Macmillan English Dictionary For Advanced Learners [PDF]

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MACMILLAN DICTIONARY FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH

LITERACY DICTIONARIES

CHECK BOOK FOR CD-ROM

Boaton Public Library S No1P«8H. MA 02116

•

• [C] countable nouns that are used with a or an or a number and have a plural: car, soldier

nouns that cannot be used with a or an or a number and have no plural: happiness, pasta

• [U] uncountable

• [singular] nouns that are used with a, an, or the but are never used in the plural: babble, halt

• [plural] nouns that are used only in the plural and always take a plural verb: cattle, • [often plural] [usually plural] nouns that can be used in the singular but are often or usually plural: boundary, fee

Verbs [I]

intransitive verbs that

have no direct Could you

He paused for a moment. speak up please? object:

him

• [only before

• [linking verb] verbs that are followed by a noun or adjective complement describing the subject: They looked happy. I feel better

noun] adjectives

be used before a noun:

my

that can only

elder sister

noun] adjectives that can never be used before a noun: I felt afraid.

• [never before

Other Short Forms or Codes someone

• sth something • [+ that] followed by a clause beginning with

allowed that

"that": She serious.

the matter

was

• [+ (that)] followed by a clause beginning with "that" but you can miss out the "that": Are you certain that it's finished? or Are you certain it's finished? •

• [T] transitive verbs that have a direct object: / ate my lunch. She handed the note over to me.

to call you.

Adjectives

• sb

surroundings

•

[modal verb] verbs that are used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, permission, or intention: She might come. He can go now. / will ask

•

.to do sth followed by a verb in the infinitive: / love to go shopping. .

.

.

.

.doing sth followed by a verb + ing: I love

swimming. • [usually passive] usually used in the passive

• [usually progressive] usually used in the progressive • [in imperative] usually used in the

now. • [auxiliary verb] verbs "be," "have,"

imperative

and

"do" when they are used with other verbs to form questions, show their tense, etc.: When are you leaving? They didn't understand.

• [in infinitive] usually used in the infinitive • [in negatives or questions] usually used in negative sentences or questions

WORD CLASSES quantifier short form (for example can 't)

abbrev (=abbreviation) adj (=adjective) adv (= adverb)

suffix

trademark (trademarks are not given a word

conjunction determiner function word

class)

verb

interjection

SYMBOLS

noun number prefix

points to another entry or page that you should look at for more information or for pictures

preposition

comes between example

pronoun

sentences

-»

phrasal vb (^phrasal verb)

RED WORDS The words printed

in red form the core vocabulary of English. These are the words that as an advanced learner you need to know especially well. There are 7,500 red words, and they have been carefully chosen on the basis of their frequency and their importance. For these red words, the dictionary provides a lot of extra information (for example, about grammar and collocation) and a wide range of example sentences. This is designed to help you not only to understand

—

these words, but also to use

and

them confidently

correctly.

—

All red words have a "star rating": the 2,500 most common and basic English words, such as: easy, go, have, house

*** ** *

common words, such as: behave, frighten, intelligence, occasional fairly common words, such as: boil, cruelty, farming, metric very

tt,

*

*

•

MACMILLAN

English DICTIONARY

*

ri

Ide

gne*

MACMILLAN

English DICTIONARY FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS OF AMERICAN ENGLISH

Macmillan Education Between Towns Road, Oxford 0X4 3PP A division of Macmillan Publishers Limited Companies and representatives throughout the world

ISBN 333 96669 4 (American cased edition) 333 96671 6 (American cased edition +

CD-ROM)

333 96670 8 (American paperback edition) 333 96672 4 (American paperback edition + 333 96691

Text

CD-ROM)

(American CD-ROM)

© Bloomsbury Publishing Pic 2002 © Macmillan Publishers Limited 2002

Illustrations

First published 2002

no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. All rights reserved;

The Macmillan English Dictionary was conceived, compiled and edited by the Reference and Electronic Media Division of Bloomsbury Publishing Pic. This Dictionary includes words on the basis of their use in the English language today. Some words are identified as being trademarks or service marks. Neither the presence nor absence of such identification in this Dictionary is to be regarded as affecting in any way, or expressing a judgment on, the validity or legal status of any trademark, service mark, or other proprietary rights

anywhere in the world.

World English Corpus

The

definitions in the Macmillan English Dictionary have been based on information derived from the 200,000,000 words of English which make up the World English Corpus. This consists of the Bloomsbury Corpus of World English® with additional material exclusively developed for this Dictionary, including ELT materials and a corpus of common errors made by learners of

English.

Cover design by Conor Mangat of Boag Associates, London Typeset by Selwood Systems, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, United Kingdom Printed and bound in China 2006 2005 2004 2003 10 9 8 7 6 5

CONTENTS Grammar Codes

inside front cover

Foreword Introduction

Using the Dictionary Entries that are

Numbers

The Dictionary

1-1648

Color Illustrations House

between pages 562 and 563 C1

C2 C3 C4 C6 C7 C8

Kitchen Office

Clothes and Patterns

Highway and Types

of Vehicle

Transportation

Car

Language Awareness

between pages 924 and 925 LA2 Phrasal Verbs LA3 Academic English LA4 College Composition LA8 Metaphor LA10 Computer Words LA12 Pragmatics LA14 Spoken Discourse LA16 Sensitivity LA18 American and British English LA20 LA22 Business English LA24 Word Formation

Numbers

Color Illustrations

between pages

1

146 and

1

147

Fruit

C9 C10

Vegetables

C11

Animals

C12 C14 C15 C16

Trees, Plants, and Flowers

Sports: Soccer, Tennis, and Golf Sports: Football, Baseball, and Basketball

Gym

and

Games

Defining Vocabulary

1

649-1 656

Labels

1657

Pronunciation Guide

1658

EDITORIAL TEAM Managing Editor Michael Mayor

Deputy Editors Sue Engineer

Word

Editors

Orin Hargraves

Function

Ruth Hein

Stephen Handorf O'Shea

Lucy Hollingworth

Ted Jackson Stephen Handorf

Stella

Rebecca Adae Sandra Anderson Debra Bailey

Michael Janes

Gillian

Karen Stern

Kate Baldus

Imogen

John Williams

Jane Bradbury Pat Bulhosen John Bunting Rebecca Campbell Edwin Carpenter

Senior Editors

Francis

Kerr

Stan Kurzban Jill

Phoneticians Dinah Jackson

Leatherbarrow

Konopka

Sinda Lopez

Rafal S.

Esther Hurrell

Proofreaders Robin Batchelor-Smith

Rosalind

Carol-June Cassidy

Gloria

Combley George

Dan Malt Heloi'se McGuinness Clea McEnery

Margaret

Fiona Mcintosh

Susan

Jellis

Dewayne Crawford

Terry

Dana Darby Johnson Christopher Decker

Claire

Diane Nicholls

Susan

Elizabeth Potter

Sheila Dignen

Susan

Julia

Howard Sargeant Penny Stock Jenny Watson

Jennifer

Goss Duby Korey Egge

Glennis Pye

Ruth Hillmore

Scott Forbes

Jill

Donald Watt

Susan

Jane Rogoyska Valerie Smith Ian M. Spackman

Robert Allen Robert Clevenger

Sidney

I.

Landau

Julia B. Plier

Laura

Finlay

Tammy

Wedgeworth

Costa

Jull

Editors

McLean

Pat Bulhosen

Josephine M.

Needier R.

Norton

P.

Curtis

D. Dickson

Esplen

Irene Lakhani

Leatherbarrow

Adele Linderholm

Katalin Sule

Rosemary Morlin

Alice Grandison

Anthea

Tillyer

Clare

Isabel Griffiths

Rachel

Ware

David Hallworth

Pamela White Kallie Willboum

Susan Turner Rebecca Vickers Richard Whitecross

Gales

Penny Hands

Shaw

PROJECT TEAM Project Katy

Design Douglas Williamson Nigel Partridge

Manager

Database Manager

McAdam

Production Directors Penny Edwards Tim Wakeford

Nicky

Adams

Publishing Directors

Faye Carney

Kathy Rooney

Sue Bale

Peter Hosking

James

Melanie Hewitt

Susannah Jenkins

Thompson

Dictionaries' Publisher

Database Administrators

Project Coordinators Joel

Production Editor

Edmund Wright

Orpin

Corpus Development Gloria George Ian M. Spackman

Melanie Tate

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Editorial,

Keyboarding, and

Illustrations

and Associates

Administrative Assistance

Ian Foulis

Simon Arnold

Peter Harper

Daniel Cosserat

Stuart Lafford

Chris Glenny

Alan Male

Rebecca McKee

Peter Richardson

Lisa Milford

Martin Shovel

Janice Muckle

Illustrated Arts

Helen Szirtes

Oxford

Darren Treend

Illustrators

Editor-in-Chief

Michael Rundell Associate Editor

Gwyneth Fox

ADVISORY PANEL Chief Adviser Professor Michael

Hoey

Baines Professor of English Language and Director of the Applied English Dr.

Language Studies

Anthony Bruton

Senior Lecturer

in

ELT

Methodology, English Language

Unit, University of Liverpool, U.K.

Susan Maingay

Susan Stempleski

Amy Chi

Coordinator of Faculty

Man-lai

Language Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Instructor,

Department, Seville University, Spain

Chen

Professor

Institute, City University of

New

York, U.S.A.

Lin Dr.

Professor of English, Foreign

Languages

Development, Hunter College International English Language

Don

R.

McCreary

Associate Professor, Department of

University, Beijing, China

Professor Kevin Mark

English, University of Georgia,

Oriel E Villagarcia

Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.

Professor, School of Politics and

Dr. Hilary

Economics, Meiji University, Japan

Jane Magee Course Director, English Language Teaching, University St. Andrews, U.K.

Adrian Underhill ELT consultant, trainer, author

Freelance Teacher Trainer, Argentina

Nesi

Senior Lecturer, Centre for English

Sara Walker

Language Teacher Education, University of Warwick, U.K.

Coordinator of the English Program,

of

Brazilian Diplomatic

Prowse

Philip

ELT author and

Academy,

Ministry of Foreign Relations, Brasilia DF, Brazil

trainer

CONSULTANTS Dr.

Joanna Channell

Professor Malcolm Coulthard Professor of English Language and

Dr. Ingrid

International Christian University,

Associate Professor, School of

Tokyo, Japan

Translation and Interpretation,

Adam

University of Ottawa, Ontario, Kilgarriff

Linguistics,

Dr.

University of Birmingham, U.K.

Information Technology Research

Averil

Institute, University of Brighton, U.K.

Coxhead

Language

Tutor, Victoria University

of Wellington,

New

Zealand

Meyer

Christopher Gallagher

Dr.

Canada Dr.

Rosamund Moon

Lecturer

Anne McCabe

Saint Louis University,

in

English, University of

Birmingham, U.K.

Madrid

Campus, Spain

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Argentina

Germany

Mexico

Cristina Banfi

Claudia Finkbeiner

Carlos Oscar

Brazil

Hungary Ferenc Csendes

Misa Cankova Virginia

LoCastro

Peter Radai

Sweden Melendez

JoAnn Miller, Eric Pearse Carmen Santamarfa Poland

Marina Bovtenko

United Kingdom David Briggs, Jayne Hamilton Dave Harries, Vaughan Jones Sue Kay, Diana Mackintosh Howard Middle, John Sutherland

Natalina Emelianova

H. A.

Komarova Tamara Nazarova

United States

Maria Birkenmajer

Vera Muller Italy

Cristina Siqueira

Croatia Hrvoja Heffer

Lovorka Zergollem-Miletic

Egypt Yehya El-Azabi

Georgia Rusiko Tkemaladze

Piotr Steinbrich

Jan Borsbey

Ruth

Swan

Japan

Kawamura Komuro

Akihiko Yuri

Korea Kim Jeong Ryeol

Stieg Hargevik

Taiwan Jerome Su

Russia

Galia

Irina

Robert B. Costello

Seibel

Marilyn Rymniak

Singapore Vincent Ooi,

Swan

Anne

Pakir

FOREWORD Professor Michael Hoey Chief Adviser

WHEN myWAS ABOUT I

own

write

12,

1

dictionary.

decided to I

found a

and patiently wrote dictionary entries on obscure words, which I loose-leaf binder

My dictionary never

stored in the binder.

became very large and after a while I turned to making a football scrapbook like most other children of my age, but for a few months I put some effort in my attempt to outdo the Oxford English. You might imagine from this that I was showing a precocious interest in dictionarymaking and an early aptitude for lexicography. Perhaps it was indeed an early sign of my interest in language, but

any early

reveal

strategy

certainly did not

adopted for the creation of that

I

dictionary In the

it

aptitude. Indeed almost every

was the wrong one

first place, I

for the job.

started with the

obscure words; early entries

I

most

remember

I

was that it is often meaning of rare words context and that they have in any

did not realize

possible to guess the

from their case

little

what one

impact on the overall is

intelligibility of

reading (and they will almost

always occur in writing).

It is,

oddly,

example tells us that a is an oven that operates in the traditional way as opposed to a microwave oven, which does not use an external heat source. conventional oven

Notice that the information

is

actually

contained in the example, not in the definition.

Examples are drawn or adapted from

real usage

but they are carefully chosen to give extra

information about the way a word

way

is

used. That

more information about the commoner words. the dictionary can pack in

Sometimes a word combines with another word to make a phrase that has a distinct meaning of its own. So conventional, for example, combines with medicine and war to create new and quite specific meanings: conventional medicine is science-based Western medicine as opposed

writing were for widdershins, gyre, andperne.

What

look conventional up in this dictionary, you will find that the first

to

Chinese medicine or

so-

and conventional war makes no use of nuclear weapons or biological weapons (nor interestingly, I suspect, swords and bows and arrows). When a word called alternative medicines,

occurs in such phrases, they are either indicated in the dictionary entry or they have

more

likely

be the common words that cause the greater problems and over which a good dictionary has

entries to themselves.

to

to take special care.

The reason

is

that

common

words are often affected by the situation in which they are used, and they shift in meaning in subtle and unpredictable ways depending on the words they accompany. They are the words that you need to look up when they do not seem to have their normal meaning.

Take a word like conventional, for example. If you knew the word conventional in its social sense of "usual," "normal," or "customary," and you saw or heard the words conventional oven in connection with a recipe, you would have a rough idea of what is meant but you would be

Words

like conventional are a great deal

more

useful to the advanced learner of English than

words

like widdershins, not least

because

if

they are used they will be immediately understood. They are however a great deal more difficult to

learn (and they are a great deal

difficult to define).

of uses that

many

more

Because of the multiplicity common words have, the

Macmillan English Dictionary provides simple indexes, or "menus," to the longer entries, which will help you to get more quickly to the sense of the word you need; indexes like these are an innovation in dictionary making and we believe that they will

make using the

dictionary

a great deal easier.

likely to suspect that the writer or speaker

meant something more precise than "a usual oven." You might therefore want to look the word up in order to find out how it is being used in this context. The dictionary you are looking at (unlike

my childhood effort) has taken great

care over the definition (or definitions) of

words

more

accurately, the

like conventional. If

you

It

will be apparent

from everything that

I

have

said that the Macmillan English Dictionary

is

a

rich resource of information about words such It will help you find the right word for your purpose and should reduce the

as conventional.

number of occasions when you accidentally use wrong expression. But, just because it has a

the

Foreword lot to

say about the

mean

that

it

common

words, this does not

neglects the rarer words.

From time

time you are bound to encounter uncommon words that you need to look up; this dictionary will not normally let you down, although it does to

not provide definitions of words as rare (and as useless) as widdershins, gyre,

vocabulary

and perne. The

great prescience in the

way I decided which

my dictionary.

words went into

my dictionary was where

texts qualified.

yourself and that you are bound to encounter in

example, came from Yeats.

a range of rather different contexts, and rarer words that you are not likely to need to use yourself but that need a brief definition when they are met in books or talk.

child.)

Concentrating on the rare words was not

is

The words gyre and perne, for (I was a dreadful

Again, the Macmillan English Dictionary

very differently constituted. Insofar as

are used in journalism, popular fiction, letters,

to

business manuals, and of course, most

my own dictionary. A more serious one was that I arrived at my definitions by looking

like every other dictionary that

at the definitions of other dictionaries.

at the

create

age of

12, 1

was

of plagiarism collating the

I

—even at the tender

—but

I

until 20 years ago

my practice would not have

If

you use

the British

The

It

may seem

obvious that a conventional oven is one that is not a microwave oven, but only once If

was trying

I

to define

felt

that

it

me

were from

Indeed, apart from being

Isles.

was a matter

I

suspect

of no importance that

The Macmillan

More than any Advanced Learners' dictionary it

seeks to represent the English of the

world and treats American and British English as being of equal importance. Depending

gave above of the use of

has been pointed out.

you should end up speaking

the United States spoke English.

who worked on the Macmillan

conventional in the phrase conventional oven.

well,

English Dictionary makes no such mistake. of

examining hundreds and in some cases thousands of instances of a word in use. From these instances they could work out what a word really meant in contemporary English, rather than what it was supposed to mean. Take

it

a

grateful that westerns were in English,

English Dictionary had the opportunity of

I

is

another way. All the books that supplied

before,

recognition.

it

with the words

exploring those corpora, dictionary-making has

the example

had ever seen

My juvenile dictionary was limited in yet

I

remembered examples, supported by chance encounters with the word in print. With the advent of large corpora and the development powerful computer software capable of all

I

a dictionary of written English.

12,

like a native speaker, not a native writer!

previous practice, intuitions, and half-

changed beyond

My dictionary was

of previous

been out of place in many dictionary teams. Lexicographers would draw on a mixture of

lexicographers

speech.

dictionary of spoken as well as written English.

way there is new wisdom. Perhaps shockingly,

for little

age of

all,

This dictionary on the other hand

lexicographers. Of course that

room

importantly of

aware of the dangers saw my role as one of

intuitively

wisdom

it is

volume aims to reflect accurately the state of the contemporary language. That means that the words in it are described as they possible, this

my

when I attempted

reworded them of course

was

it

found. Only words that appeared in literary

—common words that you may need to use

only childhood mistake

Apart from

other factor that dictated whether a

rarity, the

word entered

therefore divided into two groups

is

12-year-old, I could not have known that computers would one day revolutionize the way dictionaries were made. Even so, I showed no

As a

where

you may be looking at an American edition where words used only in the you are reading

this,

U.K. are defined

more

briefly or, if they are

unlikely to be encountered outside the U.K., not

you may be looking at the where the same principle operates in reverse. Either way, you will find far more coverage of English words spoken in other

at all. Alternatively

British edition

countries than

is

usually the case, with

Australian English, for example, well

represented in the word

list.

the lexicographers

dictionary had relied on might easily have forgotten this use of the word, and of course if they had relied on previous dictionaries they could easily have

There can be no doubting the correctness of this decision. English is no longer any country's property but has become a true lingua franca, and it is appropriate that the first major English

it because many of those dictionaries were prepared before the microwave oven came

dictionary of the 21st century

into popular use.

it

who worked on this intuition, they

missed

world English. will help

If

is

a dictionary of

you work with

this dictionary,

you become a citizen of the world.

—

All the definitions are written using a carefully

.corporate raider noun

[c] business a person or organization that tries to take control of a company by buying

words so that it There is a list of

selected "defining vocabulary" of 2,500 is

easy to understand the definitions.

number

a large

of

its

shares

these words at the end of the dictionary.

Any word that

in a definition that is not

from

this

list,

-

and

not the entry immediately before or after the

is

one you are looking at, is shown in capital letters. You can find its meaning elsewhere in the dictionary.

Finding Out More About a Word The International Phonetic Alphabet shows you how a word is pronounced. A list of the symbols used

is

-

com-merce

/'ka,m3rs/ noun [u] •• the activity of buying and selling goods and services: trade: the needs of industry and commerce

given at the end of the dictionary.

When British and American pronunciations are very different, both are given. You can

find the pronunciations for

entries at the

main entry

in the

compound.

Stress

marks

to stress

tell

laboratory

**

compound

for each of the

and medical experiments or research: our new research laboratory a. [only before noun] working in, used in, or done in a laboratory: a laboratory assistant laboratory

words

you which part of a compound

when you

are saying

BrE b'bor3t(3)ri/ noun [c] room where people do scientific

/'laebra.tori;

a building or large

-*

do

Irregular inflections are shown.

crew

'cabin job

it.

1

is to

noun [c] the people on an airplane whose take care of the passengers

/du/

(3rd

person singular does

I

weak

daz; strong &\zl;

past tense did /did/; past participle done l&\nl) verb

Dots show where a word

is

divided into syllables.-

J

r*

convince

a word with one star

is fairly

blank

show which part the English-speaking world a word is used in, or

tell

(called "labels")

you whether

it is

envbarrass to

1

bus of

used in informal contexts,

specialized contexts, etc. Lists of these labels are

is

used only in British

English has an exact equivalent in American English. These equivalents are shown at the

end of a

is

true:

••

/im'berss/ verb [T] • feel nervous, ashamed, or stupid

make someone

•••

1

/das/ noun [C] a large road vehicle with a

lot of seats which you one that takes you fairly short distances and stops frequently: by bus The children go to school by bus. take /catch a bus We took a bus downtown. miss the bus (=not reach it before it leaves) If we don't leave soon, we'll miss the last bus. 1a. a large road vehi cle that you pay to travel in over long distanc es .~5^.E usually coach picture -» C7 2 computing a set of wires that send information from one part of a computer system to another

pay

to travel on, especially

—

given at the end of the dictionary.

Sometimes a word that

/blaenk/adj

*••

showing no emotion or no sign of understanding

1

1

words

1

[t]

believe that something

common and a

word with three stars is one of the most basic words in English. This helps you to identify the words that you are most likely to need.

Italic

/ksn'vms/ verb

make someone

to

1

Some words are printed in red with a star rating to show their frequency. For example,

***

Am

[c/u] E a vegetable with a smooth, dark purple skin. Br E aubergine —picture -»

egg-plant / 'eg ,plaent/ noun cu

f

definition.

ba-sis

Example sentences in italic show you how a word is used in context.

—

—

how words combine and which structures can be used with a word is shown in bold and is followed by an example sentence. Information about collocation

—

1

/'beisis/ (plural bas»es/'bei,siz/)

a particular

noun

method or system us^ d

[C]

***

for doing or

organizing something: on a., basis workers who are Tickets will employed on a seasonal or temporary basis be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. 1a. used for giving the reason why something is done: on the basis of sth Don't make your decision on the basis of cost alone. on e declined to say on what basis bail was refused. tfie basis that Most councillors supported the proposal on the basis that the city needed new jobs. 1 b. us ed for saying how often something happens: on a daily /monthly/ annual etc. basis Safety equipment was checked on a daily basis. It's a violent city, with murders occurring on a

H

regular basis. 2 the important ideas, facts, or actions from which something can develop: +of Bernard's work forms the +for The agreement basis of all modern physiology. between the parties will provide the basis for future negotiations.

When a word has many collocations, are

shown

in a

box

at the

these

end of the entry

with the sense number that they refer

Words verbs

frequently used with basis constitute, create, establish, form, lay,

to.

provide, serve as

2

Both above and over can be used to mean "at a higher level than something": the light above /over the door.

Use above when something is not directly over something else: on the hillside above the river.

Use over when something moves or stretches across the the space above something: flying over Miami bridge over the river.

Information is provided to help you to learn more about how a word is used.

Use over when something covers something put a scarf over her hair.

else:

She

If you take something that someone offers you or if you allow something to happen, you accept it: We accepted her offer of help. They accepted the court's

decision.

Hints are given to help you to avoid

If you say that you are willing to do something, you agree to do it: She agreed to work over the weekend.

common errors.

We agreed

to help.

You accept something, but you agree

to

do

something.

Cirvder»el*la

/.sinds'reb/ noun [C usually singular] 1 someone or something that has good qualities but is treated badly or ignored: Elementary education has long been the Cinderella of the educational system. 2 (only before noun] relating to someone who suddenly becomes rich, famous, or successful

There are notes that

tell

Cinderella is the main character in a famous children's story. She is a poor girl, badly treated by her stepsisters but, in the end, thanks to the power of magic, she is able to marry the rich attractive Prince

you about the

origin of a word.

Charming.

Expanding Your Vocabulary ad-dress /a'dres; 'aedres/ noun [c] ••• 1 the name of the place where you live or work, including the house or office number and the name of the 1

There are many ways that you can use dictionary to expand your vocabulary.

Some

definitions introduce

you

this

to related

—

words.

Sometimes the opposite of a word

is

shown.

street, area, and tow n. It may also include a set of num bers, called a zip code in American English and a postcode in British English: I'll need your name and

o-be-di-ent /oo'bidiant/ adj * doing what a person, law, or rule says you must do: The soldiery stood at opposite disobedient attention disciplined, and obedient.

—

booking Some

definitions give

you synonyms.

Sometimes you are told to look at another word in the dictionary to compare it with the entry.

/'bokin/ noun

[c]

*•

1 an arrangement to buy a tra vel ticket, stay in a hotel room, etc. at a later date: reservation: Increasingly, travelers are using the Internet for both information and make a booking You can make a booking on bookings. the phone with a credit card.

hard'back

/'hard,baek/ noun [c/u] a book that has a hard cover: a hardback copy of his book { Her first novel sold over 40,000 copies in hardback, —compare paperback, SOFTBACK

"

abandon abandon I

able-bodied

(all)

hope

to stop believing

or hoping that

something

will happen: The family had abandoned all hope offinding him alive. abandon ship 1 to leave a ship or boat because it is dangerous to stay 2 to leave an organization because you think it will fail abandon yourself to sth literary to feel an emotion so strongly that you do not think about anything else

— a-ban-dorvment noun [U] belief, claim,

commitment,

a-bet /o'bet/ verb [T] formal to help or encourage someone to do something immoral or illegal -» aid2 a-bey-ance /s'beians/ noun formal in abeyance not

ab*hor

5

a-barvdon 7

/s'baendan/ noun with abandon in an uncontrolled way, as if you do not care what the result The kids were splashing on paint with abandon. with reckless/gay abandon This year holiday shoppers are spending money with reckless abandon. will be:

empty or no longer used: an abandoned farm 2 left alone by someone who should stay with you and take care of adj

1

left

you: an abandoned child a-base /a'beis/ verb formal abase yourself to behave in a way that makes other people respect you less

— a-base«ment noun [U]

a*bashed

/a'baeft/ ad] embarrassed or ashamed about something you have done /a'beit/ verb [i] formal to gradually become less serious or extreme: The fighting shows no sign of abating. a»bate«ment /a'beitmsnt/ noun [u] formal a reduction in something harmful or unpleasant: noise I pollution

a-bate

to live

/'aebat/ noun [C] a man who is in charge of an abbey ab*bre*vi*at*ed /s'brivi.eitid/ adj shorter because some parts have been removed: an abbreviated version

ab*bot

— ab«bre*vi*ate verb

[T]

ab'bre-vi-a'tion/s.brivi'eijn/ noun [c] • a short form of a word or phrase: MIA is an abbreviation for "Missing in Action.

ABC

/ ei

bi

'si/ 1

American Broadcasting Corporation:

one of the major television broadcasting companies in the U.S. 2 Australian Broadcasting Corporation: one of the major television companies in Australia ABC's /,ei bi 'siz/ noun [plural] the letters of the English alphabet or basic reading skills, especially when learned by young children: She's learned to say her ABC's.

the ABC's of sth the basic or most important facts of a subject or activity: the ABC's of physics

abdicate

/'aebdi.keit/ verb 1 [i/T] if a king or queen abdicates, he or she formally gives up power 2 [T] formal to stop accepting a particular responsibility or

you have: abdicate

(your) responsibility The government cannot abdicate responsibility for nationab'di'ca«tion /.aebdl'keifn/ noun [C/U] al security.

obligation that

ab-do-men 1

2

[C] /'aebdamsn; aeb'douman/ noun formal the front part of your body below your waist technical the back part of the three parts into which

an

used at the present

/ab'hor/ verb

[T]

formal to hate something very it is immoral: She

violence.

ab-hor-rence /ab'rorsns/ noun [u] formal the feeling that you have when something offends you a lot or you think

it is

immoral

abhorrent

/ab'horant/ ad] formal if something is abhorrent to you, you dislike it very much, usually because you think it is immoral: +to Racism is abhorrent to the

majority of people.

a-bide /s'baid/ verb live somewhere"

[i]

an old word meaning "to stay or

can't abide sth to dislike something very much. It is more usual to say that you can't stand something: / can t abide their chatter. abide ,by phrasal vb [T] [abide by sth] to follow a rule, decision, or instruction: They promised to abide by the rules of the contest.

abiding /a'baidirj/ adj

[only before noun]/orma/ used for describing a feeling, interest, or belief that you have had for a long time and that is not likely to change

•••

abatement

ab-at'toir /'aeba.twar/ noun [c] BrE a slaughterhouse ab'bess /'abas/ noun [C] a woman who is in charge of a convent (=a religious community of women) abbey /'aebi/ noun [C] a large church with buildings attached where a group of monks or nuns live or used

of the text

later or not being

much, especially when you think abhors

/a'basndand/

something that

not normal or not what you would usually expect: a aberration a. a short time when someone behaves in a very strange or careless way: He dismissed the defeat as a temporary aberration. is

genetic

time

concept, idea, policy, principle

abandoned

/.aeba'reifn/ noun [c/u]

happening until

Words frequently used with abandon nouns

aberration

insect's

body

is

divided

abdomi-nal /aeb'damml/ adj abdomen: abdominal muscles

in, or happening abdominal pain

in,

the

ab-duct /aeb'dAkt/ verb [t] to take someone away from their home, family, etc. using force: kidnap: He was ab-duction /aeb'dAkJan/ noun abducted at gunpoint.

—

[C/U]

/aeb'dAktar/ noun [C] 1 someone who abducts someone: Her abductors are demanding a $1 million ransom. 2 technical a muscle that pulls a part of your body away from its normal position, for example one that raises your arm

ab-duc-tor

ab*er*rant /ae'bersnt/ adj formal not normal or not what you usually expect: abnormal

a*bil«i«ty/3'bil3ti/noun [c/u] 1 something you are capable of doing: ability to do sth Tiredness can seriously impair your ability to drive. 1a. skill you have at a particular type of work, educational subject, etc.: Managers have different talents and abilities. +in The tests were designed to assess the students' ability in oral comprehension. 2 the quality of being able to do a particular job or activity well: Abraham Lincoln was a politician of great Our courses cater for different levels of ability. ability. to the best of

your ability as well as you are

able: Just

do the job to the best of your ability. -ability /s'bibti/ suffix used with adjectives ending in "-able" to make nouns meaning a particular quality: try to

dependability

suitability

adj formal complete: used for emphasizing how bad, unpleasant, or severe a situation

ab-ject /'aeb,d3ekt/ or condition

is:

abject poverty

— ab*ject*ly adv

ab-jure /aeb'd3ur/ verb [T] very formal to make a public promise to give up something such as a belief or activity

— ab'ju-ra'tion /,aebd3o'reiJn/ noun [u]

a-blaze

/a'bleiz/ adj [never before noun] 1

burning with

a lot of flames: set sth ablaze (=start something burning) Within minutes, the whole building had been set ablaze. 2 literary bright and full of light or color 3 literary showing strong emotion, especially excitement or anger

a«ble / 'eibl/ thing: She child

adj

is

•** intelligent or good at doing some-

a very able driver.

an academically able

be able to do sth 1 used for saying that it is possible someone to do something. Forms such as have been able to and will be able to are sometimes considered as tenses of the verb can. 2 to have a particular physical or mental skill: I'd love to be able to sing like you. She's barely able to read or write. 3 to succeed in doing something on a particular occasion: As far as I have been able to find out, he has no criminal convictions. Barely able to stand, John staggered into the room. 4 to have enough money, time, or freedom to do something: / don't know if They're able to buy whatever they want. for

I'll

be able to come.

-able /abl/

suffix

1

used with

many

verbs to

make

adjectives describing something that can be done: enjoybreakable (=that is easy able (=that people can enjoy) to break) 2 used with some nouns to make adjectives describing a quality something or someone has: knowledgeable comfortable

able-bod- ied healthy

/,eibl

'badid/ adj physically strong and

ablutions

about

ab'lu-tions /a'blujnz/ noun

humorous washing

[plural]

your teeth, etc. /'eibli/ adv very well or very skillfully: He ably maneuvered around the obstacles. ab»ne«ga*tion /.aebni'geijn/ noun [u] very formal the yourself, cleaning

a«bly

up things that you want or that give

practice of giving

a-bound

/o'baond/ verb [i] 1 to be present in large numbers or amounts: Rumors abound about the breakup of her marriage. 2 [+with/in] to be filled with or contain a great deal of something: The markets abound with imported goods.

about

you pleasure

abnormal

*

/aeb'norml/ adj

way

not usual or typical,

as a preposition (followed by a noun): He told about your problem.

worrying or shows that there may be something wrong or harmful: abnormal beabnormal test results havior atvnoi-ma-li-ty /.aebnor'maebti/ noun [C/U]: The tests show no evidence of any abnormality. ab-noi-mal-ly adv: Both children that

is

have abnormally high levels of lead in their blood. A»bo /'aeboo/ noun [C] Australian offensive an insulting word for an Australian Aboriginal

aboard

/a'bord/ adv, preposition * 1 in or on a ship, train, or airplane: It's time to get aboard. He traveled aboard the space shuttle Discovery. 2 into an organization, group, company, etc.: I'd like to welcome three new employees aboard.

aboard used for telling passengers that they need to on a ship, train, or bus, because it will be leaving

soon

a-bode /a'bood/

noun

[c]

formal the place where you

me

as an adverb (without a following noun): Stop rushing about.

—

get

•••

can be used in the following ways:

especially in a

all

/a'baot/ function word

followed by an infinitive with "to": / was just about to explain. 1

concerning a particular subject 1a. used for stating or what you are discussing, considering, describThink about what I've told you. She

who

ing, forgetting, etc.:

kept saying horrible things about my mother. jokes about the president all about They'd forgotten all about poor Harry. 1b. used for stating who or what your feelings and attitudes are directed toward: I'm worried about There's nothing to get excited about. 1c. spoken Dad. used for introducing a subject that you want to discuss: About that money I owe you - I can pay you back next week. It's about Jack - he's been so depressed lately.

2 not exactly a particular amount or number

to officially get rid of a /a'baliJV verb [T] law, system, practice, etc.: Congress should abolish the

2a. used for showing that you are guessing at an amount or number: About 250 people were killed in the explosion. Ann must be about the same age as you. 2b. used for referring to a time that is not exact: / woke up at about 3 a.m.

estate tax.

3 almost or probably used when you

live: RESIDENCE

of no fixed abode Br E legal without a permanent

abolition

home

•

abolish

noun

/.aeba'lijn/

law, system, practice, penalty

etc.:

[u] the official

end

to a

the abolition of the death

ab*o*li-tion-ist /.aeba'lijnist/ noun [c] someone who supports the abolition of something a. someone who supported the abolition of slavery in the 19th century A-bomb noun [c] an atom bomb

a«bom*i'na«ble/a'bamin3bl/adj/orma/ extremely bad, offensive, or unpleasant

a-bonvi-na-bly adv

Abominable Snowman, the

a yeti

a*bom»i«nate

/s'bami.neit/ verb [t] formal to hate something because you think it is extremely offensive, unpleasant, or wrong: hate

a*bom*i*na*tion

/a.bami'neijri/ noun [c] formal some-

thing that you hate because you think offensive, unpleasant, or wrong

it is

extremely

ab*o*rig*i*nal /,aeb9'nd33nl/ adj formal relating to the people or animals that have lived in a place or country since the earliest times: the aboriginal inhabitants of the island

Ab'O-rig-i-nal /.aeba'r^snl/ noun

[c] an Australian belongs to the race of people who were living in Australia before Europeans arrived Ab«oTig«i«nal adj

who

—

Ab*o*rig*i>ne /.aebsrK^sni/ noun

[c]

an Australian

Aboriginal person

a*bort /s'bort/ verb 1 [i/t] to remove a developing baby from a woman's body, so that it is not born alive: The decision was taken to abort the fetus. Certain drugs may cause the fetus to abort. 2 [T] to stop something before it is finished, for example because it would be difficult or dangerous to continue: The mission had to be aborted because of a technical problem. 2a. [i/T] if you abort a computer program, or if doing something before

it it

aborts, the computer stops is finished: Press Enter to

abort the print job.

a-bor-tion /s'borjn/ noun ** [c] a medical operation in which a developing baby is removed from a woman's body so that it is not born alive: The number of abortions have an abortion She is dropping. 15 years old. a. [U] the practice of performing abortions, as a social or political issue: society's attitude to abortion

performed each year

had an abortion when she was

a-bor-tion-ist /s'borjnist/ noun [c] someone who performs abortions. This word suggests that the abortions are illegal, or that you do not approve of abortion. a-bor-tive /a'bortiv/ ad] not finished and therefore not successful: an abortive takeover bid by the larger company an abortive attempt to climb Mt. Everest

are making an extreme statement that you think is almost completely true or is probably true: Pam's about the only person that I can trust. On this continent, Redmond is about as far west as you can go. He's offended just about everybody. 4 in sb's/sth's character used when referring to qualities that someone or something has: One thing I like about Tony, he always says exactly what he thinks. There was something about her tone of voice that made him uneasy. 5 used for showing movement mainly Br E 5a. moving to many different parts or areas, or in different directions: The girls were dancing about the

room in high spirits. Abe was tired of wandering about on his own. 5b. literary moving so that you face in the opposite direction: Diana turned about and marched out of the room. 6 used for saying where sb/sth is mainly Br E 6a. used for saying that things are in many different parts or areas, especially because they have been left there carelessly Don 't leave important papers lying about on your desk. There were articles of clothing scattered about the room. 6b. in or close to an area: You shouldn 't have been spraying weedkiller while there were children about. 6c. literary surrounding or enclosing someone or something: Rhonda wore a garland of flowers about her neck. The prophet had gathered about him a band of :

faithful followers.

7 BrE how sb is spending their time 7a. spending time in a place and not leaving it or not doing much: Dad was puttering about in the garden. 7b. wasting time and behaving in a stupid way: Stop messing about. We've got a job to do. 8 existing or available now BrE mainly spoken used for saying that a particular type of person or thing exists or is available at this time: There's a lot of illness about.

9 searching, looking, or trying to find sb/sth 9a. Br E used for saying that someone looks in different places to find someone or something: George was groping about in the dark, trying to find the light switch. 9b. mainly literary used for saying that someone looks in all directions to see who or what is there: Looking about me, I could see no sign of the others. be about sth used for saying what the most basic or important aspect of a particular job, activity, or relationship is: Loving and sharing - that's what marall about Good management is all about riage is about. motivating your staff. be about to do sth to be going to happen or do something very soon: / was about to get undressed when there was a We arrived just as the ceremony was knock on the door about

to begin.

about-face

absence

be quick/slow about it to be quick/slow in the way you do something: Bring me a towel and be quick about

more important than you

really are: Ever since they made her assistant manager, she's been getting above herself.

Our lawyers are dealing with the matter, but they're being very slow about it. do something/nothing/anything about sth to do something/nothing/anything in order to deal with a problem: Can't you do something about the noise? It's driving me crazy. Government officials know the system isn't working, but they do nothing about it. -» HOW, WHAT it.

About or around? In meanings 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, around is often used instead of about. Where a meaning of about is labeled Br E or mainly Br E, around

is

the usual

American word.

Both above and over can be used to mean "at a higher above/ over the door.

level than something": the light

Use above when something is not directly over something else: on the hillside above the river.

Use over when something moves or stretches across the space above something: flying over Miami the bridge over the river.

Use over when something covers something put a scarf over her hair.

else:

She

above-board

/o'b.w.bord/ adj completely honest and The transaction was totally aboveboard, so there was no reason to question it. above-mentioned /a'bw menjand/ adj [only before noun] used in written language to mean that something has already been mentioned earlier in the same document: aforementioned: The above-mentioned article contains some inaccuracies. ab*ra*ca*dab*ra /.aebraks'daebra/ interjection a word that you use while performing a magic trick in order to make the trick work a'brade/a'breid/verb [T) technical to damage something by rubbing its surface too hard ab-ra-sion /a'bre^n/ noun 1 [c] medical an injured area of skin on your body, caused by your skin rubbing hard against something 2 [u] technical the action of rubbing a surface hard enough to damage it ab-ra-sive 1 /a'breisiv/ adj 1 behaving in way that seems rude to other people, because you say what you think even if it is not nice: an abrasive manner 2 having a rough surface that can be used to rub and clean other legal:

a bout- face noun [c] 1 a complete change in the way you behave or think about something: This admission of guilt is an amazing about-face from the senator, who last week denied any involvement in this matter. do an about-face He's done an about-face regarding our contract. 2 the action of turning your whole body quickly so that you are facing in the opposite direction. This is often an instruction given to soldiers. a bout- turn noun [c] Br E an about-face a-bove /s'dav/ function word ***

Above can

be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The birds were flying high above the trees. as an adverb (without a following noun): She stared up at the stars above.

as an adjective: Please reply to the above address.

used for saying where sb/sth is 1a. at a higher something or directly over it: We lived in the room above the store. Curran's leg was broken above the 1

level than

right knee. the snow-covered hills above the village 1b. in an earlier part of a piece of writing or higher up a page: Many of the documents mentioned above are now available on the Internet. David and Brenda Mitchell, pictured above, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last weekend. Interviews will be held at the above address on

December 2. 2 higher in amount or standard 2a. more than a particular number, amount, or level: The company's profits were 23% above the previous year's. Temperatures climbed to 98 degrees Fahrenheit - 10 degrees above normal. 2b. better than a particular standard: In most subjects the students scored well above average. 3 more than anything else 3a. used for saying that something is considered more valuable or more important than other things: In their society, honesty was prized above all other virtues. We value our independence above anything that you can offer us. 3b. above all used for referring to something that is more important than any of the other things you could mention: He will be remembered above all as a loving husband and family

above all else Above all else, the government must keep the promises it has made. 3c. love/hate/fear sth above anything to love/hate/fear something more than anything else: Don't let them take the children away - I fear that above anything. 4 with a higher rank used for saying that someone's rank is higher or their job is more important than someone else's: As a major, Stuart was a rank above me, but we remained good friends.

man.

5 louder or higher than another sound if you can hear one sound above other sounds, it is louder or higher than the other sounds: Bret shouted, but it was impossible to make himself heard above all the noise. 6 too good or proud to do sth 6a. if you are above a particular type of behavior, you are such a morally good person that you would not behave in that way: Jack was cheating? I thought he was above that sort of thing. 6b. not be above doing sth to not be too proud to do something: Mrs. Harrington was not above helping with the housework when necessary. above and beyond apart from something, or outside the normal range of something: The agency is asking for $2 million above and beyond the $16 million it has already been given. Rescue teams had worked above and beyond the call of duty during the hurricane. get above yourself Br E to start to think that

surfaces

— ab«ra*sive*ly adv, ab«ra>sive*ness noun [u]

ab*ra«sive 2 is

/a'breisiv/ noun [C] a rough substance that used to rub and clean surfaces

a-breast /s'brest/ adv next to each other, facing or moving in the same direction: We set off cycling two abreast. + of He drew abreast of me and immediately started talking.

keep/stay abreast of sth to make sure that you know all the most recent and important information about something: How can anyone keep abreast of all this new technology?

a-bridged /3'bnd3d/ adj an abridged book, play, etc. has been made shorter than the original but contains the same basic story: An abridged version of the novel appeared in a magazine. ment noun [C/U]

verb

[T],

abridg-

***

abroad

/a'brod/ adv 1 in or to a foreign country: We try to go abroad at least once a year. special arrangements for voters living abroad 2 formal generally known or felt by many people: There's a rumor abroad that he will be forced to resign.

ab-ro-gate

/ sebra.geit/ verb [T] very formal to officially law or political arrangement, often without the agreement of the other people, groups, etc. involved ab-ro'ga-tion /.sebrs'geijn/ noun [u] abrupt /a'brApt/ adj 1 sudden and unexpected, often in an unpleasant way: Our friendship came to an abrupt end. 2 behaving or speaking in a way that seems rude to other people because you do not take the time to be friendly: The sales clerks were abrupt and impatient with a*brupt*ly adv, a*brupt*ness noun [u] the customers. abs /aebz/ noun [plural] the muscles in your abdomen ABS /,ei bi 'es/ noun [u] axtilock braking system ab'Scess /'xb.ses/ noun [c] a painful swollen area on your skin or inside your body that is infected and filled with pus (=unpleasant yellow liquid) abscond /sb'skand/ verb [i] formal 1 to suddenly leave a place and take something with you that does not belong to you: +with One of the bank's employees had absconded with the cash. 2 to escape from a place where you are being kept as a punishment: He was put into jail but absconded within a few days. ab-seil /'aeb.seil/ verb [i] BrE to rappel down a steep

get rid of a

—

—

surface

ab-sence you are

— a-bridge

1

[C]

**

/'aebsans/ noun a period of time when

someone

is

not where they

"

absent should be or where they usually are: His frequent and prolonged absences were making his wife suspicious. in sb's absence (=while someone is not there) Mark will be in charge in Steve's absence. 1a. a period of time when someone is not at work or at school when they should be: We are concerned about your child's frequent absences. 2 [u] the fact of something not existing or being present: +of She told the story with a complete absence of in the absence of sth In the absence of any any humor. contrary agreement, the firm accepts full liability. /'aebsant/adj • 1 not in the place where you should be or are expected to be: How many of them are absent without permission? +from He's been absent from school for three days. 1a. formal missing from a place or situation: +from Parental affection is absent from these children's lives. 2 showing that you are not paying attention to what is happening because you are thinking about something else: He listened with an absent air and kept glancing at 1

ab-sent

the door. 2

ab*sent Aeb'sent/

verb formal absent yourself if you absent yourself from a place, you leave it or do not go there, although you are expected to be there

ab-sent 3

absorption

5

/'a^bsont/

preposition

AmE

very

formal

without; used for emphasizing that something will not happen unless a particular thing is present: We will not dispute that judgment absent clear evidence that it is unreasonable.

ab'Servtee 1

/.aebssn'ti/adj [only before noun] not present for a particular job or responsibility: an absentee parent/

with what someone has just said "She really is a beautiful woman." "Oh, absolutely. " 2a. absolutely not used for showing that you disagree strongly with what someone has just said, or as a very strong way A "no": "Do you think I should forgive him?" "Under the 1

circumstances, absolutely not.

absolute majority noun [c] a result in an election when one person or political party wins more than half the votes or seats

absolute zero noun temperature that

for a religious fault

absolutist

/.absolutist/ adj 1 believing that one rule or principle is more important than any other and must never be broken: Some people take an absolutist position on freedom of speech. 2 relating to political abso-

lutism

ab-solve

/ob'zalv/ verb [T] 1 formal to state officially that someone is free of any blame or responsibility in a particular matter: absolve sb from /of sth The report absolves the pilot from any blame for the crash. 2 to forgive someone, especially for a religious or moral fault

absorb /ab'sorb; 1

/.aebsan'ti/ noun [c] someone who is expected to be in a place or at an event but who does not go

AmE

ab-sen-tee-ism

/.aebssn'ti.izam/ noun [u] the habit of

not being at school or work without a good reason

when you should be,

usually

.absentee 'vote noun [c] AmE a vote that you send through the mail when you cannot be present on the day of an election

ab-sen-tia /aeb'senja/ noun in absentia very formal if something happens in absentia, the person involved is not present when it happens: Degrees may be awarded in absentia. / 'aebssntli/ adv in a way that shows you are thinking about something else or are not listening: She gazed absently into the street. absent-minded adj likely to forget things or to think about something different from what you should be thinking about: forgetful: I'm getting more absentminded as I get older. .absent-mindedly adv, .absent-

ab-sent-ly

—

mindedness noun [u] ab-sinthe /'aebsinG/ noun

[C/u] a very strong green alcoholic drink with a bitter taste

ab-so-lute

1

/'aebsa.lut; .asbso'lut/adj

*•

very great or complete: used for emphasizing an opinion, feeling, or statement: The way they've been treated is an absolute disgrace. / have abso1

[only before noun]

lute confidence in her. You're talking absolute nonsense. 1a. used for emphasizing that something is the most or least possible in a particular situation: $4,000 is the absolute maximum we can spend. 2 used for talking about a political system in which complete power is held by one person, and is not shared with a legislature or other political group: an absolute

monarchy

3

[usually before noun]

to

anything

measured in itself, not in relation Health spending has increased in absolute terms, but not as a proportion of national income. 3a. true or right in all situations: Do you believe in else:

absolute moral values?

ab-so-lute 2 is

/

'cebso.lut/

true or right in

absolutely

all

noun

[c]

a rule or principle that

situations

•••

adv 1 /'aebsaluth/ completely: used for emphasis: Are you absolutely certain you saw him?* The food was absolutely fantastic. They have absolutely no idea how this happened. 2 /.cebss'lutli/ spoken used for showing that you agree

-273°C or -460F, the lowest

ab-so-lut-ism /'aebsa.lutizam/ noun [u] a system of government in which one leader has complete power and authority over a country and its citizens

owner /landlord

[c] a system that lets people vote before an election because they will be away from home at the time of the election

[u]

possible in theory

ab«so«IU'tion / a'bso'lujn/ noun [u] the act of forgiving someone for the things they have done wrong, especially

ab-sen-tee 2

.absentee 'ballot noun

is

take

in

ab'zorb/ verb

gas/heat

etc.

2 make sth part of sth else 3 learn new information

[T]

••

4 reduce harmful 5 hold attention 6 use a lot of sth

effects

1 to take in a gas. liquid, or other substance: The timber expands as it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. absorb sth into sth Caffeine is rapidly absorbed into the

bloodstream. 1a. [often passive] to take in heat, light, or of energy, instead of reflecting it: The planes are equipped with a device that absorbs enemy radar

some other form

signals.

2 [often passive] to make a small group, organization, become part of a larger one: Most of the refugees were absorbed by the growing service sector. absorb sth into sth Rebel militias were simply absorbed into the national army. 2a. to allow ideas, methods, etc. to become part of your own way of thinking or culture: Over the centuries, they gradually absorbed Islamic ideas about design etc.

and

architecture. to learn and

understand new facts, so that they become part of your knowledge: assimilate: We had to absorb a lot of new information very quickly. 4 to reduce the harmful effects of a physical force: Jump with your knees bent, so they absorb less impact. 4a. to deal with the harmful effects of a change, so that problems are avoided: Oil companies say they will absorb these price rises, and not pass them on to customers. 5 if something absorbs you. it is so interesting or entertaining that it takes all your attentions game that had absorbed the children all afternoon 6 to use or need a lot of something, especially money: My work absorbs too much of my time and energy. ab-sorbed /ob'sorbd, ob'zorbd/ adj so interested or involved in something that you do not notice anything else: She seemed completely absorbed, tin Richard is totally absorbed in his book. -» self-absorbed ab-sorb-ent /ob's.-irbont, ob/orbont/ adj an absorbent material can receive or hold a lot of something, especially liquid: Work using absorbent cotton or paper. ab-sorb-en-cy noun [C/U] ab-sorb-ing /oh snrbin, ab'zorbii)/ adj something absorbing is so entertaining that you give it all your attention: an absorbing book /movie /game ab-sorp-tion /ab'sorpjan, abzorpjan/ noun [u] 1 the process by which something takes in a substance, form of energy, or liquid: + of Exercise can promote absorption of nutrients by the body. 2 the process by which a group, organization, or culture becomes part of a larger one:

3

+ into Scotland's absorption into the tinted Kingdom in 1707 +of Absorption of more immigrants has created tensions. 3 complete interest iii something: Her absorption in her work is total. *a look of absorption

some

"

academic

abstain deliberately avoid

a-bun-dant / o'bAndant / a6\ formal existing or available

doing something that is enjoyable but may not be healthy, safe, or morally right: + from .A high percentage of women said they had abstained from alcohol during pregnancy. 1a. formal to not do something that is likely to cause serious problems: + from They agreed to abstain from any actions that might endanger the peace process. 2 to deliberately not vote in an election or at a meeting ab-stain-er noun [C]

in large quantities: The country has an abundant supply offossil fuels. Rainfall is abundant in the region. a-bun-dant-ly /s'bAndantli/ adv formal in large quantities: The problems are abundantly documented.

ab-stain /ab'stem/ verb

[I]

1

to

abste-mi-ous

/ab'stimias/ adj often humorous deliberately avoiding too much food or alcohol

ab'Steivtion/ab'stenfsn/noun 1 [c/u] a decision not to vote in an election or meeting: We have three yes votes, one no, and one abstention. 2 [u] abstinence

ab-sti-nence /'asbstmans/ noun

[u]

the practice of

avoiding something such as alcohol or sex: When cussing nence.

dis-

HIV infection

—

with young people, he stresses abstiab-sti-nent/'aebstinant/adj

ab-stract

••

1

/'aeb.straekt; sb'straskt/adj abstract ideas exist as thoughts in the mind, and are not related to physical objects or real events and actions: abstract idea /concept /principle /notion Mathematics is concerned with understanding abstract concepts. They are not interested in abstract notions like "equality" or "freedom. 2 abstract art expresses the artist's ideas or feelings instead of showing the exact appearance of people or things: modern abstract paintings? sculpture

1

ab-stract 2

noun [C] 1 a summary of a report, speech, or academic paper: You must submit an abstract before presenting your paper. + of It 's the abstract of a report on air pollution. 2 an abstract painting or design /'aeb.straekt/

in the abstract thinking about something only as a general idea without referring to real situations or practical experience ab-stract 3 /aeb'straekt/ verb [J] formal 1 to obtain facts from a calculation or piece of research: information abstracted from newspaper reports 1a. to remove something from somewhere 2 to write a short summary of a speech, report, or other piece of writing ab-stract-ed /aeb'straektad/ adj formal thinking about something so much that you do not seem to notice the ab-stract-ed-ly adv world around you abstraction /aeb'straskjsn/ noun 1 [c/u] an idea or way of thinking that is not related to real situations or practical experiences: a philosophical abstraction 2 [u] formal an emotional or mental state that takes your attention from what is happening around you: preoccupation .abstract 'noun noun [c] a word that names a quality, idea, or feeling instead of a person, animal, place, or thing abstruse /aeb'strus/ adj formal abstruse ideas or arguments are hard to understand, and more complicated than necessary: obscure ab-surd /ab's3rd; ab'z3rd/adj * 1 completely stupid, unreasonable, or impossible to believe: ridiculous: She makes the most absurd claims it is absurd to do sth It's about her past achievements. completely absurd to suggest that we shouldn 't test students. 1a. talking or behaving in a silly or extreme way: Don't be absurd - you 're just worrying about nothing. to absurd lengths (=making an extreme amount of effort) Jack goes to absurd lengths to prove his point. 2 deliberately emphasizing what is silly or stupid about people and society: She has a wonderfully absurd ab-surd-i-ty noun [C/U]: He's beginning sense of humor.

—

—

abundantly clear very obvious: He has made

it

abun-

dantly clear that he expects results.

a-buse 1

•••

1

/a'bjus/ noun [C/u] cruel, violent, or unfair treatment, especially

someone who does not have the power to prevent it: The regime had been responsible for serious human rights + of Physical abuse and neglect of children is too abuses. common. 1a. forced sexual activity with someone who cannot prevent it: Several female students have made of

allegations of abuse against him. 2 [C/u] the use of something in a bad, dishonest, or harmful way: price-fixing agreements and other abuses by large corporations abuse of power /privilege /position This is clearly an abuse of executive power. open to abuse (=capable of being abused) All polling methods are potentially open to abuse. 2a. [u] the use of alcohol or illegal drugs in a way that is harmful to your health: alcohol/ drug / substance abuse 3 [U] angry offensive comments: shout/scream/hurl abuse Blake was alleged to have hurled racist abuse at a student.

a-buse 2

**

/s'bjuz/ verb [T] 1 to treat someone in a cruel or violent way: Prisoners reported being regularly abused by their guards, la. to have sex with someone who is unable to refuse: .A high percentage of abusive parents were themselves abused as children.

2

to use something in a bad, dishonest, or harmful way: They were accused of abusing their power to keep

Those with access to private information must not abuse that trust. 2a. to use alcohol or illegal drugs in a way that is harmful to your health 3 to speak to someone in an angry, offensive way: He was fined $10,000 for verbally abusing the umpire. a-bus-er noun [C] a-bu-sive /a'bjusiv/adj 1 using offensive or insulting language: abusive remarks When we asked him to leave he became abusive. 2 treating someone in a cruel or violent way: an abusive parent /husband /wife 2a. used for describing situations in which people are cruelly prices artificially high.

—

treated:

women

in abusive relationships

— a-bu-sive-ly

adv

a-but

/a'bAt/ verb [l/T] formal to be next to or touching an area or building: abut on /onto sth houses abutting onto the park

abuzz

/a'bAz/

adj filled

with excitement, activity, or was absolutely abuzz with

noise: +with The whole school

rumors.

a-bys-mal

/a'bizml/ adj extremely bad or low in quality: appalling: Some of the teaching was abysmal. an abysmal failure a-bys-mal-ly adv: The local police failed

—

abysmally.

a-byss

1 mainly journalism a very frightening or dangerous situation, or one in which there seems to be no hope: The company was on the brink of a financial abyss. 2 literary a large deep hole that appears to have no bottom: chasm

/a'bis/ noun [C]

AC abbrev alternating current a/c abbrev

air conditioning

a-ca-cia /a'keija/ noun [C] a tree with small white or yellow flowers that grows in warm countries

academe /'aeka.dim/ noun

[u] very

formal the people

to realize the

and work of colleges and universities ac-a-de-mi-a / .aeka'dimia/ noun [u] formal the people, activities, and institutions that are connected with education, especially in colleges and universities

ab'z3rdli / adv in a way that seems stupid, unreasonable, or impossible to believe: absurdly She was absurdly young to be in such a high prices demanding job. a. used for saying that some quality or feeling is much greater than you expected: Ifelt absurdly tired after our meeting.

ac-a-dem-ic /.aeka'demik/adj

absurdity of the situation. ab-surd, the /3b's3rd; ab'z3rd/ noun a situation or way of thinking that seems crazy or impossible to believe: Some of these criticisms border on the absurd.

ab-surd-ly /ab'ssrdli,

a-bun-dance

/a'bAndans/ noun [u] formal a very large quantity of something: +of The lake attracts an abundance of wildlife. in abundance The evidence is there in opposite scarcity abundance.

—

1

***

relating to education, especially education in colleges and universities: The book brings (=subjects). disciplines academic several together la. based on learning from books and study instead of on practical skills and experience: The college offers both academic and professional qualifications. a school with a reputation for academic and sporting excellence 2 good at learning things by studying: She's certainly bright, but she's not very academic. 1

[usually before noun]

"

academic

acceptance

3

not relating to a real situation, and therefore not relevant: Given the lack of funding, any discussion of future plans was somewhat academic. aca-denvi-cal-ly /.aeka'demikli/ adv: The children were doing well aca-

accept /ok 'sept/ verb •••

—

1

ac«a*denvic 2 /.aeka'demik/ noun

[C]

someone who

teaches or does research at a college or university: The meeting was chaired by a leading Japanese academic.

ac-a-de-mi-cian /a.kaeda'mifn/ noun

[c] formal a member of an academy that encourages interest and development in a particular subject academic year noun [c] the time during the year when schools, colleges, and universities are teaching

classes: school year

/a'kaedsmi/ noun [c] * a school or college that teaches a particular subject or skill: a military /police academy 1a. in the U.S., a private school that prepares students for college 2 an organization created to encourage interest and development in a particular subject, for example art, science, or literature: the National Academy of Sciences A'ward noun [C] the official name for an oscar (=a prize given to people in the movie industry)

a-cad-e-my 1

Academy

a cap'pel-la

/.aeka'peb/

adj,

adv sung by voices only,

without musical instruments

ac*cede

/sk'sid/ verb [i] formal 1 [+to] to do what someone wants or agree with what they say: They were forced to accede to all of the hijackers' demands. 2 to formally take a position of authority, especially as a king, queen, or president

ac-cel-er-ate /ak'seta.reit/ verb • 1 [i/T] to happen or make something happen at a faster rate: The increased capital could greatly accelerate economic development. The decline of her health seemed suddenly accelerate. 2 [I] if a vehicle accelerates, it moves faster: Suddenly the truck accelerated and shot forward. to

ac«cel»er*a»tion /ak.seb'reijn/ noun 1 [singular] an increase in the rate at which something happens, changes, or grows: Economic growth slowed down sharply +in a sharp accelafter three months of acceleration. eration in the rate of inflation 2 [u] the power of a

take sth offered

2 agree to a suggestion 3 believe sth is true/right 4 recognize a bad situation

demically.

1

[T]

here

to take

5 let sb join/be part of sth 6 consider good enough 7 take a form of payment

something that someone gives you: / am award on Ms. Winslet 's behalf. Saunders

to accept the

has been convicted for accepting bribes. 1a. [i/T] to say yes to an invitation or offer: They offered her a job, and she accepted without hesitation. 2 [T] to agree to do what someone asks or suggests: Our clients will never accept this proposal. Most of the report's recommendations have been accepted by Congress. 3 [T] to recognize that something is true, fair, or right: Sam accepted her explanation without question. This argument is unlikely to be accepted by the court. + that Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions, generally/widely accepted (=believed by most people) His views on genetics are not now widely accepted. 3a. to recognize that you are responsible for something: accept blame/ responsibility / liability We cannot accept liability for items stolen from your car. The media must accept their share of the blame. 4 [T] to recognize that a bad situation exists and cannot be avoided or changed: / know it's not fair, but you'll just have to accept it. They found it hard to accept defeat. + that For a long time, he simply could not accept that she

was dead.

5

to allow someone to join an organization: Under law, gay people will be accepted in the armed accept sb as sth Mexico was accepted as a member the in 1994. 5a. to allow someone to become of [T]

the

new

forces.

OECD

part of a

community or

welcome: The accept sb

family,

and make them

local people never really accepted

into sth

feel us.

She was desperate for the children

vehicle to increase its speed: a sports car with impressive acceleration 2a. science the increase in speed of a

If you take something that someone offers you or if you allow something to happen, you accept it: We They accepted the court's accepted her offer of help.

moving

decision.

object

accel-er-ator

/sk'sebxeitar/ noun [C] 1 the pedal you press with your foot to make a vehicle go faster —picture -» cs 2 science a machine used in scientific research that makes particles (=units of matter that are smaller than atoms) move faster that

accelerator board

accelerator card or

noun

[C] computing a circuit board in a computer that makes the computer run faster by adding a faster central processing unit

ac-cent

**

1

/'aek.sent/ noun of saying words that shows what country, region, or social class someone comes from: a Brooklyn accent a strong accent Tom hasn't lost his strong Irish accent. put on an accent The kids all put on a phony 1

[C]

a

way

Spanish accent. 2 [singular] the correct emphasis on a particular part of a word or phrase when you say it: The accent is on the first syllable.

3

[C]

a

nounce

mark above a

letter that

shows how you

pro-

an acute accent on the first "e. a special emphasis given to something: a hotel with the accent very much on comfort and luxury

4

it:

There's

[singular] [+on]

Words frequently used with accent adjectives

heavy, pronounced, strong, thick,

1

unmistakable

ac-cent 2 /sk'sent/ verb

[T]

to

emphasize a word, sound,

or feature

ac*cent*ed /ak'sentad/

adj spoken with an accent: heavily accented (=with a strong accent) Signor Bonini welcomed them in his heavily accented English.

accentuate

/aek'sentju.eit/ verb [T] to emphasize it more noticeable: The bright lights

something or make

tend to accentuate wrinkles.

to

accept her into the family. 6 [T] to consider that something is suitable or good enough for a particular purpose: A publisher in New York has accepted her novel for publication. 7 [T] to take a particular form of payment: The payphones there accept either coins or phonecards. We accept personal checks with proper identification.

you say that you are willing to do something, you agree to do it: She agreed to work over the weekend. If

We agreed to help. You accept something, but you agree

to

do

something.

ac«cept«a'ble/ak'sept3bl/adj •* 1 considered by most people as reasonable or as being something that can be allowed: socially/politically/ morally acceptable Pollution on this level is no longer socially acceptable. +to The proposals must be acceptable acceptable for sb to do sth By the to the stockholders. 1960s, it was becoming more acceptable for women to work in management. 2 good enough for a particular purpose or situation: Their success rate is an acceptable 65%. 2a. good enough but not very good: The service was attentive, the accept-a-biH-ty food acceptable but uninspiring. /sk.septa'bitati/ noun [U], acceptably adv: acceptably

—

low

levels

of risk

ac-cep'tance/ak'septans/ noun [u] •• 1 general agreement that something

is

true,

rea-

sonable, or cannot be changed: +of There is widespread a society tfint valued tinacceptance of these principles. unquestioning acceptance of tradition gain/win acceptance Anti-racist policies were gradually gaining acceptance at that time, —opposite rejection 2 agreement to a plan, offer, or suggestion: Acceptance the Republican of the offer is the first step to a merger. candidate's acceptance speech (=a speech given formally accepting a public position) 3 an attitude of accepting a difficult or unpleasant situation because you know that it cannot be changed or avoided: Her mood was one of resigned acceptance. a religion that teaches acceptance of suffering 4 the fact of allowing someone to become part of a

accepted

adj [only before noun] • considered by most people to be reasonable, right, or normal: The accepted wisdom is that public services are best run by governments. Corruption was an accepted part of the political culture.

aC'Cept-ed /ok'septad/

access

1

/'aek.ses/

noun

[u]

•••

the right or opportunity to have or use something that will bring you benefits: +to Access to up-to-date financial information is important to our success. Only 40% of 5-year-olds have access to preschool education. gain access Some groups still have difficulty gaining access to social services. 1a. the right to look at private information: + to Access to employees' records is restricted. 1b. permission to see and talk to an important person: + to She's one of a handful of aides with direct access to the president. 1c. the legal right to visit children after a divorce 2 the means by which you get to a place: Access is by means of a door at the back of the stage. +to An elevator provides access to the upper floors. There is easy access to the downtown area by subway. 1

ac«cess 2

/'aek.ses/ verb [t] 1 to get information, especially from a computer: The database allows you to access the sales figures in a number of ways. 2 formal to get to and enter a place: The road is closed but can be accessed

by emergency vehicles.

access .course

noun

[c]

BrE

course of study in

a.

which you learn enough about a subject

to allow you to enter a college or university to study the subject

further

ac-cessi-ble

/ak'sessbl/ adj 1 easy for anyone to obtain and use: Their goal was to make adult education more accessible. + to information that should be accessible to the public 2 an accessible place is easy to find or get to: + by The city is easily accessible by road, train, or air. + to Near the beach is a forest accessible to walkers. 3 an accessible person is friendly and easy to talk to, even if they are in an important position 4 accessible art, music, literature, etc. is easy to understand and enjoy acces'si'bilM'ty /sk.sesa'blbti/ noun [U]: the quality and accessibility of materials ac*ces*si*bly adv

— — Opposite INACCESSIBLE

—

ac-ceS'Sion /ak'sejn/ noun formal 1 [C/u] the occasion on which someone formally takes a position of authority, especially as a king, queen, or president 2 [U] the occasion when a country formally joins a group of countries or accepts an agreement: China's accession to the World Trade Organization 3 [C] something that is added to a collection, especially a work of art: Recent accessions are in the north wing.

ac-ces-so-rise /ak'sesaraiz/a BrE

spelling of acces-

sorize

acces-sor-ize

/ak'sess.raiz/ verb [i/t] to add accessories to something, especially to the clothes you are

wearing

ac-ces-so-ry

•*

/ak'sessri/ noun [c] 1 a small thing such as a piece of jewelry or a pair of shoes that you wear with clothes to give them more style

2

[usually plural] additional objects, equipment, decorations, etc. that make something more useful or attractive: The book offers advice on choosing fabrics, furniture, and accessories. car /kitchen /computer acces-

sories

3 legal someone who helps a criminal, for example by hiding them from the police. An accessory before the fact helps before the crime. An accessory after the fact helps after the crime: + to He was sentenced for being an accessory to the murder. access time noun [u] computing the time it takes for a computer program to find a piece of information and make

it

available

ac-ci-dent

/'aeksidant/ noun

•••

a crash involving a car, train, airplane, or other vehicle: a fatal accident on the expressway between Plainview and Westbury He was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. The accident was caused by ice on the road. 1a. a sudden event, usually caused by someone making a mistake, that results in damage, injury, or death: Seven 1

[C]

accommodating

8

group or community and making them feel welcome: She was anxious for acceptance by the other children at her new school.

men were

mining accident yesterday. a riding /climbing /hunting accident 1b. a mistake that causes minor damage or harm: Don't make such a fuss it was an accident. 2 [C/U] something that happens unexpectedly, without being planned: To be honest, my second pregnancy was an accident. 2a. it is no accident used for saying that something was planned, perhaps for dishonest reasons: It is no accident that every letter we send is delayed. killed in a serious

an accident of birth a situation caused by who your family is instead of by anything you do an accident waiting to happen 1 a situation likely to cause an accident: An aging nuclear reactor is an accident waiting to happen. 2 someone who behaves in a way that is likely to cause trouble by accident by chance, without being planned or intended: Quite by accident, she came up with a brilliantly simple solution. Occasionally we would meet by accident in the hall.

Words

frequently used with accident

adjectives

bad,

fatal,

minor, serious, tragic

1

•

acci-dervtal

/,aeksi'dentl/ adj happening without being planned or intended: accidental damage/ injury It was suggested that the fire was not accidental.

.accidental 'death noun

[c/u] legal a death that was not caused on purpose: used for reporting the decision of a coroner (=an official who examines the cause of someone's death)

ac-ci-dental-ly /.aeksi'dentli/ adv • by chance, as the result of an accident: Police believe the fire was started accidentally. A woman was accidentally killed during the shootout, a. by mistake instead of deliberate intention: The program prevents files from being accidentally erased. accident-prone adj someone who is accident-prone is likely to

ac-claim

hurt themselves or break something

1

/s'kleim/ noun [u] public praise for someone or something: Garcia 's first novel was greeted with widespread critical acclaim. win/receive/attract acclaim In a recent poll, Seattle won acclaim as the United States' most

progressive

city.

ac-claim 2

/a'kleim/ verb [T usually passive] to publicly praise someone for a major achievement: Her latest play has been widely acclaimed by critics. acclaim sb sth The patient was saved and the young doctor acclaimed a hero.

ac-claimed

/s'kleimd/ ad] publicly written and talked about in an admiring way: her internationally acclaimed production o/West Side Story an acclaimed book/movie/ pianist

ac-cla-ma-tion / .aekb'meiTn/ noun [c/u]/orma/ enthusiastic

approval by

acclimate

many

people

/a'klaimat; 'aekhrneit/ verb

[i/t]

AmE

to

gradually become more comfortable in a new place, especially where physical conditions are very different: become/get acclimated to sth First the team must become accli'ina'tion acclimated to this higher altitude.

—

/.aekh'meijn/ noun [u]

acclimatize

/s'klaima.taiz/ verb

[i/t]

to acclimate

ac-cO'lade someone for ade

a.

an

/'geksjeid/ noun [c] an honor given to their work: the TV industry's ultimate accolexpression of praise and admiration

ac-com-mo-date

/a'kama.deit/ verb

[T]

*

to provide a place or room for someone to stay in: Designed by an Italian architect, the hotel can accommodate 600 guests, la. to provide enough space for something 1

or someone: The new facility will easily accommodate 50 workstations. 1b. to supply enough seats or room for people or things: Our ships accommodate up to 150. 2 formal to consider and include something when you are deciding what to do: take account of: Your investment strategy has to be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the market.

accommodate

to

sth/accommodate yourself

to sth to

change your attitudes and behavior in order to deal with a new situation ac-com-mo-dat-ing /s'kama.deitinV adj helpful and easy to work with: obliging: I found the staff accommodating and knowledgeable. We expected a more accommodating attitude during discussions.

accommodation

account

accommo-dation /a.kama'deijn/ noun ** 1

formal a change in behavior or attitude work together or end a disagreement:

[singular/u]

that helps people

Accommodation seemed impossible. 2 [U] mainly Br E accommodations

accom-mo-dations AmE+ir 1

a place to

/a.kama'deijnz/ noun

[plural]

wishes: in accordance with the terms of the contract

ac-cord-ing-ly

live, especially

a temporary place such as

ac-com-pa-ni'inent /a'kAmpsnimant/ noun

1

[c/u]

the part of a piece of music that supports the tune or someone singing: a simple violin accompaniment 2 [C] formal something that happens while or because something else is happening: an inevitable accompaniment of the transition to a market economy 3 [C] something that you provide as a good addition, especially to a particular meal: +to Serve the sauce as an accompaniment to roast meat.

accompaniment of sth 1 while a musical instrument plays a tune: The girls sang to the accompaniment 2 while something else is happening or can a piano. of be heard: Franco left the chamber to the accompaniment to the

of loud applause.

ac-com-pa-nist /s'kAmpanist/ noun plays the supporting music while or plays the main tune

accompany /a'kAmpani/ verb

[c] someone who someone else sings

[t]

**

1 formal to go with someone to a place or event: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 2 [often passive] to happen or exist while something else is happening: A skin rash may be accompanied by fever. the poor social conditions that accompanied rapid indus-

trialization

to

does not accord with the police evidence.

aC'Cor-dance /o'kordns/ noun formal * in accordance with in a way that follows a rule, system, or someone's

a hotel room. Br E accommodation: accommodations for guests/ students/ workers 2 special arrangements for someone's particular need: They've made accommodations in the test for slow readers.

3

ac cord with phrasal vb [T] (accord with sth] to agree with or be the same as something else: Hemming's account

appear or be provided with something

else, as

/o'kordirjli/ adv 1 as a result of something: consequently: No formal complaint was made; accordingly, the police took no action. 2 in a way that is appropriate to the situation: They have broken the rules and will be punished accordingly.

ac-cord-ing to/a'kordirj

plays the

[c]

someone who helps

illegal or wrong: She's acting as an accomplice to murder.

another person do something serving

life for

verb [t] ** to succeed in doing something, especially something that you have been trying to do for a period of time: His job was to achieve the release of the hostages, a task he successfully

ac-com-plish /a'kAmpliJV

accomplished. week. -» mission

We

didn't accomplish

much

at

work

this

accom-plished

/a'kAmplijt/ adj good at doing something that needs a lot of skill, for example in art, music, or sports: one of Scotland's most accomplished pianists a. very skillfully done: an accomplished performance

ac-com-plish-ment

/a'kAmpliJrnant/ noun 1 [C/u] something difficult that you succeed in doing, especially after working hard over a period of time: Arranging the peace talks was a remarkable accomplishment. Nursing gave her a sense of accomplishment. 2 [C]formal a special ability to do something very well ac-cord /a'kord/ noun [c] * a formal agreement between countries or groups: peace/economic/trade/ nuclear accord A peace accord was signed by both leaders. + between the latest in a series of accords between the 1

rival factions

do sth of your

own

accord to do something without being asked, forced, or helped by someone else: Do you think David resigned of his own accord? in accord with in agreement with, or not opposed to, a fact, rule, or principle: bad working conditions that are not in accord with international standards with one accord/orma/ doing the same thing at exactly

the

same time

ac-cord 2

/a'kord/ verb [T] formal to treat someone or something in a particular way, especially by giving them power, respect, or status: accord sth to sb Some hunter-gatherer tribes accord high status to women. accord sb/sth sth Their achievement has not always been accorded the recognition it deserves.

go according

to plan

//

2 used for saying where information or ideas have come from: According to newspaper reports, fighting has broken out in the northern provinces. According to Freud, our dreams represent our hidden desires. 3 used for saying that something changes or is different

depending on the situation: Each child will be helped The amount of tax people to his or her needs. pay varies according to where they live. ac*cor*di*on /a'kordian/ noun [c] a musical instrument played by moving the ends of a box in and out while pressing keys and buttons. Someone who plays the accordion is called an accordionist. ac-cost /a'kost/ verb [T] formal to stop someone and speak to them, especially in a way that could annoy them or make them feel embarrassed: Wherever he goes he is accosted by young people asking for his autograph. account /s'kaunt/ noun ••• according

1

an

main tune

to the rules. *

Thursday.

1

arrangement with bank

2 report/description 3 arrangement with store 4 regular customer

music while someone sings or

acconvplice /s'kAmplis/ noun

game according

the

everything goes according to plan, they should finish by

letter.

to play the supporting

*••

(=happen in the way that was intended or planned)

addition or explanation: An illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibit. There was no accompanying note or

4

,tu/ preposition

1 if you do something according to a plan, system, or set of rules, you do it in a way that agrees with or obeys that plan, system, or set of rules: We should try to play

5 fore-mail 6 record of money + PHRASES

1 [C] an arrangement in which a bank takes care of your money. You can deposit (=pay in) or withdraw (=take out) money when you need to: There was only $50 in his bank account. open an account How do I open an account with your bank? -> checking account, savings

ACCOUNT 2 [C] a written or spoken report about something that give has happened: +of a brief account of the meeting an account of sth He was too shocked to give a clear account eyewitness description of the account (=a of events. details of an event given by someone who saw them) an eyewitness account of a brutal beating 2a. a detailed description of how or why something happens: The study aims to give an account of modern attitudes toward democracy.

3

[C] an arrangement you have with a store or other business that allows you to pay for goods or services later: / have an account with Macy's. 3a. a record showing how much you owe a store or other business for goods or services you have received: settle an account (=pay the money that you owe) /'// settle my account in the morning. 4 [C] a company that regularly buys goods or services from another company: We now have over 30 major

accounts.

5 [C] an arrangement you have with a company or Internet provider to use a service they provide: Do you have an e-mail account? 6 [C usually plural] a detailed record that a business keeps of the money it receives and spends in a particular period of time: The accounts showed a loss of $496 million. 6a. accounts [U] the part of an organization that keeps records of the money it receives and spends bring/call/hold sb to account/orma/ to make someone explain publicly why they made a mistake or committed a crime, especially so they can be criticized or punished for

it

all accounts according to what people say: She by all accounts, a decent young woman. of no account/of little account not very important: The color of someone's skin should be of no account.

by/from is.

^

account

accustom

10

on account

you buy something on account, you take it now and pay for it later 2 if you pay an amount of money on account, you pay part of what you owe now and you pay the rest later: payments on account for 1

if

the tax year ending in April 1999 sb's account if you do something

on

accred-it-ed

/o'kreditad/ adj 1 an accredited organization, worker, or course of study has official approval: Only accredited coaches get to work with young players. 2 [+to] someone who is accredited to a particular country has been officially sent to work there by their

on someone's

government

account, you do it because you think they want you to: Please don 't go on my account. on account of because of someone or something: She can't work too many hours on account of the children. on no account/not on any account used to say in a strong and definite way that something must not happen or be done: On no account should the soldiers be blamed for what happened. A doctor should never, on any account, break his confidence. on your own account by yourself or for yourself instead of with or for someone else: He earned thousands last year trading stock on his own account. on this/that account used when giving the reason for something: She was divorced, and on that account alone

accretion

my mother disliked

her.

settle an account/settle accounts to end a disagreement or argument with someone by defeating

them: They threatened to settle accounts with those who opposed them. take account of sth/take sth into account to consider something when you are trying to make a decision: Punitive damage awards take into account the pain and suffering caused to the victim. If you take inflation into account, we actually spend less now. account 2 /a'kaont/ verb account for phrasal vb [T] 1 [account for sth] to be the reason why something exists or happens: A number of factors account for the differences between the two scores. 2 [account for sth] to give an explanation for something bad that has happened, especially something you are responsible for: You will be brought before the disciplinary panel to account for your actions. 3 [account for sb/sth] to form, use, or produce a particular amount or part of something: Repeat purchases account for 73% of our sales. 4 [usually passive] [account for sb] if someone is accounted for, you know where they are and so do not worry that they are not where they should be: One small child was

***

still

not accounted for.

no accounting for taste mainly spoken used for saying that you think what someone likes is strange account-a-ble /a'kaontabl/ adj * in a position where people have the right to criticize you or ask you why something happened: + for As director, she knew she would be held accountable for any budget deficit. +to The city there's

—

accountable to the people who elected it. account*a*biM*ty /a.kaonta'bibti/ noun [u], ac«counta«bly adv council

is

account*an*cy

/a'kauntsnsi/ noun [u] the profession of an accountant

work or

/a'kauntant/ noun [c] ** someone to prepare financial records for a company

accountant whose job

is

or person

accounting

•

/a'kauntirj/ noun [u] accountants or the methods they use: a system the big accounting firms

the work of new accounting

ac counts payable noun [plural] a record of how much money a company owes other people or companies for goods and services

accounts re'ceivable

noun

much money customers owe

a

[plural]

a record of

company

for goods

how and

services

accou-ter-ments

accou-tre-ments

or

/a'kutarmants/ noun

[plural] formal small things or pieces of equipment that are used for or related to a particular thing, job, or activity

accredit /a'kredit/ verb

to state officially that a person or organization is good enough to provide a particular type of service: The university accredits a number of educational programs in the area. 2 to believe that someone has a particular quality: accredit sth to sb He clearly lacked the wisdom usually accredited to older people. [T]

1

accred-i-ta-tion /a.kredi'teijn/ noun [u] official approval of an organization, worker, or course of study: The school received accreditation from the national board in 1952.

/a'krifn/ noun [C/U] 1 formal a gradual increase in the size or amount of something through the addition of new parts 2 technical a layer of a substance that gradually forms on a rock or area of land, making it bigger

accru-al

/a'krual/ noun [u] formal the process of accru-

ing, or the

amount by which something accrues 1 [i/t] if money accrues or

accrue /a'kru/ verb formal

is accrued, it gradually increases in amount: The interest has continued to accrue. 2 [I] [+to] if benefits and advantages accrue to you, you receive them

accumulate

/a'kjumja.leit/ verb * [T] to get more and more of something over a period of time: Over the years, I had accumulated hundreds of books, a. [i] to

increase in quantity over a period of time: Medical evidence for the benefits of the procedure has been accumulating.

accumulation

/a.kjumja'leijn/ noun [c/u]

the

1

process by which something increases in amount or is collected together over time: slow accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries 2 the amount of something that collects or is collected over time: large accumulations of snow

accumulative

/a'kjumjsjeitiv/ adj gradually increasing: cumulative ac*cu*miHa*tive«ly adv

—

accuracy /'askjarssi/ noun

*•

[u]

the ability to do something in an accurate way: the need to combine speed and accuracy 2 the quality of being accurate: The accuracy of the reports cannot be verified (= checked). 1

a ecu -rate /'aekjarst/ 1

adj

*•*

correct or true in every detail:

more accurate information.

Would

We it

need

to get

some

be more accurate to

say that the plan failed? 2 able to do something in an exact way, without making a mistake: an accurate clock He's very accurate in his calculations. + to a stop watch accurate to 0.01 of a second (=never wrong by more than 0.01 of a second) 3 an accurate throw or shot goes where it is intended to go ac*cu*rate*ly adv

—

accursed

/a'karsad; a'k3rst/ adj

describing someone

who has

1

literary

used for

a curse on them

2

[only

used for describing someone or something that is annoying you very much accu'Sa-tion /.aekja'zeijn/ noun [c] * a claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong: + of There +that The have been further accusations of corruption. police officer denied the accusation that she had behaved dishonestly. make/bring an accusation against sb Several before noun] old-fashioned

level an accusations were made against the government. accusation at sb Accusations offraud have been leveled at

the city council.

accusa-tive /s'kjuzstiv/ noun

[singular] linguistics

form of a noun or pronoun that shows that direct object of a verb

— accu-sa-tive adj

it

is

the the

accu-sa-to-ry /a'kjuza.tori/ ad] formal intended to show someone that you think they have done something wrong: an accusatory look/ remark

accuse /s'kjuz/ verb [T] ***

to say that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime: accuse sb of doing sth I do not want to accuse him of telling lies. accuse sb of sth She claims that her boss accused her of accus-er noun [C]: Davis says he is eager to face theft.

—

his accusers in court.

accused, the

/a'kjuzd/ (plural the accused) noun accused of a crime in a court of law accusing /a'kjuzin/ adj intended to show someone that you think they have done something wrong: Max pointed an accusing finger at me from the doorway. ac*cus*ing*ly adv accuS'tom /s'kAStsm/ verb formal accustom yourself to sth to gradually start to feel that something is normal

someone who

—

or natural

is

accustomed thinking that something is normal or natural because you have experienced it regularly over a period of time: the little luxuries to which she was accustomed accustomed to doing sth He had become accustomed to living without electricity, and missed it very little. 2 [only before noun] formal usual: his accustomed seat

AC/DC

/,ei si

'di

1

an offensive way of bisexual (=sexually attracted

si/ adj offensive

describing someone

who

is

to men and women) 1 /eis/ noun [C] 1 in card games, a card with only one symbol and either the highest or lowest value in a

ace

—

picture -» ci6 2 in tennis, a very your opponent cannot reach with their racket 3 AmE in golf, an occasion in which a player hits the ball into the hole with one shot 4 informal someone who is very good at doing something: an ace at solving puzzles suit: the ace of hearts

fast serve (=first hit of the ball) that

an ace in the hole Am E informal a secret or hidden advantage that you can use when you need it hold/have

all the aces to have a big advantage over other people within an ace of doing sth almost doing something, or nearly succeeding in doing it

ace 2 /eis/ verb

Am

[T] E 1 informal to get the best grade possible on a test, a piece of written work, etc.: I'm sure I aced that geography test. 2 to hit an ace in tennis or

golf

ace 3

/eis/ adj 1

[only before noun]

informal very skillful:

an ace pilot/ player / skier 2 spoken very good: Their new song

is

ace!

a-cer-bic /a's3rbik/ adj showing criticism in a way that is clever and funny, but also cruel: acerbic wit

— a-cer-bi-cal-ly /a's3rbikli/ adv, noun

a-cer-bi-ty /a's3rb3ti/

[U]

ac-e-tate

noun 1 [u] a chemical substance that is used to make various things, for example plastic or fibers for cloth 2 [C] old-fashioned a transparency that you write on and place on an overhead projector a-ce-tic ac-id /a.sitik 'aesid/ noun [u] the acid in /'aesa.teit/

VINEGAR

ace-tone

/'aesa.toon/ noun [u] a liquid used in some types of paint and varnish to prevent them from becoming too thick

a-cet-y-lene /a'setl.in/ noun [u] a gas that is burned with oxygen to produce a flame that can cut metal

ach-cha

/'aetja/ interjection Indian English used for saying that you understand or agree with something

/eik/ noun [c] * a pain that is continuous and unpleasant, but usually not very strong: a dull ache (=slight, but still unpleasant) There was a dull ache in his stomach. aches and pains (=minor pains that continue over a period of time) I'm tired of hearing about all her aches and pains. 2 mainly literary a strong feeling that you want something that you cannot have 3 a long-lasting feeling of sadness

ache

1

1

ache 2 /eik/ verb

[I]

if

began

to ache.

2

literary to want very much to do or have something, when it is impossible mainly literary if your heart aches, you feel very sad, or very sorry for someone a-chieve /s'tjiv/ verb [T] to succeed in doing or having what you planned or intended, usually after a lot of effort: The Republic of Tunisia achieved independence from France in 1957. the first signs that a breakthrough had been achieved We have achieved what we set out to do. a. [T] to become popular, famous, or successful, especially after a long time or after a lot of

especially

3

•*•

His paintings did not achieve the popularity of his actors who achieve fame and fortune in Hollywood be successful by being determined or working hard: Many athletes are driven by a desire to achieve. effort:

books. b.

[I]

to

— a-chieva-ble adj

Metaphor An achievement achieving

is like

is like a building, and the process of the process of building.

The They built up the business over 20 years. organization was built on traditional principles. This web site is still under construction. They laid the foundations for future success with a carefully balanced range of products. * This was the blueprint She was the architect of the company 's for success. expansion overseas. It is a towering achievement. These developments threatened the whole edifice of government. All her life's work was in ruins. Strong foreign markets are the building blocks of a successful economy. Everything seemed to come crashing down around them. -» IDEA, METHOD, SUCCESS

•••

a-chieve-ment

/o'tjivmont/ noun [c] a paryou have achieved: his many achievements a remarkable achievement a. [u] the fact of achieving something: +of They are having a party to celebrate the achievement of their first year's goals. sense of achievement It was hard work, but the sense of achievement is huge. b. [u] the fact of achieving or succeeding at things in general, by being determined or working ticular thing that

hard /a'tjivar/ noun [c] someone who is successful because they are determined and work hard high / low achiever (=someone who is extremely successful /not very successful in life) Bob's not what you would call one of life's high achievers. -> underachiever

a-chiev-er

A-chil-les' heel

/a'kiliz ,hil/ noun [singular] a weak feature of someone or something that could cause failure or be attacked

Achil-les ten-don

/a.kiliz 'tendan/ noun [C] the body part that joins the muscles in the back of your lower leg to the muscles in your heel

a-choo

/a'tju/ interjection used for representing the sound that you make when you sneeze ach-y /'eiki/ adj mainly spoken if a part of your body feels achy, you feel a pain there that is continuous but not very strong acid /'aesid/ noun •• 1 [C/U] a chemical substance with a ph value (=a measure used in chemistry) of less than 7: hydrochloric compare alkali acid 2 [u] informal the illegal drug lsd 2 ac-id /'aesid/ adj 1 very sour: acidic: Add more sugar if it tastes too acid. 2 containing acid or consisting of an acid: acidic: These plants prefer an acid soil. 3 an acid remark or acid humor shows criticism in a way that is 1

—

clever but cruel: acerbic

'acid .house noun [u] a style of house music that developed in the U.S. in the mid-1980s and became very popular in the U.K. in the late 1980s where it was played at rave parties a-cid-ic /s'sidik/ adj 1 containing acid: acidic soil 2 very sour: a very unpleasant acidic taste a-cid-i-fy /a'sidi.fai/ verb [i/T] to become an acid, or a«cicH'fi«ca'tion cause a substance to become an acid

—

*

part of your body aches, you feel a continuous pain there that is unpleasant, but not very strong: All his Philip's head limbs ached and he shivered in the cold. 1

acid test

11

accus-tomed /a'kAstsmd/ ad)

/a.sidifi'keijn/noun [u] [u] 1 the quality of being acid 1a. the amount of acid in a substance, for example Australian Chardonnay is elewater, or dirt: This food, gantly fruity with good acidity. 1b. a medical condition in which the liquid in the stomach becomes too acid and makes you feel uncomfortable: gast ric acidity 2 an unfriendly and cruel quality in written or spoken words: She flinched at the cutting acidity in his voice.

a-cid-i-ty /a'sidati/noun

acid jazz noun

[u] a type of music that mixes various such as funk, disco, and latin, and combines electronic production with acoustic instruments and sometimes singing acid rain noun [u] rain containing a high level of acid that can damage the environment. It is caused by

styles

pollution in the air.

acid test noun

[C usually singular] a fact, event, or situation that proves something, for example whether a plan will work: The state of the economy is usually the acid test of any government's success.

°,

acknowledge 1

to accept or

verb

[T]

admit that something

***

with a person or subject:

exists, is true, or

he has

He never acknowledges his mistakes (=admits made them). +that She won't acknowledge

there's

a problem. 1a.

is real:

ognize

acknowledged

2

know

[usually passive] to

someone or something

that

acknowledge

is

that that or rec-

important:

sth as being /to be sth Wimbledon is widely as one of the premier tennis tournaments.

someone know

that you have received something they sent you: Unfortunately, we cannot acknowledge all the letters we receive. acknowledge receipt of sth We will acknowledge receipt of your order if requested. 2a. to thank someone for something they have done for you or given to you, especially in writing or by saying it publicly: We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of everyone who helped us. 3 to show that you have seen someone or that you recognize them, for example by smiling or speaking to them: They barely acknowledge each other in public. acknowledge sb's presence James acknowledged his lawyer's presence with a small nod. 3a. to show that you are grateful to people who are clapping or cheering for you by waving your hand, nodding your head, etc.: She stood back and acknowledged the applause of the crowd. to let

ac-knowl-edg-ment

or ac-knowl-edge-ment /sk'nalidsmsnt/ noun 1 [singular/u] something that you say or do in order to show that you accept that something exists or is true: + that There is now almost universal acknowledgment that the program has failed, la. in acknowledgment if you move your hand or head in acknowledgment of someone, you do it in order to show that you have seen them, or have paid attention to what they are saying: He nodded his head in acknowledgment. 2 [C/U] a statement of thanks for something that someone has done 2a. acknowledgments [plural] a statement of thanks at the beginning of a book, made by the writer to people who have helped 3 [C/U] a letter telling you that someone has received the thing

you sent them

ACLU, the

/,ei si el 'ju/

the American Civil Liberties

Union: an organization that protects and defends people in situations where their civil rights (^freedom, fair treatment, etc.) are not being respected

ac-me

/'aekmi/ noun the

acme of

sth the highest pos-

sible standard of something: a movie proclaimed to be the acme of the romantic drama

ac-ne

/'aekni/ noun [u] a medical condition in which is covered in pimples. It mainly affects teen-

your face agers.

/'aeks.lait/ noun [C] 1 someone who helps an important person and supports their ideas, often without ever criticizing them 2 someone who helps a priest during a religious ceremony ac-o-nite /'aeka.nait/ noun [c/u] a plant with blue or yellow flowers. There are several different types of

ac-O'lyte

many

which are poisonous. a*corn /'ei.korn/ noun [c] the nut of an oak tree, shaped like a small egg with a cover like a cup at one end acorn squash noun [c] Am E a small round squash (=a hard smooth vegetable), usually orange or yellow, in the shape of an acorn a-cous-tic /a'kustik/ adj 1 relating to sound and the aconite,

of

way people hear things 2 used for describing a musical instrument that does not use electronic equipment to its sound louder: an acoustic guitar 2a. used for describing music that is not made louder with elec-

make

tronic equipment

— a«cous«ti«cal'ly/3'kustikli/adv

acouS'tics

/a'kustiks/ noun 1 [plural] the way that heard in a room, as a result of the room's

sound is shape and

2

[u]

size:

The acoustics

in the hall

were

terrible.

/a'kwemt/ verb

[J]

formal to give someone

information about something: acquaint sb with sth We

aim to acquaint policy makers with some of these issues. acquaint yourself with sth to make an effort to learn about something: She had failed to acquaint herself with the facts. -» acquainted

acquaintance

acquaintance the only writer of my acquaintance a passing acquaintance (=a little knowledge or experience) I'm afraid I have only a passing acquaintance with Baroque music. 2a. make sb's of sb's

acquaintance to meet someone for the first time: I'd been looking forward to making her acquaintance for a long time.

acquaintance rape

noun [c/u] date rape adj formal if two people are acquainted, they know each other, usually not very well: + with She had been briefly acquainted with him more

ac-quaint-ed

a

/

'kwemtsd /

earlier. get/ become acquainted (=start to talking or doing something together) give you two a chance to get acquainted, a. if you are

than 20 years

know someone by I'll

acquainted with something, you

know about

/a'kwemtans/ noun 1 [C] someone you know a little, who is not a close friend: He recognized Mr. Hunter as an old business acquaintance from his years in banking. 2 [u] formal knowledge of or experience

it:

Are we

acquainted with the facts of the case? ac*qui»esce / .aekwi'es/ verb [i] formal to agree to something or to accept something, although you do not want to: + in /to Despite acquiescing in the board's decision, he had never really changed his own view. all fully

acquies-cent

/,aekwi'esnt/ adj formal accepting or agreeing to something, although you do not want to [u], ac>qui*es*cent*ly adv ac-quire /s'kwair/ verb [T]/orma/ to get something, for example by buying it or being given it: We acquired the company for 100 million dollars. newly acquired his newly acquired acquire sth from sb The business was acquired from Orion four years ago. a. to get a new skill or new knowledge by learning it: How can such a large quantity of knowledge be acquired? the way children acquire language b. to get a particular reputation, position, or name: He soon acquired a reputation as a perfectionist, c. to get a disease, illness, or infection: Any drug user who shares a needle is at risk of acquiring AIDS. d. to gradually develop or learn something: acquire a taste for sth (=start to like it) I've never really acquired a taste for wine. acquired taste (=something you do not like at first, but gradually start to enjoy) Decaffeinated acquire the habit (of doing sth) coffee is an acquired taste. (=start to do something regularly, without thinking about why) We want people to acquire the habit of using

— ac-qui'es'cence noun

**

BMW*

public transportation instead of their cars.

acquisition

/.aekwi'zifn/ noun

••

the process of buying something or obtaining it in some other way: + of the acquisition of property 2 [C] a company that is bought by another company: The industry's wave of mergers and acquisitions continues. 3 [C] formal something that someone buys, or obtains by other means: He was showing off his latest acquisition, 1

[u]

a new computer game. 4 [U] the process of learning skills or getting knowledge: theories of language acquisition

ac*quis*i'tive /a'kwizativ/ adj formal trying to get things, especially because you want them, rather than because you need them— acquis-i-tive-ness noun [U]

ac-quit /a'kwit/ verb [T] [usually passive] to state officially that someone is not guilty of the crime they were accused of: acquit sb of sth He was eventually acquitted of the charges.

acquit yourself well/honorably/admirably etc. to behave or perform in a way that other people admire

ac*quit*tal /a'kwitl/ noun [C/u] an official judgment in a court of law that someone is not guilty of the crime they were accused of: The trial ended in his acquittal. a-cre /'eiksr/ noun [c] * a unit for measuring the surface area of land, equal to 4,840 square yards or 4,047 square meters: + of The hotel sits in 400 acres of woodland. acres of sth informal a very large amount of something: Acres of newsprint have been devoted

the study of sound

acquaint

acrimonious

12

ac-knowl-edge /ak'nalu^/

a»cre«age /'eik9nd3/ noun

[c/u]

to the issue.

an area of land meas-

ured in acres ac*rid /'aeknd/ adj 1 an acrid smell or taste is very strong, bitter, and unpleasant in your nose and throat: stinging, acrid fumes of burning rubber 2 an acrid remark expresses criticism in a cruel way ac»ri*mo»ni*ous /.aekn'mounias/ adj an acrimonious situation is unpleasant because people feel angry ac«ritoward each other: an acrimonious divorce

—

mo-ni'ous-ly adv

acrimony angry and unpleasThe campaign has been marked [u]

ant words and feelings: by acrimony on both sides.

acro-bat

/'skr3 baet/ noun

someone who can

[c]

r

balance, jump, and turn their body in skillful ways, especially as a form of entertainment

acro-bat-ic

/.aekra'baetik/ adj involving balancing, jumping, or turning your body with great skill: The

goalkeeper

made an

acrobatic save.

— ac*ro*bat«i*cal*ly

/.aekra'baetikli/adv

acro'bat'ics /.aekra'baetiks/ noun [plural] 1 the skills or movements of an acrobat 2 the skills that you use when you do something difficult or complicated very well, or when you deal with a lot of things at the same time: the acrobatics of balancing a budget acrobatics in this novel are astounding.

ac-ro-nym

/'aekrs.nim/ noun [C]

The

linguistic

an abbreviation con-

NATO

sisting of letters that form a word. For example, is an acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

a-cross

/a'kros/ function word

Across can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): / walked across the road. as an adverb (without a following noun): hurried across to meet us.

Our

host

1 from one side to the other la. moving or looking from one side of a place, space, or line to the other: Over 70 airlines fly across the Atlantic between Europe and North America. Barbara stared across the room at her husband. The children ran straight across in front of our car. 1b. reaching from one side of a space or surface to the other: Max's body lay across the doorway where he had

There are four bridges across the Cedar River. stood in silence with his arms folded across his chest. used for showing the width of something: one mile/ two meters etc. across The channel is less than half a mile across in some places. 2 on the opposite side on the opposite side of a road, river, line, etc.: There's a bus stop just across the road. They had opened a new factory across the border in Mexico. +from I'm staying at a little hotel just across from the

fallen.

He

1c.

Libyan Embassy. 3 in a large part of an area or surface 3a. in many parts of an area or country: an insurance company that has over 120 offices across America 3b. used for saying that something hits or affects a large area of a part of your body: Julia felt a burning pain across her forehead. He struck me across the shoulders. 3c. used for saying that something spreads until it covers all of an area or surface: There is a danger of the conflict spreading across all of Central Africa. A broad smile spread across the old man's face. 4 including a large range of people or things used for saying that something includes or affects a whole range of people or things: We need to test students' ability across a wide range of subjects. The figures show that across the economy as a whole there has been steady growth. across-the-board adj 1 involving everyone or everything in a place or situation: They face tough acrossthe-board budget cuts. 2 Am E if you make an acrossthe-board bet, you win money if the horse you choose comes first, second, or third in a race a .cross the

—

board

adv:

The same

criteria will be applied across the

board.

a-cros-tic /a'krostik/ noun [C] a number of lines of writing, for example a poem or a word puzzle, in which particular letters from each line form a word or phrase acrylic /a'knlik/ noun 1 [u] a substance made by a chemical process, used for making many different things, for example fibers for cloth and paint 1a. [only before noun] made of acrylic: an acrylic cardigan 2 [C/U] a paint that is made from acrylic, used by artists: This is an oil painting, although I usually work in acrylics. act 1 /aekt/ noun *•• 1

single thing sb

2 law 3 part

act

13

ac-H-mo-ny / 'aekri ,mooni/ noun

does

of play, etc.

4 performance 5 behavior hiding + PHRASES

truth

a single thing that someone does: act of violence/ vandalism/terrorism/kindness/ bravery /desperation etc. No act of kindness is ever wasted. We strongly condemn any act of violence against innocent people. unlawful/ criminal /wrongful /illegal etc. act groups committing criminal acts 1a. be in the act of doing sth to be doing something at a particular moment, especially when something else happens or when someone interrupts you: She stopped in the act of turning and stared at me. 1b. catch sb in the act (of doing sth) to find someone and interrupt them when they are doing something wrong: He denies all guilt, even though he was caught in 1

[C]

the act.

2

[C] a law passed by a country's government: an act of Congress [C] one of the parts that a play, opera, or bai.i.ki is divided into. Each act is divided into two or more scenes: She has a small walk-on part at the beginning of the first act. Act 1, Scene 2 4 [C] a short performance by a comedian, magician, or other performer: He eats fire as part of his act. 4a. a singer, band, or other person or group who performs on stage. Two people who perform together, especially two comedians, are called a double act: They remain one of rock music's most exciting live acts. 5 [singular] a way of behaving that does not show what someone is really like or what they really feel: She isn't really upset; it's all an act. put on an act She's just putting on an act because the boys are here.

3

balancing /juggling act a situation in which someone has to do several different things at the same time be a hard/tough act to follow to do something so well that others who do it after you do not feel very confident about being successful: Ken's a hard act to follow, but I'll do my best. get your act together informal to organize your life or work in a better way, especially by having clear goals and a plan for achieving them: If you want to be finished by Monday, you '11 have to get your act together. get in on the act to take part in an activity that someone else is doing, in order to gain some of the advantages for yourself: First it was politicians, now a novelist has decided to get in on the act.

act 2

/aekt/ verb

•••

do sth

1

2 do a particular job 3 behave in a certain way

4 perform in plays/movies 5 have a particular effect + PHRASES

do something for a particular reason or in a particular way: act in good faith (=believe that you are acting honestly) We acted in good faith - we did not know act out of necessity/ desperation/ the goods were stolen. love/compassion/curiosity etc. She claims that she acted out of necessity (^because she had to). act on sb's advice/ suggestion/orders I'm acting on the advice of my lawyers. 1a. to do something immediately, especially in order to deal with an urgent problem: Had the paramedics not acted so swiftly, he would have died. act to do sth We must act now to prevent further damage to our rainforests. 1b. if you act for someone, you do something as their representative: Lawyers acting for the family will issue a 1

[I

]

to

statement this morning. act on sb's behalf a dealer acting on behalf of a private buyer 2 [I] [+as] to do the job of a particular kind of person: You speak Greek - will you act as interpreter? 3 [i] to behave in a particular way, especially a way that is unusual or annoying: Stop acting stupid!* act like act suspiciously/strangely A I've acted like a total idiot. man was seen acting suspiciously twenty minutes before act as if Just act as if nothing's happened. the robbery. 3a. to behave in a particular way by doing something: act reasonably /fairly /illegally /responsibly /dishonestly etc. Did the network act reasonably in firing the reporter'.' The court must establish whether the accused acted illegally.

4

perform in plays or movies: I've always wanted act the part/role (of sb/sth) Burt Lancaster acted the part of Joseph. 5 [I] [+as] to have a particular effect: The drugs act as a brake on the spread of the disease. 5a. to start to have an effect: Don 't expect the medicine to act immediately. [l/T]

to

to act.

act out phrasal vb [T] 1 to copy the events that happened in a situation by pretending to be the people involved:

1

*3

ACT

activity

14

The scenarios that the trainees act out are videotaped. 2 to express your thoughts or feelings through your words or behavior: He was acting out his feelings of inferiority by being overly aggressive. act up phrasal vb [i] informal 1 if children act up, they behave badly: The kids have been acting up again. 2 if a part of your body or a piece of equipment acts up, it starts to become painful or to develop problems: / hope my bach doesn 't start acting up again.

ACT

/ ,ei si 'ti/ Australian Capital Territory: the area in eastern Australia where the capital city, Canberra, is

ACT, the

/ ,ei si 'ti/ trademark American College Test: a set of tests that someone must take before they are

admitted to some U.S. colleges and universities 1 / 'aektin / adj [only before noun] doing the work of the usual person in a particular job while they are not there, or until a new person starts .After Smith died, she

against them because of it: His remarks were considered actionable by my attorney.

'action figure noun [c] a toy model of a person or imaginary being, especially a character in a movie or a television program

'action-packed

activate

took over as acting leader of the party. /'aektin/ noun [u] * the job or skill of performing in plays and movies: Most of the acting in the show was excellent. ac-tion /'skjsn/ noun •*•

war

process of doing sth

5

fighting in

2 sth sb does 3 movement 4 effect of drug/chemical

6

exciting events

1

7 events + PHRASES

in

play/movie

1 [U] the process of doing something, especially in order to stop a bad situation from developing or continuing: Officials are not planning any immediate action. take action (=begin to do something to solve a particular problem) We urge the authorities to take action. course of action (=something that you do in order to achieve a particular purpose) We have three possible courses of action. 1a. [C/U] the process of bringing a case to a court of law. This kind of action is also called legal action: bring an action (against sb) (=start a legal process against someone) The magazine will fight the libel action brought by the singer. -> class action 1b. [C/U] the process of stopping work or working less effectively in order to protest about your pay, working conditions, etc.: Twenty strikers voted to suspend their action.

2

[C] something you do, especially something that seems wrong or unusual to other people: How can you

justify

your actions?

movement that you make with your body: She found herself copying his actions. reflex actions such as swallowing 3a. [singular/ U] [+of] the movement of an object as it works or makes progress, especially a particular kind of movement: This switch slows down the the erosive action of a great glacier action of the pump. 4 [singular/u] the effect that something such as a drug or chemical has: the action of sth (on sth) the action of certain chemicals on the brain 5 [U] fighting that is part of a war: Can military action be avoided?* killed/missing/wounded in action a list of soldiers missing in action see action (=take part in military fighting) We've been told we're unlikely to see

3

[C/U] a

informal all the exciting or important events that happen in a particular situation or place: Where's [singular]

town? the events that form part of a play or movie:

all the action in this

7

[singular]

In Scene

Br E an instant replay

•

to make a piece of start working: You can activate the system by buttons or voice recognition. acti-va-tion

/'aektiveit/ verb [T]

—

/,aekti'veiJn/noun[u]

ac-tive 1

/'aektiv/ ad)

doing

many

••* 4

activities

2 making sth happen 3 operating/working

of a

volcano

5 producing a reaction 6 in grammar

1 someone who is active does a lot of different activities and has a lot of energy and interests: People are remaining active into later life. la. very involved in the work of an organization or with a particular activity: active member He is an active member of the American Cancer

+in She continues to be active in politics. 1b. used about someone's mind: meditation techniques keep the mind active and alert 1 c. used about activities and periods of time: We had a very active weekend. 2 doing things to make something happen, instead of just hoping that it will happen: There are already active discussions going on. Active steps are being taken to calm the situation. 2a. used for emphasizing that something practical is or enthusiastic: active involvement/ participation/ support 2b. used for emphasis generally: She had taken an active dislike to the work. 3 operating or working in a particular area or at a particular time: Pickpockets are known to be active in the area. 3a. doing a particular activity: sexually active (=having sex) sexually active young women 3b. an active electrical system is working: The burglar alarm becomes active ten seconds after you set it. 4 an active volcano is likely to erupt (=explode and pour out fire) at any time. When a volcano no longer does this it is extinct. 5 science producing a chemical or biological reaction: Surfactants are the active ingredient in detergents. 6 linguistics an active verb or sentence has the person or thing doing the action as the subject. "You hurt me" compare passive is an active sentence. Society. to

—

ac-tive, the

/ 'aektiv/ noun linguistics the active form of a verb. The active is also sometimes called the active voice, —compare passive

active 'duty noun

AmE

active 'service noun

[u]

[u] a soldier, pilot, etc. who is on active duty belongs to a military force as their main job: on active duty injuries received while on active duty

a soldier,

pilot, etc.

who

is

active service is ready to take part in a battle that taking place, instead of simply preparing for one

active

window

noun

[C]

on is

computing an area on a

computer screen showing the program that you are

action.

6

[c]

equipment or a process

acting

acting 2

of activity or exciting events:

ad] full

an action-packed weekend

action replay noun

1,

the action takes place in

an expensive restaurant.

actions speak louder than words used for saying that what you do is more important than what you say you

do in action will

1 doing what you are good at or what you are trained to do: It 's interesting to watch a good salesman in action. 2 doing what something is designed to do: How long before we can see the new ski lifts in action? out of action 1 if someone is out of action, they are injured or too sick to perform their usual activities: Her broken wrist will put her out of action for at least a month. 2 if something is out of action, it cannot be used, for example because it is broken or is being repaired or cleaned: The swimming pool is currently out of action. put sth into action to start using something such as a plan or idea: Our plans aren't quite ready to be put into

action.

ac-tiorva-ble /'aekfanabl/ adj if someone's behavior is actionable, it is so bad you could start a legal case

using at a particular time ac'tiv-ist /'aektivist/ noun [C] * someone who takes part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change, especially someone who is a member of an organization: labor union and party activists activism noun [u] ac-tiv-i-ty /aek'trvsti/ noun 1 U things that people do These environmental changes Economic activity was are the result of human activity. greater during the first part of the year. Airline employees should always be on the watch for criminal activity. 1a. [C usually plural] something that someone does in order to achieve a goal: Employees should not engage in political She monitors activities without a manager's permission. the activities offederal law enforcement agencies. We plan to expand our business activities in East Africa. 1b. [C] something that you do because you enjoy it or because it is interesting: Guests can enjoy plenty of activities, leisure like swimming, surfing, and horseback riding.

—

•••

[

]

:

activities

2 [u] a situation in which people are busy doing different things: On Saturdays, there's always lots of activity in the streets.

"

act of

God

15

,act of 'God noun [c] an event such as a flood, lightning, or an earthquake that is produced by natural forces, and that people have no control over

actor

*** someone who performs and movies, especially as their job

/'aektar/ noun [c]

in plays

ac'tress /'aektras/ noun [c] * a woman who performs in plays and movies, especially as her job. Many women performers

prefer

to

be

called

instead

actors

of

a-cute-ly

/o'kjutli/ adv used for emphasizing that a feeling, often an unpleasant one, is very strong: memories that were acutely painful acutely aware He was

acutely

ad

A.D.

di/ abbrev used after a date to show that it / ,ei refers to a time after the birth of Jesus Christ compare

si ti

'jo/

From the Latin expression the year of the Lord."

Australian Council of Trade Unions: of labor unions

Anno Domini meaning

"in

main organization

in Australia, the

ac-tu-al /'aektjual/ adj [only before noun] •*• 1 used for emphasizing what is really true or exact compared with a general idea: The actual number of people killed is not yet known. We don't know her actual date of birth. 1a. used for emphasizing what is really true or exact compared with what people expected: How does your department's actual performance compare with your plan and budget? The actual situation was very different, lb. used for emphasizing that something is real and not imaginary or part of an idea or plan: The play is based on actual events. Do you have any actual experience as a cook? 2 used for emphasizing the word that follows: All I have to do now is write the actual letter.

ac-tu-al-i-ty /.aektju'aetati/ noun formal

1

[u]

what

really exists: Physics deals as much with possibility as it does with actuality. 2 [C] a fact or something that is real: / tell you all of this to educate you in the actualities of war.

in actuality very formal used for emphasizing

what

is

really true

actually /'aektjuali/ adv ••• 1 used for emphasizing what is really true or what really happened: / need to talk to the person who actually made the application. We've exchanged e-mails but we've never actually met. There's a big difference between saying you '11 do something and actually doing it. 2 used for emphasizing that something is surprising: It looks as if Tony is actually doing some work. Some patients actually got worse after receiving the treatment. 3 spoken used when correcting what someone has said or thinks, or what you yourself have said: He's actually very helpful. / don't think they'd let us, actually. It was yesterday, no actually it was Monday morning. 4 spoken used for admitting something: "Did you spend much money?" "Well, yes. Quite a lot, actually.

ac-tu-ar-i-al /.aektju'erial/ culations about risks

adj business

involving

cal-

/'aektju.eri/ noun [c] someone whose job is to calculate the cost of insurance by examining how

ac-tu-ar-y

often deaths, accidents, etc. happen ac-tu-ate /'aektju.eit/ verb [T] technical to make a machine or piece of equipment start working

a*cu*i*ty /a'kjuati/ noun [u] formal the ability to see or think very clearly and quickly a-cu-men /a'kjuman; 'sekjaman/ noun [u] the ability to make good, quick decisions and judgments: business/ financial /political acumen We are looking for someone with both business acumen and technical expertise. ac-u-pres-sure / 'sekju.prejar/ noun [u] a medical treatment from China that involves pressing on different parts of the body with the hands

/'iekju.pAnktJar/ noun [u] a medical treatment from China that involves putting special needles into particular parts of the body ac-u-punc-tur- ist noun [C]

—

a-cute

/a'kjut/ adj [usually before noun) 1 very serious or severe: an acute shortage of medical supplies 1a. an acute illness is one that becomes very bad very quickly: an acute ear infection lb. used for describing pain that is very strong and sharp 2 used for describing the senses and abilities of someone who notices things very quickly and easily: an acute sense of smell her acute observations on life and love 3 an acute angle is less than 90 degrees compare obtuse 2 —picture -» angle 4 an acute accent is the mark above a letter in some languages that shows it is pronounced in a particular way compare grave 3 a-cute-ness noun U

—

1

'

—

ad-age / 'aedid3/ noun something about

life

[c] a well-known phrase that says and human experience

a«da»gio 1 /3'dad30o/adv slowly: used as an

[

]

instruction

music a«da«gio adj a-da-gio 2 /a'dad30o/ noun [C] a piece of music that should be played or sung slowly Ad-am /'asdam/not know someone from Adam informal to not know who someone is ad-a-mant /'aedamant/ adj determined not to change your belief or decision about something: We tried to persuade her but she was adamant. +that He was adamant that he would not pay any more money. + about They are adamant about buying only organic food. in

— ad-a-mant-ly adv

.Adam's 'apple

noun

[c]

lump

at the front of a

slightly

and moves when

the

man's throat that sticks out he swallows

**

a-dapt

/a'daept/ verb [i] to change your ideas or behavior so that you can deal with a new situation: The company was accused of being slow to adapt. +to Most students have little difficulty adapting to college life. a. [T] to change something to make it more appropriate for a new use or situation: Courses can be adapted to suit the needs of each person. a specially adapted car +for You can adapt this fabric for anything from divers' suits to gloves, b. [T] to change a book or play so that it can be made into a movie, TV program, etc.: adapt sth from sth The movie is adapted from a Michael Crichton novel.

a-dapt-a-ble /a'dxptabl/ adj adaptable people can change their behavior or ideas easily in order to deal with new situations: We need adaptable workers who are willing to learn new skills, a. adaptable things can be used in different situations or for different purposes: adaptable office furniture Most people want insurance changing circumstances. a-dapt-a-bil-i-ty /a.daepta'bllati/ noun [u] a-dap-ta-tion /.asdsp'teijn/ noun • 1 [C] a book or play that has been made into a movie, TV program, etc.: The television adaptation of the stage play was very successful. 2 [u] the process of changing something so that it can be used for a different purpose: They specialize in the policies that are adaptable to

adaptation of industrial buildings for housing. 3 [U] the qualities that make it possible for plants and animals to deal with their environment: the remarkable adaptation of the camel to the desert a-dapt-ed /a'dasptad/ ad\ formal especially appropriate for something or someone: well adapted a plant well adapted to warm, dry conditions

a-dapt-er or a-dapt-or /a'daeptsr/ noun [c] an object that allows you to connect two pieces of equipment of different types or sizes a. an object that allows you to use electrical equipment in countries where there is a different type of electricity supply

ac-u-punc-ture

—

—

B.C.

actresses.

ACTU /,ei

aware of his public image. ** an advertisement

/aed/ noun [C] informal

a-dap-tion /a'daepfn/ noun

from your own

[c/u] adaptation

•••

add

/a?d/ verb to put something with another thing or group of add things: When the sauce is thick, add the cheese. Sth to sth They've added two major companies to their impressive list of clients. * Here's another doll to add to your collection. 1a. [i/t] to put numbers or amounts together to calculate their total: What do you get if you add 75 and 63? children who already know how to add and subtract 2 [T] to give something an extra quality: The Italian add sth to sth Add some chairs add a touch of elegance. sparkle to a black dress with a brightly colored scarf. 3 [T] to say something more that is related to what has been said already: "Don't worry," Jenny added hastily. 1

[T]

+ that

/

should add that

I

am

not happy about this decision.

1

ADD + to it

to that the fact that she's incredibly wealthy,

just doesn t

add

make

and

sense.

fuel to the fire/flames to

make

a bad situation

even worse by saying or doing something that makes someone angry add insult to injury to make a bad situation even worse add in phrasal vb [t] to include something as part of something else: We need to add in some information about his family background. phrasal vb [T] to include an extra thing or amount in something: Hidden charges could add on as much as an extra 25%.-* add-on add on to phrasal vb [T] [add on to sth] to build an extra part onto a building: You might want to add on to the kitchen at a later date. add to phrasal vb [T] [add to sth] to make a quality more extreme: The arrival offive more guests only added to the confusion. add up phrasal vb 1 [i/T] to calculate the total of several numbers or amounts: Now add up the number of calories you have eaten. I'm not very good at adding up in my head. 1a. [i] if small amounts add up, they gradually produce a large total: All these little expenses soon add up. 2 [I usually in negatives] if a set of facts does not add

add on

up, you do not believe it is correct because it does not match other information you have already: There's something about this case that just doesn't add up. add 'up to phrasal vb [T] [add up to sth] 1 if separate amounts add up to a total amount, together they form that total: His business expenses add up to around $4,000 a year. 2 to combine to produce a particular result or effect: These new measures do not add up to genuine reform.

ADD

/,ei di 'di/ noun [u] attention deficit disorder: a medical condition that makes someone more active than normal, makes it difficult for them to concentrate, and causes problems with their behavior Ad-dams Fam-i-ly, the /'asdsmz ,faem(3)li/ an imaginary family from a television program. They behave in strange ways and are very interested in

death.

add-in see add-on ad-di-tion /o'dijn/ noun •• 1 [C] something that you add

to

something

else:

The

addition to her business empire is a chain of clothing New additions to the library include reading lamps and comfortable chairs. This program is a useful addition to their range of business-related software. 1a. [u] the action of adding something to something else: The addition of a few drops of lavender oil to your bath water aids latest

stores.

relaxation.

2

[u] the process of adding two or more numbers or amounts together to make a total: Lesley is teaching the and subtraction. 3 [C]AmE a room or area that is added to a building. BrE usually extension in addition used for adding an extra piece of information to what has already been said or written: People gain valuable work experience and, in addition, employers

children addition

can afford to employ them. in addition to sth used for saying that something extra exists or is happening together with the thing that you are talking about: In addition to the twins, Jason has another child by his first wife.

addi-tion-al

**

/s'dijnsl/ ad] extra, and often more will create an additional 400 jobs. This is the total price of your vacation - with no additional charges.

than expected: The new factory

ad-di-tion-al-ly /a'dijnali/ adv as well as what has already been mentioned, agreed, etc.: Members receive six newsletters a year. Additionally, they have the use of a helpline.

ad-di-tive /'aedstiv/ noun [C] a substance that is added in small amounts to something, especially food, in order to make it last longer, look more attractive, or improve it in some way: color /food additives /'aedld/ adj not able to think clearly: In my addled state I couldn't remember for a minute whose house

ad-dled I

was

in.

add-on

noun [c] something that is added to something want the basic blender, with no add-ons. or add-in computing a computer program or of computer equipment that you can add to a a piece computer in order to increase the number of things it is able to do ad-dress /s'dres; 'aedres/ noun [c] 1 the name of the place where you live or work, including the house or office number and the name of the street, area, and town. It may also include a set of numbers, called a zip code in American English and a postcode in British English: I'll need your name and address. He had given a false address to the police. 1a. a series of letters, numbers, and symbols that show you else: / just

added /'aedad/ adj

[only before noun]

**

a.

1 present in larger amounts than usual or than expected: Baby food should contain no added sugar or salt. 2 an added advantage, benefit, etc. makes a good situation even better: New equipment gives them an added an added bonus / love incentive to start training again. my job. The salary is just an added bonus. 2a. an added difficulty, problem, disappointment, etc. makes a bad situation even worse: The illness was an added setback to her floundering career.

ad-den-dum /s'dendam/

(plural

ad»den«da /a'denda/) is added to a

noun [C] formal extra information that book, document, speech, etc.

ad-der

address

16

Add

/'aedsr/ noun [c] 1

America 2 a poisonous snake that lives in Europe ad-dict /'aedikt/ noun [C] * someone who takes illegal or harmful drugs and cannot stop a. someone who likes a particular activity very much and spends as much time as they can doing it: a TV addict ad-dict-ed /a'diktad/ adj unable to stop taking an illegal or harmful drug: +to He admitted he was addicted enjoying a particular activity very

much

and spending as much time as you can doing it: +to / don want the kids getting addicted to stupid TV programs. 't

noun [C/u] * a strong need that feels to regularly take an illegal or harmful drug: There is a growing problem of drug addiction in our cities. +to an addiction to nicotine a. a strong need or wish to spend as much time as possible doing a particular activity: + to His addiction to the Internet is taking over his life.

addiction /s'dikjan/ someone

ad-dic-tive /s'diktrv/ adj if a drug is addictive, people want to take it more and more and then find that they cannot stop taking

it: These sleeping pills are not highly addictive Cigarettes are harmful, highly addictive, and aggressively marketed to young people. a. something that is addictive is so enjoyable that you want to do it or have it as often as possible: Jogging can become addictive, b. someone who has an addictive personality becomes addicted to things very easily

addictive.

**•

1

to find a particular website on the Internet: url: the address of our Web site? a Web address address or e-mail address a series of letters, numbers, and symbols that you need to send someone an e-mail message: What's your e-mail address? 2 /a'dres/ a formal speech given by someone to a group of people, especially as part of an important occasion: The president is to deliver a televised address to the nation. form/mode/term of address the name or title that you give someone when you speak or write to them: What's the proper form of address for U.S. Senators?

where

a harmless snake that lives

in North

to cocaine, a.

add-on

Do you have 1b.

ad-dress 2

•*

/s'dres/ verb [T] 1 to write the name and address of a particular person or organization on an envelope, package, etc.: Would you help me address these envelopes?* address sth to sb This letter is addressed to Alice McQueen. 2 to speak publicly to a group of people: address a meeting / conference I audience I assembly 2a. formal to speak directly to someone who is with you: He turned his head to address me. address sth to sb Throughout the conversation, he addressed his remarks to my husband. 2b. to call someone a particular name or title when you speak to them: We were all addressed by our last " name. His stepchildren address him as "Mr. 3 to try to deal with a problem or question, for example by thinking carefully about it, or by doing things to improve a situation: Governments have been slow to A number of address the problem of global warming. address yourself to sth We issues are being addressed. need to address ourselves to the question of cost.

H

address book [address sth to sb] to officially tell a particular person or organization your complaints, questions, or comments: All inquiries should be addressed to the head office.

book noun [c] a book with spaces in which you can write people's names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc., usually in alphabetical order a. a piece of computer software that you use to record people's names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses,

ad'dress

etc.

ad-dress-ee

noun [C] formal the person that a letter or package is addressed to ad-duce /a'dus/ verb [J] formal to give a particular fact as proof that something is true ad-e-noi'dal /.aedn'oidl/ adj 1 if someone's voice is adenoidal, some of the sound seems to come through their nose 2 relating to your adenoids adenoids /'aednpidz/ noun [plural] pieces of soft flesh between the back of your throat and your nose that sometimes become swollen and have to be removed a-dept /a'dept/ adj skillful at doing something: a technically adept musician + at The flatfish is remarkably a-dept-ly adv adept at hiding itself on the ocean floor. 2 a-dept /'adept/ noun [C] someone who is very skilled at doing something or knows a lot about something ad*e*qua*cy /'aedakwasi/ noun [u] the quality of being good enough adequate /'aedakwat/adj 1 good enough or large enough for a particular purpose: sufficient: The state needs to maintain an adequate supply of trained teachers. +for The big house is perfectly adequate for just the two of us. adequate to do sth Existing levels of funding are not adequate to deal /,aedre'si/

1

—

*••

but not extremely good: a merely ad-equate- ly adv adequate knowledge of the subject satisfactory,

ADHD /,ei

—

noun [u] attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a medical condition that makes someone more active than normal, makes it difficult for them to concentrate, and causes problems with their behavior ad-here /ad'hir/ verb [l]/orma/ to stick to something: + to It's the type of surface that paint doesn't adhere to very di eitj 'di/

well.

ad here to phrasal vb [T] [adhere to sth] 1 to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc.: We must strictly adhere to the terms of the contract. 2 to support or believe in an idea, plan, opinion, etc.: His followers adhere Hindu, and Christian teachings.

to

a blend of Buddhist,

ad-her-ence

/ad'hirans/ noun [u] formal 1 the action of continuing to obey a rule, law, agreement, etc.: + to a strict adherence to the rule of law 2 support for or belief in an idea, plan, opinion, etc. + to adherence to traditional :

values

ad-her-ent

/ad'hirant/ noun [C] formal a supporter of a set of ideas, an organization, or a person: adherents of Islam ad-he-sion /ad'hi3n/ noun [u] the ability of one thing to stick to

another 1

ad-he-sive /ad'hisiv/ noun [c] a substance used for making things stick together ad-he-sive 2 /ad'hisiv/ adj able to stick to things or to

make

adjec-ti-val /a-dpk'taivl/ ad) relating to or used as an adjective: an adjectival phrase ad-jec-ti-val-ly adv ad-jec-tive Aedpktiv/ noun [C] • a word used for describing a noun or pronoun. The word "big" in "a big house" is an adjective. ad-join /a'dpm/ verb [i/t] formal to be right next to and connected to another building, room, area, etc.: the land that adjoins the park

ad-join-ing

things stick together: adhesive tape/ labels

ad hoc

/,aed 'hak/ adj done only when needed for a specific purpose, without planning or preparation: She has a very ad hoc approach to management, onanadhoc basis Members of the committee are elected on an ad hoc basis. ad hoc adv a-dieu /a'dju/ interjection literary used for saying

—

goodbye in-fi-ni-tum /,aed mfi'naitam/adv if you do something ad infinitum, you repeat it again and again ad-i-os /.aedi'ous/ interjection informal used for saying goodbye ad'i-pose /'aedi.poos/ adj science adipose tissue is used

ad

for storing fat

adj. abbrev adjective

ad-ja-cent /ageism/ adj * next to or near something else: an adjacent area /room /building +to The site of the new building is adjacent to the park.

/a'd3.->inin/ adj

next to and connected to etc.: owners of adjoining

another building, room, area, properties

adjourn

/a'd33rn/ verb [i/t] to temporarily end something such as a meeting or a trial: The case was adjourned

until Monday. ad-journ-ment noun [C/U] adjourn to phrasal vb [T] formal [adjourn to sth] to leave one place and move to another: Let's adjourn to the bar. adjudge /a'd3Ad3/ verb [J] formal to make an official judgment about someone or something ad-ju-di-cate /a'd3udi,keit/ verb [i/t] to make an official decision about a problem or disagreement ad-ju-di-ca-tion /a ^udi'keijn/ noun [u], adjudi-ca-tor noun [C] adjunct 1 /'gree«a»ble /a'griabl/ adj 1 acceptable or able to be agreed on: +to Can mediators produce a compromise that is agreeable to both sides? 2 old-fashioned pleasant, nice, or satisfactory: an agreeable young woman

be agreeable to sthformal to be willing something a*gree*ab*ly adv

—

agreed

/a'grid/ adj

to

do or accept

•*

1 [only before noun] an agreed price, limit, date, etc. is one that people have talked about and accepted: Her husband failed to pay her the agreed sum of money. We waited for a knock, which was the agreed signal. generally/mutually/nationally agreed (upon) There is no generally agreed upon definition of this term. 2 if people are agreed, they all agree about what to do: + on Are we all agreed on where we're going? 3 spoken used for saying that you agree with a suggestion, or for asking people if they agree: "The last one to arrive pays for the meal." "Agreed." j-gree'ment/a'grimant/ noun *** 1 [C] an arrangement or decision about what to do, made by two or more people, groups, or organizations: Our agreement was that you would pay by the first of Check the terms of your lease agreement. the month. + between NAFTA is the trade agreement between Canada,

the United States, and Mexico. + with a license agreement with the software company + ona/i agreement on military cooperation an agreement to do sth The twenty-six counreach an tries signed an agreement to cut air pollution. agreement Management announced that it had reached an agreement with the unions. come to an agreement (=make a decision after a lot of discussion) We finally came to an agreement: I would cook and Ann would clean. 2 [u] the situation when people have the same opinion or have made the same decision about something: + about /on After a long discussion, there was still no

agreement about what to do next. reach agreement The committee finally reached agreement on two important issues. there is general /wide agreement that (=most people agree that) There is wide agreement that the forest damage is the result of atmospheric pollution. 1 to have the same opinion or have the same decision: We are all in agreement that Mr. Ross should resign. 2 [+with] formal to agree with a policy or decision: City hall is in agreement with government policy. 3 [+with] if a set of facts is in agreement with another, they both show or prove the same thing: These recent findings are in agreement with our previous

be in agreement

made

conclusions.

"

agribusiness Words

frequently used with

agreement

conclude, negotiate, reach,

verbs

1

secure, sign

ag«ri«busi«ness /'iegn.biznas/ noun [C/U] 1 the business of making and selling products that are used in farming, or a company that does this 2 the business of operating a large farm to produce as much food and profit as possible, or this way

one of the farms that operates

in

ag-ri-cul-tur-al /.aegri'kAltftaJral/ adj ** relating to The land is farming: agricultural produce / products only to be used for agricultural purposes, a. involved in farming or used for farming: agricultural workers/ machinery ag-ri-cul-ture /'aegn.kAltJsr/ noun [U] ** the work, business, or study of farming: Most of the population is the UN Food and employed in agriculture and fishing. Agriculture Organization ag-ro-chem-i-cal /.aegroo'kemikl/ noun [c] a chemical used in farming, for example a fertilizer a-gron-o-mist /a'gransmist/ noun [c] a scientist who studies

agronomy

a-gron-o-my /a'gransmi/ noun

[u]

the science of agri-

culture

a-ground /a'graond/

adv run/go aground if a ship runs aground, it becomes stuck on a piece of ground under the water, where the water is not deep enough ah /a/ interjection 1 used for showing that you see or understand something: Have you seen Jackie? Ah, there she is. +Ah yes, I remember now. 2 used for expressing a

example for showing that you are interested, surprised, pleased, or annoyed: "I'm afraid I won't be able to do the work. " "Ah, I see.

feeling, for

a«ha /a'ha/

used for showing that you have suddenly realized or understood something: Aha, so you were the one who called me! ahead /a'hed/ function word ***

Ahead

is

interjection

used in the following ways:

an adverb: I could

end of the tunnel ahead. in the preposition phrase ahead of: We have some difficult problems ahead of us. as

see the

1 in front of you 1a. used for saying that something is in front of you, in the direction you are going or looking: There's a motel just a few miles ahead. His attention was firmly fixed on the road ahead. + of The car ahead of us stopped suddenly. up ahead (=not far in front) We're almost there! That's the place up ahead. 1 b. moving, pointing, or looking toward a place in front of you: Francesca was staring ahead into the darkness. straight ahead Instead of turning left, he drove straight ahead toward the river. 1c. moving in front of someone and in the same direction: She walked ahead of him along

the corridor.

2 in the future 2a. used when saying what will happen in the future: +of We have a busy day ahead of us. a young woman with a brilliant career ahead of her days/weeks/years etc. ahead Where will the money come from in the years ahead? 2b. look/think/plan ahead to think about the future or plan for the future: Looking ahead to next summer, where would you like to go? -^ lie' 3 before 3a. before a time or event: +of There will be an inspection of the track ahead of tomorrow's race. ahead of time If you had warned me ahead of time, I wouldn't have gone. 3b. starting to go somewhere a little before someone and arriving there before them: You go on ahead and tell them we're coming. I'll send my luggage on ahead. 3c. used for saying how much earlier the clocks in one place show a particular time than in another: New York is three hours ahead of Los Angeles. 3d. used for saying that someone finishes a race before

someone else: + of David finished ahead of me in last year's Grand Prix. 3e. ahead of time/schedule at an earlier time than was planned or arranged: The train had left ahead of time. Mexico announced its intention of repaying the loan ahead of schedule. 4 having made more progress 4a. used for saying that someone has made more progress than someone else, or more progress than expected: The Russians were Some of these now ahead of them in space research.

five minutes

aid

29

children are two years ahead in reading skills. 4b. used for saying that a particular idea, product, invention, etc. is more advanced than others: The technology was far ahead of anything available in the West. ahead of sb's/ sth's time (=too modern to be accepted or understood) As a writer, Sterne was ahead of his time. 4c. get ahead to make progress in your work and become successful:// you want to get ahead in politics, you have to look confident. 5 having won more points, votes, etc. used for saying that someone is achieving more success in a competition, election, etc. than someone else: + of Eagles are already ten points ahead of their nearest rivals. Opinion polls show Jacobson pulling ahead of Rodgers well ahead (-vf inning easily) At the end of Round 8, Tyson was well ahead.

get/keep/stay ahead (of the game) to react quickly so that you gain/keep an advantage: Our industries have to keep ahead of the game in world trade. -» GO AHEAD /a'hem/ interjection 1 used in writing to represent a sound that you make to get someone's attention in a polite and quiet way 2 used in writing to represent a sound that you make before you say something that may be slightly surprising or shocking a-hold /a'hoold/ adv get ahold of sth spoken to obtain or buy something after trying to get it for a long time: I finally managed to get ahold of a copy of that book you were looking for. get/grab/take ahold of sth to take something firmly in your hand and hold it tightly there: Grab ahold of the

ahem

rope!

-aholic /aholik/ suffix used with nouns and verbs to make nouns meaning someone who likes something a or who is unable to stop doing something: chocoholic (=someone who loves chocolate) shopaholic (=someone

lot

who loves shopping) a*hoy /a'hoi/ interjection used by

sailors for calling to

people on other ships

AHST abbrev Alaska-Hawaii Standard Time: a time zone that includes Alaska

Al

noun aid /eid/ noun /,ei 'ai/ 1

and Hawaii

[u] artificial intelligence

**

1 [u] money, food, or other help that an organization or government gives to a country or area where people need it, for example because of a war or flood: economic/ medical aid The UN provided emergency economic aid to

foreign /overseas/ international aid She the refugees. said the government should spend more on foreign aid. 1a. money that a government gives to a person, group, or organization that it wishes to help: financial aid for small businesses 2 [u] help with doing something: enlist/seek the aid of sb (=try to get someone's help) The police tried to enlist come /go/ the aid of the public in solving the crime. hurry/ rush to sb's aid Ocome to help someone) A passerby heard her screams and rushed to her aid. with the aid of sth Chromosomes can be seen with the aid of a microscope. The pupils created the wall painting with the aid of a local artist.

3 [C] something that makes it easier to do something: + to Hypnosis can be an aid to giving up smoking. teaching/memory/navigation aid Songs can be very useful as

memory

aids.

4 Am E another in aid of Br E 1

spelling of aide

an event is in aid of an organization or group, it is held to make money to help that organization or group 2 spoken used for asking what something is for or why something is happening if

aid 2 /eid/ verb formal

**

to make it easier for someone to do something: A list of technical terms is included here to aid the reader. aid sb in sth He was aided in his research by the fact that Coleridge had kept very detailed records. 1a. [l/T] to 1

[T]

help something to happen more easily or with fewer problems: Gentle exercise aids the circulation of blood around the body. + in Vitamin Caids in the absorption of iron.

2

[T] to give money, food, or other help to a country or organization that needs it: They appealed for more money to aid the homeless.

aid

and abet

legal to help

someone

to

commit

a

crime

aid

agency

aid

agency noun

30

an organization that gives money, food, or other help to people who have been affected by situations such as wars or floods aide /eid/ noun [C] * someone whose job is to help another person in their work: +to a senior aide to the [C]

President

aide-de-camp officer

/,eid da 'kamp/ noun [c] a military is to help an officer of higher rank

whose job

aide-me-moire that helps

you

to

AIDS/eidz/ noun

mem 'war/

/,eid

noun

[c]

something

remember something [u]

••

acquired

immune

deficiency

syndrome: a serious disease that destroys the body's immune system (=its ability to defend itself against infection) and usually causes death. AIDS is passed from one person to another through body fluids (=liquids),

and semen. People first become HIVpositive and then develop full-blown AIDS. Someone who has AIDS is called a (=person with AIDS): an especially blood

PWA

AIDS

test

'aid worker noun [c] someone who works for an international organization giving help in a place where people need it

ailing

/'eilirj/ adj 1 [usually before noun] mainly journalism an ailing organization or economy is not strong or successful: The company is about to sell its ailing publishing division. 2 literary sick and weak

ail-ment

/'eilmant/ noun [C] an illness, usually not a serious one

/eim/ verb ••* to point a gun or an object you are throwing at something you want to hit: When given the order, the squad aimed their weapons. + at /for He was aiming at the tree but he missed, aim sth at sb/sth / looked up to see Betty aiming a gun at me. aim a kick/blow at sb/sth He leapt into the crowd, aiming a kick at a fan. 2 [I] to intend or hope to achieve something: aim to do sth The project aims to provide an outlet for children's creativity. + for Most of the students were aiming for jobs

aim 1

1

[I/T]

air The baby waved

air.

be aimed at (doing) sth 1 if a plan or idea is aimed at a particular thing, it has the goal of achieving that thing: an energy program aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels The regulations are aimed at the prevention of accidents at work. 2 [aim sth at sb] if you aim something you say, write, or create at a group, you want that group to listen to or use what you have said or created: The book is aimed at people with no specialized knowledge. Dole aimed his criticism at corporations promoting and distributing offensive materials. aim 2 /eim/ noun ••* 1 [C] the thing that you hope to achieve by doing something: +of The aim of this project is to help patients to be more independent. with the aim of doing sth We visit schools with the aim of getting young people interested in the theater. sb's aim is to do sth My main aim in therapy is to gain confidence. achieve/fulfill/pursue your aims The group was committed to achieving its aims through peaceful means. aims and objectives (=things that you intend to achieve) We need to clarify the aims and objectives

2

of the project.

your

[singular]

ability to hit

something when you

throw, kick, or shoot something at it: My aim wasn't very good and the ball went over the fence.

take aim

1

to point a

gun

at

something before you and fired.

shoot: He quickly regained his balance, took aim,

2

to look at

something and decide how

or kick in order to hit

ainvless /'eimbs/ or plan

adj

to throw, swing,

it

without any particular purpose

— ainvless*ly adv, ainvless-ness noun [U]

ain't /emt/ spoken a way of saying "am not," "is not," "are not," "has not," or "have not." Many people consider "ain't" to be incorrect. 1 air /er/ noun **• 1 [U] the mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and that we breathe: Do we really want all these cars polluting the air? She breathed in the cold air. I'd like Inside the house the to open the window, I need some air. a blast/rush/draft/gust of (=a current of moving air) A blast of cold air swept through the house. 1a. the air the space around things and above the ground: They threw their hats up into the

air smelled like fresh paint. air

conditioner

legs in the air.

birds flying

through the air 2 [singular] a feeling or attitude that someone has: + of She spoke with her usual air of authority. 2a. the feeling that a place or situation gives you: The overgrown lawn gave the house a neglected air. + of There was an air of gloom about the whole trial. 3 airs [plural] behavior that is not natural and relaxed, by someone who wants to impress people and seem important: put on airs My friends are people I trust, and I don 't have to put on airs with them. 4 [C] old-fashioned a piece of music that has a simple tune

be up in the air yet decided still

up

if

what

is up in the air, you have not happen: Our vacation plans are

a plan will

in the air.

by air traveling by or using

airplanes: The flowers are

sent all over the country by air. sth is in the air used for saying that people all have a similar feeling, especially a feeling that something

exciting or new is happening: There was a feeling in the it was time for a change. Spring is in the air. into/out of thin air if someone or something disappears into thin air or appears out of thin air, they disappear or appear in a sudden and mysterious way: When I looked around he seemed to have vanished into thin air. air that

just happened, out of thin air. off the air/off air not broadcasting on radio or television anymore: Wait till we're off air (=stopped being broadcast). After just 3 episodes the series was taken off It

the air.

on the air/on

air on radio or television: The program went on the air 28 years ago. He's always prepared to defend his case on air. take the air old-fashioned to go outside for a walk, ride, or drive take to the air to begin to fly walking/floating on air extremely happy -> clear 2 fresh air, hang hot air, open air 2 air /er/ verb 1 [T] to broadcast something on the radio or on television: Many viewers were shocked when the TV news aired graphic footage of the war. The show was first aired in 1978. 2 [T] to say in public what your opinions or complaints about something are: In an interview, the singer aired his views on family life. We hold meetings where residents' problems can be aired. air your grievances (=complain) Employees should be given first

1

,

,

in television.

its

the opportunity to air their grievances. 3 air or air out [I/T] if you air a place or it airs, you open the doors and windows to let fresh air in 3a. if you air clothes, sheets, etc. or they air, you put them in warm or moving air until they are completely dry and smell clean air 'out phrasal

'air

bag

vb

[T]

Am E same as air

2

3

a bag in a car that immediately fills the car crashes, to protect the driver and

noun

[c]

with air if passengers base noun [c] a military airport air bed noun [C] a mattress (aplastic or cloth bag) that you fill with air to make a type of temporary bed air-borne /'er.born/ adj 1 an aircraft that is airborne is in the air: Once the airplane was airborne, drinks were brought to the passengers. 1a. used for describing groups of soldiers who jump from aircraft using parachutes the 82nd airborne division 2 carried in the air: airborne germs/ dust/ particles 'air brake noun [C] a type of brake (=piece of equipment to make a vehicle stop or go more slowly) that works by air pressure, for example on a bus or truck airbrush 1 /'er.brAjV verb [T] to paint something or change a picture or photograph using an airbrush airbrush 2 / 'er.br aJ7 noun [c] a piece of equipment that uses air pressure to send small drops of paint onto a picture or photograph Air-bus /'er.bAs/ trademark a type of airplane that can carry a large number of passengers air-con ditioned adj having a system that makes the air colder: All the rooms are fully air-conditioned. 'air conditioner noun [C] a piece of electrical equipment that makes the air inside a building, room, or 'air

:

vehicle colder

air

conditioning

aka

31

*

a system that makes the 'air conditioning noun [u] air inside a building, room, or vehicle colder, or the effect that the machines produce 'air

airport

noun [u] a military operation in which airregularly over an area in order to stop the from attacking a. the airplanes that do this fly

enemy aircraft

/'er.kraeft/ (plural aircraft)

noun

*•

[c]

an

[c]

-k-k-k a place

where

air-

planes arrive and leave, consisting of runways (=long roads where airplanes land and take off) and large buildings for passengers called terminals: Our /light arrived at Dallas airport over 2 hours late.

cover

planes

noun

/'er.part/

air air

air-

power noun [u] the strength of a country's air force

pump noun [C] a piece of equipment used for putting

something such as a tire or a ball air raid noun [c] an air strike air rifle noun [cj a long gun that uses air pressure to fire small round bullets air-sea rescue noun [u] the activity of saving someone from the ocean using a helicopter airship / 'er fip/ noun [c] an aircraft without wings that is filled with gas and has an engine air show noun [c] an event at which people watch airplanes fly and perform impressive movements in the sky air-sick /'er.sik/ adj feeling sick as a result of the movement of an airplane — air-sick-ness noun [u] airspace / 'er,speis/ noun [u] the sky above a particular country that is considered to belong to that country:

plane, helicopter, or other vehicle that flies: military/ commercial aircraft They came under attack from enemy The aircraft had 48 passengers on board. aircraft.

air into

,

'aircraft .carrier noun [c] a ship that carries military airplanes, with a long flat area from which they can take off air-crew /'er,kru/ noun [c] the pilot and other people who work on an airplane when it is flying airdrop /'er.drap/ noun [c] an operation to deliver supplies to a place by dropping them from an aircraft airfare /'er.fer/ noun [C] the money you pay to go somewhere by airplane airfield /'er.fild/ noun [C] a place where aircraft arrive

and

leave, especially military or private aircraft

airflow cially

/'er.flou/ noun [u] the

movement

of air, espe-

unauthorized entry into Cuban airspace

around the outside of a moving vehicle

force noun

airspeed

•*

/'er.spid/ noun [c/u] the speed at aircraft flies

the part of a country's military organization that uses airplanes in fighting: the Russian

'air

[C]

,Air Force president

'One

the airplane that

is

used by the U.S.

air fresh-en-er /'er .frefanar/ noun [c/U] a substance that is used for making a room smell nice 'air gun noun [c] a gun that uses air pressure to fire small round bullets: bb gun airhead /'er.hed/ noun [c] informal a silly or stupid person air-i-ly /'erili/ adv mainly literary in a

way

you do not think someone or something

is

that

shows

important

airing /'enn/ noun [C] 1 an occasion when a television or radio show is broadcast 2 an occasion when people

which an

air strike noun [C] an attack in which one or more airplanes drop bombs on a place air-strip /'er.stnp/ noun [C] a long narrow piece of land that can be used by airplanes for landing and leaving

an air force pilot

air force

the ground to

airtight

,

fly

not allowing air to enter or leave noun [u] the amount of time given to someone or something in a radio or television broadcast air-to-air ad] involving two aircraft while they are both flying: air-to-air combat air traffic control noun [u] the activity of organizing

'air

/'er.tait/ adj

time

the

movement

of airplanes a. the people

who work

as

i

discuss a subject or idea: We'll give the plan an airing at the next meeting.

air kiss-ing /'er ,kisin/ noun [uj the action of greeting someone by almost kissing them but not really touching them. This word often shows that the greeting is not

— air- kiss verb

sincere,

air-less

/ 'erlas/ adj

an

[l/T]

airless place does not

have much

fresh air: stuffy

a letter written on one piece of light paper that is folded over to form a type of envelope and is sent by airmail

'air .letter

noun

[c]

1

/'er.lift/ noun [C] an operation in which people or things are taken into or away from a place by aircraft, especially in a dangerous situation

airlift

airlift

2

air traffic controllers

air traffic controller noun [c] someone whose job is to organize the movement of airplanes in a particular area by giving instructions to pilots by radio

air-waves

/'er.weivz/ noun [plural] radio waves used to send radio, television, cell phone, etc. signals a. the airwaves informal radio or television shows: The group

flooded the airwaves with ads attacking the president's plan.

airway

/'er.wei/ noun [C] 1 medical a tube in your body that carries air into your lungs from your nose or mouth 2 a path through the sky that airplanes regu-

larly use

airwoman / 'er .woman/ (plural air»wo»men/'er uimin/) noun [C] a woman in a country's air force, especially one of low rank in the U.S. or U.K. air force /'er,w3rdi/ adj an airworthy aircraft is in air-wor-thi-ness noun good condition and safe to fly

verb [T] to take people or things into or away from a place by aircraft, especially in a dangerous situation: The injured climber has been airlifted to a

airworthy

hospital.

airy

/ 'er.lift/

airline /'er.lam/ noun [C] •• a company that owns aircraft and takes people or goods by airplane from one place to another: Australia's national airline an airline pilot/passenger He'd always wanted to be an airline pilot.

air-lin-er /'er.lainar/ noun aircraft for passengers

[c]

mainly journalism a large

airlock

/'er.lak/ noun [c] 1 a small room with controlled air pressure that you use to move between two places with different air pressure 2 an air bubble that

stops liquid from flowing through a pipe

airmail

/'er.meil/ noun [u] the

system for sending mail

by airplane

airman / 'erman/ (plural air»men/ 'erman/) noun [c) a man in a country's air force, especially one of low rank in the U.S. or U.K. air force 'air

mile noun

[c]

a unit for measuring

how

far

an

AmE

• an aircraft with /'er.plem/ noun [C] wings and at least one engine: plane —picture -* C7 airplay /'er.plei/ noun [u] the number of times a piece of music is played on the radio airplane

—

[u]

/'eri/ adj

1

with a

of fresh air

lot

and space:

The bedrooms were all light and airy. 2 mainly literary showing that you do not think that someone or something is important ,airy - 'fairy ad]

BrE

informal not practical or sensible

aisle /ail/ noun [C] a passage between rows of seats, for example in a church, theater, or airplane, or between Cereals are the shelves of a supermarket: an aisle seat in aisle three.

go/walk down the

aisle informal to get married laughing/rolling in the aisles an audience that is laughing or rolling in the aisles is laughing a lot one side/both sides of the aisle Am E used for referring to one or both major political parties in the U.S.: The welfare proposal has support on both sides of the aisle. aitch /eitJV noun [c] the letter "h," written as a word a-jar /a'd^ur/ ad] [never before noun] a door that is ajar is slightly open —picture -* opbn abbrev Alaska aka /ei kei ei/ also known as: used when giving someone's real name followed by a different name they are 1

airplane travels

D

AK

also called

,

akimbo (with)

ad)

arms akimbo with

your hands on your hips and your elbows sticking out a-kin /o'km/ adj akin to sth similar to something: The political situation here is

more akin

to dictatorship

than

democracy.

AL abbrev Alabama Ala. abbrev Alabama 1

al-a-bas-ter /'aeb.brestsr/ noun [u] white stone used for making statues and other objects used for decoration al-a-bas-ter 2 /'jBla.baestsr/ adj 1 literary very white and smooth 2 made of alabaster a la carte /,a la 'kart/ adj an a la carte menu has dishes that are priced separately instead of combined into a meal that costs a fixed price (=price that will not increase or decrease)

a-lac-ri-ty /a'laekrati/ noun with alacrity quickly and with enthusiasm [c] Br E a place and unexpected things

A-lad'din'sCave/a.Uednz 'keiv/noun that

is full

of exciting

From

the story of Aladdin in the Arabian Nights finds gold, jewels, and other valuable things in a secret place.

Al-a-mo, the /'aetamoo/ remember the Alamo

who

AmE

used for encouraging someone to continue doing something difficult a place in Texas where there was a battle between a small group of U.S. soldiers and a large Mexican army. The U.S. soldiers were all killed, but their brave efforts are still remembered.

la

mode/u

served with families

'mood/ adj, adv [never before noun] Am E cream s'nan/ trademark an organization for the

la

ice

AI-A-non / ,sl

and friends of alcoholics

1

a-larm /alarm/ noun

*•

1 [C] a piece of electrical equipment that warns you of danger, especially by making a loud noise: burglar/fire/ smoke alarm Every new house comes complete with smoke alarms. car alarm My car alarm went off in the middle set off /trigger an alarm The burglars left of the night. empty-handed after triggering the alarm. 2 [C] an alarm clock: Did you hear my alarm go off this

morning?

3

[U] fear or worry that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen: There was a note of alarm in her voice. cause for alarm (^something to be frightened of or worried about) She will need to stay in hospital tonight but there is no cause for alarm.

sound/raise the alarm to tell people about something dangerous that is happening: The other man swam to the shore to sound the alarm. -» false alarm 2

a-larm /a'larm/ verb [t] ** 1 to make someone frightened

or worried that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen: / don't want to alarm you but I think there is a serious problem. 2 to attach an alarm to something

alarm

a-larm-ist 2 /alarmist/

adj

causing unnecessary fear or

worry: alarmist reports a«las /o'la:s/ interjection often humorous an old word used for saying you are sad about something and you wish it had not happened Alas, abbrev Alaska al-ba-tross Aelbs.trDs/ noun [c] a large white ocean bird with long narrow wings

an albatross (around your neck) someone or something that causes you a lot of problems al-be-it /ol'biit/ conjunction formal used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces the effect of

what you said before

it:

The United States finally

agreed, albeit unwillingly, to support the

UN action.

al-bi-no /jel'bamoo/ noun [c] a person or animal with very pale skin, white hair or fur, and pink eyes caused by a medical condition that they were born with

— al-bi-no adj

album /'aelbam/ noun

[c]

••

a CD, record, or cassette with several songs or pieces of music on it: make/record/release an album The band will release its third album in May. debut album (=a first album) a song taken from Placebo's debut album solo album George Michael's first solo album 2 a book in which you can collect things such as photographs, stamps, or autographs Together we looked through her father's photograph album. + of an album of stamps from around the world 1

:

The Alamo was

a

alderman

32

a-kim-bo /o'kimboo/

bell noun

1

[C]

warn you of something that makes you

a bell that rings to

danger 2 alarm bells [plural] something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen: The report should set off alarm bells about standfeel

ards in education.

albumen

/'aelbjaman/ noun [u] technical the clear substance inside an egg that turns white when you cook

the egg

al-bu-min is in

/'aelbjsman/ noun [u] technical a protein that the white part of an egg, in milk, and in blood

plasma

Al-ca-traz /'aelks.traez/ a U.S. prison on a small island in the San Francisco Bay, which was almost impossible to escape from al-che-mist /'adkamist/ noun [c] someone in the Middle Ages who tried to change ordinary metals into gold

al-che-my

/'aelkami/ noun [u] 1 a type of science that people used in the Middle Ages to try to change ordinary metals into gold 2 literary any special power that seems

like magic al-co-hol /'celka.hol/ noun *•* 1 [u] drinks such as wine and beer that can make people drunk: / used to drink alcohol, but I don't any

more. alcohol abuse 2 [C/U] the substance in drinks such as wine and beer that makes you drunk 2a. a similar substance that is found in chemicals and medicines 1

al-co-hol-ic /.slka'holik/adj

••

containing alcohol: alcoholic beverages /drinks 2 affected by alcoholism alcoholic patients 3 relating to alcohol or caused by alcohol: alcoholic liver 1

:

disease

al-co-hol-ic finds

it

2

/.aelka'holik/

noun

difficult to control the

[c]

•

amount

drink: a recovering alcoholic (^someone be cured of being an alcoholic)

someone who of alcohol they is trying to

who

Alcoholics A'nonymous trademark an organization that helps alcoholics

noun [c] ** a clock that wakes you up at a particular time by making a noise a-larmed /a'larmd/ adj 1 [not usually before noun] frightened or worried that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen Don 't be alarmed, it wasn 't a serious accident. + by/at Economists are alarmed at the prospect of a new wave of lay offs. alarmed to hear/see/find sth / was alarmed to see that the men were carrying guns. 2 protected with an alarm an alarmed door alarming /s'larmir)/ adj frightening or worrying: We are getting alarming reports of refugees being rounded up

al-co-hol-ism /'slkaho.lizam/ noun [u] a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to control the amount of alcohol you drink al-cove / 'rel.koov/ noun [C] a small area in a room that is created by building part of one wall farther back than

and shot, atanalarming rate Violent crime is increasing a-larm-ing-ly adv at an alarming rate. a-larm-ist /alarmist/ noun [C] someone who makes other people frightened or worried in an unnecessary

alder-man

alarm clock

:

:

—

1

way

the rest of the wall al

den-teAel

'den.tei, ael 'denti/ adj

cooked until slightly

firm but not soft

al-der /'oldar/ noun [C] a tree that grows near water and has round leaves and long thin yellow flowers called catkins

/'oldsrman/ (plural al*der*men /'oldarman/) a male politician who is a member of the government of a city in the U.S., Canada or Australia 2 in the past, a male politician who was a senior member of a town council in England or Wales

noun

[C]

1

"

alderwoman al«der*wom>en /'oldar wimin/) noun [c] 1 a female politician who is a member of the government of a city in the U.S., Canada or Australia 2 in the past, a female politician who was a senior member of a town council in England or Wales

ale

/eil/

noun

bubbles a.

[C]

alert

(plural

a type of dark-colored beer without a glass of ale

[u]

1

/a'tert/adj

*

be alert to the symptoms of the disease.

a-lert-ness noun [u] 2 a«lert /3'l3rt/verb [t]

— a*lert«ly adv,

*

someone

in authority about a danger or problem so that they can take action to deal with it: inform: Our neighbors heard the car being broken into and to tell

alerted the police. 2 formal to tell someone about something that may affect them: warn: alert sb to sth Something in his voice alerted Paige to the real danger. alert sb to do sth We will be alerting people not to swim in the water. 3

a«lert /a'brt/ noun [C] a warning that something dangerous has happened or is going to happen: Flood alerts were issued for dozens of rivers. -» red alert

on

alert ready to take action to deal with a dangerous situation: The airplane crashed about 5 miles southeast of Carrollton, and local hospitals were placed on alert. on full alert The troops at the local base were put on full alert. on the alert paying attention to what is happening and ready to react quickly if necessary

al*fal»fa /ael'felfs/ noun [u] a plant with purple flowers that is fed to animals. Some people eat alfalfa sprouts (=young plant stems) in salads. 1

al*fres«co /ael'freskoo/ adv outside, in the open air: Meals can be served alfresco, on the terrace. 2 al'fres-co /ael'freskoo/ adj an alfresco meal is eaten outside, in the open air al-gae /'aeld3i/ noun [plural] plants that have no roots, stems, or leaves and grow in water or in other wet

/'eilioneit/ verb

[t]

1

to

make someone

dislike you, or not want to help or support you: Would they dare risk alienating public opinion'/ 2 to make someone feel that they do not belong in a place or group: The company thinks that noisy crowded restaurants are alienating older customers. 3 legal to give someone else something such as property or rights /'cilio ncitod/ adj feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place, or group: Many single parents feel alienated from society.

al-ien-a-tion /.eilio'neifn/ noun [u] 1 the feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place, or group: The novel is a portrait of teenage alienation. 2 the process of making someone dislike you, or not want to help or support you: The party is now suffering for its alienation of women voters. 3 legal the process of giving someone else something such as property or rights

a-light

1

/o'lait/ adj [never before noun] 1

literary if

some-

one's face or eyes are alight, their expression shows a feeling such as excitement or happiness 2 literary' bright or shining 3 mainly Br E burning: set sth alight Dozens of cars were set alight. set the world/place etc. alight to cause great excite ment, interest, or admiration: His first movie didn't exactly set the world alight.

a-light

2

/a'lait/ verb [I] formal 1 to get off a train, bus, or other vehicle 2 if a bird, insect, or other flying creature alights on something, it flies onto it and stops there: land

alight on phrasal vb [T] [alight on sth] to suddenly notice or think of something: Her eyes alighted on an extraordinary sight. [t] 1 to give your support publicly to a group, political party, or country: Many women do The not want to align themselves with the movement. union's leaders are aligned with the ruling party and the

a-lign /a'lain/ verb

military. -» nonaljgned 2 to organize things so that they line or are in the correct position in relation to other things: The graves were all perfectly aligned. 2a. to organize activities or systems so that they match or fit well together: We have closely aligned

form a straight

our research and development work with our business needs.

places

al-gal

al-ien-ate

ahien-at-ed

1 able to think in a clear and intelligent way: He's remarkably alert for his age. Regular exercise could help you to feel better, look better, and be more alert. 2 [+to] paying attention to what is happening and ready to react quickly if necessary: Parents and doctors must

1

alive

33

ahderwonrvan /'oldorwomsn/

/'aelgal/ adj

connected with algae or caused by

algae

alge-bra /'aeld33br3/ noun [u] a type of mathematics that uses letters and symbols in place of numbers al«ge«bra«ic /,aeld33'brenk/ ad] connected with algebra

— al*ge*bra*i*caMy adv

algo-rithm

/'aelgs.nSam/ noun [C] a set of rides for solving problems or doing calculations, especially rules that a computer uses 1

a-li-as /'eiliss/ noun [C] a different name that someone uses instead of their real name: Schneider entered the U.S. using the alias "Schwerte. 2

a-lignment /alammant/

noun [C/U] 1 the position that something is in when it is straight or in the correct place in relation to other things: The bridge was gradually brought into alignment. 1a. the organization of activities or systems so that they match or fit well together: The bill would bring U.S. employment law into closer alignment with global practice. 2 support for a group, political party, or country: There were two main forms of political alignment in 17th-century England. 1

a-like /a'laik/ ad] [never before noun] if people or things are alike, they are similar in some way: The two versions of the text are alike in many ways. The sisters don't really look alike. 2

•

used before a different name that someone uses instead of their real name: Zeljko Raznatovic, alias Arkan 2 mainly journalism used before the name of a character that an actor is famous for playing: Matthew Perry, alias Chandler in the TV show

a-like /a'laik/ adv

Friends

al-i-men-ta-ry ca-nal /aeli.mentari ko'nael/ noun [c] the long tube in your body that carries food from your mouth through your stomach to your anus al-i-mo-ny /'aelimooni/ noun [u] money that someone pays to support a husband or wife they are no longer married to A- line ad] an A-line skirt fits closely around the waist and is slightly wider at the bottom

a-li-as

/'eiliss/ preposition

1

al-hbi /'aehbai/ noun [C] 1 someone who has an alibi can prove that they were somewhere else when a crime was committed and so can claim to be not guilty 2 an excuse for not having done something you should have done: Constant government interference only provides management with an alibi for poor performance. alien 1 /'eilian/ noun [c] ** 1 someone who is not a citizen of the country they are living in: illegal aliens 2 a person or creature 2

a«li«en /'eili3n/adj

from a planet other than Earth

*

1 [only before noun] from a different country, race, or culture: Under the program, alien workers can enter the U.S.

2

relating to a planet other than Earth, or involving creatures from a planet other than Earth 3 completely different from what you usually do, feel, or know: strange: They found the new business environment alien and puzzling. +to The concept is totally [only before noun]

alien to her.

in the same way or in a simdar way: Not everyone acts or thinks alike. 2 used for referring to two people or things equally: It's a show that appeals to young and old alike. 1

A-

list ad] [only before noun] mainly journalism referring to the most famous, most successful, or richest group of people in society who are often seen in newspapers,

on television, a-live /a'laiv/

etc.

—compare

b-i.ist

ad] [never before noun]

**•

and not dead: My father died last year but my mother is still alive. He is lucky to be alive after his fall. stay alive The family was stealing food just to stay alive. 1

living

while still be buried /burned /captured etc. alive The dog was rescued alive after being trapped for not and gone or still existing without 1a. food. 25 days forgotten: Memories of the controversy are still very much
ka*line /'slka.lam/ sisting of an alkali 1

alkaloid

adj

containing an alkali or con-

2

al-ka-loid /'selka.bid/ adj word for alkaline all h\l function word *•*

AmE

technical

—another

All can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by an uncountable or plural noun): They had given up all hope. All children deserve encouragement.

as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as "the," "this," or "his"): / want to hear all the details. We

our money.

as a pronoun: All was quiet in the street outside, (before a relative clause): I've done all that I can to help her. (followed by of): I want to invite all of you. (after the subject of a sentence): These buildings all belong to the college, (following the pronoun object of a sentence): Pauline said goodbye to them all. (after a modal or auxiliary verb or the verb "to be"): We can all relax. The tickets had all been sold. as an adverb (before an adjective, adverb, preposition, or conjunction): Bernard was all alone in a strange city. They forgot all about everything else. 1 the whole amount of sth 1a. the whole amount or every part of something: There's no cake left. They've eaten it all. Have you spent all your money?** of We need to make sure that all of our equipment has been checked. 1b. the whole amount of a period of time: Sally had spent all her life working for others. all day/night/week/

year etc. I've been awake all night worrying. all the time (=very often or continuously) The situation is changing all the time. She needs to have someone looking after her all the time. all through It kept raining all through March. 1c. the whole of a group: entertainment for all the family 1d. the whole of a situation or problem: You can't blame it all on David. Good luck! I hope all goes well. 1 e. used in expressions for referring to every part of a place or surface: all over/around/across/along etc. We've had messages of support from all around the world. Oh, look, you spilled it all over the carpet. 2 every one every person or thing: We all enjoyed the party. No one can solve all these problems. All seven Over 90% of all astronauts were killed in the explosion. +of / want all traffic accidents result from human error. not all Not all lawyers have of you to listen carefully. large incomes.

3 used for emphasis 3a. used for emphasizing that something is completely true: I'm all in favor of giving children more freedom. Now we're going to be late, and over (^completely finished) Divorce is a very complicated business - I'll be glad when it's all over. 3b. informal used for emphasizing how strong or complete a feeling or quality is: He started to get all excited when I told him Cynthia was coming. 3c. all at once or all of a sudden very suddenly: All of a sudden there was a knock at the door. 3d. all of sth informal used for emphasizing how small an amount is: It took me all often seconds to realize what was going on. 3e. all it's

all because of you.

was just trying to make suggestions - that's all. 5 w hen the scores are equal in a game used for showing the score in a game when each of the two players or teams has scored an equal number of points: Sampras won the next point, bringing the score to 30 all.

fering. I r

1

/'aelka.bid/ noun [C/u] science a substance found in plants that is used in drugs or as a poison

lost all

all

the more/better etc even more/better etc than before: / enjoy playing tennis, and if they're willing to pay me for it - well, all the better! 3f. all too easy/few/often etc used for emphasizing that something is too easy/that there are too few/that something happens too often etc: It's all too easy to borrow money that you can't pay back. 3g. first/best/most etc of all used for emphasizing that you mean before anything else/better than anything else/more than anything else etc: First of all, I want to welcome our guest speaker. His music was the thing he loved most of all. 3h. in all probability/likelihood/honesty/seriousness etc formal used for emphasizing that something is likely/that you are being honest etc: In all likelihood, Mr. Crawford will die before his wife. / must admit, in all honesty, that progress has not been as fast as we had hoped. 4 when there is nothing more 4a. used for saying that there is nothing more except what you are mentioning: All I have left is four dollars. All we can do is sit and wait (=we cannot do anything more). 4b. that's all spoken used for saying that there is nothing more involved than what you have mentioned: / wasn't inter-

all

but almost: Mendel's research was all but forgotten. Br E 1 so tired that you cannot do anything more 2 if the price of something is all in, it includes everything all in all mainly spoken used for showing that you are considering every aspect of something:^// in all, I think it has been a very successful conference. all out having none to sell: We had some Beanie Babies last week but now we're all out. +of We're all out of the pink ones. .and all 1 used for showing that everything or everyone else is included: Barney was in his best clothes - silk tie, diamond pin and all. 2 spoken used for showing that you are considering the whole of a situation: / thought we'd go for a ride, with it being nice weather and all. be all. spoken used for telling someone what other people have said, especially when it was said in an unusual or emotional way: He's all, "I don't have to listen to you!" and she's all, "Yes, you do!" be all smiles/sweetness/charm etc used for saying that a person or situation shows a lot of a particular quality or type of behavior: She was all smiles when the all

all in

.

.

.

new be

.

boss

came

all that

in.

Am E spoken

to

be very impressive, fash-

ionable, or sexually attractive

be

all

there informal

you mean they are

if

you say someone

is all there,

intelligent

there informal if you say that someone is not all there, you mean they lack intelligence or they are crazy for all sb knows/cares mainly spoken used for saying that even if something was true, a particular person would not know/care about it: He might be a murderer, for all we know. / might as well be dead, for all you care. for all sth despite something: For all its faults, Houston is a city that you grow to love. go all out to use all your energy, strength, and determination in order to achieve something: Brazil is going

be not

all

all out to protect its markets.

in all or all told when the whole amount or number is included: In all, there are over 120 languages spoken in the city's schools. all that good/bad/big etc or not as good/bad/big etc as all that used for saying that something is not very good/bad/big etc: I didn't finish the book - it wasn't

not

all that interesting.

of all things/people/places mainly spoken used for expressing surprise that a particular thing/person/ place is the one involved in something: And now she's chosen AT

to live in

*

all-

hM prefix

1

Alaska, of all places! only: used with

many

adjectives

and

to show that something includes only the type of thing or person mentioned: an all-female band an allstar team 2 whole: used with many nouns to show that something includes the whole of something, or all the

nouns

Allah

American final. adj 1 good at doing a lot of different things, especially in sports. BrE all-round: an all-around athlete /hero Bo Jackson is a superb all-around athlete, playing several sports professionally. 2 in every way: Jimmy 's an all-around great guy. [J]

formal

if

you allay feelings such as someone feel less

fears, worries, or doubts, you make afraid, worried, or full of doubt

all 'clear, the noun a signal or announcement that tells people that a period of danger has ended: The bomb had been safely disarmed and the all clear was given, a. if someone who has been sick or injured is given the all clear, doctors tell them that they are well again

all-com-ers /'ol ,kAmarz/ noun [plural] all the people who want to take part in an activity, especially a race or competition, with no limits on their age, ability, or experience

day adj [only before noun] 1 continuing for the whole day: an all-day event/meeting 2 available at any time during the day: an all-day breakfast

all-

al-le-ga-tion / ,aeb'geijn/ noun [C often plural] ** a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved: + of allegations of fraud and corruption +that There were allegations that the movie encouraged violence. make allegations against/ about sb / hear you've been making allegations against your ex-wife. deny allegations (=say they are not true) She denied the latest allegations. al-lege /3ied3/ verb [T] ** to say that something is true or that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved: +that The defense alleges that Jones was beaten up while in police custody. be alleged to have done sth He is alleged to have ordered the murder of a U.S. citizen. al-leged /a'led3d/ adj [only before noun] ** claimed to be true, even though this has not been proved: The alleged victim's evidence could not be relied upon.

al-leg-ed'ly /3'led33dli/ adv * if someone allegedly does something, another person says that they have done it, even though this has not been proved: The second incident allegedly occurred in the spring of 1992. [c/u] strong loyalty to a person, group, idea, or country

al-le-giance /3'lid3ans/ noun

al-le-go-ry /'aebgsri/ noun [C/u] a story, play, poem, or picture in which the events and characters are used as symbols in order to express a moral, religious, or political idea a. [U] in literature, the use of events and aMe-gor'i'cal/.aeb'gonkl/ adj, characters as symbols

—

al-le-gor-i-cal-ly / .aeb'gonkli/ adv 1 /a'legroo/ adv in music, an instruction that aMe«gro adj a piece should be played or sung quickly 2 al-le-gro /s'legroo/ noun [C] a piece of music that should be played or sung quickly aMe-lu-ia /.aeb'luja/ interjection another spelling of hallelujah all-envbra-cing I p\ im'breisirj/ adj including everything or everyone a simple Al-len wrench /'aebn ,rentJ7 noun [c] L-shaped metal tool used for turning a screw that has a hole with six sides in the top al-ler-gen / 'aebrd^sn/ noun [C] medical a substance that produces an allergic reaction in someone

aMe»gro

—

AmE

aMer-gic

reaction 2 [+to] humorous if thing, you do not like it at

/a'l3rd3ik/ adj 1 [+to] affected by an allergy: I'm allergic to nuts. 1a. caused by an allergy: an allergic

you are all:

allergic to someI'm allergic to Monday

morning.

al-ler-gy f'xterd&/ noun (c/u) a medical condition in which you become sick or your skin becomes covered with red marks as a reaction to something you eat, breathe, or touch: a food allergy She has an allergy to cow's milk. /.Vlivi.eit/ verb [T] to make something less painful, severe, or serious: The doctor has prescribed some drugs to alleviate the pain. The U.N.'s most important objective is to alleviate world poverty.

al-le-vi-ate

aMey/'aeli/noun [C] • 1 a narrow street or passage between or behind The attack occurred

ings:

2

Am E one of the two

in

a dark

— picture -^(.w

when

build-

alley.

narrow areas

tennis court that are used

alia round

a May /a 'lei /verb

all-nighter

35

people or things of that type: an all-night celebration 3 including everything: used with some adjectives and participles to show that something includes everything, or to add emphasis: all-encompassing peace talks Al-lah / ab, 'zeta/ the name of God in Islam all along adv from the time that a situation starts to happen: / knew all along that it wasn't his real name. ail-American adj 1 an all-American player is a student at a high school, college, or university in the U.S. who has officially been called one of the best in their particular sport 2 an all-American boy or girl has all the good qualities that many people in the U.S. consider typically American, for example being attractive and healthy, and working hard: an ail-American girl from the heart of Kansas 3 made up only of people or things from the U.S.: It's going to be an ail-

at either side of a

four people are playing

be right up sb's alley informal to be what someone likes or is good at doing: Teaching computers to adults that sounds right up my alley! -» BLIND ALLEY 'alley ,cat noun [c] a cat that lives in the streets of a town or city and is not being taken care of by anyone aMey«way /'ieli.wei/ noun [c] an alley

al-li-ance/a'laians/ noun

**

1 [C/U] an arrangement between two or more people, groups, or countries by which they agree to work together to achieve something: + between an alliance between conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans

+with Successive French governments maintained the alliance with Russia. enter into/form/forge an alliance Independent companies are encouraged to form strategic alliances to help them compete. in alliance with sb (= working together with someone) a marketing campaign by Apple in alliance with other names 2 [C] a group of people, organizations, or countries who have united to work together to achieve something: members of other parties within the alliance 2a. the Alli-

ance [singular] nato al-lied Aelaid; s'laid/adj • 1 Allied [only before noun] belonging to or connected with the countries that united to fight against Germany in World Wars I and II, or against Iraq in the Gulf War: Allied soldiers/forces Allied forces landed in Normandy

summer of 1944. related because of having shared qualities or inter-

in the

2

ests: library science

3

and

allied subjects

if something is allied to or with something connected with it or working together with it: Tax increases, allied to a collapse in export markets, have

[+to/with]

else,

it is

seriously hurt industry. al*li-ga-tor /'aeli.geitar/ noun [c] a large reptile with a long tail, four short legs, a long pointed mouth, and sharp teeth that lives in parts of the U.S. and China. Alligators are amphibious (=they can live both in water and on land), and they are closely related to crocodiles. all-im portant adj very important or the most important of all: We learned what to do in those all-important few minutes after an accident occurs. all-in adj Br E all-inclusive all-in elusive adj including everyone or everything,

especially all the costs, charges, and services that make up the total price of something: a package tour at an allinclusive price of $350

all-in-one adj [only before noun] made up of two or more parts that form a single unit or have a single purpose or use: an all-in-one Internet appliance ahlit-er-a-tion /ohto'reijn/ noun [u] linguistics the use of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words in a sentence, especially in poetry

all-night

adj [only before noun] 1 an all-night party, etc. continues until the next morning: on allnight vigil for peace 2 an all-night store, restaurant, bus service, etc. continues to operate for the whole night:

meeting,

all-night supermarket shopping

all-nighter noun

[C] something that continues for the whole night, especially a party a. Am E informal a whole night that you spend studying while you are in college. You say that you pull an all-nighter when you

study

all night.

"

"

allocate

all

36

al-lo-cate /'sta.keit/ verb (T) • to officially give something to someone, or decide that something can be used

of something that you are officially allowed by a particular set of rules or by the law: the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C* Your baggage

for a specific purpose: Our task is to decide the best way to allocate scarce resources. No agreement was reached on how much money should be allocated. allocate sb sth We allocate each student a personal tutor. allocate sth to sb/sth The committee allocates funds to universities. allocate sth for sth We're not saying that these sites should

allowance

finished the

test in the allotted

time?

out

ad 1 an all-out effort involves all of someone's energy, strength, and determination: There was an allout push to get the applications in on time. 2 an all-out war or attack involves all the forces that are available: an all-out assault/ offensive/ conflict

all-

all-over pletely:

al-low

ad]

an

covering the surface of something com-

all-over tan

/s'lau/ verb

1 give

[T]

•••

permission

2 give sb an opportunity 3 provide enough of sth

4 in a court of law 5 accept sth is true + PHRASES

someone permission

to do or have something: I'm sorry, sir, but smoking is not allowed. allow sb to do sth She only allows the children to watch television on the weekends. I'm not allowed to drive my dad's car. allow sb sth Some prisoners are allowed visitors. allow yourself sth I'm on a diet but I allow myself an occasional piece of cake. allow sb in/back/through etc. If you leave the club, you will not be allowed back in. 2 to give someone or something the time or opportunity to do something: allow sth to do sth Allow the cake to cool for five minutes before taking it out of the pan. allow sb to do sth Unfortunately, they didn't allow me to explain the thinking behind my decision. 2a. if something such as an object or situation allows you to do something, it makes it possible for you to do it: allow sb to do sth A VCR allows you to record programs and watch them later. 3 to make certain that you have enough of something such as time, food, or money for a particular purpose: Please allow 28 days for delivery. How much rice do you allow for each person? 4 legal to decide that a piece of information is acceptable in a court of law: This evidence will not be allowed 1

to give

in court.

5

formal to admit or accept that something is She allowed that the matter was serious. phrasal vb [T] [allow for sth] to consider something when making a plan or calculation: The cost of the new road, allowing for inflation, is around $17 million. The survey does not allow for the fact that some students [+that]

true:

allow for

are attending part-time.

al-low-a-ble /a'laosbl/ adj allowed by a particular set of rules or by the law: Meals are an allowable expense. noun [c] ** 1 an amount of money that parents give a child regularly: I had to pay for the broken window out of my

allowance /a'lausns/

allowance. 1a. an amount of money that someone receives regularly, in order to pay for the things they need: She receives a monthly allowance of $500. a housing/ clothing allowance (=money given to help people with their rent, clothes, or heating) The overseas placement includes a housing allowance. 1b. Br E a tax exemption

pounds. (for) 1

to accept

behav-

you would not normally accept because you know why someone has behaved that way: We have to ior that

make allowances for his lack of experience. 2 to consider something when making a plan or calculation: My calculations make allowance for two paid employees. al-loy /'ae.bi/ noun [c/u] a metal that is made by combining two or more metals all-points bulletin noun [c] Am E an apb

all-powerful

,

adj having complete control over everyone or everything: omnipotent: He denied the existence of an all-powerful God. all-, purpose ad] able to be used in a lot of different ways: an all-purpose stain remover all-purpose flour noun [u] AmE ordinary flour that contains no baking powder. Br E plain flour 1 all right adj. adv mainly spoken •••

al-lot-ment /a'latmant/ noun deciding to give someone part

1 [u] the process of of an amount of something, especially money or time: the allotment of shares to employees 1a. [C] part of an amount of something that is given to someone: an allotment of tickets 2 [C] BrE a small piece of land in a town or city in the U.K. that you can rent and use for growing vegetables

is 75

make allowance/allowances

be allocated for development.

al-lo-ca-tion /.aeb'keijn/ noun • 1 [C] an amount or share of something that is given to someone or used for a particular purpose: The team has received an additional allocation of tickets. 2 [u] the process of deciding to give an amount or share of something to someone: the allocation offunds all-or-nothing adj involving either the whole of something or none of it: The legal system seems to take an allor-nothing approach to punishing young offenders. al'lot /a'lat/ verb [T] to give someone part of an amount of something that is available, or decide that something will be used for a specific purpose: How many students

right

2 an amount

1 fairly/very

2 going

5 6

good

well

3 for permission

4

for

making sb less upset

for admitting sth

+ PHRASES

not hurt/sick

1 satisfactory or fairly pleasant, but not excellent: Chicago's all right, but I'd rather live in New York. My teacher is all right, but she doesn't really listen to me. 1a. very good or nice: "What's the new guy like?" "He's all right!" 2 going well or happening successfully: go all right Did the party go all right?* do all right (=be fairly successful) My brother was unemployed for years but he's doing all right now. 3 used for saying that you will allow someone to do something, or you do not mind if they do it: okay: be all be all right to do sth It's all right to skip some questions. right if sb does sth Is it all right if I open the window?* be right "Is it all all right with /by sb (=they do not mind) with you if I bring a friend?" "Yeah, that's all right by

me!"

4

not hurt or sick: okay: You look terrible, are you all right?* The car's wrecked, but he's all right. 5 used for making someone feel less worried or upset: okay: It's all right, I'm here. Don't cry, everything's going to be all right. 6 used for admitting that something is true, especially when this is not the most important fact in a situation: He's attractive all right, but he's not that bright. it's/that's all right used when someone has thanked you or said sorry to you, to show that you do not mind: "Thanks for the lift. " "That's all right. (it's) all right for sb spoken used for saying that is lucky because they do not have the same problems as you: It's all right for you, you've got a car,

someone

but I have to take the bus home. right for some (people) Br E spoken used for saying that you think someone is very lucky (it's) all

all 'right

2

interjection

•••

1 for

agreeing to sth

2 3

checking agreement

for

for showing you heard

4 forgetting attention 5 for admitting sth 6 for saying hello

1 used for agreeing with a suggestion or agreeing to do something: "Should we ask Kate to come too?" "All right. " "Will you call me when you get there?" "Y&>, all right." 1a. used for agreeing to do something or agreeing to let someone else do something, although you do not really want to: "Can't we stay a little longer?" "Oh, all right, but just five minutes."

for checking that someone understands or agrees: This is where you plug the keyboard in, all right? 3 used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said: "We need to leave in ten minutes. "All right, I'll be ready. " 3a. used for showing that you have heard or understood what someone has said and you are annoyed with them for repeating it: "Will you please clean up your bedroom?" "All right! I'm going to!" 4 used for getting someone's attention when you want to start talking about or doing something new: ,4// right,

2 used

E

E

M

all-round open your books to page 23. All right, let's go. 4a. used for getting someone's attention when you want to ask what they are doing or what is happening, especially when you are annoyed: All right children, what's going on here? 5 used when you are going to admit something: okay: / waited for hours. All right, I'm exaggerating, but it seemed like hours. used for saying hello to someone class,

6BrE

all-round adj Br all-around all-rounder noun [c] BrE someone who doing a all-

an is

is

good

at

lot of different things, especially in sports

singing,

"

all-

dancing

adj [only before noun]

Br

all-singing, all-dancing system or piece of equipment very advanced and able to do everything you want it

along used for emphasizing how great, loud, or serious something is: an almighty bang /crash

God/Christ Almighty offensive used for emphasizing what you are saying, especially when you are angry or surprised

Almight-y, the /al'maiti/ god al-mond /'umond, a'lmond/ noun

[Cj 1 a flat white nut with a brown skin that is often used in cooking 2 a small tree with pink flowers that produces almonds al-most/'almoost/adv nearly but not completely: "Are you ready?" "Almost! I'm just putting my shoes on. The baby's almost It's almost a year since she died. walking now. almost all Almost all of the students here are from South America. almost every/everyone/everything almost as. .as etc. Almost everything was lost in the fire. Sam 's almost as tall as his mother. almost certainly Anne will almost certainly get the job, don t you think?

***

.

to

/'ol.spais/ noun [u] a powder made from the fruit of a tropical tree that is added to food to give it

all-spice

extra flavor

all-star ad) [only before noun] containing only very famous or very good performers or sports players: an all-star cast/ team All-Star 'game noun [c] a baseball game played every

summer

in the U.S. that the best professional players take part in

.all-terrain 'vehicle noun [c] a vehicle with no roof, three or four wheels, and usually only one seat, used for driving over rough, soft, or wet ground

all-time someone

adj

[only

noun]

before

comparing

used for

alms /amz/

noun [plural] old-fashioned money, food, or clothes given to poor people

al-oe /'slou/ noun

[C] a plant with thick pointed leaves that contain a lot of liquid

vena /,aeloo 'vira/ noun [u] the thick liquid from the leaves of a type of aloe, used in medicines and in creams that you use on your skin

al-oe

literary high up in the air a>lo*ha /a'loo.ha; s'loua/ interjection hello or goodbye: used especially by people who live in Hawaii alone /a'loon/ function word •••

a*loft /a'bft/ adv

or something with all the other people or things of the same type that have ever existed: Bogart has got to be one of the all-time greats. Interest rates are

at

an

/a'lud/ verb allude

[allude to sth] to

indirect

,to

phrasal vb

[T]

formal

knows where

fight against Germany in Iraq in the Gulf War

World Wars I and

II,

or against

[C] someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone else who is causing problems for you: If you're going to succeed in this job you will need allies.

2

/a'lai; 'ae.lai/

Kim prefers

to travel alone.

He alone

the files are hidden.

without anyone with you la. il you are alone, there is no one else with you: Shelley is divorced and lives all alone ^completely alone) She was all alone alone. in a dark forest, lb. used when two people are together and no one else is there: It was forbidden for an unmar+ with Roger hadn had ried couple to be alone together. 1

al'lure /s'lor/ noun [u] a special, exciting, and attractive quality that something or someone has: sexual allure* + of the allure of gambling al-lur-ing /s'lonn/ adj attractive in an exciting way aMu'Sion /a'lu3n/ noun [c/u] a statement that refers to something in an indirect way: Horvath made an allusion to some problems in his past. al-lu-vi«al /a'luvisl/ adj technical made of earth and sand left by rivers or floods allu-vi-um /a'luviam/ noun [C/u] technical dirt containing earth and sand left by rivers or floods 1 al«ly /'ae.lai; aiai/ noun •• 1 [C] a country that makes an agreement with another country that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war: the United States and its European allies 1a. the Allies [plural] the countries that united to

verb

with another country,

[T] it

1

if

a country allies

itself

makes an agreement with

it

that they will work together to help each other, especially in a war 2 if you ally yourself with someone, you work together to help each other

Am

E a restaurant that serves alladj you-can-eat food will continue serving you as much of that food as you want for a fixed price (=price that will not increase or decrease): all-you-can-eat golden fried

all-you-can- eat

shrimp

al-ma ma-ter / .alms

'matar/ noun [singular] 1 the high school, college, or university where you were a student 2 E the official song of a high school, college, or

Am

university

alma-nac

as an adverb:

mention someone or something in an

way

in

the house.

all-time high.

allude

aMy2

Alone can be used in the following ways: as an adjective (never before a noun): / was alone

/'olmanaek, 'slms.naek/ noun [C] 1 a book published every year that tells you about the movements of the planets, the times of the tides, and the dates of important events 2 a book published every year that tells you about what happened in a particular subject or activity al-might'y/ol'maiti/adj 1 Almighty used for emphasizing that God is believed to have power over everyone and everything: Let us pray to Almighty God. 2 informal

't

a chance before to be alone with Therese. 2 lonely feeling that you have no friends and that no one cares about you: Jim said goodnight and left, feeling alone in the world (=not having any sad and alone. friends anywhere) I felt completely alone in the world.

3 without any help you do

it

3a. if you do something alone, without any help from other people: He is so

severely disabled that he cannot

manage

Was

alone.

the

3b. go it alone to live, work, or decisions on your own, without any help from other people: More women are going it alone in business. killer acting alone?

make

4 without

including anything else [never before noun] without including numbers or amounts from anywhere else: Kazakhstan alone had more than 100 different nationShe earned over a million dollars from television alities. appearances alone last year. 5 the only person or thing 5a. [never before noun] used for emphasizing that a particular person or thing is the only one that has something or can do something: He alone was allowed to make decisions on foreign policy. Time alone will show whether the voters made the right choice. 5b. be alone in (doing) sth [usually in negatives or questions] to be the only person that does something: Miller was not alone in his opposition to the war. alone in thinking that Biggs could be wrong?

Am

I

leave/let sb alone to stop annoying or criticizing someone: / wish they'd just leave me alone. leave/let sth alone 1 if you leave something alone, you do not do anything to it or touch it: Leave those flowers alone - you 're going to ruin them. 2 to stop Drying to deal with something

along

/o'bn/ function word

Along can be used

*•*

in the following

ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): Street and turn left.

Go along South

as an adverb (without a following noun): the children along? 1 moving on or beside a line 1a. a line, road, path. etc. toward one

Can

I

bring

moving forward on end of it: Mrs. Klein

1

alongside

alteration

38 2

was hurrying along the path toward us. We walked along in silence. 1b. moving from one place to another while

al-pine /'^el.pain/ noun high mountains

staying near the side or edge of something: They were sailing along the southern coast of Australia.

already

2 used

for

showing where sb or sth

is

2a. continuing

in a line on or beside a road, river, wall, etc.: The stores along 5th Avenue were brightly lit for Christmas. a line of trees along the river bank 2b. at a place on or beside a road, river, etc.: The sound of gunfire was coming from somewhere along the road. 3 coming here or going there 3a. coming to the place where someone is, or going to the place where something is happening: Finally a taxi came along, and we jumped in. 3b. used for saying that you take someone or something with you when you go somewhere: Do you mind if I come along too?* Bring the whole family along. Be sure to take your notes along with you.

along with used for mentioning additional people or things that are also included or involved in something:

Ramos was

arrested along with eleven other men.

be getting/coming along used for saying how well someone is progressing or succeeding: How is your garden coming along? + with How are you getting along with your Russian? a-long-side /a'bin.said/ function word **

Alongside can be used

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): drove up alongside us.

A police car

as an adverb (without a following noun): Peter was riding on a donkey with his father walking alongside. 1 close to the side of sth along the side of something or close to the side of it: The railroad track runs alongside the road. The Russian flag was flying alongside the

American Stars and Stripes. 2 working with sb 2a. if you work alongside someone, you work with them in the same place and for the same purpose: Volunteers worked alongside professional construction workers in a massive reconstruction program. Leslie Caron starred alongside Maurice Chevalier in the musical Gigi. 2b. if you play or fight alongside someone in a game or war, you play or fight in the same team or on the same side with them: In the battle, British troops fought alongside U.S. marines. 3 as important as sb/sth important enough to be considered as being in the same class as someone or something else that is well known: When he dies he will take his place alongside Shakespeare and Dickens as one of the truly great writers of his time. 4 existing together if different systems, processes, or ideas exist alongside each other, they exist at the same time: In Hong Kong a communist government and a capitalist economy operate alongside each other. 5 in comparison with sb/sth used for showing that

you are comparing one person or thing with another: Our profits seem small alongside those of the big multinational companies. /a'luf/ adj someone who is aloof, or who remains or stays aloof from something, is not friendly or does a*loof*ness not want to be involved in something

a-loof

—

noun

[u]

a-loud /a'laud/ adv

*

loud enough for other people to hear: The teacher would read aloud to the group.

al-pac-a /ael'paska/ noun 1 [C] a South American animal with a long neck and long hair that is related to the llama 2 [U] the soft cloth made from the hair of an alpaca al-pha-bet /'aelfa.bet/ noun [C] * a set of letters in a particular order that are used for writing a language

or al-pha-bet-ic /.aelfs'betikl/ /.aelfs'betik/ adj arranged according to the order of letters in the alphabet: Here is a list of words in alphabetical order. al*pha*bet*i*caMy /.aelfa'betikli/ adv

al-pha-bet-i-cal

*

—

al'pha-bet'ize

/'aelfabe.taiz/ verb alphabetical order: an alphabetized

[T]

to put a list in

list

alpha male noun

[C] a man or male animal that behaves in a confident or threatening way adj using letters

al*pha*nu*mer*ic /.aelfanu'menk/ and numbers

al*pine 1 /'ael,pam/ adj relating to high mountains, especially the mountains of the European Alps: an alpine resort

[c]

a small plant that grows on

*••

/ol'redi/ adv

1 before now used for saying that something has happened before now or before another point in time: He's only 24, but he's already achieved worldwide fame. The gang leader had already left the country. Put your wallet

away.

I've already paid for everything. for saying that a situation has started to exist and still continues: By the time the doctor arrived, I was already beginning to feel better. Why waste time telling people things that they already know? 3 before you expected sooner than you were expecting: What, tired already? I don't believe it! Is it twelve o'clock already? 4 used for emphasizing a bad situation if you say that a bad situation exists already, you mean that you do not want it to get any worse: Look, I already have enough problems as it is. We'd better hurry - we're twenty minutes

2 continuing from the past used

late already.

5 immediately Am E spoken used for telling someone they should do something immediately: Stop messing around and get in here already! -> enough 2a that

-» YET

a l«r ight / o\ 'rait / adj, adv all right. Many people consider this to be incorrect.

Ahsa-tian /ael'seiJW noun [C] BrE a German shepherd al-so / 'dIsg-u/ adv ••* 1 used for adding another fact or idea to what you have already said: Ken is a good photographer who also loves to draw and paint. The electric drill can also be used as a screwdriver. Not only is it a comfortable and stylish hotel,

it's

also a popular meeting place.

2 used for showing that what you have just said about someone or something is true about another person or thing: Jeremy is now at Cornell College, where his father not only. ..but also The proposal has the also studied. support not only of a majority of Democrats but also of several Republicans.

Also, as well, and too are

all

used with a similar

meaning.

You can use as well

when you are telling Shut the door, and shut the or too

someone what to do: windows too/as well. But you should not use also

in

this way.

end of a clause: My wife speaks French, too. But also usually comes in the middle of a clause, either before the verb, after an auxiliary or modal, or after the verb to be: She also speaks French. She can also speak French. He was also a fine musician. Also is sometimes used for

As well and too come

at the

starting a sentence.

Also

is not normally used with negatives. Not. . .either is used instead: I don't know him, and Mary doesn 1 either.

[c] someone who is not successful, espesomeone who loses an election or competition noun [C] a special table where religious

also-ran noun cially

altar

/'oltar/

ceremonies are performed, especially in a Christian church 'altar ,boy noun [c] a boy who helps a priest in a religious service, especially in the Catholic

al-ter /'oltar/ verb

Church

•*

1 [T] to make something or someone different: He This doesn't alter altered his appearance with surgery. the fact that what you did was wrong. 1a. [l] to become different: The situation has altered radically since last week. 2 [T] to make small changes to a piece of clothing so that it fits better E to remove the testicles from a male animal 3 [T]

Am

or the ovaries from a female animal

al-ter-a-tion /plts'reifn/ noun ** 1 U the process of making a change in the appearance or form of something: Alteration of the apartment without the landlord's permission is forbidden, la. [C] a change in the appearance or form of something: The editor made a few minor alterations to the text. Have you noticed any [

]

alteration in her behavior?

altercation 2 [C] make

it fit

made

to a piece of clothing to correctly: I'm having some alterations made

to the dress.

al-ter-ca-tion /pltar'keifn/ noun [c] formal a noisy argument alter 'ego noun [c] 1 a part of someone's personality that is different from their usual personality and that other people do not usually see 2 a very close friend alternate 1 / 'oltar.neit/ verb 1 [I] if one thing alternates with another, it happens after it and keeps being repeated: + with Wet days alternated with dry ones. 1a. if someone or something alternates between two things, they keep changing between them: + between His mood alternates between joy and despair. 2 [T] to choose one thing or situation and then another, and keep repeating that pattern: Lay the shapes on the fabric, alternating the colors. alternate sth with sth The class allows students alternate work with education. to al-ter-na-tion /.oltar'neijn/ noun [C/U] 2 al-ter-nate /bltarnat; ol't3rn3t/adj [usually before noun]

—

* 1 happening or coming one after another, in a regular pattern: alternate periods of good and bad weather a pattern of alternate red and green stars 2 happening on one day, week, etc. but not on the day, week, etc., that immediately follows: I go and visit him on alternate weekends. 3 allowing you to choose a different plan, thing, or situation from one you already have: alternative: I don't suppose you have an alternate plan in case you are sick on that day. We can't get home tonight, because there are no alternate flights. al-ter-nate- ly adv

—

3

al-ter-nate /bltarnat; ol'tsrnat/ noun [c] AmE someone who takes the place of another person, especially in sports: She's

and can

't

my

alternate if I'm sick or injured /pltar.neitirj

'kArant/ noun

a flow of electric current that changes direction at

a very fast rate al-ter-na-tive /al't3rnativ/ noun [C] •** something that you can choose instead of something else: Can you suggest an alternative? There was no alternative but to close the road until February. + to The treatment is offered as an alternative to surgery. 2 al-ter-na-tive /al't3rnativ/ adj [only before noun] •* 1 different from something else and able to be used instead of it: Alternative methods of getting there will be 1

investigated.

2

not traditional: an alternative companies were criticized for failing

lifestyle

to

Electricity

develop alternative

energy sources.

al-ter-na-tive-ly /al't3rnativli/ adv used for making another suggestion: We could drive all the way. Alternatively,

we could fly.

[u] medical treatment using methods that are different from the usual Western scientific methods, for example homeopathy and acupuncture -» COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE al-ter-na-tor / 'altar ,neitar/ noun [c] a piece of equipment, especially in a vehicle, that produces an electric current that keeps changing direction as it flows although /ol'dou/ conjunction 1 used for introducing a statement that makes your main statement seem surprising: Although he's got a She used to call me good job now, he still complains. "Tiny" although I was at least as tall as she was. Davidson fought bravely, and although badly wounded, he

***

refused to surrender. 2 used for introducing a statement that makes what you have just said seem less true or less likely: She's a very popular author, although personally I find her books rather boring. The Lamberts liked their new home, although sometimes they missed their friends.

and

is

is

an altitude of 35,000 feet

The Rocky Mounaltitude than the Himalayas Most

tains are lower in balloons will burst at high altitude.

woman who has the lowest man who has the highest adult male singing voice 3 a musical instrument in the same range as an alto singing voice

al-to /'aeltou/ noun [C] 1 a female singing voice 2 a

al-to-geth-er /plta'gedar/adv •*• 1 used for emphasizing that something has stopped or ended completely: Many commuters have stopped using 1

their cars altogether. These rare animals may soon disappear altogether. 1a. used for emphasizing that something is completely ignored or forgotten: / never mentioned our quarrel and Henry seemed to have forgotten it altogether. The problem is too serious to be ignored altogether. 1b. used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true in every way: She looked altogether charming in her white dress. This is a new idea altogether. 1c. not altogether not completely: / was not altogether surprised to hear that Bennet had resigned. 2 used for showing that a total number or amount includes everyone or everything: Altogether, about 50

NATO aircraft took part

in the attack.

How many guests

will there be altogether?

3 used

for introducing a summary of what you have just said: The weather was great and the people were friendly - altogether a perfect trip.

Do not confuse altogether with all together, which means "everyone or everything together": Write down the numbers and add them all together. 2

al-to-geth-er /.alta'gedar/ noun in the altogether humorous not wearing any clothes al-tru-ism / 'aeltru.izam/ noun [u] a way of thinking and behaving that shows you care about other people and their interests more than you care about yourself al-tru-ist noun [U] al-tru-is-tic /,a?ltru'istik/ adj thinking or behaving in a way that shows you care about other people and their interests more than you care about yourself

— al-tru-is-ti-cal-ly /.aeltru'istikli/ adv

[C] Am E informal someone who was a student at a particular high school, university, or college: +of She and I are alums of the same university. al-u-min-i-um /.aela'mmiam/ the BrE spelling of alu-

al-um / 'slam/ noun

minum [u] • a light silver used, for example, to make cans,

a-lu-mi-num /a'lummam/ noun colored metal that

is

cooking equipment, and aircraft parts: an aluminum can 'foil noun [u] a very thin light sheet of shiny metal that you can wrap food in to keep it fresh

aluminum

a'lunvna/a'lAmna/ (plural a*lum*nae/a'l.\m,nai. noun [C] formal a woman who was a student ticular school, college, or university: a

alternative medicine noun

Though

jet cruising at

—

race.

alternating current [uj

always

39

a small change

used with the same meaning as although, in spoken English.

more common

al-tim-e-ter /ael'timitar; 'aeltixnitar/ noun [c] a piece of equipment in an aircraft that tells you the height of the aircraft above sea level (=the surface of the sea) al-ti-tude /'aelti.tud/ noun [C/U] • the height of a place or thing above sea level (=the surface of the ocean): a

a'lAmni/) at a par-

Harvard alumna

a«lum«nus/a'lAinnas/ (plural a*lum*ni/a'lAm,nai, o'l\nini/) noun [C] formal someone who was a student at a particular school, college, or university: Yale alumni a. someone who used to be a member of a sports team, musical group, company, etc.: Microsoft alumni al-ve-o-lar /.aslvi'oolar, sl'vialar/ noun [c] linguistics a consonant sound such as "1," "d," "n," or "t," made with the tongue touching the skin behind your top front teeth

— al-ve-o-lar adj

al-ways 1

/'al.weiz/ adv

•••

on every occasion: / always get the eight o'clock bus. mother and I do not always agree. Starting a new job

My is

2

bit of a shock. the time: Is he always this silly?

always a all

pen

in

There's always a

my purse.

3 for all time in the past: I've always liked Sarah. Has your grandmother always lived with you? 3a. for all time in the future: / will always think of you when I hear this There will always be a demand for English teachers. song. 4 used for saying that something happens often, especially when this annoys you: He's always forgetting my name. People from work were always calling her up at home.

as always as on every other occasion: As always, her father was there to meet her. I/you/they etc. could always spoken used for making a suggestion: You could always iron the shirt yourself.

1

always-on .

I

.

am

P.M.

From

the Latin expression ante meridiem meaning "before noon."

AM A, the

/ ,ei em 'ei/ American Medical Association: an organization that represents doctors in the U.S. a-mal-gam /a'maelgam/ noun 1 [C] formal a combination of two or more things: + of an amalgam of local

traditions 2 [C/U] technical a substance used for filling holes in teeth, made from a mixture of metals

amalga-mate

/a'maelgs.meit/ verb 1 [T] to join two or more organizations, businesses, etc., and make a single large one: amalgamate sth with sth There are plans to amalgamate the village school with a larger one nearby. la. [I] if two organizations amalgamate, they join and make one large organization: Profits have increased since the companies amalgamated last year. + with We were asked to amalgamate with another local group. 2 [l/T] to combine with another thing or to combine two or more things

a-mal-ga-ma-tion /a.maelga'meifn/ noun

[c/u]

1

a

process in which two organizations join and make one large one: the amalgamation ofSetco with Bertrand's 2 a process in which two or more things are combined: an amalgamation of all our proposals

amanuensis /a.masnju'ensis/ noun secretary, especially one

who

[c] very formal

a

helps a writer or artist

amass

/s'maes/ verb [T] to collect a lot of something such as money or information over a period of time: They had amassed a fortune worth about $51 billion in today 's money. 1

am-a-teur 1

*

/'aematsr, 'aems.tjur/ noun [c]

someone who does something because they enjoy

it

instead of as a job

2 someone who does

not do something very well: Let's show them what a bunch of amateurs they are.

anva«teur 2 1

done

*

/'aem3t3r; 'aema.tfur/ adj for pleasure instead of as a job: amateur sports

la. used about someone who does something because they enjoy it and not as their job: an amateur golfer/ photographer / painter 2 done or made in a way that shows a lack of skill

— compare professional

amateurish made

without

1

la

/'aematanj;

much

'aema.tjunj/ adj done or amateurish work

skill:

— anva'teufisfvly adv, anva*teur»ish*ness noun [U] anva-to-ry

'aems.tori/ adj literary expressing or sexual feelings /

romantic

/s'meiz/ verb [i/t] * to surprise someone very much, especially by being very impressive: These guys what continue to amaze with their excellent music. amazes me is that/ it amazes me that What amazes me is sth never ceases to amaze sb that they never get tired. (=it is always surprising) It never ceases to amaze me what people will do to get on television.

a-maze

a*mazed

/a'meizd/ adj [not usually before noun] very surWe were absolutely amazed at the response to

prised: + at our appeal. interested.

amazed

ambivalence

10

it/this was always going to be. used for saying that something has been true from the very start: This was always going to be a difficult game to win. there's always used for making a suggestion: There's always Sue if Jane isn't available. always-on ad] computing an always-on Internet connection allows you to remain online (=connected to the Internet) all the time AlZ'heiiTver'sdis-ease/'ultshairnarzdi.ziz/noun [u] a serious illness affecting your brain that makes it difficult for you to remember things and becomes worse as time passes. Alzheimer's disease is often simply called Alzheimer's. / weak am; strong aem/ see be a.m. /,ei 'em/ abbrev used after a time for showing that it is between midnight and noon: 9:00 a.m. —compare

+(that) Frankly, I

was amazed

be amazed to see /hear/ learn

to learn that

she had

left

that he

etc.

We

was were

the hospital $18 million.

a-maze-ment /a'meizmsnt/ noun

[u] a feeling of being very surprised: in amazement They were shaking their heads in amazement. to sb's amazement To my amaze-

ment, he actually refused to help me.

amazing /a'meizin/ adj •• very surprising: She

1

told

me an amazing

story.

It's

amazing how stupid people can

be. la. used about somealso very impressive: Their last CD sold an amazing 2 million copies. / think you are doing an amazing job with those children. 2 mainly spoken very pleasant or enjoyable: We had an amazing time in Thailand. What an amazing meal! a*maz»ing«ly adv: The weekend has gone by amazingly

thing surprising that

is

—

fast.

ama-zon

/'aemszan, 'aemozon/ noun

[c]

a

tall

strong

woman From the name of the Amazons, a fighters in ancient Greek stories.

group of

woman

am-bas-sa-dor /am'baesadar/ noun [c] •* 1 a senior official who lives in a foreign country and represents his or her own country there. An ambassador is responsible for an office called an embassy: + to the Egyptian ambassador to Belize 2 someone who is considered to represent an activity, organization, company, etc.: Louis Armstrong, one of jazz's most popular ambassadors

ambassadorial

/aem.baesa'dorisl/ adj relating to

an ambassador

anvber

1

/'aembar/ noun [u] a hard yellow-brown substance used for making jewelry

anvber2

/'aembar/

adj

between brown and yellow in

color

am-bi-ance /'aembians/ another spelling of ambience am-bi'dex'trous / .aembi'dekstrss/ adj able to use your right

hand and your

left

hand with equal

skill

anvbi-ence

/'aembians/ noun [C/u] the character of a place or the feeling you have about it: The bar had a comfortable ambience.

am*bi«ent

1

/'aembiant/ adj technical existing or present

around you: ambient sound a. ambient temperature is the temperature of the surrounding air anvbi-ent 2 /'aembiant/ noun [u] a type of music that developed as a reaction against disco and dance music and that uses relaxing electronic sounds, usually without strong beats or singing: chillout

am-bi-gu-i-ty /.aembi'gjusti/ noun * 1 [C] something that is not clear because it has more than one possible meaning: There seem to be some ambiguities in the rules. 1a. [u] a lack of clear and exact use of words, so that more than one meaning is possible: Try to avoid ambiguity and keep your comments brief.

2

[C/U] a confusing mixture of feelings or ideas that

makes something hard

to understand:

Her

stories are

full of moral ambiguities.

am-big-u-ous

/aem'bigjuas/

adj

*

1 not clear, or capable of being understood in more than one way: The wording of the law is highly ambiguous. 2 confusing or not definite, and so difficult to understand: Their position in society remains ambiguous. anvbig*u*ous*ly adv anvbit /'aembit/ noun [singular] formal the range within which something, especially a rule or law, is effective or has power am-bi-tion /aem'bijn/ noun ** 1 C something that you very much want to do, usually something that is difficult to achieve: I had no idea about His ambition was always to Jesse's political ambitions. achieve /fulfill /realize an become a successful writer. ambition She seemed set to achieve all her ambitions. ambition to do sth It had been my lifelong ambition to coach a leading team. 2 [u] the feeling that you want very much to become successful, rich, famous, etc.: a young woman with drive and ambition anvbi-tious /amVbifas/ adj ** 1 determined to be successful, rich, famous, etc.: an ambitious young lawyer ambitious for sb (=determined that someone will succeed) Her parents were intensely ambitious for her and her younger sister. 2 an ambitious plan, aim, or attempt is difficult and will need a lot of effort to succeed: an ambitious strategy anvbi«tious»ly adv for managing health care ambiva-lence /aem'bivsbns/ noun [u] the feeling or state of being ambivalent

—

[

]

—

ambivalent two different things about something at the same time, for example that you like it and dislike it: Leigh's response was ambivalent. Most of us have an ambivalent attitude toward technology. + about Joe was ambivalent about taking the job.

am-ble /'smbl/ Visitors

noun

adj feeling

anvbiva-lent-ly adv verb

[I]

to

walk

in a slow relaxed

can amble along miles of winding

trails,

way: am-ble

[singular]

anvbro-sia /aem'broo33/ noun

food that tastes very

[u]

good In ancient Greek and the food of the gods.

Roman

stories,

am-bu-lance /'smbjabns/ noun

[c]

ambrosia was

**

a vehicle for

1

/'tem.boJV noun [c/u] an attack from a hidden position: The two men were shot and wounded in an ambush. a high risk of ambush lie in ambush The police lay in ambush outside the apartment building.

anvbush 2

/'aem.boJV verb [T] to attack someone after hiding and waiting for them: The unwary tourists were ambushed and robbed while riding in the desert.

a-me-ba

/a'mibs/ another spelling of

a*me*lio*rate /a'milia.reit/ verb improve something or make

amoeba

[T] it

very formal to less severe

— a«me-lio*ra*tion /s.milia'reijri/ noun [U]

a-men

/u'men, ei'men/

interjection said at the

end of a

prayer

amen

to that used for saying that you agree with or approve of something a-me-na-ble /s'minabl/adj 1 willing to do something or to agree with someone: He seemed perfectly amenable last night. +to European leaders were more amenable to the idea. 2 [+to] capable of being treated or dealt with in a particular way: Matters of this type are not amenable to legislation.

/a'mend/ verb [T] *• to make changes to a document, law, agreement, etc., especially in order to improve it: A law amending the Chilean constitution was approved on January 22nd. amend-ment /s'mendmant/ noun *• 1 [C] a change made to a law or agreement: +to an amendment to the Medicare bill table an amendment The House has tabled an amendment to the bill (=has stopped working on it). 1a. [C] one of the changes that has been

a-mend

made

to the U.S. constitution: his First Amendment right to free speech 1b. [u] the process of changing a law or

arrangement 2 [C] a change made in a document or plan: / have made amendments to the script. amends /a'mendz/ noun make amends to try to make a situation better after you have done something wrong: / wish I could make amends somehow. a-meri'i-ty /a'menati/ noun [C usually plural] something several

makes it comfortable or enjoyable to live or work somewhere .Amenities include a gym, apool, anda Jacuzzi. parks, stores, and other local amenities a. [u] the quality of being a pleasant and attractive place: the amenity of our coast and valleys Am-er-a-sian /,2em3'rei3n/ noun [c] someone who has one parent from the U.S. and one parent from Asia that

— Am*er*a*sian adj 1

/a'menkan/ adj 1 someone who is American is from the U.S.: the American president Her husband is American, la. relating to the U.S. or the

A'mer«i'can

people who live there: American English I literature I 2 technical someone who is American is from North America, South America, or the Caribbean 2a. relating to North America, South America, or the Caribbean A*mer»i>can 2 /s'menkan/ noun [c] 1 someone from the U.S.: Two Americans were killed in the plane crash. 2 technical someone from North America, South America, or the Caribbean A*mer«i*ca*na /a.men'kana/ noun [plural] objects, writings, stories, etc., from the U.S. that are considered to be typical of American traditions and history American 'cheese noun [u] a type of yellow or orange cheese that does not have a very strong flavor and is often used in sandwiches in the U.S. citizenship

American Dream, the

noun the idea that the U.S. is a place where anyone can become successful if they work hard enough American football noun [u] BrE the game of football

American Indian

— American

noun

[c]

a

native

a

BrE

amerk an

Indian adj

h menka nai//

Amer-i-can-ise

spelling

of

Americanize

A-mer-i-can-ism

/o 'mcriko ni/om/ noun [c] a

word or

phrase used in U.S. English

A-meri-can-ize /o'menko.naiz/

verb [t] to make something more American, especially the language or culture Of a person or place A-mer-i-can-i-za-tion

/o

taking people to the hospital

anvbush

ammonia

11

am-biv-a-lent /cem'bivabnt/

nicnkom'zeijn/noun

[u]

American League, the

trademark a group of professional baseball teams that play against one another

americano /omen kunoo/ noun made by pouring

a

little

[c] a cup of coffee espresso (=strong Italian coffee)

on top of hot water

American way, the is

how

typical of

noun a way of doing things that people do them in the U.S. or believe

they should be done a yacht race in which teams from different countries, including the U.S. and Australia, are invited to compete Am-er-in-di-an / ^ms'nndian/ noun [c] a native American. This word is used especially in books about Native

America's Cup, the

American

society or languages. 1

anve-thyst AemaGist/ noun stone that

am-e-thyst

[c/u] a valuable purple

used in jewelry

is

2

/'aemaBist/ adj light purple

Am-ex / 'ae.meks/ the American Stock Exchange: a stock exchange in

New York where

shares in a small

amia-ble

/

adj friendly

amiable

funny,

gentle,

people can buy and

sell

company

eimbbl/

/.eimia'bltati/noun

[J],

and pleasant: She

is

a

— a-mi-a-bil-i-ty

person.

a-mi-a-bly adv

am-i-ca-ble /'yemikabl/ adj mainly journalism friendly and without arguments: We have reached an amicable settlement

of

the

— anvi-ca-bly adv

a-mid /s'mid/

an

dispute.

preposition

amicable

divorce

*

something happens amid particular feelings or it happens while people have these feelings or while these events are happening: Banks and stores closed yesterday amid growing fears of terrorist violence. The secretary resigned amid accusations of bribery and 1

if

events,

corruption.

2

if

etc.,

something happens amid noise, shouting, laughter, it happens while there is a lot of noise, etc. all

around: Norman stepped on

to the

stage

amid tumultuous

applause.

3 literary surrounded by things or people a-mid-ships /o'midjips/ adv technical in

the middle

part of a ship

a-midst a-mi-go /a'mi.goo/ noun

/a'nudst/ preposition mainly literary amid [C]

informal a friend

ami*no

ac«id /a.minoo 'aesid/ noun [c] one of the substances in the body that combine to make proteins A-mish /'amiJV noun [plural] a religious group in the U.S. that live in a traditional way, mainly by farming, and refuses to use modern technology — A-mish adj

a-miss

1

/a'mis/ adj [never before noun] likely to cause problems: Convinced that something was amiss, her family insisted she see a doctor. difficulties or

a-miss 2

/a'mis/ adv go amiss to develop in a way that wrong, not appropriate, or that creates a problem: Things began to go amiss after she left. take sth amiss BrE to be offended by something, especially something that was not intended to be offensive is

anvi'ty

/'aemoti/ noun [u] very formal a friendly relationship, especially between nations or groups of people

am-mo f'xmoo/ noun

ammonia

[u]

informal AMMUNITION

/Vmoonio/ noun

[u] a poisonous gas or liquid with a strong unpleasant smell, used in cleaning products

ammunition

amphibious

42

am-mu-ni-tion

noun [u] 1 bullets, bombs, etc. that can be fired from a weapon: a stockpile of guns and ammunition 2 facts or evidence that can be used against someone in an argument: The recent news report provided more ammunition for opponents of gen/.iemja'nijn/

is

Between

[U]

Among

things, often caused

by

someone who has

amnesia

anvneS'ty /'smnasti/ noun

[C/u] a situation in which a government agrees not to punish, or to no longer punish, people who have committed a particular crime: a general amnesty for all political prisoners a. a period of time during which people can give something illegal such as a weapon to someone in authority or admit that they have been involved in something illegal, without being punished

lnterna-tion-al

/.aemnssti

mtar

an international organization that

tries to help in prison or tortured because of their political, religious, or other beliefs

'naejsnl/

people

who have been put

am-ni-o-cen-te'Sis /.aemniousen'tisis/ noun [C/U] a test carried out on liquid taken from a pregnant woman's womb in order to find out if the baby has any medical problems

amoe*ba /s'mibs/ (plural a*moe*bas or a*moe*bae /s'mibi/) noun

[C]

a very small organism (=living thing) that

consists of a single cell

a-mok trolled

— a«moe'bic/3'mibik/adj

/s'mak/ advrun amok and often violent way

a'mong/s'mAn/

to

behave

in

an uncon-

***

preposition

/a'mArjst/ preposition mainly literary among / ,ei 'moral/ adj someone who is amoral does not care whether or not their behavior is morally right a. used about people's behavior, attitudes, etc.: amoral values a«moi-al'i'ty/,eim3'ra3l3ti/noun[u]

a»mor*al

—

amorous / 'aemaras/ adj relating to or involving sexual amorous intentions/ advances anvofous«ly adv /a'morfss/ adj formal with no clear shape, design, or structure: an amorphous mass of buildings and highways arrvortize /'aemar.taiz/ verb [T] business to pay back money that you owe by making payments at regular times: The loan will be amortized over 25 years. anvor«ti«za'tion/3 morti'zeifn/ noun [C/U] amount 1 /a'maunt/ noun [C] •** a quantity of money: This amount should be paid within two weeks. a. a quantity of something: You only need a small amount. + of A computer can store a vast amount of information. A certain amount of stress can be a good love:

amorphous

—

b. informal a number of things. Many people consider this use to be incorrect: The call center handles a huge amount of complaints every day. c. no amount of sth used for saying that something will never be enough to have an effect: No amount of training could have prepared him for this.

1 included in a larger group 1a. used for saying that is included in a particular group of people or things: His family connections helped ensure his position among the elite. from among (=from a group of) Two representatives were chosen from among the 13 candidates, lb. used when you are mentioning a particular person or thing in relation to the rest of the group they belong to: Robert was the only one among them who had ever ridden a horse. Most important among the country's problems is the lack of health facilities.

1c. among other things used when you are mentioning one or more things out of a larger number: They dis-

among

other things, the future of the oil industry.

Among

other things, Larsen to bribe court officials.

was accused of attempting

2 happening or existing within a group

2a. used for saying what happens within a particular group of people: The suicide rate among young male prisoners is high. We want to encourage greater cooperation among the different departments. 2b. used for saying that many people in a group have a particular opinion or feeling: News of the invasion spread panic among the citizens. The general opinion among teachers is that small class sizes are important. 2c. among yourselves/ourselves/ themselves with each other: Republicans were arguing among themselves about minor policy issues. If you can't

agree

among yourselves what you

3 shared between people

want, I can't advise you.

or things used for stating

which people receive parts of something when it is divided up: share/divide/distribute sth among The money has to be divided among several projects. in the middle of other people or things 4a. in a place surrounded by people or things: Robin's house was hidden among the trees. Warner was standing among a crowd of admirers. 4b. moving through a place where there are people or things around you: It was pleasant

4

strolling

among

things: I found

my

4c. searching through Michelle rummaging among the papers in the olive trees.

drawer.

5 with people with a group

of people of a particular type: / was never happier than when I was among these among friends Oh come on, Arthur, you familiar faces.

can speak freely -you're among friends.

When just two people are mentioned, you can say something happens between them: It was an agreement between Carl and me. When three or more people are involved, you can use either among or between: The money was divided up among /between the four children. If the people are mentioned as a single group, among

c

thing,

Amount and number

someone or something

cussed,

is

in the

a*mongst

/aem'nizi.aek/ noun [C]

Am-nes-ty

the entire class.

is

used for saying that someone or something middle of a group of people or things: We were walking among the trees. is

a medical condition that

makes you unable to remember damage to the brain

amne-si-ac

was shared among

used for saying that there are separate people or things on two sides of someone or something: I sat between my parents.

etically modified food.

amne-sia /asm '^33/ noun

used: The candy

quantities, but each

Number cars

is

are both used for talking about

word

is

used in different ways.

used with plural nouns: a small number of

a certain number of people.

Amount

is

used with uncountable nouns: a small a certain amount of confidence.

amount of traffic

Say a large or small number/amount and or little number /amount.

NOT

a big

a«mount 2 /9'maont/ verb ** a'mount to

phrasal vb

[T]

[amount to

as or equal to something else:

sth] 1

Two

to

be the same

dates in nine years

hardly amounts to an active social life. 1a. to have the same effect as something else: The court decided that the company's actions amounted to unfair dismissal. 2 to add up to a particular total: His monthly earnings amount to about $3,500.

not amount to

much /a

great deal to not be very

The results of the research don 1 really amount to much. not amount to a hill of beans Am E informal to not be very impressive, important, etc. a-mour /a'mur/ noun [C] literary a sexual relationship, or someone you have a sexual relationship with amp /aemp/ noun [C] science 1 informal an amplifier impressive, important,

2

etc.:

a unit for measuring the strength of the flow of

electricity

am-penage /'aemp3nd3/ noun of a flow of electricity

anvpere

measuring

[singular/u]

measured

/'aempir/ noun

in

the strength

amps

[C] science

an amp used

for

electricity

am-per-sand

/'asmpsr.saend/ noun [C] the symbol &, used in writing instead of the word "and": Smith &

Company

am-phet-a-mine /aem'feta.min/ noun increases energy and excitement and

[C/u] a

drug that

makes you

less

hungry

amphib-i-an

/aem'fibian/ noun [C] 1 an animal such as a frog or a toad that can live both in water and on vehicle or aircraft that can operate both on land 2 a

water and on land

amphibious

/aem'fibias/ adj 1 capable of being used both on water or on land: an amphibious vehicle 2 capable of living both in water and on land :/ossz7s of amphibious creatures from millions of years ago 3 relating to a military operation that brings soldiers to land in boats: an amphibious landing on the north coast

amphitheater

analytical

43

am-phi«the-a-ter

/'smfi.Giatar/ noun [Cl a large circular building without a roof and with rows of seats that slope up and away from a central area, used for entertainments such as sports competitions

a»nach»ro*nism /ona-kranizam/ noun

/'aempl/ ad] * 1 [usually before noun] enough, and often more than you need: an office complex with ample parking ample supplies offood and fuel There is ample evidence to prove his

an*a*con-da

am-ple

guilt.

2 used

for referring in a positive or humorous way to someone's body, or a part of it, that is large: a woman with an ample figure anvply adv: The book is amply illustrated with color drawings.

/.aena'kanda/ noun

a*nae»mic /o'nimik/ another

spelling of

an*aer>o*bic /.aena'roobik/

adj science living

pening without oxygen from the

/,sn3s'Gi33/ another spelling of anes-

a-naes-the-tist

anvpoule

/'aem.pjul/ noun [C] a small glass container used for holding liquid medicine that is to be injected

someone

anvpu'tate

/'aempja.teit/ verb [i/T] to remove someone's arm, leg, hand, finger, or toe in a medical oper-

ation— am-pu'ta'tion / .aempja'teijn/ noun [C/u] am-pu-tee /.aempjs'ti/ noun [c] someone who has had a part of their body amputated

Am-trak

/'aem,traek/ the company that controls the railroads that carry passengers in the U.S.

anvu-let /'aemjabt/ noun [c] a small object that some people wear around their neck as a protection against bad luck, disease,

a-muse 1 is

/a'mjuz/ verb

etc.

•*

(l/T) to do or say something that other people think funny or entertaining: Her stories never fail to amuse

2

[T] to keep someone interested or entertained, so that they do not get bored: We need something that will amuse amuse yourself Don't a 10-year-old for an afternoon. rush - we can find something to amuse ourselves with until you get here.

amused

/a'mjuzd/ adj * entertained or interested by something: an amused expression

not amused mainly BrE annoyed: A spokesman said the Prime Minister was not amused by the incident. /a'mjuzmant/ noun • 1 [U] a feeling of being amused: Much to everyone's amusement, someone hid his clothes while he was swim-

a-muse-ment ming.

something that you enjoy doing an activity that is provided for entertainment a'musement ar cade noun [c] Br E a place where you can play video games, play on slot machines, etc. a'musement park noun [c] a place where people pay money to go on rides (=large machines that you ride on for pleasure) and play games to win prizes a-mus-ing /a'mjuzin/ adj * funny or entertaining: an amusing article /comment / don't find that type of humor very amusing at all. a*mus«ing>ly adv [C/U] [C]

—

*** used instead the next word begins with a vowel sound: an orange an hour an X-ray -an /an/ suffix 1 used with names of places to make nouns and adjectives meaning relating to a particular place or to someone who comes from a particular place: Californian Russian 2 used with nouns to make nouns or adjectives meaning someone who supports some-

an

I

weak

thetic

noun

/a'nesGatist/

[c]

an

ane-

sthesiologist

a-naes'the-tize /a'nesGs.taiz/another

spelling of anes-

an-a-gram / aeno.graem/ noun [c] a word or phrase that you can make from another word or phrase by putting the letters in a different order. For example

"mean"

is

an anagram of "name." a-nal /'eml/ adj 1 anal

or anal-retentive giving too much attention to details in a way that annoys people 2 relating to the anus / ,aenl'd3izi3/ noun [u] technical 1 the condition of being unable to feel pain while conscious 2 medical treatment to control pain

an*al*ge*si*a

an'al«ge'Sic/,32nl'd3izik/noun reduces pain

ana-log

/'aenl.ag/ adj

[c] technical

a drug that

•

an analog watch or clock shows the time using hands numbers instead of numbers that change

1

that point to

me.

2 3

/.aenss'Getik/ another spelling of anes-

thetize

am-pli-tude /'smpli.tud/ noun [u] science the strength of a wave or signal, for example of sound or electricity

evil,

anemic

or hapanaerobic bacteria

thesia

am-pli-fy

into

air:

anaerobic respiration

anaesthe-sia an*aes*thet*ic

— am-pli-fi-ca-tion

a large tropical

[c]

South American snake

am-pli-fi-er /'amph.fair/ noun [c] a piece of electronic equipment that makes sounds louder, used for example with electric guitars or in stereo systems louder 2 give or it more emphasis /,aemplifi'keifn/noun[C/u]

something

anaemia /a'nimia/ another spelling of anemia

—

/'aempli.fai/ verb [t] 1 to make sounds formal to explain something more thoroughly

[c]

that is no longer suitable for or relevant to modern times: She regards the marriage ceremony as a quaint anachronism. --a-nachTO'nis'tic/omi'kro nistik/adj

an; strong aen/ determiner

every second 2 technical using signals or information represented by continuously changing quantities of space, electrical compare digital current, etc.: an analog mobile phone analogous /a'naebgas/ adj formal similar to another

—

situation, process, etc. so that the same things are true of or relevant to both: +to Remote voting via the Internet is analogous to absentee voting and will have the same

kinds of problems.

a-nal'0»gy /3'nsebd3i/ noun [C/u] * a comparison between two situations, processes, etc. that is intended to show that the two are similar: He uses the analogy of the family to explain the role of the state. draw an analogy (=make an analogy) Our manager is fond of drawing analogies between business and football. anal-re tentive see anal an*a*lyse /'xnl.aiz/the BrE spelling of analyze a-nal-y-sis noun ***

/a'naebsis/

(plural

a*nal*yses /a'naeb.siz/)

[C/U] a process of studying or examining something in detail in order to understand it or explain it: problems for discussion and analysis + of The study included an analysis of accident statistics, la. a process of examining something in detail in order to find out what it contains: The blood samples have been sent away for analysis. 2 [U] the process of examining someone's thoughts, feelings, and behavior as a way of understanding and dealing with their emotional or mental problems: psy1

of "a" when

choanalysis

an accident

in the final/last analysis used for giving the facts that are most relevant in a situation: In the final analysis, it

thing: republican

An-a-bap-tist / .aena'baeptist/ adj

relating to a religious

group of the 16th century that did not agree with the baptism of children and to several modern Christian groups with a similar belief An«a«bap«tist noun [C] an-a-bol-ic steroid /.snabalik 'steroid; .aenabahk 'sti.roid/ noun [C] a drug that increases muscles, used illegally by some sports people to make themselves stronger

—

is

up

to the students to decide.

**

an-alyst

/'aenhst/ noun [c] is to carefully examine a situation, event, etc. in order to provide other people with information about it: an economic analyst 1

someone whose job

2

a doctor

who

helps people with mental or emotional

problems by listening

to

them

talk about their experi-

ences and feelings: psychoanalyst

analyt-i-cal

/.sna'litikl/

or an-alytic

*

/.aena'litik/

using a method of separating things into their parts in order to examine and understand them: an an*a*lyt*i-caMy analytical skills analytical mind adj

—

/.asna'htikli/adv

analyze

and

44

analyze /'aenl.aiz/ verb

[t]

••

1 to study or examine something in detail in order to understand or explain it: the ability to analyze and evaluate information 1a. to study or examine something in

r ^r^O

r

Jok/ noun [u] medical a serious medical reaction caused by someone eating or touching something that they are allergic to (=something that makes them sick). Common causes are nuts, eggs, and drugs such as penicillin. an-ar-chic /a'narkik/ adj behaving in a way that ignores the normal rules or limits of your society or group, especially

when

/.snafi'lasktik

this causes trouble

anar-chism /'aenar.kizam/ noun

the political belief that there should be no government or laws [u]

/'aenarkist/ noun [c] someone who believes that there should be no government or laws an'ar-chis'tic/.aenar'kistik/adj

an«ar«chist

—

an-ar-chy

/'aenarki/ noun [u] 1 a situation in which people are behaving in a way that ignores normal rules and laws, and are unable to be controlled 2 a situation in which there is no government or no social control in a country

anathema /a'naeGama/ noun [singular/u]/orma/ something that you strongly dislike or strongly disagree with: Conservatives have long regarded state intervention in the family as anathema. +to The idea of working late was complete anathema to him.

an-a-tonvi-cal /.aena'tamikl/ adj relating to the physical structure of an animal or plant: an anatomical model

— an'a-tonri'cal'ly/.aena'tamikli/adv

a*nat*o*mize /a'naeta.maiz/ verb

[T] formal 1 to cut up the body of an animal or plant in order to examine it: dissect 2 to carefully examine all the parts of a

problem, situation,

etc.

anat-o-my /a'naetami/

noun 1 [u] the scientific study of the physical structure of an animal or plant 2 [C usually singular] the body of a human or animal, or the structure of a plant 3 [C] informal the human body: Those are parts of your anatomy that we'd rather not hear about. 4 [singular] a careful examination of a situation, problem, etc.: + of an essay on the anatomy of communism

— a-nat'o-mist noun [C] ANC, the /,ei

en 'si/ the African National Congress: a political party in South Africa that for many years fought against the system of apartheid. In 1994, the ANC formed the first government in South Africa to be elected by both black and white people.

ancestor /'aen.sestar/ noun

[c]

a family of

Danish ancestry /'aenkar/ noun [c]

*

a heavy object that is dropped into the water to prevent a boat from moving: at anchor (=held still using an anchor) luxury yachts at anchor in the port drop anchor We dropped anchor off the coast of Cape Cod. 2 someone who presents the news on a television or radio news program: Diane Sawyer, co-anchor of ABC's Prime Time Live 3 someone or something that is strong and reliable, and so makes people feel safe and confident: The exchange rate should be an anchor in inflation control. Bates is the emotional anchor of the movie. 3a. business an important store or business that attracts other businesses to the area where it is

from

^^^

program, especially the news: The program has been anchored by

Georgia coast. [T] to present a television or radio

2

McDonald

anchor

3

since 1992.

[T usually passive] to fix

something

firmly somewhere: Small marine plants were anchored

to

the rocks.

be anchored in sth

be firmly based on a particular set of ideas or beliefs: Their approach is firmly anchored in a Christian world view. to

an-chor-age /'aenkar^/ noun [c/u] 1 a place where ships can anchor 2 a place where something can be firmly attached to something else

anchorman

/'aenka,maen/ (plural an*chor>men Am E a male anchor on television

/'aerjka.men/) noun [c]

or radio

an-chor-wom-an

/'aeqkar .woman/

wo»men/£enkar wimin/) noun on television or radio

an«cho«vy

[C]

(plural

an»chor-

AmE a female anchor

/'aen.tjouvi, aen'tjouvi/

small fish that tastes of salt and

is

noun [c/u] a type of often preserved in

oil

an*cien regime, the /.ansia? rei'3im/ noun an fashioned system or way of doing things

old-

From Ancien Regime, the social and political system that existed in France before the Revolution of 1789.

ancient /'einfant/ adj very

1

old:

an ancient

••* city I book/ tradition

2 relating to people who lived a very long time ago, and to their culture and way of life: the ancient Greeks/ Britons /Egyptians the remains of an ancient civilization .ancient history noun [u] 1 the study of the people and way of life that existed a very long time ago, especially in Greece or Rome 2 informal things that happened a long time ago and so are no longer important: You can

't

still

be upset about that -

it's

ancient history

now. the people who lived a very long time ago, especially in Greece or Rome

an-cients, the /'emjants/ noun

[plural]

1

an>cil*lar*y /'aensa.leri/ adj 1 connected with something, but less important than the main thing: ancillary equipment/ services/ materials +to a task ancillary to the main function 2 staff working with professional people such as doctors and teachers to help them in their work: an ancillary worker 2 an-cil-lar-y /'aensa.leri/ noun [c] 1 an ancillary worker: a nursing ancillary 2 an extra piece of equipment for a system: ancillaries such as tape recorders

And

***

can be used in the following ways:

as a conjunction (joining two words, phrases, or clauses): Rachel plays the piano and sings. as a way of starting a new sentence and relating it to the previous sentence: The telephone isn't working. And "My name is Chris. that's not the only problem. 'And my name is Ivan.

—

1

boat

and/wea/can; wealond; strong send /function word

*•

someone who is related to you who lived a long time ago: Her ancestors came to America with the Pilgrims. 2 an earlier form from which something modern has developed: a game that many see as the ancestor of basketball— arvces-tral/aen 'sestral/ adj: their ancestral home compare descendant an*ces*try /'asn.sestri/ noun [singular/ u] the people related to you who lived a long time ago: They could

anchor

to

*

moving by dropping its anchor into the water: We anchored off the

BT^^^

1

trace their ancestry back to the 16th century.

H/t]

1

verb prevent a

/ 'aerjkar/

_%^^ % ^ \ A

tt^'W

detail in order to find out what it contains: Scientists analyzed samples of leaves taken from the area. 2 to examine someone's thoughts, feelings, and behavior as a way of understanding and dealing with their emotional or mental problems: psychoanalyze: / always feel that he's trying to analyze me.

anaphylac-tic shock

an-chor2

,

used between words, phrases, etc. in order to connect together: the lakes and mountains of Scotland Everyone was singing and dancing. You make lunch, and 1

them I'll

take care of the children.

1

When more

than two words or phrases are joined in list, and is used only between the last two: She speaks German, French, Spanish, and English.

a

2 used for showing that one thing happens after another: He turned off the television and went to bed. 3 used for showing what your intention or purpose is after verbs such as "go," "come," "try," or "wait":/'// Come and see try and find out where we can buy tickets. our new kitchen. 4 used for showing that one thing causes another: The directors lied to us in the past and now no one will believe them.

andante

angler

45

5 used

for connecting words that are repeated for emphasis: The situation is getting more and more complicated all the time. I've tried and tried, but I can't persuade him to change his mind. It's going to take years and years to repair all the damage. 6 used in calculations for showing that numbers are added together: Two and two is four. 7 spoken used for introducing a sentence when you

angel dust noun [u] informal a name for the illegal drug pcp

angel-ic /xn'dgekk/ 1

making an announcement, asking a question, or changing the subject: And now, here with the sports news And so what have you been doing lately? is Kevin Leary. 8 mainly spoken used when you pause to make a remark in the middle of a sentence: Two thirds of the students and I swear this is true - couldn name a single country are

noun

pounds 9a. used between whole numbers and fractions: two and three quarters 1 an-dan-te /an'danti; aen'daentei/ adv at a fairly slow speed: used as an instruction in music— arvdarvteadj an-darvte 2 /an'danti; aen'damtei/ noun [c] a piece of music that should be played or sung at a fairly slow speed

Ari'drew, St. /semt 'aendru/ the patron saint of Scotland. St. Andrew's Day is celebrated on November 30th.

androg-y-nous nous person

is

/aen'drad33nas/ adj 1 an androgyneither clearly male nor clearly female or plant has both male and

2 an androgynous animal female parts

[u]

/acn'djdika/ stems of a tall

plant that are

in Asia.

twenty-five

an

ANGELS

boiled

in

sugar and used for decorating cakes

angel

9

hundred and

adj

beautiful:

an-gelica

't

spoken used in numbers after the word "hundred" or "thousand" when it is followed by words for numbers less than 100: a hundred and ten feet tfour thousand five

very

a ngelic face /smile/ voice I sound 2 kind and good: He didn't become a successful businessman being by angelic. 3 relating to

an-ger /'xngsr/ noun [u] •• the strong get that makes you want to hurt someone 1

feeling

you

or shout at them: Some people express their anger through violence. She cried tears of anger and frustration. Jenny often feels

He was trembling with anger. hear voices raised in anger. an-ger / 'srjgsr/ verb [t] • to make someone feel angry: The school board's decision angered many students. show

it.

anger Maggie woke

to

anger, but doesn 't in

2

angina

/a-'n^aina/ noun

which not enough blood get pain in your chest

[uj

gets to

a medical condition in your heart, so that you

angioplasty

/'acnd^dplaesti/ noun [u] medical a medical operation to repair an artery (=tube carrying blood around the body) that has become blocked or too

narrow

arvdroid / 'asn.droid/ noun [C] in stories, a machine that looks and behaves like a human: robot an-ec-dot-al / .snak'dootl/ adj based on someone's personal experience or information rather than on facts that can be checked: There is now anecdotal evidence that these chemicals are harmful.

an-ec-dote

/'aenak.doot/ noun [c] a story that you tell people about something interesting or funny that has

happened to you a*ne*mi-a /s'nimis/ noun which your blood contains

[u] a medical condition in too few red blood cells (=the your blood that carry oxygen through your body) a*ne»mic /a'nimik/ ad] 1 suffering from anemia 2 weak or not effective: You really can't expect much from such anemic advertising. a«nem«o«ne /a'nemani/ noun [c] a small plant with white, red, or purple flowers that are shaped like cups an-es-the-sia f xn3s'Qi^/ noun [u] 1 anesthetics given to someone before a medical operation, or the use of anesthetics 2 the loss of feeling in your body or part of your body, caused by disease, injury, or the use of cells in

angle

1

/'aengl/ noun [C]

•••

the shape that is made where two straight lines join or cross each other. Angles are measured in degrees. An angle that measures 90 degrees is a right angle, less than 90 degrees is an acute angle, and more than 90 degrees is an obtuse angle. 1a. the shape that is made where two surfaces or objects meet: The rocks stick out of the water at a 45-degree angle. 2 the direction from which something comes, or the direction from which you look at something, especially when it is not directly in front of you: Guns were firing The camera angles at them from several different angles. are chosen before the scene is shot. 3 a particular way of thinking about something: We have considered the whole subject from many different 1

angles.

at an angle not straight, but leaning to the knife at a slight angle.

one

side:

Hold

t

an anesthetic an-es-the-si-ol-o-gist /,aen3s,0izi'abd3ist/ noun

acute angle

obtuse angle

[c]

Am E a doctor who is trained to give people anesthetics before they have a medical operation an-es-thet-ic /.aenss'Getik/ noun [c/u] a drug or gas given to someone before a medical operation to stop them feeling pain. Anesthetics that affect the whole of your body by making you unconscious are called general anesthetics and anesthetics that make you have no feeling in only a part of your body are called local anesthetics: The procedure is usually carried out

under anesthetic.

a-nes-the-tist

/a'nesGstist/

noun

[c]

an

ane-

sthesiologist

anes-the-tize

/a'nesGa.taiz/ verb

[T]

to give

someone

feel pain during a medical operation an-eu-rysm or an-eu-rism /'aenja.nzam/ noun [C] medical a serious swelling in the wall of an artery (=tube carrying blood round the body) a-new /a'nu/ adv literary again, often in a new or

an anesthetic so that they do not

different

way

an-gel /'emd33l/ noun [C] *• 1 a spirit that in some religions is believed to live in heaven with God. In pictures, angels are shown as people with wings. 2 mainly spoken a very kind person: Be an angel and get me a cup of coffee.

angle

an-gle 2

/'aengl/ verb [t] 1 to make something point in a particular direction, especially one that is not directly in front of you: Angle the mirror so that you can see behind you. 1a. to make a ball move in a direction that is not straight in front of you: Gretzky blasted an angled shot wide of the goal. 2 to do or write something in a way that makes one thing seem more important than others, or gives special emphasis to one opinion: Our efforts have been angled very much toward improving customer service.

angle for phrasal vb

[T]

informal [angle lor sth] to try to

make someone it

directly:

give you something without asking for She didn't want Ron to think that she was

angling for sympathy.

angle bracket noun

[c] either of a pair of symbols < or > used to surround words, numbers, or other symbols, especially in instructions for a computer an-gler /'aerjgter/ noun [c] someone who catches fish for sport

Anglican

anklet

An-gli-can

member

/'aenglikan/ noun [C] a Christian who of the Church of England An-gli-can

An-gli-can-ism noun

is

a

Losing your temper is like an explosion. When she told him, he nearly exploded. He blew up at her. Steve couldn't contain his anger any longer. It was an explosive situation. I'm sorry I blew my top. There was another angry outburst from Chris. She'll blow a fuse /a gasket if she finds out. Bob went ballistic when he saw what they had done. A major row erupted at the meeting.

adj,

[U]

an-gli-cism /'xngli.sizam/ noun

a

1

[c]

word

that

is

used in British English but not in other types of English that is used in another language an-gli-cize /'tengli.saiz/ verb [t] to make someone or something more English angling /'xnglin/ noun [u) the sport of catching fish An-glo 1 /'aengloo/ noun [c] a white person who speaks English, especially one whose family originally came

2 an English word

from Britain

An-glo 2

/'aengloo/ adj relating to white English-speaking people in the U.S. In some states, the Anglo population is less than 50%. :

Anglo- /aengloo/ prefix

involving or related to England or the U.K.: the Anglo-Scottish border

.Anglo-American

1

Anglo-A merican

2

adj relating to the U.S. U.K.: Anglo-American relations

and the

someone from the U.S. whose family originally came from the U.K. Anglo- Asian noun [c] someone from the U.K. whose family originally came from Asia Anglo- Catholic noun [c] an Anglican whose beliefs and practices are similar to those of the Catholic Church Anglo-Indian noun [C] 1 someone whose family is partly British and partly Indian 2 old-fashioned a noun

[c]

British person who has lived in India for a long time or was born there, especially during the time when India was ruled by the U.K.

an-glo-phile

someone who

/'aengb.fail/ noun [c]

likes

the U.K., British people, or British things

an-glo-phobe

/'aengb.foub/ noun

[c]

someone who

strongly dislikes the U.K., British people, or British things

an-glo-phone

/'aeggta.foon/ adj

[only before noun]

an

anglophone country is one where English is spoken as one of the main languages Anglo-Saxon noun 1 [c] one of the people who came to England in the 5th century and ruled it until 1066 2 [u] the language of the Anglo-Saxons: old English 1

Anglo-Saxon 2

adj 1

relating to the history, culture,

or language of the Anglo-Saxons 2 mainly journalism relating to the U.S. and the U.K., rather than the countries of Europe: the Anglo-Saxon economies 2a. relating to white English-speaking people in the U.S., especially people whose families originally came from the U.K. or northern Europe: The banking profession was dominated by Anglo-Saxon males.

-» CRITICIZE

angst

/aenst/ noun [u] a strong feeling of worry about what you should do, how you should behave, or what will happen in the future a ngst-r id-den / 'aenst xidn/ adj always worried about things: angst-ridden adolescents

an-guish

/'aerjgwiJV noun [u] formal a feeling of great physical or emotional pain: The rejection filled him with anguish.

an-guished

/'aengwijt/ adj suffering great physical or

emotional pain: She gave an anguished cry and collapsed. an-gu-lar /'aengjabr/ adj 1 an angular part of your body is not covered by much flesh so that you can see the shape of the bones: a tall man with an angular face

2

containing a

lot of angles:

angular handwriting

•••

an-i-mal 1

/'aennnl/ noun [c] 1 a living creature that is not a human: lions, tigers, and other wild animals *Heis accused of cruelty to animals. 1a. any living creature, including humans: Man is the only animal that uses language. 2 informal someone who behaves in a very violent, cruel, or rude way: That man is an animal! 3 informal used when you are talking about the particular type of person someone is, for example what they enjoy doing: / know how to deal with James, but Michael is a different animal. a political/ social animal -» PARTY ANIMAL

an-i-mal 2

/ 'aennnl/ adj [only before noun] • relating to animals: Try to cut down on the amount of animal fats you eat. an animal shelter 2 relating to people's basic physical needs such as food and sex: animal instincts/ urges/ desires

1

animal

'rights noun [u] a belief that animals should be treated well by people and not killed or used for scientific experiments

an-i-mate 1 /'aenirneit/ verb [T] something more lively, active, or

to make someone or interested: Sports were the only thing that really animated him. an attempt to animate the discussion

an-i-mate 2

/'aenimat/ adj formal alive: animate beings

— Opposite INANIMATE

an-i-mat-ed

look/sound angry Some of the parents looked extremely angry. get/ become angry There's no point in getting angry. make sb angry His attitude makes me really angry. 1a. used about people's behavior: an angry shout The speech provoked an angry response from teachers and

/'aenixneitad/ adj 1 lively or active: an animated conversation 2 an animated movie or cartoon consists of a series of drawings that are shown quickly one after another so that they look as if they are moving an-i-ma-tion /.aeni'meijn/ noun 1 [u] the process or result of making animated movies or cartoons: the first movie to be made using computer animation 1a. [C] an animated movie or cartoon 2 [u] a quality that shows energy and excitement -» suspended animation a-n i-ma-tor / 'aeni.meitar/ noun [c] someone who makes animated movies or CARTOONS ani-ma-tron-ics /.aenima'traniks/ noun [u] technology that uses electronic systems to operate puppets (=models of people or animals) an-i-me /'aenimei/ noun [u] a type of Japanese animated

community leaders. 2 an angry wound (=cut

an-i-mism

an-go-ra

/aen'gors/ noun 1 [c] a type of goat, rabbit, or cat that has long soft hair 2 [u] soft wool made from the hair of an angora goat or rabbit

an-gos-tu-ra

/.aengs'stora/ noun [u] a bitter substance used to flavor alcoholic drinks an«gry/'2engri/adj *•• 1 very annoyed: + about/at/over He is very angry about the way he's been treated. Patients are angry at the increase in the cost of medicines. + with Are you angry with me?* feel angry / was left feeling angry and bitter.

movie that often shows a in

your skin)

is

very red and

painful

3

literary

is

a storm or there

an angry sky or ocean is

is dark because there an-gri-ly going to be a storm

—

adv

is like

being hot or

on

hot under

trees, and mountains, have spirits an-i-mos-i-ty / ,aeni 'masati/ noun [C/u] a strong feeling of disliking someone or something: hostility: There is no

an-i-seed fire.

She burned with indignation. He has a fiery temper. Jack was a hot-tempered young man. Their parents were having a heated argument /debate about where to go. She often flares up over nothing. It made my blood boil.

violence or sex

personal animosity between them.

Metaphor Being angry

lot of

/'aeni.mizam/ noun [u] a religion in which people believe that things in nature, such as animals,

/ lost my cool. the collar.

Alison was getting very

/'aeni.sid/ noun [u] the seed of a plant called anise, used for adding flavor to food and drink /'aerjkl/ noun [C] ** the part at the bottom of your leg where your foot joins your leg: I fell and twisted my ankle. ankle socks/boots (=that come up to your

an-kle

ankle)

— picture -» body, foot

anklet

1

/'aenktat/ noun [c] a piece of jewelry that

wear around your ankle

you

annals an-nals

anorexia

noun [plural] the official records of an organization, arranged according to their date /'aenlz/

the annals of sth the whole history of something: an event unprecedented in the annals of war /s'mepahs/ the United States Naval Academy, the college where people go to train as officers

Annapolis in the U.S.

Navy

From Annapolis, Maryland, is

the city where the college

based.

annoyed

find that the plane was overbooked. annoyed with/at yourself Beth was annoyed at herselffor not saying anything. to

/o'nonrj/ adj •• making you feel slightlyangry or impatient: an annoying habit/problem What's really annoying is that we made the same mistake last time. arvnoying-ly adv

an-noy-ing

1

an-nu-al 1

/'aenjusl/adj

•••

happening once a year: an annual festival I vacation

t

report

annex

1

/a'neks; 'ae.neks/ verb

country or region by Soviet Union in 1940.

to take control of a force: Moldova was annexed by the [T]

— an-nex-a-tion

snek'seijn/noun

2

calculated or considered over a period of one year: an annual salary/ total/ average an-nu-al-ly /'acnjuali/

adv

an-nu-al 2

of people or things completely 2 to defeat an opponent completely and easily an*ni*hi*la*tion /a.naia'leijn/

/'aenjual/ noun [c] 1 a book or magazine published once every year 2 a plant that grows and dies in the same year compare perennial' i an-nu-aMzed/ 'a,'nju3,laizd/ adj 6usmess an annualized amount uses a number for a period of less than a year to produce a calculation for the whole year annual meeting noun [c] a meeting that a business or organization has every year to discuss issues and

noun [U] an-ni-ver-sa-ry /,aeni'v3rs(3)ri/ noun [C] •• a date when you celebrate something that happened in a pre-

an-nu-i-ty /a'nuati/ noun [c] 1 a fixed amount of money that someone receives regularly each year 2 an

[C/U]

annex

2

/'ae.neks/ noun [c] 1 a building added to a larger building or built next to it 2 a section that is added to the end of a document

annexe

/

'ae.neks/

noun

[c]

a Br

an-ni-hi-late /a 'nais.leit/ verb

E

spelling of

[t] 1

annex

to destroy a

2

group

—

vious year that is important to you: our second wedding anniversary There was a concert to mark the 10th anniversary of Mandela's release from jail.

an-no-tate

/'aena.teit/ verb [T] to put notes in a piece of writing in order to explain parts of it an -no -taction /.aena'teijn/ noun [C/U]

—

aivnounce/a'nauns/ verb [t] *** 1 to make a public or official statement,

especially

about a plan, decision, or something that has happened: There was a press release announcing the Senator's resignation. Exxon has announced a 26% increase in profits. +(that) / am pleased to announce that the Board has agreed to create 500 new jobs in our sales division. 2 to tell people something clearly or loudly: "Well, I must be going, " she announced. + (that) Bill just suddenly announced he was taking the day off 2a. to say formally that someone has arrived or that something is about to happen: Dinner will be announced shortly. 3 to give information over a loudspeaker in a public place such as an airport: When your flight is announced, make your way to the departure lounge. +(that) They've just announced that our train will be delayed. aivnounce'inent/a'naonsmant/ noun 1 [C] a public or official statement that gives people information about something: The talks are continuing, make but no announcements are expected at this time. an announcement An announcement made by the senator seemed to contradict this. +that Ms. Baker stunned her fans with an announcement that she was quitting the music

••*

business. 1a. [u] the act of publicly or officially stating something: + of The announcement of his visit caused wide-

spread media interest. 2 [C] a short statement in a newspaper, often about a birth, death, or marriage 2a. a card that you send to people to tell them something personal, for example that your baby has been born or that you are going to get

married

announc-er

/a'naunsar/ noun

[c]

someone whose job

give information or describe a sports event on or radio is to

TV

an«noy/3'noi/verb[T] ** to make someone feel slightly angry or impatient: irritate: / don't dislike her, but she just annoys me sometimes. It annoyed her to think that she had trusted him. it annoys sb that/when/how etc. It really annoys me when you don't listen to what I'm saying. annoyance /s'noians/ noun 1 [u] a slightly angry or impatient feeling: Shaking his head in annoyance, Patrick left the room. to sb's annoyance To her surprise and annoyance, Lisa found that the others had gone without her. 2 [C] something that makes you feel slightly angry an-noyed /a'noid/ adj •• feeling slightly angry or impatient: / couldn't see her face, but she sounded pretty annoyed. get annoyed (with sb) The kids wouldn't stop talking, and I was beginning to get annoyed with them. + at /about /with We were all annoyed with him for forgetting. + (that) / was really annoyed that I hadn been invited. annoyed to find /discover /hear etc. We were 't

—

elect

new

amount

officials

of

money

that

is

interest that is then paid to rest of their life

invested in order to earn someone each year for the

an-nul

/s'nAl/ verb [T] to state officially that something such as a marriage, an agreement, or an election has an-nul'ment noun [C/U] no legal authority An»nun«ci»a*tion, the /3,n\nsi'eifn/ noun March 25th, which Christians remember as the day when the Virgin Mary was told by a messenger from God that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ an-ode /'ae.nood/ noun [c] science the part of a piece of electrical equipment where electrons leave or an electric current enters— compare cathode an-o-dyne /'aena.dain/ adj formal containing nothing that will offend anyone or cause disagreements, and

—

therefore rather boring: bland

a*noint /a'nomt/

verb [t] 1 to put oil on a part of someone's body in a religious ceremony 2 often humorous to decide that someone should be given a particular important job: His colleagues predict he'll be anointed party chairman next year.

anom-alous /a'namsbs/ adj formal unusual or unexpected

a-nom-a-ly /s'namali/ noun

[c/u] formal something unusual, unexpected, or different from what normally happens: a curious anomaly in the regulations a-non /a'nan/ adv literary an old word meaning "soon"

anon,

abbrev anonymous an-o-nynvi'ty /.aena'nimati/ noun [u] 1 a situation in which the name of a person who does something such as write a book or give information is not known or is

kept secret: The informant spoke on condition of anonymity (=in return for his name not being mentioned). the bustle and anonymity of a big city (=where people do not know each other) 2 a situation in which something has no interesting or unusual features: the anonymity of the airport hotel

a'non'y-mous/a'nanimas/adj • 1 if someone is anonymous, no one knows their name: The bomb threat was made by an anonymous caller. a witness who wished to remain anonymous la. used about something that is done, written, etc. by someone whose name is not known: an anonymous phone call letter 2 something that is anonymous has no interesting or unusual features

anonymous

— a^non-ymous'ly adv

FT'P noun

[C]

computing anonymous

file

transfer protocol: a set of rules for moving computer files from one computer to another, especially over the Internet, without

having

to say

who you

are or use a

password /'ania ,riek/ noun [C] BrE y a short coat with a hood (=the part that covers your head) 2 informal someone who is very interested in something that most people think is boring or not fashionable an-o-rex-i-a /a-n.Vreksi.V noun [u] a serious illness that makes you want to stop eating and that mainly

an-o-rak

o

anorexic affects

antagonise

young women.

Its full

medical

name

is

anorexia

nervosa, —compare bulimia 1

arvo«rex-ic /.aena'reksik/

2

exia

adj

1

suffering from anor-

informal extremely thin 2

aivo-rex-ic /.eena'reksik/ noun

[c]

someone who has

ANOREXIA

answer the description of

another /a'nAdar/ function word ***

to look like the

person or

thing described

Another can be used in the following ways: as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): Can I have another glass of water, please? as a pronoun (without a following noun): We're changing from one system to another, (followed by "of): /

low-cost housing. answer sb's prayers When they saw the plane, they knew their prayers had been answered. 5 [l/T] to do something as a reaction to what someone else has done: answer (sth) with sth He answered her look with a smile. be answered by sth The attack was answered by an immediate military crackdown.

answer back phrasal vb [l/T] [answer sb back] to reply rudely to someone who has more authority than you: Don you dare answer me back! / don like children who 't

't

answer back.

answer

have another of his books somewhere.

one more person or thing of the same type as before: There's another news show at ten o'clock. Peter's mom is expecting another baby in June. "These sandwiches are delicious. " "Would you like another?"* + of / hope this isn another of Donald's stupid tricks. another one We're doing a big concert tomorrow night and another one on Saturday. yet another (=used when there are already a lot) The

for phrasal vb [T] [answer for sth] to agree to be responsible for something: You have to answer for any errors in the calculations.

1

't

administration

is

involved

in

yet

another corruption

another two/ten/hundred

etc. used for saying how many more people or things there are: Another 200 nurses are needed in local hospitals. 1 b. (and) another thing spoken used for introducing an additional

scandal,

la.

subject that you

want

to

mention when you are annoyed

about something or when someone has done something that you do not like: And another thing - what about that $10 you borrowed from me? 1c. not another spoken used when something annoying or boring that has happened several times before is starting to happen again: Oh no, not another planning meeting! 2 a different person or thing of the same type: Isn't there another word that has the same meaning? Fatima 's husband was working in another part of the country. another (one) of / lent the book to my teacher, and he lent it

to

another one of his students.

3 used with the name of a person, place, or event to mean someone or something else that has similar qualities: Music fans are already calling him another There were fears that the war in Bosnia Sinatra. might become another Vietnam.

Frank

another time spoken used for saying that something cannot be done now but can be done at a future time: "Do you want to join me for lunch?" "Another time, Nick, I'm really busy right now. -> ONE ANOTHER

ANSI, the

/'aensi/ the

American National Standards

Institute: a U.S. organization that decides the standards of safety and quality for electronic and scientific equip-

/'aensar/ verb

1 reply to question, etc.

2 in a test/competition 3 explain your behavior

to the name of 1 if an animal answers to the name of something, it comes to you when you call it this name 2 to have a particular name: a small boy

answer

answering

an-swer2

to the

name

of Andrew

/'aensar/ noun

•••

[C/u] a spoken reply to a question: It was a tough but Ginny had her answer ready. +to The answer to your question is yes. give sb an answer I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow. in answer to In answer to your inquiry, no he is not married. 1a. [C] a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement: / wrote to her in May but I never got an answer, lb. [singular] a situation in which someone comes to the door when you go to their house or picks up the phone when you call them: / tried calling her again, but there was still no answer. get no answer Ring the doorbell and if you get no answer, knock on the window. 2 [C] a spoken or written reply to a question in a test or competition: Write your answers in the space provided. get the I'm sorry, but "Paris" is the wrong answer. answer right/wrong You got all the answers right. 2a. the correct reply to a question in a test or competition: All answers are printed in the back of the book. + to Do you know the answer to question 10? 3 [C] a way of solving or dealing with a problem: solution: Ifyou can t afford a decorator, the obvious answer is to fix it yourself. +to There are no easy answers to this 1

question,

sth's answer to someone or something that is similar to a more famous person or thing from a different place:

••* 4 do what is needed 5 do sth as a reaction + PHRASES

a spoken reply to a question: / want you to answer one simple question. "I don't know," she answered truthfully. I'm still waiting for you to answer. What's the matter? Answer me! + that I could only answer that I'd seen them leaving together. 1a. [T] to send a written reply to something such as a letter or an advertisement: She answered an advertisement asking for models, lb. [l/T] to come to the door when someone arrives at your house, or pick up the phone when it rings: / knocked and a young man answered the door. The phone rang and rang but she couldn 't bring herself to answer it. 2 [l/T] to try to give the correct reply to a question in a test or competition: Answer one question from each answer correctly / incorrectly Not everyone section. answered correctly. 3 [T] to explain your actions to someone who has accused you of something: answer charges /criticisms How would you answer charges that your company puts The president made no attempt to profit before safety? answer their criticisms. 4 [T] to provide what is needed, wanted, or asked for. especially in order to deal with a bad situation: Their answer request for help was answered by the Red Cross. a need The development was built to answer a need for [l/T]

except the president.

crisis.

ment

an-swer 1

1

answer for sb used for emphasizing that you cannot say what someone else will do or think about something: / can't answer for my colleagues, but as far as I'm concerned this is a great proposal. have a lot to answer for to be responsible for a lot of bad things that have happened answer to phrasal vb [T] [answer to sb] to have to explain to someone why you did something: J answer to no one can't

to give

These boys were going

to

be America's answer to The

Beatles.

->

NO

1

answerable

/'aens(3)rabl/ adj

1

[+to]

if

you are

answerable to someone, you have to explain to them the reasons for your actions or mistakes: The police force here is answerable only to the governor of the colony. 2 [+for] if you are answerable for something, you are considered to be responsible for it: Customers are answerable for any damage they cause. an«swer-ing machine /'£ens(3)nn majin/ noun [c] a machine that answers your telephone and records messages that people leave for you answering service /'32ns(3)nn ,s3rvis/ noun [C] a business that receives telephone calls for other businesses or companies, taking messages or giving information ant /aent/ noun [c] • a small insect that lives under the ground in large organized groups called colonies —picture -» ci3 have ants in your pants informal to be unable to sit still, for example because you are nervous or full of energy ant-ac-id /aent'ssid/ noun [C] a medicine that reduces the amount of acid in your stomach an-tag-on-ise /asn'taegs.naiz/a Br E spelling of antagonize

antagonism

antagonistic

/aen.taegs'nistik/

1

adj

disliking

someone or something very much and behaving in a very unfriendly way toward them: + toward /to You sound very antagonistic toward her. 2 opposing something strongly

an-tag-o-nize /aen'taegs.naiz/ verb [T] to make someone feel angry with you, so that they start to dislike you or have a negative attitude toward you: They were always careful not

to

antagonize rural

voters.

Antarctic, the

/aen'tarktik/ the extremely cold the most southern part of the world. The most northern region is the Arctic.

region that

is

an-te 1

/'senti/ noun up/raise the ante to try to get a greater advantage from a situation by taking a bigger risk

an«te

2

/ 'aenti/ (present participle an*te*ing; past tense

verb ,ante 'up phrasal vb informal to pay an amount of money participle

airted)

and past

[i/T]

AmE

ante- /aenti/ prefix before: used with some nouns, adjectives, and verbs: an anteroom (=a small room leading to a larger room)

antedate (=to exist or happen before

something else) /'aent.itar/ noun [c] a tropical animal with a very long nose and tongue that eats ants and other small insects an«te-ce-dent /,aenti'sidnt/ noun 1 [c] formal something that happened or existed before something else

ant-eat-er

and

is

similar to

it

in

some way 2 antecedents [plural]

formal the members of your family who lived a long time ago: ancestors 3 [C] linguistics the antecedent of a word is the noun or phrase nearer the beginning of the sentence that it refers to. In the sentence "I threw the keys to him and he caught them," "keys" is the antecedent of "them." an-te-cham-ber / 'aenti, tjeimbsr/ noun [C] old-fashioned an ANTEROOM an-te-date / ,aenti'deit/ verb [t] formal to exist or happen before something else antediluvian /.aentidi'luvisn/ adj humorous very old or old-fashioned

an-te-lope /'aenti.loop/ noun [c] a brown animal with horns and long thin legs that can run very fast. Antelopes live mainly in Africa and Asia. antenatal /.aenti'neitl/ adj Br E prenatal an*ten*na /aen'tens/ noun [c] 1 (plural an*ten*nas or wire or metal pole used for receiving or sending radio and television signals. Br E usually aerial picture -» ci 2 (plural an*ten*nae) one of the two long an*ten*nae) a

—

thin parts on an insect's head that

it

uses to feel things

with an*te*ri*or /aen'tiriar/ adj medical near the front of a part of your body an-te-room / 'aenti ,rum/ noun [c] a small room that leads to a larger and more important room an-them /'aenBsm/ noun [c] 1 the official song of a particular country or organization that people sing on special occasions 2 a song that is important to a particular group of people 3 a song that is sung during a Christian religious service by a choir only ant-hill / 'aent.hil/ noun [C] a pile of earth that ants make above the underground place where they live an-thol-o-gy /aen'6abd3i/ noun [c] a book containing poems, stories, or songs written by different people. Someone who produces an anthology is called an anthologist.

an*thrO'poid

/'aenBrs.poid/ adj an anthropoid other animal is very similar to a human an-thropoid

noun

[u]

a type of very hard

coal

an»thro«pol«o«gy

/,icn0ro'pul3d3i/ noun [u] the study of human societies, customs, and beliefs. Someone who studies anthropology is called an anthropologist. -an*thro*po*log«i«cal/,a.'n0r.'>pr>'lud3ikl/adj

an-thro-po-mor-phic /aenOropoo

irnrfik/ adj considering something such as a god, animal, or object as having human features or qualities an-thro po'mor-phism / .aenOrapoo'mDr ,fiz3m/ noun u [

an*ti

/'aen.Braeks/ noun [u] a very serious illness affecting cows and sheep and sometimes people.

sometimes used

/'aentai;

]

preposition informal opposed to very anti smoking in this

'aenti/

someone or something: We're office.

anti- /aenti/ prefix 1 opposed to someone or something: used with many nouns and adjectives: antiwar protesters 2 with the opposite qualities or effects: used with some nouns and adjectives: antihero 3 preventing or curing something: used with some nouns and adjectives: antibacterial an anti-tetanus injection

antiaircraft

/,aenti'er,kraeft/

noun]

[only before

ad)

designed to destroy aircraft an-ti-bi-ot-ic /.aentibai'atik; .aentaibai'atik/ noun [c] a drug that cures illnesses and infections caused by bacteria. Doctors often give people a course of antibiotics, when they have to take a fixed number of pills each day for several days.

an-ti-bod-y /'aenti.badi/ noun [C] • a substance that your body produces in your blood to fight illnesses and infections. Antibodies are an important part of the immune system that protects your body against disease.

••

antic-i-pate

/aen'tisi.peit/ verb [T] 1 to think that something will probably happen: The organizers hadn't anticipated the huge interest there was in the event. The building will be completed around six

earlier than anticipated. -t-(that) We anticipate anticipate (sb/ that the river level will rise very slowly. sth) doing sth We don't anticipate this causing any difficulties, la. to be excited about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon: look forward to: The movie, due to be released in the spring, is being eagerly anticipated by the critics. 2 to guess that something will happen, and be ready to deal with it: Luckily we had anticipated the question. The businesses that will survive will be those that anticipate changes in technology.

months

an-tic-i-pa-tion /aen.tisi'peijn/ noun [u] * a feeling of excitement about something enjoyable that is going to happen soon: a quiver /thrill /buzz of anticipation in anticipation of sth if you do something in anticipation of an event, you expect it to happen and you prepare yourself for it

anticlerical

/.aenti'klenkl/ adj disliking priests

and

churches, or not wanting them to have power in political or social issues

an*ti*cli*max

/.aenti'klai.maeks/ noun [c/u]

something

not as exciting as you expected it to be so that you feel disappointed: The day had proved something of an anticlimax. 4 a feeling of anticlimax— arvti-cli-mac-tic that

is

/.aentiklai'maektik/adj

an-ti-co-ag-u-lant /.aentikoo'aegjabnt/ noun [C/u] a substance that prevents blood from coagulating an'ti'CO-ag'iHant adj (^becoming more solid) an«ti-convpet'i'tive /.aentikam'pctativ/ adj intended to prevent people from competing against each other

—

fairly, especially in business: anticompetitive practices/

behavior

antics

/'aentiks/

noun

[plural]

1

behavior that

is

funny

or silly in an enjoyable way 2 behavior that is considered to be deliberately stupid and likely to cause problems: Community leaders condemned the antics of right-wing extremists. /.aentai'sai.kloun/ noun [c] an area of high air pressure, producing clear weather with very little

an-thrax

is

—

[C]

an-ti-cy-clone

an'thra'Cite/'aenBra.sait/noun

Anthrax

antidepressant

49

an«tag«0'nism/aen'taeg3,niz3m/ noun [c/u] 1 a strong feeling of disliking someone, usually a feeling that has existed for a long time: + between the growing antagonism between management and the union + toward/to It was difficult to explain their antagonism toward strangers. 2 opposition to something such as an idea or proposal an-tag-o-nist /aen'taegsnist/ noun [c] formal your opponent, for example in a competition or fight

in biological warfare.

wind

antidepressant

/

.aentidi'presnt/ noun [c] a

used for treating someone

unhappy

who

is

that they are considered sick)

depressed

drug (=so

1

antidote an-ti-dote

1

a substance that

prevents a poison from having bad effects 2 something that helps to improve the effects of something bad or negative: + to The book is a refreshing antidote to the usual guides to communication between men and women.

an-ti-freeze /'a^nti.friz/ noun [u] a chemical that you add to the water in a car engine to prevent it from

anti-social

not interested in meeting other people or not enjoying friendly relationships with them 1a. making it difficult to meet people and have normal relationships: He works antisocial hours. 2 showing a lack of care for other people or for society in general: antisocial activities such as dropping litter

/'aentid33n/ noun [C] medical a harmful substance that causes your body to produce antibodies to it

anti-hero

/'aenti.hiroo/ noun [C] a main character (=person) in a story who does not have the qualities that a hero usually has, such as being brave or morally

good

an-ti-his-ta-mine /.aenti'hista.min/ noun [c/u] a drug used to treat an allergy (=a bad reaction to something you swallow or touch) anti-in flammatory noun [c] a drug taken to reduce inflammation (=swelling, heat, and pain) —.antiinflammatory adj an-ti-lock bra-king sys-tem /aenti luk breikin .sistam/ noun [C] a piece of equipment in a car that helps you to keep control of the car when you stop it quickly. The equipment is often simply called ABS. an-ti-mat-ter /'aenti.maetsr/ noun [u] science particles (=the smallest pieces that make up all substances) that are the exact opposites of

all

the particles in the universe

antioxidant / .aentai'aksidsnt,

.aenti'aksidsnt/ [C] science a substance that prevents oxygen from

noun com-

bining with other substances and damaging them

an-ti-pas-to /.aenti'pasti/)

/,aenti'pastoo/

(plural

an*ti*pas*ti

noun [C/U] cold food that you eat at the

start of an Italian meal an-tip-a-thy /aen'tipaOi/ noun [u] formal a strong feeling of not liking someone or something: +for/to/ toward She found it hard to hide her antipathy toward her colleagues.

— an-tip-a-thet-ic

anti-personnel

/

.aentips'Oetik/ adj

anti-personnel weapons are rather than destroy

adj

designed to injure or buildings or weapons

kill people,

an-ti-per-spi-rant /,£enti'p3rsp(3)r3nt/ noun [C/u] a substance that you put on your skin to stop you from SWEATING

An-tip-o-des, the /am'tips.diz/ BrE Australia and

New Zealand— An-tip-o-de-an/aen.tipa'disn/ adj,

noun

[C]

an-ti-quar-i-an

ad]

1

vehicles with big guns)

an-tith-e-sis /am'tiGasis/ noun [singular] formal the exact opposite of something an-ti-thet-i-cal

—

/,aenti'8etikl/adj

/.aentai'uwst/ adj legal intended to prevent companies from controlling prices and reducing competition: ant it rust laws/ legislation ant-ler /'aentbr/ noun [c] one of the horns on the head of a male deer / 'aentanim/ noun [C] a word that means the opposite of another word compare synonym ant-sy /'aentsi/ adj informal nervous and unable

antonym

AmE

to relax

which you

+

communicate our anxieties

anxious

*

/.aen'tik/ adj

old

to the children.

••

We were

all

anxious for peace.

3 an anxious time

or situation is one in which you worry about something: We had an anxious time waiting for the results of the X-rays.

an-y

/'eni/ function

Any can

— anx-ious-ly adv

*•*

word

be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by a singular countable noun): It's a puzzle that any intelligent child could solve, (followed by a plural or uncountable noun): Are there any cookies left? He doesn't have any money. as a

pronoun (without

a following noun): / looked

around for toilet paper, but there wasn't any. (followed by "of): Have you read any of his books? as an adverb (usually followed by the comparative form of an adjective or adverb): Are you feeling any

or too oldmodernize the

antiquated telephone system.

and valuable: antique

better?

furniture

an-tique 2

/'asnkfas/ adj

worried because you think something bad might happen: His silence made me anxious. an anxious glance + about People are naturally anxious about these tests. 2 wanting something very much, especially when this makes you nervous, excited, or impatient: anxious to do sth We're anxious to hear from anyone who can help. +for 1

adj too old to

your bottom through

cause anxiety, depression, and insomnia. about /over There was increasing anxiety over the outcome of the talks. 1a. a nervous or impatient feeling that you have because you want to do something very much or want it to happen very much: anxiety to do sth their anxiety to do better than their competitors 2 [C] something you are worried about: We try not to

2

1

[c] the hole in get rid of solid waste

an-vil /'aenvil/ noun [c] a metal block on which a blacksmith shapes metal objects with a hammer anx-i-ety /aerj'zaiati/ noun •• 1 [u] a worried feeling you have because you think something bad might happen: Too much caffeine can

an-ti-quar-i-an /.aenti'kwerian/ or antiquary /'aentikwari/ noun [C] someone who studies, collects, or sells old books and other historical objects fashioned to be useful: There are plans

—

a-nus /'einas/ noun

1

an-ti-quat-ed /'aenti.kweitad/

AmE

antitrust

/.aenti'kwerian/ adj relating to the study, collection, or sale of historical objects, especially old and rare books

an-tique

/.aenti'soojl/

.anti-tank adj designed to destroy tanks (=large mUitary

freezing

anti-gen fight

any

50 /'aenti.doot/ noun [c]

noun [C] * an old object such as a piece of furniture or jewelry that is valuable because it is rare, beautiful, or well made: The desk is an antique.

Any

is used especially in questions, in negative sentences, and in clauses with "if ': Is there any coffee There weren't any complaints. / can lend you left?

/aen'tik/

a

an antique dealer /sale

antique shop

a store that sells old and

map

if that's

any

help.

/.aentai 'semi.tizsm, ,aenti

used instead of "some" for saying or asking whether there is a small amount of something or a small number of people or things: If you need any help, just let me know. I tried to get a ticket +of Did any of her friends but there weren't any left. come?* any. ..at all Without any hesitation at all, Jane came forward to volunteer. few if any (=not many and possibly none) Few if any pianists have performed the Grieg concerto with such sensitivity. 1a. any more/ better/bigger etc used for saying or asking whether something is more/better/bigger etc even by a small amount: If your headache gets any worse, you should see a doctor. The army couldn't advance any further. 2 used when it is not important to say which person

— an-ti-sep-tic adj

or thing you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everyone or everything: If any member It's a of the team was sick, Gary would take his place.

noun

[C]

valuable objects

an-tiq-ui-ty /aen'tikwati/ noun 1 [u] ancient times, especially the period of time before the end of the Roman Empire in 476 a.d. 2 [C usually plural] an object or building that existed in ancient times and still exists 3 [u] formal the state of being extremely old an-ti-Sem-ite /,aenti'se,mait/ noun [C] someone who hates Jewish people an-ti-Se-mit-ic /.aentai ss'mitik, ,aenti ss'mitik/ adj anti-Semitic people, opinions, writings, etc. show a feeling of hate toward Jewish people— an-ti-Sem-i-tism

'semi.tizsm/nounM an-ti-sep-tic /.aenti'septik/ noun [C/u] a substance used for cleaning injured skin and preventing infections

1

[usually

in

negatives or questions]

!

anybody

- they're all the same price. [always in negatives or questions] spoken used for emphasis after a verb to mean "at all": Have things

want

3

improved any? (old) how spoken in a careless and messy way: Don 't just stuff your things into the drawer any old how. be any use/any good [usually in negatives or questions] used for saying whether something is at all good, useful, or effective: boat like this wouldn't be any good in a storm. * It's no use complaining - they never listen. not. .any longer used for saying that a situation has

any

A

.

ended or someone has stopped doing something: She any longer, —compare anymore not just any (old) informal used for referring to someone or something that is special or important: They crossed the continent by car, and not just any car, but a 1933 Rolls

couldn't wait

Royce. -» CASE

1

anybody

anyway

51

very simple test - any idiot could pass it. *+oi It was the first time that any of the children had ever been abroad. * any other The new card can be used in the same way as any other credit card. 2a. used when it is not important which person or thing you choose: Pick any design you

••• anyone: Is there anybody who doesn't understand what to do?* anybody else I'm not taking care of anybody else's children. /'eni.badi/ pronoun

an-y-how /'eni.hao/ adv • Anyhow can be used in the

following ways:

not just anyone used for referring to someone special: He's not just anyone - he's my best friend.

an*y*place With this [usually

1

/

AmE

eni pleis/ function word you get to go anyplace you

ticket

an-y-thing in

anywhere: want to.

•*•

/'cni.Oin/ pronoun negatives or questions] used instead of "some-

thing" when saying or asking whether there is one thing or even a small amount of something: Do you know anything about baseball?* He never does anything to help. * If anything goes wrong, the manager always gets the blame. * I promise I won't do anything stupid * hardly anything It was so dark I could hardly see anything at all. * anything else Is there anything else I can do for you'' * anything to do/see/say etc. Is there anything to eat in the house?* what, if anything? (used when you think there is probably nothing) What, if anything, can the UN do without American support? 2 used when it is not important to say which thing, idea, action, etc. you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everything: You can buy anything you want on the Internet. * Anything made of wood needs to be protected from the weather. * She really loves those kids - she'd do anything for them. * almost anything /just about anything Pigs will eat just about anything. 3 used with numbers to show that you are not giving exact information, but that any number is possible within the range you mention: A good diamond could cost anything from $10,000 to $300,000. * You may have to wait anything up to six months for an appointment.

as a way of showing how a sentence is related to what has already been said: I'm not going to resign. Not yet,

anything but used for emphasizing that a particular word does not describe someone or something, because

anyhow.

the opposite is true about them: Unfortunately, our hosts were anything but friendly. anything goes used for saying that any type of behavior is possible or allowed in a particular situation anything like similar to someone or something else in some way: Is Tom anything like his brother? anything you say spoken used for telling someone that you are ready to agree with them or do what they want, even when you do not really want to: Okay, I'll put on a

as an ordinary adverb: Don't just stick pictures on the wall anyhow. Arrange them properly. 1 despite sth else spoken despite something you have previously mentioned: Martin's been sick, but anyhow, I think he's hoping to come with us tomorrow. * Make the speed limit 30 miles an hour, and people will drive at 40 anyhow. 2 when sth is not important spoken used when stating a particular fact which shows that something that has just been mentioned is not important: Did you bring a map? Oh well, it doesn't matter anyhow - I know the way. * There's nothing to eat. Anyhow, I'm not really hungry. 3 used for limiting a statement spoken used when adding a statement that limits what you have just said: / don 't want to talk about it, not tonight anyhow. * The world, my world anyhow, is full of stupid guys like Gary. 4 used for changing the subject spoken used when you are changing the subject of a conversation back to what you were talking about earlier: Oh well, anyhow, as we were saying, nobody cares about the poor old farmers. 5 used when telling a story spoken used for introducing what happened next: / could see the poor animal was sick. Anyhow, I gave it antibiotics, and it started to

recover.

for ending a conversation spoken used for ending a conversation, or for showing that you have come to the end of what you were telling someone: Anyhow, I shouldn t keep you from your work. 7 in a careless way in a careless or messy way .Account books and documents lay scattered anyhow across his desk. -» ANY any-more / ,eni'mDr/ adv [usually in negatives or questions] ** used when talking or asking about a situation that has ended, or about something that someone has stopped doing: any longer: Don you love me anymore?* No one comes here anymore. an-y-one /'eniwAn/ pronoun *** 1 [usually in negatives or questions] used instead of "someone" when asking or saying whether there is even one person: Was there anyone at home?* Did he mention anyone special? * I'm not blaming anyone for what happened. * anyone else Is anyone else coming with us? 2 used when it is not important which person you are referring to, because what you are saying applies to everyone, or everyone of a particular type: Anyone can make a mistake. * If anyone asks for me, tell them I'm busy. * You can invite anyone you like. * anyone else Sherwood probably knows more than anyone else about the subject. * almost anyone It was the kind of accident that could happen 't

almost anyone.

.

anything. as much as anything spoken used for saying that something is one of the main reasons for a situation, feeling, etc.: I've been feeling miserable. I think it's the weather as much as anything. like anything spoken very much: When she stuck the needle in, it hurt like anything. not. .anything better/worse used for saying that something is the best/the worst thing you can think of: It was wonderful to have a place of my own. I couldn t have asked for anything better. not anything like/near not at all or not nearly: They didn t get anything near the price they were asking. not. .for anything spoken used for emphasizing that you definitely will not do something: / wouldn't get married again for anything. .or anything spoken used for referring to or asking about other things of the same type: Can I get you a sandwich or anything? * He never brought me flowers or anything. .

.

6 used

to

tie and jacket. Anything you say. as. .as anything spoken used with adjectives or adverbs to mean "very" or "extremely": She was as nervous as

.

.

/'eni.taim/ adv • at any time: You can come me anytime you like. * anytime soon The strike going to end anytime soon. * They should be here anytime now.

an-ytime and

see

isn't

an-y-way

••*

/'eni.wei/ adv spoken 1 despite sth else despite something that you have previously mentioned: Even if the drug is banned, a lot ofpeople will go on using it anyway. * No one expected house prices to fall, but anyway that's exactly what happened. 2 when sth is not important used when stating a particular fact that shows that something just mentioned is not important: "Sorry about the stain. " "Never mind. I was going to have it cleaned anyway." * I don't understand politics, and anyway I'm not really interested. 3 used for changing the subject used when you are changing the subject of a conversation back to what you were talking about earlier: Anyu ay. as I was saying, things really have started to improve. 4 used for ending a conversation used for ending a y

anyways I

unemployment?

6 used

for limiting a statement used when adding a statement that limits what you have just said: It's something I can 't tell you - not just now, anyway. He would never blame his wife, not in public, anyway. 7 used for asking for the real reason used for asking about the real reason for something: What did you come here for anyway? 8 used when telling a story used for introducing what happened next: Alan told me to get a doctor. So anyway, I phoned Dr. Bentley.

anyways / 'eni.weiz/ adv Am E spoken anyway any-where / 'eni.wer/ function word *** Anywhere can as a

pronoun: a

tiny island a long

way from anywhere.

used instead of "somewhere" when you are saying whether someone or something exists in even one place or goes to even one place: He never travels anywhere without his camera. Did you go anywhere interesting? Is there anywhere where I could hire a bike?* anywhere else These giant tortoises are not found anywhere else in the world. 2 used when you are not referring to one particular place, because what you are saying applies to every place: If you see my keys lying around anywhere, put them on my desk. You can sit anywhere you like. He was prepared to travel anywhere in the world in search of [usually

in

negatives or questions]

adventure. 3 used for saying that a number or amount is within a particular range, when you cannot give a single exact figure: + between A principal can earn anywhere between $40,000 and $110,000 a year, depending on the size of the school. anywhere from. .to The trip can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. .

not be getting/going anywhere to not be making any progress or not be likely to achieve anything: + with/on So far, Jack doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with his writing career. It is clear that Congress is not going anywhere on welfare reform. not get sb anywhere informal used for saying that a particular action or type of behavior does not help someone to achieve anything: Losing your temper won't get you anywhere. -» NEAR /'aen.zaek/ noun [c] a soldier from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, especially in 1

ANZAC

World War

ANZAC

I

,Day noun

in Australia

AOB

/,ei

ou

and 'bi/

[c/u] April 25th, a public holiday

New Zealand that honors ANZACs BrE any other business: things that

are discussed at the end of a meeting a«or«ta /eibrts/ noun [c] the main artery that carries blood from your heart to other parts of your body AP 1 /,ei 'pi/ Associated Press: an international organization that collects news stories and sells them to newspapers and television companies 2 /,ei 'pi/ noun [u] Advanced Placement: college-level classes and tests that students take at high school. Most

AP

colleges in the U.S. give credits to students

who

receive

high scores on their AP exams. a-pace /a'peis/ adv formal very quickly

a-part /s'part/

function

word

it came apart in my hands. except sb/sth [never before noun] without considering or including someone or something in a judgment: Bribery apart, there is almost no method of persuasion that is not allowed. 5 separated if you pull two things or people apart, you separate them: We managed to drag the two men apart before they could harm each other. 5a. if two people are apart, they are not in the same place together: We hate being apart, but Gary e-mails me every day. Aitken and his wife have been living apart. 6 different if two people, opinions, or ways of living are far apart, they are very different: Galbraith's views and my own are not far apart on the issue offree trade. When the talks ended, the two sides seemed as far apart as ever. be worlds apart (=be very different) They were worlds apart and doubted they could make the relationship work. 6a. different from all the other people or things: The Swiss economy is a case apart, unlike any other. set sb apart (=make someone different from others) He has a unique genius that sets him apart from other writers. -» TELL APART 7 when an organization, country, or relationship fails used for saying that an organization, country, or relationship is in a very bad state and is failing to stay together: fall apart Costello lost his job, and soon afterward his marriage fell apart. come apart The county health system is coming apart, and only a large investment of cash can save it. tear sth apart (=destroy an organization, country, etc.) Yugoslavia was being torn apart by ethnic

conflicts.

apart from

1 except for someone or something: / hardly know anyone in town apart from William and you. 2 in addition to someone or something: Apart from providing humanitarian aid, the U.N. is also supposed to enforce agreements. 3 quite apart from used for saying that even if you ignore one thing, there is still another important fact or question to consider: Quite apart from the fact that he has no qualifications, Mr. Berry is not a suitable person to work here.

a*part*heid itical

/a'part.heit; 3'part.hait/ noun [u] the polsystem that existed in the past in South Africa, political rights and

which only white people had power in

a-part-ment /a'partmant/ noun

**

Am

[C]

***

AmE *

a building containing

Br E block of flats

Madagascar

is

— picture -»

a'partment .complex noun

many

apartments.

ci

[C]

AmE a large group of

apartment buildings ap-a-thet'ic /.aepa'Getik/

apart.

in the preposition phrase apart from: Everyone there apart from Ann and Gayle.

[c]

1 a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a large building. Br E usually flat la. a set of large rooms with expensive decorations and furniture, kept for a special purpose or used by someone important 2 E an apartment building

apartment building or apartment house noun

Apart can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: We had to take the engine apart. after the verb "to be": I'm never happy when we're as an adjective (only after a noun): world apart.

at a distance away from each other if two people or things are apart, there is a space between them: Stand with your feet apart. 1a. used for saying how far away from each other people or things are: Their two farms are about a mile apart. Plant the seeds 10 inches apart. 1b. used for saying that one person or group is some distance away from the others: The man was alone, sitting apart, watching people come and go. +from / saw Theresa at the graveside, standing apart from the rest of the family. 2 with time between events used for saying how much time there is between events: Two surveys carried out 30 years apart show little change in attitudes toward childcare. The two brothers were born six years apart. 3 into separate pieces broken or divided into many different parts or pieces: tear/ rip /pull sth apart The explosion tore the body of the plane apart. take sth apart If the problem is in the printer, we'll have to take the whole thing apart, fall/come apart When I picked the book up 1

4

be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: I'm not going anywhere today.

1

apathy

52

conversation, or for showing that you have come to the end of what you are telling someone: Anyway, in the end we decided to stay at home. It was all Kevin 's fault. That 's what I think anyway. 5 when sth is not surprising used for saying that something is not surprising: Of course, there's a lot more crime. Anyway, what do you expect with such high

a

was

adj not at all interested in or enthusiastic about anything, and not willing to make ap«a«thet'i'caMy any effort to change things

—

/.aepa'Getikli/adv /'aepaBi/ noun [u] a feeling of having no interest in or enthusiasm about anything, or of not being willing to make any effort to change things

ap-a-thy

apatosaurus a*pa*to«sau*rus

[c]

a

dinosaur

with a very long neck and tail and a small head /,ei pi 'bi/ noun [c] all-points bulletin: an urgent message to all police officers in a particular area about a criminal they need to arrest ape 1 /eip/ noun [c] 1 a large monkey without a tail that can stand nearly straight and walk on two feet. Chimpanzees and gorillas are apes. 2 informal an insulting word for a man who is rude or stupid

APB

I'd like

for.

to apologize

a

more

hole

ape-shit / 'eipjit/adj

very informalgo apeshit to

very excited or angry /'ei.peks/ noun

apex

formal 1 the top or highest part of something that ends in a point: the apex of a triangle 2 the most important or successful part of something a*pha*sia /s'fe^a/ noun [u] medical a medical condition in which you are unable to use or understand some words, caused by damage to the brain a*phid / 'eifid/ noun [c] a very small insect that lives on plants

and destroys them

aph-o-rism

/'aefa.nzam/ noun [c] a short statement that says something wise and true

aph-ro-dis-i-ac /.aefra'dizi.aek/ noun [c] a food, drink, or drug that makes people want to have sex

— aph*ro*dis*i*ac adj

/'eipi.eri/ noun [C] a place where bees are kept so that their honey can be collected

a-pi-ar*y

a-piece

/a'pis/ adv each or for each one: Tickets were being sold on the black market for $200 apiece.

a-pleri'ty /a'plenti/

adj old-fashioned

a-plomb /a'plam/ noun

[U]

more than enough

a confident relaxed manner,

when dealing with a difficult situation a-poc-a-lypse /s'pakslips/ noun [singular] 1 a time when the whole world will be destroyed 2 a situation which many people

die

ally

and many things are

destroyed

a-poca-lyp-tic

that

Excuse

me

used when you realize have treated someone badly, for example by

not interested in pola par-

A-pol-lo /a'paloo/ a

you

blaming them for something that is not their fault

Please accept my/our apologies

used when making a written or formal apology

I/We regret.

used when making an apology in an official

.

announcement Examples: I'm sorry I'm

late.

didn't quite hear

I missed the train.

what she

I'm sorry,

/

said.

I'd like to apologize for Julie's behavior. She's normally so reliable.

Oh, excuse me, / didn 't see you standing there.

We've discovered

who

the thief was,

owe you an apology. We accept that this was you

to accept

and

it

seems we

the company's fault

and ask

our sincere apologies.

We

regret to announce that tonight's performance of "La Traviata" has been canceled.

apology /s'pabd3i/ noun * 1 [C] a statement that tells someone that you are sorry doing something wrong or causing a problem: We would have been happy with an apology. make an apology

for

He made a public apology for his remarks. owe sb an apology (=to feel that you should apologize, especially for accusing someone unfairly) / think I owe you an apology. demand an apology We wrote to the editor demanding an apology. accept sb's apology Of course we accepted his apologies - what else could we do? 1a. apologies [plural] BrE a statement from someone saying that they are sorry that they cannot go to a meeting 2 [C]formal a statement in which you defend or explain something such as an idea

my

1

2 not connected with

something

else has

used when apologizing for something you did

owe you an apology

apoliti-cal

/ .eips'litikl/ adj

someone

accident I

for a house.

or political issues ticular political party

when you

done

/apakaiiptik/ adj describing or expecting a time when very bad things will happen or the world will be destroyed a-poc-ry-phal /s'pakrsfl/ adj probably not true, but believed by a lot of people to be true ap-o-gee /'sp3d3i/ noun [C] 1 formal the time when something is at its most successful or important 2 technical the point farthest from the Earth that the Moon or a satellite reaches while it moves around the Earth itics

and formal

-lble for

become

[c]

polite

.

AmE

go ape very informal to become very excited, enthusiastic, or angry about something ape 2 /eip/ verb [T] to copy someone, especially the way they behave or speak aperitif /a.pere'tif/ noun [C] an alcoholic drink that is drunk before a meal aperture /'aepart Jar/ noun [c] 1 technical the hole in a camera that lets light in 2 formal a small narrow

in

apostolic

53 /a.pasta'soras/ noun

an apology for sth informal something that is of very bad quality: They lived in what was a miserable apology make/offer no apologies used for emphasizing that you believe you have done the right thing and you do not feel ashamed about it: / make no apologies for encouraging

my

children to succeed in school.

(humble/deepest/sincere etc.) apologies formal used for saying that you are sorry for something: My apologies if I have misunderstood your intentions.

Words frequently used with apology

U.S. space program that sent rockets into space in the 1960s and 1970s and put the first man on the Moon a-pologetic /3,pata'd3etik/ adj showing that you are sorry for doing something wrong or causing a problem: The manager was very apologetic. a small apologetic smile a«pol'0'get'i«caMy/3,pal3'd3etikli/adv

ap'O'plec-tic /.iupa'plektik/ad] 1 informal extremely angry 2 old-fashioned relating to a stroke ap-o-plex-y /'aepapleksi/ noun [u] informal extreme

a-pol-o-gist /a'pabd3ist/ noun [c]formal someone who defends something such as a belief a-polo-gize /a'pata^aiz/ verb [i] ** to tell someone that you are sorry for doing something wrong or

a-poS'tate /a'pus.teit/ noun [C] formal someone who has given up their religious or political beliefs a pos-te-ri«o«ri /u pastiri'ori; ,ei pastiri'o rai/ adj, adv

—

'

+for / to apologize. +to You should be apologize for taking so long to reply. apologizing to your customers for wasting their money. apologize profusely /sincerely /unreservedly The newspaper has apologized unreservedly for printing false allegations about her.

causing a problem: There's no need

Ways

of

apologizing

adjectives

abject,

full,

heartfelt,

profound,

anger

very formal using knowledge, evidence, or experience make a judgment or decision about something that compare a priori has already happened a-pos'tle /o'pusl/ noun [c] 1 one of the 12 disciples (=men chosen by .Jesus Christ to help him spread Chris tianity around the world) 2 someone who lias a Strong belief in an idea and tries to get other people to support to

—

it

m

sorry

the usual way of apologizing to someone you know well

ap-os'tol'ic /xp.Vstulik/

adj 1 relating to the pope (=the leader of the Roman Catholic Church) 2 relating to the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ or their work

apostrophe •

'

/a'pustrafi/ noun [C] the symbol used in writing. In English, it marks the possessive form of a noun, for example "Bob's car," or a place where one or more letters have been removed from a word or phrase, for example "isn't."

a-poth-e-car«y /a'paGa.keri/ noun [C] an old word for someone whose job was to prepare and sell medicines a-poth*e*o*sis /o.paBi'oosis/ noun [usually singular] very formal 1 the perfect example of something 2 the best point in someone's

or career

life

ap-pal /a'pol/the BrE

spelling of appall

ap-pall /a'pol/ verb [t] to shock or offend someone very much: The scale of the destruction appalled us. ap-palled /o'pold/ adj offended or shocked very much by something, because it is extremely unpleasant or bad: appalled to see/hear/find/discover etc. She was appalled to hear that her husband had been arrested. + at/by / was appalled by his arrogant attitude. + (that) I'm appalled that a doctor could make a remark like that. appalling /a'polin/ adj * very unpleasant and shocking: The conditions in the camps were absolutely appalling. a. very bad or disappointing: appalling weather The jokes were absolutely appalling. ap«pall*ing*ly adv. At

—

peak times the airport

is

appallingly crowded.

appa-ra-tchik works in an

/.aepa'netfik/ noun [c] someone who organization, especially a political party

or large corporation, but or beliefs of their own

apparatus

is

considered to have no views

.aepa'reitas/ noun 1 [C/u] the machines, tools, and equipment needed for doing something, especially something technical or scientific: They were setting up the apparatus for the experiment. breathing apparatus 2 [singular] the people and organizations involved in some aspect of government .changes within the administrative apparatus of the ruling party 3 [C/U] medical the organs responsible for the way a part of the body or mind works /.aepa'raetas;

ap«par«el/3'per3l/noun [u] 1 Am £ a word for clothes, used especially in stores or other businesses: Men's apparel is on the second floor. 2 literary the clothes someone is wearing, especially unusual or formal clothes

/s'perant/ adj 1 easy to see or understand: obvious: +from The children's poor health was apparent from their physical appearance. it becomes apparent that It soon became apparent that the two women knew each other. for no apparent reason Emma suddenly blushed for no apparent reason. +to It should be apparent to any reader that there are several inconsistencies. only/all too apparent (=very obvious in a way that is unpleasant or worrying) The potential for injury was all too apparent. 2 an apparent quality, feeling, or situation seems to exist although it may not be real: His apparent lack of Williams won interest in her work always annoyed her. the tournament with apparent ease. apparent paradox/ contradiction/discrepancy the apparent paradox ofpeople migrating during periods of low unemployment

ap-par-ent-ly /a'perantli/ adv •** 1 based only on what you have heard, not on what you is

true: Apparently, she resigned because she

had an argument with her boss. 2 used for saying what seems

know

appa-ri-tion

all

/.aepa'njn/ noun [C] 1 formal a strange

image or creature that someone sees 2 humorous someone who looks very strange or unusual

appeal

1

/a'pil/verb

***

make an urgent request for people to give you something that you need such as help, money, or 1

[i]

[i/T]

ity

to

information: appeal (to sb) for sth They're appealing to The police have local businesses for sponsorship money. appealed for witnesses to the accident. 1a. to ask people to do something or to behave in a particular way, especially in a difficult situation: appeal for calm/ unity/ restraint As the crisis

grew worse,

to

to formally

change

its

ask a court of law or similar authordecision: The magistrate has given appeal his decision. + against Green 's

Levinson 30 days to family say they will appeal against the verdict. 4 [I] to try to get someone to do or accept something by making them think it is a sensible or fair thing to do: + to Max appealed to her good sense to make her change her mind.

ap-peal 2

/a'pil/

noun

•••

1 [C] an urgent request for people to give you something you need such as help, money, or information: + for The police have renewed their appeal for help from the public. launch an appeal They have launched an appeal to send food to the flood victims. 1a. a request for people to do something or to behave in a particular way: +for There have been several appeals for an end to the fighting. make an appeal Seddon made an emotional appeal for his daughter to contact him. 2 [u] a quality that something has that makes people like it or want it: How do you explain the appeal of horror movies? Soccer has popular appeal (=many people enjoy it). broaden/widen your appeal (=try to become popular with more people) The organization is clearly trying to broaden its appeal among women. -» sex appeal 3 [C/U] a formal request for a court of law or similar authority to change its decision: Jones has been released on bail pending an appeal (=until there is an appeal). an appeal judge /tribunal/ hearing + against An appeal against his conviction is being considered.

Words

frequently used with appeal broad, mass, popular, universal,

adjectives

2

wide

appealing /s'pilirj/ adj * 1 attractive and interesting: Max had an appealing oldfashioned charm. +to We've tried to make the design more appealing to young people. 2 [only before noun] an appealing look, voice, etc. shows that you want help, approval, or agreement: She cast an appealing glance in my direction. ap*peaMng*ly adv

—

ap'peals court noun

[c]

Am E a court of appeals

appear /a'pir/ verb •** 1 seem 2 begin

4 be to be

3 be on TV

seen

etc.

5

in

court

start to exist

6 be

written/printed

1 [linking verb] to make other people think that you are something or feel something. Appear is a slightly more formal word than seem: This job is not as easy as it Matt appears unaffected by all the media first appeared. attention. appear to do sth No one appeared to notice me. it appears that It appears that she has changed her mind. there appears to be There appears to be very little we can do about it. appear to have done sth The building appears what appears to to have been used as a place of worship. be Gibbs was shot in what appears to be a gangland killing.

2 [i] if someone or something appears somewhere, you begin to see them suddenly or for the first time: Cracks One day a stranger began to appear in the ceiling. appeared on my doorstep. 2a. to arrive somewhere: As soon as she appears, we can get started. 3 [i to be on television or in a play, movie, concert, Tony etc.: She appeared on television with the President. is currently appearing in a Broadway musical. 4 [i] to go to a court of law, committee, or similar institution, so that people can ask you questions and make decisions about what you say: He is due to appear + before/ in front of Jackson will appear in court today. before a congressional committee to explain the budget ]

to be true when people the facts of a situation: Seven people were shot yesterday in two apparently unrelated incidents.

do not yet

3

***

ap-parent

are certain

appearance

54

a-postrophe

local

community leaders

appealed for unity. appeal to sb to do sth She appealed to her former husband to return their baby son. 2 [i] if something appeals to you, you like it or want it: + to The show's direct approach will appeal to children.

package.

5

[I]

if

something new or different appears,

it

starts to

known about for the first time: Yet another rap group has appeared on the music scene. 5a. to become available for the first time: This was when sushi began the latest to appear on restaurant menus in New York. personal computer to appear on the market 6 [I] to be written or printed somewhere: Jane's name did not appear on the list. ap-pear-ance /a'pirans/ noun 1 [C/U] the way that someone or something looks: His thinning hair gave him the appearance of a much older exist or to be

***

appease Recent initiatives have done a lot to improve the appearance of the district. The twins are almost identical in appearance. 1a. the way that someone or something looks, when this is different from the way it really is: He doesn't look well off, but you shouldn't judge by give the appearance of (doing) sth He had appearances. always given the appearance of agreeing with her ideas. to/by all appearances (=based on the way a situation seems) She was, to all appearances, enjoying the challenges of the new job. 2 [u] the time when something starts to exist or be seen: The disease is contagious only before the appearance of its initial symptoms. 2a. the fact of someone appearing, especially when you do not expect them: Julie's sudden appearance in the doorway startled me. 3 [C] an occasion when you are on television or in a play, movie, concert, etc.: a public appearance make an

appearance She has made numerous appearances on

game

4

TV

shows.

an occasion when you go

[C] to a court of law. committee, or similar institution so that people can ask

you questions and make decisions about you: He has had 14 other court appearances. keep up appearances to pretend that everything is good, for example with your marriage or your financial situation, even though you are having problems: Their marriage was over, but they wanted to keep up appearances for the children's sake.

—

icpo taizar/ noun (C) a food part of a meal

main appe-tiz-ing the

/

you eat before

appetizing food smells ap-petiz-ing-ly adv

'aera tai/in/ ad]

or looks very good

ap-plaud/a'plnd/verb

1 [i/tJ to show that you enjoyed someone's performance, speech, etc by hitting the palms of your hands together: clap 2 [t] to praise a decision, action, idea, etc.: They have been applauded for their humanitarian work in Ethiopia. ap-plause /a'pbz/ noun [uj the sound made by people applauding a performance, speech, etc.: Her speech drew enthusiastic applause. a round of applause 1a/i's have a round of applause for all the organizers. thunderous/ rapturous applause Gere walked onto the stage amid thun-

derous applause.

ap-ple /'spl/ noun [C/u] -k-k a hard round fruit that is white inside and has a smooth red, yellow, or green skin, which is called a peel when it has been removed. The middle part of the apple containing the seeds is called the core. Apples grow on apple trees, -picture -»cio

the apple of sb's eye the person that someone loves most of all and is very proud of-> rotten apple ap-ple-cart /'acplkart/ noun upset the applecart to spoil someone's plan or arrangement apple pie noun [C/u] a sweet food made from apples in pastry

as American as apple pie something as American as apple pie has its origins in the U.S. or has qualities that are thought to be typical of the U.S. or of American people

Apple pie is a very popular type of food in America that reminds people of home and represents the good things in

American

life.

ap-ple pol-ish-er /'aepl .palijar/ noun [c] AmE informal someone who tries to get approval from another person by helping them or praising them without being sincere

ap»plet /'aepbt/ noun program

[C]

computing a simple computer

appliance /a'plaians/

title

ap'pend

/a'pend/ verb [J] formal to add something to the end of a piece of writing

ap-pend-age

/a'pendid^/ noun [c] formal something is joined to something larger or more important, example a small part of your body such as a hand

that

or foot

ap-pen-deC'to-my

/.aepandektsmi/ noun [c] a medical operation in which your appendix is removed ap-pen-di-ci-tis /spendi'saitis/ noun [u] an illness in which your appendix becomes infected and has to be removed in a medical operation ap'peri'dix/s'pendiks/ noun [C] ** 1 (plural ap*pen*dix*es) a small tube that is joined to your large intestine. It has no particular use and is removed in a medical operation if it becomes infected.

2

(plural ap*pen«di*ces /a'pendi.siz/) a section giving extra details at the end of a book, part of a book, or document: Technical specifications are included in the appendix to Chapter 9.

ap-per-tain/aepar'tem/appertainto formal [appertain

to sth] to

/ 'aepa.taizar/

phrasal vb[T] very

belong to or be about some-

thing: regulations appertaining to the

ap-petis-er

appetizer /

baked

put in/make an appearance to go somewhere for a short time, especially because you feel you have an obligation to go there: / think I ought to put in an appearance at the office before lunch. ap-pease /s'piz/ verb [t] 1 to give your opponents what they want: By failing to condemn the march, she was appeasing left-wing elements in the party. 2 to say or do something in order to make someone feel less angry: ap-pease-ment noun [u] placate ap'pel-lant /a'pebnt/ noun [C] legal someone who appeals against a decision of a court of law ap-pel-late court /s.petat kort/ noun [c] a court of law that can change the decision made in other courts appellation /.aeps'leijn/ noun [C] formal a name or

for

application

56

man.

army

a Br E spelling of appetizer

ap-pe-tiS'ing / 'aeps.taizin /a Br E spelling of appetizing ap-pe-tite /'spa.tait/ noun •• 1 [C/u] the natural feeling of wanting to eat: a chubby baby with a good, healthy appetite The symptoms include fever and loss of appetite. All that fresh air and exercise spoil /ruin your appetite has given me an appetite. (=make you want to eat less at a meal) Don't have any more chocolate - you'll spoil your appetite. work up an appetite (=do something that makes you hungry) Ella had worked up a big appetite in the gym. 2 [C] a feeling of being very interested in something or wanting it very much: +for The public's appetite for sexual appetite He is celebrity gossip seems insatiable. portrayed as having an immense sexual appetite.

noun [c] • a machine or piece of equipment that you have in your home, for example a washing machine or refrigerator: We stock a wide range of kitchen appliances.

ap'pli-ca'ble/'aeplikabl; a'phkobl/adj [not usually before noun] • relevant to or affecting a particular situation or group of people: Western notions of human rights are +to This not necessarily applicable in other societies. section of the law is applicable only to corporations. ap«pli«ca«biM«ty/,£plik3'bil3ti/noun[u]

—

applicant

/'sphkant/ noun

[C]

*

someone who

applies for something, such as a job or a loan of money: job Successful applicants will be notified by telephone. applicants

application 1

/.sph'keijn/ noun

request for sth

2 particular use sth has 3 effort/determination

•••

4 computer software 5 putting sth onto surface

1 [C/U] a formal request for permission to do or have something: +for His application for membership in the application to do sth The hospital club was rejected. submitted an application to build a new orthopedic wing. make /submit /put in an application I'm supposed to submit my application before the end of the week. grant/ approve an application The bank has approved their mortgage application. 1a. a written request for a job or a place at a college, university, etc.: The university welcomes applications from older students. * a letter of appli-

cation

2 [C] a particular use that something has: the practical applications of this technology 2a. [U] the use of a particular method, process, law, etc.: He pioneered the application of scientific techniques to police work. 3 \U] formal hard work and determination that you put into something for a long period: With the right degree of application and dedication the team should win a medal. 4 [C] computing a piece of computer software that is designed to do a particular job

application form 5

such as paint

or glue onto a surface

application .form noun

*•

[c] a printed list of questions that you answer in order to try to get a job, borrow money, get into a university, etc.

ap*pli«ca«tor /iepli.keitar/ noun [c] an object used putting a substance on the surface of something

for

/o'plaid/ ad) [usually before noun] * used for describing educational subjects when they are studied for their practical uses: applied mathematics/ linguistics ap*pli»que /.aepli'kei/ noun [c/u] the process of attaching small pieces of cloth to larger pieces of cloth to make a decoration, or the decoration itself ap-pli-que

applied

verb[T]

apply 1

/g'plai/ verb

requests job

•••

etc.

2 use method/law etc. 3 be relevant to/affect

[J]formal 1 to divide something such as payments between two or more people, organizations, etc.: apportion sth among /between Costs will be apportioned between the federal and local governments. 2 to say who should be blamed for something: apportion blame /liability The report carefully avoids apportioning blame to any individuals.

— ap'por-tiorvment noun [smgular/u]

ap-pO'Site /'aepazit/ ad) formal relevant and appropriate to what is happening or being discussed ap-po-si-tion /;cpoziJn/ noun [u] linguistics the relationship between two noun phrases that are used in the same way and refer to the same person or thing. For example in "My best friend, Jane, likes swimming", "my best friend" and "Jane" are said to be in apposition.

:

he's over eighteen.

4

[T] to put a layer of something such as paint onto a surface: Sara applied her lipstick carefully. apply sth to sth Apply two coats of varnish to the table. 5 [T]/orma/ to use physical force in order to make something happen or work .Apply pressure to the wound to stop it bleeding. Apply the brakes smoothly as you approach the junction.

apply yourself to work very hard on something for a long time /a'pomt/ verb [T] •*• 1 to choose someone to do a particular job or have a

appoint

particular position: We need to appoint a new treasurer. the newly appointed editor of the magazine appoint sb (as) sth Picard has been appointed chief executive of the new division. appoint sb to do sth A subcommittee should appoint sb to sth be appointed to assist the chairperson. She was the first woman to be appointed to the board. 2 formal to choose a time or place for something to happen: Proceedings will be brought to a conclusion at a time appointed by this committee. the appointed time/ place He arrived at Ella's office at the appointed time.

ap-point-ed

/a'pointsd/ adj a building or room that is beautifully appointed, well appointed, etc. has everything you need and is decorated very well

/a.pom'ti/ noun [c] someone who has been do a particular job: government appointees ap-point*ment /s'pomtmant/ noun *** 1 [C] an arrangement to see someone at a particular time, especially for a business meeting or to get a professional service: make an appointment Sue called to make a dental appointment. +with Fd like to make an appointment with the doctor. appointment to do sth I have an appointment to see my lawyer next Saturday. keep an appointment (=go to an appointment that you have arranged) Please notify us if you are unable to keep your appointment. by appointment (=at a time already arranged) Viewing of the property is by appointment only. 2 [C/U] the fact of being given a new job, especially an important one: +as/to his appointment as governor of

ap-point-ee to

California/ to the governorship of California 2a. [C] a job, especially an important job: Her first academic appointInternal ment was as an assistant professor at Yale. appointments are advertised on the bulletin board.

appointment .book

apportion /o'por J'n/ verb

appraisal

4 put sth on surface 5 use physical force + PHRASES

1 [I] to make an official request for a job or a place to study at a college or university, or for permission to do or have something: We advertised three jobs, and over 50 people applied. +for / have applied for a scholarship. +to You have to apply to the U.S. embassy for a visa. apply to do sth Why don't you apply to join the fire department? 2 [T] to use a particular method, process, law, etc. The trial judge had applied an incorrect principle of law. apply sth to sth A similar technique can be applied to the treatment of cancer. 2a. to use a particular name or word for someone or something: In the past, unhelpful terms were often applied to children who were dyslexic. 3 [i] to affect or be relevant to a particular person or thing: + to The restriction no longer applies to him because

chosen

appreciative

56

[C/u] the process of putting a substance

AmE

noun [c] a book that has spaces or pages for each day of the year, where you can write down things you plan to do. Br E usually diary: CALENDAR, DATEBOOK, PLANNER

/s'preizl/ noun

*

1 [C] an official statement about how valuable a piece of property is: We had an appraisal made on the house. 2 [C/u] an opinion about how successful, effective, etc. someone or something is: a critical appraisal of the government's economic strategy 3 [C/U] Br E business an evaluation between a manager

and someone who works

for

them

appraise

/s'preiz/ verb [t] 1 to say officially how valuable a piece of property is: You really should have the land appraised. 2 formal to form an opinion about how successful, effective, etc. someone or something is: The company will hire bankers and lawyers to appraise the terms of the deal. 3 Br E business to evaluate a person who works for you: Staff will be appraised twice

a year.

ap*pre*cia»ble

/a'prijabl/ adj enough to be noticed or considered important: Her help on the project has made an appreciable difference. ap-pre-cia-bly adv

—

appreci-ate

/s'prifi.eit/ verb

**

1 [T never progressive] to understand the true nature of a situation, and realize why it is important or serious: realize: / began to appreciate the difficulties my father had + how /why /what etc. Doctors are only now faced. beginning to appreciate how dangerous this drug can be. +that We appreciate that you cannot make a decision immediately, fully appreciate / don 't believe the President fully appreciates the complexity of the problem. 2 [T never progressive] to recognize the good or special qualities of a person, place, or thing: She feels that her family doesn't really appreciate her. a restaurant that is popular with people who appreciate good service and fine wines 2a. to realize that someone has good qualities and that they are important: be truly /properly appreciated Many of the office workers feel that they are not properly appreciated. 3 [T] to be grateful for something: / appreciate this opportunity to put my point of view to the committee. Thanks for helping me out, Donna, I really appreciate it. 4 [i] if something appreciates, its value increases gradOpposite DEPRECIATE ually

—

etc would appreciate it if... spoken used for politely asking someone to do something, especially when you are slightly annoyed: / would appreciate it if you would just let me deal with this.

I/we

ap-pre-ci-a-tion /apriji'eijn/ noun

**

pleasure in understanding something that is good or beautiful: We share an appreciation of music. 1a. [C] a speech or piece of writing about someone, praising their good qualities 2 [U] the feeling you have when you are grateful to someone: This is just a small token of our appreciation. in appreciation (of) The award is given in appreciation of her huge contribution to the movie business. 3 [singular/u] the ability to understand the true nature of a situation, and realize why it is important or serious: There is a growing appreciation of the need for environmental reforms. The course allows students to gain an appreciation of what life was like then. 4 [singular/u] an increase in the value of something 1

[singular/u]

— Opposite DEPRECIATION

/s'prijativ/ adj showing that you are you enjoyed something: The applause was warm and appreciative. an appreciative smile + of He was sincerely appreciative of their support.

ap-pre-cia-tive grateful or that

— ap*pre*cia*tive«ly adv

apprehend

feeling of worry or fear that something bad might happen: anxiety: Many of us face our retirement with apprehension. Anja noticed the look of apprehension on his face. 2 [u] formal the act of arresting someone

apprehensive

/.aepn'hensrv/ adj slightly worried or nervous: +of It's a strategy that many teachers are apprehensive of using. * + about Leonora felt very apprehensive about his visit. ap-pre-hervsive-ly adv

ap-pren-tice 1

/3'prcntis/ noun [c] someone who works for a particular person or company, usually for low pay, in order to learn the type of work they do: He became an engineering apprentice with a local firm. an apprentice carpenter

apprentice 2

/a'prentis/

verb

usually passive]

[t

if

someone is apprenticed to another person, they are employed by that person to learn the type of work they do: He was apprenticed to a carpenter.

apprenticeship

/a'prentisj'ip/ noun [C/U] employment as an apprentice: serve an apprenticeship (=work as an apprentice) At 16, he served an apprenticeship as a commercial paint sprayer, a. someone's early experiences in a particular type of work or activity: She was elected party leader without serving the normal political apprenticeship.

ap-prise /a'praiz/ verb [t] formal tell someone about something

ap-proach

1

/a'prootj"/ verb

[apprise sb of sth] to

•••

1 [i/T) to move closer to someone or something: She heard footsteps approaching from behind. *A strange boat was approaching the shore. 1a. [l] if an event or a particular time approaches, it will happen soon: The day of the election approached. Winter is fast approaching. 2 [T] to speak to someone about something for the first time, especially in order to ask for help or make an offer: Have you thought about approaching Sally? She might be able to help. approach sb about sth I have already approached my boss about a raise. 3 [T] to almost reach a particular level, number, or condition: There is no one who even approaches his talents. They played in temperatures approaching 100 degrees. 4 [T] to deal with a situation or problem in a particular way: Governments tend to approach the issue from different 2

*••

/a'prootJV noun 1 [C] a particular way of thinking about or dealing with something: We need a fresh approach to sports in education. + to He has a relaxed approach to life. adopt/ take /use an approach As a writer she takes a completelynew approach to the classic horror story. 2 [singular] the fact of coming closer in time or in distance: With the approach of war, many children were evacuated. We watched the carriage's slow and steady approach. 3 [C] the path that a plane follows when it is preparing to land: + to /into The plane crashed during its final approach to the airport. 3a. a path or road that leads to a place: +to Soldiers were guarding all approaches to the

[T] 1 to decide that money will be used for a particular purpose: The legislature appropriated funds for computers in the public schools. 2 formal to take something for yourself: She had appropriated his role as chief provider for the family. 2a. legal to take something illegally

officially

ap-pro-pri-a-tion /o.proopri'eijn/ noun [C/U] formal 1 money that must be used in a particular way, according to an official decision: +for The budget includes an appropriation of $385 million for infrastructure improvements. 2 the action of taking something, especially when you have no right to take it

•••

approv-al

/a'pruvl/ noun [u] a positive feeling that you have toward someone or something that you consider to be good or suitable: The children longed for a sign of affection or approval from him. Her ideas on the family are often quoted with approval by Mr. Bush. meet with sb's approval (=be approved of by someone) Most of his girlfriends failed to meet with his father's approval. a nod/smile/murmur of approval A murmur of approval ran through the crowd. sb's approval rating (=a measure of people's approval of a political leader) By July, the President's approval rating had risen 1

to

over 60 percent.

2

official

The board has finally given

on approval send

it

to the loan.

satisfied

with

it

/a'pruv/ verb

•••

have a positive feeling toward someone or something that you consider to be good or suitable: You 're leaving college! Do your parents approve? 1

[I

never progressive] to

+of He seemed to approve of my choice. approve of sb doing sth / don't really approve of children wearing makeup, —opposite disapprove 2 [T often passive] to give official agreement or permission to something: This year's budget package has been formally approved by the legislature. The new stamps were approved by a special panel of artists. be approved for sth These chemicals were only approved for use in animal foods.

Words

frequently used with heartily,

approve

thoroughly, warmly,

1

wholeheartedly formally, narrowly, officially, overwhelmingly, personally, unani-

2

mously /o'pruvd/

*

ap-prov-ing

/a'pravrj)/ adj showing support for someone or satisfaction with something they have done: Susan's joke was greeted with approving laughter.

1

someone who

is

approachable is friendly and easy to talk to 2 capable of being reached from a particular direction or by a particular means: The site is approachable only by sea. ap-pro-ba-tion /.aeproo'beij'n/ noun [u] formal approval

ap-pro-pri-a-cy /a'proopriosi/ noun [u] linguistics the degree to which a word, expression, or grammar pattern is

approval

if

adj accepted officially as being suitable in a particular situation: The plane was Jiving approved minimum altitude of 500 feet. below the

1

down-to-earth, flexible, methodical, pragmatic, structured, systematic

ap«proach«a-ble /a'prootjabl/ad)

its

you buy something on approval, you can back within a particular time if you are not

ap*proved

Words frequently used with approach constructive,

— opposite disapproval

agreement or permission, given by someone

in authority: give/grant (your) approval The program has yet to be given the mayor's approval. We sent the design to the planning department for approval. subject to sb's approval (=needing to be approved by them) Any recommendations are subject to the approval of stockholders.

the action of starting to speak or write to someone when you are asking for something or making an offer: make an approach to sb The company has made some approaches to the Department of Commerce.

common-sense,

•••

ap'pro-pri'ate 2 /o'proopri.eit/ verb

[C]

adjectives

1

/.Vproopriat/ adj suitable or right for a particular situation or purpose: This isn't the appropriate time to discuss the problem. The manager should take appropriate action if safety standards are not being met. + to /for We need to ensure that the teaching they receive is appropriate to their needs. +that It is entirely appropriate that his music should be played at this festival, a. as appropriate in the way that is relevant or suitable: Vary your presentation, using handouts and overheads as appropriate, —opposite inappropriate ap-pro-pri-ate-ly adv: appropriately dressed ap*pro*pri*ate*nes5 noun [U]

adverbs

palace.

4

appropriate

ap-prove

angles.

approach

approximate

57

ap-pre-hend /^epnhcnd/ verb [T] 1 formal to arrest someone 2 very formal to understand something ap-pre-hen-sion /.iepn'henjan/ noun 1 [c/uj a

natural or acceptable in a particular situation

— ap-proving'ly adv approx. abbrev 1 ap-prox'i-mate

approximate

2 approximately

1

/.Vpruksimat/adj not exact, but close to an exact amount, number, time, etc.: the approximate time of death cost of repairs a. not exact or accurate, but good enough to be useful: I can give you an approximate idea of where she lives.

ap'prox-i'mate 2

pmksimeit/ verb

1

[\/T] formal to

be close to a particular number: The crowd approximated

approximately I

aquaplane 2

exact

aquarium ••

ap-prox-i-mately

/s'praksimstli/ adv used for showing that an amount, number, time, etc. is not exact: roughly: Approximately 60,000 people filled the stadium.

approximation

/a.praksi'meijn/ noun [c/u] 1 a nearly exact calculation, amount, number, time, etc.: + of / can only give you an approximation of the cost. 2 something that is similar to something else but is not exactly the same: +of That's a reasonable approximation of what happened.

Apr. abbrev April a-pres-ski

noun [singular] social activities you have spent the day skiing a-pri-cot Aepn.kat/ noun 1 [c] a soft fruit with an orange-yellow skin and a large hard seed inside —picture-* cio 2 [u] an orange-yellow color a-pri-cot /,;eprei 'ski/

that take place after

—

adj

A-pril /'eiprsl/ noun [C/U] *** the fourth month of the year, between March and May: Her birthday is in April. My appointment is on April 8th. We moved here last April.

April 'fool noun [C] a trick that you play on someone on April Fools' Day a. someone who is tricked on April

Day

Fools'

[c/u] April 1, a day when people try to trick each other, especially by making other people believe something that is not true

April 'Fools' .Day noun

a

arbitration

58

something but not exactly the same: This flavor approximates what I remember. 2 [T] to calculate something in a way that is not 1a. formal to be similar to

10,000.

pri-O'ri /,a priori; ,ei pri'o.rai/ adj, adv very formal using knowledge or experience you already have in order to make a judgment or decision compare a

—

POSTERIORI

apron

/'eipran/ noun [C] 1 something that you wear to protect the front of your clothes, especially when you are cooking 2 a place at an airport where planes wait or turn around 3 apron or apron stage the part of a theater stage that sticks out toward the audience

apron

.strings noun

[plural]

influence or control that

someone has over you because you are afraid of making your own decisions or of not doing what they say: be tied to sb's apron strings (=be influenced or controlled

by someone) Even apron

at 25

Jenny was

tied to

her parent's

strings. 1

ap-ro-pos /.spra'pou/ used

preposition formal relating to: for saying something else about the subject you

are talking about

ap-ro-pos 2

/.aepra'poo/ adj formal appropriate or rele-

vant

apse

/asps/ noun [C] a curved area at one end of a

church /aept/adj • 1 something that is apt, especially a name, description, or comment, is very appropriate: an apt comparison It seemed apt that the winning goal was scored by the captain. 2 good at learning: an apt pupil

apt

to have a tendency to do something: They are apt to become a little careless if you don't watch them carefully. The cars were old and apt to break down. apt'ly adv: the aptly named Mr. Savage* The title aptly describes how this music makes you feel. apt. abbrev apartment apti-tude /'aepti.tud/ noun [C/U] natural ability that makes it easy for you to do something well: an aptitude test +for J had no aptitude for accountancy and began to

be apt to do sth

—

hate

it.

aq-ua /'askwa/ noun [u] 1 a light 2 technical water — aq«uaadj Aq-ua-lung /'skwa.lAn/ trademark

green-blue color a piece of equip-

ment that provides air for you to breathe when you are swimming under water aq-ua'ma-rine/.aekwama'rin/noun 1 [u] a green-blue color 2 [C/u] a green-blue stone used for making jewelry

— aq-ua-ma-rine adj

aquaplane

1

/'askws.plem/ noun [C] a board on which fast boat pulls you across the surface

you stand while a of the water

/'a;kwo,plcin/ verb [i] 1 to stand on an aquaplane and move across the surface of the water

2 Br E

to

hydroplane on a wet road

/o'kwcriom/ noun [c] a glass or plastic container in which fish and other water animals are kept a. a building with aquariums where people can go to look at fish and other water animals

Aquarius /a'kwerias/

noun [C/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac, represented by a person pouring water. An Aquarius is someone born between January 20 and February 19, believed to be influenced by this sign.

a*quat*ic /a'kwaetik/

adj growing or living in or near water: aquatic birds a. relating to or involving water: aquatic pollution

aq-ua«tint

/'aekwa.tint/ noun [c] a picture like a watercolor that is printed by using acid to cut a design into a sheet of metal a. [u] the method used to make aquatint

pictures

aq-ue-duct

/'aekwa.dAkt/ noun [c] a structure like a bridge that takes water across a valley

aque-ous

/'eikwias; 'aekwiss/ adj technical containing water aq-ui-fer /'aekwafar/ noun [c] technical a layer of earth or rock that contains water or that water can pass through aq'iiMine/'aekwi.lam/ adj formal 1 relating to or like an eagle (=a large bird) 2 an aquiline nose is large and curved

AR abbrev Arkansas Ar-ab 1

1

/'erab/ noun [C]

•

someone from the Middle East or North Africa who

speaks arabic 2 Br E an Arabian horse

Arab 2 /'erab/ adj

relating to the Middle East or North Africa or to the people, language, or culture of those regions: Arab states/ leaders* the Arab world (=the Middle East and North Africa)

ara-besque

/.era'besk/ noun [C] 1 a position in ballet dancing in which you lift one leg up behind you 2 a pattern of curved lines used as decoration

A-ra-bi-an /a'reibian/ or

Arabian horse

noun [c] very fast and graceful Ara-bic /'erabik/ noun [u] the language that most people speak in the Middle East and in most countries

Am E a type of horse that

is

of North Africa and exists in a. the system of writing that

language —Ar«a«bic

many is

different dialects

used for the Arabic

adj

.Arabic 'numeral noun [c] one of the written symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 that are used in the writing systems of many countries to represent numbers

—

compare roman numeral ar-a-ble /'erabl/ adj arable land is suitable or used for growing crops a-rach-nid /a'raeknid/ noun [c] technical a member of a large class of animals that includes spiders ar*bi*ter / 'arbitar/ noun [c] 1 a person or organization that has official power to settle disagreements: The U.S. Supreme Court acts as final arbiter when district courts disagree. 2 someone whose opinions about a subject have a lot of influence: The guidebook is the ultimate arbiter of culinary excellence.

ar«bi«trage /'arbi,tra3/ noun [u] business the process of buying something, especially currencies or company shares, in one place and selling it in another at the same time for profit ar«bi'tra«geur/,arbitra'33r/ noun

—

[C]

ar-bi-trar-y /'arbi.treri/ adj * not based on any particular plan or done for any particular reason: an arbiThe selection of the 100 participants was trary decision completely arbitrary, a. used about actions that are considered to be unfair: This is a country where arbitrary ar«bi'trarM«ly /'arbi.trerali; arrests are commonplace.

—

.arbi'trersli/adv

ar-bi-trate /'arbi.treit/ verb [i/t] to settle a disagreement by considering

officially try to all

the facts and

opinions ar-bi-tra-tion / .arbi'treifn/ noun [u] the official process of trying to settle a disagreement between two people or groups by considering all the facts and opinions: go

arbitrator to arbitration

Arctic (=use arbitration) Some salary claims will

go to arbitration. ar-bi-tra-tor /'arbi.treitar/ noun [C] someone who is officially chosen to hear both sides of an argument and to make a decision about what should be done arbor /'arbar/ noun [c] a shelter in a garden that is made by growing plants over a frame 'Arbor ,Day noun [c/u] a U.S. public holiday on which people plant trees, celebrated at the end of April

ar-bo-re-al /ar'borial/

ad] technical relating to

or living

in trees: arboreal mammals ar-bo-re-tum /.arba'ritam/ noun [c] a place where trees are grown so that they can be studied arc 1 /ark/ noun [c]

a curved shape: The mountains formed an arc around city. 1a. a movement that follows a curved line: He swung his flashlight around in a wide arc. of 2 technical a flash light that happens when electricity flows between two separated points 3 technical a part of the line that forms the outside of a circle arc 2 /ark/ verb [i] 1 to move somewhere in the shape of an arc 2 science if electricity arcs, it makes a flash 1

the north of the

it flows between two separate points /ar'keid/ noun [c] • a VIDEO ARCADE a covered passage at the side of a building a covered area with stores on both sides

of light as

arcade 1

tryside

arcane /ar'kein/ adj formal mysterious and difficult to understand

**

a curved structure at the top /artjV noun [C] of a door, window, or gate: the arch above the front door a. a structure with a curved top and two straight sides that you can walk through: a garden arch Marble Arch b. the curved part on the bottom of your foot —picture -> foot' c. a curved structure, especially one that supports a building or a bridge: Many people sheltered under the arches of the bridge. the St. Louis Arch

arch 2

/artJV verb [i/t] to form the shape of an arch: Scully arched an Trees arched eyebrow in surprise. over the road.

arch 3

i

/artJV adj speaking or looking as though you think it is funny that you know something that someone else does not know: an arch smile/ arch-ly adv tone

J

—

^~~~arcn

arch- /artJV prefix main: used with some nouns: archenemy archbishop

ar-chae-o-log-i-cal /,arki3'lad3ikl/

ad] relating to or sites / evidence ,arki3'lad3ikli/ adv

involving archaeology: archaeological research

— ar-chae-o-log-i-cally

/

ar-chae-ol-o-gist/,arki'atad3ist/noun [c] • someone who studies archaeology ar-chae-o-lo-gy /,arki'atad3i/ noun [u] * the study of ancient societies, done by looking at tools, bones, buildings, and other things from that time that have been found ar-cha-ic /ar'kenk/ adj 1 old and no longer used: archaic language 1a. used about something that is oldfashioned and needs to be changed: archaic laws that forbid the sale of liquor on Sunday 2 relating to ancient times ar-cha-ism / 'arki.izam/ noun [c] an old word or phrase that is no longer used arch-an-gel / 'ark,emd33l/ noun [c] an important angel (=a spirit that lives in heaven) in the Muslim, Jewish,

and Christian religions

arch-bish-op

/artj'bijap/ noun [c] a priest of the highest rank in some Christian churches who is responsible for all the churches in a particular area

Archbishop of Canterbury, the /art J bij'op 'kaentsr.beri/ the

England

most senior priest

in the

arch-dea-con rank

is

responsible for

the area the rank of

2

/urtj'dikon/ noun [cl a priest of a high Church whose job is to help a

in the Anglican

BISHOP J

arch«di«0'Cese /urtj'daiosis;

urt 'dan sis/ noun (c] the area that an archbishop is responsible for arch-duke /artfduk/ noun [c] a prince in the Austrian royal family arched /artjt/ adj with an arch (=curved shape) at the top: an arched window arch-en-e-my /urtjcnami/ noun [cl someone who is

your main enemy ar-che-o-log-i-cal /,urkio'lud3ikl/ another spelling of archaeological

ar-che-ol-o-gist /,urki'abd3ist/ another

spelling

of

archaeologist

ar-che-ol-o-gy

/,urki'al3d3i/

another

spelling

of

archaeology

arch-er /'artjor/ noun [C] someone who shoots arrows from a bow arch-er-y /'artjsri/ noun [u] the sport of shooting arrows from a bow /.urko'taipl; 'arks.taipl/ adj [only before noun] very typical of a particular type of person or thing: In his dark suit, he looked like the archetypal businessman.

game noun [c] a type of computer game that you find in a video arcade Ar-ca-di-a /ar'keidis/ literary an imaginary place where people have a simple pleasant life in the coun-

arch

that an archbishop archbishop

[cl 1

ar-che-typ-al

2 3 ar'cade

1

arch-bish-opric /urij'bijopnk/ noun

o\

Church of

ar-che-type

/'urks.taip/

noun

[c]

a

very

typical

example of a particular type of person or thing: + of He was the archetype of a scientist. ar-chi-pel-a-go /.arki'pebgoo/ noun [c] 1 a large group of small islands 2 a sea or area of ocean with

many

islands in

it

ar-chi-tect /'arki.tekt/ noun [cl •• 1 someone whose job is to design buildings 2 [+of] the person who has the idea for something such as a plan or policy and makes it happen: the chief/ principal architect He was the chief architect of the country's new economic policy. ar-chi-tec-tu-ral / .arki'tektjaral/ adj relating to archiThe little town of tecture: architectural features /details ar-chiStein-am-Rhein is an architectural gem.

—

tec-tu-ral-ly adv

ar-chi-tec-ture /'arki.tektjar/ noun

[u]

*•

a particular style or way of designing buildings: The church is a typical example of Gothic architecture. 2 the study or practice of designing buildings: Andrea is studying architecture in Paris. 3 computing the design and structure of a computer system or program and the way that it works in relation to other systems and programs: database architecture 1

archive

1

/'ar.kaiv/ noun [c]

•

a collection of historical documents and records about a place, organization, etc.: The reports are preserved in the official archives. 1a. a place where you store historical documents and records 2 computing a copy of a computer file that you save on a disk or tape 2a. computing a copy of information that is put on the Internet so that other people can use it 3 computing a collection of computer files that have ar-chi-val been saved together in compressed form 1

[often plural]

—

/ar'kaivl/adj

archive 2

/'ar.kaiv/ verb [T] 1 to collect and store hisdocuments and records 2 computing to collect and store computer files in an archive: It's a good idea torical

to archive your files once a week. ar-chi-vist /'arkivist/ noun [C] someone whose job is to collect and store historical documents and records arch-ri-val /.urtj'raivi/ noun [c] the main person, company, etc. that you compete with in sports, business, etc.: The two supermarket chains are archrivals. arch-way /'artj.wei/ noun [c] a curved roof over an entrance or passage arc .light noun [c] a light that is produced when electricity flows between two separated points arc-tic /'aktik/ adj extremely cold: freezing

Arc-tic /'urktik/ landscape

adj relating to the Arctic: the Arctic

Arctic

argyle

60

Arc-tic, the

urktik/ the region that is the most northern part of the world. The most southern region is the Antarctic. /

ctic 'Circle, the an imaginary AEarth near the north pole r

line

around the

ardent

/'urdnt/ adj 1 feeling or showing a particular emotion very strongly, especially in support of someone or something: They remain ardent supporters of the Democratic Party. an ardent feminist 2 literary showing very strong feelings of love toward someone ar*dent*ly adv ardor /'ardar/ noun [u] 1 very strong feelings of admiration or determination: He carried out the task with ardor. 2 literary very strong feelings of love ardour the Br E spelling of ardor arduous /'ardjuas/ adj extremely difficult and involving a lot of effort: an arduous task The journey was long and arduous. ar*du*ous*ly adv are 1 / weak ar; strong ar/ see be 2 are /er; ar/ noun [C] a unit for measuring area in the metric system. One are is equal to 100 square meters. ar-e-a /'eria/ noun ••• 1 [C] a particular subject, type of activity, etc.: Mathematics is a subject that has links with all other curriculum areas. What is your main area of concern? His particular

—

—

area of expertise is engineering. 2 [C] a part of a city, town, country, etc.: Bus service in rural areas is not very good. / went on a tour of Vancouver + of My family has lived in and the surrounding area. this area of New England for years. 2a. a part of a building, space, etc. used for a particular purpose: You can park only in designated areas (=places available for this Visitors should wait in the reception area. purpose). 3 [C] a place on the surface of something such as a part of your body: Be sure to apply sunblock to sensitive areas of your skin. 4 area or surface area [c/u] the amount of space that the surface of a place or shape covers. Area is expressed in square units, such as square kilometers or square miles: The surface area of the screen should be at least one square meter.

area code noun [c] a series of numbers that you have to dial when you are making a telephone call to someone in a different area.

Br E dialling code

area ,rug noun [c] Am E a floor in a room a-re-na /a'rina/ noun

[c]

carpet that covers part of the

*

1 a large area that is surrounded by seats, used for sports or entertainment: a sports arena 2 the people and activities involved with a particular subject or activity: A business must be able to compete in Publishers must move into today's international arena. the electronic arena.

short form 1 the usual way of saying or writing "are not." This is not often used in formal writing. We aren 't going to Florida this year. 2 the usual way of saying or writing "am not" in questions: I'm looking thinner, aren 't I?

aren't /arnt/ :

argon

/'ar,gan/ noun [u] a gas that is in the air and that does not produce a chemical reaction when mixed with other substances. It is sometimes used in electric lights.

argot

/'argoo; 'argat/ noun [C/u] words that are used by a particular group of people: jargon: military argot argu«a«ble/'argjuabl/ad| 1 if something is arguable, you are not completely certain whether it is true or correct: It is arguable that retired football players become good managers. 2 formal if a fact or statement is arguable, there is evidence that it is true or that people agree with it: The judge held that there was an arguable case of

libel.

/'argjuabli/ adv * used for stating your opinion or belief, especially when you think other people may disagree: Mo's is arguably the best club in

argu*a*bly

gives people a chance to argue their ideas. + about/ over They are still arguing over the details of the contract.

to give reasons why you believe that something right or true: Successful economies, she argues, are those with the lowest taxes. + for/against Woolfs report argued for an improvement in prison conditions. +that Ruben opposed the new road, arguing that it wasn't worth spending $25 million to cut seven minutes off drivers'

2

[l/T]

is

journey times.

argue sb into/out of (doing) sth Br E to persuade someone to do/not to do something can't argue with sth spoken used for emphasizing that something is clearly true and no one could disagree with it: His record as coach is impressive - you can argue 't

with that.

Words

frequently used with

adverbs

argue

consistently, convincingly,

2

forcefully, passionately,

persuasively, plausibly, strongly

argu-ment 1

[C]

/'argjamant/ noun

**•

an angry disagreement between people: quarrel:

a heated argument (^extremely angry disagreement) without an argument They won't accept higher prices have an argument (with sb) I've without an argument. had an argument with my girlfriend. get into an argument (with sb) Every time we visit my family, he gets into an argument with my sister. + about/ over / try to avoid arguments about money. 1a. a discussion or debate between people with different views, opinions, etc.: win/ lose an argument We can win this argument if we present the facts clearly. + about/ over The party is involved in an argument over economic policy. 2 [C/u] a reason or set of reasons that you use for persuading other people to support your views, opinions, etc.: The Court of Appeals rejected her arguments. His main argument is stated in the opening chapter. + for/ against There are powerful arguments against releasing You could make an argument for them from prison.

working shorter hours.

Metaphor An argument

is like a fight or war, with people attacking each other's opinions and defending their own.

tried to defend herself against his attacks on her That is an ideas. She shot down his argument. indefensible point of view. / decided to pursue We had a big fight last another line of attack. There was a lot of night, and I went home early. They clashed over conflict over what to do next. who to appoint. It was a real battle of wits. We I've did battle with the council about the plans. Tom is always crossed swords with them before. the first to leap to her defense.

She

-» ANGRY, CRITICIZE, IDEA

town.

argue

argue

program

***

/'ar.gju/ verb 1 [I] if people argue, they speak to each other in an angry way because they disagree: quarrel: Those girls are always arguing! +with Don't argue with me - you + about/ over We used to argue over know I'm right. who should drive. 1a. [i/T] to discuss something with someone who has a different opinion from you: The

argu«men-ta«ti ve / ,argja'mentativ/ adj someone who is argumentative often argues or disagrees with people. This word shows that you dislike people like this. argyle /ar'gail/ noun [c/u] a pattern on clothing such as socks or sweaters, consisting of different colored diamond shapes

a"a /

'aria/

—

a-rise /a'raiz/

(past tense a«rose /o'rooz/;

a»ris«en/3'rizn/) verb

[I]

past participle

***

a particular situation or problem arises, it begins to exist or to develop: Problems arose over plans to build a new supermarket here. if the need arises We can have another meeting if the need arises. 1a. to exist or start developing because of something: Some confusion has arisen as a result of the new system. + from /out of Did anything interesting arise from the meeting? 2 literary to get up from bed, or to stand up 1

arm candy

61

noun [c] a song for one of the main singers in an opera or oratorio ar«id /'end/ adj 1 an arid place is very dry without many plants because of a lack of rain: the arid desert landscape 2 something that is arid is not very interesting or exciting: Anna was in an arid spell in her career. a*rid*i*ty /s'nctati/ noun [u], ai-icMy adv Aries /'eriz/ noun [c/u] one of the 12 signs of the zodiac, represented by a ram (=male sheep). An Aries is someone who is born between March 21 and April 20, believed to be influenced by this sign. a-right /s'rart/ adv old-fashioned correctly a«ri-a

if

Words frequently used with arise nouns

need, opportunity, problem, question, difficulty, issue, matter,

Jim was carrying a package under his arm. into sb's arms The children threw themselves into their grand mother's arms. fold /cross your arms put one arm on top Of the Other) She folded her arms across her chest. take sb in your arms He took her in his arms and kissed |

—

picture -» hody the part of a chair that you rest your arm on when you are sitting in it 2a. the part of a piece of clothing

her.

2

that

your arm

into 3 a long thin part of an object that sticks out from the main part: The crane's huge metal arm lifted tin- load into the air. 3a. a long narrow area of land or water 4 a part of an organization that deals with a particular subject or activity: the retailing arm of the business an arm of the Justice Department fits

an arm and a leg mainly spoken if something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive arm in arm if two people are arm in arm, they are next to each other, with the left arm of one of them bent around the right arm of the other person: The lovers strolled arm in arm by the river. at arm's length 1 held away from your body with your arm stretched out straight: He held the sword in front of him at arm's length. 2 in a situation where you avoid dealing with or becoming involved with someone else: keep /put sb at arm's length Sheryl's unfriendly manner kept most people at arm 's length. -» ARMS, LONG OPEN RIGHT

1

situation

1

1

/.era'stakrasi/ noun [c] the people in the highest class of society, who usually have money, land, and power and who often have special titles, such as "duke" or "countess": the aristocracy She married into the aristocracy.

a-ris-to-crat /a'nsta.kraet/ noun

[c]

a

member

arm

in

1

,

,

aristocracy

arm

of the

arms folded

aristocracy

a-ris-to-crat-ic /a.nsta'kraetik/ adj belonging to or typical of the aristocracy: She comes from an aristocratic family. 1 ar-ith-met-ic /a'nGmatik/ noun [U] * 1 the part of mathematics that involves basic calculations such as adding or multiplying numbers: He's very good at arithmetic.

2

the process of doing a calculation: I'm not sure my arithmetic is correct, but I think the total is 75. 3 the number of people or things that are involved in a situation, and the way in which they affect the situation: According to the arithmetic, there could be six new cases each day. 2

ar-ith-met-ic /criG'metik/ or ar-ith-met-i-cal / end 'metikl/ adj relating to arithmetic: an arithmetic problem

— ai-ith'met'i'cally /.enG'metikli/ adv

—

to

produce the next, for example

3,

6,

9,

12

compare geometric progression Ariz, abbrev Arizona ark, the /ark/ noun come out of the ark or go out with the ark Br E informal to be extremely old-fashioned the name of the boat in the Bible that Noah built to save his family and two of every type of animal from the great Flood.

From

Ark.

abbrev Arkansas

the 6th century b.c /,ei

ar

'el/

Australian Rugby League: the organRugby League in Aus-

ization that governs the sport of

sth

I'll

need

to

arm myself with

all the facts before

meeting

them formally.

ar-ma-da /ar'mada/ noun

[c]

a large group of

war

The Spanish Armada was

a group of ships sent from

Spain to attack England in

1588.

ar*ma»diMo / .arma'diloo/ noun

[c] a small wdd animal from hot parts of North and South America whose body is covered with pieces of a hard substance forming a

shell

Armageddon

/.arma'gedn/ a battle in the future

that will destroy the world

Armageddon is mentioned in the Bible as the place where the final battle between good and evil will be

Armagnac

/'armanjaek; .arman'jaek/ noun (c/u) a type of French brandy (^strong alcoholic drink)

ar-maments

/'urmamants/ noun

[plural]

weapons and

military equipment used by an army, navy, air force, etc.: Half their total spending is allocated to armaments. an armaments factory

arm-band

tralia

Ar-ling-ton

**

fought.

,Ark of the Covenant, the a chest in the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem containing the stones on which the Ten Commandments were written. The Temple and the Ark of the Covenant were destroyed in

ARL

[T]

1 to provide yourself or other people with weapons: arm sb with sth They quickly armed themselves with sticks. No government should be arming terrorists. 2 to provide yourself or other people with useful or impressive equipment, information, etc.: arm sb with

ships: FLEET

arithmetic progression noun [singular] a series of numbers in which the same number is added to each number

arm 2 /arm/ verb

National Cem-e-ter-y

.naejnal 'sema.teri/ a

/urlirjUm

cemetery near Washington, D.C.,

used for burying the bodies of American soldiers and famous Americans such as presidents

arm /arm/ noun 1

[c]

••*

1 one of the two long parts of your body with your hands at the end: I put my arm around his shoulders. under in sb's arms She was holding the baby in her arms. sb's arm (^between the arm and the side of the body)

/'orm.bffind/ noun [C] a small piece of cloth to show that you have a particular job or belong ton particular organization. People sometimes wear a black armband to show respect for

worn around one arm, someone who has 'arm candy noun you take

died. [U] informal

an attractive person thai

event because they are attractive rather than because they are intelligent or because you are having a romantic relationship with them compare BYE candy

—

to a social

1

armchair arm-chair I

'arm.tjcr / noun [C] a large comfortable chair with parts for you to rest your arms on —picture -> CHAIR /

1

arm-chair 2

/'arm.tjer/ adj [only before noun] interested in a subject or activity, but lacking any practical experience of it: a magazine that is essential reading for arm-

struggle 2 [+with] having useful or impressive equipment, information, etc.: a group of reporters armed with telephoto cameras and recording equipment

the noun

[plural]

a country's army,

navy, and air force

arm-ful /'arm,ful/ noun

[C] the amount of something that you can carry in your arms: +of She scooped up an armful of clothes and stuffed them in a drawer. arm-hole / 'arm.hool/ noun [C] one of the holes for your

arms in a shirt, jacket, etc. ar-mi-stice /'armistis/ noun

[C] a formal agreement between enemies to stop fighting a war —compare cease-

fire

Armistice ,Day

noun [c/u] November 11th, the anniversary of the date in 1918 on which World War I ended,

now

called

Veterans Day

armor /'armar/ noun

[u]

*

metal clothing that soldiers wore in the middle ages a suit of to protect their bodies: a knight in armor 1

armor

-> chink

1 ,

knight

used for describing something such as a business deal in which the different sides avoid having a close relationship with each other arm 's-length

1

2 layers of hard metal that cover a military vehicle to protect it from attack: missiles that are capable of penetrating a tank's armor 2a. technical specially protected military vehicles carrying weapons, for example TANKS and ARMORED CARS 3 hard layers that cover the bodies of some animals, such as a rhinoceros or an armadillo

:

negotiations between

arms

number

competition between or power of their war

attack

[c]

•••

colonel [+of] an organized group of people who are working together or helping someone: Armies of rescue workers are sorting through the rubble. 2a. a large number of people who are doing the same thing or in the same situation: She was surrounded by an army of adoring fans. the growing army of the unemployed

2

Arnold, Benedict

/'arnld, 'benadikt/ a U.S. army leader who betrayed his country by supporting the British during the American Revolutionary war

a-ro-ma /a'raoma/ noun

[c]

a smell that

is

strong but

pleasant: the aroma of bread baking a-ro-ma-ther-a-py /a raoma'6erapi/ noun [u] a health treatment in which oils with a nice smell are rubbed into your skin to make you feel relaxed. Someone who is trained to do aromatherapy is called an aroma-

therapist.

ar-o-mat-ic

/

.aera'maetik/ adj [usually before noun]

an

aro-

matic plant, substance, or food smells especially good: aromatic herbs /leaves /soap

arose the past tense of arise a-round /a'raond/ function word Around can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): around the old town.

We walked

an adverb (without a following noun): She turned around and smiled at me. (after the verb "to be"): as

/'armard/ ad] [usually before noun] an armored such as a tank or a car for an important person, covered with layers of hard metal to protect it from

Don't discuss this when the children are around.

used for showing movement 1a. moving in a cirThe wind cular way: The Earth goes around the Sun. makes the windmill's sails spin around. 1b. moving to many different parts or areas: We drove around looking I wish you 'd stop following me around. for a hotel. There's a rumor going around that she's leaving her job. 1c. moving so that you face in the opposite direction: 1

armorer / 'armarar/ noun [c] a person or organization makes or supplies weapons armor- plated adj covered with a layer that

to give protection, for example against explosion: the armor-plated doors at

— armor- plating noun [U]

ar-mor-y /'armari/ noun

[c]

1

a

of hard metal an attack or the

building

embassy

where

amount or types

of weapons that a country has proposals to reduce our nuclear armory 2 [usually singular] a set of skills, equipment, or powers that is available for someone if they need it: DNA testing is one of the newest weapons in the police's armory.

weapons are kept

1a. the

:

armour / 'armar/ the Br E spelling of armor armoured / 'armard /the Br E spelling of armored armoury / 'armari/ the Br E spelling of armory arm-pit /'armpit/ noun

[C] 1 the part of your body under your arm, where the arm joins the shoulder

-» body 2 the ugliest place in a city or region: + of Leadville is the armpit of the state. arm-rest / 'armrest/ noun [c] the part of a seat on which

—picture

you

management and employees

[c usually singular]

1 [often singular] a large organization of soldiers who are trained to fight wars on land. Together with a country's navy and air force, the army makes up the armed forces: After graduating from school, he joined the army. Both of her sons are in the army. The U.S. army has been involved in peacekeeping operations. an army officer/

vehicle,

rest

arms

.race noun

countries to increase the

ar-mored is

adj

army /'armi/ noun

1 carrying a weapon, especially a gun: Be careful - I think he's armed. +with a bank robber armed with a shotgun 1a. involving the use of weapons: armed robbery former terrorists who have abandoned the armed

'forces,

arm's-, length

weapons

chair financial analysts

armed /armd/ adj •*

armed

around

62

•*

1

your arm

**

weapons, for example [plural] guns or bombs: countries that sell arms to terrorists The British police do not usually carry arms. the international arms trade

/armz/ noun

lay down (your) arms to agree to stop fighting: The President appealed to the rebels to lay down arms. take up arms to begin fighting with weapons: Minority tribes took up arms against the new government. under arms formal trained and ready to fight as an

army up in arms angry and complaining about something: + about Residents are up in arms about the closure of the local library. -» coat of arms 'arms con,trol noun [u] agreements between countries to reduce or limit the number of weapons in the world

Martha heard a noise and spun around to see what it was. When we got to the border, the guards made us turn around and go back. 1d. moving so that you get to the other side of something: At that moment a truck came rushing around the corner. Go around to the back of the house and see if anyone's in the yard. 2 used for showing where sb/sth is 2a. surrounding or enclosing something: Arrange the chairs around the table. Sam was sitting on the couch with his arm around Mandy's waist. Everyone crowded around the little dog. a cabin with beautiful woods all around 2b. in many different parts or areas: They have about 15 offices scatWhy are all those clothes lying tered around the country. around on the floor?* The Games were watched by millions of people around the world. 2c. in or close to a place or 7s area: the quiet country roads around my hometown your wife around? I'd like to talk to her. in and around area were the Chernobyl and around People living in somewhere around The factory is in the worst affected. Sacramento, or somewhere around there, formiles around

one of the most popular restaurants for miles around. 2d. in a place with other people, because you live there or spend a lot of time there: She said her husband hadn't been around when she really needed him. The place gets Blake had been so messy when the children are around. around Washington for years, and knew all the right It's

people.

3 searching, looking, or trying to find sth 3a. used saying that someone looks in different places because they want to find something: She walked in, It seemed like glanced around the hall, and went out. someone had been snooping around in my office. 3b. used for

around-the-clock

4

not an exact amount or

number

4a. used

for

showing that you are guessing a number or amount: There must have been around 500 people there. Damage was estimated at around $20 million. 4b. used for referring to a time that is not exact: It was around that time that people started worrying about the ozone layer. We got back around 11. 5 used for showing how sb is spending their time 5a. spending time in a place not doing much: We got tired of waiting around. A group of old men were sitting around playing cards. They spent the day lounging around the pool. 5b. wasting time and behaving in a stupid way:>i bunch of kids was messing around outside the school. / was goofing around and I broke my arm. 6 existing or available now 6a. used for saying that a certain type of person, product, etc. exists or is available at this time: There are some really good new video games around. 6b. the biggest/best/fastest etc. around used for talking about the biggest/best etc. thing that exists: It's one of the biggest shopping malls around. 7 concerning about a particular subject: regarding: There is a lot of anxiety around the whole process of globalization. -» ABOUT adj

AmE

—another word

for

ROUND-THE-CLOCK

a-rous-al /a'raozl/ noun

[u] 1 a feeling of being sexually excited 2 the moment during which someone wakes after sleeping: a sudden arousal from sleep [T] ** to cause an emotion or rumors have aroused intense interest among investors. a controversial plan that is sure to

/a'raoz/ verb

attitude: These

arouse strong opposition a. to make someone feel sexually excited b. mainly literary to wake someone who has been sleeping: Beth dozed peacefully until she was aroused by the dogs barking.

ar«peg«gi'0/ar'ped3i3o/ noun [c] a set of musical notes produced by playing each note in a chord separately instead of together

KLM

arraign

/a'rein/ verb [T usually passive] legal to order to go to a court of law to be formally charged with a crime:^ 52-year-old Detroit man has been arraigned on charges of murder. ar*raign«ment noun [C/U]

someone

—

/9'reind3/ verb

*•*

1 [i/T] to make plans for something to happen, for example by agreeing a time and place: I'm trying to

arrange a meeting with their sales director. We're flying arrange for sb to do out on the 18th - it's all arranged. sth Please arrange for a cab to pick me up at six. arrange to do sth They arranged to go swimming the following day. +that It was arranged that he'd meet us at 9:00. 1a. to provide what someone needs, by doing what is necessary: The bank can arrange travel insurance for you. 2 [T] to plan and manage the details of a project or event that involves many people: Who is arranging the wedding?* A helicopter food drop is being arranged by the

Red

Cross. to put things in a neat, attractive, or useful order: We'll need to Here is the list arranged chronologically. arrange the chairs around the table. [T] to change a piece of music so that it is appropriate for a particular type of voice or instrument: an old folksong arranged for the piano

3

[T]

4

arranged marriage

/3,remd3d 'mend3/ noun [c] a is arranged by the parents of the man and woman getting married, instead of the man and woman choosing to marry each other marriage that

arrange-ment 1

[C often plural]

•**

/s'reindsmant/ noun a way of organizing things so that

problems are solved or avoided: I'm staying with Sally until

ment.

my

to

make

arrangements

2

[C/U] an agreement or plan that you make with else: +with They have an arrangement with Pepsi-Cola to share distribution facilities come to an arrangement We're trying to come to an arrangement about who should pay the legal fees. by arrangement Evening meals are available by arrangement if you agree in advance). 3 [C/u] a set of things that have been arranged to look attractive: a floral arrangement 3a. the way that things are arranged in a particular order or pattern: the arrangement of bones in the skull 4 [C] a piece of music that has been changed for a particular type of voice or instrument: He will play his own arrangement of Handel's Water Music.

someone

(

Words

frequently used with

verbs

arrant

come

to, finalize,

put

place

in

/'icrant/ adj [only before noun]

used for emphasizing is:

arrangement

formalize, make,

1

formal complete: or something

how bad someone

arrant nonsense /sexism

array

1

/a'rci/

noun

*

a large group of people or things that are related in some way: an impressive array of musical talent a dazzling array of products I colors I fruit/jewels 2 [C usually singular] technical a number of pieces of equip ment of the same type, connected together to do a particular job: An array of solar panels supplies the site with electricity. 3 [C] computing an arrangement of numbers and [C

usually singular] [+of]

symbols organized

in

rows and columns

4 [U] literary beautiful or impressive clothes Words frequently used with array adjectives

array

2

bewildering, dazzling, fascinating, impressive, vast, wide

1

/a'rei/ verb [t usually passive] to place or arrange in a particular way: Security cameras were

something

arr. abbrev 1 arrives: used for showing the time when a plane, bus, or train arrives somewhere: flight 603 dep. Amsterdam 10:20 a.m., arr. New Delhi 7:35 p.m. 2 arranged by: used to show that someone has changed a piece of music that someone else wrote

arrange

have

other childcare arrangements 1a. arrangements [plural] practical plans for managing the details of an event involving many people: How are the wedding arrangements coming along'' sleeping seating she'll

1

around-the-clock

arouse

arresting

63

for saying that someone asks many people in order to find something: I'll ask around and see if anyone has his It's a good idea to shop around to get the best address. deal on your insurance.

heating gets fixed -

it's

just a temporary arrangeis away, so

make an arrangement Her husband

arrayed at every angle around the entrance.

arrayed against ready

to oppose or fight a person, group, or idea: With such powerful interests arrayed against it, the bill would never succeed. arrayed in sth mainly literary wearing beautiful or impressive clothes

arrears

/a'naz/ noun [plural] money that you owe because you have failed to make payments at the correct time: tax /rent /payment arrears in arrears late in making a regular payment: Your mortgage payment is a month in arrears.

arrest

**

1

/a'rest/verb [t] the police arrest someone, they take that person to a police station because they believe he or she has committed a crime. Someone who has been arrested is under arrest, and if they are not allowed to leave, they are in custody: Police raided the store at dawn, arresting arrest sb six men and seizing hundreds of pirated CDs. for sth He was arrested for possession of illegal drugs. arrest sb on charges/suspicion of sth She has been arrested on suspicion of using a stolen credit card. 2 formal to stop a process from continuing, especially to stop a bad situation from getting worse: A cut in 1

if

interest rates failed to arrest the decline in prices.

3 formal if something arrests your attention, you notice it

arrest 2

/a'rest/ noun [C/U] • a situation in which the police arrest someone that they believe has committed a crime: International cooperation led to the arrest of three suspects. After a third arrest for drunk driving, she lost her license. One of the women is suing tor wrongful arrest (=having been arrested illegally). under arrest Six men are under arrest in connection with the drug smuggling operation. make an arrest We hope to make an arrest in the near future. -» CARDIAC ARRBST, HOUSB ARREST arresting /.Vivstin/ ad] formal attracting your atten tion: strikim;: She was an arresting figure in her bright

summer

dress.

arrival

and

2

verb

[i]

**•

to reach a place, after

having been somewhere

else:

What time does your plane

arrive? I finally arrived home + at / in Four police officers at five in the morning. suddenly arrived at their house, la. to reach a place after

having been sent or ordered from somewhere else: A letter arrived for you this morning. Our furniture arrived information arrives, it is published or heard somewhere: Reports are just arriving about the earthquake in Mexico. 1c. to come to a place in order to live there permanently: Her parents arrived in America in 1926. 1d. to join an organization or start a new job: She was just 21 when she arrived at the Washington Post as a trainee reporter. 2 to happen, take place, or begin to exist: When radar safely by truck yesterday, lb. if

arrived, the course of the war changed. 3 if a baby arrives, it is born: Sally baby brother arrived.

4

arson

/'ursn/ noun [u] the illegal use of fire to destroy a house, building, or property

ar-son-ist / 'ursnist/ noun

was four when her

1

art /urt/ noun

effort:

Running

their

own

business,

lot of

they felt they

had

finally arrived.

arrive at phrasal vb [T] [arrive at sth] to reach a result, decision, or solution to a problem: How did they arrive at that figure? The two studies arrive at very different conclusions.

ar-ri-viste /.aeri'viist/ noun [c] someone who has recently joined an organization or community, and is disliked by its members who have been there longer arrogance /'aeragans/ noun [u] * behavior that shows that you think you are better or more important than other people ar-ro-gant /'aeragant/ adj * someone who is arrogant thinks they are better or more important than other people and behaves in a way that is rude and too confident: an arrogant look / remark / manner his arrogant disregard for other people's opinions How arrogant of her to say that. ar*ro*gant*ly adv arro-gate /'aerageit/ verb [J] formal to take power that is not legally yours arrow /'aerao/ noun [c] 1 a weapon in the form of a thin straight stick with a sharp point at one end and feathers at the other. Arrows are shot through the air using a bow. 2 a sign that looks like an arrow t. used for showing people which direction to go in, or where to look for something: Turn left with the green arrow. Arrows on the photograph indicate the chemical's presence. ar«row*head /'aeraohed/ noun [c] the sharp pointed

—

••

part of an arrow

arrow-root

/'aeraoruit/ noun [u] a substance similar to flour that is used in cooking for making liquids

thicker

ar«roy»o /a'raioo/ noun [c] a narrow valley in a North or South American desert that is usually dry but carries water during a rain storm arse /ars/ noun [C] Br E offensive someone's ass arse«hole/'ars,houl/ noun [C] Br E offensive an asshole arse»nal /'arsnal/ noun [c] 1 a large collection of weapons and military equipment: an arsenal of guns/ ammunition / nuclear weapons 2 a building used for storing guns and military equipment 3 [+of] a large collection of things you can use to achieve a particular purpose: In its arsenal of evidence, the government has more than 1,000 hours of taped phone calls.

someone who deliberately

*••

1

painting, drawing, etc.

4

2 3

beautiful objects

5 special

film, theater, etc. skills

non-scientific subjects

1 [u] the activity of painting, drawing, or creating sculptures: She devotes her spare time to her art. 1a. painting, drawing, and sculpture as subjects you study: He studied Art and Design at the university. -» work of ART 2 [U] paintings, drawings, and sculptures that are created to be beautiful or to express ideas: Do you like modern art? the art of ancient Mexico 2a. something that people feel has value because it is beautiful or expresses ideas: Are these films art or entertainment? 3 arts [plural] subjects of study that are not scientific, such as history, literature, and languages: the School of Arts and Sciences an arts graduate /degree /subject the decorative /graphic arts 4 the arts [plural] activities such as art, music, film, theater, and dance, considered together 5 [C usually singular] an activity that needs special skills or knowledge: Bringing out the best in your students is an art. +of doing sth / have now mastered the art of letterwriting. an art to doing sth There's an art to parking this truck. have /get sth down to a fine art Fred's got carbuying down to a fine art.

art

informal to achieve a goal, especially after a

[c]

starts fires, especially in buildings

[U]

arrive /a'raiv/

house

ar-se-nic / 'arsnik/ noun [u] a very strong chemical that is used in industry and as a poison for killing small animals such as rats

departures.

the time when something begins or comes into existence: +of the arrival of spring Our lives have been revolutionized by the arrival of the personal computer. 3 [C] someone who has arrived or joined a group: Early arrivals get all the best parking spaces. 3a. new arrival a baby that has just been born 1

art

64

•**

ar-ri-val /s'raivl/ noun 1 [singular/u] the time when someone or something arrives at a place from somewhere else: Her arrival livened up the party. The arrival of Flight 106 from Boston has been delayed. on sb's arrival (=as soon as arrive) they Parkes was arrested on her arrival from New York. la. the time when someone joins an organization or starts a new job: Since her arrival at the company, she has re-organized several departments. 1b. arrivals [plural] airplanes, trains, or buses that have just arrived at a place after a trip: Check the airport monitors for arrivals

2

/art/ verb thou art an old phrase meaning "you are"

art dec-o or Art Dec-o /,art 'deku/ noun [u] a style of art, decoration, and architecture with simple strong lines that was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s in Europe and the U.S. art di rector noun [c] someone whose job is to decide about the clothes, lights, and scenery for a play or movie ar-te-fact /'urti.faekt/ another spelling of artifact arte-ri-al /ar'tiarial/ adj 1 relating to the arteries: arterial blood / bleeding arterial blood pressure 2 an arterial road or railroad is part of a larger road or rail

system ar-te-ri-o-scle-ro-sis /ar.tiariaoskla'rusis/ noun [u] medical a serious medical condition in which the sides of the arteries

your heart has your body

become thick, hard, and stiff, so that work harder to force blood through

to

artery

/'artari/ noun [c] 1 one of the tubes in your body that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A tube that returns blood to your heart is called a vein. 2 an important road, railroad, or river: one of the city's main arteries ar-te-sian well /ar,ti3ian 'wel/ noun [c] a place where natural pressure under the ground forces water to the

earth's surface

art .form noun

[C] an activity that involves creating or expressing something, such as painting, poetry, or music: Jazz has become an important art form. art-ful /'artfl/ adj 1 skilled at achieving an effect or getting something from people, especially in a dishonest way: an artful evasion of responsibility 2 done using art art-fuMy or skill: an artful performance /photograph

—

adv, art-ful-ness

art'ful

noun

[U]

dod-ger noun

manages

someone who

is

clever and

to get out of difficult situations

and avoid

[C]

answering questions

From

the

name

of

an imaginary character who who steals money from

is

a

pickpocket (=someone

people's clothing) in Oliver Twist, a novel by the British writer Charles Dickens.

art gallery noun [C] a building where people go to see paintings and other art art house noun [c] a movie theater that mainly shows movies made by small or foreign companies: the best of foreign and art house movies

arthritis a medical condition affecting your joints (=the place where two bones meet) making them very swollen and painful: + in / have severe arthritic /ur 'Or it ik/ adj arthritis in my hands. [u]

—

Arthur who

/'ar(hr/ in ancient stories, a king of Britain was leader of a group of soldiers called the Knights

of the

Round Table /'artitj'ook/ noun

ar-ti-cle /'cntikl/ noun

[C]

***

piece of writing

2 object 3 part of

legal

4

in

5

legal training

grammar

document

1 a piece of writing about a particular subject that is published in a newspaper or magazine: He has written + on/about We several articles for The New York Times.

article about her in our magazine. object, usually one of a group of similar objects: article of clothing She left articles of clothing all around The store sells small household articles. the living room.

ran an

2 an

3 part of a legal document or agreement that deals with a particular point: Article 180 states that one third of the members must be women. 4 a type of determiner (=word used before a noun) that shows whether you are referring to a particular thing or to a general example of something. The indefinite article is "a" or "an" and the definite article is "the." 5 articles [plural] Br E the final part of the education of a professional person, for example a lawyer, during which they work for a company -» genuine ar-ti-cled /'artikld/ adj BrE if someone is articled to a company, they are employed by that company through a legal agreement while they finish their education or training [C] something that people who support a particular religion or idea believe completely, although it has not been proved articles of articles of incorporation or associ'ation noun [plural] the business rules that are agreed upon when people form a company that sells shares to the public 1 ar-tic-u-late /ar'tikjubt/ adj 1 able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively: She is a highly articulate woman. 2 articulate writing or speech is clear and easy to understand: It gives an

article of 'faith noun

effect. 3 technical an animal has joints (=parts of the body where ar«tic«u«late*ly adv two bones meet) 2 1 [T] to express ar-tic-u-late /ar'tikjuleit/ verb thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively: It's difficult to articulate what Ifelt then. 2 [l/T] to speak very clearly, so that every word you say can be understood: Ben She carefully articulates so clearly for a two-year-old.

articulate description of the drug's

articulate

3

artificial

—

articulated every syllable.

ar-tic-u-lat-ed /ar'tikjuleitid/ adj BrE an articulated vehicle has two or more parts that are connected so they can move in different directions at the same time: an articulated lorry ar-tic-u-la-tion /ar.tikju'leifn/ noun [U] 1 the production of speech or music: By the age of six most children develop clear articulation. 2 the expression of thoughts, ideas, or feelings in words: Here is a clear articulation of our goals. 3 technical the ways in which the different parts of a structure or system are connected ar-ti-fact /'arti.faekt/ noun [C] * a tool or other object that was made a very long time ago ar-ti-fice /'artifis/ noun [U] behavior that is intended to trick someone: a friendly manner, free of artifice ar-ti-fi-cial /.arti'fifl/adj

**

1 made by people and used instead of something natural: The growers use both natural and artificial light. The product contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, la. made by people to look very like something natural: artificial flowers/fur I snow 2 caused or created as a result of human influence or action: Our new policies are designed to break down artificial barriers to women's advancement. 2a. not done, dealt with, or expressed in a normal or natural way: An interview is a very artificial situation.

behavior

is

lily

not sincere: She laughed a bright

artificial laugh.

4

something that looks or sounds artificial does not real: To some people, the clarity of CI) sound seems afti-fi-ci-al-i-ty noun |.|. urlili|i ;cbti

seem

artificial.

ar-ti-fi-cial-ly

/

urtl'fij'oli/

adv

insemi nation noun

artificial

[C/u] a round green vegetable with thick pointed leaves arranged close together in layers. After cooking it, you pull off each leaf and eat the soft bottom part. -» Jerusalem artichoke

ar-ti-choke

1

arum

65

ar-thri-tis /ur'Oraitis/ noun

[u]

a medical treat-

which a man's SPERM cells from his sex organs) are put into a woman's womb the part of her body where a baby can grow) so that she can become pregnant artificial intelligence noun [u] the use of computer technology to make computers and other machines think and do things in the way that people can .artificial respi ration noun [u] the process of forcing

ment

in

(

(

air into the lungs of a person who has stopped breathing by blowing into their mouth or nose in order to make them start breathing again: kiss of life

ar-til-ler-y /ar'til(a)ri/ noun [u] large powerful guns that are used by an army and are moved on wheels or fixed in one place

the artillery the part of an army that uses large powerful guns ar-ti-san /'cirtizan/ noun [C] a worker who has special skill and training, especially one who makes things art-ist /'artist/ noun [C] *•• 1 someone who makes paintings, sculptures, etc.: He had his portrait painted by the Spanish artist Daniel

Quintero. a professional performer in music, dance, or the theater: Their lead singer has left to become a solo artist. 3 someone who writes, makes movies, or writes music with great skill: one of the great artists of the cinema 3a. someone who shows a lot of skill in their work: It's a pleasure to watch an artist at work.

2

[C] someone who is a professional entertainer, for example a singer or a dancer

artiste /ar'tist/ noun

ar-tis-tic /ar'tistik/ adj

•*

relating to any form of art, including painting, music, acting, and dancing: cultural and artistic activities a dazzling display of artistic talent a director's high artistic standards 1a. sensitive to art and beauty, and able to enjoy it: an artistic temperament an artistic 1

literature,

eye

2 relating to drawing, painting, etc.: She has considerable artistic ability. 2a. skillful at drawing, painting, etc. You don 't need to be very artistic to produce great designs. 2b. painted, arranged, or done in a way that shows skill and imagination and looks beautiful: an ar-tis-ti-cal-ly /ar'tistikli/ adv artistic floral display :

—

[u] 1 the skill and imagination typical of an artist, writer, musician, or actor: the artistry of Hooker and his band 2 great skill in a sport or profession: his artistry in the game of soccer art-less /'artbs/ adj very sincere and willing to trust art*less*ly adv, art-less-ness noun [u] other people

art«ist«ry /'artistri/ noun

—

art nou-veau or Art Nou-veau /.art nu'vou; ,a nu'voo/ noun [u] a style of art, decoration, and architecture that uses curved patterns of leaves, flowers, and other natural objects, and was popular at the end of the 19th century in Europe and the U.S. .arts and 'crafts noun [plural] art or objects that are made by hand, for example pottery or needlework: an arts and crafts fair art-sy /'artsi/ adj Am E 1 pretending to enjoy art or be interested in it 2 showing a great interest in art. but in a

way

that

may

not be sincere: artsy intellectual types

art'Sy-craft'sy /.artsi 'kraeftsi/ adj AmE informal made by someone who enjoys creating and decorating things themselves, but who you think lacks skill art-sy-fart«sy / urtsi 'fartsi/ adj AmE very informal someone who is artsy-fartsy is always trying to show

how interested they are in art art-work /'art,w3rk/ noun [u] 1 paintings, sculptures, etc. 2 pictures, photographs, or drawings that are used in a book, magazine, etc. art'y /'arti/ adj Br E &rts\ a-ru-gu-la /a'rugala/ noun [u] Am E a plant with tlat green leaves often eaten in salads arum lil-y /Worn ,hli/ noun [C/u] an African plant with a singh large white flower 1

I

Aryan

ascetic

Ar*y»an

explanation for it that you know is not the real one: The house was in such a mess - it looked as though a bomb had dropped on it. as is in the original condition, including any faults or problems: We've agreed to take the house as is. as it is already: I don't want to hear any more complaints. I've got enough problems as it is. as it is/as it turns out used for saying what the situation really is when something different might have happened: They said the repairs would cost around $20,000, but, as it turns out, the final bill will be twice that amount. He was expecting to have completed his training by now. As it is, he's only halfway through it. as it were used for making a description sound less definite or less exact: Mandela became, as it were, the

/'erian/ adj used for describing people from northern Europe, especially tall people with blond hair and blue eyes. This word is connected with Nazi theories of race. Ar*yan noun [C]

as I weak az; strong aez/ function word *** As can be used in the following ways: as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): As I was leaving, the phone rang. The results were not as bad

as I had expected. as a preposition (followed by a noun):

He works as a

waiter.

as an adverb (followed by an adjective, an adverb, or a word such as "much" or "many"): Nylon is cheaper than leather, and it's just as strong. 1 used for showing comparison 1a. used for comparing one person, thing, or situation with another:

as.

.

.as

Simon

isn't

as

tall

as his brother.

/ don't

smoke

much as I used to. / can't run as fast as you. just as We all need regular exercise, but a healthy diet is just as important. half /twice/three times etc. as much A house in San Francisco costs twice as much as a similar house in

as

some nearby cities. the same as Barbara's suggestion was almost exactly the same as mine. 1b. as. .as usual/ possible/necessary/expected equal to the amount or .

level that is usual/possible/necessary/expected: There were twice as many visitors as usual last weekend. Our goal is to collect as much information as possible. The damage wasn't quite as bad as expected. 1c. used in particular expressions for emphasizing a quality in someone or something: Her skin was white as snow. He's as tough as nails. -» less 2 used for referring to what is known spoken used for mentioning that something is already known or has already been talked about: As I was saying, we expect 2002 to be a good year. As everyone knows, the farming

industry

is

in serious difficulties.

3

in the same way 3a. used for saying that something happens or is done in the same way: I invested the money as you suggested. Leave everything just as you found it. as usual Judith was late, as usual. 3b. as is/does/ has etc. sb formal used for saying that someone or something else is the same/does the same thing/has done the same thing etc.: Frank is a fine athlete, as was his father before him. / take the subway to work every day, as do most of the people in my office. 4 having a particular job, use, or appearance used for referring to what someone or something does or how they appear: As chief executive, I am expected to provide effective leadership. a portrait of the princess as a child An electric drill can also be used as a screwdriver. 5 how sb/sth is considered used for saying that someone or something is considered or described in a particular way: Van Dyck was regarded as the greatest painter of his time. was still seen as a threat by many Russians. as being /having Madeira is described as having the best climate in the world. 6 when or while 6a. used for saying that something happens at the same time as something else: As the family was sitting down to dinner, there was a knock at the door. just as We got to the check-in desk just as they were about to close. 6b. as soon as immediately after something has happened: I'm ready to go out as soon as it stops raining. 7 because used for giving the reason for something: As it was getting late, we took the children home. We chose Doug to lead us as he said he knew the way. 8 although used after an adjective or adverb to mean that something is true despite what you are saying: Strange as it may seem, I never really wanted to be rich. Much as I sympathize with your difficulties, there is little I can do to help you.

NATO

as for used for introducing a subject that is related to what you have just been talking about: As for the children, they were happy enough to spend all day on the beach. as if spoken used for emphasizing that something is not true or is not important: "Don't get lost or anything, will you?" "As if I would - Fm not stupid. " Why was he worrying about the interview? - As if it mattered anyway! as if/ as though 1 in such a way that something seems Jack smiled to be true: It looks as if it's going to rain. as though he was enjoying a private joke. 2 used when you are describing something and you imagine an

father of the nation. as of used for saying that something will start to happen on a particular day, and will continue after that day: As of April 6, all applicants must complete both forms. as to formal concerning someone or something: There is some doubt as to whether the information is totally accurate.

not as if. spoken used for saying that something not true and therefore it cannot be the explanation someone's behavior: / can't understand why he disapproves of me. It's not as if I've done anything wrong. -» GOOD LONG 2 SOON, WELL YET abbrev used for showing how sensitive to light a particular type of film for a camera is it's

.

.

is

for

1

1

,

,

,

ASA

asap

/,ei es ei 'pi/ as soon as possible: used especially for asking someone to do something quickly: / want those files on my desk asap.

as-bes-tos

/aes'bestas; aez'bestas/

noun

[u]

a substance

that does not burn easily that was used in building materials in the past. It is now known to cause cancer and is no longer used.

/s'send/ verb formal * 1 [T] to climb a mountain, stairs, etc.: They began slowly ascending the rock face. 1a. [i] to rise into the air: We watched as the airplane ascended. 1b. [i] if a road, path, or set of stairs ascends, it goes up 2 [I] to get a more important job or position: Through hard work and perseverance, she ascended through the ranks to become vice president.

as-cend

ascend the throne to become king or queen of a country /s'sendansi/ noun [u] the advantage, power, or influence that one person or group has over another: Two early goals established the team 's ascendancy

as-cervdan-cy in the first half.

aS'Cen-dant

1

/s'sendsnt/ adj formal in the process of gaining power or influence over another person, group, etc.: an ascendant political party as-ceivdant 2 /a'sendant/ noun be in the ascendant formal to have or gain power or influence over another person, group, etc.

ascend-ing

/s'sendin/ adj

[only before noun]

moving

toward a higher level or position: in ascending order (=with each one higher or bigger than the one before) The results were ranked in ascending order. as-cervsion /a'senjan/ noun [u] the process of moving to a higher level or position: the story of a young man's rapid political ascension

assent

/a'sent/ noun

*

a climb upward, especially up a hill or mountain: the first ascent ofMt. Everest 2 [C] a slope, or the path that someone uses to climb a slope: the southeast ascent of the mountain 3 [C/U] the process of moving to a higher level or 1

[C]

position: the airplane's ascent to 35,000 feet 4 [C/U] the process of becoming more important or famous: her rapid ascent in the world of entertainment

as-cer-tain /.aesar'tem/ verb something: I am simply trying case.

+whether/what/how

[i/t]

formal

*

to find out of the

to ascertain the facts

etc.

We need

to ascertain

+ from This much could whether the project is feasible. ascertain the easily be ascertained from the newspapers. cause /nature /extent of sth Experts were unable to +that The police have ascertain the cause of the accident. ascertained that he

knew

the victim.

1

/a'setik/ adj living a very simple cially for religious reasons

as-cet-ic

life,

espe-

ascetic someone who

[c]

lives a very

simple

life, especially for religious as-cet-i-cism /o'seti.sizam/ noun [U]

reasons

ASCII

/'aeski/ noun [u] American Standard Code for Information Interchange: a system for changing computer information into numbers, so that different types of computers and software can exchange information

a-scor-bic ac-id /a.skorbik 'sesid/ noun [u] vitamin c aS'Cribe/a'skraib/ verb ascribe to phrasal vb [J] formal 1 [ascribe sth to sth] to believe something is the cause of something else: Their defeat was ascribed to a poor defense. 2 [ascribe sth to sb/sth] to believe that something is a typical quality of someone or something: He ascribes melodramatic behavior to teenagers in general. 3 [ascribe sth to sb] to believe that a particular person wrote a book or a piece of music, painted a picture, etc. so that people generally accept this to be true: a work

Homer

ascribed to

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations: an organization of countries for increasing trade and development in Southeast Asia /'aesi.aen/

a-sep-tic /ei'septik/

not infected with bacteria, or

adj

preventing infection from bacteria: an aseptic wound a-sex-u-al /ei'sekfusl/ adj 1 an asexual creature does not have sex organs 2 someone who is asexual does not show any interest in sex a-sex-u-ai-iy /ei'sek Juali/ adv

**

ash 1

/sej/ noun [C/U] the gray

powder

has burned: cigarette ash

was a pile of ashes. 2 ash or ash tree

that remains after something All that remained of the fire

with a smooth gray bark trunk) 2a. [u] the wood of

[C] a tree

(=substance that covers

its

an ash tree 3 ashes [plural] the substance that remains after a person's body has been cremated (=burned after death): His ashes are

to

be scattered at sea.

/a'Jeimd/ adj •• feeling guilty or embarrassed because you have done something wrong, or think that you have not reached a standard that people

a-shamed

expect: / regret the incident and am deeply ashamed and embarrassed. + of He's extremely ashamed of his behavior last night. -(-{that) I felt ashamed that I hadn't visited with her more often. ashamed of yourself You ought to be ashamed of yourself using that kind of language! a. be ashamed to do sth to fail to do something, or not want to do it, because it would make you feel guilty or

embarrassed: He was ashamed to tell his family what had happened, b. I'm ashamed to say /admit used for admitting something that you think people might be surprised or disappointed about: I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read any of her work. c. nothing to be ashamed of used for telling someone that they should not feel ashamed: Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of. d. be ashamed of sb to feel disappointed and upset by someone's behavior: I'm ashamed of you - lying to your teacher! e. be ashamed of sb to feel embarrassed because you are related to someone or connected with them: / could tell they were ashamed of me. ash-can /'asj.ksen/ noun [C] AmE old-fashioned a trash CAN ash-en /'aefn/ adj very pale, especially because you feel sick or upset

religious

/

'aejrsm; 'ajram/

community

noun

[C]

the

home

of a small

of Hindus

/'ajtrei/ noun [C] a small flat container where people who smoke put ash and the cigarettes they have finished smoking

ash-tray

,Ash 'Wednesday noun period

before

Easter

[c/u] the first day of lent (=the

during which

Christians

trad-

itionally eat less)

A-sian

1

/'ei3n;

'eijn/ adj

•

someone who

from Asia: 90% of our students are Asian, Asia or

its

Differences between American and British English: Asian In the U.S., Asian usually refers to people from countries in East and Southeast Asia, such as China, Japan, Thailand, or Korea. In the U.K., it usually refers to British people whose families originally came from the countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan. Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka).

A-sian 2

noun [c] • someone who is from Asia Asian-A merican noun [C] • someone who the U.S. but whose famUy is from Asia Asian-

culture: Asian cuisine

a.

is

Asian

is

relating to

/'ei3n; 'cijn/

one of the countries

American

in

adj

A-si-at-ic /.©ra'aetlk; ei/i ;etik/ adj technical relating to Asia or its culture: Asiatic porcelain a-side /a'said/ adv •• used for telling someone that what you are mentioning is not as important as what you are going to say next: You're right to mention her home circumstances, but that aside, how is her school work? aside from 1 except for: Aside from hanging around in the street, there's nothing for kids to do here. 2 used for saying that something exists, is true, or happens in addition to something else: He'd eaten half a loaf of bread, and that was aside from the sandwich he'd had 1

earlier.

brush/sweep/cast sth aside to refuse to consider or deal with something: Railroad companies brushed aside fears that staff cuts would compromise safety. move/step etc. aside to move away from someone or something, or to move something or someone away from you: Helen stepped aside to let him pass. The little boy was pushed roughly aside. set/put/leave sth aside 1 to deliberately not consider or include something: Leaving aside the question of how young they are, do you think the boys are guilty? They'll have to put aside their political differences and find a solution. 2 to stop using, doing, or dealing with something: He set his pen aside and read over what he had written. 3 to keep time, money, land, etc. for future use or a particular purpose: Try to set aside half an hour every day for something you really enjoy doing. turn aside to turn your head or body away from someone or something so that you are no longer looking at them: She looked appealingly in his direction, but he turned aside. -» stand aside

a-side 2 /a'said/ noun [C] a remark about something that is not the main subject of your discussion a. something that you say quietly to someone because you do not want other people to hear b. something that a character in a play or movie says that they want the audience but not the other characters to hear

as-i-nine /'yesi.nam/

adj

extremely stupid or unrea-

sonable

ASIO /'eizi,oo/ Australian Security Intelligence Organization: an Australian government organization responsible for protecting the country against foreign spies (=people whose job is to try to find out secret information

about a country)

ASIS /'eisis/ Australian

Secret Intelligence Service: an

Australian government organization responsible for finding out secret information about the activities of foreign countries

ask

a-shore/s'jDr/adv • 1 to or onto land from the water or a ship: He quickly rowed ashore. All the crew have come ashore. 2 on land, and not on the sea: After two weeks on the rig, they had three days ashore.

ash-ram

ask

67 2

as-cet-ic /o'setik/ noun

/aesk/ verb

1 try to

•••

get information

2 tell sb you want 3 expect sth

sth

4 say you want sth done 5 invite sb to do sth + PHRASES

1 [i/T] to speak or write to someone in order to get information from them: / wondered who had given her the ring but was afraid to ask. ask (sb) why/how/ whether etc. She asked me how I knew about it. ask (sb) about sth Did you ask about the money?* ask sb a question The police wanted to ask us a few questions. ask yourself Sth (^consider it carefully) He ought to ask himself why nobody ever invites him. 2 [i/T] to speak or write to someone because you want them to give you something: If you need any help, just ask (sb) for sth The children were asking for drinks. ask. ask sb's permission/advice/opinion etc. / think we'd ask sb a favor Can I better ask your mom s opinion first.

askance I

aspirin

ask you a favor? Would you look after the children for an hour? 3 [I/T] to expect someone to do something or give you something: ask sth (for sth) It's a nice house, but they're asking over half a million dollars. ask a lot/too much It's asking a lot of teenagers to expect them to see what's wrong with consumerism. All I want is five minutes' peace and quiet: is that asking too much? ask sb (not) to do sth We ask guests not to smoke in the hotel. 3a. ask sb to believe sth informal used about things that are difficult to believe because they seem false or wrong: Are you seriously asking me to believe that you knew nothing about this? 4 [I/T] to say that you want something to happen, or that you want someone else to do something: ask sb (not) to do sth Then the computer will ask you to restart it. He asked us to join him. ask to do sth / asked to see the manager. ask (not) to be The writer has asked not to be named. ask that sb (should) do sth The committee has asked that this project be stopped for now. 5 [T] to invite someone to do something or go somewhere with you: ask sb to sth How many people have you asked to the party? ask sb for sth We should ask them for a meal sometime. ask sb over (=to your house) The neighbors have asked us over for a drink. ask sb in (=ask someone to come into your house, room, office, etc.) We stood on the doorstep for ages before he asked us in. ask sb to do sth They asked me to stay the night. don't ask spoken used for telling someone that you do not want to talk about something because it was not good, pleasant, enjoyable, etc. don't ask me spoken used for telling someone that you do not know the answer to their question when you are annoyed or surprised that they have asked you for the asking available if you ask for it: There are sales jobs for the asking. I ask you spoken used for emphasizing that you think something is silly or shocking: He arrived over an hour late for the meeting - 1 ask you! if you ask me spoken used before you give someone your opinion about something: If you ask me, she doesn't

want the job. used for showing that you are angry about something that has happened, but want to ask about it politely: Might I ask what you are doing with really

may /might I ask spoken my

wallet?

who asked you?

spoken used as a rude

way

of telling

someone that their opinion is not important you may/might well ask spoken used for showing that you think someone's question is difficult to answer ask after phrasal vb [T] [ask after sb] to ask for news about someone: / met Bob and he asked after you. ask around phrasal vb [l] to ask several people for information or advice: / asked around, but nobody had seen him for days. ask for

phrasal vb [t] 1 [ask for sth] to speak or write to someone because you want them to give you something: He's always reluctant to ask for anyone's help. 2 [ask for sb] to say that you want someone to come and speak to you: There's someone in the store asking for the manager.

to behave in a way that makes it likely that a particular unpleasant thing will happen to you: She's asking for trouble speaking to people like that. be asking for it Anyone who drives while they're drunk is just asking for it. ask out phrasal vb [T] [ask sb out] to invite someone to go with you to a movie, theater, restaurant, etc. because you want to start a romantic or sexual relationship

be asking for sth

with them: Finally he asked her out. /a'skaens/ adv look askance (at sb/sth) to show that you do not approve of someone or something or that you do not feel certain about them: A lot ofpeople on Capitol Hill would look askance at this new regulation.

askance

a-skew paused

/a'skju/ adj at an angle instead of straight: straighten his bow tie, which was askew.

He

to

asking price

/'askin ,prais/ noun [singular] the price wants for something they are selling

that someone a-sleep /a'slip/

adj [never before noun]

**

fast/sound asleep 1 not awake: Are you asleep yet? (=sleeping very deeply) The children are fast asleep in their rooms. half asleep (=not fully awake) I groped for the phone, still half asleep. fall asleep (=begin to sleep) She was so tired she fell asleep sitting in her chair.

2

your

if

feel

foot,

hand,

etc. is asleep, it is

numb (=you

can't

it)

asp Acsp/

noun

in Africa, Asia,

[C]

a small poisonous snake that lives

and Europe

as-para-gus

/a'speragas/ noun [u] a long thin green vegetable whose stems and tips (=pointed ends) are eaten

— picture -» en

ASPCA, the /

ci cs pi si ci/ the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: a U.S. organization that protects animals

as-pect

/'ffispekt/

noun

•**

1 [C] a particular part, feature, or quality of something: + of a system of rules that covers almost every aspect of their lives the safety/security/health etc. aspect Th? car has to look good, but without forgetting the safety aspect. consider/discuss/deal with/focus on an aspect This chapter will consider several important aspects of the teaching process. 2 [C usually singular] formal the direction in which a building or window faces 3 [singular]/orma/ the appearance of someone or something 4 [C/U] linguistics the form of a verb that shows whether an action is continuing, is repeated, or happens only once: the progressive aspect

as'pen

/'aespan/ noun [c] a tall thin tree that grows in North America and Europe and has leaves that rustle (=make a noise as they rub against each other) in the wind As»pen /'aespan/ a town in the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Colorado, known as a place where rich

people go for the winter sport of skiing as«per«i'ty /ae'sperati/ noun [u] very formal an unkind way of speaking or behaving that shows you are not patient

as-per-sions /a'sp3r3nz/ noun cast aspersions (on) to say or write things about someone that attack their character, work, my opponent.

asphalt

etc.:

I have no wish to cast aspersions on

noun [u] a black sticky substance that is used for making roads as*phalt verb [T] as*phyx>i*a /aes'fiksia/ noun [u] a situation in which you cannot breathe because the airway to your lungs is blocked /'aes.folt/

—

as*phyx*i*ate /aes'fiksi.eit/ verb [i/t] to kill someone by preventing them from breathing, or to die when someone prevents you from breathing: suffocate

— as«phyx'i«a'tion/£es,fiksi'eiJn/noun[U]

as-pic /'sespik/ noun [u] a clear slightly brown jelly that you put fish or meat into and allow to become cold before eating

as-pi-dis-tra

/.aespi'distra/ noun [c] a plant that has large leaves and is grown as a houseplant (=plant grown in a container inside)

aspirant

/'aesparant; a'spairant/ noun [c] very formal to achieve something such as an

someone who wants important position

as'pi»rate

1

/'aespi.reit/ verb [t] 1 linguistics to breathe out air while pronouncing a sound, for example the "h" in "hat" 2 medical to remove liquid from inside

someone's body 2 aS'pi-rate /'asspirat/ noun [c] linguistics a sound produced while breathing out air, for example the sound of the "h" in "hat" as-pi-ra«tion /,aespi'reifn/ noun * 1 [C usually plural] something that you want to achieve, or the wish to achieve something: ambition: He has no aspiration to do sth When I was 12 political aspirations. 1 had aspirations to play professional basketball. 2 [U] linguistics the sound produced when you pronounce something by breathing air out through your

mouth /a'spair/ verb [I] * [+to] to want to achieve something or to be successful, especially in your career: She aspires to nothing less than the chairmanship of the

aspire

aspire to be/do sth a number of film students aspire to be documentary makers

company.

who

aspirin

/'aesprm/ noun [C/U] • a drug, usually in the pill, that you take to cure minor pains such

form of a

as headaches

aspiring

assessor

aspiring

/a'spairaj/ adj hoping and trying to be successful at something, especially in your career: an aspiring actor

ass Aes/ noun 1

sit

4

on

for

emphasizing orders

5 sexual + PHRASES

activity

but with long ears: donkey 4 [C] impolite used in some expressions for emphasizing that you want someone to hurry, leave, or go to a particular place: Tell him to get his ass over here. move your ass (=hurry) Move your ass or we '11 be late. 5 U Am E impolite sexual activity 5a. a piece of ass someone who you are only interested in because they are sexually attractive [

]

cover your ass impolite to do or say something that prevents other people blaming or criticizing you my ass impolite used for showing that you do not believe something that has just been said: "He seemed genuine enough. " "Genuine, my ass!" not know your ass from your elbow Am E impolite to be very stupid -> bust2 kick kiss', pain 1

,

1

,

make someone feel worried or upset: He was assailed by doubts. 2 formal to physically attack or severely criticize someone 3 mainly literary /a'seil/ verb [t] 1

a noise, smell, or sight assails you, you notice it immediately because it is very unpleasant or offensive if

as»sail*ant /a'seibnt/ noun [c] formal someone who violently attacks another person aS'Sas*sin /a'saesm/ noun [c] someone who kills a famous or important person, especially for political reasons, or

someone who

is

paid to

a particular

kill

/a'saesi.neit/ verb [T] to kill a

famous or

important person, especially for political reasons or for

payment

assassination

noun [c/u]

*

the murder of a famous or important person, especially for political reasons: an assassination attempt +of the assassination of John Lennon -» character assassination

assault

1

/a'solt/

/a.ssesi'neijn/

noun

•*

on someone, or the crime of physically attacking someone: an assault on a young student He was charged with assault. guilty of sexual [C/U] a physical attack

assault

difficult

assault 2

/a'solt/ verb [T]

to attack

someone

•

violently:

An

elderly

woman was

robbed and sexually assaulted. 2 mainly literary if a noise, smell, or sight assaults you, you notice it immediately because it is very unpleasant or offensive

as sault and 'battery noun

[u] legal the crime of threatening someone and then physically attacking

them as-say

in-

putting all its parts together. The shelves are sold in kits that you have to assemble yourself.

*•*

/o'sembli/ noun

1 [C] a part of a government consisting of people who have been elected to make laws: the French National

The ruling party holds only a three-rote majority in the assembly. 1a. a group of people who have been elected in order to discuss issues and make decisions affecting a particular region: the United Nations General Assembly the assembly of the Organization of American States 1b. [only before noun] belonging to or relating to

an assembly: an assembly member

the assembly election

race

a meeting of people who represent different parts of a large organization: The trade group held its assembly in Santiago, Chile. 2a. a group of people who meet together for a particular reason: a public assembly 2b. [C/u] a regular meeting of students and teachers in a school: AW important announcements are made during morning assembly. 2c. [u] legal the action of gathering together for a meeting: freedom of assembly 3 [U] the process of building something by putting all its parts together: car assembly an assembly plant 3a. [C] a group of parts that are connected and form one unit

2

[C]

assembly

line noun [c] a system for making products in a factory in which each worker or machine is responsible for adding or checking a particular part: production line a. a moving belt in a factory that moves the product being made from one stage to the next

as-senvbly-man /a'sembliman/ /s'sembliman/) noun

(plural as«sem«blymen a male politician who has been of a U.S. state assembly

[c]

elected as a member as»sem*bly»wonvan /a'sembli woman/ (plural as«sem-

who has been

wimm/) noun

elected as a

a female politician of a U.S. state

[c]

member

ASSEMBLY

assent

1

/a'sent/ noun [u] formal agreement with or approval of a plan or suggestion as-sent 2 /a'sent/ verb [i] formal to agree with or officially give permission for something

••

assert

/a's3rt/ verb [t] 1 to state firmly that something is true: He asserted his innocence. +(that) The governor asserted that no more money would be available. 1a. to behave or do something in a confident way: She always manages to assert her point of view. assert yourself = to state your opinion firmly and confidently) Don 't be so shy - you need to learn to assert yourself. 2 to claim that you have the right to do something or behave in a particular way: This system discourages people from asserting their rights in court. He quickly asserted his authority as a leader. fact, idea, or 3 if a tendency asserts itself, it begins to influence someone or something: After a while her old bad habits began to assert themselves. (

2 [C] an attack by the military: a NATO air assault + on the assault on Pohang-dong 2a. [only before noun] used in a military assault: an assault rifle /vehicle /weapon 3 [C] a strong criticism: The article was a vicious assault on Bell's integrity. 4 [C] formal a serious attempt to achieve something

1

something, for example furniture,

blyworreen/a'sembli

person

as-sas-si-nate

1

to build

Assembly

the part of your body that you sit on. Br E usually arse 2 [c] a stupid or annoying person: The man's an ass. 3 [c] an animal similar to a small horse [C] impolite

as»sail

[T]

as-senvbly

part of body you

2 stupid/annoying person 3 animal like a horse 1

2

/a's3r|n/ noun [C] * a definite statement or claim that something is true as-ser-tive /s's3rtiv/ adj behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings: You need to be more assertive to succeed in business. as-sei"tive*ly adv, as-ser-tive-ness noun [U]

as-sertion

—

as-sess

noun [c] science a chemical test to what a substance contains as«say verb [T] ,ass backwards adv impolite in an extremely confusing way, especially in a way completely opposite to the correct way: Look, you put this together ass back/'ae.sei; a'sei/

—

establish

AmE

a group of things or people gathered together 2 [u] the process of building something by putting all its parts together 2a. [C] a work of art made up of different objects put together 1

[C]

assemble /a'sembl/ verb •* 1 [T] to bring a group of things or people together in one place for a particular purpose: How long would it take to assemble a team for a project like this? 1a. [i] to come together and form a group: The children assembled

outside the building.

[t]

••

2 to calculate what something costs or is worth: Our agent will assess the value ofyour property.

assessment /o'scsmnnt/

wards.

as«senri'blage/3'semblid3/ noun /orma/

/a'ses/ verb

to carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order to make a judgment: We tried to assess his suitability for the job. 1

noun

••

process of making a judgment or forming an opinion, after considering something or someone carefully: The investigation was reopened after careful assessment of new evidence, la. [C] a judgment or opinion that is the result of this process. 2 [C/u] calculation of the cost or value of something, or the amount of the cost or value: the assessment of 1

[U] the

property taxes

as-ses-sor

/.Vsesor/ noun [C] someone whose job is to calculate the cost or value of something, for example so that tax can be paid on it

asset /'icset/

totaling $5.1 million. a major benefit: Youth is a tremendous asset in this job. +to He is a definite asset to the team.

2

asset-strip-ping /'aeset .stnpin/ noun [u] a way of making a profit in business by selling the valuable parts of a company, usually a company bought for a low price because

it is

asS'hole

unsuccessful

Am E offensive a

thorough -as'si-du'i'ty/.aJSl'djuati/ noun ous-ly adv assign /a'sam/ verb [t] •* 4

give sb job

2 send sbto place/group 3 give money/equipment

stupid or

to give

give sth

[U],

as-sid-u-

name/use

etc.

5 decide time for sth give sb ownership

someone a job

Two

senior officers were

2 [usually passive] to send someone to a particular place, especially in order for them to work there: He was assigned to the company's branch in Cairo. 2a. to put someone in a particular group: Tina has been assigned to the intermediate learners group. 3 to give someone money or equipment so that they can use it for a particular purpose: / was assigned a car for my personal use. 4 to decide that something has a particular name, use, or value: The operation was assigned the code name "Rita. 5 to decide that something should take a particular amount of time: / have assigned four hours for recording '

the data. 6 legal to give the ownership of or rights to property to

someone as-sig-na-tion /.aesig'neijn/ noun [c] formal a secret meeting with someone, especially someone you are having a sexual or romantic relationship with aS'Sign-ment/a'sainmant/ noun [c/u] *• 1 work that you must do as part of a course of study or as part of your job: Please hand in your completed assignment as a reporter was to cover the local election. on assignment (=doing a particular job for a period of time) Joe's still away on assignment for a Swiss newspaper. 2 the process of giving someone or something a particular job, title, or status: + of The judge had to agree on the assignment of points for each part of the competition. 3 legal the act of giving the ownership of or rights to property to someone assignments by October

as-sim-i-late

30.

His

/a'simi.leit/ verb 1

first

[T]

to help

someone

they are part of a community or culture rather than feeling foreign 1a. to begin to consider yourself part of a community or culture rather than being foreign 2 [T] to take in an idea or information and make it part of your knowledge so that you can use it effectively: Picasso assimilated an amazing variety of techniques in his art. 3 [T] to take in and use food or

feel that

[

I

]

other NUTRIENTS

as-sim-i-la-tion /a.simiieijn/ noun

the process of making new ideas or pieces of information part of your knowledge so that you can use them effectively: the rapid assimilation offacts 2 the process of becoming part of a community or culture: the successful assimilation of many different peoples 1

as-sist /a'sist/verb 1

[i/T]

to help

[u] 1

*•*

someone or something: These measures

They were designed to assist people with disabilities. The new eventually agreed to assist the investigation. + in /with technique will assist rapid identification. Several top landscape designers assisted in the creation of the garden. 1a. to help someone more skilled to do their job, for example by doing the easier parts of the work: Her job is to assist the head chef. 2 [T] to make a job or piece of work easier to do: information that will assist the police with their search assist sb to do sth The program assists young people to find work.

as-sist 2

/s'sist/

noun

[C]

same team

to score a

*••

assistance

/a'sistans/ noun [u] help given to someone or help that allows something to be done: He's been running the financial I military assistance company with the assistance of his son. be of assistance (=help someone) Can I be of any assistance? come to sb's assistance

(=do something to help someone) / waited

patiently hoping that someone

would come

to

my assistance.

/a'sistant/ noun [c] BrE •• someone whose job is to help another person in their work, for example by doing the easier parts of it: a personal 1

assistant

as-sis-tant

2

•• used as

/a'sistsnt/ adj [only before noun] someone whose job is to help

someone

an

assistant

part of a

title for

who

in charge of doing something:

is

manager

6

to do: assigned to the investigation. 1

that helps another player in the point or goal

as-sis-tant

/'aes.hool/ noun [c]

annoying person. Br E arsehole as-sid-u-ous /a'siu^uas/ adj formal hard-working and

1

association

70

noun [c] •* 1 [usually plural] something such as money or property that a person or company owns: The business has assets

as-set

something done by a player

assistant professor noun [C] • a teacher at a U.S. college or university who is above the level of instructor and below the

level of associate professor

assisted living

/s.sistad 'livirj/ noun [u] living conditions in houses or apartments that are designed for people, such as old or sick people, who need help in

doing ordinary things su-i-cide /a.sistad 'sui.said/ noun [c/U] the act of helping someone to die when that person is already dying and in pain and has asked for your help:

assisted euthanasia

Assn. abbrev Association Assoc, abbrev Association as-so-ci-ate /s'souji.eit/ verb [T] ••• to form a connection in your mind between different people or 1

things: How do humans associate these seemingly opposed ideas? associate sth with sb/sth The study found that many people associate science with masculinity, a. be associated with to be connected with something in some way: His social problems were associated with heavy drinking. occupations closely associated with farming

as sociate with phrasal vb [T] [associate with sb] to spend time with someone: While she was in Paris, she associated with many well-known artists. associate yourself with to say publicly that you support someone or agree with something 2

aS'SO'Ci«ate /3'souJi3t/ noun [c] • 1 someone you work with, especially

in business: a business associate a member of an organization who has only some of the rights or benefits that ordinary members have 3 an associate degree

2

3 as-so-ci-ate /a'soujiat/ adj [only before noun] someone who is in an associate position has a job at a level below the highest level: an associate director /producer /editor as sociate de'gree noun [c] the qualification you get when you have completed a two-year course of study at a community college in the U.S.. An associate degree is usually given by a community college and is the lowest undergraduate degree.

as sociate pro'fessor noun works

[c]

*

a teacher

who

at a college or university in the U.S. Associate

professor is the position above assistant professor and below the highest teaching level of professor aS'SO'Ci»a-tion/3,souJi'eiJn; a.saoji'eijn/ noun 1 [C] a group of people who have joined together because they have similar interests or goals: a prothe Parent Teacher fessional association of engineers

***

Association

2 [C] a connection between two things: + between Some studies show a strong association between pesticide use and +with Smoking has a close association certain diseases. with lung cancer. 2a. a memory or feeling that is connected with a particular place, event, etc.: The town has many happy childhood associations for me.

3

[C/U] a connection with a person, group, or organization: The police knew all about his associations with

organized crime. in association with 1 with the help of a person or organization: The exhibition was organized by the school in association with local artists. 2 if one thing happens or exists in association with another, they happen or exist together: These ancient tools are often found in association with broken animal bones.

assonance the repeating of sounds in words that are close together, especially for literary effect, for example "read" and "ride" or

"wish

list"

—compare rhyme

[u] linguistics

1

as-sort-ed

/a'sortod/ adj including various types: assorted fruits and vegetables tools in assorted sizes

as-sort-ment

/a'sartmant/ noun [c] a group or set of things of various types: an assortment of chocolates

as-suage /3'sweid3/ verb

[J] formal to make an unpleasant or painful feeling less severe as'sume /s'sum/ verb [t] 1 to believe that something is true, even though no one has told you or even though you have no proof: Everyone accepted she was telling the truth, although in fact this was quite a lot to assume. + (that) I'm assuming everyone here has an e-mail address. / think we can safely assume that he is out of town. assume sb/sth to be /do sth / have always assumed her to be British, la. to be based on the idea that something is true: This forecast assumes there will be no recession. This score is assumed to represent the achievement of an average 7-year-old. 2 formal to officially start a new job or position: He formally assumes the presidency next week. She has been invited to assume the role of mentor. 3 to start to control something although no one has officially asked you to: His first priority was assuming control of the army. 4 formal to begin to have a particular quality, shape, expression, etc.: The animals assumed their normal resting position. Time with the family has started to assume greater importance. 4a. to pretend to have a particular feeling or attitude, especially when this does not show how you are really thinking or feeling: Fay assumed an air of innocence.

•**

Words frequently used with assume authority,

command,

control,

3

leadership, power, responsibility

/a.sumd 'neim/ noun [c] a name someone uses so that no one will know their real name:

ALIAS

as-sum-ing /a'sumirj / conjunction * if: sometimes used for emphasizing that something may not be true: + (that) calculations are correct,

we should

travel

northeast.

assumption /a'sAmpJan/

noun •* 1 [C] something you consider likely to be true even though no one has told you directly or even though you have no proof: Your argument is based on a completely +that There is an assumption that false assumption. make an all the people who live around here are rich. assumption (=make a decision based on poor evidence) People tend to make assumptions about you based on your appearance. on the assumption that The law works on the assumption that it is preferable for children to be with their mother. [U] a process in which you begin to use your power or status, or begin to be responsible for something: the assumption of adult responsibilities

2

as'sur-ance/sjurans/ noun

•

a statement that something will happen or is true, in order to remove any doubt about it: Make sure you get some kind of written assurance. 2 [U] a feeling or attitude of being certain that something is true: He said it with complete assurance. 3 [U] a feeling or attitude of confidence: She seems to 1

[C]

made

lack assurance. 4 [u] BrE business life insurance

as-sure

/a'Jur/ verb

[T]

•

1 formal to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, especially in order to remove doubt about it: There's not much more I can say

assure you. assure sb of sth She assured me of her assure sb (that) The president assured me that he would sign the bill as amended. 2 to do everything that you can in order to make certain that something happens: guarantee: We all worked hard to assure the mayor's re-election. 2a. be assured to be certain to happen: Her success is now to

support.

virtually assured.

/o'Jord/ ad) confident and certain: an assured reply I found her to be relaxed and assured rest assured (=feel certain about something) You can rest assured that the salesman won't bother you again. -» shi-assi red

assur-edly

/ojorodli/ adv formal certainly

AST abbrev Atlantic Standard Time: the time used from October to April in the area that includes Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Canada's Atlantic provinces /a'ster ,1'rcd/ a U.S. movie actor known especially for his dancing. He appeared in many musical movies in the 1930s and 1940s with the actress Ginger Rogers.

as-ter / 'aester/ noun

[c]

a plant with small white, purple,

or pink flowers

asterisk

1

/ aestsnsk/ noun [c] the symbol *. In a piece of writing, an asterisk is used after a word or phrase to show that more information is given in a footnote.

as'ter-isk 2 / iestonsk/ verb [t) to mark something with an asterisk as-ter-oid /'assta.raid/ noun [c] a mass of rock like a very small planet that goes around the Sun, especially between Mars and Jupiter asth-ma /'aezma/ noun [u] * a medical condition that

makes it difficult to breathe asth-mat-ic /iuz'rmctik/adj 1

tO

suffering from or relating

ASTHMA 2

[c] someone who suffers from ASTHMA As-ti /'aesti/ noun [C/u] a type of sweet sparkling white wine from Italy

asth«mat«ic /a;z'mxtik/noun

a-stig-ma-tism /a'stigma.tizam/ noun

[u] medical a condition in which someone's eyes cannot focus coras-tig-mat-ic rectly without the help of glasses

—

/.aestig'maetik/ adj

a-ston-ish /a'staniJV verb [T] * to surprise someone very much: Beth astonished her by refusing to help. + that It always astonished him that his children did not feel closer to their grandfather.

assumed name

Assuming your

as-sured

A-staire, Fred

asst. abbrev assistant

nouns

astringent

71

as-so-nance /'iesanons/ noun

*

a-ston-ished

/a'staniTt/ adj very surprised about something that you did not expect: Mike gave a sudden snort of astonished laughter. + at Elizabeth was astonished at her sister's courage. +that Claire seemed astonished that I should think such a thing. +to / was astonished to see so many people there.

a-ston-ish-ing /a'stanifin/ adj * very surprising: He It's astonwas eating his food with astonishing speed. ishing how much the place has changed. — a-stonish-ing-ly adv

a-stori'ish-ment/a'stanijmant/ noun

* very great

[u]

A

Some look of astonishment crossed his face. executives expressed astonishment that they could no longer travel first class. in astonishment 'Are you really leavto your/his/her etc. ing?" asked Felix in astonishment. surprise:

astonishment To

my astonishment it was dark when I woke

up.

As-ton Mar-tin

/.aestan 'martn/ trademark an expenmade in the U.K. /a'staond/ verb [T] * to surprise or shock someone very much a-stound-ed /a'staondad/ adj extremely surprised or

sive high-quality car

a-stound

shocked

a-stound-ing /a'staondirj/adj extremely shocking

— a-stound-ing-ly adv

as-tra-khan

/'aestra.kaen/

noun

(u)

surprising or

black or gray fur

with tight curls that comes from lambs, or cloth like this, used to make coats or hats

an

artificial

astral

/'astral/ adj 1 technical relating to or using the stars: astral navigation 2 relating to a world of spiritual, not physical, ideas and experiences

a-stray to the

/a'strei/

adv go astray 1 to become lost or go to go wrong or do something

wrong place 2

wrong lead sb astray 1 to

make someone

make someone behave badly 2

believe something that

is

to

not true

a-stride /a'straid/ preposition 1 with one leg on each side of something 2 on each side of something 1 /a'strmdpnt/ adj 1 an astringent as-trin-gent remark is one that criticizes someone severely 2 medical an astringent substance or liquid makes your

astringent

at

skin drier or helps to stop a cut from bleeding 3 an astringent taste is one that is strong and bitter as*triivgen*cy noun [U]

—

astrin-gent 2 /o'strmdpnt/ noun [C] used for making your skin more dry

a liquid or cream or stopping a cut

from bleeding

astro- /a;stroo/ prefix the planets and stars or space: used with some nouns, adjectives, and adverbs: astronomer astronaut as*trol*o*ger /a'straladsar/ noun [C] someone who studies astrology to

tell

people about their lives

astro-log-i-cal

/a-stro'lud.^ikl/ adj relating to the the stars and planets move and how they might influence people's characters and lives as-tro-loyi-cal'ly /,aestr3'lad3lkli/ adv

study of

how

as-trol-o-gy /a'strabd3i/ noun [u] the study of the movement of the stars and planets and how some people think they influence people's characters and lives as-tro«naut /'aestrsnot/ noun [C] * someone who travels and works in space as-trorvo-mer /a'stranamar/ noun [c] someone who studies the stars and planets using scientific equipment including telescopes

astro-nom-i-cal

/.asstra'namikl/ adj

1

informal an

astronomical amount, price, or charge is one that is extremely high and much higher than you would expect 2 relating to the scientific study of the stars and planets as-tro-nom-i-cal-ly /.gestra'namikli/ adv informal by a very large amount as'troivo-my /a'stranami/ noun [u] * the scientific study of the stars, planets, and other objects in the universe

as-tro-phys-i-cal research or study

adj astrophysical the study of astrophysics

/.asstrou'fizikl/

is

aS'tro-phyS'i'Cist

/.aestroo'fizisist/

noun

[c]

someone

who studies astrophysics astro-phys-ics / .aestrou'fiziks/ noun

[u] the scientific study of the physical and chemical structure of the stars, planets, and other objects in the universe

As«troTurf

/ 'yestroo,t3rf/ trademark a type of artificial surface that looks like grass and is used to cover fields where games such as baseball and football are played

student noun

'A,

a student

[C]

who

is

very intelligent

and does well in class activities and tests as-tute /a'stut/ adj good at judging situations and people quickly and able to use this knowledge for personal benefit

— as-tute-ly adv, as*tute*ness noun [u]

a-sun-der /s'sAndar/ adv

literary

apart

asylum /a'saibm/ noun *• the right to stay in a country, given by a government to protect someone who has escaped from war or political trouble in their own country: seek asylum More than half a million people sought asylum in Europe last year. political asylum The number of refugees seeking political asylum has risen recently. grant sb asylum Of the 1,000 refugees who initially came here, only 50 were granted asylum. 2 [C] old-fashioned a mental hospital (=a hospital for people with mental illnesses) 1

[u]

asylum seeker

noun [c] someone who has to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arrives in another country and asks to be allowed to live there

asym-met-ri-cal /eisi'metnkl/ or a-sym-met-ric eisi'metnk/ adj something that is asymmetrical does not have the same shape and size on both sides a«synrmetTi«cal-ly; eisi metrikli/adv, a'synrmetTy

/

—

/ae'simstri; ei'simatri/

noun

works) Dad should be at work by now. at the doctor's/ dentist's/ hairdresser's etc. Andy's at the doctor's - he'll be back soon. 1b. used for saying where you stop on a trip: Does this train stop at Newport? The ship docked at Bombay and Singapore. 1c. sitting or standing close to something, especially in order to do something: Lambert was seated at the piano. She was standing at the window, staring out across the yard. 1d. in a particular part of a process, activity, program, or book: At some point in the process things started to go wrong. 2 used for stating what sb is doing 2a. used for saying that someone is doing something or taking part in an activity somewhere: at a party/concert/meeting etc. We were at a party last night when you called. at school /college etc. (^studying at an educational institution) Has Karen graduated, or is she still at college? 2b. at lunch/dinner/breakfast etc used for saying that someone is having a meal: I'm sorry, the person you want is at lunch. What were we talking about at breakfast? 2c. used for stating what state or situation someone or something is in: at rest /war /peace etc. The country was at war and life was difficult for everyone. The tail markings are less visible when the bird is at rest. 3 used for stating when sth happens 3a. used for stating the exact time when something happens: The game starts at3o 'clock. There 's a flight at 11:40. 3b. used for saying when a particular situation exists: at present/ at the moment (=now) Everyone's busy with exams at present. / can't give you any more information at the moment. at the time (=when something happened in the past) Monica was born in 1972. We were living in Atlanta at the time. at the beginning/start/end of sth It's a style that was popular at the beginning of the 20th century. 3c. during a particular period: My wife's parents came to stay with us at Christmas. at night (=during any night) At night temperatures sometimes fall to 30 degrees below zero. 3d. when someone is a particular age: Mozart was already composing music at the age offive. 4 used for stating what sb reacts to used for stating what makes someone react in a particular way: Audiences still laugh at his jokes. She was annoyed at being disturbed in the middle of the night. 5 used for showing prices, temperatures, speeds, etc. used for showing the level of prices, temperatures, His speeds, etc.: Tickets are now on sale at $15 apiece. Ferrari crashed at 120 miles an hour. * The plastic pipes will melt at high temperatures. 6 looking, aiming, etc. in a particular direction used for stating the direction in which you look, point, or aim something: Armed gangs were shooting at police cars. Why are you staring at me like that? 7 trying to hold or hit sb or sth used for stating what someone is trying to catch, hold, or hit: He grabbed at my sleeve, but I pulled away. She struggled, hitting out at her attackers. 8 continuing to do sth used for showing that you repeat an action many times with small movements but without doing it completely: / muttered to myself, sipping at my coffee. Stop picking at the scab, or it won't heal. 9 used for stating what sb can do well used for stating the activity or subject that someone is skillful or not skillful in: Brownstein is an expert at cooking as well as gardening. good/ bad at sth I've never been very good at

sports.

AmE

used for 10 used for giving phone numbers stating the phone number where someone can be Br E on: You can reach us at 555-3964.

reached.

when you are saying or asking whether something is even slightly true, especially after words such as "any," "anything," "anyone," or "nothYou don't have ing": Has the situation improved at all? any money at all? He doesn know anything at all about at all used for emphasis

't

[u]

a-symp-to-mat-ic /.eisimpta'mxtik/

medical if a asymptomatic, they show no physadj

disease or person is ical signs of a medical problem

at / weak at; strong aet/ preposition •*• 1 used for stating where sb or sth is 1a. in a parI'll ticular place: There's a pay phone at the gas station. meet you at the main entrance. She's staying at the Clarence Hotel. We live at 23 Brookfield Avenue. at sb's (=at their house) I'm babysitting at Sally's tomorrow night. at home He wants to spend more time at home with his family. at work (=in the place where someone

computers. at sb's best/worst/strongest etc. used for saying that someone or something shows their best/worst etc. qualities in a particular event or situation: This is an example of old-fashioned prejudice at its worst. At his most forceful, Cox can be a very persuasive speaker. at sb's request/suggestion/invitation etc. because

someone has asked you

to

do something/suggested

something etc.: A meeting was arranged at the ambassador's request. At my suggestion, Mrs. Carey wrote to her former employer. be at it spoken if someone is at it, they are doing

AT

attach

73

something that you do not approve

of:

He's at

it

again,

trying to cheat the customers.

while you're at it spoken used for telling someone to do something while they are doing something else: "I'm just going to clean my boots. " "Well, you can clean mine too while you're at

AT abbrev

it.

Atlantic Time: ast

AT&T/ei

ti

an

'ti/

Company: a large

atavistic

bomb

/.aeta'vistik/ adj

formal relating back

had

apart)

a-tonvic /a'tumik/

AmE

the past tense of eat

atelier

/.astljei/

noun

[c]

formal a room where a

painter or other artist works: studio

ATF /

,ei ti 'ef/ (Bureau of) Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms: an organization in the U.S. that works to reduce violent crime, collect taxes, and protect the public a-the-ism / 'eiBi.rzam/ noun [u] the belief or theory that God does not exist a«the-ist /'eiGiist/ noun [c] someone who believes that God does not exist —compare agnostic a*the*is»tic 1

—

/.eiGiistik/ adj

ath-lete /'xG.lit/ noun [C] * someone who is good at sports, and takes part in sports competitions: Green was one of Canada's top professional track and field athletes. athlete's 'foot noun [u] an infection in which the skin between the toes becomes sore, cracked, and itchy

athletic 1

2

/yeB'letik/ adj

•

physically strong, active, and good at sports relating to athletes or athletics

ath-let-i-cism AeB'letisizam/ noun [u] physical strength and the ability to do sports and physical exercises well

athletics

/eeG'letiks/ noun [u] other physical activities 2 Br E

1

AmE

sports

and

track and field

ath letic supporter noun [c] a special type of underwear used by men or boys when they are playing sports -athon /aBan/ suffix used with some nouns and verbs to make nouns meaning an event or activity that lasts for a long time. These events are often organized in order to make money to help people: walkathon

At-lan-tic

Rim

/at.lxntik

'rim/ the countries that its northern part

border the Atlantic Ocean, especially

— compare pacific rim

noun [c] a book of maps machine noun [c] auto'em/ or mated teller machine: a machine outside a bank or in a public place that you use to take money out of your

at»las

ATM

/'setlas/

/,ei

ATM

ti

bank account.

BrE

at-mos-phere

usually cashpoint

/'aetma.sfir/ noun

**

the air around the Earth or around another planet: Saturn's moon, Titan, has an atmosphere mainly made of nitrogen. the atmosphere (=the Earth's atmosphere) The burning of fossil fuels results in the pollution of the atmosphere. 1a. the air inside a room or other place: She doesn't like going to bars because of the smoky atmosphere. 2 [singular] the mood or feeling that exists in a place and affects the people who are there: After Joe left there was a more relaxed atmosphere at home. + of There is an atmosphere of tension in the city today. 1

[C]

atmospheric /.ietma'sfenk/ ad] • 1 [only before noun] relating to or existing in the atmosphere around the Earth or around another planet

creating a special mood or feeling: a great piece of atmospheric movie-making. atmos-pherics /.astma'sfenks/ noun [plural] the special way a piece of music is written to give you a particular feeling or mood: a smoky jazz sound and spooky atmospherics a«toll /'ae.tol/ noun [c] an island in the form of a ring, made of coral (=the pink or white outer structure of very small sea animals) a. Atoll used in the names of places:

2

[usually before noun]

It's

Bikini Atoll

atom /'aetam/ noun 1

[c]

**

the smallest unit of a chemical element, that can

adj science

•

1 relating to or using the energy that is produced by splitting atoms (=breaking them apart): atomic power

to

in the distant past

,at 'bat noun [c] an occasion in baseball when a player tries to hit the ball, used for calculating that player's batting average

ate

bomb


ment noun [U] a-top /a'tap/ preposition literary at the top of something to Z /,ei ta 'zi/ noun [singular] all the facts or information about something: a book entitled The A to Z of Sewing at-risk adj [only before noun] in a situation where bad things can easily happen to you: used especially by social workers to describe children who are being treated badly by adults at home: a program to identify

A

at-risk children

atrium

/'eitriam/ noun [c] 1 a large open hall that goes up through all the levels of a building to the roof, which is usually made of glass 2 medical each of the two upper spaces in the heart, which force blood into the ventricles (=lower spaces) a«tro«cious/a'troujas/adj 1 very evil or cruel 2 very a-tro'cious-ly adv unpleasant 3 very bad in quality

a«troc«i«ty /a'trasati/ noun [c/u] a cruel and violent act, often in a war: The recent atrocities have been con-

demned by

religious leaders all over the world.

at-ro-phy 1 Aetrafi/ noun dition in

[u]

medical a medical con-

which a part of your body becomes weaker or

smaller because you are not using is not reaching it

at«ro«phy

it

or because blood

2

/'stroll/ verb [i/T] 1 formal if an organization or practice atrophies or is atrophied, it becomes weaker and less effective 2 medical if a part of your body atrophies or is atrophied, it becomes weaker or smaller because you are not using it or because blood is

not reaching

ATSIC

it

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission: an Australian government organization /'aetsik/

that represents the interests of aborigines

at-ta-boy /'aeto.boi/ interjection used you want to encourage a boy or man This can be considered offensive man or boy.

attach

/a'taetJV verb

if

for

showing that

to do something. used towards a black

••

1 [T] [+to] to fasten or join one thing to another: Attach There was a message the rope to the branch of a tree. attached to thejlowers. la. to send something with something else, for example an extra document or a photograph with a letter, or a file with an e-mail: / attach a

copy of his reply. 1b. to connect one machine or piece of equipment to another: He attached a color printer to his computer. 2 [i] to have a connection with or be part of something: The field was used by horses from the riding school that is attached to the farm. 3 [I] if a quality attaches to someone or something, they have that quality: There's inevitably an element of There will be risk attached to sports such as skiing. considerable prestige attached to his new position. 4 [t usually passive] to be sent to work with a different group of people or in a different place, especially tern

attache porarily: She I

now

attached to the American Embassy in

Beijing.

attach a condition (to sth) to allow something only if someone agrees to a condition: The license renewal had two special conditions attached. attach a label to sb to think of someone as having a particular character or nature: She is a writer to whom the label "feminist" is often attached.

attach importance/significance/value/weight to sth to think that something is important or true and that it should be considered seriously .Both her parents attach great importance to education. attach yourself to to spend time with someone or become part of a group: They soon attached themselves to a group of women discussing the next day's activities. at«ta»che /.icta'Jci; a'taejei/ noun [c] an official who is in charge of a particular subject or activity at an embassy (=an office for representatives of one country in another country) attache case noun [c] a small flat case used for carrying documents /a'tstjt/ adj 1 joined or fixed to something: To take advantage of this offer please complete the attached forms. 2 liking someone very much or loving them: +to She found herself growing deeply attached to the old lady. 2a. liking or supporting an idea, place, organization, or thing: He's sentimentally attached to the house.

•*

at-tach-ment

/a'taetjrnant/ noun [C/u] a feeling of loving or liking a person very

much: She formed no close attachments during her time in Boston. +to He felt a particular attachment to his father's family.

1a. a feeling of liking or supporting a place,

idea, or organization: to Regional firms need to lose their attachment to their regions to succeed. 2 [C] something you send with a letter, contract, or other document to give extra information 2a. a computer file that you send with an e-mail 3 [C] a special tool that you can fix to a machine or piece of equipment to make it do a particular job: The food processor has an attachment for slicing vegetables. 4 [U] the process of fixing one thing to another: The filter has suction cups for attachment to the side of the tank.

on attachment Br E working with another organization or company for a time at-tack /a'taek/ noun *** 1

a violent attempt to harm a person, animal, or place: a vicious attack + on measures to reduce the number of sexual attacks on young women 1a. [C/u] an organized attempt to defeat an enemy, using weapons: a nuclear attack + on Government forces renewed their attacks on a key communications tower. launch /mount an attack We mounted a surprise attack against their ammunition depot. be/come under attack The city was under attack through1

[C]

out the night. 2 [C/U] strong criticism: + on The book is widely seen as launch /mount an an attack on the education system. attack He was outraged by the personal attacks launched against him. be/come under attack Both candidates have come under attack for their health-care proposals. 3 [C] the beginning or return of an illness, or the period during which you have it: a severe asthma attack +of an attack offlu 3a. the beginning of a strong feeling or need, or the period during which you have it: a hunger attack an anxiety attack + of an attack of spring fever -» HEART ATTACK 4 [C] an attempt to score points against an opponent in a game or sport: Their attack in the final minutes

wasn

't

enough

Words

attack 2 1

to

win the game.

frequently used with attack

adjectives

attacked. attack sb with sth Two prison officers were brutally attacked with a knife. 1a. to use weapons to try to defeat an enemy: The enemy attacked at dawn. U.S. jets attacked five air-defense sites in the north. 2 [T] to strongly criticize someone or something for their ideas or actions: Opponents attacked the government's plan to increase highway taxes. * attack sb/sth for sth Congress is being attacked for failing to take action. attack sth as sth The mayor last night attacked the decision as foolish. 3 [I/T] to cause damage or disease in something: The virus attacks the body's red blood cells. The wood had

been attacked by a fungus. [T] to begin working on something or doing something with enthusiasm and determination: We need to

4

attack the problem now before it gets worse. She was just about to attack a plate of spaghetti when the phone rang. 5 [I/T] to try to score points against an opponent in a game or sport: They attacked with determination and well.

Words

•

attached

1

attend

74 is

bitter, concerted, fierce, harsh, scathing

/a'taek/ verb

2

2 strongly criticize 3 cause damage/disease

attack dog

1 [l/T] to use violence to harm a person, animal, or place: It was shortly before midnight when the terrorists

openly, sharply,

noun

[c]

AmE

a dog that

is

trained to

and attack people who try to come in at-tack-er /s'taekar/ noun [C] •* someone who physically attacks someone else at-tagirl / 'aet3,g3rl/ interjection a way to show that you want to encourage a girl or woman to do something. This can be considered offensive when used toward an protect property

adult

woman.

at-tain /a'tem/ verb [J] formal • 1 to succeed at achieving something, especially after much effort: achieve: Not all athletes attain this standard ofphysica I fitness. 2 to reach a particular age, amount, or level: On attaining the age of 20 she will inherit the remainder of the estate. The adult female attains a length offour inches.

attain-a-ble /s'temabl/

adj possible to achieve, reach, or get: performance standards attainable by every employee

at-tain-ment /a'temmant/ noun formal

1 [u] the process of achieving a goal or particular level of success: achievement: Salaries are based on the attainment of pro-

duction targets. 2 [C] something that you have succeeded in doing or having: achievement: educational/ academic attainments

at-tempt

*••

1

an effort to do /a'tempt/ noun [C] something: one last desperate attempt The government has made no attempt to avert the crisis. + on an attempt on the world record + at It's his fourth attempt at flying a an attempt to do sth balloon around the world alone. Their spokesperson has rejected all our attempts to talk to him. a. an illegal act that is unsuccessful: a burglary/ robbery /escape /kidnap attempt b. an attack on someone that is intended to kill them but fails: an assassination/ murder /suicide attempt an attempt on sb's life an unsuccessful attempt on the President's life to try to do someat-tempt 2 /a'tempt/ verb [T] thing: They are attempting a climb up the mountain's

•••

north face. Few people knew that she had once attempted suicide. attempt to do sth The book attempts to explain the origins of the war. at-tempt-ed /s'temptad/ adj • used about things that someone tries to do but does not succeed in doing, especially things that are wrong or illegal: attempted murder /rape /robbery /suicide Leaders of the attempted coup were rounded up and executed.

at-tend /s'tend/ verb

•**

1 [l/T] to be present at an event or activity: Everyone in I've voiced my opinion the office was expected to attend. at every meeting I've attended. 1a. to go regularly to a place, for example, to a school as a student or to a church as a member: Born in India, he attended high

and medical school in Madras. to take care of someone, especially someone who sick or someone in an important position: She is attended by a 24-hour nursing staff. 3 [T] very formal to exist along with something else or happen as a result of it: Secondary symptoms usually The occasion was attended by a mood attend the disease. of sadness.

2

4 begin with enthusiasm 5 try to score points

bitterly, fiercely,

strongly, vigorously

school

•*•

use violence to harm

frequently used with attack

adverbs

is

[T]

attendance attend to

[t]

[attend to sth) 1

to deal with

something: We still have a number of other matters to attend to. He likes work that requires him to attend to a lot of details. 2 very formal to pay attention to something

at-tervdance /a'tendans/ noun •• 1 [C/U] the number of people who

pay attention to or someone very because you '11 to the

listen to, watch, or consider something carefully: / hope you 're paying attention, be tested later. + to Pay particular attention

warnings printed on the

label.

attention .span noun

are present at an event or in a place such as a school or church: Games this season have attracted record attendances. Church attendance dropped sharply in the 1970s. 2 [U] the fact of being present at an event or of going regularly to school, church, etc.: It is a parent's responsibility to ensure children 's regular attendance at school. The lecture series was canceled because of poor attendance. If you look at our attendance record, you'll see that it is

(c) the length of time that you can pay attention to one thing without becoming bored or thinking about something else a short limited alien tion span attentive /o'tentiv/ adj 1 listening to or watching something carefully: Jurors were attentive, taking notes during her testimony. 2 behaving in a way that shows you care about someone and are willing to help them:

Service at this small hotel is friendly and attentive. +to happy children with parents who are attentive to their at'teirtive-ly adv, at-tervtive-ness noun [u] needs at-ten-u-ate /a'tenju.eit/ verb [i] formal to reduce the strength, amount, or size of something — at-ten-u-ation

—

exceptional.

in attendance/orma/ 1 present somewhere, often at an important or official event: The governor and his wife will be in attendance at tonight's gala concert. 2 staying or traveling with someone in order to serve or take care of them: +on The two ladies in attendance on the Queen were sitting in a corner talking quietly. -» DANCE

attract

75

phrasal vb

1

/3,tenju'eiJn/noun [u]

at»ten-u-at-ed /a'tenju.eitad/adj 1 technical long and thin: an attenuated beam of light 2 medical made weak or less harmful: a

live

attenuated vaccine

attendant

at'test/a'test/ verb 1 [\}[+\o] formal to give proof or be evidence that something is true 2 [T] legal to state formally that you believe something is true, correct, or real: a witness who will attest the signature +to She can

2 someone whose job is to take care of another person, especially a person who is in an important position or one who is sick: We'll have an attendant with him 24

at-tes-ta-tion /.aete'steifn/ noun [c/u] legal a formal statement in which someone swears that something is

1

at-teivdant /s'tendant/ noun [c] * 1 someone whose job is to help customers or people

who

a public place: a gas station / parking

visit

hours a day,

to

lot

keep an eye on him.

at-ten-dant 2 /s'tendant/

formal

existing along with something or happening as a result of it: Behavior problems and their frequently attendant learning difficulties cannot be resolved in the ordinary classroom. 2 staying or traveling with someone in order to serve them or take care of them: +on At least three staff were attendant on the CEO at any one time. adj

at'ten-tion /a'tenfan/ noun 1

1

*** 4 way of standing straight 5 show of love/interest

interest/thought

2 fact that you notice sth 3 special care/treatment

+ PHRASES

the interest or thought you give to something you are listening to or watching: The speaker was dull and their attention soon wandered. May I please have your attention? turn your attention to sth It's time now to turn our attention to the committee's recommendations. undivided /full attention Please give the demonstration your undivided attention. hold/keep your attention The conversation failed to hold my attention. 1a. interest, especially interest that the public has in a person, event, situation, etc.: Recent violence has focused attention on the issue of racism. He avoided publicity and disliked the attention his acting brought him. divert/distract attention from sth They engineered a news story to divert attention from the scandal. catch sb's attention What first caught my attention was his voice. 2 [U] the fact that you notice something, often something that causes problems: It had escaped my attention at the time. sth comes to sb's attention I followed up his 1

[U]

request the moment it came to my attention. draw (sb's) attention to sth J have been asked to draw your attention to the following matters. bring sth to sb's attention a campaign to bring human rights abuses to the government's attention 3 [U] special care, help, or treatment for someone or something: As the sixth of ten children, he never received

much

attention.

Your

letter will receive

immediate atten-

tion.

4

[u] if people in the military stand to attention or stand at attention, they stand straight with their feet together to show respect or to receive orders 5 attentions [plural] behavior that shows someone that you love them or that you take a great deal of interest She had in them: / was flattered by her kind attentions. to deal with the unwelcome attentions of a drunk.

attract

(sb's)

attention

to

make someone

someone or something: He waved of the waitress.

The

trial

notice

to attract the attention

has attracted international

attention.

for the attention of sb mainly Br E used on a business letter to show that you intend it for a particular person: Mark the report for the attention of the principal.

attest to the facts.

true, correct, or real at-tic /'aetik/ noun [C] the top floor of a house, directly under the roof —picture -» ci at«tire /a'tair/ noun [u] formal the clothes that someone is wearing: formal/ casual attire at-tired / a 'taird/ adj formal dressed: + in elegantly attired in a red gown at-ti-tude/'aeti.tud/noun 1 [C/u] someone's opinions or feelings about something, especially as shown by their behavior: The prevailing attitude at the time was antiwar. an unhealthy social environment that encourages negative attitudes The move reflects changing attitudes among management. We can win only if the team adopts a positive attitude. + toward Attitudes toward seniors and their role will have to change. +to People here have a more relaxed attitude to their work. an attitude problem (^negative feelings and inappropriate behavior) What we don 1 need is somebody with an attitude problem. 2 [U] informal a proud confident way of behaving that some people consider rude: There's no denying the guy has attitude. 3 C formal the position of your body

•••

[

]

in a way that attracts attention: These are designs with attitude.

with attitude informal unusual

Words

frequently used with attitude

adjectives

aggressive, ambivalent, cavalier, changing, dismissive,

1

enlightened, favorable, hostile, negative, positive, relaxed,

uncompromising

at-titudi'nal /.ajti'tudml/ adj formal relating to or affected by what someone feels about something attn. abbrev attention: used for showing that a letter or document is for a particular person

at-torney /a't3rni/ noun [C] *•* a one who represents people in court attorney general noun [c] •*

lawyer, especially

the most senior lawyer in some countries or U.S. states at-tract/s'trskt/verb [t] ••• 1 to make someone interested in something so that they do it or come to see or hear it: The show attracts viewers from every sector of society. They hope to attract Tourists are attracted by its more foreign investors. attract sb to endless sandy beaches and perfect weather. sth What first attracted you to the study of Buddhism'.' 1a. to produce or cause an interest in something or someone, or have an opinion about them: Their behavior has attracted considerable public criticism. Their attempts to attract the support of peasants and workers failed. attract sb's attention They tried to leave the hotel without

attraction

2

to

make something move near someone

or some-

thing: Insects are often attracted by scents that aren't to us. the electromagnetic force that makes

obvious

magnets attract pins

at-traotion /a'traekjsn/ noun •• 1 [C] somewhere or something you can visit that is interesting or enjoyable: Navy Pier is Chicago's most popular attraction. The plane this weekend's air show.

2

is

main

the

attraction at

the feeling of liking someone, especially in a sexual way: You could sense the undeniable attraction between them. 3 [C/U] a reason for liking something or being interested in it: One of the car's main attractions is its low [singular/ u]

price.

4

[C/U] science the force that pulls or keeps things together: electrical attraction between atoms opposite REPULSION

—

at-trac-tive /a'traektiv/ adj ••• 1 an attractive person is pleasant to look at, especially in a way that interests you sexually: a stunningly attractive movie star 1a. something that is attractive is pleasant in some way: a cozy cabin in a scenically attractive setting

We saw

a

less attractive side

of his personality

that day.

2 worth having, considering, or doing: Of all the proposals we've seen, theirs is the least commercially attractive. a superficially attractive proposition + to a company that will be increasingly attractive to investors at'tractive'ly adv, at-trac-tive-ness noun [U]

—

at-trib-ut-a-ble /a'tnbjatsbl/

adj [+to] caused by a particular event, situation, activity, or person: illnesses attributable to cigarette smoking 1

attribute

/s'tn.bjut/ verb

attribute to phrasal vb

[T] 1

•* [attribute sth to sb/sth] to

believe that something is the result of a particular situation, event, or person's actions: Her teachers attributed her learning difficulties to emotional problems. 2 [attribute sth to sb] to believe or say that something was written, said, painted, etc. by a particular person: Marcello's work was at first attributed to his brother Benedetto. Quotes attributed to him have been taken out of context. 3 [attribute sth to sb/sth] to think of someone or something as having a particular quality or feature: People are attributing qualities to me that I just don't have. 2

/'setn,bjut/ noun [C] formal * a quality or feature of someone or something: Peter had all the attributes of a first-class athlete. The job requires you to have personal attributes such as the ability to work as a team member.

at-trib-ute

audit

76

attracting anyone's attention. 1b. [usually passive] to interest someone in a romantic or sexual way: be attracted to sb She's old enough now to be attracted to boys.

a-typ-i-cal

/.ei'tipikl/ ad)

au-ber-gine /'oobDr^in/ noun

auburn

/'.iborn/ adj 1

auotion 2 /bkfn/

verb [t] to sell something at an auction: Six examples of his work will be auctioned for charity tomorrow night. + off Some of the land was auctioned off last year.

auction-eer /pkJVnir/ noun is to sell

auda-cious

/o'deijos/ adj done with extreme confidence, despite difficulties, risks, or the negative attitudes of other people: an audacious plan to take control of the company a. used about people: a group of audacious young writers au»da*cious*ly adv

—

au-dac-i-ty /o'daesati/ noun [u] the confidence to say or do what you want, despite difficulties, risks, or the negative attitudes of other people: have the audacity to

do sth She had the audacity to tell him off. au-di-ble /'odibl/ adj loud enough for people to hear: The sound of a door opening was clearly audible. barely audible a barely audible whisper

audience /bdians/

size,

Fifty

a surprisingly high attrition rate. 2 a deliberate gradual reduction in the number of workers in an organization, as a result of the organizations not replacing those who leave or die: Another 500 jobs are being eliminated through retirement and attrition. 3 formal the process of making an enemy physically and mentally weaker by continuously attacking them: war of attrition Since 1985 they had been fighting a bloody war of attrition with hundreds of casualties on both volunteers

left

in the first year,

sides.

attuned

/a'tund/ adj [never before noun] familiar with something and able to deal with it in a sensitive way: The company needs people who are attuned to today's youth culture.

ATV / ei

ti

'vi/

noun

[C]

all-terrain vehicle

[c]

— au*di*bly adv

***

ticipation

and

several

women came up on

stage.

1a. all

the people who watch a television program, listen to a radio broadcast, or are reached by advertising: The series has attracted an audience of more than 10 million. target audience Our target audience has always been the affluent underSOs. 1b. the people who see the work of a particular artist or read the work of a particular writer: His detective novels are beginning to appeal to a wider audience.

2 a group of people who admire or support a particular person, belief, idea, etc.: Disaffected young people are an ideal audience for his outrageous political opinions. 3 a formal meeting with a very important person: + with He had an audience with the Pope in 1996. 1

audio book

at-trhtion /s'trifn/ noun [u] 1 a reduction in numbers, or strength: attrition rate/rate of attrition

noun

a group of people who have come to a place to see or hear a movie, performance, speech, etc. The people who watch a sports game or other large event are usually called spectators or the crowd: Chaplin's movies captivated audiences throughout the world. He offended many in the audience with his insensitive remarks. The music was performed before an enthusiastic audience. audience participation He was soon encouraging audience par1

before the noun it describes. For example, in the phrase at'trib«u«tive«ly "a nice man," "nice" is attributive. /a'tnbjativli/ adv compare predicative

—

someone whose job

AUD abbrev Australian dollar

audio- /Ddioo/

—

[c]

things at an auction

an attributive adjective or a word in an attributive position comes adj linguistics

Br E an eggplant brownish red in

is

/ bk Jon/ noun [C/U] • a public occasion when things are sold to the people who offer the most money for them: at auction They bought the paintings at auction in 1989. up for auction (=being sold at an auction) The house is now up for auction, a. [only before noun] connected with an auction or bought at an auction: Internet auction sites

au-di-o

at'trib'U'tive /a'tnbjativ/

[c/u]

auburn hair

color

auction

/,astn'bjujn/ noun [U] the act of attributing something to a particular cause or person, especially the act of saying that something was written, said, painted, etc. by a particular person: the attribution of drawings to Vincent van Gogh

attribution

not usual or typical

/ bdi.oo/ adj relating to sound that or broadcast: an audio system

au-di'O that

is

2

is

recorded

/'odi.oo/ noun [u] sound, especially music, recorded, broadcast, or played on electronic

equipment prefix sound or hearing: used with some and nouns: audiovisual equipment noun [c] a book that is read out loud, usually by an actor or a famous person, and recorded On a CASSETTE TAPE aU'di'O'tape/'odioo.teip/noun [C/u] magnetic tape on which sound can be recorded audiovisual /pdioo'v^ual/ adj using both recorded sounds and images: audiovisual resources for

adjectives

natural science classes

au-dit

1

*

an official examination of the /'odit/ noun [C] financial or tax records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate: A udits by the IRS of his tax records did not result in findings of wrongdoing. a. a careful examination of something, especially one done to find the amount, size, or effectiveness of something: an audit of transportation services for the elderly

au-dit 2

/'odit/ verb [T]* 1 to officially examine the financial or tax records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate: The Directors submit their report to the shareholders, together with the audited financial statements for

audition examine something

carefully, especially committee will audit the

to decide on its effectiveness: A department's performance. E to go regularly to class for a college course 2 without asking for or receiving credit for taking the

Am

course 1

au-di-tion /o'dijn/ noun [C] * a short performance in which you sing, dance, or act so that someone can decide if you are good enough to perform in a particular play, concert, etc. 2

au-di-tion /o'dijn/ verb

1 [I] to perform at an audition: +for She's been invited to audition for the part. 2 (T]

someone's performance at an audition au-di-tor/'oditar/ noun [c] • to judge

AmE

1

a large

room

or building used for meetings, lectures, or public performances 2 the part of a theater where the audience sits

au-di-to-ry /'odi.tori/ adj technical relating to hearing 'audit ,trail noun [c] information that is recorded, for example on paper or in a computer, and that proves that events happened in a particular way au fait /,oo 'fei/ adj informed of the most recent facts or information about something: be au fait with sth I'm not really aufait with the latest computer technology.

Aug.

abbrev August tool

used for making holes in

aught /at/ noun [C] Am E old-fashioned zero aught 2 /ot/ pronoun an old word meaning "anything" aug-ment /og'ment/ verb [T] formal to increase the 1

—

aug-men-ta-tion size, amount, or value of something /pgmen'teiJn/noun[C/U] au-gur/ 'ogar/ verb [l/T]/orma/tobeasign of what may happen in the future: The look on her face did not augur well.

/bgjari/ noun literary 1 [C] a sign of what in the future 2 [U] the skill or practice of telling what may happen in the future

may happen

/o'gASt/ adj formal old, serious, and respected

***

Au-gust /'ogast/

the eighth month of noun [C/U] the year, between July and September: We'll be on vacThey ation in August. It's my birthday on August 6. were married last August.

auk /ok/ noun

a black-and-white sea bird with small wings that goes under water to catch fish [C]

Auld Lang Syne

/, old last]

'zam/ a Scottish song that

people sing at midnight on new year's eve, when the new year begins au na-tu-rel /oo .nxtJVrel/ adv 1 served without being cooked or with nothing added 2 humorous wearing no clothes: sunbathing au naturel the sister of your mother or aunt /sent/ noun [c] father, or the wife of your uncle / loved visiting my aunt

••*

—

:

picture -» family tree and uncle. Hello, Aunt Betty. aunt-ie or aunt-y /'snti/ noun [c] informal your aunt au pair /oo 'per/ noun [c] someone, especially a young woman, who lives with a family in a foreign country and helps with the children and housework in exchange for the opportunity to learn the language

au-ra /'ora/ noun [C] a quality that seems to surround or come from a person, place, or situation: + of an aura of innocence the aura of history that surrounds the place au-ral /'oral/ adj relating to your ears or hearing au-re-ole /'ori.ool/ noun [C] literary a circle of light around the head of a holy person in a picture au re-voir /oo ra'vwar/ interjection goodbye Aurora Aus-tra-lis, the /o.rora o'streilis/ the south-

ern LIGHTS

Au-ro-ra Bo-re-al-is, the /o.rora ern LIGHTS

i

aus-pi-cious

/o'spijas/ adj formal showing signs that suggest that something is likely to be successful This is not an auspicious time to be opening a new Jnctory aus-pi-cious-ly adv

Aus-sie

1

noun

/'ozi/

[C]

informal someone from Aus-

ad]

informal relating to Australia or

bori'iclis/

the north-

its

culture

austere

/o'stir/ adj 1

oration: The church

is

plain in style and without declarge and austere. 2 strict and

serious in manner: An austere, silent woman showed him the small apartment. 3 an austere way of living is simple and not very comfortable: He was a man of austere habits. 4 severely reducing the amount of money that is spent, in a way that is likely to produce unpleasant effects: austere measures austere economic policies aus-tere-ly adv

around

aus-ter-i-ty /o'sterati/ noun [u] 1 an economic policy by which a government reduces the amount of money it spends by a large amount: austerity measures/ policies/ programs 2 a situation in which economic conditions are bad and people's living standards fall 3 the quality or fact of being plain, strict, simple, or severe: a life of prayer, austerity,

Aus-tral-a-sia

/

and poverty .ostra'le^a/ a region that includes Aus-

New

Zealand, Pacific islands

New

Guinea, and some South

Australia Day

/o'streilia ,dci/ noun [c/u] a public holiday in Australia that celebrates the day when British people first arrived to live there permanently. It takes place on the first Monday after 26 January every year.

Australian Rules foot-ball

/ostrcilian

rulz

a team sport similar to rugby au-teur /o't3r/ noun [C] very formal a movie director who has almost total control over their movies

fotbol/ noun

[u]

au-then-tic/o'Gentik/adj

augury au-gust

its/

people were killed during World War II aus-pi-ces / ospiso// noun under the auspices offormal with the help and support of a particular person or organization: Talks were held under the auspices oj ///.World Trade Organization.

tralia,

au-ger /'ogar/ noun [C] a wood or in the ground

aoJ\

Aus-sie /ozi/

someone whose job

[C]

the largest Nazi camp (=a type of prison) where more than 1.5 million /

2

cial or tax

au-di-to-ri-um /pdi'toriam/ noun

Ausch-witz

tralia

is to officially examine the finanrecords of a company, organization, or person to see that they are accurate someone who goes regularly to class for a 2 college course without asking for or receiving credit for taking the course

1

authoritarian

77

the year. 1a. to

•

1 real, not false or copied: genuine: The letter is certainly authentic. 1a. used for describing things that are copied but are very similar to the original ones 2 accurate or based in fact: an authentic insight into

working-class boyhood traditional or original, or very similar to this: authenThey're replacing the windows with more tic Italian food au-then-ti-cal-ly /o'Gentikli/ adv, authentic ones. au-then-tic-i-ty/,o6en'tisati/noun [u]

3

—

au-then-ti-cate /o'Genti.keit/ verb [t] to prove or show that something is real and not false or copied: A team of experts has authenticated the document. ti-ca-tion /oGenti'keiJn/ noun [u]

author

1

— au-then-

•••

/'o9ar/ noun [c] 1 someone who writes books, articles, etc., especially as their job: Nobel Prize winning author, Alexander Solzhenitsyn 1a. the person who writes a particular document or other piece of writing: the author of the committee report

the person who is responsible for something: the author of his own misfortune. au-thor /'oGar/ verb [T] to be the writer of a book, document, etc.: The book is authored by six leading his-

2 formal

Wray was 2

torians.

/'oGares/ noun (C) old-fashioned a woman writes books, articles, etc., especially as her job au-thor-i-al /o'Gorial/ adj formal relating to the author of a book, play, etc. au-thor-ing /'oGarirj/ noun [u] the process of creating documents and programs on a computer using special software: a web authoring tool

au-thor-ess

who

au-tho-ri-sa-tion

/oOon'/eiJ'n/ a

BrE

spelling

of

authorization /'oOa,raiz/a BrE spelling of authorize au-thor-i-tar-i-an/o Oon'tcrian/adj controlling everything and forcing people to obey strict rules and laws: an authoritarian government I regime

au-tho-rise

authoritarianism

autonomous

78

au-thor-i-tar-i-an-ism /D,6on'teri3,niz3m/ noun [u] the belief that people with power should control what other people can do, or a situation in which this happens au-thor-i-ta-tive /D'8Dn,teitiv/ adj 1 based on the best, most complete, and most reliable information: an authoritative report on drug use among teenagers 2 showing that you are used to being obeyed or expect to be obeyed au-thor-i-ta-tive-ly adv au-thor-i-ty /o'Gorsti/ noun •••

—

1 power to make decisions 2 people with power 3 organization/institution

4 expert in subject 5 official permission

au-to-crat-ic /pta'kraHik/

ruling with complete power: His autocratic government has reduced the nation to poverty and desperation, a. telling people what to do without caring what they think: an autocratic boss/ management style au-to'crat-i'caMy/pta'knetikli/adv

—

au-to-cross / otoo.kras/ noun

1 (U] the power to make decisions or tell people what to do: In practice it is difficult for the President to exercise his authority. have the authority to do sth They don't have the authority to close the canal. + over Parents have legal authority over their children. 1a. the power to influence

other people because they respect your opinions or knowledge: with authority It is a subject on which she can write with authority. 1b. the power to make other people obey you because of a quality in the way you speak or behave: There was a tone of authority in her voice. 2 the authorities [plural] the police or people in other official organizations with legal power to make people obey laws or rules: The girl told the authorities that The French she had been kidnapped from her home. authorities have refused to issue him a visa. 3 [C] an organization or institution that controls something, often a public service: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey The rules are set by the city transit

auto-graph

someone who

have it on good authority (that) used for saying that your information comes from someone you trust authority figure noun [c] someone who is or seems strong and powerful authorization /pGsn'zeifn/ noun [c/u] official permission to do something: The action was taken without the authorization of the leadership, a.

[C]

must be authorized by your supervisor. authorize sb to do sth This officer was authorized to carry a gun. [u] the fact of being the person who has written a particular book, document,

au-thor-ship /'oGarJip/ noun

— au«tis«tic/D'tistik/adj

1

in

an auto

accident.

2

to cars:

He was

Am E old-fashioned a car

au-to-mat-ed /

otaxneitad/adj using machines or done by machines, instead of people: a fully automated assembly line

auto-bio-graph-i-cal /ptoubais'grsfikl/

teller

ma, chine

au-to-mat-ic /pta'maetik/adj •• 1 an automatic machine or process works by 1

—

1

2 happening

as a result of specific conditions, rules, or laws, without a special decision being made: Taxpayers who do not send in their forms face an automatic penalty. 3 done without conscious thought or intention, especially because of habit: an automatic response

au-to-mat-ic 2 /pta'maetik/ noun

[c] 1 a car in which the gears change by themselves without any action by the driver 2 an automatic weapon

au-to-mat-i-cal-ly /pts'mstikli/ adv

•*

without conscious thought or intention, especially because of habit: I just automatically said "Yes. 1

2

as the result of specific conditions, rules, or laws,

without a special decision being made: You are automatically entitled to three weeks' vacation a year. 3 by a machine, without people doing anything: The computer automatically numbers the lines. automatic pilot noun [c/u] a system that controls the direction of an airplane, ship, or spacecraft

on automatic pilot doing things without thinking about what you are doing, especially because you have done the same thing many times before

automatic transmission

noun [c/u] a system in

which the gears of a car change by themselves without any action by the driver

au-to-ma-tion / pta'meijn/ noun [u] a system that uses machines to do work instead of people, or the process of changing to such a system: Automation will result in the loss of 450,000 jobs.

au-tom-a-ton /o'tamatsn/ noun [c] 1 a machine that can move and do things without being controlled by someone 2 someone who behaves like a machine and a

shows no feelings -to-mo-bi le / 'otama.bil / adj 1

* relating to cars: auto-

mobile plants /imports /production 2

au-to-bi-og-ra-phy /ptoobai'agrsfi/ noun [c] a book about your life that you write yourself au-toc-ra-cy /D'takrasi/ noun 1 [u] a form of government or management in which one person has complete power 2 (C] a country or organization that is

au-to-mo-bile /'otamoo.bil/ noun

completely controlled by one person au-to-crat /'ots.kraet/ noun [C] someone who has complete power in a country or organization a. someone who tells other people what to do without caring what

au-ton-o-mous

they think

itself

rather than being operated by people: an automatic garage door 1a. an automatic weapon continues to shoot bullets until you take your finger off the trigger: an automatic machine gun compare semiautomatic —compare manual

adj relat-

ing to someone's life or autobiography: Her first novel was largely autobiographical.

teller machine or automatic noun [C] formal an atm

automated

relating to yourself: used with

autobiography adjectives: his alone without any person being involved: used with some nouns, verbs, and adjectives: an autoloading gun

2 working

mainly

/'ota.meit/ verb [t] to change a factory, or process so that machines do the work instead of people

killed

auto parts

au-to /'Dtoo/ noun [C] auto- /Dtou/ prefix 1 some nouns and

AmE

office,

etc.

communicate with other people au-to /'otou/ adj *** relating

someone famous

auto-mate

au-tism

/'D.tizsm/ noun [u] a serious mental condition that makes it difficult for someone to react to and

if

toid arthritis

a docu-

ment that gives you permission to do something au-thor-ize /'oGa.raiz/ verb [T] • to give official permission for something to happen: All overtime payments

[T]

au-to-mak-er /'otoo.meikar/ noun [c) journalism a company that produces cars

is

1

/bta.graef/ verb

autographs a book, photograph, etc., they sign their name on it: He was autographing copies of his latest novel. auto-immune /ptooi'mjun/ adj relating to conditions and diseases in which the body's immune system (=parts of the body that fight disease) attacks normal cells: research into autoimmune diseases such as rheuma-

considered an expert in a particular subject: + on Charles was an authority on antique musical instruments. 4a. a book or information that people respect because it contains a great deal of knowledge about a particular subject: + on The book is widely acknowledged to be the authority on regional expressions. 5 [u] formal official permission to do something: He believed he had authority to ride the bike. [C]

a sport in which cars

1

/'Dta.graf/ noun [c] a famous person's name that they sign for someone else to keep: My mother got Frank Sinatra's autograph in the 1970s.

authority.

4

[u]

race over rough ground

au-to-graph 2

+ PHRASES

adj

[C] old-fashioned

a

car adj relating to cars and autoother motor vehicles: the automotive industry motive parts

au-to-mo-tive /pts'moutrv/

/o'tanamas/ adj 1 an autonomous organization is independent and has the govern itself: independent 2 an autonomous person is independent and able to make their own au'ton'o«mous«ly adv decisions: independent state, region, or

power

to

—

autonomy au-ton-o-my

aviation

79

/o'tanami/ noun

•

the region.

av-a-tar / aeva.tor/ noun [c) 1 computing a picture on a computer screen that represents a particular computer user, especially one of several users who are having a conversation with each other on the Internet 2 formal someone who is a perfect example of a particular

2 the power to make your own decisions: independence: New regulations have severely restricted the autonomy of

Ave.

[u]

a situation in which a state, region, or organization independent and has the power to govern itself: independence: Rebel leaders are demanding autonomy for 1

is

doctors.

au-to-pi-lot /'otoo.paitat/ noun [c] an automatic pilot au-top-sy /'o.tapsi/ noun [c] a medical examination of a dead person's body to find out why they died 'auto racing noun [u] a sports event in which fast cars race on a special track. BrE motor racing autumn /'otsm/ noun [C/u] mainly BrE formal • the season of the year that comes between summer and

Am

winter. E usually fall: a cold autumn afternoon haven't heard from him since last autumn.

au-tum-nal /o'tAmnal/ to autumn

adj

We

formal typical of or relating

aux-il-ia-ry /og'ziljari/ adj 1 auxiliary equipment or systems are available for use if the main one fails: an auxiliary power unit 2 auxiliary workers help more senior or permanent workers: auxiliary nurses /troops/ pilots

auxiliary 2

/og'ziljsri/ noun [C] • 1 a worker who helps more senior or permanent workers 2 an AUXILIARY VERB auxiliary 'verb noun [c] a verb that is used with another verb to show its tense, form questions, form the passive, or change an aspect of its meaning. The main auxiliary verbs in English are "be," "have," and

"do." 1

'vi/

abbreviation audiovisual

noun to/of no avail formal without you wanted or intended: His words of encouragement were to no avail. 2 a-vail /a'veil/ verb [T] formal if you avail yourself of something, you use it: Only a few companies have availed themselves of the free training program. availability /sveib'bibti/ noun [u] •• 1 the state of being able to be obtained or used: +of Whether I take the job depends on the availability of

a-vail

/a'veil/

getting the effect

daycare. 2 the state of not being too busy to do something: have to check my availability before I commit myself.

available

I'll

***

/a'veibbl/ adj able to be obtained, taken, or used: The dish is made with ingredients available in most superWe'll notify you markets. the best available equipment as soon as tickets become available. +to Not all the facts are made available to us. + for There is no money available readily/freely/easily/widely available for this project. The information is freely available on the Internet. 2 [never before noun] not too busy to do something: I'm available next Tuesday ifyou want to meet then. available to do sth My professor is always available to talk to her students. available for comment (=not busy and able to speak to reporters) No one at company headquarters was available for comment. 3 not married or involved in a romantic relationship and therefore able to start a new relationship: Your friend is cute. Is he available? av-a-lanche /'aeva.laentJV noun [c] 1 a large amount of snow and ice that suddenly falls down a mountain 1a. a large amount of a substance that falls somewhere: an avalanche of rock /stones /mud 2 [+of] a large quantity of similar things that happen within a short time: The companies are fighting an avalanche of lawsuits nation1

[often after noun]

wide.

a'vant-garde/.avan'gard/adj avant-garde music, art, etc. is very modern and may shock people because it is so different from what has gone before a-vant-garde, the /.avan'gard/ noun 1 the people

who produce

avant-garde music, art, etc., or their style and attitudes 2 the art that is produced by avant-garde

—

.aeva'n fas/ adj, a va-ri-cious-ly

/o'vend3/ verb [T] 1 formal to react to somewrong that has been done to you, your family, or your friends by punishing the person who did it: He vowed to avenge his father's death. avenge yourself on sb They began to avenge themselves on their neighbors for the years of suppression. 2 to win a sports event against a team that has recently defeated you - a-veng-er noun thing

[c]

avenue f'xvsnuf noun

/

.aeva'njasli/

adv

••

[c]

a wide straight road, especially one with trees on each side 1a. Avenue used in street names. The written abbreviation is Ave.: Park Avenue 2 one of the methods you can use to achieve something: We are left with no other avenue but to go to court. explore /pursue /try an avenue Believe me, we have explored every possible avenue to find funding. a«ver /a'v3r/ verb [T] very formal to say something in a very determined way because you believe strongly in it or you are certain it is true

av-er-age

•••

1

/'aev(a)rid3/ noun [C/U] the amount, level, standard, etc. that is typical of a group of people or things: Incomes here are nowhere above /below average Her near the national average. performance on the test was way below average. 2 [singular/ u] an amount that is calculated by adding 1

several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things you added together: mean: + of The people 20, 10, and 30 and find the average. in the study lost an average of six pounds each.

Add

for talking about what is usually true, although it may not be true in every individual situation: On average, women live between five and seven

on average used

years longer than men.

av«er«age 2 1

/'aev(3)nd3/ adj

*•*

around a usual or ordinary

level or standard: a

He's about average height. child of average intelligence 1a. neither good nor bad: Her work as an actress has never been better than average. 1b. like most others of the same type: The average child spends around ten hours

a week watching television. 2 not very good: mediocre: a decidedly average performance 3 [only before noun] calculated by adding a group of numbers together and dividing the total by the amount of numbers: winds with an average speed of 15 miles per aver*age«ly adv hour

—

av«er«age 3

/'aev(3)nd3/ verb • [T] to usually do, have, involve, etc. a particular level or amount: It's a small The cost of store, averaging around 500 customers a week. developing a new drug now averages around $500 million.

average out phrasal vb 1 [l] to have a particular number or amount as an average: +to/at Total giving averages out to over $1,000 a week. 2 [T] to calculate the average of a set of

numbers or amounts

a-verse

/a'\ 3rs/ ad| not averse to sth liking or enjoying something: I'm not averse to a glass of whiskey now and

then. -* RISK-AVERSE

a-ver-sion /a'v3r3n/ noun [C/U] formal a strong feeling that you dislike someone or something aversion .therapy noun [u] a treatment to change someone's behavior or get rid of a bad habit by giving them an unpleasant experience every time they behave in a particular way or do a particular thing a-vert /o'v3rt/ verb [t] to prevent something bad or harmful from happening: Violence may have been averted with a greater police presence.

avert your eyes/gaze/head etc. to turn your eyes or face away from something that you do not want to see

a-vhar-y

artists

av*a*rice /'aevans/ noun [u] formal a strong feeling that you want to have a lot of money and possessions and ava-ri-cious keep them for yourself: greed /

abbrev Avenue

avenge

1

1

AV/,ei

quality or a particular type of person

/eivi.eri/ noun [c]

an enclosed area where

birds are kept

aviation

/civi'eijri/

noun

airplanes a. the industry of before noun]

[u] the practice of flying

making airplanes

b. [only

connected with making or flying airplanes

aviator a-vi-a-tor

noun

[c]

old-fashioned an aircraft

pilot

a-vi-a-trix /'eivieitriks/ noun

[C) old-fashioned

a female

aircraft pilot

av-id / 'aevid/adj very enthusiastic about something you do regularly: an avid reader /fan — a«vid«i«ty /a'vidati/ noun [U], avid'ly adv a-vi-on-ics /,civi'aniks/ noun [u] electronic equipment used in airplanes, or the practice of designing such equipment av-o-ca-do 1 /,a,>v3'kadoo/ or .avocado 'pear noun [C/u] a fruit with green or black skin, a very large seed in the middle, and pale green flesh that does not taste sweet. It is usually eaten raw in salads, —picture -» cio

av-o-ca-do 2 /.a'vo'kadoo/ adj with a pale green color av-o-ca-tion /^evou'keijn/ noun [C] formal an activity that someone does for enjoyment in addition to their usual work a-void /avoid/ verb [T] •** 1 to try not to go near someone or something: We went Avoid that area after dark. brake hard to avoid hitting the deer. 1a. to make certain that you do not meet or communicate with someone: We crossed the road to avoid avoid doing sth / want to avoid speaking to him him. until I've got more details. 2 to try to prevent something from happening: Try to avoid confrontation. avoid doing sth They could not avoid early to avoid the crowds.

avoid doing sth

He had

to

drawn

into the argument. 3 to choose not to do something in order to achieve a better result: When taking this medication it is advisable to avoid alcohol. avoid doing sth Where possible, we have

being

avoided using technical terms. 3a. to choose not to do something because it is unpleasant or not convenient: He hates cutting the grass and will avoid it whenever he can. avoid doing sth She's just avoiding having to go back to work.

avoid sb/sth like the plague to be determined to keep away from someone or something completely: I avoid chocolate like the plague because it makes my face break out. After they broke up he avoided her like the plague. a'void-a'ble/a'voidsbl/adj capable of being prevented: The tragedy is that the conflict was largely avoidable. avoidable costs /mistakes /errors

avoidance /a'voidons/ noun

[u] the practice or policy of avoiding someone or something: the avoidance of open confrontation

avow

/a'vau/ verb

[T]

formal to publicly claim or

promise something

a-vow-al /s'vaool/ noun [C/U]formal a public statement that true

you intend

to

do something or that something

a-vowed /s'vaod/ adj avowed aim/ intention

is

publicly claimed or promised: an

— a-vow-ed-ly /3'vauadli/adv

a-vun-cu-lar /s'vArjkjabr/ adj an avuncular man is kind and helpful to younger or less experienced people aw hi interjection AmE used for expressing sympathy or disappointment

AW ACS

/'ei.waeks/ noun [U] Airborne Warning And Control System: an electronic system in military airplanes that tells pilots when other airplanes are attacking them

/a'weit/ verb [J] formal * 1 to wait for something that you expect to happen: They were awaiting the birth of their first child. 1a. to wait for something that is the next stage in a process: The legislation is still awaiting congressional approval. 2 if something awaits you, it will happen to you: Well I wonder what surprises await us today. a-wake /a'weik/ adj [never before noun] * not sleeping: I've been awake for hours. lie awake Do you lie awake at night, worrying about things? stay awake (^remain awake) / managed to stay awake long enough to watch the video. keep sb awake (=prevent someone from sleeping)

a-wait

1

We've been kept awake all night by the noise.

awake

to sth formal knowing about a situation and ready to deal with it wide awake 1 completely awake: I was already wide awake before the alarm went off. 2 able to think clearly and react quickly: / want to be wide awake for the board

meeting at

awareness

80 /'eivi.eitor/

ten.

a-wake 2

/o'wcik/ (past tense awoke /a'wook/; past participle a«wok«en/o'wookon/) verb -k 1 [i/T] mainly literary to wake up, or wake someone up: They awoke to find that several inches of snow had fallen. 2 [t] to make you remember something or begin to experience a particular feeling: Going back to the house awoke memories that he wanted to forget.

a-wak-en

verb formal 1 [T] to make feeling or emotion: An object from the past can be used to engage the students' interest and awaken curiosity. 2 [i/T] to wake up or wake someone up 3 [i/T] to begin to notice something or make someone begin to notice something, especially danger:

/o'weikon/

someone experience a

ALERT

a-wak-en-ing /o'weiksnin/ noun you

first realize

[c] the moment when or experience something: a sexual awak-

ening

a rude awakening a shock that comes from learning what you had believed or expected is not true: They expected a friendly reception but were in for a rude awakening. a-ward 1 /sword/ noun [c] 1 a prize or other reward that is given to someone who has achieved something: She won the Player of the Year award. +for an award for outstanding services to the that

•••

industry

2 an amount

of money or a judgment given by a court award for damages /compensation 2a. mainly an amount of money that the government or another organization gives to someone so that they are able to do something: grant of law: an

BrE

a-ward 2

/s'word/ verb

[T]

••*

1 to give someone a prize or other reward because they have achieved something: The prize is awarded annually.

Students

who complete

the training successfully will be

awarded a diploma. to officially give someone an amount of money so that they are able to do something: After graduation he was awarded a scholarship to do research. 2a. to officially give someone a contract 2b. to make a legal decision to give someone an amount of money, for

2

example because they have been injured: Damages awarded for the loss offuture earnings can be substantial. 3 to make a legal decision to give someone the right to do something, for example to care for a child: award sb sth An appeals court judge awarded her custody of the children.

a ward- winning adj [only before noun] an awardwinning product, business, or person has won a prize or prizes: an award-winning restaurant/ movie/ newspaper

a-ware

/a'wer/

adj

•••

1 [never before noun] knowing about a situation or a fact: As far as I'm aware, he didn't say anything of the kind.

+ of They're aware of the dangers. +that / was not aware make sb aware of that she had already spoken to you. sth (=tell someone about something) If you have any problems, you should make management aware of them. well /fully /acutely (=very) aware / was well aware of this fact. 1a. enthusiastic about and involved in something: a lively magazine for aware and dynamic young people environmentally /politically /socially etc. aware The organization aims to create a new generation of environmentally aware consumers and producers. 2 if you become aware of someone or something, you notice it: / became aware of someone following me. +that He suddenly became aware that the music had stopped.

not that I'm aware of spoken used for saying that you are almost but not completely certain of something: "Has anyone in your family had heart problems?" "Not that I'm

aware of

"

a-ware-ness /o'wernss/ noun

[singular/u]

**

knowledge or understanding of a subject, issue, or was a general lack of awareness about raise /increase awaracism awareness safety issues. reness (of) The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of passive smoking. increased/heightened awa1

situation: There

reness Increased environmental awareness has led to a greater demand for recycled paper. 1a. [only before noun] relating to increasing people's awareness: an awareness campa ign /program / course 2 the ability to notice things: She lost all awareness of time and place.

awash 1

thoroughly covered with a liquid:

+ with The roads were awash with mud and rainwater. 2 [+with] containing a lot or too much of something: The town is awash with tourists this time of year. a-way 1 /a'wei/ adv 1 in a different direction 1a. moving so that you go farther from a person, place, or thing: When Sykes saw the police, he ran away. +from People had been driven away from their homes by the invading army. 1b. used for talking about the direction of a road, path, etc.:+from A path led away from the back of the house. 1c. turning or looking toward a different direction: Bruce was staring at her. She looked away, feeling suddenly shy and embar+from He turned away from the window and rassed. walked over to the table. 2 not in your usual place not at home, or not at the place where you work or study: My brother looks after the farm while I'm away. + from I'm writing to ask Amy's parents why she's been away from school. away on vacation/business Graham's away on vacation this week. go away (=leave your home for more than a day) / haven 't seen our neighbors around - they must have gone away somewhere. 3 not near sth 3a. not near something or someone, especially because of danger: keep/stay away Police have warned people to stay away from the area. +from Keep away from the stove - it's very hot. 3b. far from people, places, or things, especially so that you feel separated from them: +from It's nice to have a weekend away from the city. She's been away from her family for too long. 4 used for showing distance or time 4a. used for saying how far it is to a place: 5 miles/ 100 yards etc. away The nearest hospital is about eight miles away. + from Robert's brother was standing only a few feet away from me. 4b. used for saying how much time will pass before a date or event in the future: 2 weeks/3 months etc. away Final exams are less than three weeks away. 5 gradually disappearing used for saying that something gradually disappears: The sound of their voices faded away into the distance. Martha's anger suddenly melted away.

*•*

6 used

showing continuous activity [usually progressive] used for showing that someone does something continuously or for a long time: Molly was at her desk working away as usual. The children were all chattering away happily. 7 in order to remove sth used for showing that something is removed: The company should really pay to have all this garbage taken away. She wiped away her tears and tried to smile. 8 changing from sth used for showing that there is a change in people's opinions or ways of doing things: a move/shift away from There has been a shift away from for

manufacturing industries toward high technology. move/shift away from We're moving away from the idea that what's modern is necessarily good. 9 in a safe or usual place in a safe place, or in the place where something is usually kept: store /hide sth away He's got lot of gold coins hidden away somewhere. put /clear sth away Put your toys away before you go to the old

bed.

10 used

a for showing where a game is sports team plays away, they go to their opponents' ground to play a game. If they play in their own ground, they play at home. -> FAR

played

if

2a

a«way 2 /o'wei/ adj in

awry

81

a-wash /o'waj'/ ad]

[only before noun] an away game is one which a team goes to their opponents' place to play. is one in which a team plays in its own

sibility I power

2

informal extremely good. This word

is used mainly by young awe-some-ness noun [u]

awe-struck

••

1

used for emphasizing how unpleas/ ofl / ad) ant someone or something is: terrible: The smell was absolutely awful. This wine tastes awful. He had tinawful feeling that everyone was laughing at him. There were these awful people sitting behind us who talked all through the movie, a. very bad at doing something: I'm awful at remembering names. He's an awful actor b. very cruel or unkind: That's an awful thing to say. They committed the most awful atrocities, c. very serious or severe: / was worried that something awful had happened to him. d. complete: used for emphasizing a particular quality: / made an awful fool of myself last night, didn't I?* It's an awful shame to waste all this good food.

an awful

lot spoken a very large amount: There were an lot of people just standing around. feel awful 1 to feel guilty or sad: I feel awful about not inviting her. 2 to feel sick or unhappy: She said she had a sore throat and was feeling awful. look awful 1 to look sick, sad, or worried: What's wrong? You look awful. 2 to look ugly or not attractive: I don't like these curtains. They look awful. aw-ful-ness

awful

—

noun

[u]

aw-f ul

2

/ 'ofl/ adv spoken used for emphasizing what you are saying: Three weeks is an awful long time to wait. She's awful cute.

aw-ful-ly /'of(3)li/ adv spoken * used for emphasizing what you are saying: It's awfully good of you to come by and see us.

a-while

/o'wail; o'hwail/ adv literary for a short time

awkward / bkword/ adj ** 1

with and embarrassing: After he spoke

difficult to deal

there was an awkward silence. Luckily nobody asked any awkward questions about what he was doing there. It a 's

awkward, because he's my friend but I'm still his something that is awkward is difficult to deal with or use because of its shape or position: The crates were much too heavy and awkward for one person to carry. little

boss. 1a.

1b.

BrE someone who

is

awkward

is difficult to

deal

with or please, and causes problems, often deliberately 2 not comfortable, relaxed, or confident: He stood there looking

stiff and

awkward in his uniform. feel awkward awkward about asking to borrow

about (doing) sth She felt

more money.

3

slightly

wrong and not

arranged

all

the

attractive or graceful: She had at awkward angles. furniture

— awk-ward-ness noun [U] awk-ward-ly

/'okwardli/ adv 1 in a way that shows you are not comfortable, relaxed, or confident: They She responded awksmiled awkwardly at the camera.

wardly that

is

to the allegations. 2 with difficulty or in a way not graceful: He scrambled awkwardly to his feet.

awkwardly to fall or land in a way that is uncomfortable or hurts you: He moved to get out of the way and fell awkwardly. awl hi I noun [C] a tool used for making small holes in wood and leather, consisting of a wooden handle and a thin sharp metal point awn-ing /'onin/ noun [C] a sheet of cloth hung above a window or door as protection against the rain or sun, fall/land

especially outside a store

awoke

the

past

tense

of

awake-

place.

awe hi

noun [u] * a feeling of great respect and admiration, often combined with fear: The place has always inspired me with awe and wonder. in awe They gazed in awe at their hero. be/stand in awe of sb He is 1

awe of his father. awe hi verb be awed by sth to feel great respect, admiration, and sometimes fear for something: We were awed by the pictures of Earth that the astronauts sent back from space, —awed /ad/ adj: We sat in awed silence. awe-in spiring adj making you feel great respect and admiration, and sometimes fear: an awe-inspiring sight awe-some /'ossm/ adj 1 very impressive and sometimes a little frightening: an awesome task/respon-

adv,

the building.

a w-f ul

A home game

totally in 2

awe-some-ly

people.

\k/ adj feeling extremely impressed by something: She was awestruck by the magnificence of / 'd sti

awoken the past participle of

awake

AWOL 1

2

/'ei.wol/

adj

absent without leave:

if

someone such as a

L/\\ B^i^^B^^^ I

goes

AWOL.

soldier they leave

the place where they are

working

I±

==5=ya |

awning

not straight or neat: His

without permission 2 Br E informal lost or missing

a-wry

/o'rai/ ad] not in the correct position, especially hair was all awry.

damp

1

ax I

go awry planned

azure

82 to not

happen

in the

way

that

was hoped or

ax oraxe/aeks/noun[c] * a tool used for cutting down 1

and cutting up large pieces of wood, consisting of a long wooden handle and a heavy metal blade trees

the ax mainly journalism a situation in which a government, a company, or an organization decides to end something or to get rid of a worker or their job: Two schools face the ax. give sb/sth the ax Many workers were given the ax in the merger of the two companies. have an ax to grind informal to have an opinion that you are trying to persuade others to share or an idea that you are trying to persuade others to take action about: Unlike some government departments, these organizations have no political ax to grind. ax 2 /asks/ verb [T] mainly journalism to close a business, stop providing a service, or make people lose their jobs: The program will be back on television in the fall, five months after it was almost axed by the network.

ax'i'om / 'seksism/ noun

[c] a statement that is generally believed to be obvious or true: The advertisements seem to prove the axiom that sex sells.

ax-i-o-mat'ic

/.aeksia'maetik/ adj generally believed to

be obvious or true— ax«i'o«mat«i«cal«ly/,aeksi3'mastikli/ adv ax»is /'aeksis/ (plural ax«es /'aek,siz/) noun [C] 1 an imaginary line that passes through the middle of a planet or other round object and that the object seems to spin around: The Earth rotates barely perceptibly on its axis. 1a. an imaginary line that divides a square, circle, or other regular shape into two equal halves: an axis of symmetry 2 in mathematics one of the two fixed

showing measurements or finding the position of points on a graph: the vertical/ horizontal axis 3 an agreement between two or more countries or people that gives them power or influence: the Parislines used for

Berlin axis

Ax-is, the /'aeksis/ the group of countries including Germany, Italy, and Japan that fought against Britain, France, the United States, and other countries in World War II. The group is also known as the Axis powers or the Axis countries. ax-le /'aeksl/ noun [c] a metal bar that connects a pair of wheels on a car or other vehicle a»ya*toMah /.aia'tab/ noun [c] an important religious leader in Iran who often has political as well as religious influence

aye

1

/ai/ noun [C] formal a vote in support of something, or someone who votes this way: The ayes have it (=most people have voted yes).

aye 2

/ai/ interjection BrE a word used for saying "yes" by people in some parts of the U.K., especially Scotland Ayurvedic med-i-cine /ajo.veidik 'medism/ noun [U] a traditional system of medicine from India that gives people advice on food and the way they live

— A*yur«ved«ic adj

AZ abbrev Arizona azal-ea

/a'zeilia/ noun [C] a bush with pink, purple, or yellow flowers grown in yards

az-i-muth

/'aezimaO/ noun [c] technical the angle of the imaginary line between the position of an airplane, and the position of another object aZ'Ure /'x^r/ adj literary bright blue az«ure noun [u] ship, etc.

—

Bb B

b

/bi:/ (plural b's) or (plural B's) noun 1 [c] the second English alphabet. B is a consonant. 2 B [C/U] the seventh note of a musical scale in C major 2a. [u] the musical key based on the note B 3 B [C] a grade that is given in a school, college, or university for work that is a little better than average: I got a B on my History assignment. 4 B [u] a common blood type -» B AND S, B-LIST letter of the

B

abbrev be: used in e-mails and text messages a. used for replacing "be" in other words: B4 (=before)

b. abbrev born: used before the date of someone's birth in a book, article, etc.

B2B /,bi

ta 'bi/ adj business business-to-business:

a type

of business activity in which companies use the Internet to trade with each other: There has been a rapid rise in

B2B e-commerce

B2C / ,bi

in recent years.

ta 'si/ adj business business-to-consumer: a type

of business activity in which companies use the Internet and services directly to customers

to sell products

B-52 / ,bi

fifti

noun

'tu/

[C]

a large U.S. bomber (=military

airplane that drops bombs)

B

&B

noun [c] a bed and breakfast B.A. /,bi 'ei/ noun [C] Bachelor of Arts: a first degree in a subject such as languages or history from a college or university. A first degree in a scientific subject is a B.S. Jen has a B.A. in literature, a. used after someone's name for showing that they have earned a B.A. degree baa /ba/ verb [I] to make the sound that a sheep makes baa noun [C] bab*ble 1 / 'baebl/ verb 1 [i/T] to speak quickly in a way that other people cannot understand easily: He was babbling something about his mother. 1a. to talk for a long time about things that are not interesting or important 2 [l] to make the gentle pleasant sound of water as it moves along in a river: a babbling brook 3 [I] to make a sound like a baby who cannot talk yet bab-ble 2 /'baebl/ noun [singular] 1 the noise of a lot of / ,bi

an

'bi/

:

—

talking at the same time: a confused babble of voices 2 the gentle pleasant sound of water as it moves along in a river voices

all

babe /beib/ noun [C] 1 informal an attractive young woman or man. Many women find this offensive: What 2 spoken used

a babe!

for talking to a close friend or

someone you love: Let's go, babe. It's getting late. 2a. used by some men when they are talking to a young woman. Many women find this offensive. 3 literary a baby babe in 'arms noun [c] 1 someone who is young and does not have much experience 2 literary a very young baby ba*bel /'beibl; 'baebl/ noun [singular] formal the noise of a lot of voices all talking at the same time

From

the story in the Bible of the "tower of Babel." tried to build this tower to reach heaven,

2

informal a project or piece of work that you care about a lot, especially because it was your idea: Steve has always seen the book as his baby. 3 someone who is behaving in a way that is weak, silly, or not brave: Don't be such a big baby! 4 spoken used for talking to someone you love, especially to someone you are in a romantic relationship with or to your child: What's the matter, baby? 4a. sb's baby the person that someone loves or is having a romantic relationship with 4b. used by some men when they are talking to a young woman. Many women find this offensive.

5 informal the youngest member of a family or other group: At 18, Owen was the baby of the team. this/that baby spoken used for referring to an exciting or interesting vehicle or machine: Let's take this baby out for a drive. throw the baby out with the bathwater to get rid of the good and useful aspects of something without intending to, while you try to get rid of its negative aspects

Talking or writing about talking

unborn child or fetus medical a baby when it is developing in its mother's body: There is strong evidence that smoking can affect the unborn child.

newborn

who was born very recently who is too young to walk or talk

a baby

infant a baby

talking about being pregnant pregnancy the time when a woman has a baby developing in her body: It was an easy pregnancy. Maria felt sick throughout her pregnancy.

be having a baby or going to have a baby to be pregnant: She's having another baby in the fall. be expecting informal to be pregnant: Did you know that Sarah is expecting? prenatal used for describing medical care that is given women who are pregnant: J have a prenatal checkup tomorrow.

to

maternity relating to the period before and just after a baby is born: maternity clothes six months' maternity leave

when

a

baby

is

born

birth the process of being born

delivery the process of helping a woman with the birth of her baby: an easy delivery the delivery room

labor the period of giving birth, from the time a starts feeling pains until the time the baby

woman

contractions or labor pains the pains that a while giving birth

feels

God punished them by making

midwife someone who

it

impossible for them

magnet

noun

[c]

owns

it:

This car

is

a

something that person that babe magnet. 2 an attract-

humorous

attracts people, especially

women,

definite

1

to the

man ba-boon /bs'bun/ noun ive

[C] a type of large monkey from Africa or South Asia that lives on the ground

baby

1

/'beibi/ noun [C]

is

trained to help

woman

women

give

birth

understand each other's languages.

'babe

is

born

When people to

having a baby

about a baby

***

obstetrician a doctor whose job is to care for women they are pregnant and help them give birth

when

cesarean a medical operation to deliver a baby by making a cut in the woman's stomach miscarriage the birth of a baby before it has developed enough to stay alive premature used for describing a baby who is born before the usual time

young child/animal 2 project you care about 3 sb being weak or silly 1

1

a very young child

4 sb you love 5 youngest member + PHRASES

who cannot

yet talk or walk.

A

is old enough to walk is a toddler: May I hold give birth to/ baby? their new baby daughter be have a baby I'm hoping to have the baby at home. expecting/having a baby (=be pregnant) She's expecting a baby in November, —picture -» child la. [usually before noun] a very young animal: a baby elephant baby seals

baby who the

ba«by 2 /'bcibi/ verb [t] to treat someone like a young child when they are old enough to do things for themselves: Grandma still likes to baby us. ba«by 3 /'beibi/ adj [only before noun] baby vegetables are smaller than usual and have a sweeter taste: baby carrots

baby corn

baby- blue adj light blue in color— baby bluenoun[u] baby blues noun [plural] informal 1 a feeling of sadness that some women have for a short period after

°l

baby book

boom

1964.

'baby

boomer noun [C]

someone who was born during II. Baby boomers are

the baby boom after World War often simply called boomers.

to celebrate the fact that

first university degree. degree that you can study for after your bachelor's degree is called a master's degree.

A

bacillus

/bs'sibs/ (plural ba»ciMi /ba'si.lai/) noun [C] medical a type of bacteria with a long straight shape,

back 1

with / beibi ,feist/ ad] a baby-faced adult has a like a young child's

'baby and

,fat noun [u] extra fat that some children have that they often lose as they become teenagers

baby food

noun [u] special food for babies that has been cut into small pieces and cooked so that it is soft and smooth baby 'grand noun [c] a small grand piano Ba-bygro /'beibi.groo/ BrE trademark a sleeper (=piece of clothing) for a baby ba*by*ish /'beibiiJV adj 1 appropriate only for a baby or young child, not for an adult or older child: The students found the exercises a little babyish. 2 like a baby: her babyish looks

'baby ,milk noun

BrE

[u]

formula (=liquid food for

babies similar to milk)

baby

oil noun [C/u] a gentle type of onto your skin to make it softer

oil that

you put

[u] a type of plant with many small white flowers that is often used for decoration with other flowers baby shower noun [C] Am E a party for a woman who is going to have a baby at which her friends give her

.baby's 'breath noun

presents for the baby

baby

sit

/ 'beibi.sit/ (past

/'beibi.saet/) verb [i/t]

tense and past participle ba-bysat

•

1 to take care of children in their home while their parents are not there, especially in the evening: I'll ask my mother to babysit. 2 to stay with or take care of a person or thing that you do not want to be left alone: Would you babysit my ba-bysit-ting noun [u] plants while I'm on vacation?

—

babysitter /'beibi.sitsr/ noun

[c]

*

in the evening

AmE

someone whose job is to take care of other people's children while they are at work. BrE childminder: The job wouldn't even pay enough to cover the cost of a babysitter for my kids.

baby

.talk noun [u] sounds and words that babies make are learning to speak, or similar sounds and words that adults use when talking to babies 'baby .tooth noun [c] one of the first set of teeth that young children get

when they

baccalaureate

/.baeka'brist/ noun [c] 1 formal a bachelor's degree 2 an examination that you take when you are 18 years old in France and some other countries that allows you to study at a university -» international baccalaureate

bacchanalian

/.baeka'neilian/ adj formal a bac-

chanalian party involves noisy and uncontrolled enjoyment and usually a lot of alcohol or sex bach«e*lor /'baetjsbr/ noun [c] a man who has never been married. It is more usual to say that someone who is

not married

is

single.

who many women want and

attractive.

A

An

eligible bachelor

is

one

marry because he is rich confirmed bachelor is a man who to

does not intend ever to get married. noun [c] a small apartment, consisting of a main room for living in, a kitchen, and a bathroom, suitable for a person who is not married

bachelor apartment

which cause diseases:

/bask/

the

TB

bacillus

adv***

returning to place/state

5 toward beginning of 6 in/into the past 7 in a different place + PHRASES

sth

1 returning to a place or position: I'm never going back home. Put those CDs back where you found them. la. returning to an earlier state or condition: We're hoping things will be back to normal again soon. / couldn 't get back to sleep. 1b. returning to a previous point in a discussion: Can we go back to what we were talking about

earlier?

2

as a reply to someone: Jane phoned, and I said you'd her back later. "Do you have any idea where we are?" Dan shouted back. 2a. doing the same thing to someone as they have done to you: He punched me, so I punched him back. look/stare/smile etc. back Jeff was staring back at me in disbelief. 3 in the direction that is behind you: Don 't look back, but there's a man following us. He asked us to move back a few yards. 3a. in a position where your back is leaning backward: lean/sit/lie back She leaned back in her chair. I'm going to sit back and read the paper for a while. 4 away from someone or something, especially because they are dangerous: Get back - he has a gun! Everybody stand back while I light the fire. 4a. away from an original position or place: The band started playing as the curtain slowly went back. 4b. away from your face: Her hair was tied back in a pony tail. 5 toward the beginning of something such as a trip or a book: You should have gotten off three stops back. Go back a couple of pages. 6 used for talking about a period of time in the past: Back in the 70s, disco music was very popular. She had a minor operation a few years back. Things were different back then. 6a. to a period of time in the past: Think back; don't you remember anything? 6b. to an earlier time on a clock or watch: set/ put the clock back Don't opposite forget to set the clocks back an hour tonight. call

"No, "

—

forward

someone you pay to come to your house and take care of your children while you are not there, especially 1

2

of 1

2 as reply or reaction 3 away from the front 4 away from sb/sth

baby-faced round face

one of them will be getting

married soon. Br E stag night bachelor's de.gree noun [c] a

wheels and a handle to

to sit or lie in, that has four it

bachelor pad noun [c] informal an apartment where a man who is not married lives bachelor party noun [c] AmE a party for men only

some

baby buggy noun [C] 1 Am E old-fashioned a baby carriage 2 Br E a stroller baby .carriage noun [c] Am E a type of bed for a baby push

back

84

they have had a baby: postnatal depression 2 someone's blue eyes baby book noun [c] a special book for keeping pictures and information about someone when they are a baby noun [C] informal a big increase in the baby number of babies being born. There was a famous baby boom in the U.S. and Europe between about 1945 and

7

in a place that you have mentioned before, but that is different from the one you have just been talking about: Back at the hospital, the baby had just been born. 7a. used for talking about a place where you live or work or used to live or work when you are in a different Back place: / have no idea what's going on back home. in Missouri, the summers are much hotter than here.

back and forth moving

first in one direction and then in the opposite direction many times: We ran back and forth, carrying buckets of water. -» back-to-back, back to front

back 2

/baek/

adj [only before noun]

***

farthest from the front: There's a map on the back the back bedroom -» back door page. the back porch 2 used for describing money that is owed from an earlier date and has not been paid yet: back pay /taxes/ rent 1

back street/road/alley a street/road from any main streets

back 3 /baek/ 1 part of

noun

[c]

etc. that is

away

••*

your body

2 part farthest from front 3 outside behind a building

4 5

of page/picture etc. in

sports

+ PHRASES

1 the part of your body between your neck and your bottom, on the opposite side to your chest and stomach. The row of bones inside the back is called the backbone or spine: Will you scratch my back for me? He's broken (flat) on your back She was his back, but he's still alive.

I

back

Am

back 2a. the part of a chair that you lean on when you are sitting on it: What's that mark on the back of the sofa? 3 an outside area behind a house or other building: out back The kids are playing out back. 4 the side of a page, card, picture, etc. that is not the main side: on the back a concert program with Madonna's autograph on the back + of I'll put my name on the back of the envelope. 4a. the last part of a book, newspaper, etc.: + of A page had been torn out of the back of the book. in the back a dictionary with a list of irregular verbs in the back 5 a player on a football or soccer team whose job is to defend (=stop the other team from scoring goals) 5a. one of the positions on a team where a back plays, behind the front line of players

behind sb's back if you do something bad or unkind behind someone's back, you do it without them knowing: The kids were always making fun of him behind his back.

my

back spoken used for telling someone to stop get off criticizing you or telling you what to do get/put sb's back up BrE informal to annoy someone so that they make things difficult for you glad/happy /pleased to see the back of mainly BrE informal happy when you do not have to deal with someone or something anymore because they are annoying or unpleasant: can't wait to see the back of His wife couldn't wait to see the back of him.

have your back to the wall to be in a difficult situation with few choices, so that you have to work or fight very hard: Penn State had its back to the wall throughout the second half. in back of Am E behind someone or something: We caught them hiding in back of the house. in the back of your mind if something is in the back of your mind, you are thinking about it or it is affecting how you behave, perhaps without your realizing it: The thought that Paul might leave was always in the back of her mind. know sth like the back of your hand to be very familiar with something, especially a place or way of going

somewhere on sb's back informal always criticizing someone, or telling them to do things: You're always on my back about something. on the back of sth because of something, or helped by something: Share prices rose sharply on the back of a rise in profits.

put your back into sth Br E informal to do something, especially physical work, with a lot of effort when sb's back is turned when someone is not there, or is not paying attention 2 -» BEYOND TURN 1

,

support sb/sth

2 move backward 3 bet on sb/sth

4 play/sing music 5 have sth behind

[t]

to give

structure projects. phrasal vb [l] to stop asking for something, or stop saying that you will do something, because a lot of people oppose you: Neither side will back down because both believe they are right. + on We will not back down on the decision to strike. back off phrasal vb [I] 1 to move backward in order to get farther away from something: Everyone back off and let the doctor through. 2 to stop criticizing someone or telling them what to do: Back off will you? I'll tell you

back down

when I'm ready! back .onto phrasal vb

[T] [back onto sth] if a building, yard, etc. backs onto a place, that place is directly behind it: afield that backs onto the railroad tracks back out phrasal vb [l] to decide not to do something you agreed to do: I promised to help and I'm not backing out now. +of We're hoping that no one will back out of the

deal.

.back up phrasal vb

1 [T] [back sb up] to give support to telling other people that you agree with them: If I ask for more money will you back me up? 2 [t] to show that an explanation or belief is probably true: All the evidence backs up her story. 3 [l/T] to make a copy of information on your computer 4 [l/T] if traffic backs up, or is backed up, the vehicles are in a long line and waiting to continue moving: Cars were backed up for miles. Traffic is backing up on all routes out of town. 4a. if a toilet, sink, or drain backs up, or is backed up. water cannot flow through it because something is blocking it 4b. if a system backs up, or is backed up, it has slowed down or stopped working because there is too much of something for it to deal with: Orders are really backed up this month. 5 [i] to move backward a short distance: / need everyone to back up about 10 steps. 6 [l/T] to make a car go backward: See if you can back up a little farther. back sth up sth I'll back the car up the driveway. 7 [\]AmE used for telling someone to return to something that was said earlier: Back up: didn't you say they had already met? backache /'baek.eik/ noun [C/U] a pain or pains in your back: She often suffers from backaches.

someone by

back-alley illegally

adj

[only

before noun]

by people who are not very

done secretly or skillful:

a back-alley

abortion

backbench /baek 'bent

J; 'bsk,bentJ/noun[C]Br£one of the seats in the British Parliament where ordinary Members of Parliament sit. The leading members of each party sit on the front bench: a backbench Member

back-bit-ing /'b£ek,baitin/ noun [u] unpleasant comments and criticisms made about someone who is not it

+ PHRASES

support to a person, organization, or plan, making them more likely to succeed: Both main parties are backing these proposals. back sb on sth We'll back you all the way on this one! 1a. [usually passive] to make an order or request more effective by threatening to do something if people do not do what you want: Schools need to have clear rules on bullying, backed by a system of punishments. 2 [I/T] [+into/onto/out of etc] to move backward or make someone move backward: She backed out of the room carrying a tray. He backed me into a corner at the party. 2a. to make a car move backward: reverse: Could you just back onto the driveway? 3 [T] to bet (=risk money) that a particular person or animal will win a race or competition: I'm backing France to win the championship. 4 [T often passive] to play or sing the music that goes with the main singer or musician's performance: Manilow was backed by a full orchestra. 5 [T always passive] if a place is backed by something, it has something at the back of it or directly behind it: a large garden backed by trees 1

back the right/wrong horse to support someone or something that succeeds/fails back a way phrasal vb [i] 1 to move away backward from someone, for example because you are afraid: + from The photo showed a woman backing away from a man with a gun. 2 to gradually become less involved in something: + from The World Bank is backing away from big infra-

of Parliament

back 4 /back/ verb ••• 1

backcloth

85

lying flat on her back on the bed. —picture -> body 2 the part of something that is farthest from the front: + of Get in the back of the car. The sun burned the back E: a cotton dress with a bow in of my neck. * in back

there

back-board

/'baek.bDrd/ noun [C] in basketball, the picture -» cis board behind the basket (=net) back-bone / 'baek.boon/ noun * 1 [C] the row of small bones that goes down the middle of your back: spine —picture -> body 2 [U] the determination and strong personality that you need in order to do what is right or deal with a difficult situation: Martha will do whatever Walter tells her, she has no backbone. the backbone of sth the part of something that makes it successful or strong: mainstay: Ordinary volunteers form the backbone of most charitable organizations. back-break-ing /'b;ck breikin/ adj physically very hard and tiring: Cleaning all the floors was backbrcaking

—

work.

back burner

noun put sth on the back burner inforwith something until later back 'catalog noun [c] all the books, movies, or records a company or artist has produced in the past back-chat / ba.'k.ljict/ noun [U] Br E informal back talk back-cloth /'ba.'k.k b()/ noun [c] Br Ea backdrop

mal

to decide not to deal

^

b

backcomb baek.koom/ verb

[t]

mainly Br E to tease

your hair

back copy

back passage

86

back-comb /

noun

[c]

a back issue of a newspaper or

situation in which people do not notice you: Jo does the publicity work, while Ed stays pretty much in the

background.

AmE mainly journalism if someone speaks to a reporter on background, they provide information that can be published but do not allow their name to be used on background

magazine

back country

noun

AmE

[u)

a country area

where

many people / baek'deit/ verb [t] 1 to make a rule or law be effective from a date in the past 2 to write a date on a document or check that is earlier than the there are not

back-date

Words

start to

date

when

it

back door

was noun

really written [c]

*

frequently used with

adjectives

a door at the back or side of a

religious, social

by /through the back door using secret or dishonest methods to achieve something, and hoping that people do not realize what is happening: They managed to sneak the legislation in through the back door.

back-door / 'baek.dor/ adj or illegal: a backdoor plan

secret and usually dishonest lend money to candidates for

to

local office

/'baek.drap/ noun [c] * everything that you can see behind the main thing you are looking at: The lake and mountains provided a dazzling backdrop for the ceremony. 1a. a painted cloth

back-drop 1

back of the stage in a theater 2 the situation or place in which something happens: Her new novel has 19th-century China as its backdrop. at the

Negotiations were carried out against a backdrop of continued fighting.

-backed

/baekt/ suffix 1 used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning that a group or action is supported by an organization or country, usually a powerful one: the military-backed government a U.S.backed peace plan 2 used with some adjectives to make adjectives describing what type of back someone or something has: a high-backed chair 3 used with some nouns to make adjectives meaning that something has a particular substance or material on the back .foam-

backed carpet

/'baek.graundar/ noun [C] an informal meeting in which a government official gives reporters extra information about a political situation

background music

noun [u] 1 quiet music that plays in a public place 2 the music used in a movie to create a particular mood

background noise heard in addition

back-hand

1

/'bskhaend/ noun [C] in tennis and similar sports, a movement made to hit the ball in which the back of your hand moves toward the ball

— picture -» ci4 back-hand 2

/'baek.haend/ verb

similar sports, a backhanded shot is made by the back of your hand toward the ball

back-hoe

who

/'baek.hou/ noun

back f or mation

noun

[i]

1

if

[c] linguistics

a

new word

that

formed by removing a part of another word. In English, "burgle" is a back formation from "burglar." back-gam-mon /'baek .gasman/ noun [u] a game for two people played on a board using two dice and counters (=round pieces) in two different colors back-ground /'baek.graund/ noun ••• is

the type of career, training, or education that helps him a his job. +in We are looking for writers with a background in law. la. the type of culture, economic situation, or social status that someone comes from: students from very different backgrounds The mayor's background is solidly middle class. 2 [C/U] the general situation in which something happens: +of The talks have been taking place against a background of increasing violence. 2a. information about what has happened in the past that helps you to understand the present situation: Let me give you a little background about myself. +to We need to know the background to the case. background information/ knowledge /reading /material You'll need some background information on the local economy. 3 [C] the part of a picture or pattern that is behind the main people or things in it. The main person or thing is in the foreground: a red cross on a white background 1

a large machine used

/'baeknj/ noun [u] support, help, or active approval: endorsement: The the backing of several leading Democrats. material used for making the back of something:

2

mainly

BrE music

that

main singer's voice back issue noun [c] an

is

played or sung to add to

the

old copy of a magazine or

newspaper

a plan or idea backfires, it has the opposite effect of the one that you wanted: His plan backfired when Sue discovered the hidden presents. 2 if a car backfires, its engine makes a loud noise like an explosion /'baek.fair/ verb

[C]

moving

**

back-ing

3

play in the backfield

back-fire

using a

for digging holes

carpet backing

/'baek.fild/ noun [u] in football, the position the first line of players on a team a. the players

to hit a ball

/.bsk'hasndad/ adj 1 said in a way that seems to express admiration but really expresses the opposite: a backhanded compliment 2 in tennis and

a crucial meeting with our

back-field

[t]

backhand

backhanded

1

bill.

noun [C/u] noise that can be main thing you are listening

to the

to

new policy has

of the key backers of the financial backers

AmE

back-ground-er

back-er /'baeksr/ noun [c] someone who gives help or money to a plan or organization: Senator Taylor is one

behind

1

ethnic, middle-class, privileged,

building

hanging

background

blue-collar, cultural,

disadvantaged, educational,

[C]

someone has had: His musical background lot in

in the background 1 behind the main person or thing you are looking at: a picture of palm trees with mountains in the background 2 a sound in the background can be heard in addition to the main thing you are listening to: / could hear a TV in the background. 3 in a place or

back-lash

/'bcek.laeJV noun [c] a strong, negative, and often angry reaction to something that has happened,

especially a political or social change: They feared a backlash against the new laws.

back-less / 'baekbs/ adj

a backless dress does not cover a woman's back and shoulders

back-list

/'baek.hst/ noun [c] a fist of all the books that a company has published in the past that are still available /'baek.ht/ adj someone or something that backlit has light shining at them from behind

back-lit

is

back-log

/'baek.lag/ noun [singular] an amount of work or other things that you should already have done or dealt with: We're working weekends in order to clear a backlog of orders.

back 'number

noun

[c]

a back issue

business a department of a bank or other financial institution in which people check the work of other people who work for the institution, for example by checking that all business deals are legal and correct

.back office noun

[c]

back-pack

/'baek,paek/ noun [c] a large bag that you carry on your back, especially when you are going picture -» bag climbing or walking

—

back-pack-er

/'bsek.paeksr/ noun [C] someone, especially a young person without much money, who travels around an area on foot or public transportation, often carrying a backpack

back-pack-ing

/'bsk.paekin/ noun [u] the activity of traveling around an area without spending much money, often on foot and carrying a backpack

back passage

noun [C] BrE a person's rectum (=the part of your body where solid waste comes out), used for example by doctors to avoid embarrassing people

back pay [u]

back-ped-al-ing or back-ped-al«ling; past tense and past parback-ped-aled or back-ped-alled) verb [l] 1 to show

ticiple

that you are no longer certain about a previous opinion, intention, or promise: Congress is backpedaling on the proposed legislation. 2 to pedal backward on a bicycle

back-rest

/'baek.rest/ noun [c] the part of a piece of furniture that supports your back

back-room

/'back.rum/ adj [only before noun] used for describing work that is important but is done in a private or secret way, or the people who do this work:

backroom

political deals

the

backroom

staff

back-scratch-ing

/ back .skraet Jin/ noun [u] informal help that two people or organizations give to each other, often secretly or illegally, so that each of them gets

benefits

back seat

noun

[c]

a seat behind the driver of a car

take a back seat 1 to become less important: +to Other issues must take a back seat to this crisis. 2 to deliberately become less active, and give up trying to control things: I'll be happy to take a back seat when Robin takes over.

.back seat 'driver noun

[c]

someone who keeps

1

giving advice about things that they are not responsible for 2 someone in a car who keeps telling the driver what to do and how to drive

back-side

/'baek.said/ noun [c] informal the part of sit on: bottom

your body that you

back-slap-ping

/'baek.slaepm/ noun [u] praise or friendly support expressed in a very enthusiastic way

back-slash

/'baek.slaeJV noun [cj the symbol \ used for separating words or numbers, especially in the names of computer files. The similar symbol / is called a

forward

slash.

back-slid-ing/'baek.slaidin/noun [u] informal the lazy behavior of someone who goes back to doing something bad after not doing it for some time: I've quit smoking again, and there'll be no backsliding this time. back-slid-er noun [C] back-space 1 /'baek.speis/ noun [singular] the key that you press on a keyboard to move one space backward

—

in a

document

back-space 2 more

/'baek.speis/ verb [i] to move back one or spaces along a line of writing on a computer

screen or on a typewriter

back-spin

/'baek.spm/ noun [u] the movement of a ball it goes forward back-stab-bing /'baek.staebnj/ noun [u] unpleasant things that people say or do in order to harm someone's reputation: Harman claimed she was the victim of backstabbing by jealous colleagues. back-stage 1 /bsek'steid3/ adv 1 in the area behind the stage in a theater, including the rooms where the actors get dressed 2 informal in a position where you know about private or secret things back-stage 2 /,baek'steid3/ adj 1 relating to the area behind the stage in a theater, including the rooms where the actors get dressed: a backstage pass (=a special ticket that allows you to go backstage) 2 informal happening in private or in secret that spins

backward as

back-stairs

/.baek'sterz/

usually dishonest or

adj

informal

secret

illegal: backstairs deals

and

among pol-

iticians

back-street 1 town or

backwater

87

pay noun

money that is owed to someone who works for a company but that has not been paid yet back-ped-al /baek'pedl; 'bask.pedl/ (present participle

'back

/'baek.strit/

noun

[c]

a small street in a

city

back-street 2

/'baek.strit/ adj [only before noun]

BrE

done secretly or

very

skillful

illegally

by people who

back-stroke /'baek.strook/ noun swimming on your back

[singular/u]

mainly are not

a style of

back-swing

/'baek.swirj/ noun [c] the first part of the movement you make when hitting a ball in golf, starting with the club on the ground and moving it into the air

above your head —picture -» ch 'back .talk noun [u] AmE a rude way of answering someone who is telling you what to do

back tax

noun [c/u] tax that you owed at an earlier time but did not pay back-to- back adj, adv happening one after the other: Bill won two golf tournaments back-to-back. back-to-back

games

back to front adv BrE with and the back part on back

the front part at the back, at the front: backward: Your skirt is

to front.

back-to- nature ad] (only before noun] involving a simpler, more relaxed life in which you leave the city, grow your own food, and use less modern technology back-track /biek, track/ verb [i] 1 to go back in the direction from which you have come 2 to change your intentions, so that you become less willing or less likely to do something that you said you would do: +on The government spending. before

backtracking on

is

3

its

commitment to increase you were discussing

to return to a subject

•

back-up

/'baek.Ap/ noun 1 C computing a copy of information on your computer that you make in case you lose the information: Remember to do regular backups. a backup copy 2 [C/U] people or equipment that can be used when extra help is needed: I've got my mother as a backup in case the babysitter cancels. They realized that Sykes was armed, and radioed for backup. a backup generator crew 3 [U] music that is played or sung to add to the main singer's voice: Her sister goes on tour with her and sings backup. a backup vocalist [

]

AmE a

backup

.light noun [C] car that lights when the car

back-ward 1

1

/'backward/

[only before noun]

is

adj

on the back of a

light

moving backward

•

moving or looking

in the direction

behind you: a backward glance 2 not developing quickly, normally, and successfully: remote and backward region 2a. old-fashioned an offena sive word for someone who is unable to make normal that

is

It is more polite to say that someone has learning disabilities. a backward step or a step backward an action that does not bring progress, but makes the situation as bad as it was in the past: By cutting expenditure on health care, I feel we are taking a backward step to the bad old back-ward-ness noun [u] days.

progress in learning.

—

back-ward 2

/'backward/ adv

••

1 in the direction that is behind you: He was thrown backward by the force of the explosion. / glanced backward over my shoulder to see if anyone was following me. a car rolling backward down a hill 2 in the opposite way or order from usual: Count backward from ten to one. Let's work backward through all the steps in the process so we can see where we went wrong. 2a. with the back part in front: Your shirt is on

backward.

3 toward a time in the past It that we can understand how

's only by looking backward these rivalries developed. 3a. not progressing but changing back to a former worse state: With these new, weaker pollution controls, the Administration seems to be moving backward. :

backward and forward or backwards and forwards moving first in one direction and then in the opposite and doing this again and again: Charles began pace backward and forward, up and down the room. sth backward and forward to know something very well -» BEND backward-compatible ad) computing computer software that is backward-compatible can operate with previous pieces of software of the same type direction, to

know

1

— backward compati bility noun [U]

backward- looking

adj not interested in or ways of doing things: reactionary back-wards /'bickwordz/ adv * backwakd

back-wash

/'ba-kwaJV noun

[u]

1

the

new

ideas

movement

of

waves as they leave the land 2 things that happen as a result of something that happened earlier: fallout: They were caught

in the political

backwash of the

incident.

backwater

f"bcek wntor/ noun [singular] 1 a place, situation, or organization in which nothing exciting or

important happens, and in which people still have oldfashioned ideas: The city was seen as a provincial back-

^

backwoods but

n

is

badge

2 an area

water.

of water that

not affected by

its

connected to a river

is

current

back-woods /'bickwodz/ noun

an area that is a place that has not

[plural]

away from any towns, usually become modern

far yet

back-yard /'baekjard/ or back 'yard noun [c] * 1 Am E an area behind a house, usually with grass and plants.

Br E back garden:

vegetables

grown

in

your own

backyard

2 Br E an area behind

a house covered with a hard

brick or stone surface in your (own) backyard informal in a place close to you or in a situation that you are directly involved in: It's not the kind of thing you expect to happen in your own backyard. not in my backyard mainly journalism used for describing people's reaction to an official plan, when they support the idea but do not want it to happen in the area where they live. People with this attitude are

sometimes called nimbys. /'beikan/ noun [U]

*

ba-con

meat from a pig that treated with smoke or salt, and is often cooked rashers (=thin pieces): bacon and eggs bring home the bacon informal to earn money support your family -» save

is

in

in a bad way informal unhappy, sick, or in a serious condition: She was in a bad way after the accident. With high inflation and rising levels of debt, the economy is in a bad way. not bad informal fairly good, or better than you expected: "How do you feel this morning?" "Not bad, thanks. " Those pictures aren't bad for a beginner. not too bad We thought it would be awful, but it wasn't too bad. too bad spoken 1 used for saying that you are sorry or sympathetic about something: That's too bad about your sister losing her job. 2 used for showing that you are not sympathetic at all or you do not really care what someone else thinks: If you don't like the truth, that's just too bad. If they like it, fine. If not, too bad!

Words you can use Bad

instead of

appropriate

in

particular situations.

meal/film/TV show/ weather/behavior/ book/ party

awful, terrible, appalling, lousy (informal)

person

nasty, unpleasant, horrible, wicked, mean

illness / inj ury / problem

serious, severe,

performance /piece of work/teacher/singer

incompetent, poor, secondrate, useless (informal),

something causing or bad effects

harmful, damaging, unhealthy, dangerous

to

1

bac-te-ri-a /baek'tiria/ (singular bac*te*ri*um /bask'tirism/) noun [plural] *• very small living things that are made of a single cell. Some types of bacteria cause diseases.

— bac-te-ri-al adj

not

bac-te-ri-ol-o-gy /baek,tiri'abd3i/ noun entific

[u]

1

/baed/ (comparative worse /w3rs/;

[c]

/baed/ noun take the bad with the good to accept bad things happen and not complain about them bad Am E spoken used mainly by young people, for admitting that you have done something wrong to the bad if you are a particular amount of money to the bad, you have lost that amount: It was a disastrous deal that left the French company over $300 million to the that

7 no longer fresh/good

8 good + PHRASES

bad.

bad 3 /baed/ adv spoken badly. Many people consider this

not pleasant or enjoyable The weather was really bad rained all week. She was feeling stressed after a bad I'm afraid I have some bad news for you. For people living alone, Christmas is often the worst time of the year. 2 likely to cause major problems: serious: a bad accident /mistake lease of the flu Police used tear gas, but that just made the situation worse. It was the worst scandal of the Clinton presidency. go from bad to worse In the second half of the game, things went from bad to worse. 2a. likely to harm your health or your body: a bad diet +for Too much salt can be bad for your heart. 2b. likely to damage your success or people's opinion of you: The show got a really bad review in the Sunday paper. Worried about bad publicity, the drug companies agreed to reduce their prices. +for They are trying to develop tourism, but high crime rates are bad for business. 3 of very low quality: one of this year's worst movies :

use incorrect:

it

sb's got

day at work. a bad dream

is

bad management / workmanship

The show was so bad off after two episodes. 3a. not at all skillful: incompetent: a bad driver /teacher bad at (doing) sth I'm really bad at remembering people's names. 4 not appropriate or convenient: a bad decision You've been given bad advice. / can come back later if this is a it

bad time for you. 4a. not fair, acceptable, or reasonable: It's bad that you have to treat your customers wait so long for an appointment. 5 used about a part of your body that is causing you pain or not working well: a bad back /leg /stomach You shouldn't try these exercises if you have a bad heart. 6 behaving in a cruel, evil, or criminal way: He wasn't really a bad man, just morally weak. 6a. used about children who do not behave well or obey adults: naughty 7 no longer fresh or good to eat or drink: This milk smells bad. go bad It will go bad if you don't put it in the a bad way to

refrigerator.

8

(comparative badder; superlative baddest)

good. This

word

is

AmE

spoken

used mainly by young people.

feel bad (about) to feel guilty or unhappy about something: Tim felt bad about leaving without even saying

goodbye.

(informal)

bad 2

6 evil/behaving badly

not pleasant or enjoyable

they took

much good

my

2 causing problems/harm 3 of low quality or skill 4 not appropriate/fair 5 painful/injured 1

harm

major

a camel

superlative worst

•••

/W3rst/) adj 1

sci-

study of bacteria

Bac-tri-an cam-el /.baektrian 'kaeml/ noun from Asia with two humps on its back

bad

the

bad

a very general word. Here are some words with specific meanings that sound more natural and

is

more

very

It

hurts real bad

bad humorous used

it

much

when

I run.

for saying that

someone

in love

bad 'apple

noun [C] informal someone who does bad things and influences other people so they that do bad things too

bad-ass

1

/'baed.aes/

noun

someone who can deal with

[c]

AmE

difficult

very informal or dangerous situ-

ations without being afraid

bad-ass 2 / 'baed ,aes / adj Am E very informal 1 very good, fashionable, interesting, etc. 2 ready to behave in an unpleasant way when necessary

bad 'blood

noun [u] angry feelings that people still have toward each other because of something that happened in the past bad 'breath noun [u] breath that smells unpleasant bad 'debt noun [C] money that someone owes but will never pay baddy or bad-die /'baedi/ noun [C] BrE informal a BAD GUY

bade the past tense of bid 3 bad 'faith noun [u] the condition of not being sincere or 1

in bad faith This agreement bad faith. noun [u] BrE old-fashioned behavior that people do not like because it breaks a social rule badge /baed3/ noun [C] * 1 a special piece of metal, cloth, or plastic, often with words or symbols on it, that you wear or carry with you to show your rank or official position: a police badge Employees should wear their badges at all times in the building. 1a. a similar object that shows that you have achieved something: a scout badge 2 BrE a button that shows that you support a particular group or idea

honest about your intentions:

was made

in

bad 'form

a badge of sth something that represents a particular quality or type of person: He saw his battle scar as a badge of honor.

badger badg-er

1

baggage /'baed33i7 verb

[T]

to try to

make someone do

something by asking them many times: pester: They me to take them to the show. badg-er 2 /'baed3or/ noun [c] a wild animal that lives in a hole in the ground and has short legs and thick dark fur with a white area on its head —picture -» cia 'bad ,guy noun [c] AmE someone who does cruel or illegal things, especially in a book or movie bad 'hair ,day noun [c usually singular] informal 1 a day when your hair looks messy and you do not feel attractive 2 a difficult day when nothing seems to go well for you bad-i-nage /,baedn'a3/ noun [u] literary conversation with a lot of jokes and clever comments in it bad-lands /'baed.laendz/ noun [plural] areas of land where nothing grows and there are only rocks, especially in North America bad 'language noun [u] rude words: swearing keep badgering

2

offensive

an insulting word

for a

woman,

especially

one who is old a bag of bones informal a person or animal that

is

much

too thin

bags of sth BrE spoken

a lot of something: a young athlete

with bags of potential

bags under your eyes loose dark areas of skin below your eyes that you get, for example, when you have not had enough sleep be in the bag informal used for saying that you are certain to get or achieve something: It was a good interview and I thought the job was in the bag. not sb's bag informal not something that you enjoy or are interested in: Hiking in the mountains really isn't my bag.

bad-ly

/ 'baedli/ (comparative worse /W3rs/; superlative worst /W3rst/| adv 1 in a way that is not skillful, effective, or successful: She spoke French so badly I couldn't understand her. a badly organized meeting do badly (in/on/at) Why do you think you did so badly on your test? go badly If the war goes badly, he is unlikely to remain in power. 2 in a serious or severe way: Her eye was cut quite badly. One of the prisoners had been badly beaten by guards. badly damaged/hurt/injured/wounded Fortunately, none of the drivers was badly hurt. badly hit/affected London

*••

is one of the worst-affected areas. in an unkind, unfair, or unreasonable that she has been badly treated.

3

4

way: She feels

you need or want something badly, you need or want it very much: How successful you are depends on how badly you want to succeed. Anne was missing him badly. The roof was badly in need of repair. badly paid if someone is badly paid, they do not earn much money, or they earn less money than is fair for the work they do: a badly paid cleaning job think badly of to have a bad opinion of someone or something: Nobody will think badly of you if you fail. if

badly

'off (comparative .worse 'off; superlative .worst 'off) BrE 1 bad off 2 [+for] without enough of something you need: The kids were quite badly off for school clothes. adj

mainly

bad-min-ton

/'bacdmintan/ noun [U] a game in which two or four players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock (=a small light object with feathers on it) to each other across a net

bad-mouth

or

bad-mouth

/'baed.maoG/ verb

[t]

informal to criticize someone or something

.bad

news

noun [u] informal someone or something that tends to cause trouble: Stay clear of his girlfriend bad news.

she's

.bad 'off (comparative .worse 'off; superlative .worst 'off) adj AmE someone who is bad off does not have much money: In the end, they were worse off than when they started.

/.baed 'tempsrd/ adj • someone who bad-tempered easily becomes annoyed or angry used about people's behavior: He gave her a badtempered scowl, b. used about situations or events where people behave in a bad-tempered way: a badtempered debate/game baf-fle/'baefl/verb [T] if a problem, someone's behavior, etc. baffles you, you cannot understand it or solve it: a rare skin condition that has baffled doctors for years baf "fling adj Detectives remain baffled by these murders. bag 1 /baeg/ noun [c] *** 1 a container made of paper, plastic, or cloth, used for carrying or storing things: Put your dirty clothes in the plastic bag. He was weighed down by shopping bags. a golf bag 1a. the things in a bag, or the amount that it contains: +of I've already used about half a bag of flour.

bad-tern -pe red is

a.

—

1b. [often plural] a suitcase or similar container in which you carry clothes and other things you need when you are traveling: The customs officials may want to search your bags. an overnight bag 1c. a container that someone, especially a woman, uses for carrying small personal things: purse: Can I borrow your black bag for the party?

—picture

-» container

bag

/baeg/ verb

1

[t]

to put things into bags: I spent the

morning sorting and bagging old clothes. 2 T informal to get something before other people take it: / managed to bag a table by the window for us. 3 [T] informal to catch and kill an animal that you are hunting 4 [i] if clothes bag, they become stretched and look wide bag-a-telle /.baega'tel/ noun 1 [C usually singular] something that is not very important: That kind of money is a mere bagatelle to her. 2 [U] a game for one person in which a small ball rolls around a board with holes in it. You score points depending on which hole the ball [

]

falls into.

ba-gel /'beigl/ noun [C] a type of bread and round with a hole in the middle

bag-gage

/'bicgid^/ noun [u]

that

is

small

*

1 the suitcases, bags, etc. in which you cany your possessions when you travel: luggage 2 informal problems that someone's past experiences

*

b

baggage car might cause in new baggage ,car noun [c] AmE a part of a train that carries passengers' baggage baggage .claim noun [c usually singular] Am E the place in an airport where people pick up their bags after a

or buy something: inducement: take the bait (^accept what is offered) Interest-free credit is being offered and customers are taking the bait. 2a. someone who is used for attracting and catching someone else, especially a criminal fish

flight

baggage .handler

noun [c] someone whose job is to deal with passengers' baggage at an airport bag-gage re-claim /,baegid3 'rikleim/ noun (U] BrE the baggage claim area of an airport baggage room noun [C] AmE a place in a train station where you can leave your suitcases, bags, etc. temporarily.

Br E

left

luggage

bag-ger / 'basgar/ noun

[C]

Am E someone who works at

a supermarket helping customers to put the things they have bought into bags

Bag-gie

/'baegi/ trademark a clear plastic keeping food in so that it stays fresh

bag used for

bag-ging /'baeginV noun [u] informal an act of placing a small mask over someone's face and squeezing it to help them to breathe

bag«gy / 'baegi/ adj baggy body

balance

90 situations: emotional baggage

— opposite tight

bag lady

clothes are very loose

on your

woman who

has no home and walks around the streets carrying everything that she owns in bags bag-pipes /'baeg.paips/ noun [plural] a Scottish musical instrument consisting of a bag with several pipes sticking out of it. You play it by blowing air through one of noun

[c] impolite

a

the pipes.

baguette

/bae'get/ noun [C] 1 a long thin loaf of bread made in the French style, soft inside and hard outside 2 a diamond or other stone cut in a long narrow shape bah /ba/ interjection used for telling someone that you do not approve of something or do not believe it 1 bail /bed/ noun [U] • money that is given to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison until their trial. If they do not return for the trial, the court keeps the money: She posted bail of $10,000 (=paid this

amount

as bail) against seven charges of tax evasion. set (=decide on the amount of bail) There is a hearing today to set bail. be released/freed on bail She was freed on bail pending an appeal, a. the chance to stay out of prison until your trial: grant sb bail (=allow them to have bail) He was granted bail by the court. (out) on bail offenders who commit crimes while out on bail refuse sb bail The judge is expected to refuse the suspect bail. b. jump/skip bail informal to fail to return to court for bail

your trial 2 bail /bed/ verb

1

[T usually passive] to

allow someone to

stay out of prison while they wait for their trial, after money has been paid as bail: Three of the youths were spoken to bailed and another was detained. 2 [l] bail out of a project, situation, or relationship

AmE

out phrasal vb 1 [T] to help a person or organization is having problems, especially financial problems: The government has already bailed this particular project

bail

that

2 [T] to give money to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison while they wait for their trial: My father got a lawyer and bailed me out. 3 [i] spoken to leave a project, situation, or relationship, especially when it becomes difficult: +of Investors bailed out of high-tech stocks as prices plunged. 4 [I] Am E informal to escape from an airplane by parachute 5 [I/T] to empty water from a boat using a small container bai-ley /'belli/ noun [C] an area of land between the outer and inner walls of a castle bail-iff / beilif / noun [C] 1 Am E someone whose job is to guard prisoners in a court 2 Br E an official whose job is to take away the possessions of someone who has not paid money they owe bail-out /'beil.aot/ noun [c] money that someone gives or lends to a person or organization with financial out once before.

AmE

problems

bairn /bern/ noun [C] Scottish a baby or child bait 1 /belt/ noun [C/U] 1 food used for attracting and catching fish, birds, or animals 2 something that is offered in order to persuade someone to do something

who

or cut bait Am E spoken used for telling someone is talking about doing something to stop talking

and do

it

rise to the bait Br E to become angry deliberately trying to annoy you

when someone

is

2

bait /beit/ verb [t] 1 to put food on a hook or in a trap to attract and catch fish, birds, or other animals 2 to deliberately try to make someone angry baize /beiz/ noun [u] thick green cloth used mainly for covering tables on which games such as pool are played

bake /beik/ verb • 1 [i/T] to make bread, Grandma always baked on

cakes, etc. using an oven: Saturday. I'm baking a cake for Tom's birthday. 1a. [T] to cook food in an oven: Bake the fish for about ten minutes. a baked apple 1b. [l] food that is baking is being cooked in an oven: We could smell the bread baking. 2 [T] to use heat to make something hard: The sun had baked the red earth. 2a. [i] to become hard after being

heated

3 [I] informal to be very hot: open a window?

baked beans

/,beikt

It's

baking in here! Can I

'binz/ noun

[plural]

beans in a

brown sauce, traditionally made by cooking them slowly with onions, molasses, and bacon baked po-ta-to /.beikt ps'teitou/ noun [c] a potato that is baked and served with its skin on Ba-ke-lite /'beik(3),lait/ trademark a type of hard plastic that was used especially in the 1930s and 1940s for making things such as radios and telephones bake- off noun [C] a cooking competition where people sweet, spicy

bake a recipe they have created themselves

bak-er /'beiksr/ noun [C] * someone whose job is to make bread, cakes, etc. .baker's 'dozen noun [singular] old-fashioned 13 of something

bak-er-y

/'beik(3)ri/ noun [C] a building

cakes, etc. are

made

where bread,

or sold

AmE

bake-shop

a store or the /'beik.Jap/ noun [c] part of a supermarket where bread, cakes, etc. are sold

baking powder powder

/'beikin .paodar/ noun [u] a white used in cooking for making cakes rise while

they are baking

bak-ing sheet / 'beikin

Jit/ noun [c] a flat square piece of metal used for baking things such as cookies on: cookie sheet

bak-ing so-da

/'beikin .souds/ noun [u] a white in cooking for making cakes rise while they are baking, and also as a medicine for an upset stomach: bicarbonate of soda Bak-ke decision, the /'baki di.srjn/ a U.S. Supreme Court decision that makes it illegal for a university to refuse to accept a good student simply because it would prefer to accept a student from a race with fewer students in the school

powder used

bak-sheesh

/.bask'fiJV noun [u] very informal a bribe to someone to persuade them to do some-

(=money given

thing dishonest)

bal-a-cla-va /.baeb'klava/ noun [C] a warm hat that covers your head, neck, and usually all of your face except your eyes bal-a-lai-ka /.baeta'laika/ noun [c] a Russian musical instrument with three strings and a body shaped like a TRLANGLE 1

bal-ance /'baebns/ noun 1 ability to

stay upright

2 correct relationship 3 mental/emotional calm 4 money in bank

••• 5 amount remaining

6

majority of information

7 for weighing things

+ PHRASES

1 [U] the ability to remain steady in an upright posiAn ear infection is affecting his balance. 1a. a position in which your body remains steady and upright: lose your balance He lost his balance and tipped backward

tion:

balance to

keep her balance. [C/U] a situation in which different aspects or features are treated equally or exist in the correct relationship to each other: + between It can be hard to find the right balance between advising your children and controlling them. + of A healthy diet is about getting the correct balance of a variety of foods. strike a balance (^achieve a good balance) We want the classes to be both enjoyable and useful - we're trying to strike the right upset/ alter the balance These creatures have balance. upset the delicate ecological balance in the lake. 2a. [sinforce, influence, or idea that is completely difgular] a ferent from another but combines well with it: +to His conservatism is the perfect balance to her outgoing

2

personality.

3

[U] mental or emotional calm: She quickly recovered her balance after the outburst. [C] the amount of money you have in your bank account: The current balance in your checking account is $1,182. 4a. [singular] the amount of money that you owe after paying part of the cost of something: You pay a deposit now and the balance in 12 months. 5 [singular] the amount of something that remains after part has been used: +of You can use the balance of the time to finish the assignment. 6 [singular] the majority of information, opinions, or facts: The balance of public opinion was against the protilt/shift the balance The balance has shifted in posal. favor of the president. -» tip2 7 [C] a piece of equipment used for weighing things, consisting of a bar with a small dish at each end

4

be/hang in the balance if something is in the balance, you do not know whether it will succeed or fail: Jack's career

is

hanging

in the balance while they consider

what

not steady or upright, for example because more weight is on one side: That wheel is off balance, throw/knock sb/sth off balance He kept pulling my arm, throwing me off balance. 2 surprised, upset, or confused by something: throw /knock /catch sb off balance / was thrown completely off balance by Anna's 1

reply.

on balance

after considering all the relevant facts: balance, I think we made the right decision.

On

a balanced package of

tax reforms a balanced person has a sensible and reasonable attitude toward life: stable 3 with all parts combining well together or existing in the correct amounts: ,4 balanced diet contains lots offruit and green vegetables.

2

balance of payments

noun [singular] the difference between the amount of money a country pays to foreign countries and the amount it receives from them balance of power noun [singular] a situation in which each country in a group has equal military and political power so that no one country can control another .balance of 'trade noun [singular] the difference between the value of all the goods a country sells to foreign countries and all the goods it buys from them balance .sheet noun [C] a written statement showing the value of a company at a particular time bal-anc-ing act /'baetansnj ,aekt/ noun [c] the process of trying to achieve something that different groups will all be satisfied with

bal-co-ny /'bslkani/ noun [C] • 1 a place where you can stand

just outside an upper sticks out from the wall of a building. floor in a theater that sticks out over the floor compare circle, stall 2

window.

It

2 an upper

—

main

bald /bold/ adj* 1

with

little

or no hair on your head: a bald spot on the go bald (=lose your hair) / started going

top of his head

bald in

my

twenties.

2 a bald tire is no longer safe to use because its surface is worn smooth 3 a bald statement, fact, truth, etc. is something you say in a direct way, without trying to be sensitive or bald«ness noun [U] polite bald 'eagle noun [c] a large bird with a white head

2

bal-ance 2 /'baebns/

keep your body steady without falling over 1a. [T] to put something carefully

so

steady and does all sat with on our [i] to be steady knees. 1b. in a position where it is possible to fall: Jean went out, the tray balancing precariously in one hand. balance 2 [T] to create or preserve a good or correct balance between different features or aspects: We have to balance balance sth the needs and tastes of all our customers. with/against sth There is a need to balance the demands Development of the workplace with those of family life. has to be balanced against environmental concerns. 3 balance or balance out [T] to reduce the effect, strength, or amount of something, and as a result make it better: offset: The dark colors are balanced by the brightness of the walls. that

it

not

fall:

plates

is

We

balanced

balance the budget/books 1 to spend no more money than you receive 2 to do calculations to check or show that you have not spent more money than you have received

the national

/'boldar.dsej/ noun [u] old-fashioned non-

sense

bald-faced

adj [only before noun]

used for emphasizing

that someone who does something bad is not ashamed or does not try to do it secretly: blatant: a bald-faced lie

it

/'boldin/ adj beginning to lose your hair

/'boldli/ adv if you say something baldly, you in a direct way, without trying to be sensitive or

bale 1 /bed/ noun

[C] a large quantity of something such as paper, cotton fibers, or hay tied into a large tight package for storing or sending somewhere

bale 2 /bed/

verb

[t]

to tightly tie a large quantity of

something such as paper, cotton fibers, or hay in order send it somewhere .bale out phrasal vb [i] BrE 1 to bail out of an airplane 2 to bail out of a difficult situation bale-f ul / 'beilfal / adj mainly literary showing evil, hate, to store or

or the intention to

harm someone

1

balk /bok/

verb [i] 1 to be unwilling to do something something happen, because you believe that it is wrong or that it will cause problems: Voters would balk + at They really if either candidate made such a proposal. wanted the apartment, but they balked at the price. 1a. to stop suddenly and refuse to go forward: +at The horse

or

let

AmE

in baseball, the balked at crossing the bridge. 2 pitcher balks if he breaks the rules by suddenly stopping in the process of throwing the ball

balk 2 /bok/ noun ment

in

[C] AmE in baseball, an illegal movewhich the pitcher suddenly stops in the process

of throwing the ball to the batter

Bahkans, the

/'bnlknz/ a group of countries in S.E. Europe, including Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia balk-y /boki/ adj difficult or not helpful: unco-

AmE

operative 2

.balance 'out phrasal vb [l/T] same as balance 3: The tangy Don't fruit balances out the creaminess of the sauce. worry; it'll all balance out in the end.

balanced

is

polite

verb

to

somewhere

balder-dash

say

•• [l]

North America and

in

bird of the U.S.

bald-ly

achieve, alter, find, keep, maintain, preserve, strike, upset

1

and neck that lives

bald'ing

frequently used with balance

verbs

1

and equally: balanced reporting

—

to do.

off balance

Words

ball

91

keep your balance She grabbed at him

in the chair.

/'baetanst/ adj

considering

all

•

arguments, opinions, or aspects fairly

ball

1

/bol/noun***

1 [C] a round object used in games and sports: Try to a tennis/ golf ball kick the ball into the back of the net. 1a. a round or nearly round object or shape: Shape the

mixture into

balls.

a melon ball

+of a ball of yarn

ball

P

ballroom dancing

92

the part of your foot, hand, or thumb that is slightly round and sticks out: He balanced on the balls of his feet. picture -» foot 2 [ul any game you play with a ball, especially baseball: We'll be outside playing ball until dinner. 2a. [C] an occasion when someone kicks, hits, or throws the ball in a game, or the way they kick, hit, or throw it: He kicked a long ball upfield. 2b. [C] in baseball, a pitch of the ball that the batter does not try to hit because it passes outside the normal area for hitting 3 [C] a formal social event at which there is dancing 4 [singular] Am E informal a lot of fun: The boat ride was a ball! Why don 't you come - we'll have a ball! 1 b.

—

balletic

/bo'letik/ ad] a balletic

movement

is

very

graceful and controlled

noun [c] 1 AmE a baseball game 2 any game played with a ball, such as soccer or football

.game

ball

game or a whole new ball game a situation that is completely different from what has happened before: I'm working in management now, which a different ball

is a whole new ball game. ball ,girl noun [c] 1 a girl whose job is to pick up tennis balls at a tennis match and throw them back to the players —picture - cm 2 a girl whose job is to take care of the balls that are not being used during a

is

baseball practice or game bal-lis-tic /ba'listik/ ad] go ballistic informal to become

enthusiasm carry the ball Am E informal to be responsible for getting something done: They all quit and left us to carry

extremely angry bal listic missile noun [c] a type of missile that travels long distances and cannot be controlled after it has been launched — compare guided missile

is in sb's court used for telling someone that it their responsibility to take action or make a decision a ball of fire informal someone with a lot of energy and

the ball

the ball.

drop the ball informal

to fail to

do something that you

are responsible for doing get/set/start the ball rolling to make something start happening: There are several things we should discuss.

Who'd like to start the ball rolling? have a lot on the ball Am E informal to be very intelligent or good at what you do have/keep several balls in the air informal to try to do several different things at the same time on the ball informal quick to understand what is happening and what must be done: alert pick up the ball and run with it to take responsibility for getting something done, especially after someone else has tried and failed play ball informal to work together with someone in an effective way: cooperate: When manufacturers refused to play ball, the company stopped buying. -» BALLS

bal-lis-tics /balistiks/ noun [u] the scientific study of the movement of objects or weapons that are fired into the air

/bs'lun/ noun [c] • a large strong bag filled with gas or hot air that can float in the air. Some balloons have a large basket hanging under them in which people can travel. 1a. a small colored bag of thin rubber that you fill with air, used as a child's toy or a decoration 1b. a small bag that a doctor puts into a part of your body and fills with air in order to force something out 2 a circle around the words spoken by characters in

balloon

1

1

cartoon drawings go over like a lead balloon informal if something such as a joke or suggestion goes over like a lead balloon, people do not like it at all

bal-loon 2 /ba'lun/

verb [I] 1 to become larger and rounder in shape: Her coat ballooned around her in the wind. 2 to increase very quickly in amount or degree: Our expenses had ballooned. Within weeks, the fighting had ballooned into full-scale war. bal-loon-ing /bs'lunin/ noun [u] the activity of flying bal-loon-ist noun [C] in a hot-air balloon balloon mortgage noun [c] AmE a mortgage that you pay back in regular small payments with one large final payment, which is called a balloon payment 1 bal-lot /'baetat/ noun * [c/u] the process of voting secretly to choose a candidate in an election or express an opinion about an issue: Party leaders are elected by

—

ball

of yarn

2 [i/t] 1 ball or ball up to become a small round shape, or make something into a small round

ball /bol/ verb

shape: She balled her fists have sex with someone /'bslsd/ noun [c]

baMad long

poem

angrily.

1

2

Am E offensive

a popular love song

2

to

bal-last /'baebst/ noun [u] a substance such as water, sand, or metal that is carried in ships or large balloons to help them remain steady ball .bearing noun [c] one of several small hard metal balls that are used between moving parts of a machine to help the parts move smoothly ball ,boy noun [c] 1 a boy whose job is to pick up tennis balls at a tennis match and throw them back to the players —picture -» cm 2 a boy whose job is to take care of the balls that are not being used during a

game

ball cock noun [C] a floating ball that opens and closes a valve, used for controlling a water supply, for example in a toilet bal-le-ri-na /.bseb'rins/ noun [C] a woman who performs in ballets, especially as her job ballet /'bae.lei; bae'lei/ noun * [u] a type of dancing used for telling a story, with complicated movements that need great skill and a lot of training: classical/ modern ballet His dream had been to study ballet. a ballet dancer/ school/ company a. [C] a performance of ballet b. [singular] a group of dancers who perform ballet: the Bolshoi Ballet

2

bal-lot /'btebt/ verb [T] to ask people to vote in order to decide an issue: The union will ballot members on the possibility of striking, a. to vote in order to decide an issue

a

that tells a story

baseball practice or

ballot. a strike ballot a. [singular] the total number of votes recorded in an election: She got just over 60% of the ballot, b. [C] a piece of paper that you write your vote on

ballot ,box noun 1 [C] a box in which you put your ballot after you have voted 2 [singular] the democratic system of voting: From now on, they would pursue their goals through the ballot box. stuff the ballot box Am E to cheat during an election by voting too many times ball-park or ball park /'br>l,park/ noun [c] a place where baseball games are played 1

in the ballpark informal 1 not calculated exactly but within the correct general range: Eighteen thousand? That could be in the ballpark. 2 good enough to compete with others: She's just not in the same ballpark as some

of the other athletes.

ball-park 2 /'bol.park/ talking about amounts

adj [only before noun] used for that have not been calculated exactly: approximate: This is just a ballpark figure, remember?

ball-point /'bol .point/ or .ball-point 'pen noun [c] a pen with a very small ball at the end from which ink picture -» pen flows as you write ball-room /'bolxum/ noun [C] a very large room used

—

for

dancing

.ballroom dancing noun by a

man and woman

[u] a type of dancing done together, using a fixed series of

balls

balls /bolz/ noun impolite 1 [u] confidence and the ability to deal with dangerous or difficult situations: nerve: It takes balls to quit your job like that. 2 [plural) testicles 3 [U] nonsense have sb by the balls to have complete control over someone, so that they have to do what you want balls-y /'bolzi/ adj impolite brave and confident bal-ly-hoo /bieli'hu/ noun [u] informal a lot of excitement or arguing about something, especially something that does not deserve the attention

bal-ly-hooed /baeli'hud/

it is

getting

much ballyhooed inforby many people in an

adj

mal talked about or praised

way

excited

balm /bam/

noun [C/U] 1 an oil with a nice smell that you rub on sore skin to make it feel better 2 mainly literary something that makes you feel calm and relaxed balmy /'bami/adj 1 warm and pleasant: a balmy night balmy weather 2 old-fashioned crazy

ba-lo-ney /ba'louni/ noun [u] lies 2 Am E informal bologna bal-sa

/ 'bolsa;

1

spoken nonsense or

'balsa/ noun [u] very soft light wood, used

especially for making model ships and airplanes a. [C] the tree that this wood comes from

bal-sam

/'bolsam; 'balsam/ noun [u] a substance like

comes from plants. It has a strong smell and is used in medicines and perfumes. balsamic vinegar /bol.saemik Vmigor/ noun [u] an expensive type of sweet dark vinegar oil that

Bal-tic

/

'boltik / adj relating to the Baltic Sea in northern to the countries in this region: the Baltic

Europe and states

This will give a boost

to the Baltic

economies.

bal-us-trade /'bteta.streid/ noun [c] a stone structure like a fence around the edge of a balcony or other area higher than the ground

bamboo

/biem'bu/ noun [C/U] a tall tropical plant with thick light-brown stems that are used for making things such as furniture and fences: a bamboo table bamboo canes

bam boo shoots

noun

of the stems of a young in Chinese cooking

[plural]

a vegetable consisting

bamboo

bam-boo-zle /biem'buzl/ verb someone or make them confused 1

ban /bxnf verb

[T often passive]

plant,

[t]

used especially

informal to trick

**

1 to say officially that people must not do, sell, or use something: The book was banned from school libraries. They signed agreements banning the use of chemical

weapons. to say officially that someone is not allowed to do something: ban sb from doing sth She was banned from athletics for two years after failing a drug test.

2

ban 2 /baen/

**

noun [C] an official statement ordering people not to do, sell, or use something: the beef export ban + on There will be a total ban on smoking. impose a ban (=start it) They agreed to impose an immediate ban on sales. lift a ban (=end it) The ban is unlikely to be lifted this year.

ba-nal /ba'nal/

adj something that is banal is boring because it contains nothing new, original, or unusual: his banal observations on the game another banal TV sitcom— ba-nal-i-ty/ba'mehti/noun [C/U] ba-nan-a /bs'nans/ noun [c/u] * a long curved fruit with a yellow skin: a bunch of bananas —picture -» cio banana re'public noun [c] an insulting word for a tropical country that is considered as having a weak economy, a dishonest or cruel government, and public services that do not work ba-nan-as /ba'nanaz/ adj informal silly or crazy

go bananas informal to become very angry or excited banana split noun [c] a sweet food that consists of a banana with ice cream, cream, sauce, and nuts band 1 /baend/ noun [c]

*••

1

bane

93

steps and movements. Ballroom dances include the waltz, the foxtrot, and the tango.

group of musicians

2 group 3 range

of

same type

of values/levels

4 narrow circular object 5 line of color/light/rain 6 ring you wear on finger

a small group of musicians who play popular music such as jazz or rock: a rock and roll band 1a. a large group of musicians who play instruments such pets and drums: a military band 2 a group of people who do something together or who share a particular feature or interest: +of a band of warriors a growing band of enthusiasts It's one of the dwindling band of independent av-makt 3 a range of values, prices, ages, etc. in a system used for measuring or grouping people or thinj The ruble was trading with a band of 4,000 to 4,500 to the 1

dollar.

4

a flat narrow piece of cloth with the ends joined together to form a circle: She wore a band around her hair. a hat band 4a. a narrow circular piece of rubber or metal, often placed around something to support it 5 a line of something such as color or light: The male bird has a brown band across its chest. 5a. a narrow area of rain that passes over a place: We can expect another band of showers in the afternoon. 6 literary a ring that you wear on your finger, especially a WEDDING RING

band 2

/baend/ verb

[t often passive]

1

to put a circular

band around something: The track their movements. different groups, for

birds are banded so we can to put people or things into example according to value or

2

income ,band to gether phrasal vb [l] to come together as a group in order to achieve something: The various opposition groups have banded together to form a single party. band-age /'baendid3/ noun [c/u] * a long thin piece 1

of cloth that

you wrap around an injured part of your

body

band-age 2 up

to

/'bamdid3/ verb [t] bandage or bandage wrap a bandage around an injured part of your

body

Band- Aid

trademark 1 a piece of tape with a cotton square in the middle, which you stick over a cut on your skin 2 informal a temporary way of dealing with a problem that will not really solve it ban-danna or ban-dan-a /.baen'daena/ noun [c] a piece of colored cloth worn around your head or neck ban-dit / 'baendit/ noun [c] a thief who attacks travelers, usually with other thieves -» one-armed bandit ban-do-lier /.baenda'lio/ noun [c] a type of belt worn over one shoulder and across the chest with pockets to hold bullets B and S /,bi an 'es/ or ,B and 'S .ball noun [c] Bachelor and Spinster Ball: a party held in the Australian outback (=areas a long way from towns) that normally lasts for a whole weekend bands-men /'baendzman/ (plural bands-man /'basndzman/) noun [C] someone who plays an instrument in a military or brass band band-stand / 'baend .staend/ noun [C] a building without walls in a park, used for musical performances band-wag-on /'baend.waegsn/ noun [c usually singular] an idea or activity, especially in politics or business, that suddenly becomes very popular or fashionable, so that a lot of people want to be involved in it: His recent poll victory could start an ultra-nationalist bandwagon jump on /climb on /join the bandwagon Every rolling. business was trying to jump on the "dot-com" bandwagon. band-width / band \\ idl)/ noun [c/u] 1 computing the amount of information that can be sent each second through an Internet connection. If a system has a high bandwidth, it is called a broadband connection. 2 informal the ability to deal with work, problems, etc. I'm our of bandwidth = can't deal with things anymore). (

bandy when

1

/

1

baendi/verb bandy words to argue, especially waste of time

this is a

or bandy about phrasal vb [T] to mention something a lot. usually without thinking much about what you are saying: / don't want people bandying my

bandy around

name about

in public.

ban-dy 2 /

baendi/adj bandy legs are curved, so that the knees do not touch: bowed

bane /ban/

noun [singular] something that annoys someone very much or causes them a lot of problems: and disobedient children are the bane of

the bane of Noisy

1

baneful

bang

/baen/verb • something hard, making a loud noise: / banged on the window to get her attention. We could hear them banging their drums in the next street. bang sth on/against sth She banged her fists on the back of his seat. la. [i/t] to close with a lot of force, or to close something with a lot of force, making a loud noise: Don't bang the door! / heard her car door bang shut. 1b. [i] to move, making loud noises: There was a shutter banging in the wind. + around /away /across Who's that banging around upstairs? 1c. [T] to put something somewhere with a lot of force, making a loud noise: bang sth on sth Sam banged his beer glass on the table. bang sth down Kathy yelled and then banged the phone down. 2 [I/T) to knock a part of your body against something when you are moving, especially because you are not looking where you are going: bang sth on sth Be careful + into She banged not to bang your head on that beam. 1

[I/T] to hit

1

and hurt her knee. have sex with someone

into the table

3

[T] offensive to

bang on phrasal vb [l] BrE informal to talk about something for a long time in a boring and annoying way .bang out phrasal vb [t] informal 1 to play a tune on the piano very loudly and not very well 2 to produce something of bad quality in large quantities

bang up phrasal vb [T usually passive] informal 1 AmE to damage something such as a vehicle: How did your truck get all banged up? 2 Br E to put someone in prison

bang 2 /baerj/

noun [c] * 1 a short loud noise, for example the sound of a door closing with a lot of force. If something goes bang, it makes a noise like this: There was a loud bang as the We could hear the bang of a door in shelf hit the floor. the basement.

2

[singular]

AmE

informal a feeling of excitement, or

something that gives you this feeling: thrill: The interview was a bang. get a bang out of sth I really get a bang out of watching the kids perform.

Am

get more bang for your buck E informal to get more of something without using any extra money or effort with a bang in a very exciting or successful way: He wanted to end his career with a bang. go off with a bang The whole plan went off with a bang. ->

BANGS

Words

frequently used with

adjectives

bang

almighty, enormous, huge, loud, terrific,

1

tremendous

/baen/ interjection 1 used especially by children for representing the sound made by a gun 2 used for showing that something happens very quickly or suddenly: One minute he was there and then, bang, I was alone.

bang 4

/baerj/ adv BrE informal used for emphasizing that something is exactly in a particular position or that it happens at exactly a particular time: a small town, bang in the middle of Australia a. bang on exactly right

/'baerpr/ noun [c] BrE 1 informal a sausage informal an old car in bad condition 3 a firework

bang-er

noun [c] a stiff circular bracelet (=jewelry worn around the wrist) bangs /'baenz/ noun [plural] AmE short hair that hangs picture -» hairstyle over your forehead. Br E fringe bang-up adj AmE informal very good or enjoyable: We had a bang-up time at the party. /'bcerjgl/

—

banish

acne and smooth away your wrinkles.

ban-ish-ment

noun [u] ban-is-ter /'baemstar/ noun

[c] a structure like a fence along the edge of stairs, designed to keep you from falling off the edge —picture -» ci ban-jo /'baend^oo/ noun [C] a musical instrument like a guitar but with a smaller round body bank 1 /baenk/ noun [c] 1 a financial institution that people or businesses can keep their money in or borrow money from: Marge works at Bank of America. a New York investment bank la. an office of a bank: / need to go to the bank this morning. 1b. [only before noun] belonging to or connected with a bank: a bank manager / loan/ robbery 2 a raised area of land along the side of a river: A man was fishing on the opposite bank. + of The fashion district lies on the east bank of the river. 2a. a long area of land with sloping sides: / climbed a steep bank that overlooked the field. 2b. a long pile of earth, snow, or sand: +of Great banks of snow and ice lined the roads. 2c. a large mass of cloud or fog 3 a large number of things in a row, especially pieces of equipment: +of a bank of TV monitors 3a. a large collection, especially of information or ideas: an impressive data bank + of The library has a valuable bank of old documents. 3b. a store of something that is available for use when it is needed: a blood /gene /sperm /organ

•••

bank

bank 2 /baenk/ verb • have a bank account with a particular with? We bank at their headquarters. 1a. [T] to pay money into a bank account lb. [T] mainly journalism to earn a particular amount of money: She has already banked $5,000 in prize money. 2 if an airplane banks, it turns quickly in the air, with one wing higher than the other bank on phrasal vb [T] [bank on sb/sth] to depend on something happening or on someone doing something: They're banking on him to find a solution to the problem. don't bank on it spoken used for telling someone that something will probably not happen: "He said he'd come. " "Well, don't bank on it - he's still in bed. bank-a-ble /'baenksbl/ adj a bankable actor or performer is very popular, and therefore likely to make a movie or show a financial success bank ac count noun [c] * an arrangement with a bank that allows you to keep your money there and to pay money in and take money out: We'll pay the money open a bank account directly into your bank account. (=start it) They're encouraging children to open bank 1

[

I

]

[+with/at] to

bank:

Who do you bank

[I ]

accounts.

bang 3

2 ban-gle

bankrupt

94

many mothers. the bane of sb's life /existence Paperwork is the bane of my life. bane-ful /'bemfal/ adj literary bad or evil

/'baeniJV verb

[T]

•

1 to officially order someone to leave a country or region as a punishment: + from /to a well-known opponent of Stalin who was banished to Siberia 1a. often humorous to make someone go somewhere else: + from /to Wine was poured and the children were banished to their rooms. Street vendors will be banished from the city sidewalks unless they are licensed. 2 to make someone stop thinking about something or having particular feelings: The news of her pregnancy had banished all other thoughts from her mind. 3 to get rid of something: Our new cream can help banish

bank card

noun

[c]

a small plastic card that you use

making payments or for getting money from the bank bank draft noun [c] an order to pay someone that is sent from one bank to another bank, usually in a diffor

ferent country

/'baenkar/ noun [c] • someone who has an important position in a bank or other financial organ-

bank-er ization

.bank 'holiday noun [c] BrE bank-ing /'baenkin/ noun [u] 1

the

a national holiday

•*

work done by banks and other

financial insti-

tutions: a career in banking commercial banking 2 the activity of paying money into or taking money out of a bank account: You can now do your banking online.

bank-note

/'baerjk,nout/ noun [c] formal a piece of paper money. The usual word is bill. bank .rate noun [c] the rate of interest that banks use to calculate how much interest to charge on money they lend to each other instead of to their customers 1 bank-roll / 'baerj k.rool/ noun [singular] a supply of

money for a particular purpose: We were given a of $10,000

bankroll

to start the project.

bank-roll 2

'baenk .rool/ verb [T] to provide the money for something: He helped to bankroll Yeltsin's successful 1996 reelection campaign.

bank-rupt 1

/

1

/'baenk rApt/ adj a person or business that

* is

bankrupt has

officially

bankrupt

left

bap-tize /ba'ptai// verb [t usually passive] 1 to welcome someone into the Christian religion by touching or covering them with water 2 to name a child when it is baptized: He was baptized Samuel Andrew.

*••

1

bar /bar/ noun

[c]

the region virtually bankrupt.

2 formal without any good bankrupt ideology.

bankrupt

2

bank-rupt

3

qualities at

his morally

bankrupt

all:

This

is

a

/'baenk.rApt/ noun [c] someone who has admitted that they have no money and cannot

officially

pay what they owe /'baenkrAptsi/ noun • which a person or business becomes bankrupt: The recession led to a flood of bankface bankruptcy Many small farmers are facing ruptcies. declare bankruptcy The company declared bankruptcy. bankruptcy in 1997. 2 [U] formal a complete lack of good qualities: moral bankruptcy

bank-rupt-cy

[C/U] a situation in

bank .statement

noun [c] a document that shows all money that went into or out of your bank account during a particular period of time ban-ner 1 /'bamar/ noun [c] 1 a wide piece of cloth with a message on it, often stretched between two poles: Thousands of people carried banners and flags. 2 computing an advertisement on a web site that goes across the width of your screen the

under the banner of sth 1 used when stating the principle or belief that makes someone do something: They operated under the banner "jobs for local people. " 2 used when naming the organization that controls or supports a particular activity: an agency operating under the banner of UNESCO

AmE

2

ban-ner

/'baenar/ adj extremely successful: 1997 was a banner year for our manufacturing division.

.banner 'headline noun

[c] a

very large headline on

the front page of a newspaper

ban-nis-ter

made

/'baenak/ noun from oats

banns /baenz/ noun

[C] Scottish

an

[plural]

official

a

flat

bread roll

announcement

in

church that two people intend to get married /'baerjkwit/ noun [c] a formal meal prepared number of people on an important occasion: a state banquet banquet rooms ban-shee /'baenji/ noun wail/howl/scream like a banshee to make a lot of unpleasant noise by shouting

ban-quet

for a large

or crying In old Irish stories, a banshee is a female spirit who cries loudly to warn that someone is going to die.

barvtam /'baentam/ noun [c] a type of small chicken ban -tarn-weight /'bantam weit/ noun [c] a boxer or who

wrestler

ban-ter

is fairly light

/'baentar/ noun [u] friendly conversation in

which people tell jokes and laugh at each other ban-ter-ing /'baentann/ adj if you talk in a bantering way, you are joking or laughing at someone: his humorous, bantering style of interviewing

Ban-tu /baentu/

adj

place serving alcohol

2 long narrow piece 3 block of soap etc. 4 profession of a lawyer

Bantu languages are a group of in Central and Southern

related languages spoken Africa

/'basnjan/ noun [c/u] a tropical tree that produces new roots from its branches

baptise /bsp'taiz/a BrE spelling of baptize bap-tism / 'baep.tizam/ noun [c/u] a ceremony

in

someone is touched or covered with water to them into the Christian religion a baptism of fire a very difficult first period

in

which welcome a new

a place where you go to buy and drink alcoholic drinks: We met at Ernie's Bar. a wine cocktail bar la. the counter where alcoholic drinks are served in a bar or restaurant: / think you have to order at the bar. lb. a small place that serves a particular type of food: a sushi bar a sandwich bar 2 a long narrow piece of metal: an old house with iron bars on the windows The car's safety features include side-impact bars. 2a. a long narrow shape along one of the sides of a window on a computer screen: Use the scroll bar to move up and down the page. There's a quickaccess menu bar below the top menu. 3 a solid block of a substance such as chocolate or soap: a candy bar + of a bar of soap 4 the bar the profession of being a lawyer. If someone is admitted to the bar, they become a lawyer. 4a. the BAR EXAM 5 something that prevents another thing from happening: + to We have to ensure that a person 's ethnic background is no bar to success in the workplace. 5a. an order stating that something is not allowed: ban: +on The ruling placed a bar on any mention of the facts in the media. 6 a measure of music 1

behind bars in prison: The five years behind bars.

bar2 /bar/

member

of a Protestant religious group that believes that only adults should be /'baeptist/

noun

[C]

a

baptized

Bap-tist 2 /'baptist/ minister

the Baptist

adj relating to Baptists:

Church

men

could spend up

to 12

BrE

used after words such as "all," "every," and "any" to mean "except": The preservation area is closed to all traffic bar buses. preposition

bar none.

bar3 /bar/

••

verb [t] 1 [often passive] to officially say that something must not happen, or that someone must not do something or go somewhere: a new rule that bars the export of live animals bar sb from (doing) sth It was an old-fashioned club from which women were barred. He has been barred from running a political office for five years. 2 to put something across a door or window so that no one can get through it: Bar the door and don't let anyone in. 2a. to prevent someone from going somewhere by standing in their way: Guards were everywhere, barring bar sb's way /path There were three viciousall exits. looking dogs barring our way. -» barring

barb /barb/ noun

[c] 1 a short curved point on something such as a fish hook that makes it difficult to remove 2 a remark or criticism that is unkind, although it may seem clever or funny -» barbed

bar-bar-i-an /bar'berian/ noun [c] 1 someone from outside one of the major ancient societies such as Greece or Rome, who was considered to be violent and not educated 2 someone who does not respect art or culture 2a. someone who is cruel or violent bar-bar-ic /bur'benk/ ad) extremely violent and cruel:

bar-ba-rism /'burba.nzam/ noun

a Baptist

[u]

extremely violent

and cruel behavior bar-bar-i-ty /bar'berati/ noun [C/u] extremely violent and cruel behavior bar-ba-rous /'burbaras/ adj 1 extremely violent and cruel 2 old-fashioned violent and not educated: unctvii.izkd: ancient Rome's barbarous neighbors barbecue /'burba kju/ noun [C] * a meal at which meat and other food is cooked and eaten outside, often a meal that you invite friends to a. a piece of equipment used for cooking food outside bar-be-cue 2 / 'burba, kjii/ verb [t] to cook food, especially meat, outside on a barbecue or over a fire 1

job, activity, or situation

Bap-tist

1

sth

a barbaric attack

ban-yan

1

5 sth that prevents 6 in music + PHRASES

bar none used for emphasizing that someone or something is the best: He's the best teacher we have ever had,

/'basnistar/ another spelling of banister

ban-nock

1

lifestyle

/'basnk.rApt/ verb [T] to make a person, business, or country bankrupt or very poor: Widespread corruption had bankrupted a country rich in oil.

1

barbecue

95

admitted that they have no money and cannot pay what they owe: bankrupt farmers go bankrupt Many of the companies that they had invested in went bankrupt. 1a. a country or state that is bankrupt owes more money than it can ever pay back: Years of mismanagement had

b

barbecue sauce sauce used for adding flavor to food, especially meat, before cooking it on a barbecue barbed /barbd/ ad) 1 barbed comments contain criticisms or insults 2 a barbed hook or arrow has a sharp curved point on one side .barbed Wire noun [u] * thick wire with a lot of sharp points sticking out of it, used for making fences barbell / bar.bel/ noun [c] a long metal bar with weights at each end that you lift in order to make your muscles bigger and stronger —picture -» cie barber /'barbar/ noun [c] [u] a special

someone whose job

is

to

cut men's hair.

barbershop Jap/ noun

1

/'barbar [C]

AmE

a

to get their hair cut. Br E barber's a type of singing in which four men sing together in harmony, usually without music

place

2

where men go

[u]

barbie / 'barbi/ noun

[C]

'Barbie doll noun [C] woman who you think

Australian informal a barbecue

used for describing a attractive but not very intel-

offensive is

ligent

From

the

name

of a type of doll that looks like

attractive adult

barhop

96

.barbecue sauce noun

an

woman.

bare-f oot

/

ber ,fot /

ad],

adv without any shoes or socks

on: dancing barefoot in the sand

bare-ly

/'berli/ adv

••

used for saying that something almost does not happen or exist, or is almost not possible: hardly, scarcely: The roads were barely wide enough for two cars to pass. There was barely a scratch on his car, but mine 1

was totaled. a barely audible whisper He was so dizzy he could barely stand. barely able to do sth He was barely able to see the road in the fog. 2 used for emphasizing that something happened only a very short time before something else: He barely paused before jumping straight into the water. The thought had barely come to me before it was gone again. 3 used for emphasizing how small an amount is: He's barely 12 years old. They had traveled barely a third of the way.

bar ex

am

noun

an examination that people must

[c]

pass in order to become lawyers barf /barf/ verb [l] very informal to vomit

barfly

AmE

noun [c] informal someone of time in bars drinking alcohol

/'bar.flai/

spends a

lot

who

/'bargan/ noun [c] •• something you buy that costs much less than normal: You should be able to pick up a few good bargains. 1a. a lower than usual price: Twenty dollars is a real bargain! 2 an agreement in which two people or groups each promise to do something: After hours of negotiating, a bargain was finally reached. keep your side/end/part of the bargain (=do w hat you agreed) How do we know you'll keep your part of the bargain? strike a bargain (=reach an agreement) It was impossible to strike a bargain that both sides would accept. 2a. drive a hard bargain to argue in a very determined way in order to reach an agreement that benefits you

bargain

1

1

r

bar

.billiards noun [u] a game like billiards in which long sticks are used for pushing balls into holes on a table

bar-bi-tu-rate /bar'bitfarat/ noun that doctors give to people to

them sleep 'bar .code noun

a strong drug or help

a set of printed lines on a product's computer information about it such as

[c]

label that tells a its

[c]

make them calm

price

bard /bard/ noun

-» COLLECTIVE bargaining, plea bargaining [C] literary

a poet

William Shakespeare is sometimes referred to as the Bard or the Bard of Avon.

bare 1

/ber/

adj

a part of your body that

is

the bare bones the most basic features or details: +of Anderson outlined the bare bones of his strategy. with your bare hands without using any equipment or weapons when doing something that needs a lot of strength

bare

2

bargain 2

/ber/ verb [T] 1 to remove something that hides or covers something such as a part of your body: He bare your teeth pulled the shirt up, baring his injuries. (=show your teeth in a threatening way) The dog growled and bared its teeth. 2 mainly literary if you bare yourself or bare your soul, you tell someone your most private thoughts bare-back /'ber.baek/ adj, adv riding a horse without a SADDLE bare-faced /ber'feist/ adj [only before noun] used for emphasizing that someone who does something bad is not ashamed or does not try to do it secretly: blatant: a barefaced lie

/'bargan/ verb

*

[i]

to

try to persuade

someone to give you a better price or make an agreement that suits you better: You can get even better deals if you 're

*•

bare is not covered by any clothes. When someone is not wearing any clothes at all, they are naked or nude: She wore a low-necked dress and her arms were bare. It's better to do yoga in bare feet. bare-chested/bare-legged a group of barechested youths 1a. bare walls, surfaces, etc. have no covering or decoration: a room with peeling wallpaper and bare floorboards a bare light bulb lb. bare trees or areas of land have nothing growing on them: bare rock the tree's bare branches 2 containing nothing: empty: The room was cold and + of bare. Panic buying has stripped the stores bare. The little house was almost completely bare offurniture. 3 basic, with nothing extra: bare facts/details Readers bare essentials/ want more than just the bare facts. necessities Some families don't even have enough money the bare for the bare essentials like food and clothing. minimum They only had the bare minimum of equipment. 4 used for emphasizing how small an amount is: Our profit margin is a bare 1%. 1

in/into the bargain in addition to the things already mentioned: With careful planning, you can avoid delays and save yourself a lot of money into the bargain.

prepared

to

bargain.

more than you bargained for/not what you bargained for something different from what you expected, especially something worse bargain on phrasal vb [T] [bargain on sth] to expect something to happen, often because something else depends on it: bargain on (sb) doing sth She's bargaining on me changing my mind. bargain basement noun [c] an area in a large store where you can buy things at low prices, often things of low quality a. [only before noun] informal used about things that are inexpensive or of low quality, or about the attitude of people who do not like to spend money: It's the kind of bargain-basement approach to healthcare that's typical of many insurance companies.

bargaining chip

/'barganirj

,tjrp/

noun

[C]

some-

thing that you can use to persuade someone to give you

what you want

bargaining counter / 'barganirj .kauntar/ noun [C] BrEa bargaining chip bargaining po-si-tion /'bargamn pa.zijn/ noun [c] someone's ability to get what they want when they are making a deal with someone else, based on the situation they are in 1

barge /bard3/

noun

and canals barge 2 /bard3/ verb

[c]

[i]

a long

flat

boat used on rivers

[+past/through/out

etc.] to

move

in a fast careless way, often hitting people or things: He barged past me without looking. barge in phrasal vb [I] to enter a room suddenly and noisily, usually interrupting someone in a rude way: + on He just The kids just barge in without knocking. barged in on us in the middle of a meeting. 'bar .graph noun [c] a graph that represents different amounts or values as thick lines of different lengths informal to go to bar-hop /bar.hap/ verb [i] several different bars one after the other, drinking at each one

AmE

barista make

[c]

a person whose job

is to

coffee in a cafe

baritone

,

/'ben,toon/ noun

a

man

with a singing voice that is fairly deep, in the range between and a bass a. a baritone singing voice bar-i-um /'beriom/ noun [u] a soft metal that is a silverwhite color barium 'meal noun [c] BrE a substance that you swallow before having an x-ray of your stomach [c]

bark /bark/ verb • 1

make

the short loud sound that a dog makes 2 [I/T] to say or shout something in a loud angry voice: started barking He orders at me. 3 [T] to accidentally knock a hard part of your body such as your shin or knuckles against something, and tear some skin off 1

[I]

to

barking up the wrong tree informal doing something that will not get the result you want: If you think he'll pay up, you're barking up the wrong tree. bark 2 /bark/ noun * 1 [u] the hard substance that covers a tree —picture -» TREE

2

[C]

barricade

97

ba-ris-ta /ba'nsto/ noun

baroness

beranas/ noun

woman who

is a member of the nobility. In the U.K., a baroness has lower status than most other members of the nobility. 2 the wife of a baron

baronet

/

(c)

/'beranai/ noun |c] a

of the British nohiuty.

A

a

1

man who

is

a

member

baronet has a lower status

than a baron.

bar-on-et-cy /

beranatsi / noun [c] the rank of a baronet

ba-ro-ni-al /ha'rooniol/

adj 1 a baronial building or room is large, impressive, and built or decorated in an old-fashioned style 2 relating to bari

ba-roque

/ba'rook; ba'ruk/

adj

baroque

or

Baroque

relating to the very detailed style of an. building, or music that was popular in Europe in the 17th and early 18th centuries a. very detailed or complicated

barque /bark/

noun

a sailing ship with three or

[cj

more masts a. literary any small sailing boat bar-rack /'berak/ verb 1 (i/t) mainly BrE to shout at someone who is speaking, playing, or performing in public because you do not like them 2 [\] Australian to shout in order to show that you support someone or something

the short loud sound that a dog

makes

bar-racks

/

beraks/

(plural bar-racks)

noun

[c]

a group of

bark is worse than their bite informal used for saying that someone is not as mean or rude as they seem to be when they talk to you bark 3 /bark /another spelling of barque

and work bar-ra-cu-da /bera'kuda/ noun [c] a large tropical ocean fish with sharp teeth and a lower jaw that sticks

barkeeper /'bur.kipar/ or bar-keep noun [C] Am E old-fashioned a bartender

bar-rage 1 /ba'ru3/ noun 1 [c] an attack during which an army continuously fires guns, drops bombs etc. for a long time 2 [singular] [+of] a lot of criticisms,

sb's

/'bar.kip/

barking mad / .barkirj fmed/ or barking /'barkin/ adj Br E informal completely crazy bar-ley /'barli/ noun [u] a plant that produces grain used for making food, beer, and whiskey

barmaid whose job might find

/'bar.meid/ noun [c] old-fashioned a woman is to serve drinks in a bar. Some people this

word

offensive.

bar-man /'barman/ (plural bar-men /'barman/) noun [c] old-fashioned a man whose job is to serve drinks in a bar

bar mitz-vah /bar

'mitsva/ noun [c] a Jewish religious ceremony held on a boy's thirteenth birthday, after which he is considered to be an adult in his religious life a. a Jewish boy who is taking part in a bar mitzvah

barm-y /'barmi/ adj BrE informal crazy or silly barn /barn/ noun [C] ** a large building on a farm where animals, crops, or machines are kept were you born /raised in a barn? spoken a humorous way of telling someone to shut the door after they come into a room or building -» door bar-na-cle / 'barnakl/ noun [c] a sea creature that sticks firmly to rocks and to the bottoms of ships 'barn dance noun [c] a social occasion at which people

do traditional dances in groups 'barn owl noun [c] a type of owl with white and brown feathers and a face shaped like a heart barn-storm /'burn, storm/ verb [i/T] to travel around a country, stopping in many places to speeches or give performances

barn-storm-ing

make

political

/'barn, storm in/ adj [only before noun]

done with impressive energy, skill, and enthusiasm: It was a barnstorming end to the season. barn-yard 1 /'barnjard/ noun [c] an area on a farm where animals are kept: barnyard animals barn-yard 2 /'barnjard/ adj AmE informal used for describing something such as humor that is unpleasant, often because it contains rude words or refers to sex: The article referred to "their objectionable behavior and barnyard morals.

ba-rom-e-ter/ba'ramatar/noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment that shows you what kind of weather to expect. It measures atmospheric pressure. 2 something that shows how a situation is changing or how people feel about something: + of Investment barometer of business confidence.

bar-on

levels

are seen as a good

/'beran/ noun [c] 1 a man who is a member of the nobility. In the U.K., a baron has lower status than most other members of the nobility. 2 a powerful person in a particular type of business: the steel barons

buildings where

members

of the military live

out

complaints, or questions directed at one person: a barrage of abuse 3 /'band3/ [C] a wall built across a river in order to control the level of the water

bar-rage 2

/ba'ra3/ verb

[t]

if

you are barraged by

criticisms, complaints, or questions, you have to deal with a large number of them at the same time

bar-rel /'beral/ noun [c] •• 1 a round wooden, metal, or plastic container with a flat top and bottom, used for storing liquids: empty beer barrels 1a. the amount of liquid contained in a barrel: Their customers drink a million barrels of beer a year. 1b. a unit for measuring crude oil: Prices could remain 1

as low as $20 per barrel. 2 the part of a gun that a bullet

is

fired

through

give sb both barrels informal to criticize or attack someone with great energy or emotion not a barrel of laughs informal a very unpleasant experience or situation over a barrel informal if someone has you over a barrel, they know that you are in a difficult situation and that you will have to do what they want 2 -» LOCK PORK BARREL .

bar-rel

2

/'beral/ verb

[I]

informal [+down/into/through

etc.] to move very quickly in a deliberate or determined way: David was barreling down the hall toward her.

tjestad/ adj a man who barrel-chested has a large chest that curves outward

bar-rel-chest-ed /beral

is

barrel organ noun [c] a large instrument that plays music when the handle is turned, used in the past to entertain people in the street

bar-ren /'beran/ adj 1 barren land is dry and plants cannot grow there 1a. a barren place is dry and empty, with few plants growing: desolate: a remote and barren island 1b. a barren tree or plant does not produce any 2 without any interesting or positive features: a culturally barren small town 2a. a barren period is one fruit

which you have no success: After 15 barren years, the had at last won a major trophy. 3 old-fashioned a is barren cannot have babies: infertile bar-rette /ba'ret/ noun [c] Am £a small plastic or metal object used for keeping a woman's hair in place 1 bar-ri-cade /.ben'keid/ noun [c) a temporary strucin

club

woman who

ture that is built across a road, gate, or door to prevent people from getting through: a barricade of burning tires the barricades used for talking about a situation in which people use determined methods to protesl about something or achieve something they believe In: Resi dents were ready to go to the barricades to fight the school closure.

1

m

barricade /.ben'keid/ verb [T) to build a barricade across a road, gate, or door a. to shut yourself inside a place and block all the entrances so that no one can get in

bar-ri-er /'beriar/ noun [c] •* 1 a bar or gate that stops people or vehicles from entering a place: Fans broke through the barriers and rushed onto the field. 1a. something that separates one thing from another: The river is the last barrier between the rebel army and the city. 2 anything that prevents progress or makes it difficult for someone to achieve something: obstacle: These regulations would place barriers in the way of genetic research.

+to Disability need not be a barrier to a successful career. High levels of debt are a major barrier to economic development. 2a. something that prevents people from communicating, working together, etc.: Language difcultural barriers ferences did not appear to be a barrier. break down barriers We're trying to break down barriers between young people from both communities. 2b. a number, limit, or level that is considered important because it is difficult to go past: go through /break a barrier the day the stock market broke the 10,000 barrier The figure for inflation could go through the 5 percent barrier.

barrier .method noun traception in which an

medical any form of conobject, rather than a drug, is used for preventing women from becoming pregnant. The use of condoms is a barrier method. [C]

barring

/'banrj/ preposition unless the thing mentioned happens or exists: Barring any further delays, we should be able to start tomorrow.

bar-ri-o / 'bari.oo/ noun [C] a poor district of a city in a Spanish-speaking country a. a part of a U.S. city where most people speak Spanish bar-ris-ter /'benstar/ noun [c] a lawyer in England or Wales who is allowed to speak in the higher law courts bar-row /'beroo/ noun [C] 1 a wheelbarrow 2 a large pile of earth over an ancient grave where one or more people are buried bar-tend-er /'bar.tendar/ noun [c] someone whose job is to serve drinks in a bar barter 1 /'bartar/ verb [i/T] to exchange goods or services for other goods or services instead of using money: They got what they needed by bartering their livestock. + with We used to barter with the guards to get cigarettes. barter2 /'bartar/ noun [u] 1 the system of paying for goods or services with other goods or services instead of using money: a barter economy 2 something used as payment in a barter system ba-salt /'bae.salt/ noun [u] a dark green or black rock formed when hot liquid rock from a volcano becomes solid

base 1

1

/beis/ noun [c]

••• 6 main food/substance

lowest part of sth

2 place where 3 ideas

sth

is

etc. to start

done

from

7 chemical

8 number

4 people/businesses 5 in baseball the bottom part, edge, or surface of something: a tall with a narrow footpath at its base +of The pituitary The manufacturer's is at the base of the brain. name is printed on the base of the vase. 1a. the bottom part or section of something, that supports the rest of + of The base it: The statue stands on a large round base. of the castle is solid rock. 2 a place from which an activity can be planned, started, or carried out: +for Terrorists had been using Hikers the warehouse as a base for their operations. find this a convenient base for their mountain expeditions. 2a. a place where members of the military live and work: a U.S. naval base 3 a set of ideas, facts, achievements, etc. from which something can develop: Income from magazine publishing provides the company with a strong financial base. +for The report will give us a base for building a better healthcare system. +of a broad base of experience/ 1

cliff,

gland

knowledge/ expertise a group of people who use a particular service or do a particular job: They have built a loyal customer base.

4

bash

98

barricade

4a. a group of people who support someone or something, for example with money or votes: He has a large base of support within the party. 4b. a group of businesses or industries that form an important part of an economy: Britain's manufacturing base was weak and deteriorating. 5 one of the four places on a baseball field that a player must touch in order to score points -> first base —picture

-C15

6 a food or substance that is the main food or substance to which other things are added: Use the stock as a base for your sauce. paint with a water base 7 science a chemical substance that reacts with an acid to form a salt 8 technical a number that is used to form a system of counting. The usual system of counting uses base 10, and the binary system used in computers uses base 2.

AmE informal not right or accurate: A Ford spokesman says that the company's critics are way off base. touch base to communicate with someone that you have not seen for some time in order to find out how they are, what is happening, etc. off base

-» COVER

1

base 2

•••

/beis/ verb [T often passive] to have somewhere as your main office or place of work, or the place where you live: Where are you based now? a Genevabased aid agency base sth in Our parent company is based in Osaka. We decided to base our training operations in the

New

York

office.

on

phrasal vb [T usually passive] [base sth on sth] 1 to use particular ideas or facts to make a decision, do a calculation, or develop a theory: The prosecution's case is based largely on evidence from ex-members of the gang. Prices are based on two people sharing a room. 2 to use something as a model for a movie, piece of writing, or work of art: He bases his designs on Roman mosaics. The movie is based on a true story.

'base

base 3

/beis/ adj literary without any moral principles:

WICKED

base-ball /'beis.bal/ noun ••* [u] a game played by two teams of nine players who get points by hitting a ball with a bat and then running around four bases a.

[C]

the small hard ball used in the

—picture

game

of baseball

-» cis

baseball cap noun

a hat that fits close to your curved part that sticks out over your [c]

head, with a flat eyes —picture -> hat

AmE

base-board

the narrow /'beis.bord/ noun [c] piece of wood that is attached to the bottom of a wall next to the floor

base 'camp

noun [c] a place used temporarily for storing supplies and starting an activity, especially

climbing a mountain

-based /beist/ suffix 1 used with some names of places to make adjectives meaning happening or working in a particular place: a Chicago-based company 2 used with some names to make adjectives describing the main substance in a product: pasta and other wheat-based products nitrogen-based fertilizer

base jum-ping or BASE

urn-pi ng / beis d3.\mpin j noun [u] the sport of jumping with a parachute from high places such as buildings or mountains base-less /'beislas/ adj formal not based on facts or evidence: baseless allegations

base-line

/'beis.lam/ noun [c usually singular] 1 a quanvalue, or fact used as a standard for measuring other quantities, values, or facts: The army's test is meant baseline values/ to set a baseline for physical fitness. rates /requirements 2 the line that marks the back of the playing area in games such as tennis —picture -> ci4 3 the area on a baseball diamond that a player has to stay inside while running from one base to the next tity,

noun [c] • the part of a buildpartly or completely below the level of the

base-ment /'beismant/ ing that

is

ground: a basement apartment —picture -» ci noun [c] a metal that is not worth a lot of compare precious metal money, for example iron

base metal

bases bash

1

—

/'bei.siz/ the plural of basis

/baeJV verb informal 1

[T]

to publicly criticize to bash the school it. 2 [i/T] to hit

someone: She used her weekly column system and everyone who worked in

bash

bassinet

someone or something very hard, often causing injury or serious damage: If you don't shut up I'm going to bash They had to bash the door down to get to your head in. the fire. -» bashing

bash out phrasal vb [T] mainly BrE informal to produce something very quickly and without working very hard bash 2 /baeJV noun [c] informal a party or celebration: a

New

Year's Eve bash

bash-f ul

/ 'baejfal/ adj easily embarrassed when you are with other people: shy: He gave her a bashful smile. Don 't be bashful about showing others what you can do. bash'ful'ly adv, bash-f ul-ness noun [u] bashing /'baejin/ noun [c/u] 1 a violent physical attack on someone, especially because of the group they belong to Police were investigating a series ofgay bashings (=attacks against gay people). 2 severe public criticism: They took a bashing from the press. another round of teacher- bashing ba-sic/'beisik/adj 1 forming the main or most important part of something, without which it cannot really exist: The basic ingredient of this meal is rice. We have the basic framework for an agreement. +to Honesty and trust are basic to a good relationship, la. basic ideas or skills are the ones you must know or learn in order to understand or do something: Once you've mastered the basic principles basic military of using a computer, you can move on. training 1b. used for emphasizing that you are talking about the most important part of a situation: The basic question is how long can this go on? There are two basic choices: make a fuss or do nothing. 2 basic products and services are ones that everyone needs such as food, medicine, and fuel: Basic foods such as soy beans and rice were being flown into the disaster zone. The state provides only basic health care. The money they earned did not even cover their most basic needs. 2a. basic feelings are the natural feelings that everyone has: the basic instinct for survival 2b. basic rights are rights that everyone should be allowed to have: Free speech is a basic human right. 3 simple and with no special features: basic cooking equipment The accommodations are rather basic. 3a. not very advanced, or not very complicated: My French is pretty basic, but I can get by. 4 with no extra amounts of money included or charged: Sales reps receive a basic salary plus commission. -» basics Ba-sic /'beisik/ noun [U] a type of language for writing

—

:

organizing something: on a. .basis workers who are employed on a seasonal or temporary basis Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first served basis. 1a. used tor giving the reason why something is done: on the basis of sth Don't make your decision on the basis of cost alone. He declined to say on what basis bail was refused on the basis that Most councilors supported the proposal on the basis that the City needed new jobs 1b. used for Baying how often something happens: on a daily /monthly/ annual etc. basis Safety equipment was checked on a daily basis. It's a violent city, with murders occurring on a .

regular basis. 2 the important ideas, facts, or actions from which something can develop: +of Bernard's work forms the basis of all modern physiology. +for The agreement between the parties will provide the basis for future negotiations.

Words

•**

computer programs

basically /'beisikli/ adv

••

1 used for saying that you are talking about the most important aspects of something and not mentioning the specific details: The book is basically a love story. Basically, their goal is to promote healthier eating habits. 2 mainly spoken used for emphasizing the most important point or idea in what you are saying: Basically, you should have asked me. ba-sics /'beisiks/ noun [plural] 1 the basics the most important aspects or principles of something that you should learn, think about, or deal with first: Let's start with the basics; you have a good job and a nice home. + of The basics of the game can be learned very quickly. 2 simple necessary things: Shopping for basics like bread and vegetables takes all their money.

go/get back to basics to start paying more attention to the most important aspects of something baS'il /'beizl; bsezl/ noun [u] a plant whose sweet leaves are used in salads and cooking, especially in dishes containing tomatoes. Basil is an herb. basil-i-ca /ba'zilika; ba'silika/ noun [c] 1 a large long ancient Roman building that has a round end 2 a large important Roman Catholic church basin /'beisn/ noun [c] ** 1 a large area of land whose surface water all flows into a particular river or lake: the Colorado River Basin 1a. an enclosed area of water where boats can be kept 1b. a large area of the Earth's surface that is lower than the surrounding area: the Caribbean Basin 2 a large round open container used for holding water or washing things in 2a. a sink in a bathroom

***

ba«sis/'beisis/ (plural bas«es/'bei,siz/) noun [C] 1 a particular method or system used for doing or

frequently used with basis

verbs

constitute, create, establish, form, lay,

provide, serve as

bask

/brcsk/ verb [i] 1 to relax and enjoy yourself by lying in the sun: A group of gray seals were basking on a rock. la. if a place is basking in sunshine or high temperatures, the weather is hot and sunny 2 [+in] to enjoy people's attention and approval, especially when you have achieved a great success: For now, she is content to bask in her new-found fame.

bas-ket/'bsskat/noun

[c]

••

a container for carrying or keeping things in, made from thin pieces of plastic, wire, or wood woven together: a picnic basket a laundry basket 1a. the things in a basket, or the amount that it contains: a basket offruit 2 the net that you throw the ball through in basketball 2a. a point scored in basketball: Miami went six minutes without a basket. make /shoot a basket She shot the 1

winning basket, —picture -> cis business a group of currencies (=different types of in different countries) used for comparing the value of another currency

3

money used -*

EGG

1

bas-ket-ball /'baeskat.bol/ noun •** played by two teams of five players who

[uj

a game

get points by-

through a net a. [C] the ball used in the game of basketball —picture -» cis basket case noun [c] informal 1 an insulting word for someone who is unable to do anything because they are too nervous or upset: nervous wreck 2 a country or organization that has serious financial problems bas-ket-ry /'bsskatri/ noun [u] 1 baskets and similar objects made by weaving together thin pieces of plastic, wire, or wood 2 the art of weaving baskets bas-re-lief /,ba ri'lif/ noun [u] a style of sculpture in which the artist forms shapes in stone, clay, metal, etc., so that they stick out slightly from their background

throwing a

a.

[C]

bass

ball

a piece of art in this style

*

1

/beis/ noun 1 [u] the lowest male singing voice: He sings bass in the church choir, la. [C] a man who has a very low singing voice 1b. [singular] the musical part for a bass voice or for an instrument that plays very low notes 2 [U] the lower half of the full range of musical notes compare treble 3 [C] a BASS GUITAR 4 [C] a DOUBLE BASS

—

1

bass 2

/beis/ adj 1 producing a very low sound: a bass 2 written for a bass voice or instrument: bassoon played the bass line.

voice/ drum

A bass 3 /bss/ rivers

(plural bass)

and the ocean

bass clef

a.

noun

[C]

a fish that lives in eaten as food

[u] this fish

kief/ noun [c] the symbol 9 used at the beginning of a line of music to show that the notes following it are to be played at the lower end of the /,beis

compare tkkhi.k cur instrument's range /'ba'sot/ or 'basset hound noun [c] a dog with long ears and short legs, used for hunting bass gui«tar / beis ui'tar/ noun [c] an electric guitar that produces very low notes

basset

bas-si-net / bxsi net / noun or woven like a basket

[C]

a bed for a baby, shaped

bassist /'beisist/

noun

[C)

someone who plays a bass

GUITAR Or a DOUBLE BASS

bassoon

/ba'sun/ noun [c] a musical instrument consisting of a long wooden tube that you hold upright and play by blowing into a thin metal pipe that holds a double reed. It can produce very low sounds. A bassoon is a woodwind instrument. Someone who plays the bassoon is called a bassoonist, —picture -» woodwind

ID

bas-tard /'baestsrd/ noun [C] 1 offensive an insulting word for an unpleasant or annoying man 2 impolite used after an adjective for talking to or about someone in a funny or sympathetic way: a lucky/poor bastard old-fashioned someone whose parents are not married word is now considered to be offenE impolite something that is very 4

3

to each other. This sive. mainly Br difficult

baste /beist/ verb [i/t] 1 to cover meat with hot fat its own juices while it cooks 2 to sew two pieces

or of

cloth together with long loose stitches that will hold them while you finish sewing it with permanent stitches

bas-tion

/'baestjan/ noun [c] 1 an organization, community, or system that supports and defends a particular way of life, tradition, or belief: Traditionally an all-male bastion, the yachting world has gradually opened to women competitors. + of one of the last bastions of

communism 2 a place where an army has

strong defenses

bat

/baet/ noun [c]

2 a small animal that flies mouse with large wings

at night

and looks

like a

Am

at bat E if a team or player is at bat, it is their turn to hit the ball in baseball like a bat out of hell informal extremely fast off your own bat Br E informal doing something because you have decided to do it, not because someone else has suggested it right off the bat E informal immediately or right from the start: I found what I wanted right off the bat.

Am

2

bat /baet/ game such

verb 1 [i/T] to hit the ball with a bat in a as baseball or cricket la. [I] in baseball or cricket, the team that is batting is trying to score points by hitting the ball 2 [t] to hit something small that is flying through the air in order to stop it landing on you: He was trying to bat the flies away with his newspaper.

bat your eyes/eyelashes to open and close your eyes very quickly several times, intending to be attractive

way

informal

a boy whose job is to look after the bats and other equipment that belong to a baseball team

batch

/'baet.boi/

noun

/baetJV noun [c]

[c]

*

an amount of a food that

is

prepared or baked at one time: He took the first batch of cookies out of the oven. a. a quantity of a substance needed or produced at one time: Mix up another batch of cement, b. a number of things or people that arrive or are dealt with at the same time: We'll send the work out in batches, c. computing a series of jobs that a computer does as a set

bat-ed

/'beitad/ adj with bated breath worried or excited and paying a lot of attention because you want to know what will happen: We waited with bated breath to find out who had won.

Bates Mo-tel, the

/'beits

moo.tel/ the motel in the

movie Psycho, where strange and frightening things happen. People sometimes say that a strange hotel is "like the Bates Motel."

BATF

/,bi ei

Firearms

see

AmE

wash themselves take a bath informal BABY

1

,

ti

'ef/

ATF

[i/t]

else in a bathtub. 1

[T]

to lose

money

in a business deal

TURKISH BATH

bath 2 /bae9/ verb

/bei6/ verb

Am E to

Br E

to

wash yourself or someone

Am E usually bathe •

wash someone in a bathtub I'll bathe the [i] to wash yourself, especially in a :

baby for you. 1a. bathtub

2 [I] to swim in a river or lake, or in the ocean 3 [T] to cover a part of your body with a liquid, usually to clean or treat a cut: Bathe the wound gently.

4

[T often passive] mainly literary to fill an area with The valley was bathed in warm light. bathed in sweat covered in sweat bath-ers /'beidsrz/ noun [plural] Australian a swimsuit

light:

/'bae0,haos/ noun [c] 1 a public building to wash or have a health treatment using hot water or steam 2 a building near a swimming pool or beach where swimmers can change their clothes

AmE

bath-ing

/'beidirj/ noun [u] the activity of in a river or lake, or in the ocean

'bathing cap noun

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and

[c]

a hat that

fits

tightly

swimming and keeps

your hair dry while you swim 'bathing suit noun [c] a piece of clothing worn for swimming: swimsuit picture -> C5 'bath mat noun [c] a piece of thick cloth that you stand on while you dry yourself after a bath or shower 'bath oil noun [C/u] a liquid containing oil with a

—

pleasant smell that you add to the water a bath

when you

take

ba-thos

/'bei,0as/ noun [u] linguistics a sudden change in speech or writing from a serious or important subject one that is silly or ordinary

to

bath-robe / 'baG.roob/ noun

[C]

a loose piece of clothing

like a soft coat that you wear before or after taking a picture -» C5 bath or shower

—

bath-room

someone

go to bat for sb informal to give someone your support and help not bat an eye informal to not be shocked, worried, or upset by something bat around phrasal vb [T] to discuss ideas or plans in an

bat-boy

minute. Mo. BrEa bathtub a bathroom. This meaning is only used in 2 advertisements for houses. 3 a large open container for liquid that has a particular use, or the liquid in the container: The objects are cleaned in a bath of acid. 4 baths [plural] a public building where people go to

where people go

in table tennis

,

/bacO/ noun [c] 1 the process of washing yourself or someone else in a bathtub: The children need a bath tonight. take a bath Do I have time to take a hath? la. the water in a bathtub: / relaxed in a nice deep bath. run a bath (=fill a bathtub with water) Can you run a bath for me - I'll be in in a

bath-house

••

1 a long wooden object used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball and cricket 1a. BrEa paddle

to

*••

1

bathe

a classic tragedy

Soviet-style

bath

-»

or annoying

bas-tard-ized /'baestar.daizd/ adj badly copied from an original and of bad quality: a bastardized version of

1

Batman

100

bass-ist

/'baeG.rum/ noun

[C]

•*

1 a room containing a toilet and usually a bathtub or shower and a sink 2 AmE any room in a house or public building con-

taining a toilet 2a. go to the

bathroom Am E to use the

toilet

Differences between English: bathroom

American and

British

In the U.S., if someone asks to go to the bathroom, they usually mean that they want to use the toilet. But in the U.K., a bathroom is a room with a bathtub in it, and it does not always contain a toilet. So you should ask to go the toilet.

'bath salts noun [plural] a substance with a pleasant smell that you add to the water when you take a bath

bath-tub / 'baeG.tAb/ noun [C] a long deep container that you fill with water and wash yourself in. Br E usually bath ba-tik /bs'tik; 'baetik/ noun [u] a way of creating designs on cloth using wax and dye a. [C/u] cloth that has a design created in this

Bat-man /

way

baet ,maen / good thinking,

Batman humorous

used for telling someone that their idea

is

good

a U.S. cartoon strip in which the characters fight against crime. Robin often says this when Batman suggests a good plan.

From Batman and Robin,

baton

batty

101

ba-ton

/bo'tan; 'bietn/ noun 1 [C] a stick that the conductor of an orchestra uses 1a. a stick that a runner in a relay race gives to the next runner 1b. a stick that someone who is marching with a band throws in the air and spins around in time with the music 1c. a stick that an important person carries during a ceremony as a sign of authority Id. a nightstick 2 [singular] responsibility for something. If you pass the baton to someone, you give them responsibility for it, and if someone takes the baton or picks up the baton, they take responsibility for it.

bats-man

/'bietsman/ (plural bats'men/'bajtsmon/) noun a player who tries to hit the ball in cricket [c] 1 a large group of soldiers that consists of three or more smaller groups called companies 2 a large group of people with the same aim or opinion: battalions of experts telling us what to do 1 bat-ten /'bsetn/ verb batten down the hatches 1 to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation by taking action to protect yourself 2 to close the entrances to the lower part of a ship very tightly, especially in a [C]

bat-tal-ion /ba'taeljan/ noun

storm

bat-ten 2 /'bsetn/ noun [C] mainly BrE a long piece of wood that is attached to something in order to hold it in place or

make

it

stronger

1

bat-ter /'baetsr/ verb 1 [i/t] to hit something very hard several times: beat: The rain battered against the Huge waves battered the little ship. 1a. to windows. deliberately hit someone many times: beat: The court heard that he had battered his wife to death. 2 [T usually passive] to make someone or something suffer or seem weak: The team's confidence was battered by the 52-10

1 bat-tie /'haul/ noun •** 1 [C/u] a fight between two armies in a war: one of the bloodiest battles of World War // + of the Battle of Waterloo in battle soldiers wounded in battle 1a. [C] a fight between two groups of people: He was wounded in a gun

battle with the police.

2

[C] a situation in which different people or groups compete with each other in order to achieve something or get an advantage: The couple are locked in a bitter legal battle over custody of their children. a boardroom

+for the battle for the leadership of the DemocraticParty a battle to do sth Supermarkets are cutting prices in a desperate battle to win customers. 2a. a situation in which someone is trying very hard to deal with a difficult situation. + against She has lost her battle against breast cancer. a battle to do sth It was a daily battle to get my son to go to school. fight a losing battle (=try to do something that will probably fail) She tried to get him to go, but she knew she was fighting a losing battle. battle

the battle lines are drawn used for saying that two opposing groups each have a clear and definite idea about the things they disagree about and are ready to start competing with each other a battle of wills a situation in which two people disagree, and each refuses to change their ideas or what they want a battle of wits a situation in which two people or groups compete by trying to be more clever than the other do battle mainly journalism to argue with or fight against a difficult opponent, official system, etc. -» LOSE

bat-tie 1

'down

break a door or gate in order to get through it: break down 2 bat-ter /'baetar/ noun 1 [c/u] a liquid mixture of milk, flour, and eggs that is used in cooking: pancake batter 1a. AmE a thick mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, and shortening (=fat), used for making cakes 2 [C] a player

.batter

who

phrasal vb

[T]

to

tries to hit the ball in baseball

— picture -» cis

bat-tered /'bastard/ adj * 1 old and slightly damaged: She would

often be seen

driving around town in her battered old car. 2 old-fashioned used for describing someone who has been treated violently by a member of their family. The

usual word is now abused. 3 having experienced a lot of difficulty: an attempt to restore confidence in Russia 's battered economy 4 covered in a mixture of milk, flour, and egg and then cooked: battered fish

bat-ter-ing

/'baetarirj/ noun take a battering to suffer very badly, for example by being easily defeated: Government troops were taking a battering in the north of the

country.

ram noun [c] a large heavy wooden or metal post used for breaking through gates and doors

'battering

bat-ter-y /'baet(a)ri/ noun •• 1 [C] an object that fits into something such as a radio, clock, or car and supplies it with electricity: I need some new batteries for my Walkman. The battery is dead (=no 1

longer working).

charge /recharge a battery (^provide

it with power) Maybe it won 't start because the battery needs recharging. 2 [C] several large guns or other weapons, used together: a battery of marine artillery 3 [u] legal the crime of hitting someone -» assault and battery 4 [singular] a group of similar things: +of He put her through a battery of tests.

-» RECHARGE

bat-ter-y

2

BrE battery farming

involves keeping large numbers of chickens very close together in small boxes, in conditions that many people think are cruel: battery hens /eggs compare free-range /

'baet(a)ri/ adj

—

'battery

pack noun [c] a type of battery used to supply

electricity in electrical

equipment such as laptop com-

puters and video cameras

batting av-er-age

/'bstin aev(a)nd3/ noun [C] a that represents the average number of times that a baseball player gets a hit

number

[l/T]

2

•

/'bsetl/ verb to try very hard to deal

with a

difficult situation:

Many She

+ against species of birds are battling extinction. described how they had battled against huge waves to

save their friend. the

2

man 's

battle to do sth

Surgeons battled

to

save

life.

compete with someone or try to achieve the opposite of what they are trying to achieve: + with Hakkinen was battling with Schumacher for first place. [I]

to

+ against A small, ill-equipped police force is battling +for the three men against the powerful drug barons. battling for the world title 2a. battle it out if two people or groups battle it out, they compete with each other until there is a definite winner: Twelve teams will battle it out to see who is the champion of Europe.

bat-tle-ax /'baetl.aeks/ noun [c] 1 an insulting word for an unpleasant woman who tells people what to do in a very determined and slightly frightening way 2 a large ax (=a tool with a thick metal blade) used in the past as a

weapon

'battle cruiser noun [c] a large fast warship 'battle ,cry noun [C] 1 a phrase or idea that a person or organization uses to encourage people to think or behave in a particular way, especially in politics 2 a loud shout given by soldiers to frighten the enemy or to encourage their own side: war cry bat-tle-dress /'baetl.dres/ noun [u] the ordinary uniform of a soldier that is different from the uniform that is worn for special ceremonies 'battle f a tigue noun [u] old-fashioned combat fatigue bat-tie-field / banlfild/ or bat-tie-ground /'bsetl ,graund/ noun [c] 1 a place where a battle takes place or where one took place in the past 1a. a place where groups of people violently oppose each other: Racial tension has turned parts of the city into a battleground. 2 a situation in which people disagree and cause problems for each other: Life at home was something of a battlefield. [plural] a wall around the top of a castle, with spaces through which weapons could be fired

bat-tle-ments/ 'bstlmsnts/ noun

.Battle of Britain, the an important World

War

II

which the British air force finally defeated the German air force, making it less likely that the U.K. would be invaded bat-tie-ship /'baetljip/ noun [c] the largest type of air battle in 1940 in

WARSHIP

bat-ty /'baMi/

adj

informal slightly crazy

^

bauble bau-ble

B

computer

baulk

bawd-y / 'bodi/ adj

[u]

a soft substance from

referring to sex in a

bawdy songs

humorous way:

— bawd-i-ly adv, bawd*i*ness noun

bawdy house noun [c] an old word meaning "brothel" bawl

/bol/ verb 1 [i] to cry loudly, especially in a way annoys other people: / wish that child would stop bawling! 2 [i/t] to shout in a loud angry way: He said that Mr. Green bawled at him during meetings. bawl out phrasal vb [T] informal to speak angrily to someone because of something they have done wrong that

1

/bei/ noun [c]

••

an area of the coast where the land curves inward: The harbor lights were visible across the bay. 1

2 a partly enclosed area that is used for a particular purpose, for example parking a car 2a. an area in an airplane or a ship that is used for carrying goods or equipment: the cargo bay 2b. an area of a room that sticks out from the main walls of a house and usually contains a window 3 a horse that is a red-brown color 4 a BAY TREE keep/hold sth at bay

prevent something serious, dangerous, or unpleasant from affecting you: Doctors recommend Vitamin Cfor keeping colds at bay. bay2 /bei/ verb [i] 1 if a dog bays, it makes a long loud sound, especially when it is hunting 2 to shout or ask for something in an angry threatening way, especially when you want someone to be punished: a baying crowd +for An angry mob was surging of tabloid reporters around the palace, baying for blood. bay 3 /bei/ adj a bay horse is red-brown in color bay ,leaf noun [c] a leaf from a bay tree that is often used in cooking to add flavor ,Bay of Pigs, the an event in 1961 in which a small group of Cubans supported by the U.S. tried to defeat to

the government of Fidel Castro. The attack failed and made the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba much worse.

bayo-net is

/'bi bi

1

/'beianit/ noun [c] a long sharp blade that attached onto the end of a rifle (=a long gun)

bay-o-net

2

/'beianit/ verb

[t]

to stick a

bayonet into

someone

bay*ou /'bai.u/ noun

[c]

very slowly and has a living in

a large area of water that flows water plants and animals

lot of

it

bay tree

noun [c] a tree with leaves that are used as cooking Bay-watch / 'beiwatJV a U.S. television program about life on a beach. The characters are mostly young attract-

an herb

in

ive lifeguards (=people whose job is to protect swimmers from danger), and people sometimes mention Baywatch when describing someone very attractive. ,bay 'window noun [c] a large window that sticks out from the main wall of a house —picture -» ci bazaar /bs'zar/ noun [c] 1 a market, especially in the Middle East and South Asia 2 a sale, especially of used goods, to raise money for a particular project or

organization

bazoo-ka /ba'zuka/ noun

,gAn/ noun

small round bullets called

[c]

AmE a

BBs

gun

that shoots

using air pressure

BBQ abbrev barbecue B.C. abbrev that

it

1 before Christ: used after a date to show refers to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ

the Common Era: used especially by non-Christians after a date to show that it refers to a time before the birth of Jesus Christ

be/bi/verb*** Be can be used

[U]

bay

BB gun

2 British Columbia B.C.E. abbrev before

/br>k/ another spelling of balk

baux-ite /'bok.sait/ noun which aluminum is taken coarse:

be

102

noun [c] 1 an inexpensive decoration or piece of jewelry 2BrEa shiny colored ball used as a decoration on a Christmas tree baud /bod/ noun [C] computing a unit for measuring the speed at which information is sent to or from a / b.-)bl/

a long gun that is carried on the shoulder and used to fire small bombs [C]

BBC, the

/,bi bi 'si/ the British Broadcasting Corporation: an organization that broadcasts television and radio programs and is owned by the British government

BBC English

/,bi bi si 'irjglij/ noun [u] BrE the standard pronunciation of British English: received pro-

nunciation

At one time, almost everyone in BBC television and radio programs used this form of pronunciation, but this is not true any more.

in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb in progressive verb tenses or in passive forms (followed by a present participle or a past participle): The train is leaving. A window was broken.

as a verb (followed by an infinitive with "to"): All books are to be returned by Friday. The party was to be a surprise. as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement): Dad was sick. His wife is a doctor. (followed by an adverb or preposition): The children are in bed.

Questions and negatives are formed without "do": Are The book was not expensive.

you busy?

Be

is

often used in tag questions: You weren t listening, It's cold, isn t it?

were you?

Be can have many different forms depending on and on its tense:

subject present tense

I

its

am

he /she /it is we/you/they are

past tense

I/he/she/itwas we/you/they were

past

been

participle

being

present participle

1 used in progressive verb tenses [auxiliary verb] used forming the progressive tenses of verbs that are used for showing actions that are in progress at a

for

particular point in time: Is everyone listening?* I'm studying English Literature. We were having breakfast when Terry phoned. 2 used in passive verb forms [auxiliary verb] used for forming the passive form of verbs: Her husband was killed in the war. The orchestra will be conducted by David Norton. 3 used in descriptions [linking verb] used for giving information about someone or something, by giving their name, job, position, etc., describing them, or saying where they are: Calvin Schultz is our Marketing Director. He wants to be an actor when he leaves school. Baltimore is not far from It was a cold frosty morning. Washington. Tom 'sfrom a small town in Canada. Who 's in charge of the Finance Department? Nancy is tall and very thin. 4 used for talking about behavior [linking verb] used for saying how someone behaves, or for telling them how to behave: I'm afraid your daughter's been behaving badly again. Why are you being so mean to me? Be quiet! Don t be silly. 5 existence [i] formal to exist: a way of life that has long since ceased to be

The most famous speech in Shakespeare's Hamlet begins with the words "To be or not to be...," in which the main character Hamlet considers the possibility of killing himself.

been there, done that spoken used to say that you have done something and are no longer interested in it being as mainly Br E informal a way of saying "because"

many people do not consider to be correct be that as it may mainly spoken used for saying that even if something is true, it does not affect your opinion: Be that as it may, I still think Mr. Livingston is the best that

man for

the job.

be to do sth formal

1

used for telling someone what

to

beach 2 used

for to take

saying what has been arranged: The ceremony is 3 used for saying or asking what should be done: What are we to do?* You are to be congratulated on your wise decision. 4 used in an "if' clause for suggesting a possible goal when you are saying what must happen in order to achieve it: If we are to compete successfully in world markets, we must invest more money in education and training. 5 used about someone or something in the past to say what would happen at a later time: the person who was to become President 6 used in the past forms in an "if' clause for describing a situation that does not exist and is not likely to exist: were is considered more correct than was with all subjects in this type of "if' clause: // your son were to die before you, the property would be divided among your grandchildren. used for giving an explanation of something: being. Being younger than the others, I always had to wear their place on the U.S.S. Missouri.

.

beam

103

do: You are to stay here until I send for you.

.

castoffs.

the fact/point/thing/trouble etc. is (that) spoken used before a clause that explains a particular situation or problem: I'm sorry, I can pay you right now, the thing is I've had a lot of bad luck lately. * The trouble with Lisa is she doesn't listen to what you tell her. have been to. used for saying that someone has gone to a place and returned: Have you ever been to Venice?* Where have you been?* I've been to London several times. there is/there are 1 used for saying that someone or something is in a particular place: There's a woman in the other room who wants to talk to you. * How many people were there at the concert? 2 used for saying that someone or something exists or that something happens: There is a small problem that we need to discuss. * There have already been four serious accidents on this stretch of road. to be honest/frank/serious used for emphasizing that what you are saying is the truth and not a joke: To be 't

.

/ bitj.hed/ noun [C] an area on a beach or beside a river that an army takes control of in order to attack farther into the land

beach-wear /bitj

wer/ noun [u) light summer clothes you wear on the beach /'bikon/ noun [c] 1 a bright light or fire that shines in the dark and is used as a signal to warn people against danger or to show them the way somewhere 1a. a tower or floating object with a bright light on it that warns boats that they are near the land 1b. a radio or raoak signal that helps ships or aircraft to that

beacon

find their position 2 [+of] mainly literary someone or something that encourages people and gives them a good example to follow: He called the country "a beacon

of democracy

and freedom.

bead /bid/ noun [C usually plural]

1 a small usually round piece of plastic, glass, metal, etc. with a hole through it, that you put on a string or chain with other beads and wear as jewelry: a string of beads 2 a small drop of a liquid such as blood or sweat: Beads of sweat ran down his forehead.

bead-ed 2 covered

/'bidsd/ with adj 1 decorated beads in small drops of a liquid: beaded with sweat/ perspiration/moisture etc. Her forehead was beaded with

perspiration.

.

honest, I'm not really interested in politics.

were sb/sth

beach-head

/ bidirj/ noun [u] 1 a decoration of beads on clothes, shoes, bags, etc. 2 long thin pieces of wood or stone that are fixed to the edges of walls or furniture

as a decoration

bea-dle

/'bidl/ noun [c] an official of a institution, especially in the past

bead-y

in schools.

church or other

beady eyes are small, round, and

/'bidi/ adj

bright

bea-gle

/'bigl/ noun [c] a dog with short hair is kept as a pet or for hunting

and long

ears that

beak

/bik/ noun

[c]

•

the hard curved or pointed part of a bird's

1

do sth formal used

in a conditional clause for describing a situation that is not real or that is very unlikely to happen: Were Shakespeare to return today, he would be amazed to find his plays being studied

to

beading

mouth

2 very informal a long pointed nose beak-er /'bikar/ noun [c] 1 a plastic cup with straight sides used for drinking 2 a glass or plastic container with straight sides that LABORATORY

is

used in a laboratory —picture

-»

In conversation or informal writing am can be shortened to 'm, is can be shortened to 's, and are can be shortened to 're: I'm so glad you came. * Kay's still at the office. * We're leaving tomorrow.

These short forms can be followed by not

to

make

negative sentences: I'm not surprised. * She's not very

Negative forms can also be shortened: am not can be shortened to aren't (but only in questions), is not can be shortened to isn't, are not can be shortened to aren't, was not can be shortened to wasn't, and were not can be shortened to weren't: I'm next, aren't I? * Tom isn't coming. * They weren't very nice.

•••

1

beam

/bitj/ noun [C] an area of sand or small stones beside the ocean or a lake: a sandy beach * I like the kind of vacation where I can sit on the beach for a week.

beam up

a vehicle with big wheels that

you can drive on sand

sit

phrasal vb [T] in science fiction stories, to bring to their spacecraft using special elec-

someone back

This verb was most famously used in the phrase

"Beam me

up, Scottie," from the television science which one of the main characters was called Mr. Scott. People sometimes use this humorously for saying that they want to get away from an embarrassing or difficult situation. fiction series Star Trek, in

beam 2 /bim/ noun

informal someone who spends a lot of time enjoying themselves on the beach

you

phrasal vb [T] in science fiction stories, to

tronic equipment

.ball noun [C] a large light plastic ball filled with air that you play with on the beach —picture -» ball

'beach .chair noun

[C]

1

long piece of line of light

[c]

2 3

AmEa folding plastic chair that

on outside: deck chair

beach-comb-er/'bitj.koomar/ noun

•

send someone down onto a planet from a spacecraft using special electronic equipment

'beach

'beach .bum noun

/bim/verb

to smile widely because

perfect blue sky.

/bitj/ verb [T] 1 to pull or make a boat go out of the water and onto dry land 2 [usually passive] if a whale (=large ocean animal) is beached, it lands on the beach and cannot get back into the water

[C]

[I]

beam down

beach 2

'beach .buggy noun

1

you are very happy: He beamed with satisfaction. [T] to send radio signals or television pictures through the air using electronic equipment: + to/across/ over etc. Pictures of the famine were beamed to television audiences all over the world. 2a. [i/T] to send out light, heat, or energy: The sun beamed down brightly from a 1

2

strong. * You're not helping.

beach

be-all noun the be-all and end-all the most important thing to someone: often used in negative sentences: Tennis never seemed to be the be-all and end-all to Becker.

[C]

someone who

•• 4 exercise equipment 5 part of ship

big smile

a long thick piece of wood, metal, or concrete that supports a roof: a barn with low oak beams 2 a line of light or energy: the beam of the car headlights * a laser beam 3 a wide happy smile: A beam of happiness spread over her face. 4 a wooden bar used for physical exercise in a gym 1

searches a beach looking for shells and valuable or interesting things beach-front / 'bitj.fr Ant/ ad] [only before noun] a beachfront building faces a beach or is very close to a beach: a large beachfront hotel

[c]

wood

°\

ID

bean 5

bean

1

/bin/ noun

|C]

**

1 a seed of various plants that is cooked and eaten. There are many different types of beans, for example kidney beans, soybeans, and green beans. 1a. a dried bean that you grind (=make into a powder) and use to make drinks such as coffee and cocoa: coffee beans 1b. a plant that produces beans 2 Am E informal your head: This puzzle isn't hard - use your bean! not know beans about sth Am E informal to know nothing about a subject

-» FULL, HILL, SPILL

1

bean 2

/bin/ verb [T] head with something

AmE

informal to hit someone's

bean-bag

/'bin.baeg/ noun [C] a large cloth bag that with small soft plastic balls a. a small cloth bag filled with small soft plastic balls, used for

you

sit on, filled

throwing and catching

'bean .counter noun [c] informal a business manager or accountant who cares only about financial numbers and

profits

bean curd

noun

[u]

a soft white food

made from

soybeans: tofu

bean-ie

/'bini/ noun [c] a small tightly to your head

round hat that

fits

bean-pole /'binpoul/ noun [C] humorous informal a person who is very tall and thin 'bean sprouts noun [plural] the young stems growing from the seeds of a bean plant that are eaten as food [C] the stem of a bean plant Bean-town /'bin.taon/ an informal name for the city

bean-stalk / 'bin.stok/ noun of Boston, Massachusetts

From the fact that Boston is famous for baked beans (=beans cooked in a sweet sauce).

bear 1

/ber/

/born/) verb 1

bearable

104

the widest part of a ship from one side to the other

(past tense bore /bor/; past participle borne [T]

*••

accept bad situation

2 have quality/mark etc. 3 support or carry weight

4 give birth to/produce 5 have feeling toward sb + PHRASES

carry or hold something, for example a weapon: a missile-bearing warship bear arms (=carry weapons) Do you support the citizen 's right to bear arms? 4 formal to give birth to a child: The ewes usually bear twin lambs. bear sb sth She bore him three sons. 4a. if a plant bears flowers or fruit, it produces them: The new stems bear the flowers. 5 to have a particular feeling toward someone: bear sb sth He had caused untold suffering, but they bore him no bitterness. bear a grudge (=to continue to dislike someone because of a past event) / hope you don't still bear a grudge against me.

bear the cost /expense etc. to pay for something: companies with enough money to bear the enormous expense of testing a new drug bear fruit if plans or efforts bear fruit, they are successful, especially after a long period of time:

of its employees.

bear witness formal 1 to speak or write about what you have seen, especially as evidence that something is true 2 to show signs that prove that something happened or was true: This landscape bears silent witness to one of the greatest tragedies in history. bear y our self formal to behave or walk or stand in a particular way: She always bore herself well. bring sth to bear 1 formal to try to persuade someone to do something by using your influence or power: + on The company directors brought pressure to bear on him to resign. 2 formal to use something to deal with a problem or difficult situation: It was in the area of marketing that Alan's business experience was brought to bear. not bear thinking about Br E to be too shocking or unpleasant to think about: "What will happen if they pull out now?" "It really doesn 't bear thinking about. ,bear

1

[usually

in

negatives or questions] if you

cannot bear some-

you cannot accept or do it because it makes you very unhappy: can't bear doing sth/to do sth Sue can't bear to be separated from her baby daughter. / can bear thing,

't

seeing food thrown away. can hardly bear to do sth I could hardly bear to watch. can't bear the thought/ idea of She more than sb couldn't bear the thought of moving again. can bear Being made a fool of in front of a roomful ofpeople was more than he could bear. 1a. [usually in negatives or

cannot bear someone or something, you dislike them very much: Most of her friends can't bear her husband. 1b. to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially without complaining: She bore all her suffering with incredible patience. The pain was more than I could bear. 1c. bear the strain /pressure to be able to continue in a very difficult situation: / don't think our relationship could bear the strain of her mother visiting for a month. 2 formal to seem to be a particular kind of thing or to have particular qualities: bear the hallmarks /signs/ stamp of sth The incident bore all the hallmarks of a racist attack. 2a. to seem to be similar to something or related to it in some way. bear a resemblance/relation/similarity to His description bore no relation to reality. 2b. to have features or qualities that show that something happened in the past: bear the scars/marks of sth Many buildings in the town still bear the scars of the bombing. 2c. if something bears writing or a design, that writing or a blue design is on it: Every new coin bears a date. banner bearing the words "Civil Rights March"* bear sb's signature The letter bore the signature of her grandfather. 2d. formal to have a particular name or title: The city still bears the French name of Aix-la-Chapelle. 3 to support the weight of something: The old floorboards could not bear the weight of the grand piano. 3a. literary to carry or take someone or something somewhere: a coffin bearing the remains of an old man 3b. [usually passive] literary if something is borne along by wind, air, or water, it is moved along by it 3c. to questions] if you

Our policies

must be given time to bear fruit. bear sth in mind to remember to consider something when you are thinking about or doing something else: + (that) When you speak to Lee, bear in mind he's still pretty upset about what happened. Bearing in mind that it's Christmas, how much do you think the flight will cost? bear left/right to take the road or path on the left/ right as you are walking or driving bear the responsibility to be responsible for something: + for The company bears the responsibility for the actions

'down

phrasal vb

bear down

[l]

1

AmE to try very hard: We need make

this work. 2 [+on] to in a determined and threatening way: / could see a police car bearing down on us. 3 to push or press downward: It's a natural instinct for a woman giving birth to bear down. + on The structure is positioned to bear down on its supports. bear on or 'bear upon phrasal vb [T] [bear on sth] to be to

if

we want

to

move quickly towards someone

connected with something or to influence it: Do you have any information bearing on his disappearance? ,bear out phrasal vb [T] to show that something is true or that someone is telling the truth: Scientific evidence bears out the claim that stress and disease are linked. / always said - and Rick will bear me out - that this wouldn't work. ,bear up phrasal vb [I] to behave in a brave way in a very sad or difficult situation: + under Let's see how he bears

up under the pressure. 'bear upon phrasal vb [T] 'bear ,with phrasal vb [T]

same as bear on

bear with me/us spoken used as a polite way of asking someone to be patient while you do or finish something, especially something that is unpleasant for them: If you just bear with me for a few more minutes, we'll have all the paperwork finished. bear 2 /ber/ noun [c] •• 1 a large wild animal with thick fur. There are several different types of bears, for example the polar bear and the grizzly bear. A young bear is called a bear cub. 1a. a children's soft toy that looks like a friendly bear: teddy bear 1b. used in the name of some animals that are similar to bears: koala bear 2 business someone who expects the prices of stocks to compare bull 3 fall, so they sell them a bear spoken something that is very difficult: That bear! a bear of a (=a difficult or exam was a algebra unpleasant) problem/dilemma/winter etc. We had a bear

—

1

of an argument last night. adj something that is bearable is or unpleasant, but you are able to accept or

bear-a-ble /'berabl/ difficult

beard it:

beard-ed /'bnxbd/

adj

[usually before noun]

a bearded

man has a beard bearer /'berar/

noun [c] 1 someone whose job is to carry something such as a flag, especially in a ceremony 2 someone who brings you a particular type of news or information: +of / hate to be the bearer of bad news. 3 formal the bearer of a title or official document is the person who it belongs to or who has the right to have it: The note promises to pay the bearer $20.

'bear ,hug noun [c] an act of putting your arms around someone and holding them tightly, because you are happy to see them or you want to show that you like them a lot

bearing

/'benn/ noun

•

a part of a machine that holds a moving part -» BALL BEARING 2 [singular] the particular way in which someone stands, moves, or behaves: her proud bearing 3 [C] an exact position, usually measured from north 3a. take a bearing to find out where you are or what direction you are going in, using a special instrument such as a compass 1

[C] technical

get/find your bearings to find out where you are and where other things are: It took her a moment to get her bearings in the dark. have some/no bearing on sth to be relevant/not relevant to something or to have an influence/no influence on it: His private life has no bearing on his competence as a manager. lose your bearings to become confused about where you are and where other things are: / lost my bearings and ended up at the entrance again.

bearish / 'benJV adj

business 1 a bearish market is one in which the prices of stocks are falling 2 expecting the prices of stocks to fall: The market rose today, despite the fears of bearish investors. 2a. expecting the level of economic activity in general to fall: a bearish outlook on the U.S. economy opposite bullish

—

'bear market noun [c] business a situation in the stock market in which the prices of stocks are falling bear-skin /'ber.skin/ noun [C] 1 the skin and fur of a bear: a bearskin coat a bearskin rug 2 a tall black fur hat that some British soldiers wear as part of their uniform for special ceremonies

beast

/bist/ noun [C]

**

1 mainly literary an animal, especially a dangerous or strange one: a wild beast 2 a cruel or immoral person, especially one who behaves in a violent or sexual way 2a. informal oldfashioned used for speaking to someone who is behaving

badly: You

little beast! for describing something with a particular quality: The music business is an unpredictable beast. The U.S. movie audience is a very different beast.

3 humorous used

beast of 'burden noun is

[C] old-fashioned an animal that used for carrying heavy things, for example a donkey

or a CAMEL

beat 1

1

/bit/ (pasttense beat; past

hit

sb several times

2 arrive before sb 3 be better than sb/sth 4 be better/very good

someone

participle beaten)

verb

***

5 hit sth several times 6 heart moving regularly 7 mix foods well + PHRASES

violently several times: They were arrested for beating their children. beat sb to death The two men had been beaten to death. 2 [T] to arrive before someone else: beat sb to /back etc. See if you can beat me back to the house! 2a. to do something before a planned time or before something happens: beat the deadline/clock He was always trying to beat the clock and finish early. 3 [T] to defeat someone in a game, competition, election, or battle Hingis needed to beat Davenport to get to the In 2000, George W. Bush narrowly beat Al Gore in final. the election. 3a. to do something faster, for longer, more times, etc. than has been done before: She beat the world 1

[T]

beat

105

Only love could have made such poverty bearable, —opposite unbearable beard /bird/ noun [c] * hair that grows on a man's chin and cheeks: his thick white beard a. hair that grows on the face of an animal such as a goat deal with

to hit

:

be happy if I beat my previous best score. 3b. to succeed despite a difficult situation: // is one of the few businesses that has beaten the recession. women who have beaten breast cancer 4 [j] informal to be better than something else For me, surfing the Net beats watching TV any time. 4a. be hard to beat to be very good, or better than other things of its kind: It's an expensive hotel, but that kind oj hard to beat. 4b. you can't beat sth sth can't be beat used for saying that something is very good: You can 't beat a good book. 5 [T] to hit something several times making a regular pattern of sounds, or to make this pattern of sounds: Someone was beating a drum in the distance 5a. to hit an object or part of the body with your hands / beat my hands on the wall with rage. He suddenly heal the table with his fist. 5b. [l/T] if a bird or insect beats its wings, or if its wings beat, it hits them together several times 5c. [i/t] [-t-against/on/at] to hit something many times or for a long period of time: The rain was beating against the windows with renewed force. waves beating on the shore 5d. [T] to hit a piece of metal with a special record by 0.3 of a second.

/ 11

[

'

]

hammer in order to make it thinner 6 [I] if someone's heart beats, it makes

the same sound and movements again and again as it pumps blood around their body: The shock had made my heart beat faster.

7

[T] to mix foods such as eggs, cream, or butter well using a fork or a special tool or machine. This tool or machine can be called a beater.

beat a path to sb's door to go to someone's home or place of work in large numbers: It's no fun having the world's press constantly beating a path to your door. beat around the bush to spend a long time getting to the main point of what you are saying, especially because it is embarrassing: Stop beating around the bush and tell

me

the truth.

beat your brains out Am E informal to think very seriously about something for a long time beat it spoken used for telling someone to go away, especially when you are angry with them beat sb to it to do something before someone else: When I went to take the keys I found that someone had beaten me to

it.

beat the rap

Am E informal

to

escape being punished

for a crime you have been accused of: So far all the suspects have beaten the rap.

main

beat the system to achieve what you want by breaking rules or by finding clever ways of working within them beat time to make regular movements or sounds to show how fast a piece of music should be sung or played beat your breast to make it obvious by your actions that you are very upset or sorry about something can you beat that /it? used for showing that you are surprised about something: There was a cat with ten kittens - can you beat that? if you can't beat 'em join 'em used for saying that you are going to start doing the same as other people because you have tried to do something different and it has failed beats me used for saying that you do not know or understand something: "Why did he do such a stupid thing?" "Beats me.

Words adverbs

frequently used with beat comfortably, comprehensively, convincingly, easily, narrowly,

3

soundly

beat down phrasal vb 1 [T] to persuade someone to sell you something at a lower price than their first offer: beat sb down to sth The original price was $236,000. but we beat them down to $210,000. 2 [l] if the rain beats down, it rains very hard 3 [i] if the sun beats down, it shines very brightly making the weather very hot: + on I could feel the sun beating down on my head. beat off phrasal vb 1 [T] to succeed in winning or gaining something from an opponent: Virgin Airlines must beat efforts to beat off off stiff competition to win the contract. their rivals 2 [T] to prevent someone from physically attacking you by hitting them with your hands or with an object: He had to beat the dogs off with a stick. 3 |i] Am Every informal to MASTURBATE beat out phrasal vb [T] 1 Am E informal to succeed in

b

beat else wants: Atlanta beat out Athens for the privilege of hosting the 1996 Olympics. 2 [beat sth out of sb] to make someone tell you something by hitting them: He claims that the confession was beaten out of him. 3 to make a pattern of sounds by hitting an instrument or other object: drummers beating out a rhythm 4 to stop a fire from burning by hitting it

with something: She beat out the flames with a branch. beat up phrasal vb [T] informal 1 to hurt someone by hitting or kicking them many times: They threatened to beat me up if I didn't give them my wallet. 2 [beat sb up] to blame or criticize yourself or someone else: It's time you stopped beating yourself up over this. 1 [beat up on sb] same as beat up on phrasal vb [T] beat up v. He and his brother are always beating up on each other. 2 [beat up on sb/yourself] to blame or criticize yourself or someone else: I'm not here to beat up on single

AmE

parents. 1

beat- up up old

heart: a heart rate of 65 beats a minute skip/miss a beat Her heart seemed to miss a beat. 1a. the series of regular sounds or movements as your heart pumps blood around your body: I could feel the beat of his heart. 2 [usually singular] the main pattern of sounds in a piece of music, or the strongest sounds in this pattern: I'd like you to tap out the beat on the table. music with a slow pulsating beat 2a. a single regular sound or a series of regular sounds, especially of two things hitting together: the sound of a single drum beat + of the beat of horses' hooves 2b. a unit of measurement for a piece of music. Each measure has a particular number of beats: A waltz has three beats in each measure. 3 [usually singular] an area that a police officer has responsibility for and must walk around regularly: walk/pound/patrol the beat The two officers used to walk the beat together. on the beat (^walking around an area) We intend to increase the number of police on the beat. beat 3 /bit/ adj spoken very tired: I'm going to bed now -

bicycle

beau /boo/ (plural beaux /booz/ or beaus/booz/) man Beaufort scale, the

think

is

beautif ul

—

beat-ing

*

/'bitip/ noun [c] 1 the act of hitting someone hard a number of times in a fight or as a punishment: The man had been given a severe beating. 2 a bad defeat in a game, competition, or election: It looked like Penn State was going to get a beating.

take a beating to be damaged because of performing badly or being criticized: Real estate firms have taken a beating on the stock market. beat-nik /'bitnik/ noun [c] a young person in the late 1950s and early 1960s who did not accept the usual ideas and rules of society and who dressed and behaved in a different way from other people in order to emphasize

/'bjutifl/ adj

**•

a beautiful person is extremely attractive: Their mother was a very beautiful woman. my five beautiful kids You don't have to be young to be beautiful. 1a. something that is beautiful is very pleasant to look at: That dress is really beautiful, —opposite ugly 2 very pleasant: The weather has been beautiful this week. It was a beautiful dream. 3 done or made very well or with a lot of skill: The second goal was beautiful. She made a beautiful pot roast. beau'ti-fuhly adv: They were all beautifully dressed. 1

Other ways of saying beautiful attractive used for describing men and women whose looks make other people sexually interested in them

good-looking used children

who

for describing adults and older are nice to look at. In spoken English, is more usual than handsome for

good-looking

men handsome used

describing

for describing

men who

pretty used for describing young

are nice to

women and

girls

nice faces

gorgeous used

for emphasizing that someone looks very beautiful, especially when their clothes and hair are also very special: You look absolutely gorgeous in

that dress.

striking used for describing someone who looks interesting or unusual in an attractive way: a tall striking

woman

cute used for describing children who are nice to look at and behave in a way that makes people like them. It is also used for describing a man or woman that you find sexually attractive: Johnny was the cutest There's this really cute guy in my toddler I ever saw.

Beat Generation, the 1950s who did not accept

—

literary beautiful

/bja'tijn/ noun [c]

women's hair

hits

be-a-tif-ic /.bia'tifik/ adj literary a beatific expression be«aon your face is extremely happy and peaceful tif-i-cally /.bia'tifikli/ adv be-at-i-fi-ca-tion /bi.aetifi'keifn/ noun [u] in the Roman Catholic Church, an official statement that someone who has died was an especially good or holy person be*at*i*fy /bi'aeti.fai/ verb [T]

Am E informal something that you

someone whose job is give people beauty treatments or cut and style

to

another person, usually a smaller or weaker person: wife- /woman- /child-beater Phillips was exposed as a wife-beater. 2 a piece of equipment used for mixing food such as eggs or sauces 3 someone whose job is to make birds or wild animals come out of bushes or grass so that people who are hunting can shoot them 1 those young people in the the usual ideas and rules of Western society, living together in groups and sometimes taking illegal drugs 2 a group of writers who represent the ideas of the Beat Generation. They include Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

/,boo 'mand/ noun the rich and

beauteous /'bjutias/ adj

informal beat-up

someone who regularly

[C]

very good: That shot was a real beaut!

who have

[C] 1

a series of

fashionable people in society

beaut /bjut/ noun

[only before noun]

beat-er / 'bitar/ noun

,skeil/

from southern France

beau monde, the

off the beaten path/track far away from the places that people usually visit and hard to get to: The museum is a little off the beaten path, but is worth the effort. adj

/'boofort

numbers from to 12 that are used to show how strongly the wind is blowing. means that there is no wind and 12 means that there is a hurricane (=a violent storm) Beau«jo«lais /,boo33'lei/ noun [c/u] a type of red wine

look at

beaten- up

[C]

well-

dressed fashionable

beaten gold, silver, or other metal has been shaped with a hammer /bitn/ adj

noun

woman's boyfriend or lover 2 a

old-fashioned 1 a

I'm beat.

beat-en

this.

informal old and in bad condition: a beat-

adj

beau-ti-cian

2

/bit/ noun [C] •• one of the regular sounds or movements of your

beat

beauty

106

winning or gaining something that someone

office.

/'bjuti.fai/ verb [T] to make something look beautiful: She likes to spend time beautifying her

beau'ti-fy

more home.

beau-ty

1

/'bjuti/

noun

•••

U the quality of being beautiful or very good to look I admired at: He was impressed by her beauty and charm. the beauty of the landscape. 1a. the beauties of sth the features of something that are beautiful to look at: the beauties of nature 2 [C] mainly journalism a beautiful woman: She was a great beauty in her time. 3 [U] a quality that something has that gives you pleasure: the beauty of her poetry 4 [C] informal something that you think is very good or a good example of its type: / love old cars, and that 1

[

]

one's a beauty. is in the eye of the beholder used for saying that different people have different opinions about what is beautiful the beauty of sth the advantage or good quality that something has: The beauty of working at home is that you don't have to travel. you beauty Australian spoken used for expressing your

beauty

pleasure at something

beauty /'bjuti/ adj [only before nounj used to describe products, jobs, or activities that are related to making

people look more beautiful: beauty products/treatments Someone told me that she made her fortune selling beauty products.

beauty contest

noun [C] 1 beauty contest or beauty pageant a competition for women in which judges decide who are the most beautiful 2 mainly journalism a type of primary election in which people's votes have no real effect, but instead show the political parties which candidates are most popular 'beauty mark noun [c] a small dark spot on the skin. Br E beauty spot 'beauty pa rade noun [c] business a situation in which someone chooses to use the services of a particular company without basing their decision on important

AmE

AmE

facts

beauty parlor

noun [c] a store where you can get beauty treatments for your skin or hair beauty queen noun [c] a woman who wins a beauty contest 'beauty salon noun [c] a beauty parlor 'beauty sleep noun [u] humorous sleep that you need to have at night so that you can stay healthy and look good beauty ,spot noun [c] BrE 1 a beautiful place in the countryside that attracts tourists 2 a beauty mark bea-ver 1 /'bivar/ noun 1 [c] a small North American animal that has a wide flat tail and thick fur. Beavers cut down trees with their teeth and build dams (=walls) across streams. 2 [u] the fur of a beaver, used for making clothes such as hats and coats 3 [C] offensive an offensive word for the area around a woman's sex organs bea«ver 2 /'bivar/ verb beaver a way phrasal vb [i] informal if you beaver away at something, you work very hard at it: +at He was beavering away at his homework until after midnight.

be-bop

/'bi.bap/ noun [U] a type of jazz music that developed in the U.S. during the 1940s among musicians who emphasized the complicated structure of the music, instead of the tune

be-calmed /bi'kamd/ adj

if

a sailing boat

cannot move because there

it

is

the past tense of

be-cause

/bi'koz; biksz/ function

Because can be used

is

becalmed,

become word

***

in the following ways:

as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): by bus because it was cheaper.

We went

because of (followed by a game of the season was canceled

in the preposition phrase

noun): The first because of the snow.

used for showing the reason something happens or why it is described in a particular way: / It's couldn't call you because I didn't have your number. a really useful book because it explains everything very clearly. The hotel's difficult to find because the road isn't signposted. "Why all this fuss about security?" "Because it's important." He's always criticizing me - maybe it's because I'm a woman. + of Stacey retired in 1987, partly because of ill health. Because of the Asian crisis, the company's profits fell by 15% during 1997. 2 mainly spoken used for introducing facts that explain why you believe that something is true: George was obviously in a bad mood, because he didn even say good 1

the reason

't

morning. 1

beck /bek/

noun [C] BrE a small stream beck and call available to do things for another person whenever they want: Your mother can't be at your beck and call all the time. at sb's

beck-on

/'beksn/ verb

[i/T]

to signal to someone to to the waiter to ask beckon (to) sb to do sth She 1

come toward you: +to He beckoned for another bottle of wine. beckoned me to join her. 2 it is

if something beckons to you, very attractive and you feel you have to do some-

thing to get

it:

A

become /bik\m/ (past tense became /hi ticiple

become) verb *

Become

keim/; past

par-

••

can be used

in the following

ways:

as a linking verb (followed by an adjective or noun complement): The problem became worse. He became president in 2001. as an ordinary transitive verb: Blue becomes you.

is

a color that

to change and start to be something 1 different, or to start to have a different quality: The sky became dark. People were becoming increasingly angry Was it boredom that made Branwell about the delay. become an alcoholic? Sao Paulo has become the largest city in South America. 1a. to begin to have a particular job or position of authority, or begin to be a member of [linking verb]

a group: In 1603 James became King of England. It was Mr. Berry who encouraged Christine to become a writer. The following year Easton became an American citizen. 1b. to begin to be used for a different purpose: What sort of building was it before it became a museum? 2 [T] formal if something becomes you, it is suitable for you or it makes you more attractive: That red dress really becomes her - it goes with her hair. become of phrasal vb [T] what has/will become of used for asking what has happened to someone or something, because you have not seen them for a long time, or what will happen to them, because you are worried about them: If she is sent Whatever to prison, what will become of her children? became of the painting that used to be in the library?

be-com-ing you look

/bi'kAmirj/ adj old-fashioned

1

making

Her new hairstyle was very becoming. or correct for you or the situation that

attractive:

2 appropriate

you are in 1 /bed/ noun

bed

••*

1 [C/U] a piece of furniture that you sleep on, consisting of a soft comfortable part called a mattress and a base: double/twin/single bed The room had two single beds in it. out of/ in bed It's midnight - why aren't you in bed? get out of bed (=get up) / never get out of bed before 10 a.m. go to bed I'll get home at 11 p.m. and go straight to bed. put sb to bed Sam was upstairs putting the children

make the/my/your

etc. bed (=make its covers slept in it) Why can 't you kids beds? —picture -» next page la. anything that is used by a person or animal for sleeping on: The dog's bed is in the kitchen. He made himself a bed of straw. 2 [C] an area of ground that has been dug for growing plants and flowers: a circular bed in the middle of the lawn -» flowerbed 2a. [C usually singular] the ground at the bottom of an ocean or river: a dried-up river bed 2b. [C] an area in a river, lake, or ocean where there are a lot of plants or animals of a particular kind: reed beds oyster beds 3 [C] a layer of rock that is inside a larger area of rock 3a. [singular] a layer of food on which you put other food: + of shrimp served on a bed of lettuce to bed.

straight after

you have

make your own

no wind

be-came

-» JUST

B.Ed.

107

beau*ty 2

bright future beckoned to him.

get out of bed on the wrong side/get up on the wrong side of the bed spoken to be in a bad mood from the time you get up in the morning for no obvious reason go to bed with sb informal to have sex with someone good/bad in bed informal good /bad as a sexual partner sb has made their bed, and they must lie /sleep in it used for saying someone must accept an unpleasant situation they are in because they caused it jump/get into bed with sb 1 informal to have sex with someone you have just met 2 to start a close business relationship with someone who people do not trust sth/life is not a bed of roses [usually in negatives] used for saying that something is not always good or easy: The life of a debt collector is no bed of roses. put sth to bed to finish dealing with something bed 2 /bed/ verb [t] 1 to put something firmly into a base or into the ground: embed 2 literary to have sex with someone

bed down

phrasal vb [l/T] to lie down or put someone else into a bed or another place to sleep: John and Steve can bed down in the family living room. It was time to bed down for the night.

B.Ed.

/,bi 'ed/ noun [c] Bachelor of Education: a first college degree for people who want to become teachers

bed and breakfast

beef

108

bed-lam

/'bedlam/ noun

a noisy and confusing place or situation: chaos: There was complete bedlam as everyone rushed for the stores.

double bed

From

the

name

[u]

of an old psychiatric hospital in the

U.K.

bed-lin-en /'bed.lmin/ noun

[u]

sheets and pillowcases

(=covers for pillows)

bed-lin-er /'bed.lamor/ noun [c] AmE a cover that protects the open back of a pickup truck from damage bed-pan /'bed.paen/ noun [c] a wide flat container that is used as a toilet by people who are too sick to get out of bed

bed-post /'bed.poost/ noun

[c] one of the four upright pieces of wood at each corner of a bed, especially an old-fashioned bed

be-drag-gled /bi'dnegld/

ad] wet, dirty,

and messy

bed-ridden

/'bed.ndn/ adj unable to get out of bed because you are too weak or sick bed-rock /'bed.rak/ noun [singular] 1 the ideas and principles on which a belief or system is based: cornerstone:* of These are the principles that form the bedrock of American society. 2 the solid rock under the ground that supports the soil above it

bed-roll /'bedxoul/ noun [C] a rolled piece of material that you carry with you and use as a bed when you are sleeping outside

***

bed-room

/'bed.rum/ noun [c] a room that you mom in the spare bedroom. a two-bedroom apartment the master bedroom (=the main bedroom in a house) a. relating to this room: the bedroom door bedroom furniture sleep in: III put your

in the

bedroom used

for referring to sex

when you do

not want to do this directly

bedroom community noun to a

[C]

AmE a

town

to

or

place from

bedroom suburb

where many people

travel

work

'bedroom eyes

informal a way of looking at someone that shows you are sexually attracted to

noun

[plural]

them

bed-side

/'bed.said/ noun bed: a bedside lamp

,bed and 'breakfast noun [u] the service of providing a room for the night and a meal the next morning: The price is $75 for bed and breakfast, a. [C] a small hotel or private house that provides this service

be-daz-zled /bi'dxzld/ adj

literary very impressed and by something bed-bug /'bed.bAg/ noun [c] an insect with a round body and no wings that sucks people's blood, especially when they are in bed bed-cham-ber /'bed.tjeimbar/ noun [c] an old word

slightly confused

meaning "bedroom"

bed-clothes

/'bed.klooS-z; 'bed.klooz/ noun [plural] sheets and covers, especially when used on a bed

bedding

/'bedirj/ noun [u] 1 the sheets and covers that are used on a bed: They were supplied with food, clothes, and bedding. 2 things that an animal uses to make its bed, for example grass and leaves

'bedding plant noun that

is

[c] a plant, usually with flowers, put in the garden at the beginning of a season

and thrown away at the end be-decked/bi'dekt/adj literary [+in/with] covered with lots of

decorations such as flags or flowers

be-dev-il /bi'devl/

(pasttense and past participle be-deviled present participle be-devil-ing or be-dev-il-lingl verb [T] formal to cause a lot of problems for someone or something: The team has been bedeviled by injury. or be-dev-illed;

bed-f el-low /'bed.feloo/ noun

[C] someone or someconnected with another person or thing in some way, often unexpectedly: Politics can create some

thing that

is

strange bedfellows.

/'bed.hed/ noun [c] BrE informal messy hair that looks as just gotten out of bed

bed-head 2

[u]

"\

if

[singular]

the area near your

be at sb's bedside to sit near someone who is sick in bed: His family was at his bedside all day long. bedside 'manner noun [singular] the way in which a doctor behaves toward a person in their care bed-sit /'bed.sit/ or bed-sit-ter /'bed.sitsr/ noun [c] BrE a room that you rent that is used for both living

and sleeping

in

bed-sore /'bed ,sor/ noun

[c] a red painful area on your skin that you get from lying in one position in bed for a long time

bed-spread /'bed.spred/ noun

[c] a top cover for a bed, used mainly for decoration bed-stead /'bed.sted/ noun [c] the wooden or metal frame of a bed bed-time /'bed.taim/ noun [u] the time you usually go to bed: Come on, kids - it's bedtime! / stayed up long past my bedtime last night. He was telling his son a bedtime

story.

bed-wet-ting

/'bed,wetin/ noun [u] the problem of urinating during sleep

**

bee

a flying insect that has black and /bi/ noun [c] yellow bands and can sting you. Bees make honey, and bees that are not wild live in hives. The sound a bee makes is written as buzz. picture -» ci3

—

have a bee in your bonnet (about sth) informal to be very involved in something you think is important, in a way that other people may find annoying -» bird, busy BEE

beech

/bitJV noun beech or beech tree [C] a large tree with smooth gray bark and small nuts a. [u] the wood picture -* C9 of a beech tree beef 1 /bif/ noun •• 1 [U] the meat from a cow: a slice of roast beef* ground beef beef 1a. relating to this meat: the beef industry

—

& headboard

cattle

someone has

2

beef stew

[C usually singular] informal a complaint: gripe: What's his beef?

beef

beg

109

3 [Uj informal strength or power beef 2 /bif/ verb [i] [+about] informal

be-fall

to complain up phrasal vb [T] informal to increase or improve something or make it more interesting: The hotel plans to beef up its marketing effort. beef-burg-er /'bif.bsrgar/ noun [C] 1 AmE a sandwich made of loose hamburger 2BrEa hamburger beef-cake /'bif.keik/ noun [u] informal attractive men with large muscles, or pictures of men like this beef-eat-er /'bif.itar/ noun [C] a guard at the Tower of London in the U.K. who wears a traditional red uniform and black hat beef 'Steak /'bif.steik/ noun [c/u] a large thick piece

,beef

/bl'fol/ (past tense be»fell /bilel/; past participle be-fall-en /bi'lblon/) verb [i/T] literary if something unpleasant befalls you, it happens to you

be-fit

a type of large firm

a beefy person has a large

/'bifi/ adj informal

heavy body and strong muscles

bee-hive

/'bi,haiv/ noun [c] 1 a structure in which you keep bees, and from which you collect their honey 2 a hairstyle for women in which the hair is held upright in a tall round shape, popular especially in the

1960s

bee-keep-ing

/'bi.kipnj/ noun [u] the activity of bee-keep-er raising bees and collecting their honey [C]

/'bi.lain/ noun make a beeline for informal to go toward someone or something in the quickest and

bee-line

most direct way Be-el-ze-bub /bi'elza.bAb/

a

name

for the devil

Beenver /'bimsr/ noun [c] informal a bmw car been the past participle of be beep /bip/ verb 1 if a piece of electronic equipment 1

[i]

makes a short high sound: When the cake is 2 [i/T] if a car horn beeps, or if you beep your horn, it makes a short loud noise

beeps,

it

done, the timer will beep.

beep 2

/bip/ noun [c] 1 a short high sound made by a piece of electronic equipment: Please leave your message and phone number after the beep. 2 the short loud noise that a car horn makes

beep-er

/'bipar/ noun [C] informal a small piece of electronic equipment that makes short high sounds as a signal for you to telephone someone: pager

/bir/ noun *** [u] a yellow or brown alcoholic drink made from malt (=grain that has been left in water and then dried) and hops (=a type of plant). You make or

beer

brew a.

[C]

beer: I don't drink beer, only wine. a barrel of beer a glass or bottle of this drink: Let's go for a beer.

'beer belly noun [c] informal a fat stomach that a man gets from drinking too much beer over a long period of time: beer gut

beer garden noun

[c] mainly BrE an area outside a bar where people can sit at tables and drink 'beer ,gut noun [c] informal a beer belly

beer mat noun

[c]

BrE a

coaster

bees-wax

/'biz,waeks/ noun [u] a substance produced by bees that is used especially for making furniture polish (=a substance you put on furniture to make it shine)

none of your beeswax Am E informal used for telling someone rudely that something does not affect or involve them beet/bit/noun [C/u] 1 Am E the round dark purple root of a vegetable that is cooked and eaten. Br E beetroot —picture -> cu 2 a sugar beet red as a beet Am E informal very red in your face, especially because you are embarrassed: He got as red

be-fore

1

bee-tie /'bid/ noun

[c]

an

insect with a

smooth hard

Before can be used

— be-fit-ting adj *••

befitted

word

in the following ways:

as a conjunction (connecting two clauses): Think carefully before you choose. as a preposition (followed by a noun): We'll finish the project before Christmas. as

an adverb (without a following noun):

I'd

met him

/'bit.rut/

1 earlier than a particular time la. earlier than a particular time, event, or action: She regularly goes for a run before breakfast. The others had gotten there before us. Won 't you have another drink before you go? I joined the police in 1999. Before that I was in the army. Two weeks before the election the first reports of the scandal began to appear. before doing sth You should seek legal advice before signing anything, lb. at a time in the past: Haven 't we met somewhere before? Never before in modern history has one nation dominated the world so completely. 1c. the day/week/weekend etc. before the previous day/week/weekend etc.: She mentioned a TV show she'd watched the night before. 1d. the day before yesterday/ the week before last etc. two days/weeks etc. ago: Curry quit playing football the season before last. 1e. used for saying how much time passes until something happens: Several years went by before I realized that David

had

noun [c/u]

BrE a

lied to me.

2 when

sth is prevented used for saying that something happens that prevents someone from doing what they intended: Before I could think of a reply she walked away. 3 used in warnings or threats spoken used for warning someone that something bad may happen unless they do something: Clean up that mess before your father sees it. You'd better go away before I lose my temper. 4 for sb to consider or watch 4a. formal used for saying that something or someone is judged or considered by a group of people: The case went before a grand jury on December 17th. The question before us is whether we should allow a foreign government to control our commerce. 4b. formal used for saying that something is happening where people can watch it: The team scored an impressive victory before 76,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. 5 in front of or earlier than sb/sth 5a. if one place is before another place on your trip, you come to it first: Our house is just before you get to the end of the road. *Afew miles before the border we were stopped at an army checkpoint. 5b. formal in front of someone or something: Lawrence knelt before the king. Before the temple gate stood a bronze statue of Buddha. 5c. used for saying that something is placed earlier than something else in a list or series: The names are in alphabetical order, so "Barnes" should come before "Brown. 6 in the future mainly Br E formal used when saying what will happen in someone's future: A promising You 're still young - you career stretched out before him. have your whole life before you. -» AGO

/bi'for.hamd/ adv * before a particular event: used especially for talking about something done in preparation for the event: If you do most of the cooking beforehand, you'll enjoy the evening more.

be-fore-hand

be-friend /bi'frend/ verb [t usually passive] to become the friend of someone and treat them in a kind way be-fud-dled /bi'lAdld/ adj very confused, and unable to

think clearly: bewildered

ask for help, an opportunity, etc. in a way it very much: "Don't go!" he begged. beg sb (not) to do sth She had written a letter begging him to come back. * We begged her for another chance. beg to do sth / begged to be allowed to join them. beg (sb) for sth The boy was screaming and begging for mercy. 1a. [i] to ask for something in a way that shows you are not proud: Yes, I do want him to give me the job. but 1

[i/T] to

that

-» ci3

bee-tie 2 /'bitl/ verb .beetle off or .beetle away phrasal vb [I] Br E informal to go somewhere quickly, especially when you do not wish to be seen Bee-tie /'bitl/ trademark a type of small car with a round shape made by Volkswagen

beet-root

/bi'for/ function

beg /beg/ verb •*

as a beet when he realized his mistake.

back —picture

very formal to be suitable for

once before. [c]

tomato

noun

[T]

the daughter of a millionaire.

of good-quality beef

.beefsteak to'mato noun beef-y

/bi'fit/ verb

someone or something, become: She dressed as

beet

shows you want

I refuse to beg!

1

P

began

no

ask people for money or food, usually because you are very poor: homeless people begging on the streets +for The boys went from door to door begging for money. beg sth from sb He would beg food from other children at

2

[I/T] to

school.

3

if

[I]

as a

a dog begs,

way

it

sits

and holds up

its

two front

feet

of asking for food

be going begging Br E spoken if something is going begging, anyone can have it because no one else wants it

beg or borrow sth or beg, borrow, or steal sth to manage to find something you need by whatever method you can: scrounge: See if you can beg, borrow, or steal a bicycle for the day.

beg the question 1 to make you want to know the answer to a particular question: If she got caught stealing money and she's still here, it begs the question: What would she have to do to get fired? 2 formal to discuss a problem, issue, or fact as if it definitely exists, even though it may not exist: The whole idea of a Patients' Bill of Rights begs the question that the government should be involved in the first place.

beg to differ spoken formal used for saying that you disagree with what someone has just said 1 beg your pardon 1 spoken formal used for asking someone to repeat something because you did not hear them. "Pardon me?" or "Excuse me?" are less formal ways of saying this: "Are you ready to leave?" "I beg your pardon?" "I was just asking if you're ready to leave." 2 spoken formal used for saying you are sorry because you have made a slight mistake, for example because you have stood on someone's foot. "Sorry" is a less formal way of saying this: Oh, I beg your pardon, I didn't realize this was your chair. 3 spoken used for showing that you disagree very strongly with what someone has just said: "Jenny doesn't concentrate when she's driving." "I beg your pardon! She's a very good driver!" I

beg off

phrasal vb [i] informal to say that you are not going to do something that you had previously agreed to do: CRY OFF

began

the past tense of begin

be«get/bi'get/ (past tense be»got/bi'gat/ or be«gat/bi'gaet/; past participle be«got/bi'gat/orbe»got»ten/bi'gatn/) verb [T] 1

formal to cause something to happen or be created

2 an

old

word meaning

"to

become the father of a

child" 1

/'begar/ noun [c] someone who is very poor by asking people for money or food beggars can't be choosers informal used for saying that you have to accept anything that is offered to you, usually because you have no money or power lucky/lazy /cheeky etc. beggar BrE spoken used for describing or talking to someone you think is lucky, lazy, etc. in a friendly way: It's late - get up, you lazy

beg-gar and

little

lives

beggar!

beg-gar 2

/'begar/ verb [T] formal to country, or organization very poor

beggar belief/ description used at something that is extremely

make a

person,

for expressing

shock

difficult to believe

or

begrudge discussion about the budget, —opposite end, finish 1c. [I] to start speaking: "At last, " he began "I thought you were never coming." opposite conclude Id. [T] to give your attention to something for the first time: / began the book with high hopes, -opposite finish 2 [i] to start happening or existing: My troubles began the night I met Roger. The ceremony is due to begin at noon. She felt her life was just beginning. + as It began as a practical joke. 2a. [+with] if a sentence, book, etc. begins with a particular letter, word, etc., that is the first one in it We usually use "an" before a word beginning with a vowel. 2b. if a place begins somewhere, that is the first point where you consider it to be 2c. [-t-withj if an activity or process begins with something, that is the first thing that happens in it: All meals begin with a short prayer. The competition began with one of the teams being disqualified. 2d. to start speaking: "It isn't like that, " he began, but Ben interrupted him.

—

:

can't begin to imagine/understand/explain etc. spoken used for emphasizing that something is very difficult to imagine, understand, etc.: / can't even begin to imagine what it's like for him, bringing up three kids on his own. it all began used for introducing a long story or account of something: It all began on one stormy night in May 1998.

to begin with 1 spoken used for introducing the first thing in a list of things you are going to say: "Why were you annoyed?" "Well, to begin with, I hadn't even invited her. " 2 before or during the first part of an activity or process: How did you get involved to begin with?

be«gin«ner/bi'gin3r/ noun [c] * someone who has just started to learn or do something: novice: That wasn't bad, for a beginner! computers. helpful

/ bought a beginner's guide to for the complete beginner

tips

— opposite expert, veteran be ginner's luck

noun [u] unusual success that you doing something new be-gin-ning /bi'gmin/ noun 1 [C usually singular] the first part of something: start: / loved the beginning of the book but hated the rest. + of There is no need to start at the beginning of each section. 1a. the start of a period of time: + of I'll be away for two weeks at the beginning of April. 1b. the start of an event or process: +of It was the beginning of a friendship that would last his whole life. from the very beginning /right from the beginning (=from the exact point when some-

have when you

start

*••

1

thing starts) He knew they'd be friends right from the beginning. from beginning to end If it's anything like last year's party, it'll be dull from beginning to end. mark the beginning of sth This success marked the beginning of a new beginning To me, this new phase in his career. moment was both an ending and a new beginning. in the beginning In the beginning I found it hard to concentrate, but now it's much easier, —opposite end

2 beginnings [plural] someone's background, for example the social class that they originally came from, or their first job: The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings 70 years ago. 2a. the background or origin of something, for example where it started, how it started, etc. It was a decade that saw the beginnings of the space program. 2b. the first signs that something is starting to happen or exist: the beginnings of sth We may now have the beginnings of an agreement. the beginning of the end the time when something starts to end, or starts to get worse: The argument was the beginning of the end as far as their relationship was :

describe: His attitude simply beggars belief!

beggar-thy- neighbor noun

[u]

AmEa card game in

which one player tries to win all the cards of the other Br E beggar-my-neighbour beg-ging bowl /'begin ,boul/ noun [c] a bowl carried by someone who is asking for food or money a. a request for money made by a country or an organization player.

be-gin

/bi'gin/ (past tense be«gan /bi'gsn/; past participle be«gun/bi'gAn/; present participle be*gin*ning) verb 1 [T] to start doing something: begin doing sth He began shouting at them. begin to do sth Suddenly the rain began to fall. be just beginning to do sth (=to be at the earliest stage of doing something) The buds were just beginning to open, —opposite stop 1a. [T] to start feeling or thinking something: begin to do sth Now we were beginning to feel excited. / was beginning to wonder if I'd ever find you! 1b. [I/T] to make an activity or process start or exist: The Their truck began the steep descent to the village. begin (sth) police have already begun their investigation. as sth He began his working life as a waiter. begin (sth) by doing sth I'd like to begin by thanking you all for coming. begin (sth) with sth We began the meeting with a

***

concerned.

be-gin-ning 2 /bi'gmin/

adj [only before noun] just starting to learn a particular activity, skill, etc.: a beginning teacher

be-gone

/bi'gon/ interjection used in the past to

someone to go away be-go-nia /bi'goonja/ noun

tell

a plant grown for its bright red, pink, yellow, or white flowers and colored leaves be-got the past tense and past participle of beget

be-got-ten

be-grudge

[C]

the past participle of beget

/bi'grAd3/ verb

[T]

1

to

feel

annoyed

because someone has something that you want, and you think they do not deserve it: not begrudge sb sth No one could begrudge him the money - he's such a nice guy. 2 to

beguile do something: resent: begrudge doing sth / begrudge paying so much just to park be-grudg-ing adj, be*grudg*ing*ly adv the car. be*guile /bi'gail/ verb [J] formal to persuade or trick someone into doing something, especially by saying nice things to them: She was beguiled by his charm. be-guil-ing /bi'gailip/ adj a beguiling person or thing seems attractive and interesting, but may be dangerous: be*guil«ing«ly adv alluring be»gun the past participle of begin be-half /bi'haef/ noun -k-k on sb's behalf/on behalf of sb or in sb's behalf/in behalf of sb 1 instead of someone, or as a representative of someone: A lawyer issued a statement on behalf of the victim's family. 2 in order to help someone: She intervened with the immigration service on his behalf. to

—

—

be-have

/bi'heiv/ verb

**

1 [I] to do things in a particular way: The children behaved very badly. + like You behaved like a complete idiot! + toward This is not how you behave toward a child. +as if /though He behaved as though he hadn't seen Ellie. behave in a sensible /alarming etc. way She was embarrassed at having behaved in such a childish way. [l/T] to be polite and not be rude or cause trouble: 2 Mom's always telling me to behave when we go out. behave yourself / hope the children behave themselves. 3 [\\science if a chemical substance, metal, etc. behaves in a particular way, it always reacts in that way because of the laws of science

••*

be-hav-ior

/bi'heivjar/ noun [u] 1 the way that someone behaves: Anna was sick of her brother's annoying behavior. 2 science the way that a substance, metal, etc. usually behaves: Scientists are studying the behavior of certain elements in a humid environment.

be on your best behavior to behave very well, usually because you want to please someone be«hav*ior*al /bi'heivjsrsl/ adj * relating to the way someone behaves: behavioral problems be*havior-

—

al-ly

adv

be-hav-ior-ism /bi'heivjsxizam/ noun [u] the belief that the scientific study of people's minds should be based only on their behavior, not their thoughts and —be«havior«ist noun [C] be-hav-iour /bi'heivjar/the Br E spelling of behavior be'hav'iounal/brheivjaral/the Br E spelling of behavfeelings

behaviour-ism

/bi'heivjanzam/the

BrE

spelling of

/bi'hed/ verb

especially as a

[t]

to cut off

someone's head,

punishment

be-hest

/bi'hest/ noun at the behest of sb very formal because someone has asked for something or said it

must happen be-hind /bi'hamd/ 1

Behind can be used

function

word

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The car behind us was flashing its lights.

an adverb (without a following noun): I stayed to

take care of the children.

back or opposite side 1a. at the back of someone or something: The teacher was standing behind me, looking over my shoulder. Some papers had slipped down behind the bookcase. Harry went out and shut the door behind him (=after he had gone through it). from behind He grabbed me from behind and pulled me to the ground. 1b. following someone or something: You walk ahead and we'll follow along behind. The other runners were a long way behind Benson. 1c. on the other side of something from where you are: The personnel director We could hide was sitting behind an enormous desk. at sb/sth's

behind those bushes. for stating what causes sth used for saying what causes something or who is responsible for making it happen, especially when this is not obvious: Police believe that a racist group is behind the attacks. What's behind this sudden change of policy? 3 late in doing sth late or too slow in doing things that you have to do: The project is already a month behind

2 used

leader.

7 used for stating hidden facts 7a. used for saying that someone's appearance or behavior hides their real character or feelings: Behind her quiet shy manner there It was an evil business conducted is a passionate spirit. behind a show of respectability. 7b. used for talking about the real facts of a situation that people do not know: Parents are demanding to know the truth behind the terrible story behind the fur these disturbing rumors. trade 8 happening in the past 8a. if a bad experience or unpleasant situation is behind you, it no longer affects you or makes you unhappy: With the trauma of the divorce behind her, Sandra could look forward to a better put sth behind you Sure, I made some bad mistakes, life. but I want to put all that behind me now and think about the future. 8b. if you have useful experience behind you, it gives you an advantage because you have gained skills and knowledge from it: Robinson entered politics with 20 years' business experience behind him.

be-hind 2 /bi'hamd/ noun sit

[c]

informal the part of your

on: bottom

be-hind-hand /bi'hamd hand/

adv late with some-

1

be-head

1

The Americans were falling behind in the comthe West. world of automobile design. 5b. used for saying that one person or team has a lower score or is less likely to win than their opponent: Davis is still behind in recent opinion polls. +by At half time, our team was behind by 12 points. 5c. behind the times if a person or organization is behind the times, they are not modern because they have not changed as much or made as much progress as others: ,4 business without its own Web site is definitely way behind the times. 6 giving support used for saying that someone supports a person, action, or idea: You're doing a great job, and I want you to know we're behind you all the way. Not everyone in Congress was behind Roosevelt 's policies. When it came to a crisis, they all rallied behind their

petitive

thing

behaviorism

behind

I'm sorry your suit isn t ready yet. We've gotten a little behind with things. be/get/fail behind Within a few months she had fallen behind in her rent. 4 remaining after people leave remaining in a place after people have left: After the party Jack and Laurie stayed behind to clean up. * They left two of us behind to guard the baggage. Some of the equipment got left behind. 5 achieving less progress or success 5a. used for saying that someone or something is less successful or has made less progress than others: I've been sick that's why I'm behind everyone else in math and French. Technology in Eastern Europe was at least 20 years behind schedule.

body that you

ioral

as

belabor

in

annoyed that you have

feel

be-hold /bi'hould/

(past tense and past participle be*held /bi'held/) verb [T] literary to see something

a joy/marvel/ wonder etc. to behold something that is enjoyable /marvelous /wonderful etc. to watch behold-er noun[C] 2 be-hold /bi'hoold/ interjection literary used for telling someone to look at something behold-en /bi'hooldn/adj/orma/[+to] feeling an obligation to do something for someone who has helped you in the past be-hoove /bi'huv/ verb [t] it behooves you to do sth formal used for saying that someone should do something because it is the right thing to do be-hove /bi'hoov/the Br E spelling of behoove beige /bei3/ adj very pale brown in color: a beige jacket — beige noun [u] being /'biirj/ noun •• 1 [C] a person: human being: We are social beings as well as individuals. 1a. a living creature: a being from outer

—

space 1b. a spirit or god: their belief in the supernatural beings that surrounded them 2 [U] mainly literary the deepest and most essential part of someone's individual character: an idea that shook her to the very core of her being

come

into being to start to exist: at the came into being

moment when

the Earth

be-jew-eled

/bi'd^uold/ adj literary decorated with jewels, or wearing jewels

be-labor

/bileibor/ verb

[T]

AmE old-fashioned

someone or something hard many times

to hit

^

P

belated

late:

to

a belated apology

a.

arriving

late:

a belated birthday

card

be-lat-ed-ly

/bi'leitadli/ adv

what

belatedly, she realized

belch

1

/beltjV verb 1

[I]

late

or too

late:

Then,

I meant.

to let air from your stomach mouth in a noisy way: burp

come out through your 2 [T] mainly literary to produce

a lot of smoke, steam, The truck was belching black smoke. 2a. [i] [+out/into etc.] if smoke, steam, etc. belches out somewhere, it comes out of something and into that place in

fire,

large quantities /beltjV noun [c] the action or

sound of someone

belching

beleaguered

[only before noun] /bi'ligard/ adj 1 having a lot of problems or criticism to deal with: a beleaguered football coach The beleaguered actor refused

to talk to reporters today. 2 mainly literary surrounded by an army and not able to escape bel'fry /'belfri/ noun [C] the part of a tower that has a

bell in

it 1

Bel-gian /'beld33n/ noun

Belgian 2

[C]

someone from Belgium

/'beld33n/ adj 1 someone

from Belgium 2 relating

to

who

is

Belgium or

Belgian

its

is

culture:

Belgian chocolates

belie

formal to make someone or be different from how they really

/bi'lai/ verb [T] very

something appear

to

are: Mr. Kim's black hair belied his age. a. to

seem

to

that a promise, hope, statement, etc. is not true: belie claims that progress is being

The recent bombings

made

in the

peace

talks.

*••

be-lief /bi'lif/ noun [c/u] a strong feeling that something is true or real: conviction: This theory goes against the beliefs of most current political thinkers. + in a belief in the existence of UFOs + that the mistaken belief popular/widely that cocaine is not an addictive drug held/widespread belief There is widespread belief that an contrary to popular belief agreement has been made. (=although most people think that something is true) Contrary to popular belief, nighttime is actually safer than the day. firm/strong belief It is my firm belief that the growing belief There is a government should act now. growing belief that she will resign, a. [C/U] a strong feeling that something is right or good: +in a belief in social justice + that the belief that women should be treated equally b. [C usually plural] an idea that you are certain is true, especially involving religion or politics: Christian/ + about/ concerning our traditional Buddhist beliefs beliefs about the origins of life express belief Everyone is entitled to express their own personal beliefs. 1 used for emphasizing how bad someThe conditions they are living in are beyond belief.

beyond belief thing

he

not telling the truth. honestly /truly believe / honestly believe he really loved her. believe sb (to be) sth / would never have believed him capable of walking out on his kids. lead sb to believe sth (=make someone think something) We were led to believe we could make a large profit. 2a. sb/sth is believed to be used for saying that it is the general opinion of most people that something is true although it has not been proved: A third man is missing and is believed to have been taken into police is

custody. 3 [I] to

have a religious

belief:

Do you

still

believe?

etc.:

belch 2

show

bell

112

emphasize an idea or suggestion too much in a way that becomes boring or annoying be-lat-ed /bi'leitod/ adj [usually before noun] happening belabor the point

is:

2 extremely

surprising or unreasonable, so that you cannot believe it: His greediness is beyond belief. in the belief that because you think that something is true: She wrote to him in the belief that he would help her. believ-a-ble /bi'livabl/ adj 1 seeming possible or plausible: Their story is hardly believable. described in a way that makes you think something or someone could really exist: convincing: The leading character in the film wasn't very believable.

true:

2

believe

/bi'liv/ verb

***

1 [T] to think that a fact is true .Astronomers knew the +(that) I Earth was round, but few people believed it. don 't believe that she's ever been to Hong Kong. be widely/ generally believed (=be believed by a lot of people) It is

widely

believed

that

the

virus

originally

came from

hard /difficult to believe She found it would hard to believe that he was a real businessman. never have believed / would never have believed such a place existed if I hadn't seen it for myself la. to think that what someone has said is true: He told me his version "I did pay the of events, but I didn't believe a word of it. money back!""OK, OK - I believe you!" The police didn 't believe her story. 2 [T] to have an opinion about what is true or what might happen, although there is no proof: think: + (that) Scientists believe a cure for the disease will be discovered soon. reason to believe There is no reason to believe that

monkeys.

find

it

I

believe it or not spoken used for emphasizing that something is very surprising but true: Jason and Mel are finally getting married, believe it or not! believe (you) me spoken used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true, especially when you are warning someone about something: All this is going to cause a lot of trouble, believe you me. can't believe your eyes/ears informal used for emphasizing that you are extremely surprised or angry about something you have seen or heard: What was he saying? I could hardly believe my ears! can't believe your luck spoken to be extremely surprised and pleased because something good has happened to you by chance: She couldn't believe her luck when she saw the place was empty. can't/don't believe it spoken 1 used for emphasizing that you are extremely surprised or shocked: "He's got into

Harvard University."

when something annoys my keys in the car again. don't you believe

"I don't believe it!"

2 used

you: I just don't believe

it!

I

left

spoken used to emphasize to someone that something is not true 1 do believe Br E spoken used for saying that you suddenly realize something, and that you are surprised by it: / do believe you're in love with her yourself! if you believe that, you'll believe anything spoken used for telling someone that they are stupid to believe it

something

would you believe

it? spoken used for showing that you is surprising or funny: And they want me to sing would you believe it? you'd better believe it spoken used for telling someone that something is definitely true and that they should take it seriously you would not believe spoken used when you are going to tell someone about something unusual or surprising: You would not believe who I met this afternoon!

think something

[believe in sb/sth] to think that don 't believe in miracles. I'm beginning to think you actually believe in ghosts! 2 [believe in sth] to think that an idea or a way of doing something is good or right: She used to say she didn't believe in marriage. 3 [believe in sb] to feel confident that a person or organization is good or reliable: Some of his previous supporters have stopped believing in him.

believe

in phrasal

vb

[T] 1

someone or something

exists: /

be-liev-er /bi'livar/ noun [C] someone who believes in God, a religion, or a set of beliefs or principles: a true believer

be a great /firm believer in sth to believe that a particular idea or activity is good or right: I'm a great believer in healthy eating

and

exercise.

be-lit-tle /bi'litl/ verb [T] to say or think that someone or something is unimportant or not very good: disparage: You shouldn't belittle her achievements. 1 bell /bel/ noun [C] ** a metal object shaped like an upside down cup that makes a noise when its sides are hit by a metal piece inside it: The school bell clanged noisily. The little silver bells on its harness tinkled merrily. ring a bell Villagers rang the church bells as the The wedding bells rang out. victorious soldiers returned. a. a piece of equipment that makes a ringing sound, used for getting someone's attention: The referee did not hear the final bell. There was no one at the counter, so I rang the bell. b. the sound that a bell makes when it rings: The bell indicates the exam is over.

bells

and whistles informal the additional

make something fast

modem, video

features that attractive to use or look at: It's got a

card.

.

.all the bells

and

whistles.

give sb a bell Br E informal to phone someone with bells on Am E spoken 1 used for emphasizing that something is definitely true: "She was annoyed, then?"

bell

below

113

2

excited about what you are going to do and ready to get started: I'll be waiting in the lobby at 7:00 with bells on. -» pull 1 ring "Yup, with bells on!"

1

,

an animal's body: the duck's white throat and belly 2 a round part of an object: the belly of a violin fire in sb's belly informal a lot of energy or enthusiasm for something 2

bel-ly /'beli/ verb belly out phrasal vb [l/T] to fill with air and become large and round bel-ly-ache 1 /'beli.eik/ noun [c/ul informal a pain in your stomach

bel-ly-ache 2 lot in

a

way

/ bcli.eik/ verb [i] informal to complain a that annoys other people

belly button noun belly .dance noun

[c]

informal a person's navel

[c] a dance from the Middle East performed by a woman using controlled movements of the hips and stomach —belly dancer noun [C|, belly dancing noun [u] belly .flop noun [c] a way of jumping into water in which the front of the body hits the water, usually in a

painful

way

bel-ly-f ul / beli.fol/ noun have had a bellyful Br Every informal to be tired and annoyed because you have done too much of something, spent too much time with

someone,

etc.

belly .laugh noun

belly-up

adj

loses all of its

[c]

informal

2

to

be brave and do something

bel-la-don-na /.bela'dana/ noun

[u] a poisonous plant: deadly nightshade a. a substance produced by this plant that is used as a drug

bell- bottoms noun [plural] old-fashioned pants that are very wide at the bottom of the leg

bell-boy / 'bel.boi/ noun [C] a man whose job is to carry people's bags to their room in a hotel belle /bel/ noun [C] old-fashioned a very beautiful girl or

woman

the belle of the ball the most beautiful dance or other event

woman

at a

AmE

bell-hop

/'bel, hap/ noun [C] a person whose job carry people's bags to their room in a hotel bellicose /'belikoos/ adj formal someone who is bellicose enjoys fighting or arguing: aggressive bel*liis to

—

cos-i-ty /.beh'kasati/ noun [u]

belligerent

1

very unfriendly and angry: belligerent behavior 2 formal at war with someone bel-lig-er-ence noun [U], bel-lig-er-ent-ly adv 2 bel-lig-er-ent /ba'hd^rant/ noun [C] formal one of the countries involved in a war bel-low 1 /'beloo/ verb 1 [i/T] to shout very loudly: "I can't hear you!" he bellowed. 2 [l] to make the deep sound that a bull and some other large animals make /b3'lid3(o)r3nt/ adj 1

—

bel-low 2 /'beloo/ noun

[C] 1 a loud deep sound made by a person: a bellow of laughter 2 the deep sound that a bull and some other large animals make bel-lows /'belooz/ noun [plural] a tool used for blowing air into a fire. It consists of a leather bag between two wooden boards that you pull apart and push together. a. a part of a musical instrument that blows air into the instrument to produce sound 'bell pepper noun [c] AmE a hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with small white seeds inside. It can be eaten raw or cooked, —picture -» en 'bell pull noun [c] a rope that you pull to make a bell

noun [u] the activity of making a set of bells ring to produce a pleasant musical sound, especially church bells bell-ring-er noun [C] 'bell tower noun [C] a tower of a church or other building in which there is a bell —picture -» bell /'bel

.rirjirj/

—

/'beli/noun [C] * informal a stomach. This word is often used to talk about whether people have enough to eat or not: Outfirst priority is putting food in empty bellies. 1a. informal the front part of your body between your chest and your legs: lying on his belly 1b. the soft lower part of

belly 1

1

a

company goes

belly-up,

it

/bi'brj/ verb [i] 1 to be in the right place: When you've finished, put the cassettes back where they belong. + in/on etc. That lamp belongs on the desk. These workers belong in a different category. 2 to feel happy and comfortable in a particular place or with a particular group of people: I just don't feel that I belong here. sense /feeling of belonging After three years here, I feel a strong sense of belonging.

belong to

phrasal vb [T] 1 [belong to sb] to be owned by to the woman next door. Who does this coat belong to? 2 [belong to sth] to be a member of an organization or club: She belongs to the school computer club. 3 [belong to sth] to come from or

someone: The Porsche belongs

be part of a group of similar things or people: This belongs to the same family of drugs as Prozac. They belong to a different generation. 3a. to come from or be related to a particular time or place: This painting clearly belongs to a later period. 4 [belong to sb] if a particular time, aspect of life, way of thinking, etc. belongs to a particular group, they are the people who control it or who are the most suitable for it: The future belongs to you.

belongings /bi'bninz/ noun

[plural] • the things you Adam packed his few belongings and moved out. personal belongings Remember to take all your personal belongings from the overhead locker when you leave the

own:

airplane.

be-lov-ed

1

adj /b\'\\\ id /mainly literary a

beloved friend,

one that you love very much. This word is sometimes used humorously to say that someone likes something too much. a. /bi'lAvd/ [+of / by formal very much liked by someone: Internet newsgroups, beloved of computer nerds around the world be-lov-ed 2 /bi'lwid/ noun [C] old-fashioned someone who is loved very much by someone else be-low /bi'loo/ function word ••• object, etc. is

]

Below can be used

in the following

ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): The lake almost 900 feet below sea level. as an adverb (without a following noun): someone calling from the street below.

/

is

heard

lower place or position: Someone was having a apartment below. a gunshot wound below shoulder 1a. in a later part of a piece of writing: This suggestion is discussed in more detail below. For further information, see below. 1b. in or into the lower part of a ship: He went below to speak to the engineer. 2 less than a certain number, amount, or level: During The college the night, temperatures dropped below zero. will not accept candidates with test scores below 60. House below 2000 levels. 2a. not as good as a prices are still 2 particular standard: Students were sent home if their behavior fell below an acceptable standard. The team's performance has been well below average. 1

ring

bell-ring-ing

if

•••

be-long bell /bel/ verb bell the cat dangerous

a loud deep laugh

money

in a

party the

in the

left

1

P

belt for saying that someone's rank is lower or their job is less important than someone else's: Officers below the rank of captain receive no special privileges. -> belt'

belt 1 /belt/ noun [c] •• 1 a narrow piece of leather, cloth, etc. that you wear around your waist, for example to keep your clothes in place or for decoration: a leather /plastic belt put on/ fasten a belt 1a. in some types of martial art such as judo and karate, a narrow piece of a material worn around the waist to show that you have achieved a particular standard: He has a brown belt in karate. -> BLACK BELT 2 an area of land where there is a particular industry, activity, etc.: the corn belt 2a. an area where a particular type of person lives: the city's commuter belt 2b. a long thin area that contains a lot of a particular thing: a belt of trees 2c. an area containing a lot of a particular thing that surrounds something else: an asteroid belt 3 a circular band that helps to turn or move something in a machine 4 E informal a drink of strong alcohol

Am

below the belt a comment that is below the belt is cruel and unfair get/have sth under your belt informal to achieve something that is important and useful: You need to get a few more qualifications under your belt. give sb/sth a belt very informal to hit someone or something hard take a belt to sb informal to hit someone with a belt as a punishment, usually on their back or bottom ->

bend

114

3 used

TIGHTEN

2 belt /belt/ verb

informal to hit someone or something very hard: Jeter belted a home run. 2 [T] to fasten a piece of clothing with a belt 3 [I] [+along/down etc.] BrE informal to move somewhere very quickly: They went belting along the road. 1

[T]

down phrasal vb [T] Am E informal to drink alcoholic drinks quickly, one after another: belting down shots of whiskey ,belt out phrasal vb [t] informal to shout or sing something loudly or play something loudly on a musical instrument: Mahalia Jackson belting out a gospel tune belt-way /'belt.wei/ noun [c] a road that goes around the edge of a city to keep traffic away from the center. BrE ring road: the Baltimore beltway belt

AmE

AmE

inside /outside the Beltway mainly journalism used for talking about politics, ideas, and behavior in Washington, D.C./in the rest of the U.S.

bend

1

/bend/ (past tense and

past participle bent/bent/) verb

••• 1 [i/T] to lean forward and downward or move the top part of your body forward and downward: He bent and kissed her quickly. + forward She bent forward and whispered in my ear. +over Bend over and touch your toes. + down Helen bent down to pick up her pen. 1a. [i/T] if you bend your head or if it bends, you move it forward

and downward without moving your body downward: The three of them sat there with their heads bent over their books. [i] to become curved or folded and not straight: tools that will not bend or break under stress + under sth The slim branches were bending under the weight of their fruit 2a. [I] to move with a curving or folding movement + in/out/forward etc. The corners of the card bend inward to form tabs. 2b. [I] if a road, river, etc. bends, it changes direction in the shape of a curve: The path bends sharply just before you enter the wood. 2c. [i] if light bends, it changes direction 2d. [T] if you bend an object, you

2

it so that it becomes curved or folded and not straight: This type of pipe can be easily bent by hand. bend sth over/ around sth etc. Bend the wires around the battery. bend sth into sth We bent the strips of clay into strange shapes. 2e. [i/T] if you bend your arm, leg, etc., or if it bends, you move it into a position that is not straight: His arm was so stiff he couldn't bend it at all.

change

bend

sb's ear informal to talk to someone for a long time, especially in order to complain about something or to discuss a problem bend your mind/thoughts to sth to start to concentrate

on something bend over backward (to do sth) informal to do everything you can to help: / bent over backward to make it easier for her and she didn't even notice. bend the rules (for sb) to do something or allow someone to do something that is not usually allowed, especially in order to make things easier on one occasion: They shouldn't bend the rules for him just because he's the director's son.

to your will formal to use your power or influence to make someone do what you want them to

bend sb do

bend the truth to say something that is not completely true in order to achieve a goal: He doesn't lie exactly he just bends the truth. on bended knee(s) formal if you ask for something on bended knee, you ask for it very seriously because you want

it

very

much bend down

be-moan

/bi'moon/ verb [J] formal to complain or say you are disappointed about something: teachers bemoaning the lack of good textbooks

that

be-mused

/bi'mjuzd/ adj confused: bewildered: My They exchanged bemused father looked slightly bemused. be-mus-ed-ly /bi'mjuzadli/ adv glances.

—

bench

1

••

/bentJV noun

1

long seat

2

job of being judge

3 table

for

4 5

in

sports

in

parliament

working on

1 C ] a hard seat for two or more people, usually outside picture -» chair in a public place: a park bench the position of being a judge in a court of law: She has recently been appointed to the bench (=work as a judge). 2a. the place where the judge sits in a court of law: The judge told the defense lawyer to approach the bench. 3 [C] a long table used by someone working with tools 4 the bench a place where people in a sports team sit

—

[

2 the bench

when they are not playing 5 benches [plural] the seats in the British parliament, and in some other parliaments, where the members sit: shouts from the Opposition benches

bench 2

/bentJV verb

stop playing a

bench-mark

game

1

/

AmE

[t] to make a sports player for a short time

'bentj.mark/ noun

[c]

an amount,

level,

standard, etc. that you can use for judging how good or bad other things are: +for plans to set a new benchmark for salaries bench-mark 2 / 'bentj.mark/ verb [J] formal to provide a standard that something can be judged by

bend 2

/bend/ noun

[c]

**

a curve in a road, river, etc.: As she approached the + in We came to a bend bend, a dog sprang into the road. around a bend He sped around the bend, in the road. sounding his horn furiously. a sharp/tight bend a series of sharp bends in the river 2 a movement in which you bend your body, especially as an exercise: Let's warm up with a few bends and 1

stretches.

bender

BENDS

->

bend-er /'bendar/ noun

[C] go on a bender informal to drink a very large amount of alcohol in a short time bends, the /bendz/ noun [plural] severe pain that divers get if they come up from under the water too quickly

bend'y / 'bendi/ adj

beneath

informal easy to bend: a bendy straw

/bi'niO/ function

Beneath can be used

word

•••

in the following ways:

under something or at a lower level: We took shelter beneath a huge oak tree. They slept outside beneath the stars. His face was hidden beneath a large brimmed hat. la. under the surface of the ground or water: These pieces of pottery had been buried beneath the earth for thousands of years. the waters of the Timor Sea and the coral reefs that lie beneath 1b. covered by literary directly

something: His frail body lay beneath the blankets. from beneath She pulled a dagger from beneath her cloak. 2 formal used for saying that someone's appearance and behavior do not show their real character or feelings: Beneath his quiet unassuming manner there lies considerable strength. She seemed quite calm on the surface, but a great deal of anger lay beneath.

The form neath

is

sometimes used

such people.

—

money

/'bena.faektar/ noun [c] someone who helps a person or organization by giving them money

ben-e-fac-tor

ben-efac-tress /'bens.faektras/ noun [c] old-fashioned a woman who helps a person or organization by giving them money

benefice / 'benafis/ noun Church of a

and property

is

[c] the position in the Chrispriest of a parish to which payment

intended

to

help

people

— be-neH-cence

/ba'nefisnt/ noun [u], be'nef«i«cent'ly adv

beneficial / .bens'fiTl / adj •* something that is benehas a good effect or influence on someone or something: One or two glasses of wine a day can be beneficial. * The relationship was mutually beneficial (^helped both sides). +to a discovery that should prove

ficial

beneficial to

many AIDS patients

harmful — ben«e*fi*cial*ly adv

ben-e-fi-ci-ar-y

— opposite detrimental,

/.bens'fiji.eri; .bens'fijari/

noun

[C]

*

someone who gets money or other things from someone who has died 2 formal someone who gets an advantage from a situation: He was the main beneficiary of the deal. 1

benefit

1

/'benafit/ noun

••*

money

or other advantages that you get in addition to your salary from your employer as part of your job: The benefits include medical insurance and a company car. 1a. money or help that an insurance company gives to you 2 [C/U] an advantage you get from a situation: The new sports facility will bring lasting benefit to the community. +for Consider the potential benefits of the deal for the company. get/gain/receive a benefit The costs involved would outweigh any benefits gained. derive a benefit from reap sth Even Liza derived little benefit from the changes. a benefit The town was still reaping the benefits years after the movie's release. be of benefit to sb/sth Not all competition is of benefit to the consumer. for sb's benefit 1

[C usually plural] extra

2

/'benafit/ (present participle benefiting

past tense and past participle benefited

or

bene-

benefitted

*•*

[i] to get help or an advantage from something Thousands of households could benefit under the plan. + from Patients have benefited greatly from this treatment. stand to benefit (=be likely to benefit) Unemployed people stand to benefit most from these policies, a. [T] to help someone or give them an advantage: The system mainly benefited people in the south of the country.

Be-ne-lux

/'bens.lAks/ Belgium, the Netherlands, and

Luxembourg, considered as a group be-nev-O'lent /bo'nevabnt/ adj formal willing to help and be generous towards people a. used about people's behavior and actions: a benevolent smile o'lence noun [u], be«nevo*lent«ly adv

— be-nev-

be-night-ed

/bi'naitsd/ adj old-fashioned lacking knowledge or advantages that other people or places have adj 1 a benign lump in your body or a benign disease is not cancer and will not kill you. a benign tumor opposite malignant 2 formal kind and be-nigrvly nice: a benign smile a benign old gentleman

—

—

adv 1

/bent/ adj 1 a bent object has a curved or twisted shape: bent railings 2 mainly Br E informal dishonest: a bent cop 3 mainly BrE an offensive word used to describe a gay person

bent on (doing) sth very determined to achieve something: She seemed bent on destroying their relationship. bent out of shape Am E informal upset about something: He got all bent out of shape because I wouldn't let him use

my

car.

Am E offensive used for telling someone in a rude and angry way to go away or stop talking bent 2 /bent/ noun [singular] a natural ability for something: aptitude: suggestions for those ofyou with an artistic get bent

bent

bent 3 the

past tense

and past participle of bend

ben«zene/'benzin; ben'zin/ noun

connected

be«nef *i*cent / ba'nefissnt/ ad\ formal doing things that are

fitting;

bent

Ben'e'diC'tine/.bena'dik.tin/noun [c] a monk or a nun who is a member of a Christian religious group started by St. Benedict. Ben»e*dic*tine adj ben-e-diotion /.bens'dikjan/ noun [c/u] a Christian prayer that asks God to bless someone ben-efac'tion /.bens'faekjan/ noun [c] formal a

tian

get/ receive (a) benefit families receiving benefit

be-nign /ba'nain/

in poetry.

beneath sb if a particular action or activity is beneath you, you think that you are better than people who do this: Burke regarded it as beneath him to do business with

present of

:

ben«e«fit

an adverb (without a following noun): People waved from the bridge as the boat passed beneath. as

mainly

Molly explained what was happening for my benefit have the benefit of sth He has had the benefit of the best education money can buy. 3 [C] an event organized in order to make money for a person or a charity a benefit concert /performance 4 [C/U] BrE payment for people who are sick or unemployed: housing/ sickness /disability benefit on benefit She's been on unemployment benefit for six years. give sb the benefit of the doubt to treat someone as if their behavior is honest or correct, even though you are not certain that it is

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the ground beneath your feet

1

bereft

115

drive sb around the bend informal to annoy someone very much

[u] a liquid

1

obtained

from petroleum (=a type of oil), used for making plastics and liquids for cleaning bequeath /bi'kwid; bi'kwiG/ verb [T] formal to give someone money or property after you die by making a legal document called a will: leave: bequeath sth to sb She bequeathed her jewelry to her His uncle bequeathed him $5,000.

be-quest /bi'kwest/ noun

niece.

[C]/orma/

bequeath sb sth

money

or property

you give to someone after you die by making a legal document called a will: make sb/sth a bequest He

that

made the library a bequest of $50,000. be-rate /bi'reit/ verb [J] formal to

talk to someone in an angry way because they have done something wrong:

berate sb for (doing) sth Their teacher berated them for being late.

be-reaved whose

/bi'rivd/ adj a bereaved person is someone close friend or family member has recently died

be-reaved, the someone whose

/bi'rivd/ (plural the be*reaved) noun close friend or family member has

recently died

be-reave-ment

/bi'rivmsnt/ noun 1 [u] the situation you are in when a close friend or family member has just died: She runs a group that helps people deal with bereavement. 2 [C] an instance of a close friend or a member of your family dying: the sad news of his bereave-

ment be-reft /bi'reft/ and lonely

ad)

mainly literary extremely unhappy

bereft of sth lacking something that you need

m

beret be-ret

noun

[C]

fits

beriberi

/.beri'beri/ noun [u] an illness in some hot countries that affects the nerves, caused by lack of vitamins (=chemicals needed for health) in food

Berkeley, Bus-by

/'b3rkli, 'bAzbi/ a U.S. movie director of the 1930s and 1940s. His movies are remembered for their impressive dances performed by large numbers of dancers.

Berlin Wall, the /'b3rlm ,wol/ the the German city of Berlin from 1961

wall that divided until 1989. It was

from escaping from Communist East Berlin and became a symbol of the cold war between Communist countries and the West. It is often simply called the Wall. Bermu-da Tri-an-gle, the /bsr.mjuda 'trai.sngl/an area of the Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and Florida where ships and aircraft have disappeared and not been seen again benry /'beri/ noun [c] * a small fruit that does not have a pit inside it berserk /ba'z3rk/adj go berserk 1 to become violent and uncontrolled because you are very angry: One man went berserk when approached and stabbed two police officers. 2 informal to become very excited: The home crowd went berserk when their team scored again. berth 1 /b3r6/ noun [C] 1 a place at a port where a ship stays for a period of time 2 a bed on a train or ship: built to stop people

the upper/ lower berth

give sb/sth a wide berth informal to avoid someone or

something berth 2 /b3r0/ verb

[l/T] if a ship berths, or you berth it, it arrives at a place in a port and stays there for a period of time

beryl

/'beral/ noun [C/U] a valuable stone that has a transparent green, blue, or yellow color

be-seech

/bi'sitJV (past tense and past participle be*sought /bi'sot/or be*seeched) verb [T] literary to ask someone for something in an urgent and sincere way

be-set

/bi'set/ (past tense and past participle be»set) verb [T

often passive] formal to cause someone difficulty or danger over a period of time: The family was beset by money troubles. the economic realities besetting the inner city

***

beside

/bi'said/ preposition someone or something and close to them Who 's that standing beside Jeff?* I knelt down beside the bed. We found a picnic area down beside the river. 2 used for comparing two people or things: Their efforts were puny beside Frederick's. 1

at the side of :

beside the point not relevant or important to the subject

you are discussing: Stephen had that was beside the point.

certainly lied to her, but

beside yourself unable to think clearly because you are very angry or excited: -i-with I felt sick, disgusted, and beside myself with rage.

besides

/bi'saidz/ function word

**

Besides can be used in the following ways: as a preposition (followed by a noun): Did you talk to anyone else besides Joan? as an adverb (without a following noun): I've read all the books on the list and a few others besides.

as a way of starting a new statement and connecting it to the previous statement: I don't want to go shopping. Besides, I haven't got any money. 1

in addition to

someone or something

else that is

being mentioned: A lot of them are studying other things There are cakes and sandwiches, and lots besides Italian. more besides. besides being /doing sth Besides being a Besides making money, the teammate, he's my friend. company aims to set high standards of quality and design. 2 used when you are adding another stronger reason to support what you are saying: It's too late to invite any more people. Besides, you know how Tim hates parties.

be-siege /bi'sid3/ verb [T] 1 [usually passive] to make more requests, offers, comments, or complaints than someone can deal with: besiege sb/sth with sth The department has been besieged with enquiries from students all over the country. 2 to surround a place with an

from

best

116

a round flat soft hat that tightly around the top of the head —picture -» hat /'be.rei/

army and prevent

the people there from getting food and supplies, as a way of getting control of it 2a. to gather around a person or place in a way that threatens or annoys them: The company's offices were besieged by hundreds of people who had vacations planned.

besmirch /bi'srmrtJV verb [i]formal to harm the good reputation of someone or something

be-sot-ted

/bi'satod/ adj so attracted by someone or something that you are always thinking about them: The band is used to receiving hundreds of letters daily from besotted fans. + with He was obviously besotted with her. be-sought a past tense and past participle of beseech

be-speak

/bi'spik/ (past tense be*spoke /bi'spook/; past

participle be*spo«ken /bi'spookan/) verb evidence of something

be-speota-cled

/bi'spektakld/

adj

[T] literary

to

be

formal wearing

glasses

best

1

/best/ function word

***

Best is the superlative form of good and well, and can be used in the following ways: as

an adjective: Which apples are best for cooking? His performance was the best. It was

(after "the"):

the best party I've ever been

to.

as an adverb: We'll choose the system that works Which color do you like best? as a singular noun: Only the best Ruth. I'll do my best.

is

best.

good enough for

1 used for referring to the person or thing that is the most satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, of the highest quality, etc.: the best hotel in town Negotiation is always the best way of settling a dispute. +for What kind of soil is best for growing roses?* I want to do what's best for the family, the best of everything (=all the most expensive things) Her husband's a lawyer, so they can afford the best of everything, la. in the way that is most satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, successful, etc.: The play can be best described as "a serious comedy. You need to find out which program works best on your computer. He is the kind of musician who always performs best in front of a live audience. do sth as best you can (=do something as well as you are able) I'll try to deal with all these problems as best I can. make the best use of sth (=use something in the most effective way) I want suit sb to make the best use of my time while I'm here. best (=be most suitable for someone) Which color do you think suits me best? 1b. used for referring to the person who is the most skillful at doing something: the best player in the team simply /absolutely the best In the world of ballet she was quite simply the best. 2 used for saying that someone or something is liked or known more than any other: like sb/sth best What kind of music do you like best?* best known /loved The Mona Lisa is probably the world's best known painting. one of Gershwin's best loved melodies 2a. used for saying that someone or something is famous especially in one particular way or for one particular reason: best known/ remembered for sth James Dean is best remembered for The his star performance in Rebel without a Cause. best Bordeaux region is best known for its fine wines. known as Conan Doyle is probably best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. 3 used for referring to your nicest or most expensive clothes that you wear on special occasions: At the sb's Sunday best wedding he'll be wearing his best suit. (^someone's best clothes) Eileen and her family were all

dressed up in their Sunday

best.

all the best spoken used when saying goodbye, in order to wish someone success, good health, and happiness for the future at best used for showing that something is not very

good by emphasizing that your description of it is the you can say about it: His chances of victory The government's response seems

best thing

are, at best, uncertain.

to have been at best confused and at worst dishonest. at sb's/sth's best when someone is feeling most intelligent or effective, or when something is showing its most impressive or attractive qualities: I'd only just To see New gotten out of bed, so I wasn't at my best. England at its best, you should come in September when

the leaves start to change color.

at the best of times used for saying that something

is

best

betrothal

117

dangerous, etc. even in normal circumstances, but it is usually worse than this: Persuading the bank to lend you money is a difficult task at fairly bad, difficult,

the best of times. (all) for the best used for saying that something bad that has happened is not really as bad as it seems because it will make the situation better in the end: He failed the college exams, but perhaps it's for the best because he's not really the academic type. sb's best friend the friend that you like best: Of course I told Martha - she's my best friend.

be

best of all used for introducing a fact that pleases you more than all the others you have mentioned: Their new drug was effective and safe, and, best of all, it was very cheap to manufacture. the best of both worlds a situation where you have the benefit of two very different types of advantage at the same time: Enjoying the combination of five star luxury with our friendly personal service, you'll have the best of both worlds. the best of friends very close friends: In spite of all our disagreements, we remained the best offriends. (the) best of luck mainly spoken used for wishing someone good luck in something they are trying to do: / think you 're taking a big risk, but anyway, best of luck! best wishes used for wishing someone success, good health, and happiness for the future when you are writing to them do/try your best to try as hard as you can in order to achieve something: I don't know if I can finish the whole job in one day, but I'll do my best. get the best of sb to defeat someone or gain an advantage over them: Jack got the best of me in the last match. get/have the best of it to gain an advantage in a fight,

argument, game, etc. had best do sth used for saying that someone should do something: You'd best come with me if you don't know the way. We'd best not disturb him when he's working. make the best of it to accept a bad or difficult situation without complaining and try to deal with it as well as you can: / was in a mess and there was no one to help me, so I just had to make the best of it. to the best of sb's ability used for saying that someone does something as well as they can: I promise to carry out my duties to the best of my ability. knowledge/belief used for saying to the best of that you think your statement is true, because it is

my

$20 that I couldn 't keep quiet for ten minutes, a. be betting on sth to have a very strong hope that something will happen, so that this influences what you do: House buyers were betting on interest rates continuing to fall.

don't bet on it/I wouldn't bet on it spoken used for expressing a doubt about something: "He said he'd meet us there. " - "I wouldn't bet on it!" (do you) wanna/want to bet? spoken used for telling someone that you are certain what they are saying is wrong: "He must have been joking. " "You wanna bet?" I bet/I'll bet spoken used for saying that you understand or agree with what someone has just said: "/ couldn't say no to an offer like that. " "I'll bet!" I bet/I'll bet (that) spoken used for saying that you are / bet sure about something: / bet Charles has taken it. you the train will be late. you bet spoken used for saying "yes" in an enthusiastic way: "Are you coming too?" - "You bet!" you can bet your life/your bottom dollar spoken used for saying that you are sure something will happen or is true: You can bet your life she'll insist on coming too.

bet 2 /bet/ noun money on what that red,

driving

test,

1

1

1

,

,

3-1.

bes-tial /'bistjl; 'bestjl/ ad] 1 bestial behavior is extremely cruel: barbaric: bestial acts committed in the detention camps 2 used to describe sexual activity between a person and an animal besti-al-i-ty /.bistji'aebti; .bestji'sbti/ noun [u] 1 sexual activity between a person and an animal 2 formal extremely cruel behavior ,best 'man noun [singular] the friend who helps a bride-

groom

at his

wedding

erty or an important right or honor to someone: bestow sth on sb The king had friends on whom he bestowed land

and privileges.

bestride /bi'straid/ (pasttense bestrode /bi'strood/; past participle

be»strid«den/bi'stndn/) verb

[T] literary

to stand

with one leg on each side best-sell-er /.best'sebr/ noun [c] • a book that many people buy: Margaret Mitchell's perennial bestseller. Gone With the Wind over something or

bet

1

sit

on

it,

/bet/ (pasttense and past

participle bet)

verb

[l/T]

••

an amount of money by saying what you think will happen, especially in a race or game. You lose the money if you are wrong and win more if you are right: bet sth + on / wanted to bet on the result of the election. +{that) He bet me on sth / bet $10 on each of the horses. to risk

money

so I

won my

bet.

+ (that) It's a safe bet that the others won 1 make the same mistake. -> hedge 2 betting be-ta-block-er /'beita blolor; bits blaksr/ noun [c] a drug that makes your heart work more slowly, used year.

,

for treating high blood pressure

be-ta test /'bita ,test/ noun [C] business a test in which a new computer product is given free to customers to

—

be«ta test verb [T] use in order to find mistakes / bits V3r3n/ noun [c] a form of a newproduct or new software that is given to people to test

be-ta version it is

sold to the public

'betja/ you betcha spoken a way of writing "you bet you" that shows how it sounds in informal conversation, used for saying "yes" in an enthusiastic way: "Are you going to the party?" - "You betcha!" /

/'bitl/ noun [u] a plant of Southeast Asia with leaves that people chew

be-tel

be-to-ken /bitookan/ something exists or

is

betray /bi'trei/verb

verb true

[t]

[t] literary

to

be a sign that

••

you betray your country, or you betray someone who needs your support, you deliberately do something that harms them or helps their opponents: In wartime 1

if

many cuted.

people accused of betraying their country were exeShe realized that one of her friends must have if you betray someone's trust, you do them when they have trusted you: They felt

betrayed her. 1a.

harm

to

had betrayed their trust in publishing his you betray a secret, you tell it to people who do not have the right to know it 2 to show something or be a sign of something: reveal: their assistant

diaries, lb.

bestow /bi'stoo/ verb [T] formal to give valuable prop-

of

take the train.

before

,

which you bet

in

amount

a good/safe bet something that is likely to happen, or someone or something that is likely to be successful: + for Florida is a good bet for hot weather at this time of

bet«cha

/best/ verb [T]/orma/ to gain an advantage over or defeat an opponent: The Chinese pair bested the Swedes

an agreement

the/sb's best bet the thing or action that gives the best chance of a successful result: Our best bet would be to

based on what you know/believe, but you are not com-

—

*

will happen, or the

take a on his home team, even though they always lose. bet (on sb/sth) Eddie's bookie was happy to take a bet on win/lose a bet He passed his tonight's football game.

pletely sure: To the best of my knowledge, no similar book has been published. with the best of them used for saying that someone is as skillful as the most successful players, performers, etc.: Carolyn can play guitar with the best of them. 2 Opposite WORST -» BET2 FOOT LOOK 3b, PART WILL

best 2

[c]

you bet: place/put/lay a bet on / placed my bet on and won. have a bet on sb/sth He likes to have a bet

if

Rabbits betray their presence with fresh soil outside their burrow. 2a. if you betray a feeling or quality that you want to hide, your words or face make it clear to people: Hits comments betray a lack of understanding. The woman's face betrayed no emotion. 3 if you betray your beliefs or principles, you do something that does not agree with them: She had betrayed be«trayer noun [C] all her beliefs and told a lie. be-tray-al /hi'trenl/ noun [C/ul 1 an act of betraying someone or something: +of a betrayal of long-held principles 2 the fact of being betrayed: It was hard to avoid a sense of betrayal.

be'troth'al/bi'troiuM/noun [C/u] an old word meaning "engagement" to get married

m

betrothed be-trothed

between

118

1

/bi'trooftd/ adj be betrothed to sb an old phrase meaning "to be engaged to be married to

higher social status than someone: The poor did not envy

someone"

for the better if something changes for the better, it improves: Since she moved to the new school, her behavior has certainly changed for the better. opposite for the

be-trothed

2

/bi'troodd/ noun

an old word

(singular]

meaning a woman's "fiance" or a man's "fiancee" bet'ter 1 /'betar/ function word •**

as an adjective: a better method of teaching languages

The weather

is

better today.

Our opponents played

better

than we

did.

as a noun: There has been a change for the better.

They should show more respect for their

betters.

more

satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, or of higher quality, etc. He went to Los Angeles hoping to better than The results were better than find a better job. we had expected. get better (= improve) The situation is much /far/ unlikely to get better in the foreseeable future. a lot better J can think of far better ways of spending a little /no better There was a growing million dollars. economic crisis in Asia, and things were no better in Europe. deserve /expect better (=deserve or expect something better) She was a good worker, and she deserved better than the treatment she got from her employers. 1a. more skillful: Maggie's a better cook than I'll ever be. + at Alec is a lot better at sports than I am. 1b. in a way that is more satisfactory, appropriate, pleasant, effective, successful, etc.: The machine works better if you change the oil regularly. do better Why was it that everyone else did better than me on the test? 1c. better for sb if something is better for you, it is more likely to make you healthy: Fresh vegetables taste nicer and they're better for you. 2 used for saying that someone has become completely healthy again after an illness: You shouldn't go back to school until you're completely better. / had a really bad get better (=become healthy cold, but I'm better now. again) If you want to get better, you have to take your medicine. 2a. used for saying that someone is not as sick as they were before, or that something is not as painful as it was before: Is your headache any better? She's You'll feel better when you've had something to eat. a little better today, but I think she should stay in bed. 3 used for saying that one person or thing is liked or known more than another: like sb/sth better I've always better known Rachliked Susan better than her sister. maninov's second piano concerto is better known than his like nothing better than (to do) sth (=like something first. 1

:

more than anything

else)

She

likes

—

WORSE for better or (for) worse used for showing that you do not know whether an action, situation, or change will have good or bad results: He's the partner I chose, for better or for worse. For better or worse, Mexico's destiny

Better is the comparative form of good and well, and can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb:

their betters.

nothing better than a

walk in the park with her dog. 3a. famous in one way or for one reason rather than another: Blake is better better known remembered as a poet than as a painter. for/ as a city that is better known for its crime record than heritage better known as used when its cultural 3b. for someone has two names and you are introducing the more familiar one: Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin the better mainly spoken used for saying that if is true or possible, it will be even nicer: It'll be so nice to see Ruth again, and if she can bring the

all

is closely linked to that of the United States. get the better of sb 1 if an emotion or feeling gets the better of you, it is too strong for you to control and it makes you do something that you did not intend to do Smith's anger got the better of him once again, and he started to attack the referee. 2 to defeat someone in a game, argument, etc.: Sampras finally got the better of Agassi in a hard-fought match. (had) better do sth mainly spoken used for saying that someone should do something: You'd better take an umbrella - it's going to rain. I'd better not waste any more of your time. so much the better mainly spoken used for saying that if something is true or possible, it will be even nicer: Al seems to be the most qualified, and if he's a friend of yours, well, so much the better. the sooner/bigger/quicker etc. the better used for saying that you want something to be as soon/big/ quick etc. as possible: I want you to get rid of those people, and the sooner the better. Opposite WORSE -* BETTER HALF, DEVIL, GO LUCK SEE

—

1

1

,

1

,

bet«ter2 /'betar/ verb (T] 1 to achieve a better result than someone or something: Bradman's average score of 96 has never been bettered. 2 to improve something: an important step towards bettering relations between the two countries

better yourself to improve your social status by educating yourself

Better Business Bureau, the a U.S. organization that tries to make people confident about the businesses they use by keeping records about how businesses treat their customers .better half (plural .better halves) noun sb's better half humorous someone's husband, wife, or partner: I'll have to ask my better half. Better Homes and Gardens a U.S. magazine that tells you how to make your home and yard more attract-

ive

bet'ter-ment /'betarmant/ noun ment

(u]

formal improve-

/'betin/ noun [u] the activity of trying to win by placing a bet (^guessing the result of a race,

bet'ting

money game,

etc.)

Bet'ty Crock-er

woman who

/.beti 'krakar/

used for describing a

cooks very well

From the name of the imaginary woman whose picture appears on food products and books about cooking in the U.S., created by the food company to represent the perfect cook and housewife.

something

children along, all the better. be (all) the better for sth to

improve as a result of

something: Their performance will be little

all the better for

a

extra practice.

be better than nothing spoken used for saying that something is not exactly what you wanted or needed but is more useful than having nothing at all be no better than to be as bad or as unimportant as a particular type of person or thing: People treated me as though I was no better than an animal. better luck next time spoken used for encouraging someone who has not been successful at something 1 in a better situation: You'd be better off on your own than quarreling all the time with your dad. 2 having more money: As a result of the tax cuts the average family will be $300 a year better off. better yet /still used when you are adding a new idea that you think is better than a good one already mentioned: Come visit us for a weekend or, better yet, why don't you come for a whole week? sb's betters people who have more important jobs or

better off

Bet-ty Ford Clirvic, the/, beti

'ford ,klmik/ a special hospital in California for people who want to get treatment for their problems with drugs or alcohol. It is used by many rich and famous people.

From

the

name of Betty Ford, the wife of U.S. who started the clinic.

President

Gerald Ford,

be-tween

/bi'twin/ function word

Between can be used

***

in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the distance between two places

adverb (without a following noun): two classes with a short break between

as an

living

1 with people or things on each side or end la. if someone or something is between two other people or two people or things are on each side of them: Hold the needle between your finger and thumb. New York City is about halfway between Boston and Charlotte sat between her two sons at Washington, D.C Put the two smaller vases on the ends and the reception.

things, the

betwixt two places: Trains

running between Boston and New York were delayed. 2 with times or events before and after 2a. in the period after one time or event and before the next: The office will be closed between Christmas and New Year. The show opens next Monday. Between now and then we'll be rehearsing every day. She does two performances a night, with only a very short break between. in between Try to avoid snacks in between meals. within a range within 3 a range of numbers, amounts, ages, etc.: Choose a number between 1 and 10. children between the ages of 4 and 13 in between Fifteen is too few, but 30 is probably too many - somewhere in between would be about right.

4

involving two or more people or things 4a. used showing which people or groups are involved in an agreement, discussion, competition, fight, etc.: a telephone conversation between the Prime Minister and the The winner of tonight's game U.S. Secretary of State between Dallas and San Francisco will go to the Super bowl. 4b. used for showing that two things, people, organizations, or ideas are related or connected: There has been a steady improvement in relations between China and Scientists believe there is a link the rest of the world.

for

!

between diet and certain types of cancer. -* among 5 used for showing a difference or making a comparison used for stating which two people or things are similar or different: Does a five-year-old know the There are obvious difference between right and wrong? parallels between computer systems and the workings of the gap between rich and poor the human brain. 6 used for showing how a total is divided 6a. used for showing how something is shared or divided: We agreed to split the profits between us on a fifty-fifty basis. The public-school teacher generally has to divide her time between record keeping and classroom teaching. between doing sth Between cooking, cleaning, and looking after three kids, I don't have much time for myself. 6b. used for showing that the total amount of something is owned, given, or produced by two or more people: Between us, we managed to collect over $4,000. 7 used for stating what may be chosen used for showing that you can choose one out of two or more things: They're both beautiful designs - it's hard to choose Third year students have a choice between between them.

and economics. between you and me used when you are telling someone something that you do not want anyone else to know about: Between you and me, I think she has a

philosophy, sociology,

problem with her boyfriend. -»

ROCK

1

Words

frequently used with

nouns

between

contrast, difference, distinction, gap, parallels, similarity

betwixt

5

/bi'twikst/ preposition literary between

betwixt and between informal not definitely belonging to any bev-el

of several possibilities

/'bevl/ noun [C] technical a sloping surface along the edge of a piece of wood, glass, etc.

bev-eled

/'bevld/ a beveled edge

adj

with a sloping edge: beveled glass

bev-er-age /'bev(3)nd3/ noun

[c] formal a drink Hills /.bevarli 'hilz/ an area of Los Angeles as a place where many famous Hollywood actors

Bev-eMy known

biannual

119

the big one in between. 1b. connecting

live

/'bevi/ noun [C] 1 often humorous a group of people or things of the same kind: + of a bevy of young women 2 a group of some types of bird: a bevy of quail/

beV'y

frightened.

be«wil«der-ing/bi'wildDnn/adj 1 a bewildering situation is confusing and difficult to understand: Her first day at work was extremely bewildering. 2 a bewildering range or set of things is very large and offers too many choices: a bewildering array of vegetables ing-ly adv

be-wil-der-ment /bi'wildormont/ noun

/bi'weil/ verb [T] literary to complain strongly about something that makes you sad, disappointed, or

be-wail upset

/bi'wer/ verb [l/T usually in imperative] • used to warn someone of danger or difficulty: Beware, buying a +of +of Beware of the dog! house is full of problems. doing sth You should beware of using too many colors

be-ware

together.

[u] a feeling

He stared

be-witch

/bi'witj/ verb [Tj to control someone's behavior with magic: The old man was convinced that she had bewitched him. a. to make someone strongly attracted to you by your behavior: an athlete who bewitches the crowd with his speed and skill - be-witch- ing adj: a bewitching performance

be-yond

1

/bi'jand/ function word

Beyond can

•••

be used in the following ways:

as a preposition (followed by a noun): the world beyond the prison wall as an adverb (without a following noun): The empire extended to the Danube River and beyond. 1 past a place or outside an area 1a. mainly literary farther away than something else: He could see a line of cypress trees and, beyond it, a landscape of red hills. Traders looked eastward to India and beyond. 1b. outside a particular area: By now Dr. Barnard's fame had spread

far beyond South Africa. 2 not within the limits of sth outside the range or limits of a subject, quality, or activity: Our knowledge Scott pushed does not extend much beyond these few facts. The fans' his men beyond the limits of human endurance. behavior on Sunday went beyond what is acceptable. 3 except used in negative sentences to mean "except": / know nothing about him beyond the fact that he used to work for the government. She had no income beyond what she could earn as a waitress. 4 not able to be done 4a. used for saying that something cannot be done: The situation is already beyond our Martin was living in Brazil, beyond the reach of control. I'm afraid the watch is damaged beyond repair the FBI. (=so badly that it cannot be repaired). 4b. beyond belief/recognition used for saying that you cannot believe or recognize something: The center of the city has changed beyond all recognition. 4c. beyond doubt/ dispute used for saying that something is so certain that it cannot be doubted or argued about: Brady's guilt had been proved beyond doubt. 5 after a time or age, or above an amount 5a. continuing after a particular time or date: Some people We aren't will prefer to continue working beyond 65. attempting to plan ahead beyond the next two years. 5b. more than a particular amount or higher than a particular level: Inflation had risen beyond ten percent. She never went beyond tenth grade in school. to be too difficult for someone to understand or deal with: The system was unusually complicated it's beyond me and completely beyond the new trainees. why /how /what It's beyond me why anyone would want

be beyond sb

to

marry him.

be«yond 2

/bi'jand/ noun the back of beyond a place

that is far

away from any towns or

some

town

little

in the

cities:

He comes from

back of beyond.

the (great) beyond often humorous where some people believe people's spirits go after they die

be-zique

/bi'/.ik/

noun

[u] a

card game

type of dance music that combines traditional music from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan with Western styles such as rsggae and jungle bi /bai/ ad| informal someone who is bi is HSEXUAL (=sexually attracted to both men and women) bi- /bai/ prefix two or twice: used with many nouns, adjectives, and adverbs: bilingual ( speaking two bimonthly happening every two months) languages) bi-an-nu-al /bai'aenjual/ ad| happening twice every compare biennial year

/'bAngra/ noun

(

feel

— be-wil-der-

of being extremely confused: in bewilderment at us in complete bewilderment.

bhang-ra

larks

be-wil-der /bi'wildar/ verb [T] to make someone confused: Too much choice just bewilders you.

be-wil-dered /bi'wildord/adj confused and not certain what to do: Many of the refugees looked bewildered and

[u] a

1

m

bias 1

[

were accused of bias against people over 50. 1a. a special interest, ability, or tendency in a particular thing: + toward a French course with a bias toward the spoken language 2 [singular] the edge of a piece of cloth cut at a slight angle to the fibers

bi-as

bifurcate

120

bi-as /'baias/ noun *• 1 singular/ Ul an attitude that you have that makes you treat someone in a way that is unfair or different from the way you treat other people: Ideally we'd choose judges + against /toward They who are without political bias.

2

/'baias/ (past tense and past participle bi-ased or bi*assed; present participle bi»as*ing or bi*as*sing) verb [T

usually passive] to influence someone's opinions, decisions, etc. so that they behave in an unfair way: Witbe biased nesses may forget details or may be biased. against/toward/in favor of sb/sth The salary structure

was biased against women returning to work later in life. a. to make something have a special interest or tendency, often in an unfair way bi-ased or biassed /'baiast/ adj preferring one person, thing, or idea to another in a a biased report

way

that

is

unfair:

bias 'tape noun [U] AmE a narrow band of cloth, used for making neat edges when sewing bib /bib/ noun [C] 1 a piece of cloth that is tied round a baby's neck and hangs down to protect its clothes while eating or drinking 2 a square part above the waist of some types of skirt or pants that covers your chest sb's best bib clothes

and tucker humorous someone's

best

bi-ble /'baibl/ noun •* 1 the Bible the book that is considered holy by Christians, and consists of two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament 1a. the Bible the book that is considered holy by Jews, that is also the Old Testament of the Christian Bible 1b. [C] a copy of the Bible 2 [C] a book that is considered the most important one for a particular subject: Our coach told us that the playbook should be our bible. Bible Belt, the an area in the Southern and Midwestern U.S. known for being a place where many people have strong and strict Christian beliefs Bi-blethump-er baibl .GAmpar/noun [C]AmEimpolite an insulting word for a Christian who has strong beliefs in what the Bible says and who teaches or talks Bi-ble thump-ing noun [U] about it in a strict way

bib-li-cal

/

'biblikl/ adj relating to or

based on the Bible

sb in the biblical way /sense humorous to have had sex with someone of biblical proportions very big or important, especially in a bad or unpleasant way: an epidemic of biblical

know

proportions

bibliog-ra-phy

noun [C] a list of the books, articles, etc. that someone has used for finding information for a piece of work they have written a. a list of books, articles, etc. that have been published on /.bibli'agrsfi/

a particular subject

bibliophile /'biblia.fail/ noun [c] formal someone who likes books and enjoys reading or collecting them

bibulous

/'bibjsbs/ adj humorous a bibulous person enjoys drinking a lot of alcohol

bi-cam-er-al /,bai'kaem(3)r3l/ adj technical a bicameral legislature consists of two separate groups of people involved in making laws bi-carb /'bai.karb/ noun [u] mainly Br E informal bicarbonate OF SODA

bi-car-bon-ate of so-da /bai.karbsnat av 'souds/ noun [u] mainly Br E baking soda bi-cen-ten-a-ry /.baisen'tenari/ noun [C] BrE a bicentennial

bi-cen-ten-ni-al / .baisen'tenial/ noun [c] Am E the day or year exactly 200 years after an important event, or a celebration of this

bi-ceps

/'bai.seps/ (plural bi*ceps) noun [C] the muscle between your shoulder and elbow on the front of your arm that you use when you pull things toward you bick-er /'bikar/ verb [I] to argue about things that are

not important: bicker (with sb) over/ about sth children

bickering with each other over whose turn is next bick-er-ing /'bikorin/ noun [u]: tired of the constant bickering

—

bi-coastal

/bai'koostl/ adj

east

and west coasts of the

new

bicoastal lifestyle

AmE

relating to both the commuters a

U.S.: bicoastal

/'baisikl/ noun [C] •* a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing pedals with your feet.

bicycle

A

bicycle is often called a bike. bicycle is a biker, —picture -» C7

Someone riding

a

bicycle clips noun [plural] a pair of circular pieces of metal or cloth worn around your lower legs while riding a bicycle to prevent your pants from getting caught in the chain

bid 1 /bid/

(past tense and past participle bid; present participle

**

bidding) verb 1

[I/T]

offer

to

a particular

amount

of

money

for

something, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money): + for Two people were bidding against each other for the mirror. bid sth for sth They bid $300 for the painting. 1a. [I] to offer to do work or provide a service for a particular for the job.

amount of money:

+for Several contractors bid

2 [i/T] to say that you think you will win a particular number of points in a card game 3 (pasttense bid or bade/beid/; past participle bid«den/'bidn/ [T] literary to order someone to do something 3a. bid )

sb goodbye/good evening etc. formal to say goodbye/ bid'der noun [C]: The good evening etc. to someone

—

clock will be sold to the highest bidder. 2

bid /bid/ noun 1

an

[c]

**

offer to give a particular

amount

of

money

for

something, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money): We received a bid of $12,000 for the table, la. an offer to do work or provide a service for a particular amount +for money: The lowest bid we received was $9,000. The bids for this contract were all disappointingly high. 1b. an offer to buy the shares in a company and take

of

control of it: a takeover bid 2 a statement of how many points you think you will win in a card game 3 an attempt to do something: +for Do you think he'd be a bid to willing to mount another bid for the presidency? do sth The company cut prices just before the holiday in a bid to support sales.

bid-da-ble /'bidabl/ adj someone who is biddable does what people tell them without arguing or complaining

bid-den the past participle of bid 3 bid-ding /'bidin/ noun [u] the process 1

of making bids for things, for example at an auction (=an event where things are sold to the person who offers the most money) at sb's bidding if you do something at someone's bidding, you do it because they ask or tell you to do sb's bidding to do what someone asks or tells you to

do

bid-dy

/'bidi/ noun [C] offensive

an older

an insulting word

for

woman

bide /baid/

verb

[I]

an old word meaning "to stay

in a

place"

bide your time to wait in a patient way for an opportunity to do something bidet /bi'dei/ noun [C] a large bowl in a bathroom that

you sit on to wash your bottom price noun [C] business the price at which stock is bought on a stock exchange —compare offer price bi-en-ni-al /bai'enisl/ adj 1 a biennial event happens once every two years 2 a biennial plant lives for only compare biannual two years bier /bir/ noun [C] a wooden structure for putting a coffin (=a container for a dead body) on biff /bif/ verb [t] Br E informal to hit someone in a rough way with your fist (=closed hand) biff noun [C] bi-fo-cals /bai'fouklz/ noun [plural] a pair of glasses with special lenses that let you see things that are near if you look through the bottom part, and see things that are far away if you look through the top part bi-fur-cate /'baifar keit/ verb [i] formal to divide into two separate parts, especially parts that go in different

'bid

—

—

directions: fork

big

*••

large in size: a beautiful woman with big eyes He kept papers in a big box. great big (=very big)

1

all his secret

At the end of the lane was a great big house. 1a. a big person is tall and heavy, and often fat: A big man stood in the doorway. 1b. if you call a child a big boy or a big girl, you mean they are getting older and will soon be an adult: Come on, you're a big girl now (=old enough to behave like an adult). 1c. your big sister or big brother is older than you are: This is my big brother, Jake. SPENDER 2 large in degree or having a strong effect: The company The concerts have been a big success. faces big problems. 2a. very enthusiastic or serious about something: They were big fans of the Beatles. 2b. [not usually before noun] informal popular with many people: a type of music that is big in America 2c. a big smile /kiss /hug etc. a big smile or kiss is done with enthusiasm and has a strong -»

effect

3 important or major: We have another big game next week. / had never been involved in making the big decisions before. Big changes are likely to be made. 3a. powerful or successful in a particular area of activity: The place was full of big businessmen. + in Her mother is big in daytime television. the big two /three /four etc. (=the two /three /four etc. most important people or organizations) Other stores struggle to compete with the big four retailers. 3b. big or Big mainly journalism used for referring to large and powerful industries that are considered to have a lot of political influence: Big Tobacco (=the major cigarette companies) an important victory for Big Oil

be big of sb (to do sth) spoken used for saying that someone has been kind or generous, especially when you do not really think that they have: It was big of him to

help out like that.

be big on sth spoken to be very interested in something, or enjoy something a lot: I'm not very big on musicals. have big ideas/plans to intend to do very exciting or things in the future a big thing (out) of sth informal to treat something as if it is more important than it really is: Don't make such a big thing out of it. It's only a few days late. make it big to become successful: It was her dream to make it big as a singer. too big for your britches Am E informal with too high an opinion of yourself what's the big idea? spoken used for asking someone why they have done something that you think is wrong or annoying: What's the big idea, telling her about the difficult

make

Words you can use is

more

a very general specific

appropriate

in

major, serious, important, considerable

effects

major, profound, farreaching, serious, significant

events

major, main, important

big-a-my /'biyomi/noun to

more than one person

[u] the at the

crime of being married

same time

Big Apple, the an informal name

for

New York

City

From "apple," the name used by jazz musicians in the 1930s to mean a job, because New York was the place where they could find the best jobs.

Big Bang, the an explosion that some scientists believe was the origin of the universe. This belief is called the Big Bang theory. big beast noun [C] mainly journalism 1 someone who is well known because they are very successful or powerful 2 a powerful machine or piece of equipment that uses very modern technology Big Ben a large bell in the tower next to the Houses of Parliament in London, England, on which there is a clock. This name is often used for referring to the tower or

its

clock.

Big Board, the an informal name

for the

New York

Stock Exchange

big-

box

AmE

.store noun

[c] a very large store, usually outside a town in a special shopping area, where large companies can sell their products direct to customers: Manufacturers have been lured away from department stores and into big-box stores. 'big boys, the noun [plural] informal powerful or important people Big Brother noun [singular] a person or organization that watches people all the time and tries to control everything they say or do

From "Big

Brother," the

name

of the political leader

in Nineteen Eighty-Four, a novel by the British writer George Orwell. The leader's picture and the message "Big Brother is watching you" are to be found everywhere.

big 'bucks noun [u] Am E informal big money big business noun [u] important business activity that makes a lot of money: Organized science had allied Herbal remedies itself with big business and government. are becoming big business. [c]

a large wild cat such as a lion or a

TIGER

instead of big

big 'cheese noun

word. Here are some words with

meanings

that

sound more

natural

and

particular situations.

people

tall,

animals /plants

large, great big, huge,

large, hefty

giant, gigantic, massive,

enormous objects

good-sized, fair-sized, large, sizeable, huge, massive, bulky, hefty, enormous, gigantic, colossal,

buildings

immense

large, huge, tall, high,

rambling places / areas /cities

large, huge, vast, massive,

extensive

rooms

spacious, airy

groups / organizations / systems

huge, large, vast, massive,

numbers, amounts

huge, massive, high, considerable, substantial,

enormous

sizeable, tremendous, significant, sizeable, colossal, hefty, immense

changes

gun

problems

big 'cat noun

accident?

Big

big

121

big/big/adj

significant, far-reaching,

sweeping, extensive

[c]

informal an important or powerful

person big 'dipar/noun [C]BrEa large structure like a small railroad with many sharp turns and steep hills that you ride on for fun and excitement at a

big dip-per/

CARNIVAL

Big Dip-per, the /,biy 'dipsr/ AmE a constellation (=group of stars) made up of seven stars that can be seen in the northern half of the world. Br E Plough Big Easy, the an informal name for the U.S. city of

New

Orleans

From The Big

Easy, a novel by

James Conaway.

Big-foot

/'biy.fot/ a large creature with hair all over its body and a shape like a human that some people believe lives in the mountains of North America

big 'game noun

[u] large wild animals such as lions that people hunt as a sport

/'biyi/ noun [C] informal something that is very large or successful: The fish I caught was quite a biggie. Julia Roberts stars in this week's biggie, a. be no biggie to not be important or not matter: / was going to use the car but it's no biggie if you want to.

big-gie

government noun [u] government that seems to have too much control over people's lives big gun noun [C] informal a powerful or important person or group of people: They're hired a big gun to big

represent them in the lawsuit.

1

big-headed behaving in a way that shows that you think you are very important or inteladj

ligent

big-heart-ed

/ ,big

'hartad/ adj kind and generous

toward other people

big 'hitter noun

[C] mainly journalism a company or very successful big-horn sheep /.bighorn 'Jip/ noun [C] a sheep with large curly horns that lives in the mountains of western North America and northeastern Asia bight /bait/ noun [c] a long curved part of the coast or a large river big 'money noun (u) informal a lot of money: You'll never make big money unless you 're prepared to take risks. big-mouth /'big,mau0/ noun [C] someone who talks a lot and is unable to keep anything secret big 'name noun [C] informal a famous person in a particular activity: A lot of big names showed up at the gallery opening. + in a big name in local politics big 'noise noun [C] informal a person or organization that has a lot of power and influence big-ot /'bigat/ noun [C] someone who is bigoted

product that

billiards

122

big-head-ed /big hedid/

is

bi-lat-eral /,bai'l£et{o)rol/ adj a bilateral agreement or activity is one that involves two groups or countries: bilateral negotiations/ talks bMat*er*aMy adv bil-ber-ry /'bil.beri/ noun [C] a small fruit with a dark blue skin that grows in northern Europe bile /bail/ noun [u] • 1 a green-brown liquid that is made in the liver and helps you to digest fats 2 mainly literary angry words or feelings bilge /bild3/ noun 1 [c] the bottom part of a boat 1a. [U] dirty water that collects in this part of a boat 2 (u] informal nonsense

—

bilingual

bilingual 2

people's opinions

big 'science noun

[u] scientific research that is expensive because it needs a lot of equipment and workers and so is usually supported by large companies or by the government

big 'screen, the noun the movies,

especially

when

considered in relation to television [C]

informal an important person in an

includes people who have a wide range of beliefs or opinions and come from many different backgrounds: Johnson's aim was to bring both business and union leaders into his big tent. big- tent adj: A recent study shows Republicans are not the big-tent party.

—

informal expensive: the big-ticket items right now. adj

We just

can't afford

'big time adv spoken used for emphasizing how extreme or severe something is: "Did you have problems with it?" "Yeah, big time.

'big time, the noun the highest and most successful level in a profession, especially entertainment or politics: She had finally made it to the big time. big toe noun [C] the largest of the toes on your foot picture -» foot

—

big 'top noun

[C]

a large tent in which a circus

is

performed

big wheel noun

[C]

1

informal a big cheese

2 BrE

a

FERRIS WHEEL /'big.wig/ noun [C] informal an important and powerful person in an organization bike 1 /baik/ noun [C] informal ** a bicycle or a motor-

big*wig

cycle

bike 2 /baik/

someone who

[C]

feeling as though

is

you are going

to vomit food from your stomach: nauseous easily annoyed: bad-tempered bil*ious*ness

—

bill

1

/bil/noun

[c]

2

literary

noun

[u]

**•

1 amount you owe 2 paper money 3 proposal for law

4 5

beak

bird's list

of

concert events

+ PHRASES

a written statement showing how much money you for goods or services you have received: a telephone bill +for / hate to think what the bill for the repairs will be. pay/settle a bill I always pay my bills on time. la. the amount of money you have to pay for something: Their grocery bill is around $75 per week. 1b. mainly BrEa piece of paper that shows how much money you owe after eating in a restaurant: check 2 E a piece of paper money. Br E note: a $100 bill 3 a written document containing a proposal for a new law: pass a bill A bill was passed lowering the legal age of

owe someone invoice:

Am

consent. a bird's

4

beak

5 a

big 'smoke, the noun informal a large town or city big 'tent noun [c] AmE a group or political party that

big-ticket

/'bilias/ adj 1

1

big>ot*ry /'bigatri/ noun [u] the practice of having very strong and unreasonable opinions, especially about politics, race or religion, and refusing to consider other

'big shot noun organization

/bai'lingwal/ noun

bilingual

bil-ious

big»ot*ed /'bigatad/ adj someone who is bigoted has opinions that most people think are unreasonable, especially about race, politics, or religion, and is not willing to consider other people's opinions

1

/bai'lingwal/ adj 1 someone who is bilingual is able to speak two languages extremely well 2 involving or written in two languages: bilingual education a bilingual dictionary bi-lin-gual-ism noun [Uj

verb

[I]

informal to ride

somewhere on a

bicycle

bik-er /'baikar/ noun [C] a motorcyclist, especially one who belongs to a group bik-ie /'baiki/ noun [C] Australian informal a biker biki-ni /bi'kini/ noun [C] a swimming suit for women, with separate parts to cover the breasts and the lower part of the body —picture -» cs bi'kini line noun [c] the area of a woman's skin near the edge of the lower part of a bikini, where there is hair that some women remove bila-bi-al /.bai'leibial/ adj linguistics a bilabial sound is one that you produce using both lips, for example bi«la«bi»al noun [C] the sound of "m" or "p"

—

list of events and performers at a concert, show, top the bill (=be the most important performer) He '11 topping be the bill at the show next month. etc.:

the bill to be appropriate for something: Ifyou're looking for an outdoor vacation, Colorado could fit the bill. get a clean bill of health to be told that you are healthy after being examined by a doctor give sth a clean bill of health to examine something and say it is satisfactory or in good condition: Analysts have given the restructured company a clean bill of health. the (old) bill Br E informal the police fill/fit

2

-» FOOT

Words

frequently used with bill

amend, approve, debate,

verbs

draft,

introduce, oppose, pass, propose

bill

2

/bil/ verb

[T]

statement of the three nights

to

send or give someone a written

money they owe: +for We

when we were only therefor

were billed for

two.

be billed to sing /play etc. if a performer is billed to sing, play, etc. somewhere, they are listed in a program or advertisement bill and coo humorous if two people bill and coo, they kiss each other and talk together in a romantic way bill sb/sth as sth to advertise or describe someone or something in a particular way, especially in order to make them sound interesting or important: Electric cars are being billed as the automobiles of the future. /'bil.bard/ noun [c] a large board for advertisements in an outside public place

bill-board 1

/'bilit/ noun [C] a place, usually someone's house, that soldiers live in temporarily, especially during a war 2 bil-let /'bilit/ verb [T] to put soldiers in a billet

billet

bil-let-doux noun

[C]

/.bilei

literary

'du/

(plural

biMets-doux/.bilei'duz/)

a letter expressing your love for

someone

Am

E a wallet a game played on a special table in which two people use cues (=long sticks) to hit balls into pockets (=holes) at the edge of the table compare pool a, snooker

bill«fold/'bil,foold/ noun

[C]

biMiards / 'biljardz/ noun

[u]

—

1

billing

bilMng

biochemistry

123 / 'bilirj /

noun [u] 1 the way in which a performer or an event is advertised, especially the importance that is given to them: a game that lived up to its

2

billing as the game of the season top/star/second /equal billing / got top billing. 2 the process of sending bills

closer together.

payment

for

••

bil-lion /'biljan/ number 1 the number 1,000,000,000 2 billions or a billion a very large number or amount of people or things: +of We've told them billions of times. old-fashioned a trillion

3BrE

biMionth

/'biljanG/

number

in the place or position

1

counted as number one billion 2 one of a billion equal parts of something

of ex change (plural .bills of ex'change) noun [C] a written order saying that someone must pay a particular person an amount of money on a fixed date

.bill

of fare

.bill

menu

(plural

bills of fare)

noun

a

in a restaurant

(plural .bills of lading) noun [c a list of the goods that are being sent somewhere on a ship .bill of 'rights noun [singular] an official statement of the most important rights that the citizens of a country J

have

of 'Rights, the the part of the U.S. constitution that describes the rights of citizens

.Bill

of 'sale (plural .bills of 'sale) noun [C] a written statement describing the sale of something to someone bil-low /'bilou/ verb [i] 1 to be filled with air and

.bill

1

swell out like a sail: The sheets billowed on the clothes + out His cloak billowed out behind him. 2 if smoke line. or steam billows, it rises or moves in clouds: Smoke was billowing from the campfire. bil-low 2 /'biloo/ noun [C] 1 a moving cloud of something such as smoke or steam: + of billows of gray smoke from the exhaust pipe 2 literary a large wave in the

ocean bill-post-er / 'bil.poostar/ noun [c] someone who sticks advertisements on walls bill-post-ing noun [u] bil-ly /'bili/ or bil-ly-can /'bili.kaen/ noun [c] a container used for cooking food over a fire 'billy .club noun [C] AmE a short stick carried by a

—

weapon

police officer as a

'billy goat noun [C] informal a is called a nanny goat.

binrvbo /'bimboo/ noun

[C]

goat.

A female goat

word young woman happening or produced

informal an insulting

an attractive but not very

for

male

intelligent

bi-month-ly /.bai'mAnGli/ adj twice a month or every two months: bimonthly

— bi-month-ly adv 1

bin /bin/ noun 1

[c]

reports

•

a container for storing something, especially a large

amount: a compost bin

2BrEa container for putting garbage in bin 2 /bin/ verb

[T] Br E informal to get rid of something by putting it in a garbage container bi-na-ry / 'bamsri/ adj 1 computing based on the binary system: binary numbers 2 technical consisting of two

parts

'binary .system noun [C] a system in which information is represented using combinations of the numbers and 1, used especially in computers 1

bind /baind/ verb

(past tense and past participle

bound /baond/)

**•

1 tie sth

2 unite people 3 force sb to obey

rule

4 fasten book together 5 when substances mix 6 decorate edges

someone's hands or feet together so they cannot move: bind sb/sth with sth They bound his hands with a rope. be bound and gagged (=to be tied up and have a cloth tied around your mouth) He was found bound and gagged in the trunk of a car. la. bind or bind up to wind a length of cloth, ribbon, etc. around something several times: Bind the wound up and leave it. bind sth with sth His bare feet were bound with strips 1

[T] to tie

of rag. 1b. to tie a number of things together: bind sth together The papers were loosely bound together with string.

3 (T often passive] to limit what someone is allowed to do by making them obey a rule or agreement bind sb to do sth The treaty binds each country to reduce pollution levels.

4

[t]

to fasten the pages of a book together it: a beautifully bound journal

and put a

cover on

5 [l/T] if two substances bind, or if you bind two substances, they stick or mix together and become one substance: Add in a little milk to bind the mixture. 6 [T] to decorate something or make it stronger by fastening a long piece of cloth along or around the edges: a black vest bound with gold cord

bind 2 /baind/ noun informalbea bind Br £ to

be annoyconvenient: It's a real bind having go all that way by train. in a bind in a difficult situation: get in a bind If you ever get in a bind you can always call us. bind-er /'bamdar/ noun [C] 1 a hard cover that holds loose papers together 2 a substance used when making other substances that helps them stick together 3 Am E legal a written statement or a payment of money that proves that an agreement has been made between two people or groups 4 a person or machine that puts the parts of a book together bind-ing /'bamdin/adj •• if an agreement, contract, decision, etc. is binding, you must do what it says: legally binding Remember that this is a legally binding document. + on /upon These are guidelines only, and are not binding on any party. binding 2 /'baindin/ noun 1 [c] the cover of a book that holds the pages together and protects them 1a. [u] cloth or ribbon that is attached to the edge of soft material to decorate it or to keep the edges from coming apart 2 [C] the part of a ski that holds the boot in place bind-weed / 'baind ,wid/ noun [u] a wild plant that grows among other plants and winds itself around them binge 1 /bmd3/ noun [C] an occasion when someone does too much of something they enjoy, such as drinking: He went on a drinking binge over the weekend. the largest ever public spending binge binge eating binge 2 /bmd3/ verb [i] to do too much of something you enjoy, especially eating: + on He would binge on chocolate until he was sick. ing, difficult, or not

[C] old-fashioned

of lading

.bill

make two

people or groups feel as if they arcconnected to each other in a very close way bind sb together The troubles they had shared bound them much [T] to

to

1

binge and purge

much and then force yourself because you are suffering from

to eat too

to vomit, especially

BULIMIA 1

bin-go /'bingoo/noun [u] a game in which players try to match numbers on their cards with numbers that are called out

bin-go 2 /'bingoo/ interjection a cry someone makes when they have won a game of bingo a. used for telling someone that they have guessed something correctly

bin-man /'bin.maen/ (plural Br E a garbage collector

bin«men/'bin,men/) noun [C]

bin-oc-u-lars /bi'nakjabrz/ noun [plural] • a piece of equipment with two parts that you hold against your eyes and look through to see distant objects more clearly bin-oc-u-lar vi-sion /bi.nukjobr "vija/ noun [u] the use of both eyes to see things in relation to each other, as humans and some animals do bi-no-mi-al /bai'noombl/ noun [c] technical 1 in mathematics, an expression that has two parts connected by the sign + or the sign -. for example 2x + 3y or x - 12 2 linguistics a phrase containing two nouns that are joined together by a conjunction and always appear in the same order, for example "cup and saucer"

— bi-no-mi-al adj

prefix relating to living things or someone's used with some nouns and adjectives: biology biography bi-o-chem-i-cal /.baioo'kemikl/ adj relating to the chemical substances and processes in living things bi*o-chem-i-caMy adv bi-o-chem-is-try /baioo'kenustri/noun [u] the study of chemical processes that occur in living things bi-o-chem-ist noun (C]

bio- /baioo/ life:

— —

biodegradable

Birdsville Track

124

bi-o-de-grad-a-ble

/.baioodi'greidabl/

bio-

adj

degradable substances can be broken into very small parts by bacteria so that they are not harmful to the

environment bi-o-di-ver-si-ty

/.baioodai'vsrsati/ noun [u] the variety of different types of plant and animal life in a particular region

bi-par-tite /.bai'par.tait/

formal consisting of or involving two people, things, or groups a. technical made up of two parts bi-ped /'bai.ped/ noun [C] science an animal with two adj

legs

bi-plane /'bai.plem/ noun

bi-o-graph-er /bai'agrafar/ noun [c] someone who writes a book describing someone else's life

[c] an old-fashioned type of airplane with two sets of wings bi-po-lar /.bai'poobr/ adj [usually before noun] 1 formal involving two completely opposing parts or groups

bi-o-graph-i-cal / .babgnefikl/ adj relating to the facts of someone's life bi-o-graph-i-cal-ly /.babgraefikli/

2 medical manic depressive birch /b3rtJ7 noun 1 [C] a tall

—

bi-og-ra-phy /bai'agrsfi/ noun • [C] a book that someone writes about someone else's life. A book that someone writes about their own life is called an autobiography,

a.

[u]

biographies considered as a type of

literature

*•

bi-o-log-i-cal /.bablax^ikl/

adj relating to living things: biological science /engineering a. sb's biological father /mother /parent someone's natural father or mother, rather than the man or woman who has adopted them (=taken charge of them legally) bi-o-log-i-cal-ly /,bai3'lad3ikli/adv

—

.biological clock noun

a system in the body that controls when certain regular activities happen, for example sleeping: body clock 2 informal a woman's need to have children before she reaches a certain age and can no longer physically do so: She felt her biological clock ticking away. [c]

1

.biological control noun [u] a method of reducing the number of harmful insects by using other insects or small animals that feed on them .biological 'warfare noun [u] the use of harmful bacteria as a

weapon

biologist

in a

war

/bai'abd3ist/ noun

[C]

•

who

a scientist

studies living things

biology

/bai'abd3i/ noun [u] * the scientific study of living things a. the natural processes that control how a living thing lives: human biology b. the animals and plants found in a particular area

bi-o-mass

/'baioo.maes/ noun [u] technical 1 plant and animal life found in a particular area

the plant

all

2

and animal substances used for fuel bi-o-med-i-cine/'baioo.medssn/noun [u] 1 the principles of biology and biochemistry applied to the practice of medicine 2 the study of the effect of the environment on the body under extreme conditions, especially in

—

space travel bi-o-med-i-cal /.baioo 'medikl/ bi-on-ic/bai'anik/adj 1 bionic body parts are

adj artificial

bi-o-phys-ics /.baiou'fiziks/ noun

[u] the scientific study of biological processes using the laws of physics

bi-o-pic /'baiou.pik/ noun on the events of someone's

biopiracy

[C]

informal a movie based

life

/

bi-op-sy

/'bai.apsi/ noun [C] a medical test in which are taken from your body and examined to find they are healthy

if

bi-o-rhythm /'baioo.ndam/ noun

[c]

the pattern of

physical processes that happen in someone's body over a period of time

BIOS

/'baias/ noun [C usually singular] computing basic input/output system: the software that controls the way many basic parts of the computer work, for example the keyboard, screen, and disk drtves bi-o-sphere, the /'baiou.sfir/ noun science the parts of the Earth's surface

animal

life

and atmosphere where plant and

can exist

bi-o-tech-nol-o-gy

/,baiootek'nabd3i/ noun and animal

science the use of bacteria and plant for industrial or scientific purposes

bipartisan

stick

bird /b3rd/ noun [c] •*• 1 an animal covered in feathers, with two wings for flying and a hard pointed mouth called a beak or a bill. Birds build nests, in which female birds lay eggs. 2 old-fashioned a particular type of person She 's a tough :

old bird.

3

mainly

BrE informal a young woman

be

(strictly) for the birds informal to have no use, purpose, or importance the bird has flown spoken used for saying that someone you are trying to find is already gone or has escaped a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush) used for saying that it is better to have something that you can be certain of than to want something that might be better but you are not certain to get the birds and the bees humorous the facts about sex, when they are explained to children for the first time birds of a feather (flock together) used for saying that people of a similar type tend to support and agree with each other flip/give sb the bird informal to hold up your middle finger as a very rude sign 2 -» EARLY BIRD, KILL LITTLE 1

,

bird bath noun [c] a bowl in a yard, for birds to wash themselves in

filled

with water

bird-brained /'b3rd,bremd/

adj informal stupid in an annoying way: a bird-brained idea —bird-brain noun [C] /'b3rd,keid3/ noun [c] a cage in which you keep a bird in a house bird ,dog noun [c] AmE a dog trained to bring back

bird-cage

birds after

bird-ie

someone shoots them

1

/'b3rdi/ noun [c] 1 spoken a little bird. This used mainly by children or when speaking to children. 2 in golf, a score that is one stroke (=a hit of the ball) less than par (=the expected number of strokes needed for a hole) compare bogey i, eagle 3 AmE a light object that players hit over the net with a racket in the game of badminton 2 bird-ie /'b3rdi/ verb [T] to score a birdie at a hole in is

—

1

golf

bird-like /'b3rd,laik/

adj

similar to a bird in appear-

movement, or sound: a small birdlike woman .bird of 'paradise (plural .birds of 'paradise) noun [C] ance,

'baioo, pairasi/ noun [u] the practice of using plant or animal genes for scientific research without having the legal right to do this cells

paper —picture -» C9 1a. [u] the wood from this tree 2 the birch BrE an old-fashioned form of corporal punishment in which someone is hit hard with a thin

word

electronic parts that replace body parts that have been removed or do not work correctly 2 humorous able to do things that other people cannot do

out

tree with thin branches off in thin strips like

and an outer layer that comes

adv

[u]

cells

/bai'partizan/ adj involving two political parties with different ideas or policies: bipartisan support for the Transportation Bill

1 a plant with brightly colored flowers that look similar to birds flying 2 a brightly colored bird that lives mainly in New Guinea

.bird of 'passage (plural .birds of 'passage) noun [c] 1 oldfashioned a bird that flies from one part of the world to another when the season changes 2 literary someone who keeps moving from one place to another .bird of 'prey (plural .birds of 'prey) noun [c] a bird that hunts and eats other animals /'b3rd,sid/ noun [u] seeds that you give to birds as food

bird-seed

.bird's-eye 'view noun [singular] a good view of something from a high position: We had a bird's-eye view of the action from the roof. bird-song /'b3rd,son/ noun [u] the musical sounds that birds

make / 'b3rdzvil .traek/ a way across Austhrough some of the driest and most

Birdsville Track tralia that passes

dangerous parts of the country, often referred to as a symbol of the dangers of traveling in the Australian outback (=areas that are far from towns or cities)

bird

watching

watjirj/ noun [u] the activity of watching wild birds, especially in order to find

unusual or rare types —bird watch-er noun [C] bi-ret-ta /ba'reta/ noun [c] a stiff square hat worn by a

Roman

Catholic priest

for being very comfortable. Birkenstocks have the reputation of being worn mostly by people who care for the environment and try to live a healthy life. Bi-ro /'bairoo/ BrE trademark a ballpoint birth /b3r9/ noun *•* 1 [C/U] the occasion of a baby being born: We are happy to announce the birth of our son Andrew. John wanted from/since birth James has to be present at the birth. been blind from birth. at birth (=at the time when you are born) children who have medical complications at place of birth Place of birth: Reno 1a. [C/U] the birth process of being born or of giving birth to a baby: It was a very difficult birth. 1b. give birth (to sb) if a woman gives birth to a baby, she produces it from inside her body: She gave birth to a baby boy. -» date of birth

2

[U] your status or position in society according to your family or the place you were born: Why should an

accident of birth (=being born rich, poor, etc.) determine what opportunities you have? a woman of noble birth by birth She's a French national by birth. 3 [singular] the beginning of something such as an idea, institution, or nation: +of the birth of a new era in Latin American politics 3a. give birth to sth to make something important start to exist: It was this event that gave birth to the peace movement.

'birth certificate noun

document that of when and where you were

[c]

an

official

shows your name, details born, and who your parents are

'birth control noun [u] the practice of avoiding becoming pregnant or the methods used for this: contraception the day each year birth-day /'b3r9,dei/ noun [C] that has the same date as the one on which you were born: It's her seventeenth birthday tomorrow. Her birthday is on June 7th. a. [only before noun] intended to celebrate someone's birthday: a birthday party /card /present

•*

happy birthday a greeting you use when it is someone's birthday: Happy birthday, Jimmy! wish sb a happy birthday I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.

birthday suit noun not wearing clothes birth-ing /'b3r6in/

in your birthday suit humorous

adj [only before noun] relating to

or

used in the process of giving birth: a birthing pool/ chair/ room

birth-mark / 'b3r8,mark/ noun

[c]

a red or brown

mark

on the skin that some people are born with birth mother noun [c] the woman who gave birth to someone, rather than the woman who has adopted them 'birth parent noun [c] one of the parents someone had when they were born, rather than one of the parents who adopted them birth-place /'b3r0,pleis/ noun [c usually singular] 1 the place where someone was born: Kennedy's birthplace was in Brookline, near Boston. 2 the place where something first started to exist: + of Wayne County, the birthplace of the American railroad 'birth ,rate noun [c] the officially recorded number of births in a particular year or place: a steep decline in the birth rate

/'b3r0,rait/ noun [c usually singular] a basic right, or a right to have something because you fair trial is the are a citizen of a particular country:

birth-right

human

A

birthright of every American citizen, a. old-fashioned a right to own something as a member of a family

bis-cuit /'biskit/ noun 1 [C]AmE a small round soft bread roll: Bake the biscuits in a hot oven for 20 minutes

2

1

bi-sex-u-al /bai'sekjual/ adj sexually attracted to both men and women —compare heteroskxi ai.. homom-.xi ai. bi-sex-u-al-i-ty/ baisekju'slati/ noun (ll] 2 bi-sex-u-al /bai'sekfuol/ noun [c] someone who is bisexual

Birk-en-stock / b3rlon ,stak / trademark a shoe known

until golden brown.

bit

125

bird watch-ing /'b3rd

[u] a light

brown

color

3 [C]BrE

••

bish-op

/'bijap/ noun [c] 1 a Christian priest with a senior position who is responsible for all the churches in a particular area: the Bishop of New York 2 a piece in the game of chess, shaped like a bishop's hat

bish-op-ric /'bijapnk/ noun [c] all the churches in an area for which a bishop is responsible: diocese a. the job of a bishop

bison / 'baisn/ (plural bi»son)

bisect

a large wild animal

/bisk/ noun [C/u] 1 a thick soup made from shellfish lobster bisque 2 objects made of baked clay that have not been covered with a glaze (=a liquid that produces a shiny surface) :

bis-tro /'bistrou/ noun 1 bit function word *••

A

bit

[C]

a small restaurant or bar

can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: We waited a bit, and then decided to go. (before an adjective or adverb): It's a bit cold in here, isn't it?

as a pronoun: She'd only eaten a bit before she started choking, (followed by "of): / could use a bit of help.

many

Bit can also be used in

expressions referring to

amounts or degrees, especially small ones. a bit mainly BrE informal 1 slightly or a little: I'm That was a bit stupid. a bit more/ feeling a bit tired. less The second interview was a bit less formal than the

2 a

short time: You'll have to wait a bit. for a bit come and stay with us for a bit?* in a bit I'll do it in a bit. I'm busy right now. 3 a small amount +of / of something: I'd like some sauce, but just a bit. know a bit of German. With a bit of luck we should be able to get there in time. 4 to a limited degree: / used to fish a bit when I was younger. a bit at a time Br E in several small stages over a period

first.

Why

don't you

of time a bit of a sth mainly Br E informal used for saying that someone or something has a particular character, effect,

or quality: It appears that my letter has caused a bit of a problem. She's always been a bit of a mystery to me. a bit of all right Br E very informal used for saying that you think someone is sexually attractive a bit on the side Br E informal someone you have a sexual relationship with, even though you are married or in a serious relationship with someone else every bit as just as: The newly developed medication is every bit as effective as the old one. a good/fair bit mainly BrE a fairly large amount of something: We've still got a fair bit to do. + of He's lost a good bit of weight, hasn he? it's/that's a bit much mainly BrE informal used for saying that you think something is unfair: Pay our own travel costs? That's a bit much, don't you think? just a bit mainly Br E spoken used for emphasizing that something is definitely true: "She's taking it all very seriously. " "Just a bit!" not a bit Br E informal not at all: It 's not a bit like any of the other paintings he's done. not one (little) bit not at all: / don't like what you're doing one little bit. quite a bit informal a lot: +of Your car needs quite a bit of work done on it before you can drive it. take a bit of doing mainly Br E informal to need a lot of effort, skill, or determination to do 't

2 bit the past tense of bite 3 bit /bit/ noun •

1

piece/part

1 small

silly,

2 3 4

/'bai.sekt; bai'sekt/ verb [T] technical to divide

something into two equal halves, especially in mathematics

[C]

bisque

a COOKIE

take the biscuit BrE informal to be the most stupid, or annoying thing in a series of things

noun

like a cow with long hair and a big head. One type lives in North America and the other in Europe.

1

unit in

computing

for cutting/making holes for controlling a

[C]

mainly

BrE

5 coin/money 6 sex organs + PHRASES

horse

a small piece of something: + of There

1

bit

bit part

126

bits and were bits of broken glass all over the place. pieces The wreckage was spread over a wide area in tiny bits and pieces. 1a. mainly Br E a particular aspect of something: In general, I like my job, but I don't enjoy the management bit. 1b. Br E informal a part of something: The best bit in the film is the scene in the restaurant. + of Some bits of the jigsaw puzzle are missing. 2 [C] computing the most basic unit of information that can be stored in a computer compare byte 3 [C] a tool or part of a tool used for cutting or making holes in things 4 [C] a piece of metal put in a horse's mouth so that a rider can control it —picture -» horse

—

5 [C usually plural] Am E old-fashioned an amount of money worth 12j cents: two bits 5a. a sixpenny/threepenny etc. bit Br E informal old-fashioned a coin of a particular value 6 bits [plural] Br E humorous a man's sex organs

me Am E

bite

very informal used for rudely telling

someone

that you are upset or annoyed with something they have just said or done: "You're not smart enough to get a job like that. " "Bite me!" bite your tongue/lip to stop yourself from saying something that might upset or annoy someone it/that bites (the big one) Am E spoken used for saying that you are disappointed or unhappy with something that has happened: I just found out I owe $500 in taxes. That really bites! once bitten twice shy used for saying that someone will be careful about doing something again or unwilling to do it again because they failed or were hurt the first time they did it sb won't bite spoken used for telling someone not to be afraid of a particular person: Just ask her. She won't bite, you know.

back phrasal vb 1 [T] [bite back sth] to stop yourself from saying what you think: Paul bit back an angry reply. 2 [i] to react angrily to someone who has done or said something unpleasant to you: It was his instinct to

.bite

by bit gradually or in small stages: /'// move my things into the apartment bit by bit. bits and pieces informal 1 someone's possessions or furniture: We have a few bits and pieces offurniture, but that's all. 2 small individual things: Then there are all the other bits and pieces involved in a wedding: invitations, photos, and car rental. do your bit Br E informal to do what you can to help, or to do your part of what has to be done to bits mainly Br E informal 1 into small pieces: The vase hit the floor and was smashed to bits. 2 very much: He's thrilled to bits. / love you to bits. -> BIT PART, BLOW bit

bite back. bite ,into phrasal vb [T] [bite into sth] to press hard into a surface: The metal collar bit into his neck. 'bite ,off phrasal vb [T] to separate something from the main part by biting: / bit off a chunk of chocolate.

bite off

more than you can chew

or something that 2

bite /bait/ noun

is

too hard for

/bitJV noun 1 [C] offensive an insulting word for a woman 1a. offensive an insulting word for someone, especially a woman, who is rude or cruel 2 [singular] very informal something difficult or unpleasant: These milk cartons are a real bitch to open. 3 [singular] very

bitch

informal a complaint about someone or something: son of a What's his latest bitch? 4 [C] a female dog

-

bitch

bitch 2 /bitJV verb [I] informal to complain or say unkind things about someone or something, especially about someone who is not present: + about Who are you two bitching about now? +at If you keep bitching at me I'm going home.

Am

E informal to criticize or shout bitch out phrasal vb [T] at someone angrily because they have done something wrong: Our teacher bitched us out for not doing our homework again.

bitch-ing / 'bit Jin / adj Am E very informal excellent bitch-y /'bitji/ ad) informal rude or cruel about or toward someone else: Why is he being so bitchy? bitchy remarks /comments

— bitch'My

adv, bitch*i*ness

noun

[U] 1

bite /bait/ verb

(past tense bit /bit/; past participle biWen/'bitn/)

**

use your teeth to cut or break something, usually in order to eat it: / wish you wouldn't bite your nails. + into Tom had just bitten into a chicken sandwich. 2 [l/T] if a snake or insect bites you, it makes a small hole in your skin: / was bitten by mosquitoes in the night. Does your dog bite? 3 [I] if a fish bites, it eats the food that you have put on the hook in order to catch it: The fish don't seem to 1

1

[I/T] to

2 small meal/piece of food 3 when animal uses teeth 4 when fish pulls hook [C]

bites

3 [C] an instance of an animal biting someone: The dog gave him a nasty bite on the leg. 3a. a mark or injury where an animal or insect has bitten you: / woke up covered with mosquito bites. 4 [C] a pull at the hook when you are fishing, made by a fish trying to take the bait on the hook 5 [singular] a very cold feeling: the bitter bite of the wind 6 [u] a pleasant bitter or strong taste: a soup with plenty of bite a crisp green salad with the added bite of radish 7 [u] a powerful, effective, or exciting quality: His novel The fuel-injection system gives extra lacks any real bite. bite to the 24-valve engine.

take a bite out of sth to reduce something by a large amount: Getting a new car has taken a big bite out of our savings.

bite-sized / 'bait.saizd/ or bite-size /'bait.saiz/ ad] [usually before noun] 1

into

chicken into bite-sized pieces.

2 small enough

to be read or dealt with easily: The guides are produced in bite-

as a five-year-old. bite the bullet informal to force yourself to do something difficult or unpleasant that you have been avoiding doing: We'll just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. bite the dust informal to fail, die, or stop existing: All hope of them winning the championship eventually bit the

sized sections.

biting

someone who has been good

to

do something bad

head

adj

biting remark, criticism, is cruel and unkind

etc.

— bit-ing-ly adv

to

you and whose help you

need off informal to react angrily or rudely to someone when you have no reason for doing this: There's no need to bite my head off. I was just asking a simple question.

bite sb's

/'baitin/

wind or cold is so it makes you feel very uncomfortable 2 a biting cold that 1

dust.

to

small

to be put whole your mouth: Cut the

enough

.

hand that feeds you

+ PHRASES

an

hungry. -» bark 2 2 bite or bite to eat [singular] a small meal, especially one that you eat in a hurry: snack: Will we have time to grab a bite before the show? 2a. a small piece of food prepared so that you can eat it in one bite: mozzarella

to

bite the

7 exciting quality

act of cutting or breaking something using your teeth in order to eat it: Anthony devoured half his burger in one bite. Donna paused in mid bite, and looked at him in surprise. 1a. an amount of food that you bite with your teeth: Here, have a bite of my sandwich ifyou're 1

have an unpleasant effect: The figures show that the economic slowdown is beginning to bite. be bitten by the. .bug informal to become very enthusiastic about something: Joe was bitten by the acting bug [I]

much

5 very cold feeling 6 pleasant strong taste

act of biting food

be biting today.

4

do too

•

1

1

to try to

you

bit»map /'bit.maep/ noun [c] computing a computer image made up of many small points on the screen: bitmap files/graphics/ images part noun [C] a job as a minor actor in a play or

'bit

movie

bitten bitten

blackball

127

the past participle of bite

1

bit-terVbitar/adj •• 1 feeling angry or upset because of a bad experience, especially when you think that you have been treated

blab'ber-mouth someone who tells kept secret 1

black /bhek/adj

unfairly: + about I'm still bitter about the whole affair. 1a. involving very angry feelings: a bitter dispute/ divorce case 1b. used about a determined and angry enemy or opponent: one of the President's most bitter

They had always been

critics

1

[usually before noun] making you feel very unhappy or disappointed: a bitter blow/disappointment It was a bitter blow when they decided not to offer him the contract. 3 something that is bitter has a strong sharp taste that is not sweet 4 extremely cold in a way that makes you very uncomfortable: A bitter wind was blowing from the north.

bitter experience if you know something from experience, you know about its unpleasant aspects because you have experienced it before: She knew from bitter experience it wasn 't worth complaining. -» pill bit-ter-ness noun [U]

from

bitter

— 2

bit'ter /'bitsr/ noun [c/u] mainly BrE a type of dark beer that tastes bitter, or a glass of this beer .bitter end, the noun to /until /till the bitter end continuing until the end of a particular situation or period of time, even though it is difficult or unpleasant:

Some of the army had supported Milosevic

bitterly /'bitarli/ adv • 1 in a way that shows that you

to the bitter end.

1

parts that do not bitty.

fit

together well: I found the novel too

-» LITTLE-BITTY

bi*tu*men /bi'tumin; bai'tumm/ noun [u] a black sticky substance made from petroleum, used for making roads and covering roofs bi*valve /'bai.vaelv/ noun [c] science an ocean creature with a shell made of two parts joined together biv-ou-ac 1 / 'bivu.sk/ noun [c] a simple temporary camp made by soldiers, people climbing mountains, etc.

biv-ou-ac 2

/ 'bivu.sk/ (past tense and past participle bivouacked; present participle bivou«ack«ing) verb [I] to spend the night in a bivouac bi«week-ly 1 /bai'wikli/adj, adv happening or published every two weeks: a biweekly journal

bi'week-ly

2

/bai'wikli/ noun [C] a magazine that

is

published twice a month or twice a week biz, the /biz/ noun informal a particular type of business, especially in the television or entertainment industry: How long have you been in the biz? the film/ music /computer biz bi-zarre /bi'zar/ adj * strange and difficult to explain: bizarre behavior a really bizarre character bi-zarre-ly /bi'zarli/ adv in a strange way that is difficult to explain: bizarrely dressed / costumed a. used for emphasizing that you think something is strange: Bizarrely, the survey reveals that six in ten adults believe

/blaeb/ verb [I/T] informal to tell people about something that should be kept secret I didn 't think you 'd go blabbing the story all over town. :

/'blsebar/ verb [i] informal to talk too much, especially about things that should be kept secret, in a way that annoys other people

blab*ber

when Black

clouds of thick

or Black belonging or relating to a race of people with dark skin, especially people whose families were originally from Africa: She was the first black woman to become a judge. Dr. King was a leader in the Black community. a famous black actor 3 coffee or tea that is black has no milk in it: Do you take your coffee black or white? 4 making people feel unhappy or lose hope: one of the blackest moments in British history It's a black day for the automobile industry. 5 showing angry or unhappy feelings: a black look a black mood 6 relating to sad or unpleasant things such as death or illness: black humor 7 literary evil or cruel: a black deed

Words

that avoid giving offense:

black

Use the adjective black (sometimes spelled Black) to refer to people with dark skin whose families originally came from Africa. Avoid using black as a noun because this is sometimes considered offensive. Black Americans usually prefer to be called African American. Black people in the U.K. whose families originally came from the Caribbean often prefer to be called African-Caribbean. In Australian English, use black to refer to the people whose families were living in Australia before Europeans arrived and settled.

black 2

••

/blaek/ noun darkest color, like the color of the sky at there is no light 1a. black clothes: All the night mourners were wearing black. in black (^wearing black clothes) Do you think I look good in black? 2 black or Black [C] a black person. This word is sometimes considered offensive, so you should be very careful about using it. 1

[u] the

when

money in your bank account, or with more money than you owe: We've managed to stay in the in the black with

black for over a year now. —opposite

in

the red

black 3

/blaek/ verb [T] to make something black by covering it with a black substance

black out phrasal vb scious: faint:

2

1

[i]

to

suddenly become uncon-

He had blacked

out after his car hit the

prevent someone from reading or seeing something by covering it with something dark: Half the pages in the report had been blacked out for security reasons. 3 [T] to make a place dark by turning off all the lights, for example so that the enemy cannot see a place tree.

[T] to

at night.

black and blue

adj covered in bruises (=dark marks on your skin where you have been injured but not cut): He'd been beaten black and blue by a street gang. .black-and-white adj 1 a black-and-white photograph, movie, or television shows pictures in black, white, and gray but not in color —opposite qoum 2 involving one idea that is clearly right and another that is clearly wrong, so that it is not difficult for you to make a moral decision: It's not a simple black-and-

white issue. in black and white in a written or printed form, and therefore more likely to be true or definite: We've got her confession right here in black and white.

black

in aliens.

blab

at night shorts.

black smoke

this issue.

flavor

having the darkest color, like the sky is no light: He was wearing black

2 black

bitterly cold extremely cold

bit-ter-sweet /'bitsr.swit/ adj 1 involving feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time: a bittersweet love story 2 tasting sweet and bitter at the same time bit-ty /'biti/ adj BrE informal made up of many small

7 evil/cruel

there

are extremely angry,

bit-tern /'bitarn/ noun [c] a bird that lives near water and makes a loud deep sound .bitter 'pill noun [singular] an unpleasant fact or situation that is difficult to accept: a bitter pill to swallow The truth about her husband had been a bitter pill to swallow. bit-ters /'bitarz/ noun [u] a bitter liquid made from plants or roots that is added to alcoholic drinks to give

5 showing anger/sadness 6 about unpleasant things

cats are sometimes thought to be unlucky.

upset, or disappointed about something: He complained bitterly that no one had bothered to ask his opinion. 2 in a determined and angry way: Many people are bitterly opposed to the idea. Congress is bitterly divided

on

••*

having darkest color

2 of a race with dark skin 3 with no milk in it 4 involving sth bad/sad

bitter rivals.

2

bkcbor maoO/ noun [c] informal people about things that should be

/

'arts,

the noun

[plural] 1

old-fashioned the prac-

magic 2 the black arts or the black art humorous a skill or method for achieving things in a clever but dishonest way: a master of the black art of tice of

BLAd

political spirt

black-ball / "blak.bol/ verb

[t] to

prevent someone from

joining a group by voting against

them

black bear a large black or dark that lives in North America or Asia [c]

brown bear

black

,belt noun [c] the highest level of skill in some types of martial art such as judo or karate, represented by the right to wear a black belt a. someone who has achieved this level of skill

black-ber-ry

/'blask.beri/ noun [C] a small soft dark grows on a bush called a blackberry bush or bramble: blackberry jam

fruit that

black-bird / 'blaek,b3rd/ noun [C] a type of bird common in Europe and North America. The male is black with an orange beak.

black-board

/'blaek.bord/ noun [c] a large black or green surface fixed to a classroom wall for writing on with chalk —picture -» board .black 'box noun [c] 1 a piece of equipment in an airplane used for recording details about a flight, especially to try to find out the cause of a problem or crash: flight recorder 2 informal a computer or similar piece of equipment that performs a complicated job, although the person using it does not understand how it works .black 'cab noun [c] a type of taxi in the U.K. whose drivers are officially tested and organized so that they all provide the same quality of service

.black

'comedy

noun [c/u] a play, movie, or story that deals in a humorous way with unpleasant aspects of life such as illness and death 'black .currant noun [C/U] a small soft dark fruit that

grows especially currant bush

in

Europe on a bush called a black

Black 'Death, the noun

a disease that killed millions of people in Europe and Asia in the 14th century. Its

medical

name

bubonic plague.

is

.black e'conomy, the noun

illegal

business activities

that allow people to avoid paying taxes, for example selling goods or providing services without keeping any

records

black-en /'blaeksn/ verb [i/t] to become to make something become black: A mass blackened the sky. of soot.

black, or of seagulls

The walls were blackened by decades

blacken sb's reputation/name/character to do or say something that you know will harm someone's republack-ened adj tation 'Black .English noun [u] a type of English spoken by

some black people, especially in the U.S. .black 'eye noun [c] 1 a dark mark that forms on the skin around your eye as a result of being hit 2 Am E mainly journalism something that affects the reputation of a person or organization in a negative way black-eyed pea / ,blaek aid 'pi/ noun [c] Am E a small bean with a black spot eaten as food black-eyed Susan /.blaek aid 'suzn/ noun [c] an orange-yellow flower with a dark center that grows

mainly in North America .black 'gold noun [u] informal

.black 'ice noun [u) a dangerous layer of difficult to see on a road or path

ice that is

black-ing that

is

/'bkekirj/ noun [u] a thick dark substance put on objects to make them black, used espe-

cially in the past

black-jack / 'bltek^cek/ noun

[u] a card game in which players try to collect cards that add up to no more than 21. Blackjack is usually played for money in casinos.

black-list

1

/'blaek.hst/ verb [T often passive] to

keep a

record of someone you do not approve of and prevent them from making progress in some way: Many actors were blacklisted for having left-wing sympathies, a. to say that particular products should not be bought, especially as part of a political protest

black-list that

2 /

blaek .list/ noun [c] a list of people or things

some people do not approve

of,

people to avoid or stop supporting: Any pay on time goes on our blacklist.

and want other who doesn't

client

.black lung noun

[u] old-fashioned a serious disease affecting the lungs, caused by breathing in small pieces of coal over a long period of time. Black lung especially affects people who work in coal mines.

.black 'magic noun [u] a type of magic communicate with evil spirits and use

in

which people powers

evil

black-mail 1 /'blaek.meil/ noun [u] 1 the crime of making someone give you money or do what you want by threatening

to tell people embarrassing information about them: Barrett was in court, facing a charge of blackmail. 2 the use of threats to persuade a person or government to do what you want: the risk of nuclear

blackmail by terrorist organizations -» emotional blackblack-mail-er noun [C] mail

—

black-mail 2 /'blaek.meil/ verb [t] • 1 to make someone give you money or do what you want by threatening to tell people embarrassing information about them: Someone was trying to blackmail him with pictures of him and his mistress. blackmail sb into doing sth Channing claims she was blackmailed into helping the men with the robbery. 2 to use threats to persuade a person or government do what you want: The Prime Minister has said his government will not be blackmailed by the rebels. to

.black 'mark noun

[c] something you have done that your reputation in a bad way .black 'market noun [singular] the illegal buying and

affects

selling of goods, especially when it is difficult or expensive to obtain them legally: There's a thriving black on the black market market in vodka and cigarettes. Rhino horns can fetch up to $5,000 on the black market. .black marketeer noun [C]

—

mass noun [c] a ceremony in which people worship the Devil .Black 'Muslim noun [C] a member of a religious group of black people called the Nation of Islam, whose goal .black

is to

create a separate society for black people

blackness oil

found underground,

considered as a valuable product that will

make you

/'blaeknss/ noun [u] the quality of being completely black or completely dark: She disappeared into the blackness of the night.

/'blaek.aot/ noun [c] 1 a short period when the electricity supply to a building or district is stopped, especially at night 2 a period during a war when the lights are turned off so that an enemy cannot see them at night 3 a period when you suddenly become unconscious, usually for a few minutes 4 a situation in which reporters are officially prevented from reporting news about something: a news/media blackout

black-out

rich

black-guard

noun [C] old-fashioned an immoral man who treats other people very badly black-head /'blaek.hed/ noun [c] a small black spot on your skin, caused by dirt or oil blocking a pore (=one of the small holes in your skin) .black 'hole noun [C] 1 science an area in outer space /'blaegard/

where the force of gravity is so strong that light and everything else around it is pulled into it 2 informal a situation in which large amounts of money are spent without bringing any benefits: The business was little more than a financial black hole. 3 informal a situation in which there is a lot of sadness and very little hope: unemployment hool sv very crowded and uncom-

the psychological black hole of long-term

Black Hole of Cal-cut-ta, the kael'kAts/ a place that is fortable

From

blacksmith

128

.black 'bear noun

the

name

India, that

died there.

of

/.bkek

an 18th-century prison in Calcutta,

was so hot and small

that

many

prisoners

.black 'pepper noun

[u] pepper produced from dried crushed pepper seeds and their hard black cover .Black 'Power noun [u] a political movement of black

people, especially in the 1960s in the U.S., who wanted to achieve greater political and social power for black

people

.black 'pudding noun [c/u] a type of thick sausage made from the meat and blood of a pig .black 'sheep noun [c] someone who is not approved of by the other members of their family or the group they belong to because they are thought to behave badly

black-smith /'blaek.smiG/ noun is to make things out of metal

[C]

someone whose job

black stump

blackthorn

/'blaek,0orn/ noun [C] a European bush with white flowers and a dark fruit called a sloe [u] very formal men's clothes worn for a social event, usually including a black bow tie a. an event to which formal clothes are worn black-tie adj a black-tie occasion black-top /'blaek.tap/ noun [u] a thick black substance used for covering road surfaces a. [C] an area or road that is covered with blacktop black widow noun [c] a very poisonous spider that lives in parts of North America and Asia blad-der /'blaedar/ noun [c] 1 a part inside your body that is like a bag where urine collects before being passed from the body la. empty your bladder formal to urinate 2 a soft bag that holds air or water, for example inside a football -» gall bladder blade /bleid/ noun [c] 1 the thin sharp part of a knife, tool, or weapon that cuts things 1a. the metal bar on the bottom of an ice skate that allows you to move on ice 2 a long thin leaf of grass, wheat, etc.: a blade of grass 3 one of the flat parts of a propeller that spins around and pushes a boat or airplane forward 3a. one of the thin flat parts that spin around and keep a helicopter in the air 3b. the flat part at the end of an oar 4 old-fashioned a fashionable or attractive young man -» shoulder blade blad-ing /'bleidin/ noun [u] in-line skating

black tie noun

—

:

AmE

*•

/blaeg/ verb [l/T] BrE very informal to persuade to give you something you want by talking in a clever way blah 1 /bla/ noun [u] informal used instead of a word or thing on a list when it is not important to say exactly what that word or thing will be

blag

someone

blah, blah, blah spoken used for completing a sentence when you do not have to be definite or when the subject is boring: They say they want to cut taxes, improve education, blah, blah, blah.

blah 2 /bla/

adj

spoken 1 not very interesting or excit-

ing: I found her gray outfit rather blah. tired or sick

blame

2

feeling slightly

•••

1

to say or think that /bleim/ verb [T] is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation If it all goes wrong, don 't blame me. Crime is a complex issue - we can't simply blame poverty and unemployment. blame sth on You can blame blame sb/sth for sth all your problems on your family. Organizers blame the weather for the low turnout. be to blame (for) The hospital has launched an investigation to find out who was to blame for the mistake.

someone or something

:

't

don't blame you/him/her/them spoken used for saying you understand why someone did something or a particular way: "Then I told him to leave. " "I don't blame you!" you have only (got) yourself to blame to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation: He's only got himself to blame if no one will talk to him. blame 2 /bleim/ noun [u] * responsibility for an accident, problem, or bad situation: +for The police don't deserve the blame for what happened to these children. get the blame Why do I always get the blame for everything? take the blame (=accept that you are responsible) The management has to take part of the blame for recent failures. put/ lay the blame on sb Citizens are laying the blame on the government for acting too late. a culture of blame (=a tendency to blame people instead of trying to solve problems) We're trying to get rid of the company's I

feels

culture of blame.

bla me- less / 'bleimbs/ adj not responsible for anything bad: I feel sorry for him, but he's not exactly blameless. a. never causing any trouble or doing anything bad: He emigrated to Brazil, where he led a blameless life. blame-less-ly adv

—

blame- wor-thy / 'bleim W3r5i/ adj formal deserving to be blamed for something bad that has happened /blaentJV verb 1 [I] mainly literary to be so shocked or frightened that your face becomes pale 2 [T]

blanch

blankly

129

black stump noun Australian beyond the black stump a long way from towns, stores, etc.

to put fruit, nuts, or vegetables into boiling water for a short time, often in order to make it easier to remove

the skin

bland /bkcnd/

ad]

1

not interesting, exciting, or ori-

and therefore boring: She had pleasant but somewhat bland features. 2 not having a strong taste and therefore not very interesting to eat 3 bland comments or remarks are pleasant and intended not to make anyone upset or angry, but they may not be sincere: He gave the usual bland assurances about their commitment to peace. — bland-ly adv, bland-ness noun [u] blan-dish-ments /'bkendijin^nts/ noun plural formal pleasant things you do or say about someone in order to persuade or influence them blank 1 /blank/ adj •• 1 showing no emotion or no sign of understanding something or recognizing someone: His eyes were blank and he barely responded to us. a blank look /expression/ ginal,

[

\

face

2 blank paper

is

empty and contains

no writing or other marks: a blank

sheet of paper* Write

your name

or a blank space

blank space at the top of the page. The last three boxes should be left blank. 2a. not containing any sound, pictures, or information: a blank tape/disk/ video 2b. a blank surface has nothing on it: He was tired of staring at the four blank walls. 2c. a blank screen, for example on a computer, has no writing or images on it: Suddenly my computer screen went blank. in the

if your mind goes blank, you are unable to remember something, especially when someone has asked you a question: When he asked me what her name blank-ness noun [u] was my mind just went blank,

go blank

blank 2

/blaerjk/ noun [c] 1 an empty space on a piece of paper, for example, on an official form, where you in the write something: Please put either a check or an blanks. 2 a gun cartridge that explodes when the gun is fired, but contains no bullet

X

be firing/shooting blanks 1 to be unsuccessful in what you are trying to achieve 2 humorous used for saying that a man is unable to make a woman pregnant blank 3 /blaenk/ verb 1 [T] AmE informal to prevent your opponent from scoring in a game or sport: Our team blanked its first two regular season foes. 2 blank or blank out [I] informal to unexpectedly be unable to remember something: J totally blanked when it came to the written part of the

test.

3

[T]

BrE spoken

to deliberately

you have not seen or heard them blank out phrasal vb 1 [T] if you blank out a feeling, memory, warning, etc., you deliberately try not to think about it or try to forget it: The experience was so terrible he just blanked it out. 2 [T] to hide or cover something so that you cannot see it: Some of the words had been 3 blanked out. 3 [I] same as blank 2: / don't know what ignore someone, as

if

happened - I just blanked

out.

a blank for a gun [c] 1 a check that has been signed but has not had the amount of money it is worth written on it 2 mainly journalism complete freedom and authority to do what is necessary, or spend what is necessary, in order to deal with a problem: The contract amounts to a blank check for the team's new boss. blan-ket /'blaerjkit/ noun •• 1 [C] a thick cover made of wool or another material that you use to keep warm in bed 2 [singular] a thick layer of something, for example snow or cloud, that completely covers an area: +of a blanket offog

.blank 'cartridge noun

[c]

blank 'check noun

1

3

[singular]

something that makes

it

difficult for

you

to

make

progress: + of The department's activities are wrapped in a blanket of secrecy. 2 blan-ket /'blaerjkit/ ad] [only before noun] affecting or aimed at everyone or everything equally, even when this is not sensible or fair: a blanket ban on all tobacco advertising There was outrage at the blanket bombing of get information or

the region.

blan-ket 3

/'blaerjkit/ verb [t usually passive]

to

cover

something with a layer of something, for example snow: be blanketed with/ in sth The room was entirely blanketed in dust.

/'blaenkli/ adv without showing any emotion, reaction, or understanding: She gazed at him blankly.

blank-ly

*i

blank verse a type of poetry that has a regular pattern of sounds but does not have lines that RHYME blare 1 /bier/ verb [i/t] to make a loud and unpleasant noise: Huge trucks roared past with their horns blaring. + out Their radio has been blaring out that awful music [u]

all day.

blare 2 /bier/ noun

[singular] [+of] the loud and unpleasant noise of something such as a car horn, a radio, or music

/'blarni/ noun [u] mainly BrEa friendly way of talking to people and saying nice things about them that makes it easy to persuade people to do what you

blarney want

From the "Blarney Stone," a large stone in Blarney Castle in Ireland. Some people believe that if you "kiss the Blarney Stone" you will be given the ability to persuade people. bla-se /bla'zei/ adj not excited, worried, or enthusiastic about something that most people think is exciting, worrying, or impressive, because you have done it many times before: + about By this time, I was getting quite blase about being on TV.

blas-pheme

/blaes'fim/ verb [i] to say offensive things about God or someone's religious beliefs a. to swear using God's name in a way that offends people blas-phenver noun [C]

—

blas-phe-mous

/'blaesfbmas/ adj offensive to someone's religious beliefs

God

or

blasphemy

/'blaesfami/ noun [c/u] something that is considered offensive to God or someone's religious

beliefs

blast 1

/blaest/ noun

bleach

130

blank verse noun

•

5

to

[T]

criticize

someone very

Times, the proposal equate.

is

"

strongly: In today's blasted as "pathetic and inad-

blast a way phrasal vb [i] 1 to shoot at someone or something a lot of times: Machine guns were blasting away in the distance. 2 if music is blasting away, it is playing very loudly blast off phrasal vb [i] if a spaceship blasts off, it leaves the ground

blast-ed

/'blaestad/ adj [only before noun] 1 spoken used emphasizing that you are annoyed with someone or something: Stop fiddling with that blasted lighter! 2 literary damaged by storms, heat, or lightning for

blast .furnace noun [c] a large industrial container in which rock containing metal is heated to a very high temperature so that the liquid metal flows out of the rock blast-off noun [u] informal the moment when a spacecraft leaves the ground: lift-off blatant /'bleitnt/ adj done in an obvious way that shows you are not embarrassed or ashamed to be doing something bad or illegal: It was a blatant attempt to influence the judges. blatant disregard for the feelings of the bereaved family —bla-tan fly adv

blath-er

/'blaedar/ verb

[I]

time about something that

— blatlver noun [U] blaze

1

/bleiz/ verb

informal to talk for a long is boring or not important

*

[i]

burn strongly and brightly: A huge log fire blazed in the grate. The following morning the building was still blazing. 1a. if the sun blazes, it is very bright and hot: +down The afternoon sun blazed down on us as we 1

to

walked. 1

explosion

2 current

of air/wind/heat

3 sudden short loud sound

4

5 enjoyable experience 6 strong criticism

2

+ PHRASES

She smiled, but her cheeks blazed red.

a throw/hit in sports

1 [C] mainly journalism an explosion, especially one caused by a bomb: Ten people were injured in the blast. The force of the blast threw bodies into the air. 2 [C] a strong current of air, wind, heat, etc.: +of A blast of cold air hit them as they opened the door. 3 [C] a sudden short loud sound, especially on a musical instrument, a car horn, or a whistle: The ship's siren let out several short blasts. + of There was a sudden blast of music as the car sped by. 4 [C] a powerful throw or hit in a game played with a ball: Johnson 's blast deep into left field drove in the winning

run.

5

spoken a very* enjoyable experience: It was a had a real blast! a piece of strong criticism: The press responded to his remarks with a blast of criticism. [singular]

great trip - we

6

[C usually singular]

a blast from the past informal someone you knew or something that existed in the past, that suddenly appears again or that you are reminded of again (at) full blast as loudly or with as much power as possible: They had their music going full blast. 2 blast /blast/ verb •

its

to shine very brightly: A car roared toward them with headlights blazing. 2a. to show a very bright color:

+ with The rainbow blazed with color. 3 if someone's eyes blaze, they show a sudden strong emotion, especially anger: +with Her eyes blazed with fury.

4

blaze or blaze away if guns blaze or blaze away, they continue firing for a long time: The artillery blazed without a pause throughout the battle. blaze a trail to be the first to do something new and important: a great pioneer who blazed a trail for others to follow

blaze a'way phrasal vb

blaze 2

/bleiz/ noun

[l]

same as blaze

1

4

•

a strong bright light or area of color: +of a blaze of color/ light /sunshine 2 [C usually singular] a small fire that burns strongly and brightly: He put on more firewood to get a good blaze going. 2a. mainly journalism a large fire that causes a lot of damage, especially when a building is burning: Firefighters were called to a blaze at a warehouse yesterday. 1

[singular]

lot of attention and excitement from the public and from newspapers, television, etc.: Naturally, their divorce took place amid a blaze of

a blaze of publicity/glory a

publicity. 1 damage with gun/bomb 2 hit sth with force 3 make a loud sound

4 kick/hit ball hard 5 criticize sb + PHRASES

[t] to damage or destroy something with a bomb or massive car bomb blasted the police headquarters. blast a hole in sth An enemy submarine blasted a huge hole in the side of the ship. blast sth off It took two shots to blast the lock off the door. 1a. [T] to shoot a person or animal: He blasted them with his shotgun. 1b. [l/T] to destroy or move earth, rock, or metal using a series of explosions: They had to blast their way through the mountainside to build the tunnel. + through They blasted through several yards of solid steel. 2 [l/t] to hit something with a lot of energy or force: Rain blasted through the window. blast sb/sth with sth To clean the driveway they blasted it with steam. 3 [l/T] if music blasts, or it is blasted, it plays very loudly: + out Music was blasting out from the open window. 3a. to make a loud sound with a car horn blasted the 4 [T] to kick or hit a ball very hard: ball into the back of the goal.

1

gun:

A

Hamm

what/why /how/who the

blazes spoken old-fashioned

used for emphasizing a question you are asking, especially when you are annoyed about something: How the blazes did you know where I was? blaz*er /'bleizar/ noun [c] a type of light jacket for a

man

that is a different color from his pants, and is sometimes part of a uniform blaz-ing/'bleizin/ adj [only before noun] 1 burning very

strongly: Firefighters surrounded the blazing building. 2 very hot because the sun is shining strongly: a blazing hot day in July 3 very bright: a blazing sunset 4 showing a lot of anger or emotion: the blazing fury in his eyes 4a. a blazing row mainly Br E a very angry

argument

bla-zon

/'bleizn/

verb

[T

usually

passive]

to

write,

announce, or show something in a very obvious way so that a lot of people notice it: + across They woke to find the company's name blazoned across the newspapers. bleach 1 /blitjV noun [u] a strong chemical used to kill harmful bacteria or to make colored things white

bleach bleach

1

[T]

to

remove the color from

something with a chemical or through the action of sunlight: The sun had bleached her hair. Raw cloth is bleached and then dyed. 2 [l] to gradually lose color, for example because of being in the sun: The skeletons of

dead

blessing

131 /blitjV verb

cattle

bleached

were bleaching in the sun.

wood

nwu or a var2

a mistake or dishonest action that spoils someone's reputation or career: +on This is a serious blemish on the senator's record.

blenvish 2

/'blemiJV verb [T] 1 to spoil the appearance of something 2 to spoil someone's reputation or career

made very

pale by chemicals or strong sunlight: bleached blond hair bleached denim/ /blitjt/ adj

someone's skin, such as a

blenvished

blench

adj

/blentJV verb

[i]

mainly literary to quickly

make

movement away from something or turn pale because you are very frightened blend 1 /blend/ verb 1 [T] to mix different foods or other substances together: Blend the butter and the sugar a

bleachers

noun

/'blitjarz/

[plural]

AmE

a structure

with several rows of seats in a gym or a park where people can watch sports games

bleak

•

look very bleak for the team. Textile workers face a bleak paint a bleak picture (=say that the situation future.

blend sth with sth bio-fuel blended with standard blend sth into sth Blend three drops of rosemary oil into the mixture. 1a. [I] to join with another substance to form a mixture: The ingredients had blended into a

is not hopeful) The survey paints a bleak picture of an unhealthy and aging population. 1a. used about someone's expression: a bleak look 2 a bleak place seems cold and unfriendly and has no pleasant features: a bleak landscape 2a. bleak weather is very cold and gray bleak-ness noun [u]

sticky mess. 2 [T] to combine different tastes, styles, qualities, etc. in a way that is attractive or effective: Their music blends jazz and pop in a stylish contemporary sound. 2a. [i] to be combined with other things in an attractive or effective way: +with The sweetness of the yogurt blends nicely with the sharpness of the lemons.

adv in a way that shows no hope or confidence: "I doubt it, " she said bleakly.

.blend in phrasal vb [l] if someone or something blends in, they are similar to the other people, objects, buildings, etc. around them, and so they seem appropriate or you do not notice them: +with The new library blends in perfectly with the surrounding buildings. Security men were trying to blend in with the crowd. blend into phrasal vb [T] [blend into sth] to seem to grad ually change into something else: Her dreams had a way of blending into her waking thoughts.

1

/blik/ adj

together.

without any reasons

to feel

happy or hopeful: Things

—

bleak-ly

bleary

/'blikli/

/'bliri/ adj

not able to see clearly, for example

because you are tired or have drunk too much alcohol: bleary-eyed / woke up bleary-eyed with a headache. blear-My adv

—

bleat 1

/blit/ verb 1 [I] to make the sound that a sheep or goat makes 2 [I] to complain about something in a weak voice or in an annoying way 2a. [I/T] to say something in a high weak voice 2

bleat makes

/blit/

noun

[c]

the sound that a sheep or goat

bleed /blid/(pasttense and past participle bled/bled/) verb * 1 when blood flows out 2 when color spreads 3 make sb pay money

4 take liquid/gas from 5 take blood from sb

sth

1 [i] to have blood flowing from your body, for example from a cut: / scraped my knee and it's bleeding. +from He was bleeding from a wound in his shoulder. bleed heavily/profusely The victim was dumped by a roadside, bleeding profusely. bleed to death (=die from losing blood) She would have bled to death if we hadn found 't

her.

2

the color in clothing, paper, etc. bleeds, it accidentally spreads 3 [T] to make someone pay a lot of money, especially regularly over a long period of time: He'll try to bleed them for every penny he can get. bleed sb dry (=take all of someone's money) They were being bled dry by legal [I]

if

fees.

4

to

[T]

remove

liquid,

gas,

machine's system: He bled

chemicals,

all the oil

etc.

from

from a

the engine

before starting work. 5 [T] to take blood

from someone's body as part of a medical treatment, especially in the past -» HEART bleed-ing 1 /'blidin/ adj BrE impolite used for emphasizing what you are saying when you are angry or

annoyed

bleed-ing 2 / 'blidin / noun

[u]

the process of losing blood

from your body, for example from a

cut:

He

tried to stop

a cloth against the wound. bleeding 'heart noun [c] someone who shows too much sympathy for people with social or financial problems, in a way that you think is annoying and not the bleeding by pressing

practical

bleep

1

/blip/ noun [C] a short high sound piece of electronic equipment

bleep 2 bleeps,

it

made by a

a piece of electronic equipment III makes a short high sound or several short

/blip/ verb

if

high sounds .bleep out phrasal vb [t] to replace a swear word in a television or radio broadcast with a short high sound, so that people are not offended bleep-er /'blipsr/ noun [C] BrE a beeper blenvish 1 /'blemiJV noun [C] 1 a mark or spot that spoils the appearance of something 1a. a mark on

diesel

blend 2 /blend/ noun

[c]

1

a combination of different

tastes, styles, qualities, etc. that

produces an attractive

or effective result: a delicious blend of sweet and sour spices 2 a mixture of different types of tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, or tobacco 3 linguistics a word formed by combining parts of two other words, for example "brunch" is a mixture of "breakfast" and "lunch"

blend«er /'blendar/ noun [c] a piece of electrical ment that mixes foods or turns soft food into a —picture

bless

equipliquid

-» C2

/bles/ (past tense and past

/blest/) verb [T]

participle

blessed

or blest

•

say a prayer asking God to help and protect someone or something: a ceremony to bless the harvest 1a. if God blesses someone or something, he helps and protects them: May God bless you and bring you safely home. 2 to make something holy, so that it can be used in a religious ceremony: consecrate 1

to

be blessed with sth to have something very good or special: They were blessed with three lovely children. Woods is blessed with great natural ability as a player. bless him/her/them or bless his heart/her heart/ their hearts spoken used for talking about someone in a loving or sympathetic way: She's just learned to say her name, bless her! bless my soul/bless me/well I'm blessed old-fashioned used for showing surprise bless you spoken 1 used when you want to thank someone: Oh bless you, I'd love a glass of water. 2 used when someone has sneezed bless«ed/'bles3d/adj 1 [only before noun] mainly literary used for emphasizing that something makes you feel happy or grateful because it is just what you need 2 [only before noun] spoken used for emphasizing that you are annoyed about something: She calls me every day to ask me the same blessed thing! 3 blessed or Blessed [only before noun] holy: the Blessed Virgin Mary 4 used in the Bible about people who are loved by God: Blessed bless«ed«ly adv, bless-ed-ness noun are the merciful. [U]

/'blesin/ noun * something good that you feel very grateful or lucky to have: Having someone you can confide in is a real blessing. +for The fine weather has been a blessing for it's a blessing (that) It's a blessing that your farmers.

blessing 1

[C]

-

mixed bussing permission or support for something: give sb/sth your blessing The management has given its blesswith sb's blessing ( = with someing to the new project. one's support and approval) Mike finally gave up this

children live so near.

2

[singular]

stressful job with his wife's blessing.

blether [Ul protection and help offered by for the Lord's blessing. 3a. [C] a prayer

God: Let us pray asking for God's

help and protection

1

blether

/'bledar/ verb [I] BrE informal to talk continuously about things that are not important bleth-er noun [singular/U]

—

blew the

past tense of

blow

1

1

blight /blait/ noun [singular/ u] 1 something that damages or spoils something else: economic / moral urban blight +on The threat of war cast a blight on their happiness. 2 a serious disease affecting plants and crops

blight 2 /blait/ verb [T often passive] to cause serious damage or harm to something: His career was seriously blighted by misjudgments such as

this.

/'blaitar/ noun [C] BrE informal old-fashioned for someone you feel sorry for or do not approve

blighter a word of

bli-mey / 'blaimi/

interjection

Br Every informal used for

expressing surprise

blimp /blimp/

noun

blind 1 /blamd /adj

[c]

a type of airship

**

unable to see. Some people prefer to use the expression visually impaired to talk about blind people: Her father is completely blind. Blind and sighted children should attend the same school. go blind The disease made her go blind in one eye. 1a. the blind people who cannot 1

see

2

— opposite sighted

a blind emotion or belief is so strong you do not question it in any way, even if it is unreasonable: unthinking: Their opposition to the plan seemed to be driven by blind prejudice. blind faith/ obedience/ loyalty etc. blind loyalty to the leadership blind panic/rage/terror In a blind panic, I dropped the [only before noun]

that

bag and

2

a narrow path between or behind buildings, that closed at one end

is

date noun [c] an arrangement in which two people who have never met before spend some time

.blind

a blessing in disguise something that seems to cause problems, but that you later realize is a good thing -» COUNT

blink

132

3

ran.

3 [not usually before noun] unable to realize or admit the truth about something: How can you be so blind, he's obviously lying? + to The company is willfully blind to the problems caused by the new regulations. 4 a blind corner is one where you cannot see what is coming toward you: She passed another car on a blind curve and crashed. the blind leading the blind a situation in which the people who are giving advice or instructions do not know more than the people they are trying to help turn a blind eye (to sth) to pretend you do not notice something, because you should do something about it but you do not want to: We're not supposed to park here, but the police usually turn a blind eye. blind-ness noun

—

[u]

blind 2 /blamd/ verb [T] • 1 to damage someone's eyes

so that they are unable to see again: She was blinded in a car crash at the age of 21. 1a. to make someone unable to see for a short time: The low sun blinded her as she drove up the hill. For a moment he was blinded by tears. 2 to prevent someone from realizing or admitting the truth about something: The crowd was blinded by his rhetoric. blind sb to sth Her hatred blinded her to the fact that Joe could have helped her.

together, in order to find out whether they like each other enough to start a relationship blind-er /'blamdar/ noun [singular] Br E informal a very impressive performance

blinders /'blamdarz/ noun

[plural]

partly cover a horse's eyes so that straight forward. BrE blinkers

blind-fold

AmE

things that

can only look

it

1

/ 'blamd ,foold/ noun [C] something that is someone's eyes so that they cannot see 2 blind-fold /'blamd,foold/ verb [T] to put a blindfolc over someone's eyes blind-fold-ed /'blamd.fooldad/ adv wearing a blind-

tied over

fold: Prisoners

were led blindfolded

to their cells.

sb can do sth blindfolded informal used for saying that someone can do something very easily blind-fold-ed

—

adj

blind-ing /'blamdin/ adj 1 extremely bright, and making it difficult for you to see: a blinding light 1a. very thick, and making it difficult for you to see: blinding clouds of smoke blinding rain/ snow 2 [only before noun] used for emphasizing how strongly something affects you: a blinding headache /rage Ipain 3 [only before noun] Br E informal very impressive

a blinding revelation/realization/vision a situation in which you suddenly realize something very clearly blind-ing-ly /'blaindinli/advblindingly obvious completely obvious blind-ly /'blamdli/ adv 1 if you obey or support someone blindly, you do it without thinking for yourself whether what you are doing is right: They just blindly followed the instructions they were given. 2 without noticing what is around you, for example because you are excited or upset: He ran blindly upstairs. 2a. without being able to see: They were stumbling blindly through the fog. 3 without having the information you need: We went into it blindly, unaware of the other company's poor record.

blind man's buff or blind man's bluff noun [u] a children's game in which one player has their eyes covered with a blindfold and tries to catch the others blind-side / 'blam.said/ verb [T] Am E informal 1 to hit the side of a traveling vehicle in an accident 2 [usually passive] to give someone an unpleasant surprise by doing something that they were not expecting: Investors claimed they had been blindsided by recent changes in the tax laws.

blind .spot noun

[C] 1 an area that you cannot see, especially in your mirror when you are driving 2 a subject that you do not understand well, often because you do not want to know or admit the truth about it: She's always had a blind spot where her brother is concerned. 3 the part of your eye that is not sensitive to

light [C] legal an arrangement in which a legal representative controls the money of someone such as a government official, who is not given specific information about how their money is being managed

.blind 'trust noun

/ 'blmi/ noun [C] a Russian food that is like a thin bread made from buckwheat and is often eaten with caviar and sour cream

bli-ni flat

blind sb with science/technology to explain something to someone in a very complicated way, in order to impress them rather than to help them understand blind 3 /blamd/ adv without being able to see what is happening or where you are going: The pilot had to fly blind.

blind drunk informal extremely drunk rob/cheat sb blind informal to succeed completely in cheating someone and taking their money blind 4 /blamd/ noun [C] 1 [often plural] a window cover that you pull down from the top to the bottom: You can adjust the blinds to keep out the glare. 2 Am E a small shelter where you can watch birds or animals without being seen by them blind 'alley noun [c] 1 a process that was expected to bring useful results but in fact achieves nothing: Unfortunately the research turned out to be a blind alley.

1

blink /blink/verb* close your eyes for a very short time and quickly open them again: The dazzling spotlights made me blink. Maya looked down, trying to blink away the tears, blink your eyes Max was biting his lip and blinking wink picture his eyes. 2 [I] if a light blinks, it goes on and off continuously: Neon signs were blinking outside bars and casinos. 1

[i/T] to

—

-

before you can blink spoken very quickly: Your money will be gone before you can blink. without blinking an eye/eyelid/eyelash not showing any reaction to something, especially to something strange or shocking: Ed listened to their strange tale without blinking an

blink 2 /blink/ noun

eye.

[C usually singular]

and opening your eyes quickly

the act of closing

blinkered

block

133

on the blink informal

a piece of electrical equipment is on the blink, it is not working very well in the blink of an eye within a very short period of

blink-ered

something that must be dealt with: +of a blizzard of phone calls bloat-ed /'blootod/ ad] 1 swollen because of containing a large amount of liquid or gas: Her face looked pale and bloated. 2 having an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach after eating or drinking too much 3 a bloated organization or system is not effective because it is too large or has too many workers bloat-er /'blootar/ noun [c] an ocean fish that is eaten

blip /blip/ noun

blob /blab/ noun

if

time /'blirjksrd/ adj blinkered opinions or attitudes are very limited, conservative, and often oldfashioned: NARROW-MINDED blink-ers / blinksrz/ noun [plural] Am E the small lights on a vehicle that flash to show that it is turning. BrE indicators [C] 1 a small flashing light on a computer screen or similar piece of equipment 2 [usually singular] informal a minor problem or delay that does not last very long: Analysts described the drop in stock prices as a temporary blip.

bliss /blis/ noun

Two weeks just bliss-ful

[u]

complete happiness: marital bliss*

lying on a hot beach.

/'blisfal/ adj giving

What

bliss!

you great pleasure: a deep

as food a small

[C] 1

amount of a

thick liquid:

She applied the paint blob by blob. +of Nick squirted a blob of ketchup on his hamburger. 2 something that seems to have no definite shape: The airplane looked like a tiny white blob

bloc /blak/ noun the

same

in the sky. [c]

a group of countries or people with

political aims: the former Soviet bloc nations

1

block /blak/

noun

[c]

*••

blissful sleep 1

ignorance a state in which you do not know about something unpleasant or worrying, so it does not make you unhappy: Joe's parents remained in blissful blissful

2 distance along street 3 amount/quantity of sth 4 period of time 5 (large) building

—

ignorance of his plans to leave home. bliss-ful-ly adv B-list /'bi .list/ adj [only before noun] mainly journalism referring to people who are fairly well known but not

very famous— compare a-list 1 blis-ter /'blistar/ noun [c] 1 a swollen area on your skin that is full of a clear liquid and is caused by being burned or rubbed 2 a small raised area on a surface that is filled with air 2 blis-ter /'blistar/ verb [i/t] if your skin or a surface blisters, or if something blisters it, a blister forms on it

— blis'tered adj

blis-ter-ing /'blistann/ adj 1 blistering heat or temperatures are extremely hot 2 blistering criticism is very severe: Critics have launched a blistering attack on O'Halloran's latest play. 3 used for emphasizing the force or speed with which something is done: Petty drove at a blistering pace (=very fast). 'blister pack noun [C] a container in which something small is sold, consisting of a flat layer and a raised cover of plastic that protects the product: bubble pack blithe /blaid/ adj 1 literary happy and not worried about anything 2 ignoring or not realizing the real disadvantages of a situation or the possible bad results of something you do blithe-ly /'blaidli/ adv 1 in a way that does not consider the real problems or possible disadvantages of something: He blithely ignores everyone's complaints about the software. 2 happily, especially because you do not realize that something is wrong blith-er-ing /'blidann/ adj a blithering idiot informal old-fashioned someone who has done something very

stupid 1

/blits/ noun 1 [C usually singular] a situation in football when a lot of players attack the quarterback who tries to throw the ball 2 [singular] a special effort to finish a job or to deal with a problem quickly and thoroughly: + on It's time we had a blitz on the paperwork.

blitz

an advertising/marketing/promotional etc. blitz We had a leafleting blitz the day before the election. 3 [C usually singular] a sudden military attack 2 blitz /blits/ verb [T] 1 to attack the quarterback in a game of football 2 to attack a place using airplanes that drop bombs 3 informal to defeat someone easily in a sports game or competition 4 informal to make a special effort to finish a job or deal with a problem quickly and thoroughly Blitz, the /blits/ the period during World War II when the Germans dropped bombs on London and other British cities. British people remember this period as a time when everyone joined together to help each other.

blitzed /blitst/ adj informal drunk blitzkrieg /'bhts.krig/ noun [singular] a sudden military attack, especially from the air, that is intended to achieve a quick victory: blitz bliz-zard /'blizard/ noun [c] 1 a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds: Roads were closed due to a severe blizzard. 2 Am E informal a sudden large amount of

piece of wood/stone etc.

6

at start of race

7 sth that stops movement

8 sth that stops action 9 when you cannot think + PHRASES

a solid piece of wood, stone, ice, etc. with straight sides: The baby was playing with wooden blocks. * + oi It's amazing to think that this huge statue was carved from a single block of marble. 2 Am E the distance along a city street from where one road crosses it to the next road: The school was only a few blocks from where she lived. 2a. an area of buildings in a town or city with streets on all four sides: / was early for the meeting, so I walked around the block a couple of times. 3 an amount of something, or a number of individual things that are considered together as a single object: + of The company buys blocks of seats from airlines, then sells them to the public. You can move blocks of text onscreen using the mouse. 3a. computing an amount of information considered as one unit: +of The hard disk contains a block of data known as the "boot. " 3b. Australian an area of land, especially for building on 4 a continuous period of time: We need to find a twohour block when we are all free for this seminar. 5 a building that is part of a larger building or group of buildings: The prison's administration block overlooks the exercise yard. 5a. a large building with a lot of different levels: There's a unit available in the apartment block where I live. 6 the blocks [plural] two pieces of metal or wood that runners use at the start of a race to push their feet against: starting blocks 7 something that stops movement through a place or along something: blockage: There must be a block in the pipeline. 7a. a movement that stops someone from hitting you or from going forward 8 [usually singular] something that stops you from doing something or being successful: The issue of vacation pay was the major block in reaching an agreement. 9 [usually singular] a short time when you are unable to think clearly or remember something that you usually know: mental block / had a sudden mental block and couldn't remember his name. -» writer's block 1

have been around the block (a couple of/ a fewtimes) informal to have a lot of experience of something, especially when this or surprise you

means

that

it

is difficult to

trick

I'll knock your/his etc. block off spoken used for threatening to hit someone who has annoyed you on the block for sale at an auction (=a public sale where people offer money to buy things) put your head/neck on the block take a risk by doing or saying something that might damage your repu-

tation, -* CHIP

make 1 .

KID

1 .

people criticize you. etc. STUMBLING BLOCK

block 2 /blak/ verb

[t]

*•

block or block up to stop something from moving through or along something else: An old car was blocking Something is blocking theflow of water through the road. the pipe. 1a. to stop someone from going past you by standing in front of them: block sb's way/exit/path etc. 1

fc]

blockade A

to the gate.

He

stood

by the door, deliberately blocking her exit. 1b. to use your to stop someone from hitting something, or to stop a ball from going somewhere: In blocking the linebacker, Mario sprained his shoulder. She expertly blocked all her opponent's punches. 2 to use your power to stop something from being done or from succeeding: She accused him of blocking her promotion. The plan to build a new nursery school was blocked by local residents. 2a. to stop a natural process from happening: The drug acts by blocking the release of

body

testosterone.

3

to be in front of someone so that they cannot see something or so that light cannot reach them: Her hat was blocking his view of the screen. Don't stand in the doorway, you 're blocking the light. 4 to mark a piece of writing or other information on a computer screen so you can do something with it: You block a passage of text and hit Control+C to center it on

the page.

.block in phrasal vb [T] 1 to stop someone from moving their car out of a place: When I came back to the parking lot my car was blocked in. 2 to completely cover a large area of something such as a painting with one color: Broad flat brushes are useful when you are blocking in color. 3 block in or block out to plan something large or complicated by organizing your general ideas for it: Just block in the main points for now and we'll sort the details out later. block off phrasal vb [T] 1 to cover or close something completely so that nothing can move through it: Snow had blocked off several streets. 2 to completely stop something from happening or progressing .block out phrasal vb [T] 1 to stop light or sound from reaching something: That tree in the neighbor's yard blocks out a lot of our light. 2 to stop yourself from thinking about or remembering something: He had always managed to block out the incident. 3 same as block

in 3 block up phrasal vb [T] same as block 2 i: We had continual problems with leaves blocking up the gutters. block-ade 1 /bla'keid/ noun [c] an official action that is intended to prevent people or goods from moving from one place to another: lift a blockade (=end a blockade) The blockade of the harbor will be lifted at midnight. impose a blockade (=start a blockade) An economic blockade was imposed on the country six months

blog /bbg/ noun

computing a biographical web log: a type of diary (=record of what someone does each day) on a web site that is changed regularly, to give the latest news. The page usually contains someone's personal opinions, comments, and experiences, and provides links to other places on the Internet. bloke /blook/ noun [C] BrE informal a man blond 1 or blonde /bland/ adj • blond hair is pale yellow in color a. with pale yellow hair blond 2 or blonde /bland/ noun [c] a person with pale yellow hair: a tall attractive blond blood /bUd/ noun [u] ••* 1 the red liquid that flows around inside your body: Oxygen and other vital substances are all carried in the blood. His face was covered in blood. give/donate blood (=allow doctors to take blood from your body so that it can be given to someone who needs it) Have you ever [C]

given blood? 2 the family, nation, or group that you belong to through your parents and grandparents: They never fail to remind people that they have royal blood in their veins. Like many Canadians, she had some Scottish blood. 3 used as a way of referring to violence and death: Peace finally came, but a great deal of blood was lost in the process. spill blood (=cause many deaths) The conflict continued for years, with a lot of blood spilled on both sides. have blood on your hands (=be responsible for someone's death or for many deaths) a ruthless general with blood on his hands

bad blood

if there is bad blood between people, they dislike each other because of something that happened in the past be after sb's blood or be out for blood to be very angry with someone and be trying to find them so that you

can punish them blood and guts exciting action, including violence: It's the kind of movie I like - you know, plenty of blood and guts.

blood is thicker than water used for saying that family relationships are usually stronger than other types of relationships blood, sweat, and tears a lot of effort and hard work in cold blood in a cruel calm way, without showing any emotion: Unarmed civilians were shot in cold blood. sth is in your blood it is natural for you to do something because your family has done it in the past: Farming is in

my

blood.

from a stone used for saying that very difficult to persuade someone to give you something or tell you something: Getting money out of him is like getting blood from a stone. make your blood boil to make you feel very angry: Her patronizing sarcasm made my blood boil. make your blood run/turn/go cold to make you feel suddenly very frightened or worried: Just hearing his name made her blood run cold. new/fresh blood someone who joins an organization with new exciting ideas or new ways of doing things: We need to bring in some new blood to brighten up our like getting blood

ago.

blockade

2

/bla'keid/ verb [T] to prevent people or goods from moving from one place to another [C] something that blocks a He tube or pipe: There was a blockage in the drain.

block-age /'blakid3/ noun

suffered a blockage in a main artery. .block and tackle noun [c usually singular] a piece of equipment that consists of wheels and ropes, used for lifting

blood cells

134

crowd of people blocked his way

heavy objects

block-bust-er

/'blak.DAStar/ noun [C] mainly journalism something that is very successful, especially a movie, show, or novel: the latest Hollywood blockbuster The company has clinched a blockbuster deal. blockbusting /'blak.bAStin/ noun [u] the action of selling one house in an area to someone who is considered to be of a lower class than the people who already live there, in order to reduce the prices of the other houses .block 'capitals noun [plural] block letters .block 'grant noun [c] money that a national gov-

AmE

ernment gives to local governments such as education and health

block-head

/'blak.hed/ noun

[c]

to

pay for services

informal a stupid

person

block-house

/'blak.haas/ noun [C] a small building used in the past as a shelter during a battle

.block letters noun

[plural] letters of the alphabet written in their large form, for example, "A" rather than "a." Block letters are often called capitals.

block party outside for

all

noun

[C]

AmE

the people

who

a party that takes place live in a particular area

a vote by someone who representing a group of people in an organization

.block vote noun

[c]

is

it

is

image.

the blood drains from sb's face used for saying that someone immediately becomes pale because they are shocked or frightened: Hearing his voice, Claudia felt the blood drain from her face. the blood rushes to your face/cheeks used for saying that someone's face becomes red, especially because they are embarrassed 2 -» DRAW FLESH AND BLOOD, SWEAT blood .bank noun [C] a place where blood is stored so that it can be given to people during medical operations blood-bath /'blAd.baeG/ noun [singular] 1 a period of fighting in which a lot of people are killed or injured: The threat of a further bloodbath hangs over the people of the region. 2 a situation in which a lot of businesses close or a lot of people lose their jobs because there is so much competition: There has been a bloodbath in the 1

,

retail section.

noun [C] a man who has made a very serious promise to be loyal to another man

blood .brother

.cells noun [plural] the cells that move around in your blood. The two main groups of blood cells are called red blood cells and white blood cells.

blood

blood count [c]

the

number

of red or white cells this, for example in

in your blood, or a test to measure order to find out the state of your immune system

blood-curdling

making you

/'blAd,k3rdlin/ adj

very frightened: a bloodcurdling scream

feel

a bloodcurdling

tale

'blood donor noun

[c] someone who allows some of their blood to be taken from them so that it can be used in the medical treatment of someone else

'blood group noun [c] BrE blood type blood-hound /'bUd.haond/ noun [c] a large dog that can smell very well and has long hanging ears, often used for finding out where someone is or has been blood-less /'bUdtas/ adj 1 lacking emotion, energy, or effectiveness: cold bloodless logic 2 [usually before noun] not involving violence or killing, in a situation where there often is violences bloodless revolution 3 a bloodless face or skin is very pale 4 without giving someone blood during a medical operation: bloodless surgery

blood-let-ting /'blAd.letin/ noun 1 [u] a situation in which many people are killed and injured in fighting 2 [singular/ u] a situation in which someone in an organization or company is criticized or forced to leave their job in an unpleasant way: Hartley claimed he was the victim of political bloodletting. 3 [u] a medical treatment used in the past in which blood was taken from people who were sick

blood-lust /'bUd.lAst/ noun wanting

[u]

a strong feeling of

to use violence against other people

'blood money noun [u] 1 money paid for someone to be murdered 2 money paid to the family of someone who has been murdered 3 money paid to someone to allow a person close to them to be used or harmed in some way 'blood orange noun [Cl a type of orange with red flesh ,

and juice

'blood poisoning noun an infection

in

[u]

a serious illness caused by

your blood

'blood pressure noun

[u] the pressure at which blood flows from your heart around your body. Blood pressure that is either very high or very low can be dangerous to your health.

'blood products noun

[plural] substances that can be taken from the blood of one person and used in the medical treatment of someone else 'blood re lation noun [c] someone that you are related to by birth, rather than marriage blood-shed /'bL\d,|ed/ noun [u] a situation in which people are killed or injured, especially during fighting:

A

ceasefire

was

called in

an attempt

to

prevent further

/'blAd.Jat/ adj bloodshot eyes are red in

the part where they should be white 'blood .sports noun [plural] activities such

one of the groups that human blood can be divided into. The four main groups are A, B, AB, and O blood vessel noun [c] a tube that carries blood around your body, such as a vein or artery: He had broken blood vessels on his nose and cheeks. blood-y 1 /'bUdi/ adj 1 covered in blood: His nose was bloody and swollen. 2 a bloody fight or war is one in which a lot of people are killed or injured 3 Br E impolite used for emphasizing that you are angry or annoyed about something: She can be a bloody nuisance at times. bloody hell used for showing that you are extremely annoyed: What the bloody hell did you do that for? scream/yell bloody murder Am E informal to shout or protest in a loud and angry way blood-y 2 / 'bUdi/ verb [T] mainly literary to injure a part of someone's body so that it bleeds blood-y 3 /'bUdi/ adv Br E impolite 1 used for emphasizing that you are angry or annoyed about something 2 used for emphasizing something: It was a bloody good game! Blood-y Mar-y / bhdi men/ noun [c] an alcoholic drink made by mixing vodka and tomato juice

/'blAd.strim/ noun [singular] the blood that moves around your body: Traces of illegal drugs were found in his bloodstream.

noun

adj

BrE

informal deliberately refus-

ing to accept that you are not completely right about something, in a way that is not helpful to other people bloody- mindedness noun [U] and annoys them

—

bloom

1

/blum/ verb

[i] 1 if a tree or plant blooms, it produces flowers that have opened: Magnificent lilac bushes bloomed in the forest. 2 to develop successfully, or to become more healthy and attractive: Some women seem to bloom during pregnancy. bloom 2 /blum/ noun 1 [C] mainly literary a flower: It produces white, pink, or red blooms, with dark green

1a. [u] a lot of flowers or plants together: the bright bloom of the wild flowers in spring 2 [singular/ u] the time or the condition of being young, healthy, and attractive: She had lost a good deal of her bloom and the bloom of youth /health a young man still in bounce. the bloom of youth 3 [singular/u] the healthy look of someone's skin: She had a healthy bloom in her cheeks. 4 [singular/u] a very thin white layer that forms on the surface of some fruits and plants

foliage.

in (full)

bloom

if

a tree or plant

is

in bloom,

it

is

covered with flowers

bloom-ers/'blumarz/ noun [plural] 1 an old-fashioned piece of women's underwear that is loose and covers the area from the waist to the knees 2 wide loose pants that end just below the knee, worn by women in the past 1

emphasizing

/'blumin/ adj, adv BrE spoken used for something, especially when you are

annoyed

bloom-ing 2

/'blumin/ adj looking healthy and attractThis is often used about pregnant women, sometimes in a slightly humorous way. Blooms-bur-y Group, the / blumzb(3)ri grup/ a group of writers and artists, including Virginia Woolf,

who

bloodstained clothing

blood-stream

/'bUd.SAkar/

[c]

ive.

blood-stain /'blAd.stem/ noun [C] a mark on the surface of something, made by blood blood-stained /'blAd.stemd/ adj marked with blood:

blood-sucker

noun

.bloody-minded

slightly

as hunting

that involve killing animals or birds

[C]

1

informal

someone who expects other people to provide them with money, food, etc. and does not make any effort to provide it for themselves 2 an insect that feeds on the blood of animals or people

blood sugar

noun [u] sugars such as glucose that are present in healthy blood 'blood .test noun [c] a medical test in which a small amount of blood is taken from someone and tested to see if it shows any disease, drugs, etc. in the body blood-thirst-y/'blAd,03rsti/adj someone who is bloodthirsty enjoys taking part in or watching violence a. involving violence and killing 'blood trans fusion noun [c] a medical treatment in which blood from another person is put into someone's body, for example if they have lost a lot of blood from

an injury

blood type

blooming

bloodshed.

blood-shot

blot

135

'blood count noun

lived

and worked

in the early part of the 20th

century

From "Bloomsbury," an area

of central

London where

the group regularly met.

/'blupor/ noun [C] AmE informal a silly or embarrassing mistake blos-som 1 /'blasam/ noun [C/u] a flower on a tree, or in blossom all the flowers on a tree: apple blossom (^covered with flowers) By March, the cherry trees are in blossom, —picture -» tree blos-som 2 /'blasam/ verb [i] 1 if a tree blossoms, it produces flowers 2 to develop and become more successful: Their romance blossomed on a trip to Key West. + into The town has blossomed into the country's most

bloop-er

popular beach

resort.

blot 1 /blat/ verb

[T] to remove liquid from the surface of something using a piece of paper or cloth: Blot off any

excess lipstick with a paper tissue.

blot out phrasal vb [T] 1 to cover something so that you can no longer see it; Dark clouds overhead had blotted

blot something unpleasant, or to

to forget

forget an unpleasant memory or feeling: hard to blot out the bitter memories of the divorce. blot /blat/ noun [Cl a drop of liquid, especially ink, on the surface of something: The table was covered in blots

She

tried

2

of ink.

a blot on sth something that spoils someone's reputation, or spoils the appearance of something: This is a serious blot on your career. a blot on the landscape something that makes a place look less attractive, for example an ugly building blotch /blatjV noun [C] a colored mark on something, especially a red mark on your skin blotch-y /'blatji/ adj covered with blotches: Her face was blotchy and her eyes swollen. blotch-i-ness noun [U]

blot-ter /'blatar/ noun [c] 1 a piece of special thick paper that you use for drying the ink when you have just finished writing with a fountain pen 1a. a large piece of this type of paper that is kept flat on a desk,

sometimes within a frame: desk blotter 2 Am E a book in which an official record of events is kept: a police blotter

paper /'blatin .peipar/ noun [u] special thick paper that you use for drying the ink when you have just finished writing with a fountain pen

blot-ting

blot *to /'blatou/ drunk

adj

blouse /blaus/ noun 1

very

[never before noun] spoken

[c]

*

women: a

a shirt for

sleeveless blouse

2

cotton / silk / nylon blouse

— picture -> C5

a

Am E a short loose jacket that fits tightly around the

waist,

blow

1

worn by /bloo/

/bloon/) verb 1

when

2 3 4 5

when when

push

air air

soldiers as part of their uniform (past tense

blew /blu/; past

participle

**•

moves

from mouth

play musical instrument sth electric stops

blown

[I]

+ PHRASES

a tire bursts

make a sound by pushing

air through some-

thing such as a whistle or a musical instrument: The conductor blew his whistle and the train started. As he entered the room, trumpets blew. 4 [l/T] if something electrical blows, it stops working, usually because too much electricity has passed through it: The light bulb in the projector had blown. A power surge blew all the fuses, and the house was plunged into darkness. A sudden change in power can blow your TV. 5 blow or blow out [l/T] if a tire blows or you blow it, it bursts: Kathy was turning the corner when one of the front tires blew. 6 [T] informal to destroy your own chance of succeeding, or waste a good opportunity: I've completely blown my diet with that piece of chocolate cake. blow it We had a good chance to get the contract but you 've really

blown

7

it

now!

informal to spend a lot of money quickly on things that you do not need: He inherited a fortune but blew it on bad investments and a luxurious lifestyle. 8 [T] very informal to leave a place quickly: Let's [t]

AmE

blow

blow

blow

sb's head off to kill the head: The note passed

blow his head

this joint.

sb's brains out informal to kill

to suddenly become very he's likely to blow a fuse

is

someone by shooting them in to the bank clerk threatened to

off.

blow a hole in sth 1 to destroy part of something in an explosion: The bomb exploded, blowing a hole in the side of the airplane. 2 to damage a plan or idea so that it cannot succeed, or so that people no longer believe it: The new research blows a hole in theories about the evolution of birds.

blow hot and cold

to have positive and then negative opinions or feelings about something or someone again and again: The president has blown hot and cold on this bill, and we just don't know where he stands now. blow (sb) a kiss to kiss your hand and pretend to blow or throw the kiss to someone blow the lid off sth informal to let people know something that has been kept a secret: Her testimony may blow the lid off the CIA's activities in Latin America. blow me 1 Am E offensive used as an offensive way of emphasizing that you are annoyed or angry at someone. You may hear this expression but should not use it:

Blow me you moron! 2 blow me or blow me down Br E spoken used when you are surprised about something blow sb's mind informal to impress someone very much or make them feel very excited: To see him perform on

through

my

mind. to clean your nose by forcing air

it

blow

off steam informal to express anger as a way of feeling better, although it will not help to improve the situation that made you angry: He knows that there's nothing anyone can do. He's just blowing off steam.

someone by

shoot-

1

to

show

that something is completely false or wrong: We found evidence that blew his case out of the water. 2 to defeat someone easily: They think they can blow their rivals out of the water with this product. blow smoke E informal to speak in a way that is

Am

intended to

make someone confused

from getting an accurate idea of a

or prevent them

situation: Instead of

really negotiating, they were just blowing smoke. blow sth to bits/pieces/smithereens to completely

destroy something in an explosion, so that it breaks into many small pieces: The entire car was blown to bits when the device went off. blow your top/stack informal to suddenly become very angry: The boss will blow his top when he hears about this.

blow sth (up) out of

workshop. to

angry: The trouble with Roy and hit someone.

blow sb/sth out of the water informal

if

[i/T]

investigation.

blow a fuse/gasket informal

blow your nose

the open window. 1a. [i/t] if something blows or is blown somewhere, the wind moves it there: The wind was blowing snow along the street. Newspapers and plastic bags were blowing around in the wind. A strong gust of wind blew his hat off his head. 2 [I] to push out air from your mouth: He bent toward the candle and blew gently. If your soup's too hot, blow on it. 2a. [T] to move something by pushing out air from your mouth: blow sth off/ away She picked up a book and blew the dust off it. 2b. [T] to form something by pushing out air from your mouth: blow bubbles Two little boys were sitting on the steps, blowing bubbles. blow glass Visitors can watch the men blowing glass in the

3

ing them in the head when very close to them: He threatened to blow my brains out if I didn't hand over the money. blow sb's cover to tell people who someone really is or what they are really doing, especially when doing this puts that person in danger or spoils a plan: One mistake could blow our agent's cover and ruin years of careful

stage just blew

6 waste an opportunity 7 waste money 8 leave a place quickly

wind or air blows, the air moves: The wind was blowing from the sea. *A draft of cold air blew in through 1

blow

136

2 make someone out the sun.

something

is

(all)

much worse

proportion to claim that more dangerous than it

or

really is: We admit we were late with the payment, but let's not blow this out of all proportion. blow the whistle to tell the public or someone in authority about something wrong that you know someone is doing, especially at the place where you work. A person who does this is called a whistle-blower: +on People should be able to blow the whistle on corruption and incompetence without losing their jobs. -» COBWEB, SKY-HIGH a part phrasal vb [T] 1 to destroy something with an explosion: The aircraft was blown apart by a terrorist bomb. 2 to show that an idea is completely false or wrong: The book blew apart the myth of their perfect marriage. blow a way phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows away or is blown away, the wind moves it away from you until you cannot see or touch it: His hat blew away on the roller coaster. She switched on the fan to blow away the smoke. 2 [J] informal to kill someone by shooting them 3 [T] informal to impress someone very much or make them very excited: When I heard that song for the first E informal to defeat time it just blew me away. 4 [T] someone completely and easily: In the second half we completely blew them away.

blow

Am

blow

bludgeon

137

down

something blows down, or is blown down, the wind makes it fall: A big tree had blown down in the storm. A sudden gust of wind blew

.blow

phrasal vb [l/T)

if

down

the fence. .blow in phrasal vb 1 cool breeze blew in

[i] to come toward you in the air: A from the coast. 2 [l/T] if a window blows in, or if something blows it in, it breaks into pieces that fall inside the building: The hurricane blew in every window in the house. 3 [l] informal to arrive unexpectedly: Charlie and May just blew in for a visit. .blow off phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows off or is blown off, the wind makes it come off: The roof blew off in the storm. A gust of wind blew her hat off. 2 [T] to remove and destroy something by shooting it or making it explode: The soldier blew the sniper's arm off. An

explosion blew one of the wings off the plane.

3

[T]

3 an act of blowing air from your mouth or nose come to blows if two people come to blows, they

soften the blow.

strike a blow for sth to do something to support something you believe is right: This election gives you the chance to strike a blow for freedom.

blow-by-blow

informal to

.

[

l

blow itself out if a storm blows itself out, it ends .blow over phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows over or is blown over, the wind makes it fall: The garbage cans have blown over and there's trash everywhere. Several trees had been blown over in the storm. 2 [I] if a storm blows over, it ends 3 [i] if a dangerous or embarrassing situation blows over, people stop worrying about it and soon forget about it: It was a major scandal, and we all hoped it would soon blow over. .blow up phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if something blows up, or someone blows something up, it explodes and is destroyed: Terrorists had threatened to blow up the embassy. The boiler blew up, wrecking the entire building. 2 [T] to fill something with air or gas: We blew up lots of balloons and hung them around the room. 3 [T] to make a photograph bigger: They had blown up the picture to make a huge poster of his face. 4 [I] to suddenly become angry and shout at someone: +at She just blew up at me. 5 [I] if a storm or strong wind blows up, it suddenly starts: The race had to be canceled when the storm blew up.

blow up in your

face,

cause a

sb's face informal if your plans blow up in they do not happen as you expected and

lot of

problems

[only

by-blow account of her entire trip.

blow-dry

verb

[t]

to

dry

your hair with a blow dryer blow- dried adj blow dryer noun [c] a small machine that pro-

]

1

adj

before noun] a blow-by-blow account or description is extremely detailed: She insisted on giving us a blow-

Am E

not do something you had agreed or arranged to do: I can't believe you blew off the exam today. 4 [T] Am E informal to behave as if you think someone or something is unimportant: / invited her to join us but Br E impolite to fart she just blew me off 5 .blow out phrasal vb 1 [l/T] if you blow out a flame or if it blows out, it stops burning because you blow on it or because of the wind: He blew out all 60 candles on his birthday cake. 2 [l/T] if a window blows out, or if something blows it out, it breaks into pieces that fall outside the building: The bomb blew out all the windows on the bus. 3 [l/T] same as blow 5 4 [T] informal to defeat someone easily: They've blown out every team they've played this season.

start

hitting each other: It sounded as if they were about to come to blows. soften/cushion the blow to make something unpleasant easier to deal with or accept: There will be no raises this year but employees will get one extra vacation day to

duces a strong current of

blowout

warm

blower

/'blooar/ noun strong current of air

blow-fly

[C]

and that you a particular shape

air

hold to dry your hair, often to give

it

a machine that produces a

/'bloo.flai/ noun [C] a fly that lays

its

eggs on

meat or dead animals

blow-hard /'bloo.hard/ noun [c] AmE informal someone who talks too much about themselves or the things they have achieved

blow-hole

/'bloo.hool/ noun [c] 1 a hole in the top of the head of an ocean animal such as a whale or dolphin, through which it breathes 2 a hole in the surface of ice that ocean animals such as whales and seals use to breathe through 3 a hole in a tunnel through which gases can escape

blow job

noun [C] very informal the practice of sucking a man's sex organ to give him sexual pleasure

blow-lamp

blown

/'blou.laemp/ noun

the past participle of

[c]

blow

BrE a

blowtorch

1

blow-out

/'blou.aot/ noun [C] 1 an occasion when a on a moving vehicle suddenly bursts: We had a blowout on the highway. 2 informal an easy victory in a game or competition: When the Yankees scored ten runs in the first inning, we knew the game would be a blowout. 3 [usually singular] informal a celebration during which people eat and drink a lot: Jim's having a birthday blowout at the Hacienda. 4 an occasion when oil or gas suddenly escapes from a well (=a deep hole in the ground) blow-pipe /'bloo.paip/ noun [c] a weapon consisting of a small narrow tube through which someone can blow small arrows or stones tire

AmE

blow-sy / 'blauzi / another spelling of blowzy blow-torch /'bloo.tortjV noun [c] a tool with at

one end that

is

a flame used for joining pieces of metal

together or removing paint

blow-up

noun [C] 1 a photograph or part of a photograph' that has been made bigger 2 informal a sudden angry argument blow-zy /'blauzi/ ad) a blowzy person looks messy and is

blow up

blow2

/blou/ noun [c] ** 1 a hard hit from someone's hand or an object: They knocked him down and pummeled him with blows. The victim was apparently killed by a blow to the head with a heavy object. a glancing blow (=something that hits at an angle) The falling roof tile struck him a glancing blow. 2 an event that spoils your chances of success: Losing a second match would be a major blow to his world title hopes. deal a blow to sth The closing of the factory dealt a devastating blow to the local economy. 2a. an event that causes you to feel very sad, disappointed, or shocked: a real blow Her mother's death was a real blow to her. come as a blow It came as a terrible blow when he found out she was married.

often slightly fat

BLT

/,bi el

lettuce,

'ti/

noun

[c]

a sandwich filled with bacon,

and tomato 1

blub-ber /'bUbsr/ verb

informal

1

[i]

to cry in a noisy

and uncontrolled way: The woman was blubbering like a child. 2 [T] to try to say something while you are crying: "I didn't mean to do it!" he blubbered. blub-ber2 /'bl\bor/ noun [u] a layer of fat around the body of an ocean animal such as a whale or seal

bludge

/bl\d3/ verb [l/T] Australian informal to get things from other people without paying for them

bludg-ernoun [C] verb [T] 1 to hit someone hard with a heavy object: bludgeon sb to death Atkinson had been bludgeoned to death in his apartment. 2 to force someone to do something by repeated arguments or

bludgeon fbbid&n/

1

blue

1

blue /blu/adj

We were bludgeoned

is

blue

mother when she's feeling

3

the

is

same

way

that

moon informal very rarely: They come to once in a blue moon. scream blue murder Br E informal to shout or protest very loudly because you are very angry or feeling a lot of pain talk a blue streak E informal to talk a lot without once in a blue visit

Am

pausing until/till you are blue in the face informal used for saying that there is no use in trying to persuade someone to do something because you will not succeed: You can tell your kids not to do something until you 're blue in the face, but if they want to do it, they will. blue-ness

—

[u]

blue 2 /blu/ noun

*•

the color of the sky on a clear sunny day: The boy was dressed all in blue. The room had been painted in bright blues and yellows. [c/u]

the boys in blue informal the police out of the blue happening in a way that is sudden and unexpected, and does not seem connected with anything that happened before: Out of the blue she said, "Your name's John, isn't it?"-* bolt blue baby noun [C] a baby whose skin looks blue when it is born because of a heart problem blue-bell /'blu.bel/ noun [c] a plant that grows in the countryside or in gardens, with small blue flowers shaped like bells blue-ber-ry /'blu.beri/ noun [C/U] a small dark blue fruit that grows on a bush and is very common in North America: blueberry pie picture -» cio blue-bird /'blu,b3rd/ noun [C] a small blue bird found in North America 1

—

blue-blood-ed /.blubUdsd/ adj someone who

is

blue-

blooded comes from a royal family, or a family of a very high social class blue blood noun [C/U] 'blue book noun [C] 1 sheets of paper folded in half and fastened together to form a book that students use for writing in when taking examinations. It often has a blue cover. 2 Am E a book with a list of the prices that you should expect to pay for used cars or other used products 3 AmE a list or book containing the names of socially important people 4 Br E an official document containing information on a particular subject that is published by the British government blue-bot-tle /'blu.batl/ noun [C] a large fly with a shiny blue body blue 'cheese noun [c/u] a strong-tasting cheese that is white or pale yellow and has blue lines in it 'blue chip noun [c] a company or investment that makes blue- .chip adj: a lot of money and is safe to invest in

—

AmE

—

blue-chip

company

stocks

adj [only before noun] blue-collar workers do work that involves using physical strength or skill with their hands instead of working in an office compare WHITE-COLLAR 1

.blue- 'collar

—

blue-eyed boy /.blu aid 'boi/ noun [C usually singular] Br E informal a fair-haired boy blue-grass /'blu.graes/ noun [u] 1 a type of music from the southern U.S. that is played on musical instruments such as violins and banjos 2 a type of grass found in parts of North America, especially in the state of

Kentucky blue-jay /'blu.d^ei/ noun [C] a common blue North American bird with feathers that come to a point at the top of its head 'blue jeans noun [plural] pants that are made of blue denim (=a thick cotton cloth): jeans

movie noun people having sex

.blue

[C] old-fashioned

pages

noun

the pages of a telephone book that contain the telephone numbers of government departments compare yellow pages [plural]

blue-print /'blu.prmt/ noun [c] 1 a drawing that shows how to build something such as a building or a machine, often printed with white lines on blue paper 2 a detailed plan for doing something new, or something that is a model for how something should be done: + for The document was seen as a public relations exercise rather than a blueprint for change.

blue.

informal old-fashioned dealing with sex in a find offensive -» blue movie

some people

noun

.blue

—

•**

something that

color as the sky on a clear sunny day. If something is similar to this color, you can say that it is a bluish color: He looked at her with his pale blue eyes. The sky was gloriously blue. blue with cold My fingers were turning blue with cold. 2 informal feeling slightly sad: She usually calls her 1

blunt

138

threats: bludgeon sb into doing sth into accepting their offer.

a movie that shows

.blue ribbon noun [c] Am E a small piece of blue material that you give to the winner of a competition

'blue-ribbon group

adj [only before noun]

of the highest quality

is

Am E and

is

a blue-ribbon considered the

1

A

blue-ribbon panel of experts was called in to weigh best: the evidence. 2 a blue-ribbon winner is someone who

wins

first

prize in a competition

blues /bluz/ noun • 1 [u] a type of slow and sad music that developed from the songs of black slaves in the southern U.S.: Bessie Smith is one of the most famous blues singers. 2 the blues [plural] informal a feeling of sadness and

loss

blue-sky

adj [only before noun]

ideas and not practical or

bluestocking

informal testing out

new

making money

/'blu.stakin/

noun

[C]

BrE

old-

fashioned an educated woman who is interested in serious subjects. This word usually shows that you dislike

women

like this.

Blue-tooth

/'blu.tuG/ trademark a type of radio technology that makes it possible for electronic communication to exist between cellphones, the Internet,

and computers bluff 1 /bUf/ verb [i/t] to deliberately give a false idea to someone about what you intend to do or about the facts of a situation, especially in order to gain an advantage: They said they'd had another offer, but we knew they were just bluffing.

your

bluff

way

past/into/out of etc She

managed to bluff her way past the guards, by saying she was a reporter. bluff 2 /bUf/ noun 1 [C/U] an attempt to give a false idea to someone about what you intend to do, or about the facts of a situation, especially in order to gain an advantage: She said she would leave her job, but it was jusi a bluff. The offer was pure bluff. 2 [C] a steep cliff by the ocean or by a river. This word is often used in the names of places. call sb's bluff to ask someone to do what they are threatening to do because you believe they do not intend to do it, but want to trick you in order to gain an advantage over you bluff 3 /bUf/ adj BrE someone who is bluff has a very direct manner that might offend some people, but is friendly and happy and does not intend to upset anyone a.

used about the behavior of such a person: His bluff

manner of speaking put off some people. blu-ish /'bluiJVsee blue blun-der /'bUndar/ noun [c] a careless or embarrassing mistake: Officials were accused of making a huge 1

i

1

administrative blunder.

blun-der2 /'bUndsr/

verb [I] 1 to make a careless or embarrassing mistake: Government agents had blundered again and arrested the wrong man. 2 to move or progress in a careless way, making mistakes or creating problems as you go: + a bout /a round /into The book tells the story of how Europe blundered into World War I. blunderbuss /'bUndar.bAs/ noun [c] an oldfashioned gun with a long barrel that is very wide at

the end

blunt 1 /blAnt/

adj 1 not pointed or sharp: a blunt pencil/ razor —picture -» sharp 2 saying what is true or what you think, even if this offends or upsets people: It was a frank answer to a blunt question. let's be blunt (=used before saying that something is true but unpleasant) Let's be blunt - younger people will not buy

this car.

— blunt-ness noun [u]

blunt 2 /bUnt/

verb [t] 1 to make something less strong, less effective, or less important: The years had not blunted his keen intelligence. 2 'to make something less pointed or sharp: If you walk on concrete with your ice skates, you'll blunt the blades.

blunt instrument any heavy object with a flat or round end, used as a weapon 2 a method that uses too much force, so that, in achieving your aim, it also causes some harm or trouble blunt*ly /'bUntli/ adv speaking in a direct and honest [C] 1

way, even if this offends or upsets people: "They just don t like you, " he told me bluntly. to put it bluntly (=used when saying something honest that may offend people) To put it bluntly, your friend isn't welcome here. 1 blur /bter/ verb [l/T] 1 if a thing blurs, or something it, it becomes difficult to see it clearly, often its edges are not clear: With eyesight as poor as mine, faces blur into featureless ovals. The paper had gotten wet and blurred the ink. 2 if something such as a memory or an idea has blurred, or something has blurred it, it is no longer clear in your mind: Childhood recollections had blurred into a mix of reality and fantasy. 3 if the difference between two things blurs, or something blurs it, they become more similar, so that you are no longer sure that they are clearly different: blur the line/difference/distinction between a new commercial that blurs the line between art and advertising

blurs

because

blur2 /bbr/ noun

1 a shape that is example because it is moving The racing cars moved past us in a blur. + of a blur of activity /movement 2 something such as a thought or memory that is not very clear in your mind: / remember there was a big house, but the rest of it was just a blur. blurb /bbrb/ noun [singular] information printed on the outside of something, especially something for sale such [C usually singular]

difficult to see clearly, for

very

fast: in a blur

as a book, to describe it or make it attractive blurred /btard/ or blurry / 'bbri/ adj •

to

buy

or causing difficulty in seeing something clearly: blurred photographs blurry vision a blurred shape /outline 2 difficult to understand or remember clearly: blurred memories blurred distinctions 1

difficult to see clearly,

blurt /bbrt/ or blurt out verb [T] to say something suddenly and without thinking about the effect it will have, usually because you are nervous or excited: She blurted out his name, then gasped as she realized what she'd done. 1

verb [i] • 1 if you blush, your cheeks become red because you feel embarrassed or ashamed: "A few of the girls were after me, " he recalled, blushing slightly. 2 formal to feel embarrassed or ashamed: blush to do sth / blush to admit it, but it's true.

blush /WaJ/

blush 2

/blAJV noun that appears when

1 [C] a red color in your cheeks you are embarrassed or ashamed or cream that women put on

2 [u]AmE a red powder their cheeks

— picture -» makeup

when you blush-er /'bUJar/ noun

first think about something [u] BrE blush for your cheeks makeup blus-ter /'bUstar/ noun [u] angry or threatening talk or behavior from someone who wants to hide their fear

at first blush

—picture

-»

or nervousness— blus«ter verb /T] blus*ter*y /'blASt(9)ri/ adj with strong winds: blustery conditions a. blowing strongly: blustery winds Blvd. abbrev Boulevard BMI /,bi em 'ai/ noun [U] body mass index: a measurement of the amount of fat in someone's body, calculated by dividing their weight in kilograms by their [l

height in meters 'B

movie

noun

[C]

a movie that

is

inexpensive to

make

and not very good

BMX /,bi

BMX

em

bicycle that

'bike noun [C] a type of 'eks/ or built to be strong enough to ride on

is

rough ground

B.O.

/ ,bi 'oo/ noun [U] body odor: an unpleasant smell that comes from sweat (=a natural liquid from the skin), especially when someone has not washed recently or has been exercising a lot

bo«a /'boos/ noun

[C] 1

board certified

139

blunt instrument noun

a boa constrictor

2

a feather

boa

'boa constrictor noun [C] a South American snake with a very long thick body that kills animals by wrapping itself around them and squeezing them

boar /bor/ (plural boars or boar)

noun

(C] 1

a

male pig 2 a

wild boar

board

1

1 flat

2

for

/bnrd/ noun piece of

•••

wood

4 meals

showing information

3 group that manages 1

[C]

a long thin

making

floors There's a loose

flat

sth

5 examinations + PHRASES

piece of wood, used especially for

and other parts of buildings: plank: board in the bedroom. Boards had been

nailed up to cover the broken window, -picture -» next page 1a. [u] a thin flat sheet of wood or other hard material: We use only recycled paper and board in our packaging. The walls were lined with insulating board. 1b. [C] a thin flat piece of wood or other material that is used for something, for example for making a firm surface or for playing a game: He put the bread on the board and began to slice it. We wanted to play chess but 1 couldn't find the board. a group of surfers waxing their

boards [C] a flat wide surface such as a bulletin board or blackboard placed upright and used for showing information: The board said "Danger - Keep Out. " The final grades were posted on the board. The train station has an electronic board showing all departure times. picture -» next page 3 [C] a group of people who have the responsibility of managing important business or government activities: an advisory / editorial board She was appointed to the board investigating lapses in airport security. school board The local school board is trying to raise teachers' salaries. board of trustees The hospital's board of trustees voted for the merger. 3a. the most important people in a company, who make decisions about the way that the company is managed: He sits on the boards of several companies. board of directors She has recently been appointed to the board of directors. chairman of the board Fred's father is chairman of the board. 4 [u] meals provided for you when you stay at a hotel, live at another person's house, etc.: room and board She gets $100 a week plus room and board (=a place to stay full board, room and board and meals).

2

—

-

5 the boards

[plural]

go by the board Br E

Am E board exams

a plan, idea, or activity goes by the board, it is stopped or forgotten: Our plans to expand went by the board for lack offunding. on board 1 on a ship or an airplane: The airplane had 125 passengers and crew on board. A customs officer came on board the ship. 2 involved in a project or organization, or working for a company: Welcome to the team. It's great to have you on board. take sth on board to consider an idea, problem, or situation and try to deal with it: The committee will take your opinions on board before making a decision. -» across-the-board board 2 /bord/ verb * 1 [l/T] to get onto a ship, aircraft, train, or bus: She boarded the wrong train. We're boarding through gate 16. 1a. [i] if a plane or ship is boarding, passengers are being allowed to get on it: When I got to the airport, my flight was already boarding. 2 [I] to live at another person's house in a room that if

for: +with She had three students who boarded with her. 2a. to live with other students at school or college during the part of the year that you go to classes: From the age of eight, George boarded at a private school in Maine.

you pay

phrasal vb [T] to hide something by putting it: Part of the garage had been boarded off during building works. board out phrasal vb [T] BrE to arrange for a person or animal to stay with someone who is paid to look after them for a period of time board over phrasal vb [T] to cover something with wooden boards: They boarded over all the old fireplaces. board up phrasal vb [T] to cover a window or door with wooden boards: All the windows were either broken or

board off

wooden boards over or around

boarded up.

board certified fessional person

area

AmE

ad|

who

examination in order

is

to

a doctor or other proboard certified has passed an be allowed to work in a specific

boarder

bob

140

boardwalk

/'bord.vok/ noun [c] a path made of narrow boards, usually at the edge of the ocean and

often raised above the level of the ground

boast /boost/ verb • 1

proudly tell other people about what you or someone connected with you has done or can do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: brag: +of He's always boasting of his 1

[I/T] to

athletic prowess.

+ about Cheating on somebody

is

hardly

to boast about. +that The senator boasted that his bill had cut federal spending by $2 billion. 2 [T never progressive] to have something good, often an attractive feature that other people admire: The island boasts the highest number of tourists in the area.

something

boast 2 /boost/

noun [c] a statement in which you proudly tell other people what you or someone connected with you has done or can do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: For years, their boast was that they were the best team in our league. boast-ful /'boostfal/ adj too eager to tell other people what you have done or could do, or about something you own, especially in order to make them admire you: / don't want to sound boastful but I always finish everything on time. boast-ful-ly adv, boast-ful-ness noun [U] boat /boot/ noun [C] 1 a small vehicle that people use for traveling on water. Boats are usually smaller than ships, and are moved by means of sails, oars, or motors: by boat The only way

—

**•

was by boat. -> powerboat, rowboat, sailboat a ship, especially one that carries passengers: a pleasure boat a boat trip on the river

to get there

2

same boat in the same difficult or unpleasant situation: We're all in the same boat, so let's not criticize each other. 2 -» BURN gravy boat, rock in the

1

,

boat-er /'bootar/ noun

[c] 1 a circular hat with a low top and a wide brim, usually made of straw (=dried stems of wheat) for wearing in sunny weather 2 someone who uses a small boat for pleasure

flat

boat-house / 'boot.haos/ noun

[C] a building or shelter for keeping small boats in when they are not being used, often at the edge of a river or lake

boat'ing /'bootin/ noun

[u] the activity of traveling in a small boat on a lake or river for enjoyment: He in a boating accident. go boating We're going boating on the lake today. boat-load /'boot.lood/ noun [C] the number of people or amount of something that can fill a boat: +of a boatload offish boat-man / 'bootmsn/ (plural boaMnen/ 'bootmsn/) noun [C] a man who takes people or goods somewhere in a small boat, or who has small boats that you can rent for a period of time boat people noun [plural] people who arrive by boat in a country where they hope they will be allowed to live after escaping from their own country

drowned

board

board-er live in a

/'bordsr/ noun [c] 1 someone who pays house as a guest of the family who owns

2 mainly Br E a boy or

girl

who

to it

lives at a boarding

school

board exams

AmE

or

board examinations

noun

1 a set of tests you take to be allowed to in a particular area as a doctor, nurse, etc.: medical /nursing /dental board exams 2 a set of tests you take in order to go to some colleges or universities in the U.S. [plural]

work

board game

noun [c] an indoor game played on a board, often with pieces that are moved around it

boarding /'bordin/ noun

[u]

mainly Br E boards joined

make something such as a floor or a fence boarding card noun [C] a card that each passenger together to

has to show before they are allowed to get on an airplane or a ship

'boarding house noun which people pay owns it

a house in with the family who

[c] old-fashioned

to live as guests

'boarding pass noun [c] a boarding card boarding school noun [c] a school in which most all

or of the students live during the part of the year that

they have courses /'bord.rum/ noun [C] a large room where the directors of a company or other organization hold formal meetings, usually with one large table around which everyone sits a. [singular] the directors of a company or other organization: a message from the boardroom a bitter boardroom battle

board-room

boat-swain /'boosn/ another spelling of bosun 'boat .train noun [C] a train that takes passengers to a port where they can continue their journey by ship, or a train that takes them from a port to a town or city boat-yard /'bootjard/ noun

[C]

a place for making,

repairing, or keeping small boats

bob

1

/bob/ verb [I] 1 to move up and down with short regular movements, especially on water that is rising and falling: bob up and down The little boat bobbed up and down on the waves. 2 Br E to curtsy bob your head to move your head down and then back up again in a short quick movement as a way of greeting someone or showing agreement or respect ,bob up phrasal vb [i] to move up and come into view with a short quick movement: A head bobbed up from behind the fence.

bob 2

/bob/ noun [C] 1 a woman's hairstyle in which the hair is cut short to an even length at the level of picture -» hairstyle 2 a short quick the chin or neck movement up and down 2a. a short quick movement of the head down and then back up again as a way of greeting someone or showing agreement or respect 2b. BrE a curtsy

—

Bob Bob

for to do:

saying that something will be very easy or quick You just click on the icon a couple of times, and Bob 's your uncle - you 're connected to the Internet!

bobbed /babd/ adj

bobbed hair

is

cut short to an even

length at the level of the chin or neck

bob-bin /'babm/ noun which thread (=thin

[C] a small round object around string used for sewing) is wound

Am

1

'babl/ noun [C] 1 E a mistake, especially a failure to catch or handle a ball well in a sport 2 BrE a short round tassel, for example on a winter hat

bob-ble

/

bob-ble 2

/'babl/ verb badly in a sport bob-by /'babi/ noun

male police

[T]

[c]

Am E to drop or handle a ball BrE

[c]

AmE a small piece of wire folded

over tightly in the middle that hair in place

women

use to hold their

'bobby socks or 'bobby sox noun

[plural]

AmE

informal old-fashioned short thick white socks for girls. girls, who often wore them in the U.S. in the

teenage

were sometimes called bobbysoxers.

bob-cat in

/'bab.kaet/ noun [c] a large wild cat that lives

North America

bob-sled

/'bab.sled/ noun [c] a small vehicle for two

more people designed for sliding over snow and ice and used in races down a track called a bobsled run bob-sleigh /'bab.slei/ noun [C] BrE a bobsled or

bob-white

/'bab.wait; 'bab,hwait/ noun [c] a small white North American bird that people hunt for food. It is a kind of quail.

bod

/bad/ noun

[C]

informal

a person's body

1

2 BrE

informal excel-

lent or impressive: bodacious babes

bode /bood/

verb bode well/ill formal to be a sign that something good/bad will happen: The fact that we haven't heard from him in all this time does not bode well.

bod-ice / 'badis/ noun

[C]

the part of a dress that covers

woman's body from the waist up bod-ice-rip-per /'badis.npsr/ noun [c] mainly journalism a book or movie about romantic relationships a

in the 18th or 19th centuries, containing a scenes 1

affecting

bod-i-ly

2

lot of

sex

/'badili/ adj [only before noun] relating to or

your body: bodily injury bodily fluids / 'badili/ adv 1 if you are bodily present, you

are physically in a place 2 in a way that affects the whole of someone's body: They pushed him bodily out of the room.

bod-y 1 of

4

[singular] the main or central part of a building, not including areas at the side or parts that have been added later: +of The body of the church dates from the 15th century. 4a. the main part of a book or document, not including the introduction, notes, or appendh es (=parts added at the end): +of He is not mentioned in the main body of the text. 4b. the main outer part of a car, not including the engine or wheels, or the main outer part of a plane, not including the engine, wheels, or wings: The body of the aircraft remained intact after the

5 [u] a thick healthy appearance of your hair: products designed to give body to your hair 6 [U] the strong flavor of wine or another alcoholic drink

7 [C] BrE a body suit body and soul in every way: They were totally committed to each other, body and soul. body of water a large area of water in a body close together in a single group: The soldiers moved swiftly in a body toward the building. keep body and soul together BrE to have just enough money to buy food and other necessary things -» foreign body,

heavenly body

'body armor noun and police

bullets in extremely

'body bag noun

[u]

special clothes that soldiers

wear

officers

[c]

to protect themselves against dangerous situations a large bag used for carrying away

the dead body of a soldier or of someone killed in a crime or accident

'body .blow noun

a person

bo-da-cious /boo'deijas/ adj Am E very

bod-i-ly

such as knowledge, information, or work: There is a growing body of evidence to support this theory. These films represent a major body of work.

crash.

informal old-fashioned a

officer

'bobby pin noun

past,

body stocking

141

/bab/ Bob's your uncle Br E informal used

/'badi/ noun

••*

human/animal

2 group of people 3 collection of work, 4 main part of sth

etc.

industry

'body .board noun

5 6 7 +

appearance

of hair

strong flavor of drink

piece of clothing PHRASES

[c]

a type of small surfboard, used

waves that are close to the land bod-y-build-ing /'badi.bildin/ noun for

[u] a program of regular physical exercises designed to make your muscles bigger and stronger, especially exercises involving lifting, pulling, and pushing weights

— bod-ybuild-er noun [C]

'body .clock noun [C usually singular] biological clock body .count noun [C] the number of people killed in

a

them someone whose body is used in a movie instead of the body of the real actor, especially battle or accident, or the process of counting

'body .double noun

[c]

in a sex scene

bod-y -guard / 'badi.gard/ noun of people

1 [C] the whole physical structure of a person or animal, including the head, arms, and legs: His whole body ached. We do not really understand how mind and body interact. exercises to tone and shape the body the human body picture -» next page body fat A trained athlete has very little body fat. body weight Ants can carry many times their own body weight, la. the main part of a person's or animal's body, not including the head, arms, or legs: His head looks too big for his body. lb. the body of a dead person: corpse: Police found a body buried in the woods. 2 [C] a group of people who are connected in some way, often because they are involved in the same activity: + of There is a large body of people who would use public transportation if fares were cut. 2a. a group of people who work together for an organization or the government and have important responsibilities: The state government has set up a new body to inspect nursing homes. ruling body the national governing body for wrestling in the U.S., USAW official body The Senate is the official body that deals with these issues. professional body The American Bar Association is a recognized professional body. -» governing body 3 [C] [+of] a large amount or collection of something

—

[C] a serious problem or a great disappointment, especially one that is sudden and unexpected: + to /for another massive body blow to the farming

whose job

is to

•

a person or group [c] protect an important person

from being physically attacked

'body image noun [C/u] the opinion you have about how attractive your body is 'body .language noun [u] the movements or positions of your body that show other people what you are thinking or feeling: Their body language betrayed the tension between them.

'body .odor noun [u] B.O. .body 'politic, the noun formal

all the people of a nation considered as a single group because of their

combined

political

power

bod-y pop-ping

/'badi ,papin/ noun [u] a type of dancing to modern popular music in which people move with very stiff movements, as if they are robots. This style of dancing was popular in the 1980s. 'body .search noun [C] a search of someone's body and clothing for weapons or drugs, made by a police officer

or other official

body .shop

noun [C] a place especially after an accident

where cars are repaired,

bod-y snatch-er / 'budi .smetjar/ noun [c] someone in the past who dug up dead bodies after they were buried to sell to doctors for dissection (=the process of cutting into them to examine the organs inside)

'body .stocking noun [c] a piece of tight fitting cloth ing, worn especially by dancers, that covers your body including your arms and legs

body

suit

142

boil

body

suit noun [C] AmE a piece of women's clothing that fits tightly on the main part of the body and fastens between the legs 'body .temperature noun [u] the normal temperature of your body, measured with a thermometer bodywork /'badi,w3rk/ noun [u] the painted metal

body

outer part of a car or other vehicle that gives

it

its

shape

Boer /bar; bour/

noun [c] someone whose family went from the Netherlands to live in South Africa a long time ago— Boer adj ,Boer War, the a war fought in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century in which the British

bof'fin /'bafin/ noun [C] BrE informal someone who is very intelligent and knows a lot about a particular subject 1

/bog/ noun 1 [c/u] an area of ground that always very wet and soft 2 [C] BrE informal a toilet

is

bog 2

/bag/ verb ,bog down phrasal vb [T usually passive] 1 to be or become stuck in soft wet ground 2 to be or become so involved with one particular thing that you cannot make any progress: -fin /with The meeting got bogged down with disputes about who was going to do what.

bo-gey

1

/'bougi/ noun

a golf score of one shot of shots needed to that causes problems or something that people worry about: the bogey of sth Every government wants to rid itself of the bogey of inflation. 3 a bogeyman in children's stories bo-gey 2 /'bougi/ verb [t] to get a score in golf of one shot more than par (=the expected number of shots needed to get the ball into a hole) /'boogi.maen; 'bogi.maen/ (plural bog*ey•men/'bougi,men; 'bogi,men/) noun [C] 1 an imaginary evil creature used in stories to frighten children: The bogeyman 's going to get you. 2 someone or something that people believe is bad and causes problems: The

more than par

bogeyman

[c]

1

(=the expected

get the ball into a hole)

/'bagl/ verb 1

[i/t]

if

the

mind

boggles, or

something boggles the mind, you cannot imagine it because it is too strange, unpleasant, or confusing: To think that now the company is worth more than $1.3 billion utterly boggles the mind. -» mind-boggling 2 [i] [+at] to be so surprised or shocked that you are unable to believe something: I boggle at how much some of these lawyers

earn.

bog«gy / 'bogi/ adj boggy ground

is

always very wet and

soft

bo-gie /'bougi/ another

spelling of

bogey

1

i

bo-gus

defeated the Boers

bog

newspapers had portrayed him as the new economic bogey-

man.

bog«gle

number

2 something

/'bougas/ adj not real, although pretending to be real: Customers who make bogus insurance claims will be dealt with severely. a bogus offer /excuse bo*he*mi*an 1 /boo'himisn/ adj living or behaving in an informal way that is considered typical of artists and writers: a bohemian lifestyle Temple Bar is Dublin's lively bohemian quarter. bo-he-mi-an 2 /boo'himian/ noun [C] someone who is

bohemian 1

boil /boil/ verb* a liquid boils, or if you boil it, it becomes so hot that there are bubbles in it and it starts to become a gas: When the water boils, add the rice. Boil some milk in a pan. put sth on to boil (=put liquid in a container and heat it until it boils) She put two pans of soup on to boil. 1a. if a container boils, or if you boil it, the liquid in it boils: He stood in the kitchen waiting for the pan to boil. boil dry (=boil until there is no liquid left) The saucepan had boiled dry and the carrots were burned. 2 [T] to cook food in water that is boiling: How long does it take to boil an egg? 2a. [i] to be cooked in water that is boiling: The pasta needs to boil for 10 minutes. put sth on to boil (=start to cook something in hot water) Can you put the vegetables on to boil, please? 2b. [T] to 1

[l/T] if

wash

3

clothes in water that

is

boiling

to feel something such as anger very strongly: boil with rage/ James felt the fury boiling within him. [I]

boil

bolt

143

anger Boiling with rage, Kate slammed the car door and

boil down phrasal vb 1 [l/T] to become smaller in quantity after cooking because some of the liquid has turned to gas, or to make something do this: Boil the meat juices down to make a thick sauce. 2 [T] to make something

be so bold as to do sth spoken formal to do something that is rude or shows too much confidence: He was even so bold as to give me advice about how to play. if I might be so bold spoken formal used when you are going to say or ask something that someone might think is rude: I'd like, if I might be so bold, to make a suggestion. bold'ly adv: boldly-colored clothes bold-ness noun

such as a piece of writing shorter by giving only the most important facts: boil sth down to sth Whole pages of information get boiled down to one paragraph in

bold 2 /boold/ or bold-face /'booldfeis/ noun [u) a way of printing letters that makes them thicker and

drove off. -» BLOOD

basic,

the paper. boil 'down to phrasal vb [T never progressive] [boil down to sth] to be the main reason for something or the most

basic part of something: It's difficult to choose which appliance to buy, but in the end it usually boils down to cost.

over phrasal vb [i] 1 if a liquid boils over, it rises so it boils that it flows over the top of the container that it is in: There was a hissing sound as the soup boiled over. 2 if a situation or feeling boils over, people cannot control their anger and start to fight or argue: Racial tensions in the area were boiling over. + into The dispute finally boiled over into a series of violent

boil

much when

protests.

boil 'up phrasal vb 1 [i] if a situation or feeling boils up, people start to feel angry: Anger was boiling up inside me. 2 [T] to heat liquid, or to heat something in a liquid, until it boils: Will you boil up some water? Keep the chicken bones and boil them up to make a stock. 2

boil /boil/ noun [C] a painful lump on your skin that has become infected and is filled with pus (=an unpleasant yellow liquid)

come

a situation or feeling comes to a more serious or dangerous: again coming to a boil. 2 if a liquid comes to a boil, it starts to boil: She waited for the water to come to a boil. on the boil Br E if a situation or feeling is on the boil, it is very strong or a lot of people are talking about it: The press is trying to keep the issue on the boil. take sth off the boil BrE to remove something from heat so that it stops boiling boiled sweet /'boild ,swit/noun [c] Br E a hard piece of candy, especially one that tastes of fruit boildn/ verb • 1 [T] to make something include more things or people: The scope of the book has been broadened to include the history of Eastern Europe. 1a. [i] to start including more things or people: The protest has broadened to encompass other demands. 1b. broaden your horizons to make you see a wider range of opportunities and choices: College will broaden your horizons.

1c.

NUHMB

AmE

bus.

broad-side 2

wider: a project to broaden the road 3 1] if your smile broadens, you start to smile in a more obvious way 3a. if your accent broadens, you start to speak with a more noticeable accent: As he grew angrier, his accent broadened. broaden out phrasal vb [l/T] same as broaden v. The stream broadens out into a pool. old-fashioned the long broad jump, the noun 1

AmE

JUMP

••

/'brodli/ adv 1 something that is broadly accepted is accepted by most people in a general way, even if they do not agree

Their proposals are broadly in line with true in practice. The two wars followed broadly the government's ideas. used the same pattern. 1b. broadly/broadly speaking important for saying that something is true in the most ways: Broadly speaking, we agree about most things.

people or in a way that includes a large number of compete things: Only large, broadly focused companies can in this market. obvious very a in smile you 3 if you smile broadly,

2

.

way

many

different

/

brod maindad/ ad) willing to accept of behavior and not easily

types

with the side facing

broad- spectrum

adj able to be used against a wide range of different illnesses or insects: broad-spectrum

antibiotics /pesticides

Broad- way / brrxiwei/ a street in New York City with many theaters where you can see popular plays and

— compare of? -Broadway

musicals

brocade / bra'keid/ noun [u] expensive thick cloth with a pattern

woven

into

it

broc-co-li /'brukali/ noun [u] a vegetable consisting of green stems with many small green or purple buds on the ends, eaten cooked or raw —picture -» en bro-chure /broo'Jur/ noun [C] * a small magazine containing details and pictures of goods or services that you can buy: / picked up a copy of their summer travel brochure.

brogue /broog/

noun [singular] a strong local accent (=way of speaking), especially an Irish or Scottish accent: The nurse spoke with a pleasant Scottish brogue. brogues /broogz/ noun [plural] strong leather shoes with a pattern of holes and stitches broil / broil / verb [i/t] Am E to cook something by putting it close to strong heat above or below it, for example in a part of the oven called the broiler or on a barbecue (=fire for cooking outside): broiled chicken Sprinkle with sugar and broil until golden. broil-er/'broilar/noun [C] 1 Am £a piece of equipment that cooks food by sending strong heat onto it from above. BrE usually grill 2 a broiler chicken broiler chicken or broiler noun [c] a young chicken that is suitable for broiling

AmE

broil-ing /'brDilin/ ad] broiling weather or a broiling sun is very hot: We walked for hours in the broiling sun. broiling today.

It's

broke

1

/ brook / adj be broke informal to have no money: Can you lend me $5? I'm completely broke. go broke informal to no longer have any money and be unable to pay what you owe. Go bankrupt is a less informal expression: The company went broke earlier this

year.

go for broke informal

to try as hard as you can to get or achieve something, even if this involves taking risks or doing dangerous things: Jacob decided to go for broke and gave up his job to become a writer. if it ain't broke, don't fix it informal used for saying that you think that something is already good or effective and should not be changed

broke 2

the past tense of

break

1

bro-ken /'brooksn/adj 1

about all the details: The proposal was broadly welcomed by teachers. 1a. something that is broadly true, accurmost ate, or similar is true, accurate, or similar in the important ways: This theory has turned out to be broadly

broad-minded

/'br.xlsaid/ adv

toward something: His van hit the car broadside. broad-side 3 / bnxl said/ noun [c] a strong written or spoken attack: The paper launched an angry broadside

broaden your

mind to help you understand the world and make you more able to accept other people's ideas and beliefs 2 broaden or broaden out [i] to become wider: The street broadened into a square. 2a. [T] to make something

broad-ly

shocked: My dad's pretty broad-minded so he won t mind —opposite if you have a few beers, broad-mind-ed-ly adv. broad-mind-ed-ness noun [u] broad-sheet / br.-xi.Jit/ noun [c] BrE a newspaper printed on large sheets of paper. Broadsheets are generally believed to contain more serious news than tabloid newspapers, which are smaller. to crash into broad-side 1 / bnxi said/ verb [t] the side of another vehicle: Their truck broadsided the

against the administration's proposals.

details: a broad-brush

broad-cast

job

broken

167

easily be seen: They'd robbed the

damaged

physically

2 not working 3 extremely sad 4 not as promised/hoped

•• 5 not continuous 6 without hope PHRASES

a broken object has been damaged and is in two or pieces: Be careful not to step on the broken glass. Nearly all the houses had broken windows. a broken fingernail Fill the bottom of the dish with broken crackers. broken bone has a crack in it: He had several 1a. broken ribs and a suspected broken leg. 2 if a machine is broken, it is not working correctly: You can I watch the television it 's broken. He s repaired that broken clock. 3 literary if your heart is broken, you feel extremely sad because a relationship with someone you love has ended or because someone has died: Her husband died. 1

more

broken

his country as the land of broken dreams.

a string of broken promises 4a. a broken relationship has failed: broken marriages I'd had two broken marriages by the time I was 30. a broken engagement 4b. a broken home a family where the parents are divorced or do not live together, and the children suffer as a result: She works with children who come from broken homes. 5 a broken pattern or sound has spaces in it: a broken line 5a. if you have broken sleep or a broken night,

you sleep badly, waking up often

6

very badly damaged physically 6a. having hope and enthusiasm, because of bad experi-

literary

lost all

ences

broken English / French / German

etc.

if

someone

speaks in broken English, etc., they speak slowly and a lot of mistakes because they do not know the language very well

make

Words you can use Broken is more

with

brother

168

and she died soon afterward of a broken heart. 4 used for describing a situation in which you do not do what you promised, agreed, or hoped: He referred to

instead of

a very general

specific

and appropriate

in

broken

some words sound more natural

word. Here are

meanings

that

particular situations.

cars /machines/ equipment

not working, faulty, has broken down, bust (informal)

houses / buildings

dilapidated, ramshackle, falling down, in disrepair

made by blowing hard with your tongue between your lips. Br E raspberry

something, 1

bronze /bronz/

noun

••

1 [u] a hard brown metal used for making statues objects for decoration. It is made by mixing copper

and and

TIN.

2 3

red-brown color a statuk of a person or animal,

[u] a [C]

made

of bronze

4 [C] a BRONZE MEDAL bronze 2 /branz/ adj • 1 made of bronze: a bronze statue of George Washington 2 with an attractive brown color the period of ancient history when people made tools and weapons from bronze, from around 3500 to 1500 b.c., after the Stone Age and before the Iron Age bronzed /bronzd/ adj someone who is bronzed has attractive brown skin because they have spent a lot of

Bronze Age, the

time in the sun

bronze medal

noun [c] a piece of bronze like a coin, given as a prize to someone who comes third in a sports competition: The team from Ireland won the bronze medal. .bronze medalist noun [C] brooch /brootjV noun [C] a piece of jewelry with a pin on the back that you fasten to your clothes —picture -* JEWELRY

—

brood

1

deals for

/brud/ verb [I] 1 to think and worry about something a lot: + about/ over Don't sit and brood over it for weeks. 2 if a bird broods, it sits on its eggs until the young birds are born brood 2 /brud/ noun [c] a group of young birds who all have the same mother and were born at the same time a. humorous a group of young children who all have the same mother brood-er /'brudar/ noun [c] 1 someone who thinks and worries a lot: She can be a real brooder. 2 a small building made of wood where farmers keep young birds brooding /'brudin/ adj 1 literary making you feel as if something bad or dangerous is about to happen 2 looking as if you are thinking and worrying about something: the brooding expression in his dark eyes brood-y /'brudi/ adj 1 thinking and worrying about something a lot: Tim plays the role of a broody teenager. 2 wanting to lay eggs or sit on them: a broody hen brook 1 /bruk/ noun [C] a small river brook 2 /bruk/ verb [t] not brook sth or brook no sth

other people, especially a stockbroker or an insurance BROKER 2 someone who arranges an agreement

to definitely not allow or accept something: He made it clear that he would brook no dissent. She would not brook any criticism of her uncle.

systems / computers

down, not working, has up

failed, acting

(informal)

objects

cracked, dented, smashed,

containers

burst, split, leaky torn, ripped, split, frayed torn, ripped, in shreds

chipped fabric

paper

bro-ken 2

break no longer working or 1

the past participle of

broken-down

ad)

in

good con-

dition: broken-down machinery

bro-ken-hearted /,brookan

'hartad/ adj extremely

sad: He was broken-hearted when his dog died. bro-ker /'broukar/ noun [C] * 1 someone whose job is to organize business 1

bro-ker2 /'broukar/

[T] to arrange the details of a everyone can agree to it: The new

verb

deal, plan, etc. so that

Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge

deal has been brokered by the U.N.

bro'kenage

/'broklm ,bnd3/

to cheat

someone

sell

sb the

in a business deal

the name of a bridge in New York City. The idea that no ordinary person would be allowed to sell the bridge, so if they tried to sell it to you they would

From

noun 1 brokerage or broking [u] the activities of organizing business deals for other people 2 [C] a company that organizes business deals for other people broker- dealer noun [c] a person or company that buys and sells stocks, shares, or goods for other people broking /'broukirj/ noun [u] brokerage brol-ly /'brali/ noun [c] BrE informal an umbrella bromide / 'broo.maid/ noun 1 [C/u] a chemical, sometimes used as a drug to make people calm or help them to sleep 2 [C] old-fashioned a remark that is intended to calm a situation, but is usually not sincere bronc /brank/ noun [C] Am E informal a bronco bron*chi»al / 'brarjkial/ adj involving or related to your bronchial tubes: bronchial pneumonia 'bronchial /tube noun [c] one of the tubes in your chest through which air goes into your lungs bron-chi'tis /bran'kaitis/ noun [u] an illness affecting your bronchial tubes in which you cough and find breathing difficult bron-co /'brankoo/ noun [c] a horse that is still wild, especially in a rodeo bron-to-sau-rus /.branta'soras/ noun [c] an old name of an APATOSAURUS Bronx cheer /.branks 'tfir/ noun [c] informal a sound made to show that you do not like or approve of /'broukarid3/

AmE

is

be cheating you.

broom /brum/ noun * 1

a brush with a long handle, used for sweeping dirt

[C]

from

floors

2 [u] a bush with small yellow flowers broom-stick /'brum.stik/ noun [c] 1 a type of broom made with sticks and twigs, witches are often shown riding through the air on broomsticks in children's stories. 2 the long wooden handle of a broom

Bros, abbrev Brothers: used

in the

names

of businesses

broth /bra6/ noun [u] 1 old-fashioned soup, especially when it is considered to be good for you: beef broth 2 a liquid used for giving flavor when cooking broth-el /'braGl/ noun [C] a place where men pay to have sex with prostitutes 1

broth-er /'brAdar/ noun

[C]

***

has the same parents as you: My Brian. Do you have any brothers and sisters? his younger /older /little brother —picture -» FAMILY TREE 2 E spoken used for talking in a friendly way to a man 2a. used, especially by black people, for talking about a black man 3 a man who is connected to you in some way and who you have feelings of friendship towards: All men are my 1

a boy or

brother's

Am

man who

name

is

brother

monk Brother David used for showing that you are surprised or annoyed: Oh brother, what a mess. religious group, especially a

broth-er2 /'brAdar/

:

interjection

broth-er-hood /'br\d3r,hod/ noun

1 [u] the friendship and support that a group of people, especially men, get from one another: He taught us freedom, tolerance, and brotherhood. 2 [C] a group of people, especially a group of men, who have similar interests or who do the same job: the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 3 [u] the relationship between brothers

brother-in-law

(plural brothers-in-law) noun [C] 1 the brother of your husband or wife —picture -> family 2 your sister's husband 3 the husband of your husband's sister, or of your wife's sister

tree

broth-er-ly /'brAdsrIi/ adj typical of the good that a man or boy has for his brothers and "Rachel, stop!" cried John, with brotherly anxiety. erly love/ advice a. typical of the feelings that

boy has for his male friends: He

a

feelings sisters:

broth-

man

or

a real brotherly a man's behavior toward a woman is brotherly, he likes her a lot but he does not love her in a romantic way: He gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek. brougham /brum; bruam/ noun [c] a vehicle used in the past, pulled by a horse brought the past tense and past participle of bring brou-ha-ha /bruha ha/ noun [u] 1 mainly journalism a lot of complaints or criticism: There's been a lot of brouhaha about these new measures. 2 old-fashioned a lot of noisy activity brow /brao/ noun [c] • 1 literary the part of your face above your eyes: forehead: mop your brow (=wipe the sweat from your affection for

his co-workers,

felt

b. if

forehead) He mopped his brow with his handkerchief. furrow/wrinkle/crease your brow (=look worried or as if you are concentrating) She worked in silence, her brow furrowed. 2 an eyebrow: He raised his brows in surprise. 3 the brow the highest part of a hill, where the ground starts to

become

brow-beat /

bruising

169

We pray for all our brothers and sisters abroad. 4 brother or Brother a man who is a member of a brothers.

flat

brao.bit/ (pasttense browbeat; past

participle

browbeaten/ 'brao, bitn/) verb [t] to make someone do something by asking or threatening them until they agree: bully: browbeat sb into (doing) sth She wasn't going to let him browbeat her into agreeing to go. brown 1 /braon/ ad) *•• 1 something that is brown is the same color as wood The days were or coffee: He had lovely brown eyes. getting shorter and the leaves began to turn brown. 2 with darker skin than usual, after being in the sun brown as a berry (=very a lot: His face was very brown. brown) She came back from Italy brown as a berry. 2 brown /braon/ noun [c/u] * the color of wood or We decided coffee: The skirt is also available in brown. on browns and greens for the wallpaper in the study. 3 until it something cook [i/t] to verb brown /braon/ turns brown, or to become brown in this way: Brown meat before adding the vegetables. Wait for the onions to brown before adding the flour. brown 'ale noun [c/u] BrE a dark beer with a sweet the

or a glass or bottle of this informal 1 to bring your verb [i] lunch with you to work or school, usually in a brown

taste,

AmE

brown-bag

paper bag: brown-bag it / usually eat in the cafeteria but I'm brown-bagging it today. 2 to bring your own alcoholic drinks with you to a restaurant that does brown-bagger noun [C], brownnot serve alcohol bagging noun [u] brown-field /'braon.fild/ noun [C] an area of land in a town that was previously used for industry and where new buildings can now be built brown goods noun [plural] BrE business electrical goods such as televisions, radios, and computers, used

—

mainly for entertainment —compare white goods /braoni/ noun [C/U] a type of flat chocolate

brownie

cake, served in squares

Brownie /braoni/ noun

[c]

a

member

of the brownies

brownie points

noun [plural] informal approval you get from your teacher or boss by doing extra work or special FAVORS He's just trying to win some brownie points. Brownies, the / brauniz/ noun [plural] 1 in the U.S., the part of the girl a outs that is for girls between six :

and eight years old 2 in the U.K.. the part of the glides that is for girls between seven and ten years old brown-nose verb [i/t] informal to try very hard to please someone important or powerful, for example by agreeing with them all the time, in a way that annoys other people: He had just brown-nosed his way to the top. brown-nose noun [C]. brown- nosing noun [u] brown-out / braon.aot/ noun [C] AmE a temporaryreduction of electric power in an area — compare blackout

3

brown

rice noun

layer of the seed

[u] rice that

has not had the outer

removed

brown sauce

noun [C/u] BrE a dark cold sauce containing fruit and spices, eaten with meat /'braon.stoon/ noun 1 [c] a building made of red-brown stone, especially one built in the U.S. in the past: He lives in a brownstone in Brooklyn. 2 [u] a type of red-brown stone, often used for building: The original structure was built from brownstone in 1862.

brown-stone

Brown v. Board of Edu cation a U.S. supreme court decision that made for black people

it

illegal to

have separate schools

/braoz/ verb • 1 [i/t] computing to look for information on a computer, especially on the Internet: cell phones that can browse the Web 1a. to look at a Web site on the Internet: an

browse

excellent graphical interface for

2

[i]

browsing Web pages without being sure

to look at things in a store

whether you want to buy anything: "Can I help you, Sir?" "So thanks, I'm just browsing." Customers are welcome

to

browse. 2a.

[i]

[^through] to look at infor-

mation or pictures in a book or magazine, without looking for anything in particular: / browse through the help-wanted ads from time to time, but really I am quite happy where I am. 3 [l] technical if animals browse, they feed on plants, especially the leaves on trees: +on The system was very' effective in

spring.

stopping deer browsing on the new leaves in

— browse

noun

[singular]

brows-er

/'braozor/ noun [c] 1 computing a computer program that allows you to look at and search through information on the Internet 2 someone who is looking at things in a store without being sure whether they want to buy anything: Browsers are welcome, with no obligation to buy.

bruise 1 /bruz/

verb

•

cause a mark to appear on someone's body by it: She bruised her leg quite badly if you bruise easily, marks appear on your body when you are hit or knocked without a 1

[T] to

hitting or knocking when she fell. la. [i] lot

2

of force

to damage a piece of fruit and cause a soft brown area to appear on its surface 2a. [i] if fruit bruises [T]

it can easily become damaged [t usually passive] to harm someone's reputation or confidence: A spokesperson said the star had been bruised by the unfair reports in the press last week. bruised /bruzd/ adj: a bruised ego a bruised arm

easily,

3

bruise 2 /bruz/ noun

[c] 1 a mark that you get on your body if you are hit or if you knock against something: He had a nasty purple bruise over his eye. Most of the injuries were just cuts and bruises. 2 a mark on a piece of fruit that has been damaged

bruiser / bruzor/ noun [c] informal 1 a big strong man or boy who looks capable of hurting people: They looked like

a couple of bruisers, and

I

didn

2 someone who argues with a people

feel

bruising

1

lot

dare argue with them. of force, making other

't

rather afraid

/ bru/in/ noun 1 [u] an area of bruises on your body He suffered bruising to his face. la. marks on a piece of fruit that has been damaged 2 [singular] damage to someone's reputation or confidence: He took a bruising in the televised debate. The team gave the champions an unexpected bruising (defeated them

easily).

Q ,

D

bruising /'bruzirj/ adj very difficult a bruising battle between the two teams

brum-by

and unpleasant:

/'brAmbi/ noun

[C] Australian a wild horse, whose mother has escaped from a farm /brAntJV noun [C/U] a meal that combines breakfast and lunch and is usually served in the late morning: a special brunch menu bru-nette or bru-net /bru'net/ noun [c] a woman with dark brown hair compare blond 2 bru-nette adj brunt /brAnt/ noun the brunt the worst part of something that has a bad effect: bear/take the brunt of sth The Education Department is expected to bear the brunt of these cuts in funding. The eastern area took the brunt of the storm. It was the capital that bore the brunt of the recent

especially one

brunch

—

—

brus-chet-ta /brus'keta/ noun [u] Italian bread spread with oil, or oil and tomatoes, then toasted 1

/brAJV noun

** 4 fox's tail 5 trees/branches 6 use of a brush

1 tool

2 3

light

touch

short experience

an object used

for painting, cleaning things, or neat. It consists of a handle with stiff fibers or thin short pieces of plastic or wire called bristles that are attached to it: Remove any loose dirt using a soft brush. a wire brush 1

[C]

making your hair

a very gentle movement against something: the brush of his hand 3 [C] [+with] a short experience of a dangerous or unpleasant situation: He'd had a few brushes with the law but nothing serious. We'd had a brush with death that left us terrified. 3a. a short argument or minor disagreement with someone: He turned out to be the man she'd had the brush with when she first arrived. 4 [C] the tail of a fox 5 [u] an area of land with small trees and bushes growing on it: The deer disappeared into the brush. a brush fire 5a. brushwood 6 [singular] an instance of making something clean or neat using a brush: give sth a brush I'll give my teeth a brush before we leave.

2

[singular]

brush

2

••

/brAj/ verb 1 [T] to make something clean or neat using a brush: brush your hair/teeth She hadn't bothered to brush her hair. How often do you brush your teeth? 1a. to remove dirt from a surface using a brush: brush sth off /from sth Let me brush the dust off your jacket. 1b. to apply a liquid to a surface using a brush: Brush the lacquer on thinly. brush sth with sth First, brush the wall with a stiff brush to remove loose paint. 2 [I/T] to touch someone or something for a very short time when you go past them: Her sleeve brushed the wall. brush past/ against She brushed past him. 2a. [T] to touch someone or something very gently: He brushed her lips with his mouth.

3

[T]

to

surface by the movement of a brush: The artist created detail with a mass of tiny brushstrokes.

brushwood / have for

fallen

making

brAj.wod/ noun [u] small branches that from or been broken off trees, often used

fires

brush-work

/'brAj,w3rk/ noun [u] the way an artist creates effects using a brush: / recognized Van Gogh's

distinctive

brushwork.

brusque /brosk/ adj

speaking quickly in an unfriendly

way using very few words:

curt: His tone

was brusque.

often seems a little brusque when she is interviewing people, a. using quick movements, that show that you do not feel friendly toward someone: her brusque manner brusque-ly adv, brusque-ness noun [U]

She

—

Brus-sels

flooding.

brush

bubble

170

bruis-ing 2

remove something by moving your hands

quickly over a surface: The old man brushed some crumbs brush sth away Maggie brushed away his beard. her tears as she listened. brush sth from/off sth He jumped out to brush the snow off the windshield. brush a side phrasal vb [T] to refuse to accept that something is important or true: These longstanding traditions, values, and attitudes cannot be brushed aside quickly. The defendant brushed aside accusations that he had lied. brush down phrasal vb [T] to clean someone or something using your hands or a brush: He stood in the doorway brushing himself down. brush-off phrasal vb [t] to refuse to listen to someone, or to accept that something is true: The manager brushed / tried off suggestions that he had considered resigning. to explain it to him, but he just brushed me off. brush up phrasal vb [i/T] to practice and improve your skills or knowledge of something: / took a class to brush

from

+on the opportunity to up my German before the trip. brush up on various techniques brushed /brAjf/ adj brushed cloth is very soft: brushed cotton sheets

brush-off noun

[singular] informal a clear sign to someone that you are not interested in them or in their ideas brush'Stroke /'brAj,strook/ noun [c] a mark left on a

/'brAslz/ the capital city of Belgium, where the headquarters of the European Union is. People often use "Brussels" for referring to the government of the European Union.

Brussels sprout noun [c] a small round vegetable consisting of many green leaves wrapped tightly around each other bru-tal/'brutl/adj • 1 extremely violent: her tragic and brutal death brutal attacks I atrocities a brutal war 1a. a brutal person is extremely violent or cruel: The security guards are notoriously brutal.

2 extreme and unpleasant: The government instituted the reforms in a brutal and disorganized manner. the brutal morning light 2a. extremely honest, in a way that seems unkind: Let's be brutal here - he's not good enough. The brutal truth is that you're too old. bru-taMy adv:

—

The report was brutally honest. bru-tahi'ty /bru'taebti/ noun

[u]

extreme violence,

when it is deliberately cruel: accusations of brutality the brutality of the attack a. brutalities [plural] cruel and violent actions or events

especially

bru«tal«ize/'brutl,aiz/verb[T] 1 to make someone lose their ability to experience normal feelings, by treating them in a cruel and violent way: She was brutalized by years of abuse. 2 to do very cruel and painful things bru-tal-i-za-tion /.bruth'zeijn/ noun someone bru-tal-ized adj, bru-tal-iz-ing adj

to

1

brute /brut/ noun

[c]

1

a strong

man who

[U],

acts in a

cruel or violent way: a vicious brute 1a. a big man who looks strong: a big handsome brute of a man 2 a big strong animal 2a. an animal that you do not like or that frightens you

brute 2 /brut/

ad]

brute force/strength great physical

force/strength

brut-ish /'brutijV adj literary 1 violent and cruel: He was brutish and rough, and he terrified his opponents. lacking intelligence or other signs of being human /,bi 'es/ noun 1 [C] Bachelor of Science: a first degree in a scientific subject from a college or university. A first degree in a subject such as history or literature is a B.A. 2 [u] impolite bullshit BSc /,bi es 'si/ noun [C] BrE a b.s. degree BSE /,bi es 'i/ noun [U] bovine spongiform encephalopathy: a serious disease in cows that affects the nervous system and causes death. Meat from cows that have BSE is believed to cause CJD in humans.

2

B.S.

BSI, the

/,bi es 'ai/ the British Standards Institution: a British organization that sets the standards of quality and safety for products made in the U.K. BT / ,bi 'ti/ British Telecommunications pic: the largest British telephone company BTEC / 'bi ,tek/ noun [C] one of a large number of British qualifications relating to specific careers rather than

academic subjects

From the Business and Technology Education Council, the organization that organizes these qualifications.

BTW

abbrev by the way: used in e-mails and text messages for adding additional information

bub /bAb/ noun speaking to a

informal old-fashioned used for or a young person

[singular]

man

bub-bleVbAbl/nounlc] * 1 a ball of air or gas in a liquid: Gas bubbles in any Heat the milk until liquid tend to rise to the surface. bubbles form around the edge of the pan. 1a. a ball of air

bubble

buck naked

171

or gas in a substance that has become solid: bubbles of air trapped in ice Make sure there are no bubbles of air in the jam. 1b. a ball made of a thin outer layer of soap Children love blowing or bubble gum: soap bubbles bubbles.

2 3

a structure that is round like a bubble the circle around the words said by people in a cartoon: balloon

a bubble of sth a feeling that suddenly affects you: She a bubble of hysteria rising in her throat. on the bubble Am E in between success and failure in the near future, especially in a sport: The Yankees are sure to qualify for the postseason playoffs, but the Red Sox are on the bubble. burst sb's bubble to end someone's happiness by making them realize what is happening: / hate to burst your bubble, but I don t think he remembers you. the bubble bursts used for describing the end of a situation that seemed extremely good: When the economic bubble bursts, a lot of people are going to lose their jobs.

felt

money) This guy makes serious money, I mean big bucks. 2a. make a buck or make a few bucks to make money: Everyone's trying to think of ways to make a few bucks. 2b. make a fast /quick buck to make money quickly and often dishonestly: These companies are just out to make a fast buck. -» bang 2 3 the male of some animals such as rabbits or deer big

bucks (=a

—compare

lot of

doe

4 Am E informal old-fashioned

a young

man

the buck stops here/with sb used for saying who should accept the responsibility for something: The buck stops with the players, not with the manager. pass the buck to make someone else deal with something that you should take responsibility for: He accused the lawyers of trying to pass the buck on the case.

Harry Truman, who was U.S. president just after World War II, is reported to have had the expression "the buck stops here" as a sign on his desk, suggesting that he would not try to "pass the buck."

buck 2 /bAk/ verb it

in

[i] if an animal such as a horse bucks, kicks its back legs in the air or jumps off the ground an uncontrolled way

buck the trend/system spoken to succeed in doing something even though there is a general tendency for this not to happen: The auto industry bucked the trend with a

5%

increase in exports.

Am

phrasal vb [T] E [buck for sth] to try hard to get something, especially in your job: / think she's

buck for

bucking for a

bubble

bub-ble 2 /'bAbl/verb[i]* 1 if liquid bubbles, bubbles form and move in it: A pot of soup was bubbling away on the stove. When the sauce

remove it from the heat. 2 [+away/beneath] if something such as an emotion or violence bubbles away, it continues to exist but is not noticeable: Violence is bubbling beneath the surface. bubble up phrasal vb [l] to increase and become more obvious: Tension could bubble up again at any time. bubble with or bubble over with phrasal vb [T] [bubble (over) with sth] to be full of a happy or excited feeling: Everybody's bubbling with enthusiasm. 'bubble bath noun [u] a liquid soap that produces a lot of bubbles when you add it to the water in a bath a. [C] a bath with bubble bath in it bubble noun [C/u] a type of brightly colored chewing gum that you can blow into to form a bubble bub-ble-gum /'bAbl.gAm/ adj attractive to children or teenagers because of not being serious or not needing much mental effort: a bubblegum pop group 'bubble jet printer noun [c] a type of computer printer that uses air to blow ink onto paper 'bubble wrap noun [u] a sheet of plastic containing bubbles of air that is used for protecting things while they are being moved or mailed bub-bly 1 /'bAbli/ adj 1 lively, happy, and friendly: She's a lovely, bright, and bubbly girl. 2 mainly Br E full starts to bubble,

gum

of BUBBLES

bub-bly 2 /'bAbli/ noun [u] informal champagne bu-bonic plague /bjubanik 'pleig/noun [u] a

serious infectious disease that killed millions of people in Europe in the past but is now fairly rare. It is passed on by the fleas that live on black rats: black death

bucca-neer

/.bAka'nir/ noun [c] 1 a sailor in the attacked and stole from other ships: pirate 2 someone who is determined to succeed, especially in business or politics, even if this involves taking risks or doing things that many people would not approve of

past

who

buc-ca-neer-ing /.bAka'ninn/

adj brave and willing even if this involves doing things that people would not approve of

to take risks,

many

buck /bAk/noun[c]** 1

1

Am E informal

a dollar: You can get the batteries for a

few bucks at any drugstore.

2 bucks

[plural]

Am E informal

bucks are being spent

to

raise.

buck up phrasal vb [i/T] 1 informal to try to make someone happier, or to become happier: / took him out to lunch to try to buck him up. 2 buck up or buck your ideas up Br E spoken used for telling someone to try

money: More and more same ends.

achieve exactly the

harder

bucka-roo / .bAka'ru/ noun

[C]

buck'board/'bAk.bord/ noun

Am E informal a cowboy Am E a simple vehicle

[c]

pulled by a horse, used for traveling on in the past

bucket

/'bAkat/ noun [c] • a round open container with a handle, used for carrying liquid and substances such as sand or dirt 1a. the things in a bucket, or the amount a bucket contains: a bucket of soapy water 2 a part of a machine shaped like an open container, 1

1

used for moving

dirt, stones, etc.

buckets of sth Br E informal large amounts of something by the bucket Br E informal in very large quantities: They buy tickets by the bucket and sell them at a profit. in buckets informal if it rains in buckets, it rains very hard -» KICK

1

buck«et2 /'bAK3t/ verb bucket down

phrasal vb

[\]BrE

informal to rain very hard

buck-et-ful /'bAkat.ful/ noun

[C] the amount that is contained in a bucket bucket ,seat noun [c] a low deep seat in a car or

aircraft

Bucking-ham Pal-ace home

.bAknprn

'paetas;

.bAkinhaem

London

of the British king or queen. Buckingham Palace is also used for referring to the institution of the British monarchy and the people who work for it: Buckingham Palace refused to confirm or deny the reports. 'paetas/ the official

buck-le

in

1

/'bAkl/ noun [C] a metal object through which a strap is passed to fasten a belt, shoe, bag, etc. —picture -» FASTENER

buck-le 2

/'bAkl/ verb 1 buckle or buckle up [i/T] to fasten a buckle, or be fastened with a buckle: The bag buckles at the side. 2 [i/T] to bend, or make something bend under great pressure: The pillars began to buckle under the strain. 2a. [i] to suddenly become weak and bend: / could see his knees buckle after that last punch.

buckle down phrasal vb [l] informal to start working hard and seriously: knuckle down: If you don't buckle down, you 're not going to graduate. buckle up phrasal vb 1 [i] to fasten your seat belt in a car, airplane, etc. 2 [i/T] same as buckle 2 i: Buckle up your case. .buck 'naked adj informal not wearing any clothes

'*

buck-passing sibility

noun for something

with

yourself

it

the practice of passing responto someone else instead of dealing |u]

buck-ram

/'bAkrom/ noun [u] stiff cotton cloth used for covering books Buck's 'Fizz noun [u] BrE a mimosa buckshot /'b\k jut/ noun [u] small metal balls that are fired from a gun buck-skin /'b\kskin/ noun [u] soft leather made from the skin of a deer, often used for making coats and shoes

buck's party noun

[c]

Australian informal a bachelor

PARTY

buck teeth

noun [plural] top front teeth that stick out more than the bottom teeth buck-wheat /'b\k wit; b\khwit/ noun [u] a type of grain that is eaten or fed to animals bu-col-ic /bju'kuhk/ adj literary relating to the countryside, especially its pleasant aspects

bud 1

1

/bAd/ noun

[cj

work out a monthly budget and

stick to

it.

All schools on /within

are expected to manage their own budgets. budget (=spending only as much money as you have) So far the project is more or less on budget. over/ under budget (=over or under the amount you have to spend) The movie is already way over budget. a tight budget (a small amount of money) They run the magazine on a pretty tight budget, a. the amount of money a government has to spend: education /health /defense etc. budget There will be no further increase in the education budget. budget deficit (=the amount of money spent compared with the smaller amount that was available) The budget deficit needs to be reduced by some $120 billion. b. the Budget a statement about the financial position of the U.K., given in a speech to the British parliament every year and including details about future changes to taxes and public spending

budg-et 2

/'bAd33t/ verb [i] • to plan the way you will spend the money you have, especially so that you do not spend too much: ,4s a student, you have to learn how to budget.

*

Am E spoken

used for talking to a male friend: Hey, are you doing?

Bud! How

buffet

172

buck-passing

2 a tightly curled up part of a plant that will open to form a leaf or flower: yellow rose buds in bud (=with buds but no flowers) Do not prune fruit trees when they

—

are in bud. picture -> flower 3 science a part of a living thing that grows from before separating and becoming a new organism -» NIP TASTE BUD

it

budg-et 3

/'b\d33t/ adj [only before noun] very inexpensive: high-quality goods at budget prices a budget hotel

budg-ie /'bvd3i/ noun [C] informal a budgerigar buff 1 /b\f/ noun 1 [C] someone who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular subject: a movie/ computer / wine buff 2 [u] a very light yellow-brown color, similar to the color of

sand

1

.

bud

2

/bAd/ verb

Bud-dha

[I]

to

in the buff informal wearing no clothes -» blind man's buff

produce buds

1

/'buds/ the title used for referring to the religious leader Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of

Buddhism

Bud-dha 2

/'buds/ noun

[c]

a statue or picture of the

Buddha

Buddhism

/'bu.dizam/ noun [u] the set of religious based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama. followers, called Buddhists, worship in temples.

beliefs Its

— Bud-dhist adj: a Buddhist monk /temple bud-ding / 'b.\din / adj

[only before noun] at the very beginning of a career in writing, acting, politics, etc. and likely to be successful at it: a short story competition designed to encourage budding authors a. just beginning or developing: budding export markets buddy /'bAdi/ noun [c] • 1 Am E spoken used for talking to a man whose name you do not know: Hey buddy, what are you doing? 2 AmE informal a friend: He lived across the road from 1

my

buddy, John.

3 someone who forms an arrangement with another person in which they help each other bud-dy 2 /'bAdi/ verb buddy up phrasal vb [l] AmE to make friends with someone 2 to form an arrangement with someone in which you help each other buddy- buddy adj informal very friendly, especially in a way that seems false or silly: She was my friend, before she got all buddy-buddy with the boss. buddy movie noun [c] a movie that is mainly about the friendship between two people buddy .system noun [c] an arrangement in which two people take care of each other or help each other to do something budge /bAd3/ verb [i/t usually in negatives] to move, or to move something, especially something that is very *\

heavy or

is

stuck: I pulled again, but the wheel wouldn't

It was wedged between two stones and we couldn budge it. +from They couldn't budge her (^persuade her move) to from his office until she got an answer.

budge.

't

not budge to refuse to change your opinion or decision about something: We've tried everything but they won't budge on the price. -» inch budge up phrasal vb [I] BrE informal to move so that there is space for someone else budg-er-i-gar /'b\d33ri,gar/ noun [c] a small bright blue, green, or yellow bird often kept as a pet. Budgerigars are often called budgies. budg-et 1 /'bAd33t/ noun [C] the amount of money a person or organization has to spend on something: Try to Two-thirds of their budget goes on labor costs. 1

***

buff 2 /b\f/

adj old-fashioned

informal with a healthy

body and muscles you can see buff 3 /bAf/ verb [T] to make something shine by rubbing it with something such as a soft cloth 1 buf-fa-lo /'b\f9lou/ noun [C] a large African animal similar to a cow, with curved horns -* water buffalo a. a large wild animal like a cow with a large head and thick hair on its neck and shoulders: bison 2 buf-fa-lo /'bAfalou/ verb [t] AmE 1 to use threats to make someone behave in a particular way: You may be able to buffalo Jack but

I'll

do whatever I please!

make someone confused: The fifth me completely.

mal

to

test

buffaloed

2

infor-

question on the

buff-er /'bAfar/ noun [C] • 1 something that protects another thing by being between it and something else that could harm it: The airbag acts as a buffer between the driver and the steering wheel. 1a. BrE one of two metal springs at the front and back of a train and at the end of a railroad line 1

that helps to protect the train if it crashes 2 computing an area in a computer's memory

where

information is kept temporarily when you are sending it from one system or program to another 3 something you use for polishing something, for example metal or your fingernails informal a man, especially an old man, who you think is slightly stupid but not unpleasant

ABrE

hit the buffers

Br E informal

to fail

buff «er2 / 'bAfar/ verb [t] to help protect something from harm or damage: a savings plan that can help buffer your earnings against inflation [C] a country that is between two other countries that are enemies but is not involved in the argument