesopotamia//  -- cuneiform n  [U] //


Words: cunnilingus
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin cunnus  ’female sex organ’ +  lingere  ’to lick’]//  the act of touching the female sex organs with the lips and tongue in order to give sexual pleasure//    fellatio//


Words: cunning
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Present participle of  cun  ’to know’, an early form of  can;   CAN1]//\n  1 someone who is cunning is clever and good at deceiving people in order to get what they want:   crafty//  --a cunning opponent//\n  2 behaviour or actions that are cunning are clever but dishonest and unfair, and are used to get what you want:  --a cunning plan//\n  3 a cunning object or piece of equipment is clever and unusual:  --a cunning little device for keeping out draughts//\n  4  AmE  old-fashioned attractive:  --a cunning little dress//  -- cunningly adv //\ncunning 2 n [U]   the ability to achieve what you want by deceiving people in a clever way//  --the tiger’s ferocity and cunning//  --She would use low cunning  (=unpleasant dishonest methods) to win people’s sympathy.//


Words: cup
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 for drinking:\n   2 drink:\n   3 amount of liquid/food:\n   4 sport competition:\n   5 round thing:\n   6 golf:\n   7 clothing:\n   8 alcohol:\n   9 not be your cup of tea:\n  10 in your cups:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: cuppe, from  Late Latin cuppa, from  Latin cupa  ’barrel’]//\n  1 FOR DRINKING:   [C] a small round container, usually with a handle, that you use to drink tea, coffee etc//    saucer//  --Mathew picked up the cup and sipped his coffee.//  --She put her cup and saucer down on the table.//  tea/coffee cup //  --Helen took the coffee cups into the kitchen.//  paper/plastic/china etc cup //  --They drank cheap wine from plastic cups.//\n  2 DRINK:   [C] the liquid contained inside a cup//  cup of//  --Let’s go and have a cup of coffee.//  --Will you stay for a cup of tea?//  --Would you like another cup?//\n  3 AMOUNT OF LIQUID/FOOD:   [C] //  a) a unit used in the US for measuring food or liquid in cooking, equal to eight fluid ounces or 237 millilitres//  --Mix the butter with 1 cup of powdered sugar until light and fluffy.//  b)  also  cupful/k[hA356]pf[hA35E]l///  the amount of liquid or food that a cup can hold//  --Breakfast consisted of half a cup of milk and a dry biscuit.//\n  4 SPORT COMPETITION:  a)  [C] a specially shaped silver container, often with two handles, that is given as a prize in a competition, especially a sports competition//  --The president of the club came to present the cup to the winners.//  b)  [singular] a sports competition in which a cup is given as a prize//  --They’ve won the European Cup twice.//  --Germany’s World Cup team//\n  5 ROUND THING:   [C] something round and hollow that is shaped like a cup//  --The flowers’ white petals contrast handsomely with their lemon-yellow cups.//  --acorn cups//  cup of//  --She held it in the cup of her hand.//\n  6 GOLF:   [C]  AmE a hole in the ground that you have to try to hit the ball into in the game of golf//\n  7 CLOTHING:   [C] //  a) the part of a bra that covers a woman’s breast//  b)  AmE a jockstrap//\n  8 ALCOHOL:   [U and C]  BrE a mixed alcoholic drink//  --He’s gone to get me some fruit cup .//  --a glass of champagne cup//\n  9  not be your cup of tea:   spoken to not be the type of thing that you like//  --Jazz just isn’t my cup of tea - I prefer classical music.//\n  10  in your cups:   BrE  old-fashioned drunk, or when drunk//  --By the time Anthony arrived, Richard was already deep in his cups .//    eggcup//\ncup 2   past tense and past participle  cupped present participle  cupping  v [T] //\n  1 to hold something in your hands, so that your hands form part of a circle around it:  --He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.//  --Luke was sitting at his desk, one hand cupping his chin .//\n  2  cup your hand(s):  to make a shape like a cup with your hand or hands//  --He struck a match and cupped his hand around the flame.//


Words: cup tie
Meaning:
n [C]   a game between two teams in a competition in which only the winning team will play any more games//  --Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Spurs//


Words: cupboard
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: cupboard  ’shelf or table for cups’ (14-18 centuries)]//  a piece of furniture with doors, and sometimes shelves, used for storing clothes, plates, food etc//    closet, wardrobe//  --It’s in the kitchen cupboard.//  --The cupboard doors were open.//


Words: cupid
Meaning:
n \n  1 [singular] the Roman god of sexual love, represented as a beautiful boy with wings who is carrying a bow and arrow:\n  2 [C] an image of this god, used to represent love:\n  3  play cupid:  to try to arrange for two people to fall in love with each other//  --She vowed never to play cupid again.//


Words: cupidity
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: cupidite, from  Latin cupiditas, from  cupere  ’to desire’]//  very strong desire for something, especially money or property//   greed//  --the cupidity of some businessmen//


Words: cupola
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: Latin, from  cupa;   CUP1]//  a round structure on the top of a building, that is shaped like an upside down bowl//  --a golden edifice with an onion-shaped cupola//


Words: cuppa
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cup of]//  a cup of tea//  --I’m dying for a cuppa!//


Words: cur
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: cur-dog  (12-19 centuries), from an unrecorded  cur  ’to growl’]//  an unfriendly dog, especially one that is a mix of several breeds//


Words: cura[hA168]ao
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Dutch; Origin: Cura[hA168]ao island in the Caribbean]//  a strong thick alcoholic drink that tastes of oranges//


Words: curacy
Meaning:
n   plural  curacies  [C] //  the job or position of a curate, or the period of time that someone has this position//


Words: curate
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: curatus, from  cura  ’religious care’, from  Latin;   CURE1]//\n  1 a priest of the lowest rank, whose job is to help the priest who is in charge of an area:\n  2  curate’s egg:   BrE something that has good and bad parts//  --The book is something of a curate’s egg.//


Words: curative
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: curatif, from  Latin curare;   CURE2]//  able to, or intended to cure illness//    heal//  --the spring’s alleged curative properties //  -- curative n  [C] //  --This herb was once thought to be a curative.//


Words: curator
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: curare;   CURE2]//  someone who is in charge of a museum or zoo//  --He’s Curator of Prints at the Metropolitan.//


Words: curb
Meaning:
v [T]   to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect//  --measures to curb the spread of the virus//\ncurb 2 n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: courbe  ’curve, curved piece of wood or metal’, from  Latin curvus;   CURVE2]//\n  1 an influence which helps to control or limit something:  curb on//  --We are trying to keep a curb on their activities.//\n  2  AmE the raised edge of a road, between where people can walk and cars can drive:  British Equivalent:  kerb//    pavement, sidewalk//


Words: curd
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: crud  ’curd’ (14-20 centuries), perhaps from a  Celtic language]//   also curds //   [plural] the thick substance that forms in milk when it becomes sour//    whey//    bean curd//


Words: curdle
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: curd]//\n  1 to become thicker or form curd, or to make a liquid do this:  --Milk may curdle in warm weather.//\n  2  make your blood curdle:  to make you very frightened//    bloodcurdling//


Words: cure
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin cura  ’care’]//\n  1 a medicine or medical treatment that makes an illness go away:  cure for//  --There is still no cure for AIDS.//\n  2 something that solves a problem, or improves a bad situation:    solution//  cure for//  --There is no easy cure for loneliness.//\n  3 the act of making someone well again after an illness:  --The new treatment effected a miraculous cure.//\ncure 2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: curer, from  Latin curare  ’to take care of, cure’, from  cura;   CURE1]//\n  1 to make an illness or medical condition go away:  --Many types of cancer can now be cured.//  --an operation that can cure short-sightedness in 15 minutes//\n  2 to make someone well again after they have been ill:    heal//  --She had some acupuncture treatment which seems to have cured her.//  cure sb of sth//  --90% of patients can be cured of the disease.//\n  3 to solve a problem, or improve a bad situation:  --Attempts to cure unemployment have so far failed.//\n  4  cure sb of sth:  to make someone stop behaving in a particular way or stop them having a particular feeling or attitude//  --Nothing could cure her of her impatience with Anna.//\n  5 to preserve food, tobacco etc by drying it, hanging it in smoke, or covering it with salt:  --cured ham//


Words: cure-all
Meaning:
n [C]   something that people think will cure any problem or illness//  cure-all for//  --Investment is not a cure-all for every economic problem.//


Words: curfew
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: covrefeu  ’signal to put out fires, curfew’, from  covrir  ’to cover’ +  feu  ’fire’]//\n  1 a law that forces people to stay indoors after a particular time at night, or the time people must be indoors:  --The government imposed a night-time curfew throughout the country.//  --The curfew was lifted  (=ended) on May 6th.//  --The whole town was placed under curfew. //  --Anyone found in the streets after curfew was shot.//\n  2  AmE the time, decided by a parent, by which a child must be home or asleep in the evening:


Words: Curie
Meaning:
Marie   (1867-1934) a Polish scientist, who with her French husband Pierre Curie studied  radioactivity and discovered two new  radioactive substances,  Polonium and  radium. She won two  Nobel Prizes, and was the first woman ever to win one.//


Words: curio
Meaning:
n   plural  curios  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: curiosity]//  a small object that is interesting because it is beautiful or rare//


Words: curiosity
Meaning:
n   plural  curiosities //\n  1 [singular, U] the desire to know about something:  --I opened the packet just to satisfy my curiosity. //  --The news aroused a lot of curiosity among local people.//  --She decided to follow him out of curiosity. //  --Margaret looked at him with curiosity .//  curiosity about//  --Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them.//  --a man of immense intellectual curiosity //  --It was idle curiosity that made me ask.//\n  2 [C] someone or something that is interesting because they are unusual or strange:  --a house full of old maps and other curiosities//  --In the past, men who wanted to work with children were regarded as something of a curiosity.//  --It’s not worth much, but I kept it for its curiosity value. //\n  3  curiosity killed the cat:  used to tell someone not to ask too many questions about something//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  satisfy somebody’s curiosity //  arouse somebody’s curiosity (=make people want to know about something) //  out of curiosity (=because of curiosity) //  with curiosity //  natural curiosity //  intellectual/scientific curiosity //  idle curiosity (=wanting to know about something for no particular reason) //  be burning with curiosity (=want to know about something very much) //  ----------//


Words: curious
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: curios, from  Latin curiosus  ’careful, wanting to know’, from  cura;   CURE1]//\n  1 wanting to know about something:    inquisitive//  --Puppies are naturally curious.//  curious about//  --He was curious about how she would react.//  curious to know/see/hear etc //  --Mandy was curious to know what happened.//  curious look/glance //  --Her shouting attracted some curious glances from other people in the restaurant.//\n  2 strange or unusual:  --He felt a curious mixture of excitement and panic.//  --a curious coincidence//  -- It’s curious that she left without saying goodbye.//  -- curiously adv //  --’What have you got in there?’ Felix asked curiously.//  --She felt curiously calm.//


Words: curl
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: crul  ’curly’ (1300-1400), probably from  Middle Dutch]//\n  1 to form a twisted or curved shape, or to make something do this:  --Mary was busy curling her hair.//  curl around/round//  --Ivy curled round the tree.//\n  2 [always + adverb/preposition] to move, forming a twisted or curved shape, or to make something do this:  curl across/along etc//  --Morning mists curled across the river.//  curl sth around/round/over etc sth//  --He curled his arm around Claudia’s waist.//\n  3 if you curl your lip, or if your lip curls, you move it upwards and sideways, to show that you disapprove of someone or something:  --Her lip curled in contempt.//    make sb’s toes curl at toe1 (5),  make your hair curl at hair(9)//  curl up phr v//\n  1 to move so that you are lying or sitting with your arms and legs bent close to your body:  --I just wanted to curl up and go to sleep.//  --Sarah was curled up on the sofa.//\n  2 if something flat curls up, its edges start to become curved and point upwards:  --The letter was now yellow and beginning to curl up.//\ncurl 2 n \n  1 [C] a piece of hair that hangs in a curved shape:  --a little boy with beautiful blonde curls//\n  2 [singular, U] the ability of your hair to form curls:  --Use a diffuser to maximise the volume and curl of your hair.//  --hair that has a natural curl//\n  3 [C] something in the shape of a curve:  --Decorate the cake with chocolate curls.//  curl of//  --A curl of smoke rose from her cigarette.//\n  4 [C] an exercise in which you repeatedly bend your arms, legs, or stomach in order to make your muscles strong:\n  5  curl of sb’s lip/mouth:  a sideways and upwards movement of your lip or mouth, showing that you disapprove of someone or something//


Words: curler
Meaning:
n [C]   a small plastic or metal tube used for making hair curl//   roller//  --Her hair was in curlers.//


Words: curlew
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: corlieu, from the sound it makes]//  a bird with long legs and a long beak that lives near water//


Words: curling
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from   CURL1; because the stone curves as it slows down]//  a sport played on ice, in which players slide flat heavy stones towards a marked place//


Words: curling tongs
Meaning:
BrE  n [plural] curling iron  AmE  [C]   a piece of electrical equipment that you heat and use to put curls in your hair//


Words: curly
Meaning:
S3   adj \n  1 having a lot of curls:  → straight//  --long dark curly hair//\n  2  BrE curved in shape:  --cows with curly horns//  -- curliness n  [U] //


Words: currant
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: raison of Coraunte  ’raisin of Corinth’ (14-17 centuries), from  Corinth city and area in Greece]//\n  1 a small dried grape used especially in baking cakes:    raisin, sultana//\n  2 a small round red or black berry:    blackcurrant,  redcurrant//


Words: currency
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  currencies //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: currentia  ’flowing’, from  Latin currere;   CURRENT1]//\n  1 [U and C] the system or type of money that a country uses:  --The bank can supply you with foreign currency .//  --There are moves towards a single currency in Europe.//  --The local currency is the Swiss franc.//    hard currency//\n  2 [U] the state of being accepted or used by a lot of people:  --The argument has received wide currency .//  --Marxism began to gain currency .//  --The idea was common currency in European political life.//


Words: current
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: curant, present participle of  courre  ’to run’, from  Latin currere]//  happening or existing now//  --the current President//  --In its current state, the house would be worth [hA124]200,000.//\ncurrent 2 n [C] \n  1 a continuous movement of water in a river, lake, or sea:    tide//  ocean/sea/tidal etc current //  -- Strong currents can be very dangerous for swimmers.//\n  2 a continuous movement of air:  --Some birds use warm air currents to help them fly.//  current of//  --currents of warm air rising from the plain//\n  3 a flow of electricity through a wire:  --an electrical current //    alternating current,  direct current//\n  4 an idea, feeling, or opinion that a particular group of people has:  --The committee reflects the different political currents within the organization.//  current of//  --There was an underlying current of discontent among teachers.//  ----------//  HINT //  Do not confuse with currant (=small dried fruit). //  ----------//


Words: current account
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a bank account that you can take money out of at any time//  American Equivalent:  checking account//


Words: currently
Meaning:
adv   at the present time//  --The brochure shows the products that are currently available.//  --He is currently working on his first novel.//


Words: curriculum
Meaning:
W2   n   plural  curricula /-l[hA353]///   or plural  curriculums  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin,  ’running, course’, from  currere;   CURRENT1]//  the subjects that are taught by a school, college etc, or the things that are studied in a particular subject//  --Languages are an essential part of the school curriculum.//  --curriculum planning//  on the curriculum//   BrE //  --IT is now on the curriculum in most schools.//  in the curriculum//   AmE //  --Students are exempt from some classes in the curriculum for religious reasons.//   syllabus//


Words: curriculum vitae
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: ’course of life’]//\n  1 a formal British expression for CV:  American Equivalent:  resume//\n  2  AmE a short written description of a university teacher’s previous jobs and work, that they send when looking for a new teaching job:


Words: Currier and Ives
Meaning:
a style of US art, named after the two men who invented it. It shows scenes from daily life in 19th century America.//


Words: curry
Meaning:
n   plural  curries  [U and C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Tamil; Origin: kari]//  a type of food from India, consisting of meat or vegetables in a spicy sauce//  --chicken curry//\ncurry 2 v   past tense and past participle  curried present participle  currying third person singular  curries //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: correer  ’to prepare, curry’, from  Vulgar Latin conredare;]//  [Date: (14-16 centuries); Origin:  favor from  favel  ’brown horse (as a sign of dishonesty)’ , from  Old French fauvel]//  curry favour (with sb)//  to try to make someone like you or notice you in order to get something that you want - used to show disapproval//  --a businessman who made several attempts to curry favour with politicians//


Words: curse
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I] to swear:  --Gilbert was cursing under his breath.//\n  2 [T] to say or think bad things about someone or something because they have made you angry:  --He cursed his bad luck in arriving just after she’d left.//  curse sb/sth for (doing) sth//  --Elsa cursed herself for believing his lies.//\n  3 [T] to ask God or a magical power to harm someone:  curse out [curse sb → out] phr v//  to swear at someone who has made you angry//\ncurse 2 n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: curs]//\n  1 a swear word or words that you say because you are very angry:  --He muttered a curse under his breath.//\n  2 a word or sentence used to ask God or a magical power to do something bad to someone or something:  --He believed that someone had put a curse on the house.//\n  3 something that causes trouble, harm etc:  curse of//  --Noise is one of the curses of modern-day life.//\n  4  the curse:   old-fashioned a menstrual period//


Words: cursed
Meaning:
adj \n  1  be cursed with/by sth:  to be affected by something bad//  --The museum has been cursed by financial problems since it opened.//\n  2  literary suffering as a result of a punishment by God or a god:


Words: cursive
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: cursivus  ’running, cursive’, from  Latin currere;   CURRENT1]//  written in a style of writing with the letters joined together//  --cursive script//  -- cursively adv //


Words: cursor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cursor  ’messenger, sliding pointer on a scientific instrument’ (16-20 centuries), from  Latin,  ’runner’, from  currere;   CURRENT1]//  a mark that can be moved around a computer screen to show where you are working//


Words: cursory
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: cursorius  ’of running’, from  Latin currere;   CURRENT1]//  done very quickly without much attention to details//  cursory glance/look //  --Even a cursory glance at the figures will tell you that sales are down this year.//  cursory examination/inspection //  --a cursory examination of the evidence//  -- cursorily adv //


Words: curt
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: curtus  ’shortened’]//  using very few words in a way that seems rude//  --With a curt nod, he turned away and sat down.//  --a curt note//  -- curtly adv //  -- curtness n  [U] //


Words: curtail
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: curtal  ’to cut short an animal’s tail’ (15-17 centuries), from  Old French courtault  ’animal with a shortened tail’; influenced by  tail]//  to reduce or limit something//  --The new law will curtail police powers.//  severely/drastically curtail //  --Budget cuts have drastically curtailed training programs.//  -- curtailment n  [U and C] //


Words: curtain
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: curtine, from  Late Latin cortina, from  Latin cohors  ’enclosure, court’;   COHORT]//\n  1 a piece of hanging cloth that can be pulled across to cover a window, divide a room etc:  --red velvet curtains//  draw/close/pull the curtains //  --Ella drew the curtains and switched the light on.//  draw back/open the curtains //  --Shall I open the curtains?//\n  2 a sheet of heavy material that comes down at the front of the stage in a theatre:  the curtain goes up/rises //  --Before the curtain went up, the dancers took their places on stage.//  the curtain comes down/falls //\n  3  written a thick layer of something that stops anything behind it from being seen:  curtain of//  --a curtain of smoke//\n  4  bring down the curtain on sth:   informal to cause or mark the end of a situation or period of time//  --The decision brought down the curtain on a 30-year career.//\n  5  (it’ll) be curtains for sb/sth:   informal used to say that someone will die or that something will end//\ncurtain 2 v   curtain off [curtain sth → off] phr v//  to separate one area, room etc from another by hanging a curtain between them//  --The room was curtained off by red drapes.//


Words: curtain call
Meaning:
n [C]   the time at the end of a performance when the actors come to the front of the stage to receive applause//


Words: curtain raiser
Meaning:
n [C]   an event such as a performance or sports event that happens before a more important one//  --A local team are playing as a curtain raiser to the game between England and Italy.//


Words: Curtis
Meaning:
Tony   (1925-) a US actor who first became popular in the 1950s after appearing in adventure films. Later he took more serious parts in films such as Sweet  Smell of Success (1957), and  The Boston Strangler (1968). One of his most famous films was  Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe in 1959.//


Words: Curtiz
Meaning:
Michael   (1888-1962), a Hungarian-born film director who had a long and successful career in Hollywood. He won an Oscar for best director in 1943 for Casablanca. His other films included  The Charge of the Light Brigade  (1936),  Angels With Dirty Faces  (1938),  Yankee Doodle Dandy  (1942) and  White Christmas  (1954).//


Words: curtsy
Meaning:
curtsey/k[hA362][hA359]tsi $ k[hA362][hA359]r-/ v   past tense and past participle  curtsied present participle  curtsying third person singular  curtsies  [I] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: courtesy]//  if a woman curtsies, she bends her knees with one foot in front of the other as a sign of respect for an important person//    bow//  -- curtsy n  [C] //


Words: curvaceous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: curve]//  having an attractively curved body shape - used about women//  --a tall, curvaceous young woman//


Words: curvature
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: curvatura, from  curvare;   CURVE2]//  the state of being curved, or the degree to which something is curved//  curvature of//  --the curvature of the Earth’s surface//  --He suffered from curvature of the spine.//


Words: curve
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C] \n  1 a line that gradually bends like part of a circle:  curve of//  --the curve of her hips//  --a sweeping curve of railroad track//\n  2 a line on a graph that gradually bends and represents a change in the amount or level of something:  --The curve illustrates costs per capita.//  demand/supply curve //  --The market demand curve has increased.//\n  3 a bend in a road, river etc:  --The car took the curve much too quickly.//\n  4  also curve ball :  in baseball, a ball that spins and moves in a curve when it is thrown, so that it is difficult to hit//\n  5  throw sb a curve:   AmE to surprise someone with a question or problem that is difficult to deal with//    learning curve//\ncurve 2 v [I and T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: curvare, from  curvus  ’curved’]//  to bend or move in the shape of a curve, or to make something do this//  --The track curved round the side of the hill.//  --A smile curved her lips.//


Words: curvy
Meaning:
adj \n  1 having a shape with several curves:  --a curvy line//\n  2 a woman who is curvy is attractive because her body has a lot of curves:


Words: Cushing
Meaning:
Peter   (1913- 94) a British actor famous for acting in  horror films, such as  Dracula (1958) and for appearing as the character Sherlock  Holmes in  The  Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)//


Words: cushion
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: coissin, from  Vulgar Latin coxinus, from  Latin coxa  ’hip’]//\n  1 a cloth bag filled with soft material that you put on a chair or the floor to make it more comfortable:    pillow//  --a velvet cushion//  --a cushion cover//\n  2 something that stops one thing from hitting another thing:  --Good sports shoes should provide a cushion when running.//\n  3 [usually singular] something, especially money, that prevents you from being immediately affected by a bad situation:  cushion against//  --Savings can act as a cushion against unemployment.//\n  4 the soft rubber edge of the table used for playing billiards or snooker:\ncushion 2 v [T] \n  1 to make the effect of a fall or hit less painful, for example by having something soft in the way:  --His landing was cushioned by the fresh snow that had fallen.//\n  2 to protect someone from an unpleasant situation or the unpleasant effects of something:  cushion the blow/impact (of sth) //  --generous leaving allowances to help cushion the blow of redundancy//  cushion sb from/against sth//  --Parents today often feel their children should be cushioned from the outside world.//


Words: cushioning
Meaning:
n [U]   something soft that protects someone or something when they hit a surface//  --A special pad in the heel offers good cushioning as you walk.//


Words: cushy
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Urdu; Origin: khush  ’pleasant’, from  Persian]//  a cushy job or life is very easy and does not need much effort//  --I wish I had a nice cushy job like her.//  --a very cushy number  (=an easy job or life) //


Words: cusp
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cuspis  ’point’]//\n  1 [C]  technical the point formed where two curves join:\n  2  be on the cusp of sth [singular] to be at the time when a situation or state is going to change:  --The country was on the cusp of economic expansion.//\n  3  on the cusp:  someone who was born on the cusp was born near the time when one star sign ends and another begins//


Words: cuss
Meaning:
v [I and T]  BrE  old-fashioned  AmE  spoken   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: curse]//  to swear because you are annoyed by something//  cuss out [cuss sb → out] phr v//  to swear and shout at someone because you are angry//  --She got mad and started cussing him out.//


Words: custard
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: custard,  crustade type of pie  (14-17 centuries), probably from  Old French crouste  ’crust’]//\n  1 [U] a sweet yellow sauce that is made with milk, sugar, eggs, and flour:\n  2 [U and C] a soft baked mixture of milk, sugar, and eggs:


Words: custard pie
Meaning:
n [C]   a pie filled with a substance that looks like custard, which people throw at each other as a joke in films, on television etc//


Words: Custer
Meaning:
General George Armstrong   (1839-76) a US soldier who first became famous in the American  Civil War. He was killed, with all the men he was in command of, by Native Americans from the  Sioux tribe led by Crazy Horse and  Sitting Bull, in the Battle of the  Little Bighorn. This battle is also known as Custer’s Last Stand.//


Words: custodian
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is responsible for looking after something important or valuable:  custodian of//  --Farmers are custodians of the land for the next generation.//\n  2  especially AmE someone who looks after a public building:  --a custodian at the stadium//\n  3  custodian of tradition/moral values etc:  someone who tries to protect a traditional set of beliefs, attitudes etc//


Words: custody
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: custodia  ’guarding’, from  custos  ’person who guards’]//\n  1 the right to take care of a child, given to one of their parents when they have divorced:  custody of//  --He got custody of his son after the divorce.//  --It is usually the mother who is awarded custody  (=legally allowed to have custody) .//  --a dispute over who should have custody of the children//  --The couple will retain joint custody  (=they will both have custody) of their daughters.//  --Allen is fighting a bitter custody battle over his three children.//\n  2 when someone is kept in prison until they go to court, because the police think they have committed a crime:  --The committee is looking at alternatives to custody.//  in custody//  --Police are investigating the death of a man in custody.//  hold/keep sb in custody //  --A man is being held in police custody in connection with the murder.//  remand sb in custody  BrE  (=send someone to prison to wait until they go to court) //  --A man has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a schoolgirl.//  --She was taken into custody as a suspect.//\n  3  formal when someone is responsible for keeping and looking after something:  --Managers are responsible for the safe custody and retention of records.//  --The collection of art books is now in the custody of the university.//


Words: custom
Meaning:
W3   n   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: custume, from  Latin consuetudo, from  consuescere  ’to make someone used to something’]//\n  1 [U and C] something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional:  local/ancient/French etc custom //  --The guide offers information on local customs.//  it is the custom (for sb) to do sth//  --It’s the custom for the bride’s father to pay for the wedding.//  the custom of doing sth//  --The custom of naming women after flowers is becoming less common.//\n  2 [singular]  formal something that you usually do every day, or in a particular situation:  --He awoke early, as was his custom.//\n  3  customs [plural] :  a) the place where your bags are checked for illegal goods when you go into a country//    immigration//  --She was stopped at customs and questioned.//  --It took ages to clear customs  (=be allowed through customs) but then we were out of the airport quite quickly.//  --You won’t be able to take that through customs .//  b) the government department that checks goods coming into a country and collects any taxes on them//  --customs officers//  --the US customs service//\n  4 [U]  formal the practice of regularly using a particular shop or business:  --an advertisement to attract more custom//  --Smaller shops lose a lot of custom when supermarkets open nearby.//\ncustom 2 adj [only before noun]  especially AmE   custom products or services are specially designed and made for a particular person//  --His son operates a custom furniture business.//


Words: custom-
Meaning:
prefix   custom-made/custom-built/custom-designed etc//  made, built etc for a particular person//  --He always wore custom-made suits//  --custom-ordered vehicles//


Words: customary
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is customary is normal because it is the way something is usually done:   usual//  it is customary (for sb) to do sth//  --In some cultures it is customary for the bride to wear white.//\n  2 [only before noun] someone’s customary behaviour is the way they usually do things:   usual//  --Barbara answered with her customary enthusiasm.//  -- customarily/k[hA356]st[hA353]m[hA368]r[hA369]li $ k[hA356]st[hA353]mer[hA369]li/ adv //


Words: customer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: custom; from the custom of doing business in a particular place]//\n  1 someone who buys goods or services from a shop, company etc:  --We aim to offer good value and service to all our customers.//  --We’ve had several letters from satisfied customers.//  customer service/care //  --Many of the banks offer a poor level of customer service.//  --He’s one of our regular customers .//  best/biggest/largest customer (=the person or company who uses a shop or company the most) //\n  2  awkward/tricky/tough etc customer:  someone who is difficult to deal with because they behave in a deliberately unhelpful way//    cool customer at cool1 (3)//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: customer, client, patron, shopper, consumer //  Customer  is the most general word. A  customer  is someone who buys something from a particular shop. People who pay to use something such as a transport service can also be called  customers : A customer came in and bought several jackets. | Customers are advised that the next train is delayed. //  A  client is someone who pays for a service : a hairdresser and her clients //  A  patron  of a particular restaurant, bar etc is someone who eats or drinks there. This is a fairly formal word and it is more usual to use  customer : Patrons are asked to refrain from smoking. //  A  shopper is someone who is involved in the activity of buying things from shops : The street was crowded with shoppers. //  A  consumer is anyone who pays for goods and services. This word is used especially when you are talking about people’s rights : Consumers have a right to know what they are buying. //  ----------//


Words: customer services
Meaning:
n [U]   the part of a company or business that deals with questions, problems etc that customers have//  --You should call customer services and complain.//  --He’s customer services manager at the store.//


Words: customizable
Meaning:
adj   able to be changed in order to be suitable for a particular object or situation//  --Download free, customizable business forms from Entrepreneur.com.//


Words: customize
Meaning:
also  customise BrE   v [T]   to change something to make it more suitable for you, or to make it look special or different from things of a similar type//  --a customized car//


Words: Customs and Excise
Meaning:
n   the department of the British government that is responsible for collecting tax on goods that are being bought or sold, or goods that have been brought into the country//


Words: cut
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  cut //  present participle  cutting //  ----------//\n   1 reduce:\n   2 divide something with a knife, scissors etc:\n   3 make something shorter with a knife etc:\n   4 remove parts from film etc:\n   5 make a hole/mark:\n   6 injure:\n   7 make/form something by cutting:\n   8 let somebody get free:\n   9 tool/material:\n  10 clothes:\n  11 on computer:\n  12 go a quick way:\n  13 divide an area:\n  14 playing cards:\n  15 music:\n  16 crops:\n  17 cut a deal:\n  18 cut (somebody) a check:\n  19 Cut!:\n  20 put a film together:\n  21 cut in line:\n  22 cut class/school:\n  23 cut your teeth (on something):\n  24 cut corners:\n  25 cut something short:\n  26 cut somebody short:\n  27 cut the ...:\n  28 cut somebody dead:\n  29 cut your losses:\n  30 line:\n  31 tooth:\n  32 cut somebody to the quick/bone:\n  33 cut to the chase:\n  34 cut a fine/strange etc figure:\n  35 cut your own throat:\n  36 (it) cuts both ways:\n  37 cut the ground from under somebody’s feet:\n  38 cut and run:\n  39 cut no ice/not cut much ice:\n  40 cut the (umbilical) cord:\n  41 not cut the mustard:\n  42 drugs:\n  43 cut your coat according to your cloth:\n  44 to cut a long story short:\n  45 cut it/things fine:\n  46 not cut it:\n  47 cut a swathe through something:\n  48 you could cut the atmosphere with a knife:  Phrasal verbs//   cut across something//   cut something → away//   cut back//   cut down//   cut in//   cut  somebody/something off//   cut out//   cut through something//   cut up//  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From an unrecorded  Old English cytan]//\n  1 REDUCE:   [T] to reduce the amount of something//  --They’re introducing CCTV cameras in an attempt to cut street crime in the area.//  --You need to cut the amount of fat and sugar in your diet.//  --Scientists are warning that unless carbon emissions are cut, we could be heading for an environmental catastrophe.//  --700 jobs will be lost in order to cut costs and boost profits.//  --The major aviation companies need to cut prices if they are to compete with budget airlines.//  cut sth by [hA124]1 million/$5 billion/half etc //  --The welfare budget has been cut by $56 billion.//  cut sth off sth//  --A new direct service will cut two hours off the flying time between London and Seoul.//  --Staffing levels had already been cut to the bone  (=reduced to the lowest level possible) .//\n  2 DIVIDE SOMETHING WITH A KNIFE, SCISSORS ETC:   [I and T] to divide something or separate something from its main part, using scissors, a knife etc//  --Do you want me to cut the cake?//  --The telephone wires had been cut minutes before the assault.//  cut sth with sth//  --Jane cut the cord with a knife.//  cut sb sth//  --Can you cut me a piece of bread, please?//  cut along/across/round etc//  --Using a pair of scissors, cut carefully along the dotted lines.//  cut through//  --We’ll need a saw that will cut through metal.//  cut sth in half/in two //  --Cut the orange in half.//  cut sth into slices/chunks/pieces etc (=make something into a particular shape by cutting) //  --Cut the carrots into thin strips.//  cut sth to size/length (=cut something so that it is the size you need) //  --The curtain pole can be cut to length.//    cut away,  cut off,  cut out,  cut up//\n  3 MAKE SOMETHING SHORTER WITH A KNIFE ETC:   [T] to make something shorter with a knife, scissors etc, especially in order to make it neater//  --For reasons of hygiene, we had to cut our fingernails really short.//  cut the lawn/grass/hedge etc //  --From outside the open window came the sound of someone cutting the hedge.//  have/get your hair cut //  --Isn’t it about time you got your hair cut?//\n  4 REMOVE PARTS FROM FILM ETC:   [T] to remove parts from a film, book, speech etc, for example because it is too long or might offend people//  --The original version was cut by more than 30 minutes.//\n  5 MAKE A HOLE/MARK:   [I and T] to make a hole or mark in the surface of something, or to open it using a sharp tool//  cut into//  --The blade cut deep into the wood.//  cut sth into sth//  --Strange letters had been cut into the stone.//  -- Cut a hole in the middle of the paper.//  -- Cut open the chillies and remove the seeds.//\n  6 INJURE:   [T] to injure yourself on something sharp that breaks the skin and makes you bleed//  cut your finger/knee/hand etc //  --I noticed he’d cut his finger quite badly.//  cut yourself (on sth)//  --Marcie said she’d cut herself on a broken glass.//  --That knife’s extremely sharp! Mind you don’t cut yourself.//  --On Eric’s chin was a scrap of cotton wool where he’d cut himself shaving .//  --She fell and cut her head open .//\n  7 MAKE/FORM SOMETHING BY CUTTING:   [T] to make or form something from a solid piece of wood, metal etc using a sharp tool//  --I’ll get a spare key cut for you.//  cut sth from sth//  --The chair had been cut from the trunk of a tree.//\n  8 LET SOMEBODY GET FREE:   [T] to cut something such as metal or rope in order to let someone escape from where they are trapped//  cut sb from sth//  --She had to be cut from the wreckage of her car.//  --He was in the vehicle for an hour before he was cut free .//\n  9 TOOL/MATERIAL:   [I] if a tool cuts well, badly etc, it cuts things well or badly etc//  --professional quality tools that cut efficiently and smoothly//\n  10 CLOTHES:   [T usually passive] if a piece of clothing is cut in a particular way, that is the way it is designed and made//  --The T-shirt is cut fairly low at the neck.//\n  11 ON COMPUTER:   [I and T] to remove something from a document or file on a computer//  --To cut text, press Control + C.//  -- Cut and paste the picture into a new file (=remove it and then make it appear in a new file) .//\n  12 GO A QUICK WAY:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to get to somewhere by a quicker and more direct way than the usual way//    shortcut//  cut through/down/across etc//  --I usually cut through the car park to get to work.//  --Let’s cut across the field.//\n  13 DIVIDE AN AREA:   [I and T] to divide an area into two or more parts//  cut sth in/into sth//  --The river cuts the whole region in two.//  cut through//  --The new road will cut through a conservation area.//\n  14 PLAYING CARDS:   [I and T] to divide a pack of cards into two//  --First cut the pack, and then deal the cards//\n  15 MUSIC:   [T] to produce a CD, song etc for people to buy//  --The band cut their first single in 2001.//\n  16 CROPS:   [T] to take the top part off crops such as wheat before gathering them//\n  17  cut a deal:  to make a business deal//  --A French company has reportedly cut a deal to produce software for government agencies.//\n  18  cut (sb) a check:   AmE  informal to write a check for a particular amount of money and give it to someone//  --When the damage assessor called, he cut a check for $139.//\n  19  Cut!:   spoken said by the director of a film to tell people to stop acting, filming etc//\n  20 PUT A FILM TOGETHER:   [T] to put the parts of a film together so that they make a continuous story, and get rid of the parts you do not want//\n  21  cut in line:   AmE to unfairly go in front of other people who are waiting to do something//\n  22  cut class/school:   AmE  informal to deliberately not go to a class that you should go to//  --She started cutting classes.//\n  23  cut your teeth (on sth):  to get your first experience of doing something and learn the basic skills//  --Both reporters cut their journalistic teeth on the same provincial newspaper.//\n  24  cut corners:  to do something in a way that saves time, effort, or money, but that also results in it not being done properly//  --There’s always a temptation to cut corners when you’re pushed for time, but it’s not usually worth it.//\n  25  cut sth short:  to stop doing something earlier than you planned//  --The band has cut short its US concert tour.//  --Her athletic career was cut short by a leg injury.//\n  26  cut sb short:  to stop someone from finishing what they wanted to say//  --I tried to explain, but he cut me short.//\n  27  cut the ...:   spoken an impolite way of telling someone to stop doing something because it is annoying you//  --Cut the sarcasm, Jane, and tell me what really happened!//  -- Cut the crap  (=stop saying something that is not true) ! I saw his car outside your house.//\n  28  cut sb dead:  to deliberately ignore someone when you meet them//  --I saw Ian in town but he cut me dead.//\n  29  cut your losses:  to stop doing something that is failing, so that you do not waste any more money, time, or effort//  --He decided to cut his losses and sell the business.//\n  30 LINE:   [T] if a line cuts another line, they cross each other at a particular point//\n  31 TOOTH:   [T] if a baby cuts a tooth, the tooth starts to grow//\n  32  cut sb to the quick/bone:   literary to upset someone very much by saying something cruel//  --His mockery frightened her and cut her to the bone.//\n  33  cut to the chase:   informal to immediately start dealing with the most important part of something//\n  34  cut a fine/strange etc figure:   literary to have an impressive, strange etc appearance//  --Mason cuts a battered but defiant figure.//\n  35  cut your own throat:  to behave in a way that will cause harm to yourself, especially because you are very offended or angry about something//  --He’d just be cutting his own throat if he left now.//\n  36  (it) cuts both ways:   spoken used to say that something has two effects, especially a good effect and a bad one//  --The higher the interest rate, the greater the financial risk - which, of course, cuts both ways.//\n  37  cut the ground from under sb’s feet:  to make someone or their ideas seem less impressive by having better ideas yourself or doing something before they do//\n  38  cut and run:   informal to avoid a difficult situation by leaving suddenly//  --Although the company has faced financial difficulties, they do not intend to cut and run.//\n  39  cut no ice/not cut much ice:  if something cuts no ice with someone, it will not persuade them to change their opinion or decision//  --It’s unlikely that these arguments will cut much ice with Democrats.//\n  40  cut the (umbilical) cord:  to stop being too dependent on someone, especially your parents//\n  41  not cut the mustard:   informal to not be good enough//  --Other magazines have tried to copy the formula but have never quite cut the mustard.//\n  42 DRUGS:   [T usually passive] to mix an illegal drug such as heroin with another substance//\n  43  cut your coat according to your cloth:  to spend only as much money as you can afford//\n  44  to cut a long story short:   spoken used to say that you are only going to mention the main facts of something//  --To cut a long story short, he threw them out of the house.//\n  45  cut it/things fine:  cut it close  AmE to leave yourself just enough time to do something//  --Even in normal traffic, 20 minutes to get to the airport is cutting it fine.//\n  46  not cut it:   informal to not be good enough to do something//  --Players who can’t cut it soon quit the team.//\n  47  cut a swathe through sth:   literary to cause a lot of damage in a place or among a group of people//  --A series of bribery scandals has cut a swathe through the government.//\n  48  you could cut the atmosphere with a knife:   informal used to say that everyone in a place is very annoyed or angry with each other and this is very easy to notice//  cut across [cut across sth] phr v//  if a problem or feeling cuts across different groups of people, they are all affected by it//  --Domestic violence seems to cut across most social divisions.//  cut away [cut sth → away] phr v//  to remove unwanted or unnecessary parts from something by cutting it//  --Cut away all the dead wood.//  cut back phr v//\n  1 to reduce the amount, size, cost etc of something:  cut back on//  --Several major hospitals are cutting back on staff at the moment.//  cut sth → back//  --Education spending cannot be cut back any further.//  --Richer countries must do more to cut back carbon emissions.//    cutback//\n  2  cut sth → back:  to remove the top part of a plant in order to help it to grow//  --Cut back the shoots in spring to encourage bushier growth.//\n  3 to eat, drink, or use less of something, especially in order to improve your health:  cut back on//  --Try to cut back on foods containing wheat and dairy products.//  cut down phr v//\n  1 REDUCE:  to reduce the amount of something//  cut sth → down//  --Installing double-glazing will cut down the noise from traffic.//  cut down on//  --By getting the design right, you can cut down on accidents.//\n  2 EAT/USE LESS:  to eat, drink, or use less of something, especially in order to improve your health//  --I’ve always smoked, but I’m trying to cut down.//  cut down on//  --Cut down on fatty foods and alcohol if you want to lose weight.//\n  3 TREE:   cut sth → down//  to cut through the main part of a tree so that it falls on the ground//\n  4 KILL:   cut sb → down//   literary to kill or injure someone, especially in a battle//  --Hundreds of men were cut down by crossbow fire.//\n  5 REDUCE LENGTH:   cut sth → down//  to reduce the length of something such as a piece of writing//  --Your essay’s too long - it needs cutting down a little.//\n  6  cut sb down to size:  to make someone realize that they are not as important, successful etc as they think they are//  cut in phr v//\n  1 INTERRUPT:  to interrupt someone who is speaking by saying something//  --’What shall I do?’ Patrick cut in again.//  cut in on//  --Sorry to cut in on you, but there are one or two things I don’t understand.//\n  2 DRIVING:  to suddenly drive in front of a moving car in a dangerous way//  cut in on//  --She cut in on a red Ford, forcing the driver to brake heavily.//\n  3 MACHINE:  if a part of a machine cuts in, it starts to operate when it is needed//  --The safety device cuts in automatically.//\n  4 INCLUDE SOMEBODY:   cut sb in//   informal to allow someone to take part in a plan or to make money from it//  cut somebody in on//  --Come on, Joey, you said you were going to cut me in on this one!//  cut off [cut  sb/sth off] phr v//\n  1 SEPARATE:   cut sth → off//  to separate something by cutting it away from the main part//  --One of his fingers was cut off in the accident.//  cut sth off sth//  --Cut the fat off the meat.//\n  2 STOP SUPPLY:   cut sth → off//  to stop the supply of something such as electricity, gas, water etc//  --The gas had been cut off.//  --The US has threatened to cut off economic and military aid.//\n  3  get cut off:  to suddenly not be able to hear someone that you were speaking to on the telephone//  --I don’t know what happened - we just got cut off.//\n  4  be cut off:  a) if a place is cut off, people cannot leave it or reach it//  --In winter, the town is often cut off by snow.//  b) to be a long way from other places and be difficult to get to//  --Accessible only by air, the town is cut off from the rest of the country.//  c) if someone is cut off, they are lonely and not able to meet many other people//  --Many older people feel cut off and isolated.//\n  5 STOP BEING FRIENDLY:   cut sb → off//  to stop having a friendly relationship with someone//  --Julia had been completely cut off by all her family and friends.//  cut yourself off (from sb)//  --After his wife died, he cut himself off completely from the rest of the world.//\n  6 INTERRUPT:  to interrupt someone and stop them from finishing what they were saying//  --Emma cut him off in mid-sentence.//\n  7 PREVENT SOMETHING:   cut sb off from sth//  to prevent someone from having something that they need or want//  --The project aims to ensure that poorer people are not cut off from the benefits of computer technology.//\n  8 MONEY/PROPERTY:  to refuse to let someone receive your money or property, especially when you die//  --My parents threatened to cut me off without a penny if I married him.//\n  9 DRIVING:   cut sb → off//   AmE to suddenly drive in front of a moving car in a dangerous way//  --A man in a station wagon cut me off on the freeway.//\n  10  cut off your nose to spite your face:  to do something because you are angry, even though it will harm you//  cut out phr v//\n  1 REMOVE SOMETHING:   cut sth → out//  to remove something by cutting round it//  --The cancerous cells had to be cut out.//  cut something → out of//  --Billy showed me the article he’d cut out of the magazine//\n  2 CUT A SHAPE:   cut sth → out//  to cut a shape from a piece of paper, cloth etc//  --The children were cutting out squares from the scraps of material.//\n  3 STOP SOMETHING HAPPENING:   cut sth → out//  to stop something from happening or existing//  --The idea behind these forms is to cut out fraud.//  --A catalytic converter will cut out 90% of carbon monoxide emissions.//\n  4 STOP DOING/EATING SOMETHING:   cut sth → out//  to stop doing or eating something, especially because it might be bad for your health//  --The current advice to pregnant women is to cut out alcohol.//\n  5 FROM WRITING:   cut sth → out//  to remove something from a piece of writing, especially because it might offend people//  --I would cut out that last bit about racial prejudice.//\n  6  cut it/that out:   spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something because it is annoying you//  --Hey, you guys, cut it out - Mom’s trying to get some sleep.//\n  7 NOT INVOLVE SOMEBODY:   cut sb → out//  to stop someone from doing something or being involved in something//  --The new rules will cut out 25% of people who were previously eligible to vote.//\n  8  be cut out for sth:   also be cut out to be sth //   [usually in questions and negatives] to have the qualities that you need for a particular job or activity//  --In the end, I decided I wasn’t cut out for the army.//  --Are you sure you’re really cut out to be a teacher?//\n  9 ENGINE:  if an engine or machine cuts out, it suddenly stops working//  --The engine cut out halfway across the lake.//\n  10 LIGHT/VIEW:   cut sth → out//  to prevent light, sound etc from reaching somewhere//  --You’ll need sunglasses that will cut out harmful UV rays from the sun.//\n  11  cut sb out:  to prevent someone from getting something, especially your money after your death//  --Em’s father decided to cut her out of  his will .//    have your work cut out at work2 (15)//    cut out the middleman at middleman//  cut through [cut through sth] phr v//\n  1  written to move or pass easily through water or air:  --The boat cut effortlessly through the water.//\n  2 to quickly and easily deal with something that is confusing or difficult:  --You need someone to help you cut through all the irritating legal jargon.//\n  3  literary if a sound cuts through silence or noise, it is heard because it is loud:  --A piercing shriek cut through the silence.//  cut up phr v//\n  1 CUT INTO PIECES:   cut sth → up//  to cut something into small pieces//  --Could you cut the pizza up, please?//  cut something → up into//  --He cut the paper up into little pieces.//\n  2 DRIVING:   cut sb/sth → up//   BrE to suddenly drive in front of a moving vehicle in a dangerous way//  --Some idiot cut me up on the motorway.//\n  3 BEHAVE BADLY:   AmE  informal to behave in a noisy or rude way//\n  4  cut up rough:   BrE  informal to react in an angry or violent way//  --Careful how you approach him - he can cut up a bit rough if he’s got a mind to.//\n  5 CRITICIZE:   cut sb → up//   informal to criticize someone in an unpleasant way//    cut up//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: words meaning cut //  chop to cut vegetables, meat, or wood into pieces //  slice to cut bread, vegetables, or meat into thin pieces //  dice to cut vegetables into small pieces  //  peel to cut the outside part off an onion, apple etc  //  grate to cut cheese or vegetables into small pieces by rubbing them against a special tool //  carve to cut pieces from a large piece of meat //  saw to cut wood using a special tool called a saw //  chop down to cut down a tree, using an axe //  snip to cut something quickly using scissors //  shave to remove hair from your face or body //  trim to remove small parts of something to make it look neat //  mow to cut grass //  prune to cut off the top part of plants, in order to make them grow better  //  See also:  slit, slash, graze, gash, amputate//  ----------//\ncut 2 n [C]   ----------//\n   1 reduction:\n   2 skin wound:\n   3 hole/mark:\n   4 hair:\n   5 clothes:\n   6 share of something:\n   7 removal from film:\n   8 film:\n   9 the cut and thrust of something:\n  10 be a cut above something:\n  11 meat:\n  12 road:  ----------//\n  1 REDUCTION:   [usually plural] a reduction in the size or amount of something, especially the amount of money that is spent by a government or company//  --There will be cuts across all levels of the company.//  cut in//  --Cuts in public spending mean that fewer people can go on to higher education.//  --The decision to make cuts in health care provision has been widely criticized.//  tax/pay/job etc cuts //  --A shorter working week will mean pay cuts for millions of workers.//  --The building plans could be hit by possible spending cuts .//  cut of//  --A cut of 1% in interest rates was announced yesterday.//\n  2 SKIN WOUND:  a wound that is caused when something sharp cuts your skin//  --That’s quite a nasty cut - you ought to get it seen to by a doctor.//  --The driver escaped with minor cuts and bruises .//\n  3 HOLE/MARK:  a narrow hole in or mark in the surface of something, made by a sharp tool or object//  --Make a small cut in the paper.//\n  4 HAIR:   [usually singular] //  a) an act of cutting someone’s hair//   haircut//  --How much do they charge for a cut and blow-dry?//  b) the style in which your hair is cut//   haircut//  --a short stylish cut//\n  5 CLOTHES:   [usually singular] the style in which clothes have been made//  --I could tell by the cut of his suit that he wasn’t a poor man.//\n  6 SHARE OF SOMETHING:   [usually singular] someone’s share of something, especially money//  cut of//  --She was determined to claim her cut of the winnings.//\n  7 REMOVAL FROM FILM:  an act of removing a part from a film, play, piece of writing etc, or a part that has been removed//\n  8 FILM:   [usually singular] the process of putting together the different parts of a film and removing the parts that will not be shown//  --Spielberg himself oversaw the final cut.//\n  9  the cut and thrust of sth:  the exciting but sometimes difficult or unpleasant way that something is done//  --the cut and thrust of political debate//\n  10  be a cut above sth:  to be much better than someone else or something else//  --The movie is a cut above recent thrillers.//  --He proved himself to be a cut above the rest in last week’s competition.//\n  11 MEAT:  a piece of meat that has been cut to a size suitable for cooking or eating//  --Long slow cooking is more suitable for cheaper cuts of meat.//\n  12 ROAD:   AmE a road that has been made through a hill//    cold cuts,  power cut,  short cut//


Words: cut and dried
Meaning:
adj   a situation, decision, result etc that is cut and dried cannot now be changed//  --I don’t think the plan is as cut and dried as people think.//


Words: cut up
Meaning:
also  cut-up adj [not before noun] \n  1  informal very upset about something that has happened:  cut up about//  --He was very cut up about Stephen dying.//\n  2  be badly cut up:  to have a lot of injuries because you have been in an accident or fight//


Words: cut-off cutoff
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C usually singular] a limit or level at which you stop doing something:    deadline//  cut-off date/point/score etc (=the date etc when you stop doing something) //  --The cut-off date for registration is July 2.//\n  2 [C usually singular] when you completely stop doing something or supplying something:  cut-off of//  --A full-scale cut-off of US aid would be a disaster.//\n  3  cutoffs:   or cut-off jeans/trousers etc //   [plural] short trousers that you make by cutting off the bottom part of a pair of trousers//


Words: cut-price
Meaning:
adj  also cut-rate  especially AmE \n  1 cut-price goods or services are cheaper than usual:  --cut-price toys//  --a travel operator offering cut-price deals//\n  2 a cut-price shop sells goods at reduced prices:  --cut-price supermarkets//


Words: cut-throat cutthroat
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   a cut-throat activity or business involves people competing with each other in an unpleasant way//  --Cut-throat competition is keeping prices low.//  --the cut-throat world of advertising//


Words: cut-up
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   someone who makes other people laugh by doing amusing things, especially in a situation when they should not do this//


Words: cutaway
Meaning:
adj   a cutaway model, drawing etc is open on one side so that you can see the details inside it//  -- cutaway n  [C] //


Words: cutback
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   a reduction in something, such as the number of workers in a company or the amount of money a government or company spends//  --The shortage of teachers was blamed on government cutbacks.//  cutback in//  --cutbacks in funding for libraries//  --A fall in donations has forced the charity to make cutbacks. //  sharp/drastic/severe cutback //  --sharp cutbacks in the military budget//    cut back(1)//


Words: cute
Meaning:
S3   adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: acute]//\n  1 very pretty or attractive:  --a cute little puppy//  --The baby’s so cute.//  --That’s a really cute outfit.//\n  2  especially AmE sexually attractive:  --Tell us about this cute guy you met!//\n  3  especially AmE clever in a way that can seem rude:  --Their lawyer tried a cute trick.//  -- cutely adv //  -- cuteness n  [U] //


Words: cuticle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: cuticula, from  cutis  ’skin’]//  the area of hard skin around the base of your nails//


Words: cutlass
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: coutelas, from  Old French coutel  ’knife’, from  Latin cultellus]//  a short sword with a curved blade, used by sailors or pirates in the past//


Words: cutler
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: coutelier, from  Late Latin cultellarius, from  Latin cultellus;   CUTLASS]//  someone who makes or sells cutlery//


Words: cutlery
Meaning:
n [U]  especially BrE   fork, knife, spoon//  knives, forks, and spoons that you use for eating and serving food//    crockery//  American Equivalent:  silverware//


Words: cutlet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: c[hA175]telette, from  Old French coste  ’rib, side’; influenced by  cut]//\n  1 a small flat piece of meat on a bone:  --a lamb cutlet//\n  2  vegetable/nut etc cutlet:   BrE small pieces of vegetables, nuts etc that are pressed together into a flat piece and cooked//


Words: cutout
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the shape of a person, object etc that has been cut out of wood or paper:    silhouette//\n  2 a piece of equipment that stops a machine that is not working properly:


Words: cutter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 [often plural] a tool that is used for cutting something:  --wire cutters//  --a pastry cutter//\n  2 someone whose job is to cut something:  --a diamond cutter//\n  3 a small ship:


Words: cutting
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a stem or leaf that is cut from a plant and put in soil or water to grow into a new plant:\n  2  BrE an article that has been cut from a newspaper or magazine:   clipping//  press/newspaper cuttings //  --Margot sent him some press cuttings about the wedding.//\n  3  BrE a passage that has been dug through high ground for a railway, road etc:  American Equivalent:  cut//\ncutting 2 adj   unkind and intended to upset someone//  --a cutting remark//


Words: cutting edge
Meaning:
n \n  1  the cutting edge (of sth):  the newest and most exciting stage in the development of something//  at the cutting edge (of sth)//  --research that’s at the cutting edge of genetic science//  --The deck represents the cutting edge in CD reproduction.//\n  2 [singular] an advantage over other people or things:  --The team are relying on Gregg to give them a cutting edge .//  -- cutting-edge adj //  --cutting-edge scientific discoveries//


Words: cutting room
Meaning:
n [C]   a room where the different parts of a film are cut apart and put into the correct order, to make the final form of the film//


Words: Cutty Sark
Meaning:
the   a  clipper (=fast sailing ship)  which was built in 1869 and carried tea from China to England. It is now a  museum ship at  Greenwich in London.//


Words: cuz
Meaning:
conj  AmE  spoken   a short form of ’because’//  British Equivalent:  cos//  --’Why?’ ’Cuz I said so!’//


Words: Cuzco
Meaning:
a city in southern Peru, once the most important city of the Inca people, with many palaces and temples. Much of ancient Cuzco was destroyed by the Spanish in 1533.//


Words: CV
Meaning:
n [C]   curriculum vitae a short written document that lists your education and previous jobs, which you send to employers when you are looking for a job//  American Equivalent:  resume//


Words: cwt
Meaning:
BrE  cwt. AmE   [Origin: C Roman number for 100 +  wt (from  weight)]//  the written abbreviation of hundredweight //


Words: Cy Young Award
Meaning:
the   a prize given every year to the most successful  pitcher (=the player who throws the ball)  in the  American League and the  National League of US baseball. It is named after the famous pitcher Cy Young.//


Words: cyan
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: kyanos]//  having a dark greenish-blue colour//  -- cyan n  [U] //


Words: cyanide
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: cyanogen type of poisonous gas  (19-21 centuries), from  French cyanog[hA169]ne, from  Greek kyanos (  CYAN)]//  a very strong poison//


Words: cyber-
Meaning:
prefix   [Origin: cybernetics]//  relating to computers, especially to messages and information on the Internet//  --cyber-shoppers//


Words: cybercrime
Meaning:
cyber crime/sa[hA366]b[hA353]kra[hA366]m $ -b[hA353]r-/ n [U and C]   criminal activity that involves the use of computers or the Internet//


Words: cybernetics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Greek; Origin: kybernetes  ’person who guides a boat, governor’, from  kybernan  ’to steer, govern’]//  the scientific study of the way in which information is moved and controlled in machines, the brain, and the nervous system//  -- cybernetic adj //


Words: cyberpunk
Meaning:
n [U]   stories about imaginary events relating to computer science, usually set in the future//  -- cyberpunk adj  [only before noun] //


Words: cybersickness
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling of illness caused by using a computer for long periods of time or being in a room with a lot of computers - used humorously//


Words: cyberspace
Meaning:
n [U]   all the connections between computers in different places, considered as a real place where information, messages, pictures etc exist//  --Students are discovering the endless amount of information in cyberspace.//


Words: cybersquatter
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who officially records the names of companies that they do not own or work for as domain names on the Internet in order to sell these names to companies for profit//  -- cybersquatting n  [U] //


Words: cyberstalking
Meaning:
n [U]   the illegal use of the Internet, email, or other electronic communication systems to follow someone or threaten them//  --The state’s first cyberstalking laws went into effect a little over a year ago.//  -- cyberstalker n  [C] //


Words: cyberterrorist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who uses the Internet to damage computer systems, especially for political purposes//  --Such a strategic attack, mounted by cyberterrorists, would shut down everything from power stations to air traffic control centres.//  -- cyberterrorism n  [U] //


Words: cyberwidow
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   the wife of a man who spends a lot of time working or playing on his computer - used humorously//


Words: cyborg
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: cybernetic organism]//  a creature that is partly human and partly machine//


Words: cyclamen
Meaning:
n   plural  cyclamen  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek kyklaminos]//  a plant with pink, red, or white flowers//


Words: cycle
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin cyclus, from  Greek kyklos  ’circle, wheel, cycle’]//\n  1 a number of related events that happen again and again in the same order:  --a woman’s menstrual cycle//  cycle of//  --the cycle of the seasons//  --Sometimes the only way to break the cycle of violence in the home is for the wife to leave.//    life cycle//    vicious cycle at vicious circle//\n  2  especially BrE a bicycle or motorcycle:  --a map showing cycle routes//\n  3 the period of time needed for a machine to finish a process:  --This washing machine has a 50-minute cycle.//\n  4 a group of songs, poems etc that are all about a particular important event:\ncycle 2 v \n  1 [I]  especially BrE to travel by bicycle:  American Equivalent:  bike//  cycle to/down/home etc//  --Do you cycle to work?//\n  2 [I and T]  AmE to go through a series of related events again and again, or to make something do this:  --The water is cycled through the machine and reused.//


Words: cyclone
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: kykloma  ’wheel’, from  kykloun  ’to go around’, from  kyklos;   CYCLE1]//  a very strong wind that moves very fast in a circle//    hurricane, typhoon//


Words: Cyclops
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek kyklops, from  kykl-  ’round’ (from  kyklos;   CYCLE1) +  ops  ’eye’]//  a very big man in ancient Greek stories who only had one eye in the middle of his forehead//


Words: cygnet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: cygne  ’swan’, from  Latin cygnus]//  a young swan//


Words: cylinder
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cylindrus, from  Greek, from  kylindein  ’to roll’]//\n  1 a shape, object, or container with circular ends and long straight sides:    tube//  --The gases are stored in cylinders.//\n  2 the tube within which a piston moves forwards and backwards in an engine:  --a four-cylinder engine//\n  3  be firing/running on all cylinders:   informal to be operating or performing very well//  --In this book, the author is firing on all cylinders.//


Words: cymbal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: cymbalum, from  Greek kymbalon, from  kymbe  ’bowl’]//  a musical instrument in the form of a thin round metal plate, which you play by hitting it with a stick or by hitting two of them together//  --the clash of cymbals//


Words: cynic
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: cynicus, from  Greek kynikos  ’like a dog’, from  kyon  ’dog’]//  someone who is not willing to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something//  --Even hardened cynics believe the meeting is a step towards peace.//  -- cynicism/-s[hA366]z[hA368]m/ n  [U] //


Words: cynical
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unwilling to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something:  --a cynical view of human nature//  cynical about//  --The public is cynical about election promises.//\n  2 not caring that something might not be morally right, might hurt someone etc, when you are trying to get something for yourself:  --a cynical disregard for international agreements//  -- cynically/-kli/ adv //


Words: cypress
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: cipr[hA169]s, from  Latin cyparissus, from  Greek kyparissos]//  a tree with dark green leaves and hard wood, which does not lose its leaves in winter//


Words: Cyprus
Meaning:
a large island in the east Mediterranean Sea. Population: 762,887 (2001). Cyprus has a large Greek population in the south and a small Turkish population in the north.//  -- Cypriot n  adj //


Words: Cyrillic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Saint  Cyril (827-69), Greek missionary who is said to have invented the alphabet]//  the Cyrillic alphabet is the one used for Russian, Bulgarian, and some other Slavonic languages//


Words: cyst
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: cystis, from  Greek kystis  ’organ of the body that holds liquid’]//  a lump containing liquid that grows in your body or under your skin, and that sometimes needs to be removed//    boil//


Words: cystic fibrosis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  fibrosis  ’increase of fiber in a part of the body’ 1800-1900  Modern Latin, from  Latin fibra;   FIBER]//  a serious medical condition, especially in children, in which breathing and digesting food is very difficult//


Words: cystitis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: cystis;   CYST]//  an infection of the bladder that especially affects women//


Words: cytology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: kytos  ’hollow container’ +  English -logy]//  the scientific study of cells from living things//  -- cytologist n  [C] //


Words: czar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Russian; Origin: tsar’, from  Gothic kaisar  ’emperor’, from  Greek, from  Latin Caesar, from Julius  Caesar;   CESAREAN]//\n  1 another spelling of tsar:\n  2  banking/drug/health etc czar:   AmE someone who is very powerful in a particular job or activity//


Words: czarina
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  German zarin, from  zar  ’czar’, from  Russian tsar’;   CZAR]//  another spelling of tsarina//


Words: Czech Republic
Meaning:
the   a country in central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. Population: 10,264,000 (1994). Capital: Prague. Until 1993 it was part of Czechoslovakia.//  -- Czech n  adj //


Words: Czechoslovakia
Meaning:
a former country in central Europe, which divided in 1993 into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia//


Words: D
Meaning:
d/di[hA359]/ n   plural  D’s  d’s //\n  1 [U and C] the fourth letter of the English alphabet:\n  2 [U and C] the second note in the musical scale of C major or the musical key based on this note:\n  3 [C] a mark given to a student’s work to show that it is not very good:  --I got a D in history last semester.//\n  4 the number 500 in the system of roman numerals:    D and C//


Words: d’oh
Meaning:
interjection  spoken   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  From a sound people make when annoyed]//  used humorously when you have just realized that you have done or said something stupid//


Words: D-Day
Meaning:
1 6th June, 1944; in the World War II, the day the  allies landed in France to begin the spread of their forces through Europe, under the command of General Eisenhower:\n  2 a day on which an important operation or planned action is to begin:  --So, today is D-day, then?//


Words: D-notice
Meaning:
in the UK, an official government request to a newspaper that it should not print certain information, for reasons of  national security//


Words: d.
Meaning:
also  d BrE \n  1 the written abbreviation of died :  --John Keats d. 1821//\n  2 the written abbreviation of penny or pence in the system of money used in Britain before 1971:


Words: D.O.A.
Meaning:
adj   dead on arrival used when someone is said by a doctor to be dead when they are brought to a hospital//


Words: D.Phil.
Meaning:
also  DPhil BrE   n [C]   Doctor of Philosophy a university degree of a very high level, which involves doing advanced research//   PhD//


Words: Da Ponte
Meaning:
Lorenzo   (1749-1838) an Italian writer and producer of  operas. He wrote the words for three of  Mozart’s greatest operas, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and  Cos[hA16E] fan tutte//


Words: dab
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  From the sound of hitting something]//\n  1 a small amount of something that you put onto a surface:  dab of//  --a dab of butter//\n  2 a light touch with your hand, a cloth etc:  --She wiped her tears away with a dab of her handkerchief.//\n  3  be a dab hand at/with sth:   BrE  informal to be very good at a particular activity//\n  4 a small flat fish:\n  5  dabs [plural]  BrE  old-fashioned your fingerprints:\ndab 2 v   past tense and past participle  dabbed present participle  dabbing //\n  1 [I and T] to touch something lightly several times, usually with something such as a cloth:  --She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.//  dab at//  --He dabbed at his bleeding lip.//\n  2 [T] to put a substance onto something with quick light movements of your hand:  dab sth on/onto etc sth//  --She hastily dabbed some cream on her face.//


Words: dabble
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from   DAB1]//\n  1 [I] to do something or be involved in something in a way that is not very serious:  dabble in/at/with//  --people who dabble in painting as a way of relaxing//\n  2 [T]  BrE to move your hands, feet etc about in water:  dabble sth in sth//  --children dabbling their feet in the sea//


Words: dacha
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Russian; Origin: ’gift (of land), country house’]//  a large country house in Russia//


Words: Dachau
Meaning:
a  concentration camp in southern Germany in which many Jews and other prisoners were killed during World War II//


Words: dachshund
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: ’badger-dog’ (because it was used to hunt badgers)]//  a type of small dog with short legs and a long body//


Words: dactyl
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: dactylus, from  Greek daktylos  ’finger’ (because of the length of the three finger-joints)]//  a repeated sound pattern in poetry, consisting of one long sound followed by two short sounds, as in the word ’carefully’//  -- dactylic/d[zB024]kt[hA366]l[hA366]k/ adj //


Words: dad
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  From a word used by very young children]//  father//  --She lives with her mom and dad.//  --Dad, will you help me?//


Words: Dadaism
Meaning:
also  Dada    a movement in European art and literature in the early 20th century, in which artists and writers aimed to shock people by ignoring accepted ideas and producing strange, unexpected images. Dadaism was the main influence on surrealism, which developed from Dadism in the 1920s.//


Words: daddy
Meaning:
S1   n   plural  daddies  [C] //  father - used especially by children or when speaking to children//  --Daddy’s home!//    sugar daddy//


Words: Daddy Warbucks
Meaning:
a character in the US  cartoon strip Little Orphan Annie. He is a rich businessman who takes care of a young girl called Annie, whose parents are dead.//


Words: dado
Meaning:
n   plural  dadoes  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: ’block, cube’]//  the lower part of a wall in a room, especially when it is decorated differently from the upper part of the wall//


Words: Daedalus
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, an inventor who designed the  Labyrinth on the island of  Crete, where the King of Crete kept the  Minotaur. He later escaped from Crete with his son  Icarus, by flying away using wings made of feathers and  wax. //


Words: daemon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: ’evil spirit’;   DEMON]//  a creature in ancient Greek stories that is half a god and half a man//    demon//


Words: daffodil
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  Dutch de affodil  ’the asphodel’ (= type of plant), from  Greek asphodelos]//  a tall yellow spring flower with a tube-shaped part in the middle//


Words: daffy
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: daff  ’stupid person’ (14-19 centuries)]//  silly or crazy in an amusing way//


Words: Daffy Duck
Meaning:
a black duck who is a character in  cartoon films made by  Warner Bros, and who behaves in a silly way and cannot say the sound ’s’ properly//


Words: daft
Meaning:
adj  especially BrE   [Language: Old English; Origin: ged[zB024]fte  ’gentle’]//\n  1 silly:  --a daft idea//  --Me, jealous? Don’t be daft  (=that is a silly idea) .//  --She’s as daft as a brush  (=extremely silly) .//\n  2  be daft about sth:  to be extremely interested in something//  --Tony’s still daft about cars!//  -- daftness n  [U] //


Words: dagger
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  dag  ’to push a knife into’ (14-18 centuries)]//\n  1 a short pointed knife used as a weapon:\n  2  look daggers at sb:   informal to look at someone angrily//\n  3  be at daggers drawn:  if two people are at daggers drawn, they are extremely angry with each other//    cloak-and-dagger//


Words: dago
Meaning:
n   plural  dagos  [C]  taboo //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Spanish; Origin: Diego male name]//  a very offensive word for someone from Spain, Italy, or Portugal. Do not use this word.//


Words: daguerrotype
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: , from Louis  Daguerre]//  an old type of photograph, or the process used to make it//


Words: Dahl
Meaning:
Roald   (1916-90) a British writer of very popular children’s books which are often both funny and frightening, such as  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and  James and the Giant Peach //


Words: dahlia
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Anders  Dahl (1751-89), Swedish plant scientist]//  a large garden flower with a bright colour//


Words: Dail
Meaning:
the  also  Dail [hA14A]ireann   formal   the lower house in the Republic of Ireland. The upper house is called the Senate, or the Seanad [hA14A]ireann.//


Words: daily
Meaning:
W2S3   adj [only before noun] \n  1 happening or done every day:  --daily flights to Miami//\n  2  daily life:  the ordinary things that you usually do or experience//\n  3 relating to a single day:  --the daily rate of pay//\ndaily 2 adv   happening or done every day//  --The zoo is open daily.//\ndaily 3   plural  dailies  n [C] //\n  1  also daily paper :  a newspaper that is printed and sold every day, or every day except Sunday//\n  2  BrE  old-fashioned  also daily help :  someone, especially a woman, who is employed to clean someone’s house//\n  3  dailies [plural]  AmE the prints of a film as it is being made, which are looked at every day after filming ends:  British Equivalent:  rushes//


Words: Daily Mail
Meaning:
The  also The Mail   a British daily  tabloid newspaper which usually supports the ideas of the  Conservative Party//


Words: Daily Telegraph
Meaning:
The  also The Telegraph   a serious British daily newspaper which usually supports the ideas of the  Conservative Party//


Words: dainty
Meaning:
adj   comparative  daintier superlative  daintiest //\n  1 small, pretty, and delicate:  --a dainty gold chain//  --a child with dainty features//\n  2 moving or done in a careful way, using small movements:  --a dainty walk//  -- daintily adv //  -- daintiness n  [U] //\ndainty 2   plural  dainties  n [C]  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: deintie, from  Latin dignitas  ’worth’;   DIGNITY]//  something small that is good to eat, especially something sweet such as a cake//


Words: daiquiri
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Daiquiri, town in Cuba]//  a sweet alcoholic drink made with rum and fruit juice//


Words: dairy
Meaning:
n   plural  dairies  [C] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: dey  ’female servant (in a dairy)’ (10-19 centuries), from  Old English d[zB024]ge  ’maker of bread’]//\n  1 a place on a farm where milk is kept and butter and cheese are made:\n  2 a company which sells milk and sometimes makes other things from milk, such as cheese:\n  3  dairy products/produce:  milk, butter, cheese etc//


Words: Dairy Queen
Meaning:
trademark   DQ a type of US  fast food restaurant which sells  ice cream and other foods, and is popular with young people//


Words: dais
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin discus  ’dish’]//  a low stage in a room that you stand on when you are making a speech or performing, so that people can see and hear you//


Words: daisy
Meaning:
n   plural  daisies  [C] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: d[zB024]geseage  ’day’s eye’]//\n  1 a white flower with a yellow centre:\n  2  be pushing up (the) daisies:  to be dead - used humorously//    fresh as a daisy at fresh(11)//


Words: dale
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: d[zB024]l]//  a valley - used in the past or in the names of places, especially in the North of England//


Words: Dales
Meaning:
also the Yorkshire Dales   the Dales//  an area of broad, open valleys and hills in northern England. Many tourists visit the Dales.//


Words: Dallas
Meaning:
a city in Texas in the US. It is a centre for business and industry and is especially famous for its rich oil businesses. It is also remembered as the place where John F. Kennedy was shot in 1963.//


Words: dalliance
Meaning:
n [U and C]  literary   a romantic or sexual relationship between two people that is not considered serious//


Words: dally
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  dallied present participle  dallying third person singular  dallies  [I] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: dalier]//  to waste time, or do something very slowly//  --Don’t dally along the way! We haven’t got much time.//  dally with / [dally with sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to do something or think about something, but not in a very serious way:  --They’ve dallied with the idea of touring round the world.//\n  2  old-fashioned to have a romantic relationship with someone, but not in a serious way:


Words: Dalmatian
Meaning:
dalmatian/d[zB024]lme[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Dalmatia area on the Croatian coast, where the breed came from]//  a large dog with short white hair and black or brown spots//


Words: dam
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Dutch]//\n  1 a special wall built across a river or stream to stop the water from flowing, especially in order to make a lake or produce electricity:\n  2  technical the mother of a four-legged animal, especially a horse:    sire//\ndam 2   past tense and past participle  dammed present participle  damming  v [T]  also dam up //\n  1 to stop the water in a river or stream from flowing by building a special wall across it:\n  2 to stop something from being expressed or continuing:  --Once she allowed her anger to show, it could not be dammed up again.//


Words: damage
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 physical harm:\n   2 emotional harm:\n   3 bad effect:\n   4 damages:\n   5 the damage is done:\n   6 what’s the damage?:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dam  ’damage’, from  Latin damnum;   DAMN4]//\n  1 PHYSICAL HARM:   [U] physical harm that is done to something or to a part of someone’s body, so that it is broken or injured//  damage to//  --damage to property//  --These chemicals have been found to  cause serious environmental  damage .//  --The earthquake caused  extensive structural  damage .//  --His eyesight may have suffered  irreparable damage .//  --The other ship sustained only minor damage .//  --The insurance covers accidental damage to the vehicle.//  --There may be permanent  brain damage  .//  --the need to reduce flood damage //\n  2 EMOTIONAL HARM:   [[hA35E]] harm caused to someone’s emotions or mind//  --The death of a parent can cause long-lasting psychological damage .//\n  3 BAD EFFECT:   [U] a bad effect on something//  damage to//  --The damage to his reputation was considerable.//  --The closure of the factory will cause severe damage to the local economy.//  damage limitation/control //  --the attempts at political damage control during the scandal//\n  4  damages [plural]  law money that a court orders someone to pay to someone else as a punishment for harming them or their property:    compensation//  --The court awarded him [hA124]15,000 in damages.//\n  5  the damage is done:  used to say that something bad has happened which makes it impossible to go back to the way things were before it happened//  --She immediately apologized, but the damage was done.//\n  6  what’s the damage?:   spoken used humorously to ask how much you have to pay for something//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  do/cause damage //  serious/severe/extensive damage //  irreparable/irreversible/permanent damage (=damage that cannot be repaired) //  minor damage //  accidental damage //  brain/liver/lung etc damage //  flood/storm/fire etc damage (=damage caused by a flood, storm, fire etc) //  ----------//\ndamage 2 W3S3 v [T] \n  1 to cause physical harm to something or to part of someone’s body:  --insects that damage crops//  badly/severely/seriously damage //  --Smoking can severely damage your health.//  --a shampoo for dry or damaged hair//\n  2 to have a bad effect on something or someone in a way that makes them weaker or less successful:  --The changes in share values have damaged investor confidence.//  --emotionally damaged children//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: damage, hurt, injure, wound //  Damage  means to cause physical harm to a thing or to a part of your body : Fires can damage crops and animals. |  He damaged a knee ligament playing rugby. //  You do not usually talk about damaging a person. Use  hurt ,  injure , or  wound  instead : He was hurt in a climbing accident (NOT He was damaged in a climbing accident).  //  However, you can talk about damaging an unborn child : German measles in pregnancy can damage your baby. //  Use  hurt  or  injure  to talk about people suffering physical harm as a result of an accident, earthquake, hurricane etc : No one was hurt in the car crash. |  We hoped he wasn’t seriously injured. //  !!  Do not say ’injure someone’s health’. Say ’ damage someone’s health ’. //  Use  wound  to talk about someone being hurt by a weapon such as a gun or a knife : He shot dead three people and wounded several others. |  a wounded soldier //  ----------//


Words: damaging
Meaning:
adj \n  1 causing physical harm to someone or something:  --the damaging effects of sunlight//\n  2 affecting someone or something in a bad way:  --damaging criticism of his policies//  damaging to//  --The loss of jobs was damaging to morale.//


Words: Damascus
Meaning:
1 the capital of Syria. It is one of the most ancient cities in the world and is famous for its Great Mosque:\n  2  road to Damascus :  a situation in which someone experiences a sudden and complete change in their opinions or beliefs. The phrase is based on the story in the New Testament of the Bible, in which St Paul, who was a soldier trying to prevent Christianity from spreading, saw a blinding light and heard God’s voice while he was travelling on the road to Damascus. He immediately became a Christian.//


Words: damask
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Damascus, where it was first made]//  a type of cloth with a pattern woven into it, often used to cover furniture//  --a damask tablecloth//


Words: Dame
Meaning:
n   a British title given to a woman as an honour for achievement or for doing good things//  --Dame Judi Dench//


Words: dame
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin domina  ’lady of high rank’]//\n  1  AmE  old-fashioned  informal a woman:\n  2  BrE a humorous female character in a pantomime (=a special play at Christmas)  who is played by a man:


Words: Dame Edna
Meaning:
a humorous middle aged female character invented and performed by the male Australian  comedian Barry  Humphries. Her full name is ’Dame Edna Everage’, and she wears unusual, brightly decorated clothes and  glasses, and thinks that she is very attractive, amusing, and intelligent. //


Words: damn
Meaning:
interjection  not polite \n  1 used when you are very annoyed or disappointed:  --Damn! I’ve locked my keys in the car.//\n  2 used when something is impressive or surprising:  --Damn, she’s old.//\ndamn 2 adv [+ adjective/adverb]  informal  not polite \n  1 used to emphasize a statement:  --Everything was so damn expensive.//  --The band sounded pretty damn good.//  --I’ll damn well do as I please.//  --You know damn well what I’m talking about.//  --He damn near  (=almost) drowned.//  --’It isn’t easy.’ ’ Damn right , it’s not.’//\n  2  damn all:   especially BrE nothing at all//  --He knows damn all about cars.//\ndamn 3 S2 adj [only before noun]  spoken  not polite \n  1 used when you are angry or annoyed with someone or something:  --Turn off the damn TV!//\n  2 used to emphasize something negative:  --It’s a damn shame he left her.//\n  3  not a damn thing:  nothing at all//  --There’s not a damn thing you can do about it.//\n  4  a damn sight more/better etc:  a lot more, a lot better etc//  --He’s as smart as you or me and a damn sight tougher.//\ndamn 4 v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dampner, from  Latin damnare, from  damnum  ’damage, loss’]//\n  1  damn it/you etc!:   spoken  not polite used when you are extremely angry or annoyed with someone or something//  --Damn it, be careful with that!//  --Stop, damn you!//  --Damn that telephone!//\n  2  (I’ll be/I’m) damned if ...:   spoken  not polite used to make a negative statement in a strong way//  --’Where’s Wally?’ ’Damned if I know.’ (=I don’t know) //  --I’ll be damned if I can find my keys (=I can’t find them) .//  --I’ll be damned if I let him in the house (=I won’t let him in) .//\n  3  I’ll be damned:   spoken  not polite used when you are surprised//  --I’ll be damned! I haven’t seen him for years!//\n  4  damn the consequences/expense/calories etc:   spoken used to say that you are going to do something, even though it might have bad results//  --The time has come for me to speak out, and damn the consequences.//\n  5  be damned:  to be given the punishment of going to hell after you die//\n  6 to state that something is very bad:  --The critics damned the play on the first night.//  damn (sb/sth) with faint praise (=show that you think someone or something is not good by only praising them a little) //\n  7  damned if you do, damned if you don’t:   spoken used to say that whatever you say or do will be considered wrong//    (as) near as damn it at near1 (8)//\ndamn 5 n  spoken  not polite \n  1  not give a damn (about sb/sth):  to not care at all about someone or something//  --I don’t give a damn about her.//\n  2  be not worth a damn:  to have no value at all//  --Her promise isn’t worth a damn.//


Words: damnation
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone is punished by being sent to hell after their death, or the state of being in hell for ever//\ndamnation 2 interjection  old-fashioned   used when you are very angry or annoyed//


Words: damned
Meaning:
adj, adv   another form of ’damn’, used especially in writing//\ndamned 2 n   the damned//  the people who God will send to hell when they die because they have been so bad//


Words: damnedest
Meaning:
adj  spoken  not polite \n  1  do/try your damnedest:  to try very hard to do something//  --I’ll do my damnedest to fix it, but I can’t promise anything.//\n  2 [only before noun] used to emphasize that something is unusual, surprising etc:  --It was the damnedest thing you ever saw!//


Words: damning
Meaning:
adj   proving or showing that someone has done something very bad or wrong//  --damning evidence of her treachery//  --a damning report//


Words: damp
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Middle Low German]//\n  1 slightly wet, often in an unpleasant way:  --Wipe the leather with a damp cloth.//  --a cold, damp day//\n  2  damp squib:   BrE  informal something that is intended to be exciting, effective etc, but which is disappointing//  -- dampness n  [U] //  -- damply adv //  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: damp, moist, humid //  Use  damp  especially to say that something is slightly wet in an unpleasant way : The room was cold and damp. //  Use  moist  to say that something is slightly wet in a pleasant way or in the way it should be : She took a mouthful of the delicious moist cake. |  rich, moist soil //  Use  humid  to talk about the weather or the air when it is slightly wet and makes you feel uncomfortable : the hot humid atmosphere of a greenhouse //  ----------//\ndamp 2 n [U]  BrE   water in walls or in the air that causes things to be slightly wet//  --Damp had stained the walls.//\ndamp 3 v [T]   to dampen something//  damp down [damp sth → down] phr v//  to make a fire burn more slowly, often by covering it with ash//


Words: damp course
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a layer of material which is put into the bottom of a wall to prevent water rising through it//


Words: dampen
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to make something slightly wet:   moisten//\n  2  also dampen down  BrE to make something such as a feeling or activity less strong:  --The light rain dampened the crowd’s enthusiasm.//  --Raising interest rates might dampen the economy.//\n  3 to make a sound or movement less loud or strong:  --The spring dampens the shock of the impact.//


Words: damper
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  put a damper on sth:  to make something less enjoyable, active, or great than it could have been//  --A couple of knee injuries put a damper on his football career.//\n  2 a type of small metal door that is opened or closed in a stove or furnace, to control the air reaching the fire so that it burns more or less strongly:\n  3 a piece of equipment that stops a movement from being too strong:\n  4 a piece of equipment that stops a piano string from making a sound:


Words: damsel
Meaning:
n [C]  old use   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dameisele, from  Latin domina  ’lady of high rank’]//\n  1 a young woman who is not married:\n  2  damsel in distress:  a young woman who needs help or protection - used humorously//


Words: Dan Dare
Meaning:
the main character in one of the stories in the British  comic for boys called  The Eagle, popular especially in the 1950s and 1960s. He is the brave  captain of a spacecraft and has many exciting adventures, and his main enemy is the Mekon.//\n  the main character in one of the stories in the British  comic for boys called  The Eagle, popular especially in the 1950s and 1960s. He is the brave  captain of a spacecraft and has many exciting adventures, and his main enemy is the Mekon.//


Words: dance
Meaning:
W3S2   n \n  1 [C] a special set of movements performed to a particular type of music:  --The waltz is an easy dance to learn.//  folk/traditional dance //  --the traditional dances and music of Russia//\n  2 [C] a social event or party where you dance:  --Are you going to the dance this weekend?//  --the school dance//\n  3 [C] an act of dancing:  --Claire did a little dance of excitement.//  have a dance  especially BrE //  --Let’s have another dance.//\n  4 [C] a piece of music which you can dance to:  --The band was playing a slow dance.//\n  5 [U] the activity or art of dancing:  --modern dance//  --dance and movement classes//    song and dance about sth at song(4),  lead sb a dance at lead1 (19)//\ndance 2 S3 v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dancier]//\n  1 [I and T] to move your feet and body in a way that matches the style and speed of music:  --Come on, let’s dance.//  dance to//  --They danced to Ruby Newman’s orchestra (=the orchestra was playing) .//  dance with//  --The bride danced with her father.//  dance a waltz/rumba/tango etc //\n  2 [I and T] to dance in performances, especially in ballet:  --He danced with the Boston Repertory Ballet.//  --Nakamura dances several solos in this production.//\n  3 [I]  literary to move up, down, and around quickly:  --Pink and white balloons danced in the wind.//\n  4  dance to sb’s tune:  to do what someone wants you to do - used to show disapproval//  --At that time, Eastern bloc countries danced to the Soviet tune.//\n  5  dance attendance on sb:  to do everything possible in order to please someone//  --a movie star with several young men dancing attendance on her//  -- dancing n  [U] //  --the beauty of her dancing//


Words: Dance of Death
Meaning:
also danse macabre   an imaginary dance which people are supposed to perform as they are being led to their death by a  skeleton (=a body consisting only of bones)  representing death. It was very common in pictures and drawings in the  Middle Ages, but there are also descriptions of it in music and literature.//


Words: dancer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who dances as a profession:  --The dancer’s technique is strong.//  ballet/ballroom/flamenco etc dancer //  --Margot Fonteyn, the famous British ballet dancer//\n  2 someone who dances:  --the dancers on the floor//  good/bad dancer //  --Dave’s a good dancer.//


Words: dandelion
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: dent de lion  ’lion’s tooth’ (because of the shape of the leaves)]//  a wild plant with a bright yellow flower which later becomes a white ball of seeds that are blown away in the wind//


Words: dandified
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned   a man who is dandified wears very fashionable clothes in a way that shows he cares too much about his appearance//


Words: dandle
Meaning:
v [T]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Perhaps from  dangle]//  to play with a baby or small child by moving them up and down in your arms or on your knee//


Words: dandruff
Meaning:
n [U]   small pieces of dead skin from someone’s head that can be seen in their hair or on their shoulders//


Words: Dandy
Meaning:
The   a British  comic (=a magazine for children that tells stories using sets of drawings) , whose most famous character is  Desperate Dan//


Words: dandy
Meaning:
n   plural  dandies  [C]  old-fashioned //  [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Perhaps from  Dandy, a form of the name  Andrew]//  a man who spends a lot of time and money on his clothes and appearance//\ndandy 2 adj  especially AmE   very good - often used in a slightly humorous way//  --We’re at our hotel, and everything is fine and dandy .//


Words: dang
Meaning:
interjection  especially AmE   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: damn]//  a word meaning damn that people use because it is less offensive//  -- dang adj  adv //  -- dang v  [T] //


Words: danger
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dangier, from  Vulgar Latin dominiarium  ’power to do harm’, from  Latin dominium  ’ownership’]//\n  1 [U] the possibility that someone or something will be harmed, destroyed, or killed:  --Danger! No boats beyond this point.//  in danger//  --The refugees believe that their lives are in danger.//  --I don’t want to put you in danger .//  danger of//  --The danger of a fire in the home increases during the holidays.//  be in danger of (doing) sth//  --The bridge was in danger of collapsing.//  grave/great/real/serious etc danger //  --The condor was in grave danger of extinction.//  danger from//  --The public was not aware of the danger from nuclear tests in Nevada.//  out of danger//  --The patient is now out of danger.//  --Pedestrians on this road face constant danger from cars.//\n  2 [U and C] the possibility that something bad will happen:  be in danger of (doing) sth//  --The party is in danger of being defeated in the next election.//  danger that//  --There is a danger that museums will attempt to entertain rather than educate.//  the danger of (doing) sth//  --to guard against the danger of becoming isolated//\n  3 [C] something or someone that may harm or kill you:  --the dangers that abound in the region//  danger of//  --Children need to be educated about the dangers of drug use.//  be a danger to sb/sth//  --The wreck is a danger to other ships.//\n  4  there’s no danger of sth:  used to say that something will not happen//  --There’s no danger of Darren ever getting up early.//\n  5  be on the danger list:   BrE to be so ill that you may die//


Words: dangerous
Meaning:
adj \n  1 able or likely to harm or kill you:    harmful//  --laws about dangerous dogs//  --Some of these prisoners are extremely dangerous.//  -- It’s dangerous for a woman to walk alone at night.//  dangerous for//  --The crumbling sidewalks are dangerous for old people.//  dangerous to//  --The virus is probably not dangerous to humans.//  highly/very dangerous //  --The aircraft caught fire, a highly dangerous situation.//  --The powdered milk was not as good as breast milk, and was downright dangerous  (=actually dangerous) when it was mixed with unclean water.//\n  2 involving a lot of risk, or likely to cause problems:   risky//  --The business is in a dangerous financial position.//  --a politically dangerous strategy//\n  3  dangerous ground/territory:  a situation or subject that could make someone very angry or upset//  --Teachers can be on dangerous ground if they discuss religion.//  -- dangerously adv //  --people who drive dangerously//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: dangerous //  similar words: hazardous,  risky,  treacherous,  perilous (literary) //  ----------//


Words: dangle
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//\n  1 [I and T] to hang or swing loosely, or to make something do this:  dangle from//  --A light bulb dangled from a wire in the ceiling.//  dangle sth in/over etc sth//  --I dangled my feet in the clear blue water.//\n  2 [T] to offer something good to someone, in order to persuade them to do something:  dangle sth in front of sb/before sb//  --A good pay package and a company car were dangled in front of her.//


Words: Daniel
Meaning:
in the Old Testament of the Bible, a Jewish man who was made a prisoner by King  Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and was put into a lions’  den as a punishment for not changing his beliefs. The lions did not kill him, however, because God protected him. The phrase in the lion’s den comes from this story, and is used to describe a difficult situation in which you are surrounded by people who are your enemies.//


Words: Danish
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the language used in Denmark:\n  2 [C]  AmE a very sweet cake made of light pastry:   Danish pastry//\nDanish 2 adj   relating to Denmark, its people, or its language//


Words: dank
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from a  Scandinavian language]//  unpleasantly wet and cold//  --a dank prison cell//  -- dankness n  [U] //


Words: Dante
Meaning:
(1265-1321) Dante Alighieri, an Italian poet who wrote  La Divina Commedia ( The Divine Comedy), a long poem about a journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. It is one of the most important works of European literature.//


Words: Dante’s Inferno
Meaning:
the first part of  Dante ’s poem  The  Divine Comedy, in which he is led through different parts of  hell. The phrase "Dante’s Inferno" is sometimes used to describe a place where there is a lot of fire, destruction etc//  --When the bombing finally stopped, the city looked like Dante’s Inferno.//


Words: Danton
Meaning:
Georges Jacques   (1759-94) a French politician who became one of the leaders of the  French Revolution//


Words: Danube
Meaning:
the Danube//  a long and important river in Eastern Europe. It starts in the Black Forest in Germany and goes through Austria, Hungary, and Romania into the Black Sea.//


Words: Daphne
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, a  nymph whom the god  Apollo fell in love with. When he tried to have sex with her, she ran away, praying to the goddess of the Earth to save her, and so she was changed into a  laurel tree.//


Words: Daphnis and Chloe
Meaning:
Daphnis and Chlo[hA16C]\n  1 an ancient Greek love story about a boy and a girl who are found by  shepherds. They grow up in the country, fall in love with each other, and finally get married.:\n  2 a piece of  ballet music based on this story by Maurice  Ravel:


Words: dapper
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: ’quick, strong’]//  a man who is dapper is nicely dressed, has a neat appearance, and is usually small or thin//  --a dapper little man in a grey suit//


Words: dapple
Meaning:
v [T]  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  dapple-gray]//  to mark something with spots of colour, light, or shade//


Words: dapple-grey
Meaning:
BrE  dapple-gray AmE n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Perhaps from  apple-gray (because of the shape of the spots)]//  a horse that is grey with spots of darker grey//


Words: Dar-es-Salaam
Meaning:
the former capital of Tanzania and its main port, on the Indian Ocean. It is also the main port for Zambia.//


Words: Darby and Joan
Meaning:
n  BrE   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  The names of a happy long-married couple in an 18th-century poem]//  like Darby and Joan//  used humorously when talking about an old husband and wife who live very happily together//


Words: Darcy
Meaning:
Mr   the main male character in the novel  Pride and Prejudice by Jane  Austen. He is attractive, intelligent, and very rich, but he seems too proud of his wealth and his importance in society.//


Words: Dardanelles
Meaning:
the Dardanelles//  the long narrow area of sea which connects the European and Asian parts of Turkey. It was called the Hellespont in ancient times. //


Words: dare
Meaning:
W3   v, modal v \n  1 [I not in progressive] to be brave enough to do something that is risky or that you are afraid to do - used especially in questions or negative sentences:  --He wanted to ask her, but he didn’t dare.//  --’I’ll tell Dad.’ ’You wouldn’t dare!’//  dare (to) do sth//  --I daren’t go home.//  --Only a few journalists dared to cover the story.//  --She hardly dared hope that he was alive.//  --Dare we admit this?//\n  2  how dare you:   spoken said to show that you are very angry and shocked about what someone has done or said//  --How dare you accuse me of lying!//\n  3  don’t you dare!:   spoken said to warn someone not to do something because it makes you angry//  --Don’t you dare talk to me like that!//\n  4 [T] to try to persuade someone to do something dangerous or embarrassing as a way of proving that they are brave:  dare sb to do sth//  --One night they dared Frank to steal a bottle of his father’s whiskey.//  --So jump, then. I dare you .//\n  5  dare I say/suggest:   spoken  formal used when saying something that you think people may not accept or believe//  --I thought the play was, dare I say it, boring.//\n  6  I dare say:   also  I daresay//   spoken  especially BrE used when saying or agreeing that something may be true//  --I dare say things will improve.//\ndare 2 n [C]   something dangerous that you have dared someone to do//  for a dare//   BrE //  on a dare//   AmE  (=because someone has dared you to) //  --She ran across a busy road for a dare.//


Words: daring
Meaning:
adj \n  1 involving a lot of risk or danger, or brave enough to do risky things:  --a daring rescue attempt//\n  2 new or unusual in a way that may shock people:  --a daring new building//  -- daringly adv //\ndaring 2 n [U]   courage that makes you willing to take risks//  --a plan of great daring//


Words: Darjeeling
Meaning:
1 a city in the mountains of northeast India:\n  2 a delicate tea grown on the hills around Darjeeling:


Words: dark
Meaning:
W1S2   adj   comparative  darker superlative  darkest //  ----------//\n   1 no light:\n   2 colour:\n   3 hair/eyes/skin:\n   4 mysterious:\n   5 evil:\n   6 unhappy time:\n   7 feelings/thoughts:\n   8 humour:\n   9 darkest Africa/South America etc:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: deorc]//\n  1 NO LIGHT:  if it is dark, there is little or no light//  → light//  --The church was dark and quiet.//  --the dark winter days//  --Suddenly, the room went dark  (=became dark) .//  -- It gets dark  (=night begins) about ten o’clock during the summer.//  -- It was still dark  (=was night) when we boarded the train.//  --It was pitch dark  (=completely dark) in the attic.//\n  2 COLOUR:  quite close to black in colour//  → light, pale//  --There were dark clouds in the sky.//  --men in dark suits//  --a slightly darker colour//  dark blue/green/pink etc //  --a dark blue dress//\n  3 HAIR/EYES/SKIN:  someone who is dark has hair, eyes, or skin that is brown or black in colour//  → fair//  --a tall, dark man//  --John’s dark skin and eyes//\n  4 MYSTERIOUS:  mysterious or secret//  --a dark secret//  keep sth dark  BrE  (=keep something secret) //  --Apparently, he has a son, but he’s kept that very dark.//\n  5 EVIL:  evil or threatening//  --There was a darker side to his character.//  --a place where so many dark deeds had been committed//  --the dark forces of the universe//\n  6 UNHAPPY TIME:  a dark time is unhappy or without hope//  --the dark days of the war//  --Even in the darkest moments, I still had you, my love.//\n  7 FEELINGS/THOUGHTS:  if you have dark feelings or thoughts, you are very sad or worried//  --a dark depression//  --her darkest fears//\n  8 HUMOUR:  dark humour deals with things that are bad or upsetting in a funny way//   black//  --the dark humor common in difficult situations//\n  9  darkest Africa/South America etc:   old-fashioned the parts of Africa etc about which we know very little//\ndark 2 n \n  1  the dark:  when there is no light, especially because the sun has gone down//  --my childish fear of the dark//  in the dark//  --I turned off the light and lay there in the dark.//  --We stood outside in the pitch dark  (=when there is no light at all) .//\n  2  after/before/until dark:  after, before, or until the sun goes down at night//  --I want you home before dark.//\n  3  in the dark:   informal knowing nothing about something important, because you have not been told about it//  --We’re in the dark just as much as you are.//  --College officials were kept in the dark about the investigation.//    a shot in the dark at shot1 (10)//


Words: Dark Ages
Meaning:
n \n  1  the Dark Ages:  the period in European history from 476 AD to about 1000 AD//\n  2 a time when attitudes, knowledge, technology etc were not as modern or developed as they are now:  --Richard is stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to his attitudes towards women.//


Words: Dark Continent
Meaning:
the Dark Continent//  a name given to Africa by Europeans in the 19th century. The name meant that Africa was then an unknown area to Europeans, but it is now considered an offensive name.//


Words: dark glasses
Meaning:
n [plural]   glasses with dark glass in them that you wear to protect your eyes from the sun or to hide your eyes//    sunglasses//


Words: dark horse
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is not well known, and who surprises people by winning a competition:  --In the 1955 golf championship, dark horse Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan.//\n  2  BrE someone who does not tell people much about themselves, but who has surprising qualities or abilities:  --She’s a dark horse. I didn’t know she’d written a novel.//


Words: darken
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I and T] to become dark, or to make something dark:  --The sky darkened and a few drops of rain fell.//  --a darkened theater//  --The evening shadows darkened the room.//\n  2 [I and T] to become less hopeful or positive, or to make something like this:  --As he got drunker, his mood darkened.//\n  3 [I] if someone’s face darkens, they start to look angry:  --The captain’s face darkened as he read.//\n  4  never darken my door again:   old-fashioned said when you do not want to see someone again - now used humorously//


Words: darkly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 in a sad, angry, or threatening way:  --Fred scowled darkly at her.//\n  2 having a dark colour:  --a darkly handsome young man//\n  3  darkly funny/humorous/comic:  dealing with something that is bad or upsetting in a funny way//  --a darkly comic look at illness//


Words: darkness
Meaning:
W3   n [U] \n  1 when there is no light:  --the long hours of darkness during winter//  in darkness//  --The lamp suddenly went out, leaving us in darkness.//  total/pitch/complete darkness //  --The room was in total darkness.//  --We lit our campfire as darkness fell  (=it became night) .//  --He stared out the window at the gathering darkness  (=the night slowly coming) .//\n  2 evil or the devil:  --His smooth manner covered a heart of darkness.//  the forces/powers of darkness (=the devil or evil people) //\n  3 the dark quality of a colour:  --the darkness of the lenses//


Words: darkroom
Meaning:
n [C]   a special room with only red light or no light, where film from a camera is made into photographs//


Words: Darling
Meaning:
Grace   (1815-42) a British woman whose father was in charge of a  lighthouse (=a tower with a flashing light that guides ships away from dangerous rocks) , and who is famous for bravely  rowing out to sea in a little boat during a storm to save nine people whose boat had sunk//


Words: darling
Meaning:
S2   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: deorling, from  deore  ’dear’]//\n  1  spoken used when speaking to someone you love:  --Look, darling, there’s Mary.//\n  2 [C] someone who is very nice:  --You really are a darling, Barney.//\n  3  the darling of sth:  the most popular person or thing in a particular group or area of activity//  --She’s the darling of the fashion world.//\ndarling 2 adj [only before noun] \n  1 used of someone you love very much:  --my two darling daughters//\n  2  spoken used when you think someone or something is attractive:  --What a darling little house!//


Words: Darling Buds of May
Meaning:
The   one of a series of humorous novels by H.E. Bates about the Larkin family, a family of farmers in southern England during the 1950s//


Words: darn
Meaning:
them etc  AmE  informal   used to show that you are annoyed or disappointed//   damn//  --Darn! I forgot my keys!//  --Darn it! I’ll have to do it all myself!//\ndarn 2 adj  also darned  spoken  informal \n  1 used to emphasize how bad, stupid, unfair etc someone or something is:   damn//  --The darn fool got lost on the way.//\n  2  a darn sight better/harder etc:  a lot better, harder etc//   damn//  --He’d earn a darn sight more money there.//  -- darn also darned //   adv //  --It was a darned good movie.//\ndarn 3 v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  French darner]//  to repair a hole in a piece of clothing by stitching wool over it//  --Her cardigan had been darned at the elbows.//\ndarn 4 n [C]   a place where a hole in a piece of clothing has been repaired neatly with wool//


Words: darned
Meaning:
adj  spoken  informal \n  1  I’ll be darned!:  used when you are surprised about something//  --Did they really? I’ll be darned!//\n  2  I’ll be darned if ...:  used to emphasize that you will not allow something to happen//\n  3  darned if I know:  used to emphasize that you do not know something//


Words: Darrow
Meaning:
Clarence   (1857-1938) a US lawyer known for representing workers and members of  trade unions in court cases. In his most famous case, the  Scopes Trial, he defended a teacher who was taken to court for teaching his students about  evolution and the ideas of Charles  Darwin.//


Words: dart
Meaning:
v \n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to move suddenly and quickly in a particular direction:  --Jill darted forward and pulled him away from the fire.//\n  2 [I and T]  literary to look at someone or something very quickly:  --Tom darted a terrified glance over his shoulder at his pursuers.//\ndart 2 n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French]//\n  1 [C] a small pointed object that is thrown or shot as a weapon, or one that is thrown in the game of darts:  --a poisoned dart//\n  2  darts [U] a game in which darts are thrown at a round board with numbers on it:\n  3 [singular] a sudden quick movement in a particular direction:  --The prisoner made a dart for the door.//\n  4  dart of guilt/panic/pain etc:  a very sudden, sharp feeling//  --It sent a dart of terror through her.//\n  5 [C] a small fold put into a piece of clothing to make it fit better:


Words: Darth Vader
Meaning:
an evil character in the films  Star Wars,  The Empire Strikes Back, and  Return of the Jedi. He wears black clothes, has a black  mask that covers all of his face, and talks in a strange and frightening voice.//


Words: Dartmoor
Meaning:
1 a large area of  moor (=wild, open country with rough grass and low bushes) in Devon, in the southwest of England, which is a National Park.:\n  2 Dartmoor Prison, a prison in the centre of Dartmoor, far from any towns, where many dangerous criminals are kept:


Words: Dartmouth
Meaning:
1 a port in Devon, southwest England. Many officers of the British navy are trained in the Royal Naval College there.:\n  2  also Dartmouth College :  a private university in New Hampshire in the US. It is one of the universities in the  Ivy League (=a group of old and respected colleges) .//


Words: Darwin
Meaning:
a city and important port in northern Australia//\n Charles   (1809-82) a British scientist who developed the  theory of evolution, which is the idea that plants and animals develop gradually from simpler to more complicated forms by  natural selection. This is the process by which only plants and animals that are naturally suitable for life in their environment will continue to live, while all others will die. He wrote about his ideas in his book  On the Origin of Species.//  -- Darwinian adj //  --the Darwinian theory of evolution//


Words: dash
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  Probably from the sound of something breaking when hit]//\n  1 [I always + adverb/preposition] to go or run somewhere very quickly:  --Olive dashed into the room, grabbed her bag, and ran out again.//\n  2  dash sb’s hopes:  to disappoint someone by telling them that what they want is not possible//  --Hopkins’ hopes were dashed when his appeal was denied.//\n  3  (I) must dash/(I) have to dash:   BrE  spoken used to tell someone that you must leave quickly//  --Anyway, I must dash - I said I’d meet Daniel at eight.//\n  4 [I,T always + adverb/preposition]  written to throw or push something violently against something, especially so that it breaks:  dash sth against/on sth//  --The ship was dashed against the rocks.//  dash against//  --Waves were dashing against the sea wall.//\n  5  dash it (all)!:   BrE  old-fashioned used to show that you are slightly annoyed or angry about something//  dash off phr v//\n  1 to leave somewhere very quickly:  --Harry dashed off before she had a chance to thank him.//\n  2  dash sth → off:  to write or draw something very quickly//  --She dashed off a quick letter.//\ndash 2 n   ----------//\n   1 small amount:\n   2 run quickly:\n   3 line:\n   4 sound:\n   5 car:\n   6 style:\n   7 cut a dash:  ----------//\n  1 SMALL AMOUNT:   [singular] //  a) a small amount of a substance that is added to something else//  dash of//  --Add salt, pepper and a dash of vinegar.//  b) a small amount of a quality that is added to something else//  dash of//  --Add a dash of romance to your life with a trip to Paris.//\n  2 RUN QUICKLY:   [C usually singular] an occasion when someone runs somewhere very quickly in order to get away from something or someone, or in order to reach them//  make a dash for sth//  --He made a dash for the door.//  --The prisoners made a dash for freedom.//  --It’s pouring with rain - we’ll have to make a dash for it .//  --When the alarm went there was a mad dash for the exit.//\n  3 LINE:   [C] a line [ - ] used in writing to separate two closely related parts of a sentence, as for example, in the sentence ’Go home - they’re waiting for you.’//    hyphen//\n  4 SOUND:   [C] a long sound or flash of light used for sending messages in Morse code//    dot//\n  5 CAR:   [C]  AmE a dashboard//\n  6 STYLE:   [U]  old-fashioned style, energy, and courage in someone such as a soldier//\n  7  cut a dash:   old-fashioned to look very impressive and attractive in particular clothes//  --With her new image, she’ll certainly cut a dash on her holiday cruise.//


Words: dashboard
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  DASH1 ’to strike with small drops of liquid’ (17-19 centuries) +  board (because it was originally a board to stop mud getting into a vehicle)]//  the part in front of the driver in a car that has the controls on it//


Words: dashing
Meaning:
adj   a man who is dashing wears nice clothes and is very attractive and confident//  --a dashing young doctor//  -- dashingly adv //


Words: dastardly
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: dastard  ’someone without courage, someone evil’ (15-20 centuries), perhaps from  Old Norse d[zB024]str]//  very cruel or evil//  --tales of pirates and their dastardly deeds//


Words: data
Meaning:
n [plural,U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Plural of  datum  ’fact, piece of information’ (17-21 centuries), from  Latin, past participle of  dare  ’to give’]//\n  1 information or facts:  --The research involves collecting data from two random samples.//  data on//  --data on pesticide use//  experimental/historical/statistical etc data //  --detailed research data//\n  2 information in a form that can be stored and used, especially on a computer:  --It’s possible to store a lot more data on a DVD.//  data storage/transfer/retrieval //


Words: data mining
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of using a computer to examine large amounts of information about customers, in order to discover things about them that are not easily seen or noticed//


Words: Data Protection Act
Meaning:
the   a British law that protects people from other people using the information about them that is stored on computers for wrong purposes, and makes it necessary for people who hold personal information on computers to  register with an authority//


Words: database
Meaning:
n [C]   a large amount of data stored in a computer system so that you can find and use it easily//  --customer details held on a database//  database system/software/application etc //


Words: date
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 day:\n   2 at a later/future date:\n   3 to date:\n   4 romantic meeting:\n   5 arrangement to meet somebody:\n   6 fruit:  ----------//  [Sense: 1-5; Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin data, from the past participle of  Latin dare  ’to give’]//  [Sense: 6; Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Greek daktylos  ’finger’]//\n  1 DAY:  a particular day of the month or year, especially shown by a number//  --The date on the letter was 30th August 1962.//  --What’s today’s date?//  date of//  --What’s the date of the next meeting?//  date of birth/birth date (=the day you were born) //  --Please write your name, address, and date of birth on the form.//  date of publication/issue/delivery etc //  --You should apply at least 8 weeks before your date of departure.//  set/decide on/fix a date (=choose a particular day for something) //  --Have you set a date for the wedding?//  --The closing date  (=last day you can do something) for applications is 10th Sept.//\n  2  at a later/future date:   formal at some time in the future//   later//  --The details will be agreed at a later date.//\n  3  to date:  up to now//  --The cost of the work to date has been about [hA124]150 million.//  --Her best performance to date was her third place at the World Junior Championships.//\n  4 ROMANTIC MEETING:  a) an occasion when you go out with someone that you like in a romantic way//  date with//  --I’ve got a date with Andrea tomorrow night.//  --I felt like a teenager going out on a first date .//    blind date//  b)  AmE someone that you have a date with//  sb’s date//  --Can I bring my date to the party?//\n  5 ARRANGEMENT TO MEET SOMEBODY:  a time arranged to meet someone, especially socially//  --Let’s make a date to come over and visit.//\n  6 FRUIT:  a sweet sticky brown fruit with a long hard seed inside//    closing date,  expiry date at expiry(2),  out-of-date,  sell-by date,  up-to-date//\ndate 2 W3S3 v   ----------//\n   1 write date:\n   2 find age:\n   3 old-fashioned:\n   4 relationship:\n   5 show somebody’s age:  Phrasal verbs//   date from something//  ----------//\n  1 WRITE DATE:   [T] to write or print the date on something//  --a newspaper dated November 23, 1963//  --Make sure you sign and date it at the bottom.//\n  2 FIND AGE:   [T] to find out when something old was made or formed//  --The rocks are dated by examining the fossils found in the same layer.//  --radiocarbon dating//\n  3 OLD-FASHIONED:   [I] if clothing, art etc dates, it begins to look old-fashioned//  --His designs are so classic, they’ve hardly dated at all.//    dated//\n  4 RELATIONSHIP:   [T]  AmE to have a romantic relationship with someone//   go out with//  --Is he still dating Sarah?//\n  5 SHOW SOMEBODY’S AGE:   [T] if something that you say, do, or wear dates you, it shows that you are fairly old//  --Yes, I remember the moon landings - that dates me, doesn’t it?//  date from [date from sth] phr v//  to have existed since a particular time in the past//  --The church dates from the 13th century.//


Words: datebook
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a small book in which you write things you must do, addresses, telephone numbers etc//   diary//


Words: dating agency
Meaning:
also dating service  n [C]   a business that helps people to meet other people in order to have a romantic relationship//


Words: dative
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dativus  ’of giving’, from  dare  ’to give’]//  a particular form of a noun in some languages such as Latin and German, which shows that the noun is the indirect object of a verb//


Words: daub
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: dauber, from  Latin dealbare  ’to make white, whitewash’]//  to put paint or a soft substance on something without being very careful//  --soldiers’ faces daubed with black mud//\ndaub 2 n \n  1 [C] a small amount of a soft or sticky substance:  daub of//  --a daub of paint//\n  2 [U]  technical mud or clay used for making walls:    wattle and daub at wattle(1)//


Words: daughter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: dohtor]//  someone’s female child//  --She’s got two daughters and one son.//  --our eldest daughter//  daughter of//  --the daughter of Labour MP Tony Benn//


Words: Daughters of the American Revolution
Meaning:
the   the DAR an organization in the US for women whose families have been in the US since the  American Revolutionary War. Its members are very  patriotic and generally support  right-wing political ideas.//


Words: daunt
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: danter, from  Latin domitare  ’to train (something) so that it obeys’]//\n  1 to make someone feel afraid or less confident about something:  --He felt utterly daunted by the prospect of moving to another country.//  --Don’t be daunted by all the technology.//\n  2  nothing daunted:   old-fashioned used to say that someone continues or starts to do something in spite of difficulties//  --It was steep but, nothing daunted, he started climbing.//


Words: daunting
Meaning:
adj   frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident//  --The trip seemed rather daunting for a young girl.//  --He’s got the daunting task of following in Ferguson’s footsteps.//  --the daunting prospect of asking for a loan//


Words: David
Meaning:
a  statue of a young man made by the artist  Michelangelo, which can be seen in Florence, in Italy. Many people think it is one of the best examples of the human form in art.//


Words: David Copperfield
Meaning:
(1849-50) a novel by Charles  Dickens which describes the life of its main character, David Copperfield, from the time when he was a poor  orphan (=a child whose parents have both died) . It is one of Dickens’s most popular books, and is partly based on his own life. Many people know its characters, including Mr  Micawber and Uriah  Heep.//


Words: Davis Cup
Meaning:
the   an important international men’s  tennis competition, played between teams of players representing their countries//


Words: Davis Miles
Meaning:
(1926-91) a US musician who played the  trumpet and led his own jazz band. He had an important influence on the development of  jazz.//\n Steve   (1958- ) a British  snooker player who was extremely successful in the 1980s. He played very calmly and quietly, and was often called "boring" as a joke.//


Words: Davy
Meaning:
Sir Humphrey   (1778-1829) a British scientist who invented the Davy lamp, an oil lamp that could be used in coal mines without causing explosions. He also discovered several  elements (=basic chemical substances) , including  calcium,  sodium, and  potassium.//


Words: dawdle
Meaning:
v [I]   to take a long time to do something or walk somewhere//  --Don’t dawdle - we’re late already!//  dawdle over//  --I dawdled over a second cup of coffee.//  -- dawdler n  [C] //


Words: Dawes Plan
Meaning:
the   a plan developed by Charles G. Dawes, a US politician, to help Germany to pay its  reparations (=money paid by a defeated country)  after World War I//


Words: Dawkins
Meaning:
Richard   (1941- ) a British scientist with a special interest in  evolution. In his book  The Selfish Gene, he says that humans, plants, and animals are built by  genes (=the parts of a cell which control qualities that are passed on to a living thing from its parents)  so that the genes can continue to exist. He is famous for strongly opposing the belief in God.//


Words: dawn
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: daw  ’to dawn’ (10-19 centuries), from  Old English dagian; related to  day]//\n  1 the time at the beginning of the day when light first appears:   daybreak//    dusk//  at dawn//  --The first boats set off at dawn.//  --When dawn broke  (=the first light of the day appeared) , we were still 50 miles from Calcutta.//  --I was up at the crack of dawn  (=very early in the morning) to get the plane.//  --We worked from dawn to dusk  (=through the whole day while it is light) .//  --the cold light of dawn//\n  2  the dawn of civilization/time etc:  the time when something began or first appeared//  --People have been falling in love since the dawn of time.//\n  3  a false dawn:  something that seems positive or hopeful but really is not//  --There was talk of share prices recovering, but that was just a false dawn.//\ndawn 2 v [I] \n  1 if day or morning dawns, it begins:  --The morning dawned fresh and clear after the storm.//\n  2  literary if a period of time or situation dawns, it begins:  --The age of Darwin had dawned.//\n  3  formal if a feeling or idea dawns, you have it for the first time:  -- It began to dawn that something was wrong.//  dawn on [dawn on sb] phr v//  if a fact dawns on you, you realize it for the first time//  --Then the ghastly truth dawned on me.//  -- It dawned on me that Joanna had been right all along.//


Words: Day
Meaning:
Doris   (1924- ) a US singer and film and television actress who was especially popular in the 1950s and early 1960s. Many people think of her as cheerful and morally good.//


Words: day
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 24 hours:\n   2 not night:\n   3 when you are awake:\n   4 time at work:\n   5 past:\n   6 now:\n   7 future:\n   8 somebody’s/something’s day:\n   9 Independence/election/Christmas etc day:\n  10 five/three/nine etc years to the day:\n  11 somebody’s days:\n  12 somebody’s/something’s days are numbered:\n  13 day after day:\n  14 from day to day:\n  15 day by day:\n  16 night and day:\n  17 day out:\n  18 have an off day:\n  19 make somebody’s day:\n  20 soup/dish/fish etc of the day:\n  21 be all in a day’s work:\n  22 take each day as it comes:\n  23 the day of reckoning:\n  24 it’s (just) one of those days:\n  25 it’s not somebody’s day:\n  26 make a day of it:\n  27 that’ll be the day:\n  28 not have all day:\n  29 it’s not every day (that):\n  30 be on days:\n  31 40/50/60 etc if he’s/she’s a day:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: d[zB024]g]//\n  1 24 HOURS:   [C] a period of 24 hours//  --We spent three days in Paris.//  --’What day is it today?’ ’Friday.’//  --He left two days ago.//  --I’ll call you in a couple of days.//  --The following day, a letter arrived.//  on a/the following/that etc day//   (=during a particular day) //  --Over 10,000 soldiers died on that one day in January.//  --What really happened on that day so long ago?//  --I saw Jane the day before yesterday .//  --We’re leaving for New York the day after tomorrow .//  --Women generally use up about 2000 calories a day  (=each day) .//  --I got an email from Jo the other day  (=a few days ago) .//\n  2 NOT NIGHT:   [U and C] the period of time between when it gets light in the morning and when it gets dark//  → night//  --She only leaves her house during the day.//  --It was a cold blustery day.//  --Kept in that dark cell, I could no longer tell whether it was day or night.//  on a/that/the following etc day//  --She first met Steve on a cold but sunny day in March.//  by day//   (=during the day) //  --Owls usually sleep by day and hunt by night.//  --The day dawned  (=started) bright and clear.//\n  3 WHEN YOU ARE AWAKE:   [C usually singular] the time during the day when you are awake and active//  --His day begins at six.//  --Jackie starts the day with a few gentle exercises.//  --Sometimes I feel I just can’t face another day.//  --’See you later,’ said the girl, ’Have a nice day.’  (=used in a friendly way when you say goodbye to someone) //  --It’s been a long day  (=used when you have been awake and busy for a long time) .//  all day (long) (=during the whole time you are awake) //  --I’ve been studying all day. I’m beat!//\n  4 TIME AT WORK:   [C] the time you spend doing your job during a 24-hour period//  --I work a ten-hour day.//  --Rail workers are campaigning for a shorter working day .//  --I’ve got a day off  (=a day when I do not have to go to work) tomorrow.//\n  5 PAST:   [C] used to talk about a time in the past//  --I knew him pretty well from his days as a DJ in the Bounty Club (=from when he was a DJ) .//  --I always used to do the cooking in the early days of our marriage.//  --Not much was known about the dangers of smoking in those days  (=then) .//  --They were very much opposed to the government of the day  (=that existed then) .//  -- One day  (=on a day in the past) , a mysterious stranger called at the house.//  -- From day one  (=from the beginning) , I knew I wouldn’t get on with him.//  -- In my day  (=in the past, when I was young) , kids used to have some respect for their elders.//  in sb’s student/army/childhood etc days (=in the past when someone was a student etc) //  --I used to run six miles a day in my army days.//  those were the days  spoken  (=used to talk about a time in the past you think was better than now) //  --We used to stay in bed all morning and party all night. Those were the days!//\n  6 NOW:   [C] used to talk about the situation that exists now//  --I don’t do much exercise these days  (=now) .//  --It’s incredible that such attitudes still exist in this day and age  (=used to express disapproval that something still exists now) .//  -- To this day  (=until and including now) , he denies any involvement in the crime.//  up to/until/to the present day (=until and including now) //  --This tradition has continued right up until the present day.//\n  7 FUTURE:   [C] used to talk about a time in the future//  one day/some day (=some time in the future) //  --I’d like to go and visit the States one day.//  --Some day we might get him to see sense.//  -- One of these days  (=some time soon) I’m going to walk right out of here and never come back.//  --Kelly’s expecting the baby any day now  (=very soon) .//  -- The day will come  (=the time will come) when he won’t be able to care for himself any more.//\n  8  sb’s/sth’s day:  a successful period of time in someone’s life or in something’s existence//  --Your grandfather was a famous radio personality in his day  (=at the time he was most successful) .//  --Don’t be too disappointed you didn’t win - your day will come  (=you will be successful in the future) .//  --Game shows like that have had their day  (=were successful in the past, but are not any more) .//\n  9  Independence/election/Christmas etc day:  a day on which a particular event or celebration takes place//  --Rioting broke out just three days before polling day.//\n  10  five/three/nine etc years to the day:  exactly five years etc//  --It’s two years to the day since he died.//\n  11  sb’s days:  someone’s life//  --She ended her days in poverty.//\n  12  sb’s/sth’s days are numbered:  used to say that someone or something will not exist for much longer//  --It seems that the hospital’s days are numbered.//\n  13  day after day:   also day in day out //  continuously for a long time in a way that is annoying or boring//  --I couldn’t stand sitting at a desk day after day.//\n  14  from day to day:   also from one day to the next //  if a situation changes from day to day or from one day to the next, it changes often//  --I never know from day to day what I’m going to be doing.//  --His moods swung wildly from one day to the next.//    day-to-day,  live from day to day at live1 (5)//\n  15  day by day:  slowly and gradually//  --Her health was improving day by day.//\n  16  night and day:   also day and night //  all the time//   continuously//  --Being together night and day can put a great pressure on any relationship.//\n  17  day out:   especially BrE a trip you make for pleasure on a particular day//  --A visit to the caves makes a fascinating and exciting day out for all the family.//\n  18  have an off day:  to be less successful or happy than usual, for no particular reason//  --Even the greatest athletes have their off days.//\n  19  make sb’s day:  to make someone very happy//  --Hearing her voice on the phone really made my day.//\n  20  soup/dish/fish etc of the day:  a soup, meal etc that a restaurant serves on a particular day in addition to the meals they always offer//\n  21  be all in a day’s work:  if something difficult, unpleasant, or unusual is all in a day’s work for someone, it is a normal part of their job//\n  22  take each day as it comes:   also take it one day at a time //  to deal with something as it happens and not worry about the future//  --Since I had the accident, I’ve learned to take each day as it comes.//\n  23  the day of reckoning:  a time when you have to deal with the unpleasant results of something you did in the past//\n  24  spoken  it’s (just) one of those days:  used to say that everything seems to be going wrong on this particular day//\n  25  spoken  it’s not sb’s day:  used when several unpleasant things have happened to someone in one day//  --It really wasn’t Chris’s day - he overslept and then his car broke down.//\n  26  spoken  make a day of it:   BrE to spend all day doing something for pleasure//  --If the weather’s nice, we’ll make a day of it and take a picnic.//\n  27  spoken  that’ll be the day:  used to say that you think something is very unlikely to happen//  --’Bill says he’s going to start going to the gym.’ ’That’ll be the day!’//\n  28  spoken  not have all day:  used to say that you want someone to do something faster because you do not have enough time to wait for them to finish//  --Hurry up! I haven’t got all day!//\n  29  spoken  it’s not every day (that):  used to say that something does not happen often and is therefore very special//  --Let’s go out and celebrate. After all, it’s not every day you get a new job.//\n  30  spoken  be on days:  to work during the day at a job you sometimes have to do at night//  --I’m on days this week.//\n  31  spoken  40/50/60 etc if he’s/she’s a day:  used to emphasize that someone is at least as old as you are saying//  --She’s ninety if she’s a day.//    at the end of the day at end1 (12),  call it a day at call1 (10),  carry the day at carry1 (22),  the early days at early1 (1),  every dog (has) its day at dog1 (11),  the good old days at old(8),  half day,  have a field day at field day(1),  it’s early days at early1 (3),  it’s (a little) late in the day at late1 (8),  it’s sb’s lucky day at lucky(5),  (live to) see the day at see1 (23),  name the day at name2 (6),  open day,  save the day at save1 (12),  speech day,  sports day//  ----------//  HINT sense 3 //  Do not say all the day. Say all day. //  ----------//


Words: day camp
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   a place where children can go in the day during the school holidays to do sports, art etc//


Words: day care
Meaning:
daycare/de[hA366]ke[hA353] $ -ker/ n [U]   when babies or young children, or sick or old people are looked after during the day, especially while their family members are at work//  day care centre/services/facilities //  --subsidized day care facilities//  day care for//  --Local authorities may provide day care for under fives.//  --a day care centre for the elderly//


Words: day centre
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a place where sick or old people or people who have a particular problem can go during the day to be looked after, to meet other people, or to get help//  day centre for//  --a local day centre for homeless people//


Words: day job
Meaning:
n [C]   your normal job which you earn most of your money from doing, especially as opposed to another interest//  --I’d love to be a professional writer, but I’m not giving up my day job just yet.//


Words: Day of Atonement
Meaning:
the   a Jewish holy day when Jews fast and pray for forgiveness for their sin (=things they have done wrong) , during the past year. It is also known as  Yom Kippur.//


Words: Day of the Triffids
Meaning:
The   a science fiction book by John Wyndham. The triffids are large poisonous plants that can move, and they become powerful after a bright light in the sky makes most people blind.//


Words: day off plural
Meaning:
days off  n [C]   a day when you do not go to work, school etc because you have a holiday or because you are sick//  --On my days off, you’ll usually find me out in the back garden.//  take/have a day off //  --I’m taking a few days off before the wedding.//


Words: day return
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a train or bus ticket that lets you go somewhere at a cheaper price than usual, if you go there and back on the same day//


Words: day school
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a school where the students go home in the evening rather than one where they live//    boarding school//


Words: day trading
Meaning:
n [U]   the activity of using a computer to buy and sell shares on the Internet, often buying and selling very quickly to make a profit out of small price changes//  -- day trader n  [C] //


Words: day trip
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a visit to an interesting place when you go there and come back the same day//  day trip to//  --I remember my grandparents taking me on a day trip to Blackpool.//  -- day tripper n  [C] //


Words: Day-Glo
Meaning:
adj  trademark   having a very bright orange, green, yellow, or pink colour//  --Day-Glo orange posters//


Words: day-to-day
Meaning:
adj [only before noun] \n  1  day-to-day work/business/life etc:  day-to-day jobs or activities are ones that you do every day as a normal part of your life, your job etc//  --The manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the hotel.//\n  2 planning for only one day at a time, usually because you are unable to plan for longer:  --I see a counsellor and can now handle life on a day-to-day basis .//


Words: daydream
Meaning:
v [I]   to think about something pleasant, especially when this makes you forget what you should be doing//    dream//  daydream about//  --What are you daydreaming about? There’s work to be done.//  -- daydreamer n  [C] //\ndaydream 2 n [C]   pleasant thoughts you have while you are awake that make you forget what you are doing//    dream//


Words: daylight
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the light produced by the sun during the day:  in daylight//  --They’re shy animals and don’t often come out in daylight.//  --The park is open to the public during daylight hours .//  --If possible, it’s better to work in natural daylight.//    in broad daylight at broad1 (7)//\n  2  (put) daylight between yourself and sb:   informal if you put daylight between yourself and someone else, you make the distance or difference between you larger//  --Now the team need to put some daylight between themselves and their rivals for the championship.//\n  3  scare/frighten the (living) daylights out of sb:   informal to frighten someone a lot//  --It scared the living daylights out of me when the flames shot out.//\n  4  beat/knock the (living) daylights out of sb:   informal to hit someone a lot and seriously hurt them//\n  5  daylight robbery:   BrE  informal a situation in which something costs you a lot more than is reasonable//  --[hA124]2.50 for a cup of coffee? It’s daylight robbery!//


Words: daylight saving time
Meaning:
also daylight savings  n [U]   the time during the summer when clocks are one hour ahead of standard time//    British Summer Time//


Words: daytime
Meaning:
n [U]   the time during the day between the time when it gets light and the time when it gets dark//  in/during the daytime//  --I can’t sleep in the daytime.//  --Can I take your daytime telephone number  (=the number of the telephone you use during the day) ?//  --daytime television//


Words: Dayton Accords
Meaning:
the  also the Dayton Peace Accords  , the Dayton Agreements   the political agreements made in 1995 in Dayton, Ohio, in the US, between  Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) to end the fighting between them and decide where the new borders would be between them//


Words: daze
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: dazed]//  in a daze//  feeling confused and not able to think clearly//  --She wandered round in a daze, not quite sure what to do.//


Words: dazed
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: dasathr  ’very tired’]//  unable to think clearly, especially because of a shock, accident etc//  --Dazed survivors staggered from the wreckage.//  dazed look/expression etc //  --Her face was very pale and she wore a dazed expression.//


Words: dazzle
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: daze]//\n  1 if a very bright light dazzles you, it stops you from seeing properly for a short time:  --a deer dazzled by the headlights//\n  2 to make someone feel strong admiration:  --As children, we were dazzled by my uncle’s good looks and charm.//  -- dazzle n  [U] //


Words: dazzling
Meaning:
adj \n  1 a light that is dazzling is very bright and makes you unable to see properly for a short time:\n  2 very impressive and attractive:  --a dazzling display of football skills//


Words: DBE
Meaning:
n   Dame Commander of the (Order of the) British Empire a title given in Britain to a woman as an honour because she has done something of national importance. A woman who has a DBE can use the title Dame  instead of Mrs, Miss,  or Ms.//  --She was awarded a DBE in 1992.//


Words: DD
Meaning:
1 the abbreviation of direct debit:\n  2 Doctor of Divinity an advanced university degree in  theology (=religious studies) :


Words: DDS
Meaning:
Doctor of Dental Surgery a university degree in  dentistry. DDS is written after someone’s name to show that they have this degree.//


Words: de facto
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’from what is done’]//   formal really existing although not legally stated to exist//    de jure//  --a de facto state of war//  -- de facto adv //


Words: de jure
Meaning:
adj, adv  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’from the law’]//  true or right because of a law//    de facto//


Words: De Klerk
Meaning:
F.W.   (1936-) the President of South Africa from 1989 to 1994. He made many political changes and finally ended the system of  apartheid. In 1990 he allowed the  ANC to become a legal organization again, and let Nelson  Mandela out of prison. He and Mandela won the  Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.//


Words: De Mille
Meaning:
Agnes   (1909-93) a US dancer and  choreographer who planned the dances for several musical plays on Broadway, such as  Oklahoma! and  Carousel//


Words: De Niro
Meaning:
Robert   (1943- ) one of America’s greatest film actors, known especially for appearing as characters who are violent or are involved in very violent situations. His films include  Taxi Driver (1976),  Raging Bull (1980), and  Cape Fear (1991).//


Words: de rigueur
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’of strictness’]//  considered to be necessary if you want to be accepted, fashionable etc - used humorously//  --the gleaming white teeth that are de rigueur for movie stars//


Words: de-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin de-  ’from, down, away’ and  Latin dis-  ’apart’]//\n  1 shows an opposite:  --deindustrialization (=becoming less industrial) //\n  2 shows that something is removed:  --Debone the fish (=remove its bones) .//  --The king was dethroned (=removed from power) .//\n  3 shows that something is reduced:  --The government have devalued the currency.//


Words: deacon
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: diaconus, from  Greek diakonos  ’servant’]//  a religious official, in some Christian churches, who is just below the rank of a priest//


Words: deaconess
Meaning:
n [C]   a female religious official, in some Christian churches, who is just below the rank of a priest//


Words: deactivate
Meaning:
v [T]   to switch something, especially a piece of equipment, off or to stop it from being used any more//  → activate//  --You need to type in a code number to deactivate the alarm.//


Words: dead
Meaning:
adj [no comparative]   ----------//\n   1 not alive:\n   2 not working:\n   3 already used:\n   4 boring:\n   5 not active/used:\n   6 arm/leg etc:\n   7 no emotion:\n   8 tired:\n   9 be dead to the world:\n  10 used for emphasis:\n  11 over my dead body:\n  12 I wouldn’t be seen/caught dead:\n  13 in serious trouble:\n  14 be dead and buried:\n  15 be dead in the water:\n  16 drop dead!:\n  17 dead language:\n  18 the dead hand of something:\n  19 planet:\n  20 in sport:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 NOT ALIVE:  no longer alive//  --Her mother had been dead for ten years.//  --Police are trying to contact the family of the dead man.//  --a pile of dead leaves//  --the dead body of a young soldier//  --Two men were shot dead by terrorists.//  --Magnus was found dead  in his car.//  --One man is still missing,  presumed dead .//  --He was out playing golf when he suddenly had a heart attack and dropped dead .//  --She was  pronounced dead on arrival  at the hospital.//  --His fellow climbers had  left him for dead on the mountain.//  --We didn’t know if she was dead or alive.//  --When they found him he was  more dead than alive .//  --Her parents were  long dead .//\n  2 NOT WORKING:   [not before noun] not working because there is no power//  --I picked up the phone but discovered the line was dead .//  --Suddenly the radio went dead .//  --I think the  batteries  are  dead .//\n  3 ALREADY USED:  already used//  --a small pile of  dead matches //  dead glass/bottle (=one that someone has finished drinking from in a bar or restaurant) //\n  4 BORING:   [not before noun] a place that is dead is boring because there is nothing interesting or exciting happening there//  --This place is dead after nine o’clock.//\n  5 NOT ACTIVE/USED:  not active or being used//  --The luxury car market has been dead in recent months.//\n  6 ARM/LEG ETC:   [not before noun] a part of your body that is dead has no feeling in it, especially because the blood supply to it has been stopped//  --When I got up my foot had gone dead where I’d been sitting on it.//\n  7 NO EMOTION:   [not before noun] showing no emotion or sympathy//  --Jennie’s eyes were cold and dead.//\n  8 TIRED:   [not before noun]  spoken very tired//  --I can’t go out tonight. I’m absolutely dead!//  --She was dead on her feet and didn’t have the energy to argue (=used when someone keeps going even though they are very tired) .//\n  9  be dead to the world:  to be very deeply asleep or unconscious//  --Better leave Craig - he’s dead to the world.//\n  10 USED FOR EMPHASIS:   [only before noun] completely or exactly - used to emphasize what you are saying//  --We all sat waiting in dead silence  (=complete silence) .//  --The train came to a  dead stop  (=it stopped completely) .//  --The arrow hit the  dead centre of the target (=the exact centre) .//  --I’ve given the whole thing up as a dead loss  (=completely useless or a complete failure) .//  --John tells me it’s a dead cert , we can’t lose (=something which will certainly happen, win, succeed etc) .//  --He fell to the floor in a dead faint  (=completely unconscious) .//\n  11  over my dead body:   spoken used to say that you are determined not to allow something to happen//  --You’ll marry him over my dead body!//\n  12  I wouldn’t be seen/caught dead:   spoken used to say that you would never wear particular clothes, go to particular places, or do particular things, because you would feel embarrassed//  I wouldn’t be seen/caught dead in/on/with etc//  --I wouldn’t be seen dead in a dress like that!//\n  13 IN SERIOUS TROUBLE:   spoken in serious trouble//  if ... I’m dead/you’re dead etc //  --If Mum finds out about this, I’m dead.//  --You’re  in dead trouble  now (=in very serious trouble) !//  --One word of this to Sam and you’re dead meat  (=you are in serious trouble and someone is very angry with you) !//\n  14  be dead and buried:  an argument, problem, plan etc that is dead and buried is not worth considering again//  --The old argument about whether the UK should be a member of the EU should now be dead and buried. //\n  15  be dead in the water:   informal if a plan or idea is dead in the water, it is unlikely to continue successfully//\n  16  drop dead!:   spoken used to rudely and angrily tell someone to go away and leave you alone//\n  17  dead language:  a dead language, for example Latin or Ancient Greek, is no longer used by ordinary people//    living language at living1 (1)//\n  18  the dead hand of sth:  something which stops or slows your progress, especially a strong influence//  --the dead hand of local government bureaucracy//\n  19 PLANET:  a dead planet has no life on it//\n  20 IN SPORT:  when the ball is dead in some games, it is no longer on the playing area//    (as) dead as a dodo at dodo(3)//    dead ringer//  -- deadness n  [U] //  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  a dead body  //  be shot dead //  be found dead //  be feared/presumed dead  //  drop dead  (=die suddenly) //  clinically dead  (=dead based on medical checks) //  dead on arrival  (=dead when arriving at a hospital) //  pronounce somebody dead (=a doctor says that someone is dead after checking their body) //  leave somebody for dead (=leave someone because you think they are dead) //  stone dead/dead as a doornail  informal (=dead, with no signs of life) //  more dead than alive (=very badly hurt or ill and almost dead) //  long dead/dead and gone  (=dead for a long time) //  HINT sense 1 //  Do not confuse dead , which is an adjective, with died , which is the past tense and past participle of the verb die : The man was already dead (NOT The man was already died). //  ----------//\ndead 2 S3 adv  informal \n  1 completely:  dead right/wrong //  --’It’s a crazy idea.’ ’You’re dead right!’ //  dead straight/flat //  --The road was dead straight.//  dead quiet/calm/still //  --Everything suddenly went dead still.//  be dead (set) against sth (=completely disagree with something) //  --Her family were dead against the marriage.//  --He was obviously  dead drunk .//  --When he saw her, he stopped dead in his tracks  (=suddenly stopped moving completely) .//\n  2  spoken very:  --He was dead good-looking.//  --It sounded dead boring.//  dead beat/tired (=very tired) //\n  3 [+ adjective/adverb] directly or exactly:  --I stared dead ahead at the doorway.//  --The bus arrived dead on time .//\ndead 3 n \n  1  the dead [plural] people who have died:  --Families on both sides buried their dead.//  the dead and injured/wounded/dying //  --Most of the dead and injured had been passengers on the bus.//\n  2  the dead of night/winter:  the middle of the night or the middle of the winter//  --creeping around in the dead of night//\n  3  rise/come back/return from the dead:  to become alive again after dying//  --Christ rose from the dead.//


Words: dead duck
Meaning:
n   a dead duck//   informal a plan, idea etc that is not worth considering because it is very likely to fail//  --He admitted that the whole project was a dead duck.//


Words: dead end
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a street with no way out at one end:\n  2 a situation from which no more progress is possible:  come to/reach a dead end //  --The negotiations have reached a dead end.//\n  3  dead-end job:  a job with low wages and no chance of progress//


Words: dead heat
Meaning:
n [C]   a situation during or at the end of a race or competition in which two or more competitors have the same number of points etc, have reached the same level, or have taken the same time to complete a particular distance//


Words: dead letter
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a law, idea etc that still exists but that people no longer obey:\n  2 a letter that cannot be delivered or returned:


Words: dead ringer
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who looks exactly like someone else//  dead ringer for//  --Dave’s a dead ringer for Paul McCartney.//


Words: Dead Sea
Meaning:
the Dead Sea//  a large lake between Israel and Jordan. It is over 25% salt, so people can float in it very easily //


Words: Dead Sea Scrolls
Meaning:
the   a collection of ancient Jewish  scrolls (=rolls of paper containing writing)  from around the time of Christ. They contain the oldest copies of parts of the Old Testament of the Bible, and were found near the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956.//


Words: dead wood
Meaning:
deadwood/dedw[hA35E]d/ n [U] \n  1 people or things within an organization which are no longer useful or needed:\n  2 branches of a tree which are no longer alive:


Words: deadbeat
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who is lazy and has no plans in life:\n  2 someone who avoids paying their debts:


Words: deadline
Meaning:
n [C]   a date or time by which you have to do or complete something//  deadline for//  --The deadline for applications is May 27th.//  deadline of//  --It has to be in before the deadline of July 1st.//  meet/miss a deadline (=have or not have something finished on time) //  --working under pressure to meet a deadline//  set/impose a deadline //  --They’ve set a deadline of Nov 5.//  tight/strict deadline (=a deadline that is difficult) //


Words: deadlock
Meaning:
n [singular, U] \n  1 a situation in which a disagreement cannot be settled:   stalemate//  --The talks have reached a complete deadlock .//  --a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock //  --Negotiations ended in deadlock.//\n  2  BrE a deadbolt:  -- deadlocked adj //  --Talks between management and unions remain deadlocked over the issue of possible redundancies.//


Words: deadly
Meaning:
adj   ----------//\n   1 very dangerous:\n   2 deadly enemy:\n   3 complete:\n   4 very effective:\n   5 like death:  ----------//\n  1 VERY DANGEROUS:  likely to cause death//   lethal//  --a deadly poison//  --a deadly weapon//  deadly disease/virus //\n  2  deadly enemy:  someone who will always be your enemy and will try to harm you as much as possible//  --The two rapidly became deadly enemies.//\n  3 COMPLETE:  complete or total//  --We sat in deadly silence.//  --He was in deadly earnest  (=completely serious) .//\n  4 VERY EFFECTIVE:  causing harm in a very effective way//  --She hit the target with deadly accuracy.//\n  5 LIKE DEATH:   [only before noun] like death in appearance//  --His face had a deadly paleness.//\ndeadly 2 adv   deadly serious/dull/boring etc//  very serious, dull etc//  --I’m deadly serious, this isn’t a game!//


Words: deadpan
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: dead +  pan  ’face’ (1900-2000)]//  sounding and looking completely serious when you are saying or doing something funny//  deadpan voice/expression etc //  --deadpan humour//


Words: deadweight
Meaning:
dead weight/dedwe[hA366]t/ n [singular] \n  1 something that is very heavy and difficult to carry:\n  2 someone or something that prevents you from making progress or being successful:


Words: Deadwood
Meaning:
a city in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is well known for its part in the history of the American Old West. Wild Bill Hickok, a skilled gunfighter, was shot here in 1876. Both he and Calamity Jane, a woman famous for her skill in shooting, are buried in Deadwood.//


Words: deaf
Meaning:
W3   adj   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 physically unable to hear anything or unable to hear well:    hearing impaired//  --communication between deaf and hearing people//  --I think Mum’s going a bit deaf .//  --She’s deaf and dumb  (=unable to hear or speak) and communicates using sign language.//  --Tom was born profoundly deaf  (=completely deaf) .//  stone deaf/deaf as a post  informal  (=completely deaf) //    hard of hearing,  tone-deaf//\n  2  the deaf [plural] people who are deaf:  --a school for the deaf//\n  3  be deaf to sth:   literary to be unwilling to hear or listen to something//  --She was deaf to his pleas.//\n  4  turn a deaf ear (to sth):  to be unwilling to listen to what someone is saying or asking//  --The factory owners turned a deaf ear to the demands of the workers.//\n  5  fall on deaf ears:  if advice or a warning falls on deaf ears, everyone ignores it//  -- deafness n  [U] //


Words: deafen
Meaning:
v [T usually passive] \n  1 if a noise deafens you, it is so loud that you cannot hear anything else:\n  2 to make someone go deaf:


Words: deafening
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very loud:  --a deafening roar//\n  2  deafening silence:  a complete silence, when it is uncomfortable or you are expecting someone to say something//


Words: deal
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 agreement:\n   2 a great deal:\n   3 treatment:\n   4 it’s a deal:\n   5 cards:\n   6 wood:\n   7 a deal of something:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: d[zB024]l]//\n  1 AGREEMENT:   [C] an agreement or arrangement, especially in business or politics, that helps both sides involved//  --They made a deal  to sell the land to a property developer.//  deal with//  --rumors that the company had  struck a deal  with Microsoft to market its products//  deal between//  --Twelve US soldiers were released after a deal between the army and the guerillas.//  --Cash incentives worth almost [hA124]45 million helped to  clinch the deal .//  --You can get some really good deals on the internet.//  --She and Branson have been discussing a possible  business deal  together.//  --The merger is still far from being  a done deal .//  --a new band signing a major record deal //\n  2  a great deal:   also a good deal //  a large quantity of something//   a lot//  a great deal of//  --It took a great deal of time and effort.//  --His work has been attracting a great deal of attention.//  a great deal more/less etc (=a lot more, less etc) //  --He knew a good deal more than I did.//  --She’s married to a man a good deal older than herself.//\n  3 TREATMENT:   [C usually singular] treatment of a particular type that is given or received//  a better/fairer etc deal //  --a better deal for nurses//  --The prime minister promised farmers a new deal  (=a new and fairer system) .//  a rough/raw deal (=unfair treatment) //  --Women tend to get a raw deal from employers.//\n  4  it’s a deal:   spoken used to say that you agree to do something//  --OK, it’s a deal.//\n  5 CARDS:   [singular] when you give out cards to players in a card game//    dealer//  --It’s your deal, Alison.//\n  6 WOOD:   [U]  BrE  fir or pine wood used for making things//  --a deal table//\n  7  a deal of sth:   old-fashioned a large amount of something//    big deal//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  make/do a deal //  strike/cut a deal (=make a deal) //  negotiate a deal //  close/clinch a deal (=successfully complete a deal) //  get a good deal (on something) (=buy something at a good price) //  business deal //  pay deal //  something is a done deal informal (=something has been completely and finally agreed) //  HINT sense 2 //  Only use a great/good deal of with uncountable nouns: a great deal of time/money/work/interest/information //  ----------//\ndeal 2 v   past tense and past participle  dealt /delt///\n  1 [I and T]  also deal sth → out :  to give playing cards to each of the players in a game//  --Whose turn is it to deal?//\n  2 [I]  informal to buy and sell illegal drugs:  --Many users end up dealing to support their habit.//\n  3  deal a blow (to sb/sth):  to cause harm to someone or something - used in news reports//  deal a heavy/severe/serious etc blow //  --The sanctions have dealt a severe blow to the local tourism industry.//  --This will deal a blow to consumer confidence.//  deal in phr v//\n  1  deal in sth:  to buy and sell a particular type of product//    dealer//  deal in shares/securities etc //  --investors dealing in stocks and shares//  deal in drugs/stolen goods etc //  --He then began dealing in heroin.//  deal in antiques/second-hand books etc //\n  2  deal in sth:  to be interested or involved in something//  --As a scientist, I do not deal in speculation.//\n  3  deal sb in:  to include someone in a game of cards//  deal out [deal sth → out] phr v//\n  1 to give playing cards to each of the players in a game:  --I began dealing out the cards.//\n  2 to decide what kind of punishment someone will get:  deal with / [deal with sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to take the necessary action, especially in order to solve a problem:   handle//  --an effective strategy for dealing with disruptive pupils//  --Don’t worry, I’ll deal with this.//  deal with a problem/issue/matter etc //  --The council has failed to deal with the problem of homelessness in the city.//  deal effectively/adequately etc with sth //  --They should deal properly and fairly with any complaint.//\n  2 if a book, speech etc deals with a particular subject, it is about that subject:  --These ideas are dealt with more fully in Chapter Four.//\n  3 to do business with someone or have a business connection with someone:  --Most travel agents do not deal directly with these companies.//\n  4 to succeed in controlling your feelings about an emotional problem so that it does not affect your life:   cope with//  --How’s he dealing with the whole thing?//


Words: dealer
Meaning:
W3   n [C] \n  1 someone who buys and sells a particular product, especially an expensive one:  car/antique/art etc dealer //  dealer in//  --a dealer in modern art//\n  2 someone who sells illegal drugs:\n  3 someone who gives out playing cards in a game:


Words: dealing
Meaning:
n \n  1  dealings [plural] the business activities or relationships that someone is involved in:  --an investigation of his financial dealings//  dealings with//  --She is ruthless in her dealings with competitors.//  --We’ve had dealings with him in the past.//\n  2 [U] the activity of buying, selling, or doing business with people:  --penalties for drug dealing//  plain/honest/fair dealing (=a particular way of doing business) //  --a reputation for fair dealing//    insider dealing at insider trading,  wheeling and dealing//


Words: Dean
Meaning:
Dizzy   (1911-74) a US  baseball player who was a famous  pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals team in the 1930s, helping them win the  World Series in 1934. He was famous for achieving more  strikeouts than any other pitcher.//\n James   (1931-55) a US film actor who became extremely famous, and then died in a car crash at the age of 24. Many people think of him as a typical example of a young  rebel (=someone who refuses to do follow social rules or behave in the way that other people want them to) . His films include  East of Eden (1955) and  Rebel Without a Cause (1955).//


Words: dean
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: deien, from  Late Latin decanus  ’person in charge of ten others’, from  Latin decem  ’ten’]//\n  1 a priest of high rank in the Christian church who is in charge of several priests or churches:\n  2 someone in a university who is responsible for a particular area of work:  --the admissions dean//\n  3  AmE someone with a lot of experience of a particular job or subject:  British Equivalent:  doyen//  dean of//  --Neier is the dean of American human rights activism.//


Words: dear
Meaning:
S1   interjection   Oh dear//  used to show that you are surprised, upset, or annoyed because something bad has happened//  --Oh dear, I’ve broken the lamp.//  --’I think I’m getting a cold.’ ’Oh dear!’//\ndear 2 S2 n [C] \n  1 used when speaking to someone you love:  --How did the interview go, dear?//\n  2  spoken used by an older person when speaking in a friendly way to someone who is younger:  --Can I help you, dear?//  --Come along, my dear , take a seat.//\n  3  BrE  spoken someone who is kind and helpful:  --Be a dear and make me a coffee.//\n  4  old dear:   BrE a fairly rude expression meaning an old woman//\ndear 3 adj   comparative  dearer superlative  dearest //  [Language: Old English; Origin: deore]//\n  1  Dear:  used before someone’s name or title to begin a letter//  --Dear Sir or Madam, ...//  --Dear Mrs. Wilson, ...//  --Dear Meg, ...//\n  2  BrE expensive:  → cheap//  --Cars are 59% dearer in Britain than in Europe.//\n  3  formal a dear friend or relative is very important to you and you love them a lot:  --Mark became a dear friend .//  be dear to sb//  --His sister was very dear to him.//\n  4  hold sth dear:  to think that something is very important//  --Household economy was something my mother held very dear.//\n  5  dear old...:   BrE  spoken used to describe someone or something in a way that shows your love or liking of them//   good old//  --Here we are, back in dear old Manchester!//\n  6  for dear life:   written if you run, fight, hold on etc for dear life, you do it as fast or as well as you can because you are afraid//  --She grasped the side of the boat and hung on for dear life .//\n  7  the dear departed:   BrE  literary a person you love who has died//\ndear 4 adv   cost sb dear//   written to cause a lot of trouble and suffering for someone//  --Carolyn’s marriage to Pete cost her dear.//


Words: Dear Abby
Meaning:
trademark   a US newspaper  column by Abigail Van Buren, which prints letters from readers asking for advice and her answers to these letters//


Words: dear John letter
Meaning:
n [C]  old-fashioned   a letter that a man receives from his wife or girlfriend that tells him she no longer loves him//


Words: dearie
Meaning:
deary/d[hA366][hA353]ri $ d[hA366]r-/ n  spoken  informal \n  1 used when speaking to someone you love:\n  2  dearie me:   old-fashioned used when you are surprised or sad about something//


Words: dearly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 very much:  --James loved her dearly .//  --I would dearly like to know what she said.//\n  2 in a way that involves a lot of suffering, damage, trouble etc:  --The weakness in their defense has already cost them dearly this season.//  --Ordinary people are paying dearly for the mistakes of this administration.//\n  3  dearly beloved:   spoken used by a priest or minister at the beginning of a Christian service//


Words: dearth
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin:  DEAR3 ’expensive’ (11-21 centuries)]//  a lack of something//  dearth of//  --a dearth of job opportunities//


Words: death
Meaning:
n   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 :  a)  [U] the end of the life of a person or animal//  → birth//  death of//  --The death of his mother came as a tremendous shock.//  --Cancer is the leading cause of death in women.//  --How Danielle met her death  (=died) will probably never be known.//  --His friend was  close to death .//  --His family are still mourning John’s tragic death .//  --the anniversary of Lenin’s death//  bleed/burn/starve etc to death //  --a homeless man who froze to death//  beat/stab/shoot etc sb to death //  --The 76-year-old pensioner was beaten to death.//  put/sentence/condemn sb to death (=kill someone or decide they should be killed as an official punishment) //  --Legend has it that Sarah was put to death for practising witchcraft.//  --Members of the family have received  death threats .//  --He remained president until his  untimely death   (=death at a surprisingly young age ) in 1917.//  --Two of the passengers managed to  escape death  (=avoid being killed) .//  b)  [C] a particular case when someone dies//  → birth//  --a campaign to reduce the number of traffic deaths//  death from//  --deaths from cancer//  --I heard there’d been a death in the family .//\n  2  the death of sth:  the permanent end of something//  → birth//  --The latest bombing is the death of all our hopes.//  --These regulations could spell the death  (=lead to the end) of the American car industry.//\n  3  to death:   informal //  a) used to emphasize that a feeling or emotion is very strong//  be bored/scared/frightened etc to death //  --She was scared to death of what might happen next.//  --I’m absolutely sick to death of it (=very angry, bored, or unhappy about something) .//  bore/scare/love etc sb to death //  --He drove at a speed which frightened Leonora to death.//  --She used to worry me to death.//  b) used to say that an action is continued with a lot of effort and for as long as possible//  --They just work you to death in that place.//\n  4  do sth to death:   informal to perform or present an idea, joke etc so often that people become tired of it//  --Most of his material has been done to death by numerous comedians.//\n  5  to the death:  a) until someone is dead//  --They will fight to the death rather than give an inch of ground.//  --soldiers locked in a bitter struggle to the death//  b) until you achieve something even if it means that you suffer//  --The leadership election has become a fight to the death.//\n  6  Death:  a creature that looks like a human skeleton, used in paintings, stories etc to represent the fact that people die//\n  7  be at death’s door:  to be very ill and likely to die//\n  8  look/feel like death warmed up:   BrE look/feel like death warmed over  AmE  informal to look or feel very ill or tired//\n  9  you’ll catch your death (of cold):   spoken  old-fashioned used to warn someone that they are likely to become ill because they are wet or cold//\n  10  sb will be the death of me:   spoken  old-fashioned used to say that someone is causing you a lot of worry and problems//  --That boy will be the death of me!//    Black Death,  kiss of death at kiss2 (3),  life and death at life(10)//


Words: death blow
Meaning:
n [singular]   an action or event that makes something fail or end//    death knell//  --His decision to leave the show has delivered a death blow to the series.//


Words: death certificate
Meaning:
n [C]   a legal document, signed by a doctor, that states the time and cause of someone’s death//    birth certificate//


Words: Death in Venice
Meaning:
(1912) a novel by Thomas  Mann, which was made into a film in 1971, about a successful writer in Venice who falls in love with a beautiful Polish boy and therefore does not want to leave the city, even though there is  cholera there. He stays, and finally dies from the disease.//


Words: death knell
Meaning:
n [singular]   a sign that something will soon fail or stop existing//    death blow//  (sound/strike/toll) the death knell for/of sth //  --The loss of Georgia would sound the death knell of Republican hopes.//


Words: death mask
Meaning:
n [C]   a model of a dead person’s face, made by covering their face with a soft substance and letting it become hard//


Words: Death of a Salesman
Meaning:
(1949) a play by Arthur  Miller about a man called Willy Loman, who kills himself because he has lost his job and feels that he has failed//


Words: death penalty
Meaning:
n [singular]   the legal punishment of death//    capital punishment//  --Three Britons are facing the death penalty for spying.//


Words: death rate
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the number of deaths for every 100 or every 1000 people in a particular year and in a particular place:    birth rate//\n  2 the number of deaths each year from a particular disease or in a particular group:  --childhood death rates//


Words: death row
Meaning:
n [U]   the part of a prison where prisoners who will be punished by being killed are kept//  on death row//  --a murderer on death row//


Words: death sentence
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the official punishment of death, ordered by a judge:  --He received a death sentence .//  --Premeditated murder carries  (=is punished by)  the death sentence .//\n  2 something such as an illness that makes you sure you will die:  --Cancer is no longer a death sentence.//\n  3 an action or decision that is very harmful to someone or something:  --In 1987, the government passed a death sentence on the river by granting permission for the new dam.//


Words: death throes
Meaning:
n [plural] \n  1 the final stages before something fails or ends:  --The peace pact seems to be in its death throes .//\n  2 sudden violent movements that people sometimes make when they are dying:


Words: death toll
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the total number of people who die in an accident, war etc//  --As the unrest continued, the death toll rose .//  --The official death toll stands at 53.//


Words: death trap
Meaning:
n [C]  informal   a vehicle, building, piece of equipment etc that is in very bad condition and might injure or kill someone//  --A car with tires in this condition is simply a death trap.//


Words: Death Valley
Meaning:
an area of desert in the US states of Nevada and California. It is one of the hottest places in the world, and many people died trying to cross it in the 19th century.//


Words: death warrant
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 an official document stating that someone is to be killed as a punishment:\n  2 something that is likely to cause you very serious trouble, or even your death:  --By indulging in casual sex, many teenagers could be signing their own death warrants .//


Words: death wish
Meaning:
n [singular]   a desire to die//  --Before I did the jump, people would ask if I had a death wish .//


Words: deathbed
Meaning:
n   [C usually singular] the bed on which someone dies or is dying//  on your deathbed//  --On her deathbed, Miriam’s mother reveals that she never knew her father.//  deathbed confession/conversion etc (=made when you are dying) //  --The disease allowed no time for a deathbed repentance.//


Words: deathly
Meaning:
adj, adv   reminding you of death or of a dead body//  deathly cold/white/pale //  --She was deathly pale, and looked as if she might faint.//  a deathly hush/silence (=complete silence) //  --A deathly hush fell over the room.//


Words: debacle
Meaning:
deb[hA163]cle/de[hA366]b[hA35A][hA359]k[hA368]l, d[hA366]-/ n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: deb[hA163]cle, from  deb[hA163]cler  ’to remove a bar’]//  an event or situation that is a complete failure//  --the debacle of the 1994 elections//


Words: debar
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  debarred present participle  debarring  [T usually passive]  formal //  to officially prevent someone from doing something//   ban//  debar sb from (doing) sth//  --All five men were debarred from entering France for three years.//


Words: debark
Meaning:
v [I]   to disembark (=get off a ship) //  debark from//  --I remember how glad I felt debarking from a ship in Bremerhaven after six days on the ocean.//


Words: debase
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   to make someone or something lose its value or people’s respect//  --The medical profession has been debased by these revelations.//  debase yourself//  --actors who debased themselves by participating in the show//  debase a currency/coinage (=reduce its value) //  -- debasement n  [U and C] //  --currency debasement//


Words: debatable
Meaning:
adj   things that are debatable are not certain because people have different opinions about them//  --a debatable point //  it is debatable whether/how etc //  --It’s debatable whether this book is as good as her last.//  --Whether the object was used for rituals is highly debatable .//


Words: debate
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] discussion of a particular subject that often continues for a long time and in which people express different opinions:  --the gun-control debate in the US//  --The new drug has become the subject of  heated debate  within the medical profession.//  debate over/about//  --There has been  widespread public debate  over the introduction of genetically modified food.//  --There was much  lively debate  about whether women should spend more time in the home. //  --A fierce  debate raged  over which artist’s work should be chosen for the prize.//  debate between//  --the  ongoing debate  between environmentalists and the road-building lobby over the future of our countryside//  --Nuclear power has always been a topic that has  sparked off  considerable debate .//\n  2 [U and C] a formal discussion of a particular problem, subject etc in which people express different opinions, and sometimes vote on them:  debate on/over/about//  --a debate on legalized gambling//  --a  televised debate //  have/hold/conduct a debate //  --It would have been better to hold the debate during the day.//  be under debate//  --What topics are under debate in Congress this week?//\n  3  be open to debate:   also be a matter for debate //  if an idea is open to debate, no one has proved yet whether it is true or false//   debatable//  --Whether that would have made any difference is open to debate.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  heated/fierce/intense debate (=one in which people express strong and very different opinions) //  widespread debate //  lively debate //  public debate //  a debate rages (=it happens over a period of time and people have strong feelings about it) //  long-running debate //  ongoing debate (=continuing debate) //  provoke/trigger/spark off a debate (=cause a debate) //  ----------//\ndebate 2 v [I and T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: debatre, from  batre  ’to hit’]//\n  1 to discuss a subject formally when you are trying to make a decision or find a solution:  --The issue will be debated on Tuesday.//  debate whether/what/how etc//  --Meanwhile, philosophers debate whether it’s right to clone an individual.//  debate (sth) with sb//  --an invitation to debate with William on the future of democracy//  --His conclusions are hotly debated  (=argued about strongly) .//\n  2 to consider something carefully before making a decision:  debate with yourself//  --I debated with myself whether I should tell anyone.//  debate who/what/how etc//  --I’m still debating what to do.//  debate doing sth//  --For a moment Mary debated telling Rick the truth.//


Words: debauched
Meaning:
adj  formal   someone who is debauched behaves in a bad or immoral way, for example by drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, or having sex with many people//


Words: debenture
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: debentur  ’they are owed’, from  debere  ’to owe’]//  an official document produced by a company showing how much interest it will pay on a loan (=money it has borrowed) //


Words: debilitate
Meaning:
v [T]  formal \n  1 to make someone ill and weak:\n  2 to make an organization or system less effective or powerful:  --Progress has been debilitated by a refusal to share ideas.//  -- debilitating adj //  --a debilitating disease//


Words: debility
Meaning:
n   plural  debilities  [U and C]  formal //  weakness, especially as the result of illness//    disability//  --physical and mental debility//


Words: debit
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: debitum  ’debt’;   DEBT]//\n  1  technical a decrease in the amount of money in a bank account, for example because you have taken money out of it:  → credit//    direct debit//\n  2  technical a record in financial accounts that shows money that has been spent or that is owed:  → credit//\n  3  on the debit side:  used to say that something is a disadvantage in a particular situation, especially after you have described the advantages//  --Bikes are easy to park, but on the debit side can be dangerous in traffic.//\ndebit 2 v [T]  technical \n  1 to take money out of a bank account:  → credit//  debit sth from sth//  --The sum of [hA124]25 has been debited from your account.//\n  2 to record in financial accounts the money that has been spent or that is owed:  debit sth against/to sth//  --Purchases are debited against the client’s account.//


Words: debit card
Meaning:
n [C]   a plastic card with your signature on that you can use to pay for things. The money is taken directly from your bank account//    cash card,  cheque card,  credit card//


Words: debonair
Meaning:
adj  old-fashioned   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: de bonne aire  ’of good family or nature’]//  a man who is debonair is fashionable and confident//


Words: Debrett’s
Meaning:
also Debrett   a book that is a guide to the British royal family and other  upper-class families in the UK. It provides information about members of these families, the properties they own, and their history.//


Words: debrief
Meaning:
v [T]   to ask someone questions about a job they have just done or an experience they have just had, in order to gather information//    brief//  --The returning bomber crews were debriefed.//  -- debriefing n  [U] //  --a debriefing session//


Words: debris
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: debris, from  Old French debriser  ’to break in pieces’]//\n  1 the pieces of something that are left after it has been destroyed in an accident, explosion etc:  --She was hit by flying debris from the blast.//\n  2  technical pieces of waste material, paper etc:  plant/garden/industrial etc debris //  --Clean the ventilation ducts to remove dust and insect debris.//


Words: debt
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: dette, from  Latin debitum, from  debere  ’to owe’]//\n  1 [C] a sum of money that a person or organization owes:  debt of//  --This over-ambitious strategy has saddled them with debts of around $3,000,000.//  pay (off)/repay/clear/settle etc a debt //  --He had enough money to pay off his father’s outstanding debts.//  --Romania is paying more and more to Western banks simply to service the debt  (=pay it) .//  run up/amass debts //  --students who run up huge debts //\n  2 [U] when you owe money to someone:  → credit//  in debt (to sb)//  --Nearly half the students said they were in debt.//  --The band will be in debt to the record company for years.//  [hA124]200/$1000 etc in debt //  --A rash business decision left him $600 in debt.//  get/run/fall etc into debt //  --The club sank deeper into debt .//  be heavily/deeply in debt (=owe a lot of money) //\n  3 [C usually singular] the degree to which you have learned from or been influenced by someone or something else:  debt to//  --Braque acknowledged his debt to Impressionist painting.//\n  4  debt of gratitude/thanks:  the fact of being grateful to someone who has helped you//  --I owe a debt of gratitude to my tutors.//    bad debt,  national debt//


Words: debt relief
Meaning:
n [U]   an arrangement in which very poor countries do not have to pay back all the money that has been lent to them by richer countries//


Words: debt-ridden
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   debt-ridden countries or organizations owe so much money they cannot pay the money back//


Words: debug
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  debugged present participle  debugging  [T] //\n  1 to remove the bugs (=mistakes) from a computer program:    disinfect//\n  2 to remove secret listening equipment from a place:  -- debugging n  [U] //


Words: debunk
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  BUNK12]//  to show that an idea or belief is false//  --His claims were later debunked by fellow academics.//  -- debunker n  [C] //


Words: debut
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: debut, from  debuter  ’to begin’, from  but  ’starting point’]//  the first public appearance of an entertainer, sports player etc or of something new and important//  sb’s debut//  --He made his Major League debut as shortstop.//  film/acting/directorial etc debut //  --His Broadway debut was ’The Scarlet Pimpernel’.//  debut album/CD/single etc //  --Their debut album was recorded in 1991.//  debut match/performance etc //  --He scored in his debut match for the club.//\ndebut 2 v \n  1 [I] to appear in public or become available for the first time:  --The show will debut next Monday at 8.00pm.//\n  2 [T] to introduce a product to the public for the first time:    release//   launch//  --Ralph Lauren debuted his autumn collection in Paris last week.//


Words: debutante
Meaning:
n  also deb  informal  [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: debutante, from  debuter;   DEBUT1]//  a young rich upper-class woman who starts going to fashionable events as a way of being introduced to upper-class society//


Words: deca-
Meaning:
prefix [in nouns]   [Language: Greek; Origin: deka  ’ten’]//  ten//  --a decalitre (=10 litres) //  --the decathlon (=a sports competition with 10 different events) //    deci-//


Words: decade
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: decade, from  Greek dekas, from  deka  ’ten’]//  a period of 10 years//


Words: decadence
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: decadence, from  Latin decadere  ’to fall, sink’]//  behaviour that shows that someone has low moral standards and is more concerned with pleasure than serious matters//


Words: decadent
Meaning:
adj   having low moral standards and being more concerned with pleasure than serious matters//  --Pop music was condemned as decadent and crude.//  -- decadently adv //


Words: decaffeinated
Meaning:
adj   coffee or tea that is decaffeinated does not contain caffeine (=the substance that keeps you awake) //


Words: decal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: decalcomania  ’sudden wide interest in decals’ (19-20 centuries), from  French, from  decalquer  ’to copy using transparent paper’]//   AmE a piece of paper with a pattern or picture on it that you stick on a surface//  British Equivalent:  transfer//


Words: Decameron
Meaning:
the   a group of amusing stories, often about sex, by the great Italian writer Boccaccio. Written in the middle of the 14th century, this work had a great influence on English literature.//


Words: decamp
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: decamper, from  camper  ’to camp’]//  to leave a place quickly//  decamp to/from//  --The wealthier inhabitants decamped to the suburbs.//


Words: decant
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: decantare, from  Latin cantus  ’lip of a pouring container’]//  to pour liquid, especially wine, from one container into another//  decant sth into sth//  --Never decant cleaning products into old pop bottles.//


Words: decapitate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: decapitatus, from  Latin caput  ’head’]//  to cut off someone’s head//  --a decapitated body//  -- decapitation/d[hA366]k[zB024]p[hA369]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: decathlon
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: deca- +  Greek athlon  ’competition’]//  a sports competition with 10 different events//    pentathlon, triathlon//


Words: decay
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old North French; Origin: deca[hA170]r, from  Late Latin decadere  ’to fall, sink’]//\n  1 [I and T] to be slowly destroyed by a natural chemical process, or to make something do this:    rot//  --Her body was already starting to decay.//  --Most archaeological finds are broken, damaged, or decayed.//  --decaying organic matter//\n  2 [I] if buildings, structures, or areas decay, their condition gradually becomes worse:  --Hundreds of historic buildings are being allowed to decay.//  --Britain’s decaying inner cities//\n  3 [I] if traditional beliefs, standards etc decay, people do not believe in them or support them any more:   decline//  --In Orthodox Europe, mass religion seems to have decayed less.//\ndecay 2 n [U] \n  1 the natural chemical change that causes the slow destruction of something:  --old cars in various stages of decay //  -- tooth decay //\n  2 the gradual destruction of buildings, structures etc because they have not been cared for:  --poverty and urban decay//  fall into (a state of) decay //  --During the war, the area fell into decay.//\n  3 the gradual destruction of ideas, beliefs, social or political systems etc:  --moral and spiritual decay//


Words: deceased
Meaning:
n  law   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: decease  ’to die’ (15-19 centuries), from  French dec[hA169]s  ’death’, from  Latin decedere  ’to leave, die’]//  the deceased//  someone who has died, especially recently//  --The deceased left a large sum of money to his children.//


Words: deceit
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin decipere;   DECEIVE]//  behaviour that is intended to make someone believe something that is not true//  --an atmosphere of hypocrisy and deceit//  deliberate/calculated/outright deceit //


Words: deceitful
Meaning:
adj   someone who is deceitful tells lies in order to get what they want//  --His manner was sly and deceitful.//  -- deceitfully adv //  --His lawyer argued that his client had not acted deceitfully .//  -- deceitfulness n  [U] //


Words: deceive
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: deceivre, from  Latin decipere]//\n  1 to make someone believe something that is not true:   trick//    deception//  --He had been deceived by a young man claiming to be the son of a millionaire.//  deceive sb into doing sth//  --He tried to deceive the public into thinking the war could still be won.//  deceive sb about sth//  --I wouldn’t deceive you about anything as important as this.//\n  2  deceive yourself:  to refuse to believe that something is true because the truth is unpleasant//  --I thought she loved me, but I was deceiving myself.//  deceive yourself that//  --He didn’t deceive himself that he and Ruth could remain friends.//\n  3 to give someone a wrong belief or opinion about something:  --Don’t be deceived by the new cover - this is a rehash of old hits.//  -- deceiver n  [C] //


Words: decelerate
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   to go slower, especially in a vehicle//   slow down//  → accelerate//  -- deceleration/di[hA359]sel[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //  --a deceleration in economic growth//


Words: December
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written abbreviation Dec.   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, name of the tenth Roman month, from  decem  ’ten’]//  the 12th month of the year, between November and January//  next/last December //  --Last December they visited Prague.//  in December//  --We got married in December.//  on December 6th//  --Jake’s birthday is on December 6th.//  on 6th December//   BrE //  --The event was to take place on 6th December.//  December 6//   AmE //  --Her letter arrived December 6.//


Words: decency
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] polite, honest, and moral behaviour and attitudes that show respect for other people:  --a judgment reflecting the decency and good sense of the American people//  common/human/public decency (=standards of behaviour that are expected of everyone) //  --The film was banned on the grounds of public decency.//  --Is there no sense of decency left in this country?//  --If they’re going to charge people a fee, they ought to at least have the decency to tell them in advance.//\n  2  decencies [plural]  old-fashioned standards of acceptable behaviour:


Words: decent
Meaning:
S2   adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: decent, from  Latin decens, the present participle of  decere  ’to be suitable’]//\n  1 [usually before noun] of a good enough standard or quality:  --a decent salary//  --Don’t you have a decent jacket?//  --a house with a decent-sized yard//  --Their in-flight magazine is actually halfway decent  (=quite good) .//\n  2 following moral standards that are acceptable to society:    decency//  decent citizens/people/folk etc //  --The majority of residents here are decent citizens.//  --a decent burial//  --Paul visited the local bars more frequently than was decent for a senior lecturer.//  --The chairman did the decent thing  (=did what people thought he ought to) and resigned.//\n  3 [usually before noun] treating people in a fair and kind way:  --I decided her father was a decent guy after all.//  -- It was decent of you to show up today.//\n  4 wearing enough clothes so that you do not show too much of your body - used humorously:  --Are you decent? Can I come in?//  -- decently adv //


Words: decentralize
Meaning:
also  decentralise BrE   v [I and T]   to move parts of a government, organization etc from a central place to several different smaller ones//  → centralize//  --Many firms are decentralizing their operations.//  -- decentralized adj //  --a decentralized economy//  -- decentralization/di[hA359]sentr[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: deception
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin deceptio, from  Latin decipere;   DECEIVE]//  the act of deliberately making someone believe something that is not true//    deceive//  --She didn’t have the courage to admit to her deception.//  --He was convicted of obtaining money by deception .//


Words: deceptive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 something that is deceptive seems to be one thing but is in fact very different:  --Some snakes move with deceptive speed (=move faster than you think or expect) .//  --Gwen’s students may look angelic, but appearances can be deceptive .//\n  2 intended to make someone believe something that is not true:  --misleading and deceptive adverts//  --deceptive practices//  -- deceptively adv //


Words: deci-
Meaning:
prefix [in nouns]   [Language: French; Origin: deci-, from  Latin decimus  ’tenth’, from  decem  ’ten’]//  a 10th part of a unit//  --a decilitre (=0.1 litres) //    deca-//


Words: decibel
Meaning:
n [C]  written abbreviation dB   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: deci- +  bel unit of sound power  (20-21 centuries), from Alexander Graham  Bell (1847-1922), US inventor]//  a unit for measuring the loudness of sound//  --noise levels exceeding 85 decibels//


Words: decide
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: decider, from  Latin decidere  ’to cut off, decide’]//\n  1 [I and T] to make a choice or judgment about something, especially after considering all the possibilities or arguments:    decision//  --Has anything been decided yet?//  decide to do sth//  --Tina’s decided to go to Prague for her holidays.//  decide (that)//  --It was decided that four hospitals should close.//  decide who/what/whether etc//  --I can’t decide whether I like him or not.//  --People have a right to decide how to spend their own money.//  decide between sth//  --A meeting was called to decide between the three candidates.//  decide for yourself//   (=make your own decision) //  --You must decide for yourself.//  --The trainees decide among themselves what programs to take.//  decide against/in favour of (doing) sth//  --He eventually decided against telling Georgina.//  --After a long discussion, they decided in favour of (=chose) the younger applicant.//\n  2 [T] to influence a situation or event so that a particular result is produced:  --It was the penalty kick that decided the match.//\n  3 [T] to be the reason for someone making a particular choice:  --Taxes could be the deciding factor for millions of floating voters.//  decide sb to do sth//  --The look he gave her decided her not to ask.//\n  4 [I and T]  law to make an official or legal judgment:  --The Commission will have the power to decide disputes.//  decide in favour of/against sb//  --If the Parole Board decides in his favour, the prisoner will be released.//  decide on/upon [decide on/upon sth] phr v//  to choose something or someone after thinking carefully//  --Have you decided on a date for the wedding?//


Words: decidedly
Meaning:
adv \n  1 [+ adjective/adverb] definitely or in a way that is easily noticed:  --Cole’s style is decidedly more formal than the previous manager’s.//\n  2  BrE  written in a way that shows that you are very sure about a decision:  --’I’m not going to do it,’ said Margaret decidedly.//


Words: decider
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the last part of a game or competition, which will show who the winner is//  --This next round will be the decider.//


Words: deciduous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: deciduus, from  decidere  ’to fall off’]//  deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter//  → evergreen//


Words: decimal
Meaning:
n [C]   a fraction (=a number less than 1)  that is shown as a full stop followed by the number of tenths, hundredths etc. The numbers 0.5, 0.175, and 0.661 are decimals//\ndecimal 2 adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: decimalis, from  Latin decem  ’ten’]//  a decimal system is based on the number 10//  --changing to a decimal system//  --calculations accurate to three decimal places  (=one of the numbers after the full stop in a decimal) //


Words: decimalization
Meaning:
also  decimalisation BrE   n [U]   the process of changing to a decimal system of money or measurement//  -- decimalize/des[hA369]m[hA353]la[hA366]z $ des[hA368]m[hA353]-/ v  [I and T] //


Words: decimate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: decimatus, past participle of  decimare  ’to remove one tenth, kill one in ten’, from  decem  ’ten’]//  to destroy a large part of something//  --The population has been decimated by disease.//  -- decimation/des[hA369]me[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: decipher
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to find the meaning of something that is difficult to read or understand:    indecipherable//  --She studied the envelope, trying to decipher the handwriting.//\n  2 to change a message written in a code into ordinary language so that you can read it:   decode//  -- decipherment n  [U] //


Words: decision
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a choice or judgment that you make after a period of discussion or thought:  --Do you ever wonder if you made the right decision ?//  --No final  decision  has been taken , but it seems likely that the two companies could merge in the near future.//  decision about/on//  --We finally came to a firm decision on the matter.//  --They can help with decisions about where to invest your money.//  --I need to think about it. It’s a  big decision .//  --All managers face  tough decisions  at one time or another.//  --She refused to discuss her  decision to  quit the group.//  decision as to which/whether/who etc//  --Viewers make the final decision as to who should be eliminated from the competition.//  --The Supreme Court has  overturned   the lower court’s  decision .//  --The judges’ decision is final .//  --She made a  snap decision , which was to have fatal consequences.//  --What were the reasons behind your decision?//\n  2 [U] the quality someone has that makes them able to make choices or judgments quickly and confidently:  → indecision//  --the ability to act with speed and decision//\n  3 [U] the act of deciding something:  --The Court has the ultimate power of decision.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  make a decision //  take a decision (=make an important decision, especially after considering carefully) //  reach/come to a decision //  a big/major decision //  a difficult/hard/tough etc decision //  decision to do something //  the right/wrong decision //  reverse/overturn a decision (=officially change an earlier decision) //  somebody’s decision is final (=it cannot be changed) //  a snap decision (=one made extremely quickly) //  ----------//


Words: decision-maker
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   a person in a large organization who is responsible for making important decisions//  --the corporation’s key decision-makers//


Words: decision-making
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of making important decisions//  --attempts to involve workers in decision-making//


Words: decisive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 an action, event etc that is decisive has a big effect on the way that something develops:  decisive factor/effect/influence etc //  --Women can play a decisive role in the debate over cloning.//  decisive action/steps //  --We will take decisive steps towards political union with Europe.//\n  2 someone who is decisive is good at making decisions quickly and with confidence:  → indecisive//  --a decisive leader//  --a talent for quick decisive action //\n  3 definite and clear in a way that leaves no doubt:  decisive victory/result/defeat etc //  --The answer was a decisive no.//  -- decisively adv //  --Yet again, we have failed to act decisively .-- decisiveness n  [U] //  --military decisiveness//  --the speed and decisiveness of his victory//


Words: deck
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 on a ship:\n   2 on a bus, plane etc:\n   3 at the back of a house:\n   4 music:\n   5 cards:  ----------//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Middle Dutch; Origin: dec  ’roof, covering’]//\n  1 ON A SHIP:  a) the outside top level of a ship that you can walk or sit on//  --Let’s go up on deck .//  above/below deck //  --Peter stayed below deck.//  b) one of the different levels on a ship//  main/passenger/car etc deck //  --a staircase leading to the passenger deck//\n  2 ON A BUS, PLANE ETC:  one of the levels on a bus, plane etc//  lower/upper etc deck //  --I managed to find a seat on the upper deck.//  --Eddie returned to the flight deck  (=the part of an aircraft where the pilot sits) .//    double-decker(1),  single-decker//\n  3 AT THE BACK OF A HOUSE:   AmE a wooden floor built out from the back of a house, where you can sit and relax outdoors//    decking//  --deck furniture//\n  4 MUSIC:  a piece of equipment used for playing music tapes, records etc//  cassette/tape/record deck //\n  5 CARDS:  a set of playing cards//  British Equivalent:  pack//  --Irene shuffled the deck.//  --a deck of cards //    all hands on deck at hand1 (38),  clear the decks at clear2 (17),  hit the deck at hit1 (17)//\ndeck 2 v [T]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: dekken  ’to cover’]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  DECK1]//\n  1  also deck sth out :   [usually passive] to decorate something with flowers, flags etc//  deck sth (out) with sth//  --The street was decked with flags for the royal wedding.//\n  2  informal to hit someone so hard that they fall over:  --Gerry just swung round and decked him.//


Words: declaim
Meaning:
v [I and T]  written   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: declamare, from  clamare  ’to shout’]//  to speak loudly, sometimes with actions, so that people notice you//  -- declamation/dekl[hA353]me[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: declamatory
Meaning:
adj   declamatory speech or writing expresses feelings and opinions very strongly//  --a declamatory style//


Words: declaration
Meaning:
W3   n [U and C] \n  1 an important official statement about a particular situation or plan, or the act of making this statement:  --a ceasefire declaration//  --Under Islamic law it was possible to divorce by simple declaration.//  declaration of//  --the declaration of war//\n  2 an official or serious statement of what someone believes:  declaration of//  --the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights//  --declarations of undying love//\n  3 a statement in which you officially give information about yourself:  --a declaration of taxable earnings//


Words: Declaration of Independence
Meaning:
the   the document written in 1776, in which the thirteen British  colonies in America officially stated that they were an independent nation and would no longer agree to be ruled by Britain. The most famous part of it is: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.//


Words: declare
Meaning:
W2   v   ----------//\n   1 state officially:\n   2 state what you think:\n   3 declare war (on somebody/something):\n   4 money/property etc:\n   5 declare an interest:\n   6 cricket:  Phrasal verbs//   declare against somebody/something//   declare for somebody/something//  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: declarare, from  clarare  ’to make clear’]//\n  1 STATE OFFICIALLY:   [T] to state officially and publicly that a particular situation exists or that something is true//  --A state of emergency has been declared.//  declare that//  --The court declared that Brown’s case should be reviewed.//  declare sth (to be) sth//  --Several countries wanted Antarctica to be declared a ’world park’.//  --The city was declared to be in a state of siege.//  --I declare you man and wife.//  declare sth illegal/invalid etc //  --The war was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice.//  --Mr Steel has been declared bankrupt  (=it has been officially stated that he cannot pay his debts) .//  --We celebrate September 16, the day when Mexico declared independence from Spain (=officially stated that it was no longer ruled by Spain) .//\n  2 STATE WHAT YOU THINK:   [T] to say publicly what you think or feel//  --’It’s not fair,’ Jane declared.//  --He declared his intention to stand for president.//  declare that//  --Carol held a press conference and declared that she was innocent.//  declare yourself (to be) sth//  --Edward declared himself angry and frustrated.//\n  3  declare war (on sb/sth):  a) to state officially that you are at war with another country//  b)  informal to say that something is wrong and that you will do everything you can to stop it//  --Angry residents have declared war on the owners of the factory.//\n  4 MONEY/PROPERTY ETC:   [T] //  a) to state on an official government form how much money you have earned, what property you own etc//  --All tips are counted as part of your earnings and must be declared.//  b) to tell a customs official that you are carrying goods on which you should pay tax when you enter a country//\n  5  declare an interest:  to tell people that you are connected with something that is being discussed//  --I should, at this point, declare an interest: I own shares in the company.//\n  6 CRICKET:   [I] to choose to end your team’s turn before all your players have batted//  declare against / [declare against sb/sth] phr v//  to state that you oppose someone or something//  declare for / [declare for sb/sth] phr v//  to state that you support someone or something//


Words: declared
Meaning:
adj   stated officially and publicly//  declared aim/objective/intention etc //  --It is their declared intention to increase taxes.//


Words: declassified
Meaning:
adj   official information that is declassified was secret but is not secret any more//    classified//  -- declassify v  [T] //


Words: declension
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: declinaison, from  Latin declinare  ’to turn aside, inflect’]//\n  1 the set of various forms that a noun, pronoun, or adjective can have according to whether it is the subject, object etc of a sentence in a language such as Latin or German:\n  2 a particular set of nouns etc that all have the same set of forms:


Words: decline
Meaning:
W2   n [singular, U]   a decrease in the quality, quantity, or importance of something//  decline in//  --There has been a decline in the size of families.//  decline of//  --the decline of manufacturing//  rapid/sharp/steep/dramatic decline //  --a rapid decline in unemployment//  steady/gradual/long-term decline //  --The island’s population initially numbered 180, but there was a gradual decline until only 40 people were left.//  --the social and economic decline faced by many cities//  in decline//  --There’s a widely held belief that educational standards are in decline (=falling) .//  fall/go etc into decline //  --The port fell into decline (=became less important and less busy) in the 1950s.//\ndecline 2 W3 v   ----------//\n   1 decrease:\n   2 say no:\n   3 become worse:\n   4 somebody’s declining years:\n   5 grammar:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: decliner,  from  Latin declinare  ’to turn aside, inflect’]//\n  1 DECREASE:   [I] to decrease in quantity or importance//  --Spending on information technology has declined.//  --Car sales have declined by a quarter.//  --After the war, the city declined in importance.//\n  2 SAY NO:   [I and T]  formal to say no politely when someone invites you somewhere, offers you something, or wants you to do something//  --Offered the position of chairman, Smith declined, preferring to keep his current job.//  --Mary declined a hot drink and went to her room.//  decline an offer/invitation etc //  --Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner.//  decline to do sth//  --The court declined to review her case.//  --The minister declined to comment  (=refused to speak to people who report the news) about the progress of the peace talks.//\n  3 BECOME WORSE:   [I] to become gradually worse in quality//   deteriorate//  --Her health has been declining progressively for several months.//  --Qualified staff are leaving and standards are declining.//\n  4  sb’s declining years:   formal the last years of someone’s life//\n  5 GRAMMAR:  a)  [I] if a noun, pronoun, or adjective declines, its form changes according to whether it is the subject, object etc of a sentence//  b)  [T] if you decline a noun, pronoun, or adjective, you show the various forms that it can take//  -- declining adj //  --declining attendance at baseball games//


Words: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Meaning:
The   (1776-88) a series of six historical books written by Edward Gibbon, which tell the story of the Roman Empire from the 1st century AD to the 15th century. It is one of the greatest historical works ever written in English.//


Words: decode
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to discover the meaning of a message written in a code (=a set of secret signs or letters) :   decipher//\n  2 if a computer decodes data, it receives it and changes it into a form that can be used by the computer or understood by a person:  → encode//  --The software decodes the information embedded in the satellite broadcasts.//\n  3 to receive electronic or  digital signals and change them into a picture and sound for a television or radio:  → encode//  --decoding boxes for your TV set//\n  4  technical to understand the meaning of a word rather than use a word to express meaning:  → encode//


Words: decoder
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of electronic equipment that receives a signal and changes it for another machine to use, for example to put pictures and sound onto your television//


Words: decolletage
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: collet  ’collar’]//  the top edge of a woman’s dress that is cut very low to show part of her shoulders and breasts//  -- decollete/de[hA366]k[hA361]lte[hA366] $ de[hA366]k[hA35A][hA359]l[hA353]te[hA366]/ adj //


Words: decolonize
Meaning:
also  decolonise BrE   v [T]   to make a former colony politically independent//  -- decolonization/di[hA359]k[hA361]l[hA353]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -k[hA35A][hA359]l[hA353]n[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: decompose
Meaning:
v [I and T] \n  1 to decay or make something decay:  --a partially decomposed body//\n  2  technical to divide into smaller parts, or to make something do this:  -- decomposition/di[hA359]k[hA361]mp[hA353]z[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -k[hA35A][hA359]m-/ n  [U] //


Words: decompress
Meaning:
v [T] \n  1 to reduce the pressure of air on something:\n  2  technical to change the information in a computer document back into a form that can be easily read or used, when the information was stored on the computer in a special form that used less space on the computer’s memory:  --Most Macintosh computers can decompress files automatically.//  -- decompression/-pre[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: decompression chamber
Meaning:
n [C]   a special room where people go after they have been deep under the sea, so that their bodies can slowly return to normal air pressure//


Words: decompression sickness
Meaning:
n [U]   a dangerous medical condition that people get when they come up from deep under the sea too quickly//   the bends//


Words: deconstruction
Meaning:
n [U]   a method used in philosophy and the criticism of literature which claims that there is no single explanation of the meaning of a piece of writing//  -- deconstruct/-str[hA356]kt/ v  [T] //


Words: decontaminate
Meaning:
v [T]   to remove a dangerous substance from somewhere//    contamination//  --It may cost over $5 million to decontaminate the whole site.//  -- decontamination/di[hA359]k[hA353]nt[zB024]m[hA369]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: decor
Meaning:
n [C usually singular, U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: decorer  ’to decorate’, from  Latin decoratus;   DECORATE]//  the way that the inside of a building is decorated//  --The decor is a mix of antique and modern.//


Words: decorate
Meaning:
S3   v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: decoratus, past participle of  decorare  ’to decorate’, from  decus  ’honour, decoration’]//\n  1 [I and T]  BrE to paint the inside of a room, put special paper on the walls etc:  --The bathroom is decorated in green and yellow.//  --We plan to spend the weekend decorating.//  Christmas tree, present, star//\n  2 [T] to make something look more attractive by putting something pretty on it:  --Children’s pictures decorated the walls of the classroom.//  decorate sth with sth//  --an old-fashioned dress decorated with ribbons and lace//\n  3 [T] to give someone a medal as an official sign of honour:  decorate sb for sth//  --soldiers decorated for bravery //  -- decorating n  [U] //


Words: decoration
Meaning:
S3   n \n  1 [C usually plural] something pretty that you put onto something else in order to make it more attractive:  --Christmas decorations//  --cake decorations//\n  2 [U] the style in which something is decorated:  --He is an expert on Islamic decoration.//  for decoration//  --a box with paper flowers glued to it for decoration//\n  3 [U]  BrE when you paint or put special paper on the inside walls, ceiling etc of a house or building:\n  4 [C] something such as a medal that is given to someone as an official sign of honour:


Words: decorative
Meaning:
adj   pretty or attractive, but not always necessary or useful//  --a decorative panel above the door//  -- decoratively adv //


Words: decorator
Meaning:
n [C]  especially BrE   someone who paints houses and puts paper on the walls as their job//    interior designer//


Words: decorous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: decorus, from  decor  ’beauty, gracefulness’]//   formal having the correct appearance or behaviour for a particular occasion//  -- decorously adv //  --A servant was hovering decorously behind them.//


Words: decorum
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: decorus;   DECOROUS]//   formal behaviour that shows respect and is correct for a particular situation, especially a formal occasion//  --He was disciplined for breaching the Senate’s rules of decorum.//


Words: decoy
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Dutch; Origin: de cooi  ’the cage’ (= structure of bars for keeping animals in)]//\n  1 someone or something that is used to trick someone into going somewhere or doing something, so that you can catch them, attack them etc:  --Officer Langley acted as a decoy to catch the rapist.//\n  2 a model of a bird used to attract wild birds so that you can watch them or shoot them:  -- decoy/d[hA366]k[hA350][hA366]/ v  [T] //


Words: decrease
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: decreistre, from  Latin decrescere, from  crescere  ’to grow’]//  to become less or go down to a lower level, or to make something do this//    reduce//  → increase//  --Average house prices decreased by 13% last year.//  decrease to//  --By 1881, the population of Ireland had decreased to 5.2 million.//  decrease from//  --The North’s share of the world’s energy consumption is expected to decrease from 70% to 60%.//  decrease in//  --Attacks of asthma decrease in frequency through early adult life.//  --The government wants to decrease population growth.//\ndecrease 2   n [U and C]   the process of becoming less, or the amount by which something becomes less//  → increase//   reduction//  decrease in//  --Teachers reported decreases in drug use and verbal abuse of teachers.//  decrease of//  --There has been a steady decrease of temperature.//


Words: decree
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: decre, from  Latin decernere  ’to decide’]//\n  1 an official order or decision, especially one made by the ruler of a country:  --The Emperor issued the decree repealing martial law.//\n  2 a judgment in a court of law:\ndecree 2 v [T]   to make an official judgment or give an official order//  decree (that)//  --The King decreed that there should be an end to the fighting.//


Words: decree nisi
Meaning:
n [singular]    BrE an order by a court of law that a marriage will end at a particular time in the future unless there is a good reason not to end it//


Words: decrepit
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: decrepitus, from  crepare  ’to make a high cracking sound’]//  old and in bad condition//  --The buildings were in a decrepit state.//  -- decrepitude n  [U] //


Words: decriminalize
Meaning:
also  decriminalise BrE   v [T]   to state officially that something is not illegal any more//  --the campaign to decriminalize cannabis//  -- decriminalization/di[hA359]kr[hA366]m[hA369]n[hA353]la[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -l[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: decry
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  decried present participle  decrying third person singular  decries  [T] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: decrier  ’to cry down’]//   formal to state publicly that you do not approve of something//   condemn//


Words: decrypt
Meaning:
v [T]   to change a message or information on a computer back into a form that can be read, when someone has sent it to you in a type of computer code//    encrypt//  --Only certain employees will be able to decrypt sensitive documents.//  -- decryption/di[hA359]kr[hA366]p[hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: dedicate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: dedicare, from  dicare  ’to say publicly’]//\n  1 to give all your attention and effort to one particular thing:  dedicate yourself/your life to sth//  --The actress now dedicates herself to children’s charity work.//\n  2 to say at the beginning of a book or film, or before a piece of music, that it has been written, made, or performed for someone that you love or respect:  dedicate sth to sb//  --The book was dedicated to her husband.//\n  3 to state in an official ceremony that a building will be given someone’s name in order to show respect for them:\n  4 to use a place, time, money etc only for a particular purpose:  dedicate sth to/for sth//  --The company dedicated $50,000 for the study.//


Words: dedicated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is dedicated works very hard at what they do because they care a lot about it:  --a dedicated and thoughtful teacher//  --She is a dedicated socialist.//  dedicated to//  --The Woodland Trust is dedicated to preserving our native woodland.//\n  2 [only before noun] made for or used for only one particular purpose:  --a dedicated graphics processor//


Words: dedication
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] hard work or effort that someone puts into a particular activity because they care about it a lot:  --To reach a high level of skill requires talent, dedication, and a lot of hard work.//  dedication to//  --I admire his dedication to the job.//\n  2 [C] an act of dedicating something to someone, or a ceremony where this is done:\n  3 [C] the words used at the beginning of a book, film, or piece of music, thanking someone or saying that book etc has been written to show respect for them:


Words: deduce
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: deducere  ’to lead out’, from  ducere  ’to lead’]//  to use the knowledge and information you have in order to understand something or form an opinion about it//  deduce that//  --From her son’s age, I deduced that her husband must be at least 60.//  deduce from//  --What did Darwin deduce from the presence of these species?//  -- deducible adj //


Words: deduct
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: deductus, past participle of  deducere;   DEDUCE]//  to take away an amount or part from a total//   subtract//  deduct sth from sth//  --The payments will be deducted from your salary.//  -- deductible adj //  --Interest charges are tax deductible .//


Words: deduction
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 the process of using the knowledge or information you have in order to understand something or form an opinion, or the opinion that you form:  --Children will soon  make deductions  about the meaning of a word.//\n  2 the process of taking away an amount from a total, or the amount that is taken away:  --After deductions for tax etc, your salary is about [hA124]700 a month.//


Words: deductive
Meaning:
adj   using the knowledge and information you have in order to understand or form an opinion about something//  --deductive reasoning//


Words: deed
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: d[zB024]d]//\n  1  formal something someone does, especially something that is very good or very bad:  --After the morning’s good deeds he deserved a rest.//  --She tried to strangle her baby and her lover helped her finish the evil deed .//\n  2  law an official paper that is a record of an agreement, especially an agreement concerning who owns property:  --a mortgage deed//\n  3  in deed:  in what you do//  --Everyone sins at some time, in thought if not in deed.//\n  4  your good deed for the day:  something kind or helpful that you do - used humorously//


Words: deed poll
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a legal document signed by only one person, for example in order to officially change your name//  --Steve changed his name by deed poll to Elvis Presley-Smith.//


Words: deem
Meaning:
v [T not in progressive]  formal   [Language: Old English; Origin: deman]//  to think of something in a particular way or as having a particular quality//   consider//  deem that//  --They deemed that he was no longer capable of managing the business.//  deem sth necessary/appropriate etc //  --They were told to take whatever action they deemed necessary.//  be deemed to be sth//  --They were deemed to be illegal immigrants.//  be deemed to do sth//  --UK plans were deemed to infringe EU law.//


Words: deep
Meaning:
W1S2   adj   comparative  deeper superlative  deepest //  ----------//\n   1 going far down:\n   2 going far in:\n   3 serious:\n   4 breath:\n   5 feeling/belief:\n   6 sound:\n   7 colour:\n   8 difficult to understand:\n   9 sleep:\n  10 deep in thought/conversation etc:\n  11 deep in debt:\n  12 a deep impression:\n  13 person:\n  14 be in deep shit:\n  15 be in deep water:\n  16 ball games:\n  17 jump/be thrown in at the deep end:\n  18 go off at the deep end:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: deop]//\n  1 GOING FAR DOWN:  a) going far down from the top or from the surface//  → shallow//  --The castle is on an island surrounded by a deep lake.//  --The swimming pool has a deep end and a shallow end for kids.//  --We’ll take the boat out into deep water where we can dive.//  --a deep narrow valley//  b) you use deep to say what distance something goes down from the top or surface//\n  2 metres/6 feet etc deep:  --Dig a hole around 12 inches deep.//  ankle-deep/waist-deep etc //  --In places, the snow was waist-deep (=deep enough to reach a person’s waist) .//    knee-deep//\n  2 GOING FAR IN:  going far in from the outside or from the front edge of something//  --a deep wound//  --She was sitting in a deep leather chair.//\n  3 SERIOUS:  serious or severe//  --Despite the peace process, there are deep divisions in the community.//  --The country is in a deep recession.//  --Evan would be in deep trouble if he was caught.//\n  4 BREATH:  a deep breath or sigh is one in which you breathe a lot of air in or out//  --She stopped and took a deep breath .//  --Tom gave a deep sigh of relief.//\n  5 FEELING/BELIEF:  a deep feeling, belief etc is very strong and sincere//   profound//  --May I express my deepest sympathy.//  --The letters show her deep affection for him.//  --He has a deep understanding of the environment.//\n  6 SOUND:  a deep sound is very low//  --Her laugh was deep and loud.//  --I love that deep bass line.//\n  7 COLOUR:  a deep colour is dark and strong//  → light, pale//  --She gazed at him with wide deep blue eyes.//  --The berries are a deep red colour.//\n  8 DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND:  important but complicated or difficult to understand//  --These problems are too deep for me.//  --There is a deep issue of principle involved.//\n  9 SLEEP:  if someone is in a deep sleep, it is difficult to wake them//  --He lay down and fell into a deep sleep .//\n  10  deep in thought/conversation etc:  thinking so hard or paying attention to something so much that you do not notice anything else that is happening around you//\n  11  deep in debt:  owing a lot of money//\n  12  a deep impression:  a strong effect or influence that remains for a long time//  --What he said made a deep impression on me.//\n  13 PERSON:  a deep person is serious and intelligent, but is hard to know well//  --Henry has always been a deep one . He keeps his views to himself.//\n  14  be in deep shit:   spoken  not polite to be in a bad situation because of something you have done//\n  15  be in deep water:  to be in trouble or in a difficult or serious situation//  --The company is in deep water over their refusal to reduce prices.//\n  16 BALL GAMES:  a deep ball is hit, thrown, or kicked to a far part of the sports field//\n  17  jump/be thrown in at the deep end:  to choose to do or be made to do a very difficult job without having prepared for it//  --She decided to jump in at the deep end, buy a farm, and teach herself.//\n  18  go off at the deep end:   informal to become angry suddenly and violently, usually when there is not a good reason//\ndeep 2 W3 adv \n  1 [always + adverb/preposition] a long way into or below the surface of something:  --Some bones were hidden deep beneath the ground.//  --The railway tunnel led deep under the mountains.//  --We were deep in a tropical rainforest (=far from the edge of the forest) .//  --Tom stared deep into her eyes.//  --They talked deep into the night (=very late) .//\n  2  deep down:  a) if you know or feel something deep down, you secretly know or feel it even though you do not admit it//  --He knew, deep down, that he would have to apologise.//  b) if someone is good, evil etc deep down, that is what they are really like even though they usually hide it//  --Deep down, she is a very caring person.//\n  3  two/three etc deep:  if things or people are two deep, three deep etc, there are two, three etc rows or layers of things or people//  --People were standing four deep at the bar.//\n  4  run/go deep:  if a feeling such as hatred or anger runs deep in someone, they feel it very strongly, especially because of something that has happened in the past//  --The prejudice runs deep and we need to understand the fears behind it.//\n  5  be in (too) deep:   informal to be very involved in a situation, especially so that it causes you problems//    still waters run deep at still2 (5)//\ndeep 3 n   the deep//   literary the sea//


Words: deep freeze
Meaning:
n [C]   a large metal box in which food can be stored at very low temperatures for a long time//   freezer//


Words: deep vein thrombosis
Meaning:
n [U]  medical   DVT a serious illness which happens when a small amount of blood becomes very thick and causes the heart to stop beating properly. This sometimes happens to people who have been on long plane journeys, because they have been sitting still for so long//


Words: deep-rooted
Meaning:
adj  also deeply rooted   a deep-rooted habit, idea, belief etc is so strong in a person or society that it is very difficult to change or destroy it//    deep-seated//  --a deep-rooted suspicion of lawyers//


Words: deep-sea
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   deep-sea fishing or diving is done in the deep part of the sea, far away from land//


Words: deep-seated
Meaning:
adj   a deep-seated attitude, feeling, or idea is strong and is very difficult to change//    deep-rooted//  --a deep-seated fear of failure//


Words: deepen
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 get worse:\n   2 become stronger:\n   3 expression on somebody’s face:\n   4 water:\n   5 colour:\n   6 sound:\n   7 breath:  ----------//\n  1 GET WORSE:   [I] if a serious situation deepens, it gets worse - used especially in news reports//  --The recession continues to deepen.//  --a deepening international crisis//\n  2 BECOME STRONGER:   [I and T] to become stronger or greater, or to make something stronger or greater//  --Jeanne liked Simon as a friend but she did not want the relationship to deepen.//  --The idea only deepened his gloom.//  --The mystery deepened (=became even more mysterious) .//  --Students explore new ideas as they deepen their understanding (=understand more) of the subject.//\n  3 EXPRESSION ON SOMEBODY’S FACE:   [I]  literary if someone’s smile or frown deepens, they smile even more or frown even more//  --Her worried frown deepened.//\n  4 WATER:   [I and T] if water deepens, or if someone deepens it, it becomes deeper//  --The river deepens beyond the town.//  --The harbour has been deepened to take bigger boats.//\n  5 COLOUR:   [I]  literary if light or a colour deepens, it becomes darker//  --The twilight deepened.//\n  6 SOUND:   [I] if a sound deepens, it becomes lower//  --His voice deepened as he relaxed.//\n  7 BREATH:   [I] if your breathing deepens, you take more air into your lungs//


Words: deeply
Meaning:
W3   adv \n  1 used to emphasize that a belief, feeling, opinion etc is very strong, important, or sincere:  --Her lies hurt my father deeply.//  --She is deeply upset.//  --He loves her deeply.//  --Teachers are deeply divided on this issue.//  -- deeply held religious beliefs//\n  2 in a serious, careful way:  --Most doctors think deeply about what their patients want.//\n  3 a long way into something:  deeply into//  --John kept sinking more deeply into the mud.//\n  4  breathe deeply:  to take a large breath of air into your lungs//\n  5  sleep deeply:  to be in a deep sleep, from which it is hard to wake up//


Words: deer
Meaning:
n   plural  deer  [C] //  antler//  [Language: Old English; Origin: deor  ’animal’]//  a large wild animal that can run very fast, eats grass, and has horns//


Words: deface
Meaning:
v [T]   to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing on it or breaking it//  --Most of the monuments had been broken or defaced.//  -- defacement n  [U] //


Words: defame
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: deffamer, from  Latin fama;   FAME]//  to write or say bad or untrue things about someone or something, so that people will have a bad opinion of them//  -- defamatory/d[hA366]f[zB024]m[hA353]t[hA368]ri $ -t[hA350][hA359]ri/ adj //


Words: default
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: defaute, from  Vulgar Latin defallere  ’to be lacking, fail’]//\n  1  by default:  a) if you win a game, competition etc by default, you win it because your opponent did not play or because there were no other competitors//  b) if something happens by default, it happens because you did not do anything to change it//\n  2 [U and C]  formal failure to pay money that you owe at the right time:  in default//  --The company is in default on its loan agreement.//  default in//  --The bank can seize the asset in the event of a default in payment.//  --the risk of default by borrowers//\n  3 [U]  law failure to do something that you are supposed to do according to the law or because it is your duty:\n  4 [C usually singular]  technical the way in which things are arranged on a computer screen unless you decide to change them:  --You can change the default settings to suit your needs.//\n  5  in default of sth:   formal because of the lack or absence of something//\ndefault 2 v [I] \n  1 to fail to pay money that you owe at the right time:  default on//  --He defaulted on his child support payments.//\n  2 to not do something that you are supposed to do, especially that you are legally supposed to do:  -- defaulter n  [C] //


Words: defeat
Meaning:
W3   n [U and C] \n  1 failure to win or succeed:  --She was a woman who hated to admit defeat .//  --The Democratic Party candidate has already conceded defeat .//  defeat in//  --The socialist party  suffered  a crushing defeat in the French elections.//  --The captain offered no excuses for his team’s  humiliating defeat .//  --Italy’s  narrow defeat  in their game with Germany//  --They  inflicted a heavy  defeat on the Government’s plans to tighten asylum controls.//\n  2 victory over someone or something:  defeat of//  --The defeat of the army was followed by the establishment of constitutional government.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  admit/accept/concede defeat //  suffer a defeat (=experience a defeat) //  a heavy/humiliating/crushing/resounding defeat //  a narrow defeat  (=by only a small amount) //  inflict a defeat on somebody //  ----------//\ndefeat 2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: defeter  ’to destroy’, from  Medieval Latin disfacere, from  Latin facere  ’to do’]//\n  1 to win a victory over someone in a war, competition, game etc:   beat//  --They hoped to defeat the enemy at sea.//  defeat sb by sth //  --Newcastle were defeated by 3 goals to 2.//\n  2 if something defeats you, you cannot understand it and therefore cannot answer or deal with it:   beat//  --It was the last question on the paper that defeated me.//\n  3 to make something fail:  defeat the object/purpose (of the exercise) //  --Don’t let your arms relax as that would defeat the object of the exercise.//


Words: defeatist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who believes that they will not succeed//  -- defeatist adj //  --a defeatist attitude//  -- defeatism n  [U] //


Words: defecate
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: defaecere, from  faex  ’waste material’]//   formal to get rid of waste matter from your bowels//  -- defecation/def[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


