# dict

Words: alone
Meaning:
W1S2   adj, adv [not before noun]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: all one  ’wholly one’]//\n  1 if you are alone in a place, there is no one with you:   by yourself//  --She lives alone .//  --You shouldn’t leave a child alone in the house.//  --My wife and I like to spend time alone together away from the kids.//\n  2 without any friends or people you know:  --It was scary being all alone in a strange city.//  --She was  all alone in the world  (=she had no family or friends to help her or look after her) .//\n  3 feeling unhappy and lonely:  --I cried like a child because I felt so alone .//\n  4 without any help from other people:  --He was left to raise their two children alone.//\n  5 without including anything else:  --The case will cost thousands of pounds in legal fees alone.//\n  6  you/he etc alone:  used to emphasize that there is only one person who knows, can do something etc//  --Julie alone knew the truth.//\n  7  go it alone:  to start working or living on your own, especially after working or living with other people//  --After years of working for a big company I decided to go it alone.//\n  8  leave sb alone:  let sb alone  old-fashioned //  to stop annoying or interrupting someone//  --’Leave me alone!’ she screamed.//\n  9  leave sth alone:   also let sth alone  old-fashioned //  to stop touching an object or changing something//  --Leave those cakes alone. They’re for the guests.//  leave well (enough) alone (=not change something that is satisfactory) //  --In economic matters, they should leave well alone.//\n  10  be yours/hers/his etc alone:  used to emphasize that something belongs to someone//  --The responsibility is yours and yours alone.//\n  11  not be alone in (doing) sth:  to not be the only person to do something//  --You’re not alone in feeling upset, believe me.//\n  12  stand alone:  a) to be strong and independent//  --the courage to stand alone//  b) to be at a distance from other objects or buildings//  --The house stood alone at the end of the road.//


Words: along
Meaning:
adv \n  1 going forward:  --I was driving along, thinking about Chris.//  --a group of children walking along in a line//\n  2  go/come along:  to go or come to a place where something is happening//  --You’re welcome to come along if you like.//  --I think I’ll go along and watch the game.//\n  3  take/bring sb/sth along:  to take someone or something with you to a place//  --Mandy brought some of her friends along.//  --Why don’t you take your guitar along?//\n  4  be/come along:  to arrive//  --Another bus should be along in a minute.//  --Every so often, a band comes along that changes music history.//\n  5  come/go/get along:  to improve, develop, or make progress//  --After a five-hour operation, Wendy is coming along just fine.//\n  6  along with sb/sth:  together with someone or something else//  --Dunne was murdered, along with three guards.//\n  7  all along:  all the time from the beginning, while something was happening//  --They should have known all along that she was lying.//\nalong 2 prep   [Language: Old English; Origin: andlang, from  and-  ’against’ +  lang  ’long’]//\n  1 from one place on something such as a line, road, or edge towards the other end of it:  --We were driving along Follyfoot Road.//  --She glanced anxiously along the line of faces.//  --He slid his hand along her arm.//\n  2 forming a line beside something long:  --The palm trees along the shore swayed in the wind.//  --the toolbar along the top of your screen//  --There were cheering crowds all along Pennsylvania Avenue.//\n  3 a particular distance away, on or beside something long such as a line, road, edge etc:  --Hugo’s house was about two hundred yards away along the main street.//  --The bathroom is just along  (=a short distance along) the corridor.//\n  4  along the way/line:  during a process or experience, or during someone’s life//  --I’ve been lucky, but I’ve had my share of heartbreak along the way.//


Words: alongside
Meaning:
W3   adv, prep \n  1 next to the side of something:  --A car drew up alongside .//  --Children’s prices are shown alongside adult prices.//\n  2 used to say that people or things do something or exist together at the same time:  --Charles spent a week working alongside the miners.//  --Organized crime continued to flourish alongside the mainstream economy.//\n  3 in comparison with something:  --His achievement may seem small alongside the great triumphs of 20th century technology.//  --Athletics should rank alongside  (=be equal to) soccer and cricket as a major sport.//


Words: aloof
Meaning:
adj, adv   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: aloof  ’to windward’ (16-18 centuries), from  loof  ’direction against the wind’ (13-19 centuries), from  Dutch loef]//\n  1 unfriendly and deliberately not talking to other people:  remain/stay aloof (from sb) //  --They worked hard, but tended to stay aloof from the local inhabitants.//  keep/hold yourself aloof (from sb) //  --She had always kept herself aloof from the boys in class.//  --Beneath that aloof exterior, Gayle is a warm, sympathetic person.//\n  2 deliberately not becoming involved in something:  remain/stand aloof (from sth) //  --Initially, the President remained aloof from the campaign.//  hold/keep (yourself) aloof from sth //  --The doctor held himself somewhat aloof from the rest of the ship’s crew.//  -- aloofness n  [U] //


Words: aloud
Meaning:
adv   if you read, laugh, say something etc aloud, you read etc so that people can hear you//   out loud//  read/say sth aloud //  --Joanne, would you read the poem aloud?//  laugh/groan/cry etc aloud //  --The pain made him cry aloud.//  --She could have laughed aloud.//  think aloud (=say the things you are thinking) //  --’What did you say?’ ’ Sorry, I was just thinking aloud.’//  ----------//  HINT sense 1 //  Do not use aloud to mean ’in a loud voice’. Use loudly You need to speak quite loudly for the people at the back. //  ----------//


Words: alpaca
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Spanish; Origin: Aymara allpaca]//\n  1 [C] an animal from South America with long hair that looks like a llama:\n  2 [U] cloth made from the wool of an alpaca:


Words: alpha
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek]//\n  1 the first letter of the Greek alphabet:\n  2  the alpha and omega:   formal the start and finish of something, and therefore the whole of it//  --Collective bargaining was viewed as the alpha and omega of trade unionism.//


Words: alpha male
Meaning:
n [C usually singular] \n  1 the male with the highest rank in a group of animals such as chimpanzees:\n  2 the man who has the most power and influence and the highest social position in a particular group - used humorously:


Words: alpha test
Meaning:
n [C]   a test of software to see if it works properly, done by the company that is writing the software//    beta test//


Words: alpha version
Meaning:
n [C]   software that is being tested by the company that is writing it, to see if it works properly//    beta version//


Words: alphabet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: alphabetum, from  Greek, from  alpha (  ALPHA) +  beta (  BETA)]//  a set of letters, arranged in a particular order, and used in writing//  the Greek/Roman etc alphabet //  --the international phonetic alphabet//


Words: alphabetical
Meaning:
relating to the alphabet//  --The files are arranged in alphabetical order .//  -- alphabetically/-kli/ adv //  --Are the records filed alphabetically ?//


Words: alphabetize
Meaning:
also  alphabetise BrE   v [T]   to arrange things in order according to the letters of the alphabet//


Words: alphanumeric
Meaning:
[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: alphabet +  numerical]//  using letters and numbers//  --alphanumeric codes//


Words: alpine
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: alpinus, from  Alpes  ’Alps’]//  relating to the Alps (=a mountain range in central Europe) or to mountains in general//  --breathtaking alpine scenery//  --alpine flowers//  --alpine skiing//


Words: Alps
Meaning:
the Alps//  a  range of mountains which go through France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Austria. Many people visit the Alps to  ski.//


Words: already
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: all ready  ’completely ready’]//\n  1 before now, or before a particular time:  --The design of the new house is similar to those that have already been built.//  --The performance had already started when we arrived.//\n  2 used to say that something has been done before and does not need doing again:  --You already told me that.//  --’Fancy a coffee?’ ’No thanks, I already have one.’//\n  3 used to say that something has happened too soon or before the expected time:  --Have you eaten all that food already?//  --Is it 5 o’clock already?//\n  4 used to say that a situation exists and it might get worse, greater, etc:  --Hurry up, we’re already late.//  ----------//  HINT //  already or yet? See also:  yet1 //  ----------//


Words: also
Meaning:
adv   [Language: Old English; Origin: eallswa, from  eall  ’completely’ +  swa  ’so’]//\n  1 in addition to something else that you have mentioned:  --Information is also available on women’s health care.//  --She sings beautifully and also plays the flute and piano.//  --The system was  not only complicated  but also ineffective.//\n  2 used to say that the same thing is true about another person or thing:  --My girlfriend was also called Helen.//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: also, too, as well, either //  also, too  and  as well  can be used in many of the same contexts : She’s a valued colleague, and a great friend too OR and a great friend as well OR and also a great friend. //  also  is the most formal and the most likely to be used in formal writing such as reports. //  as well is the most informal and the most likely to be used in speech. //  !! too  is never used at the beginning of a clause.  Also is not usually used at the end of a clause : Smoking makes you ill. It costs a lot too/as well OR It’s also expensive OR Also, it’s expensive. //  Use  either when you are adding another negative fact : Our first attempt didn’t work, and our second didn’t either (NOT also didn’t).  //  ----------//


Words: also-ran
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who fails to win a competition, election etc//  --Ten months ago he was just an also-ran for the Democratic nomination.//


Words: altar
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: altare]//\n  1 a holy table or surface used in religious ceremonies:  --a crucifix above the high altar  (=the main altar in a church) //  --The victim was tied to a sacrificial altar.//\n  2 the area furthest from the entrance of a church, where the priest or minister stands:


Words: alter
Meaning:
W3S3   v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: alterer, from  Medieval Latin alterare, from  Latin alter  ’other’]//\n  1 [I and T] to change, or to make someone or something change:  --Her face hadn’t altered much over the years.//  --The city centre has altered beyond recognition (=changed very much) .//  --Nothing can alter the fact that the refugees are our responsibility.//\n  2 [T] to make a piece of clothing longer, wider etc so that it fits:  have/get sth altered//  --She had the dress altered for the wedding.//


Words: alter ego
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’other I’]//\n  1  sb’s alter ego:  an invented person that you use to represent part of your character that is very different from your usual one//  --Gissing used his fictional alter ego to attack Victorian morals.//\n  2 someone you trust and who has similar opinions, attitudes etc:  --Mrs Reagan was widely regarded as the President’s alter ego.//


Words: alteration
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a small change that makes someone or something slightly different, or the process of this change//  alteration to//  --If you make alterations to the Windows setup, save the new settings before closing.//  alteration in//  --Have you noticed any alteration in the patient’s behaviour?//  minor/major etc alterations //  --The King’s Arms pub is to undergo extensive alterations .//


Words: altercation
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin altercatio, from  altercari  ’to quarrel’]//   formal a short noisy argument//  --They became involved in an altercation.//


Words: alternate
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  alternare  ’to alternate’, from  alternus  ’alternate’, from  alter;   ALTER]//\n  1 if something happens on alternate days, weeks etc, it happens on one day etc and not the next, and continues in this pattern:  alternate Mondays/weekends etc //  --The service runs on alternate days.//\n  2 two alternate things are placed one after the other in a regular pattern:  --alternate blue and red stripes//  --Arrange the leeks and noodles in alternate layers .//\n  3 used to replace another thing of the same type:   alternative//  --the appointment of an alternate director//\nalternate 2   v [I and T]   if two things alternate, or if you alternate them, they happen one after the other in a repeated pattern//  alternate between//  --She alternated between outrage and sympathy.//  alternate with//  --Periods of depression alternate with excited behavior.//  alternate sth and/with sth//  --Twist your body, alternating right and left stretches.//  -- alternation/[hA350][hA359]lt[hA353]ne[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [hA361][hA359]lt[hA353]r-, [zB024]l-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: alternative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [only before noun] an alternative idea, plan etc is different from the one you have and can be used instead:  alternative ways/approach/methods etc //  --alternative approaches to learning//  --Have you any alternative suggestions ?//  --An alternative route is along the Via Unione.//\n  2 deliberately different from what is usual, expected, or traditional:  alternative music/theatre etc //  --Tucson’s alternative radio station//  --sources of alternative energy  (=energy produced by the sun, wind etc rather than by gas, coal etc) //  --tolerance of alternative lifestyles //  alternative medicine/therapies (=medical treatment that is not based on the usual western methods) //  --Acupuncture is widely used by practitioners of alternative medicine.//  -- alternatively adv //  --You can relax on the beach or alternatively try the bustling town centre.//\nalternative 2 W3S2 n [C]   something you can choose to do or use instead of something else//  alternative to//  --Is there a viable alternative to the present system?//  --If payment is not received within five days, legal action will be our only alternative .//  --I had no alternative but to report him to the police.//  --He quickly assessed what alternatives were open to him.//


Words: alternative lifestyle
Meaning:
n [C]   the way that someone lives their life, when this is not the usual way that other people live//  --Some people say schools need to teach tolerance of alternative lifestyles.//


Words: although
Meaning:
conj   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: all  ’even’ +  though]//\n  1 used to introduce a statement that makes your main statement seem surprising or unlikely:   though//  --Although in poor health, she continued to carry out her duties.//  --We decided to take rooms in Longwood House, although we knew we could not really afford the rent.//  --Although I can’t help admiring the man’s courage, I do not approve of his methods.//\n  2 used to add a statement that balances or reduces the effect of what you have just said:   but//  --You can copy down my answers, although I’m not sure they’re right.//  --No, this is my responsibility, although I appreciate your offer.//


Words: altimeter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Latin; Origin: altus (  ALTITUDE) +  English -meter]//  an instrument in an aircraft that tells you how high you are//


Words: altitude
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: altitudo, from  altus  ’high, deep’]//  [C] the height of an object or place above the sea//  altitude of//  --We’re flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet.//  high/low altitudes //  --At high altitudes it is difficult to get enough oxygen.//


Words: alto
Meaning:
adj   an alto instrument or voice produces notes at the second highest level, below a soprano//  --an alto sax//\nalto 2 n   plural  altos //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: ’high’, from  Latin altus;   ALTITUDE]//\n  1 [C] a singing voice that is lower than a soprano, or a singer with a voice like this:\n  2 [singular] the part of a musical work that is written for an alto voice or instrument:    baritone1 (2),  bass1 (2),  soprano1 (2),  tenor1 (2)//


Words: altogether
Meaning:
W3S2   adv   [Date: 1100-1200; Origin: all  ’everything, everyone’ +  together]//\n  1 used to emphasize that something has been done completely or has finished completely:  --an old custom that has vanished altogether//  --Congress could ban the procession altogether.//\n  2 [+adjective/adverb] used to emphasize that the way you describe something is completely true:  --In Canada, the situation is altogether different.//  --This latest problem is altogether more serious.//  not altogether (=not completely) //  --I wasn’t altogether happy about Mike staying over.//  --The results were not altogether surprising.//\n  3 used to show that you are referring to the total amount:  --There were five people altogether.//  --How much do I owe you altogether?//\n  4 used to make a final statement about several things you have just mentioned:   all in all//  --Lots of sunshine, wonderful food, and amazing nightlife - altogether a great vacation!//\naltogether 2 n   in the altogether//  not wearing any clothes - used humorously//  --Several of the men were parading around in the altogether.//


Words: altruism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: altruisme, from  autrui  ’other people’]//  when you care about or help other people, even though this brings no advantage to yourself//  --Many choose to work in developing countries out of altruism.//  -- altruist n  [C] //


Words: altruistic
Meaning:
adj   altruistic behaviour shows that you care about and will help other people, even though this brings no advantage for yourself//  → selfish//  --Were his motives entirely altruistic?//  -- altruistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: alum
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  informal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin alumen]//  a former student of a school, college etc//  --a Crawford High alum//


Words: aluminium
Meaning:
AmE [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin alumen;   ALUM]//  a silver-white metal that is very light and is used to make cans, cooking pans, window frames etc. It is a chemical element: symbol Al//  --recycled aluminium cans//


Words: alumna
Meaning:
n   plural  alumnae /-ni[hA359]/ [C]  formal //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’foster daughter, female pupil’, from  alere;   ALIMENTARY CANAL]//  a woman who is a former student of a school, college, etc//


Words: alumnus
Meaning:
n   plural  alumni /-na[hA366]/ [C]  formal //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’foster son, pupil’, from  alere;   ALIMENTARY CANAL]//  a former student of a school, college etc//


Words: alveolar
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: alveolus  ’hollow part in which a tooth is fastened’ (17-21 centuries), from  Latin, from  alveus  ’hollow place’]//  a consonant sound such as t or d that you make by putting the end of your tongue behind your upper front teeth//


Words: always
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: ealne weg  ’all the way’]//\n  1 all the time, at all times, or every time:  --Always lock your bicycle to something secure.//  --She’d always assumed that Gabriel was a girl’s name.//  --He hadn’t always been a butler.//\n  2 for a very long time:  --I’ve always wanted to go to Paris.//  --John’s always been keen on music.//\n  3 for ever:  --I’ll always remember that day.//\n  4 if someone or something is always doing something, they do it often, especially in an annoying way:  --That woman next door’s always complaining.//\n  5  always assuming/supposing (that) sth:   BrE used to say that one important fact has to be accepted as true for something else to happen, be true etc//  --We’ll leave on Tuesday -- always assuming the car’s repaired by then.//\n  6  as always:  as is usual or expected//  --The truth, as always, is more complicated.//  --As always, Deborah was the last to arrive.//\n  7  can/could always do sth:  there’s always sth //   spoken used to make a polite suggestion//  --You could always try ringing again.//  --If you can’t get it locally, there’s always the Internet.//\n  8  sb always was lucky/untidy etc:  used to say you are not surprised by what someone has done because it is typical of them//  --You always were a stubborn creature.//  --He’s a troublemaker! Always was and always will be!//   see usage note  still1 //


Words: Alzheimer’s disease
Meaning:
n  also Alzheimer’s  [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Alois  Alzheimer (1864-1915), German medical scientist]//  a disease that affects the brain, especially of old people, and that gradually makes it difficult to move, talk, or remember things//   dementia//


Words: AM
Meaning:
1 amplitude modulation a system used for broadcasting radio programmes:    FM//\n  2 Assembly Member a politician who is one of the 60 members of the Welsh Assembly. The Welsh Assembly is the parliament for Wales.:


Words: am
Meaning:
v   [Language: Old English; Origin: eom]//  the first person singular of the present tense of the verb be//


Words: amalgam
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: amalgame, from  Medieval Latin amalgama, probably from  Greek malagma  ’softening substance’]//  [C]  formal a mixture of different things//  amalgam of//  --an amalgam of different styles//


Words: amalgamate
Meaning:
v  formal \n  1 [I and T] if two organizations amalgamate, or if one amalgamates with another, they join and make one big organization:   merge//  amalgamate sth with/into/under sth//  --The agency is expected to amalgamate with the National Rivers Authority.//\n  2 [T] to combine two or more things together to make one thing:  --Stir until the ingredients are amalgamated.//  amalgamate sth with/into sth//  --The editors will amalgamate all the information into one article.//  -- amalgamation/[hA353]m[zB024]lg[hA353]me[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //  --an amalgamation between two companies//


Words: amass
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: amasser, from  masser  ’to gather into a mass’]//  if you amass money, knowledge, information etc, you gradually collect a large amount of it//  --For 25 years, Darwin amassed evidence to support his theories.//  --He amassed a fortune after the war.//


Words: amateur
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Latin amator  ’lover’, from  amare  ’to love’]//\n  1 someone who does an activity just for pleasure, not as their job:  → professional//  --a gifted amateur//  --Mickelson won his first major golf tournament while still an amateur.//\n  2  informal someone who you think is not very skilled at something:  --You English are a bunch of amateurs when it comes to romance.//  -- amateur adj //  --an amateur orchestra//  -- amateur dramatics  BrE (=producing or acting in plays as an interest) //  -- amateurism n  [U] //  --well-meaning amateurism//


Words: amateurish
Meaning:
adj   not skilfully done or made//  → professional//  --His paintings are rather amateurish.//  -- amateurishly adv //  -- amateurishness n  [U] //


Words: amatory
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: amatorius, from  amator;   AMATEUR]//  expressing sexual or romantic love//


Words: amaze
Meaning:
v [T]   [Language: Old English; Origin: amasian, from an unrecorded  masian  ’to confuse’]//  to surprise someone very much//   astonish//  --Dave amazed his friends by suddenly getting married.//  it amazes sb how/what etc//  --It still amazes me how much she has improved.//  amaze that//  --It never ceased to amaze him that women were attracted to Sam.//


Words: amazed
Meaning:
adj   very surprised//   astonished//  amazed (that)/how//  --I’m amazed you’ve never heard of the Rolling Stones.//  --You’d be amazed how much money you can save.//  amazed at/by//  --We were absolutely amazed at his rapid recovery.//  amazed to see/find/discover sth //  --Visitors are often amazed to discover how little the town has changed.//


Words: amazement
Meaning:
n [U]   a feeling of great surprise//   astonishment//  do sth in amazement//  --Ralph gasped in amazement.//  to sb’s amazement//  --To everyone’s amazement, the goal was disallowed.//


Words: amazing
Meaning:
S2   adj \n  1 very good, especially in an unexpected way:  --He’s an amazing player to watch.//  --an amazing bargain//\n  2 so surprising you can hardly believe it:  -- It’s amazing how often you see drivers using mobile phones.//  -- amazingly adv //  --These shoes were amazingly cheap.//


Words: Amazon
Meaning:
1  the Amazon:  a river in South America, which goes through Peru and Brazil and is the second longest river in the world//\n  2  literary a strong, tall woman:  -- amazonian adj //


Words: Amazon.com
Meaning:
a US website that sells books, music, toys etc. You make your order and pay over the Internet, and the books, toys etc are sent to you through the post. Amazon also have websites in other countries such as the UK (amazon.co.uk) and Germany (amazon.de).//


Words: ambassador
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: ambassadeur, from an unrecorded  Medieval Latin ambactiator, from  Latin ambactus  ’vassal’]//\n  1 an important official who represents his or her government in a foreign country:  ambassador to//  --the US ambassador to Spain//\n  2 someone who represents a particular sport, business etc because they behave in a way that people admire:  ambassador for//  --He has made some good films and he is a good ambassador for the industry.//  -- ambassadorial/[zB024]mb[zB024]s[hA353]d[hA350][hA359]ri[hA353]l/ adj //  --relations at ambassadorial level//


Words: amber
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin ambra, from  Arabic anbar  ’substance obtained from the body organs of whales’]//\n  1 a yellowish brown colour:\n  2 a hard yellowish brown substance used to make jewellery:  --an amber necklace//  -- amber adj //


Words: ambidextrous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: ambidexter, from  Latin ambi- (  AMBI-) +  dexter  ’on the right, skillful’]//  able to use either hand equally well//    left-handed, right-handed//


Words: ambience
Meaning:
ambiance/[zB024]mbi[hA353]ns/ n [singular]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ambiance, from  ambiant, from  Latin;   AMBIENT]//  the qualities and character of a particular place and the way these make you feel//   atmosphere//  pleasant/relaxing/friendly etc ambience //  --The restaurant’s new owners have created a welcoming ambience.//


Words: ambient
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  ambire, from  ambi- (  AMBI-) +  ire  ’to go’]//\n  1  ambient temperature/light etc:   technical the temperature etc of the surrounding area//\n  2  ambient music/sounds:  a type of modern music or sound that is slow, peaceful, and does not have a formal structure//


Words: ambiguity
Meaning:
n   plural  ambiguities  [U and C] //  the state of being unclear, confusing, or not certain, or things that produce this effect//  ambiguity in//  --There was an element of ambiguity in the president’s reply.//  --legal ambiguities//


Words: ambiguous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ambiguus, from  ambigere  ’to wander around’, from  ambi- (  AMBI-) +  agere  ’to drive’]//  something that is ambiguous is unclear, confusing, or not certain, especially because it can be understood in more than one way//  → unambiguous//  --The language in the Minister’s statement is highly ambiguous.//  --His role in the affair is ambiguous.//  -- ambiguously adv //  --The legislation had been ambiguously worded .//


Words: ambit
Meaning:
n [singular]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ambitus, from the past participle of  ambire;   AMBIENT]//  the range or limit of someone’s authority, influence etc//  fall within the ambit of sth //  --areas falling within the ambit of our research//


Words: ambition
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ambitio, from  ambire;   AMBIENT]//\n  1 [C] a strong desire to achieve something:  achieve/fulfil/realize an ambition //  --She fulfilled her ambition to become the first woman to run the 10,000 metres in under 30 minutes.//  lifelong ambition //  --He always had this burning ambition  (=very strong desire) to start his own business.//  --the political ambitions of the working class//  an ambition to do sth/of doing sth//  --His ambition to become a pilot was thwarted by poor eyesight.//  cherish/nurse/harbour an ambition (=have it secretly for a long time) //  --He harboured ambitions of becoming leader.//\n  2 [U] determination to be successful, rich, powerful etc:  --a lack of ambition //


Words: ambitious
Meaning:
adj \n  1 determined to be successful, rich, powerful etc:  --Alfred was intensely ambitious, obsessed with the idea of becoming rich.//  ambitious for//  --mothers who are highly ambitious for their children (=who want their children to be successful) //\n  2 an ambitious plan, idea etc shows a desire to do something good but difficult:  --an ambitious engineering project//  --an over-ambitious health reform program//  -- ambitiously adv //  -- ambitiousness n  [U] //


Words: ambivalent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: ambi- +  -valent  ’having a particular value’ (from  Latin valere;   VALOR)]//  not sure whether you want or like something or not//  ambivalent about//  --We are both somewhat ambivalent about having a child.//  ambivalent attitude/feelings etc //  -- ambivalence n  [singular, U] //  --O’Neill had a genuine ambivalence toward US involvement in the war.//  -- ambivalently adv //


Words: amble
Meaning:
preposition]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ambler, from  Latin ambulare  ’to walk’]//  to walk slowly in a relaxed way//   saunter//  --An old man came out and ambled over for a chat.//  -- amble n  [singular] //  --a pleasant amble by the river//


Words: Ambridge
Meaning:
an imaginary village in the English countryside where the characters of  The Archers, a British radio programme, live and work//


Words: ambrosia
Meaning:
n [U]  literary   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’immortality, ambrosia’, from  ambrotos  ’never dying’]//  food or drink that tastes very good//


Words: ambulance
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’place near a battle where wounds are treated’, from  ambulant  ’walking’, from  Latin ambulare;   AMBLE]//  a special vehicle that is used to take people who are ill or injured to hospital//  --the ambulance service//  ambulance staff/crew/worker //  --The ambulance crew removed him from the wreckage.//  --the ambulance service //  by ambulance//  --Mike had to be taken by ambulance to hospital.//  --Do you think we need to call an ambulance  (=phone to ask an ambulance to come) ?//


Words: ambulance chaser
Meaning:
n [C]   a lawyer who uses a lot of pressure to persuade someone who has been hurt in an accident to sue other people or companies in court, so that the lawyer will get part of the money if they win - used to show disapproval//


Words: ambush
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: embuschier, from  en  ’in’ +  busche  ’wood’]//  a sudden attack on someone by people who have been hiding and waiting for them, or the place where this happens//  --The soldiers were killed in an ambush.//  --In winter the danger of ambush is much reduced.//  lie/wait in ambush //  --Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge.//  -- ambush v  [T] //  --Everybody thought our train would be ambushed, but we got out safely.//


Words: ameliorate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: meliorate  ’to ameliorate’ (16-20 centuries), from  Late Latin, past participle of  meliorare, from  Latin melior  ’better’]//   formal to make a bad situation better or less harmful//   improve//  --It is not clear what can be done to ameliorate the situation.//  -- amelioration/[hA353]mi[hA359]li[hA353]re[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: amen
Meaning:
interjection, n [C]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  Hebrew,  ’truth’]//\n  1 a word used to end a prayer:  --Blessed be the Lord, Amen!//  --McAllister murmured a fervent amen.//\n  2  amen to that:   informal used to show that you agree with a suggestion or remark//  --’I think we can close the meeting now.’ ’Amen to that.’//


Words: amenable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: amener  ’to lead up’, from  mener  ’to lead’]//\n  1 willing to accept what someone says or does without arguing:  --She was always a very amenable child.//  amenable to//  --Young people are more amenable than older citizens to the idea of immigration.//\n  2 suitable for a particular type of treatment:  amenable for/to//  --Such conditions may be amenable to medical intervention.//


Words: amend
Meaning:
S3   v [T]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: amender, from  Latin emendare;   EMEND]//  to correct or make small changes to something that is written or spoken//  --The law was amended to include women.//  --The defendant later amended his evidence.//  --’Steve stole it - or rather borrowed it,’ he amended.//  -- amended adj //  --an amended version//


Words: amendment
Meaning:
n   [U and C] a small change, improvement, or addition that is made to a law or document, or the process of doing this//  --constitutional amendments//  amendment to//  --an amendment to the resolution//


Words: amends
Meaning:
n   make amends (to sb/for sth)//  to do something to show you are sorry for hurting or upsetting someone, especially something that makes it better for them//  --He seized the chance to make amends for his behavior.//


Words: amenity
Meaning:
n   plural  amenities  [C usually plural] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: amoenitas  ’pleasantness’, from  amoenus  ’pleasant’]//  something that makes a place comfortable or easy to live in//  --The hotel is in the city centre, close to shops and local amenities.//  --houses that lack basic amenities  (=basic things that people need, such as heat and running water) //


Words: Amerasian
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: American +  Asian]//  someone who has one American parent and one Asian parent//    Asian-American//


Words: America
Meaning:
a name commonly used for the US. Although most English speakers understand that the US is often called America, many people from other countries in North and South America think it is unfair and wrong to use this word to mean only the US.//


Words: American
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to the US or its people:  --Her mother is American.//  --a famous American writer//\n  2  sth is as American as apple pie:  used to say that something is very typically American//    Latin American//\nAmerican 2 n [C]   someone from the US//


Words: American Association of Retired Persons
Meaning:
the   AARP an organization in the US for people who are 50 or older, especially people who have stopped working//


Words: American Cancer Society
Meaning:
the   ACS an organization in the US that provides money for scientists who are studying the causes of cancer and trying to find cures for it. It also gives information to help prevent people getting cancer.//


Words: American Civil War
Meaning:
the   a war that was fought in the US between 1861 and 1865 when 11 southern states rebelled against the federal government. The southern states were beaten, and as a result of the war, slaves became free.//


Words: American Conference
Meaning:
the   a group of football teams in the US that play against one another. There is another group of teams called the  National Conference, and the best team from that group plays the best team from the American Conference in the  Super Bowl, which is the most important game of the year//


Words: American Express
Meaning:
also Amex  trademark   a US company that has a  credit card service, exchanges foreign money, and sells  travellers cheques//


Words: American football
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE   a game played in the US by two teams of eleven players, who carry, throw, or kick an oval ball//  American Equivalent:  football//


Words: American Gothic
Meaning:
a painting by the US artist Grant  Wood, which shows a very serious-looking farmer holding a  pitchfork, with his wife standing beside him//


Words: American Indian
Meaning:
n [C]   another name for a Native American (=someone who belongs to one of the races that lived in North America before Europeans arrived) //


Words: American League
Meaning:
the   a group of professional baseball teams in the US which play against each other. Every year, the team that wins in this league plays against the winning team of the  National League in the  World Series.//


Words: American Revolutionary War
Meaning:
the  also the American Revolution the American War of Independence  BrE   (1775-83) the war in which people in Britain’s  colonies in North America became independent and established the United States of America//


Words: American Samoa
Meaning:
a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, which are a  territory of the US. Population: 54,000 (1995). Capital: Pago Pago.//


Words: Americana
Meaning:
n [U]   objects that are considered to be typical of the US, especially when they are in a collection//  --1940s Americana//


Words: Americanize
Meaning:
also Americanise  BrE   v [T]   to change a society, language, system etc so that it becomes more American in character//  -- Americanization/[hA353]mer[hA369]k[hA353]na[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ -n[hA353]-/ n  [U] //  --the Americanization of youth culture//


Words: amethyst
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: amatiste, from  Latin amethystus, from  Greek,  ’preventer of drunkenness, amethyst’, from  methy  ’wine’]//\n  1 [C] a valuable purple stone used in jewellery:\n  2 [U] a light purple colour:  -- amethyst adj //


Words: amiable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin amicabilis;   AMICABLE]//  friendly and easy to like//  --The driver was an amiable young man.//  --She was in an amiable mood.//  -- amiably adv //  -- amiability/e[hA366]mi[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: amicable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: amicablis, from  amicus  ’friend’]//  an amicable agreement, relationship etc is one in which people feel friendly towards each other and do not want to quarrel//  --Their relationship hasn’t always been amicable.//  amicable settlement/agreement //  --The two parties have reached an amicable settlement.//  -- amicably adv //  --In the end, the matter was resolved amicably.//


Words: amid
Meaning:
prep   [Language: Old English; Origin: onmiddan  ’in the middle’]//\n  1 while noisy, busy, or confused events are happening - used in writing or news reports:  --The dollar has fallen in value amid rumors of weakness in the US economy.//  --Demonstrators ripped up the national flag amid shouts of ’Death to the tyrants!’//\n  2  literary among or surrounded by things:  --He sat amid the trees.//


Words: amidst
Meaning:
prep  literary   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: amid]//  amid//  --a light that shines amidst the darkness//


Words: Amin Dada
Meaning:
Idi   (1925-) the President of Uganda from 1971 until he was forced to leave the country in 1979. In 1972 he forced 80,000 people of Indian origin to leave Uganda, and many of them came to live in the UK. He was famous for the violent treatment of anyone who opposed him.//


Words: amino acid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: amine type of chemical compound  (19-21 centuries), from  ammonia]//  one of the substances that combine to form proteins//


Words: Amis
Meaning:
Kingsley   (1922-95 ) a British writer who wrote humorous novels, such as  Lucky Jim  (1954) and  The Old Devils  (1986)//


Words: Amish
Meaning:
the   a Christian religious group who follow a type of Christianity that has many strict rules about behaviour. For example they must wear old-fashioned clothes and must not use modern inventions such as telephones, cars, or televisions. They have their own land in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where they live separately from other people. //


Words: amiss
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: miss  ’mistake, failure’]//  if something is amiss, there is a problem//   wrong//  --Elsa continued as if nothing was amiss.//  amiss with/in//  --There’s something amiss in their relationship.//\namiss 2 adv  BrE \n  1  sth would not come/go amiss:   informal used to say that something would be suitable or useful in a situation//  --A cup of tea wouldn’t go amiss.//\n  2  take sth amiss:  to feel upset or offended about something that someone has said or done//  --Don’t take it amiss - I was just teasing.//


Words: amity
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: amite, from  Medieval Latin amicitas, from  Latin amicus;   AMICABLE]//   formal friendship, especially between countries//  → hostility//  --a spirit of perfect amity//


Words: ammonia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin sal ammoniacus  ’salt of Amon’, from  Amon ancient Egyptian god near one of whose temples the substance was obtained]//\n  1 a clear liquid with a strong bad smell that is used for cleaning or in cleaning products:\n  2 a poisonous gas with a strong bad smell that is used in making many chemicals, fertilizers etc:


Words: ammunition
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Early  French amunition, from  munition;   MUNITIONS]//\n  1 bullets, shells shell1(2) etc that are fired from guns:\n  2 information that you can use to criticize someone or win an argument against them:  give sb ammunition/provide sb with ammunition //  --His mistakes provided political opponents with even more ammunition.//


Words: amnesia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’forgetfulness’, probably from  amnestia;   AMNESTY]//  the medical condition of not being able to remember anything//  -- amnesiac/-zi[zB024]k $ -[hA360]i[zB024]k, -zi[zB024]k/ n  [C] //


Words: amnesty
Meaning:
n   plural  amnesties  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: amnestia  ’forgetfulness’, from  mnasthai  ’to remember’]//\n  1 an official order by a government that allows a particular group of prisoners to go free:  amnesty for//  --The government granted an amnesty for all former terrorists.//\n  2 a period of time when you can admit to doing something illegal without being punished:  amnesty on//  --an amnesty on illegal handguns//  -- amnesty v  [T] //


Words: Amnesty International
Meaning:
an organization that supports  human rights, especially people’s right to express their beliefs without being punished. Its members write to governments to persuade them to set free people who are in prison because of their political or religious beliefs.//


Words: amniocentesis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: amnion (  AMNIOTIC) +  centesis  ’making a hole’ (from  Greek, from  kentein  ’to prick’)]//  a test to see if an unborn baby has a disease or other problem, done by taking liquid from the mother’s womb//


Words: amoeba
Meaning:
also  ameba AmE   n    or  [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek amoibe  ’change’]//  a very small creature that has only one cell//  -- amoebic adj //


Words: amok
Meaning:
adv  also amuck   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Malay]//  run amok//  a) to suddenly behave in a very violent and uncontrolled way//  --Drunken troops ran amok in the town.//  b) to get out of control and cause a lot of problems//  --an age in which global capitalism has run amok//


Words: among
Meaning:
[Language: Old English; Origin: on gemonge, from  on +  gemong  ’crowd’]//\n  1 in or through the middle of a group of people or things:  --The girl quickly disappeared among the crowd.//  --I could hear voices coming from somewhere among the bushes.//  --We walked among the chestnut woods on the mountain slopes.//  --She began rummaging among the books on her desk.//    between//\n  2 with a particular group of people:  --Jim relaxed, knowing he was among friends .//\n  3 used to say that many people in a group have the same feeling or opinion, or that something affects many people in a group:  --The problem is causing widespread concern among scientists.//  --The general opinion among police officers was that the law should be tightened.//  --The changes will mean 7,000 job losses among railway workers.//\n  4 used to talk about a particular person, thing, or group as belonging to a larger group:  --She was the eldest among them.//  --Innocent civilians were among the casualties.//  --My grandfather had among his possessions a portrait by Matisse.//  --Representatives were chosen by the students from among themselves.//\n  5  among other things/places/factors etc:  used to say that you are only mentioning one or two people or things out of a much larger group//  --At the meeting they discussed, among other things, recent events in Japan.//\n  6 if something is divided or shared among a group of people, each person is given a part of it:  --A father’s property was divided among his heirs.//\n  7  among yourselves/ourselves/themselves:  with each other//  --The allies found it hard to agree among themselves.//


Words: amoral
Meaning:
adj   having no moral standards at all//  → moral//  --a completely amoral person//  -- amorality/e[hA366]m[hA361]r[zB024]l[hA369]ti, [zB024]- $ e[hA366]m[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: amorous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin amorosus, from  Latin amor  ’love’]//  showing or concerning sexual love//  --She resisted his amorous advances .//  --He was always boasting about his amorous adventures .//  -- amorously adv //


Words: amorphous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Greek; Origin: amorphos, from  morphe  ’shape’]//  having no definite shape or features//  --an amorphous mass of twisted metal//


Words: amortize
Meaning:
also  amortise BrE   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: amortir, from  Vulgar Latin admortire  ’to deaden’, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  mors  ’death’]//   technical to pay a debt by making regular payments//  -- amortization/[zB024]m[hA350][hA359]ta[hA366]ze[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n $ [zB024]m[hA353]rt[hA353]-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: Amos and Andy
Meaning:
two black characters in old US radio and television programmes, who were played by white actors. People now see these programmes as an example of a white  racist view of black people.//


Words: amount
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 a quantity of something such as time, money, or a substance:  amount of//  --They spend equal amounts of time in California and New York.//  a considerable/large/enormous etc amount //  --a considerable amount of money//  a small/tiny etc amount //  --a tiny amount of dirt//  --Please pay the full amount  (=of money) by the end of the month.//\n  2 used to talk about how much there is of a feeling or quality:  a large/considerable etc amount of sth //  --Her case has attracted an enormous amount of public sympathy.//  a certain/fair amount of sth //  --Dina encountered a fair amount of envy among her colleagues.//\n  3  no amount of sth can/will etc do sth:  used to say that something has no effect//  --No amount of persuasion could make her change her mind.//\n  4  any amount of sth:  used to say that there is plenty of something, and no more is needed//  --The school has any amount of resources and equipment.//\namount 2 v   amount to [amount to sth] phr v//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: amonter, from  amont  ’upward’, from  mont  ’mountain’]//\n  1 if figures, sums etc amount to a particular total, they equal that total when they are added together:  --Time lost through illness amounted to 1,357 working days.//\n  2 if an attitude, remark, situation etc amounts to something, it has the same effect:  --The court’s decision amounts to a not guilty verdict.//  --Ultimately, their ideas amount to the same thing .//\n  3  not amount to much/anything/a great deal etc:  to not be important, valuable, or successful//  --Her academic achievements don’t amount to much.//  --Jim’s never going to amount to much.//


Words: amour
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin amor;   AMOROUS]//   literary a sexual relationship, especially a secret one//


Words: amp
Meaning:
n [C]   [Sense: 1; Date: 1800-1900; Origin: ampere]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1900-2000; Origin: amplifier]//\n  1  also ampere /[zB024]mpe[hA353] $ -p[hA366]r/:  a unit for measuring electric current//  --a 3 amp fuse//\n  2  informal an amplifier:


Words: ampersand
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: and (&) per se and  ’(the character) & by itself (is the word) and’]//  the sign ’&’ that means ’and’//  --Mills & Boon//


Words: amphetamine
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: alpha-methyl-phenethylamine]//  a drug that gives you a feeling of excitement and a lot of energy//


Words: amphibious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: amphibios  ’living a double life’, from  amphi-  ’round, on both sides, both’ +  bios  ’way of life’]//\n  1 able to live on both land and water:  --amphibious creatures//\n  2  amphibious vehicle:  a vehicle that is able to move on both land and water//\n  3  amphibious operation/force/assault:  an amphibious operation etc involves both sea and land vehicles//


Words: amphitheatre
Meaning:
BrE  amphitheater AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: amphitheatrum, from  Greek, from  amphi- (  AMPHIBIOUS) +  theatron (  THEATER)]//  a large circular building without a roof and with many rows of seats//


Words: ample
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin amplus]//\n  1 more than enough:   sufficient//  → insufficient//  ample time/evidence/opportunity //  --You’ll have ample time for questions later.//  --There is ample evidence that climate patterns are changing.//  ample room/space etc //  --She found ample room for her things in the wardrobe.//\n  2  literary large in a way that is attractive or pleasant:  --an ample bosom//  -- amply adv //  --Recent US history has amply demonstrated the risks of foreign intervention.//


Words: amplify
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  amplified present participle  amplifying third person singular  amplifies  [T] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: amplifier, from  Latin amplificare, from  amplus;   AMPLE]//\n  1 to make sound louder, especially musical sound:  --an amplified guitar//\n  2  formal to increase the effects or strength of something:  --These stories only amplified her fears.//\n  3  formal to explain something that you have said by giving more information about it:  --Would you care to amplify that remark?//  -- amplification/[zB024]mpl[hA369]f[hA369]ke[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: amplitude
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin amplitudo, from  amplus;   AMPLE]//   technical the distance between the middle and the top or bottom of a wave such as a sound wave//


Words: ampoule
Meaning:
ampule/[zB024]mpu[hA359]l $ -pju[hA359]l/ n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ampoule, from  Latin  ampulla, from  amphora  ’container for oil or wine’]//  a small container for medicine that will be put into someone with a special needle//


Words: amputate
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  amputare, from  amb-  ’around’ +  putare  ’to cut’]//  to cut off someone’s arm, leg, finger etc during a medical operation//  --Two of her toes were amputated because of frostbite.//  -- amputation/[zB024]mpj[hA36A]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: Amritsar
Meaning:
a city in the Punjab, in northwest India. It is a holy place for members of the Sikh religion, who visit its famous  Golden Temple//


Words: Amtrak
Meaning:
trademark   the company which runs passenger trains in the US//  --Will you fly or take Amtrak? //    Conrail//


Words: amulet
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: amuletum]//  a small piece of jewellery worn to protect against bad luck, disease etc//


Words: Amundsen
Meaning:
Roald   (1872-1928) a Norwegian  explorer. He was the first person to sail through the  Northwest Passage in 1903-06, and in 1911 he beat Captain Robert  Scott in the race to become the first person to reach the  South Pole//


Words: amuse
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: amuser, from  muser;   MUSE1]//\n  1 to make someone laugh or smile:  --He made funny faces to amuse the children.//  --The question seemed to amuse him in some way.//  it amuses sb to do sth//  --It amused me to think back to my life in London.//\n  2 to make time pass in an enjoyable way, so that you do not get bored:   entertain//  --Doing jigsaws would amuse Amy for hours on end.//  --The kids amused themselves playing hide-and-seek.//


Words: amused
Meaning:
adj \n  1 if you are amused by something, you think it is funny and you smile or laugh:  amused at/by//  --Ellen seemed amused by the whole situation.//  --I could see she was highly amused  (=very amused) .//  --The man looked a little amused.//  --He won’t be very amused  (=he will be annoyed) when he finds out what’s happened to his garden.//  an amused smile/look/expression etc //\n  2  keep sb amused:  to entertain or interest someone for a long time so that they do not get bored//  --There were puzzles and games to keep the children amused.//


Words: amusement
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the feeling you have when you think something is funny:  with/in amusement//  --Her eyes sparkled with amusement.//  --She looked at him in amusement.//  --Steve couldn’t hide his amusement.//  to sb’s amusement//   (=in a way that makes someone laugh or smile) //  --They were dancing and singing in the car, much to the amusement of passers-by.//  --The cats are a constant source of amusement to us.//\n  2  amusements [plural] :  a) things that entertain you and make time pass in an enjoyable way//  --childhood amusements//  b)  BrE special machines or games that are intended to entertain people, for example at a fair//  --The kids can ride on the amusements.//\n  3 [U] the process of getting or providing pleasure and enjoyment:  --What do you do for amusement in this town?//


Words: amusement arcade
Meaning:
n [C]    BrE a place where you play games on machines by putting coins into them//  American Equivalent:  video arcade//


Words: amusement park
Meaning:
n [C]   a large park with many special machines that you can ride on, such as roller coasters and merry-go-rounds//


Words: amusing
Meaning:
adj   funny and entertaining//  --I don’t find his jokes at all amusing .//  --a highly amusing  (=very amusing) film//  an amusing story/anecdote/incident etc //  --The book is full of amusing stories about his childhood.//  mildly/vaguely amusing (=a little amusing, but not very) //  --a mildly amusing spectacle//  -- amusingly adv //


Words: Amway
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a US company that sells cleaning products, beauty products and kitchen equipment. The products are not sold in stores, but by people who sell them in their free time.:\n  2 products made by this company:  --Jill and Bob sell Amway to earn extra cash.//


Words: an
Meaning:
indefinite article, determiner   used when the following word begins with a vowel sound//    a//  --an orange//  --an X-ray//   see usage note  a//


Words: an-
Meaning:
prefix \n  1 the form used for a before a vowel sound:\n  2 not:   without//  --anarchy (=without government) //  --anoxia (=condition caused by lack of oxygen) //


Words: Anabaptist
Meaning:
a member of a group within the Christian religion that thinks that only people who believe (and therefore not very young children) should be baptized//


Words: anabolic steroid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  anabolic  ’making body substance’ 1800-1900 From  ana-  ’up, upwards’ (from  Latin, from  Greek,  ’up, back, again’) +  metabolic]//  a drug that makes muscles grow quickly, sometimes used illegally by people in sport//


Words: anachronism
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin:  Probably from  Medieval Greek anachronismos, from  Greek ana-  ’back’ +  chronos  ’time’]//\n  1 someone or something that seems to belong to the past, not the present:  --The monarchy is something of an anachronism these days.//\n  2 something in a play, film etc that seems wrong because it did not exist in the period of history in which the play etc is set:  --The film is full of anachronisms.//  -- anachronistic/[hA353]n[zB024]kr[hA353]n[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //  --His painting style was seen as outdated and anachronistic.//


Words: anaconda
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Probably from  Sinhalese henakandaya type of thin green snake]//  a very large South American snake//


Words: anaemic
Meaning:
also  anemic AmE   adj \n  1 suffering from anaemia:  --his anaemic-looking face//\n  2  written seeming weak and uninteresting:  --an anaemic first novel//


Words: anaesthesia
Meaning:
also  anesthesia AmE   n [U] \n  1 the use of anaesthetics in medicine:\n  2 the state of being unable to feel pain:


Words: anaesthetic
Meaning:
also  anesthetic AmE   n [U and C]   a drug that stops you feeling pain//  under anaesthetic//  --The operation will have to be done under anaesthetic (=using anaesthetic) .//  --Eye surgery is often performed using a local anaesthetic  (=one that only affects a particular area of your body) .//  --You will need to have a general anaesthetic  (=one that makes you completely unconscious) .//  -- anaesthetic adj  [only before noun] //  --anaesthetic drugs//


Words: anaesthetist
Meaning:
also  anesthetist AmE   n [C]   a doctor or nurse who has been specially trained to give people anaesthetics//


Words: anaesthetize
Meaning:
also  anaesthetise BrE  anesthetize AmE   v [T]   to give someone an anaesthetic so that they do not feel pain//


Words: anagram
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: anagramme, from  Greek anagrammatismos, from  ana- (  ANACHRONISM) +  gramma  ’letter’]//  a word or phrase that is made by changing the order of the letters in another word or phrase//  --’Silent’ is an anagram of ’listen’.//


Words: anal
Meaning:
adj \n  1 connected with the anus:\n  2  also anal retentive :  showing too much concern with small details, especially in a way that annoys other people - used to show disapproval//  --Don’t be so anal.//


Words: analgesia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  an-  ’without’ +  algesis  ’sense of pain’ (from  algos  ’pain’)]//   technical the condition of being unable to feel pain while conscious//


Words: analgesic
Meaning:
n [C]    technical a drug that reduces pain//   painkiller//  --Aspirin is a popular analgesic.//  -- analgesic adj  [only before noun] //  --drugs that have an analgesic effect on ulcers//


Words: analogous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: analogus, from  Greek analogos, from  ana-  ’according to’ +  logos  ’reason, ratio’]//  similar to another situation or thing so that a comparison can be made//  analogous to/with//  --The report’s findings are analogous with our own.//


Words: analogue
Meaning:
also  analog AmE   adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: analogue, from  Greek analogos;   ANALOGOUS]//\n  1  analogue clock/watch:  a clock or watch that uses pointers, not changing numbers//    digital//\n  2  technical analogue technology uses changing physical quantities such as voltage to store data:    digital//  analogue computer/circuit/technology //


Words: analogy
Meaning:
n   plural  analogies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Probably from  Greek analogia, from  analogos;   ANALOGOUS]//  something that seems similar between two situations, processes etc//  analogy with/to/between//  --analogies between human and animal behaviour//  draw/make an analogy (=make a comparison) //  --She drew an analogy between childbirth and the creative process.//  by analogy with//  --Dr Wood explained the movement of light by analogy with (=using the analogy of) the movement of water.//


Words: analyse
Meaning:
W3  analyze/[zB024]n[hA368]l-a[hA366]z/ v [T] \n  1 to examine or think about something carefully, in order to understand it:  --She still needs to analyse the data.//  --You need to sit down and analyse why you feel so upset.//  --Joe had never tried to analyze their relationship.//\n  2 to examine a substance to see what it is made of:  --The cell samples are analyzed by a lab.//\n  3 to examine someone’s mental or emotional problems by using psychoanalysis:


Words: analysis
Meaning:
n   plural  analyses /-si[hA359]z///  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  analyein  ’to break up’]//\n  1 [U and C] :  a) a careful examination of something in order to understand it better//  analysis of//  --a detailed analysis of the week’s news//  --Further analysis of the data is needed.//  do/carry out/conduct an analysis //  --They were doing some type of statistical analysis .//  b) the way in which someone describes a situation or problem, and says what causes it to happen//  analysis of//  --Do you agree with Marx’s analysis of the failure of free-market capitalism?//\n  2 [U and C] :  a) a careful examination of a substance to see what it is made of//  analysis of//  --analysis of genetic material//  for analysis//  --Blood samples were sent to the laboratory for analysis.//  --You’ll get the results when the analysis is complete.//\n  3 [U] a process in which a doctor makes someone talk about their past experiences, relationships etc in order to help them with mental or emotional problems:   psychoanalysis//    therapy//  --She’s been in analysis for three years.//\n  4  in the final/last analysis:  used when giving the most basic or important facts about a situation//  --In the final analysis, profit is the motive.//


Words: analyst
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: analysis or  analyze]//\n  1 someone whose job is to think about something carefully in order to understand it, and often to advise other people about it:  -- Political analysts expect the Conservatives to win.//  investment/financial/business analyst //  --Cleary has been working as a computer analyst in Winchester.//\n  2 a doctor who helps people who have mental or emotional problems by making them talk about their experiences and relationships:    systems analyst//


Words: analytical
Meaning:
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: analyticus, from  Greek, from  analyein;   ANALYSIS]//\n  1 thinking about things in a detailed and intelligent way, so that you can examine and understand things:  --She’s got an analytical mind.//  analytical method/techniques/approach/skills //  --During the course, students will develop their analytical skills.//\n  2 using scientific analysis to examine something:  --analytical chemistry//  -- analytically/-kli/ adv //


Words: anaphylactic shock
Meaning:
n [U]  medical   a very sudden serious physical reaction that is caused by an allergy to something such as nuts, eggs, or the sting of some insects. The reaction causes shock, breathing difficulties, and sometimes death.//


Words: anarchic
Meaning:
adj   lacking any rules or order, or not following the moral rules of society//  --a lawless, anarchic city//  --an anarchic sense of humour//


Words: anarchism
Meaning:
n [U]   the political belief that there should be no government and ordinary people should work together to improve society//


Words: anarchist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who believes that governments, laws etc are not necessary//  -- anarchistic/[zB024]n[hA353]k[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B] $ -[hA353]r-/ adj //


Words: anarchy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: anarchia, from  Greek, from  anarchos  ’having no ruler’, from  an-  ’without’ +  archos  ’ruler’]//  a situation in which there is no effective government in a country or no order in an organization or situation//  --The prison is close to anarchy.//  --The classroom was in a constant state of anarchy .//  slide/fall/descend into anarchy //  --The nation is in danger of falling into anarchy.//


Words: anathema
Meaning:
n [singular, U]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’thing given over to evil, curse’, from  anatithenai  ’to set up, dedicate’]//  something that is completely the opposite of what you believe in//  anathema to//  --His political views were anathema to me.//


Words: anatomical
Meaning:
adj   relating to the structure of human or animal bodies//  --an anatomical examination//  -- anatomically/-kli/ adv //


Words: anatomy
Meaning:
n   plural  anatomies //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: anatomia  ’cutting up a body’, from  Greek anatome, from  anatemnein  ’to cut up’]//\n  1 [U] the scientific study of the structure of human or animal bodies:  --a professor of anatomy//  human/animal anatomy //  --Knowledge of human anatomy is essential to figure drawing.//\n  2 [C usually singular] the structure of a body, or of a part of a body:  anatomy of//  --the anatomy of the nervous system//\n  3 [C] your body - often used in a humorous way:  --You could see a part of his anatomy that I’d rather not mention.//\n  4  the/an anatomy of sth:  a) a study or examination of an organization, process etc in order to understand and explain how it works//  --Elkind’s book is an anatomy of one man’s discussion with his son about life.//  b) the structure of an organization, process etc or the way it works//  --For the first time, we have the chance to examine the anatomy of a secret government operation.//


Words: ANC
Meaning:
the   the African National Congress a political group in South Africa that was originally established to fight for political rights for the black population. For many years it was an illegal organization, but it later became the government of South Africa. Its most famous leader is Nelson  Mandela.//


Words: ancestor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ancestre, from  Latin antecessor  ’one who goes before’, from  antecedere;   ANTECEDENT]//\n  1 a member of your family who lived a long time ago:    descendant//  --My ancestors were French.//\n  2 an animal that lived in the past, that modern animals have developed from:  --Lions and house cats evolved from a common ancestor  (=the same ancestor) .//\n  3 the form in which a modern machine, vehicle etc first existed:  ancestor of//  --Babbage’s invention was the ancestor of the modern computer.//  -- ancestral/[zB024]nsestr[hA353]l/ adj //  --the family’s ancestral home//


Words: ancestry
Meaning:
n   plural  ancestries  [C usually singular, U]  formal //  the members of your family who lived a long time ago//  of ... ancestry //  --Her mother is of German ancestry (=has German ancestors) .//  --Helen’s family can trace their ancestry back to the 1700s.//


Words: anchor
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 800-900; Language: Latin; Origin: anchora, from  Greek ankyra]//\n  1 a piece of heavy metal that is lowered to the bottom of the sea, lake etc to prevent a ship or boat moving:  at anchor//  --The ship was at anchor.//  --We dropped anchor a few yards offshore.//  --The next morning, they weighed anchor  (=lifted the anchor) and began to move south again.//\n  2  especially American English someone who reads the news on TV and introduces news reports:  British Equivalent:  newsreader//  --Dan Rather, anchor of the CBC Evening News//\n  3 someone or something that provides a feeling of support and safety:  --Dad was the anchor of the family.//\nanchor 2 v \n  1 [I and T] to lower the anchor on a ship or boat to hold it in one place:   moor//  --Three tankers were anchored in the harbor.//\n  2 [T usually passive] to fasten something firmly so that it cannot move:  --The shelves should be securely anchored to the wall.//\n  3  be anchored in sth:  to be strongly connected with a particular system, way of life etc//  --John’s outlook has always been anchored in the political mainstream.//\n  4 [T] to provide a feeling of support, safety or help for someone or an organization:  --Steve anchors the team’s defense.//  --Her life was anchored by her religion.//\n  5 [T]  American English to be the person who reads the news and introduces reports on television:  --Collins anchors the 6 o’clock news.//


Words: anchorage
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a place where ships can anchor:\n  2 [U and C] a place where something can be firmly fastened:


Words: anchovy
Meaning:
n   plural  anchovies  [U and C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: anchova, probably from  Italian dialect ancioa, from  Vulgar Latin apjua, from  Greek aphye  ’small fish’]//  a very small fish that tastes strongly of salt//


Words: ancient
Meaning:
W2   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ancien, from  Vulgar Latin anteanus, from  Latin ante  ’before’]//\n  1 belonging to a time long ago in history, especially thousands of years ago:  → modern//  --the ancient civilizations of Asia//  --Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan//  ancient Greece/Egypt/Rome //  --the religion of ancient Egypt//\n  2 having existed for a very long time:  → new//  --an ancient walled city//  --an ancient forest//  --the ancient art of calligraphy//\n  3 very old - used humorously:  --That photo makes me look ancient!//\n  4  ancient history:  a) the history of ancient societies, such as Greece or Rome//  --a professor of ancient history//  b)  informal if you say that something is ancient history, you mean that it happened a long time ago and is not important now//  --It’s all ancient history and I’m not upset any more.//\nancient 2 n   the ancients//  people who lived long ago, especially the Greeks and Romans//  --The ancients believed that the sun and moon were planets.//


Words: Ancient Mariner
Meaning:
the main character in the poem  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor  Coleridge. The Ancient Mariner is an old  sailor who shoots and kills an  albatross (=a very large sea bird) . The other sailors think that this will bring them bad luck, and they force him to wear the dead albatross on a rope around his neck so that they will not be punished for his crime. But all the sailors die, and the Ancient Mariner feels guilty and believes he must tell his story to anyone who will listen, to warn them to be kind to all creatures.//


Words: ancillary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ancilla  ’female servant’]//\n  1  ancillary workers/staff etc:  workers who provide additional help and services for the people who do the main work in hospitals, schools etc//\n  2  formal connected with or supporting something else, but less important than it:  --Agreement was reached on several ancillary matters.//


Words: and
Meaning:
conj   [Language: Old English; Origin:]//\n  1 used to join two words, phrases etc referring to things that are related in some way:  --He’s gone to get some fish and chips.//  --The film starred Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine.//  --We’ve dealt with items one, two, and eleven.//  --He was tall, dark and handsome.//  --He plays the guitar and sings folk songs.//  --She didn’t speak to anyone and nobody spoke to her.//\n  2 used to say that one action or event follows another:  --Sit down and tell me all about it.//  --She picked up the kitten and put it in the box.//  --He knocked on the door and went in.//  --You’ll have to wait and see what happens.//\n  3 used to say that something is caused by something else:  --I missed supper and I’m starving!//  --She fell downstairs and broke her leg.//\n  4 used when adding numbers:  --Six and four is ten.//\n  5  especially BrE used after verbs such as ’go’, ’come’, and ’try’ to show what your intention is:  --Shall we go and have a cup of coffee?//  --I’ll see if I can try and persuade her to come.//\n  6  spoken used to introduce a statement, remark, question etc:  --And now I’d like to introduce our next speaker, Mrs Thompson.//  --’She’s getting married in June.’ ’And who’s the lucky man?’//\n  7 used between repeated words to emphasize what you are saying:  --More and more people are losing their jobs.//  --We waited for hours and hours!//  --That was years and years ago.//  --We ran and ran.//\n  8 :  a) used before saying the part of a large number which is less than 100//  --a hundred and four//  --five hundred and seventy-six//  --by the year two thousand and ten//  b) used when saying a number which consists of a whole number followed by a fraction//  --three and three-quarters//  --in about two and a half hours’ time//  --five and a quarter per cent//\n  9 used between repeated plural nouns to say that some things of a particular kind are much better than others:  --’They said this guy was an expert.’ ’Yes, but there are experts and experts.’//\n  10  and?:   spoken used when you want someone to add something to what they have just said//  --’I’m sorry.’ ’And?’ ’And I promise it won’t happen again.’//


Words: Andante
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: ’going’, from  andare  ’to go’]//  a piece of music played or sung at a speed that is neither very fast or very slow//


Words: Andersen
Meaning:
Hans Christian   (1805-75) a Danish writer famous for his many  fairy tales which include  The Snow Queen,  The Little Match Girl, and  The Ugly Duckling//


Words: Anderson
Meaning:
Elizabeth Garrett   (1836-1917) a British woman who became the first woman to be officially accepted as a doctor by the British Medical Association//\n Sherwood   (1876-1941) a US writer who wrote  Winesburg, Ohio  (1919), a collection of short stories about the loneliness and dissatisfactions of life in a small town//


Words: Andorra
Meaning:
a very small country in the  Pyrenees, on the border between France and Spain, popular as a place for holidays and  skiing. Population: 67,600 (2001). Capital: Andorra-la-Vella.//  -- Andorran n  adj //


Words: Andrew
Meaning:
Prince   (1960-) the third child of the British queen, Elizabeth II. His official royal title is The Duke of York. //\n Saint   (1st century AD) in the Bible, one of Jesus’ disciples. He is the  patron saint of Scotland and St Andrew’s Day, 30th November, is celebrated as the Scottish national day.//


Words: Androcles and the Lion
Meaning:
an ancient Roman story about a  slave called Androcles who escapes from his owner and meets a lion with a  thorn (=a sharp pointed part of a plant)  in its foot. Androcles removes the thorn. Later he is caught and is made to fight with a lion in the  arena as punishment for escaping, but the lion is the same one that he helped, and instead of attacking him, it greets him as a friend. //


Words: androgynous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: androgynus  ’person who is both male and female’, from  Greek, from  andr- (  ANDR-) +  gyne  ’woman’]//\n  1 having both male and female parts:\n  2 someone who is androgynous looks both female and male:  --Bowie had a kind of androgynous sex appeal.//


Words: Andy Capp
Meaning:
the main character in a British cartoon strip in newspapers. Andy Capp is supposed to be a typical example of a working class British man who is lazy, enjoys drinking beer in the  pub, and is always annoying his wife. //


Words: anecdotal
Meaning:
adj   consisting of short stories based on someone’s personal experience//  --His findings are based on anecdotal evidence rather than serious research.//


Words: anecdote
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Latin anekdota  ’things not published’, from  ekdidonai  ’to publish’]//  a short story based on your personal experience//  --The book is full of amusing anecdotes about his life in Japan.//


Words: anemia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek anaimia  ’bloodlessness’, from  haima  ’blood’]//  the usual American spelling of anaemia//


Words: anemone
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek]//  a plant with red, white, or blue flowers//    sea anemone//


Words: anesthesia
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek anaisthesia, from  aisthesis  ’feeling’]//  the usual American spelling of anaesthesia//


Words: anew
Meaning:
adv  written   [Language: Old English; Origin: of niwe  ’of new’]//\n  1  start/begin anew:  to begin a different job, start to live in a different place etc, especially after a difficult period in your life//  --I was ready to leave everything behind and start anew in California.//\n  2 if you do something anew, you start doing it again:  --The committee is going to examine the whole situation anew.//


Words: angel
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: engel, from  Late Latin angelus, from  Greek angelos  ’bringer of messages, angel’]//\n  1 a spirit who is God’s servant in heaven, and who is often shown as a person dressed in white with wings:  --the angel Gabriel//\n  2 someone who is very kind, very good, or very beautiful:  --That little girl of theirs is an angel.//  --Sam is no angel  (=often behaves badly) .//\n  3  old-fashioned  spoken used when asking someone to help you or when thanking someone for helping you:  --Thanks for mailing those letters, you’re an angel .//  -- Be an angel and get me my glasses, will you?//    guardian angel//


Words: angelic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 looking good, kind, and gentle or behaving in this way:  --She had an angelic smile, but a dreadful temper.//\n  2 connected with angels:  --the angelic hosts//  -- angelically/-kli/ adv //


Words: angelica
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Medieval Latin herba angelica  ’angelic plant’; because of its supposed healing powers]//  a plant that smells sweet and is used in cooking//


Words: Angelico
Meaning:
Fra   (?1400- 1455) an Italian  monk (=a member of an all-male Christian religious group)  and painter, famous for the  frescoes that he painted on church walls//


Words: anger
Meaning:
W3   n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: angr  ’great sorrow’]//\n  1 a strong feeling of wanting to hurt or criticize someone because they have done something bad to you or been unkind to you:  --Paul’s face was filled with anger.//  in anger//  --’It’s a lie!’ he shouted in anger.//  anger at//  --She struggled to control her anger at her son’s disobedience.//  --There is growing anger among the people against the government.//\n  2  do/use sth in anger:  to do or use something for the first time, or in a real situation//  --He joined the club last month, but has yet to kick a ball in anger.//\nanger 2 v [T]   to make someone angry//   annoy//  --What angered me most was his total lack of remorse.//  be angered by/at sth//  --Environmental groups were disappointed and angered by the president’s decision.//


Words: angina
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’sore throat’, from  angere  ’to strangle’]//  a medical condition in which you have bad pains in your chest because your heart is weak//


Words: angle
Meaning:
W3S3   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin angulus]//\n  1 the space between two straight lines or surfaces that join each other, measured in degrees:  an angle of sth//  --an angle of 45[hA131]//  angle of//  --the angles of a triangle//  --You didn’t measure the angle accurately.//  angle between//  --the angle between walls and ceiling//    right angle//\n  2 a way of considering a problem or situation:  --We’re approaching the issue from many different angles .//  --Look at every angle of the situation.//  angle to//  --There’s another angle to this question.//\n  3 a position from which you look at something or photograph it:  from a ... angle //  --This drawing of the monastery was done from an unusual angle.//  --Some of the pictures have strange camera angles.//\n  4  at an angle:  leaning to one side and not straight or upright//  --The portrait was hanging at an angle.//  at a slight/steep angle //  --The sign leaned over at a slight angle.//\n  5 the shape formed when two lines or surfaces join:  angle of//  --My head struck the angle of the shelf.//\nangle 2 v [T]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  ANGLE1]//  [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: angle for   From  angle  ’fishhook’ (11-19 centuries), from  Old English angel]//\n  1 to move or place something so that it is not straight or upright:  --a mirror angled to reflect light from a window//  --Philip angled his chair towards the door.//\n  2 to present information from a particular point of view or for a specific group of people:  --The book is angled towards a business audience.//  angle for [angle for sth] phr v//  to try to get something you want without asking directly for it//  --She was obviously angling for an invitation.//  --I didn’t want him to think I was just angling for sympathy.//


Words: Anglesey
Meaning:
an island off the northwest coast of Wales, which is connected to the rest of Wales by the Menai Bridge//


Words: Anglican
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: anglicanus, from  anglicus  ’English’, from  Latin Angli;   ANGLE]//  a Christian who is a member of the Church of England or related churches//  -- Anglican adj //  --members of the Anglican church//  -- Anglicanism n  [U] //


Words: Anglican Communion
Meaning:
the   the group of churches around the world, mostly in English-speaking countries, that are closely related to the practices and beliefs of the Church of England//


Words: anglicize
Meaning:
also  anglicise BrE   v [T]   to make something or someone more English//  --Leszek anglicized his name to ’Lester.’//


Words: Anglo-
Meaning:
prefix [in nouns and adjectives]   [Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Latin Angli;   ANGLE]//\n  1 relating to England or Britain:  --an anglophile (=someone who loves Britain) //\n  2 English or British and something else:  --an Anglo-Scottish family//  --an improvement in Anglo-American relations//


Words: Anglo-Catholic
Meaning:
n [C]   a Christian who is a member of the part of the Church of England that is similar to the Roman Catholic church//  -- Anglo-Catholic adj //  -- Anglo-Catholicism n  [U] //


Words: Anglo-Irish Agreement
Meaning:
an agreement made in 1985 between the governments of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, which gave the Irish the right to take part in discussions about the future of Northern Ireland //


Words: Anglo-Saxon
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] someone who belonged to the race of people who lived in England from about 600 AD:\n  2 [U] the language used by the Anglo-Saxons:\n  3 [C] a white person, especially someone whose family originally came from England:  -- Anglo-Saxon adj //


Words: anglophobe
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who dislikes anything English//  -- anglophobia/[zB024][hA26E]gl[hA353][hA35E]f[hA353][hA35E]bi[hA353], -gl[hA353] $ -glo[hA35E]fo[hA35E]-, -gl[hA353]-/ n  [U] //


Words: anglophone
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who speaks English as their first language//  -- anglophone adj //  --the US and other anglophone countries//


Words: Angola
Meaning:
a country in southwest Africa, north of Namibia and south of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Population: 10,300,000 (2001). Capital: Luanda.//  -- Angolan n  adj //


Words: angora
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: Angora, former name of  Ankara]//\n  1 [C] a type of goat, rabbit, or cat with very long soft hair or fur:\n  2 [U] wool or thread made from the fur of an angora goat or rabbit:  --soft pink angora sweaters//


Words: angry
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   comparative  angrier superlative  angriest //  [Date: 1300-1400; Origin: anger]//\n  1 feeling strong emotions which make you want to shout at someone or hurt them because they have behaved in an unfair, cruel, offensive etc way, or because you think that a situation is unfair, unacceptable etc:    annoyed//  --I was angry because he hadn’t told me his plans.//  --He was beginning to get angry .//  --His comments brought an angry response from opposition politicians.//  --’Calm down,’ she said, looking at his angry face.//  angry with/at//  --’Please don’t be angry with me,’ she said.//  --Jesse laughed, which made me even angrier .//  angry about/over//  --Kate’s still so angry about the whole thing.//  angry (that)//  --The workers are angry that they haven’t been paid for the week.//\n  2  angry with/at yourself:  feeling strongly that you wish you had done something or had not done something//  --David was angry with himself for letting the others see his true feelings.//\n  3  literary an angry sky or cloud looks dark and stormy:\n  4  literary an angry wound etc is painful and red and looks infected:  -- angrily adv //  --Joey reacted angrily to the news.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: angry //  a little angry: miffed (informal),  peeved (informal) //  rather angry: annoyed,  irritated,  cross,  in a bad/foul mood //  very angry: furious,  livid,  outraged,  incensed,  incandescent with rage (formal) //  to become angry: lose your temper,  go mad (BrE),  go berserk (informal),  go ballistic (informal),  hit the roof (informal) //  words for describing someone who often gets angry: bad-tempered,  grouchy,  cantankerous,  crabby,  stroppy (BrE informal) //  ----------//


Words: Angry Young Man
Meaning:
BrE   a young man who strongly criticizes society and the government. The phrase was first used to describe John  Osborne and other British writers in the 1950s. //


Words: angst
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: German]//  strong feelings of anxiety and unhappiness because you are worried about your life, your future, or what you should do in a particular situation//  --love letters full of angst//


Words: Anguilla
Meaning:
an island in the Caribbean Sea, belonging to the UK. Population: 9,000 (1995). Capital: The Valley.//


Words: anguish
Meaning:
n [U]  written   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: angoisse, from  Latin angustiae  ’extreme upset’, from  angustus  ’narrow’]//  mental or physical suffering caused by extreme pain or worry//  --the anguish of not knowing what had happened to her//  -- anguished adj //  --an anguished cry for help//


Words: angular
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: angularis, from  angulus;   ANGLE1]//\n  1 thin and not having much flesh on your bones:  --a tall, angular young man//\n  2 having sharp and definite corners:  --a cubist painting with angular shapes//


Words: animal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: animalis  ’having life’, from  anima  ’soul’]//\n  1 a living creature such as a dog or cat, that is not an insect, plant, bird, fish, or person:  --furry little animals//  wild/domestic/farm animals //  --cattle, sheep, and other domestic animals//  --The cosmetics have not been tested on animals.//  --Beth is an animal lover  (=someone who likes animals) .//\n  2 any living creature that is not a plant or a person:  --He can’t stand cruelty to animals of any sort.//  --the animal welfare movement in Britain//  --the enormous diversity of the animal kingdom //\n  3 any living creature, including people:  --Man is a highly intelligent animal.//\n  4  informal someone who behaves in a cruel, violent, or very rude way:  --Football hooligans are just animals.//\n  5  a (very/completely/entirely) different animal:   informal something that is very different from the thing you have mentioned//  --Writing e-mail is a very different animal from all other forms of writing.//\n  6  a political/social animal etc:   informal someone who is interested in politics, in meeting other people etc//  --He is simply not a social animal.//\nanimal 2 adj \n  1  animal urges/instincts etc:  human feelings, desires etc that are connected with sex, food, and other basic needs//\n  2  animal products/fats/protein etc:  things that are made or come from animals//  --a diet rich in red meat and animal fats.//


Words: Animal Crackers
Meaning:
trademark   small sweet  biscuits shaped like animals, which are sold in a small box, and are popular with children in the US//


Words: Animal Farm
Meaning:
a novel by George  Orwell which is a  satire (=a humorous criticism)  on the  Russian Revolution and  Communist society. In the book, a group of animals take control of a farm so that they can establish a society where they are all equal. The pigs, however, soon become the leaders and say that they are more important, intelligent etc than everyone else, using the phrase "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."//


Words: Animal Liberation Front
Meaning:
ALF a British organization that protests against using animals in scientific  experiments, such as testing drugs or  cosmetics//


Words: animal rights
Meaning:
n [U]   the idea that people should treat animals well, and especially not use them in tests to develop medicines or other products//  animal rights activists/campaigners/groups etc //  --Bill has been involved in the animal rights movement for years.//


Words: animate
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  animare  ’to give life to’, from  anima;   ANIMAL1]//  living//  → inanimate//  --animate beings//\nanimate 2   v [T]   to give life or energy to something//  --Laughter animated his face for a moment.//


Words: animated
Meaning:
adj \n  1 showing a lot of interest and energy:  animated discussion/conversation //  --The performance was followed by an animated discussion.//\n  2  animated cartoon/film/feature etc:  a film or programme that shows pictures, clay models etc that seem to be really moving//  --an animated Disney film//  -- animatedly adv //


Words: animation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the process of making animated films, television programmes, computer games etc:  --They used computer animation in the film.//\n  2 [C] a film, television programme, computer game etc that has pictures, clay models etc that seem to be really moving:  --3-D animations//\n  3 [U] liveliness and excitement:  with animation//  --They were talking with animation.//


Words: animatronics
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: animate +  electronics]//  the method or process of making or using moving models that look like real animals or people in films//


Words: animism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: anima;   ANIMAL1]//  a religion in which animals and plants are believed to have spirits//


Words: animosity
Meaning:
n   plural  animosities  [U and C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: animositas, from  Latin animosus  ’full of spirit’, from  animus;   ANIMUS]//  strong dislike or hatred//   hostility//  animosity between//  --There is no personal animosity between the party leaders.//  animosity towards/against//  --She felt a certain amount of animosity towards him.//


Words: animus
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: ’spirit, mind, courage, anger’]//   formal a feeling of strong dislike or hatred//   animosity, hostility//  animus against/towards//  --I have no animus towards Robert.//


Words: anise
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: anis, from  Latin anisum, from  Greek anneson]//  a plant with seeds that have a strong taste//


Words: ankle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: ancleow]//\n  1 the joint between your foot and your leg:  break/twist/sprain your ankle //  --Janet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.//  --slender ankles//\n  2  ankle socks/boots:  socks or boots that only come up to your ankle//


Words: Anna Karenina
Meaning:
a book by the Russian writer Leo  Tolstoy which many people think is one of the greatest novels ever written. It tells the story of a married woman called Anna Karenina who falls in love with a young army officer.//


Words: annals
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: annales, from  annalis;   ANNUAL1]//\n  1  in the annals of sth:  in the whole history of something//  --one of the most unusual cases in the annals of crime//\n  2 used in the titles of official records of events or activities:  --the Annals of the Zoological Society//


Words: Annan
Meaning:
Kofi   (1938- ) the Secretary-General of the  United Nations since 1996. He comes from Ghana, and was formerly responsible for the UN’s peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.//


Words: Annapolis
Meaning:
the capital of the state of Maryland in the US. The United States Naval Academy, where navy officers are trained, is in Annapolis//  --He graduated from Annapolis in 1993.//\n  another name for the United States Naval Academy, where officers of the US Navy are given a university education and trained//


Words: Anne
Meaning:
Princess   (1950-) the second child and only daughter of the British queen, Elizabeth II. Her official title is The  Princess Royal. //\n Queen   (1665-1714) the queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1702 to 1714 and the daughter of James II.//


Words: Anne of Cleves
Meaning:
(1515-1557) a European princess of the duchy of Cleves, who became the fourth wife of the English king Henry VIII in 1540. They were divorced after six months.//


Words: Anne of Green Gables
Meaning:
a children’s novel by L. M.  Montgomery about a girl called Anne Shirley who is adopted by an older lady and her brother and goes to live on Prince Edward Island in Canada, during the late 1800s//


Words: anneal
Meaning:
v [T]  technical   [Language: Old English; Origin: on[zB024]lan, from  [zB024]lan  ’to set on fire, burn’]//  to make metal or glass hard by heating it and then slowly letting it get cold//


Words: annex
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: annexer, from  Latin annectere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  nectere (  NEXUS)]//  to take control of a country or area next to your own, especially by using force//  --The Baltic republics were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940.//  -- annexation/[zB024]nekse[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: annexe
Meaning:
annex/[zB024]neks/ n [C] \n  1 a separate building that has been added to a larger one:  --Some of us will be sleeping in the annexe.//\n  2  formal a part that has been added to the end of a document, report etc:


Words: annihilate
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  annihilare  ’to reduce to nothing’, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  nihil  ’nothing’]//\n  1 to destroy something or someone completely:  --Just one of these bombs could annihilate a city the size of New York.//\n  2 to defeat someone easily and completely in a game or competition:  --Tyson annihilated his opponent in the first round.//  -- annihilation/[hA353]na[hA366][hA353]le[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //


Words: anniversary
Meaning:
n   plural  anniversaries  [C] //  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: anniversarium, from  Latin anniversarius  ’returning each year’, from  annus (  ANNUAL1) +  vertere  ’to turn’]//  a date on which something special or important happened in a previous year//  --Jack and Kim celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary in January.//  anniversary of//  --A huge parade was held on the anniversary of the 1959 revolution.//


Words: annotate
Meaning:
v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  annotare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  notare  ’to mark’]//  to add short notes to a book or piece of writing to explain parts of it//  --an annotated edition of ’Othello’//  -- annotation/[zB024]n[hA353]te[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U and C] //


Words: announce
Meaning:
W1S2   v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: annoncer, from  Latin annuntiare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  nuntiare  ’to report’]//\n  1 to officially tell people about something, especially about a plan or a decision:  --They announced their engagement in ’The Times’.//  announce a decision/intention/plan //  --The government has announced plans to create 10,000 new jobs.//  announce that//  --A government spokesman announced that the hostages had been released.//  --At the end of their meeting, it was announced that an agreement had been reached.//  announce sth to sb//  --Cordon announced his resignation to staff members on Wednesday.//\n  2 to say something, especially something that other people will not like, in a loud and confident way:   state//  --’I’m not going to their party,’ Maggie announced.//  announce (that)//  --He stood up and announced that he was ready to go.//\n  3 to give information to people using a loudspeaker or microphone, especially at an airport or railway station:  --We arrived just as they were announcing the arrival of Flight 207 from Minneapolis.//\n  4  announce sb/yourself:  to officially tell people that someone has arrived at a particular place//  --All visitors to the apartment building must be announced.//  --After announcing himself at the reception desk, James was led upstairs.//\n  5 to introduce a programme on television or radio:


Words: announcement
Meaning:
W3S3   n \n  1 [C] an important or official statement:  --Dillon made the announcement at a news conference.//  announcement about//  --an important announcement about tax increases//  announcement that//  --We were shocked by the announcement that the mayor was resigning.//  --The announcement came as no great surprise.//\n  2 [singular] the act of telling people that something important is going to happen:  announcement of//  --the announcement of the company’s annual results//\n  3 [C] a small advertisement or statement in a newspaper:  --a wedding announcement in the local paper//


Words: announcer
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who reads news or information on the television or radio:\n  2 someone who gives information to people using a loudspeaker or microphone, especially at an airport or railway station:


Words: annoy
Meaning:
S3   v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: enuier, from  Latin inodiare, from  odium;   ODIOUS]//  to make someone feel slightly angry and unhappy about something//   irritate//  --What annoyed him most was that he had received no apology.//  --It really annoys me when I see people dropping litter.//  --She annoyed him with her stupid questions.//


Words: annoyance
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] a feeling of slight anger:   irritation//  --A look of annoyance crossed her face.//  to sb’s annoyance//  --To his annoyance, he discovered they hadn’t waited.//  in annoyance//  --Kelly shook her head in annoyance.//\n  2 [C] something that makes you slightly angry:  --Alan found the constant noise of the traffic an annoyance.//


Words: annoyed
Meaning:
adj   slightly angry//   irritated//    angry//  --I’ll be annoyed if we don’t finish by eight.//  be annoyed at/with sb//  --She was annoyed with Duncan for forgetting to phone.//  be annoyed about/by sth//  --He was annoyed by her apparent indifference.//  annoyed that//  --Mr Davies was annoyed that the books were missing.//   see usage note  nervous//


Words: annoying
Meaning:
adj   making you feel slightly angry//   irritating//  --an annoying habit of interrupting//  --The annoying thing is he’s usually right.//  -- It’s annoying that we didn’t know about this before.//  -- annoyingly adv //


Words: annual
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: annuel, from  Late Latin annualis, from  Latin annuus  ’yearly’ and  annalis  ’yearly’, both from  annus  ’year’]//\n  1 happening once a year:  --The school trip has become an annual event.//  annual report/meeting/conference //\n  2 based on or calculated over a period of one year:  annual budget/income/cost etc //  --a household with an annual income of $60,000//  -- annually adv //  --The jazz festival is held annually in July.//\nannual 2 n [C] \n  1 a plant that lives for one year or season:    biennial (2), perennial//\n  2 a book, especially for children, that is produced once a year with the same title but different stories, pictures etc:


Words: annualized
Meaning:
also  -lised BrE   adj [only before noun]  technical   if money or an amount is annualized, it is calculated for one year, based on amounts for shorter periods of time//  --an annualized inflation rate of 15%//


Words: annuity
Meaning:
n   plural  annuities  [C] //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: annuite, from  Medieval Latin annuitas, from  Latin annuus;   ANNUAL1]//  a fixed amount of money that is paid each year to someone, usually until they die//


Words: annul
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  annulled present participle  annulling  [T often passive] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: annuller, from  Late Latin annullare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  nullus  ’not any’]//  to officially state that a marriage or legal agreement no longer exists//  --Their marriage was annulled last year.//  -- annulment n  [U and C] //


Words: Annunciation
Meaning:
the   the occasion (celebrated by Christians on 25 March) on which the  angel Gabriel appeared and told the Virgin Mary that she would have the baby Jesus //


Words: anode
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: anodos  ’way up’, from  ana-  ’up, back’ +  hodos  ’way’]//   technical the part of a battery that collects electrons, often a wire or piece of metal with the sign (+)//    cathode//


Words: anodyne
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: anodynus, from  Greek,  from  an-  ’without’ +  odyne  ’pain’]//  expressed in a way that is unlikely to offend anyone//   bland//  --anodyne topics of conversation//\nanodyne 2 n [C] \n  1  technical a medicine that reduces pain:   painkiller//\n  2  formal an activity or thing that comforts people:


Words: anoint
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: , past participle of  enoindre, from  Latin inunguere, from  unguere;   UNGUENT]//  to put oil or water on someone’s head or body, usually as part of a religious ceremony//  --the anointed king//  anoint sb with sth//  --He was anointed with sacred oil.//  -- anointment n  [U and C] //


Words: anomalous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: anomalus, from  Greek,  ’uneven, anomalous’, from  an-  ’not’ +  homalos  ’even’]//  different from what you expected to find//  --a highly anomalous situation//  --anomalous results//  -- anomalously adv //


Words: anomaly
Meaning:
n   plural  anomalies  [U and C]  formal //  something that is noticeable because it is different from what is usual//  --In those days, a woman professor was still an anomaly.//  anomaly in//  --various anomalies in the tax system//


Words: anonymity
Meaning:
n [U]   when other people do not know who you are or what your name is//  --Every step will be taken to preserve your anonymity.//  --One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity (=he would only speak if his name was not told) , said the White House took the threat very seriously.//  --the anonymity of city streets (=you do not know anyone, and no one knows you) //


Words: anonymous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: anonymus, from  Greek, from  an-  ’without’ +  onyma  ’name’]//\n  1 unknown by name:  --the anonymous author of a collection of poems//  anonymous donor/benefactor //  --the anonymous donor of a large sum of money//  --According to one employee, who wishes to remain anonymous , the company engaged in illegal activities.//\n  2 done, sent, or given by someone who does not want their name to be known:  --an anonymous donation of $5,000//  anonymous phone call/letter etc (=one that is often unpleasant or contains threats) //\n  3  written uninteresting in features or qualities - used to show disapproval:  --grey, anonymous housing estates//  -- anonymously adv //


Words: anorak
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Greenland Inuit; Origin: anoraq]//\n  1  especially BrE a short coat with a hood that keeps out the wind and rain:\n  2  BrE  informal a boring person who is interested in the unimportant details of a particular subject and does not know how to behave properly in social situations:   nerd//


Words: anorexia
Meaning:
[U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek, from  an-  ’without’ +  orexis  ’desire to eat’]//  a mental illness that makes someone stop eating//


Words: another
Meaning:
determiner, pron   ----------//\n   1 additional:\n   2 a different one:\n   3 one another:\n   4 one ... or another:\n   5 one after another:\n   6 not another ... !:\n   7 be another thing/matter:\n   8 and another thing:\n   9 similar person/thing:  ----------//\n  1 ADDITIONAL:  one more person or thing of the same type//  --I’m going to have another cup of coffee.//  --There’ll be another bus along in a few minutes.//  --Buy two CDs and get another completely free.//  another of//  --Is this another of your schemes to make money?//  -- Not another word was spoken.//  --Oh look, there’s another one of those birds.//  --This misunderstanding is yet another example of bad communication (=there have already been several) .//  another two/10/100 etc (=an additional amount or number) //  --We’ll have to wait another three weeks for the results.//  --There’s still another [hA124]100 to pay.//\n  2 A DIFFERENT ONE:  not the same thing, person etc, but a different one//  --They must have returned by another route.//  --We finally moved to another apartment.//  --I’m busy right now. Could you come back another time?//  --Helen resigned from her last job and has yet to find another.//  another of//  --The gold watch was a present from another of his girlfriends.//  from one ... to another //  --She spends the day rushing from one meeting to another.//\n  3  one another:  used to say that two or more people or things do the same thing to each other or share a relationship//  --They seem to love one another very much.//  --The streets are all at right angles to one another.//\n  4  one ... or another:  used to say that there are many different types of something, or many possibilities, rather than being specific//  --All the kids in this class have learning difficulties of one sort or another.//  --people who, for one reason or another, can’t have children//\n  5  one after another:  used to talk about a series of similar things or events//  --Small businesses have been collapsing one after another.//\n  6  not another ... !:   spoken used when a series of bad or annoying things have happened and something of the same type seems to have just happened again//  --Oh no! Not another accident!//\n  7  be another thing/matter:  used to suggest that something may not be true, possible, easy etc, after mentioning something that is//  --It is true that his programme is original, though whether it is funny is quite another matter.//  --It is one thing to talk about ’involving the students’; it is quite another thing to actually do this.//\n  8  and another thing:   spoken used to introduce something additional that you want to say to someone about a different subject//  --And another thing. You were late for work again this morning.//\n  9 SIMILAR PERSON/THING:  used with the name of a well-known person, thing, event etc to mean someone or something else that is similar because they have the same good or bad qualities//  --warnings that not enough has been done to prevent another Chernobyl//  --There’ll never be another Elvis Presley.//


Words: ANSI
Meaning:
American National Standards Institute an organization in the US which sets the standards used for testing the quality and safety of electronic equipment, scientific equipment etc. It has also established a standard set of letters and numbers called the ANSI character set, which is used in computers.//


Words: answer
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 reply:\n   2 test/competition etc:\n   3 invitation/letter etc:\n   4 problem:\n   5 on the phone:\n   6 at the door:\n   7 have/know all the answers:\n   8 somebody’s answer to something:  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: andswaru]//\n  1 REPLY:   [U and C] something you say when you reply to a question that someone has asked you//   response//  -- You don’t have to  give  them  an answer  now. //  --Every time I ask him about it, I  get a different answer. //  answer to//  --These are important questions, and we want answers to them. //  --She’s still  waiting for an answer  from the school.//  -- The  honest answer  was that I didn’t know. //  -- He was never able to get a  straight answer  about why it happened. //  --It’s impossible for me to give you a  definite answer  at this time. //  -- The short answer  is that it can’t be done.//  -- In answer to your question , yes, you can go.//  --If it’s money you want,  the answer is no ! //\n  2 TEST/COMPETITION ETC:   [C] something that you write or say in reply to a question in a test or competition//  answer to//  --What was the answer to question 4?//  the right/wrong/correct/incorrect answer //  --Score two points for each correct answer.//\n  3 INVITATION/LETTER ETC:   [C] a written reply to a letter, invitation, advertisement etc//  answer to//  --Did you ever get an answer to your letter?//\n  4 PROBLEM:   [C] a way of dealing with a problem//   solution//  simple/easy/obvious answer //  --There is no simple answer.//  answer to//  --The police do not have an answer to rising crime.//  --Some people think cars should be banned from the city, but I don’t think that’s the answer.//  be the answer to sb’s problems/worries etc //  --If he could get a job it’d be the answer to all his worries.//\n  5 ON THE PHONE:   [singular, U usually in negative] if you get an answer when you call someone on the phone, they pick up the phone and talk to you//  --I tried calling him all day but couldn’t get an answer.//\n  6 AT THE DOOR:   [singular, U usually in negative] if you get an answer when you knock on a door, someone opens it and talks to you //  --I tried knocking on her door, but there was no answer .//\n  7  have/know all the answers:   informal to be very sure that you know everything about a situation, especially when you do not//  --He acts like he has all the answers.//\n  8  sb’s answer to sth:   written someone or something that is considered to be just as good as a more famous person or thing//  --The Space Needle is Seattle’s answer to the Eiffel Tower.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  give (somebody) an answer //  get/receive an answer //  wait for an answer //  an honest/straight answer //  a definite answer  (=when you say definitely yes or no) //  the short/simple answer is ... spoken //  in answer to somebody’s question //  the answer is yes/no spoken //  ----------//\nanswer 2 v   ----------//\n   1 reply:\n   2 test:\n   3 answer the phone/a call/the door:\n   4 letter:\n   5 answer criticism/charges/accusations etc:\n   6 react to something:\n   7 deal with a problem:\n   8 answer a need:\n   9 answer a description:  Phrasal verbs//   answer back//   answer for somebody/something//   answer to somebody/something//  ----------//\n  1 REPLY:   [I and T] to say something to someone as a reply when they have asked you a question, made a suggestion etc//  --She thought for a moment before answering.//  --He still hadn’t answered my question .//  --’Why don’t you just leave?’ ’I’d like to,’ she answered, ’but I have nowhere else to go.’//  answer (that)//  --When questioned, Hughes answered that he knew nothing about the robbery.//  --How much was it? Come on, answer me.//\n  2 TEST:   [I and T] to write or say the answer to a question in a test or competition//  --Answer as many questions as possible in the time provided.//\n  3  answer the phone/a call/the door:  to pick up the telephone and speak when it rings or open the door when someone knocks or rings the bell//\n  4 LETTER:   [T] if you answer a letter or advertisement, you write a letter to the person who has written it//  --Simon got the job by answering an advert in the paper.//\n  5  answer criticism/charges/accusations etc:  to explain why you did something when people are criticizing you - used in news reports//  --How do you answer the criticism that your government has done nothing to help the homeless?//\n  6 REACT TO SOMETHING:   [I and T] to do something as a reaction to criticism or an attack//   respond//  --The army answered by firing into the crowd.//\n  7 DEAL WITH A PROBLEM:   [T] to be a way of dealing with or solving a problem//  --’You can borrow my car if you like.’ ’Well, that answers one problem.’//\n  8  answer a need:  to provide something that is needed//  --Our transportation system is designed to answer the needs of the city’s commuters.//\n  9  answer a description:  if someone answers a description, they match that description//  --A man answering the police’s description was seen entering the building.//  answer back phr v//  to reply in a rude way to someone that you are supposed to obey//  answer sb back//  --Don’t answer me back young man!//  answer for / [answer for sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to explain to people in authority why you did something wrong or why something happened, and be punished if necessary:  --Their coach must answer for the team’s poor performance.//\n  2  have a lot to answer for:   informal to be responsible for causing a lot of trouble//\n  3  can’t answer for sb:   spoken used to say that you cannot make a decision for someone who is not there, or give their opinion//  --I’m sure John will help us - I can’t really answer for the others.//  answer to / [answer to sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to give an explanation to someone, especially about something that you have done wrong:  --Phipps answers to me and me alone.//\n  2  answer to the name of sth:  to be called a particular name - used humorously//  --a well-dressed young woman answering to the name of Suzanne//


Words: answerable
Meaning:
adj \n  1  be answerable to sb (for sth):  to have to explain your actions to someone in authority//  --The agency is answerable to the governor.//\n  2 a question that is answerable can be answered:


Words: answering machine
Meaning:
also answerphone  BrE   n [C]   a machine that records your telephone calls when you cannot answer them//


Words: ant
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: [zB024]mette]//\n  1 a small insect that lives in large groups:\n  2  have ants in your pants:   spoken to be so excited or full of energy that you are unable to sit or stand still - used humorously//


Words: antacid
Meaning:
n [C]   a substance that gets rid of the burning feeling in your stomach when you have eaten too much, drunk too much alcohol etc//


Words: antagonism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 hatred between people or groups of people:   hostility//  antagonism between//  --the antagonism between the army and other military groups//\n  2 opposition to an idea, plan etc:  antagonism to/towards//  --his obvious antagonism towards the press//


Words: antagonistic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 unfriendly; wanting to argue or disagree:   hostile//  --an antagonistic attitude//\n  2 opposed to an idea or group:  antagonistic to/towards//  --antagonistic to new ideas//  -- antagonistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: antagonize
Meaning:
also  antagonise BrE   v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: antagonizesthai, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  agonizesthai  ’to fight’ (from  agon;   AGONY)]//  to annoy someone very much by doing something that they do not like//  --Do not antagonize your customers.//


Words: Antarctic Circle
Meaning:
the Antarctic Circle//  an imaginary line around the world at a particular distance from the most southern point, which is the South Pole//    Arctic Circle//


Words: Antarctica
Meaning:
the  continent which is the most southern area of land on the Earth and is mostly covered with ice//    south Pole//


Words: ante
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: ante-]//  up/raise the ante//  to increase your demands or try to get more things from a situation, even though this involves more risks//  --They’ve upped the ante by making a $120 million bid to buy the company.//    penny ante//\nante 2 v   past tense and past participle  anted  or  anteed present participle  anteing //  ante up () [ante up (sth)] phr v//  to pay an amount of money in order to be able to do or be involved in something//  --Small firms that want to expand must ante up large legal fees.//


Words: ante-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Latin; Origin: ante  ’before, in front of’]//  before//    anti-, post-, pre-//  --antedate (=earlier than something) //  --antenatal (=before birth) //


Words: antecedent
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  antecedere, from  ante- (  ANTE-) +  cedere  ’to go’]//\n  1  formal an event, organization, or thing that is similar to the one you have mentioned but existed earlier:  --historical antecedents//\n  2  antecedents [plural]  formal the people in your family who lived a long time ago:   ancestors//\n  3  technical a word, phrase, or sentence that is represented by another word, for example a pronoun:  -- antecedent adj //


Words: antedate
Meaning:
v [T]    formal to come from an earlier time in history than something else//   predate//  --The economic troubles antedate the current administration.//


Words: antediluvian
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: ante- +  Latin diluvium  ’flood’]//  very old-fashioned//   outdated//  --antediluvian ideas about women//


Words: antelope
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: antelop, from  Late Greek antholops]//  an animal with long horns that can run very fast and is very graceful//


Words: antenatal
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]    BrE relating to the medical care given to women who are going to have a baby//   prenatal//    postnatal//  --an antenatal clinic //  --regular antenatal care //  --Many young mothers do not attend antenatal classes .//


Words: antenna
Meaning:
n [C]   antenna, wing//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’pole holding up a sail’]//\n  1 :  plural  antennae /-ni[hA359]/one of two long thin parts on an insect’s head, that it uses to feel things//\n  2 :  plural  antennas  or antennae //  a wire rod etc used for receiving radio and television signals//   aerial//  --television antennas//


Words: anterior
Meaning:
adj [no comparative]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’further in front’, from  ante;   ANTE-]//\n  1  technical at or towards the front:    posterior//  --anterior vertebrae//\n  2  formal happening or existing before something else:


Words: anteroom
Meaning:
n [C]   a small room that is connected to a larger room, especially where people wait to go into the larger room//   antechamber//


Words: anthem
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: antiphona, from  Greek, from  antiphonos  ’answering’, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  phone  ’sound’]//\n  1 a formal or religious song:    national anthem//\n  2 a song that a particular group of people consider to be very important:  --The Rolling Stones’ ’Satisfaction’ was an anthem for a generation.//


Words: anther
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: anthera, from  Greek, from  antheros  ’flowery’, from  anthos  ’flower’]//   technical the part of a male flower which contains pollen//


Words: anthology
Meaning:
n   plural  anthologies  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: anthologia, from  Greek,  ’gathering flowers’, from  anthos (  ANTHER) +  logia  ’collecting’]//  a set of stories, poems, songs etc by different people collected together in one book//   collection//  --an anthology of American literature//  -- anthologist n  [C] //


Words: anthracite
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: anthrakitis, from  anthrax;   ANTHRAX]//  a very hard type of coal that burns slowly and produces a lot of heat//


Words: anthrax
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’coal, large red swelling on the skin’]//  a serious disease affecting cattle and sheep, which can affect humans//


Words: anthropo-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  anthropos  ’human being’]//  like or concerning  human beings//  --anthropomorphic (=having human form or qualities) //


Words: anthropology
Meaning:
n [U]   the scientific study of people, their societies, cultures etc//    ethnology, sociology//  -- anthropologist n  [U] //  -- anthropological/[zB024]n[hA35F]r[hA353]p[hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ -l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: anthropomorphism
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 the belief that animals or objects have the same feelings and qualities as humans:\n  2  technical the belief that God can appear in a human or animal form:  -- anthropomorphic adj //


Words: anti trust
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   intended to prevent companies from unfairly controlling prices//  --new, tougher anti trust laws //  --an anti trust investigation//


Words: anti-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  Greek, from  anti  ’opposite, against’]//\n  1 opposed to:  → pro-//  --antinuclear (=opposing the use ofnuclear weapons and power) //  --anti-American//\n  2 the opposite of something:  --anticlimax (=an unexciting ending instead of the expected exciting ending) //  --antimatter (=material completely opposite in kind to the ordinary material in the universe) //\n  3 acting to prevent something:  --antifreeze (=a liquid added to a car’s engine to prevent freezing) //  --antiseptic (=a liquid that kills harmful bacteria) //


Words: anti-aircraft
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   anti-aircraft weapons are used against enemy aircraft//  --anti-aircraft missiles//


Words: anti-lock braking system
Meaning:
n [U]   ABS a piece of equipment that makes a vehicle easier to control when you have to stop very suddenly//


Words: anti-personnel
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   an anti-personnel weapon is designed to hurt people rather than to damage buildings, vehicles etc//


Words: anti-Semite
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who hates Jewish people//  -- anti-Semitic/[zB024]ntis[hA369]m[hA366]t[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //  --He made a few anti-Semitic remarks.//


Words: anti-virus software
Meaning:
also anti-virus program  n [U]   a type of software that looks for and removes viruses in programs and documents on your computer//  --You need to update your anti-virus software regularly.//


Words: antibiotic
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: anti- +  biotic  ’of life’ (19-21 centuries) (from  Latin bioticus, from  Greek, from  bios  ’life’)]//  a drug that is used to kill bacteria and cure infections//


Words: Antichrist
Meaning:
the   in the Christian religion, a great enemy of Christ who represents the power of evil and is expected to appear just before the end of the world//


Words: anticipate
Meaning:
S3   v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  anticipare, from  ante- (  ANTE-) +  capere  ’to take’]//\n  1 to expect that something will happen and be ready for it:  --Sales are better than anticipated.//  anticipate changes/developments //  --The schedule isn’t final, but we don’t anticipate many changes.//  anticipate problems/difficulties //  --We don’t anticipate any problems.//  --A good speaker is able to anticipate an audience’s needs and concerns.//  anticipate (that)//  --This year, we anticipate that our expenses will be 15% greater.//  -- It is anticipated that the research will have many different practical applications.//  anticipate doing sth//  --I didn’t anticipate having to do the cooking myself!//\n  2 to think about something that is going to happen, especially something pleasant:  --Daniel was eagerly anticipating her arrival.//\n  3 to do something before someone else:  --Copernicus anticipated in part the discoveries of the 17th and 18th centuries.//  -- anticipatory/[zB024]nt[hA366]s[hA369]pe[hA366]t[hA368]ri $ [zB024]nt[hA366]s[hA353]p[hA353]t[hA350][hA359]ri/ formal  adj //  --the anticipatory atmosphere of a big college football game//


Words: anticipation
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1 when you are expecting something to happen:  --She waited in eager anticipation for Robert to arrive.//  --Taylor was excited and full of anticipation at the prospect of the trip.//\n  2  do sth in anticipation of sth:  to do something because you expect something to happen//  --The workers have called off their strike in anticipation of a pay offer.//


Words: anticlerical
Meaning:
adj   being opposed to priests having any political power or influence//  -- anticlericalism n  [U] //


Words: anticlimax
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a situation or event that does not seem exciting because it happens after something that was much better//  --Going back to work after a month travelling in China was bound to be an anticlimax.//


Words: anticlockwise
Meaning:
adv, adj  BrE   moving in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock//  American Equivalent:  counterclockwise//  → clockwise//  --Turn the lid anticlockwise.//


Words: antics
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: antic  ’strange’ (16-19 centuries), from  Italian antico  ’ancient’, from  Latin antiquus;   ANTIQUE1]//  behaviour that seems strange, funny, silly, or annoying//  --We’re all growing tired of his childish antics.//


Words: anticyclone
Meaning:
n [C]   an area of high air pressure that causes calm weather in the place it is moving over//    cyclone//


Words: antidote
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: antidotum, from  Greek, from  antididonai  ’to give as an antidote’, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  didonai  ’to give’]//\n  1 a substance that stops the effects of a poison:  antidote to//  --There is no known antidote to a bite from this snake.//\n  2 something that makes an unpleasant situation better:  --laughter, the antidote to stress//


Words: Antietam
Meaning:
also  the Battle of Antietam //  a battle in the American Civil War, in which General Robert E.  Lee’s army tried to reach Washington but was defeated by Union soldiers//


Words: antigen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: German; Origin: French antig[hA169]ne, from  anti-  ’anti-’ +  -g[hA169]ne (from  Greek -genes  ’born’)]//   technical a substance that makes the body produce antibodies//


Words: Antigone
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, a daughter of  Oedipus who is told by King Creon that she cannot bury her dead brother. She cannot decide whether she should obey the king or do what she believes to be right. She finally decides to disobey the king, and kills herself before he can punish her. Her story is the subject of the play  Antigone by  Sophocles.//


Words: Antigua
Meaning:
an island in the Caribbean Sea, which is part of the country of  Antigua and Barbuda. Population: 65,900 (1996). Capital: St. John’s. Antigua and Barbuda includes the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, and Redonda.//  -- Antiguan adj  n //


Words: antihero
Meaning:
n   plural  antiheroes  [C] //  a main character in a book, play, or film who is an ordinary or unpleasant person and lacks the qualities that you expect a hero to have//


Words: antihistamine
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a drug that is used to treat an allergy (=an unpleasant reaction to particular foods, substances etc) //


Words: antimatter
Meaning:
n [U]   a form of matter(30) (=substance which the things in the universe are made of) consisting of antiparticles//


Words: antimony
Meaning:
n [U]   a silver-white metal that breaks easily and is often combined with other metals. It is a chemical element: symbol Sb//


Words: Antioch
Meaning:
a city in southern Turkey, also known as Antakya, which was built in 301BC and soon became famous for its buildings and trade. In 64 BC it became the eastern capital of the  Roman Empire.//


Words: antiparticle
Meaning:
n [C]   a very small part of an atom that has the opposite electrical charge to the one usually found in atoms//


Words: antipasto
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: ’before food’]//  an Italian dish consisting of cold meat or vegetables that you eat before the main part of a meal//


Words: antipathetic
Meaning:
adj    formal having a very strong feeling of disliking or opposing someone or something//   hostile//  antipathetic to//  --It’s human nature to be antipathetic to change.//


Words: antipathy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: antipathia, from  Greek, from  antipathes  ’of opposite feelings’, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  pathos  ’experience’]//   formal a feeling of strong dislike towards someone or something//  antipathy to/towards//  --a growing antipathy towards the government//  antipathy between//  --There’s always been a certain amount of antipathy between the two doctors.//


Words: Antipodes
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’people living on opposite sides of the world’, from  Greek, from  antipous  ’with feet opposite’, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  pous  ’foot’]//  the Antipodes//  Australia and New Zealand//  -- Antipodean/[zB024]nt[hA366]p[hA353]di[hA359][hA353]n[hA36B]/ adj //  --antipodean culture//


Words: antiquated
Meaning:
adj   old-fashioned and not suitable for modern needs or conditions - used to show disapproval//   outdated//  --antiquated laws//


Words: antique
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: Latin antiquus, from  ante  ’before’]//  antique furniture, jewellery etc is old and often valuable//  --an antique rosewood desk//\nantique 2 n [C]   arm, cushion, leg//  a piece of furniture, jewellery etc that was made a very long time ago and is therefore valuable//  --The palace is full of priceless antiques.//  --They bought the clock at an antique shop in Bath.//  --an antique dealer  (=someone who buys and sells antiques) //


Words: antiquity
Meaning:
n   plural  antiquities //\n  1 [U] ancient times:  in antiquity//  --The common household fork was nearly unknown in antiquity.//\n  2 [U] the state of being very old:  --a building of great antiquity//\n  3 [C usually plural] a building or object made in ancient times:  --a collection of Roman antiquities//


Words: antiseptic
Meaning:
n [U and C]   a medicine that you put onto a wound to stop it from becoming infected//  --He dabbed the cut with antiseptic.//  --Mint is a mild antiseptic.//\nantiseptic 2 adj   helping to prevent infection//  --an antiseptic cream//  --Some herbs have antiseptic qualities.//


Words: antisocial
Meaning:
adj \n  1 antisocial behaviour is violent or harmful to other people, or shows that you do not care about other people:  --She was finding it hard to cope with her son’s increasingly antisocial behaviour .//  --Smoking is an antisocial habit.//\n  2 someone who is antisocial does not enjoy meeting or being with other people:  → sociable//  --If I don’t go tonight, everyone will accuse me of being antisocial.//\n  3 an activity or job that is antisocial does not give you the chance to meet other people:  --I got fed up with the low pay and antisocial hours .//


Words: antithesis
Meaning:
n   plural  antitheses /-si[hA359]z/ [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’opposition’, from  antitithenai  ’to be against’, from  anti- (  ANTI-) +  tithenai  ’to put’]//   formal the complete opposite of something//  antithesis of//  --This is not democratic. It is the antithesis of democracy.//


Words: antithetical
Meaning:
formal   exactly opposite to something//  antithetical to//  --This violence is completely antithetical to the teaching of the church.//


Words: antler
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: antoillier, probably from  Vulgar Latin anteoculare, from  anteocularis  ’in front of the eyes’]//  one of the two horns of a male deer//


Words: Antony
Meaning:
Mark   (?83-30 BC) an ancient Roman politician and soldier who supported Julius  Caesar, and after his death became one of the  triumvirate of three rulers of the  Roman Empire. He fell in love with  Cleopatra, and after they were defeated in battle, they both killed themselves. //


Words: Antony and Cleopatra
Meaning:
a play by William  Shakespeare about the relationship between  Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, and the Roman leader Mark  Antony//


Words: antonym
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: antonyme, from  Greek anti- (  ANTI-) +  onyma  ’name’]//  a word that means the opposite of another word//    synonym//  --a dictionary of synonyms and antonyms//


Words: antsy
Meaning:
adj  informal   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin:  Probably from  have ants in the pants  ’to be anxious or nervous’]//  nervous and unable to keep still because you are waiting for something to happen//


Words: anus
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: ’ring, anus’]//  the hole in your bottom through which solid waste leaves your body//


Words: anvil
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: anfilt]//  a heavy iron block on which pieces of hot metal are shaped using a hammer//


Words: anxiety
Meaning:
W3S3   n   plural  anxieties //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: anxietas, from  anxius;   ANXIOUS]//\n  1 [U and C] the feeling of being very worried about something:   concern//  anxiety about/over//  --There is considerable anxiety among staff about job losses.//  --There is growing public anxiety over levels of air pollution in our cities.//  deep/acute/great anxiety //  --The fear of unemployment can be a source of deep anxiety to people.//  --his feelings of anxiety//  --A high level of anxiety was created by the introduction of cameras into the factory.//  --It can help if you discuss your anxieties with someone.//\n  2 [U] a feeling of wanting to do something very much:  anxiety to do sth//  --I nearly fell in my anxiety to get downstairs quickly.//


Words: anxious
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: anxius]//\n  1 worried about something:  anxious about//  --He was a bit anxious about the safety of the machinery.//  anxious for//  --We were anxious for you.//  --She gave me an anxious look.//  anxious (that)//  --She was anxious that it might be cancer. see usage note  nervous//\n  2 an anxious time or situation is one in which you feel nervous or worried:   worrying//  --We had an anxious couple of weeks waiting for the test results.//  --There was an anxious moment when the plane suddenly dropped.//\n  3 feeling strongly that you want to do something or want something to happen:   keen//  anxious to do sth//  --The company is anxious to improve its image.//  --He seemed most anxious to speak to me alone.//  --The president is anxious not to have another crisis.//  anxious for sb to do sth//  --Why was she so anxious for me to stay?//  anxious for//  --We were all anxious for news.//  anxious (that)//  --Both sides were anxious that the agreement should be signed as quickly as possible.//  -- anxiously adv //  --She waited anxiously by the phone//


Words: any
Meaning:
determiner, pron \n  1 [usually in questions and negatives] some or even the smallest amount or number:  --Have you got any money?//  --Do you need any further information?//  any of//  --Are any of the paintings for sale?//  --They didn’t invite any of us.//  --Are there any other questions?//  --They haven’t shown any interest at all in my research.//  --The universities have shown few if any signs of a willingness to change.//\n  2 used to refer to a person or thing of a particular type when what you are saying is true of all people or things of that type:  --Any child who breaks the rules will be punished.//  --Always check the details carefully before you sign any written agreement.//  --I can see you any time on Monday.//  --If I can help in any way, let me know.//  any of//  --You can choose any of the books on the list.//  --This excuse was as good as any other .//\n  3 as much as possible:  --They’re going to need any help they can get.//\n  4  not just any (old) man/woman/job etc:  used to say that someone or something is special//  --She’s not just any actress, she’s one of the best.//    any old thing at old(10)//    any old how at old(11)//    not in any way at way1 (40)//\nany 2 S2 adv [usually in questions and negatives] \n  1 used before the comparative form of an adjective to mean ’even a small amount’:  --I can’t run any faster.//  --Are you feeling any better?//\n  2  not any more/longer:  if something does not happen any more or any longer, it used to happen but does not happen now//  --Sarah doesn’t live here any more.//  --He was told he wasn’t wanted any longer.//\n  3  AmE  spoken used with a verb to mean ’at all’:  --We tried talking to him but that didn’t help any.//


Words: Any Questions
Meaning:
a British radio programme in which people ask politicians and other famous people questions about important problems or subjects that are in the news//


Words: anyhow
Meaning:
S3   adv \n  1 [sentence adverb]  informal  anyway:  --The scandal could damage her reputation but the press reported it anyhow.//  --I’ve never been to a circus, not recently anyhow.//\n  2 in a careless or untidy way:  --The cupboard would hardly close, with all the shoes thrown in anyhow.//


Words: anymore
Meaning:
adv   not anymore//  not any longer//  --Nick doesn’t live here anymore.//  --She told me not to phone her anymore.//


Words: anyone
Meaning:
pron \n  1 used to refer to any person, when it is not important to say exactly who:  --Anyone could win tonight.//  --They offer help and advice to anyone interested in becoming a teacher.//  --If anyone sees Lisa, ask her to call me.//  -- Anyone else who is interested in going on the trip should see me at the end of this lesson.//\n  2 used in questions to mean ’someone’:  --Does anyone want a drink?//  --Is there anyone new coming to tonight’s meeting?//  --Do you know anyone else who wants a ticket?//\n  3 used in negative sentences to mean no person:  --I went to the bar but there wasn’t anyone there.//  --I haven’t spoken to anyone all day.//


Words: anything
Meaning:
pron \n  1 any thing, event, situation etc, when it is not important to say exactly which:  --You can buy anything you want.//  --He was prepared to do anything to make a bit of money.//  --Anything would be better than staying at home!//  --You can write about swimming, skiing, or anything else you enjoy doing.//\n  2 used in questions to mean ’something’:  --Is there anything I can do to help?//  --Do you want anything from the shops?//  --Would you like anything else to eat?//\n  3 used in negative sentences to mean no thing, event, etc:  --We didn’t have anything to eat for three days.//  --Don’t do anything until we get there.//\n  4  anything but:  used to emphasize that someone or something does not have a particular quality//  --Maria is anything but stupid!//\n  5  anything like sb/sth:  similar in any way to something or someone else//  --You don’t look anything like your mother.//  --If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to be where the action is.//\n  6  not anything like/near:   spoken used to emphasize a negative sentence//  --We don’t have anything like enough money to buy a new car.//\n  7  as important/clear/big etc as anything:   informal extremely important/clear etc//  --He was as nice as anything to me.//\n  8  or anything:   spoken or something that is similar//  --Would you like a drink or anything?//\n  9  anything goes:   informal used to say that anything someone says or does is acceptable//  --From what other people were wearing, it looked like anything goes.//\n  10  for anything:   informal if you will not do something for anything, you will definitely not do it//  --I wouldn’t go back there for anything.//\n  11  like anything:   informal if you do something like anything, you do it a lot//  --We all encouraged him like anything.//\n  12  if anything:   spoken used when you are adding something to emphasize what you have just said//  --Sam didn’t seem too disappointed at losing. If anything, he seemed relieved that it was all over.//\n  13  anything you say:   spoken used to tell someone you agree with what they suggest//  --Yes, of course, anything you say.//


Words: anytime
Meaning:
adv   at any time//  --Call me anytime. I’m always home.//  --They should arrive anytime between noon and 3 p.m.//


Words: anyway
Meaning:
adv  also anyhow  [sentence adverb] \n  1 in spite of the fact that you have just mentioned:  --Catherine wasn’t sure the book was the right one, but she bought it anyway.//  --This idea probably won’t work, but let’s try it anyway.//\n  2 used when adding a remark which shows that the fact just mentioned is not important:  --They didn’t have any trainers in my size, and anyway I’d already decided I’d rather save the money.//  --’I hope you haven’t told anyone. ’ ’No. Who would believe me anyway?’//\n  3 used when adding something that corrects or slightly changes what you have just said:  --Let’s think about it for a while, for a few days anyway.//  --There seems to have been a technical problem - anyway, that’s what they told me.//\n  4  spoken used when you are ignoring details so that you can talk immediately about the most important thing:  --He got lost and spent hours looking for the station, and anyway it was past midnight by the time he got home.//  --Anyway, why didn’t you call the police?//\n  5  spoken used when you are changing the subject of a conversation or returning to a previous subject:  --Anyway, let’s leave that for the moment and look at this month’s profit figures.//  --Anyway, how are things with you?//\n  6  spoken used when you want to end a conversation or leave a place:  --Anyway, I must be going now.//


Words: anywhere
Meaning:
adv  also anyplace  AmE \n  1 in or to any place:  --Sit anywhere you like.//  --You can buy clothes like these anywhere.//  --I don’t want to live in London, but I’d be happy living anywhere else .//\n  2 used in questions to mean ’somewhere’:  --Do you need anywhere to stay for the night?//  --Did you go anywhere exotic on vacation this year?//  --Have you been anywhere else in Spain?//\n  3 used in negative sentences to mean no place:  --I can’t find my passport anywhere.//\n  4  not anywhere near:  a) not at all near//  --I wasn’t anywhere near him when he fell.//  b) not at all//  --I don’t think these figures are anywhere near accurate.//\n  5  anywhere between one and ten/anywhere from one to ten etc:  used to mean any age, number, amount etc between the ones that you say//  --She could have been anywhere between 45 and 60 years of age.//  --We receive anything from 60 to 300 calls a day.//\n  6  not get anywhere:   informal to not be successful at all//  --You won’t get anywhere without qualifications.//\n  7  not get sb anywhere:   informal if something does not get you anywhere, it does not change a situation or help you to achieve something//  --You can try writing to complain, but I don’t think it will get you anywhere.//\n  8  not be going anywhere:   informal to not be achieving success in your life//  --He’s a nice enough lad, but he’s not going anywhere.//


Words: Anzac Day
Meaning:
in Australia and New Zealand, April 25th each year, remembered as the date of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 //


Words: AOB
Meaning:
BrE   any other business things which are not written on the list of subjects to discuss at a meeting, but which people want to talk about after all the other subjects have been discussed//


Words: AONB
Meaning:
BrE   Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty a very beautiful area which is officially protected so that no one is allowed to build on it or change it//


Words: aorta
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek aorte, from  aeirein  ’to lift’]//  the largest artery that takes blood away from your heart//


Words: apace
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from  Old French a pas  ’on step’]//  happening quickly//  --Expansion of the company has continued apace .//


Words: apart
Meaning:
adv, adj   ----------//\n   1 not close/touching:\n   2 in different pieces:\n   3 separate:\n   4 not at same time:\n   5 people:\n   6 fall apart:\n   7 be torn apart:\n   8 be worlds/poles apart:\n   9 grow/drift apart:\n  10 joking apart:\n  11 somebody/something apart:\n  12 set somebody/something apart:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: a part  ’to the side’]//\n  1 NOT CLOSE/TOUCHING:  if things are apart, they are not close to each other or touching each other//  two miles/six feet etc apart //  --Place the two posts 6 metres apart.//  --They have offices in countries as far apart as India and Peru.//  --The police try to keep rival supporters apart at all matches.//  --A couple of men started fighting and we had to pull them apart .//  --Joel stood apart from the group, frowning.//\n  2 IN DIFFERENT PIECES:  if something comes apart, or you take it apart, it is separated into different pieces//  --The whole thing comes apart so that you can clean it.//  --They took the engine apart to see what was wrong.//\n  3 SEPARATE:  if you keep things apart, you keep them separate from each other//  --I try to keep my work and private life as far apart as possible.//\n  4 NOT AT SAME TIME:  if things are a particular time apart, they do not happen at the same time but have that much time between them//  two days/three weeks/five years etc apart //  --Our birthdays are exactly a month apart.//\n  5 PEOPLE:  if people are apart, they are not together in the same place, or not having a relationship with each other//  --The children have never been apart before.//  --My wife and I are living apart at the moment.//  apart from//  --He’s never been apart from his mother.//\n  6  fall apart:  a) if something falls apart, it breaks into different pieces//  --It just fell apart in my hands!//  b) if something is falling apart, it is in very bad condition//  --He drives around in an old car that’s falling apart.//  c) if something falls apart, it fails completely//  --He lost his job and his marriage fell apart.//  --The country’s economy is in danger of falling apart.//\n  7  be torn apart:  if a marriage, family etc is torn apart, it can no longer continue because of serious difficulties//  --The play portrays a good marriage torn apart by external forces.//\n  8  be worlds/poles apart:  if people, beliefs, or ideas are worlds or poles apart, they are completely different from each other//  --I realized we were still worlds apart.//\n  9  grow/drift apart:  if people drift or grow apart, their relationship slowly becomes less close//  --Lewis and his father drifted apart after he moved to New York.//\n  10  joking apart:  used to say that you want to say something seriously//  --Joking apart, they did do quite a good job for us.//\n  11  sb/sth apart:  except for someone or something//  --The car industry apart, most industries are now seeing an improvement in their economic performance.//\n  12  set sb/sth apart:  to make someone or something different from other people or things//  --Her unusual lifestyle set her apart as a child.//


Words: apart from
Meaning:
prep  also aside from  AmE \n  1 except for:  --We didn’t see anyone all day, apart from a couple of kids on the beach.//  --Apart from the ending, it’s a really good film. see usage note  except1 //\n  2 as well as:  --Apart from his earnings as a football coach, he also owns and runs a chain of sports shops.//  -- Quite apart from the cost, we need to think about how much time the job will take.//


Words: apartheid
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Afrikaans; Origin: ’separateness’]//  the former political and social system in South Africa, in which only white people had full political rights and people of other races, especially black people, were forced to go to separate schools, live in separate areas etc//


Words: apartment
Meaning:
W3S2   n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: appartement, from  Italian appartamento, from  appartare  ’to put aside, separate’]//\n  1  especially AmE a set of rooms on one floor of a large building, where someone lives:  British Equivalent:  flat//  --She lives in a small apartment.//  --a holiday apartment//\n  2 [usually plural] a room or set of rooms used by an important person such as a president:  --I had never been in the prince’s private apartments before.//  --the presidential apartments//


Words: apathetic
Meaning:
adj   not interested in something, and not willing to make any effort to change or improve things//  --She felt too apathetic even to move.//  apathetic about//  --How can you be so apathetic about the world and its problems?//  -- apathetically/-kli/ adv //


Words: apathy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: apatheia, from  a-  ’without’ +  pathos  ’feeling’]//  the feeling of not being interested in something, and not willing to make any effort to change or improve things//  --The campaign failed because of public apathy.//


Words: ape
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: apa]//\n  1 an animal that is similar to a monkey but has no tail or only a very short tail:\n  2  go ape:   informal to suddenly become very angry//\nape 2 v [T] \n  1 to copy the way someone speaks or behaves in order to make fun of them:   mimic//  --He could ape his teachers perfectly.//\n  2 to copy someone’s way of doing something, so that what you do or produce is not good or original:   mimic//  --cheap clothes which ape the high fashions of the day//


Words: Apennines
Meaning:
a  range of mountains in a line down the middle of Italy, from the northwest of the country to the south//


Words: aperitif
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: aperitif, from  Medieval Latin aperitivus, from  Latin aperire;   APERTURE]//  an alcoholic drink that people drink before a meal//


Words: aperture
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: apertura, from  aperire  ’to open’]//\n  1  formal a small hole or space in something:\n  2 the small hole at the front of a camera, which can be made larger or smaller to let more or less light in when you take a photograph:


Words: apex
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin]//\n  1  technical the top or highest part of something pointed or curved:  --the apex of the roof//  --the apex of a pyramid//\n  2  formal the most important position in an organization or society:  --The king was at the apex of society.//\n  3  formal the most successful part of something:  --He was at the apex of his career.//


Words: APEX adj
Meaning:
Apex BrE   advanced purchase excursion; used to describe plane tickets, train tickets etc that are cheaper than the usual price because you buy them several days or weeks before the date when you travel//  --The Apex fare is just [hA124]200.//  --APEX tickets to Edinburgh//


Words: aphid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: aphis, from  Modern Greek]//  a type of small insect that feeds on the juices of plants//


Words: aphorism
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: aphorisme, from  Late Latin, from  Greek aphorismos  ’definition, aphorism’, from  aphorizein  ’to define’]//  a short phrase that contains a wise idea//  -- aphoristic/[zB024]f[hA353]r[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: aphrodisiac
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Greek; Origin: aphrodisiakos, from  Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love]//  a food, drink, or drug that makes you want to have sex//  -- aphrodisiac adj //  --a fruit that is believed to have aphrodisiac properties//


Words: apiece
Meaning:
adv [only after number or noun]   costing or having a particular amount each//  --The pictures are worth about [hA124]10,000 apiece.//  --The two top teams have ten points apiece.//


Words: aplenty
Meaning:
adj [only after noun]  literary   in large amounts, especially more than you need//  --There was food aplenty.//


Words: aplomb
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’quality of being perpendicular’, from  Old French a plomb  ’according to the plumb line’]//  with aplomb//  in a confident and skilful way, especially when you have to deal with difficult problems or a difficult situation//  --Ms Sharpe handled their questions with great aplomb.//


Words: apocalypse
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apocalypsis, from  Greek, from  apokalyptein  ’to uncover’, from  apo-  ’away from, off’ +  kalyptein  ’to cover’]//\n  1  the apocalypse:  the destruction and end of the world//  --anti-nuclear protestors who fear the apocalypse//\n  2 a situation in which a lot of people die or suffer, and a lot of damage is done:  --A lot of investors now fear a stock market apocalypse.//


Words: apocalyptic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 warning people about terrible events that will happen in the future:  --The novel presents us with an apocalyptic vision of the future//\n  2 connected with the final destruction and end of the world, or with any great destruction:  --Before them was an apocalyptic landscape of burnt villages and bomb craters.//


Words: Apocrypha
Meaning:
the   a collection of Jewish writings which form part of the  Old Testament in some bibles. They do not appear in the Hebrew bible, or many modern bibles.//


Words: apocryphal
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: apocrypha  ’works not by the claimed writer’ (14-21 centuries), from  Late Latin, from  apocryphus  ’secret, not part of the official list of works’, from  Greek, from  apokryptein  ’to hide away’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  kryptein  ’to hide’]//  an apocryphal story is well-known but probably not true//


Words: apogee
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: apogee, from  Modern Latin apogaeum, from  Greek, from  apogaios  ’far from the earth’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  ge  ’earth’]//   formal the most successful part of something//   apex//  --His political career reached its apogee in the 1960s.//


Words: apolitical
Meaning:
adj   not interested in politics, or not connected with any political party//  --a group of apolitical young professional people//  --an apolitical organization//


Words: Apollo
Meaning:
1 in Greek and Roman  mythology, the god of the sun, medicine, poetry, music, and  prophecy. He is usually shown in pictures and  sculptures as a beautiful young man.:\n  2  literary a very beautiful young man:


Words: Apollo Program
Meaning:
the US government space programme to send people to the moon, which succeeded in 1969 when the Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the moon //    Armstrong, Neil//


Words: apologetic
Meaning:
adj   showing or saying that you are sorry that something has happened, especially because you feel guilty or embarrassed about it//  apologetic about//  --The manager was very apologetic about everything.//  --She gave me an apologetic smile .//  look/sound apologetic //  --Dan came in looking very apologetic.//  -- apologetically/-kli/ adv //  --’I know,’ she said apologetically.//


Words: apologia
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Late Latin; Origin:  APOLOGY]//   formal a statement in which you defend an idea or organization that you believe in//  apologia for//  --an apologia for the Christian church//


Words: apologist
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who tries to explain and defend an idea, person, or political system//  apologist for//  --an apologist for socialism//


Words: apologize
Meaning:
S2  also  apologise BrE   v [I]   to tell someone that you are sorry that you have done something wrong//  --I’m so sorry, I do apologize.//  apologize to//  --I think you should apologize to your brother.//  apologize for (doing) sth//  --He later apologized for his behaviour.//  --I apologize for losing my temper.//


Words: apology
Meaning:
S3   n   plural  apologies //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apologia  ’written or spoken defense’, from  Greek, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  logos  ’speech’]//\n  1 [U and C] something that you say or write to show that you are sorry for doing something wrong:  apology from//  --She finally  received an apology  from the company.//  --I feel I owe you an apology .//  --He wrote to the editor of the newspaper demanding an immediate apology .//  apology for//  --Please accept my sincere apologies for my behaviour yesterday.//  --She had to make  a formal public apology  for her remarks.//  --I  make no apology  for repeating the question.//  --Those affected have been sent  letters of apology .//  --’He always does this,’ said Isabelle,  by way of apology .//\n  2  apologies [plural] a message that you send to a meeting to say that you will not be able to come to the meeting:  --Edward can’t be here today, but he sends his apologies .//\n  3  make your apologies:  to say that you are sorry but you have to leave//  --I quickly made my apologies and left.//\n  4 [C]  literary a statement in which you defend something you believe in after it has been criticized by other people:  apology for//  --an apology for Christianity//\n  5  an apology for sth:  a very bad example of something//  --They served us up an apology for a meal.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  receive an apology //  owe somebody an apology //  demand an apology //  accept an apology //  make an apology (for something) //  issue an apology (=make an official apology - used about governments, companies etc) //  I make no apology (for something)  (=used when saying you are not sorry about something) //  letter of apology //  written apology //  formal apology //  public apology //  by way of apology  (=in order to show you are sorry) //  ----------//


Words: apoplectic
Meaning:
adj \n  1  informal so angry that your face becomes red:  --The colonel was apoplectic with rage.//\n  2  old-fashioned relating to apoplexy:


Words: apoplexy
Meaning:
n [U]  old-fashioned   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apoplexia, from  Greek, from  apoplessein  ’to damage with a stroke’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  plessein  ’to strike’]//  an illness in your brain which causes you to suddenly lose your ability to move or think//   stroke//


Words: apostasy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apostasia, from  Greek, from  aphistasthai  ’to revolt’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  histasthai  ’to stand’]//   formal when someone suddenly stops believing in a religion or supporting a political party//


Words: apostle
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 900-1000; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apostolus, from  Greek,  ’bringer of messages, apostle’, from  apostellein  ’to send away’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  stellein  ’to send’]//\n  1 one of the 12 people chosen by Jesus Christ to teach and spread the Christian religion:\n  2  formal someone who believes strongly in an idea and tries to persuade other people:  apostle of//  --a great apostle of non-violence//


Words: Apostles’ Creed
Meaning:
the   a statement of religious belief in the Christian religion, beginning "I believe in God the Father Almighty ..."//


Words: apostolic
Meaning:
adj  technical \n  1 connected with the Pope (=leader of the Catholic church) :\n  2 connected with one of Christ’s 12 apostles:


Words: apostrophe
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin apostrophus, from  Greek, from  apostrephein  ’to turn away’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  strephein  ’to turn’]//  a) the sign (’) that is used in writing to show that numbers or letters have been left out, as in ’don’t’ (=do not) and ’86 (=1986) //  b) the same sign used before ’s’ to show that something belongs to someone or something, or is connected with them, as in ’John’s book’, or ’Charles’ mother’, or ’Henry’s first year as a teacher’//  c) the same sign used before ’s’ to show the plural of letters and numbers as in ’Your r’s look like v’s.’//


Words: apothecary
Meaning:
n   plural  apothecaries  [C] //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: apothecarius, from  Latin apotheca  ’store’, from  Greek, from  apotithenai  ’to put away’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  tithenai  ’to put’]//  someone who mixed and sold medicines in the past//


Words: apotheosis
Meaning:
n    [singular]  formal //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: Greek, from  apotheoun  ’to make into a god’, from  apo- (  APOCALYPSE) +  theos  ’god’]//\n  1 the best and most perfect example of something:  apotheosis of//  --the apotheosis of romantic art//\n  2 the best or highest point in someone’s life or job:   apex//  apotheosis of//  --the apotheosis of his career//


Words: appal
Meaning:
BrE  appall AmE   v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: apalir, from  palir  ’to turn pale’]//  to make someone feel very shocked and upset//  --The way we kill animals appals a lot of people.//  --The decision to execute the two men has appalled many politicians.//


Words: Appalachians
Meaning:
also the Appalachian Mountains   the Appalachians//   a long  range of mountains in northeast America that go southwest from Quebec in Canada to Alabama in the US//


Words: appalled
Meaning:
adj   very shocked and upset by something very bad or unpleasant//  appalled by//  --I was appalled by what I saw.//  appalled at//  --He was appalled at how dirty the place was.//  --When I heard what had happened I was absolutely appalled .//


Words: appalling
Meaning:
adj \n  1 very unpleasant and shocking:   terrible//  --She suffered appalling injuries.//  --He was kept in appalling conditions in prison.//  --an appalling famine//\n  2 very bad:   atrocious//  --The weather was absolutely appalling .//  -- appallingly adv //  --He behaved appallingly.//  --an appallingly difficult job//


Words: appaloosa
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Probably from  Palouse, a Native American people of Washington and Idaho]//   AmE a type of horse that is pale in colour, with dark spots//


Words: apparatchik
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Russian; Origin: apparat  ’apparatus’]//  an official who works for a government or other organization and who obeys orders without thinking//  --a Communist party apparatchik//


Words: apparatus
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  apparare  ’to prepare’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  parare  ’to prepare’]//\n  1 [U] the set of tools and machines that you use for a particular scientific, medical, or technical purpose:   equipment//  --Astronauts have special breathing apparatus.//\n  2 [C] the way in which a lot of people are organized to work together to do a job or control a company or country:   machinery//  --The tax will require a massive administrative apparatus.//  --The state apparatus has become corrupt.//  --the apparatus of government//


Words: apparel
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: apareil  ’preparation’, from  apareillier, from  Latin apparare;   APPARATUS]//   formal clothes//  --She looked lovely, despite her strange apparel.//  --men wearing protective apparel//  --We sell a full range of sports apparel.//


Words: apparent
Meaning:
W2   adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  apparere;   APPEAR]//\n  1 easy to notice:   obvious//  it is apparent (that)//  --It soon became apparent that we had a major problem.//  it is apparent from sth that//  --It is apparent from scientific studies that the drug has some fairly nasty side effects.//  it is apparent to sb that//  --It was apparent to everyone that he was seriously ill.//  --The difference in quality was immediately apparent .//  --He left suddenly, for no apparent reason .//\n  2 seeming to have a particular feeling or attitude, although this may not be true:  --He did well in his exams, despite his apparent lack of interest in his work.//


Words: apparently
Meaning:
adv \n  1 [sentence adverb] used to say that you have heard that something is true, although you are not completely sure about it:  --Apparently the company is losing a lot of money.//  --I wasn’t there, but apparently it went well.//\n  2 according to the way someone looks or a situation appears, although you cannot be sure:  --She turned to face him, her anger apparently gone.//


Words: apparition
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: apparitio, from  Latin apparere;   APPEAR]//  something that you imagine you can see, especially the spirit of a dead person//  --He stared at the strange apparition before him.//  --a ghostly apparition of a man//


Words: appeal
Meaning:
W1S2   n   ----------//\n   1 request:\n   2 request for money:\n   3 request to change decision:\n   4 being attractive:  ----------//\n  1 REQUEST:   [C] an urgent request for something important//  appeal for//  --The police have issued a new appeal for information.//  appeal to//  --All the organizations involved have sent urgent appeals to the government, asking for extra funding.//  --The girl’s family have made a public appeal for help to try and catch her killer.//  appeal to sb to do sth//  --an appeal to the army to not use too much force//\n  2 REQUEST FOR MONEY:   [C] an attempt to persuade people to give money in order to help people who need something//  --The appeal has nearly reached its target of [hA124]100,000.//  --The hospital has launched an appeal to raise money for new equipment.//\n  3 REQUEST TO CHANGE DECISION:   [U and C] a formal request to a court or to someone in authority asking for a decision to be changed//  appeal to//  --an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights//  on appeal//  --The sentence was reduced to three years on appeal.//  --All prisoners have a right of appeal .//  --He has lodged an appeal against the size of the fine.//\n  4 BEING ATTRACTIVE:   [U] a quality that makes people like something or someone//  --What is the particular appeal of this island?//  --The programme has a very wide appeal .//  appeal for//  --The film has great appeal for young audiences.//  --She’s definitely got sex appeal  (=she is sexually attractive) .//    Court of Appeal//\nappeal 2 W3S3 v   ----------//\n   1 ask:\n   2 ask to change decision:\n   3 be attractive:\n   4 appeal to somebody’s better nature/sense of justice etc:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apeler  ’to accuse, appeal’, from  Latin appellare, from  appellere  ’to drive to’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  pellere  ’to drive’]//\n  1 ASK:   [I] to make a serious public request for help, money, information etc//  appeal for//  --Church and community leaders have appealed for calm.//  appeal to//  --Farmers have appealed to the government for help.//  appeal to sb to do sth//  --The police have appealed to anyone with information to come forward and talk to them.//\n  2 ASK TO CHANGE DECISION:   [I and T] to make a formal request to a court or someone in authority asking for a decision to be changed//  --She is not happy with the decision and plans to appeal.//  appeal against//  --Both men intend to appeal against their convictions.//  appeal to//  --Appealing to the referee does not often result in a decision being changed.//\n  3 BE ATTRACTIVE:   [I] if someone or something appeals to you, they seem attractive and interesting//  appeal to//  --The programme appeals especially to young children.//  --The idea of working abroad really appeals to me.//\n  4  appeal to sb’s better nature/sense of justice etc:  to try to persuade someone to do something by reminding them that it is a good or fair thing to do//  --You could always try appealing to his better nature.//


Words: appealing
Meaning:
adj \n  1 attractive or interesting:  → unappealing//  --The city offers an appealing combination of sporting and cultural events.//  --It creates an atmosphere which visitors find so appealing .//\n  2  appealing look/expression/voice etc:  a look etc that shows that someone wants help or sympathy//  --’Are you sure it’s okay?’ she said with an appealing smile.//  -- appealingly adv //  --She looked appealingly at Ben.//


Words: appeals court
Meaning:
n [C]   a court of law in some countries which deals with cases when people are not satisfied with the judgement given by a lower court//   Court of Appeals//  --a ruling by a US federal appeals court//


Words: appear
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 seem:\n   2 give impression:\n   3 start to be seen:\n   4 film/tv programme etc:\n   5 book/newspaper etc:\n   6 available/known:\n   7 law court/meeting:  ----------//  [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: aparoir, from  Latin apparere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  parere  ’to show yourself’]//\n  1 SEEM:   [linking verb, not in progressive] used to say how something seems, especially from what you know about it or from what you can see//  appear to be sth//  --Police say there appear to be signs of a break-in.//  appear to do sth//  --The survey appears to contradict motor industry claims.//  it appears (that)//  --It appears that all the files have been deleted.//  --Police have found what appear to be human remains.//  --He tried to make it appear that she had committed suicide.//  --It may be less useful than it appears at first.//  so it would appear (=used to say that something seems likely to be true, although you are not completely sure) //\n  2 GIVE IMPRESSION:   [linking verb, not in progressive] used to say that someone or something seems to have a particular quality or feeling//  --He tried hard to appear calm .//  --I don’t want to appear rude.//  --The right colours can make a small room appear much bigger.//\n  3 START TO BE SEEN:   [I always + adverb/preposition ] to start to be seen, to arrive, or to exist in a place, especially suddenly//  --Two faces appeared at our window.//  --A man suddenly appeared from behind a tree.//  --Small cracks appeared in the wall.//  --It was nearly an hour before Sweeney appeared in the pub.//  appear from nowhere/out of nowhere (=appear suddenly and unexpectedly) //  --The car seemed to appear from nowhere.//\n  4 FILM/TV PROGRAMME ETC:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to take part in a film, play, concert, television programme etc//  appear in a film/play //  --She has already appeared in a number of films.//  appear on television/stage //  --He appeared on national television to deny the claims.//  appear at a theatre etc //\n  5 BOOK/NEWSPAPER ETC:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to be written or shown on a list, in a book or newspaper, in a document etc//  --The story appeared in all the national newspapers.//  --Some of the material used has appeared in print before (=has been published) .//\n  6 AVAILABLE/KNOWN:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to become widely available or known about//  --The new range will be appearing in shops in the autumn.//  --New courses are appearing every year.//\n  7 LAW COURT/MEETING:   [I always + adverb/preposition] to go to a law court or other official meeting to give information, answer questions etc//  --The three men are due to appear in court tomorrow.//  appear before a court/judge/committee etc //  --She appeared before Colchester magistrates charged with attempted murder.//  appear for sb/on behalf of sb (=to be the legal representative for someone) //  --Sir Nicholas Gammon QC appeared on behalf of the defendant.//   see usage note  seem//


Words: appearance
Meaning:
W2   n   ----------//\n   1 way somebody/something looks:\n   2 somebody takes part in a public event:\n   3 something new starts to exist:\n   4 arrival:\n   5 keep up appearances:\n   6 for appearances’ sake/for the sake of appearances:\n   7 put in an appearance/make an appearance:\n   8 at a law court/meeting:  ----------//\n  1 WAY SOMEBODY/SOMETHING LOOKS:   [U and C] the way someone or something looks to other people//  --He was always criticising his wife’s appearance.//  appearance of//  --They’ve changed the appearance of the whole building.//  --We are often attracted to somebody first by their physical appearance .//  --Women, in general, tend to be more concerned than men about their  personal appearance .//  --She had an  outward appearance  of calm, but deep down she was really worried.//  --The metal posts  spoiled the appearance  of the garden. //  --A garnish helps to  enhance the appearance of  any dish.//  --She’s the kind of woman who  takes pride in her appearance  .//  -- You shouldn’t  judge by appearances . //  -- They work hard at school without  giving the appearance of  being particularly hard-working.//  -- The case  had all the appearances of  a straightforward murder. //  -- The pupils looked angelic - but  appearances can be deceptive . //  --He was,  to all appearances , a respectable, successful businessman.//\n  2 SOMEBODY TAKES PART IN A PUBLIC EVENT:   [C] when a famous person takes part in a film, concert or other public event//  --It was his first public appearance since the election.//  --He made his last appearance for the club in the Cup Final.//  appearance money/fee (=money paid to a famous person to attend an event) //\n  3 SOMETHING NEW STARTS TO EXIST:   [singular] when something new begins to exist or starts being used//  appearance of//  --The industry has changed greatly with the appearance of new technologies.//  --the appearance of buds on the trees//\n  4 ARRIVAL:   [C usually singular] the unexpected or sudden arrival of someone or something//  appearance of//  --Eileen was deep in concentration, and the sudden appearance of her daughter startled her.//\n  5  keep up appearances:  to dress and behave in the way in which people expect you to, especially to hide your true situation//  --She just wanted to keep up appearances for the kids.//\n  6  for appearances’ sake/for the sake of appearances:  if you do something for appearances’ sake, you are trying to behave how people expect you to, especially to hide your true situation or feelings//\n  7  put in an appearance/make an appearance:  to go to an event for a short time, because you think you should rather than because you want to//  --At least Marc managed to put in an appearance at the party.//\n  8 AT A LAW COURT/MEETING:   [C] an occasion when someone goes to a court of law or official meeting to give information, answer questions etc//  --He is due to make another court appearance on Monday.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  somebody’s appearance //  physical appearance //  personal appearance //  outward/external appearance //  spoil the appearance of somebody/something //  improve/enhance the appearance of somebody/something //  take pride in your appearance  (=think that it is important to look good) //  judge by appearances  (=make judgements based on the way someone or something looks) //  give the appearance of something/give every appearance of something  (=seem to be something) //  have all the appearances of something  (=seem exactly like something) //  appearances can be deceptive  (=people or things are not always the way they look) //  to all appearances  (=based on the way someone or something seems to most people) //  ----------//


Words: appease
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apaisier, from  pais  ’peace’]//  to make someone less angry or stop them from attacking you by giving them what they want//  --They attempted to appease international opposition by promising to hold talks.//  -- appeasement n  [U and C] //  --Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement towards Hitler in the 30s//


Words: appellate court
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  appellate  1700-1800  Latin, past participle of  appellare;   APPEAL2]//  a court in which people appeal against decisions made in other courts of law//


Words: append
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: appendre, from  Latin appendere  ’to weigh’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  pendere  ’to weigh’]//   formal to add something to a piece of writing//    appendix//  append to//  --The results of the client survey are appended to this document.//


Words: appendage
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 something that is connected to a larger or more important thing:\n  2  formal an arm, leg or other body part:


Words: appendix
Meaning:
n    or  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: appendere;   APPEND]//\n  1 :  plural  appendixes a small organ near your bowel, which has little or no use//  --Christine had to go into hospital to have her appendix out (=have it removed) .//\n  2 :  plural  appendices /-d[hA369]si[hA359]z/a part at the end of a book containing additional information//  --See Appendix 2.6//


Words: appertain
Meaning:
v   appertain to [appertain to sth] phr v//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apartenir, from  Late Latin appertinere, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  pertinere (  PERTAIN)]//  to belong to or concern something//  --A monthly forum was set up to deal with all issues appertaining to Everton Park.//


Words: appetite
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apetit, from  Latin, past participle of  appetere  ’to try to get’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  petere  ’to look for’]//\n  1 [C usually singular, U] a desire for food:  --All that walking has given me an appetite for dinner.//  --I seem to have lost my appetite lately.//  --Symptoms include headaches, tiredness and loss of appetite //  --Let’s just say he’s got a healthy appetite .//  spoil/ruin your appetite //  --Don’t eat that cake now; you’ll spoil your appetite.//\n  2 [C] a desire or liking for a particular activity:  appetite for//  --She has an amazing appetite for knowledge.//  --People seem to have an insatiable appetite  (=always wanting more of something) for news of any kind.//  --a loss of sexual appetite //    whet sb’s appetite at whet(1)//


Words: appetizing
Meaning:
also  appetising BrE   adj   food that is appetizing smells or looks very good, making you want to eat it//  → unappetizing//  --an appetizing aroma//  --The food wasn’t particularly appetizing.//


Words: Appian Way
Meaning:
the Appian Way//  the first important Roman Road. It was built in 312BC and runs south from Rome to Brindisi on the  Adriatic coast.//


Words: applaud
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: applaudere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  plaudere  ’to applaud’]//\n  1 [I and T] to hit your open hands together to show that you have enjoyed a play, concert, speaker etc:   clap//  --The audience applauded loudly.//  --A crowd of 300 supporters warmly applauded her speech.//\n  2 [T]  formal to express strong approval of an idea, plan etc:  --I applaud the decision to install more security cameras.//  applaud sb for sth//  --She should be applauded for her honesty.//


Words: applause
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: applausus, from  Latin, past participle of  applaudere;   APPLAUD]//  the sound of many people hitting their hands together and shouting, to show that they have enjoyed something//  --She got a round of applause  (=a short period of applause) when she finished.//  rapturous/enthusiastic applause //  --He left the stage to rapturous applause.//  loud/thunderous applause //


Words: Apple
Meaning:
trademark \n  1 a US computer company whose best-known product is the  Macintosh personal computer:\n  2 a type of computer made by this company. These machines are regarded as being easy to use, and have a different  operating system from  PCs. They are usually called " Macs ".:


Words: apple
Meaning:
W3S2   n   [Language: Old English; Origin: [zB024]ppel]//\n  1 [U and C] a hard round fruit that has red, light green, or yellow skin and is white inside:  --apple pie//  --an apple tree//  --roast pork and apple sauce (=a thick sauce made from cooked apples) //\n  2  be the apple of sb’s eye:  to be loved very much by someone//  --Ben was always the apple of his father’s eye.//\n  3  bob/dunk/dip for apples:  to play a game in which you must use your teeth to pick up apples floating in water//\n  4  be as American as apple pie:  used to describe something that is typically American//\n  5  the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree:   AmE used to say that children are usually similar to their parents, especially in a bad way//    upset the apple cart at upset1 (4),  a rotten apple at rotten1 (7),  Adam’s apple,  Big Apple//


Words: apple polisher
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  spoken   someone who tries to gain something, become popular etc by praising or helping someone else without being sincere//


Words: Appleseed
Meaning:
Johnny   the  nickname of John Chapman (1774-1845), who walked around the eastern US planting apple trees and encouraging other people to plant them//


Words: applet
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: application +  -let]//  a computer program that is part of a larger program, and which performs a particular job, such as finding documents on the Internet//


Words: appliance
Meaning:
n [C]   a piece of equipment, especially electrical equipment, such as a cooker or washing machine, used in people’s homes//  domestic/household etc appliance //  --There’s plenty of space for all the usual kitchen appliances.//  electrical/gas appliance //   see usage note  machine1 //


Words: applicable
Meaning:
adj   if something is applicable to a particular person, group, or situation, it affects them or is related to them//  applicable to//  --The offer is only applicable to bookings for double rooms.//  where/if/as applicable //  --Ms/Miss/Mrs/Mr Please delete as applicable.//  -- applicability/[hA353]pl[hA366]k[hA353]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //


Words: applicant
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who has formally asked, usually in writing, for a job, university place etc//  applicant for//  --He was one of 30 applicants for the manager’s job.//  successful/unsuccessful applicant (=someone who is accepted or not accepted for a job etc) //  --Successful applicants will be expected to travel extensively.//


Words: application
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 written request:\n   2 practical use:\n   3 computers:\n   4 paint/liquid:\n   5 effort:  ----------//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: applicatio, from  applicare;   APPLY]//\n  1 WRITTEN REQUEST:   [U and C] a formal, usually written, request for something such as a job, place at university, or permission to do something//  application for//  --an application for a grant//  application from//  --The university welcomes applications from overseas students.//  -- We receive hundreds of  job applications  each year. //  --I  filled in  the application form and sent it off.//  --You have to  submit  your  application  before the end of the month.//  -- I’ve  put in an application  for a transfer. //  --He received a letter saying that his  application  had been  rejected .//  --It can take a long time for your visa  application to be  processed .//  --The Council is currently reviewing the way it deals with  planning applications .//  --Thank you for your letter of application , which we received yesterday.//\n  2 PRACTICAL USE:   [U and C] practical purpose for which a machine, idea etc can be used, or a situation when this is used//  application of/to/in//  --the applications of genetic engineering in agriculture//  --The research has many practical applications .//\n  3 COMPUTERS:   [C] a piece of computer software which does a particular job//  --We received training on a number of spreadsheet and database applications.//\n  4 PAINT/LIQUID:   [U and C] when you put something such as paint, liquid, medicine etc onto a surface//  application of//  --The application of fertilizer increased the size of the plants.//\n  5 EFFORT:   [U] attention or effort over a long period of time//  --Making your new business successful requires luck, patience, and application.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  job application //  fill in/out an application //  application form //  make/put in/submit an application  //  accept somebody’s application //  reject somebody’s application //  process an application  (=deal with it) //  planning application (=a request for permission to build something) //  letter of application //  ----------//


Words: application software
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   computer software that is designed for a particular use or user//  --We need to ensure that the application software on both the PC and the Macintosh produces compatible files.//


Words: applied
Meaning:
adj   applied science/physics/linguistics etc//  science etc that has a practical use//    pure (10), theoretical (1)//


Words: applique
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: , past participle of  appliquer, from  Latin applicare;   APPLY]//  the process of sewing pieces of material onto a piece of clothing for decoration, or the pieces themselves//  -- applique v  [T] //


Words: apply
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  applied present participle  applying third person singular  applies //  ----------//\n   1 request:\n   2 affect:\n   3 use:\n   4 apply yourself:\n   5 make something work:\n   6 spread paint/liquid etc:\n   7 apply force/pressure:\n   8 use a word:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aplier, from  Latin applicare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  plicare  ’to fold’]//\n  1 REQUEST:   [I] to make a formal request, usually written, for something such as a job, a place in a university, or permission to do something//  apply for//  --She applied for a job with the local newspaper.//  --We need to apply for planning permission to build a garage.//  apply to//  --I applied to four universities and was accepted by all of them.//\n  2 AFFECT:   [I,T not in progressive] to have an effect on or to concern a particular person, group, or situation//  apply to//  --Do the same rules apply to part-time workers?//  --The offer only applies to flights from London and Manchester.//\n  3 USE:   [T] to use something such as a method, idea, or law in a particular situation, activity, or process//  apply sth to sth//  --New technology is being applied to almost every industrial process.//  --These ideas are often difficult to apply in practice.//\n  4  apply yourself:  to work hard at something, especially with a lot of attention for a long time//  --Stephen would do well if only he applied himself.//  apply yourself to//  --Over the next months, he applied himself to improving the technique.//\n  5 MAKE SOMETHING WORK:   [T] to make something such as a piece of equipment operate, usually by pushing or pressing something//  --apply the brakes//\n  6 SPREAD PAINT/LIQUID ETC:   [T] to put or spread something such as paint, liquid, or medicine onto a surface//  --Apply the cream evenly over the skin.//  apply make-up/lipstick etc //\n  7  apply force/pressure:  to push on something//\n  8 USE A WORD:   [T] to use a particular word or name to describe something or someone//  --The term ’mat’ can be applied to any small rug.//


Words: appoint
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apointier  ’to arrange’, from  point]//\n  1 to choose someone for a position or a job:  --officials appointed by the government//  appoint sb to sth//  --He’s been appointed to the State Supreme Court.//  appoint sb to do sth//  --A committee was appointed to consider the plans.//  appoint (sb) as sth//  --O’Connell was appointed as chairman.//\n  2  formal to arrange or decide a time or place for something to happen:  --The committee appointed a day in June for celebrations.//  --Everyone assembled in the hall at the appointed time  (=at the time that had been arranged) .//  -- appointee/[hA353]p[hA350][hA366]nti[hA359], [zB024]p[hA350][hA366]n-/ n  [C] //  --a presidential appointee//    self-appointed,  well-appointed//


Words: appointment
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] an arrangement for a meeting at an agreed time and place, for a particular purpose:  appointment with//  --She  has an appointment  with a client at 10.30.//  --You should phone his secretary if you want to make an appointment .//  --I have an appointment to  see the doctor.//  --Please give us plenty of notice if you have to  cancel an appointment .//  --For the third time in a row, she had failed to  keep her appointment  .//  --I was already forty-five minutes late for a  dental appointment .//  --All consultations are by appointment only .//\n  2 [U and C] when someone is chosen for a position or job:  appointment of//  --Other changes included the appointment of a new Foreign Minister.//  appointment as//  --They congratulated him on his appointment as chairman.//\n  3 [C] a job or position, usually involving some responsibility:  appointment as//  --He has taken up an appointment as Professor of Chemistry.//\n  4  by appointment to the Queen:   BrE a phrase that can be used by a business that sells goods or services to the Queen//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  have an appointment //  make an appointment //  an appointment to do something //  book an appointment  British English //  schedule an appointment American English (=make an appointment) //  cancel an appointment //  miss an appointment //  keep an appointment  (=go to an appointment you have arranged) //  doctor’s/dentist’s/dental appointment //  by appointment (only)  (=only if you make an appointment in advance) //  ----------//


Words: appointment book
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  AmE a diary:\n  2 a large book divided into days and times containing the names of people you have appointments with, for example a doctor or a hairdresser etc:


Words: Appomattox
Meaning:
a town in Virginia, US, where General Robert E.  Lee, the leader of the  Confederate army, surrendered to General Ulysses S.  Grant, the leader of the  Union army, and therefore ended the American  Civil War.//


Words: apportion
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: apportionner, from  portionner  ’to portion’]//  to decide how something should be shared between various people//  --It’s not easy to apportion blame  (=say who deserves to be blamed) when a marriage breaks up.//  apportion among/between//  --Court costs were equally apportioned between them.//  -- apportionment n  [U and C] //


Words: apposite
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  apponere  ’to put near’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  ponere  ’to put’]//  suitable to what is happening or being discussed//   appropriate//  → inappropriate//  apposite to//  --His observations are, indeed, apposite to the present discussion.//  -- appositely adv //  -- appositeness n  [U] //


Words: apposition
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   in grammar, an occasion when a simple sentence contains two or more noun phrases that describe the same thing or person, appearing one after the other without a word such as ’and’ or ’or’ between them. For example, in the sentence ’The defendant, a woman of thirty, denies kicking the policeman’ the two phrases ’the defendant’ and ’a woman of thirty’ are in apposition.//


Words: appraisal
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a statement or opinion judging the worth, value, or condition of something:  appraisal of//  --It needed a calmer appraisal of her situation.//  --a critical appraisal of the existing facilities//\n  2 [C] a meeting between a manager and a worker to discuss the quality of the worker’s work and how well they do their job:


Words: appraise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: aprisier, from  prisier  ’to value’; influenced by  praise]//\n  1  formal to officially judge how successful, effective, or valuable something is:   evaluate//  --Greenpeace has been invited to appraise the environmental costs of such an operation.//\n  2  literary to look carefully at someone or something to make an opinion about them:  --His eyes appraised her face.//


Words: appreciable
Meaning:
adj   large enough to be noticed or considered important//   significant//  --There’s no appreciable change in the patient’s condition.//  -- appreciably adv //  --The two plans are not appreciably different.//


Words: appreciate
Meaning:
W3S2   v   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  appretiare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  pretium  ’price’]//\n  1 [T not in progressive] to understand how serious or important a situation or problem is or what someone’s feelings are:   realize//  appreciate the significance/importance/value of sth //  --He did not fully appreciate the significance of signing the contract.//  appreciate that//  --We appreciate that caring for children is an important job.//  appreciate what/how/why//  --It is difficult to appreciate how bad the situation had become.//\n  2 [T] used to thank someone in a polite way or to say that you are grateful for something they have done:  --Thanks ever so much for your help, I really appreciate it.//  --I appreciate your concern , but honestly, I’m fine.//  -- I’d appreciate it if you let me get on with my job.//\n  3 [T] to understand how good or useful someone or something is:  --Her abilities are not fully appreciated by her employer.//  --I’m not an expert, but I appreciate fine works of art.//\n  4 [I]  technical to gradually become more valuable over a period of time:  → depreciate//  --Most investments are expected to appreciate at a steady rate.//


Words: appreciation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] pleasure you feel when you realize something is good, useful, or well done:  appreciation of//  --It helps children to develop an appreciation of poetry and literature.//\n  2 [U] a feeling of being grateful for something someone has done:  show/express your appreciation //  --The chairman asked me to express our appreciation of all your hard work.//  --He was presented with a watch in appreciation of his long service.//\n  3 [U and C] an understanding of the importance or meaning of something:  appreciation of//  --a realistic appreciation of the situation//\n  4 [singular, U] a rise in value, especially of land or possessions:  → depreciation//  --an appreciation of 50% in property values//


Words: appreciative
Meaning:
adj \n  1 feeling or showing that you enjoy something or are pleased about it:  appreciative audience/crowd //  appreciative laughter/applause //\n  2 [not before noun] grateful for something:  appreciative of//  --She was appreciative of Greg’s concern for her health.//  -- appreciatively adv //


Words: apprehend
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: apprehendere  ’to take hold of’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  prehendere  ’to seize’]//\n  1  formal if the police apprehend a criminal, they catch him or her:   arrest//  --The police have failed to apprehend the culprits.//\n  2  old-fashioned to understand something:  --They were slow to apprehend the danger.//


Words: apprehension
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] anxiety about the future, especially about dealing with something unpleasant or difficult:   anxiety//  --a feeling of apprehension//  --I woke before the alarm, filled with apprehension.//\n  2 [U]  formal the act of apprehending a criminal:   arrest//\n  3 [U]  old-fashioned understanding:


Words: apprehensive
Meaning:
adj   worried or nervous about something that you are going to do, or about the future//  apprehensive about/of//  --We’d been a little apprehensive about their visit.//  apprehensive that//  --I was apprehensive that something would go wrong.//  --Some had apprehensive looks on their faces.//  -- apprehensively adv //  --’What’s wrong?’ I asked apprehensively.//


Words: apprentice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aprentis,  from  aprendre  ’to learn’, from  Latin apprehendere;   APPREHEND]//  someone who works for an employer for a fixed period of time in order to learn a particular skill or job//  --She works in the hairdresser’s as an apprentice.//  --an apprentice electrician//  -- apprentice v  [T usually passive] //  --He was apprenticed to a local architect.//


Words: apprenticeship
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the job of being an apprentice, or the period of time in which you are an apprentice//  --He’s serving an apprenticeship as a printer.//  --a five-year apprenticeship//


Words: apprise
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: , past participle of  apprendre, from  Old French aprendre;   APPRENTICE]//   formal to tell or give someone information about something//  apprise sb of sth//  --The district chairman was fully apprised of all the details.//


Words: approach
Meaning:
W2S3   v   ----------//\n   1 move towards:\n   2 ask:\n   3 future event:\n   4 deal with:\n   5 almost:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aprochier, from  Late Latin appropiare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  prope  ’near’]//\n  1 MOVE TOWARDS:   [I and T] to move towards or nearer to someone or something//  --As I approached the house, I noticed a light on upstairs.//  --She heard footsteps approaching.//\n  2 ASK:   [T] to ask someone for something, or ask them to do something, especially when you are asking them for the first time or when you are not sure if they will do it//  approach sb for sth//  --Students should be able to approach teachers for advice.//  approach sb/sth about (doing) sth//  --The charity approached several stores about giving food aid.//  --I have already been approached by several other companies (=offered a job, work etc) .//    approachable//\n  3 FUTURE EVENT:   [I and T] if an event or a particular time approaches, or you approach it, it is coming nearer and will happen soon//  --She was then approaching the end of her career.//  --The time is fast approaching when we will have to make a decision.//  --With winter approaching, many animals are storing food.//\n  4 DEAL WITH:   [T] to begin to deal with a situation or problem in a particular way or with a particular attitude//  approach a problem/task/matter etc //  --It might be possible to approach the problem in a different way.//\n  5 ALMOST:   [I and T] to be almost equal to something//  --temperatures approaching 35[hA13B]C//  --He’s never had anything approaching a normal life.//\napproach 2 n   ----------//\n   1 method:\n   2 ask:\n   3 the approach of something:\n   4 movement towards:\n   5 path/road:\n   6 aircraft:  ----------//\n  1 METHOD:   [C] a method of doing something or dealing with a problem//  approach to//  --a new approach to teaching languages//  -- He decided to  adopt a  different  approach  and teach the Bible through story-telling. //  -- This book  takes an  unorthodox  approach  to art criticism. //  -- organizations which take a  positive approach  to creative thinking //\n  2 ASK:   [C] a request from someone, asking you to do something for them//  --They made a direct approach to the minister of education.//\n  3  the approach of sth:  the approach of a particular time or event is the fact that it is getting closer//  --the approach of autumn//  --It’s a sign of the approach of middle age.//\n  4 MOVEMENT TOWARDS:   [U] movement towards or near to something//  --Our approach frightened the birds.//\n  5 PATH/ROAD:   [C] a road, path etc that leads to a place, and is the main way of reaching it//  --Soldiers were guarding the approaches to the city.//  --an approach road //\n  6 AIRCRAFT:   [C] the final part of a plane’s flight, before it lands at an airport//  --It was clear to land so we made our approach .//


Words: approachable
Meaning:
adj   friendly and easy to talk to//  → unapproachable//  --The head teacher is very approachable.//


Words: approbation
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  approbare;   APPROVE]//   formal official praise or approval//


Words: appropriate
Meaning:
adj   correct or suitable for a particular time, situation, or purpose//  → inappropriate//  appropriate for//  --clothes appropriate for a job interview//  appropriate to//  --an education system which is more appropriate to the needs of the students//  it is appropriate (for sb) to do sth//  --It would not be appropriate for me to discuss that now.//  it is appropriate (that)//  --It seemed somehow appropriate that we should begin our journey here.//  appropriate time/place etc //  --I didn’t feel that this was an appropriate time to mention the subject of money. //  highly/entirely/wholly appropriate //  --I thought his remark was highly appropriate, given the circumstances.//  --The timing of the announcement was particularly appropriate  .//  -- Where appropriate , I delegate as much work as possible. //  --Mark box 1 or 2,  as appropriate .//  -- I can assure you that  appropriate action  will be taken.//  -- appropriately adv //  --The painters met, appropriately enough , in an art gallery (=used to emphasize that something is very appropriate) .//  --appropriately dressed//  -- appropriateness n  [U] //\nappropriate 2   v [T]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  appropriare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  proprius  ’own’]//\n  1 to take something for yourself when you do not have the right to do this:   steal//  --He is suspected of appropriating government funds.//\n  2 to take something, especially money, to use for a particular purpose:  appropriate sth for sth//  --Congress appropriated $5 million for International Woman’s Year.//   misappropriate//


Words: appropriation
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal \n  1 the process of saving money for a special purpose, or the money that is saved, especially by a business or government:  appropriation of//  --the appropriation of $2 million for the new hospital//\n  2 the act of taking control of something without asking permission:  appropriation of//  --the appropriation of company property//


Words: approval
Meaning:
W3S2   n \n  1 [U and C] when a plan, decision, or person is officially accepted:  --The president has already  given his approval to the plan.//  --It is just three months since we  received official approval  to go ahead with the project.//  --A company cannot be sold  without the approval of the shareholders.//  --The bill will be  submitted for approval by Congress.//  -- The President would appoint the Council of Ministers,  subject to the approval of  the National Assembly. //  --The IMF has given its seal of approval to the government’s economic strategy.//  -- appointments requiring  parliamentary approval //\n  2 [U]  formal when someone likes something or someone and thinks that they are good:  → disapproval//  --A murmur of approval passed through the crowd. //  nod/smile/clap etc in approval //  --They clapped their hands in approval.//  --His ideas have  won  widespread public  approval  (=many people agree with them and think they are good) .//  --Does the design  meet with your approval  (=do you like it?) ?//  --Children are always  seeking approval  from their parents.//  --She  looked to  Greg  for approval .//\n  3  on approval:  if you buy something on approval, you have the right to return it to the shop if you decide you do not want it//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  give/grant your approval  //  receive/obtain approval  //  with/without somebody’s approval //  submit/send something for approval //  subject to somebody’s approval  (=if it is accepted by someone) //  pending somebody’s approval (=waiting to be accepted by someone) //  somebody gives their seal of approval  (=an important person, organization etc says officially that they agree with something and will allow it) //  formal/official approval //  Congressional/parliamentary etc approval //  ----------//


Words: approve
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aprover, from  Latin approbare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  probare  ’to prove’]//\n  1 [T] to officially accept a plan, proposal etc:  --The conference approved a proposal for a referendum.//\n  2 [I] to think that someone or something is good, right, or suitable:  → disapprove//  approve of//  --Catherine’s parents now approve of her marriage.//  --I don’t approve of cosmetic surgery.//


Words: approved
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   officially recognized as being of a particular level or standard//  --Funding is available for approved courses.//


Words: approved school
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   a special school in Britain in the past, where children who had done something illegal were sent if they were under 18//


Words: approving
Meaning:
adj   showing support or agreement for something//  → disapproving//  an approving nod/glance/smile etc //  -- approvingly adv //  --She smiled approvingly at the child.//


Words: approximate
Meaning:
W3S3   adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: , past participle of  approximare  ’to come near to’, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  proximare  ’to come near’]//  an approximate number, amount, or time is close to the exact number, amount etc, but could be a little bit more or less than it//   rough//  → exact//  --What is the approximate number of students in each class?//  --These percentages are only approximate.//  -- approximately adv //  --The plane will be landing in approximately 20 minutes.//  --How much do think it will cost, approximately?//\napproximate 2   v [I, linking verb]  formal \n  1 to be close to a particular number:  approximate to//  --This figure approximates to a quarter of the UK’s annual consumption.//\n  2 to be similar to but not exactly the same as something:  approximate to//  --Your story only approximates to the real facts.//


Words: approximation
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 a number, amount etc that is not exact, but is almost correct:   estimate//  approximation of//  --an approximation of the total number//  a rough/crude approximation (=one that is not very exact) //  --Could you give us a rough approximation of the likely cost?//  a good/close/reasonable approximation //\n  2 something that is similar to another thing, but not exactly the same:  approximation of/to//  --It was the nearest approximation to a crisis she’d ever experienced.//


Words: appurtenance
Meaning:
n [C usually plural]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: apartenir;   APPERTAIN]//   formal a part of something more important//


Words: APR
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   annual percentage rate the rate of interest that you must pay when you borrow money//


Words: apr[hA169]s-ski
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ’after skiing’]//  activities such as eating and drinking that you do after skiing//  -- apr[hA169]s-ski adj //


Words: apricot
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: abricot, from  Arabic al-birquq  ’the apricot’]//\n  1 [C] a small round fruit that is orange or yellow and has a single large seed:\n  2 [U] the orange-yellow colour of an apricot:  -- apricot adj //


Words: April
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written abbreviation Apr.   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: avrill, from  Latin Aprilis, perhaps from  Greek Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love]//  the fourth month of the year, between March and May//  next/last April //  --I’m going to Cuba next April.//  in April//  --Our new office opened in April 2001.//  on April 6th//  --The meeting will be on April 6th.//  on 6th April//   BrE //  --I arrived on 6th April.//  April 6//   AmE //  --Jim’s birthday’s April 6.//


Words: apron
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: a napron, mistaken for  an apron;  napron  (14-16 centuries) from  Old French naperon, from  nape  ’cloth’]//\n  1 a piece of clothing that covers the front part of your clothes and is tied around your waist, worn to keep your clothes clean, especially while cooking:\n  2  apron strings:   informal the relationship between a child and its mother, especially if the mother controls an adult son or daughter too much//  --You’re 25 years old, and you still haven’t cut the apron strings .//  --Jeff is still tied to his mother’s apron strings .//\n  3  technical the hard surface in an airport on which planes are turned around, loaded, unloaded etc:\n  4  technical  also apron stage :  the part of the stage in a theatre that is in front of the curtain//


Words: apropos
Meaning:
adv  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: a propos  ’to the purpose’]//  apropos of sth//  used to introduce a new subject that is related to something just mentioned//  --He had nothing to say apropos of the latest developments.//  apropos of nothing (=not relating to anything previously mentioned) //  --Apropos of nothing, he suddenly asked me if I liked cats!//


Words: apse
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: apsis]//  the curved inside end of a building, especially the east end of a church//


Words: apt
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  apere  ’to fasten’]//\n  1  be apt to do sth:  to have a natural tendency to do something//  --Some of the staff are apt to arrive late on Mondays.//\n  2 exactly right for a particular situation or purpose:   appropriate//  --’Love at first sight’ is a very apt description of how he felt when he saw her.//  apt for//  --The punishment should be apt for the crime.//\n  3  an apt pupil/student:   formal a student who is quick to learn and understand//  -- aptness n  [U] //


Words: aptitude
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 natural ability or skill, especially in learning:  aptitude for//  --He has a natural aptitude for teaching.//\n  2  aptitude test:  a test that measures your natural skills or abilities//


Words: aptly
Meaning:
adv   aptly named/described/called etc//  named, described etc in a way that seems very suitable//  --The aptly named Skyline Restaurant provides spectacular views of the city below.//


Words: aqualung
Meaning:
n [C]  trademark  BrE   a piece of equipment that provides a diver (=someone who swims underwater) with air, and which they wear on their backs//


Words: aquamarine
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: aqua marina  ’sea water’]//\n  1 [U and C] a greenish blue jewel, or the type of stone it comes from:\n  2 [U] a greenish blue colour:  -- aquamarine adj //


Words: aquaplane
Meaning:
v [I]  BrE \n  1 if a car aquaplanes, it slides over a wet road in an uncontrolled way:  American Equivalent:  hydroplane//\n  2 to be pulled over the water on an aquaplane:\naquaplane 2 n [C]  BrE   a thin board that you stand on while you are pulled over the water by a fast boat//


Words: aquarium
Meaning:
n   plural  aquariums  or  aquaria /-ri[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: aquarius  ’of water’, from  aqua;   AQUATIC]//\n  1 a clear glass or plastic container for fish and other water animals:\n  2 a building where people go to look at fish and other water animals:


Words: Aquarius
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’water-carrier’]//\n  1 [U] the 11th sign of the zodiac, represented by a person pouring water, which some people believe affects the character and life of people born between January 21 and February 19:\n  2  also Aquarian :   [C] someone who was born between January 21 and February 19//  -- Aquarian adj //


Words: aquatic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: aquatique, from  Latin  aquaticus, from  aqua  ’water’]//\n  1 living or growing in water:  --an aquatic plant//\n  2 involving or happening in water:  --aquatic sports//


Words: aquatint
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: acqua tinta  ’colored water’]//  a method of producing a picture using acid on a sheet of metal, or a picture printed using this method//


Words: aqueduct
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: aquaeductus, from  aquae  ’of water’ +  ductus  ’act of leading’]//  a structure like a bridge, that carries water across a river or valley//


Words: aqueous
Meaning:
adj  technical   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: aqueus, from  Latin aqua;   AQUATIC]//  containing water or similar to water//


Words: aquiline
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: aquilinus, from  aquila  ’eagle’]//  aquiline nose//  a nose with a curved shape like the beak of an eagle//


Words: Aquinas
Meaning:
St Thomas   (1225-74) an Italian  theologian (=someone who studies religion and religious beliefs)  and  philosopher whose ideas had an important influence on the Roman Catholic religion //


Words: Arab
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Arabus, from  Greek Araps, from  Arabic ’Arab]//  someone whose language is Arabic and whose family comes from, or originally came from the Middle East or North Africa//


Words: Arab League
Meaning:
the   an organization of Arab countries in North Africa and southwest Asia, which was formed in 1945//


Words: arabesque
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Italian arabesco  ’in Arabian style’]//\n  1 a position in ballet, in which you stand on one foot with the other leg stretched out straight behind you:\n  2 a decorative pattern of flowing lines:


Words: Arabia
Meaning:
also the Arabian Peninsula   the large area of land between the Red Sea and the Gulf which contains Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates//


Words: Arabian Nights
Meaning:
the  also  the Thousand and One Nights   a collection of Arabic stories from the 10th century, including  Aladdin,  Ali Baba, and  Sinbad. The stories are told by Scheherazade, a young woman who prevents her cruel husband from killing her by amusing him with a different story every night for a thousand and one nights.//


Words: Arabic
Meaning:
n [U]   the language or writing of the Arabs, which is the main language of North Africa and the Middle East//  -- Arabic adj //


Words: Arabic numeral
Meaning:
n [C]   the sign 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, or 0, or a combination of these signs, used as a number//    Roman numeral//


Words: arable
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: arabilis, from  arare  ’to plow’]//  relating to growing crops//  --arable farming//  --arable land (=land that is suitable for growing crops) //


Words: arachnid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Greek; Origin: arachne  ’spider’]//  a small creature such as a spider, that has eight legs and a body with two parts//


Words: Arafat
Meaning:
Yasser   (1929-) a Palestinian politician and leader of the  PLO from 1969. He was elected President of Palestine in 1996.//


Words: Ararat
Meaning:
Mount   a mountain in eastern Turkey which, according to the Old Testament of the Bible, is where Noah’s  Ark first reached land after the great flood//


Words: arbiter
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: arbitre, from  Latin arbiter]//\n  1 someone who influences society’s opinions about what is stylish, socially acceptable etc:  --The designer has received rave reviews from such arbiters of taste as Elle magazine.//\n  2 someone or something that settles an argument between two opposing sides:   judge//  --The European Court of Justice will be the final arbiter  (=make the final decision) in the dispute.//


Words: arbitrage
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: arbitrer, from  Latin arbitrari;   ARBITRATE]//  the process of buying something such as raw materials or currency in one place and selling them immediately in another place in order to make a profit from the difference in prices//  -- arbitrageur/[hA35A][hA359]b[hA369]tr[hA35A][hA359][hA360][hA362][hA359] $ [hA35A][hA359]rb[hA369]tr[hA35A][hA359][hA360][hA362][hA359]r/ also  arbitrager BrE /[hA35A][hA359]b[hA369]tr[hA35A][hA359][hA360][hA353] $ [hA35A][hA359]rb[hA369]tr[hA35A][hA359][hA360][hA353]r///   n  [C] //


Words: arbitrary
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: arbitrarius  ’depending on the decision of a judge, uncertain’, from  arbiter;   ARBITER]//  decided or arranged without any reason or plan, often unfairly//  --an arbitrary decision //  --the arbitrary arrests of political opponents//  -- arbitrariness n  [U] //  -- arbitrarily/[hA35A][hA359]b[hA369]tr[hA353]r[hA369]li $ [hA35A][hA359]rb[hA369]trer[hA369]li/ adv //  --an arbitrarily chosen number//


Words: arbitrate
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  arbitrari, from  arbiter;   ARBITER]//  to officially judge how an argument between two opposing sides should be settled//  arbitrate between//  --A committee will arbitrate between management and unions.//  arbitrate in//  --The tribunal has the power to arbitrate in disputes.//  -- arbitrator n  [C] //


Words: arbitration
Meaning:
n [U]   the process of judging officially how an argument should be settled//  --The dispute is going to arbitration  (=someone is being asked to arbitrate) .//  --Both sides in the dispute have agreed to binding arbitration .//


Words: Arbor Day
Meaning:
an unofficial US holiday when people plant trees. Arbor Day is celebrated on different days in different states.//


Words: arboreal
Meaning:
adj  technical  or  literary   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: arboreus  ’of a tree’, from  arbor  ’tree’]//  relating to trees, or living in trees//


Words: arboretum
Meaning:
n   plural  arboretums  or  arboreta /-t[hA353]/ [C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: arbor;   ARBOREAL]//  a place where trees are grown for scientific study//


Words: arbour
Meaning:
BrE  arbor AmE   n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: herbier  ’area of grass’, from  herbe  ’herb, grass’]//  a shelter in a garden made by making plants grow together on a frame shaped like an arch//


Words: arc
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin arcus  ’bow, arch, arc’]//\n  1 a curved shape or line:  --the arc of a rainbow//\n  2 part of a curved line or a circle:  --The sun moves across the sky in an arc.//\n  3 a flash of light formed by the flow of electricity between two points:  -- arc v  [T] //


Words: arcade
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Italian arcata, from  arca  ’arch’]//\n  1 a covered passage at the side of a row of buildings with pillars and arches supporting it on one side:\n  2 a covered passage between two streets with shops on each side of it:\n  3  BrE  also shopping arcade :  a large building or part of a building where there are many shops//\n  4 an amusement arcade:  --arcade games//


Words: arcade game
Meaning:
n [C]   a type of electronic game that was first popular in amusement arcades (=a place where you play games by putting coins in machines) in the early 1980s, but is now usually played on a computer//


Words: arcane
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: arcanus  ’secret’, from  arca;   ARK]//  secret and known or understood by only a few people//  --the arcane language of the law//


Words: arch
Meaning:
S3   n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: arche, from  Latin arcus;   ARC]//\n  1 a structure with a curved top and straight sides that supports the weight of a bridge or building:\n  2 a curved structure above a door, window etc:\n  3 a curved structure of bones in the middle of your foot:\n  4 something with a curved top and straight sides:\narch 2 v [I and T]   to form or make something form a curved shape//  --Two rows of trees arched over the driveway.//  --The dog arched its back .//\narch 3 adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: arch- in such combinations as  arch-rogue and  arch-villain]//  amused because you think you understand something better than other people//  --’I think he’s in for a surprise,’ Ian said, in a somewhat arch tone.//  -- archly adv //


Words: arch-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin arch-,  archi-, from  Greek, from  archein  ’to begin, rule’]//  belonging to the highest class or rank//  --an archbishop (=an importantbishop) //  --our archenemy (=our worst enemy) //  --the company’s arch-rivals (=main competitors) //


Words: archaeology
Meaning:
also  archeology AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: archeologie, from  Late Latin archaeologia  ’history of ancient times’, from  Greek, from  archaio- (from  archaios;   ARCHAIC) +  -logia  ’-logy’]//  the study of ancient societies by examining what remains of their buildings, graves, tools etc//  -- archaeologist n //  -- archaeological/[hA35A][hA359]ki[hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]rki[hA353]l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //  --an archaeological site //  -- archaeologically/-kli/ adv //


Words: archaic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: archa[hA170]que, from  Greek archaikos, from  archaios  ’ancient’]//\n  1 old and no longer used:   outdated//  → modern//  --archaic words//\n  2 old-fashioned and needing to be replaced:  --Many smaller radio stations broadcast on archaic equipment.//\n  3 from or relating to ancient times:  --archaic civilizations//


Words: Archbishop of York
Meaning:
the   an important priest in the Church of England, who has the next highest rank to the Archbishop of Canterbury//


Words: archer
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Late Latin arcarius, from  Latin arcus;   ARC]//  someone who shoots arrows from a bow//


Words: Archers
Meaning:
The   a popular British radio programme that started in 1951, and can be heard twice every day. It is about an imaginary family called the Archers, who live on farms in a small village called  Ambridge, and their friends and neighbours.//


Words: archetype
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: archetypum, from  Greek, from  archein (  ARCH-) +  typos  ’type’]//  a perfect example of something, because it has all the most important qualities of things that belong to that type//  archetype of//  --France is the archetype of the centralized nation-state.//  -- archetypal/[hA35A][hA359]k[hA366]ta[hA366]p[hA368]l[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //  --Byron was the archetypal Romantic hero.//


Words: Archimedes’ principle
Meaning:
the scientific rule which explains that an object in a liquid is kept up by a force which is equal to the weight of the liquid that the object  displaces//


Words: archipelago
Meaning:
n   plural  archipelagos  [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Origin: Archipelago  ’Aegean sea’ (16-19 centuries), from  Italian,  ’main sea’, from  arci- (from  Latin archi-;   ARCH-) +  Greek pelagos  ’sea’]//  a group of small islands//


Words: architect
Meaning:
W3   n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: architecte, from  Latin, from  Greek architekton  ’chief builder’, from  archi- (  ARCH-) +  tekton  ’builder’]//\n  1 someone whose job is to design buildings:\n  2  the architect of sth:  the person who originally thought of an important and successful idea//  --Tinoco was one of the architects of the government’s economic reforms.//


Words: architecture
Meaning:
W3S3   n \n  1 [U] the style and design of a building or buildings:  architecture of//  --the architecture of Venice//  modern/classical/medieval etc architecture //\n  2 [U] the art and practice of planning and designing buildings:  --He studied architecture at university.//\n  3 [U] the structure of something:  --the architecture of DNA//\n  4 [U and C]  technical the structure of a computer system and the way it works:  -- architectural/[hA35A][hA359]k[hA369]tekt[hA360][hA368]r[hA353]l[hA36B] $ [hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //  --architectural features//  -- architecturally adv //  --Architecturally, Chengdu is quite different from most of China.//


Words: archive
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Latin archivum, from  Greek archeion  ’government building’ (in plural,  ’official documents’), from  arche  ’rule, government’]//\n  1 a place where a large number of historical records are stored, or the records that are stored:  --an archive of the writer’s unpublished work//\n  2  technical copies of a computer’s files that are stored on a disk or in the computer’s memory in a way that uses less space than usual, so that the computer can keep them for a long time:  -- archive adj //  --interesting archive material//  -- archival/[hA35A][hA359]ka[hA366]v[hA368]l $ [hA35A][hA359]r-/ adj //  --archival footage of the President’s visit in 1969//\narchive 2 v [T] \n  1 to put documents, books, information etc in an archive:\n  2 to save a computer file in a way that uses less space than usual, because you do not use that file often but may need it in the future:  -- archiving n  [U] //  --electronic archiving systems//


Words: archway
Meaning:
n [C]   a passage or entrance under an arch or arches//  --He was standing in the archway outside the club.//


Words: Arctic
Meaning:
arctic/[hA35A][hA359]kt[hA366]k $ [hA35A][hA359]rk-/ adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: arcticus, from  Greek, from  arktos  ’bear, Ursa Major (= bear-shaped group of stars in the northern sky), north’]//\n  1 relating to the most northern part of the world:    Antarctic//  --the Arctic island of Novaya Zemlya//\n  2 extremely cold:  --arctic conditions//\nn   the Arctic//  the large area of land surrounding the North Pole//


Words: Arctic Circle
Meaning:
the Arctic Circle//  an imaginary line around the world at a particular distance from the most northern point, which is the North Pole//    Antarctic Circle//


Words: Arden
Meaning:
an area in Warwickshire, central England, which was formerly a forest. The Forest of Arden is where Shakespeare’s play ’As You Like It’ takes place.//


Words: Ardennes
Meaning:
the Ardennes//  an area of southeast Belgium, North Luxembourg, and northern France, where several important battles happened during World War I and World War II//


Words: ardent
Meaning:
adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, present participle of  ardere  ’to burn’]//\n  1 showing strong positive feelings about an activity and determination to succeed at it:  --an ardent supporter of free trade//\n  2  literary showing strong feelings of love:  --an ardent lover//  -- ardently adv //


Words: ardour
Meaning:
BrE  ardor AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: ardour, from  Latin ardor, from  ardere;   ARDENT]//\n  1 very strong admiration or excitement:  with ardour//  --They sang with real ardour.//\n  2  literary strong feelings of love:


Words: arduous
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: arduus  ’high, steep, difficult’]//  involving a lot of strength and effort//  arduous task/work //  --the arduous task of loading all the boxes into the van//  arduous journey/voyage //  --an arduous journey through the mountains//  -- arduously adv //


Words: area
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: ’piece of flat ground’]//\n  1 a particular part of a country, town etc:  in an area//  --Only cheeses made in this area may be labelled ’Roquefort.’//  --There were over 2 inches of rain in coastal areas .//  area of//  --a working-class area of Birmingham//  --Many areas of Africa have suffered severe drought this year.//  --a rural area  (=countryside) of woodlands and fields//  --Crime rates are significantly higher in urban areas  (=towns, cities etc) .//  --The police have searched the farm and the surrounding area  (=the area around it) .//  --children from the local area //  --a residential area of the town//\n  2 a part of a house, office, garden etc that is used for a particular purpose:  --a no-smoking area //  --Their apartment has a large kitchen area .//  --Come through into the dining area .//  --the reception area of the hotel//  --a storage area on the ground floor//\n  3 a particular subject, range of activities, or group of related subjects:  --The course covers three main subject areas .//  --This study has clearly identified a major problem area for the National Health Service.//  --We’re funding research into new areas such as law enforcement technology.//  area of//  --reforms in the key areas of health and education//\n  4 the amount of space that a flat surface or shape covers:  area of//  --an area of 2,000 square miles//  --a formula to calculate the area of a circle//    grey area at grey1 (7)//


Words: area code
Meaning:
n [C]   numbers you use before a phone number when you phone someone in a different area of the country//


Words: aren’t
Meaning:
v   a) the short form of ’are not’//  --They aren’t here.//  b) the short form of ’am not’, used in questions//  --I’m in big trouble, aren’t I?//


Words: arena
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’sand, sandy place’]//\n  1 a building with a large flat central area surrounded by seats, where sports or entertainments take place:  --a sports arena //  --an indoor arena //\n  2  the political/international/public etc arena:  all the activities and people connected with politics, public life etc//  --Women are entering the political arena in larger numbers.//  --American economic activity in the international arena//


Words: Argentina
Meaning:
a large country in the southern part of South America. Population: 37,300,000 (2001). Capital: Buenos Aires.//    Falklands war//


Words: Argentinian
Meaning:
relating to Argentina or its people//\nArgentinian 2  also Argentine  n [C]   someone from Argentina//


Words: argon
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: argos  ’lazy’; because it does not react chemically]//  a colourless gas that is found in very small quantities in the air and is sometimes used in electric light bulbs. It is a chemical element: symbol Ar//


Words: Argonauts
Meaning:
the   in ancient Greek stories, a group of strong, brave men who sailed with  Jason in the ship Argo to find the  Golden Fleece//


Words: argot
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French]//  expressions used by a particular group of people//   jargon//  --teenage argot//


Words: arguable
Meaning:
adj \n  1 not certain, or not definitely true or correct, and therefore easy to doubt:   debatable//  --Whether or not Webb is the best person for the job is arguable.//\n  2  it is arguable that:  used in order to give good reasons why something might be true//  --It’s arguable that the legislation has had little effect on young people’s behaviour.//


Words: arguably
Meaning:
adv [sentence adverb]   used when giving your opinion to say that there are good reasons why something might be true//  --Senna was arguably the greatest racing driver of all time.//


Words: argue
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: arguer, from  Latin arguere  ’to make clear’]//\n  1 [I] to disagree with someone in words, often in an angry way:  --We could hear the neighbours arguing.//  argue with//  --Gallacher continued to argue with the referee throughout the game.//  argue about//  --They were arguing about how to spend the money.//  argue over//  --The children were arguing over which TV programme to watch.//\n  2 [I and T] to state, giving clear reasons, that something is true, should be done etc:  argue that//  --Croft argued that a date should be set for the withdrawal of troops.//  -- It could be argued that a dam might actually increase the risk of flooding.//  argue for/against (doing) sth//  --Baker argued against cutting the military budget.//  --She argued the case for changing the law.//  --The researchers put forward a well-argued case for banning the drug.//  --They argued the point  (=discussed it) for hours without reaching a conclusion.//\n  3  argue sb into/out of doing sth:   BrE to persuade someone to do or not do something//  --Joyce argued me into buying a new jacket.//\n  4 [T]  formal to show that something clearly exists or is true:  --The statement argues a change of attitude by the management.//\n  5  argue the toss:   BrE  informal to continue to argue about a decision that has been made and cannot be changed//  --There was no point arguing the toss after the goal had been disallowed.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: argue //  synonyms: fight,  quarrel,  have a row (BrE) //  to argue about unimportant things: squabble,  bicker,  quibble //  to stop arguing: bury the hatchet,  settle your differences,  make your peace with somebody,  make it up (=used about friends or lovers) //  ----------//


Words: argument
Meaning:
n   1 [C] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily//   disagreement//  argument with//  --I broke the vase during an argument with my husband.//  argument about/over//  --an argument about who was responsible for the accident//  --Henning told the police that she and her husband had an argument before he left.//  --I got into an argument with the other driver.//  --Shelton and the woman had a heated argument  (=very angry one) .//  --a fierce argument between the two politicians//  win/lose an argument //  --The party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system.//\n  2 [C] a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc:  --We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed.//  argument for/against//  --a powerful argument against smoking//  --A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself.//  --the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising//  argument that//  --the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits//\n  3 [U] when you disagree with something or question whether it is right:  do sth without (further) argument//  --Ian accepted the suggestion without argument.//  for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities) //  --If, for the sake of argument, you aren’t offered the job, what will you do?//


Words: argumentative
Meaning:
adj   someone who is argumentative often argues or likes arguing//  --He quickly becomes argumentative after a few drinks.//


Words: Argus
Meaning:
in ancient Greek stories, a creature with many eyes who was used by the goddess  Hera as a guard. Newspapers are sometimes called the ’Argus’ to give the idea that they are always watching carefully for news.//


Words: argy-bargy
Meaning:
n [U]  BrE  informal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: argument]//  noisy arguments or quarrelling//  --Jones was sent off after a bit of argy-bargy with other players.//


Words: Argyll and Bute
Meaning:
a  county which includes the islands of Mull, Islay, Jura, and Arran, in central western Scotland, with a coast on the Atlantic Ocean//


Words: aria
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: ’air’]//  a song that is sung by only one person in an opera or oratorio//


Words: arid
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: aride, from  Latin aridus]//\n  1 arid land or an arid  climate is very dry because it has very little rain:  --Water from the Great Lakes is pumped to arid regions .//\n  2 not having any new, interesting, or exciting features or qualities:  --My mind was arid, all inspiration gone.//  -- aridity/[hA353]r[hA366]d[hA369]ti/ n  [U] //\nAriel 2   a character in the play  The Tempest by William  Shakespeare. Ariel is a spirit with magical powers who works for  Prospero//


Words: Aries
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ’male sheep’]//\n  1 [U] the first sign of the zodiac, represented by a ram (=male sheep) , which some people believe affects the character and life of people born between March 21 and April 20:\n  2 [C] someone who was born between March 21 and April 20:


Words: aright
Meaning:
adv  BrE  old use \n  1 correctly:  --I was not certain I had heard aright.//\n  2  set things aright:  to deal with problems or difficulties//


Words: arise
Meaning:
W2S3   v   past tense  arose /[hA353]r[hA353][hA35E]z $ [hA353]ro[hA35E]z/past participle  arisen /[hA353]r[hA366]z[hA368]n/ [I] //  [Language: Old English; Origin: arisan]//\n  1 if a problem or difficult situation arises, it begins to happen:  --A crisis has arisen in the Foreign Office.//  --More problems like those at the nuclear power plant are certain to arise.//\n  2 if something arises from or out of a situation, event etc, it is caused or started by that situation etc:  --Several important legal questions arose in the contract negotiations.//  arise from/out of//  --Can we begin by discussing matters arising from the last meeting?//\n  3  when/if the need arises:   also  should the need arise//   formal when or if it is necessary//  --Should the need arise for extra staff, we will contact you.//\n  4  literary to get out of bed, or stand up:\n  5  literary if a group of people arise, they fight for or demand something they want:\n  6  literary if something arises when you are moving towards it, you are gradually able to see it as you move closer:


Words: aristocracy
Meaning:
n   plural  aristocracies //  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: aristocratie, from  Late Latin, from  Greek aristokratia, from  aristos  ’best’ +  -kratia  ’-cracy’]//  [C usually singular] the people in the highest social class, who traditionally have a lot of land, money, and power//  --dukes, earls, and other members of the aristocracy //  --the landed aristocracy  (=who own a lot of land) //    upper class//


Words: aristocratic
Meaning:
adj   belonging to or typical of the aristocracy//   noble//  aristocratic society //  --an aristocratic family //


Words: Aristophanes
Meaning:
(?457-?385 BC) an ancient Greek writer of humorous plays, who many people consider the greatest writer of Greek  comedy. His many plays include  The Frogs  and  Lysistrata.//


Words: Aristotle
Meaning:
(384-322 BC) a Greek  philosopher and scientist who has had great influence on Western thought. His many works deal with subjects such as science, politics, morality, and literature.//  -- Aristotelian adj //


Words: arithmetic
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: arismetique, from  Latin, from  Greek, from  arithmein  ’to count’, from  arithmos  ’number’]//  the science of numbers involving adding, multiplying etc//    mathematics//\narithmetic 2   technical   involving or related to arithmetic//  --the arithmetic mean  (=average) //  -- arithmetically/-kli/ adv //


Words: arithmetic progression
Meaning:
n [C]   a set of numbers in order of value in which a particular number is added to each to produce the next (as in 2, 4, 6, 8, ...)//    geometric progression//


Words: Arizona
Meaning:
AZ a state in the southwest of the US, north of Mexico, known for containing a large area of desert//


Words: ark
Meaning:
n [C]   [Language: Old English; Origin: arc, from  Latin arca  ’box’]//\n  1 a large ship:\n  2  the Ark:  in the Bible, the large boat built by Noah to save his family and the animals from a flood that covered the earth//


Words: Ark of the Covenant
Meaning:
n [singular]   a box containing the laws of the Jewish religion that represented to the Jews the  presence of God//


Words: Arkwright
Meaning:
Sir Richard   (1732-92) a British factory owner who invented a machine for making cotton into thread, a job that was formerly done by hand. This made him and other factory owners very rich, but it also caused many workers to lose their jobs.//    Industrial Revolution//


Words: Arlington National Cemetery
Meaning:
a  cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, where people who were in the US army, navy, air force, or government are sometimes buried//


Words: arm
Meaning:
n [C]   ----------//\n   1 body:\n   2 weapons:\n   3 furniture:\n   4 clothing:\n   5 be up in arms:\n   6 with open arms:\n   7 somebody would give their right arm to do something:\n   8 hold something at arm’s length:\n   9 keep/hold somebody at arm’s length:\n  10 as long as your arm:\n  11 part of group:\n  12 object/machine:\n  13 on somebody’s arm:\n  14 design:  ----------//  [Sense: 1, 3-4, 6-13; Origin: Old English earm]//  [Sense: 2,5,14; Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: armes (plural), from  Latin arma]//\n  1 BODY:  one of the two long parts of your body between your shoulders and your hands//  --Dave has a broken arm .//  left/right arm //  --He had a tattoo on his left arm.//  --Tim’s mother put her arms around him.//  --Pat was carrying a box under his arm .//  --He had a pile of books in his arms .//  --They walked along the beach arm in arm  (=with their arms bent around each other’s) .//  take sb by the arm (=lead someone somewhere by holding their arm) //  --She took him by the arm and pushed him out of the door.//  take sb in your arms (=gently hold someone with your arms) //  --Gerry took Fiona in his arms and kissed her.//  cross/fold your arms (=bend your arms so that they are resting on top of each other against your body) //  --He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.//  --The old lady rushed to greet him, arms outstretched .//\n  2 WEAPONS:   arms [plural] weapons used for fighting wars//  --Sales of arms to the Middle East have dramatically increased.//  nuclear arms //  --the arms trade //  --an arms dealer //  --The government is cutting arms expenditure.//  --The United Nations will lift its arms embargo against the country.//  take up arms (against sb) (=get weapons and fight) //  --Boys as young as 13 are taking up arms to defend the city.//  --He appealed for the rebels to lay down their arms  (=stop fighting) .//  under arms//   (=with weapons and ready to fight) //  --All available forces are under arms.//    small arms at small1 (15)//  arm, cushion, leg//\n  3 FURNITURE:  the part of a chair, sofa etc that you rest your arms on//\n  4 CLOTHING:  the part of a piece of clothing that covers your arm//   sleeve//\n  5  be up in arms:  to be very angry and ready to argue or fight//  --Residents are up in arms about plans for a new road along the beach.//\n  6  with open arms:  if you do something with open arms, you show that you are happy to see someone or eager to accept an idea, plan etc//  --We welcomed Henry’s offer with open arms .//  --My new in-laws accepted me with open arms .//\n  7  sb would give their right arm to do sth:  used to say that someone would be willing to do anything to get or do something because they want it very much//  --I’d give my right arm to be 21 again.//\n  8  hold sth at arm’s length:  to hold something away from your body//\n  9  keep/hold sb at arm’s length:  to avoid developing a relationship with someone//  --Petra keeps all men at arm’s length to avoid getting hurt.//\n  10  as long as your arm:   informal a list or written document that is as long as your arm is very long//  --I’ve got a list of things to do as long as your arm.//\n  11 PART OF GROUP:  a part of a large group that is responsible for a particular type of activity//  --the political arm of a terrorist organization//  --Epson America is the US marketing arm of a Japanese company.//\n  12 OBJECT/MACHINE:  a long part of an object or piece of equipment//  --the arm of a record player//  --There is a 15-foot arm supporting the antenna.//\n  13  on sb’s arm:   old-fashioned if a man has a woman on his arm, she is walking beside him holding his arm//\n  14 DESIGN:   arms [plural] a set of pictures or patterns, usually painted on a shield, that is used as the special sign of a family, town, university etc//   coat of arms//    arms akimbo at akimbo(1),  babe in arms at babe(1),  brothers in arms at brother1 (6),  cost an arm and a leg at cost2 (1),  fold sb/sth in your arms at fold1 (7),  twist sb’s arm at twist1 (9)//\narm 2 v [T]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: armer, from  Latin armare, from  arma;   ARM1]//\n  1 to provide weapons for yourself, an army, a country etc in order to prepare for a fight or a war:  arm sb with sth//  --The local farmers have armed themselves with rifles and pistols.//  --The rebels armed a group of 2000 men to attack the city.//    armed,  unarmed//\n  2 to provide all the information, skills, or equipment you need to do something:   equip//  arm sb with sth//  --Arm yourself with all the facts you need to argue your case.//  --The guidebook arms the reader with a mass of useful information.//


Words: Armada
Meaning:
the   a collection of armed ships sent by Spain in 1588 to fight against England, which was defeated by the English navy//


Words: armada
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: Medieval Latin armata  ’army, group of war ships’, from the past participle of  Latin armare;   ARM2]//  a large group of things, especially ships or boats//  --an armada of US naval vessels//


Words: armadillo
Meaning:
n   plural  armadillos  [C] //  [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Spanish; Origin: armado  ’armed person’]//  a small animal that has a shell made of hard material, and lives in parts of North and South America//


Words: Armageddon
Meaning:
n [singular, U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek]//  a terrible battle that will destroy the world//  --a nuclear Armageddon//


Words: Armagnac
Meaning:
a type of  brandy (=a strong alcoholic drink)  made in southwest France and usually drunk from a small glass after a meal//


Words: armament
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C usually plural] the weapons and military equipment used by an army:  --nuclear armaments//\n  2 [U] the process of preparing an army or country for war by giving it weapons:   disarmament//


Words: armature
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: armatura  ’armor, equipment’, from  armare;   ARM2]//\n  1 the part of a generator, motor etc that turns around to produce electricity, movement etc:\n  2 a frame that you cover with clay or other soft material to make a model:


Words: armband
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a band of material that you wear around your arm to show that you have an official position, or as a sign of mourning:\n  2 [usually plural]  BrE one of two bands of plastic filled with air that you wear around your arms when you are learning to swim:


Words: armchair
Meaning:
n [C]   a comfortable chair with sides that you can rest your arms on//\narmchair 2   adj   armchair traveller/fan etc//  someone who talks or reads about being a traveller, or watches sport on television but does not have any real experience of doing it//  --Her books about her adventures give enjoyment and inspiration to armchair travellers.//  --Armchair fans will have to pay extra to watch the best games live.//


Words: armed
Meaning:
W3S3   adj \n  1 carrying weapons, especially a gun:  → unarmed//  armed police //  --The Minister was kidnapped by armed men on his way to the airport.//  --The prisoners were kept under armed guard .//  armed with//  --The suspect is armed with a shotgun.//  --She got ten years in prison for armed robbery  (=stealing using a gun) .//  --The President fears that armed conflict  (=a war) is possible.//  --There is very little support for an armed struggle  (=fighting with weapons) against the government.//  --a heavily armed battleship//  --Many of the gangs are armed to the teeth  (=carrying a lot of weapons) .//\n  2 having the knowledge, skills, or equipment you need to do something:  armed with//  --She came to the meeting armed with all the facts and figures to prove us wrong.//  --I went out, armed with my binoculars, to see what I could find in the fields.//


Words: armed forces
Meaning:
n   the armed forces [plural] a country’s military organizations, including the army, navy, and air force//


Words: Armenia
Meaning:
a country in the extreme south-west of Asia, surrounded by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. It used to be a republic of the  Soviet Union. Population: 3,300,000 (2001). Capital: Yerevan.//  -- Armenian n  adj //


Words: armful
Meaning:
n [C]   the amount of something that you can hold in one or both arms//  armful of//  --an armful of books//


Words: armistice
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Modern Latin armistitium, from  Latin arma (  ARM1) +  -stitium (as in  solstitium;   SOLSTICE)]//  an agreement to stop fighting//    ceasefire, truce//


Words: Armistice Day
Meaning:
November 11th, celebrated as the  anniversary of the end of the World War I in 1918//    Remembrance Day//    Veterans’ Day//


Words: armoire
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin  armarium, from  arma;   ARM1]//  a large piece of furniture with doors, and sometimes shelves, that you hang clothes in//  British Equivalent:  wardrobe//


Words: armour
Meaning:
BrE  armor AmE   n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: armure, from  Latin armatura;   ARMATURE]//\n  1 metal or leather clothing that protects your body, worn by soldiers in battles in past times:  --a knight wearing a suit of armour //\n  2 a strong metal layer that protects military vehicles:  --armour-clad warships//\n  3 a strong layer or shell that protects some plants and animals:    a chink in sb’s armour at chink1 (3)//    a knight in shining armour at knight1 (4)//


Words: armour-plated
Meaning:
adj  BrE  armor-plated AmE   something, especially a vehicle, that is armour-plated has an outer metal layer to protect it//  -- armour plating n  [U] //  -- armour plate n  [U] //


Words: armoured
Meaning:
BrE  armored AmE   adj \n  1 armoured vehicles have an outside layer made of metal to protect them from attack:  --armored personnel carriers//\n  2 an armoured army uses armoured vehicles:  --an armoured division//


Words: armoured car
Meaning:
BrE  armored car AmE n [C] \n  1 a military vehicle with a strong metal cover and usually a powerful gun:\n  2 a car that has special protection from bullets etc, used especially by important people:


Words: armoury
Meaning:
BrE  armory AmE   n   plural  armouries  [C] //\n  1 a place where weapons are stored:\n  2 all the skills, information etc someone has available to achieve something:  --Interest rates have become powerful weapons in the government’s armoury.//


Words: armpit
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 the hollow place under your arm where it joins your body:\n  2  the armpit of sth:   AmE  informal the ugliest or worst place in a particular city or area//  --Dale says Butte is the armpit of Montana.//


Words: arms control
Meaning:
n [U]   the attempts by powerful countries to limit the number and types of war weapons that exist//


Words: arms race
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the competition between different countries to have a larger number of powerful weapons//  --the nuclear arms race //


Words: Armstrong
Meaning:
Louis   (1900-71) a US  jazz musician, band leader, and singer, who played the  trumpet and was also known as "Satchmo". He is one of the most important jazz musicians ever.//\n Neil   (1930- ) a US  astronaut who was the first man to walk on the moon, in 1969//


Words: army
Meaning:
n   plural  armies //  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: armee, from  Medieval Latin armata;   ARMADA]//\n  1  the army [also + plural verb British English] the part of a country’s military force that is trained to fight on land in a war:  --The army are helping to clear up after the floods.//  --an army officer //  -- Army units launched attacks on bases near Jounieh port.//  --He joined the army when he was 17.//  in the army//  --Both my sons are in the army.//\n  2 [C] a large organized group of people trained to fight on land in a war:  --Rebel armies have taken control of the radio station.//  raise an army (=collect together and organize an army to fight a battle) //  --The Slovenians say they can raise an army of 20,000 men.//\n  3 [C] a large number of people involved in the same activity:  army of//  --The village hall is maintained by an army of volunteers .//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: army //  similar words: armed forces,  the military,  the services //  people in the army: soldier,  troops,  infantry,  G.I. (AmE old-fashioned),  squaddy (BrE) //  to join the army: join up/enlist //  to leave the army: be discharged,  desert (=without permission) //  go A.W.O.L. (=without permission) //  to make people serve in the armed forces: call up (BrE) draft (AmE) //  the system of making people serve in the armed forces: conscription,  military service,  the draft (AmE),  national service (BrE) //  relating to the armed forces: military //  See also:  navy1 , air force, Marine Corps, court-martial//  ----------//


Words: Arnhem
Meaning:
a city in the Netherlands where British and  allied forces landed in the World War II and where a great many soldiers died//


Words: Arnold
Meaning:
Benedict   (1741-1801) an American military leader, who  betrayed his country when he changed to support the British during the  American Revolutionary War//\n Matthew   (1822-88) a British writer and poet, famous for his poems such as  Dover Beach  and  The Scholar Gypsy, as well as for his books and essays discussing literature and society//


Words: aroma
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek]//  a strong pleasant smell//  --the aroma of fresh coffee//


Words: aromatherapy
Meaning:
n [U]   a treatment that uses massage (=rubbing the body)  with pleasant smelling natural oils to reduce pain and make you feel well//  -- aromatherapist n  [C] //


Words: around
Meaning:
adv, prep \n  1 surrounding or on all sides of something or someone:  British Equivalent:  round//  --The whole family was sitting around the dinner table.//  --The Romans built a defensive wall around the city.//  --She wore a beautiful silk shawl around her shoulders.//  --People crowded around to see what was happening.//  --We would hear the birds singing all around us.//\n  2 moving in a circle:  British Equivalent:  round//  --A helicopter was circling around, looking for somewhere to land.//  --They danced around the bonfire.//\n  3 in or to many places or parts of an area:  British Equivalent:  about//  --He wandered around the streets, looking in shop windows.//  --There are over 40 radio stations dotted around the country.//  --When I finished college, I travelled around for a while before I got my first job.//  --Since it’s your first day here, would you like me to show you around?//  --We started looking around for somewhere to live.//\n  4 :  a)  BrE in an area near a place or person//   round//  --Is there a bank around here?//  --When you’ve been around a person long enough, you start to know how they’ll react.//  --the new housing areas in and around Dublin//  --Catherine was the most beautiful girl for miles around .//  b) if someone or something is around, they are somewhere in the place where you are//  --Why is there never a policeman around when you need one?//  --Jake went down to the bar, but there was no-one around that he knew.//  --Is your dad around?//  --The list is somewhere around .//\n  5  BrE on the other side of something, or to the other side of it without going through it or over it:   round//  --If the gate’s locked, you’ll have to go around the side of the house.//  --There’s a door around the back.//  --She ran around the corner and straight into the arms of John Delaney.//\n  6 used to say that someone or something turns so that they face in the opposite direction:  British Equivalent:  round//  --Rex spun around and kicked the gun from her hand.//  --Slowly he turned the boat around towards the open sea.//\n  7  also around about :  used when guessing a number, amount, time etc, without being exact//  --There must have been around 40,000 people in the stadium.//  --The whole project will probably cost around $3 million.//  --Most guests started to make their way home around about ten o’clock.//\n  8 existing:  British Equivalent:  about//  --That joke’s been around for years.//  --Manson has a reputation as one of the most stylish designers around.//\n  9 if something is organized around a particular person or thing, it is organized according to their needs, wishes, ideas etc:  --Why does everything have to be arranged around what Callum wants to do?//  --Their whole society was built around their religious beliefs.//\n  10 used to show that someone spends time in a place without doing anything useful:  British Equivalent:  about//  --I’ve been waiting around all morning.//  --They could be seen hanging around street corners, watching the girls go by.//\n  11 a way around a difficult situation or problem is a way to solve it or avoid it:  British Equivalent:  round//  --We must find a way around these difficulties.//  --The company is expected to get around this problem by borrowing from the banks.//\n  12 to other people or positions:  British Equivalent:  round//  --Write your name on this list and pass it around.//  --Someone’s been moving the furniture around.//\n  13  have been around:   informal //  a) to have had experience of many different situations so that you can deal with new situations confidently//  --You could tell this guy had been around a bit by the knowing way he talked.//  b) to have had many sexual experiences - used humorously//\n  14  AmE used to show the length of a line surrounding something:  --Redwood trees can measure 30 or 40 feet around.//    round1 ,  get around (sth) at get around(1),  go around in circles at circle1 (5)//


Words: Around the World in Eighty Days
Meaning:
a book by Jules Verne about an Englishman called Phileas  Fogg, who travels around the world in 80 days with his servant  Passepartout in order to win a  bet//


Words: arouse
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: rouse]//\n  1  arouse interest/expectations etc:  to make you become interested, expect something etc//  --Matt’s behavior was arousing the interest of the neighbors.//\n  2  arouse hostility/suspicion/resentment/anger etc:  to make someone feel very unfriendly and angry, or suspicious//  --A great deal of anger was aroused by Campbell’s decision.//\n  3 to make someone feel sexually excited:   excite//  --She felt aroused by the pressure of his body so close to hers.//\n  4  literary to wake someone:  arouse from//  --Anne had to be aroused from a deep sleep.//


Words: arpeggio
Meaning:
n   plural  arpeggios  [C] //  [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Italian; Origin: arpeggiare  ’to play on the harp’, from  arpa  ’harp’]//  the notes of a musical chord played separately but quickly one after the other//


Words: arr.
Meaning:
also  arr BrE \n  1 the written abbreviation of arranged by :  --music by Mozart, arr. Britten//\n  2 the written abbreviation of arrives or arrival :


Words: arraign
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: araisner, from  raisnier  ’to speak’, from  Latin ratio  ’reason’]//   law to make someone come to court to hear what their crime is//  arraign sb on sth//  --Thompson was arraigned on a charge of murder.//  -- arraignment n  [U and C] //


Words: arrange
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: arangier, from  rengier  ’to put in a row’, from  reng  ’row’]//\n  1 [I and T] to organize or make plans for something such as a meeting, party, or trip:  --Contact your local branch to arrange an appointment.//  --I’d like to arrange a business loan.//  arrange to do sth//  --Have you arranged to meet Mark this weekend?//  arrange sth with sb//  --Beth arranged a meeting with the marketing director.//  arrange when/where/how etc//  --We still have to arrange how to get home.//  arrange that//  --We had arranged that I would go for the weekend.//  --Matthew arrived at 2 o’clock as arranged. //\n  2 [I and T] to make it possible for someone to have or do something:  arrange for sth//  --The company will arrange for a taxi to meet you at the airport.//  arrange for sb to do sth//  --Dave arranged for someone to drive him home.//\n  3 [T] to put a group of things or people in a particular order or position:  --Ben arranged the flowers in a vase.//  --The list is arranged alphabetically.//  arrange sth in pairs/groups etc //  --The children were arranged in lines according to height.//\n  4 [T] to write or change a piece of music so that it is suitable for a particular instrument:  arrange sth for sth//  --a symphony arranged for the piano//


Words: arrangement
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 plan:\n   2 agreement:\n   3 way something is organized:\n   4 position:\n   5 music:  ----------//\n  1 PLAN:   [C usually plural] plans and preparations that you must make so that something can happen//  arrangement for//  --I’ve agreed to help with arrangements for the party.//  --The family are making arrangements for his funeral.//  -- Special arrangements can be made for guests with disabilities.//  --The hotel was full so we had to make alternative arrangements. //  --travel arrangements//\n  2 AGREEMENT:   [U and C] something that has been organized or agreed on//   agreement//  arrangement between//  --An arrangement between the two couples ensured there was always someone to look after the children.//  arrangement with//  --The school has an arrangement with local businesses.//  an arrangement to do sth//  --Maxine cancelled our arrangement to meet.//  come to an/some arrangement (with sb) (=make an agreement that is acceptable to everyone) //  --It would usually cost $500, but I’m sure we can come to some kind of arrangement.//  --Pets are permitted at the resort by prior arrangement. //\n  3 WAY SOMETHING IS ORGANIZED:   [C usually plural] the way in which something is organized//  --The airport is currently reviewing its security arrangements .//  --domestic arrangements//\n  4 POSITION:   [U and C] a group of things that are put in a particular position, or the process of doing this//  arrangement of//  --the traditional arrangement of desks in rows//  --a beautiful flower arrangement//\n  5 MUSIC:   [C] a piece of music that has been written or changed for a particular instrument//  --a piano arrangement of an old folk song//


Words: arranger
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone who changes music that has been written by someone else so that it is suitable for a particular instrument or performance:\n  2 someone who arranges things for other people:


Words: arrant
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: errant]//  used to emphasize how bad something is//  --What arrant nonsense! //


Words: array
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 [usually singular] a group of people or things, especially one that is large or impressive:  array of//  --a dazzling array of flowers//  --a bewildering array of options//  a vast/impressive/wide array //  --There was a vast array of colours to choose from.//\n  2  technical a set of numbers or signs, or of computer memory units, arranged in lines across or down:\narray 2 v [T usually passive]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: arayer, from  Vulgar Latin arredare]//\n  1  literary to wear particular clothes, especially clothes of good quality:  arrayed in sth//  --She came in arrayed in all her finery.//\n  2  literary to arrange something in an attractive way:  arrayed on sth//  --make-up arrayed on the bathroom counter//\n  3  formal to put soldiers in position ready to fight:


Words: arrears
Meaning:
n [plural]   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin: arrear  ’backward, behind’ (14-18 centuries), from  Old French arere, from  Vulgar Latin ad retro  ’to the back’]//\n  1  be in arrears:  if someone is in arrears, or if their payments are in arrears, they are late in paying something that they should pay regularly, such as rent//  --Many people are in arrears with their rent.//  be four weeks/three months etc in arrears //  --The rent money is two months in arrears.//  fall/get into arrears (=become late with payments) //\n  2 money that you owe someone because you have not made regular payments at the correct time:  --We’ve got 3 months arrears to pay.//  rent/mortgage/tax arrears //  --He was ordered to pay rent arrears of [hA124]550.//\n  3  paid in arrears:   BrE if your salary is paid in arrears, it is paid at the end of the period you have worked//  --a salary paid monthly in arrears//


Words: arrest
Meaning:
W3   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: arester  ’to rest, arrest’, from  Vulgar Latin arrestare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  restare  ’to remain, rest’]//\n  1 if the police arrest someone, the person is taken to a police station because the police think they have done something illegal:  --He was arrested and charged with murder.//  arrest sb for sth//  --Her father was arrested for fraud.//  --I got arrested for careless driving.//  arrest sb in connection with sth //  --Five youths were arrested in connection with the attack.//  arrest sb on charges/suspicion of (doing) sth //  --He was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.//\n  2  formal to stop something happening or to make it happen more slowly:  --drugs used to arrest the spread of the disease//\n  3  literary if something arrests you or arrests your attention, you notice it because it is interesting or unusual:  --The mountains are the most arresting feature of the glen.//\narrest 2 n [U and C]   when the police take someone away and guard them because they may have done something illegal//  --The police made several arrests. //  --A man is under arrest  (=the police are guarding him) following the suspicious death of his wife.//  place/put sb under arrest (=arrest someone) //  --He sued the police for wrongful arrest  (=when someone who is not guilty is arrested) .//    house arrest,  cardiac arrest at cardiac//


Words: arrival
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [U and C] when someone or something arrives somewhere:  → departure//  --Only the timely arrival of the police prevented the situation from becoming worse.//  --Traffic problems account for one third of late arrivals.//  arrival at/in//  --Shortly after our arrival in London, Lisa was attacked.//  on arrival//  --A deposit is payable on arrival (=when you arrive) .//\n  2  the arrival of sth:  a) the time when a new idea, product etc is first used or discovered//  --The demand for phone numbers has increased since the arrival of mobile phones.//  b) the time when an event or period of time starts to happen//  --The arrival of winter can make many people feel depressed.//\n  3 [C] someone who has just arrived in a place:  -- New arrivals were greeted with suspicion.//  -- Late arrivals will not be admitted to the theatre.//\n  4  arrivals:  the place at an airport where people arrive when they get off a plane//  --the arrivals lounge//\n  5  new arrival:  a baby who has just been born//


Words: arrive
Meaning:
W1S2   v [I]   ----------//\n   1 get somewhere:\n   2 be delivered:\n   3 happen:\n   4 something new:\n   5 be born:\n   6 arrive at a decision/solution/compromise etc:\n   7 success:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: ariver, from  Vulgar Latin arripare  ’to come to shore’, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  ripa  ’shore’]//\n  1 GET SOMEWHERE:  to get to the place you are going to//  --Give me a call to let me know you’ve arrived safely.//  arrive in/at//  --What time does the plane arrive in New York?//  arrive late/early //  --He arrived late as usual.//  --By the time the police arrived on the scene, the burglars had fled.//\n  2 BE DELIVERED:  if something arrives, it is brought or delivered to you//   come//  --The card arrived on my birthday.//\n  3 HAPPEN:  if an event or particular period of time arrives, it happens//   come//  --When her wedding day arrived, she was really nervous.//\n  4 SOMETHING NEW:  if a new idea, method, product etc arrives, it begins to exist or starts being used//  --Since computers arrived, my job has become much easier.//\n  5 BE BORN:  to be born//  --Sharon’s baby arrived just after midnight.//\n  6  arrive at a decision/solution/compromise etc:  to reach a decision, solution etc after a lot of effort//  --After much consideration, we have arrived at a decision.//\n  7 SUCCESS:   sb has arrived//  used to say that someone has become successful or famous//  --When he saw his name painted on the door he knew he’d arrived!//


Words: arrogance
Meaning:
n [U]   when someone behaves in a rude way because they think they are very important//  --I couldn’t believe the arrogance of the man!//


Words: arrogant
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  arrogare;   ARROGATE]//  behaving in an unpleasant or rude way because you think you are more important than other people//  --He was unbearably arrogant.//  --an arrogant attitude//  -- arrogantly adv  see usage note  proud//


Words: arrogate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  arrogare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  rogare  ’to ask’]//  arrogate (to yourself) sth//   formal to claim that you have a particular right, position etc, without having the legal right to it//


Words: arrow
Meaning:
n [C]   arrow, bow//  [Language: Old English; Origin: arwe]//\n  1 a weapon usually made from a thin straight piece of wood with a sharp point at one end, that you shoot with a bow:\n  2 a sign in the shape of an arrow, used to show direction:  --Follow the arrows to the X-ray department.//    straight arrow//


Words: arrowroot
Meaning:
n [U]   a type of flour made from the root of a tropical American plant, used in cooking to make sauces thicker//


Words: arse
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken  not polite   [Language: Old English; Origin: [zB024]rs,  ears]//\n  1 the part of your body that you sit on:  American Equivalent:  ass//\n  2 a stupid and annoying person:\n  3  my arse!:  used to say that you do not believe something//\n  4  get off your arse:  used to tell someone to stop being lazy and start doing something//\n  5  shift/move your arse:   or  get your arse into gear//  used to tell someone to hurry up//\n  6  not know your arse from your elbow:  to be stupid and confused about simple things//    ass,  be a pain in the arse at pain1 (3),  smart arse,  work your arse off at work1 (30)//\narse 2 v  BrE  spoken  not polite   can’t/couldn’t be arsed (to do sth)//  to not do something because you are feeling too lazy//  arse about/around phr v//  to waste time behaving in a silly way instead of doing the things you should do//


Words: arse-licker
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken  not polite   someone who is always very nice to people in authority because he or she wants to be liked by them - used to show disapproval//  -- arse-licking n  [U] //


Words: arsehole
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE  spoken not polite \n  1 a stupid and annoying person. Do not use this word.:\n  2 someone’s anus:


Words: arsenal
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian; Origin: arsenale, from  Arabic dar sina’ah  ’house where things are made’]//\n  1 a large group of weapons that someone has:  --Britain’s nuclear arsenal//  arsenal of//  --an arsenal of guns//\n  2 a building where weapons are stored:\n  3 the equipment, methods etc that someone can use to help them achieve something:  --a software package that’s now part of our arsenal//  arsenal of//  --He has a whole arsenal of cameras.//


Words: arsenic
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: arsenicum, from  Greek arsenikon yellow mineral from which arsenic is obtained, from  Syriac zarnig]//  a very poisonous chemical substance that is sometimes used to kill rats, insects, and weeds. It is a chemical element: symbol As//


Words: arson
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Old French; Origin: ardre  ’to burn’, from  Latin ardere;   ARDENT]//  the crime of deliberately making something burn, especially a building//  --The school was destroyed in an arson attack. //


Words: art
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin ars]//\n  1 [U] the use of painting, drawing, sculpture etc to represent things or express ideas:  --an example of Indian art//  contemporary/modern art //  --the Museum of Modern Art//    art form,  fine art,  performance art//\n  2 [plural, U] objects that are produced by art, such as paintings, drawings etc:  --an art exhibition//  --an art critic//  --an arts and crafts fair//  --The exhibition features 175 works of art. //\n  3 [U] the skill of drawing or painting:  --He’s very good at art.//  --an art teacher//\n  4  the arts [plural] art, music, theatre, film, literature etc all considered together:  --Government funding for the arts has been reduced.//\n  5  arts:   also the arts //   [plural] subjects you can study that are not scientific, for example history, languages etc//    humanities//\n  6 [U and C] the ability or skill involved in doing or making something:  --Television is ruining the art of conversation.//  --Writing advertisements is quite an art  (=it is difficult to do) .//  have/get sth down to a fine art (=do something very well) //  --I’ve got the early morning routine down to a fine art.//\nart 2 v  old-fashioned  or  biblical   [Language: Old English; Origin: eart]//  thou art//  a phrase meaning ’you are’//


Words: Art Deco
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: Art Deco, from  Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs, a show of decorative arts held in Paris in 1925]//  a style of art and decoration that uses simple shapes and was popular in Europe and America in the 1920s and 1930s//


Words: art director
Meaning:
n [C]   someone whose job is to decide on how pictures, photographs etc will look in a magazine, film, advertisement etc//


Words: art form
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a way of expressing ideas, for example in a painting, dance, piece of writing etc:  --Music is quite unlike any other art form.//\n  2  make/turn sth into an art form:  to do something so often that you become very good at it//  --a company that’s in danger of turning mismanagement into an art form//


Words: art house
Meaning:
n [C]   a cinema that shows mainly foreign films, or films made by small film companies//  --art house films//


Words: Art Nouveau
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: ’new art’]//  a style of art that used plants and flowers in paintings and in the design of objects and buildings, popular in Europe and America at the end of the 19th century//


Words: artefact
Meaning:
especially BrE  also  artifact especially AmE   n [C]   an object such as a tool, weapon etc that was made in the past and is historically important//  --ancient Egyptian artefacts//


Words: arterial
Meaning:
adj \n  1 involving the arteries:  --arterial blood//\n  2 [only before noun] an arterial road is one of the main roads in a city, country etc:


Words: arteriosclerosis
Meaning:
n [U]   a disease in which your arteries become hard, which makes it difficult for the blood to flow through//


Words: artery
Meaning:
n   plural  arteries  [C] //  artery, brain, fatty, tissue, heart, kidney, intestine, intestine2, small, large, liver, lung, muscles, stomach, vein, throat//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: arteria, from  Greek]//\n  1 one of the tubes that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body:    vein (1)//\n  2 a main road, railway line, river etc:


Words: artesian well
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: artesien  ’of Artois, area of northern France where such wells were first made’]//  a well from which the water is forced up out of the ground by natural pressure//


Words: artful
Meaning:
adj \n  1 clever at deceiving people:   cunning//  --artful tricks//\n  2 designed or done in a clever and attractive way:  --artful photographs//  -- artfully adj //  --artfully concealed pockets//  -- artfulness n  [U] //


Words: Artful Dodger
Meaning:
the   a character in the book  Oliver Twist by Charles  Dickens. The Artful Dodger is a young  pickpocket (=someone who steals things from people’s pockets)  who belongs to a group of thieves led by  Fagin.//


Words: arthritis
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek, from  arthron  ’joint’]//  a disease that causes the joints of your body to become swollen and very painful//  -- arthritic/-[hA35F]r[hA366]t[hA366]k/ adj //  --arthritic fingers//


Words: Arthur
Meaning:
in old stories, a king of Britain//  -- Arthurian adj //\n Chester Alan   (1829-86) a US politician who was a member of the Republican Party and was President of the US from 1881 until 1885//\n Chester Alan   (1829-1886) the twenty-first president of the US, from 1881 to 1885//


Words: Arthurian Legend
Meaning:
old stories about King Arthur, his court at  Camelot, the  magician Merlin, and the  Knights of the Round Table. These stories were first told more than 1000 years ago, and are found in Welsh, English, French, and German literature. //


Words: artichoke
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Italian dialect; Origin: articiocco, from  Arabic al-khurshuf  ’the artichoke’]//\n  1  also globe artichoke :  a type of round green vegetable, which has  buds with leaves that you eat, which are like the petals of a flower//\n  2  also Jerusalem artichoke :  a plant that has a root like a potato that you can eat//


Words: article
Meaning:
W1S2   n [C]   ----------//\n   1 newspaper/magazine:\n   2 object:\n   3 law:\n   4 grammar:\n   5 articles:\n   6 an article of faith:  ----------//  [Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin articulus  ’joint, division’, from  artus  ’joint’]//\n  1 NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE:  a piece of writing about a particular subject in a newspaper or magazine//  article on/about//  --an article on environmental issues//  --The paper’s leading article  (=the main article) described the government as weak.//  --newspaper articles//\n  2 OBJECT:   formal a thing, especially one of a group of things//   item//  --household articles//  --She only took a few articles of clothing with her.//\n  3 LAW:  a part of a law or legal agreement that deals with a particular point//  --Article 1 of the constitution guarantees freedom of religion.//\n  4 GRAMMAR:   technical a word used before a noun to show whether the noun refers to a particular example of something or to a general example of something. In English, ’the’ is called the definite article and ’a’ and ’an’ are called the indefinite article.//\n  5  articles:   BrE an agreement by which someone finishes their training, especially as a lawyer, by working for a company//\n  6  an article of faith:  something that you feel very strongly about so that it affects how you think or behave//


Words: articled
Meaning:
adj  BrE   someone who is articled to a company of lawyers, accountants etc, is employed by that company while they are training to become a lawyer etc//  --an articled clerk//  articled to//  --He was articled to a firm of architects.//


Words: Articles of Confederation
Meaning:
the   an agreement made in 1781 by the 13 original  colonies of the US, which established a government for the US, and which was used as the basic law of the country until the  Constitution of the United States was written and agreed in 1789//


Words: articulate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  articulare  ’to divide into joints, speak clearly’, from  articulus;   ARTICLE]//\n  1 [T]  formal to express your ideas or feelings in words:  --Many people are unable to articulate the unhappiness they feel.//\n  2 [I and T] to pronounce what you are saying in a clear and careful way:  --He was so drunk that he could barely articulate his words.//\n  3 [I and T]  technical if something such as a bone in your body is articulated to another thing, it is joined to it in a way that allows movement:\n  4  articulate sth with sth:   formal if one idea, system etc articulates with another idea, system etc, the two things are related and exist together//  --a new course that is designed to articulate with the current degree course//\narticulate 2   adj \n  1 able to talk easily and effectively about things, especially difficult subjects:  → inarticulate//  --bright, articulate 17-year-olds//  --a highly articulate speaker//\n  2 writing or speech that is articulate is very clear and easy to understand even if the subject is difficult:  -- articulately adv //


Words: articulation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] the act of making a sound or of speaking words:\n  2 [U] the expression of thoughts or feelings in words:  articulation of//  --the articulation of ideas//\n  3 [U and C]  technical a joint that allows movement:


Words: artifice
Meaning:
n  formal   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Latin artificium, from  artifex  ’skilled worker’, from  ars (  ART1) +  facere  ’to make’]//\n  1 [U] the use of clever tricks to deceive someone:   cunning//\n  2 [C] a trick used to deceive someone:


Words: artificial
Meaning:
S3   adj [usually before noun]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: artificiel, from  Latin artificialis, from  artificium;   ARTIFICE]//\n  1 not real or not made of natural things but made to be like something that is real or natural:  → natural//   false//  --artificial flowers//  --artificial light//  --artificial fertilizers//\n  2 an artificial situation or quality exists because someone has made it exist, and not because it is really necessary:  --artificial distinctions//  --artificial barriers of gender and race//\n  3 artificial behaviour is not sincere - used to show disapproval:  → genuine//  --an artificial smile//  -- artificially adv //  --Food prices are being kept artificially low.//  -- artificiality/[hA35A][hA359]t[hA369]f[hA366][hA35D]i[zB024]l[hA369]ti $ [hA35A][hA359]r-/ n  [U] //


Words: artificial insemination
Meaning:
n [U]   the medical process of making a woman or female animal pregnant by using a piece of equipment, rather than by having sex//


Words: artificial intelligence
Meaning:
n [U]   AI the study of how to make computers do intelligent things that people can do, such as think and make decisions//


Words: artificial respiration
Meaning:
n [U]   a way of making someone breathe again when they have stopped, by blowing air into their mouth//


Words: artillery
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: artillerie, from  artillier  ’to provide with equipment or weapons’]//\n  1 [U] large guns, either on wheels or fixed in one place:\n  2  the artillery:  the part of the army that uses these weapons//


Words: artisan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Old Italian artigiano, from  arte  ’art’]//  someone who does skilled work, making things with their hands//   craftsman//


Words: artist
Meaning:
W2S3   n [C]   canvas, easel//\n  1 someone who produces art, especially paintings or drawings:  --an exhibition of paintings by local artists//    make-up artist at make-up(1)//\n  2 a professional performer, especially a singer, dancer, or actor:  --Many of the artists in the show donated their fee to charity.//\n  3  informal someone who is extremely good at something:  --He’s an artist in the kitchen.//    con artist//


Words: artiste
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’artist’]//  a professional singer, dancer, actor etc who performs in a show//


Words: artistic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to art or culture:  --artistic work//  --Opinion about the artistic merit of his paintings has been mixed.//\n  2 good at painting, drawing, or producing beautiful things:  --John is very artistic.//\n  3 an artistic arrangement, design etc looks attractive and has been done with skill and imagination:  --food presented in an artistic way//  -- artistically/-kli/ adv //


Words: artless
Meaning:
adj \n  1  literary natural, honest, and sincere:  --artless sincerity//\n  2  formal made or done without any skill:  --an artless copy of European art//  -- artlessly adj //  -- artlessness n  [U] //


Words: Arts Council
Meaning:
the   an organization in Britain which is supported by the government and provides financial help for many different organizations involved in the theatre, art, music, the cinema etc//


Words: artwork
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U] drawings and photographs that are specially prepared to be in a book, magazine, or advertisement:\n  2 [U and C] paintings and other objects produced by artists:


Words: arty
Meaning:
AmE \n  1 someone who is arty knows a lot about art, film, theatre etc - often used to show disapproval:  --He was one of those arty types.//\n  2 intended for, or used by people who are interested in art, film, theatre etc:  --an arty film//  --Paris’s arty Marais district//


Words: Aruba
Meaning:
an island in the Caribbean Sea, just north of Venezuela.It is a  dependency of the Netherlands but has its own government. Population: 70,000 (2001). Capital: Oranjestad.//


Words: Aryan
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Sanskrit; Origin: arya  ’noble’]//  someone from Northern Europe, especially someone with blond hair and blue eyes//  -- Aryan adj //


Words: as
Meaning:
prep, adv   [Language: Old English; Origin: eallswa;   ALSO]//\n  1 used when you are comparing two people, things, situations etc:  as ... as//  --Tom’s not as old as you, is he?//  --an old woman with hair as white as snow//  --Some of the doctors are paid almost twice as much as the nurses.//  --We work as hard as any other team in England.//  --Please let me know your decision as soon as possible  (=as soon as you can) .//  --His last album sold half a million copies and we hope this one will be just as  (=equally) popular.//\n  2 used to say what job, duty, use, or appearance someone or something has:  --As a parent, I feel that more should be done to protect our children.//  --A large flat stone was used as a table.//  --Dad dressed up as Santa Claus.//\n  3 used to say what someone thinks or says a person or thing is:  --The problem is regarded as serious.//  --The result of last week’s election will be seen as a victory for the right-wing government.//  --He’s described as being in his late teens, tall, and of slim build.//\n  4 when someone was in a particular age group:  --As a young man, Eliot had studied art in Paris.//  --I’ll take you to all the places I loved as a girl.//    such as at such(2)//    as one at one2 (16)//  ----------//  WORD CHOICE: as, like, as if //  Use  as  in comparisons in the expression  as ... as , with an adjective or adverb in between : Basketball is as popular as football here. |  He can’t read as well as his classmates . //  as  is also used in the expressions  not so .... as  and  the same (...) as : I wouldn’t go so far as that. |  He is the same age as me. //  Use  like in comparisons followed by a noun : A movie is not like a book (NOT not as a book).| Like other people (NOT as other people), he values his privacy. //  Use  as if followed by a clause to compare a real situation with an imaginary situation : He talked to them as if they were children. //  !!  Some people use  like in this sort of comparison : They act like they own the place.  It is better not to do this as many people think it is incorrect. //  !! as if  cannot be followed directly by a noun : You treat them as if they were your parents (NOT as if your parents). //  ----------//\nas 2 conj \n  1 used in comparisons:  as ... as//  --They want peace as much as we do.//  --Helen comes to visit me as often as she can.//  --I can’t run as fast as I used to.//\n  2 in the way that someone says or that something happens, or in the condition something is in:  --Do as I say!//  --We’d better leave things as they are until the police arrive.//  --The money was repaid, as promised.//  --He did not need to keep moving house, as his father had.//  --Roberta was late as usual  (=in the way that she usually was) .//\n  3 used to say that what you are saying is already known or has been stated before:  --David, as you know, has not been well lately.//  --As I explained on the phone, your request will be considered at the next meeting.//  --As Napoleon once said, attack is the best method of defence.//\n  4 while or when:  --I saw Peter as I was getting off the bus.//  --As time passed, things seemed to get worse.//  --Just as the two men were leaving, a message arrived.//\n  5 used to state why a particular situation exists or why someone does something:  --As it was getting late, I turned around to start for home.//  --We asked Philip to come with us, as he knew the road.//\n  6 though:  --Unlikely as it might seem, I’m tired too.//  --Try as she might, Sue couldn’t get the door open.//  --As popular as he is, the President hasn’t always managed to have his own way.//\n  7  as for sb/sth:  used when you are starting to talk about someone or something new that is connected with what you were talking about before//  --Kitty’s got so thin. And as for Carl, he always seems to be ill.//  --You can ask the others, but as for myself, I’ll be busy in the office.//\n  8  as yet [used in negatives] until and including the present time - used to say that something has not happened although it may happen in the future:  --We’ve had no word from Colin as yet.//\n  9  as if.../as though...:  a) in a way that makes it seem that something is true or that something is happening//  --It sounds as though she’s been really ill.//  --Gary was behaving as though nothing had happened.//  --Mrs Crump looked as if she was going to explode.//  --Beckworth shook his head as if to say ’Don’t trust her’.//  b) used to emphasize that something is not true or will not happen//  --She said she’d never speak to me again. As if I cared (=I do not care at all) .//  --’Don’t try any funny business, now.’ ’As if I would.’//  As if!  spoken  informal //  --He asked if I’d go out with him. As if! (=it is extremely unlikely that I would go out with him)  see usage note  as1 //\n  10  it’s not as if:  used to say that something cannot be the explanation for a situation or someone’s behaviour because it is not true//  --Why do they never go on holiday? I mean it’s not as if they’re poor is it?//  --I don’t know why you’re so frightened of her, it’s not as if she’s got any power over you.//\n  11  as it is:  a) because of the situation that actually exists - used when that situation is different from what you expected or need//  --They hoped to finish the kitchen by Friday, but as it is they’ll probably have to come back next week.//  b) already//  --Just keep quiet - you’re in enough trouble as it is.//\n  12  as from/of sth:  starting from a particular time or date and continuing//  --As from today, you are in charge of the office.//  --As of now, there will be no more paid overtime.//\n  13  as against sth:  in comparison with something//  --Profits this year are $2.5 million as against $4 million last year.//\n  14  as to sth:  a) concerning//  --Frank was very uncertain as to whether it was the right job for him.//  --advice as to which suppliers to approach//  --He kept his rivals guessing as to his real intentions.//  b)  formal used when you are starting to talk about something new that is connected with what you were talking about before//  --As to our future plans, I think I need only say that the company intends to expand at a steady rate.//\n  15  as it were:  used when describing someone or something in a way that is not quite exact//  --Jim Radcliffe became our idol, as it were, the man we all wanted to be.//\n  16  as is/was/does etc:   formal used to add that what you have said is also true of someone or something else//  --Eve’s very tall, as was her mother.//  --I voted Labour, as did my wife.//    not as such at such(8),  as well at well1 (5),  as well as at well1 (6),  might (just) as well at might1 (9)//    so as to do sth at so2 (5)//


Words: As You Like It
Meaning:
a humorous play by William  Shakespeare, set in the Forest of  Arden, about the adventures and marriages of two couples, Rosalind and Orlando, and Celia and Oliver//


Words: asbestos
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’lime (= type of white powder which, when water is added to it, seems to burn)’, from  asbestos  ’that cannot be put out’, from  sbennynai  ’to put out a fire’]//  a grey mineral that does not burn easily, that was used in the past as a building material or in protective clothing//


Words: ascend
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: ascendere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  scandere  ’to climb’]//\n  1 [I]  formal to move up through the air:  → descend//  --The plane ascended rapidly.//\n  2 [T]  written to climb something or move to a higher position:  → descend//  --Without a word, he began to ascend the stairs.//\n  3 [I]  written to lead up to a higher position:  → descend//  --The road ascends steeply from the harbour.//\n  4 [I and T]  formal to move to a more important or powerful job.:  --The number of women decreases as you ascend the professional hierarchy.//\n  5  ascend the throne:  to become king or queen//\n  6  in ascending order:  if a group of things are arranged in ascending order, each thing is higher, or greater in amount, than the one before it//


Words: ascendancy
Meaning:
ascendency/[hA353]send[hA353]nsi/ n [U]  formal   a position of power, influence, or control//    ascendant//  --moral ascendancy//  ascendancy of//  --the ascendancy of nationalist forces//  ascendancy over//  --Butler established ascendancy over his critics.//  --He slowly gained ascendancy in the group.//  in the ascendency//  --a teaching method that is currently in the ascendancy//\nascendant 1  ascendent/[hA353]send[hA353]nt/ n   be in the ascendant//   formal to be or become powerful or popular//  --a political party that’s in the ascendant//\nascendant 2 adj ascendent  formal   becoming more powerful or popular//  --a politically ascendant country//


Words: ascension
Meaning:
n \n  1  the Ascension:  in the Christian religion, when Jesus Christ left the earth and went to heaven//\n  2 [U]  formal when someone moves to a more important or higher position or job:  --his ascension to the ranks of senior management//


Words: Ascension Day
Meaning:
a Christian holy day on the Thursday 40 days after Easter, when Christians remember when Christ went up to heaven ( the Ascension)//


Words: ascent
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C usually singular] the act of climbing something or moving upwards:  → descent//  --the first ascent of Everest//\n  2 [C usually singular] a path or way up to the top of something, for example a mountain:  → descent//  --a rugged and steep ascent//\n  3 [U] the process of becoming more important, powerful, or successful than before:   rise//  → fall//  ascent to//  --the President’s ascent to power//


Words: ascertain
Meaning:
v [I and T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: acertainer, from  certain]//   formal to find out something//  --A postmortem was ordered to try to ascertain the cause of death.//  ascertain whether/what/how etc//  --Tests were conducted to ascertain whether pollution levels have dropped.//  ascertain that//  --Police had ascertained that the dead man knew his killer.//  ascertain sth from sb/sth//  --You should ascertain the level of insurance cover from the car rental company.//  -- ascertainable adv //


Words: ascetic
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Greek; Origin: asketikos, from  asketes  ’person who exercises, hermit’, from  askein  ’to work, exercise’]//  living without any physical pleasures or comforts, especially for religious reasons//  --an ascetic life//  -- ascetic n  [C] //  -- asceticism/-t[hA366]s[hA366]z[hA368]m/ n  [U] //


Words: ASCII
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   American Standard Code for Information Interchange a system used for exchanging information between computers by allowing them to recognize letters, numbers etc in the same way//


Words: ascot
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Ascot town and racetrack in Berkshire, England]//  a wide piece of material that a man wears loosely folded around his neck and inside his collar//   cravat//


Words: ascribe
Meaning:
v   ascribe to / [ascribe sth to sb/sth] phr v//  [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: ascrivre, from  Latin ascribere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  scribere  ’to write’]//\n  1 to claim that something is caused by a particular person, situation etc:  --The report ascribes the rise in childhood asthma to the increase in pollution.//\n  2 to claim that something has been written, said, made etc by a particular person:  --a quotation that’s often been ascribed to Marilyn Monroe//\n  3 to believe that something or someone has a particular quality:  --Local people ascribe healing properties to this fruit.//  -- ascribable adj //  --Most of the accidents were ascribable to the bad weather.//


Words: ASEAN
Meaning:
Association of South-East Asian Nations an association whose aim is to encourage the economic development of southeast Asia. Its members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.//


Words: asexual
Meaning:
adj \n  1  technical not having sexual organs or not involving sex:  --asexual reproduction//\n  2 :  a) not having any sexual qualities//  b) not interested in sex//  -- asexually adv //


Words: ash
Meaning:
n   [Sense: 1-2; Origin: Old English asce]//  [Sense: 3; Origin: Old English [zB024]sc]//\n  1 [U and C] the soft grey powder that remains after something has been burned:  --cigarette ash//  --The house burnt to ashes.//\n  2  ashes [plural] :  a) the ash that remains when a dead person’s body is burned//  --His ashes were scattered at sea.//  b) a situation in which something is completely destroyed//  --The organization has risen from the ashes to become very successful.//  --All her hopes and dreams had turned to ashes. //\n  3 [U and C] a tree that is common in Britain and North America, or the wood from this tree:


Words: ashamed
Meaning:
S3   adj [not before noun] \n  1 feeling embarrassed and guilty because of something you have done:  ashamed of/at//  --I felt ashamed of the things I’d said to him.//  be ashamed to do sth//  --I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never read any of his books.//  ashamed that//  --I’m ashamed that I haven’t replied to your letter yet.//  bitterly/deeply/thoroughly ashamed //  --Anna felt thoroughly ashamed when she realized what she’d said.//  --Everyone cries sometimes - it’s nothing to be ashamed of. //  be/feel ashamed of yourself//  --You should be ashamed of yourself.//\n  2 feeling uncomfortable because someone does something that embarrasses you:  ashamed of//  --Many children feel ashamed of their parents.//  be ashamed to be/do sth//  --Their behaviour makes me ashamed to be British.//


Words: Ashcroft
Meaning:
Dame Peggy   (1907-91) a popular British actress who appeared in the theatre in many Shakespeare plays, and in films such as  The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935) and  A Passage to India (1984)//


Words: Ashe
Meaning:
Arthur   (1943-93) a US tennis player who, in 1975, was the first black man to win the men’s  singles competition at  Wimbledon//


Words: ashen
Meaning:
adj \n  1 looking very pale because you are ill, shocked, or frightened:   white//  --His face was ashen.//\n  2  literary pale grey in colour:  --ashen hills//


Words: Ashgabat
Meaning:
also  Ashgabad  a city in southwest Turkmenistan, the country’s capital and largest city, formerly called Ashkhabad//


Words: Ashmolean Museum
Meaning:
the Ashmolean Museum//   also the Ashmolean //  a famous  museum of ancient history and  archaeology in Oxford, England, which also contains important collections of paintings, jewellery, historical documents etc//


Words: ashore
Meaning:
adv   on or towards the shore of a lake, river, sea etc//   onshore//  come/go ashore //  --Seals come ashore to breed.//  --Several dead birds had been washed ashore. //


Words: ashram
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Language: Sanskrit; Origin: asrama, from  a  ’toward’ +  srama  ’religious exercise’]//  a place where Hindus live together, away from other people//


Words: Asia
Meaning:
the world’s largest  continent (=one of the seven main areas of land) , which includes the countries of the Middle East and the countries between the Ural Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, such as India, China, Japan, and part of Russia//


Words: Asia Minor
Meaning:
the name for the main part of Turkey east of the  Sea of Marmara, which is used especially when talking about the history and  archaeology of this area//    Anatolia//


Words: Asian
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1  BrE someone from Asia, or whose family originally came from Asia, especially India or Pakistan:\n  2  AmE someone from Asia, or whose family originally came from Asia, especially from Japan, China, Korea etc:\nAsian 2 adj \n  1  BrE from or relating to Asia, especially India or Pakistan:\n  2  AmE from or relating to Asia, especially Japan, China, Korea etc:


Words: aside
Meaning:
W3S3   adv \n  1 kept to be used later:  --I’ve been setting aside a few pounds each week.//  --One of the rooms was set aside for a yoga class.//  --Try to set aside a few hours a week for exercise.//  --Could you put this cake aside for me?//\n  2 moved to one side or away from you:  --He pushed his half-eaten salad aside and left.//  --He stepped aside to let Katherine go in first.//  --Mark drew me aside and explained the problem.//  --She swept her thick hair aside.//\n  3 left to be considered or dealt with later, or not considered and dealt with at all:  --He brushed aside criticisms of his performance.//  -- Leaving aside the heat, we really enjoyed our holiday.//  --You must put aside your pride and call her.//\n  4 [only after noun] used to show that something you have just said is not as important as what you are going to say next:  --These problems aside, we think the plan should go ahead.//\n  5  aside from sb/sth:   especially AmE //  a) except for//  --Aside from Durang’s performance, the actors are ordinary.//  b) in addition to//  --In the poetry competition, aside from Hass, are four other entrants.//\naside 2 n [C] \n  1 words spoken by an actor to the people watching a play, that the other characters in the play do not hear:\n  2 a remark made in a low voice that you only intend particular people to hear:\n  3 a remark or story that is not part of the main subject of a speech:  --I should add, as an aside, that the younger the child, the faster they learn.//


Words: Asimov
Meaning:
Isaac   (1920-92) a US scientist and writer, born in Russia, and famous for writing  science fiction (=stories about life in the future and imaginary developments in science) //


Words: asinine
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: asininus  ’of a donkey’, from  asinus;   ASS]//  extremely stupid or silly//   ridiculous//  --What an asinine remark!//


Words: ask
Meaning:
v   ----------//\n   1 question:\n   2 for help/advice etc:\n   3 price:\n   4 invite:\n   5 demand:\n   6 be asking for trouble:\n   7 ask yourself something:\n   8 if you ask me:\n   9 don’t ask me:\n  10 don’t ask:\n  11 be asking for it:\n  12 be somebody’s for the asking:  Phrasal verbs//   ask after somebody//   ask for somebody//  ----------//  [Language: Old English; Origin: ascian]//\n  1 QUESTION:   [I and T] to speak or write to someone in order to get an answer, information, or a solution//  --’What’s your name?’ she asked.//  --Don’t ask him - he won’t know anything about it.//  --That kid’s always asking awkward questions .//  ask who/what/where etc//  --I just asked him where he lived.//  ask sb sth//  --We’ll have to ask someone the way to the station.//  ask sb if/whether//  --Go and ask Tom whether he’s coming tonight.//  ask (sb) about sth//  --Visitors usually ask about the history of the castle.//  ask around//   (=ask in a lot of places or ask a lot of people) //  --I’ll ask around, see if I can find you a place to stay.//\n  2 FOR HELP/ADVICE ETC:   [I and T] to make a request for help, advice, information etc//  --If you need anything, you only have to ask.//  ask sb to do sth//  --Ask John to mail those letters tomorrow.//  ask to do sth//  --Karen asked to see the doctor.//  ask for//  --Some people find it difficult to ask for help.//  ask sb for sth//  --He repeatedly asked Bailey for the report.//  ask (sb) if/whether you can do sth//  --Ask your mom if you can come with us.//  ask that//  --Was it too much to ask that he be allowed some privacy?//\n  3 PRICE:   [T] to want a particular amount of money for something you are selling//  --How much is he asking?//  ask $50/$1,000 etc for sth //  --He’s asking [hA124]2,000 for his car.//  --They’re asking a fortune for that house.//\n  4 INVITE:   [T usually + adverb/preposition] to invite someone to your home, to go out with you etc//  ask sb to do sth//  --Let’s ask them to have dinner with us some time.//  ask sb out//   (=ask someone, especially someone of the opposite sex, to go to a film, a restaurant etc with you) //  --Jerry’s too scared to ask her out.//  ask sb in//   (=invite someone into your house, office etc) //  --Don’t leave them standing on the doorstep - ask them in!//  ask sb over/round//   (=invite someone to come to your home) //  --We must ask our new neighbours over for a drink.//\n  5 DEMAND:   [T] if you ask something of someone, you want them to do it for you//  --It would be better if he cooperated, but perhaps I’m asking too much.//  ask sth of sb//  --You have no right to ask anything of me.//  --Expecting the children to do an hour’s homework after school is asking a lot of them.//\n  6  be asking for trouble:  to do something that is very likely to have a bad effect or result//  --Saying that to a feminist is just asking for trouble.//\n  7  ask yourself sth:  to think carefully and honestly about something//  --You have to ask yourself where your responsibilities really lie.//\n  8  spoken  if you ask me:  used to emphasize your own opinion//  --He’s just plain crazy, if you ask me.//\n  9  spoken  don’t ask me:  used to say you do not know the answer to something//  --’Where’s she gone then?’ ’Don’t ask me!’//\n  10  spoken  don’t ask:  used to say that something is too embarrassing or strange to explain//  --’What was that woman selling?’ ’Don’t ask.’//\n  11  spoken  be asking for it:  used to say that someone deserves something bad that happens to them//  --It’s his own fault he got hit - he was asking for it.//\n  12  be sb’s for the asking:   informal if something is yours for the asking, you can have it if you want it//  --The job was hers for the asking.//  ask after [ask after sb] phr v//  if you ask after someone, you want to know whether they are well, what they are doing etc//  --I spoke to James today. He was asking after you.//  ask for [ask for sb] phr v//  if you ask for someone, you want to speak to them//  --There’s someone at the door asking for Dad.//  ----------//  WORD FOCUS: words meaning ask //  request to officially ask for something //  consult to ask someone for advice //  demand to ask for something very forcefully //  nag/pester to keep asking for something many times, in an annoying way //  beg/plead to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much //  question/interrogate to ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the army //  grill (informal) to ask someone a lot of difficult questions //  cross-examine to ask someone questions in court - used about lawyers //  poll to ask a lot of people for their opinion about something //  ----------//\nask 2 n   a big ask//  a situation in a sports competition when someone needs to get a lot of points or do something very difficult in order to win //  --We need to win the next three games. It’s a big ask, but I’m confident we can do it.//


Words: askance
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1400-1500; Origin:  Perhaps from  Italian a scancio  ’across’]//  look askance (at sb/sth)//  if you look askance at something, you do not approve of it or think it is good//  --A waiter looked askance at Ellis’s jeans.//


Words: askew
Meaning:
adv [not before noun]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin:  Probably from  skew]//  not quite straight or in the right position//  --Matilda ran towards us with her hat askew.//


Words: asleep
Meaning:
S2   adj [not before noun] \n  1 sleeping:  → awake//  --Quiet! The baby’s asleep.//  fast/sound asleep (=sleeping deeply) //\n  2  fall asleep:  a) to begin to sleep//  --Grandad fell asleep watching TV.//  --One in seven road accidents is caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel  (=fall asleep while driving) .//  b)  literary used to mean that someone dies, when you want to avoid saying this directly//\n  3  half asleep:  very tired or not completely awake//  --Still half asleep, Jenny began to make the kids’ breakfast.//\n  4 an arm or leg that is asleep has been in one position for too long, so you cannot feel it properly:\n  5  asleep at the wheel/switch:  not paying attention to a situation, so that something bad happens//  --Several publishers were asleep at the switch, and missed the book’s potential.//    go to sleep at sleep2 (3) see usage note  sleep1 //


Words: ASP
Meaning:
n [C]  technical   application service provider a company that supplies organized sets of computer software to other companies so that they can do business on the Internet//


Words: asp
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: aspis, from  Greek]//  a small poisonous snake from North Africa//


Words: asparagus
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek asparagos]//  a long thin green vegetable with a point at one end//


Words: ASPCA
Meaning:
the   the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals a  charity organization that takes care of animals, especially pets whose owners treated them badly or did not want them, and tries to find new homes for them//  British Equivalent:  RSPCA//


Words: aspect
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  aspicere  ’to look at’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  specere  ’to look’]//\n  1 [C] one part of a situation, idea, plan etc that has many parts:  aspect of//  --Dealing with people is the most important aspect of my work.//  --Alcoholism affects all aspects of family life.//\n  2 [C] the direction in which a window, room, front of a building etc faces:  --a south-facing aspect//\n  3 [singular, U]  literary the appearance of someone or something:  --The storm outside gave the room a sinister aspect.//\n  4 [U and C]  technical the form of a verb in grammar that shows whether an action is continuing, or happens always, again and again, or once:  --’He sings’ differs from ’He is singing’ in aspect.//


Words: aspen
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old English; Origin: [zB024]spe  ’aspen’]//  a type of tree from western North America with leaves that shake a lot in the wind//


Words: asperity
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: asprete, from  aspre  ’rough’]//  if you speak with asperity, you say something in a way that is rough or severe, showing that you are feeling impatient//


Words: aspersion
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: aspersio  ’throwing drops of water on to someone in a religious ceremony’, from  aspergere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  spargere  ’to scatter’]//  an unkind remark or an unfair judgment//  --No one is casting aspersions on you or your men, Major.//


Words: asphalt
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: aspaltus, from  Greek asphaltos]//  a black sticky substance that becomes hard when it dries, used for making the surface of roads//  -- asphalt v  [T] //


Words: asphyxia
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek,  ’stopping the flow of blood’, from  a-  ’not’ +  sphyzein  ’to beat regularly, throb’]//  death caused by not being able to breathe//   suffocation//


Words: asphyxiate
Meaning:
v [I and T]  formal   to prevent someone from breathing normally, usually so that they die//   suffocate//  -- asphyxiation/[zB024]sf[hA366]ksie[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n, [hA353]s-/ n  [U] //


Words: aspic
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: ’asp (= small snake)’; perhaps because the jelly was thought to look like a snake’s skin]//\n  1 a clear brownish jelly in which cold meat is sometimes served:\n  2  preserve/set/remain in aspic:   BrE if something is preserved in aspic, it has not changed for a very long time//  --a part of town preserved in aspic for tourists//


Words: aspidistra
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: Greek aspis  ’shield’; from the shape of the leaves]//  an indoor plant with broad green pointed leaves//


Words: aspirate
Meaning:
v [T]  technical   to make the sound of an ’H’ when speaking, or to blow out air when pronouncing some consonants//\naspirate 2   n [C]  technical   the sound of the letter ’H’, or the letter itself//


Words: aspiration
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C usually plural, U] a strong desire to have or achieve something:   ambition//  --a high level of political aspiration//  aspiration of//  --the aspirations of the working classes//  aspiration for//  --their hopes and aspirations for the future//\n  2 [U]  technical the sound of air blowing out that happens when some consonants are pronounced, such as the /p/ in pin:  -- aspirational adj //


Words: aspire
Meaning:
v [I]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: aspirer, from  Latin aspirare  ’to breathe on’, from  ad-  ’to, on to’ +  spirare  ’to breathe’]//  to desire and work towards achieving something important//  aspire to//  --college graduates aspiring to careers in finance//  aspire to do sth//  --At that time, all serious artists aspired to go to Rome.//


Words: aspirin
Meaning:
n   plural  aspirin  or  aspirins  [U and C] //  [Date: 1800-1900; Language: German; Origin: acetylierte spirs[hA165]ure type of acid from which aspirin is obtained, from  Modern Latin spiraea type of bush from which this acid is obtained]//  a medicine that reduces pain, inflammation, and fever//


Words: aspiring
Meaning:
adj   [only before noun] hoping to be successful in a particular job, activity, or way of life//  --aspiring young writers//  --the aspiring middle classes//


Words: ass
Meaning:
S2   n [C]   [Sense: 1; Origin: Old English assa, from  Latin asinus]//  [Sense: 2; Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  Changed spelling of  arse  (11-21 centuries), from  Old English [zB024]rs,  ears]//\n  1  not polite a stupid, annoying person:   fool//  --He’s a pompous ass.//  make an ass of yourself (=do something stupid or embarrassing) //\n  2  AmE  not polite the part of your body that you sit on:\n  3  old use a donkey:    arse1 ,  get your butt/ass in gear at gear1 (8),  haul ass at haul1 (5),  kick ass at kick1 (8),  kick sb’s ass at kick1 (7),  kiss sb’s ass at kiss1 (6),  be a pain in the ass at pain1 (3),  piece of ass at piece1 (22),  smart arse,  work your ass off at work1 (30)//


Words: assail
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: asaillir, from  Latin assilire, from  ad-  ’to’ +  salire  ’to jump’]//\n  1 [usually passive] if you are assailed by unpleasant thoughts or feelings, they worry or upset you:  --Carla was suddenly assailed by doubts.//\n  2 if a strong smell or loud sound assails you, you suddenly experience it:  --The smell of rotten meat assailed her nostrils.//\n  3 to attack someone or something violently:\n  4 to criticize someone or something severely:  assail sb for sth//  --He was assailed for gross misconduct.//


Words: assassin
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: assassinus, from  Arabic hashshashin  ’one who smokes hashish (and then kills religious enemies)’, from  hashish]//  someone who murders an important person//  --Kennedy’s assassin is assumed to have been Lee Harvey Oswald.//


Words: assassinate
Meaning:
v [T]   to murder an important person//  --a plot to assassinate the President//   see usage note  kill1 //


Words: assassination
Meaning:
n [U and C]   the act of murdering an important person//  assassination of//  --the assassination of Anwar Sadat//  --He narrowly escaped an assassination attempt  (=when someone tries but fails to kill someone else) .//    character assassination at character(6)//


Words: assault
Meaning:
W3   n   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: assaut, from  Latin assaltus, past participle of  assalire;   ASSAIL]//\n  1 [U and C] the crime of physically attacking someone:  --a case of robbery and assault//  for assault//  --He was jailed for assault.//  sexual/indecent assault //  --victims of indecent assault//  assault on/against//  --sexual assaults on women//  --Several soldiers have been charged with assault .//\n  2 [U and C] a military attack to take control of a place controlled by the enemy:  assault on//  --an unsuccessful assault on the enemy lines//  --The refugee camp came under assault again last night.//  --a powerful assault rifle//\n  3 [U and C] a strong spoken or written criticism of someone else’s ideas, plans etc:   attack//  assault on//  --an assault on the capitalist system//  under assault//  --Traditional family values are increasingly under assault.//\n  4 [C] an attempt to achieve something difficult, especially using physical force:  assault on//  --an assault on Mt Everest (=an attempt to climb it) //\nassault 2 v [T] \n  1 to attack someone in a violent way:  --Two men assaulted him after he left the bar.//  sexually/indecently assault //  --He was found guilty of indecently assaulting a student.//\n  2  literary if a feeling, sound, smell etc assaults you, it affects you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or upset:  --The noises and smells of the market assaulted her senses.//\n  3 to strongly criticize someone’s ideas, plans etc:\n  4 to try to do something very difficult:  --a task force to assault the problems//


Words: assault course
Meaning:
n [C]  BrE   an area of land with special equipment to climb, jump over, run through etc that is used for developing physical strength, especially by soldiers//  American Equivalent:  obstacle course//


Words: assay
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: assaier,  essaier, from  Late Latin exagium;   ESSAY1]//  to test a substance, especially a metal, to see how pure it is or what it is made of//  -- assay/[hA353]se[hA366], [zB024]se[hA366] $ [zB024]se[hA366], [zB024]se[hA366]/ n  [C] //


Words: assemblage
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [C] a group of things collected together:  assemblage of//  --a unique assemblage of wildlife//\n  2 [U+of] when parts are put together in order to make something:


Words: assemble
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: assembler, from  Vulgar Latin assimulare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  simul  ’together’]//\n  1 [I and T] if you assemble a large number of people or things, or if they assemble, they are gathered together in one place, often for a particular purpose:  --A large crowd had assembled outside the American embassy.//  --He looked around at the assembled company  (=all the people who had come there) .//  --She had assembled a collection of her favourite songs.//\n  2 [T] to put all the parts of something together:  --The aircraft will continue to be assembled in France.//


Words: assembly
Meaning:
W2S3   n   plural  assemblies //\n  1 [C] a group of people who are elected to make decisions or laws for a particular country, area, or organization:  --the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland//  --the speaker of the California state assembly//\n  2 [C,U ] the meeting together of a group of people for a particular purpose:  assembly of//  --an assembly of reporters//  --Police have imposed conditions on public assemblies. //  --Restrictions on freedom of assembly have gradually been relaxed.//  --an assembly point  (=a place where people go in a particular situation) //\n  3 [U and C] a regular meeting of all the teachers and students of a school:\n  4 [U] the process of putting the parts of something together:  --instructions for assembly//


Words: assembly language
Meaning:
n [U and C]  technical   a computer language used in programs that are written to work with a specific kind of processor//


Words: assembly line
Meaning:
n [C]   a system for making things in a factory in which the products move past a line of workers who each make or check one part//


Words: assent
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   approval or agreement from someone who has authority//  --a nod of assent//  assent of//  --the assent of the Board of Governors//  assent to//  --Parliament gave its assent to war.//\nassent 2 v [I]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: assenter, from  Latin assentire, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sentire  ’to feel’]//  to agree to a suggestion, idea etc after considering it carefully//  assent to//  --They assented to his request to work from home.//


Words: assert
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  asserere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  serere  ’to join’]//\n  1 to state firmly that something is true:  --French cooking, she asserted, is the best in the world.//  assert that//  --He asserted that nuclear power was a safe and non-polluting energy source.//\n  2  assert your rights/independence/superiority etc:  to state very strongly your right to something//  --Native Americans asserting their rights to ancestral land//\n  3  assert yourself:  to behave in a determined way and say clearly what you think//  --Women began to assert themselves politically.//\n  4  assert itself:  if an idea or belief asserts itself, it begins to influence something//  --National pride began to assert itself.//


Words: assertion
Meaning:
n [C]   something that you say or write that you strongly believe//  assertion that//  --the assertion that house prices are falling//  assertion of//  --her assertion of independence//  assertion about//  --her assertions about the murder of her father//  --She makes very general assertions about marriage in the poem.//


Words: assertive
Meaning:
adj   behaving in a confident way, so that people notice you//  -- assertively adv //  -- assertiveness n  [U] //  --assertiveness training//


Words: assess
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: assesser, from  Latin, past participle of  assidere  ’to sit beside, help in making judgments’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sedere  ’to sit’]//\n  1 to make a judgment about a person or situation after thinking carefully about it:   judge//  assess the impact/extent/effectiveness etc of sth //  --a report to assess the impact of advertising on children//  assess what/how etc//  --The technique is being tried in classrooms to assess what effects it may have.//  be assessed as sth//  --Many of the adults were assessed as having learning difficulties.//\n  2 to calculate the value or cost of something:  be assessed at sth//  --The value of the business was assessed at [hA124]1.25 million.//


Words: assessment
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 a process in which you make a judgment about a person or situation, or the judgment you make:  assessment of//  --What’s Michael’s assessment of the situation?//  --a reading assessment test//\n  2 a calculation about the cost or value of something:  --a tax assessment//    continuous assessment at continuous(3)//


Words: assessor
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone whose job is to calculate the value of something or the amount of tax someone should pay:\n  2  BrE someone who decides how well someone has done in an examination:   examiner//\n  3 someone who knows a lot about a subject or activity and who advises a judge or an official committee:


Words: asset
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: assets (singular)  ’enough money to pay debts’ (16-19 centuries), from  Anglo-French asetz, from  Old French assez  ’enough’]//\n  1 [usually plural] the things that a company owns, that can be sold to pay debts:  in assets//  --a corporation with $9 billion in assets//  --the value of a company’s assets//\n  2 [usually singular] something or someone that is useful because they help you succeed or deal with problems:  → liability//  --A sense of humor is a great asset in this business.//  be an asset to sb/sth//  --I think Rachel would be an asset to the department.//    fixed assets,  liquid assets//


Words: asset stripping
Meaning:
n [U]   the practice of buying a company cheaply and then selling all the things it owns to make a quick profit - used to show disapproval//


Words: asshole
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE  spoken  not polite \n  1 someone who you think is stupid and annoying:  British Equivalent:  arsehole//\n  2 the anus:


Words: assiduous
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: asiduus, from  assidere;   ASSESS]//  very careful to make sure that something is done properly or completely//   meticulous//  assiduous in//  --He was assiduous in his attendance at church.//  -- assiduously adv //  --Even young children worked assiduously for a reward.//  -- assiduity/[zB024]s[hA369]dju[hA359][hA369]ti $ -du[hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: assign
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: assigner, from  Latin assignare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  signare  ’to mark’]//\n  1 to give someone a particular job or make them responsible for a particular person or thing:  assign sb a task/role //  --I’ve been assigned the task of looking after the new students.//  assign sb to sth//  --Jan’s been assigned to the Asian Affairs Bureau.//  assign sb to do sth//  --Madison was assigned to investigate a balloon accident.//  assign sb sth//  --Assign each student a partner.//\n  2 to give a particular time, value, place etc to something:  --How much time have you assigned for the meeting?//  assign sth to sth//  --A code was assigned to each batch of work.//\n  3 to give money, equipment etc to someone to use:  assign sth to sb//  --A personal bodyguard had been assigned to her.//  assign sb sth//  --They assigned me a small room.//


Words: assignation
Meaning:
n [C]  formal   a secret meeting, especially with someone you are having a romantic relationship with - often used humorously//


Words: assignment
Meaning:
S2   n \n  1 [U and C] a piece of work that is given to someone as part of their job:  on an assignment//  --She’s gone to Italy on a special assignment.//  on assignment//  --He was killed while on assignment abroad.//\n  2 [C] a piece of work that a student is asked to do:  --a history assignment//\n  3 [U] when people are given particular jobs to do:\n  4 [C] something such as a place to sit, piece of equipment etc that you are given to use for a particular purpose:  --an aeroplane seat assignment//


Words: assimilate
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: , past participle of  assimilare, from  Latin assimulare  ’to make similar’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  simulare (  SIMULATE)]//\n  1 [T] to completely understand and begin to use new ideas, information etc:   absorb//  --It will take time to assimilate all these facts.//\n  2 [I and T] if people assimilate or are assimilated into a country or group, they become part of that group and are accepted by the people in that group:  assimilate into//  --Refugees find it difficult to become assimilated into the community.//


Words: assimilation
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U + of] the process of understanding and using new ideas:\n  2 [U + into] the process of becoming an accepted part of a country or group:


Words: assist
Meaning:
W3S3   v  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: assister  ’to be present, help’, from  Latin assistere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sistere  ’to cause to stand’]//\n  1 [I and T] to help someone to do something:  assist (sb) with/in sth//  --You will be employed to assist in the development of new equipment. see usage note  help1 //\n  2 [T] to make it easier for someone to do something:  --They had no maps to assist them.//\nassist 2 n [C]   an action that helps another player on your sports team to make a point//


Words: assistance
Meaning:
W2S3   n [U]   help or support//  offer/provide/give assistance (to sb) //  --We offer financial assistance to students.//  financial/technical/legal/military assistance //  --Technical assistance for the product is free of charge.//  --Can I be of any assistance  (=can I help you) ?//  with the assistance of sb/sth//  --We’ve only been able to rebuild the theatre with the assistance of the National Lottery.//  --One of her fellow passengers came to her assistance  (=helped her) .//


Words: assistant
Meaning:
adj   assistant manager/director/cook etc//  someone whose job is just below the level of manager, etc//\nassistant 2 S3 n [C] \n  1 someone who helps someone else in their work, especially by doing the less important jobs:  --a clerical assistant//\n  2  BrE a shop assistant:    personal assistant//


Words: assisted suicide
Meaning:
n [U and C]   when a doctor or someone else helps a person who is very ill to kill themselves in order to end their suffering//    euthanasia//


Words: assizes
Meaning:
n [plural]    old use a meeting of a court in which a judge who travelled to different towns in Britain dealt with cases//


Words: associate
Meaning:
W2S3   v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  associare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sociare  ’to join’]//\n  1 [T] to make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another:  associate sb/sth with sth//  --I don’t associate him with energetic sports.//\n  2  be associated (with sb/sth):  a) to be related to a particular subject, activity etc//  --problems associated with cancer treatment//  b)  also associate yourself with sb/sth //  to show that you support someone or something//  --He did not associate himself with the pro-democracy movement.//\n  3  associate with sb:  to spend time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove of//  --I don’t like these layabouts you’re associating with.//\nassociate 2   n [C]   someone who you work or do business with//   colleague//  --one of his business associates//\nassociate 3 adj   associate member/director/head etc//  someone who is a member etc of something, but who is at a lower level and has fewer rights//


Words: associate professor
Meaning:
n [C]   a professor at an American university whose job is above the level of assistant professor and below the level of professor//


Words: association
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] an organization that consists of a group of people who have the same aims, do the same kind of work etc:  --the Association of Master Builders//    housing association//\n  2 [U and C] a relationship with a particular person, organization, group etc:  association with//  --his close association with the Green Party//\n  3  in association with sb/sth:  made or done with another person, organization etc//  --concerts sponsored by the Arts Council in association with local businesses//\n  4 [C] a connection or relationship between two events, ideas, situations etc:  association between//  --the strong association between the disease and middle-aged women//\n  5 [C] a feeling or memory that is related to a particular place, event, word etc:  --Scotland has all kinds of happy associations for me.//


Words: associative
Meaning:
adj  technical   reminding you of something else//  --the brain’s ability to form associative links between different things//


Words: assonance
Meaning:
n [U]  technical   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: Latin assonare  ’to answer with the same sound’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sonare  ’to sound’]//  similarity in the vowel sounds of words that are close together in a poem, for example between ’born’ and ’warm’//


Words: assorted
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin:  Past participle of  assort  ’to divide into types’ (15-21 centuries), from  Old French assorter, from  sorte  ’sort’]//  of various different types//  --paintbrushes in assorted sizes//  --assorted vegetables//    ill-assorted//


Words: assortment
Meaning:
n [C]   a mixture of different things or of various kinds of the same thing//  assortment of//  --a wide assortment of friends//  --an odd assortment of knives and forks//


Words: assuage
Meaning:
v [T]  literary   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: assouagier, from  Vulgar Latin assuaviare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  suavis  ’sweet’]//  to make an unpleasant feeling less painful or severe//   relieve//  --Nothing could assuage his guilt. //


Words: assume
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: assumere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  sumere  ’to take’]//\n  1 to think that something is true, although you do not have definite proof:   presume//  assume (that)//  --I didn’t see your car, so I assumed you’d gone out.//  it is/seems reasonable to assume (that) //  --It seems reasonable to assume that the book was written around 70 AD.//  --I think we can safely assume  (=it is almost certain) that interest rates will go up again soon.//  let us/let’s assume (that) (=used when thinking about a possible event or situation and its possible results) //  --Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we?//  --When it got to midnight and Paul was still not back, I began to assume the worst  (=think that the worst possible thing had happened) .//\n  2  assume control/responsibility etc:   formal to start to have control, responsibility etc or to start in a particular position or job//  --Whoever they appoint will assume responsibility for all financial matters.//  --He assumed power in a bloody coup in 1990.//  --Jim Paton will  assume the role of  managing director.//\n  3  assume a manner/air/expression etc:   formal to behave in a way that does not show how you really feel, especially in order to seem more confident, happy etc than you are//   put on//  --Andy assumed an air of indifference whenever her name was mentioned.//\n  4 to start to have a particular quality or appearance:   take on//  --These relationships assume great importance in times of crisis.//  --The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions .//\n  5 to be based on the idea that something else is correct:   presuppose//  assume (that)//  --The theory assumes that both labour and capital are mobile.//  --Coen’s economic forecast assumes a 3.5% growth rate.//    assuming//


Words: assumed name
Meaning:
n [C]   if you do something under an assumed name, you do it using a name that is not your real name//   pseudonym//  --He’s been living in Peru under an assumed name.//


Words: assuming
Meaning:
conj  also  assuming that  used when talking about an event or situation that might happen, and what you will do if it happens//  --Assuming that you get a place at university, how are you going to finance your studies?//


Words: Assumption
Meaning:
The \n  1 in the  Roman Catholic religion, the Assumption is when the  Virgin Mary (=Jesus’ mother)  went up into heaven, without dying first:\n  2 the day (15 August) on which this event is celebrated :


Words: assumption
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] something that you think is true although you have no definite proof:  assumption that//  --A lot of people make the assumption that poverty only exists in the Third World.//  --My calculations were based on the assumption that house prices would remain steady.//  --We are working on the assumption that the conference will take place as planned.//  assumption about//  --People make a lot of assumptions about me.//  underlying assumption (=a belief that is used as the basis for an idea, but which may not be correct) //\n  2 [U]  formal when someone starts to have control or power:  assumption of//  --the assumption of responsibility//


Words: assurance
Meaning:
n \n  1 [C] a promise that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, made especially to make someone less worried:  --Despite my repeated assurances, Rob still looked very nervous.//  give/seek/receive an assurance (that) //  --He gave an assurance that the work would be completed by Wednesday.//\n  2 [U] a feeling of calm confidence about your own abilities, or that you are right about something:  --the calm assurance with which she handled the horse//  --’Jack will never agree to that,’ he said with assurance.//\n  3 [U]  BrE  technical insurance, especially to provide money when someone dies:  American Equivalent:  insurance//    life assurance//


Words: assure
Meaning:
W3S2   v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: assurer, from  Medieval Latin assecurare, from  Latin ad-  ’to’ +  securus  ’safe’]//\n  1 to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true so that they are less worried:   reassure//  assure sb that//  --Her doctor has assured us that she’ll be fine.//  --The document is genuine, I can assure you .//  assure sb of sth//  --The dealer had assured me of its quality.//    rest assured at rest2 (5)//\n  2 to make something certain to happen or to be achieved:   ensure//  --Excellent reviews have assured the film’s success.//  assure sb (of) sth//  --A win on Saturday will assure them of promotion to Division One.//\n  3  assure yourself:   formal to check that something is correct or true//  assure yourself that//  --Tim waited a moment to assure himself that he was not being followed.//  assure yourself of//  --I took steps to assure myself of her guilt.//\n  4  the sum assured:   formal the amount of insurance money to be paid out when someone dies//


Words: assured
Meaning:
adj \n  1 confident about your own abilities:   self-assured//  --an assured manner//\n  2  be assured of sth:  if you are assured of something, you will definitely get it or achieve it//  --His victory means that he is now assured of a place in the final.//\n  3 certain to happen or to be achieved:  --Her political future looks assured.//\n  4  the assured:   BrE  technical someone whose life has been insured//


Words: Astaire
Meaning:
Fred   (1899-1987) a US dancer, singer, and actor who appeared in many musical films, often dancing with Ginger  Rogers. His most famous film is  Top Hat (1935).//


Words: asterisk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Late Latin; Origin: asteriscus, from  Greek,  ’little star’, from  aster;   ASTEROID]//  a mark like a star (*), used especially to show something interesting or important//  -- asterisk v  [T] //


Words: Asterix
Meaning:
the main character in a cartoon strip set in ancient times. Asterix is a short, humorous French soldier  who fights the ancient Romans with his friend Obelix.//


Words: asteroid
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Greek; Origin: asteroeides  ’like a star’, from  aster  ’star’]//  one of the many small planets that move around the sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter//


Words: asthma
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: asma, from  Greek asthma, from  azein  ’to breathe hard’]//  a medical condition that causes difficulties in breathing//


Words: asthmatic
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who suffers from asthma//  -- asthmatic adj //  --My son’s asthmatic.//  --an asthmatic attack //


Words: astigmatism
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  A-2 +  Greek stigma  ’mark, point’; because there is no point at which light focuses]//  difficulty in seeing clearly that is caused by a change in the inner shape of the eye//


Words: astonish
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: astone  ’to astonish’ (14-17 centuries) (from  Old French estoner, from  Vulgar Latin extonare, from  Latin tonare  ’to thunder’) +  -ish (as in  abolish)]//  to surprise someone very much//   amaze//  --Her reply astonished me.//  -- It astonished him that she had changed so little.//  -- What astonishes me most is his complete lack of fear.//


Words: astonished
Meaning:
adj   very surprised about something//   amazed//  astonished to see/find/hear/learn etc //  --We were astonished to find the temple still in its original condition.//  astonished by/at//  --I was astonished by the result.//  astonished (that)//  --I’m astonished that you should even think such a thing!//


Words: astonishing
Meaning:
adj   so surprising that it is difficult to believe//   amazing//  --an astonishing decision//  --their astonishing success//  -- astonishingly adv //  --an astonishingly good voice//


Words: astonishment
Meaning:
n [U]   complete surprise//   amazement//  in astonishment//  --She stared at him in astonishment.//  to sb’s astonishment//  --To my astonishment, the car was gone.//


Words: Astor
Meaning:
Nancy   (1879-1964) a British politician, born in the US, who was the first woman to be a member of parliament in the UK//


Words: astound
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Origin:  Probably from the past participle of  astone;   ASTONISH]//  to make someone very surprised or shocked//   astonish//  --The judge’s decision astounded everyone.//


Words: astounded
Meaning:
adj   very surprised or shocked//   astonished//  astounded by/at//  --She was astounded by his arrogance.//


Words: astounding
Meaning:
adj   so surprising that it is almost impossible to believe//   astonishing//  --The concert was an astounding success.//  -- astoundingly adv //  --astoundingly beautiful scenery.//


Words: astrakhan
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Astrakhan city in Russia]//  curly black or grey fur used for making coats and hats//


Words: astral
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: astralis, from  Latin astrum  ’star’, from  Greek astron;   ASTRO-]//\n  1 relating to ideas and experiences connected with the mind and  spirit rather than the body:  --out-of-body experiences and astral travel//\n  2 relating to the stars:


Words: astray
Meaning:
adv   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: estraie  ’wandering’, from  estraier;   STRAY1]//\n  1  go astray:  a) to be lost or stolen//  --The letter had gone astray in the post.//  b) if a plan or action goes astray, it goes wrong//  --The best-laid plans can go astray.//\n  2  lead sb astray:  a) to encourage someone to do bad or illegal things that they would not normally do//  --The older boys led him astray.//  b) to make someone believe something that is not true//  --It’s easy to be led astray by the reports in the papers.//


Words: astride
Meaning:
adv, prep \n  1 with one leg on each side of something:  --a photograph of my mother sitting astride a horse//\n  2 on both sides of a river, road etc:  --The ancient town of Bridgwater, astride the River Parrett, is an ideal touring centre.//


Words: astringent
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: , present participle of  astringere  ’to tie tightly’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  stringere (  STRINGENT)]//\n  1 an astringent liquid is able to make your skin less oily or stop a wound from bleeding:\n  2 criticizing someone very severely:  --astringent remarks//\n  3 having a sharp acid taste:  -- astringency n  [U] //\nastringent 2 n [U and C]  technical   a liquid used to make your skin less oily or to stop a wound from bleeding//


Words: astro-
Meaning:
prefix   [Language: Old French; Origin: Latin, from  Greek, from  astron  ’star’]//  relating to the stars, the planets, or space//  --an astronaut (=someone who travels in space) //  --astronomy (=scientific study of the stars) //


Words: astrology
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: astrologie  ’use of astronomy for human purposes’, from  Latin astrologia, from  Greek, from  astro- (  ASTRO-) +  -logia  ’-logy’]//  the study of the positions and movements of the stars and how they might influence people and events//    astronomy//  -- astrological/[zB024]str[hA353]l[hA361]d[hA360][hA366]k[hA368]l[hA36B] $ -l[hA35A][hA359]-/ adj //


Words: astronaut
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: astro- +  -naut (as in  aeronaut;   AERONAUTICS)]//  someone who travels and works in a spacecraft//


Words: astronomical
Meaning:
adj \n  1  informal astronomical prices, costs etc are extremely high:\n  2 [only before noun] relating to the scientific study of the stars:  -- astronomically/-kli/ adv //  --astronomically high rents//


Words: astronomy
Meaning:
n [U]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: astronomie, from  Latin astronomia, from  Greek, from  astro- (  ASTRO-) +  -nomia  ’arranging’]//  the scientific study of the stars and planets//    astrology//


Words: astrophysics
Meaning:
n [U]   the scientific study of the chemical structure of the stars and the forces that influence them//  -- astrophysicist/-f[hA366]z[hA369]s[hA369]st/ n  [C] //


Words: astute
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: astutus, from  astus  ’skill’]//  able to understand situations or behaviour very well and very quickly, especially so that you can get an advantage for yourself//   clever//  --an astute politician//  --astute investments//  -- astutely adv //  -- astuteness n  [U] //


Words: Asuncion
Meaning:
also Nuestra Se[hA172]ora de La Asuncion   a city in southern Paraguay, the country’s capital, largest city, and main port, on the River Paraguay  //


Words: asunder
Meaning:
adv  literary   [Language: Old English; Origin: onsundran, from  on  ’into’ +  sundran  ’parts’]//  be torn/split/rent etc asunder//  to be torn violently apart or destroyed//  --a nation torn asunder by internal conflicts//


Words: Aswan High Dam
Meaning:
a  dam built across the River Nile in southern Egypt. It is one of the largest dams in the world and is used to produce electricity and provide water for farming//


Words: asylum
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek asylon, from  asylos  ’not able to be seized’]//\n  1 [U] protection given to someone by a government because they have escaped from fighting or political trouble in their own country:  apply for/seek/be granted asylum //  --He has been granted asylum in France.//    political asylum//\n  2 [C]  old use a mental hospital:


Words: asylum seeker
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who leaves their own country because they are in danger, especially for political reasons, and who asks the government of another country to allow them to live there//    refugee//  --The government halted its policy of returning Zimbabwean asylum seekers to their homeland.//


Words: asymmetrical
Meaning:
1 having two sides that are different in shape:  → symmetrical//  --asymmetrical patterns//\n  2  formal not equal:  → symmetrical//  -- asymmetrically/-kli/ adv //  -- asymmetry/e[hA366]s[hA366]m[hA369]tri/ n  [U] //


Words: asymptomatic
Meaning:
adj  medical   if someone or the illness that they have is asymptomatic, the illness has no physical signs//


Words: at
Meaning:
prep   [Language: Old English; Origin: [zB024]t]//\n  1 used to say exactly where something or someone is, or where something happens:  --They live at 18 Victoria Street.//  --Does this train stop at Preston?//  --I was waiting at the bus stop.//  --Liz and her friend sat down at a corner table.//  --Turn left at the church.//  --We’ll meet at Harry’s (=at Harry’s house) .//  --I spent an unpleasant hour at the dentist’s.//  --Dad’s at work (=in the place where he works) .//  at the top/bottom/end etc (of sth) //  --At the top of the stairs, she paused.//\n  2 used to say what event or activity someone is taking part in:  --I met my wife at a disco.//  --The matter was discussed at a meeting of the finance committee.//  --I’m sorry, Pam’s at lunch just now.//\n  3 used to say that someone is studying somewhere regularly:  --Is Jessica still at school?//  --Hulme was a student at Oxford in the 1960s.//\n  4 used to say exactly when something happens:  --The film starts at 8 o’clock.//\n  5 during a particular period of time:  --My husband often works at night.//  --We go to Midnight Mass at Christmas.//\n  6 used to say which thing or person an action is directed towards or intended for:  --He gazed up at the sky.//  --You don’t have to shout at me.//  --The older girls used to throw stones at me.//  --The course is aimed at those aged 16 or over.//\n  7 used to say what or who causes an action or feeling:  --The children all laughed at his jokes.//  --I’m surprised at you!//  --Dad got really mad at me for scratching the car.//  --her distress at having to leave//\n  8 used to say which subject or activity you are talking about when you say whether someone is skilful, successful etc or not:  --Barbara’s getting on really well at her new job.//  good/bad etc at (doing) sth //  --I’ve always been good at maths.//  --Matt’s bad at handling people.//  --He’s an expert at making things out of junk.//\n  9 used to say that someone or something is in a particular state:  --two nations at war//  --Many children are still at risk from neglect or abuse.//\n  10 used to show a price, rate, level, age, speed etc:  --old books selling at 10 cents each//  --You should have more sense at your age.//  --The Renault was travelling at about 50 mph.//  --Amanda rode off at a gallop.//\n  11  at your best/worst/most effective etc:  used to say that, at a particular time, someone or something is as good, bad etc as they can be//  --The garden is at its best in June.//  --This was Sampras at his most powerful.//\n  12 used to say what someone tries to touch, or keeps touching:  --I clutched at the rope but missed.//  --George was just picking at his food.//  --Sarah took another sip at her wine.//\n  13 used to say what someone tries to do:  --the student’s first attempt at a piece of research//  --They were so beautiful that I decided to have a go at growing them.//\n  14 because of what someone has said:  --Chapman visited Austria at the invitation of his friend, Hugo Meisl.//  --At my suggestion, Bernard went to see his former teacher.//\n  15  while I’m/you’re etc at it:   spoken used to suggest that someone should do something while they are doing something else//  --I’m just going for a cup of coffee. Shall I bring you one while I’m at it?//\n  16  be at it again:   informal if you say that someone is at it again, you mean that they are doing something you disapprove of, which they have done before//  --She’s at it again. Interfering in other people’s business.//\n  17  at that:  a) also or besides//  --It’s a new idea, and a good one, at that.//  b) after something is said//  --Tess called him a liar and at that he stormed out of the room.//\n  18  be where it’s at:   old-fashioned  informal used to say that a place or activity is very popular, exciting, and fashionable//    at all at all1 (6)//  ----------//  WORD CHOICEat, in, on //  Talking about time //  Use  at //  with clock times : at one o’clock |  at 6.30 //  with points of time in the day : at midnight |  at noon |  at dawn |  at sunset //  with holiday periods, meaning the few days around the holiday : at Easter |  at Diwali //  with  weekend , in British English : See you at the weekend! | At weekends we go out. //  Use  in //  with parts of the day : in the morning|  in the evening| I never watch TV in the daytime. //  with months, seasons, years, centuries : in May |  in summertime | in 2004|  in the 21st century //  Use  on //  with dates and specific days : on 29th July |  on Tuesday afternoons| on the last day of term //  with  weekend , in American English : We sometimes go there on weekends. //  Talking about position and place //  Use  at //  with particular positions or places : at the end of the corridor |  at the back of the room |  at the corner of the street  //  to mean ’next to’ or ’beside’ : She sat at her desk. | He stopped me at the door. //  with words for buildings, for example  airport ,  university ,  restaurant ,  art gallery : at the airport |  at the Lyceum theatre //  with city or place names, when you are talking about stopping during a journey : Does this train stop at Watford? !!  BUT otherwise use  in  - see below //  Use  in //  with a position or place, when something or someone is inside a larger thing such as a room : in the bath |  in the kitchen |  in the garden |  in the doorway //  with cities, counties, states, and countries : When will you arrive in Tokyo?|  He lives in Germany. |  She’s working in California. //  with the names of squares, plazas etc : in Times Square //  Use  on //  with a position or place, when one thing is attached to or touching another : a spot on the end of her nose| a jacket on the back of a chair //  with street names : on the High Street |  on 42nd Street |  on Broadway //  ----------//


Words: at-risk
Meaning:
adj   at-risk children/patients/groups etc//  people who need special care because they are likely to be in danger from violent parents, to become ill etc//  at-risk register (=an official list of people in this situation) //


Words: Ataturk
Meaning:
Kemal   (1881-1938) a Turkish politician and army officer who established the modern state of Turkey and became its first President in 1923//


Words: atavistic
Meaning:
adj  formal   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: atavism  ’being like ancestors’ (19-21 centuries), from  French atavisme, from  Latin atavus  ’ancestor’]//  atavistic feelings are very basic human feelings that people have felt since humans have existed//


Words: atheism
Meaning:
n [U]   the belief that God does not exist//    agnosticism (agnostic)//  -- atheist n  [C] //  -- atheistic/e[hA366][hA35F]i[hA366]st[hA366]k[hA36B]/ adj //


Words: Athena
Meaning:
also Athene   in Greek  mythology, the goddess of  wisdom and the arts. In Roman mythology her name is  Minerva.//


Words: Athens
Meaning:
the capital city of Greece. Athens was the most important city of ancient Greece.//  -- Athenian adj  n //


Words: athlete
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: athleta, from  Greek athletes, from  athlon  ’prize, competition’]//\n  1 someone who competes in sports competitions, especially running, jumping, and throwing:  --a professional athlete//\n  2 someone who is good at sports and who often does sports:  --I was a natural athlete as a kid.//


Words: athletic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 physically strong and good at sport:  --a tall athletic man//\n  2 [only before noun] relating to athletics:  --athletic ability//


Words: athletics
Meaning:
n [U] \n  1  BrE sports such as running and jumping:  American Equivalent:  track and field//\n  2  AmE physical activities such as sports and exercise:


Words: atishoo
Meaning:
BrE   also  achoo  [Date: 1800-1900; Origin:  From the sound of sneezing]//  a word used to represent the sound you make when you sneeze//


Words: Atlantic
Meaning:
the Atlantic//  the Atlantic Ocean. British people sometimes use phrases such as ’across the Atlantic’ or ’on the other side of the Atlantic’ when they are talking about the US, and Americans use these phrases when they are talking about western Europe, especially the UK//  --Scientists from both sides of the Atlantic will meet next month in New York.//


Words: Atlantic Ocean
Meaning:
the Atlantic Ocean//  the ocean between the east coast of North and South America and the west coast of Europe and Africa. The Atlantic Ocean is the world’s second largest ocean.//


Words: Atlantis
Meaning:
according to ancient Greek stories, an island  continent west of Gibraltar that sank into the Atlantic Ocean after an  earthquake//


Words: Atlas
Meaning:
in Greek  mythology, one of the  Titans (=the first gods who ruled the universe) . After the Titans were defeated by  Zeus, Atlas was forced to hold the sky on his shoulders forever. In art, however, Atlas is usually shown holding the world on his shoulders, not the sky.//


Words: atlas
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Atlas giant in an ancient Greek story who had to hold up the sky; because his name was used as the title of a 16th-century book of maps]//  a book containing maps, especially of the whole world//    road atlas//


Words: ATM
Meaning:
n [C]   automated teller machine a machine outside a bank that you use to get money from your account//   cashpoint//


Words: atmosphere
Meaning:
W2   n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: atmosphaera, from  Greek atmos  ’liquid in the air, vapor’ +  Latin sphaera  ’sphere’]//\n  1 [U and C] the feeling that an event or place gives you:  --The hotel had a lovely relaxed atmosphere .//  --The atmosphere at home was rather tense.//  atmosphere of//  --An atmosphere of optimism dominated the conference.//\n  2 [U] if a place or event has atmosphere, it is interesting:  --The castle was centuries old and full of atmosphere.//  --The match was lacking in atmosphere.//\n  3  the atmosphere:  the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth//\n  4 [C] the mixture of gases that surround a planet:\n  5 [C usually singular] the air inside a room:  --a smoky atmosphere//


Words: atmospheric
Meaning:
adj \n  1 [only before noun] relating to the Earth’s atmosphere:  --atmospheric pressure//\n  2 if a place, event, sound etc is atmospheric, it gives you a particular feeling, especially a pleasant or mysterious one:  --the atmospheric decor in the restaurant//  --atmospheric music//


Words: atmospherics
Meaning:
n [plural] \n  1 features or qualities in something, especially a piece of music or a book, that give you a particular feeling:\n  2 continuous cracking noises that sometimes interrupt radio broadcasts:


Words: atoll
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Maldivian; Origin: atolu]//  a coral island in the shape of a ring//


Words: atom
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: atomus, from  Greek, from  atomos  ’that cannot be divided’, from  temnein  ’to cut’]//\n  1 the smallest part of an element that can exist alone or can combine with other substances to form a molecule:  --carbon atoms//  atom of//  --two atoms of hydrogen//\n  2 a very small amount of something - used for emphasis:  atom of//  --There isn’t an atom of truth in it.//


Words: atomic
Meaning:
adj \n  1 relating to the energy produced by splitting atoms or the weapons that use this energy:  --atomic power//  --an atomic submarine//\n  2 relating to the atoms in a substance:  --atomic weight//


Words: atomize
Meaning:
also  atomise BrE   v [T] \n  1 to make a substance change into  atoms:\n  2  especially AmE to divide something so that it is no longer whole or united:  --a society that has become atomized//


Words: atomizer
Meaning:
n [C]   a container from which you can make a liquid such as perfume come out in very small drops like mist//


Words: atonal
Meaning:
adj   a piece of music that is atonal is not based on a particular key2(4)//  -- atonality/e[hA366]t[hA353][hA35E]n[zB024]l[hA369]ti, [zB024]- $ -to[hA35E]-/ n  [U] //


Words: atone
Meaning:
v [I]  formal   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: at one  ’in agreement’]//  to do something to show that you are sorry for having done something wrong//  atone for//  --Richard was anxious to atone for his thoughtlessness.//


Words: atonement
Meaning:
n [singular, U]  formal   something you do to show that you are sorry for having done something wrong//  atonement for//  --The priest is a representative of his people, making atonement for their sin.//


Words: atrium
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin]//\n  1 a large high open space in a tall building:\n  2 one of the two spaces in the top of your heart that push blood into the ventricles:


Words: atrocious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: atrox  ’sad, cruel’, from  ater  ’black’ +  -ox  ’looking, appearing’]//  extremely bad//   awful//  --atrocious weather//  --Her singing was atrocious.//  -- atrociously adv //


Words: atrocity
Meaning:
n   plural  atrocities  [C usually plural, U] //  an extremely cruel and violent action, especially during a war//


Words: atrophy
Meaning:
v   past tense and past participle  atrophied present participle  atrophying third person singular  atrophies  [I and T] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Late Latin; Origin: atrophia  ’becoming smaller or weaker’, from  Greek, from  atrophos  ’badly fed’, from  trephein  ’to feed’]//  if a part of the body atrophies or is atrophied, it becomes weak because of lack of use or lack of blood//  --therapy to prevent the leg muscles from atrophying//  -- atrophy n  [U] //


Words: attach
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: atachier,  estachier, from  estache  ’sharp post’]//\n  1 [T] to fasten or connect one object to another:   fix//  attach sth to sth//  --Attach a recent photograph to your application form.//  --a small battery attached to a little loudspeaker//  the attached form/cheque/leaflet etc //  --Please fill in and return the attached reply slip.//\n  2  be attached to sb/sth:  to like someone or something very much, because you have known them or had them for a long time//  --It’s easy to become attached to the children you work with.//\n  3  attach importance/significance etc to sth:  to believe that something is important//  --People attach too much importance to economic forecasts.//\n  4 [I and T] if blame attaches or is attached to someone, they are responsible for something bad that happens:  --No blame can be attached to Roy for the incident.//\n  5 [I and T] if a quality, feeling, idea etc attaches or is attached to a person, thing, or event, it is connected with them:  attach to//  --It’s easy to let the emotions attached to one situation spill over into others.//\n  6  be attached to sth:  a) to work for part of a particular organization, especially for a short period of time//  --He was attached to the foreign affairs department of a Japanese newspaper.//  b) to be part of a bigger organization//  --The Food Ministry is attached to the Ministry of Agriculture.//\n  7 [T] to connect a document or  file to an email so that you can send them together:\n  8  attach yourself to sb:  to join someone and spend a lot of time with them, often without being invited or welcome//  --A young man from Canada had attached himself to Sam.//\n  9  attach a condition (to sth):  to allow something to happen, but only if someone agrees to do a particular thing or accept a particular idea//  --When approving a merger, the commission can attach conditions.//\n  10  attach a label to sb/sth:  to think of or describe someone or something as being a particular thing, especially in a very general way //  --You can’t really attach a label to this type of art.//


Words: attache
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: , past participle of  attacher, from  Old French atachier;   ATTACH]//  someone who works in an embassy, and deals with a particular subject//  --a cultural attache//


Words: attachment
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] a feeling that you like or love someone or something and that you would be unhappy without them:  attachment to/for//  --a child’s attachment to its mother//\n  2 [C] a part that you can put onto a machine to make it do a particular job:  --The vacuum cleaner has various attachments.//\n  3 [U] belief in and loyalty towards a particular idea, organization etc:  attachment to/for//  --old people’s attachment to traditional customs//\n  4 [C] a document or  file that is sent with an email message:  --I’ll send the spreadsheet as an attachment.//\n  5 [U and C] when you fasten or connect one thing to another, or the thing that you use to do this:  --Hooks were fixed to the wall for the attachment of the ropes.//  --the attachments that secure your boots firmly to the skis//\n  6  on attachment:  working for a particular organization, especially for a short period of time//  --He was sent on attachment to their offices in Hong Kong.//\n  7 [U and C]  law a situation in which part of the money someone earns or money that is owed to them is taken by a court of law and used to pay their debts:\n  8 [C]  technical a piece of paper fastened to a document such as an insurance agreement, which shows a special condition of the agreement:


Words: attack
Meaning:
W1S2   n   ----------//\n   1 violence against somebody/something:\n   2 in a war:\n   3 criticism:\n   4 illness:\n   5 emotion:\n   6 attempt to stop something:\n   7 sport:\n   8 damage:  ----------//\n  1 VIOLENCE AGAINST SOMEBODY/SOMETHING:   [C] an act of violence that is intended to hurt a person or damage a place//  attack on//  --There have been several attacks on foreigners recently.//  --a bomb attack //  --a knife attack //  --an arson attack  (=an attempt to destroy a building using fire) //  --victims of racial attacks //\n  2 IN A WAR:   [U and C] the act of using weapons against an enemy in a war//  --The attack began at dawn.//  attack on//  --the attack on Pearl Harbor//  be/come under attack //  --Once again we came under attack from enemy fighter planes.//  --Rebel forces launched  (=started) an attack late Sunday night.//  air/missile/nuclear etc attack //  --the threat of nuclear attack//\n  3 CRITICISM:   [U and C] a strong and direct criticism of someone or something//  attack on//  --The magazine recently published a vicious personal attack on the novelist.//  be/come under attack (=be strongly criticized) //  --The company has come under fierce attack for its decision to close the factory.//  go on the attack (=start to criticize someone severely) //\n  4 ILLNESS:   [C] a sudden short period of suffering from an illness, especially an illness that you have often//  attack of//  --I had a bad attack of flu at Christmas.//  --He died after suffering a severe asthma attack .//    heart attack//\n  5 EMOTION:   [C] a short period of time when you suddenly feel extremely frightened or worried and cannot think normally or deal with the situation//  panic/anxiety attack //  --Her heart began to pound frantically, as if she were having a panic attack.//  attack of//  --a sudden attack of nerves//\n  6 ATTEMPT TO STOP SOMETHING:   [U and C] actions that are intended to get rid of or stop something such as a system, a set of laws etc//  attack on//  --The new measures were seen by many as an attack on the Scottish way of life.//\n  7 SPORT:  a)  [U and C] an attempt by a player or group of players to score goals or win points//  b)  BrE  [singular] the players in a team that are responsible for trying to score goals or win points//  American Equivalent:  offense//    defence//  in attack//  --Heath will play alongside Smith in attack.//\n  8 DAMAGE:   [U and C] when something such as a disease, insect, or chemical damages something//  --Unfortunately, the carved ceilings have suffered woodworm attack over the years.//\nattack 2 v   ----------//\n   1 use violence:\n   2 in a war:\n   3 criticize:\n   4 damage:\n   5 begin doing:\n   6 sport:  ----------//  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: attaquer, from  Old Italian attaccare  ’to attach’, from  stacca  ’sharp post’]//\n  1 USE VIOLENCE:   [I and T] to deliberately use violence to hurt a person or damage a place//  --She was attacked while walking home late at night.//  --His shop was attacked by a gang of youths.//  --Snakes will only attack if you disturb them.//  attack sb/sth with sth//  --He needed 200 stitches after being attacked with a broken bottle.//\n  2 IN A WAR:   [I and T] to start using guns, bombs etc against an enemy in a war//  --Army tanks attacked a village near the capital on Sunday.//\n  3 CRITICIZE:   [T] to criticize someone or something very strongly//  --Last year Dr Travis publicly attacked the idea that abortion should be available on demand.//  attack sb for (doing) sth//  --Newspapers attacked the government for failing to cut taxes.//  strongly/bitterly/savagely etc attack sb/sth //\n  4 DAMAGE:   [T] if something such as a disease, insect, or chemical attacks something, it damages it//  --a cruel disease that attacks the brain and nervous system//\n  5 BEGIN DOING:   [T] to begin to do something in a determined and eager way//  --She immediately set about attacking the problem.//  --Martin attacked his meal (=started eating) with vigour.//\n  6 SPORT:   [I and T] to move forward and try to score goals or win points//    defend//  --Brazil began to attack more in the second half of the match.//


Words: attacker
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 a person who deliberately uses violence to hurt someone:  --Her attacker then dragged her into bushes.//  --a sex attacker //\n  2 a member of a sports team whose job is to move forward and try to score goals or win points:    defender//


Words: attain
Meaning:
v [T]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ataindre, from  Latin attingere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  tangere  ’to touch’]//\n  1 to succeed in achieving something after trying for a long time:  --More women are attaining positions of power in public life.//\n  2 to reach a particular level, age, size etc:  --Share prices attained a high of $3.27.//  --After a year she had attained her ideal weight.//  -- attainable adj //  --This target should be attainable.//


Words: attainment
Meaning:
n  formal \n  1 [U] success in achieving something or reaching a particular level:   achievement//  --a low level of educational attainment//\n  2 [C] something that you have succeeded in achieving or learning, such as a skill:   achievement//  --a society remarkable for its cultural attainments//


Words: attempt
Meaning:
W1S2   n [C] \n  1 an act of trying to do something, especially something difficult:  attempt to do sth//  --All attempts to control inflation have failed.//  --The protesters made no attempt to resist arrest.//  --his first unsuccessful attempt to become an MP//  -- In an attempt to diffuse the tension I suggested that we break off for lunch.//  attempt at (doing) sth//  --her feeble attempt at humour//  at the first/second etc attempt //  --She passed her driving test at the first attempt.//  assassination/suicide/murder attempt //\n  2  an attempt on sb’s life:  an act of trying to kill someone, especially someone famous or important//\nattempt 2 v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: attemptare, from  ad-  ’to’ +  temptare  ’to touch, try’]//\n  1 to try to do something, especially something difficult:  attempt to do sth//  --In this chapter I will attempt to explain what led up to the revolution.//  --Weather conditions prevented them from attempting the jump.//\n  2  attempted murder/suicide/rape etc:  an act of trying to kill or harm someone, kill yourself etc//  --He pleaded guilty to attempted murder.//


Words: attend
Meaning:
v  formal   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: atendre, from  Latin attendere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  tendere  ’to stretch’]//\n  1 [I and T] to go to an event such as a meeting or a class:  --Only 12 people attended the meeting.//  --Please let us know if you are unable to attend.//\n  2 [I and T] to go regularly to a school, church etc:  --I am the first child in my family to attend college.//\n  3 [T]  formal to happen or exist at the same time as something:  --the peculiar atmosphere which attends such an event//\n  4 [T usually passive] to look after someone, especially because they are ill:  --On his deathbed the General was attended by several doctors.//  attend to / [attend to sb/sth] phr v//\n  1 to deal with business or personal matters:  --I may be late - I have got one or two things to attend to.//\n  2 to help a customer in a shop or a restaurant:   serve//


Words: attendance
Meaning:
n \n  1 [U and C] the number of people who attend a game, concert, meeting etc:  --We have an average attendance of 4000 fans per game.//  --Last year’s fair saw  attendance figures  of 32,000.//\n  2 [U and C] when someone goes to a meeting, class etc, or an occasion when they go:  attendance at//  --Most courses involve an average of eight hours attendance at college each week.//  --The doctor will have a record of her attendances.//\n  3  be in attendance (at sth):   formal to be at a special or important event//  --Over 2000 people were in attendance at yesterday’s demonstration.//\n  4  be in attendance on sb:   formal to look after someone or serve them//    dance attendance on sb at dance2 (5)//


Words: attendant
Meaning:
n [C] \n  1 someone whose job is to look after or help customers in a public place:  --a carpark attendant//\n  2 someone who looks after a very important person, for example a king or queen:\nattendant 2 adj  formal   relating to or caused by something//  attendant problems/difficulties/dangers etc //  --nuclear power, with all its attendant risks//  attendant on//  --Drugs are one of the issues attendant on running a school.//


Words: attender
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who regularly goes to an event such as a meeting or a class//  --Daniel was a regular attender at the Baptist Church.//


Words: attention
Meaning:
n   ----------//\n   1 listen/look/think carefully:\n   2 interest:\n   3 notice:\n   4 repair/cleaning:\n   5 care:\n   6 stand to/at attention:\n   7 attention!:\n   8 for the attention of somebody:  ----------//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: attentio, from  attendere;   ATTEND]//\n  1 LISTEN/LOOK/THINK CAREFULLY:   [U] when you carefully listen to, look at, or think about someone or something//  --My attention wasn’t really on the game.//  --She tried to pay attention to  what he was saying.//  --If you  paid  more  attention  in class, you might actually learn something!//  --Scott sat down at his desk and turned his attention to the file he had in front of him.//  -- As a society we need to  give  more  attention to  the needs of older people. //  --Now he’s gone, I can  give you my undivided attention .//  --This game is fun and is sure to  keep the attention of  any young student.//  --They listened to the speech with  close attention . //  -- Attention to detail is essential in this job.//  --During the lecture Sarah’s  attention began to  wander .//\n  2 INTEREST:   [plural,U] the interest that people show in someone or something//  --She was flattered by all the attention he was giving her.//  attract/receive/enjoy attention //  --a player who quickly attracted the attention of several clubs//  --The exhibition received little attention in the press.//  public/media/press attention //  --Her case attracted a great deal of media attention.//  hold/keep sb’s attention (=make someone stay interested and keep reading, listening, watching etc) //  --The book holds the reader’s attention right to the very end.//  --Rob loves being the centre of attention  (=the person who everyone is interested in, listens to etc) .//  --She spent a lot of time trying to avoid the attentions (=romantic interest) of her boss.//  --The man then  turned his attentions to  (=became romantically interested in)  her sister.//\n  3 NOTICE:  a)  attract/catch/get sb’s attention//  to make someone notice you, especially because you want to speak to them or you need their help//  --She waved to attract the attention of the waitress.//  b)  get attention//  to make someone notice you and be interested in what you are doing//  --Children often misbehave in order to get attention.//  c)  draw/call attention to sth//   also  focus attention on something//  to make people notice and be concerned or think about something//  --The purpose of the article was to draw attention to the problems faced by single parents.//  --We wanted to focus public attention on this matter.//  --He left quietly to avoid drawing attention to himself.//  d)  divert/distract/draw attention from sth//  to make people stop being concerned about something such as a social problem//  --All this talk of war is just an attempt to draw attention away from the serious economic problems that face our country.//  e)  bring sth to sb’s attention//  to tell someone, especially someone in authority, about something such as a problem//  --The matter was first brought to my attention earlier this year.//  f)  come to sb’s attention//  if something such as a problem comes to the attention of someone in authority, they find out about it//  --It came to my attention that Jenny was claiming overtime pay for hours she had not worked.//  g)  escape your attention//  if something escaped your attention, you did not notice it//  --This fact had not escaped the attention of the authorities.//\n  4 REPAIR/CLEANING:   [U] something you do to repair or clean something//  --The bike’s in fairly good condition, but the gears need a bit of attention .//\n  5 CARE:   [U] things that you do to help or to take care of someone or something//  --Pets need a lot of care and attention .//  --Anyone who comes into contact with these chemicals should seek urgent medical attention .//  --Your plants look like they could do with a bit of attention .//\n  6  stand to/at attention:  if soldiers stand to attention, they stand up straight in neat lines//\n  7  attention!:  a) used to ask people to listen to important information that is being announced, especially on a loudspeaker (=piece of equipment used to make sounds louder) //  --Attention, please! Could Passenger Marie Thomas please proceed to Gate 25 immediately.//  b) used when ordering a group of soldiers to stand up straight in neat lines//\n  8  for the attention of sb:  used on the front of an official letter when you want a particular person to read it or deal with it//  --Letters should be marked ’for the attention of Joe Benson’.//  ----------//  COLLOCATES for sense 1 //  somebody’s attention is on somebody/something //  pay attention (to somebody/something) //  turn your attention to somebody/something  (=start listening to, looking at, or thinking about something) //  give (your) attention to somebody/something  (=listen to, look at, or think about something, so that you can deal with a problem) //  somebody’s full/complete/undivided attention //  keep somebody’s attention //  close/careful attention //  attention to detail //  somebody’s attention wanders //  may/could I have your attention?  (=used when asking a group of people to listen carefully to you) //  ----------//


Words: attention deficit disorder
Meaning:
n [U]   ADD a medical condition that especially affects children. It causes them to be too active and to be unable to pay attention or be quiet for very long.//


Words: attention span
Meaning:
n [C usually singular]   the period of time during which you continue to be interested in something//  --Children often have a  short attention span .//


Words: attentive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 listening to or watching someone carefully because you are interested:  → inattentive//  --an attentive audience//\n  2 making sure someone has everything they need:  attentive to//  --Customers want companies that are attentive to their needs.//  -- attentively adv //  -- attentiveness n  [U] //


Words: attest
Meaning:
v  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: French; Origin: attester, from  Latin attestari, from  ad-  ’to’ +  testis  ’witness’]//\n  1 [I and T] to show or prove that something is true:  attest to//  --Luxurious furnishings attested to the wealth of the owner.//\n  2 [T] to officially state that you believe something is true, especially in a court of law:


Words: attestation
Meaning:
n [U and C]  formal   a legal statement made by someone in which they say that something is definitely true//


Words: attic
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: attique, from  attique  ’of ancient Athens’, from  Latin Atticus; from the use of an ancient Greek style in designing structures around the top of buildings]//  a space or room just below the roof of a house, often used for storing things//  --a small attic room //


Words: Attila
Meaning:
also Attila the Hun   (?406-453 AD) a king of the Huns (=an ancient people from Asia)   who attacked and took control of large parts of the  Roman Empire. He is famous for being violent and cruel.//


Words: attire
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Origin: attire (verb);   ATTIRED]//  clothes//  --business attire//


Words: attired
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]  formal   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: atirier, from  tire  ’order, rank’]//  dressed in a particular way//  --He arrived suitably attired in a dark dinner suit.//


Words: attitude
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: Late Latin aptitudo  ’fitness’, from  Latin aptus;   APT]//\n  1 [U and C] the opinions and feelings that you usually have about something:  attitude to/towards//  --Pete’s attitude towards women really scares me.//  positive/negative attitude //  --people with a positive attitude to life//  --the country’s attitude of mind  (=way of thinking) during the crisis//\n  2 [U and C] the way that you behave towards someone or in a particular situation, especially when this shows how you feel:  --an aggressive attitude//  --As soon as they found out I was a doctor their whole attitude changed.//  --Ben has a real attitude problem  (=is not helpful or pleasant to be with) .//\n  3 [U]  informal a style of dressing, behaving etc that shows you have the confidence to do unusual and exciting things without caring what other people think:  with attitude//  --a coat with attitude//  -- attitudinal/[zB024]t[hA369]tju[hA359]d[hA368]n[hA353]l $ -tu[hA359]-/ adj //


Words: Attlee
Meaning:
Clement   (1883-1967) a British politician in the  Labour Party who was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. His government established the UK’s  National Health Service and the modern  welfare state.//


Words: attorney
Meaning:
n [C]  AmE   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: atorne, past participle of  atorner  ’to give a particular job or position to’, from  torner  ’to turn’]//  a lawyer//   see usage note  lawyer//


Words: attract
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  attrahere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  trahere  ’to pull’]//\n  1 to make someone interested in something, or make them want to take part in something:  attract sb to sth//  --What attracted me most to the job was the chance to travel.//  attract attention/interest etc //  --The story has attracted a lot of interest from the media.//\n  2  be attracted to sb:  to feel that you like someone and want to have a sexual relationship with them//  --I’m not usually attracted to blondes.//\n  3 to make someone like or admire something or feel romantically interested in someone:  --I guess it was his eyes that attracted me first.//\n  4 to make someone or something move towards another thing:  --Leftover food attracts flies.//  --low rents designed to attract new businesses to the area//


Words: attraction
Meaning:
W3   n \n  1 [U and C] a feeling of liking someone, especially in a sexual way:  --The attraction between them was almost immediate.//\n  2 [C] something interesting or enjoyable to see or do:  --The beautiful beaches are the island’s main attraction  (=most popular place, activity etc) .//  tourist attraction (=a place that many tourists visit) //\n  3 [U and C] a feature or quality that makes something seem interesting or enjoyable:  attraction of//  --Being your own boss is one of the attractions of owning your own business.//\n  4 [U and C]  technical a force which makes things move together or stay together:  --gravitational attraction//


Words: attractive
Meaning:
adj \n  1 someone who is attractive is good looking, especially in a way that makes you sexually interested in them:  --an attractive young woman//  --Women seem to find him attractive . see usage note  beautiful//\n  2 pleasant to look at:  --Kitchen utensils should be attractive as well as functional.//\n  3 having qualities that make you want to accept something or be involved in it:  attractive to//  --a political movement that is attractive to young people//  attractive offer/proposition/package etc //  --I must say, it’s a very attractive offer.//  -- attractively adv //  -- attractiveness n  [U] //


Words: attributable
Meaning:
adj [not before noun]   likely to have been caused by something//  attributable to//  --Death was attributable to gunshot wounds.//


Words: attribute
Meaning:
v   attribute to / [attribute sth to sb/sth] phr v//  [Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  attribuere, from  ad-  ’to’ +  tribuere;   TRIBUTE]//\n  1 to believe or say that a situation or event is caused by something:  --The fall in the number of deaths from heart disease is generally attributed to improvements in diet.//\n  2 if people in general attribute a particular statement, painting, piece of music etc to someone, they believe that person said it, painted it etc:  --a saying usually attributed to Confucius//\n  3 to believe or say that someone or something has a particular quality:  --One should not attribute human motives to animals.//  -- attribution/[zB024]tr[hA369]bju[hA359][hA35D][hA368]n/ n  [U] //\nattribute 2   n [C]   a quality or feature, especially one that is considered to be good or useful//  --What attributes should a good manager possess?//


Words: attributive
Meaning:
adj   describing and coming before a noun. For example, in the phrase ’big city’, ’big’ is an attributive adjective, and in the phrase ’school bus’, ’school’ is a noun in an attributive position.//    predicative//  -- attributively adv //


Words: attrition
Meaning:
n [U]  formal   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: attritio, from  atterere  ’to rub against’, from  ad-  ’to’ +  terere  ’to rub’]//\n  1 the process of gradually destroying your enemy or making them weak by attacking them continuously:  --a war of attrition //\n  2  especially AmE when people leave a company or course of study and are not replaced:  --Staff reductions could be achieved through attrition and early retirements.//


Words: attuned
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: tune]//  be/become attuned to sth//  to be or become familiar with the way someone thinks or behaves so that you can react to them in a suitable way//  --British companies still aren’t really attuned to the needs of the Japanese market.//


Words: ATV
Meaning:
n [C]   all terrain vehicle a vehicle which is designed to be ridden on rough ground where there are no roads. ATVs have one seat, no roof, and three or four large wheels.//


Words: Atwood
Meaning:
Margaret   (1939- ) a Canadian writer of  novels and short stories, known especially for her books about women’s lives, such as  Cat’s Eye and The Handmaid’s Tale//


Words: au fait
Meaning:
adj   be au fait with sth//  to be familiar with a system or way of doing something//  --I’m not really au fait with the computer system yet.//


Words: au naturel
Meaning:
adv   not wearing any clothes, or not wearing make-up, hair products etc that change the way you would naturally look//


Words: au pair
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: ’on equal terms’]//  a young person, usually a woman, who stays with a family in a foreign country to learn the language, and looks after their children for a small wage//


Words: aubergine
Meaning:
n [U and C]  BrE   [Date: 1800-1900; Origin: aubergine  ’eggplant’ (18-21 centuries), from  French, from  Catalan alberginia, from  Arabic al-badhinjan  ’the eggplant’, from  Persian badingan]//  a large dark purple vegetable//  American Equivalent:  eggplant//


Words: auburn
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old French; Origin: auborne  ’blond’, from  Medieval Latin alburnus  ’whitish’, from  Latin albus  ’white’; probably influenced by  brun, an early form of  brown]//  auburn hair is a reddish brown colour//  -- auburn n  [U] //


Words: auction
Meaning:
n [U and C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: auctio  ’increase’, from  augere (  AUGMENT); because the money offered increases]//  a public meeting where land, buildings, paintings etc are sold to the person who offers the most money for them//  at auction//  --The house was sold at auction.//  put sth up for auction (=try to sell something at an auction) //  --This week 14 of his paintings were put up for auction.//  auction house (=a company that arranges auctions) //\nauction 2 v [T + off]   to sell something at an auction//


Words: auctioneer
Meaning:
n [C]   someone who is in charge of selling the things at an auction and who calls out how much money has already been offered for something//


Words: audacious
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: audacieux, from  audace  ’audacity’, from  Latin audax  ’brave’, from  audere  ’to dare’]//  showing great courage or confidence in a way that is impressive or slightly shocking//  --the risks involved in such an audacious operation//  -- audaciously adv //


Words: audacity
Meaning:
n [U]   the quality of having enough courage to take risks or say impolite things//  have the audacity to do sth //  --I can’t believe he had the audacity to ask me for more money!//


Words: Auden
Meaning:
W.H.   (1907-73) a British poet who was an important figure in English literature during the 1930s, when be belonged to a group of  left-wing writers. He became a US citizen in 1946.//


Words: audible
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Late Latin; Origin: audibilis, from  Latin audire;   AUDIO]//  a sound that is audible is loud enough for you to hear it//  → inaudible//  --His voice was barely audible  (=could only just be heard) above the roar of the crowd.//  -- audibly adv //  -- audibility/[hA350][hA359]d[hA369]b[hA366]l[hA369]ti $ [hA361][hA359]-/ n  [U] //


Words: audience
Meaning:
n   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin audientia  ’hearing’, from  audire;   AUDIO]//\n  1 [C also + plural verb]  BrE a group of people who come to watch and listen to someone speaking or performing in public:  --The audience began clapping and cheering.//  audience of//  --an audience of 250 business people//  --One member of the audience described the opera as ’boring’.//\n  2 [C also + plural verb]  BrE the people who watch or listen to a particular programme, or who see or hear a particular artist’s, writer’s etc work:  --The show attracts a regular audience of about 20 million.//  target audience (=the type of people that a programme, advertisement etc is supposed to attract) //  --Goya was one of the first painters to look for a wider audience for his work.//  --The book is not intended for a purely academic audience.//\n  3 [C] a formal meeting with a very important person:  audience with//  --He was granted an audience with the Pope.//


Words: audio
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   [Date: 1900-2000; Origin: audio-  ’of hearing’, from  Latin audire  ’to listen’]//  relating to sound that is recorded or broadcast//  --audio and video equipment//\naudio 2 n [U]   the part of a recording that contains sounds and music but not pictures//  --You can save the audio for editing later.//


Words: audiovisual
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]   involving the use of recorded pictures and sound//  --the use of audiovisual materials in the classroom//


Words: audit
Meaning:
n [U and C] \n  1 an official examination of a company’s financial records in order to check that they are correct:  --the annual audit//  internal audit (=an audit carried out by a company’s own staff) //\n  2  formal a detailed examination of something in order to check if it is good enough:  --Start with an audit of existing services within the community.//\naudit 2 v [T]   [Date: 1400-1500; Language: Latin; Origin: , past participle of  audire;   AUDIO]//\n  1 to officially examine a company’s financial records in order to check that they are correct:\n  2  AmE to attend a course at university without intending to take examinations in it or get a credit for it:


Words: Audit Commission
Meaning:
an independent organization in the UK that examines the spending of money by local government councils, and finds ways of reducing their costs//


Words: audition
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: auditio  ’hearing’, from  audire;   AUDIO]//  a short performance by an actor, singer etc that someone watches to judge if they are good enough to act in a play, sing in a concert etc//  audition for//  --I’ve got an audition for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Friday.//\naudition 2 v \n  1 [I] to take part in an audition:  audition for//  --She’s auditioning for Ophelia in ’Hamlet’.//\n  2 [T] to watch and judge someone’s performance in an audition:  --We auditioned more than 200 dancers before deciding on Carole Ann.//


Words: auditorium
Meaning:
n   plural  auditoriums  or  auditoria /-r[hA353]a/ [C] //  [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: ’place for hearing’, from  audire;   AUDIO]//\n  1 the part of a theatre where people sit when watching a play, concert etc:\n  2  AmE a large building used for concerts or public meetings:


Words: auditory
Meaning:
adj [only before noun]  technical   [Date: 1500-1600; Language: Late Latin; Origin: auditorius, from  Latin audire;   AUDIO]//  relating to the ability to hear//


Words: Audubon
Meaning:
John James   (1785-1851) a US  naturalist (=someone who studies animals and plants)  and painter of North American birds//


Words: Augean stables
Meaning:
the   according to ancient Greek stories, the very dirty buildings where a king named Augeas kept thousands of cattle.  Hercules was ordered to clean them, and he did this by changing the direction of a river to make the water flow through the stables. The expression ’to clean the Augean stables’ is sometimes used in literature to describe a very difficult unpleasant job. //


Words: auger
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: a nauger, mistaken for  an auger;  nauger  (11-17 centuries) from  Old English nafogar, from  nafu  ’center of a wheel, hub’ +  gar  ’spear’; because it was originally used to make the hole in the hub of a wheel]//  a tool used for making a hole in wood or in the ground//


Words: aught
Meaning:
pron   [Language: Old English; Origin: awiht, from  a  ’ever’ +  wiht  ’creature, thing’]//   old use anything//


Words: augment
Meaning:
v [T]   [Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: augmenter, from  Late Latin augmentare, from  Latin augere  ’to increase’]//   formal to increase the value, amount, effectiveness etc of something//  --Any surplus was sold to augment their income.//  -- augmentation/[hA350][hA359]gmente[hA366][hA35D][hA368]n, -m[hA353]n- $ [hA361][hA359]g-/ n  [U and C] //


Words: augur
Meaning:
v   [Date: 1500-1600; Origin: augur  ’person who tells the future’ (14-21 centuries), from  Latin]//  augur well/badly/ill//   formal to be a sign that something will be successful or unsuccessful//   bode//  --Today’s announcement of 300 redundancies does not augur well for the local economy.//


Words: August
Meaning:
n [U and C]  written abbreviation Aug.   [Date: 1000-1100; Language: Latin; Origin: Augustus, from  Augustus Caesar (63BC - AD14), Roman emperor]//  the eighth month of the year, between July and September//  next/last August //  --I was there last August.//  in August//  --My birthday’s in August.//  on August 6th//  --The new store opened on August 6th.//  on 6th August//   BrE //  --He arrived at Berwick on 6th August 1823.//  August 6//   AmE //  --We’ll expect you to call August 6.//


Words: august
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Latin; Origin: augustus]//  impressive and respected//  --an august institution//


Words: Augustine
Meaning:
St 1  also St Augustine of Hippo   (354-430 AD) a North African Christian leader,  philosopher, and writer whose books, such as his  Confessions and  The City of God, strongly influenced the development of Christianity//\n St 2  also St Augustine of Canterbury   (?-605 AD) an Italian priest who was sent to England by Pope Gregory I to teach the people about Christianity. He became the first  Archbishop of Canterbury.//


Words: auk
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1600-1700; Language: Norwegian; Origin: Icelandic alk,  alka, from  Old Norse alka]//  a black and white seabird with short wings//


Words: Auld Lang Syne
Meaning:
a Scottish song that people sing when they celebrate the beginning of the new year at 12 o’clock midnight on December 31st//


Words: aunt
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: ante, from  Latin amita]//  the sister of your father or mother, or the wife of your father’s or mother’s brother//  --Aunt Mary//    agony aunt//


Words: Auntie
Meaning:
a name for the  BBC, used humorously to suggest that it is not very exciting or that it treats people who watch or listen to its programmes as children to be educated and protected//


Words: auntie
Meaning:
aunty/[hA35A][hA359]nti $ [zB024]n-/ n [C]  informal \n  1 an aunt:  --Auntie Lou//\n  2 used by children to address a woman who is a friend of their parents:


Words: aura
Meaning:
[C]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Latin; Origin: ’air, light wind’, from  Greek]//  a quality or feeling that seems to surround or come from a person or a place//  aura of//  --The building retains an aura of mystery .//


Words: aural
Meaning:
adj   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Latin; Origin: auris  ’ear’]//  relating to the sense of hearing, or someone’s ability to understand sounds//  --an aural stimulus//  -- aurally adj //


Words: aureole
Meaning:
n [C]   [Date: 1800-1900; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: aureola  ’heavenly crown’, from  Latin aureolus  ’golden’]//   literary a bright circle of light//   halo//


Words: Aurora
Meaning:
in Roman  mythology, the goddess of the  dawn (=the beginning of the day when light first appears) . In Greek mythology her name is  Eos.//


Words: aurora borealis
Meaning:
n [singular]   [Date: 1700-1800; Language: Modern Latin; Origin: ’northern dawn’]//  the Northern Lights//


Words: Auschwitz
Meaning:
the largest and most famous Nazi  concentration camp in World War II, which was in Poland. Over a million people, mostly Jews, died in this camp.//


