# dict

Words: chubby
Meaning:
adjective\nslightly fat in a way that people usually find attractive:\nchubby cheeks / fingers / hands * She was eleven years old and pretty in a chubby sort of way.\n    chubbiness noun [U]


Words: chuck
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (informal)\n  1  (especially BrE) to throw sth carelessly or without much thought: [VN, usually +adv./prep.] He chucked the paper in a drawer. * [VNN] Chuck me the newspaper, would you? [also V]\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (in / up) to give up or stop doing sth:\nYou haven’t chucked your job! * I’m going to chuck it all in (= give up my job) and go abroad.\n  3  [VN] (BrE) to leave your boyfriend or girlfriend and stop having a relationship with him or her:\nHas he chucked her?\n  4  [VN] (spoken) to throw sth away:\nThat’s no good-just chuck it.\n IDIOMS \n  chuck sb under the chin (old-fashioned, BrE) to touch sb gently under the chin in a friendly way\n  it’s chucking it down (BrE, spoken) it’s raining heavily\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  chuck sth<->away | chuck sth<->out to throw sth away:\nThose old clothes can be chucked out.\n  chuck sb off (sth) | chuck sb out (of sth) to force sb to leave a place or a job:\nThey got chucked off the bus. * You can’t just chuck him out.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a part of a tool such as a DRILL that can be adjusted to hold sth tightly\n \n  2  [sing.] (NorthE, informal) a friendly way of addressing sb:\nWhat’s up with you, chuck?\n \n  3  (also chuck steak) [U] meat from the shoulder of a cow


Words: chuckle
Meaning:
verb\n~ (at / about sth) to laugh quietly:\n[V] She chuckled at the memory. [also V speech]\n    chuckle noun:\nShe gave a chuckle of delight.


Words: chuffed
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] ~ (about sth) (BrE, informal) very pleased:\nHe was chuffed to bits to learn that he had won.


Words: chug
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-gg-)\n  1  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to move making the sound of an engine running slowly:\nThe boat chugged down the river.\n  2  [VN] (AmE, slang) to drink all of sth quickly without stopping\n    noun the sound made by a chugging engine


Words: chunk
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a thick solid piece that has been cut or broken off sth:\na chunk of cheese / masonry\n  2  (informal) a fairly large amount of sth:\nI’ve already written a fair chunk of the article.


Words: chunky
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  thick and heavy:\na chunky gold bracelet * (BrE) a chunky sweater\n  2  having a short strong body:\na squat chunky man\n  3  (of food) containing thick pieces:\nchunky marmalade


Words: chunter
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (on) (about sth) (BrE, informal) to talk or complain about sth in a way that other people think is boring or annoying:\nHe’s always chuntering on about something or other.


Words: church
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a building where Christians go to worship:\na church tower * The procession moved into the church. * church services\n \n  2  [U] a service or services in a church:\nHow often do you go to church? * (BrE) They’re at church (= attending a church service). * (AmE) They’re in church. * Church is at 9 o’clock. -> SCHOOL\n \n  3  (Church) [C] a particular group of Christians:\nthe Anglican Church * the Catholic Church * the Free Churches\nsee also DENOMINATION\n  4  ((the) Church) [sing.] the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion:\nThe Church has a duty to condemn violence. * the conflict between Church and State * to go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister)\n IDIOMS  see BROAD adj.


Words: churchwarden
Meaning:
noun\n(in the Anglican Church) a person who is chosen by the members of a church to take care of church property and money


Words: churchyard
Meaning:
noun\nan enclosed area of land around a church, often used for burying people\ncompare CEMETERY, GRAVEYARD


Words: churlish
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) rude or bad-tempered:\nIt would be churlish to refuse such a generous offer.\n    churlishly adverb\n    churlishness noun [U]


Words: churn
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (up) if water, mud, etc. churns, or if sth churns it (up), it moves or is moved around violently:\n[V] The water churned beneath the huge ship. * [VN] Vast crowds had churned the field into a sea of mud.\n  2  if your stomach churns or if sth churns your stomach, you feel a strong, unpleasant feeling of worry, disgust or fear:\n[V] My stomach churned as the names were read out. [also VN]\n  3  ~ (sb) (up) to feel or to make sb feel upset or emotionally confused:\n[V] Conflicting emotions churned inside him. [also VN]\n  4  [VN] to turn and stir milk in a special container in order to make butter\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  churn sth<->out (informal, often disapproving) to produce sth quickly and in large amounts:\nShe churns out novels at the rate of three a year.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  a machine in which milk or cream is shaken to make butter\n \n  2  (BrE) a large metal container in which milk was carried from a farm in the past


Words: chute
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a tube or passage down which people or things can slide:\na water chute (= at a swimming pool) * a laundry / rubbish / garbage chute (= from the upper floors of a high building)\n  2  (informal) = PARACHUTE


Words: chutney
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a cold thick sauce made from fruit, sugar, spices, and VINEGAR, eaten with cold meat, cheese, etc.


Words: chutzpah
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (often approving) behaviour, or a person’s attitude, that is rude or shocking but so confident that people may feel forced to admire it\nSYN NERVE


Words: CIA
Meaning:
abbreviation\nCentral Intelligence Agency. The CIA is a department of the US government which collects information about other countries, often secretly.


Words: cicada
Meaning:
noun\na large insect with transparent wings, common in hot countries, that makes a continuous high sound by rubbing its legs together:\nCicadas buzzed in the heat of the day.


Words: CID
Meaning:
abbreviation\nCriminal Investigation Department. The CID is the department of the British police force that is responsible for solving crimes.


Words: cider
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) (AmE hard cider) [U, C] an alcoholic drink made from the juice of apples:\ndry / sweet cider * cider apples * a cider press (= for squeezing the juice from apples)\n  2  (AmE) [U, C] a drink made from the juice of apples that does not contain alcohol\n  3  [C] a glass of cider\ncompare PERRY


Words: cigar
Meaning:
noun\na roll of dried tobacco leaves that people smoke, like a cigarette but bigger and without paper around it:\ncigar smoke


Words: cigarette
Meaning:
noun\na thin tube of paper filled with tobacco, for smoking:\na packet / pack of cigarettes * to light a cigarette


Words: cigarette end
Meaning:
(BrE) (also cigarette butt AmE, BrE) noun\nthe part of a cigarette that is left when sb has finished smoking it


Words: cinch
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [sing.] (informal)\n  1  something that is very easy:\nThe first question is a cinch.\n  2  (especially AmE) a thing that is certain to happen; a person who is certain to do sth:\nHe’s a cinch to win the race.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  (especially AmE) to fasten sth tightly around your waist; to be fastened around sb’s waist\n  2  (AmE) to fasten a GIRTH around a horse\n  3  (AmE, informal) to make sth certain


Words: cinder
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a small piece of ash or partly burnt coal, wood, etc. that is no longer burning but may still be hot:\nThe logs had turned into blackened cinders. * a cinder track (= a track for runners made with finely crushed cinders)\n IDIOMS  see BURN v.


Words: Cinderella
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a person or thing that has been ignored and deserves to receive more attention:\nFor years radio has been the Cinderella of the media world.\n ORIGIN  From the European fairy tale about a beautiful girl, Cinderella, who was treated harshly by her two ugly sisters. She had to do all the work and received no reward or thanks until she met and married Prince Charming.


Words: cine
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (BrE) connected with films/movies and the film/movie industry:\na cine camera / film / photographer


Words: cinema
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (BrE) (AmE movie theater, theater) [C] a building in which films/movies are shown:\nthe local cinema\n \n  2  (the cinema) [sing.] (BrE) (AmE the movies [pl.]) when you go to the cinema or to the movies, you go to a cinema/movie theater to see a film/movie:\nI used to go to the cinema every week.\n \n  3  [U, sing.] (especially BrE) (AmE usually the movies [pl.]) films/movies as an art or an industry:\none of the great successes of British cinema


Words: cinematic
Meaning:
adjective\n(technical) connected with films/movies and how they are made:\ncinematic effects / techniques


Words: cinnamon
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the inner bark of a SE Asian tree, used in cooking as a spice, especially to give flavour to sweet foods:\ncinnamon sticks * ground cinnamon


Words: cipher
Meaning:
(also cypher)  noun\n  1  [U, C] a secret way of writing, especially one in which a set of letters or symbols is used to represent others:\na message in cipher\nsee also DECIPHER\n  2  [C] (formal, disapproving) a person or thing of no importance:\nTo her employers she was a mere cipher, with no human feelings at all.\n  3  (BrE) the first letters of sb’s name combined in a design and used to mark things:\nThe glasses were engraved with the Queen’s cipher.


Words: circadian
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (technical) connected with the changes in the bodies of people or animals over each period of 24 hours:\nJet lag occurs because jet travel ignores the circadian timekeeper.


Words: circle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a completely round flat shape:\nCut out two circles of paper.\nsee also SEMICIRCLE\n \n  2  the line that encloses a circle:\nDraw a circle. * She walked the horse round in a circle.\nsee also ANTARCTIC CIRCLE, ARCTIC CIRCLE, TURNING CIRCLE\n \n  3  a thing or a group of people or things shaped like a circle:\na circle of trees / chairs * The children stood in a circle.\nsee also CORN CIRCLE, CROP CIRCLE\n  4  (BrE) (also balcony AmE, BrE) an upper floor of a theatre or cinema/movie theater where the seats are arranged in curved rows:\nWe had seats in the circle.\nsee also DRESS CIRCLE\n  5  a group of people who are connected because they have the same interests, jobs, etc:\nthe family circle * She’s well known in theatrical circles. * a large / wide circle of friends\nsee also CHARMED CIRCLE, INNER CIRCLE, VICIOUS CIRCLE\n IDIOMS \n  come, turn, etc. full circle to return to the situation in which you started, after a series of events or experiences\n  go round in circles to work hard at sth or discuss sth without making any progress\n  run round in circles (informal) to be busy doing sth without achieving anything important or making progress\n    verb\n  1  ~ (around) (above / over sb/sth) to move in a circle, especially in the air:\n[V] Seagulls circled around above his head. * He flew lower and circled around the lake. * [VN] The plane circled the airport to burn up excess fuel.\n  2  [VN] to draw a circle around sth:\nSpelling mistakes are circled in red ink.


Words: circuit
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a line, route, or journey around a place:\nThe race ended with eight laps of a city centre circuit. * The earth takes a year to make a circuit of (= go around) the sun.\n  2  the complete path of wires and equipment along which an electric current flows:\nan electrical circuit * a circuit diagram (= one showing all the connections in the different parts of the circuit)\nsee also INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, PRINTED CIRCUIT, SHORT CIRCUIT\n  3  (in sport) a series of games or matches in which the same players regularly take part:\nthe women’s tennis circuit\n  4  a track for cars or motorcycles to race around\n  5  a series of places or events of a particular kind at which the same people appear or take part:\nthe lecture / cabaret circuit\nsee also CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION\n  6  a regular journey made by a judge to hear court cases in each of the courts of law in a particular area:\na circuit judge


Words: circuit training
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) a type of training in sport in which different exercises are each done for a short time


Words: circuitous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) (of a route or journey) long and not direct:\nHe took us on a circuitous route to the hotel. * The journey was circuitous and slow.\n    circuitously adverb


Words: circular
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  shaped like a circle; round:\na circular building\n  2  moving around in a circle:\na circular tour of the city on an open-topped bus * Using small circular movements, massage the muscles on either side of the spine.\n  3  (of an argument or a theory) using an idea or a statement to prove sth which is then used to prove the idea or statement at the beginning\n  4  (of a letter) sent to a large number of people\n    circularity  noun [U]:\nThere is a dangerous circularity about this argument.\n    noun a printed letter, notice or advertisement that is sent to a large number of people at the same time


Words: circular saw
Meaning:
noun\na SAW in the form of a metal disc that turns quickly, driven by a motor, and is used for cutting wood, etc.


Words: circulate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  when a liquid, gas, or air circulates or is circulated, it moves continuously around a place or system:\n[V] The condition prevents the blood from circulating freely. * [VN] Cooled air is circulated throughout the building.\n  2  if a story, an idea, information, etc. circulates or if you circulate it, it spreads or it is passed from one person to another:\n[V] Rumours began to circulate about his financial problems. [also VN]\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (to sb) to send goods or information to all the people in a group:\nThe document will be circulated to all members.\n  4  [V] to move around a group, especially at a party, talking to different people


Words: circulation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the movement of blood around the body:\nRegular exercise will improve blood circulation. * to have good / bad circulation\n  2  [U] the passing or spreading of sth from one person or place to another:\nthe circulation of money / information / ideas * A number of forged tickets are in circulation. * The coins were taken out of circulation. * Copies of the magazine were withdrawn from circulation. * putting computer viruses into circulation\n  3  [U] the fact that sb takes part in social activities at a particular time:\nAnne has been ill but now she’s back in circulation. * I was out of circulation for months after the baby was born.\n  4  [C, usually sing.] the usual number of copies of a newspaper or magazine that are sold each day, week, etc:\na daily circulation of more than one million\n  5  [U, C] the movement of sth (for example air, water, gas, etc.) around an area or inside a system or machine:\nPoor air circulation can cause condensation.


Words: circumcise
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to remove the FORESKIN of a boy or man for religious or medical reasons\n  2  to cut off part of the sex organs of a girl or woman


Words: circumcision
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] the act of circumcising sb; the religious ceremony when sb, especially a baby, is circumcised


Words: circumference
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a line that goes around a circle or any other curved shape; the length of this line:\nthe circumference of the earth * The earth is almost 25 000 miles in circumference.\ncompare PERIMETER


Words: circumflex
Meaning:
(also circumflex accent) noun\nthe mark placed over a vowel in some languages to show how it should be pronounced, as over the o in role\ncompare ACUTE ACCENT, GRAVE, TILDE, UMLAUT


Words: circumlocution
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (formal) using more words than are necessary, instead of speaking or writing in a clear, direct way\n    circumlocutory  adjective


Words: circumnavigate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to sail all the way around sth, especially all the way around the world\n    circumnavigation  noun [U]:\nthe circumnavigation of the globe


Words: circumscribe
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  [often passive] (formal) to limit sb/sth’s freedom, rights, power, etc:\nThe power of the monarchy was circumscribed by the new law.\n  2  (technical) to draw a circle around another shape\n    circumscription  noun [U]


Words: circumspect
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) thinking very carefully about sth before doing it, because there may be risks involved\nSYN CAUTIOUS:\nHe was very circumspect in his financial affairs.\n    circumspection  noun [U]\n    circumspectly adverb


Words: circumstance
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually pl.] the conditions and facts that are connected with and affect a situation, an event or an action:\nThe company reserves the right to cancel this agreement in certain circumstances. * changing social and political circumstances * I know I can trust her in any circumstance. * Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the boy’s death. * The ship sank in mysterious circumstances. * She never discovered the true circumstances of her birth.\n  2  (circumstances) [pl.] the conditions of a person’s life, especially the money they have:\nGrants are awarded according to your financial circumstances. * family / domestic / personal circumstances\n  3  [U] (formal) situations and events that affect and influence your life and that are not in your control:\na victim of circumstance (= a person who has suffered because of a situation that they cannot control) * He had to leave the country through force of circumstance (= events or the situation made it necessary). * We were simply thrown together by circumstance on the long journey.\n IDIOMS \n  in / under the circumstances used before or after a statement to show that you have thought about the conditions that affect a situation before making a decision or a statement:\nUnder the circumstances, it seemed better not to tell him about the accident. * She did the job very well in the circumstances.\n  in / under no circumstances used to emphasize that sth should never happen or be allowed:\nUnder no circumstances should you lend Paul any money. * Don’t open the door, in any circumstances.\nmore at POMP, REDUCE


Words: circumstantial
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (law) containing information and details that strongly suggest that sth is true but do not prove it:\ncircumstantial evidence * The case against him was largely circumstantial.\n  2  (formal) connected with particular circumstances:\nTheir problems were circumstantial rather than personal.


Words: circumvent
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to find a way of avoiding a difficulty or a rule:\nThey found a way of circumventing the law.\n  2  to go or travel around sth that is blocking your way\n    circumvention  noun [U]


Words: circus
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a group of entertainers, sometimes with trained animals, who perform skilful or amusing acts in a show that travels around to different places:\ncircus acrobats / clowns / elephants\n  2  (the circus) [sing.] a show performed by circus entertainers, usually in a large tent called a BIG TOP:\nWe took the children to the circus.\n  3  [sing.] (informal, disapproving) a group of people or an event that attracts a lot of attention:\nA media circus surrounded the royal couple wherever they went. * the American electoral circus\n  4  [C] (BrE) (used in some place names) a round open area in a town where several streets meet:\nPiccadilly Circus\n  5  [C] (in ancient Rome) a place like a big round outdoor theatre for public games, races, etc.


Words: cistern
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a container in which water is stored in a building, especially one in the roof or connected to a toilet


Words: citadel
Meaning:
noun\n(in the past) a castle on high ground in or near a city where people could go when the city was being attacked: (figurative) citadels of private economic power


Words: citation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] words or lines taken from a book or a speech\nSYN QUOTATION\n  2  [C] an official statement about sth special that sb has done, especially about acts of courage in a war:\na citation for bravery\n  3  [U] (formal) an act of citing or being cited:\nSpace does not permit the citation of the examples.\n  4  [C] (AmE) = SUMMONS:\nThe judge issued a contempt citation against the woman for violating a previous court order.


Words: cite
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  ~ sth (as sth) to mention sth as a reason or an example, or in order to support what you are saying:\nHe cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown.\n  2  to speak or write the exact words from a book, an author, etc.\nSYN QUOTE:\nShe cited a passage from the President’s speech.\n  3  (law) to order sb to appear in a court of law; to name sb officially in a legal case:\nHe was cited for contempt of court. * She was cited in the divorce proceedings.\n  4  ~ sb (for sth) to mention sb officially or publicly because they deserve special praise:\nHe was cited for bravery in the Vietnam War.


Words: citizen
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who has the legal right to belong to a particular country:\nShe’s Italian by birth but is now an Australian citizen. * British citizens living in other parts of the European Union\n  2  a person who lives in a particular place:\nthe citizens of Budapest * When you’re old, people treat you like a second-class citizen.\nsee also SENIOR CITIZEN\ncompare SUBJECT (6)\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ncitizen / subject / national\nThese words all mean a person who has the rights given by a country or state to its people, for example the rights to vote and to live there permanently. Citizen is the most general word: American citizens living and working abroad * After living in France for years, she eventually became a French citizen. Subject can be used when the state is ruled by a king or queen: a British subject. National is most often used when somebody is living in another country: diplomats and foreign nationals.\n______________________________


Words: citizenry
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.+sing./pl. v.] (formal) (less formal in AmE) all the citizens of a particular town, country, etc.


Words: citizenship
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the legal right to belong to a particular country:\nFrench citizenship * You can apply for citizenship after five years’ residency.\n  2  the state of being a citizen and accepting the responsibilities of it:\neducational methods that prepare young people for citizenship


Words: citrus
Meaning:
noun\n[U] fruit belonging to the group of fruit that includes oranges, lemons, LIMES and GRAPEFRUIT:\ncitrus fruit / trees / growers * fabric in bright citrus shades (= orange, yellow or green)


Words: city
Meaning:
noun (plural cities)\n  1  [C] a large and important town:\nWe live ten minutes from the city centre by bus. * one of the world’s most beautiful cities * Mexico City * Manchester City Football Club\nsee also INNER CITY\n  2  [C] (BrE) a town that has been given special rights by a king or queen, usually one that has a CATHEDRAL:\nthe city of York\n  3  [C] (AmE) a town that has been given special rights by the state government\n  4  [sing.+sing./pl. v.] all the people who live in a city:\nThe city turned out to welcome the victorious team home.\n  5  (the City) [sing.] (BrE) Britain’s financial and business centre, in the oldest part of London:\na City stockbroker * What is the City’s reaction to the cut in interest rates?\n  6  [U] (informal) used after other nouns to say that a place is full of a particular thing:\nIt’s not exactly fun city here is it? * cardboard city (= full of people living in cardboard boxes because they have nowhere else to live)\n IDIOMS  see FREEDOM


Words: city desk
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) the department of a newspaper that deals with financial news\n  2  (AmE) the department of a newspaper that deals with local news


Words: city editor
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) a journalist who is responsible for financial news in a newspaper or magazine\n  2  (AmE) a journalist who is responsible for local news in a newspaper or magazine


Words: city hall
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (AmE) the local government of a city and the offices it uses:\nProtesters marched to City Hall.


Words: city slicker
Meaning:
noun\n(informal, often disapproving) a person who behaves in a way that is typical of people who live in big cities


Words: city state
Meaning:
noun\n(especially in the past) an independent state consisting of a city and the area around it (for example, Athens in ancient times)


Words: civet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a wild animal like a cat, that lives in central Africa and S Asia\n  2  [U] a substance with a strong smell, obtained from a civet, and used in making PERFUME


Words: civic
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  officially connected with a town or city:\ncivic buildings / leaders\n  2  connected with the people who live in a town or city:\na sense of civic pride (= pride that people feel for their town or city) * civic duties / responsibilities


Words: civic centre
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) the area where the public buildings are, in a town\n  2  (civic center) (AmE) a large building where public entertainments and meetings are held:\nAtlanta Civic Center


Words: civics
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (especially AmE) the school subject which studies the way government works and deals with the rights and duties that you have as a citizen and a member of a particular society


Words: civil
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [only before noun] connected with the people who live in a country:\ncivil unrest (= that is caused by groups of people within a country)\nsee also CIVIL WAR\n  2  [only before noun] connected with the state rather than with religion or with the armed forces:\na civil marriage ceremony\n  3  [only before noun] involving personal legal matters and not criminal law:\na civil court\ncompare CRIMINAL\nsee also CIVIL LAW\n  4  polite in a formal way but possibly not friendly:\nThe less time I have to spend being civil to him the better!\nOPP UNCIVIL\n    civilly  adverb:\nShe greeted him civilly but with no sign of affection.


Words: civil defence
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE civil defense) noun\n[U] the organization and training of ordinary people to protect themselves from attack during a war or, in the US, from natural disasters such as HURRICANES


Words: civil disobedience
Meaning:
noun\n[U] refusal by a large group of people to obey particular laws or pay taxes, usually as a form of peaceful political protest


Words: civil engineering
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the design, building and repair of roads, bridges, canals, etc.; the study of this as a subject\n    civil engineer noun


Words: civil liberty
Meaning:
noun\n[C, usually pl., U] the right of people to be free to say or do what they want while respecting others and staying within the law:\nan infringement of our civil liberties


Words: civil rights
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the rights that every person in a society has, for example to be treated equally, to be able to vote, work, etc. whatever their sex, race or religion:\nthe civil rights leader Martin Luther King * civil rights for disabled people


Words: civil war
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a war between groups of people in the same country:\nthe Spanish Civil War * 30 years of bitter civil war


Words: civilian
Meaning:
noun\na person who is not a member of the armed forces or the police:\nTwo soldiers and one civilian were killed in the explosion.\n    civilian adjective [usually before noun]:\nHe left the army and returned to civilian life.\ncompare MILITARY


Words: civility
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [U] polite behaviour:\nStaff members are trained to treat customers with civility at all times.\n  2  (civilities) [pl.] remarks that are said only in order to be polite:\nShe didn’t waste time on civilities.


Words: civilization
Meaning:
(BrE also civilisation)  noun\n  1  [U] a state of human society that is very developed and organized:\nthe technology of modern civilization * The Victorians regarded the railways as bringing progress and civilization.\n  2  [U, C] a society, its culture and its way of life during a particular period of time or in a particular part of the world:\nthe civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome * diseases that are common in Western civilization\n  3  [U] all the people in the world and the societies they live in, considered as a whole:\nEnvironmental damage threatens the whole of civilization.\n  4  [U] (often humorous) a place that offers you the comfortable way of life of a modern society:\nIt’s good to be back in civilization after two weeks in a tent!


Words: civilize
Meaning:
(BrE also civilise)  verb\n[VN] to educate and improve a person or a society; to make sb’s behaviour or manners better:\nThe girls in a class tend to have a civilizing influence on the boys.


Words: civilized
Meaning:
(BrE also civilised)  adjective\n  1  well-organized socially with a very developed culture and way of life:\nthe civilized world * rising crime in our so-called civilized societies * civilized peoples\n  2  having laws and customs that are fair and morally acceptable:\nNo civilized country should allow such terrible injustices.\n  3  having or showing polite and reasonable behaviour:\nWe couldn’t even have a civilized conversation any more.\n  4  typical of a comfortable and pleasant way of life:\nBreakfast on the terrace-how civilized! * Let’s go somewhere civilized and have a meal.\nOPP UNCIVILIZED


Words: clack
Meaning:
verb\n[V] if two hard objects clack, they make a short loud sound when they hit each other:\nHer heels clacked on the marble floor.\n    clack noun [sing.]:\nthe clack of high heels on the floor * the click-clack of her knitting needles


Words: clad
Meaning:
adjective (usually written)\n  1  ~ (in sth) (often used after an adverb or in compounds) wearing a particular type of clothing:\nShe was clad in blue velvet. * warmly / scantily clad * leather-clad motorcyclists\n  2  (-clad) (in compounds) covered in a particular thing:\nsnow-clad hills


Words: claim
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  say sth is true\n  1  to say that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it:\n[V (that)] He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing. * [V to inf] I don’t claim to be an expert. * [VN] Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer. * [VN that] It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week. [also V speech, VN to inf]\n  demand legal right\n  2  [VN] to demand or ask for sth because you believe it is your legal right to own or to have it:\nA lot of lost property is never claimed. * The family arrived in the UK in the 1990s and claimed political asylum.\n  money\n  3  to ask for money from the government or a company because you have a right to it:\n[VN] He’s not entitled to claim unemployment benefit. * She claimed damages from the company for the injury she had suffered. * You could have claimed the cost of the hotel room from your insurance. * [V] You can claim on your insurance for that coat you left on the train.\n  attention / thought\n  4  [VN] to get or take sb’s attention:\nA most unwelcome event claimed his attention.\n  gain / win\n  5  [VN] (written) to gain, win or achieve sth:\nShe has finally claimed a place on the team.\n  cause death\n  6  [VN] (written) (of a disaster, an accident, etc.) to cause sb’s death:\nThe car crash claimed three lives.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  claim sth<->back to ask or demand to have sth returned because you have a right to it:\nYou can claim back the tax on your purchases.\n    noun\n  saying sth is true\n  1  [C] ~ (that ...) a statement that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not agree with or believe it:\nThe singer has denied the magazine’s claim that she is leaving the band. * a report examining claims of corrupt links between politicians\n  legal right\n  2  [C, U] ~ (on / to sth) a right that sb believes they have to sth, especially property, land, etc:\nThey had no claim on the land, which was believed to be rich in oil. * She has more claim to the book’s success than anybody (= she deserves to be praised for it).\n  for money\n  3  [C] ~ (for sth) a request for a sum of money that you believe you have a right to, especially from a company, the government, etc:\nYou can make a claim on your insurance policy. * to put in a claim for an allowance * a claim for ｣2 000 * Make sure your claims for expenses are submitted by the end of the month. * a three per cent pay claim * Complete a claim form (= an official document which you must use in order to request money from an organization).\n IDIOMS \n  claim to fame (often humorous) one thing that makes a person or place important or interesting:\nHis main claim to fame is that he went to school with the Prime Minister. * The town’s only claim to fame is the castle.\n  have a claim on sb to have the right to demand time, attention, etc. from sb:\nYou have no claim on me any more.\n  lay claim to sth to state that you have a right to own sth:\nHe laid claim to the property / inheritance.\n  make no claim used when you are saying that you cannot do sth:\nI make no claim to understand modern art.\nmore at STAKE v.


Words: claimant
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who claims sth because they believe they have a right to it:\na claimant to the throne\n  2  (BrE) a person who is receiving money from the state because they are unemployed, etc:\nsickness benefit claimants


Words: clairvoyance
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the power that some people are believed to have to be able to see future events or to communicate with people who are dead or far away\n    clairvoyant  noun:\nto consult a clairvoyant\n    clairvoyant adjective


Words: clam
Meaning:
noun\n a large shellfish that can be eaten. It has a shell in two parts that can open and close:\nclam chowder / soup * The moment I mentioned the children he closed up like a clam (= became silent and refused to discuss the topic).\n    verb (-mm-)\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clam up (on sb) (informal) to refuse to speak, especially when sb asks you about sth


Words: clamber
Meaning:
verb\n[V +adv./prep.] to climb or move with difficulty or a lot of effort, using your hands and feet:\nThe children clambered up the steep bank.


Words: clamour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE clamor)  verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (for sth) (written) to demand sth loudly:\n[V] People began to clamour for his resignation. * [V to inf] Everyone was clamouring to know how much they would get. * [V speech] ’Play with us!’ the children clamoured.\n  2  [V] (of many people) to shout loudly, especially in a confused way:\nA crowd of reporters clamoured around the car.\n    noun [sing., U] (formal)\n  1  a loud noise especially one that is made by a lot of people or animals:\nthe clamour of the market * the incessant clamour of monkeys and birds\n  2  ~ (for sth) a demand for sth made by a lot of people:\nThe clamour for her resignation grew louder.\n    clamorous  adjective


Words: clamp
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ A to B | ~ A and B (together) to hold sth tightly, or fasten two things together, with a clamp:\n[VN] Clamp one end of the plank to the edge of the table. * Clamp the two halves together until the glue dries. [also VN-ADJ]\n  2  [+adv./prep.] to hold or fasten sth very tightly so that it does not move; to be held tightly:\n[VN] He had a cigar clamped between his teeth. * She clamped a pair of headphones over her ears. * I clamped a hand on his shoulder. * A mobile phone was clamped to her ear. * [V] Her lips clamped tightly together.\n  3  [VN] [often passive] (BrE) to fix a clamp to a car’s wheel so that the car cannot be driven away:\nHer car had been clamped. * She’d been (= her car had been) clamped.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clamp down (on sb/sth) to take strict action in order to prevent sth, especially crime:\na campaign by police to clamp down on street crime * The US government is clamping down on drugs.\nrelated noun CLAMPDOWN\n  clamp sth on sb (especially AmE) to force sb to accept sth such as a restriction or law:\nThe army clamped a curfew on five towns.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  a tool for holding things tightly together, usually by means of a screw\n \n  2  (also wheel clamp) (both BrE) (AmE Denver Boot, boot) a device that is attached to the wheel of a car that has been parked illegally, so that it cannot be driven away


Words: clampdown
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] sudden action that is taken in order to stop an illegal activity:\na clampdown on drinking and driving


Words: clan
Meaning:
pl. v.]\n  1  a group of families who are related to each other, especially in Scotland:\nthe Macleod clan * clan warfare\n  2  (informal, sometimes humorous) a very large family, or a group of people who are connected because of a particular thing:\none of a growing clan of stars who have left Hollywood


Words: clandestine
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) done secretly or kept secret:\na clandestine meeting / relationship * the clandestine sale of weapons


Words: clang
Meaning:
verb\n[usually +adv./prep.] to make a loud ringing sound like that of metal being hit; to cause sth to make this sound:\n[V] Bells were clanging in the tower. * [V-ADJ] The gates clanged shut. * [VN] The trams clanged their way along the streets.\n    clang (also clanging) noun [usually sing.]:\nthe clang of the school bell


Words: clanger
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, informal) an obvious and embarrassing mistake:\nMentioning her ex-husband was a bit of a clanger.\n IDIOMS  see DROP v.


Words: clank
Meaning:
verb\nto make a loud sound like pieces of metal hitting each other; to cause sth to make this sound:\n[V] clanking chains * [V-ADJ] I heard a door clank shut. * [VN] The guard clanked his heavy ring of keys.\n    clank (also clanking) noun [usually sing.]


Words: clannish
Meaning:
adjective\n(often disapproving) (of members of a group) not showing interest in people who are not in the group


Words: clap
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n (-pp-)\n \n  1  to hit your open hands together several times to show that you approve of or have enjoyed sth:\n[V] The audience cheered and clapped. * [VN] Everyone clapped us when we went up to get our prize.\n \n  2  ~ (your hands) to hit your open hands together:\n[VN] She clapped her hands in delight. * He clapped his hands for silence. * [V] Everyone clapped in time to the music.\n \n  3  [VN] ~ sb on the back / shoulder to lightly hit sb with your open hand, usually in a friendly way\n \n  4  [VN +adv./prep.] to put sth/sb somewhere quickly and suddenly:\n’Oh dear!’ she cried, clapping a hand over her mouth. * to clap sb in irons / jail / prison * In the old days they would have clapped you in jail for that.\n IDIOMS  see EYE n.\n    noun\n  1  [sing.] an act of clapping the hands; the sound this makes:\nGive him a clap! (= to praise sb at the end of a performance)\n  2  [C] a sudden loud noise:\na clap of thunder\n  3  (also the clap) [U] (slang) a disease of the sexual organs, caught by having sex with an infected person\nSYN GONORRHOEA


Words: clapped out
Meaning:
adjective\n(BrE, informal) (of a car or machine) old and in bad condition:\nThe van’s totally clapped out. * a clapped-out old Mini


Words: clapper
Meaning:
noun\nthe piece of metal inside a bell that hits the sides and makes the bell ring\n IDIOMS \n  like the clappers (BrE, informal) extremely fast:\nto run / ride / drive like the clappers


Words: clapperboard
Meaning:
noun\na device that is used when making films/movies. It consists of two connected boards that are hit together at the start of a scene, and its purpose is to help to match the pictures with the sound.


Words: claret
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] a dry red wine, especially from the Bordeaux area of France. There are several types of claret.\n  2  [U] a dark red colour


Words: clarify
Meaning:
verb (clarifies, clarifying, clarified, clarified)\n  1  (formal) to make sth clearer or easier to understand:\n[VN] to clarify a situation / problem / issue * I hope this clarifies my position. * The law on drugs needs to be clarified. * Talking to someone has helped clarify my feelings. * [V wh-] She asked him to clarify what he meant.\n  2  [VN] to make sth, especially butter, pure by heating it:\nclarified butter\n    clarification  noun [U, C]:\nI am seeking clarification of the regulations.


Words: clarinet
Meaning:
noun\na musical instrument of the WOODWIND group. It is shaped like a pipe and has a REED and a MOUTHPIECE at the top that you blow into.


Words: clarity
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the quality of being expressed clearly:\na lack of clarity in the law * The brilliant clarity of his argument could not be faulted.\n  2  the ability to think about or understand sth clearly:\nclarity of thought / purpose / vision\n  3  if a picture, substance or sound has clarity, you can see or hear it very clearly, or see through it easily:\nthe clarity of sound on a compact disc


Words: clash
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  fight\n  1  ~ (with sb) | ~ (between A and B) a short fight between two groups of people:\nClashes broke out between police and demonstrators. * Eight people were wounded in a clash with border guards.\n  argument\n  2  ~ (with sb) (over sth) | ~ (between A and B) (over sth) an argument between two people or groups of people who have different beliefs and ideas:\na head-on clash between the two leaders over education policy\n  difference\n  3  the difference that exists between two things that are opposed to each other:\na clash of interests / opinions / cultures * a personality clash with the boss\n  of two events\n  4  a situation in which two events happen at the same time so that you cannot go to or see them both:\na clash in the timetable / schedule\n  of colours\n  5  the situation when two colours, designs, etc. look ugly when they are put together\n  loud noise\n  6  a loud noise made by two metal objects being hit together:\na clash of cymbals / swords\n  in sport\n  7  (used in newspapers, about sports) an occasion when two teams or players compete against each other:\nBayern’s clash with Real Madrid in the European Cup\n    verb\n  fight / compete\n  1  [V] ~ (with sb) to come together and fight or compete in a contest:\nThe two sets of supporters clashed outside the stadium. * The two teams clash in tomorrow’s final. * Demonstrators clashed violently with police.\n  argue\n  2  [V] ~ (with sb) (over / on sth) to argue or disagree seriously with sb about sth, and to show this in public:\nThe leaders clashed with party members on the issue. * The leaders and members clashed on the issue.\n  be different\n  3  [V] ~ (with sth) (of beliefs, ideas or personalities) to be very different and opposed to each other:\nHis left-wing views clashed with his father’s politics. * His views and his father’s clashed. * They have clashing personalities.\n  of two events\n  4  [V] ~ (with sth) (of events) to happen at the same time so that you cannot go to or see them both:\nUnfortunately your party clashes with a wedding I’m going to. * There are two good movies on TV tonight, but they clash.\n  of colours\n  5  [V] ~ (with sth) (of colours, patterns or styles) to look ugly when put together:\nThe wallpaper clashes with the carpet. * The wallpaper and the carpet clash. * Do you think these colours clash?\n  make loud noise\n  6  ~ (sth) (together) to hit together and make a harsh ringing noise; to make two metal objects do this:\n[V] The long blades clashed together. * [VN] She clashed the cymbals.


Words: clasp
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to hold sth tightly in your hand:\nHe leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. * They clasped hands (= held each other’s hands). * I stood there, clasping the door handle.\n  2  to hold sb/sth tightly with your arms around them:\nShe clasped the children in her arms. * He clasped her to him. * She clasped her arms tightly around him.\n  3  to fasten sth with a clasp:\nShe clasped the bracelet around her wrist.\n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a device that fastens sth, such as a bag or the ends of a belt or a piece of jewellery:\nthe clasp of a necklace / handbag\n \n  2  [sing.] a tight hold with your hand or in your arms:\nHe took her hand in his firm warm clasp.


Words: class
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective \n    noun\n  in education\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of students who are taught together:\nWe were in the same class at school. * She is the youngest in her class. * He came top of the class. * The whole class was / were told to stay behind after school.\n  2  [C, U] an occasion when a group of students meets to be taught\nSYN LESSON:\nI was late for a class. * See me after class. * She works hard in class (= during the class). * I have a history class at 9 o’clock.\n  3  [C] (also classes [pl.]) a series of classes on a particular subject\nSYN COURSE:\nI’ve been taking classes in pottery. * Are you still doing your French evening class?\n  4  [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially AmE) a group of students who finish their studies at school, college or university in a particular year:\nthe class of 98\n  in society\n  5  [C+sing./pl. v.] one of the groups of people in a society that are thought of as being at the same social or economic level:\nthe working / middle / upper class * The party tries to appeal to all classes of society. * the professional classes\n  6  [U] the way that people are divided into different social and economic groups:\ndifferences of class, race or gender * the class system * a society in which class is more important than ability\n  group of people / animals\n  7  [C] a group of people, animals or things that have similar characteristics or qualities:\nIt was good accommodation for a hotel of this class. * different classes of drugs * Dickens was in a different class from (= was much better than) most of his contemporaries. * As a jazz singer she’s in a class of her own (= better than most others).\nsee also FIRST-CLASS, HIGH-CLASS, LOW-CLASS, SECOND-CLASS\n  skill / style\n  8  [U] an elegant quality or a high level of skill that is impressive:\nShe has class all right-she looks like a model. * There’s a real touch of class about this team.\n  in train / plane\n  9  [C] (especially in compounds) each of several different levels of comfort that are available to travellers in a plane, etc:\nHe always travels business class. * The first-class compartment is situated at the front of the train.\nsee also SECOND-CLASS, THIRD-CLASS, TOURIST CLASS\n  of university degree\n  10  [C] (especially in compounds) one of the levels of achievement in a British university degree exam:\na first- / second- / third-class degree\n  biology\n  11  [C] a group into which animals, plants, etc. that have similar characteristics are divided, below a PHYLUM\ncompare FAMILY, GENUS, SPECIES\n IDIOMS  see CHATTER v.\n    verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sb/sth (as sth)\n  put into group to think or decide that sb/sth is a particular type of person or thing:\nImmigrant workers were classed as aliens. * I wouldn’t have classed you as a Shakespeare fan. * One in five people in the country are classed as poor.\n    adjective [only before noun] (informal)\n  with skill / style very good:\na class player / performer * She’s a real class act.


Words: class struggle
Meaning:
(also class war) noun\n[U, sing.] (politics) opposition between the different social classes in society, especially that described in Marxist theory


Words: class-conscious
Meaning:
adjective\nvery aware of belonging to a particular social class and of the differences between social classes\n    class-consciousness noun [U]


Words: classic
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  accepted or deserving to be accepted as one of the best or most important of its kind:\na classic novel / study / goal\n  2  (also classical) with all the features you would expect to find; very typical:\na classic example of poor communication * She displayed the classic symptoms of depression. * I made the classic mistake of clapping in a pause in the music!\n  3  elegant, but simple and traditional in style or design; not affected by changes in fashion:\na classic grey suit * classic design * classic cars (= cars which are no longer made, but which are still popular)\n  4  (informal) people say That’s classic! when they find sth very amusing, when they think sb has been very stupid or when sth annoying, but not surprising, happens:\nShe’s not going to help? Oh, that’s classic!\n    noun\n  1  [C] a book, film/movie or song which is well known and considered to be of very high quality, setting standards for other books, etc:\nEnglish classics such as ’Alice in Wonderland’ * The novel may become a modern classic.\n  2  [C] a thing that is an excellent example of its kind:\nThat match was a classic.\n  3  (Classics) [U] the study of ancient Greek and Roman culture, especially their languages and literature:\na degree in Classics\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nclassic / classical\nThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:\nclassic ~  classical ~\nexample  music\ncase  ballet\nnovel  architecture\nwork  scholar\ncar  period\nClassic describes something that is accepted as being of very high quality and one of the best of its kind: a classic movie/work. It is also used to describe a typical example of something: a classic example/mistake, or something elegant but simple and traditional: classic design.\nClassical describes a form of traditional Western music and other things that are traditional in style: a classical composer * a classical theory.It is also used to talk about things that are connected with the culture of Ancient Greece and Rome: a classical scholar * classical mythology.\n______________________________


Words: classical
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  widely accepted and used for a long time; traditional in style or idea:\nthe classical economics of Smith and Ricardo * the classical theory of unemployment * classical and modern ballet / dance\n  2  connected with or influenced by the culture of ancient Greece and Rome:\nclassical studies * a classical scholar (= an expert in Latin and Greek) * classical architecture\n  3  (of music) written in a Western musical tradition, usually using an established form (for example a SYMPHONY) and not played on electronic instruments. Classical music is generally considered to be serious and to have a lasting value:\nHe plays classical music, as well as pop and jazz. * a classical album / composer / violinist\n  4  = CLASSIC:\nThese are classical examples of food allergy.\n  5  (of a language) ancient in its form and no longer used in a spoken form:\nclassical Arabic\n  6  simple and attractive:\nthe classical elegance of the design\n    classically  adverb:\nHer face is classically beautiful. * Classically, pregnant women start to ’nest’ shortly before the baby is born. * a classically educated reader * classically trained singers / dancers


Words: classicism
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a style of art and literature that is simple and elegant and is based on the styles of ancient Greece and Rome. Classicism was popular in Europe in the 18th century.\n  2  a style or form that has simple, natural qualities and pleasing combinations of parts


Words: classicist
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who studies ancient Greek or Latin\n  2  a person who follows classicism in art or literature


Words: classifiable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat you can or should CLASSIFY:\nThe information was not easily classifiable. * top-secret or classifiable information


Words: classification
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the act or process of putting people or things into a group or class (= of CLASSIFYING them):\na style of music that defies classification (= is like no other)\n  2  [C] a group, class, division, etc. into which sb or sth is put\n  3  [U] (biology) the act of putting animals, plants, etc. into groups, classes or divisions according to their characteristics:\nThe classification of bony fish is extremely complicated.\n  4  [C] (technical) a system of arranging books, tapes, magazines, etc. in a library into groups according to their subject


Words: classified
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (of information) officially secret and available only to particular people:\nclassified information / documents / material\nOPP UNCLASSIFIED\n  2  with information arranged in groups according to subjects:\na classified catalogue\n  3  (classifieds) noun [pl.] = CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS


Words: classified advertisements
Meaning:
(also classified ads, classifieds) (BrE also small ads) (AmE also want ads) noun\n[pl.] the section in a newspaper with small advertisements arranged in groups according to their subject, that are placed by people or small companies who want to buy or sell sth, find or offer a job, etc.


Words: classify
Meaning:
verb (classifies, classifying, classified, classified) [VN] \n  1  to arrange sth in groups according to features that they have in common:\nThe books in the library are classified according to subject. * Patients are classified into three categories. * All rural settlements were classified according to their size. * people classified by ethnic group * These can be classified under five headings.\n  2  ~ sb/sth as sth to decide which type or group sb/sth belongs to:\nOnly eleven of these accidents were classified as major. * Would you classify it as a hard drug or a soft drug?


Words: classless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (approving) with no divisions into social classes:\nWill Britain ever become a classless society?\n  2  not clearly belonging to a particular social class:\na classless accent\n    classlessness noun [U]


Words: classroom
Meaning:
noun\na room where a class of children or students is taught:\nclassroom activities * the use of computers in the classroom


Words: classy
Meaning:
adjective\n(classier, classiest) (informal) of high quality; expensive and/or fashionable:\na classy player * a classy hotel / restaurant


Words: clatter
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] if hard objects clatter, they knock together and make a loud noise:\nHe dropped the knife and it clattered on the stone floor. * Her cup clattered in the saucer.\n  2  [V +adv./prep.] to move making a loud noise like hard objects knocking together:\nThe cart clattered over the cobbles. * She heard him clattering around downstairs.\n    clatter (also clattering) noun [sing.]:\nthe clatter of horses’ hoofs


Words: clause
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (grammar) a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence:\nIn the sentence ’They often go to Italy because they love the food’, ’They often go to Italy’ is the main clause and ’because they love the food’ is a subordinate clause.\n  2  an item in a legal document that says that a particular thing must or must not be done:\nThere is a clause in the contract forbidding tenants to sublet.


Words: claustrophobia
Meaning:
noun\n[U] an extreme fear of being in a small enclosed place; the unpleasant feeling that a person gets in a situation which restricts them:\nto suffer from claustrophobia * She felt she had to escape from the claustrophobia of suburban family life.\ncompare AGORAPHOBIA


Words: claustrophobic
Meaning:
adjective\ngiving you claustrophobia; suffering from claustrophobia:\nthe claustrophobic atmosphere of the room * to feel claustrophobic


Words: claw
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  one of the sharp curved nails on the end of an animal’s or a bird’s foot:\nThe cat lashed out with its claws.\n \n  2  a long, sharp curved part of the body of some types of SHELLFISH, used for catching and holding things:\nthe claws of a crab\n \n  3  part of a tool or machine, like a claw, used for holding, pulling or lifting things:\na claw hammer (= used for pulling out nails)\n \n IDIOMS \n  get your claws into sb\n1 (disapproving) if a woman gets her claws into a man, she tries hard to make him marry her or to have a relationship with her:\nShe’s really got her claws into you!\n2 to criticize sb severely:\nWait until the media gets its claws into her.\nmore at RED adj.\n    verb ~ (at) sb/sth to scratch or tear sb/sth with claws or with your fingernails: [V] The cat was clawing at the leg of the chair. * (figurative) Branches clawed at her hair. * [VN] She had clawed Stephen across the face. * (figurative) His hands clawed the air.\n IDIOMS \n  claw your way back, into sth, out of sth, to sth, etc. to gradually achieve sth or move somewhere by using a lot of determination and effort:\nShe clawed her way to the top of her profession. * Slowly, he clawed his way out from under the collapsed building.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  claw sth<->back\n1 to get sth back that you have lost, usually by using a lot of effort:\nThe company is trying to claw back its share of the market. * Newcastle managed to claw a goal back.\n2 (of a government) to get back money that has been paid to people, usually by taxing them:\nThe Chancellor is expected to claw back ｣2.8 billion in the budget.\nrelated noun CLAWBACK


Words: clawback
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, business) the act of getting money back from people it has been paid to; the money that is paid back


Words: clay
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a type of heavy, sticky earth that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and bricks\n IDIOMS  see FOOT n.


Words: clay pigeon shooting
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE skeet shooting) noun\na sport in which a disc of baked clay (called a clay pigeon) is thrown into the air for people to shoot at


Words: clean
Meaning:
adjective, verb, adverb, noun \n    adjective (cleaner, cleanest)\n  not dirty\n  1  not dirty:\nAre your hands clean? * to wipe / brush sth clean * The hotel was spotlessly (= extremely) clean. * (BrE) It is your responsibility to keep the room clean and tidy. * (AmE) Keep your room neat and clean. * I can’t find a clean shirt (= one I haven’t worn since it was washed).\n  2  having a clean appearance and clean surroundings:\nCats are very clean animals.\n  not harmful\n  3  free from harmful or unpleasant substances:\nclean drinking water * clean air * We all want a cleaner environment but who is going to pay for it? * the cleaner cars of the future (= not producing so many harmful substances) * Electric buses are a clean, environmentally friendly way to travel.\n  paper\n  4  [usually before noun] with nothing written on it:\na clean sheet of paper\n  not offensive\n  5  not offensive or referring to sex; not doing anything that is considered immoral or bad:\nThe entertainment was good clean fun for the whole family. * Keep the jokes clean please! * The sport has a very clean image.\n  not illegal\n  6  not showing or having any record of doing sth that is against the law:\na clean driving licence / driver’s license * a clean police record\n  7  (slang) not owning or carrying anything illegal such as drugs or weapons:\nThe police searched her but she was clean.\n  fair\n  8  played or done in a fair way and within the rules:\nIt was a tough but clean game.\n  smooth / simple\n  9  having a smooth edge, surface or shape; simple and regular:\nA sharp knife makes a clean cut. * a modern design with clean lines and a bright appearance\n  accurate\n  10  done in a skilful and accurate way:\nThe plane made a clean take-off.\n  taste / smell\n  11  tasting, smelling or looking pleasant and fresh:\nThe wine has a clean taste and a lovely golden colour.\ncompare UNCLEAN\n IDIOMS \n  as clean as a whistle (informal) very clean\n  a clean bill of health a report that says sb is healthy or that sth is in good condition:\nDoctors gave him a clean bill of health after a series of tests and examinations. * The building was given a clean bill of health by the surveyor.\n  a clean break\n1 a complete separation from a person, an organization, a way of life, etc:\nShe wanted to make a clean break with the past.\n2 a break in a bone in one place\n  a clean sheet / slate a record of your work or behaviour that does not show any mistakes or bad things that you have done:\nNo government operates with a completely clean sheet. * They kept a clean sheet in the match (= no goals were scored against them).\n  make a clean breast of sth to tell the truth about sth so that you no longer feel guilty:\nHe made a clean breast of everything and admitted taking the money.\n  make a clean sweep (of sth)\n1 to remove all the people or things from an organization that are thought to be unnecessary or need changing:\nThe new manager made a clean sweep of the department.\n2 to win all the prizes or parts of a game or competition; to win an election completely:\nChina made a clean sweep of the medals in the gymnastics events. * The opinion poll suggests a clean sweep for the Democrats.\nmore at NOSE n., WIPE v.\n    verb\n\n \n  1  to make sth free from dirt or dust by washing or rubbing it:\n[VN] to clean the windows / bath / floor * to clean a wound * Have you cleaned your teeth? * The villa is cleaned twice a week. * [V] I spent all day cooking and cleaning.\nsee also DRY-CLEAN, SPRING-CLEAN\n \n  2  [V] to become clean:\nThis oven cleans easily (= is easy to clean).\n \n  3  [VN] = DRY-CLEAN:\nThis coat is filthy. I’ll have it cleaned.\n  4  [VN] to remove the inside parts of a fish, chicken, etc. before you cook it:\nClean the fish and remove the backbone.\n IDIOMS \n  clean house (AmE)\n1 to remove people or things that are not necessary or wanted:\nThe new manager said he wanted to clean house.\n2 to make your house clean\n  clean up your act (informal) to start behaving in a moral or responsible way:\nHe cleaned up his act and came off drugs.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clean sth<->down to clean sth thoroughly:\nAll the equipment should be cleaned down regularly.\n  clean sth off / from sth | clean sth<->off to remove sth from sth by brushing, rubbing, etc:\nI cleaned the mud off my shoes.\n  clean sth<->out to clean the inside of sth thoroughly:\nI must clean the fish tank out.\n  clean sb out (informal) to use all of sb’s money:\nPaying for all those drinks has cleaned me out.\n  clean sb/sth out (informal) to steal everything from a person or place:\nThe burglars totally cleaned her out.\n  clean (yourself) up (informal) to make yourself clean, usually by washing:\nI need to change and clean up. * Go and clean yourself up. * You’d better get cleaned up.\nrelated noun CLEAN-UP\n  clean up | clean sth<->up\n1 to remove dirt, etc. from somewhere:\nHe always expected other people to clean up after him (= when he had made the place dirty or untidy). * Who’s going to clean up this mess? * to clean up beaches after an oil spillage * a commitment to clean up the environment * It took me the rest of the day to clean (the place) up.\nrelated noun CLEAN-UP\n2 (informal) to win or make a lot of money:\nThis film should clean up at the box offices.\n  clean sth<->up to remove crime and immoral behaviour from a place or an activity:\nThe new mayor is determined to clean up the city. * Soccer needs to clean up its image.\nrelated noun CLEAN-UP\n    adverb (informal) used to emphasize that an action takes place completely:\nThe thief got clean away. * I clean forgot about calling him.\n IDIOMS \n  come clean (with sb) (about sth) to admit and explain sth that you have kept as a secret:\nIsn’t it time the government came clean about their plans for education?\n    noun [sing.] the act or process of cleaning sth:\nThe house needed a good clean.


Words: clean-cut
Meaning:
adjective\n(especially of a young man) looking neat and clean and therefore socially acceptable:\nSimon’s clean-cut good looks


Words: clean-shaven
Meaning:
adjective\na man who is clean-shaven does not have a BEARD or MOUSTACHE (= hair that has been allowed to grow on the face)


Words: clean-up
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the process of removing dirt, POLLUTION, or things that are considered bad or immoral from a place:\nThe clean-up of the river is going to take months. * a clean-up campaign / operation / programme


Words: cleaner
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person whose job is to clean other people’s houses or offices, etc:\nan office cleaner\n  2  a machine or substance that is used for cleaning:\na vacuum cleaner * a bottle of kitchen cleaner\n  3  (cleaner’s) (plural cleaners) (also dry-cleaner’s) a shop/store where clothes and fabrics are cleaned, especially with chemicals:\nCan you pick up my suit from the cleaner’s?\n IDIOMS \n  take sb to the cleaners (informal)\n1 to rob or cheat sb of all their money, etc.\n2 to defeat sb completely:\nOur team got taken to the cleaners.


Words: cleaning
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the work of making the inside of a house, etc. clean:\nThey pay someone to do the cleaning.


Words: cleaning lady
Meaning:
(also cleaning woman) noun\na woman whose job is to clean the rooms and furniture in an office, a house, etc.


Words: cleanliness
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of being clean or the habit of keeping things clean:\nSome people are obsessive about cleanliness.


Words: cleanly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  easily and smoothly in one movement:\nThe boat moved cleanly through the water.\n  2  in a clean way:\nfuel that burns cleanly


Words: cleanse
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to clean your skin or a wound:\na cleansing cream * lotion to cleanse the face / skin\n  2  ~ sb (of / from sth) (literary) to make sb free from guilt or SIN:\nShe felt cleansed of her sins after confession.\nsee also ETHNIC CLEANSING


Words: cleanser
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a liquid or cream for cleaning your face, especially for removing MAKE-UP\n  2  a substance that contains chemicals and is used for cleaning things


Words: clear
Meaning:
adjective, verb, adverb \n    adjective (clearer, clearest)\n  without confusion / doubt\n  1  easy to understand and not causing any confusion:\nShe gave me clear and precise directions. * Are these instructions clear enough? * Your meaning needs to be clear. * You’ll do as you’re told, is that clear? * This behaviour must stop-do I make myself clear (= express myself clearly so there is no doubt about what I mean)? * I hope I made it clear to him that he was no longer welcome here.\n  2  ~ (to sb) (that) | ~ what, how, whether, etc. obvious and leaving no doubt at all:\nThis is a clear case of fraud. * She won the election by a clear majority. * His height gives him a clear advantage. * It was quite clear to me that she was lying. * It is not clear what they want us to do. * It is clear from the graph that sales have dropped sharply. * How he got there was not clear. * a clear warning of the risks\n  3  ~ (about / on sth) | ~ what, how, whether, etc. having or feeling no doubt or confusion:\nAre you clear about the arrangements for tomorrow? * My memory is not clear on that point. * I’m still not clear what the job involves. * We need a clear understanding of the problems involved.\n  mind\n  4  thinking in a sensible and logical way, especially in a difficult situation:\na clear thinker * You’ll need to keep a clear head for your interview.\n  easy to see / hear\n  5  easy to see or hear:\nThe photo wasn’t very clear. * The voice on the phone was clear and strong. * She was in Australia but I could hear her voice as clear as a bell.\n  transparent\n  6  that you can see through:\nThe water was so clear we could see the bottom of the lake. * clear glass * a clear colourless liquid * a sheet of clear cellophane\n  sky / weather\n  7  without cloud or MIST:\na clear blue sky * On a clear day you can see France.\n  skin\n  8  without spots or marks:\nclear skin * a clear complexion\n  eyes\n  9  bright and lively\n  not blocked\n  10  ~ (of sth) free from things that are blocking the way or covering the surface of sth:\nThe road was clear and I ran over. * All exits must be kept clear of baggage. * You won’t get a clear view of the stage from here. * I always leave a clear desk at the end of the day. * Most roads are now clear of snow.\n  conscience\n  11  if you have a clear CONSCIENCE or your CONSCIENCE is clear, you do not feel guilty\n  free from sth bad\n  12  ~ of sth free from sth that is unpleasant:\nThey were still not clear of all suspicion. * We are finally clear of debt.\n  not touching / near\n  13  [not before noun] ~ (of sb/sth) not touching sth; a distance away from sth:\nThe plane climbed until it was clear of the clouds. * Make sure you park your car clear of the entrance.\n  period of time\n  14  [only before noun] whole or complete:\nAllow three clear days for the letter to arrive. * You must give seven clear days’ notice of the meeting.\n  sum of money\n  15  [only before noun] remaining when taxes, costs, etc. have been taken away; \nSYN NET:\nThey had made a clear profit of ｣2 000.\n IDIOMS \n  be clear sailing (AmE) = be plain sailing at PLAIN adj.\n  (as) clear as day easy to see or understand\n  (as) clear as mud (spoken) not clear at all; not easy to understand:\nOh well, that’s all as clear as mud, then.\n  in the clear (informal) no longer in danger or thought to be guilty of sth:\nIt seems that the original suspect is in the clear.\nmore at FIELD n., HEAD n., LOUD adv.\n    verb\n  remove sth / sb\n  1  [VN] ~ A (of B) | ~ B (from / off A) to remove sth that is not wanted or needed from a place:\nI cleared my desk of papers and got down to work. * Clear all those papers off the desk. * I had cleared my desk before I left. * It’s your turn to clear the table (= to take away the dirty plates, etc. after a meal). * She cleared a space on the sofa for him to sit down. * The streets had been cleared of snow. * The remains of the snow had been cleared from the streets. * It was several hours before the road was cleared after the accident.\nsee also CLEAR AWAY\n  2  [VN] to make people leave a place:\nAfter the bomb warning, police cleared the streets.\n  not be blocked\n  3  [V] to move freely again; to no longer be blocked:\nThe traffic took a long time to clear after the accident. * The boy’s lungs cleared and he began to breathe more easily.\n  of sky / weather\n  4  [V] when the sky or the weather clears, it becomes brighter and free of cloud or rain:\nThe sky cleared after the storm. * The rain is clearing slowly.\n  of liquid\n  5  [V] when a liquid clears, it becomes transparent and you can see through it:\nThe muddy water slowly cleared.\n  of smoke, etc.\n  6  [V] ~ (away) when smoke, FOG, etc. clears, it disappears so that it is easier to see things:\nThe mist will clear by mid-morning. * As the dust cleared, we saw that the whole ceiling had come down.\n  your head / mind\n  7  if your head or mind clears, or you clear it, you become free of thoughts that worry or confuse you or the effects of alcohol, a blow, etc. and you are able to think clearly:\n[V] As her mind cleared, she remembered what had happened. * [VN] I went for a walk to clear my head.\n  of face / expression\n  8  [V] if your face or expression clears, you stop looking angry or worried\n  prove sb innocent\n  9  [VN] ~ sb (of sth) to prove that sb is innocent:\nShe was cleared of all charges against her. * Throughout his years in prison, he fought to clear his name.\n  give official permission\n  10  [VN] ~ sth (with sb/sth) to give or get official approval for sth to be done:\nHis appointment had been cleared by the board. * I’ll have to clear it with the manager before I can refund your money.\n  11  [VN] to give official permission for a person, a ship, a plane or goods to leave or enter a place:\nThe plane had been cleared for take-off. * to clear goods through customs\n  12  [VN] to decide officially, after finding out information about sb, that they can be given special work or allowed to see secret papers:\nShe hasn’t been cleared by security.\n  money\n  13  if a cheque that you pay into your bank account clears, or a bank clears it, the money is available for you to use:\n[V] Cheques usually take three working days to clear. [also VN]\n  14  [VN] to gain or earn a sum of money as profit:\nShe cleared ｣1 000 on the deal.\n  15  [VN] if you clear a debt or a LOAN (= money you have borrowed), you pay all the money back\n  get over / past\n  16  [VN] to jump over or get past sth without touching it:\nThe horse cleared the fence easily. * The car only just cleared (= avoided hitting) the gatepost.\n  in sport\n  17  [V, VN] (in football and some other sports) if you clear a ball, or a ball clears, it is kicked or hit away from the area near your own goal\n IDIOMS \n  clear the air to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.\n  clear the decks (informal) to prepare for an activity, event, etc. by removing anything that is not essential to it\n  clear your throat to cough so that you can speak clearly\n  clear the way (for sth / for sth to happen) to remove things that are stopping the progress or movement of sth:\nThe ruling could clear the way for extradition proceedings.\nmore at COAST n., COBWEB\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clear away | clear sth<->away to remove sth because it is not wanted or needed, or in order to leave a clear space:\nHe cleared away and made coffee. * It’s time your toys were cleared away.\n  clear off (informal) to go or run away:\nHe cleared off when he heard the police siren. * (spoken) You’ve no right to be here. Clear off!\n  clear out (of ...) (informal) to leave a place quickly:\nHe cleared out with all the money and left her with the kids.\n  clear out | clear sth<->out to make sth empty and clean by removing things or throwing things away:\nto clear out a drawer / room * We cleared out all our old clothes. * I found the letters when I was clearing out after my father died.\nrelated noun CLEAR-OUT\n  clear up\n1 (of the weather) to become fine or bright:\nI hope it clears up this afternoon.\n2 (of an illness, infection, etc.) to disappear:\nHas your rash cleared up yet?\n  clear up | clear sth<->up to make sth clean and neat:\nIt’s time to clear up. * I’m fed up with clearing up after you! * Clear up your own mess!\n  clear sth<->up to solve or explain sth:\nto clear up a mystery / difficulty / misunderstanding\n    adverb\n  not near / touching\n  1  ~ (of sth) away from sth; not near or touching sth:\nStand clear of the train doors. * He injured his arm as he jumped clear of the car. * By the end of the first lap Walker was two metres clear of the rest of the runners.\n  all the way\n  2  (especially AmE) all the way to sth that is far away:\nShe could see clear down the highway into the town.\n IDIOMS \n  keep / stay / steer clear (of sb/sth) to avoid a person or thing because it may cause problems:\nSteer clear of the centre of town at this time of the evening.\nmore at WAY n.\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \nclear adj.\nclarity n.\nclarify v.\n______________________________


Words: clear-cut
Meaning:
adjective\ndefinite and easy to see or identify:\nThere is no clear-cut answer to this question. * a clear-cut distinction


Words: clear-headed
Meaning:
adjective\nable to think in a clear and sensible way, especially in a difficult situation:\nIn business Jane was clear-headed and decisive.


Words: clear-out
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a process of getting rid of things or people that you no longer want:\nIf you are really living in a mess, have a grand clear-out and put the whole place straight. * A staff clear-out is being planned at party headquarters (= people are going to lose their jobs).


Words: clearance
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the removal of things that are not wanted:\nThere were forest clearances in Java thousands of years ago. * slum clearance (= the removal of houses that are in very bad condition in an area of a town) * Landscape gardeners have begun a clearance of the overgrown ground to make way for a new park. * a clearance sale (= in a shop / store, when goods are sold cheaply to get rid of them quickly)\n  2  [U, C] the amount of space or distance that is needed between two objects so that they do not touch each other:\nThere is not much clearance for vehicles passing under this bridge. * a clearance of one metre\n  3  [U, C] official permission that is given to sb before they can work somewhere, have particular information, or do sth they want to do:\nI’m waiting for clearance from headquarters. * All employees at the submarine base require security clearance.\n  4  [U] official permission for a person or vehicle to enter or leave an airport or a country:\nThe pilot was waiting for clearance for take-off. * How long will customs clearance take?\n  5  [U, C] the process of a cheque being paid by a bank:\nClearance will take seven days.\n  6  [C] a clearance in football and some other sports is when a player kicks or hits the ball away from the goal of his or her own team


Words: clearing
Meaning:
noun\nan open space in a forest where there are no trees:\nWe made camp that night in a clearing in the woods.


Words: clearing house
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a central office that banks use in order to pay each other money and exchange cheques, etc.\n  2  an organization that collects and exchanges information on behalf of people or other organizations:\na clearing house for applications to universities


Words: clearly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a way that is easy to see or hear:\nPlease speak clearly after the tone. * It’s difficult to see anything clearly in this mirror.\n  2  in a way that is sensible and easy to understand:\nShe explained everything very clearly.\n  3  used to emphasize that what you are saying is obvious and true:\nClearly, this will cost a lot more than we realized.


Words: cleat
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a small wooden or metal bar fastened to sth, on which ropes may be fastened by winding\n \n  2  [C] a piece of rubber on the bottom of a shoe, etc. to stop it from slipping\n \n  3  (cleats) [pl.] (AmE) shoes with cleats, often worn for playing sports\ncompare FOOTBALL BOOT, SPIKE (2), STUD (3)


Words: cleavage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the space between a woman’s breasts that can be seen above a dress that does not completely cover them\n  2  [C] (formal) a difference or division between people or groups:\na deep cleavage between rich and poor in society


Words: cleave
Meaning:
verb (cleaved, cleaved)\n HELP NOTE  Less commonly, cleft  are used for the past tense, and cleft for the past participle.\n  1  [VN] (old-fashioned or literary) to split or cut sth in two using sth sharp and heavy:\nShe cleaved his skull (in two) with an axe. * (figurative) His skin was cleft with deep lines.\n  2  ~ (through) sth (old-fashioned or literary) to move quickly through sth:\n[V] a ship cleaving through the water * [VN] The huge boat cleaved the darkness. * to cleave a path through the traffic\n  3  ~ to sb/sth [V] (literary) to stick close to sth/sb:\nHer tongue clove to the roof of her mouth.\n  4  (cleaved, cleaved) [V] (formal) to continue to believe in or be loyal to sth:\nto cleave to a belief / idea\n IDIOMS  see CLEFT


Words: clef
Meaning:
noun\n(music) a symbol at the beginning of a line of printed music (called a STAVE or STAFF) that shows the PITCH of the notes on it:\nthe treble / bass clef


Words: cleft
Meaning:
noun, adjective-see also CLEAVE v.\n    noun a natural opening or crack, for example in the ground or in rock, or in a person’s chin:\na cleft in the rocks * They walked up a cleft in the hills.\n    adjective\n IDIOMS \n  be (caught) in a cleft stick to be in a difficult situation when any action you take will have bad results


Words: cleft palate
Meaning:
noun\na condition in which sb is born with the roof of their mouth split, making them unable to speak clearly


Words: clemency
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) kindness shown to sb when they are being punished; willingness not to punish sb so severely\nSYN MERCY:\na plea for clemency


Words: clement
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  (especially of weather) mild and pleasant\nOPP INCLEMENT\n  2  showing kindness and MERCY to sb who is being punished


Words: clench
Meaning:
verb\n  1  when you clench your hands, teeth, etc., or when they clench, you press or squeeze them together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset:\n[VN] He clenched his fists in anger. * Through clenched teeth she told him to leave. * His jaw was clenched tight. * [V] His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (in / between sth) to hold sth tightly and firmly:\nShe sat at the desk, her pen clenched between his teeth. * She had a gun clenched tightly in her hand.


Words: clerestory
Meaning:
noun\n(plural clerestories) (architecture) the upper part of a wall in a large church, with a row of windows in it, above the level of the lower roofs


Words: clergy
Meaning:
(often the clergy) noun\n[pl.] the priests or ministers of a religion, especially of the Christian Church:\nAll the local clergy were asked to attend the ceremony. * The new proposals affect both clergy and laity.\ncompare LAITY


Words: clergyman
Meaning:
(also churchman) noun\n(plural clergymen ) a male priest or minister in the Christian Church\ncompare PRIEST


Words: cleric
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (old-fashioned or formal) a clergyman\n  2  a religious leader in any religion:\nMuslim clerics


Words: clerical
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  connected with office work:\nclerical workers / staff / assistants * a clerical error (= one made in copying or calculating sth)\n  2  connected with the CLERGY (= priests):\na clerical collar (= one that fastens at the back, worn by some priests)


Words: clerk
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a person whose job is to keep the records or accounts in an office, shop/store etc:\nan office clerk\nsee also FILING CLERK\n  2  an official in charge of the records of a council, court, etc:\nthe Town Clerk * the Clerk of the Court\nsee also COUNTY CLERK, PARISH CLERK, CLERK OF WORKS\n  3  (also sales clerk) (both AmE) = SHOP ASSISTANT\n  4  (also desk clerk) (both AmE) a person whose job is dealing with people arriving at or leaving a hotel\nSYN RECEPTIONIST\n    verb (AmE) [V] to work as a clerk:\na clerking job


Words: clerk of works
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a person whose job is to be in charge of repairs to buildings or of building works, for an organization or institution


Words: clever
Meaning:
adjective (cleverer, cleverest)\n HELP NOTE  You can also use more clever and most clever.\n  1  (especially BrE) quick at learning and understanding things\nSYN INTELLIGENT:\na clever child * Clever girl! * How clever of you to work it out! * He’s too clever by half, if you ask me (= it annoys me or makes me suspicious).\n  2  ~ (at sth) (especially BrE) skilful:\nShe’s clever at getting what she wants. * He’s clever with his hands.\n  3  showing intelligence or skill, for example in the design of an object, in an idea or sb’s actions:\na clever little gadget * What a clever idea! * That (= what you just did) wasn’t very clever, was it? (= it wasn’t sensible) * Admitting her mistake may have been quite a clever move on her part.\n  4  (BrE, informal, disapproving) quick with words in a way that annoys people or does not show respect:\nDon’t you get clever with me!\n    cleverly adverb:\nThe bar’s lay-out has been cleverly designed to give a feeling of space without losing a certain cosiness.\n    cleverness noun [U]:\nBrain size and cleverness do not go together. * linguistic / technical cleverness


Words: clever Dick
Meaning:
(also clever clogs) noun\n(both BrE, informal, disapproving) a person who thinks they are always right or that they know everything:\nI don’t claim to be an expert and I certainly don’t want to be a clever Dick.


Words: cliche
Meaning:
(also cliche)  noun (disapproving)\n  1  [C] a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting:\nShe trotted out the old cliche that ’a trouble shared is a trouble halved.’ * a cliche-ridden style * It has become a cliche to say that Prague is the most beautiful city in Europe. * tired cliches like ’the information revolution’\n  2  [U] the use of cliches in writing or speaking:\nThe article collapses under the sheer weight of cliche.\n    cliched (also cliche’d, cliched)  adjective:\na cliched view of upper-class life


Words: click
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to make or cause sth to make a short sharp sound:\n[V] The cameras clicked away. * The bolt clicked into place. * [V-ADJ] The door clicked shut. * [VN] He clicked his fingers at the waiter. * Polly clicked her tongue in annoyance. * The corporal clicked his heels. * The police officer clicked a pair of handcuffs around his wrists.\n  2  ~ (on sth) to choose a particular function or item on a computer screen, etc., by pressing one of the buttons on a mouse:\n[VN] Click the OK button to start. * [V] I clicked on the link to the next page of the web site. * To run a window, just double-click on the icon. * Click here to add your opinion to the survey.\n  3  [V] (informal) to suddenly become clear or understood:\nSuddenly it clicked-we’d been talking about different people. * It all clicked into place. * Pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together.\n  4  [V] (informal) to become friends with sb at once; to become popular with sb:\nWe met at a party and clicked immediately. * He’s never really clicked with his students.\n  5  [V] (informal) to work well together:\nThe team don’t seem to have clicked yet. * We have clicked well together recently.\n    noun\n  1  a short sharp sound:\nThe front door closed with a click.\n  2  the act of pressing the button on a computer mouse


Words: client
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who uses the services or advice of a professional person or organization:\na well-known lawyer with many famous clients * to act on behalf of a client * Social workers must consider the best interests of their clients in every situation. -> CUSTOMER\n  2  (computing) a computer that is linked to a SERVER


Words: client-server
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (computing) (of a computer system) in which a central SERVER provides data to a number of computers connected together in a NETWORK


Words: clientele
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.+sing./pl. v.] all the customers or clients of a shop/store, restaurant, organization, etc:\nan international clientele * an important media event which is bound to attract a new clientele


Words: cliff
Meaning:
noun\na high area of rock with a very steep side, often at the edge of the sea or ocean:\nthe cliff edge / top * the chalk cliffs of Southern England * a castle perched high on the cliffs above the river * We set off along the cliff path.


Words: cliffhanger
Meaning:
noun\na situation in a story, film/movie, competition, etc. that is very exciting because you cannot guess what will happen next, or you do not find out immediately what happens next:\nThe first part of the serial ended with a real cliffhanger. * Tonight’s vote on European policy threatens to be a cliffhanger.\n    cliffhanging adjective


Words: climactic
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) (of an event or a point in time) very exciting, most important:\nThe play builds up to a final climactic scene between father and daughter.


Words: climate
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place:\na mild / temperate / warm / wet climate * the threat of global climate change\n  2  [C] an area with particular weather conditions:\nThey wanted to move to a warmer climate.\n  3  [C] a general attitude or feeling; an atmosphere or a situation which exists in a particular place:\nthe present political climate * the current climate of opinion (= what people generally are thinking about a particular issue) * a climate of suspicion / violence * We need to create a climate in which business can prosper.


Words: climatic
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with the weather of a particular area:\nclimatic changes / conditions\n    climatically  adverb


Words: climax
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  the most exciting or important event or point in time:\nto come to / reach a climax * the climax of his political career * The team’s 31 victory in the final provided a fitting climax to a great season.\n  2  the most exciting part of a play, piece of music, etc. that usually happens near the end:\nThe book’s powerful climax is the murder of Nancy by her lover Bill Sikes.\n  3  the highest point of sexual pleasure\nSYN ORGASM\ncompare ANTICLIMAX\n    verb (written)\n  1  ~ with / in sth to come to or form the best, most exciting, or most important point in sth:\n[V] The festival will climax on Sunday with a gala concert. * [VN] (especially AmE) The sensational verdict climaxed a six-month trial.\n  2  [V] to have an ORGASM


Words: climb
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  go up\n  1  ~ (up) (sth) to go up sth towards the top:\n[VN] to climb a mountain / hill / tree / wall * She climbed up the stairs. * The car slowly climbed the hill. * [V] As they climbed higher, the air became cooler.\n  go through / down / over\n  2  [V +adv./prep.] to move somewhere, especially with difficulty or effort:\nI climbed through the window. * Sue climbed into bed. * Can you climb down? * The boys climbed over the wall.\n  mountain / rock, etc.\n  3  (go climbing) to go up mountains or climb rocks as a hobby or sport:\nHe likes to go climbing most weekends.\n  aircraft / sun, etc.\n  4  [V] to go higher in the sky:\nThe plane climbed to 33 000 feet. * The sun climbed higher in the sky.\n  slope up\n  5  [V] to slope upwards:\nFrom here the path climbs steeply to the summit.\n  of plants\n  6  [V] to grow up a wall or frame:\na climbing rose\n  increase\n  7  [V] (of temperature, a country’s money, etc.) to increase in value or amount:\nThe dollar has been climbing all week. * The paper’s circulation continues to climb. * Membership is climbing steadily.\n  improve position / status\n  8  [V] to move to a higher position or social rank by your own effort:\nIn a few years he had climbed to the top of his profession. * The team has now climbed to fourth in the league.\n IDIOMS  see BANDWAGON\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  climb down (over sth) to admit that you have made a mistake or that you were wrong:\nThe government was forced to climb down last night over its handling of pensions.\nrelated noun CLIMBDOWN\n    noun\n  mountain / steps\n  1  an act of climbing up a mountain, rock or large number of steps; a period of time spent climbing:\nan exhausting climb * It’s an hour’s climb to the summit.\n  2  a mountain or rock which people climb up for sport:\nTitan’s Wall is the mountain’s hardest rock climb.\n  increase\n  3  [usually sing.] an increase in value or amount:\nthe dollar’s climb against the euro\n  to a higher position or status\n  4  [usually sing.] progress to a higher status, standard or position:\na rapid climb to stardom * the long slow climb out of the recession


Words: climbdown
Meaning:
noun\nan act of admitting that you were wrong, or of changing your position in an argument:\nThe Chancellor was forced into a humiliating climbdown on his economic policies.


Words: climber
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who climbs (especially mountains) or an animal that climbs:\nclimbers and hill walkers * Monkeys are efficient climbers.\n  2  a climbing plant\nsee also SOCIAL CLIMBER


Words: climbing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the sport or activity of climbing rocks or mountains:\nto go climbing * a climbing accident * a climbing wall (= one that is especially made to practise climbing on)


Words: climbing frame
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE jungle gym) noun\na structure made of metal bars joined together for children to climb and play on


Words: clime
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] (literary or humorous) a country with a particular kind of climate:\nI’m heading for sunnier climes next month.


Words: clinch
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] \n  1  to succeed in achieving or winning sth:\nto clinch an argument / a deal / a victory * They clinched a place in the semi-finals.\n  2  to provide the answer to sth; to settle sth that was not certain:\n’I’ll pay your air fare.’ ’Okay, that clinches it-I’ll come with you.’ * a clinching argument\n    noun\n  1  (informal) a position in which two lovers hold each other tightly\nSYN EMBRACE\n  2  a position in a fight in which two opponents hold each other tightly with the arms


Words: clincher
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (informal) a fact, a remark or an event that settles an argument, a decision or a competition:\nThere was a lot of circumstantial evidence but they still needed a clincher, something cast iron that would carry a conviction. * Sixsmith scored the clincher (= the winning goal) after 81 minutes.


Words: cline
Meaning:
noun\na series of similar items in which each is almost the same as the ones next to it, but the last is very different from the first\nSYN CONTINUUM


Words: cling
Meaning:
[V] \n  1  ~ (on) to sb/sth | ~ on / together to hold on tightly to sb/sth:\nsurvivors clinging to a raft * She clung on to her baby. * Cling on tight! * They clung together, shivering with cold. * Leaves still clung to the branches.\n  2  ~ (to sth) to stick to sth:\na dress that clings (= fits closely and shows the shape of your body) * The wet shirt clung to his chest. * The smell of smoke still clung to her clothes. * Her hair clung to her hot damp skin.\n  3  ~ (to sb) (usually disapproving) to stay close to sb, especially because you are emotionally dependent on them:\nAfter her mother’s death, Sara clung to her aunt more than ever.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  cling to sth | cling on to sth to be unwilling to get rid of sth, or stop doing sth:\nThroughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent. * He had one last hope to cling on to. * She managed to cling on to life for another couple of years.


Words: cling film
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE plastic wrap) noun\n[U] a thin transparent plastic material that sticks to a surface and to itself, used especially for wrapping food


Words: clinging
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of clothes or fabric) sticking to the body and showing its shape\n  2  (usually disapproving) too dependent on another person:\na clinging child


Words: clinic
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a building or part of a hospital where people can go for special medical treatment or advice:\nthe local family planning clinic\n  2  (especially BrE) a period of time during which doctors give special medical treatment or advice:\nThe antenatal clinic is on Wednesdays. * Doctors held a special clinic to talk to worried parents after a child at the school died of meningitis.\n  3  (especially BrE) a private hospital or one that treats health problems of a particular kind:\nHe is being treated at the London clinic. * a rehabilitation clinic for alcoholics\n  4  (AmE) a building where visiting patients can get medical treatment; a building shared by a group of doctors who work together\n  5  an occasion in a hospital when medical students learn by watching a specialist examine and treat patients\n  6  an occasion at which a professional person, especially a SPORTSMAN or SPORTSWOMAN gives advice and training:\na coaching clinic for young tennis players


Words: clinical
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [only before noun] relating to the examination and treatment of patients and their illnesses:\nclinical research (= done on patients, not just considering theory) * clinical training (= the part of a doctor’s training done in a hospital) * clinical trials of a drug\n  2  (disapproving) cold and calm and without feeling or sympathy:\nHe watched her suffering with clinical detachment.\n  3  (disapproving) (of a room, building, etc.) very plain; without decoration:\nEverything in the nursery was white and clinical and there were no pictures on the walls.\n    clinically adverb:\nclinically dead (= judged to be dead from the condition of the body) * clinically depressed


Words: clink
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb to make or cause sth to make a sharp ringing sound, like that of glasses being hit against each other:\n[V] clinking coins * [VN] They clinked glasses and drank to each other’s health.\n    noun [sing.]\n  1  (also clinking) a sharp ringing sound like the sound made by glasses being hit against each other\n  2  (old-fashioned, slang) prison


Words: clinker
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the hard rough substance left after coal has burnt at a high temperature; a piece of this substance\n  2  [sing.] (AmE) a wrong musical note:\nThe singer hit a clinker.


Words: clip
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] (often in compounds) a small metal or plastic object used for holding things together or in place:\na hair clip * toe clips on a bicycle\nsee also BICYCLE CLIP, BULLDOG CLIP, PAPER CLIP\n \n  2  [C] a piece of jewellery that fastens to your clothes:\na diamond clip\n \n  3  [sing.] the act of cutting sth to make it shorter:\nHe gave the hedge a clip.\n  4  [C] a short part of a film/movie that is shown separately:\nHere is a clip from her latest movie.\n  5  [C] (BrE, informal) a quick hit with your hand:\nShe gave him a clip round the ear for being cheeky.\n  6  [C] a set of bullets in a metal container that is placed in or attached to a gun for firing\n IDIOMS \n  at a fast, good, steady, etc. clip (especially AmE) quickly:\nLand prices will rise at a healthy clip.\n    verb (-pp-)\n  1  [+adv./prep.] to fasten sth to sth else with a clip; to be fastened with a clip:\n[VN] He clipped the microphone (on) to his collar. * Clip the pages together. * [V] Do those earrings clip on?\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (off / from sth) to cut sth with scissors or SHEARS, in order to make it shorter or neater; to remove sth from somewhere by cutting it off:\nto clip a hedge * He clipped off a length of wire.\n  3  [VN] to hit the edge or side of sth:\nThe car clipped the kerb as it turned. * She clipped the ball into the net.\n  4  [VN] ~ sth (out of / from sth) to cut sth out of sth else using scissors:\nto clip a coupon (out of the paper)\n IDIOMS \n  clip sb’s wings to restrict a person’s freedom or power:\nHaving a new baby to take care of has clipped her wings.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clip sth off sth (informal) to reduce the time that it takes to do sth by a particular length of time:\nShe clipped two seconds off her previous best time.


Words: clipboard
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a small board with a clip at the top for holding papers, used by sb who wants to write while standing or moving around\n \n  2  (computing) a place where information from a computer file is stored temporarily until it is added to another file


Words: clipped
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a person’s way of speaking) clear and fast but not very friendly:\nhis clipped military tones


Words: clipper
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (clippers) [pl.] a tool for cutting small pieces off things:\na pair of clippers * nail clippers\n  2  a fast sailing ship, used in the past


Words: clipping
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually pl.] a piece cut off sth:\nhedge / nail clippings\n  2  (especially AmE) = CUTTING


Words: clique
Meaning:
noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] (often disapproving) a small group of people who spend their time together and do not allow others to join them:\nThe club is dominated by a small clique of intellectuals.


Words: cliquey
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) tending to form a clique; controlled by cliques:\nHe found the school very cliquey and elitist.


Words: clitoris
Meaning:
noun\nthe small sensitive organ just above the opening of a woman’s VAGINA which becomes larger when she is sexually excited\n    clitoral  adjective [only before noun]


Words: cloak
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a type of coat that has no sleeves, fastens at the neck and hangs loosely from the shoulders, worn especially in the past\n  2  [sing.] (literary) a thing that hides or covers sb/sth:\nThey left under the cloak of darkness. * The author prefers to hide behind a cloak of anonymity.\n    verb [VN] ~ sth (in sth) [often passive] (written) to cover or hide sth:\nThe hills were cloaked in thick mist. * The meeting was cloaked in mystery.\n    cloaked adjective:\na tall cloaked figure (= a person wearing a cloak)


Words: cloak-and-dagger
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] cloak-and-dagger activities are secret and mysterious, sometimes in a way that people think is unnecessary or ridiculous:\nWhy can’t we be open about it? Do we really need all this cloak-and-dagger stuff?


Words: cloakroom
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (especially BrE) (AmE usually checkroom, coat check, coatroom) a room in a public building where people can leave coats, bags, etc. for a time\n  2  (BrE) a room in a public building where there are toilets:\nthe ladies’ cloakroom


Words: clobber
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] (informal)\n  1  to hit sb very hard:\nIf you do that again, I’ll clobber you!\n  2  [often passive] to affect sb badly or to punish them, especially by making them lose money:\nThe paper got clobbered with libel damages of half a million pounds.\n  3  [usually passive] to defeat sb completely:\nWe got clobbered in the game on Saturday.\n    noun [U] (BrE, informal) a person’s clothes or equipment:\nThe real problem when travelling with a baby is the amount of clobber you have to take with you.


Words: cloche
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also cloche hat) a woman’s hat, shaped like a bell, and fitting close to the head, worn especially in the 1920s\n  2  a glass or plastic cover placed over young plants to protect them from cold weather


Words: clock
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] an instrument for measuring and showing time, in a room or on the wall of a building (not worn or carried like a watch):\nIt was ten past six by the kitchen clock. * The clock struck twelve / midnight. * The clock is fast / slow. * The clock has stopped. * the clock face (= the front part of a clock with the numbers on) * The hands of the clock crept slowly around. * Ellen heard the loud ticking of the clock in the hall.\nsee also ALARM CLOCK, BIOLOGICAL CLOCK, BODY CLOCK, CUCKOO CLOCK, GRANDFATHER CLOCK, O’CLOCK, TIME CLOCK\n \n  2  (the clock) [sing.] (informal) = MILOMETER:\na used car with 20 000 miles on the clock\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  against the clock if you do sth against the clock, you do it fast in order to finish before a particular time:\nIt was a race against the clock to get the building work finished in time.\n  around / round the clock all day and all night without stopping\n  put the clocks forward / back (BrE) (AmE set / move the clocks ahead / back) to change the time shown by clocks, usually by one hour, when the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer:\nRemember to put your clocks back tonight.\n  put / turn the clock back\n1 to return to a situation that existed in the past; to remember a past age:\nI wish we could turn the clock back two years and give the marriage another chance.\n2 (disapproving) to return to old-fashioned methods or ideas:\nThe new censorship law will turn the clock back 50 years.\n  run out the clock (AmE) if a sports team tries to run out the clock at the end of a game, it stops trying to score and just tries to keep hold of the ball to stop the other team from scoring\n  the clocks go forward / back the time changes officially, for example at the beginning and end of summer\nmore at BEAT v., RACE n., STOP v., WATCH v.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] to reach a particular time or speed:\nHe clocked 10.09 seconds in the 100 metres final.\n  2  ~ sb/sth (at sth) to measure the speed at which sb/sth is travelling:\n[VN -ing] The police clocked her doing over 100 miles an hour. * [VN] Wind gusts at 80 m.p.h. were clocked at Rapid City.\n  3  (BrE, informal) to notice or recognize sb:\n[VN] I clocked her in the driving mirror. [also V wh-, V that]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clock in / on (BrE) (AmE punch in) to record the time at which you arrive at work, especially by putting a card into a machine:\nStaff should clock in on arrival. * I clock on at 8 a.m.\n  clock out / off (BrE) (AmE punch out) to record the time at which you leave work, especially by putting a card into a machine:\nShe clocks off at 5.15. * It’t time to clock off and go home.\n  clock up sth to reach a particular amount or number:\nOn the trip we clocked up over 1 800 miles. * He has clocked up more than 25 years on the committee.


Words: clock radio
Meaning:
noun\na clock combined with a radio that can be set to come on at a particular time in order to wake sb up


Words: clock-watcher
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a worker who is always checking the time to make sure that they do not work longer than they need to


Words: clockwise
Meaning:
adverb, adjective\nmoving around in the same direction as the hands of a clock:\nTurn the key clockwise. * a clockwise direction * In our picture, clockwise from top left, are James Brown, Helen Taylor and Holly Jones.\nOPP ANTICLOCKWISE, COUNTERCLOCKWISE


Words: clockwork
Meaning:
noun\n[U] machinery with wheels and SPRINGS like that inside a clock:\nclockwork toys (= toys that you wind up with a key) * He is home by six every day regular as clockwork. * working with clockwork (= complete) precision\n IDIOMS \n  go / run like clockwork to happen according to plan; to happen without difficulties or problems:\nThe operation went like clockwork.


Words: clodhopper
Meaning:
noun (informal)\n  1  [usually pl.] a large heavy shoe\n  2  (disapproving) an awkward or CLUMSY person


Words: clog
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-gg-) ~ (up) (with sth) | ~ sth (up) (with sth) to block sth or to become blocked: [VN] [often passive] The narrow streets were clogged with traffic. * Tears clogged her throat. * [V] Within a few years the pipes began to clog up.\n    noun\n a shoe that is completely made of wood or one that has a thick wooden sole and a leather top\n \n IDIOMS  see POP v.


Words: cloister
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually pl.] a covered passage with arches around a square garden, usually forming part of a CATHEDRAL, CONVENT or MONASTERY\n  2  [sing.] life in a CONVENT or MONASTERY:\nthe calm of the cloister


Words: cloistered
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) protected from the problems and dangers of normal life:\na cloistered life * the cloistered world of the university


Words: clone
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (biology) a plant or an animal that is produced artificially from the cells of another plant or animal and is therefore exactly the same as it\n  2  (sometimes disapproving) a person or thing that seems to be an exact copy of another:\nCaroline’s brothers grinned alongside her, clones of their father.\n  3  (computing) a computer designed to work in exactly the same way as another, usually one made by a different company and more expensive\n    verb [VN] to produce an exact copy of an animal or a plant from its cells:\nA team from the UK were the first to successfully clone an animal. * Dolly, the cloned sheep\n    cloning noun [U]


Words: close
Meaning:
verb, noun-see also CLOSE\n    verb\n  window / door, etc.\n \n  1  to put sth into a position so that it covers an opening; to get into this position\nSYN SHUT:\n[VN] Would anyone mind if I closed the window? * She closed the gate behind her. * It’s dark now-let’s close the curtains. * I closed my eyes against the bright light. * [V] The doors open and close automatically.\nOPP OPEN\n \n  book / umbrella, etc.\n \n  2  [VN] ~ sth (up) to move the parts of sth together so that it is no longer open\nSYN SHUT:\nto close a book / an umbrella\nOPP OPEN\n  shop / store / business\n  3  ~ (sth) (to sb/sth) to make the work of a shop/store, etc. stop for a period of time; to not be open for people to use: [VN] [often passive] The museum has been closed for renovation. * The road was closed to traffic for two days. * [V] What time does the bank close? * We close for lunch between twelve and two.\nOPP OPEN\n  4  (also close down, close sth<->down) if a company, shop/store, etc. closes, or if you close it, it stops operating as a business:\n[VN] The club was closed by the police. * [V] The hospital closed at the end of last year. * The play closed after just three nights.\nOPP OPEN\n  end\n  5  to end or make sth end:\n[VN] to close a meeting / debate * to close a case / an investigation * to close an account (= to stop keeping money in a bank account) * The subject is now closed (= we will not discuss it again). * [V] The meeting will close at 10.00 p.m. * The offer closes at the end of the week.\nOPP OPEN\n  finance\n  6  [V] to be worth a particular amount at the end of the day’s business:\nShares in the company closed at 265p. * closing prices [also V-ADJ]\n  distance / difference\n  7  to make the distance or difference between two people or things smaller; to become smaller or narrower:\n[VN] These measures are aimed at closing the gap between rich and poor. * [V] The gap between the two top teams is closing all the time.\n  hold firmly\n  8  ~ (sth) about / around / over sb/sth to hold sth/sb firmly:\n[VN] She closed her hand over his. [also V]\n IDIOMS \n  close the book on sth to stop doing sth because you no longer believe you will be successful or will find a solution:\nThe police have closed the book on the case (= they have stopped trying to solve it).\n  close its doors (of a business, etc.) to stop trading:\nThe factory closed its doors for the last time in 1997.\n  close your mind to sth to refuse to think about sth as a possibility\n  close ranks\n1 if a group of people close ranks, they work closely together to defend themselves, especially when they are being criticized:\nIt’s not unusual for the police to close ranks when one of their officers is being investigated.\n2 if soldiers close ranks, they move closer together in order to defend themselves\nmore at DOOR, EAR, EYE n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  close down (BrE) when a radio or television station closes down, it stops broadcasting at the end of the day\nrelated noun CLOSE-DOWN\n  close down | close sth<->down = CLOSE (4):\nAll the steelworks around here were closed down in the 1980s.\nrelated noun CLOSE-DOWN\nOPP OPEN UP\n  close in\n1 when the days close in, they become gradually shorter during the autumn/fall\n2 if the weather closes in, it gets worse\n3 when the night closes in, it gets darker:\nThey huddled around the fire as the night closed in.\n  close in (on sb/sth) to move nearer to sb/sth, especially in order to attack them:\nThe lions closed in on their prey.\n  close sth<->off to separate sth from other parts so that people cannot use it:\nThe entrance to the train station was closed off following the explosion.\n  close out sth (AmE)\n1 to sell goods very cheaply in order to get rid of them quickly\nrelated noun CLOSEOUT\n2 to finish or settle sth:\nA rock concert closed out the festivities.\n  close over sb/sth to surround and cover sb/sth:\nThe water closed over his head.\n  close up\n1 when a wound closes up, it heals\n2 to hide your thoughts or emotions:\nShe closed up when I asked about her family.\n  close up | close sth<->up\n1 to shut and lock sth such as a shop/store or a building, especially for a short period of time:\nWhy don’t we close up and go out for lunch? * Can the last one out close up the office?\nOPP OPEN UP\n2 to come closer together; to bring people or things closer together:\nTraffic was heavy and cars were closing up behind each other.\n3 to become narrower and less open:\nEvery time he tried to speak, his throat closed up with fear.\nOPP OPEN UP\n    noun [sing.] (formal) the end of a period of time or an activity:\nat the close of the 17th century * His life was drawing to a close. * Can we bring this meeting to a close? * By the close of London trading, Wall Street was up 9.78 points. * The West Indies were 98 for 3 at the close of play (= at the end of the day’s play in a cricket match).\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nclose / shut\nYou can close and shut doors, windows, your eyes, mouth, etc.\nShut can suggest more noise and is often found in phrases such as slammed shut, banged shut, snapped shut.\nShut is also usually used for containers such as boxes, suitcases, etc.\nTo talk about the time when shops, offices, etc. are not open, use close or shut: What time do the banks close/shut? * A strike has shut the factory. You can also use closed or shut (AmE usually closed): The store is closed/shut today. Especially in AmE, shut can sound less polite.\nClosed is used in front of a noun, but shut is not: a closed window.\nWe usually use closed about roads, airports, etc.: The road is closed because of the snow.\nClose is also used in formal English to talk about ending a meeting or conversation.\n______________________________\n\n\n adjective, adverb, noun-see also CLOSE\n    adjective (closer, closest)\n  near\n  1  [not usually before noun] ~ (to sb/sth) | ~ (together) near in space or time:\nOur new house is close to the school. * I had no idea the beach was so close. * The two buildings are close together. * This is the closest we can get to the beach by car. * We all have to work in close proximity (= near each other). * The President was shot at close range (= from a short distance away). * The children are close to each other in age. * Their birthdays are very close together. -> NEAR\n  almost / likely\n  2  [not before noun] ~ (to sth) | ~ (to doing sth) almost in a particular state; likely to do sth soon:\nHe was close to tears. * The new library is close to completion. * She knew she was close to death. * We are close to signing the agreement.\n  relationship\n  3  ~ (to sb) knowing sb very well and liking them very much:\nJo is a very close friend. * She is very close to her father. * She and her father are very close. * We’re a very close family.\n  4  near in family relationship:\nclose relatives, such as your mother and father, and brothers and sisters * The groom and his close family took their places.\n  5  very involved in the work or activities of sb else, usually seeing and talking to them regularly:\nHe is one of the prime minister’s closest advisers. * The college has close links with many other institutions. * She has kept in close contact with the victims’ families. * We keep in close touch with the police.\n  careful\n  6  [only before noun] careful and thorough:\nTake a close look at this photograph. * On closer examination the painting proved to be a fake. * Pay close attention to what I am telling you.\n  similar\n  7  ~ (to sth) very similar to sth else or to an amount:\nThere’s a close resemblance (= they are very much alike). * His feeling for her was close to hatred. * The unemployment total was close to 20% of the workforce. * We tried to match the colours, but this is the closest we could get.\n  competition / election, etc.\n  8  won by only a small amount or distance:\na close contest / match / election * It was a very close finish. * I think it’s going to be close. * The game was closer than the score suggests. * The result is going to be too close to call (= either side may win).\n  almost bad result\n  9  used to describe sth, usually a dangerous or unpleasant situation, that nearly happens:\nPhew! That was close-that car nearly hit us. * We caught the bus in the end but it was close (= we nearly missed it).\n  without space\n  10  with little or no space in between:\nover 1 000 pages of close print * The soldiers advanced in close formation.\n  cut short\n  11  cut very short, near to the skin:\na close haircut / shave\n  guarded\n  12  [only before noun] carefully guarded:\nThe donor’s identity is a close secret. * She was kept under close arrest.\n  weather / room\n  13  warm in an uncomfortable way because there does not seem to be enough fresh air\nSYN STUFFY:\nIt’s very close today-I think there’s going to be a storm.\n  private\n  14  [not before noun] ~ (about sth) not willing to give personal information about yourself:\nHe was close about his past.\n  mean\n  15  [not before noun] (BrE) not liking to spend money:\nShe’s always been very close with her money.\n  phonetics\n  16  (of vowels) pronounced with the tongue raised near to the top of the mouth\n    closely adverb:\nI sat and watched everyone very closely (= carefully). * He walked into the room, closely followed by the rest of the family. * a closely contested election * She closely resembled her mother at the same age. * The two events are closely connected.\n    closeness noun [U] \n IDIOMS \n  at / from close quarters very near:\nfighting at close quarters\n  a close call / shave (informal) a situation in which you only just manage to avoid an accident, etc.\n  a close thing a situation in which success or failure is equally possible:\nWe got him out in the end, but it was a close thing.\n  close to home if a remark or topic of discussion is close to home, it is accurate or connected with you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed:\nHer remarks about me were embarrassingly close to home.\n  keep a close eye / watch on sb/sth to watch sb/sth carefully:\nOver the next few months we will keep a close eye on sales.\nmore at HEART\n    adverb (closer, closest) near; not far away:\nThey sat close together. * Don’t come too close! * She held Tom close and pressed her cheek to his. * I couldn’t get close enough to see. * A second police car followed close behind.\n IDIOMS \n  close at hand near; in a place where sb/sth can be reached easily:\nThere are good cafes and a restaurant close at hand.\n  close by (sb/sth) at a short distance (from sb/sth):\nOur friends live close by. * The route passes close by the town.\n  close on | close to almost; nearly:\nShe is close on sixty. * It is close on midnight. * a profit close to ｣200 million\n  a close run thing a situation in which sb only just wins or loses, for example in a competition or an election:\nMr Taylor’s election defeat was a close run thing.\n  close to | close up in a position very near to sth:\nThe picture looks very different when you see it close to.\n  close up to sb/sth very near in space to sb/sth:\nShe snuggled close up to him.\n  come close (to sth / to doing sth) to almost reach or do sth:\nHe’d come close to death. * We didn’t win but we came close. * The welfare state never came close to eliminating poverty.\n  run sb/sth close (BrE) to be nearly as good, fast, successful, etc. as sb/sth else:\nGermany ran Argentina very close in the final.\nmore at CARD n., MARK n., SAIL v.\n    noun\n  1  (BrE) (especially in street names) a street that is closed at one end:\nBrookside Close\n  2  the grounds and buildings that surround and belong to a CATHEDRAL


Words: close season
Meaning:
noun [sing.] (BrE)\n  1  (also closed season AmE, BrE) the time of year when it is illegal to kill particular kinds of animal, bird and fish because they are breeding\nOPP OPEN SEASON\n  2  (AmE off season) (in sport) the time during the summer when teams do not play important games


Words: close-down
Meaning:
noun [U, sing.]\n  1  the stopping of work, especially permanently, in an office, a factory, etc.\n  2  (BrE) the end of broadcasting on television or radio at the end of a day


Words: close-knit
Meaning:
(also less frequent closely-knit) adjective\n(of a group of people) having strong relationships with each other and taking a close, friendly interest in each other’s activities and problems:\nthe close-knit community of a small village


Words: close-mouthed
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] not willing to say much about sth because you want to keep a secret


Words: close-range
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] at or from a short distance:\nThe close-range shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.


Words: close-run
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (of a race or competition) won by a very small amount or distance:\nThe election was a close-run thing.


Words: close-up
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a photograph, or picture in a film/movie, taken very close to sb/sth so that it shows a lot of detail:\na close-up of a human eye * It was strange to see her own face in close-up on the screen. * close-up pictures of the planet


Words: closed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [not before noun] shut:\nKeep the door closed.\n  2  [not before noun] shut, especially of a shop/store or public building that is not open for a period of time:\nThe museum is closed on Mondays. * This road is closed to traffic.\n  3  not willing to accept outside influences or new ideas:\na closed society * He has a closed mind.\n  4  [usually before noun] limited to a particular group of people; not open to everyone:\na closed membership\nOPP OPEN -> CLOSE\n IDIOMS \n  behind closed doors without the public being allowed to attend or know what is happening; in private:\nThe meeting was held behind closed doors.\n  a closed book (to sb) a subject or person that you know nothing about:\nNuclear physics is a closed book to most of us.


Words: closed shop
Meaning:
noun\na factory, business, etc. in which employees must all be members of a particular TRADE/LABOR UNION


Words: closed-captioned
Meaning:
adjective\n(AmE) (of a TV programme) having CAPTIONS that can only be read if you have a special machine (= a DECODER)


Words: closed-circuit television
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (abbreviation CCTV) a television system that works within a limited area, for example a public building, to protect it from crime


Words: closet
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun\n (especially AmE) a small room or a space in a wall with a door that reaches the floor, used for storing things:\na walk-in closet\ncompare CUPBOARD, WARDROBE\nsee also WATER CLOSET\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  come out of the closet to admit sth openly that you kept secret before, especially because of shame or embarrassment:\nHomosexuals in public life are now coming out of the closet.\nmore at SKELETON\n    adjective [only before noun] used to describe people who want to keep some fact about themselves secret:\ncloset gays * I suspect he’s a closet fascist.\n    verb [VN] to put sb in a room away from other people, especially so that they can talk privately with sb, or so that they can be alone:\nHe was closeted with the President for much of the day. * She had closeted herself away in her room.


Words: closing
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [only before noun] coming at the end of a speech, a period of time or an activity:\nhis closing remarks * the closing stages of the game\nOPP OPENING\n    noun [U] the act of shutting sth such as a factory, hospital, school, etc. permanently:\nthe closing of the local school\nOPP OPENING


Words: closing date
Meaning:
noun\nthe last date by which sth must be done, such as applying for a job or entering a competition:\nThe closing date for applications is 25 May.


Words: closing time
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] the time when a pub, shop/store, bar, etc. ends business for the day and people have to leave


Words: closure
Meaning:
noun [C, U]\n  1  the situation when a factory, school, hospital, etc. shuts permanently:\nfactory closures * The hospital has been threatened with closure. * Spending cuts could mean the closure of the village school.\n  2  the temporary closing of a road or bridge:\nThere will be road closures and diversions in the area from 8 p.m.


Words: clot
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  = BLOOD CLOT:\nThey removed a clot from his brain.\n  2  (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) a stupid person\n    verb (-tt-) when blood or cream clots or when sth clots it, it forms thick lumps or clots:\n[V] a drug that stops blood from clotting during operations * [VN] the blood clotting agent, Factor 8


Words: cloth
Meaning:
1  [U] fabric made by weaving or knitting cotton, wool, silk, etc:\nwoollen / cotton cloth * bandages made from strips of cloth * the cloth industry / trade * a cloth bag\n  2  [C] (often in compounds) a piece of cloth, often used for a special purpose, especially cleaning things or covering a table:\nWipe the surface with a damp cloth. * a floor cloth\nsee also DISHCLOTH, TABLECLOTH\n  3  (the cloth) [sing.] (literary) used to refer to Christian priests as a group:\na man of the cloth\n IDIOMS  see COAT n.


Words: cloth cap
Meaning:
(also flat cap) (both BrE) noun\na soft cap, normally made of wool, traditionally a symbol of working men:\nThe party has successfully shed its cloth cap image (= it is not just a working-class party any more).


Words: clothe
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb / yourself (in sth) (formal) to dress sb/yourself:\nThey clothe their children in the latest fashions. * (figurative) Climbing plants clothed the courtyard walls.\n  2  to provide clothes for sb to wear:\nthe costs of feeding and clothing a family


Words: clothed
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] ~ (in sth) dressed in a particular way:\na man clothed in black * She jumped fully clothed into the water. * (figurative) The valley was clothed in trees and shrubs.


Words: clothes
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the things that you wear, such as trousers/pants, dresses and jackets:\nI bought some new clothes for the trip. * to put on / take off your clothes * Bring a change of clothes with you. * She has no clothes sense (= she does not know what clothes look attractive).\n______________________________\n \n WHICH WORD? \n \nclothes / clothing\nYou use clothes [pl] to talk about the things that you wear: I’ll just put on some clean clothes. You use clothing [U] to talk about clothes in general or a particular type of clothes: the clothing industry * protective clothing.\nNote that there is no singular form of clothes. You can, however, talk about a piece/an item/an article of clothing. Note also the expression: I haven’t got anything to wear (= any suitable clothes) for the party tonight.\n-> note at WEAR\n______________________________


Words: clothes horse
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) a wooden or plastic folding frame that you put clothes on to dry after you have washed them\n  2  (disapproving) a person, especially a woman, who is too interested in fashionable clothes


Words: clothes line
Meaning:
(BrE) (also line AmE, BrE) (BrE also washing line) noun\na piece of thin rope or wire, attached to posts, that you hang clothes on to dry outside after you have washed them


Words: clothing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] clothes, especially a particular type of clothes:\nprotective / warm clothing * the high cost of food, clothing and shelter * an item / article of clothing * a clothing manufacturer -> CLOTHES\n IDIOMS  see WOLF n.


Words: clotted cream
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a very thick type of cream made by slowly heating milk, made and eaten especially in Britain:\nscones and jam with clotted cream


Words: cloud
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C, U] a grey or white mass made of very small drops of water, that floats in the sky:\nThe sun went behind a cloud. * It was scorching and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. * The plane was flying in cloud most of the way.\nsee also STORM CLOUD, THUNDERCLOUD\n \n  2  [C] a large mass of sth in the air, for example dust or smoke, or a number of insects flying all together\n \n  3  [C] something that makes you feel sad or anxious:\nHer father’s illness cast a cloud over her wedding day. * The only dark cloud on the horizon was that they might have to move house. * He still has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him.\n \n IDIOMS \n  every cloud has a silver lining (saying) every sad or difficult situation has a positive or hopeful side\n  on cloud nine (old-fashioned, informal) extremely happy\n  under a cloud if sb is under a cloud, other people think that they have done sth wrong and are suspicious of them:\nShe resigned under a cloud.\nmore at HEAD n.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] if sth clouds your judgement, memory, etc., it makes it difficult for you to understand or remember sth clearly:\nDoubts were beginning to cloud my mind. * His judgement was clouded by jealousy.\n  2  ~ (over) (written) (of sb’s face) to show sadness, fear, anger, etc.; to make sb look sad, afraid, angry, etc:\n[V] Her face clouded over with anger. * [VN] Suspicion clouded his face.\n  3  [VN] ~ the issue to make sth you are discussing or considering less clear, especially by introducing subjects that are not connected with it\n  4  [V] ~ (over) (of the sky) to fill with clouds:\nIt was beginning to cloud over.\n  5  [VN] to make sth less pleasant or enjoyable:\nHis last years were clouded by financial worries.\n  6  if glass, water, etc. clouds, or if sth clouds it, it becomes less transparent:\n[V] Her eyes clouded with tears. * [VN] Steam had clouded the mirror.


Words: cloud-cuckoo-land
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE cloudland, la-la land) noun\n[U] (informal, disapproving) if you say that sb is living in cloud-cuckoo-land, you mean that they do not understand what a situation is really like, but think it is much better than it is


Words: cloudy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of the sky or the weather) covered with clouds; with a lot of clouds:\na grey, cloudy day\n  2  (of liquids) not clear or transparent:\nThe water looked cloudy and not fit to drink.\n    cloudiness noun [U]


Words: clout
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] power and influence:\npolitical / financial clout * The World Bank can use its clout with poorer countries to insist on reforms. * I knew his opinion carried a lot of clout.\n  2  [C, usually sing.] (informal) a blow with the hand or a hard object:\nYou’re not too big for a clout round the ear!\n    verb [VN] (informal) to hit sb hard, especially with your hand


Words: clove
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the dried flower of a tropical tree, used in cooking as a spice, especially to give flavour to sweet foods. Cloves look like small nails.\n  2  [C] a garlic ~ | a ~ of garlic one of the small separate sections of a BULB (= the round underground part) of GARLIC:\nUse one crushed clove of garlic.\nsee also CLEAVE v.


Words: clover
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a small wild plant that usually has three leaves on each stem and purple, pink or white flowers that are shaped like balls:\na four-leaf clover (= one with four leaves instead of three, thought to bring good luck)\n IDIOMS \n  be / live in clover (informal) to have enough money to be able to live a very comfortable life


Words: clown
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  an entertainer who wears funny clothes and a large red nose and does silly things to make people laugh: (figurative) Robert was always the class clown (= he did silly or funny things to make the other students laugh).\n \n  2  (disapproving) a person that you disapprove of because they act in a stupid way:\nWhat do those clowns in the government think they are doing?\n    verb [V] ~ (around) (often disapproving) to behave in a silly way, especially in order to make other people laugh


Words: cloying
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  (of food, a smell, etc.) so sweet that it is unpleasant\n  2  using emotion in a very obvious way, so that the result is unpleasant:\nHis acting was passionate, but never cloying or sentimental.\n    cloyingly adverb


Words: cloze test
Meaning:
noun\na type of test in which you have to put suitable words in spaces in a text where words have been left out


Words: club
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  for activity / sport\n \n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially in compounds) a group of people who meet together regularly, for a particular activity, sport, etc:\na golf / tennis club * a chess / film / movie club * to join / belong to a club * The club has / have voted to admit 50 new members.\nsee also FAN CLUB, YOUTH CLUB\n \n  2  [C] the building or rooms that a particular club uses:\nWe had lunch at the golf club. * the club bar\nsee also COUNTRY CLUB, HEALTH CLUB\n \n  3  [C+sing./pl. v.] (BrE) a professional sports organization that includes the players, managers, owners and members:\nManchester United Football Club\n  music / dancing\n  4  [C] a place where people, especially young people, go and listen to music, dance, etc:\na jazz club * the club scene in Newcastle\nsee also CLUBBING, NIGHTCLUB, STRIP CLUB\n  social\n  5  [C+sing./pl. v.] (especially in Britain) an organization and a place where people, usually men only, can meet together socially or stay:\nHe’s a member of several London clubs.\n  selling books / cds\n  6  [C] an organization that sells books, CDs, etc. cheaply to its members:\na music / record club\nsee also BOOK CLUB\n  weapon\n  7  [C] a heavy stick with one end thicker than the other, that is used as a weapon\nsee also BILLY CLUB\n  in golf\n  8  [C] = GOLF CLUB\n  in card games\n  9  (clubs) [pl., U] one of the four set of cards (called SUITS) in a pack/deck of cards. The clubs have a black design shaped like three black leaves on a short stem:\nthe five / queen / ace of clubs\n  10  [C] one card from the SUIT called clubs:\nI played a club.\n IDIOMS \n  be in the club (BrE, informal) to be pregnant\nmore at JOIN v.\n    verb (-bb-)\n  1  [VN] to hit a person or an animal with a heavy stick or similar object:\nThe victim was clubbed to death with a baseball bat.\n  2  [V] (go clubbing) (BrE, informal) to spend time dancing and drinking in NIGHTCLUBS\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  club together (BrE) if two or more people club together, they each give an amount of money and the total is used to pay for sth:\nWe clubbed together to buy them a new television.


Words: club car
Meaning:
noun\n(AmE) a railway carriage with comfortable chairs and tables, where you can buy sth to eat or drink


Words: clubbing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the activity of going to NIGHTCLUBS regularly:\nThey go clubbing most weekends.\n    clubber noun:\nThe venue was packed with 3 000 clubbers.


Words: clubland
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) popular NIGHTCLUBS in general and the people who go to them; an area of a town where there are a lot of NIGHTCLUBS:\nmodern clubland * London’s clubland


Words: cluck
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [V] when a chicken clucks, it makes a series of short low sounds\n  2  to make a short low sound with your tongue to show that you feel sorry for sb or that you disapprove of sth:\n[V] The teacher clucked sympathetically at the child’s story. [also VN, V speech]\n    noun the low, short sounds that a chicken makes: (figurative) a cluck of impatience / annoyance


Words: clue
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  ~ (to sth) an object, a piece of evidence or some information that helps the police solve a crime:\nThe police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer.\n  2  ~ (to sth) a fact or a piece of evidence that helps you discover the answer to a problem:\nDiet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.\n  3  some words or a piece of information that helps you find the answers to a CROSSWORD, a game or a question:\n’You’ll never guess who I saw today!’ ’Give me a clue.’\n IDIOMS \n  not have a clue (informal)\n1 to know nothing about sth or about how to do sth:\nI don’t have a clue where she lives.\n2 (disapproving) to be very stupid:\nDon’t ask him to do it-he doesn’t have a clue!\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  clue sb in (on sth) (informal) to give sb the most recent information about sth:\nHe’s just clued me in on the latest developments.


Words: clued-up
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE clued-in) adjective\n~ (on sth) (informal) knowing a lot about sth; having a lot of information about sth


Words: clueless
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal, disapproving) very stupid; not able to understand or to do sth:\nHe’s completely clueless about computers.


Words: clump
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a small group of things or people very close together, especially trees or plants; a bunch of sth such as grass or hair:\na clump of trees / bushes\n  2  the sound made by sb putting their feet down very heavily:\nI heard the heavy clump of feet on the stairs.\n    verb\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] (especially BrE) to put your feet down noisily and heavily as you walk:\nThe children clumped down the stairs.\n  2  ~ (together) | ~ A and B (together) to come together or be brought together to form a tight group:\n[V] Galaxies tend to clump together in clusters. [also VN]


Words: clumsy
Meaning:
adjective (clumsier, clumsiest)\n  1  (of people and animals) moving or doing things in a very awkward way:\nI spilt your coffee. Sorry-that was clumsy of me. * His clumsy fingers couldn’t untie the knot.\n  2  (of actions and statements) done without skill or in a way that offends people:\nShe made a clumsy attempt to apologize.\n  3  (of objects) difficult to move or use easily; not well designed\n  4  (of processes) awkward; too complicated to understand or use easily:\nThe complaints procedure is clumsy and time-consuming.\n    clumsily adverb\n    clumsiness noun [U]


Words: clunk
Meaning:
noun\na dull sound made by two heavy objects hitting each other:\nthe clunk of a car door being shut\n    clunk verb [V]


Words: cluster
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a group of things of the same type that grow or appear close together:\na cluster of stars * The plant bears its flowers in clusters. * a leukaemia cluster (= an area where there are more cases of the disease than you would expect) * a consonant cluster (= a group of consonants next to each other in a word or phrase)\n  2  a group of people, animals or things close together:\na cluster of spectators * a little cluster of houses\n    verb [V +adv./prep.] ~ (together) to come together in a small group or groups:\nThe children clustered together in the corner of the room. * The doctors clustered anxiously around his bed.


Words: clutch
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n\n \n  1  to hold sb/sth tightly:\n[VN] He clutched the child to him. * She stood there, the flowers still clutched in her hand. * [V +adv./prep.] I clutched on to the chair for support\n \n  2  ~ (at) sb/sth to take hold of sth suddenly, because you are afraid or in pain:\n[VN] He gasped and clutched his stomach. * (figurative) [V] Fear clutched at her heart.\n \n IDIOMS  see STRAW\n \n PHRASAL VERBS \n \n  clutch / catch at sth/sb to try to quickly get hold of sth/sb\n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] the PEDAL in a car or other vehicle that you press with your foot so that you can change GEAR:\nPut your foot on the clutch.\n \n  2  [C] a device in a machine that connects and DISCONNECTS working parts, especially the engine and the GEARS:\nThe car needs a new clutch.\n \n  3  a ~ of sth [sing.] (BrE) a group of people, animals or things:\nHe’s won a whole clutch of awards.\n \n  4  (clutches) [pl.] (informal) power or control:\nHe managed to escape from their clutches. * Now that she had him in her clutches, she wasn’t going to let go.\n  5  [C, usually sing.] a tight hold on sb/sth: (figurative) She felt the sudden clutch of fear.\n  6  [C] a group of eggs that a bird lays at one time; the young birds that come out of a group of eggs at the same time\n  7  [C] (AmE) = CLUTCH BAG


Words: clutch bag
Meaning:
(AmE also clutch) noun\na small, flat bag that women carry in their hands, especially on formal occasions


Words: clutter
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] ~ sth (up) (with sth/sb) to fill a place with too many things, so that it is untidy:\nDon’t clutter the page with too many diagrams. * I don’t want all these files cluttering up my desk. * (figurative) Try not to clutter your head with trivia.\n    noun [U, sing.] (disapproving) a lot of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not necessary or are not being used; a state of disorder:\nThere’s always so much clutter on your desk! * There was a clutter of bottles and tubes on the shelf.


Words: cluttered
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (up) (with sb/sth) covered with, or full of, a lot of things or people, in a way that is untidy:\na cluttered room / desk * (figurative) a cluttered mind\nOPP UNCLUTTERED


Words: CNN
Meaning:
abbreviation\nCable News Network (an American broadcasting company that sends television news programmes all over the world)


Words: co-
Meaning:
prefix\n(used in adjectives, adverbs, nouns and verbs) together with:\nco-produced * cooperatively * co-author * coexist


Words: co-author
Meaning:
noun\na person who writes a book or an article with sb else\n    co-author verb [VN]\n    co-authorship noun [U]


Words: co-educational
Meaning:
(also informal coed) adjective\n(of a school or an EDUCATIONAL system) where girls and boys are taught together\n    co-education noun [U]


Words: co-opt
Meaning:
verb [VN] ~ sb (onto / into sth)\n  1  to make sb a member of a group, committee, etc. by the agreement of all the other members:\nShe was co-opted onto the board.\n  2  to include sb in sth, often when they do not want to be part of it


Words: co-respondent
Meaning:
noun\n(law) a person who is said to have committed ADULTERY with the husband or wife of sb who is trying to get divorced


Words: co-star
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun one of two or more famous actors who appear together in a film/movie or play\n    verb (-rr-)\n  1  [V] ~ (with sb) to appear as one of the main actors with sb in a play or film/movie:\na new movie in which Johnny Depp co-stars with Winona Ryder\n  2  [VN] (of a film / movie or play) to have two or more famous actors acting in it:\na new movie co-starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder


Words: Co.
Meaning:
abbreviation\n  1  (business) company:\nPitt, Briggs & Co.\n  2  (in writing) county\n  3  (and co.) (BrE, spoken) and other members of a group of people:\nWere Jane and co. at the party?


Words: coach
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] somebody who trains a person or team in sport:\na basketball / football / tennis coach * Italy’s national coach\n \n  2  [C] (BrE) a person who gives private lessons to sb, often to prepare them for an exam:\na maths coach\n \n  3  [C] (BrE) a comfortable bus for carrying passengers over long distances:\nThey went to Italy on a coach tour. * Travel is by coach overnight to Berlin. * a coach station (= where coaches start and end their journey) * a coach party (= a group of people travelling together on a coach)\n \n  4  [C] (BrE) = CARRIAGE:\na railway coach\n  5  [C] a large carriage with four wheels, pulled by horses, used in the past for carrying passengers\nsee also STAGECOACH\n  6  [U] (AmE) the cheapest seats in a plane:\nto fly coach * coach fares / passengers / seats\n IDIOMS  see DRIVE v.\n    verb ~ sb (in / for sth)\n  1  to train sb to play a sport, to do a job better, or to improve a skill:\n[VN] Her father coached her for the Olympics. * She has coached hundreds of young singers. * He coaches basketball and soccer. [also VN to inf]\n  2  [VN] (especially BrE) to give a student extra teaching in a particular subject especially so that they will pass an exam\n  3  ~ sb (in / on sth) to give sb special instructions for what they should do or say in a particular situation:\n[VN] They believed the witnesses had been coached on what to say. [also VN to inf]


Words: coaching
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the process of training sb to play a sport, to do a job better or to improve a skill:\na coaching session\n  2  (especially BrE) the process of giving a student extra teaching in a particular subject


Words: coachload
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a group of people travelling together in a coach:\nTourists were arriving by the coachload.


Words: coagulate
Meaning:
verb\nif a liquid coagulates or sth coagulates it, it becomes thick and partly solid:\n[V] Blood began to coagulate around the edges of the wound. [also VN]\n    coagulation  noun [U]:\nthe coagulation of blood


Words: coal
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] a hard black mineral that is found below the ground and burnt to produce heat:\nI put more coal on the fire. * a lump of coal * a coal fire * a coal mine * the coal industry\n  2  [C] a piece of coal, especially one that is burning:\nA hot coal fell out of the fire and burnt the carpet.\n IDIOMS \n  carry, take, etc. coals to Newcastle (BrE) to take goods to a place where there are already plenty of them; to supply sth where it is not needed\nmore at HAUL v., RAKE v.


Words: coal scuttle
Meaning:
(also scuttle) noun\na container with a handle, used for carrying coal and usually kept beside the FIREPLACE


Words: coal tar
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a thick black sticky substance produced when gas is made from coal:\nthe powerful smell of coal tar soap


Words: coalesce
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (into / with sth) (formal) to come together to form one larger group, substance, etc.\nSYN AMALGAMATE:\nThe puddles had coalesced into a small stream.\n    coalescence  noun [U]:\na remarkable coalescence of opinion


Words: coalface
Meaning:
(also face) noun\nthe place deep inside a mine where the coal is cut out of the rock:\nThe miners had to crawl to reach the coalface.\n IDIOMS \n  at the coalface (BrE) where the real work is done, not just where people talk about it:\nMany of the best ideas come from doctors at the coalface.


Words: coalition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] a government formed by two or more political parties working together:\nto form a coalition * a two-party coalition * a coalition government\n  2  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group formed by people from several different groups, especially political ones, agreeing to work together for a particular purpose:\na coalition of environmental and consumer groups\n  3  [U] the act of two or more groups joining together:\nThey didn’t rule out coalition with the Social Democrats.


Words: coarse
Meaning:
adjective (coarser, coarsest)\n  1  (of skin or fabric) rough; not soft:\ncoarse hands / linen\n  2  consisting of relatively large pieces; not fine:\ncoarse sand / salt / hair\n  3  rude and offensive, especially about sex\nSYN VULGAR:\ncoarse manners / laughter\n    coarsely adverb:\ncoarsely chopped onions (= cut into large pieces) * He laughed coarsely at her embarrassment.\n    coarseness noun [U]


Words: coarse fish
Meaning:
noun\n(plural coarse fish) (BrE) any fish, except SALMON and TROUT, that lives in rivers and lakes rather than in the sea


Words: coarsen
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to become or make sth become thicker and/or rougher:\n[V] Her hair gradually coarsened as she grew older. * [VN] His features had been coarsened by the weather.\n  2  to become or make sb become less polite and often offensive in the way they behave:\n[VN] The six long years in prison had coarsened him. [also V]


Words: coast
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n [C, U] the land beside or near to the sea or ocean:\na town on the south coast of England * islands off the west coast of Ireland * a trip to the coast * We walked along the coast for five miles. * a mountainous area near the Welsh coast * a pretty stretch of coast * the coast road\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  the coast is clear (informal) there is no danger of being seen or caught:\nAs soon as the coast was clear he climbed in through the window.\n    verb [V] \n  1  [usually +adv./prep.] (of a car or a bicycle) to move, especially down a hill, without using any power:\nThe car coasted along until it stopped. * She took her feet off the pedals and coasted downhill.\n  2  [usually +adv./prep.] (of a vehicle) to move quickly and smoothly, without using much power:\nThe plane coasted down the runway. * We coasted along the country lanes.\n  3  ~ (through / to sth) to be successful at sth without having to try hard:\nHe coasted through his final exams. * Our horse coasted home (= won easily) by three lengths.\n  4  ~ (along) (disapproving) to put very little effort into sth:\nYou’re just coasting-it’s time to work hard now.\n  5  (of a ship) to stay close to land while sailing around the coast\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ncoast / shore / beach / seaside\nThe coast is usually a long stretch of land next to the sea, for example the part of a country that is next to the sea: We live on the coast.\nThe shore is the land at the edge of the sea or a lake: We camped on the north shore of Lake Michigan. * The survivors swam to shore.\nThe beach is the part of the shore which is often covered with sand and is where people go to enjoy themselves or to relax: We went for a walk along the beach. * She took the kids to the beach for the day.\nIn BrE, the seaside is sometimes used to mean an area on the coast where people go on holiday / vacation, but sea is now much more common for this. In both BrE and AmE seaside can be used in front of a noun: a seaside resort.\n______________________________


Words: coastal
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] of or near a coast:\ncoastal waters / resorts / scenery * a coastal path (= one that follows the line of the coast)\ncompare INLAND


Words: coaster
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a small flat object which you put under a glass to protect the top of a table\n \n  2  a ship that sails from port to port along a coast\nsee also ROLLER COASTER


Words: coastguard
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (usually the coastguard) [sing.] an official organization (in the US a branch of the armed forces) whose job is to watch the sea near a coast in order to help ships and people in trouble, and to stop people from breaking the law:\nThe coastguard was alerted. * They radioed Dover Coastguard. * a coastguard station\n  2  [C] (especially BrE) (AmE usually coastguardman) a member of this organization


Words: coastline
Meaning:
noun\nthe land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance:\na rugged / rocky / beautiful coastline * to protect the coastline from oil spillage


Words: coat
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a piece of outdoor clothing that is worn over other clothes to keep warm or dry. Coats have sleeves and may be long or short:\na fur / leather coat * a long winter coat * to put on / take off your coat\nsee also DUFFEL COAT, GREATCOAT, HOUSECOAT, OVERCOAT, PETTICOAT, RAINCOAT, TRENCH COAT\n \n  2  (AmE) (old-fashioned in BrE) a jacket that is worn as part of a suit\nsee also FROCK COAT, MORNING COAT, TAILCOAT, WAISTCOAT\n \n  3  the fur, hair or wool that covers an animal’s body:\na dog with a smooth / shaggy coat * animals in their winter coats (= grown long for extra warmth)\n  4  a layer of paint or some other substance that covers a surface:\nto give the walls a second coat of paint\nsee also TOPCOAT, UNDERCOAT\n IDIOMS \n  cut your coat according to your cloth (saying) to do only what you have enough money to do and no more:\nWe wanted to buy a bigger house than this but it was a case of cutting our coat according to our cloth.\n    verb [VN] [often passive] ~ sth (with / in sth) to cover sth with a layer of a substance:\ncookies thickly coated with chocolate * A film of dust coated the table. * The mask was coated in gold leaf.\nsee also SUGAR-COATED


Words: coat of arms
Meaning:
noun\n(plural coats of arms) (also arms [pl.]) a design or a SHIELD that is a special symbol of a family, city or other organization:\nthe royal coat of arms


Words: coat-tails
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.]\n IDIOMS \n  on sb’s coat-tails using the success and influence of another person to help yourself become successful:\nShe got where she is today on her brother’s coat-tails.


Words: coating
Meaning:
noun\na thin layer of a substance covering a surface:\na thin coating of chocolate * magnetic coating on a floppy disk


Words: coax
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (into doing sth) | ~ sb (into / out of sth) to persuade sb to do sth by talking to them in a kind and gentle way:\n[VN] She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. * He was coaxed out of retirement to help the failing company. * She had to coax the car along. * Police managed to coax the man down from the ledge. * [V speech] ’Nearly there,’ she coaxed. [also VN speech] \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  coax sth out of / from sb to gently persuade sb to do sth or give you sth:\nThe director coaxed a brilliant performance out of the cast.


Words: coaxing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] gentle attempts to persuade sb to do sth or to get a machine to start:\nNo amount of coaxing will make me change my mind. * A little coaxing was all it took to get her to say his name. * My car needs a lot of coaxing to start in the winter\n    coaxing adjective\n    coaxingly adverb


Words: cob
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  = CORN COB:\ncorn on the cob\n \n  2  a strong horse with short legs\n \n  3  (BrE) a round LOAF of bread:\na crusty cob


Words: cobalt
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (Symbol Co) a chemical element. Cobalt is a hard silver-white metal, often mixed with other metals and used to give a deep blue-green colour to glass.\n  2  (also cobalt blue) a deep blue-green colour


Words: cobble
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (old-fashioned) to make or repair shoes\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  cobble sth<->together to produce sth quickly and without great care or effort, so that it can be used but is not perfect:\nThe essay was cobbled together from some old notes. * The reforms have been very hastily cobbled together.


Words: cobbler
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] (especially AmE) a type of fruit pie with thick pastry on top:\npeach cobbler\n  2  [C] (old-fashioned) a person who repairs shoes\ncompare SHOEMAKER\n  3  [U] (cobblers) (BrE, spoken) nonsense:\nHe said it was all a load of cobblers.


Words: cobbles
Meaning:
(also cobblestones) noun\n[pl.] small round stones used to make the surfaces of roads, especially in the past:\na cart clattering over the cobbles


Words: cobra
Meaning:
noun\na poisonous snake that can spread the skin at the back of its neck to make itself look bigger. Cobras live in India and Africa.


Words: cobweb
Meaning:
noun\na fine net of threads made by a spider to catch insects; a single thread of this net (usually used when it is old and covered with dirt):\nThick cobwebs hung in the dusty corners. * He brushed a cobweb out of his hair.\nsee also WEB, SPIDER’S WEB\n    cobwebbed  adjective:\ncobwebbed corners\n IDIOMS \n  blow / clear the cobwebs away to help sb start sth in a fresh, lively state of mind:\nA brisk walk should blow the cobwebs away.


Words: Coca-Cola
Meaning:
(also informal Coke) noun\n  1  [U, C] a popular type of COLA drink\n  2  [C] a glass, bottle or can of Coca-Cola


Words: cocaine
Meaning:
(also informal coke) noun\n[U] a powerful drug that some people take illegally for pleasure and can become ADDICTED to. Doctors sometimes use it as an ANAESTHETIC.


Words: coccyx
Meaning:
noun\n(plural coccyxes or coccyges ) (anatomy) the small bone at the bottom of the SPINE\nSYN TAILBONE


Words: cock
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (BrE) (also rooster AmE, BrE) [C] an adult male chicken:\nThe cock crowed.\ncompare HEN\n  2  [C] (especially in compounds) a male of any other bird:\na cock pheasant\nsee also PEACOCK\n  3  [C] (!!!, slang) a PENIS\n  4  [C] = STOPCOCK\nsee also BALLCOCK\n  5  [sing.] (old-fashioned, BrE, slang) used as a friendly form of address between men\nsee also HALF-COCK\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to raise a part of your body so that it is upright or at an angle:\nThe dog cocked its leg by every tree on our route (= in order to urinate). * He cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at her. * She cocked her head to one side and looked at me. * The dog stood listening, its ears cocked.\n  2  ~ a gun / pistol / rifle to raise the HAMMER on a gun so that it is ready to fire\n IDIOMS \n  cock an ear / eye at sth/sb to look at or listen to sb/sth carefully and with a lot of attention\n  cock a snook at sb/sth (BrE) to say or do sth that clearly shows you do not respect sb/sth:\nto cock a snook at authority * The firm cocked a snook at the recession by doubling its workforce.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  cock sth<->up (BrE, slang) to ruin sth by doing it badly, or by making a careless or stupid mistake\nSYN BUNGLE:\nI really cocked that exam up! * She cocked up all the arrangements for the party.\nrelated noun COCK-UP


Words: cock and bull story
Meaning:
noun\na story that is unlikely to be true but is used as an explanation or excuse:\nHis reply was some cock and bull story about having to give her a lift home.


Words: cock-a-hoop
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] ~ (about / at / over sth) (informal) very pleased and excited, especially about achieving sth:\nThey’re all cock-a-hoop about winning the first game of the season.


Words: cock-eyed
Meaning:
adjective (informal)\n  1  not level or straight\nSYN CROOKED:\nDoesn’t that picture look cock-eyed to you?\n  2  not practical; not likely to succeed:\na cock-eyed scheme to make people use less water


Words: cock-up
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, informal, spoken) a mistake that spoils people’s arrangements; sth that has been spoilt because it was badly organized:\nThere’s been a bit of a cock-up over the travel arrangements.


Words: cockatoo
Meaning:
noun\n(plural cockatoos) an Australian bird of the PARROT family, with a large row of feathers (called a CREST) standing up on its head


Words: cockfight
Meaning:
noun\na fight between two adult male chickens, watched as a sport and illegal in many countries\n    cockfighting noun [U]


Words: cockney
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a person from the East End of London\n  2  [U] the way of speaking that is typical of cockneys:\na cockney accent


Words: cockroach
Meaning:
(also AmE informal roach) noun\na large brown insect with wings, that lives in houses, especially where there is dirt:\nThe kitchens were discovered to be infested with cockroaches.


Words: cocksure
Meaning:
adjective\n(old-fashioned, informal) confident in a way that is annoying to other people and that they might find offensive


Words: cocktail
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] a drink usually made from a mixture of one or more SPIRITS (= strong alcoholic drinks) and fruit juice. It can also be made without alcohol:\na cocktail bar / cabinet / lounge\n \n  2  [C, U] a dish of small pieces of food, usually served cold:\na prawn cocktail * fruit cocktail\n \n  3  [C] a mixture of different substances, usually ones that do not mix together well:\na lethal cocktail of drugs\nsee also MOLOTOV COCKTAIL


Words: cocktail party
Meaning:
noun\na formal social occasion, usually in the early evening, when people drink COCKTAILS or other alcoholic drinks


Words: cocktail stick
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a small, sharp piece of wood on which small pieces of food are placed, for guests to eat at parties


Words: cocky
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) too confident about yourself in a way that annoys other people:\nFor a young man on his first day at work he’s remarkably cocky.\n    cockiness noun [U]


Words: cocoa
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] dark brown powder made from the crushed seeds (called cocoa beans) of a tropical tree\n  2  [U] a hot drink made by mixing cocoa powder with milk and/or water and usually sugar:\na mug of cocoa\n  3  [C] a cup of cocoa\ncompare CHOCOLATE, DRINKING CHOCOLATE


Words: coconut
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C] the large nut of a tropical tree called a coconut palm. It has a hard hairy shell containing a soft white substance that can be eaten and juice that can be drunk:\ncoconut milk\n \n  2  [U] the soft white substance inside a coconut, used in cooking:\ndesiccated coconut * coconut biscuits / cookies * coconut oil


Words: coconut matting
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) a material used to cover floors that is made from the hair on the shells of coconuts


Words: coconut shy
Meaning:
noun\n(plural coconut shies) (BrE) an outdoor entertainment in which people try to knock coconuts off stands by throwing balls at them


Words: cocoon
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a covering of silk threads that some insects make to protect themselves before they become adults\n  2  a soft covering that wraps all around a person or thing and forms a protection: (figurative) the cocoon of a caring family\n    verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (in sth) to protect sb/sth by surrounding them or it completely with sth:\nWe were warm and safe, cocooned in our sleeping bags. * I had a sheltered childhood, cocooned from the world by money and love.


Words: COD
Meaning:
abbreviation\ncash on delivery or (in American English) collect on delivery (payment for goods will be made when the goods are delivered)


Words: cod
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (plural cod) a large sea fish with white flesh that is used for food:\nfishing for cod * cod fillets * cod and parsley sauce


Words: cod liver oil
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a thick yellow oil from the LIVER of COD (= a type of fish), containing a lot of VITAMINS A and D and often given as a medicine, especially to children


Words: coda
Meaning:
noun\nthe final passage of a piece of music: (figurative) The final two months were a miserable coda to de Gaulle’s first period in office.


Words: coddle
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (often disapproving) to treat sb with too much care and attention:\nShe coddles him like a child.\ncompare MOLLYCODDLE\n  2  to cook eggs in water slightly below boiling point


Words: code
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] (often in compounds) a system of words, letters, numbers or symbols that represent a message or record information secretly or in a shorter form:\nto break / crack a code (= to understand and read the message) * It’s written in code. * Tap your code number into the machine. * In the event of the machine not operating correctly, an error code will appear.\nsee also AREA CODE, BAR CODE, MORSE CODE, POSTCODE, ZIP CODE\n  2  [C] = DIALLING CODE:\nThere are two codes for London.\n  3  [U] (computing) a system of computer PROGRAMMING instructions\nsee also MACHINE CODE, SOURCE CODE\n  4  [C] a set of moral principles or rules of behaviour that are generally accepted by society or a social group:\na strict code of conduct * Young people unconsciously conform to a dress code but reject any kind of uniform.\n  5  [C] a system of laws or written rules that state how people in an institution or a country should behave:\nthe penal code\nsee also HIGHWAY CODE\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to write or print words, letters, numbers, etc. on sth so that you know what it is, what group it belongs to, etc:\nEach order is coded separately.\n  2  to put a message into code so that it can only be understood by a few people\n  3  (computing) to write a computer program by putting one system of numbers, words and symbols into another system\nSYN ENCODE


Words: code name
Meaning:
noun\na name used for a person or thing in order to keep the real name secret\n    code-named adjective [not before noun]:\na drug investigation, code-named Snoopy


Words: code of practice
Meaning:
noun\n(plural codes of practice) a set of standards that members of a particular profession agree to follow in their work:\na recommended code of practice issued to all local government employees


Words: coded
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [only before noun] a coded message or coded information is written or sent using a special system of words, letters, numbers, etc. that can only be understood by a few other people or by a computer:\na coded warning of a bomb at the airport\n  2  expressed in an indirect way:\nThere was coded criticism of the government from some party members.


Words: codger
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) (old codger) an informal way of referring to an old man that shows that you do not respect him


Words: codicil
Meaning:
noun\n(law) an instruction that is added later to a WILL, usually to change a part of it:\nIn the codicil she left the house and its contents to her nephew.


Words: codify
Meaning:
verb\n(codifies, codifying, codified, codified) [VN] (technical) to arrange laws, rules, etc. into a system\n    codification  noun [U]


Words: codswallop
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) nonsense:\nI’ve never heard such a load of old codswallop in my life.


Words: coefficient
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (mathematics) a number which is placed before another quantity and which multiplies it, for example 3 in the quantity 3x\n  2  (physics) a number that measures a particular PROPERTY (= characteristic) of a substance:\nthe coefficient of friction / expansion


Words: coerce
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (into sth / into doing sth) (formal) to force sb to do sth by using threats:\n[VN] They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. [also VN to inf]


Words: coercion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the action of making sb do sth that they do not want to do, using force or threatening to use force:\nHe claimed he had only acted under coercion.


Words: coexist
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) to exist together in the same place or at the same time, especially in a peaceful way:\nThe illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. * English speakers now coexist peacefully with their Spanish-speaking neighbours. * Different traditions coexist successfully side by side.


Words: coexistence
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of being together in the same place at the same time:\nto live in uneasy / peaceful coexistence within one nation


Words: coffee
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [U, C] the ROASTED seeds (called coffee beans) of a tropical bush; a powder made from them:\ndecaffeinated / instant coffee * ground / real coffee * a jar of coffee * a blend of Brazilian and Colombian coffees * coffee ice cream\n \n  2  [U] a hot drink made from coffee powder and boiling water. It may be drunk with milk and/or sugar added:\nblack / white coffee (= without / with milk) * Tea or coffee? * I’ll just make the coffee. * Let’s talk over coffee (= while drinking coffee). * a coffee machine\n \n  3  [C] a cup of coffee:\nTwo strong black coffees, please.\n \n  4  [U] the colour of coffee mixed with milk; light brown


Words: coffee bar
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) (also coffee shop AmE, BrE) a small restaurant, often in a store, hotel, etc., where coffee, tea, other drinks without alcohol and simple food are served\n  2  (AmE) a small restaurant that sells special sorts of coffee and cakes


Words: coffee house
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a restaurant serving coffee, etc., especially one of a type popular in Britain in the 18th century or one in a city in Central Europe:\nthe coffee houses of Vienna\n  2  (AmE) a restaurant serving coffee, etc. where people go to listen to music, poetry, etc.


Words: coffee morning
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a social event held in the morning, often at a person’s house, where money is usually given to help a charity


Words: coffee-table book
Meaning:
noun\na large expensive book containing many pictures or photographs, that is designed for people to look through rather than to read carefully


Words: coffer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a large strong box, used in the past for storing money or valuable objects\n  2  (also coffers) [pl.] (written) a way of referring to the money that a government, an organization, etc. has available to spend:\nThe nation’s coffers are empty.


Words: coffin
Meaning:
(especially BrE) (AmE usually casket) noun a box in which a dead body is buried or CREMATED:\nA procession of mourners slowly followed the coffin.\n IDIOMS  see NAIL n.


Words: cog
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  one of a series of teeth on the edge of a wheel that fit between the teeth on the next wheel and cause it to move\n \n  2  = COGWHEEL\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  a cog in the machine / wheel (informal) a person who is a small part of a large organization


Words: cogent
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) strongly and clearly expressed in a way that influences what people believe:\nShe put forward some cogent reasons for abandoning the plan.\n    cogency  noun [U]\n    cogently adverb


Words: cognac
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] a type of fine BRANDY made in western France\n  2  [C] a glass of cognac:\nWould you like a cognac with your coffee?


Words: cognate
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  (linguistics) having the same origin as another word or language:\n’Haus’ in German is cognate with ’house’ in English. * German and Dutch are cognate languages.\n  2  (formal) related in some way and therefore similar:\na cognate development / field / group\n    noun (linguistics) a word that has the same origin as another:\n’Haus’ and ’house’ are cognates.


Words: cognition
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (psychology) the process by which knowledge and understanding is developed in the mind:\nchild studies centring on theories of cognition


Words: cognitive
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] connected with mental processes of understanding:\na child’s cognitive abilities / behaviour / development * cognitive psychology


Words: cognizance
Meaning:
(BrE also cognisance)  noun\n[U] (formal) knowledge or understanding of sth\n    cognizant, cognisant adjective [not before noun]:\ncognizant of the importance of the case\n IDIOMS \n  take cognizance of sth (law) to understand or consider sth; to take notice of sth:\nIn the light of the new evidence that the court can now take cognizance of, the case is dropped.


Words: cognoscenti
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] (the cognoscenti) (from Italian, formal) people with a lot of knowledge about a particular subject


Words: cogwheel
Meaning:
(also cog) noun\na wheel with a series of teeth on the edge that fit between the teeth on the next wheel and cause it to move


Words: cohabit
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (with sb) (formal) (usually of a man and a woman) to live together and have a sexual relationship without being married:\ncohabiting couples * She refused to cohabit with him before the wedding.\n    cohabitation  noun [U]:\nThere have been great changes in the patterns of marriage, divorce and cohabitation. * (figurative) a period of cohabitation between a conservative government and a socialist president


Words: cohere
Meaning:
verb [V] ~ (with sth) (formal)\n  1  (of different ideas, arguments, sentences, etc.) to have a clear logical connection so that together they make a whole:\nThis view does not cohere with their other beliefs. * The various sections of the report fail to cohere into a satisfactory whole.\n  2  (of people) to work closely together:\nIt can be difficult to get a group of people to cohere.


Words: coherence
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the situation in which all the parts of sth fit together well:\nThe points you make are fine, but the whole essay lacks coherence.\nOPP INCOHERENCE


Words: coherent
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of ideas, thoughts, arguments, etc.) logical and well organized; easy to understand and clear:\na coherent narrative / account / explanation * a coherent policy for the transport system\n  2  (of a person) able to talk and express yourself clearly:\nShe only became coherent again two hours after the attack.\nOPP INCOHERENT\n    coherently adverb:\nto express yourself coherently


Words: cohesion
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (formal) the act or state of sticking together\nSYN UNITY:\nthe cohesion of the nuclear family * social / political / economic cohesion\n  2  (physics, chemistry) the force causing MOLECULES of the same substance to stick together


Words: cohesive
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  forming a united whole:\na cohesive group\n  2  causing people or things to become united:\nthe cohesive power of shared suffering * well-structured sentences illustrating the use of cohesive markers such as ’nevertheless’ and ’however’\n    cohesiveness noun [U]:\na strong sense of cohesiveness within the family


Words: cohort
Meaning:
pl. v.]\n  1  (technical) a group of people who share a common feature or aspect of behaviour:\nthe 1989 birth cohort (= all those born in 1989)\n  2  (disapproving) a member of a group of people who support another person:\nRobinson and his cohorts were soon ejected from the hall.


Words: coil
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb ~ (sth) round, around, etc. sth | ~ (sth) up to wind into a series of circles; to make sth do this: [V, +adv./prep.] The snake coiled up, ready to strike. * Mist coiled around the tops of the hills. * [VN] to coil a rope into a loop * Her hair was coiled on top of her head. * a coiled spring\n    noun\n  1  a series of circles formed by winding up a length of rope, wire, etc:\na coil of wire\n  2  one circle of rope, wire, etc. in a series:\nShake the rope and let the coils unwind. * a snake’s coils\n  3  a length of wire, wound into circles, that can carry electricity\n  4  = IUD


Words: coin
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a small flat piece of metal used as money:\na pound coin\n \n  2  [U] money made of metal:\nnotes and coin\n \n IDIOMS  see SIDE n., TWO\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to invent a new word or phrase that other people then begin to use:\nThe term ’cardboard city’ was coined to describe communities of homeless people living in cardboard boxes.\n  2  to make coins out of metal\n IDIOMS \n  be coining it (in) | be coining money (BrE, informal) to earn a lot of money quickly or easily\nSYN RAKE IN\n  to coin a phrase\n1 used to show that you are aware that you are using an expression that is not new:\nOh well, no news is good news, to coin a phrase.\n2 used to introduce a well-known expression that you have changed slightly in order to be funny:\nTasting is believing, to coin a phrase! (= the usual phrase is ’seeing is believing’).


Words: coinage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the coins used in a particular place or at a particular time; coins of a particular type:\nRoman coinage * gold / silver / bronze coinage\n  2  [U] the system of money used in a particular country:\ndecimal coinage\n  3  [C, U] a word or phrase that has been invented recently; the process of inventing a word or phrase:\nnew coinages


Words: coincide sb
Meaning:
1  (of two or more events) to take place at the same time:\nIt’s a pity our trips to New York don’t coincide. * The strike was timed to coincide with the party conference.\n  2  (of ideas, opinions, etc.) to be the same or very similar:\nThe interests of employers and employees do not always coincide. * Her story coincided exactly with her brother’s.\n  3  (formal) (of objects or places) to meet; to share the same space:\nAt this point the two paths coincide briefly. * The present position of the house coincides with that of an earlier dwelling.


Words: coincidence
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] the fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way:\na strange / an extraordinary / a remarkable coincidence * What a coincidence! I wasn’t expecting to see you here. * It’s not a coincidence that none of the directors are women (= it did not happen by chance). * By (sheer) coincidence, I met the person we’d been discussing the next day.\n  2  [sing.] (formal) the fact of things being present at the same time:\nthe coincidence of inflation and unemployment\n  3  [sing.] (formal) the fact of two or more opinions, etc. being the same:\na coincidence of interests between the two partners


Words: coincidental
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] happening by chance; not planned:\nI suppose your presence here today is not entirely coincidental. * It’s purely coincidental that we both chose to call our daughters Emma.\n    coincidentally adverb:\nCoincidentally, they had both studied in Paris.


Words: coir
Meaning:
noun\n[U] rough material made from the shells of COCONUTS, used for making ropes, for covering floors, etc.


Words: coitus interruptus
Meaning:
noun\n[U] an act of SEXUAL INTERCOURSE in which the man removes his PENIS from the woman’s body before he EJACULATES, in order to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant


Words: coke
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (informal) = COCAINE\n  2  a black substance that is produced from coal and burnt to provide heat


Words: cola
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] a sweet brown, FIZZY drink (= with bubbles) that does not contain alcohol. Its flavour comes from the seeds of a W African tree and other substances.\n  2  [C] a glass, can or bottle of cola\nsee also COCA-COLA, COKE


Words: colander
Meaning:
noun\na metal or plastic bowl with a lot of small holes in it, used for DRAINING water from vegetables, etc. after washing or cooking


Words: cold
Meaning:
adjective, noun, adverb \n    adjective (colder, coldest)\n  low temperature\n  1  having a lower than usual temperature; having a temperature lower than the human body:\nI’m cold. Turn the heating up. * to feel / look cold * cold hands and feet * a cold room / house * hot and cold water in every room * Isn’t it cold today? * It’s freezing cold. * to get / turn colder * bitterly cold weather * the coldest May on record * (BrE) The water has gone cold.\n  food / drink\n  2  not heated; cooled after being cooked:\na cold drink * Hot and cold food is available in the cafeteria. * cold chicken for lunch\n  unfriendly\n  3  (of a person) without emotion; unfriendly:\nto give sb a cold look / stare / welcome * Her manner was cold and distant. * He was staring at her with cold eyes.\n  light / colours\n  4  seeming to lack warmth, in an unpleasant way:\nclear cold light * cold grey skies\n  route\n  5  not easy to find:\nThe police followed the robbers to the airport but then the trail went cold.\n  in games\n  6  used in children’s games to say that the person playing is not close to finding a person or thing, or to guessing the correct answer\n  unconscious\n  7  (out ~) [not before noun] (informal) unconscious:\nHe was knocked out cold in the second round.\n  facts\n  8  (the ~ facts / truth) facts with nothing added to make them more interesting or pleasant\nsee also COLDLY, COLDNESS\n IDIOMS \n  a cold fish a person who seems unfriendly and without strong emotions\n  get / have cold feet (informal) to suddenly become nervous about doing sth that you had planned to do:\nHe was going to ask her but he got cold feet and said nothing.\n  give sb the cold shoulder (informal) to treat sb in an unfriendly way\nsee also COLD-SHOULDER\n  in cold blood acting in a way that is deliberately cruel; with no pity:\nto kill / murder / shoot sb in cold blood\n  in the cold light of day when you have had time to think calmly about sth; in the morning when things are clearer:\nThese things always look different in the cold light of day.\n  leave sb cold to fail to affect or interest sb:\nMost modern art leaves me cold.\n  pour / throw cold water on sth to give reasons for not being in favour of sth; to criticize sth:\nShe immediately poured cold water on his plans to expand the business.\nmore at BLOOD, BLOW v., HOT adj.\n    noun\n  low temperature\n  1  [U] a lack of heat or warmth; a low temperature, especially in the atmosphere:\nHe shivered with cold. * Don’t stand outside in the cold. * She doesn’t seem to feel the cold. * You’ll catch your death of cold (= used to warn sb they could become very ill if they do not keep warm in cold weather).\n  illness\n  2  [C] (also less frequent the common cold [sing.]) a common illness that affects the nose and/or throat, making you cough, SNEEZE, etc:\nI’ve got a cold. * a bad / heavy / slight cold * to catch a cold\n IDIOMS \n  come in from the cold to become accepted or included in a group, etc. after a period of being outside it\n  leave sb out in the cold to not include sb in a group or an activity\nmore at CATCH v.\n    adverb\n  1  (AmE) suddenly and completely:\nHis final request stopped her cold.\n  2  without preparing:\nI can’t just walk in there cold and give a lesson on the passive!


Words: cold comfort
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact that sth that would normally be good does not make you happy because the whole situation is bad:\nA small drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the millions without a job.


Words: cold frame
Meaning:
(also frame) noun\na small wooden or metal frame covered with glass that you grow seeds or small plants in to protect them from cold weather


Words: cold storage
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a place where food, etc. can be kept fresh or frozen until it is needed; the storing of sth in such a place: (figurative) I’ve had to put my plans into cold storage (= I’ve decided not to carry them out immediately but to keep them for later).


Words: cold store
Meaning:
noun\na room where food, etc. can be kept at a low temperature in order to keep it in good condition


Words: cold sweat
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a state when you have sweat on your face or body but still feel cold, usually because you are very frightened or anxious:\nto break out into a cold sweat * I woke up in a cold sweat about the interview.


Words: cold turkey
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the unpleasant state that drug ADDICTS experience when they suddenly stop taking a drug; a way of treating drug ADDICTS that makes them experience this state\n    cold turkey adverb:\nI quit smoking cold turkey.


Words: cold war
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] (often Cold War) a very unfriendly relationship between two countries who are not actually fighting each other, usually used about the situation between the US and the Soviet Union after the Second World War


Words: cold-blooded
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of people and their actions) showing no feelings or pity for other people:\na cold-blooded killer * cold-blooded murder\n  2  (biology) (of animals, for example fish or snakes) having a body temperature that depends on the temperature of the surrounding air or water\ncompare WARM-BLOODED\n    cold-bloodedly adverb


Words: cold-calling
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the practice of telephoning sb that you do not know, in order to sell them sth\n    cold call noun


Words: coldly
Meaning:
adverb\nwithout any emotion or warm feelings; in an unfriendly way:\nto stare / smile / reply coldly


Words: coldness
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the lack of warm feelings; unfriendly behaviour:\nShe was hurt by the coldness in his voice.\n  2  the state of being cold:\nthe icy coldness of the water


Words: coleslaw
Meaning:
noun\n[U] finely chopped pieces of raw CABBAGE, CARROT, onion, etc., mixed with MAYONNAISE and eaten with meat or salads


Words: colic
Meaning:
noun\n[U] severe pain in the stomach and bowels, suffered especially by babies\n    colicky adjective


Words: collaborate
Meaning:
verb [V] \n  1  ~ (with sb) (on sth) | ~ (with sb) (in sth / in doing sth) to work together with sb in order to produce or achieve sth:\n[V] We have collaborated on many projects over the years. * She agreed to collaborate with him in writing her biography. * Researchers around the world are collaborating to develop a new vaccine.\n  2  ~ (with sb) (disapproving) to help the enemy who has taken control of your country during a war:\nHe was accused of collaborating with the enemy.


Words: collaboration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] ~ (with sb) (on sth) | ~ (between A and B) the act of working with another person or group of people to create or produce sth:\nShe wrote the book in collaboration with one of her students. * The government worked in close collaboration with teachers on the new curriculum. * collaboration between the teachers and the government * It was a collaboration that produced extremely useful results. * The new plane was a triumph of European industrial and technical collaboration.\n  2  [C] a piece of work produced by two or more people or groups of people working together\n  3  [U] (disapproving) the act of helping the enemy during a war when they have taken control of your country


Words: collaborative
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (formal) involving, or done by, several people or groups of people working together:\ncollaborative projects / studies / research * a collaborative effort / venture\n    collaboratively adverb


Words: collaborator
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who works with another person to create or produce sth such as a book\n  2  (disapproving) a person who helps the enemy in a war, when they have taken control of the person’s country


Words: collage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the art of making a picture by sticking pieces of coloured paper, fabric, or photographs onto a surface; a picture that you make by doing this\n  2  [C] a collection of things, which may be similar or different:\nan interesting collage of 1960s songs


Words: collapse
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  of building\n  1  [V] to fall down or fall in suddenly, often after breaking apart\nSYN GIVE WAY:\nThe roof collapsed under the weight of snow.\n  of sick person\n  2  [V] to fall down (and usually become unconscious), especially because you are very ill/sick:\nHe collapsed in the street and died two hours later.\n  relax\n  3  [V] (informal) to sit or lie down and relax, especially after working hard:\nWhen I get home I like to collapse on the sofa and listen to music.\n  fail\n  4  [V] to fail suddenly or completely\nSYN BREAK DOWN:\nTalks between management and unions have collapsed. * All opposition to the plan has collapsed.\n  of prices / currencies\n  5  [V] to decrease suddenly in amount or value:\nShare prices collapsed after news of poor trading figures.\n  fold\n  6  to fold sth into a shape that uses less space; to be able to be folded in this way:\n[V] The table collapses for easy storage. [also VN]\n  medical\n  7  [V, VN] if a lung or BLOOD VESSEL collapses or is collapsed, it falls inwards and becomes flat and empty\n    collapsed adjective:\ncollapsed buildings * a collapsed investment bank * a collapsed lung\n    noun\n  failure\n  1  [C, usually sing, U] a sudden failure of sth, such as an institution, a business or a course of action:\nthe collapse of law and order in the area * The peace talks were on the verge of collapse.\n  of building\n  2  [U] the action of a building suddenly falling:\nThe walls were strengthened to protect them from collapse.\n  illness\n  3  [U, C, usually sing.] a medical condition when a person suddenly becomes very ill/sick, or when sb falls because they are ill/sick or weak:\na state of mental / nervous collapse * She was taken to hospital after her collapse at work.\n  of prices / currencies\n  4  [C, usually sing.] a sudden fall in value:\nthe collapse of share prices / the dollar / the market


Words: collapsible
Meaning:
adjective\nthat can be folded flat or made into a smaller shape that uses less space:\na collapsible chair / boat / bicycle


Words: collar
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  the part around the neck of a shirt, jacket or coat that usually folds down:\na coat with a fur collar * I turned up my collar against the wind (= to keep warm). * He always wears a collar and tie for work.\nsee also BLUE-COLLAR, DOG COLLAR, WHITE-COLLAR, WING COLLAR\n \n  2  a band of leather or plastic put around the neck of an animal, especially a dog:\na collar and lead / leash\n \n  3  (technical) a band made of a strong material that is put round sth, such as a pipe or a piece of machinery, to strengthen it or to join two parts together\n \n IDIOMS  see HOT adj.\n    verb [VN] (informal)\n  1  to capture sb and hold them tightly so that they cannot escape from you:\nPolice collared the culprit as he was leaving the premises.\n  2  to stop sb in order to talk to them:\nI was collared in the street by a woman doing a survey.


Words: collate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to collect information together from different sources in order to examine and compare it:\nto collate data / information / figures\n  2  to collect pieces of paper or the pages of a book, etc. and arrange them in the correct order\n    collation  noun [U]:\nthe collation of information


Words: collateral
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun [U] (finance) property or sth valuable that you promise to give to sb if you cannot pay back money that you borrow:\nWe had put our house up as collateral for our bank loan.\n    adjective (formal)\n  1  connected with sth else, but in addition to it and less important:\ncollateral benefits * an independent contract collateral to the main contract * The government denied that there had been any collateral damage (= injury to ordinary people or buildings) during the bombing raid.\n  2  (technical) (of people) in the same family, but not closely related


Words: colleague
Meaning:
noun\na person that you work with, especially in a profession or a business:\na colleague of mine from the office * We were friends and colleagues for more than 20 years. * the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues


Words: collect
Meaning:
verb, adjective, adverb \n    verb\n  bring together\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (from sb/sth) to bring things together from different people or places\nSYN GATHER:\nto collect data / evidence / information * We’re collecting signatures for a petition. * Samples were collected from over 200 patients.\n  as hobby\n  2  [VN] to buy or find things of a particular type and keep them as a hobby:\nto collect stamps / postcards / fossils\nsee also STAMP COLLECTING\n  of people\n  3  [V] to come together in one place to form a larger group\nSYN GATHER:\nA crowd began to collect in front of the embassy.\n  increase in amount\n  4  to gradually increase in amount in a place; to gradually obtain more and more of sth in a place\nSYN ACCUMULATE:\n[V] Dirt had collected in the corners of the room. * [VN] We seem to have collected an enormous number of boxes (= without intending to). * That guitar’s been sitting collecting dust (= not being used) for years now. * It’s amazing how she collects friends.\n  take away\n  5  [VN] ~ sb/sth (from ...) to go somewhere in order to take sb/sth away:\nWhat day do they collect the rubbish / garbage? * The package is waiting to be collected. * (BrE) She’s gone to collect her son from school.\n  money\n  6  ~ (sth) (for sth) to ask people to give you money for a particular purpose:\n[V] We’re collecting for local charities. * [VN] We collected over ｣300 for the appeal.\n  7  [VN] to obtain the money, etc. that sb owes, for example by going to their house to get it:\nto collect rent / debts / tax\n  receive / win\n  8  to receive sth; to win sth:\n[VN] to collect a prize / a medal * She collected ｣25 000 in compensation. * She collected $50 000 on her husband’s life insurance policies. [also V]\n IDIOMS \n  collect yourself / your thoughts\n1 to try to control your emotions and become calm:\nI’m fine-I just need a minute to collect myself.\n2 to prepare yourself mentally for sth:\nShe paused to collect her thoughts before entering the interview room.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  collect sth<->up to bring together things that are no longer being used:\nWould somebody collect up all the dirty glasses?\n    adjective (AmE) (of a telephone call) paid for by the person who receives the call:\nto make a collect call\nsee also REVERSE v. (7)\n    collect adverb:\nto call sb collect


Words: collectable
Meaning:
(also collectible)  adjective\nworth collecting because it is beautiful or may become valuable\n    collectable (also collectible) noun [usually pl.]


Words: collected
Meaning:
adjective [not before noun]\n  1  very calm and in control of yourself:\nShe always stays cool, calm and collected in a crisis.\n  2  ~ works, papers, poems, etc. all the books, etc. written by one author, published in one book or in a set:\nthe collected works of Edgar Allan Poe


Words: collection
Meaning:
noun\n \n  group of objects / people\n \n  1  [C] a group of objects, often of the same sort, that have been collected:\na stamp / coin collection * The painting comes from his private collection.\n \n  2  [C] a group of objects or people:\nThere was a collection of books and shoes on the floor. * There is always a strange collection of runners in the London Marathon.\n \n  taking away / bringing together\n \n  3  [C, U] an act of taking sth away from a place; an act of bringing things together into one place:\nrefuse / garbage collection * The last collection from this postbox is at 5.15. * Your suit will be ready for collection on Tuesday. * The first stage in research is data collection.\ncompare PICKUP\n  poems / stories / music\n  4  [C] a group of poems, stories or pieces of music published together as one book or disc:\na collection of stories by women writers * a collection of favourite Christmas music\n  money\n  5  [C] an act of collecting money to help a charity or during a church service; the money collected:\na house-to-house collection for Cancer Research * The total collection last week amounted to ｣250.\n  new clothes\n  6  [C] a range of new clothes or items for the home that are designed, made and offered for sale, often for a particular season:\nArmani’s stunning new autumn collection


Words: collective
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  done or shared by all members of a group of people; involving a whole group or society:\ncollective leadership / decision-making * collective responsibility * collective consciousness / memory (= things that a group of people or a community know or remember, that are often passed from parents to children)\n  2  used to refer to all members of a group:\nThe collective name for mast, boom and sails on a boat is the ’rig’.\n    collectively adverb:\nthe collectively agreed rate * We have had a successful year, both collectively and individually. * rain, snow and hail, collectively known as ’precipitation’ (= as a group)\n    noun a group of people who own a business or a farm and run it together; the business that they run:\nan independent collective making films for television


Words: collective bargaining
Meaning:
noun\n[U] discussions between a TRADE/LABOR UNION and an employer about the pay and working conditions of the union members


Words: collective farm
Meaning:
noun\na large farm, or a group of farms, owned by the government and run by a group of people\n\n noun noun\n(grammar) a singular noun, such as committee or team, that refers to a group of people, animals or things and, in British English, can be used with either a singular or a plural verb. In American English it must be used with a singular verb.


Words: collectivism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the political system in which all farms, businesses and industries are owned by the government or by all the people\n    collectivist adjective:\ncollectivist ideology


Words: collectivize
Meaning:
(BrE also collectivise)  verb\n[VN] [often passive] to join several private farms, industries, etc. together so that they are controlled by the community or by the government\n    collectivization, collectivisation  noun [U]


Words: collector
Meaning:
noun\n(especially in compounds) a person who collects things, either as a hobby, or as a job:\nan art / a stamp collector * ticket / tax / debt collectors


Words: collector’s item
Meaning:
noun\na thing that is valued because it is very old or rare, or because it has some special interest


Words: college
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] (often in names) (in Britain) a place where students go to study or to receive training after they have left school:\na college of further education (= providing education and training for people over 16) * a technical / secretarial college * the Royal College of Art * a college course / library / student * She’s at college.\nsee also COMMUNITY COLLEGE (1), SIXTH-FORM COLLEGE\n  2  [C, U] (often in names) (in the US) a university where students can study for a degree after they have left school:\nCarleton College * a college campus / student * a private college * He got interested in politics when he was in college. * She’s away at college in California.\nsee also COMMUNITY COLLEGE (2)\n  3  [C, U] one of the separate institutions that some British universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, are divided into:\nKing’s College, Cambridge * a tour of Oxford colleges * Most students live in college.\n  4  (in the US) one of the main divisions of some large universities:\nThe history department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.\n  5  [C+sing./pl. v.] the teachers and/or students of a college\n  6  [C] (especially in names, in Britain and some other countries) a secondary school, especially one where you must pay:\nEton College\n  7  [C] (formal) (usually in names) an organized group of professional people with special interests, duties or powers:\nthe Royal College of Physicians * the American College of Cardiology\nsee also ELECTORAL COLLEGE\n______________________________\n BRITISH / AMERICAN \ncollege / university\nIn both BrE and AmE a college is a place where you can go to study after you leave secondary school. In Britain you can go to a college to study or to receive training in a particular skill. In the USA you can study for your first degree at a college. A university offers more advanced degrees in addition to first degrees.\nIn AmE college is often used to mean a university, especially when talking about people who are studying for their first degree. The is not used when you are talking about someone studying there: My son has gone away to college. * ’Where did you go to college?’ ’Ohio State University.’\nIn BrE you can say: My daughter is at college * My daughter is at university. In AmE you cannot use university in this way. You use it with a or the to mean a particular university. My daughter is at college. * I didn’t want to go to a large university.\n______________________________


Words: collegiate
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  relating to a college or its students:\ncollegiate life\n  2  (BrE) divided into a number of colleges:\na collegiate university


Words: collide sb
Meaning:
1  if two people, vehicles, etc. collide, they crash into each other; if a person, vehicle, etc. collides with another, or with sth that is not moving, they crash into it:\nThe car and the van collided head-on in thick fog. * The car collided head-on with the van. * As he fell, his head collided with the table.\n  2  ~ (with sb) (over sth) (written) (of people, their opinions, etc.) to disagree strongly:\nThey regularly collide over policy decisions.\nsee also COLLISION


Words: collie
Meaning:
noun\na dog of which there are several types. Those with long pointed noses and long thick hair are popular as pets. Smaller collies with shorter hair are often trained to help control sheep on a farm.


Words: collision
Meaning:
of A and B)\n  1  an accident in which two vehicles or people crash into each other:\na collision between two trains * Stewart was injured in a collision with another player. * a head-on collision (= between two vehicles that are moving towards each other) * a mid-air collision (= between two aircraft while they are flying) * His car was in collision with a motorbike. * Wind and ice were blamed for the collision involving up to 12 vehicles.\n  2  (written) a strong disagreement between two people or between opposing ideas, opinions, etc.; the meeting of two things that are very different:\na collision between two opposing points of view * In his work we see the collision of two different traditions.\n IDIOMS \n  be on a collision course (with sb/sth)\n1 to be in a situation which is almost certain to cause a disagreement or dispute:\nI was on a collision course with my boss over the sales figures.\n2 to be moving in a direction in which it is likely that you will crash into sb/sth:\nA giant iceberg was on a collision course with the ship.


Words: collocate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (linguistics) ~ (with sth) (of words) to be often used together in a language:\n’Bitter’ collocates with ’tears’ but ’sour’ does not. * ’Bitter’ and ’tears’ collocate.\n    collocate  noun:\n’Bitter’ and ’tears’ are collocates.


Words: collocation
Meaning:
noun (linguistics)\n  1  [C] a combination of words in a language, that happens very often and more frequently than would happen by chance:\n’Resounding success’ and ’crying shame’ are English collocations.\n  2  [U] the fact of two or more words often being used together, in a way that happens more frequently than would happen by chance:\nAdvanced students need to be aware of the importance of collocation.


Words: colloquial
Meaning:
adjective\n(of words and language) used in conversation but not in formal speech or writing\n    colloquially  adverb


Words: collude
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (with sb) (in sth / in doing sth) | ~ (with sb) (to do sth) (formal, disapproving) to work together secretly or illegally in order to deceive other people:\nSeveral people had colluded in the murder. * They colluded with terrorists to overthrow the government.


Words: collusion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal, disapproving) secret agreement especially in order to do sth dishonest or to deceive people:\nThe police were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. * There was collusion between the two witnesses (= they gave the same false evidence).\n    collusive  adjective:\nThere is a secret collusive relationship between politics and the media which the outside world rarely glimpses.


Words: colon
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the mark ( : ) used to introduce a list, a summary, an explanation, etc. or before reporting what sb has said\ncompare SEMICOLON\n  2  (anatomy) the lower part of the large INTESTINE (= part of the bowels)


Words: colonel
Meaning:
noun\n(abbreviation Col.) an officer of high rank in the army, the Marines, or the US air force:\nColonel Jim Edge


Words: colonial
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  connected with or belonging to a country that controls another country:\na colonial power * Tunisia achieved independence from French colonial rule in 1956. * Western colonial attitudes\nsee also COLONY\n  2  (often Colonial) typical or connected with the US at the time when it was still a British COLONY:\nlife in colonial times * the Colonial government of Vermont\n    noun a person who lives in a COLONY and who comes from the country that controls it:\nBritish colonials in India


Words: colonialism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the practice by which a powerful country controls another country or other countries:\nEuropean colonialism * The history of tobacco growing is intimately associated with colonialism and slavery.\n    colonialist adjective, noun:\ncolonialist laws * The colonialists imposed war on the country.


Words: colonic
Meaning:
adjective\n(anatomy) connected with the COLON (= part of the bowels):\ncolonic irrigation (= the process of washing out the COLON with water)


Words: colonize
Meaning:
(BrE also colonise)  verb [VN] \n  1  to take control of an area or a country that is not your own, especially using force, and send people from your own country to live there:\nThe area was colonized by the Vikings.\n  2  (biology) (of animals or plants) to live or grow in large numbers in a particular area:\nThe lower slopes are colonized by flowering plants. * Thousands of bats had colonized the ruins.\n    colonization, colonisation  noun [U]:\nthe colonization of the ’New World’ * plant colonization\n    colonizer, coloniser noun


Words: colonnade
Meaning:
noun\na row of stone columns with equal spaces between them, usually supporting a roof:\nthe oldest Greek temple whose colonnade still stands\n    colonnaded  adjective


Words: colony
Meaning:
noun (plural colonies)\n  1  [C] a country or an area that is governed by people from another, more powerful, country:\nformer British colonies * the Declaration of Independence of the 13 colonies and the creation of the United States\n  2  [sing.+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who go to live permanently in a colony\n  3  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people from the same place or with the same work or interests who live in a particular city or country or who live together:\nthe American colony in Paris * an artists’ colony\n  4  [C+sing./pl. v.] (biology) a group of plants or animals that live together or grow in the same place:\na colony of ants * a bird colony


Words: coloration
Meaning:
(BrE also colouration)  noun\n[U] (technical) the natural colours and patterns on a plant or an animal


Words: coloratura
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (music) complicated passages for a singer, for example in opera:\na coloratura soprano (= one who often sings coloratura passages)


Words: colorize
Meaning:
(BrE also colourize)  verb\n[VN] (technical) to add colour to a black and white film/movie, using a computer process


Words: colossus
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [sing.] (formal) a person or thing that is extremely important or large in size\n  2  [C] (plural colossi ) an extremely large statue:\nthe Colossi of Memnon


Words: colour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE color)  noun, verb \n    noun\n  red, green, etc.\n \n  1  [C, U] the appearance that things have that results from the way in which they reflect light. Red, orange and green are colours:\nWhat’s your favourite colour? * bright / dark / light colours * available in 12 different colours * the colour of the sky * Her hair is a reddish-brown colour. * to add / give / lend colour to sth (= make it more colourful) * Foods which go through a factory process lose much of their colour, flavour and texture. * The garden was a mass of colour.\n \n  2  [U] (usually before another noun) the use of all the colours, not only black and white:\na colour TV in every room * colour photography / printing * a full-colour brochure * Do you dream in colour?\n \n  of face\n \n  3  [U] a red or pink colour in sb’s face, especially when it shows that they look healthy or that they are embarrassed:\nThe fresh air brought colour to their cheeks. * Colour flooded her face when she thought of what had happened. * His face was drained of colour (= he looked pale and ill).\n  of skin\n  4  [U, C] the colour of a person’s skin, when it shows the race they belong to:\ndiscrimination on the grounds of race, colour or religion * (especially AmE) a person / man / woman of colour (= who is not white)\n  substance\n  5  [C, U] a substance that is used to give colour to sth:\na semi-permanent hair colour that lasts six to eight washes\nsee also WATERCOLOUR\n  interesting details\n  6  [U] interesting and exciting details or qualities:\nThe old town is full of colour, character and attractions. * Her acting added warmth and colour to the production.\nsee also LOCAL COLOUR\n  of team / country, etc.\n  7  (colours) [pl.] the particular colours that are used on clothes, flags, etc. to represent a team, school, political party or country:\nRed and white are the team colours. * Spain’s national colours * (figurative) There are people of different political colours on the committee.\n  8  (colours) [pl.] (especially BrE) a flag, BADGE, etc. that represents a team, country, ship, etc:\nMost buildings had a flagpole with the national colours flying. * sailing under the French colours\n IDIOMS \n  off colour [not before noun] (BrE, informal)\n1 not in good health; looking or feeling ill:\nJo seems a little off colour today.\n2 [usually before noun] (especially AmE) an off-colour joke is one that people think is rude, usually because it is about sex\n  see the colour of sb’s money (especially spoken) to make sure that sb has enough money to pay for sth:\nYou need to see the colour of his money before you sell him the car.\nmore at NAIL v., TRUE adj., FLYING adj.\n    verb\n  put colour on sth\n  1  to put colour on sth using paint, coloured pencils, etc:\n[V] The children love to draw and colour. * a colouring book (= with pictures that you can add colour to) * [VN] How long have you been colouring (= dying) your hair? * [VN-ADJ] He drew a monster and coloured it red.\n  of face\n  2  [V] ~ (at sth) (written) (of a person or their face) to become red with embarrassment\nSYN BLUSH:\nShe coloured at his remarks.\n  affect\n  3  [VN] to affect sth, especially in a negative way:\nThis incident coloured her whole life. * Don’t let your judgement be coloured by personal feelings.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  colour sth<->in to put colour inside a particular area, shape, etc. using coloured pencils, CRAYONS, etc:\nI’ll draw a tree and you can colour it in.


Words: colour bar
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE color bar, color line) noun\n[usually sing.] a social system which does not allow black people the same rights as white people:\nSouth Africa’s colour bar made marriages between different races illegal.


Words: colour code
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE color code) noun\na system of marking things with different colours so that you can easily identify them:\nFollow the colour code carefully on all electrical wiring.\n    colour-coded (BrE) (AmE color-coded) adjective:\nThe files have labels that are colour-coded according to subject.


Words: colour fast
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE colorfast) adjective\nfabric that is colour fast will not change or lose colour when it is washed


Words: colour scheme
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE color scheme) noun\nthe way in which colours are arranged, especially in the furniture and decoration of a room


Words: colour supplement
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a magazine printed in colour and forming an extra part of a newspaper, particularly on Saturdays or Sundays


Words: colour-blind
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE color-blind) adjective\n  1  unable to see the difference between some colours, especially red and green\n  2  treating people with different coloured skin in exactly the same way\n    colour-blindness (BrE) (AmE color-blindness) noun [U]


Words: colourant
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE colorant) noun\na substance that is used to put colour in sth, especially a person’s hair:\nnatural hair colourants * Medicines also contain colourants, often in large amounts.


Words: coloured
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE colored)  adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  (often in compounds) having a particular colour or different colours:\nbrightly coloured balloons * coloured lights / glass / paper * She was wearing a cream-coloured suit.\n  2  (old-fashioned or offensive) (of a person) from a race that does not have white skin\n  3  (Coloured) (in South Africa) having parents who are of different races\n    noun\n  1  (old-fashioned or offensive) a person who does not have white skin\n  2  (Coloured) (in South Africa) a person whose parents are of different races


Words: colourful
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE colorful)  adjective\n  1  full of bright colours or having a lot of different colours:\ncolourful shop windows * The male birds are more colourful than the females.\n  2  interesting or exciting; full of variety, sometimes in a way that is slightly shocking:\na colourful history / past / career * one of the book’s most colourful characters


Words: colouring
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE coloring)  noun\n \n  1  [U, C] a substance that is used to give a particular colour to food:\nred food colouring * Contains no artificial colouring or flavouring.\n \n  2  [U] the colour of a person’s skin, eyes and hair:\nBlue suited her fair colouring. * This face powder will enhance your natural colouring.\n \n  3  [U] the colours that exist in sth, especially a plant or an animal:\ninsects with vivid yellow and black colouring * She realized the coins were fake when the gold colouring began to rub off.


Words: colourless
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE colorless)  adjective\n  1  without colour or very pale:\na colourless liquid like water * colourless lips\n  2  not interesting\nSYN DULL:\na colourless personality / world


Words: colourway
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a colour or combination of colours which a piece of clothing, etc. is available in:\nThe designs are available in two colourways: red / grey or blue / grey.


Words: colt
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a young male horse up to the age of four or five\ncompare FILLY, STALLION\n  2  (BrE) a member of a sports team consisting of young players


Words: column
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a tall, solid, vertical post, usually round and made of stone, which supports or decorates a building or stands alone as a MONUMENT:\nThe temple is supported by marble columns. * Nelson’s Column in London\n \n  2  a thing shaped like a column:\na column of smoke (= smoke rising straight up)\nsee also SPINAL COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN\n \n  3  (abbreviation col.) one of the vertical sections into which the printed page of a book, newspaper, etc. is divided:\na column of text * a dictionary with two columns per page * Put a mark in the appropriate column. * Their divorce filled a lot of column inches in the national papers (= got a lot of attention).\n  4  a part of a newspaper or magazine which appears regularly and deals with a particular subject or is written by a particular writer:\nthe gossip / financial column * I always read her column in the local paper.\nsee also AGONY COLUMN, PERSONAL COLUMN\n  5  a series of numbers or words arranged one under the other down a page:\nto add up a column of figures\n  6  a long, moving line of people or vehicles:\na long column of troops and tanks\nsee also FIFTH COLUMN


Words: columnist
Meaning:
noun\na journalist who writes regular articles, usually on a particular topic, for a newspaper or magazine:\na gossip / newspaper / political columnist


Words: coma
Meaning:
noun\na deep unconscious state, usually lasting a long time and caused by serious illness or injury:\nto go into / be in a coma


Words: comatose
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (medical) deeply unconscious; in a coma\n  2  (humorous) extremely tired and lacking in energy; sleeping deeply


Words: comb
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a flat piece of plastic or metal with a row of thin teeth along one side, used for making your hair neat; a smaller version of this worn by women in their hair to hold it in place or as an ornament:\nHe just had time to wash his face and drag a comb through his hair before going out.\n \n  2  [C, usually sing.] the act of using a comb on your hair:\nYour hair needs a good comb.\n \n  3  [C, U] = HONEYCOMB\n \n  4  [C] the soft, red piece of flesh on the head of a male chicken\n \n IDIOMS  see FINE-TOOTH COMB adj.\n    verb\n\n \n  1  [VN] to pull a comb through your hair in order to make it neat:\nDon’t forget to comb your hair! * Her hair was neatly combed back.\n \n  2  ~ (through) sth (for sb/sth) to search sth carefully in order to find sb/sth:\n[VN] The police combed the area for clues. * I combed the shops looking for something to wear. * [V] They combed through the files for evidence of fraud.\n \n  3  [VN] (technical) to make wool, cotton, etc. clean and straight using a special comb so that it can be used to make fabric\n \n PHRASAL VERBS \n \n  comb sth<->out to pull a comb through hair in order to make it neat or to remove knots from it


Words: combat
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U, C] fighting or a fight, especially during a time of war:\narmed / unarmed combat (= with / without weapons) * combat troops / aircraft / uniform * He was killed in combat. * hand-to-hand / aerial combat\nsee also SINGLE COMBAT\n    verb (-t- or -tt-) [VN] \n  1  to stop sth unpleasant or harmful from happening or from getting worse:\nmeasures to combat crime / inflation / unemployment / disease\n  2  (formal) to fight against an enemy


Words: combination
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] two or more things joined or mixed together to form a single unit:\nHis treatment was a combination of surgery, radiation and drugs. * What an unusual combination of flavours! * Technology and good management:a winning combination (= one that will certainly be successful). * Many course combinations are possible.\n  2  [U] the act of joining or mixing together two or more things to form a single unit:\nThe firm is working on a new product in combination with several overseas partners. * These paints can be used individually or in combination.\n  3  [C] a series of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock:\nI can’t remember the combination.\n  4  (combinations) (BrE) [pl.] a piece of underwear covering the body and legs, worn in the past


Words: combine
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  ~ (sth) (with sth) | ~ A and B (together) to come together to form a single thing or group; to join two or more things or groups together to form a single one:\n[V] Hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. * Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water. * Several factors had combined to ruin our plans. * [VN] Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. * Combine the eggs with a little flour and heat the mixture gently. * The German team scored a combined total of 652 points.\n  2  [VN] ~ A and / with B to have two or more different features or characteristics; to put two or more different things, features or qualities together:\nThe hotel combines comfort with convenience. * This model combines a telephone and fax machine. * a kitchen and dining-room combined * We are still looking for someone who combines all the necessary qualities. * They have successfully combined the old with the new in this room.\n  3  [VN] ~ A and / with B to do two or more things at the same time:\nThe trip will combine business with pleasure. * She has successfully combined a career and bringing up a family.\n  4  to come together in order to work or act together; to put two things or groups together so that they work or act together:\n[V] The gangs combined against a common enemy. * [VN] the combined effects of the two drugs * You should try to combine exercise with a healthy diet. * It took the combined efforts of both the press and the public to bring about a change in the law.\n IDIOMS  see FORCE n.\n    noun\n \n \n  1  (BrE also combine harvester) a large farm machine which cuts a crop and separates the grains from the rest of the plant\n \n  2  a group of people or organizations acting together in business


Words: combining form
Meaning:
noun\n(grammar) a form of a word that can combine with another word or another combining form to make a new word, for example techno- and -phobe in technophobe


Words: combo
Meaning:
noun (plural combos)\n  1  a small band that plays jazz or dance music\n  2  (AmE, informal) a number of different things combined together, especially different types of food:\nI’ll have the steak and chicken combo platter.


Words: combustion
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the process of burning\n  2  (technical) a chemical process in which substances combine with the OXYGEN in the air to produce heat and light


Words: come
Meaning:
verb, exclamation, noun \n    verb (came  come)\n  to a place\n  1  to move to or towards a person or place: [V, usually +adv./prep.] He came into the room and shut the door. * She comes to work by bus. * My son is coming home soon. * Come here! * Come and see us soon! * Here comes Jo (= Jo is coming)! * He has come all the way from Tokyo. * There’s a storm coming. * [V to inf] They’re coming to stay for a week.\n HELP NOTE  In spoken English come can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, to show purpose or to tell sb what to do: When did she last come and see you? * Come and have your dinner. The and is sometimes left out, especially in AmE: Come have your dinner.\n  2  [V] ~ (to ...) to arrive at or reach a place:\nThey continued until they came to a river. * What time did you come (= to my house)? * Spring came late this year. * Your breakfast is coming soon. * Have any letters come for me? * Help came at last. * The CD comes complete with all the words of the songs. * The time has come (= now is the moment) to act.\n  3  ~ for / about sth | ~ to do sth to arrive somewhere in order to do sth or get sth:\n[V] I’ve come for my book. * I’ve come about my book. * I’ve come to get my book. * [V -ing] He came looking for me.\n  4  ~ (to sth) (with sb) to move or travel, especially with sb else, to a particular place or in order to be present at an event:\n[V] I’ve only come for an hour. * Are you coming to the club with us tonight? * Thanks for coming (= to my house, party, etc.). * [V -ing] Why don’t you come skating tonight?\n  running / hurrying etc.\n  5  [V -ing, usually +adv./prep.] to move in a particular way or while doing sth else:\nThe children came running into the room.\n  travel\n  6  [VN] to travel a particular distance:\nWe’ve come 50 miles this morning. * (figurative) The company has come a long way (= made lot of progress) in the last 5 years.\n  happen\n  7  [V] to happen:\nThe agreement came after several hours of negotiations. * The rains came too late to do any good. * Her death came as a terrible shock to us. * His resignation came as no surprise. * The high point of the concert came during the drum solo.\n  8  [V to inf] used in questions to talk about how or why sth happened:\nHow did he come to break his leg? * How do you come to be so late?\nsee also HOW COME?\n  to a position / state\n  9  [V +adv./prep.] (not used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular position:\nThat comes a long way down my list of priorities. * His family comes first (= is the most important thing in his life). * She came second (= received the second highest score) in the exam.\n  10  [V] ~ to / into sth used in many expressions to show that sth has reached a particular state:\nAt last winter came to an end. * He came to power in 1959. * When will they come to a decision? * The trees are coming into leaf.\n  11  ~ (in sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) (of goods, products, etc.) to be available or to exist in a particular way:\n[V] This dress comes in black, brown and red. * [V-ADJ] (informal) New cars don’t come cheap (= they are expensive).\n  12  to become:\n[V-ADJ] The buttons on her blouse had come undone. * The handle came loose. * Everything will come right in the end. * [V to inf] This design came to be known as the Oriental style.\n  13  [V to inf] to reach a point where you realize, understand or believe sth:\nIn time she came to love him. * She had come to see the problem in a new light. * I’ve come to expect this kind of behaviour from him.\n  time\n  14  (come) [VN] (old-fashioned, informal) when the time mentioned comes:\nThey would have been married forty years come this June. * Come next week she’ll have changed her mind.\n  sex\n  15  [V] (slang) to have an ORGASM\n IDIOMS \n  Most idioms containing come are at the entries for the nouns or adjectives in the idioms, for example come a cropper is at cropper.\n  be as clever, stupid, etc. as they come (informal) to be very clever, stupid, etc.\n  come again? (spoken, informal) used to ask sb to repeat sth:\n’She’s an entomologist.’ ’Come again?’ ’An entomologist-she studies insects.’\n  come and go\n1 to arrive and leave; to move freely:\nThey had a party next door-we heard people coming and going all night.\n2 to be present for a short time and then go away:\nThe pain in my leg comes and goes.\n  come easily, naturally, etc. to sb (of an activity, a skill, etc.) to be easy, natural, etc. for sb to do:\nActing comes naturally to her.\n  come over (all) faint, dizzy, giddy, etc. (old-fashioned, BrE, informal) to suddenly feel ill/sick or FAINT\n  come to nothing | not come to anything to be unsuccessful; to have no successful result:\nHow sad that all his hard work should come to nothing. * Her plans didn’t come to anything.\n  come to that | if it comes to that (informal, especially BrE) used to introduce sth extra that is connected with what has just been said:\nI don’t really trust him-nor his wife, come to that.\n  come what may in spite of any problems or difficulties you may have:\nHe promised to support her come what may.\n  how come ( ...)? (spoken) used to say you do not understand how sth can happen and would like an explanation:\nIf she spent five years in Paris, how come her French is so bad?\n  not come to much to not be important or successful\n  to come (used after a noun) in the future:\nThey may well regret the decision in years to come. * This will be a problem for some time to come (= for a period of time in the future).\n  when it comes to sth / to doing sth when it is a question of sth:\nWhen it comes to getting things done, he’s useless.\n  where sb is coming from (informal, spoken) somebody’s ideas, beliefs, personality, etc. that makes them say what they have said:\nI see where you’re coming from (= I understand what you mean).\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  come about (that ...) to happen:\nCan you tell me how the accident came about?\n  come across (also come over)\n1 to be understood:\nHe spoke for a long time but his meaning didn’t really come across.\n2 to make a particular impression:\nShe comes across well in interviews. * He came over as a sympathetic person.\n  come across sb/sth [no passive] to meet or find sb/sth by chance:\nI came across children sleeping under bridges. * She came across some old photographs in a drawer.\n  come across with sth [no passive] (BrE) to provide or supply sth when you need it:\nI hoped she’d come across with some more information.\n  come after sb [no passive] to chase or follow sb\n  come along\n1 to arrive; to appear:\nWhen the right opportunity comes along, she’ll take it.\n2 to go somewhere with sb:\nI’m glad you came along.\n3 to improve or develop in the way that you want:\nYour French has come along a lot recently.\n4 used in orders to tell sb to hurry, or to try harder:\nCome along! We’re late already. * Come along! It’s easy!\n  come apart to break into pieces:\nThe book just came apart in my hands. * (figurative) My whole life had come apart at the seams.\n  come around / round\n1 (also come to) to become conscious again:\nYour mother hasn’t yet come round from the anaesthetic.\n2 (of a date or a regular event) to happen again:\nMy birthday seems to come around quicker every year.\n  come around / round (to ...) to come to a place, especially sb’s house, to visit for a short time:\nDo come around and see us some time.\n  come around / round (to sth) to change your mood or your opinion:\nHe’ll never come round to our way of thinking.\n  come at sb [no passive] to move towards sb as though you are going to attack them:\nShe came at me with a knife. * (figurative) The noise came at us from all sides.\n  come at sth to think about a problem, question, etc. in a particular way:\nWe’re getting nowhere-let’s come at it from another angle.\n  come away (from sth) to become separated from sth:\nThe plaster had started to come away from the wall.\n  come away with sth [no passive] to leave a place with a particular feeling or impression:\nWe came away with the distinct impression that all was not well with their marriage.\n  come back\n1 to return:\nYou came back (= came home) very late last night. * The colour was coming back to her cheeks. * (figurative) United came back from being two goals down to win 32.\n2 to become popular or successful again:\nLong hair for men seems to be coming back in.\nrelated noun COMEBACK (2)\n  come back (at sb) (with sth) to reply to sb forcefully or angrily:\nShe came back at the speaker with some sharp questions.\nrelated noun COMEBACK (3)\n  come back (to sb) to return to sb’s memory:\nIt’s all coming back to me now. * Once you’ve been in France a few days, your French will soon come back.\n  come back to sth [no passive] to return to a subject, an idea, etc:\nLet’s come back to the point at issue. * It all comes back to a question of money.\n  come before sb/sth [no passive] (formal) to be presented to sb/sth for discussion or a decision:\nThe case comes before the court next week.\n  come between sb and sb [no passive] to damage a relationship between two people:\nI’d hate anything to come between us.\n  come by (AmE) to make a short visit to a place, in order to see sb:\nShe came by the house.\n  come by sth\n1 to manage to get sth:\nJobs are hard to come by these days.\n2 to receive sth:\nHow did you come by that scratch on your cheek?\n  come down\n1 to break and fall to the ground:\nThe ceiling came down with a terrific crash.\n2 (of rain, snow, etc.) to fall:\nThe rain came down in torrents.\n3 (of an aircraft) to land or fall from the sky:\nWe were forced to come down in a field.\n4 if a price, a temperature, a rate, etc. comes down, it gets lower:\nThe price of gas is coming down. * Gas is coming down in price.\n5 to decide and say publicly that you support or oppose sb:\nThe committee came down in support of his application.\n6 to reach as far down as a particular point:\nHer hair comes down to her waist.\n  come down (from ...) (BrE, formal) to leave a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the end of a TERM or after finishing your studies\nOPP COME UP (TO ...)\n  come down (from ...) (to ...) to come from one place to another, usually from the north of a country to the south, or from a larger place to a smaller one\n  come down on sb [no passive] (informal) to criticize sb severely or punish sb:\nDon’t come down too hard on her. * The courts are coming down heavily on young offenders.\n  come down (to sb) to have come from a long time in the past:\nThe name has come down from the last century.\n  come down to sth [no passive] to be able to be explained by a single important point:\nWhat it comes down to is, either I get more money or I leave.\n  come down with sth [no passive] to get an illness that is not very serious:\nI think I’m coming down with flu.\n  come forward to offer your help, services, etc:\nSeveral people came forward with information. * Police have asked witnesses of the accident to come forward.\n  come from ... (not used in the progressive tenses) to have as your place of birth or the place where you live:\nShe comes from London. * Where do you come from?\n  come from sth\n1 to start in a particular place or be produced from a particular thing:\nMuch of our butter comes from New Zealand. * This wool comes from goats, not sheep. * This poem comes from his new book. * Where does her attitude come from? * Where’s that smell coming from? * He comes from a family of actors. * ’She doesn’t try hard enough.’ ’That’s rich, coming from you (= you do not try hard either).\n2 = COME OF STH\n  come in\n1 when the TIDE comes in, it moves towards the land\nOPP GO OUT\n2 to finish a race in a particular position:\nMy horse came in last.\n3 to become fashionable:\nLong hair for men came in in the sixties.\n4 to become available:\nWe’re still waiting for copies of the book to come in.\n5 to have a part in sth:\nI understand the plan perfectly, but I can’t see where I come in.\n6 to arrive somewhere; to be received:\nThe train is coming in now. * News is coming in of a serious plane crash in France. * She has over a thousand pounds a month coming in from her investments.\n7 to take part in a discussion:\nWould you like to come in at this point, Susan?\n8 (of a law or rule) to be introduced; to begin to be used\n  come in for sth [no passive] to receive sth, especially sth unpleasant:\nThe government’s economic policies have come in for a lot of criticism.\n  come in (on sth) to become involved in sth:\nIf you want to come in on the deal, you need to decide now.\n  come into sth [no passive]\n1 to be left money by sb who has died:\nShe came into a fortune when her uncle died.\n2 to be important in a particular situation:\nI’ve worked very hard to pass this exam-luck doesn’t come into it.\n  come of / from sth to be the result of sth:\nI made a few enquiries, but nothing came of it in the end. * [+ -ing]That comes of eating too much!\n  come off\n1 to be able to be removed:\nDoes this hood come off? * That mark won’t come off.\n2 (informal) to take place; to happen:\nDid the trip to Rome ever come off?\n3 (informal) (of a plan, etc.) to be successful; to have the intended effect or result:\nThey had wanted it to be a surprise but the plan didn’t come off.\n4 ~ well, badly, etc. (informal) to be successful/not successful in a fight, contest, etc:\nI thought they came off very well in the debate.\n  come off (sth)\n1 to fall from sth:\nto come off your bicycle / horse\n2 to become separated from sth:\nWhen I tried to lift the jug, the handle came off in my hand. * A button had come off my coat.\n  come off it (spoken) used to disagree with sb rudely:\nCome off it! We don’t have a chance.\n  come off sth [no passive] to stop taking medicine, a drug, alcohol, etc:\nI’ve tried to get him to come off the tranquillizers.\n  come on\n1 (of an actor) to walk onto the stage\n2 (of a player) to join a team during a game:\nOwen came on for Fowler ten minutes before the end of the game.\n3 to improve or develop in the way you want:\nThe project is coming on fine.\n4 used in orders to tell sb to hurry or to try harder:\nCome on! We don’t have much time. * Come on! Try once more.\n5 used to show that you know what sb has said is not correct:\nOh, come on-you know that isn’t true!\n6 (usually used in the progressive tenses) (of an illness or a mood) to begin:\nI can feel a cold coming on. * I think there’s rain coming on. * [+ to inf] It came on to rain.\n7 (of a TV programme, etc.) to start:\nWhat time does the news come on?\n8 to begin to operate:\nSet the oven to come on at six. * When does the heating come on?\n  come on / upon sb/sth [no passive] (formal) to meet or find sb/sth by chance\n  come on to sb (informal) to behave in a way that shows sb that you want to have a sexual relationship with them\nrelated noun COME-ON\n  come on to sth [no passive] to start talking about a subject:\nI’d like to come on to that question later.\n  come out\n1 when the sun, moon or stars come out, they appear:\nThe rain stopped and the sun came out.\n2 (of flowers) to open:\nThe daffodils came out early this year.\n3 to be produced or published:\nWhen is her new novel coming out?\n4 (of news, the truth, etc.) to become known:\nThe full story came out at the trial. * [+ that] It came out that he’d been telling lies.\n5 if a photograph comes out, it is a clear picture when it is developed and printed:\nThe photos from our trip didn’t come out.\n6 to be shown clearly:\nHer best qualities come out in a crisis.\n7 when words come out, they are spoken:\nI tried to say ’I love you,’ but the words wouldn’t come out.\n8 to say publicly whether you agree or disagree with sth:\nHe came out against the plan. * In her speech, the senator came out in favour of a change in the law.\n9 (BrE) to stop work and go on strike\n10 to no longer hide the fact that you are HOMOSEXUAL\n11 (of a young UPPER-CLASS girl, especially in the past) to be formally introduced into society\n  come out (of sth)\n1 (of an object) to be removed from a place where it is fixed:\nThis nail won’t come out.\n2 (of dirt, a mark, etc.) to be removed from sth by washing or cleaning:\nThese ink stains won’t come out of my dress. * Will the colour come out (= fade or disappear) if I wash it?\n  come out at sth [no passive] to add up to a particular cost or sum:\nThe total bill comes out at ｣500.\n  come out in sth [no passive] (of a person) to become covered in spots, etc. on the skin:\nHot weather makes her come out in a rash.\n  come out of yourself to relax and become more confident and friendly with other people:\nIt was when she started drama classes that she really came out of herself.\n  come out of sth [no passive] to develop from sth:\nThe book came out of his experiences in India. * Rock music came out of the blues.\n  come out with sth [no passive] to say sth, especially sth surprising or rude:\nHe came out with a stream of abuse. * She sometimes comes out with the most extraordinary remarks.\n  come over\n1 (BrE, informal) to suddenly feel sth:\n[+ADJ] I suddenly came over all shy.\n2 = COME ACROSS:\nHe came over well in the interview.\n  come over (to ...) to come to a place, especially sb’s house, to visit for a short time\n  come over (to ...) (from ...) to travel from one place to another, usually over a long distance:\nWhy don’t you come over to England in the summer? * Her grandparents came over from Ireland during the famine.\n  come over (to sth) to change from one side, opinion, etc. to another\n  come over sb [no passive] to affect sb:\nA fit of dizziness came over her. * I can’t think what came over me (= I do not know what caused me to behave in that way).\n  come round | come round (to sth) (BrE) = COME AROUND\n  come through (of news or a message) to arrive by telephone, radio, etc. or through an official organization:\nA message is just coming through.\n  come through (sth) to get better after a serious illness or to avoid serious injury:\nWith such a weak heart she was lucky to come through the operation.\n  come through (with sth) to successfully do or complete sth that you have promised to do:\nWe were worried she wouldn’t be able to handle it, but she came through in the end. * The bank finally came through with the money.\n  come to = COME AROUND (1)\n  come to yourself (old-fashioned) to return to your normal state\n  come to sb [no passive] (of an idea) to enter your mind:\nThe idea came to me in the bath. * [+ that] It suddenly came to her that she had been wrong all along.\n  come to sth [no passive]\n1 to add up to sth:\nThe bill came to $30. * I never expected those few items to come to so much.\n2 to reach a particular situation, especially a bad one:\nThe doctors will operate if it proves necessary-but it may not come to that. * Who’d have thought things would come to this (= become so bad or unpleasant)?\n  come together if two or more different people or things come together, they form a united group:\nThree colleges have come together to create a new university. * Bits and pieces of things he’d read and heard were coming together, and he began to understand.\n  come under sth [no passive]\n1 to be included in a particular group:\nWhat heading does this come under?\n2 to be a person that others are attacking or criticizing:\nThe head teacher came under a lot of criticism from the parents.\n3 to be controlled or influenced by sth:\nAll her students came under her spell.\n  come up\n1 (of plants) to appear above the soil:\nThe daffodils are just beginning to come up.\n2 (of the sun) to rise:\nWe watched the sun come up.\n3 to happen:\nI’m afraid something urgent has come up. * We’ll let you know if any vacancies come up.\n4 to be mentioned or discussed:\nThe subject came up in conversation. * The question is bound to come up at the meeting.\n5 (of an event or a time) to be going to happen very soon:\nHer birthday is coming up soon.\n6 to be dealt with by a court of law:\nHer divorce case comes up next month.\n7 if your number, name, ticket, etc. comes up in a betting game, it is chosen and you win sth\n8 (spoken, informal) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to arrive; to be ready soon:\n’Is lunch ready?’ ’Coming up!’\n  come up (to ...) (BrE, formal) to arrive at a university, especially Oxford or Cambridge, at the beginning of a TERM or in order to begin your studies\nOPP COME DOWN (FROM ...)\n  come up (to ...) (from ...) to come from one place to another, especially from the south of a country to the north or from a smaller place to a larger one:\nWhy don’t you come up to Scotland for a few days?\n  come up (to sb) to move towards sb, in order to talk to them:\nHe came up to me and asked for a light.\n  come up against sb/sth [no passive] to be faced with or opposed by sb/sth:\nWe expect to come up against a lot of opposition to the plan.\n  come up for sth [no passive]\n1 to be considered for a job, an important position, etc:\nShe comes up for re-election next year.\n2 to be reaching the time when sth must be done:\nHis contract is coming up for renewal.\n  come up to sth [no passive]\n1 to reach as far as a particular point:\nThe water came up to my neck.\n2 to reach an acceptable level or standard:\nHis performance didn’t really come up to his usual high standard. * Their trip to France didn’t come up to expectations.\n  come up with sth [no passive] to find or produce an answer, a sum of money, etc:\nShe came up with a new idea for increasing sales. * How soon can you come up with the money?\n  come upon sb/sth = COME ON SB/STH\n    exclamation (old-fashioned) used when encouraging sb to be sensible or reasonable, or when showing slight disapproval:\nOh come now, things aren’t as bad as all that. * Come, come, Miss Jones, you know perfectly well what I mean.\n    noun [U] (slang) SEMEN


Words: come-on
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (informal) an object or action which is intended to attract sb or to persuade them to do sth:\nShe was definitely giving him the come-on (= trying to attract him sexually).


Words: come-uppance
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal) a punishment for sth bad that you have done, that other people feel you really deserve:\nI was glad to see that the bad guy got his come-uppance at the end of the movie.


Words: comeback
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [usually sing.] if a person in public life makes a comeback, they start doing sth again which they had stopped doing, or they become popular again:\nan ageing pop star trying to stage a comeback\n  2  if a thing makes a comeback, it becomes popular and fashionable or successful again\n  3  (informal) a quick reply to a critical remark\n  4  a way of holding sb responsible for sth wrong which has been done to you:\nYou agreed to the contract in writing, so now you have no comeback.


Words: comedown
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (informal) a situation in which a person is not as important as before, or does not get as much respect from other people


Words: comedy
Meaning:
noun (plural comedies)\n  1  [C, U] a play or film/movie that is intended to be funny, usually with a happy ending; plays and films/movies of this type:\na romantic comedy\ncompare TRAGEDY\n  2  [U] an amusing aspect of sth\nSYN HUMOUR:\nHe didn’t appreciate the comedy of the situation. * slapstick comedy\nsee also BLACK adj. (9), SITUATION COMEDY


Words: comer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (all comers) [pl.] anyone who is interested in, or comes forward for, sth, especially a competition:\nThe event is open to all comers.\n  2  (with adjectives) a person who arrives somewhere\nsee also LATECOMER, NEWCOMER\n  3  (AmE, informal) a person who is likely to be successful


Words: comet
Meaning:
noun\na mass of ice and dust that moves around the sun and looks like a bright star with a tail:\nHalley’s Comet


Words: comfort
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the state of being physically relaxed and free from pain; the state of having a pleasant life, with everything that you need:\nThese tennis shoes are designed for comfort and performance. * With video, you can watch the latest movies in the comfort of your own home. * The hotel offers a high standard of comfort and service. * They had enough money to live in comfort in their old age.\n  2  [U] a feeling of not suffering or worrying so much; a feeling of being less unhappy\nSYN CONSOLATION:\nto take / draw comfort from sb’s words * I tried to offer a few words of comfort. * The sound of gunfire was too close for comfort. * If it’s any comfort to you, I’m in the same situation. * His words were of little comfort in the circumstances. * comfort food (= food that makes you feel better)\n  3  [sing.] a person or thing that helps you when you are suffering, worried or unhappy:\nThe children have been a great comfort to me through all of this. * It’s a comfort to know that she is safe.\nsee also COLD COMFORT\n  4  [C, usually pl.] a thing that makes your life easier or more comfortable:\nThe hotel has all modern comforts / every modern comfort. * material comforts (= money and possessions)\nsee also CREATURE COMFORTS\n    verb to make sb who is worried or unhappy feel better by being kind and sympathetic towards them: [VN] The victim’s widow was today being comforted by family and friends. * She comforted herself with the thought that it would soon be spring. * [VN to inf] It comforted her to feel his arms around her.


Words: comfortable
Meaning:
adjective\n  clothes / furniture\n  1  (of clothes, furniture, etc.) making you feel physically relaxed; pleasant to wear, sit on, etc:\nIt’s such a comfortable bed. * These new shoes are not very comfortable. * a warm comfortable house * Let me slip into something more comfortable (= change into more comfortable clothing).\nOPP UNCOMFORTABLE\n  physically relaxed\n  2  feeling pleasantly physically relaxed; warm enough, without pain, etc:\nAre you comfortable? * She shifted into a more comfortable position on the chair. * Please make yourself comfortable while I get some coffee. * The patient is comfortable (= not in pain) after his operation.\nOPP UNCOMFORTABLE\n  confident\n  3  confident and not worried or afraid:\nHe’s more comfortable with computers than with people. * I never feel very comfortable in her presence.\nOPP UNCOMFORTABLE\n  having money\n  4  having enough money to buy what you want without worrying about the cost:\nThey’re not millionaires, but they’re certainly very comfortable. * He makes a comfortable living. * They come from comfortable middle-class families.\n  victory\n  5  quite large; allowing you to win easily:\nThe party won with a comfortable majority. * a comfortable 20 win


Words: comfortably
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a comfortable way:\nAll the rooms were comfortably furnished. * If you’re all sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin. * You should be able to live comfortably on your allowance.\n  2  with no problem\nSYN EASILY:\nHe can comfortably afford the extra expense. * They are comfortably ahead in the opinion polls.\n IDIOMS \n  comfortably off having enough money to buy what you want without worrying about the cost


Words: comforter
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person or thing that makes you feel calmer or less worried:\nShe was hugging a pillow as a comforter.\n  2  (AmE) a type of thick cover for a bed\ncompare QUILT


Words: comforting
Meaning:
adjective\nmaking you feel calmer and less worried or unhappy:\nher comforting words * It’s comforting to know that you’ll be there. * Hearing all the familiar sounds around the house was strangely comforting.\n    comfortingly adverb:\nShe patted him comfortingly on the shoulder.


Words: comfy
Meaning:
adjective\n(comfier, comfiest) (informal) comfortable:\na comfy armchair / bed\n HELP NOTE  more comfy is also common as a comparative.You’ll be nice and comfy in this room.


Words: comic
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  amusing and making you laugh:\na comic monologue / story * The play is both comic and tragic. * She can always be relied on to provide comic relief (= sth to make you relax and laugh) at a boring party. * He wore a red nose and novelty glasses for comic effect.\n  2  [only before noun] connected with COMEDY (= entertainment that is funny and that makes people laugh):\na comic opera * a very fine comic actor * Woody Allen is a comic genius.\n    noun\n  1  an entertainer who makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories\nSYN COMEDIAN\n  2  (AmE also comic book) a magazine, especially for children, that tells stories through pictures\n  3  (the comics) [pl.] (AmE) the section of a newspaper that contains COMIC STRIPS


Words: comic strip
Meaning:
(also cartoon) (BrE also strip cartoon) (AmE also strip) noun\na series of drawings inside boxes that tell a story and are often printed in newspapers


Words: comical
Meaning:
adjective\n(old-fashioned) funny or amusing because of being strange or unusual\n    comically  adverb


Words: coming
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun [sing.] the ~ of sth the time when sth new begins:\nWith the coming of modern technology, many jobs were lost.\n IDIOMS \n  comings and goings (informal) the movement of people arriving at and leaving a particular place:\nIt’s hard to keep track of the children’s comings and goings.\n    adjective [only before noun] happening soon; next:\nin the coming months * This coming Sunday is her birthday.


Words: comma
Meaning:
noun\nthe mark ( , ) used to separate the items in a list or to show where there is a slight pause in a sentence\nsee also INVERTED COMMAS


Words: command
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  order\n  1  [C] an order given to a person or an animal:\nBegin when I give the command. * You must obey the captain’s commands.\n  for computer\n  2  [C] an instruction given to a computer:\nWhat is the startup command for the program?\n  control\n  3  [U] control and authority over a situation or a group of people:\nHe has 1 200 men under his command. * He has command of 1 200 men. * The police arrived and took command of the situation. * For the first time in years, she felt in command of her life. * He looked relaxed and totally in command of himself. * Who is in command here? * There were many disagreements over the command of the peacekeeping forces. * the chain of command\nsee also SECOND IN COMMAND\n  in armed forces\n  4  (Command) [C] a part of an army, air force, etc. that is organized and controlled separately; a group of officers who give orders:\nBomber Command\n  knowledge\n  5  [U, sing.] ~ (of sth) your knowledge of sth; your ability to do or use sth, especially a language:\nApplicants will be expected to have (a) good command of English.\n IDIOMS \n  at your command if you have a skill or an amount of sth at your command, you are able to use it well and completely:\nWith all the words at my command, I could not express how I felt.\n  be at sb’s command (formal) to be ready to obey sb:\nI’m at your command-what would you like me to do?\nmore at WISH n.\n    verb\n  order\n  1  (of sb in a position of authority) to tell sb to do sth\nSYN ORDER:\n[VN to inf] He commanded his men to retreat. * [VN] She commanded the release of the prisoners. * [V that] (formal) The commission intervened and commanded that work on the building cease. * (BrE also) The commission commanded that work on the building should cease. [also V speech, VN speech, V] -> ORDER\n  in armed forces\n  2  to be in charge of a group of people in the army, navy or air force:\n[VN] The troops were commanded by General Haig. [also V]\n  deserve and get\n  3  [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to deserve and get sth because of the special qualities you have:\nto command sympathy / support * She was able to command the respect of the class. * The headlines commanded her attention. * As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary.\n  view\n  4  [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to be in a position from where you can see or control sth:\nThe hotel commands a fine view of the valley. * They built a castle commanding the river crossing.\n  control\n  5  [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to have control of sth; to have sth available for use:\nThe party was no longer able to command a majority in Parliament. * the power and finances commanded by the police


Words: command performance
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a special performance, for example at a theatre, that is given for a head of state


Words: commandant
Meaning:
noun\nthe officer in charge of a particular military group or institution:\nthe commandant of a prisoner of war camp * Commandant Macdonald


Words: commandeer
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to take control of a building, a vehicle, etc. for military purposes during a war, or by force for your own use\nSYN REQUISITION


Words: commander
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who is in charge of sth, especially an officer in charge of a particular group of soldiers or a military operation:\nmilitary / allied / field / flight commanders * the commander of the expedition\n  2  (abbreviation Cdr) an officer of fairly high rank in the British or American navy\n  3  (abbreviation Cdr) (in Britain) a London police officer of high rank


Words: commander-in-chief
Meaning:
(abbreviation C.-in-C.) noun\n(plural commanders-in-chief) the officer who commands all the armed forces of a country or all its forces in a particular area:\ncommander-in-chief of the armed forces


Words: commanding
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [only before noun] in a position of authority that allows you to give formal orders:\nWho is your commanding officer?\n  2  [usually before noun] if you are in a commanding position or have a commanding lead, you are likely to win a race or competition\n  3  [usually before noun] powerful and making people admire and obey you:\na commanding figure / presence / tone / voice * Her style is commanding, decisive and responsible.\n  4  [only before noun] if a building is in a commanding position or has a commanding view, you can see the area around very well from it:\nThe castle occupies a commanding position on a hill.


Words: commando
Meaning:
noun\n(plural commandos) a soldier or a group of soldiers who are trained to make quick attacks in enemy areas:\na commando raid on the north of the island


Words: commemorate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to remind people of an important person or event from the past with a special action or object; to exist to remind people of a person or an event from the past:\nA series of movies will be shown to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death. * Many of the people and places in the book have been commemorated in the names of streets. * A plaque commemorates the battle.


Words: commemoration
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] an action, or a ceremony, etc. that makes people remember and show respect for an important person or event in the past:\na commemoration service * a statue in commemoration of a national hero * Protests and commemorations took place in several cities on the anniversary of the uprising.


Words: commemorative
Meaning:
adjective\nintended to help people remember and respect an important person or event in the past:\ncommemorative stamps / medals * A commemorative plaque on the bridge records the name of the engineer.


Words: commence
Meaning:
verb\n~ (with sth) (formal) to begin to happen; to begin sth\nSYN START:\n[V] The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon. * The day commenced with a welcome from the principal. * I will be on leave during the week commencing 15 February. * [VN] She commenced her medical career in 1956. * The company commenced operations in April. * to commence bankruptcy proceedings against sb * [V -ing] We commence building next week. [also V to inf]


Words: commencement
Meaning:
noun [U, C, usually sing.]\n  1  (formal) beginning:\nthe commencement of the financial year\n  2  (AmE) a ceremony at which students receive their academic degrees or DIPLOMAS\nSYN GRADUATION


Words: commend
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb (for sth / for doing sth) | ~ sb (on sth / on doing sth) to praise sb/sth, especially publicly:\nShe was commended on her handling of the situation. * His designs were highly commended by the judges (= they did not get a prize but they were especially praised).\n  2  ~ sb/sth (to sb) (formal) to recommend sb/sth to sb:\nShe is an excellent worker and I commend her to you without reservation. * The movie has little to commend it (= it has few good qualities).\n  3  (formal) if sth commends itself to sb, they approve of it:\nHis outspoken behaviour did not commend itself to his colleagues.\n  4  ~ sb/sth to sb (formal) to give sb/sth to sb in order to be taken care of:\nWe commend her soul to God.


Words: commendable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) deserving praise and approval:\ncommendable honesty * She showed commendable loyalty to the family firm.\n    commendably  adverb


Words: commendation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] (formal) praise; approval:\nThe film deserves the highest commendation.\n  2  [C] ~ (for sth) an award or official statement giving public praise for sb/sth:\na commendation for bravery * There were 16 prize winners and 18 commendations.


Words: commensurate
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sth) (formal) matching sth in size, importance, quality, etc:\nSalary will be commensurate with experience.\n    commensurately adverb


Words: comment
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] ~ (about / on sth) something that you say or write which gives an opinion on or explains sb/sth:\nHave you any comment to make about the cause of the disaster? * She made helpful comments on my work. * The director was not available for comment. * He handed me the document without comment. * (especially BrE) What she said was fair comment (= a reasonable criticism).\n  2  [sing., U] criticism that shows the faults of sth:\nThe results are a clear comment on government education policy. * There was a lot of comment about his behaviour.\n IDIOMS \n  no comment (said in reply to a question, usually from a journalist) I have nothing to say about that:\n’Will you resign, sir?’ ’No comment!’\n    verb ~ (on / upon sth) to express an opinion about sth: [V] I don’t feel I can comment on their decision. * He refused to comment until after the trial. * We were just commenting on how well you look. * [V that] A spokesperson commented that levels of carbon dioxide were very high. * [V speech] ’Not his best performance,’ she commented to the woman sitting next to her.


Words: commentary
Meaning:
noun (plural commentaries) ~ (on sth)\n  1  [C, U] a spoken description of an event that is given while it is happening, especially on the radio or television:\na sports commentary * Our reporters will give a running commentary (= a continuous one) on the election results as they are announced. * He kept up a running commentary on everyone who came in or went out.\n  2  [C] a written explanation or discussion of sth such as a book or a play:\na critical commentary on the final speech of the play\n  3  [C, U] a criticism or discussion of sth:\nThe petty quarrels were a sad commentary on the state of the government. * The movie is a biting commentary on contemporary life in a big city. * political / social commentary


Words: commentate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (on sth) to give a spoken description of an event as it happens, especially on television or radio:\nWho will be commentating on the game?


Words: commentator
Meaning:
noun ~ (on sth)\n  1  a person who is an expert on a particular subject and talks or writes about it on television or radio, or in a newspaper:\na political commentator\n  2  a person who describes an event while it is happening, especially on television or radio:\na television / radio / sports commentator


Words: commerce
Meaning:
noun\n[U] trade, especially between countries; the buying and selling of goods and services:\nleaders of industry and commerce\nsee also CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Words: commercial
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] connected with the buying and selling of goods and services:\nthe commercial heart of the city * She is developing the commercial side of the organization. * a commercial vehicle (= one that is used for carrying goods or passengers who pay) * commercial baby foods * the first commercial flights across the Atlantic\n  2  [only before noun] making or intended to make a profit:\nThe movie was not a commercial success (= did not make money).\n  3  (disapproving) more concerned with profit and being popular than with quality:\nTheir more recent music is far too commercial. * The show was unashamedly commercial, with little artistic merit.\n  4  (of television or radio) paid for by the money charged for broadcasting advertisements:\na commercial radio station / TV channel\n    commercially  adverb:\ncommercially produced / grown / developed * The product is not yet commercially available. * His invention was not commercially successful. * Designers are becoming more and more commercially minded.\n    noun an advertisement on the radio or on television:\na commercial break (= a time during or between programmes when advertisements are broadcast)


Words: commercialism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) the fact of being more interested in making money than in the value or quality of things:\ncommercialism in the theatre


Words: commercialize
Meaning:
(BrE also commercialise)  verb\n[VN] [often passive] to use sth to try to make a profit, especially in a way that other people do not approve of:\nTheir music has become very commercialized in recent years. * Christmas is far too commercialized now.\n    commercialization, commercialisation  noun [U]


Words: commie
Meaning:
noun\n(especially AmE) an insulting way of referring to sb that you think has ideas similar to those of COMMUNISTS or SOCIALISTS, or who is a member of a COMMUNIST or SOCIALIST party


Words: commiserate
Meaning:
verb\n~ (with sb) (on / about / for / over sth) to show sb sympathy when they are upset or disappointed about sth:\n[V] She commiserated with the losers on their defeat. [also V speech]


Words: commiseration
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (formal) an expression of sympathy for sb who has had sth unpleasant happen to them, especially not winning a competition:\nI offered him my commiseration. * Commiserations to the losing team.


Words: commissary
Meaning:
noun (plural commissaries) (AmE)\n  1  a shop/store that sells food, etc. in a military base, a prison, etc.\n  2  a restaurant for people working in a large organization, especially a film STUDIO


Words: commission
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  official group\n  1  (often Commission) [C] an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control sth, or to find out about sth, usually for the government:\nthe European Commission * (BrE) The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. * a commission on human rights\n  money\n  2  [U, C] an amount of money that is paid to sb for selling goods and which increases with the amount of goods that are sold:\nYou get a 10% commission on everything you sell. * He earned ｣2 000 in commission last month. * In this job you work on commission (= are paid according to the amount you sell).\n  3  [U] an amount of money that is charged by a bank, etc. for providing a particular service:\nOne per cent commission is charged for cashing traveller’s cheques.\n  for art / music, etc.\n  4  [C] a formal request to sb to design or make a piece of work such as a building or a painting:\na commission to design the new parliament building\n  in armed forces\n  5  [C] an officer’s position in the armed forces:\nHe resigned his commission when he got married.\n  of crime\n  6  [U] (formal) the act of doing sth wrong or illegal:\nthe commission of a crime\n IDIOMS \n  in / out of commission available/not available to be used:\nSeveral of the airline’s planes are temporarily out of commission and undergoing safety checks.\n    verb\n  piece of art / music, etc.\n  1  to officially ask sb to write, make or create sth or to do a task for you:\n[VN to inf] She has been commissioned to write a new national anthem. * [VN] Publishers have commissioned a French translation of the book. * The survey on consumer taste was commissioned by local stores.\n  in armed forces\n  2  [usually passive] ~ sb (as) sth to choose sb as an officer in one of the armed forces:\n[VN] She was commissioned in 1992. * [VN-N] He has just been commissioned (as a) pilot officer.


Words: commissionaire
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, becoming old-fashioned) a person in uniform whose job is to stand at the entrance to a hotel, theatre, cinema/movie theater, etc. and open the door for visitors, find them taxis, etc.\nsee also DOORMAN


Words: commissioned officer
Meaning:
noun\nan officer in the armed forces who has a higher rank, such as a captain or a GENERAL\ncompare NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER


Words: commissioner
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (usually Commissioner) a member of a COMMISSION (= an official group of people who are responsible for controlling sth or finding out about sth):\nthe Church Commissioners (= the group of people responsible for controlling the financial affairs of the Church of England) * European Commissioners\n  2  (also police commissioner especially in AmE) the head of a particular police force in some countries:\nthe Metropolitan Police Commissioner (= in London)\n  3  the head of a government department in some countries:\nthe agriculture / health commissioner * Commissioner Rhodes was unavailable for comment.\nsee also HIGH COMMISSIONER\n  4  (in the US) an official chosen by a sports association to control it:\nthe baseball commissioner


Words: commissioner for oaths
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a lawyer who has official authority to be present when sb makes a formal promise that a written statement that they will use as evidence in a court of law is true


Words: commit
Meaning:
verb (-tt-)\n  crime\n  1  [VN] ~ a crime, etc. to do sth wrong or illegal:\nto commit murder / adultery, etc. * Most crimes are committed by young men. * appalling crimes committed against innocent children\n  suicide\n  2  [VN] ~ suicide to kill yourself deliberately\n  promise / say definitely\n  3  ~ sb / yourself (to sth / to doing sth) [often passive] to promise sincerely that you will definitely do sth, keep to an agreement or arrangement, etc:\n[VN] The President is committed to reforming health care. * Borrowers should think carefully before committing themselves to taking out a loan. * [VN to inf] Both sides committed themselves to settle the dispute peacefully.\n  4  [VN] ~ yourself (to sth) to give an opinion or make a decision openly so that it is then difficult to change it:\nYou don’t have to commit yourself now, just think about it.\nsee also NON-COMMITTAL\n  be loyal\n  5  [V] ~ (to sb/sth) to be completely loyal to one person, organization, etc. or give all your time and effort to your work, an activity, etc:\nWhy are so many men scared to commit? (= say they will be loyal to one person).\nsee also COMMITTED\n  money / time\n  6  [VN] to spend money or time on sth/sb:\nThe council has committed large amounts of money to housing projects.\n  to hospital / prison\n  7  [VN] [often passive] ~ sb to sth to order sb to be sent to a hospital, prison, etc:\nShe was committed to a psychiatric hospital.\n  sb for trial\n  8  [VN] to send sb for trial in a court of law\n  sth to memory\n  9  [VN] to learn sth well enough to remember it exactly:\nShe committed the instructions to memory.\n  sth to paper / writing\n  10  [VN] to write sth down


Words: commitment
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] ~ (to sb/sth) | ~ to do sth a promise to do sth or to behave in a particular way; a promise to support sb/sth; the fact of committing yourself:\nShe doesn’t want to make a big emotional commitment to Steve at the moment. * The company’s commitment to providing quality at a reasonable price has been vital to its success. * the government’s commitment to public services\n  2  [U] ~ (to sb/sth) the willingness to work hard and give your energy and time to a job or an activity:\nA career as an actor requires one hundred per cent commitment.\n  3  [C] a thing that you have promised or agreed to do, or that you have to do:\nHe’s busy for the next month with filming commitments. * Women very often have to juggle work with their family commitments.\n  4  [C] the fact of having to pay an amount of money regularly:\nBuying a house is a big financial commitment.\n  5  [U, C] ~ (of sth) (to sth) agreeing to use money, time or people in order to achieve sth:\nthe commitment of resources to education * Achieving success at this level requires a commitment of time and energy.


Words: committal
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) the official process of sending sb to prison or to a mental hospital:\nHe was released on bail pending committal proceedings.


Words: committed
Meaning:
adjective\n(approving) willing to work hard and give your time and energy to sth; believing strongly in sth:\na committed member of the team * They are committed socialists.\nOPP UNCOMMITTED


Words: committee
Meaning:
noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who are chosen, usually by a larger group, to make decisions or to deal with a particular subject:\nShe’s on the management committee. * The committee has / have decided to close the restaurant. * a committee member / a member of the committee * a committee meeting * The player was fined by the disciplinary committee.


Words: commode
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a piece of furniture that looks like a chair but has a toilet under the seat\n  2  a piece of furniture, especially an old or ANTIQUE one, with drawers for storing things in


Words: commodity
Meaning:
noun (plural commodities)\n  1  (economics) a product or a raw material that can be bought and sold, especially between countries:\nrice, flour and other basic commodities * a drop in commodity prices * Crude oil is the world’s most important commodity.\n  2  a thing that is useful or has a useful quality:\nWater is a precious commodity that is often taken for granted in the West.


Words: common
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (commoner, commonest)\n HELP NOTE  more common and most common are more frequent\n  1  happening often; existing in large numbers or in many places:\nJackson is a common English name. * Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in this country. * Some kinds of birds which were once a common sight are now becoming rare. * a common spelling mistake * Allergies to milk are quite common in childhood.\nOPP UNCOMMON\n  2  [usually before noun] ~ (to sb/sth) shared by or belonging to two or more people or by the people in a group:\nThey share a common interest in photography. * basic features which are common to all human languages * We are working together for a common purpose. * common ownership of the land * This decision was taken for the common good (= the advantage of everyone). * It is, by common consent, Scotland’s prettiest coast (= everyone agrees that it is).\n  3  [only before noun] ordinary; not unusual or special:\nthe common garden frog * Shakespeare’s work was popular among the common people in his day. * In most people’s eyes she was nothing more than a common criminal. * You’d think he’d have the common courtesy to apologize (= this would be the polite behaviour that people would expect). * It’s only common decency to let her know what’s happening (= people would expect it).\n  4  (BrE, disapproving) typical of sb from a low social class and not having good manners:\nShe thought he was very common and uneducated.\n IDIOMS \n  common or garden (BrE) (AmE garden-variety) (informal) ordinary; with no special features\n  the common touch the ability of a powerful or famous person to talk to and understand ordinary people\n  make common cause with sb (formal) to be united with sb about sth that you both agree on, believe in or wish to achieve\nmore at KNOWLEDGE\n    noun\n  1  [C] an area of open land in a town or village that anyone may use:\nWe went for a walk on the common. * Wimbledon Common\n  2  (commons) [sing.] (AmE) a large room where students can eat in a school, college, etc:\nThe commons is next to the gym.\n IDIOMS \n  have sth in common (with sb) (of people) to have the same interests, ideas, etc. as sb else:\nJane and I have nothing in common. / I have nothing in common with Jane.\n  have sth in common (with sth) (of things, places, etc.) to have the same features, characteristics, etc:\nThe two cultures have a lot in common.\n  in common (technical) by everyone in a group:\nThey hold the property as tenants in common.\n  in common with sb/sth (formal) in the same way as sb/sth:\nBritain, in common with many other industrialized countries, has experienced major changes over the last 100 years.


Words: common denominator
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (mathematics) a number that can be divided exactly by all the numbers below the line in a set of FRACTIONS\ncompare DENOMINATOR\n  2  an idea, attitude or experience that is shared by all the members of a group:\nThey were united through the common denominator of suffering.\nsee also LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR


Words: common ground
Meaning:
noun\n[U] opinions, interests and aims that you share with sb, although you may not agree with them about other things:\nDespite our disagreements, we have been able to find some common ground.


Words: common law
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (in England) a system of laws that have been developed from customs and from decisions made by judges, not created by Parliament\ncompare CASE LAW, STATUTE LAW


Words: common room
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) a room used by the teachers or students of a school, college, etc. when they are not teaching or studying


Words: common sense
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability to think about things in a practical way and make sensible decisions:\nFor goodness’ sake, just use your common sense! * It’s common sense to keep medicines away from children. * a common-sense approach to a problem


Words: common-law husband
Meaning:
, common-law wife noun\na person that a woman or man has lived with for a long time and who is recognized as a husband or wife, without a formal marriage ceremony:\nShe lives with her common-law husband and their three children.


Words: commoner
Meaning:
noun\na person who does not come from a NOBLE family:\nIt was not acceptable for royalty to marry commoners in those days.\ncompare ARISTOCRAT


Words: commonly
Meaning:
adverb\nusually; very often; by most people:\nChristopher is commonly known as Kit. * commonly held opinions * This is one of the most commonly used methods.\n\n noun noun\n(grammar) a word such as table, cat, or sea, that refers to an object or a thing but is not the name of a particular person, place or thing\ncompare ABSTRACT NOUN, PROPER NOUN


Words: commonplace
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective done very often, or existing in many places, and therefore not unusual:\nComputers are now commonplace in primary classrooms.\n    noun (formal)\n  1  [usually sing.] an event, etc. that happens very often and is not unusual\n  2  a remark, etc. that is not new or interesting:\nThe speech was full of commonplaces.


Words: commonwealth
Meaning:
noun [sing.]\n  1  (the Commonwealth) an organization consisting of the United Kingdom and most of the countries that used to be part of the British Empire:\na member of the Commonwealth * Commonwealth countries\n  2  (usually the Commonwealth) used in the official names of, and to refer to, some states of the US (Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia):\nthe Commonwealth of Virginia * The city and the Commonwealth have lost a great leader.\n  3  (AmE) an independent country that is strongly connected to the US:\nPuerto Rico remains a US commonwealth, not a state.\n  4  (usually Commonwealth) used in the names of some groups of countries or states that have chosen to be politically linked with each other:\nthe Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)


Words: commotion
Meaning:
noun\n[C, usually sing, U] sudden noisy confusion or excitement:\nI heard a commotion and went to see what was happening. * The crowd waiting outside was causing a commotion.


Words: communal
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  shared by, or for the use of, a number of people, especially people who live together:\na communal kitchen / garden * As a student he tried communal living for a few years.\n  2  involving different groups of people in a community:\ncommunal violence between religious groups\n    communally adverb:\nThe property was owned communally.


Words: commune
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun pl. v.]\n  1  a group of people who live together and share responsibilities, possessions, etc:\na 1970s hippy commune\n  2  the smallest division of local government in France and some other countries\n    verb \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  commune with sb/sth (formal) to share your emotions and feelings with sb/sth without speaking:\nHe spent much of this time communing with nature.


Words: communicable
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) that sb can pass on to other people or communicate to sb else:\ncommunicable diseases * The value of the product must be communicable to the potential consumers.


Words: communicate
Meaning:
verb\n  exchange information\n  1  ~ (with sb) to exchange information, news, ideas, etc. with sb:\n[V] We only communicate by e-mail. * They communicated in sign language. * Dolphins use sound to communicate with each other. * [VN] to communicate information / a message to sb\n  share ideas / feelings\n  2  to make your ideas, feelings, thoughts, etc. known to other people so that they understand them:\n[VN] He was eager to communicate his ideas to the group. * Her nervousness was communicating itself to the children. * [V] Candidates must be able to communicate effectively. [also V wh-]\n  3  [V] ~ (with sb) to have a good relationship because you are able to understand and talk about your own and other people’s thoughts, feelings, etc:\nThe novel is about a family who can’t communicate with each other.\n  disease\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] to pass a disease from one person, animal, etc. to another:\nThe disease is communicated through dirty drinking water.\n  of two rooms\n  5  [V] if two rooms communicate, they are next to each other and you can get from one to the other:\na communicating door (= one that connects two rooms)


Words: communication
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the activity or process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information:\nSpeech is the fastest method of communication between people. * All channels of communication need to be kept open. * Doctors do not always have good communication skills. * non-verbal communication * We are in regular communication by letter.\n  2  [U] (also communications [pl.]) methods of sending information, especially telephones, radio, computers, etc. or roads and railways:\ncommunication systems / links / technology * The new airport will improve communications between the islands. * Snow has prevented communication with the outside world for three days.\n  3  [C] (formal) a message, letter or telephone call:\na communication from the leader of the party


Words: communicative
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  able and willing to talk and give information to other people:\nI don’t find him very communicative.\nOPP UNCOMMUNICATIVE\n  2  connected with the ability to communicate in a language, especially a foreign language:\ncommunicative skills


Words: communicator
Meaning:
noun\na person who is able to describe their ideas and feelings clearly to others:\nan effective / skilled / successful communicator


Words: communion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also Communion, Holy Communion) [U] a ceremony in the Christian Church during which people eat bread and drink wine in memory of the last meal that Christ had with his DISCIPLES:\nto go to Communion (= attend church for this celebration) * to take / receive communion (= receive the bread and wine)\nsee also EUCHARIST, MASS\n  2  [U] ~ (with sb/sth) (formal) the state of sharing or exchanging thoughts and feelings; the feeling of being part of sth:\npoets living in communion with nature\n  3  [C] (technical) a group of people with the same religious beliefs:\nthe Anglican communion


Words: communique
Meaning:
noun\nan official statement or report, especially to newspapers:\nThe leaders attending the conference have issued a joint communique.


Words: communism
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a political movement that believes in an economic system in which the state controls the means of producing everything on behalf of the people. It aims to create a society in which everyone is treated equally.\n  2  (Communism) the system of government by a ruling Communist Party, such as in the former Soviet Union\ncompare CAPITALISM


Words: communist
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who believes in or supports communism\n  2  (Communist) a member of a Communist Party\n    communist (also Communist) adjective:\ncommunist ideology * a Communist country / government / leader


Words: community
Meaning:
noun (plural communities)\n  1  [sing.] all the people who live in a particular area, country, etc. when talked about as a group:\nThe local community was shocked by the murders. * health workers based in the community (= working with people in a local area) * the international community (= the countries of the world as a group) * good community relations with the police * (AmE) community parks / libraries (= paid for by the local town / city)\n  2  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who share the same religion, race, job, etc:\nthe Polish community in London * ethnic communities * the farming community\n  3  [U] the feeling of sharing things and belonging to a group in the place where you live:\nThere is a strong sense of community in this town. * community spirit\n  4  [C] (biology) a group of animals or plants living or growing in the same place:\na community fish tank


Words: community centre
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE community center) noun\na place where people from the same area can meet for social events or sports or to take classes


Words: community college
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also community school) (in Britain) a secondary school that is open to adults from the local community as well as to its own students\n  2  (in the US) a college that is mainly for students from the local community and that offers programmes that are two years long, including programmes in practical skills. Some students go to a university or college offering four-year programmes after they have finished studying at a community college.


Words: community service
Meaning:
noun\nwork helping people in the local community that sb does without being paid, either because they want to, or because they have been ordered to by a court of law as a punishment


Words: commutation
Meaning:
noun [C, U]\n  1  (law) the act of making a punishment less severe:\nHe appealed for a commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment.\n  2  (finance) the act of replacing one method of payment with another; a payment that is replaced with another


Words: commute
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [V] to travel regularly by bus, train, car, etc. between your place of work and your home:\nShe commutes from Oxford to London every day. * He spent that year commuting between New York and Chicago. * I live within commuting distance of Dublin. * [VN] People are prepared to commute long distances if they are desperate for work.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (to sth) (law) to replace one punishment with another that is less severe:\nThe death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (for / into sth) (finance) to exchange one form of payment, for sth else\n    noun (especially AmE) the journey that a person makes when they commute to work:\na two-hour commute into downtown Washington * I have only a short commute to work. * I plan my day’s work during the morning commute. * Today most commutes are not suburb to city to suburb but from one suburb to another.


Words: commuter
Meaning:
noun\na person who travels into a city to work each day, usually from quite far away:\nThe five o’clock train is always packed with commuters. * (BrE) the commuter belt (= the area around a city where people live and from which they travel to work in the city)


Words: compact
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n \n    adjective \n \n  1  small and easy to carry:\na compact camera * The notebook computer is small and compact and weighs only 3.6lb.\n \n  2  using or filling only a small amount of space:\nThe kitchen was compact but well equipped.\n \n  3  closely and firmly packed together:\na compact mass of earth * The grey clouds had become more compact and the sky suddenly grew dark.\n  4  (of a person or an animal) small and strong:\nHe had a compact and muscular body.\n    compactly adverb\n    compactness noun [U]:\nHe had the natural compactness of a good ball player.\n    noun \n  1  (AmE) a small car\ncompare SUBCOMPACT\n  2  a small flat box with a mirror, containing powder that women use on their faces\n  3  (formal) a formal agreement between two or more people or countries\n    verb  [VN] [usually passive] to press sth together firmly:\na layer of compacted snow


Words: companion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person or an animal that travels with you or spends a lot of time with you:\ntravelling companions * Geoff was my companion on the journey. * (figurative) Fear was the hostages’ constant companion.\n  2  a person who has similar tastes, interests, etc. to your own and whose company you enjoy:\nShe was a charming dinner companion. * His younger brother is not much of a companion for him. * They’re drinking companions (= they go out drinking together).\n  3  a person who shares in your work, pleasures, sadness, etc:\nWe became companions in misfortune.\n  4  a person, usually a woman, employed to live with and help sb, especially sb old or ill/sick\n  5  one of a pair of things that go together or can be used together:\nA companion volume is soon to be published.\n  6  used in book titles to describe a book giving useful facts and information on a particular subject:\nA Companion to French Literature\nsee also BOON COMPANION


Words: companionable
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) friendly:\nThey walked to the studio together in a companionable silence.\n    companionably  adverb


Words: companionship
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the pleasant feeling that you have when you have a friendly relationship with sb and are not alone:\nThey meet at the club for companionship and advice. * She had only her cat for companionship.


Words: company
Meaning:
noun (plural companies)\n  business\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] (abbreviation Co.) (often in names) a business organization that makes money by producing or selling goods or services:\none of the largest computer companies in the world * the National Bus Company * She joined the company in 1992. * Mike gets a company car with his new job. * Company profits were 5% lower than last year. * He runs his own TV production company. * company policy\n  theatre / dance\n  2  (often in names) [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of people who work or perform together:\na theatre / dance company * the Royal Shakespeare Company\n  being with sb\n  3  [U] the fact of being with sb else and not alone:\nI enjoy Jo’s company (= I enjoy being with her). * She enjoys her own company (= being by herself) when she is travelling. * The children are very good company (= pleasant to be with) at this age. * a pleasant evening in the company of friends * He’s coming with me for company.\n  guests\n  4  [U] (formal) guests in your house:\nI didn’t realize you had company.\n  group of people\n  5  [U] (formal) a group of people together:\nShe told the assembled company what had happened. * It is bad manners to whisper in company (= in a group of people).\n  soldiers\n  6  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of soldiers that is part of a BATTALION\n IDIOMS \n  the company sb keeps the people that sb spends time with:\nJudging by the company he kept, Mark must have been a wealthy man.\n  get into / keep bad company to be friends with people that others disapprove of:\nThey worried about their teenage son getting into bad company.\n  in company with sb/sth (formal) together with or at the same time as sb/sth:\nShe arrived in company with the ship’s captain. * The US dollar went through a difficult time, in company with the oil market.\n  in good company if you say that sb is in good company, you mean that they should not worry about a mistake, etc. because sb else, especially sb more important, has done the same thing:\nIf you worry about your relationship with your teenage son or daughter, you are in good company. Many parents share these worries.\n  keep sb company to stay with sb so that they are not alone:\nI’ll keep you company while you’re waiting.\n  two’s company (, three’s a crowd) (saying) used to suggest that it is better to be in a group of only two people than have a third person with you as well\nmore at PART v., PRESENT adj.


Words: comparable
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to / with sb/sth) similar to sb/sth else and able to be compared:\nA comparable house in the south of the city would cost twice as much. * The situation in the US is not directly comparable to that in the UK. * Inflation is now at a rate comparable with that in other European countries.\n    comparability  noun [U]:\nEach group will have the same set of questions, in order to ensure comparability.


Words: comparative
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  connected with studying things to find out how similar or different they are:\ncomparative linguistics * a comparative study of the educational systems of two countries\n  2  measured or judged by how similar or different it is to sth else:\nThen he was living in comparative comfort (= compared with others or with his own life at a previous time). * The company is a comparative newcomer to the software market (= other companies have been in business much longer).\n  3  (grammar) relating to adjectives or adverbs that express more in amount, degree or quality, for example better, worse, slower and more difficult\ncompare SUPERLATIVE\n    noun (grammar) the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses more in amount, degree or quality:\n’Better’ is the comparative of ’good’ and ’more difficult’ is the comparative of ’difficult’.\ncompare SUPERLATIVE


Words: comparatively
Meaning:
adverb\nas compared to sth/sb else:\nThe unit is comparatively easy to install and cheap to operate. * We prefer to work with a comparatively small number of clients. * He died comparatively young (= at a younger age than most people die). * comparatively few / low / rare / recent


Words: compare
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  (abbreviation cf., cp.) [VN] ~ A and B | ~ A with / to B to examine people or things to see how they are similar and how they are different:\nIt is interesting to compare their situation and ours. * We compared the two reports carefully. * We carefully compared the first report with the second. * My own problems seem insignificant compared with other people’s. * Standards in health care have improved enormously compared to 40 years ago.\n  2  [V] ~ with / to sb/sth to be similar to sb/sth else, either better or worse:\nThis school compares with the best in the country (= it is as good as them). * This house doesn’t compare with our previous one (= it is not as good). * I’ve had some difficulties, but they were nothing compared to yours (= they were not nearly as bad as yours). * Their prices compare favourably with those of their competitors.\n  3  [VN] ~ A to B to show or state that sb/sth is similar to sb/sth else:\nThe critics compared his work to that of Martin Amis.\n IDIOMS \n  compare notes (with sb) if two or more people compare notes, they each say what they think about the same event, situation, etc:\nWe saw the play separately and compared notes afterwards.\n    noun\n IDIOMS \n  beyond / without compare (literary) better than anything else of the same kind:\na diamond beyond compare * Our professional service promises you a wedding without compare.


Words: comparison
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] ~ (with sb/sth) the process of comparing two or more people or things:\nComparison with other oil-producing countries is extremely interesting. * I enclose the two plans for comparison. * The education system bears / stands no comparison with that in many Eastern European countries (= it is not as good). * For Durkheim, comparison was the most important method of analysis in sociology.\n  2  [C] ~ (of A and / to / with B) | ~ (between A and B) an occasion when two or more people or things are compared:\na comparison of the rail systems in Britain and France * comparisons between Britain and the rest of Europe * a comparison of men’s salaries with those of women * It is difficult to make a comparison with her previous book-they are completely different. * You can draw comparisons with the situation in Ireland (= say how the two situations are similar). * a comparison of the brain to a computer (= showing similarities)\n IDIOMS \n  by comparison (written) used especially at the beginning of a sentence when the next thing that is mentioned is compared with sth in the previous sentence:\nBy comparison, expenditure on education increased last year. * His problems seemed trivial by comparison.\n  by / in comparison (with sb/sth) when compared with sb/sth:\nThe second half of the game was dull by comparison with the first. * The tallest buildings in London are small in comparison with New York’s skyscrapers.\n  there’s no comparison used to emphasize the difference between two people or things that are being compared:\nIn terms of price there’s no comparison (= one thing is much more expensive than the other).\nmore at PALE v.


Words: compartment
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  one of the separate sections which a railway carriage is divided into:\nHe found an empty first-class compartment.\n \n  2  one of the separate sections that sth such as a piece of furniture or equipment has for keeping things in:\nThe desk has a secret compartment. * There is a handy storage compartment beneath the oven.\nsee also GLOVE COMPARTMENT


Words: compartmentalize
Meaning:
(BrE also compartmentalise)  verb\n[VN] ~ sth (into sth) (written) to divide sth into separate sections, especially so that one thing does not affect the other:\nLife today is rigidly compartmentalized into work and leisure.


Words: compass
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (also magnetic compass) [C] an instrument for finding direction, with a needle that always points to the north:\na map and compass * the points of the compass (= N, S, E, W, etc.)\n \n  2  [C] (also compasses [pl.]) an instrument with two long thin parts joined together at the top, used for drawing circles and measuring distances on a map:\na pair of compasses\n \n  3  [sing.] (formal) a range or an extent, especially of what can be achieved in a particular situation:\nWe need to bring research techniques within the compass of normal teaching. * the compass of a singer’s voice (= the range from the lowest to the highest note that he or she can sing)


Words: compassion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (for sb) a strong feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering and a desire to help them:\nto feel / show compassion * She was known as a hard woman with no compassion, no emotion. * In an overworked doctor, feelings of compassion are soon lost.


Words: compassionate
Meaning:
adjective\nfeeling or showing sympathy for people who are suffering:\nPoliticians are not usually regarded as warm or compassionate people. * He was allowed to go home on compassionate grounds (= because he was suffering).\n    compassionately adverb


Words: compassionate leave
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) time that you are allowed to be away from work because sb in your family is ill/sick or has died, or for other personal reasons:\nShe was granted compassionate leave to attend her father’s funeral.


Words: compatibility
Meaning:
~ (between A and B)\n  1  the ability of people or things to live together without problems:\nThe compatibility of brothers and sisters depends on their personalities.\n  2  the ability of machines, especially computers, and computer programs to be used together


Words: compatible sth
Meaning:
1  (of machines, especially computers) able to be used together:\ncompatible software * The new system will be compatible with existing equipment.\n  2  (of ideas, methods or things) able to exist or be used together without causing problems:\nAre measures to protect the environment compatible with economic growth? * compatible blood groups\n  3  if two people are compatible, they can have a good relationship because they have similar ideas, interests, etc:\nShe found a compatible partner through a computer dating agency.\n    compatibly  adverb


Words: compatriot
Meaning:
noun\na person who was born in, or is a citizen of, the same country as sb else\nSYN COUNTRYMAN:\nHe played against one of his compatriots in the semi-final.


Words: compel
Meaning:
verb (-ll-) (formal)\n  1  to force sb to do sth; to make sth necessary:\n[VN to inf] The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. * I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book. * [VN] Last year ill health compelled his retirement.\n  2  [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to cause a particular reaction:\nHe spoke with an authority that compelled the attention of the whole crowd.\nsee also COMPULSION


Words: compelling
Meaning:
adjective (written)\n  1  that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting:\nHer latest book makes compelling reading.\n  2  so strong that you must do sth about it:\na compelling need / desire\n  3  that makes you think it is true:\nThere is no compelling reason to believe him. * compelling evidence\n    compellingly adverb:\ncompellingly attractive


Words: compendium
Meaning:
noun\n(plural compendia  or compendiums) a collection of facts, drawings and photographs on a particular subject, especially in a book:\na compendium of natural history


Words: compensate
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] ~ (for sth) to provide sth good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc.\nSYN MAKE UP FOR:\nNothing can compensate for the loss of a loved one.\n  2  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) to pay sb money because they have suffered some damage, loss, injury, etc:\nHer lawyers say she should be compensated both for her injuries and for the suffering she had been caused.\n    compensatory  adjective:\nHe received a compensatory payment of $20 000.


Words: compensation
Meaning:
noun ~ (for sth)\n  1  [U, C] something, especially money, that sb gives you because they have hurt you, or damaged sth that you own; the act of giving this to sb:\nto claim / award / receive compensation * to pay compensation for injuries at work * to receive ｣10 000 in compensation. * Compensation has cost the company a lot of money. * She received a cash sum by way of compensation.\n  2  [C, usually pl.] things that make a bad situation better:\nI wish I were young again, but getting older has its compensations.


Words: compere
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (BrE) a person who introduces the people who perform in a television programme, show in a theatre, etc.\nSYN EMCEE:\nto act as (a) compere\n    verb [VN, V] (BrE) to act as a compere for a show


Words: compete
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (with / against sb) (for sth) to try to be more successful or better than sb else who is trying to do the same as you:\n[V] Several companies are competing for the contract. * We can’t compete with them on price. * Young children will usually compete for their mother’s attention. * Small traders cannot compete in the face of cheap foreign imports. [also V to inf]\n  2  [V] ~ (in sth) (against sb) to take part in a contest or game:\nHe’s hoping to compete in the London marathon.


Words: competence
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also less frequent competency) [U, C] ~ (in sth) | ~ (in doing sth) the ability to do sth well:\nto gain a high level of competence in English * professional / technical competence\n  2  [U] (law) the power that a court, an organization or a person has to deal with sth:\nThe judge has to act within the competence of the court. * outside sb’s area of competence\n  3  [C] (also less frequent competency technical) a skill that you need in a particular job or for a particular task:\nThe syllabus lists the knowledge and competences required at this level.


Words: competent
Meaning:
adjective ~ (to do sth)\n  1  having enough skill or knowledge to do sth well or to the necessary standard:\nMake sure the firm is competent to carry out the work. * He’s very competent in his work. * a highly confident and competent teacher * I don’t feel competent to comment.\nOPP INCOMPETENT\n  2  having the power to decide sth:\nthe case was referred to a competent authority\n    competently adverb:\nto perform competently


Words: competition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  ~ (between / with sb) | ~ (for sth) [U] a situation in which people or organizations compete with each other for sth that not everyone can have:\nThere is now intense competition between schools to attract students. * We are in competition with four other companies for the contract. * We won the contract in the face of stiff competition.\n  2  [C] an event in which people compete with each other to find out who is the best at sth:\na music / photo / swimming competition * to enter / win / lose a competition\n  3  (the competition) [sing.+sing./pl. v.] the people who are competing against sb:\nWe’ll be able to assess the competition at the conference.


Words: competitive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  used to describe a situation in which people or organizations compete against each other:\ncompetitive games / sports * graduates have to fight for jobs in a highly competitive market.\n  2  ~ (with sb/sth) as good as or better than others:\na shop selling clothes at competitive prices (= as low as any other shop) * We need to work harder to remain competitive with other companies. * to gain a competitive advantage over rival companies\nOPP UNCOMPETITIVE\n  3  (of a person) trying very hard to be better than others:\nYou have to be highly competitive to do well in sport these days.\n    competitively adverb:\ncompetitively priced goods\n    competitiveness noun:\nan attempt to improve the competitiveness of British industry


Words: competitor
Meaning:
noun [C]\n  1  a person or an organization that competes against others, especially in business:\nour main / major / nearest competitor * We produce cheaper goods than our competitors.\n  2  a person who takes part in a competition:\nOver 200 competitors entered the race.


Words: compilation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a collection of items, especially pieces of music or writing, taken from different places and put together:\nHer latest CD is a compilation of all her best singles. * a compilation album\n  2  [U] the process of compiling sth:\nthe compilation of a dictionary


Words: compile
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to produce a book, list, report, etc. by bringing together different items, articles, songs, etc:\nWe are trying to compile a list of suitable people for the job. * The album was compiled from live recordings from last year’s tour.\n  2  (computing) to translate instructions from one computer language into another so that a particular computer can understand them


Words: compiler
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who compiles sth\n  2  (computing) a program that translates instructions from one computer language into another for a computer to understand


Words: complacency
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (usually disapproving) a feeling of satisfaction with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not think any change is necessary; the state of being complacent:\nHis early success as a writer led to complacency and arrogance. * Despite signs of an improvement in the economy, there is no room for complacency.


Words: complacent
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (about sb/sth) (usually disapproving) too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any change is necessary; showing or feeling complacency:\na complacent smile * a dangerously complacent attitude to the increase in unemployment * We must not become complacent about progress.\n    complacently adverb:\nto nod / smile / speak complacently


Words: complain
Meaning:
verb\n~ (to sb) (about / of sth) to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about sb/sth:\n[V] I’m going to complain to the manager about this. * She never complains, but she’s obviously exhausted. * The defendant complained of intimidation during the investigation. * (spoken) ’How are you?’ ’Oh, I can’t complain (= I’m all right).’ * [V (that)] He complained bitterly that he had been unfairly treated. * [V speech] ’It’s not fair,’ she complained.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  complain of sth to say that you feel ill or are suffering from a pain:\nShe left early, complaining of a headache.


Words: complaint
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] ~ (about / against sb/sth) | ~ (that ...) a reason for not being satisfied; a statement that sb makes saying that they are not satisfied:\nThe most common complaint is about poor service. * We received a number of complaints from customers about the lack of parking facilities. * I believe you have a complaint against one of our nurses. * I’d like to make a complaint about the noise. * a formal complaint * a complaint that he had been unfairly treated * (formal) to file / lodge (= make) a complaint\n  2  [U] the act of complaining:\nI can see no grounds for complaint. * a letter of complaint\n  3  [C] an illness, especially one that is not serious, and often one that affects a particular part of the body:\na skin complaint


Words: complaisant
Meaning:
adjective\n(old-fashioned) ready to accept other people’s actions and opinions and to do what other people want:\nShe was a complaisant wife and dutiful daughter.\n    complaisance  noun [U]


Words: complected
Meaning:
adjective\n(AmE, informal) (used with adjectives) with skin and a COMPLEXION of the type mentioned:\nfair / dark complected


Words: complement
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] to add to sth in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive:\nThe excellent menu is complemented by a good wine list. * The team needs players who complement each other. -> COMPLIMENT\n    noun\n  1  ~ (to sth) a thing that adds new qualities to sth in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive\n  2  the complete number or quantity needed or allowed:\nWe’ve taken our full complement of trainees this year.\n  3  (grammar) a word or words, especially an adjective or a noun, that is used after linking verbs such as be and become, and describes the subject of the verb:\nIn the sentences ’I’m angry’ and ’He became a politician.’, ’angry’ and ’politician’ are complements.


Words: complementary
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sth) two people or things that are complementary are different but together form a useful or attractive combination of skills, qualities or physical features:\nThe school’s approach must be complementary to that of the parents. -> COMPLIMENT


Words: complementary medicine
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) medical treatment that is not part of the usual scientific treatment used in Western countries, for example ACUPUNCTURE


Words: complete
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] used when you are emphasizing sth, to mean ’to the greatest degree possible’\nSYN TOTAL:\nWe were in complete agreement. * a complete change * in complete silence * a complete stranger * It came as a complete surprise. * I felt a complete idiot.\n  2  including all the parts, etc. that are necessary; whole:\nI’ve collected the complete set. * a complete guide to events in Oxford * the complete works of Tolstoy * You will receive payment for each complete day that you work.\nOPP INCOMPLETE\n  3  ~ with sth [not before noun] including sth as an extra part or feature:\nThe furniture comes complete with tools and instructions for assembly. * The book, complete with cassette, costs ｣35.\n  4  [not before noun] finished:\nWork on the office building will be complete at the end of the year.\nOPP INCOMPLETE\n    completeness noun [U]:\nthe accuracy and completeness of the information * For the sake of completeness, all names are given in full.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  [often passive] to finish making or doing sth:\nShe’s just completed a master’s degree in Law. * The project should be completed within a year.\n  2  to write all the information you are asked for on a form:\n2 000 shoppers completed our questionnaire.\n  3  to make sth whole or perfect:\nI only need one more card to complete the set.


Words: completely
Meaning:
adverb\n(used to emphasize the following word or phrase) in every way possible\nSYN TOTALLY:\ncompletely different * completely and utterly broke * I’ve completely forgotten her name. * The explosion completely destroyed the building.


Words: completion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the act or process of finishing sth; the state of being finished and complete:\nthe completion of the new hospital building * Satisfactory completion of the course does not ensure you a job. * The project is due for completion in the spring. * The road is nearing completion (= it is nearly finished). * the date of completion / the completion date\n  2  [U, C] (BrE) the formal act of completing the sale of property, for example the sale of a house:\nThe keys will be handed over on completion.


Words: complex
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective \n  1  made of many different things or parts that are connected; difficult to understand:\ncomplex machinery * the complex structure of the human brain * a complex road system * a complex argument / problem / subject\n  2  (grammar) (of a word or sentence) containing one main part (= the ROOT of a word or MAIN CLAUSE of a sentence) and one or more other parts (AFFIXES or SUBORDINATE CLAUSES):\nIn the complex sentence, ’I’d like to go the beach, if it’s warm enough’, ’I’d like to go to the beach’ is the main clause, and ’if it’s warm enough’ is the subordinate clause.\ncompare COMPOUND adj.\n    noun \n  1  a group of buildings of a similar type together in one place:\na sports complex * an apartment complex * an industrial complex (= a site with many factories)\n  2  a group of things that are connected:\nThis is just one of a whole complex of issues.\n  3  (especially in compounds) a mental state that is not normal:\nto suffer from a guilt complex\nsee also INFERIORITY COMPLEX, OEDIPUS COMPLEX, PERSECUTION COMPLEX\n  4  if sb has a complex about sth, they are worried about it in way that is not normal:\nDon’t mention her weight-she has a complex about it.


Words: complexion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the natural colour and condition of the skin on a person’s face:\na pale / bad complexion\n  2  [usually sing.] the general character of sth:\na move which changed the political complexion of the northern states\n IDIOMS \n  put a new / different complexion on sth to change the way that a situation appears


Words: complexity
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the state of being formed of many parts; the state of being difficult to understand:\nthe increasing complexity of modern telecommunication systems * I was astonished by the size and complexity of the problem.\n  2  (complexities) [pl.] the features of a problem or situation that are difficult to understand:\nthe complexities of the system


Words: compliance
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (with sth) (written) the practice of obeying rules or requests made by people in authority:\nprocedures that must be followed to ensure full compliance with the law * Safety measures were carried out in compliance with paragraph 6 of the building regulations.\nOPP NON-COMPLIANCE\nsee also COMPLY


Words: compliant
Meaning:
adjective (written)\n  1  (usually disapproving) willing to agree with other people or to obey rules:\nBy then, Henry seemed less compliant with his wife’s wishes than he had six months before. * We should not be producing compliant students who do not dare to criticize.\n  2  in agreement with a set of rules:\ncomputer software that is year 2000 compliant\nsee also COMPLY


Words: complicate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to make sth more difficult to do, understand or deal with:\nI do not wish to complicate the task more than is necessary. * To complicate matters further, there will be no transport available till 8 o’clock. * The issue is complicated by the fact that a vital document is missing.


Words: complicated
Meaning:
adjective\nmade of many different things or parts that are connected; difficult to understand:\na complicated system * The instructions look very complicated. * The story is extremely complicated. * It’s all very complicated-but I’ll try and explain.


Words: complication
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] a thing that makes a situation more complicated or difficult:\nThe bad weather added a further complication to our journey.\n  2  [C, usually pl.] (medical) a new problem or illness that makes treatment of a previous one more complicated or difficult:\nShe developed complications after the surgery. * Infertility is one of the complications of this type of radiotherapy.


Words: complicity
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (in sth) (formal) the act of taking part with another person in a crime \nSYN COLLUSION:\nto be guilty of complicity in the murder * evident complicity between the two brothers


Words: compliment
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a remark that expresses praise or admiration of sb:\nto pay sb a compliment (= to praise them for sth) * ’You understand the problem because you’re so much older.’ ’I’ll take that as a compliment!’ * It’s a great compliment to be asked to do the job. * to return the compliment (= to treat sb in the same way as they have treated you)\n  2  (compliments) [pl.] (formal) greetings, especially when used to express praise and admiration:\nMy compliments to the chef! * (BrE) Compliments of the season! (= for Christmas or the New Year) * Please accept these flowers with the compliments of (= as a gift from) the manager.\n IDIOMS  see BACKHANDED\n    verb [VN] ~ sb (on sth) to tell sb that you like or admire sth they have done, their appearance, etc:\nShe complimented him on his excellent German.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ncompliment / complement\nThese words have similar spellings but completely different meanings. If you compliment someone, you say something very nice to them: She complimented me on my English. If one thing complements another, the two things work or look better because they are together: The different flavours complement each other perfectly.\nThe adjectives are also often confused. Complimentary: She made some very complimentary remarks about my English. It can also mean ’free’: There was a complimentary basket of fruit in our room. Complementary: The team members have different but complementary skills.\n______________________________


Words: complimentary
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  given free of charge:\ncomplimentary tickets for the show\n  2  ~ (about sth) expressing admiration, praise, etc:\na complimentary remark * She was extremely complimentary about his work.\ncompare UNCOMPLIMENTARY -> COMPLIMENT


Words: compliments slip
Meaning:
noun\na small piece of paper printed with the name of a company, that is sent out together with information, goods, etc.


Words: comply
Meaning:
verb\n(complies, complying, complied, complied) [V] ~ (with sth) to obey a rule, an order, etc:\nThey refused to comply with the UN resolution.\nsee also COMPLIANCE


Words: component
Meaning:
noun\none of several parts of which sth is made:\nthe components of a machine * the car component industry * Key components of the government’s plan are ... * Trust is a vital component in any relationship.\n    component adjective [only before noun]:\nto break sth down into its component parts


Words: comport
Meaning:
verb\n[VN +adv./prep.] (~ yourself) (formal) to behave in a particular way:\nShe always comports herself with great dignity.


Words: compos mentis
Meaning:
adjective\n[not before noun] (from Latin, formal or humorous) having full control of your mind:\nAre you sure she was fully compos mentis when she said it?


Words: compose
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] [no passive] (not used in the progressive tenses) (formal) to combine together to form a whole:\nTen men compose the committee.\nsee also COMPOSED -> COMPRISE\n  2  to write music:\n[VN] Mozart composed his last opera shortly before he died. [also V]\n  3  [VN] ~ a letter / speech / poem to write a letter, etc. usually with a lot of care and thought:\nShe composed a letter of protest.\n  4  [VN] [no passive] (formal) to manage to control your feelings or expression:\nEmma frowned, making an effort to compose herself. * I was so confused that I could hardly compose my thoughts.\nsee also COMPOSURE


Words: composed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (be composed of sth) to be made or formed from several parts, things or people:\nThe committee is composed mainly of lawyers.\n  2  [not usually before noun] calm and in control of your feelings:\nShe seemed outwardly composed. * He remained perfectly composed and calm.


Words: composite
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective [only before noun] made of different parts or materials:\na composite picture (= one made from several pictures)\n    noun\n  1  something made by putting together different parts or materials:\nThe document was a composite of information from various sources.\n  2  (AmE) = IDENTIKIT


Words: composition
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the different parts which sth is made of; the way in which the different parts are organized:\nthe chemical composition of the soil * the composition of the board of directors * the size and composition of an average class\n  2  [C] a piece of music or art, or a poem:\none of Beethoven’s finest compositions\n  3  [U] the act of COMPOSING sth:\npieces performed in the order of their composition\n  4  [U] the art of writing music:\nto study composition\n  5  [C] a short text that is written as a school exercise; a short ESSAY\n  6  [U] (art) the arrangement of people or objects in a painting or photograph


Words: compost
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U, C] a mixture of decayed plants, food, etc. that can be added to soil to help plants grow:\npotting compost (= a mixture of soil and compost that you can buy to grow new plants in) * a compost heap (= a place in the garden where leaves, plants, etc. are piled, to make compost)\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to make sth into compost:\nCover the area with composted bark or peat.\n  2  to put compost on or in sth


Words: composure
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of being calm and in control of your feelings or behaviour:\nto keep / lose / recover / regain your composure * He maintained his composure despite a desperate desire to laugh.


Words: compound
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun \n  1  a thing consisting of two or more separate things combined together\n  2  (chemistry) a substance formed by a chemical reaction of two or more elements in fixed amounts relative to each other:\nCommon salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.\ncompare ELEMENT, MIXTURE\n  3  (grammar) a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a HYPHEN. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compounds.\n  4  an area surrounded by a fence or wall in which a factory or other group of buildings stands:\na prison compound\n    adjective  [not before noun] (technical) formed of two or more parts:\na compound adjective, such as fair-skinned * A compound sentence contains two or more clauses. * the compound eye of a wasp\n    verb  [VN] \n  1  [often passive] (written) to make sth bad become even worse by causing further harm:\nThe problems were compounded by severe food shortages.\n  2  (be compounded of / from sth) (formal) to be formed from sth:\nThe DNA molecule is compounded from many smaller molecules.\n  3  [often passive] (formal or technical) to mix sth together:\nliquid soaps compounded with disinfectant\n  4  (finance) to pay or charge interest on an amount of money that includes any interest already earned or charged


Words: compound fracture
Meaning:
noun\nan injury in which a bone in the body is broken and part of the bone comes through the skin\ncompare SIMPLE FRACTURE


Words: compound interest
Meaning:
noun\n[U] interest that is paid both on the original amount of money saved and on the interest that has been added to it\ncompare SIMPLE INTEREST


Words: comprehend
Meaning:
verb\n(often used in negative sentences) (formal) to understand sth fully:\n[VN] The infinite distances of space are too great for the human mind to comprehend. * [V wh-] She could not comprehend how someone would risk people’s lives in that way. * [V] He stood staring at the dead body, unable to comprehend. [also V that]


Words: comprehensible
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (to sb) (formal) that can be understood by sb:\neasily / readily comprehensible to the average reader\n    comprehensibility  noun [U]


Words: comprehension
Meaning:
noun [U, C]\n  1  [U] (especially written) the ability to understand:\nspeech and comprehension * The task requires a good comprehension of complex instructions. * His behaviour was completely beyond comprehension (= impossible to understand). * She had no comprehension of what was involved.\n  2  an exercise that trains students to understand a language:\nlistening comprehension * a reading comprehension


Words: comprehensive
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  including all, or almost all, the items, details, facts, information, etc., that may be concerned:\na comprehensive list of addresses * a comprehensive report / study / survey * comprehensive insurance (= covering all risks)\n  2  (BrE) (of education) designed for students of all abilities in the same school\n    comprehensiveness noun [U] \n    noun (also comprehensive school) (in Britain) a secondary school for young people of all levels of ability


Words: comprehensively
Meaning:
adverb\ncompletely; thoroughly:\nThey were comprehensively beaten in the final. * The matter has been comprehensively discussed.


Words: compress
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  ~ (sth) (into sth) to press or squeeze sth together or into a smaller space; to be pressed or squeezed in this way:\n[VN] compressed air / gas * As more snow fell, the bottom layer was compressed into ice. * She compressed her lips. * [V] Her lips compressed into a thin line.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to reduce sth and fit it into a smaller space or amount of time\nSYN CONDENSE:\nThe main arguments were compressed into one chapter. * Rehearsal time will have to be compressed into two evenings.\n  3  [VN] (computing) to make computer files, etc. smaller so that they use less space on a disk, etc.\nOPP DECOMPRESS\n    compression  noun [U]:\nthe compression of air * data compression\n    noun  a cloth that is pressed onto a part of the body to stop bleeding, reduce pain, etc:\nto apply a cold compress


Words: comprise
Meaning:
verb [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses)\n  1  (also be comprised of) to have sb/sth as parts or members; to consist of sb/sth:\nThe collection comprises 327 paintings. * The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors.\n  2  to be the parts or members that form sth\nSYN MAKE STH UP:\nOlder people comprise a large proportion of those living in poverty.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ncomprise / compose / consist of / constitute / make up / include\nWhen you want to mention the different parts that something is formed from, you can say that something comprises, consists of, is composed of or is made up of a number of different things: The committee comprises/consists of two lawyers, two journalists and a teacher. You can also say is comprised of, though this use is often avoided in written English. It is not correct to use comprises of or is composed by /from.\nWhen you mention first all the parts that together form the whole, constitute, compose and make up are used. Two lawyers, two journalists and a head teacher compose/constitute the committee. Comprise can be used in this way but is less common.\nYou use include if you only mention some of the parts: The committee includes two lawyers.\nThese verbs are not used in the progressive tenses.\n______________________________


Words: compromise
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] an agreement made between two people or groups in which each side gives up some of the things they want so that both sides are happy at the end:\nAfter lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise. * In any relationship, you have to make compromises. * a compromise solution / agreement / candidate\n  2  [C] ~ (between A and B) a solution to a problem in which two or more things cannot exist together as they are, in which each thing is reduced or changed slightly so that they can exist together:\nThis model represents the best compromise between price and quality.\n  3  [U] the act of reaching a compromise:\nCompromise is an inevitable part of life. * There is no prospect of compromise in sight.\n    verb\n  1  [V] ~ (with sb) (on sth) to give up some of your demands after a dispute with sb, in order to reach an agreement:\nNeither side is prepared to compromise. * After much argument, the judges finally compromised on (= agreed to give the prize to) the 18-year old pianist. * They were unwilling to compromise with the Communists.\n  2  ~ (on sth) to do sth that is against your principles or does not reach standards that you have set:\n[VN] I refuse to compromise my principles. * [V] We are not prepared to compromise on safety standards.\n  3  [VN] ~ sb/sth / yourself to bring sb/sth/yourself into danger or under suspicion, especially by acting in a way that is not very sensible:\nShe had already compromised herself by accepting his invitation. * Defeat at this stage would compromise their chances (= reduce their chances) of reaching the finals of the competition.


Words: compromising
Meaning:
adjective\nif sth is compromising, it shows or tells people sth that you want to keep secret, because it is wrong or embarrassing:\ncompromising photos / circumstances


Words: compulsion
Meaning:
noun ~ (to do sth)\n  1  [U, C] strong pressure that makes sb do sth that they do not want to do:\nYou are under no compulsion to pay immediately. * There are no compulsions on students to attend classes. * The legal system is based on compulsion.\n  2  [C] a strong desire to do sth, especially sth that is wrong, silly or dangerous:\nHe felt a great compulsion to drive too fast. * Obsessions and compulsions often develop in people who live stressful lives.\nsee also COMPEL


Words: compulsive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of behaviour) that is difficult to stop or control:\ncompulsive eating / spending / gambling\n  2  (of people) not being able to control their behaviour:\na compulsive drinker / gambler / liar\n  3  that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting:\nThe programme made compulsive viewing.\n    compulsively adverb:\nShe watched him compulsively. * a compulsively readable book


Words: compulsory
Meaning:
adjective\nthat must be done because of a law or a rule:\nIt is compulsory for all motorcyclists to wear helmets. * English is a compulsory subject at this level. * compulsory education / schooling * compulsory redundancies\nOPP VOLUNTARY\n    compulsorily  adverb:\nOver 600 workers were made compulsorily redundant.


Words: compunction
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (also [C] in AmE) ~ (about doing sth) (formal) a feeling of guilt about doing sth:\nShe felt no compunction about leaving her job. * He had lied to her without compunction. * (AmE) She has no compunctions about rejecting the plan.


Words: computation
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (formal) an act or the process of calculating sth:\nAll the statistical computations were performed by the new software system. * an error in the computation


Words: computational
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] using or connected with computers:\ncomputational linguistics / theory / methods / skills * a computational approach


Words: computer
Meaning:
noun\nan electronic machine that can store, organize and find information, do calculations and control other machines:\na personal computer * Our sales information is processed by computer. * a computer program * computer software / hardware / graphics * a computer error * computer-aided design\nsee also DESKTOP COMPUTER, MICROCOMPUTER, PERSONAL COMPUTER, SUPERCOMPUTER


Words: computer science
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the study of computers and how they can be used:\na degree in computer science\n    computer scientist noun


Words: computer-literate
Meaning:
adjective\nable to use computers well:\nShe is highly computer-literate, and good at explaining the use of the system to others.\n    computer literacy noun [U]


Words: computerize
Meaning:
(BrE also computerise)  verb [VN] \n  1  to provide a computer or computers to do the work of sth:\nThe factory has been fully computerized.\n  2  to store information on a computer:\ncomputerized databases / information * The firm has computerized its records.\n    computerization, computerisation  noun [U]


Words: computing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact of using computers:\nto work in computing * to study computing * educational / network / scientific computing * computing power / services / skills / systems


Words: comrade
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who is a member of the same COMMUNIST or SOCIALIST political party as the person speaking:\nWe must fight for our rights, comrades!\n  2  (BrE also comrade-in-arms) (old-fashioned) a friend or other person that you work with, especially as soldiers during a war:\nThey were old army comrades.\n    comradely  adjective\n    comradeship  noun [U]:\nThere was a sense of comradeship between them.


Words: con
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (informal)\n  1  [sing.] (also BrE formal confidence trick) (also AmE formal confidence game) a trick; an act of cheating sb:\nThe so-called bargain was just a big con! * (BrE) a con trick * (AmE) a con game * He’s a real con artist (= a person who regularly cheats others).\nsee also CON MAN, MOD CONS\n  2  [C] = CONVICT\n IDIOMS  see PRO n.\n    verb (-nn-) [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth / out of sth) (informal) to trick sb, especially in order to get money from them or persuade them to do sth for you:\nI was conned into buying a useless car. * They had been conned out of ｣100 000. * He conned his way into the job using false references.


Words: concatenation
Meaning:
noun\n(formal) a series of things or events that are linked together:\na strange concatenation of events / circumstances


Words: concavity
Meaning:
noun (plural concavities) (technical)\n  1  [U] the quality of being concave (= curved inwards):\nRocks exposed to wind often show some degree of concavity.\n  2  [C] a shape or place that is curved inwards:\na deep concavity in the side of the hill


Words: conceal
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) (formal) to hide sb/sth:\nThe paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. * For a long time his death was concealed from her. * Tim could barely conceal his disappointment. * She sat down to conceal the fact that she was trembling.\nsee also ILL-CONCEALED


Words: concealment
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the act of hiding sth; the state of being hidden:\nthe concealment of crime * Many animals rely on concealment for protection.


Words: concede
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ sth (to sb) | ~ sb sth to admit that sth is true, logical, etc:\n[V speech] ’Not bad,’ she conceded grudgingly. * [V (that)] He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties. * [VN] I had to concede the logic of this. * [VN, VNN] He reluctantly conceded the point to me. * He reluctantly conceded me the point. * [VN that] It must be conceded that different judges have different approaches to these cases.\n  2  ~ sth (to sb) | ~ sb sth to give sth away, especially unwillingly; to allow sb to have sth:\n[VN] The President was obliged to concede power to the army. * England conceded a goal immediately after half-time. * [VNN] Women were only conceded full voting rights in the 1950s.\n  3  ~ (defeat) to admit that you have lost a game, an election, etc:\n[V] After losing this decisive battle, the general was forced to concede. * [VN] Injury forced Hicks to concede defeat.\nsee also CONCESSION


Words: conceit
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] (disapproving) too much pride in yourself and what you do\n  2  [C] (formal) an artistic effect or device, especially one that is very clever or tries to be very clever but does not succeed:\nThe ill-advised conceit of the guardian angel dooms the film from the start. * The director’s brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.\n  3  (technical) a clever or FANCIFUL expression in writing or speech that involves a comparison between two things\nSYN METAPHOR:\nThe idea of the wind singing is a romantic conceit.


Words: conceited
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) having too much pride in yourself and what you do:\na very conceited person * It’s very conceited of you to assume that your work is always the best.\n    conceitedly  adverb


Words: conceivable
Meaning:
adjective\nthat you can imagine or believe\nSYN POSSIBLE:\nIt is conceivable that I’ll see her tomorrow. * a beautiful city with buildings of every conceivable age and style\nOPP INCONCEIVABLE\n    conceivably  adverb:\nThe disease could conceivably be transferred to humans.


Words: conceive
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (of) sth (as sth) (formal) to form an idea, a plan, etc. in your mind; to imagine sth:\n[VN] He conceived the idea of transforming the old power station into an arts centre. * God is often conceived of as male. * [V (that)] I cannot conceive (= I do not believe) (that) he would wish to harm us. * [V wh-] I cannot conceive what it must be like.\n  2  when a woman conceives or conceives a child, she becomes pregnant:\n[V] She is unable to conceive. * [VN] Their first child was conceived on their wedding night.\nsee also CONCEPTION\n______________________________\n WORD FAMILY \nconceive v.\nconcept n.\nconception n.\nconceivable adj. (=/= inconceivable)\nconceptual adj.\n______________________________


Words: concentrate
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (on sth / on doing sth) to give all your attention to sth and not think about anything else:\n[V] I can’t concentrate with all that noise going on. * [VN] Nothing concentrates the mind better than the knowledge that you could die tomorrow (= it makes you think very clearly). * I decided to concentrate all my efforts on finding somewhere to live.\n  2  [VN +adv./prep.] to bring sth together in one place:\nPower is largely concentrated in the hands of a small elite. * We need to concentrate resources on the most run-down areas. * Fighting was concentrated around the towns to the north. * Never concentrate the heat in one place for too long.\n  3  [VN] (technical) to increase the strength of a substance by reducing its volume, for example by boiling it\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  concentrate on sth to spend more time doing one particular thing than others:\nIn this lecture I shall concentrate on the early years of Charles’s reign * She gave up German in order to concentrate on her French.\n    noun [C, U] a substance that is made stronger because water or other substances have been removed:\nmineral concentrates found at the bottom of rivers * jams made with fruit juice concentrate


Words: concentrated
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  showing determination to do sth:\nHe made a concentrated effort to finish the work on time.\n  2  (of a substance) made stronger because water or other substances have been removed:\nconcentrated orange juice * a concentrated solution of salt in water\n  3  if sth exists or happens in a concentrated way, there is a lot of it in one place or at one time:\nconcentrated gunfire * a widespread distrust of concentrated power and bureaucracies


Words: concentration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the ability to direct all your effort and attention on one thing, without thinking of other things:\nThis book requires a great deal of concentration. * Stress and tiredness affect your powers of concentration.\n  2  [U] ~ (on sth) the process of people directing effort and attention on a particular thing:\na need for greater concentration on environmental issues * In his concentration on the job in hand, John allowed his normal vigilance to slip.\n  3  [C] ~ (of sth) a lot of sth in one place:\na concentration of industry in the north of the country\n  4  [C, U] the amount of a substance in a liquid or in another substance:\nglucose concentrations in the blood


Words: concentration camp
Meaning:
noun\na type of prison, often consisting of a number of buildings inside a fence, where political prisoners are kept in extremely bad conditions:\na Nazi concentration camp


Words: concentric
Meaning:
adjective\n(geometry) (of circles) having the same centre:\nconcentric rings * The revolving circle is concentric with the fixed outer circle.


Words: concept
Meaning:
noun\n~ (of sth) | ~ (that ...) an idea or a principle that is connected with sth ABSTRACT:\nthe concept of social class * concepts such as ’civilization’ and ’government’ * He can’t grasp the basic concepts of mathematics. * the concept that everyone should have equality of opportunity * a new concept in teaching


Words: conception
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the process of forming an idea or a plan:\nThe plan was brilliant in its conception but failed because of lack of money.\n  2  [C, U] ~ (of sth) | ~ (that ...) an understanding or a belief of what sth is or what sth should be:\nMarx’s conception of social justice * He has no conception of how difficult life is if you’re unemployed.\n  3  [U, C] the process of an egg being FERTILIZED inside a woman’s body so that she becomes pregnant:\nthe moment of conception * A child is born about 40 weeks after conception takes place.\nsee also CONCEIVE


Words: conceptual
Meaning:
(formal) related to or based on ideas:\na conceptual framework within which children’s needs are assessed * a conceptual model\n    conceptually adverb:\nconceptually similar / distinct


Words: conceptualize
Meaning:
(BrE also conceptualise)  verb\n[VN] ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to form an idea of sth in your mind:\nThese people do not conceptualize hunting as a violent act.


Words: concern
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  affect / involve\n  1  [VN] [often passive] to affect sb; to involve sb:\nDon’t interfere in what doesn’t concern you. * The loss was a tragedy for all concerned (= all those affected by it). * Where our children’s education is concerned, no compromise is acceptable. * The individuals concerned have some explaining to do. * To whom it may concern ... (= used for example, at the beginning of a public notice or of a job reference about sb’s character and ability) * Everyone who was directly concerned in (= had some responsibility for) the incident has now resigned. * Please pay attention because this information concerns all of you.\n  be about\n  2  [VN] (also be concerned with sth) to be about sth:\nThe story concerns the prince’s efforts to rescue Pamina. * The book is primarily concerned with Soviet-American relations during the Cold War. * This chapter concerns itself with the historical background. * One major difference between these computers concerns the way in which they store information.\n  worry sb\n  3  to worry sb:\n[VN] What concerns me is our lack of preparation for the change. * [VN that] It concerns me that you no longer seem to care.\nsee also CONCERNED\n  take an interest\n  4  [VN] ~ yourself with / about sth to take an interest in sth:\nHe didn’t concern himself with the details.\n  consider important\n  5  [VN to inf] (be concerned to do sth) (formal) to think it is important to do sth:\nShe was concerned to write about situations that everybody could identify with.\n IDIOMS  see FAR adv.\n    noun\n  worry\n  1  [U, C] ~ (about / for / over sth/sb) | ~ (that ...) a feeling of worry, especially one that is shared by many people:\nThere is growing concern about violence on television. * She hasn’t been seen for four days and there is concern for her safety. * The report expressed concern over continuing high unemployment. * There is widespread concern that new houses will be built on protected land. * Stress at work is a matter of concern to staff and management. * The President’s health was giving serious cause for concern. * Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any queries or concerns about this work. * In the meeting, voters raised concerns about health care.\ncompare UNCONCERN\n  desire to protect\n  2  [U] a desire to protect and help sb/sth:\nparents’ concern for their children * I appreciate everyone’s concern and help at this difficult time.\n  sth important\n  3  [C] something that is important to a person, an organization, etc:\nWhat are your main concerns as a writer? * The government’s primary concern is to reduce crime.\n  responsibility\n  4  [C, usually sing.] (formal) something that is your responsibility or that you have a right to know about:\nThis matter is their concern. * How much money I make is none of your concern.\n  company\n  5  [C] a company or business:\na major publishing concern\n IDIOMS  see GOING adj.


Words: concerned
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (about / for sth) | ~ (that ...) worried and feeling concern about sth:\nConcerned parents held a meeting. * The President is deeply concerned about this issue. * He didn’t seem in the least concerned for her safety. * She was concerned that she might miss the turning and get lost. -> WORRIED\n  2  ~ (about / with sth) to be interested in sth:\nThey were more concerned with how the other women had dressed than in what the speaker was saying.\nOPP UNCONCERNED\n IDIOMS  see FAR adv.


Words: concerning
Meaning:
preposition\n(formal) about sth; involving sb/sth:\nHe asked several questions concerning the future of the company. * All cases concerning children are dealt with in a special children’s court.


Words: concert
Meaning:
noun\na public performance of music:\na concert of music by Bach * a rock / pop concert * Oasis in concert at Wembley Arena * a concert hall / pianist\n IDIOMS \n  in concert with sb/sth (formal) working together with sb/sth


Words: concerted
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] done in a planned and determined way, especially by more than one person, government, country, etc:\na concerted approach / attack / campaign * She has begun to make a concerted effort to find a job.


Words: concertina
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a musical instrument like a small ACCORDION, that you hold in both hands. You press the ends together and pull them apart to produce sounds.\n    verb (concertinaing, concertinaed, concertinaed) [V] (BrE) to fold up like a concertina:\nThe truck crashed into the tree and concertinaed.


Words: concerto
Meaning:
noun\n(plural concertos) a piece of music for one or more SOLO instruments playing with an orchestra:\na piano concerto * a concerto for flute and harp


Words: concession
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] something that you allow or do, or allow sb to have, in order to end an argument or to make a situation less difficult:\nThe firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. * to win a concession from sb * a major / an important concession * She made no concession to his age; she expected him to work as hard as she did.\nsee also CONCEDE\n  2  [U] the act of giving sth or allowing sth; the act of CONCEDING:\nthe concession of university status to some colleges * (especially AmE) Dole’s concession speech (= when he admitted that he had lost the election)\n  3  [C, usually pl.] (BrE) a reduction in an amount of money that has to be paid; a ticket that is sold at a reduced price to a particular group of people:\ntax concessions * Tickets are ｣3; there is a ｣1 concession for students. * Adults ｣2.50, concessions ｣2, family ｣5\n  4  [C] a right or an advantage that is given to a group of people, an organization, etc., especially by a government or an employer:\nThe Bolivian government has granted logging concessions covering 22 million hectares.\n  5  [C] (especially AmE) the right to sell sth in a particular place; the place where you sell it, sometimes an area which is part of a larger building or store:\nthe burger concessions at the stadium * They went to the concession stand to get a hot dog.


Words: concessionary
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (BrE) costing less money for people in particular situations; given as a CONCESSION (2):\nconcessionary rates / fares / travel


Words: conciliate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to make sb less angry or more friendly, especially by being kind and pleasant or by giving them sth\n    conciliation  noun [U]:\nA conciliation service helps to settle disputes between employers and workers.


Words: conciliator
Meaning:
noun\na person or an organization that tries to make angry people calm so that they can discuss or solve their problems successfully


Words: conciliatory
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving the intention or effect of making angry people calm:\na conciliatory approach / attitude / gesture / move


Words: concise
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  giving only the information that is necessary and important, using few words:\na concise statement / summary * clear and concise instructions\n  2  [only before noun] (of a book) shorter than the original book, on which it was based:\na concise dictionary\n    concisely adverb:\nHe spoke clearly and concisely.\n    conciseness noun [U]


Words: conclude
Meaning:
verb\n  1  (not used in the progressive tenses) ~ sth (from sth) | ~ (from sth) that ... to decide or believe sth as a result of what you have heard or seen:\n[VN] What do you conclude from that? * [V (that)] The report concluded (that) the cheapest option was to close the laboratory. * [V that] He concluded from their remarks that they were not in favour of the plan. * [VN that] It was concluded that the level of change necessary would be low. [also V speech]\n  2  ~ (sth) (with sth) (formal) to come to an end; to bring sth to an end:\n[V] Let me make just a few concluding remarks. * The programme concluded with Stravinsky’s ’Rite of Spring’. * He concluded by wishing everyone a safe trip home. * [VN] The commission concluded its investigation last month. * She concluded her speech with a quotation from Shakespeare. * [V speech] ’Anyway, she should be back soon,’ he concluded.\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (with sb) to arrange and settle an agreement with sb formally and finally:\nThey concluded a treaty with Turkey. * A trade agreement was concluded between the two countries.


Words: conclusion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] something that you decide when you have thought about all the information connected with the situation:\nI’ve come to the conclusion that he’s not the right person for the job. * It took the jury some time to reach the conclusion that she was guilty. * New evidence might lead to the conclusion that we are wrong. * We can safely draw some conclusions from our discussion.\n  2  [C, usually sing.] the end of sth such as a speech or a piece of writing:\nThe conclusion of the book was disappointing. * In conclusion, (= finally) I would like to thank ... * If we took this argument to its logical conclusion ...\n  3  [U] the formal and final arrangement of sth official:\nthe successful conclusion of a trade treaty\n IDIOMS \n  jump / leap to conclusions | jump / leap to the conclusion that ... to make a decision about sb/sth too quickly, before you know or have thought about all the facts:\nThere I go again-jumping to conclusions.\nmore at FOREGONE


Words: conclusive
Meaning:
adjective\nproving sth, and allowing no doubt or uncertainty:\nconclusive evidence / proof / results * The evidence is by no means conclusive.\nOPP INCONCLUSIVE\n    conclusively adverb:\nto demonstrate / establish / prove / show sth conclusively


Words: concoct
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to make sth, especially food or drink, by mixing different things:\nThe soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish.\n  2  to invent a story, an excuse, etc.\nSYN COOK UP:\nShe concocted some elaborate story to explain her absence.


Words: concoction
Meaning:
noun\na strange or unusual mixture of things, especially drinks or medicines:\na concoction of cream and rum


Words: concomitant
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (formal) happening at the same time as sth else, especially because one thing is related to or causes the other:\nan increase in student numbers and the concomitant increase in class size\n    noun (formal) a thing that happens at the same time as sth else:\nPolitical union is an essential concomitant of successful economic union.


Words: concord
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  ~ (with sb) (formal) peace and agreement\nSYN HARMONY:\nliving in concord with neighbouring states\nOPP DISCORD\n  2  [U] ~ (with sth) (grammar) (of words in a phrase) the fact of having the same NUMBER, GENDER or PERSON\nSYN AGREEMENT:\nIn the sentence ’They live in the country.’, the plural verb ’live’ is in concord with the plural subject ’They’.


Words: concordance
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an alphabetical list of the words used in a book, etc. showing where and how often they are used:\na Bible concordance\n  2  [C] a list produced by a computer that shows all the examples of an individual word in a book, etc.\n  3  [U] (technical) the state of being similar to sth or CONSISTENT with it:\nThere is reasonable concordance between the two sets of results.


Words: concourse
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a large, open part of a public building, especially an airport or a train station:\nthe station concourse\n  2  (formal) a large group of people; a crowd


Words: concrete
Meaning:
adjective, noun, verb \n    adjective\n  1  made of concrete:\na concrete floor / wall / building\n  2  based on facts, not on ideas or guesses:\nconcrete evidence / proposals / proof * ’It’s only a suspicion,’ she said, ’nothing concrete.’ * It is easier to think in concrete terms rather than in the abstract. * This is an urban tragedy that needs concrete action, not just concern.\ncompare ABSTRACT (1)\n  3  a concrete object is one that you can see and feel\n    concretely adverb \n    noun\n [U] building material that is made by mixing together CEMENT, sand, small stones and water:\na slab of concrete * The pathway is formed from large pebbles set in concrete.\n    verb [VN] ~ sth (over) to cover sth with concrete:\nThe garden had been concreted over.


Words: concrete jungle
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a way of describing a city or an area that is unpleasant because it has many large modern buildings and no trees or parks


Words: concubine
Meaning:
noun\n(especially in some societies in the past) a woman who lives with a man, often in addition to his wife or wives, but who is less important than they are:\nThe sultan’s wives and concubines lived in the harem.


Words: concur
Meaning:
verb\n(-rr-) ~ (with sb) (in sth) | ~ (with sth) (formal) to agree:\n[V] Historians have concurred with each other in this view. * The coroner concurred with this assessment. [also V that, V speech]


Words: concurrence
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  [U, sing.] agreement:\nThe doctor may seek the concurrence of a relative before carrying out the procedure.\n  2  [sing.] an example of two or more things happening at the same time:\nan unfortunate concurrence of events


Words: concurrent
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sth) existing or happening at the same time:\nHe was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months.\n    concurrently adverb:\nThe prison sentences will run concurrently.


Words: concuss
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] to hit sb on the head, making them become unconscious or confused for a short time:\nShe was concussed after being thrown from her horse.


Words: concussion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (This word is only [C] in AmE.) a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a blow to the head; the effects of a severe blow to the head such as confusion and temporary loss of physical and mental abilities: (BrE) He was taken to hospital with concussion. * (AmE) He was taken to the hospital with a concussion.


Words: condemn
Meaning:
verb\n  express disapproval\n  1  [VN] ~ sb/sth (for / as sth) to express very strong disapproval of sb/sth, usually for moral reasons:\nThe government issued a statement condemning the killings. * The editor of the newspaper was condemned as lacking integrity.\n  sb to punishment\n  2  [usually passive] ~ sb (to sth) to say what sb’s punishment will be\nSYN SENTENCE:\n[VN] He was condemned to death for murder and later hanged. * [VN to inf] She was condemned to hang for killing her husband.\n  sb to difficult situation\n  3  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb to sth to force sb to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation\nSYN DOOM:\nThey were condemned to a life of hardship. * He was condemned to spend the rest of the football season on the bench.\n  sth dangerous\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (as sth) to say officially that sth is not safe enough to be used:\na condemned building * The meat was condemned as unfit to eat.\n  show guilt\n  5  [VN] to show or suggest that sb is guilty of sth:\nShe is condemned out of her own mouth (= her own words show her guilt).


Words: condemnation
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (of sb/sth) an expression of very strong disapproval:\nThere was widespread condemnation of the invasion.


Words: condensation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] drops of water that form on a cold surface when warm water VAPOUR becomes cool:\nThe window was steamed up with condensation.\n  2  [U] the process of a gas changing to a liquid\n  3  [C, usually sing, U] (formal) the process of making a book, etc. shorter by taking out anything that is not necessary:\nThe essay should be a readable condensation of the recent scientific literature.


Words: condense
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (into sth) to change from a gas into a liquid; to make a gas change into a liquid:\nSteam condenses into water when it cools. * [VN] The steam was condensed rapidly by injecting cold water into the cylinder.\n  2  if a liquid condenses or you condense it, it becomes thicker and stronger because it has lost some of its water:\n[VN] Condense the soup by boiling it for several minutes. [also V]\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (into sth) to put sth such as a piece of writing into fewer words; to put a lot of information into a small space:\nThe article was condensed into just two pages. * The author has condensed a great deal of material into just 100 pages.


Words: condenser
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a device that cools gas in order to change it into a liquid\n \n  2  a device that receives or stores electricity, especially in a car engine


Words: condescend
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V to inf] (often disapproving) to do sth that you think it is below your social or professional position to do \nSYN DEIGN:\nWe had to wait almost an hour before he condescended to see us.\n  2  [V] ~ to sb to behave towards sb as though you are more important and more intelligent than they are:\nWhen giving a talk, be careful not to condescend to your audience.\n    condescension  noun [U]:\nHer smile was a mixture of pity and condescension. * She gave me some friendly advice without a trace of condescension.


Words: condescending
Meaning:
adjective\nbehaving as though you are more important and more intelligent than other people:\nHe has a condescending attitude towards women. * Her tone of voice was always so condescending.\n    condescendingly adverb


Words: condiment
Meaning:
noun [usually pl.]\n \n  1  (BrE) a substance such as salt or pepper that is used to give flavour to food\n \n  2  (especially AmE) a sauce, etc. that is used to give flavour to food, or that is eaten with food:\nhot condiments made from a variety of chili peppers


Words: condition
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  state of sth\n  1  [U, sing.] the state that sth is in:\nto be in bad / good / excellent condition * a used car in perfect condition * The house is in a generally poor condition.\n  medical\n  2  [U, sing.] the state of sb’s health or how fit they are:\nHe is overweight and out of condition (= not physically fit). * You are in no condition (= too ill, etc.) to go anywhere. * The motorcyclist was in a critical condition in hospital last night. * (informal) She shouldn’t be driving in her condition (= because she is pregnant).\n  3  [C] an illness or a medical problem that you have for a long time because it is not possible to cure it:\na medical condition * He suffers from a serious heart condition.\n  circumstances\n  4  (conditions) [pl.] the circumstances or situation in which people live, work or do things:\nliving / housing / working conditions * changing economic conditions * neglected children living under the most appalling conditions * a strike to improve pay and conditions\n  5  (conditions) [pl.] the physical situation that affects how sth happens:\nThe plants grow best in cool, damp conditions. * freezing / icy / humid conditions * Conditions are ideal (= the weather is very good) for sailing today. * treacherous driving conditions\n  rule\n  6  [C] a rule or decision that you must agree to, sometimes forming part of a contract or an official agreement:\nthe terms and conditions of employment * The offer is subject to certain conditions. * They agreed to lend us the car on condition that (= only if) we returned it before the weekend. * They will give us the money on one condition-that we pay it back within six months. * (especially AmE) They agreed under the condition that the matter be dealt with promptly. * Congress can impose strict conditions on the bank. * They have agreed to the ceasefire provided their conditions are met.\n  necessary situation\n  7  [C] a situation that must exist in order for sth else to happen:\na necessary condition for economic growth * A good training programme is one of the conditions for successful industry.\n  state of group\n  8  [sing.] (formal) the state of a particular group of people because of their situation in life, their problems, etc:\nHe spoke angrily about the condition of the urban poor. * Work is basic to the human condition (= the fact of being alive).\n IDIOMS \n  on no condition (AmE also under no condition) (formal) not in any situation; never:\nYou must on no condition tell them what happened.\nmore at MINT n.\n    verb\n  1  [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (to sth / to do sth) to train sb/sth to behave in a particular way or to become used to a particular situation:\n[VN] the difference between inborn and conditioned reflexes (= reactions that are learned / not natural) * Patients can become conditioned to particular forms of treatment. * [VN to inf] The rats had been conditioned to ring a bell when they wanted food.\n  2  [VN] to have an important effect on sb/sth; to influence the way that sth happens:\nGender roles are often conditioned by cultural factors.\n  3  [VN] to keep sth such as your hair or skin healthy:\na shampoo that cleans and conditions hair * a polish for conditioning leather\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \ncondition / state\nThe following adjectives are frequently used with these nouns:\n~ condition  ~ state\ngood  present\nexcellent  current\nphysical  mental\npoor  solid\nhuman  no\nperfect  emotional\nno  physical\nbetter  natural\nState is a more general word than condition and is used for the condition that something is in at a particular time. It can be used without an adjective: the present state of medical knowledge * We’re worried about his mental state. * What a state this room is in (= very bad).\nCondition is used with an adjective and refers especially to the appearance, quality or working order of somebody or something: The car is in excellent condition.\n______________________________


Words: conditional
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  ~ (on / upon sth) depending on sth:\nconditional approval / acceptance * Payment is conditional upon delivery of the goods (= if the goods are not delivered the money will not be paid) * He was found guilty and given a conditional discharge (= allowed to go free on particular conditions). * a conditional offer (= that depends on particular conditions being fulfilled)\n  2  [only before noun] (grammar) expressing sth that must happen or be true if another thing is to happen or be true:\na conditional sentence / clause\n    conditionally  adverb:\nThe offer was made conditionally.\n    noun (grammar)\n  1  [C] a sentence or CLAUSE that begins with if or unless and expresses a condition\n  2  (the conditional) [sing.] the form of a verb that expresses a conditional action, for example should in If I should die ...:\nthe present / past / perfect conditional * the first / second / third conditional


Words: conditioner
Meaning:
noun [C, U]\n  1  a liquid that makes hair soft and shiny after washing:\nshampoo and conditioner\n  2  a liquid, used after washing clothes, that makes them softer:\nfabric conditioner


Words: conditioning
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the training or experience that an animal or a person has that makes them behave in a particular way in a particular situation:\nIs personality the result of conditioning from parents and society, or are we born with it?\nsee also AIR CONDITIONING


Words: condolence
Meaning:
noun\n[C, usually pl., U] sympathy that you feel for sb when a person in their family or that they know well has died; an expression of this sympathy:\nto give / offer / express your condolences * Our condolences go to his wife and family. * a letter of condolence


Words: condom
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE also sheath) (also AmE formal or technical prophylactic) a thin rubber covering that a man wears over his PENIS during sex to stop a woman from becoming pregnant or to protect against disease\n  2  (female condom) a thin rubber device that a woman wears inside her VAGINA during sex to prevent herself from becoming pregnant


Words: condominium
Meaning:
(also informal condo) noun\n(especially AmE) an apartment building in which each flat/apartment is owned by the person living in it but the building and shared areas are owned by everyone together; a flat/apartment in such a building


Words: condone
Meaning:
verb\nto accept behaviour that is morally wrong or to treat it as if it were not serious:\n[VN] Terrorism can never be condoned. * The college cannot condone any behaviour that involves illicit drugs. [also V -ing, VN -ing]


Words: conducive
Meaning:
adjective\n~ to sth (written) making it easy, possible or likely for sth to happen:\nChairs in rows are not as conducive to discussion as chairs arranged in a circle. * The soft lights and music were conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.


Words: conduct
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb \n  1  [VN] to organize and/or do a particular activity:\nto conduct an experiment / an inquiry / a survey * The negotiations have been conducted in a positive manner. * They conducted a vigorous campaign for a shorter working week.\n  2  to direct a group of people who are singing or playing music:\n[VN] a concert by the Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis [also V]\n  3  [VN +adv./prep.] to lead or guide sb through or around a place:\na conducted tour of Athens (= one with a guide, giving information about it) * The guide conducted us around the ruins of the ancient city.\n  4  [VN +adv./prep.] ~ yourself ... (formal) to behave in a particular way:\nHe conducted himself far better than expected. * The report challenges them to examine how they conduct themselves in the workplace.\n  5  [VN] (physics) (of a substance) to allow heat or electricity to pass along or through it:\nCopper conducts electricity better than other materials do.\n    noun  [U] (formal)\n  1  a person’s behaviour in a particular place or in a particular situation:\nThe sport has a strict code of conduct. * improving standards of training and professional conduct\n  2  ~ of sth the way in which a business or an activity is organized and managed:\nThere was growing criticism of the government’s conduct of the war.\nsee also SAFE CONDUCT


Words: conductive education
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a treatment for people with CEREBRAL PALSY that was developed in Hungary and that involves special physical exercises and learning methods


Words: conductor
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who stands in front of an orchestra, a group of singers etc., and directs their performance, especially sb who does this as a profession\n  2  (BrE also guard) a person who is in charge of a train and travels with it, but does not drive it\n  3  (BrE) a person whose job is to collect money from passengers on a bus or check their tickets:\na bus conductor\n  4  (physics) a substance that allows electricity or heat to pass along it or through it:\nWood is a poor conductor.\nsee also LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR


Words: conductress
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, old-fashioned) a woman who collects money from passengers on a bus or checks their tickets


Words: conduit
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (technical) a pipe, channel or tube which liquid, gas or electrical wire can pass through\n  2  (formal) a person, an organization or a country that is used to pass things or information to other people or places:\nThe organization had acted as a conduit for money from the arms industry.


Words: cone
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a solid or hollow object with a round flat base and sides that slope up to a point\nsee also CONICAL\n \n  2  a solid or hollow object that is shaped like a cone:\na paper cone full of popcorn * the cone of a volcano\nsee also NOSE-CONE\n \n  3  (also traffic cone) a plastic object shaped like a cone and often red and white, or yellow, in colour, used on roads to show where vehicles are not allowed to go, for example while repairs are being done\n \n  4  (also old-fashioned cornet) a piece of thin crisp biscuit shaped like a cone, which you can put ice cream in to eat it\n  5  the hard dry fruit of a PINE or FIR tree:\na pine cone\nsee also FIR CONE\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  cone sth<->off to close a road or part of a road by putting a line of cones across it:\nPart of the road was coned off after the accident.


Words: confection
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (formal) a cake or other sweet food that looks very attractive\n  2  (written) a thing such as a building or piece of clothing, that is made in a skilful or complicated way:\nHer hat was an elaborate confection of satin and net.


Words: confederate
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun a person who helps sb, especially to do sth illegal or secret\nSYN ACCOMPLICE:\nRokovssky was his confederate in the assassination plot.\n    adjective belonging to a confederacy


Words: confederation
Meaning:
noun\nan organization consisting of countries, businesses, etc. that have joined together in order to help each other:\nthe Confederation of British Industry


Words: confer
Meaning:
verb (-rr-) (formal)\n  1  [V] ~ (with sb) (on / about sth) to discuss sth with sb, especially in order to exchange opinions or get advice:\nHe wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (on / upon sb) to give sb an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right:\nAn honorary degree was conferred on him by Oxford University in 1995.


Words: conference
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a large official meeting, usually lasting for a few days, at which people with the same work or interests come together to discuss their views:\nThe hotel is used for exhibitions, conferences and social events. * a conference room / centre / hall * She is attending a three-day conference on Aids education. * The Aids conference will be held in Glasgow. * delegates to the Labour Party’s annual conference\n  2  a meeting at which people have formal discussions:\nMinisters from all four countries involved will meet at the conference table this week. * He was in conference with his lawyers all day.\nsee also PRESS CONFERENCE\n  3  (especially AmE) a group of sports teams that play against each other in a LEAGUE:\nSoutheast Conference football champions


Words: conferment
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (formal) the action of giving sb an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right


Words: confess
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (to sth / to doing sth) to admit, especially formally or to the police, that you have done sth wrong or illegal:\n[V] She confessed to the murder. * After hours of questioning, the suspect confessed. * [V (that)] He confessed that he had stolen the money. * [VN] We persuaded her to confess her crime.\n  2  ~ (to sth / to doing sth) to admit sth that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about:\n[VN] She was reluctant to confess her ignorance. * [V] I must confess to knowing nothing about computers. * [VN-ADJ] (formal) I confess myself bewildered by their explanation. [also V (that), V speech] \nsee also SELF-CONFESSED\n  3  [V, VN] ~ (sth) (to sb) (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) to tell God or a priest about the bad things you have done so that you can say that you are sorry and be forgiven\n  4  [VN] (of a priest) to hear sb confess their SINS (= the bad things they have done)


Words: confession
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] a statement that a person makes, admitting that they are guilty of a crime; the act of making such a statement:\nAfter hours of questioning by police, she made a full confession. * His confession was extracted under torture.\n  2  [C, U] a statement admitting sth that you are ashamed or embarrassed about; the act of making such a statement:\nI’ve a confession to make-I lied about my age.\n  3  [U, C] (especially in the Roman Catholic Church) a private statement to a priest about the bad things that you have done:\nto go to confession * to hear sb’s confession\n  4  [C] (formal) a statement of your religious beliefs, principles, etc:\na confession of faith


Words: confetti
Meaning:
noun\n[U] small pieces of coloured paper that people often throw over a man and woman who have just been married or (in the US) at other special events


Words: confidant
Meaning:
(feminine also confidante)  noun\na person that you trust and who you talk to about private or secret things:\na close / trusted confidant of the President * There were times when a semi-stranger was a better confidante than a close friend.


Words: confide
Meaning:
verb\n~ (sth) (to sb) to tell sb secrets and personal information that you do not want other people to know:\n[VN] She confided all her secrets to her best friend. * [V that] He confided to me that he had applied for another job. [also V speech] \n PHRASAL VERBS \n  confide in sb to tell sb secrets and personal information because you feel you can trust them:\nIt is important to have someone you can confide in. * She used to confide in him whenever she had a problem.


Words: confidence
Meaning:
noun\n  belief in others\n  1  [U] ~ (in sb/sth) the feeling that you can trust, believe in and be sure about the abilities or good qualities of sb/sth:\nThe players all have confidence in their manager. * A fall in unemployment will help to restore consumer confidence. * a lack of confidence in the government * The new contracts have undermined the confidence of employees. * She has every confidence in her students’ abilities.\nsee also VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE\n  belief in yourself\n  2  [U] a belief in your own ability to do things and be successful:\nHe answered the questions with confidence. * Women often lose confidence when they stop work to have a baby. * He gained confidence when he went to college. * She suffers from a lack of confidence. * While girls lack confidence, boys often overestimate their abilities. * I didn’t have any confidence in myself at school.\n  feeling certain\n  3  [U] the feeling that you are certain about sth:\nThey could not say with confidence that he would be able to walk again after the accident. * No one can predict with complete / total confidence what will happen in the financial markets. * He expressed his confidence that they would win.\n  trust\n  4  [U] a feeling of trust that sb will keep information private:\nEva told me about their relationship in confidence. * This is in the strictest confidence. * It took a long time to gain her confidence (= make her feel she could trust me).\n  a secret\n  5  [C] (formal) a secret that you tell sb:\nThe girls exchanged confidences. * I could never forgive Mike for betraying a confidence.\n IDIOMS \n  be in sb’s confidence to be trusted with sb’s secrets:\nHe is said to be very much in the President’s confidence.\n  take sb into your confidence to tell sb secrets and personal information about yourself:\nShe took me into her confidence and told me about the problems she was facing.


Words: confident
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  feeling sure about your own ability to do things and be successful:\nShe was in a relaxed, confident mood. * Beneath his confident and charming exterior, lurked a mass of insecurities. * The teacher wants the children to feel confident about asking questions when they don’t understand.\nsee also SELF-CONFIDENT\n  2  ~ of sth | ~ that ... feeling certain that sth will happen in the way that you want or expect:\nI’m confident that you will get the job. * The team feels confident of winning. * She was quietly confident that everything would go as planned.\n    confidently adverb:\nCarla smiled confidently at the cameras.


Words: confidential
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  meant to be kept secret and not told to or shared with other people:\nconfidential information / documents * Your medical records are strictly confidential (= completely secret).\n  2  (of a way of speaking) showing that what you are saying is private or secret:\nHe spoke in a confidential tone, his voice low.\n  3  [only before noun] trusted with private or secret information:\na confidential secretary\n    confidentially  adverb:\nShe told me confidentially that she is going to retire early. * He leaned forward confidentially over the desk towards me.


Words: confidentiality
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a situation in which you expect sb to keep information secret:\nThey signed a confidentiality agreement. * All letters will be treated with complete confidentiality. * He was fired for a breach of confidentiality (= an occasion when secret information was told to sb else).


Words: confiding
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] showing trust; showing that you want to tell sb a secret:\na confiding relationship\n    confidingly adverb


Words: configuration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (formal or technical) an arrangement of the parts of sth or a group of things; the form or shape that this arrangement produces\n  2  (computing) the equipment and programs that form a computer system and the way that these are set up to run


Words: configure
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] [usually passive] (technical) to arrange sth in a particular way, especially computer equipment; to make equipment or SOFTWARE work in the way that the user prefers


Words: confine
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth to sth [often passive] to keep sb/sth inside the limits of a particular activity, subject, area, etc.\nSYN RESTRICT:\nThe work will not be confined to the Glasgow area. * I will confine myself to looking at the period from 1900 to 1916.\n  2  ~ sb/sth (in sth) [usually passive] to keep a person or an animal in a small or closed space:\nKeep the dog confined in a suitable travelling cage. * Here the river is confined in a narrow channel. * The soldiers concerned were confined to barracks (= had to stay in the barracks, as a punishment)\n  3  be confined to bed, a wheelchair, etc. to have to stay in bed, in a WHEELCHAIR, etc:\nShe was confined to bed with the flu. * He was confined to a wheelchair after the accident.


Words: confined
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (of a space or an area) small and enclosed by walls or sides:\nIt is cruel to keep animals in confined spaces.


Words: confinement
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the state of being forced to stay in a closed space, prison, etc., the act of putting sb there:\nher confinement to a wheelchair * years of confinement as a political prisoner\nsee also SOLITARY CONFINEMENT\n  2  [U, C] (formal or old-fashioned) the time when a woman gives birth to a baby:\nthe expected date of confinement * a hospital / home confinement


Words: confines
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] (formal) limits or borders:\nIt is beyond the confines of human knowledge. * the confines of family life


Words: confirm
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to state or show that sth is definitely true or correct, especially by providing evidence:\n[VN] Rumours of job losses were later confirmed * His guilty expression confirmed my suspicions. * Please write to confirm your reservation (= say that it is definite). * [V (that)] Has everyone confirmed (that) they’re coming? * [V wh-] Can you confirm what happened? * [VN that] It has been confirmed that Lewis’s next fight will be against Bruno.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth | ~ sb (in sth) to make sb feel or believe sth even more strongly:\nThe walk in the mountains confirmed his fear of heights.\n  3  [VN] to make a position, an agreement, etc. more definite or official; to establish sb/sth firmly:\nAfter a six-month probationary period, her position was confirmed. * He was confirmed as captain for the rest of the season.\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] to make sb a full member of the Christian Church:\nShe was baptized when she was a month old and confirmed when she was thirteen.


Words: confirmation
Meaning:
noun [U, C]\n  1  a statement, letter, etc. that shows that sth is true, correct or definite:\nI’m still waiting for confirmation of the test results.\n  2  a ceremony at which a person becomes a full member of the Christian Church:\na confirmation service


Words: confirmed
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] having a particular habit or way of life and not likely to change:\na confirmed bachelor (= a man who is not likely to get married, often used in newspapers to refer to a HOMOSEXUAL man) * This chocolate dessert is the ultimate dish for confirmed chocaholics.


Words: confiscate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to officially take sth away from sb, especially as a punishment:\nTheir land was confiscated after the war. * The teacher threatened to confiscate their Yo Yos if they kept playing in class.\n    confiscation  noun [U, C]:\nIf found guilty of this crime they face heavy fines, confiscation of goods and even imprisonment.


Words: conflate
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) to put two or more things together to make one new thing:\nThe issues of race and class are separate and should not be conflated.\n    conflation  noun [U, C]


Words: conflict
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun  [C, U] ~ (between A and B) | ~ (over sth)\n  1  a situation in which people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument:\na conflict between two cultures * The violence was the result of political and ethnic conflicts. * She found herself in conflict with her parents over her future career. * John often comes into conflict with his boss. * The government has done nothing to resolve the conflict over nurses’ pay.\n  2  a violent situation or period of fighting between two countries:\narmed / military conflict * A conflict between the two countries could easily spread across the whole region.\n  3  a situation in which there are opposing ideas, opinions, feelings or wishes; a situation in which it is difficult to choose:\nThe story tells of a classic conflict between love and duty. * Her diary was a record of her inner conflict. * Many of these ideas appear to be in conflict with each other.\n IDIOMS \n  conflict of interest(s) a situation in which there are two jobs, aims, roles, etc. and it is not possible for both of them to be treated equally and fairly at the same time:\nThere was a conflict of interest between his business dealings and his political activities.\n    verb  [V] ~ (with sth) if two ideas, beliefs, stories, etc. conflict, it is not possible for them to exist together or for them both to be true\nSYN CLASH:\nconflicting emotions / interests / loyalties * These results conflict with earlier findings. * Reports conflicted on how much of the aid was reaching the famine victims.


Words: confluence
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.]\n  1  (technical) the place where two rivers flow together and become one:\nthe confluence of the Blue Nile and the White Nile\n  2  (formal) the fact of two or more things becoming one:\na confluence of social factors


Words: conform
Meaning:
verb [V] \n  1  ~ (to sth) to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society:\nThere is considerable pressure on teenagers to conform. * He refused to conform to the local customs.\n  2  ~ to / with sth to obey a rule, law, etc.\nSYN COMPLY:\nThe building does not conform with safety regulations.\n  3  ~ to sth to agree with or match sth:\nWordsworth changed the ideas of his poem to conform with his later religious and political opinions. * It did not conform to the usual stereotype of an industrial city.


Words: conformist
Meaning:
noun\n(often disapproving) a person who behaves and thinks in the same way as most other people and who does not want to be different\n    conformist adjective:\nBoys tend to be less conformist than girls.\nsee also NONCONFORMIST


Words: conformity
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (to / with sth) (formal) behaviour or actions that follow the accepted rules of society\n IDIOMS \n  in conformity with sth following the rules of sth; conforming to sth:\nregulations that are in conformity with European law


Words: confound
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  to confuse and surprise sb:\nThe sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists.\n  2  to prove sb/sth wrong:\nto confound expectations / an argument / expert opinion * She confounded her critics and proved she could do the job.\n  3  (old-fashioned) to defeat an enemy\n IDIOMS \n  confound it / you! (old-fashioned) used to show that you are angry about sth/with sb


Words: confront
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (of problems or a difficult situation) to appear and need to be dealt with by sb:\nthe economic problems confronting the country * The government found itself confronted by massive opposition.\n  2  to deal with a problem or difficult situation:\nShe knew that she had to confront her fears.\n  3  to face sb so that they cannot avoid seeing and hearing you, especially in an unfriendly or dangerous situation:\nThis was the first time he had confronted an armed robber. * Confronted by an angry crowd, the police retreated.\n  4  ~ sb with sb/sth to make sb face or deal with an unpleasant or difficult person or situation:\nHe confronted her with a choice between her career or their relationship.\n  5  (be confronted with sth) to have sth in front of you that you have to deal with or react to:\nMost people when confronted with a horse will pat it.


Words: confrontation
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (with sb) | ~ (between A and B) a situation in which there is an angry disagreement between people or groups who have different opinions:\nShe wanted to avoid another confrontation with her father. * confrontation between employers and unions


Words: confuse
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to make sb unable to think clearly or understand sth:\nThey confused me with conflicting accounts of what happened.\n  2  ~ A and / with B to think wrongly that sb/sth is sb/sth else\nSYN MIX UP:\nPeople often confuse me and my twin sister. * Be careful not to confuse quantity with quality.\n  3  to make a subject more difficult to understand:\nHis comments only served to confuse the issue further.


Words: confused
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  unable to think clearly or to understand what is happening or what sb is saying:\nPeople are confused about all the different labels on food these days. * He was depressed and in a confused state of mind. * I’m confused-say all that again.\n  2  not clear or easy to understand:\nThe children gave a confused account of what had happened. * A confused situation followed the military coup.\n    confusedly  adverb


Words: confusing
Meaning:
adjective\ndifficult to understand; not clear:\nThe instructions on the box are very confusing. * a very confusing experience\n    confusingly adverb


Words: confusion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] ~ (about / over sth) | ~ (as to sth) a state of uncertainty about what is happening, what you should do, what sth means, etc:\nThere is some confusion about what the correct procedure should be. * a confusion as to what to do next\n  2  [U, C] ~ (between A and B) the fact of making a mistake about who sb is or what sth is:\nTo avoid confusion, please write the children’s names clearly on all their school clothes. * confusion between letters of the alphabet like ’o’ or ’a’\n  3  [U] a feeling of embarrassment when you do not understand sth and are not sure what to do in a situation:\nHe looked at me in confusion and did not answer the question. * Sacha felt confusion sweeping over her as she read the letter.\n  4  [U] a situation of disorder in which people do not know what action to take:\nFighting had broken out and all was chaos and confusion. * Her unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.


Words: conga
Meaning:
noun\na fast dance in which the dancers follow a leader in a long winding line, with each person holding on to the person in front; a piece of music for this dance


Words: congeal
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (of blood, fat, etc.) to become thick or solid:\ncongealed blood * The cold remains of supper had congealed on the plate. * (figurative) The bitterness and tears had congealed into hatred.


Words: congenial
Meaning:
adjective (formal)\n  1  (of a person) pleasant to spend time with because their interests and character are similar to your own:\na congenial colleague\n  2  ~ (to sb) (of a place, job, etc.) pleasant because it suits your character:\na congenial working environment\n  3  ~ (to sth) (formal) suitable for sth:\na situation that was congenial to the expression of nationalist opinions


Words: congenital
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a disease or medical condition) existing since or before birth:\ncongenital abnormalities * Half of all fetuses with the syndrome have a congenital heart defect.\n  2  [only before noun] existing as part of a person’s character and not likely to change:\na congenital inability to tell the truth\n  3  [only before noun] (of a person) born with a particular illness: (figurative) a congenital liar (= one who will not change)


Words: congested
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (with sth) crowded; full of vehicles or traffic:\ncongested city streets * Many of Europe’s airports are heavily congested.\n  2  (medical) (of a part of the body) blocked with blood or MUCUS\n    congestion  noun [U]:\ntraffic congestion and pollution * congestion of the lungs * medicine to relieve nasal congestion


Words: conglomerate
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] (business) a large company formed by joining together different firms:\na media conglomerate\n  2  [sing.] (written) a number of things or parts that are put together to form a whole\n  3  [U] (geology) a type of rock made of small stones held together by dried clay


Words: conglomeration
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, usually sing.] a ~ (of sth) (formal) a mixture of different things that are found all together:\na conglomeration of buildings of different sizes and styles\n  2  [U] the process of forming a conglomerate or the state of being a conglomerate


Words: congratulate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb (on sth) to tell sb that you are pleased about their success or achievements:\nI congratulated them all on their results. * The authors are to be congratulated on producing such a clear and authoritative work.\n  2  ~ yourself (on sth) to feel pleased and proud because you have achieved sth or been successful at sth:\nYou can congratulate yourself on having done an excellent job.


Words: congratulation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (congratulations) [pl.] a message congratulating sb (= saying that you are happy about their good luck or success):\nto offer / send your congratulations to sb\n  2  (Congratulations!) used when you want to congratulate sb:\n’We’re getting married!’ ’Congratulations!’ * Congratulations on your exam results!\n  3  [U] the act of congratulating sb:\na letter of congratulation


Words: congregate
Meaning:
verb\n[V] to come together in a group:\nYoung people often congregate in the main square in the evenings.


Words: congregation
Meaning:
pl. v.]\n  1  a group of people who are gathered together in a church to worship God, not including the priest and CHOIR:\nThe congregation stood to sing the hymn.\n  2  the group of people who belong to a particular church and go there regularly to worship\n    congregational  adjective:\ncongregational singing


Words: Congregationalism
Meaning:
adjective\na type of Christianity in which the congregation of each church is responsible for its own affairs\n    Congregational adjective\n    Congregationalist noun


Words: congress
Meaning:
pl. v.]\n  1  a large formal meeting or series of meetings where representatives from different groups discuss ideas, make decisions, etc:\nan international congress of trades unions\n  2  (Congress) (in the US and some other countries) the name of the group of people who are elected to make laws, in the US consisting of the SENATE and the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:\nCongress will vote on the proposals tomorrow.\n  3  used in the names of political parties in some countries:\nthe African National Congress


Words: congressional
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] related to or belonging to a congress or the Congress in the US:\na congressional committee / bill * the midterm Congressional elections


Words: congruent
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (geometry) having the same size and shape:\ncongruent triangles\n  2  ~ (with sth) (formal) suitable for sth; appropriate in a particular situation:\nThe measures are congruent with the changes in management policy.\n    congruence  noun [U]


Words: conifer
Meaning:
noun\nany tree that produces hard dry fruit called CONES. Most conifers are EVERGREEN (= have leaves that stay on the tree all year).\n \n    coniferous  adjective:\nconiferous trees / forests


Words: conjecture
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (formal)\n  1  [C] an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge and is formed by guessing\nSYN GUESS:\nThe truth of his conjecture was confirmed by the newspaper report.\n  2  [U] the forming of an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge\nSYN GUESS:\nWhat was going through the killer’s mind is a matter for conjecture.\n    conjectural  adjective:\nSome of the stages of the Earth’s development are purely conjectural.\n    verb (formal) to form an opinion about sth even though you do not have much information on it\nSYN GUESS [V] We can only conjecture about what was in the killer’s mind. * [V that] He conjectured that the population might double in ten years. * [VN] She conjectured the existence of a completely new species. [also V wh-, VN to inf]


Words: conjugal
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (formal) connected with marriage and the sexual relationship between a husband and wife:\nconjugal love / rights * prisoners who are permitted conjugal visits


Words: conjugate
Meaning:
verb (grammar)\n  1  [VN] to give the different forms of a verb, as they vary according to NUMBER, PERSON, tense, etc.\n  2  [V] (of a verb) to have different forms, showing NUMBER, PERSON, tense, etc:\nHow does this verb conjugate?\ncompare DECLINE


Words: conjugation
Meaning:
noun (grammar)\n  1  [C, U] the way in which a verb conjugates:\na verb with an irregular conjugation\n  2  [C] a group of verbs that conjugate in the same way:\nLatin verbs of the second conjugation


Words: conjunction
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] (grammar) a word that joins words, phrases or sentences, for example ’and’, ’but’, ’or’\n  2  [C] (formal) a combination of events, etc., that causes a particular result:\nThe conjunction of low inflation and low unemployment came as a very pleasant surprise.\n  3  [C, U] (astronomy) the fact of stars, planets, etc. passing close together as seen from the earth:\nThe theory is that there was a rare conjunction of certain bright planets that created the image of the so-called ’Star of Bethlehem’.\n IDIOMS \n  in conjunction with (formal) together with:\nThe police are working in conjunction with tax officers on the investigation. * The system is designed to be used in conjunction with a word processing program.


Words: conjure
Meaning:
verb\nto do clever tricks such as making things seem to appear or disappear as if by magic:\n[V] Her grandfather taught her to conjure. * [VN +adv./prep.] He could conjure coins from behind people’s ears.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  conjure sth<->up\n1 to make sth appear as a picture in your mind\nSYN EVOKE:\nThat smell always conjures up memories of holidays in France. * He strained to conjure up her face and voice, but they had vanished.\n2 to ask the spirit of a dead person to appear by using special words\n  conjure sth from / out of sth to create sth or make sth appear in a surprising or unexpected way:\nHe conjured a delicious meal out of a few leftovers.


Words: conjuring
Meaning:
noun\n[U] entertainment in the form of magic tricks, especially ones which seem to make things appear or disappear:\na conjuring trick


Words: conk
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [VN] (informal, especially AmE) to hit sb hard on their head\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  conk out (informal)\n1 (of a machine, etc.) to stop working:\nThe car conked out halfway up the hill.\n2 (especially AmE) (of a person) to fall asleep because you are very tired\n    noun (BrE, slang) a person’s nose


Words: conker
Meaning:
noun (informal, especially BrE)\n \n  1  [C] the smooth shiny brown nut of the HORSE CHESTNUT tree\ncompare CHESTNUT, HORSE CHESTNUT\n \n  2  (conkers) [U] (BrE) a children’s game played with conkers on strings, in which two players take turns to try to hit and break each other’s conker


Words: connect
Meaning:
verb\n  join\n  1  ~ A to / with B | ~ A and B to join together two or more things; to be joined together:\n[VN] The towns are connected by train and bus services. * The canal was built to connect Sheffield with the Humber estuary. * a connecting door (= one that connects two rooms) * [V] The rooms on this floor connect.\n  electricity / gas / water\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to join sth to the main supply of electricity, gas, water, etc. or to another piece of equipment:\nFirst connect the printer to the computer. * We’re waiting for the telephone to be connected.\nOPP DISCONNECT\n  link\n  3  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to have a link with sb/sth:\nThey are connected by marriage. * The two subjects are closely connected. * jobs connected with the environment\nsee also UNCONNECTED, WELL CONNECTED\n  4  [VN] ~ sb/sth (with sb/sth) to notice or make a link between people, things, events, etc.\nSYN ASSOCIATE:\nThere was nothing to connect him with the crime. * I was surprised to hear them mentioned together: I had never connected them before.\n  of train / bus / plane\n  5  [V] ~ (with sth) to arrive just before another one leaves so that passengers can change from one to the other:\nHis flight to Amsterdam connects with an afternoon flight to New York. * There’s a connecting flight at noon.\n  telephone lines\n  6  [VN] to join telephone lines so that people can speak to each other\nSYN PUT THROUGH:\nHold on please, I’m trying to connect you.\nOPP DISCONNECT\n  form relationship\n  7  [V] ~ (with sb) (especially AmE) to form a good relationship with sb so that you like and understand each other:\nThey met a couple of times but they didn’t really connect.\n  hit\n  8  [V] (especially AmE) ~ (with sb/sth) (informal) to hit sb/sth:\nThe blow connected and she felt a surge of pain.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  connect sth<->up (to sth) | connect up (to sth) to join sth to a supply of electricity, gas, etc. or to another piece of equipment; to be joined in this way:\nShe connected up the two computers.\nOPP DISCONNECT


Words: connection
Meaning:
(BrE also less frequent connexion)  noun\n  link\n  1  [C] ~ (between A and B) | ~ (with sth) something that connects two facts, ideas, etc:\nScientists have established a connection between cholesterol levels and heart disease. * His resignation must have some connection with the recent scandal. * a direct / close / strong connection with sth * How did you make the connection (= realize that there was a connection between two facts that did not seem to be related)?\n  being connected\n  2  [U] ~ (to sth) the act of connecting or the state of being connected:\nConnection to the gas supply was delayed for three days.\n  in electrical system\n  3  [C] a point, especially in an electrical system, where two parts connect:\nA faulty connection caused the machine to stop.\n  train / bus / plane\n  4  [C] a train, bus or plane at a station or an airport that a passenger can take soon after getting off another in order to continue their journey:\nWe arrived in good time for the connection to Paris. * I missed the connection by five minutes.\n  5  [C, usually pl.] a means of travelling to another place:\nThere are good bus and train connections between the resort and major cities.\n  person / organization\n  6  [C, usually pl.] a person or an organization that you know and that can help or advise you in your social or professional life:\nOne of my business connections gave them my name.\n  distant relatives\n  7  (connections) [pl.] people who are your relatives, but not members of your close family:\nShe is British but also has German connections. * a network of family connections in Italy\n IDIOMS \n  in connection with sb/sth (written) for reasons connected with sb/sth:\nA man has been arrested in connection with the murder of the teenager. * I am writing to you in connection with your recent job application.\n  in this / that connection (formal) for reasons connected with sth recently mentioned


Words: connective
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective (especially medical) that connects things:\nconnective tissue\n    noun (grammar) a word that connects two parts of a sentence:\nDon’t overuse a causal connective like ’because’.


Words: connivance
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) help in doing sth wrong; the failure to stop sth wrong from happening:\nThe crime was committed with the connivance of a police officer.


Words: connive
Meaning:
verb [V] (disapproving)\n  1  ~ at / in sth to seem to allow sth wrong to happen:\nShe knew that if she said nothing she would be conniving in an injustice.\n  2  ~ (with sb) (to do sth) to work together with sb to do sth wrong or illegal\nSYN CONSPIRE:\nThe government was accused of having connived with the security forces to permit murder.


Words: conniving
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) behaving in a way that secretly harms others or deliberately fails to prevent harm to others


Words: connoisseur
Meaning:
noun\nan expert on matters involving the judgement of beauty, quality or skill in art, food or music:\na connoisseur of Italian painting * a wine connoisseur * The exhibition will be a delight for the collector and connoisseur of silver ornaments.


Words: connotation
Meaning:
noun\nan idea suggested by a word in addition to its main meaning:\nThe word ’professional’ has connotations of skill and excellence. * negative connotations


Words: connote
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (formal) (of a word) to suggest a feeling, an idea, etc. as well as the main meaning:\nVery soon ’Third World’ came to connote poverty.\ncompare DENOTE


Words: conquer
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to take control of a country or city and its people by force:\nThe Normans conquered England in 1066. * In 330 BC Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great. * conquered peoples / races / territories\n  2  to defeat sb, especially in a competition, race, etc:\nThe world champion conquered yet another challenger last night. * The team members were greeted like conquering heroes.\n  3  to succeed in dealing with or controlling sth:\nThe only way to conquer a fear is to face it. * Mount Everest was conquered (= successfully climbed) in 1953.\n  4  to become very popular or successful in a place:\nThe band is now setting out to conquer the world.


Words: conqueror
Meaning:
noun\na person who conquers:\nWilliam the Conqueror (= King William I of England) * After numerous defeats in the boxing ring the conquered finally became the conqueror.


