# dict

Words: scale
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  size\n \n  1  [sing., U] ~ (of sth) the size or extent of sth, especially when compared with sth else:\nThey entertain on a large scale (= they hold expensive parties with a lot of guests). * Here was corruption on a grand scale. * On a global scale, 77% of energy is created from fossil fuels. * to achieve economies of scale in production (= to produce many items so the cost of producing each one is reduced) * It was impossible to comprehend the full scale of the disaster. * It was not until morning that the sheer scale of the damage could be seen (= how great it was).\nsee also FULL-SCALE, LARGE-SCALE, SMALL-SCALE\n \n  range of levels\n \n  2  [C] a range of levels or numbers used for measuring sth:\na five-point pay scale * to evaluate performance on a scale from 1 to 10 * The salary scale goes from ｣12 000 to ｣20 000. * a scale of fees / charges\nsee also RICHTER SCALE, SLIDING SCALE, TIMESCALE\n  3  [C, usually sing.] the set of all the different levels of sth, from the lowest to the highest:\nAt the other end of the scale, life is a constant struggle to get enough to eat. * the social scale\n  marks for measuring\n  4  [C] a series of marks at regular intervals on an instrument that is used for measuring:\nHow much does it read on the scale?\n  weighing instrument\n  5  (scales) [pl.] (AmE also scale) an instrument for weighing people or things:\nbathroom / kitchen / weighing scales * (figurative) the scales of justice (= represented as the two pans on a BALANCE (5))\n  of map / diagram / model\n  6  [C] the relation between the actual size of sth and its size on a map, diagram or model that represents it:\na scale of 1:25 000 * a scale model / drawing * Both plans are drawn to the same scale. * Is this diagram to scale (= are all its parts the same size and shape in relation to each other as they are in the thing represented)?\n  in music\n  7  [C] a series of musical notes moving upwards or downwards, with fixed intervals between each note, especially a series of eight starting on a particular note:\nthe scale of C major * to practise scales on the piano\ncompare KEY n. (4), OCTAVE\n  of fish / reptile\n  8  [C] any of the thin plates of hard material that cover the skin of many fish and reptiles:\nThe beast was a dragon, with great purple and green scales.\n  in water pipes, etc.\n  9  (BrE also fur) [U] a hard greyish-white substance that is sometimes left inside water pipes and containers for heating water\nsee also LIMESCALE\n  on teeth\n  10  [U] a hard substance that forms on teeth, especially when they are not cleaned regularly\ncompare PLAQUE\n IDIOMS  see TIP v.\n    verb [VN]\n  climb\n  1  (written) to climb to the top of sth very high and steep:\nthe first woman to scale Mount Everest * (figurative) He has scaled the heights of his profession.\n  fish\n  2  to remove the small flat hard pieces of skin from a fish\n  teeth\n  3  to remove TARTAR from the teeth by SCRAPING:\nThe dentist scaled and polished my teeth.\n  change size\n  4  (technical) to change the size of sth:\nText can be scaled from 4 points to 108 points without any loss of quality.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scale sth<->down (AmE also scale sth<->back) to reduce the number, size or extent of sth:\nWe are thinking of scaling down our training programmes next year. * The IMF has scaled back its growth forecasts for the next decade. * He was using scaled-down versions of his father’s tools.\n  scale sth<->up to increase the size or number of sth


Words: scallop
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun \n  1  a shellfish that can be eaten, with two flat round shells that fit together:\na scallop shell\n  2  any one of a series of small curves cut on the edge of fabric, pastry, etc. for decoration\n    verb [VN] [usually passive] to decorate the edge of sth with small curves:\na scalloped edge


Words: scallywag
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE scalawag) noun\n(informal) a person, especially a child, who behaves badly, but not in a serious way:\nYou little scallywag! * How’s that scallywag of a son of yours?


Words: scalp
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  the skin that covers the part of the head where the hair grows:\nA dry scalp can lead to dandruff.\n \n  2  (in the past) the skin and hair that was removed from the head of a dead enemy by some Native American tribes as a sign of victory\n \n  3  (informal) a symbol of the fact that sb has been defeated or punished:\nThey have claimed some impressive scalps in their bid for the championship.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to remove the skin and hair from the top of an enemy’s head as a sign of victory: (figurative, informal) If he finds me here, he’ll scalp me!\n  2  (AmE) = TOUT


Words: scamper
Meaning:
verb\n[V +adv./prep.] (especially of children or small animals) to move quickly with short light steps


Words: scampi
Meaning:
noun\n[U+sing./pl. v.] (BrE) large PRAWNS (= a type of sea creature) covered with BREADCRUMBS or BATTER and fried:\nscampi and chips


Words: scan
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-nn-)\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (for sth) to look at every part of sth carefully, especially because you are looking for a particular thing or person:\nHe scanned the horizon for any sign of land. * She scanned his face anxiously.\n  2  ~ (through) sth (for sth) to look quickly but not very carefully at a document, etc:\n[VN] I scanned the list quickly for my name. * [V] She scanned through the newspaper over breakfast.\n  3  [VN] to get an image of an object, a part of sb’s body, etc. on a computer by passing a beam of X-RAYS, ULTRASOUND waves or ELECTROMAGNETIC waves over it in a special machine:\nTheir brains are scanned so that researchers can monitor the progress of the disease.\n  4  [VN] (of a light, RADAR, etc.) to pass across an area:\nConcealed video cameras scan every part of the compound.\n  5  [V] (of poetry) to have a regular rhythm according to fixed rules:\nThis line doesn’t scan.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scan sth into sth | scan sth in (computing) to pass an electronic beam over sth in order to put it in the memory of a computer:\nText and pictures can be scanned into the computer.\n    noun\n  1  [C] a medical test in which a machine produces a picture of the inside of a person’s body on a computer screen after taking X-RAYS:\nto do / have a brain scan\n  2  [C] a medical test for pregnant women in which a machine uses ULTRASOUND to produce a picture of a baby inside its mother’s body:\nto have a scan\n  3  [sing.] the act of looking quickly through sth written or printed, usually in order to find sth:\na scan of the newspapers * I had a quick scan down the guest list but couldn’t see my name.


Words: scandal
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] behaviour or an event that people think is morally or legally wrong and causes public feelings of shock or anger:\na series of sex scandals * to cause / create a scandal * The scandal broke (= became known to the public) in 1998. * There has been no hint of scandal during his time in office. * a promising career wrecked by scandal\n  2  [U] talk or reports about the shocking or immoral things that people have done or are thought to have done:\nto spread scandal * newspapers full of scandal\n  3  [sing.] ~ (that ...) an action, attitude, etc. that you think is shocking and not at all acceptable:\nIt is a scandal that such a large town has no orchestra.


Words: scandalize
Meaning:
(BrE also scandalise)  verb\n[VN] to do sth that people find very shocking:\nShe scandalized her family with her extravagant lifestyle.


Words: scandalmonger
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a person who spreads stories about the shocking or immoral things that other people have done


Words: scandalous
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (that ...) shocking and unacceptable:\na scandalous waste of money * It is scandalous that he has not been punished. * The decision is nothing short of scandalous.\n  2  [only before noun] containing talk about the shocking or immoral things that people have done or are thought to have done:\nscandalous stories\n    scandalously adverb:\nscandalously low pay


Words: scanner
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a device for examining sth or recording sth using beams of light sound or X-RAYS:\nThe identity cards are examined by an electronic scanner. * a document scanner (= that stores the contents of a document on a computer)\n \n  2  a machine used by doctors to produce a picture of the inside of a person’s body on a computer screen:\na body scanner * an ultrasound / X-ray scanner\n \n  3  a piece of equipment for receiving and sending RADAR signals


Words: scant
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] hardly any; not very much and not as much as there should be:\nI paid scant attention to what she was saying. * The firefighters went back into the house with scant regard for their own safety. * There is scant evidence for this view.


Words: scanty
Meaning:
adjective\ntoo little in size or amount for what is needed:\nDetails of his life are scanty. * scanty evidence * a scanty bikini\n    scantily adverb:\nscantily dressed models


Words: scapegoat
Meaning:
noun\na person who is blamed for sth bad that sb else has done or for some failure\nSYN FALL GUY:\nShe felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss’s incompetence.\n    scapegoat verb [VN]


Words: scar
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a mark that is left on the skin after a wound has healed:\na scar on his cheek * Will the operation leave a scar? * scar tissue\n  2  a permanent feeling of great sadness or mental pain that a person is left with after an unpleasant experience:\nHis years in prison have left deep scars. * My husband died four years ago and the scar hasn’t healed yet.\n  3  something unpleasant or ugly that spoils the appearance or public image of sth:\nThe town still bears the scars of war. * Racism has been a scar on the game.\n  4  an area of a hill or cliff where there is bare rock and no grass:\na mile-long limestone scar\n    verb [VN] [often passive]\n  1  (of a wound, etc.) to leave a mark on the skin after it has healed:\nHis face was badly scarred.\n  2  (of an unpleasant experience) to leave sb with a feeling of sadness or mental pain:\nThe experience left her scarred for life.\n  3  to spoil the appearance of sth:\nThe hills are scarred by quarries. * battle-scarred buildings


Words: scarab
Meaning:
(also scarab beetle) noun\na large black BEETLE (= an insect with a hard shell); a design showing a scarab beetle


Words: scarce
Meaning:
adjective, adverb \n    adjective (scarcer, scarcest) if sth is scarce, there is not enough of it and it is only available in small quantities:\nscarce resources * Details of the accident are scarce. * Food was becoming scarce.\n IDIOMS \n  make oneself scarce (informal) to leave somewhere and stay away for a time in order to avoid an unpleasant situation:\nI could see he was annoyed so I made myself scarce.\n    adverb (literary) only just; almost not:\nI can scarce remember him.


Words: scarcely
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  only just; almost not:\nI can scarcely believe it. * We scarcely ever meet. * Scarcely a week goes by without some new scandal in the papers. * There was scarcely a tree left standing after the storm.\n  2  used to say that sth happens immediately after sth else happens:\nHe had scarcely put the phone down when the doorbell rang. * Scarcely had the game started when it began to rain.\n  3  used to suggest that sth is not at all reasonable or likely:\nIt was scarcely an occasion for laughter. * She could scarcely complain, could she? * You can scarcely blame Annie. * It is scarcely surprising that the reforms have provoked such widespread discontent. -> HARDLY


Words: scarcity
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (plural scarcities) if there is a scarcity of sth, there is not enough of it and it is difficult to obtain it\nSYN SHORTAGE:\na time of scarcity * a scarcity of food / resources / data


Words: scare
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to frighten sb:\n[VN] You scared me. * [VN to inf] It scared me to think I was alone in the building.\n  2  [V] to become frightened:\nHe doesn’t scare easily.\nsee also SCARY\n IDIOMS \n  scare the shit out of sb | scare sb shitless (!!!, slang) to frighten sb very much\nmore at DAYLIGHTS, DEATH, LIFE\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scare sb<->away / off to make sb go away by frightening them:\nThey managed to scare the bears away.\n  scare sb<->into doing sth to frighten sb in order to make them do sth:\nLocal businesses were scared into paying protection money.\n  scare sb<->off to accidentally make sb afraid of or nervous about doing sth that they were going to do:\nRising prices are scaring customers off.\n  scare up sth (AmE, informal) to find or make sth by using whatever is available:\nI’ll see if I can scare up enough chairs for us all.\n    noun\n  1  [C] (used especially in newspapers) a situation in which a lot of people are anxious or frightened about sth:\na bomb / health scare * recent scares about pesticides in food * a scare story (= a news report that spreads more anxiety or fear about sth than is necessary) * to cause a major scare * scare tactics (= ways of persuading people to do sth by frightening them)\n  2  [sing.] a sudden feeling of fear:\nYou gave me a scare! * We’ve had quite a scare.\nsee also SCARY


Words: scarecrow
Meaning:
noun\na figure made to look like a person, that is dressed in old clothes and put in a field to frighten birds away


Words: scared
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (of sb/sth) | ~ (of doing sth) | ~ (to do sth) | ~ (that ...) frightened of sth or afraid that sth bad might happen:\nShe is scared of going out alone. * He’s scared of heights. * People are scared to use the buses late at night. * I’m scared (that) I’m going to fall. * The thieves got scared and ran away. * a scared face / look * I was scared to death (= very frightened). * We were scared stiff (= very frightened). -> AFRAID\n IDIOMS  see SHADOW n., WIT, WITLESS


Words: scaredy-cat
Meaning:
(AmE also fraidy cat) noun\n(informal, disapproving) a children’s word for a person who is easily frightened


Words: scaremonger
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a person who spreads stories deliberately to make people frightened or nervous\n    scaremongering noun [U]:\njournalists accused of scaremongering


Words: scarf
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (plural scarves  or less frequent scarfs) a piece of fabric worn for warmth or decoration around the neck or, by women, over the shoulders or hair:\na woollen / silk scarf\n    verb [V, VN] (AmE, informal) = SCOFF


Words: scarify
Meaning:
verb (scarifies, scarifying, scarified, scarified) [VN] (technical)\n  1  to break up an area of grass, etc. and remove pieces of material from it that are not wanted:\nScarify the lawn vigorously with a rake.\n  2  to make cuts in the surface of sth, especially skin\n  3  to criticize sb/sth severely


Words: scarlet
Meaning:
adjective\nbright red in colour:\nscarlet berries / flowers * She went scarlet with embarrassment.\n    scarlet noun [U]


Words: scary
Meaning:
adjective\n(scarier, scariest) (informal) frightening:\nIt was a really scary moment. * a scary movie\nsee also SCARE v.


Words: scathing
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (about sb/sth) criticizing sb or sth very severely:\na scathing attack on the new management * He was scathing about the government’s performance. * Her father gave her a scathing look.\n    scathingly adverb:\n’Oh, she’s just a kid,’ he said scathingly.


Words: scatological
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) connected with human waste from the body in an unpleasant way:\nscatological humour


Words: scatter
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sth (on / over / around sth) | ~ sth (with sth) to throw or drop things in different directions so that they cover an area of ground:\nScatter the grass seed over the lawn. * Scatter the lawn with grass seed. * They scattered his ashes at sea.\n  2  to move or to make people or animals move very quickly in different directions:\n[V] At the first gunshot, the crowd scattered. * [VN] The explosion scattered a flock of birds roosting in the trees.\n    noun [usually sing.] (also scattering  [sing.]) a small amount or number of things spread over an area:\na scatter / scattering of houses


Words: scatterbrain
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) a person who is always losing or forgetting things and cannot think in an organized way\n    scatterbrained adjective


Words: scattered
Meaning:
adjective\nspread far apart over a wide area or over a long period of time:\na few scattered settlements * sunshine with scattered showers * Her family are scattered around the world.


Words: scatty
Meaning:
adjective\n(BrE, informal) tending to forget things and behave in a slightly silly way:\nMy mother is a bit scatty I’m afraid.


Words: scavenge
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (for sth) (of a person, an animal or a bird) to search through waste for things that can be used or eaten:\n[VN] Much of their furniture was scavenged from other people’s garbage. * [V] Dogs and foxes scavenged through the trash cans for something to eat.\n  2  (of animals or birds) to eat dead animals that have been killed by another animal, by a car, etc:\n[VN] Crows scavenge carrion left on the roads. * [V] Some fish scavenge on dead fish in the wild.


Words: SCE
Meaning:
abbreviation\nScottish Certificate of Education (exams taken by Scottish school students at two different levels at the ages of 16 and 17)\nsee also HIGHER, STANDARD GRADE


Words: scenario
Meaning:
noun (plural scenarios)\n  1  a description of how things might happen in the future:\nLet me suggest a possible scenario. * The worst-case scenario (= the worst possible thing that could happen) would be for the factory to be closed down. * a nightmare scenario\n  2  a written outline of what happens in a film/movie or play


Words: scene
Meaning:
noun\n  place\n  1  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of sth) the place where sth happens, especially sth unpleasant:\nthe scene of the accident / attack / crime * Firefighters were on the scene immediately. * Italy was the scene of many demonstrations at that time.\n  event\n  2  [C] ~ (of sth) an event or a situation that you see, especially one of a particular type:\na scene of panic / terror / violence * The team’s victory produced scenes of joy all over the country. * She witnessed some very distressing scenes.\n  in movie / play, etc.\n  3  [C] a part of a film/movie, play or book in which the action happens in one place or is of one particular type:\nThe movie opens with a scene in a New York apartment. * love / sex scenes * I got very nervous before my big scene (= the one where I have a very important part).\n  4  [C] one of the small sections that a play or an opera is divided into:\nAct I, Scene 2 of ’Macbeth’\n  area of activity\n  5  (the scene, the ...scene) [sing.] (informal) a particular area of activity or way of life and the people who are part of it:\nAfter years at the top, she just vanished from the scene. * the club / dance / music scene * A newcomer has appeared on the fashion scene. * British players were finding it increasingly difficult to compete on the international scene.\n  view\n  6  [C] a view that you see:\na delightful rural scene * They went abroad for a change of scene (= to see and experience new surroundings).\n  painting / photograph\n  7  [C] a painting, drawing, or photograph of a place and the things that are happening there:\nan exhibition of Parisian street scenes\n  argument\n  8  [C, usually sing.] a loud, angry argument, especially one that happens in public and is embarrassing:\nShe had made a scene in the middle of the party. * ’Please leave,’ he said. ’I don’t want a scene.’\n IDIOMS \n  behind the scenes\n1 in the part of a theatre, etc. that the public does not usually see:\nThe students were able to go behind the scenes to see how programmes are made.\n2 in a way that people in general are not aware of:\nA lot of negotiating has been going on behind the scenes. * behind-the-scenes work\n  not sb’s scene (informal) not the type of thing that sb likes or enjoys doing\n  set the scene (for sth)\n1 to create a situation in which sth can easily happen or develop:\nHis arrival set the scene for another argument.\n2 to give sb the information and details they need in order to understand what comes next:\nThe first part of the programme was just setting the scene.


Words: scenery
Meaning:
noun [U]\n \n  1  the natural features of an area, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, when you are thinking about them being attractive to look at:\nThe scenery is magnificent. * to enjoy the scenery -> LANDSCAPE\n \n  2  the painted background that is used to represent natural features or buildings on a theatre stage


Words: scenic
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] having beautiful natural scenery:\nan area of scenic beauty * They took the scenic route back to the hotel. * a scenic drive\n  2  [only before noun] connected with scenery in a theatre:\nscenic designs\n    scenically  adverb:\nscenically attractive areas


Words: scent
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] the pleasant smell that sth has:\nThe air was filled with the scent of wild flowers. * These flowers have no scent.\n  2  [U, C, usually sing.] the smell that a person or an animal leaves behind and that other animals such as dogs can follow:\nThe dogs must have lost her scent. * The hounds were now on the scent of (= following the smell of) the fox.\n  3  [U] (especially BrE) a liquid with a pleasant smell that you wear on your skin to make it smell nice:\na bottle of scent * She dabbed some scent on her neck.\n  4  ~ of sth [sing.] the feeling that sth is present or is going to happen very soon:\nThe scent of victory was in the air. * There is an unmistakeable scent of recovery in the air.\n IDIOMS \n  put / throw sb off the scent to do sth to stop sb from finding you or discovering sth:\nShe changed taxis to throw her pursuers off the scent.\n  on the scent (of sth) close to discovering sth:\nScientists are on the scent of a cure.\n    verb [VN] \n  1  to find sth by using the sense of smell:\nThe dog scented a rabbit.\n  2  (written) to begin to feel that sth exists or is about to happen:\nThe press could scent a scandal. * By then, the team was scenting victory.\n  3  ~ sth (with sth) [often passive] to give sth a particular, pleasant smell:\nRoses scented the night air. * Scent the room with your favourite aromas.


Words: sceptic
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE skeptic)  noun\na person who usually doubts that claims or statements are true, especially those that other people believe in:\nI am a born sceptic. * He was unable to convince the sceptics in the audience.


Words: sceptical
Meaning:
(AmE skeptical)  adjective\n~ (about / of sth) having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that sth will happen:\nI am sceptical about his chances of winning. * The public remain sceptical of these claims. * She looked highly sceptical.\n    sceptically (AmE skeptically)  adverb:\nThe announcement was greeted sceptically by the press.


Words: scepticism
Meaning:
(AmE skepticism)  noun\n[U, sing.] an attitude of doubting that claims or statements are true or that sth will happen:\nSuch claims should be regarded with a certain amount of scepticism. * Other scientists have expressed scepticism about these results.


Words: sceptre
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE scepter)  noun\na decorated rod carried by a king or queen at ceremonies as a symbol of their power\ncompare MACE, ORB


Words: Schadenfreude
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (from German) a feeling of pleasure at the bad things that happen to other people:\nI couldn’t resist a touch of Schadenfreude when he was defeated so heavily in the election.


Words: schedule
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing:\nI have a hectic schedule for the next few days. * We’re working to a tight schedule (= we have a lot of things to do in a short time). * Filming began on schedule (= at the planned time). * The new bridge has been finished two years ahead of schedule. * The tunnel project has already fallen behind schedule. * We are trying desperately to keep to our schedule.\n  2  [C] (AmE) = TIMETABLE:\na train schedule\n  3  [C] a list of the television and radio programmes that are on a particular channel and the times that they start:\nThe channel’s schedules are filled with old films and repeats. * Channel 4 has published its spring schedules.\n  4  [C] a written list of things, for example prices, rates or conditions:\ntax schedules -> AGENDA\n    verb\n  1  ~ sth (for sth) [usually passive] to arrange for sth to happen at a particular time:\n[VN] The meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon. * One of the scheduled events is a talk on alternative medicine. * We’ll be stopping here for longer than scheduled. * [VN to inf] I’m scheduled to arrive in LA at 5 o’clock.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to include sth in an official list of things:\nThe substance has been scheduled as a poison.\n    scheduler noun:\nThe President’s schedulers allowed 90 minutes for TV interviews.


Words: schema
Meaning:
noun\n(plural schemas or schemata ) (technical) an outline of a plan or theory:\nan attempt to reduce complex economic theory to a simple schema


Words: schematic
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  in the form of a diagram that shows the main features or relationships but not the details:\na schematic diagram\n  2  according to a fixed plan or pattern:\nThe play has a very schematic plot.\n    schematically  adverb:\nThe process is shown schematically in figure 3.


Words: scheme
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun ~ (for doing sth) | ~ (to do sth)\n  1  (BrE) a plan or system for doing or organizing sth:\na training / insurance scheme * a local scheme for recycling newspapers * to introduce / operate a scheme to improve links between schools and industry * Under the new scheme only successful schools will be given extra funding.\nsee also COLOUR SCHEME, PENSION SCHEME\n  2  a plan for getting money or some other advantage for yourself, especially one that involves deceiving other people:\nan elaborate scheme to avoid taxes\n IDIOMS \n  the / sb’s scheme of things the way things seem to be organized; the way sb wants everything to be organized:\nMy personal problems are not really important in the overall scheme of things. * I don’t think marriage figures in his scheme of things.\n    verb (disapproving) to make secret plans to do sth that will help yourself and possibly harm others: [V] She seemed to feel that we were all scheming against her. * [V to inf] His colleagues, meanwhile, were busily scheming to get rid of him. * [VN] Her enemies were scheming her downfall.


Words: schemer
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a person who plans secretly to do sth for their own advantage:\nHe regards all politicians as power-hungry schemers.


Words: scheming
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) often planning secretly to do sth for your own advantage, especially by deceiving other people


Words: schism
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (formal) strong disagreement within an organization, especially a religious one, that makes its members divide into separate groups:\nthe threat of a schism within the Church\n    schismatic  adjective


Words: schist
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a type of rock formed of layers of different minerals, that breaks naturally into thin flat pieces


Words: schizophrenia
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a mental illness in which a person becomes unable to link thought, emotion and behaviour, leading to WITHDRAWAL from reality and personal relationships


Words: schlep
Meaning:
(also schlepp)  verb (-pp-) (informal, especially AmE)\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to go somewhere, especially if it is a slow, difficult journey, or you do not want to go:\nThe restaurant’s supposed to be great but I don’t feel like schlepping all the way out there.\n  2  [VN] to carry or pull sth heavy:\nI’m not schlepping these suitcases all over town.\n ORIGIN  From Yiddish shlepn, ’to drag’.\n    schlep (also schlepp) noun [sing.]


Words: schmaltz
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (informal, disapproving) the quality of being too SENTIMENTAL:\nAt the end of the movie we drown in a sea of schmaltz.\n    schmaltzy adjective


Words: schmo
Meaning:
(also schmoe)  noun\n(plural schmoes) (AmE, informal, disapproving) a person who is stupid or foolish in an annoying way


Words: schmooze
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (with sb) (informal, especially AmE) to talk in an informal and friendly way about things that are not important\nSYN CHAT\n    schmoozer noun


Words: scholar
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who knows a lot about a particular subject because they have studied it in detail:\na biblical / classical scholar * He was the most distinguished scholar in his field.\n  2  a student who has been given a scholarship to study at a school, college or university:\na Rhodes scholar\n  3  (BrE, informal) a clever person who works hard at school:\nI was never much of a scholar.


Words: scholarly
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a person) spending a lot of time studying and having a lot of knowledge about an academic subject:\nHe was a very scholarly young man.\n  2  connected with academic study:\na scholarly journal * There was an explosion of scholarly interest in her poetry.


Words: scholarship
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an amount of money given to sb by an organization to help pay for their education:\nShe won a scholarship to study at Stanford. * He went to drama school on a scholarship.\n  2  [U] the serious study of an academic subject and the knowledge and methods involved:\na magnificent work of scholarship


Words: scholastic
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun] (formal)\n  1  connected with schools and education:\nscholastic achievements\n  2  connected with scholasticism


Words: scholasticism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a system of philosophy, based on religious principles and writing, that was taught in universities in the Middle Ages


Words: school
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  where children learn\n \n  1  [C] a place where children go to be educated:\nMy brother and I went to the same school. * (formal) Which school do they attend? * I’m going to the school today to talk to Kim’s teacher. * We need more money for roads, hospitals and schools. * school buildings / rules / buses\n \n  2  [U] (used without the or a) the process of learning in a school; the time during your life when you go to a school: (BrE) to start / leave school * (AmE) to start / quit school * Where did you go to school? * (BrE) All my kids are still at school. * (AmE) All my kids are still in school. * (AmE) to teach school (= teach in a school) * The transition from school to work can be difficult.\n \n  3  [U] (used without the or a) the time during the day when children are working in a school:\nShall I meet you after school today? * School begins at 9. * The kids are at / in school until 3.30. * after-school activities / clubs\n \n  students and teachers\n \n  4  (the school) [sing.] all the children or students and the teachers in a school:\nI had to stand up in front of the whole school.\n  for particular skill\n  5  [C] (often in compounds) a place where people go to learn a particular subject or skill:\na drama / language / riding school * the London Business School\n  college / university\n  6  [C, U] (AmE, informal) a college or university; the time that you spend there:\nfamous schools like Yale and Harvard * I’ve known her since law school. * Where did you go to school?\nsee also GRADUATE SCHOOL\n  7  [C] a department of a college or university that teaches a particular subject:\nthe university medical / law school * the School of Dentistry / Languages\n  of writers / artists\n  8  [C] a group of writers, artists, etc. whose style of work or opinions have been influenced by the same person or ideas:\nthe Dutch school of painting\n  of fish\n  9  [C] a large number of fish or other sea animals, swimming together:\na school of dolphins / sharks / whales\ncompare SHOAL\n HELP NOTE  There are many compounds ending in school. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.\n IDIOMS \n  school(s) of thought a way of thinking that a number of people share:\nThere are two schools of thought about how this illness should be treated. * He belongs to the school of thought that says that competition can be very stimulating for children.\nmore at OLD\n    verb\n  yourself / animal\n  1  ~ sb / yourself (in sth) (formal) to train sb/yourself/an animal to do sth:\n[VN] to school a horse * She had schooled herself in patience. * [VN to inf] I have schooled myself to remain calm under pressure.\n  child\n  2  [VN] (formal) to educate a child:\nShe should be schooled with her peers.\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \nschool\nWhen a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the: When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used: I’ll meet you outside the school. Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way: Her husband spent three years in prison.\n-> note at COLLEGE, HOSPITAL\n______________________________\n\n______________________________\n BRITISH / AMERICAN \nat / in school\nIn BrE someone who is attending school is at school: I was at school with her sister. In AmE in school is used: I have a ten-year-old in school. In school in AmE can also mean ’attending a university’.\n______________________________


Words: school age
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the age or period when a child normally attends school:\nchildren of school age * school-age children


Words: school friend
Meaning:
(also less frequent schoolmate) noun\n(especially BrE) a friend who attends or attended the same school as you:\nShe met up with some of her old (= former) school friends.


Words: school run
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (BrE) the journey that parents make to take their children to school or to bring them home again:\nI have to get back in time to do the school run.


Words: school-leaver
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a person who has just left school, especially when they are looking for a job:\nthe problem of rising unemployment among school-leavers


Words: school-marm
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving, especially AmE) a woman who teaches in a school, especially one who is old-fashioned and strict\n    school-marmish adjective:\na school-marmish tone of voice


Words: schooldays
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the period in your life when you go to school:\nShe hadn’t seen Laura since her schooldays. * Her schooldays had definitely not been the happiest days of her life.


Words: schoolhouse
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a school building, especially a small one in a village in the past\n  2  a house for a teacher next to a small school


Words: schooling
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the education you receive at school:\nsecondary schooling * He had very little schooling. * Who’s paying for her schooling?


Words: schoolmaster
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned, especially BrE) a teacher in a school, especially a private school\ncompare MASTER


Words: schooner
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a sailing ship with two or more MASTS (= posts that support the sails)\n  2  a tall glass for SHERRY or beer


Words: schwa
Meaning:
noun\n(phonetics) a vowel sound in parts of words that are not stressed, for example the ’a’ in about or the ’e’ in moment; the PHONETIC symbol for this,


Words: sciatic
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (anatomy) of the hip or of the nerve which goes from the PELVIS to the THIGH (= the sciatic nerve)


Words: science
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] knowledge about the structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world, based on facts that you can prove, for example by experiments:\nnew developments in science and technology * the advance of modern science * the laws of science\n  2  [U] the study of science:\nscience students / teachers / courses\n  3  [U, C] a particular branch of science:\nto study one of the sciences\ncompare ART (6), HUMANITIES\n  4  [sing.] a system for organizing the knowledge about a particular subject, especially one concerned with aspects of human behaviour or society:\nIs there an adequate basis for a science of international politics?\nsee also DOMESTIC SCIENCE, EARTH SCIENCE, LIFE SCIENCES, NATURAL SCIENCE, POLITICAL SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCE\n IDIOMS  see BLIND v.


Words: science fiction
Meaning:
(also informal sci-fi) noun\n[U] a type of book, film/movie, etc. that is based on imagined scientific discoveries of the future, and often deals with space travel and life on other planets


Words: science park
Meaning:
noun\nan area where there are a lot of companies or organizations involved in scientific research and development


Words: scientific
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  involving science; connected with science:\na scientific discovery / study / adviser * scientific knowledge / research / instruments * sites of scientific interest\n  2  (of a way of doing sth or thinking) careful and logical:\nHe took a very scientific approach to management. * We need to be more scientific about this problem.\nOPP UNSCIENTIFIC\ncompare NON-SCIENTIFIC\n    scientifically  adverb


Words: scientist
Meaning:
noun\na person who studies one or more of the NATURAL SCIENCES (= for example, physics, chemistry and biology):\na research scientist * nuclear scientists * scientists and engineers * the cartoon figure of the mad scientist working in his laboratory\nsee also COMPUTER SCIENTIST, POLITICAL SCIENTIST, SOCIAL SCIENTIST


Words: Scientology
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a religious system based on getting knowledge of yourself and spiritual FULFILMENT through courses of study and training\n    Scientologist noun


Words: scintilla
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] ~ (of sth) (formal) (usually in negative sentences) a very small amount of sth:\nThere is not a scintilla of truth in what she says. * They had not found a scintilla of evidence against him.


Words: scintillating
Meaning:
adjective\nvery clever, amusing and interesting:\na scintillating performance / conversation * Statistics on unemployment levels hardly make for scintillating reading.


Words: scion
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (formal or literary) a young member of a family, especially a famous or important one\n  2  (technical) a piece of a plant, especially one cut to make a new plant


Words: scissors
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] a tool for cutting paper or fabric, that has two sharp blades with handles, joined together in the middle:\na pair of scissors\nsee also NAIL SCISSORS\n \n    scissor adjective [only before noun]:\nThe legs move in a scissor action.


Words: sclerosis
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (medical) a condition in which soft tissue in the body becomes hard, in a way that is not normal\nsee also MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS\n    sclerotic  adjective


Words: scoff
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (at sb/sth) to talk about sb/sth in a way that makes it clear that you think they are stupid or ridiculous:\n[V] He scoffed at our amateurish attempts. * Don’t scoff-she’s absolutely right. [also V speech]\n  2  [VN] (BrE) (AmE scarf) (informal) to eat a lot of sth quickly:\nWho scoffed all the grapes?


Words: scold
Meaning:
verb\n~ sb (for sth / for doing sth) (formal) to speak angrily to sb, especially a child, because they have done sth wrong\nSYN TELL OFF:\n[VN] He scolded them for arriving late. [also V speech, V]\n    scolding noun [usually sing.]:\nI got a scolding from my mother.


Words: scone
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a small round cake, sometimes with dried fruit in it and often eaten with butter, jam and cream spread on it


Words: scoop
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a tool like a large spoon with a deep bowl, used for picking up substances in powder form like flour, or for serving food like ice cream\n \n  2  the amount picked up by a scoop:\ntwo scoops of mashed potato\n \n  3  a piece of important or exciting news that is printed in one newspaper before other newspapers know about it\n    verb [VN] \n  1  [usually +adv./prep.] ~ sth (up) to move or lift sth with a scoop or sth like a scoop:\nShe scooped ice cream into their bowls. * He quickly scooped the money up from the desk. * First, scoop a hole in the soil. * Scoop out the melon flesh.\n  2  [+adv./prep.] ~ sb/sth (up) to move or lift sb/sth with a quick continuous movement:\nShe scooped the child up in her arms. * He quickly scooped his clothes from the chair.\n  3  to publish a story before all the other newspapers, television companies, etc:\nThe paper had inside information and scooped all its rivals.\n  4  (informal) to win sth, especially a large sum of money or a prize:\nHe scooped ｣10 000 on the lottery. * Last year, the programme scooped the Best Drama award.


Words: scooped
Meaning:
(also scoop) adjective\n[only before noun] (of the neck of a woman’s dress, etc.) cut low and round:\na scooped neck / neckline


Words: scoot
Meaning:
verb\n[V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (informal) to go or leave somewhere in a hurry:\nI’d better scoot or I’ll be late. * They scooted off to Dublin for the weekend.


Words: scooter
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (BrE) (also motor scooter AmE, BrE) a light motorcycle, usually with small wheels and a curved metal cover at the front to protect the rider’s legs\n \n  2  a child’s vehicle with two small wheels attached to a narrow board with an upright handle. The rider holds the handle, puts one foot on the board and pushes against the ground with the other.


Words: scope
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  ~ (for sth) | ~ (for sb) (to do sth) the opportunity or ability to do or achieve sth\nSYN POTENTIAL:\nThere’s still plenty of scope for improvement. * The extra money will give us the scope to improve our facilities. * Her job offers very little scope for promotion. * First try to do something that is within your scope.\n  2  the range of things that a subject, an organization, an activity, etc. deals with:\nOur powers are limited in scope. * This subject lies beyond the scope of our investigation. * The police are broadening the scope of their investigation. * These issues were outside the scope of the article.\n  3  (-scope) (in nouns) an instrument for looking through or watching sth with:\nmicroscope * telescope


Words: scorch
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to burn and slightly damage a surface by making it too hot; to be slightly burned by heat:\n[VN] I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. * [V] Don’t stand so near the fire-your coat is scorching! [also VN-ADJ]\n  2  to become or to make sth become dry and brown, especially from the heat of the sun or from chemicals:\n[VN] scorched grass * [V] The leaves will scorch if you water them in the sun.\n  3  [V +adv./prep.] (BrE, informal) to move very fast:\nThe car scorched off down the road. * She scorched to victory in the sprint final.


Words: scorched earth policy
Meaning:
noun\n(in a war) a policy of destroying anything in a particular area that may be useful to the enemy


Words: scorcher
Meaning:
noun (informal)\n  1  a very hot day:\nIt’s a real scorcher today!\n  2  (BrE) (used mainly in newspapers) a very good stroke, shot, etc. in a sport:\na scorcher of a free kick


Words: scorching
Meaning:
adjective (informal)\n  1  very hot:\na scorching hot day * They walked all day in the scorching heat.\n  2  (especially BrE) used to emphasize how strong, powerful, etc. sth is:\na scorching critique of the government’s economic policy * a scorching 61 victory


Words: score
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  points / goals, etc.\n  1  [C] the number of points, goals, etc. scored by each player or team in a game or competition:\na high / low score * What’s the score now? * The final score was 43. * I’ll keep (the) score. * A penalty in the last minute of the game levelled the score 22.\n  2  [C] (especially AmE) the number of points sb gets for correct answers in a test:\ncollege entrance test scores * an IQ score of 120 * a perfect score\n  music\n  3  [C] a written or printed version of a piece of music showing what each instrument is to play or what each voice is to sing:\nan orchestral score * the score of Verdi’s ’Requiem’\n  4  [C] the music written for a film/movie or play:\nThe film picked up awards for best director and best original score.\n  twenty\n  5  [C] (plural score) a set or group of 20 or approximately 20:\nSeveral cabs and a score of cars were parked outside. * Doyle’s success brought imitators by the score (= very many). * the biblical age of three score years and ten (= 70)\n  many\n  6  (scores) [pl.] very many:\nThere were scores of boxes and crates, all waiting to be checked and loaded.\n  cut\n  7  [C] a cut in a surface, made with a sharp tool\n  facts about situation\n  8  (the score) [sing.] (informal) the real facts about the present situation:\nWhat’s the score? * You don’t have to lie to me. I know the score.\n IDIOMS \n  on that / this score as far as that/this is concerned:\nYou don’t have to worry on that score.\nmore at EVEN v., SETTLE v.\n    verb\n  give / get points / goals\n  1  to win points, goals, etc. in a game or competition:\n[V] Fraser scored again in the second half. * [VN] to score a goal / try / touchdown / victory\n  2  [V] to keep a record of the points, goals, etc. won in a game or competition:\nWho’s going to score?\n  3  to gain marks in a test or an exam:\n[VN] She scored 98% in the French test. * [V] Girls usually score highly in language exams.\n  4  [VN] to give sth/sb a particular number of points:\nThe tests are scored by psychologists. * Score each criterion on a scale of 1 to 5. * a scoring system\n  5  [VN] to be worth a particular number of points:\nEach correct answer will score two points.\n  succeed\n  6  to succeed; to have an advantage:\n[VN] The army continued to score successes in the south. * [V] She’s scored again with her latest blockbuster. * Bicycles score over other forms of transport in towns.\n  arrange / write music\n  7  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (for sth) to arrange a piece of music for one or more musical instruments or for voices:\nThe piece is scored for violin, viola and cello. * The director invited him to score the movie (= write the music for it).\n  cut\n  8  [VN] to make a cut or mark on a surface:\nScore the card first with a knife.\n  have sex\n  9  [V] ~ (with sb) (slang) (especially of a man) to have sex with a new partner:\nDid you score last night?\n  buy drugs\n  10  [VN, V] (slang) to buy or get illegal drugs\n IDIOMS \n  score a point / points (off / against / over sb) = SCORE OFF SB\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  score off sb [no passive] (especially BrE) to show that you are better than sb, especially by making clever remarks, for example in an argument:\nHe was always trying to score off his teachers.\n  score sth<->out / through to draw a line or lines through sth:\nHer name had been scored out on the list.


Words: score sheet
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a piece of paper on which the score of a game can be officially recorded\n IDIOMS \n  get your name on the score sheet (informal) (used in newspapers) to score a goal, etc.


Words: scorecard
Meaning:
noun\na card or piece of paper that people watching a game can use to write the score on, or on which the score can be officially recorded


Words: scoreline
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) (used mainly in newspapers) the final score or result in a game, competition, etc:\na 21 scoreline * The team did not play as badly as the scoreline suggests.


Words: scorer
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (in sports) a player who scores points, goals, etc:\nUnited’s top scorer\n  2  a person who keeps a record of the points, goals, etc. scored in a game or competition\n  3  a high / low ~ a person who gets a high/low number of points in a test or exam


Words: scorn
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] ~ (for sb/sth) a strong feeling that sb/sth is stupid or not good enough, usually shown by the way you speak\nSYN CONTEMPT:\nHer fellow teachers greeted her proposal with scorn. * They had nothing but scorn for his political views. * She was unable to hide the scorn in her voice.\n IDIOMS \n  pour / heap scorn on sb/sth to speak about sb/sth in a way that shows that you do not respect them or have a good opinion of them\n    verb\n  1  [VN] to feel or show that you think sb/sth is stupid and you do not respect them or it:\nShe scorned their views as old-fashioned. * Such methods are scorned by reputable practitioners. * His brother had always scorned him.\n  2  (formal) to refuse to have or do sth because you are too proud:\n[VN] to scorn an invitation / offer * [V to inf] She would have scorned to stoop to such tactics.\n IDIOMS  see HELL


Words: scornful
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (of sth) showing or feeling scorn:\na scornful laugh * He was scornful of such ’female’ activities as cooking.\n    scornfully  adverb:\nShe laughed scornfully.


Words: Scorpio
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [U] the 8th sign of the ZODIAC, the SCORPION\n \n  2  [C] (plural Scorpios) a person born under the influence of this sign, that is between 23 October and 21 November, approximately


Words: scorpion
Meaning:
noun\na small creature like an insect with six legs, two front CLAWS (= curved and pointed limbs) and a long tail that curves over its back and can give a poisonous sting. Scorpions live in hot countries.


Words: Scot
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person from Scotland\n  2  (the Scots) (also less frequent the Scottish) [pl.] the people of Scotland -> SCOTTISH


Words: scot-free
Meaning:
adverb\n(informal) without receiving the punishment you deserve:\nThey got off scot-free because of lack of evidence.


Words: Scotch
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n  1  [U] the type of whisky made in Scotland:\na bottle of Scotch\n  2  [C] a glass of Scotch:\nDo you want a Scotch?\n    adjective of or connected with Scotland -> SCOTTISH


Words: scotch
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] to stop sth from happening; to take action to end sth:\nPlans for a merger have been scotched. * Rumours that he had fled the country were promptly scotched by his wife.


Words: Scotland Yard
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.+sing./pl. v.] (in Britain) the main office of the London police, especially the department that deals with serious crimes in London:\nScotland Yard’s anti-terrorist squad * Scotland Yard has / have been called in.


Words: Scots
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective of or connected with Scotland, and especially with the English language as spoken in Scotland or the Scots language:\nHe spoke with a Scots accent. * She comes from an old Scots family.\n    noun [U] a language spoken in Scotland, closely related to English but with many differences\ncompare GAELIC -> SCOTTISH


Words: Scottish
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  of or connected with Scotland or its people:\nthe Scottish Highlands * Scottish dancing\n  2  (the Scottish) noun [pl.] (rare) = THE SCOTS\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nScottish / Scots / Scotch / Scot\nThe adjective Scottish is the most general word used to describe the people and things of Scotland, while Scots is only used to describe its people, its law and especially its language: Scottish dancing * the new Scottish parliament * a well-known Scots poet * a slight Scots accent.\nThe adjective Scotch is now mainly used in fixed expressions such as Scotch whisky and Scotch broth and sounds old-fashioned or insulting if it is used in any other way.\nThe noun Scotch means whisky, and the noun Scots refers to a language spoken in Scotland, closely related to English. A person who comes from Scotland is a Scot: The Scots won their match against England.\n-> note at BRITISH\n______________________________


Words: scour
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (for sb/sth) to search a place or thing thoroughly in order to find sb/sth:\nWe scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. * He had been scouring the papers for weeks, looking for a job.\n  2  ~ sth (out) to clean sth by rubbing its surface hard with rough material:\nI had to scour out the pans.\n  3  ~ sth (away / out) | ~ sth (from / out of sth) to make a passage, hole, or mark in the ground, rocks, etc. as the result of movement, especially over a long period:\nThe water had raced down the slope and scoured out the bed of a stream. * We could see where the cart wheels had scoured the ground.


Words: scourge
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [usually sing.] ~ (of sb/sth) (written) a person or thing that causes trouble or suffering:\nthe scourge of war / disease / poverty * Pirates are once again the scourge of the China Sea. * Inflation was the scourge of the 1970s.\n  2  a WHIP used to punish people in the past\n    verb [VN] \n  1  [usually passive] (literary) to cause trouble or suffering to sb:\nHe lay awake, scourged by his conscience.\n  2  (old use) to hit sb with a scourge


Words: Scouse
Meaning:
noun (BrE, informal)\n  1  (also Scouser ) [C] a person from Liverpool in NW England\n  2  [U] a way of speaking, used by people from Liverpool\n    Scouse adjective:\na Scouse accent


Words: scout
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (the Scouts) [pl.] an organization (officially called the Scout Association) originally for boys, which trains young people in practical skills and does a lot of activities with them, for example camping:\nto join the Scouts\n  2  (BrE) a boy or girl who is a member of the Scouts:\nBoth my brothers were scouts. * a scout troop\nsee also BOY SCOUT, GUIDE\ncompare BROWNIE\n  3  a person, an aircraft, etc. sent ahead to get information about the enemy’s position, strength, etc.\n  4  = TALENT SCOUT\n    verb\n  1  ~ (around) (for sb/sth) to search an area or various areas in order to find or discover sth:\n[VN] They scouted the area for somewhere to stay the night. * [V] The kids were scouting around for wood for the fire. * a military scouting party\n  2  to look for sports players, actors, musicians, etc. who have special ability, so you can offer them work:\n[V] He scouts for Manchester United. [also VN]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scout sth<->out to find out what an area is like or where sth is, by searching:\nWe went ahead to scout out the lie of the land.


Words: scowl
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n [V] ~ (at sb/sth) to look at sb/sth in an angry or annoyed way\nSYN GLOWER:\nThe receptionist scowled at me.\n    noun an angry look or expression:\nHe looked up at me with a scowl.


Words: Scrabble
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a board game in which players try to make words from letters printed on small plastic blocks and connect them to words that have already been placed on the board


Words: scrabble
Meaning:
verb\n[V]   [usually +adv./prep.] ~ (around / about) (for sth) (especially BrE) to try to find or to do sth in a hurry or with difficulty, often by moving your hands or feet about quickly, without much control:\nShe scrabbled around in her bag for her glasses. * He was scrabbling for a foothold on the steep slope. * a sound like rats scrabbling on the other side of the wall * In his panic, he began scrabbling at the lock. * The kids scrabbled up the slope.


Words: scraggy
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) (of people or animals) very thin and not looking healthy:\nwomen with scraggy necks * a scraggy old cat


Words: scram
Meaning:
verb\n(-mm-) [V] (old-fashioned, slang) (usually used in orders) to go away quickly:\nScram! I don’t want you here.


Words: scramble
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  walk / climb\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to move quickly, especially with difficulty, using your hands to help you:\nShe managed to scramble over the wall. * He scrambled to his feet as we came in. * They finally scrambled ashore. * He scrambled up the cliff and raced towards the car.\n  push / fight\n  2  ~ (for sth) to push, fight or compete with others in order to get or to reach sth:\n[V] The audience scrambled for the exits. * [V to inf] Shoppers were scrambling to get the best bargains.\n  achieve sth with difficulty\n  3  [VN] to manage to achieve sth with difficulty, or in a hurry, without much control:\nCork scrambled a 10 win over Monaghan. * Owen managed to scramble the ball into the net.\n  eggs\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] to cook an egg by mixing the white and yellow parts together and heating them, sometimes with milk and butter:\nscrambled eggs\n  telephone / radio\n  5  [VN] [often passive] to change the way that a telephone or radio message sounds so that only people with special equipment can understand it:\nscrambled satellite signals\n  confuse thoughts\n  6  [VN] to confuse sb’s thoughts, ideas, etc. so that they have no order:\nAlcohol seemed to have scrambled his brain.\n  aircraft\n  7  [usually passive] to order that planes, etc. should take off immediately in an emergency; to take off immediately in an emergency:\n[VN] A helicopter was scrambled to help rescue three young climbers. * [V] They scrambled as soon as the call came through.\n    noun\n  difficult walk / climb\n  1  [sing.] a difficult walk or climb over rough ground, especially one in which you have to use your hands:\nA scramble over the rocks takes you to the most perfect of beaches.\n  push / fight\n  2  [sing.] ~ (for sth) a situation in which people push, fight or compete with each other in order to get or do sth:\nThere was a mad scramble for the best seats. * When the manager retired, there was a scramble for his job.\n  motorcycle race\n  3  [C] a race for motorcycles over rough ground


Words: scrambler
Meaning:
noun\na device that changes radio or telephone signals or messages so that they cannot be understood by other people


Words: scrap
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a small piece of sth, especially paper, fabric, etc:\nShe scribbled his phone number on a scrap of paper. * (figurative) scraps of news / information * (figurative) She was just a scrap of a thing (= small and thin).\n  2  [sing.] (usually with a negative) a small amount of sth:\nIt won’t make a scrap of difference. * There’s not a scrap of evidence to support his claim. * a barren landscape without a scrap of vegetation\n  3  (scraps) [pl.] food left after a meal:\nGive the scraps to the dog.\n  4  [U] things that are not wanted or cannot be used for their original purpose, but which have some value for the material they are made of:\nWe sold the car for scrap (= so that any good parts can be used again). * scrap metal / iron * a scrap merchant / dealer (= a person who buys and sells scrap)\n  5  (informal) a short fight or quarrel:\nHe was always getting into scraps at school.\nsee also SCRAPPY\n    verb (-pp-)\n  1  [VN] [often passive] to cancel or get rid of sth that is no longer practical or useful:\nThey had been forced to scrap plans for a new school building. * The oldest of the aircraft were scrapped.\n  2  [V] (informal) to fight with sb:\nThe bigger boys started scrapping.


Words: scrap heap
Meaning:
noun\na pile of things, especially of metal, that are no longer wanted or useful\n IDIOMS \n  on the scrap heap (informal) no longer wanted or considered useful:\nMany people who had been with the company for years were just thrown on the scrap heap.


Words: scrape
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  remove\n  1  to remove sth from a surface by moving sth sharp and hard like a knife across it: [VN, usually +adv./prep.] She scraped the mud off her boots. * We scraped away the top layer of wallpaper. * [VN-ADJ] The kids had scraped their plates clean.\n  damage\n  2  [VN]   [usually +adv./prep.] to rub sth accidentally so that it gets damaged or hurt:\nI scraped the side of my car on the wall. * Sorry, I’ve scraped some paint off the car. * She fell and scraped her knee. * The wire had scraped the skin from her fingers.\n  make sound\n  3  [usually +adv./prep.] to make an unpleasant noise by rubbing against a hard surface; to make sth do this:\n[V] I could hear his pen scraping across the paper. * Bushes scraped against the car windows. * (disapproving) We could hear her scraping away at the violin. * [VN] Don’t scrape your chairs on the floor.\n  win with difficulty\n  4  to manage to win or to get sth with difficulty:\n[VN] The team scraped a narrow victory last year. * (BrE) I just scraped a pass in the exam. * They scraped a living by playing music on the streets. * [V] The government scraped home (= just won) by three votes.\n  make hole in ground\n  5  [VN] ~ sth (out) to make a hole or hollow place in the ground:\nHe found a suitable place, scraped a hole and buried the bag in it.\n  pull hair back\n  6  [VN] ~ your hair back to pull your hair tightly back, away from your face:\nHer hair was scraped back from her face in a ponytail.\n IDIOMS \n  scrape (the bottom of) the barrel (disapproving) to have to use whatever things or people you can get, because there is not much choice available\nmore at BOW v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scrape by (on sth) to manage to live on the money you have, but with difficulty:\nI can just scrape by on what my parents give me.\n  scrape in | scrape into sth to manage to get a job, a position, a place at college, etc., but with difficulty:\nHe scraped in with 180 votes. * Our team just scraped into the semi-finals.\n  scrape sth<->out to remove sth from inside sth else, using sth sharp or hard like a knife:\nScrape out the flesh of the melon with a spoon.\n  scrape through | scrape through sth to succeed in doing sth with difficulty, especially in passing an exam:\nI might scrape through the exam if I’m lucky.\n  scrape sth<->together / up to obtain or collect together sth, but with difficulty:\nWe managed to scrape together eight volunteers.\n    noun\n  action / sound\n  1  [sing.] the action or unpleasant sound of one thing rubbing roughly against another:\nthe scrape of iron on stone * She felt the scrape of wall against bare skin. * the scrape of chairs being moved\n  damage\n  2  [C] an injury or a mark caused by rubbing against sth rough:\nShe emerged from the overturned car with only a few scrapes and bruises.\n  difficult situation\n  3  [C] (old-fashioned) a difficult situation that you have caused yourself:\nHe was always getting into scrapes as a boy. * a scrape with the law (= trouble with the police)


Words: scraping
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a small amount of sth produced by scratching a surface:\nAll that was left to eat were the scrapings from the bottom of the pan.


Words: scrappy
Meaning:
adjective (scrappier, scrappiest)\n  1  consisting of individual sections, events, etc. that are not organized into a whole:\na scrappy essay * The concert was rather a scrappy affair.\n  2  (especially BrE) not tidy and often of poor quality:\nThe note was written on a scrappy bit of paper. * The garden was empty apart from a few scrappy shrubs.\nsee also SCRAP n.


Words: scrapyard
Meaning:
(BrE) (also junkyard AmE, BrE) noun\na place where old cars, machines, etc. are collected, so that parts of them, or the metal they are made of, can be sold to be used again


Words: scratch
Meaning:
verb, noun, adjective \n    verb\n  rub with your nails\n  1  ~ (at sth) to rub your skin with your nails, usually because it is ITCHING:\n[VN] John yawned and scratched his chin. * The dog scratched itself behind the ear. * [V] Try not to scratch. * She scratched at the insect bites on her arm.\n  cut skin\n  2  ~ (sb/sth / yourself) (on sth) to cut or damage your skin slightly with sth sharp:\n[VN] I’d scratched my leg and it was bleeding. * She scratched herself on a nail. * [V] Does the cat scratch?\n  damage surface\n  3  [VN] to damage the surface of sth, especially accidentally, by making thin shallow marks on it:\nBe careful not to scratch the furniture. * The car’s paintwork is badly scratched.\n  make / remove mark\n  4  [VN +adv./prep.] to make or remove a mark, etc. on sth deliberately, by rubbing it with sth hard or sharp:\nThey scratched lines in the dirt to mark out a pitch. * Some graffiti had been scratched on the back of the door. * We scratched some of the dirt away. * (figurative) You can scratch my name off the list.\n  make sound\n  5  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to make an irritating noise by rubbing sth with sth sharp:\nThe dog kept scratching at the door to go out. * His pen scratched away on the paper. * We could hear mice scratching behind the wall.\n  a living\n  6  [VN] ~ a living to make enough money to live on, but with difficulty:\n75% of the population scratch a living from the soil.\n  cancel\n  7  ~ (sb/sth) (from sth) to decide that sth cannot happen or sb/sth cannot take part in sth, before it starts:\n[VN] to scratch a rocket launch * The horse was scratched from the race because of injury. * [V] She had scratched because of a knee injury.\n IDIOMS \n  scratch your head (over sth) to think hard in order to find an answer to sth:\nExperts have been scratching their heads over the increase in teenage crime.\n  scratch the surface (of sth) to deal with, understand, or find out about only a small part of a subject or problem:\nWe left feeling that we had just scratched the surface of this fascinating country.\n  you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours (saying) used to say that if sb helps you, you will help them, even if this is unfair to others\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scratch about / around (for sth) to search for sth, especially with difficulty\n  scratch sth<->out to remove a word, especially a name, from sth written, usually by putting a line through it\n    noun\n  mark / cut\n \n  1  [C] a mark, a cut or an injury made by scratching sb’s skin or the surface of sth:\nHer hands were covered in scratches from the brambles. * a scratch on the paintwork * It’s only a scratch (= a very slight injury). * He escaped without a scratch (= was not hurt at all).\n \n  sound\n \n  2  [sing.] the unpleasant sound of sth sharp or rough being rubbed against a surface\n \n  with your nails\n \n  3  [sing.] the act of scratching a part of your body when it ITCHES:\nGo on, have a good scratch!\n IDIOMS \n  from scratch without any previous preparation or knowledge:\nI learned German from scratch in six months. * They decided to dismantle the machine and start again from scratch. * He built the orchestra up from scratch.\n  (be / come) up to scratch | (bring sb/sth) up to scratch as good as sth/sb should be; satisfactory:\nHis work simply isn’t up to scratch. * It’ll take months to bring the band up to scratch.\n    adjective (BrE)\n  1  put together in a hurry using whatever people or materials are available:\na scratch team\n  2  (especially in golf) with no HANDICAP:\na scratch player


Words: scratchcard
Meaning:
noun\na card that you buy that has an area that you scratch off to find out if you have won some money or a prize


Words: scratchy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of clothes or fabric) rough and unpleasant to the touch:\nThis sweater is too scratchy. * a scratchy blanket\n  2  (of a record, voice, etc.) making a rough, unpleasant sound like sth being scratched across a surface:\na scratchy recording of Mario Lanza * a scratchy pen\n  3  (of writing or drawings) done without care:\nShe had scrawled me a note in her familiar scratchy handwriting.


Words: scrawl
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb ~ (sth) (across / in / on sth) to write sth in a careless untidy way, making it difficult to read\nSYN SCRIBBLE:\n[VN] I tried to read his directions, scrawled on a piece of paper. * [V] Someone had scrawled all over my notes.\n    noun a careless untidy way of writing; sth written in this way:\nHer signature was an illegible scrawl. * I can’t be expected to read this scrawl! * The paper was covered in scrawls.


Words: scrawny
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) (of people or animals) very thin in a way that is not attractive:\nHe had long scrawny fingers. * There were a few scrawny chickens in the yard.


Words: scream
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (out) (in / with sth) to give a loud, high cry, because you are hurt, frightened, excited, etc.\nSYN SHRIEK:\n[V] He covered her mouth to stop her from screaming. * The kids were screaming with excitement. * People ran for the exits, screaming out in terror. * [VN-ADJ] The baby was screaming itself hoarse.\n  2  ~ (sth) (out) (at sb) | ~ (out) (for sth/sb) to shout sth in a loud, high voice because of fear, anger, etc.\nSYN YELL:\n[V speech] ’Help!’ she screamed. * [V] Someone was screaming for help. * He screamed at me to stop. * [VN] She screamed abuse at him. * [V that] His sister screamed out that he was crazy.\n  3  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to make a loud, high noise; to move fast, making this noise\nSYN SCREECH:\nLights flashed and sirens screamed. * The powerboat screamed out to sea. -> SHOUT\n IDIOMS \n  scream blue murder (BrE) (AmE scream bloody murder) to scream loudly and for a long time, especially in order to protest about sth\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scream out (for sth) to be in need of attention in a very noticeable way:\nThese books scream out to be included in a list of favourites.\n    noun\n  1  [C] a loud high cry made by sb who is hurt, frightened, excited, etc.; a loud high noise:\nShe let out a scream of pain. * They ignored the baby’s screams. * He drove off with a scream of tyres. * I thought I heard a scream. * All I could hear were the screams of the wounded. * the screams of adoring fans\n  2  [sing.] (old-fashioned, informal) a person or thing that causes you to laugh:\nHe’s a scream.


Words: scree
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] an area of small loose stones, especially on a mountain, which may slide when you walk on them


Words: screech
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to make a loud high unpleasant sound; to say sth using this sound:\n[V] Monkeys were screeching in the trees. * The wind screeched in his ears. * screeching brakes * He screeched with pain. * [V speech] ’No, don’t!’ she screeched. * [VN] He screeched something at me.\n  2  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (of a vehicle) to make a loud high unpleasant noise as it moves:\nThe car screeched to a halt outside the hospital. * A police car screeched out of a side street.\n    noun a loud high unpleasant cry or noise:\na screech of brakes / tyres * She suddenly let out a screech.


Words: screen
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  of tv / computer\n \n  1  [C] the flat surface at the front of a television or computer, on which you see pictures or information:\na computer / radar screen * a monitor with a 21 inch screen * They were staring at the television screen. * Move your cursor to the top of the screen. * the screen display / image * Can you do a printout of this screen for me (= of all the information on it)?\nsee also ON-SCREEN\n \n  films / movies / tv\n \n  2  [C] the large flat surface that films/movies or pictures are shown on:\na cinema / movie screen * an eight-screen cinema * The movie will be coming to your screens shortly.\n \n  3  (often the screen) [sing., U] films/movies or television in general:\nHe has adapted the play for the screen. * Some actors never watch themselves on screen. * She was a star of stage and screen (= plays and films / movies). * a screen actor / debut\nsee also OFF-SCREEN, SILVER SCREEN, SMALL SCREEN\n  piece of furniture\n  4  [C] an upright piece of furniture or equipment that is fixed or that can be moved to divide a room or to keep one area hidden or separate:\nThe nurse put a screen around the bed. * A wooden screen hid one corner of the room.\nsee also FIRE SCREEN\n  for hiding / protecting sth / sb\n  5  [C] ~ (of sth) something that prevents sb from seeing or being aware of sth, or that protects sb/sth:\nWe planted a screen of tall trees. * A screen of bodyguards protected the President. * (figurative) All the research was conducted behind a screen of secrecy.\nsee also SMOKESCREEN, SUNSCREEN, WINDSCREEN\n  on window / door\n  6  [C] (especially AmE) a wire or plastic net that is held in a frame and fastened on a window, or a door, to let in air but keep out insects:\nDo you have screens on your windows? * screen windows / doors\n  in church\n  7  [C] a wood or stone structure in a church, that partly separates the main area from the ALTAR or CHOIR\n    verb [VN]\n  hide sth / sb\n  1  ~ sth/sb (from sth/sb) to hide or protect sth/sb by placing sth in front of or around them:\nDark glasses screened his eyes from the sun. * She was driven away from the court, her face screened by a magazine.\n  protect sb\n  2  ~ sb from sb/sth to protect sb from sth dangerous or unpleasant, especially to protect sb who has done sth illegal or dishonest\n  for disease\n  3  [often passive] ~ (sb) (for sth) to examine people in order to find out if they have a particular disease or illness:\nMen over 55 should be regularly screened for prostate cancer.\n  employees\n  4  (of a company, an organization, etc.) to find out information about people who work or who want to work for you in order to make sure that they can be trusted:\nGovernment employees may be screened by the security services.\n  show film / movie / programme\n  5  [usually passive] to show a film/movie, etc. in a cinema/movie theater or on television:\na list of films to be screened as part of the festival * The fight was screened live all over the world. * The second episode will be screened at the same time tomorrow.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  screen sth<->off [often passive] to separate part of a room, etc. from the rest of it by putting a screen around it:\nBeds can be screened off to give patients more privacy. * The choir is screened off from the rest of the church.\n  screen sb<->out to decide not to allow sb to join an organization, enter a country, etc. because you think they may cause trouble\n  screen sth<->out to prevent sth harmful from entering or going through sth:\nThe ozone layer screens out dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun.


Words: screen saver
Meaning:
noun\na computer program that replaces a screen display on a computer with another, moving, display after a particular length of time, to stop the screen from being damaged


Words: screening
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] the act of showing a film/movie or television programme:\nThis will be the movie’s first screening in this country.\n  2  [U, C] the testing or examining of a large number of people or things for disease, faults, etc:\nbreast cancer screening


Words: screenplay
Meaning:
noun\nthe words that are written for a film/movie (= the SCRIPT), together with instructions for how it is to be acted and filmed:\nShe won an Oscar for the movie’s screenplay.


Words: screw
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C] a thin pointed piece of metal like a nail with a raised SPIRAL line (called a THREAD) along it and a line or cross cut into its head. Screws are turned and pressed into wood, metal, etc. with a SCREWDRIVER in order to fasten two things together:\nOne of the screws is loose. * Now tighten all the screws.\nsee also CORKSCREW\n \n  2  [C] an act of turning a screw\n \n  3  [sing.] (!!!, slang) an act of having sex:\nHe hadn’t had a screw for weeks.\n \n  4  [sing.] (!!!, slang) a partner in sex:\na good screw\n  5  [C] a PROPELLER on a ship, a motor boat or an aircraft:\na twin-screw cruiser\n  6  [C] (BrE, slang) a prison officer\n IDIOMS \n  have a screw loose to be slightly strange in your behaviour\n  put the screws on (sb) to force sb to do sth by frightening and threatening them\nmore at TURN n.\n    verb\n\n \n  1  [VN +adv./prep.] to fasten one thing to another or make sth tight with a screw or screws:\nThe bookcase is screwed to the wall. * You need to screw all the parts together. * Now screw down the lid.\n \n  2  to twist sth around in order to fasten it in place: [VN, +adv./prep.] She screwed the cap back on the jar. * [VN-ADJ] Screw the bolt tight.\n \n  3  [V] to be attached by screwing:\nThe bulb should just screw into the socket. * The lid simply screws on.\n \n  4  [VN] ~ sth up (into sth) | ~ sth (up) into sth to squeeze sth, especially a piece of paper, into a tight ball:\nI screwed up the letter and threw it into the fire. * Screw the foil into a little ball.\nsee also SCREWED-UP\n  5  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) (slang) to cheat sb, especially by making them pay too much money for sth:\nWe’ve been screwed. * How much did they screw you for (= how much did you have to pay)?\n  6  (!!!, slang) to have sex with sb:\n[V] a couple screwing in the back of a car * [VN] He accused me of screwing his wife.\n IDIOMS \n  screw him, you, that, etc. (!!!, slang) an offensive way of showing that you are annoyed or do not care about sb/sth\n  screw up your courage to force yourself to be brave enough to do sth:\nI finally screwed up my courage and went to the dentist.\nmore at HEAD n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  screw around (!!!, slang) to have sex with a lot of different people\n  screw sth from / out of sb to force sb to give you sth:\nThey screwed the money out of her by threats.\n  screw up (slang, especially AmE) to do sth badly or spoil sth:\nYou really screwed up there!\nrelated noun SCREW-UP\n  screw sb<->up (slang) to upset or confuse sb so much that they are not able to deal with problems in their life:\nHer father’s death really screwed her up.\nsee also SCREWED-UP\n  screw sth<->up\n1 to fasten sth with screws:\nto screw up a crate\n2 to fasten sth by turning it:\nI screwed up the jar and put it back on the shelf.\nOPP UNSCREW\n3 (slang) to do sth badly or spoil sth:\nDon’t screw it up this time. * It was his life and if he screwed it up-too bad!\n  screw your eyes / face<->up to tighten the muscles of your eyes or face because the light is too strong, you are in pain, etc:\nHe took a sip of the medicine and screwed up his face.


Words: screw-top
Meaning:
(also screw-topped) adjective\n[only before noun] (of a container) having a top or lid that SCREWS onto it


Words: screwed-up
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (informal) upset and anxious, especially because of sth bad that has happened to you in the past:\nan extremely screwed-up kid\n  2  (especially BrE) twisted into a ball:\na screwed-up tissue\n  3  if your face or eyes are screwed-up, the muscles are tight, because you are worried, in pain, etc., or because the light is too bright


Words: scribble
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (down) to write sth quickly and carelessly, especially because you do not have much time\nSYN SCRAWL:\n[VN] He scribbled a note to his sister before leaving. * There was a scribbled message on the back of the ticket. * She scribbled down her phone number and pushed it into his hand. * [V] Throughout the interview the journalists scribbled away furiously.\n  2  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to draw marks that do not mean anything:\nSomeone had scribbled all over the table in crayon.\n    noun\n  1  [U, sing.] careless and untidy writing\nSYN SCRAWL:\nHow do you expect me to read this scribble?\n  2  [C, usually pl.] marks or pictures that seem to have no meaning\nSYN SCRAWL:\nThe page was covered with a mass of scribbles.


Words: scrimmage
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a confused struggle or fight\n  2  (in American football) a period of play that begins with the ball being placed on the ground\n  3  (AmE) a practice game of American football, basketball, etc.


Words: scrimp
Meaning:
verb\n[V] to spend very little money on the things that you need to live, especially so that you can save it to spend on sth else:\nThey scrimped and saved to give the children a good education.


Words: script
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a written text of a play, film/movie, broadcast, talk, etc:\nThat line isn’t in the original script.\n  2  [U] writing done by hand:\nShe admired his neat script.\nsee also MANUSCRIPT\n  3  [U, C] a set of letters in which a language is written\nSYN ALPHABET:\na document in Cyrillic script\n  4  [C] (BrE) a candidate’s written answer or answers in an exam\n    verb [VN] [often passive] to write the script for a film/movie, play, etc:\nThe series was scripted to appeal to an international audience.


Words: scripture
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (Scripture) [U] (also the Scriptures [pl.]) the Bible\n  2  (scriptures) [pl.] the holy books of a particular religion:\nHindu scriptures\n    scriptural  adjective:\nscriptural references


Words: scriptwriter
Meaning:
noun\na person who writes the words for films/movies, television and radio plays\ncompare PLAYWRIGHT, SCREENWRITER


Words: scroll
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a long roll of paper for writing on\n  2  a decoration cut in stone or wood with a curved shape like a roll of paper\n    verb (computing) to move text on a computer screen up or down so that you can read different parts of it: [V, +adv./prep.] Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list of files. * Scroll down to the bottom of the document. * [VN] Use the arrow keys to scroll the list of files.


Words: scroll bar
Meaning:
noun\n(computing) a strip at the edge of a computer screen that you use to scroll through a file with, using a mouse


Words: Scrooge
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (informal, disapproving) a person who is very unwilling to spend money\n ORIGIN  From Ebenezer Scrooge, a character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol who is extremely mean.


Words: scrotum
Meaning:
noun\n(plural scrotums or scrota ) the bag of skin that contains the TESTICLES in men and most male animals


Words: scrounge
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb ~ (sth) (off / from sb) | ~ (for sth) (informal, disapproving) to get sth from sb by asking them for it rather than by paying for it\nSYN SPONGE:\n[VN] He’s always scrounging free meals off us. * Can I scrounge a cigarette from you? * [V] What is she scrounging for this time? * I don’t want to spend the rest of my life scrounging off other people.\n    scrounger noun:\na campaign against welfare scroungers\n    noun\n IDIOMS \n  on the scrounge (BrE, informal, disapproving) trying to get sth by persuading sb to give it to you:\nThat brother of yours is always on the scrounge.


Words: scrub
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (-bb-)\n  1  ~ sth (down) | ~ (at sth) to clean sth by rubbing it hard, perhaps with a brush and usually with soap and water:\n[VN] I found him in the kitchen, scrubbing the floor. * He stepped into the shower and scrubbed himself all over. * She scrubbed the counters down with bleach. * [V] The woman scrubbed at her face with a tissue. * [VN-ADJ] Scrub the vegetables clean.\n  2  [VN] (informal) to cancel sth that you have arranged to do\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  scrub sth<->off | scrub sth off sth to remove sth from the surface of an object by rubbing it hard with a brush, etc:\nThis treatment involves scrubbing off the top layer of dead skin.\n  scrub sth<->out to clean the inside of sth by rubbing it hard with a brush and usually with soap and water:\nHe scrubbed out the pans and left them to drain.\n  scrub up (of a doctor, nurse, etc.) to wash your hands and arms before performing a medical operation\n    noun\n  1  [sing.] an act of scrubbing sth:\nI’ve given the floor a good scrub.\n  2  [U] small bushes and trees:\nThe bird disappeared into the scrub.\n  3  (also scrubland ) [U] an area of land covered with small bushes and trees


Words: scrubber
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE, informal) an offensive word for a prostitute or for a woman who has sex with a lot of men\n  2  a brush or other object that you use for cleaning things, for example pans


Words: scrubby
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  covered with small bushes and trees:\na scrubby hillside\n  2  (of trees) small and not fully developed:\nscrubby vegetation / bushes


Words: scruff
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE, informal) a dirty or untidy person\n IDIOMS \n  by the scruff of the / sb’s neck roughly holding the back of an animal’s or person’s neck:\nShe grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him out.


Words: scruffy
Meaning:
adjective\n(scruffier, scruffiest) (informal) dirty or untidy:\nHe looked a little scruffy. * She was wearing a scruffy pair of jeans.\n    scruffily adverb\n    scruffiness noun [U]


Words: scrum
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (also formal scrummage) a part of a rugby game when players from both sides link themselves together in a group, with their heads down, and push against the other side. The ball is then thrown between them and each side tries to get it\n \n  2  the group of players who link themselves together in a scrum\n \n  3  a crowd of people who are pushing each other:\nThere was a real scrum when the bus arrived.


Words: scrummage
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (formal) = SCRUM\n    verb (also scrum down) [V] (sport) to form a SCRUM during a game of rugby


Words: scrumpy
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) a type of strong CIDER (= an alcoholic drink made from apples), made especially in the west of England


Words: scrunch
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [V] to make a loud sound like the one that is made when you walk on small stones (= GRAVEL):\nThe snow scrunched underfoot.\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (up) to squeeze sth into a small round shape in your hands:\nHe scrunched up the note and threw it on the fire.\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (up) to make sth become smaller:\nThe hedgehog scrunched itself up into a ball.\n    scrunch noun [sing.]:\nthe scrunch of tyres on the gravel


Words: scrunchy
Meaning:
(also scrunchie)  noun\n(plural scrunchies) an elastic band covered in fabric used to fasten hair away from the face


Words: scruple
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [C, usually pl., U] a feeling that prevents you from doing sth that you think may be morally wrong:\nI overcame my moral scruples. * He had no scruples about spying on her. * She is totally without scruple.\n    verb [V to inf] (not scruple to do sth) (formal) to be willing to do sth even if it might be wrong or immoral


Words: scrupulous
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  careful about paying attention to every detail\nSYN METICULOUS:\nYou must be scrupulous about hygiene when you’re preparing a baby’s feed. * scrupulous attention to detail\n  2  ~ (in sth / in doing sth) careful to be honest and do what is right:\nShe had a reputation for scrupulous honesty. * He was scrupulous in all his business dealings.\nOPP UNSCRUPULOUS\n    scrupulously adverb:\nHer house is scrupulously clean. * to be scrupulously fair / honest


Words: scrutinize
Meaning:
(BrE also scrutinise)  verb\n[VN] (written) to look at or examine sb/sth carefully:\nShe leaned forward to scrutinize their faces. * The statement was carefully scrutinized before publication.


Words: scrutiny
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) careful and thorough examination:\nHer argument doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny. * Foreign policy has come under close scrutiny recently. * The documents should be available for public scrutiny. * The situation is bound to come under the scrutiny of the public health authorities.


Words: scuba-diving
Meaning:
(also scuba) noun\n[U] the sport or activity of swimming underwater using special breathing equipment. This consists of a container of air which you carry on your back and a tube through which you breathe the air:\nto go scuba-diving


Words: scud
Meaning:
verb\n(-dd-) [V +adv./prep.] (literary) (of clouds) to move quickly across the sky:\nPuffy white clouds were scudding past.


Words: scuff
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (on sth) to make a mark on the smooth surface of sth when you rub it against sth rough:\nI scuffed the heel of my shoe on the stonework.\n  2  ~ your feet, heels, etc. to drag your feet along the ground as you walk\n    scuffed adjective:\nAfter only one day, his shoes were already scuffed and dirty.\n    scuff (also scuff mark) noun


Words: scuffle
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun ~ (with sb) a short and not very violent fight or struggle:\nScuffles broke out between police and demonstrators. * He was involved in a scuffle with a photographer.\n    verb [V] \n  1  ~ (with sb) (of two or more people) to fight or struggle with each other for a short time, in a way that is not very serious:\nShe scuffled with photographers as she left her hotel. * They scuffled for a few minutes, but did not exchange blows.\n  2  [+adv./prep.] to move quickly making a quiet rubbing noise:\nSome animal was scuffling in the bushes.


Words: scuffling
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a low noise made by sth moving around:\nHe could hear whispering and scuffling on the other side of the door.


Words: scull
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, usually pl.] one of a pair of small OARS used by a single person rowing a boat, one in each hand\n  2  (sculls) [pl.] a race between small light boats with pairs of sculls:\nsingle / double sculls (= with one / two people in each boat)\n  3  [C] a small light boat used in sculls races\n    verb [V] to ROW a boat using sculls


Words: scullery
Meaning:
noun\n(plural sculleries) a small room next to the kitchen in an old house, originally used for washing dishes, etc.


Words: sculpt
Meaning:
verb [VN] [usually passive]\n  1  ~ sth (in / from / out of sth) to make figures or objects by carving or shaping wood, stone, clay, metal, etc:\na display of animals sculpted in ice * The figures were sculpted from single blocks of marble.\n  2  (written) to give sth a particular shape:\na coastline sculpted by the wind and sea * (figurative) a firmly sculpted mouth


Words: sculpture
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  [C, U] a work of art that is a solid figure or object made by carving or shaping wood, stone, clay, metal, etc:\na marble sculpture of Venus * He collects modern sculpture.\n \n  2  [U] the art of making sculptures:\nthe techniques of sculpture in stone\n \n    sculptural  adjective:\nsculptural decoration


Words: sculptured
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (of figures or objects) carved or shaped from wood, stone, clay, metal, etc.\n  2  (approving) (of part of the body) having a clear and pleasing shape:\nsculptured cheekbones


Words: scum
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, sing.] a layer of bubbles or an unpleasant substance that forms on the surface of a liquid:\nSkim off any scum. * stinking water covered by a thick green scum\n  2  (informal) [pl.] an insulting word for people that you strongly disapprove of:\nDon’t waste your sympathy on scum like that. * Drug dealers are the scum of the earth (= the worst people there are).\n    scummy  adjective:\nscummy water * scummy people dropping litter


Words: scupper
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] (BrE, informal) to cause sb/sth to fail\nSYN FOIL:\nThe residents’ protests scuppered their plans for developing the land. * Their chances of winning were scuppered by injury.


Words: scurrilous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) very rude and insulting, and intended to damage sb’s reputation:\nscurrilous gossip / rumours / attacks * He wrote a scurrilous piece about me in the local press.\n    scurrilously adverb


Words: scurry
Meaning:
verb\n(scurries, scurrying, scurried, scurried) [V +adv./prep.] to run with quick short steps\nSYN SCUTTLE:\nShe said goodbye and scurried back to work. * Ants scurried around the pile of rotting food. * The shots sent everyone scurrying for cover.\n    scurry noun [sing.]


Words: scuttle
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  [V +adv./prep.] to run with quick short steps\nSYN SCURRY:\nShe scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. * He held his breath as a rat scuttled past. * The rain sent everyone scuttling for cover.\n  2  [VN] to deliberately cause sth to fail\nSYN FOIL:\nShareholders successfully scuttled the deal.\n  3  [VN] to sink a ship deliberately by making holes in the side or bottom of it\n    noun = COAL SCUTTLE


Words: scuttlebutt
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (AmE, slang) stories about other people’s private lives, that may be unkind or not true\nSYN GOSSIP


Words: scythe
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a tool with a long handle and a slightly curved blade, used for cutting long grass and corn\n    verb to cut grass, corn, etc. with a scythe:\n[VN] the scent of newly scythed grass * [V] (figurative) The plane scythed through buildings in the city’s suburbs.


Words: sea
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (often the sea) [U] (also literary seas [pl.]) (especially BrE) the salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its continents and islands:\nto travel by sea * a cottage by the sea * The waste was dumped in the sea. * Now the wreck is lying at the bottom of the sea. * We left port and headed for the open sea (= far away from land). * the cold seas of the Antarctic * a sea voyage * a hotel room with sea view\nsee also THE HIGH SEAS, OCEAN\n \n  2  [C] (often Sea, especially as part of a name) a large area of salt water that is part of an ocean or surrounded by land:\nthe North Sea * the Caspian Sea\n \n  3  [C] (also seas [pl.]) the movement of the waves of the sea:\nIt was a calm sea. * The sea was very rough.\n  4  [sing.] ~ of sth a large amount of sth that stretches over a wide area:\nHe looked down at the sea of smiling faces before him.\n IDIOMS \n  at sea\n1 on the sea, especially in a ship, or in the sea:\nIt happened on the second night at sea. * They were lost at sea.\n2 confused and not knowing what to do:\nI’m all at sea with these new regulations.\n  go to sea to become a sailor\n  out to sea far away from land where the sea is deepest:\nShe fell overboard and was swept out to sea.\n  put (out) to sea to leave a port or harbour by ship or boat\nmore at DEVIL, FISH n.\n______________________________\n BRITISH / AMERICAN \nsea / ocean\nIn BrE, the usual word for the mass of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface is the sea. In AmE, the usual word is the ocean: A swimmer drowned in the sea / ocean this morning.\nThe names of particular areas of seas, however, are fixed: the Mediterranean Sea * the Atlantic Ocean.\nSea / ocean are also used if you go to the coast on holiday / vacation: We’re spending a week at the sea / ocean in June. In AmE it is also common to say: We’re going to the beach for vacation.\n-> note at COAST\n______________________________


Words: sea change
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (written) a strong and noticeable change in a situation:\nIt was one of those momentous events that cause a sea change in public attitudes.


Words: sea front
Meaning:
(often the sea front) noun\n[sing.] the part of a town facing the sea/ocean:\nthe grand houses along the sea front


Words: sea legs
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] the ability to walk easily on a moving ship and not to feel sick at sea:\nIt won’t take you long to find your sea legs.


Words: sea level
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the average height of the sea/ocean, used as the basis for measuring the height of all places on land:\n50 metres above sea level


Words: sea lion
Meaning:
noun\na large SEAL (= a sea animal with thick fur, that eats fish and lives around the coast) that lives by the Pacific Ocean


Words: sea power
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the ability to control the seas with a strong navy\n  2  [C] a country with a strong navy


Words: seabird
Meaning:
noun\na bird that lives close to the sea, for example on cliffs or islands, and gets its food from it


Words: seafaring
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] connected with work or travel on the sea/ocean:\na seafaring nation\n    seafaring noun [U]


Words: seafood
Meaning:
noun\n[U] fish and sea creatures that can be eaten, especially shellfish:\na seafood restaurant * a seafood cocktail


Words: seal
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  sea animal\n \n  1  [C] a sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts. There are many types of seal, some of which are hunted for their fur:\na colony of seals * grey seals basking on the rocks * The annual seal hunt takes place on the pack ice off Greenland.\n \n  official mark\n \n  2  [C] an official design or mark, stamped on a document to show that it is genuine and carries the authority of a particular person or organization:\nThe letter bore the president’s seal.\n \n  making sth definite\n \n  3  [sing.] a thing that makes sth definite:\nThe project has been given the government’s seal of approval (= official approval). * I looked upon the gift as a seal on our friendship.\n  on containers\n  4  [C] a substance, strip of material, etc. used to fill a crack so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out:\na jar with a rubber seal in the lid * Only drink bottled water and check the seal isn’t broken.\n  on letters / boxes\n  5  [C] a piece of WAX (= a soft substance produced by bees), soft metal or paper that is placed across the opening of sth such as a letter or box and which has to be broken before the letter or box can be opened:\nHe broke the wax seal and unrolled the paper.\n  6  a piece of metal, a ring, etc. with a design on it, used for stamping a WAX or metal seal\n IDIOMS \n  set the seal on sth (formal) to make sth definite or complete:\nHer election to the premiership set the seal on a remarkable political career.\n  under seal (formal) (of a document) in a sealed envelope that cannot be opened before a particular time\n    verb [VN]\n  close envelope\n  1  ~ sth (up / down) to close an envelope, etc. by sticking the edges of the opening together:\nMake sure you’ve signed the cheque before sealing the envelope. * a sealed bid (= one that is kept in a sealed envelope and therefore remains secret until all other bids have been received)\n  close container\n  2  [often passive] ~ sth (up) (with sth) to close a container tightly or fill a crack, etc., especially so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out:\nThe organs are kept in sealed plastic bags.\n  cover surface\n  3  [often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to cover the surface of sth with a substance in order to protect it:\nThe floors had been stripped and sealed with varnish.\n  make sth definite\n  4  (written) to make sth definite, so that it cannot be changed or argued about:\nto seal a contract / deal * They drank a glass of wine to seal their new friendship. * The discovery of new evidence sealed his fate (= nothing could prevent what was going to happen to him). * She sealed victory with a birdie at the final hole.\n  close borders / exits\n  5  (of the police, army, etc.) to prevent people from passing through a place:\nTroops have sealed the borders between the countries.\n IDIOMS  see LIP, SIGN v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  seal sth<->in to prevent sth that is contained in sth else from escaping:\nFold the pastry over at the ends to seal in the juices.\n  seal sth in sth to put sth in an envelope, container, etc. and seal it:\nThe body was sealed in a lead coffin.\n  seal sth<->off (of the police, army) to prevent people from entering a particular area:\nTroops sealed off the site following a bomb alert. * The road will remain sealed off until the police have completed their investigations.


Words: sealant
Meaning:
(also sealer) noun\n[U, C] a substance that is put onto a surface to stop air, water, etc. from entering or escaping from it


Words: sealing wax
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a type of WAX that melts quickly when it is heated and becomes hard quickly when it cools, used in the past for SEALING letters, etc.


Words: seam
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a line along which two edges of fabric, etc. are joined or sewn together:\na shoulder seam\n  2  a thin layer of coal or other material, between layers of rock under the ground:\nThey struck a rich seam of iron ore. * (figurative) The book is a rich seam of information.\n  3  a line where two edges meet, for example the edges of wooden boards:\nLight was spilling in through the seams of the door.\n IDIOMS \n  be bursting / bulging at the seams (informal) to be very full, especially of people\n  be falling / coming apart at the seams (informal) to be going very badly wrong and likely to stop functioning completely:\nShe was falling apart at the seams, spending most of her time in tears. * His little world fell apart at the seams.\nmore at FRAY v.


Words: seaman
Meaning:
noun\n(plural seamen ) a member of the navy or a sailor on a ship below the rank of an officer:\nSeaman Bates * a merchant seaman\nsee also ABLE SEAMAN, ORDINARY SEAMAN


Words: seamed
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  having a seam or seams:\nseamed stockings\n  2  (written) covered with deep lines:\nan old man with a brown seamed face


Words: seamless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  without a SEAM:\na seamless garment\n  2  with no spaces or pauses between one part and the next:\na seamless flow of talk\n    seamlessly adverb


Words: seamstress
Meaning:
noun\n(old-fashioned) a woman who can sew and make clothes or whose job is sewing and making clothes


Words: seamy
Meaning:
adjective\n(seamier, seamiest) unpleasant and immoral\nSYN SORDID:\na seamy sex scandal * the seamier side of life


Words: sear
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to burn the surface of sth in a way that is sudden and powerful:\nThe heat of the sun seared their faces. * spicy food that sears the mouth * Sear the meat first (= cook the outside of it quickly at a high temperature) to retain its juices.\n  2  (written) to cause sb to feel sudden and great pain: [V, +adv./prep.] The pain seared along her arm. * [VN] Feelings of guilt seared him.\nsee also SEARING


Words: search
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  ~ (for sb/sth) an attempt to find sb/sth, especially by looking carefully for them/it:\nAfter a long search for the murder weapon, the police found a knife. * Detectives carried out a thorough search of the building. * She went into the kitchen in search of (= looking for) a drink. * The search for a cure goes on. * The search is on (= has begun) for someone to fill the post. * Eventually the search was called off. * a mountain search and rescue team\n  2  (computing) an act of looking for information in a computer DATABASE or NETWORK:\nto do a search on the Internet * a search engine (= a program that does searches)\n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (for sth/sb) to look carefully for sth/sb; to examine a particular place when looking for sb/sth: [V, +adv./prep.] She searched in vain for her passport. * The customs officers searched through our bags. * I’ve searched high and low for those files but I can’t find them anywhere. * I found these photos while searching among some old papers. * [VN] His house had clearly been searched and the book was missing. * Firefighters searched the buildings for survivors. * searching the Web for interesting sites * [V, VN] Police searched for clues in the area. * Police searched the area for clues.\n  2  [VN] ~ sb (for sth) (especially of the police) to examine sb’s clothes, their pockets, etc. in order to find sth that they may be hiding:\nVisitors are regularly searched as they enter the building. * The youths were arrested and searched for anything that would incriminate them.\nsee also STRIP-SEARCH\n  3  [V] ~ (for sth) to think carefully about sth, especially in order to find the answer to a problem:\nHe searched desperately for something to say. * The committee has been searching for new ways to tackle youth unemployment.\nsee also SOUL-SEARCHING\n IDIOMS \n  search me (spoken) used to emphasize that you do not know the answer to sb’s question:\n’Why didn’t she say anything?’ ’Search me!’\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  search sth/sb<->out to look for sth/sb until you find them:\nFighter pilots searched out and attacked enemy aircraft.


Words: search party
Meaning:
noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] an organized group of people who are looking for a person or thing that is missing or lost:\nto send out a search party


Words: search warrant
Meaning:
noun\nan official document that allows the police to search a building, for example to look for stolen property


Words: searcher
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who is trying to find sth/sb\n  2  (computing) a program that helps you find information in a computer DATABASE or NETWORK; a search engine


Words: searching
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (of a book, a question, etc.) trying to find out the truth about sth; thorough and serious:\na searching investigation / analysis / examination * He gave her a long, searching look. * The police asked him some searching questions.\n    searchingly adverb:\nShe looked at him searchingly.


Words: searchlight
Meaning:
noun\na powerful lamp that can be turned in any direction, used, for example, for finding people or vehicles at night


Words: searing
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun] (written)\n  1  so strong that it seems to burn you:\nthe searing heat of a tropical summer * He felt a searing pain in his neck.\n  2  (of words or speech) powerful and critical:\nThe article was a searing attack on the government.\n    searingly adverb-see also SEAR


Words: seascape
Meaning:
noun\na picture or view of the sea:\na vast, sweeping seascape of sky, waves and sand\ncompare TOWNSCAPE


Words: seashell
Meaning:
noun\nthe shell of a small creature that lives in the sea, often found empty when the creature has died


Words: seashore
Meaning:
(usually the seashore) noun\n[usually sing.] the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, usually where there is sand and rocks:\nHe liked to look for shells on the seashore.


Words: seasick
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] feeling ill/sick or wanting to VOMIT when you are travelling on a boat or ship:\nto be / feel / get seasick\n    seasickness noun [U]:\nto suffer from seasickness


Words: seaside
Meaning:
(often the seaside) noun\n[sing.] (especially BrE) an area that is by the sea, especially one where people go for a day or a holiday/vacation:\na trip to the seaside * a day at / by the seaside\n    seaside adjective [only before noun]:\na seaside resort * a seaside vacation home -> COAST


Words: season
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  any of the four main periods of the year: spring, summer, autumn/fall and winter:\nthe changing seasons\n  2  the dry / rainy / wet ~ a period of the year in tropical countries when it is either very dry or it rains a lot\n  3  a period of time during a year when a particular activity happens or is done:\nthe cricket / hunting / shooting season * He scored his first goal of the season on Saturday. * The female changes colour during the breeding season. * The hotels are always full during the peak season (= when most people are on holiday / vacation). * (BrE) the holiday season * (AmE) the tourist season * (AmE) the holiday season (= the time of Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year) * (BrE) the festive season (= Christmas)\nsee also CLOSE SEASON, HIGH SEASON, LOW SEASON, OFF SEASON, THE SILLY SEASON\n  4  a period of time in which a play is shown in one place; a series of plays, films/movies or television programmes:\nThe play opens for a second season in London next week. * a season of films by Alfred Hitchcock\n  5  a period of time during one year when a particular style of clothes, hair, etc. is popular and fashionable:\nThis season’s look is soft and romantic.\n IDIOMS \n  in season\n1 (of fruit or vegetables) easily available and ready to eat because it is the right time of year for them:\nStrawberries are now in season.\n2 (of a female animal) ready to MATE\n  out of season\n1 (of fruit or vegetables) not easily available because it is not the right time of year for them\n2 at the times of year when few people go on holiday/vacation:\nHotels are cheaper out of season.\n  season’s greetings (written) used as a greeting at Christmas\n    verb ~ sth (with sth) to add salt, pepper, etc. to food in order to give it more flavour:\n[VN] Season the lamb with garlic and rosemary. * [V] Add the mushrooms and onions, and season to taste (= add as much salt, pepper, etc. as you think is necessary).


Words: season ticket
Meaning:
noun\na ticket that you can use many times within a particular period, for example on a regular train or bus journey, or for a series of games, sports, etc., and that costs less than paying separately each time:\nan annual / a monthly season ticket * a season ticket holder


Words: seasonal
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  happening or needed during a particular season; varying with the seasons:\nseasonal workers brought in to cope with the Christmas period * seasonal variations in unemployment figures\n  2  typical of or suitable for the time of year, especially Christmas:\nseasonal decorations\nOPP UNSEASONAL\n    seasonally  adverb:\nseasonally adjusted unemployment figures (= not including the changes that always happen in different seasons)


Words: seasonality
Meaning:
noun\n[U, sing.] (technical) the fact of varying with the seasons:\na high degree of climatic seasonality


Words: seasoned
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] (of a person) having a lot of experience of a particular activity:\na seasoned campaigner / performer / traveller\n  2  (of food) with salt, pepper, etc. added to it:\nToss the meat in seasoned flour. * The sausage was very highly seasoned.\n  3  (of wood) made suitable for use by being left outside:\nseasoned oak / timber


Words: seasoning
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a substance used to add flavour to food, especially salt and pepper:\nStir in the lemon rind and seasoning.


Words: seat
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  place to sit\n \n  1  a place where you can sit, for example a chair:\nShe sat back in her seat. * He put his shopping on the seat behind him. * Please take a seat (= sit down). * a window / corner seat (= one near a window / in a corner) * a child seat (= for a child in a car) * We used the branch of an old tree as a seat. * We all filed back to our seats in silence.\nsee also BACK SEAT, BUCKET SEAT, HOT SEAT, LOVE SEAT\n \n  -seater\n \n  2  (in nouns and adjectives) with the number of seats mentioned: (BrE) a ten-seater minibus * an all-seater stadium (= in which nobody is allowed to stand)\n \n  part of chair\n \n  3  the part of a chair, etc. on which you actually sit:\na steel chair with a plastic seat\n  in plane / train / theatre\n  4  a place where you pay to sit in a plane, train, theatre, etc:\nto book / reserve a seat (= for a concert, etc.) * There are no seats left on that flight.\n  official position\n  5  an official position as a member of a parliament, council, committee, etc:\na seat on the city council / in Parliament / in Congress * to win / lose a seat (= in an election) * (BrE) to take your seat (= to begin your duties, especially in Parliament) * The majority of seats on the board will be held by business representatives.\nsee also SAFE SEAT\n  town / city\n  6  ~ of sth (formal) a place where people are involved in a particular activity, especially a city that has a university or the offices of a government:\nWashington is the seat of government of the US. * a university town renowned as a seat of learning\n  country house\n  7  (also country seat) (both BrE) a large house in the country, that belongs to a member of the upper class:\nthe family seat in Norfolk\n  part of body\n  8  (especially formal) the part of the body on which a person sits\nSYN BUTTOCKS\n  part of trousers / pants\n  9  the part of a pair of trousers/pants that covers a person’s seat\n IDIOMS \n  (fly) by the seat of your pants to act without careful thought and without a plan that you have made in advance, hoping that you will be lucky and be successful\n  be in the driving seat (BrE) (AmE be in the driver’s seat) to be the person in control of a situation\nmore at BACK SEAT, BUM n., EDGE n.\n    verb [VN]\n  sit down\n  1  ~ (yourself) (formal) to give sb a place to sit; to sit down in a place:\nPlease wait to be seated (= in a restaurant, etc.). * Please be seated (= sit down). * He seated himself behind the desk. * Please remain seated until the aircraft has come to a halt. * The bus can carry 42 seated passengers.\n  of building / vehicle\n  2  to have enough seats for a particular number of people:\nThe aircraft seats 200 passengers. * The auditorium can seat an audience of 5 000.


Words: seat belt
Meaning:
(also safety belt) noun\na belt that is attached to the seat in a car or a plane and that you fasten around yourself so that you are not thrown out of the seat if there is an accident:\nFasten your seat belts.


Words: seating
Meaning:
noun\n[U] places to sit; seats:\nThe theatre has seating for about 500 people. * The room had a seating capacity of over 200. * the seating arrangements for the conference


Words: seaward
Meaning:
adjective\ntowards the sea; in the direction of the sea:\nthe seaward side of the coastal road\n    seaward (also seawards ) adverb:\nHer gaze was fixed seawards.


Words: seaway
Meaning:
noun\na passage from the sea through the land along which large ships can travel:\nIn 1959 the St Lawrence Seaway opened to shipping.


Words: seaweed
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a plant that grows in the sea or ocean, or on rocks at the edge of the sea or ocean. There are many different types of seaweed, some of which are eaten as food.


Words: sebaceous
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (biology) producing a substance like oil in the body:\nthe sebaceous glands in the skin


Words: sec
Meaning:
noun\n(a sec) [sing.] (informal) a very short time; a second:\nStay there. I’ll be back in a sec. * Hang on (= wait) a sec.


Words: secateurs
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a garden tool like a pair of strong scissors, used for cutting plant stems and small branches:\na pair of secateurs


Words: secede
Meaning:
verb\n[V] ~ (from sth) (formal) (of a state, country, etc.) to officially leave an organization of states, countries, etc. and become independent:\nThe Republic of Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903.


Words: secession
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] ~ (from sth) the fact of an area or group becoming independent from the country or larger group that it belongs to


Words: secessionist
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] supporting or connected with secession:\nsecessionist groups\n    secessionist noun:\na military campaign against the secessionists


Words: seclude
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ yourself / sb (from sb/sth) (formal) to keep yourself/sb away from contact with other people:\nThe monks secluded themselves from the rest of society.


Words: secluded
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a place) quiet and private; not used or disturbed by other people:\na secluded garden / beach / spot\n  2  without much contact with other people:\nto lead a secluded life


Words: seclusion
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the state of being private or of having little contact with other people:\nthe seclusion and peace of the island * He spends much of his time in seclusion in the mountains.


Words: second
Meaning:
determiner, ordinal number, adverb, noun, verb-see also SECOND\n    determiner, ordinal number\n  1  happening or coming next after the first in a series of similar things or people; 2nd:\nThis is the second time it’s happened. * Italy scored a second goal just after half-time. * the second of June / June 2nd * He was the second to arrive. * We have one child and are expecting our second in July.\n  2  next in order of importance, size, quality, etc. to one other person or thing:\nOsaka is Japan’s second-largest city / Japan’s second city. * The spreadsheet application is second only to word processing in terms of popularity. * As a dancer, he is second to none (= nobody is a better dancer than he is).\n  3  [only before noun] another; in addition to one that you already own or use:\nThey have a second home in Tuscany. * teachers of English as a second language (= to people who already speak one or more other languages)\n    adverb\n  1  after one other person or thing in order or importance:\nShe came second in the marathon. * I agreed to speak second. * He is a writer first and a scientist second.\n  2  used to introduce the second of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing\nSYN SECONDLY:\nShe did it first because she wanted to, and second because I asked her to.\n    noun\n  1  [C] (Symbol ") (abbreviation sec.) a unit for measuring time. There are 60 seconds in one minute:\nShe can run 100 metres in just over 11 seconds. * For several seconds he did not reply. * The light flashes every 5 seconds. * The water flows at about 1.5 metres per second.\n  2  [C] (also informal sec) a very short time\nSYN MOMENT:\nI’ll be with you in a second. * They had finished in / within seconds. * He scored again in the dying seconds (= the last few seconds) of the game.\nsee also SPLIT SECOND\n  3  [C] (Symbol ") a unit for measuring angles. There are 60 seconds in one minute:\n1ｰ 6’ 10" (= one degree, six minutes and ten seconds)\n  4  (seconds) [pl.] (spoken) a second amount of the same food that you have just eaten:\nSeconds, anybody?\n  5  [C, usually pl.] an item that is sold at a lower price than usual because it is not perfect\n  6  (also second gear) [U] one of four or five positions of the GEARS in a vehicle:\nWhen it’s icy, move off in second. * to change down from third to second\n  7  [C] a level of university degree at British universities. An upper second is a good degree and a lower second is average.\ncompare FIRST n. (4), THIRD n. (2)\n  8  [C] a person whose role is to help and support sb else, for example in a boxing match or in a formal DUEL in the past\n IDIOMS  see JUST adv., WAIT v.\n    verb [VN] to state officially at a meeting that you support another person’s idea, suggestion, etc. so that it can be discussed and/or voted on:\nAny proposal must be seconded by two other members of the committee. * (spoken) ’Thank God that’s finished.’ ’I’ll second that! (= I agree)’\ncompare PROPOSE\n\n verb\n[VN] [usually passive] ~ sb (from sth) (to sth) (especially BrE) to send an employee to another department, office, etc. in order to do a different job for a short period of time:\nEach year two teachers are seconded to industry for six months.\nsee also SECOND\n    secondment (BrE) noun [U, C]:\nThey met while she was on secondment from the Foreign Office.


Words: second best
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not as good as the best:\nThe two teams seemed evenly matched but Arsenal came off second best (= did not win). * my second-best suit\n  2  not exactly what you want; not perfect:\na second-best choice / option / solution\n    second best noun [U]:\nSometimes you have to settle for (= be content with) second best.


Words: second class
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a way of travelling on a train or ship that costs less and is less comfortable than FIRST CLASS. In Britain this is now usually called standard class.\n  2  (in Britain) the class of mail that costs less and takes longer to arrive than FIRST CLASS:\nSecond class is cheaper.\n  3  (in the US) the system of sending newspapers and magazines by mail\n  4  [U, sing.] the second highest standard of degree given by a British university, often divided into upper second class and lower second class


Words: second home
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a house or flat/apartment that sb owns as well as their main home and uses, for example, for holidays/vacations\n  2  [sing.] a place where sb lives and which they know as well as, and like as much as, their home:\nI was born in New York but France is my second home.


Words: second in command
Meaning:
noun\na person who has the second highest rank in a group and takes charge when the leader is not there:\nFor twenty years he served the business as second in command to his father. * his second in command, Major Thursby


Words: second language
Meaning:
noun\na language that sb learns to speak well and that they use for work or at school, but that is not the language they learned first:\nESL or English as a Second Language


Words: second name
Meaning:
noun (especially BrE)\n  1  a family name or SURNAME\n  2  a second personal name:\nHis second name is Willem, after his grandfather.


Words: second nature
Meaning:
noun\n[U] ~ (to sb) (to do sth) something that you do very easily and naturally, because it is part of your character or you have done it so many times:\nHe found that teaching was second nature to him.


Words: second sight
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability that some people seem to have to know or see what will happen in the future or what is happening in a different place


Words: second wind
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal) new energy that makes you able to continue with sth that had made you tired


Words: second-class
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (disapproving) (of a person) less important than other people:\nOlder people should not be treated as second-class citizens.\n  2  of a lower standard or quality than the best:\na second-class education\n  3  [only before noun] connected with the less expensive way of travelling on a train, ship, etc:\nsecond-class carriages / compartments / passengers\n  4  [only before noun] (in Britain) connected with letters, parcels/packages, etc. that you pay less to send and that are delivered less quickly:\nsecond-class letters / stamps\n  5  (in the US) connected with the system of sending newspapers and magazines by mail\n  6  [only before noun] used to describe a British university degree which is good but not of the highest class:\nApplicants should have at least a second-class honours degree.\n    second-class adverb:\nto send a letter second-class * to travel second-class


Words: second-degree
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun]\n  1  ~ murder, assault, burglary, etc. (especially AmE) murder, etc. that is less serious than FIRST-DEGREE crimes\n  2  ~ burns burns of the second most serious of three kinds, causing BLISTERS but no permanent marks\ncompare FIRST-DEGREE, THIRD-DEGREE


Words: second-guess
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to guess what sb will do before they do it:\nIt was impossible to second-guess the decision of the jury.\n  2  (especially AmE) to criticize sb after a decision has been made; to criticize sth after it has happened:\n[VN] There’s no point in second-guessing the issue now. [also V]


Words: second-hand
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not new; owned by sb else before:\nsecond-hand cars * a second-hand bookshop (= for selling second-hand books)\n  2  (often disapproving) (of news, information, etc.) learned from other people, not from your own experience:\nsecond-hand knowledge / opinions\n    second-hand adverb:\nI bought the camera second-hand. * I only heard about it second-hand.\ncompare FIRST-HAND


Words: second-string
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (especially AmE) (usually of a player in a sports team) only used occasionally where sb/sth else is not available:\na second-string quarterback\n    second string noun:\nWilson was a second string for New Zealand in last week’s match.


Words: secondary
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (to sth) less important than sth else:\na secondary consideration / issue / role * Experience is what matters-age is of secondary importance. * Raising animals was only secondary to other forms of farming.\n  2  happening as a result of sth else:\na secondary infection / tumour * a secondary effect * a secondary colour (= made from mixing two primary colours)\n  3  [only before noun] connected with teaching children of 11-18 years:\nsecondary teachers * the secondary curriculum\ncompare ELEMENTARY, PRIMARY, TERTIARY\n    secondarily  adverb:\nPoverty is primarily a cause of illness and only secondarily its effect.


Words: secondary education
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (especially BrE) education for children between the ages of 11 and 18:\nprimary and secondary education


Words: secondary modern
Meaning:
noun\n(in Britain until the 1970s) a school for young people between the ages of 11 and 16 who did not go to a GRAMMAR SCHOOL


Words: secondary picketing
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) the act of preventing workers who are not involved in a strike from supplying goods to the company where the strike is held


Words: secondary school
Meaning:
noun\na school for young people between the ages of 11 and 16 or 18\ncompare PRIMARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL


Words: secondary source
Meaning:
noun\na book or other source of information where the writer has taken the information from some other source and not collected it himself or herself\ncompare PRIMARY SOURCE


Words: secondary stress
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (phonetics) the second strongest stress that is put on a syllable in a word or a phrase when it is spoken\ncompare PRIMARY STRESS


Words: seconder
Meaning:
noun\na person who SECONDS a proposal, etc. (= supports it so that it can be discussed)\ncompare PROPOSER


Words: secondly
Meaning:
adverb\nused to introduce the second of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing:\nFirstly, it’s expensive, and secondly, it’s too slow.


Words: secrecy
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact of making sure that nothing is known about sth; the state of being secret:\nthe need for absolute secrecy in this matter * Everyone involved was sworn to secrecy. * The whole affair is still shrouded in secrecy.


Words: secret
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  1  ~ (from sb) known about by only a few people; kept hidden from others:\nsecret information / meetings / talks * He tried to keep it secret from his family. * Details of the proposals remain secret. * a secret passage leading to the beach\nsee also TOP SECRET\n  2  [only before noun] used to describe actions and behaviour that you do not tell other people about:\nHe’s a secret drinker. * I didn’t know you were a secret football fan. * her secret hopes / fears * a secret room\n  3  [not usually before noun] ~ (about sth) (of a person or their behaviour) liking to have secrets that other people do not know about; showing this\nSYN SECRETIVE:\nThey were so secret about everything. * Jessica caught a secret smile flitting between the two of them.\n    secretly adverb:\nThe police had secretly filmed the conversations. * She was secretly pleased to see him.\n    noun\n  1  [C] something that is known about by only a few people and not told to others:\nCan you keep a secret? * The location of the ship is a closely-guarded secret. * Shall we let him in on (= tell him) the secret? * He made no secret of his ambition (= he didn’t try to hide it). * She was dismissed for revealing trade secrets. * official / State secrets * dark secrets from his past\n  2  (usually the secret) [sing.] the best or only way to achieve sth; the way a particular person achieves sth:\nCareful planning is the secret of success. * She still looks so young. What’s her secret?\n  3  [C, usually pl.] a thing that is not yet fully understood or that is difficult to understand:\nthe secrets of life / the universe\n IDIOMS \n  in secret without other people knowing about it:\nThe meeting was held in secret. * She admired him, in secret of course.\nmore at OPEN adj.


Words: secret agent
Meaning:
(also agent) noun\na person who is used by a government to find out secret information about other countries or governments\nSYN SPY


Words: secret police
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.+sing./pl. v.] a police force that works secretly to make sure that citizens behave as their government wants


Words: secret service
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a government department that is responsible for protecting its government’s military and political secrets and for finding out the secrets of other governments


Words: secretariat
Meaning:
noun\nthe administrative department of a large international or political organization, especially the office of a SECRETARY GENERAL


Words: secretary
Meaning:
noun (plural secretaries) (abbreviation Sec.)\n  1  a person who works in an office, working for another person, dealing with letters and telephone calls, typing, keeping records, arranging meetings with people, etc:\na legal / medical secretary * Please contact my secretary to make an appointment.\nsee also PRIVATE SECRETARY\n  2  an official of a club, society, etc. who deals with writing letters, keeping records, and making business arrangements:\nthe membership secretary\n  3  (Secretary) = SECRETARY OF STATE\nsee also HOME SECRETARY, PERMANENT UNDERSECRETARY\n  4  (AmE) the head of a government department, chosen by the President:\nSecretary of the Treasury\n  5  (in Britain) an assistant of a government minister, an AMBASSADOR, etc.\nsee also UNDERSECRETARY


Words: Secretary General
Meaning:
noun\nthe person who is in charge of the administrative department of a large international or political organization:\nthe former Secretary General of NATO


Words: Secretary of State
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (also Secretary) (in Britain) the head of an important government department:\nthe Secretary of State for Education and Employment * the Education Secretary * the Foreign Secretary\n  2  (in the US) the head of the government department that deals with foreign affairs


Words: secrete
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (of part of the body or a plant) to produce a liquid substance:\nInsulin is secreted by the pancreas.\n  2  ~ sth (in sth) (formal) to hide sth, especially sth small:\nThe drugs were secreted in the lining of his case.


Words: secretion
Meaning:
noun (technical)\n  1  [U] the process by which liquid substances are produced by parts of the body or plants:\nthe secretion of bile by the liver\n  2  [C, usually pl.] a liquid substance produced by parts of the body or plants:\nbodily secretions


Words: secretive
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (about sth) tending or liking to hide your thoughts, feelings, ideas, etc. from other people:\nHe’s very secretive about his work. * The child became secretive and withdrawn.\n    secretively adverb:\nShe smiled secretively.\n    secretiveness noun [U]


Words: sect
Meaning:
noun\na small group of people who belong to a particular religion but who have some beliefs or practices which separate them from the rest of the group


Words: sectarian
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (often disapproving) connected with the differences that exist between groups of people who have different religious views:\nsectarian attacks / violence * attempts to break down the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland


Words: sectarianism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (often disapproving) strong support for one particular religious or political group, especially when this leads to violence between different groups


Words: section
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  part / piece\n \n  1  [C] any of the parts into which sth is divided:\nThat section of the road is still closed. * The library has a large biology section. * the tail section of the plane\n \n  2  [C] a separate part of a structure from which the whole can be put together:\nThe shed comes in sections that you assemble yourself.\n \n  of document / book\n \n  3  [C] a separate part of a document, book, etc:\nThese issues will be discussed more fully in the next section. * the sports section of the newspaper * The report has a section on accidents at work.\n  group of people\n  4  [C] a separate group within a larger group of people:\nan issue that will affect large sections of the population * the brass section of an orchestra\nsee also RHYTHM SECTION\n  of organization\n  5  [C] a department in an organization, institution, etc:\nHe’s the director of the finance section. * the section of the company dealing with customer services\n  diagram\n  6  [C] a drawing or diagram of sth as it would look if it were cut from top to bottom or from one side to the other:\nThe illustration shows a section through a leaf. * The architect drew the house in section.\nsee also CROSS SECTION\n  medical\n  7  [C, U] (medical) the act of cutting or separating sth in an operation:\nThe surgeon performed a section (= made a cut) on the vein.\nsee also CAESAREAN\n  8  [C] (medical, biology) a very thin flat piece cut from body tissue to be looked at under a MICROSCOPE:\nto examine a section from the kidney\n    verb [VN]\n  medical / biology\n  1  (medical) to divide body tissue by cutting\n  2  (biology) to cut animal or plant tissue into thin slices in order to look at it under a MICROSCOPE\n  mental patient\n  3  [often passive] (BrE) to officially send sb with a mental illness to a PSYCHIATRIC hospital\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  section sth<->off to separate an area from a larger one:\nParts of the town had been sectioned off.


Words: sectional
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  connected with one particular group within a community or an organization:\nthe sectional interests of managers and workers\n  2  made of separate sections:\na sectional building\n  3  connected with a CROSS SECTION of sth (= a surface or an image formed by cutting through sth from top to bottom):\na sectional drawing


Words: sector
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a part of an area of activity, especially of a country’s economy:\nthe manufacturing sector * service-sector jobs (= in hotels, restaurants, etc.)\nsee also THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE PUBLIC SECTOR\n \n  2  a part of a particular area, especially an area under military control:\neach sector of the search / war zone\n \n  3  (geometry) a part of a circle lying between two straight lines drawn from the centre to the edge


Words: secular
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not connected with spiritual or religious matters:\nsecular art / education / music\n  2  (of priests) living among ordinary people rather than in a religious community


Words: secularism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (technical) the belief that religion should not be involved in the organization of society, education, etc.\n    secularist  adjective [usually before noun]:\na secularist culture


Words: secularization
Meaning:
(BrE also secularisation)  noun\n[U] the act or process of removing the influence or power that religion has over sth:\nthe secularization of society / education


Words: secularize
Meaning:
(BrE also secularise)  verb\n[VN] [often passive] to make sth SECULAR; to remove sth from the control or influence of religion:\na secularized society


Words: secure
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective\n  happy / confident\n  1  feeling happy and confident about yourself or a particular situation:\nAt last they were able to feel secure about the future. * She finished the match, secure in the knowledge that she was through to the next round.\nOPP INSECURE\n  certain / safe\n  2  likely to continue or be successful for a long time\nSYN SAFE:\na secure job / income * It’s not a very secure way to make a living. * The future of the company looks secure.\nOPP INSECURE\n  3  ~ (against / from sth) that cannot be affected or harmed by sth:\nInformation must be stored so that it is secure from accidental deletion.\n  building / door / room\n  4  guarded and/or made stronger so that it is difficult for people to enter or leave:\nCheck that all windows and doors have been made as secure as possible. * a secure unit for child offenders * The building is secure against intruders.\nOPP INSECURE\n  firm\n  5  not likely to move, fall down, etc:\nThe aerial doesn’t look very secure to me. * It was difficult to maintain a secure foothold on the ice. * (figurative) Our relationship was now on a more secure footing.\nOPP INSECURE\n    securely adverb:\nShe locked the door securely behind her. * Make sure the ropes are securely fastened. * Democracy is becoming more securely established in Eastern Europe.\n    verb\n  get sth\n  1  ~ sth (for sb/sth) | ~ sb sth (formal) to obtain or achieve sth, especially when this means using a lot of effort:\n[VN] to secure a contract / deal * The team managed to secure a place in the finals. * She secured 2 000 votes. * The delegation has secured the promise of a ceasefire. * [VN, VNN] He secured a place for himself at law school. * He secured himself a place at law school.\n  fasten firmly\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to attach or fasten sth firmly:\nShe secured the rope firmly to the back of the car. * The tables on board were secured firmly to the floor.\n  protect from harm\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (against sth) to protect sth so that it is safe and difficult to attack or damage:\nto secure a property against intruders * The windows were secured with locks and bars. * (figurative) a savings plan that will secure your child’s future\n  a loan\n  4  [VN] to legally agree to give sb property or goods that are worth the same amount as the money that you have borrowed from them, if you are unable to pay the money back:\na short-term loan secured on the house


Words: security
Meaning:
noun (plural securities)\n \n  protection\n \n  1  [U] the activities involved in protecting a country, building or person against attack, danger, etc:\nnational security (= the defence of a country) * airport / hotel security * The visit took place amidst tight security (= the use of many police officers). * the security forces / services (= the police, army, etc.) * a high / maximum security prison (= for dangerous criminals) * a security alert * The criminals were caught (= filmed) on a security video.\nsee also HIGH-SECURITY\n \n  2  [U+sing./pl. v.] the department of a large company or organization that deals with the protection of its buildings, equipment and staff:\nSecurity was / were called to the incident.\n \n  3  [U] protection against sth bad that might happen in the future:\nfinancial security * Job security (= the guarantee that you will keep your job) is a thing of the past. * Which type of investment offers the greatest security?\n  feeling happy / safe\n  4  [U] the state of feeling happy and safe from danger or worry:\nthe security of a loving family life * She’d allowed herself to be lulled into a false sense of security (= a feeling that she was safe when in fact she was in danger).\n  for a loan\n  5  [U, C] a valuable item, such as a house, that you agree to give to sb if you are unable to pay back the money that you have borrowed from them:\nHis home and business are being held as security for the loan.\n  shares in company\n  6  (securities) [pl.] (finance) documents proving that sb is the owner of shares, etc. in a particular company:\ngovernment securities\nsee also SOCIAL SECURITY


Words: security risk
Meaning:
noun\na person who cannot be given secret information because they are a danger to a particular country, organization, etc., especially because of their political beliefs:\nThey regarded her as a security risk.


Words: sedan chair
Meaning:
noun\na box containing a seat for one person, carried on poles by two people, used in the 17th and 18th centuries


Words: sedate
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  slow, calm and relaxed\nSYN UNHURRIED:\na sedate game of golf * We followed the youngsters at a more sedate pace.\n  2  quiet, especially in a way that lacks excitement:\na sedate country town * a sedate family occasion\n  3  (of a person) quiet and serious in a way that seems formal:\na sedate, sober man\n    sedately adverb \n    verb [VN] [often passive] to give sb drugs in order to make them calm and or to make them sleep:\nMost of the patients are heavily sedated. * A vet was called to sedate the animal.


Words: sedation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of giving sb drugs in order to make them calm or to make them sleep; the state that results from this:\nThe victim’s wife was last night being kept under sedation in the local hospital.


Words: sedative
Meaning:
noun\na drug that makes sb go to sleep or makes them feel calm and relaxed\n    sedative adjective [usually before noun]:\nsedative drugs / effects


Words: sedentary
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of work, activities, etc.) in which you spend a lot of time sitting down:\na sedentary job / occupation * a sedentary lifestyle\n  2  (of people) spending a lot of time sitting down and not moving:\nHe became increasingly sedentary in later life.\n  3  (technical) (of people or animals) that stay and live in the same place or area:\nRhinos are largely sedentary animals. * a sedentary population


Words: sediment
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the solid material that settles at the bottom of a liquid\n  2  (geology) sand, stones, mud, etc. carried by water or wind and left, for example, on the bottom of a lake, river, etc.


Words: sedimentary
Meaning:
adjective\n(geology) connected with or formed from the sand, stones, mud, etc. that settle at the bottom of lakes, etc:\nsedimentary layers / rocks / deposits


Words: sedition
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the use of words or actions that are intended to encourage people to oppose a government:\nto be charged with sedition * sedition laws * to commit sedition\n    seditious  adjective:\nseditious activity * The letter was declared seditious.


Words: seduce
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to persuade sb to have sex with you, especially sb who is younger or who has less experience than you\n  2  ~ sb (into sth / into doing sth) to persuade sb to do sth that they would not usually agree to do by making it seem very attractive:\nThe promise of huge profits seduced him into parting with his money.


Words: seduction
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] the act of persuading sb to have sex with you:\nCleopatra’s seduction of Caesar\n  2  [C, usually pl., U] ~ (of sth) the qualities or features of sth that make it seem attractive:\nWho could resist the seductions of the tropical island? * the seduction of fame


Words: seductive
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  sexually attractive:\na seductive woman / voice * There was something seductive about the way he smiled at her.\n  2  attractive in a way that makes you want to have or do sth:\nThe idea of retiring to the south of France is highly seductive.\n    seductively adverb:\nShe smiled seductively. * You make everything sound so seductively simple.\n    seductiveness noun [U]


Words: sedulous
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) showing great care and effort in your work\nSYN DILIGENT:\na sedulous researcher / journalist * sedulous attention to detail\n    sedulously adverb


Words: see
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (saw )\n  use eyes\n  1  (not used in the progressive tenses) to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes:\n[VN] She looked for him but couldn’t see him in the crowd. * I looked out of the window but saw nothing. * [V (that)] He could see (that) she had been crying. * [V wh-] Did you see what happened? * If you watch carefully, you’ll see how it is done. * [VN-ADJ] I hate to see you unhappy. * [V, VN] The opera was the place to see and be seen (= by other important or fashionable people). * [VN -ing] She was seen running away from the scene of the crime. * [VN inf] I saw you put the key in your pocket. * [VN to inf] He was seen to enter the building about the time the crime was committed.\n HELP NOTE  This pattern is only used in the passive.\n  2  (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have or use the power of sight:\n[V] She will never see again (= she has become blind). * On a clear day you can see for miles from here. * [V to inf] It was getting dark and I couldn’t see to read.\n  watch\n  3  [VN] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to watch a game, television programme, performance, etc:\nDid you see that programme on Brazil last night? * In the evening we went to see a movie. * Fifty thousand people saw the match.\n  look up information\n  4  [VN] (used in orders) to look at sth in order to find information:\nSee page 158.\n  meet by chance\n  5  [VN] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be near and recognize sb; to meet sb by chance:\nGuess who I saw at the party last night!\n  visit\n  6  [VN] to visit sb:\nCome and see us again soon.\n  have meeting\n  7  [VN] ~ sb (about sth) to have a meeting with sb:\nYou ought to see a doctor about that cough. * What is it you want to see me about? * I can only see you for five minutes.\n  spend time\n  8  [VN] (often used in the progressive tenses) to spend time with sb:\nAre you seeing anyone (= having a romantic relationship with anyone)? * They’ve been seeing a lot of each other (= spending a lot of time together) recently.\n  understand\n  9  (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to understand sth:\n[V] ’It opens like this.’ ’Oh, I see.’ * [VN] He didn’t see the joke. * I don’t think she saw the point of the story. * I can see both sides of the argument. * Make Lydia see reason (= be sensible), will you? * [V (that)] Can’t you see (that) he’s taking advantage of you? * I don’t see that it matters what Josh thinks. * [V wh-] ’It’s broken.’ ’Oh yes, I see what you mean.’ * ’Can we go swimming?’ ’I don’t see why not (= yes, you can).’ * [VN to inf] The government not only has to do something, it must be seen to be doing something (= people must be aware that it is doing sth).\n HELP NOTE  This pattern is only used with see in the passive.\n  have opinion\n  10  [VN +adv./prep.] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have an opinion of sth:\nI see things differently now. * Try to see things from her point of view. * Lack of money is the main problem, as I see it (= in my opinion). * The way I see it, you have three main problems.\n  imagine\n  11  ~ sb/sth (as sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) to consider sth as a future possibility; to imagine sb/sth as sth:\n[VN -ing] I can’t see her changing her mind. * [VN] His colleagues see him as a future director.\n  find out\n  12  (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to find out sth by looking, asking or waiting:\n[V] ’Has the mail come yet?’ ’I’ll just go and see.’ * ’Is he going to get better?’ ’I don’t know, we’ll just have to wait and see.’ * [V wh-] Go and see what the kids are doing, will you? * We’ll have to see how it goes. * [V (that)] I see (that) interest rates are going up again. * [VN that] It can be seen that certain groups are more at risk than others.\n  13  (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to find out or decide sth by thinking or considering:\n[V] ’Will you be able to help us?’ ’I don’t know, I’ll have to see.’ * ’Can I go to the party?’ ’We’ll see (= I’ll decide later). * [V wh-] I’ll see what I can do to help.\n  make sure\n  14  [V that] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to make sure that you do sth or that sth is done:\nSee that all the doors are locked before you leave. * Could you see that the kids are in bed by 8 o’clock?\n  experience\n  15  [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to experience or suffer sth:\nHe has seen a great deal in his long life. * I hope I never live to see the day when computers finally replace books. * It didn’t surprise her-she had seen it all before.\n  witness event\n  16  [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the time when an event happens:\nNext year sees the centenary of Verdi’s death.\n  17  [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the place where an event happens\nSYN WITNESS:\nThis stadium has seen many thrilling football games.\n  help\n  18  [VN +adv./prep.] to go with sb to help or protect them:\nI saw the old lady across (= helped her cross) the road. * May I see you home (= go with you as far as your house)? * My secretary will see you out (= show you the way out of the building).\n IDIOMS \n  Most idioms containing see are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example not see the wood for the trees is at wood.\n  for all (the world) to see clearly visible; in a way that is clearly visible\n  see sth coming to realize that there is going to be a problem before it happens:\nWe should have seen it coming. There was no way he could keep going under all that pressure.\n  see for yourself to find out or look at sth yourself in order to be sure that what sb is saying is true:\nIf you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself!\n  see sb/sth for what they are / it is to realize that sb/sth is not as good, pleasant, etc. as they/it seem\n  seeing that ... (also informal seeing as (how) ...) because of the fact that ...:\nSeeing that he’s been off sick all week he’s unlikely to come.\n  see you (around) | (I’ll) be seeing you | see you later (spoken) goodbye:\nI’d better be going now. See you!\n  you see (spoken) used when you are explaining sth:\nYou see, the thing is, we won’t be finished before Friday.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  see about sth to deal with sth:\nI must see about (= prepare) lunch. * He says he won’t help, does he? Well, we’ll soon see about that (= I will demand that he does help). * [+ -ing] I’ll have to see about getting that roof repaired.\n  see sth in sb/sth to find sb/sth attractive or interesting:\nI don’t know what she sees in him.\n  see sb<->off\n1 to go to a station, an airport, etc. to say goodbye to sb who is starting a journey\n2 (BrE) to force sb to leave a place, for example by chasing them:\nThe dogs saw them off in no time.\n3 (BrE) to defeat sb in a game, fight, etc:\nThe home team saw off the challengers by 68 points to 47.\n  see sth<->out (not used in the progressive tenses) to last until the end of sth:\nThey had enough fuel to see the winter out.\n  see over sth (BrE) to visit and look at a place carefully:\nWe need to see over the house before we can make you an offer.\n  see through sb/sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to realize the truth about sb/sth so that you are not deceived:\nWe saw through him from the start. * I can see through your little game (= I am aware of the trick you are trying to play on me).\n  see sth through (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to not give up doing a task, project, etc. until it is finished:\nShe’s determined to see the job through.\n  see sb through | see sb through sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to give help or support to sb for a particular period of time:\nHer courage and good humour saw her through. * I only have $20 to see me through the week.\n  see to sth to deal with sth:\nWill you see to the arrangements for the next meeting? * Don’t worry-I’ll see to it. * We’ll have to get that door seen to (= repaired).\n  see to it that ... to make sure that ...:\nCan you see to it that the fax goes this afternoon?\n    noun (formal) the district or office of a BISHOP or an ARCHBISHOP:\nthe Holy See (= the office of the POPE)\n______________________________\n VOCABULARY BUILDING \ndifferent words for seeing\nnotice  I noticed that she was wearing a wedding ring. * She climbed over the gate without being noticed.\nspot  We tried to spot her in the crowd.\nglimpse  I glimpsed him through the window as the car sped past.\ncatch a glimpse of I just caught a glimpse of the bird before it flew off.\ncatch sight of If you’re lucky you may catch sight of a herd of wild goats.\nmake sth out Can you make out what that sign says?\nobserve  (formal) Police observed him entering the building at 3.30.\nwitness  Did anyone witness the accident?\nsight  (written) After a week at sea they sighted land.\n-> note at LOOK\n______________________________


Words: see-saw
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (AmE also teeter-totter) [C] a piece of equipment for children to play on consisting of a long flat piece of wood that is supported in the middle. A child sits at each end and makes the see-saw move up and down:\nCan we go on the see-saw?\n  2  [sing.] a situation in which things keep changing from one state to another and back again:\nThe match was a see-saw battle between the two teams.\n    verb [V] to keep changing from one situation, opinion, emotion, etc. to another and back again:\nHer emotions see-sawed from anger to fear. * Share prices see-sawed all day.


Words: see-through
Meaning:
adjective\n(of fabric) very thin so that you can see through it:\na see-through blouse * This material goes see-through when it’s wet.


Words: seed
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  of plants / fruit\n \n  1  [C, U] the small hard part produced by a plant, from which a new plant can grow:\na packet of wild flower seeds * sunflower / sesame seeds * Sow the seeds outdoors in spring. * These vegetables can be grown from seed. * seed potatoes (= used for planting)\nsee also BIRDSEED\n \n  2  [C] (AmE) = PIP (2)\n \n  beginning\n \n  3  [C, usually pl.] ~ (of sth) the beginning of a feeling or a development which continues to grow:\nthe seeds of conflict / rebellion * This planted the seeds of doubt in my mind.\n  in tennis\n  4  [C] (especially in tennis) one of the best players in a competition. The seeds are given a position in a list to try and make sure that they do not play each other in the early parts of the competition:\nThe top seed won comfortably. * the number one seed\n  of a man\n  5  [U] (old-fashioned or humorous) SEMEN\n  6  [U] (literary) all the people who are descended from one man\n IDIOMS \n  go / run to seed\n1 (especially of a vegetable plant) to produce flowers and seeds as well as leaves:\nThe lettuces had all run to seed.\n2 to become much less attractive or good because of lack of attention:\nAfter his divorce, he let himself go to seed.\nmore at SOW v.\n    verb\n  of a plant\n  1  [V] to produce seeds\n  2  [VN] ~ itself to produce other plants using its own seeds\n  area of ground\n  3  [VN] [usually passive] ~ sth (with sth) to plant seeds in an area of ground:\na newly seeded lawn\n  in tennis\n  4  [VN] [usually passive] to make sb a seed in a competition:\nHe has been seeded 14th at Wimbledon next week.


Words: seed corn
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the grain that is kept for planting the next year’s crops\n  2  people or things that will be successful or useful in the future:\nWe want to train young people as the seed corn of future management.


Words: seedbed
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an area of soil which has been specially prepared for planting seeds in\n  2  [usually sing.] ~ (of / for sth) a place or situation in which sth can develop:\na seedbed for ideas * A secure environment is the seedbed of emotional growth.


Words: seeded
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (especially of a tennis player) given a number showing that they are one of the best players in a particular competition:\na seeded player\n  2  (of fruit) with the seeds removed:\nseeded tomatoes


Words: seedy
Meaning:
adjective\n(seedier, seediest) (disapproving) dirty and unpleasant, possibly connected with immoral or illegal activities:\na seedy bar * the seedy world of prostitution * a seedy-looking man\n    seediness noun [U]


Words: seek
Meaning:
(formal)\n  1  ~ (for) sth/sb to look for sth/sb:\n[VN] Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes. * [V] (BrE) They sought in vain for somewhere to shelter.\n  2  to try to obtain or achieve sth:\n[VN] to seek compensation / funding * Highly qualified secretary seeks employment. (= in an advertisement) * He intends to seek custody of the children. * We are currently seeking new ways of expanding our membership. [also V]\n  3  [VN] ~ sth (from sb) to ask sb for sth:\nI think it’s time we sought legal advice. * She managed to calm him down and seek help from a neighbour.\n  4  [V to inf] to try to do sth:\nThey quickly sought to distance themselves from the protesters.\n  5  (-seeking) (in adjectives and nouns) looking for or trying to get the thing mentioned; the activity of doing this:\nattention-seeking behaviour * Voluntary work can provide a framework for job-seeking.\nsee also HEAT-SEEKING, SELF-SEEKING\nsee also HIDE-AND-SEEK\n IDIOMS \n  seek your fortune (literary) to try to find a way to become rich, especially by going to another place:\nMany emigrated to Australia to seek their fortune.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  seek sb/sth out to look for and find sb/sth, especially when this means using a lot of effort


Words: seeker
Meaning:
noun\n(often in compounds) a person who is trying to find or get the thing mentioned:\nan attention / a publicity seeker * seekers of / after the truth\nsee also ASYLUM SEEKER, JOB SEEKER


Words: seem
Meaning:
linking verb\n  1  ~ (to sb) (to be) sth | ~ like sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to give the impression of being or doing sth; to appear:\n[V-ADJ] You seem happy. * Do whatever seems best to you. * [V-N] He seems a nice man. * [V] It seemed like a good idea at the time. * ’He’ll be there, then?’ ’So it seems (= people say so).’ * It always seemed as though they would get married. * [V that] It seems that they know what they’re doing. * [V to inf] They seem to know what they’re doing. * People aren’t always what they seem to be.\n  2  [V to inf] used to make what you say about your thoughts, feelings or actions less forceful:\nI seem to have left my book at home. * I can’t seem to (= I’ve tried, but I can’t) get started today.\n  3  (it seems, it would seem) used to suggest that sth is true when you are not certain or when you want to be polite:\n[V (that)] It would seem that we all agree. * [V-ADJ] It seems only reasonable to ask students to buy a dictionary.


Words: seeming
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (formal) appearing to be sth that may not be true\nSYN APPARENT:\na seeming contradiction / impossibility * She handled the matter with seeming indifference.


Words: seemingly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a way that appears to be true but may in fact not be:\na seemingly stupid question * a seemingly endless journey * It was a seemingly impossible task.\n  2  according to what you have read or heard\nSYN APPARENTLY:\nSeemingly, he borrowed the money from the bank. * They were seemingly having an affair.


Words: seemly
Meaning:
adverb\n(old-fashioned or formal) appropriate for a particular social situation:\nIt was not considered seemly to talk in such a way in front of the children.\nOPP UNSEEMLY


Words: seep
Meaning:
verb\n[V +adv./prep.] (especially of liquids) to flow slowly and in small quantities through sth or into sth:\nBlood was beginning to seep through the bandages. * Water seeped from a crack in the pipe. * (figurative) Gradually the pain seeped away.


Words: seepage
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C, usually pl.] the process by which a liquid flows slowly and in small quantities through sth; the result of this process:\nWater gradually escapes by seepage through the ground. * oil seepages * (figurative) This new legislation represents a further seepage of power to Brussels.


Words: seethe
Meaning:
verb [V] \n  1  ~ (with sth) | ~ (at sth) to be extremely angry about sth but try not to show other people how angry you are\nSYN FUME:\nShe seethed silently in the corner. * He marched off, seething with frustration. * Inwardly he was seething at this challenge to his authority.\n  2  ~ (with sth) (written) (of a place) to be full of a lot of people or animals, especially when they are all moving around:\nThe resort is seething with tourists all year round. * He became caught up in a seething mass of arms and legs.\n  3  (written) (of liquids) to move around quickly and violently:\nThe grey ocean seethed beneath them.


Words: segment
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n \n \n  1  a part of sth that is separate from the other parts or can be considered separately:\nShe cleaned a small segment of the painting. * Lines divided the area into segments.\n \n  2  one of the sections of an orange, a lemon, etc.\n \n  3  (geometry) a part of a circle separated from the rest by a single line\n    verb  [VN] [often passive] (technical) to divide sth into different parts:\nMarket researchers often segment the population on the basis of age and social class. * The worm has a segmented body (= with different sections joined together).


Words: segmentation
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C, usually pl.] (technical) the act of dividing sth into different parts; one of these parts:\nthe segmentation of social classes


Words: segregate
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb (from sb) to separate people of different races, religions or sexes and treat them differently:\na culture in which women are segregated from men * Whites and blacks were segregated into different parts of town. * a racially segregated community * a segregated school (= one for students of one race or religion only)\nOPP INTEGRATE\n  2  ~ sth (from sth) to keep one thing separate from another:\nIn all our restaurants, smoking and non-smoking areas are segregated from each other.


Words: segregation
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the act or policy of separating people of different races, religions or sexes and treating them differently:\nracial / religious / sex segregation * segregation by age and sex\n  2  (formal) the act of separating people or things from a larger group:\nthe segregation of smokers and non-smokers in restaurants


Words: segregationist
Meaning:
adjective\nsupporting the separation of people according to their sex, race or religion:\nsegregationist policies\n    segregationist noun


Words: segue
Meaning:
verb\n[V +adv./prep.] to move smoothly from one song, subject, place, etc. to another:\na spiritual that segued into a singalong chorus * He then segued into a discussion of atheism.\n    segue noun


Words: seismology
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the scientific study of earthquakes\n    seismological  adjective:\nthe National Seismological Institute\n    seismologist  noun


Words: seize
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sth (from sb) to take sb/sth in your hand suddenly and using force\nSYN GRAB:\nShe tried to seize the gun from him. * He seized her by the arm. * She seized hold of my hand.\n  2  ~ sth (from sb) to take control of a place or situation, often suddenly and violently:\nThey seized the airport in a surprise attack. * The army has seized control of the country. * He seized power in a military coup.\n  3  to arrest or capture sb:\nThe men were seized as they left the building.\n  4  to take illegal or stolen goods away from sb:\nA large quantity of drugs was seized during the raid.\n  5  ~ a chance, an opportunity, the initiative, etc. to be quick to make use of a chance, an opportunity, etc.\nSYN GRAB:\nThe party seized the initiative with both hands (= quickly and with enthusiasm).\n  6  (of an emotion) to affect sb suddenly and deeply:\nPanic seized her. * He was seized by curiosity.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  seize on / upon sth to suddenly show a lot of interest in sth, especially because you can use it to your advantage\nSYN POUNCE ON / UPON:\nThe rumours were eagerly seized upon by the local press. * Peter seized on her last comment.\n  seize up\n1 (of the parts of a machine) to stop moving or working correctly:\nThe engine suddenly seized up.\n2 if a part of your body seizes up, you are unable to move it easily and it is often painful


Words: seizure
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, C] ~ (of sth) the use of legal authority to take sth from sb; an amount of sth that is taken in this way:\nThe court ordered the seizure of his assets. * the largest ever seizure of cocaine at a British port\n  2  [U] ~ (of sth) the act of using force to take control of a country, town, etc:\nthe army’s seizure of power * the seizure of Burma by Japan in 1942\n  3  (old-fashioned) [C] a sudden attack of an illness, especially one that affects the brain:\nan epileptic seizure


Words: seldom
Meaning:
adverb\nnot often\nSYN RARELY:\nHe had seldom seen a child with so much talent. * She seldom, if ever, goes to the theatre. * They seldom watch television these days. * (literary) Seldom had he seen such beauty.


Words: select
Meaning:
verb, adjective \n    verb ~ sb/sth (as / for sth) | ~ sb/sth (from sth) to choose sb/sth, usually carefully, from a group of people or things:\n[VN] He hasn’t been selected for the team. * All our hotels have been carefully selected for the excellent value they provide. * She was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Bath. * a randomly selected sample of 23 schools * selected poems of T.S. Eliot * This model is available at selected stores only. * Select ’New Mail’ from the ’Send’ menu. * She selected an apple from the fruit bowl. * It is important to select a software package that suits your requirements. * [VN to inf] Six theatre companies have been selected to take part in this year’s festival. [also V wh-] \n    adjective\n  1  [only before noun] carefully chosen as the best out of a larger group of people or things:\na select wine list * Only a select few (= a small number of people) have been invited to the wedding.\n  2  (of a society, club, place, etc.) used by people who have a lot of money or a high social position\nSYN EXCLUSIVE:\nThey live in a very select area. * a select club / restaurant


Words: select committee
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a small group of politicians or experts that have been chosen to examine a particular subject or problem:\nthe House of Commons Select Committee on medical ethics


Words: selection
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the process of choosing sb/sth carefully from a group of people or things:\nThe final team selection will be made tomorrow. * the random selection of numbers * selection criteria * the selection process\n  2  [C] a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group:\nA selection of reader’s comments are published below. * The orchestra played selections from Hollywood musicals.\n  3  [C] a collection of things from which sth can be chosen\nSYN CHOICE, RANGE:\nThe showroom has a wide selection of kitchens.\nsee also NATURAL SELECTION


Words: selective
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] affecting or concerned with only a small number of people or things from a larger group:\nthe selective breeding of cattle * selective strike action\n  2  ~ (about / in sth) tending to be careful about what or who you choose:\nYou will have to be selective about which information to include in the report. * Their admissions policy is very selective. * a selective school (= one that chooses which children to admit, especially according to ability)\n    selectively adverb:\nThe product will be selectively marketed in Europe and the US.\n    selectivity  noun [U]:\nSchools are tending towards greater selectivity.


Words: selector
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) a person who chooses the members of a particular sports team:\nThe Welsh selectors have named the team for next week’s international.\n  2  a device in an engine, a piece of machinery, etc. that allows you to choose a particular function:\na gear selector * a selector lever / switch


Words: self
Meaning:
1  [C, usually sing.] the type of person you are, especially the way you normally behave, look or feel:\nYou’ll soon be feeling your old self again (= feeling well or happy again). * He’s not his usual happy self this morning. * Only with a few people could she be her real self (= show what she was really like rather than what she pretended to be). * his private / professional self (= how he behaves at home / work)\n  2  [U] (also the self [sing.]) (formal) a person’s personality or character that makes them different from other people:\nMany people living in institutions have lost their sense of self (= the feeling that they are individual people). * the inner self (= a person’s emotional and spiritual character) * a lack of confidence in the self\n  3  [U] (formal) your own advantage or pleasure rather than that of other people:\nShe didn’t do it for any reason of self. * (spoken) Self, self, self! That’s all you ever think about!\n  4  [C] used to refer to a person:\nJon gave his whole self to his job. * You didn’t hurt your little self, did you? * We look forward to seeing Mrs Brown and your good self this evening.\n IDIOMS  see FORMER


Words: self-
Meaning:
combining form\n(in nouns and adjectives) of, to or by yourself or itself:\nself-control * self-addressed * self-taught


Words: self-access
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a method of learning in which students choose their materials and use them to study on their own:\na self-access centre / library * Self-access allows students to learn at their own speed. * self-access materials


Words: self-adhesive
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] covered on one side with a sticky substance so that it can be stuck to sth without the use of glue, etc:\nself-adhesive tape


Words: self-analysis
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the study of your own character and behaviour, especially your reasons for doing things:\nWith two children to take care of, she didn’t have much time for self-analysis.


Words: self-appointed
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (usually disapproving) giving yourself a particular title, job, etc., especially without the agreement of other people


Words: self-appraisal
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] an act or the process of judging your own work or achievements:\nStudents are given the opportunity for self-appraisal.


Words: self-assembly
Meaning:
adjective\n(of furniture) bought in several parts that you have to put together yourself:\ncheap self-assembly kitchen units\n    self-assembly noun [U]:\nkitchen units for self-assembly


Words: self-assertive
Meaning:
adjective\nvery confident and not afraid to express your opinions\n    self-assertion, self-assertiveness noun [U]


Words: self-assessment
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the process of judging your own progress, achievements, etc.\n  2  (BrE) a system of paying tax in which you calculate yourself how much you should pay


Words: self-assured
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving a lot of confidence in yourself and your abilities\nSYN CONFIDENT\n    self-assurance noun [U]


Words: self-awareness
Meaning:
noun\n[U] knowledge and understanding of your own character:\nCounselling can help to achieve greater self-awareness.\n    self-aware adjective:\nShe was sufficiently self-aware to recognize the cause of her problems.


Words: self-catering
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (BrE) a self-catering holiday is one which provides you with accommodation and the equipment that is necessary to cook your own meals:\nself-catering accommodation\n    self-catering noun [U] (BrE):\nAll prices are based on a week’s self-catering in shared accommodation.


Words: self-centred
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE self-centered) adjective\n(disapproving) tending to think only about yourself and not thinking about the needs or feelings of other people\n    self-centredness (BrE) (AmE self-centeredness) noun [U]


Words: self-confessed
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] admitting that you are a particular type of person or have a particular problem, especially a bad one:\na self-confessed criminal / cynic


Words: self-confident
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving confidence in yourself and your abilities\nSYN SELF-ASSURED, CONFIDENT:\na self-confident child * a self-confident manner\n    self-confidence noun [U]:\nHe constantly tried to undermine her self-confidence. * He has no self-confidence.


Words: self-congratulation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (usually disapproving) a way of behaving that shows that you think you have done sth very well and are pleased with yourself\n    self-congratulatory adjective:\nThe winners gave themselves a self-congratulatory round of applause.


Words: self-conscious
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  ~ (about sth) nervous or embarrassed about your appearance or what other people think of you:\nHe’s always been self-conscious about being so short. * She was a shy, self-conscious girl.\n  2  (often disapproving) done in a way that shows you are aware of the effect that is being produced:\nThe humour of the play is self-conscious and contrived.\nOPP UNSELFCONSCIOUS\n    self-consciously adverb:\nShe was self-consciously aware of his stare.\n    self-consciousness noun [U]


Words: self-contained
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not needing or depending on other people:\nHer father was a quiet self-contained man. * a self-contained life\n  2  able to operate or exist without outside help or influence\nSYN INDEPENDENT:\na self-contained community * Each chapter is self-contained and can be studied in isolation.\n  3  [usually before noun] (BrE) (of a flat / apartment) having its own kitchen, bathroom and entrance:\nself-contained accommodation


Words: self-contradictory
Meaning:
adjective\ncontaining two ideas or statements that cannot both be true\n    self-contradiction noun [U]


Words: self-control
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability to remain calm and not show your emotions even though you are feeling angry, excited, etc:\nto lose / regain your self-control * It took all his self-control not to shout at them.\n    self-controlled adjective


Words: self-criticism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the process of looking at and judging your own faults or weaknesses\n    self-critical adjective:\nDon’t be too self-critical.


Words: self-defeating
Meaning:
adjective\ncausing more problems and difficulties instead of solving them; not achieving what you wanted to achieve but having an opposite effect:\nPaying children too much attention when they misbehave can be self-defeating.


Words: self-defence
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE self-defense) noun [U]\n  1  something you say or do in order to protect yourself when you are being attacked, criticized, etc:\nThe man later told police that he was acting in self-defence.\n  2  the skill of being able to protect yourself from physical attack without using weapons:\nI’m taking classes in self-defence.


Words: self-denial
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of not having or doing the things you like, either because you do not have enough money, or for moral or religious reasons:\na life of self-denial and sacrifice * an act of self-denial


Words: self-deprecating
Meaning:
adjective\n(written) done in a way that makes your own achievements or abilities seem unimportant:\nHe gave a self-deprecating shrug.\n    self-deprecation noun [U]


Words: self-destruct
Meaning:
verb\n[V] (especially of an explosive device, a machine, etc.) to destroy itself, usually by exploding:\nThis tape will self-destruct in 30 seconds. * (figurative) In the last half-hour of the movie the plot rapidly self-destructs.


Words: self-destruction
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of doing things to deliberately harm yourself:\nHe wanted Jill to give up her life of alcohol and self-destruction.\n    self-destructive


Words: self-determination
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the right of a country and its people to be independent and to choose their own government and political system\nSYN INDEPENDENCE\n  2  the right or ability of a person to control their own fate


Words: self-discipline
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability to make yourself do sth, especially sth difficult or unpleasant:\nIt takes a lot of self-discipline to go jogging in winter.


Words: self-doubt
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] the feeling that you are not good enough:\nHis life was plagued by fear and self-doubt.


Words: self-drive
Meaning:
adjective [only before noun] (BrE)\n  1  a self-drive car is one that you hire and drive yourself\n  2  a self-drive holiday is one on which you use your own car to travel to the holiday area


Words: self-effacing
Meaning:
adjective\nnot wanting to attract attention to yourself or your abilities\nSYN MODEST:\nIn spite of her success, she remains self-effacing and reserved. * a shy, self-effacing man\n    self-effacement noun [U]


Words: self-employed
Meaning:
adjective\nworking for yourself and not employed by a company, etc:\na self-employed musician * I decided to become self-employed. * retirement plans for the self-employed (= people who are self-employed)\n    self-employment noun [U]


Words: self-esteem
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a feeling of being happy with your own character and abilities:\nto have high / low self-esteem * You need to build your self-esteem.


Words: self-evident
Meaning:
adjective\nobvious and needing no further proof or explanation:\nThe dangers of such action are self-evident. * a self-evident truth\n    self-evidently adverb


Words: self-examination
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the study of your own behaviour and beliefs to find out if they are right or wrong:\nspiritual self-examination\n  2  the act of checking your body for any signs of illness


Words: self-explanatory
Meaning:
adjective\neasy to understand and not needing any more explanation:\nI think the title is self-explanatory.


Words: self-expression
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the expression of your thoughts or feelings, especially through activities such as writing, painting, dancing, etc:\nYou should encourage your child’s attempts at self-expression.


Words: self-fulfilling
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] a self-fulfilling PROPHECY is one that becomes true because people expect it to be true and behave in a way that will make it happen:\nIf you expect to fail, you will fail. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.


Words: self-fulfilment
Meaning:
(BrE) (also self-fulfillment AmE, BrE) noun\n[U] the feeling of being happy and satisfied that you have everything you want or need


Words: self-government
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the government or control of a country or an organization by its own people or members, not by others\n    self-governing adjective


Words: self-help
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the act of relying on your own efforts and abilities in order to solve your problems, rather than depending on other people for help\n    self-help adjective [only before noun]:\na self-help discussion group for people suffering from depression (= whose members help each other)


Words: self-image
Meaning:
noun\nthe opinion or idea you have of yourself, especially of your appearance or abilities:\nto have a positive / poor self-image


Words: self-important
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) thinking that you are more important than other people\n    self-importance noun [U]\n    self-importantly adverb


Words: self-imposed
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] a self-imposed task, duty, etc. is one that you force yourself to do rather than one that sb else forces you to do:\na self-imposed deadline


Words: self-indulgent
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) allowing yourself to have or do things that you like, especially when you do this too much or too often:\na self-indulgent lifestyle * She writes a tedious and self-indulgent column for a Sunday paper.\n    self-indulgence noun [U]


Words: self-inflicted
Meaning:
adjective\na self-inflicted injury, problem, etc. is one that you cause for yourself:\na self-inflicted wound * Most of Ian’s problems are self-inflicted.


Words: self-interest
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) the fact of sb only considering their own interests and of not caring about things that would help other people:\nNot all of them were acting out of self-interest.\n    self-interested adjective


Words: self-made
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] having become rich and successful through your own hard work rather than having had money given to you:\nHe was proud of the fact that he was a self-made man.


Words: self-opinionated
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) believing that your own opinions are always right and refusing to listen to those of other people\nSYN OPINIONATED


Words: self-pity
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (often disapproving) a feeling of pity for yourself, especially because of sth unpleasant or unfair that has happened to you:\nShe’s not someone who likes to wallow in self-pity. * tears of self-pity * A wave of self-pity came over him.\n    self-pitying adjective


Words: self-possessed
Meaning:
adjective\nable to remain calm and confident in a difficult situation:\nShe always seems so calm and self-possessed.\n    self-possession noun [U]:\nHe soon recovered his usual self-possession.


Words: self-preservation
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the fact of protecting yourself in a dangerous or difficult situation:\nShe was held back by some sense of self-preservation.


Words: self-proclaimed
Meaning:
adjective\n(often disapproving) giving yourself a particular title, job, etc. without the agreement or permission of other people


Words: self-raising flour
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE baking flour, self-rising flour) noun\n[U] flour that contains BAKING POWDER\ncompare PLAIN FLOUR


Words: self-reliant
Meaning:
adjective\nable to do or decide things by yourself, rather than depending on other people for help\nSYN INDEPENDENT\n    self-reliance noun [U]


Words: self-respect
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a feeling of pride in yourself that what you do, say, etc. is right and good:\nDespite poverty and appalling conditions, these people still manage to keep their dignity and self-respect.


Words: self-respecting
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (especially in negative sentences) having pride in yourself because you believe that what you do is right and good:\nNo self-respecting journalist would ever work for that newspaper.


Words: self-restraint
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the ability to stop yourself doing or saying sth that you want to because you know it is better not to:\nShe exercised all her self-restraint and kept quiet.


Words: self-righteous
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) feeling or behaving as if what you say or do is always morally right, and other people are wrong\n    self-righteously adverb\n    self-righteousness noun [U]


Words: self-sacrifice
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (approving) the act of not allowing yourself to have or do sth in order to help other people:\nthe courage and self-sacrifice of those who fought in the war * an act of heroic self-sacrifice\n    self-sacrificing adjective:\nself-sacrificing behaviour / love


Words: self-satisfied
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) too pleased with yourself or your own achievements\nSYN SMUG:\nHe had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.\n    self-satisfaction noun [U]:\na look of self-satisfaction


Words: self-seeking
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) interested only in your own needs and interests rather than thinking about the needs of other people\n    self-seeking noun [U]:\nThey were accused of self-seeking and corruption.


Words: self-service
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] a self-service shop/store, restaurant, etc. is one in which customers serve themselves and then pay for the goods\n    self-service noun [U]:\nThe cafe provides quick self-service at low prices.


Words: self-serving
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) interested only in gaining an advantage for yourself:\nHe was a ruthless, self-serving politician.


Words: self-starter
Meaning:
noun\n(approving) a person who is able to work on their own and make their own decisions without needing anyone to tell them what to do


Words: self-styled
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (disapproving) using a name or title that you have given yourself, especially when you do not have the right to do it:\nthe self-styled king of fashion


Words: self-sufficient
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (in sth) able to do or produce everything that you need without the help of other people:\nThe country is totally self-sufficient in food production. * policies to encourage people to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on welfare\n    self-sufficiency noun [U]


Words: self-taught
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving learned sth by reading books, etc., rather than by sb teaching you:\na self-taught artist


Words: self-willed
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) determined to do what you want without caring about other people:\nEven at four years old, Carol was stubborn and self-willed.


Words: self-worth
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a feeling of confidence in yourself that you are a good and useful person:\nPraise your child to increase her sense of self-worth.


Words: selfish
Meaning:
adjective\ncaring only about yourself rather than about other people:\nselfish behaviour / demands * Do you think I’m being selfish by not letting her go? * What a selfish thing to do! * It was selfish of him to leave all the work to you.\nOPP UNSELFISH, SELFLESS\n    selfishly adverb:\nShe looked forward, a little selfishly, to a weekend away from her family.\n    selfishness noun [U]:\nHe was the victim of his own greed and selfishness.


Words: selfless
Meaning:
adjective\nthinking more about the needs, happiness, etc. of other people than about your own:\na life of selfless service to the community\nOPP SELFISH\n    selflessly adverb\n    selflessness noun [U]


Words: selfsame
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (written) (the, this, etc. selfsame ...) used to emphasize that two people or things are the same:\nJane had been wondering that selfsame thing.


Words: sell
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (sold, sold )\n  exchange for money\n  1  ~ sth (to sb) (at / for sth) | ~ sb sth (at / for sth) to give sth to sb in exchange for money: [VN, VNN] I sold my car to James for ｣800. * I sold James my car for ｣800. * [VN] They sold the business at a profit / loss (= they gained / lost money when they sold it). * [V] We offered them a good price but they wouldn’t sell.\n  offer for sale\n  2  [VN] to offer sth for people to buy:\nMost supermarkets sell a range of organic products. * Do you sell stamps? * to sell insurance / advertising space\n  be bought\n  3  to be bought by people in the way or in the numbers mentioned; to be offered at the price mentioned:\n[VN] The magazine sells 300 000 copies a week. * Their last album sold millions. * [V] The book sold well and was reprinted many times. * The new design just didn’t sell (= nobody bought it). * The pens sell for just 50p each.\n  persuade\n  4  to make people want to buy sth:\n[V] You may not like it but advertising sells. * [VN] It is quality not price that sells our products.\n  5  [VN] ~ sth / yourself (to sb) to persuade sb that sth is a good idea, service, product, etc.; to persuade sb that you are the right person for a job, position, etc:\nNow we have to try and sell the idea to management. * You really have to sell yourself at a job interview.\n  take money / reward\n  6  [VN] ~ yourself (to sb) (disapproving) to accept money or a reward from sb for doing sth that is against your principles\nSYN PROSTITUTE\nsee also SALE\n IDIOMS \n  be sold on sth (informal) to be very enthusiastic about sth:\nWe were really sold on the idea.\n  sell your body to have sex with sb in exchange for money\n  sell sb down the river (informal) to betray sb you have promised to help\n ORIGIN  From the custom of buying and selling slaves on the plantations on the Mississippi river in America. Slaves who caused trouble for their masters could be sold to plantation owners lower down the river, where conditions would be worse.\n  sell sb / yourself short to not value sb/yourself highly enough and show this by the way you treat or present them/yourself\n  sell your soul (to the devil) to do anything, even sth bad or dishonest, in return for money, success or power\nmore at HOT adj., PUP\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  sell sth<->off\n1 to sell things cheaply because you want to get rid of them or because you need the money\n2 to sell all or part of an industry, a company or land:\nThe Church sold off the land for housing. * In the nineties most state-owned industries were sold off.\nrelated noun SELL-OFF\n  sell out | be sold out (of tickets for a concert, football game, etc.) to be all sold:\nThe tickets sold out within hours. * This week’s performances are completely sold out.\n  sell out (of sth) | be sold out (of sth) to have sold all the available items, tickets, etc:\nI’m sorry, we’ve sold out of bread. * We are already sold out for what should be a fantastic game.\n  sell out (to sb/sth)\n1 (disapproving) to change or give up your beliefs or principles:\nHe’s a talented screenwriter who has sold out to TV soap operas.\n2 to sell your business or a part of your business:\nThe company eventually sold out to a multinational media group.\nrelated noun SELL-OUT\n  sell up | sell sth<->up (especially BrE) to sell your home, possessions, business, etc., usually because you are leaving the country or RETIRING\n    noun [sing.] (BrE, informal) something that is not as good as it seemed to be:\nThe band only played for about half an hour-it was a real sell.\nsee also HARD SELL


Words: sell-by date
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE pull date) noun\nthe date printed on food packages, etc. after which the food must not be sold:\nThis milk is past its sell-by date. * (figurative) These policies are way past their sell-by date.


Words: sell-off
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (BrE) the sale by the government of an industry or a service to individual people or private companies\n  2  (AmE, business) the sale of a large number of STOCKS and SHARES, after which their value usually falls


Words: sell-out
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.]\n  1  a play, concert, etc. for which all the tickets have been sold:\nNext week’s final looks like being a sell-out. * a sell-out tour\n  2  a situation in which sb betrays a person or group who trusted them, by not doing sth that they promised to do, or by doing sth that they promised not to do:\nThe workers see the deal as a union sell-out to management.


Words: seller
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who sells sth:\na flower seller * The law is intended to protect both the buyer and the seller.\nsee also BOOKSELLER\ncompare VENDOR\n  2  a good, poor, etc. ~ a product that has been sold in the amounts or way mentioned:\nThis particular model is one of our biggest sellers.\nsee also BEST-SELLER\n IDIOMS \n  a seller’s market a situation in which people selling sth have an advantage, because there is not a lot of a particular item for sale, and prices can be kept high


Words: selling point
Meaning:
noun\na feature of sth that makes people want to buy or use it:\nThe price is obviously one of the main selling points. * Sales departments try to identify a product’s USP or ’unique selling point’.


Words: Sellotape
Meaning:
noun\n(also sticky tape) (both BrE) (AmE Scotch tape) [U] clear plastic tape that is sticky on one side, used for sticking things together:\na roll of Sellotape * The envelope was stuck down with Sellotape.


Words: sellotape
Meaning:
verb\n[VN] ~ sth (to sth) (BrE) to join or stick things together with Sellotape:\nWe found a note sellotaped to the front door.


Words: semantic
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (linguistics) connected with the meaning of words and sentences:\nsemantic theory / analysis\n    semantically adverb:\nsemantically related words


Words: semantics
Meaning:
noun [U] (linguistics)\n  1  the study of the meanings of words and phrases\n  2  the meaning of words, phrases or systems:\nthe semantics of the language


Words: semaphore
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [U] a system for sending signals in which you hold your arms or two flags in particular positions to represent different letters of the alphabet\n    verb [V, VN, V that] to send a message to sb by semaphore or a similar system of signals


Words: semblance
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] ~ of sth (written) a situation in which sth seems to exist although this may not, in fact, be the case:\nThe ceasefire brought about a semblance of peace. * Life at last returned to some semblance of normality.


Words: semen
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the whitish liquid containing SPERM that is produced by the sex organs of men and male animals


Words: semester
Meaning:
noun\n(especially in the US) one of the two periods that the school or college year is divided into:\nthe spring / fall semester\ncompare TRIMESTER


Words: semi
Meaning:
noun\n(plural semis) (BrE, informal) a SEMI-DETACHED house (= one that is joined to another house by one shared wall):\nsuburban semis


Words: semi-automatic
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a gun) able to load bullets automatically, and therefore very quickly, but not firing automatically:\na semi-automatic rifle\n    semi-automatic noun


Words: semi-detached
Meaning:
adjective\n\n(BrE) (of a house) joined to another house by a wall on one side that is shared\n \n    semi-detached noun-compare DETACHED\nsee also SEMI, TERRACED


Words: semi-final
Meaning:
noun\none of the two games or parts of a sports competition that are held to decide who will compete in the last part (the FINAL):\nHe’s through to the semi-final of the men’s singles.\n    semi-finalist noun:\nThey are semi-finalists for the fourth year in succession.


Words: semi-precious
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (of a jewel) less valuable than the most valuable types of jewels:\nsemi-precious stones


Words: semi-professional
Meaning:
adjective\nsemi-professional musicians or sports players are paid for what they do, but do not do it as their main job\n    semi-profession al noun


Words: semi-skilled
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (of workers) having some special training or qualifications, but less than skilled people:\na semi-skilled machine operator * semi-skilled jobs (= for people who have some special training)


Words: semicircle
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (geometry) one half of a circle\n \n  2  the line that encloses a semicircle\n \n  3  a thing, or a group of people or things, shaped like a semicircle:\na semicircle of chairs * We sat in a semicircle round the fire.\n \n    semicircular  adjective:\na semicircular driveway


Words: semicolon
Meaning:
noun\nthe mark ( ; ) used to separate the parts of a complicated sentence or items in a detailed list, showing a pause that is longer than a COMMA but shorter than a FULL STOP\ncompare COLON


Words: semiconductor
Meaning:
noun (technical)\n  1  a solid substance that CONDUCTS electricity in particular conditions, better than INSULATORS but not as well as CONDUCTORS\n  2  a device containing a semiconductor used in ELECTRONICS


Words: seminal
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (formal) very important and having a strong influence on later developments:\na seminal work / article / study * His book on social policy proved to be seminal.\n  2  [usually before noun] (technical) of or containing SEMEN:\nseminal fluid


Words: seminar
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a class at a university or college when a small group of students and a teacher discuss or study a particular topic:\nTeaching is by lectures and seminars. * a graduate seminar * a seminar room / group\n  2  a meeting for discussion or training:\na one-day management seminar


Words: semiotics
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the study of signs and symbols and of their meaning and use\n    semiotic adjective:\nsemiotic analysis


Words: Semitic
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  of or connected with a family of languages that includes Hebrew and Arabic\n  2  of or connected with the people who speak Semitic languages, especially Hebrew and Arabic


Words: semitone
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE half step, half-tone) noun\n(music) half a TONE on a musical scale, for example the INTERVAL between C and C{sharp} or between E and F\ncompare STEP n. (10)


Words: semivowel
Meaning:
noun\n(phonetics) a speech sound that sounds like a vowel but functions as a consonant, for example / w, j /


Words: semolina
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  large hard grains of wheat used for making PASTA and sweet dishes\n  2  a sweet dish made from semolina and milk, eaten for DESSERT in Britain and for breakfast in the US


Words: senate
Meaning:
noun (usually the Senate)\n  1  [sing.] one of the two groups of elected politicians who make laws in some countries, for example in the US, France and Australia. The Senate is smaller than the other group but higher in rank. Many state parliaments in the US also have a Senate:\na member of the Senate * a Senate committee\ncompare CONGRESS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\n  2  [C, usually sing, U] (in some countries) the group of people who control a university:\nthe senate of London University\n  3  [sing.] (in ancient Rome) the most important council of the government; the building where the council met


Words: senator
Meaning:
noun\n(often Senator) (abbreviation Sen.) a member of a senate:\nSenator McCarthy * He has served as a Democratic senator for Texas since 1994.\n    senatorial  adjective [only before noun]:\na senatorial candidate / committee


Words: send
Meaning:
by mail / radio\n  1  ~ sth (to sb) | ~ sb sth to make sth go or be taken to a place, especially by post/mail, radio, etc:\n[VN] to send a letter / package / cheque / fax / e-mail * She sent the letter by airmail. * (BrE) to send sth by post * (AmE) to send sth by mail * A radio signal was sent to the spacecraft. * The CD player was faulty so we sent it back to the manufacturers. * [VN, VNN] Have you sent a postcard to your mother yet? * Have you sent your mother a postcard yet?\n  message\n  2  to tell sb sth by sending them a message:\n[VN] My parents send their love. * What sort of message is that sending to young people? * [VNN] He sent me word to come. * [VN (that)] She sent word (that) she could not come. * [V to inf] (formal) She sent to say that she was coming home.\n  sb somewhere\n  3  to tell sb to go somewhere or to do sth; to arrange for sb to go somewhere: [VN, usually +adv./prep.] Ed couldn’t make it so they sent me instead. * She sent the kids to bed early. * to send sb to prison / boarding school * We are being sent on a training course next month. * [VN to inf] I’ve sent Tom to buy some milk.\n  make sth move quickly\n  4  to make sth/sb move quickly or suddenly:\n[VN -ing] Every step he took sent the pain shooting up his leg. * The punch sent him flying. * [VN +adv./prep.] The report sent share prices down a further 8p.\n  make sb react\n  5  ~ sb (to / into sth) to make sb behave or react in a particular way:\n[VN] Her music always sends me to sleep. * Her account of the visit sent us into fits of laughter. * [VN-ADJ] All the publicity nearly sent him crazy.\n IDIOMS \n  send sb packing (informal) to tell sb firmly or rudely to go away:\nShe tried to interfere but I sent her packing.\nmore at COVENTRY, LOVE n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  send away (to sb) (for sth) = SEND OFF (FOR STH)\n  send sb<->down (BrE)\n1 (informal) to send sb to prison\n2 (old-fashioned) to order a student to leave a university because of bad behaviour\n  send for sb to ask or tell sb to come to you, especially in order to help you:\nSend for a doctor, quickly!\n  send for sth to ask sb to bring or deliver sth to you:\nHis son found him and sent for help. * She sent for the latest sales figures.\n  send sb forth (old-fashioned or literary) to send sb away from you to another place\n  send forth sth (formal) to produce a sound, signal, etc. so that other people can hear it, receive it, etc:\nHe opened his mouth and sent forth a stream of noise.\n  send sb<->in to order sb to go to a place to deal with a difficult situation:\nTroops were sent in to restore order.\n  send sth<->in to send sth by post/mail to a place where it will be dealt with:\nHave you sent in your application yet?\n  send off (for sth) | send away (to sb) (for sth) to write to sb and ask them to send you sth by post/mail:\nI’ve sent off for some books for my course.\n  send sb<->off (BrE) (in a sports game) to order sb to leave the field because they have broken the rules of the game:\nBeckham was sent off for a foul in the second half.\nrelated noun SENDING-OFF\n  send sth<->off to send sth to a place by post/mail:\nI’m sending the files off to my boss tomorrow.\n  send sth<->on\n1 to send sth to a place so that it arrives before you get there:\nWe sent our furniture on by ship.\n2 to send a letter that has been sent to sb’s old address to their new address\nSYN FORWARD:\nThey promised to send on our mail when we moved.\n3 to send sth from one place/person to another:\nThey arranged for the information to be sent on to us.\n  send out for sth to ask a restaurant or shop/store to deliver food to you at home or at work:\nLet’s send out for a pizza.\n  send sth<->out\n1 to send sth to a lot of different people or places:\nHave the invitations been sent out yet?\n2 to produce sth, such as light, a signal, sound, etc.\nSYN EMIT:\nThe sun sends out light and heat.\n  send sb/sth<->up (BrE, informal) to make people laugh at sb/sth by copying them/it in a funny way:\na TV programme that sends up politicians\nrelated noun SEND-UP


Words: send-off
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) an occasion when people come together to say goodbye to sb who is leaving:\nHer colleagues gave her a good send-off.


Words: send-up
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) an act of making sb/sth look silly by copying them in a funny way:\nHer book is a hilarious send-up of a conventional spy story.


Words: sending-off
Meaning:
noun\n(plural sendings-off) (BrE) (in football) a situation when a REFEREE tells a player to leave the field because they have broken the rules in a serious way


Words: senescence
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal or technical) the process of becoming old and showing the effects of old age\n    senescent adjective


Words: senile
Meaning:
adjective\nbehaving in a confused or strange way, and unable to remember things, because of old age:\nI think she’s going senile.\n    senility  noun [U]:\nan old man on the verge of senility


Words: senile dementia
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a serious mental disorder in old people that causes loss of memory, loss of control of the body, etc.


Words: senior
Meaning:
adjective, noun \n    adjective\n  of high rank\n  1  ~ (to sb) high in rank or status; higher in rank or status than others:\na senior officer / manager / lecturer * a senior partner in a law firm * a senior post / position * I have ten years’ experience at senior management level. * (BrE) Junior nurses usually work alongside more senior nurses. * He is senior to me. * The meeting should be chaired by the most senior person present.\n  in sport\n  2  [only before noun] for adults or people at a more advanced level:\nto take part in senior competitions * He won the senior men’s 400 metres.\n  father\n  3  (Senior) (abbreviation Snr., Sr) used after the name of a man who has the same name as his son, to avoid confusion\n  school / college\n  4  [only before noun] (BrE) (of a school or part of a school) for children over the age of 11 or 13\n  5  [only before noun] (AmE) connected with the last year in high school or college:\nthe senior prom\n    noun\n  older person\n  1  a person who is older than sb else:\nShe was ten years his senior. * My brother is my senior by two years.\ncompare JUNIOR\n  2  (especially AmE) = SENIOR CITIZEN\n  higher rank\n  3  a person who is higher in rank or status:\nShe felt unappreciated both by her colleagues and her seniors.\n  in sport\n  4  adults or people who have reached an advanced level:\ntennis coaching for juniors and seniors\n  in school / college\n  5  (BrE) a child at a senior school; an older child in a school\n  6  (in the US and some other countries) a student in the last year at a high school or college:\nhigh school seniors\ncompare SOPHOMORE


Words: senior citizen
Meaning:
(also senior especially in AmE) noun\nan older person, especially sb who has RETIRED from work. People often call sb a ’senior citizen’ to avoid saying that they are old or using the word ’old-age pensioner’.


Words: senior high school
Meaning:
(also senior high) noun\n(in the US) a school for young people between the ages of 14 and 18\ncompare JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Words: seniority
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the fact of being older or of a higher rank than others:\na position of seniority\n  2  the rank that you have in a company because of the length of time you have worked there:\na lawyer with five years’ seniority * Should promotion be based on merit or seniority?


Words: sensation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a feeling that you get when sth affects your body:\na tingling / burning / pleasant sensation * I had a sensation of falling, as if in a dream.\n  2  [U] the ability to feel through your sense of touch\nSYN FEELING:\nShe seemed to have lost all sensation in her arms.\n  3  [C, usually sing.] a general feeling or impression that is difficult to explain; an experience or a memory:\nHe had the eerie sensation of being watched. * When I arrived, I had the sensation that she had been expecting me.\n  4  [C, usually sing, U] very great surprise, excitement, or interest among a lot of people; the person or the thing that causes this surprise:\nNews of his arrest caused a sensation. * The band became a sensation overnight.


Words: sensational
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  causing great surprise, excitement, or interest:\nThe result was a sensational 41 victory. * The affair was the most sensational political sex scandal of the century.\n  2  (disapproving) (of a newspaper, etc.) trying to get your interest by presenting facts or events as worse or more shocking than they really are:\nsensational news stories\n  3  (informal) extremely good; wonderful:\nYou look sensational in that dress!\n    sensationally :\nThey won sensationally against the top team. * The incident was sensationally reported in the press. * He’s sensationally good-looking!


Words: sensationalism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) a way of getting people’s interest by using shocking words or by presenting facts and events as worse or more shocking than they really are:\nthe sensationalism of the popular press\n    sensationalist  adjective:\nsensationalist headlines / newspapers


Words: sensationalize
Meaning:
sensationalise  verb\n[VN] (disapproving) to exaggerate a story so that it seems more exciting or shocking than it really is


Words: sense
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  sight / hearing, etc.\n  1  [C] one of the five powers (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) that your body uses to get information about the world around you:\nthe five senses * Dogs have a keen (= strong) sense of smell. * the sense organs (= eyes, ears, nose, etc.) * I could hardly believe the evidence of my own senses (= what I could see, hear, etc.). * The mixture of sights, smells and sounds around her made her senses reel.\nsee also SIXTH SENSE\n  feeling\n  2  [C] a feeling about sth important:\nHe felt an overwhelming sense of loss. * a strong sense of purpose / identity / duty * Doesn’t she have any sense of guilt about what she did? * Helmets can give cyclists a false sense of security. * I had the sense that he was worried about something.\n  understanding / judgement\n  3  [sing.] an understanding about sth; an ability to judge sth:\nOne of the most important things in a partner is a sense of humour (= the ability to find things funny or make people laugh). * He has a very good sense of direction (= finds the way to a place easily). * She has lost all sense of direction in her life. * Always try to keep a sense of proportion (= of the relative importance of different things). * a sense of rhythm / timing * Alex doesn’t have any dress sense (= does not know which clothes look attractive).\nsee also ROAD SENSE\n  4  [U] good understanding and judgement; knowledge of what is sensible or practical behaviour:\nYou should have the sense to take advice when it is offered. * There’s no sense in (= it is not sensible) worrying about it now. * Can’t you talk sense (= say sth sensible)? * There’s a lot of sense in what Mary says.\nsee also COMMON SENSE, GOOD SENSE\n  normal state of mind\n  5  (senses) [pl.] a normal state of mind; the ability to think clearly:\nIf she threatens to leave, it should bring him to his senses. * He waited for Dora to come to her senses and return. * (old-fashioned) Are you out of your senses? You’ll be killed! * (old-fashioned) Why does she want to marry him? She must have taken leave of her senses.\n  meaning\n  6  [C] the meaning that a word or phrase has; a way of understanding sth:\nThe word ’love’ is used in different senses by different people. * education in its broadest sense * He was a true friend, in every sense of the word (= in every possible way). * In a sense (= in one way) it doesn’t matter any more. * In some senses (= in one or more ways) the criticisms were justified. * The medical care was excellent, in a technical sense. * (formal) In no sense can the issue be said to be resolved. * There is a sense in which we are all to blame for the tragedy. -> SENSIBLE\n IDIOMS \n  knock / talk some sense into sb to try and persuade sb to stop behaving in a stupid way, sometimes using rough or violent methods:\nTry and talk some sense into her before she makes the wrong decision. * Where would I be without you to knock some sense into my head?\n  make sense\n1 to have a meaning that you can easily understand:\nThis sentence doesn’t make sense.\n2 to be a sensible thing to do:\nIt makes sense to buy the most up-to-date version.\n3 to be easy to understand or explain:\nJohn wasn’t making much sense on the phone. * Who would send me all these flowers? It makes no sense.\n  make sense of sth to understand sth that is difficult or has no clear meaning:\nI can’t make sense of that painting.\n  see sense to start to be sensible or reasonable\n  a sense of occasion a feeling or understanding that an event is important or special:\nCandles on the table gave the evening a sense of occasion.\n    verb (not used in the progressive tenses)\n  become aware\n  1  to become aware of sth even though you cannot see it, hear it, etc:\n[VN] Sensing danger, they started to run. * [V] Thomas, she sensed, could convince anyone of anything. * I sensed a note of tension in his voice. * [V (that)] Lisa sensed that he did not believe her. [also VN -ing, VN inf, V wh-]\n  of machine\n  2  [VN] to discover and record sth:\nequipment that senses the presence of toxic gases


Words: senseless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (disapproving) having no meaning or purpose\nSYN POINTLESS:\nsenseless destruction / violence * His death was a senseless waste of life. * It’s senseless to continue any further.\n  2  [not before noun] unconscious:\nHe was beaten senseless. * She drank herself senseless.\n  3  not using good judgement:\nThe police blamed senseless drivers who went too fast.\n    senselessly adverb


Words: sensibility
Meaning:
noun (plural sensibilities)\n  1  [U, C] the ability to experience and understand deep feelings, especially in art and literature:\na man of impeccable manners, charm and sensibility * musical / artistic sensibility\n  2  (sensibilities) [pl.] a person’s feelings, especially when the person is easily offended or influenced by sth:\nThe article offended her religious sensibilities. * The play gave no thought to the sensibilities of the audience.


Words: sensible
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of people and their behaviour) able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion; practical:\na sensible person / decision / precaution * I think that’s a very sensible idea. * Say something sensible. * I think the sensible thing would be to take a taxi home.\n  2  (of clothes, etc.) useful rather than fashionable:\nsensible shoes\n  3  (formal or literary) aware of sth:\nI am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a popular subject.\nOPP for sense 3 INSENSIBLE\n HELP NOTE  Use silly (sense 1) or impractical (senses 1 and 2) as the opposite for the other senses.\n    sensibly  adverb:\nto eat / behave / drive / talk sensibly * He decided, very sensibly, not to drive when he was so tired. * She’s always very sensibly dressed.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nsensible / sensitive\nSensible and sensitive are connected with 2 different meanings of sense.\nSensible refers to your ability to make good judgements: She gave me some very sensible advice. * It wasn’t very sensible to go out on your own so late at night.\nSensitive refers to how easily you react to things and how much you are aware of things or other people: a soap for sensitive skin * This movie may upset a sensitive child.\n______________________________


Words: sensitive
Meaning:
adjective\n  to people’s feelings\n  1  ~ (to sth) aware of and able to understand other people and their feelings:\na sensitive and caring man * She is very sensitive to other people’s feelings.\nOPP INSENSITIVE\n  to art / music / literature\n  2  able to understand art, music and literature and to express yourself through them:\nan actor’s sensitive reading of the poem * a sensitive musician / poet * a sensitive portrait\n  easily upset\n  3  ~ (about / to sth) easily offended or upset:\nYou’re far too sensitive. * He’s very sensitive about his weight. * She’s very sensitive to criticism.\nOPP INSENSITIVE\n  information / subject\n  4  that you have to treat with great care because it may offend people or make them angry:\nHealth care is a politically sensitive issue. * That’s a sensitive area.\n  to cold / light / food, etc.\n  5  ~ (to sth) reacting quickly or more than usual to sth:\nsensitive areas of the body * My teeth are very sensitive to cold food. * The eyes of some fish are acutely sensitive to light.\nOPP INSENSITIVE\n  to small changes\n  6  ~ (to sth) able to measure very small changes:\na sensitive barometer / instrument * The eyes can be a sensitive indicator of health. * (figurative) The Stock Exchange is very sensitive to political change.\nOPP INSENSITIVE\n    sensitively adverb:\nShe handled the matter sensitively and effectively. * He writes sensitively.\n IDIOMS  see NERVE n.


Words: sensitivity
Meaning:
noun (plural sensitivities)\n  to people’s feelings\n  1  [U] ~ (to sth) the ability to understand other people’s feelings:\nsensitivity to the needs of children * She pointed out with tact and sensitivity exactly where he had gone wrong.\nOPP INSENSITIVITY\n  to art / music / literature\n  2  [U] the ability to understand art, music and literature and to express yourself through them:\nShe played with great sensitivity.\n  being easily upset\n  3  [U, C, usually pl.] a tendency to be easily offended or upset by sth:\nHe’s a mixture of anger and sensitivity. * She was blind to the feelings and sensitivities of other people.\nOPP INSENSITIVITY\n  of information / subject\n  4  [U] the fact of needing to be treated very carefully because it may offend or upset people:\nConfidentiality is important because of the sensitivity of the information.\n  to food / cold / light, etc.\n  5  [U, C, usually pl.] (technical) the quality of reacting quickly or more than usual to sth:\nfood sensitivity * allergies and sensitivities * Some children develop a sensitivity to cow’s milk. * The eyes of some fish have a greater sensitivity to light than ours do.\n  to small changes\n  6  [U] the ability to measure very small changes:\nthe sensitivity of the test\nOPP INSENSITIVITY


Words: sensitize
Meaning:
(BrE also sensitise)  verb [VN] [usually passive]\n  1  ~ sb/sth (to sth) to make sb/sth more aware of sth, especially a problem or sth bad:\nPeople are becoming more sensitized to the dangers threatening the environment.\n  2  (technical) to treat a material or piece of equipment so that it will be sensitive to physical or chemical changes:\nAnxious people can become acutely sensitized to their bodies, noticing and focussing on minor bodily changes.\n    sensitization, sensitisation  noun [U]


Words: sensor
Meaning:
noun\na device that can react to light, heat, pressure, etc. in order to make a machine, etc. do sth or show sth:\nsecurity lights with an infrared sensor (= that come on when a person is near them)


Words: sensory
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (technical) connected with your physical senses:\nsensory organs * sensory deprivation


Words: sensual
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  connected with your physical feelings; giving pleasure to your physical senses, especially sexual pleasure:\nsensual pleasure / delight * Food is a great sensual experience.\n  2  suggesting an interest in physical pleasure, especially sexual pleasure:\nsensual lips / eyes * He was darkly sensual and mysterious.\n    sensuality  noun [U]:\nthe sensuality of his poetry * Her face had an air of sleepy sensuality.\n    sensually  adverb\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nsensual / sensuous / sensory\nThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:\nsensual ~  sensuous ~  sensory ~\npleasure  mouth  perception\nmouth  lips  stimulation\ndesire  pleasure  experience\nwoman  colour  deprivation\nvoice  music\nSensual and sensuous are very similar and refer to things that give pleasure to your senses, especially sexual pleasure, or that suggest an interest in sexual pleasure.\nSensuous also describes the pleasure that art and music can give to your senses.\nSensory is used in technical contexts and means ’connected with the senses’.\n______________________________


Words: sensuous
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  giving pleasure to your senses:\nsensuous pleasure / music * I’m drawn to the poetic, sensuous qualities of her paintings.\n  2  suggesting an interest in sexual pleasure:\nhis full sensuous lips\n    sensuously adverb\n    sensuousness noun [U]


Words: sentence
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] (grammar) a set of words expressing a statement, a question or an order, usually containing a subject and a verb. In written English sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop (.), a question mark (?) or an EXCLAMATION mark (!).\n  2  [C, U] the punishment given by a court of law:\na jail / prison sentence * a light / heavy sentence * to be under sentence of death * The judge passed sentence (= said what the punishment would be). * The prisoner has served (= completed) his sentence and will be released tomorrow.\nsee also DEATH SENTENCE, LIFE SENTENCE\n    verb [often passive] ~ sb (to sth) to say officially in a court of law that sb is to receive a particular punishment: [VN] to be sentenced to death / life imprisonment / three years in prison [also VN to inf]


Words: sententious
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal, disapproving) trying to sound important or intelligent, especially by expressing moral judgements:\nsententious remarks\n    sententiously adverb:\n’It’s never easy to serve two masters,’ he said sententiously.


Words: sentient
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (formal) able to see or feel things through the senses:\nMan is a sentient being.


Words: sentiment
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C, U] (formal) a feeling or an opinion, especially one based on emotions\nSYN VIEW:\nthe spread of nationalist sentiments * This is a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. * Public sentiment is against any change to the law. * My sentiments exactly (= I agree)!\n  2  [U] (sometimes disapproving) feelings of pity, romantic love, sadness, etc. which may be too strong or not appropriate:\nThere was no fatherly affection, no display of sentiment. * There is no room for sentiment in business.


Words: sentimental
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  connected with your emotions, rather than reason:\nHe has a strong sentimental attachment to the place. * She kept the letters for sentimental reasons. * The ring wasn’t worth very much but it had great sentimental value.\n  2  (often disapproving) producing emotions such as pity, romantic love or sadness, which may be too strong or not appropriate; feeling these emotions too much:\na slushy, sentimental love story * Her book is honest without being sentimental. * He’s not the sort of man who gets sentimental about old friendships.\nOPP UNSENTIMENTAL\n    sentimentally  adverb


Words: sentimentality
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (disapproving) the quality of being too sentimental:\nHe was the first artist to depict the Highland landscape without sentimentality.


Words: sentimentalize
Meaning:
(BrE also sentimentalise)  verb\n(disapproving) to present sth in an emotional way, emphasizing its good aspects and not mentioning its bad aspects:\n[VN] Jackie was careful not to sentimentalize country life. [also V]


Words: sentinel
Meaning:
noun\n(literary) a soldier whose job is to guard sth\nSYN SENTRY: (figurative) a tall round tower standing sentinel over the river * Large dark pines stood like sentinels guarding the wintry garden.


Words: sentry
Meaning:
noun\n(plural sentries) a soldier whose job is to guard sth:\nto be on sentry duty * People approaching the gate were challenged by the sentry.


Words: sepal
Meaning:
noun\n(technical) a part of a flower, like a leaf, that lies under and supports the PETALS (= the delicate coloured parts that make up the head of the flower). Each flower has a ring of sepals called a CALYX.


Words: separable
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (from sth) that can be separated from sth, or considered separately:\nThe moral question is not entirely separable from the financial one. * The influences of home and school are not easily separable.\nOPP INSEPARABLE\n    separability  noun [U]


Words: separate
Meaning:
adjective, verb \n    adjective \n  1  ~ (from sth/sb) forming a unit by itself; not joined to sth else:\nseparate bedrooms / offices * Raw meat must be kept separate from cooked meat. * The school is housed in two separate buildings. * Write a list of names on a separate piece of paper.\n  2  [usually before noun] different; not connected:\nIt happened on three separate occasions. * For the past three years they have been leading totally separate lives.\n    separateness noun [U, sing.]:\nJapan’s long-standing sense of separateness and uniqueness\n IDIOMS \n  go your separate ways\n1 to end a relationship with sb:\nWhen the business was sold they went their separate ways.\n2 to go in a different direction from sb you have been travelling with\nmore at COVER n.\n    verb \n  1  ~ (sth) (from / and sth) to divide into different parts or groups; to divide things into different parts or groups:\n[V] Stir the sauce constantly so that it does not separate. * [VN] It is impossible to separate belief from emotion. * Separate the eggs (= separate the YOLK from the white). * Make a list of points and separate them into ’desirable’ and ’essential’.\n  2  ~ sb/sth (from / and sb/sth) to move apart; to make people or things move apart:\n[V] We separated into several different search parties. * South America separated from Africa 200 million years ago. * South America and Africa separated 200 million years ago. * [VN] Police tried to separate the two men who were fighting. * The war separated many families. * Those suffering from infectious diseases were separated from the other patients.\n  3  [VN] ~ sb (from / and sb) to be between two people, areas, countries, etc. so that they are not touching or connected:\nA thousand kilometres separates the two cities. * A high wall separated our back yard from the playing field.\n  4  [V] ~ (from sb) to stop living together as a couple with your husband, wife or partner:\nHe separated from his wife after 20 years of marriage. * They separated last year.\n  5  [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to make sb/sth different in some way from sb/sth else:\nPolitics is the only thing that separates us (= that we disagree about). * Her lack of religious faith separated her from the rest of her family. * The judges found it impossible to separate the two contestants (= they gave them equal scores). * Only four points separate the top three teams.\n IDIOMS  see MAN n., SHEEP, WHEAT\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  separate out | separate sth<->out to divide into different parts; to divide sth into different parts:\nto separate out different meanings * The material is reprocessed to separate out impurities.


Words: separated
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (from sb) no longer living with your husband, wife or partner:\nHer parents are separated but not divorced. * He’s been separated from his wife for a year.


Words: separately
Meaning:
adverb\n~ (from sb/sth) as a separate person or thing; not together:\nThey were photographed separately and then as a group. * Last year’s figures are shown separately. * That matter will be considered separately from the main agenda. * Husband and wife are assessed separately for tax.


Words: separates
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] individual pieces of clothing, for example skirts, jackets, and trousers/pants, that are designed to be worn together in different combinations


Words: separation
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U, sing.] ~ (from sb/sth) | ~ (between A and B) the act of separating people or things; the state of being separate:\nthe state’s eventual separation from the federation * the need for a clear separation between Church and State\n  2  [C] a period of time that people spend apart from each other:\nThey were reunited after a separation of more than 20 years. * Prolonged separations of this kind are damaging to very young children.\n  3  [C] a decision that a husband and wife make to live apart while they are still legally married:\na legal separation * Sixty per cent of all marital separations occur before the tenth year of marriage.\ncompare DIVORCE


Words: separatist
Meaning:
noun\na member of a group of people within a country who want to separate from the rest of the country and form their own government:\nBasque separatists\n    separatism  noun [U]:\nThere has been an alarming rise in separatism and inter-ethnic violence in the country.\n    separatist adjective:\na separatist movement


Words: sepia
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  a brown substance used in inks and paints and used in the past for printing photographs\n  2  a reddish-brown colour\n    sepia adjective [usually before noun]:\nsepia ink / prints / photographs


Words: September
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] (abbreviation Sept.) the 9th month of the year, between August and October\n HELP NOTE  To see how September is used, look at the examples at April.


Words: septet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of seven musicians or singers\n  2  [C] a piece of music for seven musicians or singers


Words: septic
Meaning:
adjective\n(of a wound or part of the body) infected with harmful bacteria:\na septic finger * A dirty cut may go septic.\nOPP ASEPTIC


Words: septic tank
Meaning:
noun\na large container, usually underground, that holds human waste from toilets until the action of bacteria makes it liquid enough to soak into the ground


Words: septicaemia
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE septicemia)  noun\n[U] (medical) infection of the blood by harmful bacteria\nSYN BLOOD POISONING


Words: sepulchral
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (literary) looking or sounding sad and serious; making you think of death:\nHe spoke in sepulchral tones.\n  2  (technical) connected with burying dead people, or graves or sepulchres:\na sepulchral monument


Words: sepulchre
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE sepulcher)  noun\n(old use) a place for a dead body, either cut in rock or built of stone


Words: sequel
Meaning:
noun ~ (to sth)\n  1  a book, film/movie, play, etc. that continues the story of an earlier one:\na sequel to the hit movie ’Sister Act’\ncompare PREQUEL\n  2  [usually sing.] something that happens after an earlier event or as a result of an earlier event:\nThere was an interesting sequel to these events later in the year.


Words: sequence
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C] a set of events, actions, numbers, etc. which have a particular order and which lead to a particular result:\nHe described the sequence of events leading up to the robbery.\n  2  [C, U] the order that events, actions, etc. happen in or should happen in:\nThe tasks had to be performed in a particular sequence. * Number the pages in sequence. * These pages are out of sequence.\n  3  [C] a part of a film/movie that deals with one subject or topic or consists of one scene:\nthe dream sequence in the middle of the movie\n    verb [VN] (technical) to arrange things into a sequence\n    sequencing noun [U]


Words: sequencer
Meaning:
noun\nan electronic instrument for recording and storing sounds so that they can be played later as part of a piece of music


Words: sequential
Meaning:
adjective\n(formal) following in order of time or place:\nsequential data processing\n    sequentially  adverb:\ndata stored sequentially on a computer


Words: sequester
Meaning:
verb [VN] (law)\n  1  = SEQUESTRATE\n  2  to keep a JURY together in a place, in order to prevent them from talking to other people about a case in a court of law, or learning about it in the newspapers, on television, etc.


Words: sequestered
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (literary) (of a place) quiet and far away from people:\na sequestered valley


Words: sequestrate
Meaning:
(also sequester) verb\n[VN] (law) to take control of sb’s property or ASSETS until a debt has been paid\n    sequestration  noun [U, C]:\nthe sequestration of assets


Words: sequin
Meaning:
noun\na small circular shiny disc sewn onto clothing as decoration:\na dress covered in gold sequins\n    sequinned  adjective [usually before noun]:\na sequinned evening bag


Words: seraphic
Meaning:
adjective (literary)\n  1  as beautiful, pure, etc. as an angel:\na seraphic child / nature\n  2  extremely happy:\na seraphic smile


Words: serenade
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  a song or tune played or sung at night by a lover outside the window of the woman he loves\n  2  a gentle piece of music in several parts, usually for a small group of instruments\n    verb [VN] to sing or play music to sb (as done in the past by a man singing under her window to the woman he loved):\nWe were serenaded by a string quartet.


Words: serendipity
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (written) the fact of sth interesting or pleasant happening by chance:\nMeeting her like that, and there of all places, was true serendipity!\n    serendipitous  adjective:\nserendipitous discoveries


Words: serene
Meaning:
adjective\ncalm and peaceful:\nThe child’s face was serene and beautiful. * a lake, still and serene in the sunlight\n    serenely adverb:\nserenely beautiful * She smiled serenely.\n    serenity  noun [U, sing.]:\nThe hotel offers a haven of peace and serenity away from the bustle of the city.


Words: serf
Meaning:
noun\n(in the past) a person who was forced to live and work on land that belonged to a LANDOWNER whom they had to obey


Words: serfdom
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the system under which crops were grown by serfs; the state of being a serf:\nthe abolition of serfdom in Russia in 1861


Words: sergeant
Meaning:
noun (abbreviation Sergt, Sgt)\n  1  a member of one of the middle ranks in the army and the air force, below an officer:\nSergeant Salter\nsee also FLIGHT SERGEANT, STAFF SERGEANT\n  2  (in Britain) a police officer just below the rank of an INSPECTOR\n  3  (in the US) a police officer just below the rank of a LIEUTENANT or CAPTAIN\nsee also SARGE


Words: sergeant major
Meaning:
noun (often used as a title)\n  1  a soldier of middle rank in the British army who is responsible for helping the administrative officer of a particular REGIMENT (= a large group of soldiers):\nSergeant Major Phillips\n  2  a soldier in the US army of the highest rank of NON-COMMISSIONED officers


Words: serial
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun a story on television or the radio, or in a magazine, that is broadcast or published in several separate parts:\na classic drama serial\n    adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] (technical) arranged in a series:\ntasks carried out in the same serial order\n  2  [only before noun] doing the same thing in the same way several times:\na serial rapist\n  3  [only before noun] (of a story, etc.) broadcast or published in several separate parts:\na novel in serial form\n    serially  adverb


Words: serial killer
Meaning:
noun\na person who murders several people one after the other in a similar way:\nPolice say that they have no proof that a serial killer is responsible for the four murders.


Words: serialize
Meaning:
(BrE also serialise)  verb\n[VN] to publish or broadcast sth in parts as a serial:\nThe novel was serialized on TV in six parts.\n    serialization, serialisation  noun [C, U]:\na newspaper serialization of the book


Words: series
Meaning:
noun (plural series)\n  1  [C, usually sing.] ~ of sth several events or things of a similar kind that happen one after the other:\nThe incident sparked off a whole series of events that nobody had foreseen. * the first / latest in a series of articles on the nature of modern society * The movie consisted of a series of flashbacks.\n  2  [C] a set of radio or television programmes that deal with the same subject or that have the same characters:\nThe first episode of the new series is on Saturday.\n  3  [C] (sport) a set of sports games played between the same two teams:\nEngland have lost the Test series (= of cricket matches) against India. * the World Series (= in baseball)\n  4  [U, C] (technical) an electrical CIRCUIT in which the current passes through all the parts in the correct order:\nbatteries connected in series * a series circuit / connection


Words: serif
Meaning:
noun\na short line at the top or bottom of some styles of printed letters:\na serif typeface\ncompare SANS SERIF


Words: serious
Meaning:
adjective\n  bad\n  1  bad or dangerous:\na serious illness / problem / offence * to cause serious injury / damage * They pose a serious threat to security. * The consequences could be serious.\n  needing thought\n  2  needing to be thought about carefully; not only for pleasure:\na serious article * a serious newspaper * It’s time to give serious consideration to this matter.\n  important\n  3  that must be treated as important:\nWe need to get down to the serious business of working out costs. * The team is a serious contender for the title this year.\n  not silly\n  4  thinking about things in a careful and sensible way; not silly:\nBe serious for a moment; this is important. * I’m afraid I’m not a very serious person.\n  not joking\n  5  ~ (about sb/sth) | ~ (about doing sth) sincere about sth; not joking or meant as a joke:\nBelieve me, I’m deadly (= extremely) serious. * Don’t laugh, it’s a serious suggestion. * Is she serious about wanting to sell the house? * He’s really serious about Penny and wants to get engaged. * She doesn’t have a serious boyfriend. * (spoken) You can’t be serious! (= you must be joking) * You think I did it? Be serious! (= what you suggest is ridiculous)\n  large amount\n  6  (informal) used to emphasize that there is a large amount of sth:\nYou can earn serious money doing that. * I’m ready to do some serious eating (= I am very hungry).


Words: seriously
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a serious way:\nto be seriously ill / injured * You’re not seriously expecting me to believe that? * They are seriously concerned about security. * Smoking can seriously damage your health.\n  2  (spoken) used at the beginning of a sentence to show a change from joking to being more serious:\nSeriously though, it could be really dangerous.\n  3  (informal) very; extremely:\nThey’re seriously rich.\n IDIOMS \n  take sb/sth seriously to think that sb/sth is important and deserves your attention and respect:\nWe take threats of this kind very seriously. * Why can’t you ever take anything seriously? * Headaches in young children should always be taken seriously. * You can’t take anything she says very seriously.


Words: seriousness
Meaning:
noun\n[U, sing.] the state of being serious:\nHe spoke with a seriousness that was unusual in him. * We saw from the seriousness of her expression that she meant it.\n IDIOMS \n  in all seriousness very seriously; not as a joke:\nHe told us in all seriousness that he was going to join a circus.


Words: sermon
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a talk on a moral or religious subject, usually given by a religious leader during a service\n  2  (informal, usually disapproving) moral advice that a person tries to give you in a long talk:\nWe had to listen to a long sermon on the evils of wasting time.


Words: sermonize
Meaning:
(BrE also sermonise)  verb\n[V] (disapproving) to give moral advice, especially when it is boring or not wanted


Words: serrated
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving a series of sharp points on the edge like a SAW:\na knife with a serrated edge * a serrated blade / knife


Words: serried
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] (literary) standing or arranged closely together in rows or lines:\nserried ranks of soldiers


Words: serum
Meaning:
or serums)\n  1  [U] (biology) the thin liquid that remains from blood when the rest has CLOTTED\n  2  [U, C] (medical) serum taken from the blood of an animal and given to people to protect them from disease, poison, etc:\nsnakebite serum\n  3  [U] any liquid like water in body TISSUE


Words: servant
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a person who works in another person’s house, and cooks, cleans, etc. for them:\na domestic servant * They treat their mother like a servant.\n  2  a person who works for a company or an organization:\na public servant\nsee also CIVIL SERVANT\n  3  a person or thing that is controlled by sth:\nHe was willing to make himself a servant of his art.\n IDIOMS  see OBEDIENT


Words: serve
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  food / drink\n  1  ~ sth (with sth) | ~ sth (to sb) | ~ sb sth to give sb food or drink, for example at a restaurant or during a meal:\n[VN] Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m. * Serve the lamb with new potatoes and green beans. * They served a wonderful meal to more than fifty delegates. * The delegates were served with a wonderful meal. * Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately. * [VNN] She served us a delicious lunch. * [V] Shall I serve? * [VN-ADJ] The quiche can be served hot or cold.\n  2  [VN] (of an amount of food) to be enough for sb/sth:\nThis dish will serve four hungry people.\n  customers\n  3  (especially BrE) to help a customer or sell them sth in a shop/store:\n[VN] Are you being served? [also V]\n  be useful\n  4  [VN] to be useful to sb in achieving or satisfying sth:\nThese experiments serve no useful purpose. * Most of their economic policies serve the interests of big business. * How can we best serve the needs of future generations? * His linguistic ability served him well in his chosen profession.\n  provide sth\n  5  [VN] ~ sb (with sth) to provide an area or a group of people with a product or service:\nThe town is well served with buses and major road links. * The centre will serve the whole community.\n  be suitable\n  6  [V] ~ (as sth) to be suitable for a particular use, especially when nothing else is available:\nThe sofa will serve as a bed for a night or two.\n  have particular result\n  7  ~ (as sth) to have a particular effect or result:\n[V] The judge said the punishment would serve as a warning to others. * [V to inf] The attack was unsuccessful and served only to alert the enemy.\n  work\n  8  ~ (sb) (as sth) | ~ (in / on / with sth) | ~ (under / with sb) to work or perform duties for a person, an organization, a country, etc:\n[V] He served as a captain in the army. * She served in the medical corps. * He served under Edward Heath in the 1970s. * [VN] I wanted to work somewhere where I could serve the community. * He served the family faithfully for many years (= as a servant).\n  9  ~ (as sth) to spend a period of time in a particular job or training for a job:\n[VN] He served a one-year apprenticeship. * [V] She was elected to serve for another year as secretary of the local party.\n  time in prison\n  10  [VN] to spend a period of time in prison:\nprisoners serving life sentences * She is serving two years for theft. * He has served time (= been to prison) before.\n  official document\n  11  [VN] ~ sth (on sb) | ~ sb with sth (law) to give or send sb an official document, especially one that orders them to appear in a court of law:\nto serve a writ / summons on sb * to serve sb with a writ / summons\n  in sport\n  12  (in tennis, etc.) to start playing by throwing the ball into the air and hitting it:\n[V] Who’s serving? * [VN] She served an ace.\n IDIOMS \n  it serves sb right (for doing sth) used to say that sth that has happened to sb is their own fault and they deserve it:\nLeft you, did she? It serves you right for being so selfish.\n  serve your / its turn (BrE) to be useful for a particular purpose or period of time\n  serve two masters (usually used in negative sentences) to support two opposing parties, principles, etc. at the same time\nmore at FIRST adv., MEMORY\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  serve sth<->out\n1 to continue doing sth, especially working or staying in prison, for a fixed period of time that has been set:\nHe has three more years in prison before he’s served out his sentence. * (BrE) They didn’t want me to serve out my notice.\n2 (BrE) = SERVE STH UP\n  serve sth<->up (BrE also serve sth<->out)\n1 to put food onto plates and give it to people:\nHe served up a delicious meal.\n2 to give or offer sth:\nShe served up the usual excuse.\n    noun (in tennis, etc.) the action of serving the ball to your opponent


Words: server
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (computing) a computer program that controls or supplies information to several computers connected in a NETWORK; the main computer on which this program is run:\na file / print server\n  2  (sport) a player who is serving, for example in tennis\n  3  [usually pl.] a kitchen UTENSIL (= tool) used for putting food onto sb’s plate:\nsalad servers\n  4  (AmE) a person who serves food in a restaurant; a WAITER or WAITRESS\n  5  a person who helps a priest during a church service


Words: servery
Meaning:
noun\n(plural serveries) (BrE) part of a restaurant where you collect your food to take back to your table


Words: service
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  providing sth\n \n  1  [C] a system that provides sth that the public needs, organized by the government or a private company:\nthe ambulance / bus / telephone service * The government aims to improve public services, especially education. * Essential services (= the supply of water, gas, electricity) will be maintained.\nsee also EMERGENCY SERVICES, POSTAL SERVICE\n \n  2  (also Service) [C] an organization or a company that provides sth for the public or does sth for the government:\nthe prison service * the BBC World Service\nsee also CIVIL SERVICE, DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, FIRE SERVICE, HEALTH SERVICE, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, SECRET SERVICE, SECURITY SERVICE, SOCIAL SERVICES\n \n  3  [C, U] a business whose work involves doing sth for customers but not producing goods; the work that such a business does:\nfinancial / banking / insurance services * the development of new goods and services * Smith’s Catering Services (= a company) offers the best value. * We guarantee (an) excellent service. * the service sector (= the part of the economy involved in this type of business) * a service industry\n  in hotel / shop / restaurant\n  4  [U] the serving of customers in hotels, restaurants, and shops/stores:\nThe food was good but the service was very slow. * 10% will be added to your bill for service. * Our main concern is to provide quality customer service.\nsee also ROOM SERVICE, SELF-SERVICE\n  work for organization\n  5  [U] ~ (to sth) the work that sb does for an organization, etc., especially when it continues for a long time or is admired very much:\nShe has just celebrated 25 years’ service with the company. * The employees have good conditions of service. * After retiring, she became involved in voluntary service in the local community.\nsee also JURY SERVICE\n  of vehicle / machine\n  6  [U] the use that you can get from a vehicle or machine; the state of being used:\nThat computer gave us very good service. * The ship will be taken out of service within two years.\n  7  [C] an examination of a vehicle or machine followed by any work that is necessary to keep it operating well:\nI had taken the car in for a service. * We offer excellent after sales service on all our goods. * a service engineer\n  skills / help\n  8  [usually pl.] ~ (of sb) | ~ (as sb/sth) the particular skills or help that a person is able to offer:\nYou need the services of a good lawyer. * He offered his services as a driver.\n  army / navy / air force\n  9  [C, usually pl., U] the army, the navy and the air force; the work done by people in them:\nMost of the boys went straight into the services. * He saw service in North Africa. * a service family\nsee also ACTIVE SERVICE, MILITARY SERVICE, NATIONAL SERVICE\n  religious ceremony\n  10  [C] a religious ceremony:\nto attend morning / evening service * a funeral / marriage / memorial service\n  bus / train\n  11  [C, usually sing.] a bus, train, etc. that goes regularly to a particular place at a particular time:\nthe cancellation of the 10.15 service to Glasgow\n  on motorway\n  12  (services) [sing.+sing./pl. v.] (BrE) a place beside a motorway where you can stop for petrol, a meal, the toilets, etc:\nmotorway services * It’s five miles to the next services.\nsee also SERVICE AREA, SERVICE STATION\n  in tennis\n  13  [C] an act of hitting the ball in order to start playing; the way that you hit it\nSYN SERVE:\nIt’s your service (= your turn to start playing). * Her service has improved.\n  set of plates\n  14  [C] a complete set of plates, dishes, etc. that match each other:\na tea service (= cups, SAUCERS, a TEAPOT and plates, for serving tea)\nsee also DINNER SERVICE\n  being servant\n  15  [U] (old-fashioned) the state or position of being a servant:\nto be in / go into service (= to be / become a servant)\n  of official document\n  16  [U] (law) the formal giving of an official document, etc. to sb:\nthe service of a demand for payment\n IDIOMS \n  at the service of sb/sth | at sb’s service completely available for sb to use or to help sb:\nHealth care must be at the service of all who need it. (formal or humorous) If you need anything, I am at your service.\n  be of service (to sb) (formal) to be useful or helpful:\nCan I be of service to anyone?\n  do sb a / no service (formal) to do sth that is helpful/not helpful to sb:\nShe was doing herself no service by remaining silent.\nmore at PRESS v.\n    verb [VN]\n  vehicle / machine\n  1  [usually passive] to examine a vehicle or machine and repair it if necessary so that it continues to work correctly:\nWe need to have the car serviced. * Make sure your boiler is serviced regularly.\n  provide sth\n  2  (written) to provide people with sth they need, such as shops/stores, or a transport system\nSYN SERVE:\nBotley is well serviced by a regular bus route into Oxford. * This department services the international sales force (= provides services for it).\n  pay interest\n  3  (technical) to pay interest on money that has been borrowed:\nThe company can no longer service its debts.


Words: service area
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a place on a motorway where you can stop and buy food, petrol, have a meal, go to the toilet, etc.


Words: service charge
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an amount of money that is added to a bill, as an extra charge for a service:\nThat will be $50, plus a service charge of $2.50.\n  2  (BrE) an amount of money that is added to a bill in a restaurant, for example 10% of the total, that goes to pay for the work of the staff\n  3  an amount of money that is paid to the owner of an apartment building for services such as putting out rubbish/garbage, cleaning the stairs, etc.


Words: service road
Meaning:
(AmE also frontage road) noun\na side road that runs parallel to a main road, that you use to reach houses, shops/stores, etc.


Words: service station
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  = PETROL STATION\n \n  2  (BrE) an area and building beside a motorway where you can buy food and petrol, go to the toilet, etc:\na motorway service station


Words: servicing
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the act of checking and repairing a vehicle, machine, etc. to keep it in good condition:\nLike any other type of equipment it requires regular servicing.\n  2  (finance) the act of paying interest on money that has been borrowed:\ndebt servicing


Words: serviette
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a piece of fabric or paper used at meals for protecting your clothes and cleaning your lips and fingers\nSYN NAPKIN


Words: servile
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) wanting too much to please sb and obey them:\nParents have no right to demand servile obedience from their children.\n    servility  noun [U]:\nThey demand respect and obedience but not servility.


Words: servitude
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (formal) the condition of being a slave or being forced to obey another person:\na life of poverty and servitude


Words: sesame
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a tropical plant grown for its seeds and their oil that are used in cooking:\nsesame seeds\nsee also OPEN SESAME


Words: session
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a period of time that is spent doing a particular activity:\na photo / recording / training session * The course is made up of 12 two-hour sessions. * She has a weekly session at the health club on Saturdays. * Two soccer fans plunged to their deaths after a heavy drinking session.\nsee also JAM SESSION\n  2  a formal meeting or series of meetings of a court of law, a parliament, etc.; a period of time when such meetings are held:\na session of the UN General Assembly * The court is now in session. * The committee met in closed session (= with nobody else present). * an emergency session of Congress * the current parliamentary session\nsee also QUARTER SESSIONS\n  3  (ScotE) a school or university year


Words: set
Meaning:
verb, noun, adjective \n    verb (setting, set, set)\n  put / start\n  1  [VN +adv./prep.] to put sth/sb in a particular place or position:\nShe set a tray down on the table. * They ate everything that was set in front of them. * The house is set (= situated) in fifty acres of parkland.\n  2  to cause sb/sth to be in a particular state; to start sth happening: [VN, +adv./prep.] Her manner immediately set everyone at their ease. * He pulled the lever and set the machine in motion. * The new leader has set the party on the road to success. * [VN-ADJ] The hijackers set the hostages free. * [VN -ing] Her remarks set me thinking.\n  play / book / movie\n  3  [VN] [usually passive] to place the action of a play, novel or film/movie in a particular place, time, etc:\nThe novel is set in London in the 1960s.\n  clock / machine\n  4  [VN] to prepare or arrange sth so that it is ready for use or in position:\nShe set the camera on automatic. * I set my watch by (= make it show the same time as) the TV. * Set the alarm for 7 o’clock.\n  table\n  5  [VN] ~ a / the table to arrange knives, forks, etc. on a table for a meal:\nCould you set the table for dinner? * The table was set for six guests.\n  jewellery\n  6  [VN] [usually passive] ~ A in B | ~ B with A to put a precious stone into a piece of jewellery:\nShe had the sapphire set in a gold ring. * Her bracelet was set with emeralds.\n  arrange\n  7  [VN] to arrange or fix sth; to decide on sth:\nThey haven’t set a date for their wedding yet. * The government has set strict limits on public spending this year.\n  example / standard, etc.\n  8  [VN] to fix sth so that others copy it or try to achieve it:\nThis could set a new fashion. * They set high standards of customer service. * I am unwilling to set a precedent. * She set a new world record for the high jump. * I rely on you to set a good example.\n  work / task\n  9  ~ sth (for sb) | ~ sb (to do sth) to give sb a piece of work, a task, etc:\n[VN] Who will be setting (= writing the questions for) the French exam? * What books have been set (= are to be studied) for the English course? * [VNN, VN] She’s set herself a difficult task. * She’s set a difficult task for herself. * [VN to inf] I’ve set myself to finish the job by the end of the month.\nsee also SET BOOK\n  become firm\n  10  to become firm or hard:\n[V] Leave the concrete to set for a few hours. * [V-ADJ] The glue had set hard.\n  face\n  11  [VN] [usually passive] to fix your face into a firm expression:\nHer jaw was set in a determined manner.\n  hair\n  12  [VN] to arrange sb’s hair while it is wet so that it dries in a particular style:\nShe had her hair washed and set.\n  bone\n  13  [VN] to put a broken bone into a fixed position and hold it there, so that it will heal; to heal in this way:\nThe surgeon set her broken arm. [also V]\n  for printing\n  14  [VN] (technical) to prepare a book, etc. for printing:\nBooks were previously set by hand but much of the work is now done by computer.\nsee also TYPESETTER\n  words to music\n  15  [VN] ~ sth (to sth) to write music to go with words:\nSchubert set many poems to music.\n  of sun / moon\n  16  [V] to go down below the HORIZON:\nWe sat and watched the sun setting.\nsee also SUNSET\nOPP RISE\n IDIOMS \n  Idioms containing set are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example set the pace is at pacen.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  set about sb (BrE, old-fashioned, informal) to attack sb\n  set about sth [no passive] to start doing sth:\nShe set about the business of cleaning the house. * [+ -ing] We need to set about finding a solution.\n  set sb against sb to make sb oppose a friend, relative, etc:\nShe accused her husband of setting the children against her.\n  set sth (off) against sth\n1 to judge sb/sth by comparing good or positive qualities with bad or negative ones:\nSet against the benefits of the new technology, there is also a strong possibility that jobs will be lost.\n2 (finance) to record sth as a business cost as a way of reducing the amount of tax you must pay:\nto set capital costs off against tax\n  set sb/sth apart (from sb/sth) to make sb/sth different from or better than others:\nHer clear and elegant writing sets her apart from other journalists.\n  set sth<->apart (for sth) [usually passive] to keep sth for a special use or purpose:\nTwo rooms were set apart for use as libraries.\n  set sth<->aside\n1 to move sth to one side until you need it\n2 to save or keep money or time for a particular purpose:\nShe tries to set aside some money every month.\n3 to not consider sth, because other things are more important:\nLet’s set aside my personal feelings for now.\n4 (law) to state that a decision made by a court of law is not legally valid:\nThe verdict was set aside by the Appeal Court.\nrelated noun SET-ASIDE\n  set sth/sb<->back to delay the progress of sth/sb by a particular time:\nThe bad weather set back the building programme by several weeks.\nrelated noun SETBACK\n  set sb back sth [no passive] (informal) to cost sb a particular amount of money:\nThe repairs could set you back over ｣200.\n  set sth back (from sth) [usually passive] to place sth, especially a building, at a distance from sth:\nThe house is set well back from the road.\n  set sb<->down (BrE) (of a bus or train, or its driver) to stop and allow sb to get off:\nPassengers may be set down and picked up only at the official stops.\n  set sth<->down\n1 to write sth down on paper in order to record it\n2 to give sth as a rule, principle, etc:\nThe standards were set down by the governing body.\n  set forth (literary) to start a journey\n  set sth<->forth (formal) to present sth or make it known:\nThe President set forth his views in a television broadcast.\n  set in (of rain, bad weather, infection, etc.) to begin and seem likely to continue:\nThe rain seemed to have set in for the day.\n  set sth in / into sth [usually passive] to fasten sth into a flat surface so that it does not stick out from it:\na plaque set into the wall\n  set off to begin a journey:\nWe set off for London just after ten.\n  set sth<->off\n1 to make a bomb, etc. explode:\nA gang of boys were setting off fireworks in the street.\n2 to make an ALARM start ringing:\nOpening this door will set off the alarm.\n3 to start a process or series of events:\nPanic on the stock market set off a wave of selling.\n4 to make sth more noticeable or attractive by being placed near it:\nThat blouse sets off the blue of her eyes.\n  set sb off (doing sth) to make sb start doing sth such as laughing, crying or talking\n  set on / upon sb [usually passive] to attack sb suddenly:\nI opened the gate, and was immediately set on by a large dog.\n  set sb/sth<->on sb to make a person or an animal attack sb suddenly:\nThe farmer threatened to set his dogs on us.\n  set out\n1 to leave a place and begin a journey:\nThey set out on the last stage of their journey.\n2 to begin a job, task, etc. with a particular aim or goal:\nShe set out to break the world record. * They succeeded in what they set out to do.\n  set sth<->out\n1 to arrange or display things:\nWe’ll need to set out some chairs for the meeting. * Her work is always very well set out.\n2 to present ideas, facts, etc. in an organized way, in speech or writing:\nHe set out his objections to the plan. * She set out the reasons for her resignation in a long letter.\n  set to (old-fashioned, informal) to begin doing sth in a busy or determined way\n  set sb<->up\n1 to provide sb with the money that they need in order to do sth:\nA bank loan helped to set him up in business.\n2 (informal) to make sb healthier, stronger, more lively, etc:\nThe break from work really set me up for the new year.\n3 (informal) to trick sb, especially by making them appear guilty of sth:\nHe denied the charges, saying the police had set him up.\nrelated noun SET-UP\n  set sth<->up\n1 to build sth or put sth somewhere:\nThe police set up roadblocks on routes out of the city.\n2 to make a piece of equipment or a machine ready for use:\nShe set up her stereo in her bedroom.\n3 to arrange for sth to happen:\nI’ve set up a meeting for Friday.\n4 to create sth or start it:\nto set up a business * A fund will be set up for the dead men’s families.\n5 to start a process or a series of events:\nThe slump on Wall Street set up a chain reaction in stock markets around the world.\nrelated noun SET-UP\n  set (yourself) up (as sb) to start running a business:\nShe took out a bank loan and set up on her own. * After leaving college, he set himself up as a freelance photographer.\n    noun\n  group\n \n  1  [C] ~ (of sth) a group of similar things that belong together in some way:\na set of six chairs * a complete set of her novels * a set of false teeth * a new set of rules to learn * You can borrow my keys-I have a spare set.\nsee also TEA SET\n \n  2  [C] a group of objects used together, for example for playing a game:\na chess set\n \n  3  [C+sing./pl. v.] (sometimes disapproving) a group of people who have similar interests and spend a lot of time together socially:\nthe smart set (= rich, fashionable people) * Dublin’s literary set\nsee also THE JET SET\n  tv / radio\n  4  [C] a piece of equipment for receiving television or radio signals\n  for play / movie\n  5  (AmE also setting) [C] the scenery used for a play, film/movie, etc:\nWe need volunteers to help build and paint the set.\n  6  [C, U] a place where a play is performed or part of a film/movie is filmed:\nThe cast must all be on (the) set by 7 a.m.\n  in sport\n  7  [C] one section of a match in games such as tennis or VOLLEYBALL:\nShe won in straight sets (= without losing a set).\n  mathematics\n  8  [C] a group of things that have a shared quality:\nset function / theory\n  pop music\n  9  [C] a series of songs or pieces of music that a musician or group performs at a concert:\na stunning solo set of ten songs\n  class\n  10  [C] (BrE) a group of school students with a similar ability in a particular subject:\nShe’s in the top set for French.\n  of face / body\n  11  [sing.] ~ of sth the way in which sb’s face or body is fixed in a particular expression, especially one showing determination:\nShe admired the firm set of his jaw.\n  hair\n  12  [sing.] an act of arranging hair in a particular style while it is wet:\nA shampoo and set costs ｣15.\n  becoming firm\n  13  [sing.] the state of becoming firm or solid:\nTo be sure of a good set when making the jam, use preserving sugar with added pectin.\n  animal’s home\n  14  [C] = SETT\n  plant\n  15  [C] a young plant, SHOOT etc. for planting:\nonion sets\n    adjective\n  in position\n  1  in a particular position:\na house set in 40 acres of parkland * He had close-set eyes.\n  planned\n  2  [usually before noun] planned or fixed:\nEach person was given set jobs to do. * The school funds a set number of free places. * Mornings in our house always follow a set pattern. * New vehicles must comply with set safety standards.\nsee also SET BOOK\n  opinions / ideas\n  3  not likely to change:\nset ideas / opinions / views on how to teach * As people get older, they get set in their ways.\n  meal\n  4  [only before noun] (of a meal in a restaurant) having a fixed price and a limited choice of dishes:\na set dinner / lunch / meal * Shall we have the set menu?\n  likely / ready\n  5  ~ for sth | ~ to do sth likely to do sth; ready for sth or to do sth:\nInterest rates look set to rise again. * The team looks set for victory. * Be set to leave by 10 o’clock\n  face\n  6  [usually before noun] (of a person’s expression) fixed; not natural:\na set smile * His face took on a set expression.\n IDIOMS \n  be (dead) set against sth / against doing sth to be strongly opposed to sth:\nWhy are you so dead set against the idea?\n  be set on sth / on doing sth to want to do or have sth very much; to be determined to do sth:\nShe’s set on a career in medicine. * He’s set on getting a new car\nmore at MARK n.


Words: set piece
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a part of a play, film/movie, piece of music, etc. that has a well-known pattern or style, and is used to create a particular effect:\nThe play contained all kinds of theatrical set pieces.\n  2  (BrE) a move in a game, especially football, that is well planned and practised:\na set piece move / strike * to score from a set piece


Words: set square
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE triangle) noun\nan instrument for drawing straight lines and angles, made from a flat piece of plastic or metal in the shape of a triangle with one angle of 90ｰ


Words: set-aside
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a system in which the government pays farmers not to use some of their land for growing crops; the land that the farmers are paid not to use:\n750 acres of set-aside * set-aside fields / policies / payments


Words: set-to
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a small fight or an argument:\nWe had a bit of a set-to with the neighbours.


Words: set-top box
Meaning:
noun\na device that changes a DIGITAL television signal into a form which can be seen on an ordinary television


Words: set-up
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.] (informal)\n  1  a way of organizing sth; a system:\nI’ve only been here a couple of weeks and I don’t really know the set-up. * What’s the set-up in your family-who does the cooking?\n  2  a situation in which sb tricks you or makes it seem as if you have done sth wrong:\nHe didn’t steal the goods. It was a set-up.


Words: setback
Meaning:
noun\na difficulty or problem that delays or prevents sth, or makes a situation worse:\nThe team suffered a major setback when their best player was injured. * The breakdown in talks represents a temporary setback in the peace process.


Words: settee
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a long comfortable seat with a back and arms, for two or more people to sit on\nSYN SOFA, COUCH


Words: setter
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a large dog with long hair, sometimes used in hunting. There are several types of setter:\nan Irish setter * a red setter\n \n  2  (often in compounds) a person who sets sth:\na quiz setter\nsee also JET-SETTER, PACESETTER, TRENDSETTER


Words: setting
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a set of surroundings; the place at which sth happens:\na rural / an ideal / a beautiful / an idyllic setting * It was the perfect setting for a wonderful Christmas. * People tend to behave differently in different social settings.\n  2  the place and time at which the action of a play, novel, etc. takes place:\nshort stories with a contemporary setting\n  3  (AmE) = SET (5)\n  4  a position at which the controls on a machine can be set, to set the speed, height, temperature, etc:\nThe performance of the engine was tested at different settings.\n  5  (music) music written to go with a poem, etc:\nSchubert’s setting of a poem by Goethe\n  6  a piece of metal in which a precious stone is fixed to form a piece of jewellery:\na ruby in a heavy gold setting\n  7  a complete set of equipment for eating with (knife, fork, spoon, glass, etc.) for one person, arranged on a table:\na place setting


Words: settle
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  end argument\n  1  to put an end to an argument or a disagreement:\n[VN] to settle a dispute / an argument / a matter * It’s time you settled your differences with your father. * I want this thing settled. * [V] There is pressure on the unions to settle. * The company has agreed to settle out of court (= come to an agreement without going to court).\n  decide / arrange\n  2  to decide or arrange sth finally: [VN] [often passive] It’s all settled-we’re leaving on the nine o’clock plane. * Good, that’s settled, then. * (spoken) Bob will be there? That settles it. I’m not coming. * He had to settle his affairs (= arrange all his personal business) in Paris before he could return home. [also VN that]\n  choose permanent home\n  3  [V +adv./prep.] to make a place your permanent home:\nShe settled in Vienna after her father’s death.\n  4  (of a group of people) to make your permanent home in a country or an area as COLONISTS: [VN] [usually passive] This region was settled by the Dutch in the nineteenth century. [also V]\n  into comfortable position / state\n  5  ~ (back) to make yourself or sb else comfortable in a new position:\n[V] Ellie settled back in her seat. * [VN] He settled himself comfortably in his usual chair. * I settled her on the sofa and put a blanket over her.\n  6  [VN +adv./prep.] to put sth carefully in a position so that it does not move:\nShe settled the blanket around her knees.\n  7  to become or make sb/sth become calm or relaxed:\n[V] The baby wouldn’t settle. * [VN] I took a pill to help settle my nerves. * This should settle your stomach.\n  come to rest\n  8  [V] ~ (on / over sth) to fall from above and come to rest on sth; to stay for some time on sth:\nDust had settled on everything. * Two birds settled on the fence. * I don’t think the snow will settle (= remain on the ground without melting). * His gaze settled on her face.\n  sink down\n  9  to sink slowly down; to make sth do this:\n[V] The contents of the package may have settled in transit. [also VN]\n  pay money\n  10  ~ sth | ~ (up) (with sb) to pay the money that you owe:\n[VN] Please settle your bill before leaving the hotel. * The insurance company is refusing to settle her claim. * [V] Let me settle with you for the meal. * I’ll pay now-we can settle up later.\n IDIOMS \n  settle a score / an account (with sb) | settle an old score to hurt or punish sb who has harmed or cheated you in the past:\n’Who would do such a thing?’ ’Maybe someone with an old score to settle.’\nmore at DUST n.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  settle down\n1 to get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying:\nShe settled down in an armchair to watch television. * I settled down with a book.\n2 to start to have a quieter way of life, living in one place:\nWhen are you going to get married and settle down? * It’s time I settled down.\n  settle down | settle sb<->down to become or make sb become calm, less excited, etc:\nIt always takes the class a while to settle down at the start of the lesson. * Now, come on, settle down! * I’m sure things will settle down soon. * The early goal settled the home side down.\n  settle (down) to sth to begin to give your attention to sth:\nThey finally settled down to a discussion of the main issues. * He found it hard to settle to his work.\n  settle for sth to accept sth that is not completely satisfactory but is the best that is available:\nIn the end they had to settle for a draw. * I couldn’t afford the house I really wanted, so I had to settle for second best. * He didn’t see why he should settle for less.\n  settle in | settle into sth to move into a new home, job, etc. and start to feel comfortable there:\nHow are the kids settling into their new school? * It’s not always easy for a new player to settle in.\n  settle on sth to choose or make a decision about sth after thinking about it:\nHave you settled on a name for the baby yet?\n  settle sth on sb (law) to formally arrange to give money or property to sb, especially in a WILL:\nHe settled part of his estate on his son.\n    noun an old-fashioned piece of furniture with a long wooden seat and a high back and arms, often also with a box for storing things under the seat


Words: settled
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  not likely to change or move:\ndry and settled weather * a settled way of life * He never had a settled home as a child (= he moved around a lot or lived with different people.\n  2  comfortable and happy with your home, job, way of life, etc:\nYou’ll feel more settled when you’ve been here a few weeks.\nOPP UNSETTLED


Words: settlement
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] an official agreement that ends an argument between two people or groups:\nto negotiate a peace settlement * The management and unions have reached a settlement over new working conditions. * an out-of-court settlement (= money that is paid to sb or an agreement that is made to stop sb going to court)\n  2  [U] the action of reaching an agreement:\nthe settlement of a claim / dispute\n  3  [C] (law) the conditions, or a document stating the conditions, on which money or property is given to sb:\na divorce / marriage / property settlement\n  4  [U] the action of paying back money that you owe:\nthe settlement of a debt * a cheque in settlement of a bill * Settlement is made monthly by direct debit.\n  5  [C] a place where people have come to live and make their homes, especially where few or no people lived before:\nsigns of an Iron Age settlement * a mining / rural settlement\n  6  [U] the process of people making their homes in a place:\nthe settlement of the American West


Words: seven
Meaning:
number\n7\n HELP NOTE  There are examples of how to use numbers at the entry for five.\n IDIOMS \n  the seven-year itch (informal, humorous) the desire for new sexual experience that is thought to be felt after seven years of marriage\nmore at SIX


Words: seventh
Meaning:
ordinal number, noun \n    ordinal number 7th\n HELP NOTE  There are examples of how to use ordinal numbers at the entry for fifth.\n IDIOMS \n  in seventh heaven extremely happy:\nNow that he’s been promoted he’s in seventh heaven.\n    noun each of seven equal parts of sth


Words: seventy
Meaning:
number\n  1  70\n  2  (the seventies) [pl.] numbers, years or temperatures from 70 to 79\n    seventieth  ordinal number:\nhis seventieth birthday\n IDIOMS \n  in your seventies between the ages of 70 and 79


Words: sever
Meaning:
verb [VN] (formal)\n  1  ~ sth (from sth) to cut sth into two pieces; to cut sth off sth:\nto sever a rope * a severed artery * His hand was severed from his arm.\n  2  to completely end a relationship or all communication with sb:\nThe two countries have severed all diplomatic links. * to sever relations / ties / connections * She has severed all contact with her family.


Words: several
Meaning:
determiner, pronoun, adjective \n    determiner, pronoun more than two but not very many:\nSeveral letters arrived this morning. * He’s written several books about India. * Several more people than usual came to the meeting. * If you’re looking for a photo of Alice you’ll find several in here. * Several of the paintings were destroyed in the fire.\n    adjective (formal) separate:\nThey said goodbye and went their several ways.


Words: severally
Meaning:
adverb\n(formal or law) separately:\nTenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent.


Words: severance
Meaning:
noun [sing., U] (formal)\n  1  the act of ending a connection or relationship:\nthe severance of diplomatic relations * the severance of Church and State\n  2  the act of ending sb’s contract of employment:\nemployees given notice of severance * severance pay / terms


Words: severe
Meaning:
adjective (severer, severest)\n  very bad\n  1  extremely bad or serious:\na severe handicap * His injuries are severe. * severe weather conditions * a severe winter (= one during which the weather conditions are extremely bad) * The party suffered severe losses during the last election. * a severe shortage of qualified staff * severe learning difficulties * The victim suffered severe brain damage. * a severe case of woodworm * Strikes are causing severe disruption to all train services.\n  punishment\n  2  ~ (on / with sb) punishing sb in an extreme way when they break a particular set of rules\nSYN HARSH:\nThe courts are becoming more severe on young offenders. * a severe punishment / sentence\n  not kind\n  3  not kind or sympathetic and showing disapproval of sb/sth:\na severe look / expression * She was a severe woman who seldom smiled.\n  very difficult\n  4  extremely difficult and requiring a lot of skill or ability\nSYN STIFF:\nThe marathon is a severe test of stamina.\n  style / appearance / clothing\n  5  (disapproving) extremely plain and lacking any decoration:\nModern furniture is a little too severe for my taste. * Her hair was short and severe.\n    severely adverb:\nseverely disabled * areas severely affected by unemployment * Anyone breaking the law will be severely punished. * a severely critical report * Her hair was tied severely in a bun.\n    severity  noun [U]:\nA prison sentence should match the severity of the crime. * The chances of a full recovery will depend on the severity of her injuries. * the severity of the problem * He frowned with mock severity. * The elaborate facade contrasts strongly with the severity of the interior.


Words: sew
Meaning:
or sewed)\n  1  to use a needle and thread to make stitches in fabric:\n[V] My mother taught me how to sew. * to sew by hand / machine * [VN] to sew a seam / hem\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (on) to make, repair or attach sth using a needle and thread:\nShe sews all her own clothes. * Can you sew a button on for me? * Surgeons were able to sew the finger back on.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  sew sth<->up\n1 to join or repair sth by sewing:\nto sew up a seam\n2 [often passive] (informal) to arrange sth in a satisfactory way:\nIt didn’t take me long to sew up the deal. * They think they have the election sewn up (= they think they are definitely going to win).


Words: sewage
Meaning:
noun\n[U] used water and waste substances that are produced by human bodies, that are carried away from houses and factories through special pipes (= SEWERS):\na ban on the dumping of raw sewage (= that has not been treated with chemicals) at sea * sewage pipes / disposal


Words: sewage works
Meaning:
(also sewage treatment works, sewage disposal works) noun\n[C+sing./pl. v.] (plural sewage works) (BrE) a place where chemicals are used to clean sewage so that it can then be allowed to go into rivers, etc. or used to make MANURE


Words: sewer
Meaning:
noun\nan underground pipe that is used to carry sewage away from houses, factories, etc:\na sewer pipe / system * an open sewer (= a channel on the surface of the ground that is used to carry sewage)


Words: sewerage
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the system by which sewage is carried away from houses, factories, etc. and is cleaned and made safe by adding chemicals to it:\nan increase in water and sewerage charges * a sewerage system


Words: sewing
Meaning:
noun [U]\n \n  1  the activity of making, repairing or decorating things made of fabric using a needle and thread:\nknitting and sewing * a sewing basket / table\n \n  2  something that is being sewn:\na pile of sewing


Words: sex
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] the state of being male or female\nSYN GENDER:\nHow can you tell what sex a fish is? * a process that allows couples to choose the sex of their baby * Please indicate your sex and date of birth below. * sex discrimination (= the act of treating men and women differently in an unfair way) * Testosterone is the male sex hormone.\n  2  [C] either of the two groups that people, animals and plants are divided into according to their function of producing young:\na member of the opposite sex * single sex schools / education * the battle of the sexes (= the competitive relationship that exists between men and women)\nsee also FAIR SEX\n  3  [U] physical activity between two people in which they touch each other’s sexual organs, and which may include SEXUAL INTERCOURSE:\nIt is illegal to have sex with a person under the age of 16. * gay sex * the sex act * a sex attack / crime * a sex shop (= one selling magazines, objects, etc. that are connected with sex) * sex education in schools * These drugs may affect your sex drive (= your interest in sex and the ability to have it).\nsee also SAFE SEX, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE\n  4  (-sexed) (in adjectives) having the amount of sexual activity or desire mentioned:\na highly-sexed woman\n    verb [VN] (technical) to examine an animal in order to find out whether it is male or female


Words: sex change
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a medical operation in which parts of a person’s body are changed so that they become like a person of the opposite sex


Words: sex chromosome
Meaning:
noun\n(biology) a CHROMOSOME that decides the sex of an animal or a plant\nsee also X CHROMOSOME, Y CHROMOSOME


Words: sex object
Meaning:
noun\na person considered only for their sexual attraction and not for their character or their intelligence


Words: sexism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the unfair treatment of people, especially women, because of their sex; the attitude that causes this:\nlegislation designed to combat sexism in the work place * a study of sexism in language


Words: sexist
Meaning:
noun\n(disapproving) a person who treats other people, especially women, unfairly because of their sex or who makes offensive remarks about them\n    sexist adjective:\na sexist attitude / remark * sexist language


Words: sexless
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  that is neither male nor female, or does not seem to be either male or female:\na sexless child / figure\n  2  in which there is no sexual desire or activity


Words: sextant
Meaning:
noun\nan instrument for measuring angles and distances, used to calculate the exact position of a ship or an aircraft


Words: sextet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C+sing./pl. v.] a group of six musicians or singers who play or sing together\n  2  [C] a piece of music for six musicians or singers


Words: sexton
Meaning:
noun\na person whose job is to take care of a church and its surroundings, ring the church bell, etc.


Words: sexual
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  [usually before noun] connected with the physical activity of sex:\nsexual activity / behaviour / desire * They were not having a sexual relationship at the time. * Her interest in him is purely sexual. * sexual orientation (= whether you are heterosexual or homosexual) * a sexual partner (= a person who you have sex with)\n  2  [only before noun] connected with the process of producing young:\nthe sexual organs (= the penis, vagina, etc.) * sexual reproduction\n  3  [usually before noun] connected with the state of being male or female:\nsexual characteristics / differences\n    sexually  adverb:\nsexually abused children * She finds him sexually attractive. * sexually explicit * Girls become sexually mature earlier than boys. * The disease is a threat to anyone who is sexually active.


Words: sexual harassment
Meaning:
noun\n[U] comments about sex, physical contact, etc. usually happening at work, that a person finds annoying and offensive


Words: sexual intercourse
Meaning:
(also informal intercourse) (also formal coitus) noun\n[U] (formal) the physical activity of sex, usually describing the act of a man putting his PENIS inside a woman’s VAGINA


Words: sexuality
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the feelings and activities connected with a person’s sexual desires:\nmale / female sexuality * He was confused about his sexuality. * the psychology of human sexuality


Words: sexually transmitted disease
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (abbreviation STD) any disease that is spread through sexual intercourse, such as SYPHILIS


Words: sexy
Meaning:
adjective (sexier, sexiest)\n  1  (of a person) sexually attractive:\nthe sexy lead singer * She looked incredibly sexy in a black evening gown.\n  2  sexually exciting:\nsexy clothes / underwear * a sexy look / smile * a sexy video\n  3  (of a person) sexually excited:\nThe music and wine began to make him feel sexy.\n  4  exciting and interesting:\na sexy new range of software * Accountancy just isn’t sexy.\n    sexily adverb\n    sexiness noun [U]


Words: sh
Meaning:
(also shh)  exclamation\nthe way of writing the sound people make when they are telling sb to be quiet:\nSh! Keep your voice down!


Words: shabby
Meaning:
adjective (shabbier, shabbiest)\n  1  (of buildings, clothes, objects, etc.) in poor condition because they have been used a lot:\nThe outside of the house was beginning to look shabby. * She wore shabby old jeans and a T-shirt.\n  2  (of a person) badly dressed in clothes that have been worn a lot:\nThe old man was shabby and unkempt.\n  3  (of behaviour) unfair or unreasonable:\nShe tried to make up for her shabby treatment of him. * a shabby affair * It was a shabby way to treat visitors.\n    shabbily  adverb:\nshabbily dressed * I think you were very shabbily treated.\n    shabbiness noun [U]


Words: shack
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a small building, usually made of wood or metal, that has not been built well:\nThe settlement consists only of shacks; there are no roads, no water, no street lighting.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shack up with sb | be shacked up with sb (slang) to start/be living with sb that you have a sexual relationship with, but that you are not married to:\nI hear he’s shacked up with some woman.


Words: shackle
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  to put shackles on sb:\nThe hostage had been shackled to a radiator. * The prisoners were kept shackled during the trial.\n  2  [usually passive] to prevent sb from behaving or speaking as they want:\nShe is opposed to shackling the press with privacy laws.


Words: shackles
Meaning:
noun [pl.]\n \n  1  two metal rings joined together by a chain and placed around a prisoner’s wrists or ankles to prevent them from escaping or moving easily\n \n  2  ~ (of sth) (formal) a particular state, set of conditions or circumstances, etc. that prevent you from saying or doing what you want:\na country struggling to free itself from the shackles of colonialism


Words: shade
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  out of sun\n \n  1  [U] ~ (of sth) an area that is dark and cool under or behind sth, for example a tree or building, because the sun’s light does not get to it:\nWe sat down in the shade of the wall. * The temperature can reach 40ｰC in the shade. * The trees provide shade for the animals in the summer. * These plants grow well in sun or shade.\nsee also SHADY\n \n  on lamp\n \n  2  [C] a thing that you use to prevent light from coming through or to make it less bright:\nI bought a new shade for the lamp. * an eyeshade\nsee also LAMPSHADE, SUNSHADE\n  on window\n  3  [C] (also window shade) (both AmE) = BLIND\n  of colour\n  4  [C] ~ (of sth) a particular form of a colour, that is, how dark or light it is:\na delicate / pale / rich / soft shade of red * Cool pastel shades are just right for summer.\n  in picture\n  5  [U] the dark areas in a picture, especially the use of these to produce variety:\nThe painting needs more light and shade.\n  of opinion / feeling\n  6  [C, usually pl.] ~ of sth a different kind or level of opinion, feeling, etc:\npoliticians of all shades of opinion * The word can have many shades of meaning.\n  slightly\n  7  (a shade) [sing.] (written) a little; slightly:\nHe was feeling a shade disappointed. * Her skirt was a shade too short.\n  for eyes\n  8  (shades) [pl.] (informal) = SUNGLASSES\n  sth that reminds you\n  9  (shades) [pl.] ~ of sb/sth (informal) used when you are referring to things that remind you of a particular person, thing or time:\nshort skirts and long boots-shades of the 1960s\n  ghost\n  10  [C] (literary) the spirit of a dead person; a ghost\n IDIOMS \n  put sb/sth in the shade to be much better or more impressive than sb/sth:\nI tried hard but her work put mine in the shade.\n    verb [VN]\n  from direct light\n  1  ~ sb/sth (from / against sth) to prevent direct light from reaching sth:\nThe courtyard was shaded by high trees. * She shaded her eyes against the sun.\n  lamp\n  2  [usually passive] to provide a screen for a lamp, light, etc. to make it less bright:\na shaded lamp\n  part of picture\n  3  ~ sth (in) to make a part of a drawing, etc. darker, for example with an area of colour or with pencil lines:\nWhat do the shaded areas on the map represent? * I’m going to shade this part in.\n  just win\n  4  (BrE, informal) to just win a contest\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shade into sth to change gradually into sth else, so that you cannot tell where one thing ends and the other thing begins:\nThe scarlet of the wings shades into pink at the tips. * Distrust of foreigners can shade into racism.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nshade / shadow\nShade [U] is an area or a part of a place that is protected from the heat of the sun and so is darker and cooler: Let’s sit in the shade for a while.\nA shadow [C] is the dark shape made when a light shines on a person or an object: As the sun went down we cast long shadows on the lawn.\nShadow [U] is an area of darkness in which it is difficult to distinguish things easily: Her face was in deep shadow.\n______________________________


Words: shading
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the use of colour, pencil lines, etc. to give an impression of light and shade in a picture or to emphasize areas of a map, diagram, etc.\n  2  (shadings) [pl.] slight differences that exist between different aspects of the same thing:\nthe shadings of opinion found among church leaders


Words: shadow
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective \n    noun\n  dark shape\n \n  1  [C] the dark shape that sb/sth’s form makes on a surface, for example on the ground, when they are between the light and the surface:\nThe children were having fun, chasing each other’s shadows. * The ship’s sail cast a shadow on the water. * The shadows lengthened as the sun went down. * (figurative) He didn’t want to cast a shadow on (= spoil) their happiness. -> SHADE\n \n  darkness\n \n  2  [U] (also shadows [pl.]) darkness in a place or on sth, especially so that you cannot easily see who or what is there:\nHis face was deep in shadow, turned away from her. * I thought I saw a figure standing in the shadows. -> SHADE\n \n  small amount\n \n  3  [sing.] ~ of sth a very small amount of sth:\nA shadow of a smile touched his mouth. * She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt (= with no doubt at all) that he was lying.\n  influence\n  4  [sing.] ~ of sb/sth the strong (usually bad) influence of sb/sth:\nThe new leader wants to escape from the shadow of his predecessor. * These people have been living for years under the shadow of fear.\n  under eyes\n  5  (shadows) [pl.] dark areas under sb’s eyes, because they are tired, etc:\nShe looked pale, with deep shadows under her eyes.\n  sb that follows sb\n  6  [C] a person or an animal that follows sb else all the time\n  sth not real\n  7  [C] a thing that is not real or possible to obtain:\nYou can’t spend all your life chasing shadows.\nsee also EYESHADOW, FIVE O’CLOCK SHADOW\n IDIOMS \n  be frightened / nervous / scared of your own shadow to be very easily frightened; to be very nervous\n  in / under the shadow of\n1 very close to:\nThe new market is in the shadow of the City Hall.\n2 when you say that sb is in/under the shadow of another person, you mean that they do not receive as much attention as that person:\nA younger son often lives in the shadow of his elder brother.\nmore at FORMER\n    verb [VN]\n  follow and watch\n  1  to follow and watch sb closely and often secretly:\nHe was shadowed for a week by the secret police.\n  2  to be with sb who is doing a particular job, so that you can learn about it:\nIt is often helpful for teachers to shadow managers in industry.\n  cover with shadow\n  3  to cover sth with a shadow:\nA wide-brimmed hat shadowed her face. * The bay was shadowed by magnificent cliffs.\nsee also OVERSHADOW\n    adjective [only before noun] (BrE, politics) used to refer to senior politicians of the main opposition party who would become government ministers if their party won the next election:\nthe shadow Chancellor * the shadow Cabinet


Words: shadow-box
Meaning:
verb\n[V] to BOX with an imaginary opponent, especially for physical exercise or in order to train\n    shadow-boxing noun [U]


Words: shadowy
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  dark and full of shadows:\nSomeone was waiting in the shadowy doorway. * The candle blew out, plunging the room into a shadowy darkness.\n  2  [usually before noun] difficult to see because there is not much light:\nShadowy figures approached them out of the fog.\n  3  [usually before noun] that not much is known about\nSYN MYSTERIOUS:\nthe shadowy world of terrorism


Words: shady
Meaning:
adjective (shadier, shadiest)\n  1  protected from direct sunlight by trees, buildings, etc:\na shady garden / forest * We went to find somewhere cool and shady to have a drink.\n  2  (of a tree, etc.) providing shade from the sunlight\n  3  [usually before noun] (informal) seeming to be dishonest or illegal:\na shady businessman / deal * a shady character


Words: shaft
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  (often in compounds) a long, narrow, usually vertical passage in a building or underground, used especially for a lift/elevator or as a way of allowing air in or out:\na lift / elevator shaft * a mineshaft * a ventilation shaft\n  2  the long narrow part of an arrow, hammer, GOLF CLUB, etc:\nThe clubs are fitted with graphite shafts.\n  3  (often in compounds) a metal bar that joins parts of a machine or an engine together, enabling power and movement to be passed from one part to another:\na gear / propeller shaft\nsee also CAMSHAFT, CRANKSHAFT\n  4  [usually pl.] either of the two poles at the front of a carriage or CART between which a horse is fastened in order to pull it\n  5  ~ of light, sunlight, etc. (literary) a narrow beam of light:\nA shaft of moonlight fell on the lake. * (figurative) a shaft of inspiration\n  6  ~ of pain, fear, etc. (literary) a sudden strong feeling of pain, etc. that travels through your body:\nShafts of fear ran through her as she heard footsteps behind her.\n  7  ~ of sth (formal) a clever remark that is intended to upset or annoy sb:\na shaft of wit / criticism\n IDIOMS \n  give sb the shaft (AmE, informal) to treat sb unfairly\n    verb [VN] (informal) to treat sb unfairly or cheat them


Words: shag
Meaning:
noun, verb, adjective \n    noun\n  1  [U] a strong type of tobacco cut into long thin pieces\n  2  [C] a large black sea bird with a long neck\n  3  [C, usually sing.] (BrE, !!!, slang) an act of sex with sb:\nFancy a shag?\n    verb (-gg-) [V, VN] (BrE, !!!, slang) to have sex with sb\n    adjective [only before noun] used to describe a carpet, etc. that has long woollen threads


Words: shaggy
Meaning:
adjective\n \n  1  (of hair, fur, etc.) long and untidy:\na shaggy mane of hair\n \n  2  having long untidy hair, fur, etc:\na huge shaggy white dog * The youth shook his shaggy head.


Words: shake
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n (shook )\n \n  object / building / person\n \n  1  to move or make sb/sth move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down:\n[V] The whole house shakes when a train goes past. * [VN] Shake the bottle well before use. * He shook her violently by the shoulders. * [VN-ADJ] She shook her hair loose.\n \n  2  [VN +adv./prep.] to move sth in a particular direction by shaking:\nShe bent down to shake a pebble out of her shoe.\n \n  your head\n \n  3  [VN] ~ your head to turn your head from side to side as a way of saying ’no’ or to show sadness, disapproval, doubt, etc:\nShe shook her head in disbelief.\n  hands\n  4  [VN] ~ sb’s hand | ~ hands (with sb) (on sth) | ~ sb by the hand to take sb’s hand and move it up and down as a greeting or to show that you agree about sth:\nDo people in Italy shake hands when they meet? * They shook hands on the deal (= to show that they had reached an agreement). * Our host shook each of us warmly by the hand.\n  your fist\n  5  [VN] ~ your fist (at sb) to show that you are angry with sb; to threaten sb by shaking your FIST (= closed hand)\n  of body\n  6  [V] ~ (with sth) to make short quick movements that you cannot control, for example because you are cold or afraid\nSYN TREMBLE:\nHe was shaking with fear. * I was shaking like a leaf. * Her hands had started to shake.\n  of voice\n  7  [V] ~ (with sth) (of sb’s voice) to sound unsteady, usually because you are nervous, upset or angry:\n’Who are you?’ he asked, his voice shaking. * Her voice shook with emotion.\n  shock sb\n  8  [VN] ~ sb (up) (not used in the progressive tenses) to shock or upset sb very much:\nHe was badly shaken by the news of her death. * The accident really shook her up.\n  belief / idea\n  9  [VN] to make a belief or an idea less certain:\nto shake somebody’s faith / belief * This announcement is bound to shake the confidence of the industry.\n  get rid of\n  10  [VN] ~ sth (off) to get rid of sth:\nI can’t seem to shake off this cold. * He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something wrong.\n IDIOMS \n  shake in your shoes (informal) to be very frightened or nervous\n  shake a leg (old-fashioned, informal) used to tell sb to start to do sth or to hurry\nmore at FOUNDATION\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shake down (informal) to become familiar with a new situation and begin to work well in it:\nThe new recruits are shaking down well.\n  shake sb/sth<->down (AmE, informal)\n1 to search a person or place in a very thorough way\nrelated noun SHAKEDOWN\n2 to threaten sb in order to get money from them\n  shake sb<->off to get away from sb who is chasing or following you:\nWe managed to shake off the photographers.\n  shake on sth to shake hands in order to show that sth has been agreed:\nThey shook on the deal. * Let’s shake on it.\n  shake sth<->out to open or spread sth by shaking, especially so that bits of dirt, dust, etc. come off it:\nto shake out a duster\n  shake sb<->up to surprise sb and make them think about sth in a different way, become more active, etc:\nShaken up by the early goal against them, the team began to fight back.\n  shake sth<->up to make important changes in an organization, a profession, etc. in order to make it more efficient:\nThe whole industry needs shaking up.\nrelated noun SHAKE-UP\n    noun\n  movement\n  1  [C, usually sing.] an act of shaking sth/sb:\nGive the bottle a good shake before opening. * He dismissed the idea with a firm shake of his head (= turning it from side to side to mean ’no’). * She gave him a shake to wake him.\nsee also HANDSHAKE\n  of body\n  2  (the shakes) [pl.] (informal) a physical condition in which you cannot stop your body from shaking because of fear, illness, or because you have drunk too much alcohol:\nI always get the shakes before exams.\n  drink\n  3  [C] = MILKSHAKE:\na strawberry shake\n IDIOMS \n  in two shakes | in a couple of shakes (informal) very soon:\nWe’ll be there in a couple of shakes.\nmore at FAIR adj., GREAT adj.


Words: shake-out
Meaning:
noun [usually sing.]\n  1  a situation in which people lose their jobs and less successful companies are forced to close because of competition and difficult economic conditions:\nExperts are predicting a shake-out of the overcrowded airline market.\n  2  = SHAKE-UP


Words: shake-up
Meaning:
(also shake-out) noun\n~ (in / of sth) a situation in which a lot of changes are made to a company, an organization, etc. in order to improve the way in which it works:\na management shake-up * Union leaders are calling for a major shake-up of the system.


Words: shakedown
Meaning:
noun (AmE, informal)\n  1  a situation in which sb tries to force sb else to give them money using violence, threats, etc.\n  2  a thorough search of sb/sth:\na police shakedown of the area\n  3  a test of a vehicle to see if there are any problems before it is used generally


Words: shaken
Meaning:
(also shaken up) noun\n[not usually before noun] shocked, upset or frightened by sth:\nShe was visibly shaken by the incidents. * He was too shaken up to drive.


Words: shaker
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  (often in compounds) a container that is used for shaking things:\na salt shaker * a cocktail shaker\n \n  2  (Shaker) a member of a religious group in the US who live simply in a community and do not marry or have partners\n \n IDIOMS  see MOVER


Words: shaking
Meaning:
noun\n[sing., U] the act of shaking sth/sb or the fact of being shaken:\nEven a slight shaking can damage a baby’s brain. * There was a lot of sighing and shaking of heads.


Words: shaky
Meaning:
adjective (shakier, shakiest)\n  1  shaking and feeling weak because of illness, emotion or old age:\nHer voice sounded shaky on the phone. * The old man was very shaky on his feet. * My legs still felt quite shaky.\n  2  not firm or safe; not certain:\nThat ladder looks a little shaky. * a shaky chair / table * (figurative) Her memories of the accident are a little shaky. * (figurative) The protesters are on shaky ground (= it is not certain that their claims are valid).\n  3  not seeming very successful; likely to fail:\nBusiness is looking shaky at the moment. * After a shaky start, they fought back to win 32. * The future looks shaky for the present government.\n    shakily  adverb:\n’Get the doctor,’ he whispered shakily. * Jill rose shakily to her feet.


Words: shall
Meaning:
(especially BrE)\n  1  (becoming old-fashioned) used with I and we for talking about or predicting the future:\nThis time next week I shall be in Scotland. * We shan’t be gone long. * I said that I should be pleased to help.\n  2  used in questions with I and we for making offers or suggestions or asking advice:\nShall I send you the book? * What shall we do this weekend? * Let’s look at it again, shall we?\n  3  (old-fashioned or formal) used to show that you are determined, or to give an order or instruction:\nHe is determined that you shall succeed. * Candidates shall remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected. -> MODAL\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \npointshall / will\nIn modern English the traditional difference between shall and will has almost disappeared, and shall is not used very much at all, especially in AmE. Shall is now only used with I and we, and often sounds formal and old-fashioned. People are more likely to say: I’ll (= I will) be late and ’You’ll (= you will) apologize immediately.’ ’No I won’t!’.\nIn BrE shall is still used with I and we in questions or when you want to make a suggestion or an offer: What shall I wear to the party? * Shall we order some coffee? * I’ll drive, shall I?\n-> note at SHOULD\n______________________________


Words: shallow
Meaning:
adjective (shallower, shallowest)\n  1  not having much distance between the top or surface and the bottom:\na shallow dish * They were playing in the shallow end (= of the swimming pool). * These fish are found in shallow waters around the coast. * The body was found in a shallow grave. * shallow roots (= that grow near the surface of the ground)\nOPP DEEP\n  2  (disapproving) (of a person, an idea, a comment, etc.) not showing serious thought, feelings, etc. about sth:\nThis shows how shallow their commitment to the environment really is.\n  3  shallow breathing involves taking in only a small amount of air each time\n    shallowly adverb:\nHe was breathing shallowly.\n    shallowness noun [U]


Words: shallows
Meaning:
(the shallows) noun [pl.] a shallow place in a river or the sea:\nChildren were playing in the shallows.


Words: sham
Meaning:
noun, adjective, verb \n    noun (disapproving)\n  1  [sing.] a situation, feeling, system, etc. that is not as good or true as it seems to be:\nThe latest crime figures are a complete sham. * She felt trapped in a sham of a marriage.\n  2  [C, usually sing.] a person who pretends to be sth that they are not:\nThe article exposes him for the sham that he really is.\n  3  [U] behaviour, feelings, words, etc. that are intended to make sb/sth seem to be better than they really are:\nTheir promises turned out to be full of sham and hypocrisy. * His intellectual pretensions are all sham.\n    adjective [only before noun] (usually disapproving) not genuine but intended to seem real\nSYN FALSE:\na sham marriage\n    verb (-mm-) to pretend sth: [V] Is he really sick or is he just shamming? [also V-ADJ, VN]


Words: shaman
Meaning:
noun\na person in some religions and societies who is believed to be able to contact good and evil spirits and cure people of illnesses


Words: shamble
Meaning:
verb\n[V]   [usually +adv./prep.] to walk in an awkward or lazy way, dragging your feet along the ground:\nThe old porter shambled along behind her. * He shambled off into the house. * a shambling gait / figure


Words: shambles
Meaning:
(a shambles) noun [sing.] (informal)\n  1  a situation in which there is a lot of confusion or disorder\nSYN MESS:\nThe press conference was a complete shambles. * What a shambles! * The government is in a shambles over Europe. * He’s made an absolute shambles of his career.\n  2  a place which is dirty or untidy\nSYN MESS:\nThe house was a shambles.


Words: shame
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the feelings of guilt, sadness and embarrassment that you have when you know that sth you have done is wrong or stupid:\nHis face burned with shame. * She hung her head in shame. * He could not live with the shame of other people knowing the truth. * I would die of shame if she ever found out. * To my shame (= I feel shame that) I refused to listen to her side of the story.\n  2  [U] (formal) (only used in questions and negative sentences) the ability to feel shame at sth you have done:\nHave you no shame? * That child is completely without shame!\n  3  (a shame) [sing.] used to say that sth is a cause for feeling sad or disappointed:\nWhat a shame they couldn’t come. * It’s a shame about Tim, isn’t it? * It’s a shame that she wasn’t here to see it. * It would be a crying shame (= a great shame) not to take them up on the offer. * It seems such a shame to throw perfectly good food away. * It’s a shame (that) you didn’t say something sooner.\n  4  [U] the loss of respect that is caused when you do sth wrong or stupid:\nThere is no shame in wanting to be successful. * (formal) She felt that her failure would bring shame on her family.\n IDIOMS \n  put sb/sth to shame to be much better than sb/sth:\nTheir presentation put ours to shame. * Her energy and enthusiasm puts the rest of us to shame (= makes us feel embarrassed and guilty that we are not the same).\n  shame on you, him, etc. (spoken) used to say that sb should feel ashamed for sth they have said or done\n    verb [VN] \n  1  (written) to make sb feel ashamed:\nHis generosity shamed them all.\n  2  (formal) to make sb feel that they have lost honour or respect:\nYou have shamed your family.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shame sb into doing sth to persuade sb to do sth by making them feel ashamed not to do it:\nShe shamed her father into promising more help.


Words: shamefaced
Meaning:
adjective\nfeeling or looking ashamed because you have done sth bad or stupid:\na shamefaced smile * She looked shamefaced.\n    shamefacedly  adverb:\nHe smiled rather shamefacedly.


Words: shameful
Meaning:
adjective\nthat should make you feel ashamed:\nshameful behaviour * a shameful secret / thought * It was shameful the way she was treated. * There is nothing shameful about being poor.\n    shamefully  adverb:\nThe buildings have been shamefully neglected.


Words: shameless
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) not feeling ashamed of sth you have done, although other people think you should:\na shameless display of greed\n    shamelessly adverb:\nHe shamelessly admits his part in the crime.\n    shamelessness noun [U]


Words: shampoo
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (plural shampoos)\n \n  1  [C, U] a liquid soap that is used for washing your hair; a similar liquid used for cleaning carpets, furniture covers or a car:\na shampoo for greasy hair * carpet shampoo\n \n  2  [C, usually sing.] an act of washing your hair using shampoo:\nRinse the hair thoroughly after each shampoo. * a shampoo and set (= an act of washing and styling sb’s hair)\n    verb (shampooed, shampooed) [VN] to wash or clean hair, carpets, etc. with shampoo


Words: shandy
Meaning:
noun (plural shandies) (BrE)\n  1  [U] a drink made by mixing beer with LEMONADE\n  2  [C] a glass or can of shandy:\nTwo shandies, please.


Words: shanghai
Meaning:
verb\n(shanghaiing ) [VN] ~ sb (into doing sth) (old-fashioned, informal) to trick or force sb into doing sth that they do not really want to do


Words: shank
Meaning:
noun\n  1  the straight narrow part between the two ends of a tool or an object:\nthe shank of an anchor / a key\n  2  the part of an animal’s or a person’s leg between the knee and ankle\n IDIOMS \n  (on) Shanks’s pony (BrE, informal) walking, rather than travelling by car, bus, etc.\nSYN ON FOOT:\n’How did you get here?’ ’Shanks’s pony!’


Words: shanty
Meaning:
noun (plural shanties)\n  1  a small house, built of pieces of wood, metal and cardboard, where very poor people live, especially on the edge of a big city\n  2  (also sea shanty) (both BrE) (AmE chanty, chantey) a song that sailors traditionally used to sing while pulling ropes, etc.


Words: shape
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [C, U] the form of the outer edges or surfaces of sth; an example of sth that has a particular form:\na rectangular shape * The pool was in the shape of a heart. * The island was originally circular in shape. * Squares, circles and triangles are types of shape. * Candles come in all shapes and sizes. * You can recognize the fish by the shape of their fins. * This old T-shirt has completely lost its shape. * (figurative) The government provides money in the shape of (= consisting of) grants and student loans.\n  2  [C] a person or thing that is difficult to see clearly\nSYN FIGURE:\nGhostly shapes moved around in the dark. * I could just make out a dark shape in the distance.\n  3  [U] the physical condition of sb/sth:\nWhat sort of shape was the car in after the accident? * He’s in good shape for a man of his age. * I like to keep in shape (= keep fit). * He’s not in any shape (= not well enough) to be working.\n  4  [U] the particular qualities or characteristics of sth:\nWill new technology change the shape of broadcasting? * Prices vary according to the size and shape of each project.\n IDIOMS \n  get (yourself) into shape to take exercise, eat healthy food, etc. in order to become physically fit:\nI’m trying to get into shape before summer.\n  get / knock / lick sb into shape to train sb so that they do a particular job, task, etc. well:\nIt took him just two weeks to knock the new recruits into shape.\n  get / knock / lick sth into shape to make sth more acceptable, organized or successful:\nI’ve got all the information together but it still needs knocking into shape. * It shouldn’t take long to get the company back into shape.\n  give shape to sth (formal) to express or explain a particular idea, plan, etc:\nMarie tried to find the right words to give shape to the confusion in her head.\n  in any (way,) shape or form (informal) of any type:\nI don’t approve of violence in any shape or form.\n  out of shape\n1 not having the normal shape:\nThe wheel had been twisted out of shape.\n2 (of a person) not in good physical condition:\nI didn’t realize how out of shape I was!\n  the shape of things to come the way things are likely to develop in the future:\nAre solar-powered cars the shape of things to come?\n  take shape to develop and become more complete or organized:\nThe garden is beginning to take shape. * A new song began to take shape in her mind.\n    verb\n  1  [VN] ~ A (into B) to make sth into a particular shape:\nShape the dough into a ball. * This tool is used for shaping wood.\n  2  [VN] to have an important influence on the way that sb/sth develops:\nHis ideas had been shaped by his experiences during the war. * She had a leading role in shaping party policy.\n  3  [V to inf] to prepare to do sth, especially hit or kick sth:\nShe was shaping to hit her second shot.\n IDIOMS \n  shape up or ship out (AmE, informal) used to tell sb that if they do not improve, work harder, etc. they will have to leave their job, position, etc:\nHe finally faced up to his drug problem when his band told him to shape up or ship out.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shape up\n1 to develop in a particular way, especially in a satisfactory way:\nOur plans are shaping up nicely (= showing signs that they will be successful).\n2 (informal) to improve your behaviour, work harder, etc:\nIf he doesn’t shape up, he’ll soon be out of a job.


Words: shaped
Meaning:
adjective\nhaving the type of shape mentioned:\na huge balloon shaped like a giant cow * almond-shaped eyes * an L-shaped room\nsee also PEAR-SHAPED


Words: shapeless
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun] (often disapproving)\n  1  not having any definite shape:\na shapeless sweater\n  2  lacking clear organization:\na shapeless and incoherent story\n    shapelessly adverb\n    shapelessness noun [U]


Words: shapely
Meaning:
adjective\n(especially of a woman’s body) having an attractive curved shape:\na shapely young woman * a shapely figure / leg


Words: share
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  use at same time\n  1  ~ (sth) (with sb) to have or use sth at the same time as sb else:\n[VN] Sue shares a house with three other students. * [V] There isn’t an empty table. Would you mind sharing?\nsee also JOB-SHARING\n  divide between people\n  2  [VN] ~ sth (out) (among / between sb) to divide sth between two or more people:\nWe shared the pizza between the four of us. * Rita shared her money out among her six grandchildren. * Profits are shared out yearly.\nsee also POWER-SHARING\n  give some of yours\n  3  ~ (sth) (with sb) to give some of what you have to sb else; to let sb use sth that is yours:\n[VN] Eli shared his chocolate with the other kids. * The conference is a good place to share information and exchange ideas. * Bob told Jess he wanted to share his life with her. * [V] John had no brothers or sisters and wasn’t used to sharing.\n  feelings / ideas / problems\n  4  ~ (in) sth | ~ sth (with sb) to have the same feelings, ideas, experiences, etc. as sb else:\n[VN] They shared a common interest in botany. * People often share their political views with their parents. * a view that is widely shared * shared values * [V] I didn’t really share in her love of animals.\n  5  ~ sth (with sb) to tell other people about your ideas, experiences and feelings:\n[VN] Men often don’t like to share their problems. * The two friends shared everything-they had no secrets. * Would you like to share your experience with the rest of the group? * [V] The group listens while one person shares (= tells other people about their experiences, feelings, etc.).\n  blame / responsibility\n  6  ~ (in) sth | ~ sth (with sb) to be equally involved in sth or responsible for sth:\n[V] I try to get the kids to share in the housework. * [VN] Both drivers shared the blame for the accident.\n IDIOMS \n  share and share alike (saying) used to say that everyone should share things equally and in a fair way\n    noun\n  part / amount of sth\n  1  [C, usually sing.] ~ (of / in sth) one part of sth that is divided between two or more people:\nHow much was your share of the winnings? * Next year we hope to have a bigger share of the market. * (BrE) I’m looking for a flat share (= a flat that is shared by two or more people who are not related).\nsee also MARKET SHARE, TIMESHARE\n  2  [sing.] ~ (of sth) the part that sb has in a particular activity that involves several people:\nWe all did our share. * Everyone must accept their share of the blame.\n  3  [sing.] ~ (of sth) an amount of sth that is thought to be normal or acceptable for one person:\nI’ve had my share of luck in the past. * I’ve done my share of worrying for one day!\n  in business\n  4  [C] ~ (in sth) any of the units of equal value into which a company is divided and sold to raise money. People who own shares receive part of the company’s profits:\nshares in British Telecom * a fall / increase in share prices * share capital * a share certificate\ncompare STOCK n. (4)\nsee also ORDINARY SHARE\n  farm equipment\n  5  [C] (AmE) = PLOUGHSHARE\n IDIOMS  see CAKE n., FAIR adj., LION, PIE


Words: share index
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] a list that shows the current value of shares on the STOCK MARKET, based on the prices of shares of particular companies:\nThe Financial Times share index was down 42 points yesterday.


Words: share-out
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] (BrE) an act of dividing sth between two or more people; the amount of sth that one person receives when it is divided:\nThe house went to his children in the share-out of his estate. * I’m still waiting for my share-out from the profits.


Words: shareholding
Meaning:
noun\nthe amount of a company or business that sb owns in the form of shares:\nThey have a 51 per cent shareholding in the business.


Words: shareware
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (computing) computer SOFTWARE (= programs, etc.) that is available free for a user to test, after which they must pay if they wish to continue using it\ncompare FREEWARE


Words: shark
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a large sea fish with very sharp teeth and a pointed FIN on its back. There are several types of shark, some of which can attack people swimming:\na Great White Shark * a fatal shark attack\n  2  (informal, disapproving) a person who is dishonest in business, especially sb who gives bad advice and gets people to pay too much for sth\nsee also LOAN SHARK


Words: sharp
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun \n    adjective\n (sharper, sharpest)\n \n  edge / point\n \n  1  having a fine edge or point, especially of sth that can cut or make a hole in sth:\na sharp knife / pencil * sharp teeth / claws\nOPP BLUNT\n \n  rise / drop / change\n \n  2  [usually before noun] sudden and rapid, especially of a change in sth:\na sharp drop in prices * a sharp rise in crime * a sharp fall / decline / increase / reduction in sth * He heard a sharp intake of breath. * We need to give young criminals a short, sharp shock (= a punishment that is very unpleasant for a short time).\n  clear / definite\n  3  [usually before noun] clear and definite:\na sharp outline * The photograph is not very sharp (= there are no clear contrasts between areas of light and shade). * She drew a sharp distinction between domestic and international politics. * In sharp contrast to her mood, the clouds were breaking up to reveal a blue sky. * The issue must be brought into sharper focus.\n  mind / eyes\n  4  (of people or their minds, eyes, etc.) quick to notice or understand things or to react:\nto have sharp eyes / ears / reflexes * a girl of sharp intelligence * a sharp sense of humour * He kept a sharp lookout for any strangers. * It was very sharp of you to see that!\n  critical\n  5  ~ (with sb) (of a person or what they say) critical or harsh:\nsharp criticism / words * Emma has a sharp tongue (= she often speaks in a harsh or unkind way). * He was very sharp with me when I was late.\n  sounds\n  6  [usually before noun] loud, sudden and often high in tone:\nShe read out the list in sharp, clipped tones. * There was a sharp knock on the door.\n  feeling\n  7  (of a physical feeling or an emotion) very strong and sudden, often like being cut or wounded:\nHe winced as a sharp pain shot through his leg. * Polly felt a sharp pang of jealousy.\n  curves\n  8  changing direction suddenly:\na sharp bend in the road * a sharp turn to the left\n  flavour / smell\n  9  strong and slightly bitter:\nThe cheese has a distinctively sharp taste.\n  frost / wind\n  10  used to describe a very cold or very severe FROST or wind\nsee also RAZOR-SHARP\n  clever and dishonest\n  11  (disapproving) (of a person or their way of doing business) clever but possibly dishonest:\nHis lawyer’s a sharp operator. * The firm had to face some sharp practice from competing companies.\n  clothes\n  12  [usually before noun] (of clothes or the way sb dresses) fashionable and new: (BrE, disapproving) The consultants were a group of men in sharp suits. * (AmE, approving) Todd is a really sharp dresser!\n  face / features\n  13  not full or round in shape:\na man with a thin face and sharp features (= a pointed nose and chin)\n  in music\n  14  used after the name of a note to mean a note a SEMITONE/HALF TONE higher:\nthe Piano Sonata in C sharp minor\nOPP FLAT\ncompare NATURAL\n  15  above the correct PITCH (= how high or low a note sounds):\nThat note sounded sharp.\nOPP FLAT\n IDIOMS \n  look sharp (BrE) used in orders to tell sb to be quick or to hurry:\nYou’d better look sharp or you’ll be late.\n  the sharp end (of sth) (BrE, informal) the place or position of greatest difficulty or responsibility:\nHe started work at the sharp end of the business, as a salesman.\n    adverb\n  exactly\n  1  used after an expression for a time of day to mean ’exactly’:\nPlease be here at seven o’clock sharp.\n  left / right\n  2  (BrE) ~ left / right turning suddenly to the left or right\n  music\n  3  (comparative sharper, no superlative) above the correct PITCH (= how high or low a note sounds)\nOPP FLAT\n    noun\n (music) a note played a SEMITONE/HALF TONE higher than the note that is named. The written symbol is ({sharp}):\nIt’s a difficult piece to play, full of sharps and flats.\nOPP FLAT\ncompare NATURAL


Words: sharp-eyed
Meaning:
adjective\nable to see very well and quick to notice things:\nA sharp-eyed reader spotted the mistake in yesterday’s paper.


Words: sharpen
Meaning:
verb\n  1  to make sth sharper; to become sharper:\n[VN] She sharpened her pencils and started drawing. * This knife needs sharpening. * [V] The outline of the trees sharpened as it grew lighter.\n  2  if a sense or feeling sharpens or sth sharpens it, it becomes stronger and/or clearer:\n[VN] Her hearing was sharpened by fear. * The sea air sharpened our appetites. * Clare’s kindness sharpened his awareness of the differences between them. [also V]\n  3  [VN] to make a disagreement between people, or an issue on which people disagree, clearer and more likely to produce a result:\nThere is a need to sharpen the focus of the discussion.\n  4  ~ (sth) (up) to become or make sth better, more skilful, more effective, etc. than before\nSYN IMPROVE:\n[V] He needs to sharpen up before the Olympic trials. * [VN] She’s doing a course to sharpen her business skills. * We’re looking to sharpen up the product’s image.\n  5  [V, VN] if your voice sharpens or sth sharpens it, it becomes high and loud in an unpleasant way


Words: sharpener
Meaning:
noun\n(usually in compounds) a tool or machine that makes things sharp:\na pencil sharpener * a knife sharpener


Words: sharpish
Meaning:
adverb\n(BrE, informal) quickly; in a short time:\nIf you don’t get it done pretty sharpish, there’ll be trouble.


Words: sharply
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  in a critical, harsh or severe way:\nThe report was sharply critical of the police. * ’Is there a problem?’ he asked sharply.\n  2  suddenly and by a large amount\nSYN DRAMATICALLY:\nProfits fell sharply following the takeover. * The road fell sharply to the sea.\n  3  in a way that clearly shows the differences between two things:\nTheir experiences contrast sharply with those of other children. * sharply contrasting attitudes to work\n  4  quickly and suddenly or loudly:\nShe moved sharply across the room to block his exit. * He rapped sharply on the window. * He drew his breath in sharply.\n  5  used to emphasize that sth has a sharp point or edge:\nsharply pointed * The spring jutted sharply through the mattress.


Words: shatter
Meaning:
verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (into sth) to suddenly break into small pieces; to make sth suddenly break into small pieces:\n[V] He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor. * [VN] The explosion shattered all the windows in the building. * the sound of shattering glass\n  2  ~ (sth) (into sth) to destroy sth completely, especially sb’s feelings, hopes or beliefs; to be destroyed in this way:\n[VN] Anna’s self-confidence had been completely shattered. * Injury shattered his dreams of competing in the Olympics. * Her experience of divorce shattered her illusions about love. * [V] My whole world shattered into a million pieces.\n  3  [VN] to make sb feel extremely shocked and upset:\nThe unexpected death of their son shattered them.


Words: shattered
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  very shocked and upset:\nThe experience left her feeling absolutely shattered.\n  2  (BrE, informal) very tired\nSYN EXHAUSTED:\nThey all looked shattered by the end of the game.


Words: shattering
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  very shocking and upsetting:\na shattering experience * The news of his death came as a shattering blow.\n  2  very loud\nSYN DEAFENING:\na shattering crash of thunder\n    shatteringly adverb


Words: shave
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  to cut hair from the skin, especially the face, using a RAZOR:\n[V] Mike cut himself shaving. * [VN] The nurse washed and shaved him. * a shaved head\nsee also SHAVEN\n  2  [VN] to cut a small amount off a price, etc:\nThe firm had shaved profit margins.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shave sth<->off | shave sth off sth\n1 to remove a BEARD or MOUSTACHE by shaving:\nCharles decided to shave off his beard.\n2 to cut very thin pieces from the surface of wood, etc:\nI had to shave a few millimetres off the door to make it shut.\n3 to reduce a number by a very small amount:\nKeith shaved a tenth of a second off his best time in the 200 metres.\n    noun an act of shaving:\nI need a shave. * to have a shave\n IDIOMS  see CLOSE adj.


Words: shaving cream
Meaning:
, shaving foam noun\n[U] special cream or FOAM for spreading over the face with a shaving brush before shaving


Words: shavings
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] thin pieces cut from a piece of wood, etc. using a sharp tool, especially a PLANE:\nwood shavings


Words: shawl
Meaning:
noun\na large piece of fabric worn by a woman around the shoulders or head, or wrapped around a baby


Words: she
Meaning:
pronoun, noun \n    pronoun (used as the subject of a verb) a female person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified:\n’What does your sister do?’ ’She’s a dentist.’ * Doesn’t she (= the woman we are looking at) look like Sue?\ncompare HER\n    noun\n  1  [sing.] (informal) a female:\nWhat a sweet little dog. Is it a he or a she?\n  2  (she-) (in compound nouns) a female animal:\na she-wolf


Words: sheaf
Meaning:
1  a number of pieces of paper tied or held together:\nHe waved a sheaf of documents at me.\n  2  a bunch of corn or wheat tied together after being cut


Words: shear
Meaning:
or sheared)\n  1  [VN] to cut the wool off a sheep:\nIt was time for the sheep to be shorn. * sheep shearing\n  2  [VN] (formal) to cut off sb’s hair:\nshorn hair\n  3  ~ (sth) (off) (technical) (especially of metal) to break under pressure; to cut through sth and make it break:\n[V] The bolts holding the wheel in place sheared off. [also VN]\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  be shorn of sth (literary) to have sth important taken away from you:\nShorn of his power, the deposed king went into exile.


Words: shears
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] a garden tool like a very large pair of scissors, used for cutting bushes and HEDGES:\na pair of garden shears\nsee also PINKING SHEARS


Words: sheath
Meaning:
1  a cover that fits closely over the blade of a knife or other sharp weapon or tool:\nHe put the dagger back in its sheath.\n  2  any protective covering that fits closely over sth:\nthe sheath around an electric cable\n  3  (BrE) = CONDOM\n  4  a woman’s dress that fits the body closely:\na simple black silk sheath


Words: sheathe
Meaning:
verb [VN] \n  1  (literary) to put a knife or SWORD into a sheath\n  2  [usually passive] ~ sth (in / with sth) to cover sth in a material, especially in order to protect it


Words: shed
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n (often in compounds)\n \n  1  a small simple building, usually built of wood or metal, used for keeping things in:\na bicycle / tool shed * (BrE) a garden shed\n \n  2  (BrE) a large industrial building, used for working in or keeping equipment:\nan engine shed\nsee also COWSHED, POTTING SHED, WOODSHED\n    verb (shedding, shed, shed) [VN]\n  get rid of\n  1  (often used in newspapers) to get rid of sth that is no longer wanted:\nThe factory is shedding a large number of jobs. * a quick way to shed unwanted pounds (= extra weight or fat on your body) * Museums have been trying hard to shed their stuffy image.\n  drop\n  2  (formal) to let sth fall; to drop sth:\nLuke shed his clothes onto the floor. * A duck’s feathers shed water immediately.\n  3  (BrE) (of a vehicle) to lose or drop what it is carrying:\nThe traffic jam was caused by a lorry shedding its load.\n  skin / leaves\n  4  if an animal sheds its skin, or a plant sheds leaves, it loses them naturally:\nHow often does a snake shed its skin? * trees that shed their leaves in autumn\n  light\n  5  ~ sth (on / over sb/sth) to send light over sth; to let light fall somewhere:\nThe candles shed a soft glow on her face.\n  tears\n  6  (formal or literary) if you shed tears, you cry:\nShe shed no tears when she heard he was dead.\n  blood\n  7  (formal) if you shed blood, you kill or injure people, especially in a war:\nHow much blood will be shed before the fighting ends?\nsee also BLOODSHED\n IDIOMS  see LIGHT n.


Words: sheep
Meaning:
noun\n(plural sheep) an animal with a thick coat, kept on farms for its meat (called MUTTON or LAMB) or its wool:\na flock of sheep * Sheep were grazing in the fields.\ncompare EWE, LAMB, RAM\nsee also BLACK SHEEP\n IDIOMS \n  like sheep (disapproving) if people behave like sheep, they all do what the others are doing, without thinking for themselves\n  sort out / separate the sheep from the goats to distinguish good people from bad people\nmore at COUNT v., WOLF n.


Words: sheep dip
Meaning:
noun\n[U, C] a liquid which is used to kill insects, etc. in a sheep’s coat; the container in which sheep are put to treat them with this


Words: sheepdog
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a dog that is trained to help control sheep on a farm\n \n  2  (BrE) a dog of a breed that is often used for controlling sheep, especially a COLLIE\nsee also OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG


Words: sheepish
Meaning:
adjective\nlooking or feeling embarrassed because you have done sth silly or wrong:\nMary gave her a sheepish grin. * He came into the room looking distinctly sheepish.\n    sheepishly adverb


Words: sheer
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, verb \n    adjective\n  1  [only before noun] used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of sth:\nThe area is under threat from the sheer number of tourists using it. * We were impressed by the sheer size of the cathedral.\n  2  [only before noun] complete and not mixed with anything else:\nThe concert was sheer delight. * I only agreed out of sheer desperation.\n  3  very steep:\nsheer cliffs / slopes * Outside there was a sheer drop down to the sea below.\n  4  (of fabrics, etc.) thin, light and almost transparent:\nsheer nylon\n    adverb straight up or down:\nThe cliffs rise sheer from the beach. * The ground dropped sheer away at our feet.\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  sheer away / off (from sth) to change direction suddenly, especially in order to avoid hitting sth:\nThe car sheered away, just missing the bike. * (figurative) Her mind sheered away from images she did not wish to dwell on.


Words: sheet
Meaning:
noun\n \n  on bed\n \n  1  a large piece of thin fabric used on a bed to lie on or lie under:\nHave you changed the sheets (= put clean sheets on the bed)? * He slid between the sheets and closed his eyes.\n \n  of paper\n \n  2  a piece of paper for writing or printing on, etc. usually in a standard size:\na clean / blank sheet of paper (= with no writing on it) * Start each answer on a fresh sheet. * Pick up one of our free information sheets at reception. * a sheet of A4\n \n  flat thin piece\n  3  a flat thin piece of any material, normally square or RECTANGULAR:\na sheet of glass / steel * sheet metal (= metal that has been made into thin sheets) * Place the dough on a baking sheet (= for cooking sth in an oven).\n  wide flat area\n  4  a wide flat area of sth, covering the surface of sth else:\nThe road was covered with a sheet of ice.\n  of fire / water\n  5  a large moving mass of fire or water:\na sheet of flame * The rain was coming down in sheets (= very heavily).\n  on sail\n  6  (technical) a rope or chain fastened to the lower corner of a sail to hold it and to control the angle of the sail\n HELP NOTE  There are other compounds ending sheet. You will find them at their place in the alphabet.\n IDIOMS  see CLEAN adj.


Words: sheet anchor
Meaning:
noun\na person or thing that you can depend on in a difficult situation:\nThe European Union can act as a sheet anchor for emerging democracies.


Words: sheet music
Meaning:
noun\n[U] printed music as opposed to recorded music; printed music published on separate sheets of paper that are not fastened together to form a book


Words: sheeting
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  metal, plastic, etc. made into flat thin pieces:\nmetal / plastic / polythene / metal sheeting\n  2  fabric used for making sheets for beds


Words: sheikh
Meaning:
noun\n  1  an Arab prince or leader; the head of an Arab village, tribe, etc.\n  2  a leader in a Muslim community or organization


Words: shelf
Meaning:
1  a flat board, made of wood, metal, glass, etc., fixed to the wall or forming part of a cupboard/closet, BOOKCASE, etc., for things to be placed on:\nI helped him put up some shelves in his bedroom. * The book I wanted was on the top shelf. * supermarket / library shelves * empty shelves\n \n  2  (geology) a thing shaped like a shelf, especially a piece of rock sticking out from a cliff or from the edge of a mass of land under the sea:\nthe continental shelf\nsee also SHELVE\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  on the shelf (informal)\n1 not wanted by anyone; not used\n2 (old-fashioned) (especially of women) considered to be too old to get married\n  off the shelf that can be bought immediately and does not have to be specially designed or ordered:\nI bought this package off the shelf. * off-the-shelf software packages * Some courses can be bought off the shelf as self-contained study packages.\ncompare off the peg at PEG n.


Words: shelf life
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the length of time that food, etc. can be kept before it is too old to be sold:\nThe product has a guaranteed shelf life of 60 days.


Words: shell
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C, U] the hard outer part of eggs, nuts, some seeds and some animals:\nWe collected shells on the beach. * snail / mussel / walnut shells * earrings made out of coconut shell\nsee also EGGSHELL, NUTSHELL, SEASHELL, TORTOISESHELL\n \n  2  [C] any object that looks like the shell of a SNAIL or sea creature:\npasta shells\n \n  3  [C] a metal case filled with explosive, to be fired from a large gun:\nA shell burst only yards away from us.\n  4  (AmE) = CARTRIDGE\n  5  [C] the walls or outer structure of sth, for example, an empty building or ship after a fire or a bomb attack:\nThe house was now a shell gutted by flames. * (figurative) My life has been an empty shell since he died.\n  6  [C] any structure that forms a hard outer frame:\nthe body shell of a car\n  7  [sing.] the outer layer of sb’s personality; how they seem to be or feel:\nShe had developed a shell of indifference.\n IDIOMS \n  come out of your shell to become less shy and more confident when talking to other people:\nHe’s really come out of his shell since he met Marie.\n  to go / retreat etc. into your shell to become shyer and avoid talking to other people:\nWhenever my friends are here, she just withdraws into her shell.\n    verb\n  1  to fire shells at sth:\n[VN] They shelled the city all night. * [V] Just as they were leaving the rebels started shelling.\n  2  [VN] to remove the shell or covering from nuts, peas, etc:\nshelled prawns / shrimp\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shell out (for sth) | shell sth<->out (for sth) (informal) to pay a lot of money for sth\nSYN FORK OUT:\nThe band shelled out $100 000 for a mobile recording studio.


Words: shell suit
Meaning:
noun\n(BrE) a loose pair of trousers/pants and matching jacket worn as informal clothes. Shell suits are made of a light, slightly shiny, material and are often brightly coloured.\ncompare TRACKSUIT


Words: shell-shocked
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  shocked, confused or anxious because of a difficult situation, and unable to think or act normally:\nI felt completely shell-shocked after I heard the news.\n  2  suffering from shell shock


Words: shellfire
Meaning:
noun\n[U] attacks or explosions caused by SHELLS being fired from large guns:\nHe was killed by shellfire. * The city has been under continuous shellfire for days now.


Words: shellfish
Meaning:
noun\n(plural shellfish) a creature with a shell, that lives in water, especially one of the types that can be eaten. OYSTERS and CRABS are all shellfish.\ncompare CRUSTACEAN, MOLLUSC


Words: shelter
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U] the fact of having a place to live or stay, considered as a basic human need:\nHuman beings need food, clothing and shelter. * They were anxious to find shelter for the night.\n  2  [U] ~ (from sth) protection from rain, danger or attack:\nto take shelter from the rain / wind / weather * The fox was running for the shelter of the trees. * People were desperately seeking shelter from the gunfire.\n  3  [C] (often in compounds) a structure built to give protection, especially from the weather or from attack:\nThey built a rough shelter from old pieces of wood and cardboard. * an air-raid shelter\nsee also BUS SHELTER\n  4  [C] a building, usually owned by a charity, that provides a place to stay for people without a home, or protection for people or animals who have been badly treated:\na night shelter for the homeless * an animal shelter\nsee also HOSTEL\n    verb\n  1  [VN] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to give sb/sth a place where they are protected from the weather or from danger; to protect sb/sth:\nTrees shelter the house from the wind. * helping the poor and sheltering the homeless * Perhaps I sheltered my daughter too much (= protected her too much from unpleasant or difficult experiences).\n  2  [V] ~ (from sth) to stay in a place that protects you from the weather or from danger:\nWe sheltered from the rain in a doorway.


Words: sheltered
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (of a place) protected from bad weather:\na sheltered bay / beach * Herbs need fertile soil and a sunny sheltered position. * We had lunch in a sheltered spot behind the dunes.\n  2  (sometimes disapproving) protected from the more unpleasant aspects or difficulties of life:\nShe had a very sheltered childhood. * They both lead very sheltered lives.\n  3  [only before noun] (BrE) (of houses, flats / apartments, etc.) designed for people, especially old people, who can still live fairly independent lives, but with staff available to help them if necessary:\nsheltered accommodation / housing * a sheltered workshop for the blind


Words: shelve
Meaning:
verb\n  1  [VN] to decide not to continue with a plan, either for a short time or permanently:\nThe government has shelved the idea until at least next year.\n  2  [VN] to put books, etc. on a shelf\n  3  [V]   [usually +adv./prep.] (of land) to slope downwards:\nThe beach shelved gently down to the water.


Words: shenanigans
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] (informal) secret or dishonest activities that people find interesting or amusing:\npolitical / financial / sexual shenanigans


Words: shepherd
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun (AmE sheepherder) a person whose job is to take care of sheep\n    verb [VN +adv./prep.] to guide sb or a group of people somewhere, making sure they go where you want them to go:\nHe shepherded her towards a line of taxis. * Miss Rogers shepherded the children across the road.


Words: shepherd’s pie
Meaning:
(also cottage pie) noun\n[C, U] (BrE) a dish of MINCED (= finely chopped) meat covered with a layer of MASHED potato


Words: sherbet
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] (BrE) a powder that tastes of fruit and FIZZES when you put it in your mouth, eaten as a sweet/candy\n  2  [C, U] (AmE, becoming old-fashioned) = SORBET


Words: sheriff
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (in the US) an elected officer responsible for keeping law and order in a county or town\n  2  (often High Sheriff) (in England and Wales) an officer representing the king or queen in counties, and some cities, who performs some legal duties and attends ceremonies\n  3  (in Scotland) a judge


Words: Sherpa
Meaning:
noun\na member of a Himalayan people, who often guide people in the mountains, sometimes carrying their bags, etc.


Words: sherry
Meaning:
noun (plural sherries)\n  1  [U, C] a strong yellow or brown wine, originally from southern Spain. It is often drunk before meals:\nsweet / dry sherry * cream sherry (= a type of very sweet sherry) * fine quality sherries * a sherry glass (= a type of small narrow wine glass)\n  2  [C] a glass of sherry:\nI’ll have a sherry.


Words: Shia
Meaning:
(also Shi’a)  noun (plural Shia or Shias)\n  1  [U] one of the two main branches of the Islamic religion\ncompare SUNNI\n  2  [C] (also Shiite, Shi’ite) a member of the Shia branch of Islam


Words: shibboleth
Meaning:
noun (formal)\n  1  an old idea, principle or phrase that is no longer accepted by many people as important or appropriate to modern life:\nthe crumbling of old political shibboleths\n  2  a custom, word, etc. that distinguishes one group of people from another\n ORIGIN  From a Hebrew word meaning ’ear of corn’. In the Bible story, Jephthah, the leader of the Gileadites, was able to use it as a test to tell which were his own men, because foreigners found the ’sh’ sound difficult to pronounce.


Words: shield
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  a large piece of metal or leather carried by soldiers in the past to protect the body when fighting\n \n  2  = RIOT SHIELD\n \n  3  a person or thing used to protect sb/sth, especially by forming a barrier:\nThe gunman used the hostages as a human shield. * Water is not an effective shield against the sun’s more harmful rays. * She hid her true feelings behind a shield of cold indifference.\n \n  4  a plate or screen that protects a machine or the person using it from damage or injury:\nA heat shield protects the worker’s hands.\n \n  5  an object in the shape of a shield, given as a prize in a sports competition, etc.\n  6  a drawing or model of a shield showing a COAT OF ARMS\n  7  (AmE) a police officer’s BADGE\n    verb [VN] \n  1  ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to protect sb/sth from danger, harm or sth unpleasant:\nI shielded my eyes against the glare. * The ozone layer shields the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. * Police believe that somebody is shielding the killer. * You can’t shield her from the truth forever.\n  2  to put a shield around a piece of machinery, etc. in order to protect the person using it


Words: shift
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  move\n  1  ~ (sth) (from ...) (to ...) to move, or move sth, from one position or place to another:\n[V] The action of the novel shifts from Paris to London. * Lydia shifted uncomfortably in her chair. * I shifted uneasily under his gaze. * [VN] He shifted his gaze from the child to her. * Could you help me shift some furniture? * She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.\n  2  [V, VN] ~ (yourself) (BrE, informal) to move quickly\nSYN HURRY\n  situation / opinion / policy\n  3  [V] ~ (from ...) (to / towards / toward ...) (of a situation, an opinion, a policy etc.) to change from one state, position, etc. to another:\nPublic attitudes towards marriage have shifted over the past 50 years. * The balance of power shifted away from workers towards employers. * Her sympathies gradually shifted to the side of the protesters.\n  4  [VN] ~ sth (from ...) (to / towards / toward ...) to change your opinion of or attitude towards sth, or change the way that you do sth:\nWe need to shift the focus of this debate. * The new policy shifted the emphasis away from fighting inflation.\n  responsibility\n  5  [VN] ~ responsibility / blame (for sth) (onto sb) to make sb else responsible for sth you should do or sth bad that you have done:\nHe tried to shift the blame for his mistakes onto his colleagues.\n  remove mark\n  6  [VN] to remove sth such as a dirty mark:\na detergent that shifts even the most stubborn stains\n  sell goods\n  7  [VN] to sell goods, especially goods that are difficult to sell:\nThey cut prices drastically to try and shift stock.\n  in vehicle\n  8  [V] (AmE) to change the GEARS when you are driving a vehicle:\nto shift into second gear\n IDIOMS \n  shift your ground (usually disapproving) to change your opinion about a subject, especially during a discussion\n  (the) shifting sands (of sth) used to describe a situation that changes so often that it is difficult to understand or deal with it\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shift for yourself (BrE) to do things without help from other people:\nYou’re going to have to shift for yourself from now on.\n    noun\n  change\n  1  [C] ~ (in sth) a change in position or direction:\na gradual shift in the population away from the countryside to the towns * a dramatic shift in public opinion * a shift of emphasis\n  period of work\n  2  [C] a period of time worked by a group of workers who start work as another group finishes:\nto be on the day / night shift at the factory * to work an eight-hour shift * working in shifts * shift workers / work\nsee also SWING SHIFT\n  3  [C+sing./pl. v.] the workers who work a particular shift:\nThe night shift has / have just come off duty.\n  on computer\n  4  [U] the mechanism on a TYPEWRITER or computer keyboard that allows capital letters or a different set of characters to be typed:\na shift key\n  clothing\n  5  [C] a woman’s simple straight dress\n  6  [C] a simple straight piece of clothing worn by women in the past as underwear


Words: shiftless
Meaning:
adjective\n(disapproving) lazy and having no AMBITION to succeed in life:\nShe worked hard but she had to support a shiftless husband.


Words: shifty
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) seeming to be dishonest; looking guilty about sth:\nshifty eyes * to look shifty\n    shiftily  adverb


Words: Shiite
Meaning:
(also Shi’ite)  noun\na member of one of the main branches of Islam (called Shia)\ncompare SUNNI\n    Shiite (also Shi’ite) adjective [usually before noun]


Words: shilling
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a British coin in use until 1971, worth 12 old pence. There were 20 shillings in one pound.\n  2  the unit of money in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia


Words: shilly-shally
Meaning:
verb\n(shilly-shallies, shilly-shallying, shilly-shallied, shilly-shallied) [V] (informal, disapproving) to take a long time to do sth, especially to make a decision\nSYN DITHER:\nStop shilly-shallying and make up your mind.


Words: shimmer
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [V] (written) to shine with a soft light that seems to move slightly:\nThe sea was shimmering in the sunlight. * The surface of the road shimmered in the midday heat.\n    noun [U, sing.] (written) a shining light that seems to move slightly:\nthe shimmer of silk * a shimmer of moonlight in the dark sky


Words: shimmy
Meaning:
verb\n(shimmies, shimmying, shimmied, shimmied) [V +adv./prep.] to dance or move in a way that involves shaking your hips and shoulders:\nShe shimmied onto the dance floor.


Words: shin
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun the front part of the leg below the knee\n    verb (-nn-) (BrE) (AmE shinny)\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shin / shinny up / down sth (informal) to climb up or down sth quickly, using your hands and legs:\nHe shinned down the drainpipe and ran off.


Words: shin bone
Meaning:
noun\nthe front and larger bone of the two bones in the lower part of the leg between the knee and the ankle\nSYN TIBIA


Words: shin guard
Meaning:
(BrE also shin pad) noun\na piece of thick material that is used to protect the lower front part of the leg when playing football, etc.


Words: shine
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb (shone, shone )\n HELP NOTE  In sense 3 shined is used for the past tense and past participle.\n  1  [V] to produce or reflect light; to be bright:\nThe sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky. * A light was shining in the distance. * The dark polished wood shone like glass. * (figurative) Her eyes were shining with excitement. * Excitement was shining in her eyes.\n  2  [VN] to aim or point the light of a lamp, etc. in a particular direction:\nHe shone the flashlight around the cellar. * (figurative) Campaigners are shining a spotlight on the world’s diminishing natural resources.\n  3  (shined, shined) [VN] to polish sth; to make sth smooth and bright:\nHe shined shoes and sold newspapers to make money.\n  4  [V] to be very good at sth:\nHe failed to shine academically but he was very good at sports. * She has set a shining example of loyal service over four decades.\nsee also SHINY\n IDIOMS  see HAY, KNIGHT n., RISE v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shine through (sth) (of a quality) to be easy to see or notice:\nHer old professional skills shone through. * William looked up at her, hope shining through his tears.\n    noun [sing.] the bright quality that sth has when light is reflected on it:\na shampoo that gives your hair body and shine * the shine of polished wood\n IDIOMS \n  take a shine to sb/sth (informal) to begin to like sb very much as soon as you see or meet them:\nHe seems to have taken a shine to you.\n  take the shine off sth (informal) to make sth seem much less good than it did at first\nmore at RAIN n.


Words: shingle
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] a mass of small smooth stones on a beach or at the side of a river:\na shingle beach / bank\n  2  [C, U] a small flat piece of wood that is used to cover a wall or roof of a building\n  3  [C] (AmE) a board with a sign on it, in front of a doctor’s or lawyer’s office:\nHe hung out his own shingle (= started a business as a doctor or lawyer).


Words: shiny
Meaning:
adjective\n(shinier, shiniest) smooth and bright; reflecting the light:\nshiny black hair / shoes * His face was red and shiny.


Words: ship
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n a large boat that carries people or goods by sea:\nThere are two restaurants on board ship. * a sailing / cargo / cruise ship * a ship’s captain / crew / company / cook * Raw materials and labour come by ship, rail or road. * They boarded a ship bound for India. * When the ship docked at Southampton he was rushed to hospital.\nsee also AIRSHIP, FLAGSHIP, LIGHTSHIP\n \n IDIOMS  see JUMP v., SINK v., TIGHT\n    verb (-pp-)\n  1  [VN] to send or transport sb/sth by ship or by another means of transport:\nThe company ships its goods all over the world. * He was arrested and shipped back to the UK for trial.\n  2  (computing) to be available to be bought; to make sth available to be bought:\n[V] The software is due to ship next month. * [VN] The company continues to ship more computer systems than its rivals.\n  3  [VN] ~ water (of a boat, etc.) to have water coming in over the sides\n IDIOMS  see SHAPE v.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  ship sb<->off (disapproving) to send sb to a place where they will stay:\nThe children were shipped off to a boarding school at an early age.


Words: ship-to-shore
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] providing communication between people on a ship and people on land:\na ship-to-shore radio


Words: shipmate
Meaning:
noun\nsailors who are shipmates are sailing on the same ship as each other:\nThe crew were all old shipmates of previous cruises.


Words: shipment
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [U] the process of sending goods from one place to another:\nThe goods are ready for shipment. * the illegal shipment of arms * shipment costs / dates\n  2  [C] a load of goods that are sent from one place to another:\narms shipments * a shipment of arms


Words: shipper
Meaning:
noun\na person or company that arranges for goods to be sent from one place to another, especially by ship


Words: shipping
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  ships in general or considered as a group:\nThe canal is open to shipping. * the shipping forecast (= a report for ships on the weather conditions at sea) * international shipping lanes (= routes for ships)\n  2  the activity of carrying people or goods from one place to another by ship:\na shipping company / group / line * She arranged for the shipping of her furniture to England.


Words: shipshape
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] clean and neat; in good condition and ready to use:\nThey had to rush to get everything shipshape before the official opening.


Words: shipwreck
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  1  [U, C] the loss or destruction of a ship at sea because of a storm or because it hits rocks, etc:\nThey narrowly escaped shipwreck in a storm in the North Sea. * The shipwreck of the tanker has caused one of the worst oil spills in recent years.\n  2  [C] a ship that has been lost or destroyed at sea:\nThe contents of shipwrecks belong to the state.\n    verb [VN] (be shipwrecked) to be left somewhere after the ship that you have been sailing in has been lost or destroyed at sea:\nThey were shipwrecked off the coast of Africa.\n    shipwrecked adjective:\na shipwrecked sailor


Words: shire
Meaning:
noun (BrE)\n  1  [C] (old use) a county (now used in the names of some counties in Britain, for example Hampshire, Yorkshire)\n  2  (the Shires), (also the Shire Counties) [pl.] counties in central England that are in country areas:\nFigures showed that crime was rising more quickly in the Shire Counties and rural areas than in the major cities.


Words: shirk
Meaning:
verb\n~ (from) (sth / doing sth) to avoid doing sth you should do, especially because you are too lazy:\n[V] Discipline in the company was strict and no one shirked. * A determined burglar will not shirk from breaking a window to gain entry. * [VN] She never shirked her responsibilities. [also V -ing]\n    shirker noun:\nThere is no room in our organization for shirkers.


Words: shirt
Meaning:
noun\na piece of clothing worn on the upper part of the body, especially by men, made of light fabric, with sleeves, a collar and buttons down the front:\nto wear a shirt and tie * a short-sleeved shirt\nsee also NIGHTSHIRT, STUFFED SHIRT, SWEATSHIRT, T-SHIRT\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  keep your shirt on (informal) used to tell sb not to get angry:\nKeep your shirt on! It was only a joke.\n \n  put your shirt on sb/sth (BrE, informal) to bet all your money on sb/sth:\nIt’s a good horse, but I wouldn’t put my shirt on it.\n  the shirt off sb’s back anything that sb has, including the things they really need themselves, that sb else takes from them or they are willing to give:\nHe was the type of person who would give you the shirt off his back.


Words: shirt tail
Meaning:
noun\nthe part of a shirt that is below the waist and is usually inside your trousers/pants:\nHe ran out of the house, his tie in his hand and his shirt tail hanging out.


Words: shirtsleeve
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a sleeve of a shirt:\nHe rolled up his shirtsleeves.\n IDIOMS \n  in (your) shirtsleeves wearing a shirt without a jacket, etc. on top of it:\nIt was a hot day and most of the men were in shirtsleeves.


Words: shirty
Meaning:
adjective\n~ (with sb) (BrE, informal) angry or annoyed with sb about sth, and acting in a rude way:\nDon’t get shirty with me-I was only trying to help!


Words: shit
Meaning:
exclamation, noun, verb, adjective \n    exclamation (!!!, slang) a swear word that many people find offensive, used to show that you are angry or annoyed:\nShit! I’ve lost my keys!\n HELP NOTE  Less offensive exclamations to use are blast, darn it (especially AmE), damn or (BrE) bother.\n    noun (!!!, slang)\n  1  [U] solid waste matter from the bowels \nSYN EXCREMENT:\na pile of dog shit on the path\n HELP NOTE  A more polite way to express this example would be ’a pile of dog dirt’.\n  2  [sing.] an act of emptying solid waste matter from the bowels:\nto have / need a shit\n  3  [U] stupid remarks or writing; nonsense:\nYou’re talking shit! * She’s so full of shit. * Don’t give me that shit.\nsee also BULLSHIT\n  4  [C] (disapproving) an unpleasant person who treats other people badly:\nHe’s an arrogant little shit.\n  5  [U] criticism or unfair treatment:\nI’m not going to take any shit from them.\n IDIOMS \n  beat, kick, etc. the shit out of sb to attack sb violently so that you injure them\n  in the shit | in deep shit in trouble:\nI’ll be in the shit if I don’t get this work finished today. * You’re in deep shit now.\n  like shit really bad, ill/sick etc.; really badly:\nI woke up feeling like shit. * We get treated like shit in this job.\n  No shit! (often ironic) used to show that you are surprised, impressed, etc. or that you are pretending to be\n  not give a shit (about sb/sth) to not care at all about sb/sth:\nHe doesn’t give a shit about anybody else.\n  when the shit hits the fan when sb in authority finds out about sth bad or wrong that sb has done:\nWhen the shit hits the fan, I don’t want to be here.\nmore at CROCK, SCARE v.\n    verb (shitting, shit, shit) (!!!, slang)\n HELP NOTE  shat  and, in BrE, shitted are also used for the past tense and past participle.\n  1  [V, VN] to empty solid waste matter from the bowels\n HELP NOTE  A more polite way of expressing this is ’to go to the toilet / lavatory’ (BrE), ’to go to the bathroom’ (AmE) or ’to go’. A more formal expression is ’to empty the bowels’.\n  2  [VN] (~ yourself) to empty solid waste matter from the bowels accidentally\n  3  [VN] (~ yourself) to be very frightened\n    adjective (!!! slang, especially BrE) very bad:\nYou’re shit and you know you are! * They’re a shit team.


Words: shitty
Meaning:
adjective (!!!, slang)\n  1  unpleasant; very bad:\nI’m not going to eat this shitty food. * a shitty week at work\n  2  unfair or unkind:\nWhat a shitty way to treat a friend!


Words: shiver
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb [V] ~ (with sth) (of a person) to shake slightly because you are cold, frightened, excited, etc:\nto shiver with cold / tiredness / excitement / pleasure * Don’t stand outside shivering-come inside and get warm! * He shivered at the thought of the cold, dark sea.\n    noun\n  1  [C] a sudden shaking movement of your body because you are cold, frightened, excited, etc:\nThe sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine. * He felt a cold shiver of fear run through him. * She gave a little shiver as she walked into the cold room.\n  2  (the shivers) [pl.] shaking movements of your body because of fear or a high temperature:\nI don’t like him. He gives me the shivers. * Symptoms include headaches, vomiting and the shivers.


Words: shoal
Meaning:
noun\n \n  1  a large number of fish swimming together as a group:\nshoals of herring / mackerel * Squid travel in shoals.\ncompare SCHOOL (9)\n \n  2  a small hill of sand just below the surface of the sea:\nThe boat ran aground on a shoal.


Words: shock
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  unpleasant surprise\n  1  [C, usually sing, U] an unpleasant feeling as a result of sth bad happening; the event that causes this feeling:\nThe news of his death came as a shock to us all. * He’s still in a state of shock. * I got a terrible shock the other day. * She still hadn’t got over the shock of seeing him again. * (informal) If you think the job will be easy, you’re in for a shock. * Losing in the first round was a shock to the system (= it was a more of a shock because it was not expected). * The team suffered a shock defeat in the first round. * When I added up the cost it gave me quite a shock.\nsee also CULTURE SHOCK\n  medical\n  2  [U] a serious medical condition, usually the result of injury in which a person has lost a lot of blood and they are extremely weak:\nShe was taken to hospital suffering from shock. * He isn’t seriously injured but he is in (a state of) shock.\nsee also SHELL SHOCK, TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME\n  violent shaking\n  3  [C, U] a violent shaking movement that is caused by an explosion, earthquake, etc:\nThe shock of the explosion could be felt up to six miles away. * The bumper absorbs shock on impact.\n  from electricity\n  4  [C] = ELECTRIC SHOCK:\nDon’t touch that wire or you’ll get a shock.\n  of hair\n  5  a thick mass of hair on a person’s head:\nShe’s a large plump woman with a shock of red hair.\n IDIOMS \n  shock horror (BrE, informal, often humorous) used when you pretend to be shocked by sth that is not really very serious or surprising\n    verb\n  surprise and upset\n  1  to surprise and upset sb:\n[VN] It shocks you when something like that happens. * We were all shocked at the news of his death. * [VN that] Neighbours were shocked that such an attack could happen in their area. * [VN to inf] I was shocked to hear that he had resigned.\n  offend / disgust\n  2  (of bad language, immoral behaviour, etc.) to make sb feel offended or disgusted:\n[V] These movies deliberately set out to shock. * [VN] She enjoys shocking people by saying outrageous things. [also VN to inf] \n    shocked adjective:\nFor a few minutes we stood in shocked silence.


Words: shock absorber
Meaning:
noun\na device that is fitted to each wheel of a vehicle in order to reduce the effects of travelling over rough ground, so that passengers can be more comfortable


Words: shock tactics
Meaning:
noun\n[pl.] actions that are done to deliberately shock people in order to persuade them to do sth or to react in a particular way


Words: shock therapy
Meaning:
(also shock treatment) noun\n[U] a way of treating mental illness by giving ELECTRIC SHOCKS or a drug that has a similar effect


Words: shock wave
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a movement of very high air pressure that is caused by an explosion, earthquake, etc.\n  2  (shock waves) [pl.] feelings of shock that people experience when sth bad happens suddenly:\nThe murder sent shock waves through the whole community.


Words: shocker
Meaning:
noun\n(informal) (often used in newspapers) a film/movie, piece of news or person that shocks you:\nHis latest movie is a shocker but it’s also hilariously funny at times.


Words: shocking
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  that offends or upsets people; that is morally wrong:\nshocking behaviour * shocking news * It is shocking that they involved children in the crime. * a shocking waste of money\n  2  (informal, especially BrE) very bad:\nThe house was left in a shocking state.\n    shockingly adverb:\na shockingly high mortality rate * She looked shockingly ill.


Words: shockproof
Meaning:
adjective\nmade so that it cannot be damaged if it is dropped or hit:\nMy watch is shockproof and waterproof.


Words: shod
Meaning:
adjective\n(literary) wearing shoes of the type mentioned:\nShe turned on her elegantly shod heel.\nsee also SHOE, SHOEING, SHOD, SHOD v.


Words: shoddy
Meaning:
adjective (shoddier, shoddiest)\n  1  (of goods, work, etc.) made or done badly and with not enough care:\nI always complain about bad service or shoddy goods. * He was accused of shoddy workmanship.\n  2  dishonest or unfair:\nshoddy treatment\n    shoddily adverb\n    shoddiness noun [U]


Words: shoe
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  one of a pair of outer coverings for your feet, usually made of leather or plastic:\na pair of shoes * He took his shoes and socks off. * What’s your shoe size? * a shoe brush * shoe polish\nsee also SNOWSHOE\n \n  2  = HORSESHOE\n \n IDIOMS \n \n  be in sb’s shoes | put yourself in sb’s shoes to be in, or imagine that you are in, another person’s situation, especially when it is an unpleasant or difficult one:\nI wouldn’t like to be in your shoes when they find out about it. * Well what would you do? Just put yourself in my shoes.\n  if I were in your shoes used to introduce a piece of advice you are giving to sb:\nIf I were in your shoes, I’d resign immediately.\n  if the shoe fits (AmE) = if the cap fits at CAP\n  the shoe is on the other foot (AmE) = the boot is on the other foot at BOOT\nmore at FILL v., SHAKE v., STEP v.\n    verb (shoeing, shod, shod ) [VN] to put one or more HORSESHOES on a horse:\nThe horses were sent to the blacksmith to be shod.


Words: shoehorn
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun a curved piece of plastic or metal, used to help your heel slide into a shoe\n    verb [VN +adv./prep.] to succeed in putting sth into a small space or a place where it does not fit very easily:\nThey managed to shoehorn the material onto just one CD.


Words: shoelace
Meaning:
(also lace) noun\na long thin piece of material like string that goes through the holes on a shoe and is used to fasten it:\na pair of shoelaces * to tie / untie your shoelaces * Your shoelace is undone.


Words: shoeshine
Meaning:
noun\n(especially AmE) the activity of cleaning people’s shoes for money:\na shoeshine boy / man * a shoeshine stand on West 32nd Street


Words: shoestring
Meaning:
noun, adjective \n    noun\n IDIOMS \n  on a shoestring (informal) using very little money:\nIn the early years, the business was run on a shoestring.\n    adjective [only before noun] (informal) that uses very little money:\nThe club exists on a shoestring budget.


Words: shoo
Meaning:
verb, exclamation \n    verb (shooing, shooed, shooed) [VN] to make sb/sth go away or to another place, especially by saying ’shoo’! and waving your arms and hands:\nHe shooed the dog out of the kitchen.\n    exclamation used to tell a child or an animal to go away:\nShoo, all of you, I’m busy!


Words: shoo-in
Meaning:
noun\n~ (for sth) | ~ (to do sth) (AmE, informal) a person or team that will win easily:\nHe’s a shoo-in for the nomination.


Words: shoot
Meaning:
verb, noun, exclamation \n    verb (shot, shot )\n  weapon\n  1  ~ (sth) (at sb/sth) | ~ sth (from sth) to fire a gun or other weapon; to fire sth from a weapon:\n[V] Don’t shoot-I surrender. * troops shooting at the enemy * a serious shooting incident * The police rarely shoot to kill (= try to kill the people they shoot at). * [VN] He shot an arrow from his bow. * They shot the lock off (= removed it by shooting).\n  2  to kill or wound a person or an animal with a bullet, etc:\n[VN] A man was shot in the leg. * He shot himself during a fit of depression. * The guards were ordered to shoot on sight anyone trying to escape. * [VN-ADJ] Three people were shot dead during the robbery.\n  3  (of a gun or other weapon) to fire bullets, etc:\n[VN] This is just a toy gun-it doesn’t shoot real bullets. [also V]\n  for sport\n  4  to hunt and kill birds and animals with a gun as a sport:\n[VN] to shoot pheasants * [V] They go shooting in Scotland.\n  move quickly\n  5  [+adv./prep.] to move suddenly or quickly in one direction; to make sb/sth move in this way:\n[V] A plane shot across the sky. * His hand shot out to grab her. * Flames were shooting up through the roof. * (figurative) The band’s last single shot straight to number one in the charts. * [VN] He shot out his hand to grab her.\n  of pain\n  6  [V] to move suddenly and quickly and be very sharp:\na shooting pain in the back * The pain shot up her arm.\n  direct at sb\n  7  ~ sth at sb | ~ sb sth [no passive] to direct sth at sb suddenly or quickly: [VN, VNN] She shot an angry glance at him. * She shot him an angry glance. * [VN] Journalists were shooting questions at the candidates.\n  film / photograph\n  8  to make a film/movie or photograph of sth:\n[V] Cameras ready? OK, shoot! * [VN] Where was the movie shot? * The movie was shot in black and white.\n  in sports\n  9  ~ (at sth) (in football, hockey, etc.) to try to kick, hit or throw the ball into a goal or to score a point:\n[V] He should have shot instead of passing. * [VN] After school we’d be on the driveway shooting baskets (= playing basketball).\n  10  [VN] (informal) (in golf) to make a particular score in a complete ROUND or competition:\nShe shot a 75 in the first round.\n  play game\n  11  [VN] (especially AmE) to play particular games:\nto shoot pool\n  speak\n  12  (shoot!) [V] (spoken, especially AmE) used to tell sb to say what they want to say:\nYou want to tell me something? OK, shoot!\n IDIOMS \n  be / get shot of sth/sb (BrE, informal) to no longer have sth; to get rid of sth:\nI’ll be glad to get shot of this car.\n  have shot your bolt (informal) to have used all your power, money or supplies\n  shoot the breeze / bull (AmE, informal) to have a conversation in an informal way:\nWe sat around in the bar, shooting the breeze.\n  shoot from the hip to react quickly without thinking carefully first\n  shoot yourself in the foot (informal) to do or say sth that will cause you a lot of trouble or harm, especially when you are trying to get an advantage for yourself\n  shoot it out (with sb) (informal) to fight against sb with guns, especially until one side is killed or defeated:\nThe gang decided to shoot it out with the police.\nrelated noun SHOOT-OUT\n  shoot your mouth off (about sth) (informal)\n1 to talk with too much pride about sth\n2 to talk about sth that is private or secret\n  shoot the rapids to go in a boat over part of a river where the water flows very fast\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shoot sb/sth<->down\n1 to make sb/sth fall to the ground by shooting them/it:\nSeveral planes were shot down by enemy fire.\n2 to be very critical of sb’s ideas, opinions, etc:\nHis latest theory has been shot down in flames.\n  shoot for sth (AmE, informal) to try to achieve or get sth, especially sth difficult:\nWe’ve been shooting for a pay raise for months.\n  shoot off (informal) to leave very quickly:\nI had to shoot off at the end of the meeting.\n  shoot through (AustralE, NZE, informal) to leave, especially in order to avoid sb/sth:\nI was only five when my Dad shot through.\n  shoot up\n1 to grow very quickly:\nTheir kids have shot up since I last saw them.\n2 to rise suddenly by a large amount:\nTicket prices shot up last year.\n  shoot sth<->up\n1 to cause great damage to sth by shooting\n2 [no passive] (slang) to INJECT an illegal drug directly into your blood\n    noun\n  plant\n \n  1  the part that grows up from the ground when a plant starts to grow; a new part that grows on plants or trees:\nnew green shoots * bamboo shoots\n \n  film / photographs\n \n  2  an occasion when sb takes professional photographs for a particular purpose or makes a film/movie:\na fashion shoot\n \n  for sport\n \n  3  (especially BrE) an occasion when a group of people hunt and shoot animals or birds for sport; the land where this happens\n    exclamation (AmE) used to show that you are annoyed when you do sth stupid or when sth goes wrong (to avoid saying ’shit’):\nShoot! I’ve forgotten my book!


Words: shoot-’em-up
Meaning:
adjective\n(informal) a shoot-em-up computer game, etc. is one involving a lot of violence with guns


Words: shoot-out
Meaning:
noun\na fight that is fought with guns until one side is killed or defeated:\nHe was killed in a shoot-out in a Chicago hotel room. * The three-day siege began in a bloody shoot-out on Sunday morning.\nsee also PENALTY SHOOT-OUT


Words: shooter
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (especially in compounds) a person or weapon that shoots\nsee also PEASHOOTER, SHARPSHOOTER, SIX-SHOOTER, TROUBLESHOOTER\n  2  (informal) a gun:\n’You got a shooter?’ he asked.


Words: shooting
Meaning:
noun\n  1  [C] a situation in which a person is shot with a gun:\nTerrorist groups claimed responsibility for the shootings and bomb attacks. * Police rushed to the scene of the shooting and found one person dead and three wounded.\n  2  [U] the sport of shooting animals and birds with guns:\ngrouse shooting * the shooting season\n  3  [U] the process of filming a film/movie:\nShooting began early this year. * She was exhausted after a day’s shooting.


Words: shooting match
Meaning:
noun\nan occasion when people or groups fight or attack each other\n IDIOMS \n  the whole shooting match (BrE, informal) everything, or a situation which includes everything


Words: shooting star
Meaning:
(also falling star) noun\na small METEOR (= a piece of rock in outer space) that travels very fast and burns with a bright light as it enters the earth’s atmosphere


Words: shop
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  where you buy sth\n \n  1  [C] (especially BrE) a building or part of a building where you can buy goods or services:\na pet / shoe shop * There’s a little gift shop around the corner. * (BrE) a butcher’s shop * (AmE) a butcher shop * (BrE) I’m just going down to the shops. Can I get you anything?\nsee also BUCKET SHOP, COFFEE SHOP, CORNER SHOP\n \n  for making / repairing things\n \n  2  (also workshop) [C] (especially in compounds) a place where things are made or repaired, especially part of a factory where a particular type of work is done:\na repair shop * a paint shop (= where cars are painted)\nsee also BODY SHOP\n  shopping\n  3  [sing.] (BrE, informal) an act of going shopping, especially for food and other items needed in the house:\nI do my weekly shop at the supermarket.\n  school subject\n  4  (also shop class) [U] (both AmE) = INDUSTRIAL ARTS\n  room for tools\n  5  (also workshop) [C] (AmE) a room in a house where tools are kept for making repairs to the house, building things out of wood, etc.\n IDIOMS \n  all over the shop (BrE, informal) = all over the place at PLACE n.\n  set up shop to start a business:\nAmerican Technologies set up shop in Warsaw in 1990.\nmore at BULL, HIT v., MIND v., SHUT v., TALK v.\n    verb (-pp-)\n  buy\n  1  [V] ~ (for sth) to buy things in shops/stores:\nto shop for food / clothes / presents * He likes to shop at the local market. * She was determined to go out and shop till she dropped.\n  2  (go shopping) [V] to spend time going to shops/stores and looking for things to buy:\nThere should be plenty of time to go shopping before we leave New York. * ’Where’s Mum?’ ’She went shopping.’\n  tell police about sb\n  3  [VN] ~ sb (to sb) (BrE, informal) to give information to sb, especially to the police, about sb who has committed a crime:\nHe didn’t expect his own mother to shop him to the police.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shop around (for sth) to compare the quality or prices of goods or services that are offered by different shops/stores, companies, etc. so that you can choose the best:\nShop around for the best deal.


Words: shop assistant
Meaning:
(also assistant) (both BrE) (AmE sales clerk, clerk) noun\na person whose job is to serve customers in a shop/store


Words: shop floor
Meaning:
noun [sing.] (BrE)\n  1  the area in a factory where the goods are made by the workers:\nto work on the shop floor * In the industrial sector, there are still relatively few women on the shop floor.\n  2  the workers in a factory, not the managers:\nMost decisions about how work should be done are taken in the office rather than on the shop floor (= by the workers).


Words: shop steward
Meaning:
noun\n(especially BrE) a person who is elected by members of a trade union in a factory or company to represent them in meetings with managers


Words: shop-bought
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE store-bought) adjective\n[only before noun] bought from a shop/store and not made at home:\nshop-bought cakes


Words: shop-soiled
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE shopworn) adjective\n(of goods) dirty or not in perfect condition because they have been in a shop/store for a long time:\na sale of shop-soiled goods at half price * (figurative) a shopworn argument (= no longer new or useful)


Words: shopfront
Meaning:
(BrE) (AmE storefront) noun\nthe outside of a shop/store that faces the street:\nThe old pharmacy still has its original shopfront.


Words: shopkeeper
Meaning:
(also storekeeper especially in AmE) noun\na person who owns or manages a shop/store, usually a small one


Words: shoplifting
Meaning:
noun\n[U] the crime of stealing goods from a shop/store by deliberately leaving without paying for them\n    shoplift verb [V]\n    shoplifter noun:\nShoplifters will be prosecuted.


Words: shopper
Meaning:
noun\na person who buys goods from shops/stores:\nThe streets were full of Christmas shoppers. * Competition between stores can result in big savings for the shopper.


Words: shopping
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  the activity of going to shops/stores and buying things: (BrE) When shall I do the shopping? * (BrE) We do our shopping on Saturdays. * a shopping bag / basket * a shopping trolley * (AmE) a shopping cart\nsee also WINDOW-SHOPPING\n  2  (especially BrE) the things that you have bought from shops/stores:\nto put the shopping in the car


Words: shopping list
Meaning:
noun\na list that you make of all the things that you need to buy when you go shopping: (figurative) The union presented a shopping list of demands to the management.


Words: shopping mall
Meaning:
(also mall) (both especially AmE) (BrE also arcade, shopping arcade) noun\na large group of shops/stores built together under one roof and closed to traffic


Words: shopworn
Meaning:
adjective\n(AmE) = SHOP-SOILED: (figurative) a shopworn argument (= that is no longer new or useful)


Words: shore
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n\n \n  1  [C, U] the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, a lake or another large area of water:\na rocky / sandy shore * to swim from the boat to the shore * a house on the shores of the lake * The ship was anchored off shore. * Rubbish of all sorts is washed up on the shore. -> COAST\n \n  2  (shores) [pl.] (especially literary) a country, especially one with a coast:\nforeign / distant shores * What brings you to these shores?\n    verb\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shore sth<->up\n1 to support part of a building or other large structure by placing large pieces of wood or metal against or under it so that it does not fall down:\nTimbers were used to shore up the tunnel.\n2 to help to support sth that is weak or going to fail:\nThe measures were aimed at shoring up the economy.


Words: shoreline
Meaning:
noun\n[usually sing.] the edge of the sea, the ocean or a lake:\na rocky shoreline * The road follows the shoreline for a few miles.


Words: short
Meaning:
adjective, adverb, noun, verb \n    adjective (shorter, shortest)\n  length / distance\n  1  measuring or covering a small length or distance, or a smaller length or distance than usual:\nHe had short curly hair. * a short walk / drive / flight * a short skirt\nOPP LONG\n  height\n  2  (of a person) small in height:\nShe was short and dumpy.\nOPP TALL\n  time\n  3  lasting or taking a small amount of time or less time than usual:\nI’m going to France for a short break. * Which is the shortest day of the year? * a short book / list (= taking a short time to read / deal with) * She has a very short memory (= remembers only things that have happened recently) * (spoken) Life’s too short to sit around moping. * It was all over in a relatively short space of time.\nOPP LONG\n  4  [only before noun] (of a period of time) seeming to have passed very quickly:\nJust two short years ago he was the best player in the country.\nOPP LONG\n  not enough\n  5  [not before noun] ~ (of sth) not having enough of sth; lacking sth:\nI’m afraid I’m a little short (= of money) this month. * She is not short of excuses when things go wrong.\n  6  ~ on sth (informal) lacking or not having enough of a particular quality:\nHe was a big strapping guy but short on brains.\n  7  [not before noun] not easily available; not supplying as much as you need:\nMoney was short at that time.\n  8  [not before noun] ~ (of sth) less than the number, amount or distance mentioned or needed:\nHer last throw was only three centimetres short of the world record. * The team was five players short. * She was just short of her 90th birthday when she died.\n  of breath\n  9  ~ of breath having difficulty breathing, for example because of illness:\na fat man, always short of breath\n  name / word\n  10  ~ for sth being a shorter form of a name or word:\nCall me Jo-it’s short for Joanna. * file transfer protocol or FTP for short\n  rude\n  11  [not before noun] ~ (with sb) (of a person) speaking to sb using few words in a way that seems rude:\nI’m sorry I was short with you earlier-I had other things on my mind.\n  vowel\n  12  (phonetics) a short vowel is pronounced for a shorter time than other vowels:\nCompare the short vowel in ’full’ and the long vowel in ’fool’.\nOPP LONG\nsee also SHORTLY\n    shortness noun [U]:\nShe suffered from shortness of breath.\n IDIOMS \n  a brick short of a load, two sandwiches short of a picnic, etc. (informal) (of a person) stupid; not very intelligent\n  get the short end of the stick (AmE) = draw the short straw at DRAW v.\n  give sb/sth / get short shrift to give sb/get little attention or sympathy\n  have / be on a short fuse to have a tendency to get angry quickly and easily:\nYou may find your temper on a short fuse when confronting your teenager.\n  in short order quickly and without trouble\n  in the short run concerning the immediate future:\nIn the short run, unemployment may fall.\n  in short supply not existing in large enough quantities to satisfy demand:\nBasic foodstuffs were in short supply. * Sunshine will be in short supply for the west coast.\n  little / nothing short of sth used when you are saying that sth is almost true, or is equal to sth:\nLast year’s figures were little short of disastrous. * The transformation has been nothing short of a miracle.\n  make short work of sth/sb to defeat, deal with sth/sb quickly:\nLiverpool made short work of the opposition (= in a football game). * He made short work of his lunch (= ate it quickly).\n  short and sweet (informal) pleasant but not lasting a long time:\nWe haven’t much time so I’ll keep it short and sweet.\nmore at DRAW v., LONG adj., MEASURE n., NOTICE n., TERM n., THICK adj.\n    adverb (shorter, shortest)\n  1  if you go short of or run short of sth, you do not have enough of it:\nI’d never let you go short of anything. * Mothers regularly go short of food to ensure their children have enough. * They had run short of (= used most of their supply of) fuel.\n  2  not as far as you need or expect:\nAll too often you pitch the ball short.\n  3  before the time expected or arranged; before the natural time:\na career tragically cut short by illness * I’m afraid I’m going to have to stop you short there, as time is running out.\n IDIOMS \n  be caught short (BrE also be taken short)\n1 (BrE, informal) to suddenly feel an urgent need to go to the toilet\n2 to be put at a disadvantage\n  fall short of sth to fail to reach the standard that you expected or need:\nThe hotel fell far short of their expectations.\n  short of (doing) sth without sth; without doing sth; unless sth happens:\nShort of a miracle, we’re certain to lose. * Short of asking her to leave (= and we don’t want to do that) there’s not a lot we can do about the situation.\n  pull, bring, etc. sb up short to make sb suddenly stop what they are doing:\nI was brought up short by a terrible thought.\nmore at SELL v., STOP v.\n    noun (informal)-see also SHORTS\n  1  (BrE) a small strong alcoholic drink, for example of whisky\n  2  a short film/movie, especially one that is shown before the main film\n  3  = SHORT CIRCUIT\n IDIOMS \n  in short in a few words:\nHis novels belong to a great but vanished age. They are, in short, old-fashioned.\nmore at LONG adj.\n    verb ~ (sth) (out) (informal) = SHORT-CIRCUIT [V] Lightning crackled overhead as cables shorted out. [also VN]


Words: short back and sides
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] (old-fashioned) a way of cutting a man’s hair so that the hair is very short at the sides and the back of the head


Words: short circuit
Meaning:
(also informal short) noun\na failure in an electrical CIRCUIT, when electricity travels along the wrong route because of damaged wires or a fault in the connections between the wires:\nThe fire was caused by a short circuit.


Words: short cut
Meaning:
(also short cut) noun\n  1  a quicker or shorter way of getting to a place:\nYou can take a short cut across the field.\n  2  a way of doing sth that is quicker than the usual way:\nThere are no short cuts to economic recovery.


Words: short story
Meaning:
noun\na story, usually about imaginary characters and events, that is short enough to be read from beginning to end without stopping


Words: short temper
Meaning:
noun\n[sing.] a tendency to become angry very quickly and easily\n    short-tempered adjective:\nBeing tired makes me very short-tempered.


Words: short time
Meaning:
noun\n[U] (BrE) if workers are put on short time, they work for fewer hours than usual, because there is not enough work to do or not enough money to pay them


Words: short wave
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] (abbreviation SW) a radio wave that has a FREQUENCY greater than 3 MEGAHERTZ:\na short-wave radio / broadcast\ncompare LONG WAVE, MEDIUM WAVE


Words: short-change
Meaning:
verb [VN] [often passive]\n  1  to give back less than the correct amount of money to sb who has paid for sth with more than the exact price:\nI think I’ve been short-changed at the bar.\n  2  to treat sb unfairly by not giving them what they have earned or deserve:\nAmerica is short-changing half its young adults by treating those who don’t attend college as failures.


Words: short-circuit
Meaning:
(also informal short) verb\n  1  to have a short circuit; to make sth have a short circuit:\n[V] The wires had short-circuited and burnt out. [also VN]\n  2  [VN] to succeed in doing sth more quickly than usual, without going through all the normal processes, which would take longer:\nThe process of becoming a politician can be short-circuited if you are already a well-known public figure.


Words: short-handed
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] not having as many workers or people who can help as you need\nSYN SHORT-STAFFED:\nI’m sorry about the delay-we’re rather short-handed today.


Words: short-haul
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] that involves transporting people or goods over short distances, especially by plane:\na short-haul airliner * short-haul routes / flights\nOPP LONG-HAUL


Words: short-lived
Meaning:
adjective\nlasting only for a short time:\na short-lived government / marriage * Her success was great, but short-lived.


Words: short-range
Meaning:
adjective [usually before noun]\n  1  (of weapons) designed to travel only over short distances:\nshort-range missiles\n  2  (of plans, etc.) connected with a short period of time in the future:\na short-range weather forecast\ncompare LONG-RANGE


Words: short-sighted
Meaning:
adjective\n  1  (especially BrE) (AmE usually near-sighted) able to see things clearly only if they are very close to you:\nShe wears glasses because she’s very short-sighted.\nOPP LONG-SIGHTED\n  2  not thinking carefully about the possible effects of sth or what might happen in the future:\na short-sighted policy\n    short sight noun [U]:\nShe suffered from short sight.\n    short-sightedly adverb\n    short-sightedness noun [U]:\nan eye test to detect short-sightedness * Many people accused the government of short-sightedness.


Words: short-staffed
Meaning:
adjective\n[not usually before noun] having fewer members of staff than you need or usually have\nSYN SHORT-HANDED:\nWe’re short-staffed at the moment because a lot of people are off sick.\nsee also UNDERSTAFFED


Words: short-stay
Meaning:
adjective\n[only before noun] (BrE) (of a place) where you only stay for a short time:\na short-stay car park * short-stay patients (= who only stay in a hospital for a short time)


Words: short-term
Meaning:
adjective\n[usually before noun] lasting a short time; designed only for a short period of time in the future:\na short-term loan * to find work on a short-term contract * short-term aims / plans / forecasts * a short-term solution to the problem * His short-term memory is failing (= the ability to remember things that happened a short time ago).\ncompare LONG-TERM


Words: short-termism
Meaning:
noun\n[U] a way of thinking or planning that is concerned with the advantages or profits you could have now, rather than the effects in the future


Words: shortage
Meaning:
noun\n[C, U] a situation when there is not enough of the people or things that are needed:\nfood / housing / water shortages * a shortage of funds / space * There is no shortage of (= there are plenty of) things to do in the town.


Words: shortbread
Meaning:
(BrE also shortcake) noun\n[U] a rich crisp biscuit/cookie made with flour, sugar and a lot of butter


Words: shortcake
Meaning:
noun [U]\n  1  (BrE) = SHORTBREAD\n  2  a cake with a pastry base and cream and fruit on top:\nstrawberry shortcake


Words: shortcoming
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a fault in sb’s character, a plan, a system, etc.\nSYN DEFECT:\nShe made me aware of my own shortcomings. * Despite a number of shortcomings, the project will still go ahead.


Words: shorten
Meaning:
verb\n~ (sth to sth) to make sth shorter; to become shorter:\n[VN] Injury problems could shorten his career. * a shortened version of the game * Her name’s Katherine, generally shortened to Kay. * [V] In November the temperatures drop and the days shorten.\nOPP LENGTHEN


Words: shortfall
Meaning:
noun\n~ (in sth) if there is a shortfall in sth, there is less of it than you need or expect:\na shortfall of over 500 000 tonnes in the grain supply * Several staff were made redundant to meet a shortfall of funds.


Words: shorthand
Meaning:
noun\n  1  (AmE also stenography) [U] a quick way of writing using special signs or abbreviations, used especially to record what sb is saying:\ntyping and shorthand * to take sth down in shorthand * a shorthand typist * shorthand notes * to do / learn shorthand\n  2  [U, C] ~ (for sth) a shorter way of saying or referring to sth, which may not be as accurate as the more complicated way of saying it


Words: shortlist
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun [usually sing.] a small number of candidates for a job, etc., who have been chosen from all the people who applied:\nto draw up a shortlist * a shortlist for a literary prize * She is one of the four people on my shortlist of great singers.\n    verb [VN] [usually passive] ~ sb/sth (for sth) (BrE) to put sb/sth on a shortlist for a job, prize, etc:\nCandidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by the end of the week. * Her novel was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.


Words: shortly
Meaning:
adverb\n  1  a short time; not long:\nShe arrived shortly after us. * I saw him shortly before he died. * I bought a new umbrella but lost it shortly afterwards.\n  2  soon:\nI’ll be ready shortly.\n  3  in an angry and impatient way\nSYN SHARPLY:\n’Just wait a minute,’ he said, shortly.


Words: shorts
Meaning:
noun [pl.]\n \n  1  short trousers/pants that end above or at the knee, worn when playing sports, in hot weather or by children:\na pair of tennis shorts * He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts.\n \n  2  (AmE) = BOXER SHORTS


Words: shot
Meaning:
noun, adjective-see also SHOOT, SHOT, SHOT v.\n    noun\n  with gun\n  1  [C] ~ (at sb/sth) the act of firing a gun; the sound this makes:\nThe man fired several shots from his pistol. * Someone took a shot at the car. * We heard some shots in the distance.\nsee also GUNSHOT, POTSHOT\n  2  [C] a good, bad, etc. ~ a person who shoots a gun in a particular way (well, badly, etc.)\n  bullets\n  3  (also lead shot) [U] a large number of small metal balls that you fire together from a SHOTGUN\nsee also BUCKSHOT, GRAPESHOT\n  4  [C] (plural shot) a large stone or metal ball that was shot from a CANNON or large gun in the past\n  remark / action\n  5  [C] a remark or an action that is usually one of a series, and is aimed against sb/sth that you are arguing or competing with:\nThis statement was the opening shot in the argument. * The supermarket fired the first shot in a price war today.\n  attempt\n  6  [C, usually sing.] ~ (at sth / at doing sth) (informal) the act of trying to do or achieve sth:\nThe team are looking good for a shot at the title. * I’ve never produced a play before but I’ll have a shot at it. * I’m willing to give it a shot. * Just give it your best shot (= try as hard as you can) and you’ll be fine.\n  in sport\n  7  [C] the action of hitting, kicking or throwing the ball in order to score a point or goal in a game:\nTaylor scored with a low shot into the corner of the net. * Good shot!\n  8  (often the shot) [sing.] the heavy ball that is used in the sports competition called THE SHOT-PUT\n  photograph\n  9  [C] a photograph:\nI got some good shots of people at the party.\nsee also MUG SHOT, SNAPSHOT\n  scene in film / movie\n  10  [C] a scene in a film/movie that is filmed continuously by one camera:\nthe opening shot of a character walking across a desert\n  drug\n  11  [C] (informal, especially AmE) a small amount of a drug that is put into your body using a SYRINGE\nSYN INJECTION:\na flu shot (= to protect you against flu) * a shot of morphine\n  drink\n  12  [C] (informal) a small amount of a drink, especially a strong alcoholic one:\na shot of whisky\n  of spacecraft\n  13  [C] an occasion when a spacecraft is sent into space:\nThe space shot was shown live on television.\n  horse / dog in race\n  14  [sing.] (used with numbers) a horse, dog, etc. that has the particular chance of winning a race that is mentioned:\nThe horse is a 101 shot.\n HELP NOTE  You will find other compounds ending in shot at their place in the alphabet.\n IDIOMS \n  like a shot (informal) very quickly and without hesitating:\nIf I had the chance to go there, I’d go like a shot.\n  a shot across the / sb’s bows something that you say or do as a warning to sb about what might happen if they do not change, etc.\n  a shot in the arm something that gives sb/sth the help or encouragement they need\nmore at BIG adj., CALL v., DARK n., LONG adj., PARTING adj.\n    adjective\n  1  ~ (with sth) (of fabric, hair, etc.) having another colour showing through or mixed with the main colour:\nshot silk * black hair shot with grey * a cloudy sky shot with streaks of sunlight\n  2  [not before noun] (informal) in a very bad condition; destroyed:\nThe brakes on this car are shot. * I’m shot-I’m too old for this job. * After the accident his nerves were shot to pieces.\n IDIOMS \n  be / get shot of sb/sth (BrE, informal) to get rid of sb/sth so you no longer have the problems they cause:\nBy the end of the week I just couldn’t wait to get shot of them.\n  shot through with sth containing a lot of a particular colour, quality or feature:\na voice shot through with emotion


Words: shotgun
Meaning:
noun\na long gun that fires a lot of small metal bullets, (called SHOT), and is used especially for shooting birds or animals: (BrE) The raiders were armed with sawn-off shotguns. * (AmE) sawed-off shotguns\n \n IDIOMS  see RIDE v.


Words: shotgun wedding
Meaning:
(also shotgun marriage) noun\n(old-fashioned, informal) a wedding that has to take place quickly, for example because the woman is pregnant


Words: should
Meaning:
1  used to show what is right, appropriate, etc., especially when criticizing sb’s actions:\nYou shouldn’t drink and drive. * He should have been more careful.\n  2  used for giving or asking for advice:\nYou should stop worrying about it * Should I call him and apologize? * I should wait a little longer, if I were you. * (ironic) ’She doesn’t think she’ll get a job.’ ’She should worry, with all her qualifications (= she does not need to worry).’\n  3  used to say that you expect sth is true or will happen:\nWe should arrive before dark. * I should have finished the book by Friday. * The roads should be less crowded today.\n  4  used to say that sth that was expected has not happened:\nIt should be snowing now, according to the weather forecast. * The bus should have arrived ten minutes ago.\n  5  (BrE, formal) used after I or we instead of would for describing what you would do if sth else happened first:\nIf I were asked to work on Sundays, I should resign.\n  6  (formal) used to refer to a possible event or situation:\nIf you should change your mind, do let me know. * In case you should need any help, here’s my number. * Should anyone call (= if anyone calls), please tell them I’m busy.\n  7  used as the past form of shall when reporting what sb has said:\nHe asked me what time he should come. (= His words were: ’What time shall I come?’) * (BrE, formal) I said (that) I should be glad to help.\n  8  (BrE) used after that when sth is suggested or arranged:\nShe recommended that I should take some time off. * In order that training should be effective it must be planned systematically.\n HELP NOTE  In both AmE and BrE this idea can be expressed without ’should’: She recommended that I take some time off. * In order that training be effective ...\n  9  used after that after many adjectives that describe feelings:\nI’m anxious that we should allow plenty of time. * I find it astonishing that he should be so rude to you.\n  10  (BrE, formal) used with I and we in polite requests:\nI should like to call my lawyer. * We should be grateful for your help.\n  11  used with I and we to give opinions that you are not certain about:\nI should imagine it will take about three hours. * ’Is this enough food for everyone?’ ’I should think so.’ * ’Will it matter?’ ’I shouldn’t think so.’\n  12  used for expressing strong agreement:\n’I know it’s expensive but it will last for years.’ ’I should hope so too!’ * ’Nobody will oppose it.’ ’I should think not!’\n  13  why, how, who, what ~ sb/sth do used to refuse sth or to show that you are annoyed at a request; used to express surprise about an event or a situation:\nWhy should I help him? He’s never done anything for me. * How should I know where you’ve left your bag? * I got on the bus and who should be sitting in front of me but Tony!\n  14  used to tell sb that sth would amuse or surprise them if they saw or experienced it:\nYou should have seen her face when she found out! -> MODAL\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \nshould / ought / had better\nShould and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to do, but should is much more common: You should take the baby to the doctor’s. * I ought to give up smoking. In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to: Should we call the doctor?\nHad better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening now: We’d better hurry or we’ll miss the train.\nYou form the past by using should have or ought to have: She should have asked for some help. * You ought to have been more careful.\nThe forms should not or shouldn’t (and ought not to or oughtn’t to, which are rare in AmE and formal in BrE) are used to say that something is a bad idea or the wrong thing to do: You shouldn’t drive so fast.\nThe forms should not have or shouldn’t have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or oughtn’t to have are used to talk about the past: I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.\n______________________________\n\n______________________________\n GRAMMAR POINT \nshould / would\nIn modern English, the traditional difference between should and would in reported sentences, conditions, requests, etc. has disappeared and should is not used very much at all. In spoken English the short form ’d is usually used: I said I’d (I would) be late. * He’d (he would) have liked to have been an actor. * I’d (I would) really prefer tea.\nThe main use of should now is to tell somebody what they ought to do, to give advice, or to add emphasis: We should really go and visit them soon. * You should have seen it!\n______________________________


Words: shoulder
Meaning:
noun, verb \n    noun\n  part of body\n \n  1  [C] either of the two parts of the body between the top of each arm and the neck:\nHe slung the bag over his shoulder. * She tapped him on the shoulder. * He looked back over his shoulder. * She shrugged her shoulders (= showing that she didn’t know or care). * an off-the-shoulder dress * He carried the child on his shoulders.\n \n  -shouldered\n \n  2  (in adjectives) having the type of shoulders mentioned:\nbroad-shouldered\nsee also ROUND-SHOULDERED\n \n  clothing\n  3  [C] the part of a piece of clothing that covers the shoulder:\na jacket with padded shoulders\n  meat\n  4  [U, C] ~ (of sth) meat from the top part of one of the front legs of an animal that has four legs\n  of mountain / bottle, etc.\n  5  [C] ~ (of sth) a part of sth, such as a bottle or mountain, that is shaped like a shoulder:\nThe village lay just around the shoulder of the hill.\n  side of road\n  6  [C] (AmE) an area of ground at the side of a road where vehicles can stop in an emergency:\nNo shoulder for next 5 miles.\nsee also HARD SHOULDER, SOFT SHOULDER\n IDIOMS \n  be looking over your shoulder to be anxious and have the feeling that sb is going to do sth unpleasant or harmful to you:\nIf you give the police his name, you’ll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, wondering when he’ll find you.\n  on sb’s shoulders if blame, guilt, etc. is on sb’s shoulders, they must take responsibility for it:\nStop trying to put the blame on somebody else’s shoulders.\n  put your shoulder to the wheel to start working very hard at a particular task:\nEveryone is going to have to put their shoulder to the wheel.\n  a shoulder to cry on (used to describe a person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy) \n  shoulder to shoulder (with sb)\n1 physically close to sb:\nThe large crowd stood shoulder to shoulder in the stands.\n2 as one group that has the same aims, opinions, etc.\nmore at CHIP n., COLD adj., HEAD n., OLD, RUB v., STRAIGHT adv.\n    verb\n  accept responsibility\n  1  [VN] to accept the responsibility for sth:\nto shoulder the responsibility / blame for sth * women who shoulder the double burden of childcare and full-time work\n  push with shoulder\n  2  [+adv./prep.] to push forward with your shoulder in order to get somewhere:\n[VN] He shouldered his way through the crowd and went after her. * [V] She shouldered past a woman with a screaming baby.\n  3  [VN +adv./prep.] to push sb/sth out of your way with your shoulder:\nHe shouldered the man aside.\n  carry on shoulder\n  4  [VN] to carry sth on your shoulder:\nShe shouldered her bag and set off home. * to shoulder arms (= to hold a weapon, rifle, etc. against your shoulder while you are not using it)


Words: shoulder pad
Meaning:
noun\n[usually pl.] a small piece of thick fabric that is sewn into the shoulders of a dress, jacket, etc. to make a person’s shoulders look bigger


Words: shoulder strap
Meaning:
noun\n  1  a strip of fabric on a dress or other piece of clothing that goes over your shoulder from the front to the back\n  2  a long strip of fabric, leather, etc. that is attached to a bag so that you can carry it over your shoulder


Words: shoulder-high
Meaning:
adjective\nas high as a person’s shoulders:\na shoulder-high wall\n    shoulder-high adverb:\nThey carried him shoulder-high through the crowd.


Words: shout
Meaning:
verb, noun \n    verb\n  1  ~ (sth) (at / to sb) | ~ (at sb to do sth) to say sth in a loud voice; to speak loudly/angrily to sb:\n[V] Stop shouting and listen! * I shouted for help but nobody came. * She shouted at him to shut the gate. * Then he started shouting and swearing at her. * [VN] to shout abuse / encouragement / orders * [V that] He shouted that he couldn’t swim. * [VN-ADJ] She shouted herself hoarse, cheering on the team. * [V speech] ’Run!’ he shouted.\n  2  [V] ~ (out) to make a loud noise:\nShe shouted out in pain when she tried to move her leg.\n PHRASAL VERBS \n  shout sb<->down to shout so that sb who is speaking cannot be heard:\nThe speaker was shouted down by a group of protesters.\n  shout sth<->out to say sth in a loud voice so that it can be clearly heard:\nDon’t shout out all the answers. * [+ speech] ’I’m over here!’ I shouted out.\n    noun\n  1  a loud cry of anger, fear, excitement, etc:\nloud / angry / distant shouts * a shout of anger / pain / joy * I heard her warning shout too late.\n  2  (AustralE, BrE, informal) a person’s turn to buy drinks:\nWhat are you drinking? It’s my shout.\n IDIOMS \n  be in with a shout (of sth / of doing sth) (informal) to have a good chance of winning sth or of achieving sth\n  give sb a shout (spoken) to tell sb sth:\nGive me a shout when you’re ready.\n______________________________\n WHICH WORD? \nshout / cry / scream\nThese verbs describe the different kinds of loud noise people make when they are angry, frightened or upset. People shout when they are angry or want to get somebody’s attention: He always seems to be shouting at the kids these days. * I can hear you - there’s no need to shout. Yell can also be used, especially in spoken English. Cry with this meaning now sounds old-fashioned. When people scream they make a very loud, high noise because they are in great pain or are very frightened or excited: There was broken glass everywhere and people were screaming. You can also use these words with ’out’: She shouted out in pain as they tried to move her.\n______________________________


