Intermediate Dictionary PDF

EASIER ENGLISH
INTERMEDIATE
DICTIONARY
second edition
EASIER ENGLISH
second edition
Preface
This dictionary contains the essential words and phrases needed for everyday
communication by learners of English and information on how these words and
phrases are commonly used. It builds on the Easier English Basic Dictionary
and is especially useful for intermediate learners of all ages who are expanding
their vocabulary and knowledge of English.
Each main word, including compound words and phrasal verbs, has its own
easy-to-find entry in bold type and a pronunciation in the International Phonetic
Alphabet. The relative frequency of the most commonly used words is indicated.
Common phrases, verb patterns and idioms associated with the main term are
shown in bold type and separately defined within the entry.
The meanings of the main common senses of each word are given clearly and
simply, using a limited and easily understood vocabulary. Meanings are grouped
together by their part of speech. Examples are given for words that are likely to be
used in practice, to provide patterns for the users own production of English
sentences. The prepositions that are regularly used with a word are also shown for
common words, in square brackets. Some less frequently encountered words,
which may only need to be recognised and understood, are given definitions only.
Noted at the end of some entries are words with a different part of speech whose
meanings can be easily understood from the rest of the entry.
Extra help is offered in Notes at the end of some entries. These include warnings
about words which can be confused with each other and unusual inflected forms.
The major differences between US and British spelling are noted.
Parts of Speech
abbr (abbreviation) interj (interjection) prefix
adj (adjective) modal verb prep (preposition)
adv (adverb) n (noun) pron (pronoun)
article plural noun (always v (verb)
conj (conjunction) takes a plural verb)
Symbols
indicates words which are commonly used, from the most
basic and essential, frequent and useful to know, to
starting to develop a wider vocabulary.
before a new part of speech
before examples
before a phrase or idiom
before an idiom
an explanation of the word will be found at the place indicated
extra information will be found at the place indicated
Pronunciation
The following symbols have been used to show the pronunciation of the main words in the
dictionary.
Stress is indicated by a main stress mark ( ) and a secondary stress mark ( ) . Note that
these are only guides, as the stress of the word changes according to its position in the
sentence.
Vowels Consonants
back b buck
harm d dead
stop other
a type d jump
a how f fare
a hire gold
a hour h head
course j yellow
annoy k cab
e head l leave
e fair m mix
e make n nil
e go sing
word p print
i keep r rest
i happy s save
about shop
fit t take
near t change
u annual theft
u pool v value
book w work
tour x loch
' shut measure
z zone
Intermediate.fm Page 1 Monday, August 23, 2004 5:36 PM
A
a1 /e/, A noun the first letter of the alpha- abattoir / btw
/ noun a place where
a abattoir
bet, followed by B Do you mean de- animals are killed for meat
pendant spelt with an a or dependent abbey / bi/ noun 1. a place where a
abbey
with an e? from A to Z completely, all community of Christian monks or nuns

the way through live 2. a large church Westminster Abbey
a2 /, e/, an /n, n/ article 1. one an abbreviated / bri
vietd/ adj short-
a abbreviated
enormous hole a useful guidebook ened by having something left out

Shes bought a new car. I want a cup of abbreviation /bri
vi e()n/ noun a
abbreviation
| |
tea. We had to wait an hour for the bus. short form of a word. Compare acronym
(NOTE: an is used before words beginning abdicate / bdket/ (abdicates, abdi-
abdicate
with a, e, i, o, u and with h if the h is not pro- cating, abdicated) verb 1. to give up the
nounced: an apple or an hour. a is used be- position as king or queen of a country 2. to
fore words beginning with all other letters fail to carry out a duty or responsibility
and also before u where u is pronounced (formal) (NOTE: + abdication n)
/ju
/ : a useful guidebook) 2. for each or to abdomen / bdmn/ noun the space in
abdomen
each Apples cost 1.50 a kilo. The car the front part of your body, containing the
was travelling at 50 kilometres an hour. stomach and other organs
He earns 100 a day. abdominal /b dmn()l/ adj referring
abdominal
A&E /e nd i
/ abbr accident and emer-
|
A&E
to the abdomen
gency abduct /b dkt/ (abducts, abducting,
abduct
aback / bk/ adv taken aback sur-

|
aback
|
abducted) verb to take someone away, usu-
prised and shocked by something unpleas- ally by force (NOTE: + abduction n)
ant She was somewhat taken aback when aberration /b re()n/ noun an ac-
aberration
he told her there was no train that evening. tion or thing which is not usual or expected
abacus / bks/ noun an object used
abacus
(formal)
for counting consisting of a frame with abhorrent /b hrnt / adj horrible or
abhorrent
balls which can be moved on bars disgusting (formal )

abandon / bndn/ (abandons,
abandon
abide / bad/ (abides, abiding, abode or

abide
|
|
abandoning, abandoned) verb 1. to leave abided) verb 1. to abide by to keep to

someone or something in an unkind way rules, agreements or customs You must
The dog had been abandoned by its owner. abide by the rules of the game. We have
2. to leave somewhere for ever The vil- to abide by the decision of the referee. 2.
lage had been abandoned when the dam cant abide something to dislike some-
was built. 3. to give up or stop doing something or someone I cant abide the smell
thing The company has decided to aban- of cigars. If you cant abide him, why do
don the project. We abandoned the idea you accept his invitation?
of setting up a London office. abiding / bad/ adj lasting a long time
abiding
abandoned / bndnd/ adj no longer

|
abandoned
|
(formal)
used or lived in ability / blti/ (plural abilities) noun
ability
abandonment / bndnmnt/ noun

|
abandonment
|
1. a natural tendency to do something well
the act or process of leaving someone or [~in] I admire his ability to stay calm un-
something without help der pressure. We can develop their natu-
abashed / bt/ adj ashamed or embar- ral abilities in music further. Ill do it to
abashed
rassed the best of my ability Ill do it as well as I

abate / bet/ (abates, abating, abated)
abate
| can 2. the fact of being clever suitable for

verb to become less strong or forceful different levels of ability (NOTE: no plural in
(formal) this sense)
abject 2
abject / bdekt/ adj (formal) 1. very bad doctor about? 2. to be about to do some-
abject
abject poverty 2. making you feel thing to be going to do something very

ashamed an abject apology abject ter- soon We were about to go home when you
ror arrived. 3. not exactly Ive been waiting
ablaze / blez/ adv 1. on fire Thirty for about four hours. Shes only about fif-
ablaze
hectares of trees were ablaze. 2. shining teen years old. while youre about it at
brightly At midnight the house was still the same time as the thing you are doing
ablaze with lights. While youre about it, can you post this let-
able / eb()l/ adj 1. to be able to do
able
ter? how about? 1. what do you think
something to be capable of something or about? We cant find a new chairperson
have the chance to do something They for the club What about Sarah? 2. would
werent able to find the house. Will you you like a cup of tea? while youre about
be able to come to the meeting? 2. good at it at the same time as the thing you are do-
doing something, or good at doing many ing While youre about it, can you post
things Shes a very able manager. this letter?
about-turn / bat t#
n/, about-face
about-turn
There are special activities for able chil- |
dren. noun 1. an order to soldiers to turn to face

able-bodied /eb()l bdid/ adj fit and
able-bodied
in the opposite direction 2. an act of chang-
healthy ing your plans or policy to the opposite of
what you did before
ably / ebli/ adv in a very competent or ef-
ably
above / bv/ prep 1. higher than

above
ficient way |
The plane was flying above the clouds.

abnormal /b n
m()l/ adj not normal
abnormal
The temperature in the street was above 30

abnormality /bn
mlti / (plural ab-
abnormality
|
degrees. At prices above 20, nobody
normalities) noun 1. the state of being ab- will buy it. 2. older than If you are above
normal 2. something which is abnormal 18, you have to pay the full fare. 3. louder
aboard / b
d/ adv, prep on a ship or ve-
aboard
|
than I couldnt hear the telephone above
hicle The passengers went aboard the the noise of the drills.
Queen Elizabeth at 10 p.m. When the above board /bv b
d/ adj openly
above board
ship docked, customs officers came aboard honest and legal

to inspect the cargo. abrasive / bresv/ adj rude and impa-
abrasive
abode / bd/ noun the place where

|
abode
|
tient in dealing with people noun a sub-
someone lives (literary) of no fixed stance which rubs away a surface Avoid
abode with no permanent address (formal) using abrasives to clean this surface.
abolish / bl/ (abolishes, abolishing,
abolish
abreast / brest/ adv side by side

abreast
|
|
abolished) verb to get rid of something abridged / brdd/ adj shortened by re-
abridged
such as a law or right moving parts of a text

abolition /b l()n/ noun the act of
abolition
abroad / br
d/ adv in or to another
abroad
|
|
abolishing something such as a law or right country I lived abroad for three years.
abominable / bmnb()l/ adj very
abominable
abrupt / brpt/ adj 1. sudden 2. using

abrupt
|
|
bad (formal) few words and not being very polite

Aboriginal /b rdn()l/ adj refer-
Aboriginal
abruptly / brptli/ adv briefly and im-

abruptly
|
|
ring to Aborigines noun same as Aborig- politely

ine abruptness / brptns/ noun the fact
abruptness
Aborigine /b rdni/ noun an Aus-

Aborigine
|
of using few words and not being very po-
tralian who is a member of the peoples who lite
lived in Australia before Europeans arrived abscess / bses/ noun a collection of
abscess
abort / b
t/ (aborts, aborting, abort-
abort
|
pus in the body
ed) verb 1. to stop something taking place abscond /b sknd/ (absconds, ab-
abscond
2. to perform an abortion on a foetus sconding, absconded) verb (formal) 1. to

abortion / b
()n/ noun the ending of
abortion
|
leave somewhere suddenly and secretly
a womans pregnancy before a live infant [~with] The sports clubs treasurer ab-
can be born sconded with their funds. 2. to escape from
abortive / b
tv/ adj attempted without
abortive
| prison
success abseil / bsel/ (abseils, abseiling, ab-
abseil
about / bat/ prep 1. referring to

about
| seiled) verb to come down a cliff or wall

something He told me all about his oper- using a fixed rope wound around your
ation. What do you want to speak to the body
3 accelerate
absence / bsns/ noun the fact of world 2. (of art) which does not copy things
absence
being away from a place [~from] She did exactly as they appear
not explain her absence from the meeting. abstract noun /bstrkt nan/ noun
abstract noun
in the absence of, in someones absence a noun that refers to an idea or quality, e.g.
because someone or something is not there truth
In the absence of the chairman orIn the absurd /b s#
d/ adj completely unrea-
absurd
chairmans absence, his deputy took over. sonable or impossible to believe Its ab-
In the absence of any official support, we surd to expect you will win the lottery if you
had to raise our own funds. only buy one ticket.
absent / bsnt/ adj not there Ten of
absent
abundance / bndns/ noun a large

abundance
the staff are absent with flu. quantity

absentee /bsn ti
/ noun a person
absentee
abundant / bndnt/ adj existing in

abundant
|
|
who is not there large quantities

absenteeism /bs()n ti
z()m/ abundantly / bndnt()li/ adv in
absenteeism
abundantly
|
|
noun the act or fact of deliberately staying large or more than large enough quantities
away from work abuse1 / bju
s/ noun 1. very bad
abuse
absent-minded /bs()nt mandd/

absent-minded
treatment the sexual abuse of children

adj often forgetting things She suffered physical abuse in prison.
absolute / bslu
t/ adj complete or (NOTE: no plural in this sense) 2. a bad use
absolute
total of something The governments action is

absolutely adv 1. / bslu
tli / com-
absolutely
an abuse of power. 3. rude words The
pletely I am absolutely sure I left the keys people being arrested shouted abuse at the
in my coat pocket. 2. /bs lu
tli/ yes, of |
police. (NOTE: no plural in this sense)
abuse2 / bju
z/ (abuses, abusing,
abuse
course Did you build it yourself? Abso- |
lutely! abused) verb 1. to treat someone very bad-

absolve /b zlv/ (absolves, absolving,
absolve
|
ly, usually physically or sexually She had
absolved) verb to remove blame for a sin been abused as a child. 2. to make the
from someone wrong use of something He abused his
position as finance director. 3. to say rude
absorb /b z
b/ (absorbs, absorb-
absorb
things about someone The crowd noisily

ing, absorbed) verb 1. to take in something abused the group of politicians as they en-
such as a liquid The water should be ab- tered the building.
sorbed by the paper. Salt absorbs mois-
abusive / bju
sv/ adj 1. rude and in-
abusive
ture from the air. 2. to reduce a shock The |
cars springs are supposed to absorb any sulting an abusive letter He had too
shock from the road surface. much to drink and became abusive. 2.
treating someone in a violent or cruel way,
absorbent /b z
bnt/ adj which can
absorbent
|
or referring to a violent and cruel situation
absorb something such as a liquid an abusive father an abusive relation-
absorbing / b z
b/ adj very interest-
absorbing
|
ship
ing abysmal / bzm()l/ adj extremely bad
abysmal
absorption /b z
pn/ noun 1. the act
absorption
abyss / bs/ noun 1. a deep hole 2. a hor-

abyss
|
|
of absorbing something or of being ab- rible or frightening situation

sorbed 2. the fact of being very interested
academic /k demk/ adj 1. relat-
academic
in something |
ing to study at a university Members of

abstain /b sten/ (abstains, abstain-
abstain
|
the academic staff received a letter from
ing, abstained) verb 1. deliberately not to the principal. 2. only in theory, not in prac-
do something [~from] His doctor recom- tice It is only of academic interest. noun
mended he should abstain from drinking a university teacher All her friends are
coffee for six months. 2. not to vote on a academics.
matter academy / kdmi/ noun 1. a college
academy
abstention /b stenn/ noun the act or

|
abstention
|
where specialised subjects are taught 2. a
fact of deliberately not voting on a matter private society for the study of art or sci-
abstinence / bstnns/ noun the act or
abstinence
ence
fact of deliberately not doing something, accelerate /k selret/ (accelerates,
accelerate
especially not drinking alcohol accelerating, accelerated) verb to go fast-

abstract / bstrkt/ adj 1. which exists
abstract
er Dont accelerate when you get to traf-

only in the mind rather than in the physical fic lights.
accelerator 4
accelerator /k selret/ noun a commit a crime [~to] an accessory to the
accelerator
pedal which makes a car go faster crime

accent / ksnt/ noun 1. a particular accident / ksd()nt/ noun 1. an un-
accent accident
way of pronouncing something He pleasant thing which happens and causes

speaks with an American accent. 2. the damage or injury He lost his leg in an ac-
stronger or louder part of a word or sen- cident at work. She was involved in a car
tence In the word letter the accent is on accident and had to go to hospital. 2.
the first syllable. 3. a mark over a letter something that happens unexpectedly
showing a particular way of pronouncing it Their third baby was an accident. by ac-
Caf has an accent on the e. 4. empha- cident without being planned or expected
sis The accent is on youth unemployment. He found the missing papers by accident.
accentuate /k sentuet/ (accentu- accidental /ks dent()l/ adj happen-
accentuate accidental
|
|
ates, accentuating, accentuated) verb to ing without being planned or expected an

put emphasis on something accidental meeting accidental damage
accept / k sept / (accepts, accepting, His death was not accidental.
accept
accidentally /ks dent()li/ adv with-

accidentally
accepted) verb 1. to take and keep a |
present We hope you will accept this little out being planned or expected
acclaim / klem/ noun great praise
acclaim
gift. 2. to say yes or to agree to something |
She accepted the offer of a job in Austral- acclaimed / klemd/ adj much praised,
acclaimed
ia. I invited her to come with us and she especially publicly

accepted. (NOTE: Do not confuse with ex- accolade / kled/ noun a thing given
accolade
cept.) to someone as a sign of praise

acceptable /k septb()l/ adj good accommodate / kmdet/ (ac-
acceptable
accommodate
|
|
enough to be accepted, although not partic- commodates, accommodating, accom-

ularly good Fighting in the street is not modated) verb to provide someone with a
acceptable behaviour. Smoking is be- place to live
coming less socially acceptable. A small accommodating / kmdet/ adj
accommodating
gift of flowers would be very acceptable. taking trouble to help people

The offer is not acceptable to the vendor. accommodation /km de()n/
accommodation
| |
acceptance /k septns/ noun 1. the

acceptance
|
noun a place to live or somewhere to stay
act of taking something which is offered 2. for a short time Are you still looking for
the act or fact of agreeing to do something accommodation? Visitors have difficulty
accepted /k septd/ adj which is
accepted
|
in finding hotel accommodation during the
taken as correct by most people summer. (NOTE: In British English, accom-
access / kses/ noun a way of reach-
access
modation has no plural.)

ing a place The concert hall has access accompaniment / kmp()nimnt/
accompaniment
for wheelchairs. At present there is no noun 1. music played to accompany some-

access to the site. to have access to one singing or playing an instrument a
something to be able to reach a place, meet piece for violin with piano accompaniment
a person, or obtain something Ill have 2. a thing which accompanies something
access to the studio day and night. The They served cranberry sauce as an accom-
company has access to substantial funds. paniment to the turkey.
verb (accesses, accessing, accessed) to accompany / kmp()ni/ (accom-
accompany
get information from a computer She panies, accompanying, accompanied)

tried to access the address list. verb 1. to go with someone or something
access course / kses k
s/ noun a
access course
She accompanied me to the door. 2. to play

course of study designed to qualify some- a musical instrument while someone else
one for higher education plays another instrument or sings She
accessible /k sesb()l/ adj 1. easily sang and was accompanied on the piano
accessible
reached They live on a farm which is not by her father. (NOTE: accompanied by
accessible by car. 2. easy to read or under- someone or something)
stand Her style of writing is quite acces- accomplice / kmpls/ noun a person
accomplice
sible. 3. suitable for disabled people ac- who helps another person to commit a
cessible toilets accessible holidays crime
accessory /k sesri/ (plural acces- accomplish / kmpl/ (accomplish-
accessory accomplish
| |
sories) noun 1. a useful piece of equip- es, accomplishing, accomplished) verb

ment, added to others 2. a small item of to do something successfully You wont
clothing 3. a person who helps someone accomplish anything by arguing.
5 ache
accomplished / kmplt/ adj talent- accredited / kredtd/ adj given offi-
accomplished accredited
| |
ed or skilled cial approval

accomplishment / kmplmnt/ accumulate / kju
mjlet/ (accu-
accomplishment accumulate
| |
noun the successful finishing of something mulates, accumulating, accumulated)

after a lot of work verb to increase gradually, or collect some-
accord / k
d/ noun 1. an agreement 2. thing over a period of time Fat had accu-
accord
[~between] of your own accord without mulated in the arteries. Weve accumu-
being ordered or forced by anyone Of his lated so many books and papers since we
own accord he decided to sell the business moved into this office.
accumulation / kju
mj le()n/
accumulation
and retire to a Greek island. verb (ac- | |
cords, according, accorded) to give noun 1. the action of accumulating some-

something to someone as an honour thing 2. an amount of something built up
accordingly / k
dli/ adv as a result over time
accordingly
accuracy / kjrsi/ noun the fact of

accuracy
of something just mentioned

according to / k
d tu
/ prep 1. as
according to
|
being correct in every detail
accurate / kjrt/ adj correct in
accurate
someone says or writes The washing ma-

chine was installed according to the manu- every detail Are the figures accurate?
facturers instructions. According to the We asked them to make an accurate copy of
police, the car was going too fast. 2. in the plan.
accurately / kjrtli/ adv correctly
accurately
agreement with rules or a system Every-

thing went according to plan or schedule. The weather forecast accurately predicted
3. in relation to The teachers have sepa- the storm.
rated the children into classes according to accusation /kju
ze()n/ noun a
accusation
their ages. statement that someone has done some-

accost / kst/ (accosts, accosting, ac- thing wrong
accost
costed) verb to approach or stop someone accusative / kju

ztv/ adj in the ac-
accusative
in an aggressive or suggestive way cusative

account / kant/ noun 1. same as accuse / kju
z/ (accuses, accusing,
account accuse
| |
bank account 2. (in a shop) an arrange- accused) verb to say that someone has
ment which a customer makes with a shop done something wrong The shopkeeper
to buy goods and pay for them later Put accused her of theft. She was accused of
it on my account or Charge it to my ac- stealing the money. (NOTE: You accuse
count. verb (accounts, accounting, ac- someone of a crime or of doing something.)
counted) to account for to explain accusing / kju
z/ adj as if you are ac-
accusing
something that has happened (formal ) He cusing someone of something You for-
was asked to account for all his expendi- got to meet me, she said in an accusing
ture. by all accounts as everyone says voice.
By all accounts, she is a very attractive accustom / kstm/ (accustoms, ac-
accustom
woman. on account of because of, due to customing, accustomed) verb to accus-

The trains are late on account of the fog. tom yourself to something to gradually
We dont use the car much on account of accept that something is normal or usual
the price of petrol. on no account not at accustomed to doing something They had
all on someones account for or be- to accustom themselves to working in
cause of someone I was worried on her Swedish. It took him some time to become
account by the news the letter. take accustomed to driving on the right-hand
something into account or take account side of the road.
of something to consider something We accustomed / kstmd/ adj 1. normal
accustomed
have to take the weather into account. or usual 2. used to [~to] He is accustomed
accountable / kantb()l/ adj having
accountable
|
to assistants and plenty of people to help
to explain what you have done, especially She was accustomed to walking her dog in
how you have spent or received money the park every morning.
accountancy / kantnsi/ noun the ace /es / noun 1. a playing card with one
accountancy
ace
|
study or the work of being an accountant spot 2. someone who is excellent at doing
accountant / kantnt/ noun a per-
accountant
| something 3. a service in tennis which the

son who deals with financial accounts opponent cannot return
accounting / kant/ noun the work ache /ek/ noun a pain that lasts for a
accounting ache
of recording money paid, received, bor- while. toothache, headache verb

rowed or owed (aches, aching, ached) 1. to hurt or feel
achieve 6
pain that lasts for a while (formal) 2. to feel acquire / kwa/ (acquires, acquir-
acquire
a painful desire ing, acquired) verb to become the owner of

achieve / ti
v/ (achieves, achiev- something She has acquired a large col-
achieve
ing, achieved) verb to succeed in doing lection of old books.

acquisition /kw z()n/ noun 1.
acquisition
something after trying very hard Have |
you achieved all your aims? The compa- the act of acquiring something His acqui-
ny has achieved great success in the USA. sition of half the shares in the company
achievement / ti
vmnt/ noun surprised the staff. 2. a thing which has
achievement
something which has been done success- been acquired

acquisitive / kwztv/ adj always
acquisitive
fully She is very modest about her |
achievements. Coming sixth was a great wanting to acquire new things

achievement, since he had never entered acquit / kwt/ (acquits, acquitting, ac-
acquit
the competition before. quitted) verb to state formally that some-

acid / sd/ noun a chemical substance one is not guilty
acid
that is able to dissolve metals acquittal / kwt()l/ noun a decision by

acquittal
acidic / sdk/ adj having a sour taste a court that someone is not guilty
acidic
acidity / sdti/ noun 1. the percentage acre / ek/ noun a measure of land, 4840
acre
acidity
of acid in something 2. bitter taste square yards or 0.4047 hectares (NOTE: The
plural is used with figures, except before a
acid rain /sd ren/ noun polluted rain
acid rain
which kills trees noun: a farm of 250 acres or a 250-acre

farm.)
acid test /sd test/ noun a test which
acid test
acrid / krd/ adj with a bitter smell

acrid
will show the true value of something

acrimonious /kr mnis/ adj an-
acrimonious
acknowledge /k nld/ (acknowl-

acknowledge |
|
gry and bitter
edges, acknowledging, acknowledged)
acrobat / krbt/ noun a person who
acrobat
verb 1. to say that something has been re-

ceived She didnt acknowledge receiving performs difficult and exciting physical
my letter. 2. to accept that something is true movements for the public
acrobatic /kr btk/ adj lively and
acrobatic
[~that] She acknowledged that she had |
seen me there. energetic

acrobatics /kr btks/ plural noun
acrobatics
acknowledgement / k nldmnt/
acknowledgement
|
|
noun a letter or note sent to say that some- 1. acrobatic movements 2. skills used in
thing has been received doing something difficult We enjoyed the
verbal acrobatics as they tried to explain
acne / kni/ noun spots on the skin, usu-
acne
their actions.
ally on the face, neck and shoulders
acronym / krnm/ noun a word made
acronym
acolyte / klat/ noun a person who

acolyte
from the first letters of the name of some-

supports someone else, often without criti- thing NATO and AIDS are both acro-
cising their behaviour or opinions nyms. Compare abbreviation
acorn / ek
n/ noun the fruit of an oak
acorn
across / krs/ prep 1. from one side

across
tree to the other Dont run across the road

acoustic / ku
stk/ adj referring to
acoustic
|
without looking to see if there is any traffic
sound coming. 2. on the other side of He saw
acoustics / ku
stks/ plural noun the
acoustics
| her across the street. adv from one side to

ability to carry sound without changing its the other The river is only twenty feet
quality The acoustics in the concert hall across. The stream is very narrow you
are good. can easily jump across.
acquaint / kwent/ (acquaints, ac- across-the-board /krs b
d /
acquaint across-the-board
| |
quainting, acquainted) verb 1. to be ac- adj, adv having the same effect on everyone
quainted with someone or something to or everything
have some knowledge of someone or acrylic / krlk/ noun a synthetic sub-
acrylic
something (formal ) Is he acquainted with stance used to make many products, in-
the details of the case? She is acquainted cluding fibres adj made from acrylic
with my father. 2. to inform someone act /kt/ noun 1. something which is
act
acquaintance / kwentns/ noun a

acquaintance
| done He thanked her for the many acts of

person you know slightly She has many friendship she had shown him over the
acquaintances in the travel industry but no years. 2. a part of a play or show Act 2 of
real friends. the play takes place in the garden. 3. a
7 Adams apple
short performance The show includes the verb is active, but in he was hit by the
acts by several young singers. 4. a law car it is passive.)
passed by Parliament an act to ban the activist / ktvst/ noun a person who
activist
sale of weapons verb (acts, acting, act- vigorously supports an organisation that
ed) 1. to take part in a performance such as works for social or political change
a film or play Shes acted on TV many activity /k tvti/ (plural activities)
activity
times. He acted the part of Hamlet in the noun 1. the act or fact of being active
film. 2. to do something You will have to There is a possibility of volcanic activity. 2.
act quickly if you want to stop the fire. to something that someone does to pass time
act as someone or something to do the pleasantly Children are offered various
work of someone or something The thick holiday activities sailing, windsurfing
curtain acts as a screen to cut out noise and water-skiing.
from the street. 3. to behave in a particular actor / kt/ noun a person who acts in
actor
way Shes been acting very strangely. the theatre, in films or on TV

She acted in a very responsible way. 4. to
actress / ktrs/ noun a woman who
actress
take effect How long will the drug take to

act? to get your act together to organise acts in the theatre, in films or on TV (NOTE:
yourself properly If they dont get their Many women prefer to call themselves ac-
act together, theyll miss their train. tors rather than actresses.)
actual / ktul/ adj real It looks
actual
acting / kt/ noun the profession of an

acting
quite small but the actual height is 5 me-

actor tres. Her actual words were much strong-
action / kn/ noun 1. the fact of do-
action
er.
ing something We recommend swift ac- actually / ktuli/ adv really It
actually
tion to prevent the problem spreading. looks quite small, but actually it is over 5
What action are you going to take to pre- metres high. He said he was ill, but actu-
vent accidents? 2. something that is done ally he wanted to go to the football match.
Theyve shown their commitment by their acupuncture / kjpkt/ noun a
acupuncture
actions. 3. a movement Avoid sudden ac- treatment in which needles are stuck
tions that could alarm the animals. 4. the through the skin in order to reduce pain or
things that happen in a performance such other aspects of an illness
as a play or film The action of the play
acute / kju
t/ adj 1. (of serious illness or
acute
takes place in a flat in London. 5. a case in |
a law court where someone tries to get pain) which starts suddenly and lasts for a
money from someone else an action for short time a child with acute bronchitis
libel or a libel action to bring an action The pain was very acute. Compare chronic
2. able to notice something easily Dogs
for damages against someone out of ac-
tion not working The car has been out of
have an acute sense of smell.
acute accent /kju
t ksnt/ noun a
acute accent
action for a week. |
mark sloping forwards over a vowel, indi-

action-packed / kn pkt/ adj with
action-packed
cating a change of sound

a large number of exciting events
ad /d / noun an advertisement
ad
action replay /kn ri

ple/ noun a
action replay
(informal) If you want to sell your car

section of a sporting event which is shown quickly, put an ad in the paper.
again on TV at a slower speed, so that the AD /e di
/ used before or after a date to
AD
action can be examined carefully show that it is after the birth of Jesus Christ
activate / ktvet/ (activates, acti-
activate
Claudius invaded Britain in 43 AD. Full

vating, activated) verb to make something form Anno Domini. Compare BC (NOTE:
start to work Latin for in the year of our Lord. Sometimes
active / ktv/ adj 1. involved in an ac- PE (Present Era) or CE (Common Era) is
active
tivity or activities, especially in an energet- used to avoid referring to Jesus Christ.)

adage / dd/ noun a traditional state-
adage
ic way He didnt play an active part in

the attack on the police station. My ment about an aspect of everyday life Ac-
grandmother is still very active at the age cording to the old adage, time is a great
of 88. 2. (of a volcano) exploding or likely healer.
Adams apple /dmz p()l/ noun a
Adams apple
to explode Scientists think the volcano is

no longer active. noun the form of a verb piece of cartilage that makes a lump in the
which shows that the subject is doing front of the throat, which can sometimes be
something (NOTE: If you say the car hit him seen in men
adapt 8
adapt / dpt/ (adapts, adapting, additional / d()nl/ adj included
adapt additional
| |
adapted) verb 1. to change something to be as well as what there is already

suitable for a new situation [~for] She additive / dtv/ noun a substance
additive
adapted the story for TV. The car has which is added to something, especially to
been adapted for disabled drivers. 2. to food to preserve it or to alter the taste or
change your behaviour to fit into a new sit- colour
uation [~to] Well all have to learn to address / dres/ noun 1. a set of de-
address
adapt to the new system. tails of the number of a house, the name of
adaptable / dptb()l/ adj able to
adaptable
|
a street and the town where someone lives
change or be changed easily to deal with or works What is the doctors address?
new situations or uses Our address is: 1 Cambridge Road, Ted-
adaptation /dp te()n/, adap-
adaptation
|
dington, Middlesex. 2. the set of letters,
tion noun 1. a change which fits new situa- symbols and numbers that identify some-
tions or uses 2. something such as a film or ones email account verb (addresses, ad-
play which has been developed from an- dressing, addressed) 1. to write details
other such as someones name, street and town
add /d/ (adds, adding, added) verb 1.
add
on a letter or parcel That letter is ad-

to make a total of numbers If you add all dressed to me dont open it! 2. to speak or
these numbers together it should make fifty. write to someone Please address your
(NOTE: Adding is usually shown by the sign questions to the information office.
+ : 10 + 4 = 14.) 2. to join one thing to an- Teachers are not normally addressed as
other [~to] Interest is added to the ac- Sir here. 3. to make a formal speech to a
count monthly. Put a teabag into the pot group The chairman addressed the meet-
and add boiling water. By building the ing.
annexe, they have added thirty rooms to the address book / dres bk/ noun a
address book
hotel. 3. to say or to write something more notebook or computer file in which you
I have nothing to add to what I put in my can record peoples names, home address-
letter. She added that we still owed her es, telephone numbers and email addresses
some money for work she did last month. adequate / dkwt/ adj 1. enough
adequate
add up phrasal verb to make a total the for a purpose We dont have adequate
figures do not add up the total is not supplies for the whole journey. His sala-
correct not add up (of information) to be ry alone is barely adequate to support his
confusing or difficult to accept as true family. 2. only just satisfactory
The story she told the police simply did
adhere /d h/ (adheres, adhering, ad-
adhere
not add up. |
hered) verb to attach physically to some-

add up to phrasal verb to make a total of
something thing (formal)
adhere to verb to keep to a rule, agree-
added / dd/ adj included as well as
added
ment or promise
what there is already
adhesive / d hi
sv/ adj able to stick to
adhesive
addict / dkt/ noun a person who cannot

addict |
stop doing something things noun a substance which sticks

things together
addicted / dktd/ adj unable to stop
addicted
ad hoc / d hk/ adj arranged for a spe-

| ad hoc
doing something
cific case an ad hoc decision We order
addiction / dk()n/ noun the fact or
addiction
the books on an ad hoc basis. adv as nec-

state of being unable to stop doing some- essary, without planning in advance I did
thing it ad hoc.
addictive / dktv/ adj which people
addictive
adj, adj. abbr adjective

| adj
can become addicted to

adjacent / des()nt/ adj very close to
adjacent
addition / d()n/ noun 1. someone

addition
|
|
or something added to something else [~to] or almost touching something [~to] My

the latest addition to the family He
office is in an adjacent building. Our
showed us the recent additions to his col- house is adjacent to the park.
adjectival /dk tav()l/ adj used like
adjectival
lection of paintings. 2. the act of adding |
figures to make a total You dont need a an adjective

adjective / dktv/ noun a word
adjective
calculator to do a simple addition. in ad-

dition as well in addition to as well as which describes a noun In the phrase a
There are twelve registered letters to be big black cloud, big and black are both
sent in addition to this parcel. adjectives.
9 adore
adjoin / dn/ (adjoins, adjoining, ad- admirer /d mar/ noun a person who
adjoin admirer
| |
joined) verb to be close to or touching loves someone or is attracted by someone

something admiring /d mar/ adj showing that
admiring
adjourn / d#
n / (adjourns, adjourn-
adjourn
| you admire someone or something

ing, adjourned) verb to stop something admission /d m()n/ noun 1. the
admission
such as a meeting or court proceedings in act or fact of being allowed to go into a

order to continue at a later time or date place Admission to the exhibition is free
(NOTE: + adjournment n) on Sundays. My friend was refused ad-
adjudicate / du
dket/ (adjudicates,
adjudicate
| mission to the restaurant because he was

adjudicating, adjudicated) verb 1. to give not wearing a tie. 2. a statement saying that
an official decision in a legal matter or a something bad is true Her admission that
disagreement 2. to act as a judge in a com- she had taken the money led to her arrest.
petition (NOTE: + adjudicator n) no admission no one can enter
adjust / dst/ (adjusts, adjusting, admission fee /d m()n fi

/ noun an
adjust admission fee
| |
adjusted) verb to make a slight change to amount of money paid to go into a place
something I need to adjust this belt a bit. such as a museum
to adjust to something to become used admit /d mt/ (admits, admitting, ad-
admit
to something How are you adjusting to mitted) verb to allow someone to go into a
being a parent? place Children are admitted free, but
adjustable / dstb()l/ adj which
adjustable
| adults have to pay. This ticket admits

can be adjusted three people. to admit (to) doing some-
adjustment / dstmnt/ noun a thing to say that you have done something
adjustment
slight change to make something work wrong They admitted stealing the car.
admittance /d mt()ns/ noun permis-
admittance
well |
ad-lib /d lb/ (ad-libs, ad-libbing, ad- sion for someone to go into a place (formal )
ad-lib
admittedly /d mtdli/ adv admitting

admittedly
libbed) verb to speak without a prepared |
set of words that something is true

admin / dmn/ noun 1. the work of ad- adolescence /d les()ns / noun a pe-
admin adolescence
ministration 2. staff dealing with adminis- riod between childhood and adulthood, be-
tration (NOTE: singular or plural verb) tween the ages of 12 and 18
administer /d mnst/ (administers, adolescent /d les()nt/ noun a
administer adolescent
| |
administering, administered) verb 1. to young person between the ages of 12 and

manage or organise something 2. to give 18
someone a drug or medical treatment adopt / dpt/ (adopts, adopting,
adopt
(formal) adopted) verb 1. to take someone legally as

administration /d mn stre()n/
administration
| | a son or daughter They have adopted a

noun 1. the act of organising something little boy. 2. to decide to start using some-
such as a company or office Hospital ad- thing We need to adopt a more flexible
ministration must be improved. Whos in approach.
charge of administration here? 2. a partic- adopted / dptd/ adj taken legally as
adopted
ular government the Bush Administration someones son or daughter

administrative /d mnstrtv/ adj
administrative
adoption / dpn/ noun 1. the legal

adoption
|
|
referring to administration taking of someone as a son or daughter 2.

administrator /d mnstret/ noun
administrator
| the process of starting to do or have some-

a person who runs an organisation thing [~of] the adoption of a new compa-
admirable / dm()rb()l/ adj which ny name and logo
admirable
adoptive / dptv/ adj having adopted a

adoptive
must be approved of and praised |
admiral / dm()rl/ noun a high-rank- child as a son or daughter my adoptive

admiral
ing officer in a countrys navy parents

adorable / d
rb()l/ adj attractive and
adorable
admiration /dm re()n/ noun re-

admiration
|
|
spect for someone or something appealing

adoration / d re()n/ noun admira-
adoration
admire /d ma / (admires, admiring,

admire
|
|
admired) verb to consider someone or tion or love

adore / d
/ (adores, adoring, adored)
adore
something with approval He was ad- |
mired for his skill as a violinist. We adverb to like someone or something very
mired the view from the balcony. much
adoring 10
adoring / d
r/ adj who or which advantage in a way that helps someone or
adoring
adores something appear especially good She

adorn / d
n/ (adorns, adorning, used her knowledge of Italian to good ad-
adorn
adorned) verb to decorate something with vantage.

advantageous /dvn teds/ adj
advantageous
ornaments (formal ) |
adrenalin / drenln/ noun a hormone likely to help or make something success-

adrenalin
that speeds up the heartbeat and raises the ful

advent / dvent/ noun the introduction
advent
blood pressure when a person or animal is

experiencing surprise, shock, fear or ex- or appearance of something new
citement adventure /d vent/ noun a new, ex-
adventure
adrift / drft/ adv floating on the water citing and dangerous experience I must
adrift
but not being guided by anyone tell you about our adventures in the desert.
ADSL /e di
es el/ abbr asymmetrical adventurous /d vent()rs / adj 1.
ADSL adventurous
digital subscriber line happy to do something risky 2. exciting

adulation /dj le()n/ noun exces- and full of adventure
adulation
adverb / dv#
b/ noun a word which
adverb
sive praise
adult / dlt / noun a fully-grown per- applies to a verb, an adjective, another ad-
adult
son adj 1. fully grown an adult tiger 2. verb or a whole sentence In the sentence
relating to a mature person or people He walked slowly, because the snow was
adult fiction very thick. both slowly and very are ad-
adultery / dlt()ri/ noun sexual inter-
adultery
|
verbs.
adverbial /d v#
bil/ adj used like an
adverbial
course with someone who is not your hus- |
band or wife adverb

adulthood / dlthd/ noun the period adversary / dvs()ri/ (plural adver-
adversary
adulthood
when someone is an adult saries) noun the person you are fighting or
adv, adv. abbr 1. adverb 2. adverbial
adv
opposed to
adverse / dv#
s/ adj (of conditions) un-
adverse
advance /d v
ns/ verb (advances,
advance
advancing, advanced) to move forward pleasant and unwanted an adverse reac-

The police slowly advanced across the tion adverse effects
adversity /d v#
sti/ noun difficult
adversity
square. noun 1. a movement forwards |
The police have made some advances in times, when you have to face all sorts of
their fight against crime. The team made problems
advert / dv#
t/ noun same as adver-
advert
an advance into their opponents half. 2.

money paid as a loan or as a part of a pay- tisement
ment to be made later adj done before advertise / dvtaz/ (advertises, ad-
advertise
something happens She made an advertising, advertised) verb to make sure
vance payment of 3000. in advance ear- that people know that something is for sale,
lier than the time something happens You or that something is going to happen [~for]
must phone in advance to make an ap- Did you see that the restaurant is adver-
pointment. They asked us to pay 200 in tising cheap meals on Sundays? The
advance. company is advertising for secretaries. I
advanced /d v
nst/ adj studied at a saw this watch advertised in the paper.
advanced
higher level Hes studying advanced advertisement /d v#

tsmnt/
advertisement
mathematics. Shes studying for an ad- noun an announcement which tries to make
vanced degree. sure that people know that something is for
advances /d v
nsz/ plural noun at- sale, or that something is going to happen
advances
tempts to be friendly with someone advertising / dvtaz/ noun the

advertising
advantage /d v
ntd/ noun some- act of making sure that people know that
advantage
thing which will help you to be successful something is for sale, or that something is
Being able to drive a car is an advantage. going to happen The company has in-
Knowledge of two foreign languages is creased the amount of money it spends on
an advantage in this job. She has several advertising. They spent millions on the
advantages over the other job candidates. advertising campaign.
advice /d vas/ noun an opinion that
advice
to take advantage of something to prof- |
it from something They took advantage someone gives you about what you should
of the cheap fares on offer. to take ad- do He went to the bank manager for ad-
vantage of someone to get something un- vice on how to pay his debts. They would
fairly from someone to (good or best) not listen to the doctors advice. My
11 affirmative
grandfather gave me a very useful piece of (NOTE: takes a singular verb. The usual US
advice. His mothers advice was to stay spelling is esthetics.)
in bed. (NOTE: no plural: use some advice or, affable / fb()l/ adj pleasant and easy
affable
for one item, a piece of advice) to talk to

advisable /d vazb()l/ adj which is
advisable
affair / fe/ noun 1. something which

affair
|
|
recommended is relevant to one person or group of people

advise /d vaz/ (advises, advising,
advise
|
only Thats his affair its nothing to do
advised) verb 1. to suggest to someone with me. Its an affair for the police.
what they should do He advised her to His business affairs were very complicat-
save some of the money. 2. to suggest that ed. 2. a sexual relationship with someone
something should not be done [~against] who is not your husband or wife Hes
He advised against buying the house. 3. to having an affair with his bosss wife. 3. an
tell someone officially that something has event The party is just a family affair. 4.
happened [~that] (formal) They advised us an event or situation that shocks people
that the sale of the house had been com- The whole sorry affair was on the front
pleted. page of the newspapers for days. plural
adviser /d vaz/, advisor noun
adviser
| noun affairs situations or activities relating

someone who helps people to make deci- to public or private life the state of af-
sions about what to do fairs the general situation
advisory /d vaz()ri/ adj giving advice affect / fekt/ (affects, affecting, af-
advisory affect
|
|
advocacy / dvksi/ noun strong sup-

advocacy
fected) verb to have an influence on some-

port for a cause or policy one or something The new regulations
advocate1 / dvkt/ noun 1. a person have affected our business. Train servic-
advocate
who strongly supports someone or some- es have been seriously affected by the
thing 2. a lawyer in a Scottish court strike.
advocate2 / dvket/ (advocates, ad- affectation /fek te()n/ noun some-
advocate affectation
vocating, advocated) verb to say that thing which someone says or does in a way
something is a good thing that does not seem natural or sincere
aerial / eril / noun a piece of equipment affected / fektd/ adj not natural or sin-
aerial affected
for receiving radio or TV signals cere

aerobic /e rbk/ adj using or needing affection / fek()n/ noun a feeling of
aerobic
affection
|
|
oxygen liking someone, especially a friend [~for]

aerobics /e rbks/ noun active exer-
aerobics
| They had no affection for their former

cises which aim to increase the amount of home. She always spoke of him with great
oxygen taken into the body (NOTE: takes a affection.
singular verb) affectionate / feknt/ adj showing
affectionate
aerodynamic /erda nmk / adj

aerodynamic
| love
referring to the movement of objects affidavit /f devt/ noun a written
affidavit
through the air statement which is signed and sworn be-

aerodynamics /erda nmks/
aerodynamics
|
fore a solicitor
noun the science of the movement of ob-
affiliate / fliet/ (affiliates, affiliating,
affiliate
jects through the air (NOTE: takes a singular affiliated) verb to connect something or
verb) someone to a larger group
aeronautical /er n
tk()l/ adj re-
aeronautical
affiliated / flietd/ adj connected to or

| affiliated
ferring to the flying of aircraft |
with another as an affiliate

aeroplane / erplen / noun a vehicle
aeroplane
affiliation /fli e()n/ noun the act or

affiliation
which flies in the air, carrying passengers | |
or goods fact of being affiliated

affinity / fnti/ noun the fact of being
affinity
aerosol / ersl/ noun tiny particles of a

aerosol
|
chemical in the air similar in character

affirm / f#
m/ (affirms, affirming, af-
affirm
aerospace / erspes/ noun earths

aerospace
|
atmosphere and space beyond it firmed) verb to state publicly that some-
aesthetic /i
s etk/ adj pleasant, from
aesthetic
|
thing is true
affirmation /f me()n/ noun a
affirmation
an artistic point of view (NOTE: The usual |
US spelling is esthetic.) statement that something is true

aesthetics /i
s etks/ noun the science affirmative / f#
mtv/ noun a word or
aesthetics affirmative
| |
of and study of beauty, especially in art statement meaning yes

affix 12
affix / fks/ noun a group of letters add- after /
ft/ prep 1. following or next
affix after
ed to the beginning or end of a word to in order to If today is Tuesday, the day af-
make a new word ter tomorrow is Thursday. They spoke
afflict / flkt/ (afflicts, afflicting, afflict- one after the other. Whats the letter after
afflict
ed) verb to make someone suffer (formal; of Q in the alphabet? 2. later than We ar-
a serious problem or illness) rived after six oclock. We dont let the
affliction / flk()n/ noun (formal ) 1.
affliction
|
children go out alone after dark. conj lat-
an illness affecting someone physically or er than a time After the snow fell, the mo-
mentally 2. something that causes distress torways were blocked. Phone me after
you get home. (NOTE: after is used with
affluence / fluns/ noun wealth
affluence
many phrasal verbs: to look after, to take

affluent / flunt/ adj very rich
affluent
after, etc.) after all 1. in spite of every-

afford / f
d/ (affords, affording, af-
afford
|
thing Everything was all right after all. 2.
forded) verb 1. to have enough money to the fact is He should be OK; after all, he
pay for something [to do something] How is eighteen now. after you you go first
will you afford such an expensive holiday? after-effects /
ft fekt/ plural noun
after-effects
be unable to afford, cant afford to be effects which follow after something The
unable to accept something because it after-effects of the bomb lasted for years.
might cause you a problem I cant afford The operation can have some unpleasant
a delay of more than three weeks. 2. to have after-effects.
enough time or resources to do something afterlife /
ftlaf/ noun 1. life believed
afterlife
without it causing a problem We can af- to go on after death 2. a stage of life that
ford to wait three weeks but no longer. follows a period or event
They couldnt afford to lose any more pub- aftermath /
ftm
/ noun the period
aftermath
lic support. (NOTE: always with can or

immediately after a bad event when its ef-
could)
fects are seen
affordable / f
db()l/ adj which can
affordable
afternoon /
ft nu
n/ noun the time
| afternoon
be afforded between midday and the evening He al-

affront / frnt/ noun an action which in-
affront
|
ways has a little sleep in the afternoon.
sults someone There is an afternoon flight to Paris. Can
afloat / flt/ adv 1. floating, not sink-
afloat
| we meet tomorrow afternoon?

ing She kept afloat by holding on to a afters /
ftz/ noun a sweet course of a
afters
piece of wood. Our boat was driven onto meal (informal)

the beach by the storm, but we managed to aftershave /
ftev/, aftershave lo-
aftershave
get it afloat again. 2. (of a company) not in tion noun a lotion for soothing skin after
financial difficulties I wonder how they shaving
manage to stay afloat when the market is aftershock /
ftk/ noun a light earth
aftershock
so difficult. tremor felt after a major earthquake

afraid / fred/ adj frightened of some-
afraid
aftertaste /
fttest/ noun 1. a taste
aftertaste
|
thing or someone I am afraid of snakes. that continues after something has been
He is too afraid to climb the ladder. to
eaten or drunk 2. an unpleasant feeling af-
be afraid (that) to be sorry to say Im ter something has happened
afraid that all the cakes have been sold. afterthought /
ft
t/ noun some-
afterthought
You cant see the boss Im afraid hes ill. thing which you only think of or do later
Have you got a pocket calculator? No,
afterwards /
ftwdz/ adv later
afterwards
Im afraid not.
Well have lunch first and go shopping af-
African / frkn/ adj referring to Af-
African
terwards.
rica noun a person from Africa
again / (en/ adv 1. another time He
again
African American /frkn

African American |
|
had to take his driving test again. again
merkn/, Afro-American noun an Amer- and again several times, usually in a firm
ican whose ancestors came from Africa or determined way The police officer
African Caribbean /frkn kr
African Caribbean
|
asked the same question again and again.
bi
n/ noun someone from the Caribbean 2. back as you were before Although I
whose ancestors came from Africa like going on holiday, Im always glad to
Afro- / fr/ prefix African, or between
Afro-
be home again.
Africa and another country against / (enst/ prep 1. so as to touch
against
Afro-Caribbean /fr kr bi

n/
Afro-Caribbean
| He was leaning against the wall. She

noun same as African Caribbean hit her head against the low doorway. 2. in
13 agreement
opposition to England is playing against aggressor / (res/ noun a person or
aggressor
South Africa tomorrow. Its hard cycling country that attacks another
uphill against the wind. They went aggrieved / (ri
vd/ adj annoyed be-
aggrieved
against his advice. cause you have been badly treated

age /ed/ noun the number of years aggro / (r/ noun violent quarrelling
age
aggro
which you have lived She is thirty years or disagreement

of age. He looks younger than his age. aghast / (
st/ adj filled with horror
aghast
plural noun ages a very long time (informal) and amazement

Ive been waiting here for ages. It took
agile / dal/ adj that can move easily
agile
us ages to get served. under age younger

agitate / dtet/ (agitates, agitating,
agitate
than the legal age to do something under-

agitated) verb to stir up public opinion for
age drinkers
or against something (NOTE: + agitator n)
aged1 /edd/ adj with the age of a
aged
agitated / dtetd/ adj very nervous,

agitated
girl aged nine She died last year, aged

83. worried or upset and often not able to keep
still
aged2 / edd/ adj very old an aged
aged
AGM /e di
em/ abbr annual general
AGM
man
meeting
age group / ed (ru
p/ noun all the
age group
agnostic /( nstk/ noun a person who

agnostic
people of a particular age

|
believes that no one can know if God ex-

ageing / ed/ adj which is becoming
ageing
ists. Compare atheist

older (NOTE: The US spelling is aging.) ago / (/ adv in the past He phoned
ago
age limit / ed lmt/ noun the young-

age limit |
a few minutes ago. This all happened a

est or oldest age at which you are allowed long time ago. (NOTE: ago always follows a
to do something word referring to time)
agency / ednsi / (plural agencies)
agency
agonise / (naz/ (agonises, agonis-

agonise
noun an office which represents another ing, agonised), agonize verb to spend a lot
firm an advertising agency of time worrying about something
agenda / dend/ noun 1. a list of
agenda
agonising / (naz/, agonizing adj

agonising
|
points for discussion whats on the 1. (of pain) very strong and painful 2. very
agenda? what are we going to discuss? 2. unhappy and difficult
a set of things that someone plans to do agony / (ni/ noun extreme pain
agony
top of your agenda what someone wants

agony aunt / (ni
nt/ noun a person
agony aunt
most A holiday is top of my agenda at

present. who writes an agony column
agony column / (ni klm/ noun a
agony column
agent / ednt/ noun 1. a person who

agent
works for or represents someone else newspaper column giving advice on per-
Our head office is in London but we have sonal problems
agree / (ri
/ (agrees, agreeing,
agree
an agent in Paris. 2. a person or thing that |
causes something an agent of change agreed) verb 1. to say yes or give permis-
sion After some discussion he agreed to
age of consent /ed v kn sent/
age of consent
our plan. (NOTE: You agree to or on a plan.)

|
noun the age at which someone can legally

2. to say or show that you have the same
agree to have sex
opinion as someone else Most of the
age-old / ed ld / adj, adv which has
age-old
group agreed with her suggestion.

existed for a long time agreeable / (ri
b()l/ adj pleasant
agreeable
aggravate / (rvet/ (aggravates, ag-

aggravate |
agreed / (ri
d/ adj which has been ac-
agreed
gravating, aggravated) verb 1. to make

cepted
something worse 2. to annoy someone
agreement / (ri
mnt/ noun 1. the
agreement
aggravating / (rvet/ adj who or

aggravating |
act or fact of thinking the same to reach

which annoys someone (informal) an agreement or to come to an agreement
aggression / (re()n/ noun a feel-
aggression
|
on salaries Agreement between the two
ing of anger against someone that is ex- sides is still a long way off. they are in
pressed, especially in physical force an agreement with our plan they agree with
act of aggression an attack on someone our plan We discussed the plan with them
aggressive / (resv/ adj ready to at-
aggressive
|
and they are in agreement. 2. a contract
tack someone to draw up or to draft an agreement We
aggressively / (resvli/ adv as if
aggressively
| signed an agreement with an Italian com-

wanting to attack someone pany.
agriculture 14
agriculture / (rklt/ noun the aimless / emls/ adj without any partic-
agriculture aimless
practice of growing crops or raising ani- ular plan (NOTE: + aimlessly adv)
mals on farms aint /ent/ short for is not, has not, have
aint
ah /
/, aah interj showing surprise not (informal) It aint fair. He aint fin-
ah
noun an act of saying ah! The audience ished yet.

air /e/ noun 1. a mixture of gases
air
let out oohs and ahs as they watched the

lion tamers. which cannot be seen, but which is all
aha /
h
/ interj showing that something
aha
|
around us and which every animal breathes
has been discovered, especially expressing His breath was like steam in the cold air.
satisfaction or excitement 2. the air the space around things and

ahead / hed/ adv 1. in front Our
ahead
above the ground He threw the ball up
into the air. (NOTE: These meanings of air
|
team was losing, but now we are ahead

have no plural.) 3. an appearance or feeling
again. Run on ahead and find some seats
There was an air of gloom over the meet-
for us. You need to go straight ahead, and
ing. adj referring to a method of travel-
then turn left. 2. in future My diary is
filled with appointments for six weeks ling or sending goods using aircraft new
air routes verb (airs, airing, aired) to
ahead. 3. before We try to fill the vacan-
cies at least three weeks ahead. ahead of make a room or clothes fresh by giving
/ hed v/ 1. in front of Ahead of us was
them more air Lets open the windows to
air the room. by air in an aircraft I dont
|
a steep hill. They ran on ahead of the oth-

ers. 2. in a future time You have a mass of enjoy travelling by air. Its quicker to
send the letter by air.
work ahead of you. 3. before (informal)
air bag / e b(/ noun a bag in a car
air bag
They drafted in extra police ahead of the

international match. which inflates if there is an accident and
protects the driver or passenger
aid /ed/ noun 1. help, especially mon-
aid
airborne / eb
n/ adj 1. carried in the air
airborne
ey, food or other gifts given to people liv-

2. carried by an aircraft
ing in difficult conditions aid to the
air-conditioned / e knd()nd/ adj
air-conditioned
earthquake zone an aid worker (NOTE: |
This meaning of aid has no plural.) 2. some- having the temperature controlled by an
thing which helps you to do something air-conditioner
air-conditioner / e knd()n/
air-conditioner
kitchen aids verb (aids, aiding, aided) 1. |
to help something to happen 2. to help noun a device which filters and cools the
someone in aid of in order to help We air in a room
air-conditioning / e knd()n/
air-conditioning
give money in aid of the Red Cross. They |
are collecting money in aid of refugees. noun a system of controlling the tempera-
aide /ed/ noun a person employed to as- ture in a place such as a room or office or a
aide
sist someone important [~to] The politi- train

aircraft / ekr
ft/ (plural same) noun
aircraft
cian came to the meeting with two of his

aides.a former aide to the president a vehicle which flies in the air The pas-
AIDS /edz/ noun a viral infection which
AIDS
sengers got into or boarded the aircraft.
breaks down the bodys immune system The airline has a fleet of ten aircraft.
aircraft carrier / ekr
ft kri/ noun
aircraft carrier
a clinic for people with AIDS Full form ac-

quired immunodeficiency syndrome a large ship in a navy, which has a large flat
ailing / el/ adj 1. sick 2. in financial dif-
ailing
deck where aircraft can land and take off
airfare / efe/ noun the amount of mon-
airfare
ficulties
ey a passenger has to pay to travel on an
ailment / elmnt/ noun an illness,
ailment
aircraft
though not generally a very serious one
airfield / efi
ld/ noun a small, usually
airfield
aim /em/ noun what you are trying to

aim
military, airport
do His aim is to do well at school and
air force / e f
s/ noun a countrys mil-
air force
then go to university. One of our aims is

to increase the speed of service. verb itary air organisation
air hostess / e hsts/ noun a wom-
air hostess
(aims, aiming, aimed) 1. to plan to do

something We aim to go on holiday in an flight attendant (dated)
airing cupboard / er kbd/ noun
airing cupboard
June. 2. to point a gun at someone or some-

thing He was aiming or aiming a gun at a warm cupboard where clothes can be
the policeman. He was not aiming at the aired
airless / els/ adj without any air
airless
target.
15 align
airlift / elft/ noun an emergency trans- alarming / l
m/ adj frightening
airlift alarming
porting of something by air (NOTE: + airlift alarmist / l

mst/ adj which makes
alarmist
v) people feel frightened or worried when

airline / elan/ noun a company
airline
they do not need to an alarmist report

which takes people or goods to places in alas / ls/ interj showing sadness He
alas
aircraft The airline has been voted the died in the war, alas. Alas, there is no
most popular with business travellers. time left to continue the discussion.
Hes an airline pilot. albeit /
l bi
t / conj although
albeit
airliner / elan/ noun a large aircraft

|
airliner
album / lbm/ noun 1. a large book 2.

album
that carries passengers a collection of songs on a CD, cassette or

airmail / emel/ noun a way of send-
airmail
record
ing letters or parcels by air verb (air- alcohol / lkhl/ noun a substance in
alcohol
mails, airmailing, airmailed) to send let-

drinks such as beer or wine that can make
ters or parcels by air We airmailed the people drunk They will not serve alcohol
documents to New York. to anyone under the age of 18.
airplane / eplen/ noun US an aircraft
airplane
alcoholic /lk hlk/ adj relating to al-

alcoholic
airport / ep
t/ noun a place where
airport |
cohol
aircraft land and take off You can take the
alcoholism / lkhlz()m/ noun the
alcoholism
underground to the airport. We are due to

arrive at Heathrow Airport at midday. condition of depending on drinking alco-
hol regularly
airspace / espes/ noun the air above a
airspace
alcove / lkv/ noun a part of the wall

alcove
country
of a room which is set back
airtight / etat/ adj which does not al-
airtight
ale /el / noun a type of British beer, es-

ale
low air to get in or out

air time / e tam/ noun the amount of
air time pecially bitter beer, but not lager
alert / l#
t/ adj watching or listening
alert
time that is given to a programme or sub- |
ject in radio or TV broadcasting carefully, ready to notice something

A Level / e lev()l/ noun an examina-
A Level
air traffic controller /e trfk kn

air traffic controller
trl/ noun a person on land who gives tion taken by pupils aged 17 or 18 If you
instructions for the movements of aircraft pass your A Levels, you can go on to higher
as they land or take off education. Full form advanced level
airwaves / ewevz/ plural noun the way algae / ldi
/ plural noun very small or-
algae
airwaves
in which radio signals move through the air ganisms living in water or in wet condi-
airy / eri/ adj full of fresh air
airy
tions which have no stems or roots or
airy-fairy /eri feri/ adj not possible to
airy-fairy
leaves
algebra / ldbr/ noun a type of math-
algebra
put into practice (informal)

aisle /al/ noun a space for walking in be-
aisle
ematics where letters are used to represent
tween seats in something such as a plane, quantities
alias / elis/ noun a different name that is
alias
theatre or church, or between shelf units in

a shop not the persons own
ajar / d
/ adj slightly open alibi / lba/ (plural alibis) noun a claim
alibi
ajar
aka /e ke e/ abbr also known as

aka
that a person charged with a crime was
la carte / l k
t/ adv, adj made of
la carte somewhere else when the crime was com-
several dishes ordered separately from a mitted
alien / elin/ noun a person who is from
alien
menu
alarm / l
m/ noun 1. a loud warning
alarm
a foreign country
alienate / elinet/ (alienates, alienat-
|
alienate
sound An alarm will sound if someone

touches the wire. to raise the alarm to ing, alienated) verb 1. to make someone
warn everyone of danger 2. same as alarm feel unfriendly 2. to make someone not
clock verb (alarms, alarming, alarmed) want to support you
alienated / elinetd/ adj not feeling
alienated
to frighten someone I dont want to

alarm you, but theres a police car parked included or welcome, especially in society
outside your house. at large
alarm clock / l
m klk/ noun a alight / lat/ (alights, alighting, alight-
alarm clock alight
| |
clock which rings a bell to wake you up ed) verb to get off a vehicle (formal)
alarmed / l
md / adj worried and align / lan/ (aligns, aligning, aligned)
alarmed align
| |
frightened verb to arrange in line with

alike 16
alike / lak/ adj very similar She is allergic to cats. to be allergic to
alike
| adv in a
similar way My sister and I just dont someone or something to dislike some-
think alike. The change will affect rich thing or someone very much (informal)
and poor alike. He is allergic to jazz. She is allergic to
alive / lav/ adj 1. living He was still men with beards.
alive
alive when he was rescued from the burn- allergy / ldi/ (plural allergies) noun a
allergy
ing building. When my grandfather was bad reaction to a substance which makes
alive, there were no supermarkets. (NOTE: you sneeze, or makes your skin itch, e.g.
not used in front of a noun: the fish is alive She has an allergy to household dust. The
but a live fish.) 2. lively The holiday vil- baby has a wheat allergy.
lage really comes alive at night. to come alleviate / li
viet/ (alleviates, alleviat-
alleviate
alive to become busy and active ing, alleviated) verb to make something
alkali / lkla/ noun a substance that can
alkali
less painful
make an acid into a salt alley / li/ noun a narrow little street
alley
alkaline / lklan/ adj containing more

alkaline
alliance / lans/ noun a formal

alliance
alkali than acid

|
agreement between two or more groups or

all /
l/ adj, pron everything or everyone
all
countries
They all or All of them like coffee. All
allied / lad/ adj joined in an alliance
allied
trains stop at Clapham Junction. Did you

alligator / l(et/ noun a large reptile
alligator
pick all (of) the tomatoes? Where are all

the children? adv completely The like a crocodile, found in the southern parts
ground was all white after the snow had of the United States
all-important /
l m p
tnt/ adj very
all-important
fallen. I forgot all about her birthday. |
all along right from the beginning all at important or necessary

once /
l t wns/ suddenly all in 1. all-inclusive /
l n klu
sv/ adj that in-
all-inclusive
tired out 2. including everything all of a cludes everything

sudden /
l v sd()n/ suddenly all
all-in rate /
l n ret /, all-in price /
l
all-in rate
over 1. everywhere over something 2. fin-

n pras/ noun a price which covers every-
ished all right /
l rat/ well She was thing
ill yesterday but shes all right now. all
all-night /
l nat/ adj lasting, open or
all-night
the same in spite of this Im not really

keen on horror films, but Ill go with you all available throughout the night, or through-
the same. all by yourself all alone You out a specific night
allocate / lket/ (allocates, allocat-
allocate
cant do it all by yourself. Im all by my-

self this evening my girlfriends gone out. ing, allocated) verb to give something out
Allah / l/ noun the Muslim name for to various people
Allah
allot / lt/ (allots, allotting, allotted)

allot
God |
allay / le/ (allays, allaying, allayed) verb to give something to someone as a

allay
verb to calm something share of something

allegation /l (e()n/ noun the sug- allotment / ltmnt/ noun 1. the proc-
allegation allotment
| |
gestion that someone may have done ess of giving out money or other items to
something wrong different people, groups or activities 2. a
allege / led/ (alleges, alleging, al- piece of land which belongs to a local
allege
leged) verb to suggest that someone may council and which can be rented for grow-
have done something wrong ing vegetables
alleged / ledd/ adj suggested as a fact all-out /
l at/ adj total, involving a lot
alleged all-out
but not proved of work

allegiance / li
d()ns / noun the fact of allow / la/ (allows, allowing, al-
allegiance allow
| |
being loyal lowed) verb to let someone do something

allegory / l(()ri/ noun a painting or
allegory
She allowed me to borrow her book.

story where the characters represent ideas Smoking is not allowed in the restaurant.
or are symbols of something else You are allowed to take two pieces of hand
allergen / ldn/ noun a substance luggage onto the plane.
allergen
which produces an allergic reaction allowance / lans/ noun 1. an amount

allowance
allergic / l#
dk/ adj suffering from or of money paid to someone regularly a
allergic
referring to an allergy to be allergic to weekly allowance 2. an amount of money

something to react badly to a substance which you are allowed to earn without pay-
Many people are allergic to grass pollen. ing tax on it to make allowances for to
17 alter
take something into account You must one side of the castle. 2. in a straight for-
make allowances for his age. ward direction She ran along the pave-
alloy / l/ noun a mixture of metals ment. Walk along the street until you
alloy
all-purpose /
l p#
ps/ adj which can
all-purpose
come to the post office. I was just driving
be used in many different situations along when I caught sight of my brother. 3.
all-round /
l rand/ adj able to do
all-round to a place John came along after about
many things well, or useful in a number of five minutes. Is it OK if I bring a friend
different ways, not specialised adv 1. along?
alongside / lsad/ prep at the side
alongside
considering everything 2. for, from or in- |
volving everyone of The ship was tied up alongside the

all-rounder /
l rand / noun a person
all-rounder quay. adv so as to be beside or level with
who is good at anything something We had stopped at a red light
when a police car pulled up alongside.
all-time /
ltam/ adj biggest, best,
all-time
aloof / lu
f/ adj quiet, private and un-
aloof
worst, etc., ever (informal) friendly to other people

allude / lu
d/ (alludes, alluding, allud-
allude
aloud / lad/ adv in a voice which can

aloud
|
|
ed) verb to refer to something in an indirect be easily heard

way [~to] He alluded to the issue in his
alpha / lf/ noun the first letter of the
alpha
speech, without giving any details.

Greek alphabet, or a mark showing the best
allure / l, lj/ noun a mysteriously
allure
| |
results. Symbol α
attractive quality alphabet / lfbet/ noun a series of let-
alphabet
alluring / lr, ljr/ adj very at-

alluring
| |
ters in a specific order, e.g. A, B, C, etc.
tractive G comes before H in the alphabet. If
allusion / lu
()n/ noun an indirect ref-
allusion
|
youre going to Greece on holiday, you
erence to something ought to learn the Greek alphabet.
ally1 / la/ (plural allies) noun a coun- alphabetical /lf betk()l/ adj relat-
ally
alphabetical
try which works together with another, es- ing to the alphabet in alphabetical order
pecially in a war in order of the first letter of each word
ally2 / la/ (allies, allying, allied) verb
ally
| The words in the dictionary are in alpha-

to ally yourself with or to someone to join betical order. Sort out the address cards
forces with someone The unions have al- into alphabetical order of the peoples
lied themselves with the opposition. names.
almighty /
l mati/ adj very powerful, alphabetise / lfbetaz/ (alphabetis-
almighty alphabetise
very loud es, alphabetising, alphabetised), alpha-

almond /
mnd/ noun a type of nut betize verb to put words into alphabetical
almond
almost /
lmst/ adv nearly Lon-
almost
order, especially automatically
already /
l redi/ adv before now or
already
don is almost as far from here as Paris. |
Shes almost as tall as I am. Shell eat al- before the time mentioned Ive already
most anything. Hurry up, its almost time done my shopping. It was already past
for the train to leave. ten oclock when he arrived.
alright /
l rat/ adj, adv another spelling
alright
alone / ln/ adj 1. with no one else

alone
|
|
She lives alone with her cats. He was all of all right
Alsatian /l se()n/ noun a type of
Alsatian
alone in the shop. 2. only She alone knew |
the importance of the message. adv with- large dog, often used as a guard dog
also /
ls/ adv in addition to some-
also
out other people We dont let the children

go out alone after dark. I dont like trav- thing or someone else that has been men-
elling alone. leave alone 1. not to disturb tioned Hes a keen cyclist and his sister
someone Leave your sister alone, shes also likes to cycle when she can. She
trying to read. 2. to stop touching or play- sings well and can also play the violin.
ing with something Leave the cat alone, (NOTE: also is usually placed before the
it doesnt like being stroked. Leave those main verb or after a modal or auxiliary verb.)
keys alone, the noise is annoying me. to altar /
lt/ noun a table for important
altar
go it alone to do something, especially a objects in religious ceremonies, especially

business activity, without help from any- in a church
one alter /
lt/ (alters, altering, altered)
alter
along / l/ prep 1. by the side of

along
| verb to become different, or make some-

He has planted fruit trees along both sides thing different, especially in small ways or
of the garden path. The river runs along in parts only They wanted to alter the
alteration 18
terms of the contract after they had signed am /m, m/ 1st person present singu-
am
it. The shape of his face had altered lar of be

slightly. (NOTE: Do not confuse with altar.) a.m. /e em/ adv before midday I
a.m.
alteration /
lt re()n/ noun 1. the
alteration
|
have to catch the 7 a.m. train to work every
act of becoming different or of making day. Telephone calls made before 6 a.m.
something different 2. something that has are charged at the cheap rate. (NOTE: a.m.
been, or needs, changing She made some is usually used to show the exact hour and
alterations in the design. the word oclock is left out. The US spelling
alternate1 /
l t#
nt/ adj every other
alternate
| is A.M.)
one We see each other on alternate Sun- amalgamate / ml(met/ (amalga-
amalgamate
days. mates, amalgamating, amalgamated)

alternate2 /
ltnet/ (alternates, alter-
alternate
verb to combine things together [~with]

nating, alternated) verb to keep changing Our college amalgamated with Kings Col-
from one particular position or state to an- lege a few years ago. (NOTE: + amalgama-
other tion n)
alternative /
l t#
ntv/ adj 1. in amass / ms / (amasses, amassing,
alternative
amass
|
|
place of something else Do you have an amassed) verb to collect a lot of money,
alternative solution? If the plane is full, information or things
we will put you on an alternative flight. 2. amateur / mt, mt/ noun 1. a
amateur
following a different way from usual person who is not paid to play his or her
noun something which you do instead of sport 2. a person who does something be-
something else Now that shes ill, do we cause he or she likes doing it
have any alternative to calling the holiday
amateurish / mtr/ adj not done
amateurish
off?
alternatively /
l t#
ntvli/ adv used to
alternatively well or in a professional way
amaze / mez/ (amazes, amazing,
| amaze
offer a different possibility You could go |
tonight. Alternatively, we could both go to- amazed) verb to surprise someone very
morrow. much
alternative medicine /
lt#
ntv amazed / mezd/ adj very surprised
amazed
alternative medicine
|
|
med()sn/ noun the treating of diseases amazement / mezmnt / noun great

amazement
by means such as herbal medicines which surprise To his amazement he won first
are not usually used by doctors prize.
although /
l / conj in spite of the amazing / mez/ adj 1. very sur-
although amazing
| |
fact that Although it was freezing, she prising It was amazing that she never
didnt put a coat on. Ive never been into suspected anything. 2. extremely interest-
that shop although Ive often walked past ing and unusual It was an amazing expe-
it. rience, sailing so far from land at night.
altitude / lttju
d/ noun the height ambassador /m bsd/ noun a per-
altitude
ambassador
above sea level son who is regarded as a representative or

altogether /
lt (e/ adv taking
altogether
| a symbol of something
everything together The food was 10 amber / mb/ noun a yellow to dark
amber
and the drinks 5, so that makes 15 alto- brown substance which can be used for
gether. The staff of the three shops come making jewellery
to 200 altogether. ambidextrous / mb dekstrs/ adj
ambidextrous
altruistic /ltru stk/ adj not selfish

altruistic |
|
able to use either the right or left hand
aluminium /l mnim/ noun a silver-
aluminium
|
equally well
coloured metal which is extremely light ambience / mbins / noun the charac-
ambience
(NOTE: The US spelling is aluminum.) ter and general feeling of a place

always /
lwez/ adv 1. every time
always

ambiguity /mb (ju
ti/ noun the fact
ambiguity
She is always late for work. Why does it |
always rain when we want to go for a of having two meanings

ambiguous /m b(jus/ adj having
ambiguous
walk? 2. all the time Its always hot in |
tropical countries. 3. frequently, especially two meanings and therefore not being clear
ambition /m b()n/ noun a wish to do
ambition
when someone finds it annoying Shes |
always asking me to lend her money. something special His great ambition is
Alzheimers disease / ltshamz d to ride on an elephant.
Alzheimers disease
zi
z/ noun a disease of the brain that leads ambitious /m bs / adj with high
ambitious
to memory loss that gets worse and worse aims

19 amplify
ambivalent /m bvlnt/ adj not sure amoebic / mi
bk / adj caused by an
ambivalent amoebic
| |
or decided amoeba
amble / mb()l/ (ambles, ambling, am- among / m/, amongst / mst/
amble among
| |
bled) verb to walk in a relaxed way without prep 1. surrounded by or in the middle of
hurrying He was standing among a crowd of tour-
ambulance / mbjlns/ noun a van ists. 2. between a number of people in a
ambulance
which carries sick or injured people to hos- group Lets share the cake among us. 3.
pital When she fell down the stairs, her in addition to other people or things Jack
husband called an ambulance. was there, among others.
ambush / mb/ (ambushes, ambush- amoral /e mrl / adj not caring about
ambush amoral
ing, ambushed) verb to wait hidden and at- right and wrong
tack someone by surprise (NOTE: + ambush amorous / mrs/ adj showing sexual
amorous
n) love
amen /
men, e men/ interj meaning amorphous / m
fs/ adj with no par-
amen
amorphous
| |
|
let this be so used at the end of Christian ticular shape

prayers amount / mant/ noun a quantity of
amount
amend / mend/ (amends, amend-

|
amend
|
something The amount in my bank ac-
ing, amended) verb to change for the better count has reached 1000. We spent a
amendment / mendmnt/ noun a large amount of time just waiting. a cer-
amendment
change intended to make something better tain amount some but not a lot Painting
amenity / mi
nti/ (plural amenities)
amenity
| the house will take a certain amount of

noun a feature that makes a place attrac- time.
tive, enjoyable or comfortable to be in amount to phrasal verb 1. to make a total
American / merkn/ adj relating to of My years savings amount to less
American
America or to the United States than 1000. 2. to be similar or equal to

American football /merkn something I think what he said amounts
American football
ftb
l/ noun a type of football played in to a refusal to take part. 3. to amount
the United States to the same thing to mean the same, to
American Indian /merkn ndin/
American Indian
|
be the same Whether he took cash or
adj referring to Native Americans free holidays, it all amounts to the same
amethyst / mst / noun a purple
amethyst
thing. The remaining problems dont
stone which can be used for making jewel- amount to much.
amp /mp/ noun a piece of equipment
amp
lery
amiable / emib()l/ adj friendly and
amiable
which can make sounds louder
ampersand / mpsnd/ noun a print-
ampersand
pleasant
amicable / mkb()l/ adj done in a
amicable
ing sign (&) meaning and
amphetamine /m fetmi
n/ noun a
amphetamine
friendly way |
amid / md/ prep in the middle of

amid
|
drug which is supposed to increase the us-
amino acid /mi
n sd/ noun one
amino acid
|
ers energy levels
amphibian /m fbin/ noun an animal
amphibian
of the chemicals that combine to make pro- |
tein. Humans are only able to produce that lives both in water and on land
amphibious /m fbis/ adj living both
amphibious
some amino acids in their bodies, so others |
have to be absorbed from food. in water and on land

ammonia / mni/ noun a strong poi- amphitheatre / mft/ noun 1. a
ammonia amphitheatre
sonous gas or liquid used in cleaning prod- circular or oval building without a roof
ucts where theatrical events or sports competi-
ammunition /mj n()n/ noun ob- tions are held 2. a lecture hall or upper part
ammunition
jects such as bombs and bullets, which can of a theatre with seats arranged in a semi-
be fired from weapons circle ( NOTE: The US spelling is amphi-
amnesia /m ni
zi/ noun a medical theater.)
amnesia
ample / mpl / adj large enough

ample
state when you forget everything

amnesty / mnsti/ (plural amnesties) amplifier / mplfa/ noun a piece of
amnesty amplifier
noun a period during which criminals will equipment which makes sound louder
not be punished amplify / mplfa/ (amplifies, amplify-
amplify
amoeba / mi
b/, ameba / mi
b/
amoeba
| | ing, amplified) verb 1. to make a sound

noun a living thing which consists of a sin- louder 2. to explain something in more de-
gle cell tail (NOTE: + amplification n)
amputate 20
amputate / mpjtet/ (amputates, anal / en()l/ adj referring to the anus
amputate anal
amputating, amputated) verb to cut off an analgesic /n()l di

zk/ noun a pain-
analgesic
arm, leg, finger or toe (NOTE: + amputation killing drug

n) analogous / nl(s/ adj similar
analogous
amuse / mju
z / (amuses, amusing, analogy / nldi/ noun a similarity
amuse
analogy
|
|
amused) verb 1. to make someone laugh between two things

This story will amuse you. to amuse analyse / nlaz/ (3rd person present
analyse
yourself to play or get pleasure from what plural analyses, present participle analys-
you are doing The children amused them- ing, past participle analysed), analyze verb
selves quietly while their parents talked. 2. to examine closely and scientifically
to make the time pass pleasantly for some- analysis / nlss/ (plural analyses)
analysis
one How can we amuse the children on noun a close examination of the parts or el-
the journey? ements of something job analysis to
amused / mju
zd/ adj thinking that
amused
|
make an analysis of the sales or a sales
something is funny analysis to carry out an analysis of the
amusement / mju
zmnt/ noun a feel-
amusement
| market potential
ing of pleasure caused by something that is analyst / nlst/ noun 1. a person who
analyst
funny to someones amusement mak- carries out analyses 2. a doctor who is

ing someone feel pleasure in a funny situa- trained in psychoanalysis
tion Much to her amusement, the band analytical /n ltk()l/ adj examining
analytical
played Happy Birthday to you!. something in detail

amusement arcade / mju
zmnt
amusement arcade
anarchic / n
kk /, anarchical /
anarchic
| |
ked/ noun a place with machines for

| |
n
kkl/ adj without any law or order
playing games anarchist / nkst/ noun a person who
anarchist
amusement park / mju

zmnt p
k/
amusement park
|
tries to destroy a government by violent
noun an open-air park with various types of means, without planning to replace it in
entertainment any way
amusing / mju
z/ adj funny
amusing
anarchy / nki/ noun a lack of law and

anarchy
|
an /n, n/ article same as a2 1

an
order, because the government has lost

anachronism / nkrnz()m/ noun a control or because there is no government
anachronism
anathema / nm/ noun something

anathema
thing which is out of date and does not be- |
long to the present time which you dislike very much

anachronistic /nkr nstk/ adj not anatomy / ntmi/ noun the structure
anachronistic anatomy
| | |
fitting the period when a play or film is of the body or of part of the body
supposed to take place ancestor / nsest/ noun a member of a
ancestor
anaemia / ni
mi / noun a condition family who has been dead for a long time
anaemia
where the level of red blood cells is less ancestry / nsestri/ noun your family
ancestry
than normal (NOTE: The US spelling is ane- going back over many generations
mia.) anchor / k/ noun a large metal hook
anchor
anaesthetic /ns etk / noun a sub-

anaesthetic
| which holds a ship in place verb (an-

stance given to a patient to remove feeling, chors, anchoring, anchored) 1. (of a ship)
so that he or she can have an operation to drop an anchor to stay in the same place
without feeling pain (NOTE: The US spelling 2. to hold something firmly in position
is anesthetic.) anchorman / kmn/ (plural an-
anchorman
anaesthetise / ni
staz/ (anaesthe- chormen) noun the main presenter on a TV
anaesthetise
tises, anaesthetising, anaesthetised), news show

anaesthetize verb to give a patient an an- anchovy / ntvi, n tvi/ (plural
anchovy
aesthetic (NOTE: The US spelling is anes- anchovies or same) noun a small, very
thetize.) salty fish
anaesthetist / ni
stst/ noun a per- ancient / ennt/ adj very old, or be-
anaesthetist ancient
son whose job is to give patients anaesthet- longing to a time long ago He was riding
ics (NOTE: The US term is anesthesiolo- an ancient bicycle.
gist.) and /n, nd, nd/ conj used to join
and
anagram / n(rm/ noun a word or

anagram
two words or phrases All my uncles and

phrase containing the letters of another aunts live in the country. The children
word or phrase in a different order, e.g. were running about and singing. Come
Cathy is an anagram of yacht and sit down next to me. (NOTE: and is used
Intermediate.fm Page 21 Friday, August 27, 2004 11:34 AM
21 annoyance
angular /jl/ adj 1. with sharp cor-
angular
to say numbers after 100: seven hundred

and two (702)) and so on, and so forth, ners 2. with sharp-looking bones
and so on and so forth with other similar animal /nm()l/ noun a living thing
animal
things He talked about plants, flowers, that moves independently I love having
vegetables, and so on. animals as pets. (NOTE: animal may include
anecdotal /nkdt()l/ adj coming
anecdotal
|
humans in scientific contexts.)
from stories told by individual people animated /nmetd/ adj full of life
animated
anecdote /nkdt/ noun a usually

anecdote
and energy
humorous story based on something which animation /nme()n/ noun 1. be-
animation
has taken place ing lively 2. the process of making animat-

anemia, anemic US spelling of anaemia
anemia
ed films
anesthesia, anesthetic, anesthetist,
anesthesia
animosity /nmsti/ noun a strong

animosity
anesthetize US spelling of anaesthetist feeling of dislike towards someone

anesthesiologist noun US a person
anesthesiologist
ankle /kl/ noun the part of the body

ankle
whose job is to give patients anaesthetics where your leg joins your foot
(NOTE: The US term is anesthesiologist.)
annex /neks / (annexes, annexing, an-
annex
angel /end l/ noun 1. a heavenly being

angel
|
nexed) verb to take possession of land

2. a sweet, kind person
which belongs to another state (NOTE: + an-
anger / / noun a feeling of being
anger
nexation n)
very annoyed He managed to control his
annexe /neks/ noun a less important
annexe
anger. She couldnt hide the anger she

felt. building attached to another building
(NOTE: The US spelling is annex.)
angle /l/ noun a corner where
angle
annihilate /nalet/ (annihilates, an-

annihilate
two lines meet She planted the tree in the |
angle of the two walls. at an angle not nihilating, annihilated) verb to destroy
straight The shop front is at an angle to something completely (NOTE: + annihila-
the road. tion n)
anniversary /nvs()ri/ (plural
anniversary
angle for phrasal verb to try to get some- |
thing anniversaries) noun the same date as an

angle bracket /l brkt/ noun a
angle bracket
important event that happened in the past
annotate /ntet/ (annotates, anno-
annotate
printed symbol < or >, used around text, es-

pecially in instructions for a computer tating, annotated) verb to add notes to a
Anglican /lkn/ noun a member of text
Anglican
annotation /nte()n/ noun a note

annotation
the Anglican Church |
angling /l / noun the sport of added to a text

angling
catching fish with a rod (NOTE: + angler n) announce /nans/ (announces,

announce
Anglo- /l/ prefix English, between announcing, announced) verb to say

Anglo-
England and another country something officially or in public [~(that)]

angora /r/ adj made of wool She announced the results of the competi-
angora
from an angora tion. She announced that she would stand

angrily /rli/ adv in an angry way
angrily
for election.
announcement /nansmnt/
announcement
He shouted angrily when the children |
climbed over the fence. noun a statement made in public The

angry /ri/ (angrier, angriest) adj managing director made an announcement
angry
upset and annoyed, and sometimes want- to the staff. There were several an-
ing to harm someone The shopkeeper is nouncements concerning flight changes.
announcer /nans/ noun a person
announcer
angry with the children because they broke |
his window. He gets angry if the post is who reads the news or announces pro-
late. I am angry that the government is grammes on radio or TV
doing nothing to prevent crime. When the annoy /n/ (annoys, annoying, an-
annoy
cashier still hadnt arrived at midday the noyed) verb to make someone feel slightly
boss got angrier. angry, upset or impatient Their rude be-
angst /st/ noun great worry about life
angst
haviour really annoyed us.

anguish /w/ noun great mental annoyance /nns/ noun a feeling of
anguish annoyance
suffering being slightly angry, upset or impatient

anguished /wt/ adj showing or
anguished
There was a tone of annoyance in her

feeling great suffering voice. to someones annoyance so that
annoyed 22
someone is annoyed I took both sets of door to open the door to someone who
keys home with me, much to his annoyance. knocks or rings the bell No-one answered
annoyed / nd/ adj slightly angry, the door though I knocked twice. in an-
annoyed
upset or impatient He was annoyed with swer to as a reply to I am writing in an-

his neighbour who had cut down one of his swer to your letter of October 6th.
trees. I was annoyed to find someone had answer back phrasal verb to speak to
stolen my mobile phone. someone in a rude way
annoying / n / adj making you answerphone /
nsfn/ noun a
annoying answerphone
angry, upset or impatient [~that] How an- machine which answers the telephone au-
noying! I forgot to buy the milk. The baby tomatically when someone is not in the of-
has an annoying cough which wont go fice or at home, and allows messages to be
away. I find it very annoying that the post recorded
doesnt come before 10 oclock. ant /nt/ noun a small insect that lives in
ant
annual / njul/ adj happening once a

annual
large groups
year The village fair is an annual event. antagonise /n t(naz/ (antagonis-
antagonise
I get annual interest of 6% on my savings

es, antagonising, antagonised), antago-
account. (NOTE: + annually adv) nize verb to make someone feel angry or
annul / nl/ (annuls, annulling, an-
annul
|
impatient
nulled) verb to stop something being legal-
antagonism /n t(nz()m/ noun a
antagonism
ly valid The marriage was annulled strong feeling of dislike towards someone
They want to annul the contract.
antelope / ntlp/ noun an African
antelope
anomaly / nmli/ noun an unusual

anomaly
thing deer which can run very fast

antenna /n ten/ (plural antennae or
antenna
anon / nn/ abbr anonymous

anon
|
|
antennas) noun a persons ability to know

anonymity /n nmti/ noun the hid-
anonymity
ing of your real name something without being told

anthem / nm/ noun a song for a
anthem
anonymous / nnms/ adj without

anonymous
stating a name group of singers

anthology /n ldi/ (plural antholo-
anthology
anorak / nrk/ noun someone who is

anorak
|
too interested in a particular subject, espe- gies) noun a collection of stories or poems
anthrax / nrks/ noun a serious dis-
anthrax
cially one that seems unfashionable or dull

to other people (informal) ease of cows and sheep, which can be
anorexia /n reksi/ noun a condition caught by people
anorexia
anthropoid / nrpd/ adj similar to a

anthropoid
caused by an extreme fear of becoming fat

and marked by ill health as a result of not human
eating enough anthropology /nr pldi/ noun
anthropology
anorexic /n reksk/ adj referring to

anorexic
| the study of people and culture

or affected by anorexia anti- /nti/ prefix against
anti-
another / n/ adj, pron 1. one more

another
antibiotic /ntiba tk/ noun a sub-

antibiotic
|
|
Id like another cake, please. Would

stance which kills harmful organisms such
you like another? 2. a different one Hes as bacteria
bought another car. She tried on one
antibody / ntbdi/ (plural antibod-
antibody
dress after another, but couldnt find any-

ies) noun a natural substance produced by
thing she liked. each other, one another
the body to fight disease
answer /
ns/ noun 1. something
answer
anticipate /n tspet/ (anticipates,

anticipate
that you say or write when someone has |
asked you a question The answer to your anticipating, anticipated) verb 1. to expect
question is yes. 2. the act of picking up a something to happen [~(that)] We are an-
telephone that is ringing I phoned his of- ticipating floods or that there will be
fice but there was no answer. verb (an- floods. 2. to act because you see something
swers, answering, answered) 1. to speak is about to happen He anticipated trouble
or write words to someone who has spoken at the meeting and left early.
anticipation /nts pe()n/ noun
anticipation
to you or asked you a question [~that] He | |
never answers my letters. I answered excitement because you expect that some-
truthfully that the news had surprised me. thing will happen
2. to answer the phone to speak and lis- anticlimax /nti klamks / noun a
anticlimax
ten to a telephone caller His mother usu- feeling of disappointment when something
ally answers the phone. to answer the does not turn out as expected
23 apart
anticlockwise /nti klkwaz/ adv, anxious / ks/ adj 1. nervous and
anticlockwise anxious
adj in the opposite direction to the hands of very worried about something Shes anx-
a clock an anticlockwise movement He ious about the baby. 2. keen to do some-
was driving anticlockwise round the ring thing The shopkeeper is always anxious
road when the accident took place. to please his customers.
antics / ntks/ plural noun funny or silly anxiously / ksli/ adv in a nerv-
antics anxiously
behaviour the antics of the clowns in the ous, worried way They are waiting anx-
circus The students antics cost them iously for the results of the exam.
their places at university. any / eni / adj, pron 1. it doesnt matter
any
antidepressant /ntid pres()nt/ which Im free any day next week except
antidepressant
noun a drug that is used to treat a person Tuesday. 2. (usually in questions) a small
suffering from depression quantity Have you got any money left?
antidote / ntdt / noun 1. a substance Is there any food for me? Would you like
antidote
which balances the effect of a poison 2. any more to eat? Will any of your friends
something which balances a bad influence be there? notany not even a little more
antifreeze / ntifri
z/ noun a liquid you
antifreeze
(used to emphasise comparatives) He
put in the engine of a car to prevent it from cant cycle any faster. Shes been in hos-
freezing in cold weather pital for two weeks and isnt any better.
antipathy /n tpi / noun a strong dis-
antipathy
|
Cant you sing any louder? notany
like none I dont like any of the paintings in
the exhibition. Can you lend me some
antiquarian bookseller /nt
antiquarian bookseller
money? sorry, I havent got any.

kwerin bk sel/ noun a person who
anybody / enibdi/ pron same as any-
| anybody
sells old books

one
antiquated / ntkwetd/ adj very old
antiquated
anyhow / eniha/ adv 1. in a careless

anyhow
and out of date

way 2. same as anyway
antique /n ti
k/ noun an old and valua-
antique
anymore /eni m
/, any more not
| anymore
ble object He collects antiques. adj old |
and valuable an antique Chinese vase anymore no longer We dont go there

anymore.
antiquities /n tkwti
z/ plural noun
antiquities
anyone / eniwn/ pron any person at all

| anyone
old objects from ancient times

Anyone can learn to ride a bike. any-
antiquity /n tkwti/ noun ancient
antiquity
|
one else any other person Is there anyone
times else who cant see the screen?
anti-Semitic /nti s mtk/ adj show-
anti-Semitic
anyplace / enples/ adv US same as

anyplace
|
ing hate towards Jewish people anywhere (informal)

antiseptic /nt septk/ noun a sub-
antiseptic
anything / eni/ pron 1. it doesnt

anything
|
stance which prevents infection adj pre- matter what You can eat anything you
venting infection an antiseptic dressing want. Our dog will bite anything that
an antiseptic mouthwash moves. 2. (in questions or negatives) some-
antisocial /nti s()l/ adj unfriend-
antisocial
|
thing Did you hear anything make a
ly, not wanting to meet other people noise during the night? Has anything
antithesis /n tss/ (plural antithe-
antithesis
|
happened to their plans for a long holiday?
ses) noun the exact opposite of something Do you want anything more to drink?
antlers / ntlz/ plural noun the horns of
antlers
We didnt do anything interesting at the

a deer Deer grow new antlers each sum- weekend.
mer and then shed them in the winter. anyway / eniwe/ adv despite some-
anyway
antonym / ntnm/ noun a word which

antonym
thing else Im not supposed to drink dur-

means the opposite of another word ing the daytime, but Ill have a beer any-
anus / ens/ noun the opening at the end way. I think its time to leave anyway,
anus
of the rectum, through which solid waste the last bus is at 11.40.
matter passes from the body anywhere / eniwe / adv 1. it does not
anywhere
anxiety / zati/ (plural anxieties) matter where Put the chair anywhere. 2.
anxiety
noun 1. nervous worry about something (in questions or negatives) somewhere

[~about/over] Her anxiety about her job Did you go anywhere at the weekend? Is
prospects began to affect her health. 2. the there anywhere where I can sit down? I
state of being keen to do something In his cant see your wallet anywhere.
apart / p
t/ adv 1. separated The
apart
anxiety to get away quickly, he forgot to |
lock the door. two villages are about six miles apart. 2. in
apartheid 24
separate pieces He took the watch apart. apparent / prnt/ adj 1. easy to see
apparent
apart from except for Do you have any or accept as true It was apparent to eve-
special interests apart from your work? ryone that she was annoyed. 2. possibly
Im feeling fine, apart from a slight cold. different from what something seems to be
apartheid / p
thet/ noun a policy in There is an apparent mistake in the ac-
apartheid
the past in South Africa of separating black counts.

people from the white population apparently / prntli/ adv accord-
apparently
apartment / p
tmnt/ noun a sepa-
apartment
| ing to what you have seen or heard Ap-

rate set of rooms for living in She shares parently she took the last train home and
an apartment with a friend. then disappeared. He didnt come to
apathetic /p etk/ adj not caring work today apparently hes got a cold.
apathetic
about anything, not interested in anything apparition /p r()n/ noun some-

apparition
apathy / pi/ noun not having any in-

apathy
thing which you think you see

terest in anything appeal / pi
l / noun 1. an act of asking
appeal
ape /ep/ noun a large monkey

ape
for help The police have made an appeal

aperture / pt/ noun a little hole
aperture
for witnesses. The hospital is launching

apex / epeks / (plural apexes or apices) an appeal to raise 50,000. 2. an attractive
apex
noun the top or highest part of a pointed quality the strong appeal of Greece as a
shape holiday destination verb 1. to ask for
aphrodisiac /fr dzik/ noun a sub- something [~for] They appealed for mon-
aphrodisiac
stance which makes people want to have ey to continue their work. 2. to attract
sex adj making people want to have sex someone [~to] These CDs appeal to the
apiece / pi
s/ adv each
apiece
|
teenage market. The idea of working in
aplomb / plm/ noun a calm and self-
aplomb
|
Australia for six months appealed to her. 3.
confident attitude to make a legal request for a court to look
again at a decision [~against] He has ap-
apocalyptic /pk lptk/ adj warning
apocalyptic
| |
pealed against the sentence.
about the end of the world
appealing / pi
l/ adj 1. attractive
appealing
apocryphal / pkrf()l/ adj famous,

apocryphal |
The design has proved appealing to our

|
but probably not true

older customers. 2. wanting help or sup-
apologetic / pl detk/ adj showing
apologetic
| |
port The child gave her an appealing
that you are sorry for something look as she got up to leave. (NOTE: only
apologise / pldaz/ (apologis-
apologise
|
used before a noun)
es, apologising, apologised), apologize
appear / p/ (appears, appearing,
appear
verb to say you are sorry He shouted at

|
appeared) verb 1. to start to be seen A

her and then apologised. She apologised
ship appeared through the fog. 2. to seem
for being late. to be or do something [~(that)] She ap-
apology / pldi/ noun (plural apol-
apology
|
peared rather cross. There appears to be
ogies) an act of indicating that you are sor- a mistake. He appears to have forgotten
ry plural noun apologies a statement in- the time. It appears that they didnt re-
dicating that you are sorry, especially if ceive the invitation. 3. to play a part in a
you cannot attend a meeting My apolo- film or play or take part in a TV pro-
gies for being so late. Please give the gramme [~in/~on] She appears regularly
chairman my apologies. in shows on TV.
apostrophe / pstrfi/ noun a printing
apostrophe
appearance / prns/ noun 1. the

appearance
|
sign (), either showing that a letter has way that someone or something looks
been left out, e.g. werent, or after a noun You could tell from his appearance that he
to show possession, e.g. Bens coat or the had been sleeping rough. 2. the fact of be-
girls coats ing present somewhere, especially unex-
appal / p
l/ (appals, appalling, ap-
appal
|
pectedly The appearance of a teacher
palled) verb to shock or offend someone caused them to fall silent. to put in an
very much (NOTE: The US spelling is ap- appearance to go somewhere where other
pall.) people are for a short time 3. the beginning
appalled / p
ld/ adj very shocked
appalled
|
of something new the rapid appearance
appalling / p
l/ adj horrible, shock-
appalling
|
of mobile phone shops all over the country
ing They were worried by the sudden appear-
apparatus /p rets/ noun scientific
apparatus
| ance of a red rash. 4. an occasion when

or medical equipment someone is performing in a film or play or
25 apprentice
on TV This is her second appearance in plication to transfer to another depart-
a film. plural noun looks to keep up ap- ment.
pearances to try to show that you are still application form /pl ke()n
application form
as rich or important as you were before f

m/ noun a form which has to be filled
appease / pi
z/ (appeases, appeasing,
appease
| in to apply for something

appeased) verb 1. to give someone some- apply / pla/ (applies, applying, ap-
apply
thing that they want, even if it is unreason- plied) verb 1. to ask for something formally
able, to try to avoid worse problems arising [~for] She applied for a job in the super-
(NOTE: + appeasement n) 2. to try to avoid market. Hes applying for a place at uni-
or prevent something He ate an apple to versity. to apply to do something to ask
appease his hunger. formally if you can do something No-one
appendicitis /pend sats/ noun an has applied to join the club this year. 2. to
appendicitis
| |
illness that affects the appendix put something onto something Wait until
appendix / pendks/ (plural appen- the first coat of paint is dry before you ap-
appendix
dices) noun 1. a small part inside the body ply the second. 3. to affect or be relevant to
which has no real purpose but can become someone or something [~to] This rule
infected, causing appendicitis 2. a section only applies to people coming from outside
at the back of a book, containing additional the EU.
information appoint / pnt/ (appoints, appoint-
appoint
appetiser / ptaz/ noun a small ing, appointed) verb to give someone a job
appetiser
amount of food before a main meal He was appointed (as) manager or to the
appetising / ptaz/, appetizing adj post of manager. We want to appoint
appetising
looking or smelling good and making you someone to manage our sales department.
want to eat (NOTE: You appoint a person to a job.)
appetite / ptat/ noun 1. a need or appointment / pntmnt/ noun 1.
appointment
appetite
|
wish to eat Going for a long walk has an agreed time for a meeting I want to
given me an appetite. Hes not feeling make an appointment to see the doctor.
well and has lost his appetite. 2. a strong She was late for her appointment. on her
wish to do something She has an appetite appointment as manager when she was
for hard work. made a manager 2. the process of being
applaud / pl
d/ (applauds, applaud-
applaud
|
given a job 3. a job We are going to make
ing, applauded) verb to clap to show that three new appointments.
appraisal / prez()l/ noun a report
appraisal
you like something |
applause / pl
z/ noun the act of clap-
applause
|
on the value of someone or something
appraise / prez/ (appraises, apprais-
appraise
ping your hands together several times to |
show that you liked a performance ing, appraised) verb to judge how well
apple / p()l/ noun a common fruit
apple
someone or something is working
appreciable / pri
b()l/ adj able to
appreciable
that is hard, round and sweet, and grows on |
a tree Dont eat apples that are not ripe be felt or noticed
appreciate / pri
iet/ (appreci-
appreciate
theyll make you ill. | |
appliance / plans/ noun a machine ates, appreciating, appreciated) verb to

appliance
such as a washing machine or cooker used recognise the value of something Shop-
in the home pers always appreciate a bargain.
applicable / plkb()l/ adj able to be appreciation /pri
i e()n/ noun 1.
appreciation
applicable
| |
|
applied in particular cases showing that you recognise the value of

applicant / plknt/ noun a person
applicant
something 2. an increase in value
appreciative / pri
tv/ adj 1. being
appreciative
who applies for something job applicants |
Applicants for licences must fill in this very grateful 2. showing enjoyment
apprehension /pr henn/ noun a
apprehension
form. |
application /pl ke()n/ noun 1. worry about what is going to happen. Com-
application
the process of putting something on some- pare misapprehension

apprehensive /pr hensv/ adj wor-
apprehensive
thing else Several applications of the |
cream will be necessary. 2. the process or ried about the future

apprentice / prents/ noun a young
apprentice
act of applying for something such as a job |
or place on a course [~for] Weve received person who works as an assistant to a

dozens of applications for the job. an ap- skilled person in order to learn from them
plication to do something a formal re- Hes started work as a plumbers ap-
quest to do something Shes put in an apprentice.
apprenticeship 26
apprenticeship / prentsp/ noun aquarium / kwerim/ noun a tank for
apprenticeship aquarium
| |
the time someone spends as an apprentice keeping tropical fish in

approach / prt/ noun 1. the fact Aquarius / kweris/ noun one of the
approach Aquarius
|
|
of coming nearer With the approach of signs of the Zodiac, shaped like a person
winter we need to get the central heating carrying water, covering the period 20th
checked. 2. a way which leads to some- January to 18th February
thing The approaches to the city were aquatic / kwtk/ adj 1. living in water,
aquatic
crowded with coaches. 3. a way of dealing not on land (NOTE: Animals and plants that
with a situation His approach to the live on land are terrestrial.) 2. taking place
question was different from hers. verb in water
(approaches, approaching, approached)
aqueduct / kwdkt/ noun a high
aqueduct
to come near The plane was approaching bridge carrying water over a valley
the airport when the lights went out.
Arab / rb/ noun a person who speaks
Arab
approachable / prtb()l/ adj easy

approachable
to talk to Arabic and who comes from one of the

countries in the Middle East
approaching / prt/ adj coming
approaching
Arabic / rbk/ noun the language spo-

| Arabic
nearer
appropriate / prprit/ adj suita-
appropriate ken by Arabs
Arabic numeral /rbk nju
mrl/
|
Arabic numeral
ble for a particular situation That skirt is

not really appropriate for gardening. We noun one of the set of written symbols such
leave it to you to take appropriate action. as 2, 3 or 6 used to represent numbers.
approval / pru
v()l/ noun the act of
approval
|
Compare Roman numeral
arbiter /
bt/ noun a person who de-
arbiter
agreeing The committee gave their ap-

proval to the scheme. Does the choice of cides what is fashionable
arbitrary /
btrri/ adj done without
arbitrary
colour have your approval or meet with

your approval? any reason
approve / pru
v / (approves, approv- arbitration /
b tre()n/ noun the
approve arbitration
| |
ing, approved) verb 1. to agree to some- settling of an argument by an official

thing officially The committee approved judge, accepted by both sides (NOTE: + arbi-
the scheme. 2. to think something is good trate v; + arbitrator n)
[~of] He doesnt approve of loud music. arc /
k/ noun a curve, like part of a cir-
arc
approving / pru
v/ adj showing
approving
|
cle
agreement arcade /
ked/ noun a covered area
arcade
approximate / prksmt/ adj more or

approximate
|
for walking around a square or an area of
less correct shops
approximately / prksmtli/ adv
approximately
arcane /
ken/ adj mysterious and se-
arcane
|
|
not exactly It takes approximately 35 cret

minutes to get to the city centre from here. arch /
t/ noun a round structure
arch
apricot / eprkt/ noun a fruit with yel-

apricot
forming a roof or entrance verb (arches,

low flesh and a hard stone arching, arched) to make something round
April / eprl/ noun the fourth month of
April
like an arch The cat arched her back and

the year, the month after March and before started spitting.
May Her birthday is in April. We went archaeologist /
ki ldst/ noun
archaeologist
on holiday last April. (NOTE: April 5th or a person who studies or is a specialist in ar-
April 5: say the fifth of April or April the chaeology
fifth or in US English April fifth.)
archaeology /
ki ldi/ noun the
archaeology
apron / eprn/ noun 1. a piece of cloth-

apron |
digging up of buried remains of buildings

ing worn over the front of your usual to study ancient civilisations (NOTE: + ar-
clothes to protect them when cooking 2. (at
chaeological adj)
an airport) a piece of ground on which
archaic /
kek/ adj 1. dating from an-
archaic
planes can be parked |
apt /pt/ adj fitting well to be apt to do

apt
cient times 2. old-fashioned
archbishop /
t bp/ noun a bishop
archbishop
something to be likely to do something |
regularly Our old car was apt to break holding the highest rank
archer /
t/ noun a person who shoots
archer
down on motorways.
aptitude / pt tju
d/ noun a natural with a bow and arrows
aptitude
archery /
tri/ noun the sport of
archery
ability that can be developed further [~for]

She shows real aptitude for teaching. shooting arrows at targets
27 armchair
archetypal /
k tap()l/ adj very typi- arguably /
(jubli/ adv quite possibly
archetypal arguably
cal true
archetype /
ktap/ noun a typical ex- argue /
(ju
/ (argues, arguing, ar-
archetype argue
ample of something gued) verb to discuss without agreeing, of-

archipelago /
k pel(/ (plural ar- ten in a noisy or angry way They argued
archipelago
chipelagos or archipelagoes) noun a over the prices. She argued with the wait-
group of islands er about the bill. I could hear them argu-
architect /
ktekt/ noun a person
architect
ing in the next room. (NOTE: You argue with
who designs buildings someone about or over something.)
argument /
(jmnt/ noun a situa-
argument
architecture /
ktekt/ noun the
architecture
design of buildings tion in which people discuss something

without agreeing Nobody would back her
archive /
kav/ noun 1. an organised
archive
up in her argument with the boss. to get

collection of documents 2. a place where into an argument with someone to start
archives are kept 3. a copy of computer to argue with someone He got into an ar-
files stored on tape or disk gument with the taxi driver.
archives /
kavz/ plural noun a collec-
archives
argumentative /
(j menttv / adj
argumentative
tion of documents liking to argue

archway /
twe/ noun a passage
archway
arid / rd/ adj extremely dry because of

arid
which goes under an arch

a regular lack of rain
arctic /
ktk / adj 1. referring to the area
arctic
Aries / eri
z/ noun one of the signs of the
Aries
round the North Pole 2. extremely cold

noun the Arctic the area round the North
Zodiac, shaped like a ram, covering the pe-
Pole The Arctic is home to polar bears. riod 21st March to 19th April
arise / raz/ (arises, arising, arose,
arise
ardent /
d()nt/ adj very keen
ardent
|
arisen) verb to start to appear The prob-

arduous /
djus/ adj extremely diffi-
arduous
lem arose in the planning department.

cult and needing a lot of effort or work
aristocracy /r stkrsi/ noun the
aristocracy
are / ,
/ 1st person plural present of
are |
people of the highest class in society, usu-

be. 2nd person singular present of be. 2nd ally with titles such as Lord or Duke
person plural present of be. 3rd person plu-
aristocrat / rstkrt/ noun a member
aristocrat
ral present of be
of the aristocracy
area / eri/ noun 1. a space The
area
aristocratic /rst krtk/ adj refer-

aristocratic
whole area round the town hall is going to |
be rebuilt. We always sit in the no smok- ring to the aristocracy

arithmetic / rmtk / noun calcula-
arithmetic
ing area. 2. a measurement of the space |
taken up by something, calculated by mul- tions with numbers, especially as a subject

tiplying the length by the width The area studied at school
of the room is four square metres. We are arm /
m/ noun 1. the part of the body
arm
looking for a shop with a sales area of which goes from the shoulder to the hand
about 100 square metres. 3. a part of a He held the parcel under his arm. She
town or country Our house is near the tripped over the pavement and broke her
commercial area of the town. The factory arm. 2. the part of a chair which you can
is in a very good area for getting to the mo- rest your arms on He put his coffee cup
torways and airports. the London area on the arm of his chair. verb (arms, arm-
the part of England around London ing, armed) to give weapons to The po-
Houses in the London area are more ex- lice were armed with guns. arm in arm
pensive than elsewhere in the country. with arms linked together They walked
area code / eri kd/ noun a spe- down the street arm in arm.
area code
cial telephone number which is given to a armaments /

mmnts/ plural noun
armaments
particular area heavy weapons an important armaments

arena / ri
n/ noun 1. a building with manufacturer Britain has been supplying
arena
seats for people to sit and watch events like armaments to the Middle Eastern coun-
sports or fights 2. a field of activity where tries.
something happens armband /
mbnd/ noun a band of
armband
arent /
nt/ be
arent
cloth which goes round your arm

arguable /
(jub()l/ adj possibly not armchair /
mte/ noun a chair with
arguable armchair
true arms
armed 28
armed /
md/ adj 1. provided with food shop around. 3. in existence Shes
armed
weapons Most British policemen are not one of the best eye surgeons around. The
armed. Armed guards surrounded the new coins have been around for some
house. 2. involving weapons the armed weeks now.
struggle between the two groups 3. ready arousal / raz()l/ noun a feeling of
arousal
for use as a weapon The device is already sexual excitement

armed. armed with provided with arouse / raz/ (arouses, arousing,
arouse
Armed with picnic baskets, towels and aroused) verb 1. to make someone feel a
cameras, we set off for the beach. particular emotion 2. to make someone feel
armed forces /
md f
sz/, armed
armed forces
sexually excited. Compare rouse

services /
md s#
vsz/ plural noun the arrange / rend/ (arranges, arrang-
arrange
army, navy and air force of a country ing, arranged) verb 1. to put in order The
armful /
mfl/ noun an amount of
armful
chairs are arranged in rows. She ar-

things you can carry in your arms ranged the books in alphabetical order.
armistice /
msts / noun an agreement
armistice
The ground floor is arranged as an open-

to stop fighting plan area with a little kitchen at the side. 2.
armour /
m/ noun 1. metal clothing
armour
to make a plan for something Lets ar-

which soldiers wore in the past, to protect range to meet somewhere before we go to
their bodies 2. sheets of thick metal cover- the theatre. The tour has been arranged
ing on military ships or vehicles, to protect by the travel agent. She arranged for a
them against attack (NOTE: [all senses] The taxi to meet him at the airport. Ive ar-
US spelling is armor.) ranged with my mother that she will feed
armoured /
md/ adj protected by ar-
armoured
the cat while were away. (NOTE: You ar-

mour range for someone to do something; you ar-
armpit /
mpt/ noun the part of your range for something to be done; or you ar-
armpit
body under each arm where it joins the range to do something.)

body arrangement / rendmnt/ noun
arrangement
arms race /
mz res/ noun competi-
arms race
1. the process of putting things in order 2.

tion between countries to have the largest a general agreement We have an arrange-
number of weapons or the most powerful ment by which we meet for lunch every
weapons Tuesday. plural noun arrangements the
army /
mi / (plural armies) noun all activities involved in making plans for an
army
the soldiers of a country, trained for fight- event All the arrangements for the party
ing on land He left school at 16 and were left to me.
joined the army. An army spokesman array / re/ noun a display
array
held a news conference. arrest / rest/ verb (arrests, arresting,

arrest
aroma / rm/ noun a pleasant smell of

aroma
|
arrested) (of the police) to catch and hold
something you can eat or drink the aroma someone who has broken the law The po-
of freshly baked bread lice arrested two men and took them to the
aromatherapy /rm erpi/ noun a
aromatherapy
| |
police station. He ended up getting ar-
treatment with pleasant-smelling oils rested as he tried to leave the country.
aromatic /r mtk / adj with a strong
aromatic
| She was arrested for stealing, but the judge

pleasant smell let her off with a fine. noun the act of
arose / rz/ past tense of arise holding someone for breaking the law
arose
around / rand/ prep 1. going all The police made several arrests at the
around
round something She had a gold chain demonstration. under arrest held by the
around her neck. The flood water was all police After the fight, three people were
around the village. 2. close to or in a place under arrest.
arrival / rav()l/ noun 1. the act of
arrival
or area Is there a bus stop around here? |
3. in various places We have lots of com- reaching a place We announce the arrival
puters around the office. 4. not exactly It of flight AB 987 from Tangiers. We apol-
will cost around 200. Around sixty peo- ogise for the late arrival of the 14.25 ex-
ple came to the meeting. adv 1. in various press from Edinburgh. The time of arriv-
places Papers were lying around all over al is 5 p.m. 2. a person who has arrived
the floor. The restaurants were all full, so Hes a new arrival on our staff. plural
we walked around for some time. 2. in a po- noun arrivals the part of an airport that
sition that is fairly near We try not to talk deals with passengers who are arriving.
about it when shes around. Its the only Compare departure on arrival when you
29 as
arrive On arrival at the hotel, members of articulate2 /
tkjlt/ adj describes
articulate
the party will be allocated rooms. someone who expresses thoughts clearly
arrive / rav/ (arrives, arriving, ar- articulated lorry /
tkjletd lri/
arrive articulated lorry
|
|
rived) verb to reach a place They arrived noun a large truck with two or more parts
at the hotel tired out. The train from Paris which are connected so that they can move
arrives in London at 5 p.m. (NOTE: You ar- in different directions at the same time, e.g.
rive in a town or in a country but at a place.) when going around a corner
arrogant / r(nt/ adj very proud in an artifact /
tfkt/ another spelling of
arrogant
artifact
unpleasant way Hes such an arrogant artefact

young man. What an arrogant way to artificial /
t f()l/ adj not natural
artificial
treat customers! She was wearing artificial pearls.

arrow / r/ noun 1. a weapon made of
arrow
artificial intelligence /
tf()l n
artificial intelligence
a piece of wood with a sharp point 2. a teldns/ noun the use of computer pro-
printed sign &rarrowf; which points to grams to make machines do things which
something people can do
arsenal /
sn()l/ noun a store of weap-
arsenal
artificially /
t f()li/ adv in a way
artificially
ons that is not natural

arsenic /
snk/ noun a very poisonous
arsenic
artillery /
tlri/ noun the large guns
artillery
substance
|
that an army has

arson /
s()n/ noun the crime of setting
arson
artisan /
t zn/ noun a skilled worker
artisan
fire to something such as a building or |
some property who makes things with his or her hands

artist /
tst/ noun a person who is
artist
arson attack /
s()n tk/ noun an
arson attack
act of setting fire to something such as a skilled in making works of art such as
house paintings She collects paintings by 19th-
art /
t/ noun 1. the practice of creating
art century artists.
artiste /
ti
st/ noun a professional per-
artiste
objects, e.g. by painting, drawing or sculp- |
ture She is taking art lessons. When former such as a singer or dancer
artistic /
tstk/ adj 1. (of a person)
artistic
youre in Washington, dont miss the Muse- |
um of Modern Art. 2. the objects that are showing skill or interest in art 2. arranged
created in this way 3. a particular skill or or done in a way that shows skill and looks
ability He has mastered the art of not an- beautiful (NOTE: + artistically)
artistry /
tstri/ noun skill in a particu-
artistry
swering reporters questions.

artefact /
tfkt/, artifact noun an ob- lar art
artefact
arts /
ts/ plural noun 1. all work con-
arts
ject such as a tool or a dish that was made

by a person in the past nected with art 2. a subject of study which
artery /
tri/ (plural arteries) noun a is not a science, e.g. history or literature
artery
tube carrying blood from the heart around artwork /

tw#
k/ noun things such as
artwork
the body. Compare vein pictures or designs which are printed in a

arthritis /
rats/ noun a painful med- book or used in advertising
arthritis
ical condition affecting a joint, where two arty /

ti/, arty-crafty /
ti kr
fti/ adj
arty
bones meet pretending to be artistic; making artistic

artichoke /
ttk/ noun a tall thistle-
artichoke
things
like plant of which you boil the head and as /z, z/ conj 1. because As you
as
then eat the base of the leaves cant drive, youll have to go by bus. As
article /
tk()l/ noun 1. a report in a
article
its cold, you should wear an overcoat. 2. at

newspaper [~about/on] Did you read the the same time that something else happens
article on skiing in yesterdays paper? 2. As he was getting into the bath, the tele-
an object or thing Several articles of phone rang. The little girl ran into the
clothing were found near the road. 3. a road as the car was turning the corner. 3.
word used before a noun to show whether in the same way Leave everything as it is.
you are referring to a particular or general prep 1. in a particular job She had a job
example of something. The definite article as a bus driver. 2. because of being a par-
is the and the indefinite article is a or ticular type of person As a doctor, he has
an. to know the symptoms of all the common
articulate1 /
tkjlet/ (articulates,
articulate
| diseases. 3. in a particular way She was

articulating, articulated) verb to speak in a dressed as a nurse. They treated him as a
clear and careful way friend of the family. asas used in com-
asbestos 30
parisons as far as I can see She is near- She asked a policeman the way to the hos-
ly as tall as I am. I cant run as fast as pital. Joe went to the station to ask about
you. as from from a particular time as cheap tickets. Ask the assistant how much
from next Friday as if, as though in the the shoes cost. 2. to put a question to get
same way as asas used in comparisons someone to do something Ask your fa-
She is nearly as tall as I am. I cant run ther to teach you how to drive. Can I ask
as fast as you. as well in addition to you not to make so much noise? 3. to invite
something or someone else that has been someone to an event or to do something
mentioned She came to have tea and We asked them to our party. She asked me
brought her sister as well. We visited the to go skiing with her. to ask after some-
castle and swam in the pool as well. as one to ask for news about someone, espe-
well as in addition to or together with He cially about his or her health Several of
has a cottage in the country as well as a your colleagues were asking after you.
flat in town. As well as being a maths ask for phrasal verb to say that you want
teacher, he is a part-time policeman. something Someone came into the shop
asbestos /s bests/ noun a substance
asbestos
| and asked for the manager. ask for

which does not burn, formerly used in something back to ask someone to give
buildings to protect against fire back something which you had lent to
ascend / send/ (ascends, ascend- him or her
ascend
ing, ascended) verb to go up The balloon ask out phrasal verb to ask someone to
rapidly ascended to 3000m. go out with you, e.g. to a restaurant or to
ascendancy / sendnsi/ noun the in- the cinema Bill wants to ask my sister
ascendancy
fluence or power that one person or group out.

askew / skju
/ adv not straight That
askew
has over another |
ascent / sent/ noun the action of pictures askew.

ascent
asleep / sli
p/ adj sleeping He was
asleep
climbing up (NOTE: Do not confuse with as- |
sent.) asleep and didnt hear the fire alarm.

ascertain /s ten/ (ascertains, as-
ascertain
| They were lying asleep on the ground. to

certaining, ascertained) verb to check fall asleep to begin to sleep
facts to see if they are true (formal) asparagus / spr(s/ (plural same)
asparagus
asexual /e sekul/ adj with no sexual noun a green vegetable that has long thin
asexual
organs or without having sex stems and pointed tips and which you cook
ash // noun 1. a grey dust left after before eating
ash
aspect / spekt/ noun 1. a way of

aspect
something has burnt 2. a type of tree that

grows in the northern part of Europe considering something such as a situation
ashamed / emd/ adj embarrassed or a problem There are several aspects of
ashamed
and sorry for something that you have done the problem to be considered before I can
or not done decide. 2. the direction in which a building
ashes / z/ plural noun the grey dust or piece of ground faces The living room
ashes
that remains when the body of a dead per- has a southerly aspect.
asphalt / sflt/ noun a mixture of tar,
asphalt
son has been cremated

ashore /
/ adv to or onto land, e.g. small stones and sand, used for making
ashore
from the sea or from a ship. shore road surfaces

ashtray / tre/ noun a little dish for asphyxiate /s fksiet/ (asphyxiates,
asphyxiate
ashtray
|
cigarette ash asphyxiating, asphyxiated) verb to stop

Asian / e()n/ adj relating to Asia someone breathing, or to die because of be-
Asian
noun a person coming from one of the ing unable to breathe (NOTE: + asphyxia-
countries of Asia, especially the Indian tion n)
aspirate / sprt/ noun a speech sound
aspirate
subcontinent More than half the children

in the class are Asians. made by breathing out, e.g. the h in
aside / sad/ adv to one side He horse
aside
aspiration /sp re()n/ noun

aspiration
took me aside and whispered in my ear. |
aside from except for Aside from a minor something which you want to achieve or to
infection, his health had been remarkably be successful at
good. Ive got to read these three articles, aspirational / sp re()n()l/ adj
aspirational
and thats aside from all my regular work. typical of people who want to become
ask /
sk/ (asks, asking, asked) verb more successful and be able to afford a
ask
1. to put a question to get information more expensive home and way of life
31 associate
aspire / spa/ (aspires, aspiring, assess / ses/ (assesses, assessing,
aspire assess
| |
aspired) verb to aspire to something to assessed) verb 1. to consider something or

want to achieve something He aspires to someone in order to make a judgment or
great success as an actor. decision about it Its hard to assess how
aspirin / sprn/ noun 1. a common difficult it will be to make the necessary
aspirin
drug, used in the treatment of minor ill- changes. 2. to consider someones achieve-
nesses to reduce pain 2. a pill that contains ment or progress in order to decide if it is
aspirin satisfactory Students are regularly as-
aspiring / spar/ adj hoping to get
aspiring
|
sessed by their teachers and feedback. 3. to
something calculate an amount to be paid The cost
ass /s / noun US the part of your body
ass of the new building is assessed at 1 mil-
lion. (NOTE: + assessment)
that you sit on (offensive)
asset / set/ noun a valuable quality
asset
assailant / selnt/ noun a person who

assailant
[~to] Knowing several languages is an

|
attacks someone
asset to a businessperson.
assassin / ssn/ noun a person who
assassin
assign / san/ (assigns, assigning, as-

| assign
kills someone famous for political reasons |
signed) verb to assign someone to

assassinate / ssnet/ (assassi-
assassinate
|
something or something to someone to
nates, assassinating, assassinated) verb give someone the job of doing something
to kill a famous person, especially for po- They assigned her to the accounts depart-
litical reasons Do you remember the day ment. We assigned the job of cleaning the
when the President was assassinated? kitchen to Jack.
(NOTE: + assassination n)
assignment / sanmnt/ noun 1. a
assignment
assault / s
lt/ noun an attack [~on]
assault |
|
piece of work that has to be done in a spe-
an assault on a police officer verb (as- cific time My literature assignment has
saults, assaulting, assaulted) to attack to be finished by Wednesday. He was giv-
assemble / semb()l/ (assembles, as-
assemble
|
en the assignment of reporting on the war.
sembling, assembled) verb 1. (especially 2. the act of giving someone a job to do
of people) to come together in a place, or to assimilate / smlet/ (assimilates, as-
assimilate
be brought together by someone especially similating, assimilated) verb 1. to learn

formally or in an ordered way Well as- and understand 2. (of the body) to change
semble outside the hotel by the coach at 9 the food that you have just eaten into sub-
a.m. They assembled a panel of experts to stances that can be used
renew the project. 2. to collect a set of assist / sst/ (assists, assisting, as-
assist
things together Assemble all the ingredi-

|
sisted) verb to help someone [~in/with]

ents you need before you start to cook. 3. to
He assists me with my income tax forms.
make something from separate parts The I will be assisted in my work by Jackie
cupboard can be assembled at home.
Smith. to assist someone to do some-
assembly / sembli/ (plural assem-
assembly
|
thing or with something to help someone
blies) noun 1. a meeting 2. the process of to do something (formal) The money as-
putting the pieces of something together to sists young dancers to train.
make it complete assistance / sst()ns/ noun help
assistance
assembly line / sembli lan/ noun a

assembly line |
|
She will need assistance with her luggage.
moving line in a factory, where the product He was trying to change the wheel when
moves slowly past workers who add pieces a truck driver offered his assistance. He
to it as it goes past asked if he could be of any assistance.
assent / sent/ noun the approval of or
assent
assistant / sst()nt/ noun a person

assistant
|
|
agreement with something such as a sug- who helps someone as part of their job
gestion His assistant makes all his appointments.
assert / s#
t/ (asserts, asserting, as-
assert
associate1 / ssiet/ (associates, as-

associate
|
serted) verb to state something firmly to

|
sociating, associated) verb 1. to connect

assert yourself to state your opinions different people or things in your mind I
strongly always associate that book with the won-
assertion / s#
()n/ noun a state-
assertion
|
derful holiday when I first read it. to be
ment of something which you believe to be associated with to be connected with or
true but of which you have no proof involved in something This firm has been
assertive / s#
tv/ adj confident and
assertive
| associated with the project from the start.

stating your opinions in a strong way 2. to have contact with or regularly meet
associate 32
someone [~with] I dont want you to asso- asthma / sm/ noun a medical condi-
asthma
ciate with violent people like that. tion in which someone suffers breathing
associate2 / ssit/ noun a person difficulties, often because a particular sub-
associate
who works in the same business as some- stance has a bad effect on his or her body
one else asthmatic /s mtk/ noun a person
asthmatic
association / ssi e()n/ noun 1. who has asthma

association
| |
an official group of people or a group of astonish / stn/ (astonishes, as-

astonish
companies in the same trade an associa- tonishing, astonished) verb to surprise

tion offering support to victims of street vi- someone very much [~that] His success
olence the Association of British Travel in maths astonished his teacher he never
Agents 2. a connection formed in the mind came to any of her classes. It astonishes
between things For some people, a black me that he cant use a computer.
cat has an association with luck. plural astonished / stnt/ adj very sur-
astonished
noun associations feelings produced by prised We were astonished to learn that

memories of particular people or places the head teacher had left.
Manchester has strong family associations
astonishing / stn/ adj very sur-
astonishing
for him. in association with together |
with The guidebook is published in asso- prising They spent an astonishing

ciation with the local tourist board. amount of money buying Christmas
presents.
assorted / s
td/ adj various, mixed
assorted
astonishment / stnmnt/ noun

| astonishment
assortment / s
tmnt/ noun a mix-
assortment |
|
great surprise
ture of a lot of things that have some differ-
astound / stand/ (astounds, as-
astound
ences, e.g. in shape or colour |
tounding, astounded) verb to surprise

assume / sju
m/ (assumes, assum-
assume
|
someone completely
ing, assumed) verb 1. to imagine or be-
astounded / standd/ adj very sur-
astounded
lieve that something is true [~(that)] Lets |
assume that he is innocent. I assume you prised

astounding / stand/ adj very sur-
astounding
have enough money to pay for the meal? 2. |
to take on something such as a job or re- prising

astride / strad / adv, prep with your
astride
sponsibility When she was twenty-one, |
she assumed complete control of the family legs on each side of something He was
business. He has assumed responsibility sitting astride his bicycle, with both feet on
for fire safety. the ground. Sit astride and hold tight.
assumed name /sju
md nem/ noun astrology / strldi/ noun the practice
assumed name astrology
| |
a false name of saying what the future will be by look-

assuming / sju
m/ conj believing ing at the position of the planets and the
assuming
something to be true stars

assumption / smpn/ noun a be- astronaut / strn
t/ noun a person
astronaut
assumption
lief that something is true who travels into space

assurance / rns/ noun 1. an atti- astronomical /str nmk()l/ adj 1.
astronomical
assurance
|
|
tude of confidence in your own abilities referring to astronomy 2. (of a price or

He didnt have the assurance to face a amount) very large (informal)
press conference 2. the fact of being sure astronomy / strnmi/ noun the sci-
astronomy
that something will happen 3. a promise entific study of the stars, sun and planets
He gave her an assurance that he would astute / stju
t/ adj clever at understand-
astute
not do it again. ing things quickly

assure / / (assures, assuring,
assure
asylum / salm / noun 1. the right to

asylum
|
|
assured) verb 1. to state something defi- stay in another country if you have been
nitely 2. to make sure that something will treated badly in your own country to seek
happen asylum to grant someone asylum to ask
assured / d/ adj very certain and
assured
|
for political asylum 2. a hospital for people
confident who have mental illnesses (old)
asterisk / strsk/ noun a printing sign asylum seeker / salm si
k/ noun a
asterisk
asylum seeker
like a star, used to draw attention to some- person who asks for permission to stay in
thing another country because the political situa-
asteroid / strd/ noun a mass of rock
asteroid
tion in his or her own country is not safe for

that travels in a path round the sun him or her to stay there
33 attend
asymmetrical /es metrk()l/ adj atrocity / trsti/ (plural atrocities)
asymmetrical atrocity
| |
which does not have the same shape or size noun an extremely evil act
on both sides attach / tt/ (attaches, attaching,
attach
at /t, t/ prep 1. used for showing time attached) verb to fasten something to
at
Well meet at eleven oclock. You must something else The gate is attached to
put your lights on when you drive at night. the post. I am attaching a copy of my pre-
At the weekend, we went to see my moth- vious letter.
er. We went to Paris at Easter. 2. used for attached / ttt/ adj having a strong
attached
showing place Meet us at the post office. liking for someone or something Shes
Shes got a job at the supermarket. very attached to her old dog.
Hes not at home, hes at work. 3. used for attachment / ttmnt/ noun 1. some-
attachment
showing speed The train was travelling thing which can be attached to something
at 200 kilometres an hour. 4. showing di- else 2. a strong liking for someone or
rection She threw her slipper at her something [~to] Everyone had known of
brother. 5. showing cause She laughed at his attachment to her. 3. a document at-
my old coat. (NOTE: at is often used after tached to an email
verbs, e.g. to look at, to point at.) attack / tk/ noun 1. the act of trying
attack
ate /et, et/ past tense of eat

ate
to hurt someone or something They made

atheist / eist/ noun a person who bean attack on the town. 2. a criticism He
atheist
lieves there is no god. Compare agnostic launched an attack on the government. 3. a

athlete / li
t / noun a person who takes
athlete
sudden return of a particular illness She
part in sports especially those such as run- had an attack of malaria. verb (attacks,
ning attacking, attacked) to try to hurt someone
athletic / letk/ adj referring to athlet-
athletic
or to hit someone Three men attacked her
as she walked home. The old lady was at-
|
ics
tacked by muggers. under attack in the
athletics / letks/ noun organised
athletics
|
situation of being attacked The town is
sports such as running which are competi- under attack from rebel guerrillas.
tions between individuals (NOTE: no plural) attacker / tk/ noun a person who
attacker
atlas / tls/ noun a book of maps

|
atlas
attacks someone or something Can you

ATM /e ti
em/ abbr automated teller
ATM
describe your attacker?

machine attain / ten/ (attains, attaining, at-
attain
atmosphere / tmsf / noun 1. the

atmosphere
tained) verb to reach a particular status or

air around the Earth The atmosphere sur- rank He attained the position of manager.
rounds the Earth to a height of several hun- All six students attained full marks in this
dred kilometres. 2. the air in a particular part of the exam.
place The room had a hot stuffy atmos- attainment / tenmnt/ noun success
attainment
phere. 3. a general feeling [~of] a friendly in achieving something or reaching a par-

atmosphere There was an atmosphere of ticular goal
fear everywhere after the bomb attack. attempt / tempt/ noun an act of try-
attempt
atmospheric /tms ferk/ adj 1. re-

atmospheric
| ing to do something She attempted to lift

ferring to the atmosphere 2. mysterious, the box onto the table. an attempt on
beautiful someones life the action of trying to kill
atom / tm/ noun the smallest part of someone verb (attempts, attempting, at-
atom
a chemical element that can exist inde- tempted) to try to do something, especially
pendently something difficult Ill attempt another
atom bomb / tm bm/ noun a bomb
atom bomb
trip to collect the books when my car has
using nuclear energy been repaired. She attempted to lift the
box onto the table.
atomic / tmk/ adj relating to the
atomic
attend / tend/ (attends, attending,

| attend
energy produced if an atom is split apart |
attended) verb 1. to be present at an event

atomic bomb /tmk bm/ noun
atomic bomb
Twenty-five people attended the wedding.

|
same as atom bomb They organised a meeting, but only one

atone / tn/ (atones, atoning, atoned)
atone
|
or two people attended. 2. to listen careful-
verb to do something which shows that you ly Students should attend carefully to the
are sorry for doing something wrong teachers instructions.
(formal) (NOTE: + atonement n) attend to phrasal verb to give careful
atrocious / trs/ adj very bad
atrocious
| thought to something and deal with it

attendance 34
attendance / tendns/ noun 1. the fact job. to be attracted to someone to feel a
attendance
of being present at an event 2. the number sexual interest in someone

attraction / trkn/ noun 1. a rea-
attraction
of people present at an event (NOTE: no plu- |
ral) son for liking someone or something The

attendant / tendnt/ noun a person on flats main attraction is its closeness to the
attendant
duty in a public place such as a museum centre of town. 2. something which attracts
people The Tower of London is a great
attention / tenn/ noun 1. the act of
attention
tourist attraction.
concentrating on what you are doing
attractive / trktv/ adj 1. pleasant
attractive
Dont distract the drivers attention. |
Please give the talk on safety procedures to look at They found the mountain scen-
your full attention. to pay attention to to ery very attractive. Shes an attractive
concentrate on something and think about woman. 2. having features which people
it carefully Pay attention to the instruc- like There are some attractive bargains
tions in the leaflet. Dont pay any atten- in the sale. The rival firm made him a
tion to something you can ignore some- very attractive offer. (NOTE: + attractive-
thing Dont pay any attention to what she ness)
attributable / trbjtb()l/ adj proba-
attributable
says shes making it up. 2. special care, |
help or extra work The garden is large bly the cause of something
attribute1 / trbju
t/ noun a quality
attribute
and needs a lot of attention. The children

were quiet and shy but responded well to that someone has
the special attention they were given. attribute2 / trbju
t/ (attributes, attrib-
attribute
medical attention treatment by doctors uting, attributed) verb The accident was
and nurses That cut needs urgent medical attributed to faulty brakes. to attribute
attention. 3. the position of a soldier, stand- something to something or someone to
ing straight, with heels together and look- say that something was caused by some-
ing straight ahead The guards stood to at- thing else, or that something was done by
tention at the entrance to the palace. for someone The accident was attributed to
the attention of words written on a letter to faulty brakes. The remark was attributed
show that it is intended for a particular per- to his father.
son to deal with it to attract (someones) attributive / trbjtv/ adj (of an adjec-
attributive
attention to make someone notice some- tive) which comes before a noun and de-
one or something The new play has at- scribes it
tracted a lot of press attention or attention atypical /e tpk()l/ adj not typical
atypical
in the press.
aubergine / bi
n/ noun a dark pur-
aubergine
attention span / tenn spn/ noun

attention span
|
ple shiny fruit of a small plant, used as a
the length of time that someone can con- vegetable
centrate effectively on a particular job or auburn /
bn/ adj of a dark reddish-
auburn
activity brown colour

attentive / tentv/ adj listening careful-
attentive
auction /
kn/ noun a public sale in
auction
|
ly which an object is sold to the person who

attic / tk/ noun a room or space at the
attic
offers to pay the highest amount of money

top of a house under the roof for it verb (auctions, auctioning, auc-
attitude / ttju
d/ noun 1. a way of tioned) to sell something at an auction
attitude
auctioneer /
k n/ noun a person
auctioneer
thinking What is the governments atti- |
tude to the problem? 2. the position of your who runs an auction

body, e.g. standing or sitting His portrait audacious /
des/ adj very brave or
audacious
shows him in a thoughtful attitude. involving great risk

attorney / t#
ni/ (plural attorneys) audacity /
dsti/ noun audacious be-
attorney audacity
| |
noun a lawyer (especially US) haviour

attract / trkt/ (attracts, attracting, audible /
db()l/ adj which can be
attract audible
attracted) verb to make someone want to heard

audience /
dins/ noun the people
audience
come to a place or want to become in-

volved in something such as a business watching a performance, e.g. at a theatre or
The shops are lowering their prices to at- cinema or on television, or listening to a ra-
tract more customers. The exhibition at- dio programme Members of the audience
tracted hundreds of visitors. We must see cheered. (NOTE: takes a singular or plural
if we can attract more candidates for the verb)
35 automated teller machine

audio /
di/ adj referring to sound austere /
st/ adj 1. with a plain and
audio austere
audiovisual /
di vul/ adj refer-
audiovisual
simple appearance 2. with only the basic
ring to sound and pictures that have been things you need to live
austerity /
sterti/ noun 1. the quality
austerity
recorded together |
audit /
dt/ noun 1. an official check of
audit
of being austere 2. poor living conditions
a companys accounts 2. a careful exami- because people do not have much money
authentic /
entk/ adj original, not
authentic
nation of an organisation or a set of proce- |
dures to see how good they are false or artificial

authenticate /
entket/ (authenti-
authenticate
audition /
d()n/ noun a test for
audition
|
|
performers such as actors, singers or danc- cates, authenticating, authenticated)

ers, to see if they will be given a part in a verb to prove that something is authentic
author /
/ noun a writer She is
author
play or film Im going for an audition for

a part in Hamlet. verb (auditions, audi- the author of a popular series of childrens
tioning, auditioned) 1. to hold an audition books.
for a performer 2. to do an audition for a authorise /
raz/ (authorises, au-
authorise
part [~for] Two hundred children audi- thorising, authorised), authorize verb to
tioned for the lead role in the film. give permission for something to be done
auditor /
dt/ noun someone whose authoritarian /
r terin/ adj con-
auditor
authoritarian
| |
job is to check a companys accounts offi- trolling people strictly

cially authoritative /
rttv/ adj 1. in a
authoritative
auditorium /
d t
rim/ (plural audi-
auditorium
| powerful way, so that people will obey 2.

toriums or auditoria) noun a large hall recognised as expert
used for events such as concerts authorities /
rtiz/ plural noun the
authorities
augment /
( ment/ (augments, aug-
augment
| government
menting, augmented) verb to increase the authority /
rti/ (plural authori-
authority
amount or value of something (formal ) ties) noun 1. power to control something

augur /
(/ (augurs, auguring,
augur
He has no authority to act on our behalf.

augured) verb to be a sign for the future (NOTE: no plural) 2. an organisation that has
August /
(st/ noun the eighth
August
control over something The education
month of the year, the month after July and authority pays teachers salaries. 3. an ex-
before September My birthday is in Au- pert Hes an authority on Greek litera-
gust. I left my job last August. (NOTE: Au- ture.
autism /
tz()m/ noun a mental condi-
autism
gust 15th or August 15: say the fifteenth of

August or August the fifteenth or in US tion which makes people who have it una-
English August fifteenth.) ble to react in the usual way to other people
aunt /
nt/, Aunt noun the sister of autobiography /
tba (rfi/ (plu-
autobiography
aunt
|
your mother or father, or the wife of an un- ral autobiographies) noun a story of the
cle She lives next door to my aunt. Say life of a person written by himself or her-
goodbye to Aunt Anne. self (NOTE: +autobiographical adj)
autocrat /
tkrt/ noun a person who
autocrat
auntie /
nti/, aunty noun an aunt
auntie
(informal) governs or manages with total power over

the people in a country or organisation (of-
au pair / pe/ noun a person, usually a
au pair
ten as criticism)
young woman, who lives with a family in
autograph /
t(r
f/ noun a famous
autograph
another country to learn the language

while looking after children and helping to persons name written in their own writing
keep the house clean for someone to keep (NOTE: + autograph v)
automate /
tmet/ (automates, auto-
automate
aura /
r/ noun a general feeling or
aura
quality in a particular situation mating, automated) verb to use machines

to do work which previously was done by
aural /
rl / adj referring to hearing
aural
people
(NOTE: Do not confuse with oral.)
automated teller machine
automated teller machine
auspicious /
sps/ adj likely to be
auspicious
|
/
tmetd tel mi
n/ noun a ma- |
successful chine outside a bank from which money

Aussie / zi / (informal) adj Australian
Aussie
can be obtained when a card is inserted.

noun an Australian There was a group of Abbreviation ATM ( NOTE: The British term
Aussies in the restaurant. is cashpoint machine.)
automatic 36
automatic /
t mtk/ adj 1. work- on someone to make someone suffer for
automatic
ing by itself There is an automatic device something wrong that they have done to
which cuts off the electric current. 2. done you She wanted to avenge herself on her
without thinking about it very much She rival.
gave the receptionist an automatic smile as avenue / vnju
/ noun a wide street
avenue
she passed. 3. based on an agreement or in a town, often with trees along the side
existing situation an automatic fine for average / v()rd/ noun 1. the
average
parking standard that is usual or typical The jour-

automatically /
t mtkli/ adv 1.
automatically
|
ney time today was much slower than the
by a machine, without people having to do bus companys average. 2. a total calculat-
anything 2. without thinking about it very ed by adding several quantities together
much I signed the bill automatically. 3. and dividing by the number of different
as a result of an agreement or existing situ- quantities added [/~for] the average for
ation The company automatically retires the last three months or the last three
people at 60. months average The temperature has
automation /
t me()n/ noun the
automation
| been above the average for the time of year.

practice of using machines instead of peo- adj 1. ordinary or typical It was an av-
ple to carry out work erage working day at the office. Their
automobile /
tmbi
l / noun especial- daughter is of above average intelligence.
automobile
ly US a car above or below average more or less

automotive /
t mtv/ adj referring than is usual or typical 2. not very good
automotive
to motor vehicles Their results were only average. 3. calcu-

autonomous /
tnms/ adj self-
autonomous
|
lated by dividing the total by the number of
governing quantities His average speed was 30
autonomy /
tnmi/ noun 1. self-gov-
autonomy
|
miles per hour. verb (averages, averag-
ernment 2. the fact of being able to decide ing, averaged) to be as an average Price
what to do by yourself, without asking an- increases have averaged 10% per annum.
avert / v#
t/ (averts, averting, averted)
avert
yone else |
autopsy /
tpsi/ (plural autopsies)
autopsy
verb to prevent something happening
aviation /evi e()n/ noun the action
aviation
noun the examination of the body of a dead |
person to find the cause of death of flying aircraft

autumn /
tm/ noun the season of avid / vd/ adj extremely keen
avid
autumn
the year between summer and winter In avocado / v k

d/ (plural avoca-
avocado
autumn, the leaves turn brown. We went dos) noun a fruit which has a thick green or
on a walking holiday last autumn. Ill be black skin and pale green flesh with a large
starting my new job in the autumn term. seed inside
auxiliary /
( zliri/ noun a person who avoid / vd/ (avoids, avoiding,
auxiliary avoid
| |
helps other workers avoided) verb 1. to keep away from some-

auxiliary verb /
( zliri v#
b/ noun a one or something Travel early to avoid
auxiliary verb
verb that is used with another verb to show the traffic jams. Aircraft fly high to avoid
person, number, mood, tense, or aspect storms. 2. to try to prevent something from
COMMENT:
The auxiliary verbs in English happening How can we avoid a row? 3.
are be, do and have. to avoid doing something to try not to do
available / velb()l/ adj able to be something Hes always trying to avoid
available
obtained The tablets are available from taking a decision. You must avoid travel-
most chemists. (NOTE: + availability n) ling on Friday evenings.
avalanche / vl
nt/ noun a sudden avoidable / vdb()l/ adj which can
avalanche avoidable
fall of a large amount of snow down the be or could have been avoided
side of a mountain await / wet / (awaits, awaiting, await-
await
avant-garde /v (
d/ adj de-
avant-garde
ed) verb to wait for something

scribes things such as forms of art or ways awake / wek / adj not asleep Its 2
awake
of thinking that are new, original and not oclock and Im still awake. verb
traditional (awakes, awaking, awoke, awoken) 1. to
Ave abbr avenue
Ave
wake someone up He was awoken by the

avenge / vend/ (avenges, avenging, sound of the telephone. 2. to wake up He
avenge
avenged) verb to hurt or punish someone awoke when he heard them knocking on the
because they have done wrong to you or to door. They awoke to find a fox in their
someone close to you to avenge yourself tent.
37 axle
awaken / wekn/ (awakens, awaken- awful /
f()l/ adj very bad or unpleas-
awaken awful
ing, awakened) verb 1. to wake up 2. to ant She felt awful about missing the par-
wake someone up ty. Hes got an awful cold. Turn off the
awakening / wek()n/ noun a wak- television that programmes awful!
awakening
ing up awfully /
f()li/ adv very (informal)
awfully
award / w
d/ noun something such Its awfully difficult to contact her.
award
as a prize or a gift of money that is given to awkward /

kwd/ adj 1. embarrass-
awkward
someone [~of/~for] a design award He ing or difficult to deal with awkward

received an award of 1000. The school questions 2. difficult to use or deal with be-
has been nominated for an award for inno- cause of shape, size or position The han-
vation. verb (awards, awarding, award- dles a very awkward shape. 3. not conven-
ed) to give someone something such as a ient Next Thursday is awkward for me
prize, a degree or diploma, money or a con- what about Friday? 4. (of a person) not re-
tract to do work He was awarded first laxed or confident on social occasions 5.
prize. She was awarded damages. (of a person) clumsy and unattractive in ap-
award-winning / w
d wn/ adj
award-winning
| pearance or movement (NOTE: + awkwardly

having won an award or awards adv; +awkardness n)
aware / we/ adj knowing something awning /
n/ noun a roof made of
aware awning
Im not aware of any problem. Is he strong cloth, used to keep the sun or rain
aware that we have to decide quickly? off
not that I am aware of not as far as I know awoke / wk/ past tense of awake
awoke
Has there ever been an accident here be-

awoken / wkn/ past participle of
awoken
fore? Not that I am aware of.

|
awake
away / we/ adv 1. at a particular dis-
away
awry / ra/ adj 1. not straight 2. to go

| awry
tance or time The nearest shop is three |
kilometres away. 2. not here, somewhere awry not to happen in the expected way
axe /ks/ noun a tool with a heavy sharp
axe
else The managing director is away on

business. My assistant is away today. 3. metal head, used for cutting through some-
(in sports) at your opponents sports thing verb (3rd person present plural ax-
ground Our team is playing away next es, present participle axing, past participle
Saturday. 4. (as emphasis, after verbs) axed) to get rid of something or someone
axis / kss/ (plural axes) noun an imagi-
axis
without stopping The birds were singing

away in the garden. nary line through the centre of a round ob-
awe /
/ noun great fear of or respect ject such as a ball
awe
for someone to be in awe of someone to axle / ksl / noun a straight bar, usually
axle
be frightened of someone She is in awe of made of metal, which connects the wheels
her father. in a vehicle
B
b /bi
/, B noun the second letter of the al- 1. towards the back of something She
b
phabet, between A and C looked back and waved at me as she left. 2.

baa /b
/ (baas, baaing, baaed) verb to in the past back in the 1950s 3. in the
baa
make the sound that a sheep makes with its state that something was previously Put
voice the telephone back on the table. She
babble / bb()l/ noun the sound of peo- watched him drive away and then went
babble
ple talking together a babble of voices in back into the house. She gave me back
the next room verb (babbles, babbling, the money she had borrowed. Ill phone
babbled) to speak in a confused way She you when I am back in the office. (NOTE:
babbled a few words and collapsed. Back is often used after verbs: to give
Whats he babbling on about? back, to go back, to pay back, etc.) verb
babe /beb/ noun 1. a baby 2. an attractive
babe
(backs, backing, backed) 1. to go back-
young man or woman Shes a real babe! wards, or make something go backwards
baboon /b bu
n/ noun a type of large
baboon
|
He backed or backed his car out of the ga-
African monkey rage. 2. to encourage and support a person,
organisation, opinion or activity, some-
baby / bebi/ (plural babies) noun 1. a
baby
times by giving money Her colleagues

very young child Most babies start to were willing to back the proposal. to put
walk when they are about a year old. Ive someones back up to annoy someone
known him since he was a baby. 2. a very
young animal a baby rabbit (NOTE: If you back away phrasal verb to go backwards
do not know if a baby is a boy or a girl, you from something frightening The little
can refer to it as it: The baby was sucking its girl backed away from the dog.
thumb.) back out phrasal verb 1. to make a car go
babyish / bebi/ adj like a baby
babyish
backwards out of a place He backed
baby-sit / bebi st/ verb to look after
baby-sit (the car) out of the garage into the main
a child or children in a house, while their road. 2. to decide not to support a project
We had to cancel the project when the
parents are out
bank backed out.
bachelor / btl/ noun a man who is
bachelor
not married Hes still a bachelor and Im back up phrasal verb 1. to help or sup-
beginning to wonder if hell ever get mar- port someone Nobody would back her
ried. up when she complained about the serv-
ice. Will you back me up in the vote? 2.
bachelors degree / btlz d(ri
/
bachelors degree
to make a copy of a computer file Dont

noun a first degree from a university
forget to back up your work before you
back /bk/ noun 1. the part of the body
back
go home in the evening. 3. to make a car

which is behind you, between the neck and go backwards Can you back up, please
top of the legs She went to sleep lying on I want to get out of the parking space.
her back. He carried his son on his back.
backache / bkek/ noun a pain in the
backache
Dont lift that heavy box, you may hurt

your back. 2. the opposite part to the front back
backbone / bkbn/ noun 1. the se-
backbone
of something He wrote his address on the

back of the envelope. She sat at the back ries of bones which connect together down
of the bus and went to sleep. The dining the back of a person or an animal If
room is at the back of the house. adj 1. on youre careful, you ought to be able to lift
the opposite side to the front He knocked the backbone off the fish before eating it. 2.
at the back door of the house. The back strength of character It takes someone
tyre of my bicycle is flat. 2. (of money) with backbone to stand up to the govern-
owed from an earlier date back pay adv ment.
39 bacterial
backdate /bk det/ (backdates, back- backpedal rapidly when the papers found
backdate
dating, backdated) verb to put an earlier out about his speech.

date on something back seat /bk si
t/ noun a seat in the
back seat
backer / bk/ noun a person who sup- back of a vehicle to take a back seat to
backer
ports a project with money One of the take a less important or active position in
companys backers has withdrawn. an organisation from choice
backfire /bk fa/ (backfires, backfir- back seat driver /bk si
t drav /
backfire back seat driver
ing, backfired) verb 1. (of a car) to make a noun a passenger in a car who offers the
loud noise in the engine The motorbike driver advice
backfired several times when I started it backside / bksad/ noun the part of the
backside
this morning. 2. (of a plan) to go wrong, to body you sit on (informal)

turn out exactly the opposite to what was
backslash / bksl/ noun a keyboard
backslash
expected He was sure that everything

would go according to plan and had never character (\) in the form of a line that
even thought it could backfire. All their slopes to the left
backstage /bk sted/ adv off the
backstage
holiday plans backfired when their chil- |
dren got chickenpox. stage in a theatre The actors gathered

backgammon / bk(mn/ noun a
backgammon
|
backstage to wait for the audience to settle
board game for two people, in which they down.
back-to-back /bk t bk/ adj, adv 1.
back-to-back
move their playing pieces after throwing

two dice with the back of one person or thing
background / bk(rand/ noun 1. against the back of another Stand back-
background
the part of a picture or view which is be- to-back to see who is the tallest. They put
hind all the other things that can be seen the chairs back-to-back. 2. happening one
The photograph is of a house with moun- after the other back-to-back meetings
backtrack / bktrk / (backtracks,
backtrack
tains in the background. His white shirt

stands out against the dark background. backtracking, backtracked) verb 1. to go
Compare foreground 2. the experiences, back 2. to say that you no longer agree with
including education and family life, which something that you did or said previously
someone has had He comes from a work- backup / bkp/ noun helper, support
backup
ing-class background. Her background is backward / bkwd/ adv US same as

backward
in the restaurant business. 3. information backwards

about a situation [~to] What is the back-
backwards / bkwdz/ adv from the
backwards
ground to the complaint? in the back-

ground while other more obvious or im- front towards the back Dont step back-
portant things are happening wards. Tab is bat spelt backwards.
backhand / bkhnd/ noun a backhand
backhand
backwards and forwards in one direction,
shot then in the opposite direction The police-
man was walking backwards and forwards
backing / bk/ noun 1. financial
backing
in front of the bank.

support He has the backing of a French
backwater / bkw
t/ noun a quiet
backwater
bank. 2. music played for a singer She

sings with an Irish backing group. country place, away from the capital city
backlash / bkl/ noun a reaction backyard /bk j
d/ noun 1. an en-
backyard
backlash
|
against something closed area behind a house, with a hard

backlog / bkl(/ noun a lot of work
backlog
surface We keep our bikes in the back-
which someone has not had time to do yet yard. 2. the area in which you live They
backpack / bkpk/ noun a bag car-
backpack have no idea of whats going on in their
ried on your back own backyard. 3. US a piece of land behind
a house
backpacker / bkpk/ noun a per-
backpacker
bacon / bekn/ noun meat from a pig

bacon
son who goes walking for pleasure, carry-

ing a backpack which has been treated with salt or smoke,
backpedal / bkped()l/ (backpedals,
backpedal
usually cut into thin pieces
bacteria / bk tri/ plural noun very
|
bacteria
backpedalling, backpedalled) verb 1. to |
move the pedals of a bike backwards 2. to small living things, some of which can
change your point of view and do the oppo- cause disease
bacterial /bk tril/, bacteriological
bacterial
site of what you had promised The gov- |
ernment is starting to backpedal over its /bktri ldk()l/ adj caused by bac-
|
pledge to cut taxes. The minister had to teria a bacterial infection

bad 40
bad /bd/ (worse, worst) adj 1. caus- bagel / be(()l/ noun a small hard bread
bad bagel
ing problems, or likely to cause problems roll, shaped like a ring

Eating too much fat is bad for your health. baggage / b(d/ noun cases and bags
baggage
We were shocked at their bad behaviour.

which you take with you when travelling
2. of poor quality or skill Hes a bad driv-
baggy / b(i/ (baggier, baggiest) adj (of
baggy
er. Shes good at singing but bad at play-

ing the piano. 3. unpleasant Hes got a clothes) appearing too big for the person
bad cold. Shes in a bad temper. Ive who is wearing them
bagpipes / b(paps/ plural noun a mu-
bagpipes
got some bad news for you. The weather

was bad when we were on holiday in Au- sical instrument used especially in Scot-
gust. 4. serious He had a bad accident on land, Ireland and Brittany, which is played
the motorway. by blowing air into a bag and then pumping
bad debt /bd det/ noun an amount of
bad debt
it through pipes
baguette /b (et/ noun a stick-shaped
baguette
money owed to a person or to a company, |
which will never be paid loaf of bread

badge / bd/ noun a small sign attached bail /bel/ noun money which an arrested
badge bail
to someones clothes to show something person, or someone else, pays to a court as

such as who someone is or what company a promise that the person will return to
they belong to court for their trial. If they do not return the
badger / bd/ noun a wild animal, court keeps the money. She was released
badger
with short legs and a black and white mark on bail of 5000.
on the front of its head, which lives in holes bail out phrasal verb 1. to help someone
in the ground Farmers say that cows can in difficulty When he couldnt pay his
catch TB from badgers. rent, he asked his father to bail him out.
bad language /bd l(wd/ noun
bad language
2. to pay money to a court to have a pris-
swearing and rude words oner set free He phoned his lawyer to
badly / bdli/ (worse, worst) adv 1.
badly see if someone could bail him out. 3. to
not well or successfully She did badly in remove water from a boat Ill try to
her driving test. 2. seriously He was bad- plug the hole, if you start to bail out.
bailiff / belf / noun a court official who is
bailiff
ly injured in the motorway accident. 3.

very much His hair badly needs cutting. responsible for making sure that court or-
badly off /bdli f/ adj not having very
badly off
ders are obeyed The court ordered the
much money When her husband died she bailiff to seize his property because he had
was left quite badly off. not paid his debt. We were having break-
fast when the bailiffs arrived and seized
badminton / bdmntn/ noun a game
badminton
our car.
for two or four people, similar to tennis, in
bait /bet/ (baits, baiting, baited) verb to
bait
which the players use rackets to hit a shut-

tlecock over a net attach bait to a hook He baited his line
with a worm.
badmouth / bdma/ (badmouths,
badmouth
bake /bek/ (bakes, baking, baked)

bake
badmouthing, badmouthed) verb to criti-

cise someone in a rude or unpleasant way verb to cook food such as bread or cakes in
(informal) an oven Mums baking a cake for my
bad-tempered /bd tempd/ adj feel-
bad-tempered
birthday. Bake the pizza for 35 minutes.
baked beans /bekt bi
nz/ plural
baked beans
ing angry
baffle / bf()l/ (baffles, baffling, baf-
baffle
noun dried white beans cooked in tomato
fled) verb to be unable to understand some- sauce We had baked beans on toast for
thing Im baffled as to why the car wont supper. Can you go to the grocers and
start. The cause of the common cold has get me a tin of baked beans?
baked potato /bekt p tet/ noun a
baked potato
baffled scientists for years. |
bag /b(/ noun 1. a soft container

bag
potato which you bake in the oven, often
made of plastic, cloth or paper and used for cut open when it is cooked and filled with
carrying things a bag of sweets He put another food such as cheese or beans
baker / bek/ noun a person whose
baker
the apples in a paper bag. 2. same as hand-

bag My keys are in my bag. 3. a suitcase job is to make bread and cakes the bak-
or other container used for clothes and others a shop that sells bread and cakes Can
er possessions when travelling Have you you go to the bakers and get a loaf of
packed your bags yet? brown bread?
41 balmy
bakery / bekri / noun a place where formal dance to have a ball to enjoy
bakery
bread and cakes are made for selling to the yourself a lot You can see from the photos
public we were having a ball. to play ball to
balance / blns/ noun 1. the quality work well with someone to achieve some-
balance
of staying steady The cat needs a good thing I asked them for a little more time
sense of balance to walk along the top of a but they wont play ball. to start the ball
fence. to keep your balance not to fall rolling to start something happening Ill
over to lose your balance to fall down start the ball rolling by introducing the vis-
As he was crossing the river on the tight- itors, then you can introduce yourselves.
rope he lost his balance and fell. 2. an to be on the ball to have a lot of skill or
amount of money remaining in an account knowledge of something Ill ask Mary to
I have a balance of 25 in my bank ac- do it shes been here a long time and is
count. 3. an amount of money still to be really on the ball. someone wont play
paid from a larger sum owed You can pay ball someone wont cooperate
ballad / bld/ noun a simple romantic
ballad
100 now and the balance in three instal-

ments. The balance outstanding is now song
5000. verb (balances, balancing, bal- ball boy / b
l b/ noun a boy who picks
ball boy
anced) 1. to stay or stand in position with- up the balls during tennis games
out falling The cat balanced on the top of ballerina /bl ri
n/ noun a woman
ballerina
the fence. 2. to make something stay in po- ballet dancer

sition without falling The waiter bal- ballet / ble/ noun 1. a type of dance,
ballet
anced a pile of dirty plates on his arm. given as a public entertainment, where
balanced / blnst/ adj 1. not extreme,
balanced
dancers perform a story to music 2. a per-

having equal quantities a balanced diet 2. formance of this type of dance We went
sensible to express a balanced opinion to the ballet last night.
balance sheet / blns i
t/ noun a ball game / b
l (em/ noun 1. a game
balance sheet ball game
statement of a companys financial posi- played with a ball football, tennis and
tion at the end of a period of time other ball games 2. US a game of baseball
balancing act / blns kt/ noun a ball girl / b
l (#
l/ noun a girl who picks
balancing act ball girl
skilful attempt to deal with opposing up the balls during tennis games
groups or opinions, or with a large variety balloon /b lu
n/ noun 1. a large ball
balloon
of jobs which is blown up with air or gas 2. a very

balcony / blkni/ noun 1. a small flat
balcony
large balloon which rises as the air inside it

area that sticks out from an upper level of a is heated, sometimes with a container at-
building protected by a low wall or by tached for people to travel in We went for
posts The flat has a balcony overlooking a ride in a hot-air balloon. verb (bal-
the harbour. Breakfast is served on the loons, ballooning, ballooned) to increase
balcony. 2. the upper rows of seats in a the- quickly in size or amount
atre or cinema We booked seats at the ballot / blt/ noun a way of voting in
ballot
front of the balcony. which voters mark papers with a cross

bald /b
ld/ adj having no hair where
bald
verb (ballots, balloting, balloted) 1. to get

there used to be hair, especially on the head people to vote on something The union is
His grandfather is quite bald. He is be- balloting its members on the strike. 2. to
ginning to go bald. vote by marking papers with a cross They
balding / b
ld/ adj going bald balloted for the place on the committee.
balding
baldly / b
ldli/ adv done or said in a ballot box / blt bks/ noun a box for
baldly ballot box
plain and simple way putting voting papers into

bale /bel/ noun a large block of a sub- ballpoint / b
lpnt/, ballpoint pen
ballpoint
bale
stance such as wool, paper or cotton a /b

lpnt pen/ noun a pen which has a
bale of cotton They used bales of straw to small ball at the tip over which ink flows as
make walls alongside the racetrack. you write Dont write in ballpoint, use a
balk /b
k/ verb another spelling of baulk
balk
pencil.
ballroom / b
lru
m/ noun a large room
ballroom
ball /b
l/ noun 1. a round object used
ball
in playing games, for throwing, kicking or for formal dances

ballroom dancing / b
lru
m
ballroom dancing
hitting They played in the garden with an

old tennis ball. He kicked the ball into the d
ns/ noun formal dancing
balm /b
m/ noun a soothing ointment
balm
goal. 2. any round object a ball of wool

He crumpled the paper up into a ball. 3. a balmy / b
mi/ adj pleasantly mild
balmy
Baltic 42
Baltic / b
ltk/ noun the sea south of bang /b/ noun a sudden noise like
Baltic bang
Sweden and Finland, and north of Poland that made by a gun The car started with
We spent the summer cruising along the a series of loud bangs. There was a bang
Baltic coast. and the tyre went flat. verb (bangs, bang-
bamboo / bm bu
/ noun a tall tropical
bamboo
|
ing, banged) to hit something hard, so as
plant whose stems are used as supports or to make a loud noise He banged (on) the
in making furniture table with his hand. Cant you stop the
door banging?
ban /bn/ noun an official statement
ban
banger / b/ noun an old car Im

banger
which says that people must not do some-

surprised his old banger is still on the
thing [~on] There is a ban on smoking in road.
many public places. verb (banning,
bangle / b(l/ noun a metal bracelet
bangle
banned, banned) to say officially that peo-

ple must not do something [~from] She worn round the wrist or ankle
banish / bn/ (banishes, banish-
banish
was banned from driving for three years.

ing, banished) verb 1. to send someone to
banal /b n
l/ adj quite ordinary and un-
banal
live a long distance away, usually out of the

interesting
country, or in a distant part of the country,
banana /b n
n/ noun a long yellow,
banana
|
as a punishment [~to] He was banished to
slightly curved fruit which grows in hot a small island. 2. to send someone away
countries from a particular place [~from/~to] She
band /bnd/ noun 1. a group of people
band
was banished from the front desk to a little

who play music together The soldiers office on the fifth floor. 3. to get rid of
marched down the street, following the something bad or unpleasant The aim is
band. My brothers in a rock band. 2. a to banish poverty by the year 2010.
group of people who do something togeth- banjo / bnd/ (plural banjos or ban-
banjo
er Bands of drunken football fans were joes) noun a stringed instrument with a
wandering around the streets. 3. a narrow round body and a long neck
piece of something Her hair was tied bank /bk/ noun 1. a business which
bank
back with a red band. 4. a long thin mark of holds money for people, and lends them
a particular colour a black tee-shirt with money I must go to the bank to get some
a broad band of yellow across the front 5. a money. She took all her money out of the
range of things taken together Hes in the bank to buy a car. How much money do
top salary band. Were looking for some- you have in the bank? 2. land along the side
thing in the 10 15 price band. of a river He sat on the river bank all day,
bandage / bndd/ noun a cloth for
bandage
trying to catch fish. There is a path along

putting around an injured part of the body the bank of the canal. 3. a long pile of
The nurse put a bandage round his knee. earth, sand, snow or other substance The
His head was covered in bandages. road was blocked by banks of snow blown
BandAid / bnded/ trademark US a
BandAid
by the wind. verb (banks, banking,
small strip of cloth with gauze in the mid- banked) to store money in a bank I
dle, which can be stuck to the skin to cover banked the cheque as soon as it arrived.
a wound Let me put a BandAid on your Have you banked the money yet?
finger. bank on phrasal verb to be sure that
B & B something will happen
B & B abbr bed and breakfast
bank account / bk kant/ noun
bank account
bandit / bndt / noun a robber

|
bandit
an arrangement which you make with a

bandwagon / bndw(n/ noun to
bandwagon
bank to keep your money safely until you

jump on the bandwagon to do what eve- want it to open a bank account to start
ryone else is doing Once the prince had keeping money in a bank He opened a
praised the ecological movement, everyone bank account when he started his first job.
wanted to jump on the bandwagon. bank balance / bk blns/ noun
bank balance
bandwidth / bndwd/ noun 1. a range the amount of money someone has in a

bandwidth
of radio wavelengths 2. the amount of elec- bank account

bank card / bk k
d/ noun a plastic
bank card
tronic data that can be sent through an In-

ternet connection or other communication card you use with a cheque to make a pay-
channel ment
banker / bk/ noun a person who has
banker
bandy about phrasal verb to speak or

write certain words a senior post in a bank
43 bargain
bank holiday /bk hlde/ noun barbecue / b
bkju
/ noun 1. a metal
bank holiday barbecue
a public holiday when most people do not grill for cooking food on out of doors
go to work and the banks are closed Light the barbecue at least half an hour be-
banking / bk/ noun the work that
banking
fore you start cooking. 2. food cooked on a
banks do Some supermarkets now offer barbecue Here is a recipe for chicken
banking services. barbecue. 3. a meal or party where food is
cooked out of doors We had a barbecue
banknote / bknt/ noun a piece of
banknote
for twenty guests. They were invited to a

paper money barbecue. verb (barbecues, barbecuing,
bankrupt / bkrpt/ noun a person
bankrupt
barbecued) to cook something on a barbe-

who cannot pay his or her debts A bank- cue Barbecued spare ribs are on the
rupt cannot be a member of parliament. menu. She was barbecuing sausages for
bankruptcy / bkrptsi/ noun being
bankruptcy
lunch when it started to rain.

bankrupt barbed /b
bd/ adj (of a remark) sharply
barbed
bank statement / bk stetmnt/ critical He made some barbed comments

bank statement
noun a written document from a bank about her singing.

barbed wire / b
bd wa/ noun a
barbed wire
showing the balance of an account

banquet / bkwt/ noun a formal din- type of wire with sharp spikes, used to
banquet
ner for important guests make fences

barbell / b
bel/ noun a long metal bar
barbell
banter / bnt/ noun talk with joking

banter
comments with a weight at each end which is used in

weightlifting
bap /bp/ noun a soft flat white bread roll
bap
barber / b
b/ noun a person who cuts
barber
baptise /bp taz/ (baptises, baptising,

baptise
|
mens hair
baptised), baptize verb 1. to receive some-
barbiturate / b
btrt/ noun a drug
barbiturate
one into the Christian religion in a ceremo- which sends you to sleep
ny involving sprinkling or covering with
bar chart / b
t
t/ noun a diagram
bar chart
water 2. to give a baby a name when it is

baptised where quantities are shown as thick col-
umns of different heights
baptism / bptz()m/ noun a religious
baptism
bar code / b
kd/ noun printed verti-
bar code
ceremony where someone, usually a baby, cal lines containing information which can
is welcomed into the Christian church and be read by a computer
given a Christian name after being sprin-
bare /be/ (barer, barest) adj 1. not
bare
kled with holy water All the family came

together for the baptism. covered by clothes or shoes He walked
on the beach in his bare feet. I cant sit in
bar /b
/ noun 1. a long piece of some-
bar
the sun with my arms bare. 2. without any

thing hard The yard was full of planks kind of cover They slept on the bare
and metal bars. a bar of soap, a bar of floorboards. They saw the bare bones of
chocolate a thick piece of soap or choco- dead animals in the desert. 3. without
late 2. a solid piece of a substance such as leaves bare branches 4. with just what is
chocolate or soap 3. a place where you can really needed and nothing extra We only
buy and drink alcohol Lets meet in the took the bare essentials when we went trav-
bar before dinner. prep except All of the elling. She thought 100 was the bare
suppliers replied bar one. All bar two of minimum she would accept. (NOTE: Do not
the players in the team are British. verb confuse with bear.)
(bars, barring, barred) 1. to block some-
barefoot / beft/ adj, adv without shoes
barefoot
thing [~to] The road was barred by the She walked barefoot in the grass. The
police. The path is barred to cyclists. 2. children were barefoot.
to bar someone from doing something to
barely / beli/ adv almost not She
barely
prevent someone officially from doing

something He was barred from playing barely had enough money to pay for her
football for three months. ticket. He barely had time to get dressed
before the police arrived. The noise is
barbarian /b
berin/ noun a wild and
barbarian
|
barely tolerable.
uncivilised person bargain / b
(n/ noun 1. something
bargain
barbaric /b
brk/ adj cruel and un-
barbaric
|
bought more cheaply than usual The car
civilised was a real bargain at 500. 2. an agree-
barbarous / b
brs/ adj very cruel
barbarous
ment between two people or groups of peo-

(formal) ple verb (bargains, bargaining, bar-
barge 44
gained) to discuss the terms of an agree- a barrage of questions from reporters when
ment or sale more than or not what you he arrived at the airport. 2. heavy gunfire,
bargained for different, usually worse, or a mass of things thrown The enemy
than you had expected into the bargain started an artillery barrage. The police
as well as other things The plane was late were met by a barrage of stones and bot-
and they lost my suitcase into the bargain. tles. 3. a dam made of a wall of soil or
bargain on phrasal verb to expect some- stones which blocks a river They built a
thing I hadnt bargained on it being so barrage to help control the water level in
wet. Shes bargaining on someone the river.
dropping out so that she can take their barrel / brl/ noun 1. a container with
barrel
place. curved sides for storing liquid a barrel of

barge /b
d/ (barging, barged) verb beer a wine barrel 2. the tube of a gun out
barge
barge in phrasal verb to arrive or inter- of which a bullet is fired

barren / brn/ adj (of living things) not
barren
vene in an unwelcome way

bar graph / b
(r
f/ noun same as bar able to produce young, or not fertile a
bar graph
chart barren cow (NOTE: Do not confuse with bar-

baritone / brtn/ noun a singer with on.)
baritone
barricade /br ked/ noun a pile of

barricade
a voice which is higher than a bass and |
lower than a tenor The baritone sang a something such as stones or burnt cars,
duet with the soprano. which is used to block a street or entrance
Protesters built barricades across sever-
bark /b
k/ noun 1. the hard outer layer of
bark
a tree 2. the loud sound a dog makes The al of the main streets. verb (barricades,
dog gave a bark as we came into the house. barricading, barricaded) to build a barri-
verb (barks, barking, barked) to be mis-
cade across somewhere Protesters barri-
taken They dont know what the real caded the streets. They barricaded the
problem is theyre barking up the wrong doors and windows. to barricade your-
tree. his bark is worse than his bite he self in or inside to block a door or window
is not as frightening as he seems Dont be with furniture and other things so that no
afraid of Aunt Bessie her bark is much one else can get inside He barricaded
worse than her bite. himself inside the flat.
barrier / bri/ noun 1. a bar or fence
barrier
barley / b
li/ noun a common cereal
barley
crop grown in temperate areas which blocks a passage He lifted the bar-
rier and we drove across the border. 2. an
barmaid / b
med/ noun a woman who
barmaid
serves drinks in a bar (dated) action or problem that makes it difficult for
something to happen [~to] Lack of quali-
barman / b
mn/ (plural barmen) noun
barman
fications can be a barrier to employment.

a man who serves drinks in a bar barring / b
r/ prep unless something
barring
bar mitzvah /b
mtsv/ noun a cere-
bar mitzvah
is the case
mony where a Jewish boy is made a full barrister / brst/ noun a lawyer who
barrister
member of his community at the age of 13

can present cases in court. bar
barmy / b
mi/ (barmier, barmiest) adj
barmy
bartender / b
tend/ noun a person
bartender
not sensible (informal) who serves behind a bar

barn /b
n/ noun a large farm building for
barn
barter / b
t/ (barters, bartering, bar-
barter
storing produce or for keeping animals or tered) verb to discuss the price for some-
machinery thing and try to have it reduced They had
barometer /b rmt/ noun an instru-
barometer
|
to barter for the things they bought in the
ment which measures changes in atmos- market.
pheric pressure and can be used to forecast base /bes/ noun 1. the bottom part of
base
the weather something The table lamp has a flat base.

baron / brn/ noun 1. a nobleman of a
baron
2. a place where you work from [~for] He

low rank in the UK 2. the title given to a life lives in London but uses Paris as a base for
peer in the UK 3. a powerful person (NOTE: business visits in France. 3. something
Do not confuse with barren.) from which something else develops or is
barracks / brks/ noun a building
barracks
produced [~for] The report will provide a

where soldiers are housed The soldiers good base for making some changes.
marched into their barracks. verb (bases, basing, based) 1. to use
barrage / br
/ noun 1. a large amount
barrage
something or somewhere as a base [~on]

of questions or complaints [~of] He faced The theory is based on research done in
45 bathe
Russia. 2. to have a particular place as your rary basis. Many of the helpers at the
main home or place of work [~at/in] Shes hospice work on a voluntary basis.
based at head office or in Edinburgh. 3. to bask /b
sk/ (basks, basking, basked)
bask
use something as a model for something verb to lie happily in warm sunshine or in a
else [~on] The book is based on her moth- pleasant atmosphere
ers life. His theory was based on years basket / b
skt/ noun a container
basket
of observations. made of thin pieces of wood, wire or fibre

baseball / besb
l/ noun 1. an Amer-
baseball
woven together
ican game for two teams of nine players, in basketball / b
sktb
l/ noun a
basketball
which a player hits a ball with a long, nar- game played by two teams of five players
row bat and players from the other team try who try to throw the ball through an open
to catch it 2. the hard ball used in playing net hung high up at each end of the playing
baseball area
baseball cap / besb
l kp/ noun a bass1 /bes/ noun 1. a male singer with a
baseball cap
bass
soft cotton cap with a large peak low-pitched voice 2. a guitar with a low-
-based /best/ suffix 1. produced or de-
-based
pitched sound adj relating to a low-

veloped from a milk-based dessert 2. liv- pitched voice or music He has a pleasant
ing or working at a particular place a bass voice. Compare tenor
London-based company bass2 /bes/ noun a type of edible fresh-
bass
baseline / beslan/ noun the line at the

baseline
water fish
back of a tennis court, etc. bassoon /b su
n/ noun a long wooden
bassoon
basement / besmnt/ noun a floor in a

basement
wind instrument, with a low tone

building below ground level bastard / b
std/ noun 1. a person
bastard
bash /b/ noun 1. a knock I see your

bash
whose parents are not married Technical-

car has had a bash. 2. a party Are you go- ly speaking, many children are born bas-
ing to Janes bash tomorrow? verb tards nowadays. 2. a nasty person or nasty
(bashes, bashing, bashed) to hit hard thing (generally offensive) The bastard
When she fell down she bashed her head on walked out of the restaurant without pay-
the chair. He was bashing stakes into the ing. The written driving test is a real bas-
ground with a mallet. tard.
bashful / bf()l/ adj shy and embar- bastion / bstin/ noun a place which
bashful
bastion
rassed protects a particular way of living or set of

basic / besk/ adj very simple, or at
basic
opinions
the first level Being able to swim is a ba- bat /bt / noun 1. a piece of wood used
bat
sic requirement if you are going canoeing. for hitting a ball a baseball bat a crick-
Knowledge of basic Spanish will be et bat 2. a small animal with skin flaps like
enough for the job. wings that flies at night and hangs upside
basically / beskli/ adv considering
basically
down when resting

only the most important information and batch /bt/ noun a number of things
batch
not the details Basically, hes fed up with made at one time
his job. bath /b
/ noun (plural baths) 1. a
bath
basil / bz()l/ noun a herb with strongly

basil
large container in which you can sit and

scented leaves which is used especially in wash your whole body Theres a wash-
Italian cooking basin and a bath in the bathroom. 2. the
basilica /b zlk/ noun an important process of washing your whole body to
basilica
Catholic church St Peters Basilica is the have a bath to wash your whole body in a
most important church in Rome. bath verb (baths, bathing, bathed) to
basin / bes()n/ noun 1. same as wash- wash yourself or someone else in a bath
basin
basin 2. a large or small bowl, especially Shes bathing the baby. Do you prefer to
one for holding or mixing food items bath or shower? (NOTE: Do not confuse with
basis / bess/ (plural bases) noun 1. bathe.)
basis
bathe /be/ (bathes, bathing, bathed)

bathe
the general facts on which something is

based [~for] What is the basis for these verb 1. to go into water to swim or wash
proposals? on the basis of based on Thousands of people come to bathe in the
The calculations are done on the basis of Ganges. 2. to wash a cut or damaged part
an exchange rate of 1.6 dollars to the of the body carefully A nurse bathed the
pound. 2. the general terms of an agree- wound on his arm. 3. US to have a bath I
ment She is working for us on a tempo- just have enough time to bathe before my
bathrobe 46
dinner guests arrive. (NOTE: Do not confuse battlements / bt()lmnts / plural
battlements
with bath.) noun the top part of a castle wall, with plac-
bathrobe / b
rb/ noun a loose coat es where soldiers could shoot at attackers
bathrobe
of towelling, worn when you get out of a Soldiers were firing from the battlements.
battleship / bt()lp / noun the largest
battleship
bath She came out of the bathroom

dressed in a pink bathrobe. type of warship, with big guns
bathroom / b
ru
m/ noun 1. a room baulk /b
k/ (baulks, baulking, baulked)
bathroom baulk
in a house with a bath, a washbasin and verb to refuse to do something which is

usually a toilet The house has two bath- dangerous or unpleasant (NOTE: also
rooms. 2. US a room containing a toilet spelled balk)
bawl /b
l/ (bawls, bawling, bawled) verb
bawl
Wheres the bathroom? Can I use your

bathroom, please? to shout loudly
bathtub / b
tb/ noun US the contain- bay /be/ noun 1. an area along a coast
bay
bathtub
er in which you sit and wash your body where the land curves inwards a shel-
baton / btn/ noun 1. a large stick used
baton
tered bay 2. a marked or enclosed area used
to hit with The crowd was stopped by a for a particular purpose a bay marked
row of policemen carrying batons. 2. a thin Reserved Parking
bay leaf / be li
f/ noun an aromatic leaf
bay leaf
white stick used to conduct an orchestra 3.

a stick which is passed from runner to run- of a bay tree which is used in cooking
bayonet / bent/ noun a sharp blade fit-
bayonet
ner in a relay race

batsman / btsmn/ (plural batsmen)
batsman
ted at the end of a rifle The soldiers were
noun the player who is batting in a cricket ordered to fix bayonets.
bay window /be wnd/ noun a win-
bay window
match
battalion /b tljn/ noun a section of
battalion
dow which sticks out from a flat wall
bazaar /b z
/ noun a market in South
| bazaar
the army, usually commanded by a lieuten- |
ant-colonel Asia, the Middle East or North Africa We

visited the busy bazaar to try to buy spices.
batter / bt/ noun 1. a liquid mixture of
batter
BBC noun the British national radio and

BBC
flour, milk and usually eggs fish coated

in batter and fried 2. (in baseball ) the play- TV company We were listening to the
er who has the bat and hits the ball verb BBC news or to the news on the BBC. The
(batters, battering, battered) to hit often
BBC broadcasts to many countries in the
He was accused of battering the baby to world. A BBC reporter wanted to inter-
death. view her. Full form British Broadcasting
Corporation
battered / btd/ adj old and in a bad
battered
BBQ abbr barbecue

BBQ
condition a battered old car

BC used after a date to show that it is after
BC
battery / bt()ri/ (plural batteries)

battery
the birth of Jesus Christ. Full form before

noun an object that fits into a piece of elec- Christ. Compare AD (NOTE: Sometimes
trical equipment to provide it with electric BCE (before the Common Era) is used to
energy My calculator needs a new bat- avoid referring to Jesus Christ.)
tery. The battery has given out so I cant be /b, bi
/ (1st person present singular
be
use my radio. My mobile phone has a re- am, 2nd person present singular are, 3rd
chargeable battery. person present singular is, 1st person
battle / bt()l/ noun 1. an occasion
battle
present plural are, 2nd person present plu-

when large groups of soldiers fight each ral are, 3rd person present plural are,
other using powerful weapons [~for/~of] present subjunctive be, 1st person singular
Many soldiers died in the first battle for the past indicative was, 2nd person singular
bridge. Wellington won the Battle of Wa- past indicative were, 3rd person singular
terloo. 2. an attempt to prevent something past indicative was, 1st person plural past
unpleasant and difficult to deal with indicative were, 2nd person plural past in-
[~against/~for] a constant battle for better dicative were, 3rd person plural past indica-
living standards He lost his battle tive were, past subjunctive were, past parti-
against cancer. verb (battles, battling, ciple been) verb 1. used for describing a
battled) to try to prevent something un- person or thing Our house is older than
pleasant and difficult to deal with yours. She is bigger than her brother.
[~against/~with/~for] Lemons are yellow. The soup is hot. Put
battlefield / bt()lfi
ld/, battleground
battlefield
on your coat it is cold outside. Im cold

/ bt()l(rand/ noun a site of a battle after standing waiting for the bus. Are
47 beat
you tired after your long walk? 2. used for bear /be / noun a large wild animal
bear
showing age or time Hes twenty years covered with fur verb (bears, bearing,
old. She will be two next month. It is bore, borne) 1. to carry or support some-
nearly ten oclock. It is time to get up. thing The letter bore a London postmark.
September is the beginning of autumn. 3. Will this branch bear my weight? 2. to ac-
used for showing price Onions are 80p a cept something bad or unpleasant in a calm
kilo. The cakes are 50p each. My car way She bore the bad news bravely. be
was worth 10,000 when it was new. 4. unable to bear someone or something to
used for showing someones job His fa- strongly dislike someone or something I
ther is a bus driver. She wants to be a cant bear the smell of cooking fish. to
teacher. 5. used for showing things such as bear something in mind to remember
size, weight, height, etc. Hes 1.70m tall. something that might change a decision
The room is three metres square. Our Bear in mind that it takes 2 hours to get
house is ten miles from the nearest station. there. Bear me in mind when youre look-
6. to add up to Two and two are four. 7. ing for help.
used for showing that someone or some- bear out phrasal verb to confirm some-
thing exists or is in a particular place thing
There was a crowd of people waiting for bear up phrasal verb to survive cheerful-
the shop to open. There were only two ly
people left on the bus. Where are we? bear with phrasal verb to wait patiently
Theres your hat! for someone to do something
beach /bi
t/ noun an area of sand or
beach
bearable / berb()l/ adj which you can

bearable
small stones by the edge of the sea accept even though it is unpleasant
beacon / bi
kn/ noun a light which
beacon
beard /bd/ noun the hair growing on

beard
warns about something or shows ships or a mans chin and cheeks a long white
aircraft the way to go beard
bead /bi
d/ noun 1. a little piece of wood,
bead
bearer / ber / noun 1. a person who car-

bearer
plastic or glass, with a hole in it, which is ries or brings something [~of] Flag bear-
used to make a necklace or other decora- ers walked in front of the groups of sol-
tion She was wearing a string of red diers. He said he was the bearer of bad
beads. Beads are back in fashion again. news. 2. a person who owns a legal docu-
2. a small drop of liquid Beads of sweat ment such as a cheque This card entitles
formed on his brow. the bearer to a discount.
beagle / bi
(()l/ noun a breed of dog bearing / ber/ noun 1. one of a set
beagle
bearing
used for hunting of little balls inside which an axle turns

beak /bi
k/ noun the hard part of a
beak
The bearings in the bicycle wheel had to be

birds mouth replaced. 2. a calculation to show where
beaker / bi
k/ noun 1. a drinking cup you are You need a compass to take a
beaker
with or without a handle, sometimes with a bearing. to find or get your bearings to
lid and spout if intended for very small find out where you are Give me a few mo-
children Well use these glasses and the ments to get my bearings. 3. the way a per-
children can have the plastic beakers. son carries his or her body to have a or
Shes just started to drink from a beaker. 2. some or no bearing on something a or
a glass jar used in chemical experiments some or no connection to or effect on
You need a beaker and a Bunsen burner for something The letter had no bearing on
this experiment. the result of the trial. to lose your bear-
beam /bi
m/ noun 1. a long block of wood
beam
ings to get lost Im sorry Im late, but I
or metal which supports a structure, espe- didnt have a map and lost my bearings.
bear market / be m
kt/ noun a peri-
bear market
cially a roof You can see the old beams in

the ceiling. 2. a ray of light The beam od when prices on the stock market fall as
from the cars headlights shone into the shareholders sell shares, because they
barn. Beams of sunlight came through think share prices will fall further. Com-
the coloured glass. verb (beams, beam- pare bull market
beast /bi
st/ noun 1. a wild animal 2. a
beast
ing, beamed) to give a big happy smile

[~at] The little girl beamed at him. nasty person The beast! He left nothing
bean /bi
n/ noun a seed or the long thin for anyone else.
bean
beat / bi
t/ noun a regular pattern of
beat
pod of various different plants, that is

cooked and eaten sound They danced to the beat of the
beating 48
drums. heartbeat verb (beats, beating, beckon / bekn/ (beckons, beckoning,
beckon
beat, beaten) 1. to make a regular sound beckoned) verb to make a sign with your
His heart was still beating when the ambu- hand telling someone to come to you [~to]
lance arrived. Her heart beat faster as The nurse beckoned to her to come into
she went into the interview. 2. to hit some- the room.
thing or someone hard He was beaten by become /b km/ (becomes, becom-
become
a gang of youths. 3. to win a game against ing, became, become) verb 1. to change to
another player or team [~at] We beat the something different The sky became dark
Australians at cricket last year. Their and the wind became stronger. They be-
football team beat us by 10 goals to 2. came good friends. As she got older she
beat down phrasal verb 1. to make some- became rather deaf. It soon became ob-
one reduce a price I beat down his price vious that he didnt understand a word of
or I beat him down. 2. to fall hard on what I was saying. 2. to start to work as
The sun was beating down so we looked He wants to become a doctor.
for some shade. The rain beat down on
bed /bed/ noun 1. a piece of furniture
bed
the marchers.
for sleeping on Lie down on my bed if
beat up phrasal verb 1. to whip cream,
youre tired. to go to bed to get into your
eggs or another food Beat up the mix- bed for the night She always goes to bed
ture in a big bowl. 2. to attack someone at 9 oclock. to make a bed to make a
Three muggers beat him up and stole his bed tidy or change the bedclothes after
wallet. someone has slept in it You cant go into
beating / bi
t / noun the act of hitting
beating
your hotel room because the beds havent

or defeating been made. Have you made your bed? 2.
beautician /bju
t()n/ noun a person
beautician
| a piece of ground for particular plants to

who makes people beautiful by applying grow in a strawberry bed a rose bed 3.
makeup the ground at the bottom of water the
beautiful / bju
tf()l/ adj 1. physical- sandy bed of a river a river bed
beautiful
bedclothes / bedklz/ plural noun

bedclothes
ly very attractive We have three beautiful

daughters. 2. pleasant to look at a beau- sheets and blankets which cover a bed
tiful house the beautiful colours of the She woke up when all her bedclothes fell
autumn leaves 3. pleasant or enjoyable off.
What beautiful weather for a walk. bedding / bed/ noun 1. sheets, blan-
bedding
beautifully / bju
tf()li/ adv in a very
beautifully
kets and other items for a bed; bedclothes

pleasing way When you rent a cottage the bedding is
beautify / bju
tfa/ (beautifies, beauti- usually provided. 2. a soft material such as
beautify
fying, beautified) verb to make someone or hay for an animal to sleep on

something beautiful bedraggled /b dr(()ld/ adj dirty, un-
bedraggled
beauty / bju
ti/ (plural beauties) noun
beauty
tidy and wet

1. the quality of being beautiful an object bedrock / bedrk/ noun 1. the bottom
bedrock
of great beauty the beauty of the tall trees layer of rock under the earth 2. basic prin-
against the background of the blue lake 2. ciples Socialism is the bedrock of the
a beautiful woman or a beautiful thing At partys manifesto.
18 she was a real beauty. Look at these
bedroom / bedru
m/ noun a room
bedroom
apples, theyre real beauties.

where you sleep My bedroom is on the
beauty spot / bju
ti spt/ noun a fa-
beauty spot
first floor. The hotel has twenty-five bed-

mous beautiful place rooms. Shut your bedroom door if you
beaver / bi
v/ noun an American animal
beaver
want to be quiet.
with soft brown fur, sharp teeth and a broad bedside / bedsad/ noun the side of a
bedside
flat tail, which lives in water Beavers cut bed

down young trees to build their homes.
bedspread / bedspred / noun a decorat-
bedspread
became /b kem/ past tense of become

became
|
ed cloth put over a bed
because /b kz/ conj for the reason
because
bedtime / bedtam/ noun the time

bedtime
|
that follows I was late because I missed when you go to bed

the train. The dogs wet because hes
bee /bi
/ noun an insect which makes hon-
bee
been in the river. because of as a result

of The plane was delayed because of bad ey, and can sting you
beech /bi
t/ noun same as beech tree
beech
weather.
49 behind
beech tree / bi
t tri
/ noun a common began /b (n/ past tense of begin
beech tree began
hardwood tree Beech trees are common beggar / be(/ noun a person who lives
beggar
on the chalk hills in the south of England. by asking for money There are lots of
beef /bi
f/ noun meat from a cow roast beggars outside the railway stations.
beef
beef beef stew begin /b (n/ (begins, beginning, be-

begin
beefburger / bi
fb#
(/ noun a cake of gan, begun) verb 1. to start, or start some-
beefburger
grilled minced beef, usually served in a roll thing The meeting will begin at ten
beefy / bi
fi/ adj big and muscular a oclock. We began the session with intro-
beefy
strong, beefy looking man ductions and getting to know each other.
beehive / bi
hav/ noun a box for bees to
beehive
His surname begins with an S. to begin
make a nest in again to start a second time She played a
wrong note and had to begin again. 2. to
been /bi
n/ past participle of be
been
start doing something The weather is be-

beep /bi
p/ noun an audible warning
beep
ginning to warm up. The children began

sound The printer will make a beep when chasing each other. to begin with at first
it runs out of paper. verb (beeps, beep- To begin with, I travelled by train but
ing, beeped) to make a beep The compu- now I cycle every day.
ter beeped when I hit the wrong key. bleep beginner /b (n/ noun a person who
beginner
beer /b / noun 1. an alcoholic drink

beer |
is starting to learn something or do some-

made from grain and water Can I have a thing The course is for absolute begin-
glass of beer? (NOTE: no plural) 2. a glass or ners. I cant paint very well Im just a
bottle of beer Three beers, please. beginner.
beet /bi
t / noun US beetroot Boil young
beet
beginning /b (n/ noun the first

beginning
fresh beets, and serve them with butter. part The beginning of the film is rather
beetle / bi
t()l/ noun an insect with hard
beetle
boring.
covers that protects its folded wings begrudge /b (rd/ (begrudges, be-
begrudge
beetroot / bi
tru
t/ noun a vegetable
beetroot
grudging, begrudged) verb to feel resent-

with a dark red root, eaten cooked, usually ment because of something someone has
in a salad or does
befall /b f
l/ (befalls, befalling, befell, begun /b (n/ past participle of be-
befall
begun
|
|
befallen) verb to happen to (archaic or liter- gin

ary) behalf /b h
f/ noun on behalf of
behalf
befit /b ft/ (befits, befitting, befitted)

befit
| someone, on someones behalf acting for

verb to suit someone She is speaking on behalf of the
before /b f
/ prep earlier than They trade association. He was chosen to
before
should have arrived before now. You speak on the workers behalf.
must be home before 9 oclock. G comes behave /b hev/ (behaves, behaving,
behave
before H in the alphabet. conj earlier than behaved) verb to act in a particular way
The police got there before I did. Think [~towards] He behaved very pleasantly
carefully before you start to answer the towards his staff. She was behaving in a
exam questions. Wash your hands before funny way. to behave (yourself) to be po-
you have your dinner. Before you sit lite and good If you dont behave, chil-
down, can you switch on the light? adv dren, we wont go to see the film.
earlier I didnt see him last week, but I behaviour /b hevj/ noun a way of
behaviour
had met him before. Why didnt you tell doing things [~towards] Local people
me before? complained about the behaviour of the
beforehand /b f
hnd/ adv in ad-
beforehand
| football fans. His behaviour towards her

vance was quite natural.
befriend /b frend/ (befriends, be- behead /b hed/ (beheads, beheading,
befriend behead
| |
friending, befriended) verb to become beheaded) verb to cut off someones head
friendly with someone and help them behind /b hand/ prep 1. at the back
behind
beg /be(/ (begs, begging, begged) verb

beg
of They hid behind the door. I dropped

1. to ask for things like money or food my pen behind the sofa. He was second,
She sat begging on the steps of the station. only three metres behind the winner. 2. re-
Children were begging for food. 2. to ask sponsible for The police believe they
someone in an emotional way to do some- know who is behind the bombing cam-
thing or give something His mother paign. 3. supporting All his colleagues
begged him not to go. were behind his decision. Were behind
beige 50
you! adv 1. at the back He was first, and 2. any object designed to make a ringing
the rest of the runners were a long way be- noise, especially one that uses electricity
hind. 2. later than you should be I am be- The alarm bell rings if you touch the door.
hind with my correspondence. The com- The postman rang the door bell. You
pany has fallen behind schedule with its ought to have a bell on your bicycle. to
deliveries. ring a bell or any bells to sound familiar or
beige /be/ adj, noun very pale brown remind you of something Does the name
beige
He was wearing a beige pullover. Forsyth ring a bell?

being / bi
/ noun 1. a person 2. a liv- belligerent /b ldrnt/ adj 1. want-
being belligerent
ing thing, especially one that is not easily ing to go to war, or being at war The
recognised 3. a spiritual or magical force country has turned increasingly belligerent
He dreamt he was being supported by su- towards its neighbours. 2. aggressive,
pernatural beings. 4. a state of existing wanting to argue with other people Ask
to come into being to start to exist The the manager about it tomorrow, hes in a
association came into being in 1946. belligerent mood at the moment.
belated /b letd/ adj coming or happen-
belated
bellow / bel/ (bellows, bellowing, bel-

bellow
|
ing later than it should lowed) verb 1. to make a loud cry He bel-
belch /belt/ noun the action of allowing
belch
lowed with pain. The bull was bellowing

air in the stomach to come up through the in the farmyard. 2. to shout He bellowed
mouth He finished his meal and let out a to the swimmers to come back to the beach.
loud belch. verb (belches, belching,
belly / beli/ (plural bellies) noun the
belly
belched) 1. to make air in the stomach

come up through the mouth He wiped his stomach and intestines (informal)
belly button / beli bt()n/ noun same
belly button
mouth and belched. 2. also belch out to

produce large amounts of smoke, fumes or as navel (informal)
flames Dark smoke belched from the belong /b l/ (belongs, belonging,
belong
power station. belonged) verb 1. to be kept in the usual or

beleaguered /b li
(d/ adj surrounded
beleaguered
| expected place That book belongs on the

by difficulties or by enemies top shelf. 2. to be happy to be somewhere
belie /b la/ (belies, belying, belied) verb or with a group of people Within a week
belie
1. to hide His brusque manner belies his in my new job I felt I belonged. 3. to be-
gentle nature. 2. to show that something is long to an organisation to be a member of
false His exam results belied his teach- an organisation They still belong to the
ers reports. tennis club. to belong to someone to be
belief /b li
f/ noun a strong feeling the property of someone Does the car re-
belief
that something is true [~in] his firm belief ally belong to you? to belong to some-
in the power of law her strong belief in thing to be part of or connected to some-
God beyond belief incredible That she thing French belongs to the family of lan-
did not know that there were drugs in the guages that developed from Latin. 4. to
parcel is quite beyond belief. belong with to be a part of or connected to
believable /b li
vb()l/ adj which can something else These knives belong with
believable
be believed the set in the kitchen.

believe /b li
v/ (believes, believing, belongings /b lz/ plural noun per-
believe belongings
| |
believed) verb 1. to be sure that something sonal property Her belongings were scat-
is true, although you cant prove it [~(that)] tered all over the room. Please be sure to
I dont believe his story. People used to take all your personal belongings with you
believe that the earth was flat. 2. used when you leave the aircraft.
when you are not absolutely sure of some- below /b l/ adv lower down
below
thing [~(that)] I dont believe weve met. Standing on the bridge we looked at the
believer /b li
v/ noun a person who be-
believer
|
river below. These toys are for children
lieves in a particular religion or idea of two years and below. prep lower down
belittle /b lt()l/ (belittles, belittling,
belittle
|
than The temperature was below freez-
belittled) verb to make something seem un- ing. In Singapore, the temperature never
important goes below 25C. Do not write anything
bell /bel/ noun 1. a metal object shaped below this line. These tablets should not
bell
like a cup which makes a ringing noise be given to children below the age of
when hit by a piece of metal inside it twelve. Can you see below the surface of
They rang the church bells at the wedding. the water?
51 besides
belt /belt/ noun a strap which goes will be the main beneficiaries of this new
belt
round your waist to hold up a skirt or trou- law?

benefit / benft/ noun 1. an advantage
benefit
sers She wore a skirt with a bright red

belt. What benefit would I get from joining the
belt up phrasal verb (informal) 1. to stop club? for someones benefit specially
talking 2. to attach your seat belt Make for someone You are not doing it just for
sure everyone in the car belts up. my benefit, are you? 2. a payment from the
bemused /b mju
zd/ adj puzzled and
bemused
|
government to someone who needs finan-
confused cial help unemployment benefit mater-
nity benefit verb (benefits, benefiting,
bench /bent/ noun a long seat for sev-
bench
benefited) 1. to be useful to someone The

eral people We sat down on one of the book will benefit anyone who is planning
park benches. to do some house repairs. 2. to get an ad-
benchmark / bentm
k/ noun a stand-
benchmark
vantage from something

ard for testing against Benelux / benlks/ noun the countries
Benelux
bend /bend/ noun a curve in something

bend
of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxem-

such as a road or a pipe [~in] Dont drive bourg as a group
too fast, theres a sudden bend in the road. benevolent /b nev()lnt/ adj good
benevolent
The pipe under the sink has an awkward and kind

bend in it. verb (bends, bending, bent) 1. benign /b nan/ adj kind and pleasant
benign
to move your shoulders and head into a bent1 /bent/ adj curved or twisted
bent
lower position He bent to pick up the lit- These nails are so bent we cant use them.
tle girl. You can reach it if you bend to the bent2 / bent/ bend
bent
left. 2. to make something curve You will

bequest / b kwest/ noun the giving of
bequest
have to bend the pipe to fit round the cor-

|
ner. 3. to move a jointed part of your body property or money to someone in a will
bereaved /b ri
vd/ adj who has a close
bereaved
Bend your knees slightly. 4. to have the

|
shape of a curve The road bends sudden- relative or friend who has died We sent
ly after the bridge. our condolences to the bereaved families.
bereavement /b ri
vmnt/ noun the
bereavement
bend down phrasal verb to move to a |
lower position, so that your head is lower loss of a friend or relative through death
beret / bere/ noun a round cap without a
beret
than your waist He bent down to pick

up the little girl. peak, worn by men or women
berry / beri/ (plural berries) noun a small
berry
bend over phrasal verb to move to a dif-

ferent or a lower position You can read round fruit with several small seeds inside
it if you bend over to the left. Bend over (NOTE: Do not confuse with bury.)
berth /b#
/ noun 1. a place where a ship
berth
till you can touch your toes. to bend

over backwards for someone or to do stays in a harbour There are no berths
something to do everything you can to free the ferry will have to wait at anchor
help someone Their friends bent over outside the harbour for a while. 2. a bunk
backwards for or to support the family af- bed on a ship or train Do you want the up-
ter the accident. per or lower berth?
beside /b sad/ prep at the side of
beside
bendy / bendi/ adj 1. easily bent a

bendy
|
bendy toy 2. having many bends a bendy someone or something Come and sit
road down beside me. The office is just beside
the railway station. its beside the point
beneath /b ni
/ prep under There
beneath
|
its got nothing to do with the main subject
are dangerous rocks beneath the surface of Whether or not the coat matches your hat
the lake. The river flows very fast be- is beside the point its simply too big for
neath the bridge. adv underneath (formal) you.
They stood on the bridge and watched the
besides /b sadz/ prep as well as
besides
river flowing beneath. They have two other cars besides the big
beneficial /ben f()l/ adj having a
beneficial
|
Ford. Besides managing the shop, he also
helpful effect teaches in the evening. besides being or
beneficiary /ben fri/ (plural ben-
beneficiary
| doing something in addition to being or

eficiaries) noun 1. a person who inherits doing something adv used for adding an-
something in a will The main beneficiar- other stronger reason for something I
ies were his three children. 2. someone, or dont want to go for a picnic besides, its
a group, that is helped by something Who starting to rain.
besiege 52
besiege /b si
d/ (besieges, besieging, betrayal /b trel/ noun the act of giving
besiege betrayal
| |
besieged) verb to surround a building, or a someones secrets to an enemy, or of not

town or city doing what you had promised to do
best /best/ adj better than anything else better / bet/ adj 1. good when com-
better
best
Shes my best friend. He put on his best pared to something else The weather is
suit to go to the interview. What is the better today than it was yesterday. His
best way of getting to London from here? latest book is better than the first one he
best regards, best wishes a greeting sent wrote. Shes better at maths than Eng-
to someone Give my best wishes to your lish. Brown bread is better for you than
father. noun the thing which is better than white. We will shop around to see if we
anything else The picture shows her at can get a better price. 2. healthy again I
her best. adv in the most effective or suc- had a cold last week but Im better now.
cessful way The engine works best when I hope your sister will be better soon. adv
its warm. Oranges grow best in hot more successfully than something else
countries. Which of you knows London She sings better than her sister. My old
best? all the best best wishes for the fu- knife cuts better than the new one. to
ture as best you can in the best way you think better of something to decide that
can, even though this may not be perfect something is not a good idea He was go-
to do your best to do as well as you can ing to drive to London, but thought better
to make the best of something to take any of it when he heard the traffic report on the
advantage you can from something to news. for the better in a way which
make the best of a bad job to accept a bad makes a situation less unpleasant or diffi-
situation cheerfully to the best of some- cult Her attitude has changed for the bet-
ones ability as well as possible Ill help ter since we reviewed her responsibilities.
you to the best of my ability. to the best had better or would be better it would
of my knowledge as far as I know best be sensible to Shed better go to bed if

regards, best wishes a greeting sent to shes got flu. It would be better if you
someone Give my best wishes to your fa- phoned your father now.
better off /betr f/ adj in a better posi-
better off
ther. as best you can in the best way you

can, even though this may not be perfect tion
He repaired the dent in the car door as best betting / bet/ noun the placing of
betting
he could. bets
best man /best mn/ noun the man
best man
between /b twi
n/ prep 1. with peo-
between
who helps the bridegroom at a wedding ple or things on both sides Theres only a
bestow /b st/ (bestows, bestowing, thin wall between his office and mine, so I
bestow
bestowed) verb to give something (formal ) hear everything he says. Dont sit be-
tween him and his girlfriend. 2. connecting
bestseller /best sel/ noun an item, es-
bestseller
two places The bus goes between Oxford

pecially a book, which sells very well
and London. 3. in the period after one time
bet /bet / noun a sum of money which is
bet
and before another Im in a meeting be-

risked by trying to say which horse will tween 10 oclock and 12. Can you come
come first in a race or which side will win to see me between now and next Monday?
a competition [~on] Ive got a bet on Bra- 4. within a range between two amounts or
zil to win the next World Cup. verb (bets, numbers The parcel weighs between four
betting, bet or betted) to risk money by and five kilos. Cherries cost between 2
saying which horse you think will come and 3 per kilo. 5. used for comparing two
first in a race or which team will win a or more things Sometimes its not easy to
competition [~on] She bet 30 on the see a difference between blue and green.
horses. I bet (you) (that) or Ill bet (you) She could choose between courses in Ger-
(that) Im sure that I bet you shes going man, Chinese or Russian. 6. among be-
to be late tween you and me speaking privately in
betray / b tre/ (betrays, betraying, be- between with things on both sides
betray
trayed) verb 1. to harm someone by telling Theres only a thin wall between his bed-
their secrets He was betrayed by his best room and mine, so I hear everything he
friend. The scientist was accused of be- says on the phone. in between in the
traying secrets to the enemy. 2. to show a middle, with something on both sides
beverage / bev()rd/ noun a drink
beverage
feeling which you want to keep hidden

The tears in her eyes betrayed her emotion. (formal )
53 bilateral
beware /b we/ verb to be careful about for the painting was too low. 2. an attempt
beware
something that might be dangerous or to do something [~for] she made a bid

cause a problem Beware of cheap imita- for power she tried to seize power verb
tions. You need to beware of being per- (bids, bidding, bade or bid, bidden or bid)
suaded to spend more than you can afford. to make an offer to buy something at an
bewilder /b wld/ (bewilders, bewil- auction [~for] He bid 500 for the car.
bewilder
bidding / bd/ noun 1. a command 2.

bidding
dering, bewildered) verb to puzzle some-

one offers made at an auction The bidding
bewildered / b wldd / adj confused or started at 200 and rose quickly.
bewildered
bidet / bi
de/ noun a small low bath for
bidet
puzzled
bewildering /b wld()r/ adj confus- washing your bottom
bewildering
biennial /ba enil/ adj (of an event)

biennial
ing or puzzling |
bewilderment /b wldmnt/ noun a which happens every two years The ath-
bewilderment
state of confusion or of being puzzled letics competition is a biennial event.

bewitch /b wt/ (bewitches, bewitch-
bewitch
|
(NOTE: Do not confuse with biannual.)
big /b(/ (bigger, biggest) adj of a large
big
ing, bewitched) verb to cast a spell on

someone size I dont want a small car I want a
beyond /b jnd/ prep 1. further away
beyond
|
big one. His father has the biggest res-
than The post office is beyond the bank. taurant in town. Im not afraid of him
2. outside the usual range of something Im bigger than he is. We had a big order
The delivery date is beyond our control. from Germany.
bigamy / b(mi/ noun the crime of
bigamy
I cant accept new orders beyond the end of

next year. 3. later than The party went on someone going through a ceremony of
beyond midnight. marriage to someone when they are al-
bhangra / b(r/ noun a style of dance
bhangra
ready married to someone else (NOTE: +
music which mixes Punjabi folk music bigamist n)
Big Brother /b( br/ noun an au-
Big Brother
with Western pop music

biannual /ba njul / adj happening
biannual
|
thority which controls and watches other
twice a year (NOTE: Do not confuse with bi- people
big business /b( bzns/ noun very
big business
ennial.)
bias / bas / noun a fixed opinion in one
bias
large commercial companies, seen as a
direction only group
big cheese /b( ti
z/ noun an impor-
big cheese
biased / bast/ adj prejudiced

biased
tant person (informal) (NOTE: no plural)

bib /bb/ noun a little piece of cloth which
bib
big money /b( mni/ noun a lot of

big money
is tied round a babys neck, under its chin

Dont forget to put his bib on when hes
money (informal)
big name /b( nem/ noun an important
big name
eating spinach.
Bible / bab()l/ noun 1. the holy book
Bible
person (informal)
bigot / b(t/ noun a person with a nar-
bigot
of the Christian religion 2. bible an impor-

tant and useful reference book She keeps row-minded attitude to religion or politics
bigotry / b(tri/ noun an attitude where
bigotry
an old French recipe book in the kitchen

its her bible. you dislike something strongly for no par-
bibliography /bbli (rfi/ noun a list ticular reason
bibliography
big shot / b( t/ noun an important

big shot
of publications about a special subject

biceps / baseps/ noun a muscle formed
biceps
person (informal)
bigwig / b(w(/ noun an important per-
bigwig
of two parts, especially the muscle in the

front of the upper arm son (informal)
bicker / bk/ (bickers, bickering, bick- bike /bak/ noun a bicycle (informal)
bike
bicker
ered) verb to quarrel about something She was knocked off her bike by a car. He
bicycle / bask()l/ noun a vehicle
bicycle
goes to school by bike. If the weathers
with two wheels which you ride by pushing good, we could go for a bike ride.
biker / bak / noun a person who rides a
biker
on the pedals He goes to school by bicy-

cle every day. Shes going to do the shop- motorcycle
ping on her bicycle. Hes learning to ride bikini /b ki
ni/ noun a womans small
bikini
a bicycle. two-piece swimsuit

bid /bd/ noun 1. an offer to buy some- bilateral / ba lt()rl/ adj involving
bid bilateral
thing at a particular price [~for] His bid two groups of people

bile 54
bile /bal/ noun 1. a thick bitter brownish- arms with a rope. 2. to tie something or
bile
yellow fluid produced by the liver, which someone to something else Bind the
helps to digest fatty substances 2. angry or sticks together with strings. They bound
bitter feelings (literary) him to the chair with strips of plastic. 3. to
bilingual /ba l(wl/ adj using two force someone to do something The con-
bilingual
languages tract binds him to make regular payments.

bill /bl/ noun 1. a piece of paper show-
bill
4. to put a cover on a book The book is
ing the amount of money you have to pay bound in blue leather.
binder / band/ noun a stiff cover for pa-
binder
for something [~for] a bill for more than

200 Ask the waiter for the bill. Dont pers Write to the publisher to get a free
forget to pay your gas bill. 2. same as beak binder for your magazines.
binding / band/ noun the cover of a
binding
3. a proposal which, if passed by parlia-

ment, becomes law Parliament will con- book The book has a leather binding.
sider the education bill this week. He has binge / bnd/ noun a time when someone
binge
drafted a bill to ban the sale of guns. 4. US drinks too much alcohol, eats too much or
a piece of paper money a 10-dollar bill does something else too much After last
billboard / blb
d/ noun especially US a
billboard
nights binge he had to stay in bed. She

large outdoor panel for posters (NOTE: The went on a chocolate binge which lasted the
British term is hoarding.) whole summer. Shopping binges are not
billiards / blidz/ noun a game played uncommon during sales time. (NOTE: +
billiards
on a table, where two players with long binge v)

cues hit their own white ball against a red bingo / b(/ noun a game of chance,
bingo
ball or the opponents ball, scoring points. where each player has a card with numbers
Compare snooker (NOTE: billiards loses on it. Numbers are called out, and when
the s when it is used before another noun: you have marked off a whole row of num-
a billiard table.) bers, you win. She goes to play bingo
billing / bl/ noun 1. the position a per- every Friday night. He won quite a lot at
billing
former has on an entertainment pro- bingo.

gramme or advertisement 2. the preparing binoculars /b nkjlz/ plural noun
binoculars
and sending out of bills to customers powerful glasses for looking at things
billion / bljn/ noun 1. one thousand
billion
which are too far away to see clearly (NOTE:

million The government raises billions in binoculars has no singular. If you want to
taxes each year. 2. one million million indicate one item, say a pair of binoculars.)
(dated) 3. a great many [~of] Billions of biochemistry /ba kemstri/ noun
biochemistry
Christmas cards are sent every year. (NOTE: the science and study of the chemistry of
In US English billion has always meant one living things ( NOTE: + biochemist n)
thousand million, but in British English it for- biodegradable /bad (redb()l/
biodegradable
merly meant one million million, and it is still adj which can easily be broken down by
sometimes used with this meaning. With fig- bacteria, the sun or sea water
ures it is usually written bn: $5bn say five
biodiversity /bada v#
sti/ noun
biodiversity
billion dollars.)
the number of species in a certain area
billow / bl/ (billows, billowing, bil-
billow
biographer /ba (rf/ noun a person

biographer
lowed) verb 1. to become full of air The

|
sails of the yachts billowed in the breeze. 2. who writes the story of someones life
biography / ba (rfi/ (plural biogra-
biography
to move in large waves Smoke billowed |
out of the building. phies) noun the story of someones life

biological /ba ldk()l/ adj 1. refer-
biological
bimbo / bmb/ noun an attractive but

bimbo
|
rather stupid girl (informal offensive) ring to living things the biological bal-
bin /bn/ noun 1. a container for putting
bin
ance in the North Sea 2. using harmful mi-
rubbish in Dont throw your litter on the croorganisms biological warfare (NOTE:
floor pick it up and put it in the bin. 2. a + biologically adv)
biologist /ba ldst/ noun a scientist
biologist
container for keeping things in a bread |
bin verb (bins, binning, binned) to throw who does research in biology
biology /ba ldi/ noun the study of
biology
something away into a rubbish bin He |
just binned the demand for payment. living things

bind /band/ (binds, binding, bound, biopsy / bapsi/ (plural biopsies) noun
bind biopsy
bound) verb 1. to tie someones hands or an operation to remove a small piece from
feet so they cannot move They bound her someones body for examination
55 bitten
/batek nldi/ bison / bas()n/ noun a large wild ani-
biotechnology bison
biotechnology |
noun technology which uses different liv- mal with long hair, which used to be com-
ing materials such as cells for science or in- mon in Europe and North America
dustry bistro / bi
str/ (plural bistros) noun a
bistro
birch /b#
t/ noun a northern tree with
birch
small restaurant
small leaves and a white outer layer which bit /bt/ noun 1. a little piece He tied
bit
comes off in strips the birch forests of the bundle of sticks together with a bit of
Russia string. Would you like another bit of
bird /b#
d/ noun 1. an animal which has
bird
cake? 2. the smallest unit of information

wings and feathers and is usually able to that a computer system can handle verb
fly 2. a young woman (informal; usually past participle of bite to bits 1. into little
used by men and sometimes regarded as pieces 2. very much thrilled to bits to
offensive by women) come or fall to bits to fall apart The chair
birds-eye view /b#
dz a vju
/ noun a
birds-eye view
has come to bits. to take something to
view from high up looking down bits to take something apart in order to re-
pair it Hes taking my old clock to bits.
Biro / bar/ trademark a type of ball-
Biro
a bit a little The painting is a bit too dark.

point She always plays that tune a bit too fast.
birth /b#
/ noun the occasion of being
birth
Let him sleep a little bit longer. Can

born He was a big baby at birth. to give you wait a bit? Im not ready yet. Have
birth to a baby to have a baby She gave you got a piece of wood a bit bigger than
birth to a boy last week. by birth accord- this one? for a bit for a short period of
ing to the country someones parents come time Can you stop for a bit? Im getting
from He is French by birth. tired. bit by bit not all at the same time,
birth certificate / b#
stfkt/ noun
birth certificate
|
little by little He paid back the money he
an official paper showing the date on owed, bit by bit. He inched forward, bit
which someone was born, together with by bit, towards the edge of the cliff.
bitch /bt/ noun 1. a female animal, espe-
bitch
details of the parents

birth control / b#
kn trl/ noun the
birth control
|
cially a female dog They have two dogs
practice of trying to avoid becoming preg- a male and a bitch. The bitch has given
nant birth to five puppies. 2. an unpleasant
woman (offensive slang) That bitch is go-
birthday / b#
de/ noun the date on
birthday
ing round spreading rumours about me.

which someone was born April 23rd is verb (bitches, bitching, bitched) to com-
Shakespeares birthday. My birthday is plain (slang)
on 25th June. What do you want for your
bitchy / bti/ adj making unpleasant re-
bitchy
birthday?
marks about someone (slang)
birthmark / b#
m
k/ noun a mark on
birthmark
bite /bat/ verb (bites, biting, bit, bit-

bite
the skin which a baby has from birth, and

which usually cannot be removed ten) 1. to cut someone or something with
your teeth [~into] The dog tried to bite the
birthplace / b#
ples/ noun 1. the place
birthplace
cat. She bit into the pie. 2. (of an insect)

where someone was born They visited to make a small hole in your skin which
Shakespeares birthplace in Stratford. 2. turns red and itchy Shes been bitten by a
the place where something was invented mosquito. noun 1. a small amount of food
China was the birthplace of gunpowder. that you cut with your teeth in order to eat
birth rate / b#
ret/ noun the number of
birth rate
it She took a big bite out of the sandwich.

children born per thousand of the popula- 2. a bite, a bite to eat a small meal 3. a
tion place on someones body where it has been
biscuit / bskt/ noun a small flat, usu-
biscuit
bitten (NOTE: Do not confuse with byte.)
bite-sized / bat sazd/ adj small enough
bite-sized
ally sweet, hard cake

bisexual /ba sekul/ adj sexually at-
bisexual
|
to put in your mouth
biting / bat/ adj 1. very cold A biting
biting
tracted to both men and women. Compare

heterosexual, homosexual wind blew across the valley. 2. (of a criti-
bishop / bp/ noun 1. a Christian
bishop
cism) very unkind He ended his review
church leader the Bishop of London 2. in with some biting remarks about the cos-
chess, a piece which moves diagonally tumes.
bitten / bt()n/ past participle of bite
bitten
She took both his bishops in three moves.

bitter 56
bitter / bt/ adj 1. not sweet This especially on the wall of a classroom
bitter
black coffee is too bitter. 2. angry because (NOTE: now often called a chalkboard)
something is not fair She was very bitter black box /blk bks/ noun a piece of
black box
about the way the company treated her. 3. equipment carried in an aircraft which
causing great disappointment or unhappi- records what happens during a flight, in-
ness Losing her job was a bitter blow. 4. cluding conversations between pilots and
cold and unpleasant a bitter wind the control tower
bitterly / btli / adv strongly He bitter- blackcurrant /blk krnt/ noun a
bitterly blackcurrant
ly regrets what he said. small black fruit which is usually eaten

bitterness / btns/ noun 1. a bitter cooked a jar of blackcurrant jam The
bitterness
taste 2. angry feelings His bitterness at blackcurrants need more sugar theyre
being left out of the England team was very very sour.
obvious. blacken / blkn/ (blackens, blacken-
blacken
bitter-sweet / bt swi
t/ adj 1. smelling ing, blackened) verb to make black
bitter-sweet
or tasting both bitter and sweet 2. causing black eye / blk a/ noun bruising and
black eye
feelings of both happiness and sadness swelling around an eye, caused by a blow
bitty / bti/ adj made up of unconnected blackhead / blkhed/ noun a blocked
bitty blackhead
parts area which shows up as a very small black

bivouac / bvuk/ noun a simple shelter dot on the skin
bivouac
black hole /blk hl / noun an area in

black hole
made from branches and leaves

bizarre /b z
/ adj very strange space which pulls light into it
bizarre
blab /blb/ (blabs, blabbing, blabbed) black ice /blk as/ noun a dangerous
black ice
blab
verb to tell someone a secret (informal) layer of thin ice on a road

black /blk/ adj 1. having a very dark blacklist / blklst/ noun a list of things
blacklist
black
colour, the opposite to white a black and or people that are not approved of His
white photograph He was wearing a name is on the blacklist. verb (blacklists,
black suit. She has black hair. 2. belong- blacklisting, blacklisted) to put someone
ing to a race of people with dark skin, or something on a blacklist The company
whose families are African in origin has been blacklisted by the government.
black magic / blk mdk/ noun
black magic
noun the darkest colour This picture had

a border of black and gold. magic used for evil purposes
black out phrasal verb 1. to become un- blackmail / blkmel/ verb (blackmails,
blackmail
conscious I suddenly blacked out and I blackmailing, blackmailed) to threaten to

cant remember anything more. 2. to do something harmful to someone unless
make all the lights switch off over a large they do what you want They tried to
area The storm blacked out half the blackmail the government into releasing
town. prisoners of war. noun the act of black-
black-and-white /blk n wat/ adj mailing The government will not give in
black-and-white
1. (of an image) not in colour 2. clear-cut to terrorist blackmail. (NOTE: + blackmail

and simple v)
black belt / blk belt/ noun a person black mark /blk m
k/ noun a bad re-
black mark
black belt
who has achieved the highest level of skill port

black market /blk m
kt/ noun
black market
in an activity such as judo, or the belt

which represents this achievement buying and selling goods in a way which is
blackberry / blkb()ri/ (plural not allowed by law
blackberry
blackout / blkat/ noun 1. an occasion

blackout
blackberries) noun 1. a small black fruit

that grows on a bush For dessert were on which you become unconscious He
having blackberry and apple pie. 2. the must have had a blackout while driving. 2.
bush this fruit grows on We had to strug- a period when there is no electricity, or
gle through blackberry bushes which had when there are no lights The snowstorm
grown over the path. (NOTE: A wild black- caused a blackout.
berry is also called a bramble.) black pepper /blk pep/ noun pepper
black pepper
blackbird / blkb#
d/ noun a com-
blackbird
from whole dried pepper seeds

mon garden bird with black feathers and a blacksmith / blksm/ noun 1. a per-
blacksmith
yellow beak son who works with red-hot iron, making it

blackboard / blkb
d/ noun a dark
blackboard
into different shapes with a hammer She

board which you can write on with chalk, asked the blacksmith to make her a new
57 blast
garden gate. 2. a person who repairs and something I went blank when they asked
fits horseshoes The blacksmith was shoe- what I was doing last Tuesday. When he
ing a horse. asked for my work phone number, my mind
black spot / blk spt/ noun a place on just went blank.
black spot
a road where accidents often happen blank out phrasal verb 1. to cross out or
black tie /blk ta/ noun a formal style cover a piece of writing The surname
black tie
of dress for men that includes a smart black had been blanked out. 2. to try to forget
jacket and a black bow tie something deliberately She blanked out
bladder / bld/ noun the bag-shaped
bladder
the days or the memory of the days imme-
organ inside the body where urine collects diately after the car crash.
blank cheque /blk tek / noun 1. a
blank cheque
before being passed out of the body She

is taking antibiotics for a bladder infec- cheque which has been signed, but without
tion. any details Her father gave her a blank
blade /bled/ noun 1. a sharp cutting
blade
cheque for her birthday and told her to fill
part the blades of a pair of scissors Be in any amount she liked. 2. total freedom to
careful that knife has a very sharp blade. do anything The planners have been giv-
2. a thin leaf of grass 3. one of the long flat en a blank cheque to do what they like with
parts that spin round on some aircraft en- the town centre.
blanket / blkt/ noun 1. a thick cov-
blanket
gines or that keep a helicopter in the air a

propeller blade er which you put over you to keep warm
blah /bl
/ noun boring talk or writing
blah
He woke up when the blankets fell off the
(informal) bed. She wrapped the children up in
blame /blem/ noun criticism for hav-
blame blankets to keep them warm. 2. a thick lay-
ing done something wrong [~for] Im not er a blanket of leaves A blanket of snow
going to take the blame for something I covered the fields. The motorway was
didnt do. to get the blame for some- covered in a blanket of fog. 3. a barrier to
thing to be accused of something Who protect something [~of] a blanket of se-
got the blame for breaking the window? crecy adj affecting everything or every-
Me, of course! to take the blame for one a blanket ban on smoking
blankly / blkli/ adv not showing any
blankly
something to accept that you were respon-

sible for something bad verb to say that reaction or emotion When the teacher
someone is responsible for something asked him about his homework he just
[~for/~on] Blame my sister for the awful stared at her blankly.
blank verse /blk v#
s/ noun poetry
blank verse
food, not me. He blamed the accident on

the bad weather. to be to blame for to be which does not rhyme
responsible for something The manager blare /ble/ (blares, blaring, blared) verb
blare
is to blame for the bad service. I dont to make a loud unpleasant noise The
blame you I think youre right to do that night club has music blaring away in the
I dont blame you for being annoyed, when middle of the night. He drives around
everyone else got a present and you didnt. with his radio blaring. (NOTE: + blare n)
you have only yourself to blame no one blasphemy / blsfmi/ noun being rude
blasphemy
else is responsible for what happened about God, religion or established princi-
You have only yourself to blame if you ples
missed the chance of a free ticket. blast /bl
st/ noun 1. an explosion Sev-
blast
blameless / blemls/ adj not guilty

blameless
eral windows were shattered by the blast.

bland /blnd/ adj 1. dull and boring, and
bland
2. a strong current of wind an icy blast

often not giving any information He gave from the north 3. a sharp loud sound from
a bland reply. 2. without much flavour a signal or whistle Three blasts of the
Some people dont like avocados because alarm means that passengers should go on
they find them too bland. The sauce deck. verb (blasts, blasting, blasted) to
needs more herbs its far too bland. damage or remove something with a bomb
blank /blk/ adj (of paper) not con- or explosives The burglars blasted their
blank
taining any information, sound or writing, way into the safe. The road builders
e.g. She took a blank piece of paper and blasted through the hill.
drew a map. Have we got any blank tapes blast off phrasal verb (of a spacecraft) to
left? noun an empty space, especially on leave the ground The rocket blasted off
a printed form, for something to be written from Cape Canaveral yesterday morn-
in to go blank to be unable to remember ing.
blast-off 58
blast-off / bl
st f/ noun the time when blender / blend/ noun a piece of kitchen
blast-off blender
a spacecraft takes off equipment for mixing different foods to-

blatant / blet()nt / adj obviously bad
blatant
gether thoroughly
bless /bles/ (blesses, blessing, bless-
bless
blaze /blez/ verb (blazes, blazing,

blaze
ed or blest) verb to make something holy

blazed) to burn or shine strongly The fire
was blazing. The sun blazed through the by prayers The church was blessed by the
clouds. noun a large bright fire The bishop. to be blessed with to experience
happiness or good things They were
house was burned down in the blaze. a
blaze of colour a mass of very bright col- blessed with two healthy children. bless
you said when someone sneezes
ours The garden is a blaze of colour.
blessed / blesd/ adj protected by God
blessed
blazer / blez/ noun a jacket, often with

blazer
blessing / bles/ noun 1. a prayer

blessing
a badge to show that the person wearing it

belongs to a particular school or club which blesses people or things The priest
gave his blessing to the congregation. 2.
blazing / blez/ adj burning strongly
blazing
support or official permission for some-

They sat around the blazing bonfire. thing to give your blessing to some-
bleach /bli
t / noun a chemical substance
bleach
thing to approve something officially

which cleans things and kills harmful bac- The chairman gave his blessing to the new
teria She poured bleach into the toilet. design. 3. something which brings happi-
Even a small drop of bleach will remove ness She enjoyed the blessings of good
colour. Do not use bleach on this materi- health and a happy family. a mixed
al. verb (bleaches, bleaching, bleached) blessing something with advantages and
to remove colour from something Hes disadvantages Automation can be a
bleached his hair. Her hair was bleached mixed blessing machines usually tend to
by the sun. be out of order when you need them most.
a blessing in disguise a good thing,
bleak /bli
k/ adj 1. cold and unpleasant
bleak
The path led across bleak mountains. 2. even if at first it seemed bad Breaking his
showing no sign of hope She gave him a leg was a blessing in disguise it meant he
bleak stare. With no qualifications, his could spend more time studying.
blew / blu
/ past tense of blow
blew
job prospects are bleak.

blight /blat/ noun something which
blight
bleat /bli
t/ (bleats, bleating, bleated)
bleat
verb 1. to make the sound that sheep and causes damage or spoils something [~on]
goats make The lambs were bleating in The news of the car accident was a blight
the snow. 2. to complain in an annoying on the familys celebrations. verb
voice Whats he bleating on about? (blights, blighting, blighted) to spoil
something Knowing that she would have
bleed /bli
d/ (bleeds, bleeding, bled)
bleed
to go into hospital when she got back

verb to lose blood His chin bled after he blighted her holiday.
cut himself shaving. He was bleeding
blind /bland/ adj not able to see He
blind
heavily from his wound.

went blind in his early forties. (NOTE: Some
bleep /bli
p/ noun a short high electronic
bleep
people avoid this word as it can cause of-

sound made by a computer, radio, etc. fence, and prefer terms such as visually im-
The computer made a bleep and the screen paired or partially sighted.) verb (blinds,
went blank. The printer will make a bleep blinding, blinded) to make someone una-
when it runs out of paper. (NOTE: + bleep v) ble to see, especially for a short time She
blemish / blem/ noun 1. a mark or
blemish
was blinded by the bright lights of the on-

small amount of damage that spoils the ap- coming cars.
pearance of something 2. something that blind date /bland det/ noun a social
blind date
harms someone or somethings good repu- meeting arranged with someone you do not
tation know
blend /blend/ noun something, especially blindfold / blandfld/ noun a cloth put
blend blindfold
a substance, made by mixing different over someones eyes to prevent them from
things together different blends of coffee seeing Her kidnappers did not let her
verb (blends, blending, blended) 1. to take off the blindfold. verb (blindfolds,
mix things together Blend the eggs, milk blindfolding, blindfolded) to put a blind-
and flour together. 2. (of colours) to go well fold over someones eyes to prevent them
together The grey curtains blend with the from seeing He was blindfolded and bun-
pale wallpaper. dled into the back of a car.
59 blood pressure
blinding / bland/ adj so bright or blob /blb/ noun a small spot of sticky
blinding blob
strong as to stop you seeing properly stuff or thick liquid

blindly / blandli/ adv without being able bloc / blk/ noun a political group of states
blindly bloc
block / blk/ noun 1. a large building

block
to see
blindness / blandns/ noun the state of They live in a block of flats. 2. a large piece
blindness
not being able to see The disease can Blocks of ice were floating in the river. 3.
cause blindness. (NOTE: Some people avoid something that prevents something hap-
this term as it can cause offence, and prefer pening [~on] a block on making payments
visual impairment.) to put a block on something to stop
blind spot / blandspt/ noun an area at
blind spot
something happening 4. same as blockage
1 5. US a section of buildings surrounded
the side of a vehicle which the driver can-
not see in the mirrors by streets He lives two blocks away.
verb (blocks, blocking, blocked) to pre-
blink /blk/ noun to close your eyes
blink
vent something from passing along some-

and open them again very quickly The thing The pipe is blocked with dead
sudden flash of light made him blink. leaves. The crash blocked the road for
verb (blinks, blinking, blinked) (of lights) hours.
to go on and off The alarm light is blink- block up phrasal verb to close a hole with
ing. something
blinkered / blkd/ adj not interested in
blinkered
blockade /bl ked/ noun preventing

blockade
unusual things or ideas supplies arriving The fishermen decided

blip /blp/ noun 1. a small flashing dot on
blip
that a blockade of their harbour would

a computer screen A blip appeared on the help them in their fight with the EU. (NOTE:
radar screen. 2. a temporary bad result + blockade v)
We hope that this months bad export fig- blockage / blkd/ noun 1. something
blockage
ures are only a blip. which prevents movement Theres a

bliss /bls/ noun great happiness
bliss
blockage further down the drain. 2. the

blissful / blsf()l/ adj very pleasant or
blissful
state of being blocked
blockbuster / blkbst/ noun a very
blockbuster
happy
blister / blst/ noun a swelling on the
blister
successful big book or film
bloke /blk/ noun a man (informal )
bloke
skin containing liquid, caused by rubbing

blonde / blnd/ noun a woman with
blonde
or burning, or by a disease such as chicken-

pox I cant run Ive got a blister on my fair hair He came to the party with a gor-
heel. verb (blisters, blistering, blistered) geous blonde.
to make a swelling on a surface The heat blood /bld/ noun the red liquid that
blood
had blistered the paint. His hands were flows around the body
blistered in the fire. blood bank / bld bk/ noun a place
blood bank
blistering / blst()r/ adj 1. very hot

blistering
where blood is stored until it is needed by

Walking in the blistering desert is impossi- hospitals
ble. 2. very fast (informal) The defence bloodbath / bldb
/ noun an attack
bloodbath
could not keep up with blistering pace of that leads to a lot of deaths and injuries
the winger. 3. (of criticism) very strong bloodcurdling / bldk#
dl/ adj very
bloodcurdling
His blistering attack on his host bewildered frightening

everyone present. blood donor / bld dn / noun a per-
blood donor
blithely / blali/ adv without worrying

blithely
son who gives his or her blood so that it can

about anything be used in medical operations
blitz /blts/ noun 1. to have a blitz on blood group / bld (ru
p/ noun one of
blitz blood group
something to make a sudden effort to do the categories into which human blood can
something (informal) Well have to have a be divided
blitz on this pile of orders. 2. an act of bloodhound / bldhand/ noun a large
bloodhound
bombing by planes dog which can follow a trail by its sense of

blizzard / blzd/ noun a snowstorm with
blizzard
smell
strong wind bloodless / bldls/ adj without vio-
bloodless
bloated / bltd/ adj 1. fatter or fuller lence

bloated
blood pressure / bld pre/ noun

blood pressure
than usual After the Indian meal she felt

bloated. 2. swollen with air Bloated the pressure at which someones heart
corpses lay in the streets. pumps blood
bloodshed 60
bloodshed / blded/ noun a situation She has a cold and keeps having to blow
bloodshed
which involves killing people her nose. noun 1. a knock or hit with the
bloodshot / bldt/ adj (of the eyes) hand He received a blow to the head in
bloodshot
red the fight. 2. a shock, which comes from bad

bloodsports / bldsp
ts/ plural noun
bloodsports
news The election result was a blow to
sports which involve killing animals the government.
blow away phrasal verb 1. to go away by
bloodstained / bldstend/ adj covered
bloodstained
with bloodstains blowing His hat blew away. 2. to make

something go away by blowing The
bloodstream / bldstri
m/ noun the
bloodstream
wind will blow the fog away.

flow of blood round the body blow down phrasal verb 1. to make some-
bloodthirsty / bld#
sti/ adj 1. cruel 2.
bloodthirsty
thing fall down by blowing Six trees

full of details about people killing or injur- were blown down in the storm. 2. to fall
ing each other down by being blown The school fence
blood transfusion / bld trns
blood transfusion
|
has blown down.
fju
()n/ noun an act of putting blood blow off phrasal verb to make something
which has been given by another person go away by blowing The wind blew his
into a patients body hat off.
blood vessel / bld ves()l/ noun any
blood vessel
blow out phrasal verb to make some-

tube, artery or vein, which carries blood thing go out by blowing She blew out
round the body The wound is bleeding the candles on her birthday cake.
profusely because a blood vessel has been blow over phrasal verb 1. (of a storm or a
cut. to burst a blood vessel to get vio- difficult situation) to end We hope the ar-
lently angry The boss will burst a blood gument will soon blow over. 2. to knock
vessel when he hears the news. something down by blowing The
bloody / bldi/ adj with much blood
bloody
strong winds blew over several trees.

a bloody battle adj, adv used as a mild blow up phrasal verb 1. to make some-
swear word to express anger and annoy- thing get bigger by blowing into it He
ance (informal) Stop that bloody noise! blew up balloons for the party. Your
bloody-minded /bldi mandd/ adj
bloody-minded
front tyre needs blowing up. 2. to destroy

deliberately unhelpful (informal) something by making it explode The
bloom /blu
m/ noun a flower in (full) soldiers blew up the railway bridge. 3. to
bloom
bloom covered in flowers The apple make a photograph bigger The article
trees are in full bloom. verb (blooms, was illustrated with a blown-up picture
blooming, bloomed) to produce flowers of the little girl and her stepfather. 4. to
blossom / bls()m/ noun 1. the mass of
blossom
make something seem more important
flowers that appears on trees in the spring than it really is The story has been
The hedges are covered with hawthorn blown up by the papers.
blow-by-blow /bl ba bl/ adj de-
blow-by-blow
blossom. The trees are in full blossom. 2.

a single flower verb (blossoms, blos- scribing an event in great detail
blow-dry /bl dra/ verb to dry some-
blow-dry
soming, blossomed) 1. to produces flow-

ers The roses were blossoming round the ones hair with a hair drier
cottage door. 2. to improve or become blown /bln/ past tense and past partici-
blown
more successful [~into] The friendship ple of blow

blossomed into romance. blowout / blat/ noun 1. a very large
blowout
blot out phrasal verb to hide something meal (informal) 2. the bursting of a tyre
completely blubber / blb/ noun the fat of a whale
blubber
blotch /blt/ noun a large area of colour

blotch
or seal Whales were killed and their blub-

blotchy / blti/ adj (of the face) covered
blotchy
ber melted down. verb (blubbers, blub-

with red marks bering, blubbered) to cry noisily Stop
blouse /blaz/ noun a womans shirt blubbering, its only a little scratch.
blouse
blow /bl/ verb (blows, blowing, bludgeon / bldn/ (bludgeons,

bludgeon
blow
blew, blown) 1. (of air or wind) to move bludgeoning, bludgeoned) verb to beat
The wind had been blowing hard all day. 2. with a heavy stick The young student was
to push air out from your mouth Blow on bludgeoned and left for dead. The rioters
your soup if its too hot. to blow your bludgeoned him to the ground.
blue /blu
/ adj (bluer, bluest) of the
blue
nose to blow air through your nose into a

handkerchief, especially if you have a cold colour of the sky He wore a pale blue
61 boast
shirt. They live in the house with the dark
blurt
blurt verb
blue door. noun the colour of the sky Is blurt out phrasal verb to give away a se-
blurt out
there a darker blue than this available? cret suddenly, without intending to
out of the blue suddenly Out of the blue blush
blush
/bl/ (blushes, blushing,

came an offer of a job in Australia. blushed) verb to go red in the face because
bluebell / blu
bel / noun a wild plant with
bluebell
you are ashamed or embarrassed She

blue flowers like a series of little bells blushed when he spoke to her.
blueberry / blu
b()ri/ (plural blueber- blusher / bl/ noun pink or red colour-
blueberry
blusher
ries) noun a wild fruit, which is dark blue ing applied to the cheeks
when ripe, eaten raw with sugar and cream, bluster / blst / (blusters, blustering,
bluster
or cooked in pies and jams blustered) verb 1. to speak loudly and an-
blue-blooded /blu
bldd/ adj from a
blue-blooded
grily He went blustering on about taking

royal or upper-class family us to court. 2. (of wind) to blow hard (NOTE:
blue cheese /blu
ti
z/ noun a cheese
blue cheese
+ bluster n)
with blue mould in it blustery / blst()ri/ adj (of wind) blow-
blustery
blueprint / blu
prnt/ noun 1. a photo-
blueprint
ing strongly
graphic print of a plan which consists of BO abbr body odour
BO
blue lines on a white background or white boa constrictor / b knstrkt /

boa constrictor
lines on a blue background Heres the

|
noun a large snake found in South Ameri-

blueprint of the new engine. 2. a plan for ca, which kills animals by wrapping itself
doing something [~for] The deal will act around them and squeezing them
as a blueprint for future cooperation.
boar /b
/ noun a male pig We have a
boar
blues /blu
z/ plural noun sad songs
blues
from the southern US Bessie Smith, the boar and two sows. (NOTE: Do not confuse
with bore.)
great blues singer.
board /b
d/ noun 1. a long flat piece
board
bluff /blf/ noun 1. a threat to do some-

bluff
thing which you know you will not carry of something such as wood The floor of
out Dont believe what he says, its all the bedroom was just bare boards. 2. a
just bluff. 2. a steep hill made of rock The blackboard or chalkboard The teacher
soldiers climbed the bluff and found the en- wrote on the board.
emy waiting for them on top. verb (bluffs, board up phrasal verb to cover things
bluffing, bluffed) to do something by trick- such as windows and doors with boards
boarder / b
d/ noun a pupil who lives
boarder
ing someone He said he was a naval of-

ficer, but he was just bluffing. at his or her school (NOTE: Do not confuse
bluish / blu
/ adj of a colour that is
bluish
with border.)
board game / b
d (em/ noun any
board game
close to blue
blunder / blnd/ noun a big mistake, of-
blunder
game in which players move pieces on a
ten one that causes a lot of embarrassment board
boarding card / b
d k
d/ noun a
boarding card
A dreadful blunder by the goalkeeper al-

lowed their opponents to score. card which allows you to go on board a
blunt /blnt/ adj 1. not sharp He tried to
blunt
plane
boarding house / b
d has/ noun a
boarding house
cut the meat with a blunt knife. 2. almost

rude His blunt manner often upset peo- house where you pay to live
boarding pass / b
d p
s/, board-
boarding pass
ple.
bluntly / blntli/ adv in a direct way that ing card noun same as boarding card
bluntly
may upset people boarding school / b

d sku
l/ noun
boarding school
blur /bl#
/ noun an unclear image He a school where the children live during
blur
was hit on the head, and everything be- term time

came a blur. You must have moved the boardroom / b
dru
m/ noun a room
boardroom
photograph is just a blur. verb (blurs, where directors meet

blurring, blurred) to become unclear, to boast /bst / verb (boasts, boasting,
boast
make unclear His vision became blurred. boasted) 1. to have something good The
blurb /bl#
b/ noun a short piece of text on
blurb
house boasts a large garden and pond.

something which is for sale, encouraging The town boasts an 18-hole golf course. 2.
you to buy it (slang) to say how good or successful you are
blurred /bl#
d/ adj not clearly seen The
blurred
noun the act of talking about things that

paper printed a blurred photograph of the you are proud of Their proudest boast is
suspect. that they never surrendered.
boastful 62
boastful / bstf()l/ adj saying how bodywork / bdiw#
k/ noun the metal
boastful bodywork
good or successful you are outer covering of a car

boat /bt/ noun a small vehicle that bog /b(/ noun a marshland
bog
boat
bog standard /b( stndd/ adj ordi-

bog standard
people use for moving on water They

sailed their boat across the lake. They nary, or lacking special features
went to Spain by boat. When is the next bogus / b(s/ adj pretending to be real
bogus
boat to Calais? in the same boat in the bohemian /b hi

min/ adj referring to
bohemian
same difficult situation Dont expect spe- a relaxed way of life, often thought typical
cial treatment were all in the same boat. of artists He led a very bohemian exist-
boating / bt/ noun the activity of go- ence in Paris as a young man. She
boating
ing in small boats for pleasure brought along some of her bohemian
bob / bb/ noun a womans or girls hair-
bob
friends.
boil /bl/ verb (boils, boiling, boiled)
boil
style, where the hair is cut fairly short so

that it is the same length all round She 1. (of water or other liquid) to form bubbles
had her hair in a bob. verb (bobs, bob- and change into steam or gas because of
bing, bobbed) to move up and down being heated Put the egg in when you see
Pieces of wood were bobbing about on the that the waters boiling. Dont let the
water. milk boil. 2. to heat a liquid until it changes
bode /bd/ (bodes, boding, boded)
bode
into steam Can you boil some water so
verb to bode ill or well to be a bad or we can make tea? 3. to cook food such as
good sign (formal) It bodes ill for their vegetables or eggs in boiling water Boil
project if the local council has refused the potatoes in a large pan. noun an in-
them a grant. fected swelling He has a boil on the back
of his neck.
bodily / bdli/ adj referring to the body
bodily
boil down phrasal verb 1. to be reduced

The main bodily functions are those of im- through boiling Let the sauce boil down
portant organs such as the heart, the lungs, until it is quite thick. 2. to be reduced to
etc. It all boils down to whether he will accept
body / bdi/ (plural bodies) noun 1. the
body
the deal now or not.

whole of a person or of an animal He had boil over phrasal verb (of liquid ) to rise up
pains all over his body. 2. the main part of when boiling and run over the side of the
an animal or person, but not the head and pan
arms and legs She had scars on the arms boiling / bl/ adj 1. which has start-
boiling
and upper part of her body. 3. the body of ed to boil, i.e. for water, at 100C Put the
a dead person or animal The dead mans potatoes in a pan of boiling water. 2. also
body was found in the river. Bodies of in- boiling hot very hot It is boiling in this
fected cows were burnt in the fields. 4. the room.
main structure of a vehicle The car has boiling point / bl pnt/ noun 1. the
boiling point
an all-aluminium body. 5. the main part of temperature at which a liquid boils, i.e.
something Youll find the details in the when it turns into steam or gas 100C is
body of the report. 6. the thickness of hair the boiling point of water. 2. a point at
The shampoo will give your hair body.
which a situation becomes very serious
(NOTE: no plural)
The UN must do something quickly be-
body blow / bdi bl/ noun a serious
body blow
cause the situation has reached boiling

disappointment point.
body building / bdi bld/ noun the boisterous / bst()rs/ adj energetic
body building
boisterous
practice of developing the muscles of the and noisy

body through lifting heavy weights and bold /bld/ noun a printing type with
bold
eating particular foods thick black letters The main words in this
bodyguard / bdi(
d/ noun 1. a per-
bodyguard
dictionary are set in bold.

son who guards someone The man was bollard / bl
d/ noun 1. a low post for a
bollard
stopped by the presidents bodyguards. 2. a ships rope to be tied to 2. a low post in the
group of people who guard someone He road showing where traffic should go The
has a bodyguard of six people or a six-man police have put bollards across the road.
bodyguard. bolster / blst/ (bolsters, bolstering,
bolster
body language / bdi l(wd/

body language
bolstered) verb to make something better

noun movements of the body which show or stronger The money from the village
what someone is thinking fete has bolstered the church funds.
63 boo
Learning that he will be out of hospital bona fide /bn fadi/ adj real or true;
bona fide
next week has bolstered his spirits. not deceiving

bolt /blt/, boult noun 1. a long piece of bonanza /b nnz/ noun a situation
bolt bonanza
metal with a screw, fastened with a round where you can make a lot of money [~for]
piece of metal called a nut The legs of the He won 10,000 on the lottery a real bo-
table are secured to the top with bolts. 2. a nanza for the family.
bond /bnd/ (bonds, bonding, bond-
bond
long piece of metal which you slide into a

hole to lock a door She pulled back the ed) verb 1. (of two people) to make a psy-
bolts. 3. to make a bolt for it to run away chological link [~with] Some mothers find
When the guards werent looking two it difficult to bond with their babies. 2. to
prisoners tried to make a bolt for it. verb stick together tightly [~with] Cover the
(bolts, bolting, bolted) 1. to run fast sud- two surfaces with glue and hold them tight-
denly The horse bolted. 2. to run away ly until they bond.
bondage / bndd/ noun the state of
bondage
from someone or something When the

boys saw him coming, they bolted. 3. to fas- being a slave
ten something with a bolt He bolted the bone /bn/ noun one of the solid piec-
bone
door when he went to bed. The tables are es in the body, which make up the skeleton
bolted to the floor. to make a bolt for He fell over and broke a bone in his leg.
something to rush towards something At Be careful when youre eating fish they
the end of the show everyone made a bolt have lots of little bones.
for the door. to make a bolt for it to run bone marrow / bn mr/ noun the
bone marrow
away from someone or something When soft substance inside a bone

the guards werent looking two prisoners bonfire / bnfa/ noun a fire made out-
bonfire
tried to make a bolt for it. doors

bomb /bm/ noun a weapon which ex- bonnet / bnt/ noun 1. the metal cov-
bomb
bonnet
plodes, and can be dropped from an aircraft er over the front part of a car, covering the
or placed somewhere by hand The bomb engine He lifted up the bonnet and
was left in a suitcase in the middle of the looked at the steam pouring out of the en-
station. They phoned to say that a bomb gine. 2. a hat with strings that tie under the
had been planted in the main street. En- chin
emy aircraft dropped bombs on the army bonsai / bnsa/ noun a tree grown in
bonsai
base. verb (bombs, bombing, bombed) this way We have a little bonsai oak that
to drop bombs on something Enemy air- is forty years old.
craft bombed the power station. bonus / bns/ noun 1. extra money
bonus
bombard /bm b
d/ (bombards, bom- Sales staff earn a bonus if they sell more
bombard
barding, bombarded) verb 1. to attack than their target. 2. an advantage It was

again and again with heavy guns or bombs a bonus that the plane arrived early, as we
The town was bombarded for ten days were able to catch an earlier bus home.
before surrendering. 2. to send someone added bonus an additional advantage I
more communications or questions than prefer this job and its an added bonus that
they can deal with He was bombarded I can walk to work.
bony / bni/ (bonier, boniest) adj 1.
bony
with offers of jobs. She was bombarded

with advice from her relatives. (NOTE: + thin, so that the bones can be seen easily
bombardment n) She was riding a bony horse. He grabbed
bomber / bm/ noun 1. a person who
bomber
her arm with his bony hand. 2. (of fish) with
puts bombs in places in order to blow them many bones I dont like kippers, theyre
up The bombers managed to escape after usually too bony.
boo / bu
/ interj showing that you do not
boo
planting the bomb. 2. an aircraft for drop-

ping bombs The bombers were out dur- like someone such as an actor, singer or
ing the night, attacking enemy targets. politician Everyone shouted boo when
he announced that taxes would have to go
bombing / bm / noun an occasion
bombing
up. noun an instance of making the sound

when someone attacks a place with a bomb boo The wicked pirates appearance
or bombs bombings in the centres of ma- was greeted with boos and hisses. verb
jor cities a bombing raid by enemy air- (boos, booing, booed) to make a boo
craft sound to show that you do not like some-
bombshell / bmel/ noun a very un-
bombshell
one such as an actor, singer or politician

pleasant surprise (informal) The crowd booed the referee.
booby prize 64
booby prize / bu
bi praz/ noun a silly book token / bk tkn/ noun a card
booby prize book token
prize given to the last person in a competi- with an amount of money written on it,
tion which can only be used to buy books of
boobytrap / bu
bitrp/ noun a hidden that value
boobytrap
bomb bookworm / bkw#

m/ noun someone
bookworm
boogie / bu
(i/ (boogies, boogieing, bo-
boogie
who enjoys reading books, and reads a lot

ogied) verb to dance to disco music boom /bu
m/ noun 1. a sudden in-
boom
book /bk/ noun 1. sheets of printed

book
crease in a business or activity [~in] a

paper attached together, usually with a stiff boom in short holidays 2. a loud deep
cover [~about/on] Im reading a book on noise, like the sound of an explosion
the history of London. He wrote a book There was such a loud boom that everyone
about butterflies. 2. sheets of paper to write jumped. verb (booms, booming,
or draw on, attached together in a cover. boomed) 1. to increase The economy is
exercise book, notebook, sketchbook booming. 2. to make a loud deep noise
verb (books, booking, booked) to reserve His voice boomed across the square.
a place, a seat, a table in a restaurant or a boomerang / bu
mr/ noun a curved
boomerang
room in a hotel We have booked a table piece of wood, invented in Australia,

for tomorrow evening. to book someone which twists as it flies and returns to you
on or onto a flight to order a plane ticket when you throw it in a special way
for someone else Ive booked you on the
boon /bu
n/ noun a very useful thing
boon
10 oclock flight to New York.

book into phrasal verb to reserve a room [~for/to] The car has been a real boon to
in a hotel to book someone into a hotel her since the bus company stopped the
to reserve a hotel room for someone else service to their village.
boost /bu
st/ noun help or increase
boost
bookcase / bkkes/ noun a cup-

bookcase
board with shelves for keeping books in [~for/~in/~to] It gave a boost to our sales.
verb (boosts, boosting, boosted) to help
book club / bk klb/ noun 1. a compa-
book club
ny which sells books by post, often at re- to increase something or make something
duced prices 2. a group of people who meet better The TV commercial should boost
to discuss books and related subjects our sales.
booster / bu
st/ noun 1. a thing which
booster
bookie / bki/ noun same as bookmaker

bookie
(informal) gives extra help or support Winning the

competition was a much needed morale
booking / bk/ noun an arrange-
booking
booster for her. 2. same as booster injec-

ment to have something such as a seat, ho- tion
tel room or a table in a restaurant kept for
injection / bu
str n
booster injection
you to make a booking to reserve some- booster |
thing such as a seat, hotel room or table dek()n/ noun an extra injection of vac-
We tried to make a booking for the week cine given some time after the first one so
beginning May 1st, but the hotel was full. as to make sure it is still effective
bookkeeping / bkki
p/ noun the ac- booster shot / bu
st t/ noun same
booster shot
bookkeeping
tivity or job of keeping a companys ac- as booster injection

counts (NOTE: + bookkeeper n) boot /bu
t/ noun a strong shoe which
boot
booklet / bklt/ noun a book of in-

booklet
covers your foot and your ankle or the low-

formation with only a few pages er part of your leg walking boots ankle
bookmaker / bkmek/ noun a person boots long black riding boots
bookmaker
who takes money from people who want to boot up phrasal verb to make a computer
bet on the result of races (NOTE: The official start, or to be started and ready for use
term is turf accountant.) booth /bu
/ noun 1. a small room or
booth
bookmark / bkm
k/ noun 1. some-
bookmark
enclosed space for one person to stand or

thing that you put in a book to show the sit in 2. US a section of a business fair
place where you stopped reading 2. the ad- where a company shows its products or
dress of a website or web page, stored for services The American publisher wants
easy access us to meet him at his booth. 3. US an en-
bookshelf / bkelf/ (plural book- closed area in a restaurant with a table in it
bookshelf
shelves) noun a shelf for keeping books We sat in a booth by the bar and listened
bookshop / bkp/ noun a shop

bookshop
to the jazz.
bootleg / bu
tle(/ adj sold illegally
bootleg
where you can buy books

65 bottle
boot out phrasal verb to make someone short time, usually with the permission of
boot out
leave somewhere (informal) He was boot- the owner She borrowed three books
ed out of the police force for taking bribes. from the school library. He wants to bor-
booty / bu
ti/ noun treasure taken by sol- row one of my CDs. 2. to take money for a
booty
diers, sailors, etc. during fighting (NOTE: no time, usually from a bank Companies
plural) borrow from banks to finance their busi-
booze /bu
z/ (informal) noun an alcoholic ness. She borrowed 100,000 from the
booze
drink Hes too fond of (the) booze to bank to buy a flat. Compare lend
borrower / br / noun a person who
borrower
work well. verb (boozes, boozing,

boozed) to drink alcohol He was out all borrows something, especially money
night boozing with his friends. borrowings / brz/ plural noun
borrowings
border / b
d/ noun 1. an imaginary money which is borrowed The company
border
line between countries or regions [~be- has borrowings of over 200,000.

tween/~with] They crossed the border be- bosom / bz()m/ noun a womans
bosom
tween Germany and Switzerland. The breasts

town is near the border with Luxembourg. boss /bs/ noun the person in charge,
boss
He was questioned by the border guards. especially the owner of a business If you
2. a pattern around the edge of something want a day off, ask the boss. I left because
I dont like the pink border on the scarf. 3. I didnt get on with my boss.
a patch of soil at the side of a path or an bossy / bsi/ (bossier, bossiest) adj al-
bossy
area of grass where flowers or bushes are ways telling people what to do
planted verb (borders, bordering, bor- botanist / bt()nst/ noun a scientist
botanist
dered) to be along the edge of something who studies plants

The path is bordered with rose bushes.
botany / bt()ni/ noun the science and
botany
The new houses border the west side of the

park. study of plants
botch /bt/ (botches, botching,
botch
border on phrasal verb 1. same as border

verb 2. to be very similar to or almost the botched) verb to do or make something
same as something His excuse was sil- badly (informal)
both /b/ adj, pron two people or
both
ly, bordering on the ridiculous.

borderline / b
dlan/ noun a line be-
borderline
things together Hold onto the handle
tween two things with both hands. Both my shoes have
bore /b
/ noun a dull person who is not
bore holes in them. Both her brothers are very
very interesting I dont want to sit next to tall. She has two brothers, both of them in
him, hes such a bore. verb (bores, bor- Canada. She and her brother both go to
ing, bored) to make a hole in something
the same school. Im talking to both of
you.
bored /b
d/ adj not interested in what
bored
bother / b/ noun trouble or worry

bother
is happening You get very bored having

to do the same work every day. Im bored We found the shop without any bother. It
lets go out to the club. was such a bother getting packed that we
nearly didnt go on holiday. verb (both-
boredom / b
dm/ noun the state of
boredom
ers, bothering, bothered) 1. to make

being bored someone feel slightly angry, especially by
boring / b
r/ adj not interesting I
boring
disturbing them [~that] Stop bothering

dont want to watch that TV programme me Im trying to read. It bothers me that
its boring. everyone is so lazy. 2. to feel worried, or
born /b
n/ verb to come out of your
born
make someone feel worried [~about/~that]

mothers body and begin to live He was I was bothered about not hearing from
born in Scotland. She was born in 1989. her for two weeks. It bothers me that it
The baby was born last week. takes so long to get a reply. 3. to bother
born-again Christian /b
n (en
born-again Christian
|
to do something to take the time or trouble
krstn/ noun a person who has been to do something Dont bother to come
converted to Christianity, after not having with me to the station I can find my way
been very religious before easily. cant orcouldnt be bothered to
borne /b
n/ past participle of bear
borne
dont want to He couldnt be bothered to

borough / br/ noun a large town or answer my letters.
borough
district that is run by an elected council bottle / bt()l/ noun 1. a tall plastic or
bottle
borrow / br/ (borrows, borrowing, glass container for liquids, usually with a
borrow
borrowed) verb 1. to take something for a narrow part at the top He opened two bot-
bottle bank 66
tles of red wine. She drank the water bouncer / bans/ noun a person whose
bouncer
straight out of the bottle. He bought his job is to stop unwanted people getting into
wife a bottle of perfume on the plane. 2. a public place, or to make them leave The
confidence (informal ) He hasnt got the bouncers wouldnt let her in because shed
bottle to do it. verb (bottles, bottling, caused trouble before.
bottled) to put in bottles The wine is bot- bouncy / bansi/ adj 1. which bounces
bouncy
tled in Germany. Only bottled water is a big bouncy red ball 2. full of energy Its
safe to drink. quite tiring working with her because shes
bottle bank / bt()l bk/ noun a so bouncy.
bottle bank
place where you can throw away empty bound /band/ noun a big jump adj
bound
bottles for recycling 1. very likely [~to] They are bound to be

bottled / bt()ld/ adj sold in bottles late. 2. obliged [~to/~by] He felt bound to
bottled
bottleneck / bt()lnek/ noun 1. a nar-

bottleneck
|
help her. He is bound by the contract he
row part of a road where traffic often gets signed last year. 3. tied up a bundle of old
stuck The roadworks have created a bot- letters bound with pink ribbon The boy
tleneck and caused jams all through the was left bound to a tree. The burglars left
town. 2. a place where things such as pro- him bound hand and foot. verb (bounds,
bounding, bounded) to make a big jump,
duction or supplies are held up Theres a
bottleneck in the invoicing department and or move fast suddenly She bounded into
this holds up our deliveries. the room. He bounded out of his chair.
The dog bounded into the bushes. bound
bottom / btm/ noun 1. the lowest
bottom
for on the way to a ship bound for the

point The ship sank to the bottom of the Gulf
sea. Turn left at the bottom of the hill. boundary / band()ri/ (plural
boundary
Is there any honey left in the bottom of the boundaries) noun an imaginary line or
jar? 2. the far end Go down to the bottom physical barrier separating two things [~be-
of the street and you will see the station on tween/~with] The white fence marks the
your left. The shed is at the bottom of the boundary with my neighbours garden.
garden. 3. the part of the body on which Their behaviour crossed the boundary be-
you sit Does my bottom look big in these tween unkindness and cruelty.
trousers? plural noun bottoms the lower
boundless / bandls / adj which seems
boundless
part of a set of clothes He was wearing

just his track suit bottoms. I cant find my to have no limit
bounty / banti/ noun money given as a
bounty
bikini bottoms. adj lowest The jam is on

the bottom shelf. He was standing on the reward
bouquet /bu
ke/ noun 1. a beautifully
bouquet
bottom rung of the ladder. to get to the |
bottom of a problem to find the real cause arranged bunch of flowers He bought a
of a problem bouquet of white roses. A little girl pre-
bottomless / btmls/ adj without any
bottomless
sented the princess with a bouquet. 2. the
limit particular smell of a wine a wine with a
delicate bouquet
bough /ba/ noun a branch of a tree
bough
bourbon / b#
bn/ noun US a type of
bourbon
(NOTE: Do not confuse with bow.) American whisky, or a glass of this drink
bought /b
t/ past tense and past par-
bought
bourgeois / bw
/ adj referring to
bourgeois
ticiple of buy middle-class people and their views in a

boulder / bld / noun a large rock
boulder
disapproving way They want to go on liv-

boulevard / bu
lv
d/, Boulevard noun ing their bourgeois existence. He accuses
boulevard
a wide road in a town, usually with trees his parents of being terribly bourgeois and
along it swears he wont be like them.
bout /bat/ noun 1. a sporting fight or
bout
bounce / bans/ noun 1. a movement

bounce
of something such as a ball when it hits a contest Lewis won that bout. 2. an attack
surface and moves away again He hit the of illness She had a bout of flu.
boutique /bu
ti
k/ noun a small shop,
boutique
ball on the second bounce. 2. energy |
Shes always full of bounce. verb (bounc- especially for up-to-date fashionable
es, bouncing, bounced) to spring up and clothes a jeans boutique a ski boutique
bovine / bvan/ adj 1. referring to
bovine
down or off a surface The ball bounced

down the stairs. He kicked the ball but it cows 2. slow and stupid
bow1 /ba/ noun 1. the act of bending
bow
bounced off the post. In this game you

bounce the ball against the wall. your body forwards as a greeting or sign of
67 brace
respect He made a deep bow to the audi- lid The cakes came in a cardboard box.
ence. to take a bow to stand on a stage 2. a container and its contents He took a
and bend forwards to thank the audience box of matches from his pocket. He gave
The actors took their bows one after the her a box of chocolates for her birthday.
other. 2. the front part of a ship verb verb (boxes, boxing, boxed) to fight by
(bows, bowing, bowed) 1. to bend your punching, especially when wearing special
body forward as a greeting or sign of re- thick gloves He learnt to box at a gym in
spect [~to] He bowed to the queen. 2. to the East End.
bend your head forwards She bowed her boxer / bks/ noun 1. a person who
boxer
head over her books. fights with his fists The two boxers came
bow2 / b/ noun 1. a weapon used for
bow
together in the ring. 2. a type of large dog

shooting arrows The archers drew their with short hair
bows and shot arrows into the air. 2. a long boxing / bks/ noun a sport in which
boxing
piece of wood used for playing a stringed two opponents fight each other in a square
instrument He slowly drew the bow area wearing special thick gloves
across the strings of his violin. 3. a ribbon Boxing Day / bks de / noun 26th
Boxing Day
knotted in a shape like a butterfly The December, the day after Christmas Day
parcel was tied up with red bows.
box office / bks fs/ noun an office
box office
bowl /bl/ noun 1. a wide, round con-

bowl
where you buy tickets in a theatre

tainer for something such as food or water
boy /b/ noun 1. a male child A boy
boy
Put the egg whites in a bowl and whisk

them. 2. the food or liquid contained in a from our school won the tennis match. I
bowl He was eating a bowl of rice. A knew him when he was a boy. 2. a son
bowl of hot thick soup is just what you need Her three boys are all at university. 3. the
in this cold weather. 3. a large heavy ball boys men who are friends, or who play
used for rolling along the ground in certain sport together (informal)
boy band / b bnd / noun an all-male
boy band
games She picked up the bowl and

stepped up to take her turn. verb (bowls, pop group aimed at a teenage audience
boycott / bkt/ (boycotts, boycotting,
boycott
bowling, bowled) 1. (especially in cricket)

to throw a ball to a batsman 2. also bowl boycotted) verb to refuse to deal with
out (especially in cricket) to throw the ball someone We are boycotting all food im-
to a batsman and hit the wicket so that the ports from that country. (NOTE: + boycott n)
person cannot continue playing 3. (in a boyfriend / bfrend/ noun a young
boyfriend
game of bowls) to roll a bowl along the or older man that someone is having a ro-
ground to try to get close to the target mantic relationship with Shes got a new
bowl over phrasal verb 1. to knock some- boyfriend. She brought her boyfriend to
one down 2. to surprise someone He the party.
was completely bowled over by the news. boyhood / bhd/ noun the time of life
boyhood
bow-legged /b le(d/ adj with legs

bow-legged
when someone is, or was, a boy

which bend out at the knee boyish / b/ adj looking or acting like
boyish
bowler / bl/ noun 1. (especially in

bowler
a boy
cricket) a person who throws the ball to a Boy Scout /b skat/ noun 1. in the
Boy Scout
batsman a fast bowler 2. a person who US, a member of the Boy Scouts of Amer-
plays bowls 3. same as bowler hat ica, an organisation aiming to develop
bowler hat /bl ht/, bowler noun a
bowler hat
good character and physical fitness, often

hat with a rounded top through community and outdoor activities
bowling / bl/ noun the game of
bowling
2. a man who is considered to be naive 3.

bowls, or the indoor game of knocking scout
down skittles with a large ball. ten-pin bra /br
/ noun a piece of womens under-
bra
bowling wear worn to support the breasts

bowls /blz/ noun a game where teams
bowls
brace /bres/ noun 1. a support which

brace
of players roll large balls towards a small helps your teeth to grow straight She
ball (a jack), trying to get as close to it as wears a brace on her teeth. 2. a support for
possible part of the body which has been injured
bow tie /b ta/ noun a tie which is tied a knee brace verb [~for] to brace your-
bow tie
in the shape of a butterfly self to prepare yourself for something un-

box /bks/ noun 1. a container made of
box
pleasant When the phone rang, she

wood, plastic, cardboard or metal, with a braced herself for the shock of hearing his
bracelet 68
voice again. The pilot told us to brace brake /brek/ noun a part of a vehicle
brake
ourselves for a crash landing. used for stopping or making it go more

bracelet / breslt/ noun a piece of jew- slowly Put the brake on when you go
bracelet
ellery worn around your wrist or arm down a hill. The brakes arent working!
braces / bresz/ plural noun a brace for verb (brakes, braking, braked) to slow
braces
the teeth down by pressing a vehicles brakes The

bracing / bres / adj cool and making
bracing
driver of the little white van braked, but too
you feel healthy late to avoid the dog.
bran /brn/ noun the outside part of
bran
bracket / brkt/ noun 1. a piece of

bracket
metal or wood which is attached to a wall wheat seeds

branch /br
nt/ noun 1. a thick part
branch
to support a shelf The shelf is held up by

two solid brackets. 2. a printing sign usual- of a tree, growing out of the main part He
ly used in pairs, [ ], ( ), < > or {}, used to hit his head against a low branch. 2. a local
show that a piece of text is separated from office of an organisation Hes the manag-
the rest The words in brackets can be deer of our local branch of Lloyds Bank.
leted. The four words underlined should The store has branches in most towns in the
be put in brackets. 3. a group of things or south of the country. 3. one part of some-
people considered together for administra- thing larger Genetics is a branch of biol-
tive purposes ogy. Im not in contact with the Irish
brag /br(/ (brags, bragging, bragged)
brag
branch of my family. 4. a section of a road,
verb to boast about something railway line or river that leads to or from
braid /bred/ noun 1. a decoration made
braid
the main part The town is built on a
of twisted fibres Admirals have gold branch of the Nile. verb (branches,
braid on their caps. 2. plaited hair This is branching, branched) to divide into two or
a picture of her when she was ten and still more parts
had her hair in braids. verb (braids, branch out phrasal verb to start to do
braiding, braided) to plait, e.g. hair or rib- something different, as well as what you
bon She braided her hair before going normally do
brand /brnd/ noun a product with a
brand
swimming.
Braille /brel/ noun a system of writing name, made by a particular company a
Braille
using raised dots on paper to represent let- well-known brand of soap verb (brands,
ters, which allows a blind person to read by branding, branded) to describe someone
passing his or her fingers over the page or something publicly as something bad
brain /bren/ noun 1. the nerve centre
brain
[~(as)] He was branded as a thief. The
in the head, which controls all the body minister was publicly branded a liar in the
The brain is the most important part of the newspaper.
brandish / brnd/ (brandishes, bran-
brandish
body. 2. intelligence to use your brain to

think sensibly shes got brains, shes got dishing, brandished) verb to wave some-
a good brain shes intelligent thing about
brainchild / brentald/ noun an origi- brand name / brnd nem/ noun the
brand name
brainchild
nal plan that someone has thought of official name of a product

(informal) brand-new /brnd nju
/ adj com-
brand-new
brainless / brenls/ adj completely stu- pletely new

brainless
pid (disapproving) brandy / brndi/ noun 1. an alcoholic

brandy
brainstorming / brenst
m/ noun
brainstorming
| drink made from wine I was given a bot-

an intensive group discussion, with no time tle of excellent brandy. 2. a glass of this
allowed for thinking, in order to produce drink He ordered three brandies.
ideas or help solve problems brash /br/ adj confident and loud
brash
brainwash / brenw/ (brainwashes,

brainwash
(technical)
brainwashing, brainwashed) verb to make brass /br
s/ noun 1. a shiny yellow met-
brass
someone believe something is true by real used for making things such as some
peating it and forcing them to believe it musical instruments and door handles
(NOTE: + brainwashing n) The doctor has a brass nameplate on his
brainwave / brenwev/ noun a sudden
brainwave
door. 2. musical instruments made of brass,

very good idea such as trumpets or trombones the brass
brainy / breni/ (brainier, brainiest) adj
brainy
section of the orchestra He has composed

very intelligent (informal) several pieces of music for brass.
69 break
brass band /br
s bnd/ noun a band walked the length and breadth of the field
brass band
of people playing brass instruments but found no mushrooms.

brat /brt/ noun a badly behaved child breadwinner / bredwn/ noun a per-
breadwinner
brat
bravado /br v
d/ noun confident
bravado
son who earns money to feed the family
break /brek/ verb (breaks, breaking,
|
break
actions to show how brave you are

broken) 1. to make something divide into
brave /brev/ adj (braver, bravest) not
brave
pieces accidentally or deliberately He

afraid of doing unpleasant or dangerous dropped the plate on the floor and broke it.
things It was very brave of him to dive Break the chocolate into four pieces. 2. to
into the river to rescue the little girl. verb divide into pieces accidentally The clock
(braves, braving, braved) to accept un- fell on the floor and broke. 3. to fail to obey
pleasant or dangerous conditions in order a rule or law 4. to fail to carry out the terms
to achieve something We braved the Sat- of a contract or a rule The company has
urday crowds in the supermarket because broken its agreement. to break a prom-
we needed bread and milk. ise not to do what you had promised to do
bravely / brevli/ adv in a brave way
bravely
He broke his promise and wrote to her

bravery / brevri/ noun the ability to do again. 5. to break it or to break the
bravery
dangerous or unpleasant things without be- news to someone to tell someone bad news
ing afraid We admired her bravery in We will have to break it to her as gently
coping with the illness. He won an award as possible. (NOTE: Do not confuse with
for bravery. brake.) noun 1. a short pause or rest
bravo /br
v/ interj showing approval There will be a 15-minute break in the mid-
bravo
brawl /br
l/ noun a wild fight Coming
brawl
dle of the meeting. they worked for
out of the pub, he got into a brawl with three hours without a break without
some soldiers. (NOTE: + brawl v) stopping They worked without a break.
to take a break to have a short rest Well
bray /bre/ (brays, braying, brayed) verb
bray
take a break now, and start again in fifteen

to make a loud noise like a donkey minutes. 2. a short holiday a winter break
brazen / brez()n/ adj with no shame
brazen
to break your journey to stop travelling

What you say is a brazen lie. for a while before going on Well break
breach /bri
t/ noun the act of break- our journey in Edinburgh.
breach
ing the law or a promise [~of] This is a break down phrasal verb 1. (of a ma-
breach of the undertaking they made last chine) to stop working The lift has bro-
year. verb (breaches, breaching, ken down again. The car broke down
breached) to go against rules The pay and we had to push it. 2. to show all the
settlement has breached the governments items that are included in a total separate-
guidelines. in breach of going against an ly Can you break down this invoice into
agreement In breach of their agreement, travel costs and extras? 3. to become up-
they started negotiating with our rivals be- set and start crying When she got her
hind our backs. results she just broke down. 4. to separate
bread /bred/ noun food made from
bread
a substance into small parts, or to become
flour and water baked in an oven Can you separated Enzymes break down the
get a loaf of bread from the bakers? She food. 5. to fail Their relationship quick-
cut thin slices of bread for sandwiches. ly broke down when he lost his job. The
bread bin / bred bn/ noun a metal box
bread bin
discussions seem likely to break down
for keeping bread in over the amount of money being offered.
break in phrasal verb 1. to break in, to
breadcrumbs / bredkrmz/ plural noun
breadcrumbs
break into a building to use force to get

little pieces of dried bread The fish is cov- into a building Burglars broke into the
ered in breadcrumbs and then fried. office during the night. 2. to interrupt
breadline / bredlan/ noun a very low
breadline
something that is happening Im sorry

standard of living to break in, but I need to speak to Mr Mc-
breadth /bred/ noun 1. a measurement Gregor urgently.
breadth
of how wide something is The breadth of break into phrasal verb to start doing
the piece of land is over 300 m. 2. the fact something When they saw the photos,
of being full or complete His answers they broke into laughter.
show the breadth of his knowledge of the break off phrasal verb 1. to make some-
subject. the length and breadth of thing come off by breaking He broke a
something everywhere in a place We piece off his pie and gave it to the dog. 2.
breakable 70
to come off by breaking The handle breath /bre/ noun air which goes into
breath
broke off the cup in the dishwasher. and out of the body through the nose or
Several branches broke off in the wind. 3. mouth We could see our breath in the
to stop something suddenly He broke cold air. to hold your breath to keep air
off in the middle of his story. They in your lungs, e.g. in order to go under wa-
broke off the discussions. to break it ter She held her breath under water for a
off to end a relationship They were go- minute. to take a deep breath to breathe
ing to get married, but she broke it off. in as much air as you can Take a deep
break out phrasal verb 1. to start War breath for the doctor. to take someones
broke out between the countries in the ar- breath away to surprise someone very
ea. 2. to escape Three prisoners broke much under your breath quietly He
out of jail. cursed under his breath. dont hold your
break up phrasal verb 1. to divide into breath dont expect it to happen He said
pieces The oil tanker was breaking up hell pay us next month, but dont hold
on the rocks. 2. to end The meeting your breath! out of breath, gasping for
broke up at 3 p.m. breath having difficulty in breathing
breakable / brekb()l/ adj that can breathe /bri
/ (breathes, breathing,
breathe
breakable
break easily breathed) verb to take air into the lungs or

breakaway / brekwe/ adj which has
breakaway
let it out Relax and breathe in and then
become separated from a larger group out slowly. to breathe deeply to take a
lot of air into the lungs hes breathing
breakdown / brekdan/ noun 1. a
breakdown
down my neck all the time always watch-

situation in which a machine or vehicle ing and judging what someone is doing
stops working We had a breakdown on
breather / bri
/ noun a time when you
breather
the motorway. A breakdown truck came

to tow us to the garage. 2. a failure of a sys- can rest (informal )
breathing / bri
/ noun the process
breathing
tem to work properly There has been a

breakdown in communications between of taking air in and out of the lungs
breathing apparatus / bri
p
breathing apparatus
them. 3. a situation in which someone can- |
not continue to live normally any more be- rets/ noun equipment such as a mask
cause they are mentally ill or very tired 4. a and oxygen cylinder which can help a per-
list showing details item by item Give me son to breathe
breathing space / bri
spes/ noun
breathing space
a breakdown of the travel costs.

breakfast / brekfst/ noun the first
breakfast
a period when you can rest between activi-
meal of the day I had a boiled egg for ties
breathless / brels/ adj finding it diffi-
breathless
breakfast. She didnt have any breakfast

because she was in a hurry. The hotel cult to breathe
breathtaking / bretek/ adj very im-
breathtaking
serves breakfast from 7.30 to 9.30 every

day. pressive
break-in / brek n/ noun a burglary breath test / bre test/ noun a test for a
breath test
break-in
breaking point / brek pnt/ noun

breaking point
driver to see if he has been drinking alco-
the point at which a situation reaches a cri- hol
breed /bri
d/ noun a group of animals
breed
sis
breakout / brekat / noun an escape
breakout
or plants specially developed with features
from a prison that make it different from others of the
same type Alsatians and other large
breakthrough / brekru
/ noun a sud-
breakthrough
breeds of dog verb (breeds, breeding,

den success bred) 1. to produce young animals Rab-
breakup / brekp/ noun the process of
breakup
bits breed very rapidly. 2. to keep animals

coming to pieces or separating which produce young ones They breed
breast /brest/ noun 1. one of two parts
breast
sheep for the meat and the wool.

on a womans chest which produce milk 2. breeder / bri
d/ noun a person who
breeder
meat from the chest part of a bird Do you breeds animals or plants
want a wing or a slice of breast? We breeding / bri
d/ noun 1. the prac-
breeding
bought some chicken breasts to make a tice of raising animals or plants Because
stir-fry. of the smell, pig breeding is strictly con-
breastfeed / brestfi
d/ (breastfeeds,
breastfeed
trolled. You cant shoot pheasants during

breastfeeding, breastfed) verb to give a the breeding season. 2. good education,
baby milk from the breast background and behaviour It was obvi-
71 brilliant
ous that his secretary was a girl of good terest can be a bridge between old and
breeding. young.
breeze / bri
z/ noun a slight wind A cool bridle / brad()l/ noun straps put round a
breeze bridle
breeze is welcome on a hot day like this. horses head She had some difficulty in
verb (breezes, breezing, breezed) to walk putting the bridle on the horse.
around looking very pleased with yourself brief /bri
f/ adj short He wrote a brief
brief
He breezed into the meeting carrying a note of thanks. The meeting was very
cup of coffee. brief. in brief in a few words, or without
breeze through phrasal verb to do some- giving details We have food for only a few
thing without any difficulty She days; in brief, the situation is very serious.
breezed through the tests in an hour. briefcase / bri
fkes/ noun a case for
briefcase
breezy / bri
zi/ adj 1. windy It is very
breezy
carrying papers or documents

hot, but slightly breezy which makes it briefing / bri
f/ noun a meeting where
briefing
more comfortable. Its a little breezy in information is given

here, lets shut the French windows. 2. hap- briefly / bri
fli / adv 1. for a short time
briefly
py-go-lucky A breezy youth looking as if 2. in a few words, or without giving details

he didnt have a care in the world.
briefs /bri
fs/ plural noun short under-
briefs
brevity / brevti / noun (of time) the qual-

brevity
wear for men or women Before the med-

ity of being very short ical, the doctor asked him to strip down to
brewer / bru
/ noun a person or compa-
brewer
his briefs.
ny that makes beer brigade /br (ed/ noun a section of
brigade
brewery / bru
ri/ (plural breweries)
brewery |
an army The general sent an infantry bri-

noun a factory where beer is made gade to the region.
bribe /brab/ noun an illegal payment to
bribe
brigadier /br( d/ noun an army of-

brigadier
someone to get something done He officer in charge of a brigade

fered the witness a bribe to say nothing.
bright /brat/ adj 1. full of light or sun-
bright
verb (bribes, bribing, bribed) to give an il-

light a bright day a bright room
legal payment to someone She planned to
customs officials to get the plans approved. bright sunshine or sunlight strong clear
light from the sun 2. very strong They
bribery / brab()ri/ noun the act of
bribery
have painted their front door bright or-

bribing ange. 3. a young person who is bright is in-
bric-a-brac / brk brk/ noun attrac-
bric-a-brac
telligent Both children are very bright.

tive little objects which are not very valua- Shes the brightest student weve had for
ble many years. 4. clear and sunny There will
brick /brk/ noun a hard block of baked
brick
be bright periods during the afternoon. 5.

clay used for building Youll need more happy and pleasant She gave me a bright
than eighty bricks to build a wall. smile.
brick up phrasal verb to fill a hole with brighten / brat()n/ (brightens, bright-
brighten
bricks ening, brightened) verb to make some-

bricklayer / brkle/ noun a person who
bricklayer
thing bright, or to become bright

builds walls with bricks brighten up phrasal verb 1. (of a person)
bridal / brad()l/ adj referring to a wed- to become more cheerful She bright-
bridal
ding (NOTE: Do not confuse with bridle.) ened up when she saw him. 2. (of
bride /brad/ noun a woman who is get- weather ) to become sunnier The weath-
bride
ting married or has just married er is brightening up.

bridegroom / brad(ru
m/ noun a man brightly / bratli / adv 1. in a strong clear
brightly
bridegroom
who is getting married or has just got mar- light or colour A childrens book with
ried ( NOTE: often just called the groom) brightly painted pictures. The streets
bridesmaid / bradzmed/ noun a girl
bridesmaid
were brightly lit for Christmas. 2. cheerful-
who is one of the brides attendants at a ly She smiled brightly as she went into
wedding the hospital.
brightness / bratns/ noun 1. strong
brightness
bridge /brd/ noun 1. a road or path

bridge
built over a road or river so that you can clear light 2. strong colour
brilliance / brljns/ noun the fact of be-
brilliance
walk or drive from one side to the other

There are two bridges across the river near ing very clever
brilliant / brljnt/ adj 1. extremely
brilliant
here. 2. a connection or helpful link be-

tween two things [~between] A shared in- clever Hes the most brilliant student of
brim 72
his year. She had a brilliant idea. 2. tled) to take offence at something She
strong and clear She stepped out into the bristled at the suggestion that a mistake
brilliant sunshine. 3. very good (informal) had been made.
The way the information is displayed on Brit /brt/ noun a person from the United
Brit
this website is brilliant. Kingdom (informal)

brim /brm/ noun 1. the edge The glass British / brt/ adj relating to the
brim
British
was filled to the brim. 2. the flat part United Kingdom a British citizen the
around a hat A hat with a wide brim. British army The British press reported a
brim over phrasal verb to overflow plane crash in Africa. The ship was flying
bring / br/ (brings, bringing, a British flag.
bring
Briton / brt()n/ noun a person from the

Briton
brought) verb to come with someone or

something to this place She brought the United Kingdom
books to school with her. He brought his brittle / brt()l/ adj hard and breaking
brittle
girlfriend home for tea. Are you bringing easily into pieces
any friends to the party? broach /brt/ (broaches, broaching,
broach
bring about phrasal verb to make some- broached) verb to start talking about a
thing happen problem
bring along phrasal verb to bring some- broad /br
d/ adj very wide a broad
broad
one or something with you river breadth

bring back phrasal verb to carry some- broadband / br
dbnd/ adj able to
broadband
thing back manage large amounts of data quickly a

bring down phrasal verb 1. to carry broadband connection
something down to here Can you bring broadcast / br
dk
st/ noun a radio
broadcast
down the television from the bedroom? 2. or TV programme The broadcast came
to make something less Weve brought live from outside Buckingham Palace.
down all our prices. broadcaster / br
dk
st/ noun a per-
broadcaster
bring forward phrasal verb to arrange son who works on radio or TV but is not an
something to be done at an earlier date actor
than had been planned
broaden / br
d()n/ (broadens,
broaden
bring off phrasal verb to succeed in doing

broadening, broadened) verb to make
something something wider, or to become wider
bring on phrasal verb to produce some- Part of their plan is to broaden the road.
thing to have brought it on yourself The river broadens to form a small lake.
you have yourself to blame for what hap-
broadly / br
dli/ adv widely
broadly
pened to you
broad-minded /br
d mandd / adj
broad-minded
bring out phrasal verb to make some-

thing come out not shocked by other peoples behaviour or
words
bring up phrasal verb 1. to look after and
broadsheet / br
di
t/ noun a newspa-
broadsheet
educate a child He was born in the USA

but brought up in England. He was per with large pages (NOTE: Small format
brought up by his uncle in Scotland. 2. to newspapers are called tabloids.)
broadside / br
dsad/ noun a strong
broadside
mention a problem He brought up the

question of the noise. 3. to vomit some- spoken or written attack
Broadway / br
dwe / noun a street in
Broadway
thing Shes got a stomach upset and

brought up all her breakfast. New York, where the major theatres are lo-
brink /brk/ noun the time when some-
brink
cated The play was a big hit on Broad-
thing is about to happen on the brink of way but flopped in London.
brocade /br ked/ noun a thick cloth
brocade
about to achieve something The company |
is on the brink of collapse. She was on the with a raised pattern

broccoli / brkli/ noun a vegetable of
broccoli
brink of a nervous breakdown.

brisk /brsk/ adj fairly fast which the green, purple or white flower
brisk
bristle / brs()l/ noun 1. one of the short

bristle
buds are eaten
brochure / br/ noun a small thin
brochure
stiff hairs on plants, or some animals such

as pigs You could see the bristles on the book
broil /brl/ (broils, broiling, broiled)
broil
back of the sows neck. 2. one of the short

stiff parts of a brush The bristles of my verb to grill food
broiler / brl/ noun a chicken sold for
broiler
toothbrush are coming off I must get a

new one. verb (bristles, bristling, bris- roasting
73 brush
broke /brk/ adj with no money brow /bra/ noun 1. the forehead
broke brow
She
(informal) past tense of break wrinkled or knit her brow as she tried to
broken / brkn/ adj 1. in pieces understand the guidebook. 2. an eyebrow,
broken
She tried to mend the broken vase. 2. not the line of hair above the eye Hes in-
working We cant use the lift because its stantly recognisable with those dark bushy
broken. past participle of break brows. 3. the top of a hill Having reached
broken-down /brkn dan/ adj not
broken-down
the brow of the hill they stopped to look at
working the view.
broken-hearted /brkn h
td/ adj brown /bran/ adj 1. with a colour like
brown
broken-hearted
very sad earth or wood She has brown hair and

broker / brk/ noun a dealer in shares
broker
blue eyes. Its autumn and the leaves are
or insurance turning brown. 2. with skin made dark by
brolly / brli/ (plural brollies) noun an
brolly the sun Hes very brown he must have
umbrella (informal) been sitting in the sun. noun a colour like
earth or wood Id prefer shoes of a lighter
bronchitis /br kats / noun an illness
bronchitis
|
brown.
caused by infection in the bronchial tubes
brownfield / branfi
ld/ adj referring to
brownfield
bronzed /brnzd / adj tanned from being

bronzed
land that previously had industrial building

in the sun on it but is now available for housing
bronze medal /brnz med()l/ noun a
bronze medal
brownie / brani/ noun a small chocolate

brownie
medal given to someone who finishes third cake usually with nuts
in a race or competition
browse /braz/ (browses, browsing,
browse
brooch /brt/ noun a piece of jewel-

brooch
browsed) verb 1. to look through a book,

lery fixed onto clothes with a pin newspaper or magazine, without reading it
brood /bru
d/ noun a family of young
brood
properly I browsed through several mag-

birds or small children Some birds raise azines at the doctors surgery. 2. to wander
only one brood of chicks a year. Simon around a shop looking at things for sale
and his brood came for lunch yesterday. Do you need any help? No, Im just
verb (broods, brooding, brooded) to think browsing. 3. to go to various websites on
anxiously about something a lot the Internet without looking for anything in
[~about/over/on] Shes brooding over the particular
possibility that she might lose her job. browser / braz/ noun computer soft-
browser
broom /bru
m/ noun 1. a brush with a
broom
ware which allows you to browse on the In-

long handle, used to clean floors She ternet
swept the kitchen with a broom. 2. a bush bruise /bru
z/ noun a dark painful area on
bruise
with yellow flowers, found in sandy places the skin, where you have been hit She
and grown in gardens Broom flowers ear- had bruises all over her arms. verb
ly in the summer. (bruises, bruising, bruised) to make a
broth /br/ noun a light meat soup
broth
bruise on the skin by being hit or by knock-

brothel / br()l/ noun a house where
brothel
ing yourself on something She bruised

prostitutes work her knee on the corner of the table.
brother / br/ noun a boy or man brunch /brnt / noun a meal taken from
brother
brunch
who has the same mother and father as about 10 a.m., a combination of breakfast
someone else My brother John is three and lunch
years older than me. She came with her brunette /bru
net/ noun a person, usual-
brunette
three brothers. ly a woman, with dark brown hair

brotherhood / brhd/ noun links
brotherhood
brush /br/ noun 1. a tool made of a

brush
between people handle and hairs or wire, used for doing

brother-in-law / brr n l
/ (plural
brother-in-law
things such as cleaning or painting You

brothers-in-law) noun a brother of your need a stiff brush to get the mud off your
husband or wife; a husband of your sister; shoes. She used a very fine brush to paint
or a husband of a husbands or wifes sister the details. He was painting the front of
brotherly / brli/ adj kind or protec-
brotherly
the house with a large brush. 2. the act of

tive like a brother She was expecting cleaning with a brush She gave the coat
some brotherly advice, instead of which a good brush. 3. a short argument or fight
her brother told her she was a fool. with someone Hes had several brushes
brought /br
t/ past tense and past
brought
with the police recently. verb (brushes,

participle of bring brushing, brushed) 1. to clean with a
brusque 74
brush He brushed his shoes before going the buck. the buck stops here I am the
to the office. Always remember to brush person who is responsible
your teeth before you go to bed. 2. to go bucket / bkt/ noun 1. an open con-
bucket
past something touching it gently She tainer with a handle, used mainly for carry-
brushed against me as she came into the ing liquids He filled a bucket from the
caf. tap. 2. the contents of a bucket He
brush off phrasal verb 1. to clean some- brought a bucket of water from the river.
thing off with a brush He brushed the They threw buckets of water on the fire.
mud off his boots. 2. to ignore something verb (buckets, bucketing, bucketed) to
because it is not very important So far pour with rain (informal) Its bucketing
he has managed to brush off all the com- down outside.
plaints about his work. buckle / bk()l/ (buckles, buckling,
buckle
brush up phrasal verb to learn more buckled) verb 1. to bend and collapse The
about something Youll need to brush whole bridge buckled under the weight of
up your English if you want to get a job the traffic. 2. to become bent The front
as a guide. wheel of my bicycle has buckled.
brusque /brsk/ adj using very few buckle down phrasal verb to start to work
brusque
words and not being very polite hard (informal)

bud /bd/ noun a place where a new shoot
bud
Brussels sprout /brs()lz sprat/

Brussels sprout
noun a green vegetable like a very small or flower will grow from on a plant It was
cabbage spring and the buds on the trees were be-
ginning to open.
brutal / bru
t()l/ adj cruel and violent
brutal
Buddhism / bdz()m/ noun a religion

Buddhism
brute /bru
t/ noun 1. a violent person
brute
based on the teaching of the Indian philos-

Her husbands such a brute, sometimes I opher known as Buddha (NOTE: + Buddhist
fear for her safety. 2. a large animal n)
Three bears came near our camp and one budding / bd/ adj studying to be, hop-
budding
big brute tried to get into my tent. ing to be

BTW abbr by the way
BTW
buddy / bdi/ (plural buddies) noun main-

buddy
bubble / bb()l/ noun a ball of air or

bubble
ly US a friend (informal)
gas contained in a liquid or other substance budge /bd/ (budges, budging,
budge
Bubbles of gas rose to the surface of the budged) verb to move

lake. He blew bubbles in his drink. verb budgerigar / bdri(
/ noun a small
budgerigar
(bubbles, bubbling, bubbled) to make colourful tropical bird often kept as a pet
bubbles, or have bubbles inside The por- budget / bdt / noun an amount of
budget
ridge was bubbling in the pan. money that can be spent on something
bubble up phrasal verb to come to the There isnt enough money in the household
surface as bubbles budget to pay for a new carpet. verb
bubble gum / bb()l (m/ noun 1. a
bubble gum
(budgets, budgeting, budgeted) to plan

type of chewing gum that can be blown how you will spend money in the future
from the mouth into large bubbles 2. pop [~for] They are having to budget carefully
music aimed at the younger teenage market before going on holiday. Were budgeting
and usually considered to be lacking in for a 5% increase in electricity prices.
originality budgie / bdi/ noun same as budgeri-
budgie
bubbly / bbli/ adj (bubblier, bubbliest)

bubbly
gar (informal)
with bubbles For a really bubbly bath, buff /bf/ noun 1. a pale brown colour
buff

pour the soap in under running hot water. This type of envelope comes in blue, green
noun champagne (informal) Come and and buff only. 2. an enthusiast This is the
have a glass of bubbly to celebrate the best dictionary for crossword buffs.
birth of our son. (NOTE: no plural) buffalo / bfl/ (plural buffaloes or
buffalo
buck /bk/ noun 1. a male of certain buffalos or same) noun a large wild animal
buck
animals such as the hare, rabbit, deer or with long hair, like a large bull, which used
goat (NOTE: The female is called a doe.) 2. to be common in North America but is re-
US a dollar Itll cost you ten bucks. You duced in numbers (NOTE: For a group, you
couldnt lend me 100 bucks, could you? say a herd of buffalo.)
buffer / bf/ noun 1. a shock-absorb-
buffer
to pass the buck to pass responsibility to

someone else (informal) The manager is ing pad The cushion acts as a buffer be-
a very weak character, hes always passing tween the two pieces of machinery. The
75 bulldoze
train failed to stop and crashed into the build-up / bld p/ noun 1. the prepara-
build-up
buffers. 2. something placed between two tions for something 2. a gradual increase in
powerful forces, which prevents problems something a build-up of traffic 3. a flat-
occurring between them The UN tried to tering description of someone or some-
establish a buffer zone between the two thing Wed expected someone funnier af-
factions. ter all the build-up.
buffet / bfe/ noun a meal where the built /blt/ past tense and past participle of
buffet built
food is in dishes on a table, and each per- build

-built /blt/ suffix made or constructed
-built
son helps himself The hotel serves a buf-

fet breakfast. built-in /blt n/ adj made as part of a
built-in
bug /b(/ (bugs, bugging, bugged) room or machine

bug
bulb /blb/ noun 1. a round part of

bulb
verb to make someone feel slightly angry,

especially for a long time (informal) I some plants, which stays under the ground,
cant remember his name, and its really and from which leaves and flowers grow
bugging me! She planted spring bulbs all round the
bugging device / b( dvas/ noun
bugging device
|
house. 2. a glass ball which gives electric
a hidden microphone light I need to change the bulb in the ta-
ble lamp.
buggy / b(i/ (plural buggies) noun 1. a
buggy
bulbous / blbs/ adj fat and round

bulbous
little electric car for one or two people

bulge /bld/ noun a swelling Theres a
bulge
Beach buggies have very large tyres so that

they can drive on sand. Some people hire little bulge in the carpet I guess well find
buggies when they play golf. 2. a light fold- the missing toy underneath. verb (bulg-
ing chair with wheels for pushing a baby in es, bulging, bulged) 1. to be big at one
She pushed the buggy across the busy
place 2. to be full of something [~with]
road. Her pockets were bulging with bundles of
notes. Fathers briefcase bulged not with
bugle / bju
(()l/ noun a brass musical
bugle
important papers but with toys for his chil-

instrument similar to a trumpet, mainly dren.
used in the army
bulging / bld/ adj sticking out
bulging
build /bld/ verb (builds, building,

build
bulimia /bu lmi / noun a psychological

bulimia
built) 1. to make something by putting its condition in which the patient eats too
parts together The house was only built much and is incapable of controlling their
last year. They are planning to build a eating
motorway across the field. The children bulk /blk/ noun a large amount in bulk
bulk
built sand castles on the beach. 2. to devel- in large quantities It is cheaper to buy
op something We need to build a good stationery for the school in bulk. the bulk
team relationship. These games are good of most of The bulk of our sales are in
for building your vocabulary. noun the Europe. She finished the bulk of the work
particular shape of someones body Shes before lunch.
a girl of slender build. He has the same
bulky / blki/ (bulkier, bulkiest) adj awk-
bulky
build as his father.

wardly large
build up phrasal verb to increase The
bull /bl/ noun a male animal of the cow
bull
pressure is building up on him to resign.

Gas built up rapidly in the boiler until
family Be careful when you cross the
it exploded. field theres a bull in it. to take the bull
by the horns to try to deal with a difficult
builder / bld/ noun a person who
builder
problem (informal) He decided to take the

builds buildings bull by the horns and tell his father that he
building / bld / noun 1. something
building
was leaving the family firm.

such as a house, railway station or factory bulldog / bld(/ noun a short strong
bulldog
which has been built The flood washed dog with a flat face
away several buildings. His office is on bulldoze / bldz/ (bulldozes, bull-
bulldoze
the top floor of the building. 2. the action of dozing, bulldozed) verb 1. to knock down
constructing something The building of or to clear using a bulldozer They bull-
the tunnel has taken many years. dozed the old farm buildings. 2. to force
building society / bld ssati/ something to happen he bulldozed his
building society
noun an organisation which pays interest proposal through the committee he

on peoples savings and lends money to forced the committee to agree to his pro-
people buying houses or flats posal
bulldozer 76
bulldozer / bldz / noun a large pow- bump into phrasal verb to hit slightly
bulldozer

erful tractor with a curved plate in front for Be careful not to bump into the wall when
pushing or moving earth youre reversing. to bump into some-
bullet / blt/ noun a piece of metal that one to meet someone by chance I
bullet
you shoot from a gun He loaded his gun bumped into him at the station.
with bullets. Two bullets had been fired. bump off phrasal verb to murder some-
bulletin / bltn / noun information on a
bulletin
one (slang)
bumper / bmp / adj very large a
bumper
situation
bulletin board / bltn b
d/ noun 1.
bulletin board
bumper crop of corn Were publishing a
US a board on which notices can be placed bumper edition of childrens stories. Last
2. (on the Internet) a system of sending year was a bumper year for sales of mobile
messages or advertising events She ad- phones. noun a protective bar on the front
vertised the concert on the bulletin board. and back of a car He backed into a lamp-
bullet point / blt pnt/ noun a printed
bullet point
post and dented the rear bumper. There
symbol like a circle before an item in a list was a mile-long traffic jam with cars
standing bumper-to-bumper.
bullet-proof / bltpru
f/ adj made so
bullet-proof
bumpy / bmpi/ (bumpier, bumpiest)

bumpy
that bullets cannot go through

adj not smooth
bullfight / blfat/ noun entertainment in
bullfight
bun /bn/ noun 1. a small round piece

bun
Spain, where a man fights a bull

of bread or a cake The burgers are served
bullion / blin/ noun gold or silver bars
bullion
in a bun. These buns are too sweet and

bull market / bl m
kt/ noun a period
bull market
sticky. 2. hair tied up at the back of the head

when prices on the stock market rise as in a knot She wears her hair in a bun.
people buy shares because they think share bunch /bnt/ noun 1. a group of
bunch
prices will rise still further things taken together He carries a bunch
bulls eye / blz a/ noun the centre of
bulls eye
of keys attached to his belt. He brought

the target which you try to hit in sports her a bunch of flowers. 2. a group of people
such as archery, darts or rifle shooting I work with a nice bunch of people My
This target is not easy, the bulls eye is very friends are a mixed bunch. 3. several fruits
small. attached to the same stem a bunch of
bully / bli/ noun (plural bullies) a person
bully
grapes a bunch of bananas verb

who often hurts or is unkind to other peo- (bunches, bunching, bunched) to form a
ple Hes a bully, hes always trying to group
frighten smaller children. verb (bullies, bundle / bnd()l/ noun 1. a parcel of
bundle
bullying, bullied) to be unkind to someone things wrapped up or tied up together A

often She was bullied by the other chil- bundle of clothes was all she owned. He
dren in school. produced a bundle of papers tied up with
bum /bm/ noun (informal) 1. a persons
bum
green string. She left her clothes in a

bottom He just sits on his bum all day, bundle on the floor. 2. a set of things sold
doing nothing. 2. US a person who sits or presented together a bundle of soft-
around doing nothing Cant you bums ware verb (bundles, bundling, bundled)
find something to do? 3. a person who is 1. to put things somewhere quickly without
very keen on something a ski bum being careful He bundled the papers into
bum bag / bm b(/ noun a small bag
bum bag
a drawer. She bundled the children off to

attached to a belt for keeping valuables in school. The police bundled him into the
bumblebee / bmb()lbi
/ noun a large back of their van. 2. to sell a software pro-
bumblebee
brown furry bee gramme at the same time as you sell hard-
bumbling / bmbl/ adj confused and
bumbling
ware, both sold together at a special price
inefficient (informal) [~with] The word-processing package is
bump /bmp/ noun 1. a slight knock
bump bundled with the computer.
bung /b/ (bungs, bunging, bunged)
bung
The boat hit the landing stage with a bump.

2. a raised area Drive slowly, the road is verb to throw (informal ) Dont keep that
full of bumps. 3. a raised area on your body, paper just bung it in the wastepaper bas-
where something has hit it He has a ket.
bungalow / b(l/ noun a house
bungalow
bump on the back of his head. verb

(bumps, bumping, bumped) to hit some- with only a ground floor
bungee-jumping / bndi
dmp/
bungee-jumping
thing or a part of the body Hes crying

because he bumped his head on the door. noun a sport which consists of jumping
77 burrow
from a high point such as a bridge when at- burglar alarm / b#
(lr l
m/ noun a
burglar alarm
tached by your ankles to a long elastic ca- piece of equipment which makes a loud
ble, so that instead of hitting the ground, noise if someone enters a building illegally
you bounce up into the air burglary / b#
(lri/ (plural burglaries)
burglary
bungle / b(()l/ (bungles, bungling, noun a robbery by a burglar

bungle
burgle / b#
(()l/ (burgles, burgling,
burgle
bungled) verb to do something badly

(informal) burgled) verb to enter a building and steal
bunk beds / bk bedz/ plural noun two
bunk beds
things from it
burgundy / b#
(ndi/ adj dark red
burgundy
beds one on top of the other, with a ladder

burial / beril/ noun a ceremony of
burial
to climb to the top one We put the chil-

dren in bunk beds because they take up less burying a dead person
burly / b#
li/ (burlier, burliest) adj (of a
burly
space.
bunker / bk/ noun 1. a room with es-
bunker
person) with a large strong body
burn /b#
n/ noun a burnt area of the
burn
pecially strong walls, often underground

The soldiers defended the bunker for sever- skin or a surface She had burns on her
al days. As the enemy approached, the face and hands. Theres a burn on the
ministers hid in a bunker under the presi- edge of the table where he left his cigarette.
dential palace. 2. an open pit filled with verb (burns, burning, burnt or burned)
sand placed on a golf course to trap balls 1. to destroy or damage something by fire
and make difficulties for the players She burnt her finger on the hot frying
pan. The hotel was burnt to the ground
bunny / bni/ (plural bunnies) noun a
bunny
last year. Ive burnt the toast again. 2. to

childs name for a rabbit (informal) feel painful, or to make something feel
buoyant / bnt/ adj 1. which can float
buoyant
painful The sun and wind burnt his face.

easily, which helps something float easily 3. to damage part of the body by heat She
The raft became waterlogged and was no burnt her finger on the hot frying pan. 4. to
longer buoyant. Salt water is more buoy- be on fire The firemen were called to the
ant than fresh water. 2. full of confidence burning school.
She left the meeting in a very buoyant burn down phrasal verb 1. to destroy
mood. something completely by fire They
burden / b#
d()n/ noun 1. a heavy
burden
were playing with matches and burnt the

load He relieved her of her burden. 2. house down. 2. to be destroyed complete-
something that is hard to deal with [/~on/to] ly by fire The building had burnt down
I think he finds running the family shop before the firemen arrived.
quite a burden on him. burn out phrasal verb to destroy the in-
bureau / bjr/ (plural bureaus or bu-
bureau
side completely by fire The restaurant
reaux) noun 1. an office He filed the re- was completely burnt out.
burning / b#
n/ adj 1. very hot The
burning
port from the New York bureau. 2. an an-

tique desk 3. US a chest of drawers My baby must have a temperature his face is
socks are in the bureau in the bedroom. 4. burning. Careful, the pan is burning hot.
US a section of a government department 2. painful, as though being touched by
something hot She had a burning pain in
bureaucracy /bj rkrsi/ noun 1. a
bureaucracy
her left eye. 3. very keen He had a burn-

group of officials working for central or lo- ing desire to go to Egypt.
cal government, or for an international
burnt /b#
nt/ adj destroyed or damaged
burnt
body The investigation of complaints is

in the hands of the local bureaucracy. 2. a by fire or heat
burnt-out / b#
nt at/ adj completely
burnt-out
complicated official system Red tape and

bureaucracy slow down charitable work. tired physically or emotionally through too
Im fed up with all this bureaucracy, just to much hard work, stress, or fast living
burp /b#
p/ noun the noise made when
burp
get an export licence.

bureaucrat / bjrkrt/ noun a person
bureaucrat
bringing up air from the stomach When
the baby stops drinking, pat him gently on
who runs an office or government depart- the back until he makes a burp. verb
ment
(burps, burping, burped) to make a burp
burger / b#
(/ noun same as ham-
burger
There is nothing like a fizzy drink to make

burger you burp.
burglar / b#
(l/ noun a person who burrow / br/ noun a rabbit hole The
burglar burrow
tries to get into a building to steal things rabbits all popped down into their burrow
bursar 78
when we came near. verb (burrows, bur- electricity business. on business working
rowing, burrowed) to dig underground The sales director is in Holland on busi-
Moles have burrowed under the lawn. ness. 2. a company She runs a photogra-
bursar / b#
s/ noun a person in charge of phy business. He runs a secondhand car
bursar
the finances of a school or college business. 3. something that affects a partic-

bursary / b#
s()ri/ noun money given to
bursary
ular person its none of your business
some students to help them pay for their its nothing to do with you
business class / bzns kl
s/ noun
business class
studies
burst /b#
st/ verb (bursts, bursting,
burst
travel which is less expensive than first
burst) to break open or explode suddenly, class
businesslike / bznslak/ adj practical
businesslike
or cause something to break open or ex-

plode suddenly When she picked up the and efficient
businessman / bznsmn/ (plural
businessman
balloon it burst. noun 1. a sudden loud

sound There was a burst of gunfire and businessmen) noun a man who works in
then silence. Bursts of laughter came business, or who runs a business
from the office. 2. a sudden effort or activity businessperson / bznsp#
s()n/
businessperson
She put on a burst of speed. In a burst (plural businesspeople or businessper-

of energy he cleaned the whole house. sons) noun a person who works in busi-
burst into phrasal verb 1. to enter unex- ness, or who runs a business
pectedly, in a rush She burst into the business plan / bzns pln/ noun a
business plan
meeting waving a bundle of papers. 2. to plan of the future development of a busi-

start to do something suddenly She ness
opened the letter and burst into tears. businesswoman / bzns wmn/
businesswoman
The building burst into flames. (plural businesswomen) noun a woman

burst out phrasal verb 1. to suddenly start who works in business, or who runs a busi-
She burst out laughing. 2. to say some- ness
thing loudly He burst out into a string busk /bsk/ (busks, busking, busked)
busk
of insults. 3. to leave quickly She burst verb to entertain people in the street
out of the shop, and started running down bus shelter / bs elt/ noun a con-
bus shelter
the street. struction with a roof where you can wait

bursting / b#
st/ abbr very full of peo-
bursting
for a bus
ple The bar was bursting last night. adj bust /bst/ noun 1. a sculpture of the head
bust
1. eager to say something [~to] He was and shoulders Have you seen the bust of
bursting to tell everyone the news. 2. feel- the Prime Minister? 2. a womans breasts
ing an emotion strongly [~with] bursting verb (busts, busting, busted or bust) to
with pride break (informal) Shes bust my precious
bury / beri/ (buries, burying, buried) verb
bury
vase! He hit the ball hard and it bust a

to put someone or something into the window.
ground He was buried in the local ceme- bustle / bs()l/ noun a situation where
bustle
tery. Squirrels often bury nuts in the au- people are hurrying around Its nice to sit
tumn. quietly at home after the bustle of the of-
bus / bs/ (plural buses or busses)
bus
fice. verb (bustles, bustling, bustled) to

noun a large motor vehicle which carries hurry around doing things She bustled
passengers He goes to work by bus. She around the kitchen getting dinner ready.
takes the 8 oclock bus to school every bustling / bs()l/ adj with a lot of
bustling
morning. We missed the last bus and had people and activity
to walk home. The number 6 bus goes to bust-up / bst p/ noun 1. the breaking
bust-up
Oxford Street. up of something such as a relationship or

bush /b/ noun a small tree a holly
bush
an organisation 2. a fight or bad argument

bush with red berries An animal was busy / bzi/ (busier, busiest) adj 1.
busy
moving in the bushes. working on or doing something He was

bushel / b()l/ noun a measure of dry
bushel
busy mending the dishwasher. I was too

goods, such as grain (equal to 56 pounds) busy to phone my aunt. 2. full of people
bushy / bi / (bushier, bushiest) adj (of
bushy
The shops are busiest during the week be-

hair) growing thickly fore Christmas. 3. (of a phone line) being
business / bzns/ noun 1. the work
business
used by someone else, so you cannot get an

of buying and selling things They do a lot answer when you call His phones been
of business with France. She works in the busy all day. (NOTE: + busily adv)
79 by-election
busybody / bzibdi/ (plural busybod- tons, buttoning, buttoned) to fasten some-
busybody
ies) noun a person who is too interested in thing with buttons He buttoned (up) his
what other people do (informal) coat because it was cold.
but /bt, bt/ conj used for showing a buttonhole / bt()nhl/ noun a hole
but buttonhole
difference He is very tall, but his wife is which a button goes through when it is fas-
quite short. We would like to come to tened Youve put the button in the wrong
your party, but were doing something else buttonhole.
that evening. prep except Everyone but buy /ba/ (buys, buying, bought) verb
buy
me is allowed to go to the cinema. They to get something by paying money for it

had eaten nothing but apples. I bought a newspaper on my way to the sta-
butcher / bt/ noun a person who
butcher
tion. Shes buying a flat. She bought

prepares and sells meat herself a pair of ski boots. What did you
butler / btl/ noun the most important buy your mother for her birthday?
butler
male servant in a house, who serves at ta- buy up phrasal verb to buy a large quan-
ble, especially dealing with wine tity of something
butt /bt/ noun 1. a large container for wa- buyer / ba/ noun a person who buys
butt buyer
ter or wine It has rained a lot lately and things

the rainwater butt is overflowing. 2. the buyout / baat/ noun same as takeover
buyout
end of a cigarette which has been smoked

buzz /bz/ noun a noise like the sound
buzz
He picked up old butts from the pave-

ment. 3. the end of the handle of a gun made by a bee the buzz of an electric saw
which presses against the shoulder of the in the garden next door verb (buzzes,
person firing it The prisoners were beat- buzzing, buzzed) to make a noise like a
en with rifle butts. 4. a person whom other bee Wasps were buzzing round the jam.
people laugh at He will always be the butt buzz off phrasal verb to go away
of their criticism if he doesnt dress any (informal)
buzzer / bz/ noun a piece of equipment
buzzer
better. 5. a push with the head The goat

came up behind him and gave him a butt which buzzes as a signal of something
with its head. 6. US buttocks to give buzzword / bzw#
d/ noun a word
buzzword
someone a kick in the butt verb (butts, which is frequently used (informal)
butting, butted) to push with the head by /ba/ prep 1. near The house is just
by
The goat lowered its head and butted him. by the bus stop. Sit down here by me. 2.
butt in phrasal verb to interrupt not later than They should have arrived
butter / bt/ noun a yellow fat made
butter
by now. You must be home by eleven

from the cream of milk, used on bread or oclock. It must be finished by Friday. 3.
for cooking Could you pass the butter, used for showing the means of doing some-
please? Dont spread the butter so thick. thing Send the parcel by airmail. Get in
Fry the mushrooms in butter. (NOTE: no touch with the office by phone. They
plural: some butter; a knob of butter) verb came by car. She caught a cold by stand-
(butters, buttering, buttered) to spread ing in the rain. You make the drink by
butter on something She was busy butter- adding champagne to orange juice. She
ing slices of bread for the sandwiches. paid by cheque, not by credit card. 4. used
buttercup / btkp/ noun a common
buttercup
for showing the person or thing that did

yellow flower found in fields something a painting by Van Gogh a
butterfly / btfla/ noun an insect CD recorded by our local group Ham-
butterfly
with large brightly coloured wings, which let is a play by Shakespeare. The post-
flies during the day man was bitten by the dog. She was
buttocks / btks/ plural noun the part of
buttocks
knocked down by a car. 5. used for showing
the body on which you sit amounts We sell tomatoes by the kilo.
button / bt()n/ noun 1. a small, usu-
button
Eggs are sold by the dozen. Prices have
ally round piece of plastic, metal or wood, been increased by 5%. They won by 4
that you push through a hole in clothes to goals to 2. adv past She drove by with-
fasten them The wind is cold do up the out seeing us.
bye /ba/, bye-bye /ba ba/ interj
bye
buttons on your coat. A buttons come off

my shirt. 2. a small round object which you goodbye (informal)
by-election / ba lekn/, bye-elec-
by-election
push to operate something such as a bell |
Press this button to call the lift. Push the tion noun an election for Parliament when
red button to set off the alarm. verb (but- an MP has died or retired
bygone 80
bygone / ba(n/ adj belonging to the bystander / bastnd/ noun a person
bygone bystander
past A painting of a bygone age. near where something is happening

bypass / bap
s/ noun a road round a byte / bat/ noun a group of eight bits
bypass byte
town Take the bypass if you want to avoid which a computer operates on as a single
congestion in the town centre. verb (by- unit (NOTE: usually used in compounds: kil-
passes, bypassing, bypassed) to go obyte, megabyte, etc. Do not confuse with
round a town, avoiding the centre It bite.)
would be better if you could bypass the byway / bawe/ noun an unimportant
byway
town centre on market day. The main road

road bypasses the town centre. byword / baw#
d/ noun 1. somebody or
byword
by-product / ba prdkt/ noun a prod-

by-product
something well known for representing a

uct made as a result of manufacturing a particular quality 2. a word or phrase
main product which is in common use
C
c /si
/, C noun the third letter of the alpha- cacophony /k kfni/ noun an un-
c cacophony
bet, between B and D pleasant mixture of loud sounds

cab /kb/ noun 1. a taxi He took a cab cactus / kkts/ (plural cacti) noun a
cab cactus
to the airport. Can you phone for a cab, plant with thorns which grows in the desert
please? Cab fares are very high in New CAD /kd/ abbr computer-aided design
CAD
York. 2. a separate part of a large vehicle caddie / kdi/ (plural caddies) noun a
caddie
for a driver The truck driver climbed into person who carries the clubs for a golfer
his cab and started the engine. Some of the best golf professionals started
cabaret / kbre/ noun entertainment
cabaret
as caddies.
given in a restaurant or club, with dancing caddy / kdi/ noun 1. a little box for
caddy
and singing keeping loose tea in 2. same as caddie

cabbage / kbd/ noun a vegetable
cabbage
cadet /k det/ noun a young person train-

cadet
with large pale green or red leaves folded ing for the armed services or the police
into a tight ball force
cabin / kbn/ noun 1. a small room on a
cabin
caesarean /s zerin/, caesarean sec-

caesarean
ship We booked a first-class cabin on the tion /s zerin sekn/ noun an opera-
|
cruise. She felt sick and went to lie down tion to deliver a baby by cutting through
in her cabin. 2. the inside of an aircraft the abdominal wall into the uterus
The aircraft is divided into three separate caf / kfe/ noun a small restaurant sell-
caf
cabins. The first-class cabin is in the

ing drinks or light meals We had a snack
front of the plane. 3. a small hut He has a in the station caf.
cabin by a lake where he goes fishing.
cafeteria / kf tri/ noun a self-serv-
cafeteria
cabinet / kbnt/ noun 1. a piece of

cabinet |
furniture with shelves a china cabinet 2. ice restaurant

cafetiere / kf tje/ noun a coffee pot
cafetiere
a committee formed from the most impor- |
tant members of a government The cabi- where you push down a filter to make the
net met at 10 oclock this morning. coffee
caffeine / kfi
n/ noun a chemical found
caffeine
Theres a cabinet meeting every Tuesday

morning. in coffee, chocolate and tea which acts as a
cable / keb()l/ noun 1. a wire for car-
cable
stimulant
cage /ked / noun a box made of wire
cage
rying electricity or electronic signals

Theyve been digging up the pavements to or with metal bars for keeping birds or an-
lay cables. He ran a cable out into the imals in The rabbit got out of its cage.
cagey / kedi/ (cagier, cagiest) adj not
cagey
garden so that he could use the lawnmow-

er. 2. a thick rope or wire The ship was at- wanting to share information (informal)
tached to the quay by cables. 3. same as ca- Theyre being very cagey about their rela-
ble television tionship.
/keb()l
tel cake /kek/ noun food made by mixing
cake
cable television
cable television
v()n/, cable TV /keb()l ti

vi
/ | flour, eggs and sugar, and baking it a
noun a television system where the signals piece of cherry cake She had six candles
are sent along underground cables on her birthday cake. Have another slice
cache /k/ noun a hidden store The of Christmas cake. Would you like some
cache
police found a cache of explosives in the chocolate cake?

caked /kekt/ adj covered with something
caked
shed.
cackle / kk()l/ (cackles, cackling, that has become dry and hard
cackle
calamity /k lmti/ (plural calamities)

calamity
cackled) verb to make a little high-pitched |
laugh noun a disaster

calcium 82
calcium / klsim/ noun a chemical ele- Call the police the shop has been bur-
calcium
ment which is found in different forms, e.g. gled! Can you call me a cab, please? 3.
in chalk rocks, shells, bones and teeth, wa- to wake someone Call me at 7 oclock. 4.
ter, milk and some plants, and is an impor- to give someone or something a name
tant part of a balanced diet Their diet has Theyre going to call the baby Sam. His
a calcium deficiency or is deficient in cal- name is John but everyone calls him Jack.
cium. What do you call this computer pro-
calculate / klkjlet/ (calculates, gramme? 5. to be called to have as a name
calculate
calculating, calculated) verb to find the Our cats called Felix. 6. to visit some-
answer to a problem using numbers one or somewhere The doctor called at
[~(that)/~how/what/when etc] The bank the house, but there was no one there.
clerk calculated the rate of exchange for noun 1. a telephone conversation, or an at-
the dollar. He calculated that it would tempt to get in touch with someone by tel-
take us six hours to finish the job. Have ephone [~for] Were there any calls for me
you calculated when well need to finish? while I was out? to make a call to make
calculated / klkjletd/ adj deliber-
calculated
contact with and speak to someone on the
ate telephone She wants to make a (phone)
calculating / klkjlet/ adj who
calculating
call to Australia. to take a call to answer
makes clever plans in a careful way and the telephone 2. a telephone call or short
thinks about all the possible results conversation to wake someone He asked
for an early morning call. I want a call
calculation / klkj le()n/ noun
calculation
at 7 oclock I want someone to wake me at

1. a series of numbers that you obtain when
7 oclock 3. a visit to someones home or
you are calculating something According place of work [~on] The doctor made
to my calculations, we have enough fuel three calls on patients this morning. to
left to do only twenty kilometres. 2. the act make a call to visit someone or some-
of calculating where, especially on business on call
calculator / klkjlet/ noun a
calculator
available for duty

small electronic machine for doing calcu- call for phrasal verb to need a particular
lations skill or ability Rescuing people with a
calculus / klkjls/ noun a part of
calculus
helicopter calls for particular flying

mathematics which is the way of calculat- skills.
ing varying rates Calculus is now taught call in phrasal verb 1. to ask someone to
in sixth forms. come and give advice or help 2. to tele-
calendar / klnd/ noun a set of pages
calendar
phone a place of work in order to collect

showing the days and months of the year or leave a message 3. to ask for a sum of
calf /k
f/ (plural calves) noun 1. a
calf
money to be paid back 4. to arrange for or

young cow or bull The cow stood in a request that something be returned, e.g.
corner of the field with her two calves. 2. goods that are not suitable for sale 5. to
the back part of someones leg between the make a short visit to someone, especially
ankle and the knee without making an arrangement first
calibrate / klbret/ (calibrates, cali-
calibrate
call off phrasal verb to decide not to do

brating, calibrated) verb to mark the de- something which had been planned
grees or measurements on a scale call on phrasal verb 1. to visit someone
calibre / klb/ noun 1. the measure- She called on her mother to see how she
calibre
ment across the inside of a gun barrel The was. 2. to ask someone to do something
two bullets come from same calibre guns. The police have called on everyone to
2. a quality or ability which something or watch out for the escaped prisoner.
someone has, particularly when it is of a call out phrasal verb 1. to ask a person or
high standard Its work which he thinks is an organisation to give help 2. to tell
beneath a person of his calibre. (NOTE: [all workers to stop work to show they have
senses] The US spelling is caliber.) an official disagreement with the man-
call /k
l/ verb (calls, calling, called) 1. agement of the business 3. to challenge
call
to say something loudly to someone who is somebody to a duel or fight 4. to ask

some distance away Call the children somebody, e.g. a doctor or someone
when its time for tea. 2. to telephone whose job is to repair things, to come to
someone If he comes back, tell him Ill your house and deal with an emergency
call him when Im in the office. Mr Smith call round phrasal verb same as call verb
is out shall I ask him to call you back? 6 The whole family called round to see
83 camping
if she was better. calorific / kl rfk/ adj containing
calorific
call up phrasal verb to tell someone to many calories, and so likely to make you
join the army, navy or air force Thou- fat
sands of men were called up at the begin- camcorder / kmk
d/ noun a small
camcorder
ning of the war. portable camera for taking video pictures

callbox / k
lbks/ noun a public tele- with sound
callbox
phone box Im phoning from the callbox came / kem/ past tense of come
came
outside the station. camel / km()l/ noun a desert animal

camel
call centre / k
l sent/ noun a business
call centre
with long legs and one or two large round

that deals with all the telephone calls that raised parts on its back
people make to a large organisation, e.g. a cameo / kmi/ noun 1. a small stone
cameo
bank with a design of a head which stands out

caller / k
l/ noun 1. a person who
caller
against a darker background For her

comes to visit She cant see any callers birthday, she was given a pair of cameo
today. 2. a person who telephones I earrings and a matching brooch. 2. a small
picked up the phone and the caller asked but important part in a play or film The
for my father. film is worth seeing if only for the cameo
calligraphy /k l(rfi/ noun the art of
calligraphy
|
role played by Gielgud.
camera / km()r/ noun a piece of
camera
beautiful handwriting, using a special pen

calling / k
l/ noun a job which some-
calling
equipment for taking photographs He
one does because they have a strong feel- took a picture of the garden with his new
ing that they should do it, especially be- camera. They went on holiday and forgot
cause it will help other people to take their camera. Did you remember
to put a film in your camera?
callous / kls/ adj hard, unfeeling
callous
cameraman / km()rmn/ (plural

cameraman
call-up / k
l p/ noun an order to join
call-up
cameramen) noun the main film camera

the army operator who is in charge of the lighting
call waiting /k
l wet / noun a serv-
call waiting
and filming of a shot

ice offered by a telephone company that al- camouflage / kmfl
/ noun a meth-
camouflage
lows somebody to answer an additional od of using coloured shapes or things such

call from someone without losing their as branches or grass to hide something
connection to the current call We used camouflage to hide the guns.
calm /k
m/ adj 1. not anxious or excit- camp /kmp/ noun a place where peo-
calm camp
ed The sea was perfectly calm and no one ple live in tents or small buildings in the
was seasick. Keep calm, everything will open air We set up camp halfway up the
be all right. 2. not violent or rough The mountain. verb (camps, camping,
sea was perfectly calm and no one was sea- camped) 1. to spend a period of time in a
sick. noun a period of quiet The calm of tent They had camped by the side of the
the Sunday afternoon was broken by the lake. 2. to go camping to spend a holiday
sound of jazz from the house next door. in a tent We go camping in Sweden every
verb (calms, calming, calmed) also calm summer.
down to make someone or a situation more campaign /km pen/ noun 1. an or-
campaign
peaceful, or to become more peaceful ganised attempt to achieve something

She stroked his hand to try to calm him [~for/against] a publicity campaign an
(down). After shouting for some minutes advertising campaign a campaign
he finally calmed down. against the new motorway 2. an organised
calm down phrasal verb 1. to become military attack [~against] Napoleons
quieter and less annoyed After shouting campaign against the Russians verb
for some minutes he finally calmed down. (campaigns, campaigning, campaigned)
2. to make someone quieter She stroked to work in an organised way to achieve
his hand to try to calm him down. something [~for/against] The group has
calmly / k
mli/ adv in a way that is not been campaigning for a ban on land mines.
calmly
anxious or excited They campaign against nuclear reactors.
calorie / klri / noun a unit of measure- camper / kmp/ noun a person who
camper
calorie
ment of energy in food Shes counting goes camping

camping / kmp/ noun the activity
camping
calories to try to lose weight. There are

250 calories in a pint of beer. of going on holiday with a tent or caravan
campsite 84
campsite / kmpsat/ noun an area for candidate / knddet/ noun 1. a per-
campsite candidate
camping, often including buildings with son who applies for a job [~for] We inter-
toilets and showers viewed six candidates for the post of assist-
campus / kmps/ noun land on which
campus
ant manager. 2. a person who has entered
a university or college is built, and the for an examination Candidates are given
buildings on it three hours to complete the exam. 3. a per-
can /kn/ modal verb 1. to be able to do
can
son who is taking part in an election or
something He can swim well but he cant competing for a prize She accompanied
ride a bike. She cant run as fast as I can. the candidate round the constituency. 4.
someone or something that is likely to be
Can you remember what the doctor told
us to do? I cant bear to watch any long- chosen for or be something [~for] a city
that is a candidate for the next Olympics
er. 2. to be allowed to do something Chil-
candidature / knddt/ noun the act
candidature
dren under 18 cant drive cars. He says

we can go in. The policeman says we of standing as a candidate
candle / knd()l/ noun a stick of wax
candle
cant park here. 3. to ask politely Can we

come in, please? Can you shut the door, with a string in the centre, which you burn
please? (NOTE: The negative is cannot or, to give light
candlelight / knd()llat/ noun the
candlelight
especially in speaking, cant. The past |
tense is could. Can and could are usually light given by candles
used with other verbs, and are not followed candlestick / knd()lstk/ noun a
candlestick
by to.) noun a metal container for food or holder for a candle

drink She opened a can of beans. verb can-do / kn du
/ adj keen to take on a
can-do
(cans, canning, canned) to put food in job or challenge and confident of success
cans candour / knd/ noun the personal
candour
canal /k nl/ noun an artificial river

canal
|
quality of being open and honest in your
made between rivers or lakes or from the behaviour towards other people (NOTE: The
sea, originally for moving cargo You can US spelling is candor.)
take a boat trip round the canals of Amster- candy / kndi/ (plural candies) noun
candy
dam. 1. US a sweet food made with sugar Eat-

canary /k neri/ (plural canaries) noun
canary
|
ing candy is bad for your teeth. (NOTE: no
a small yellow singing bird plural in this sense) 2. one piece of this food
cancel / knsl/ (cancels, cancel- She bought a box of candies.
cancel

ling, cancelled) verb to stop something candyfloss / kndifls/ noun thin piec-
candyfloss
which has been planned The singer was es of cooked sugar which are spun in a
ill, so the show had to be cancelled. drum and sold as a mass attached to a stick
There is no refund if you cancel less than cane /ken/ noun 1. a strong stem of a
cane
three weeks before the date of departure. plant, especially of tall thin plants like
cancellation /kns le()n/ noun 1.
cancellation
| bamboo a field of sugar cane 2. a walk-

the act of cancelling something The event ing stick cut from the stem of some types
is subject to cancellation if the weather is of plant She was leaning heavily on a
bad. 2. a seat, ticket or appointment which cane as she walked up the path.
is available again because the person who canine / kenan/ adj referring to dogs
canine
bought it cannot use it If we have a can- Dogs should be vaccinated against various
cellation for next week Ill call and let you canine illnesses.
know. canister / knst/ noun a round metal
canister
cancer / kns/ noun a serious dis-

cancer
container for gas, etc.

ease affecting different parts of the body in cannabis / knbs/ noun a drug that is
cannabis
which cells grow in a way which is not usu- usually smoked for pleasure In some
al countries, the sale of cannabis has been le-
Cancer / kns/ noun one of the signs of
Cancer
galised.
the Zodiac, shaped like a crab, covering the canned /knd/ adj preserved in a tin or
canned
period 22nd June to 22nd July can

candid / kndd/ adj (of a person) direct cannibal / knb()l/ noun a person who
candid cannibal
or open, saying exactly what you think or eats people

feel cannon / knn/ noun a large gun The
cannon
candidacy / knddsi/ noun the state

candidacy
sailors hauled a huge cannon across the

of being a candidate ships deck.
85 capital punishment
cannot / knt/ verb the negative of capable / kepb()l/ adj able to work
cannot capable
can well and to deal with problems Shes an

canoe /k nu
/ noun a boat with two
canoe
|
extremely capable secretary. capable of
pointed ends, which is moved forwards by (doing) something able to do something
one or more people using long pieces of He isnt capable of running the conference
wood She paddled her canoe across the without help.
capacity /k psti / noun 1. an
capacity
lake. verb (canoes, canoeing, canoed) |
to travel in a canoe They canoed down the amount which something can hold This
river. barrel has a larger capacity than that one.
The cinema was filled to capacity. 2. the
can opener / kn p()n / noun a
can opener
tool for opening cans amount of something that a machine or

person can produce to work at full ca-
canopy / knpi/ noun 1. a cloth cover
canopy
pacity to do as much work as possible 3.

or light roof over a small area such as a the mental or physical ability to do some-
door, window or bed The porch is cov- thing easily [~for] a capacity for hard
ered with a glass canopy. The Queens work 4. the situation that someone is in or
bedroom is furnished with a 17th-century the job they have [~as] acting in his ca-
canopy bed. 2. the top parts of a group of pacity as manager acting as a manager
trees when considered as a single mass speaking in an official capacity speaking
The trees join to form a canopy over the officially
terrace of the restaurant. cape /kep/ noun 1. a long loose piece of
cape
cant /k
nt/ contr cannot
cant
clothing like a coat but without sleeves

cantaloupe / kntlu
p/, cantaloup She wrapped her cape more tightly around
cantaloupe
noun a type of melon with pink flesh her. 2. a piece of high land which sticks out
canteen /kn ti
n/ noun a self-service
canteen
|
into the sea We rounded the cape on June
restaurant for the people who work in a 21st at 8 a.m.
capillary /k plri/ (plural capillaries)
capillary
building such as an office block or factory |
The food in the office canteen is awful, I noun one of the very small tubes in the
prefer to bring my own sandwiches. body which carry blood and other sub-
canter / knt/ noun the movement of a
canter
stances around the body
capital / kpt()l/ noun 1. the main
capital
horse when it runs fairly fast The horses

were going through the park at a canter. city of a country, usually where the govern-
verb (canters, cantering, cantered) to ment is The capital is in the eastern part
move at a canter My horse doesnt like of the country. Madrid is the capital of
cantering, it prefers to gallop. Spain. 2. money which is invested a com-
pany with 10,000 capital or with a capital
canvas / knvs/ noun a thick cloth for
canvas
of 10,000. 3. also capital letter a letter

making things such as tents, sails or shoes written as A, B, C, D, etc., rather than a, b,
He was wearing a pair of old canvas
c, d, etc.
shoes.
capitalise / kpt()laz/ (capitalises,
capitalise
canvass / knvs/ (canvasses, can-

canvass
capitalising, capitalised), capitalize (cap-

vassing, canvassed) verb to visit people italizes, capitalizing, capitalized) verb
to ask them to buy goods or to vote or to capitalism / kpt()lz()m/ noun an
capitalism
say what they think (NOTE: Do not confuse economic system in which industries and
with canvas.) businesses are owned by people or compa-
canyon / knjn/, caon noun a deep
canyon
nies and not by the state

valley with steep sides usually in North capitalist / kpt()lst/ noun 1. a per-
capitalist
America son who supports the theory of capitalism

cap /kp/ noun 1. a flat hat with a flat
cap
Capitalists are in favour of free enter-

hard piece in front a baseball cap an of- prise. 2. a businessman who invests money
ficers cap with a gold badge 2. a lid which in a business Hes a young capitalist who
covers something a red pen with a black is only twenty-one, but on the way to be-
cap Screw the cap back on the medicine coming a millionaire.
bottle. capitalise on phrasal verb to take advan-
capability /kep blti/ (plural capa- tage of something
capability
capital punishment / kpt()l

capital punishment
bilities) noun the practical ability to do

something We have the capability to pro- pnmnt/ noun the act of killing some-
duce a better machine than this. one as a punishment for a crime
Capitol Hill 86
Capitol Hill /kpt()l hl/ noun the captor / kpt/ noun a person who cap-
Capitol Hill captor
hill on which the Capitol stands, used to tures someone

mean the US Legislature (informal ) capture / kpt/ (captures, captur-
capture
capitulate /k ptjlet/ (capitulates,

capitulate
| ing, captured) verb 1. to take someone as a

capitulating, capitulated) verb to say that prisoner Four soldiers were captured in
you have lost in a situation such as a com- the attack. 2. to take something by force,
petition or a war (NOTE: + capitulation n) especially in war They captured the ene-
cappuccino /kp ti
n/ noun an my capital very quickly.
cappuccino
car /k
/ noun 1. a small private motor
car
Italian coffee, with hot whipped milk and

chocolate on top vehicle for carrying people Shes bought
capricious /k prs/ adj not fixed or a new car. He drove his car into the ga-
capricious
certain, likely to change rage. He goes to his office every morning

Capricorn / kprk
n/ noun one of the
Capricorn
by car. 2. US a carriage of a railway train
signs of the Zodiac, shaped like a goat, Is there a restaurant car on the train?
carafe /k rf/ noun a glass container for
carafe
covering the period 22nd December to |
19th January serving wine or water

capsize / kp saz/ (capsizes, capsiz- caramel / krml/ noun 1. a sweet
caramel
capsize
ing, capsized) verb (of boats) to overturn made with sugar and butter Im a dentist,
captain / kptn / noun 1. a person in
captain
and I dont like seeing children eating car-
charge of a team the England captain amel. 2. burnt sugar You can make cara-
The two captains shook hands at the begin- mel by heating sugar until it melts and
ning of the match. 2. a person in charge of burns.
carat / krt/ noun 1. a measure of the
carat
a ship or aircraft The captain greeted us

as we came on board. Captain Smith is quality of gold. Pure gold is 24 carats. a
flying the plane. 3. a rank in the army 22-carat gold ring 2. a measure of the
above a lieutenant and below a major A weight of precious stones a 5-carat dia-
lieutenant has to report to his captain. mond
caravan / krvn / noun a vehicle
caravan
(NOTE: When used as a title before a sur-

name, it is spelt with a capital letter and is of- which you can live in, especially on holi-
ten written as Capt.) verb (captains, cap- day, and which, if small enough, can be at-
taining, captained) to be the captain of a tached to a car and pulled along We got
team He has captained England three stuck behind a caravan on a narrow moun-
times. tain road. We rent a caravan in a caravan
captaincy / kptnsi/ noun 1. the posi- park.
captaincy
carbohydrate /k
b hadret/
carbohydrate
tion of being captain of a sports team Be- |
cause of the scandal, I dont think he will noun a chemical substance containing car-
get the England captaincy. 2. the rank of bon, hydrogen and oxygen, found in partic-
captain in the army or navy Although he ular in sugar, potatoes and bread; it pro-
had twenty years of service, he never got vides the body with energy
his captaincy. carbon / k
bn/ noun a substance found
carbon
caption / kpn/ noun a phrase printed

caption
in charcoal, soot or diamonds

under a picture carbonated / k
bnetd/ adv (of a
carbonated
captivate / kptvet/ (captivates, cap-

captivate
drink) containing small bubbles of air

tivating, captivated) verb to attract some- carbon copy /k
bn kpi/ noun
carbon copy
ones interest and attention someone or something that is very similar

captivating / kptvet/ adj attract-
captivating
to another person or thing

ing and holding somebodys attention car boot sale /k
bu
t sel/ noun an
car boot sale
captive / kptv/ noun a prisoner The

captive
event organised in a large car park or sports

two captives were kept in total darkness for field, where people bring things to sell in
hours. their cars
captive audience /kptv
dins/ carburettor /k
b ret/ noun a part in a
captive audience carburettor
noun a group of people who have to listen car engine which mixes fuel with air before
to what someone is saying because they it is put into the engine (NOTE: The US spell-
cannot leave ing is carburetor.)
captivity /kp tvti/ noun the situation carcass / k
ks/, carcase noun the
captivity carcass
of being kept in a place and not allowed to body of a dead animal, especially one
leave ready for the butcher
87 caring
carcinogen /k
sndn/ noun a sub- one does not worry at all about something
carcinogen
stance which produces cancer Paul couldnt care less about what we
carcinogenic /k
sn denk/ adj think hes got his own plans.
carcinogenic
which produces cancer care for phrasal verb 1. to like someone

card /k
d/ noun 1. a flat piece of stiff
card
or something I dont care for this music
paper with a picture on one side, which you very much. I met her once, but I didnt
can send with a message They sent us a much care for her. Would you care for
card from Italy. How much does it cost to another cup of coffee? 2. to look after
send a card to Australia? postcard 2. a people Nurses cared for the injured
piece of stiff paper, folded so that a mes- people after the accident. People who
sage can be written inside She sent me a have to care for their elderly relatives
lovely card on my birthday. 3. a piece of need extra help.
career /k r/ noun the work someone
career
stiff paper with a picture or pattern on it, |
used to play games 4. a piece of stiff paper does throughout their life [~as/~in] She is
with your name and address printed on it starting her career as a librarian. He
He gave me his business card. Ive lost gave up a career in medicine and bought a
my membership card. 5. a piece of stiff farm.
plastic used for payment Do you want to carefree / kefri
/ adj without any wor-
carefree
pay cash or with a card? plural noun ries

cards the entertainment of playing games careful / kef()l/ adj 1. showing at-
careful
with a special set of cards with numbers or tention to details We are always very
patterns on them a game of cards a peri- careful to include the most recent informa-
od of playing with a special set of cards tion. The project needs very careful plan-
on the cards fairly likely to happen ning. 2. taking care not to make mistakes or
cardboard / k
db
d/ noun thick card,
cardboard
cause harm Be careful not to make any

often used for making boxes (NOTE: no plu- noise the baby is asleep. She is very
ral: some cardboard; a piece of cardboard) careful about what she eats.
cardiac / k
dik/ adj referring to the carefully / kef()li/ adv with great
cardiac carefully
heart care or thought The holiday had been

cardiac arrest /k
dik rest/ noun a carefully planned or planned carefully.
cardiac arrest
serious medical condition in which the careless / kels / adj without any
careless
heart muscle stops working care or thought He is careless about his

cardigan / k
d(n/ noun a woollen work. He made several careless mistakes
cardigan
jacket which buttons at the front when he took his driving test.
cardinal / k
dn()l/ noun 1. one of the carelessly / kelsli/ adv without taking
cardinal carelessly
most important priests in the Catholic care or thinking carefully

Church, after the Pope The cardinals carelessness / kelsns/ noun the
carelessness
meet in Rome to elect the Pope. Cardinal fact of being careless or not thinking care-
Lamont has written an article in todays fully
paper. (NOTE: also used as a title before a carer / ker/ noun someone who looks
carer
surname: Cardinal Wolsey) 2. a bright red after an old or sick person, or children
bird, which comes from the southern Unit- caress /k res/ (caresses, caressing,
caress
ed States caressed) verb to touch gently She gen-

care / ke/ noun 1. serious and careful
care
tly caressed the babys head. (NOTE: + ca-

attention He handled the glass with great ress n)
care. to take care to be very careful caretaker / ketek/ noun a person
caretaker
Take care when you cross the road. He who looks after a building
took great care with the box of glasses.
cargo / k
(/ noun goods carried on a
cargo
Take care not to be late. 2. looking after

someone the care of the elderly to take ship or a plane
caricature / krktj/ noun a funny
caricature
care of someone to look after someone

Will you take care of the children for the drawing or description which exaggerates
weekend for me? verb (cares, caring, a persons appearance He drew a carica-
cared) to be interested in something you ture of the Prime Minister. Her descrip-
think is important [~about/~what/why etc] tion of the office is nothing less than a car-
She cares a lot about environmental issues. icature of the system. ( NOTE: + caricature v)
caring / ker/ adj kind and helpful
caring
I dont care if my car gets dirty. he

couldnt care less used to show that some- a very caring person
carjacking 88
carjacking / k
dk/ noun the crime carrier Hepatitis A is transmitted by a
carjacking
of attacking the driver of a car and stealing carrier through food or drink.
the car carrier bag / kri b(/ noun a large
carrier bag
carnage / k
nd/ noun a situation in paper or plastic bag with handles, for car-
carnage
which many people are killed rying shopping, often given by a shop, with
carnal / k
n()l/ adj referring to the
carnal
the shops name on it
carries / kriz/ 3rd person singular
carries
body (formal )
carnation /k
ne()n/ noun a red,
carnation
present of carry
carrot / krt/ noun 1. a vegetable with a
|
carrot
pink or white flower with a strong pleasant

smell long orange root 2. something good that
persuades you to do something (informal)
carnival / k
nv()l/ noun a festival, of-
carnival
He was offered the carrot of a big pay rise

ten with music, dancing and eating in the to take on the new project.
open air
carry / kri/ (carries, carrying, car-
carry
carnivore / k
nv
/ noun an animal
carnivore
ried) verb 1. to take something and move it

which eats meat to another place There was no lift, so they
carnivorous /k
nv()rs/ adj meat-
carnivorous
|
had to carry the beds up the stairs. The
eating plane was carrying 120 passengers. That
carol / krl/ noun a traditional song, es-
carol
suitcase is too heavy for me to carry. 2. (of

pecially one sung at Christmas sound) to be heard at a distance The
carousel /kr sel/ noun 1. a circular sound of the bells carries for miles. to
carousel
machine from which passengers collect get carried away to become emotional or
their bags at an airport Baggage from excited
flight AC1 is on carousel number three. 2. carry forward phrasal verb (in bookkeep-
US a roundabout (NOTE: The British term is ing) to take an amount or total on to the
merry-go-round.) next page or column
car park / k
p
k/ noun a public
car park
carry on phrasal verb 1. to continue do-
place where you can leave a car when you ing something When the teacher came
are not using it in, the students all carried on talking.
They carried on with their work right
carpentry / k
pntri/ noun the art of
carpentry
through the lunch hour. 2. to be very an-

working with wood
gry He carried on like anything when
carpet / k
pt/ noun thick material
carpet
he saw his car had been towed away.

for covering floors He spilt his coffee on carry out phrasal verb to do something,
our new white dining-room carpet. especially something that has been
carpet-bomb / k
pt bm/ (carpet-
carpet-bomb
planned Doctors carried out tests on

bombs, carpet-bombing, carpet- the patients. The police are carrying
bombed) verb to destroy an area by drop- out a search for the missing man.
ping very many bombs on it carte blanche /k
t bl
nt/ noun
carte blanche
carriage / krd/ noun 1. one of the

carriage
permission given to someone to do whatev-

vehicles that are joined together to make a er he or she wants We gave the architect
train Wheres the first-class carriage on carte blanche to design the bridge. He
this train? 2. a vehicle, especially an old- has carte blanche to act on behalf of the
fashioned one, that is pulled by a horse 3. government.
the cost of carrying goods, or the action of cartel /k
tel/ noun a group of compa-
cartel
carrying goods Carriage is 15% of the nies which try to fix the price of something
total cost. How much do they charge for cartilage / k
tld/ noun the thick sub-
cartilage
carriage? stance which lines the joints in your body

carriageway / krdwe/ noun the sur-
carriageway
or which forms part of the structure of an

face of the road on which traffic moves organ
carried / krd/ past tense and past parti- carton / k
t()n/ noun a container made
carried
carton
ciple of carry of cardboard

carrier / kri/ noun 1. a vehicle that cartoon /k
tu
n/ noun 1. a film
carrier cartoon
takes people or things from one place to made of moving drawings I like watching
another, or a company with such vehicles Tom and Jerry cartoons. 2. a funny, often
2. a person who carries the germ of a dis- political, drawing in a newspaper He
ease without showing any signs of it, and draws a cartoon for the Evening Stand-
who can infect others with it a hepatitis ard.
89 cassette
cartridge / k
trd/ noun a container something The company cashed in on
cartridge
for something that fits into a piece of the huge interest in computer games.
equipment to be used an ink cartridge cashback / kbk/ noun money from
cashback
an explosive cartridge your bank account which you can get from
carve /k
v/ (carves, carving, carved) a shop when you use your bank card to pay
carve
verb 1. to cut up a large piece of meat at a for goods

meal Whos going to carve? Father sat cash card / k k
d/ noun a plastic
cash card
at the end of the table, carving a chicken. 2. card used to obtain money from a cash dis-
to make a shape by cutting stone or wood penser
He carved a bird out of wood. Chips of cash desk / k desk/ noun a place
cash desk
stone flew all over the studio as he was in a store where you pay for the goods you
carving the statue. are buying
carving / k
v/ noun 1. the act of cut- cash dispenser / k dspens/ noun
carving
cash dispenser
ting up cooked meat 2. the art of cutting a machine which gives out money when a
stone or wood into shapes Stone carving special card is put in and instructions given
is an option at art school. 3. an object cashew / ku
/ noun a type of nut
cashew
which has been made by carving He gave which you can eat
me a wood carving for my birthday. The cash flow / k fl/ noun the rate at
cash flow
stone carvings in the old church date from which money comes into and is paid out of
the 15th century. a business
car wash / k
w/ noun a place where
car wash
cashier /k / noun a person who deals

cashier
cars are washed automatically with money, e.g. in a bank or supermarket

cascade /k sked / (cascades, cascad-
cascade
|
Ask the cashier if she can give you
ing, cascaded) verb to fall in large quanti- change. Please pay the cashier.
ties pale pink roses cascading down the cash machine / k mi
n/ noun
cash machine
brick wall (NOTE: + cascade n) same as cash dispenser

case / kes/ noun 1. a box with a handle,
case
cashmere / km/ noun a soft wool

cashmere
for carrying things such as your clothes that comes from goats Cashmere is soft,
when travelling She was still packing her light and very warm.
case when the taxi came. The customs
cashpoint / kpnt/ noun a place
cashpoint
made him open his case. 2. a special box |
for an object Put the gun back in its case. where there are cash dispensers (NOTE: The
US term is automated teller machine or
Ive lost my red spectacle case. 3. a large
ATM.)
box for a set of goods to be sold He
cash register / k redst/ noun a
cash register
bought a case of wine. 4. a situation, or a

way in which something happens It was machine which shows and adds the prices
a case of having made a poor choice. In of things bought in a shop, with a drawer
many cases, we cannot find the owner of for keeping the money received
casing / kes/ noun a hard covering
casing
the goods. 5. same as court case in case

because something might happen Its which protects something
casino / k si
n/ (plural casinos) noun
casino
still sunny, but Ill take my umbrella just in |
case. in any case 1. whatever may hap- a building where you can gamble
pen We could move the cabinet upstairs casket / k
skt/ noun 1. a box for keep-
casket
or into the dining room, but in any case ing jewels in The thief stole a casket from
well need some help. 2. used to add some- beside her bed. 2. mainly US a long wooden
thing to a statement in that case if that box in which a dead person is buried or cre-
happens or if that is the situation There is mated
a strike on the underground In that case, casserole / ksrl/ noun 1. a covered
casserole
youll have to take a bus. dish used for cooking food in the oven 2.
case study / kes stdi/ noun the study
case study
food cooked in a covered dish in the oven

of a certain group or institution or person chicken casserole casserole of lamb
over a long period of time cassette /k set/ noun a plastic case
cassette
cash / k/ noun money in coins and

cash
containing magnetic tape which can be

notes, not in cheques We dont keep much used for listening to words or music, or re-
cash in the house. Id prefer to use up my cording sounds Do you want it on cas-
spare cash, rather than pay with a credit sette or CD? He bought a cassette of folk
card. songs. We recorded the poems onto a cas-
cash in phrasal verb to make money from sette.
cassette player 90
cassette player / k set ple/ noun a tins of cat food. to let the cat out of the
cassette player
machine which plays cassettes bag to tell a secret (informal)

cast /k
st/ noun all the actors in a play cataclysm / ktklz()m/ noun a sud-
cast cataclysm
or film The film has an all-star cast. Af- den event which causes a lot of damage or
ter the first night the cast went out to cele- violence
brate in a restaurant. verb (casts, cast- catalogue / kt()l( / noun a list of
catalogue
ing, cast) to choose actors for a play or things for sale or in a library or museum
film [~as] In his first film, he was cast as an office equipment catalogue Look up
a soldier. the title in the library catalogue. verb to
cast off phrasal verb 1. to untie the ropes make a list of things that exist somewhere
holding a boat The boat is ready to cast She spent months cataloguing the novel-
off. 2. (in knitting) to remove the stitches ists correspondence.
from the needles so that your work is fin- catalyst / ktlst/ noun 1. a substance
catalyst
ished The scarf is long enough, all you which produces or helps a chemical proc-
have to do is to cast off. ess without itself changing an enzyme
castaway / k
stwe/ noun a person
castaway
that acts as a catalyst in the digestive proc-

who has been shipwrecked ess 2. anything which helps something to
caste /k
st/ noun (in Hindu society) a take place [~for] The publication of the re-
caste
group of people who are born with the port acted as a catalyst for change.
same social status catapult / ktplt/ noun a weapon con-
catapult
castigate / kst(et / (castigates, cas- sisting of a piece of strong material which

castigate
tigating, castigated) verb to punish, to can stretch, attached to a stick shaped like
criticise someone strongly (formal) the letter Y, used for sending stones
casting vote /k
st vt/ noun a
casting vote
through the air He tried to kill birds with
vote used by the person in charge of a his catapult.
cataract / ktrkt/ noun 1. a waterfall
cataract
meeting in a case where the numbers of

votes for and against a proposal are equal on a river the cataracts on the Nile 2. a
cast iron /k
st an/ noun iron which
cast iron
medical condition in which the lens of the
is shaped in a mould, not bent, and so eye gradually becomes covered with a
breaks easily The pipes are made from white layer and you lose the ability to see
cast iron, and are very solid. Dont let the He has developed a cataract in his right
cast-iron pan soak in water as it will rust. eye. The operation to remove the cataract
Compare wrought iron went smoothly.
catastrophe /k tstrfi/ noun a
catastrophe
castle / k
s()l/ noun a large building
castle
|
with strong walls built in the past for pro- sudden violent or harmful event
catch /kt/ verb (catches, catching,
catch
tection in war The Queen is spending the

week at Windsor Castle. The soldiers caught) 1. to take hold of something mov-
shut the castle gate. ing in the air Can you catch a ball with
castrate /k stret/ (castrates, castrat-
castrate
|
your left hand? He managed to catch the
ing, castrated) verb to remove the testicles glass before it hit the floor. 2. to take hold
from a male animal (NOTE: + castration n) of something She caught him by the
casual / kul/ adj not formal
casual
sleeve as he turned away. As he slipped,
he caught the rail to stop himself falling. 3.
casually / kjli/ adv in an informal
casually
to get hold of an animal, especially in order

way He casually mentioned that he had to kill and eat it He sat by the river all
got married last Saturday. day but didnt catch anything. Our cat is
casualty / kulti/ (plural casualties)
casualty
no good at catching mice shes too lazy.

noun 1. a person injured or killed in a battle 4. to get on a vehicle such as a bus, plane or
or in an accident Casualties were taken to train before it leaves You will have to run
hospital by ambulance and helicopter. if you want to catch the last bus. He
The radio reported that there had been caught the 10 oclock train to Paris. 5. to
heavy casualties. 2. the Accident and get an illness He caught a cold from his
Emergency department in a hospital The colleague. 6. to find someone doing some-
accident victim was rushed into casualty. thing wrong She caught the boys stealing
cat / kt/ noun an animal with soft fur
cat
in her shop. The police caught the bur-

and a long tail, kept as a pet She asked glar as he was climbing out of the window.
her neighbours to feed her cat when she 7. to hear something I didnt quite catch
went on holiday. Dont forget to get some what you said. noun 1. the action of tak-
91 caveat
ing and holding a ball as it moves through Catholic / k()lk / noun a member of
Catholic
the air He made a marvellous catch. I the Roman Catholic Church

dropped an easy catch. 2. a hidden disad- cattle / kt()l/ plural noun animals such
cattle
vantage It seems such a good deal, but as cows and bulls which farmers keep for
there must be a catch in it somewhere. milk or meat
catch on phrasal verb 1. to understand catty / kti/ adj making unpleasant re-
catty
She caught on very quickly. 2. to become marks about someone

fashionable I dont see silver hair catwalk / ktw
k/ noun 1. a long raised
catwalk
catching on here. area down which models walk to show off

catch up phrasal verb to move to the clothes The model on the catwalk gave a
same level as someone who is in front of twirl of her skirt. Fashion editors stared
you at the models on the catwalk. 2. an open
catch 22 /kt twenti tu
/ noun a cir- metal structure for people to walk on, built
catch 22
cle of events which you cannot escape along the outside of a ship or tall building
from He stepped confidently onto the catwalk.
catch-all / kt
l/ noun something that Caucasian /k
kezin/ noun some-
Caucasian
catch-all
|
covers a wide range of possibilities, mean- body who has white skin or who is of Eu-
ings, ideas or situations ropean origin
caught /k
t/ past tense and past parti-
caught
catching / kt / adj (of an illness) like-

catching
ly to spread from one person to another ciple of catch

cauldron / k
ldrn/ noun a large deep
cauldron
catchment area / ktmnt eri/

catchment area
pan for cooking (NOTE: The US spelling is

noun 1. land from which a river gets its wa-
caldron.)
ter 2. an area round a school from which all
cauliflower / klifla/ noun a vegeta-
cauliflower
students must come We are moving to be

in the catchment area of a good school. ble with hard white flowers, which are eat-
en cooked
catch phrase / kt frez/ noun a pop-
catch phrase
cause /k
z/ noun 1. something which
cause
ular phrase, usually connected with an en- makes something else happen What is the
tertainer or advertisement main cause of traffic accidents? The po-
categorically /kt (rkli/ adv defi-
categorically
|
lice tried to find the cause of the fire. 2. an
nitely aim, organisation or idea which people
categorise / kt(raz/ (categorises,
categorise
support She is fighting for the cause of

categorising, categorised), categorize working mothers. verb (causes, causing,
verb to put into classes or categories caused) to make something happen The
category / kt(()ri/ (plural catego- accident caused a traffic jam on the motor-
category
ries) noun one of the groups that people, way. The sudden noise caused her to
animals or things are divided into in a for- drop the cup she was carrying.
causeway / k
zwe/ noun a road or
causeway
mal system We grouped the books into

categories according to subject. path built up on a bank above wet ground
catering / ketr/ noun the act or
catering
or water
caution / k
()n/ noun 1. care The
caution
practice of supplying food and drink

caterpillar / ktpl/ noun a small
caterpillar
steps are very slippery please proceed
long insect with many legs, which devel- with great caution. 2. a warning not to do
ops into a butterfly Caterpillars have eat- something again The magistrate let him
en most of the leaves on our trees. off with a caution. verb (cautions, cau-
tioning, cautioned) to warn
catfish / ktf/ noun a fish with long
catfish
[~that/~against] He cautioned them that

hairs around its mouth the strategy had several risks. The doctor
catharsis /k
ss/ noun a situation or
catharsis
| cautioned him against working too hard.

occasion in which you get rid of strong cautious / k
s/ adj not willing to take
cautious
emotional feelings, e.g. through a particu- risks Shes a very cautious driver.
lar experience cavalry / kv()lri / noun soldiers riding
cavalry
cathedral /k i
drl / noun the largest
cathedral
| on horses
and the most important church in an area cave /kev/ noun a large underground
cave
catholic / k()lk/ adj having an in- hole in rock or earth When the tide went
catholic
terest in or liking for many different things out we could explore the cave.
His interests have always been quite caveat / kvit/ noun a warning, espe-
caveat
catholic. cially against doing something

caveman 92
caveman / kevmn/ (plural cavemen) something that happened at a particular
caveman
noun one of the people who lived thou- time in the past Our team won, so were
sands of years ago in caves all going out to celebrate. They celebrat-
cavern / kvn/ noun a very large cave ed their wedding anniversary quietly at
cavern
cavernous / kvns/ adj with a very

cavernous
home with their children.
celebrated / selbretd/ adj very fa-
celebrated
large inside space, like a cavern

cavity / kvti/ (plural cavities) noun a
cavity
mous
celebration /sel bre()n/ noun 1.
celebration
hole or space The jewellery was discov- |
ered hidden in a cavity in the wall. a party or festival We had my birthday

CCTV /si
si
ti
vi
/ abbr closed-circuit
CCTV
celebration in the local pub. After our
television team won, the celebrations went on late
into the night. 2. the activity of celebrating
CD a hard, round piece of plastic which
CD
something a time of celebration in cel-

can hold a large amount of music or com-
puter information I dont like his new CD ebration of something as an act of cele-
brating something an exhibition in cele-
do you? You can get it on CD or cas-
sette. bration of the opening of the new gallery
celebrity /s lebrti/ (plural celebri-
celebrity
CD burner /si
di
b#
n/ noun alter-
CD burner |
ties) noun a famous person The theatre

native for CD writer was packed with celebrities from the acting
CD player /si
di
ple/ noun a ma-
CD player
world. We hope the new supermarket is

chine which plays CDs going to be opened by a TV celebrity.
CD-ROM /si
di
rm/ noun a small
CD-ROM
celery / selri/ noun a plant with a white

celery
plastic disc used as a high capacity ROM or green stem, eaten as a vegetable or raw
storage device which can store 650Mb of in a salad
data. Full form compact disc read only celestial body /slestil bdi/ noun a
celestial body
memory star, planet, moon or other natural body in

CD-RW /si
di

db()lju
/ abbr
CD-RW
the sky
compact disc rewritable celibate / selbt/ adj not having sex, e.g.
celibate
CD writer /si
di
rat/ noun a piece of
CD writer
for religious reasons

equipment used to record data permanently cell /sel/ noun 1. a small room in a
cell
onto a compact disc building such as a prison or monastery

cease /si
s/ (ceases, ceasing,
cease
He was arrested in the centre of town and

ceased) verb to stop, or to stop doing spent the night in the police cells. 2. the ba-
something (formal ) to cease to exist to sic unit of a living thing You can see the
stop being in existence The pub on the cancer cells under a microscope. (NOTE: Do
corner ceased to exist some time ago. not confuse with sell.)
ceasefire / si
sfa/ noun an agreement cellar / sel/ noun an underground
ceasefire
cellar
to stop shooting in a war room, or rooms under a house (NOTE: Do

ceaseless / si
sls/ adj without stopping
ceaseless
not confuse with seller.)

cedar / si
d/ noun 1. a large tree whose cello / tel/ (plural cellos) noun a large
cedar cello
leaves do not fall off in winter There is a stringed musical instrument smaller than a
large cedar in front of the house. 2. the double bass ( NOTE: + cellist n)
wood from this tree a cedar chest Ce- cellular / seljl/ adj 1. relating to the
cellular
dar wood has a pleasant smell. cells of an organism 2. relating to mobile

cede /si
d/ (cedes, ceding, ceded) verb
cede
phones
to give up something, especially power or cellular phone /seljl fn/ noun a
cellular phone
land, to someone else (formal ) mobile phone that works from a series of
ceiling / si
l/ noun the solid part of a radio stations all over the country
ceiling
room that is above you Hes so tall, he cellulite / seljlat/ noun deposits of fat
cellulite
can easily touch the ceiling. Flies can under the skin, especially in the thighs and
walk on the ceiling. He painted the kitch- buttocks
en ceiling. Watch out when you go into celluloid / seljld/ noun the thin plas-
celluloid
the bedroom it has a very low ceiling. tic film which was used in the past for mak-
celeb /s leb / noun a celebrity (informal)
celeb
| ing films
celebrate / selbret/ (celebrates, Celsius / selsis/ noun a scale of tem-
celebrate Celsius
celebrating, celebrated) verb to have a perature where the freezing point of water
party, or do special things because some- is 0 and the boiling point is 100 The
thing good has happened, or because of temperature outside is only 6C (say six
93 CEO
degrees Celsius). What is 75 Fahren- centimetre / sentmi
t/ noun a
centimetre
heit in Celsius? (NOTE: used in many coun- measure of length equal to one hundredth
tries, but not in the USA, where the Fahren- of a metre (NOTE: The US spelling is cen-
heit system is still preferred. It is usually writ- timeter.)
ten as a C after the degree sign: 32C (say: centipede / sentpi
d/ noun an insect
centipede
thirty-two degrees Celsius). It was formerly with a large number of legs

called centigrade.)
central / sentrl/ adj 1. in the middle
central
Celt /kelt/ noun one of an ancient people

Celt
of something The hall has one central

who lived in parts of Western Europe, e.g. pillar. 2. conveniently placed for shops and
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Brittany other facilities His offices are very cen-
Celtic / keltk/ adj referring to ancient or
Celtic
tral.
modern Celts central government
central government
/sentrl
cement /s ment/ noun grey powder used (v()nmnt/ noun the main government
cement
in building, which is mixed with water and of a country, as opposed to local govern-
dries hard He was mixing cement to make ment
a path round the house. central heating /sentrl hi
t/ noun
central heating
cemetery / semt()ri/ (plural ceme-

cemetery
a system of providing heating for a whole

teries) noun an area of ground where the house from one main heater and radiators
bodies of dead people are buried in the various rooms
censor / sens/ (censors, censoring,
censor
centralise / sentrlaz/ (centralises,

centralise
censored) verb to read books or plays, to centralising, centralised), centralize verb

watch films, videos or TV programmes to to organise from a central point
see if they are fit to be published or shown, central nervous system /sentrl
central nervous system
or to change them, or to say that they can- n#

vs sstm/ noun the brain and the
not be shown or published The film was spinal cord which link together all the
censored before being shown on TV. He nerves
was accused of censoring the article.
centre / sent/ noun 1. the middle of
centre
(NOTE: + censor n)
censorship / sensp/ noun the action
censorship
something chocolates with coffee cream
to prevent books or newspapers from being centres They planted a rose bush in the
centre of the lawn. The town centre is
published or remove parts of them
very old. 2. a large building containing sev-
censure / sen/ (censures, censuring,
censure
eral different sections an army training

censured) verb to criticise severely centre 3. an important place for something
(formal) The Opposition put forward a [~for] the regional centre for management
motion to censure the Government. The training verb (centres, centring, cen-
borough architect was censured for failing tred) to put something in the middle
to consult the engineers. (NOTE: + censure Make sure you centre the title on the page.
n) (NOTE: The US spelling is center.)
census / senss/ (plural censuses) noun
census
centre around, centre round, centre on,

an official count of a countrys population centre upon verb to concentrate on
cent /sent/ noun US a small coin of
cent
something or someone Our report cen-

which there are 100 in a dollar The stores tres on some aspects of the sales team.
are only a 25-cent bus ride away. They centrepiece / sentpi
s/ noun 1. the
centrepiece
sell oranges at 99 cents each. (NOTE: Do not main part of a decoration on a table A
confuse with sent, scent. Cent is usually bowl of fruit will be fine as a centrepiece
written c in prices: 25c, but not when a dollar on the dining table. 2. the main part of a
price is mentioned: $1.25.) policy The project is the centrepiece of
centenary /sen ti
nri/ noun a hun-
centenary
| the governments policy on pensions.

dredth anniversary (NOTE: [all senses] The US spelling is
centennial /sen tenil/ adj referring to a
centennial
| centerpiece.)
centenary Our college is getting ready century / sentri/ (plural centuries)
century
for the centennial celebrations next month. noun one hundred years (NOTE: The number
center / sent/ noun, verb US spelling of
center
of a century is always one more than the

centre date number, so the period from 1900 to
centilitre / sentli
t/ noun a unit of vol- 1999 is the 20th century, and the period
centilitre
ume equal to one hundredth of a litre starting in the year 2000 is the 21st century.)
CEO abbr chief executive officer
CEO
(NOTE: The US spelling is centiliter.)

ceramic 94
ceramic /s rmk/ adj made from clay a sure or certain thing Fine weather in
ceramic
which has been baked at a high tempera- November is not an absolute certainty.
certificate /s tfkt/ noun an offi-
certificate
ture |
ceramics /s rmks/ noun the art of

ceramics
|
cial document which proves or shows
making objects such as cups or plates from something She has been awarded a cer-
clay She is taking a course in ceramics at tificate for swimming. He has a certifi-
the local art college. cate of aptitude in English.
certify / s#
tfa/ (certifies, certifying,
certify
cereal / sril / noun 1. a food made

cereal
certified) verb 1. to make an official state-

from wheat or similar plants and eaten for
breakfast How much milk do you want on ment in writing The document is certified
your cereal? (NOTE: Do not confuse with seas a true copy. He was certified dead on
rial.) 2. a grain crop such as wheat or corn arrival at hospital. 2. to send a patient to a
mental hospital (old) His parents had him
cerebral palsy /serbrl p
lzi/ noun
cerebral palsy
certified.
a medical condition of the brain that makes cervical / s#
vk()l/ adj 1. referring to
cervical
it difficult to control speech and move- the neck The bones in the neck are the
ments of the body seven cervical vertebrae. 2. referring to the
ceremonial /ser mnil/ adj refer-
ceremonial
|
cervix of the womb What can be done to
ring to a ceremony A guard of naval of- prevent cervical cancer? In your case,
ficers carrying their ceremonial swords. you should have a cervical smear test eve-
The ceremonial coach is used in the Lord ry year.
Mayors Parade. noun a way of perform- cervix / s#
vks/ (plural cervixes or cer-
cervix
ing a ceremony The ceremonial for the vices) noun the neck of the womb, the nar-
burial of the dead is laid out in the prayer row lower part of the uterus leading into
book. the vagina Cancer of the cervix may not
ceremony / sermni / noun an impor-
ceremony
show any symptoms for a very long time.

tant official occasion when something spe- cessation /se se()n/ noun the process
cessation
cial is done in public They held a ceremo- of stopping

ny to remember the victims of the train CFC abbr chlorofluorocarbon, a com-
CFC
crash. to stand on ceremony to be for- pound of fluorine and chlorine CFCs

mal and not relaxed Dont stand on cere- contribute to the destruction of the ozone
mony. without ceremony in an informal layer. When CFCs are released into the
and often impolite way atmosphere, they rise slowly taking about
certain / s#
t()n/ adj 1. sure about
certain
seven years to reach the stratosphere.

something Are you certain that you chafe /tef/ (chafes, chafing, chafed)
chafe
locked the door? Im not certain where verb to rub something and make it sore
she lives. 2. definitely going to happen chain / ten/ noun 1. a series of metal
chain
Our team is certain to win the prize. 3. rings joined together She wore a gold
some There are certain things I feel I chain round her neck. He stopped when
need to say to you. Certain plants can the chain came off his bike. 2. a series of
make you ill if you eat them. to make cer- businesses such as shops, restaurants or
tain that to do something in order that hotels which belong to the same company
something else will definitely happen He a chain of shoe shops a chain of hotels
put the money in his safe to make certain or a hotel chain verb (chains, chaining,
that no one could steal it. chained) to attach with a chain I chained
certainly / s#
t()nli/ adv 1. (after a my bike to the lamppost.
certainly
question or order) of course Can you give chain reaction /ten ri kn/ noun a
chain reaction
me a lift to the station? Certainly. Tell series of reactions which follow on from an
him to write to me immediately. Certain- event
ly, sir. Give me a kiss. Certainly not! 2. chain store / ten st
/ noun one of a
chain store
definitely She certainly impressed the series of shops owned by the same compa-
judges. He certainly knows how to score ny
goals. chair /te/ noun 1. a piece of furniture
chair
certainty / s#
t()nti/ (plural certain-
certainty
with a back, which you can sit on 2. the

ties) noun 1. being certain I cant tell who person who is in charge of a meeting
won with any certainty it was a photo-fin- Please address all your comments to the
ish. There is no certainty that the weather chair. in the chair the position of con-
will stay fine for the whole of next week. 2. trolling what happens at a meeting Mrs
95 chance
Smith was in the chair for our first meeting. conclusions have been challenged by other
to take the chair to be the person con- experts. to take up the challenge 1. to
trolling a meeting Mr Jones usually takes accept an invitation to take part in a contest
the chair at the monthly finance meeting. Our team took up the challenge to play
verb (chairs, chairing, chaired) to be the another game. 2. to decide to prove that
person controlling what happens at a meet- you are right about something or able to do
ing The meeting was chaired by Mrs something difficult She decided to take
Smith. up the challenge of being the first woman
chairman / temn/ (plural chair- to complete the course.
chairman
challenged / tlndd/ adj 1. unable to

challenged
men) noun the person who controls what

happens at a meeting Mrs Jones was the do a particular activity easily, especially
chairman at the meeting. (NOTE: Many peo- because of physical or mental disadvantag-
ple prefer to say chair or chairperson bees 2. not having a particular quality (humor-
cause chairman suggests that the person is ous) a scientifically challenged (=not ac-
a man.) curate according to science) account of the
chairmanship / temnp/ noun the new cancer treatment
chairmanship
challenging / tlnd/ adj 1. diffi-

challenging
position of being a chairman

chairperson / tep#
s()n/ (plural cult to do or achieve but giving a feeling of
chairperson
chairpersons) noun the person who con- satisfaction a challenging job 2. refusing
trols what happens at a meeting to accept someones authority or the usual
chairwoman / tewmn/ (plural
chairwoman
way of doing something challenging be-
chairwomen) noun a woman who controls haviour
chamber / temb/ noun 1. an offi-
chamber
what happens at a meeting

chalet / le/ noun a small house, usual-
chalet
cial room 2. an empty space inside the
ly made of wood, often one where people heart Blood collects inside the chambers
stay for a holiday of the heart and is then pumped out. 3. a
chalk /t
k/ noun 1. a type of soft white
chalk
space in a part of a machine, especially one
rock 2. a stick of a hard white or coloured of the spaces for bullets in a gun
chambermaid / tembmed/ noun a
chambermaid
substance used for writing on a board, e.g.

in a classroom He wrote the dates on the woman who cleans bedrooms in a hotel
chamber music / temb mju
zk /
chamber music
board in coloured chalk.

chalk up phrasal verb to achieve a score noun music for a few instruments which
or a victory can be played in a small room
champ /tmp/ noun the winner of a
champ
chalkboard / t
kb
d/ noun a dark
chalkboard
board which you can write on with chalk, competition, especially in sport (informal)
especially on the wall of a classroom Hes the champ!
champagne /m pen/ noun a spar-
champagne
chalky / t
ki/ adj like chalk in colour or
chalky
|
feel, or containing chalk kling white wine from the northeast of

challenge / tlnd/ noun 1. a diffi-
challenge
France
champion / tmpin/ noun 1. the
champion
cult test of someones skill or strength

[~for/~to] Its a difficult job, but I enjoy best one in a particular competition [~in]
the challenge. The race will be quite a a champion swimmer Hes the world
challenge for me. The strike is another champion in the 100 metres. 2. a person
challenge to the authority of the govern- who strongly supports something or some-
ment. to pose or present a challenge to one a champion of free city centre trans-
someone to be extremely difficult to do port verb (champions, championing,
Getting the piano up the stairs will pose a championed) to support something or
challenge to the helpers. 2. an attempt to someone strongly They have been cham-
win a fight or competition a challenge for pioning or championing the cause of chil-
the world title 3. an action that shows there drens rights for many years.
championship / tmpinp/ noun
championship
are doubts about the truth, accuracy or le-

gality of something [~to/over] a challenge a contest to find who is the champion The
over her claim on the property verb (chal- tennis championship was won by a boy
lenges, challenging, challenged) 1. to is- from Leeds.
chance /t
ns/ noun 1. a possibility
chance
sue an invitation to a contest 2. to ask

someone to prove that they are right [~(that)] There is little chance of rain in
When challenged, he admitted that he had August. Is there a chance that well get
seen her get into a car. The committees home before 10 p.m.? a chance of doing
chancellor 96
something a possibility of doing some- ferent A glass of water is a nice change
thing Has our team any chance of win- after all that coffee.We usually go on holi-
ning? Yes, I think they have a good day in summer, but this year were taking a
chance. 2. an opportunity [~for] Will there winter holiday for a change. A change of
be a chance for a serious talk with her this scenery will do you good. 3. money in
week? a or the chance to do something coins I need some change for the parking
an opportunity to do something I wish Id meter. Have you got change for a 5
had the chance to visit South Africa. 3. luck note? 4. money which you get back when
or accident [~(that)] The satisfactory out- you have given more than the correct price
come owed more to chance than to good It cost 3.50, so thats 1.50 change from
planning. It was pure chance that we met 5. The shopkeeper gave me the wrong
at the station. by chance in a way that change. a change for the better an im-
was not planned or expected It was quite provement a change of clothes a set of
by chance that we were travelling on the clean clothes
same bus. by any chance perhaps change down phrasal verb to move to a
Have you by any chance seen my glasses? lower gear when driving a car
chancellor / t
ns()l/ noun 1. an change over phrasal verb 1. to exchange
chancellor
important official He became chancellor places, positions, or roles 2. (in sports

of the university last year. 2. (in Germany or such as football) to move to opposite ends
Austria) the head of the government, equiv- of a playing field, usually halfway
alent to Prime Minister through a match
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
change up phrasal verb to move to a
/t
nslr v i
ks tek/, Chancellor
|
higher gear when driving a car
changeover / tendv/ noun 1. a
changeover
noun the chief finance minister in the Brit- |
ish government (NOTE: In most countries, change from one thing to another
this is called the Minister of Finance; the [~from/~to] The changeover from the old
American equivalent is the Secretary of the system to the new one takes place at mid-
Treasury.) night. 2. (in sports such as football ) the
movement of teams to opposite ends of a
chandelier /nd l/ noun a light fit-
chandelier
playing field 3. the passing of a baton in a

ting which hangs from the ceiling, with relay race
several branches for holding electric bulbs
changing room / tend ru
m/
changing room
change /tend/ verb (changes,

change
noun a room in a public place where you

changing, changed) 1. to become differ- can change into or out of clothes
ent, or make something different [~into] channel / tn()l/ noun 1. a frequen-
channel
Shes changed so much since I last saw her cy band for radio or TV or a station using
that I hardly recognised her. Hes this band Shall we watch the new show
changed into a successful executive since I on the other channel? Were watching
last saw him. Living in the country has Channel 4. 2. a way in which information
changed their attitude towards towns. to or goods are passed from one place to an-
change your mind to have a different other The request will have to be proc-
opinion about something Ive changed essed through the normal channels. 3. a
my mind about taking the job. Youll narrow passage along which water can
change your mind about the charity when flow 4. a piece of water connecting two
you read this article. 2. to put on different seas the English Channel verb (chan-
clothes [~into/out of] Im just going up- nels, channelling, channelled) to send
stairs to change or to get changed. We all something in a particular direction [~into]
changed into our sports gear. 3. to use or They are channelling their funds into re-
have something in place of something else search.
[~for] Shes recently changed her job or
chant /t
nt/ (chants, chanting, chant-
chant
changed jobs. Can we change our room

for one with a view of the sea? 4. to give ed) verb to sing or shout to a regular beat
one countrys money for another [~into/out The crowds chanted anti-government slo-
of] We want to change some travellers gans. (NOTE: + chant n)
chaos / kes/ noun a state of confusion
chaos
cheques. I had to change 1,000 into dol-

lars. noun 1. an occasion on which some- There was total chaos when the electric-
thing is changed There was a sudden ity failed.
chaotic /ke tk/ adj confused, without
chaotic
change of plan. Weve seen a lot of |
changes over the years. 2. something dif- order

97 charity
chap /tp/ noun a man (informal ) charcoal / t
kl/ noun a black fuel
chap charcoal

Hes a really nice chap. I bought it from formed from wood which has been burnt
a chap at work. slowly, used for barbecues and grills We
chapel / tp()l/ noun 1. a room used as need a bag of charcoal for the barbecue.
chapel
a church, e.g. in a hospital or airport 2. a charge /t

d/ noun 1. money which
charge
part of a large church you have to pay for something [~for]

chaplain / tpln/ noun a priest at-
chaplain
There is no charge for delivery. We make

tached to a private individual, to a prison or a small charge for rental. 2. a statement
to one of the armed services that someone has done something bad or
chapter / tpt/ noun a division of a
chapter
wrong [~that] I completely reject the

book The first chapter is rather slow, but charge that I had these facts before I made
after that the story gets exciting. Dont the decision. 3. a claim by the police that
tell me how it finishes Im only up to someone has done something wrong He
chapter three. was in prison on a charge of trying to shoot
character / krkt/ noun 1. the part a neighbour. 4. a sudden rush towards
character
of a person which makes them behave dif- someone or something, especially as part
ferently from all others He has a strong, of an attack The police stood firm against
determined character. a strong charac- the charge of the crowd. 5. an electric cur-
ter a person with special qualities such as rent He was killed by an electric charge
determination or the ability to influence from the wires. verb (charges, charging,
others 2. a person in a play or novel The charged) 1. to ask someone to pay [~for]
main character in the film is a woman with The restaurant charged me 10 for two
a fascinating history. 3. a set of features cups of coffee. How much did the garage
that make something different from other charge for mending the car? 2. (of the po-
similar things 4. an attractive quality The lice) to say that someone has done some-
old house was full of character. 5. a letter thing wrong [~with] She was charged with
or symbol used in writing or printing The stealing the jewels. 3. to attack someone
book is printed in Chinese characters. 6. a while running The police charged the ri-
person with particular qualities Hes an oters. 4. to run quickly and without care
interesting character. quite a character [~into/around etc] The children charged
or a real character an interesting and un- into the kitchen. 5. to give someone respon-
usual person My first head teacher was sibility [~with] She was charged with the
quite a character. organisation of the societys conference. 6.
characterisation /krktra to put electricity into a battery You can
characterisation
ze()n/, characterization noun an indi- charge your phone battery overnight. in

cation of character charge of something in control of some-
characterise / krktraz/ (charac- thing Whos in charge here? He is in
characterise
terises, characterising, characterised), charge of the sales department. to take

characterize verb 1. to be a typical feature charge of something to start to be respon-
of something The northern coast is char- sible for something She took charge of
acterised by tall cliffs and tiny beaches. 2. the class while the teacher was out of the
to describe someone or something as a par- room.
ticular type of person or thing He didnt charge card / t
d k
d/ noun a plas-
charge card
like to be characterised as weak and ineffi- tic card which you can use to buy things
cient. from a particular shop, and pay for them at
characteristic /krkt rstk/ adj
characteristic
| a later date
typical You can recognise her by her charisma /k rzm/ noun personal ap-
charisma
characteristic way of walking. The shape peal

is characteristic of this type of flower.
charitable / trtb()l/ adj 1. refer-
charitable
(NOTE: something is characteristic of some-

thing) noun a typical feature The two ring to a charity She was famous for her
cars have very similar characteristics. charitable work. 2. understanding, or less
charade / r
d/ noun a situation which
charade
|
critical Commuters ought to be more
has no meaning or which is simply a pre- charitable towards railway staff theyre
tence Can you make any sense of this only doing their best.
charity / trti/ noun an organisation
charity
charade? Why bother with this charade

of consultation when we know that a deci- which collects money to help the poor or to
sion has already been taken? support some cause a medical charity
charity shop 98
charity shop / trti p/ noun a shop try to catch him or her The robbers es-
charity shop
run by a charity where you can take things caped and the police gave chase.
such as old clothes and ornaments, which chase up phrasal verb to find out how
are then sold and the money given to the work is progressing in order to try to
charity speed it up Ill chase it up for you on
charm /t
m/ noun 1. attractiveness
charm
Monday.
chasm / kz()m/ noun 1. a very big dif-
chasm
the charm of the Devon countryside She

has great personal charm. 2. an object ference of opinion [~between] How can
which is supposed to have magical powers we bridge the chasm between the two sides
She wears a lucky charm round her neck. in the dispute? 2. a very big crack in the
verb (charms, charming, charmed) 1. to ground The mountaineers were forced to
attract someone, or to make someone turn back when they reached a chasm in the
pleased He always manages to charm glacier.
chassis / si/ noun the metal frame-
chassis
someone into helping him. I was

charmed by the village and surrounding work of a vehicle, usually including the
area. 2. to use magic on someone or some- wheels and engine The cars chassis was
thing The fairy charmed the trees to grow damaged in the accident.
chat /tt/ noun an informal, friendly
chat
golden fruit.
charming / t
m/ adj attractive
charming
talk [~with/~about] Id like to have a chat
with you about your work.
chart /t
t/ noun 1. a map of the sea,
chart
chat room / tt ru

m/ noun a facility
chat room
a river or a lake You will need an accurate exchanging messages by computer in real
chart of the entrance to the river. 2. a dia- time
gram showing statistics A chart showing
chat show / tt / noun a TV
chat show
the increase in cases of lung cancer. verb

(charts, charting, charted) 1. to make a
show where famous people talk to the host
chatter / tt/ (chatters, chattering,
chatter
map of the sea, a river or lake He charted

the coast of southern Australia in the 18th chattered) verb 1. also chatter away or
century. 2. to describe or make a diagram chatter on to talk quickly and not seriously
of something to show information The [~about] She was chattering about her
book charts the rise of the new political holiday on the phone, not realising that the
party. boss was standing behind her. 2. (of top and
bottom teeth) to knock together quickly
charter / t
t/ noun a legal docu-
charter
and noisily, because of cold or fear (NOTE:

ment giving rights or privileges to a public + chatter n)
organisation, a group of people, or a town chatty / tti/ adj 1. liking to talk and
chatty
the United Nations charter a shoppers

share information in a friendly way Shes
charter The university received its char- a very chatty person, always stopping to
ter in 1846. verb (charters, chartering, gossip with anyone she meets. 2. informal
chartered) to hire an aircraft, bus or boat
He has a pleasant chatty style, which
for a particular trip We chartered a boat goes down well with readers of Saturday
for a day trip to the island. papers.
chartered accountant / t
td
chartered accountant
chauffeur / f/ noun a person who is

chauffeur
|
kantnt/ noun a qualified accountant paid to drive a car for someone else The
charter flight / t
t flat/ noun a
charter flight
chauffeur brought the Rolls round to the

flight in an aircraft which has been hired by door.
the airline for a special occasion chauvinist / vnst/ noun a person
chauvinist
chase /tes/ verb (chases, chasing,

chase
who has a strong feeling of pride in his or
chased) 1. to go after someone in order to her native country Chauvinists insist that
try to catch him or her The postman was British cooking is better than French.
cheap /ti
p/ adj not costing a lot of
cheap
chased by a dog. They chased the bur-

glars down the street. 2. to find out how money If you want a cheap radio you
work is progressing in order to try to speed ought to shop around. Why do you go by
it up We are trying to chase the accounts bus? Because its cheaper than the train.
department for your cheque. noun an oc- Buses are by far the cheapest way to trav-
casion on which you run after someone to el. adv at a low price I bought them
try to catch them He was caught after a cheap in the local market.
three-hour chase along the motorway. to cheaply / ti
pli/ adv 1. without
cheaply
give chase to run after someone in order to spending much money cheaply made fur-
99 cheese
niture You can live quite cheaply if you Wheres the check-in? 2. the procedure of
dont go out to eat in restaurants. 2. at a dealing with passengers before a flight
low price They were selling the last few Check-in starts at 4.30pm.
bottles cheaply. checklist / teklst/ noun a list of things
checklist
cheat / ti
t/ verb (cheats, cheating,
cheat
which have to be done or dealt with before

cheated) to act unfairly in order to be suc- something can be done
cessful They are sure he cheated in his checkout / tekat/ noun (in a super-
checkout
exam, but cant find out how he did it. market) a cash desk in a supermarket where
noun a person who acts unfairly in order to you pay for the goods you have bought
win I wont play cards with him again, There were huge queues at the checkouts.
hes a cheat. checkpoint / tekpnt/ noun a place on
checkpoint
check /tek/ noun 1. an examination or

check
a road where the police or army check cars

test [~for/~on] a routine check of the fire and people passing
equipment The police are carrying out
checkup / tek p/ noun 1. a test to
checkup
checks for hidden passengers on all lorries

arriving at the port. 2. US (in a restaurant) see if someone is fit He had a heart
checkup last week. 2. a general examina-
a bill Ill ask for the check. verb
(checks, checking, checked) 1. to make
tion of a machine Im taking the car to
the garage for its six-monthly checkup.
sure [~that/~if/whether/~with] Will you go
Cheddar / ted/ noun a smooth hard
Cheddar
and check that or if I locked the door,

please. Id better check with the office be- light yellow cheese, originally from a vil-
fore I make a firm decision. 2. to examine lage of this name in the west of England
cheek /ti
k/ noun 1. the part of the
cheek
something to see if it is satisfactory

[~through/~for/~if/whether/~that] You face on each side of the nose and below the
must have your car checked regularly. eye a baby with red cheeks 2. rudeness
Would you just check quickly through this He had the cheek to ask for more money.
report for any obvious mistakes. I The I didnt like his cheek. (NOTE: no plural in
children were very quiet so I went to check this sense)
that nothing or if anything was wrong. in cheekbone / ti
kbn/ noun a bone
cheekbone
check under control We must keep our just below the eye which forms the promi-
spending in check. nent part of the cheek
check in, check into phrasal verb 1. (at a cheekily / ti
kli/ adv in a rude way
cheekily
hotel) to arrive at a hotel and sign for a

cheeky / ti
ki/ (cheekier, cheekiest) adj
cheeky
room He checked in at 12.15. We

checked into our hotel and then went on rude
cheer /t/ noun a shout of praise or
cheer
a tour of the town. 2. (at an airport) to give

in your ticket to show you are ready to encouragement When he scored the goal
take the flight Please check in two a great cheer went up.
hours before your departure time. cheer up phrasal verb to become hap-
check out phrasal verb 1. (at a hotel) to pier, or make someone happier Im sure
leave and pay for a room Wed better Ill cheer up once the treatment is over.
check out before breakfast. 2. to take lug- She made him a meal to try to cheer him
gage out of safe keeping The ticket up. cheer up! stop being unhappy
shows that he checked out his bag at Cheer up! Itll all be over tomorrow.
9.15. 3. to see if something is all right I cheerful / tf()l/ adj 1. happy 2.
cheerful
thought I heard a noise in the kitchen pleasant a cheerful smile a bright

Ill just go and check it out. cheerful room
check up on phrasal verb to make sure cheerleader / tli
d/ noun a person
cheerleader
that something has been done correctly who directs the cheering of a crowd
checked /tekt / adj with a pattern of cheers / tz/ interj (when drinking) 1.
checked
cheers
small squares thank you! 2. good health! They all lifted

checkers / tekz/ noun US a game for
checkers
their glasses and said cheers!.

two people played on a board with black cheese /ti
z/ noun a solid food made
cheese
and white squares and round pieces (NOTE: from milk She ordered a cheese omelette
The British term is draughts.) and chips. At the end of the meal well
check-in / tek n/ noun 1. also
check-in
have cheese and biscuits. say cheese!

check-in desk a place where passengers used when asking people to smile when
give in their tickets and bags for a flight their photo is being taken (informal) The
cheeseburger 100
photographer got us all in a line and then cherry / teri/ (plural cherries) noun a
cherry
told us to say cheese!. small sweet red or black fruit with a single
cheeseburger / ti
zb#
(/ noun a hard seed in the middle, which grows on a
cheeseburger
hamburger with melted cheese on top tree

cheesecake / ti
zkek/ noun a tart cherub / terb/ noun a child who looks
cheesecake cherub
with a sweet pastry base and cooked cream like an angel

cheese on top, often covered with fruit chess /tes/ noun a game for two peo-
chess
cheesy / ti
zi/ adj cheap and without ple played on a board with sixteen differ-
cheesy
style ent-shaped pieces on each side (NOTE: no

cheetah / ti
t/ noun an animal like a plural)
cheetah
small leopard, with black spots on pale fur, chessman / tesmn/ (plural chess-
chessman
which can run faster than any other animal men), chesspiece noun a piece used in the
chef /ef/ noun a cook in a restaurant game of chess
chef
chemical / kemk()l/ noun a sub- chest /test/ noun 1. the top front part
chemical chest
stance which is formed by reactions be- of the body, where the heart and lungs are
tween chemicals rows of glass bottles If you have pains in your chest or if you
containing chemicals Chemicals are have chest pains, you ought to see a doctor.
widely used in agriculture. adj relating to The doctor listened to the patients chest.
chemistry If you add acid it sets off a She was rushed to hospital with chest
chemical reaction. wounds. 2. a measurement around the top
chemist / kemst/ noun 1. a person part of the body just under the arms
chemist
who prepares and sells medicines Ask the Whats his chest size or measurement?
chemist to give you something for indiges- He has a 48-inch chest. 3. a piece of furni-
tion. 2. a scientist who studies chemical ture, like a large box He keeps his old
substances She works as a chemist in a clothes in a chest under the bed. to get
nuclear laboratory. something off your chest to speak honest-
chemistry / kemstri/ noun the sci-
chemistry
ly about a problem
chestnut / tesnt/ noun 1. horse
chestnut
ence of chemical substances and their reac-

tions Shes studying chemistry at univer- chestnut, sweet chestnut (trees) 2. the
sity. He passed his chemistry exam. wood from a chestnut tree a chestnut ta-
chemotherapy
chemotherapy
/ki
m erpi/,
|
ble 3. a red-brown colour She has beau-
chemo noun the process of using chemical tiful long chestnut hair. 4. an old joke His
drugs to fight a disease, especially using speech was just a series of not very amus-
toxic chemicals to destroy rapidly developing old chestnuts.
chew /tu
/ (chews, chewing, chewed)
chew
ing cancer cells

cheque /tek/ noun a form asking a verb to use your teeth to make something
cheque
bank to pay money from one account to an- soft, usually so that you can swallow it
other [~for] I paid for the jacket by [~on] You must chew your meat well, or
cheque. He made out a cheque for 100 you will get pains in your stomach. The
to Mr Smith. dog was lying in front of the fire chewing
chequebook / tekbk/ noun a set of
chequebook
on a bone.
blank cheques attached together in a cover chew up phrasal verb to ruin something
(NOTE: The US spelling is checkbook.) by chewing it a lot
chewing gum / tu
(m/ noun a
chewing gum
cheque card / tek k

d/, cheque
cheque card
guarantee card noun a plastic bank card sweet substance which you chew but do
that guarantees that a cheque will be paid not swallow
chewy / tu
i/ adj which must be chewed
chewy
by the bank
chequered / tekd/ adj 1. laid out in a
chequered
for a long time before being swallowed
chic /i
k/ adj elegant and fashionable
chic
pattern of squares 2. varied, with good and

bad parts She had a chequered career in Its very chic these days to have an all
the police force. white sports car. We took our visitors to a
cherish / ter/ (cherishes, cherishing, very chic restaurant in Mayfair.
cherish
chick /tk/ noun a baby bird, especially a

chick
cherished) verb 1. to love The two people

he cherished most died during the year. baby hen
chicken / tkn/ noun 1. a bird kept
chicken
She cherished the old ring given to her by

her grandmother. 2. to cling onto a hope for its eggs and meat Chickens were run-
She still cherishes the hope of living in a ning everywhere in the farmyard. 2. meat
warmer country. from a chicken Were having roast chick-
101 chip
en for lunch. Would you like another slice maintain the normal standard of living of
of chicken? We bought some chicken his or her children
sandwiches for lunch. (NOTE: no plural: chill /tl/ noun 1. a short illness caus-
chill
some chicken; a piece of chicken; a slice of ing a feeling of being cold and shivering
chicken) Youll catch a chill if you dont wear a coat.
chicken out phrasal verb to decide not to 2. coldness The sun came up and soon
do something because you are scared cleared away the morning chill. 3. an at-
(slang) mosphere of gloom The death of the
chickpea / tkpi
/ noun a round, pale brides father cast a chill over the wedding.
chickpea
yellow seed that can be cooked and eaten verb (chills, chilling, chilled) 1. to cool 2.
chief /ti
f/ adj most important Hes
chief
also chill out to relax and be calm
the chief planner in the local authority. (informal)
What is the chief cause of air accidents? chill out phrasal verb to relax
chilli / tli/ noun a dried seed pod of a
chilli
noun 1. the person in control of a group of

people or a business Hes been made the type of pepper plant, used to make hot
new chief of our department. The fire sauces (NOTE: The US spelling is chili.)
chief warned that the building was danger- chilling / tl/ adj frightening
chilling
ous. 2. the leader of a specific group of chilly / tli/ (chillier, chilliest) adj quite
chilly
people who share a culture and social sys- cold

tem All the chiefs came together at a chime /tam/ noun the ringing of bells
chime
meeting. The chimes of Big Ben start the BBC News.

Chief Executive /ti
f ( zekjtv/
Chief Executive
| verb (chimes, chiming, chimed) (of bells,

noun the main director who runs a compa- doorbells or clocks) to ring The church
ny clock has just chimed four.
chiefly / ti
fli/ adv mainly The town is chimney / tmni/ noun a tall brick tube
chiefly chimney
famous chiefly for its cathedral. for taking smoke away from a fire
chieftain / ti
ftn/ noun the leader of a chimpanzee /tmpn zi
/, chimp
chieftain chimpanzee
tribe noun a type of African ape

chiffon / fn/ noun a type of very thin chin /tn/ noun the front part of the
chiffon chin
light silk material bottom jaw She suddenly stood up and

child /tald/ (plural children) noun 1. a hit him on the chin.
child
young boy or girl There was no TV when china / tan/ noun things such as cups
china
my mother was a child. A group of chil- and plates made of decorated fine white
dren were playing on the beach. 2. a son or clay (NOTE: no plural)
daughter Whose child is that? They chink /tk/ noun 1. a very small hole or
chink
have six children two boys and four girls. crack Even a tiny chink in the curtains
We have two adult children. will let light into the darkroom. 2. a little
child abuse / tald bju
s/ noun bad
child abuse
| noise of pieces of something hard hitting

treatment of a child by an adult each other the chink of glasses on the
childbirth / taldb#
/ noun the act of waiters tray
childbirth
chinos / ti
nz/ plural noun smart but
chinos
giving birth to a child

childcare / taldke/ noun the care of casual thick cotton trousers
childcare
chip /tp/ noun 1. a long thin piece of

chip
young children
childhood / taldhd/ noun the time potato fried in oil He ordered chicken
childhood
when someone is a child and chips. fish and chips a traditional

childish / tald/ adj 1. silly or foolish
childish
British food, obtained from special shops,
2. like a child where portions of fish fried in batter are
childlike / taldlak/ adj innocent like a
childlike sold with chips Were having fish and
child chips for dinner. 2. US a thin slice of potato
or other food, fried till crisp and eaten cold
childminder / taldmand/ noun a
childminder
as a snack a packet of potato or corn

person who looks after children in their chips 3. a small piece of something hard,
own home while the parents are working such as wood or stone Chips of wood flew
childproof / taldpru
f/ adj difficult for
childproof
all over the studio as he was carving the

a child to open or operate statue. 4. a small piece of silicon able to
children / tldrn/ plural of child
children
store data, used in a computer. Same as sil-

child support / tald sp
t/ noun a
child support
| icon chip verb (chips, chipping,

sum of money paid by a divorced person to chipped) to break a small piece off some-
chipmunk 102
thing hard He banged the cup down on specially selected choice meat choice
the plate and chipped it. to have a chip peaches
on your shoulder to feel constantly an- choir /kwa/ noun a group of people who
choir
noyed because you feel you have lost an sing together He sings in the church
advantage Hes got a chip on his shoul- choir.
der because his brother has a better job choke /tk/ (chokes, choking,
choke
than he has. choked) verb 1. to stop breathing properly

chip in phrasal verb 1. to contribute We because something such as a piece of food
all chipped in for the present. 2. to inter- is blocking the throat [~on] Dont talk
rupt My assistant suddenly chipped in with your mouth full or youll choke. He
with a comment. choked on a piece of bread or a piece of
chipmunk / tpmk/ noun a small
chipmunk
bread made him choke. 2. to block some-

North American animal, like a little striped thing such as a pipe [~with] The canal was
squirrel choked with weeds. 3. to squeeze some-
chiropodist /k rpdst/ noun a person ones neck so that they cannot breathe He
chiropodist
who specialises in looking after feet felt the tight collar was choking him. to
chirp /t#
p/ (chirps, chirping, chirped)
chirp
choke someone to death to squeeze some-
verb (of birds or grasshoppers) to call The ones throat until they die 4. to find it hard
little chicks were chirping in their box. to speak because of emotion [~with] Her
(NOTE: + chirp n) voice was choked with anger.
choked /tkt/ adj overcome by emo-
choked
chirpy / t#
pi/ adj bright and cheerful
chirpy
(informal) tion such as sadness or anger

cholera / klr/ noun a serious bacterial
cholera
chitchat / tttt/ noun conversations

chitchat
about things which are not important disease spread through infected food or
(informal)
water
cholesterol /k lestrl/ noun a fatty
cholesterol
chivalry / vlri/ noun politeness or

chivalry |
substance found in fats and oils, also pro-

courtesy duced by the liver and forming an essential
chives /tavz/ plural noun a herb of
chives
part of all cells. Excess amounts can cause

which the leaves are used to decorate dish- blocked arteries.
es or in soups or salads (NOTE: chives has choose /tu
z/ (chooses, choosing,
choose
no singular.)
chose, chosen) verb 1. to decide which of
chlorinated / kl
rnetd/ adj added to
chlorinated
several things you want to have [~be-

or treated with chlorine tween/~from/~out of/~which/where/whether
chlorine / kl
ri
n/ noun a powerful
chlorine
etc/~as] I chose a book about sailing. I

greenish gas, used to sterilise water and to cant choose between the white one or the
bleach things yellow one. There were several good can-
chocolate / tklt / noun 1. a sweet didates to choose from. The girl was cho-
chocolate
brown food made from the crushed seeds sen out of the thousands of children who
of a tropical tree a bar of chocolate Her applied. Have you chosen what you want
mother made a chocolate cake. 2. a single to eat? They chose him as team leader.
sweet made from chocolate There are You must give customers plenty of time to
only three chocolates left in the box. choose. 2. to decide to do one thing when
Whos eaten the last chocolate? 3. a drink there are several things you could do In
made from chocolate powder and milk I the end, they chose to go to the cinema.
always have a cup of hot chocolate before choice
choosy / tu
zi/ adj difficult to please
choosy
I go to bed.
choice /ts/ noun 1. something (informal)
choice
chop /tp/ noun a piece of meat with

chop
which is chosen [~for] Paris was our first

choice for our holiday. 2. the act of choos- a bone attached We had lamb chops for
ing something We give students plenty of dinner. verb (chops, chopping,
advice on their choice of course. 3. a range chopped) to cut something roughly into
of things to choose from [~between] The small pieces with a knife or other sharp
store has a huge choice of furniture. He tool He spent the afternoon chopping
gave me a choice between full-time or wood for the fire. to do one thing, then
part-time work. I hadnt any choice, I another He keeps chopping and changing
had no choice there was nothing else I and cant make his mind up.
could do adj (choicer, choicest) (of food) chop down phrasal verb to cut down a
103 chuck
tree with an axe believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ
chop off phrasal verb to cut something and in Christianity
off, e.g. with an axe or knife Christianity /krsti nti / noun a reli-
Christianity
chop up phrasal verb to cut something gion based on the doctrine preached by Je-
into pieces sus Christ and followed by Christians ever
chopper / tp/ noun 1. an axe, espe- since
chopper
cially one for cutting meat A butcher Christian name / krstn nem /
Christian name
armed with a chopper was cutting up car- noun the special name given to someone as
casses. 2. a helicopter (informal) A chop- a child after birth or at their christening
per landed in the middle of the motorway Christmas / krsms/, Christmas
Christmas
to pick up the accident victims. Day noun a Christian festival on December

choppy / tpi/ adj (of water) quite rough
choppy
25th, celebrated as the birthday of Jesus

chopsticks / tpstks/ noun a pair of
chopsticks
Christ, when presents are given Have you

small sticks used in China, Japan, etc., to opened your Christmas presents yet?
eat food or to stir food when cooking Christmas card / krsms k
d/ noun
Christmas card
choral / k
rl/ adj referring to a choir
choral
a card which is sent to someone at Christ-

chord /k
d/ noun 1. several notes mas
chord
played together in harmony He sat down Christmas carol /krsms krl/

Christmas carol
at the piano and played a few chords. 2. a noun a special song sung at Christmas
line which joins two points on a curve Christmas Day /krsms de/ noun
Christmas Day
Draw a chord across this circle. (NOTE: Do December 25th, the day on which Christ-
not confuse with cord.) mas is celebrated
chore /t
/ noun a piece of routine work,
chore
Christmas Eve /krsms i

v/ noun
Christmas Eve
e.g. cleaning in a house, that you have to do the evening of December 24th a Christ-
household chores
mas Eve party
choreography /kri (rfi/ noun the
choreography
Christmas tree / krsms tri

/ noun a
| Christmas tree
art of arranging the steps for a dance (NOTE:

+ choreographer n)
fir tree which is brought into the house at
Christmas and decorated with coloured
chorus / k
rs/ noun 1. a part of a
chorus
lights and ornaments

song which is repeated later in the song
chrome /krm/ noun an alloy of chro-
chrome
Ill sing the verses and everyone can join in

the chorus. 2. a group of people who sing mium and other metals, used to give a
together All the members of the chorus shiny silver surface a 1960s chair with
were on the stage. chrome legs and a plastic seat
chromosome / krmsm/ noun a
chromosome
chose /tz/ past tense of choose

chose
chosen / tz()n/ past participle of

chosen rod-shaped structure in the nucleus of a
cell, formed of DNA, which carries the
choose
genes
Christ /krast/ noun Jesus Christ, the
Christ
chronic / krnk/ adj 1. (of illness or pain)

chronic
person on whose life and teachings the

Christian religion is based interj used for serious and continuing for a long time
showing you are annoyed (taboo) Christ! She has chronic bronchitis. Chronic asth-
Its eight oclock already and I havent ma sufferers need to use special drugs.
started cooking dinner. Compare acute 2. referring to someone
who does a particular activity, especially a
christen / krs()n/ (christens, chris-
christen
harmful one, often a chronic smoker 3.

tening, christened) verb 1. to give a name very bad (informal) We have a chronic
to something She was christened the shortage of skilled staff.
Iron Lady by the press. 2. to use some-
chronicle / krnk()l/ noun a record of
chronicle
thing for the first time Come and help us

christen our new set of champagne glasses. things which take place He wrote a
chronicle of the war. (NOTE: + chronicle v)
christening / krs()n/ noun a cere-
christening
/kr snmm/
chrysanthemum
mony in church where a baby is given a chrysanthemum |
name noun a type of autumn flower with many

Christian / krstn/ adj relating to
Christian
small petals
chubby / tbi/ (chubbier, chubbiest)
chubby
the religion based on the teachings of Jesus

Christ There are several Christian adj pleasantly fat
chuck /tk/ (chucks, chucking,
chuck
churches in the town. She practises all

the Christian virtues. noun a person who chucked) verb to throw (informal ) Chuck
chuckle 104
me that newspaper, can you? She of cigarettes The room was full of ciga-
chucked the book out of the window. rette smoke.
chuckle / tk()l/ noun a quiet laugh cinema / snm/ noun a building
chuckle cinema
We all had a good chuckle over the chair- where you go to watch films We went to
mans speech. verb (chuckles, chuck- the cinema on Friday night.
ling, chuckled) to give a quiet laugh He cinematic /sn mtk/ adj referring to
cinematic
chuckled when she said she wanted a good films and the cinema
steady job. cinnamon / snmn/ noun a spice
cinnamon
chuffed /tft/ adj pleased or proud

chuffed
made from the inner bark of a tropical tree

chug /t(/ (chugs, chugging, chugged) circa / s#
k / prep about (formal; used of
chug circa
verb to make a regular noise like an engine dates)

[~along/up/down etc] (informal) circle / s#
k()l/ noun 1. a line forming
circle
chunk /tk/ noun a large thick piece of a round shape He drew a circle on the
chunk
something blackboard. 2. anything forming a round

chunky / tki/ (chunkier, chunkiest) shape The children sat in a circle round
chunky
adj made of large or thick pieces the teacher. The soldiers formed a circle
church /t#
t / noun a building where
church
round the prisoner. 3. a group of people or
Christians go to pray We usually go to a society She went to live abroad and lost
church on Sunday mornings. The oldest contact with her old circle of friends. He
building in the village is St Marys Church. moves in the highest government circles. 4.
The times of the church services are giv-
a row of seats above the stalls in a theatre
en on the board outside. We got tickets for the upper circle. verb
(circles, circling, circled) to make circular
churchgoer / t#
t(/ noun a person
churchgoer
movements [~around/above/over etc]

who goes to church regularly Large birds were circling above the dead
churchyard / t#
tj
d/ noun a ceme-
churchyard
animals.
tery next to a church circuit / s#
kt/ noun 1. a fixed or reg-
circuit
churn / t#
n/ noun a large metal contain-
churn
ular way of travelling from one place to an-

er for milk Churns of fresh milk were other for a particular activity a familiar
lined up at the farm entrance waiting to be speaker on the lecture circuit 2. a path on
picked up. verb (churns, churning, which competitions take place a race cir-
churned) 1. to turn cream to make butter cuit 3. a trip around something His first
Do you know of any farm where butter is circuit of the track was very slow. 4. the
still churned by hand? 2. to buy and sell path that electricity flows around Hes
shares on someones behalf, in order to designed a circuit for a burglar alarm.
earn commission for yourself Few small circuit board / s#
kt b
d/ noun a
circuit board
investors realise how much money they board composed of a printed circuit
lose through churning.
circuit breaker / s#
kt brek/ noun a
circuit breaker
churn out phrasal verb to produce some-

safety device in an electrical circuit
thing in a series
circular / s#
kjl/ adj 1. round in
circular
chute /u
t/ noun 1. a slide into water in a
chute
shape a circular table 2. sent to a number

swimming pool The kids screamed as of people The company sent a circular
they slid down the chute into the pool. 2. a letter to all employees. (NOTE: only used be-
slide for sending things down to a lower fore a noun) noun a document with one or
level The parcels are wrapped and la- just a few pages sent to a number of people
belled and then sent down a chute to where to inform them about something
the delivery vans are waiting.
circulate / s#
kjlet/ (circulates, cir-
circulate
chutney / ttni/ noun a highly fla-

chutney
culating, circulated) verb 1. to send some-

voured sauce usually made with tomatoes, thing round to various people They circu-
onions, vinegar and spices lated a new list of prices to all their cus-
cider / sad/ noun an alcoholic drink
cider
tomers. 2. to move round Blood

made from fermented apple juice circulates round the body. Waiters circu-
cigar /s (
/ noun a tight roll of dried to-
cigar
| lated round the room carrying trays of

bacco leaves which you can light and drinks. 3. to talk to different people at a
smoke party Lets talk later Ive got to circu-
cigarette /s( ret/ noun a roll of late.
cigarette
circulation /s#
kj le()n/ noun 1.
circulation
very thin paper containing tobacco, which |
you can light and smoke a packet or pack the act of circulating The circulation of
105 civil liberties

the new price list to all departments will citizenship / stz()np/ noun the
citizenship
take several days. 2. the movement of state of being a citizen

blood around the body Rub your hands citrus fruit / strs fru
t/ noun an edible
citrus fruit
together to get the circulation going. He fruit such as an orange, lemon, grapefruit
has poor circulation. or lime
circumcise / s#
kmsaz/ (circumcis-
circumcise
city / sti/ (plural cities) noun a large

city
es, circumcising, circumcised) verb to re- town busy city streets Traffic is a prob-
move the foreskin from a boys or mans lem in big cities.
penis (NOTE: + circumcision n) city centre /sti sent/ noun the central
city centre
circumference /s kmf()rns/ noun

circumference
|
part of a town
the distance round the outside edge of a cir- civic / svk / adj referring to a city
civic
cle, an object or an area We walked the civil / sv()l/ adj 1. relating to general
civil
dog around the circumference of the field. public life rather than to the armed forces
circumflex / s#
kmfleks/, circumflex
circumflex
He left the air force and became a civil air-

accent noun an accent like an upside down line pilot. 2. polite She wasnt very civil
v placed over certain vowels to the policeman. 3. in court, relating to
circumstance / s#
kmstns/ noun the
circumstance
cases brought by one person against anoth-

set of conditions that affect a situation er, as opposed to being brought by the po-
The circumstances surrounding the crash lice because it is criminal
led us to believe it was not an accident. civil action /sv()l kn/ noun a
civil action
(NOTE: usually plural) in or under the cir- court action brought by one citizen against
cumstances if a particular set of condi- another, as opposed to a criminal action
tions exist Its hard to do a good job un- civil engineering /sv()l end
civil engineering
der these circumstances. In different cir- nr/ noun the science of building, espe-
cumstances, Id have been willing to stay cially of roads, bridges and railways
longer. due to circumstances beyond
civilian /s vlin/ noun an ordinary citi-
civilian
someones control because of something

|
which someone has no power to change zen who is not in the armed forces It is
The show had to be cancelled due to cir- certain that ordinary civilians will be af-
cumstances beyond our control. fected by the war. Many civilians were
killed in the air raids.
circumstantial /s#
km stn()l/ adj
circumstantial
civilisation /svla ze()n/, civili-

| civilisation
giving details of particular circumstances

|
zation noun a civilised society or civilised

circumvent /s#
km vent/ (circum-
circumvent
|
way of organising society
vents, circumventing, circumvented) civilise / svlaz/ (civilises, civilising,
civilise
verb to avoid something civilised), civilize verb to educate people to

circus / s#
ks / noun 1. a travelling show,
circus
a higher level of society Missionaries

often given under a large tent, with ani- went out with the idea that they would civ-
mals, clowns and other performers We ilise local tribes.
went to the circus last night. The circus is civilised / svlazd/, civilized adj 1. or-
civilised
coming to town for the bank holiday week- ganised to a high level of social behaviour
end. 2. a busy road junction in the centre of How can a civilised nation carry out
a large town Oxford Circus is where Ox- such barbarous punishments. 2. pleasant
ford Street crosses Regent Street. and polite We had a very civilised
cistern / sstn/ noun a large tank for wa-
cistern
evening, chatting over a good meal. Try

ter to greet my parents in a civilised manner if
cite /sat/ (cites, citing, cited) verb 1. to you can. Its so good to be in civilised
cite
quote a reference or a person as proof She company again.

cited several passages from his latest book. civil law /sv()l l
/ noun laws relating
civil law
2. to call someone to appear in court He to peoples rights

was cited to appear before the magistrates. civil liberties /sv()l lbtiz/ plural
civil liberties
(NOTE: Do not confuse with sight, site.) noun the rights of ordinary people to act
citizen / stz()n/ noun a person who
citizen
freely within the law a campaign to ex-

comes from a particular country or has the tend civil liberties Security cameras on
same right to live there as someone who buildings can be seen as an infringement of
was born there All Australian citizens civil liberties. (NOTE: Liberty of the press
have a duty to vote. He was born in Ger- and liberty of the individual are examples of
many, but is now a British citizen. civil liberties.)
civil rights 106

civil rights /sv()l rats/ plural noun
civil rights
(informal)
rights of an ordinary citizen She cam- clamber / klmb/ (clambers, clamber-
clamber
paigned for civil rights in the 1980s. ing, clambered) verb to climb with diffi-
civil servant / sv()l s#
vnt/ noun culty
civil servant
clammy / klmi / (clammier, clammiest)

clammy
a person who works in a government de-

partment adj damp and cold
civil war /sv()l w
/ noun a war be- clamour / klm/ noun 1. noise such as
civil war clamour
tween citizens inside a country shouting The clamour of the crowd at the
clad /kld/ adj 1. dressed in a particular
clad
rugby ground could be heard for miles
way a group of leather-clad dancers around. 2. a loud demand [~for] a cla-
The soldiers were clad in winter great- mour for democratic elections verb to de-
coats. 2. covered the snow-clad fields a mand something or to do something loudly
white stucco-clad house or publicly [~for] People are clamouring
claim /klem/ noun 1. an occasion on
claim
for tickets. (NOTE: [all senses] The US spell-
ing is clamor.)
which someone asks for money [~for] His
clamp /klmp/ noun a device that holds
clamp
claim for a pay increase was turned down.

2. a statement of something which you be- something tightly and prevents it from
lieve to be true but have no proof [~that] moving verb (clamps, clamping,
His claim that the car belonged to him was clamped) 1. to hold something in a fixed
correct. 3. a demand for money against an position [~to/~on/onto] 2. to prevent an ille-
insurance policy After the floods, insur- gally parked car from moving by attaching
ance companies received hundreds of a clamp to one wheel I parked on a dou-
claims. to put in or submit a claim to ble yellow line and was clamped. 3. to hold
ask an insurance company officially to pay something tight with a clamp
money for something that has been dam- clamp down / klmp dan n/ verb to
aged I put in a claim for repairs to the try to stop something happening [~on]
car. She submitted a claim for 250,000 Railway staff are clamping down on peo-
damages against the driver of the other ple travelling without tickets.
clampdown / klmpdan/ noun an ac-
clampdown
car. 4. a right to something [~on] He has

a legal claim on the property. Preparing tion by someone in authority to stop some-
for my exam was a big claim on my leisure thing from happening [~on] a clampdown
time last year. verb (claims, claiming, on smoking in public places
clan /kln/ noun a family tribe, especially
clan
claimed) 1. to state something, but without

any proof [~(that)] He claims he never rein Scotland
clandestine /kln destn/ adj secret,
clandestine
ceived the letter. She claims that the car |
belongs to her. 2. to ask for something that undercover

you have a right to receive If they charged clang /kl/ (clangs, clanging, clanged)
clang
you too much you must claim a refund. 3. to verb to make a loud ringing noise We
say you own something which has been left were woken up by the bells clanging in the
behind or lost No one has claimed the churches round us. (NOTE: + clang n)
umbrella found in my office, so I am going clank /klk/ (clanks, clanking,
clank
to keep it. clanked) verb to make a noise of metal hit-

claimant / klemnt/ noun 1. a person
claimant
ting other metal ( NOTE: + clank n)

who claims something Benefit claimants clap /klp/ (claps, clapping, clapped)
clap
will be paid late because of the bank holi- verb to beat your hands together to show
day. 2. a person who starts a legal action you are pleased At the end of her speech
against someone in the civil courts Shes the audience stood up and clapped. He
the claimant in a libel action. The court clapped his hands together in delight.
decided in favour of the claimant. (NOTE: clarification /klrf ke()n/ noun
clarification
The former term was plaintiff. The other the act of making something clear
party in an action is the defendant.) clarify / klrfa/ (clarifies, clarifying,
clarify
clairvoyant /kle vnt/ noun a person

clairvoyant
| clarified) verb to explain something more

who says he or she can see in his or her clearly [~what/whether/how etc] We will
mind things which are happening else- have to clarify the situation before taking
where, or can foretell the future any further decisions. Can you clarify
clam /klm/ noun a large shellfish found what the work will involve?
clam
in sand, which is dug out with a spade clarinet /klr net/ noun a wind instru-
clarinet
clam up phrasal verb to refuse to talk ment in the woodwind group

107 claustrophobia
clarity / klrti/ noun clearness classic / klsk/ noun a great book,
clarity classic
clash /kl/ noun 1. a fight, especially be-

clash
play or piece of music The Maltese Fal-
tween people who are not soldiers [~be- con is a Hollywood classic. We have to
tween/~with] There were clashes between study several classics of English literature
supporters of rival football teams. 2. an ar- for our course. adj 1. (of a style) elegant
gument or disagreement [~over] a clash and traditional The classic little black
over whose responsibility it was 3. a game dress is always in fashion. The style of
or competition between two teams or two the new hotel building is classic, simple
players 4. an occasion when two things you and elegant. 2. based on Ancient Greek or
want to do are happening at the same time Roman architecture 3. typical It was a
5. the shock of two colours seen close to- classic example of his inability to take de-
gether If you wear red tights with an or- cisions.
classical / klsk()l/ adj 1. elegant
classical
ange dress there will be a colour clash. 6.

a loud noise of metal things hitting each and based on the Ancient Greek or Roman
other verb (clashes, clashing, clashed) style a classical eighteenth-century villa
1. to argue violently [~with/~over] She 2. referring to Ancient Greece and Rome
clashed with her mother over wearing a classical Greek literature 3. referring to
ring in her nose. The opposition deputies traditional serious music a concert of
clashed with the government during the de- classical music
bate. 2. to fight [~with] Rioting fans classical music /klsk()l mju
zk/
classical music
clashed with the police. 3. to happen at the noun European music such as that written
same time as something else [~with] The by Mozart or Bach, based on specific struc-
party clashes with a meeting I have to go tures
to. Unfortunately, the two meetings Classics / klsks/ plural noun the study
Classics
clash, so Ill have to miss one. 4. (of col- of the languages, literature and philosophy
ours) to shock when put side by side [~with] of Ancient Greece and Rome She studied
That bright pink tie clashes with your Classics at Oxford. He has a Classics de-
green shirt. 5. to bang things together mak- gree from Edinburgh.
ing a loud noise classification /klsf ke()n/ noun
classification
clasp /kl
sp/ noun 1. a device for
clasp
a way of arranging things into categories

holding something shut My handbag classified / klsfad/ adj 1. which has
classified
wont close properly the clasp is broken. been put into a category 2. secret
2. the act of holding something in your
classify / klsfa/ (classifies, clas-
classify
hand I could feel the firm clasp of his

sifying, classified) verb to arrange things
hand on my shoulder. verb (clasps,
clasping, clasped) to hold something tight
into categories The hotels are classified
The child clasped his hand anxiously.
according to a system of stars.
classless / kl
sls/ adj with no division
classless
class / kl
s/ noun 1. a group of chil-
class
into social classes

dren or adults who go to school or college
classmate / kl
smet/ noun a person
classmate
together There are 30 children in my

sons class. 2. a lesson What did you who is or was in the same class as you at
learn in your history class today? 3. people school or college
classroom / kl
sru
m/ noun a room
classroom
of a particular group in society The col-

lege encourages applications from differ- in a school where children are taught
ent social classes. 4. a group of things, an- When the teacher came into the classroom
imals or people that share some features all the children were shouting.
classy / kl
si/ (classier, classiest) adj
classy
Different standards apply to the five differ-

ent classes of service you can pay for. 5. a stylish and expensive-looking (informal)
particular level of quality Always buy the clatter / klt/ (clatters, clattering, clat-
clatter
best class of product. These peaches are tered) verb to make a loud harsh noise
Class 1. The wooden cart clattered across the
class act /kl
s kt/ noun a person or square. (NOTE: + clatter n)
class act
thing considered to be an example of excel- clause /kl

z/ noun a paragraph in a le-
clause
lence gal document According to clause six,

Class A drug /kl
s e dr(/ noun an payments will not be due until next year.
Class A drug
claustrophobia /kl
str fbi/
claustrophobia
illegal drug such as heroin, which is con- |
sidered to be one of the strongest and most noun a fear of being shut inside a closed
dangerous drugs place
claustrophobic 108
claustrophobic /kl
str fbk/ adj view of the street. 2. easily understood
claustrophobic
feeling or causing claustrophobia She made it clear that she wanted us to go.
claw /kl
/ noun a nail on the foot of an The instructions on the computer screen
claw
animal or bird The dog dug a hole with its are not very clear. Will you give me a
claws. clear answer yes or no?
clay /kle/ noun thick heavy soil The clear away phrasal verb to take some-
clay
soil in our garden has a lot of clay in it. thing away completely
clean /kli
n/ adj 1. not dirty Wipe clear off phrasal verb to go away
clean
your glasses with a clean handkerchief. (informal)

The bedrooms must be spotlessly clean. clear out phrasal verb 1. to empty some-
Tell the waitress these cups arent clean. 2. thing completely Can you clear out
not used The maid forgot to put clean your bedroom cupboard? 2. to leave
towels in the bathroom. verb (cleans, somewhere quickly (informal ) Its time
cleaning, cleaned) to take away the dirt for me to clear out of here completely.
from something Remember to clean your clear up phrasal verb 1. to tidy and clean
teeth every morning. She was cleaning a place completely The cleaners re-
the car when she saw the damage. to fused to clear up the mess after the office
come clean to confess to, e.g. a crime party. 2. to solve a problem In the end,
(informal) He came clean and owned up we cleared up the mystery of the missing
to stealing the watch. computer disk. 3. (of weather) to improve
clean out phrasal verb to make some- I hope the weather clears up because
thing empty and clean (informal) were going on holiday tomorrow. 4. (of
clean up phrasal verb 1. to make every- an illness) to get better He has been
thing clean and tidy, e.g. after a party It resting, but his cold still hasnt cleared
took us three hours to clean up after her up.
birthday party. 2. to remove corruption
clearance / klrns/ noun 1. the act of
clearance
from a place The police are going to

have a hard job cleaning up this town. 3. removing obstacles such as trees or old
to make a lot of money He cleaned up buildings from land The clearance of the
at the races. In no time hed cleaned up slums from the town centre will make land
50,000. available for building. The government
has introduced a programme of slum clear-
clean-cut /kli
n kt/ adj neat and tidy
clean-cut
ance. 2. a space for something to pass

a man in a clean-cut suit through The lorry can get through the en-
cleaner / kli
n/ noun 1. a machine
cleaner
trance with clearance of about 20 cm on ei-

which removes dirt a carpet cleaner 2. a ther side. 3. permission to do something
person who cleans a building such as a The control tower gave the plane clearance
house or an office The cleaners didnt to land.
empty my wastepaper basket.
clear-cut /kl kt / adj definite or dis-
clear-cut
cleaning / kli
n / noun 1. the action
cleaning
of making something clean Cleaning the tinct

clearing / klr/ noun 1. the act of re-
clearing
house after the party took hours. 2. clothes

which are going to be sent for dry-cleaning moving obstacles We dont want the pub-
or which have been returned after dry- lic to interfere with the clearing of the
cleaning Could you collect my cleaning wreckage from the railway track. 2. an area
for me after work tonight? in a wood where the trees have been cut
cleanse / klenz/ (cleanses, cleansing, down They set up camp in a clearing in
cleanse
cleansed) verb to make something very the middle of the forest.

clearly / klli/ adv 1. in a way which
clearly
clean
cleanser / klenz/ noun a substance
cleanser
is easily understood or heard He didnt

which removes dirt, especially from the speak clearly, and I couldnt catch the ad-
face dress he gave. 2. obviously He clearly or
clean-shaven /kli
n ev()n/ adj with Clearly he didnt like being told he was too
clean-shaven
no beard or moustache fat.

clean-up / kli
n p / noun the act of mak- cleavage / kli
vd/ noun the space be-
clean-up cleavage
ing something clean tween the breasts, especially if it can be

clear /kl/ adj 1. with nothing in the seen with a low-cut dress All the ladies
clear
way You can cross the road its clear were dressed in black and there was not a
now. From the window, she had a clear cleavage in sight.
109 clingy
clef /klef/ noun a sign at the beginning of The climate in the south of the country is
clef
a written piece of music which shows how milder than in the north. 2. a situation with
high the range of notes is particular features The current economic
clemency / klemnsi/ noun forgiveness climate makes an interest rate rise very
clemency
shown to someone who has done some- likely. The explosions created a climate
thing wrong of fear.
clench /klent/ (clenches, clenching, climatic /kla mtk/ adj referring to cli-
climatic
clench
|
clenched) verb to close tightly mate

clergy / kl#
di/ plural noun priests climax / klamks/ noun the most im-
climax
clergy
cleric / klerk/ noun a priest or other cler-

cleric
portant and exciting point
climb /klam/ (climbs, climbing,
climb
gyman
clerical / klerk()l/ adj 1. referring to of-
clerical
climbed) verb 1. to go up, over or down
fice work A clerical error made the in- something using arms and legs
voice 300.00 when it should have been [~up/down/over/through etc] The cat
3000.00. Hes looking for part-time climbed up the apple tree. The boys
clerical work. 2. referring to clergy The climbed over the wall. He escaped by
newspaper story has been talked about in climbing out of the window. 2. to go higher
clerical circles. [~to] The road climbs to 500m above sea
level. House prices have started to climb
clerk /kl
k/ noun a person who works in
clerk
again. 3. to go up mountains as a sport

an office When you have climbed Everest, there is no
clever / klev/ adj able to think and
clever
higher mountain left to climb. He goes

learn quickly Clever children can usually climbing every weekend.
do this by the time they are eight years old. climb down phrasal verb 1. to come
cleverly / klevli/ adv in a clever way
cleverly
down, e.g. a mountain or a ladder He

clich / kli
e/ noun a saying or phrase
clich
climbed down from the roof. The fire-

which is too frequently used men helped the hotel guests climb down
click /klk/ noun 1. a short sharp sound the ladder. 2. not to do what you had pre-
click
She heard a click and saw the door han- viously insisted on doing In the end, the
dle turn. 2. the act of pressing a key on a government had to climb down and admit
computer keyboard or a mouse button that a mistake had been made.
verb (clicks, clicking, clicked) 1. to make a climber / klam/ noun 1. a person who
climber
short sharp sound The cameras clicked as climbs mountains The climbers roped
the film star came out onto the steps. He themselves together and set off up the
clicked his fingers to attract the waiters slope. 2. a plant which climbs We need a
attention. 2. to quickly press the button on colourful climber to cover that wall.
a mouse to start a computer function climbing / klam/ noun the sport of
climbing
Click twice to start the program. 3. to be- climbing mountains Climbing is not a
come clear and easily understood Sud- sport for young children. We had a climb-
denly something clicked and I realised ing holiday last Easter. She brought her
what his note meant. 4. to realise very climbing equipment with her.
quickly that you enjoy being with another climbing frame / klam frem/ noun
climbing frame
person and work well together a framework of wooden bars and platforms
client / klant/ noun a person who
client
for children to climb on

pays for a service clinch /klnt/ (clinches, clinching,
clinch
clientele /kli
n tel/ noun all the cus-
clientele
|
clinched) verb 1. (in boxing) to hold each
tomers of a shop or business other tightly The referee tried to stop the
cliff /klf/ noun a high steep area of rock
cliff
two boxers clinching. 2. to complete a deal

usually by the sea He offered an extra 5% to clinch the deal.
cliffhanger / klfh/ noun 1. an end- cling / kl/ (clings, clinging, clung) verb
cliffhanger cling
ing to a part of a story which makes you to hold tight to something She survived
want to know what happens next 2. a situ- by clinging on a rope. He clung tightly to
ation in which people are tense because his mothers arm. The girls clung togeth-
they do not know what will happen next er with cold.
climactic /kla mktk/ adj referring to clingfilm / klflm/ noun a thin trans-
climactic clingfilm
a climax parent plastic sheet for covering food

climate / klamt/ noun 1. the general clingy / kli / adj emotionally dependent
climate clingy
weather conditions in a particular place on someone

clinic 110
clinic / klnk/ noun 1. a medical centre with a key like clockwork smoothly, with
clinic
for particular treatment or advice an eye no problems The whole evening went off
clinic 2. a private hospital like clockwork.
clinical / klnk()l/ adj medical clog /kl(/ (clogs, clogging, clogged)
clinical clog
clink /klk/ (clinks, clinking, clinked) verb to block Trafalgar Square was
clink
verb to make a little noise, like pieces of clogged with traffic as the protest march
metal hitting each other (NOTE: + clink n) arrived. Dead leaves are clogging the
clip /klp/ noun a small object that holds drains.
clip
clone /kln/ noun an exact genetic

clone
things together a paper clip verb (clips,

clipping, clipped) 1. to attach things with a copy of an individual animal or plant A
clip [~to/onto/~together] She clipped the cutting produces a clone of a plant. This
invoice and the cheque together and put sheep was the first mammal to survive as a
them in an envelope. 2. to cut something clone. verb (clones, cloning, cloned) to
with scissors He carefully clipped the ar- make an exact genetic copy of an individu-
ticle out of the newspaper. al animal or plant Biologists have suc-
clipboard / klpb
d/ noun a stiff board cessfully cloned a sheep.
clipboard
with a clip at the top so that a piece of paper close1 /kls/ adj (closer, closest) 1.
close
can be attached to it to allow you to write very near, or just next to something [~to]
on it easily Our office is close to the station. This is
clipping / klp/ noun 1. a reference to the closest Ive ever been to a film star! 2.
clipping
someone or something in a newspaper or near in time My birthday is close to

magazine which is cut out Can you file Christmas. adv (closer, closest) 1. very
away all these newspaper clippings, near Keep close by me if you dont want
please? 2. a small piece cut off, e.g. a to get lost. Go further away youre get-
hedge Trim the hedge and put the clip- ting too close. They stood so close or so
pings in a black bag. Grass clippings can close together that she felt his breath on
be piled on top of the compost heap. her cheek. The sound came closer and
clique /kli
k/ noun a small select group of closer. 2. very near in time The confer-
clique
people ence is getting very close. noun a short

clitoris / kltrs/ noun the female sex or-
clitoris
road, especially of houses They live in
gan at the top of the vulva Briar Close.
close2 /klz/ verb 1. to shut [~for/~on]
close
cloak /klk/ noun a type of long coat

cloak
which hangs from the shoulders and has no Would you mind closing the window? He
sleeves She wore a long cloak of black closed his book and turned on the TV. 2. to
velvet. come to an end, or make something come
cloakroom / klkru
m/ noun 1. a place
cloakroom
to an end [~with] The meeting closed with
where you leave your coat in a public place a vote of thanks. noun an end, the final
I left my coat and briefcase in the cloak-
part The century was drawing to a close.
room. 2. a room inside a public building close down phrasal verb 1. to shut a busi-
with lavatories and washbasins The la- ness permanently 2. (of a business) to
dies cloakroom is on the first floor. shut permanently
clobber / klb/ (clobbers, clobbering, closed /klzd/ adj 1. changed from
closed
clobber
clobbered) verb to affect badly, especially being open by being covered or blocked
financially (informal) The new tax will Make sure all the windows and doors are
clobber the middle classes. tightly closed. She sat quietly with closed
clock /klk/ noun an object which eyes. The object was in a closed box. 2.
shows the time Your clock is 5 minutes not doing business The shop is closed on
slow. The office clock is fast. The Sundays. The office will be closed for the
clock has stopped. Christmas holidays. There was a closed
clockwise / klkwaz/ adj, adv moving
clockwise
sign hanging in the window.
close-knit /kls nt/ adv consisting of
close-knit
in a circle from left to right, in the same di-

rection as the hands of a clock Turn the people who know and rely on each other
closely / klsli/ adv with a lot of at-
closely
lid clockwise to tighten it. He was driving

clockwise round the ring road when the ac- tention She studied the timetable very
cident took place. closely. The prisoners were closely
clockwork / klkw#
k/ noun a mecha- guarded by armed soldiers.
clockwork
closeness / klsns/ noun the fact of

closeness
nism in a toy, machine, clock, etc which

works using a spring which is wound up being close to something
111 clueless
closet / klzt/ noun US a cupboard having done something wrong He was
closet

Will you get my coat from the closet, hon- under a cloud for some time after the thefts
ey? to come out of the closet to say pub- were discovered.
licly that you are homosexual (informal) cloud over phrasal verb to become cov-
close-up / kls p/ noun a photo- ered with clouds
close-up
graph taken very close to the subject in cloudy / kladi/ (cloudier, cloudiest)
cloudy
close-up taken very close to the subject a adj 1. with clouds The weather was
photo of the leaf in close-up cloudy in the morning, but cleared up in
closing / klz/ adj final, at the end
closing
the afternoon. 2. not clear The liquid

the closing days of the election campaign turned cloudy when I added the flour.
noun the time when something such as a clout /klat/ noun 1. a blow with the fist
clout
pub or shop closes He received a clout on the head. 2. power

closing date / klz det/ noun the
closing date
or influence Because she owns so many

last date by which something can be done shares, she wields a great deal of clout in
[~for] The closing date for applications is company meetings. Newspaper editors
May 1st. have a lot of political clout.
closure / kl/ noun the shutting of
closure
clove /klv/ noun 1. a dried flower bud

clove
something, or the fact of being shut

of a tree, used for flavouring A few cloves
clot /klt/ noun a soft mass of thickened
clot
stuck into an onion can be used to flavour

blood in a vein or an artery The doctor di- a stew. 2. one of the parts that make up a
agnosed a blood clot in the brain. verb bulb of garlic Rub round the salad bowl
(clots, clotting, clotted) (of blood) to thick- with a cut clove of garlic.
en, changing from semi-liquid to semi-sol-
clover / klv/ noun a common weed,
clover
id In people with haemophilia, blood

clots very slowly. used as food for cattle With so much clo-
cloth /kl/ noun 1. soft material made
cloth ver in the fields, the bees produce excellent
from woven fibres Her dress is made of honey.
club /klb/ noun 1. a group of people
club
cheap blue cloth. This cloth is of a very

high quality. 2. a piece of material used for who have the same interest or who form a
cleaning He wiped up the milk with a team a youth club Im joining a tennis
damp cloth. 3. a piece of material which club. Our town has one of the top football
you put on a table to cover it The waiter clubs in the country. 2. a stick for playing
spread a white cloth over the table. golf (NOTE: A golf club can either mean the
clothe /kl/ (clothes, clothing, place where you play golf, or the stick used
clothe
clothed or clad) verb to dress someone to hit the ball.) 3. a large heavy stick verb
clothed /kld/ adj dressed or covered
clothed
(clubs, clubbing, clubbed) 1. to hit with a
in something club She was clubbed to the ground. 2.
to club together (of several people) to con-
clothes /klz/ plural noun things
clothes
tribute money jointly They clubbed to-

which you wear to cover your body and gether and bought a yacht.
keep you warm, e.g. trousers, socks, shirts
clubbing / klb/ noun the activity of
clubbing
and dresses The doctor asked him to take

his clothes off. The children havent had going out to discos and nightclubs
any new clothes for years. with no clubhouse / klbhas/ noun the house
clubhouse
clothes on naked where members of a club meet

clothing / kl/ noun clothes a ma- cluck /klk/ (clucks, clucking, clucked)
clothing
cluck
jor clothing manufacturer Take plenty of verb (of hens) to make a low noise in the
warm clothing on your trip to Iceland. throat
(NOTE: no plural: some clothing; a piece of
clue /klu
/ noun information which
clue
clothing)
helps you solve a mystery or puzzle
cloud / klad/ noun 1. a white or grey
cloud
[~about/as to/to] We have no clues about

mass of drops of water floating in the air where she has gone. The letter gave some
Look at those grey clouds its going to vital clues to her state of mind at the time.
rain. The plane was flying above the to not have a clue to not know some-
clouds. 2. a large amount of gas, smoke or thing I dont have a clue how to get there.
dust floating in the air [~of] Clouds of
clued up /klu
d p/ adj well informed
clued up
smoke poured out of the burning shop. 3.

something that has an unpleasant effect on about something
a situation under a cloud suspected of clueless / klu
ls/ adj stupid (informal)
clueless
clump 112
clump /klmp/ noun a group of trees or coagulate /k (jlet / (coagulates,
clump coagulate
bushes Well walk as far as that clump of coagulating, coagulated) verb to change
trees and come back. and thicken from semi-liquid to semi-solid
clumsy / klmzi/ (clumsier, clumsiest) coal /kl/ noun a hard black substance
clumsy coal
adj 1. tending to break things or knock which produces heat when burnt
things over 2. not expressed or done in a coalition /k l()n/ noun a com-
coalition
good way a clumsy apology a clumsy bination of several political parties forming
attempt to hide the situation (NOTE: + clum- a government
sily adv; clumsiness n) coalmine / klman/ noun a mine
coalmine
clung /kl/ past tense and past parti-

clung
where coal is dug

ciple of cling coarse /k
s/ adj 1. consisting of large
coarse
cluster / klst/ noun a group of objects

cluster
pieces coarse grains of sand 2. rough and

or people that are close together a brooch hard coarse cloth 3. (of words or ges-
with a cluster of pearls He photographed tures) rude He made a coarse gesture and
a cluster of stars. walked out. Dont make any coarse re-
clutch /klt/ verb (clutches, clutching,
clutch
marks in front of my mother. (NOTE: coarse-

clutched) to grip something tightly She ly adv; coarseness n)
clutched my arm as we stood on the edge of coast /kst/ noun parts of a country
coast
the cliff. noun a tight grip She felt the that are by the sea After ten weeks at sea,
clutch of his fingers on her sleeve. plural Columbus saw the coast of America. The
noun clutches the power that a person or south coast is the warmest part of the coun-
group has over someone else You cant try.
escape the clutches of your family so easi- coaster / kst/ noun a flat dish or
coaster
ly. in the clutches of, in someones small mat for standing a bottle or glass on
clutches under the control of We want to He bought a set of 6 coasters in the mu-
avoid spending too much and falling into seum.
the clutches of the bank or the banks coastguard / kst(
d/ noun a person
coastguard
clutches. who guards a piece of coast, watching out

clutter / klt/ noun a mass of things left
clutter
for wrecks, smugglers, etc.

lying about All this clutter will be cleared coastline / kstlan/ noun an edge of
coastline
away by the weekend. verb (clutters,

cluttering, cluttered) to fill a room, etc.,
land along a coast
coat /kt/ noun 1. a piece of clothing
coat
with a mass of things Her desk is clut-

tered with papers and invoices. Dont which you wear on top of other clothes
clutter your mind with useless information. when you go outside a winter coat 2. a
cm abbr centimetre
cm layer of something a coat of paint a
thick coat of dust 3. the fur of an animal
Co. /k, kmp()ni/ abbr company
Co.
These dogs have thick shiny coats.

J. Smith & Co.
coat-hanger / kth/ noun a piece
coat-hanger
co- /k/ prefix together

co-
of wood, wire or plastic on which you hang

c/o abbr care of (used in addresses)
c/o
a piece of clothing
Jane Smith, c/o Mr & Mrs Jonas, 4 Willow- coating / kt/ noun a covering of
coating
bank Road. paint, etc.

coach /kt/ noun 1. a large bus for
coach
coax /kks/ (coaxes, coaxing, coaxed)

coax
travelling long distances They went on a verb to coax someone into doing some-
tour of southern Spain by coach. Theres thing to persuade someone to do some-
a coach service to Oxford every hour. 2. thing He was finally coaxed into paying
one of the vehicles for passengers that is for two tickets.
part of a train The first four coaches are
cobalt / kb
lt/ noun a metallic ele-
cobalt
for London. 3. a person who trains sports

players The coach told them that they ment used to make alloys Cobalt 60 is
needed to spend more time practising. used in radiotherapy.
cobbler / kbl/ noun a person who
cobbler
Hes a professional football coach. verb

(coaches, coaching, coached) 1. to train mends shoes Ask the cobbler how much
sports people She was coached by a it will cost to put new heels on these shoes.
cobra / kbr/ noun a large tropical
cobra
former Olympic gold medallist. 2. to give

private lessons to someone in a particular snake with a poisonous bite
cobweb / kbweb/ noun a net of fine
cobweb
sport, subject or activity He coaches

young footballers. thread made by a spider to catch flies
113 coil
cocaine /k ken/ noun a painkilling behaviour The hotel has a strict dress
cocaine
drug, which is addictive code, and people wearing jeans are not al-
cock /kk/ noun a male bird, especially a lowed in.
cock
code name / kd nem/ noun a special

code name
male domestic chicken We were woken

by the cocks crowing. name or number used instead of a persons
cockerel / kk()rl/ noun a young cock or things real name, in order to keep this
cockerel
cockney / kkni/ (plural cockneys) noun secret

cockney
coerce /k #
s/ (coerces, coercing, co-
coerce
1. a person from the East End of London |
He was born and brought up as a Cockney. erced) verb to coerce someone into do-
2. a form of English spoken in the East End ing something to force someone to do
of London She spoke in broad cockney. something They coerced her into signing
Lets have a butchers is cockney for the contract.
lets have a look. coercion /k #
()n/ noun the act or
coercion
cockpit / kkpt/ noun the place where

cockpit
practice of forcing someone to do some-

the pilot sits in an aircraft, racing car or thing such as commit a crime
boat coexist /k( zst/ (coexists, coexist-
coexist
cockroach / kkrt/ noun a black or

cockroach
ing, coexisted) verb to exist or to live to-

brown beetle, a common household pest gether (formal ) (NOTE: + coexistence n)
cocktail / kktel/ noun 1. a mixed alco- coffee / kfi/ noun 1. a hot drink made
cocktail coffee
holic drink A Bloody Mary is a cocktail from the seeds of a tropical plant Would
of vodka and tomato juice. 2. a mixture of you like a cup of coffee? I always take
various things She died after taking a sugar in coffee. 2. a cup of coffee Id like
cocktail of drugs. a white coffee, please. Three coffees and
cocktail party / kktel p
ti/ noun a
cocktail party
two teas, please.

party where drinks and snacks are served, coffee machine / kfi mi
n/ noun
coffee machine
but not a full meal an automatic machine which gives a cup of

cock-up / kk p/ noun work which is
cock-up
coffee or other drink when you put in a

badly carried out (informal offensive) coin and press a button
cocky / kki/ adj unpleasantly confident coffee shop / kfi p/ noun a small
cocky coffee shop
and conceited (informal) restaurant serving drinks and light meals

cocoa / kk/ noun 1. a brown coffee table / kfi teb()l/ noun a low
cocoa
coffee table
chocolate powder ground from the seeds of table in a sitting room, for putting things
a tree, used for making a drink a tin of co- such as cups, glasses and newspapers on
coa cocoa powder 2. a drink made with coffer / kf/ noun a chest for holding
coffer
cocoa and hot water or milk (NOTE: no plu- money (dated)

ral) coffin / kfn/ noun a long box in
coffin
coconut / kknt/ noun 1. a large nut

coconut
which a dead person is placed before being

from a type of palm tree I won a coconut buried
at the fair. 2. the white flesh from a coconut cog / k(/ noun one of a series of little
cog
a coconut cake I dont like biscuits with

teeth sticking out from a wheel, which con-
coconut in them. nect with teeth on another wheel to make it
cocoon /k ku
n/ noun a case of thread
cocoon
|
turn
made by a larva before it turns into a moth
cognac / knjk/ noun a brandy made
cognac
or butterfly Silk is taken off the cocoons in western France

made by silk worms. verb (cocoons, co-
cognitive / k(ntv/ adj referring to the
cognitive
cooning, cocooned) to wrap something up

for protection The baby was cocooned in process of understanding
cohabit /k hbt/ (cohabits, cohabit-
cohabit
blankets. |
cod /kd/ (plural same) noun a large white

cod
ing, cohabited) verb to live together as
sea fish man and wife, especially when not married
code /kd/ noun 1. secret words or a
code
(NOTE: + cohabitation n)
coherent /k hrnt/ adj (of a state-
coherent
system agreed as a way of sending messag- |
es Were trying to break the enemys ment) clear and logical

cohesion /k hi
()n/ noun the fact or
cohesion
code. He sent the message in code. 2. a |
system of numbers or letters which mean quality of sticking together

coil /kl/ noun a roll of rope, or one loop
coil
something The code for Heathrow Air-

port is LHR. What is the code for phon- in something twisted round and round
ing Edinburgh? 3. a set of laws or rules of The sailors stacked the rope in coils on the
coin 114
deck. verb (coils, coiling, coiled) to twist [~with/~in/on] Hes collaborating with
around something or into a coil The her on a new book. 2. to help rather than re-
snake had coiled itself up in the basket. sist an enemy
The sailor coiled the ropes neatly. collaboration /klb re()n/
collaboration
| |
coin /kn/ noun a piece of metal mon-

coin
noun the action of working together on

ey This machine only takes 20p coins. something
coincide /kn sad/ (coincides, coin- collaborative /k lb()rtv/ adj in-
coincide collaborative
| |
ciding, coincided) verb to happen by volving people working together

chance at the same time as something else collage / kl
/ noun a picture made
collage
[~ with] The conference doesnt coincide from small pieces of paper or other materi-
with my birthday this year. Do our visits als, stuck onto a backing
to London coincide? We could meet for collapse /k lps/ verb (collapses,
collapse
lunch. collapsing, collapsed) 1. to fall down sud-

coincidence /k nsd()ns / noun
coincidence
|
denly The roof collapsed under the
two things happening at the same time by weight of the snow. 2. to fail suddenly
chance The company collapsed with 25,000 in
coincidental /kns dent()l/ adj not debts. 3. to fall down unconscious The
coincidental
| |
planned man in front of me in the queue suddenly

coke /kk/ noun same as cocaine collapsed. noun 1. a sudden fall The
coke
(informal) collapse of the old wall buried two work-

Coke /kk/ trademark a type of fizzy soft
Coke
men. 2. a sudden fall in price the collapse
drink of the dollar on the foreign exchange mar-
Col. abbr colonel
Col.
kets 3. the sudden failure of a company
They lost thousands of pounds in the col-
cola / kl/, kola noun a fizzy sweet
cola
lapse of the bank.

drink
collapsible / k lpsb()l/ adj which
collapsible
colander / klnd/ noun a bowl with

colander |
can be folded up
holes in it for draining water from vegeta-
collar / kl/ noun 1. the part of a piece
collar
bles
of clothing which goes round your neck
cold /kld/ adj 1. with a low tempera-
cold
I cant wear this shirt the collars too

ture Its too cold to go for a walk. He tight. She turned up her coat collar be-
had a plate of cold beef and salad. 2. not cause the wind was cold. He has a winter
friendly He got a very cold reception coat with a fur collar. 2. a leather ring
from the rest of the staff. She gave him a round the neck of a dog or cat The cat has
cold nod. noun 1. an illness which makes a collar with her name and address on it.
you blow your nose He caught a cold
collarbone / klbn/ noun a clavicle,
collarbone
from his colleague. My sisters in bed

with a cold. Dont come near me Ive one of two long thin bones joining the
got a cold. 2. a cold outdoor temperature shoulders to the breastbone
collateral /k lt()rl/ noun a security
collateral
He had been waiting in the cold for a bus. |
These plants cant stand the cold. to be

used to provide a guarantee for a loan He
left out in the cold not to be part of a group offered his house as collateral.
colleague / kli
(/ noun a person who
colleague
any more
cold-blooded /kld bldd/ adj with
cold-blooded
works with you, especially in the same
no pity Shes a cold-blooded murderess. company or office [~at/in/from] His col-
cold-hearted /kld h
td/ adj lack-
cold-hearted leagues at the college gave him a present
ing kindness when he got married.
collect /k lekt/ (collects, collecting,
collect
coldly / kldli/ adv in an unfriendly way

coldly
|
collected) verb 1. to bring things or people

cold-shoulder /kld ld/ verb
cold-shoulder
together, or to come together We collect-

not to give someone a friendly welcome ed information from all the people who of-
coleslaw / klsl
/ noun a cabbage sal-
coleslaw
fered to help. A crowd collected at the

ad, made with sliced white cabbage and scene of the accident. 2. to get things and
mayonnaise keep them together The mail is collected
colic / klk/ noun a severe pain in the in-
colic
from the postbox twice a day. I must col-

testines lect the children from school at 4 p.m.
collaborate /k lbret/ (collabo-
collaborate
| Your coat is ready for you to collect from

rates, collaborating, collaborated) verb 1. the cleaners. 3. to buy things or bring
to work together with someone else things together as a hobby He collects
115 colouring
stamps and old coins. 4. to gather money to parts: the small intestine and the large in-
give to an organisation that helps people testine or colon. 2. a printing sign (:)
Theyre collecting for Oxfam. colonel / k#
n()l/, Colonel noun the of-
colonel
collected /k lektd/ adj calm ficer in charge of a regiment, an army rank

collected
collection /k lekn / noun 1. a above lieutenant-colonel (NOTE: also used

collection
group of things that have been brought to- as a title before a surname: Colonel Davis;
gether He showed me his stamp collec- often shortened to Col.: Col. Davis. Do not
tion. The museum has a large collection confuse with kernel.)
colonial /k lnil/ adj referring to a
colonial
of Italian paintings. 2. money which has |
been gathered [~for] Were making a col- colony

colonialism /k lnilz()m/ noun
colonialism
lection for a shelter for homeless people. |
collective /k lektv/ noun a business the practice of establishing colonies in oth-

collective
run by a group of workers The owner of er lands

colonise / klnaz/ (colonises, colo-
colonise
the garage sold out and the staff took it

over as a workers collective. nising, colonised), colonize verb to take
collector /k lekt/ noun 1. a person
collector
|
possession of an area or country and rule it
who collects things as a hobby Its an im- as a colony
colonist / klnst/ noun a person who
colonist
portant sale for collectors of 18th-century

porcelain. 2. a person who collects things goes to settle in a new colony
colony / klni / (plural colonies) noun 1.
colony
as a job
college / kld/ noun a teaching in-
college
a territory ruled by another country the
stitution for adults and young people former French colonies in Africa Roman
Shes going on holiday with some friends colonies were established in North Africa
from college. Hes studying art at the lo- and along the shores of the Black Sea. 2. a
cal college. The college library has over group of animals or humans living together
20,000 volumes. a colony of ants an artists colony
color / kl/ noun, verb US spelling of
color
college of further education

college of further education
/kld v f#
edj ke()n/ noun a colour
colossal /k ls()l/ adj very large, huge
|
colossal
teaching establishment for students after |
colour / kl/ noun 1. the appearance

colour
secondary school
collide /k lad/ (collides, colliding, col-
collide
|
which an object has in light, e.g. red, blue
lided) verb to bump into something [~with] or yellow What colour is your bathroom?
I dont like the colour of the carpet. His
The car collided with a bus.
colliery / kljri/ (plural collieries) noun
colliery socks are the same colour as his shirt. 2.
a coalmine not black or white The book has pages of
colour pictures. verb to add colour to
collision /k l()n/ noun 1. an occa-
collision
|
something The children were given cray-
sion when someone or something hits ons and told to colour the trees green and
against something accidentally [~be- the earth brown.
tween/~with] Two people were injured in
colour-blind / kl bland/ adj not able
colour-blind
the collision between a lorry and the bus. to tell the difference between certain col-
2. a disagreement or difference a colli-
ours, such as red and green
sion of ideas in collision with involved in
coloured / kld/ adj in colour a
coloured
hitting into She was in collision with a

bike. coloured postcard a book with coloured
illustrations
colloquial /k lkwil / adj used in
colloquial
-coloured /kld/ suffix with a particular

| -coloured
common speech colour She was wearing a cream-col-

colloquialism /k lkwilz()m/
colloquialism
|
oured shirt.
noun an expression used in common colourful / klf()l/ adj 1. with
colourful
speech bright colours She tied a colourful silk

collusion /k lu
()n/ noun an illegal
collusion
|
scarf round her hair. 2. full of excitement
cooperation or agreement to cheat some- and adventure a colourful account of life
one in Vienna before the First World War
cologne /k ln/ noun a type of light colouring / klr/ noun 1. the way in
cologne
colouring
|
perfume. eau de cologne which something or a plant or animal is

colon / kln/ noun 1. the main part
colon
coloured the bright colouring of parrots

of the part inside your body that removes the brilliant colouring of woods in au-
waste The intestines are divided into two tumn 2. complexion, the colour of your
colt 116
skin and hair Choose a lipstick that goes come /km/ (comes, coming, came,
come
with your dress and suits your colouring. come) verb 1. to move to or towards a place
(NOTE: [all senses] The US spelling is color- [~to/into/through etc] Some of the children
ing.) come to school on foot. Come into my
colt /klt/ noun a young male horse room and well talk about the problem.
colt
The Irish colt won the race by two lengths. Shes just coming through the gate now.
(NOTE: A young female horse is a filly.) to come and do something to come in or-
column / klm/ noun 1. a tall post, der to do something Come and see us
column
especially one made of stone 2. a narrow when youre in London. to come to do

block of printing on a page such as in a something to come in order to do some-
newspaper Continued on page 7, col- thing He came to talk to us about the new
umn 4. 3. a regular article in a newspaper system. 2. to happen [~to/~about] It came
She writes a gardening column for the lo- about like this How did the door come
cal newspaper. 4. a series of numbers, one to be open? 3. to occur in a particular posi-
written or printed under the other to add tion [~before/after/~first/second etc] What
up a column of figures Put the total at the comes after R in the alphabet? P comes
bottom of the column. before Q. She came second in the test.
columnist / klmnst/ noun a journal-
columnist
how come? why?, how? How come the
ist who writes regularly for a paper front door was unlocked?
come across phrasal verb to find
com /km/ noun a commercial organisa-
com
tion something by chance I came across this

old photo when I was clearing out a
coma / km/ noun a state of uncon-
coma
drawer.
sciousness from which a person cannot be come along phrasal verb 1. to go with
awakened someone If you walk, the children can
comb /km/ noun an object with long
comb
come along with us in the car. 2. to hurry

pointed pieces that you pull through your Come along, or youll miss the bus.
hair to make it tidy Her hair is in such a come apart phrasal verb to break into
mess that you cant get a comb through it. pieces
verb (combs, combing, combed) to
come back phrasal verb to return
smooth your hair with a comb She was
combing her hair in front of the mirror. They left the house in a hurry, and then
had to come back to get their passports.
combat / kmbt/ noun fighting
combat
They started to walk away, but the po-

These young soldiers have no experience liceman shouted at them to come back.
of combat in the field. come down phrasal verb 1. to get lower
combatant / kmbtnt / noun a person
combatant
The price of oranges has come down. 2.

who is fighting to come downstairs She was in bed but
combative / kmbtv/ adj who likes to
combative
had to come down to answer the phone.

get into quarrels or arguments 3. to get a disease The children have
combination /kmb ne()n/
combination
| come down with measles.

noun several things joined or considered come in phrasal verb to enter a place
together A combination of bad weather come in for phrasal verb to get or receive
and illness made our holiday a disaster. something unpleasant
combine /km ban/ (combines, com-
combine
|
come into phrasal verb to enter Three
bining, combined) verb to join together, or people came into the restaurant.
consider things together [~with] Lets come of phrasal verb to happen as a re-
combine our ideas and then try to work out sult of
a plan. The cold weather will be com- come off phrasal verb 1. to stop being
bined with high winds next week and the attached The button has come off my
temperature will drop rapidly. coat. I cant use the kettle, the handle
combined /km band/ adj taken to-
combined
|
has come off. 2. to be removed The
gether paint wont come off my coat. 3. to do
combustible /km bstb()l/ adj
combustible
| well or badly Our team came off badly

which can easily catch fire The ware- in the competition. She came off well in
house was full of paint and other combus- the exam.
tible substances. come on phrasal verb 1. to hurry
combustion /km bstn/ noun the
combustion
| Come on, or well miss the start of the

process of burning film. 2. to arrive A storm came on as we
117 commandeer
were fishing in the bay. Night is coming dren were safe. 3. a feeling of being less
on. She thinks she has a cold coming worried or unhappy than you were before
on. The long-awaited letter gave me some
come out phrasal verb 1. to move outside comfort. verb (comforts, comforting,
Come out into the garden, its beauti- comforted) to make someone feel happier
fully hot. 2. (of pictures and photographs) She was comforting the people who had
to appear The church didnt come out been in the accident.
very well on the photo. Something must comfortable / kmf()tb()l/ adj 1.
comfortable
be wrong with the camera half my hol- soft and relaxing These shoes arent very
iday pictures didnt come out. 3. to be re- comfortable. There are more comfortable
moved The ink marks wont come out chairs in the lounge. 2. to make yourself
of my white shirt. Red wine stains dont comfortable to relax She made herself
come out easily. 4. to appear for sale comfortable in the chair by the fire.
The magazine comes out on Saturdays. 5. comfortably / kmf()tbli/ adv in a
comfortably
to state publicly that you are homosexual soft, relaxed or relaxing way If youre sit-
He decided to come out before the
ting comfortably, Ill explain to you what
newspapers started to print stories about we have to do. Make sure youre comfort-
him. ably dressed because it is rather cold out-
come through phrasal verb 1. to move side.
through something to get to a place comfy / kmfi/ (comfier, comfiest) adj
comfy
Come through the kitchen into the dining

room. 2. (of information) to arrive by comfortable (informal)
comic / kmk/ noun 1. a childrens mag-
comic
phone, fax, etc. The message came

through this morning. 3. to recover from azine with pictures and stories 2. a person
an illness Do you think shes going to who tells jokes to make people laugh a
come through? well-known TV comic adj intended to
come to phrasal verb 1. to add up to a make people laugh, especially as a per-
particular amount The bill comes to formance a comic poem
comical / kmk()l/ adj strange or silly
comical
10. 2. to become conscious again

When he came to, he was in hospital. in a way that makes people laugh He
come up phrasal verb to come close to looked rather comical wearing his dads
someone The policeman came up to jacket.
comic strip / kmk strp/ noun a series
comic strip
him and asked to see his passport.

comeback / kmbk/ noun 1. a reaction of small pictures telling a story or joke,
comeback
Despite the mistakes in the book there usually printed in a magazine or newspaper
coming / km/ adj which is about to
coming
has been no comeback yet from the read-

ers. 2. a return of someone such as a singer happen The newspaper tells you what
or sportsman after retirement She is try- will happen in the coming week in parlia-
ing to make a comeback. ment.
comedian /k mi
din/ noun a person comma / km/ noun a punctuation
comedian comma
who tells jokes to make people laugh mark (,) showing a break in a sentence
comedown / kmdan/ noun a situation command /k m
nd/ noun an order
comedown command
making you feel unimportant (informal) Dont start until I give the command.
comedy / kmdi/ (plural comedies)
comedy
The general gave the command to attack.

noun 1. entertainment which makes you in command of in control of They are
laugh 2. a play or film which makes you not fully in command of the situation.
laugh verb (commands, commanding, com-
comet / kmt/ noun an object which
comet
manded) 1. to order someone to do some-
moves in space, and which you can see at thing He commanded the troops to open
night because of its bright tail fire on the rebels. 2. to be in charge of a
comfort / kmft/ noun 1. the state of
comfort
group of people, especially in the armed
being comfortable They live in great forces He commands a group of volun-
comfort. You expect a certain amount of teer soldiers.
commandant / kmndnt/ noun the
commandant
comfort on a luxury liner. She com-

plained about the lack of comfort in the officer in charge of something such as a
second-class coaches. 2. something which military base
commandeer /kmn d/ (comman-
commandeer
helps to make you feel happier [~to] It |
was a comfort to me to know that the chil- deers, commandeering, commandeered)

commander 118
verb to take over property to be used by the marks about a book, a problem, etc. For
armed forces intelligent commentary on current events
commander /k m
nd/ noun the of- you should read the Spectator.
commander
ficer in charge of a group of soldiers or a commentator / kmntet/ noun a

commentator
ship The commander must make sure that person who reports events as they happen,
all his soldiers know exactly what they on the radio or TV
must do. commerce / km#
s/ noun the buying
commerce
commandment /k m
ndmnt/ noun
commandment
| and selling of goods and services

a rule commercial /k m#
()l/ adj 1. re-
commercial
commando /k m
nd/ (plural com-
commando
|
lating to business He is a specialist in
mandos or commandoes) noun 1. a group commercial law. 2. used for business pur-
of soldiers who are specially trained to at- poses and not private or military purposes
tack under difficult circumstances They The company makes commercial vehicles
planned a commando attack on the har- such as taxis and buses. (NOTE: [all adj sens-
bour. 2. a member of such a group of soles] only used before nouns) noun an ad-
diers Masked commandos burst in vertisement on television Our TV com-
through the door. mercial attracted a lot of interest.
commemorate / k memret/ commercialism /k m#
()lz()m/
commemorate
commercialism
|
|
(commemorates, commemorating, com- noun 1. the principles and methods of buy-

memorated) verb to celebrate the memory ing and selling goods and services 2. em-
of someone, a special occasion, etc. phasis on making a profit rather than on
commemorative /k mem()rtv/ adj
commemorative
|
quality
which commemorates commiserate /k mzret/ (commis-
commiserate
commence /k mens/ (commences,

commence
|
erates, commiserating, commiserated)
commencing, commenced) verb to begin verb to sympathise with someone
commencement /k mensmnt/ noun
commencement
| [~with/~about/over] She was commiserat-

the beginning At the commencement of ing with me about our theft.
the service, the priest asked everyone to commission /k m()n/ noun 1. a
commission
stand. group of people which investigates prob-

Commencement /k mensmnt/ noun
Commencement
|
lems of national importance The govern-
US a day when degrees are awarded at a ment has appointed a commission to look
university or college (NOTE: The British into the problem of drugs in schools. 2. an
term is degree day or degree ceremony.) order for something to be made or to be
commend /k mend/ (commends, used He received a commission to paint
commend
commending, commended) verb to praise the portrait of the Prime Minister. 3. the
commendable /k mendb()l/ adj percentage of sales value given to the sales
commendable
which should be praised representative She gets 15% commission

comment / kment/ noun 1. words on everything she sells. He charges 10%
comment
showing what you think about something commission. 4. an order making someone
[~about/on] His comments were widely an officer He has a commission in the
reported in the newspapers. The man Royal Marines. verb (commissions,
made a rude comment about the food. 2. commissioning, commissioned) 1. to au-
discussion about a particular issue thorise someone such as an artist or archi-
[~about/on] The scandal aroused consid- tect to do a piece of work; to authorise a
erable comment in the press. (NOTE: no plu- piece of work to be done The magazine
ral in this meaning) verb (comments, commissioned him to write a series of arti-
commenting, commented) to say what cles on Germany. The statue was com-
you think about something [~on/~that] missioned by the veterans association. 2.
The film star refused to comment. He to make someone an officer He was com-
commented on the lack of towels in the missioned into the guards.
commissioner /k m()n/ noun a
commissioner
bathroom. The judges commented that |
the standard had been very high. no representative of authority

comment I refuse to discuss it in public commit /k mt/ (commits, commit-
commit
commentary / kmnt()ri/ (plural

commentary
ting, committed) verb 1. to carry out a

commentaries) noun 1. a spoken report on crime The gang committed six robberies
a football match, horse race, etc. The before they were caught. He said he was
match is being shown on Channel 4 with on holiday in Spain when the murder was
live commentary also on the radio. 2. re- committed. 2. to promise, or make some-
119 community service

one promise, something or to do something commune / kmju
n/ noun a group of
commune
[~to] They didnt want to commit 5000 people who live together sharing every-
all at once. Under my contract I commit- thing What is it like to live in a com-
ted to the project three days a week. The mune?
agreement commits us to check the ma- communicate /k mju
nket /
communicate
chine twice a month. (communicates, communicating, com-

commitment /k mtmnt/ noun 1. a
commitment
|
municated) verb 1. to send or give infor-
responsibility He has difficulty in meet- mation to someone [~with] Communicat-
ing his financial commitments. She has ing with our office in London has been
no family commitments. 2. an agreement to transformed by email. Although she is
do something [~to] She made a firm com- unable to speak, she can still communicate
mitment to be more punctual in future. by using her hands. 2. to be good at sharing
We have the photocopier on one weeks tri- your thoughts or feelings with other people
al, with no commitment to buy. 3. determi- [~with] He finds it difficult to communi-
nation and enthusiasm He thanked the cate with his children.
staff for their commitment during a diffi-
/kmju
n
communication
cult period.
communication | |
ke()n/ noun the act of passing informa-

committed /k mtd/ adj firmly believ-
committed
|
tion on to other people [~with/~between]
ing in Email is the most convenient means of
committee /k mti/ noun an official
committee
|
communication with our friends abroad.
group of people who organise or discuss There is a lack of communication between
things for a larger group The company the head teacher and the other members of
has set up a committee to look into sports staff. plural noun communications 1. a
facilities. Committee members will be system of sending information between
asked to vote on the proposal. people or places an improved communi-
commodity /k mdti/ (plural com-
commodity
|
cations network Telephone communica-
modities) noun a product sold in very large tions have been restored. 2. the ways peo-
quantities, especially raw materials such as ple use to give information or express their
silver and tin and food such as corn or cof- thoughts and feelings to each other
fee [~with/~between] Theres been a break-
common / kmn/ adj happening of-
common
down in communications between the

ten, or found everywhere and so not unusu- agencies dealing with the case.
al Its very common for people to get communicative /k mju
nktv/ adj
communicative
colds in winter. The plane tree is a very friendly and keen to communicate
common tree in towns.
communion /k mju
nin/ noun fel-
communion
common ground /kmn (rand/

common ground |
noun the things that two or more people or

lowship with someone
communiqu /k mju
nke/ noun an
communiqu
groups agree upon |
common
common knowledge
knowledge /kmn official announcement

nld/ noun something that is generally communism / kmjnz()m/, Com-
communism
known munism noun a social system in which all

common law /kmn l
/ noun a law property is owned and shared by the socie-
common law
as laid down in decisions of courts, rather ty as a whole and not by individual people
than by statute communist / kmjnst/, Communist
communist
commonly / kmnli/ adv often adj referring to communism The Commu-

commonly
commonplace / kmnples/ adj ordi- nist Party is holding its annual meeting this
commonplace
nary, or happening frequently weekend. noun a person who believes in

common room / kmn ru
m/ noun a communism, especially a member of the
common room
room in which a particular group of people, Communist Party He was a Communist

e.g. senior students, can relax all his life. The Communists have three
common sense /kmn sens/ noun
common sense
seats on the city council.
community /k mju
nti/ (plural
community
the ability to make sensible decisions and |
do the best thing communities) noun a group of people liv-

commotion /k m()n/ noun noise ing in one area The local community is
commotion
and confusion worried about the level of violence in the

communal
communal
/ kmjn()l, k |
streets.
mju
n()l/ adj belonging to, or able to be community service /kmju
nti
community service
used by, several people s#

vs/ noun unpaid work for the benefit
commute 120
of the local community, usually done as a the comparatives of happy, good and
sentence for some minor crime often.
commute /k mju
t/ (commutes, comparatively /km prtvli/ adv
commute comparatively
| |
commuting, commuted) verb 1. to travel to a certain extent, more than something

to work from home each day He com- else
mutes from Oxford to his office in the cen- compare /km pe/ (compares,
compare
tre of London. 2. to reduce a legal penalty comparing, compared) verb 1. to look at

The prison sentence was commuted to a two things side by side to see how they are
fine. His death sentence was commuted different Compare the front with the
to life imprisonment. 3. to exchange one back. The colour of the paint was com-
type of payment for another His pension pared to the sample. 2. to compare
has been commuted to a lump sum pay- something to something else to say how
ment. something is like something else He
commuter /k mju
t/ noun a person
commuter
| compared his mothers homemade bread to

who travels to work in town every day a lump of wood.
compact1 /km pkt/ adj small, espe- comparison /km prs()n/ noun
compact comparison
| |
cially because parts are arranged close to- the act of comparing two or more things
gether a compact storage system [/~with/~between] He made a comparison
compact2 / kmpkt/ noun 1. an agree-
compact
of the different methods available. in
ment The two companies signed a com- comparison with when one thing is com-
pact to share their research findings. 2. a pared with another This year, July was
small family car cold in comparison with last year. there
compact disc /kmpkt dsk/ noun
compact disc
is no comparison between them one
same as CD thing is much better than another
compartment /km p
tmnt/ noun
compartment
companion /km pnjn/ noun a

companion
|
|
person who is with someone She turned 1. a division inside something the freez-
to her companion and said a few words. ing compartment of a fridge The box is
companionship
companionship
/km pnjnp/
|
divided into several compartments. 2. a
noun friendship
separate section in a railway carriage, or in
a ship There are no compartments in
company / kmp()ni/ (plural com-
company
these trains. The hold is divided into wa-

panies) noun 1. an organisation that offers tertight compartments.
a service or that buys and sells goods She
compass / kmps/ noun an object
compass
runs an electrical company. He set up a

computer company. It is company policy with a needle that points to the north
not to allow smoking anywhere in the offic- They were lost in the mountains without a
es. (NOTE: usually written Co. in names: compass.
compassion /km p()n/ noun a
compassion
Smith & Co.) 2. the fact of being together |
with other people I enjoy the company of feeling of sympathy for someone unfortu-
young people. 3. a group of people who nate
compassionate /km p()nt/ adj
compassionate
work together a theatre company in |
company with, in the company of with showing sympathy with someone who is
She went to Paris in company with or in the ill, etc.
compatible /km ptb()l/ adj 1.
compatible
company of three other girls from college. |
to be good company to be a very enter- compatible with something able to fit or

taining person to be with to keep some- work with something Make sure the two
one company to be with someone so that computer systems are compatible. 2.
they are not alone Would you like to come compatible with someone able to live or
with me to keep me company? work happily with someone How their
comparable / kmp()rb()l/ adj marriage has lasted so long no one knows
comparable
which are similar or which can be com- theyre not at all compatible.
compatriot /km ptrit/ noun a per-
compatriot
pared |
comparative /km prtv/ adj to a

comparative
|
son from the same country
compel /km pel/ (compels, compel-
compel
certain extent, when considered next to |
something else Judged by last years per- ling, compelled) verb to force
compelling /km pel/ adj 1. which
compelling
formance it is a comparative improvement. |
noun the form of an adjective or adverb forces you to do something He used a

showing an increase in level or strength very compelling argument against capital
Happier, better and more often are punishment. 2. very exciting or interesting
121 complement
compensate / kmpnset/ (compen- to do better than you We have lowered
compensate
sates, compensating, compensated) verb our prices to try to beat the competition.
1. to make a bad thing seem less serious or The competition is or are planning to re-
unpleasant [~for] The high salary com- duce their prices. (NOTE: singular in this
pensates for the long hours worked. 2. to meaning, but can take a plural verb)
pay someone for damage or a loss [~for] competitive /km pettv/ adj 1. lik-
competitive
The airline refused to compensate him for ing to win competitions Hes very com-
his cancelled flight. petitive. 2. having a business advantage, es-
compensation /kmpn se()n/ pecially by being cheaper competitive
compensation
noun 1. something that makes something prices We must reduce costs to remain
bad seem less serious or unpleasant [~for] competitive.
competitor /km pett/ noun 1. a per-
competitor
Working in the centre of London has its |
compensations. Four weeks holiday is son who enters a competition All the
no compensation for a years work in that competitors lined up for the start of the
office. 2. payment for damage or loss [~for] race. 2. a company which competes with
The airline refused to pay any compensa- another in the same business Two Ger-
tion for his lost luggage. man firms are our main competitors.
compete /km pi
t/ (competes, com- compilation /kmp le()n/ noun 1.
compete compilation
| |
peting, competed) verb 1. to try to win a the process of putting things together in a
race or a game [~for/~for/~in/~against] list or book The compilation of a diction-
Teams come from around the world to com- ary is a never-ending task. 2. a work which
pete for the cup. He is competing in both has been compiled His compilation of
the 100 and 200-metre races. Shes jokes from 19th-century magazines has just
competing against some of the best players been published.
in the world. 2. to try to be more successful compile / km pal/ (compiles, com-
compile
than someone or something in an activity, piling, compiled) verb to draw up a list

especially in business [~with] We have to She compiled a list of all her friends whose
compete with a range of cheap imports. names started with the letter R. They
competence / kmpt()ns/ noun 1. have compiled a mass of data on space
competence
the quality of being able to do a job or task flights.

complacent /km ples()nt/ adj satis-
complacent
well enough Does she have the necessary |
competence in foreign languages? His fied with yourself

professional competence was well above complain /km plen/ (complains,
complain
the standard required for the job. 2. the complaining, complained) verb to say that
quality of being legally suitable or quali- something is not good or does not work
fied to do something The case falls with- properly [~to/~about/~(that)] The shop is
in the competence of the tribunal. This is so cold the staff have started complaining.
outside the competence of this court. She complained to me about the mistake
competent / kmpt()nt/ adj 1. effi-
competent
on her bill. They are complaining that

cient She is a very competent manager. 2. our prices are too high.
legally or officially able to do something complaint /km plent/ noun 1. an
complaint
The organisation is not competent to deal occasion when someone says that some-
with this case. thing is not good enough or does not work
competing /km pi
t/ adj who or properly [~about/] She sent her letter of
competing
which are in competition complaint about the standard of service to

competition / kmp t()n/ noun
competition
|
the directors. 2. an illness She was admit-
1. an event in which several teams or peo- ted to hospital with a kidney complaint.
complement1 / kmplmnt/ noun 1. a
complement
ple compete with each other France

were the winners of the competition. He thing which adds to or fits in with some-
won first prize in the piano competition. 2. thing else [~to] Mint sauce is the perfect
a situation in business in which one person complement to roast lamb. 2. a noun or ad-
or company is trying to do better than an- jective which follows the verbs be or be-
other [~from/~between/among/~for] We come In the sentence hes a big boy the
have to keep our prices low because of words a big boy are the complement of
competition from cheap imports. Theres the verb is.
complement2 / kmplment/ (comple-
complement
strong competition between suppliers for

the contract. (NOTE: no plural in this mean- ments, complementing, complemented)
ing) 3. people or companies who are trying verb to fit in with something The two col-
complementary 122
ours complement each other perfectly. illness occurring because of or during an-
Her jewellery complemented the colour of other illness She appeared to be getting
her hair. (NOTE: Do not confuse with com- better, but complications set in. (NOTE: usu-
pliment.) ally plural)
complementary /kmpl ment()ri/ complicity /km plsti/ noun the fact of
complementary complicity
| |
adj which fits in with something by offer- being involved in a crime as an accomplice
ing things which the other thing does not compliment1 / kmplmnt/ noun a
compliment
have (NOTE: Do not confuse with compli- nice thing that you say to someone about
mentary.) their appearance or about something good
complete /km pli
t/ adj 1. with all its they have done Ive had so many compli-
complete
parts He has a complete set of the new ments about my new hairstyle today!
stamps. 2. finished The building is nearly compliment2 / kmplment/ (compli-
compliment
complete. (NOTE: used after a verb) 3. used ments, complimenting, complimented)

for emphasis The trip was a complete verb to praise someone or tell them how
waste of money. verb (completes, com- nice they look [~on] She complimented
pleting, completed) 1. to finish something me on my work. (NOTE: Do not confuse with
The builders completed the whole job in complement.)
two days. 2. to fill in a form When you complimentary /kmpl
complimentary
have completed the application form, send ment()ri/ adj full of praise He was very
it to us in the envelope provided. complimentary about her dress. The re-
completely / km pli
tli/ adv totally
completely
| views of his book are very complimentary.

The town was completely destroyed in the component /km pnnt/ noun a
component
earthquake. I completely forgot about my small part of something larger, especially a

dentists appointment. small piece of a machine a manufacturer
completion /km pli
()n/ noun the act
completion
| of computer components Each section of

of finishing With the completion of the the plan is broken down into separate com-
Channel Tunnel, travel to France became ponents. adj forming part of something
much easier. The bridge is nearing com- larger
pletion. compose /km pz/ (composes, com-
compose
complex / kmpleks/ adj complicated

complex
posing, composed) verb to write some-

This really is a complex problem. The thing, thinking carefully about it He sat
specifications for the machine are very down to compose a letter to his family. It
complex. noun 1. a group of buildings took Mozart only three days to compose his
The council has built a new sports com- fifth piano concerto.
plex. 2. a worry or an unreasonable fear composed / km pzd/ adj not flus-
composed
He has a complex about going bald. tered The accused man sat in the dock
complexion /km plekn/ noun the
complexion
| looking very calm and composed.

colour of the skin on your face composer /km pz/ noun a person
composer
complexity /km pleksti/ noun the

complexity
| who writes music

fact of being complex The report was de- composite / kmpzt/ adj made of
composite
layed because of the complexity of the several different parts

problems. composition /kmp z()n/ noun
composition
compliance /km plans/ noun

compliance
|
1. something which has been composed,
agreement to do what is ordered e.g. a poem or piece of music We will
compliant /km plant/ adj agreeing to
compliant
| now play a well-known composition by

do something or to obey the rules Dowland. 2. an essay or piece of writing on
complicate / kmplket/ (compli- a special subject We had three hours to
complicate
cates, complicating, complicated) verb to write a composition on pollution.

make things complicated compost / kmpst/ noun rotted leaves,
compost
complicated / kmplketd/ adj dif- etc., used as a fertiliser

complicated
ficult to understand, with many small de- composure /km p/ noun calm-
composure
tails It is a complicated subject. Its all ness

getting too complicated lets try and keep compound / kmpand/ adj made up of
compound
it simple. Chess has quite complicated several parts The word address book is
rules. The route to get to our house is a compound noun. noun 1. a chemical
rather complicated, so Ill draw you a map. made up of two or more elements Water
complication /kmpl ke()n/ noun
complication
| is a compound of two gases, oxygen and

1. something that causes difficulties 2. an hydrogen. 2. buildings and land enclosed
123 conceive
by a fence Soldiers were guarding the be used for connecting to the Internet and
prison compound. Guard dogs patrol the sending emails on computer kept in a
compound at night. computer All our company records are
comprehend /kmpr hend/ (compre- on computer.
comprehend
computer-aided design /km

computer-aided design
hends, comprehending, comprehended) |
verb to understand (formal ) pju

tr edd d zan/ noun the use of
|
comprehensible /kmpr computer software in designing things

comprehensible
hensb()l/ adj which can be understood computer-literate /kmpju

t
computer-literate
comprehension /kmpr henn/

comprehension
| lt()rt/ adj able to use a computer

noun understanding beyond someones computing /km pju
t/ noun the use
computing
comprehension quite impossible for of computers

someone to understand His actions are comrade / kmred/ noun 1. a friend or
comrade
beyond my comprehension. companion, especially a soldier We re-

comprehensive /kmpr hensv/
comprehensive
| member old comrades buried in foreign

noun same as comprehensive school cemeteries. 2. a fellow member of a social-
comprehensive school /kmpr ist or communist party All comrades
comprehensive school
hensv sku
l/ noun a state school for chil- must attend the party meeting.
dren of all abilities con /kn/ noun a trick done to try to get
con
compress /km pres/ (compresses, money from someone Trying to get us to

compress
compressing, compressed) verb to pay him for ten hours work was just a con.
squeeze into a small space The garden conman verb (cons, conning, conned)
centre sells peat compressed into large to trick someone to try to get money They
bags. I tried to compress the data onto conned the bank into lending them
one page, but couldnt do it. 25,000. He conned the old lady out of
comprise /km praz/ (comprises, all her savings.
comprise
concave / knkev/ adj (of a surface)

concave
comprising, comprised) verb to be made

up of rounded inwards like the inside of a spoon
compromise / kmprmaz/ noun an conceal /kn si
l/ (conceals, conceal-
compromise conceal
agreement between two opposing sides, ing, concealed) verb 1. to hide something
where each side gives way a little or put it where it cannot be seen He tried
[~on/~with] They reached a compromise to conceal the camera by putting it under
on the price after some discussion. There his coat. 2. to prevent someone from dis-
is no question of a compromise with the covering some information He concealed
terrorists. verb (compromises, compro- the fact that he had a brother in prison.
mising, compromised) 1. to come to an concede /kn si
d/ (concedes, con-
concede
agreement by giving way a little ceding, conceded) verb 1. to admit that

[~on/~with] He asked 15 for it, I offered you are wrong [~that] She conceded that
7 and we compromised on 10. The this time she had been mistaken. 2. to
government has refused to compromise concede defeat to admit that you have lost
with the terrorists. 2. to put someone in a With half the votes counted, the presiden-
difficult position [~over] Now that he has tial candidate conceded defeat.
been compromised over the issue of trust, conceit /kn si
t/ noun a high opinion of
conceit
he has had to withdraw as a candidate. 3. yourself

to do something which reveals a secret conceited /kn si
td/ adj thinking that
conceited
The security code has been compromised. you are better, more intelligent, or more
compromising / kmprmaz/ adj
compromising
talented than other people Hes the most

embarrassing conceited and selfish person Ive ever
compulsion /km pln/ noun a force
compulsion
| known.
or urge conceivable /kn si
vb()l/ adj which
conceivable
compulsive / km plsv/ adj not able

compulsive
| can be imagined
to stop yourself doing something conceive /kn si
v/ (conceives, con-
conceive
compulsory /km plsri/ adj essen-

compulsory
| ceiving, conceived) verb 1. to become

tial, or required by a rule or law a com- pregnant After two years of marriage she
pulsory charge for admission It is com- was beginning to think she would never
pulsory to complete all pages of the form. conceive. 2. to be conceived (of a child)
computer /km pju
t/ noun an elec-
computer
| to start existence in the mothers body

tronic machine which processes and keeps Our little girl was conceived during a pow-
information automatically, and which can er cut in New York. 3. to think of a plan
concentrate 124
They conceived the idea for a big celebra- as far as something is concerned used
tion in several countries at the same time. for introducing the subject of a comment
4. to imagine something, or imagine doing The end of June is too soon, as far as deliv-
something [~of/~how/what etc] I cant ery is concerned. to concern yourself
conceive of any occasion where I would with something to deal with something
wear a dress like that. It is difficult to You neednt concern yourself with cleaning
conceive how people can be so cruel. the shop. 2. to make someone worry [~that]
concentrate / knsntret/ verb I am concerned that he is always late for
concentrate
(concentrates, concentrating, concen- work. noun 1. worry [~about/over/at/~to]

trated) 1. to give your careful attention to We have a major concern about the late
something [~on] The exam candidates delivery. Her health has been a great
were all concentrating on their questions concern to her family. 2. interest [~for]
when the electricity went off. 2. to put eve- My main concern is to ensure that we all
rything together in one place The enemy enjoy ourselves. The adults in the group
guns are concentrated on top of that hill. seemed to show no concern at all for the
noun a substance which has been concen- childrens safety. it is not someones
trated by extracting some of the water in it concern its nothing to do with someone
lemon concentrate I dont care what they do with the money
concentrated / knsntretd/ adj 1.
concentrated
its not my concern. 3. a company or busi-
from which water has been extracted, so ness a big German chemical concern
concerned /kn s#
nd/ adj 1. worried
concerned
giving a very strong taste a bottle of con- |
centrated orange juice 2. very determined She looked concerned. I could tell
to do something With a little concentrat- something was wrong by the concerned
ed effort we should be able to do it. look on her face. We are concerned about
concentration /knsn tre()n/ her behaviour do you think she is having
concentration
noun 1. the act of thinking carefully about problems at school? 2. involved in or af-
something A loud conversation in the fected by something Ill speak to the par-
next room disturbed my concentration. ents concerned. 3. showing interest in
His concentration slipped and he lost the something Im concerned to know what
next two games. 2. a lot of things together people thought after the information ses-
in one area the concentration of compu- sion.
concerning /kn s#
n/ prep about;
concerning
ter companies in the south of Scotland |
The concentration of wild animals round on the subject of (formal) He filled in a

the water hole makes it easy for lions to questionnaire concerning holidays. Id
catch their prey. like to speak to Mr Robinson concerning
concentration camp /knsn his application for insurance. Anyone
concentration camp
tre()n kmp/ noun a harsh camp, of- with information concerning this person
ten for political prisoners should get in touch with the police.
concentric /kn sentrk/ adj used for concert / knst/ noun an occasion on
concentric concert
describing circles and spheres of different which music is played in public I

sizes with the same centre couldnt go to the concert, so I gave my
concept / knsept/ noun an idea ticket to a friend.
concept
concerto /kn tet/ (plural concer-

concerto
about something or about how something |
works Ill quickly explain the basic con- tos or concerti) noun a piece of music for
cepts of safe working in this environment. a single instrument and orchestra, or for a
conception /kn sepn/ noun 1. the small group of instruments
conception
fact of becoming pregnant Birth takes concession /kn se()n/ noun 1. the
concession
place about nine months after conception. act of allowing someone do something you
2. an understanding of what something is do not really want them to do [~on/~to] As
like She has no conception of how long it a concession, we let the children stay out
can take to prepare a good lesson. until 11 on Saturdays. We have already
concern /kn s#
n/ verb (concerns,
concern
| made concessions on pay and conditions.

concerning, concerned) 1. to have a par- They avoided the subject for a while, as a
ticular thing as a subject The film con- concession to her feelings of disappoint-
cerns or is concerned with children grow- ment. 2. to make concessions to some-
ing up in the 1950s. the letter concerns one to change your plans so as to please
you the letter is about you that does not someone The Prime Minister has said
concern him it has nothing to do with him that no concessions will be made to the ter-
125 conditioner
rorists. 3. a licence to do something [~to] proposals very soon. 3. referring to some-
a concession to extract oil or an oil conces- thing with a physical structure A stone is
sion a concrete object.
concessionary /kn se()nri/ adj concrete noun /kkri
t nan/ noun
concessionary concrete noun
given as a concession Concessionary a word which gives the name of a physical

rates are offered to OAPs and students. thing, e.g. clock or elephant
conciliation /knsli e()n/ noun the concur /kn k#
/ (concurs, concurring,
conciliation concur
| | |
bringing together of the parties in a disa- concurred) verb to agree (formal) I con-
greement with a third party, so that the dis- cur with your point of view.
agreement can be settled through a series concussion /kn k()n/ noun a
concussion
of talks shock to the brain caused by being hit on

conciliatory /kn slit()ri/ adj which
conciliatory
| the head
aims to make people agree to settle a disa- condemn /kn dem/ (condemns, con-
condemn
greement demning, condemned) verb 1. to say

concise /kn sas/ adj short, using only a
concise
| strongly that you do not approve of some-

few words thing She condemned the police for their
conclude /kn klu
d/ (concludes, treatment of the prisoners. 2. to sentence a
conclude
concluding, concluded) verb 1. to end, or criminal She was condemned to death.

condemnation /kndem ne()n/
condemnation
come to an end [~with] The concert con- |
cluded with a piece by Mozart. He con- noun saying that you do not approve of
cluded by thanking all those who had something
helped arrange the exhibition. 2. to come condensation /knden se()n/ noun
condensation
to an opinion from the information availa- steam which becomes a film of water on a
ble [~(that)] The police concluded that the cold surface
thief had got into the building through the condense /kn dens/ (condenses, con-
condense
broken kitchen window. 3. to conclude densing, condensed) verb 1. to reduce the

an agreement with someone to arrange an size of something The article was sent
agreement with someone back to the author with a note asking her to
concluding /kn klu
d/ adj last
concluding
|
condense it. 2. to make a liquid become
conclusion /kn klu
()n/ noun 1.
conclusion
| thicker He opened a tin of condensed

the end of something At the conclusion soup. 3. (of steam) to form drops of water
of the trial all the accused were found Vapour will condense when it is cooled.
guilty. 2. an opinion which you reach after condescending /knd send/ adj
condescending
thinking carefully [~that] She came to or behaving in a way which shows you think
reached the conclusion that he had found you are a better person than someone else
another girlfriend. What conclusions can condition /kn d()n/ noun 1. a
condition
you draw from the evidence? state that something or someone is in The
conclusive /kn klu
sv/ adj which of-
conclusive
| car is in very good condition. He was

fers firm proof taken to hospital when his condition got
concoct /kn kkt/ (concocts, con-
concoct
| worse. 2. something which has to be agreed

cocting, concocted) verb 1. to make up or before something else is done They
invent a story However unbelievable the didnt agree with some of the conditions of
story is, it is not something which he has the contract. One of conditions of the
concocted. 2. to make a dish of food Im deal is that the company pays all travel
always a bit dubious about the dishes she costs. on condition that only if I will
concocts for us when she invites us to din- come on condition that you pay my fare.
ner. (NOTE: + concoction n) conditional /kn d()n()l/ adj 1. pro-
conditional
concourse / kk
s/ noun a large en- vided that certain things take place 2.
concourse
trance area in a railway station or airport conditional on subject to certain condi-

concrete / kkri
t/ noun a mixture tions The offer is conditional on the
concrete
of a grey powder called cement, and sand, boards acceptance. noun a part of a verb
used in building Concrete was invented which shows that something might happen
by the Romans. The pavement is made of I would come is a conditional form of
slabs of concrete. adj 1. made of concrete to come.
conditioner /kn d()n/ noun a liq-
conditioner
a concrete path 2. firm or definite, rather |
than vague The police are sure he is uid which you use on hair or clothes after
guilty, but they have no concrete evidence washing them to make them feel smooth
against him. I need to see some concrete and soft The hairdresser asked me if I
condolences 126
wanted some conditioner after the sham- confectionery /kn fekn()ri/ noun
confectionery
poo. I always use a combined shampoo sweets and cakes

and conditioner. confederation / knfed re()n/
confederation
| |
condolences /kn dlnsz/ plural noun a group of states or organisations

condolences
confer /kn f#
/ (confers, conferring,
confer
noun expressions of feeling sad, especially |
at the death of someone He expressed his conferred) verb 1. to discuss [~with] The
condolences to the company on the death leader of the Council conferred with the
of their founder. We sent our condolences Town Clerk. 2. to give something such as a
to his wife, whom we know very well. responsibility, legal right or honour to
condom / kndm/ noun a rubber cover-
condom
someone [~on] (formal ) the powers con-
ing put over the penis before sex as a pro- ferred on the council by law
conference / knf()rns/ noun 1. a
conference
tection against infection and also to pre-

vent the woman from becoming pregnant large meeting where people who are inter-
condominium /knd mnim/ noun
condominium
|
ested in the same thing come together [~on]
an international conference on the envi-
US 1. a building where each apartment is
owned by the person who lives in it ronment to be in conference to be in a
Theyre building a condominium on the meeting 2. a meeting of a group or society
site of the old hospital. 2. an apartment in a [~on] the annual conference of the Green
condominium His cousin has just bought party 3. a meeting to discuss something
an expensive condominium in Malibu. [~on] The managers had a quick confer-
(NOTE: often shortened to condo)
ence on what action to take.
conference call / knf()rns k
l/
conference call
condone /kn dn/ (condones, con-

condone
|
noun a telephone conversation involving
doning, condoned) verb to excuse or for- three or more people using special equip-
give something such as a fault or crime ment so that they can all talk to each other
conduct1 / kndkt/ noun a way of be-
conduct
confess /kn fes/ (confesses, confess-

confess
having His conduct in class is becoming ing, confessed) verb to admit that you
worse. Her conduct during the trial was have committed a crime or done something
remarkably calm. wrong [~to/~(that)] He confessed to six
conduct2 /kn dkt/ (conducts, con-
conduct
| burglaries. She confessed that she had

ducting, conducted) verb 1. to do some- forgotten to lock the door.
thing in an organised or particular way confession /kn fe()n/ noun a state-
confession
(formal) I dont like the way they conduct ment in which someone admits they have
their affairs. They are conducting an ex- committed a crime or done something
periment into the effect of TV advertising. wrong The prisoner said his confession
to conduct yourself to behave in a par- had been forced from him by the police. I
ticular way I was impressed by the calm was surprised by her confession of igno-
way in which she conducted herself. The rance about the correct procedures to fol-
children conducted themselves well during low. I have a confession to make I for-
the long speeches. 2. to direct or take some- got to send the cheque.
one to a place The were conducted to confetti /kn feti/ noun small pieces of
confetti
their seats. 3. to direct the way in which a coloured paper thrown over the bride and
musician or singer performs The orches- bridegroom after a wedding
tra was conducted by a Russian conductor. confidant / knfdnt/ noun a person to
confidant
4. to allow electricity or heat to pass whom someone tells secrets

through Copper conducts electricity very confidante / knfdnt/ noun a woman
confidante
well. to whom someone tells secrets

conductor /kn dkt/ noun 1. the
conductor
confide /kn fad/ (confides, confid-

confide
|
|
person who sells tickets on a bus 2. the pering, confided) verb to tell someone a secret
son who directs the way an orchestra plays He has always confided in his mother.
3. a metal or other substance through confidence / knfd()ns/ noun 1. a
confidence
which electricity or heat can pass Copper feeling of being sure about your own or
is a good conductor but plastic is not. someone elses abilities [~in/~(that)] He
cone /kn/ noun a shape which is
cone
hasnt got much confidence in himself. I

round at the base, rising to a point above have confidence that hell succeed in per-
He rolled the newspaper to form a cone. suading them to do it. 2. the fact of being
cone off phrasal verb to cut off part of a secret in confidence as a secret He
road with cones showed me the report in confidence.
127 congeal
confident / knfd()nt/ adj sure that someone or something [~with] His ver-
confident
you or something will be successful I am sion of events conflicts with that of his
confident (that) the show will go off well. partner. 2. they gave conflicting advice
Shes confident of doing well in the exam. different people gave pieces of advice
confidential /knf denl/ adj se- which were the opposite of each other
confidential
cret or private This information is strictly conform /kn f

m/ (conforms, con-
conform
confidential. forming, conformed) verb to act in the

confidently / knfdntli/ adv in a way same way as other people
confidently
which shows that you are confident She conformist /kn f

mst/ noun a person
conformist
walked confidently into the interview room. who acts in the same way as other people
configuration /knf(j re()n/ confound /kn fand/ (confounds,
configuration
confound
| |
|
noun 1. the shape or design of something confounding, confounded) verb to make

Just looking at the configuration of the someone feel surprised or confused
wires on a telephone exchange makes the confront /kn frnt/ (confronts, con-
confront
mind boggle. 2. the way in which the hard- fronting, confronted) verb 1. to threaten
ware and software of a computer system someone by approaching them Dont
are planned The machine uses RAM to confront a burglar on your own he may
store system configuration information. be armed. 2. to be willing to deal with a
confine /kn fan/ (confines, confin-
confine
|
difficult situation We need to confront
ing, confined) verb 1. to keep in one small these issues before they get out of control.
place The tigers were confined in a small
/ knfrn te()n/
confrontation
cage with no room to move around. 2. to confrontation |
noun an angry meeting between opposing

limit Make sure you confine your answer
to the subject in the question. sides [~with] To avoid confrontation with
the fans of the opposing team, the support-
confinement /kn fanmnt/ noun the
confinement
|
ers will be kept as far apart as possible.
fact of being in prison He was kept in sol-
confrontational /knfrn
confrontational
itary confinement for seven weeks. |
confines / knfanz/ plural noun 1. the

confines te()n()l/ adj always arguing and caus-
borders or edges of a place 2. the limits of ing difficulties
confuse / kn fju
z/ (confuses, confus-
confuse
something such as an activity or topic of |
study ing, confused) verb 1. to make someone

confirm /kn f#
m/ (confirms, con-
confirm
|
feel that they cannot understand something
She was confused by all the journalists
firming, confirmed) verb to say that some-
thing is certain [~(that)] The dates of the questions. 2. to mix things or people up
concerts have been confirmed by the pop The twins are so alike I am always confus-
groups manager. The photograph con- ing them. I always confuse him with his
firmed that the result of the race was a brother they are very alike.
confused / kn fju
zd/ adj unable to
confused
dead heat. We have been told that she left |
the country last month can you confirm understand or to think clearly Im a bit
that? confused did we say 8 p.m. or 8.30?
confirmed / kn f#
md/ adj permanently
confirmed
|
Grandmother used to get rather confused
in a certain state, and not wanting to in her old age.
confusing /kn fju
z/ adj difficult
confusing
change |
confiscate / knfsket/ (confiscates, to understand They found the instructions

confiscate
confiscating, confiscated) verb to take on the computer very confusing.

confusion /kn fju
()n/ noun 1. a
confusion
away someones possessions as a punish- |
ment (NOTE: + confiscation n) state of not knowing what to do or how to

conflict1 / knflkt/ noun 1. a strong dis- decide something [~about/over/as to] Her
conflict
agreement or argument [~over] conflict reply just created more confusion over who
over whose responsibility it was to notify was responsible. 2. a state in which things
the change 2. fighting [~with] The govern- are not organised in the correct way or are
ment is engaged in armed conflict with not clear There were scenes of confusion
rebel forces. to come into conflict with at the airport when the snow stopped all
someone to start to disagree strongly with flights. in confusion not able to decide
someone They soon came into conflict what is happening or what to do He was
over who should be in charge. looking at the letter in great confusion.
conflict2 /kn flkt/ (conflicts, conflict- congeal /kn di
l/ (congeals, congeal-
conflict congeal
| |
ing, conflicted) verb 1. to disagree with ing, congealed) verb (of liquid) to become
congenial 128
solid (NOTE: When referring to blood, the conifer / knf/ noun a tree with long
conifer
usual word to use is clot.) thin leaves called needles which stay green
congenial /kn di
nil/ adj pleasant or all year, and which produces fruit in the
congenial
friendly form of cones

congenital / kn dent()l/ adj (of an ill- conjecture /kn dekt/ noun the
conjecture
congenital
|
|
ness or other medical problem) which exists process of guessing something when you
at or before birth do not have all the information you need
congested / kn destd/ adj blocked or
congested
|
It was pure conjecture on my part.
conjugal / knd(()l/ adj referring to
conjugal
crowded Following the accident, all the

roads round the station soon became con- marriage
conjugate / knd(et/ (conjugates,
conjugate
gested. Something has to be done about

Londons congested road system. conjugating, conjugated) verb 1. to state
congestion /kn destn/ noun 1. a the forms of a verb 2. (of verbs) to have dif-
congestion
situation where a place is filled with people ferent grammatical forms

conjunction / kn dkn/ noun a
conjunction
or traffic 2. a condition in which a part of |
your body such as your nose is blocked word which connects different sections of
with mucus This spray should clear a sentence. and and but are conjunc-
bronchial and nasal congestion. tions. in conjunction with someone or
conglomerate /kn (lmrt/ noun a
conglomerate
|
something together with someone or
group of companies, each making very dif- something The icy road in conjunction
ferent types of products with fog made driving very difficult.
conjure / knd/ (conjures, conjuring,
conjure
conglomeration /kn(lm re()n/

conglomeration
| |
noun a mass of things collected together conjured) verb 1. to do magic tricks with
congratulate /kn (rtlet/ (con-
congratulate
objects such as cards Here is a picture of
a magician conjuring a rabbit out of a hat.
|
gratulates, congratulating, congratulat-

2. to produce something as if by magic 3.
ed) verb 1. to tell someone that you are
also conjure up to bring an idea or image
very pleased that they have been successful
into someones mind His writing about
[~on] I want to congratulate you on your
promotion. 2. to give someone your best the south of France conjures up scents of
lavender and olive oil.
wishes on a special occasion [~on] He
conjurer / kndr/, conjuror noun a
conjurer
congratulated them on their silver wedding

anniversary. person who does magic tricks with objects
such as cards
congratulation /kn(rt
congratulation
conman / knmn/ (plural conmen)

| | conman
le()n/ noun praise for someone who

has done well [~on] His grandparents noun a person who tricks people in order to
sent him a letter of congratulation on pass- get money, by making them believe some-
ing his degree. plural noun congratula- thing (informal)
connect / k nekt/ (connects, con-
connect
tions an expression of good wishes to |
someone who has done well or who is cel- necting, connected) verb 1. to join one
ebrating a special occasion a congratula- thing to another [~to] The computer
tions card Congratulations youre our should have been connected to the printer.
millionth customer! Congratulations on Connect the two red wires together. 2. to
passing your exam! The office sent him link one person or thing with another
their congratulations on his wedding. [~with] They found nothing to connect
congregate / k(r(et/ (congre-
congregate
him with the family apart from the fact they
gates, congregating, congregated) verb had been on holiday in the same hotel. 3. to
to gather together make it possible for a telephone or a com-
puter to be used for communicating with
congregation /k(r (e()n/
congregation
|
others Has the telephone been connected
noun the people who meet together in a yet? 4. to arrive before another train, plane,
church bus or boat leaves, so that you can continue
congress / k(res/ noun a meeting of
congress
your journey easily The plane from New

a group York connects with the plane to Athens.
Congress / k(res/ noun the legis- connection /k nekn/ noun 1. a re-
Congress
connection
lative body of the USA, formed of the lationship between things [~between/~with]
House of Representatives and the Senate There is a definite connection between
conical / knk()l/ adj shaped like a
conical
smoking and lung cancer. 2. a bus, train or

cone plane which you catch after getting off an-
129 Conservative
other means of transport [~to] My train conscript2 /kn skrpt/ (conscripts,
conscript
was late and I missed my connection to conscripting, conscripted) verb to order

Birmingham. 3. a particular way of com- someone to join the armed services All
municating remotely an Internet connec- men under 35 were conscripted into the
tion 4. a point at which two different pieces armed forces.
of equipment join There is a loose con- consecrate / knskret/ (conse-
consecrate
nection somewhere. plural noun connec- crates, consecrating, consecrated) verb

tions people you know He has business to perform a religious ceremony to make
connections in Argentina. in connection something such as a building or someone
with relating to Im writing in connection such as a king or priest holy The bishop
with your visit. was consecrated in the cathedral.
connector / k nekt/, connecter noun
connector
consecutive /kn sekjtv/ adj follow-

| consecutive
something which connects things, espe- |
cially two pieces of equipment, or parts of ing one after the other
consensus /kn senss/ noun an
consensus
a single object or structure |
connoisseur /kn s#
/ noun an ex-
connoisseur
|
opinion which most people agree on
consent /kn sent/ noun agreement
consent
pert, a person who knows a lot about some- |
thing [~to] Doctors must obtain a patients con-

connotation /kn te()n/ noun an sent to any operation.
connotation
additional meaning consequence / knskwns/ noun

consequence
conquer / kk/ (conquers, conquer-

conquer
1. something which happens because of

ing, conquered) verb 1. to defeat people by something else [/~for] If we lose this or-
force The army had conquered most of der, the consequences for the firm will be
the country. 2. to change a negative emo- disastrous. Smoking has serious health
tion or type of behaviour successfully I consequences. 2. importance (formal) as
eventually conquered my fear of flying. a consequence as a result We queued for
conqueror / kkr/ noun a person two hours in the rain, and as a conse-
conqueror
who takes control of a country by force quence all of us got colds. of no conse-
conquest / kkwest/ noun 1. the act quence not important What he thinks
conquest
of taking control of a country or people by about the situation is of no consequence.

consequent / knskwnt/ adj which
consequent
force the Norman Conquest in 1066 2. a

country or person that has been conquered follows as a result of something
conscience / knns/ noun a feel- consequently / knskwntli/ adv
conscience
consequently
ing that you have done right or wrong because of this We walked all day in the
conscientious /kni ens/ adj
conscientious
| rain and consequently all caught colds.

working carefully and well Shes a very conservation /kns ve()n/
conservation
conscientious worker. noun the careful use of things such as ener-

conscious / kns/ adj awake and
conscious
gy or natural resources The company is

able to know what is happening around you spending more money on energy conserva-
She was conscious during the minor option.
eration on her toe. a conscious decision
/kns
conservationist
a decision which you have thought careful- conservationist |
ly about Refusing the offer was a con- ve()nst/ noun a person who encourag-
scious decision on his part. He made a es the preservation of the countryside and
conscious decision to try to avoid her in fu- the careful management of natural resourc-
ture. es
/kn s#
vtz()m/
conservatism
consciously / knsli/ adv in a delib-

consciously
conservatism |
erate or active way I wasnt consciously noun 1. the fact that someone is conserva-
ignoring her I just didnt notice her. He tive the basic conservatism of British
doesnt consciously remember locking the farmers 2. the ideas and beliefs of the Con-
door. servative political party Conservatism
consciousness / knsns/ noun
consciousness
had a great effect on British society during
the fact of being conscious to lose con- the 1980s.
conservative / kn s#
vtv/ adj not
conservative
sciousness to become unconscious |
conscript1 / knskrpt/ noun a person

conscript
wanting to change He has very conserv-
who is made to join the armed services ative views.
Conservative /kn s#
vtv/ noun a
Conservative
The conscripts had hardly any time to train |
before being sent to the front. member of the Conservative Party

conservatoire 130
conservatoire /kn s#
vtw
/ noun a other He plays the violin extremely well,
conservatoire
school or college where music is the only considering hes only five. He ought to be
subject of study more grateful, considering the amount of
conservatory /kn s#
vt()ri/ (plural help you have given him.
conservatory
conservatories) noun 1. a room with large consign /kn san/ (consigns, consign-
consign
windows, where you keep tropical flowers ing, consigned) verb to hand something
and plants With its glass roof and win- over to someone
dows, our conservatory becomes very hot consignment /kn sanmnt/ noun 1.
consignment
in the summer. 2. US same as conserva- the sending of goods to someone who will
toire sell them for you The consignment of
conserve1 /kn s#
v/ (conserves, con-
conserve
|
books to our French distributor was easily
serving, conserved) verb 1. to keep, not to organised. 2. a quantity of goods sent for
waste a government programme to con- sale A consignment of goods has arrived.
serve energy 2. to look after and keep in the We are expecting a consignment of cars
same state Our committee aims to con- from Japan.
serve the wildlife in our area.
consist /kn sst/ (consists, consist-
consist
conserve2 / kns#
v/ noun pieces of
conserve |
ing, consisted) verb 1. to be made up of

fruit in a thick sweet liquid peach con- various parts [~of] The package consists
serve of air travel, six nights in a luxury hotel,
consider /kn sd/ (considers, con-
consider
|
and all meals. My day consisted of clear-
sidering, considered) verb 1. to think ing out bedroom and getting ready to paint
carefully about something it. 2. to have as the most important element
[~that/~what/whether etc] Please consid- [~in] (formal ) Her success consists in her
er seriously the offer that we are making. willingness to be flexible.
We need to consider whether we really
consistency /kn sstnsi/, consist-
consistency
need it. to consider doing something to |
ence noun 1. the fact of being the same

think about taking a particular course of
action I considered training as a teacher. throughout [~in] I wish there was more
2. to regard someone or something in a par-
consistency in his reports. 2. the degree to
ticular way Do you consider him the which a substance is, e.g., thick or smooth
The consistency of the sauce should be
right man for the job? She is considered
(to be) one of the best lawyers in town. all that of thick syrup. In order to obtain the
things considered used for saying that
desired consistency, it may be necessary to
you have thought about all aspects of a sit- add a little water.
consistent /kn sstnt / adj always
consistent
uation, including the bad ones All things |
considered, the party went off quite well. at the same level Some of his work is very
considerable /kn sd()rb()l/ adj
considerable
|
good, but hes not consistent.
consolation /kns le()n/ noun
consolation
fairly large He lost a considerable |
amount of money at the horse race. something which makes you feel less sad
considerably /kn sd()rbli/ adv or annoyed, e.g. after a loss or a failure
considerably
to a fairly large extent console1 / knsl/ noun 1. a unit con-

console
considerate /kn sd()rt/ adj full of

considerate
| sisting of a keyboard, screen and usually a

feeling or understanding towards someone printer which allows someone to commu-
consideration /kn sd re()n/ nicate with a computer system We have a
consideration
| |
noun 1. careful thought We are giving se- console which contains both the TV and
rious consideration to the possibility of video. 2. a surface containing the controls
moving the head office to Scotland. to that operate something The sound engi-
take something into consideration to neer at the console controls the sound com-
think about something when making a de- ing from the stage.
cision The age of the children has to be console2 /kn sl/ (consoles, consol-
console
taken into consideration. 2. something ing, consoled) verb to help someone to

which has an effect on a decision The feel less sad or annoyed The priest want-
safety of the children is more important ed to console her for the loss of her father.
than all other considerations. under I tried to console her but she cried herself
consideration being thought about The to sleep. to console yourself to do some-
matter is under consideration. thing to make yourself feel less sad or an-
considering /kn sd()r/ conj,
considering
| noyed After hearing he had failed some

prep used to say that one thing affects an- of his exams, he consoled himself with the
131 construction
thought that his brother had done even constituency /kn sttjnsi/ (plu-
constituency
worse than he had. ral constituencies) noun an area of the

consolidate /kn sldet/ (consoli- country which elects a Member of Parlia-
consolidate
dates, consolidating, consolidated) verb ment

1. to make firm or sure Having entered constituent /kn sttjnt/ noun 1. a
constituent
the market, the company spent a year con- part which goes to make up a whole Be-
solidating its position. The team consoli- fore starting the experiment, make sure
dated their lead with a second goal. 2. to that all the chemical constituents are
join together to make one single unit The ready. 2. a person who may vote in a con-
two businesses consolidated to form one stituency A good MP tries to represent
group. (NOTE: + consolidation n) the views of his constituents. She has had
consonant / knsnnt/ noun a letter a mass of letters from her constituents
consonant
representing a sound which is produced by about airport noise.

partly stopping the air going out of the constitute / knsttju
t/ (consti-
constitute
mouth tutes, constituting, constituted) verb to

consortium /kn s
tim/ (plural con- be or form a particular thing Selling the
consortium
sortia) noun a group of companies which photographs to a newspaper constitutes a

work together serious breach of security. Women now
conspicuous /kn spkjus/ adj very
conspicuous
|
constitute the majority of the committee.
obvious they were conspicuous by their constitution /knst tju
()n/
constitution
absence it was very obvious that they were noun 1. the ability of a person to stay
not there healthy She has a very strong constitu-
conspiracy /kn sprsi/ (plural con-
conspiracy
|
tion. 2. the laws and principles under which
spiracies) noun a secret plan, especially to a country is ruled, which give the people
do something illegal or bad [~to/~against] rights and duties, and which give the gov-
a conspiracy to murder the leader Hes ernment powers and duties Unlike most
sure theres a conspiracy against him in the states, Britain does not have a written con-
office. stitution. Freedom of speech is guaran-
conspirator /kn sprt/ noun a per-
conspirator
|
teed by the American Constitution. 3. the
son who is part of a conspiracy written rules of something such as a socie-
ty or club Under the societys constitu-
conspiratorial /kn spr t
ril / adj
conspiratorial
| |
tion, the chairman is elected for two years.

like someone who has a secret plan
constitutional /knst
constitutional
conspire / kn spa/ (conspires, con-

conspire |
|
tju
()n()l/ adj according to a countrys
spiring, conspired) verb to make secret
constitution Unilateral action by the
plans or to take part in a conspiracy Minister of Defence is not constitutional.
constable / knstb()l/ noun a police
constable
constrain /kn stren/ (constrains,

constrain
officer of the lowest rank constraining, constrained) verb to stop

constabulary /kn stbjlri/ noun
constabulary
|
someone doing something which they
the police force of a district want to do His movements were con-
constant / knstnt/ adj not chang-
constant
strained by his tight suit. Entrepreneurs

ing or stopping The constant noise of mu- feel constrained by the mass of bureaucra-
sic from the bar next door drives me mad. cy and red tape.
noun a number or thing which does not constraint /kn strent/ noun some-
constraint
change Death and taxes are the only con- thing which limits your ability to act [~on]
stants in life. The speed of light is a sci- the serious financial constraints on the
entific constant. business
constantly / knstntli/ adv all the
constantly
constrict /kn strkt/ (constricts, con-

constrict
time stricting, constricted) verb to make some-

constellation /knst le()n/ noun a
constellation
|
thing tighter or smaller (NOTE: + constric-
group of stars in the sky, often forming a tion n)
pattern construct /kn strkt/ (constructs,
construct
consternation /knst ne()n/ noun

consternation
|
constructing, constructed) verb to build
a shock or surprise or make something The airport was con-
constipated / knstpetd/ adj unable
constipated
structed in 1995. The wings are con-

to pass solid waste out of your body easily structed of aluminium.
constipation /knst pe()n/ noun construction /kn strkn/ noun 1.
constipation construction
| |
the condition of being constipated the act of building The construction of

constructive 132
the new stadium took three years. 2. some- consumers are protesting at the increase in
thing which has been built under con- prices.
struction being built The new airport is consuming /kn sju
m/ adj which
consuming
still under construction. takes up all your time and energy

constructive / kn strktv/ adj which
constructive
consumption /kn smpn/ noun

consumption
|
aims to help or improve 1. the act of eating or drinking something

construe /kn stru
/ (construes, con-
construe
|
The meat was condemned as unfit for hu-
struing, construed) verb to understand the man consumption. The consumption of
meaning of words or of a document in a alcohol on the premises is not allowed. 2.
particular way the quantity of something that someone
consul / knsl/ noun a person who rep-
consul
eats or drinks Unless you reduce your

resents a country in a foreign city, and consumption of fatty foods, you risk having
helps his countrys citizens and business a heart attack.
interests there
contact / kntkt/ noun 1. an act of
contact
consulate / knsjlt/ noun the house

consulate
touching [~between/~with] Avoid any

or office of a consul contact between the acid and the skin.
consult /kn slt/ (consults, con-
consult
| Anyone who has been in physical contact

sulting, consulted) verb 1. to ask someone with the patient must consult their doctor
for advice He consulted his bank about immediately. 2. the act of communicating
transferring his account. 2. to look at with someone [~between/~with] We dont
something to get information After con- have much contact with our old friends in
sulting the map they decided to go north. Australia. to get in contact with some-
consultancy /kn sltnsi/ (plural con-
consultancy
| one to write to someone or talk to them on

sultancies) noun the act of giving advice the telephone 3. a person whom you know
on a subject that you have a lot of knowl- He has a lot of contacts in the newspaper
edge about He offers a consultancy serv- world. Who is your contact in the minis-
ice. She runs a consultancy firm, offering try? verb (contacts, contacting, con-
advice on planning. Since hes been tacted) to write to someone or talk to them
made redundant, hes been doing consul- on the telephone He tried to contact his
tancy work. office by phone. Can you contact the tick-
consultant /kn sltnt / noun 1. an et office immediately?
consultant
expert who gives advice His tax consult- contact lens / kntkt lenz/ noun a
contact lens
ant advised him to sell the shares. 2. a sen- small piece of glass or plastic which you
ior hospital doctor who is an expert in a wear in the eye to help you see more clear-
particular medical condition or illness ly
Well make an appointment for you to see a
contagious /kn teds/ adj which can
contagious
consultant. |
be passed on to someone else Hes a

consultation /knsl te()n/ noun
consultation
great music teacher and his enthusiasm for

1. the act of consulting someone [~with] a
music is very contagious.
brief consultation with my lawyer After
contain /kn ten/ (contains, con-
contain
consultations with the police, the govern- |
ment has decided to ban the protest march. taining, contained) verb 1. to hold an
2. an act of visiting a doctor for advice amount, or to have an amount inside The
[~with] another consultation with a differ- bottle contains acid. The envelope con-
ent eye surgeon tained a cheque for 1,000. A barrel con-
consume /kn sju
m/ (consumes, con-
consume
|
tains 250 litres. I have lost a briefcase
suming, consumed) verb 1. to eat or drink containing important documents. 2. to lim-
something The guests consumed over a it or prevent something harmful or un-
hundred hamburgers. 2. to use something pleasant The army tried to contain the
up The worlds natural resources are be- advance of the enemy forces. The party is
ing consumed at an alarming rate. The attempting to contain the revolt among its
new model of car consumes about half the members.
amount of petrol of the previous model. container /kn ten/ noun an object
container
consumer /kn sju

m/ noun a per-
consumer
| such as a box or bottle which holds some-

son or company that buys goods or services thing else We need a container for all this
Consumers are buying more from super- rubbish. The gas is shipped in strong
markets and less from small shops. Gas metal containers.
133 continental
containment /kn tenmnt/ noun the and we will look at it again. content to
containment
process or act of keeping something under do something happy to do something

control She was content to sit in the sun and wait.
contaminate /kn tmnet/ (contami- noun a feeling of satisfaction to your
contaminate
nates, contaminating, contaminated) hearts content as much as you want You

verb to make something dirty by touching can play the piano to your hearts content.
it or by adding something to it ( NOTE: + Living by the sea, they can go sailing to
contamination n) their hearts content.
contemplate / kntmplet/ (con- contented /kn tentd/ adj satisfied and
contented
contemplate
|
templates, contemplating, contemplat- happy

ed) verb 1. to look at something He stood contention /kn tenn/ noun 1. an
contention
for several minutes contemplating the argument 2. a statement of what you be-
painting. 2. to contemplate doing some- lieve It is his contention that they are try-
thing to plan to do something Hes con- ing to ruin our business.
templating retiring from his job and buying contentious /kn tens/ adj which is
contentious
a shop. the cause of a disagreement

contemporary / kn temp()rri/
contemporary
contentment /kn tentmnt/ noun a

contentment
|
|
adj 1. of the present time contemporary feeling of being satisfied or happy

art 2. existing at the same time as someone
contest1 / kntest/ noun any event or
contest
or something [~with] Most of the people I

was contemporary with at college have al- situation in which people compete with
ready got jobs. noun (plural contempo- each other an international sports con-
raries) a person who lives at the same time test Only two people entered the leader-
as someone Shakespeare and his contem- ship contest.
contest2 /kn test/ (contests, contest-
contest
poraries He is one of my contemporaries |
from school. ing, contested) verb 1. to compete with

contempt /kn tempt/ noun the feeling
contempt
|
other people to achieve a position There
of not respecting someone [~for] The re- are four candidates contesting the champi-
viewer had nothing but contempt for the onship. 2. to say that you disagree with
author of the novel. what is written in a legal document
contestant /kn testnt/ noun a person
contestant
contemptuous /kn temptjs/ adj

contemptuous
|
|
showing that you do not respect someone who takes part in a competition The two
or that you do not believe they are impor- contestants shook hands before the match.
context / kntekst/ noun the other
context
tant
contend /kn tend/ (contends, con- words which surround a particular word in
contend
tending, contended) verb 1. to state that a piece of writing and which help to show
something is true 2. to be forced to deal its meaning Even if you dont know what
with something unpleasant [~with] We a word means, you can sometimes guess its
had to contend with rainstorms, floods, meaning from the context. taken out of
and mosquitoes, so the holiday was not a context showing only part of what some-
great success. Drugs are yet another one said or wrote, so that the meaning is
problem that schools have to contend with. changed My words have been taken out
contender /kn tend/ noun a person
contender
|
of context I said the book was one of the
who takes part in a competition, especially best not the best Id read.
continent / kntnnt / noun one of the
continent
someone who is likely to win [~for] Hes

a definite contender for the world title. seven large land areas in the world, e.g. Af-
content1 / kntent/ noun the amount of
content
rica or Europe
Continent / kntnnt/ noun the main-
Continent
something which is contained in a sub-

stance Dried fruit has a higher sugar land area of Europe, as compared with the
content than fresh fruit. plural noun con- islands of the United Kingdom They go
tents 1. things which are inside something to the Continent on holiday each year,
The contents of the bottle spilled onto the sometimes to France, sometimes to Swit-
carpet. 2. the list of chapters in a book, zerland. on the Continent in the main
usually printed at the beginning part of Europe
content2 /kn tent/ adj 1. happy with continental /knt nent()l/ adj 1. re-
content continental
| |
what is happening in your life 2. satisfied ferring to a continent 2. referring to or typ-

with something [~with] If you are not conical of Europe excluding the United King-
tent with the way the car runs, bring it back dom
contingency 134
contingency /kn tndnsi/ noun a contract1 / kntrkt/ noun a legal
contingency contract
possible state of emergency when deci- agreement [~with] Ive signed a contract
sions will have to be taken quickly with a new company.
contingent /kn tndnt/ noun a contract2 /kn trkt/ (contracts, con-
contingent contract
| |
group of people such as soldiers The tracting, contracted) verb 1. to become

army was formed of contingents of freedom smaller Metal contracts when it gets
fighters from various countries. A large cold, and expands when it is hot. 2. to make
contingent of farmers marched to the Par- an official agreement to do some work
liament building. [~for] to contract for the supply of spare
continual /kn tnjul/ adj 1. hap- parts to contract to supply spare parts
continual
pening many times in a period of time We contraction /kn trkn/ noun 1.

contraction
have experienced a period of continual an act of becoming shorter or smaller

change. 2. happening frequently in a way Light will provoke the contraction of the
that is annoying The computer has given pupil of the eye. Cold will cause the con-
us continual problems ever since we traction of metal rails. 2. the movement of
bought it. the muscles of the womb when a baby is
continuation /kn tnju e()n/ being born The first strong contractions
continuation
| |
noun 1. the process of going on without will come about every twenty minutes.
stopping How can we ensure the contin- She had two contractions in the car on the
uation of the peace talks? 2. something way to the maternity hospital.
which has been continued Broad Street is contractor /kn trkt / noun a person
contractor
in fact a continuation of the High Street. who does work according to a signed
continue / kn tnju
/ (continues, agreement
continue
continuing, continued) verb to go on do- contradict /kntr dkt/ (contradicts,

contradict
ing something or happening [~with] The contradicting, contradicted) verb 1. to say

meeting started at 10 a.m. and continued that what someone else says is not true
all afternoon. The show continued with They didnt dare contradict their mother. 2.
some childrens dances. He continued to be different from what has been said be-
working, even though everyone else had fore What you have just said contradicts
gone home. The engine continued to send what you said yesterday.
out clouds of black smoke. contradiction /kntr dkn/
contradiction
continuing education /kntnju

|
continuing education
|
noun stating or being the opposite [~be-
edj ke()n/ noun education of adults
|
tween] There is a basic contradiction be-
after further or higher education tween the governments policies and what
continuity /knt nju
ti/ noun the
continuity
| it actually does. a contradiction in terms

way in which the scenes in a film or televi- a phrase which is formed of two parts
sion programme continue without a break which contradict each other, and so have
continuous /kn tnjs/ adj with- no meaning A truthful politician is a con-
continuous
out stopping or without a break She has tradiction in terms.

been in continuous pain for three days. A contradictory /kntr dkt()ri/ adj
contradictory
continuous white line on the road means which states or is the opposite
that you are not allowed to overtake. contraption /kn trpn/ noun an un-
contraption
continuously /kn tnjsli/ adv with-

continuously
|
usual machine or device (informal)
out a break contrary / kntrri/ adj opposite Most
contrary
contort / kn t
t/ (contorts, contorting,
contort
|
people agreed with the speaker, but one or
contorted) verb to twist something into a two expressed contrary views. contrary
position that is not natural [~with] >His to in opposition to Contrary to what you
face was contorted with pain. would expect, the desert gets quite cold at
contraception /kntr sepn/ noun a
contraception
| night.
way of preventing a woman from becom- contrast1 / kntr
st/ noun a differ-
contrast
ing pregnant by using a device such as a ence between two things [~between] a
condom or a particular type of drug big contrast in weather between the north
contraceptive /kntr septv / noun a
contraceptive
| and the south of the country The two cit-

drug or condom which prevents pregnancy ies are in sharp contrast. in contrast to
an oral contraceptive such as the pill as opposed to He is quite short, in con-
The chemist sells various types of contra- trast to his sister who is very tall. The
ceptives. north of the country is green and wooded
135 convention
in contrast to the south which is dry and control freak /kn trl fri
k/ noun a
control freak
sandy. person who wants to be always in control

contrast2 /kn tr
st/ (contrasts, of the situation (slang)
contrast
contrasting, contrasted) verb to be obvi- controlled /kn trld/ adj kept under
controlled
ously different from [~with] His formal control

letter contrasted with his friendly conver- controller /kn trl/ noun a person
controller
sation on the telephone. who controls something

contrasting /kn tr
st/ adj which
contrasting
control tower /kn trl ta/ noun a

control tower
|
|
are very different high building at an airport with the radio

contravene /kntr vi
n/ (contra-
contravene
| station which directs planes

venes, contravening, contravened) verb controversial /kntr v#
()l/ adj
controversial
to fail to obey a rule or law (NOTE: + contra- causing strong disagreements He made a
vention n) highly controversial speech. Legalisation
contribute /kn trbju
t/ (contrib-
contribute
| of drugs is a very controversial issue. She

utes, contributing, contributed) verb 1. to has controversial views on abortion.
help something to happen [~to] The gov- / kntrv#
si, kn
controversy
controversy |
ernments policies have contributed to a trvsi/ (plural controversies) noun a

feeling of anxiety among teachers. 2. to sharp discussion There is a lot of contro-
give money to help to pay for something, versy about the funding of political parties.
especially when other people are also giv- conurbation /kn#
be()n/ noun a
conurbation
ing [~to] We were asked to contribute to a very large built-up area

charity. Everyone was asked to contrib-
convalesce /knv les/ (convalesces,
convalesce
ute to the receptionists leaving present. |
convalescing, convalesced) verb to get

contribution /kntr bju
()n/
contribution
|
back to good health after an illness or an
noun 1. something that someone does to operation
help something to happen [~to] I want to
convene /kn vi
n/ (convenes, conven-
convene
thank you for your enormous contribution |
to the success of the project. 2. something, ing, convened) verb to call a meeting
convenience /kn vi
nins/ noun the
convenience
usually money, given to help to pay for |
something [~to] She makes monthly con- fact of being convenient I like the con-
tributions to the Red Cross. venience of working from home. We
contributor /kn trbjt/ noun a per-
contributor
|
bought the house because of the conven-
son or organisation that contributes to ience of the area for shopping.
convenience food /kn vi
nins fu
d/
convenience food
something |
contrive /kn trav/ (contrives, contriv-

contrive
|
noun food which is prepared by the shop
ing, contrived) verb to manage to do some- before it is sold, so that it needs only heat-
thing ing to be made ready to eat
convenient /kn vi
nint/ adj not
convenient
contrived /kn travd / adj not natural or

contrived
|
|
reasonable causing any practical problems Six

oclock in the morning is not a very con-
control /kn trl/ noun 1. the fact of
control
|
venient time for a meeting. A bank draft
keeping someone or something in order or is a convenient way of sending money
being able to direct them He lost control abroad.
of his business and resigned. The club is
conveniently /kn vi
nintli / adv in a
conveniently
under the control of three people. 2. the |
ability to get people to do what you want convenient way

convent / knvnt/ noun a religious es-
convent
[~over] The teacher has no control over

the class. verb (controls, controlling, tablishment where nuns live; the buildings
controlled) 1. to keep something in order, of such a place (NOTE: The equivalent estab-
to direct or limit something The police lishment for men is a monastery.)
convention /kn venn/ noun 1. the
convention
couldnt control the crowds. There was |
nobody there to control the traffic. We usual way of doing things It is a conven-
must try to control the sales of foreign cars. tion that the bride wears white to her wed-
The government controls the price of ding. 2. a contract or agreement an inter-
meat. 2. to control a business to have the national convention on human rights 3. a
power to direct the way a business is run general meeting of a group such as a polit-
The business is controlled by a company ical party They are holding their annual
based in Luxembourg. convention in Chicago.
conventional 136
conventional /kn ven()n()l/ adj ry The supplies were being conveyed in
conventional
ordinary or usual For your interview its lorries. 2. to give a message or to express
best to wear a conventional suit. something Please convey my congratula-
conventional weapon /kn tions to the team.
conventional weapon
ven()n()l wepn/ noun an ordinary conveyor belt /kn ve belt /, convey-

conveyor belt
weapon such as a gun, not a nuclear weap- or noun a moving surface in a factory,
on which takes something from one part of the
converge /kn v#
d / (converges, con- factory to another
converge
convict1 / knvkt/ noun a criminal who

convict
verging, converged) verb to come together

at a certain place or point has been sent to prison The police are
conversation /knv se()n/ searching for two escaped convicts.
conversation
convict2 /kn vkt/ (convicts, convict-

convict
noun an occasion on which two or more |
people talk to each other about something ing, convicted) verb to prove in court that
[~about/~with/~between] We had a long someone is guilty She was convicted of
conversation about loans with the bank theft.
conviction /kn vkn/ noun 1. the
conviction
manager. He heard an interesting con- |
versation between two bus passengers. to fact of being found guilty His lawyers
carry on a conversation with someone to are appealing against his conviction. 2. the
talk to someone She tried to carry on a fact of being certain that something is true
conversation with him while he was work- It was a common conviction in the Mid-
ing. Its difficult to carry on a conversa- dle Ages that the earth was flat. Her reli-
tion with Uncle Harry because hes deaf. gious convictions do not allow her to eat
to make conversation to talk to someone shellfish. 3. the fact of being likely or being
to be polite rather than because you want to convincing She gave a string of excuses
converse /kn v#
s/ (converses, con- which completely lacked conviction.
converse
convince /kn vns/ (convinces,

convince
versing, conversed) verb to talk They |
were conversing seriously in French. convincing, convinced) verb to persuade

conversely / knv#
sli/ adv in the oppo- someone that something is true The law-
conversely
site way yer has to convince the jury of his clients

conversion /kn v#
()n/ noun 1. the
conversion
|
innocence. At an interview, you have to
act or process of changing one thing into convince the employer that you are the
another 2. the turning of a person to anoth- right person for the job.
convinced /kn vnst/ adj very cer-
convinced
er set of ideas or religion [~to] 3. the act of |
converting a try in the game of rugby tain Shes convinced that shes right.
convert1 / knv#
t/ noun a person who convincing / kn vns/ adj easy to ac-
convincing
convert
|
has changed his ideas or religion cept or believe to be true

convert2 /kn v#
t/ (converts, convert- convoy / knv/ noun a group of vehi-
convoy
convert
ing, converted) verb 1. to change some- cles or ships travelling together in a line
thing into something else [~to/~into] We with armed protection
cook /kk/ noun a person who gets
cook
are converting the shed into a studio.

These panels convert the heat of the sun to food ready He worked as a cook in a pub
electricity. 2. to turn or to make someone during the summer. verb (cooks, cook-
turn from one set of ideas or religion to an- ing, cooked) to get food ready for eating,
other [~to/~into] When she got married especially by heating it Its my turn to
she converted to Islam. She tried to con- cook the dinner tonight. How do you
vert her husband into a vegetarian. 3. to cook cabbage?
cookbook / kkbk/ noun a book of rec-
cookbook
change money of one country for money of

another [~to/into] We converted our ipes
pounds into Swiss francs. cooker / kk/ noun a large piece of
cooker
convertible / kn v#
tb()l/ noun a car kitchen equipment, used for cooking food
convertible
with a roof which folds back or can be re- cookery / kk()ri/ noun the art of
cookery
moved You can hire a small convertible cooking

for $100 a day. cookery book / kk()ri bk/, cook-
cookery book
convex / knveks/ adj which has a shape

convex
book noun a book of recipes

that curves outwards like the back of a cookie / kki/ noun 1. usually US a
cookie
spoon small, flat hard sweet cake She bought a

convey /kn ve/ (conveys, convey-
convey
| packet of cookies. (NOTE: The British Eng-

ing, conveyed) verb 1. to transport, to car- lish term is biscuit.) 2. a computer file sent
137 copy
to your computer by a website when you cooperation /kp re()n/
cooperation
| |
visit it. It stores information about you noun the action of working together with
which can be used when you next visit the someone else [~with] Cooperation be-
website. tween team members led to their success.
cooking / kk / noun 1. the action of cooperative /k p()rtv/ noun a
cooking cooperative
getting food ready to eat, especially by business which works on a profit-sharing

heating it He does the cooking, while his basis a workers cooperative
coordinate1 /k
dnt/ noun a set of
coordinate
wife serves in the restaurant. 2. a particular |
style of preparing food The restaurant numbers which fix a point on a map or
specialises in French provincial cooking. graph What are the coordinates for that
cool / ku
l/ adj 1. cold in a pleasant way,
cool
hill? I dont think it is marked on the map.
Draw the X-Y coordinates.
or colder than you would like or than you
coordinate2 /k
dnet/ (coordi-
coordinate
expect It was hot on deck but cool down |
below. Wines should be stored in a cool nates, coordinating, coordinated) verb to

cellar. It gets cool in the evenings in Sep- make people or things work together or fit
tember. 2. not friendly or not enthusiastic in with each other His job is to coordi-
[~to/towards] I got a cool reception when nate the work of the various relief agen-
I arrived half an hour late. Their propos- cies. The election campaign was coordi-
al got a cool response. She was rather nated by the party headquarters.
coordinates /k
dnts/ plural noun
coordinates
cool to me last time we met. My col- |
leagues were cool towards the plan unfor- matching pieces of womens clothing
coordination /k
d ne()n/ noun
coordination
tunately. 3. calm The nurses remained | |
cool and professional. 4. fashionable 1. the action of coordinating Better coor-

(informal) They thought it was cool to dination between departments would have
wear white trainers. 5. good (informal) a allowed everyone to know what was hap-
cool party a really cool idea (NOTE: + pening. 2. the ability to move parts of your
coolly adv; coolness n) verb (cools, body properly She has excellent coordi-
cooling, cooled) to make something cool; nation for a little girl of 18 months.
coordinator /k
dnet/ noun a per-
coordinator
to become cool She boiled the jam for |
several hours and then put it aside to cool. son who coordinates
noun 1. a colder area which is pleasant cop /kp/ noun a policeman (informal)
cop
After the heat of the town centre, it is nice cop out phrasal verb to stop doing an ac-
to sit in the cool of the garden. 2. the state tivity, e.g. because of feeling afraid or not
of being calm As soon as the reporters wanting to do it
started to ask her questions she lost her cope /kp/ (copes, coping, coped)
cope
cool. to be cool with something to be verb to manage to deal with something

satisfied with something (informal) We She can cope perfectly well on her own.
can go tomorrow Im cool with that. We are trying to cope with the backlog of
cool down phrasal verb 1. to make some- orders.
thing cool or to become cool Although copilot / kpalt/ noun a pilot who
copilot
it is very hot in the desert during the day- helps the main pilot to fly an aircraft
time, it always cools down in the evening. copious / kpis/ adj in large amounts,
copious
This coffee is too hot Im waiting for in good supply

it to cool down a bit. 2. to calm someone, cop-out / kp at/ noun a poor excuse or
cop-out
or to become calmer He was furious explanation for refusing to face up to

with his secretary, but after a while he something
cooled down. We tried to cool him
copper / kp/ noun a reddish metal
copper
down but it just made him more angry. which turns green when exposed to air
coolbox / ku
lbks/ noun a container
coolbox
Copper is a good conductor of electricity.

which you can carry and which is used for The end of the copper wire should be at-
keeping food and drinks cool tached to the terminal.
cooperate /k pret/ (cooperates, copulate / kpjlet/ (copulates, copu-
cooperate copulate
cooperating, cooperated) verb to work lating, copulated) verb to have sex (NOTE:
with someone [~with/~in] Several organi- + copulation n)
sations are cooperating with the govern- copy / kpi/ noun (plural copies) 1.
copy
ment in the fight against international drug something made to look the same as some-
smuggling. thing else This is an exact copy of the
copycat 138
painting by Picasso. 2. a particular book or corks and other things She placed little
newspaper Wheres my copy of todays cork mats on the table to stop the wine
Times? I lent my old copy of the play to glasses marking it. verb (corks, corking,
my brother and he never gave it back. corked) to put a cork into a bottle
verb (copies, copying, copied) 1. to make corkscrew / k
kskru
/ noun a special
corkscrew
something which looks like something else tool for taking corks out of bottles
He stole a credit card and copied the sig-
corn /k
n/ noun 1. cereal plants such
corn
nature. 2. to do what someone else does

as wheat or barley a field of corn 2.
copycat / kpikt/ (informal) noun a
copycat
maize, a cereal crop which is grown in

person who copies what someone else does many parts of the world corn on the cob
adj which copies something else a cop-
the part of maize that has the seeds, boiled
ycat murder and served hot, with butter and salt
copyright / kpirat/ noun an authors
copyright
corner / k
n/ noun a place where
corner
legal right to do something such as publish

a book or put on a play and not to have it two walls, streets or sides meet The bank
copied without permission Who holds the is on the corner of London Road and New
copyright for the play? She is being sued Street. Put the plant in the corner of the
for breach of copyright. room nearest the window. The number is
in the top right-hand corner of the page.
coral / krl/ noun a rock-like substance
coral
The motorbike went round the corner at

formed of the bones of small animals in the top speed. to turn the corner 1. to go
sea from one street into another by turning left
cord /k
d/ noun a strong thin rope Pull
cord
or right She turned the corner into the

the cord to open the parachute. In an main street. 2. to get better after being ill or
emergency, pull the cord to stop the train. in a difficult situation Our business af-
cordial / k
dil/ adj friendly His greet-
cordial
fairs seem to have turned the corner.

ing was not very cordial. noun to do what
corner shop / k
n p/ noun a small
corner shop
someone else does Fruit cordials such as

general store in a town, sometimes on a
lemon, orange or lime are popular summer street corner
drinks.
cornflakes / k
nfleks / plural noun a
cornflakes
cordless / k
dls/ adj not needing to be
cordless
connected to an electricity supply breakfast food made of small dried pieces

cordon / k
d()n/ noun a barrier such as
cordon
of maize Ill just have a bowl of corn-
a rope or a line of police or soldiers sur- flakes and a cup of coffee for breakfast.
cornflour / k
nfla/ noun a very
cornflour
rounding an area to prevent people enter-

ing or leaving Police formed a cordon smooth type of flour made from maize,
round the referee to protect him from the used in cooking to make sauces thicker
fans. There was a police cordon round coronary / krn()ri/ (plural coronar-
coronary
the courthouse. ies) noun a coronary thrombosis (informal)

corduroy / k
dr/ noun a cloth with He had a coronary and was rushed to
corduroy
raised lines on the surface He was wear- hospital.

ing a corduroy jacket. coronation /kr ne()n/ noun the
coronation
core /k
/ noun 1. the central part of an
core
official ceremony at which a king, queen or

object the core of an apple, an apple emperor is crowned
core the hard part in the middle of an ap- coroner / krn/ noun a public offi-
coroner
ple, containing the seeds 2. the most basic cial, either a doctor or a lawyer, who tries
or essential part of something Lack of re- to find out the reason for a sudden or vio-
sources is the core of the problem. adj lent death
most important These are the core points
corporal / k
p()rl/ noun a rank in the
corporal
of the report. core values the things that

a group of people think are most important army below sergeant The major ordered
Honesty and reliability are among our the corporal to take down the flag.
corporal punishment /k
p()rl
corporal punishment
core values.
coriander / kri nd/ noun a small
coriander
|
pnmnt/ noun an act of punishment by
herb, whose seeds and leaves are used for hitting someone
flavouring corporate / k
p()rt/ adj relating to
corporate
cork /k
k/ noun 1. a small solid tube,
cork
a company Corporate responsibility rests

used for closing wine bottles 2. the very with the whole management. Corporate
light bark of a type of tree, used for making profits are down this year.
139 cosmetics
corporation /k
p re()n/ noun a correspondent /kr spndnt/ noun
corporation correspondent
| |
large company Working for a big corpo- 1. a journalist who writes articles for news-
ration can be rather impersonal. papers or reports for television or radio on
corps /k
/ (plural same) noun a mili-
corps
a particular subject a report from our
tary group or organised group football correspondent He is the Paris
corpse /k
ps/ noun a dead body
corpse
correspondent of the Telegraph. 2. a per-
son who writes letters A correspondent in
corpus / k
ps/ (plural corpora) noun 1.
corpus
Australia sent us an email.

all the works written by an author or about corresponding /kr spnd/ adj
corresponding
an author The library has a huge Dickens which relates to something

corpus which is available to students.
corridor / krd
/ noun a long nar-
corridor
She is studying references to food in the

Shakespeare corpus. 2. the mass of text and row passage The ladies toilet is straight
words stored in a computer None of the ahead at the end of the corridor.
corroborate /k rbret/ (corrobo-
corroborate
dictionaries in the list state where their |
corpus comes from. rates, corroborating, corroborated) verb

to support a statement, especially a state-
correct /k rekt/ adj 1. without any
correct
|
ment made in court, by giving information
mistakes You have to give correct an- that shows it is true
swers to all the questions if you want to win
corrode /k rd/ (corrodes, corroding,
corrode
first prize. If the information you gave us |
corroded) verb to damage or change a sub-

is correct, we can finish the work by Thurs-
day. 2. right according to rules or standards stance, e.g. by the effects of water, air or
verb (corrects, correcting, corrected) to
chemicals
corrosion /k r()n/ noun the dam-
corrosion
take away mistakes in something You |
must try to correct your driving mistakes, age caused to metals, e.g. by the effects of
or you will never pass the test. The com- water, air or chemicals
corrosive /k rsv/ adj, noun which
corrosive
puter keeps switching itself off can you |
correct this fault? eats away metal, or a substance which does

correction /k rekn/ noun 1. an action
correction
this
corrugated / kr(etd/ adj bent into
| corrugated
that makes something correct [~to] He

made a few small corrections to the letter. folds like waves
corrupt /k rpt/ (corrupts, corrupting,
corrupt
2. the process of correcting something |
We drew up a timetable for the correction corrupted) verb 1. to make someone dis-
of minor faults. honest or lacking in morals Power cor-
correctly /k rektli / adv without mak-
correctly
|
rupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
He was accused of corrupting young
ing any mistakes
people. He was corrupted by his rich
correlate / krlet/ (correlates, cor-
correlate
friends from college. 2. to cause mistakes in

relating, correlated) verb to match or be computer data The data on this disk has
the same as something else [~with] The been corrupted.
figures in your report do not correlate with corruption /k rpn/ noun 1. the
corruption
those I got from the warehouse. practice of paying money to someone, usu-
correlation /kr le()n/ noun a
correlation
|
ally an official, so that he does what you
connection between things want Bribery and corruption are difficult
correspond /kr spnd/ verb 1. to fit
correspond
| to control. Corruption in the civil service

with [~to] The findings correspond to my will be rooted out. 2. the process of damag-
own research. 2. to write letters to someone ing data You have to watch out for cor-
[~with] She corresponded for years with ruption of data.
this man living in New York whom she had cortisone / k
tzn/ noun an artificial
cortisone
never met. hormone used against arthritis and skin

/kr spndns/ problems such as allergies
correspondence
correspondence |
noun 1. letters The sisters had been car- cos /kz/ short for also cos because
cos
rying on a correspondence for years. 2. the (informal) Youve got to do what I say
fact that one thing matches or is similar to cos Im bigger than you!
another [~between] There isnt much cor- cosmetic /kz metk/ adj which im-
cosmetic
respondence between theory and practice. proves someones or somethings appear-

course /kr ance
correspondence course
correspondence |
spndns k
s/ noun lessons given by cosmetics /kz metks/ plural noun
cosmetics
post substances which improve someones ap-

cosmetic surgery 140

pearance My wife keeps all her cosmetics cosy / kzi/ (cosier, cosiest) adj com-
cosy
in a little bag. fortable and warm An open log fire al-

cosmetic surgery /kzmetk ways makes a room feel cosy. She
cosmetic surgery
s#
dri/ noun surgery to improve some- wrapped herself up in a blanket and made
ones appearance herself cosy on the sofa.
cosmic / kzmk/ adj 1. referring to the cot /kt/ noun US a folding bed for camp-
cot
cosmic
universe Cosmic rays are radiation ening

cot death / kt de/ noun an unex-
cot death
tering the Earths atmosphere from outer

space. 2. very large, affecting the whole plained death of a sleeping baby (NOTE: The
world A war which might reach cosmic US term is crib death.)
cottage / ktd/ noun a little house in
cottage
proportions.
cosmopolitan /kzm plt()n/ adj the country We have a weekend cottage
cosmopolitan
1. made up of people from different parts in the mountains. My mother lives in the
of the world Berlin is a very cosmopoli- little cottage next to the post office.
cottage cheese /ktd ti
z/ noun a
cottage cheese
tan city. 2. comfortable and confident in

different cities or with people of different very soft lumpy white cheese
cottage industry /ktd ndstri/
cottage industry
nationalities Her cosmopolitan upbring-

ing has made her a very interesting person. noun the practice of making products in the
Born in Canada, brought up in Hong workers homes
Kong and in England, by the age of ten he cotton / ktn/ noun 1. fibres made into
cotton
was more cosmopolitan than other chil- thread from the soft seed heads of a tropi-
dren. cal plant 2. cloth made of cotton I bought
cost /kst/ noun a price which you some blue cotton to make a skirt. He was
cost
have to pay for something What is the wearing a pair of cotton trousers.
cost of a return ticket to London? Com- cotton on phrasal verb to understand
puter costs are falling each year. verb [~to] (informal) It was some time before
(costs, costing, cost) to have as a price he cottoned on to what I meant.
Potatoes cost 20p a kilo. Petrol seems to cotton wool /ktn wl/ noun cot-
cotton wool
cost more all the time. at all costs no ton fibres used to clean the skin or wounds
matter what happens At all costs, we have or to apply lotion or disinfectant
to be in Trafalgar Square by 12 oclock. couch /kat / noun a low bed She lay
couch
to cost an arm and a leg to be very expen- down on a couch in the lounge. verb
sive The repairs to his car cost him an (couches, couching, couched) to put
arm and a leg. something in words His letter was
co-star / k st
/ noun the other leading
co-star
couched in very formal language.

actor or actress in a film or play His co- couch potato / kat ptet/ noun a
couch potato
star in the film was an Italian actress. person who sits watching TV or videos all
(NOTE: + co-star v) day (slang disapproving)
cost-cutting / kst kt/ noun the cough /kf/ noun the act of making a
cost-cutting cough
process of reducing costs, especially in a noise by sending the air out of your lungs
business, or the actions taken suddenly, e.g. when you are ill Take some
cost-effective /kst fektv / adj medicine if your cough is bad. He gave a
cost-effective
which gives value when compared with its little cough to attract the waitresss atten-
cost tion. verb (coughs, coughing, coughed)
costing / kst/ noun a calculation of a
costing
to make a noise by sending air out of your
selling price, based on the costs of making lungs suddenly, e.g. because you are ill
a product The smoke from the fire made everyone
cough. People with colds usually cough
costly / kstl/ adj very expensive
costly
and sneeze.
costume / kstju
m/ noun a set of
costume
cough up phrasal verb 1. to bring up mat-

clothes worn by an actor or actress The ter from your throat when coughing
costumes for the film are magnificent. She became worried when the little girl
costume drama / kstju
m dr
m/
costume drama
coughed up blood. 2. to pay (informal)

noun a play set in a previous historical pe- When he was late with the rent, we sent
riod some people round to get him to cough
/ kstju
m up.
costume jewellery
costume jewellery
du
lri/ noun jewellery that does not could /kd, kd/ modal verb 1. was or
could
contain precious stones or metals would be able to The old lady fell down
141 counterfeit
and couldnt get up. You could still catch improvement we can achieve counts. to
the train if you ran. 2. was allowed to The count for a lot to be very important Your
policeman said he could go into the house. appearance counts for a lot in an inter-
3. used in asking someone to do something view. to count for nothing not to be im-
Could you pass me the salt, please? portant noun 1. the action of counting or
Could you shut the window? 4. might The of adding 2. an amount of something, cal-
new shopping centre could be finished by culated scientifically Today there is a
Christmas. 5. used in making a suggestion high pollen count. to lose count to no
You could always try borrowing money longer have any idea of a particular number
from the bank. (NOTE: The negative is could I tried to add up all the sales figures but
not or, especially in speaking, couldnt. lost count and had to start again. Ive
Could is usually used with other verbs and lost count of the number of times hes left
is not followed by to. Note also that could is his umbrella on the train.
used as the past tense of can.) count down phrasal verb to count back-
couldnt / kd()nt/ contr could not wards, e.g. 9, 8, 7, 6 He counted down
couldnt
council / kansl/ noun 1. an elected the seconds to the launch.

council
committee 2. an official group chosen to count on phrasal verb to be sure that

work on or advise about a specific subject someone will do something
countable / kantb()l/ adj 1. which is
countable
a council set up to promote the arts in the

eastern region able to be counted 2. describing a noun that
council estate / kansl stet/ noun is able to form a plural
council estate
countdown / kantdan/ noun the ac-

countdown
an area where houses and flats have been

built by the local council and are available tion of counting time backwards, especial-
at low rents ly before something takes place
councillor / kansl/ noun an elect- counter / kant/ noun 1. a long flat
councillor counter
ed member of a town council (NOTE: Do not surface in a shop for showing goods for
confuse with counsellor.) sale, or in a bank for passing over money
council tax / kansl tks/ noun the She put her bag down on the counter and
council tax
tax charged by a local council to help pay took out her cheque book. The cheese
for its services counter is over there. 2. a small round disc
counsel / kansl/ noun 1. advice I
counsel
used in games Youve thrown a six you
should have listened to his wise counsels. can move your counter six places. She
2. a lawyer counsel for the defence or de- placed a pile of counters on the board.
fence counsel counsel for the prosecution verb (counters, countering, countered) 1.
or prosecution counsel verb (counsels, to act or reply in an opposing way The
counselling, counselled) to advise She adverts are designed to counter familiar
counselled us against buying the house. opinions about home and family. 2. to reply
counselling / kansl/ noun the prac-
counselling
in a way that opposes what has been said
tice of giving advice about problems (NOTE: He accused her of laziness and she coun-
The US spelling is counseling.)
tered with a list of complaints about his
own behaviour.
counsellor / kansl/ noun an adviser
counsellor
counter- /kant / prefix against, in re-

counter-
(NOTE: The US spelling is counselor.)

sponse
count / kant/ verb (counts, counting,
count
counteract /kantr kt/ (counter-

counteract
counted) 1. to say numbers in order, e.g. 1,

|
acts, counteracting, counteracted) verb

2, 3, 4 [~(up) to] Shes only two and she
can count up to ten. Count to five and to stop the effects of something
counter-attack /kantrtk/ noun
counter-attack
then start running. 2. to find out a total |
Did you count how many books there are in an attack against someone who has just at-
the library? 3. to include when finding out tacked you 24 hours after the enemy at-
a total [~as/~towards] There were sixty tack we launched a counter-attack. verb
people on the boat if you count the chil- to attack in return the enemy counter-at-
dren. Did you my trip to New York count tacked fiercely
counterclockwise /kant
counterclockwise
as holiday? Will this training count to- |
wards my degree? not counting not in- klkwaz/ adv US in the opposite direc-
cluding There are three of us, not count- tion to the hands of a clock
counterfeit / kantft/ adj (of money,
counterfeit
ing the baby. We have three computers,

not counting the old ones that dont work art or documents) false, not real The po-
any more. 4. to be important Every small lice have warned shopkeepers that coun-
counterfoil 142
terfeit 20 notes are in circulation. You lish countryside in spring The country-
can see stands in Oxford Street selling side is in danger of being covered in new
counterfeit jewellery. verb (counterfeits, houses. ( NOTE: no plural)
counterfeiting, counterfeited) to make county / kanti/ (plural counties)
county
imitation money Are the new 10 notes noun a district that has some powers of
more difficult to counterfeit than the old government over local matters
ones? Only very sophisticated printing coup /ku
/, cowp noun 1. the act of taking
coup
machines can be used to counterfeit ban- over a government by force [~against] a

knotes. noun a thing which has been failed coup against the military regime Full
forged There is something wrong with form coup dtat 2. a great success, a suc-
this passport in fact it may be a counter- cessful move [~for] Getting the Minister
feit. of Education to open the school exhibition
counterfoil / kantfl/ noun a slip of
counterfoil
was a coup for the organisers.

paper which you keep after giving some- couple / kp()l/ noun 1. two things
couple
one a cheque together 2. two people together They are

counterpart / kantp
t/ noun a per-
counterpart
a charming couple. Several couples

son who has a similar job or who is in a strolled past hand in hand. verb (cou-
similar situation ples, coupling, coupled) 1. to connect two
counter-productive /kant pr
counter-productive
| different things High tides coupled with

dktv/ adj which has the opposite effect strong winds caused flooding along the
to what you want coast. 2. to join two machines together
countess / kants/ noun 1. (in Europe- Couple the trailer to the back of the truck.
countess
an aristocracy) the wife of a count 2. (in the a couple of 1. two Theyve got a couple
British aristocracy) the wife of an earl of children. 2. a few The film lasted a
countless / kantls/ adj very many couple of hours.
countless
count noun / kant nan/ noun a noun coupon / ku

pn/ noun a piece of paper
count noun coupon
that can be used with a or an and has a which is used in place of money or in place
plural form of a ticket
country / kntri/ (plural countries) courage / krd/ noun the ability to
country courage
noun 1. an area of land which is has borders deal with a dangerous or unpleasant situa-
and governs itself the countries of the EU tion She showed great courage in attack-
Some African countries voted against the ing the burglar. I didnt have the courage
plan. 2. land which is not in a town He to disagree with him. (NOTE: no plural)
lives in the country. We went walking in courageous / k reds/ adj brave
courageous
the country. Road travel is difficult in courgette /k

et/ noun the young fruit
courgette
country areas. (NOTE: no plural in this of the marrow

sense) courier / kri / noun 1. a person who
courier
country club /kntri klb/ noun a

country club
carries messages a motorcycle courier 2.

club in the country, usually offering special a guide for tourists on a package tour We
sports facilities such as golf or horse riding were met at the airport by a courier. The
country house /kntri has/ noun a
country house
courier tried hard to deal with all our com-

large house in the country, with gardens plaints about the hotel.
and a park, and sometimes a farm course /k
s/ noun 1. a series of les-
course
countryman / kntrimn/ (plural coun-

countryman
sons [~in] Im taking a maths course.

trymen) noun 1. a person who lives in the The hotel offers weekend courses in a vari-
country, not in the town Countrymen are ety of arts and crafts. 2. a series of medical
protesting about the new tax. 2. a person treatments Hes taking a course of anti-
who comes from the same country as you biotics. 3. a separate part of a meal a five-
He felt ashamed of his countrymen when course meal The first course is soup, and
he saw them fighting at the football stadi- then you can have either fish or roast lamb.
um. 4. the direction in which someone or some-
country music /kntri mju
zk/,
country music
thing, especially a vehicle, is moving in, or

country and western /kntri n will move in in due course after a cer-
westn/ noun a style of music popular in tain amount of time If you study for sev-
the southeastern United States, especially eral years at college, in due course you will
Tennessee get a degree. Put a coin in the slot and in
countryside / kntrisad/ noun land
countryside
due course the machine will produce a tick-

which is not in a town the beautiful Eng- et. in the course of during a period of
143 cow
time Hes got much richer in the course cousin / kz()n/ noun the son or
cousin
of the last few years. daughter of your uncle or aunt

coursebook / k
sbk/ noun a book cove / kv/ noun a small bay Do you
coursebook cove
used by students taking a certain course remember the small cove where we loved to
coursework / k
sw#
k/ noun work
coursework
go swimming?
covenant / kvnnt/ noun a legal con-
covenant
which students must complete during an

academic course tract
court /k
t/ noun 1. a room with a cover / kv/ noun 1. something that
cover
court
judge who tries criminals, sometimes with you put over something else to protect it or
a jury The court was packed for the open- keep it clean 2. the front and back of a book
ing of the murder trial. Please tell the or magazine She read the book from cov-
court what you saw when you opened the er to cover. 3. a place where you can hide
door. The defendant was in court for or shelter They ran for cover when it
three hours. to take someone to court to started to rain. to take cover to find a
arrange for someone to come to a court to place to shelter from something such as
end an argument 2. an area where sports rain It started to rain and they took cover
such as tennis or basketball are played under a tree. When the robbers started
The tennis courts are behind the hotel. to shooting, the policeman took cover behind
be on court to be playing tennis 3. a group a wall. verb (covers, covering, covered)
of people living round a king or queen 1. to put something over something else to
court case / k
t kes/ noun a legal ac-
court case
keep it clean You should cover the furni-
tion or trial ture with sheets before you start painting
the ceiling. 2. to hide something [~with]
courteous / k#
tis/ adj polite
courteous
He covered the hole in the ground with

courtesy / k#
tsi/ noun politeness
courtesy
branches. She covered her face with her

The hotel staff showed us every courtesy. hands. 3. to travel a certain distance They
She might have had the courtesy to apolo- made good progress, covering twenty miles
gise. Children should show some courte- a day. under cover under a roof, not in
sy towards their grandparents. (by) cour- the open air If it rains the meal will be
tesy of as a gift from, or with the kind per- served under cover.
mission of a box of chocolates by cover up phrasal verb 1. to cover some-
courtesy of the management He arrived thing completely He covered up the
home two hours late, courtesy of the train mark on the wall with white paint. 2. to
service. try to hide something that someone has
court-martial /k
t m
()l/ (plural
court-martial
done wrong [~for] The staff tried to cov-

courts-martial or court-martials) noun 1. a er up for their bosss absence.
court which tries someone serving in the cover girl / kv (#
l/ noun a female
cover girl
armed forces for offences against military model whose picture appears on the front
discipline He was found guilty by court- cover of a magazine
martial and sentenced to imprisonment. 2. covering / kv()r/ noun a thing
covering
the trial of someone serving in the armed which covers

forces by the armed forces authorities covering letter /kvr let/ noun a
covering letter
The court-martial was held in the army letter explaining what is enclosed with it
headquarters. (NOTE: + court-martial v) covert / kvt, kvt/ adj hidden or
covert
court order / k
t
d/ noun an order
court order
secret
issued by a judge cover-up / kvr p/ noun the hiding of
cover-up
courtroom / k
tru
m/ noun a room
courtroom
a scandal
where a judge holds a trial cover version / kv v#
()n/ noun a
cover version
courtship / k
tp/ noun 1. a period
courtship
new version of a song, recorded by some-

when a man and a woman form a romantic one other than the original singer
relationship before getting married 2. a covet / kvt/ (covets, coveting, covet-
covet
special display put on by animals to attract ed) verb to want something which belongs
the opposite sex to someone else
courtyard / k
tj
d/ noun a small coveted / kvtd/ adj which everyone
courtyard coveted
square area surrounded by buildings wants

couscous / ku
sku
s/ noun 1. a food cow /ka/ noun a large female farm an-
couscous cow
made of small grains of wheat 2. a dish of imal, kept to give milk a field of cows
meat and couscous The farmer was milking a cow.
coward 144
coward / kad/ noun a person who is craftsman / kr
ftsmn/ (plural crafts-
coward craftsman
not brave men) noun an artist who is expert at mak-

cowardice / kads/ noun the state of ing things by hand
cowardice
craftsmanship / kr
ftsmnp/ noun
craftsmanship
not being brave

cowardly / kadli/ adj not brave the skill of a craftsman
cowardly
craftswoman / kr
ftswmn/ (plural
craftswoman
cowboy hat / kab ht/ noun a large

cowboy hat
wide-brimmed hat worn by cowboys craftswomen) noun a woman who is ex-

cower / ka/ (cowers, cowering, cow-
cower
pert at making things by hand
crafty / kr
fti/ (craftier, craftiest) adj
crafty
ered) verb to crouch down because you are

afraid good at getting the things you want, often
co-worker / k w#
k/ noun someone
co-worker in a way that is not completely honest
(NOTE: + craftily adv)
who shares their work with one or more
crag /kr(/ noun a steep cliff
crag
people
cram /krm/ (crams, cramming,
cram
coy /k/ adj timid or shy

coy
crammed) verb 1. to squeeze something

coyote /k ti/ noun an American wild
coyote
into a small space She crammed all her

animal, like a small wolf clothes into a little suitcase. Dont try to
crabby / krbi/ adj bad-tempered
crabby
cram so many interviews into one day. 2. to

crack /krk/ noun 1. a sharp sound
crack
learn facts hurriedly before an examination

the crack of a whip The crack of a twig Everybodys at home cramming for their
behind her made her turn round. 2. a long finals.
thin break in a surface A crack appeared cramp /krmp/ noun a pain in a tight
cramp
in the ceiling. Her ring fell down a crack muscle which will not relax He went
in the floorboards. The field is so dry it is swimming and got cramp in the cold water.
full of cracks. verb (cracks, cracking, She woke up with cramp in her right leg.
cracked) 1. to make a sharp sound A twig cramped /krmpt/ adj too small or too
cramped
cracked as he stepped on it. 2. to make a close together On some planes, the seats
long thin break in something The stone are very cramped.
cracked the glass. cranberry / krnb()ri/ (plural cranber-
cranberry
crackdown / krkdan/ noun a cam-

crackdown
ries) noun a bitter wild red berry, used to

paign against something (informal) make a sharp sweet sauce or drink
cracker / krk/ noun 1. a little firework crane /kren/ noun a tall metal piece of
cracker
crane
which makes a series of bangs Crackers equipment for lifting heavy things The
were going off all round the procession to container slipped as the crane was lifting it
the temple. 2. a colourful paper tube which onto the ship.
makes a little bang when it is pulled, given cranium / krenim/ noun the bones
cranium
at Christmas parties covering the top part of the head

crackle / krk()l/ (crackles, crackling,
crackle
crank /krk/ noun 1. a metal arm with a

crank
crackled) verb to make little dry sounds, right angle, often mounted on a shaft
like something burning The bonfire Youll need a crank to start the engine. 2. a
crackled away in a corner of the garden. very strange person Shes a bit of a crank
crackling / krkl/ noun hard baked
crackling
when it comes to food, because there are so

pork skin many things she wont eat.
cradle / kred()l/ noun 1. a babys bed
cradle
crank out phrasal verb to produce a se-

which can be rocked She rocked the baby ries of things as if by a machine (informal)
to sleep in its cradle. 2. a support for a crash /kr/ noun 1. an accident
crash
piece of machinery 3. a place where somewhere vehicles are damaged He was
thing started Greece is the cradle of West- killed in a train crash. None of the pas-
ern civilisation. verb (cradles, cradling, sengers was hurt in the coach crash. His
cradled) to hold something gently in your car was badly damaged in the crash. 2. a
arms or hands The little girl was cradling loud noise when something falls over
her doll. The ladder fell down with a crash. There
craft /kr
ft/ noun 1. the skill of making
craft
was a loud crash in the kitchen. 3. the col-

something by hand traditional rural lapse of a company He lost all his sav-
crafts such as thatching He learnt the ings in the bank crash. 4. the complete
craft of furniture-making as a boy. 2. a ship breakdown of a computer verb (crashes,
The sleek craft slipped out of harbour. crashing, crashed) 1. (of vehicles) to hit
All sizes of craft took part in the rescue. something and be damaged [~against/in-
145 creature
to/through etc] The bus crashed into a room dancing. to drive someone crazy
wall. 2. to fall, making a loud noise to have an effect on someone so that they
[~against/into/through etc] The wall came become very annoyed The noise is driv-
crashing down. The ladder crashed onto ing me crazy. All this work is driving her
the floor. 3. (of a company) to collapse He crazy.
lost all his savings when the bank crashed. creak /kri
k/ verb (creaks, creaking,
creak
4. (of a computer) to stop working The creaked) to make a squeaky noise noun a
hard disk has crashed but we think the data noise like that of wood moving She heard
can be retrieved. a creak on the stairs and sat up in bed.
crash barrier / kr bri/ noun a
crash barrier
(NOTE: Do not confuse with creek.)

strong fence to prevent cars from running cream /kri
m/ noun 1. the thick yellow
cream
off the road part of milk, full of fat I like strawberries

crash course / kr k
s/ noun a
crash course
and cream. 2. any soft smooth substance

course of fast hard study used, e.g. for cleaning or for protecting the
crash helmet / kr helmt/ noun a skin face cream shaving cream shoe
crash helmet
hard hat worn by motorcyclists cream 3. the colour of cream adj of a yel-
crash-landing /kr lnd/ noun the low-white colour He was wearing a
crash-landing
act of landing a plane heavily, without us- cream shirt. Do you like our new cream
ing the wheels carpet?
crass /krs/ adj rude, stupid or coarse, cream cheese /kri
m ti
z/ noun a soft
cream cheese
crass
not caring about what people think white cheese

crate /kret/ noun 1. a large wooden box crease /kri
s/ noun 1. a mark made in
crate crease
The dinner set arrived safely, carefully cloth by ironing Trousers should have a
packed in a wooden crate. 2. a container crease in front. 2. a mark made by folding
for bottles a beer crate The office or- accidentally She ironed his shirts to re-
ders a crate of milk every day. move the creases. verb (creases, creas-
crater / kret/ noun 1. a hole made by a ing, creased) to make folds accidentally in
crater
bomb Over the winter, the bomb craters something After two hours in the car, my
filled up with rainwater. 2. a round hole at skirt was badly creased and had to be
the top of a volcano A group of scientists pressed.
creased /kri
st/ adj showing creases
creased
flew over the crater to monitor the activity

of the volcano. 3. a round hole on the Moon from having been crushed or folded
or a planet, where a meteorite has hit it A Hang up your clothes as soon as you arrive
map of the craters of the Moon. otherwise everything will stay creased.
crave /krev/ (craves, craving, craved) create /kri et/ (creates, creating,
crave create
verb to want something very much created) verb to make or invent something
craving / krev/ noun a strong desire a government scheme which aims at cre-
craving
crawl /kr
l/ verb (crawls, crawling,
crawl
ating new jobs for young people
creation /kri e()n/ noun 1. the act
creation
crawled) 1. to move around on your hands |
and knees The baby has just started to of making or inventing something Our
crawl. 2. to travel along slowly The traf- aim is the creation of new jobs for young
fic was crawling along. noun 1. a very unemployed people. 2. something which
slow speed The traffic on the motorway has been made, especially something artis-
was reduced to a crawl. 2. a swimming tic or unusual
creative /kri etv/ adj full of ideas,
creative
style where each arm goes over your head |
in turn He won the 100m crawl. (NOTE: no always making something Hes a very
plural) creative child.
crayon / kren/ noun a coloured wax creative writing /krietv rat/
crayon creative writing
stick, used especially by children for draw- noun the writing of stories, poems and oth-
ing er works of the imagination
craze /krez/ noun a new fashion [~for] creativity /kri
e tvti/ noun being
craze creativity
the current craze for purple shoes full of ideas, always creating things
crazed / krezd/ adj behaving wildly creator /kri et/ noun a person who
crazed creator
crazy / krezi/ adj 1. not sensible It makes or invents something

crazy
was a crazy idea to go mountain-climbing creature / kri

t/ noun 1. an animal,
creature
in sandals. 2. very enthusiastic about especially one that you dont know a name
something or someone [~ about] Hes for Lift any stone and youll find all sorts
crazy about her. Shes crazy about ball- of little creatures underneath. We try not
crche 146
to harm any living creature. Some sea hind someone without that person realising
creatures live in holes in the sand. 2. an im- it 2. to move slowly The traffic was
aginary animal or living being creeping along the motorway because of
crche /kre/ noun a special room or the fog. to give someone the creeps to
crche
building where babies and small children make someone feel nervous and uncom-
can be looked after, often on a companys fortable I dont like that teacher he
premises gives me the creeps.
credence / kri
d()ns/ noun a belief that creepy / kri
pi/ (creepier, creepiest) adj
credence creepy
something is correct or true which makes you feel strangely uncom-

credentials /kr denlz/ plural noun fortable (informal )
credentials
letters or documents which describe a per- cremate /kr met/ (cremates, cremat-
cremate
sons qualities and skills The new pro- ing, cremated) verb to burn a dead body
duction manager has very impressive cre- (NOTE: + cremation n)
dentials. crematorium /krem t
rim/ noun a
crematorium
credibility /kred blti/ noun the

|
credibility
|
place where the bodies of dead people are
quality of being able to be believed burnt (NOTE: The US term is crematory.)
credible / kredb()l/ adj which can be
credible
crepe paper /krep pep/, crpe pa-

crepe paper
believed per noun slightly crinkly coloured paper

credit / kredt/ noun 1. praise for
credit
crept /krept/ past tense and past partici-

crept
something which is well deserved [~for] ple of creep

The professor took all the credit for the in-
crescendo /kr end/ noun 1. an in-
crescendo
vention. 2. the length of time given to pay |
for something We give purchasers six crease in sound, especially in music to

months credit. 3. the side of an account rise to or reach a crescendo to become
showing money that you have got or which much louder The music suddenly rose to
is owed to you We paid in 100 to the a crescendo. 2. a rising to reach a high
credit of Mr Smith. plural noun credits point A crescendo of complaints came
the list of people who helped to make a into the office. Protests from the public
film or TV programme Her name ap- reached a crescendo with a march on
pears in the credits. verb (credits, credit- Downing Street.
crescent / krez()nt/ noun 1. a curved
crescent
ing, credited) to pay money into an ac-

count to credit an account with 100 or shape, like a new moon The new moon
to credit 100 to an account on credit hung like a silver crescent over the lake. 2.
without paying immediately We bought a street which forms a semicircle the
the dining room furniture on credit. beautiful 18th-century houses in Baths fa-
creditable / kredtb()l/ adj which mous crescents
creditable
crest /krest/ noun 1. the highest point

crest
does you credit, which should be praised

credit card / kredt k
d/ noun a plastic along the length of a mountain or a wave
credit card
card which allows you to borrow money Follow the path along the crest of the hill
and to buy goods without paying for them the view is splendid. The crests of some
immediately of the waves reached 30 feet. 2. the highest
credit limit / kredt lmt/ noun the point of something When the president
credit limit
maximum amount of money that a custom- was elected he was at the crest of his pop-
er is allowed to spend on credit or charge to ularity. 3. the feathers on the head of a bird
their credit card a striking black cockerel with a red crest
creditor / kredt/ noun a person who

creditor
A peacock has a tall coloured crest. 4. a
is owed money coat of arms His family crest is a red lion.

His college crest is still hanging on his
creed /kri
d/ noun a statement of what
creed
you believe Retraining for the unem- bedroom wall.

crevasse /kr vs/ noun a deep crack in
crevasse
ployed is one of the governments creeds. |
creek /kri
k/ noun US a small river up
creek
hard ground
crevice / krevs/ noun a small crack in a
crevice
the creek in a difficult situation (informal)

If we dont get any money by tomorrow rock or wall
evening well all be up the creek. crew /kru
/ noun the people who work
crew
creep /kri
p/ (creeps, creeping, crept or on a vehicle such as boat or aircraft The
creep
creeped) verb 1. to move around quietly lifeboat rescued the crew of the sinking
They crept softly down the stairs. to ship. The plane was carrying 125 pas-
creep up on someone to come up close be- sengers and a crew of six.
147 critical mass

crewman / kru
mn/ noun a man who is crinkle / krk()l/ (crinkles, crinkling,
crewman crinkle
a member of a ships crew crinkled) verb to fold or crush something,

crew neck / kru
nek/ noun a sweater
crew neck
making many small creases
cripple / krp()l/ noun a person who is
cripple
with a tight round neck

crib /krb/ noun 1. US a babys bed 2. a
crib
disabled or has difficulty in walking (offen-
sive) Cripples sat outside the hotel, beg-
model of the scene of the first Christmas
displayed in a church at Christmas 3. a ging for money from tourists. verb (crip-
ples, crippling, crippled) 1. to disable
word-for-word translation or list of an-
swers to help a student with homework someone He was crippled in a mining ac-
cident. 2. to prevent something from work-
crick /krk/ noun a pain in the neck or
crick
ing The explosion crippled the super-

back tanker and she drifted towards the rocks.
cricket / krkt/ noun a game played
cricket
The bus and rail strike has crippled the

between two teams of eleven players using capitals transport system.
bats and a hard ball We havent played crisis / krass/ (plural crises) noun a
crisis
much cricket this year the weather has serious situation where decisions have to
been too bad. We are going to a cricket be taken very quickly [~in] an interna-
match this afternoon. tional crisis a crisis in education
cricketer / krkt / noun a person who crisp /krsp/ adj 1. (of food) hard, able to
cricketer crisp
plays cricket be broken into pieces and making a noise

cried /krad/ past tense and past participle
cried
when you bite it These biscuits are not
of cry crisp any more, they have gone soft. Pick
an apple off the tree, theyre really very
cries /kraz/ 3rd person singular present
cries
crisp. 2. cold and sunny It was a beautiful

of cry crisp morning, with frost glinting on the
crime /kram/ noun 1. illegal behav-
crime
grass. She could see her breath in the

iour We must try to reduce the levels of crisp mountain air.
crime in the inner cities. The government criss-cross / krs krs/ verb to go back-
criss-cross
is trying to deal with the problem of crime wards and forwards in different directions
on the streets or with the street crime prob- We dodged through the cars, bicycles,
lem. 2. a specific illegal act More crimes carts and pedestrians criss-crossing the
are committed at night than during the street.
daytime.
criterion /kra trin/ (plural crite-
criterion
crime wave / kram wev/ noun an in-

crime wave
ria) noun the standard by which things are

crease in the number of crimes judged Does the candidate satisfy all our
criminal / krmn()l/ adj referring to
criminal
criteria?
illegal acts the criminal justice system critic / krtk/ noun 1. a person who ex-
critic
Stealing is a criminal offence. noun a per- amines something and comments on it, es-
son who commits a crime pecially a person who writes comments on
criminalise / krmnlaz/ (criminalis- new plays and films for a newspaper
criminalise
es, criminalising, criminalised), criminal- Shes the TV critic of the Times. The
ize verb to make something illegal film was praised by all the critics. 2. a per-
criminal law /krmn()l l
/ noun
criminal law
son who says that something is bad or
laws which deal with crimes against the wrong The chairman tried to answer his
law of the land, which are punished by the critics at the meeting.
critical / krtk()l/ adj 1. dangerous
critical
state. Compare civil law

and difficult With the enemy attacking on
criminal record /krmn()l rek
d/
criminal record
all sides, our position was becoming criti-

noun a police record that lists any crimes cal. 2. extremely important He made a
that a person has been arrested for critical decision to break off the negotia-
crimson / krmzn/ adj deep bright red
crimson
tions. 3. very serious The pilot of the

cringe /krnd/ (cringes, cringing, plane was in a critical condition last night.
cringe
cringed) verb 1. to bend to avoid a blow The hospital said that her condition was
The little boy cringed when he heard his fa- critical. 4. criticising someone or some-
ther shouting. 2. to be embarrassed See- thing The report was highly critical of the
ing the boss trying to make jokes just minister.
critical mass /krtk()l ms/ noun
critical mass
makes me cringe. She cringed when her

son started to play the violin. the minimum size that something must
criticise 148
reach before it can operate successfully, croquet / krki/ noun a game played on
croquet
e.g. the number of customers needed be- grass

fore a business can begin to make money cross /krs/ verb (crosses, crossing,
cross
criticise / krtsaz/ (criticises, criti-

criticise
crossed) 1. to go across something to the

cising, criticised), criticize verb to say that other side She just crossed the road with-
something or someone is bad or wrong out looking to see if there was any traffic
She criticised their lack of interest and en- coming. 2. to put one thing across another
thusiasm. The design of the new car has He crossed his arms and looked annoyed.
been criticised. She sat down and crossed her legs. The
criticism / krtsz()m/ noun an un- road crosses the railway line about 10km
criticism
favourable comment or comments There from here. noun a shape made where one
was a lot of criticism of the governments line has another going across it [~between/]
plan. Write your name where I have put a
critique /kr ti
k/ noun a piece of care-
critique
|
cross. adj angry The teacher will be
ful literary criticism cross with you for missing school. Dont
be cross the children were only trying to
croak /krk/ (croaks, croaking,
croak
help.
croaked) verb to make a deep sound The
cross off, cross out phrasal verb to
frogs started croaking in the pond. (NOTE: +
croak n)
draw a line through something which has
been written to show that it should not be
crochet / kre/ (crochets, crochet-
crochet
there
ing, crocheted) verb to make something
crossbar / krsb
/ noun 1. a bar which
crossbar
out of wool, using a hooked needle Who

crocheted the beautiful jumper you are goes across a space, especially a bar which
wearing? goes between the posts forming a goal
He kicked the ball over the crossbar and
crockery / krkri/ noun cups, saucers
crockery
converted the try. He almost scored, but

and plates made from pottery the ball hit the crossbar. 2. a bar which
crocodile / krkdal/ noun a large rep-
crocodile
crosses the frame of a mans bicycle, from

tile which lives in or near rivers and lakes the seat to the steering column She sat on
and eats other animals Crocodiles lay on his crossbar. Girls bicycles normally
the banks of the river waiting for the ani- dont have crossbars.
mals to come to drink. crossbow / krsb/ noun a weapon
crossbow
crocus / krks/ (plural crocuses or

crocus
which fires bolts

croci) noun a little spring flower, in various crossed cheque /krst tek / noun a
crossed cheque
colours, especially yellow and purple cheque which has two lines drawn across it
croissant / kws/ noun a rolled pas-
croissant
and can only be paid into a bank

try, made in a curved shape cross-examination /krs (zm
cross-examination
crony / krni/ (plural cronies) noun an ne()n/ noun the questioning of wit-
crony
old friend (disapproving) nesses called by the other side in a case

cronyism / krniz()m/ noun giving (NOTE: + cross-examine v)
cronyism
jobs to your old friends (disapproving) cross-eyed /krs ad/ adj with eyes
cross-eyed
crook /krk/ noun 1. a dishonest dealer that do not face forwards, but look inwards
crook
I dont trust the government theyre a towards the nose (offensive)

bunch of crooks. That secondhand car crossfire / krsfa/ noun gunfire from
crossfire
dealer is a bit of a crook. 2. a bend She two directions, so that the fire crosses
held the baby in the crook of her arm. crossing / krs/ noun 1. an occa-
crossing
crooked / krkd/ adj bent, not straight

crooked
sion of going across to the other side of an

That picture is crooked. area of water How long is the crossing
croon /kru
n/ (croons, crooning, from England to Germany? 2. a place
croon
crooned) verb to sing in a soft voice where you go across safely Cars have to
crop /krp/ noun plants such as vegeta-
crop
take care at the railway crossing.
cross-legged /krs le(d/ adj, adv with
cross-legged
bles or cereals grown for food The bad

weather has set the crops back by three one ankle over the other He was sitting
weeks. We had a wonderful crop of pota- cross-legged on the floor.
toes or a wonderful potato crop this year. crossover / krsv/ noun the situa-
crossover
crop up phrasal verb to happen suddenly tion where one style mixes with another or
(informal) becomes popular with a different kind of
149 cruise missile

audience He made the crossover from pi- crowd outside the cinema shouted a warn-
anist to conductor without any difficulty. ing. Lets get an early train home to
cross-reference /krs ref()rns/ avoid the crowds after work. verb
cross-reference
noun a note in a reference book telling the (crowds, crowding, crowded) to group to-
reader to look in another part of the book gether [~round/around/~into] The children
for further information Please, check all were crowding round their teacher. All
cross-references for accuracy. Cross-ref- the rugby fans crowded into the pub.
erences are not only useful to readers but crowded / kradd/ adj full of a large
crowded
also save time. verb to refer to something number of people The town gets very
in another part of a text crowded during the holiday season. The
crossroads / krsrdz/ noun a place
crossroads
stands were crowded before the game

where one road crosses another started.
cross-section / krs sekn/ noun 1. a crown /kran/ noun a round metal dec-
cross-section crown
diagram made to show the inside of some- oration that a king or queen wears on his or
thing, as if it had been cut through The her head verb (crowns, crowning,
picture shows a cross-section of the Chan- crowned) 1. to make someone king or
nel Tunnel. Diagram 4 is a cross-section queen by placing a crown on his or her
of a diesel engine. 2. a typical group of head The Queen was crowned in West-
people The team consulted a cross-sec- minster Abbey. 2. to be a very good end to
tion of the public in the shopping centre. a set of things that happen He crowned
cross-trainer /krs tren/ noun 1. a
cross-trainer
his career by winning a gold medal. to

shoe designed for more than one sporting crown it all used to refer to the last of sev-
activity 2. an exercise machine intended to eral bad things to happen To crown it all,
develop many different groups of muscles he lost his car keys.
cross-training /krs tren/ noun crowning / kran/ adj representing
cross-training
crowning
training in different sports such as running outstanding achievement

and weightlifting, usually in order to im- crucial / kru
()l/ adj extremely im-
crucial
prove performance in one of the sports portant It is crucial that the story be kept
crosswalk / krsw
k/ noun US a place
crosswalk
out of the papers.

where you can walk safely across a street
crucifix / kru
sfks/ noun a cross with a
crucifix
crossword / krsw#
d/, crossword
crossword
figure of Jesus Christ on it

puzzle noun a puzzle where small squares
crucifixion /kru
s fkn/ noun the act
crucifixion
have to be filled with letters to spell words |
of killing a person by nailing him to a cross

crotch /krt/ noun a place between the
crotch
crucify / kru
sfa/ (crucifies, crucify-
crucify
tops of your legs

crotchety / krtti/ adj irritable
crotchety
ing, crucified) verb 1. to nail someone to a
crouch /krat/ (crouches, crouch-
crouch cross as a punishment Christ was cruci-
ing, crouched) verb to bend down low
fied between two thieves. 2. to criticise
He crouched in the bottom of the boat. someone sharply My brother would cru-
She crouched down to talk to the child. cify me if he knew I had used his car with-
out asking him. I cant call her now,
crouton / kru
tn/ noun a crunchy cube
crouton
shed crucify me if I woke her up.

of fried bread used as a garnish
cruel / kru
l/ (crueller, cruellest) adj
cruel
crow /kr/ noun a large black bird The

crow
crows make such a noise in the trees that it making a person or animal suffer [~to]
wakes us up. verb (crows, crowing, You mustnt be cruel to your new puppy.
cruelty / kru
lti/ noun the act of be-
cruelty
crowed or crew, crowed) 1. (of a cock) to

make a loud call The sound of the cock ing cruel [~to] The zoo keeper was ac-
crowing woke them all up. 2. to boast about cused of cruelty to animals.
cruise /kru
z/ noun a holiday consisting
cruise
something [~about] as the crow flies in a

straight line Its only a couple of miles as of a long journey in a ship, stopping at dif-
the crow flies, but since theres no bridge ferent places When he retired they went
over the river, it takes over half an hour to on a cruise round the Mediterranean.
drive there. verb (cruises, cruising, cruised) to go in a
crowbar / krb
/ noun a heavy metal boat from place to place They spent May
crowbar
bar for opening boxes and lifting things cruising in the Mediterranean. The ship
crowd /krad/ noun a very large cruised from island to island.
crowd
cruise missile /kru

z msal/ noun a
cruise missile
number of people together A crowd of

schoolchildren went past. Someone in the long-range guided missile
cruiser 150
cruiser / kru
z/ noun a large warship, crusts off the sandwiches. 3. the layer of
cruiser
smaller than a battleship How many pastry on top of a pie 4. the outer layer of
cruisers can the Navy send to the war the Earth
zone? crusty / krsti/ (crustier, crustiest) adj
crusty
crumb /krm/ noun a small piece that has 1. with a hard outside layer We had an ex-
crumb
broken off some dry food such as bread, cellent salad with a glass of wine and a
cake or biscuits piece of fresh crusty bread. 2. getting angry
crumble / krmbl/ (crumbles, crum-
crumble
easily The club is full of crusty old men
bling, crumbled) verb 1. to break up into nodding in leather armchairs.
crutch /krt/ noun a strong support for a
crutch
small pieces, or to break something up into

small pieces If you make it too dry it will patient with an injured leg, formed of a
just crumble when you eat it. He picked stick with a holding bar or a T-bar which
up a lump of dry earth and crumbled it befits under the shoulder
crux /krks/ noun the central point of a
crux
tween his fingers. 2. to collapse As the

witness said what he had seen, the defend- problem
ants case crumbled. All her confidence cry /kra/ verb (cries, crying, cried) 1.
cry
began to crumble. to have tears coming out of your eyes The

crumple / krmpl / (crumples, crum- baby cried when her mother took away her
crumple
pling, crumpled) verb 1. to crush or to toys. Cutting up onions makes me cry.

screw something up into a ball I heard Many people were crying when they left the
him crumple up the paper and throw it into cinema. 2. to call out Hello there, she
the wastepaper basket. 2. to become full of cried. noun (plural cries) 1. a loud shout
lines or folds Her shirt was crumpled be- [~of/~for] a cry of pain No one heard
cause she had been lying on the grass. her cries for help. 2. a sound made by a
The box was full of crumpled bits of paper. bird or other animal
crunch /krnt/ verb (crunches, crunch- crypt /krpt/ noun a cellar under a church
crunch crypt
cryptic / krptk/ adj secret and mysteri-

cryptic
ing, crunched) 1. to bite something hard,

making a loud noise She was crunching ous
an apple when the phone rang. 2. to crush crystal / krstl/ noun a solid chemical
crystal
something hard or dry The gravel substance with a regular shape The salt
crunched under his boots. noun 1. the formed crystals at the bottom of the jar.
sound of something hard or dry being crystal ball /krstl b
l/ noun a for-
crystal ball
crushed 2. a situation when something tune tellers glass ball, regarded as a means
must happen or be decided (informal) The of predicting what will happen in the future
crunch will come when the firm has no crystal clear /krstl kli
/ adj very
crystal clear
cash to pay the wages. if or when it clear, simple to understand

comes to the crunch if or when a point of crystallise / krstlaz/ (crystallises,
crystallise
decision is reached When it came to the crystallising, crystallised), crystallize

crunch, the other side backed down. verb 1. to form crystals Water crystallises
crunchy / krnti/ adj which makes a
crunchy
to form snow. 2. to take shape Following

noise when you are eating the meeting, our ideas began to crystallise.
crusade /kru
sed/ noun a strong action cube /kju
b/ noun 1. a shape like a box,
crusade
cube
|
to stop or change something [~against] where all six sides are squares of the same
The government has launched a crusade size The design for the library consists of
against drugs. a series of cubes. 2. something shaped like
crush /kr/ noun 1. a mass of people
crush
a cube He put two cubes of sugar in his

She was hurt in the crush of people trying tea. The ice cubes chinked in the glasses.
to get to the exit. He lost his briefcase in 3. (in mathematics) the result when a
the crush on the train. 2. to have a crush number is multiplied by itself twice 27 is
on someone to have a feeling of love for the cube of 3.
someone you do not know very well cubic / kju
bk/ adj measured in vol-
cubic
(informal) She had a crush on her tennis ume by multiplying length, depth and
coach. width (NOTE: Cubic is written in figures as 3:
crushing / kr/ adj which takes away
crushing
6m3 = six cubic metres; 10ft3 = ten cubic

all hope feet.)
crust /krst/ noun 1. a hard outer layer cuckoo / kku
/ (plural cuckoos) noun a
crust cuckoo
that covers something softer 2. the hard bird which has a cry that sounds like its
outside layer of bread You can cut the name and which lays its eggs in other
151 cumulative
birds nests When you hear the first cuck- race culminated in a win for the Canadian
oo you know that winter is over. The driver.
cuckoo lays its eggs in the nests of other culmination /klm ne()n/ noun a
culmination
birds. final point, grand ending

cucumber / kju
kmb/ noun a long culpable / klpb()l/ adj likely to at-
cucumber
culpable
dark green vegetable used mainly in salads tract blame

cuddle / kd()l/ verb (cuddles, cud- culprit / klprt/ noun a person or thing
cuddle
culprit
dling, cuddled) to put your arms round that is responsible for a crime, or for some-
someone and hold them close to you thing which has gone wrong
noun an act of putting your arms round cult / klt/ noun a small religious group
cult
someone and holding them close to you cultivate / kltvet/ (cultivates, culti-
cultivate
She picked up her daughter and gave her a vating, cultivated) verb 1. to dig and water
cuddle. the land to grow plants Fields are culti-
cuddle up verb to stand, sit or lie close to vated in early spring, ready for sowing
someone [~to] The children cuddled up corn. 2. to grow plants This field is used
to their mother. to cultivate new strains of wheat. 3. to do
cuddly / kd()li/ adj soft and pleasant to
cuddly
everything to get someones friendship

hold or hug We are cultivating the new director to try to
cue /kju
/ noun 1. something that happens
cue
make sure we get the contract. (NOTE: + cul-

or is said which makes something starts tivation n)
happening [~for] Her announcement was cultivated / kltvetd/ adj 1. who has
cultivated
the cue for a general celebration. 2. (in a been well educated in subjects such as mu-
play) words after which you have to speak sic, art and literature A really cultivated
or do something The gunshot is your cue person wouldnt be seen dead in a karaoke
to rush onto the stage screaming. 3. a long bar. 2. (of plant) which is specially grown
stick for playing billiards or snooker and is not wild Wild strawberries have a
cuff /kf/ noun 1. the end of the sleeve
cuff
more intense flavour than cultivated ones.

round the wrist The collar and cuffs of his 3. (of land) prepared for growing crops
shirt were dirty and frayed. 2. US a folded From the air, the cultivated fields were like
part at the bottom of each leg of a pair of a brown and green quilt.
trousers This year, slacks with cuffs are cultural / kltr()l/ adj relating to
cultural
back in fashion. (NOTE: The British term is culture His cultural interests are very
turnup.) 3. a hit with an open hand She wide-ranging from Mexican art to 12th-
gave him a cuff on the back of the head to century Greek paintings. There will be
shut him up. verb (cuffs, cuffing, cuffed) cultural activities available such as a visit
to hit someone The parents said he had to the museum.
cuffed the child on the head. culture / klt/ noun 1. activities in-
culture
cuisine / kw zi
n/ noun a style of cook-
cuisine
|
volving things such as music, art and liter-
ing Chinese cuisine is very different from ature He is taking a course in Russian
European. French cuisine is more and culture. 2. a countrys way of thinking or
more popular in England. (NOTE: From the behaving Is a TV in every home really
French word for kitchen.) what we want from Western culture?
cul-de-sac / kl d sk/ (plural culs- cultured / kltd/ adj 1. civilised, well
cul-de-sac
cultured
de-sac or cul-de-sacs) noun a small street educated Our guide was a very cultured
which is only open at one end lady from Vienna. Such behaviour is not
culinary / kln()ri/ adj referring to
culinary
acceptable in cultured society. 2. which

cooking has been grown artificially Only an ex-
cull /kl/ noun the practice of killing a cer- pert can tell the difference between a cul-
cull
tain number of animals in order to keep the tured pearl and a real one.
population under control The deer cull cumbersome / kmbs()m/ adj large
cumbersome
takes place in early October. verb (culls, and heavy

culling, culled) to kill a certain number of cumulative / kju
mjltv/ adj 1.
cumulative
animals in order to keep the population un- which is added gradually, especially each
der control About 10% of the deer popu- year The interest on this account is cumu-
lation is culled each autumn. lative. The cumulative effect of a series of
culminate / klmnet/ (culminates,
culminate
late nights finally caught up with him and

culminating, culminated) verb to reach a he fell asleep during the dinner. 2. which
particular result or conclusion [~in] The grows by the addition of new parts A cu-
cunning 152
mulative index is made up of several differ- turned out to be an old kitchen tool. Its
ent indexes put together. curious that no one knew where he lived.
cunning / kn/ adj clever at achieving curl /k#
l/ verb (curls, curling, curled)
cunning curl
something, especially by tricking people to twist, or make something twist My

a cunning plan It was cunning of her to hair curls naturally. Some plants have
ask him to help, as it flattered him. noun stems that curl round other plants. noun
cleverness in acting to achieve something 1. a piece of hair which grows in a twist 2.
He showed cunning in his attempts to hide a curved shape of a particular substance
his mistake. [~of] a curl of smoke
cup /kp/ noun 1. a small bowl with a curl up phrasal verb to bend your body
cup
handle, used for drinking from 2. the liquid into a round shape She curled up in the
in a cup He drank two cups of coffee. chair and went to sleep.
Can I have a cup of tea? 3. a large silver or curler / k#
l/ noun a roller for curling
curler
gold container given as a prize for winning hair

a competition curly / k#
li/ adj with natural curves or
curly
cupboard / kbd/ noun a piece of

cupboard
twists curly hair

furniture with shelves and doors Put the currant / krnt/ noun 1. a small round
currant
jam in the kitchen cupboard. She painted fruit I have planted some currant bushes.
the cupboard doors white. blackcurrant, redcurrant 2. a small dried
cupful / kpfl/ noun the quantity which
cupful
black grape a currant bun fruit cake

a cup can hold with currants, sultanas and raisins in it
curable / kjrb()l/ adj (of disease)
curable
(NOTE: Do not confuse with current.)

which can be cured currency / krnsi/ (plural curren-
currency
curate / kjrt/ noun a priest who helps

curate
cies) noun the money used in a specific

a parish priest country I want to change my pounds into
curator /kj ret/ noun a person in
curator
| French currency.
charge of a museum current / krnt/ adj 1. relating to the
current
curb /k#
b/ noun 1. something which
curb
present time What is the current state of

holds something back [~on] The company the report will it be finished on time?
needs to put a curb on its spending. 2. US Who is the current prime minister of Ja-
the stone edge to a pavement He sat on pan? Do you have a current timetable?
the curb and watched the cars go past. Mine is out of date. 2. widely accepted at
Try not to hit the curb when you park. the present time or at a particular time
verb (curbs, curbing, curbed) to hold current ideas about how to treat children
something back She needs to curb her The idea that the world was flat was cur-
enthusiasm to spend money. rent in the Middle Ages. noun 1. a flow of
curd /k#
d/ noun a solid food made from water or air Dont go swimming in the
curd
sour milk river the current is very strong. A warm

curdle / k#
d()l/ (curdles, curdling, westerly current of air is flowing across the
curdle
curdled) verb to become or make some- country. Vultures circle in rising currents
thing become solid and sour If you add of warm air. 2. a flow of electricity
lemon juice to milk it will curdle it. Milk Switch the current off at the mains. (NOTE:
will curdle in hot weather. Do not confuse with currant.)
cure /kj/ noun something which current account / krnt kant/
current account
cure
makes a disease better [~for] Doctors are noun a bank account from which you can
still trying to find a cure for colds. verb take money at any time
(cures, curing, cured) to make a patient or current affairs /krnt fez/ plural
current affairs
a disease better I dont know whats in the noun the political situation as it is now
medicine, but it cured my cough very fast. We are studying current affairs as part of
curfew / k#
fju
/ noun a period when no our politics course.
curfew
one is allowed out into the street currently / krntli/ adv at the
currently
curiosity /kjri sti/ (plural curiosi- present time He is currently the manager
curiosity
ties) noun 1. a feeling of wanting to know of our Paris office. We are currently in the
about something 2. a strange object process of buying a house.
curious / kjris/ adj 1. wanting to curriculum /k rkjlm/ (plural cur-
curious curriculum
know things Im curious to know what ricula or curriculums) noun 1. the set of
happened at the meeting. 2. unusual or subjects studied in school I am very glad
strange We found a curious object that that music and drama have been added to
153 customise
the curriculum. 2. the parts of a particular someone or something from the bad effects
subject that are studied of something to cushion the blow or the
curriculum vitae /k rkjlm vi
ta/ shock to reduce the bad effect of some-
curriculum vitae
(plural curricula vitae) noun full form of thing that happens She made no attempt
CV to cushion the blow, but just told them
curry / kri/ (plural curries) noun an
curry
straight out that they had all lost their jobs.
custard / kstd/ noun (in the UK) a
custard
Indian food prepared with spices I would

like a mild curry, please. We ordered sweet yellow sauce made with milk and a
chicken curry and rice. powder containing cornflour stewed rhu-
curse /k#
s/ noun 1. a swear word He barb and custard Would you like some
curse
threw the letter down with a curse. 2. a custard with your crumble?
custodial sentence /kstdil
custodial sentence
magic word to make something unpleasant |
happen to someone The witch put a curse sentns/ noun the fact of being legally
on the whole family. 3. something which sentenced to prison
causes you problems Being on call 24 custodian /k stdin/ noun a person
custodian
hours a day is the curse of being a doctor. who is responsible for the care and protec-
Pollution is the curse of industrialised tion of something or someone
societies. verb (curses, cursing, cursed) custody / kstdi/ noun 1. keeping
custody
1. to swear He cursed under his breath The jewels were in the custody of the man-
and marched out of the room. 2. to wish ager, and he had placed them in the hotel
that something bad should happen to safe. to take someone into custody to
someone arrest someone The three fans were taken
cursor / k#
s/ noun a small flashing line
cursor
into police custody. 2. the right of keeping

on a computer screen which shows where and looking after a child When they were
the next character will appear divorced, she was granted custody of the
cursory / k#
sri/ adj quick and not very
cursory
children. (NOTE: no plural)

careful custom / kstm/ noun 1. something
custom
curt /k#
t/ adj abrupt in speaking
curt
that people usually do, or have done for a

curtail /k#
tel/ (curtails, curtailing, long time the local custom of decorating
curtail
curtailed) verb to shorten something; to re- the wells in spring Its their custom to in-
duce something vite all their neighbours to a party at New
curtain / k#
t()n/ noun 1. a long Year. 2. the use of a shop or restaurant If
curtain
piece of cloth hanging in front of a window the assistants are rude to me again I will
Can you close or draw the curtains, take my custom elsewhere. to lose some-
please? 2. a long piece of cloth hanging in ones custom to experience a situation in
front of the stage at a theatre which a regular customer goes to another
curtsy / k#
tsi/ (plural curtsies), curtsey
curtsy
place of business, e.g. a restaurant or shop
noun a respectful movement made by The little shops will lose a lot of custom
women or girls, by bending the knees and when the new supermarket opens.
customary / kstmri/ adj usual
customary
putting one foot forward She made a

curtsy to the queen. bow1 (NOTE: + curtsy (formal) He handled the situation with his
v) customary efficiency. Its customary to
curve /k#
v/ noun a line that is bent give taxi drivers a tip.
curve
custom-built / kstm blt/, custom-

custom-built
like part of a circle the curve of the coast

line The road makes a sharp curve to the made /kstm med/ adj made to order
left. verb (curves, curving, curved) to be for a customer
in the shape of a curve The road curves customer / kstm/ noun 1. a per-
customer
round the side of the mountain. son who buys something in a shop or res-
curved /k#
vd/ adj with a rounded shape taurant, or from another business The
curved
cushion / k()n/ noun a bag filled shops are lowering their prices to attract
cushion
with something soft, e.g. feathers, for sit- more customers. Customers can order by
ting or leaning on Put a cushion behind post on or the Internet. His bar is always
your back if you find your chair is too hard. full of customers. 2. a person who uses a
verb (cushions, cushioning, cush- service such as a train We apologise to
ioned) to make soft something which customers waiting on Platform 5 for the
could be hard or painful The bushes late arrival of their train.
cushioned his fall. to cushion somebody customise / kstmaz/ (customises,
customise
or something from something to protect customising, customised), customize

custom-made 154
verb to have something changed to fit your someone else, or from or reaching a place
special needs She was cut off from her friends by a
custom-made /kstm med/ adj al-

custom-made
crowd of policemen. The village was
ternative for custom-built cut off by the snow. 3. to stop a phone call
before it is finished We were cut off in
customs / kstmz/ noun 1. H.M.
customs
the middle of our conversation. 4. to stop

Customs and Excise the British govern- electricity or water from reaching some-
ment department which organises the col- one He didnt pay the bill, so the com-
lection of taxes on goods coming into the pany cut off his electricity. The
country and also collects VAT He was lightning hit the generator and caused
stopped by customs. Her car was the power to be cut off.
searched by customs. The customs officer
cut out phrasal verb 1. to remove
asked her to open her bag. 2. an office of
this department at a port or airport something from something larger She
cut an advertisement out of the newspa-
cut /kt/ verb (cuts, cutting, cut) 1. to
cut
per. 2. to remove a part of something

divide, reduce or remove something using larger We had to cut out all the extras
a sharp tool, e.g. a knife or scissors [~into] from our order because they cost too
The meat is very tough I cant cut it much. 3. to stop doing or eating some-
with my knife. She cut the cake into six thing Shes decided to cut out sweet
pieces. 2. to damage the skin with somethings so as to lose weight. to be cut
thing sharp [~on] She cut her finger on out for something to be ideally suited for
the broken glass. 3. to reduce the size of something I dont think hes cut out for
something We are trying to cut the an office job. cut it out! stop doing that!
number of staff. Accidents have been cut (informal)
by 10%. The article is too long, so I asked cut up phrasal verb 1. to make some-
the author to cut 500 words. noun 1. a thing into small pieces by cutting it She
place which bleeds when your skin has cut the old towel up into little pieces.
been broken [~on] She had a bad cut on Can you cut up the meat for the children?
her leg. 2. a mark made in a surface by 2. to drive suddenly in front of another
something sharp 3. the sudden lowering of car Did you see how the little white car
the amount of something [~in] price cuts cut up the black one?
large cuts in spending a cut in working
cutback / ktbk/ noun a reduction in
cutback
hours he took a cut in salary or a salary

spending
cut he accepted a lower salary 4. a share of
cute /kju
t/ adj nice
cute
something such as profits Each salesper-

cutlery / ktlri/ noun knives, forks and
cutlery
son gets a cut of what is sold for cash.

cut across, cut through phrasal verb to spoons (NOTE: no plural)
cutlet / ktlt/ noun 1. a slice of meat,
cutlet
take a short cut to get somewhere

cut back phrasal verb to reduce spend- usually with a bone attached We were
ing We are having to cut back on staff served veal cutlets with mushroom sauce.
costs. 2. a fried dish made with minced meat, fish
cut down phrasal verb 1. to make a tree
or vegetables formed into the shape of a
fall down with a tool such as a saw He piece of meat She makes delicious fish
cut the tree down or cut down the tree. 2. cutlets.
cutoff / ktf/ noun something which
cutoff
also cut down on to reduce something

He needs to cut down the number of cig- marks the end of something The cutoff
arettes he smokes. Im trying to cut point for students going to the next level is
down on chocolate. 80% marks in the exam. What is the cut-
cut in phrasal verb 1. to interrupt some- off date for applications?
cut-price /kt pras/ adj very cheap
cut-price
one or something He would keep on

cutter / kt/ noun a tool used for cutting
cutter
cutting in while I was telling the story. 2.

cut-throat / kt rt/ adj vicious or in-
cut-throat
to drive suddenly in front of another car

Did you see how the little white car cut tense
in in front of the black one? cutting / kt/ noun 1. a small piece of
cutting
cut off phrasal verb 1. to take away a paper cut out of a newspaper 2. a little
small part of something using a sharp piece of a plant which will take root if
tool such as a knife She cut off a little stuck in the ground The cuttings I took
piece of string. He cut off two slices of from your lavender plant are all growing
ham. 2. to stop someone from being with well.
155 czar
cutting edge / kt ed/ noun the round a central area According to the
cutting edge
sharp edge of a knife The cutting edge is shipping forecasts, a cyclone is approach-
blunt and needs sharpening. ing Sri Lanka. (NOTE: In the Far East this is
CV /si
vi
/ noun a summary of some- called a typhoon; in the Caribbean a hurri-
CV
ones qualifications and experience. Full cane.)

form curriculum vitae cygnet / s(nt/ noun a baby swan
cygnet
cyanide / sanad/ noun a strong poison cylinder / slnd/ noun an object shaped
cyanide cylinder
cybercaf / sabkfe/ noun a caf

cybercaf
| like a tube closed at both ends

where you can pay to use the Internet cylindrical /s lndrk()l/ adj shaped
cylindrical
cyberspace / sabspes/ noun an im-

cyberspace
like a cylinder
aginary place which electronic information cymbals / smblz/ plural noun a pair of
cymbals
such as emails passes through round metal plates which are banged to-
cycle / sak()l/ noun 1. a period dur-
cycle
gether to make a loud noise

ing which something works or develops cynic / snk/ noun a person who doubts
cynic
and then returns to its starting point The that anyone has any good points
washing machine broke down in the middle
cynical / snk()l/ adj believing that
cynical
of its cycle. Global warming is starting to

affect the natural cycle of the seasons. a people only act for their own benefit
cynicism / snsz()m/ noun the fact of
cynicism
business or economic or trade cycle a pe-

riod during which trade expands, then being cynical
cyst /sst/ noun an unusual growth in the
cyst
slows down, then expands again 2. a bicy-

cle verb (cycles, cycling, cycled) to trav- body containing liquid
el on a bicycle Its hard to cycle into the czar /z
/ noun 1. the title of the former
czar
wind. emperor of Russia a photograph of the

cyclist / saklst/ noun a person who
cyclist
Czar and his family 2. the person in overall

rides a bicycle charge of some official organisation Hes
cyclone / sakln/ noun a tropical the new drugs czar, with complete respon-
cyclone
storm in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, sibility for fighting drug traffickers and
where the air moves very fast in a circle dealing with drug problems.
D
d /di
/, D noun the fourth letter of the al- The storm did a lot of damage. It will
d

phabet, between C and E take us months to repair the damage to the
DA abbr district attorney
DA
restaurant. 2. emotional harm done to a
dab /db/ verb (dabs, dabbing, dabbed)
dab
person [~to] I hope the experience of the
to give something a light tap She dabbed crash wont cause the children lasting
her eyes with her handkerchief. She damage. There has been serious damage
dabbed the cut with cotton wool soaked in to public confidence as a result of the at-
antiseptic. noun a small quantity She tack. verb (damages, damaging, dam-
put a dab of glue on each corner of the aged) 1. to break or partially destroy some-
poster. thing A large number of shops were dam-
dabble / db()l/ (dabbles, dabbling,
dabble
aged in the fire. These glasses are easily
dabbled) verb to be slightly involved in
damaged. 2. to affect someone or some-
something [~in] As a young man he dab- thing in a negative way
damaged / dmdd/ adj broken or
damaged
bled in politics.
dachshund / dksnd/ noun a breed of
dachshund
spoiled in some way a damaged book
damaging / dmd/ adj causing
damaging
small long low dog, originally from Ger-

many harm to someone or something
dad /dd/ noun a father
dad
damn /dm/ verb (damns, damning,

damn
daffodil / dfdl/ noun a bright yellow

daffodil
damned) 1. used to show annoyance

spring flower Damn it, were going to be late! Damn
daft / d
ft/ adj silly (informal ) him, hes left the front door open! 2. to se-
daft
dagger / d(/ noun a short knife verely criticise someone or something

dagger
daily / deli/ adj happening every day

daily
The new film was damned by the Sunday
daily newspapers such as the Times and the papers. 3. to condemn someone or some-
Daily Mail The cooker has been in daily thing in a religious situation Galileo was
use for ten years. Theres a daily flight to damned by the Church for saying that the
Washington. adv every day We can de- Earth turned round the Sun. interj used as
liver milk daily. twice daily on two occa- a mild swear word to show annoyance
sions every day noun (plural dailies) a Damn! Ive left my umbrella on the train.
damning / dm/ adj which clearly
damning
newspaper published every weekday

dainty / denti/ (daintier, daintiest) adj proves that someone has done something
dainty
delicate and small wrong

dairy / deri/ adj referring to or involved damp /dmp/ adj slightly wet Shed
dairy damp
in producing milk and things made from it just had a shower and her hair was still
such as cream or butter dairy products damp. The cellar has cold damp walls.
dairy cattle verb (damps, damping, damped) to wet
daisy / dezi/ (plural daisies) noun a something slightly
daisy
small white flower with a yellow centre dampen / dmpn/ (dampens, damp-
dampen
dam /dm/ noun a wall which blocks a

dam
ening, dampened) verb 1. to make some-

river to make a lake After the heavy rain thing slightly wet Dampen the cloth be-
people were afraid the dam would burst. fore you wipe the floor. She dampened
verb (dams, damming, dammed) to block the shirts before ironing them. 2. to
a river with a wall When they built the dampen someones enthusiasm to do
power station, the river had to be dammed. something to make someone less enthusi-
damage / dmd/ noun 1. the break-
damage
astic The bad weather dampened his en-

ing or physical spoiling of something [~to] thusiasm for sailing.
157 dart
damper / dmp/ noun something thing I wouldnt dare say no I might
damper
which discourages you Having just been lose my job. to dare not do something to
sacked put a damper on his birthday party. not be brave enough to do something I
dance / d
ns/ noun 1. a way of mov- darent go any faster. 2. to try to make
dance
ing in time to music She teaches dance or someone do something dangerous or unu-
is a dance teacher. We learnt a new dance sual in order to see how brave they are I
today. Scottish dances are very lively. 2. dare you to jump across that stream. 3.
an entertainment where people can dance used for telling someone how angry you
The club is holding a New Years dance. are Dont you dare do that again! How
verb (dances, dancing, danced) 1. to dare you look in my desk drawers! noun
move in time to music [~with/~to] There an attempt to persuade someone to do
he is hes dancing with that tall girl. I something difficult or dangerous He only
like dancing to this music. 2. to move or climbed on the roof for a dare. I dare say
jump around happily [~in/into/around etc] very probably I dare say youre right.
daredevil / dedev()l/ noun a brave
daredevil
She danced into the room and announced

shed got the job. The football fans were person who does not worry about danger
dancing in the streets. Hes a daredevil he flew his plane under
dancer / d
ns/ noun a person who Tower Bridge.
dancer
daring / der/ noun bravery The hel-

daring
dances
dandelion / dndlan/ noun a wild icopter pilot showed great daring in trying
dandelion
plant with yellow flowers which have a to rescue the boy from the cliff.
dark /d
k/ adj 1. with little or no light
dark
mass of little narrow petals

dandruff / dndrf/ noun small pieces The sky turned dark and it started to rain.
dandruff
of dry skin which come off your head Can you switch the light on? Its getting
danger / dend/ noun the possibility too dark to see. In Scotland in the sum-
danger
of something bad happening, e.g. damage, mer it gets dark very late. 2. not a light col-
failure or getting hurt our Her eyes are dark. She was wearing
[~to/~from/~of/~(that)] danger to health a dark blue coat.
darken / d
kn/ (darkens, darkening,
darken
from pollution When it rains, theres a

danger of flooding. Theres no danger darkened) verb to become dark
hell find out. in danger / n dend/ dark horse /d
k h
s/ noun a person
dark horse
likely to be harmed or damaged Get an you know nothing about and who may win
ambulance her life is in danger. I dont something such as an election or a race
think the children are in any danger. The darkly / d
kli / adv in a threatening or
darkly
whole building was in danger of catching frightening way

fire. out of danger not likely to die She darkness / d
kns/ noun the fact of
darkness
was very ill, but shes off the danger list not having any light the building was in
now. complete or total darkness there were no
dangerous / dendrs/ adj likely
dangerous
electric lights on in the building

to cause injury or damage Be careful darling / d
l/ noun 1. a name used to
darling
that old staircase is dangerous! Police talk to someone you love Darling! Im
warned the public not to approach the man back from the shops. 2. a lovable person
as he was dangerous. Children are Be a darling and fetch me the newspaper. 3.
warned that it is dangerous to go out alone someone who is liked by a particular group
at night. the darling of the art world
dangerously / dendrsli/ adv in a
dangerously
darn /d
n/ (darns, darning, darned)
darn
dangerous way verb to mend holes in clothes She hates

dangle / d(l/ (dangles, dangling,
dangle
darning socks.
dangled) verb 1. to hang freely The fish dart /d
t/ noun 1. a small heavy arrow
dart
dangled at the end of his line. Dirty with plastic feathers, used for playing the
sheets were dangling over the balcony. 2. game of darts Each player takes a turn to
to make something hang freely She dan- throw his or her three darts. 2. darts a
gled the puppet in front of the baby. game in which players throw small arrows
dank /dk/ adj cold and damp
dank
at a round board on a wall, each trying to

dappled / dp()ld/ adj covered with
dappled
make their arrow stick closest to the middle

patches of light and dark colour verb (darts, darting, darted) to move
dare /de/ verb (dares or dare, daring,
dare
quickly The little boy darted across the

dared) 1. to be brave enough to do some- street.
Darwinism 158
Darwinism / d
wnz()m/ noun a the- daub /d
b/ (daubs, daubing, daubed)
Darwinism daub
ory of evolution developed by the scientist verb to put a substance such as paint on a
Charles Darwin surface in a careless way
daughter / d
t/ noun a female child
daughter
dash /d/ noun 1. a small line in writing

dash
or printing, showing a space, or separating of a parent They have two sons and one
items The reference number is one four daughter. My daughter Mary goes to the
six dash seven (1467). 2. a sudden move- local school.
daughter-in-law / d
tr n l
/ (plural
daughter-in-law
ment towards a place There was a mad

dash to buy tickets. While the policeman daughters-in-law) noun the wife of a son
daunting / d
nt/ adj which seems
daunting
wasnt looking she made a dash for the

door. verb (dashes, dashing, dashed) to very difficult
hurry somewhere I cant stop now I dawdle / d
d()l/ (dawdles, dawdling,
dawdle
must dash to catch the last post. I dashed dawdled) verb to do something slowly
home to watch the football on television. dawn /d
n/ noun the beginning of a day,
dawn
She dashed into a shop so that he wouldnt when the sun rises We must set off for the
see her. Pyramids at dawn, so youll have to get up
dashboard / db
d/ noun the instru- very early. verb (dawns, dawning,
dashboard
ment panel in a car dawned) (of day) to begin

dawn on verb to begin to realise The se-
dawn on
data / det/ noun information involv-

data
ing figures or results of studies The data riousness of the situation finally dawned
is stored in our main computer. We spent on him. it dawned on him that he began
months gathering data on hospital waiting to realise that It gradually dawned on
times. The data shows that, on average, him that someone else was opening his let-
flowering takes place after two weeks. ters.
day /de/ noun 1. a period of time last-
day
(NOTE: Data is often used with a singular

verb, except in scientific contexts: The data ing 24 hours There are 365 days in a year
is easily available.) and 366 in a leap year. New Years Day
is on January 1st. They went on a ten-day
database / detbes/ noun a large
database
amount of information stored in a compu- tour of southern Spain. I spoke to him on

the phone the day before yesterday. We
ter in a way that allows particular pieces of
information to be found easily are planning to meet the day after tomor-
row. 2. the period from morning until night,
/det
data processing
data processing when it is light She works all day in the

prses/ noun the selecting and exam- office, and then looks after the children in
ining of data in a computer to produce in- the evening. It took the workmen four
formation in a special form days to build the wall.
date /det/ noun 1. the number of a day daybreak / debrek/ noun a time in the
date
daybreak
in a month or year, or a day when some- very early morning, when the sun is about
thing will happen or has happened Put to rise
todays date on the document. Whats the day care / de ke/ noun the practice of
day care
date next Wednesday? The dates of the looking after people, e.g. small children or
exhibition have been changed. The date old people during the daytime in a special
of the next meeting has been fixed for centre
Wednesday, June 10th. Do you remember daydream / dedri
m/ (daydreams,
daydream
the date of your girlfriends birthday? 2. a daydreaming, daydreamt or daydreamed)

small sweet brown fruit verb (dates, dat- verb to think about other things; not to con-
ing, dated) to write the date on something centrate He was sitting at his desk day-
The letter was dated 15 June. You for- dreaming about holidays in Greece. (NOTE:
got to date the cheque. to date from or + daydream n)
back to to exist since This house dates daylight / delat/ noun light that you see
daylight
from or dates back to the 17th century. during the daytime in broad daylight
dated / detd/ adj 1. with a date written
dated
openly, in the middle of the day Three

on it Thank you for your letter dated June men robbed the bank in broad daylight.
15th. 2. old-fashioned That advertise- daylight robbery /delat rbri/
daylight robbery
ment looks a bit dated now. noun the practice of charging very high
date rape / det rep/ noun the act of prices (informal)
date rape
raping someone you know, especially on a daytime / detam/ noun the period of
daytime
date light between morning and night I

159 dealing
watched a lot of daytime television when I deadlock / dedlk/ noun a point at
deadlock
lost my job. which two sides in a dispute cannot agree

day-to-day /de t de/ adj taking place The negotiations have reached a dead-
day-to-day
as part of normal life; which goes on all the lock. to break a deadlock to find a way
time to start discussions again after being at a
day trip / de trp/ noun a journey lasting
day trip
point at which no agreement was possible
deadly / dedli/ adj likely to cause peo-
deadly
one day
dazed /dezd/ adj confused in the mind
dazed
ple to die The terrorists turned the car
into a deadly weapon.
dazzle / dz()l/ (dazzles, dazzling,
dazzle
deadpan / dedpn/ adj not showing

deadpan
dazzled) verb to shine a strong light in

someones eyes so that they cannot see for your feelings in your face
dead wood /ded wd/ noun people or
dead wood
a moment She was dazzled by the lights

of the cars coming towards her. things that are considered to be of no worth
dazzling / dzl/ adj (of a light) very deaf /def/ adj not able to hear, or hav-
dazzling deaf
bright ing difficulty in hearing My grandma is

deactivate /di
ktvet / (deactivates,
deactivate
|
going deaf. Hes deafer than he used to
deactivating, deactivated) verb to make be. (NOTE: Some people avoid this term as it
something such as a bomb not active any can cause offence and prefer hearing-im-
more paired.)
deafen / def()n/ (deafens, deafening,
deafen
dead /ded/ adj 1. not alive any more

dead
His parents are both dead. Dead fish deafened) verb to make someone deaf for
were floating in the water. 2. complete a time
deafening / def()n/ adj so loud as to
deafening
There was dead silence in the exam room.

The train came to a dead stop. 3. not make you unable to hear
working We tried to start the car but the deafness / defns/ noun the state of be-
deafness
battery was dead. 4. not lively, not exciting ing deaf (NOTE: no plural)
Seaside towns can be quite dead in win-
deal /di
l/ noun a business agreement or
deal
ter. adv 1. completely He was dead contract [~with/~to] Weve signed a deal
tired after his long walk. 2. exactly with a German firm. They did a deal to
Youre dead right. The train arrived dead supply envelopes. a bad or rough or raw
on time. wouldnt be seen dead in would deal bad treatment She got a rough deal
not ever want to be seen in (informal) I from the firm. verb (deals, dealing, dealt)
wouldnt be seen dead in a hat like that. to give out playing cards to players Its
A really cultivated person wouldnt be seen my turn to deal. He dealt me two aces.
dead in a karaoke bar. a good or great deal much Hes feeling
deaden / ded()n/ (deadens, deaden-
deaden
a good deal better after two days off work.

ing, deadened) verb to make something She didnt say a great deal. a good or
less intense, e.g. to make a sound quieter or great deal of a lot of He made a good
a pain less painful deal of money from his business. Theres
dead end /ded end/ noun 1. a street or
dead end
a great deal of work still to be done.

way which leads nowhere We drove into deal in verb to buy and sell something
a little street and found it was a dead end. She deals in carpets and rugs imported
2. a point at which you can go no further from India.
All their research has come to a dead end. deal with phrasal verb 1. to do what is
dead-end job /ded end db/ noun a
dead-end job
necessary to complete a job or solve a

job where there is no hope of promotion problem The job involves dealing with
dead heat /ded hi
t/ noun a race where the public. Leave it to the filing clerk
dead heat
two people arrive first together hell deal with it. We will deal with
deadline / dedlan/ noun a date by which
deadline
your order as soon as we can. The gov-
something has to be done [~for] The dead- ernment has to deal with the problem of
line for payment of the bill is the end of Ju- teenage crime. 2. to be about a subject
ly. to meet a deadline to finish some- The report deals with travel insurance.
dealer / di
l/ noun a person who buys
dealer
thing in time I dont think we can meet

the deadline. to miss a deadline not to and sells things [~in] Shes a dealer in an-
finish something in time They worked as tiques.
dealing / di
l/ noun the practice of buy-
dealing
fast as they could but missed the deadline

by two days. ing and selling things
dealt 160
dealt /delt / past tense and past participle deathtrap / detrp/ noun a dangerous
dealt deathtrap
of deal place (informal)

dean /di
n/ noun 1. a person in charge of death wish / de w / noun to have a
death wish
dean
priests in a cathedral He was appointed death wish to want to die

dbcle /de b
k()l/ noun a sudden de-
dbcle
Dean of St Pauls. 2. a person in charge of |
teachers at a university the Dean of the feat or collapse

Arts Faculty debar /d b
/ (debars, debarring, de-
debar
dear /d/ adj 1. well liked or loved barred) verb to prevent someone from do-
dear
Shes a very dear friend of mine. 2. costing ing something

debase /d bes/ (debases, debasing,
debase
a lot of money Fresh fruit is always dear- |
er in the winter. That restaurant is too debased) verb to reduce the worth or the
dear for me. interj used when something quality of something
has gone slightly wrong Oh dear! Its debatable /d betb()l/ adj not abso-
debatable
started to rain. Dear me! Is that how late lutely certain

it is! noun a way of referring to someone debate /d bet/ noun 1. a discussion
debate
you like Did you have a good day, dear? [~with/~about/on/over] After his talk the
Dear Sir or Madam used at the beginning
professor had a lively debate with the stu-
of a letter to a man or woman whom you do dents about climate change. 2. a formal
not know discussion ending with a vote [~on] a de-
dearest / drst/ adj most loved (dated)
dearest
bate on increasing student fees verb (de-

dearly / dli/ adv 1. very much Id bates, debating, debated) 1. to consider or
dearly
dearly like to go to Cuba on holiday. She discuss a subject We sat in the rain and
loved her old cat dearly, and was very sad debated what to do next. 2. to discuss
when he died. 2. at a high cost, especially something formally before coming to a de-
in terms of pain or suffering She became cision [~what/~whether]
debauchery / d b
tri/ noun the fact
debauchery
a highly paid executive, but paid dearly for |
the privilege. of living a wild life

dearth /d#
/ noun a shortage of some- debilitating /d bltet/ adj making
dearth debilitating
thing (formal) you weak

debit / debt/ noun 1. money which is
debit
death /de/ noun the act of dying or the

death
state of being dead She never got over paid out or taken out of an account Your
her mothers death. Road accidents bank statement gives a list of credits and
caused over 1,000 deaths last year. to debits at the end of each month. 2. money
death completely (informal) He was which is owed a debit balance
debit card / debt k
d/ noun a plastic
debit card
bored to death sitting watching football on

television. I am sick to death of always card, similar to a credit card, but which au-
having to do the housework. to put tomatically debits your account when you
someone to death to execute someone buy something
debrief /di
bri
f/ (debriefs, debriefing,
debrief
deathbed / debed/ noun a bed on

deathbed
|
which someone is dying debriefed) verb to ask someone for infor-

mation about an important job which he or
death certificate / de stfkt/
death certificate
she has just done

noun a paper signed by a doctor which
debriefing /di
bri
f/ noun a meeting
debriefing
shows that someone has died and what was |
the cause of death at which someone gives information about

an important job which he or she has just
death rate / de ret/ noun the percent-
death rate
done
age of deaths per thousand of population debris / debri
/ (plural same) noun pieces
debris
death sentence / de sentns/ noun a

death sentence
of something, e.g. a demolished building

punishment of a court by which a person is or crashed aircraft
sentenced to be executed debt /det / noun money owed to some-
debt
death squad / de skwd/ noun a

death squad
one After her great success, she was able

group of soldiers or other armed people, to repay all her debts. to be in debt to
who are sent to kill enemies of the people owe money He is in debt to the tune of
in power 2,500. to get into debt to start to owe
death toll / de tl/ noun the number of money
death toll
debtor / det/ noun a person who owes

debtor
people who have been killed, e.g. in an ac-

cident or an earthquake money
161 decimate
debt relief / det rli
f/ noun the practice December 25 Christmas Day! They al-
debt relief
of a rich country allowing a poor country ways go on a skiing holiday in December.

not to pay back its debt Today is December 6th. The cheque
debug /di
b(/ (debugs, debugging, was dated December 6. (NOTE: December
debug
debugged) verb 1. to remove hidden mi- 6th or December 6: say the sixth of Decem-
crophones from a place 2. to remove errors ber or December the sixth or in US English
from a computer program December sixth.)
decency / di
s()nsi/ noun honour; good
decency
debunk /di
bk/ (debunks, debunk-
debunk
ing, debunked) verb to show that some- morals

decent / di
s()nt/ adj 1. honest The
decent
thing is not true

debut / debju
/ noun the first public ap-
debut
boss is a hard-working decent man. 2.
pearance of someone such as an actor quite good She earns a decent salary. 3.
decade / deked/ noun a period of ten
decade
properly dressed, wearing clothes You
years during the last decade of the 20th cant come in yet Im not decent.
decentralise /di
sentrlaz/ (decen-
decentralise
century |
tralises, decentralising, decentralised),

decadent / dekd()nt/ adj which is de-
decadent
decentralize (decentralizes, decentraliz-

clining in moral values ing, decentralized) verb to move power,
decaf / di
kf/, decaff adj which has had
decaf
authority or action from a central point to

the caffeine removed local areas
decaffeinated / di
kfnetd/ adj with
decaffeinated
deception /d sepn/ noun the prac-

deception
|
|
all caffeine removed tice of telling a lie in order to trick some-

decapitate /d kptet/ (decapitates,
decapitate
|
one, especially into giving you money
decapitating, decapitated) verb to cut off deceptive /d septv/ adj not as it seems
deceptive
someones head decibel / desbel/ noun a unit for meas-

decibel
decathlon /d kln/ noun an athletic

decathlon
|
uring the loudness of a sound
contest for men, covering ten events, held decide /d sad/ (decides, deciding,
decide
over two days decided) verb to make a decision about

decay /d ke/ noun the natural process of
decay
|
something [~between/~what/wheth-
going bad or of becoming damaged, e.g. er/how/when etc/~(that)] I cant decide
when things are not looked after properly between the blue one or the green one.
The government has plans to deal with in- Have you decided where to go on holiday?
ner city decay. Tooth decay is especially They decided to stay at home and watch
bad in children who eat sweets. You must TV. He decided the test was too difficult.
treat the wood to prevent decay. (NOTE: no decide against phrasal verb to make
plural) verb (decays, decaying, decayed) up your mind not to do something She
to go bad or to become damaged in this decided against spending her money on a
way Sugar makes your teeth decay. The new car.
jungle path was blocked by decaying decided /d sadd/ adj certain or obvi-
decided
branches. ous Theres a decided difference between

deceased /d si
st/ noun a person who
deceased
| French and Spanish wines.

has died (formal) The deceaseds will was deciduous /d sdjus/ adj (of a tree)
deciduous
read out by the solicitor. losing its leaves in the winter. Compare ev-
deceit /d si
t/ noun the practice of trying
deceit
| ergreen
to trick someone into paying money or try- decimal / desm()l/ noun a number in a
decimal
ing to make someone believe something system based on ten Three-quarters ex-
which is not true pressed as a decimal is 0.75.
deceitful /d si
tf()l/ adj often tricking decimal point /desm()l pnt/ noun
deceitful
decimal point
|
people a dot used to show the division between

deceive /d si
v/ (deceives, deceiving, whole numbers and parts of numbers in
deceive
deceived) verb to make someone believe decimals, such as 2.05

something which is not true They had decimal system / desm()l sstm/
decimal system
tried to deceive me, but I realised just in noun a system of counting based on the
time. number 10
December /d semb/ noun the decimate / desmet/ (decimates, deci-
December decimate
twelfth and last month of the year, after mating, decimated) verb 1. to kill people
November and before January She was in large numbers 2. to reduce something by
born last December. His birthday is on a large amount German forests have been
decipher 162
decimated by acid rain. Our sales have decommission / di
k m()n/ (de-
decommission
been decimated by the rise in the value of commissions, decommissioning, de-

the pound. commissioned) verb to stop using some-
decipher /d saf/ (deciphers, deci- thing such as a weapon
decipher
phering, deciphered) verb to read or make decompose /di

km pz/ (decom-
decompose
out something which has been badly writ- poses, decomposing, decomposed) verb
ten or written in code (of organic material) to rot
decision /d s()n/ noun an occa- decompress /di
km pres/ (decom-
decision
decompress
|
|
sion of thinking carefully what to do presses, decompressing, decom-

[~about/on] a decision to train as a teach- pressed) verb 1. to reduce the pressure in
er I need to make a decision soon about something 2. to expand a computer file that
changing my job. to come to or reach or has been stored in a smaller space to its full
take a decision to decide to do something size
They talked for hours but didnt come to
decorate / dekret/ (decorates,
decorate
any decision. He thought about the job decorating, decorated) verb 1. to put paint
offer, but, in the end, took the decision to or new paper on the walls in a room She
stay where he was. cant come to the phone shes decorating
decisive /d sasv/ adj 1. firm and
decisive
|
the kitchen. 2. to cover something with
confident He was nervous but tried to pretty or colourful things to make it look
sound decisive. 2. which brings about a re- attractive or to celebrate an occasion The
sult The second and decisive round of streets were decorated with flags.
voting takes place next Sunday. Her ac- decoration /dek re()n/ noun the
decoration
tion was decisive in obtaining the release act of decorating a place She is in charge
of the hostages. of the decoration of the church for the wed-
deck /dek/ noun a floor of a ship or bus
deck
ding.
Ill stay on deck because Im feeling sea- decorative / dek()rtv/ adj pleasant to
decorative
sick. Lets go up to the top deck you can look at; serving as a decoration
see the sights better from there.
decorator / dekret/ noun a person
decorator
decking / dek/ noun pieces of wood

decking
used to make a platform outside a house who paints the inside and outside of build-
ings
declaration /dekl re()n/ noun an
declaration
decorum /d k
rm/ noun the practice
| decorum
official statement |
of being well behaved

declare /d kle/ (declares, declar-
declare
decoy1 / di
k/ noun an object or a per-
| decoy
ing, declared) verb to state something offi-

cially [~that] The Senator declared his in- son that is placed to attract and trap some-
tention to run for President. She was de- thing When they go duck shooting, they
clared dead on arrival at hospital. It was use wooden duck decoys which they float
declared that Mrs Broom would be the new on the water. They used a woman police
chairperson. officer to act as a decoy to try to trap the
declassified / di
klsfad/ adj (of infor-
declassified mugger.
decoy2 /d k/ (decoys, decoying, de-
|
decoy
mation) which has been officially declared |
to be no longer secret coyed) verb to attract and trap something

decline /d klan / noun the fact of go-
decline
or someone
decrease1 / di
kri
s/ noun the fact of be-
|
decrease
ing downwards [~in] a welcome decline

in the number of cases of pollution Sales coming less [~of/~in] a decrease of 20%
figures have gone into a sharp or steep de- in applications to join the club Sales
cline. verb (declines, declining, de- show a 10% decrease on last year. to be
clined) 1. to refuse or to turn down an invi- on the decrease to be becoming less
tation or offer to do something She de- Road accidents are on the decrease.
decrease2 /d kri
s/ (decreases, de-
decrease
clined their request. He declined to come |
to lunch. 2. to become weaker He de- creasing, decreased) verb to become less

clined rapidly after he went into hospital. The number of road accidents is decreas-
3. to become less in numbers or amount ing. Applications to join have decreased
Our sales declined over the last year. The by 20%.
fish population has declined sharply. decree /d kri
/ noun a legal order which
decree
decode /di
kd/ (decodes, decoding,
decode
| has not been voted by a parliament The

decoded) verb to translate a coded mes- President has issued a decree banning
sage into normal writing short dresses.
163 defect
decrepit /d krept/ adj old and falling to water deepened as he walked out into the
decrepit
pieces lake. 2. to make something become deeper

dedicate / dedket/ (dedicates, dedi- Theyre going to deepen the channel so
dedicate
cating, dedicated) verb 1. to say that that bigger boats can use the harbour. 3. to
something you have produced or done rep- become more difficult to understand The
resents a mark of respect or affection for mystery deepened.
deep-fried /di
p frad/ adj which has
deep-fried
someone He dedicated his collection of

poems to his wife. 2. to spend all your life been cooked in a deep pan of boiling oil or
doing something She dedicated herself or fat
her life to looking after abandoned chil- deeply / di
pli/ adv 1. very much We
deeply
dren. deeply regret having to make so many peo-

dedicated / dedketd/ adj 1. giving a ple redundant. 2. to sleep deeply to sleep
dedicated
lot of time and effort to achieve something without waking After taking the drug she
Her life was saved by the dedicated sur- slept deeply for ten hours.
gical team at the hospital. 2. reserved for a deep-rooted /di
p ru
td/ adj which
deep-rooted
particular task Theres one dedicated you have had for a long time and which
graphics workstation in the network. you feel strongly
dedication /ded ke()n/ noun 1. deep-seated /di
p si
td/ adj that has
dedication deep-seated
spending your life doing something Her lasted a long time and will be difficult to
dedication and hard work are admirable. change
2. a note printed at the beginning of a book deep-set /di
p set/ adj (of eyes) which
deep-set
or play, where the author offers his or her have deep sockets
work to someone as a mark of respect or af- deer /d/ (plural same) noun a wild ani-
deer
fection mal, the male of which has long horns

deduce /d dju
s/ (deduces, deducing,
deduce
|
called antlers (NOTE: Do not confuse with
deduced) verb to conclude something dear. The female is a doe, the male is a
from examining the evidence (formal) stag, the young are fawns. Note also that
deduct /d dkt/ (deducts, deducting,
deduct
| the meat from a deer is called venison.)

deducted) verb to remove an amount from deface / d fes/ (defaces, defacing, de-
deface
a sum of money faced) verb to damage the surface of some-

deduction /d dkn/ noun 1. a conclu-
deduction
| thing by writing on or scratching it

sion reached Their deduction was cor- default /d f
lt/ noun the situation exist-
default
rect. by a process of deduction by looking if no change is made The default for
ing at the evidence and reaching a conclu- the number of copies is 10. by default 1.
sion 2. a sum of money which is taken happening because someone else fails to
away There is an automatic deduction do something As they didnt reply by the
for insurance. Net wages are wages after 15th, the agreement ended by default. 2. to
deduction of tax and social security pay- win a game or competition because another
ments. person does not play or cannot finish play-
deed / di
d/ noun an act, especially a
deed
ing His opponent withdrew and he won

brave one stories of great deeds per- by default.
formed during the war default setting /d f
lt set/ noun
default setting
deem /di
m/ (deems, deeming,
deem
the way in which something is organised to

deemed) verb to consider something or happen unless a change is made The de-
someone to be something (formal ) fault setting for the heating is on at 8 a.m.
deep /di
p/ adj (deeper, deepest) 1. and off at 6 p.m.
deep
going a long way down The water is very defeat /d fi

t/ noun the loss of a fight,
defeat
deep in the middle of the river. This is the game or vote The Government suffered a
deepest lake in North America. In the defeat in Parliament last night. It was the
shallow end of the pool, the water is deep teams first defeat for two years. verb (de-
enough to cover your feet. depth 2. going feats, defeating, defeated) to succeed
a long way under the ground a deep mine against someone in a fight, game or vote
3. (of a voice) low, not high Whos been The ruling party was heavily defeated in
sitting on my chair? said Father Bear in his the presidential election. Our team has
deep voice. adv a long way down The not been defeated so far this season. The
mine goes deep under the sea. proposal was defeated by 10 votes to 3.
deepen / di
pn/ (deepens, deepening, defect1 / di
fekt/ noun a fault There
deepen defect
deepened) verb 1. to become deeper The must be a defect in the computer program.
defect 164
defect2 /d fekt/ (defects, defecting, de- healthy or complete Their diet has a de-
defect
fected) verb to leave your country and join ficiency of iron or has an iron deficiency.
the enemy deficient /d f()nt/ adj lacking some-
deficient
defective /d fektv/ adj faulty thing [~in] The soil is deficient in nutri-
defective
defence /d fens/ noun 1. protection

defence
|
ents. Their diet is deficient in calcium.
deficit / defst/ noun an amount by
deficit
against something such as attack or infec-

tion Several people ran to her defence which something is less than it should be
when she was attacked. These tablets of- The company announced a deficit of 2
fer some defence against the disease. 2. million or a 2 million deficit in its ac-
protection provided by the armed forces counts.
Some countries spend more on defence define / d fan/ (defines, defining, de-
define
than on education. 3. (in games) a part of a fined) verb 1. to explain something clearly
team whose job is to protect the goal The or to give the meaning of something How
England defence came under attack from would you define the word environmen-
the other teams forwards. 4. (in a law tal? 2. to indicate the limits of something
court) the lawyers acting on behalf of an The police operate within limits that have
accused person been clearly defined. The memo tried to
defenceless /d fensls/ adj not able to define the way in which the two depart-
defenceless
protect yourself ments should work together.

defend /d fend/ (defends, defend- definite / def()nt/ adj very sure I
definite
defend
ing, defended) verb to protect a person or need a definite answer. He was quite def-
place that is being attacked They brought inite that he had seen the girl at the bus
in extra troops to defend the city against at- stop.
definite article / def()nt
tk()l/
definite article
tack.
defendant /d fendnt/ noun (in a law noun the word the in English, or a word
defendant
court) a person who is accused of doing with a similar use in another language
definitely / def()ntli/ adv certainly
definitely
something illegal or a person who is sued

in a civil case Ill definitely be there by 7 oclock. Are
defender /d fend/ noun 1. a person you coming? Definitely not!
defender
definition /def n()n/ noun an ex-

definition
who defends a place such as a castle or |
town The defenders surrendered after 90 planation of the meaning of a word A bi-
days, when they ran out of food. 2. in team lingual dictionary doesnt give definitions,
sports, a player who defends the goal The only translations. Look up the definition
defenders were continually passing the of democracy in the dictionary.
ball back to the goalkeeper. 3. someone definitive /d fntv/ adj final, which
definitive
who supports something strongly and ac- cannot be improved on

tively [~of] deflate /di
flet/ (deflates, deflating,
deflate
defense /d fens/ noun US spelling of

defense
| deflated) verb to let the air out of some-

defence thing, e.g. of a tyre or balloon Their hot
defensive /d fensv/ noun to be on air balloon began to deflate.
defensive
the defensive about something to feel you deflated /di

fletd / adj feeling unhappy
deflated
need to give reasons for having done some- and lacking confidence in yourself
thing Shes always on the defensive deflect /d flekt/ (deflects, deflecting,
deflect
about her decision to resign. deflected) verb to turn aside something,

defer /d f#
/ (defers, deferring, de-
defer
| e.g. an arrow or a bullet, so that it goes in

ferred) verb to put something back to a lat- another direction
er date, to postpone something to defer deforestation /di
fr ste()n/ noun
deforestation
| |
payment The decision has been deferred the act of cutting down trees from an area
until the next meeting. of land
deference / def()rns/ noun respect deformed /d f
md/ adj having a twist-
deference
deformed
defiance /d fans/ noun a very proud

defiance
| ed or unattractive shape
action against an opponent deformity /d f
mti/ (plural deformi-
deformity
defiant /d fant/ adj very bold in refus-

defiant
| ties) noun the fact of being deformed

ing to obey someone or something defragment /di
fr( ment/ (defrag-
defragment
deficiency /d f()nsi/ (plural defi-

deficiency
| ments, defragmenting, defragmented)

ciencies) noun not enough of something verb to arrange the storage space in a com-
needed to make someone or something puter
165 deli
defraud /d fr
d/ (defrauds, defraud- I approached the animal with some
defraud
| [~of]
ing, defrauded) verb to cheat someone to degree of fear. The degree of public inter-
get their money He defrauded the old est in the announcement surprised them.
lady of 10,000. to some or a certain degree partly Its
defrost /di
frst/ (defrosts, defrosting, his own fault to a certain degree.
defrost
dehydrate /di
ha dret/ (dehydrates,
dehydrate
defrosted) verb 1. to remove ice which has |
formed in a refrigerator or freezer I must dehydrating, dehydrated) verb 1. to re-

defrost the freezer. 2. (of frozen food) to move water from something 2. to lose wa-
thaw out A large turkey will take 24 hours ter from the body
to defrost. dehydrated /di
ha dretd/ adj (of
dehydrated
deft /deft/ adj very agile or clever with

deft
food) having lost water

your hands deity / deti/ (plural deities) noun a god
deity
defunct /d fkt/ adj no longer func-

defunct
dj vu /de
vu
/ noun a feeling that
dj vu
|
tioning you have already seen something before

defuse /di
fju
z / (defuses, defusing,
defuse
|
When he came into the room, he immedi-
defused) verb 1. to take the fuse out of a ately had a feeling of dj vu.
bomb so that it cannot explode An army dejected /d dektd/ adj very unhappy
dejected
unit was brought in to defuse the bomb. 2. or discouraged

to make a situation less tense The chair-
delay /d le/ noun the length of time
delay
man made some jokes to try to defuse the |
situation. The UN Secretary General has by which something is late [~of/~in] a de-
moved to try to defuse the crisis. lay of ten minutes We are sorry for the de-
lay in replying to your letter. verb (de-
defy /d fa/ (defies, defying, defied)
defy
lays, delaying, delayed) 1. to make some-

|
verb 1. to refuse to obey the law He

one or something late The train has been
should never have tried to defy the univer- delayed by fog. He was delayed because
sity authorities. 2. to defy description, his taxi had an accident. 2. to put some-
belief etc to be almost impossible to de- thing off until later We will delay making
scribe, believe, etc His latest film defies a decision until we see the result of the
description. election. The company has delayed pay-
degenerate1 /d den()rt/ adj which
degenerate
|
ment of all invoices.
has become morally weak or bad He was
delegate1 / del(t / noun a person who
delegate
shocked by the student art exhibition which

he termed degenerate scribbling. represents others at a meeting The minis-
ter met delegates from the union.
degenerate2 /d denret/ (degener-
degenerate
delegate2 / del(et/ (delegates, dele-

| delegate
ates, degenerating, degenerated) verb to |
get worse Her condition degenerated gating, delegated) verb to pass authority
quickly once she went into hospital. The or responsibility on to someone else She
celebrations rapidly degenerated into riot- finds it difficult to delegate. He delegated
ing. the job of locking up the shop to the junior
manager.
degrade /d (red/ (degrades, degrad-
degrade
delegation /del (e()n/ noun 1. a

| delegation
ing, degraded) verb 1. to make someone |
do something that is humiliating She had group of representatives The minister

no money but refused to degrade herself by met a union delegation. 2. the act of pass-
making false social security claims. 2. to ing on authority or responsibility to some-
change a chemical compound into a sim- one else The secret of good management
pler form, to decompose Some plastics is delegation.
delete /d li
t/ (deletes, deleting, de-
delete
will degrade if left in the sun. |
degrading / d (red/ adj which makes

degrading
|
leted) verb to cut out part of something,
a person like an animal e.g. a document or a computer file
degree /d (ri
/ noun 1. a unit for deletion /d li
()n/ noun 1. the action
deletion
degree
|
|
measuring temperature or angles, shown of deleting something The court asked

by the symbol () an angle of eighty de- for the deletion of several sentences from
grees The temperature of the water is the magazine article. She made several
above 20. (NOTE: With figures, degree is deletions to the original text. 2. a word or
usually written as the symbol : 25 Celsius.) phrase which has been deleted In spite of
2. a qualification from a university [~in] a all the deletions, the article is still too long.
deli / deli/ noun same as delicatessen
deli
degree in mathematics 3. a small amount of

something such as a quality or an emotion (informal)
deliberate 166
deliberate1 /d lb()rt/ adj 1. done on delirium /d lrim/ noun a mental state
deliberate delirium
| |
purpose It was a deliberate attempt to in which a person is confused, restless and

spoil her birthday party. 2. slow and very excited and has hallucinations
thoughtful in speaking or doing something deliver /d lv/ (delivers, delivering,
deliver
She has a very deliberate way of signing delivered) verb 1. to bring something to
her name. someone [~to] Has todays newspaper
deliberate2 /d lbret/ (deliberates,
deliberate
| been delivered yet? He delivered the let-

deliberating, deliberated) verb to discuss ter to her himself so as to be sure she got it.
or think carefully about something The 2. to deliver a baby to help a mother
council were deliberating all morning. when a baby is being born The twins were
Ill need some time to deliberate on the delivered by the midwife. 3. to deliver a
possible ways of solving the problem. speech to make a speech This is the full
deliberately /d lb()rtli/ adv on text of the speech the President delivered at
deliberately
purpose It was an accident I didnt hit the meeting. to deliver the goods to do
her deliberately. He deliberately left the what you promised to do You can always
cage door open. rely on him to deliver the goods.
deliberation /dlb re()n/ noun 1. delivery /d lv()ri/ (plural deliver-
deliberation delivery
| | |
great care He moved his king with great ies) noun the act of bringing something to
deliberation and leant back with a smile. 2. someone There is no charge for delivery
a discussion After lengthy deliberations within the London area. Use the back en-
the meeting voted on the proposal. Did trance for deliveries. The next delivery
their deliberations produce any result? will be on Thursday.
delicacy / delksi/ (plural delicacies) delta / delt/ noun 1. a triangular piece of
delicacy delta
noun 1. sensitivity It is a question which land at the mouth of a large river, formed of
has to be handled with great delicacy. 2. silt carried by the river the Mississippi
the state of being delicate The delicacy of Delta 2. the fourth letter of the Greek al-
the glasses means that they have to be han- phabet. Symbol δ
dled very carefully. 3. an unusual and tasty delude /d lu
d/ (deludes, deluding, de-
delude
thing to eat They bought all sorts of deli- luded) verb to make someone believe
cacies for the Christmas party. something which is wrong
delicate / delkt/ adj 1. made from ma- deluge / delju
d/ noun 1. a flood of
delicate deluge
terials that are thin and light and easily something, e.g. questions or orders We
damaged a delicate china vase 2. likely had a deluge of phone calls after our TV
to get ill Little babies are very delicate. commercial. 2. a heavy rainfall It had
She was a delicate child. been dry for weeks and then last Saturday
delicatessen /delk tes()n/ noun a
delicatessen
| we had a deluge. verb (deluges, delug-

shop selling cold meats and imported food ing, deluged) 1. to flood a place 2. to over-
products whelm someone with a flood of something
delicious /d ls/ adj tasting very good We were deluged with phone calls.
delicious
Can I have another piece of that deli- delusion /d lu

()n/ noun a false belief
delusion
cious cake? (NOTE: + deliciously adv) which a person holds, which cannot be
delight /d lat/ noun 1. pleasure The changed by reason
delight
news was greeted with delight by the wait- de luxe /d lks / adj very expensive or of
de luxe
ing crowd. to take (great) delight in very high quality

something to enjoy something 2. some- delve /delv/ (delves, delving, delved)
delve
thing which gives someone pleasure verb verb 1. to investigate something [~into] I
(delights, delighting, delighted) 1. to give remember the case but I might have to
great pleasure to someone His speech de- delve deeply to get the details. He has
lighted the audience. 2. to enjoy something been delving into the past history of the
[~in] She delights in teasing her little family. 2. to look somewhere for something
brother. She delved in the drawer and produced a
delighted /d latd/ adj very pleased
delighted
|
small booklet.
delightful /d latf()l/ adj very pleas- demand /d m
nd/ noun 1. the act of
delightful
demand
|
|
ant What a delightful show of flowers! asking for something [~for] a demand for
delirious /d lris/ adj 1. suffering from
delirious
| payment 2. the need for particular goods or

delirium She collapsed and became de- services [~for] We cannot keep up with the
lirious. 2. very excited and happy They demand for our new machine. to meet or
were delirious when they won the lottery. fill a demand to supply what is needed
167 denounce
The factory had to increase production to [~(that)/~what/where/how etc] This inci-
meet the extra demand. there is not dent demonstrates that nothing has
much demand for this item not many changed. He demonstrated how the ma-
people want to buy this item this item is chine worked. 2. to protest against some-
in great demand many people want to buy thing in public [~against] A group were
this item verb (demands, demanding, demonstrating against the new motorway.
demanded) to ask firmly for something demonstration /demn stre()n/
demonstration
[~(that)/~to] I demand an explanation for noun 1. the act of showing how something
your behaviour. They demanded that works Can you give me a demonstration
more information be made available. We of the new machine? 2. a crowd of people
demanded to know how long it would be who are protesting against something
before we received a reply. [~against] a demonstration against the
demanding /d m
nd/ adj which
demanding
| policy on student funding

takes up much time and energy demonstrative /d mnstrtv/ adj (of
demonstrative
demeaning /d mi
n/ adj which
demeaning
| a person) who openly shows his or her feel-

makes you appear undignified ings Shes not very demonstrative, but I
demeanour /d mi
n/ noun a persons think she appreciated her gift all the same.
demeanour
behaviour or manner (NOTE: The US spell- demonstrator / demnstret/ noun

demonstrator
ing is demeanor.) a person who marches or who forms part of

dementia /d men/ noun a loss of a crowd protesting against something A
dementia
mental ability and memory, causing confu- crowd of demonstrators blocked the road.
sion and changes to the personality, due to The police used water cannon to clear
a disease of the brain demonstrators from in front of the Parlia-
demise / d maz / noun a death (formal) ment building.
demise
demo / dem/ noun same as demon- demoralised / d mrlazd/, demoral-

demoralised
demo
|
stration ized adj unhappy and discouraged

democracy / d mkrsi/ noun 1. a demoralising /d mrlaz/, demor-
demoralising
democracy
|
|
country governed by politicians who have alizing adj which demoralises you or low-
been elected by the people 2. a system of ers your confidence
demote /d mt/ (demotes, demoting,
demote
government in which politicians are elect- |
ed by the people The people want democ- demoted) verb to give someone a less im-
racy, not a dictatorship. portant job or reduce an employee to a low-
democrat / demkrt/ noun a person er rank or grade (NOTE: + demotion n)
democrat
demure /d mj/ adj quiet and serious

demure
who believes in democracy All true dem- |
ocrats will unite against the dictator. den /den/ noun 1. a place where an animal
den
democratic /dem krtk/ adj relat- hides away a lions den 2. a small room
democratic
ing to democracy They promised to re- where you can hide away to work Dads
store democratic government. in his den, so dont disturb him.
demolish /d ml/ (demolishes, denial /d nal/ noun a statement that
demolish denial
| |
demolishing, demolished) verb 1. to something is not true

knock something down We demolished denigrate / den(ret/ (denigrates,
denigrate
the old church and built a new one. 2. to eat denigrating, denigrated) verb to say that
something completely He demolished someone or something is not very good
the whole chocolate cake. 3. to show that denim / denm/ noun a thick cotton cloth,
denim
something is completely wrong He wrote usually blue

an article demolishing the professors the- denomination
denomination
/d nm ne()n/| |
ories. noun 1. a unit of money written on a coin,

demolition /dem l()n/ noun the ac-
demolition
|
banknote or stamp Coins of all denomi-
tion of knocking down something such as a nations are put in the church collection
building box. The bank has run out of small de-
demon / di
mn/ noun a devil The pic-
demon
nomination notes. 2. a religious grouping

ture shows red demons throwing people The Protestant Church is divided into sev-
into a fire. eral denominations. What denomination
demonstrable /d mnstrb()l/ adj does he belong to?
demonstrable
which can be proved or demonstrated denounce /d nans/ (denounces,

denounce
demonstrate / demnstret/ (dem-

demonstrate
denouncing, denounced) verb 1. to blame

onstrates, demonstrating, demonstrat- or to accuse someone or something openly
ed) verb 1. to show something Someone denounced him to the police.
dense 168
He was denounced as a racist by a fellow port 3. a part of a large shop If you want
professor. 2. to say you disapprove of cheese youll need to go to the food depart-
someone or something publicly She de- ment. You will find beds in the furniture
nounced the councils policy as short- department.
sighted. department store /d p
tmnt
department store
dense /dens/ adj 1. very thick Dense st

/ noun a large shop with several differ-
dense
fog closed the airport. 2. with a lot of trees ent sections

or plants They tried to find their way departure /d p
t/ noun the act of
departure
through dense forest. 3. containing a lot of leaving a place The planes departure
information I find it difficult to read was delayed by two hours. The departure
through 100 pages of dense text. time is 3 oclock. plural noun departures
density / densti/ noun 1. (in physics)
density
the part of an airport terminal which deals

the amount of mass per unit of volume with passengers who are leaving. Compare
heavy density oils 2. the number of things arrival
in a certain area the high traffic density in depend /d pend/ (depends, depend-
depend
the centre of Rome London suffers from ing, depended) verb it depends it is
high population density. linked to something else Are there any
dent /dent/ noun a mark that curves in-
dent
seats available for the show? It depends

wards, especially in metal, made by hitting how many people you need tickets for. to
something Someone has made a dent in depend on something to happen only be-
my car door. verb (dents, denting, dent- cause of something else happening first
ed) to make a mark like this in something The success of the book will depend on the
He backed into a tree and dented the car. publicity campaign. Id like to come but
dental / dent()l/ adj referring to teeth it depends what time we can leave work.
dental
dental floss / dent()l fls/ noun a thin to depend on someone or something to be

dental floss
waxed thread for pulling between your sure that someone will do what they say
teeth to remove pieces of food they will do, or that something will happen
dentist / dentst/ noun a person as expected You cant depend on Jack
dentist
whose job is to look after and provide treat- hes always too busy to help. You can de-
ment for your teeth pend on her to do her best. The company
dentistry / dentstri/ noun 1. the profes- depends on government grants. it (all)
dentistry
sion of a dentist 2. the branch of medicine depends it is not certain (informal) We

dealing with teeth and gums may go to France on holiday, or Spain, it
dentures / dentz/ plural noun artificial
dentures
all depends.
dependable /d pendb()l/ adj that can
dependable
teeth which fit inside the mouth and are |
used in place of teeth which have been tak- be relied on

dependant /d pendnt/ noun a mem-
dependant
en out |
denunciation /dnnsi e()n/ noun a ber of the family who is financially sup-
denunciation
| |
public accusation or blame ported by another (NOTE: Do not confuse

deny / d na/ (denies, denying, de- with dependent.)
deny
dependence /d pendns/ noun the

dependence
nied) verb to state that something is not |
true [~(that)] He flatly denied stealing the fact of being dependent on someone or
car. She denied that she had ever seen something
him. dependent / d pendnt/ adj 1. need-
dependent
deodorant /di d()rnt/ noun a sub-

deodorant
| ing money from someone else in order to

stance which hides and prevents unpleas- live She has five dependent relatives. 2.
ant body smells needing someone elses help in order to
depart /d p
t/ (departs, departing, live or succeed The patients become very
depart
departed) verb to go away from a place dependent on the hospital staff. 3. caused
[~for/~from] The coach departs for Edin- or affected by something The success of
burgh from London at 09.00. the project is dependent on getting a gov-
department /d p
tmnt/ noun 1. a ernment grant. (NOTE: [all adj senses] Do
department
section of a large company He is in not confuse with dependant.) noun US

charge of the marketing department. spelling of dependant
depict /d pkt/ (depicts, depicting,
depict
Write to the complaints department about |
the service. 2. one of the sections of the depicted) verb to show or describe some-
government the Department for Educa- thing [~as] Newspapers like to depict him
tion and Skills the Department of Trans- as a lovable crook.
169 deride
deplete /d pli
t/ (depletes, depleting, depressing /d pres/ adj making
deplete depressing
| |
depleted) verb to reduce available stocks you feel sad or unhappy

or stores depression / d pre()n/ noun 1. a
depression
depleted /d pli
td/ adj containing less
depleted
| mental state where you feel miserable and

of something than before hopeless He was in a state of depression
deplorable /d pl
rb()l/ adj very bad after the exams. She is subject to fits of
deplorable
deplore /d pl
/ (deplores, deploring, depression. 2. a low pressure area bringing
deplore
deplored) verb to say you strongly dislike bad weather The depression coming from
an action or an attitude (formal ) We de- the Atlantic will bring rain to most parts of
plore the violence that is taking place. the country. Winds move anticlockwise
deploy /d pl/ (deploys, deploying,
deploy
|
round a depression. 3. an economic crisis
deployed) verb to spread out soldiers, etc. Have many companies here been affected
ready for action by the current world depression? 4. a place
deport /d p
t/ (deports, deporting, de-
deport
|
which is lower than the area round it A
ported) verb to expel someone from a pool of water had formed in a depression
country (NOTE: + deportation n) in the rocks.
deprivation /depr ve()n/ noun 1. a
deprivation
depose /d pz/ (deposes, deposing,

depose
|
|
deposed) verb to remove a king from the state of being deprived of something 2. a
throne or a ruler from office state of not having enough of the things
deposit /d pzt/ noun 1. money kept
deposit
|
necessary for a normal life, such as food
in a bank Her deposits in the bank had and housing They suffered dreadful dep-
grown over the years. 2. a particular rivation(s) during the war.
deprive /d prav/ (deprives, depriving,
deprive
amount of money that you give someone as |
a first payment for something expensive deprived) verb to take something away
She had to pay a deposit on the watch. from someone, or not to let someone have
Can you leave 50 as deposit? I paid a something Weve been deprived of sun-
30% deposit and dont have to pay any- shine all month. Poverty deprived her of
thing more for six months. verb (depos- all the usual comforts of life.
deprived /d pravd/ adj not enjoying
deprived
its, depositing, deposited) to put money |
into a bank account She deposited 100 many of societys benefits

depth /dep/ noun a measurement of
depth
in her current account. The cheque ar-

rived at long last, and I deposited it imme- how deep something is The depth of the
diately. lake is 20m. The submarine dived to a
deposit account /d pzt kant/ depth of 200 m.
deposit account
| |
deputy / depjti/ (plural deputies)

deputy
noun an account which pays interest but on

which notice usually has to be given to noun 1. a person who makes decisions
withdraw money when the manager or boss is away Shes
depot / dep/ noun 1. a central ware- acting as deputy while the managing direc-
depot
house for goods a freight depot a goods tor is in hospital. 2. a person who helps
depot an oil storage depot 2. a centre for someone in their job He appointed her as
transport a bus depot a tram depot his deputy.
depraved /d prevd/ adj wicked or im- derail /di
rel/ (derails, derailing, de-
derail
depraved
|
|
moral railed) verb to make a train leave the rails

depreciate /d pri
iet/ (depreciates, derby / d
bi/ (plural derbies) noun 1. a
derby
depreciate
| |
depreciating, depreciated) verb to lose bowler hat 2. a sporting contest between

value The pound has depreciated by 5% local teams There are always crowds at
against the dollar. the local derby.
depress /d pres/ (depresses, de- deregulation /di
re(j le()n/ noun
deregulation
depress
| |
|
pressing, depressed) verb 1. to make reducing government control over an in-

someone sad or miserable Listening to dustry
derelict / derlkt/ adj ruined and aban-
derelict
that particular piece of music always de-

presses me. 2. to push down a button To doned They plan to build the housing de-
activate the alarm, depress both buttons si- velopment on derelict land near the city
multaneously. centre. They bought a derelict cottage to
depressed /d prest/ adj so unhappy do it up.
depressed
deride /d rad/ (derides, deriding, de-

deride
that you are not able to enjoy life, especial- |
ly over a long period of time Shes been rided) verb to laugh at someone or some-
feeling depressed since the accident. thing
derision 170
derision / d r()n/ noun the act of group of people or an institution (NOTE: +
derision
laughing at someone or something because desegregate v)

you think they are stupid desert1 / dezt/ noun a very dry area of
desert
derisive /d rasv/ adj laughing at some- the world, usually covered with rocks or
derisive
one because you think they are stupid sand (NOTE: Do not confuse with dessert.)
derisory /d rasri/ adj ridiculously desert2 /d z#
t/ (deserts, deserting, de-
derisory desert
| |
small serted) verb 1. to leave the armed forces

derivation /der ve()n/ noun the ori- without permission 2. to leave someone in
derivation
gin of a word a difficult situation

deserted /d z#
td/ adj with no people
deserted
derive /d rav/ (derives, deriving, de-

derive
|
|
rived) verb to get something from some- We walked around the deserted town.
deserter /d z#
t/ noun a person who
deserter
thing |
dermatologist /d#
m tldst/ leaves the armed forces without permis-
dermatologist
noun a doctor who specialises in the study sion

desert island /dezt alnd/ noun a
desert island
and treatment of diseases of the skin

derogatory /d r(t()ri/ adj showing tropical island with no inhabitants
derogatory
deserve /d z#
v/ (deserves, deserv-
deserve
dislike for someone or something |
descend /d send/ (descends, de- ing, deserved) verb to earn something be-
descend
scending, descended) verb 1. to go down cause of what you have done He didnt
something such as a ladder The president deserve to win because he cheated. Ive
seemed to stumble as he descended the been on my feet all day I think I deserve
steps from the plane. 2. to be descended a sit-down. He deserves a holiday.
deserving /d z#
v/ adj which should
deserving
from someone to have someone as an an- |
cestor On his mothers side, he is de- be supported or helped

scended from one of William the Conquer- design /d zan/ noun a plan or draw-
design
ors knights. ing of something, before it is made or built

descendant /d sendnt/ noun a [~for] the designs for the new opera house
descendant
member of a family with a particular an- verb (designs, designing, designed) to

cestor draw plans for the shape or appearance of
descent /d sent/ noun 1. the process something before it is made or built He
descent
of going down [~into/to] The descent into designed the new university library. She
the mine takes just under three minutes. 2. designs garden furniture.
designate1 / dez(net/ (designates,
designate
family ancestry He can trace his descent

back to or from William I. she is of Irish designating, designated) verb to appoint
descent her family is from Ireland 3. a someone to a post He has been designat-
downhill slope She successfully completed as our representative at the meeting.
ed a tricky descent. (NOTE: Do not confuse designate2 / dez(nt/ adj appointed to
designate
with dissent.) a particular job but not doing it yet the

describe /d skrab / (describes, de-
describe
| chief executive designate (NOTE: always af-

scribing, described) verb to say or write ter a noun)
what someone or something is like designer /d zan/ noun an artist
designer
[~how/what/who etc/~as] Can you de- who plans the shape or appearance of
scribe the car which hit the old lady? She things such as goods, clothes or rooms
described how the bus suddenly left the desirable /d zarb()l/ adj which a
desirable
road. He described the man as tall with a lot of people want

black beard. desire /d za/ noun something that
desire
description /d skrpn/ noun the

description |
|
you want very much [~for] Its difficult to
act of saying or writing what something or satisfy the publics desire for information.
someone is like She had a sudden desire to lie down and
descriptive /d skrptv/ adj which says
descriptive
|
go to sleep. verb (desires, desiring, de-
what something is like sired) to want something (formal ) Most
desecrate / deskret/ (desecrates,
desecrate
of us desire a large comfortable home. to

desecrating, desecrated) verb to treat a leave a lot to be desired not to be of the
place such as a church or a grave in a dis- right standard, not to be acceptable The
respectful way (NOTE: + desecration n) bathrooms in the hotel leave a lot to be de-
desegregation /di
se(r (e()n/ sired.
desegregation
desired / d zad/ adj wanted or required

desired
noun the act of ending the segregation of a |

171 detail
desk /desk/ noun 1. a table, often with lize verb to make a country or government
desk
drawers, used for writing He put the pa- less stable

pers away in his desk drawer. She was destination /dest ne()n/ noun the
destination
sitting at her desk when the telephone place to which a person or vehicle is going
rang. 2. a government department She We reached our destination at eight
works on the Central Europe desk in the oclock. The destination is shown on the
Foreign Office. front of the bus.
desk tidy / desk tadi/ noun a small destined / destnd/ adj 1. going or being
desk tidy destined
container kept on a desk to keep things sent to a particular place [~for] All mail
such as pens and paper clips tidy destined for Canada is delayed because of
desktop / desktp/ noun 1. the top sur-
desktop
the postal workers strike. 2. certain to
face of a desk 2. a display on a computer have, do or experience something [~for/~to]
screen that shows images representing Shes destined for a great career on TV.
available programs and files They were destined to fail in their search
desktop publishing
desktop publishing
/desktp for gold.

destiny / destni/ noun 1. what will hap-
destiny
pbl/ noun the production of publica-

tions using a personal computer pen to you in the future The war affected
the destinies of many people. 2. a power
desolate / deslt/ adj bleak and desert-
desolate
that controls what happens to you in the fu-

ed a desolate mountainside ture You never know what destiny has in
despair /d spe/ noun a feeling that a
despair
|
store for you.
situation is so bad that there is nothing you destitute / desttju
t/ adj with very little
destitute
can do to make it better When he lost his money and very few belongings
job and his girlfriend left him, he was filled
destroy /d str/ (destroys, destroy-
destroy
with despair. verb (despairs, despairing,

|
ing, destroyed) verb to damage something

despaired) to give up all hope of achieving
so badly that it no longer exists The bomb
something the depths of despair a situ-
destroyed several buildings. A lot of pri-
ation where there is complete lack of hope vate property was destroyed in the war.
desperate / desp()rt/ adj 1. having
desperate
destroyer /d str/ noun a medium-

destroyer
a strong need for something that you are sized naval ship
not able to get, and feeling very worried
destruction /d strkn/ noun the
destruction
because you do not know how to solve the |
action of destroying something the de-

problem [~for] Food ran out and the peo-
ple were becoming desperate. They were struction of the village by enemy bombs
desperate for news of their son. 2. urgent The volcano caused enormous destruction.
After the bomb attack there was a scene
There is a desperate need for medical sup-
plies. of total destruction. (NOTE: no plural)
destructive /d strktv/ adj which de-
destructive
despicable /d spkb()l/ adj unpleas-

despicable |
stroys
ant, which you despise
detach /d tt/ (detaches, detach-
detach
despise /d spaz/ (despises, despis-

despise |
|
ing, detached) verb to separate something
ing, despised) verb to look down on some- from something or someone
one, to think someone is not worth much detachable /d ttb()l/ adj which
detachable
despite /d spat/ prep although

|
despite
|
you can detach
something happened or was done De- detached /d ttt/ adj detached
detached
spite the wet weather we still enjoyed our house a house which stands alone, not at-
holiday. tached to another
despondent /d spndnt/ adj discour-
despondent
detachment /d ttmnt/ noun 1. in-

detachment
|
|
aged and unhappy difference, lack of particular interest He

dessert /d z#
t/ noun a sweet dish at the
dessert
| glanced at the advancing policemen with

end of a meal The meal will end with a an air of detachment. 2. a small group of
dessert of strawberries and cream. soldiers Detachments of marines have
Whats for dessert? (NOTE: Do not confuse been sent to the island.
with desert. The word dessert is mainly detail / di
tel/ noun a small piece of
detail
used in restaurants. At home, this part of the information Send in your CV including
meal is usually called the sweet or afters or full details of your past experience. Can
pudding.) you give me further details of when the ac-
destabilise /di
steblaz/ (destabilis-
destabilise
| cident took place? I cant make out the

es, destabilising, destabilised), destabi- details in the photo because the light is
detailed 172
bad. The policeman noted down the de- They admired his determination to win the
tails of the incident. verb (details, detail- prize.
ing, detailed) to list all the facts or items determine /d t#
mn/ (determines,
determine
He detailed the work which had to be done. determining, determined) verb 1. to fix
in detail with as much information as something such as a date The meeting
possible The catalogue lists all the furni- will be at a date still to be determined. 2.
ture in detail. Please describe the cir- to determine to do something to make a
cumstances of the accident in as much de- decision to do something (formal) I deter-
tail as possible. mined not to make the same mistake again.
detailed / di
teld/ adj giving a lot of
detailed
3. to find out the details of something

details We need a detailed list of the items [~what/whether/why/who etc] The police
which have been stolen. The police is- have to determine what really happened. 4.
sued detailed descriptions of the two men. to affect something in a particular way
detain /d ten/ (detains, detaining, de-
detain
|
His exam results will determine his future.
determined /d t#
mnd/ adj having a
determined
tained) verb 1. to keep someone in a police |
station or prison The police have de- strong wish to do something, and not let-
tained a man for questioning. 2. to stop ting anyone prevent you from doing it
someone from leaving Im sorry Im late Shes a very determined young woman,
I was detained by a phone call. and will go far. He had a very determined
detect /d tekt/ (detects, detecting, expression on his face. She is determined
detect
detected) verb 1. to discover something to win the prize.

determiner /d t#
mn/ noun a pro-
determiner
scientifically If breast cancer is detected |
early enough, it can be cured. 2. to notice noun or article which comes before an ad-
I detected some unwillingness to agree to jective or noun, and shows what is being
the change. referred to, such as this in this old car
detective /d tektv/ noun a police of- (grammar)
detective
deterrent /d ternt/ noun something

deterrent
ficer whose job is to try to find out who |
committed crimes Detectives have inter- which stops people from wanting to do
viewed four suspects. something Cameras by the side of the
detector /d tekt / noun an instru- road act as a deterrent to people who drive
detector
ment which checks whether something is too fast.

detest /d test/ (detests, detesting, de-
detest
present |
detention /d ten()n/ noun 1. im- tested) verb to dislike someone or some-

detention
prisonment After he was released from thing intensely

detonate / detnet/ (detonates, deto-
detonate
detention he committed the same offence

again. The internees were kept in deten- nating, detonated) verb 1. to set off an ex-
tion camps. 2. keeping children at school as plosive The police detonated the package
a punishment The children were kept in found under the car. 2. to explode A shell
detention after school. landed in their garden but failed to deto-
deter /d t#
/ (deters, deterring, de- nate. (NOTE: + detonation n)
deter
terred) verb to deter someone from do- detonator / detnet/ noun a small ex-
detonator
ing something to discourage someone plosive charge which will set off a large ex-
from doing something The heavy rain plosion
didnt deter us from visiting the town. We detox / di
tks/ noun 1. medical treat-
detox
have installed cameras to deter shoplifters. ment which helps people to stop taking
detergent /d t#
dnt / noun a cleaning
detergent
| drugs or drinking too much alcohol 2. the

substance which removes grease and bac- process of stopping taking drugs or drink-
teria from things such as clothes or dishes ing alcohol verb (detoxes, detoxing, de-
deteriorate /d triret/ (deterio-
deteriorate
|
toxed) to stop taking harmful substances in
rates, deteriorating, deteriorated) verb to order to improve your health No thanks,
go bad; to get worse (NOTE: + deterioration Im detoxing after last weeks excesses.
detract /d trkt/ (detracts, detracting,
detract
n) |
determination /dt#
m ne()n/
determination
| |
detracted) verb to make something less
noun a strong wish to do something, and useful, attractive or interesting [~from]
not to let anyone stop you doing it [~in] Her rudeness to the judges detracted from
The government needs to show more deter- the prize-giving ceremony.
detriment / detrmnt/ noun damage
detriment
mination in its fight against street crime.

173 dexterity
detrimental /detr ment()l/ adj which deviation /di
vi e()n/ noun changing
detrimental deviation
| |
can harm from what is usual

devalue /di
vlju
/ (devalues, devalu- device /d vas/ noun a small tool or
devalue device
| |
ing, devalued) verb to reduce the value of piece of equipment that is useful for a par-
a currency in relation to that of other coun- ticular purpose [~for] He invented a de-
tries (NOTE: + devaluation n) vice for fixing tops on bottles. to be left
devastate / devstet/ (devastates, to your own devices to be allowed to do
devastate
devastating, devastated) verb to wreck whatever you want

something completely devil / dev()l/ noun 1. an evil spirit He
devil
devastated / devstetd/ adj 1. badly believes in ghosts and devils and all that
devastated
damaged Relief agencies are trying to sort of thing. 2. a person Hes won the lot-
help the devastated region. 2. upset by tery, lucky devil! Poor devil! I must go
something such as bad news She was and see him in hospital.
devastated when she was made redundant. devils advocate /dev()lz dvkt /
devils advocate
When he read the report in the paper he noun a person who argues the opposite
was completely devastated. point of view, in order to stimulate discus-
devastating / devstet/ adj 1. caus- sion about a widely held opinion
devastating
ing a lot of damage The country has still devious / di

vis/ adj 1. not honest or
devious
not recovered from the devastating effects straightforward Its just a very devious
of the storm. 2. shocking, upsetting The plan to avoid paying the staff more money.
news from Paris was devastating. 2. not going straight The taxi took us on
develop /d velp / (develops, devel- a very devious route to Piccadilly Circus.
develop
oping, developed) verb 1. to grow and devise /d vaz/ (devises, devising, de-
devise
change [~from/~into] Eventually, a cater- vised) verb to think up or invent something

pillar will develop into a butterfly. A Weve devised a new timetable for the
flower develops from a bud. 2. to make summer term. He devised a plan for mak-
something larger He exercises in order to ing more money out of the farm.
develop his muscles. 3. to get an illness devoid /d vd/ adj without something
devoid
She developed a cold at the weekend. 4. to [~of] The book is devoid of literary merit.
plan and produce something [~into/~from] devolution / di
v lu
()n/ noun the
devolution
It was eventually developed into a popular passing of power from a central govern-
game from an idea hed had as a student. 5. ment to a local or regional authority
to plan and build something [~as/into]
devote /d vt/ (devotes, devoting, de-
devote
The company is developing a chain of res- |
taurants. They are planning to develop voted) verb to devote time to something
the site as or into an industrial estate. 6. to to spend time on something Dont you
produce a photograph from film We can think youve devoted enough time to your
develop your film in an hour. model planes? to devote yourself to
something to spend all your time on some-
developer /d velp/ noun a person or
developer
thing She devoted herself to looking after

company that plans and builds roads, air- refugee children.
ports, houses, factories or office buildings
devoted /d vtd/ adj 1. loving [~to]
devoted
The land has been acquired by develop-

|
ers for a housing estate. a devoted father 2. showing affection to

someone [~to] He is devoted to his chil-
development /d velpmnt/ noun
development
dren. 3. spending all your time on some-

1. growth The development of the embryo
thing [~to] Shes devoted to her flower
takes place rapidly. 2. the planning and garden.
production of a new product 3. the act of
devotion /d v()n/ noun 1. love 2.
devotion
planning and building on an area of land 4. |
a group of buildings that have been built to- constant work on behalf of someone or
gether at the same time something
devour /d va/ (devours, devouring,
devour
deviant / di
vint/ adj different from
deviant
|
normal devoured) verb to eat something greedily

devout /d vat/ adj deeply religious
devout
deviate / di
viet/ (deviates, deviating,
deviate
|
dew /dju
/ noun water which forms at
dew
deviated) verb to be different from what is

normal or usual [~from] The celebrations night on objects in the open air (NOTE: Do
deviated from their normal pattern by be- not confuse with due.)
dexterity /dek sterti/ noun skill in us-
dexterity
ing held on a Sunday. He did not deviate |
from the written version of his speech. ing your hands or mind
diabetes 174
diabetes /da bi
ti
z / noun a condition diameter /da mt/ noun the distance
diabetes diameter
| |
in which the body cannot control sugar ab- across the centre of a circle
sorption because the pancreas does not diamond / damnd/ noun 1. a very
diamond
produce enough insulin hard, clear, precious stone He gave her a

diabetic /da betk/ noun a person
diabetic
|
diamond ring. Diamonds sparkled on her
with diabetes She is a diabetic and has to crown. 2. one of the red sets in a pack of
have regular injections of insulin. cards, shaped like a square leaning to one
diabolical /da blk()l/ adj 1. evil
diabolical
| side He held the ten of diamonds. (NOTE:

and wicked They devised a diabolical The other red suit is hearts; clubs and
plot to assassinate the Prime Minister. 2. spades are the black suits.)
very bad The food in the staff canteen is diaper / dap/ noun US a cloth or
diaper
diabolical. thick pad which is wrapped around a ba-

diagnose / da(nz/ (diagnoses, di-
diagnose
bys bottom
agnosing, diagnosed) verb to identify a diaphragm / dafrm/ noun 1. a thin
diaphragm
patients illness by examining him or her sheet which vibrates with noise the dia-
and noting symptoms phragm in a hearing aid 2. a thin layer of
diagnosis /da( nss/ (plural diag-
diagnosis
|
tissue which separates the chest from the
noses) noun the identification of an illness abdomen, and pulls air into the lungs when
diagonal /da (n()l/ adj going
diagonal
|
you breathe The stomach lies in the left
straight from one corner to another He upper part of the abdomen, just under the
drew a diagonal line on the floor. Areas diaphragm. 3. a contraceptive device for
of the map shaded with diagonal lines indi- women
cate cultivated land. noun a diagonal line diarrhoea /da ri
/ noun a condition
diarrhoea
diagram / da(rm/ noun a plan or

|
diagram
in which a patient frequently passes liquid

accurate drawing She drew a diagram to faeces (NOTE: The US spelling is diarrhea.)
show how to get to her house. diary / dari/ (plural diaries) noun 1. a
diary
dial / dal/ noun a round face of a

dial
description of what has happened in your

measuring instrument or an old type of tel- life day by day He kept a diary for years.
ephone The pilot sits in front of a display She kept a diary of the places she visited
of dials. verb (dials, dialling, dialled) to on holiday. 2. a small book in which you
call a telephone number using the buttons write notes or make appointments for each
on a telephone To call the police you day of the week Ive noted the appoint-
must dial 999. Dial 9 to get an outside ment in my desk diary. I cant fix the date
line. immediately because I havent got my dia-
dialect / dalekt/ noun a variety of a
dialect
ry with me.
language spoken in a particular area They dice /das/ (plural same) noun a small
dice
were speaking in a local dialect. block with a different number of spots on

dialling code / dal kd/ noun a
dialling code
each side, used for playing games Shake

special phone number for a town or coun- the dice in the cup and then throw them
try onto the board.
dialling tone / dal tn/ noun the
dialling tone
dicey / dasi/ adj dangerous (informal)

dicey
noise made by a telephone to show that it is

dichotomy /da ktmi/ noun a differ-
dichotomy
ready for you to dial a number |
dialog box / dal( bks/ noun a small

dialog box
ence between contradictory things
dictate /dk tet/ (dictates, dictating,
dictate
area on a computer screen that presents the |
user with a choice dictated) verb 1. to say something to some-

dialogue / dal(/ noun 1. a conver-
dialogue
one who writes down your words [~to]
sation between two people [~between] She dictated a letter to her assistant. 2. to
The next exercise on the tape is a dialogue tell someone what to do [~what/how etc]
between a shopkeeper and a customer. 2. Shes always trying to dictate how we
the spoken words in a film or TV drama 3. should run the business. 3. to influence
political talks or negotiations [~be- what should happen [~that] His illness
tween/~with] They are encouraging more dictated that she had to lead a less active
dialogue with consumer groups. (NOTE: [all life.
dictation /dk te()n/ noun the act
dictation
senses] The US spelling is dialog.) |
dial-up / dal p/ adj of a connection be- of dictating something to be written down
dial-up
dictator /dk tet/ noun a person who

dictator
tween computers that is made by means of |
a modem and a telephone line rules a country alone

175 difficulty
dictatorship /dk tetp/ noun the camera differs from the earlier model. 2. to
dictatorship
rule of a country by one person have a different opinion about something

diction / dkn/ noun a clear and under- from someone else Our views on educa-
diction
standable way of speaking tion differ. They differ in several ways in

dictionary / dkn()ri/ (plural diction-
dictionary
their accounts of what happened. I beg
aries) noun a book which lists words in al- to differ I do not agree
difference / df()rns/ noun a way in
difference
phabetical order, giving their meanings or

translations into other languages which two things are not the same [~in/~be-
did /dd/ past tense of do tween] What is the difference in price be-
did
didnt / dd()nt/ contr did not

didnt
tween these two cars? to tell the differ-
die /da / (dies, dying, died) verb to stop
die
ence to see what is different between
living. death dying for something or to things or people that are similar Can you
do something wanting something very tell the difference between the original pic-
much Were dying for a cold drink. Im ture and the copy? it doesnt make any
dying to read his book. difference or it makes no difference or lit-
die away phrasal verb to become less tle difference its not important You can
noisy The sound of police sirens grad- use any colour you like it doesnt make
ually died away. any difference.
different / df()rnt/ adj not the same
different
die down phrasal verb 1. to get less

strong The wind began to die down. Living in London is very different from
The government is waiting for the street living in the country. I went to three dif-
protests to die down. 2. (of plants) to die ferent clothes shops but I couldnt find an-
and lose their stems and leaves Chry- ything in my size. He looks different now
santhemums will die down during the that he has a beard.
differential /df renl/ noun (in a
differential
winter. |
die out phrasal verb to disappear grad- motor) the gears between two drive shafts
ually If people carry on hunting this an- that allow one shaft to turn at a different
imal it will eventually die out. speed from the other, while still transmit-
diehard / dah
d/ noun a person who re- ting power
diehard
differentiate /df reniet/ (differ-

differentiate
sists change or persists in a particular be- |
lief or opinion entiates, differentiating, differentiated)

diesel / di
z()l/ noun 1. diesel (oil) verb 1. to recognise the difference between
diesel
engine fuel which is thicker than petrol two things [~between] I find it hard to dif-
My new car runs on diesel. London taxis ferentiate between the two brands of butter.
have diesel engines. 2. a car with a diesel They couldnt differentiate between
engine His latest car is a diesel. cheap champagne and really top-quality
diet / dat/ noun 1. the kind of food stuff. 2. to treat two things differently [~be-
diet
you eat He lives on a simple diet of bread tween] In this school, we dont differenti-
and fruit. 2. the practice of eating only cer- ate between boys and girls.
difficult / dfk()lt/ adj not easy to do
difficult
tain types of food, either in order to be-

come thinner or to cure an illness The or achieve Finding a parking space is dif-
doctor told her to follow a salt-free diet. ficult on Saturdays. I find it difficult to
to be on a diet to eat less food or only work when Im tired. to make things or
some types of food Hes been on a diet life difficult for someone to create prob-
for some weeks, but still hasnt lost enough lems for someone His main aim at the of-
weight. to go on a diet to start to eat less fice seems to be to make life as difficult as
food or only some types of food She went possible for the secretaries.
on a diet before going on holiday. verb difficulty / dfk()lti/ (plural difficul-
difficulty
(diets, dieting, dieted) to eat less food or ties) noun 1. a problem [~with] The diffi-
only some types of food He dieted for culty is that nobody in the group can drive.
two weeks before going on holiday. He has financial difficulties. There is a
dietary / dat()ri/ adj referring to the difficulty with the flight reservation. to
dietary
food people eat in terms of how it affects create or make difficulties for someone
their health to create problems for someone She
differ / df/ (differs, differing, dif-
differ
doesnt realise that going on holiday now

fered) verb 1. not to be the same as some- is going to make difficulties for everyone.
thing else [~from] The weather conditions 2. the amount of effort or skill needed to do
in the two areas differ considerably. This something to have difficulty with or in
diffident 176
doing something to find something hard, dignity / d(nti/ noun a solemn or se-
dignity
or find it hard to do something We had rious way of behaving

difficulty with the directions. She has dif- digress /da (res/ (digresses, digress-
digress
ficulty in paying the rent. with difficulty ing, digressed) verb to start to talk or write
not easily She walks with difficulty. about something else (NOTE: + digression
diffident / dfdnt/ adj shy; lacking
diffident
n)
confidence dilapidated /d lpdetd/ adj falling
dilapidated
diffuse1 /d fju
s/ adj vague or unclear
diffuse
|
into ruin
His writing tends to be very diffuse. dilate /da let/ (dilates, dilating, dilated)
dilate
diffuse2 /d fju
z/ (diffuses, diffusing,
diffuse
|
verb to swell, to become larger
diffused) verb to spread something out or dilemma /d lem/ noun a difficult
dilemma
to send something out choice which has to be made

dig /d(/ verb (digs, digging, dug) to
dig
diligent / dldnt/ adj hard-working

diligent
make a hole in the ground with a spade

dilute /da lu
t/ (dilutes, diluting, dilut-
dilute
plural noun digs a furnished room or rooms

|
ed) verb 1. to add a liquid, usually water, to

let to people such as students (dated
informal)
another liquid to make it weaker Dilute
dig out phrasal verb 1. to take someone
the disinfectant with water. 2. to make
something weaker and less effective The
or something out by digging He was
dug out of the snow after the avalanche. proposals were thought too radical and
were diluted before being announced to the
2. to find something after a lot of search-
press.
ing They dug out some old photographs
dim /dm/ adj (dimmer, dimmest) (of light)
dim
of the village.
dig up phrasal verb 1. to find something weak The lights grew dimmer. verb
by digging We dug up a Roman coin in (dims, dimming, dimmed) to make a light
the garden. 2. to break a solid surface by less bright They dimmed the cabin lights
digging The workmen had to dig the before takeoff.
dime /dam/ noun US a coin that is worth
dime
road up to mend the water main. 3. to

find information with difficulty He ten cents
dimension /da menn/ noun the
dimension
managed to dig up some old government |
statistics. extent of a problem the international di-

digest /da dest/ (digests, digesting, mension of the refugee problem The task
digest
digested) verb 1. to break down food in the is taking on huge dimensions.

diminish /d mn/ (diminishes, dimin-
diminish
stomach I find this meat difficult to di- |
gest. 2. to think about something and un- ishing, diminished) verb 1. to make some-
derstand it fully Give me time to digest thing smaller or weaker Nothing dimin-
this news. ishes his enthusiasm for flying. 2. to be-
digestion /da destn/ noun the proc- come smaller or weaker My income has
digestion
ess by which food is broken down in the diminished over the last few years.
diminutive /d mnjtv/ adj very small
diminutive
stomach |
digestive /da destv/ adj relating to dimple / dmpl/ noun a small hollow in
digestive dimple
the digestion of food a part of the body such as the chin or

digit / ddt/ noun 1. a single number a cheeks
digit
seven-digit phone number 2. a finger or toe din /dn/ noun a loud noise The children
din
digital / ddt()l/ adj 1. storing infor- are making such a din I didnt hear the
digital
mation in an electronic form a digital ra- phone ring. What a din! Cant you be a
dio 2. showing the time as a set of numbers bit quieter, please? I couldnt make out
digital camera /ddt()l km()r/ what the guide was saying above the din of
digital camera
noun a camera that stores photographs in the machines.

dine /dan/ (dines, dining, dined) verb to
dine
digital form so that they can be processed

by a computer have dinner (formal)
digital TV /ddt()l ti
vi
/ noun a TV dine out phrasal verb to have dinner away
digital TV dine out
where the picture has been changed into a from home (formal )
form which a computer can process diner / dan/ noun 1. a person who is eat-
diner
dignified / d(nfad/ adj solemn and

dignified
ing an evening meal When the restaurant

important-looking caught fire, the diners ran into the street. 2.
dignitary / d(nt()ri/ (plural dignitar- the dining car on a train 3. US a small res-
dignitary
ies) noun an important person taurant selling simple hot food

177 directory
dinghy / di/ (plural dinghies) noun a towards a point [~at/to/towards] I hope
dinghy
small boat, either with oars or sails youre not directing that gun at me! 2. to
dingy / dndi/ adj 1. gloomy and lacking say something to a particular person
dingy
light 2. dirty or old-looking [~at/to/towards] He directed his remarks

dining room / dan ru
m/ noun a to the person next to him. I hope youre
dining room
room in a house or hotel where you usually not directing that criticism at me! 3. to tell
eat. bathroom, bedroom, living room someone how to get to a place [~to] Can
dinner / dn/ noun 1. the main meal of
dinner
you direct me to the nearest post office? 4.
the day, usually eaten in the evening We to manage or organise something He di-
were having dinner when the telephone rects our London operations. 5. to tell
rang. Would you like to come to dinner on someone to do something The insecticide
Saturday? What are we having for din- has to be used as directed on the bottle.
ner? or Whats for dinner? 2. a formal He did as he had been directed, and took
evening meal The club is organising a the plane to Birmingham. adv 1. straight,
dinner and dance on Saturday. without stopping The plane flies direct to
dinner jacket / dn dkt/ noun a
dinner jacket
Anchorage. 2. without passing through an
mans formal jacket operator You can telephone New York di-
rect from here.
dinosaur / dans
/ noun a large crea-
dinosaur
direct debit /da rekt debt/ noun a

direct debit
ture that existed on the Earth millions of |
years ago At the time when dinosaurs system where a customer allows a compa-
roamed the land, England was covered ny to charge costs to his bank account au-
with tropical forests. tomatically and where the amount charged
diocese / dass/ noun an area under the
diocese
can be increased or decreased with the
charge of a bishop agreement of the customer
direction /da rekn/ noun the point
direction
dip /dp / noun 1. a sudden drop in an

dip
|
area of land 2. a cold sauce into which you towards which you are going You are go-
can dip biscuits or raw vegetables verb ing in the wrong direction if you want to get
(dips, dipping, dipped) to dip some- to the station. The post office is in the op-
thing into something to put something posite direction. plural noun directions
quickly into a liquid She dipped the bis- instructions on how to do something in
cuit into her coffee. She dipped her hand all directions everywhere The wind was
into the stream. blowing bits of old newspapers in all direc-
diphtheria /df ri/ noun a serious in-
diphtheria
|
tions.
directive /da rektv/ noun an official
directive
fectious disease of children |
diploma /d plm/ noun a document

diploma
|
instruction
directly /da rektli/ adv 1. straight,
directly
which shows that a person has reached a |
certain level of skill in a subject without anything or anyone between This

diplomacy /d plmsi/ noun the art of door opens directly into the kitchen. She
diplomacy
negotiating, especially between different reports directly to the managing director

countries himself. 2. soon Ill be with you directly.
diplomat / dplmt/ noun a person
diplomat
conj as soon as I will write the letter di-
such as an ambassador who represents his rectly I get home.

direct object /darekt bdekt/ noun
direct object
country abroad
diplomatic /dpl mtk/ adj 1. refer- a noun or pronoun in a sentence represent-
diplomatic
ring to diplomats or diplomacy We are ing the person or thing affected directly by
looking for a diplomatic solution to the cri- the action of the verb
director /da rekt/ noun 1. a person
director
sis, rather than sending in troops. 2. care- |
ful not to give offence It wouldnt be very who is in charge of all of, or part of, a com-
diplomatic to arrive late for the wedding. pany The sales director gave a report on
dire / da/ adj very serious sales to date. There are four directors on
dire
direct /da rekt/ adj straight, without the board of the company. 2. a person who
direct
any changes of direction or stops Whats organises the making of a film or play, e.g.
the most direct way of getting to London? giving instructions to the actors, or dealing
direct line a telephone line which takes with the lighting or sound Who was the
you straight to the person you wish to con- first female director to win an Oscar?
tact This phone number will give you a Compare producer
directory /da rekt()ri/ (plural direc-
directory
direct line to the minister. verb (directs, |
directing, directed) 1. to aim something tories) noun a book giving lists of profes-
direct tax 178

sional people, organisations or businesses disagreement between the chair and the
with their addresses and telephone num- treasurer. She was upset about the disa-
bers greement with her sister.
direct tax / darekt tks/ noun a tax disallow / ds la/ (disallows, disal-
direct tax disallow
| |
based on income lowing, disallowed) verb to reject some-

dirt /d#
t/ noun 1. anything that makes thing, not to accept something
dirt
disappear /ds p/ (disappears,
disappear
something dirty a washing powder that |
removes even the worst kinds of dirt 2. disappearing, disappeared) verb 1. to

mud; earth Children were playing in the leave a place, often suddenly and without
dirt. His clothes were covered with dirt people noticing or knowing where some-
from handling potatoes. one or something has gone [~from] Half
dirt cheap /d#
t ti
p / adv very cheap the guests have disappeared already. A
dirt cheap
dirty / d#
ti/ adj (dirtier, dirtiest) 1. not
dirty
carton of juice has disappeared from the
clean Playing rugby gets your clothes fridge. The figures suddenly disappeared
dirty. Someone has to wash all the dirty from the screen. The two boys disap-
plates. 2. not honest, or not done according peared on their way home from school. 2.
to the rules verb (dirties, dirtying, dirt- to stop existing The stain on the carpet
ied) to make something dirty soon disappeared.
disappoint /ds pnt/ (disap-
disappoint
disability /ds blti/ (plural disabili-

disability
|
|
ties) noun a condition in which a person is points, disappointing, disappointed) verb

unable to use a part of their body because to make someone sad, because things did
of some permanent injury or illness not turn out as expected
disappointed /ds pntd/ adj
disappointed
disabled /ds eb()ld/ adj not able to

disabled
|
|
use part of your body, e.g. because of long- sad, because things have not happened as
term illness an association for disabled you hoped She is disappointed with her
riders The car crash left him permanent- exam results. He was disappointed be-
ly disabled. cause his ticket didnt win a prize. You
disadvantage /dsd v
ntd/ noun
disadvantage
|
should have seen the disappointed expres-
something which makes someone or some- sion on his face.
disappointing /ds pnt/ adj
disappointing
thing less likely to succeed Her main dis- |
advantage is her lack of experience. It making you sad because things have not
was a disadvantage not to be able to get to happened as you hoped
disappointment /ds pntmnt/
disappointment
the airport quickly. There are certain dis- |
advantages to leaving at 5.30 in the morn- noun 1. a feeling of sadness that you get
ing. at a disadvantage less able to do or when things have not happened as you
benefit from something than someone else hoped [~with/~at] She tried hard not to
We are at a disadvantage compared with show her disappointment with the result.
our competitors because we have no sales To his great disappointment, he didnt win
force. anything on the lottery. (NOTE: no plural in
disadvantaged /dsd v
ntdd/ adj
disadvantaged
|
this sense) 2. something that disappoints
1. suffering a disadvantage She was dis- someone [~to] It was a disappointment to
advantaged by her lack of experience. 2. his parents when he failed his exam.
disapproval /ds pru
v()l/ noun the
disapproval
living in a poor environment, without any |
facilities state help for schools in disad- act of disapproving

disapprove /ds pru
v/ (disapproves,
disapprove
vantaged areas |
disaffected /ds fektd/ adj discon- disapproving, disapproved) verb to show

disaffected
tented or rebellious that you do not think something is good

disagree /ds (ri
/ (disagrees, dis-
disagree
|
The head teacher disapproves of members
agreeing, disagreed) verb to say that you of staff wearing jeans to school.
disarm /ds
m/ (disarms, disarming,
disarm
do not have the same opinion as someone |
else [~with/~about/on/over] We all disa- disarmed) verb to remove weapons from

greed with the chairperson. They disa- someone
disarmament /ds
mmnt/ noun re-
disarmament
greed about what to do next. |
disagreement /ds (ri
mnt/ noun ducing the number of arms held by a coun-
disagreement
an argument [~over/about/~be- try

disarming /ds
m/ adj charming, in
disarming
tween/among/~with] They had a disagree- |
ment about who should sit in the front row. such a way that you cannot be annoyed
Nothing could be decided because of the disarray /ds re / noun a lack of order
disarray
|
179 discontinue
disaster /d z
st/ noun a very bad in jail. 4. to dismiss somebody, to sack
disaster
accident The disaster was caused by fog somebody He was discharged for being
or was due to fog. Ten people died in the late.
air disaster. Were insured against natu- disciple /d sap()l/ noun a follower, es-
disciple
ral disasters such as hurricanes and earth- pecially of a religious leader

quakes. disciplinarian /dspl nerin/ noun a
disciplinarian
disaster area /d z
str eri/ noun
disaster area
|
person who believes in strict discipline
1. a place that has recently undergone a disciplinary /ds plnri/ adj which
disciplinary
natural disaster 2. a very untidy or disor- keeps someone under control or which
ganised place, person or situation punishes someone
disastrous /d z
strs/ adj extremely
disastrous
discipline / dspln/ noun 1. the prac-

discipline
|
bad tice of keeping people under control The

disband /ds bnd/ (disbands, dis-
disband
|
tour leaders are trying to keep discipline
banding, disbanded) verb 1. to split up an among the teenagers. We need to enforce
organised group and end their activities stricter discipline in the school. (NOTE: no
After the successful coup, the former army plural in this sense) 2. a subject that people
was disbanded. We are disbanding our study biology and other related disci-
door-to-door sales team and relying on plines verb (disciplines, disciplining,
mail order selling in future. 2. to stop disciplined) to punish someone As a re-
working together The group disbanded sult of the investigation, one employee was
and its members started to go solo. dismissed and three were disciplined.
disbelief /dsb li
f/ noun extreme sur-
disbelief
| She was disciplined for swearing at her su-

prise, not being able to believe something pervisor.
disbelieve /dsb li
v/ (disbelieves, disciplined / dsplnd/ adj trained and
disbelieve disciplined
disbelieving, disbelieved) verb 1. to not well controlled

believe someone or something 2. to have disc jockey / dsk dki / noun a person
disc jockey
no religious belief who plays music at a disco or on radio. Ab-

disc /dsk/ noun a round flat object
disc
breviation DJ
The setting sun was a huge orange disc on disclaimer /ds klem/ noun 1. a denial
disclaimer
the horizon. disk of responsibility 2. a statement in which a

discard /ds k
d/ (discards, discard-
discard
|
legal right is renounced
ing, discarded) verb 1. to put something or disclose /ds klz/ (discloses, dis-
disclose
someone on one side because they are no closing, disclosed) verb to reveal a secret
longer useful 2. to throw something away [~that] The bank has no right to disclose
discern /d s#
n/ (discerns, discerning,
discern
|
details of my account to the tax office.
discerned) verb 1. to see something, to She disclosed that she had been offered
make something out with difficulty In the money for her story.
fog, we could barely discern the traffic disclosure / ds kl/ noun 1. a piece
disclosure
coming in the opposite direction. Can of information that had been kept secret
you discern any improvement in her pulse before 2. the action of revealing a secret
rate? 2. to understand something, to find disco / dsk/ (plural discos) noun a
disco
out about something Its hard to discern place or party where people dance to pop
what her motives might be. music
discerning /d s#
n / adj with good
discerning
discomfort /ds kmft/ noun a lack of

| discomfort
judgment
|
comfort
discharge1 / dst
d/ noun 1. a liquid
discharge
disconcerted /dskn s#
td / adj un-
disconcerted
which comes out of something such as a |
pipe 2. pus which comes out of a wound 3. easy, or confused

disconcerting /dskn s#
t/ adj
disconcerting
payment of a debt 4. the release of a pris- |
oner worrying or surprising

disconnect /dsk nekt/ (discon-
disconnect
discharge2 /ds t
d/ (discharges,
discharge
|
|
discharging, discharged) verb 1. to get rid nects, disconnecting, disconnected) verb

of waste The factory is discharging waste to remove the connection to a mechanical
water into the river. 2. to send someone or electrical device
discontent /dskn tent/ noun a state
discontent
away The judge discharged the jury. 3. to |
let a prisoner go free The prisoners were of not being satisfied

discontinue /dskn tnju
/ (discon-
discontinue
discharged by the judge. He was dis- |
charged after having served eleven months tinues, discontinuing, discontinued) verb
discord 180
to stop stocking, selling or making a prod- to discredit his research. (NOTE: + discredit
uct n)
discord / dsk
d/ noun a lack of agree- discreet /d skri
t/ adj 1. not giving
discord discreet
ment away or trying to find out private informa-

discount1 / dskant/ noun an
discount
tion about other people She never gossips
amount by which a full price is reduced she is very discreet. 2. not intending to at-
[~on/~for] The store gives a discount on tract attention I had a discreet word with
bulk purchases. We give a discount on the vicar before the service.
discrepancy /d skrepnsi/ (plural dis-
discrepancy
summer holidays booked before Christ- |
mas. to sell goods at a discount or dis- crepancies) noun a lack of agreement be-
count price to sell goods below the usual tween figures or stories
discretion /d skre()n/ noun 1. the
discretion
price |
discount2 /ds kant/ (discounts, dis-

discount
|
power to decide or choose what to do at
counting, discounted) verb 1. to reduce your discretion 2. wisdom, tact or good
the price of goods We are discounting sense He showed great discretion in his
many items in our January sales. 2. not to handling of the family crisis. 3. the ability
pay any attention to something Dont dis- to keep a secret, not to give information
count all his advice he is very experi- about someone You can rely on her
enced. shes known for her discretion. (NOTE: no
plural)
discourage /ds krd/ (discourages,
discourage
discretionary /d skre()n()ri/ adj

| discretionary
discouraging, discouraged) verb 1. not to |
encourage We try to discourage people which can be done if someone wants it

discriminate /d skrmnet/ (dis-
discriminate
from coming in without tickets. 2. to take |
away all hope They were completely dis- criminates, discriminating, discriminat-
couraged by their results. Dont be dis- ed) verb 1. to be biased against someone or
couraged by the small number of people in something [~against] She accused the
the audience. (NOTE: + discouragement n) management of discriminating against her
discouraged /ds krdd/ adj feeling
discouraged
|
because of her age. 2. to be able to see that
less confident or optimistic two things are different
discriminating /d skrmnet/ adj
discriminating
discouraging /ds krd/ adj not en-

discouraging |
able to tell the difference between two

couraging things, able to tell the value of something
discourse / dsk
s/ noun a talk, a
discourse
discrimination /dskrm ne()n/

discrimination
| |
speech noun 1. treating people in different ways

discourteous /ds k#
tis/ adj rude
discourteous
|
because of class, religion, race, language,
discover /d skv/ (discovers, discolour or sex [~against] We try to avoid
discover
covering, discovered) verb to find some- discrimination against older applicants. 2.

thing new or to learn something for the first good taste The shop sells gifts which ap-
time [~(that)] New stars are still being peal to people with discrimination. ( NOTE:
discovered. The firm discovered some er- [all senses] no plural)
rors in the accounts. We discovered that discriminatory /d skrmnt()ri/ adj
discriminatory
the estate agent had sold the house twice. which shows unfair discrimination
discovery /d skv()ri/ (plural dis- discuss /d sks/ (discusses, dis-
discovery discuss
| |
coveries) noun 1. the act of finding some- cussing, discussed) verb to talk about a
thing new or learning something for the serious matter or problem
first time [/~that] her discovery that [~how/why/whether etc] The point of the
someone had been in her house while she meeting is to discuss how to save money.
was away They congratulated him on his discussion /d sk()n/ noun an oc-
discussion
discovery of a new planet. 2. a new thing casion on which people talk about a serious
which has been found Look at his latest matter or problem [~about/on/~with] The
discovery an antique oak table which he next programme will feature a discussion
found in a barn. on climate change. She had a heated dis-
discredit /ds kredt/ (discredits, discussion with the bus driver. Most prob-
discredit
crediting, discredited) verb to make peo- lems can be solved by discussion. the
ple doubt or lose respect for someone or question under discussion the subject we
something When stories about his pri- are talking about
disdain /ds den/ noun a feeling that
disdain
vate life appeared in the press he was total- |
ly discredited as a minister. They set out someone or something is inferior She

181 disinfect
showed her disdain by refusing to shake his tramp turned out to be a policeman in dis-
hand. guise.
disease /d zi
z/ noun a serious illness disgust /ds (st/ noun 1. a feeling of
disease disgust
| |
Hundreds of people caught the disease. dislike that is so strong that you feel angry
It is a disease that can be treated with an- or slightly ill Seeing the dead animals
tibiotics. filled her with disgust. 2. a strong feeling of
disembark /dsm b
k/ (disembarks,
disembark
|
annoyance To my disgust, the examiner
disembarking, disembarked) verb to get passed my friend and failed me. verb
off a ship or a plane (disgusts, disgusting, disgusted) to give
disembodied /dsm bdid/ adj with-
disembodied
|
someone a strong feeling of dislike or dis-
out physical presence approval The smell of cooking disgusted
her. The greediness of these people dis-
disenchanted / dsn t
ntd/ adj not
disenchanted
|
gusts me. in disgust showing that you
to be as pleased as you used to be with are upset and annoyed She walked out of
something [~with] Shes very disenchant- the interview in disgust.
ed with her new job and is thinking of quit-
disgusted /ds (std/ adj feeling
disgusted
ting. |
shocked
disentangle /dsn t(l/ (disentan-
disentangle
disgusting /ds (st/ adj that fills

| disgusting
gles, disentangling, disentangled) verb 1.

to straighten out things that are tied or you with disgust
dish / d/ noun 1. a large plate for serv-
dish
knotted together 2. to clarify something 3.

to free someone from a complicated situa- ing food She carefully arranged the slic-
tion es of meat on a dish. 2. food prepared in a
particular way We are trying a new Mex-
disfigure /ds f(/ (disfigures, disfig-
disfigure
ican dish. 3. a round aerial, shaped like a

|
uring, disfigured) verb to change some-

plate, used to get signals from satellites
ones appearance so as to make it less
pleasant dish out phrasal verb to give something
out, especially in large quantities
disgrace /ds (res/ noun 1. the loss
disgrace
|
(informal) He dished out a piece of
of someones respect because of errors, bread and a bowl of soup to anyone who
scandal or corruption The ministers dis- asked for it.
grace followed the discovery of the papers
disheartened /ds h
t()nd/ adj feel-
disheartened
in his office. 2. a thing which brings shame |
Hes a disgrace to the teaching profes-

ing discouraged
disheartening /ds h
t()n/ adj
disheartening
sion. It was a disgrace to see her lying on |
the pavement like that. (NOTE: no plural) making somebody lose hope or enthusiasm
dishevelled /d ev()ld/ adj (of hair or
dishevelled
verb (disgraces, disgracing, disgraced) |
to bring shame on someone He disgraced clothes) not arranged neatly (NOTE: The US
all his family by arriving drunk at the tea spelling is disheveled.)
party. to disgrace yourself to do some- dishonest /ds nst / adj not honest
dishonest
thing which brings shame on you He dis-

dishonestly /ds nstli/ adv not hon-
dishonestly
graced himself by throwing sandwiches at |
the speakers. estly They were accused of dishonestly

obtaining bank loans.
disgraceful /ds (resf()l/ adj which
disgraceful
dishonesty /ds nsti/ noun a lack of

| dishonesty
people should be ashamed of |
honesty
disgruntled /ds (rnt()ld / adj an-
disgruntled
dishwasher / dw/ noun a ma-

| dishwasher
noyed or discontented
chine for washing dishes
disguise /ds (az/ noun a set of clothes
disguise
disillusion /ds lu
()n/ (disillu-
| disillusion
or something such as false hair or glasses |
sions, disillusioning, disillusioned) verb

that a persons wears to make them look
like someone else I didnt recognise him to make someone feel let down, or sad that
as he was wearing a disguise. verb (dis- something has not turned out as expected
(NOTE: + disillusionment n)
guises, disguising, disguised) 1. to dress
disillusioned /ds lu
()nd/ adj feel-
disillusioned
someone or yourself so as to look like |
someone else He entered the country dis- ing that something has not turned out as ex-
guised as a fisherman. She wore a wig to pected
disinfect / dsn fekt/ (disinfects, disin-
disinfect
disguise her hair. 2. to make something |
look or sound different in disguise fecting, disinfected) verb to remove germs

dressed to look like someone else The or bacteria from something
disinfectant 182
disinfectant /dsn fektnt/ noun a dismayed to find that her passport had
disinfectant
substance used to kill germs or bacteria been stolen.

disintegrate /ds nt(ret/ (disinte- dismember /ds memb/ (dismem-
disintegrate dismember
|
|
grates, disintegrating, disintegrated) bers, dismembering, dismembered) verb

verb to fall to pieces to cut something up into pieces
disinterested /ds ntrstd/ adj 1. dismiss /ds ms/ (dismisses, dis-
dismiss
disinterested
|
|
quite impartial, not in favour of one side or missing, dismissed) verb 1. to tell some-
the other a totally disinterested observer one that they can leave At the end of the
2. not interested She seemed quite disin- interview he dismissed her with a brief
terested in what was going on. (NOTE: This good afternoon. 2. to refuse to consider
use is common, but regarded as wrong. The an idea Her plan was dismissed as being
correct word to use in this sense is uninter- quite impractical. All his suggestions
ested.) were dismissed by the MD. 3. to dismiss
disjointed /ds dntd/ adj with parts
disjointed
|
an employee to remove an employee from
that are not linked together a job He was dismissed for being late.
When they found him taking money from
disk /dsk/ noun a round flat piece of
disk
the petty cash he was dismissed instantly.

metal in a plastic case, used in computers
dismissal /ds ms()l/ noun removal
dismissal
to record information How much data do |
these disks hold? disc from a job

dismissive /ds msv/ adj showing that
dismissive
disk drive / dsk drav/ noun a device

disk drive
|
which holds a disk in a computer and con- you do not consider something or someone
trols the access of information important
dismount /ds mant/ (dismounts, dis-
dismount
dislike /ds lak/ noun 1. a feeling of

dislike
|
|
not liking something or someone She had mounting, dismounted) verb to get off
a great dislike of noisy parties. 2. some- something such as a horse or bicycle
disobedience /ds bi
dins/ noun an
disobedience
thing which you do not like We try to take |
account of the likes and dislikes of individ- act of refusing to obey someone
disobedient /ds bi
dint/ adj not
disobedient
ual customers. verb (dislikes, disliking, |
disliked) not to like something or someone obeying

He particularly disliked the way they disobey /ds be/ (disobeys, disobey-
disobey
spoke to her. I dislike it when the people ing, disobeyed) verb not to obey someone
behind me at the cinema start whispering. or something She would never disobey
My father dislikes having to get up early her parents.
on Monday mornings. disorder /ds
d/ noun 1. a lack of
disorder
dislocate / dslket / (dislocates, dislo-

dislocate
order The whole office is in a state of dis-

cating, dislocated) verb 1. to displace a order. 2. a disturbance in the streets Vio-
bone from its normal position at a joint, or lent public disorders broke out in the
be displaced He fell and dislocated his streets. 3. an illness a doctor who spe-
elbow. The shoulder joint dislocates eas- cialises in disorders of the kidneys or in
ily. 2. to disrupt something Train services kidney disorders She suffers from a stom-
have been dislocated by the strike. (NOTE: + ach disorder.
dislocation n) disordered /ds
dd/ adj 1. untidy or
disordered
dislodge /ds ld/ (dislodges, dislodg-

dislodge
| confused 2. not working normally

ing, dislodged) verb to move something disorderly /ds
dli/ adj wild and out
disorderly
which is stuck of order

disloyal /ds ll/ adj not loyal disorganised /ds
(nazd/, disor-
disloyal
disorganised
| |
dismal / dzm()l/ adj bad in a way that ganized adj not well organised
dismal
make you feel unhappy disorientate / ds

rintet/ (disorien-
disorientate
dismantle /ds mnt()l/ (dismantles, tates, disorientating, disorientated) verb

dismantle
dismantling, dismantled) verb to take to make someone feel confused, especially

something to pieces so that they do not know where they are
dismay /ds me/ noun great disappoint- (NOTE: The US term is disorient.)
dismay
disown /ds n/ (disowns, disowning,

disown
ment To the dismay of the supporters, the |
team played extremely badly. verb (dis- disowned) verb to refuse to accept that
mays, dismaying, dismayed) to make something is yours
disparaging /d sprd/ adj saying
disparaging
someone very upset or shocked His reac- |
tion to her letter dismayed her. She was that something is not very good
183 disregard
disparate / dsp()rt/ adj various or displeased / ds pli
zd/ adj annoyed or
disparate displeased
different dissatisfied
disparity / d sprti/ noun difference displeasure /ds ple/ noun a feeling
disparity displeasure
|
|
(formal) of being annoyed

dispatch /d spt/, despatch noun 1. disposable /d spzb()l/ adj which
dispatch
disposable
|
|
sending Dispatch of the goods will be de- can be used and then thrown away dis-
layed until Monday. 2. a message sent posable cups
The reporters send regular dispatches from disposable income /dspzb()l
disposable income
the war zone. We received a dispatch nkm/ noun an amount of income left af-
from our Calcutta office. verb (dispatch- ter the tax has been taken away
es, dispatching, dispatched) 1. to send
disposal /d spz()l/ noun the act of
disposal
something They dispatched the message |
to all commanding officers. The goods getting rid of something The disposal of
were dispatched to you first thing this refuse is a problem for large cities. at
someones disposal available for some-
morning. 2. to finish doing something
quickly She set to work on the files and one to make use of if they want to My car
dispatched most of them by lunchtime. is at your disposal all week. I am at your
disposal what would you like me to do?
dispel /d spel/ (dispels, dispelling, dis-
dispel
dispose /d spz/ (disposing, dis-

| dispose
pelled) verb to clear something away |
posed) verb to dispose of something to

dispensary /d spensri/ noun a place
dispensary
get rid of something How are we going to

|
where a chemist prepares medicines ac-

cording to a doctors prescription dispose of all this waste paper? His ob-
jections are easily disposed of.
dispensation /dspen se()n/ noun
dispensation
disposition /dsp z()n/ noun 1.

| disposition
permission not to follow something such as |
a rule someones character He has a pleasant

easy-going disposition. 2. a tendency She
dispense /d spens/ (dispenses, dis-
dispense
has a disposition to argue with her hus-

pensing, dispensed) verb to provide
band.
something (formal) Local magistrates
disproportionate /dspr p
()nt/
disproportionate
dispense justice in the villages. |
adj not of a suitable size or amount for a

dispenser /d spens/ noun a machine
dispenser
which automatically provides something particular purpose

disprove / ds pru
v/ (disproves, dis-
disprove
when money is put in or a button is pushed |
dispense with phrasal verb not to use

dispense with
proving, disproved) verb to prove some-
something any more Weve dispensed thing is wrong
dispute /d spju
t, dspju
t/ noun an
dispute
with the services of an accountant. |
dispersal /d sp#
s()l/ noun the way in
dispersal
|
argument [~about/over//~between] He
which people or things are spread over an tried to mediate in the dispute between the
area two families. There was some dispute
disperse /d sp#
s/ (disperses, dispers-
disperse
|
over who would pay the bill. verb (dis-
ing, dispersed) verb 1. to clear something putes, disputing, disputed) to say that you
away The sun will soon disperse the mist. strongly believe that something is not true
The police were called in to disperse the
or correct I dispute her version of what
crowds of angry fans. 2. to move quickly in happened. There is no disputing the fact
different directions The crowd dispersed that Sarah is the best player.
disqualification /dskwlf
disqualification
rapidly once the parade was over. | |
dispirited /d sprtd/ adj sad or unhap-

dispirited
|
ke()n/ noun an action by which some-
py; feeling disappointed one is disqualified
disqualify /ds kwlfa/ (disqualifies,
disqualify
displace /ds ples/ (displaces, displac-

displace
|
|
ing, displaced) verb to move something disqualifying, disqualified) verb to make

from its usual place (NOTE: + displacement someone not able to do something
disquiet / ds kwat/ noun worry
disquiet
n) |
display /d sple/ noun a show, an ex- disregard /dsr (

d/ noun not feeling
display disregard
| |
hibition a display of local crafts They that something is important [~for] He

have a fine display of Chinese porcelain. showed a complete disregard for public
verb (displays, displaying, displayed) to safety. verb (disregards, disregarding,
put something in a display She is display- disregarded) to take no notice of He dis-
ing her collection of Persian carpets at the regarded the warning signs and went on
antiques fair. along the road.
disreputable 184
/ds repjtb()l/ ning the lottery he dissipated the lot on
disreputable
disreputable | adj
with a bad reputation, especially for crimi- drink and expensive cars.
nal activity dissociate /d ssiet/ (dissociates,
dissociate
disrepute /dsr pju

t/ noun a bad rep- dissociating, dissociated) verb to disso-
disrepute
utation to bring something or someone ciate yourself from to say that you want
into disrepute to give something or some- nothing to do with I wish to dissociate
one a bad reputation He was accused of myself from the opinions expressed by my
bringing the club into disrepute by his ex- colleague.
dissolution /ds lu
()n/ noun the
dissolution
traordinary behaviour. |
disrespect /dsr spekt / noun a lack of

disrespect
|
ending of a formal relationship, such as a
respect towards someone marriage
dissolve /d zlv/ (dissolves, dissolv-
dissolve
disrupt /ds rpt/ (disrupts, disrupting,

disrupt
|
|
disrupted) verb 1. to stop a service running ing, dissolved) verb to make a solid sub-
normally The snowstorm has disrupted stance become part of a liquid
dissuade /d swed/ (dissuades, dis-
dissuade
bus services throughout the country. 2. to |
break up or to interrupt a meeting We are suading, dissuaded) verb to dissuade

not used to having our meetings disrupted someone from something to persuade
by protesters. (NOTE: + disruption n) someone not to do something We tried to
dissuade her from entering the beauty
disruptive /ds rptv/ adj which dis-
disruptive
competition.
rupts
distance / dstns/ noun 1. the space
distance
/dssts fkn/

dissatisfaction
dissatisfaction | |
from one point to another [~from/~to] a
noun a lack of satisfaction distance of 800 km What is the distance
dissatisfied /ds stsfad/ adj not sat-
dissatisfied
|
from London to Geneva? The hotel is
isfied We were dissatisfied with the serv- only a short distance away. within walk-
ice we got from our bank. ing distance near enough to walk to The
dissect /da sekt/ (dissects, dissecting, hotel is within walking distance of the town
dissect
dissected) verb to cut up a body to exam- centre. 2. from a distance seen from
ine it (NOTE: + dissection n) some way away From a distance, the
disseminate /d semnet/ (dissemi-
disseminate
|
mountain looks like a sleeping animal. in
nates, disseminating, disseminated) verb the distance a long way away I caught
to spread something around (NOTE: + dis- sight of the mountain in the distance. We
semination n) could hear guns firing in the distance.
verb (distances, distancing, distanced)
dissent /d sent/ noun lack of agreement
dissent
to distance yourself from someone or

|
The chairman wished to avoid dissent.

They received many letters of dissent. something to show that you do not agree
(NOTE: Do not confuse with descent.)
with someone or something
distance learning / dstns l#
n/
distance learning
dissenting /d sent/ adj disagreeing

dissenting
|
noun studying in your own time away from
with the beliefs or opinions of a majority the place where the course is organised, us-
dissertation /ds te()n/ noun a
dissertation
|
ing radio or TV
long essay written as part of a university distant / dstnt/ adj 1. far away We
distant
course could hear the sound of distant gunfire. 2.

disservice /ds s#
vs/ noun an action
disservice
| not close in family relationship a distant

which damages or harms relative/cousin 3. not very friendly The
dissident / dsdnt/ noun a person who manager was quite helpful but distant.
dissident
distaste /ds test / noun dislike

distaste
is not in agreement with the state Several |
dissidents tried to set up an underground distasteful / ds testf()l/ adj unpleas-

distasteful
newspaper. It was a time when dissidents ant

were being arrested and thrown in jail. distil /d stl/ (distils, distilling, distilled)
distil
dissimilar /d sml/ adj not the same

dissimilar
| verb to make pure water or alcohol by heat-

dissipate / dspet/ (dissipates, dissi- ing it, and collecting the steam (NOTE: The
dissipate
pating, dissipated) verb 1. to clear some- US spelling is distill.)

distillery /d stlri/ (plural distilleries)
distillery
thing away The hot sun soon dissipated |
the morning mist. His statement did a lot noun a factory for distilling alcohol
distinct /d stkt/ adj 1. separate
distinct
to dissipate the feeling of annoyance |
among the members. 2. to waste something There are two distinct varieties of this
such as money, time or skill After win- plant. They keep their printing works
185 disturb
quite distinct from their publishing compa- cident distracted their attention from their
ny. 2. that you can clearly see, hear or feel holiday preparations.
I got the distinct impression that he was distracted /d strktd/ adj feeling ex-
distracted
carrying a gun. Did you notice the dis- tremely worried and unable to think clearly
tinct tone of anger in his voice? distraction /d strkn/ noun 1. an
distraction
distinction / d stkn/ noun 1. a

distinction
| entertainment We went to London to look

difference [~between] There is a distinc- for some distraction. 2. a thing which stops
tion between being interested in politics you from concentrating How can I do my
and joining a political party. 2. the highest work properly with all the distractions of
mark available in an examination She got the family?
a distinction in her exam. 3. special excel- distraught /d str
t/ adj feeling ex-
distraught
lence He served in the war with distinc- tremely worried and unable to think clearly
tion. She had the distinction of being the distress /d stres/ noun a sad or painful
distress
first woman pilot. feeling which is very strong I dont want

distinctive /d stktv/ adj very no- to cause the family any distress. The
distinctive
ticeable, which makes one thing different whole family was in distress at grandmoth-
from others ers death. verb (distresses, distressing,
distressed) to make someone very sad and
distinctly /d stktli/ adv clearly
distinctly
worried The news of her grandmothers

distinguish /d st(w/ (distin-
distinguish
|
death distressed her very much.
guishes, distinguishing, distinguished) distressing /d stres/ adj very sad and
distressing
verb 1. to see or hear clearly, or to see de- worrying

tails We could easily distinguish houses distribute /d strbju
t/ (distributes,
distribute
on the other side of the lake. I could dis- distributing, distributed) verb to share
tinguish at least two birds calling to each something between people She distribut-
other. 2. to distinguish between two ed part of her money to the poor. The
things to recognise the difference between flight attendants came round, distributing
two things Children must be taught to immigration forms to non-EU passengers.
distinguish between right and wrong. Its Ill distribute the list to all the committee
difficult to distinguish by sight between salt members.
and caster sugar. to distinguish one
distribution /dstr bju
()n/ noun
distribution
thing from another to notice that two |
1. giving to several people The staff will

things are not the same I find it difficult
to distinguish the blue from the green in the organise the distribution of the timetable to
design. 3. to distinguish yourself to do the students. 2. the act or process of send-
something which makes people notice you ing out goods from a warehouse to shops
distributor / d strbjt/, distributer
distributor
He distinguished himself on the football

|
field. She distinguished herself by falling noun a company which sells goods for an-
into the river. other company which makes them Who
is the local distributor for this make of
distinguishable /d st(wb()l/
distinguishable
|
lawn mower?
adj which can be distinguished
district / dstrkt/ noun an area or re-
district
distinguished /d st(wt/ adj im-

distinguished
|
gion Its a district of the town well known
portant and well known for its Italian restaurants.
distort /d st
t/ (distorts, distorting, district attorney /dstrkt t#
ni/
distort district attorney
| |
distorted) verb 1. to twist something His noun US a lawyer representing the govern-
face was distorted with pain. 2. to give a ment in a certain area. Abbreviation DA
false impression of something He dis- district council /dstrkt kansl/
district council
torted the meaning of my speech. noun a local council

distract /d strkt/ (distracts, distract- distrust /ds trst/ noun a lack of trust
distract distrust
| |
ing, distracted) verb to worry or disturb (NOTE: + distrust v)

someone when they should be doing some- disturb /d st#
b/ (disturbs, disturbing,
disturb
thing else [~from] The noise of the planes disturbed) verb 1. to interrupt what some-
is bound to distract the students from their one is doing Sorry to disturb you but
work. He had been distracted by his theres a phone call. Dont disturb your
mothers illness, and had forgotten the mother shes resting. 2. to make someone
meeting. to distract someones atten- feel worried It disturbed me to see that
tion to make someone look at or consider the wheel was wobbling. 3. to change the
something different The news of her ac- order or arrangement of something The
disturbance 186
police told us that nothing must be dis- diversion /da v#
()n/ noun 1. a tem-
diversion
turbed in the bedroom. do not disturb a porary road system that sends traffic anoth-
notice placed on a hotel room door, to ask er way All traffic has to take a diversion
the hotel staff not to come into the room and rejoin the motorway 10 km further on.
disturbance /d st#
bns/ noun an 2. an entertainment or an activity that peo-
disturbance
occasion on which someone is disturbed ple do for enjoyment Fishing is one of the
I need to work somewhere where there most popular diversions for people at
wont be any disturbance. weekends. Its a quiet country town with
disturbed /d st#
bd/ adj 1. worried very few diversions for teenagers.
disturbed
diversity /da v#
sti/ noun great variety
diversity
We are disturbed to hear that the company |
may be forced to close. 2. mentally ill In divert /da v#

t/ (diverts, diverting,
divert
her disturbed state of mind, she may do an- diverted) verb 1. to send something to an-
ything. Some of the patients are mentally other place or in another direction Be-
disturbed. Highly disturbed children are cause of fog in London, flights have been
taught in this special school. diverted to Manchester. Traffic has been
disturbing /d st#
b/ adj worrying
disturbing
| diverted to avoid the town centre. 2. to en-

disused /ds ju
zd/ adj not used tertain someone A game of snakes and
disused
ditch /dt/ noun a long narrow hole cut ladders diverted the children for a little
ditch
into the ground for taking away water Af- while. 3. to divert someones attention
ter the storm, the ditches were full of rain- to make someone look away or consider
water. He fell into the ditch beside the something else His wifes illness diverted
road. his attention from his business plans for a
dither / d/ (dithers, dithering, dith-
dither
while.
divide /d vad/ (divides, dividing, di-
divide
ered) verb not to be able to make up your |
mind Stop dithering and tell me what you vided) verb 1. to cut something into parts
want to do. [~between/among/~into/in] The cake was
diva / di
v/ noun 1. an extremely famous
diva
divided among the children. The two
woman opera star 2. a famous woman sing- companies agreed to divide the market be-
er who is thought to behave badly and de- tween them. Can you divide the cake into
mand too much attention (disapproving) seven pieces? 2. to calculate how many
times one number fits in another [~by]
divan /d vn/ noun a low long chair or a
divan
Ten divided by two gives five. (NOTE: Divid-

|
bed with a solid base and no back

ing is usually shown by the sign : 10 2 =
dive /dav/ (dives, diving, dived) verb to
dive
5: say ten divided by two equals five.)

jump into water head first [~into/in] He
dividend / dvdend/ noun a part of a
dividend
dived in the pool and swam across under

water. companys profits shared out among peo-
ple who own shares in it
diver / dav/ noun 1. a person who
diver
dividing line /d vad lan/ noun

dividing line
dives the Australian Olympic diver 2. a |
person who swims under water, especially something acting as a boundary

divine /d van/ adj referring to God He
divine
as a job Police divers searched the canal. |
diverge /da v#
d/ (diverges, diverg-
diverge
|
prayed for divine help.
diving / dav/ noun 1. the sport of
diving
ing, diverged) verb 1. to go in different di-

rections The road and the river diverge at jumping into water head first from a diving
the end of the valley. They had shared a board, with points from 0 10 being
flat for some time, then their careers di- awarded by a panel of judges He won a
verged and they saw much less of each oth- gold medal for diving. 2. swimming under-
er. 2. to be different from [~ from] This di- water with special equipment We went
verges from the plan I was given originally. diving in the Red Sea.
divergence /da v#
dns/ noun differ- division /d v()n/ noun 1. an im-
divergence division
| |
ence portant part of a large organisation The

diverse /da v#
s/ adj including many sales division employs twenty people.
diverse
different types or things She is the head of the production division.

diversify /da v#
sfa/ (diversifies, di-
diversify
|
2. a calculation, where one figure is divid-
versifying, diversified) verb to do other ed by another My little sister is just learn-
types of work; to add new types of business ing how to do division.
divisive /d vasv/ adj which produces
divisive
to your existing one (NOTE: + diversifica- |
tion n) disagreements
187 dock
divorce /d v
s/ noun a legal separation ter! 7. with nouns ending in -ing Shes
divorce
of a husband and wife where each is free to doing the shopping. He always does the
marry again Her parents are getting a di- washing-up. She was doing the ironing.
vorce. Since their divorce, they have both 8. to work at something, to arrange some-
married again. verb (divorces, divorc- thing or to clean something Shes doing
ing, divorced) 1. to break off a marriage le- her hair. Have you done the dishes yet?
gally They divorced last year. 2. to sepa- I cant do todays crossword. What have
rate from your husband or wife She di- you been doing all day? Theyre a diffi-
vorced her husband and married the man cult company to do business with. 9. to suc-
next door. ceed, to continue Shes doing very well in
divorced /d v
st/ adj no longer mar- her new job. He did badly in the inter-
divorced
ried Theyre both divorced, with children view. Hows your business doing? 10. to
from their previous marriages. finish cooking something The carrots
divorcee /dv
si
/ noun a divorced per-
divorcee
|
arent done yet. 11. to be satisfactory Will
son, especially a woman who is divorced this size do? 12. used when greeting some-
divulge /da vld/ (divulges, divulg-
divulge
|
one How do you do? that will do thats
ing, divulged) verb to give away a secret enough to make do with to accept some-
thing which is not as good as you wanted
DIY abbr do it yourself
DIY
The ordinary plates are all dirty, so we will

dizzy / dzi/ adj having a feeling that
dizzy
have to make do with paper ones.

you might fall down, and that everything
do away with phrasal verb to get rid of
seems to turn round Can we stop the car, something
please, I feel dizzy. After standing in the
sun, he became dizzy and had to lie down. do in phrasal verb 1. to kill someone
She has started having dizzy spells.
What happened to the gang boss? He
DJ abbr 1. dinner jacket 2. disc jockey
DJ was done in and dumped in the river. 2.
to hurt something (informal) I did my
DNA /di
en e/ noun the basic genetic
DNA
back in by digging the garden.

material in a cell. Full form deoxyribonu-
do up phrasal verb 1. to attach some-
cleic acid
thing Hes still a baby and he cant do
do /du
/ (does, doing, did, done) verb
do
his buttons up properly. Can you do up

1. used with other verbs to make questions the zip at the back of my dress? 2. to re-
Does this train go to London? Did the pair something and make it like new
doctor give you any medicine for your They bought an old cottage and did it up.
cough? Where do they live? What did Hes looking for an old sports car to do
you find there? 2. used with other verbs and up.
not to make the negative They didnt
laugh at the film. It doesnt matter any do with phrasal verb 1. to be related or
more. His parents dont live in London. 3. connected to It has nothing to do with
used to make a verb stronger Can I sit us. It is something to do with my new
down? Please do! Why dont you work book. 2. to put something somewhere
harder? I do work hard! Why didnt you What have you done with the newspaper?
tell me? I did tell you! 4. used in place of 3. to need something After that long
another verb in short answers to questions walk I could do with a cup of tea. The
using the word do Do you live in Lon- car could do with a wash.
don? Yes I do. But your parents dont do without phrasal verb not to have
live there, do they? No they dont. Does something, to manage without something
the green colour show? Yes it does. Did doc
doc abbr document

you go to the concert after all? Yes I did.
docile / dsal/ adj quiet and well be-
docile
5. used in place of another verb at the end

of a question or statement The Russians haved
dock /dk/ noun 1. the docks a harbour
dock
live here, dont they? It looks very nice,

doesnt it? It doesnt rain a lot in Spain, where ships are loaded and unloaded
does it? Can you run as fast as he does? Cars should arrive at the docks 45 minutes
He speaks German better than I do. before sailing time. We used to go down
She asked me to close the door but Id al- to the docks to watch the ships come in. 2.
ready done so. They got to the pub before a place in a law court where the prisoner
we did. 6. telling someone not to do some- sits She was in the dock, facing charges
thing Dont throw away that letter! of theft. verb (docks, docking, docked)
Dont put your coffee cups on the compu- (of a ship) to arrive in a port The ship
docker 188
docked at 17.00. The cruise liner will tained Hes a bit of a dodgy customer.
dock in Bermuda. She paid with a dodgy ten-pound note.
docker / dk/ noun a man who works in doe /d/ noun a female animal, such as
docker doe
a port, loading and unloading ships deer or rabbit (NOTE: Do not confuse with
docking station / dk ste()n/ dough. Male rabbits are called bucks, male
docking station
noun a piece of hardware for recharging a deer are stags.)

does /dz/ 3rd person singular present of
does
portable computer
dockyard / dkj
d/ noun a place where do
dockyard
doesnt / dz()nt/ do
doesnt
ships are built or repaired

doctor / dkt/ noun a person whose dog /d(/ noun an animal kept as a pet,
doctor dog
job is to look after people who are ill I or used for hunting Can you take the dog
have a ten oclock appointment to see the out for a walk? Police with dogs were
doctor. If you have pains in your chest, hunting the gang of escaped prisoners.
you ought to see a doctor. He went to the dog-eared / d( d/ adj (of a page or
dog-eared
doctors last Friday. book) well used or torn

doctorate / dkt()rt/ noun the highest dogged / d(d/ adj not giving in easily,
doctorate
dogged
degree from a university continuing to do something, even though

doctrine / dktrn/ noun a statement
doctrine
people want you to stop

of what a group of people believe dogma / d(m/ noun an official belief
dogma
document1 / dkjmnt/ noun 1. a

document
dogmatic /d( mtk/ adj stating firm-

dogmatic
piece of paper with something official or ly that what you say is right
important printed on it File all the docu- do-gooder /du
(d/ noun a person
do-gooder
ments away carefully as we may need them who tries to do good and help others, but in
again. Please read this document care- a way that sometimes annoys people
fully and sign at the bottom of page two. 2. (informal)
a separate file in a computer The letter
dogsbody / d(zbdi/ noun someone
dogsbody
was saved as a Word document.

who is employed by other people to do bor-
document2 / dkj ment/ (docu-
document
|
ing and unpleasant jobs for them
ments, documenting, documented) verb
doing / du
/ present participle of do
doing
to note something in official writing Cas-

doll /dl/ noun a childs toy which
doll
es of this disease are well documented in

Africa. looks like a baby
dollar / dl/ noun 1. the money sys-
dollar
documentary /dkj ment()ri/ noun

documentary
(plural documentaries) a film which shows tem used in the United States a 5-dollar
facts about a real subject [~about/on] Did bill The country spends millions of dol-
you see the documentary about hippos last lars on defence. There are two dollars to
night? adj referring to documents the pound. 2. a similar money system used
documentation
documentation
/dkjmen |
in many other countries What is the price
te()n/ noun all the papers referring to in Australian dollars? (NOTE: usually writ-
something ten $ before figures: $250. The currencies
used in different countries can be shown by
doddle / dd()l/ noun something that is
doddle
the initial letter of the country: Can$ (Cana-

easy to do (informal ) dian dollar), Aus$ (Australian dollar).)
dodge /dd/ noun a clever trick He
dodge
dollop / dlp/ noun a large lump of

dollop
told me a dodge to avoid paying on the Un- something soft (informal)

derground. verb (dodges, dodging,
dolphin / dlfn/ noun a large animal
dolphin
dodged) 1. to avoid something, to get out

of the way He ran across the street, with a long nose, that lives in the sea (NOTE:
dodging the traffic. She dodged behind a A group of them is a school of dolphins.)
domain /d men/ noun 1. an area of
domain
parked car hoping he wouldnt see her. 2. |
to avoid doing something you should do, in responsibility I dont do the cooking
a dishonest way to dodge payment of thats my husbands domain. 2. an area, a
your TV licence fee group of nodes in a network
dodgy / ddi/ adj 1. not safe, involving domain name /d men nem/ noun
domain name
dodgy
|
risk The back wheel on your bike looks a the name of a service provider on the Inter-
bit dodgy to me. I wouldnt go hitch-hik- net
dome /dm/ noun a round roof shaped
dome
ing in Russia it sounds very dodgy. 2.

probably dishonest, or dishonestly ob- like half of a ball
189 dormant
domestic /d mestk/ adj 1. relating donation /d ne()n/ noun a present,
domestic donation
| |
to the home She hated having to do all especially of money

the domestic work. 2. inside a country done /dn/ past participle of do
done
Sales in the domestic market have risen. donkey / dki/ noun a farm animal
donkey
noun a servant in a house (old) When the with long ears, used for riding or pulling
fire broke out all the domestics ran into the carts
house to rescue the furniture. donor / dn/ noun a person who gives
donor
domesticated /d mestketd/ adj 1.

domesticated
|
something
(of animals) kept or used for human re- dont /dnt/ do
dont
quirements 2. (of a person) skilled in doing doodle / du

d()l/ (doodles, doodling,
doodle
the work needed to keep a home clean doodled) verb to draw shapes on paper,
domesticity /dme ststi/ noun life
domesticity
|
usually because you are bored or thinking
at home of something else She sat at the back of
dominance / dmnns/ noun being
dominance
the meeting, doodling on the agenda.

dominant (NOTE: + doodle n)
dominant / dmnnt/ adj 1. most doom /du
m/ noun an unhappy fate that
dominant doom
important The dominant colour in the cannot be avoided

room is dark red. Safety will be the dom- doomed /du
md/ adj condemned to end
doomed
inant theme of the discussion. 2. very pow- in ruin

erful [~in] a dominant personality the door /d
/ noun 1. a solid piece of
door
dominant force in the countrys govern- wood, plastic or metal which closes an en-
ment trance He went into his office and locked
dominate / dmnet/ (dominates,
dominate
the door behind him. She opened the car

dominating, dominated) verb 1. to rule door and hit a passing cyclist. 2. used to
somebody or something He is dominated show where a building is in a street They
by his wife. The Union party dominates live a few doors away from us.
the countrys political system. 2. to be very doorbell / d
bel/ noun a bell by a door
doorbell
important The conversation was domi- which you ring to get someone inside to
nated by the subject of the presidents wife. open the door
3. to be very clearly seen The volcano doorknob / d
nb/ noun a round han-
doorknob
dominates the town. dle for opening and shutting a door

domination /dm ne()n/ noun con- doorman / d
mn/ (plural doormen)
domination
doorman
|
trol, power, or authority over others or an- noun a man who stands at the door of a
other building such as a restaurant or hotel
domineering /dm nr/ adj forcing doormat / d
mt/ noun a small rough
domineering doormat
your ideas on someone carpet placed in front of or behind a door,

dominion /d mnjn/ noun the power on which you wipe your shoes if they are
dominion
of control to exercise dominion over a dirty or wet

doorstep / d
step/ noun a block of a
doorstep
country
domino / dmn/ (plural dominoes) hard substance such as stone or wood at the
domino
noun one of a set of small flat blocks used bottom of a door on the outside of a house
door-to-door /d
t d
/ adj going
door-to-door
to play a game, each block being divided

into two sections, with up to six dots in from one house to the next, asking people
each section to buy something, to vote for someone, or
don /dn/ noun a university teacher, espe-
don
asking them questions
doorway / d
we/ noun a space where
doorway
cially at Oxford or Cambridge His father

was an Oxford don. verb (dons, donning, there is a door
dope /dp/ noun 1. illegal drugs 2. a stu-
dope
donned) to put on a piece of clothing In-

structions for donning the life jacket are in pid fool (informal) Hes a dope, he should
the pocket in front of your seat. Visitors have asked for twice as much!
to the factory have to don protective cloth- dork /d
k/ noun someone who other peo-
dork
ing. ple think is not intelligent or does not dress

donate /d net/ (donates, donating, in fashionable clothes (informal )
donate
dormant / d
mnt/ adj not active The
dormant
donated) verb to give something, especial-

ly money, to a charity or similar organisa- volcano has been dormant for many years,
tion He donated a lot of money to a char- but has suddenly started to send out clouds
ity for the homeless. of smoke.
dormitory 190
dormitory / d
mtri/ (plural dormito- barrels 2. formed from two names, usually
dormitory
ries) noun a long room full of beds with a hyphen between them
dosage / dsd/ noun the amount of a doublebass /db()l bes/ noun a mu-
dosage doublebass
drug calculated by a doctor to be necessary sical instrument like a very large violin
for a patient double bed /db()l bed/ noun a bed
double bed
dose /ds/ noun 1. a quantity of medi- for two people

dose
cine Normal daily dose: three tablets. double-breasted /db()l brestd/

double-breasted
Do not exceed the prescribed dose. 2. an at- adj describes a coat or jacket which has two
tack of a disease [~of] Ive had a dose of rows of buttons down the front
bronchitis. double-check /db()l tek/ verb to
double-check
dosh /d/ noun money (informal)

dosh
check something carefully, twice

doss /ds/ (dosses, dossing, dossed), double-click /db()l klk/ verb to
doss double-click
doss down verb to sleep on something press a mouse button twice quickly, e.g. to
such as a chair or on the floor, because give an instruction to a computer
there is no bed available double-cross /db()l krs/ verb to
double-cross
doss down phrasal verb to sleep some- trick someone so that they think you are
where where there is no bed available, working with them when in fact you are
e.g. on the floor working against them
dossier / dsie/ noun a file of docu- double-decker /db()l dek/ noun a
dossier double-decker
ments bus with two levels of seats Double-deck-

dot /dt/ noun 1. a small round spot er buses are common in London.
dot
A blue tie with white dots. 2. a printing sign double figures /db()l f(z/ plural
double figures
(.) used in email addresses My email ad- noun the numbers with two figures, from
dress is jane@supertek.com (say Jane at 10 to 99
Supertek dot com). verb (dots, dotting, double-glazing /db()l (lez/
double-glazing
dotted) 1. to mark with a spot 2. to be or be noun windows made of two pieces of glass,
put in many different parts Vases of flow- used to keep out noise or to keep heat in-
ers dotted the room. The wall was dotted side
with notices. double life /db()l laf/ noun a situa-
double life
dot.com / dt km/ noun a company

dot.com
|
tion in which someone has a separate way
that does business on the Internet or that of life for some of the time, which they
provides Internet services keep secret from other people
doting / dt/ adj very fond of some- double-sided /db()l sadd/ adj
doting
double-sided
one having two sides, both of which can be

dotted line /dtd lan/ noun a line
dotted line
used
made of a series of dots double take /db()l tek/ noun a re-
double take
dotty / dti/ (dottier, dottiest) adj slightly

dotty
action of surprise, after a slight pause

crazy (informal) doubly / dbli/ adv twice
doubly
double / db()l/ adj 1. containing two doubt /dat/ noun 1. not being sure
double
doubt
of something The word immeasurable Everyone sometimes has doubts about

is spelt with a double m. The invoice what they really want to do. to have
number is six double five double one. 2. doubts about something to say that you
with two parts, for two people double are doubtful about something I have my
doors a double bed 3. twice the size of doubts about the accuracy of the figures.
that which is considered normal She to cast doubt on something to make peo-
asked for a double portion of ice cream. ple feel less sure about something He
plural noun doubles a tennis game for two cast doubt on the whole proposal. to give
people on either side verb (doubles, dou- someone the benefit of the doubt to allow
bling, doubled) to multiply something by someone to continue doing something, be-
two Think of a number and then double cause you are not sure that accusations
it. made against him are correct The referee
double up phrasal verb 1. to bend be- gave him the benefit of the doubt. 2.
cause of pain She doubled up in pain theres no doubt about it is a certain fact
when he hit her in the stomach. 2. to per- Theres no doubt about her commitment
form two jobs The waiter is doubling to the project. Theres no doubt that he is
up as chef because the chef is on holiday. guilty. verb (doubts, doubting, doubted)
double-barrelled /db()l brld/ not to be sure of something
double-barrelled
adj 1. used to describe a gun which has two [~(that)/~whether/if] Did you ever doubt
191 downstairs
that we would win? I doubt whether he downer / dan / noun 1. someone or
downer
will want to go to the funeral. no doubt something that makes you feel depressed
certainly No doubt they will be asking for 2. a drug which makes you feel calm
more money soon. in doubt not yet downfall / danf
l/ noun a situation in
downfall
known or definite, or not yet sure The re- which someone or something fails or is de-
sult of the game was in doubt until the last stroyed
minute. Im in doubt about whether I downgrade / dan(red/ (downgrades,
downgrade
should take the job or not. downgrading, downgraded) verb to re-

doubtful / datf()l/ adj not sure that
doubtful
duce the importance of a person or of a job

something is right or good, or not likely downhearted /dan h
td/ adj feel-
downhearted
I am doubtful about whether we should go. ing unhappy

It is doubtful whether the race will take
downhill /dan hl / adv towards the bot-
downhill
place because of the snow.

|
tom of a hill The road goes downhill for

doubtless / datls/ adv certainly
doubtless
a while and then crosses the river.

dough /d/ noun 1. a mixture of water
dough
Downing Street / dan stri

t/ noun
Downing Street
and flour for making a food such as bread, 1. a street in London with the houses of the
before it is cooked The chef was knead- British Prime Minister (No. 10) and the
ing the dough for the pizza. 2. money Chancellor of the Exchequer (No. 11)
(informal) Hurry up, give me the dough! They took the petition to Downing Street. 2.
(NOTE: Do not confuse with doe.) the office of the Prime Minister Downing
doughnut / dnt/ noun a small round
doughnut
Street denied the report.

or ring-shaped cake cooked by frying in oil download /dan ld/ verb (down-
download
dour /d/ adj not attractive or welcoming

dour
loads, downloading, downloaded) to load

in appearance or behaviour data or a program into a computer noun a
douse /das/ (douses, dousing, computer file that can be downloaded
douse
down-market / dan m
kt/ adj
down-market
doused) verb to throw water on something

dove1 /dv/ noun 1. a white domesticated
dove
cheaper, appealing to a less wealthy sec-
pigeon To celebrate the peace treaty they tion of the population
down payment /dan pemnt/ noun
down payment
released hundreds of doves. 2. a person

who prefers diplomacy and tries to achieve a part of a total payment made in advance
peace Curiously, its the military com- downplay /dan ple/ (downplays,
downplay
manders who are the doves while the pres- downplaying, downplayed) verb to make
ident and his advisers are the hawks. something seem less important (NOTE: can
dove2 /dv/ US past tense of dive also be to play down)
dove
dowdy / dadi / (dowdier, dowdiest) adj downpour / danp

/ noun a heavy fall
downpour
dowdy
old-fashioned and badly dressed of rain

down /dan/ prep 1. towards the bot- downright / danrat/ adj complete or
downright
down
tom of He fell down the stairs and broke clear Thats a downright lie. The news-
his leg. The ball ran down the hill. 2. paper story was a downright fabrication.
away from where the person speaking is adv completely or extremely The wait-
standing He went down the road to the ress wasnt just unpleasant, she was down-
shop. The police station is just down the right rude.
downside / dansad/ noun the disad-
downside
street. adv 1. towards the bottom, towards

a lower position Put the box down in the vantages of a situation
corner. I looked in the cellar, but theres downsize / dansaz/ (downsizes,
downsize
no one down there. 2. in writing Did you downsizing, downsized) verb to make a
note down the number of the car? The business smaller by cutting the number of
policeman took down her address. 3. used jobs
for showing criticism Down with the gov- Downs
Downs syndrome
syndrome / danz
ernment! Down with exams! (NOTE: down sndrm/ noun a condition caused by the
is often used with verbs, e.g. to go down, to existence of an extra chromosome that af-
fall down, to sit down, to lie down.) fects a persons physical and mental devel-
down-and-out /dan n at / noun a
down-and-out
opment
person with no money who lives on the downstairs /dan stez/ adv on or to
downstairs
streets (informal) the lower part of a building He heard a

downcast / dank
st/ adj gloomy, de-
downcast
noise in the kitchen and went downstairs to

pressed see what it was. I left my cup of coffee
downstream 192
downstairs. adj on the ground floor of a drag /dr(/ verb (drags, dragging,
drag
building The house has a downstairs dragged) to pull something heavy along
bedroom. You can use the downstairs loo. the ground [~along/across/out etc] She
noun the ground floor of a building The dragged her suitcase across the floor.
downstairs has three rooms. The down- The police dragged the men away from the
stairs of the house is larger than the up- gate. noun something boring, which
stairs. Compare upstairs stops you doing things you really want to
downstream1 / danstri
m/ adj to- do Its a drag, having to write all the
downstream
wards the mouth of a river Downstream Christmas cards.

communities have not yet been affected. drag on phrasal verb to seem to pass
downstream2 /dan stri
m/ adv to- slowly The dinner party seemed to
downstream
wards the mouth of a river The silt is car- drag on for hours.
dragon / dr(n/ noun an unfriendly
dragon
ried downstream and deposited in the del-

ta. woman who seems frightening
down-to-earth /dan t #
/ adj sensi- dragonfly / dr(nfla/ (plural dragon-
down-to-earth dragonfly
ble or matter-of-fact flies) noun a long insect with bright trans-

downtown / dantan/ noun the cen- parent wings which often flies near water
downtown
drain /dren/ noun a pipe for carrying

drain
tral district of a town Downtown will be

very crowded at this time of day. waste water away In the autumn the
downtrodden / dantrd()n/ adj op- drains get blocked by leaves. We had to
downtrodden
pressed, badly treated phone the council to come and clear the
downturn / dant#
n/ noun a movement
downturn
blocked drain. verb (drains, draining,
towards lower prices, sales or profits drained) to remove a liquid from some-
thing
downward / danwd/ adj towards
downward
drainage / drend/ noun the process of

drainage
the bottom a downward trend in the un-

employment figures adv US same as removing water by means of drains
draining board / dren b
d/ noun a
draining board
downwards
downwards / danwdz/ adv to-
downwards
slightly sloping surface next to a sink on
wards the bottom which dishes can be placed to dry
drainpipe / drenpap/ noun a pipe on
drainpipe
downwind /dan wnd/ adv, adj in the

downwind
direction in which the wind is blowing the outside of a house which takes water
down to the drains
downy / dani/ adj 1. soft and fluffy 2.
downy
drama / dr
m/ noun 1. a serious per-
drama
covered with soft hairs

formance in a theatre a new TV drama se-
dowry / dari/ noun money or goods
dowry
ries about life in Glasgow The Globe

which a bride brings to her husband has put on an unknown Elizabethan dra-
doze /dz/ verb (dozes, dozing, dozed)
doze
ma. Im reading a book on 19th-century

to sleep a little (slang) She dozed for a French drama. Shes a drama student or
while after lunch. noun a short sleep Shes studying drama. 2. a series of serious
dozen / dz()n/ (plural same) noun 1.
dozen
and exciting events a day of high drama

twelve I need a dozen eggs for this reci- in the court the drama of the rescue by
pe. We ordered two dozen (= 24) chairs. helicopter He always makes a drama out
2. dozens of a lot of Dozens of people of everything.
visited the exhibition. Ive been to New dramatic /dr mtk/ adj sudden, un-
dramatic
York dozens of times. half a dozen six expected and very noticeable the dramat-
half a dozen apples ic moment in the film, when the dinosaurs
Dr abbr doctor
Dr
start to attack them The door was thrown

drab /drb/ (drabber, drabbest) adj lack- open and she made a dramatic entrance.
drab
ing bright colours; brown, grey The TV news showed dramatic pictures of
draft /dr
ft/ noun a rough plan of a the disaster.
draft
dramatics /dr mtks/ noun the prac-

dramatics
document He quickly wrote out a draft of |
the agreement. Its not the final version, tice of performing plays, usually by people
its just a draft. verb (drafts, drafting, who are not paid to act
drafted) to draw up a rough plan of some- dramatise / drmtaz/ (dramatises,
dramatise
thing dramatising, dramatised), dramatize verb

draft in phrasal verb to ask someone to do 1. to adapt a novel for TV or the theatre
something The Boy Scouts were drafted The novel was dramatised by J. Smith. 2. to
in to dig the garden. make something seem much more dramat-
193 dream
ic than it really is Theres no need to drawback / dr
bk/ noun a thing
drawback
dramatise the situation, its bad enough as which is not convenient or which causes a
it is. problem
drank /drk/ past tense of drink drawer / dr
/ noun a part of a desk or
drank drawer
drape /drep/ (drapes, draping, draped)

drape
cupboard like an open box which slides in
verb 1. to hang cloth around something and out when you pull its handle I keep
The statue was draped in a white cloth my cheque book in the top drawer of my
ready to be unveiled. He wore a long desk.
drawing / dr
/ noun 1. a picture
drawing
scarf draped over his shoulders. 2. to hang

something long over something He that has been drawn Ive bought an old
draped his legs over the back of the seat. drawing of the church. 2. the activity or
skill of making pictures with a pencil or
drapes /dreps/ plural noun US curtains
drapes
pen He studied drawing in Rome.

Open the drapes its light outside.
drawing board / dr
b
d/ noun a
drawing board
drastic / drstk/ adj severe, which has a

drastic
large board used by designers to work on

sharp effect its back to the drawing board well have
draught /dr
ft/ noun a flow of cool
draught
to start planning all over again

air into a room Dont sit in a draught. drawing pin / dr
pn/ noun a pin
drawing pin
draughts /dr
fts/ noun a board game
draughts
with a large flat head, used for fixing pa-

played with black and white round pieces pers to a surface such as a wall
Would you like a game of draughts or to drawing room / dr
ru
m/ noun a
drawing room
play draughts? Draughts is a much sim- sitting room, a room for sitting and talking
pler game than chess. (NOTE: not plural, and in, but not eating
takes a singular verb. The US term is check- drawl /dr
l/ noun a slow way of speaking
drawl
ers.) He spoke with a southern drawl. ( NOTE: +

draughtsman / dr
ftsmn/ (plural
draughtsman
drawl v)
drawn /dr
n/ adj tired and ill
drawn
draughtsmen) noun a person who draws She

plans for machines or buildings looked drawn after spending all night with
draughty / dr
fti/ (draughtier,
draughty
her sick baby. past participle of draw
dread /dred/ noun great fear The sound
dread
draughtiest) adj with cool air flowing into

it (NOTE: The US spelling is drafty.) of her voice filled him with dread. She
draw /dr
/ noun 1. a game or competi-
draw
has a dread of meeting him in the street.
tion which ends with both teams having the in dread of being very afraid of They
same number of points The match was a lived in constant dread of being arrested.
draw: 22. 2. a competition in which the verb (dreads, dreading, dreaded) to fear
winner is chosen by a person who takes a something very much Im dreading tak-
ticket out of a container with a name on it ing my driving test. She dreads her week-
The draw is held on Saturdays. We are
ly visit to the doctor.
dreaded / dredd/ adj awful, frightening
dreaded
holding a draw to raise money for the local

hospital. verb (draws, drawing, drew, (humorous)
dreadful / dredf()l/ adj very bad or
dreadful
drawn) 1. to make a picture with a pen or

pencil He drew a picture of the house. unpleasant What a dreadful film!
dreadfully / dredf()li/ adv extreme-
dreadfully
Shes drawing a pot of flowers. 2. not to

have a winner in a game The teams drew ly, in a way that is not good or pleasant
2 2. the match was drawn neither side dreadlocks / dredlks/ plural noun a
dreadlocks
won 3. to pull curtains open or closed She hairstyle where your hair is plaited into
drew the curtains and let in the sun. Can thick strands He had his hair in dread-
you draw the curtains I dont want any- locks.
one to see us in here. dream /dri
m/ noun 1. a story or series
dream
draw up phrasal verb 1. to come close of events that you think about while you
and stop As I was standing at the bus are sleeping [~about] She had a dream
stop, a car drew up and the driver asked about big pink elephants. 2. something
if I wanted a lift. 2. to write down some- which you imagine and hope will happen
thing, e.g. a plan They have drawn up a in the future All his dreams of wealth col-
plan to save money. Have you drawn up lapsed when he lost his job. His dream is
a list of people you want to invite to the to appear on Broadway. verb (dreams,
party? 3. to move something closer dreaming, dreamt or dreamed) to experi-
Draw your chairs up to the table. ence a story or series of events while you
dreamer 194
are sleeping [~of/about/~(that)] He was the kitchen dresser. 2. a person who dresses
dreaming of white sand and a blue tropical in a certain way Hes a very smart dress-
sea. I dreamt about you last night. Last er.
night I dreamt I was drowning. adj refer- dressing / dres/ noun 1. a sauce for
dressing
ring to something that is the best you could salad 2. a cover for an injury The dress-
have They found their dream house in a ings need to be changed every hour.
small town by the sea. Select your dream dressing gown / dres (an/ noun a
dressing gown
team for the World Cup. long robe worn over pyjamas or a night-
dreamer / dri
m/ noun a person who is
dreamer
dress
out of touch with practical things dressing room / dres ru
m/ noun a
dressing room
dreamt /dremt/ past tense and past parti-

dreamt
room in which you change your clothes,

ciple of dream especially a room in a theatre where actors
dreamy / dri
mi / (dreamier, dreamiest)
dreamy
or actresses get dressed in costume, or a

adj as if you are dreaming room in a sports club where people change
dreary / drri/ (drearier, dreariest) adj into their sports clothes
dreary
dressing table / dres teb()l/ noun

dressing table
sad or gloomy; not interesting

dredge /dred/ (dredges, dredging, a piece of bedroom furniture with a mirror
dredge
dredged) verb 1. to remove dirt or sand or mirrors

dress rehearsal /dres r h#
s()l/
dress rehearsal
from the bottom of a river or lake They |
had to spend weeks dredging the channel noun the final practice for an activity such
so that boats could still get to the harbour. as a play or public event The attack on
2. to cover something with a substance the police station was only a dress rehears-
such as sugar or flour When the pie is al for the coup dtat which took place the
cooked, dredge it with icing sugar. following week.
dregs /dre(z/ plural noun the parts of a dressy / dresi/ adj (of person) wearing
dregs dressy
drink which are left in a cup or glass when formal and fashionable clothes
you have finished drinking He poured the drew /dru
/ past tense of draw
drew
dregs down the sink. dribble / drb()l/ (dribbles, dribbling,

dribble
drench /drent/ (drenches, drenching,

drench
dribbled) verb 1. to let liquid flow slowly

drenched) verb to soak something out of an opening, especially out of your
dress / dres/ noun a piece of clothing mouth The baby dribbled its food over
dress
usually worn by women or girls, covering her dress 2. (of a liquid) to flow slowly out
the body and part or all of the legs She of an opening [~out/through etc] Ketchup
was wearing a blue dress. verb (dresses, dribbled onto the tablecloth. 3. to kick a
dressing, dressed) 1. to put clothes on football along as you are running, or to
someone [~in/~as] She dressed her little move a ball along with one hand as you are
girl in a blue dress. He was dressed as a running
prince. 2. to get dressed to put clothes on drier / dra / noun a machine which dries
drier
yourself He got up, dressed and had drift /drft/ noun 1. a general meaning
drift
breakfast. 3. to clean an injury and cover it Did you follow the drift of the conversa-
with a bandage tion? My Italian isnt very good, but I got
dress up phrasal verb 1. to put on cos- the drift of what they were saying. I think
tumes The children love dressing up as she got the general drift of my argument. 2.
doctors and nurses. 2. to wear your best a pile of snow blown by the wind Snow
elegant clothes Dont dress up come lay in drifts around the farmhouse. verb
just as you are. (drifts, drifting, drifted) 1. to move with
dressed / drest/ adj 1. wearing clothes
dressed
the flow of water, without steering The

I cant come down to see the visitors boat drifted down the river for two miles. 2.
Im not dressed yet. to get dressed to to move aimlessly After the match, the
dress yourself Get dressed and come spectators drifted towards the exits. 3. (of
downstairs. He got up, got dressed and snow) to pile up The snow began to drift
then had breakfast. 2. dressed in wearing in the high wind. 4. to behave aimlessly, to
a particular colour or type of clothing She avoid taking any decisions The govern-
was dressed all in black. He was dressed ment lost its sense of purpose and started
in a teeshirt and shorts. to drift. 5. to move slowly in a certain di-
dresser / dres/ noun 1. a piece of kitch- rection Prices drifted downwards.
dresser
drill / drl/ noun 1. a tool for making

drill
en furniture with open shelves above and

cupboards below Put the plates back in holes in a hard substance such as wood or
195 driving licence

metal He used an electric drill to make partment. 4. a little road leading to a house
the holes in the wall. 2. the action of prac- Visitors can park in the drive. verb
tising marching, especially in the armed (drives, driving, drove, driven) to make a
forces New recruits spend hours practis- motor vehicle travel in a particular direc-
ing their drill. verb (drills, drilling, tion [~along/down/through etc] I never
drilled) 1. to use a drill to make a hole in learnt to drive. He was driving a lorry
something [~in/into/~through] Check how when the accident happened. Ill drive
solid the wall is before you drill a hole in your aunt to the airport Ill take her to the
it. He drilled two holes for the screws. 2. airport in my car to drive someone cra-
to do military practice The soldiers were zy or mad to have an effect on someone so
drilling on the parade ground. 3. to teach that they become very annoyed (informal)
someone something by making them do or The noise is driving me mad. All this
say it many times [~in/~into] They were work is driving her crazy.
drilled in how to help customers leave the drive away phrasal verb 1. to ride away
building in an emergency. The rule of not in a motor vehicle The bank robbers
speaking to strangers was drilled into the leapt into a car and drove away at top
children from an early age. speed. 2. to take someone away in a mo-
drink /drk/ noun 1. an amount of liq- tor vehicle The children were driven
drink
uid such as water, juice, tea or coffee which away in a police car. 3. to force some-
you swallow If youre thirsty, have a thing or someone to go away His teach-
drink of water. She always has a hot ing methods were driving students away.
drink before she goes to bed. 2. an alcohol- drive back phrasal verb 1. to go back or
ic drink Would you like a drink? Come to come back in a motor vehicle We
and have a drink. Ill order some drinks were driving back to London after a day
from the bar. verb (drinks, drinking, out. 2. to force someone or something
drank, drunk) to swallow liquid He back The police drove the demonstra-
drank water out of a bottle. What would tors back from the square.
you like to drink? drive off phrasal verb same as drive
drink up phrasal verb to drink all of a liq- away 1, 3
uid The baby drank all her milk up. drive-by / drav ba/ noun the firing of a
drive-by
Come on, drink up were leaving now. gun at somebody from a moving vehicle
drink-driving /drk drav/ noun drive-in / drav n/ adj, noun bank, cine-
drink-driving drive-in
driving a car when drunk ma, restaurant, where cars drive up for
drinker / drk/ noun a person who usu- service We went to see the movie at the
drinker
ally drinks a particular quantity or type of local drive-in. We got a Chinese takea-
alcohol, or a person who drinks too much way at a drive-in restaurant.
drivel / drv()l/ noun rubbish
drivel
alcohol regularly Shes only a light

drinker. Theyre all beer drinkers. Her driven / drv()n/ past participle of
driven
father was a drinker. drive

drinking / drk/ noun the act or proc- driver / drav / noun a person who
drinking driver
ess of drinking a lot of alcohol, especially drives a vehicle such as a car or train Hes
frequently and over a period of time got a job as a bus driver. The drivers of
drinking water / drk w
t / noun both cars were injured in the accident.
drinking water
drive-through / drav ru
/, drive-up
drive-through
water which is safe to drink

drip /drp/ noun a small drop of water noun a business that serves people who
drip
Theres a hole in the tent a drip just fell wait by a special window in their cars
driveway / dravwe/ noun a short pri-
driveway
on my nose. verb (drips, dripping,

dripped) 1. to fall in small drops Water vate road leading to a house
was slowly dripping from the ceiling. 2. (of driving / drav/ adj (of rain or snow)
driving
e.g. a tap) to produce small drops I must blown horizontally by the wind They
fix that tap its dripping. were forced to turn back because of the
drive /drav/ noun 1. a journey, espe- driving rain. noun the action of driving a
drive
cially in a car to go for a drive to make motor vehicle Driving in the centre of
a short journey in a car for pleasure 2. a London can be very frustrating. Shes
part of a computer which makes a disk taking driving lessons.
driving licence / drav las()ns/
driving licence
work The disk is stuck in the drive. 3. an

energetic way of working We need some- noun a permit which allows someone to
one with plenty of drive to run the sales de- drive a vehicle on public roads
drizzle 196
drizzle / drz()l/ noun light rain A thin ranging a time, to get advice or informa-
drizzle
drizzle was falling so we took our umbrel- tion, or to meet other people
las. verb (drizzles, drizzling, drizzled) to droplet / drplt/ noun a very small drop
droplet
rain a little Its drizzling outside, so you of liquid

need a raincoat. droppings / drpz/ plural noun solid
droppings
drone /drn/ noun 1. a male bee The

drone
waste matter from animals The grass was

workers are busy getting pollen, while the covered with rabbit and sheep droppings.
drones do nothing. (NOTE: In a bee colony, drought /drat / noun a long period
drought
the females are workers.) 2. a buzz of an when there is no rain and when the land is
insect, of an engine I could hear the dry
drone of a small aircraft in the distance. 3. drove /drv/ past tense of drive
drove
a monotonous sound The drone of the

drown /dran/ (drowns, drowning,
drown
bagpipes sounded across the lake. verb

(drones, droning, droned) 1. to buzz We drowned) verb to die by being unable to
could hear a small aircraft droning over- breathe in water He drowned in a shallow
head. 2. to talk slowly and in a monotonous pool.
drowsy / drazi/ (drowsier, drowsiest)
drowsy
voice The lecturer droned on and on

about population statistics. adj sleepy (NOTE: + drowsily adv; drowsi-
drool /dru
l/ (drools, drooling, drooled)
drool
ness n)
drudgery / drdri/ noun hard boring
drudgery
verb 1. to slobber a baby drooling in his

high chair 2. to show excessive pleasure work Most of the work in the office is
about something I absolutely drooled sheer drudgery.
drug /dr(/ noun 1. a medicine They
drug
over the painting.

droop /dru
p/ (droops, drooping, have found a new drug for people with ar-
droop
drooped) verb to hang down thritis. 2. an illegal substance which affects

drop /drp/ noun a small amount of
drop
people physically or mentally when they
liquid which falls verb (drops, dropping, take it The customs are looking for such
dropped) 1. to fall or let something fall things as drugs or alcohol. verb (drugs,
[~from/to/into/down/on etc] He dropped drugging, drugged) to give a person or an-
the glass and it broke. The plate dropped imal a drug, or put a drug in their food or
onto the floor. 2. to decrease Prices are drink, to make them unconscious They
dropping. At night the temperature can drugged him and took him away in a car.
drop below zero. 3. to let someone get off a The dogs food had been drugged with
bus or car at a place [~at/~in] Ill drop you something to make him sleep.
drugstore / dr(st
/ noun US a shop
drugstore
at your house. The bus dropped her in the

centre of town. where medicines can be bought, as well as
drop in phrasal verb to call on someone, many other goods such as shampoo, writ-
to visit someone ing paper, etc.
drum /drm/ noun 1. a large round musi-
drum
drop off phrasal verb 1. to fall asleep

She dropped off in front of the TV. It cal instrument which you hit with a stick
took me ages to drop off. 2. to let some- He plays the drums in the band. 2. a large
one who is a passenger in a car get out barrel or container shaped like a cylinder
somewhere We can drop you off at the oil drums verb (drums, drumming,
station. drummed) 1. to play on a drum 2. to hit
drop out phrasal verb 1. to stop compet- something frequently He drummed his
ing or being involved in something He fingers on the table.
got as far as the semi-finals but dropped drum into phrasal verb to drum some-
out because of a shoulder injury. 2. to de- thing into someone to make someone
cide to give up your ordinary job or stud- learn something My grandfather
ies, usually because you want to live a drummed it into me that I had to be polite
more simple life He dropped out and to customers.
drummer / drm / noun a person who
drummer
went to live on a beach in India.

drop-down menu /drp dan plays the drums
drop-down menu
menju
/ noun a list of choices which ap- drunk /drk / adj excited or ill from
drunk
pears on a computer screen, and stays there drinking too much alcohol noun a person
until you click on one of them who is drunk past participle of drink
drop-in centre / drp n sent/ noun a drunkard / drkd/ noun a person who
drop-in centre drunkard
place which people can visit without ar- has a habit of drinking too much alcohol
197 duff
drunken / drkn/ adj who has drunk duck /dk/ noun 1. a common water
drunken duck
too much alcohol. driving bird (NOTE: The male is a drake, the female
dry /dra/ adj (drier or dryer, driest or
dry
a duck and the young are ducklings.) 2. the
dryest) 1. not wet Dont touch the door meat of this bird Were having roast duck
the paint isnt dry yet. The soil is dry be- for dinner. verb (ducks, ducking,
cause it hasnt rained for weeks. 2. (of ducked) to lower your head quickly to
wine) not sweet A dry white wine is avoid hitting something She didnt duck
served with fish. verb (dries, drying, in time and the ball hit her on the head.
dried) 1. to become dry The clothes are He ducked as he went through the low
drying in the sun. Leave the dishes on the doorway.
duckling / dkl/ noun a young duck
duckling
draining board to dry. 2. to wipe some-

thing until it is dry He dried himself with a duck with six little ducklings roast
a towel. duckling and orange sauce
duct /dkt/ noun 1. a tube which carries
duct
dry out phrasal verb 1. to become com-

pletely dry Hang up your coat to dry liquids in the body 2. a tube which carries
out in front of the fire. 2. to try to stop air or wires in a building The central
drinking alcohol He went to a clinic in heating ducts caught fire.
London to dry out. dud / dd/ adj (dudder, duddest) false
dud
dry up phrasal verb 1. to stop flowing (informal) He paid me with a dud 10

The heatwave has made the rivers dry up. note. noun something which does not
The government grants have dried up work properly Most of the fireworks in
and it looks as though the theatre will the box were duds.
have to close. 2. to stop talking, because dude /dju
d/ noun US 1. a man who is
dude
you cant remember what you were go- very interested in clothes that dude, with
ing to say He dried up in the middle of his stiff collar and wide pink tie 2. a visitor
his speech, and sat down hurriedly. As from a city on the East coast to a ranch in
soon as she got on the stage she dried up. the Midwest
dry-clean /dra kli
n/ verb to clean due /dju
/ adj 1. expected or likely to
dry-clean due
clothes or other fabric items with chemi- happen [~for] The plan is due at 10.30.
cals Were due for a thunderstorm after all this
dry-cleaners /dra kli
nz/ noun a
dry-cleaners
hot weather. due to do something ex-
shop where clothes are dry-cleaned pected to do something in future We are
dryer / dra/ noun another spelling of
dryer
due to leave London Airport at 5 oclock.
drier The children are due to arrive this after-
noon. 2. owed This payment is due now.
dry land / dra lnd/ noun 1. the land,
dry land
adv straight The plane flew due west.

not the sea 2. areas of land prone to severe noun what is deserved The right to an-
drought, e.g. deserts and savannas swer her critics publicly is her due. due
dual / dju
l/ adj existing as a pair
dual
to because of The problems are due to

dual carriageway /dju
l lack of training. These worries about
dual carriageway
krdwe/ noun a road with two lanes in health are usually due to not being given
each direction, with a barrier between the enough information. in due course later
two sides (NOTE: The US term is two-lane to give someone their due to be fair to
highway.) someone To give him his due, he works
dub /db/ (dubs, dubbing, dubbed)
dub
very hard.
duel / dju
l/ noun a fight between two
duel
verb 1. to give someone a nickname At

college he was dubbed Tom Pigpen Smith people with weapons such as swords or
because his room was so dirty. 2. to add di- guns They fought a duel over a girl. He
alogue to a film in a different language challenged the doctor to a duel. (NOTE: Do
from the original The film has been not confuse with dual.)
dues /dju
z/ plural noun money owed as a
dues
dubbed into Swedish.

dubious / dju
bis/ adj thinking that fee or regular payment
dubious
duet /dju
et/ noun a piece of music
duet
something might not be true or good Eve- |
ryone else seems to believe her story, but played or sung by two people
personally Im dubious about it. Im du- due to / dju
tu
/ prep because of
due to
bious about getting involved. The trains are late due to fog.
duchess / dts/ noun the wife of a duff /df/ verb
duchess duff
duke duff up phrasal verb to beat somebody up

dug 198
duo / dju
/ noun 1. two people, usually
duo
(slang)
dug /d(/ past tense and past participle two performers a TV comedy duo 2. same
dug
of dig as duet
dugout / d(at/ noun 1. a hole in the dupe /dju
p/ noun a person who has been
dugout dupe
ground which is a shelter for soldiers tricked He was the dupe of a Russian
They sat in a dugout for hours, waiting for businessman. verb (dupes, duping,
the order to advance. 2. a bench by the side duped) to dupe someone into doing
of a football pitch where the managers and something to trick someone into doing
extra team members sit The manager was something They duped him into giving
yelling instructions from the dugout. them all the cash he had in his wallet.
duke /dju
k/ noun a nobleman of the duplicate1 / dju
plkt/ adj made as a
duplicate
duke
highest rank. duchess copy of something Put the duplicate in-

dull /dl/ adj 1. not exciting or interest-
dull
voices in the file. noun a copy She sent
ing The story is rather dull. Whats so the invoice and filed the duplicate.
duplicate2 / dju
plket/ (duplicates,
duplicate
interesting about old churches? I find

them dull. 2. (of weather) grey and cloudy duplicating, duplicated) verb 1. to make a
a dull cloudy day 3. (of colours) not bright copy of a document such as a letter She
They painted the sitting room a dull duplicated the letter and put the copy into
green. a file. 2. to do again something which has
dumb /dm/ adj unable to speak (NOTE:
dumb
already been done Keep a note of where
Some people avoid this term because it you got to I dont want to duplicate your
causes offence and prefer to say speech- work.
duplication /dju
pl ke()n/ noun 1.
duplication
impaired.) |
dumbfounded /dm fandd/ adj

dumbfounded
|
the act of copying or repeating something
greatly surprised exactly 2. an exact copy or repeat
durable / djrb()l/ adj staying strong
durable
dummy / dmi/ (plural dummies) noun a

dummy
plastic object, given to a baby to suck in or- even when used for a long time You need
der to stop it from crying The baby sat a really durable floor covering in a kitch-
sucking a dummy. en.
duration /dj re()n/ noun the peri-
duration
dump /dmp/ noun a large area where

dump
|
rubbish is taken Take your rubbish to the od of time for which something lasts
duress /dj res/ noun force or illegal
duress
municipal dump. verb (dumps, dump- |
ing, dumped) 1. to put something heavy on threats of force used to make someone do
the ground, especially in a careless way something
She just dumped her suitcases in the hall. during / djr/ prep while some-
during
2. to throw something away, to get rid of thing is going on Conditions were bad
something Someone has dumped an old during the war.
pram in the car park. dusk /dsk/ noun the period in the
dusk
dumpling / dmpl/ noun a small ball

dumpling
evening just before it gets dark

of dough served with hot meat dust /dst/ noun a thin layer of dry dirt
dust
dune /dju
n/ noun a hill of sand
dune
The room had never been cleaned there

dung /d/ noun solid waste from ani- was dust everywhere. A tiny speck of dust
dung
mals, especially cattle, often used as ferti- got in my eye. (NOTE: no plural) verb
liser (dusts, dusting, dusted) to remove dust
dungarees /d( ri
z/ plural noun
dungarees
|
from something Dont forget to dust the
working clothes, formed of a pair of trou- Chinese bowls carefully.
dustbin / dstbn/ noun a large con-
dustbin
sers and a bib covering the chest, usually of

thick blue cloth, and worn over ordinary tainer for rubbish, kept outside a house
duster / dst/ noun a cloth for removing
duster
clothes The workmen came into the caf

in their dungarees. dust
dungeon / dndn/ noun a dark and dust jacket / dst dkt/ noun a pa-
dungeon dust jacket
unpleasant underground prison per cover round a book

dunk /dk/ (dunks, dunking, dunked) dustman / dstmn/ (plural dust-
dunk dustman
verb to dip a biscuit or other food into a liq- men) noun a person employed by a town to
uid collect rubbish
dunno /d n/ contr dont know dustpan / dstpn/ noun a small flat
dunno dustpan
(informal) Whose car is that? I dunno. container for brushing dirt into
199 dyslexia
dusty / dsti/ (dustier, dustiest) adj cov- dwindle / dwnd()l/ (dwindles, dwin-
dusty dwindle
ered with dust dling, dwindled) verb to get less gradually

dutiful / dju
tf()l/ adj who does what
dutiful
dye /da / noun a substance used to colour

dye
should be done cloth synthetic dyes vegetable dyes

duty / dju
ti/ noun (plural duties) 1.
duty
verb (dyes, dyeing, dyed) to stain with a

something which you are legally or moral- colour She dyed her hair green. (NOTE:
ly expected to do We have a duty to in- Do not confuse with die.)
form the authorities about what we saw. 2. dying / da / present participle of die
dying
a tax which has to be paid [~on] duty on

dyke /dak/, dike noun 1. a long wall of
dyke
perfume plural noun duties different jobs

that have to be done as part of your official earth to keep water from flooding land
work One of his duties is to see that the They built dykes along the river. With this
main doors are locked at night. on duty storm blowing from the east, do you think
doing official work which you have to do the dykes will hold? 2. a long ditch for rain-
in a job Hes on duty from 9.00 to 6.00. water It rained all month, and the dykes
Shes been on duty all day. were full. 3. a lesbian (offensive)
duty-free /dju
ti fri
/ adj, adv sold with dynamic /da nmk/ adj very energetic
dynamic
duty-free
no tax to be paid He bought a duty-free and with a strong personality

watch at the airport or He bought the dynamite / danmat/ noun 1. a power-
dynamite
watch duty-free. ful explosive They used dynamite to blow

duvet / du
ve/ noun a bag full of feath-
duvet
up the old building. 2. something or some-

ers, used as a covering for a bed one that has a very powerful effect This
DVD /di
vi
di
/ noun an optical disc that news is dynamite!
DVD
can hold images and sound. Full form dig- dynamo / danm/ noun 1. a small
dynamo
ital video disc piece of equipment for making electricity

dwarf /dw
f/ noun a person of smaller
dwarf
The electric light works by a dynamo at-

than normal height (NOTE: Some people tached to the back wheel. 2. a very energet-
avoid this term as it can cause offence and ic person
prefer person of short stature or person
dynasty / dnsti/ (plural dynasties)
dynasty
of restricted growth.) verb (dwarfs,

noun 1. a family of rulers, following one
dwarfing, dwarfed) to make something
after the other The Ming dynasty ruled
look very small His house is dwarfed by China from 1368 to 1644. Henry VII
the office block next door. founded the Tudor dynasty in 1487. 2. a pe-
dwell / dwel/ (dwells, dwelling, dwelt or
dwell
riod of rule by members of the same family

dwelled) verb 1. to dwell on something The Great Wall of China was built during
to keep thinking or talking about a problem the Tsin dynasty.
Its best not to dwell too much on your fi-
dysentery / ds()ntri/ noun an infec-
dysentery
nancial situation. 2. to live somewhere (lit-

erary) tion of the intestines, causing bleeding and
dweller / dwel/ noun, suffix a person
dweller diarrhoea
dysfunctional /ds fkn()l/ adj 1.
dysfunctional
who lives in a place Many city-dwellers |
have cottages in the country where they go unable to relate to other people emotional-
for weekends. Prehistoric man was a ly and socially 2. failing to work properly
cave-dweller. dyslexia /ds leksi/ noun a medical
dyslexia
dwelling / dwel / noun a place to live

dwelling
condition in which a person is not able to

(formal) read and spell correctly
E
e /i
/, E noun the fifth letter of the alphabet, eardrum / drm/ noun a part of the ear
e eardrum
between D and F which vibrates with sound and passes the

E
E abbr 1. east 2. eastern vibrations to the inner ear

earl /#
l/ noun a nobleman of middle rank,
earl
each / i
t/ adj every Each five pound
each
below a marquess and above a viscount.

note has a number. He was holding a countess
towel in each hand. Each one of us has a
earlier / #
li/ adj relating to a time before
earlier
separate office. pron 1. every person

They have two houses each or Each of them now or before a time being mentioned an
has two houses. She gave them each five earlier version of the book Ill try to
pounds or She gave them five pounds each catch an earlier train. adv before now or
or She gave each of them five pounds. 2. before a time being mentioned Cant you
every thing Each of the books has three come any earlier than Tuesday? I tried to
hundred pages or The books have three phone earlier but you were out.
earliest / #
list/ adj the soonest time that
earliest
hundred pages each.

each other / i
t / pron the other
each other
something could happen The earliest I
can deliver it is Tuesday.
one of two people or of two things They
earlobe / lb/ noun the lower part of
earlobe
were shouting at each other. We always

send each other presents on our birthdays. the outside of the ear
early / #
l/ adv 1. before the usual time
early
The boxes fit into each other.

The plane arrived five minutes early.
eager / i
(/ adj wanting to do something
eager
very much We must get up early tomorrow morning if

we want to catch the first boat to France. 2.
eagerly / i
(li/ adv in a way that shows
eagerly
at the beginning of a period of time We

that you want something very much went out early in the evening. The snow
eagle / i
(()l/ noun a large bird of prey
eagle
came early in the year.

early bird / #
li b#
d/ noun someone who
early bird
eagle-eyed /i
(()l ad/ adj with very
eagle-eyed
good eyesight likes to get up early and work before break-

fast, and who does not stay up late at night
ear // noun 1. one of the parts on ei-
ear
earmark / m
k/ (earmarks, earmark-
earmark
ther side of your head which you hear with

Rabbits have long ears. Have you
ing, earmarked) verb to reserve something
washed behind your ears? 2. an ability to for a special purpose
earn /#
n/ (earns, earning, earned)
earn
sense sound He has a good ear for music.

to play an instrument by ear to play verb to be paid money for working He
without reading the printed notes of music earns 20,000 a year. How much does a
She can play the piano by ear. 3. the top bus driver earn?
earner / #
n/ noun a thing or person that
earner
part of a plant such as wheat or barley with

the seeds to play it by ear to do what you earns money
think is right at the time (informal) We earnest / #
nst/ adj serious They were
earnest
wont make a plan, well just play it by ear engaged in earnest conversation. in ear-
and see how it goes. to be up to your nest with serious determination After a
ears in to be very busy with (informal) slow start the discussions began in earnest
Hes up to his ears in work. to have or in July.
keep your ear to the ground to follow earnings / #
nz/ plural noun a salary,
earnings
what is happening and know all about the money which you earn from work
something His earnings are not enough to pay the
earache / rek/ noun a pain in your ear
earache
rent.
201 eat
earphones / fnz/ plural noun a team. Our shop is easily the biggest in
earphones
piece of equipment which you put on your the High Street.

ears to listen to sounds from a machine east /i
st/ noun 1. the direction in
east
such as a radio or telephone She took off which the sun rises The sun rises in the
her earphones when I asked her a question. east and sets in the west. Germany is to
earplug / pl(/ noun a piece of plastic,
earplug
the east of France. The wind is blowing

rubber or other material which you put in from the east. 2. East the countries in the
your ears to stop you hearing loud sounds eastern part of the world, e.g. China adj
earring / r/ noun a piece of jewellery relating to the east The east coast is the
earring
worn attached to part of the ear coldest part of the country. adv towards
earshot / t/ noun within or in ear- the east The kitchen windows face east,
earshot
shot near enough to hear something Eve- so we get the morning sun. Drive east
ryone within earshot heard the details of along the motorway for twenty miles.
her divorce. out of earshot not near eastbound / i
stband / adj travelling
eastbound
enough to hear something Now that shes towards the east

out of earshot, you can tell me what really Easter / i
st/ noun a Christian festi-
Easter
happened. val, in March or April, celebrating the oc-

ear-splitting / splt/ adj extremely
ear-splitting
casion on which Jesus Christ died and then

loud came back to life again
earth /#
/ noun 1. also Earth the plan- Easter egg / i
str e(/ noun a chocolate
earth Easter egg
et on which we live The Earth goes round or sugar egg eaten at Easter
the Sun once in twenty-four hours. The easterly / i
stli/ adj 1. towards the east
easterly
signals from the spacecraft came back to 2. (of a wind) blowing from the east
earth. 2. the brown substance in which eastern / i
st()n/ adj from, of or in
eastern
plants grow Put some earth in the plant the east The best snow is in the eastern
pot and then sow your cucumber seeds. part of the mountains.
verb (earths, earthing, earthed) to connect
easterner / i
stn/, Easterner noun a
easterner
an electrical appliance to the ground

Household appliances should be properly person who lives in or comes from the east
earthed. ( NOTE: The US term is to ground.) of a country or region
easternmost / i
st()nmst/ adj fur-
easternmost
it costs the earth it costs a great deal of

money (informal) It wouldnt cost the thest to the east
eastward / i
stwd/ adj, adv towards the
eastward
earth to have the house repainted.

earthenware / #
()nwe/ noun ob- east
earthenware
eastwards / i
stwdz / adv towards the
eastwards
jects such as pots and dishes, made of clay

earthquake / #
kwek/ noun an occa- east
earthquake
easy / i
zi/ adj not difficult, or not
easy
sion on which the earth shakes, caused by

movement of the earths surface (NOTE: needing a lot of effort The test was easy,
also called simply a quake) in fact much easier than I expected. My
earth science / #
sans/ noun a sci- boss is very easy to get on with. easier
earth science
ence that studies the Earth, e.g. geology said than done more difficult than you
earthy / #
i/ (earthier, earthiest) adj (of think it will be Finding the right house
earthy
humour) coarse or rude was easier said then done. to take things
ease /i
z / noun a lack of difficulty He
ease
or it easy to rest and not do any hard work
won the first round with the greatest of The doctor told him to take things easy
ease. The bottle has a wide mouth for for a time after his operation.
easy chair / i
zi te/ noun a large com-
easy chair
ease of use. verb (eases, easing, eased)

to make less painful A couple of aspirins fortable armchair
easy-going /i
zi (/ adj friendly
easy-going
should ease the pain.

easel / i
z()l/ noun a vertical frame on and not very critical
easel
legs to support a blackboard or painting easy listening /i

zi ls()n/ noun
easy listening
easier, easiest / i
zi, i
zist/ easy slow or quiet popular music
easier, easiest
easily / i
zli/ adv 1. without any diffi- eat /i
t/ (eats, eating, ate, eaten) verb
easily eat
culty I passed my driving test easily. I 1. to put food into your mouth and swallow
can easily get there by 9 oclock. 2. a lot it Im hungry is there anything to eat?
(for emphasis before comparatives or super- We havent eaten anything since break-
latives) Her work was easily better than fast. The children ate all the sandwiches.
yours. He is easily the tallest man in the Eat as much as you like for 5.95!
eatable 202
Youll get thin if you dont eat. 2. to have a ecclesiastical /kli
zi stk()l/ adj
ecclesiastical
| |
meal He was still eating his breakfast referring to the Christian Church
when I arrived. We are eating at home to- echelon / eln/ noun a group of people
echelon
night. Have you eaten yet? at a particular level in an organisation or

eat away phrasal verb to destroy some- community the upper echelons of man-
thing by gradually wearing it away agement the lower echelons of the armed
eat out phrasal verb to have a meal in a forces
restaurant echo / ek/ noun (plural echoes) a sound
echo
eat up phrasal verb 1. to eat everything which is repeated such as when you shout
She ate it all up in a matter of seconds. in a place such as a tunnel We could hear
Come on, eat up its time to go. 2. to use the echo of voices in the tunnel. If you go
large amounts of something Buying a to the Whispering Gallery in the dome of St
car has eaten up my savings. Pauls Cathedral you can hear the echo
eatable / i
tb()l/ adj which is good
eatable
very clearly. verb (echoes, echoing,

enough to eat echoed) 1. (of sound) to make an echo
eater / i
t/ noun a person who eats Their voices echoed down the tunnel. 2. to
eater
eatery / i
tri/ (plural eateries) noun US a
eatery
repeat The newspaper article echoed the
restaurant, a place where you can eat opinions put forward in the ministers
(informal) speech.
eclectic / klektk/ adj taking ideas from
eclectic
eating disorder / i
t ds
d/ noun
eating disorder
|
|
an emotional disorder manifesting as an several different sources

eclipse / klps/ (eclipsing, eclipsed)
eclipse
obsessive attitude to food |
eat into phrasal verb to use more of some-

eat into
verb 1. to hide the sun or moon by passing
thing than expected The delays have eat- in front of it The sun is eclipsed by the
en into the time we allowed for visiting moon. 2. to be more successful than some-
London. one else She was eclipsed by her younger
eau de cologne / d k ln/ noun
eau de cologne sister.
eco-friendly / i
k frendli/ adj intend-
|
eco-friendly
a type of light perfume

eaves /i
vz/ plural noun the edge of a roof
eaves
ed to have no harmful effect on the natural
which sticks out over the wall beneath it environment and its inhabitants
ecological /i
k ldk()l/ adj refer-
ecological
eavesdrop / i
vzdrp/ (eavesdrops,
eavesdrop
|
eavesdropping, eavesdropped) verb to ring to ecology or the environment

ecology / kldi/ noun the study of the
ecology
listen to a conversation which you are not |
supposed to hear relationship between plants and animals

ebb /eb/ noun the regular process of the
ebb
and their environment (NOTE: + ecologist
level of the sea water at a coast becoming n)
e-commerce / i
km#
s/ noun buying
e-commerce
lower verb (ebbs, ebbing, ebbed) 1. (of

the sea level at a coast) to become lower and selling things online, especially over
Boats at anchor swing round to point up- the Internet
economic /i
k nmk/ adj 1. relat-
economic
stream when the tide starts to ebb. 2. also |
ebb away to become weaker or less gradu- ing to the economy I dont agree with the
ally He couldnt hold on to the rope any governments economic policy. The gov-
longer; his strength was ebbing away. to ernment has introduced controls to solve
be at a low ebb to be in a bad state After the current economic crisis. The country
his interview, his morale was at a low ebb. enjoyed a period of economic growth in the
The manager asked them to try harder, 1980s. 2. not costing much money The
just when their energy was at its lowest flat is let at an economic rent. 3. using
ebb. money well It is hardly economic for us
e-business / i
bzns/ noun 1. busi- to run two cars.
e-business
economical /i
k nmk()l/ adj which
economical
ness that is conducted on the Internet 2. a |
company that uses Internet technology saves money or resources

eccentric /k sentrk/ adj unusual in a economic migrant /i
knmk
eccentric economic migrant
way that is strange noun a person who be- ma(rnt/ noun a person who moves to
haves in an unusual way In his old age, live in another country where living condi-
he became something of an eccentric. tions are better
eccentricity /eksen trsti / noun economics /i
k nmks/ noun the
eccentricity economics
| |
strange behaviour scientific study of how money functions in

203 educational
trade, society and politics She is studying slightly larger share of the market than an-
for an economics degree. other company verb (edges, edging,
economise / knmaz/ (economises, edged) to move in a slow, careful way He
economise
economising, economised), economize started edging towards the door. on edge

verb to try not to waste something by using nervous or worried Everyone was on
as little as possible [~on] Our bills are too edge, waiting for the telephone call.
edging / ed/ noun a decoration along
edging
high so well have to economise on elec-

tricity this winter. the edge of something
economist / knmst/ noun a person edgy / edi/ adj 1. nervous or worried 2.
economist edgy
who specialises in the study of money and unusual and interesting

its uses edible / edb()l/ adj good enough or
edible
economy / knmi/ noun 1. the way safe to eat

economy
in which a country makes and uses money, edict / i

dkt/ noun a public announce-
edict
or the financial state of a country 2. some- ment of a law

thing you do to avoid wasting money or edifice / edfs/ noun a large building
edifice
materials She tried to make a few econo- (formal)

mies like buying cheaper brands of wash- edit / edt/ (edits, editing, edited) verb 1.
edit
ing-up liquid. adj cheap, often because of to be in charge of a newspaper or magazine

being sold in large sizes or quantities an He edited the Sunday Express for more
economy size notepad If you travel mid- than twenty years. 2. to prepare a book for
week you can usually get an economy fare. publishing by doing such things as correct-
economy class / knmi kl
s/ noun
economy class
|
ing mistakes I am editing a volume of
an air fare which is cheaper than first class 20th-century poetry. 3. to prepare some-
or business class thing such as a film to make it ready to be
economy drive / knmi drav/ noun
economy drive
| shown Once the film has been edited it

an effort to save money or materials will run for about 90 minutes.
ecosystem / i
ksstm/ noun a sys- edition / d()n/ noun a number of
ecosystem edition
tem which includes all the organisms of an copies of a book or newspaper printed at
area and the environment in which they the same time The book of poems was
live published in an edition of one thousand
ecotourism / i
ktrz()m/ noun copies.
ecotourism
tourism that tries to avoid ecological dam- editor / edt/ noun 1. a journalist in
editor
age to places visited charge of a newspaper or part of a newspa-

ecstasy / ekstsi/ noun 1. great happi- per He wrote to the editor of The Times
ecstasy
ness She was in sheer ecstasy over her asking for a job. She is the sports editor
engagement. These chocolates are pure of the local paper. 2. a person who edits
ecstasy. 2. a dangerous drug which makes books
you have hallucinations editorial /ed t
ril/ adj referring to ed-
editorial
ecstatic /k sttk/ adj very happy or itors or editing He has overall editorial
ecstatic
enthusiastic control of the series. noun a main article

eczema / eksm/ noun an uncomforta- written by the editor of a newspaper Did
eczema
ble skin condition with an itchy rash and you read todays editorial in The Times?
educate / edjket/ (educates, educat-
educate
blisters, but which is not contagious

eddy / edi/ (plural eddies) noun a circular ing, educated) verb to teach someone in a
eddy
movement of water or dust Dust eddies school or college, or give them information
were being raised by the wind. He got that they need She was educated in Swit-
into an eddy under the waterfall. zerland. We need to educate young peo-
edge /ed/ noun 1. the part around the
edge
ple about the dangers of alcohol.
educated / edjketd/ adj having been
educated
outside of something He put his plate

down on the edge of the table. She lay to school and university
education /edj ke()n/ noun the
education
down on the roof and looked over the edge. |
Can you stand this coin on its edge? 2. an system of teaching, or of being taught or
imaginary line where an area ends [~of/] given information about something
educational /edj ke()nl/ adj
educational
He lived in a house at the edge of the forest. |
The factory is built right on the edge of relating to education, teaching and schools
the town. 3. the sharp thin part of a knife or a campaign to improve educational
tool for cutting 4. an advantage to have standards This game for 3 to 5-year-
the edge on a rival company to have a olds is very educational.
educator 204
educator / edjket/ noun a person efficient / f()nt/ adj able to work
educator efficient
who teaches, especially someone who well and do what is necessary without
teaches people how to teach wasting time, money or effort He needs
Edwardian /ed w
din/ adj referring to an efficient assistant to look after him.
Edwardian
the time of King Edward VII (1901 1910) The new system of printing invoices is very
eel /i
l/ noun a long thin fish which looks
eel
efficient. a fuel-efficient car a car which
like a snake does not use much petrol
efficiently / f()ntli/ adv in an effi-
efficiently
eerie / ri/ (eerier, eeriest) adj strange

eerie
|
and frightening (NOTE: + eerily adv) cient way

effect / fekt/ noun a result or influ- effigy / efdi
/ (plural effigies) noun a
effigy
effect
ence [~on/upon] The cuts in spending will rough model of a person, usually someone
have a serious effect on the hospital. The unpopular
effluent / eflunt/ noun liquid waste, es-
effluent
cream has had no effect on her rash. The

effects of the shock took some time to wear pecially from factories or industrial proc-
off. plural noun 1. sounds, images or dis- esses
plays that are created for a film or event 2. effort / eft/ noun the use of the mind
effort
the things that you own (formal) verb (ef- or body to do something Lifting the box
fects, effecting, effected) to carry some- took considerable physical effort. Hes
thing out (formal) She was able to effect a made a big effort to learn Spanish. an ef-
number of changes during her time in fort to do something an attempt to achieve
charge. in effect actually In effect, he something The changes are part of an ef-
gave up trying. or words to that effect or fort to improve productivity. Shes al-
something with that meaning She said ready written to three addresses in an ef-
she wouldnt pay, or words to that effect. fort to contact the owner. plural noun ac-
to come into ortake effect to start to be of- tivities for a particular purpose Thanks to
ficial or legal The order comes into effect her efforts, we have collected more than
on 1 January. with effect from starting 10,000 for the childrens hospital.
from (formal) Prices will be increased by effortless / eftls/ adj without needing
effortless
10% with effect from January 1st. to use any energy

effective / fektv/ adj 1. producing
effective
effrontery / frntri/ noun rudeness

effrontery
|
|
the result that is wanted His method of

effusive / fju
sv / adj showing too
effusive
keeping the children quiet is very effective. |
Advertising on TV is a very effective way

much emotion when talking about some-
of selling. 2. taking effect an order which thing
EFL abbr English as a Foreign Language
EFL
is effective from January 1st (NOTE: + effec-

tiveness n) She is an EFL teacher. Hes taking an
effectively / fektvli/ adv 1. really,
effectively
|
EFL course.
e.g., eg abbr e.g.
e.g.
although the situation might appear differ-

egalitarian /(l terin/ adj believ-
egalitarian
ent Although there was another game to | |
play in the series, they had effectively won ing in equality or treating all people equal-
the gold medal. 2. in a way which produces ly
the result that is wanted The floodlighting egg /e(/ noun 1. a round object with a
egg
worked very effectively. hard shell, produced by a female bird or,

effeminate / femnt/ adj referring to a
effeminate
| e.g. snake, in which a baby bird develops

man who behaves in a feminine way (dis- The owl laid three eggs in the nest. Tur-
approving) tles lay their eggs in the sand. 2. a chick-
effervescent /ef ves()nt/ adj 1. ens egg, used as food You need three
effervescent
which makes bubbles The water will be- eggs to make this cake. dont put all your
come effervescent if you put this tablet into eggs in one basket dont risk everything
the glass. 2. lively and excited Her effer- on only one project
vescent good humour made the party go egg on phrasal verb to encourage
with a swing. someone to do something, especially
efficiency / f()nsi/ noun being something naughty
efficiency
eggplant / e(pl
nt/ noun a dark purple
eggplant
able to produce a good result without wast-

ing time, money or effort How can we shiny fruit of a small plant, used as a vege-
improve the efficiency of our working table (NOTE: used mainly in American Eng-
methods? She is known for her extreme lish. The more common British term is au-
efficiency. bergine.)
205 elder
eggshell / e(el / noun the hard outside show that two people or things are similar
eggshell
part of an egg in some way He isnt Irish and he isnt

egg white / e( wat / noun the clear liq- Scottish either. She doesnt want to go,
egg white
uid found in an egg, which turns solid and and I dont want to go either. The report
white when cooked wasnt on the TV news, and it wasnt on the
ego / i
(/ noun your high opinion of
ego
radio either.
ejaculate / dkjlet/ (ejaculates,
ejaculate
yourself |
egocentric /i
( sentrk/ adj interest-
egocentric
|
ejaculating, ejaculated) verb 1. to send out
ed only in yourself, not thinking of anyone semen from the penis 2. to exclaim (liter-
else ary) (NOTE: + ejaculation n)
eject / dekt/ (ejects, ejecting, ejected)
eject
egoism / i
(z()m/ noun thinking
egoism
|
only about yourself, and not bothering verb 1. to throw something out The chair-
about anyone else man called in the police to eject the trou-
egotism / i
(tz()m/ noun thinking
egotism
blemakers from the meeting. 2. to escape
that you are better than anyone else from an aircraft using an ejector seat The
pilot ejected safely. (NOTE: + ejection n)
egotist / i
(tst/ noun a person who
egotist
eke
thinks he or she is better than everyone else eke verb

eke out phrasal verb to use something a
egotistic /e( tstk/, egotistical /e(
egotistic
| |
tstk()l/ adj thinking you are better than little bit at a time, in order to make it last
everyone else longer to eke out a living to earn or live
on very little money She ekes out a mis-
ego trip / i
( trp/ noun an activity de-
ego trip
erable existence as a cleaner.

signed to improve your good opinion of
elaborate1 / lb()rt/ adj very de-
elaborate
yourself (informal) |
tailed, very complicated an elaborate

eh /e/ interj used when asking ques-
eh
dessert of cream, fruit and cake

tions What a laugh, eh? What about a
elaborate2 / lbret/ (elaborates,
elaborate
drink, eh? Eh? What did he say? |
elaborating, elaborated) verb to go into

eight /et/ noun the number 8
eight
details Its a very complicated plan so I

eighteen /e ti
n/ noun the number
eighteen
|
wont elaborate. He refused to elaborate
18 any further on her reasons for leaving.
eighteenth / e ti
n/, 18th adj relat-
eighteenth
elapse / lps/ (elapses, elapsing,

elapse
|
|
ing to number 18 in a series noun number elapsed) verb (of time) to pass
18 in a series
elastic / lstk/ noun a material which
elastic
18-wheeler /eti
n wi
l/ noun a large
18-wheeler |
stretches adj able to stretch and contract

lorry with 18 wheels She was wearing tight shorts made of
eighth /et/, 8th adj relating to number 8
eighth
some elastic material.

in a series noun number 8 in a series elastic band / lstk bnd/ noun a
elastic band
(NOTE: eighth is usually written 8th in dates: thin circle of rubber for holding things to-
April 8th, 1999; September 8th, 1866 (Amer- gether
ican style is 8 September 1866), say: the
Elastoplast / lstpl
st/ trademark a
Elastoplast
eighth of September or September the |
eighth (American style is September small strip of cloth which can be stuck to
eighth). For names of kings and queens, the skin to cover a wound
elated / letd/ adj very excited and
elated
eighth is usually written VIII: King Henry VI- |
II, say: King Henry the Eighth.) pleased

eightieth / eti/, 80th adj relating to elation / le()n/ noun a strong feeling
elation
eightieth
|
number 80 in a series noun number 80 in of excitement and pleasure

elbow / elb/ noun the joint in the
elbow
a series
eighty / eti/ noun the number 80 middle of your arm He sat with his el-
eighty
eighties the numbers between 80 and 89 bows on the table. She nudged him with
either / a, i
/ adj, pron 1. one or
either
her elbow.
elbow-room / elb ru
m/ noun space
elbow-room
the other You can use either computer

it doesnt matter which. I dont like either to move about (informal)
elder / eld/ adj older I have two elder
elder
of them. 2. each of two; both There are

trees on either side of the road. Some brothers. She brought her elder sister.
people dont take sugar in their coffee, (NOTE: elder is a comparative adjective,
some dont take milk, and some dont take used mainly of brothers or sisters. It is never
either. adv used with two negatives to followed by than, when older should be
elderly 206
used.) noun an older person Mary is the ain. 3. very exciting The atmosphere was
elder of the two. Which brother is the electric as the votes were being counted.
elder? The village elders met to discuss electrical / lektrk()l/ adj relating to
electrical
the plan. Children should have respect electricity a shop selling electrical appli-
for their elders and betters. ances The college offers courses in elec-
elderly / eldli/ adj a more polite word
elderly
trical engineering. They are trying to re-

than old used for describing someone pair an electrical fault.
who has had a long life An elderly man electric chair /lektrk te/ noun a
electric chair
sat down beside her. My mother is now chair attached to a powerful electric cur-
rather elderly and doesnt drive any more. rent, used in some states of the United
elder statesman /eld stetsmn/
elder statesman
States to kill criminals as a punishment

noun an older and wiser politician
electrician / lek tr()n/ noun a per-
electrician
eldest / eldst/ adj the oldest of a series

eldest | |
son who works on electrical repairs

of people This is John, my eldest son.
electricity /lek trsti/ noun energy
electricity
elect / lekt/ (elects, electing, elected)

elect | |
used to make light, heat or power We ha-

|
verb to choose someone by voting She

vent paid the electricity bill this month.
was elected MP for the town. The presi-
dent is elected for a term of four years. The electricity was cut off this morning.
The heating is run by electricity. The cot-
The chairman is elected by the members of
the committee. tage is in the mountains and doesnt have
any electricity. (NOTE: no plural)
-elect /lekt/ suffix a person who has been
-elect
electrics / lektrks/ plural noun the

electrics
elected but has not yet started the job She |
is the president-elect. wires and electrical connections in a build-

election / lekn/ noun the process of
election ing or piece of equipment
electric shock /lektrk k/ noun a
|
electric shock
choosing by voting [/~for/~to/~as] the |
election of a new treasurer for the club sudden pain when an electric current goes
election to the general council We are through your body
electrify / lektrfa/ (electrifies, electri-
electrify
holding an election for new representa- |
tives. After her election as president, the fying, electrified) verb 1. to connect to an
crowds were celebrating. electric source of power All the most
electioneering /lek nr/ noun modern railway lines are electrified. 2. to
electioneering
| |
the process of working for an election cam- startle and excite someone She gave an
paign, making speeches, writing pam- electrifying performance.
phlets and meeting voters electrocute / lektrkju
t/ (electro-
electrocute
elective / lektv/ adj 1. requiring to be

elective
| cutes, electrocuting, electrocuted) verb

elected 2. not obligatory to hurt or kill someone with an electric
elector / lekt/ noun a person who votes shock (NOTE: + electrocution n)
elector
or who is able to vote in an election electrode / lektrd/ noun one of two

electrode
electoral / lekt()rl/ adj referring to an

electoral
| points on an electric circuit where the cur-

election rent enters or leaves a battery
electoral college /lekt()rl kld/ electron / lektrn/ noun a basic nega-
electoral college electron
|
|
noun a group who elect someone such as a tive particle in an atom

president electronic /elek trnk/ adj using
electronic
/lekt()rl
|
electoral register
electoral register
|
electricity and very small parts which af-
redst/, electoral roll noun an official fect the electric current which passes
list of names and addresses of people living through them electronic equipment
in a particular area who are eligible to vote
electronics /elek trnks/ noun the
electronics
in local or national elections |
science of the movement of electricity in

electorate / lekt()rt/ noun all the
electorate
|
electronic equipment
people in an area who are able to vote
electronic tag /elektrnk t(/ noun
electronic tag
electric / lektrk / adj 1. worked by

electric
electricity Is your cooker electric or gas? an electronic device attached to someone

He plays an electric guitar. He cut the
such as a convicted criminal, so as to be
wood with an electric saw. She gave me sure where he or she is
elegant / el(nt/ adj very fashionable
elegant
an electric toothbrush for Christmas. 2.

making or carrying electricity Dont and stylish
elegy / eldi/ noun a sad poem or piece
elegy
touch those electric wires. Electric plugs

in the USA are different from those in Brit- of music about someone who is dead
207 em
element / elmnt/ noun 1. a basic of error. Smallpox has been eliminated in
element
chemical substance Magnesium is a me- most parts of the world. 2. to remove some-
tallic element. 2. a basic part of something one from a competition [~from] He came
I think we have all the elements of a set- last and so was eliminated from the next
tlement. 3. a small amount of something round of the contest.
There was an element of jealousy in her de- elimination /lm ne()n/ noun the
elimination
| |
cision. plural noun the weather, usually act of eliminating

bad weather noun a part which produces elision / l()n/ noun the omission of an
elision
heat in a piece of equipment such as an element of a word or phrase

electric heater or cooker I think the ele- elite / li
t/ noun a group of people with
elite
ment has burnt out. to be in or out of more privileges than most others
your element to be happy or unhappy in a
elitism / li
tz()m/ noun a system of
elitism
particular situation giving more privileges to a small group of

elemental /el ment()l/ adj wild and
elemental
|
people
uncivilised elitist / li
tst/ adj believing that an elite
elitist
elementary /el ment()ri/ adj basic or

|
elementary
|
should have most power in a group or soci-
simple ety
elementary school /el mentri sku
l/
elementary school
Elizabethan /lz bi
()n/ adj refer-
Elizabethan
|
| |
noun US the first school for children up to ring to the time of Queen Elizabeth I (1558
around eleven years old (NOTE: The British 1603)
term is primary school.)
ellipse / lps/ noun an oval shape
ellipse
elephant / elfnt/ noun a very large Af-

elephant |
elliptical / lptk()l/ adj 1. oval The

elliptical
rican or Indian animal, with large ears, a |
comet follows an elliptical orbit round the

trunk and two long teeth called tusks sun. 2. difficult to understand because of a
elevate / elvet / (elevates, elevating, el-
elevate
missing word or phrase

evated) verb to lift something or someone
elm /elm/ noun a large hardwood tree
elm
into a higher position (formal ) (NOTE: + ele-

vation n)
which grows in temperate areas
elocution /el kju
()n/ noun the art
elocution
elevator / elvet/ noun US a ma-

elevator |
chine for moving people up or down from of speaking in a clear and elegant way
elongated / i
l(etd/ adj longer than
elongated
floor to floor inside a building Take the

elevator to the 26th floor. (NOTE: The British normal
elope / lp/ (elopes, eloping, eloped)
elope
term is lift.) |
eleven / lev()n/ noun the number 11

eleven
|
verb to run away to get married
eloquent / elkwnt/ adj convincing and
eloquent
elevenses / lev()nzz/ noun a snack

elevenses
served in the middle of the morning at persuasive

else /els/ adv other (used after pro-
else
about 11 oclock
eleventh, 11th adj relating to number 11
eleventh
nouns) What else can I say? Everyone
in a series at the eleventh hour at the last else had already left. Who else was at the
minute The contract was finally signed at meeting? or else or if not We could do
the eleventh hour. His eleventh-hour de- it now, or else wait till John comes. You
cision to stand for election. noun number must have a ticket, or else you will be
11 in a series thrown off the train by the inspector.
elsewhere /els we/ adv somewhere
elsewhere
elf /elf/ (plural elves) noun a little person in

elf
|
fairy stories else, in another place This shop doesnt

elicit / lst/ (elicits, eliciting, elicited)
elicit
|
stock maps, so youll have to try elsewhere.
ELT abbr English Language Teaching
ELT
verb to obtain something (NOTE: Do not con-

fuse with illicit.) Shes an ELT specialist.
elucidate / lu
sdet/ (elucidates, elu-
elucidate
eligible / eldb()l/ adj 1. qualifying as

eligible
|
suitable for something under certain rules cidating, elucidated) verb to make some-
[~for] The previous president is eligible thing clear or easy to understand
elude / lu
d/ (eludes, eluding, eluded)
elude
for re-election. She is not eligible for a |
grant. 2. very suitable for getting married verb 1. (of a fact or word) to be difficult to
to an eligible bachelor remember Her name eludes me. 2. to
eliminate / lmnet/ (eliminates, elim- avoid being caught The protestors man-
eliminate
inating, eliminated) verb 1. to remove aged to elude the security guards.

elusive / lu
sv/ adj difficult to find
elusive
something that is not wanted Using a |
computer should eliminate all possibility em /m/ contr them (informal )

em
emaciated 208
emaciated /meietd/ adj extremely embarrassed /mbrst/ adj un-
emaciated embarrassed
| |
thin comfortable or ashamed, and not knowing

emaciation / mesie()n/ noun be-
emaciation
| |
what to do She gave an embarrassed
ing emaciated laugh, and said she had forgotten to bring
the present. He was so embarrassed that
email /i mel /, e-mail noun 1. a system of
email
he turned bright red.

sending messages from one computer to
embarrassing / mbrs/ adj
embarrassing
another, using telephone lines You can |
contact me by phone or email if you want. making a person feel embarrassed It was
Ill give you my email address. 2. a mes-
very embarrassing when he told everyone
sage sent by email I had two emails from about my mistake.
embarrassment /m brsmnt/
embarrassment
him this morning. verb (emails, email- |
ing, emailed, emailing; e-mails, e-mail- noun a feeling of being worried and
ing, e-mailed, e-mailing) to send a mes- ashamed
embassy /embsi/ (plural embassies)
embassy
sage to someone using email I emailed

him about the meeting. noun the home or offices of an ambassador
emanate /emnet/ (emanating, ema- embattled /mbt()ld/ adj constantly
emanate embattled
nated) verb to emanate from to come criticised

from somewhere (formal) the smell of on- embed /mbed/ (embeds, embedding,
embed
ions emanating from the kitchen Some of embedded) verb to fix something into a
these ideas emanate from the governments mass such as concrete or flesh
own think tank.
embedded /mbedd/ adj fixed in a
embedded
emancipation / mnspe()n/ noun

emancipation |
| |
mass of something
the process of making someone free, or
embellish /mbel/ (embellishes, em-
embellish
giving someone the right to equal status |
(NOTE: + emancipate v) bellishing, embellished) verb 1. to add de-

tails which are not true He embellished
embalm /mb m/ (embalms, embalm-
embalm
|
the story of the rescue with details of how
ing, embalmed) verb to treat a dead body he had climbed down the cliff. 2. to deco-
with chemicals to preserve it rate something or to make something beau-
embankment /mbkmnt/ noun a tiful The ceiling was embellished with
embankment
wall made along a river bank to prevent the gold leaf.

embellishment /mbelmnt/ noun a
embellishment
river from overflowing Entire fields were |
flooded when the river embankment col- decoration, an improvement to make

lapsed. something look beautiful The embellish-
embargo /mb / (plural embar-
embargo
|
ment of the ceiling with gold leaf.
embers /embz/ plural noun red hot
embers
goes) noun an official ban on trade The

oil embargo is still in place. to lift an pieces of wood or coal She poured water
embargo to allow trade to start again The on the embers of the bonfire.
government has lifted the embargo on the embezzle /m bez()l/ (embezzles, em-
embezzle
export of weapons. to be under an em-

|
bezzling, embezzled) verb to use money

bargo to be forbidden which is not yours, or which you are look-
embark /mb k/ (embarks, embark-
embark
| ing after for someone (NOTE: + embezzle-

ing, embarked) verb 1. to go on to a ship or ment n)
an aircraft The passengers embarked at embittered /mbtd / adj made bitter
embittered
Southampton. 2. to embark on or upon

emblazoned /mblez()nd/ adj deco-
emblazoned
something to start a project The council |
rated in a very noticeable way

has embarked on the redevelopment of the
emblem /emblm/ noun a design which
emblem
town centre. Wed better not embark on

something new until we have finished this is used as the symbol of a country, team or
job. town
embodiment /mbdmnt/ noun a
embodiment
embarrass /mbrs / (embarrass-

embarrass
|
|
es, embarrassing, embarrassed) verb to physical expression of an idea

embody /mbdi/ (embodies, embody-
embody
make someone feel uncomfortable in front |
of other people, e.g. by talking about some- ing, embodied) verb to show an idea in a
thing that they would prefer other people physical form She embodies all the best
not to know about qualities of a childrens doctor.
209 emphasis
embolism / emblz()m/ noun the which treats emergency cases (NOTE: The
embolism
blocking of a blood vessel by a blood clot British term is A&E.)

or a bubble of air emergency services / m#
dnsi
emergency services
emboss /m bs/ (embosses, emboss-

emboss
|
s#
vsz/ plural noun the police, fire serv-
ing, embossed) verb to raise a design ice and ambulance service
above a flat surface by pressing emergent / m#
dnt/ adj in a very ear-
emergent
embrace / m bres / (embraces, em- ly stage of development

embrace
emerging / m#
d/ adj starting to ap-
emerging
bracing, embraced) verb 1. to hold and |
kiss someone to show affection They em- pear, occur or develop

braced for several minutes before he got on emigrant / em(rnt/ noun a person
emigrant
the train. 2. to become a convert to a belief who emigrates. Compare immigrant

(formal) He embraced communism when emigrate / em(ret/ (emigrates, emi-
emigrate
he was at university. (NOTE: + embrace n) grating, emigrated) verb to leave your

embroider /m brd/ (embroiders,
embroider
| country to live in another. Compare immi-

embroidering, embroidered) verb 1. to grate (NOTE: + emigration n)
make artistic patterns by sewing with col- migr / em(re/ noun a person who has
migr
oured threads on cloth She embroidered emigrated for political reasons

a tablecloth for her mother. 2. to invent ex- eminent / emnnt/ adj important and
eminent
tra details and add them to a story He em- very highly respected
broidered the story of his escape from pris- eminently / emnntli/ adv extremely
eminently
on with details of how he overpowered (formal)

three guards and stole their guns.
emission / m()n/ noun 1. the process
emission
embroidery /m brdri/ noun 1. the

embroidery |
|
of emitting They are trying to reduce the
art of sewing decorations on cloth She emission of carbon monoxide from vehi-
went to embroidery classes. 2. sewn deco- cles. 2. a substance which is emitted Gas
rations We admired the delicate embroi- emissions can cause acid rain.
dery on the tablecloth. needlework
emit / mt/ (emits, emitting, emitted)
emit
embroiled /m brld / adj involved in an

embroiled |
|
verb to send out something such as a sound,
awkward situation a signal or smoke
embryo / embri/ (plural embryos)
embryo
emoticon / mtkn / noun a symbolic

emoticon
noun the first state of a living organism a picture representing an emotion, made
human embryo from computer keyboard characters such
embryology /embri ldi/ noun the
embryology
|
as :(
study of the development of embryos emotion / m()n/ noun a strong
emotion
embryonic /embri nk/ adj at a very

embryonic
|
feeling Hatred and love are two of the
early stage of development most powerful emotions. He tried to hide
emerald / em()rld/ noun a green pre-
emerald
his emotions when he made his speech.

cious stone Her crown was studded with emotional / m()n()l/ adj caus-
emotional
emeralds. ing you to feel emotion, or showing emo-

emerge / m#
d/ (emerges, emerg-
emerge
| tion Saying goodbye was an emotional

ing, emerged) verb 1. to come into exist- time for us all. The music made her feel
ence as something [~as] It was only after very emotional and she started to cry.
the election that he emerged as party lead- emotive / mtv/ adj likely to cause
emotive
er. 2. to become known [~that] It soon strong feeling

emerged that the Prime Minister knew empathise / empaz/ (empathises,
empathise
nothing about what was happening. empathising, empathised), empathize

emergence / m#
dns/ noun the
emergence
| (empathizing, empathized) verb to feel

act of emerging empathy
emergency / m#
dnsi/ noun a empathy / empi/ noun the ability to
emergency empathy
dangerous situation such as a fire or an ac- share the feelings of another person, by im-
cident, where decisions have to be taken agining yourself as that person
quickly Phone for an ambulance this is emperor / emp()r/ noun the ruler of an
emperor
an emergency! empire
emergency exit /m#
dnsi e(zt/ emphasis / emfss/ noun 1. the act
emergency exit
emphasis
|
noun a door used in an emergency of showing the importance of something,

emergency room / m#
dnsi ru
m/
emergency room
| usually in speech [~on] Dont put too

noun US the department of a hospital much emphasis on his age. She banged
emphasise 210
the table for emphasis as she spoke. 2. how widow of an emperor When the emperor
loud your voice is when you pronounce a died, the empress decided to rule the coun-
word or phrase Everyone noticed the em- try.
phasis he gave to the word peaceful. empty / empti/ adj (emptier, emptiest)
empty
emphasise / emfsaz/ (emphasis-

emphasise
with nothing inside, or with no people

es, emphasising, emphasised), empha- present When we opened it, the box was
size verb to show how important you feel empty. Take an empty pot and fill it with
something is, by saying it more loudly or soil. The fridge is empty well have to
slowly Please emphasise that the meet- go out to eat. The ski resorts are empty
ing must start on time. He emphasised because there is no snow. verb (empties,
the importance of everyone working to- emptying, emptied) to make something
gether. She kept on emphasising the same empty She emptied the clothes out of the
point over and over again. suitcase. He emptied the bottle into the
emphatic /m ftk/ adj using emphasis sink. They emptied the contents of the
emphatic
emphysema / emf si
m/ noun a con-
emphysema
|
petty cash box into a bag.
empty-handed /empti hndd/ adj
empty-handed
dition where the surface of the lungs is re-

duced, making it difficult to breathe having obtained nothing
empire / empa/ noun a group of sep- emu / i
mju
/ noun a large Australian bird
emu
empire
arate countries ruled by a central govern- which cannot fly

emulate / emjlet/ (emulates, emulat-
emulate
ment Were studying the history of the

British Empire. The Soviet empire cov- ing, emulated) verb to try to do as well as
ered a huge area from the Pacific Ocean to or better than someone else (formal)
the middle of Europe. emulsify / mlsfa/ (emulsifies, emul-
emulsify
empirical /m prk()l/ adj based on

empirical
| sifying, emulsified) verb to mix two liq-

practical experiment and not on theory uids which cannot unite completely, such
employ /m pl/ (employs, employ- as oil and water
employ
emulsion / mln/ noun a mixture of

emulsion
ing, employed) verb 1. to give someone |
regular paid work He is employed as a two liquids which do not unite completely,
gardener by the duke. She is employed in such as oil and water
the textile industry. 2. to use something enable /n eb()l/ (enables, ena-
enable
(formal) If we were to employ more up-to- bling, enabled) verb to make it possible for
date methods, would we make more mon- someone to do something The dictionary
ey? How can we best employ our free should enable you to understand English
time on Sunday? better.
employed /m pld/ adj in regular paid enact /n kt/ (enacts, enacting, enact-
employed
enact
|
|
work Please state the occupations of the ed) verb to make a law
employed members of your household. enamel / nm()l/ noun 1. a very hard
enamel
employee /m pli
/ noun a person
employee
|
covering of colour The enamel of the
who is employed The company has de- painting had begun to crack. 2. the hard
cided to take on twenty new employees. coating on the teeth If the enamel of a
employer /m pl / noun a person or
employer
| tooth gets damaged the tooth will soon

organisation that gives work to people and start to discolour.
pays them Her employer was a Hong en bloc / blk/ adv all together as a
en bloc
Kong businessman. The car factory is the group

biggest employer in the area. encampment /n kmpmnt/ noun a
encampment
employment /m plmnt/ noun

employment
|
large camp
regular paid work encapsulate /n kpsjlet/ (encap-
encapsulate
emporium /m p
rim/ noun a large
emporium
|
sulates, encapsulating, encapsulated)
shop verb to summarise something; to put some-
empower /m pa/ (empowers, em-
empower
| thing in a shorter form

powering, empowered) verb to give some- encase /n kes/ (encases, encasing,
encase
one the power to do something encased) verb to completely surround

empowerment /m pamnt/ noun
empowerment
| something with a substance encased in

the act of giving power to someone concrete
empress / emprs/, Empress noun 1. a enchant / n t
nt/ (enchants, enchant-
empress enchant
woman who rules an empire Queen Vic- ing, enchanted) verb to delight and attract
toria was Empress of India. 2. the wife or someone
211 endangered species

/n t
ntd/ /n krdmnt/
enchanted encouragement
enchanted | adj very encouragement |
pleased noun the act of giving someone the confi-

enchanting /n t
nt/ adj very beau-
enchanting
|
dence to do something
encouraging /n krd/ adj
encouraging
tiful |
enchantment /n t
ntmnt/ noun a
enchantment
|
which encourages
encroach /n krt/ (encroaches, en-
encroach
mysterious and magic feeling |
encircle / n s#
k()l/ (encircles, encir-
encircle
|
croaching, encroached) verb to take over
cling, encircled) verb to surround some- someone elses space [~on/upon] Their
thing completely new wall had encroached on our land.
She accused the professor of encroaching
enclave / eklev/ noun a small group of
enclave
upon her area of study.

people or small area completely surround-
encrusted /n krstd/ adj covered with
encrusted
ed by another quite different and larger |
group or area a hard substance

encumbrance /n kmbrns/ noun a
encumbrance
enclose /n klz/ (encloses, enclos-

enclose
|
|
ing, enclosed) verb 1. to put something in- thing which prevents you from moving or
side an envelope with a letter I am en- doing something
encyclopedia /nsakl pi
di/, ency-
encyclopedia
closing a copy of our current catalogue. |
Please find our cheque enclosed herewith. clopaedia noun 1. a reference book con-
2. to put a wall or fence round an area of taining articles on many subjects of human
land The garden is enclosed by high brick knowledge, usually presented in alphabeti-
walls. cal order 2. a reference book containing ar-
enclosed /n klzd/ adj surrounded on
enclosed
|
ticles on a single subject, arranged usually
all sides an enclosed space in alphabetical order a gardening ency-
clopedia the encyclopedia of sport
enclosure /n kl/ noun a document
enclosure
encyclopedic /nsakl pi
dk/, ency-
| encyclopedic
enclosed with a letter Please find details |
clopaedic adj like an encyclopedia

in the accompanying enclosure.
end / end/ noun 1. the last part of some-
end
encode /n kd/ (encodes, encod-

encode
thing She tied the two ends of the ribbon

ing, encoded) verb to write something in a
together. The telephone rang and I
code so that it cannot be read or used by missed the end of the TV programme. Go
other people
down to the end of the road and then turn
encompass / n kmps/ (encompass-
encompass
|
right. to come to an end to be finished
es, encompassing, encompassed) verb The work should come to an end next
to include something (formal) month. 2. the final part of a period of time
encore / k
/ noun 1. a call by the au-
encore
Can you wait until the end of the week?

dience for a performer to repeat a song or a verb (ends, ending, ended) when some-
piece of music The crowds cries of En- thing ends, it reaches the point when it
core were simply deafening. 2. a song or a stops happening The film ends with a
piece of music repeated at the request of wedding. The meeting ended with every-
the audience At the end of the concert she one fighting on the floor. The concert
played or sang two encores. should end at about 10 oclock. The
encounter /n kant/ (encounters,
encounter
|
game ended in a draw. in the end finally,
encountering, encountered) verb to meet at last In the end the teacher let him go
someone or something On the journey we home. In the end the shop had to call in
encountered several amusing people. I the police. to make ends meet to have
have never encountered such hospitality just enough money to live on Im having
anywhere else. trouble making ends meet. no end of
very many (informal) The cars caused us
encourage /n krd/ (encourages,
encourage
|
no end of problems.
encouraging, encouraged) verb 1. to
end up phrasal verb to finish in a partic-
make it easier for something to happen
ular situation
Leaving your credit cards on your desk en-
endanger /n dend/ (endangers, en-
endanger
courages people to steal or encourages |
stealing. 2. to help someone to do some- dangering, endangered) verb to put some-

thing by giving them confidence He en- one or something in danger
endangered species /ndendd
endangered species
couraged me to apply for the job. I al- |
ways felt encouraged by his interest in spi

i
z/ noun a species of animal or plant
what I was doing. at risk of dying completely
endear 212
endear /n d/ (endears, endearing, en- enemy / enmi/ (plural enemies) noun
endear enemy
deared) verb to endear someone to a person or country that is not on friendly

someone to make someone loved The old terms with another, and may try to harm
teacher endeared herself to generations of them Did your husband have many ene-
children. mies?
endearing /n dr/ adj liked by other energetic /en detk/ adj active and
endearing energetic
| |
people an endearing manner lively

endearment /n dmnt/ noun some- energise / endaz/ (energises, ener-
endearment energise
thing that you say that shows that you like gising, energised), energize verb to make
or love someone someone more energetic
endeavour / n dev/ (endeavours, en- energy / endi/ noun 1. the force or
endeavour
energy
|
deavouring, endeavoured) verb to try very strength of a person He used up a lot of

hard to do something (formal) He endeav- energy rushing around doing the Christ-
oured to contact her by both phone and fax. mas shopping. She put all her energies
(NOTE: The US spelling is endeavor.) into her art gallery. 2. a power which
endemic /en demk/ adj 1. (of a pest or
endemic
| makes something work the use of atomic

disease) very common in certain places energy or nuclear energy to make electric-
This disease is endemic to Mediterranean ity We try to save energy by switching off
countries. 2. (of a plant or animal) existing the lights when the rooms are empty.
in a certain area Trams are an energy-efficient method of
ending / end/ noun the way a story public transport.
ending
energy-saving / endi sev/ adj de-

energy-saving
finishes I like films which have a happy

ending. He told us so much of the story signed to use less energy
that we could guess the ending. enforce /n f
s/ (enforces, enforcing,
enforce
endless / endls / adj with no apparent

endless
enforced) verb to make sure a rule is

end obeyed (NOTE: + enforcement n)
endorse /n d
s/ (endorses, endors- enfranchise /n frntaz/ (enfran-
endorse enfranchise
|
|
ing, endorsed) verb 1. to officially mark or chises, enfranchising, enfranchised)

sign the back of a document (NOTE: + en- verb to give someone the right to vote in
dorsement n) 2. to show approval of I elections
heartily endorse what has just been said. engage /n (ed/ (engages, engag-
engage
They asked us to endorse Mrs Martin as the ing, engaged) verb 1. to employ a worker
local candidate. (formal ) We have engaged a lawyer to
endow /n da/ (endows, endowing, en-
endow
|
represent us. The company has engaged
dowed) verb to give money which will pro- twenty new salesmen. 2. to make parts of a
vide a regular income for an organisation machine fit into each other The gears
such as a school or hospital In her will, arent properly engaged.
she left money to endow a new ward in the engaged /n (edd / adj 1. having of-
engaged
childrens hospital. ficially stated your intention to marry She

end product /end prdkt/ noun the
end product
was engaged to Tom and then broke it off.

result at the end of a process or discussion John and Sue are engaged: they got en-
He works hard, but the end product isnt gaged last week. 2. busy or occupied You
always satisfactory. cant speak to the manager his line is en-
end result /end r zlt/ noun the result
end result
| gaged.
at the end of a process or discussion engagement /n (edmnt/ noun 1.
engagement
endurance /n djrns/ noun the abil-

endurance
|
a statement that you intend to get married
ity to accept and live with something diffi- [~to] My son has announced his engage-
cult or unpleasant ment to Pam. Their engagement was an-
endure /n dj/ (endures, enduring, nounced in the local paper. 2. an appoint-
endure
endured) verb 1. to accept and live with ment I have no engagements for the rest
something difficult or unpleasant The of the day. She noted the appointment in
prisoners had to endure great hardship. her engagements diary. to have a prior
The pain was more than she could endure. engagement to already have an appoint-
2. to last The memory of that day will en- ment at the same time as one that is being
dure for ever in my mind. suggested I cant meet you tonight I
enduring /n djr/ adj which contin- have a prior engagement.
enduring
engaging /n (ed/ adj charming

engaging
ues for a long time |

213 enlist
engender /n dend/ (engenders, enters onto a hard surface (NOTE: + engraver
engender
gendering, engendered) verb to produce n)

something such as a feeling (formal) engraving /n (rev/ noun a picture
engraving
engine / endn/ noun 1. a machine made by printing from a plate that has been
engine
which powers or drives something The engraved

engrossed /n (rst/ adj totally inter-
engrossed
car may need a new engine, Im afraid. |
Early industrial equipment was powered ested in something

by steam engines. 2. a vehicle which pulls engrossing /n (rs/ adj very inter-
engrossing
a train esting
engineer /end n/ noun 1. a per- engulf /n (lf/ (engulfs, engulfing, en-
engineer engulf
| |
son who looks after and repairs technical gulfed) verb 1. to completely cover and kill
equipment There are not enough tele- or destroy someone or something Two
phone engineers in the area. The photo- villages were engulfed in mud. 2. to over-
copiers broken down again well have to whelm someone or something She was
call the engineer. 2. a person whose job is engulfed by feelings of remorse.
to design mechanical, electrical or indus- enhance /n h
ns/ (enhances, en-
enhance
trial equipment verb (engineers, engi- hancing, enhanced) verb to increase the
neering, engineered) to arrange some- value or power of something Slot in this
thing secretly She engineered the dis- new memory board to enhance your com-
missal of one of her colleagues. puter memory. He took drugs to enhance
engineering /end nr/ noun the his performance as an athlete.
engineering
enhancement /n h
nsmnt/ noun an
enhancement
science or study of the design of technical |
equipment The college offers courses in improvement in something such as quality

electrical engineering. or value
England / lnd / noun a country in the enigma / n(m / noun a mystery or puz-
England enigma
southern part of the island of Great Britain, zle

the largest country in the United Kingdom enigmatic /en( mtk/ adj mysterious
enigmatic
(NOTE: England is often used instead of and difficult to understand

Great Britain, and this is a mistake, as Eng- enjoy /n d/ (enjoys, enjoying, en-
enjoy
land is only one part of Great Britain; note joyed) verb 1. to get pleasure from some-
also the capital: London; people: the Eng- thing Have you enjoyed the holiday so
lish; language: English; currency: pound far? When he asked them if they had en-
sterling) joyed the film they all answered no. She
English / (l/ adj relating to Eng-
English
doesnt enjoy sailing because it make her

land (NOTE: English is often used instead of seasick. to enjoy yourself to have a good
British and this is a mistake as England is time We enjoyed ourselves so much that
only one part of Great Britain. Do not say the were going to the same place for our hol-
English Prime Minister, say the British iday next year. 2. to have a good feature or
Prime Minister.) noun the English lan- quality (formal ) The house enjoys beauti-
guage as a subject of study in school or ful views of the mountains.
university Shes good at maths but not so enjoyable /n db()l/ adj giving
enjoyable
good at English. As well as teaching pleasure

English, he also teaches drama. Mr enjoyment /n dmnt / noun
enjoyment
Smith is our English teacher. She gives pleasure

English lessons at home in the evenings. enlarge /n l
d/ (enlarges, enlarging,
enlarge
There are twenty students in my English enlarged) verb to make something bigger
class. Could you enlarge this photograph?
English breakfast /(l brekfst/
English breakfast
enlargement /n l
dmnt/ noun a
enlargement
noun a cooked breakfast with bacon, eggs, bigger photograph than the original
sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes enlightened /n lat()nd/ adj without
enlightened
Englishman / (lmn/ (plural Eng-

Englishman
any prejudice; holding modern ideas

lishmen) noun a man from England enlightenment /n lat()nmnt/ noun
enlightenment
Englishwoman / (lwmn/ (plural

Englishwoman
knowledge, absence of ignorance In his

Englishwomen) noun a woman from Eng- search for enlightenment he visited the
land Buddhist monks of the Himalayas.
engrave / n (rev/ (engraves, engrav- enlist /n lst/ (enlists, enlisting, enlist-
engrave enlist
| |
ing, engraved) verb to cut a pattern or leted) verb to join up voluntarily as a member
enliven 214
of the armed forces He left school at 18 ensemble /n smbl/ noun 1. a small
ensemble
and enlisted as a soldier for five years. group of musicians or singers a jazz en-
enliven /n lav()n/ (enlivens, enliven- semble An ensemble played music by
enliven
ing, enlivened) verb to make someone or Mozart. 2. a set of womens clothes which
something more lively match She lost the hat that went with her
en masse / n ms/ adv all together in
en masse
ensemble and couldnt find another one to
a crowd match. 3. a group of things which go to-
gether to form a whole The whole ensem-
enmity / enmti/ noun hatred towards
enmity
ble of church, cottages and pub looks just

someone (NOTE: You experience enmity to- like a postcard.
wards someone.)
enshrine /n ran / (enshrines, en-
enshrine
enormity / n
mti/ noun the large size
enormity |
|
shrining, enshrined) verb to make some-
of something which is bad or wrong thing a legal right that cannot be taken
enormous / n
ms/ adj of an ex-
enormous
|
away
tremely large size The house is absolute- enslave /n slev/ (enslaves, enslaving,
enslave
ly enormous. He ate an enormous lunch. enslaved) verb 1. make someone into a

The present was an enormous surprise.
slave 2. to control someone, taking away
enormously / n
msli/ adv very
enormously
|
their freedom
much ensue /n sju
/ (ensues, ensuing, en-
ensue
enough / nf/ adj as much as is need-

enough
|
sued) verb to follow, or happen as a result
ed Have you got enough money for your of something
fare or to pay your fare? There isnt ensuing /n sju
/ adj which follows
ensuing
enough light to take photographs. pron as

en-suite /n swi
t/ adj, adv attached to
en-suite
much of something as is needed I had

20 in my purse to pay the taxi, but it a bedroom a bedroom with an en-suite
wasnt enough. Have you all had enough shower room
ensure /n / (ensures, ensuring,
ensure
to eat? adv as much as is needed This |
box isnt big enough for all these books. ensured) verb to make sure of something
He doesnt work fast enough. [~(that)] When taking a shower, please
enquire / kwa/ verb another spell-
enquire
|
ensure that the shower curtain is inside the
ing of inquire bath. (NOTE: Do not confuse with insure.
Note also: ensures ensuring ensured.)
enquiry / n kwari/ (plural enquiries)
enquiry
entail /n tel/ (entails, entailing, en-

| entail
noun another spelling of inquiry |
tailed) verb to involve having or doing

enrage /n red/ (enrages, enraging,
enrage
|
something (formal)
enraged) verb to make someone very an-
entangle /n t(l/ (entangles, entan-
entangle
gry |
gling, entangled) verb 1. to catch or tie up

enrich /n rt/ (enriches, enriching, en-
enrich
|
something in Her dress became entan-
riched) verb 1. to make someone or some-
gled in the machinery. The propeller was
thing richer He has no scruples about en- entangled in seaweed. 2. to put someone in
riching himself at other peoples expense. a situation from which it is difficult to es-
2. to make something more fertile Learn-
cape He became emotionally entangled
ing French has enriched his life. Some with a colleague. The country is in dan-
crops, such as beans, enrich the soil. (NOTE: ger of getting entangled in the war.
+ enrichment n) 3. to benefit someone or
enter / ent/ verb (enters, entering,
enter
something
entered) 1. to go into or to come into a
enrol /n rl/ (enrols, enrolling, en-
enrol
place He took off his hat as he entered the

rolled) verb to admit or be admitted as a
church. Did they stamp your passport
new member or new student (NOTE: The US when you entered the country? 2. to decide
spelling is enroll.)
to take part in a race or competition She
enrolment /n rlmnt/ noun the ac-
enrolment
|
has entered the 2,000 metres. 3. to write in-
tion of admitting new members or new stu- formation on a book or a form, or to type
dents Enrolment starts next Saturday. information into a computer system We
(NOTE: no plural in this meaning. The US will just enter your name and address on
spelling is enrollment.) the computer. noun the key on a keyboard
en route /n ru
t/ adv on the way [~to]
en route
which you press when you have finished

Well eat en route. The tanker sank en keying something, or when you want to
route to the Gulf. start a new line To log on to the system,
215 entwine
type your password and press enter. entirely /n tali/ adv completely
entirely
| I
entrance1, entry agree with you entirely. This is an entire-
enterprise / entpraz/ noun 1. a ly separate problem.
enterprise
business venture, especially something entirety /n tarti/ noun a full amount

entirety
that involves some risk Their latest enter- in its entirety completely He read the
prise is importing carpets from Turkey. 2. a book in its entirety.
method of organising business The state entitle /n tat()l/ (entitles, entitling,
entitle
should not interfere with free enterprise. 3. entitled) verb 1. to give someone the right
a commercial firm, a business organisation to I am entitled to five weeks holiday a
They have merged with another huge in- year. 2. to give a title to something Tol-
dustrial enterprise. stoy wrote a book entitled War and Peace.
enterprising / entpraz/ adj using entitlement /n tat()lmnt/ noun a
enterprising
entitlement
initiative right to have something

entertain /ent ten/ (entertains, en- entity / entti/ (plural entities) noun a
entertain
entity
|
tertaining, entertained) verb 1. to perform, thing which exists as a separate unit

e.g. by telling stories to people or making entourage / ntr
/ noun a group of
entourage
them laugh He entertained us with sto- people such as secretaries, assistants and
ries of his life in the army. We hired a advisers surrounding an important person
clown to entertain the children. The tour-
entrance1 / entrns/ noun a door for go-
entrance
ists were entertained by the local dance

troupe. 2. to have someone as a guest and ing in Lets meet at the side entrance of
offer them a meal and drinks, and some- the museum, near the caf.
entrance2 / n tr
ns/ (entrances, en-
entrance
times a place to sleep Theyre entertain- |
ing some Swedish friends this evening. trancing, entranced) verb to make some-
entertainer /ent ten/ noun a person
entertainer
|
one very interested and happy His sing-
who entertains people, especially as a job ing entranced his audience.
entranced /n tr
nst/ adj giving all
entranced
entertaining / ent ten/ adj amus-

entertaining |
your attention to something enjoyable

|
ing
entrant / entrnt/ noun a person who
entrant
entertainment /ent tenmnt/

entertainment
takes part in a race, examination or compe-

noun things such as films and shows that
tition There are over a thousand entrants
people enjoy watching She sang for their for the race.
entertainment. Theres not much enter-
entrepreneur /ntrpr n#
/ noun a
entrepreneur
tainment in the village the nearest cine- |
ma is 25km away. person who directs a company and takes

risks commercially
enthral /n r
l/ (enthrals, enthralling,
enthral
entrust /n trst/ (entrusts, entrusting,

| entrust
enthralled) verb to keep someones atten- |
tion (NOTE: The US spelling is enthrall.) entrusted) verb to entrust something to

someone, to entrust someone with some-
enthusiasm /n ju
ziz()m/ noun
enthusiasm
|
thing to give someone the responsibility
great interest and liking [~for] We suc- for looking after something She entrust-
ceeded, thanks to the enthusiasm and hard ed the care of her children to her brother.
work of a small group of members. She He was entrusted with the keys to the office
showed a lot of enthusiasm for our new safe. Why did she entrust him with all her
project. money?
enthusiast /n ju
zist/ noun a person
enthusiast
entry / entri/ (plural entries) noun 1.

entry
|
who shows great interest in something the act of going into a place [~to/into] Her
enthusiastic /nju
zi stk/ adj
enthusiastic
| |
entry into the hall was greeted with ap-
showing great interest and approval The plause. The sign on the door said No En-
editor was very enthusiastic about my try. 2. the door or opening where you go
book. There were enthusiastic cheers at into a place [~to/into] The entry to the
the end of the performance. cave was blocked by rocks. 3. a piece of in-
entice /n tas/ (entices, enticing, en-
entice
| formation in something such as a diction-

ticed) verb to attract or to tempt someone ary, or in a computer system [~to/into] She
to do something looked up the entry on roses in the gar-
entire /n ta/ adj whole We spent dening encyclopedia.
entire
entwine /n twan/ (entwines, entwin-

entwine
the entire day gardening. The entire cast |
came on the stage and bowed to the audi- ing, entwined) verb to twist two things to-
ence. gether
envelop 216
envelop /n velp/ (envelops, envelop- ephemeral / femrl/ adj not lasting for
envelop ephemeral
| |
ing, enveloped) verb to cover something; a long time

to surround something with a covering epic / epk/ noun a long poem or film, es-
epic
envelope / envlp/ noun a folded pecially about war Theres an old Holly-
envelope
paper cover for sending letters in She wood epic on TV this afternoon. The
wrote the address on the envelope and reading was an extract from Homers epic,
sealed it. She wrote down all the infor- the Iliad.
mation on the back of an envelope. epidemic /ep demk / noun 1. the
epidemic
enviable / envib()l/ adj causing envy spread of an infectious disease quickly

enviable
envious / envis/ adj feeling or showing

envious
through a large number of people 2. a sud-
in an unhappy way that you would like to den increase in something [~of] an epi-
have something that someone else has demic of car thefts adj affecting very
many people
environment /n varnmnt/ noun
environment
epilepsy / eplepsi/ noun a disorder of

| epilepsy
1. the conditions in which we live and work

an urban/rural environment The envi-
the nervous system in which a person suf-
ronment in the office is stuffy and hot. the fers convulsions and loss of consciousness
epileptic /ep leptk/ noun a person
epileptic
working environment the general sur- |
roundings in which a person works 2. the who has epilepsy (NOTE: Many people avoid
natural features and resources of the earth, using this word, as it causes offence, and
including animals and plants The action prefer to say a person with epilepsy.)
epilogue / epl( / noun a short text at
epilogue
plan is designed to prevent future damage

to the environment. the end of a long book or play. Compare
environmental /nvarn ment()l/ prologue (NOTE: The US spelling is epilog.)
environmental
| |
episode / epsd/ noun 1. a short sec-

episode
adj relating to the environment measures

taken to protect against environmental pol- tion of a longer story, especially one part of
lution Shes joined an environmental a TV series Do you remember the epi-
group. sode where the ghost appears? The he-
environmentalist
environmentalist
/nvarn | |
ros father returns in the third episode. 2. a
ment()lst/ noun a person who is con- short period of your life Its an episode in
cerned with protecting the environment his marriage which he would rather forget.
epitaph / ept
f / noun words written on
epitaph
environmentally friendly /n
environmentally friendly
varnment()li frendli/ adj minimising a gravestone

epitome / ptmi/ noun a person or
epitome
harm to the natural environment |
thing that shows a particular quality very

envisage /n vzd/ (envisages, en-
envisage
strongly [~of] the epitome of good man-

|
visaging, envisaged) verb to imagine

ners
something in your mind which could pos-
epoch / i
pk/ noun a long period of time
epoch
sibly happen in the future

an important epoch in European history
envision /n v()n/ (envisions, envi-
envision
equal / i
kwl/ adj having exactly the
| equal
sioning, envisioned) verb US same as en-

visage same amount as something else [~to/~in]
His share is equal to mine. Male and fe-
envoy / env/ noun a person sent offi-
envoy
male employees must have equal pay.

cially by one country to another The two sticks are of equal length or are
envy / envi/ noun an unhappy feeling that
envy
equal in length. verb (equals, equalling,

you would like to have something which equalled) 1. to be exactly the same as
someone else has Her beautiful long something else His time for the 100 me-
dark hair filled us all with envy. verb (en- tres equals the existing record. 2. to give a
vies, envying, envied) to have the unhappy particular result Two plus two equals
feeling that you would like to have some- four. Ten take away four equals six.
thing that someone else has I dont envy noun a person who is on the same level as
him with a job like that! to envy someone someone else I dont consider him your
something to want to have something equal. Were all equals here. equal to
which someone else has We all envy Sue the task able to carry out the job required
her new car. He was put in charge of the prison, but
enzyme / enzam/ noun a protein pro-
enzyme
was quickly found not to be equal to the

duced by living cells which makes other task. all things being equal assuming
substances change, as when digestion takes nothing else has changed All things being
place equal, Id prefer to go on holiday in June.
217 erode
equalise / i
kwlaz/ (equalises, equal- really need all this equipment for a short
equalise
ising, equalised), equalize verb 1. (in a climb? He brought all his camera equip-
game) to make a score equal They equal- ment with him. (NOTE: no plural: for one item
ised just before half-time. 2. to make differ- say a piece of equipment.)
ent things equal We are trying to equalise equitable / ekwtb()l/ adj fair or just
equitable
the availability of medical supplies (formal)

throughout the region. equity / ekwti/ noun a fair system of jus-
equity
equality / kwlti/ noun a situation

equality
| tice She complained about the lack of eq-

where people are equal Policies to ensure uity in the companys pay structure.
equality in the workplace. equivalent / kwvlnt/ adj having
equivalent
equally / i
kwli/ adv in exactly the
equally
the same value or the same strength as

same way They are all equally guilty. something else [~to] Two pints and a litre
Here men and women are paid equally are roughly equivalent. She handed me
badly. They were both equally responsi- the equivalent amount in Swiss francs. A
ble for the mistake. litre is roughly equivalent to two pints.
equal opportunity /i
kwl p noun something which has the same value,
equal opportunity
tju
nti/ noun a situation where everyone, strength or importance as something else
regardless of sex, race, class, etc., has the [~of/~to] What is the American equivalent
same opportunity to get a job of the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Her
equals sign / i
kwlz san/ noun a salary is more or less equivalent to mine.
equals sign
printed or written sign (=) showing that I gave him $2000 and he paid me the
one thing is the same as another equivalent in euros.
equate / kwet/ (equates, equating, er /#
/ interj used for showing that you are
er
equate
equated) verb to consider one thing to be hesitating

era / r/ noun a long period of time
era
the same as another thing [~with] They

equate lack of complaints with satisfaction. That was an era when there was little pub-
equation / kwe()n/ noun a mathe- lic education.
equation
eradicate / rdket/ (eradicates,

eradicate
matical or chemical formula showing that |
two parts are equal Let me show you how eradicating, eradicated) verb to remove
this equation can be solved. He formulat- something completely (NOTE: + eradica-
ed the equation for converting mass to en- tion n)
ergy. erase / rez/ (erases, erasing,
erase
equator / kwet/ noun the imaginary erased) verb 1. to rub out writing 2. to re-
equator
line running round the circumference of move recorded material from a tape, or
the earth at an equal distance from the data from a disk Ive erased your record-
North and South Poles ing of the concert by mistake.
equestrian / kwestrin/ adj relating to eraser / rez/ noun US a piece of
equestrian eraser
| |
riding horses The Olympic equestrian rubber for removing writing in pencil
events have been postponed because of an erect / rekt/ adj standing vertical or
erect
outbreak of flu among the horses. sticking up straight She held herself erect
equilibrium / i
kw lbrim/ noun 1. as she walked to the front of the hall. verb
equilibrium
the state of being perfectly balanced The (erects, erecting, erected) to put up some-
electromagnetic forces are in a state of thing vertically, such as a mast or a build-
equilibrium. We do not want to disturb ing They are planning to erect a monu-
the present political equilibrium in the re- ment to the princess. The civilians rushed
gion. 2. the state of being calm During to hide in hastily-erected bomb shelters.
the argument, she struggled to retain her erection / rekn/ noun 1. a state where
erection
equilibrium. the penis becomes stiff and swollen from

equip / kwp/ (equips, equipping, sexual excitement 2. the action of putting
equip
equipped) verb to provide someone or up (formal) The erection of the tent took
something with something [~with] a holi- about 5 minutes.
ergonomics /#
( nmks/ noun the
ergonomics
day flat equipped with a washing machine |
and dishwasher The course will equip study of how tools or furniture can be best
you with all the skills you need to practise designed to make them easy and comforta-
scuba-diving. ble to use
equipment / kwpmnt/ noun all the erode / rd/ (erodes, eroding, eroded)
equipment erode
| |
things such as tools, arms and machines verb to wear away gradually (NOTE: + ero-
which are needed for something Do you sion n)
erotic 218
erotic / rtk/ adj strongly sexual escort1 / esk
t/ noun 1. a person or
erotic escort
err /#
/ (errs, erring, erred) verb to make a group of people accompanying someone
err
mistake (formal) to err on the side of The president had a police escort to the
something to use more of something or do airport. 2. a person who accompanies
more than is necessary, as a precaution someone else to a social event
We erred on the side of caution and or- escort2 / sk
t/ (escorts, escorting, es-
escort
dered 20 course books. corted) verb to accompany someone The

errand / ernd/ noun a short trip out to police escorted the group into the hotel. I
errand
buy something was escorted around by our local MP.

erratic / rtk/ adj irregular or wild The liner entered harbour escorted by a
erratic
erroneous / rnis/ adj wrong

erroneous
|
flotilla of yachts.
Eskimo / eskm/ (plural Eskimos or
Eskimo
(formal)
error / er/ noun something that is
error
same) noun one of a native people living in
wrong, especially a mistake in writing or the north of Canada and Greenland Eski-
speaking [~in] There isnt a single error mos hunt seals and polar bears. (NOTE:
in the whole document. The waiter made They are generally called by the name they
an error in calculating the bill. in error use themselves: the Inuit.)
ESL abbr English as a Second Language
ESL
by mistake The parcel was sent to our

ESOL / i
sl/ abbr English for Speakers
ESOL
Edinburgh office in error.

erupt / rpt/ (erupts, erupting, erupted) Of Other Languages
erupt
esoteric /es terk/ adj understood by

esoteric
verb (of a volcano) to throw out fire and oth- |
er very hot substances The volcano last very few people

erupted in 1968. ESP abbr English for Special Purposes
ESP
ESC / skep/ abbr ESCAPE key especially / spe()li/ adv 1. used for
ESC especially
| |
escalate / esklet/ (escalates, escalat- showing that something is the case to a

escalate
ing, escalated) verb 1. to get worse or great degree This suitcase is especially
more violent Our financial problems heavy. 2. used for showing that something
have escalated. The conflict escalated is more important or true She does get
into an all-out war. 2. to increase steadily tired, especially on school day.
Prices escalated during the year. (NOTE: + espionage / espin
/ noun the prac-
espionage
escalation n) tice of spying

escalator / esklet/ noun a moving espouse / spaz / (espouses, espous-
escalator espouse
staircase ing, espoused) verb to support a cause (ar-

escapade / eskped/ noun an exciting
escapade
chaic)
adventure espresso /e spres/ noun strong black
espresso
escape / skep/ verb (escapes, es- Italian coffee, served in very small cups
escape
caping, escaped) 1. to get away from pris- essay / ese/ noun a piece of writing
essay
on or from a difficult situation [~from] He on a specific subject [~on/about] a collec-

escaped from the prison by sawing through tion of the writers most famous essays
the bars. 2. to get out of a container [~from] For our homework, we have to write an es-
the sound of air escaping from the tyre say on pollution.
noun the act of getting away from prison or essence / es()ns/ noun 1. a pure extract
essence
from a difficult situation [~from] There taken from something custard flavoured
were three escapes from this jail last year. with vanilla essence 2. the central part of
A weekend by the sea was a wonderful an argument The essence of what she had
escape from the office. to say was very clear. in essence basi-
ESCAPE key / skep ki
/ noun the key
ESCAPE key
| cally His plan is in essence the same as

which stops what is happening on a com- the one which we discussed last year.
puter and returns to the main program. Ab- essential / senl/ adj very important
essential
breviation ESC or necessary You can survive without

escapism / skepz()m/ noun the ac-
escapism
| food for some time, but water is essential.

tivity of thinking about something marvel- It is essential that we get the delivery on
lous or fantastic in order to forget about time. noun something which is very im-
your ordinary daily existence portant or which you cannot do without
escapist / skepst/ adj, noun a person Sun cream is an essential in the desert.
escapist
who thinks about something marvellous or plural noun essentials the things that you
fantastic in order to forget about his or her must have Weve got all the basic essen-
ordinary daily existence tials food, water and fuel. the bare es-
219 euphoria
sentials the most important basic things estimate2 / estmet/ (estimates, es-
estimate
that are needed I just packed the bare estimating, estimated) verb to calculate or
sentials for my holiday. guess how much you think something will
essentially / senli/ adv used for cost or is worth I estimate that it will cost
essentially
saying what is the most true, or the most 100,000. He estimated costs at 50,000.
estimation /est me()n/ noun an
estimation
important fact My new job is essentially |
not so very different from my old one. Al- opinion or judgment (formal)
though hes essentially a kind man, he does estuary / esturi/ (plural estuaries)
estuary
lose his temper sometimes. noun a part of a river where it meets the
establish / stbl/ (establishes, sea, composed of fresh and salt water
establish
etc. / et setr/, etcetera adv and so

etc.
establishing, established) verb 1. to start |
something or make something happen on, and other things like this Fruit such
We need to establish a good working rela- as peaches, apricots, etc.
etch / et/ (etches, etching, etched) verb
etch
tionship with our colleagues. 2. to start a

company or business activity The busi- to engrave on metal with acid
ness was established in Scotland in 1823. eternal / t#
n()l/ adj lasting for ever or
eternal
3. to discover or prove something for a long time

[~(that)/~whether/how/who etc] If only the eternity / t#
nti/ noun a never-ending
eternity
police could establish where the car was period of time

parked that evening. Its difficult to es- ethic / ek/ noun a principle of good and
ethic
tablish what her reasons are for resigning. moral behaviour the Christian ethic
established / stblt/ adj which
established
ethical / ek()l/ adj morally right

ethical
|
has been shown to be true ethnic / enk / adj relating to ethnic

ethnic
establishment / stblmnt /
establishment
|
group The census shows the ethnic make-
noun 1. the act of creating something She up of the population.
helped them with the establishment of the ethnic cleansing /enk klenz/
ethnic cleansing
local drama society. ( NOTE: no plural in this noun killing people, or removing people
sense) 2. a business or organisation Its from an area, because of their race or reli-
an establishment which imports radios gion
from China. He runs an important teach- ethnic group noun a group of people
ethnic group
ing establishment. 3. the Establishment with the same background and culture
the most important people in society, espe- ethnicity /e nsti/ (plural ethnicities)
ethnicity
cially those who are in authority He spent noun the fact of belonging to a particular
a lot of his life fighting against the Estab- ethnic group
lishment.
ethnic minority /enk ma nrti/
ethnic minority
estate / stet/ noun 1. a large area of

estate |
|
noun a small part of a population which is
land belonging to one owner He owns a of a different ethnic group to the majority
250-acre estate in Norfolk. 2. a group of ethos / i
s/ noun beliefs or characteris-
ethos
houses on one piece of land, usually all tics, especially those of a group of people
built at the same time
etiquette / etket/ noun a correct way of
etiquette
estate agent / stet ednt/ noun a

estate agent
|
behaving in society
person who sells buildings and land etymological /etm ldk()l/ adj
etymological
esteem / sti
m/ noun respect (formal)
esteem
|
referring to etymology
The staff seem to have very little esteem for etymology /et mldi/ (plural ety-
etymology
the directors. mologies) noun the study of the ways in

esteemed / sti
md/ adj admired and re-
esteemed
| which words and their meanings have de-

spected veloped
EU abbr European Union (NOTE: former-
esthetic EU
esthetic US spelling of aesthetic

estimate1 / estmt/ noun a calcula-
estimate
ly called the European Community)
eulogy / ju
ldi/ (plural eulogies) noun
eulogy
tion or guess which shows the amount of

something you think there is, or its worth a speech, especially one given at a funeral
or cost I wasnt in when they came to praising someone
euphemism / ju
fmz()m/ noun a
euphemism
read the gas meter, so this bill is only an es-

timate. Your estimate of two dozen visi- word or phrase used in place of a more of-
tors proved to be correct. she gave me a fensive or unpleasant word
euphoria /ju
f
ri/ noun a burst of ex-
euphoria
rough estimate she gave me an approxi- |
mate calculation treme happiness

euro 220
euro / jr/ (plural euros or same) evangelist / vndlst/ noun 1. one of
euro evangelist
noun the unit of money used by most coun- the four men who wrote the Christian Gos-
tries in the European Union Many arti- pels; Matthew, Mark, Luke or John 2.
cles are priced in euros. Whats the ex- someone who tries to persuade people to
change rate for the euro? (NOTE: written become Christians The American evan-
before numbers: 250: say: two hundred gelist is coming to England as part of his
and fifty euros) world tour.
Euro- /jr / prefix referring to Europe evaporate / vpret/ (evaporates,
Euro- evaporate
or the European Union evaporating, evaporated) verb (of liquid)

Europe / jrp/ proper noun 1. the to turn into steam by being heated Water
Europe
continent of Europe, the part of the world gradually evaporates from the soil.
evasion / ve()n/ noun the act of
evasion
to the west of Asia, extending from Russia |
to Ireland Most of the countries of West- avoiding something

ern Europe are members of the EU. 2. Eu- evasive / vesv/ adj trying to avoid
evasive
rope not including the UK Holidays in something

Europe are less popular than last year. 3. eve /i
v/ noun on the eve of on the day
eve
the European Union Canadian exports to or night before an event, or a short time be-
Europe have risen by 25%. Abbreviation fore On the eve of the election, the result
EU already seemed clear. The flights were
European /jr pi
n/ adj relating
European
|
cancelled on the eve of our departure.
to Europe even / i
v()n/ adj 1. flat, level The
even
European Union /jrpi

n
European Union
road has a smooth, even surface. 2. not

ju
njn/ noun an organisation which links changing They kept up an even pace for
25 European countries together based on miles. The temperature is an even 28 all
the four freedoms of movement: move- through the day. 3. equal in a competition
ment of goods, of capital, of people and of At the end of the competition three teams
services. Abbreviation EU (NOTE: was for- were even with 96 points. adv used for
merly called the European Community or showing surprise or making an expression
EC) stronger He doesnt even like strawber-
Eurozone / jrzn/ noun the coun-
Eurozone
ries. Even the cleverest businessperson

tries in Europe which use the euro as cur- can make mistakes. Shes tall, but her sis-
rency ter is even taller. even now in spite of the
euthanasia /ju
nezi/ noun mercy passing of time Even now, he wont admit
euthanasia
killing, the killing of a sick person in order he was wrong. even then in spite of what
to put an end to his or her suffering has happened even worse worse than be-
evacuate / vkjuet/ (evacuates,
evacuate
| |
fore That film was bad, but this one is
evacuating, evacuated) verb to make peo- even worse. to get even with someone
ple leave a dangerous place to try to have your revenge on someone
even if it doesnt matter if Well try and
evacuee /vkju i
/ noun a person who
evacuee
drive there, even if its snowing. even so

| |
has been evacuated

in spite of something It was pouring with
evade / ved/ (evades, evading, evad-
evade
|
rain, but even so they decided to go ahead
ed) verb to avoid or escape something with the village fte. even though in
evaluate / vljuet/ (evaluates,
evaluate
|
spite of the fact that He didnt take an
evaluating, evaluated) verb to make a umbrella, even though it was raining quite
judgement about something after thinking hard.
carefully about it The students were even out phrasal verb to make something
asked to evaluate the usefulness of the les- even or regular with fewer differences
sons. He tried to even out the payments over a
evaluation /vlju e()n/ noun the
evaluation
| | period of twelve months.

act of evaluating something, or the judge- even up phrasal verb to make something
ment made in this way (NOTE: no plural) fairer or more balanced This group
evangelical /i
vn delk()l/ adj re-
evangelical
| needs two more members to even it up.

ferring to certain Protestant churches and evening / i
vn/ noun the late part of
evening
their teaching of the Bible the day, when it starts to get dark I saw
evangelism / vndlz()m/ noun 1.
evangelism
| her yesterday evening. The accident took

the act of spreading the teachings of Christ place at 8.30 in the evening. We arrived
2. the enthusiastic promotion of something in London at breakfast time, having left
221 evident
New York the previous evening. We al- man. for ever always hardly ever al-
ways go to a restaurant on Sunday eve- most never I hardly ever go to the theatre.
nings. They took an evening flight to Ma- evergreen / ev(ri
n/ noun a tree which
evergreen
drid. The evening meal is served from keeps its leaves all winter Holly and oth-
7.30 to 10.30. this evening today in the er evergreens can be used as decorations
evening Well all meet this evening after in winter. adj (of a tree or bush) keeping
work. its leaves all winter We need an evergreen
evening class / i
vn kl
s/ noun one climber to cover that wall. Compare decid-
evening class
of a series of lessons held in the evening, uous

everlasting /ev l
st/ adj going on
everlasting
mainly for adults |
evening dress / i
vn dres/ noun
evening dress
for ever
every / evri/ adj 1. each It rained eve-
every
clothes worn on special occasions in the

evening, consisting of a long dress for ry day during the holidays. We have a
women, and a black suit with a black or party every New Years Day. Every
white bow tie for men Wednesday, he goes for a swim in the local
pool. Every house in the street has a gar-
evenly / i
v()nli/ adv in an equal way
evenly
den. 2. with a particular amount of time or

event / vent/ noun 1. something im-
event
|
distance in between The medicine is to be
portant which happens the events leading taken every four hours. Have your car
up to the war A babys first birthday is al- checked every 10,000 kilometres. every
ways a very happy event. in the normal other each alternate one
course of events as things usually happen everybody / evribdi/ pron same as
everybody
In the normal course of events, the win-

everyone
ner should get a silver cup. 2. a party, meet- everyday / evride/ adj ordinary or very
everyday
ing or other organised occasion Theyre common

planning a dance event in October. 3. a
everyone / evriwn/ pron all the peo-
everyone
sporting competition, or a part of a sporting

competition Its the biggest golf event of ple involved in a particular situation Eve-
the year. The last event was the 100 me- ryone has to die some day. If everybody
tres hurdles. in the event as it happened is here, we can start. Everyone must
In the event, the party went off very well.
show their passport. (NOTE: everyone and
everybody are followed by they, their,
in the event of if something should hap-
pen In the event of his refusing the job themselves, etc., but the verb stays singu-
lar: Is everyone enjoying themselves? Not
then we will advertise it again. in the
everybody likes pop music, do they?) eve-
event, at all events whatever may happen
or may have happened I dont know ex- ryone else all the other people Only
actly what happened in any event, it Maggie could come everyone else was
doesnt matter. too busy.
everything / evri/ pron 1. all
everything
eventful / ventf()l/ adj with a lot of

eventful
|
things Did you bring everything you
events taking place need? The burglars stole everything of
eventual / ventul/ adj in the end
eventual
|
value. Everything he says annoys me. 2.
eventually / ventuli/ adv after a things in general Everything was dark in
eventually
long time After weeks of hesitation he the street. Everything is under control.
everywhere / evriwe/ adv in all
everywhere
eventually decided to sell the cottage.

ever / ev/ adv at any time (used with
ever
places There were papers lying about
negatives, in questions and in conditional everywhere. Weve looked everywhere
sentences) Nothing ever happens here. for the key and cant find it.
evict / vkt/ (evicts, evicting, evicted)
evict
Did you ever meet my brother? If you |
ever want to borrow my car again, just verb to force someone, especially a tenant,
phone me. than ever used for emphasis to leave a property (NOTE: + eviction n)
evidence / evd()ns / noun a fact
evidence
after comparatives She is singing better

than ever. He went on playing the trum- which proves that something really exists
pet louder than ever. ever since (then) or has happened [~of/~for/~that] Scientists
from that time on She was in a road ac- are still looking for evidence of life on
cident and has been afraid to drive ever Mars. Theres no evidence for the exist-
since. ever so, ever such (a) extremely ence of dragons.Have you any evidence
(informal) Shes been ever so ill. Im that he was ever planning to come.
ever so grateful. Hes ever such a kind evident / evd()nt/ adj obvious
evident
evil 222
evil / i
v()l/ adj morally very bad exalted /( z
ltd/ adj in a high position
evil exalted
Shes considered to be an evil woman. in authority In his exalted position he

His evil intentions were evident as soon as should be able to afford a larger car.
he locked the door. exam /( zm/ noun same as exami-
exam
evocative / vktv/ adj producing a

evocative
| nation 1 The exam was very difficult

memory or feeling half the students failed. She passed all
evoke / vk/ (evokes, evoking,
evoke
|
her exams.
examination /(zm ne()n/
examination
evoked) verb to produce something in your | |
memory (formal) noun 1. a written or spoken test The ex-

evolution /i
v lu
()n/ noun a
evolution
|
amination was very difficult half the stu-
gradual development dents failed. He did badly in his English
examination. She came first in the final
evolve / vlv/ (evolves, evolving,
evolve
examination for the course. (NOTE: often

evolved) verb 1. to work out gradually a
shortened to exam in this sense) 2. an occa-
scientific theory or a way of working The
sion on which someone looks at something
research team has evolved its own methods to see if it works properly, or to see if
of testing. 2. to develop gradually Mod- something is wrong He had to have an X-
ern dance evolved from classical ballet. ray examination. The examination of the
Birds originally evolved from reptiles. car showed that its brakes were faulty. on
ewe /ju
/ noun a female sheep (NOTE: Do
ewe
examination when something is examined

not confuse with yew, you. The male sheep On further examination, the newspaper
is a ram.) report was shown to be quite untrue.
ex /eks/ noun a former boyfriend or girl-
ex
examine /( zmn/ (examines, ex-

examine
friend, or husband or wife (informal) She amining, examined) verb 1. to look care-
wont talk to her ex about money. How do fully at something to see what is in it, or
you get on with your ex? what it is like The doctor examined her
ex- /eks/ prefix used for showing that a
ex-
throat. We will have to examine the

person used to have a particular job or rela- shops scales to see if they show the correct
tionship an ex-soldier Toms my ex- weight. The customs officials wanted to
boyfriend. examine the inside of the car. The water
exacerbate /( zsbet/ (exacer- samples were examined in the laboratory.
exacerbate
bates, exacerbating, exacerbated) verb to 2. to test a student They examined every-

make something worse or more painful one in mathematics and computer skills.
examiner /( zmn/ noun a person
examiner
exact /( zkt/ adj as specified and

exact
|
|
not different in any way What is the exact who conducts an exam
example /( z
mpl / noun some-
example
time of arrival? The sales assistant asked |
me if I had the exact sum, since she had no thing chosen to show something This is a
change. good example of French architecture of the
exacting /( zkt/ adj demanding a
exacting
|
eleventh century. to set an example to do
lot of effort things well or properly yourself, so that
other people can copy you He sets every-
exactly /( zktli / adv not more, not
exactly
one a good example by getting into the of-

less That comes to exactly ten dollars and
fice before 8.00 every morning. to make
fifty cents. The time is exactly 16.24. an example of someone to punish some-
exaggerate /( zdret/ (exagger-
exaggerate
|
one so that others will learn not to do what
ates, exaggerating, exaggerated) verb to that person did Her teacher made an ex-
make things seem worse, better, bigger etc ample of her by making her miss the class
than they really are The wide black belt trip. for example as a typical case She
exaggerates her small waist. She exag- is keen on getting her weight down for ex-
gerated the importance of my contribution. ample, shes stopped eating bread. Why
exaggerated / ( zdretd/ adj big-
exaggerated
| dont we sell anything to Eastern Europe

ger or more important than usual to Poland, for example?
exaggeration /(zd re()n/ noun exasperated /( z
spretd/ adj ex-
exaggeration exasperated
| | |
a statement making things seem worse, tremely annoyed with someone or at some-
better, bigger etc. than they really are thing [~at/with] They were exasperated
without exaggeration quite truthfully It with the waiter who kept bringing them the
was, without any exaggeration, the most wrong dishes. He was exasperated at get-
perfect summers day. ting the engaged tone all the time.
223 excitement
/( z
spret/ excerpt / eks#
pt/ noun a small part of a
exasperating excerpt
exasperating | adj
very annoying larger piece of music or writing
/(z
sp re()n/
exasperation
exasperation
excess
| | excess noun too much of something He

noun annoyance and frustration had an excess of alcohol in his blood-
excavate / ekskvet/ (excavates, ex- stream. plural noun excesses bad behav-
excavate
cavating, excavated) verb 1. to dig a hole iour such as eating or drinking too much
in the ground In order to reinforce the On Monday mornings he always feels
foundations they had to excavate to a depth guilty about the weekends excesses. adj
of 10m. 2. to carry out an archaeological in- more than necessary The factory has ex-
vestigation of a place Howard Carter excess capacity and may sell off some of its
cavated the tomb of Tutankhamen. (NOTE: + machines. in excess of more than
excavation n) quantities in excess of 25 kilos to excess
exceed /k si
d/ (exceeds, exceeding,
exceed
|
too much She diets to excess.
excessive /k sesv/ adj more than is
excessive
exceeded) verb to go beyond something |
The car was exceeding the speed limit. usual

Our expenses have exceeded our income exchange /ks tend/ verb (ex-
exchange
for the first time. Did the UN troops ex- changes, exchanging, exchanged) 1. to
ceed their mandate? give one thing and to get another thing
exceedingly /k si
dli/ adv very back The footballers from the two teams
exceedingly
(formal) exchanged shirts at the end of the match. 2.

excel /k sel/ (excels, excelling, ex-
excel
|
to exchange something for something
celled) verb to be very good at something else to give one thing and get something
[~at/~in] At school, she excelled in math- else in return Goods can be exchanged
ematics. only on production of the sales slip. If the
excellence / ekslns/ noun very
excellence
trousers are too small you can take them
good quality back and exchange them for a larger pair.
noun the act of giving one thing for an-
excellent / ekslnt/ adj very good
excellent
other the exchange of rings during the

We had an excellent meal in a Chinese res- wedding ceremony
taurant. Her handwriting is excellent it
exchange rate /ks tend ret/
exchange rate
is much clearer than mine. |
noun the rate at which the money of one

except /k sept/ prep not including
except
|
country can be changed for another
Shes allowed to eat anything except milk
excise /k saz/ (excises, excising, ex-
excise
products. Everyone was sick on the boat, |
except (for) me. VAT is levied on all cised) verb to cut something out The sur-
goods except books, newspapers, food and geon decided to excise the growth.
excitable /k satb()l/ adj easily excit-
excitable
childrens clothes. conj other than; apart |
from He doesnt do anything except sit ed

and watch football on the TV. Everything excite / k sat/ (excites, exciting, excit-
excite
went well, except that James was sick. ed) verb 1. to make someone lively and
Everyone enjoyed the birthday party, ex- happy His speech excited the crowd. 2. to
cept (that) there wasnt enough to eat. cause a particular feeling The thought of
(NOTE: [all senses] Do not confuse with ac- going to work in Kuala Lumpur excited his
cept.) imagination. The case has excited a lot of
exception /k sepn/ noun some- interest in the press.
exception
thing that is not included [/~to] All the excited /k satd/ adj lively and hap-
excited
students failed, with one exception. All py because you think something good is
the books are here, with the exception of going to happen Shes excited at or by the
the English dictionary. Are there any ex- thought of going on holiday. The children
ceptions to this spelling rule? are excited because its the Christmas hol-
exceptional /k sepn()l/ adj 1. ex-
exceptional
| idays. Whats everyone so excited about?

tremely good Shes an exceptional ath- It was lovely to see the childrens happy
lete. His debating skills are really excep- and excited faces.
tional. 2. being an exception In excep- excitement /k satmnt/ noun the
excitement
tional cases, the fee may be waived. feeling of being excited Whats all the
exceptionally /k sepn()li/ adv to a
exceptionally
| excitement about? The children are al-

very great degree, often so great as to be ways in a state of excitement before the
surprising holidays.
exciting 224
exciting /k sat/ adj 1. making you please forgive me Excuse me for arriv-
exciting
feel excited The news about the house is ing so late. Excuse me for interrupting,
really exciting. 2. full of activity, some- but could you repeat what you have just
times making you a little scared because said?
you do not know what is going to happen execute / ekskju
t/ (executes, execut-
execute
I couldnt sleep after watching an exciting ing, executed) verb 1. to kill someone as a
film on TV. punishment The governments political
exclaim /k sklem/ (exclaims, ex-
exclaim
|
enemies were executed. 2. to do something
claiming, exclaimed) verb to say some- that has been planned or agreed (formal)
thing loudly and suddenly As part of the test, drivers are asked to ex-
exclamation /ekskl me()n/ noun ecute an emergency stop. 3. in computing,
exclamation
the action of shouting out to carry out instructions Press ENTER to

exclamation mark /ekskl me()n execute the program.
exclamation mark
m
k/ noun a written or printed sign (!) execution /eks kju
()n/ noun 1.
execution
which shows surprise (NOTE: The usual US the legal killing of person sentenced to
term is exclamation point.) death In the 19th century there were still
exclude /k sklu
d/ (excludes, ex-
exclude
| public executions. 2. the act of carrying

cluding, excluded) verb 1. not to include something out The execution of the ma-
someone or something Damage by fire is noeuvre was more complicated than we im-
excluded from the insurance policy. agined. to put a plan into execution to
Dont exclude his name from your list. 2. to carry out a plan The new government
stop a child going to school because of bad wants its financial strategy to be put into
behaviour Ten children had to be exclud- execution as soon as possible.
ed last term. executioner / eks kju
()n/ noun a
executioner
excluding /k sklu
d/ prep not in-
excluding
|
public official who executes people
cluding executive /( zekjtv/ noun a busi-
executive
exclusion /k sklu
()n/ noun 1. the
|
exclusion
|
nessperson who makes decisions You
act of shutting someone or something out cant leave a decision like that to the junior
[~from] She was hurt at her exclusion executives. Top executives usually earn
from the guest list. 2. the act of being very high salaries.
stopped from going to school because of
exemplary /( zemplri/ adj excellent
exemplary
bad behaviour The school only considers |
(formal )
exclusion as a last resort. exclude
exemplify /( zemplfa/ (exemplifies,
exemplify
exclusive /k sklu
sv/ adj not available
exclusive
|
|
to everyone an exclusive Caribbean hol- exemplifying, exemplified) verb to show

iday resort The new health club is very something as an example, or be an example
exclusive. of something
exempt /( zempt/ adj not forced to obey
exempt
excrement / ekskrmnt/ noun solid

excrement
|
waste matter produced by the body certain laws or rules verb (exempts, ex-
(technical) empting, exempted) to allow someone not
excrete /k skri
t/ (excretes, excreting,
excrete
|
to do something that other people have to
excreted) verb to produce waste matter do [~from] Children are exempted from
(formal) entry charges. to exempt someone from
excruciating /k skru
iet/ adj ex-
excruciating
|
doing something to allow someone not to
tremely painful do something that other people have to do
Children and retired people are exempt-
excursion /k sk#
()n/ noun a short
excursion
ed from paying these charges.

|
pleasure trip
exemption /( zemp()n/ noun the act
exemption
excuse1 /k skju
s/ noun a reason giv-
excuse
|
|
en for doing something wrong, or for not of exempting someone from something
exercise / ekssaz/ noun practice in
exercise
doing what was expected His excuse for

not coming was that he forgot the date. using physical or mental powers She
excuse2 /k skju
z/ (excuses, excus-
excuse
|
does her piano exercises every morning.
ing, excused) verb to forgive someone for to take exercise to do physical move-
making a small mistake Please excuse ments, like walking or running, in order to
my arriving late like this. excuse me keep fit You should take some exercise
used for attracting someones attention every day if you want to lose weight.
exercise bike / ekssaz bak/, exer-
exercise bike
Excuse me, is this the right bus for Oxford

Circus? excuse me used meaning cise bicycle noun a machine like a bicycle,
225 exorcise
but which does not move, which you can exhilarating / ( zlret/ adj which
exhilarating
pedal on as exercise makes you full of energy

exercise book / ekssaz bk/ noun a exile / eksal/ noun 1. the state of being
exercise book exile
notebook with lines on each page for writ- sent away from your home country The
ing school work in ex-president went into exile in Switzerland.
exert /( z#
t/ (exerts, exerting, exert- 2. a person who is sent away from his or
exert
ed) verb to use force or pressure her own country The former king is now
exertion /( z#
()n/ noun an effort
exertion
|
an exile in New York. The coup was
exhale / eks hel/ (exhales, exhaling, ex-
exhale
mounted by exiles living across the border.
verb (exiles, exiling, exiled) to send
|
haled) verb to breathe out

someone away from his or her home coun-
exhaust /( z
st/ verb (exhausts, ex-
exhaust
|
try as a punishment The new government
hausting, exhausted) 1. to wear someone exiled the former dictator to Europe.
out The uphill climb had exhausted him.
exist /( zst/ (exists, existing, exist-
exist
2. to finish a supply of something Weve

|
ed) verb 1. to be real or present When I

exhausted our supplies of food. noun 1.
was a child, colour TV didnt exist. I
same as exhaust pipe 2. gas which is pro- dont believe the document exists any more
duced by a car engine and is released into
the air through the exhaust pipe We live I think it has been burnt. 2. to live in a dif-
ficult situation [~for/~on] They managed
in the city centre and the children are
breathing car exhaust all day. to exist for several weeks on berries and
roots.
exhausted /( z
std/ adj very tired
exhausted
existence /( zstns/ noun 1. the

| existence
Im exhausted after running three miles.

|
state of existing Is there anything which

They staggered back home very late, with proves the existence of life on Mars? in
three exhausted children. existence still existing The original
exhausting /( z
st/ adj extremely
exhausting
|
painting is no longer in existence. Only
tiring one version of this car is still in existence
exhaustion /( z
stn/ noun the state
exhaustion
|
in a museum in Geneva. 2. a way of living
of being very tired They lived a miserable existence for a
exhaustive /( z
stv/ adj very thor-
exhaustive
| few days without heat or light.

ough existing /( zst/ adj available at
existing
exhaust pipe /( z
st pap/ noun the this time Can we modify the existing
exhaust pipe
tube at the back of a motor vehicle from structure in some way? Existing regula-
which gases produced by the engine are tions do not allow the sale of food in the
sent out into the air (NOTE: The US term is street.
tailpipe.) exit / e(zt/ noun 1. a way out of a
exit
exhibit /( zbt/ noun an object dis- building or area The customers all rushed
exhibit
played in court or at an exhibition Exhibit towards the exits when the fire alarm rang.
A is the murder weapon. The museum has A car bumped into ours at the exit to the
loaned several exhibits to foreign galleries. car park. 2. a road that leads off a motor-
The buyers admired the exhibits on our way, big main road or roundabout Take
stand. verb (exhibits, exhibiting, exhibit- the third exit and continue for two miles.
ed) to display something They are exhib- verb (exits, exiting, exited) 1. to leave a
iting at the Motor Show. They have rows computer system Press ESC to exit the
of vases exhibited on the shelves of the system. 2. to leave a place (formal ) No Ex-
shop. She is exhibiting three paintings in it! a sign showing that you must not go out
the local art show. this way
exhibition /eks b()n/ noun a pub- exodus / eksds/ noun the departure of
exhibition exodus
lic show of things such as paintings or a crowd of people

flowers The exhibition is open from 10 exonerate /( znret / (exonerates,
exonerate
a.m. to 5 p.m. We stood in line for half an exonerating, exonerated) verb to state that
hour waiting to get into the Picasso exhibi- someone who was previously blamed for
tion. something was not responsible for it
exhibitor /( zbt/, exhibiter noun a exorbitant /( z
btnt / adj (of prices)
exhibitor exorbitant
| |
person or company that displays some- very high

thing at an exhibition exorcise / eks
saz/ (exorcises, exor-
exorcise
exhilarated /( zlretd/ adj extreme-

exhilarated
| cising, exorcised), exorcize verb to say

ly excited and happy prayers to force evil spirits to leave some-
exotic 226
ones body, or ghosts to leave a haunted organisation, school or country As soon
house as the generals came to power they ex-
exotic / ( ztk / adj 1. unusual 2. refer- pelled all their former allies. 2. to send a
exotic
ring to a strange or foreign place child away from school He was expelled
expand / k spnd/ (expands, ex- for taking drugs. expulsion
expand
expend /k spend/ (expends, expend-

expend
panding, expanded) verb to increase the |
size or extent of something We have ing, expended) verb to spend time or ener-
plans to expand our business. gy doing something (formal )
expanse /k spns / noun a large surface expendable /k spendb()l/ adj which
expanse expendable
| |
covered by something is not worth keeping; which can be thrown

expansion /k spnn/ noun an in- away
expansion
crease in size expenditure /k spendt / noun an

expenditure
expansive /k spnsv/ adj 1. (of a per-

expansive
| amount of money spent

son) who wants to talk freely about things expense /k spens/ noun an amount
expense
She was in a very expansive mood when of money that you have to pay I cant af-
she met the TV reporters. You would ex- ford the expense of a holiday just now.
pect someone who works in public rela- The expense of running a household seems
tions to be a bit more expansive than she is. to increase every week. at great expense
2. covering a wide area He waved his having spent a lot of money The house
arms in an expansive gesture of greeting. has been redecorated at great expense.
expatriate /eks ptrit/ noun a person plural noun money spent to do something
expatriate
who is not living in his or her home country all expenses paid with all costs paid by
(NOTE: often shortened to expat; expats liv- someone else at someones expense
ing in the Far East) paid for by someone else at the expense
expect /k spekt/ (expects, expect-
expect
| of something in a way which has a bad ef-

ing, expected) verb 1. to think or guess that fect on something else She brought up
something is the case [~(that)] I expect her three children at the expense of her ca-
you are tired after your long train journey. reer.
2. to think that it is right that someone expensive /k spensv/ adj costing a
expensive
should do something He expects me to do lot of money Fresh vegetables are more

all the housework. 3. to be waiting for expensive in winter. Send your furniture
someone I cant talk for long were ex- to Australia by sea it would be much too
pecting visitors. 4. be expecting to be expensive by air.
pregnant My sisters expecting twins. experience /k sprins/ noun 1.
experience
expectant /k spektnt/ adj expecting;

|
expectant
|
knowledge obtained by working or living
hopeful in various situations [~of/with] You must
expectation / ekspek te()n/ noun
expectation
|
write down the full details of your past ex-
a feeling that something will happen The perience in your CV. I have no experi-
performance lived up to our expectations. ence with children. Some experience of
We thought our team would do well, but selling is required for this job. (NOTE: no
in the end they exceeded all our expecta- plural in this sense) 2. something that hap-
tions. pens to you Going to the top of the Eiffel
expected /k spektd/ adj 1. which
expected
| Tower was a wonderful experience. He

you think or hope will happen 2. due to ar- wrote a book about his experiences in the
rive Our guests are expected at 10 desert. verb (experiences, experiencing,
oclock. experienced) to live through something
expedient /k spi
dint/ noun a conven-
expedient
| Im surprised shes so cheerful after all she

ient way of doing something Registering experienced in hospital. I have experi-
as a student was a simple expedient to enced a great deal of pleasure and frustra-
avoid military service. adj convenient tion in my career. He is experiencing
Colleges find it expedient to have students sharp pains in his tooth.
from other countries because they pay experienced /k sprinst/ adj good
experienced
higher fees than local students. at something because you have learnt a lot
expedition / eksp d()n/ noun a jour-
expedition
|
from particular experiences you have had
ney to explore a place He set off on an ex- Shes a very experienced doctor. Hes the
pedition to the South Pole. most experienced member of our staff.
expel /k spel/ (expels, expelling, ex-
expel
| The police are experienced in crowd con-

pelled) verb 1. to make someone leave an trol.
227 explosion
experiment1 /k spermnt/ noun 1. a something [~of/about] The leaflet gives
experiment
scientific test to carry out scientific ex- an explanation of how to apply for a place
periments 2. a way of finding out about on the course.
something Were offering our customers explanatory /k splnt()ri/ adj ex-
explanatory
free samples as an experiment. plaining something. self-explanatory

experiment2 /k sperment/ (experi-
experiment
expletive /k spli
tv/ noun a swear
expletive
|
|
ments, experimenting, experimented) word

verb 1. to try something new [~with]
explicit /k splst/ adj 1. straightforward
explicit
Weve been experimenting with a new look and clear Could you please be more ex-
for our shop window. 2. to carry out a sci- plicit? Their intention to sell the shop
entific test [~with/~on] They are experi- was not explicit in the letter. 2. showing sex
menting with a new treatment for asthma. or violence very clearly The film contains
The laboratory does not experiment on
explicit sex scenes.
live animals.
explode /k spld/ (explodes, explod-
explode
experimental /ksper ment()l/ adj

experimental
|
| |
1. different from what has been done being, exploded) verb 1. (of bombs, etc.) to
fore 2. relating to scientific experiments blow up A bomb exploded in a crowded
and testing train. 2. to make a bomb go off The army
cleared the area and then exploded the
experimentation /kspermen
experimentation
| |
bomb. 3. to increase rapidly
te()n/ noun the process of carrying out
exploit1 / eksplt/ noun a great or dar-
exploit
experiments
expert / eksp#
t/ noun 1. a person who
expert ing achievement He told us of his exploits
knows a great deal about a subject [~in/on] during the war.
exploit2 /k splt/ (exploits, exploiting,
exploit
a leading expert in or on tropical diseas- |
es A rose expert was the judge at the exploited) verb 1. to take commercial ad-
flower show. 2. a person who is very good vantage of something We are hoping to
at doing something [~at] Hes an expert exploit the mineral resources of the North
at getting the children to go to bed. adj 1. Sea. 2. to make unfair use of someone, usu-
knowing a lot about a subject They can ally by paying them very low wages The
give you expert advice on DIY. 2. very good company was accused of exploiting chil-
at doing something [~at] Im not very ex- dren by employing them in its shoe facto-
pert at making pastry. ries.
expertise /eksp ti
z/ noun special exploration /ekspl re()n/ noun
exploration
expertise
|
|
knowledge 1. the act of travelling and discovering un-

expire /k spa/ (expires, expiring, ex-
expire
|
known parts of the world the exploration
pired) verb 1. to come to an end The lease of the Antarctic in the early 20th century
expires next year. my passport or visa He is famous for his exploration of the
has expired I need a new passport or visa Himalayas. 2. a careful investigation We
2. to die (formal) recommend further exploration of possible
expiry /k spari/ noun the fact of com-
expiry
|
alternative solutions to the problem.
exploratory /k splrt()ri/ adj form-
exploratory
ing to an end |
expiry date /k spari det/ noun the

expiry date
|
ing part of an exploration of something
explore /k spl
/ (explores, explor-
explore
last date on which something can be used |
explain /k splen/ (explains, explain-

explain
|
ing, explored) verb 1. to travel and discov-
ing, explained) verb 1. to give reasons for er place and things that you have not seen
something [~(that)/~how/when/what etc] before It is a part of the jungle which has
Can you explain why the weather is cold in never been explored before. We spent our
winter and warm in summer? 2. to make holidays exploring Holland by canal. 2. to
something clear [~to] He tried to explain investigate something carefully
the new pension scheme to the staff. [~how/what/why etc] We are exploring the
explain away phrasal verb to give excus- possibility of moving the office to London.
es for something We want to explore how we can improve
explanation /ekspl ne()n/ noun

explanation
|
our service.
explorer /k spl
r/ noun a person who
explorer
1. a reason for something [~of/~for] The |
police officer asked him for an explanation explores unknown parts of the world
explosion /k spl()n/ noun an
explosion
of why the stolen car was in his garage. |
The company has given no explanation for occasion on which something such as a
the change of plan. 2. information about bomb explodes Several explosions were
explosive 228
heard during the night as the army occu- film You need a short exposure to photo-
pied the city. graph a racing car. 4. the act of revealing
explosive /k splsv/ adj 1. likely to something, e.g. corruption the newspa-
explosive
blow up The containers held an explosive pers exposure of the actors involvement
mixture. The police found an explosive in the scandal The council was embar-
device in the car. 2. likely to cause difficul- rassed by a string of exposures of irregular
ties The situation in the office was explo- financial transactions.
expound /k spand/ (expounds, ex-
expound
sive, with the clerical staff demanding to |
see the manager. The paper is running an pounding, expounded) verb to explain
explosive story about the minister. noun a something in detail
substance used for destroying things by express /k spres / verb (expresses,
express
making them explode Tests revealed expressing, expressed) to show thoughts

traces of explosive on his hands. The box or feelings in words, pictures or actions
contained explosives. Police explosives [~in/] His paintings express his inner
experts defused the bomb. thoughts. His grief was expressed in
exponent /k spnnt / noun a person fierce anger and constant activity. He ex-
exponent
who practises a certain belief or a certain pressed his gratitude in a short speech. to
art express yourself to make your thoughts or
export1 / eksp
t/ noun 1. the business
export
feelings known to other people to ex-
of selling products in other countries press itself to be shown His grief ex-
They make cars for export. There is a big pressed itself in fierce anger and constant
export trade in wine. 2. a product sent to a activity. noun a fast train
expression /k spre()n/ noun 1. a
expression
foreign country to be sold The countrys |
major export is tea. Exports to Africa word, or group of words Until the cows
have increased by 25%. come home is an expression which means
export2 /k sp
t/ (exports, export-
export
|
for a very long time. 2. a look on a per-
ing, exported) verb to send goods to a for- sons face which shows a feeling [~of/~on]
eign country for sale The company ex- His expression showed how miserable he
ports half of what it produces. was. Everyone noticed the expression of

exporter /k sp
t/ noun a person or
exporter
|
surprise on her face. 3. the act of express-
company that sells goods to foreign coun- ing thoughts and feelings
expressionless /k spre()n()ls/
expressionless
tries |
adj showing no feeling

expose /k spz/ (exposes, expos-
expose
expressive /k spresv/ adj showing

| expressive
ing, exposed) verb 1. to show something |
which was hidden He pulled off his shirt, feeling

expressly /k spresli/ adv clearly and
expressly
exposing a huge scar across his chest. |
The plastic coating had rubbed off to ex- definitely

expresso /ek spres/ noun another
expresso
pose the metal beneath. 2. to let light go |
onto a photographic film You didnt ex- spelling of espresso

expressway /k spreswe/ noun US a
expressway
pose the film for long enough. 3. to reveal a |
shocking fact He was exposed as the per- fast road with few exits
son who wrote the letters. The newspaper expulsion / k spln/ noun the act of
expulsion
has exposed several government scandals. making someone leave or sending some-
expos /k spze/ (plural exposs) one away from an organisation, school or
expos
noun a report which exposes something country. expel

wrong exquisite /k skwzt/ adj very finely
exquisite
exposed /k spzd/ adj open and not made and beautiful

exposed
protected extend /k stend/ (extends, extend-

extend
exposure /k sp / noun 1. the act ing, extended) verb 1. to stretch something
exposure
of putting someone under the influence of out She extended both arms in welcome.
something [~of/~to] the exposure of 2. to cover a particular are area of land
young children to violence on television [/~over] The grounds of the house extend
the exposure of some workers to radiation over two hectares. 3. to make something
2. the state of not being protected, e.g. from longer or bigger We are planning to ex-
cold The survivors of the crash were all tend our garden. The company has ex-
suffering from exposure after spending a tended my contract for another two years.
extended family / kstendd
extended family
night in the snow. 3. the time and amount of |
light needed for a picture to be taken on fm()li/ noun a family which includes
229 extraordinarily
relatives such as aunts and uncles outside extinguisher /k st(w/ noun same
extinguisher
the central family group. Compare nuclear as fire extinguisher

family extol /k stl / (extols, extolling, ex-
extol
extension /k stenn/ noun 1. the tolled) verb to praise someone or some-

extension
act of extending something [~of/] I have thing very highly (literary) (NOTE: The US
applied for a short extension to my visa. 2. spelling is extoll.)
something that makes something bigger or extort /k st
t / (extorts, extorting, ex-
extort
longer Were building an extension onto torted) verb to extort something from
our house. 3. a telephone in an office which someone to get money or promises from
is connected to the companys main line someone by threats The secret police ex-
Can you get me extension 21? The man- torted very valuable information from him.
ager is on extension 23. The gang extorted money from small
extensive /k stensv/ adj covering a shopkeepers by threatening to burn down
extensive
large area or amount The grounds of the their shops.

extortion /k st
()n/ noun the prac-
extortion
house are very extensive. The church roof |
needs extensive repair work. tice of getting money from someone by

extent /k stent/ noun the degree, size
extent
threats
extortionate /k st
()nt/ adj (of a
|
extortionate
or area of something The extent of the |
earthquake damage was only revealed lat- price) very high or excessive
extra / ekstr/ adj more than usual; ad-
extra
er. He opened up the map to its full ex-

tent. to some extent, to a certain extent ditional We need an extra four teachers
partly; in some way To some extent, the or four extra teachers for this course. The
weather was the cause of the failure of the charge for delivery is extra. Staff get ex-
village fair. tra pay for working on Sundays.
extract1 / ekstrkt/ noun 1. a thing re-
extract
exterior /k stri/ noun the outside

exterior
parts The exterior of the house is painted duced from something larger He will be
pink. reading extracts from his latest novel. 2.
something which is reduced to a concen-
exterminate /k st#
mnet/ (extermi-
exterminate
|
trated form soup made from meat extract
nates, exterminating, exterminated) verb
Add a drop of vanilla extract to the cus-
1. to kill all the living things in a place 2. to
tard.
kill a person or a group of people (NOTE: +
extract2 /k strkt/ (extracts, extract-
extract
extermination n) |
ing, extracted) verb 1. to pull something

external /k st#
n()l/ adj on the out-
external
|
out The dentist extracted two teeth. We
side The external walls of the house are managed to extract 10 from him. The
quite solid. Her injuries were all exter- police extracted a confession from the ac-
nal. cused. 2. to produce something from some-
extinct /k stkt/ adj 1. (of a type of ani-
extinct
| thing else It is no longer viable to extract

mal or plant) no longer in existence, be- tin from Cornish mines. The oil is ex-
cause all of the same kind have died tracted from lavender flowers.
These birds are in danger of becoming ex- extraction /k strkn/ noun 1. the act
extraction
tinct. 2. ((of a volcano)) no longer active of pulling out a tooth An extraction will
The mountain is an extinct volcano. Com- cost you 40. 2. the production of some-
pare dormant thing from something else The extraction
extinction /k stkn/ noun 1. (of a of iron ore from this mine is becoming too
extinction
species) the process of dying out The last costly. of German or Japanese or etc
remaining pairs of birds were taken to a extraction belonging to a family originally
zoo for breeding purposes, so as to save the from Germany or Japan or etc
species from extinction. to face extinc- extracurricular /ekstrk rkjl/ adj
extracurricular
tion, to be threatened with extinction to outside the normal course of study

be likely to die out The tiger is facing ex- extradite / ekstrdat/ (extradites, ex-
extradite
tinction unless measures are taken to pro- traditing, extradited) verb to bring an ar-
tect it. 2. the act of putting out a fire The rested person back from another country to
firefighters will stand by until the complete stand trial for a crime committed in his or
extinction of the blaze. (NOTE: no plural) her home country (NOTE: + extradition n)
extinguish /k st(w/ (extinguish- /k str
d()nrli/
extinguish
extraordinarily
extraordinarily
| |
es, extinguishing, extinguished) verb to adv extremely Her action was extraordi-
put out a fire narily brave.
extraordinary 230
extraordinary /k str
d()n()ri/ unusual opinions Members of an extrem-
extraordinary
adj 1. wonderful Seeing her again gave ist group have taken over the post office.
him an extraordinary thrill. A peacocks extremity /k stremti/ noun an end
extremity
feathers are quite extraordinary. 2. very point the northern extremity of the island
unusual Its extraordinary weather for plural noun extremities the fingers, toes,
June. nose and ears Her extremities became
extrapolate /k strplet/ (extrapo- numb in the cold. (NOTE: plural is extremi-
extrapolate
lates, extrapolating, extrapolated) verb to ties)

calculate something unknown on the basis extricate / ekstrket/ (extricates, extri-
extricate
of available information (NOTE: + extrapo- cating, extricated) verb 1. to get someone

lation n) out of a difficult situation She asked her
extraterrestrial / ekstrt restril/ adj father to help extricate her from the awk-
extraterrestrial
from a planet other than Earth ward situation she found herself in. 2. to re-
extravagance /k strv(ns/ noun
extravagance
|
move something with difficulty The sur-
unnecessary expense geons extricated the bullet which had
lodged itself behind her eye.
extravagant /k strv(nt/ adj 1.
extravagant
extrovert / ekstrv#
t/, extravert noun a
| extrovert
spending a lot of money They are extrav-

agant when it comes to buying presents for person who is very friendly and likes to be
their children. 2. expensive and not neces- with other people
exuberant /( zju
brnt/ adj lively and
exuberant
sary an extravagant purchase 3. unusual |
and unreasonable The company has energetic

exude /( zju
d/ (exudes, exuding, ex-
exude
made some extravagant claims for its new |
soap powder. uded) verb to send out or to give off a

extravaganza /kstrv (nz/ noun strong smell or a strong feeling
extravaganza
| |
eye /a/ noun 1. the organ in the head

eye
an expensive and luxurious party, show,

film or event which you see with He has brown eyes.
extreme /k stri
m/ adj 1. very great Close your eyes and count to ten while
extreme
The device is made to withstand extreme we all hide. Ive got a bit of dust in my
cold. He showed extreme reluctance to eye. as far as the eye can see for a very
get involved. at the extreme end right at long distance Grasslands stretch as far
the end 2. very unusual or serious an ex- as the eye can see. to keep your eyes
treme case 3. considered unreasonable by open for something to watch out for
some people He holds extreme views. something Keep your eyes open for bur-
noun something very unusual or very great glars! 2. a small hole in the end of a needle,
You get extremes of temperature here through which the thread goes verb
very hot summers and very cold winters. (eyes, eyeing or eying, eyed) to look at
to go from one extreme to the other to something carefully She sat in a corner,
change to something completely different eyeing the arrivals indicator. to catch
She can go from one extreme to the other someones eye to look at someone who is
from being happy and excited one minute looking at you She caught his eye and
to being gloomy and depressed the next. nodded towards the door. to keep an eye
to go to extremes to do everything in an on someone or something to watch some-
excessive way one or something carefully to see that it is
extremely /k stri
mli/ adv to a very
extremely
safe Can you keep an eye on the house
while we are away? to keep an eye out
|
great degree It was extremely hot in Au- for someone or something to watch to see
gust. The film is extremely long, and
if someone or something is available or
some people left before the end. It is ex- nearby I must keep an eye out for Seville
tremely difficult to spend less than $50.00
a day on meals in New York. oranges to make some marmalade. Can
you keep an eye out for the traffic warden
extreme sport /kstri
m sp
t / noun a
extreme sport
|
while I go into the bank? to turn a blind
sport which is very dangerous and exciting, eye to something not to pay any attention
e.g. snowboarding to something bad, even if you know it ex-
extremist /k stri
mst / noun a person
extremist
| ists not to see eye to eye not to agree

who has very strong opinions, usually with someone He doesnt see eye to eye
about politics, that many other people re- with the boss. to have your eye on
gard as unreasonable left-wing extremists someone to think someone is very good,
(NOTE: + extremism n) adj having strong, very attractive or not to be trusted Shes
231 e-zine
got her eye on her best friends brother. eye contact / a kntkt/ noun the act
eye contact
The police have had their eye on him for of looking at someone who is looking at
ages. you
eye up verb to look at someone showing eyelash / al / noun one of the hairs
eyelash
that you think them attractive (informal) growing round the edges of your eyes
He was eyeing up one of the girls on the
eyelid / ald/ noun a piece of skin
eyelid
other side of the room.

which covers the eye
eyeball / ab
l/ noun a part of the eye,
eyeball
eyeliner / alan/ noun a substance used

eyeliner
the round ball of tissue through which light

passes and which is controlled by various for drawing a coloured line round your eye
eye-opener / ap()n/ noun some-
eye-opener
muscles The retina is a light-sensitive

membrane at the back of the eyeball. verb thing which surprises you (informal)
(eyeballs, eyeballing, eyeballed) to stare eyeshadow / ad/ noun make-up
eyeshadow
at someone closely (informal) eyeball to for colouring the skin round your eye
eyeball facing each other closely He had
eyesight / asat/ noun the ability to
eyesight
an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with see

the referee.
eyesore / as
/ noun an unpleasant sight
eyesore
eyebrow / abra/ noun the line of

eyebrow
eyewitness / awtns/ noun a person

eyewitness
hair above each of your eyes to raise

your eyebrows to look surprised who has seen something happen
eye-catching / a kt/ adj very no- e-zine / i
zi
n/ noun a magazine which
eye-catching e-zine
ticeable and attracting attention appears in a website on the Internet

F
f /ef/, F noun the sixth letter of the alpha- faceless / fesls/ adj anonymous and
f faceless
bet, between E and G threatening

fable / feb()l/ noun a moral story, usual- facelift / feslft/ noun 1. an operation to
fable facelift
ly about animals, making them seem like make your face look younger 2. the fact of
human beings working to make something appear newer
fabled / feb()ld/ adj well-known in sto- Our website needs a facelift.
fabled
face-saving / fes sev/ adj which

face-saving
ries
fabric / fbrk/ noun 1. cloth used for
fabric
avoids causing someone to feel embar-
making things such as clothes and curtains rassed and ashamed
facet / fst/ noun one of many aspects of
facet
The curtains are made of an expensive

fabric. We need a fireproof fabric for the something, e.g. a problem The problem
chairs. 2. the basic structure of society or presents many different facets. The film
of an organisation [~of] During the revo- explores several fascinating facets of his
lution, the whole fabric of society col- life in Africa.
facetious /f si
s/ adj funny or joking
facetious
lapsed. |
fabricate / fbrket/ (fabricates, fabri- in a way that other people think unsuitable
fabricate
face to face /fes t fes/ adv looking

face to face
cating, fabricated) verb to invent an untrue

story at each other He turned a corner and
fabrication /fbr ke()n/ noun an
fabrication
|
came face to face with a police officer. I
invented story that is not true The news- dont like doing business on the phone I
paper story was a complete fabrication prefer to make deals face to face.
face value /fes vlju
/ to take
face value
from start to finish.

fabulous / fbjls/ adj 1. imaginary, as
fabulous
something at (its) face value to believe
in fairy stories unicorns and other fabu- that what something appears to mean is
lous animals 2. marvellous or wonderful true When we booked our holiday we
It was a fabulous party. took what the tour company said about the
face /fes/ noun 1. the front part of your
face
hotel at face value but it turned out not to
head Dont forget to wash your face be- be true.
facial / fe()l/ noun a beauty treatment
facial
fore you go to the party. 2. the front part of

something a clock face She put the pho- in which your face is cleaned and mas-
tograph face down on the desk. verb (fac- saged Shes having a facial.
facile / fsal/ adj too simple and not
facile
es, facing, faced) to have the face or front

towards Can everyone please face the carefully considered
facilitate /f sltet/ (facilitates, fa-
facilitate
camera? The house faces north. to |
show your face to come to or be in a place cilitating, facilitated) verb to make some-
where there are other people After what thing easy
facility /f slti/ (plural facilities)
facility
he said about my mother he doesnt dare |
show his face here. to lose face to be em- noun 1. an ability to do something easily
barrassed by being shown to be wrong or She has a facility for languages. (NOTE: no
weak She cant bear being told off in plural) 2. a means of doing something We
front of the class it makes her lose face. offer facilities for payment. 3. a large build-
to make a face to make a strange expres- ing that enables people to do or have some-
sion He made funny faces and all the thing We have opened our new ware-
children laughed. to try to keep a house facility.
straight face to try not to laugh facsimile / fk smli/ noun 1. a perfect
facsimile
face up to phrasal verb to accept an un- copy This is not the real Magna Carta
pleasant situation and try to deal with it it is a facsimile. They have published a
233 fair
facsimile edition of one of the earliest faeces / fi
si
z/ plural noun solid waste
faeces
printed books. 2. a fax; a copy of a docu- matter passed from the body The pa-
ment or picture sent by telephone Can tients faeces are not solid. (NOTE: The US
you confirm the booking by facsimile? spelling is feces.)
fact /fkt/ noun something such as a fag /f(/ noun a cigarette
fact fag
He cadged a
piece of information that is true He faced fag off me. I bought a packet of fags at the
up to the fact that he wasnt fit enough for kiosk.
the race. Did you check all the facts be- Fahrenheit / frnhat/ noun a scale of
Fahrenheit
fore you wrote the article? in fact, in ac- temperatures where the freezing and boil-
tual fact really; the truth is that He told ing points of water are 32 and 212. Ab-
the police he had seen a man steal a car but breviation F. Compare Celsius (NOTE: used
in fact he made the whole story up. It in the USA, but less common in the UK and
rained a lot last month in fact it rained all not usually used in other countries. It is usu-
month. as a matter of fact actually; used ally written as F after the degree sign: 32 F:
for saying what is really true, especially say: thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.)
when it is surprising Have you seen John fail /fel/ (fails, failing, failed) verb 1.
fail
recently? as a matter of fact I met him not to succeed [~on] The examination
yesterday. was very difficult half the students failed.
faction / fkn/ noun a group of people
faction
He passed his maths exam but failed

linked together in opposition to a leader or English. She failed in her attempt to be-
to a government come a contestant in the TV game show. 2.
factor / fkt/ noun 1. a thing which to fail to do something not to do some-
factor
has influence or importance [~in/~for] The thing that should be done The car failed
key factor in our decision is the price. to stop at the red light. 3. not to work prop-
The crucial factor for the success of the vil- erly The brakes failed and he couldnt
lage fair is the weather. 2. one of the num- stop the car. if all else fails if you cant
bers which produce a certain other number do anything else If all else fails you can
when multiplied Four and two are fac- always borrow my car.
tors of eight. failing1 / fel/ noun a weakness or bad
failing
factory / fkt()ri/ (plural factories)

factory
point of something or someone She has

noun a building where things are made in only one failing she goes to sleep in front
large quantities using machines She of the TV every night. In spite of his fail-
works in a shoe factory. He owns a furni- ings, we still think he is a wonderful father.
ture factory. The factory makes computer failing2 failing that if that does not
failing
terminals. work Try some tape to seal the joint or,

factory farm / fkt()ri f
m/ noun a
factory farm
failing that, call a plumber.

farm where large numbers of animals are failure / felj/ noun 1. a situation in
failure
kept in small spaces, using modern meth- which something stops working The ac-
ods to produce food quickly cident was caused by brake failure. The
factual / fktul / adj referring to facts
factual
failure of the planes engine caused the

faculty / fk()lti/ (plural faculties) noun
faculty
crash. 2. an occasion on a person or event

1. a natural ability 2. a main division of a is not successful His attempts to balance
university the Faculty of Arts or the Arts on one leg were a complete failure. 3. a per-
Faculty 3. US the teaching staff of a school, son who does not succeed at things Im
university or college There is a meeting no good at anything Im a failure.
of the faculty tomorrow. faint /fent/ adj difficult to see or hear
faint
fad /fd / noun a strange temporary craze

fad
They could hear a faint tapping under the

for something wreckage. We could just see the faint out-
fade /fed/ (fades, fading, faded) verb 1. line of a man in the fog. (NOTE: + faintly
fade
to lose colour The more you wash your adv) verb (faints, fainting, fainted) to be-
jeans, the more theyll fade. This teeshirt come unconscious for a short time She
has faded. 2. to become less bright or light fainted when she saw the blood.
fair /fe/ adj 1. (of hair or skin) light-col-
fair
As the light faded, bats came out in the

garden. The light from the torch began to oured Her hair is quite fair. People with
fade as the batteries ran out. The islands fair skin should use a stronger sun cream.
faded away into the distance. 3. to become 2. not very good Her work is only fair. 3.
less noisy The sound of the music faded right, giving someone what they deserve
away. Thats not fair you must let other children
fair game 234

play with the ball too. It isnt fair if you falcon /flkn/ noun a small bird of
falcon
go on holiday when we have so much work prey, sometimes trained to catch other
to do. 4. (of weather) bright and warm Ac- birds as a sport
cording to the TV the weather will be fair fall /fl/ verb (falls, falling, fell, fallen)
fall
tomorrow. noun 1. a group of machines 1. to drop to a lower level

for riding on and stalls where you can win [~down/off/through/into/out of etc] Snow
things, set up in one place for a short time fell all night She fell down the stairs.
The fair is coming to the village for the He fell off the ladder. Did he fall into the
Easter Bank Holiday. He went to the fair river or did someone push him? 2. [~by/~in-
and won a prize for shooting. 2. an exhibi- to/onto/~of/~off/through/out of
tion for selling and advertising goods We etc/~on/~to/~with] to fall asleep to go to
are going to the car fair tomorrow. (NOTE: sleep We all fell asleep after dinner.
Do not confuse with fare.) noun 1. an amount of something which has
fair game /fe em/ noun a person or
fair game
come down There was a heavy fall of

thing which it is fair to criticise snow during the night. 2. the process of go-
fairground /ferand/ noun a place in ing to a lower level [~in] a welcome fall in
fairground
the open air where a fair is held the price of oil the fall in the exchange
fairly /feli / adv 1. in a way that is
fairly
rate 3. the act of losing your balance [~of]
right; giving people what they deserve He had a fall and hurt his back. She had
She complained that she had not been a bad fall while skiing.
treated fairly in the interview. 2. to some fall apart phrasal verb 1. to come to piec-
degree Im fairly certain I have seen this es My shoes are falling apart. The
film before. She had been working there porcelain dish just fell apart in my hands.
a fairly short time. The hotel is fairly 2. to come to an end (in its present form)
When they showed him the letters, his
close to the centre of town. (NOTE: The or-
der of words for fairly and quite is different: life simply fell apart. When our Ger-
Hes a fairly good worker but Hes quite a man partners withdrew, the deal fell
good worker.) apart.
fall away phrasal verb to become less
fairness /fens/ noun a tendency or
fairness
ability to do things in a fair way Every- fall back on phrasal verb to do or use
one acknowledged her fairness in dealing something only after all other things have
with staff complaints. failed
fall behind phrasal verb to be late in do-
fairway /fewe/ noun a part of a golf
fairway
ing something
course where the grass is cut, though it is
fall down phrasal verb 1. to drop to the
not very short
ground She fell down and hurt her
fairy /feri/ (plural fairies) noun a small
fairy
knee. 2. to become broken down through

imaginary creature who can perform magic age The place has been deserted for so
fairytale /feritel/ noun a childrens
fairytale
long its falling down.

story about fairies, princes, princesses and fall for phrasal verb 1. to fall in love with
giants someone She always falls for intelli-
faith /fe/ noun 1. confidence or trust gent men. 2. to be tricked by something
faith
[~in] I dont have much faith in these new Dont fall for his sales talk.
teaching methods. 2. a religious belief We fall off phrasal verb to become fewer
must respect people of other faiths. in The number of customers starts to fall off
good faith honestly, even though perhaps after 4 oclock.
wrongly I sold him the car in good faith fall out phrasal verb 1. to drop to the
I didnt know it would break down the ground after having been in something
next day. We put cushions on the floor next to the
faithful /fef()l/ adj (of a person or an bed in case she fell out. 2. to have an ar-
faithful
animal) trusting or loyal his faithful old gument They fell out over the bill for
dog We must be faithful to fathers last drinks.
wishes. fall over phrasal verb to fall down after
fake /fek/ noun something which is made
fake
having been upright
or designed to look like something else that fall through phrasal verb not to take place
is, e.g. more valuable That picture isnt as planned
fallacy /flsi/ (plural fallacies) noun a
fallacy
by Picasso, its a fake. adj not real She

was wearing a fake fur coat. false argument
235 far
fallible / flb()l/ adj capable of being of children in a family by preventing un-
fallible
wrong wanted pregnancies

falling-out /f
l at/ (plural fallings- family tree /fm()li tri
/ noun a table
family tree
falling-out
out) noun the act of having an argument showing a family going back over many
with someone generations
famine / fmn/ noun a very serious lack
famine
fallout / f
lat/ noun an unfortunate re-
fallout
sult the fallout from the arrest of the par- of food

famished / fmt/ adj very hungry
famished
ty treasurer
false /f
ls/ adj not real; designed to famous / fems/ adj known to many
famous
false
look like something real a set of false people, especially most people in a place or
nails country a famous department store
false alarm /f
ls l
m/ noun a signal
false alarm
|
Hes a famous footballer. This tea shop is
for an emergency when there isnt one famous for its cakes.
fan /fn/ noun 1. a piece of equipment
fan
falsehood / f
lshd/ noun a lie (literary)
falsehood
It appears that he had told several false-

for moving air to make people or things
cooler We put electric fans in the office to
hoods under oath.
try to keep cool. 2. an enthusiastic support-
false start /f
ls st
t/ noun a start of a
false start
er of something or someone, e.g. a team or

race which is not allowed by the judge a pop group There was a crowd of fans
falsify / f
lsfa/ (falsifies, falsifying,
falsify
waiting for him outside the theatre.

falsified) verb to change something to fanatic /f ntk/ noun a person who is
fanatic
make it wrong or not real extremely enthusiastic about something

falter / f
lt/ (falters, faltering, faltered) fanciful / fnsf()l/ adj imaginative or
falter
fanciful
verb 1. to stop happening or working effec- unlikely

tively The engine faltered and then fan club / fn klb/ noun an organised
fan club
stopped. Progress in the talks faltered. 2. group of supporters of someone, e.g. a pop
to speak nervously with pauses As she star or an actor
ended the speech her voice faltered for a fancy / fnsi/ verb (fancies, fancying,
fancy
moment. fancied) 1. to want to have something

fame /fem/ noun the fact of being famous
fame
(informal) I fancy an ice cream anyone

or well-known else want one? Do you fancy sharing a
famed /femd/ adj well-known
famed
taxi to the airport? 2. to like someone in a

familiar /f mli/ adj heard or seen
familiar
|
sexual way Im sure that guy fancies you.
before; that you know The dog wagged adj (fancier, fanciest) attractive or deco-
its tail as it heard its masters familiar rated He wore a fancy tie to the party.
fancy dress /fnsi dres/ noun an unu-
fancy dress
voice at the door. He looked round the

room, and saw a couple of familiar faces. sual costume worn to a party
familiarity /fmli rti/ noun 1. a good fanfare / fnfe/ noun a short piece of
fanfare
familiarity
| |
knowledge of someone or something music, played especially on trumpets,

[~with] His familiarity with London when an important person arrives or a
makes him an excellent guide. 2. a very in- show starts
fang /f/ noun an animals long tooth
fang
formal way of speaking to someone The

manager told him off for familiarity with fantasise / fntsaz/ (fantasises, fan-
fantasise
the customers. tasising, fantasised), fantasize verb to

family / fm()li/ (plural families) imagine
family
noun 1. a group of people who are related fantastic /fn tstk/ adj 1. wonder-
fantastic
to each other, especially mother, father and ful We had a fantastic time on holiday. 2.
children He grew up in a big family of strange; like a dream His stories are full
five brothers and sisters. 2. a group of ani- of fantastic creatures.
mals or plants which are closely related fantasy / fntsi/ (plural fantasies) noun
fantasy
Lions and tigers are members of the cat an invented story Her story of meeting a
family. rich man in Paris was pure fantasy.
family name / fm()li nem/ noun the FAQ /fk, ef e kju
/ abbr frequently
family name
FAQ
name of someones family, shared by all asked questions

people in the family far /f
/ adv 1. a certain distance away
far
family planning /fm()li pln/

family planning
The railway station is not far from here.

noun the practice of controlling the number How far away is Paris from London?
faraway 236
The road was blocked by cars as far as we farmland / f
mlnd/ noun land which
farmland
could see. 2. used with comparatives to is used for growing crops or raising ani-
mean much It is far cheaper to go by mals for food
bus than by train. Restaurant food is far farmyard / f
mj
d/ noun an area
farmyard
nicer than the food at college. adj (farther around farm buildings, where tractors are
or further, farthest or furthest) a long way sometimes kept
away; distant The shop is at the far end of
far off /f
r f/ adv a long way away
far off
the High Street. as far as I know or can

We could see the house far off beside the
tell I think, but I am not completely sure
As far as I know, the train is on time. As lake.
far-off / f
r f/ adj which is a long way
far-off
far as I can tell, the engine is working nor-

mally. away
faraway /f
r we/ adj which is a long far-reaching /f
ri
t/ adj which has
far-reaching
faraway
way away wide effects or results

farce /f
s/ noun 1. a funny play based on far-sighted /f
satd/ adj 1. having
farce far-sighted
silly situations We went to see a 19th- the ability to make wise plans for the future
century French farce. 2. a silly situation They were far-sighted enough to save
The meeting rapidly became a farce. money for their childrens tuition fees. 2.
farcical / f
sk()l/ adj silly US unable to see clearly things that are a
farcical
fare /fe/ noun a price which you have

fare
short distance away
fart /f
t/ (farts, farting, farted) verb to
fart
to pay for a journey Rail fares have been

increased by 10%. The tourist-class fare pass wind from the intestines through the
is much less than the first class one. If anus (vulgar)
you walk to work, you will save 5 a week farther / f
/ adv at or to a longer way
farther
on bus fares. (NOTE: Do not confuse with away

fair.) fascinate / fsnet/ (fascinates,
fascinate
fare dodger / fe dd/ noun a person

fare dodger
fascinating, fascinated) verb to make

who travels on public transport without a someone very interested
ticket
fascinated / fsnetd/ adj very inter-
fascinated
farewell /fe wel/ interj, noun goodbye

farewell
|
ested
Its time to say farewell. adj at which you
fascinating / fsnet/ adj very in-
fascinating
say goodbye We gave a farewell party for

our neighbours who were going to live in teresting A microscope gives you a fasci-
Canada. nating glimpse of life in a drop of water.
The book gives a fascinating description of
far-fetched /f
fett/ adj difficult to
far-fetched
believe London in the 1930s. It was fascinating

to hear her talk about her travels in India.
far from / f
frm/ adv not at all The
far from
fascination /fs ne()n/ noun great

fascination
food here is far from cheap. |
farm /f
m/ noun an area of land used
farm interest or attraction
fascism / fz()m/ noun an extreme
fascism
for growing crops and raising animals He

runs a pig farm. Were going to work on right-wing political movement
fascist / fst/ noun a person who sup-
fascist
a farm during the holidays. You can buy

eggs and vegetables at the farm shop. ports fascism when the fascists came to
verb (farms, farming, farmed) to grow power
crops or raise animals on a farm He farms fashion / f()n/ noun the most pop-
fashion
dairy cattle in Devon. ular style at a particular time [~for] the

farm out phrasal verb 1. to hand over fashion for short skirts worn worn boots
work to another person to do 2. to hand in fashion popular; following the current
over a child for someone else to look af- style High heels are in fashion this year.
ter The children were farmed out to out of fashion unpopular; not the current
their grandparents for a week. style Red cars are out of fashion at the
farmer / f
m/ noun a person who moment.
farmer
manages or owns a farm fashionable / f()nb()l/ adj 1. of a

fashionable
farmhouse / f
mhas/ noun the house
farmhouse
style which is popular at a particular time

where a farmer and his or her family live These loose trousers are really fashionable
farming / f
m/ noun the work of man-
farming
at the moment. 2. popular with rich or

aging a farm, e.g. growing crops or keep- glamorous people She lives in the fash-
ing animals for sale ionable West End of London. Its a fash-
237 fault
ionable restaurant for film stars and jour- someone, especially in the end The peo-
nalists. ple of the country have the right to decide
fast /f
st/ adj 1. quick I just love their own fate. (NOTE: Do not confuse with
fast
driving fast cars. 2. not stopping anywhere fete.) to tempt fate to do something
This is the fast train to London. 3. (of a which could have bad results Its tempt-
clock) to show a time which is later than the ing fate to ask him to look after your girl-
correct time adv 1. quickly Walk faster friend while you are away.
if you want to catch up with the children in fateful / fetf()l/ adj important because
fateful
front. Dont go so fast you almost hit of its serious results for the future
that man on the zebra crossing. 2. tightly father / f
/ noun a man who has a
father
fixed in a particular position The window son or daughter Ask your father if he will
was stuck fast and I couldnt open it. verb lend you his car. She is coming to tea with
(fasts, fasting, fasted) to eat nothing for her mother and father.
religious or health reasons Many people Father Christmas /f
krsms/
Father Christmas
fast during Lent. He fasted for a week. noun a man in a long red coat, with a big
fasten / f
s()n/ (fastens, fastening,
fasten
white beard, who is supposed to bring

fastened) verb to close or attach something presents to children on Christmas Day
tightly Please fasten your seatbelts. father figure / f
f(/ noun a man
father figure
These shoes fasten with a buckle. who helps and advises a younger person
fastener / f
s()n/, fastening noun an
fastener
who is not his child

object which fastens something such as a fatherhood / f
hd/ noun the fact of
fatherhood
piece of clothing being a father

fastening / f
s()n/ noun a device
fastening
father-in-law / f
r n l
/ (plural fa-
father-in-law
which fastens something

thers-in-law) noun the father of your wife
fast food /f
st fd / noun food which
fast food
or husband
is prepared and served quickly
fatherly / f
li/ adj like a father
fatherly
fast-forward /f
st f
wd/ (fast-for-
fast-forward
fathom / fm/ (fathoms, fathoming,

fathom
wards, fast-forwarding, fast-forwarded)

verb to make something such as a DVD or fathomed) verb also fathom out to under-
a videotape move forward quickly stand something or someone
fatigue /f ti
(/ noun the fact of being
fatigue
fastidious /f stdis/ adj hard to

fastidious
|
|
please, careful about tidiness and cleanli- tired (formal) After a long day walking in
ness the mountains, the group were showing
fast-track /f
st trk/ adj (of a proc-
fast-track
signs of fatigue.
fatten / ft()n/; /ft()n p/ (fattens,
fatten
ess) which is faster than normal They

have started a fast-track application fattening, fattened) verb to give animals
scheme. more food to make them fat for slaughter
fat /ft/ adj (fatter, fattest) having too
fat
fatten up phrasal verb to give animals
much flesh or weighing too much Two fat more food to make them fat for slaughter
fattening / ft()n/ adj which makes
fattening
men got out of the little white car. Youll

have to eat less youre getting too fat. you fat
fatty / fti/ (fattier, fattiest) adj (of food or
fatty
Hes fatter than me. noun a part of meat

which is yellowish-white If you dont like tissue) which has a lot of fat in it I dont
the fat, cut it off. like fatty bacon.
fatal / fet()l/ adj causing people to die fatuous / ftjus/ adj silly and thought-
fatal fatuous
There were three fatal accidents on this less

road last year. faucet / f
st/ noun US an object
faucet
fatalism / fet()lz()m/ noun the belief

fatalism
which, when you twist it, lets liquid or gas

that fate decides what happens to you and come out
that you cannot change this fault /f
lt/ noun 1. the fact of making
fault
fatality /f tlti/ (plural fatalities) noun

fatality
|
a mistake or of being to blame for some-
a death in an accident thing going wrong It isnt my fault if
fat cat / ft kt/ noun a rich person
fat cat
theres nothing in the fridge. Its all your

(informal) fault if you hadnt stayed in bed all morn-
fate /fet/ noun 1. destiny; what is certain ing we would be at the seaside by now. 2.
fate
to happen to you They met by chance in a an instance of something not working

bar in New Zealand, and got married it properly [~in] The invoice was wrong be-
must have been fate! 2. what happens to cause of a fault in the computer system.
faultless 238
The engineers are trying to mend an elec- fawn /f
n/ noun a young deer a female
fawn
trical fault. 3. a mistake in serving in tennis deer with two little fawns adj of a brown-
He served two double faults. at fault ish-cream colour
having made a mistake The shop is at fax /fks/ noun a copy of a document
fax
fault if they sent you the wrong table. or picture sent to someone using telephone
faultless / f
ltls/ adj perfect lines Post it to me, or send a fax. Can
faultless
faulty / f
lti/ adj 1. not working cor-
faulty
you confirm the booking by fax? verb
rectly or not made correctly The lights (faxes, faxing, faxed) to send a document
are flickering there must be a faulty con- or picture by telephone I will fax the de-
nection somewhere. 2. with mistakes in sign to you or I will fax you the design as
planning or judgment a faulty argument soon as it is ready.
faze / fez/ (fazes, fazing, fazed) verb to
faze
fauna / f
n/ (plural faunas or faunae)
fauna
noun wild animals, or all the wild animals surprise or shock someone
fear /f/ noun the feeling of being
fear
of a specific area. Compare flora

afraid [~of/~that] Fear of the dark is com-
faux pas /f p
/ noun an embarrass-
faux pas
ing mistake, especially in something you mon in small children. She had a real
do (literary) fear that she would not recover fully from
the illness. verb (fears, fearing, feared)
favor / fev / noun, verb US spelling of
favor
1. to be afraid of something (formal)

favour What do you fear most? 2. to worry that
favorable / fev()rb()l/ adj US spell-
favorable
something bad might happen [~(that)/~for]

ing of favourable The family feared homelessness and hun-
favorite / fev()rt/ noun, verb US ger. Climate experts fear that the ice will
favorite
spelling of favourite melt making the sea level rise. to fear for
favour / fev/ noun 1. a friendly act
favour
someone or something to worry about
done to help someone Can I ask a favour someone or something Most parents fear
will you look after my bike while Im in for their childs safety.
fearful / ff()l/ adj terrible
fearful
the post office? to do someone a favour

fearless / fls/ adj with no feeling of
fearless
to do something to help someone He

wont charge for it he did it as a favour. fear
fearsome / fs()m/ adj frightening (lit-
fearsome
Will you do me a favour and look after my

cat when Im away? 2. approval or popu- erary)
larity She tried to win the favour of the feasible / fi
zb()l/ adj which can be
feasible
committee. in favour liked or approved done

of out of favour disliked verb (favours, feast /fi
st/ noun 1. a very large meal for
feast
favouring, favoured) 1. to like or prefer a group of people, especially one eaten to

something The managers favour moving celebrate a special occasion 2. a special re-
to a bigger office. 2. to make things easier ligious day Today is the Feast of St Ni-
for someone The conditions favour Aus- cholas.
tralian bowlers. in favour of something feat /fi
t/ noun an particularly difficult act
feat
preferring something We were all in in feather / fe/ noun one of many light
feather
favour of a change of venue. soft parts which cover a birds body

favourable / fev()rb()l/ adj good
favourable
feathery / feri/ adj light and delicate

feathery
favourite / fev()rt/ adj which you

favourite
like a feather
like best Which is your favourite TV pro- feature / fi
t/ noun 1. a part of the
feature
gramme? (NOTE: The US spelling is fa- face such as the nose or mouth His unu-
vorite.) noun 1. something or someone sual features make him easy to recognise.
you like best Which ice cream is your fa- 2. an important part or aspect of something
vourite? This game is a favourite with the The main feature of the castle is its huge
children. The singer was a favourite in tower. Fjords are a feature of the coast-
the fifties. (NOTE: The US spelling is fa- line of Norway. 3. an important story or ar-
vorite.) 2. someone who is treated better ticle in a TV news programme or in a
than other people by a particular person newspaper a feature on nuclear power
She was always her fathers favourite. verb (features, featuring, featured) 1. to
favouritism / fev()rtz()m/ noun
favouritism
have someone as the main performer of a

the practice of showing support for one film, a TV programme or a play The film
group or one person at the expense of oth- featured Charlie Chaplin as the tramp.
ers (NOTE: The US spelling is favoritism.) The circus features Russian clowns. 2. to
239 fellowship
have something as the most important part feeding. noun food given to animals a
The tour features a visit to the Valley of bag of cattle feed
the Kings. The next programme will fea- feedback / fi
dbk/ noun informa-
feedback
ture a discussion between environmental tion or comments about something which

experts. 3. to appear as the main actor in, or has been done [~on/~from]
as the subject of a film or a TV programme feel /fi
l/ verb (feels, feeling, felt) 1. to
feel
[~in] She has featured in many TV series. touch something, usually with your fingers
feature film / fi
t flm/ noun a full-
feature film
Feel how soft the bed is. 2. to seem soft,

length film cold, etc., when touched The bed feels
February / februri/ noun the second hard. The stone floor felt cold. 3. to expe-
February
month of the year, between January and rience something with your body or mind
March My birthday is in February. He [~(that)/~about] Did you feel the table
died on February 17th. We are moving to move? I felt the lift go down suddenly.
new offices next February. (NOTE: February Do you feel warmer now that youve had a
17th: say the seventeenth of February or cup of tea? They felt happy when they
February the seventeenth, or in US English saw that all was well. By twelve oclock
February seventeenth.) she was feeling hungry. 4. to think some-
feckless / fekls/ adj having no determi-
feckless
thing [~(that)] He feels it would be wrong
nation or strength of character to leave the children alone in the house.
The police felt that the accident was due to
fed /fed/ past tense and past participle
fed
fog. noun how something seems when

of feed touched the rough feel of the wooden
federal / fed()rl/ adj 1. relating to
federal
floor Velvet has a soft feel.

the central government of the United States feel for phrasal verb to be sympathetic to-
Most federal offices are in Washington. wards someone
Federal law is more important than state feel up to phrasal verb to be strong or
law. 2. relating to a system where a group well enough to do something
of states exist under a central government feel-good /), fi
l (d/ adj causing peo-
feel-good
the former Federal Republic of Germany ple to feel happy

federalism / fed()rlz()m/ noun a
federalism
feeling / fi
l/ noun an opinion that
feeling
type of government in which the state is a you have formed about something
group of provinces or states with a central [/~against/~on/about//~about/~that] a
government feeling of security a feeling that someone
federation /fed re()n/ noun a group
federation
| is watching you What is your feeling

of states or organisations which have about the idea? plural noun feelings
joined together someones emotions to hurt someones
fed up /fed p/ adj feeling bored and feelings to upset someone I didnt want
fed up
unhappy [~with] (informal) She went back to hurt her feelings.

feet /fi
t/ plural of foot
feet
to school last Tuesday and shes already

fed up. Im fed up with watching TV feign /fen/ (feigns, feigning, feigned)
feign
lets go out. verb to pretend to feel an emotion

fee /fi
/ noun money paid to someone feisty / fasti/ adj energetic and brave
fee feisty
such as a doctor or lawyer for work done (informal)

Private school fees are very high. The feline / fi
lan/ adj like a cat
feline
lawyers fee for two days work was more fell /fel/ (fells, felling, felled) past tense
fell
than I earn in a month! of fall

feeble / fi
b()l/ (feebler, feeblest) adj 1. fellow / fel/ noun 1. a man A young
feeble
fellow
physically weak, especially because of ill- fellow came up to me and asked me the
ness or age He gave a feeble wave with time. Whos that fellow with a beard? 2.
his hand. The voice on the phone sound- a person who belongs to the same group
ed feeble. 2. not strong or able to be seen or I was OK on the boat, but several of my fel-
heard well She replied in a feeble voice. low passengers were sick.
feed /fi
d/ verb (feeds, feeding, fed) 1. fellowship / felp/ noun 1. a
feed fellowship
to give food to a person or an animal Id friendly feeling He developed a feeling of

better just feed the baby before we go out. fellowship with the other hostages. 2. a
Could you feed the cat while were grant to continue studying She has a fel-
away? 2. to take milk from its mother lowship to research into the causes of skin
Please dont disturb the baby while shes cancer.
felt 240
felt /felt / noun a thick material made of has to ferment for at least ten weeks before
felt
wool fibres pressed together it is ready to drink.

felt-tip / felt tp/ noun a pen which has a fern /f#
n/ noun a green plant with feath-
felt-tip fern
tip made from felt ery leaves which does not have flowers or
female / fi
mel/ adj 1. relating to
female
seeds
ferocious /f rs/ adj wild and angry
ferocious
women or girls a female athlete 2. relat- |
ing to the sex of an animal, insect or bird a ferocious dog

which gives birth to young or produces ferocity /f rsti/ noun the fact of being
ferocity
eggs a female kitten 3. relating to a flow- fierce

er which produces seeds ferret / fert/ noun a small animal similar
ferret
feminine / femnn/ adj like a woman

feminine
to a weasel, which is half-tamed and used

or suitable for a woman Her long white to drive rabbits or rats from holes As boys
silk dress was very feminine. we used to go rat-catching with ferrets.
femininity /fem nnti/ noun female ferry / feri/ (plural ferries) noun a boat
femininity ferry
qualities which carries cars and trucks or people

feminism / femnz()m/ noun the fact across a stretch of water We are going to
feminism
of being a feminist take the night ferry to Belgium. Theres a

fence /fens/ noun a type of wall made
fence
ferry across the Rhine here.
fertile / f#
tal/ adj 1. ((of land)) able to
fertile
of wood or wire, used to keep people or an-

imals in or out of a place The fence was produce good crops 2. (of a female or an
blown down. The boys looked through egg) able to produce young The zoo
the hole in the fence. The builders put up hopes the female panda is fertile, so that
a fence round the construction site. to sit she can have cubs. The eagle laid several
on the fence to avoid giving a definite an- eggs but only two were fertile. 3. producing
swer to a question or giving support to one many good ideas
particular side He never takes sides he fertilise / f#
tlaz/ (fertilises, fertilis-
fertilise
just sits on the fence. ing, fertilised), fertilize verb 1. to spread

fencing / fens/ noun 1. material which fertiliser on land The soil is poor and
fencing
makes a fence The crowd surged forward needs to be heavily fertilised. 2. to join
and flattened the fencing around the foot- male and female cells together, so that a
ball ground. 2. the sport of fighting with new animal or plant will be made The
swords Fencing is one of the sports in the sheep was fertilised in the laboratory.
pentathlon. fertiliser / f#
tlaz/, fertilizer noun
fertiliser
fend /fend/ (fends, fending, fended) verb a chemical or organic material spread over
fend
to fend for yourself to look after your- the soil to make it richer and more able to
self We went to Spain and left the chil- produce crops
dren to fend for themselves. fertility /f#
tlti/ noun the fact of be-
fertility
fend off phrasal verb to push someone ing fertile, or of being able to produce
away He spent the morning fending off crops or young
newspaper reporters. fervour / f#
v / noun a strong enthusiasm
fervour
fender / fend/ noun 1. a low guard

fender
(NOTE: The US spelling is fervor.)

around a fireplace to stop coal or wood fester / fest/ (festers, festering, fes-
fester
falling out into the room She sat by the tered) verb 1. (of a wound) to become in-
fender, poking the fire. 2. US a guard over fected His legs were covered with fester-
the wheels of a car or bicycle, to prevent ing sores. 2. to become worse and more bit-
mud splashing She ran into a tree and ter The resentment of the staff continued
bent a fender. to fester.
feng shui /f we/ noun a way of ar- festival / festv()l/ noun 1. a reli-
feng shui
festival
ranging buildings and the furniture in them gious celebration which is celebrated at the
to bring happiness and good luck, accord- same time each year and is usually a public
ing to the principles of a Chinese system holiday The tour will visit Hong Kong for
based on energy flow the Lantern Festival. 2. an event, often last-
ferment1 / f#
ment/ noun a disturbance
ferment
ing several days, where entertainment is

or upset The university was in a ferment. provided We saw some excellent plays at
ferment2 /f ment/ (ferments, ferment- the Edinburgh Festival this year.
ferment
festive / festv/ adj referring to a celebra-

festive
ing, fermented) verb to change into alco-

hol by the effect of yeast on sugar Cider tion
241 field trip

festoon /fe stu
n/ (festoons, festoon- glass boat. (NOTE: The US spelling is fiber-
festoon
ing, festooned) verb to hang a place with glass.)

decorations The streets were festooned fickle / fk()l/ adj likely to change often;
fickle

with flags. not steady
fetch /fet/ (fetches, fetching, fiction / fkn/ noun novels
fetch
fiction
fiction
fetched) verb to go to a place and bring writers such as Graham Greene To find
someone or something back Its your the latest novels you must look in the fic-
turn to fetch the children from school. tion section of the library.
Can you fetch me the atlas? fictional / fkn()l/ adj 1. (of a
fictional
fete /fet/, fte noun a small public event,

fete
character) who exists in fiction Mr Pick-

usually in the open air, with stalls, side- wick, Sam Weller and other fictional char-
shows and competitions I hope it doesnt acters from Dickens may have been based
rain for the village fte. (NOTE: Do not con- on real people. 2. written as a novel The
fuse with fate.) book is a fictional account of a real murder.
fetish / fet/ noun 1. a strong sexual in-
fetish
fictitious /fk ts/ adj not true or not

fictitious
terest in a certain object or material a real

rubber fetish 2. a very strong interest in or fiddle / fd()l/ verb (fiddles, fiddling,
fiddle
liking for something fiddled) to keep information about money

feud /fju
d/ noun a bitter quarrel I dont
feud
in a dishonest way The company caught

want to get involved in their family feud. him fiddling his expense account. She
(NOTE: + feud v) tried to fiddle her tax return. noun dis-
feudal / fju
d()l/ adj referring to the feu-
feudal
honest or illegal dealings (informal) The

dal system whole things a fiddle to get money from
fever / fi
v/ noun a state in which the
fever
the EU. on the fiddle trying to make

bodys temperature is higher than normal money illegally
You must stay in bed until the fever goes fiddly / fdli/ adj small and awkward to
fiddly
down. use (informal)

feverish / fi
vr/ adj 1. suffering from
feverish
fidelity /f delti/ noun 1. the fact of being

fidelity
fever He felt feverish and took an aspirin. faithful He was rewarded for his fidelity
2. nervously quick or excited In a burst of to the president. 2. the quality of the sound
feverish activity he finally finished writing produced by an electronic machine such as
the book on time. a CD player a high fidelity CD player
few /fju
/ adj (fewer, fewest), noun not
few
fidget / fdt/ (fidgets, fidgeting, fidget-

fidget
many She has very few friends at work. ed) verb to move all the time After an
We go to fewer concerts than last year. hour he started to fidget in his seat. Sit
few and far between not very frequent still and stop fidgeting!
Trains are few and far between on Sun-
field /fi
ld/ noun 1. a piece of ground on
field
days.
a farm, used for keeping animals or grow-
fianc /f nse/, fiance noun a man or
fianc
ing crops a field of potatoes The sheep

woman who is engaged to be married are in the field. 2. a piece of ground for
Her fianc is a French lawyer. He playing a game a football field The two
brought his fiance to the party. teams ran onto the field.
fiasco /fi sk/ (plural fiascos) noun a
fiasco
field day / fi
ld de/ noun a busy and ex-
| field day
total failure
citing time
fib /fb/ noun a lie about something unim-
fib
fielder / fi
ld/ noun a member of a crick-
fielder
portant (informal) That was a little fib,

wasnt it? et side which is not batting
field event / fi
ld vent/ noun a sport in-
field event
fibre / fab/ noun 1. a small thread of

fibre
|
material From the fibres left at the scene volving throwing or jumping, e.g. the high
of the murder, the police could work out jump or the javelin
field marshal /fi
ld m
()l/ noun an
field marshal
what the murderer had been wearing. 2.

thin threads in foods such as vegetables officer of the highest rank in the army
and bread, which cannot be digested, but (NOTE: can be used as a title with a name:
which helps food to pass through your Field Marshal Haig)
field test / fi
ld test/ noun a test of a new
field test
body You need to eat more fibre.

fibreglass / fab(l
s/ noun a material piece of equipment in a real environment
fibreglass
field trip / fi
ld trp/ noun a trip taken in
field trip
made from glass fibres, used to make boats

and car bodies Hes bought a new fibre- order to study a subject
fieldwork 242
fieldwork /fildwk/ noun the practice who is strong Shes a real fighter shell
fieldwork
of doing some work in a real environment pull through this illness. 3. a fast attacking
as part of a course of study aircraft Two fighters went up to attack the
fiend /find/ noun 1. an evil person the enemy bombers.
fiend
figment / fmnt/ noun a figment of

figment
fiend who attacked the old lady 2. a person

who is very enthusiastic about something someones imagination something which
Hes a car fiend. Shes a health-food a person has imagined but which is not real
fiend. figurative /frtv/ adj 1. (of art)
figurative
fiendish /find/ adj 1. very unpleasant

fiendish
which shows something as it really is

2. very difficult You have to pass a fiend- Hes a well-known figurative artist. 2.
ish exam to become an accountant. which is not the literal meaning of a word
fierce /fs/ adj very angry and likely to Calling him a lump of jelly was a figu-
fierce
attack Watch out that dog looks fierce. rative use of the phrase. You didnt mean
fiercely /fsli/ adv strongly She is that literally, did you? No, I was speaking
fiercely
fiercely independent. in a figurative sense.

fiery /fari/ adj 1. burning a fiery char- figure /f/ noun 1. a written number,
figure
fiery
iot 2. fierce or angry She has a fiery tem- e.g. 35 I cant read the figure on the order
per. is it 250? He added up the figures on
fifteen /fftin/ noun the number 15
fifteen
|
the bill. Cheques have to be made out in
fifteenth /fftin/ adj relating to
fifteenth
|
both words and figures. double, single 2.
number 15 in a series noun number 15 in the shape of a person the figures at the
a series front of the painting We could see some
figures through the mist. verb (figures,
fifth / ff/ adj relating to number 5 in a
fifth
figuring, figured) especially US to consider

series noun 1. number 5 in a series 2. one or think something [~(that)/] We figured
part of five equal parts that youd be late because of the show. I
fiftieth /ffti/ adj relating to number
fiftieth
figure the costs will be high. to figure on

50 in a series noun number 50 in a series doing something to plan to do something
fifty /ffti/ noun the number 50
fifty
Had you figured on being there before

fifty-fifty /ffti ffti/ adj, adv divided two oclock? that figures that makes
fifty-fifty
into two equal amounts sense (informal)

fig /f/ noun the juicy sweet fruit of the figure out phrasal verb to try to think of
fig
fig tree We sat under the tree and ate figs an answer to a problem Try to figure
and goats cheese. out the answer yourself, instead of asking
fight /fat/ noun 1. an occasion on
fight
someone else.
figurehead /fhed/ noun a person
figurehead
which people try to hurt each other or

knock each other down [~with/~between] who seems important but who has no real
He got into a fight with boys who were big- power The President is just a figurehead;
ger than him. Fights broke out between the Minister of the Interior has the real
the demonstrators and the police. to pick power.
a fight with someone to start a fight with file /fal/ noun 1. a metal tool used for
file
someone 2. a situation in which people do making rough surfaces smooth Use a file
everything they can to stop something to round off the edges of the metal. 2. a set
from happening [~against/for] a fight of records or information about something
against the new developments verb or someone [~on] The police have a file
(fights, fighting, fought) 1. to be involved on him. 3. a container similar to an enve-
in a situation in which people try to hurt lope, used for keeping documents in
each other or knock each other down Ri- When you have finished with the papers,
val gangs fought in the street. 2. to do eve- put them back in the file. 4. a set of infor-
rything you can try to stop something from mation held in a computer Type the name
happening We are committed to fighting of the file and then press enter. 5. a line of
crime. Doctors are fighting to control the people in single file one standing behind
disease. the other The children entered the hall in
fight off phrasal verb to get rid of an at- single file. verb (files, filing, filed) 1. to
tacker or an illness put papers away in a file File that letter
fighter /fat/ noun 1. a person who
fighter
under SALES. 2. to walk in a line

fights The referee stopped the fight when [~in/out/past/through etc] They filed past
one of the fighters had a cut eye. 2. a person the place where the boy had been shot. 3. to
243 finalise
make an official request or complaint 4. to Weve seen the film already on TV. 2. a roll
smooth a surface with a file File down the of material which you put into a camera to
rough edges. take photographs or to record moving pic-
file extension / fal kstenn/ noun tures I must buy another film before the
file extension
the second part of a computer file wedding. Do you want a colour film or a
name,e.g. .doc, which shows what type black and white one? 3. a thin layer of
of file it is. something [~of] A film of moisture formed
filing cabinet / fal kbnt / noun a
filing cabinet
on the cold metal surface. Everywhere
piece of office furniture; a tall box with was covered with a film of dust. A film of
drawers for putting files in grease had formed on the walls around the
filings / falz/ plural noun small pieces
filings
oven. verb (films, filming, filmed) to take
of metal removed by using a file You can pictures of something or someone with a
demonstrate magnetic fields with iron fil- camera Security cameras filmed him rob-
ings and a magnet. bing the bank. Star Wars was filmed in
1977.
fill /fl/ (fills, filling, filled) verb to make
fill
filming / flm/ noun the action of mak-

filming
something full; to become full He filled

the bottle with water. She was filling the ing a film
film-maker / flm mek/ noun a person
film-maker
boxes with presents. The bucket filled

slowly. who makes films
film star / flm st
/ noun a well-
film star
fill in phrasal verb 1. to fill up a hole He

dug a hole in the garden, put the box in- known film actor or actress
side, and then filled it in. 2. to write in the filter / flt/ noun 1. a piece of equipment
filter
empty spaces on a form Just fill in your or material through which liquids or air can
name and address. To win the prize you pass in order to remove any substances
have to fill in the missing words. 3. to which are not wanted The filters in the
fill in for someone to do something swimming pool have to be cleaned regular-
which someone else normally does but ly. 2. a piece of glass on a camera which al-
cannot do Im filling in for the manager lows only certain colours or levels of light
who is on holiday. 4. to fill someone in to pass through I use an orange filter to
on something to tell or to inform some- give a warm colour to the picture. 3. mate-
one about something (informal ) Just fill rial at the end of a cigarette, used to remove
me in on what happened at the meeting. nicotine
fill out phrasal verb 1. to write in all the filth / fl/ noun 1. dirt They were horri-
filth
empty spaces on a form Could you fied at the filth in the streets. 2. offensive
please fill out this form? 2. (of a person) words or pictures, especially because they
to become less thin deal with sex in an unpleasant way
fill up phrasal verb 1. to make something (informal) I dont want you to read any
completely full; to become completely more of this filth.
full He filled the bottle up with fresh
filthy / fli/ adj very dirty Your
filthy
water. 2. US to write in all the empty

spaces on a form Fill up the form and hands are absolutely filthy!
fin /fn/ noun a thin part on the body of a
fin
send it back to this address.

fillet / flt/ noun 1. a piece of good-quali-
fillet
fish which sticks out and helps it to swim
ty meat, with no bones She bought a fillet From the beach they could see a sharks fin
of lamb. 2. a piece of fish from which the in the sea.
final / fan()l/ adj last; coming at the
final
bones have been removed We ordered

fried fillet of sole. verb (fillets, filleting, end This is your final warning if your
filleted) to remove the bones from a fish work doesnt improve you will have to go.
Ask the fishmonger to fillet the fish for you. The competition is in its final stages.
filling / fl/ noun 1. metal put into a hole

filling
noun the last competition in a series be-
in your tooth by a dentist I had to go to tween several teams or competitors I
the dentist because one of my fillings came thought they would win a couple of rounds,
out. 2. food used to put into something but I never imagined they would get to the
such as a sandwich or cake a cake with a final.
finale /f n
li/ noun the last part of a
finale
jam filling |
film /flm/ noun 1. moving pictures

film
piece of music or of a show
finalise / fanlaz/ (finalises, finalis-
finalise
shown at a cinema or on TV Have you

seen this old Laurel and Hardy film? ing, finalised), finalize (finalizes, finaliz-
finalist 244
ing, finalized) verb to finish making plans very small Use a sharp pencil if you want
for something to draw fine lines. I cant read the notice
finalist / fan()lst/ noun a person tak- the print is too fine. adv satisfactorily or
finalist
ing part in the final of a competition well Its working fine. noun money
finally / fan()li/ adv at last; in the end
finally
which you have to pay as a punishment for
The police finally cleared up the mystery. having done something wrong I had to
The little boy finally turned up in Edin- pay a 25 fine for parking in a No Parking
burgh. area. He was found guilty of embezzle-
finance / fanns/ noun money, espe-
finance
ment and got off with a fine. verb (fines,
cially money which belongs to the public fining, fined) to make someone pay money
or to a company How are you going to as a punishment for having done some-
raise the finance for the project? My fi- thing wrong He was fined 25 for park-
nances are in a poor state at the moment. ing on double yellow lines.
fine art /fan
t / noun art such as paint-
fine art
verb (finances, financing, financed) to

provide money for something How are ing or sculpture
you going to finance your course at univer- finely / fan()li/ adv 1. in very small
finely
sity if you dont have a grant? The rede- pieces Cook some finely chopped onions
velopment of the city centre is being fi- in a little butter. 2. in a beautiful and deli-
nanced locally. cate way She bought some finely carved
financial / fa nnl/ adj relating to ivory figures.
financial
money What is our financial position? finesse /f nes/ noun skill in dealing with
finesse
The company has got into financial diffi- awkward situations

culties. fine-tune /fan tju
n/ (fine-tunes, fine-
fine-tune
financial year /fannl j/ noun

financial year
|
tuning, fine-tuned) verb 1. to make chang-
the 12-month period for which accounts es to the way an engine works, in order to
are calculated improve its performance 2. to get some-
financier /fa nnsi/ noun a person
financier
|
thing just right
who deals with money on a large scale finger / f(/ noun 1. one of the parts
finger
finch /fnt/ noun a small seed-eating bird

finch
at the end of your hand, sometimes not in-

find /fand/ (finds, finding, found) verb
find
cluding the thumb He wears a ring on his

1. to see where something hidden or lost is little finger. He pressed the button with
after looking for it I found a 2 coin be- his finger. 2. one of the parts of a glove that
hind the sofa. Did she find the book she cover the fingers I must mend my glove
was looking for? 2. to discover something theres a hole in one of the fingers.
which was not known before [~(that)] No Gloves without fingers are called mittens.
one has found a cure for the common cold 3. a piece of food shaped like a finger a
yet. She found that she was allergic to to- box of chocolate fingers to keep your fin-
matoes. gers crossed to hope that something will
find out phrasal verb to discover infor- happen as you want it to happen Have
mation I found out something very in- you heard the exam results yet? No, but
teresting last night. Where can I find Im keeping my fingers crossed.
out about my familys history? fingernail / f(nel/ noun the hard thin
fingernail
findings / fandz/ plural noun 1.

findings
part covering the end of a finger

facts discovered The two companies fingerprint / f(prnt/ noun a mark
fingerprint
signed an agreement to share their re- left by a finger when you touch something
search findings. 2. actions which someone
fingertip / f(tp/ noun the end of the
fingertip
suggests should be done The findings of

the committee of inquiry will be published finger to have information at your fin-
next week. gertips to know all about something
finicky / fnki/ adj 1. (of a person) too
finicky
fine /fan/ adj (finer, finest) 1. (of the

fine
weather) dry and sunny Well go for a concerned with details 2. (of an object) too
walk tomorrow if the weather stays fine. detailed
finish / fn/ (finishes, finishing, fin-
finish
Lets hope its fine for the village fair next

week. 2. healthy I was ill in bed yester- ished) verb 1. to do something completely
day, but today Im feeling fine. 3. with no Havent you finished your homework
problems How are things at home? yet? Tell me when youve finished read-
Fine! 4. acceptable Its fine to wear casing the paper. You cant go out until
ual clothes for this meeting. 5. very thin or youve finished doing the washing up. 2. to
245 first
come to an end The game will finish at fire escape / far skep/ noun stairs
fire escape
about four oclock. or a ladder which can be used by people to

finish off phrasal verb to do something get out of burning buildings
completely fire extinguisher / far kst(w/
fire extinguisher
finish up phrasal verb 1. to be somewhere noun a large metal container, usually paint-
in the end We got lost and finished up ed red, containing chemicals which can be
miles from our hotel. 2. to eat something sprayed on to a fire to put it out
completely You must finish up all your firefighter / fafat/ noun someone
firefighter
vegetables. whose job is to put out fires and save peo-

finish with phrasal verb to finish using ple from dangerous situations (NOTE: + fire-
something fighting n)
finite / fanat/ adj with an end; with a firefly / fafla/ (plural fireflies) noun a
finite
firefly
limit The worlds coal resources are fi- type of little insect which glows in the dark
nite and are forecast to run out soon. fire hydrant / fa hadrnt/ noun a
fire hydrant
fir /f#
/ noun fir tree a tree with needle-
fir
large pipe in a street which provides water

shaped leaves Fir trees are often used as for fighting fires
Christmas trees. firelight / falat/ noun the light which a
firelight
fire /fa/ noun 1. something which is

fire
fire makes
burning and gives off heat They burnt the fireplace / faples/ noun a hole in the
fireplace
dead leaves on a fire in the garden. to wall of a room where you can light a fire
catch fire to start to burn because of some- for heating
thing else which is burning The office fireproof / fapru
f/ adj which will not
fireproof
block caught fire. Take those papers burn

away they might catch fire. to set fire
fire service / fa s#
vs/ noun the or-
fire service
to something to make something start

burning His cigarette set fire to the car- ganisation that deals with fires and other
pet. 2. something which heats We have an emergency situations
fireside / fasad/ noun the area around
fireside
electric fire in the living room. 3. an emer-

gency in which something such as a build- a fireplace in a room
fire station / fa ste()n/ noun a
fire station
ing burns They lost all their belongings in

the fire. 4. shooting with guns The sol- centre where fire engines are based
firewall / faw
l/ noun a piece of soft-
firewall
diers came under fire. verb (fires, firing,

fired) 1. to shoot a gun [~at/on/upon] The ware that prevents unauthorised people
gunmen fired at the police car. 2. to tell from getting access to a computer system
someone that they must leave their job be- firewood / fawd/ noun wood for
firewood
cause of something wrong they have done making fires

She was fired for being late. on fire firework / faw#
k/ noun a small
firework
burning Call the fire brigade the house tube holding chemicals which will shine
is on fire! brightly or explode when lit
fire away phrasal verb to ask someone firing squad / far skwd/ noun a
firing squad
questions (informal) group of soldiers who kill someone by

fire alarm / far l
m/ noun a bell
fire alarm
|
shooting
or siren which gives a warning that a fire firm /f#
m/ adj 1. solid or fixed Make
firm
has started sure that the ladder is firm before you

fire brigade / fa br(ed/ noun a
fire brigade
| climb up. My back hurts I think I need

public service organisation for preventing a firmer mattress. 2. strong and definite
or putting out fires There is no firm evidence that he stole the
firecracker / fakrk/ noun a small
firecracker
money. She is a firm believer in hard

tube containing chemicals which explode work. noun a business or company
with a loud noise and bright lights when When he retired, the firm presented him
you light it with a watch. The firm I work for was
fire drill / fa drl/ noun a practice to es- taken over last year.
fire drill
firmly / f#
mli/ adv in a firm way
firmly
cape from a burning building

fired-up /fad p/ adj feeling very ex- firmness / f#
mns/ noun 1. the quality
fired-up firmness
cited or eager to do something of being strong or firm 2. determination

fire engine / far endn/ noun the first /f#
st/ noun number 1 in a series
fire engine first
large red truck used by firefighters, togeth- Our house is the first on the left. adj relat-
er with all the equipment they need ing to number 1 in a series That was the
first aid 246

first time I ever saw him. (NOTE: As a fishing / f/ noun the sport or indus-
fishing
number can be written 1st.) adv 1. at the try of catching fish

beginning She came first in the exam. 2. fishing rod / f rd/ noun a long stick
fishing rod
before doing anything else Wash your with a line attached, used for fishing
hands first, and then you can eat. at first fishmonger / fm(/ noun a person
fishmonger
at the beginning At first he didnt like the who sells fish in a shop
work, but later he got used to it. first fishy / fi/ adj 1. like a fish These eggs
fishy
come, first served dealing with things have a fishy taste. 2. strange or unusual
such as requests in the order in which they Theres something fishy about the whole
are received Applications will be dealt business. What was she doing there at 2
with on a first come, first served basis. oclock in the morning? Its very fishy if
first aid /f#
st ed/ noun the help giv-
first aid
you ask me.

en to a person who is hurt before a doctor fissure / f/ noun a crack or split, espe-
fissure
or the emergency services arrive cially in a rock or in the ground

first aid kit /f#
st ed kt/ noun a box fist /fst/ noun a tightly closed hand
first aid kit
fist
with bandages and dressings kept to be fit /ft/ adj (fitter, fittest) 1. healthy and
fit
used in an emergency having a lot of physical energy He isnt

fit enough to go back to work. Youll have
first class
first class noun travel in the most expen-

sive seats on a train or plane First class is to get fit if youre going to run in that race.
always much more comfortable than tour- 2. suitable for something These contain-
ist or business class. ers arent fit for the purpose. fit to do
first-class /f#
st kl
s/ adj 1. very
first-class
something in good enough condition to do
good quality You can get a first-class something That car isnt fit to be driven
meal in that hotel. 2. using the most expen- its brakes dont work and the tyres are
sive seats on a plane or train Can I have worn. He looks very tired is he fit to
a first-class return to Paris, please? drive? noun a sudden sharp occurrence
of illness, of an emotion such as anger, or
first cousin /f#
st kz()n/ noun some-
first cousin
of activity [~of] She had a coughing fit or

one who is the child of your uncle or aunt a fit of coughing. In a fit of anger he
first-degree burn /f#
st d(ri
b#
n/
first-degree burn
|
threw the plate across the kitchen. Shes
adj the least serious type of burn having one of her periodic fits of efficiency.
first-degree murder /f#
st d(ri
verb (fits, fitting, fitted) to be the right
first-degree murder
m#
d/ noun in the USA, the most serious size or shape [~into/~with/] Hes grown so
type of murder tall that his jackets dont fit him any more.
firsthand / f#
sthnd/ adj which comes These shoes dont fit me theyre a size
firsthand
directly from someone who has experi- too small.

fitful / ftf()l/ adj happening several
fitful
enced something We have some firsthand

reports of the coup from our reporter in the times, but only for short periods of time
fitness / ftns / noun 1. being physi-
fitness
capital.
first language /f#
st l(wd / noun
first language
cally fit She does fitness exercises every
1. the first language that you learn to speak morning. Physical fitness is important in
2. a countrys main language the marines. 2. being suitable [~for]
Doubts were expressed about her fitness
firstly / f#
stli/ adv to start with
firstly
for the job.

first name / f#
st nem/ noun some-
first name
fitted / ftd/ adj made to fit into a cer-

fitted
ones personal name, as opposed to their tain space

surname or family name fitting / ft/ adj suitable; right Its fit-
fitting
first-rate /f#
st ret / adj excellent
first-rate
ting that grandmother should sit at the

fiscal / fskl/ adj referring to tax or to head of the table its her birthday party,
fiscal
government revenues after all.

fitting room / ft ru
m/ noun a small
fitting room
fish /f/ noun (plural same or fishes)

fish
an animal which lives in water and swims; room in a shop where you can try on
it has fins and no legs, I sat by the river clothes before you buy them
five /fav/ noun the number 5
five
all day and only caught two little fish.

fiver / fav/ noun a five pound note
fiver
verb (fishes, fishing, fished) to try to catch

a fish We often go fishing in the lake. (informal)
They fished all day but didnt catch any- fix /fks/ (fixes, fixing, fixed) verb 1. to
fix
thing. fasten or to attach one thing to another

247 flare
Fix one end of the cord to the tree and the esting way [~for] She has a distinct flair
other to the fence. 2. to organise a time for for dress design. He has a flair for lan-
something such as a meeting Well try to guages. (NOTE: Do not confuse with flare.)
fix a time for the meeting. 3. to repair some- flak /flk/ noun strong criticism The
flak
thing Someones coming to fix the tele- play has taken a lot of flak from the review-
phone this afternoon. Can you fix the ers. He came in for a lot of flak for miss-
dishwasher? Does anyone know how to ing the penalty.
fix the photocopier? 4. US to prepare a flake /flek/ noun 1. a small, very thin
flake
drink or some food for someone Let me piece of something The paint came off in
fix you something to drink. She fixed little flakes. 2. a small piece of snow which
them some tuna sandwiches. falls from the sky Snow fell in large soft
fixation /fk se()n/ noun a state of
fixation
| flakes all night.

only thinking about one thing flaky / fleki/ adj 1. made up of thin loose
flaky
fixed /fkst/ adj attached firmly The

fixed
pieces 2. not sensible or reliable

sign is fixed to the post with nails. flamboyant /flm bnt/ adj very no-
flamboyant
fixture / fkst/ noun a sports match ticeable and unusual in a way that attracts
fixture
Their next fixture is against Liverpool on attention

Saturday. Season ticket holders are sent flame /flem/ noun a brightly burning part
flame
a list of fixtures at the beginning of the sea- of a fire, or the light that burns on a candle
son. Flames could be seen coming out of the
fizz /fz/ noun a sound like that made by upstairs windows.
fizz
bubbles the fizz of the rocket as it went up flamenco /fl mek/ noun a fast
flamenco
into the air Spanish dance, to guitar music

fizzle / fz()l/ (fizzles, fizzling, fizzled) flamingo /fl m(/ (plural flamingos
fizzle flamingo
verb 1. to make a hissing sound 2. to grad- or flamingoes or same) noun a tropical wa-
ually become less strong or successful after bird with long legs and neck, often with
ter a good start pink feathers
fizzle out phrasal verb to come to nothing flammable / flmb()l/ adj easily set
flammable
fizzy / fzi/ adj full of small balls of gas on fire (NOTE: means the same as inflam-
fizzy
(NOTE: Drinks which are not fizzy are still. A mable)

flan / fln/ noun an open pastry case with
flan
drink which is no longer fizzy is flat.)

fjord / fi
d/, fiord noun a long arm of the a filling of food such as eggs and fruit
fjord
flank /flk / noun a side, especially of an

flank
sea among mountains in Norway

flab /flb/ noun excess flesh on your body animal or of an army He patted the
flab
(informal) horses flank. The right flank of the army

flabbergasted / flb(
std/ adj ex-
flabbergasted
moved forward.
flannel / fln()l/ noun a small square of
flannel
tremely surprised (informal)

flabby / flbi/ (flabbier, flabbiest) adj
flabby
soft material for washing the face or body
He put his flannel under the hot tap and
soft and fat (informal )
wiped his face.
flag /fl(/ noun a piece of brightly col-
flag
flap /flp/ noun a flat part which is at-

flap
oured material with the symbol of a coun-

try or an organisation on it The French tached to an object and has a special type
flag has blue, red and white stripes. The of fastening allowing it to move up and
ship was flying the British flag. The flags down The pilot tested the wing flaps be-
were blowing in the wind. fore taking off. verb (flaps, flapping,
flapped) to move up and down like a birds
flagpole / fl(pl /, flagstaff noun a tall
flagpole
wing Flags were flapping in the breeze.

pole on which large flags are flown The swans stood by the edge of the water,
flagrant / fle(rnt/ adj clear, obvious
flagrant
flapping their wings.

and shocking flare /fle/ noun an object which gives
flare
flagship / fl(p/ noun the most impor-

flagship
a sudden burst of light, especially as a sig-

tant or best thing in a group the flagship nal The lifeboat sent up flares. We knew
of the range the companys flagship store the ship was in distress when we saw the
flail /flel/ (flails, flailing, flailed) verb to
flail
flares.
wave your arms about He lay on his back flare up phrasal verb 1. to suddenly start
flailing with his arms at his opponent. burning The bonfire flared up when he
flair /fle/ noun a natural ability for doing
flair
poured petrol on it. The flames died

something, especially in a skilful or inter- down and then flared up again. 2. to get
flared 248
angry suddenly She flared up when he flattered / fltd/ adj feeling honoured
flattered
suggested it was her fault. flattery / fltri/ noun praising someone

flattery
flared /fled/ adj with a shape that be-

flared
too much
comes wider at one end flaunt /fl
nt/ (flaunts, flaunting, flaunt-
flaunt
flare-up / fler p/ noun a sudden return,

flare-up
ed) verb to show something in a deliberate

sudden beginning (informal) way because you want to attract peoples
flash /fl/ noun 1. a short sudden attention
flash
burst of light Flashes of lightning lit up flautist / fl

tst/ noun a person who
flautist
the sky. 2. a piece of equipment used for plays the flute

making a bright light, allowing you to take flavor / flev/ noun, verb US spelling of
flavor
photographs in the dark People some- flavour

times have red eyes in photos taken with a flavour / flev/ noun a particular taste
flavour
flash. verb (flashes, flashing, flashed) 1. The tomato soup had an unusual flavour.
to light up quickly and suddenly What flavour of ice cream do you want?
[~across/through/into] Lightning flashed verb (flavours, flavouring, flavoured) to
over the hills. 2. to move or to pass by add things such as salt or pepper to food, to
quickly [~across/by/on/past] The champi- give it a special taste soup flavoured with
on flashed past to win in record time. herbs Use rosemary to flavour lamb.
flashback / flbk/ noun a scene in a
flashback
flavoured / flevd/ adj which tastes of

flavoured
film, showing what happened at an earlier something (NOTE: The US spelling is fla-
date vored.)
flashcard / flk
d/ noun a card that
flashcard
flavouring / flevr / noun a substance

flavouring
has words or numbers printed on it, used to added to food to give a particular taste
help someone to learn something (NOTE: The US spelling is flavoring.)
flash flood /fl fld / noun a sudden
flash flood
flaw / fl
/ noun 1. a fault in something
flaw
flood after heavy rain which makes it appear less attractive or

flashlight / fllat/ noun a torch; a
flashlight
causes a problem The expert examined

small electric light that you can carry the Chinese vase, looking for flaws.
flashpoint / flpnt / noun the stage in There must be a flaw in the computer pro-
flashpoint
something such as a process or situation at gram. 2. a mistake in an argument

which violence or some other serious prob- Theres a flaw in your reasoning. There
lem is likely to develop was a fundamental flaw in their calcula-
flashy / fli / (flashier, flashiest) adj tions.
flashy
flawed /fl
d/ adj with mistakes
flawed
showy and bright but of poor quality

flask /fl
sk / noun a small glass bottle for flawless / fl
ls/ adj perfect
flask flawless
liquids flea /fli

/ noun a very small insect that
flea
flat /flt/ adj (flatter, flattest) 1. level, jumps and sucks blood (NOTE: Do not con-
flat
not sloping or curved a house with a flat fuse with flee.)

roof 2. (of a battery) with no electric power flea market / fli
m
kt/ noun an open-
flea market
left The car wouldnt start because the air market for objects which have been
battery was flat. noun a set of rooms on owned by other people
one floor, usually in a building with several fleck /flek/ noun a small spot She tried
fleck
similar sets of rooms They live in the to brush the flecks of powder off her dress.
block of flats next to the underground sta- He had flecks of plaster in his hair.
tion. Their flat is on the ground floor. flecked /flekt/ adj marked with a pattern
flecked
flatly / fltli/ adv in a firm way

flatly
of small stripes or spots

flat-mate / flt met/ noun a person who fled /fled/ past tense and past participle of
flat-mate
fled
shares a flat with you flee

flat-pack / flt pk/ noun furniture flee /fli
/ (flees, fleeing, fled) verb to run
flat-pack
flee
which is sold as a set of pieces packed flat away from something As the fighting
for the customer to put it together spread, the village people fled into the jun-
flatten / flt()n/ (flattens, flattening,
flatten
gle. She tried to flee but her foot was

flattened) verb to make flat caught in the rope. (NOTE: Do not confuse
flatter / flt/ (flatters, flattering, flat- with flea.)
flatter
fleece /fli
s/ noun a coat of wool covering
fleece
tered) verb to praise in order to please them

Just flatter the boss a bit, tell him how a sheep After shearing, the fleeces are
good his golf is, and hell give you a rise. taken away to market.
249 flirt
fleet /fli
t/ noun 1. a group of ships be- flight attendant / flat tendnt/ noun
fleet flight attendant
longing together When the fleet is in port, a person whose job is to look after passen-
the pubs are full of sailors. 2. a collection gers on a plane
of vehicles the airlines fleet of Boeing flimsy / flmzi/ adj likely to break be-
flimsy
747s The company replaces its car fleet cause of being badly made The shelter
or fleet of cars every two years. was a flimsy construction of branches cov-
fleeting / fli
t/ adj lasting for a very
fleeting
ered with grass and leaves.

short time only She only caught a fleeting flinch /flnt/ (flinches, flinching,
flinch
glimpse of the princess. flinched) verb to move back in pain or fear

flesh /fle / noun 1. a soft part of the
flesh
The reporters flinched at the sight of the

body covering the bones 2. a soft part of a corpses. not to flinch from to do some-
fruit a melon with pink flesh (NOTE: no thing, even though it is extremely difficult
plural) in the flesh not on TV or in pho- or painful He didnt flinch from his duty.
tographs, but here and now It was strange fling /fl/ (flings, flinging, flung) verb to
fling
to see the TV newsreader in the flesh. throw something carelessly and with a lot
fleshy / flei/ adj fat or soft and thick
fleshy
of force He flung the empty bottle into the

flew / flu
/ past tense of fly (NOTE: Do not sea.
flew
confuse with flu, flue.) flint /flnt/ noun a very hard type of rock
flint
flex /fleks/ noun a plastic covered wire which was used to make tools in the past
flex
that bends easily, used for carrying elec- Flints are found in chalky soil. Prehistor-
tricity He tripped over a flex. We ic people used flints to make knives.
bought a roll of flex to rewire the office. flip /flp / (flips, flipping, flipped) verb 1.
flip
verb (flexes, flexing, flexed) to bend some- to hit something such as a control on a ma-
thing, or be bent chine without using a lot of force She
flexibility /fleks blti / noun the
flexibility
| flipped a switch and the lights went off. 2.

ability to change when your situation to get very angry (informal) He flipped
changes when they told him how much the bill came
flexible / fleksb()l/ adj 1. easy to bend to.
flexible
Soft rubber soles are very flexible. 2. able flipchart / flpt

t/ noun a stand with
flipchart
to change easily My timetable is very large sheets of paper fixed together at the
flexible we can meet whenever you want. top, used for showing pictures or writing
flick /flk / noun a little sharp blow or when speaking to a group of people
flick
movement (informal) He shook off the flippant / flpnt/ adj not taking serious-
flippant
wasp with a flick of his hand. verb (flicks, ly things which should be taken seriously
flicking, flicked) to hit or move something flipper / flp/ noun 1. a long flat piece of
flipper
gently, with a short quick movement The rubber which you can attach to your foot to
horse flicked its tail to get rid of the flies. help you swim faster You need flippers
flick through phrasal verb to look quick- and a snorkel to go scuba diving. 2. the flat
ly at the pages of a newspaper or book arm or leg of a sea animal, used for swim-
flicker / flk/ noun 1. a movement of
flicker
ming The seal walked across the rock on

something such as a light which seems to its flippers.
shake or to burn for only a short time flip side / flp sad/ noun the side of a
flip side
They saw the flicker of a light in the forest. record which has the less popular piece of
2. a small amount There is still a flicker music on it
of hope that someone may still be alive un- flirt /fl#
t/ noun a man or woman who of-
flirt
der the ruins. verb (flickers, flickering, ten behaves in a way that shows sexual in-
flickered) to shake; to burn unsteadily terest towards another person His new
The candles flickered in the draught. We secretary is a bit of a flirt. verb (flirts,
could see the flickering lights of the old flirting, flirted) to behave in a way that
harbour in the distance. shows sexual interest towards another per-
flier / fla/, flyer noun another spelling of
flier
son He flirted a lot at the office party.

flyer flirt with phrasal verb 1. to behave in a
flies /flaz/ 3rd person singular present
flies
way that shows sexual interest towards

of fly another person She flirted with all the
flight /flat/ noun a journey in a plane
flight
boys at the party. 2. to consider a course

Go to gate 25 for flight AB198. All of action in a way that is not serious
flights to Paris have been cancelled. She Weve been flirting with the idea of going
sat next to me on a flight to Montreal. to live in the States. 3. to be close to
flirtation 250
something risky Shes flirting with dan- air They switched on the floodlights for
ger in standing so close to the fireworks. the evening match.
flirtation /fl#
te()n/ noun a love af- floodlit / fldlt/ adj lit by floodlights
flirtation floodlit
fair which is not serious and lasts for only floor /fl
/ noun 1. the part of a room on
floor
a short time which you walk He put the books in a

flit /flt / (flits, flitting, flitted) verb to move pile on the floor. If there are no empty
flit
quickly and quietly A thought flitted chairs left, youll have to sit on the floor. 2.
through my mind. Bats were flitting all the rooms on one level in a building
around the church tower. The bathroom is on the ground floor. His
float /flt/ (floats, floating, floated)
float
office is on the fifth floor. There is a good
verb 1. to lie on the top of a liquid [~on/in]
view of the town from the top floor.
floorboard / fl
b
d/ noun a long flat
floorboard
Dead fish were floating in the river. 2. to

put something on the top of a liquid [~on] piece of wood used for making wooden
He floated a paper boat on the lake. 3. to floors
flooring / fl
r/ noun material used to
flooring
stay in the air without any effort [~in] lit-

tle white clouds floating in the sky make a floor
flop /flp/ noun something that is not suc-
flop
flock / flk/ noun a group of similar ani-

flock
mals together a flock of birds A flock of cessful His new play was a complete flop
sheep were grazing on the hillside. (NOTE: and closed after only ten performances.
flock is usually used with sheep, goats, and The film was a big hit in New York but it
birds such as hens or geese. For cattle, the was a flop in London. verb (flops, flop-
word to use is herd.) verb (flocks, flock- ping, flopped) 1. to fall or sit down sud-
ing, flocked) to move in large numbers denly, with your body relaxed She got
Tourists flocked to see the changing of the back from the sales and flopped down on
guard. Holidaymakers have been flock- the sofa. 2. to be unsuccessful The play
ing to the resorts on the south coast. was a big hit on Broadway but it flopped in
London.
flog /fl(/ (flogs, flogging, flogged) verb
flog
floppy / flpi/ (floppier, floppiest) adj

floppy
1. to sell (informal ) I flogged my car to my

brother. Theyve been trying to flog the which hangs down loosely a floppy red
boat for months. 2. to beat hard, usually hat a white rabbit with long floppy ears
floppy disk /flpi dsk/ noun a
floppy disk
with a whip When he was a little boy he

was often flogged at school. small disk which can be put into a compu-
flogging / fl(/ noun the act of beating
flogging
ter and removed
flora / fl
r/ (plural floras or florae) noun
flora
someone as a punishment
the wild plants that grow in a particular ar-
flood /fld/ noun 1. a large amount of
flood
ea. Compare fauna

water over an area of land which is usually
floral / fl
rl/ adj referring to flowers
floral
dry The floods were caused by heavy

florist / flrst/ noun a person who sells
florist
rain. 2. a large amount of something, e.g.

tears or letters [~of] The TV station re- flowers
flotation /fl te()n/ noun an act of
flotation
ceived a flood of complaints after the ad |
was shown. She was in floods of tears selling shares in a company on the stock
when they told her that she had to leave her exchange for the first time
house. verb (floods, flooding, flooded) flour /fla/ noun wheat grain crushed
flour
1. to cover something with water They to powder, used for making food such as
are going to build a dam and flood the val- bread or cakes
ley. Fields were flooded after the river flourish / flr/ (flourishes, flourish-
flourish
burst its banks. He forgot to turn the tap ing, flourished) verb 1. to grow well; to be
off and flooded the bathroom. 2. to become successful Palms flourish in hot coun-
covered with water [~in/out/down etc/~in- tries. 2. to wave something in the air She
to/out of/across etc/] She left the tap on came in with a big smile, flourishing a
and the bathroom flooded. 3. to come in cheque.
large numbers [~with] The office was flout /flat/ (flouts, flouting, flouted)
flout
flooded with complaints. verb to pay no attention to something such

flooding / fld/ noun a situation in
flooding
as a rule
which an area is covered with water flow /fl/ verb (flows, flowing,
flow
floodlight / fldlat/ noun a strong elec-

floodlight
flowed) to move along smoothly [~into//]

tric light used to light an area in the open Traffic on the motorway is flowing smooth-
251 fly
ly. The river flows into the sea. noun the flunk /flk/ (flunks, flunking, flunked)
flunk
movement of things such as liquid or air, or verb US to fail an examination or to make

of people [~of] She tried to stop the flow someone fail an examination (informal)
of blood with a tight bandage. There was fluorescent /fl res()nt/ adj 1. giving
fluorescent
a steady flow of visitors to the exhibition. off light when electric current is applied
(NOTE: Do not confuse with floe.) We have fluorescent lighting in the office.
flow chart / fl t
t/, flow diagram
flow chart
2. which seems to glow Shes bought a

noun a drawing which shows all the differ- fluorescent pink tracksuit.
ent operations in a process fluorescent light /fl res()nt lat/
fluorescent light
flower / fla/ noun the colourful part

flower
noun a very bright light consisting of a long

of a plant, which attracts insects and pro- glass tube containing fluorescent gas
duces fruit or seeds a plant with bright fluoride / flrad/ noun a chemical sub-
fluoride
yellow flowers verb (flowers, flowering, stance which is sometimes added to water
flowered) to produce flowers a plant or to toothpaste because it can protect your
which flowers in early summer The cher- teeth
ry trees flowered very late this year. in flurry / flri/ (plural flurries) noun 1. hur-
flurry
flower covered with flowers Go to Japan ried excitement In his flurry to leave he
when the cherry trees are in flower. forgot to take his keys. 2. a sudden small
flowerbed / flabed/ noun a piece of
flowerbed
fall of snow when there is a strong wind

ground where flowers grow blowing There will be snow flurries dur-
flowery / flari/ adj 1. decorated with a
flowery
ing the morning.

pattern of flowers a flowery dress She flush /fl/ noun 1. a red colour on the
flush
chose some very flowery wallpaper. 2. us- face a flush of anger 2. a quick flow of
ing literary or emotional language He water 3. (at cards) a hand in which all the
wrote the most flowery thank-you letter. cards are of the same suit She is holding
(NOTE: Do not confuse with floury.) a flush. verb (flushes, flushing, flushed)
flown /fln/ past participle of fly
flown
1. to go red in the face She flushed with

flu /flu
/ noun a common illness like a pleasure when she heard the results. 2. to
flu
bad cold, often with a high temperature flush the toilet or a lavatory to wash it out
(NOTE: Do not confuse with flew, flue. Note by moving a handle which makes water
also that the full word is influenza.) rush through She told the children not to
fluctuate / flktuet/ (fluctuates, fluc- forget to flush the toilet. adj level [~with]
fluctuate
tuating, fluctuated) verb to rise and fall The door must be flush with the wall.
(NOTE: + fluctuation n) flushed /flt/ adj red in the face
flushed
fluent / flu
nt/ adj able to speak easily; flustered / flstd/ adj confused
fluent flustered
spoken easily flute /flu

t/ noun a tall narrow wine glass
flute
fluff /flf/ noun a soft mass of fibres or

fluff
on a stem, used for serving champagne

hair She pulled the sofa away from the flutter / flt/ (flutters, fluttering, flut-
flutter
wall and saw all the fluff which had col- tered) verb 1. to move wings quickly but
lected under it. verb (fluffs, fluffing, with not a lot of force The little bird fell
fluffed) to do something badly (informal) out of its nest and fluttered to the ground.
He fluffed his speech, and everyone 2. to move softly and quickly Dead
laughed. leaves fluttered from the trees. The flags
fluffy / flfi/ adj like fluff; covered with
fluffy
fluttered in the breeze. (NOTE: + flutter n)

fluff flux / flks/ noun a situation which is not
flux
fluid / flu
d/ noun a liquid You need to
fluid
settled The company seems to be in a

drink plenty of fluids in hot weather. state of flux.
fluid ounce /flu
d ans/ noun 1. a US fly /fla/ noun (plural flies) a small insect
fluid ounce
fly
unit of liquid measurement equal to with wings which eats food and spreads
⅟₁₆ of a US pint or diseases Cover the food to protect it from
29.57 ml 2. a UK unit of liquid measure- flies. verb (flies, flying, flew, flown) 1. to
ment equal to ⅟₂₀ move through the air using wings When
of an imperial pint or 28.41 ml the cat came into the garden, the birds flew
fluke /flu
k/ noun a chance; lucky event
fluke
away. Some birds fly to Africa for the

It was a pure fluke that I happened to be winter. 2. to travel in a plane Im flying to
there when the phone rang. China next week. He flies across the At-
flung /fl/ past tense and past participle lantic twice a month. 3. to be quick
flung
of fling [~around/about/~at/~by/~in-
flyer 252
to/along/through/out/~past/~past/over/up something [~on] There were cameras fo-
etc//] I must fly if I want to get home by 6 cussed on all the exits.
oclock. time flies time passes quickly focused / fkst/ adj concentrating on
focused
His daughter is already two how time one thing and giving it all your attention
flies! focus group / fks (ru
p/ noun a
focus group
flyer / fla/ noun 1. a person who flies an

flyer
representative group of people who are

aircraft He was one of the first flyers to questioned about their opinions as part of
cross the Atlantic. 2. a paper advertising political or market research
something They sent us a flyer about fodder / fd/ noun plants such as grass
fodder
their home delivery service. which are grown and given to animals as
flying / fla/ adj flying in the air
flying
food
flying ants noun the act of travelling in a foe /f/ noun an enemy or opponent
foe
plane He has a fear of flying. (formal )

flying saucer /fla s
s/ noun a fly-
flying saucer
foetus / fi
ts / noun a baby human or an-
foetus
ing object which people claim to see and imal which has not been born but is devel-
which they think comes from another plan- oping from an embryo inside the womb
et (NOTE: The US spelling is fetus.)
flying start /fla st
t/ noun a good
flying start
fog /f(/ noun a thick mist made up of

fog
beginning to something such as a race, many tiny drops of water

game or piece of work
foible / fb()l/ noun a particular way of
foible
flying visit /fla vzt/ noun a very

flying visit
behaving which someone has and which

short visit may seem unusual or annoying to other
fly-on-the-wall /fla n w
l/ adj
fly-on-the-wall
people
filmed in a way that shows something as it
foil /fl/ noun 1. a thin metal sheet 2. a
foil
really is or as it actually happens

person who is quite different from another
flyover / flav/ noun a road which
flyover
and so makes the others qualities stand out

passes over another Laurel and Hardy were perfect foils for
foal /fl/ noun a young horse The mare
foal
each other. verb (foils, foiling, foiled) to

gently nudged her foal. stop a plan from being put into effect The
foam / fm/ noun a mass of small bub-
foam
bank robbery was foiled by the police.

bles This soap makes a large amount of foist /fst/ (foists, foisting, foisted) verb
foist
foam. to foist something on someone to force

fob off verb to persuade someone to ac- someone to accept something which they
cept something which they do not really do not want
want [~with] They fobbed her off with an fold /fld/ noun a piece of something
fold
out-of-date model. such as cloth or skin which hangs down

focal point / fk()l pnt/ noun a
focal point
loosely She wanted the surgeon to re-

point which everything is focused on move the folds of skin under her chin.
focus / fks/ noun (plural focuses or
focus
verb (folds, folding, folded) to bend some-

foci) 1. a point where rays of light from an thing such as a piece of paper so that one
object meet The focus of the beam is a part is on top of the other Fold the piece
point 20 metres from the spotlight. 2. (of a of paper in half. He folded the newspaper
photograph) a point where the details of the and put it into his briefcase.
photograph are clear and sharp Adjust the fold up phrasal verb to bend something
focus so as to get a clear picture. in focus over to make it take up a smaller area
clear out of focus not clear 3. the centre than before
of attention The director brought the star -fold /fld/ suffix times twofold
-fold
actress to the front of the stage, so that the

folder / fld/ noun an envelope made
folder
focus of the audiences attention would be

on her. verb (focuses or focusses, fo- of thin card or plastic and used for holding
cusing or focussing, focused or fo-
papers
foliage / flid/ noun leaves on a tree
foliage
cussed) 1. to change something so as to be

able to see clearly He focused his tele- or plant
folk /fk/ noun people (NOTE: Folk
folk
scope on a ship on the horizon. 2. to con-

centrate on something [~on] The paper is takes a plural verb. The plural form folks is
focusing on the problems of the TV stars also used.)
folklore / fkl
/ noun traditional sto-
folklore
marriage. The editorial focuses on the

economic situation. 3. to point a camera at ries and beliefs
253 foot
folk music / fk mju
zk/ noun the font /fnt/, fount noun 1. a bowl holding
folk music font
traditional music of a people holy water for the ceremony of baptism in

follow / fl/ (follows, following, fol-
follow
a church The church has an 11th century
lowed) verb 1. to come after or behind font. 2. (in printing) a set of characters all of
someone or something What letter fol- the same size and appearance
food /fu
d/ noun things which you eat
food
lows B in the alphabet? The dog followed

me all the way home. 2. to walk or drive be- This hotel is famous for its food. Do
hind someone, e.g. in order to see where you like German food? to give someone
they are going [~with/] I had the impres- food for thought to make someone think
sion I was being followed. 3. to do what carefully
food chain / fu
d ten/ noun a series of
food chain
someone tells you to do She followed the

instructions on the tin of paint. He made living things which pass energy from one
the cake following a recipe in the newspa- to another as each is eaten by the next. For
per. 4. to be certain because of something example, grass is eaten by small animals,
[~(that)] Just because I lent you money which are then eaten by larger animals, and
yesterday, it doesnt follow that I will lend so on.
you some every time you ask. If the owner food poisoning / fu
d pz()n/
food poisoning
of the shop is arrested by the police, it fol- noun an illness caused by eating food
lows that his business is likely to close. 5. which is contaminated with bacteria
to understand I dont quite follow you food processor / fu
d prses/ noun
food processor
you want me to drive you all the way to Ed- a machine used in preparing food, e.g. for
inburgh? 6. to go along a certain route cutting or mixing it
Follow the path and turn left at the cross- fool /fu
l/ noun a stupid person You fool!
fool
roads. to follow a career in medicine to Why didnt you put the brakes on? I was
train as a doctor as follows as in the a fool to think that I could make her change
information given next follow suit to do her mind. verb (fools, fooling, fooled) to
what someone else does She jumped into trick someone They fooled the old lady
the pool and everyone else followed suit. into letting them into her house. You
follow up phrasal verb to find out more cant fool me I know youre not really ill.
about something or to research some- to make a fool of yourself to behave in a
thing further The police followed up silly way you could have fooled me I
their enquiries by interviewing the wom- find it hard to believe She says she did
ans husband. Thats an interesting her best well, you could have fooled me!
idea it might be worth following it up. fool about, fool around phrasal verb to
follower / fl/ noun a supporter
follower
act in a silly way Stop fooling around

following / fl/ adj which comes
following
with that knife youre going to have an
next They arrived on Friday and the fol- accident.
foolhardy / fu
lh
di/ adj brave, but tak-
foolhardy
lowing day she became ill. Look at the

following picture. prep after Following ing unnecessary risks
his death, his son sold the family house. foolish / fu
l/ adj showing a lack of in-
foolish
follow-up / fl p/ adj which follows telligence or good judgment That was a
follow-up
something sent earlier rather foolish thing to do. I felt rather

foolish.
folly / fli/ (plural follies) noun 1. silly be-
folly
foolproof / fu
lpru
f / adj extremely sim-
foolproof
haviour It was utter folly to go out in a

small boat in a storm like that. 2. a strange ple, so that anyone could use it safely and
building, built to create an effect and with successfully
foot /ft/ (plural feet) noun 1. the part at
foot
no practical use He built a gothic folly on

the hill overlooking his house. the end of your leg on which you stand
fond /fnd/ adj liking someone or
fond
She has very small feet. Watch out, you
something Im fond of my sisters chil- trod on my foot! 2. the bottom part; the end
There is a door at the foot of the stairs.
dren. Michaels very fond of playing golf.
There are traffic lights at the foot of the
fondle / fnd()l/ (fondles, fondling,
fondle
hill. Sign the document at the foot of the

fondled) verb to stroke someone or some- page. 3. a unit of measurement equal to
thing in a loving way about 30 centimetres The table is four
fondly / fndli/ adv in a way which
fondly
foot or four feet long. Shes almost six

shows you are fond of someone or some- foot tall. Im five foot seven (5 7"). inch
thing (NOTE: As a measurement foot often has no
footage 254
plural form: six foot tall; three foot wide. With lowed the footprints in the snow to the
numbers foot is also often written with the cave.
symbol a 6 ladder; he is 5 6: say hes five footstep / ftstep/ noun a sound made
footstep
foot six.) on foot walking They com- by a foot touching the ground We heard
pleted the rest of the journey on foot. to soft footsteps along the corridor.
find your feet to become confident footstool / ftstu
l/ noun a small piece
footstool
(informal) Shes been with us three of furniture in the shape of a box on which
months now and has really found her feet. you can rest your feet
to put your foot in it to say something
footwear / ftwe/ noun articles of
footwear
embarrassing He really put his foot in it

when he said that the mayors wife was fat. clothing worn on your feet, such as boots
to put your feet up to rest
or shoes
footwork / ftw#
k/ noun a way of using
footwork
footage / ftd/ noun a piece of film

footage
showing an event (NOTE: no plural) your feet, especially in sports

for / f, f
/ prep 1. showing the purpose
for
football / ftb
l/ noun 1. a game
football
played between two teams of eleven play- or use of something This plastic bag is
ers with a round ball which can be kicked for the apples. Whats that key for? 2.
or headed, but not carried They went to a showing the occasion on which or the rea-
football match. The children were play- son why something is given What did you
ing football in the street. Lets have a get for your birthday? What did you win
game of football. He spends all his time for coming first? 3. showing the person
watching football on TV. Hes got a new who receives something There was no
pair of football boots. 2. a ball used for mail for you this morning. Im making a
kicking; the ball used in the various games cup of tea for my mother. 4. showing how
of football They were kicking a football long something takes He has gone to
around in the street. France for two days. Weve been waiting
footballer / ftb
l/ noun a person who
footballer
here for hours. 5. showing distance You
plays football can see for miles from the top of the hill.
The motorway goes for kilometres without
footbridge / ftbrd/ noun a small
footbridge
any service stations. 6. showing where

bridge for people to walk across, and not someone or something is going Is this the
for vehicles
plane for Edinburgh? When is the next
foothills / fthlz/ plural noun the lower
foothills
bus for Oxford Circus? 7. in the place of

slopes of a group of mountains someone Can you write this letter for
foothold / fthld/ noun 1. a place
foothold
me?
where you can put your foot when climb- forage / frd/ (forages, foraging, for-
forage
ing He hung in the air at the end of a aged) verb to search for food or supplies
rope, trying to get a foothold. 2. a small po- They spent the day foraging for food in the
sition on which you can build They jungle.
gained a foothold in the Spanish market.
foray / fre/ noun a sudden attack
foray
footing / ft/ noun a safe place for your

footing
forbade /f bd/ past tense of forbid

forbade
feet She lost her footing on the cliff path, |
forbid /f bd/ (forbids, forbidding, for-

forbid
and fell fifty feet into the sea. to be on an |
equal footing with someone to be at the bade, forbidden) verb to tell someone that
same stage or level as someone All appli- they are not allowed to do something The
cants are on an equal footing. to put staff are forbidden to use the front en-
things on a firm footing to make things trance.
solid We want to make sure the business forbidden /f bd()n/ adj which is not
forbidden
is on a firm footing. allowed Fathers new rock garden is for-

footlights / ftlats/ plural noun a row of bidden territory to the children.
footlights
lights along the front of the stage in a thea- forbidding /f bd/ adj which looks
forbidding
tre frightening or dangerous

footnote / ftnt/ noun an explanation
footnote
force /f
s/ noun 1. strength or power
force
at the bottom of a page, referring to some- The force of the wind blew tiles off the roof.
thing on the page The police had to use force to restrain the
footpath / ftp
/ noun a path for peo-
footpath
crowd. 2. an organised group of people

ple to walk on, but not to ride on He served in the police force for twenty
footprint / ftprnt/ noun a mark left by
footprint
years. verb (forces, forcing, forced) to

someones foot on the ground They fol- make someone do something He was
255 foresight
forced to stop smoking. You cant force forehead / f
hed/ noun the part of the
forehead
me to go if I dont want to. front of the head above the eyes and below
forced /f
st/ adj 1. done because some- the line of the hair
forced
foreign / frn/ adj not from your own

foreign
one made you do it His lawyer said that

his confession was forced. 2. artificial; not country There are lots of foreign medical
real He gave a rather forced laugh. students at our college.
forceful / f
sf()l/ adj strong or power- foreign body /frn bdi/ noun some-
forceful foreign body
ful thing which should not be there, such as a

forceps / f
seps/ plural noun a medical
forceps
piece of dust in your eye
foreigner / frn/ noun a person who
foreigner
tool consisting of two long flat pieces

joined together, used by doctors in medical does not come from the same country as
operations He needed forceps to deliver you
the baby. foreign exchange /frn ks
foreign exchange
forcible / f
sb()l/ adj done by or with
forcible
tend/ noun the process or practice of
force changing the money of one country for
forearm / f
r
m/ noun the part of the
forearm
money of another
Foreign Secretary /frn
Foreign Secretary
arm between the hand and the elbow The

dog put his paw on her forearm. sekrt()ri / noun the British government
forebears / f
bez/ plural noun all the
forebears
minister in charge of the Foreign Office
people in your family who have lived be- (NOTE: In other countries this is the Foreign
fore you (formal ) His forebears came Minister, and in the USA the Secretary of
from Russia in the 18th century. State.)
foreleg / f
le(/ noun the front leg of an
foreleg
foreboding /f
bd/ noun a feeling
foreboding
animal
|
that something bad will happen

foreman / f
mn/ (plural foremen) noun
foreman
forecast / f
k
st/ noun what you think
forecast
(in a factory) a skilled worker in charge of

will happen in the future His forecast of several other workers The foreman came
sales turned out to be completely accurate. to make a complaint to the manager.
verb (forecasts, forecasting, forecast)
foremost / f
mst/ adj, adv first; most
foremost
to say what will happen in the future

They are forecasting storms for the south important first and foremost first of all,
coast. They forecast a rise in the number the most important thing is First and
of tourists. foremost we need to get the costs under
control.
forecaster / f
k
st/ noun a person
forecaster
forensic /f rensk/ adj referring to the

forensic
who says what will happen in the future, |
especially what sort of weather there will scientific solving of crimes

forensics /f rensks/ noun scientific
forensics
be |
methods used for solving crimes

foreclose /f
klz/ (forecloses, fore-
foreclose
forerunner / f
rn/ noun a person or
| forerunner
closing, foreclosed) verb to take away

property because the owner cannot pay thing coming earlier than another more im-
back money which he has borrowed to buy portant or advanced one
foresee /f
si
/ (foresees, foreseeing,
foresee
it (formal) |
forecourt / f
k
t/ noun an open area in
forecourt
foresaw, foreseen) verb to have a strong
front of a building feeling that something will happen in the
future although you cannot be sure that it
forefinger / f
f(/ noun the index fin-
forefinger
will
ger; the first finger next to the thumb
foreseeable /f
si
b()l/ adj which
foreseeable
forefoot / f
ft/ noun the front foot of
forefoot |
can be foreseen for the foreseeable fu-

an animal ture as far in the future as you can imagine
foregone conclusion /f
(n kn
foregone conclusion
|
I will certainly stay here for the foresee-
klu
()n/ noun something which will able future.
definitely happen as a result of something foreshadow /f
d/ (foreshadows,
foreshadow
else foreshadowing, foreshadowed) verb to be

foreground / f
(rand/ noun a part of
foreground
a warning or sign of something that may

a picture which seems nearest the front happen
forehand / f
hnd/ adj played with the foresight / f
sat/ noun the ability to
forehand foresight
palm of the hand facing forwards, in sports see what will probably happen in the fu-
such as tennis ture; the ability to plan for emergencies
foreskin 256
foreskin / f
skn/ noun the fold of skin ment. Dont forget were having lunch to-
foreskin
covering the tip of the penis gether tomorrow. 2. to leave something be-
forest / frst/ noun a large area cov- hind When he left the office he forgot his
forest
ered with trees The country is covered car keys.

forgetful /f (etf()l/ adj often unable to
forgetful
with thick forests. In dry weather theres |
a danger of forest fires. In winter bears remember

come out of the forest to search for food. forgive /f (v/ (forgives, forgiving,
forgive
forestall /f
st
l/ (forestalls, forestall-
forestall
| forgave, forgiven) verb to stop being angry

ing, forestalled) verb to think about what with someone Dont worry about it I
someone may do and try to stop them forgive you! Will she ever forgive me for
forestry / frstri/ noun the work of forgetting her birthday?
forestry
looking after a forest forgiveness /f (vns/ noun the act of

forgiveness
foretell /f
tel / (foretells, foretelling, forgiving
foretell
foretold) verb to say what will happen in forgiving /f (v/ adj 1. having a ten-
forgiving
the future (literary) dency to forgive 2. allowing for some im-

forethought / f
t/ noun the practice perfection

forethought
of planning for the future; thinking ahead forgo /f

(/ (forgoes, forgoing, for-
forgo
forever / f
r ev/, for ever /fr ev/ adv
forever
| went, forgone), forego verb to do without

1. always in the future I will love you for- something
ever. 2. a very long time It took us forever forgot /f (t/ past tense of forget
forgot
to get to the hotel. forgotten /f (t()n/ past participle of

forgotten
forewarn /f
w
n / (forewarns, fore-
|
forewarn
|
forget
warning, forewarned) verb to warn about fork /f
k/ noun an object with a handle
fork
something that is going to happen at one end and several sharp points at the
foreword / f
w#
d/ noun a short section
foreword
other, used for picking up food and putting

at the beginning of a book, usually written it in your mouth Dont try to eat Chinese
by a person who is not the author, introduc- food with a knife and fork. Its polite to
ing the book and its author to the reader use a fork to eat cake dont use your fin-
forfeit / f
ft / noun a thing taken away as
forfeit
gers. verb (forks, forking, forked) to be-

a punishment You have to pay a forfeit if come two parts The railway line forks at
you answer wrongly. verb (forfeits, for- Crewe and one branch goes to the coast.
feiting, forfeited) to lose something, espe- forked /f
kt/ adj divided, particularly
forked
cially as a punishment She forfeited her into two branches

deposit.
forlorn /f l
n/ adj left alone and feeling
forlorn
forgave /f (ev/ past tense of forgive

forgave |
|
sad She stood all forlorn on the platform,
forge /f
d/ (forges, forging, forged)
forge
watching the train leave.

verb to copy something illegally He form /f
m/ noun 1. an official paper
form
forged the signature on the cheque. The with spaces, in which you are asked to
new design of the banknotes makes them write information such as your name and
difficult to forge. address Could you please fill in this form
forge ahead phrasal verb to go forward
forge ahead
with your details? 2. a state or condition

or make progress quickly The wind blew Their team wasnt in top form and lost. in
harder and the yacht forged ahead. We good form in a good mood; well Shes in
are forging ahead with our new project. good form today. off form, out of form
forger / f
d/ noun a person who cop-
forger
not performing very well Hes off form at

ies something illegally the moment he needs more practice. 3. a
forgery / f
dri/ (plural forgeries) class, usually in a secondary school Shes
forgery
noun 1. the action of making an illegal in the third form. verb (forms, forming,
copy He was sent to prison for forgery. 2. formed) 1. to sit or stand with others so as
an illegal copy The signature proved to to make a particular shape The children
be a forgery. formed a circle. Form a queue here,
forget /f (et/ (forgets, forgetting,
forget
|
please. 2. formed of made of The team
forgot, forgotten) verb 1. not to remember is formed of ex-students.
formal / f
m()l/ adj 1. done accord-
formal
[/~how/why/where/when etc/~about/~(that)]
Hes forgotten the name of the restau- ing to certain rules The formal opening
rant. Ive forgotten how to play chess. ceremony was performed by the mayor. 2.
She forgot all about her doctors appoint- serious in style; suitable for special or offi-
257 forty
cial occasions Good afternoon is a for- forthcoming /f
km/ adj 1. soon to
forthcoming
mal way of saying Hello in the afternoon. come His forthcoming novel will be
formality /f
mlti/ (plural formali- about London. No government grant is
formality
ties) noun a thing which has to be done to forthcoming. 2. talkative; full of informa-
obey the law or because it is the custom tion She wasnt very forthcoming about
formally / f
mli/ adv according to
formally
her plans.
forthright / f
rat/ adj direct and blunt
forthright
rules; done or spoken in a serious way

forthwith /f
w/ adv immediately
forthwith
format / f
mt/ noun a shape, size or
format
|
fortieth / f
t / adj relating to the
fortieth
style that something is made in What for-

mat do you want your invitations printed number 40 in a series noun number 40 in
in? verb (formats, formatting, format- a series
fortifications /f
tf ke()nz/ plural
fortifications
ted) to arrange the way text appears in a |
computer file Style sheets are used to for- noun walls or towers built to defend a city
mat documents. Archaeologists have uncovered remains
formation /f
me()n/ noun the act of the Roman fortifications.
formation
fortify / f
tfa/ (fortifies, fortifying, for-
fortify
of forming something The formation of

ice occurs at temperatures below zero. tified) verb 1. to make a place strong, so
formative / f
mtv / adj important for
formative
that it can be defended against attack 2.
the development of someone or something to fortify yourself with something to eat
or drink something to make you able to
former / f
m/ adj referring to a per-
former
continue
sons or a things job or position at an ear-
fortitude / f
ttju
d/ noun bravery and
fortitude
lier time a former army officer The

former champion came last in the race. determination (formal )
fortnight / f
tnat/ noun two weeks
fortnight
formerly / f
mli/ adv at an earlier time
formerly
He was formerly head of our department.

(NOTE: not used in US English)
fortnightly / f
tnatli/ adj, adv once
fortnightly
formidable / f
mdb()l/ adj causing
formidable
every two weeks a fortnightly visit to the

admiration but also a little fear doctor
formula / f
mjl/ (plural formulae)
formula
fortress / f
trs/ noun a strong castle
fortress
noun 1. a statement of a scientific fact, of-

fortuitous /f
tju
ts/ adj happening
fortuitous
ten shown by means of symbols The |
chemical formula of carbon dioxide is by chance and having a good result

fortunate / f
tnt/ adj having bet-
fortunate
CO2. The drug is made to a secret formu-

la. 2. a set of plans for achieving something ter things happen to you than happen to
[~for] other people You are very fortunate to
formulaic /f
mj lek / adj 1. ex-
formulaic
have such a lovely family.
fortunately / f
tntli/ adv by good
| fortunately
pressed as, or having the nature of, a for-

mula 2. created according to existing mod- luck Fortunately, he had remembered to
els or ideas, and therefore not very original take an umbrella. He was late getting to
or exciting the airport, but fortunately the flight had
been delayed.
formulate / f
mjlet/ (formulates,
formulate
fortune / f
tn/ noun 1. a large
fortune
formulating, formulated) verb 1. to express

an idea clearly He had some difficulty in amount of money He won a fortune on
formulating his ideas. 2. to develop care- the lottery. She made a fortune on the
fully something such as a plan or way of stock market. She left her fortune to her
doing something three children. 2. what will happen in the
future She claims to be able to tell your
forsake /f sek/ (forsakes, forsaking,
forsake
|
fortune using cards. to cost a fortune to
forsook, forsaken) verb to leave someone cost a lot of money That shop has shoes
or something behind. god-forsaken that cost a fortune. to tell someones for-
fort /f
t/ noun a strong army building
fort
tune to say what will happen to someone in

which can be defended against enemy at- the future She tells fortunes from cards.
tacks The soldiers rode out of the fort. fortune-teller / f
tn tel/ noun a
fortune-teller
He was posted to a fort in the desert. person who says what will happen in the
forte / f
te/ noun a particular ability, or
forte
future, e.g. by looking at cards or lines on

the subject you are best in History is not your hand
my forte. forty / f
ti / noun the number 40 for-
forty
forth /f
/ adv forwards
forth
ties the numbers between 40 and 49

.45 258
.45 /f
ti fav/ noun a gun with a .45 cal- foul on the goalkeeper. Look at the action
.45
ibre. replay to see if it really was a foul. (NOTE:

forum / f
rm/ noun an occasion Do not confuse with fowl.) verb (fouls,
forum
when matters of general interest can be dis- fouling, fouled) to do something to another
cussed player which is against the rules of a game
forward / f
wd/ adj confident She
forward
He was fouled inside the penalty box so
was always very forward as a child. adv the ref gave a penalty.
foul play /fal ple/ noun murder
foul play
1. in the direction that someone or some-

thing is facing She bent forward to hear foul-up / fal p/ noun a bad situation
foul-up
what he had to say. He took two steps for- which has happened because of a mistake
ward. The policeman made a sign with someone has made
his hand and the cars began to go forward. found /fand/ verb (founds, founding,
found
2. towards the future We need to do some founded) to establish something; to begin

forward planning. noun a player in a something The business was founded in
team whose job is to attack the other side 1900. past tense and past participle of
The England defence came under attack find
from the other teams forwards. foundation /fan de()n/ noun 1.
foundation
forwarding address / f
wd
forwarding address
|
the act of establishing something or of set-
dres/ noun an address to which mail can ting something up Ever since its founda-
be sent tion in 1892, the company has been a great
forward-looking / f
wd lk/ adj
forward-looking
success. 2. a charitable organisation which

planning for or thinking about the future provides money for certain projects a
forwards / f
wdz/ adv in the direction foundation for educational research
forwards
that someone or something is facing She foundation course / fan de()n

foundation course
bent forwards to hear what he had to say. k

s/ noun a basic course at a university,
He took two steps forwards. The police- which allows you to go on to a more ad-
man made a sign with his hand and the vanced course
cars began to go forwards. founder / fand/ noun a person who es-
founder
forward slash / f
wd sl/ noun an
forward slash
tablishes or sets up something He was

ordinary slash used in printing or writing one of the founders of the National Trust.
text foundry / fandri / noun a place for melt-
foundry
fossil / fs()l/ noun the mark of an ani-

fossil
ing and moulding metal or glass

mal or plant left in a rock, formed over mil- fountain / fantn/ noun an object or a
fountain
lions of years structure with a pump which makes a

fossil fuel / fs()l fju
l/ noun a fuel
fossil fuel
stream of water come out, usually found in

which has developed from the ancient re- a street or a large garden
mains of plants or animals over many cen- fountain pen / fantn pen/ noun a pen
fountain pen
turies which can be filled with ink

fossilised / fslazd /, fossilized adj re-
fossilised
4 /f
/ prep for (informal)
4
ferring to something which has become a

four /f
/ noun the number 4 on all
four
fossil
fours on hands and knees He was creep-
foster / fst / (fosters, fostering, fos-
foster
ing around under the desk on all fours.

tered) verb 1. to bring up a child who is not
four-by-four /f
ba f
/, 4x4 noun a
four-by-four
your own, without adopting it They have

fostered several children. 2. to encourage four-wheel-drive vehicle. Abbreviation
an idea, etc. Tourism fosters interest in 4x4
four-poster /f
pst /, four-poster
four-poster
other countries. We are trying to foster

the childrens interest in the history of the bed noun an old-fashioned bed with a post
village. at each corner, that can be used to support
fought /f
fought
a canopy or curtains
foursome / f
s()m/ noun a group of
foursome
ciple of fight
foul /fal/ adj 1. smelling or tasting un-
foul
four people The foursome stole a car and
pleasant A foul-smelling drain ran down drove to Las Vegas.
fourteen /f
ti
n/ noun the number
fourteen
the centre of the street. 2. very unpleasant |
What foul weather were having! The 14

fourteenth /f
ti
n/ adj, noun relat-
fourteenth
boss has been in a foul temper all day. |
noun an action which is against the rules of ing to the number 14 in a series noun
a game The referee gave a free kick for a number 14 in a series
259 fraud
fourth /f
/ adj relating to the number frailty / frelti / (plural frailties) noun be-
fourth frailty
4 in a series noun 1. number 4 in a series ing weak the frailty of human existence
2. one part of four equal parts the frailty of my fathers health
Fourth of July /f
v d la/ noun frame /frem/ noun a border around
frame
Fourth of July
the national day in the United States something such as a pair of glasses, a pic-
Were having a Fourth of July party. ture, a mirror or a window He has glasses
4WD
with gold frames. I think the frame is
4WD noun a vehicle with four-wheel drive worth more than the painting. verb
four-wheel drive /f
wi
l drav/
four-wheel drive
(frames, framing, framed) to put a frame

noun 1. a system in which engine power round a picture The photograph has been
drives all four wheels of a vehicle 2. a ve- framed in red.
hicle working by this system. Abbreviation framework / fremw#
k/ noun 1. the
framework
4WD structure supporting a building, etc. The

fowl /fal/ noun a domestic bird which is
fowl
framework of the shed is sound it just

kept for its eggs or to be killed for food, needs some paint. 2. the basis of a plan
such as a chicken, duck, turkey or goose They are working within the framework of
fox /fks/ noun a wild animal with red-
fox
the United Nations resolution. They are
dish fur and a long thick tail. Compare vix- negotiating the framework of the agree-
en ment.
franchise / frntaz / noun 1. a right
franchise
foyer / fe/ noun a large entrance hall at

foyer
the front of a hotel, restaurant or theatre to vote In some countries women do not
have the franchise. 2. a permit to sell a
fracas / frk
/ noun a noisy disturbance
fracas
companys products in a certain region or

fraction / frkn/ noun 1. (in mathemat-
fraction
to trade using a well-known brand name

ics) a unit that is less than a whole number He bought a pizza franchise.
0.25 and 0.5 are and expressed as frank /frk/ adj saying what you think
frank
fractions. 2. a small part or amount Only To be really frank with you I think the
a fraction of the stolen money was ever plan stinks. He gave her some frank ad-
found. Sales are up a fraction this month. vice. (NOTE: Do not confuse with franc.)
Move the camera a fraction to the right, verb (franks, franking, franked) to stamp a
and youll all get in the picture. letter with a special machine, instead of us-
fracture / frkt/ noun a break, espe- ing a postage stamp The letters were all
fracture
cially in a bone The X-ray showed up the franked before they left the office.
frankfurter / frkf#
t/, frankfurt
frankfurter
fracture clearly. verb (fractures, fractur-

ing, fractured) to break a bone He frac- noun a long sausage which is boiled and
tured his leg in the accident. They put her sometimes eaten inside a roll. hot dog
fractured leg in plaster. frankly / frkli/ adv telling the truth
frankly
fragile / frdal/ adj made from materi- frantic / frntk/ adj wild, worried and
fragile frantic
als that are easily broken Be careful when doing things fast
youre packing these plates theyre very fraternal /fr t#
n()l/ adj brotherly He
fraternal
fragile. started going out with his brothers girl-

fragment1 / fr(mnt/ noun a small friend theres fraternal feeling for you!
fragment
fraternise / frtnaz/ (fraternises,

fraternise
piece When digging on the site of the

house they found fragments of very old fraternising, fraternised), fraternize verb
glass. to spend time with other people socially,
fragment2 /fr( ment/ (fragments,
fragment
|
especially people who are considered un-
fragmenting, fragmented) verb to separate suitable
fraternity /fr t#
nti/ noun 1. a group of
fraternity
into small pieces As soon as the founder |
died the whole organisation fragmented. people with similar interests or occupa-
tions Members of the banking fraternity
fragrance / fre(rns/ noun 1. a pleasant
fragrance
have criticised the Chancellor of the Ex-

smell 2. a pleasant-smelling liquid which is chequer. 2. a brotherly feeling The slogan
put on the skin of the French state is Liberty, Equality,
fragrant / fre(rnt/ adj with a sweet
fragrant
Fraternity.
smell fraud /fr
d/ noun 1. obtaining money by
fraud
frail /frel/ adj physically weak, especially

frail
making people believe something which is

because of age His grandmother is now not true He is facing trial for fraud. 2. a
rather frail. person pretending to be something which
fraudulent 260
he or she is not Shes a fraud she has no free enterprise /fri
entpraz/ noun
free enterprise
legal qualifications. Hes an old fraud a system of business where there is no in-
he didnt build that car himself. terference from the government
fraudulent / fr
djlnt/ adj dishonest free-for-all / fri
fr
l/ noun a general
fraudulent free-for-all
fraught /fr
t/ adj 1. full of problems or
fraught
fight or argument among several people
danger The whole building project has (informal)
free kick /fri
kk/ noun a kick which a
free kick
been fraught with problems. 2. worried, or

causing anxiety footballer is allowed to make without any-
frayed /fred/ adj having a worn edge,
frayed
one opposing him, to punish the other side
with loose threads for something which they have done
freelance / fri
l
ns/ (freelances, free-
freelance
freak /fri
k/ noun 1. an unusual type of
freak
lancing, freelanced) verb to work inde-

person, animal or plant A white whale is
a freak of nature. 2. a person who is ex- pendently She freelances for several
tremely interested in something (informal) newspapers.
freelancer / fri
l
ns/ noun a freelance
freelancer
My brothers a computer freak.

worker
freckles / frek()lz/ plural noun small
freckles
freely / fri
li/ adv in an open manner,
freely
brown marks on the skin, often caused by

the sun Youll recognise her at once, without being forced
free market /fri
m
kt/ noun a situa-
free market
shes tall with fair hair and freckles. She

was trying to get rid of the freckles on her tion in which trade takes place without
arms. government control
Freemason / fri
mes()n/ noun a
Freemason
free /fri
/ adj (freer, freest) 1. not cost-
free
ing any money Send in four tokens from member of a secret society whose mem-
cereal boxes and you can get a free toy. I bers help each other and protect each other
got a free ticket for the exhibition. 2. not (NOTE: also simply called Masons)
free-range /fri
rend/ adj (of animals,
free-range
busy; available Will you be free next

Tuesday? There is a table free in the cor- birds) kept in the open, not in cages or box-
ner of the restaurant. Do you have any es
free speech /fri
spi
t / noun the abil-
free speech
free time next week? 3. able to do what you

want; not forced to do anything Hes free ity to say what you think without danger of
to do what he wants. 4. not in prison or a being prosecuted
cage After six years in prison hes a free free trade /fri
tred/ noun a system
free trade
man again. to set someone or somewhere goods can go from one country to
thing free to allow someone to leave pris- another without any restrictions
on, or to let an animal out of a cage The freeware / fri
we/ noun free computer
freeware
young birds were raised in the zoo and then software

set free in the wild. verb (frees, freeing, freeway / fri
we/ noun US a fast mo-
freeway
freed) to release someone who is trapped torway with few junctions

It took the fire service some time to free the
free will /fri
wl/ noun the ability to
free will
passengers in the bus.

choose your own actions
free agent /fri
ednt / noun someone
free agent
freeze /fri
z/ (freezes, freezing, froze,
freeze
who is able to do what they want frozen) verb 1. to become solid because of
freebie / fri
bi/ noun something supplied
freebie
the cold The winter was mild, and for the

free of charge, especially as a gift to a cus- first time ever the river did not freeze over.
tomer or journalist (informal ) Its so cold that the lake has frozen solid.
freedom / fri
dm/ noun 1. the state of
freedom
2. to make food very cold so that it does not

being free, rather than being forced to stay decay We froze the raspberries we picked
somewhere or being in prison She felt a this morning. 3. to become very cold The
sense of freedom being in the country after forecast is that it will freeze tonight. Put
working all week in the city. His lawyer a hat on or youll freeze!
pleaded for his clients freedom. 2. the state freezer / fri
z/ noun a piece of equip-
freezer
of being allowed to do what you want ment like a large box, which is very cold
They are trying to restrict our freedom of inside, used for freezing food and keeping
movement. it frozen
freedom fighter / fri
dm fat/ noun freezing / fri
z/ adj very cold, or
freedom fighter freezing
a guerilla fighting against an oppressive close to the temperature at which water

government freezes
261 friendly
freezing point / fri
z pnt/ noun a freshen / fre()n/ (freshens, freshen-
freezing point freshen
very low temperature at which a liquid being, freshened) verb 1. to make something
comes solid fresh The hot air in the valley was fresh-
freight /fret/ noun 1. the action of trans-
freight
ened by a mountain breeze. 2. to become
porting goods by air, sea or land We sent cooler or fresher The wind freshened as
the order (by) air freight. 2. goods trans- night came on.
freshen up verb to wash your hands and
freshen up
ported The government is encouraging

firms to send freight by rail. face, and tidy your hair I must just go to
freight car / fret k
/ noun US a goods
freight car
freshen (myself) up before the guests ar-
wagon on a train rive.
fresher / fre/ noun a new student in his
fresher
freighter / fret/ noun an aircraft or ship

freighter
or her first year at college or university

which carries goods (informal)
French /frent/ adj referring to France
French
freshman / fremn/ (plural freshmen)

freshman
noun the language spoken in France

noun a new student in his or her first year
French horn /frent h
n/ noun a brass
French horn
at college or university. Compare senior

musical instrument with a tube which is freshwater / frew
t/ adj referring to
freshwater
coiled round river or lake water, not salt water

frenetic /fr netk / adj wildly excited fret /fret/ (frets, fretting, fretted) verb to
frenetic
fret
|
frenzied / frenzid/ adj wild and uncon- worry or be unhappy Shes fretting about
frenzied
trollable her exams.

frenzy / frenzi/ noun a wild excitement fretful / fretf()l/ adj always complaining
fretful
frenzy
frequency / fri
kwnsi/ noun the
frequency
and unhappy
friar / fra/ noun a member of a Christian
friar
number of times that something happens

over a particular period of time The gov- religious order who went out to collect
ernment is becoming alarmed at the fre- money or to preach
friction / frkn/ noun 1. one thing rub-
friction
quency of accidents in the construction in-

dustry. (NOTE: no plural) bing against another You need more oil to
frequent1 / fri
kwnt / adj happening or
frequent reduce friction in the motor. 2. a disagree-
appearing often He was a frequent visitor ment between two or more people There
to the library. Skin cancer is becoming has been a good deal of friction between
more frequent. How frequent are the the members of the board.
Friday / frade/ noun the fifth day of
Friday
planes to Birmingham?
the week, the day between Thursday and
frequent2 /fr kwent/ (frequents, fre-
frequent
|
Saturday We all had a meal together last
quenting, frequented) verb to go some- Friday. We always go to the cinema on
where very often He frequents the bar at Friday evenings. We normally have our
the corner of the street. meetings on Fridays. Friday is a day of
frequently / fri
kwntli/ adv often
frequently
rest for Muslims. Today is Friday, June

The ferries dont run as frequently in the 20th.
winter. She could frequently be seen fridge /frd/ noun a kitchen machine
fridge
walking her dog in the park. for keeping things cold The fridge is
fresco / fresk/ (plural frescoes or fres-
fresco
empty we must buy some more food.

cos) noun a painting done on wet plaster Shall I put the milk back in the fridge?
on a wall or ceiling fridge-freezer /frd fri
z/ noun a
fridge-freezer
fresh /fre/ adj 1. not used or not dirty kitchen machine consisting of both a fridge
fresh
Ill get you a fresh towel. 2. made recent- and a freezer in a single unit
ly a basket of fresh rolls Lets ask for a fried /frad/ past tense and past partici-
fried
pot of fresh coffee. 3. new and different ple of fry adj cooked in oil or fat
The police produced some fresh evidence. friend /frend/ noun a person that you
friend
4. not in a tin or frozen The fishmonger know well and like Shes my best friend.
sells fresh fish. Fresh fruit salad is better Were going on holiday with some friends
than tinned. Fresh vegetables are difficult from work. to make friends with some-
to get in winter. one to get to know and like someone We
fresh air /fre e/ noun the open space made friends with some French people on
fresh air
outside buildings where the air flows freely holiday.

After ten hours in the office they were friendly / frendli/ (friendlier, friendli-
friendly
glad to come out into the fresh air. est) adj pleasant and kind, wanting to make
friendship 262
friends Dont be frightened of the dog
fritter
fritter verb
hes very friendly. Were not on friendly fritter away verb to waste time, money,
terms with the people who live next door. etc. on unimportant things He inherited
friendship / frendp/ noun the state a fortune from his grandfather but had
friendship
of being friends He formed several last- frittered it all away by the time he was
ing friendships at school. thirty.
fries /fraz/ 3rd person singular present of frivolity /fr vlti / noun silliness; lack of
fries frivolity
fry seriousness
frieze /fri
z/ noun a decorated band frivolous / frvls/ adj silly; not serious
frieze frivolous
around a room just below the ceiling frizzy / frzi/ adj (of hair) in a mass of tight
frizzy
frigate / fr(t / noun a small fast-moving curls

frigate
naval ship frog /fr(/ noun a small greenish-

frog
fright / frat/ noun fear brown animal with long legs, which jumps,
fright
frighten / frat()n/ (frightens, frighten- and lives both on land and in water He
frighten
ing, frightened) verb to make someone kept some tadpoles in a jar hoping they
afraid Take off that horrible mask youll would turn into frogs. Can you hear the
frighten the children. The cat has fright- frogs croaking round the pond?
frogman / fr(mn/ (plural frogmen)
frogman
ened all the birds away.

frightened / fratn()d/ adj afraid noun a diver working underwater
frightened
frolic / frlk/ (frolics, frolicking, frol-

frolic
[~of] The frightened children ran out of

the building. Dont be frightened of the icked) verb to play happily The lambs
dog he wont hurt you. were frolicking in the fields.
frightening / frat()n/ adj making from /frm, frm/ prep 1. away 2.
frightening from
you feel afraid a frightening sound of showing the place where something starts
footsteps in the corridor He had a fright- or started He comes from Germany. The
ening thought what if no one heard his bees went from flower to flower. Weve
cries for help? had a letter from the bank. He read the
frightful / fratf()l/ adj terrible or awful
frightful
book from beginning to end. Take three
frightfully / fratf()li/ adv extremely
frightfully
from four and you get one. I took a book
(dated or humorous) from the pile on his desk. 3. showing the
time when something starts or started Ill
frigid / frdd/ adj 1. unfriendly, not
frigid
be at home from 8 oclock onwards. The

showing any warm feelings His frigid re- hours of work are 9.30 to 5.30, from Mon-
sponse did not give us much hope. 2. (of a day to Friday. From now on Im going to
woman) not responsive in sexual relations
get up early. 4. showing distance It is not
(insulting) After his marriage he discov-
far from here to the railway station. 5.
ered that she was frigid. showing difference Can you tell butter
frill /frl/ noun a piece of material gathered
frill
from margarine? His job is totally differ-

together and sewn onto a dress, etc. ent from mine. 6. showing a cause He
fringe /frnd/ noun 1. the hair lying over
fringe
died from the injuries he received in the ac-

the forehead 2. the edging of something cident. She suffers from coughs every
such as a shawl or carpet, consisting of winter.
loose threads hanging down a lampshade frond /frnd/ noun a large leaf divided
frond
with a yellow fringe 3. an outer edge of an into many thin sections, as, e.g., on a palm
area Round the fringe of the crowd peo- tree
ple were selling souvenirs. front /frnt/ noun a part of something
front
fringe benefit / frnd benft/ noun

fringe benefit
which is furthest forward The front of the

an additional advantage which someone house is on London Road. She spilt coffee
gets from doing a particular job or activity down the front of her dress. adj which is
frisk /frsk/ (frisks, frisking, frisked) verb
frisk
in front She sat in the front seat, next to

1. to search someone by running your the driver. in front further forwards
hands over his or her body When they Her mother sat in the back seat and she sat
frisked him at the airport, they found a in front. in front of someone or some-
knife hidden under his shirt. 2. to jump thing before or further forwards than
about happily little lambs frisking in the something Dont stand in front of the car
field it may start suddenly. There are six
frisky / frski/ adj feeling lively, or behav-
frisky
people in front of me in the queue. You

ing in a lively way can park your car in front of the shop.
263 fudge
frontal / frnt()l/ adj of or in the front 2. careful when you spend money or use re-
frontal
a frontal attack on the enemy sources He lived a frugal life and died a
front door /frnt d
/ noun the main millionaire. The frugal use of the heating
front door
door to a house or building system will cut down on your electricity

frontier /frn t/ noun the boundary line
frontier
bills.
fruit /fru
t/ noun a food that grows on
|
fruit
between two countries The customs men

at the frontier didnt even bother to look at trees or plants, which is often eaten raw
our passports. and is usually sweet You should eat five
front line /frnt lan/ noun the line
front line
pieces of fruit every day. He has six fruit
where two armies meet in war trees in his garden.
fruitful / fru
tf()l/ adj which produces
fruitful
front page /frnt ped/ noun the first

front page
page of a newspaper or magazine good results

fruition /fru
()n/ noun to come to
fruition
front-runner /frnt rn/ noun the per-

front-runner
|
son who is currently first in a race or con- fruition to be finished with good results
test (informal) After ten years work, the project finally
came to fruition. to bring something to
frost /frst/ noun 1. a white covering on
frost
fruition to finish something with good re-

the ground that appears when the tempera- sults
ture is below freezing The garden was
fruitless / fru
tls/ adj producing no re-
fruitless
white with frost. 2. an occasion on which

the temperature outside is below freezing sult
fruit salad /fru
t sld/ noun pieces of
fruit salad
There was a hard frost last night. Theres

a touch of frost in the air. A late frost can different fruit, cut up and mixed together
fruity / fru
ti/ adj 1. tasting of fruit a
fruity
damage young plants.

frostbite / frstbat/ noun an injury
frostbite
dark fruity red wine 2. (of a voice or laugh)
caused by very severe cold which freezes deep and attractive
frustrate /fr stret/ (frustrates, frus-
frustrate
your flesh |
frosted glass /frstd (l

s/ noun trating, frustrated) verb 1. to make some-
frosted glass
glass with a rough or textured surface one annoyed because they cannot do what
which makes it opaque they want to 2. to prevent someone or
frosting / frst/ noun icing on a cake
frosting
something from being successful
frustrated /fr stretd/ adj 1. annoyed
frustrated
froth /fr/ noun a mass of bubbles on top

froth
|
of a liquid Wait until the froth has settled because of not being able to do something
She was frustrated in her attempt to get
before drinking your beer. verb (froths,
frothing, frothed) to make masses of bub- an honest answer. 2. having the desire to be
bles He was lying on the floor, frothing at something, but not having the talent or the
the mouth. opportunity a frustrated artist When he
gets behind the wheel of his car you can see
frown /fran/ verb (frowns, frowning,
frown
the frustrated Grand Prix driver coming

frowned) to make lines in the skin on your
out.
forehead because you are concentrating or
frustrating /fr stret/ adj annoying,
frustrating
worried He frowned as he tried to do the |
calculation. noun pulling your eyebrows because someone or something stops you
together as a sign that you are angry or doing what you want to do
frustration /fr stre()n/ noun a
frustration
worried Take that frown off your face |
everythings going to be all right. feeling of anger and impatience when you
frown on phrasal verb to disapprove of cannot do what you want to do
fry /fra/ (fries, frying, fried) verb to
fry
something The teachers frown on sing-

ing in the corridors. The company cook something in oil or fat Fry the on-
frowns on people who bring food into the ions over a low heat so that they dont
office. burn. Fry the eggs in some fat.
froze /frz/ past tense of freeze frying pan / fra pn/ noun an open
frying pan
froze
frozen / frz()n/ past participle of

frozen
pan with low sides, used for frying
ft /ft/ abbr foot or feet
ft
freeze adj 1. very cold Come inside

fuchsia / fju
/ noun a garden plant
fuchsia
you must be frozen out there. 2. at a temper-

ature below freezing point We went skat- with colourful bell-shaped hanging flowers
ing on the frozen lake. fudge /fd/ noun 1. a soft sweet made
fudge
frugal / fru
(()l/ adj 1. small and plain
frugal
from butter, sugar and milk 2. an informal

He had a frugal meal of bread and cheese. way of avoiding a problem The report on
fuel 264
the scandal was a fudge. verb (fudges, full house /fl has/ noun an audience
full house
fudging, fudged) to avoid giving a clear for a theatre or cinema performance that
answer or making a definite decision about fills all the seats
something We cant wait for those details full-length /fl le/ adj 1. covering or
full-length
to arrive, well have to fudge it. to fudge showing the whole of someone a full-
the issue to avoid making a clear decision length evening gown a full-length por-
about a difficult situation (informal) For trait 2. referring to a long film or novel It
years, they have been fudging the issue of was his first full-length film, made when he
legalising drugs. was 21.
fuel / fju
l/ noun a substance such full moon /fl mu
n/ noun the time
fuel full moon
coal, gas, oil, petrol or wood which can be when the moon appears as a complete cir-
burnt to give heat or power What fuel do cle
you use to heat the house? Whats the full-on /fl n/ adj having a particular
full-on
fuel consumption of your car? We ran out quality to the highest degree
of fuel on the motorway. to add fuel to full-scale / fl skel/ adj 1. the same
full-scale
the flames to make matters worse Just to size as in real life a full-scale model of a
add fuel to the flames the union leader sent dinosaur 2. complete It started as a dis-
the ministers letter to the newspapers. pute over a few islands and soon developed
fugitive / fju
dtv/ noun a person who
fugitive
into a full-scale war.

is running away The two fugitives were full stop /fl stp/ noun a punctua-
full stop
captured by the police. tion mark like a small dot, showing the end
fulfil /fl fl/ verb to complete some- of a sentence or an abbreviation
fulfil
full-time / fl tam/ adj, adv working

full-time
thing in a satisfactory way He died before

he could fulfil his ambition to fly a plane. for all the usual working time, i.e. about
We are so busy that we cannot fulfil any seven hours a day, five days a week She
more orders before Christmas. ( NOTE: The is in full-time work. or She works full-time.
US spelling is fulfill.) We have eight full-time and two part-time
fulfilled /fl fld/ adj satisfied with what

fulfilled
|
teachers at our school. Compare part-time
fully / fli/ adv completely He was
fully
you are doing, or happy because of the

things you have achieved fully aware that he had made a mistake.
fulfilling / fl fl/ adj which gives satis-
fulfilling
|
She still hasnt fully recovered from her ac-
faction cident. The hotel is fully booked for the
Christmas week. When fully grown, an
fulfilment /fl flmnt/ noun carrying
fulfilment
|
elephant can weigh several tons.
something out in a satisfactory way (NOTE:
fully-fledged /fli fledd/ adj experi-
fully-fledged
The US spelling is fulfillment.)

enced or qualified
full /fl/ adj 1. with as much inside as is
full
fully-grown /fli (rn/ adj adult-

fully-grown
possible Is the box full? The bag is full sized

of potatoes. We couldnt get on the first fumble / fmbl/ (fumbles, fumbling,
fumble
bus because it was full. All the hotels fumbled) verb to touch or feel clumsily
were full. 2. complete You must give the
fume /fju
m/ (fumes, fuming, fumed)
fume
police full details of the accident. Write

your full name and address at the top of the verb to be angry After he had read the re-
paper. adv completely The story has port he was absolutely fuming.
fumes /fju
mz/ plural noun smoke or gas
fumes
never been told in full. to be full of your-

They must have inhaled the fumes from
self to think a lot of yourself, or to be al-
ways talking about how successful you are the gas cooker.
fumigate / fju
m (et/ (fumigates, fu-
fumigate
full-blown /fl bln/ adj 1. (of a

full-blown
migating, fumigated) verb to clean a build-

flower) completely open a full-blown
rose 2. fully qualified 3. (of a disease) coming or a room by burning chemicals to pro-
plete; with all the symptoms He devel- duce smoke which kills germs and insects
fun /fn / noun enjoyment from an ac-
fun
oped full-blown AIDS.

tivity Having to stay in bed on my birth-
full board /fl b
d/ noun a rate for
full board
day is not much fun. to have fun to enjoy

bedroom and all meals in a hotel yourself We had a lot of fun on the river.
full-fledged /fl fledd/ adj US fully-
full-fledged
to make fun of someone, to poke fun at

fledged someone to laugh at someone Dont
full-grown / fl (rn/ adj same as ful-
full-grown
make fun of her shes trying her best.

ly-grown He poked fun at the Prime Minister. for
265 furnish
fun as a joke or for enjoyment She course at college and then ran out of funds.
poured water down his neck for fun. Just The company has the funds to set up the
for fun, he drove the car through town research programme. Funds are availa-
dressed as a gorilla. Why did you do ble to get the project off the ground.
that? Just for the fun of it! funeral / fju
n()rl/ noun a ceremony
funeral
function / fkn/ noun 1. a party, or at which a dead person is buried or cremat-

function
a gathering of people We have two wed- ed The church was packed for her funer-
ding functions in the main restaurant this al. The funeral will take place on Friday
weekend. The Prime Minister busy up morning.
with official functions all week. 2. the work funeral director / fju
n()rl da
funeral director
done by someone or something The func- rekt/ noun a person who arranges funer-
tion of a goalkeeper is to stop the ball goals in return for payment
ing into the net. Whats the function of funfair / fnfe/ noun a group of amuse-
funfair
that red switch? verb (functions, func- ments, sideshows, food stalls, etc., set up in
tioning, functioned) 1. to work The com- one place for a short time
puter is still functioning well after years of fungus / f(s / (plural fungi) noun a
fungus
use. 2. to serve as something [~as] The plant which has no green leaves or flowers
sofa functions as a bed if we have visitors. and which lives on decaying matter or on
functional / fkn()l/ adj 1. useful
functional
other plants
but not decorative These old saucepans funk /fk/ noun a style of African dance
funk
are not works of art but theyre functional. music with a strong rhythm The crowd of
2. working properly The heating system teenagers were dancing to funk music.
will be functional again in an hour or so. funky / fki/ (funkier, funkiest) adj
funky
function key / fkn ki

/ noun one of
function key
fashionable, modern (informal)

a row of keys along the top of a computer funnel / fn()l/ noun a tube with a wide
funnel
keyboard which activates a set of instruc- opening and a narrow tube, used when
tions pouring liquids from one container into an-
fund /fnd/ noun an amount of money
fund
other
intended for a particular purpose She funny / fni/ adj 1. making people
funny
contributes to a pension fund. verb laugh He made funny faces and all the
(funds, funding, funded) to provide mon- children laughed. That joke isnt funny. 2.
ey for a special purpose We have asked strange Shes been behaving in a funny
the government to fund the building of the way recently. Theres a funny smell in the
new library. The company is funding her bathroom.
managers course. fur /f#
/ noun the soft covering of an ani-
fur
fundamental /fnd ment()l/ adj

fundamental
|
mals body This type of cat has very short
basic; essential The fundamental differ- fur. She was wearing a fur coat. Have
ence between us is that I apologise for my you got any fur-lined boots? (NOTE: Do not
mistakes and you dont. Good air quality confuse with fir.)
is fundamental for childrens health. furious / fjris/ adj very angry
furious
fundamentalism /fnd
fundamentalism
furl /f#
l/ (furls, furling, furled) verb to
furl
|
ment()lz()m/ noun an approach to re- roll up a flag or sail when it is out of use, or
ligion which involves following religious to become tightly rolled up
rules very strictly furlong / f#
l / noun a measure of
furlong
fundamentalist /fnd ment()lst/

fundamentalist
|
length, equal to 220 yards (NOTE: It is only
noun a person who follows religious rules used when referring to the length of a track
very strictly for horse-racing.)
funding / fnd/ noun money for
funding
furnace / f#
ns/ noun 1. a large brick or
furnace
something metal oven which can be heated to a very

fundraiser / fndrez/ noun 1. a person
fundraiser
high temperature 2. a heater which warms

who raises money for a charity or volun- the water for central heating
tary group 2. a money-raising activity or furnish / f#
n/ (furnishes, furnishing,
furnish
event for a charity or voluntary group furnished) verb 1. to put furniture into a
fund-raising / fnd rez/ noun the
fund-raising
house, office, etc. His house is furnished

activity of raising money for a charity or with antiques. 2. to provide with something
voluntary group He furnished the police with a complete
funds /fndz/ noun money which is
funds
list of addresses. The town council fur-

available for spending He started a nished details of the improvement plan.
furnishings 266
furnishings / f#
nz/ plural noun the ing together of two or more groups, such as
furnishings
furniture, carpets, curtains and fittings in a political parties The new party has been
house All the furnishings were removed formed by the fusion of two existing par-
before the house was demolished. ties.
furniture / f#
nt/ noun objects in, fuss /fs/ noun unnecessary excite-
furniture fuss
e.g. a house or an office such as tables, ment or complaints [~about/over] Whats

chairs, beds and cupboards The burglars all the fuss about? to make a fuss or to
stole all our office furniture. You should kick up a fuss about something to com-
cover up all the furniture before you start plain for a long time about something
painting the ceiling. (NOTE: no plural: some which is not important Dont make such
furniture; a lot of furniture; a piece of furni- a fuss its only a little scratch. verb
ture) (fusses, fussing, fussed) to worry about
furore /fj r
ri/ noun an outburst of an- things that are unimportant [~over] Dont
furore
ger or excitement (NOTE: The US spelling is fuss -everythings ready and there are no
furor.) problems. Stop fussing over your hair.
furrow / fr / noun 1. a long trench cut to make a fuss of someone to pay great
furrow
in the soil by a plough Seagulls followed attention to someone The children made
the plough, looking for food in the furrows. a fuss of their mother on her birthday.
2. a deep line in the surface of something fussy / fsi/ (fussier, fussiest) adj 1. too
fussy
As he grew older, the furrows on his face concerned about details or unimportant
deepened. things Shes fussy about what she eats or
furry / f#
ri/ adj covered with fur
furry
Shes a fussy eater. 2. with too many small

further / f#
/ adv at or to a greater decorations I dont like the fussy pattern
further
distance Can you all move further back on this carpet.

I cant get you in the picture. The police futile / fju
tal/ adj certain to fail, and
futile
station is quite close, but the post office is therefore not worth doing
further away. Edinburgh is further from futon / fu
tn/ noun a thick mattress that
futon
London than Newcastle. adj more The can be folded, used as a seat or simple bed,
bank needs further information about your on the floor or on a folding wooden frame
salary. Please send me further details of
future / fju
t/ noun a time which has
future
holidays in Greece.
furthest / f#
st/ adv, adj at or to the
furthest
not yet happened What are his plans for
greatest distance Some of the staff live the future? You never know what the fu-
quite close to the office James lives fur- ture will bring. Can you imagine what
thest away. The furthest distance I have London will be like in the future? adj
ever flown is to Hong Kong. which is coming; which has not happened
yet They are spending all their time pre-
furtive / f#
tv / adj as if trying not to be
furtive
paring for their future retirement. I try to

noticed save something each week for future ex-
fury / fjri / noun very strong anger He
fury
penses.
shouted at us in fury.
futuristic /fju
t rstk/ adj very mod-
futuristic
fuse /fju
z/ noun a small piece of wire
fuse |
ern, or relating to the future

in an electrical system which breaks if too
fuzz /fz / noun 1. a mass of short hair 2.
fuzz
much power tries to pass through it, so pre-

venting further damage The plug has a the fuzz the police (dated slang offensive)
fuzzy / fzi/ (fuzzier, fuzziest) adj 1.
fuzzy
13-amp fuse. If the lights go out, the first

thing to do is to check the fuses. fluffy and curly Shes got dark fuzzy hair,
fuselage / fju
zl
/ noun the body of which is difficult to comb. 2. blurred; not
fuselage
an aircraft clear The security camera produced a

fusion / fju
()n/ noun 1. the melting
fusion
fuzzy photograph of the bank robbers.
FYI / ef wa a/ abbr for your information
FYI
together of two pieces of metal 2. the join-

G
g /di
/, G noun the seventh letter of the al- Galaxy, the / (lksi/ noun the large
g Galaxy, the
phabet, between F and H group of stars and planets that the Earth
gabble / (b()l/ (gabbles, gabbling, forms part of
gabble
gabbled) verb to speak very quickly He gale /(el/ noun a very strong wind
gale
gabbled a few words in Spanish. gallant /( lnt, (lnt/ adj 1. brave 2.

gallant
gable / (eb()l/ noun the top part of a

|
gable
polite to women It was very gallant of

wall where it forms a triangle with the roof him to offer to take her home. ( NOTE: Gal-
gadget / (dt/ noun a small useful tool
gadget
lant is used only of men.)

Gaelic / (elk /; in Scotland / (lk/ noun gall bladder / (
l bld/ noun a sac
Gaelic
gall bladder
a Celtic language spoken in some parts of underneath the liver, in which bile pro-
Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man duced by the liver is stored
gag /((/ noun 1. something put into or
gag
gallery / (lri/ (plural galleries) noun

gallery
over a persons mouth to stop him or her 1. (art) gallery a place where objects
speaking The burglars tied him up and such as pictures and sculptures are shown
put a gag in his mouth. 2. a joke The au- to the public 2. the highest rows of seats in
dience laughed at most of his gags. verb a theatre or cinema We managed to get
(gags, gagging, gagged) 1. to put some- two seats in the gallery.
thing over a persons mouth to try to stop
gallon / (ln/ noun a measure of quan-
gallon
him or her talking He was gagged and

put into the boot of the car. 2. to try to stop tity of liquid, equal to 4.55 litres The car
someone talking or writing The govern- was empty and I had to put in seven gallons
ment tried to gag the press. 3. to choke; to of petrol. An economical car does 40
try to vomit but be unable to do so Every miles to the gallon.
gallop / (lp/ verb (gallops, gallop-
gallop
time the doctor tries to examine her throat,

she gags. He gagged on the hamburger. ing, galloped) to go fast, especially on
gaggle / ((()l/ noun a flock of geese,
gaggle
horseback noun the fastest running speed
or a group of noisy people of a horse The horse went off at a gallop.
gallows / (lz/ (plural same) noun a
gallows
gain /(en/ verb (gains, gaining,

gain
gained) 1. to achieve something, or get it wooden support from which criminals are
with some work or effort The army executed by hanging
galore /( l
/ adj in large quantities
galore
gained control of the country. She gained |
some useful experience working for a com- This autumn we had pears galore. (NOTE:
puter company. 2. (of a clock or watch) to always follows the noun)
move ahead of the correct time My watch gambit / (mbt/ noun something said
gambit
gains five minutes a day. noun 1. an in- or done which should give you an advan-
crease in weight, quantity or size [~in] tage in an argument
There was no gain in weight over three gamble / (mbl/ noun a risk This in-
gamble
weeks 2. benefit or profit He doesnt do vestment is a bit of a gamble. He took a

the job for financial gain. gamble with the weather in planning his
gait /(et/ noun a way of walking (NOTE:
gait
picnic for the beginning of March. verb

Do not confuse with gate.) (gambles, gambling, gambled) to bet
gala / (
l/ noun a festive public occa-
gala
money on cards, horses, etc. He lost all

sion or performance his money gambling on dog races. (NOTE: +
galaxy / (lksi/ (plural galaxies) noun gambling n) to gamble on something
galaxy
an extremely large group of stars There happening to do something, hoping that

are vast numbers of galaxies in the uni- something will happen Were gambling
verse. on fine weather for the village fte.
game 268
game /(em/ noun 1. an activity in the car into the garage overnight. She
game
which people compete with each other us- drove the car out of the garage. Dont
ing skill, strength or luck Shes not very forget to lock the garage door. The hotel
good at games like chess. 2. a single match has garage space for thirty cars. 2. a place
between two opponents or two opposing where petrol is sold and where cars are re-
teams Everyone wanted to watch the paired or sold Wheres the nearest ga-
game of football. Do you want a game of rage? I need some petrol. I cant drive
snooker? Our team have won all their you to the station my car is in the garage
games this year. 3. a single session in an ac- for repair. You can hire cars from the ga-
tivity or sport such as tennis or cards rage near the post office.
Shes winning by six games to three. 4. wild garb /(
b/ noun clothes worn by a partic-
garb
animals and birds such as deer, rabbits and ular category of person
pheasants, which are killed for sport or garbage / (
bd/ noun 1. nonsense
garbage
food plural noun Games a large organised I dont believe a word of what he said
sports competition the Olympic Games its just garbage. 2. (mainly US) household
gamekeeper / (emki
p/ noun a per-
gamekeeper
waste
son working on a private estate who pro-
garbled / (
b()ld/ adj confusingly ex-
garbled
tects wild birds and animals so that they

can be hunted pressed and difficult to understand
garden / (
d()n/ noun an area of
garden
game show / (em / noun a TV

game show
show, where teams play games land near a house, used for growing such
gammon / (mn/ noun meat from the
gammon things as vegetables and flowers We grow
lower part of a side of bacon all the vegetables we need in the back gar-
den. Your sisters outside, sitting in the
gamut / (mt/ noun the complete range
gamut
garden.
of things of the same type
garden centre / (
d()n sent/ noun
garden centre
gander / (nd/ noun a male goose

gander
(NOTE: The females are geese and the a place which sells things such as plants,
young are goslings.) seeds and equipment for gardening
gardener / (
d()n/ noun a person
gardener
gang /(/ noun 1. a group of crimi-

gang
nals a drugs gang 2. a group of young who looks after a garden either as a hobby
people who do things together, especially or as a job
gardening / (
d()n/ noun the activ-
gardening
one that causes trouble Gangs of football

fans wandered the streets after the match. ity of looking after a garden
3. a group of workers Gangs of men garden party / (
d()n p
ti/ noun a
garden party
worked all night to repair the railway social occasion held in a garden or in a
track. houses grounds
gangster / (st/ noun a criminal be- garden shed /(
d()n ed/ noun a
gangster
garden shed
longing to a violent gang small building where tools, equipment, and

gangway / (we/ noun 1. (in a theatre,
gangway
supplies for gardening are kept

cinema, etc.) a passage between rows of gargle / (
(()l/ (gargles, gargling,
gargle
seats Dont block the gangway. 2. a little gargled) verb to clean your mouth by tak-
movable bridge for going on board a ship ing liquid into your mouth and blowing air
We went up the gangway carrying our cas- through it before spitting it out
es.
garish / (er/ adj too colourful
garish
gaol /del/, gaoler / del/ another

gaol
garland / (
lnd/ noun a circle of flow-
garland
spelling of jail, jailer

gap /(p/ noun a space between two
gap
ers or paper decorations She wore a gar-
things or in the middle of something [~be- land of flowers in her hair. The room was
tween/~in] Theres a gap between the two decorated with paper garlands.
garlic / (
lk/ noun a round white
garlic
planks. The sheep all rushed through the

gap in the hedge. vegetable with a strong smell, which can
gape /(ep/ (gapes, gaping, gaped) verb
gape
be separated into sections and used to give
1. to open your mouth wide in surprise or flavour to food
garment / (
mnt/ noun a piece of
garment
shock 2. to be wide open The entrance to

the cave gaped before us. clothing (formal )
gaping / (ep/ adj wide garnish / (
n/ noun something used
gaping garnish
garage / (rd, (r

/ noun 1. a to decorate food ham with a garnish of
garage
building where you can keep a car He put pickled cucumbers (NOTE: + garnish v)
269 geek
garrison / (rs()n/ noun soldiers de- They gathered together a team of experi-
garrison
fending a castle or town The attackers enced people for the new project. 3. to un-
promised the garrison safe passage if they derstand from what someone has told you
surrendered. I gather that his father is in hospital.
gas /(s/ noun 1. a chemical substance We gather he has left the office. 4. to pick
gas
which has no form and which becomes liq- plants, flowers or fruit The children were
uid if it is cooled Air is made up of sever- gathering blackberries. The grape har-
al gases, mainly nitrogen and oxygen. vest has been gathered.
gathering / (r/ noun a group of
gathering
Rubbish gives off a type of gas called meth-

ane as it rots. 2. a chemical substance people who have come together A speak-
which is burnt to make heat, e.g. for cooker from another association will address
ing the gathering.
gas chamber / (s temb/ noun a gaudy / (
di/ (gaudier, gaudiest) adj
gas chamber gaudy
room where people are killed using poison very brightly coloured (NOTE: + gaudily
gas adv)
gash /(/ noun a deep cut He received gauge /(ed/ noun 1. an instrument to
gash gauge
a gash on his forehead. (NOTE: + gash v) measure depth, pressure, etc. 2. the dis-
gasoline / (sli
n/ noun US a liquid,
gasoline
tance between the two rails in a railway

made from petrol, used to drive a car en- line
gine (NOTE: usually shortened to gas) gaunt /(
nt/ adj very thin
gaunt
gasp /(
sp/ verb (gasps, gasping, gauntlet / (
ntlt/ noun a strong glove
gasp
gauntlet
gasped) to take a short deep breath He gauze /(

z/ noun a thin material
gauze
gasped when he saw the bill. noun a sud-

gave /(ev/ past tense of give
gave
den loud breath that you take when you are

gawp /(
p/ (gawps, gawping, gawped)
gawp
surprised or in pain She gave a gasp

when she saw the face at the window. verb to gaze stupidly or rudely at some-
gas station / (s ste()n/ noun US a
gas station
thing
gay /(e/ adj 1. attracted to people of
gay
place where you can buy gasoline

gastric / (strk/ adj referring to the
gastric
the same sex, or relating to people like this
Its a club where gay men and women
stomach
gate /(et/ noun 1. a low outside door
gate meet. They met in a gay bar. 2. bright and
made of bars of wood or metal Shut the lively (dated) The houses along the street
gate if you leave it open the sheep will get are all painted in gay colours. noun a
out of the field. There is a white gate person who is attracted to someone of the
leading into the garden. 2. a door which same sex a club for gays
gaze /(ez/ verb (gazes, gazing, gazed)
gaze
leads to an aircraft at an airport Flight

AZ270 is now boarding at Gate 23. to look steadily She gazed into his eyes.
He stood on the cliff, gazing out to sea.
gteau / (t/ (plural gteaux) noun a
gteau
large cake with several layers decorated noun a steady look She refused to meet
with cream, chocolate etc. his gaze.
GCSE noun a British school exam taken
GCSE
gatecrash / (etkr/ (gatecrashes,

gatecrash
gatecrashing, gatecrashed) verb to get at the age of around 16. Full form General
into a party without being invited A Certificate of Secondary Education
gear /(/ noun 1. equipment for a par-
gear
group of students tried to gatecrash or

gatecrash her party. ticular purpose He took all his climbing
gateway / (etwe/ noun 1. an opening
gateway
gear with him. She was carrying her
where a gate is fitted 2. a place which leads painting gear in a rucksack. 2. clothing for
to a larger area Washington, gateway to a particular purpose She was putting on
the south her tennis gear. 3. a part of an engine that
gather / (/ (gathers, gathering,
gather
makes it possible to change the amount of
gathered) verb 1. to bring things or people work the engine has to do to turn the
together He gathered his papers together wheels
after the lecture. She has been gathering gear up phrasal verb to get someone or
information on the history of the local something ready, or get yourself ready
gearbox / (bks/ noun a case for gears
gearbox
school. 2. (especially of people) to come

together in one place, or be brought togeth- in a car
geek /(i
k/ noun a person who is a proud
geek
er by someone Groups of people gath-

ered outside the government building. or enthusiastic user of computers or other
geese 270
technology, especially one who is interest- generate / denret/ (generates,
generate
ed in few other things or is socially awk- generating, generated) verb to produce

ward (informal) something such as power We use wind to
geese /(i
s/ plural of goose generate electricity.
geese
gel /del/ noun a thick substance similar generation /den re()n/ noun 1.
gel generation
to a jelly verb (gels, gelling, gelled) to the production of something such as power
become more certain or more clear The the generation of electricity from waves
details of the plan began to gel. 2. all people born at about the same time
gelatine / delti
n/, gelatin noun a sub-
gelatine
The 1960s generation had an easier life

stance made from boiling animal bones, than we did. Many people of my fathers
and used to make foods such as jelly generation cannot understand computer
gem /dem/ noun 1. a precious stone technology. 3. members of a family born at
gem
She wore a crown set with pearls and gems. about the same time 4. a series of machines
2. an amusing or interesting item Here made at about the same time They are de-
are some gems from yesterdays paper. 3. a veloping a new type of engine for the next
person who is very useful and important to generation of aircraft.
you generator / denret/ noun a ma-
generator
Gemini / demna/ noun one of the

Gemini
chine which makes electricity

signs of the Zodiac, shaped like twins, cov- generic /d nerk / adj referring to a
generic
ering the period 21st May to 21st June range or class of things
gender / dend/ noun 1. the fact of be-
gender
generosity /den rsti/ noun will-

generosity
ing male or female Everyone has the ingness to give money or your time to help
same rights, regardless of race, religion or someone
gender. 2. (in grammar ) a system where
generous / den()rs / adj 1. giving
generous
nouns and adjectives have different forms

to show if they are masculine, feminine or more money or presents than people usual-
neuter ly do Thank you! Youre so generous! 2.
large a generous helping of pudding
gene /di
n/ noun a set of chemicals in
gene
generously / den()rsli/ adv in a gen-

generously
a cell which carries information about fea-

tures that are passed from parent to child erous way
general / den()rl/ adj not specific; genetic /d netk / adj relating to
genetic
general
|
covering a wide range of subjects He had those things that are controlled by genes
a good general education, but didnt spe- genetic engineering /dnetk
genetic engineering
cialise in any particular field. noun an end nr/ noun techniques used to
|
army officer of high rank He has only re- change the genetic composition of a cell so
cently been promoted to general. in gen- as to change certain characteristics
eral normally In general, the weather is geneticist /d netsst/ noun a person
geneticist
warmer in the south. who specialises in the study of genetics

general anaesthetic /den()rl
general anaesthetic
genetics /d netks / noun the science

genetics
ns etk/ noun a substance given to

|
|
and study of the way genes are involved in
make a patient lose consciousness so that a passing features from parents to children
major surgical operation can be carried out
genial / di
nil/ adj cheerful and friend-
genial
general election /den()rl

general election
lekn/ noun an election where all voters ly

genius / di
nis/ noun 1. a very intel-
genius
can vote for a new government

generalisation
generalisation
/den()rla |
ligent person; a person who has great abil-
ze()n/, generalization noun a general ity Shes a chess genius. Napoleon was
statement a military genius. She came top of the
generalise / den()rlaz/ (generalis-
generalise
class shes a real genius. 2. great ability
He has a genius for keeping people
es, generalising, generalised), generalize
verb to make a general statement about
amused.
genocide / densad/ noun the killing
genocide
something
generally / den()rli/ adv usually
generally
of an entire racial group
genome / di
nm/ noun 1. all the
genome
The office is generally closed between

Christmas and the New Year. genes in an individual 2. a set of genes
general strike /den()rl strak/ which are inherited from one parent
general strike
genre / nr/ noun a type of something

genre
noun a strike of all or many of the workers

in a country artistic such as art, literature or theatre
271 get
the three main literary genres of prose, po- German measles /dmn
German measles
etry and drama miz()lz/ noun a usually mild disease

genteel /dentil/ adj refined and re- which gives a red rash but which can affect
genteel
spectable an unborn child if caught by a pregnant

gentle /dent()l/ (gentler, gentlest)
gentle
woman
germinate /dmnet/ (germinates,
germinate
adj 1. soft and kind The nurse has gentle

hands. 2. not very strong After a little germinating, germinated) verb (of a plant
gentle persuasion, she agreed to the plan. seed) to start to grow (NOTE: + germination
He gave the door a gentle push. 3. not n)
gerund /dernd/ noun a noun formed
gerund
very steep There is a gentle slope down

to the lake. from the present participle of a verb (NOTE:
gentleman /dent()lmn/ (plural In English, gerunds are formed from the -
gentleman
gentlemen) noun a man, especially a well- ing form of verbs, as in Cycling is good ex-
behaved or upper-class man Hes such a ercise; Choral singing is very popular in
gentleman; he always opens the door for Wales.)
gestation /deste()n/ noun 1. a peri-
gestation
me. |
gently /dentli/ adv 1. softly and care-

gently
od when a baby is carried in its mothers
fully He gently put the blanket over her. womb 2. a period when something such as
She rocked the cradle gently. 2. not steep-
a book is being worked on The gestation
ly The path rises gently to the top of the period is almost over and the book should
hill. be published next month.
gesticulate /de stkjlet/ (gesticu-
gesticulate
/dentrfke()n/
gentrification
gentrification |
|
lates, gesticulating, gesticulated) verb to

noun the action of making a poor part of a
town more popular with rich people make signs with your hands or arms
gesture /dest/ noun a movement
gesture
genuine /denjun/ adj real; true

genuine
of a part of the body such as the hands to

The painting was not a genuine Picasso. show feeling She made a slight gesture of
A genuine leather purse will cost a lot more impatience with her hand. verb (ges-
than that. tures, gesturing, gestured) to make a
genus /dins/ (plural genera) noun a
genus
movement with your hands [~at/to/towards]

group of related species of animals or He gestured to the audience to sit down.
plants get /et / (gets, getting, got) verb 1. to
get
geography /dirfi/ noun the

geography
|
receive something We got a letter from
study of the earths surface, its climate and the bank this morning. She gets more
the plants and animals that live on it money than I do. 2. [~from/to/~how/what
geology /dildi/ noun the science
geology
|
etc/~into/out of/on/off/~off/~on/~on/on-
and study of the rocks that form the earths to/~to/~without] to get to a place or situ-
crust ation to arrive at a place or situation We
geometry /di mtri/ noun the
geometry
|
only got to the hotel at midnight. When
mathematical science of lines, surfaces and does your train get to London? The plane
solids gets to New York at 4 p.m. When you get
geranium /drenim/ noun a brightly
geranium
|
to my age youll understand! 3. to start to
coloured summer flower, usually red or be in a particular state Im getting too old
pink for rugby. Hes got much fatter over the
geriatric /deritrk/ adj referring to
geriatric
| last year or so. The sun got hotter and

old people, or old age geriatric medicine hotter. The carpets getting dirty. 4. to
geriatrics /deritrks/ noun the study have something done I must get my suit
geriatrics
of old people and their health cleaned. We got the car mended in time
germ /dm/ noun an organism which to go on holiday. 5. to make someone do
germ
causes disease Wash your hands after something Can you get the garage to
emptying the dustbin so you dont spread mend the brakes? Ill try and get her to
any germs. bring some CDs.
German /dmn/ adj referring to
German
get across phrasal verb 1. to manage

Germany or its inhabitants noun 1. the to cross something They got across the
language spoken in Germany, Austria and river on rafts. 2. to make someone under-
parts of Switzerland and Italy 2. a person stand something Im trying to get
from Germany across to the people in the office that they
get 272
all have to work harder. We just cant get into phrasal verb to go inside a
seem to get our message across. place or a vehicle They got into the
get along phrasal verb to manage She back of the car. I was just getting into
got along quite well when her mother bed when the phone rang. The burglars
was away on holiday. We seem to get got into the building through a window
along very happily without the telephone. on the ground floor.
How are you getting along? get off phrasal verb 1. to come down
get around phrasal verb 1. to move from from or out of a form of transport such as
place to place Since he had his accident a car, bus, train or plane She got off her
he gets around on two sticks. 2. (of news) bicycle at the red light. If you want the
to be heard by a lot of people The news post office, you should get off at the next
soon got around that they were married. stop. You have to get off the Under-
get at phrasal verb 1. to reach some- ground at South Kensington. 2. not to be
thing Youll need to stand on a chair to punished, or only receive a light punish-
get at the books on the top shelf. 2. to crit- ment She was lucky to get off so lightly.
icise someone all the time (informal) He was found guilty of embezzlement
She thinks shes being got at. 3. to sug- and got off with a fine.
gest or try to say something What was get on phrasal verb 1. to go onto a form
he really getting at when he said that of transport such as a car, bus, train or
some people were not working hard plane They got on the bus at the bank.
enough? The policeman got on his bike and rode
get away phrasal verb to escape The away. 2. to become old Hes getting on
robbers got away in a stolen car. and cant work as hard as he used to. 3.
get back phrasal verb 1. to return to manage Hows your new assistant
They got back home very late. When did getting on? 4. to be friendly with some-
they get back from the cinema? 2. to get one They dont get on at all well.
something again which you had before get out phrasal verb 1. to take some-
I got my money back after I had com- thing out Ill get the book out of the li-
plained to the manager. 3. to phone back brary. Shes getting the car out of the
or reply by post Ill find out what the garage. 2. to go out of a place or a vehicle
situation is and get back to you as soon The bus stopped and the driver got out.
as I can. The burglars got out through the front
get by phrasal verb 1. to manage to do door.

something with difficulty I can just get get over phrasal verb 1. to climb over
by in German. How are you going to something They got over the wall into
get by without a car? 2. to manage to live the garden. 2. to recover from an illness
It is difficult for them to get by in New Hes got over his flu. 3. to recover from
York on only $30 a day. a shock She never got over the death of
get down phrasal verb 1. to go back her father.
down onto the ground The cat climbed get round phrasal verb to persuade some-
up the tree and couldnt get down. He one to like you or to do what you want
got down off the ladder. 2. to bring some- She got round the boss by giving him a
thing down Can you get my suitcase bottle of wine.
down for me? 3. to make someone sad get through phrasal verb 1. to manage
Rainy weather always gets me down. to go through something The cows got
get going phrasal verb to start doing through the hole in the fence. 2. to be suc-
something, or to leave Come on, lets cessful He got through his exams, so he
get going! is now a qualified engineer.
get in phrasal verb 1. to go inside a get to phrasal verb to arrive at or reach
place or a vehicle Get in! the trains a place
going to leave. The burglars must have get up phrasal verb 1. to get out of bed
got in through the bathroom window. 2. He went to bed so late that he didnt get
to arrive home or at the office What up until 11 oclock. 2. to make someone
time did you get in last night? Because get out of bed You must get everyone up
of the train strike, we didnt get in until by 7.30 if we are going to leave on time.
eleven oclock. 3. to ask someone to 3. to stand up When he had finished his
come to do a job Well get a builder in meal, he got up from the table and
to mend the wall. walked out of the room.
273 girlfriend
get up to phrasal verb to reach some- gift-wrap / (ft rp/ verb to wrap some-
gift-wrap
thing Stop reading when you get up to thing in coloured paper to give as a present
page 23. gift-wrapped / (ft rpt/ adj (of a gift)
gift-wrapped
getaway / (etwe/ noun an escape

getaway
packaged in attractive paper

get rid of rid gig /((/ noun a performance of pop
get rid of gig
get-together / (et t(e/ noun a music (informal)

get-together
meeting of friends (informal) gigabyte / ((bat/ noun a unit of com-

gigabyte
geyser / (i
z/ noun a natural spring of puter data equal to 1,024 megabytes
geyser
hot water There are famous geysers in gigantic / da (ntk/ adj extremely
gigantic
Yellowstone National Park. large

ghastly / (
stli/ (ghastlier, ghastliest) giggle / ((()l/ noun a little laugh, of-
ghastly giggle
adj horrible ten showing you are embarrassed verb

ghetto / (et/ (plural ghettos or ghet- (giggles, giggling, giggled) to laugh in an
ghetto
toes) noun a poor area in a city in which embarrassed way [~about/at] The girls
people of a particular race, religion or na- were giggling about the letter.
gild / (ld/ (gilds, gilding, gilded) verb to
gild
tionality live
ghost /(st/ noun an image of a dead cover something with a layer of gold (NOTE:
ghost
person which some people believe they Do not confuse with guild.)
gill /dl/, ghyll noun a measure of liquids,
gill
have seen They say the house is haunted

by the ghost of its former owner. Her face equal to a quarter of a pint
is white she looks as if she has seen a gilt /(lt/ adj covered with gold a picture
gilt
ghost. in a gilt frame (NOTE: Do not confuse with

ghostly / (stli/ adj like a ghost
ghostly
guilt.)
ghost town / (st tan / noun an aban- gimme / (mi/ verb give me (informal)
ghost town gimme
doned town where no one lives gimmick / (mk/ noun a thing which is
gimmick
ghoul /(u
l/ noun 1. a person who is inter- intended to attract attention
ghoul
ested in unpleasant things 2. an evil and gin /dn/ noun a colourless alcoholic
gin
frightening spirit drink, flavoured with juniper a cocktail

GI /di
a/ noun an American soldier made with gin
GI
giant / dant/ noun (in fairy tales and ginger / dnd/ noun a plant whose
giant ginger
myths) a very large man a story about a root has a sharp burning taste and is used in
giant who lived in a castle at the top of a cooking Fry the meat with spring onions
mountain adj very large Hes grown a and slices of ginger. Add a pinch of pow-
giant cabbage. They are planning to dered ginger to the cake mixture. adj (of
build a giant car factory in South Wales. hair) orange in colour She has ginger
gibberish / dbr/ noun nonsense; hair and green eyes. A ginger cat lay
gibberish
words that do not seem to mean anything sleeping in the sun.

gibe /dab/ noun a nasty remark He gingerly / dndli/ adv carefully, in
gingerly
gibe
went on with his experiments, disregarding case you might get hurt
gipsy / dpsi/ another spelling of gypsy
gipsy
the gibes of the press.

giddy / (di/ (giddier, giddiest) adj feel- giraffe /d r
f/ noun a large African
giddy giraffe
ing that everything is turning round, and animal with a very long neck
that you could lose your balance girder / (#
d/ noun a strong metal beam
girder
gift /(ft/ noun 1. something given to to hold up a wall or roof

gift
someone as a present The wedding gifts girdle / (#

d()l/ noun 1. a belt round a
girdle
were displayed on a table. She was wrap- dress 2. a tight piece of underwear worn by
ping up gifts to put under the Christmas women in the past to support their bodies
tree. 2. a natural ability for doing some- girl /(#
l/ noun a female child a crowd
girl
thing well [~for] She has a gift for making of girls waiting at the bus stop They have
people feel welcome. He has a gift for four children two boys and two girls.
maths. My sister goes to the local girls school.
gifted / (ftd/ adj with a special talent girlfriend / (#
lfrend/ noun 1. a girl or
gifted
girlfriend
He was a gifted musician. woman that someone is having a romantic

gift token / (ft tkn/, gift voucher
gift token
relationship with Hes broken up with his

/ (ft vat/ noun a card bought in a girlfriend. 2. a friend who is a girl On
shop which is given as a present and which Saturdays she always has lunch with a
must be exchanged in that shop for goods group of girlfriends.
girlish 274
girlish / (#
l/ adj like a young girl the end, our dad gave way and let us go
girlish
camping by ourselves.
girth /(#
/ noun a measurement round
girth
giveaway / (vwe/ noun 1. a gift

giveaway
something, especially round your stomach

which is given to a customer 2. a thing
git /(t / noun an annoying person (informal
git
which reveals something Her beaming

insult) smile was an absolute giveaway that shed
give /(v / (giving, gave, given) verb 1.
give
got the job.

to pass something to someone [~(to)] Ill given / (v()n/ adj (of a specific time)
given
give the letter to her tonight or Ill give her already arranged or specified There is no
the letter tonight. Can you give me some given time for departure. at any given
information about holidays in Greece? 2. time at any particular time conj consider-
to send or pass something to someone as a ing [~that] He plays the violin very well
present [~(to)] We gave her flowers for given his age. Given that its his birthday,
her birthday. What are you going to give its a shame he couldnt get to the party.
him when he gets married? We gave ten glacial / (le()l/ adj 1. referring to gla-
glacial
pounds to the Red Cross. 3. to do some- ciers 2. very cold 3. very unfriendly
thing to someone or something [~to] He glacier / (lsi/ noun a mass of ice like a
glacier
gave me a broad smile. He gave her a frozen river which moves slowly down a
kiss. She gave the ball a kick. 4. to organ- mountain
ise something such as a party They gave
glad /(ld/ adj pleased Aunt Jane
glad
a reception for the visiting Foreign Minis-

ter. We gave a party to celebrate her was glad to get your postcard. After
twenty-first birthday. shopping all day, she was glad to find
somewhere to sit down.
give away phrasal verb 1. to give
glade /(led/ noun an open grassy place
glade
something as a present We are giving

away a pocket calculator with each 10 in a wood
gladiator / (ldiet / noun an ancient
gladiator
of purchases. 2. to throw things out by

giving them to charity 3. to lead the bride Roman fighter
gladly / (ldli/ adv with great pleasure
gladly
to the bridegroom at a wedding She was

given away by her father. 4. to reveal glamorise / (lmraz/ (glamorises,
glamorise
something which you are trying to keep glamorising, glamorised), glamorize verb
secret His accent gave him away. She to make something seem to be more attrac-
gave herself away by saying that she had tive or glamorous than it really is
never been to France. glamorous / (lmrs/ adj attractive;
glamorous
give back phrasal verb to hand some- enchanting

thing back to someone glamour / (lm/ noun an attractive,
glamour
give in phrasal verb to agree to do dazzling appearance (NOTE: no plural. An-

something that you had refused to do ear- other US spelling is glamor.)
lier glance /(l
ns/ noun a quick look
glance
give off phrasal verb to produce some- She gave him an admiring glance. verb
thing such as steam or a smell (glances, glancing, glanced) to look
give out phrasal verb 1. to give some- quickly He glanced over his shoulder to
thing to everyone She gave out presents see who was following him. She glanced
to all the children. 2. to come to an end suspiciously at the waiter. at a glance af-
The battery has given out so I cant use ter a quick look at something At a glance,
my watch. Id say these rugs are Chinese.
gland /(lnd/ noun an organ in the body
gland
give up phrasal verb 1. to stop doing

something Shes trying to give up which produces a chemical substance
smoking. 2. to give yourself up to sur- glandular fever /(lndjl fi
v/
glandular fever
render to an enemy, the police, etc. He noun an infectious disease, where the body
gave himself up to the police. They has an excessive number of white blood
shouted to the gang to come out of the cells
store and give themselves up. glare /(le/ noun 1. a very bright light
glare
give way phrasal verb 1. to let someone The glare of the sun on the wet road blind-
go first Give way to traffic coming from ed me. 2. an angry look He gave her a
the right. 2. to break under a heavy glare and walked on. verb (glares, glar-
weight The chair gave way when he sat ing, glared) to look angrily She glared at
on it. 3. to stop opposing something In me and went on reading her book.
275 global warming

glaring / (ler/ adj 1. very bright the gliding / (lad/ noun the sport of flying
glaring gliding
glaring headlights of the cars 2. obvious a glider

The book is full of glaring mistakes. glimmer / (lm/ noun 1. a small weak
glimmer
glass /(l
s/ noun 1. a hard, smooth
glass
light There was a glimmer of light in one

material which you can see through, used of the upstairs windows. 2. a very small
to make things such as windows, vases and amount The news brought a glimmer of
bowls [~of] a bowl made of glass or a hope to the families of the trapped miners.
glass bowl They found some very old verb (glimmers, glimmering, glim-
pieces of glass in the earth. (NOTE: no plu- mered) to shine weakly A light glim-
ral) 2. a container to drink out of, usually mered some distance away in the trees.
made of glass She put the dirty glasses in glimpse /(lmps/ noun a quick sight of
glimpse
the dishwasher. We took plastic wine something We caught a glimpse of the

glasses on the picnic. 3. the liquid con- princess as she drove past. There was a
tained in a glass Would you like a large brief glimpse of the sun during the after-
glass or a small glass? He was so thirsty noon. verb (glimpses, glimpsing,
he drank three glasses. Add a glass of red glimpsed) to catch sight of someone or
wine to the sauce. plural noun glasses something We only glimpsed the back of
two plastic or glass lenses in a frame which her head as she was leaving.
you wear in front of your eyes to help you glint /(lnt/ (glints, glinting, glinted) verb
glint
see better She has to wear glasses for to flash The soldiers swords glinted in
reading. (NOTE: no singular: for one item, the sunshine. (NOTE: + glint n)
say a pair of glasses.)
glisten / (ls()n/ (glistens, glistening,
glisten
glass ceiling /(l

s si
l/ noun a sys-
glass ceiling
glistened) verb to shine brightly, as if wet

tem which prevents certain people, espe-
glitch /(lt/ noun a small problem which
glitch
cially women, from progressing in their ca-

reer suddenly arises
glitter / (lt/ (glitters, glittering, glit-
glitter
glasshouse / (l
shas/ noun a large
glasshouse
greenhouse tered) verb to shine brightly with small

points of light, as the stars in the sky seem
glassware / (l
swe/ noun things
glassware
to shine The jewels in her crown were

made of glass
glittering in the light of the candles. Her
glassy / (l
si/ adj 1. resembling glass 2.
glassy
eyes glittered hopefully as she spoke.

(of eyes) dull a glassy stare
glittering / (ltr/ adj 1. which shines
glittering
glaze /(lez/ noun a shiny surface on pot-

glaze
brightly a glittering diamond crown 2.

tery The pot has a green-blue glaze. very brilliant; very successful They threw
(NOTE: + glaze v) a glittering reception at the golf club. He
glazed /(lezd/ adj 1. with a shiny surface
glazed
had a glittering career in the Foreign Of-

a floor of glazed tiles 2. with glass win- fice.
dows We have built a glazed porch. glitz /(lts/ noun a quality which makes
glitz
gleam /(li
m/ noun 1. a small light He
gleam
something seem to be very exciting and

saw the gleam of a flashlight in the dis- glamorous
tance. 2. a slight sign He saw a gleam of gloat /(lt/ (gloats, gloating, gloated)
gloat
recognition in the boys eyes. There was verb to be happy about something, espe-
a wild gleam in her eyes. verb (gleams, cially someone elses bad luck
gleaming, gleamed) to shine as if polished
global / (lb()l/ adj 1. relating to the
global
a line of gleaming black cars

whole world We offer a global parcel de-
glean /(li
n/ (gleans, gleaning, gleaned)
glean
livery service. 2. relating to the whole of

verb to collect scraps of information
something We are carrying out a global
glee /(li
/ noun great happiness
glee
review of salaries.
glen /(len/ noun (in Scotland) a narrow
glen
globalisation /(lbla ze()n/,

globalisation
valley globalization noun the process by which

glib /(lb/ adj easily said, but insincere
glib
world economy and culture merge, as a re-

glide /(lad/ (glides, gliding, glided)
glide
sult of telecommunications and multina-

verb to move in a smooth way Skaters tional companies
were gliding across the ice. A bird went global warming /(lb()l
global warming
gliding past. w
m/ noun a gradual rise in tempera-
glider / (lad/ noun an aircraft which
glider
ture over the whole of the earths surface,

flies without a motor caused by the greenhouse effect
globe 276
globe /(lb/ noun 1. the globe the with pride. noun a soft bright light the
globe
world He is trying to be the first person warm glow of the fire

to fly round the globe in a balloon. 2. a map glower / (la/ (glowers, glowering,
glower
of the world on a ball He spun the globe glowered) verb to look angrily
round and pointed to Canada. glowing / (l/ adj 1. bright; shining
glowing
globule / (lbju
l/ noun a small round
globule
with fire the glowing charcoal in the bar-

drop, especially of oil or another thick liq- becue 2. full of praise or enthusiasm He
uid had a glowing report from his boss.
gloom /(lu
m/ noun 1. darkness It was glucose / (lu
kz/ noun a widely oc-
gloom glucose
difficult to see in the gathering gloom. 2. curring simple sugar

glue /(lu
/ noun a substance which
glue
deep despair A feeling of deep gloom

came down on the family. When the exam sticks things together She spread the glue
results came out everyone sank into gloom. carefully onto the back of the poster. The
gloomy / (lu
mi/ (gloomier, gloomi- glue on the envelope doesnt stick very
gloomy
est) adj 1. unhappy She was gloomy well. verb (glues, gluing, glued) to stick
about her chances of passing the exam. things together He glued the label to the
Hes very gloomy about his job prospects. box.
glum /(lm/ (glummer, glummest) adj
glum
2. dark a gloomy Sunday afternoon in

November miserable (NOTE: + glumly adv)
glorified / (l
rfad/ adj seeming more glut /(lt/ noun too much of something
glut
glorified
important or special than it really is Theres a glut of poultry on the market.

glutinous / (lu
tns/ adj unpleasantly
glutinous
glorify / (l
rfa/ (glorifies, glorifying,
glorify
glorified) verb to make something seem thick and sticky

glutton / (lt()n/ noun a person who
glutton
more important or special than it really is

(NOTE: + glorification n) eats too much Hes just a glutton look
glorious / (l
ris/ adj splendid
glorious
at him finishing off that trifle!
gluttony / (lt()ni/ noun eating and
gluttony
glory / (l
ri/ (plural glories) noun 1.
glory
fame I did it for the glory of the school, drinking too much
GM abbr genetically modified
GM
not for myself. 2. a wonderful sight It is

GMO abbr genetically modified organism
GMO
one of the glories of ancient Rome.

gloss /(ls/ noun 1. a shine on the surface GMT abbr Greenwich Mean Time
GMT
gloss
gnat /nt/ noun a small fly which bites

gnat
of something The metal is polished to

give a brilliant gloss. 2. a note which ex- gnaw /n
/ (gnaws, gnawing, gnawed,
gnaw
plains or gives a meaning to a word, phrase gnawed or gnawn) verb to bite something
or whole text his glosses on the plays of again and again
Shakespeare gnawing / n
/ adj (of worries) persist-
gnawing
gloss over phrasal verb to try to hide a ent and troubling

mistake or fault She tried to gloss over gnome /nm/ noun a little man with a
gnome
the fact that they had failed. The report beard and pointed hat, in childrens fairy
glosses over the mistakes made by offi- stories
cials. go /(/ verb (goes, going, went,
go
glossary / (lsri/ (plural glossaries)

glossary
gone) 1. to move from one place to another

noun a list of specialist words and their [/////] The plane goes to Frankfurt, then to
meanings or translations Rome. She is going to London for the
gloss paint / (ls pent/ noun a paint weekend. Its time the children went to
gloss paint
which is shiny when dry bed. He has gone to work in Washington.

They are going on a tour of southern
glossy / (lsi / (glossier, glossiest) adj
glossy
shiny the glossy coat of a horse Spain. She was going downstairs when
she fell. 2. to leave [/////] Get your coat,
glove /(lv/ noun a piece of clothing
glove
its time to go. The last bus goes at half

worn on your hand past two. 3. to work Can you phone the
glove compartment / (lv km
glove compartment
|
garage? the car wont go. Hes trying
p
tmnt/ noun a little cupboard with a to get his motorbike to go. 4. to fit Its too
door in front of the passengers seat in a car big to go into the box. This case wont go
glow /(l/ verb (glows, glowing,
glow
into the back of the car. 5. to be placed

glowed) to shine in a dull way The logs The date should go at the top of the letter.
glowed in the fireplace. Her face glowed 6. to become Her face went red from sit-
277 go
ting in the sun. He went pale and rushed night. 3. to explode The bomb went off
out of the room. You have to shout, my fa- when there were still lots of people in the
thers going deaf. Shes going grey, but it building. Fireworks were going off eve-
suits her. 7. to happen in a particular way rywhere on Bonfire Night. 4. to become
The party went very well. Things are go- rotten Throw that meat away its gone
ing badly at work. 8. to make a particular off. Fish goes off quickly in hot weath-
sound The balloon landed on a candle er. 5. not to like something any more
and went pop. Do you remember the Ive gone off modern music. She went
song that goes: Theres no place like off her new boyfriend quite quickly.
home? noun (plural gos) a try; an at- go on phrasal verb 1. to continue
tempt He won the lottery at the first go. Please go on, I like hearing you sing.
She had three goes at the test and still They went on working in spite of the fire.
didnt pass. Well give it one more go, She went on speaking for two hours. 2.
and if the car doesnt start Ill call the ga- to happen Whats been going on here?
rage. 3. to base your opinion and actions on
go about phrasal verb to deal with some- something The police investigating the
thing murder dont have much to go on. We
go ahead phrasal verb to take place as have to go on the assumption that the fes-
planned The project went ahead even tival will start on time. 4. to talk all the
though there were not enough staff. time about something [~about] She will
go along with phrasal verb to agree with keep going on about her operation. 5.
someone or something used for showing you do not believe
go away phrasal verb to leave
someone Go on! Shes not as old as
that!
go back phrasal verb to return
go out phrasal verb 1. to leave a build-
go back on phrasal verb not to do what ing I dont go out often at night. He
has been promised forgot to lock the door when he went out.
go down phrasal verb 1. to go to a low- 2. to go to parties We used to go out
er level There are thirty-nine steps every Friday and Saturday night. 3. not
which go down to the beach. Be careful to be burning or lit any more The fire
when going down the hill. After having went out and the room got cold. All the
a rest in her bedroom, she went down to lights in the building suddenly went out.
the hotel bar. Prices have gone down. 4. to go out of business to stop trading
2. to catch a disease Half the crew went The firm went out of business last week.
down with flu. 3. to be received in a par- go over phrasal verb 1. to cross to the
ticular way The speech went down well other side Go over the bridge and turn
today. left. 2. to examine something carefully
go in phrasal verb to enter a place You She went over the contract with her solic-
dont need to knock just go in. itor.
go in for phrasal verb 1. to take an exam- go round phrasal verb 1. to turn The
ination She went in for her proficiency merry-go-round went round and round.
exam. 2. to take something up as a career 2. to turn round something We went
Hes going in for medicine. round the roundabout and took the third
go into phrasal verb 1. to enter a place road on the left. We didnt go far, we
She went into the bedroom. 2. (in just went round the block. 3. to visit a
maths) to be able to divide a number to place Youll need at least two hours to
give a figure Seven into three wont go. go round the museum. 4. to be enough for
3. to examine something; to look at a particular number of people There
something carefully The bank wants to wasnt enough ice cream to go round all
go into the details of his account. 4. to ex- twelve of us. 5. to go to somewhere near
plain something in detail She said she Lets go round to your sisters. We all
had a job offer but wouldnt go into any went round to the pub for a drink.
details. go up phrasal verb 1. to go to a higher
go off phrasal verb 1. to go to another place Take the lift and go up to the
place He went off to look for a parking fourth floor. 2. to increase; to rise to a
space. She went off muttering some- higher level The price of bread has
thing about buying cheese. 2. (of an gone up.
alarm) to start making its noise The bur- go with phrasal verb 1. to match some-
glar alarm went off in the middle of the thing Blue shoes wont go with a green
goad 278
dress. Red wine goes best with meat. 2. goblet / (blt/ noun a large wine glass
goblet
to be linked to something That remote with a long stem, or a similar container

control goes with the TV. He has a big made of metal or pottery
house that goes with his job. 3. to accom- goblin / (bln/ noun an ugly little man
goblin
pany someone Who are you going to in fairy stories

the party with? god /(d/ noun a being with special pow-
god
go without phrasal verb not to have ers that humans do not have, who is be-
something which you usually have We lieved in and worshipped by some people
often went without lunch. Bacchus was the Roman god of wine.
goad /(d/ (goads, goading, goaded)
goad
God /(d/ noun the spiritual Chris-

God
verb to take pleasure in making someone tians, Jews and Muslims believe in and
feel upset She goaded him with taunts of worship Do you believe in God? We
his failure. to goad someone into doing pray to God that the children will be found
something to push someone into doing alive. interj used for showing that you are
something by making them upset Her surprised or annoyed God, what awful
laughter goaded him into action. weather! My God, have you seen how
go-ahead / ( hed/ noun to give
go-ahead
|
late it is?
something the go-ahead or get the go- godchild / (dtald/ (plural godchil-
godchild
ahead to give or get permission for some- dren) noun a child who has a godparent
thing to start (informal) We got the coun- goddess / (des/ noun a female god
goddess
cils go-ahead to build the new supermar-

godfather / (df
/ noun 1. a male
godfather
ket.
godparent He was godfather to four chil-
goal / (l/ noun 1. (in games) two
goal
dren. 2. the head of a mafia gang The

posts between which you have to send the godfathers word is law.
ball to score a point He was unlucky to
god-forsaken / (d fsekn/ adj des-
god-forsaken
miss the goal with that shot. 2. (in games) a |
point scored by sending the ball between olate

godmother / (dm / noun a female
godmother
the posts He scored a goal before being

sent off. Our team scored three goals. 3. godparent
godparent / (dpernt/ noun a person
godparent
an aim Our goal is to open a new pizza

restaurant every month. He achieved his who promises to take a special interest in a
goal of becoming a millionaire before he child at his or her baptism
was thirty. godsend / (dsend/ noun a helpful
godsend
goalie / (li/ noun a goalkeeper

goalie
thing which arrives just in time

(informal) goes /(z/ 3rd person singular present
goes
goalkeeper / (lki
p/ noun a player of go
goalkeeper
who stands in front of the goal to stop the go-getter /( (et/ noun a person who
go-getter
ball going in works hard and is determined to succeed

goalpost / (lpst/ noun one of the goggles / ((()lz/ plural noun close-fit-
goalpost
goggles
two posts between which you have to send ting glasses worn to protect your eyes
the ball to score a point You should wear goggles when you use a
goat /(t/ noun a small farm animal with drill. He wore goggles when going scuba
goat
horns and a beard, giving milk and wool diving.

a herd of goats going / ( / present participle of go
going
goatee / ( ti
/ noun a small pointed going concern /( kn s#
n/ noun
goatee going concern
| |
beard a business that is operating successfully

gobble / (b()l/ (gobbles, gobbling, and is likely to continue to do so The
gobble
gobbled) verb 1. to eat something greedily business is being sold as a going concern.
going-over /( v/ (plural go-
going-over
He gobbled up his dinner. 2. to make a

noise like a turkey We could hear the tur- ings-over) noun a thorough check
keys gobbling away in the farmyard. goings-on /(z n/ plural noun
goings-on
gobbledegook / (b()ldi(u
k/ noun
gobbledegook
| strange things that happen (informal)

nonsense or technical language that you do going to / ( tu
/ phrase used for
going to
not understand showing future Were going to win. I

go-between / ( btwi
n/ noun a per-
go-between
| hope its going to be fine tomorrow.

son who takes messages between two peo- When are you going to wash your hair?
ple Hes going to be a great tennis player when
279 goodness
hes older. Is she going to sing at the con- good /(d / adj (better, best) 1. sensi-
good
cert? ble, enjoyable or of a high standard We

go-kart / ( k
t/ noun a little racing had a good breakfast and then started
go-kart
car made of a simple metal frame with an work. Did you have a good time at the
engine party? It would be a good idea to invest
gold /(ld/ noun a very valuable yel-
gold
in these shares. Her Spanish is better
low-coloured metal That ring isnt made than his. 2. skilful at doing something
of gold. Gold is worth more than silver. [~with/~at] Shes good with young chil-
He wears a gold ring on his little finger. dren He is good at football. Hes good
(NOTE: no plural: some gold, a bar of gold) at making things out of wood. 3. well-be-
adj of the colour of gold a gold carpet haved Be a good girl and Ill give you a
sweet. Have you been good while weve
golden / (ld()n/ adj coloured like
golden
been away? noun advantage or benefit

gold; made from gold She has beautiful
The medicine didnt do me any good. He
golden hair. decided to give up smoking for the good of
golden age / (ld()n ed/ noun a pe-
golden age
his health. Whats the good of having a

riod of wealth or success big garden if you dont like gardening?
golden opportunity /(ld()n p
golden opportunity
|
Governments should work for the good of
tju
nti/ noun a marvellous chance to do the people.
something which may not happen again good afternoon /(d
ft nu
n/
good afternoon
golden rule /(ld()n ru

l/ noun an
golden rule
interj used when meeting or leaving some-

important rule that must be obeyed one in the afternoon
golden wedding /(ld()n wed/ goodbye /(d ba/ noun, interj used
golden wedding goodbye
noun a day when you have been married when leaving someone Say goodbye to
for fifty years Its my parents golden your teacher. Goodbye! Well see you
wedding next Tuesday. again on Thursday. (NOTE: often shortened
goldfish / (ldf/ (plural same or gold- to bye)
goldfish
good evening /(d i
vn/ interj
good evening
fishes) noun a small orange fish, kept as a

pet used as a greeting when meeting someone
gold medal /(ld medl/ noun the
gold medal
or sometimes when leaving someone in the
medal given to someone who finishes first evening
good-for-nothing / (d f n/
good-for-nothing
in a race or competition
gold medallist /(ld med()lst/
gold medallist
noun a lazy person
good-humoured /(d hju
md/ adj
good-humoured
noun the person who wins the gold medal

in a race or competition cheerful and friendly (NOTE: The US spell-
goldmine / (ldman/ noun a mine
goldmine
ing is good-humored.)
goodies / (diz/ plural noun 1. sweet
goodies
which produces gold

golf /(lf/ noun a game played on a
golf
food The children looked at all the good-
large open course, by hitting a small ball ies on the table. 2. presents What goodies
into 18 separate holes with a variety of did Father Christmas bring you?
good-looking /(d lk/ adj (of a
good-looking
clubs, using as few attempts as possible

He plays golf every Saturday. Do you person) having an attractive face His sis-
want a game of golf? ter is a very good-looking girl. Hes not
especially good-looking.
golf ball / (lf b
l/ noun a small hard
golf ball
good looks /(d lks/ plural noun

good looks
white ball used when playing golf

pleasing and beautiful appearance His
golf club / (lf klb/ noun 1. an or-
golf club
good looks and charm attracted many

ganisation for people who play golf togeth- women.
er Hes joined his local golf club. 2. a
good morning /(d m
n/ interj
good morning
place with a golf course and a restaurant

and bar, where people go to play golf and used when meeting someone, or some-
meet socially times when leaving someone in the morn-
ing
golf course / (lf k
s / noun a large
golf course
good-natured /(d netd/ adj with

good-natured
area of ground for playing golf a pleasant and cooperative character

gone /(n/ past participle of go
gone
goodness / (dns/ noun being good

goodness
gonna / (n/ contr going to (informal)

gonna
She did it out of pure goodness of heart.

Im gonna get you before you get me! interj used for showing surprise Good-
goo /(u
/ noun sticky stuff (informal)
goo
ness! is that the time? thank goodness!

good night 280

used for showing relief Thank goodness gospel / (spl/ noun the part of the Bi-
gospel
the ambulance arrived quickly! for ble which tells the life of Jesus Christ
goodness sake used for showing you are gossip / (sp/ noun stories or news
gossip
annoyed, or that something is important about someone, which may or may not be
What are you screaming for? Its only a true Have you heard the latest gossip
little mouse, for goodness sake. For about Sue? verb (gossips, gossiping,
goodness sake try to be quiet, we dont gossiped) to talk about peoples private
want the guards to hear us! lives They spent hours gossiping about
good night /(d nat/ interj used
good night
| the people working in the office.

when leaving someone late in the evening got /(t/ past tense and past participle
got
goods /(dz/ plural noun 1. things that

goods
of get
are produced for sale The company sells gotta / (t/ contr got to (informal) Im
gotta
goods from various European countries. 2. sick Ive gotta go to the doctor.
possessions; things which you own She gotten / (t()n/ US past participle of
gotten
carried all her worldly goods in a bag. get

goodwill /(d wl/ noun 1. a kind feeling
goodwill
gouge /(ad/ (gouges, gouging,

| gouge
The charity relies on the goodwill of peo-

gouged) verb to cut something out He
ple who give money regularly. 2. a value gouged out a hole in the plank. The
given to things such as the customers of a waves have gouged out a cave in the cliff.
business, its reputation and its site He (NOTE: + gouge n)
paid 10,000 for the goodwill of the res-
gourd /(d/ noun a round fruit of a
gourd
taurant and 40,000 for the fittings.

climbing plant, dried and used as a bottle
goody / (di /, Goody interj Im glad (dat-
goody
or as a decoration
ed informal )
gourmet / (me/ noun 1. a person who
gourmet
goody-goody / (di (di/ adj a person

goody-goody
who is not liked because they are always knows about and appreciates good food
trying to please people such as their teach- and drink 2. referring to good food We
er or their boss had a gourmet dinner in a three-star res-
taurant. This recipe comes from a gour-
gooey / (u
i/ adj soft and sticky
gooey
met cookbook.
goofy / (u
fi/ adj stupid (informal)
goofy
govern / (v()n/ (governs, govern-

govern
goose /(u
s/ (plural geese) noun a
goose
ing, governed) verb to rule a country The

large bird, living near water, which can be country is governed by three generals.
eaten (NOTE: The males are ganders, the governess / (vns/ noun a private fe-
governess
young are goslings.) male teacher

gooseberry / (zb()ri/ noun a little
gooseberry
government / (v()nmnt/ noun

government
green hairy fruit, with a sharp taste the people or a political party which rules a
gore /(
/ noun blood The final scene of
gore
country The president asked the leader of

the play was very violent, with lots of gore. the largest party to form a new govern-
verb (gores, goring, gored) to wound
ment. The government controls the price
with a horn He was gored by a bull. of bread. He has an important job in the
gorge /(
d / noun a rocky valley The
gorge
government.
walkers climbed down into the gorge. governor / (v()n/ noun a person
governor
verb (gorges, gorging, gorged) to eat too who runs a state, a colony or an institution
much Look at her gorging herself on
gown / (an/ noun 1. a womans long for-
gown
cakes.
mal dress a ball gown 2. a robe worn by
gorgeous / (
ds/ adj magnificent
gorgeous
someone such as a judge or a person with a

gorilla /( rl/ noun a large black Afri-
gorilla
|
degree
can ape (NOTE: Do not confuse with guerril- GP /di
pi
/ noun a family doctor
GP
la.) who does not specialise in any particular

gorse /(
s/ noun a wild prickly shrub
gorse
branch of medicine. Full form general

with bright yellow flowers practitioner
gory / (
ri/ adj 1. covered in blood 2. ter-
gory
grab / (rb/ (grabs, grabbing,

grab
rible; awful (humorous) She told me all grabbed) verb 1. to pick something up sud-
the gory details of her interview. denly He grabbed his suitcase and ran to
gosh /(/ interj used for showing sur-
gosh
the train. 2. to get something quickly

prise (dated informal ) (informal) Lets grab some lunch before
gosling / (zl/ noun a baby goose
gosling
the meeting starts.

281 grandma
grace /(res/ noun 1. elegance and attrac- high school or college with a diploma 3. a
grace
tiveness We admired the grace of the deer mark showing quantities

as they ran off into the woods. 2. a prayer graffiti /(r fi
ti/ noun words which have
graffiti
before a meal Father always says grace been written or painted on walls in public
before dinner. 3. extra time to pay We places
gave the creditors two weeks grace to pay. graft /(r
ft/ noun very hard work that
graft
verb (graces, gracing, graced) to honour needs a lot of physical energy (informal)
She graced the ceremony with her pres- She has succeeded through sheer hard
ence. graft.
graceful / (resf()l/ adj moving in a
graceful
grain /(ren/ noun 1. a crop such as wheat

grain
smooth and beautiful way She crossed or corn a field of grain the grain har-
the stage with graceful steps. We admired vest 2. a very small piece a grain of sand
the swimmers graceful strokes across the gram /(rm/, gramme noun a unit of
gram
pool. weight; there are 1000 grams in a kilogram

graceless / (resls/ adj 1. not elegant 2.
graceless
(NOTE: usually written g after figures: 50 g.)

not dignified grammar / (rm/ noun 1. the rules
grammar
gracious / (res/ interj used for show-

gracious
of a language Im finding Russian gram-

ing surprise Gracious! Is that the time? mar very difficult. Hes been learning
gradation /(r de()n/ noun 1. a series
gradation
| English for years, and still makes basic

of degrees or stages 2. one of a series of de- grammar mistakes. 2. a book of rules of a
grees or stages 3. the act of arranging language Ill look it up in my new Ger-
things according to size, or quality man grammar.
grade /(red/ noun 1. a level of quality grammar school / (rm sku
l/ noun
grade grammar school
I always buy grade 2 eggs. What grade a secondary school where students have to
of vegetables do you sell most of? 2. an ex- pass an exam to enter
amination mark She got top grades in grammatical / (r mtk()l/ adj refer-
grammatical
maths. 3. US a class in school students in ring to correct grammar

fifth grade Shes a fifth-grade student. gran /(rn/ noun a grandmother
gran
verb (grades, grading, graded) to sort

(informal)
things according to size or quality a ma-
granary / (rnri/ noun a place where
granary
chine for grading fruit Hotels are graded

with two, three, four or five stars. to grain is stored
grand /(rnd/ adj 1. big and important
grand
make the grade to succeed; to do well

gradient / (redint/ noun a slope in a
gradient
his grand plan for making a lot of money
road or railway, 2. impressive We went to a very grand
wedding.
gradual / (rdul/ adj which chang-
gradual
grandad / (rndd/ noun 1. a grandfa-

grandad
es a little at a time
ther (informal) 2. a common name used for
gradually / (rduli/ adv little by
gradually
addressing a grandfather
little His condition improved gradually
grandchild / (rntald/ (plural
grandchild
day by day. She gradually learnt how to

deal with customers complaints. grandchildren) noun a child of a son or
daughter
graduate1 / (rdut / noun a person
graduate
granddaughter / (rnd
t/ noun
granddaughter
with a degree from a university or college

Hes a graduate of London University.
the daughter of a son or daughter
grandeur / (rnd/ noun splendour
grandeur
Shes a physics graduate.

graduate2 / (rduet/ (graduates, grandfather / (rnf
/ noun the
grandfather
graduate
|
|
graduating, graduated) verb to get a de- father of your mother or father Tomorrow
gree She graduated from Edinburgh Uni- is grandfathers hundredth birthday. My
versity last year. grandfather always tells us fascinating sto-
graduated / (rduetd/ adj 1. rising
graduated
ries about his childhood. (NOTE: often
in stages graduated income tax 2. with called grandad or grandpa by children)
grandfather clock / (rnf
klk/
grandfather clock
quantities marked on it a graduated

measuring jar noun a tall clock which stands on the floor
graduation /(rdu e()n/ noun 1. grandiose / (rndis/ adj impressive,
grandiose
graduation
the ceremony at which you get a degree but too big and complicated
grandma / (rnm
/ noun a grandmoth-
grandma
from a university or college Graduation

will take place on June 10th. 2. US leaving er (informal )
grandmother 282
grandmother / (rnm/ noun the grapevine / (repvan/ noun a plant on
grandmother grapevine
mother of your mother or father It will be which grapes grow I heard it on the
grandmothers ninetieth birthday next grapevine someone told me about it when
month. My grandmother taught me how gossiping
to make bread. (NOTE: often called gran or graph /(r
f/ noun a chart showing how
graph
granny or grandma or nan by children) amounts rise and fall in the form of a line
grandpa / (rnp
/ noun a grandfather graphic / (rfk/ adj 1. drawn in sym-
grandpa graphic
(informal) bols or letters The results are shown in

grandparent / (rnpernt/ noun the graphic form. 2. vivid He gave a graphic
grandparent
mother or father of one of your parents description of the accident.

graphic design /(rfk d zan/ noun
graphic design
grand piano /(rnd pi n/ noun a

grand piano
|
|
large horizontal piano (NOTE: A smaller pi- the art or practice of designing things in-
ano, with a vertical body, is called an up- volving images and text
graphics / (rfks/ plural noun pic-
graphics
right.)
Grand Prix /(rn pri
/ noun a race for
Grand Prix
tures on a computer screen or designed on
large and powerful racing cars a computer The graphics on this game
are brilliant.
grand slam /(rnd slm/ noun win-
grand slam
graphite / (rfat/ noun natural carbon

graphite
ning a series of competitions, such as all

grapple / (rp()l/ (grapples, grap-
grapple
the main tennis competitions held in a year

grandson / (rnsn/ noun the son of
grandson
pling, grappled) verb 1. to fight The two
a son or daughter men were grappling on the floor. 2. to
grapple with something to struggle to
grandstand / (rndstnd/ noun a
grandstand
solve something difficult Hes grappling

stand with seats for spectators at games or with the company accounts.
races grasp /(r
sp/ noun an understanding
grasp
grand total / (rnd tt()l/ noun a fi-

grand total
She has a good grasp of physics. verb

nal total made by adding several items (grasps, grasping, grasped) to under-
granite / (rnt/ noun a hard grey stone
granite
stand something They didnt seem to

granny / (rni/ (plural grannies) noun a grasp my meaning.
granny
grass /(r
s/ noun a low green plant,
grass
grandmother (informal)
grant / (r
nt/ noun an amount of mon-
grant
which is eaten by sheep and cows in fields,
ey given to help someone to pay for some- or used in gardens to cover the area that
thing, or to live while they are doing some- you walk or sit on The grass is getting too
thing such as studying Not many students long it needs cutting.
grasshopper / (r
shp / noun a green
grasshopper
get a full grant. My grant only pays for a

few books. We have applied for a grant to insect which jumps and makes a rubbing
plant trees by the side of the road. verb noise
(grants, granting, granted) to give some- grassland / (r
slnd/ noun an area of
grassland
one something, especially officially land covered in wild grass

(formal) The council has granted the grate /(ret/ noun a metal frame for hold-
grate
school permission to build a new hall. to ing coal in a fireplace verb (grates, grat-
take someone for granted to accept what ing, grated) to make something into small
someone does for you without showing pieces by rubbing against a grater She
them that you are grateful to take some- grated nutmeg over the pudding. Sprinkle
thing for granted to assume that you will grated cheese over your pasta. We made
get something, or will keep something, and a salad of grated carrots and spring on-
so not to appreciate it The children seem ions. (NOTE: Do not confuse with great.)
to take it for granted that I will give them grateful / (retf()l/ adj feeling that
grateful
big presents every birthday. you want to thank someone for something
granule / (rnju
l/ noun a very small
granule
that they have done for you We are most

particle grateful to you for your help.
grape /(rep / noun a small green or red grater / (ret/ noun a kitchen instrument
grape
grater
fruit which grows on low plants, often used with a rough surface and little holes for
to make wine grating
grapefruit / (repfru
t/ (plural grape- gratify / (rtfa/ (gratifies, gratifying,
grapefruit gratify
fruits or same) noun a large yellow citrus gratified) verb (formal) 1. to satisfy some-
fruit, like an orange but not as sweet one It gratifies her need for luxury. 2. to
283 grey
please someone We were gratified to see great-grandchild /(ret (rntald /
great-grandchild
that our work was prominently displayed. noun the son or daughter of a grandchild
grating / (ret / noun a metal frame greatly / (retli/ adv very much
grating greatly
which covers a hole They lifted up the greatness / (retns/ noun importance
greatness
grating to look into the drain. or respect

gratitude / (rttju
d/ noun thankful- greed /(ri
d/ noun too much love of food,
gratitude greed
ness money or power

gratuitous /(r tju
ts/ adj unneces- greedy / (ri
di/ (greedier, greediest) adj
greedy
gratuitous
sary; unjustified wanting more food or other things than you

grave /(r
v/ noun a hole in the ground
grave
need (NOTE: + greedily adv)
green /(ri
n/ adj 1. of a colour like the
green
where a dead person is buried At the fu-

neral, the whole family stood by the grave. colour of grass He was wearing a bright
adj serious She looked at him with a green shirt. 2. relating to, interested in or
grave expression. concerned about the environment Shes
gravel / (rv()l/ noun small stones
gravel
very worried about green issues. Hes a
leading figure in the green movement.
gravestone / (revstn/ noun a large
gravestone
noun 1. a colour like that of grass and

stone placed on a grave with the name of leaves The door was painted a very dark
the dead person written on it green. 2. an area of public land covered
graveyard / (revj
d/ noun a cemetery
graveyard
with grass in the middle of a village They

gravitate / (rvtet/ (gravitates, grav- were playing cricket on the village green.
gravitate
green bean /(ri

n bi
n/ noun a long
green bean
itating, gravitated) verb to move in a par-

ticular direction [~towards] In the evening thin green vegetable
the students gravitate towards the bars. green belt / (ri
n belt/ noun an area of
green belt
gravity / (rvti/ noun the force farming land or woods and parks, which
gravity
which pulls things towards the ground surrounds a town, and on which building is
Apples fall to the ground because of the restricted or completely banned
green card /(ri
n k
d/ noun a work
green card
earths gravity.
gravy / (revi/ noun sauce made from the permit for someone who is going to live in
gravy
juices of cooked meat (NOTE: no plural) the USA

greenery / (ri
nri/ noun the leaves of
greenery
gray /(re/ noun, adj US spelling of grey

gray
trees and plants

graze /(rez/ noun a slight skin injury
graze
greenfield site / (ri

nfi
ld sat/ noun a
greenfield site
He had a graze on his knee. verb (grazes,

grazing, grazed) (of animals) to feed on site for a factory which is in the country,
grass The sheep were grazing on the hill- and not surrounded by other factories
greengrocer / (ri
n(rs/ noun a per-
greengrocer
side.
son who sells fruit and vegetables
grease /(ri
s/ noun thick oil Put some
grease
greenhouse / (ri
nhas/ (plural
greenhouse
grease on the hinge. verb (greases,

greasing, greased) to cover with oil greenhouses) noun a glass building for
Dont forget to grease the wheels. She growing plants
green light /(ri
n lat/ verb to give ap-
green light
greased the pan before cooking the eggs.

proval or permission for something to pro-
greasy / (ri
si/ (greasier, greasiest) adj
greasy
ceed
covered with oil or grease He wiped his
greet /(ri
t/ (greets, greeting, greet-
greet
greasy hands on a piece of rag. I dont

like the chips they serve here theyre too ed) verb to meet someone and say hello
greeting / (ri
t/ noun the words that
greeting
greasy.
great /(ret/ adj 1. large She was car-
great people say to each other when they meet
gregarious /(r (eris/ adj enjoying
gregarious
rying a great big pile of sandwiches. The |
guide showed us into the Great Hall. 2. im- the company of other people
grenade /(r ned/ noun a small bomb,
grenade
portant or famous the greatest tennis |
player of all time New York is a great city. usually thrown by hand
grew /(ru
/ past tense of grow
grew
Picasso was a great artist. 3. wonderful;

grey /(re/ noun a colour that is a mix-
grey
very good We had a great time at the par-

ty. What did you think of the film? It ture of black and white He was dressed
was great! It was great of you to help. all in grey. adj of a colour that is a mix-
It was great that they could all get to the ture of black and white Her hair has
picnic. turned quite grey. She was wearing a
grey area 284

light grey suit. Look at the grey clouds grin /(rn/ verb (grins, grinning,
grin
I think it is going to rain. (NOTE: The US grinned) to smile widely He grinned

spelling is gray.) when we asked him if he liked his job.
grey area / (re eri/ noun a situation, noun a wide smile She gave me a big
grey area
subject, or category of something that is grin.

unclear or hard to define grind /(rand/ (grinds, grinding,
grind
greyhound / (rehand/ noun a racing ground) verb 1. to crush something to pow-

greyhound
dog der to grind coffee a cup of ground cof-

grid /(rd/ noun 1. a set of parallel bars fee 2. to rub surfaces together
grid
grip /(rp/ noun a firm hold He has a

grip
We have fitted a metal grid over the top

of the well. 2. the numbered squares on a strong firm grip. Radial tyres give a bet-
map Whats the grid reference of the ter grip on the road surface. verb (grips,
church? gripping, gripped) 1. to hold something
gridlock / (rdlk/ noun a traffic jam tight She gripped the rail with both
gridlock
grief /(ri
f/ noun a feeling of great sad-
grief
hands. 2. to be very interesting to someone
The story gripped me from the first page.
ness to come to grief to have an acci-
gripe /(rap/ noun a complaint his list
gripe
dent; to fail His horse came to grief at the

first fence. The project came to grief of gripes about the work ( NOTE: + gripe v)
when the council refused to renew their gripping / (rp/ adj which holds your
gripping
grant. interest or attention

grievance / (ri
v()ns/ noun a reason grisly / (rzli / (grislier, grisliest) adj hor-
grievance grisly
for complaint rible (NOTE: Do not confuse with grizzly or

grieve /(ri
v/ (grieves, grieving,
grieve
gristly.)
grieved) verb 1. to be sad, especially be- grit /(rt / (grits, gritting, gritted) verb to
grit
cause someone has died She is grieving put sand on a road that is covered with ice
for her fianc who was killed in the war. 2. Lorries have been out all night, gritting
to make someone sad (formal) It grieves the motorway.
me to say this, but we are going to arrest gritty / (rti/ adj full of strength
gritty
your daughter.
grizzled / (rz()ld/ adj with lots of grey
grizzled
grievous / (ri
vs/ adj severe; very bad
grievous
hairs
(formal)
groan / (rn/ (groans, groaning,
groan
grievous bodily harm / (ri

vs
grievous bodily harm
groaned) verb to make a long low noise

bdli h
m/ noun the crime of causing She groaned when she saw how much work
serious physical injury to someone. Abbre- had to be done.
viation GBH
grocer / (rs/ noun a person who sells
grocer
grill / (rl/ noun a part of a cooker where

grill
goods such as sugar, butter and tins of food

food is cooked under the heat Cook the
groceries / (rsriz/ plural noun things
groceries
chops under the grill. verb (grills, grill-

ing, grilled) to cook something in this part you buy at a grocers a heavy bag of gro-
of the cooker Were having grilled sar- ceries
groggy / (r(i / adj not having a clear
groggy
dines for dinner.

grille /(rl/ noun a structure of metal bars
grille
head
groin /(rn/ noun the place where the
groin
in front of a window or on the front of a car,

with the radiator behind legs join the body
grim /(rm/ adj 1. serious and not smil- groom /(ru
m/ (grooms, grooming,
grim groom
ing His expression was grim. He gave groomed) verb 1. to make someone or a
a grim laugh and went on working. 2. grey horse look smart a well-groomed young
and unpleasant The town centre is really man She was grooming her horse. 2. to
grim. train someone for a particular role He is
grimace / (rms/ (grimaces, grimac-
grimace
being groomed to take his fathers place in
ing, grimaced) verb to make a twisted ex- the family business.
groove /(ru
v/ noun a wide line cut into
groove
pression She grimaced as the dentist

started up his drill. (NOTE: + grimace n) a surface
grime /(ram/ noun black dirt grope /(rp/ (gropes, groping, groped)
grime grope
grimy / (rami / adj covered with old dirt verb to feel with your hands
grimy
gross /(rs/ adj total; with nothing

gross
that is difficult to remove The furniture

was broken and the windows were grimy. taken away Whats your gross salary?
285 grow
adv with nothing taken away His salary starting point 3. the huge debris field left
is paid gross. following the terrorist attacks on the World
gross domestic product /(rs d Trade Center towers in New York City on
gross domestic product
mestk prdkt/ noun the value of 11 September 2001

goods and services paid for inside a coun- group /(ru
p/ noun 1. a number of
group
try. Abbreviation GDP people together a group of houses in the

gross national product /(rs
gross national product
valley Groups of people gathered in the

n()nl prdkt/ noun the value of street. She is leading a group of business-
goods and services paid for in a country, men on a tour of Italian factories. There
including income earned in other coun- are reduced prices for groups of 30 and
tries. Abbreviation GNP over. 2. a way of classifying things These
gross profit /(rs prft/ noun a prof- drugs belong to the same group. 3. people
gross profit
it calculated as income from sales less the playing music together He plays in a jazz
cost of the goods sold, before paying for group. Shes the lead singer in a pop
any other expenses group.
grotesque /(r tesk/ adj 1. strange and groupie / (ru
pi/ noun a girl follower of
grotesque groupie
ugly We got a really grotesque present a singer or pop group (informal)

from our Spanish landlady. 2. unnatural grouping / (ru
p/ noun the process of
grouping
and unpleasant It was grotesque to see putting things or people together in a group
her at the funeral. Grotesque abuses of
grouse /(ras/ noun (plural grouses or
grouse
justice were commonplace during the civil

war. same) 1. a complaint All we heard at din-
ground /(rand/ noun 1. the surface
ground ner were his grouses about the office. 2. a
of the earth The factory was burnt to the small dark game bird, found in the north of
ground. There were no seats, so we had England and Scotland We had grouse for
to sit on the ground. She lay down on the supper. They shot six brace of grouse yes-
ground and went to sleep. 2. soil or earth terday. Grouse shooting starts on August
You should dig the ground in the autumn. 12th. (NOTE: Two of the birds are called a
The house is built on wet ground. It has brace of grouse.) verb (grouses, grous-
ing, groused) to complain [~about]
been so dry that the ground is hard. 3. an
(informal) Hes always grousing about
area of land used for a special purpose a
football ground a sports ground a his salary.
grove /(rv / noun a small group of trees
grove
cricket ground a show ground plural

noun grounds 1. a large area of land grovel / (rv()l/ (grovels, grovelling,
grovel
around a big house or institution The po- grovelled) verb to behave towards some-
lice searched the school grounds for the one in a way that shows respect or admira-
weapon. The village fair is held in the tion too obviously
grounds of the hospital. 2. reasons Does grow /(r/ (grows, growing, grew,
grow
he have any grounds for complaint? grown) verb 1. (of plants) to live and devel-
What grounds have you got for saying op There was grass growing in the mid-
that? Do they have sufficient grounds to dle of the road. Roses grow well in our
sue us? garden. 2. to make plants grow He grows
groundbreaking / (randbrek/ adj
groundbreaking
all his vegetables in his garden. We are

involving new ideas going to grow some cabbages this year. 3.
ground floor /(rand fl
/ noun a
ground floor
to become taller or bigger Hes grown a

floor in a building which is level with the lot taller since I last saw him. The profit
street has grown to 1m. The towns population
grounding / (rand/ noun basic in-
grounding
is growing very fast.

struction grow into phrasal verb to become
groundless / (randls/ adj without
groundless
grow out of phrasal verb 1. to become

any reason bigger so that something such as an item
groundswell / (randswel/ noun a gen-
groundswell
of clothing does not fit Hes grown out

eral feeling of his coat. 2. to become older, and so
groundwork / (randw#
k/ noun pre- stop some bad habit He plays the drums
groundwork
liminary work all day long, but we hope its something

ground zero /(rand zr/ noun 1. hell grow out of.
ground zero
the point just above or below a nuclear ex- grow up phrasal verb to become an
plosion 2. the most basic possible level or adult
growing 286
growing / (r / adj 1. becoming big- and often about unimportant things Hes
growing
ger in size or amount 2. becoming stronger always grumbling about the music from the
or more extreme growing fear of war flat above.
growl /(ral/ (growls, growling, grumpy / (rmpi/ (grumpier, grumpi-
growl grumpy
growled) verb to make an angry sound est) adj bad-tempered (NOTE: + grumpily
The dog growled when he tried to take adv)
away its bone. When we asked the door- grunt /(rnt/ (grunts, grunting, grunt-
grunt
man if we could go in, he just growled ed) verb 1. (of a pig) to make a noise The
yes. ( NOTE: + growl n) pigs were grunting and squealing in their
grown /(rn/ adj full size What silly
grown
pen. 2. to make a bad-tempered noise I

behaviour from a grown man! (NOTE: Do asked if we could have a glass of water and
not confuse with groan.) the waiter just grunted. She grunted
grown-up /(rn p/ noun, adj adult something and slammed the door. (NOTE: +
grown-up
a grown-up taste in books The family grunt n)

consists of three grown-ups and ten chil- guarantee /(rn ti
/ noun 1. a legal
guarantee
dren. She has a grown-up daughter. document in which someone states that
The grown-ups had wine with their meal. something is going to happen [~(that)//]
growth /(r/ noun an increase in
growth
The travel agent could not give a guaran-

size [~in] The table showed the rapid tee that we would be accommodated in the
growth in population since 1980. They hotel mentioned in the brochure. 2. a prom-
measured the trees growth over the last fif- ise [///~of] I cant give you any guarantee
ty years. of success. verb (guarantees, guarantee-
growth industry / (r ndstri/ ing, guaranteed) to give a firm promise
growth industry
noun an industry that is expanding that something will work, that something
grub /(rb/ noun 1. a little worm which is
grub
will be done [~(that)] I can guarantee that
a young insect Birds were searching for the car will give you no trouble. We can
grubs under the bushes. 2. food (informal ) almost guarantee good weather in the Car-
The grub in the canteen is so awful that I ibbean at this time of year.
guaranteed /(rn ti
d/ adj which
guaranteed
take sandwiches to work. |
grubby / (rbi/ (grubbier, grubbiest) adj

grubby
has been promised legally
guard /(
d/ noun 1. [~against/~over]
guard
so dirty as to be unpleasant Grubby chil-

dren were playing in the street. He was to catch someone off guard to catch
wearing a grubby old shirt. someone by surprise, when they are not ex-
grudge /(rd/ noun to have or bear a pecting it 2. a person who protects, often a
grudge
grudge against someone to have bad feel- soldier Security guards patrol the factory
ings about someone because of something at night. Our squad is on guard duty to-
they did to you in the past Since her bag night. 3. the man in charge of a train The
was snatched in Rome, she has a grudge guard helped my put my bike into his van.
against Italians. He has been nursing a verb (guards, guarding, guarded) to
grudge against his boss for the last six watch someone or somewhere carefully to
years. verb (grudges, grudging, prevent attacks or escapes The prison is
grudged) to grudge someone some- guarded at all times. to be on your guard
thing to be unwilling to give someone to try to be ready for an unpleasant surprise
something or be angry that they have You always have to be on your guard
something I grudge having to pay so against burglars.
much for so-called expert advice. No one
guard against
guard against verb to try to prepare for

grudges him his success in the tennis something or prevent it happening
championship. [~against] I need to guard against the
grudging / (rd/ adj unwilling likelihood that prices will rise.
grudging
gruelling / (ru
l/ adj tiring guarded / (
dd/ adj reluctant to share
gruelling guarded
gruesome / (ru
s()m/ adj horrific and information
gruesome
shocking in the way violence or death is guardian / (

din/ noun a person
guardian
shown who protects, especially a person who le-

gruff /(rf/ adj rough and unfriendly gally looks after someone elses child
gruff
grumble / (rmbl/ (grumbles, grum- guardian angel /(

din endl /
grumble guardian angel
bling, grumbled) verb to complain in a noun a person who looks after and protects
bad-tempered way, especially regularly someone
287 gum
guerrilla /( rl/, guerilla noun a soldier have any trouble. The minister has issued
guerrilla
who is not part of a regular national army a new set of guidelines about city planning.
(NOTE: Do not confuse with gorilla.) guild /(ld/ noun an association of crafts-
guild
guess /(es/ noun an attempt to give the men (NOTE: Do not confuse with gild.)
guess
right answer or amount [~at] Go on guile /(al/ noun the use of trickery to de-
guile
make a guess at the answer! At a guess, ceive people

Id say it weighs about 10 kilos. verb guillotine / (lti
n/ noun 1. a machine
guillotine
(guesses, guessing, guessed) 1. to try to which was used in France for punishing
give the right answer or amount criminals by cutting off their heads 2. a ma-
[~(that)///~what/how etc] I would guess chine for cutting paper
that its about six oclock. Neither of
guilt /(lt/ noun 1. the state of having
guilt
them guessed the right answer. He

guessed right. Ive bought you a present committed a crime The prisoner admit-
shut your eyes and guess what it is. 2. ested his guilt. 2. a feeling of being responsi-
pecially US to have an opinion about some- ble for doing something bad The whole
thing I guess the planes going to be late. group bears the guilt for his death. (NOTE:
Do not confuse with gilt.)
guessing game / (es (em/ noun an
guessing game
guilty / (lti/ (guiltier, guiltiest) adj 1.

guilty
annoying situation which could end in dif-

ferent ways who has committed a crime He was
found guilty of murder. The jury decided
guesstimate / (estmt/ noun an esti-
guesstimate
she was not guilty. 2. feeling unhappy be-

mate based on a guess cause you have done something wrong I
guesswork / (esw#
k/ noun the process
guesswork
feel very guilty about not having written to

or end result of guessing you.
guest /(est/ noun 1. a person who is
guest
guinea pig / (ni p(/ noun 1. a little fur-

guinea pig
invited to come to your home or to an event ry animal, kept as a pet She keeps guinea
We had a very lively party with dozens of pigs in a hutch in the garden. 2. a person
guests. None of the guests left the party used in an experiment The hospital is ad-
early. 2. a person staying in a hotel vertising for guinea pigs to test the new
Guests are requested to vacate their rooms drug. Were using her as a guinea pig to
before midday. see if the instructions for making the cake
guesthouse / (esthas/ noun a private
guesthouse
work.
house which takes several guests, like a guise /(az/ noun an appearance, which
guise
small hotel is sometimes misleading

guidance / (ad()ns/ noun advice
guidance
guitar /( t
/ noun a musical instru-
guitar
guide /(ad/ noun 1. a person who

guide
ment with six strings, played with the fin-

shows you the way They used local farm- gers He plays the guitar in a pop group.
ers as guides through the forest. 2. a person gulf / (lf/ noun an area of sea partly
gulf
who shows tourists round a place The surrounded by land the Gulf of Mexico
guide showed us over the castle or showed
gull / (l/ noun a large common white sea-
gull
us round the castle. The museum guide

bird
spoke so fast that we couldnt understand
gullibility /(l blti/ noun a willing-
gullibility
what she was saying. 3. a book which gives |
information [~to] a guide to Athens a ness to believe something or trust someone

guide to the butterflies of Europe verb very easily
gullible / (lb()l/ adj ready to believe
gullible
(guides, guiding, guided) 1. to show

someone the way to somewhere She anything
guided us up the steps in the dark. 2. to gully / (li/ noun a small narrow valley
gully
show tourists round a place He guided us gulp /(lp/ (gulps, gulping, gulped) verb
gulp
round the castle and told us about its histo- to swallow fast She gulped and went onto
ry. the stage. He gulped down his drink and
guidebook / (adbk/ noun a book
guidebook
ran for the bus. (NOTE: + gulp n)

with information about a place gum /(m/ noun 1. glue She spread
gum
guide dog / (ad d(/ noun a dog which

guide dog
gum on the back of the photo and stuck it

has been trained to lead a blind person onto a sheet of paper. 2. the flesh around
guidelines / (adlanz/ plural noun gen-
guidelines
the base of your teeth Brushing your

eral advice on what to do If you follow teeth every day is good for your gums.
the government guidelines, you should not verb (gums, gumming, gummed) to stick
gumption 288
something with glue She gummed the an extremely enthusiastic or emotional
pictures onto a sheet of paper. way that embarrasses other people
gumption / (mpn/ noun 1. good gust /(st/ (gusts, gusting, gusted) verb
gumption gust
common sense 2. the courage to take action to blow in gusts The wind was gusting at
gun /(n/ noun 1. a weapon which up to 70 miles an hour.
gun
gusto / (st/ noun energy and enthusi-

gusto
shoots bullets The robber pulled out a

gun. She grabbed his gun and shot him asm
dead. 2. a small piece of equipment which gut /(t/ noun the tube in which food is
gut
you hold in your hand to spray a substance digested as it passes through the body He
such as paint or glue A spray gun gives an
complained of a pain in the gut.
even coating of paint. to jump the gun to
gut reaction / (t ri kn/ noun an in-
gut reaction
start too quickly The new law comes into |
effect in a months time, but some shops stinctive reaction

guts /(ts/ plural noun courage (informal)
guts
have already jumped the gun.

gunboat / (nbt/ noun a small ship She had the guts to tell the boss he was
gunboat
with guns on it wrong.

gun control / (n kntrl/ noun legal gutsy / (tsi / adj brave
gutsy
gun control
measures to control the ownership of guns gutter / (t/ noun 1. the side of a road
gutter
by members of the public where water can flow Pieces of paper

gunfire / (nfa/ noun the shooting of
gunfire
and leaves were blowing about in the gut-

guns ter. 2. an open pipe under the edge of a roof
gunge / (nd/ noun an unpleasant sticky
gunge
for catching rain It rained so hard the
substance gutters overflowed.
guy /(a/ noun 1. a man (informal) She
guy
gunman / (nmn/ (plural gunmen)

gunman
noun a man armed with a gun The gun- married a guy from Texas. The boss is a
man pulled out a revolver and started very friendly guy. Hey, you guys, come
shooting. and look at this! 2. a model of a man burnt
gunpoint / (npnt/ noun at gun-
gunpoint
on Bonfire Night, November 5th The
point with a gun being pointed at you He children are collecting clothes to make a
was held at gunpoint by robbers. guy. Penny for the guy!
guzzle / (z()l/ (guzzles, guzzling,
guzzle
gunshot / (nt/ noun the firing of a

gunshot
gun guzzled) verb to eat or drink greedily

(informal)
gurgle / (#
(()l/ (gurgles, gurgling,
gurgle
gym /dm/ noun 1. a place with spe-

gym
gurgled) verb to make a bubbling sound

The water gurgled in the pipes. The baby cial equipment, or a large hall as in a
was gurgling in his pram. (NOTE: + gurgle school, for indoor sports and physical
n) training I go to the gym twice a week to
guru / (ru
/ noun 1. a respected teacher,
guru
exercise. 2. physical exercises, especially
often a religious or spiritual teacher He as an activity at school
gymnasium /dm nezim/ noun a hall
gymnasium
was the great guru of the civil disobedience |
movement. 2. a person who gives advice for indoor sports and athletics
Shes one of the Prime Ministers media gymnast / dmnst/ noun an athlete
gymnast
gurus. who is expert at gymnastics

gush /(/ noun 1. a sudden fast flow of
gush
gymnastics /dm nstks/ noun phys-

gymnastics
liquid A sudden gush of water came out ical exercises, as a competitive sport
of the pipe. 2. lots of praise I cant stand
gynaecology /(an kldi/ noun the
gynaecology
all this gush about babies. verb (gushes, |
gushing, gushed) 1. to flow out very study of female sex organs and the treat-
quickly and suddenly Oil gushed from ment of diseases of women in general
the hole in the pipeline. 2. to speak in a (NOTE: The US spelling is gynecology.)
gypsy / dpsi / noun someone who trav-
gypsy
very enthusiastic way She tends to gush

over babies. els a lot
gushing / (/ adj 1. flowing fast or in gyrate /da ret/ (gyrates, gyrating, gy-
gushing gyrate
large quantities 2. speaking or behaving in rated) verb to turn round and round fast
H
h /et/, H noun the eighth letter of the al- haemophiliac /hi
m flik/ noun a
h haemophiliac
phabet, between G and I person who has haemophilia (NOTE: The

ha /h
/ interj an expression showing US spelling is hemophiliac.)
ha
haemorrhage / hem()rd/ noun 1.

haemorrhage
surprise Ha! Theres a mistake on page

one of the book! bleeding where a large quantity of blood is
habit / hbt/ noun something that
habit
lost, especially bleeding from a burst blood
someone does regularly He has the habit vessel She had a haemorrhage and was
of biting his fingernails. to develop or rushed to hospital. He died of a brain
get into the habit of doing something to haemorrhage. 2. loss of money, members
start to do something regularly Hes get- or other resources We are trying to stem
ting into the habit of playing football every the haemorrhage of the companys re-
week. to break the habit to stop doing sources. (NOTE: [all senses] The US spelling
something which you used to do regularly is hemorrhage.)
haggard / h(d / adj thin and tired
haggard
I havent had a cigarette for six months

I think Ive broken the habit! haggis / h(s/ noun a Scottish dish,
haggis
habitable / hbtb()l/ adj fit to live in

habitable
made of the inner parts of a sheep cooked

habitat / hbtt/ noun a place where an
habitat
in a bag made from the sheeps stomach
haggle / h(()l/ (haggles, haggling,
haggle
animal or plant lives

habitation /hb te()n/ noun a place
habitation
|
haggled) verb to argue about prices and
where someone lives terms to try to reduce them (NOTE: You hag-
gle with someone over something.)
habitual /h btul/ adj regular, who
habitual
ha ha /h
h
/ interj 1. showing that you
| ha ha
does something by habit a habitual liar

a habitual offender find something funny Ha ha! What a fun-
ny hat! 2. showing that you find something
hack /hk/ noun a badly paid journalist
hack
surprising Ha ha! Ive caught you steal-

A bunch of hacks followed her everywhere. ing from the cash box again!
verb (hacks, hacking, hacked) 1. to cut
hail /hel/ noun frozen rain I thought the
hail
something roughly He hacked at the tree

with an axe. 2. to enter a computer system hail was going to break the windscreen.
illegally He hacked into the banks com- verb (hails, hailing, hailed) to fall as frozen
puter. rain It hailed for ten minutes and then the
sun came out.
hacker / hk/ noun a person who enters
hacker
hair /he/ noun 1. a mass of long fibres

hair
a computer system illegally

growing on your head She has long
hackles / hk()lz/ feel or make your
hackles
brown hair or her hair is long and brown.

hackles rise to begin to feel or to make you She always brushes her hair before
feel angry washing it. You must get your hair cut.
hackneyed / hknid/ adj used too often
hackneyed
Hes had his hair cut short. Use some

had /d, hd, hd/ past tense and past hair spray to keep your hair in place. 2.
had
participle of have one of the fibres growing on the body of a

haddock / hdk/ noun a white sea fish
haddock
human or animal Waiter, theres a hair in
my soup! The cat has left hairs all over
hadnt / hd()nt/ abbr for had not
hadnt
the cushion. Hes beginning to get some

haemophilia /hi
m fli/ noun a blood
haemophilia
| grey hairs. to split hairs to try to find

disorder, usually of men, that can lead to very small differences between things
death from the smallest cut because the when arguing Stop splitting hairs, you
bleeding will not stop quickly enough know youre in the wrong.
haircut 290
haircut / hekt / noun 1. the cutting half-hourly /h
f ali/ adj, adv every
haircut half-hourly
of the hair on your head You need a hair- thirty minutes We have a half-hourly bus
cut. He went to get a haircut. 2. a style of service to town.
cutting hair Have you seen his new hair- half measures /h
f mez/ plural
half measures
cut? noun an plan or action which is begun but

hairdo / hedu
/ (plural hairdos) noun a not completed
hairdo
hairstyle (informal) (NOTE: usually refers to half past /h

f p
st/ phrase 30 min-
half past
a womans hair) utes after an hour

hairdresser / hedres/ noun a per- half-sister / h
f sst/ noun a sister
hairdresser half-sister
son who cuts and washes your hair who has only one parent the same as anoth-
hair grip / he (rp/ noun a small bent er brother or sister
hair grip
half-term /h
f t#
m/ noun a short
half-term
metal or plastic pin, used to keep the hair in

place holiday in the middle of a school term.
hairline / helan/ noun 1. the line where Compare midterm
hairline
half-time /h
f tam/ noun a rest period
half-time
your hair meets your forehead Hes very

worried about his receding hairline. 2. a in the middle of a game
very thin line or crack Hairline cracks halfway /h
f we/ adv in the middle
halfway
appeared in the metal. Come on, were more than halfway there!
hairpin / hepn/ noun a piece of bent The post office is about halfway between
hairpin
wire used to keep your hair in place the station and our house. to meet some-
hairpin bend /hepn bend/ noun a one halfway, to go halfway to meet some-
hairpin bend
sharp bend on a mountain road one to compromise Ill meet you half-
hair-raising / he rez/ adj frighten-
hair-raising
way: I write the report and you present it at
ing the meeting.
halibut / hlbt/ noun a large flat white
halibut
hairs breadth / hez bred/ noun a

hairs breadth
very small distance fish

hall /h
l/ noun 1. a room just inside the
hall
hairstyle / hestal / noun the way in

hairstyle
which your hair has been cut or arranged entrance to a house, where you can leave
your coat Dont wait in the hall, come
hairy / heri/ (hairier, hairiest) adj 1. cov-
hairy
straight into the dining room. She left her

ered with hairs a hairy dog Hes got umbrella in the hall. 2. a large room where
hairy arms. 2. frightening and dangerous large numbers of people can come together
(informal) Driving across that mountain The children have their dinner in the
road in a snowstorm was the hairiest ride school hall.
Ive ever had. hallmark / h
lm
k/ noun a mark put on
hallmark
halal /h l
l/ adj describes meat from an-
halal
|
gold or silver items to show that the metal
imals killed according to Islamic law is of the correct quality The hallmark on
half /h
f/ (plural halves) noun 1. one
half
this old silver spoon has almost been worn

of two parts which are the same in size away.
She cut the orange in half. One half of the hallo /h l/ another spelling of hello
hallo
apple fell on the carpet. Half of six is hallucinate /h lu

snet/ (halluci-
hallucinate
three. 2. (in sport) one of two parts of a nates, hallucinating, hallucinated) verb to
match Our team scored a goal in the first imagine seeing or hearing someone or
half. We thought we were going to win, something
and then they scored in the final minutes of hallway / h
lwe/ noun a hall; a passage
hallway
the second half.

at the entrance to a house or flat
half-baked /h
f bekd/ adj not proper-
half-baked
halo / hel/ noun the ring of light round

halo
ly planned and therefore not practical the head of a holy person in a painting A
half board /h
f b
d/ noun a rate for
half board
painting of an archbishop with two saints,

breakfast and dinner at a hotel, but not each with a golden halo.
lunch halt /h
lt/ noun (plural same) a com-
halt
half-brother / h
f br/ noun a
half-brother
plete stop to come to a halt to stop com-

brother who has only one parent the same pletely The lorry came to a halt just be-
as another brother or sister fore the wall. to call a halt to something
half-hearted /h
f h
td/ adj not very
half-hearted
to make something stop He tried to call

enthusiastic a halt to arguments inside the party. to
half-hour /h
f a/ noun a period of
half-hour
grind to a halt to stop working gradually

thirty minutes The whole plan ground to a halt for lack
291 hand grenade

of funds. verb (halts, halting, halted) to longer than the hour hand. verb (hands,
stop something The cars halted when the handing, handed) to pass something to
traffic lights went red. We are trying to someone Can you hand me that box?
halt experiments on live animals. She handed me all her money. to give or
halting / h
lt/ adj not sure lend someone a hand with something to
halting
halve /h
v/ (halves, halving, halved) help someone with something Can you
halve
verb to reduce something by half Be- lend a hand with moving the furniture?
cause the town has no cash, its budget has He gave me a hand with the washing up.
been halved. to shake hands to hold someones hand to
halves /h
vz/ plural of half
halves
show you are pleased to meet them or to
ham /hm/ noun meat from a pig which
ham
show that an agreement has been reached
has been treated, e.g. with salt She cut The visitors shook hands and the meeting
three slices of ham. We had a ham and to- started.
mato salad. She had a ham sandwich for hand down phrasal verb 1. to pass some-
lunch. thing from one generation to a younger
one This is one of those folk tales which
hamburger / hmb#
(/ noun a
hamburger
piece of minced beef grilled and served in have been handed down over the centu-
ries. The house has been handed down
a toasted roll
from father to son since the sixteenth cen-
hamlet / hmlt/ noun a little village
hamlet
tury. 2. to announce something publicly

hammer / hm/ noun a tool with a
hammer
The judge handed down his verdict.

heavy head for knocking nails She hit the hand in phrasal verb to give something
nail hard with the hammer. verb (ham- to someone such as a teacher or a police-
mers, hammering, hammered) 1. to knock man We handed in the money we had
something such as a nail into something found.
such as a piece of wood with a hammer It hand out phrasal verb to distribute some-
took him a few minutes to hammer the tent thing Protesters were handing out leaf-
pegs into the ground. 2. to hit something lets at the station.
hard, as with a hammer He hammered the hand over phrasal verb to give some-
table with his fist. She hammered on the thing to someone She handed over all
door with her stick.
the documents to the lawyers.
hammer out verb to go through long and
handbag / hndb(/ noun a small
handbag
difficult discussions in order to reach

agreement on something bag which a woman carries to hold small
things such as money or make-up
hammock / hmk/ noun a bed made
hammock
hand baggage / hnd b(d/ noun

hand baggage
from a piece of fabric hanging between two

hooks small cases carried by passengers onto a
hamper / hmp/ noun a large basket
hamper plane
handbook / hndbk/ noun a book
handbook
We packed the hamper with food for the

picnic. verb (hampers, hampering, ham- which gives instructions on how to use or
pered) to prevent something from happen- repair something
handbrake / hndbrek/ noun a lever in
handbrake
ing or moving normally Lack of funds is

hampering our development project. The a vehicle which works the brakes
handcuff / hndkf/ (handcuffs, hand-
handcuff
heavy bags hampered her progress.

hamstring / hmstr/ noun the group cuffing, handcuffed) verb to attach some-
hamstring
of tendons behind the knee, which connect thing with handcuffs

handcuffs / hndkfs/ plural noun two
handcuffs
the thigh muscle to the bones in the lower

leg metal rings connected by a chain, which
hamstrung / hmstr/ adj not able to are locked round the wrists of someone
hamstrung
do what you want to who is being arrested He came out of the

hand /hnd/ noun 1. the part of the
hand
court house in handcuffs.
handful / hndfl/ noun 1. as much as
handful
body at the end of each arm, which you use

for holding things She was carrying a you can hold in your hand She paid with
cup of tea in each hand. She held out her a handful of loose change. 2. a very few
hand, asking for money. they walked Only a handful of people came to the wed-
along hand in hand they walked holding ding. 3. a difficult child Their son is a bit
each other by the hand 2. one of the two of a handful.
hand grenade / hnd (rned/ noun a
hand grenade
long parts on a clock which move round |
and show the time. The minute hand is small bomb usually thrown by hand
handgun 292
handgun / hnd(n/ noun a small gun handover / hndv/ noun the passing
handgun handover
which is carried in the hand of power to someone else

hand-held /hnd held/ adj which can handpicked /hnd pkt/ adj carefully
hand-held handpicked
be held in the hand chosen

handset / hndset/ noun the part of a
handset
handicap / hndikp / noun 1. a

handicap
physical or mental condition which makes telephone which you hold in your hand
hands-free /hndz fri
/ adj able to be
hands-free
ordinary activities difficult (dated) disa-

bility 2. something which puts you at a disused or operated without the use of the
advantage Not being able to drive is a hands
handshake / hndek/ noun the act of
handshake
handicap in this job. verb (handicaps,

handicapping, handicapped) to cause shaking hands when meeting someone
someone difficulty She was handicapped handsome / hns()m/ adj a handsome
handsome
on the trip by not being able to speak Rus- man or boy has an attractive face Her
sian. boyfriend is very handsome. (NOTE: usually
handicapped / hndikpt/ adj not used of men rather than women)
handicapped
hands-on /hndz n/ adj practical and

hands-on
able to use part of the body or mind be-

cause of a permanent illness or injury a done by yourself
hand-to-mouth /hnd t ma/ adv
hand-to-mouth
school for handicapped children (NOTE:

Many people avoid this term as it can cause with only just enough money or food for
offence and prefer to say disabled.) what is necessary to live each day
handiwork / hndiw#
k/ noun work handwriting / hndrat/ noun
handiwork handwriting
done or made by yourself writing done by hand

handkerchief / hktf/ (plural handwritten /hnd rt()n/ adj written
handwritten
handkerchief
|
handkerchieves) noun a piece of cloth or by hand

handy / hndi/ adj practical and use-
handy
thin paper for wiping your nose

handle / hnd()l/ noun a part of
handle
ful to come in handy to be useful The
something which you hold in your hand to knife will come in handy when we are
carry something or to use something I camping.
handyman / hndimn/ (plural handy-
handyman
turned the handle but the door didnt open.

Be careful, the handle of the frying pan men) noun someone who is skilled at doing
may be hot. The handle has come off my small jobs such as repairs
hang /h/ (hangs, hanging, hung)
hang
suitcase. He broke the handle off the cup.

verb (handles, handling, handled) to verb to attach one thing to another so that it
move by hand Be careful when you han- does not touch the ground [~from/on/over
dle the bottles of acid. etc] Hang your coat on the hook behind
handlebars / hnd()lb
z/ plural noun
handlebars
the door. He hung his umbrella over the
a bar for steering a bicycle or motorcycle back of his chair. We hung the painting in
The handlebars are too low, can you alter the hall. The boys were hanging upside
their height? down from a tree.
hang around phrasal verb to wait in a
handling / hndl/ noun 1. the way in
handling
certain place without doing anything

which a person deals with something a much
situation that needs careful handling 2. the
hang back phrasal verb to stay behind
way in which something can be controlled
or used 3. the transport and packaging of when others go on
goods 4. the buying or selling of goods hang on phrasal verb 1. to wait If you
known to be stolen convicted of handling hang on a few minutes you will be able to
stolen goods see her. 2. to hold something tight [~to]
Hang on to the ladder and dont look
hand luggage / hnd l(d/ noun
hand luggage
down. 3. to keep something [~to]

same as hand baggage (informal) Ive decided to hang on to my
handmade / hndmed/ adj made by
handmade
shares until the price goes up.

hand, without using a machine hang out phrasal verb 1. to hang things
handout / hndat/ noun 1. a gift such
handout
outside on a string They hung out flags

as clothes or money, given to poor people all around the square. Mothers hang-
The support group exists on handouts from ing out her washing to dry. 2. to wait in a
the government. 2. a printed information certain place without doing anything
sheet You will all get handouts after the much (informal) Teenagers like to hang
lecture. out round the internet caf.
293 hard-boiled
hang up phrasal verb 1. to put some- happening / hp()n/ noun an
happening
thing on a hanger or on a hook Dont event

leave your jacket on the back of your happily / hpli/ adv in a happy way
happily
chair hang it up! 2. to stop a telephone

happiness / hpins/ noun a feeling of
happiness
conversation by putting the telephone

back on its hook When I asked him being happy
happy / hpi/ adj 1. (of people) very
happy
when he was going to pay, he hung up.

hangar / h/ noun a large shed for
hangar
pleased Im happy to say were getting
keeping aircraft in (NOTE: Do not confuse married next month. Im so happy to hear
with hanger.)
that you are better. Shes very happy in
her job. 2. (of events) pleasant It was the
hanger / h/ noun a device for hang-
hanger
happiest day of my life.

ing things on
happy-go-lucky /hpi ( lki/ adj
happy-go-lucky
hang-glider / h (lad/ noun 1. a

hang-glider
without any worries

large cloth wing stretched over a light
happy hour / hpi a/ noun a period
happy hour
frame, under which a person hangs, hold-

ing onto a bar which is used for steering when drinks are cheaper in a bar
happy medium / hpi mi
dim/ noun
happy medium
(NOTE: + hang-gliding n) 2. a person who

flies a hang-glider an agreement that includes something for
hanging / h/ noun the act of killing
hanging
everyone
harangue /h r/ (harangues, ha-
harangue
someone by hanging them off the ground |
The hangings took place in front of the ranguing, harangued) verb to make a loud
prison. speech to someone The president ha-
hangover / hv/ noun 1. an un-
hangover
rangued the crowd for three hours. (NOTE:
+ harangue n)
pleasant feeling after having drunk too
harass / hrs, h rs/ (harasses, har-
harass
much alcohol Last nights party was |
good but Ive got a dreadful hangover this assing, harassed) verb to bother and wor-
morning. 2. a thing which is left over from ry someone
harassed / hrst/ adj bothered and
harassed
the past This is a hangover from the old

days when inns always provided stables for worried
horses. / hrsmnt, h
harassment
harassment |
hang-up / h p/ noun a worry or anx- rsmnt/ noun pestering and worrying
hang-up
ious feeling (informal) harbour / h

b/ noun a place where
harbour
hanker / hk/ (hankers, hankering,

hanker
boats can come and tie up The ship came

hankered) verb to want something over a into harbour last night.
long time hard /h
d/ adj 1. not soft If you have
hard
hanky-panky /hki pki/ noun 1.

hanky-panky
back trouble, you ought to get a hard bed.

activity which is strange or suspicious 2. The ice cream is rock hard or hard as a
sexual behaviour rock. The cake she made is so hard I cant
Hanukkah / h
nk/ noun a Jewish re- bite into it. 2. not easy Some of the ques-
Hanukkah
ligious festival in November or December tions were very hard. Its hard to stay
haphazard /hp hzd/ adj done with-
haphazard
|
happy when bad things happen. adv
out any plan strongly He hit the nail hard. Its snow-
ing very hard. its hard to say its diffi-
happen / hpn/ (happens, happen-
happen
cult to know Its hard to say if its going

ing, happened) verb 1. to take place The to rain or not.
accident happened at the traffic lights.
hardback / h
dbk/, hardcover noun a
hardback
How did the accident happen? Some-

thing happened to make all the buses late. book bound in stiff card. Compare paper-
back
Hes late something must have hap-
hardboard / h
db
d/ noun artificial
hardboard
pened to him. 2. to happen to someone

or something to have an effect on some- board, made of little bits of wood mixed
one or something Whats happened to his with glue and pressed together
hard-boiled /h
d bld/ adj 1. (of an
hard-boiled
brother since he left school? as it hap-

pens, as it happened completely by egg) which has been boiled until the inside
chance As it happens I have the car today is solid Do you prefer your egg hard-
and can give you a lift. It so happened boiled or soft-boiled? 2. tough; not show-
that my wife bumped into her at the super- ing any emotion Shes pretty hard-boiled,
market. that sort of thing doesnt bother her.
hard copy 294

hard copy /h
d kpi/ noun computer hardworking /h
d w#
k/ adj who
hard copy hardworking
data which has been printed on paper works hard

hard core / h
d k
/ noun a central hardy / h
di/ adj able to survive in cold
hard core hardy
group Most of the guests left before elev- weather

en, but the hard core of drinkers stayed till hare /he/ noun a wild mammal like a
hare
two. large rabbit In the spring mountain hares

hard currency /h
d krnsi/ noun
hard currency
lose their white winter coats.

the currency of a country with a strong harebrained / hebrend/ adj not seri-
harebrained
economy, which can be changed into other ous; not concentrating on essential things
currencies easily harem / h
ri
m/ noun 1. a group of
harem
hard disk /h
d dsk/, hard drive noun
hard disk
women who are the wives of the same man

a disk which is fixed inside a computer in some Muslim societies, especially in the
harden / h
d()n/ (hardens, hardening,
harden
past 2. the part of a Muslim house where

hardened) verb 1. to become hard Leave only women live
the cement for a couple of days to harden. harlot / h
lt/ noun a woman who has
harlot
Attitudes are hardening as the transport

sex for money (dated)
strike continues. 2. to make something
harm / h
m/ noun damage done to
harm
harder We use specially hardened steel in

the construction. 3. to make someone more people or animals He didnt mean to do
experienced a hardened criminal any harm or He meant no harm. Theres
no harm in having a little drink before you
hardened / h
dnd/ adj so experienced
hardened
go to bed. verb (harms, harming,

that something that most people would find harmed) to physically affect something or
unpleasant or difficult seems ordinary someone in a bad way Luckily, the little
hard-headed /h
d hedd/ adj practi-
hard-headed
girl was not harmed. The bad publicity

cal or sensible has harmed our reputation.
hard-hearted /h
d h
td/ adj cruel
hard-hearted
harmful / h
mf()l/ adj which causes
harmful
hard-hitting /h
d ht/ adj very crit-
hard-hitting
damage
ical harmless / h
mls/ adj which does
harmless
hardline / h
dlan/ adj strict over policy
hardline
not upset or hurt anyone

hardly / h
dli/ adv almost not Do
hardly
harmonica /h
mnk/ noun a mouth-
harmonica
you know her? Hardly at all. We hardly organ; a small musical instrument which
slept a wink last night. She hardly eats you play by blowing and sucking, and
anything at all. moving across your mouth to get different
hard-nosed / h
d nzd/ adj tough;
hard-nosed
notes
determined harmonious /h
mnis/ adj 1.
harmonious
hard-pressed /h
d prest/ adj acting
|
hard-pressed
sounding or looking good together 2.

under a lot of pressure friendly and cooperative a harmonious
hard sell /h
d sel / noun aggressive
hard sell
discussion between the heads of state.

selling harmonise / h
mnaz/ (harmonises,
harmonise
hardship / h
dp/ noun difficult condi-
hardship
harmonising, harmonised), harmonize

tions, suffering verb to go well together Make sure the
hard shoulder / h
d ld/ noun a
hard shoulder
colours of the curtains harmonise with the

hard strip along the edge of a motorway, carpet.
used for stopping in an emergency harmony / h
mni/ (plural harmonies)
harmony
hard up /h
d p/ adj with very little
hard up
noun 1. agreeable musical sounds The

money (informal) group sang in harmony. 2. agreeable col-
hardware / h
dwe/ noun tools and
hardware
ours, etc. We are aiming to create a

pans used in the home I bought the paint pleasant harmony in the decoration of the
in a hardware shop. room. 3. a general peace They want to
hard-wired /h
d wad/ adj physically live in harmony with their neighbours.
hard-wired
connected to a computer system or net- harness / h

ns/ noun 1. straps used to
harness
work hold a horse to a cart 2. straps used to at-

hard-won / h
d wn/ adj achieved after tach something to a person a parachute
hard-won
a big effort harness Make sure that you buy a push-

hardwood / h
dwd/ noun a slow- chair with a reliable baby harness.
hardwood
harp /h
p/ noun a musical instrument
harp
growing tree, such as oak or teak, which

produces a hard wood shaped like a large triangle, played by the
295 have
fingers plucking the strings She plays the hatchet / htt/ noun a small axe
hatchet
harp in the local orchestra. hate /het/ verb (hates, hating, hated)
hate
harpoon /h
pu
n/ noun a long sharp
harpoon
| to dislike someone or something very

weapon used to kill whales (NOTE: + har- much I think she hates me, but I dont
poon v) know why. I hate being late. noun a
harrowing / hr/ adj which causes very strong feeling of not liking someone
harrowing
mental pain Her eyes were full of hate.

harsh /h
/ adj 1. severe The prosecu- hateful / hetf()l/ adj which makes peo-
hateful
harsh
tor asked for a harsh sentence to fit the ple dislike it

hate mail / het mel/ noun letters show-
hate mail
crime. 2. rough He shouted in a harsh

voice. ing that the writer hates someone
harvest / h
vst/ noun picking crops hatred / hetrd / noun a very strong feel-
harvest hatred
The corn harvest is in August. verb (har- ing of not liking someone or something a
vests, harvesting, harvested) to pick campaign against racial hatred She had
crops The corn will be ready to harvest a hatred of unfair treatment.
hat trick / ht trk/ noun a score of three
hat trick
next week. They have started harvesting

the grapes in the vineyard. goals or wins by the same person in a sport
has /z, hz, hz/ 3rd person singular haughty / h
ti/ (haughtier, haughtiest)
has haughty
present of have adj extremely proud and unpleasant (NOTE:

has-been / hz bi
n/ noun a person no + haughtily adv; haughtiness n)
has-been
haul /h
l/ (hauls, hauling, hauled) verb
haul
longer as well-known or important as be-

fore (informal) to pull something with effort They hauled
hash /h/ noun 1. a dish prepared from
hash
the boat up onto the beach.
haunt /h
nt/ noun a place which you vis-
haunt
chopped meat and vegetables 2. hashish

hasnt / hz()nt/ short for has not
hasnt
it frequently I went back to some of my
hassle / hs()l/ (informal) noun irri-
hassle
old haunts. The pub is a favourite haunt
tating trouble It was quite a hassle get- of actors. verb (haunts, haunting, haunt-
ed) (of ghosts) to visit something frequent-
ting tickets. I got to the station early to
avoid all the hassle with the luggage. ly The castle is supposed to be haunted
verb (hassles, hassling, hassled) to both-
by the ghost of a soldier.
haunted / h
ntd/ adj visited by ghosts
haunted
er someone Her boss is always hassling

haunting / h
nt/ adj sad and wonder-
haunting
her to work faster.

haste /hest/ noun the speed of doing
haste
ful
have /hv, v, hv/ (has, having,
have
something (formal)
hasten / hes()n/ (hastens, hastening,
hasten
had) verb 1. to own something She has a
hastened) verb 1. to go fast The chief of lot of money. They have a new green car.
She has long dark hair. The house has
police hastened into the room. 2. to do
something fast The government has has- no telephone. Do you have a table for
tened to deny the report in the paper. 3. to three, please? 2. to take or eat something
make something go faster Several weeks Have you had any tea? She has sugar in
rest after your operation will hasten your her coffee. They had a meal of bread and
recovery. cheese. She had her breakfast in bed.
They had a game of tennis. I had a long
hasty / hesti/ (hastier, hastiest) adj
hasty
walk. 3. to arrange for something to be

carelessly fast (NOTE: + hastily adv) done for you I must have my hair cut.
hat /ht/ noun a piece of clothing
hat
Shes having the house painted. 4. used to

which you wear on your head Take your form the present and past perfect form of
hat off when you go into a church. Hes verbs Have they finished their work?
bought a Russian fur hat for the winter. She has never been to Paris. They had
hatch /ht/ noun an opening in the deck
hatch
finished supper when we arrived. I ha-

of a ship, or a cover for this opening He vent seen him for two days. If she had
opened the hatch and went down into the asked me I would have said no. 5. used to
cabin. verb (hatches, hatching, introduce good wishes to someone Have
hatched) to plan They hatched a plot to a nice day! Have a good trip!
kidnap the Prime Ministers daughter. have got phrasal verb 1. to own some-
hatchback / htbk/ noun a type of
hatchback
thing Shes got dark hair. Have you

car where the back opens upwards as a got a table for three, please? Theyve
door got a new green car. The house hasnt
haven 296
got a telephone. They havent got ing on his head. She hit her head on the
enough to eat. 2. used to mean must cupboard door. 2. your brain; intelligence
Why have you got to go so early? Shes She has a good head for figures. He
got to learn to drive. tried to do the sum in his head. If we all
have on phrasal verb 1. to have or have put our heads together we might come up
got something on to be wearing some- with a solution. 3. the first place An old
thing What did she have on at the par- lady was standing at the head of the queue.
ty? 2. to have something on to have His name comes at the head of the list. 4.
something planned (informal) I havent the most important person Shes head of
anything on tonight so Ill be able to fin- the sales department. The head waiter
ish painting the bathroom. 3. to have showed us to our table. 5. one person, or
someone on to trick someone (informal) one animal, when counting She counted
I think hes having you on. heads as the children got onto the coach.
haven / hev()n/ noun a safe port or safe There are fifty head of sheep in the flock.
haven
place verb (heads, heading, headed) to go to-

havent / hv()nt/ short for have not
havent
wards something She headed immediate-
havoc / hvk/ noun damage
havoc
ly for the managers office. The car head-
ed east along the motorway. Hes head-
hawk /h
k/ noun a person who prefers
hawk
military action to diplomacy Curiously, ing towards the Channel ports. Shes
heading for trouble. to shake your head
its the military commanders who are the
doves and the president and his advisers to move your head from side to side to
mean no She asked him if he wanted
are the hawks.
any more coffee and he shook his head.
hay /he/ noun dried grass used to feed
hay
head off phrasal verb 1. to prevent some-

animals such as cows
thing from taking place They offered
hayfever / hefi
v/ noun an inflamma-
hayfever
the staff more pay in order to head off a

tion of the nose and eyes caused by an al- strike. 2. to go away in a certain direction
lergy to flowers, pollen, scent or dust They headed off into the jungle.
hazard / hzd/ noun a dangerous situa-
hazard
headache / hedek/ noun a pain in your

headache
tion Dont leave those cardboard boxes

in the passage theyre a fire hazard. head Ive got a bad headache.
headcount / hedkant/ noun the proc-
headcount
verb (hazards, hazarding, hazarded) to

risk something ess of counting the people in a group one
hazardous / hzds/ adj risky or dan-
hazardous
by one
header / hed/ noun 1. the act of hitting a
header
gerous
haze /hez/ noun 1. mist, smoke or dust ball with your head He scored with a
haze
suspended in the atmosphere, reducing vis- header. 2. a dive He took a header into
ibility 2. not being able to think or remem- the waves. 3. words or page numbers at the
ber clearly He was in a haze when he top of a page of a book or document
came round after the operation. head-first /hed f#
st/ adv 1. with your
head-first
hazy / hezi/ (hazier, haziest) adj 1. misty head first He tripped and fell head-first
hazy
It was too hazy for us to get a good view down the stairs. 2. hastily Dont rush
from the top of the cliff. 2. vague I have a head-first into a deal with someone you
hazy recollection of the party. He report- hardly know.
ed the accident to the police but was very headgear / hed(/ noun something
headgear
hazy about some of the details. which is worn on the head

he / hi, hi
/ pron referring to a man or
he
headhunter / hedhnt/ noun a person

headhunter
boy, and some animals Hes my brother. or company that looks for top managers
He and I met in Oxford. Hes eaten all
and offers them jobs in other companies
my pudding. Dont be frightened of the
heading / hed/ noun words at the top
heading
dog he wont hurt you. him, his (NOTE:

When it is the object, he becomes him: He of a piece of text. subheading
headline / hedlan/ noun words in
headline
hit the ball or The ball hit him. When it fol-

lows the verb to be, he usually becomes large letters on the front page of a newspa-
him: Whos that? Its him, the man who per Did you see the headlines about the
borrowed my knife.) accident?
head /hed / noun 1. the top part of the headlong / hedl/ adj rushing the
head headlong
body, where your eyes, nose, mouth and headlong flight of the people of the villages
brain are He says he can relax by stand- in front of the advancing army adv rush-
297 hearsay
ing The soldiers rushed headlong into the health /hel/ noun the fact of being
health
crowd. well or being free from any illness He

headmaster /hed m
st/ noun a has enjoyed the best of health for years.
headmaster
man who is in charge of a school Smoking is bad for your health.

headmistress /hed mstrs/ noun a health care / helke/ noun the services
headmistress health care
woman who is in charge of a school which take care of peoples health, e.g.
head office /hed fs/ noun the main doctors and dentists
head office
health centre / hel sent/ noun a

health centre
office where the directors work and meet

head-on /hed n/ adj, adv 1. with the building with various doctors and special-
head-on
front first; direct We had a head-on con- ists

frontation with the police. 2. directly He health club / hel klb/ noun a club for
health club
decided to meet the objections head-on. people who want to improve their health,
headphones / hedfnz/ plural noun e.g. by taking exercise and dieting
headphones
equipment which you put on your ears to health insurance / hel nrns/
health insurance
listen to sounds privately noun insurance which pays the cost of

headquarters /hed kw
tz/ noun the medical treatment if you are ill
headquarters
main offices of a large organisation Sev- health service / hel s#

vs/ noun an
health service
eral people were arrested and taken to po- organisation in a district or country which
lice headquarters. Abbreviation HQ is in charge of providing health care to the
headrest / hedrest/ noun a cushion on
headrest
public
top of a car seat against which you can lean healthy / heli/ adj 1. not ill Hes
healthy
your head healthier than he has ever been. 2. making

headroom / hedru
m/ noun the amount
headroom
you stay fit and well the healthiest place

of space needed to be able to sit or walk up- in England Shes keeping to a healthy di-
right et.
headset / hedset/ noun a set of head- heap /hi
p/ noun a pile a heap of coal
headset heap
phones for listening to something such as Step over that heap of rubbish. verb
the telephone, the radio or a CD, which fits (heaps, heaping, heaped) to pile things up
over your ears with a band across the top of A pile of presents were heaped under the
your head, and sometimes has a micro- Christmas tree. Boxes were heaped up on
phone attached the station platform.
headstone / hedstn/ noun a piece of hear /h/ (hears, hearing, heard) verb
headstone
hear
stone standing at the end of a grave with 1. to notice sounds with your ears He
the name of the dead person written on it heard footsteps behind him. You could
headstrong / hedstr/ adj determined
headstrong
hear the sound of church bells in the dis-

to do what you want tance. I heard her drive up in the car.
head teacher /hed ti
t/ noun a man Can you hear him singing in the bath? 2. to
head teacher
or woman who is in charge of a school listen to something Did you hear the talk
head-to-head /hed t hed/ adv, adj
head-to-head
on the radio? I heard it on the BBC news.
competing directly with someone or some- 3. to get information [~(that)/~about/~from/]
thing a head-to-head contest The win- I hear hes got a new job. Have youve
ner of this game will go head-to-head with heard about Joes promotion? We have
the reigning champion. not heard from them for some time.
headwind / hedwnd/ noun a wind
headwind
hear of phrasal verb to know about
blowing towards you something Ive heard of a new restau-
heady / hedi/ (headier, headiest) adj
heady rant in the High Street. Shes never
strong and likely to affect your senses, heard of the Rolling Stones.
hearing / hr/ noun the ability to
hearing
such as making you drunk or excited

heal /hi
l/ (heals, healing, healed) verb to
heal
hear Bats have a very sharp sense of
make someone or something healthy again, hearing. She has hearing difficulties.
hearing aid / hr ed/ noun an elec-
hearing aid
or to become healthy again She claims to

be able to heal people through touch. tric device put in your ear to make you hear
This should help the wound to heal. (NOTE: better
hearing-impaired /hr m ped/
hearing-impaired
Do not confuse with heel.) |
healing / hi
l/ noun the action of mak- adj not able to hear properly
healing
hearsay / hse / noun what people say,

hearsay
ing something or someone healthy The

healing of the sick is her vocation. rather than what is true
hearse 298
hearse /h#
s/ noun a vehicle for carrying heat /hi
t/ noun 1. the state of being hot
hearse heat
a coffin The heat of the sun made the ice cream

heart /h
t/ noun 1. a main organ in the melt. 2. one part of a sports competition
heart
body, which pumps blood around it She There are two heats before the final race.
isnt dead her hearts still beating. The verb (heats, heating, heated) to make
doctor listened to his heart. He has had something hot Can you heat the soup
heart trouble for years. 2. your feelings while Im getting the table ready? The
and emotions My heart sank when I real- room was heated by a small electric fire.
ised that he hadnt read my letter. 3. a cen- Heat the milk to room temperature.
tre or middle The restaurant is in the heated / hi
td/ adj 1. made warm
heated
heart of the old town. 4. one of the red sets The car has a heated rear window. 2. angry
in a game of cards, with a symbol shaped There was a heated discussion after the
like a heart My last card was the ten of meeting. The students became very heat-
hearts. (NOTE: The other red suit is dia- ed during the debate.
monds; clubs and spades are the black heater / hi
t/ noun a machine for
heater
suits.) heating a room

heartache / h
tek/ noun great sadness heath /hi
/ noun an area of dry sandy
heartache
heath
and worry acid soil with low plants such as heather

heart attack / h
t tk/ noun a
heart attack
| and gorse growing on it

condition where the heart suffers from a re- heather / he/ noun a low plant with
heather
duced blood supply because an artery has mainly purple or pink flowers common in
become blocked hilly areas
heartbeat / h
tbi
t/ noun a regular
heartbeat
heating / hi
t/ noun a way of keep-
heating
noise made by the heart as it pumps blood ing a place such as a house or an office
heartbreak / h
tbrek/ noun great sad-
heartbreak
warm
ness and worry heatwave / hi
twev/ noun a period of
heatwave
heartbreaking / h
tbrek/ adj very
heartbreaking
very hot weather

sad and worrying heave / hi
v/ noun a strong hard pull
heave
heartbroken / h
tbrkn/ adj very
heartbroken
One more heave, and we should pull down

sad and upset the tree. verb (heaves, heaving, heaved)
heartburn / h
tb#
n/ noun indigestion
heartburn
1. to pull something hard They heaved on

causing a burning feeling in the stomach the anchor to pull it up. 2. to throw some-
heart disease / h
t dzi
z/ noun thing He heaved a brick through the win-
heart disease
any disease affecting the heart dow. 3. to breathe heavily She heaved a
heartened / h
tnd/ adj feeling more sigh, and picked up the phone. We all
heartened
cheerful or encouraged heaved a collective sigh of relief when he

heart failure / h
t felj/ noun a dan-
heart failure
left.
heaven / hev()n/ noun 1. a beautiful
heaven
gerous condition when the heart has

stopped beating place believed by some people to be where
heartfelt / h
tfelt/ adj sincere good people go after death She believes
heartfelt
hearth /h
/ noun a hole in the wall of a
hearth
that when she dies she will go to heaven. 2.
room where you can light a fire for heating good heavens an expression showing
heartland / h
tlnd/ noun a region
heartland you are surprised Good heavens! Its al-
where certain activities are concentrated most 10 oclock! for heavens sake an
expression showing you are annoyed, or
heartless / h
tls/ adj cruel; not having
heartless
that something is important What are you

any pity screaming for? Its only a little mouse,
heartrending / h
trend/ adj very sad
heartrending
for heavens sake. For heavens sake try

for someone to be quiet, we dont want the guards to
heart-stopping / h
t stp/ adj very
heart-stopping
hear us! good heavens an expression

frightening or shocking showing you are surprised Good heav-
heart-to-heart /h
t t h
t/ noun a
heart-to-heart
ens! Its almost 10 oclock!

serious private talk I will have a heart-to- heavily / hevli/ adv 1. with force He
heavily
heart with him. sat down heavily on the little chair. 2. to a

heartwarming / h
tw
m/ adj mak-
heartwarming
great extent; very much The company

ing you feel happy was heavily criticised in the press. She is
hearty / h
ti/ (heartier, heartiest) adj
hearty
heavily in debt. It rained heavily during

big (NOTE: + heartily adv) the night.
299 helm
heavy / hevi/ adj 1. weighing a lot wears shoes with high heels or high-heeled
heavy

This suitcase is so heavy I can hardly lift it. shoes.
Shes heavier than I am. 2. in large hefty / hefti/ (heftier, heftiest) adj 1.
hefty
amounts There has been a heavy demand strong We need a couple of hefty lads to
for the book. There was a heavy fall of move the table. 2. large He had a hefty
snow during the night. The radio says pay increase. Youll pay a hefty fine if you
there is heavy traffic in the centre of town. get caught.
to be a heavy smoker to smoke a lot of heifer / hef/ noun a young cow which
heifer
cigarettes to be a heavy drinker to drink has not had a calf

a lot of alcohol
height /hat/ noun 1. a measurement of
height
heavy-duty /hevi dju

ti/ adj made for
heavy-duty
how high something is or how tall someone

rough work is The height of the bridge is only three
heavy-handed /hevi hndd/ adj not
heavy-handed
metres. 2. the highest point looking down

delicate on the city from the heights around
heavy industry /hevi ndstri/ noun heighten / hat()n/ (heightens, height-
heavy industry
heighten
industry which makes large products such ening, heightened) verb to increase some-
as steel bars, ships or railway lines thing
heavy metal /hevi met()l/ noun a
heavy metal
heinous / hens/ adj very bad (formal)

heinous
type of loud music with electric guitars heir /e/ noun a man or woman who will
heir
heavyweight / heviwet/ noun 1. the

heavyweight
inherit something from someone after that

largest and heaviest class of boxer the persons death Hes the heir to the bank-
heavyweight champion a heavyweight ti- ing fortune. Her heirs divided the estate
tle fight 2. a person who has a lot of influ- between them.
ence Hes the director of the National heiress / eres/ noun a woman who will
heiress
Theatre a heavyweight in the theatre inherit something from someone after that
world. persons death
Hebrew / hi
bru
/ noun 1. the official lan-
Hebrew
heirloom / elu
m/ noun a valuable ob-
heirloom
guage of Israel 2. a Jewish person who ject which has belonged to a family for a
lived in Israel in ancient times long time
heckle / hek()l/ (heckles, heckling,
heckle
held /held/ past tense and past partici-

held
heckled) verb to call out and interrupt a

ple of hold
public speaker (NOTE: + heckler n)
helicopter / helkpt/ noun an aircraft
helicopter
hectare / hekte/ noun an area of land

hectare
measuring 100 metres by 100 metres, i.e. with a set of large flat blades on top that
10,000 square metres, or 2.47 acres spin round, making it rise straight up in the
air
hectic / hektk/ adj very active
hectic
helium / hi
lim/ noun a light inert gas,
helium
hed /hid, hi
d/ short form 1. he had 2. he
hed
often used in balloons

would
hell /hel/ noun 1. a place where some
hell
hedge /hed/ noun a row of bushes plant-

hedge
people believe bad people are sent after

ed and kept in an even shape to form a they die Medieval pictures show hell as a
screen round a field or garden There is a burning place. 2. a very unpleasant place
thick hedge round the churchyard. or experience Its hell working in the of-
hedgehog / hedh(/ noun a small ani-
hedgehog
fice these days. 3. used to emphasise what

mal with its back covered in spines you are saying (informal) What the hells
hedgerow / hedr/ noun a line of been going on here? Am I going to lend
hedgerow
bushes forming a hedge round a field or you 50? Am I hell! (NOTE: Using expres-
along a country road sions that include the word hell is offensive
hedonist / hi
d()nst/ noun a person to some people.)
hedonist
hell /hil, hi
l/ short form he will
hell
who only lives for pleasure

heed /hi
d/ (heeds, heeding, heeded) hello /h l/ interj used as a greeting
heed hello
verb to pay attention to something She She called hello from the other side of the
didnt heed the doctors warning. street. Hello Mary! Im glad to see you.
heel /hi
l/ noun 1. the back part of the foot When you see her, say hello to her from me.
heel
After walking, she got sore heels. 2. the (NOTE: also spelled hallo, hullo.)
helm /helm/ noun a wheel or bar with
helm
back part of a sock or shoe Hes got a

hole in the heel of his sock. She always which a ship or boat is steered He put the
helmet 300
helm hard to starboard as soon as he saw hen /hen/ noun an adult female chicken
hen
the iceberg. The hens were scared by the fox. Look,

helmet / helmt/ noun a solid hat used as
helmet
one of the hens has laid an egg!
hence /hens/ adv in the future Five
hence
a protection
help /help/ noun 1. something which
help
months hence, the situation should be bet-
makes it easier for you to do something ter.
henchman / hentmn/ (plural hench-
henchman
[~with/~in] Do you need any help with

moving the furniture? She finds the word- men) noun a political assistant or body-
processor a great help in writing her book. guard; a person who assists or protects an
2. the act of making it easier for someone important person
hen night / hen nat/, hen party noun a
hen night
to do something People were calling for

help from the ruins of the house. The party for women only (NOTE: A party for
nurses offered help to people injured in the men only, is a stag party or stag night.)
hepatitis /hep tats/ noun an infec-
hepatitis
accident. verb (helps, helping, helped) |
to make it easier for someone to do some- tious disease of the liver

her /, h, h#
/ object pronoun refer-
her
thing The government wants to help

small businesses. Your father can help ring to a female Theres a parcel for her
you with your homework. to help some- in reception. Did you see her? He told
body (to) do something to do something her to go away. adj belonging to a female,
with somebody else so that it is easier for a ship or a country Someone has stolen
them One of my friends helped me move all her luggage. Have you seen her fa-
the piano into the bedroom. ther? The dog doesnt want to eat her
help out phrasal verb to help someone in food. France is helping her businesses to
an emergency sell more abroad.
herald / herld/ (heralds, heralding, her-
herald
help desk / help desk/ noun a service

help desk
which helps people with computer prob- alded) verb to be a sign of something com-
lems ing dark clouds that herald stormy
weather The statistics seem to herald an
helper / help/ noun a person who helps
helper
end to the recession.

someone do a particular job or task, espe- herb /h#
b/ noun a plant used to give fla-
herb
cially without being paid vour to food, or as a medicine

helpful / helpf()l/ adj useful or giving
helpful
herbicide / h#
bsad/ noun a chemical
herbicide
help to someone She made some helpful which kills plants, especially weeds
suggestions. They were very helpful when herbivore / h#
bv
/ noun an animal
herbivore
we moved house. which eats plants

helping / help/ noun an amount of herd /h#
d/ noun a group of animals, es-
helping
herd
food for one person The helpings in this pecially cows Herds of cattle were graz-
restaurant are very small. Childrens ing on the hillside. (NOTE: Do not confuse
helpings are not as large as those for with heard. The word herd is usually used
adults. with cattle; for sheep, goats, and birds, the
helpless / helpls/ adj not able to do
helpless
word to use is flock.)

here /h/ adv 1. in this place Ill sit
here
anything to make a bad situation better

helpline / helplan/ noun a special phone
helpline
here in the shade and wait for you. Here
number for people to call when they need are the keys you lost. Ill put the book
help down here next to your computer. They
have been living here in England for a long
hem /hem/ noun the sewn edge of a piece
hem
time. 2. to this place Come here at once!

of clothing, e.g. a skirt or dress She was Can you bring the chairs here, please?
wearing a long skirt, with the hem touching Here comes the bus! here you are take
the floor. verb (hems, hemming, this Here you are, todays newspaper!
hemmed) to make the hem of a piece of
hereditary /h redt()ri/ adj 1. passed
hereditary
clothing, e.g. a skirt or dress Ive almost

|
from parent to child biologically 2. passed

finished the skirt, it just needs to be from parent to child as a legal right a he-
hemmed. reditary title
hemisphere / hemsf/ noun half of a
hemisphere
heredity /h redti/ noun the occurrence

heredity
sphere of physical or mental characteristics in

hemp /hemp/ noun a plant used to make
hemp
children which are inherited from their par-

ropes and sacks ents
301 hide
heresy / hersi / noun a wrong opinion or hesitation /hez te()n/ noun the act
heresy hesitation
belief, especially wrong religious belief of waiting and not deciding

heretic / hertk/ noun a person who heterosexual /hetr sekul/ adj,
heretic heterosexual
holds wrong religious beliefs noun sexually attracted to people of the op-
heritage / hertd/ noun the national posite sex. Compare bisexual, homosexu-
heritage
treasure passed from one generation to the al

next heterosexuality /hetrseku lti/
heterosexuality
hermit / h#
mt / noun a person who noun the fact of being heterosexual
hermit
chooses to live alone outside the communi- hexagon / heks(n/ noun (in geometry)
hexagon
ty a shape with six sides

hernia / h#
ni / noun a medical condition hey! /he/ interj showing a greeting or sur-
hernia
hey!
in which an organ bulges through a hole or prise Hey, you! What are you doing
weakness in the wall which surrounds it there? Hey! Thats my chair!
hero / hr/ (plural heroes) noun 1. a heyday / hede/ noun a time of greatest
hero
heyday
brave man The hero of the fire was the success, popularity or power
man who managed to rescue the children HGV abbr heavy goods vehicle
HGV
from an upstairs room. 2. the main male

hi /ha/ interj showing a greeting Hi! Im
hi
character in something such as a book, play

or film The hero of the story is a little boy. your tour leader. Hi, Mary! How are you
today? Say hi to her from me.
heroic /h rk/ adj like a hero
heroic
hiatus /ha ets/ (plural hiatuses or

| hiatus
heroics /h rks/ plural noun very

heroics |
same) noun a gap or interruption

|
brave actions
hibernate / habnet/ (hibernates, hi-
hibernate
heroin / hern/ noun a strong addictive

heroin
bernating, hibernated) verb (of an animal )

illegal drug made from poppies (NOTE: Do to sleep during the winter, either complete-
not confuse with heroine.)
ly unconscious or semi-conscious (NOTE: +
heroine / hern/ noun 1. a brave wom-
heroine
hibernation n)
an The heroine of the accident was a
hiccup / hkp/, hiccough noun 1. a sud-
hiccup
passing cyclist who pulled the children out

of the burning car. 2. the main female char- den high sound that you sometimes make
acter in something such as a book, play or in your throat, e.g. if you have been eating
film The heroine of the film is a school too quickly She had an attack of hiccups.
He got the hiccups from laughing too
teacher. (NOTE: Do not confuse with heroin.)
much. 2. a small thing which goes wrong
heroism / herz()m/ noun bravery
heroism
There has been a slight hiccup in the deliv-

heron / hern/ noun a tall, usually grey,
heron
ery of our supplies. verb (hiccups, hic-

water bird with a long neck and long legs cupping, hiccupped) to make a hiccup
herpes / h#
pi
z/ noun a disease caused
herpes
She patted him on the back when he sud-

by a virus, which causes small blisters denly started to hiccup. He hiccupped so
herring / her/ noun a small silver sea
herring
loudly that everyone in the restaurant

fish She had grilled herrings for dinner. stared at him.
hers /h#
z/ pron belonging to her hid /hd/ past tense of hide
hers hid
That watch is hers, not mine. hidden / hd()n/ adj which cannot be
hidden
herself / self, h self/ pron used for

herself
| | seen or found easily Theres a hidden

referring back to a female subject The safe in the wall behind his desk. They say
manager wrote to me herself. Did your theres some hidden treasure in the castle.
sister enjoy herself? Shes too young to hide
be able to dress herself. hidden agenda /hd()n dend/
hidden agenda
hertz /h#
ts/ noun the standard unit of fre-
hertz
noun a secret reason for doing something

quency of radio waves (NOTE: no plural) which will be to your advantage
hes /hiz, hi
z / short form 1. he has 2. hide /had/ (hides, hiding, hid, hidden
hes
hide
he is or hid) verb 1. to put something where no

hesitant / hezt()nt/ adj slow and cau-
hesitant
one can see or find it [~behind/under/in etc]

tious She hid the presents in the kitchen.
hesitate / heztet/ (hesitates, hesitat- Someone has hidden my car keys. 2. to put
hesitate
ing, hesitated) verb to be slow to speak or yourself where no one can see or find you
make a decision He hesitated for a mo- [~behind/under/in etc/~from] The children
ment and then said no. Shes hesitating hid from us behind the bushes.
about whether to accept the job. hide away phrasal verb to go to a place
hide-and-seek 302
where you can be away from other peo- Higher / ha/ noun (in Scotland) an ex-
Higher
ple amination in various subjects taken in fifth

hide-and-seek /had n si
k/ noun a or sixth year at secondary school
hide-and-seek
higher education /har edj

higher education
childrens game, in which one person hides |
and the others try to find him or her ke()n/ noun education in universities
hideous / hdis/ adj extremely unpleas-
hideous
and colleges
high five /ha fav/ noun a greeting in
high five
ant to look at Where did she get that hid-

eous dress? which two people each raise an arm and
hide-out / hadat/ noun a secret place
hide-out
slap palms
high-flyer /ha fla/ noun a person who
high-flyer
where you cannot be found

hiding / had/ noun a situation in
hiding
has great potential and ambition
high-grade / ha (red/ adj of a very
high-grade
which you have put yourself where no one

can find you He stayed in hiding for three good quality
high-handed /ha hndd/ adj with no
high-handed
days until the soldiers left the village.

They decided to go into hiding for a time respect for other people or customs
high heels /ha hi
lz/ plural noun very
high heels
until the police called off their search.

hierarchy / har
ki/ noun 1. ar-
hierarchy
high thin heels, on womens shoes You
rangement in ranks There is a strict hier- are not allowed to walk on the polished
archy in the army. 2. the people in the up- floor of the museum in high heels.
highlands / halndz/ plural noun a
highlands
per ranks of an organisation The party hi-

erarchy met to elect a new leader. The mountain region the Malaysian High-
church hierarchy has condemned the at- lands the Scottish Highlands
tack. high-level / ha lev()l/ adj important;
high-level
hi-fi /ha fa/ (plural hi-fis) noun 1. a very composed of important people

hi-fi
highlight / halat/ noun the most im-

highlight
accurate reproduction of sound by equip-

ment such as a CD player and amplifier portant or interesting event The highlight
The company is a leading manufacturer of of our tour of Greece was our visit to the
hi-fi audio equipment. 2. a set of equipment Parthenon. verb (highlights, highlight-
for playing CDs or cassettes or for listening, highlighted) 1. to draw attention to
ing to the radio He played the CD on his something The report highlights various
hi-fi. problems. 2. to make part of a text stand out
high / ha/ adj 1. far above other things
high
from the rest The headings are highlight-
Everest is the highest mountain in the ed in bold. The report highlights various
world. The new building is 20 storeys problems.
highlighter / halat/ noun a marker
highlighter
high. The kitchen has a high ceiling.

The door is not high enough for us to get pen; a coloured felt pen used to highlight
the wardrobe into the bedroom. height text
highlights / halats/ plural noun 1. a se-
highlights
(NOTE: High is used with figures: the moun-

tain is 1,000 metres high. High also refers to lection of the best parts of a sporting event
things that are a long way above the ground: which are repeated on TV highlights of
a high mountain, high clouds. For people this afternoons game 2. streaks in your
and narrow things like trees use tall: a tall hair which have been dyed a pale colour 3.
man.) 2. large in quantity the high level of characters which stand out from the text on
unemployment in the country He earns a a screen by being brighter than the rest
high income. High prices put customers highly / hali/ adv used before some
highly
off. The car shakes when going at high adjectives to mean very well highly
speeds. The price of petrol is higher eve- priced meals The restaurant has been
ry year. adv above; up in the air The sun highly recommended. Their employees
rose high in the sky. The bird flew higher are not very highly paid.
and higher. high-pitched /ha ptt/ adj making a
high-pitched
highbrow / habra/ adj with a high in-

highbrow
shrill sound
tellectual content high point / ha pnt/ noun the best
high point
high chair /ha te/ noun a babys

high chair
moment
chair at a level with a table, sometimes high-powered /ha pad/ adj very
high-powered
with a tray in front of the baby powerful

high-class /ha kl
s/ adj of very good high-profile /ha prfal/ adj who is
high-class high-profile
quality often in the news

303 hip hop

high-rise / ha raz/ adj with many sto- hilt /hlt / noun a sword handle He stood
high-rise hilt
reys for the photograph with his hand on the hilt

high school / ha sku
l/ noun 1. a sec-
high school
of his sword.
him /m, hm/ object pronoun referring
him
ondary school for children aged from 11 to

18 2. US a secondary school, from grade 9 to a male Tell him theres a letter waiting
to grade 12 Hes in grade 10 or tenth for him. Have you spoken to him today?
grade at high school. Thats him! The man with the beard.
himself /m self, hm self/ pron used
himself
high season /ha si
z()n/ noun a pe-
high season
| |
riod when there are lots of travellers and for referring back to a male subject I was
when fares are high, usually the period served by the manager himself. The doc-
from July to September. Compare low sea- tor has got flu himself. Did your brother
son
enjoy himself?
hinder / hnd/ (hinders, hindering, hin-
hinder
high street / ha stri

t/, High Street
high street
dered) verb to make it difficult for some-

noun the most important street in a village one to do something Snow hindered the
or town, where shops and banks are (NOTE: efforts of the rescuers. This hostile situa-
often written High St. The US term is Main tion is hindering plans for peace in the re-
Street.) gion.
high tech /ha tek/ adj referring to
high tech
hindrance / hndrns/ noun something

hindrance
high technology which hinders

high technology /ha tek nldi/ hindsight / handsat/ noun the act of
high technology hindsight
noun advanced technology as used in in- realising something too late, after it has
dustry, e.g. the use of electronics and ro- happened
bots Hinduism / hnduz()m/ noun the main
Hinduism
high tide /ha tad/, high water noun religion of India, in which people worship
high tide
the points when the level of the sea is at its several gods
hinge /hnd/ noun a piece of metal used
hinge
highest or at its lowest

highway / hawe/ noun a main public
highway
to hold something, e.g. a door, window or
road A footbridge was built over the lid, so that it can swing open and shut
highway. That hinge squeaks it needs some oil.
They lifted the door off its hinges.
hijack / hadk/ (hijacks, hijacking, hi-
hijack
hint / hnt/ noun 1. something you say that

hint
jacked), highjack verb to take control of a

reveals information in an indirect way He
vehicle by force The men hijacked the didnt give a hint as to where he was going
lorry and left the driver by the road. They on holiday. to drop a hint to make a sug-
hijacked an aircraft and ordered the pilot gestion Shes been dropping hints about
to fly to Moscow. (NOTE: + hijacker n) what she wants for her birthday. to take
hike /hak/ noun 1. a vigorous walk We
hike
a hint to accept a suggestion He took the

went for a 10-mile hike in the mountains. 2. hint and offered to pay for the lamp he
an increase a price hike verb (hikes, broke. 2. a piece of advice or a suggestion
hiking, hiked) 1. to go for a vigorous walk She gave me some useful hints about
They were hiking in the Pyrenees when painting furniture. I dont know what to
the accident happened. 2. to increase pric- give her for her birthday have you any
es Petrol companies have hiked up their hints? verb (hints, hinting, hinted) to say
prices. something in a way that makes people
hiking / hak/ noun the practice of go- guess what you mean She hinted that her
hiking
ing for long walks for pleasure sister was pregnant.

hinterland / hntlnd/ noun an area in-
hinterland
hilarious /h leris/ adj very funny I

hilarious
thought the play was hilarious. land from a sea port or around a large town
hip /hp/ noun the part of the body where
hip
hill /hl/ noun a piece of high land

hill
your legs join your waist The tailor

(informal) The hills are covered with
measured him round the hips. adj (hip-
spring flowers. If you climb to the top of per, hippest) very fashionable (slang)
the hill you will get a good view of the val-
Thats a very hip shirt shes wearing.
ley.
hip hop / hp hp/ noun a kind of popular
hip hop
hillside / hlsad/ noun the sloping side

hillside
culture which started among African-

of a hill Americans and which involves rap and
hilltop / hltp/ noun the top of a hill
hilltop
graffiti art
hippo 304
hippo / hp/ (plural hippos) noun same [~(that)] It suddenly hit her that now she
hippo
as hippopotamus was divorced she would have to live alone.

hippopotamus /hp ptms/ (plural
hippopotamus
|
hit back phrasal verb 1. to hit someone
hippopotamuses or hippopotami) noun a who has hit you They hit him so hard
large heavy African animal which spends that he was unable to hit back. 2. to do
most of its time submerged in water, but something as a reaction to something
comes onto dry land to graze When the supermarket chain lowered
their prices, the other chains hit back by
hire / ha/ verb (hires, hiring, hired) 1.
hire
lowering prices too. He hit back at the

(of a borrower) to pay money to use some- inspectors, saying that their report was
thing for a time She hired a car for the biased.
weekend. He was driving a hired car
hit-and-run /ht n rn/ noun an acci-
hit-and-run
when the accident happened. 2. to employ

someone to work for you Weve hired dent in which a driver knocks someone
three more sales assistants. They hired a down and does not stop to give help
hitch /ht/ noun an unexpected tempo-
hitch
small company to paint their offices.

noun the act of paying money to rent some- rary problem Theres a hitch, and the
thing such as a car, a boat or a piece of wedding has been postponed. verb
equipment (hitches, hitching, hitched) to attach one
thing to another The caravan was hitched
his /z, hz / adj belonging to him
his
to the car.
Hes lost all his money. Have you met his
HIV noun the virus which causes AIDS.
HIV
mother? Our dog wants his food. pron

belonging to him That watch is his, not Full form human immunodeficiency virus
hiya / ha/ interj showing a greeting
hiya
mine.
hm, hmm interj showing a pause while the
hm
hiss /hs/ (hisses, hissing, hissed)

hiss
speaker thinks about something

verb 1. to make a hissing sound The
hoard / h
d/ noun a store of something
hoard
snake hissed as we came nearer. 2. to show

disapproval of someone or something by such as food or money, which has been col-
making an s sound The audience began lected They discovered a hoard of gold
to hiss. She was hissed off the stage. coins in the field. verb (hoards, hoard-
ing, hoarded) to buy and store supplies of
historian /h st
rin/ noun a person
historian
|
something essential that you think you will
who studies or writes history need in a crisis Everyone started hoard-
historic /h strk/ adj important in
historic
|
ing fuel during the strike. (NOTE: Do not
the life of a person or place and likely to be confuse with horde.)
remembered (NOTE: can be preceded by an hoarding / h
d/ noun 1. the act of
hoarding
in formal style: The opening of the new buying stocks of something, e.g. food or
bridge was an historic event for the town.) money, in case supply may be difficult 2. a
historical /h strk()l/ adj relating
historical
| large advertising board in a street

to history He likes books of historical in- hoarse /h
s/ adj (of a voice) which
hoarse
terest. sounds rough (NOTE: Do not confuse with

history / hst()ri/ noun 1. the study of horse.)
history
hoax /hks/ noun a trick played on

hoax
the past He is studying Greek history.

She failed her history exam. She teaches someone as a joke or to annoy him or her
history at London University. 2. a book The police and fire brigade arrived but the
which tells the story of what happened in bomb was just a hoax. The ambulance
the past He wrote a history of the French answered a hoax telephone call.
Revolution. hob /hb/ noun a flat top on a cooker
hob
hit /ht/ noun someone or something Our new cooker has a ceramic hob. Do
hit
that is very popular, e.g. a song, a film or a not use abrasive cleaner on the hob.
hobble / hb()l/ (hobbles, hobbling,
hobble
performer [~with] The song rapidly be-

came a hit. She was a hit with the old hobbled) verb 1. to walk with difficulty
peoples club. verb (hits, hitting, hit) 1. to He hobbled into the room on crutches. 2. to
knock something or someone attach a horses legs together The horses
[~at/~for/~with] The car hit the tree. She were hobbled so that they couldnt run
hit him on the head with a bottle. She hit away.
hobby / hbi/ (plural hobbies) noun an
hobby
the ball so hard that we couldnt find it. I

hit my head on the cupboard door. 2. to enjoyable activity which you do in your
cause someone to realise something spare time
305 holding
hockey / hki/ noun a team game played contact someone by telephone I tried to
hockey
on grass, where you try to hit a small ball get hold of the doctor but he was out. to
into your opponents goal using a long get hold of something to find something
stick which is curved at the end He which you want to use Do you know
played in the hockey team at school. where I can get hold of a ladder? to take
hoe /h/ noun a garden tool with a long
hoe
hold to take control The fire took hold
handle and small sharp blade, used to break rapidly. to take hold of something to
up the surface of soil or cut off weeds grip something Take hold of my hand.
Use a sharp hoe to remove the weeds be- hold back phrasal verb 1. not to go for-
tween your peas. (NOTE: + hoe v) wards, or stop someone or something
hog /h(/ noun 1. a castrated male pig 2.
hog
from going forwards Most of the crowd
US any pig Hogs are traded on the Chi- held back until they saw it was safe. 2. not
cago exchange. verb (hogs, hogging, to tell someone something She held
hogged) to monopolise something; to take back important information from the po-
more of something than you should lice.
(informal) He was hogging the middle of hold down phrasal verb to keep some-
the road. Stop hogging the biscuits thing at a low level We are holding our
wed like some too! Shes always hog- prices down.
ging the limelight. hold on phrasal verb 1. to hold some-
hoist /hst/ (hoists, hoisting, hoisted) thing tightly She held on to the rope
hoist
verb to lift something or someone using with both hands. Hold on to your purse
special equipment or a lot of force The in the crowd. Hold on tight, were turn-
box was hoisted up on a rope. Its time to ing! 2. to wait Hold on a moment, Ill
hoist the flag. get my umbrella. Do you want to speak
hold /hld/ verb (holds, holding,
hold
to the manager? Hold on, Ill find him for
held) 1. to keep something or someone you.
tight, especially in your hand She was hold out phrasal verb 1. to move some-
holding the baby in her arms. She held thing towards someone Hold out your
her ticket between her teeth as she was car- plate to be served. He held out his hand
rying suitcases in both hands. Hold tight but she refused to shake it. 2. to manage
the machine is going to start. He held to be strong enough The castle held out
the bag close to his chest. 2. to be large for ten weeks against a huge enemy army.
enough to contain a certain quantity of hold over phrasal verb to postpone some-
things or people The bottle holds two li- thing
tres. The box will hold four pairs of hold up phrasal verb 1. to lift someone
shoes. Will the car hold eight people? or something He held up his hand. He
The plane holds 250 passengers. 3. to
make an event happen They are holding held the little boy up so that he could see
a party for their wedding anniversary. the procession. 2. to support something
The meeting will be held next Tuesday in The roof is held up by those pillars. 3. to
the town hall. We are holding the village make someone or something late The
fete next week. 4. to own something She planes were held up by fog. Govern-
holds a valid driving licence. He holds ment ministers are holding up the deal. 4.
the record for the 2000 metres. 5. to keep to use a gun to make someone give up all
someone inside The prisoners were held their money Six gunmen held up the se-
in police cells overnight. to hold your curity van.
holdall / hld
l/ noun a soft bag for
holdall
breath to keep air in your lungs, e.g. in or-

der to go under water She held her breath carrying things such as clothes when trav-
under water for a minute. Were all hold- elling
ing our breath to see if he wins a gold med- holder / hld/ noun 1. something
holder
al. noun 1. the bottom part of a ship or an

aircraft, in which goods or luggage are which holds things Put the pen back into
stored You cant take all that luggage its holder. 2. a person who holds something
She is a British passport holder or the
with you it has to go in the hold. 2. the act
of keeping something tightly in your hand holder of a British passport. He is the
He lost his hold on the ladder. Keep
world record holder in the javelin.
holding / hld/ noun an investment
holding
tight hold of the bag, we dont want it sto-

len. to get hold of someone to manage to owned
holding company 306

/ hld Holocaust / hlk
st/ noun the mass
holding company Holocaust
holding company
kmp()ni / noun a company which owns killing of the Jews during the Second
shares in other companies World War (NOTE: always written with the)
hold-up / hld p/ noun 1. a delay; hologram / hl(rm/ noun a three-di-
hologram
hold-up
an occasion on which something is later mensional picture made using laser beams
holster / hlst/ noun a leather holder
holster
than planned Long hold-ups are expected

because of road works on the motorway. for a revolver
Theres been a hold-up and the goods holy / hli/ adj relating to religion or
holy
wont arrive till next week. 2. an occasion the church They went to ask a holy man
on which a person with a gun steals money his advice.
from someone The gang carried out homage / hmd/ noun 1. respect for
homage
three hold-ups in the same day. someone 2. an action or work of art that is
hole /hl/ noun an opening or a space
hole
made to show respect to someone This

in something [~in] Youve got a hole in song is a homage to my parents.
your sock. We all peeped through the home /hm/ noun 1. the place where
home
hole in the fence. Rabbits live in holes in you live or where your parents live Their
the ground. home is a flat in the centre of London.
hole up phrasal verb to hide from some- Will you be at home tomorrow evening?
one (slang) When do you leave home for work in the
hole-in-the-wall / hl n w
l/ morning? I like to go home for the holi-
hole-in-the-wall
(plural holes-in-the-wall) noun a machine days. to make yourself at home to be-

in the outside wall of a bank where custom- have as if you were in your own home He
ers can get money from their account lay down on my sofa, opened a bottle of
holiday / hlde/ noun 1. a period
holiday
beer, and made himself at home. 2. a house
They are building fifty new homes on the
when you do not work, and sometimes go
and stay in a different place When are edge of the village. 3. a house where people
you taking your holiday or When are you are looked after My aunt has moved to an
planning to go on holiday? Hes going to old peoples home. 4. [~for/~of] at home
Spain on holiday. We always spend our (in sports) on the local sports ground Our
holidays in the mountains. How many team is playing at home next Saturday.
days holiday do you have each year? 2. a adv towards the place where you usually
day on which most people do not work be- live Weve got to go home now. He usu-
cause of laws or religious rules The office ally gets home by 7 oclock. Dont send it
is closed for the Christmas holiday. Ill take it home with me. If you dont
want to walk, you can always take the bus
holidaymaker / hldemek/ noun a
holidaymaker
home. (NOTE: used without a preposition: He

person who is on holiday went home or Shes coming home.) adj re-
holistic /h lstk/ adj dealing with a
holistic
|
ferring to where you live or where you
medical or social problem as a whole rath- were born My home town is Birmingham.
er than only looking at one aspect of it Send the letter to my home address, not
The committee has been calling for a more to my office.
holistic approach to learning. homecoming / hmkm/ noun the
homecoming
hollow / hl/ adj with a hole inside a

hollow
act of coming home

hollow log If you tap the box it sounds homegrown / hm(rn/ adj grown in
homegrown
hollow. your own garden

hollow out phrasal verb to remove the in- home improvement /hm m
home improvement
side part of something so as to make it pru

vmnt/ noun a change which you
hollow make to your home to make it better
holly / hli/ noun a small evergreen tree homeland / hmlnd/ noun the home
holly
homeland
with shiny dark green prickly leaves and of a people

bright red berries home language /hm l(wd/
home language
Hollywood / hliwd/ noun a town in

Hollywood
noun the language which you first learn to

California, the centre of the American film speak as a child (US)
industry homeless / hmls/ adj with nowhere
homeless
holocaust / hlk
st/ noun total de- to live The council has a duty to house
holocaust
struction, especially by fire or nuclear war homeless families.

homely / hmli/ adj 1. simple but pleas-
homely
A nuclear holocaust would cause unim-

aginable suffering. ant The accommodation was homely and
307 hood
unpretentious. The pub serves good honest / nst/ adj 1. telling the truth
honest
homely food. 2. US (of a person) not attrac- He was honest with the police and told
tive Shes a homely girl. them what he had done. 2. tending to tell
homemade /hm med/ adj made at people the truth; treating people fairly I
homemade
home and not bought wouldnt buy a car from that garage Im
home page / hm ped/ noun the not sure theyre completely honest.
home page
honestly / nstli/ adv 1. in an open

honestly
first page of a website, which gives details

of the person or organisation that the web- and honest way 2. used to express a feeling
site belongs to of being annoyed Honestly, you might
home rule /hm ru
l/ noun a system
home rule
have told me sooner!
honesty / nsti/ noun the quality of be-
honesty
of government in which a country is ruled

by itself rather than by another country ing honest I admire him for his honesty in
Home Secretary /hm sekrt()ri /
Home Secretary
saying the job was too difficult for him.
honey / hni/ noun a sweet substance
honey
noun the British government minister in

charge of the Home Office (NOTE: In other produced by bees I like honey on toast.
countries, this minister is usually called the Greek cakes are often made with honey.
honeymoon / hnimu
n / noun a hol-
honeymoon
Minister of the Interior. In the USA, he is

the Secretary of the Interior.) iday taken immediately after a wedding
homesick / hmsk/ adj feeling sad be- They went on their honeymoon to Corsica.
homesick
honk /hk/ (honks, honking, honked)

honk
cause you are away from home

homestead / hmsted/ noun a farm- verb to make a noise like a goose or with a
homestead
house and land car horn Geese flew overhead, honking

home town /hm tan/ noun the town
home town
loudly. He honked as he drove past.
where you live or where you were born (NOTE: + honk n)
honor / n/ noun, verb US spelling of
honor
home truths /hm tru

z/ plural noun
home truths
unpleasant facts about someone, which honour

honorary / nrri/ adj 1. not paid a sal-
honorary
someone else tells him or her I had to tell

her a few home truths. ary Shes the honorary secretary of the
homework / hmw#
k/ noun work
homework
society. 2. a title which shows respect
which you take home from school to do in Hes the honorary president of the compa-
the evening Have you finished your ny.
honour / n/ noun 1. the practice of
honour
maths homework? I havent got any

homework today, so I can watch TV. (NOTE: acting according to what you think is right
no plural) Hes a man of honour. 2. something that
homicidal /hm sad()l/ adj likely to

homicidal
|
you are proud of It is an honour for me to
kill someone be invited here today. verb 1. to show
your respect for someone to honour the
homicide / hmsad/ noun murder, the
homicide
dead 2. to give someone an award to show

killing of someone that you respect them He was honoured
homogeneous /hm di
nis/ adj
homogeneous
|
by the university. 3. to do what you prom-
all of the same type ised He honoured the agreement and
homonym / hmnm/ noun a word
homonym
gave the staff a pay rise.

spelled and pronounced the same as anoth- honourable / n()rb()l/ adj 1. who
honourable
er but which has a different meaning or which can be respected He lived the
homophobia /hm fbi/ noun a
homophobia
| rest of his life in honourable retirement.

fear of and hostility towards homosexuals He did the honourable thing and resigned.
homophone / hmfn/ noun a word (NOTE: The US spelling is honorable.) 2. a
homophone
which is pronounced the same as another, title used when one MP addresses another
but which is spelt differently or has a dif- in Parliament The honourable Member
ferent meaning for Putney would do well to remember the
homosexual /hm sekul/ adj conditions in his constituency. (NOTE: usu-
homosexual
sexually attracted to people of the same ally shortened to Hon. in this meaning)
honoured / nd/ adj pleased and proud
honoured
sex. Compare bisexual, heterosexual

hone /hn/ (hones, honing, honed) (NOTE: The US spelling is honored.)
hone
Hons abbr honours degree

Hons
verb 1. to improve something over a long

hood /hd/ noun 1. a loose piece of cloth-
hood
period His technique has been honed

through years of practice. 2. to sharpen and ing to cover your head He has a blue coat
smooth something with a hood. 2. a folding roof on something
hoof 308
such as a car or pram Lets put down the expect to do something The chairman
hood, its very hot. 3. US a metal cover for hopes to be at the meeting tomorrow.
the front part of a car, covering the engine They said they hoped to be back home by 6
He lifted the hood to see what was wrong oclock. I had hoped to go to the party
with the motor. but in the end I couldnt. noun the fact of
hoof /hu
f/ (plural hooves) noun the part wanting and expecting something to hap-
hoof
of the foot of a horse, cow and many other pen [~(that)/] They have given up all hope
animals of rescuing any more earthquake victims.
hook /hk/ noun 1. a bent piece of met- They expressed a hope that past disagree-
hook
al for hanging things on Hang your coat ments could be forgotten. in the hope
on the hook behind the door. 2. a very small that something happens wanting some-
piece of thin bent metal, attached to a line thing to happen I rang in the hope that
for catching fish The fish ate the worm you might have a table free for tonight. I
but didnt swallow the hook. hope so I want it to happen Are you com-
hooker / hk/ noun 1. a player in the
hooker
ing to the party? Yes, I hope so. I hope
centre of a rugby scrum, who has to try to not I dont want it to happen Its going to
kick the ball backwards The English rain tomorrow, isnt it? I hope not!
hopeful / hpf()l/ adj confident that
hopeful
hooker got the ball and from there they

scored a try. 2. a prostitute; a woman who something will happen We are hopeful
receives money for sexual intercourse that the company will accept our offer.
hopefully / hpf()li/ adv 1. confi-
hopefully
hookers standing on street corners

hooligan / hu
l(n/ noun a wild young
hooligan
dently He looked hopefully at the list of
man (informal) lottery winners. 2. let us hope Hopefully,
hoop /hu
p/ noun a ring, often a large one
hoop
the rain will stop in time for the picnic.
hopeless / hpls/ adj 1. unlikely to
hopeless
(NOTE: Do not confuse with whoop.)

hooray! /h re/ interj showing enthusi-
hooray!
|
get better; impossible to improve The in-
asm Hooray, its the first day of the holi- voices are in a hopeless mess. 2. not at all
days! Hip, hip, hooray! skilful at something Shes hopeless at
tennis. Hes hopeless when it comes to
hoot /hu
t/ noun 1. a call made by an owl
hoot
the ghostly hoot of the owl in the night 2.

mending cars.
hopelessly / hplsli/ adv very much
hopelessly
the sound of a car horn The sudden hoot

The company is hopelessly in debt.
of a car horn made her jump. verb
horde / h
d/ noun a large crowd (NOTE:
horde
(hoots, hooting, hooted) 1. (of an owl) to

make a loud cry An owl hooted in the dis- Do not confuse with hoard.)
horizon /h raz()n/ noun the line in
horizon
tance. 2. to sound a car horn He hooted at |
the sheep to get them to move. the distance where the earth and the sky
Hoover / hu
v/ trademark a type of vac- meet
Hoover
horizons /h raz()nz/ plural noun to

horizons
uum cleaner We need a bigger Hoover |
this one isnt powerful enough. broaden someones horizons to increase

hooves /hu
vz / plural of hoof
hooves
someones range of interests and experi-
hop /hp/ verb (hops, hopping,
hop
ences Travel broadens your horizons
horizontal /hr znt()l/ adj flat;
horizontal
hopped) 1. to jump on one leg He hurt |
his toe and had to hop around on one foot. level with the ground
hormone / h
mn/ noun a substance
hormone
2. (of a bird or animal) to jump with both

feet together Magpies were hopping produced by glands in the body and carried
across the grass. The frog hopped onto to other parts of the body by the blood-
the lily pad. noun 1. a little jump Mag- stream to stimulate certain cells into action
horn /h
n/ noun 1. a sharp pointed
horn
pies walk in a series of little hops. 2. a short

flight Its only a short hop from London bone growing out of an animals head
to Paris. That bulls horns look very dangerous. 2. a
hope /hp/ verb (hopes, hoping, piece of equipment on a car that makes a
hope
hoped) to want and expect something to loud noise to warn people of something 3.
happen [~(that)] We all hope our team a metal musical instrument which you
wins. Shes hoping she will soon be able blow into a piece of music for horn and
to drive a car. I hope it doesnt rain. to orchestra
horoscope / hrskp/ noun a fore-
horoscope
hope for something to want something to

happen We are hoping for better weather cast of what will happen, according to the
next week. to hope to do something to stars
309 hotbed
horrendous /h rends/ adj horrible hospitalise / hspt()laz/ (hospitalis-
horrendous hospitalise
and unpleasant es, hospitalising, hospitalised), hospital-

horrible / hrb()l/ adj extremely un- ize verb to put someone in hospital
horrible
pleasant The victims of the fire had hor- hospitality /hsp tlti/ noun a
hospitality
rible injuries. Hes a horrible little boy. welcome to guests

We had a horrible meal at the restaurant.
host /hst/ noun 1. a person who has
host
horrid / hrd/ adj bad and unpleasant

horrid
invited guests The host asked his guests

horrific /h rfk/ adj which makes
horrific
|
what they wanted to drink. 2. the landlord
you shocked of a hotel or inn, also sometimes of a res-
horrified / hrfad/ adj frightened or
horrified
taurant 3. the person who introduces and

shocked talks to the guests on a TV or radio show
horrify / hrfa/ (horrifies, horrifying,
horrify
He had been a host on a Saturday evening

horrified) verb to frighten or shock some- TV show. 4. a host of a large number of
one We face a host of problems. verb (hosts,
horror / hr/ noun the fact or feeling hosting, hosted) 1. to act as host at a party
horror
of being very frightened He couldnt hide The company hosted a reception for two
his horror at hearing the news. She has a hundred guests. 2. to be the centre where
horror of spiders. Everyone watched in something takes place Barcelona hosted
horror as the planes collided. the Olympic Games. 3. to organise and
horse /h
s/ noun a large animal used manage websites for other people
horse
for riding or for pulling vehicles She was hostage / hstd/ noun a person who is
hostage
riding a black horse. The coach was captured and held by someone or an organ-
pulled by six white horses. Hes out on isation, which threatens to kill him or her
his horse every morning. unless their demands are met Three of the
horse around, horse about phrasal verb hostages will be released tomorrow. to
to play roughly keep someone as a hostage He was held
horse chestnut /h
s tesnt/ noun a hostage for more than a year by the rebels.
horse chestnut
tree with large leaves and upright white or hostel / hst()l/ noun a cheap place
hostel
pink flowers that produces large shiny where people can live
brown seeds
hostess / hsts/ noun a woman who
hostess
horsepower / h
spa/ noun a unit for
horsepower
has invited guests

measuring the power of a motor engine
hostile / hstal/ adj 1. referring to an en-
hostile
horse-riding / h
srad/ noun the
horse-riding
practice of riding horses for pleasure emy Hostile forces are moving towards
horseshoe / h
su
/ noun an iron shoe
horseshoe the airport. 2. showing a dislike of some-
one The crowd seemed hostile, so the
nailed to the hard part of a horses hoof,
also used as a sign of luck President decided not to go on his planned
walkabout.
horticulture / h
tklt/ noun the
horticulture
hostility /h stlti/ (plural hostilities)

hostility
practice of growing fruit, flowers and veg- |
etables for food or decoration noun opposition [/~to/towards] The

hose /hz/ noun a long flexible tube, ei-
hose
boards hostility towards the plan.
hot /ht/ adj 1. very warm; with a high
hot
ther of rubber or plastic There is a ban on

using garden hoses during the summer. temperature The weather is very hot in
The firefighters turned their hoses on the June, but August is the hottest month. If
burning building. youre too hot, take your coat off. Plates
hosiery / hziri/ noun (in a shop)
hosiery
should be kept hot before serving the meal.
stockings, socks and tights heat 2. (of food) full of spices, giving you
hospice / hsps/ noun a hospital which

hospice
a burning feeling in your mouth This cur-
cares for terminally ill patients ry is particularly hot. He chose the hot-
test dish on the menu.
hospitable /h sptb()l/ adj welcom-
hospitable
hot-air balloon /ht e b lu

n/ noun a
hot-air balloon
ing and friendly to guests |
hospital / hspt()l/ noun a place

hospital
very large balloon which rises into the air
where sick or hurt people are looked after as the air inside it is heated, with people
She was taken ill at work and sent to hos- travelling in a basket attached underneath
hotbed / htbed/ noun a place where a
hotbed
pital. When is she due to go into hospi-

tal? He was in hospital for several days lot of some activity takes place a hotbed
after the accident. of crime
hot chocolate 310

hot chocolate /ht tklt/ noun a the houses in our street look the same. 2. a
hot chocolate
drink made from chocolate powder and hot part of a Parliament The British Parlia-
milk ment is formed of the House of Commons
hot dog / ht d(/ noun a snack con- and the House of Lords. The American
hot dog
sisting of a hot sausage in a long piece of Congress is formed of the House of Repre-
bread sentatives and the Senate.
hotel /h tel / noun a building where house2 /haz/ (houses, housing,
hotel house
travellers can rent a room for the night, eat housed) verb to provide a place for some-
in a restaurant or drink in a bar They are one or something to stay or be kept His
staying at the Grand Hotel. Ill meet you collection of old cars is housed in a barn.
in the hotel lobby. All the hotel rooms in We have been asked if we can house three
the town are booked. Its the only five- students for the summer term.
star hotel in town. houseboat / hasbt/ noun a boat
houseboat
hotelier /h telie/ noun a person who

hotelier
| moored on a river, arranged for living in,

owns or manages a hotel not for travelling
hot key / ht ki
/ noun a computer key housebound / hasband/ adj not able
hot key housebound
that you press as a quick way to perform a to leave your house

set of actions household / hashld / noun the
household
hotline / htlan/ noun a phone line for

hotline
people living together in a house

giving urgent messages or for placing ur- householder / hashld/ noun a per-
householder
gent orders We get thousands of orders son who owns a private house
on our Christmas hotline. Call the ticket
house husband /haz hzbnd/ noun
house husband
hotline for reservations.

a man who does not go out to work but
hotly / htli/ adv 1. angrily He hotly de-
hotly
stays at home to look after his house and

nied the reports which had been published family
in the newspapers. 2. close behind The
housekeeper / haski
p/ noun 1. a
housekeeper
enemy fled, hotly pursued by government

troops. person who looks after a house He em-
hotplate / htplet/ noun a flat heated
hotplate
ploys a housekeeper, a chauffeur and two
surface on a cooker gardeners. 2. a person employed to look
after the rooms in a hotel, being responsi-
hot potato /ht p tet / noun a sub-
hot potato
ble for the people who do the cleaning, and

ject which is difficult to deal with for providing clean sheets, etc. The
hot spot / ht spt/ noun 1. a place
hot spot
housekeeper is responsible for the cleanli-

which is exciting This caf is one of the ness of the rooms.
hottest spots in town. 2. a place where
housekeeping / haski
p/ noun the
housekeeping
fighting is taking place He was sent to re-

port from one of the hot spots in the Middle work of looking after a house
housemate / hasmet/ noun a person
housemate
East.
hot-water bottle /ht w
t bt()l/
hot-water bottle
who is not a member of your family, but
noun a container filled with hot water who shares a house with you
houseproud / hasprad/ adj taking
houseproud
which is placed in a bed to warm it

hound /hand/ noun a dog used for hunt-
hound
great pride in the appearance of your
ing He has a pack of hounds for hunting. house, and very concerned with keeping it
verb (hounds, hounding, hounded) to tidy
house-to-house /has t has/ adj
house-to-house
attack or victimise someone When he

came out of prison he was hounded by the going from one house to the next, in order
press. to ask people to buy something or vote for
hour /a/ noun a period of time which someone, or to ask them questions The
hour
lasts 60 minutes The train journey takes police carried out house-to-house checks
two hours. Its a three-hour flight to to try to find the gunman. He has a job
Greece. The train travels at over 150 selling cleaning products house-to-house.
house-trained /haz trend/ adj (of an-
house-trained
miles an hour.
hourly / ali / adj, adv happening every imals) having been taught not to urinate or
hourly
hour defecate on the floor in houses

house1 /has/ noun 1. a building in housewarming / hasw
m/,
house housewarming
which someone lives He has bought a housewarming party noun a party that
house in London. He has a small flat in people have when they move into a new
town and a large house in the country. All house
311 humanity
housewife / haswaf/ (plural house- huddle / hd()l/ (huddles, huddling,
housewife huddle
wives) noun a woman who looks after the huddled) verb to crowd together, or to be
house, and does not go out to work crowded together The refugees huddled
housework / hasw#
k/ noun the work in the shade of some trees. The children
housework
of keeping a house clean (NOTE: no plural) were huddled together in one room.
housing / haz / noun houses hue / hju
/ noun a colour (formal) The
housing hue
Public housing has to meet certain stand- garden is filled with flowers of every hue.
ards. (NOTE: Do not confuse with hew.)
housing estate / haz stet/ noun a hue and cry /hju
n kra/ noun a loud
housing estate hue and cry
large group of flats or houses of a similar protest

type built at the same time She lives on hug /h( / noun the act of putting your
hug
the Bellevue Estate. arms round someone and holding them

hover / hv/ (hovers, hovering, hov-
hover
close to you She ran to the little girl and

ered) verb to hang in the air without mov- gave her a hug. verb (hugs, hugging,
ing forward flies hovering over the sur- hugged) to throw your arms around some-
face of a pool one The players hugged each other when
hovercraft / hvkr
ft/ noun a type of
hovercraft
the goal was scored.

boat which moves over the surface of the huge /hju
d / adj of a very large size
huge
water on a cushion of air Huge waves battered the ship. The con-
how /ha/ adv 1. showing or asking the
how
cert was a huge success. Failing the test

way in which something is done How do was a huge disappointment for him.
you switch off the cooker? Can you tell huh / h, h/ interj 1. used for showing that
huh
me how to get to the railway station from you did not hear or understand what some-
here? I dont know how he does it. 2. one has just said 2. used for showing a re-
showing or asking about things such as the action such as surprise or disgust Huh,
age, size or quantity of something How you think you can sneak out without pay-
big is their house? How many people are ing, do you?
there in your family? She showed us how hulk /hlk/ noun 1. a big and awkward
hulk
good she was at skiing. How old is your person or thing Watch where youre
little boy? How far is it to the church? 3. treading, you lumbering great hulk! 2. a
showing surprise How cold it is outside! rotten old ship Rusting hulks blocked the
How different it is from what I remember!
approaches to the harbour.
however /ha ev/ adv but We never
however
hull /hl/ noun the main body of a ship

| hull
go out on Saturdays however, this week The liner is in dry dock for repairs to her
were going to a wedding. conj in what- hull.
ever way Do it however you like.
hum /hm/ (hums, humming, hummed)
hum
howl /hal/ verb (howls, howling,

howl
verb 1. to make a low sound like a bee

howled) to make a long loud high sound
like a wolf The wolves howled outside Bees were humming around the hive. 2. to
the cabin. The wind howled in the chim- sing without words If you dont know the
ney. noun a long loud cry Howls of dis- words of the national anthem, you can al-
appointment came from the fans. ways hum the tune.
human / hju
mn/ adj relating to peo-
human
HQ abbr headquarters
HQ
ple
hr abbr hour
hr
humane /hju
men/ adj kind to people
humane
HTML /et ti
em el/ noun a system of
HTML
|
codes used to prepare a document for the or animals

human error /hju
mn er/ noun a
human error
World Wide Web

hub /hb/ noun 1. the centre of a wheel
hub
mistake made by a person, and not by a ma-
The spokes of a wheel meet at the hub. 2. chine
human interest /hju
mn ntrst/
human interest
the centre of some activity, especially busi-

ness activity Frankfurt is hoping to take noun the power to make people interested
the place of the City of London as the fi- or sympathetic
humanitarian /hju
mn terin/ adj
humanitarian
nancial hub of Europe. 3. a central airport, | |
where domestic flights connect with inter- helping other human beings
national flights Chicago is the airlines humanity /hju
mnti/ noun 1. all peo-
humanity
American hub. ple a crime against humanity 2. great

hubbub / hbb/ noun the confused kindness She showed great humanity to
hubbub
sound of voices the refugees.

humankind 312
humankind /hju
mn kand/ noun all type has two. 2. a small raised part in the
humankind
human beings ground They have built humps in the road

human nature /hju
mn net/ noun to slow down the traffic.
human nature
hunch /hnt/ noun a feeling that some-

hunch
natural feelings which are found in all peo-

ple thing is going to happen Ive got a hunch
human resources / hju
mn r
human resources
|
that we will win. The detective acted
s
sz/ plural noun the employees of a purely on a hunch. verb (hunches,
company, seen as a group hunching, hunched) to bend forwards
human rights /hju
mn rats/ plu-
human rights
We hunched down behind the wall to get
ral noun rights which each member of soci- out of the wind.
hunchback / hntbk/ noun a person
hunchback
ety should enjoy, such as freedom of

speech and freedom of movement Dem- with a hunched back (offensive)
hundred / hndrd/ noun the number
hundred
onstrators are protesting against abuses of

human rights in various parts of the world. 100 (NOTE: In numbers above one hundred,
humble / hmbl/ adj feeling or acting as hundred does not become hundreds and
humble
if you are not as important as other people is followed by and when speaking: 491 =
Seeing how much work she does for char-
four hundred and ninety-one; 102 = a hun-
ity makes me feel very humble. pie dred and two. Note also: a hundred and
one (101), three hundred and six (306) but
humdrum / hmdrm/ adj dull and bor-
humdrum
the hundred and first (101st), the three

ing
hundred and sixth (306th), etc.) in the
humid / hju
md/ adj (of the air) warm
humid
hundreds less than 1000 The visitors

and damp were numbered in the hundreds. They
humidity /hju
mdti/ noun a meas-
humidity
|
came in their hundreds to visit the grave.
urement of how much water vapour is con- hundreds of very many Hundreds of
tained in the air birds were killed by the cold weather.
humiliate /hju
mliet/ (humiliates, hundredth / hndrd/ adj relating to
humiliate
hundredth
|
humiliating, humiliated) verb to make number 100 in a series noun number 100
someone feel unimportant or stupid (NOTE: in a series
+ humiliation n) hundredweight / hndrdwet/ noun a
hundredweight
humiliating /hju
mliet/ adj which
humiliating
|
weight of dry goods, equal to 112 pounds
makes you feel embarrassed, unimportant or approximately 50 kilos
or stupid hung /h/ past tense and past partici-
hung
humility /hju
mlti/ noun the quality of
humility
|
ple of hang
being humble hunger / h(/ noun the state of want-
hunger
humor / hju
m/ noun US spelling of hu-
humor
ing or needing to eat

mour hunger strike / h( strak/ noun a
hunger strike
humorous / hju
mrs/ adj funny in a
humorous
continuing refusal to eat, as a form of pro-

quiet way, making people smile rather than test
laugh humorous stories Some of her hungover /h v/ adj feeling ill as a
hungover
comments were rather humorous. result of having been drunk a few hours
humorously / hju
mrsli/ adv in a hu-
humorously
earlier
morous hungry / h(ri/ adj feeling that you
hungry
humour / hju
m/ noun 1. the ability to
humour
need to eat You must be hungry after that

make situations seem funny He has a game of football. Im not very hungry I
good sense of humour. She has absolutely had a big lunch. Hurry up with the food
no sense of humour. Want to meet male, were getting hungry.
aged 30 35, with a good sense of humour hunk /hk/ noun 1. a rough piece of
hunk
(GSOH). 2. a general feeling or mood I something We each had a hunk of bread

am in no humour to talk about holidays just and a bowl of soup. 2. a strong athletic man
now. His good humour lasted until the (informal) Sophie came to the party with
end of the party. that gorgeous hunk of hers.
humourless / hju
mls/ adj lacking an hunt /hnt/ verb (hunts, hunting, hunt-
humourless
hunt
ability to find things funny (NOTE: The US ed) 1. to try to find someone or something
spelling is humorless.) [~for] Were hunting for a cheap flat The
hump /hmp / noun 1. a raised part on the
hump
police are hunting for the driver of the car.

back of a person or animal One type of 2. to chase wild animals for food or sport
camel has only one hump, while another Our cat is not very good at hunting mice.
313 hypersensitive
They go to Scotland every year to hunt hush up phrasal verb to hide something
hush up
deer. (NOTE: You hunt animals, but you hunt so that no one knows about it They tried
for things.) noun a search The hunt for to hush up the scandal.
new offices has just started. husky / hski / (plural huskies) noun a
husky
hunter / hnt/ noun a person who hunts dog used to pull sledges Each sled was
hunter
animals pulled by a team of huskies.

hustle / hs()l/ noun a movement of
hustle
hunting / hnt/ noun 1. the sport of

hunting
chasing wild animals and killing them people the hustle of the commuters trying
Many people are opposed to fox hunting. 2. to get home on the Underground verb
the action of looking for something (hustles, hustling, hustled) to hurry
someone along roughly The police tried
hurdle / h#
d()l/ noun 1. a small fence
hurdle
to hustle the crowd of protesters away.

which you have to jump over in a race Dont hustle me Im going as fast as I
She fell at the first hurdle. 2. an obstacle in can!
the way of something Only one more
hut /ht/ noun a small rough wooden
hut
hurdle to clear and the house will be ours.

house
hurl /h#
l / (hurls, hurling, hurled) verb to
hurl
hutch /ht/ noun a box or cage for ani-

hutch
throw something mals such as rabbits

hurricane / hrkn/ noun a tropical
hurricane
hyacinth / hasn/ noun a bulb which

hyacinth
storm with strong winds and rain (NOTE: In produces spikes of bright pink, white or
the Far East called a typhoon; in the Indian blue scented flowers
Ocean called a cyclone.) hybrid / habrd/ noun a cross between
hybrid
hurried / hrid/ adj done in a rush, or

hurried
two varieties of plant or animal She is

too quickly well known for growing hybrid roses.
hurry / hri/ (hurries, hurrying, hur- hydraulic /ha dr
lk/ adj worked by
hurry hydraulic
ried) verb to go somewhere or do some- fluid pressure

hydrofoil / hadrfl/ noun a type of
hydrofoil
thing fast She hurried across the room.

Youll have to hurry if you want to catch boat which skims fast over the surface of
the last post. Theres no need to hurry the water
weve got plenty of time. hydrogen / hadrdn/ noun a com-
hydrogen
hurry up phrasal verb to go or do mon gas which combines with oxygen to

something faster Hurry up well be form water
late for the film. Cant you get the cook hygiene / hadi
n/ noun the science
hygiene
to hurry up? Im getting hungry! of being and keeping things clean

hurt /h#
t/ (hurts, hurting, hurt) verb hygienic /ha di
nk/ adj clean and safe
hurt hygienic
1. to have pain, or to cause someone to feel because all germs have been destroyed
pain My tooth hurts. No one was badly hype /hap/ noun an excessive claim in
hype
hurt in the accident. Where did you hurt advertising No one really believes all the
yourself? 2. to harm or damage something hype surrounding the pop group. There
The bad publicity did not hurt our sales. was a lot of hype about the festival and in
This news report will surely hurt his rep- the end it turned out to be very small.
utation. verb (hypes, hyping, hyped) to make ex-
hurtful / h#
tf()l/ adj which is upsetting,
hurtful
cessive claims in publicity The show was
and which makes someone sad hyped (up) in all the newspapers.
hyper- /hap/ prefix higher, or to a great-
hyper-
hurtle / h#
t()l/ (hurtles, hurtling, hur-
hurtle
tled) verb to go dangerously fast

er degree
hyperactive /hapr ktv/ adj very
hyperactive
husband / hzbnd/ noun a man to

husband |
active
whom a woman is married Her husband
hyperbole /ha p#
bli/ noun an exag-
hyperbole
is Scottish. Hes the doctors husband.

|
gerated statement
hush /h/ (hushes, hushing, hushed)
hush
hyperlink / haplk/ noun a link in hy-

hyperlink
verb to make someone quiet She eventu- pertext

ally managed to hush the children to sleep. hypermarket / hapm
kt/ noun a
hypermarket
hushed /ht/ adj quiet, so as not to

hushed
very large supermarket, usually on the out-

make too much noise skirts of a large town
hush-hush /h h/ adj secret hypersensitive /hap senstv/ adj 1.
hush-hush hypersensitive
(informal) very easily upset or insulted 2. having a

hypertension 314
strong physical reaction to a drug or other /hap kndrik /
hypochondriac
hypochondriac |
substance noun a person who is always worried about

hypertension /hap tenn/ noun
hypertension
| his or her health

high blood pressure; a condition where the hypocrisy /h pkrsi/ noun pretending
hypocrisy
pressure of the blood in the arteries is too to be what you are not
high
hypocrite / hpkrt/ noun a person who
hypocrite
hypertext / haptekst/ noun a system

hypertext
says one thing and acts in a different way

of storing computer files that gives the user
hypocritical /hp krtk()l/ adj refer-
hypocritical
direct access to related electronic informa- |
tion ring to hypocrisy

hyperventilate /hap ventlet/ (hy- hypothermia /hap #
mi/ noun a
hypothermia
hyperventilate
| |
perventilates, hyperventilating, hyper- state where the temperature of the body is

ventilated) verb to breathe so fast or deeply dangerously low
that you start to feel dizzy hypothesis /ha pss/ (plural hy-
hypothesis
hyphen / haf()n/ noun a printing

hyphen
potheses) noun something which is prob-

sign (-) used to show that two words are ably true, though it cannot be proved
joined hypothetical /hap etk()l/ adj sug-
hypothetical
hyphenated / hafnetd/ adj (of a

|
hyphenated
gested as possible, but not an actual hap-

word) spelled with one or more hyphens pening
hypnosis /hp nss/ noun a state like
hypnosis
hysterectomy /hst rektmi/ noun

hysterectomy
|
sleep, but caused artificially, where the pa- the surgical removal of a womans womb,
tient can remember forgotten events in the either to treat cancer or because of some
past or will do whatever the hypnotist tells other problem
him or her to do
hysteria /h stri/ noun a neurotic
hysteria
hypnotise / hpntaz/ (hypnotises,

hypnotise
|
hypnotising, hypnotised), hypnotize verb state, where the patient is in a fit of panic
to make someone go into a state where he or excitement
hysterical /h sterk()l/ adj 1. very ex-
hysterical
or she appears to be asleep and will do an- |
ything the hypnotist suggests cited and emotional in an uncontrolled way

hypnotist / hpntst/ noun a person 2. very funny
hypnotist
who practises hypnosis (NOTE: + hypno- hysterics /h sterks/ plural noun laugh-
hysterics
tism n) ter which you cannot control The chil-

hypoallergenic /hapl denk/ dren were in hysterics as they watched the
hypoallergenic
adj unlikely to start off an allergic reaction clown tearing up pieces of paper.
I
i /a/, I noun the ninth letter of the alphabet, ice pack / as pk/ noun a bag of ice
i ice pack
between H and J placed on your forehead to cure a head-

I1 / a/ pron used by a speaker when talk- ache, etc.
I
ice rink / as rk/ noun a special area for

ice rink
ing about himself or herself She said, I

can do it, and she did it. He told me I ice skating, or for playing ice hockey, etc.
could go home early. She and I come ice skate / as sket/ noun a boot with a
ice skate
from the same town. I said I was going to steel blade fitted to the sole for skating on
be late. (NOTE: When it is the object of a ice
verb, I becomes me: I gave it to him he icicle / ask()l/ noun a long piece of ice
icicle
gave it to me; I hit him he hit me. When it hanging from a roof, etc., formed by water
follows the verb be, I usually becomes me: dripping in freezing weather
Who is it? Its me!) icing / as/ noun a covering of sugar
icing
I2 /a/ noun the Roman numeral for one

I
and flavouring, spread over a cake or bis-

or first King Charles I cuits
ice /as / noun water which is frozen and icon / akn/ noun 1. a little picture
ice
icon
has become solid When water freezes, it used as a symbol on a computer screen
turns into ice. Would you like ice in your Click twice on the icon of a key to enter the
drink? (NOTE: no plural: some ice, a lump of program. To print your text, point your
ice) cursor at the printer icon and click twice.
ice up phrasal verb to become covered 2. a picture of Christ or a saint in the East-
with ice ern Christian Church There is an exhibi-
iceberg / asb#
(/ noun a huge block of tion of Russian icons in the British Muse-
iceberg
ice floating on the sea um. The icon of the Virgin Mary is car-
icebox / asbks/ noun US same as re- ried in procession round the church. 3. a
icebox
frigerator (dated) person who is admired as a good example

ice-breaker / as brek/ noun a game
ice-breaker
of a certain type She has become some-
at the start of a party or other event with a thing of a feminist icon.
icy / asi/ adj covered with ice Be care-
icy
lot of people, to help everyone to get to

know one another ful, the pavement is icy.
ID card / a di
k
d/ noun an identity
ID card
ice cap /as kp/ noun a thick layer of ice

ice cap
and snow that never melts, such as at the card; a card which shows a photograph of
North and South Poles or on the top of the holder, with their name, date of birth
some high mountains and other details, carried by citizens of a
ice-cold /as kld/ adj extremely cold
ice-cold
country or members of a group to prove
who they are
ice cream /as kri
m/ noun a frozen
ice cream
idea /a d/ noun 1. a thought or opin-

idea
sweet food made from cream and fruit, |
ion which you have about something

chocolate, nuts, etc.
[~about/on/~of] I like his ideas about co-
ice cube / as kju
b/ noun a little block
ice cube
operation and working as a team. He has

of ice, used to cool a drink unusual ideas on food and diet. The de-
ice hockey / as hki / noun a form of
ice hockey
scription gave us no idea of what the hotel

hockey played on ice using a hard rubber was really like. to have an idea to think
disc called a puck (NOTE: The US term is of something She had a good idea for a
hockey.) new specialist course. Ive had an idea
ice lolly / as lli/ noun a mixture of wa-
ice lolly
about how to change our presentation.

ter and flavouring, frozen until solid with a Ive had an idea lets all go for a picnic!
stick in it (NOTE: The US term is popsicle.) to have no idea, not to have the faintest
ideal 316
idea not to know Wheres your brother? same feelings as someone, or to have a
Ive no idea or I havent the faintest idea. feeling of sympathy for someone or
I had no idea it was as late as that. 2. a something [~with] I can identify with the
plan which you make in your mind [~for] heroine who spends her life trapped in a
Free entry for children thats a good small rural town.
idea! Her ideas for the new hotel were identity /a dentti/ noun someones
identity
unusual and exciting. its a good idea to name and personal details He changed
do something you should do something his identity when he went to work for the
(used to give someone advice) Its a good secret services.
idea to book a ticket in advance at busy identity card /a dentti k
d/ noun a
identity card
times. card which shows a photograph of the

ideal /a dl/ adj extremely suitable
ideal
|
holder, with the name, date of birth and
This is the ideal site for a factory. The other details, carried by citizens of a coun-
cottage is an ideal place for watching try or members of a group to prove who
birds. noun the highest point of perfec- they are
tion, which people try to reach My ideal ideology /adi ldi/ (plural ideolo-
ideology
would be to work for six months of the year gies) noun a theory of life based not on re-
and travel for the other six months. ligious belief, but on political or economic
idealise /a dlaz/ (idealises, idealis-
idealise
|
philosophy
ing, idealised), idealize verb to make
idiocy / disi/ noun total stupidity (offen-
idiocy
someone or something seem perfect sive)

idealism /a dlz()m/ noun aiming at
idealism
idiom / dim/ noun 1. an expression

| idiom
achieving an ideal
which means something different as a
idealist /a dlst/ noun 1. a person who
idealist
|
whole from what the individual parts of it
aims at achieving an ideal Shes an ideal- usually mean Its raining cats and dogs
ist, and is upset when anyone suggests a is an idiom meaning it is raining hard. 2.
solution which is less than perfect. 2. an a characteristic way of speaking or of writ-
impractical person Hes too much of an ing How now, what news? was a com-
idealist to be a government minister. mon greeting in the idiom of Shakespeares
idealistic /ad lstk/ adj aiming at an
idealistic
| |
England.
ideal; too perfect idiomatic /di mtk/ adj referring to
idiomatic
ideally /a dli/ adv 1. in an ideal way

ideally |
|
a natural colloquial way of speaking a lan-
She is ideally suited to the job of chef. 2. guage
if everything were perfect Ideally, Id idiosyncrasy /di skrsi/ noun a
idiosyncrasy
take three weeks holiday, but theres too particularly odd way of behaving
much work at the office.
idiosyncratic /dis krtk/ adj
idiosyncratic
identical /a dentk()l/ adj exactly the

identical |
same [~to] The twins wore identical odd or peculiar; particular to one person
idiot / dit/ noun a person who be-
idiot
clothes for the party. Her political opin-

ions are identical to mine. haves in a stupid way (insult)
idiotic /di tk/ adj stupid
idiotic
identifiable /a dentfab()l/ adj

identifiable
|
|
idle / ad()l/ adj (idler, idlest) 1. not do-

idle
which can be identified

identification /adentf ke()n/ ing anything Hes the idlest man I know
identification
| |
noun 1. the act of saying who someone is he never does any work at all. 2. not op-
by giving their name, personal details, etc. erating The machines lay idle for days
The formal identification of the body was when the factory closed. (NOTE: Do not con-
made by the victims sister. 2. a document fuse with idol.) verb (idles, idling, idled)
which shows who someone is The bank (of a machine) to run at a low speed He
manager asked him for identification. waited for her in the car with the engine
identify /a dentfa/ (identifies,
identify
|
idling.
idol / ad()l/ noun 1. someone such as a
idol
identifying, identified) verb 1. to recognise

a person or thing and to be able to say who star performer or sportsperson who is very
or what they are Can you identify what popular and admired The England cap-
sort of rock this is? She was able to iden- tain is many boys idol. 2. the statue of a
tify her attacker. 2. to state that something god which is worshipped
belongs to you Each person was asked to idolise / adlaz/ (idolises, idolising,
idolise
identify his or her baggage. idolised), idolize verb to admire someone

identify with phrasal verb to have the very much
317 illumination
idyllic / dlk/ adj happy and pleasant in illegitimate /l dtmt/ adj 1. born to
idyllic illegitimate
| |
a romantic way parents who are not married to each other

if / f/ conj 1. showing what might hap- He failed in his attempt to hide his illegit-
if
pen If it freezes tonight, the paths will be imate child from the press. 2. forbidden by
slippery tomorrow. If Im in London, Ill certain rules; against the law We should
come and see you. If he had told me you all be concerned at the illegitimate use of
were ill, Id have come to see you in hospi- certain prescription drugs. The govern-
tal. If I won the lottery, I would take a ment is cracking down on the illegitimate
long holiday. 2. used in asking questions ownership of firearms.
ill-equipped /l kwpt/ adj not having
ill-equipped
Do you know if the plane is late? I was |
wondering if you would like to have some the right equipment or preparation
tea. ill-fated /l fetd/ adj unlucky and
ill-fated
iffy / fi/ adj doubtful, not at all certain bound to fail

iffy
igloo / (lu
/ noun a dome-shaped shelter ill-fitting /l ft/ adj which fits badly
igloo ill-fitting
built out of blocks of snow ill-gotten gains /l (t()n (enz/ plu-

ill-gotten gains
ignite /( nat/ (ignites, igniting, ignited) ral noun money made illegally or dishon-
ignite
verb 1. to catch fire There was a loud ex- estly (humorous) Thinking of them sitting
plosion as the gas ignited. 2. to set fire to there with their ill-gotten gains makes me
something The teacher showed us how to envious.
illicit / lst/ adj against the law (NOTE: Do
illicit
ignite the Bunsen burner. |
ignition /( n()n/ noun (in a car) the not confuse with elicit.)
ignition
ill-informed /l n f
md/ adj having a
ill-informed
process which starts the burning of the |
compressed air-fuel mixture lack of knowledge in a particular area

ignominious /(n mnis/ adj shame- illiteracy / lt()rsi/ (plural illiteracies)
ignominious illiteracy
| |
ful (formal) noun the state of being unable to read or

ignorance / (nrns/ noun a state of write
ignorance
illiterate / lt()rt/ adj not able to read

illiterate
not knowing |
ignorant / (nrnt/ adj not knowing an-

ignorant
or write With so few schools or teachers
ything it is hardly surprising so many children are
ignore /( n
/ (ignores, ignoring, ig-
ignore
illiterate.
ill-mannered /l mnd/ adj rude
|
ill-mannered
nored) verb not to notice someone or

illness / lns/ noun a medical condi-
illness
something deliberately She ignored the

red light and just drove straight through. tion which makes you unwell She devel-
When we met he just ignored me. oped a serious illness. A lot of the staff
iguana /( w
n/ noun a large type of
iguana
|
are absent because of illness.
illogical / ldk()l/ adj not sensible;
illogical
plant-eating lizard |
ill /l/ adj sick; not well Stress can

ill
not reasonable
ill-treat /l tri
t / verb to treat a person or
ill-treat
make you ill. If youre feeling ill you

ought to see a doctor. to fall ill to become animal badly
illuminate / lu
mnet/ (illuminates, il-
illuminate
ill She fell seriously ill and we thought |
she was going to die. to be taken ill to luminating, illuminated) verb 1. to make
become ill suddenly He was taken ill something bright with lights The pitch
while on holiday in Greece. was illuminated by giant floodlights. The
Ill /al/ short for I will town looked magical, illuminated with
Ill
ill-advised /l d vazd/ adj not sensi-

ill-advised
|
strings of lights along the edge of the sea.
ble, or not a good idea 2. to explain something to make it clearer
His talk illuminated several points which I
ill-conceived /l kn si
vd/ adj foolish
ill-conceived
|
hadnt understood before.
or badly planned
illuminating / lu
mnet/ adj inter-
illuminating
illegal / li
(()l/ adj against the law It is
illegal |
|
esting and educational, particularly in the
illegal to serve alcohol to people under 16. case of something that explains or empha-
illegal immigrant /li
(()l m(rnt/
illegal immigrant
|
sises facts that were previously difficult to
noun a person who has entered a country il- understand
legally and wants to settle there illumination /lu
m ne()n/ noun 1.
illumination
| |
illegally / li
(li/ adv in an illegal way
illegally
|
the state of being brightly lit, or the act of
illegible / ledb()l/ adj (of writing)
illegible
| lighting something brightly 2. the action of

which cannot be read giving information about something I
illusion 318
turned to the encyclopedia for illumina- something exists when it does not She
tion. 3. a coloured illustration in a manu- thought she had heard footsteps, and then
script The chapter illuminations are real decided she had imagined it.
works of art. imaging / md/ noun a technique for
imaging
illusion / lu
()n/ noun an impression creating pictures using scanners attached
illusion
which is not true to computers

illusory / lu
sri/ adj not real; which is imbalance /m blns/ noun a lack of
illusory imbalance
| |
an illusion balance
illustrate / lstret/ (illustrates, il- imbecile / mbsi
imbecile
illustrate
lustrating, illustrated) verb to put pictures behaves in a stupid way (insult) You imbe-
into a book The book is illustrated with cile, you threw the envelope with the
colour photographs of birds. cheque in it into the rubbish! (NOTE: not
illustration /l stre()n/ noun a used by doctors)
illustration
imbue /m bju
/ (imbues, imbuing, im-
imbue
picture in a book The book has 25 colour |
illustrations. bued) verb to fill someone with a feeling

illustrator / lstret/ noun a person imitate / mtet/ (imitates, imitating,
imitate
illustrator
who draws the pictures for a book imitated) verb 1. to copy something or
illustrious / lstris/ adj very famous
illustrious
|
someone The company imitates its com-
(formal) petitors by making very similar products.
2. to behave as someone else does, often to
ill will /l wl/ noun dislike and unpleas-
ill will
make other people laugh He made us all

antness towards someone laugh by imitating the head teachers way
Im /am/ short for I am
Im
of walking.
image / md / noun 1. the opinion
image
imitation /m te()n/ noun 1. a copy

imitation
which other people have of a person or of made of something 2. an act of copying

an organisation They are spending a lot someones behaviour in order to make oth-
of money to improve the companys image. er people laugh She does a very good im-
2. a picture produced by something such as itation of the Queen. adj made to appear
a computer or television screen Can this to be something else more valuable a
software handle images in that format? necklace of imitation pearls The bag is
Can you adjust the projector? The image made of imitation leather.
on the screen is out of focus. 3. a picture of immaculate / mkjlt/ adj 1. ex-
immaculate
someone or something, especially one that tremely clean or tidy The car looked ab-
you have in your mind He suddenly had solutely immaculate there wasnt a spot
an image of her saying goodbye the last of dirt on it. The nurses all wore immac-
time they had met. ulate white uniforms. The last house we
imagery / mdri/ noun the use of
imagery
visited was in immaculate condition, while

comparisons or symbols in writing as a all the others needed a lot of repairs. 2.
way of making people imagine things perfect; with no errors She did an immac-
imaginable / mdnb()l/ adj which
imaginable
| ulate driving test.

you can imagine immaterial /m tril/ adj not rele-
immaterial
imaginary / mdn()ri/ adj not real;

imaginary
| vant
part of a story immature /m t/ adj 1. not mature;
immature
imagination /md ne()n/

imagination
| | still developing Two immature swans fol-

noun the ability to think of things that are lowed their parents across the lake. 2. not
not part of your own immediate life She sensible; not adult I wish she would grow
let her imagination run riot in her stories up and stop being so immature!
for children. immeasurable / me()rb()l/ adj
immeasurable
imaginative / mdntv/ adj having too enormous to be measured

imaginative
or showing a lot of imagination immediate / mi

dit/ adj 1. very
immediate
imagine / mdn/ (imagines, imag- soon He wrote an immediate letter of

imagine
ining, imagined) verb 1. to think of some- complaint. You didnt expect an immedi-
thing that is not part of your own immediate reply, did you? Your order will re-
ate life [~(that)/~what/why/how etc] Imag- ceive immediate attention. 2. closest, or
ine yourself sitting on a beach in the hot right next to you He had to share his
sun. He had never imagined that cooking book with his immediate neighbour.
immediately / mi
dtli/ adv very
immediately
could be so enjoyable. I cant imagine |
why she said that to you. 2. to think that soon, or very soon after an event He got
319 impassive
my letter, and wrote back immediately. As immune system / mju
n sstm/
immune system
soon as he heard the news he immediately noun a complex network of cells which
phoned his wife. protects the body from disease
immense / mens/ adj very big; enor- immunisation /mjna ze()n/, im-
immense immunisation
| |
mous munization noun injections, etc., to make a

immensely / mensli/ adv very much
immensely
|
person immune to a disease
immunise / mjnaz/ (immunises, im-
immunise
immensity / mensti/ noun a huge size

immensity
munising, immunised), immunize verb to

immerse / m#
s/ (immerses, immers-
immerse
|
give someone immunity to a disease (NOTE:
ing, immersed) verb 1. to plunge some- You immunise someone against a disease.)
thing into a liquid He lowered the box
immunity / mju
nti/ noun 1. the
immunity
into the water until it was completely im- |
mersed. To sterilise the bottle, immerse in ability to resist attacks of a disease because
water and boil for four minutes. 2. to be of antibodies produced in your body 2.
completely involved in something you are protection from something such as follow-
doing [~in] She was immersed in her book ing a rule or being punished for a crime
imp /mp/ noun a small devil When you
imp
and didnt hear me come in. to immerse

yourself in something to concentrate on, go into the cathedral, look out for the little
or get fully involved in, something He imp carved high up near the choir.
impact1 / mpkt/ noun 1. a strong effect
impact
immersed himself in the study of Latin lit-

erature. The TV documentary had an strong im-
immigrant / m(rnt/ noun a person

immigrant
pact on the viewers. 2. an instance of two
who comes to a country to live things coming together with force The
car was totally crushed by the impact of the
immigrate / m(ret/ (immigrates, im-
immigrate
collision. on impact as soon as contact is

migrating, immigrated) verb to come to made The plane burst into flames on im-
live in a new country pact with the ground.
immigration /m (re()n/ noun the
immigration
impact2 /m pkt/ (impacts, impacting,

impact
|
|
process of settling in a new country The impacted) verb to have a strong effect on
government is encouraging immigration something [~on] The fall in the value of
because of the shortage of workers in key the currency will impact strongly on busi-
industries. nesses.
imminent / mnnt/ adj which is about impair /m pe/ (impairs, impairing, im-
imminent
impair
to happen paired) verb to damage something so that it

immobile / mbal/ adj not moving; does not work properly
immobile
not able to move impaired /m ped/ adj damaged or not

impaired
immoral / mrl/ adj not following the very good, either temporarily or perma-
immoral
usual principles of good behaviour nently

impairment /m pemnt/ noun dam-
impairment
immortal / m
t()l/ adj very famous;
immortal
|
|
which will always be remembered that age to or poor functioning of something,

immortal line from Casablanca: play it particularly a physical or mental ability
impale /m pel/ (impales, impaling, im-
impale
again, Sam And now, another song from |
the immortal Frank Sinatra. paled) verb to jab a sharp object through
immortalise / m
t()laz/ (immortal-
immortalise
the body
impart /m p
t/ (imparts, imparting,
|
impart
ises, immortalising, immortalised), im- |
mortalize verb to make someone or some- imparted) verb to pass on information to

thing be remembered for ever someone; to communicate something to
immovable / mu
vb()l/ adj which
immovable
someone The news imparted a sense of
excitement to the meeting.
|
cannot be moved
impartial /m p
()l/ adj not biased
impartial
immune / mju
n/ adj 1. protected
immune |
impassable / m p
sb()l/ adj which
| impassable
against infection I seem to be immune to |
colds I just never have any. This injec- you cannot go through or across
impasse /m p
s/ noun a state where
impasse
tion should make you immune to yellow fe- |
ver. 2. legally protected against, or not lia- two sides cannot agree
impassioned /m p()nd/ adj show-
impassioned
ble to, something She believed she would |
be immune from prosecution. (NOTE: You ing very deep feelings

impassive /m psv/ adj showing no
impassive
are immune to a disease, and from prose- |
cution.) expression of feelings

impatience 320
impatience /m pe()ns/ noun a lack view impersonal. The waiting-room was
impatience
of the ability to wait for things in a calm cold and impersonal.

way impersonate /m p#
snet/ (imper-
impersonate
impatient /m pe()nt/ adj unable to

impatient
| sonates, impersonating, impersonated)

wait for something in a calm way; in a hur- verb to dress like someone, or to pretend to
ry to do something We were all impatient be that person (NOTE: + impersonation n)
for the film to start. Hes very impatient impertinent /m p#
tnnt/ adj rude and
impertinent
with anyone who works slowly. lacking respect

impatiently /m pe()ntli / adv in an impetuous /m petus/ adj referring to
impatiently impetuous
| |
impatient way an action done without thinking

impeccable /m pekb()l/ adj perfect impetus / mpts/ noun energy which
impeccable impetus
impede /m pi
d/ (impedes, impeding,
impede
| encourages rapid progress

impeded) verb to make it difficult for implacable /m plkb()l/ adj strong;
implacable
someone or something to go forwards or which cannot be satisfied or changed

make progress (formal) implant1 /m pl
nt/ noun a thing which
implant
impediment /m pedmnt/ noun an

impediment
|
has been fixed inside a persons body She
obstacle; a situation which stops some- has had silicone breast implants.
thing happening Is there any just imped- implant2 / mpl
nt/ (implants, implant-
implant
iment why these two people should not be ing, implanted) verb 1. to fix something in-
joined together in matrimony? He finds side a persons mind very deeply A love
that not having a car is no impediment to of his native country was implanted in him
his job as a salesman. from a very early age. 2. to fix something
impel /m pel/ (impels, impelling, im-
impel
|
inside a persons body Surgeons implant-
pelled) verb to force someone to do some- ed a pacemaker in his chest.
thing (formal) implausible /m pl
zb()l/ adj diffi-
implausible
impending /m pend/ adj which will

impending
| cult or impossible to believe

happen soon implement1 / mplmnt/ noun a tool or
implement
impenetrable /m pentrb()l/ adj

impenetrable
|
instrument The plumber brought an im-
which you cannot go through or into, or see plement for bending pipes.
through implement2 / mplment/ (imple-
implement
imperative /m pertv/ noun 1. a thing

imperative
|
ments, implementing, implemented) verb
which has to be done Profitability is an to put something into effect The changes
imperative with most companies. 2. (in must be implemented immediately.
grammar) the form of a verb when used as implicate / mplket / (implicates, im-
implicate
a command Come here! is an example plicating, implicated) verb to implicate

of a verb used in the imperative. someone in something to suggest that
imperceptible /mp septb()l/ adj
imperceptible
|
someone is connected with a crime or
which you cannot notice something morally wrong The docu-
imperfect /m p#
fkt/ adj not perfect, or
imperfect
| ments seemed to implicate his boss in the

not complete Its an imperfect world we scandal.
live in. We only have an imperfect under- implication /mpl ke()n/ noun 1.
implication
standing of the origins of the universe. the possible effect of an action [~of/~for]
noun (in grammar) the form of a verb which What will be the implications of the elec-
shows that something was not finished in tion results for public spending? 2. the fact
the past He was cycling is the imperfect of being involved in a crime or something
past of to cycle. that is morally wrong [~in] The newspa-
imperialism /m prilz()m/ noun 1.
imperialism
| per revealed his implication in the affair of

(often as a criticism) the idea or practice of the stolen diamonds. 3. a suggestion that
having an empire formed of colonies 2. something such as a criticism is true al-
control of other countries as if they were though it has not been expressed directly
part of an empire Multinational business- [~that] I resent the implication that I knew
es are accused of economic imperialism. anything about the report in advance.
imperil /m perl/ (imperils, imperilling, implicit /m plst / adj 1. referring to
imperil implicit
| |
imperilled) verb to put someone or some- something which is not definitely said, but
thing in danger (formal) is suggested It was implicit in his tone of
impersonal /m p#
s()n()l/ adj not
impersonal
| voice that he wasnt going to agree. Im-

personal; without any personal character plicit in the inspectors report was the pos-
Just stick to the facts and keep the inter- sibility that the restaurant might have to
321 impressionistic
close permanently. 2. complete and un- imposition /mp z()n/ noun 1. the
imposition
questioning He has implicit faith in his action of making people pay a tax or of lay-
teachers advice. ing down conditions the imposition of a
implode /m pld/ (implodes, implod- tax on tea 2. an unfair duty or punishment
implode
ing, imploded) verb to burst inwards She felt it was something of an imposi-
implore /m pl
/ (implores, imploring,
implore
|
tion.
impossible /m psb()l/ adj which
impossible
implored) verb to ask someone in an emo- |
tional way to do something (formal ) cannot be done Its impossible to do all

imply /m pla/ (implies, implying, im-
imply
|
this work in two hours. Getting skilled
plied) verb to suggest something without staff is becoming impossible.
impossibly /m psbli/ adv to such an
impossibly
saying it directly [~(that)] He implied that |
he knew where the papers had been hidden. extent that something is impossible
impotent / mpt()nt/ adj 1. not able to
impotent
The lawyer implied that the witness had

not in fact seen the accident take place. do anything We were impotent in the face
impolite /mp lat/ adj rude; not polite
impolite
|
of the typhoon. 2. (of a man) physically un-
import1 / mp
t/ noun a product that has
import
able to have sexual intercourse
impound /m pand / (impounds, im-
impound
come from another country (NOTE: usually |
plural) adj relating to products from an- pounding, impounded) verb to take some-
other country import controls thing away and keep it until the owner
claims it
import2 /m p
t/ (imports, importing,
import
impoverished /m pvrt/ adj made

| impoverished
imported) verb to bring goods into a coun- |
try The company imports television sets poor

impractical /m prktk()l/ adj 1.
impractical
from Japan. This car was imported from |
France. which is not easy to put into practice It is

importance /m p
tns/ noun the
importance
|
quite impractical to expect three people to
fact of being important [/~for] He recog- move all the furniture in two hours. 2. not
nized the importance of her contribution to good at doing things with your hands
the success of the deal. This decision has Hes totally impractical he cant even
great importance for everyone here. change a light bulb.
imprecise /mpr sas/ adj not precise;
imprecise
important /m p
tnt/ adj 1. having
important
|
|
a great effect; mattering very much Its not accurate

impregnable /m pre(nb()l/ adj
impregnable
important to be in time for the interview. |
I have to go to London for an important which cannot be captured

impregnate / mpre(net/ (impreg-
impregnate
meeting. He left a file containing impor-

tant papers in the taxi. 2. (of a person) in a nates, impregnating, impregnated) verb
high position He has an important job. 1. to soak with something, usually with a
Shes an important government official. liquid She wiped the floor with a cloth
He was promoted to a more important po- impregnated with insecticide. 2. (of a male
sition. animal) to make a female animal pregnant
importantly /m p
tntli/ adv referring impress /m pres/ (impresses, im-
importantly impress
| |
to something that is important He under- pressing, impressed) verb to make some-

stood the facts, and, more importantly for a one feel admiration or respect Her rapid
teacher, he was able to explain them. response to the request impressed her boss.
impose /m pz/ (imposes, impos-
impose
|
She was impressed by his skill with the
ing, imposed) verb 1. to put something into paintbrush. The military government or-
action officially [~on] They have tried to ganised the display to impress the neigh-
impose a ban on smoking. 2. to ask some- bouring states.
impression /m pre()n/ noun an
impression
one to pay a tax or because they have done |
something wrong [~on] The government effect on someones mind Blue walls cre-
imposed a tax increase on electrical items. ate an impression of coldness. The exhi-
The judge imposed a fine on the shoplift- bition made a strong impression on her.
impressionable /m pre()nb()l/
impressionable
er. 3. to cause someone trouble or incon- |
venience [~on] I hope its not imposing adj easily influenced by others
on you too much, but I need to have the re- impressionistic /mpre() nstk/
impressionistic
| |
port today. adj 1. giving a general rather than a detailed

imposing /m pz/ adj grand or
imposing
| idea of something 2. (of art or music) in, or

solemn having elements of, the Impressionist style
impressive 322
impressive /m presv/ adj impress- some home improvements such as a new
impressive
ing people He had a series of impressive kitchen. The new software is a great im-
wins in the chess tournament. The gov- provement on the old version.
ernment staged an impressive display of improvise / mprvaz/ (improvises,
improvise
military hardware. improvising, improvised) verb 1. to do or

imprint1 / mprnt/ noun 1. a mark made to make something without any proper
imprint
by something pressed down 2. the name planning Without a tent, we improvised a

and address of the publisher or printer, shelter using leaves and branches. 2. to
which must appear on most printed matter speak without having any text to read from
imprint2 /m prnt/ (imprints, imprint- Having forgotten the notes for her speech
imprint
ing, imprinted) verb to stamp; to mark she had to improvise as best as she could.
impudent / mpjd()nt/ adj rude and
impudent
The outline of a childs hand was left im-

printed on the door. The scene of devas- without showing respect
tation remained indelibly imprinted on her impulse / mpls/ noun 1. a sudden feel-
impulse
memory. ing or decision He had a sudden impulse

imprison /m prz()n/ (imprisons, im- to take the car and drive to France. to do
imprison
prisoning, imprisoned) verb to put or to something on impulse to do something

keep someone in prison (NOTE: + imprison- because you have just thought of it, not be-
ment n) cause it was planned 2. a shock which
improbable /m prbb()l/ adj not makes something move or work Elec-
improbable
probable, not likely trodes attached to his head measure brain

impromptu /m prmptju
/ adj done
impromptu
|
impulses. Neurons are cells in the nerv-
without any rehearsal or practice He gave ous system which transmit nerve impulses.
impulsive /m plsv/ adj acting be-
impulsive
an impromptu interview on his doorstep. |
adv without any rehearsal or practice cause of a sudden decision, without think-
They gave her five minutes notice to speak ing
impure /m pj/ adj which is not pure,
impure
impromptu in front of six hundred dele- |
gates. having another substance mixed with it

improper /m prp/ adj 1. not accord- impurity /m pjrti/ (plural impurities)
improper impurity
| |
ing to the normal rules of society or of an noun a substance which is impure

organisation It was a quite improper use in /n/ prep, adv 1. used for showing
in
of our company name. 2. rude or shocking place He lives in the country. In Japan
The old man made some very improper it snows a lot during the winter. Shes in
suggestions to the girl. 3. used in a wrong the kitchen. Hes still in bed. Dont
way The improper use of a drug can stand outside in the pouring rain. 2. at
cause serious damage to health. home, in an office, at a station Is the boss
impropriety /mpr prati/ noun the
impropriety
| in? He isnt in yet. My husband usually

quality of being socially wrong, or an act gets in from work about now. The train
which is socially wrong from Birmingham is due in at 6.30. 3. used
improve /m pru
v / (improves, im- for showing time In autumn the leaves
improve
proving, improved) verb 1. to make some- turn brown. On holiday there was noth-
thing better We are trying to improve our ing to do in the evenings. She was born in
image with a series of TV commercials. 2. 1999. He ate his meal in five minutes.
to get better The general manager has We went for a skiing holiday in January. 4.
promised that the bus service will improve. used for showing time in the future Ill be
It poured down all morning, but in the af- back home in about two hours. She
ternoon the weather improved a little. should arrive in twenty minutes time. 5.
improve on or upon verb to try to do bet- fashionable This year, short skirts are in.
ter than something She tried to improve 6. used for showing a state or appearance
on her previous performance. He was dressed in black. She ran outside
improvement /m pru
vmnt/ noun
improvement
|
in her dressing gown. Were in a hurry.
1. a process of becoming better, or of mak- The words are set out in alphabetical order.
inability /n blti/ noun the state of be-
inability
ing something better [~in] There has been |
no improvement in the train service since ing unable to do something His inability
we complained. 2. a change that you make to make decisions causes problems.
inaccessible /nk sesb()l/ adj 1.
inaccessible
so that something is better than before |
[~on/to] They carried out some improve- impossible to reach or to get to They live
ments to the house. We are planning in a farm which is inaccessible by car.
323 inch
The explorers were lost in an inaccessible Each new US president is inaugurated on
mountain region. The valley is inaccessi- January 20th.
ble to motorists. 2. difficult to read or un- inborn /n b
n/ adj which you have
inborn
derstand He writes in a rather inaccessi- since birth

ble style. inbox / nbks/ noun (computers) the
inbox
inaccuracy /n kjrsi/ (plural inac-

inaccuracy
|
folder in an email package into which mail
curacies) noun 1. the state of not being ex- is delivered
act the inaccuracy of the data 2. some- Inc abbr US incorporated Were deal-
Inc
thing that is not correct, but usually only ing with a company called John Doe, Inc.
slightly incorrect I found several inaccu- incandescent /nkn des()nt/ adj 1.
incandescent
racies in the report. shining brightly 2. showing extreme emo-

inaccurate /n kjrt/ adj not accu-
inaccurate
|
tion, especially anger
rate, not exact incapable /n kepb()l/ adj not able to
incapable
inaction /n kn/ noun a lack of activ-

inaction
|
do something
ity incapacitate /k pstet/ (inca-
incapacitate
inactive /n ktv / adj not active or not

inactive
|
pacitates, incapacitating, incapacitated)
doing anything verb to make someone unable to do some-
inadequacy /n dkwsi/ (plural inad-
inadequacy
| thing
equacies) noun 1. a feeling of being inad- incapacity /nk psti/ noun 1. a lack
incapacity
equate Being compared with his brother of ability to do something 2. a physical or

all the time gave him feelings of inadequa- mental disability
cy. (NOTE: no plural in this meaning) 2. a fea- incarcerate /n k
sret/ (incarcer-
incarcerate
ture of something which is not good ates, incarcerating, incarcerated) verb to

enough or which does not work well put someone in prison (formal )
enough The report mentions inadequa- incarnation /nk
ne()n/ noun an
incarnation
cies in the system used for counting votes. appearance in human form To many peo-
inadequate /n dkwt/ adj 1. not
inadequate
|
ple, he was the incarnation of evil.
enough The island has inadequate sup- incendiary /n sendiri/ adj which caus-
incendiary
plies of water in the summer months. 2. not es fire Terrorists left incendiary devices
good enough compared with what is ex- in the shopping centre.
pected Being compared to his brother
incense1 / nsens/ noun powder which
incense
made him feel quite inadequate.

when burnt gives a strong smell The
inadvisable / nd vazb()l/ adj (of a
inadvisable
|
priests burnt incense round the shrine.
plan or idea) unwise or foolish
incense2 /n sens/ (incenses, incens-
incense
inalienable /n elinb()l/ adj which

inalienable |
|
ing, incensed) verb to make someone an-
cannot be taken away or refused (formal ) gry His speech incensed the crowd who
inane / nen/ adj silly, senseless
inane
|
went on the rampage in the centre of the
inanimate /n nmt/ adj not alive
inanimate
|
town.
inappropriate /n prprit/ adj not incensed /n senst/ adj very angry
inappropriate incensed
| |
suitable, not fitting the circumstances incentive /n sentv/ noun something

incentive
inarticulate /n
tkjlt/ adj not
inarticulate
| which encourages someone to do some-

speaking clearly an inarticulate exam thing The possibility of a bonus is an in-
candidate centive to the sales force.
inasmuch as /nz mt z/ conj see- inception /n sepn/ noun the start of
inasmuch as inception
| |
ing that, owing to the fact that something (formal )

inaudible / n
db()l/ adj which can- incessant /n ses()nt/ adj continuous,
inaudible incessant
| |
not be heard not stopping

inaugural / n
(jrl/ adj 1. being the incest / nsest/ noun the offence of a per-
inaugural incest
first of a series 2. referring to an official be- sons having sexual intercourse with a
ginning close relative such their daughter, son,
inaugurate / n
(jret/ (inaugurates, mother or father
inaugurate
inch /nt/ noun a measure of length

inch
inaugurating, inaugurated) verb 1. to open

officially a new building or a festival, etc. equal to 2.54 centimetres a three-and-a-
The Minister was invited to inaugurate the half-inch disk Snow lay six inches deep
new computer system. 2. to inaugurate on the ground. She is five foot six inches
someone as something to swear in some- tall (56). foot (NOTE: With numbers inch
one as the new holder of a particular post is usually written with the symbol ": a 3
incident 324
disk; He is 5 9.; say: a three and a half inch is inclined to get very annoyed when any-
disk, Hes five foot nine) one criticises her golf strokes.
incident / nsd()nt/ noun 1. some- include /n klu
d/ (includes, includ-
incident include
thing which happens, especially something ing, included) verb to count someone or
unpleasant Last year six hundred inci- something along with others The waiter
dents of oil pollution were reported. 2. a vi- did not include service in the bill. The to-
olent action or disturbance that occurs tal is 140, not including insurance and
somewhere There were several incidents handling charges. There were 120 people
during the demonstration. at the wedding if you include the children.
incidental /ns dent()l/ adj happening including /n klu
d/ prep taking
incidental including
|
|
in connection with something else, but not something together with something else
important Breaking the Olympic record The total comes to 25.00 including VAT.
was almost incidental winning the gold inclusion /n klu
()n/ noun the act
inclusion
medal was the important thing. of counting someone or something in

incidentally /ns dent()li/ adv
incidentally
|
among others
used for mentioning something new in a inclusive /n klu
sv/ adj 1. which
inclusive
conversation counts something in with other things

incinerate /n snret/ (incinerates, in-
incinerate
|
The bill is not inclusive of VAT. 2. (giving
cinerating, incinerated) verb to destroy figures or dates) referring to a period of
something by burning time or a passage of writing that includes
incinerator /n snret / noun a fur-
incinerator
|
the first and last items mentioned The
nace for burning rubbish conference runs from the 12th to the 16th
incipient /n spint/ adj which is begin-
incipient
| inclusive. For the next lesson, you need to

ning or starting study pages 23 to 31 inclusive.
incision /n s()n/ noun a cut in a pa- incoherent /nk hrnt/ adj not
incision
incoherent
|
|
tients body made by a surgeon able to speak in a way which makes sense
incisive /n sasv/ adj very perceptive,
incisive
income / nkm/ noun an amount of

income
|
sharp or cutting money which you receive, especially as

incite /n sat/ (incites, inciting, incited)
incite
|
pay for your work Their weekly income is
verb to encourage something to incite not really enough to live on.
someone to something to encourage or income tax / nkm tks/ noun a tax
income tax
persuade someone to do something bad on money earned as wages or salary

He was accused of inciting racial hatred.
incoming / nkm/ adj 1. arriving or
incoming
inclination /kl ne()n/ noun 1. a

inclination
|
coming in 2. recently elected or appointed
tendency After a big lunch he had a The chairman welcomed the incoming
strong inclination to go to sleep. 2. a slope, committee. The incoming government
or angle of a slope The hill has an incli- has the job of trying to deal with the wors-
nation of 1 in 15. 3. a slight movement for- ening economic situation.
wards She acknowledged my presence
incomparable /n kmp()rb()l/ adj
incomparable
with a slight inclination of her head. |
which cannot be compared to anything else

incline1 / nklan/ noun a slope A steep
incline
incompatible /nkm ptb()l/ adj

incompatible
incline leads to the garage. |
incline2 /n klan/ (inclines, inclining,

incline
|
not able to live, work or fit together, or with
inclined) verb 1. to slope The garden in-
something else [~with] The two computer
clines gradually down to the river. 2. to en- systems are incompatible. John and Su-
courage someone to do something The san are quite incompatible: I dont know
results of the poll inclined newspaper re- how they can stay married. His behav-
porters to try to forecast the result of the iour is quite incompatible with his position
general election. 3. to be inclined to do as a manager.
incompetent /n kmpt()nt/ adj who
incompetent
something to be likely to do something |
She is inclined to try to excuse everything cannot work well, who is not able to do
her son does. Our washing machine is in- something She was dismissed for being
clined to overheat. 4. to bend or to bow incompetent.
incomplete /nkm pli
t/ adj not com-
incomplete
He inclined his head and murmured a |
greeting. plete, not finished

inclined /n kland/ adj 1. sloping incomprehensible /nkmpr
inclined incomprehensible
| | |
An inclined plane gives easy access to the hensb()l/ adj which cannot be under-
warehouse. 2. likely to do something She stood
325 indecent
inconceivable /nkn si
vb()l/ adj increased /n kri
st/ adj larger or
inconceivable increased
| |
very unlikely, which cannot be imagined higher than before These increased rail
inconclusive /nkn klu
sv/ adj with- fares mean that we cannot afford to travel
inconclusive
out any definite result so much.

incongruous /n k(rus/ adj which increasingly /n kri
sli/ adv more
increasingly
incongruous
|
|
does not fit with the rest, which seems out and more He found it increasingly diffi-
of place cult to keep up with the workload at the of-
inconsequential /nkns kwenl/
inconsequential
| |
fice. His future with the company looks
adj not important increasingly doubtful.
incredible /n kredb()l/ adj 1. which
incredible
inconsiderate /nkn sdrt/ adj not

inconsiderate
|
|
thinking of other people you find difficult to believe It is absolute-

inconsistent /nkn sstnt/ adj
inconsistent
|
ly incredible that anyone as rich as he is
whose behaviour changes often and is un- can avoid paying tax. 2. of remarkable
predictable Hes inconsistent some- size, quantity, etc. Over the years he has
times he works hard, sometimes he doesnt. amassed an incredible fortune. You
The teams form has been inconsistent of
should go to see Jaws its an incredible
late. film.
incredibly /n kredbli/ adv very, ex-
incredibly
inconspicuous /nkn spkjus/ adj

inconspicuous
|
|
not at all obvious tremely Shes incredibly tall. It is in-

credibly difficult to find a parking space
incontinent /n kntnnt/ adj unable
incontinent
near my office in the middle of the day.

to control the bodys waste products
incredulous /n kredjls/ adj who
incredulous
inconvenience /nkn vi
nins/ noun
inconvenience |
does not believe what someone says or

awkwardness The inconvenience of the
what is happening
date of the business conference, on the day
increment / krmnt/ noun a regular
increment
before Christmas Day, meant that few peo-

ple turned up. verb (inconveniences, in- automatic addition to salary
incremental /kr ment()l/ adj grad-
incremental
conveniencing, inconvenienced) to both- |
er someone I dont want to inconvenience ually increasing

incriminate /n krmnet / (incrimi-
incriminate
you. |
inconvenient /nkn vi
nint/ adj nates, incriminating, incriminated) verb
inconvenient
awkward, causing difficulties to show that a person has committed a

incorporate /n k
pret/ (incorpo-
incorporate
|
criminal act to incriminate yourself to
rates, incorporating, incorporated) verb say something which makes you seem to
1. to bring something into something else be guilty He refused to testify in case he
to make one main whole We are trying to incriminated himself.
incumbent /n kmbnt/ noun a person
incumbent
incorporate the suggestions from the com- |
mittees into the main proposal. 2. to form who holds an official post Mrs Jones is
an official body or a registered company our new librarian she is taking over from
The company was incorporated three years the present incumbent next month. There
ago. will be no changes in the governors staff
incorporated /n k
pretd/ adj US
incorporated
|
while the present incumbent is still in of-
showing that a company has been officially fice.
incur /n k#
/ (incurs, incurring, in-
incur
registered |
incorrect /nk rekt/ adj wrong, not

incorrect
|
curred) verb to get into a position where
correct you have to pay money or will be in danger
The company has incurred considerable
incorrigible /n krdb()l/ adj badly
incorrigible
behaved and unlikely to improve losses in the USA. He incurred many

debts during his time at college.
increase1 /n kri
s/ noun an instance of
increase
incurable /n kjrb()l/ adj unable to

| incurable
something becoming larger [~in] an in- |
crease in tax or a tax increase an in- be cured

incursion /n k#
()n/ noun an attack
incursion
crease in the cost of living |
increase2 / nkri
s/ (increasing, in-
increase
on another countrys territory
indebted /n detd/ adj owing something
indebted
creased) verb 1. to rise or grow [~in] Oil |
has increased in price twice in the past to someone

indecent /n di
s()nt/ adj 1. rude, of-
indecent
year. 2. to make a level or amount higher |
The boss increased her salary. Rail fares fensive He was prosecuted for indecent
have been increased by 10%. exposure. 2. not polite As soon as the
indecision 326
speeches ended, there was an indecent indestructible /nd strktb()l/ adj
indestructible
rush to find something to eat. which cannot be destroyed

indecision /nd s()n/ noun hesita- indeterminate /nd t#
mnt/ adj 1.
indecision
indeterminate
|
|
tion, the inability to decide not exact or clear 2. not having a predicta-
indecisive /nd sasv/ adj 1. without
indecisive
| ble result
any positive result The result of the elec- index / ndeks/ noun 1. a list, usually
index
tion was indecisive as no party had a main alphabetical order, showing the pages on
jority. 2. who cannot decide anything He which different subjects appear in a book
was criticised for being indecisive. Look up the references to London in the in-
indeed /n di
d/ adv (for emphasis) re-
indeed
| dex. (NOTE: The plural in this sense is index-

ally Thank you very much indeed for in- es) 2. a regular report which shows rises
viting me to stay. They have been very and falls in things such as prices and unem-
kind indeed to their daughter. ployment The economic indices look
indefensible /nd fensb()l/ adj very promising at the moment. (NOTE: The
indefensible
which cannot be defended or excused plural in this sense is indices)

indefinable /nd fanb()l/ adj which index card / ndeks k
d/ noun a card
index card
indefinable
cannot be defined or explained used to make a card index

indefinite /n def()nt/ adj without a index finger / ndeks f( / noun the
indefinite index finger
definite end He has been suspended for first finger, next to the thumb
an indefinite period, pending an inquiry. indicate / ndket/ (indicates, indi-
indicate
/ ndef()nt
indefinite article
indefinite article | cating, indicated) verb to show something

tk()l/ noun the word a or an in [~(that)] He indicated the position of the
English, or a word with a similar use in an- hotel on this map? The latest figures in-
other language dicate that not as many people are now un-
indelible /n delb()l/ adj which cannot employed.
indelible
indication /nd ke()n/ noun a

indication
be removed |
indelicate /n delkt/ adj rude and em- sign

indelicate
barrassing indicative /n dktv/ adj that shows or

indicative
indemnity /n demnti/ (plural indemni- indicates something Repeated attacks on

indemnity
ties) noun compensation for a loss or a tourists are indicative of a general break-
wrong down of law and order in the country.
indent /n dent/ (indents, indenting, in- indicator / ndket/ noun 1. something
indent indicator
dented) verb to start a line several spaces in which indicates how good or bad, hot or
from the left-hand side of the page cold, etc. something is The inflation rate
indentation /nden te()n/ noun 1. a
indentation
|
is a good indicator of the strength of the
hole or space in the surface or edge of economy. 2. a flashing light on a car which
something 2. a space at the beginning of a shows which way the driver is going to turn
line of text His left indicator was flashing and then
independence / nd pendns/ noun

independence
|
he turned right!
indict /n dat/ (indicts, indicting, indict-
indict
1. a state of not needing help from anyone |
else [~from] Shes eighteen and is looking ed) verb to charge someone with a crime
forward to a life of independence from her (formal )
indictment /n datmnt/ noun a writ-
indictment
family. 2. freedom from rule by another |
country ten statement of the details of the crime

independent /nd pendnt/ adj 1. with which someone is charged (formal)
independent
free, not ruled by anyone else Slovenia indifferent /n df()rnt/ adj 1. not car-
indifferent
has been independent since 1991. 2. not ing, not interested The world cannot re-
owned by a group, not controlled by the main indifferent to the problems of the
state The big chains are forcing the inde- starving refugees in central Africa. 2. not
pendent shops to close down. 3. not need- particularly good, not special In view of
ing help from anyone else Shes eighteen the schools indifferent exam results, the
and wants to be independent of her family. governors have set up a review of teaching
in-depth / n dep/ adj very serious and
in-depth
practices. They served us a bottle of very

thorough indifferent champagne.
indescribable /nd skrabb()l/ adj indigenous /n ddns/ adj born in or
indescribable indigenous
| |
which cannot be described belonging to a place

327 industrialise
indigestion /nd destn/ noun a individually /nd vduli/ adv sepa-
indigestion individually
| |
pain caused when your stomach has diffi- rately, singly

culty in digesting food indoctrinate /n dktrnet/ (indoctri-
indoctrinate
indignant /n d(nnt/ adj feeling of-

indignant
| nates, indoctrinating, indoctrinated) verb

fended or angry because of an unfair situa- to teach political or religious ideas and
tion I was really indignant when I found force someone to accept them (NOTE: + in-
out how much my colleague earned. doctrination n)
indignation /nd( ne()n/ noun a indoor / nd
/ adj inside a building an
indignation indoor
feeling of something not being fair or rea- indoor swimming pool

sonable The crowd showed their indigna- indoors /n d
z/ adv inside a building
indoors
tion at the referees decision by whistling. Lets go indoors. Mum was indoors,
indignity / n d(nti/ noun a shameful
indignity
|
reading.
action which causes embarrassment induce /n dju
s/ (induces, inducing,
induce
indirect /nda rekt/ adj not direct The

indirect
|
induced) verb 1. to persuade someone to
taxi took us to the airport by a very indirect do something Do you think an extra 10%
route. will induce them to sign the contract?
indirectly /nd rektli/ adv not directly
indirectly
| They induced him to steal the plans by of-

indirect object /ndrekt bdekt/ fering him a large amount of money. 2. to
indirect object
noun a person or thing to whom or which make something, such as the birth of a
an action is done child, happen The baby was ten days late,
indirect speech /ndrekt spi
t/
indirect speech
so had to be induced.
inducement /n dju
smnt/ noun
inducement
noun the reporting of what someone has |
said something which is used to persuade

indiscreet /nd skri
t / adj very obvi-
indiscreet
|
someone to do something
induction /n dkn/ noun the process
induction
ous, not discreet |
indiscretion /nd skre()n/ noun 1.

indiscretion
|
of starting a new person in a new job In-
carelessness about what you do or say the duction for all trainees will take place over
ministers indiscretion in talking to the two weeks in May.
indulge /n dld/ (indulges, indulging,
indulge
journalist 2. a mildly immoral action We |
must forget his youthful indiscretions. indulged) verb 1. to have or do something

indiscriminate /nd skrmnt/ adj
indiscriminate
|
you enjoy [~in] On holiday I indulged my
widespread; not choosing carefully passion for chocolate. I like to indulge in
indispensable /nd spensb()l/ adj
indispensable
|
a sauna once in a while. 2. to give someone
which you cannot do without little luxuries She always indulges her lit-
tle grandson with sweets and presents. to
indisputable /nd spju
tb()l/ adj
indisputable
|
indulge yourself to give yourself a little
which cannot be argued about (formal ) luxury I love Greek cakes, but I dont of-
indistinct /nd stkt/ adj vague or un-
indistinct
|
ten get the chance to indulge myself.
clear indulgence /n dldns/ noun a pleas-
indulgence
indistinguishable /nd
indistinguishable
|
ant activity, especially eating or drinking
st(wb()l/ adj not able to be told indulgent /n dldnt/ adj kind, too
indulgent
apart from something [~from] To some generous towards someone

people margarine is indistinguishable from
industrial /n dstril/ adj relating to
industrial
butter. |
the production of goods The Midlands is

individual /nd vdul/ noun a sin-
individual
the main industrial region in Britain.

gle person We welcome private individu-
industrial action /ndstril kn/
industrial action
als as well as groups. adj single, for a |
particular person We treat each individu- noun a strike or protest by workers

industrial estate /n dstril stet/
industrial estate
al case on its merits. We provide each | |
member of the tour group with an individ- noun an area of land near a town specially
ual itinerary. for factories and warehouses
individualism /nd vdulz()m/ /ndstrila
industrialisation
industrialisation
individualism
| | |
noun a liking for doing things in your own ze()n/, industrialization noun another
way, not as other people do spelling of industrialisation
individuality /ndvdu lti/ noun industrialise / n dstri laz/, indus-
individuality industrialise
| | |
the quality which makes each person dif- trialize verb another spelling of industrial-
ferent from all others ise
industrialised 328
industrialised, industrialized adj an- inescapable /n skepb()l/ adj
industrialised inescapable
other spelling of industrialised which you cannot avoid

industrialist /n dstrilst/ noun an inevitable /n evtb()l/ adj which
industrialist inevitable
| |
owner or director of a factory must happen, which cannot be avoided It

industrial park /n dstril p
k/ noun was inevitable that the younger children
industrial park
an area especially for factories and busi- would want to leave home.
inexcusable /nk skju
zb()l/ adj
inexcusable
nesses |
industrial relations /ndstril r which cannot be excused or forgiven

industrial relations
| |
le()nz/ plural noun the relations be- inexhaustible /n( z

stb()l/ adj 1.
inexhaustible
tween management and workers He car- impossible to finish or use up 2. never be-
ried out a study of industrial relations over coming tired
the last 10 years. We aim to promote inexpensive /nk spensv/ adj cheap
inexpensive
good industrial relations. inexperienced /nk sprinst/ adj

inexperienced
industrial tribunal /ndstril tra

industrial tribunal
| | who does not have much experience

bju
n()l/ noun a court which decides in inexplicable /nk splkb()l/ adj
inexplicable
disputes between employers and workers which cannot be explained

industrious /n dstris/ adj who infamous / nfms/ adj famous for be-
industrious
infamous
|
works steadily and hard ing bad or unpleasant Tourists were

industry / ndstri/ noun the produc-
industry
warned not to go near the infamous back

tion of goods and the provision of services, street bars.
or the companies involved in this activity infancy / nfnsi/ noun young childhood
infancy
Oil is a key industry. The car industry has Two of her children died in infancy.
had a good year. The government is help- infant / nfnt/ noun a young baby
infant
ing industry to sell more products abroad. infantile / nfntal/ adj ((of behaviour))
infantile
The tourist industry brings in a lot of for-

very silly and annoying
eign currency.
infantry / nfntri/ noun soldiers who
infantry
inebriated / ni
brietd/ adj drunk
inebriated
|
fight on foot
inedible /n edb()l/ adj which you can-
inedible
infatuated /n ftjuetd/ adj wildly in

infatuated
|
|
not eat love

ineffective /n fektv/ adj which does
ineffective
infatuation /n ftjue()n/ noun a

infatuation
|
|
not have any effect sudden strong feeling of love for someone,
ineffectual /n fektul/ adj 1. which
ineffectual
|
especially someone you do not know very
does not have the right effect Her ineffec- well or someone who does not love you
tual attempts to open the door. 2. weak, un- infect /n fekt/ (infects, infecting, infect-
infect
able to show any authority Hes a nice ed) verb to pass on a disease or infection to
man but quite ineffectual as a salesman. someone He was infected with the dis-
inefficient /n f()nt/ adj not effi-
inefficient
|
ease when he was abroad on holiday.
cient infection /n fekn/ noun a disease
infection
ineligible /n eldb()l/ adj who is not

ineligible
|
which spreads from one person to another
qualified for something or to do something Her throat infection keeps coming back.
inept / nept/ adj not able to do much;
inept
| He was sneezing and spreading infection

lacking any skill to other people in the office. She seems to
inequality /n kwlti/ (plural ine- catch every little infection there is.
inequality
infectious /n feks/ adj (of an ill-

infectious
qualities) noun the state of not being equal |
inertia / n#
/ noun 1. a lack of desire to ness or an emotion such as fear) likely to
inertia
move, a lack of ability to do anything A be passed from one person to another

feeling of inertia came over the committee This strain of flu is highly infectious.
as the meeting continued. 2. a physical Hes a great music teacher and his enthu-
force which makes a stationary body re- siasm for jazz is very infectious. Compare
main still, or a moving body remain mov- contagious
infer /n f#
/ (infers, inferring, in-
infer
ing An astronaut who pushes himself |
away from his spaceship will continue to ferred) verb to reach an opinion about
drift away into space under inertia if he is something from facts [~from/~(that)] He
not attached to a safety line. 3. a lack of en- inferred from the letter that the accused
ergy, laziness He became manager of the knew the murder victim. Counsel inferred
shop through sheer inertia on the part of that the witness had not been present at the
everyone else. time of the accident.
329 informal
inference / nf()rns/ noun an un- inflate /n flet/ (inflates, inflating, in-
inference inflate
derstanding or conclusion flated) verb to fill with air He used a

inferior /n fri/ noun a person of a small pump to inflate the dinghy.
inferior
inflation /n fle()n/ noun a state of

inflation
lower rank He always addressed his infe- |
riors in a very abrupt way. the economy where prices and wages are
inferiority complex /n fri rti
inferiority complex
| |
rising to keep up with each other The
kmpleks/ noun a feeling that you are not government is trying to keep inflation
as good as others down below 3%. We have 15% inflation
inferno /n f#
n/ (plural infernos) noun
inferno
or inflation is running at 15%.
inflationary /n fle()n()ri/ adj
| inflationary
a very great fire By the time help arrived |
there was a raging inferno at the plastics which tends to increase inflation
inflection /n flekn/, inflexion noun
inflection
factory. |
infertile /n f#
tal/ adj (of living things)
infertile
|
the ending of a word which changes to in-
not able to reproduce Over the last few dicate the plural, the gender, etc.
inflexible /n fleksb()l/ adj 1. which
inflexible
years there has been an alarming increase |
in the number of infertile couples. cannot be bent or changed The rules on

infest /n fest/ (infests, infesting, infest-
infest
|
this point are quite inflexible. Negotia-
ed) verb (of parasites) to be present in large
tion is pointless if everyone maintains an
numbers inflexible position. 2. determined not to
change your mind She had a reputation
infidelity /nf delti/ noun being un-
infidelity
|
for being totally inflexible in her talks with
faithful her EU counterparts.
infighting / nfat/ noun bitter argu-
infighting
inflict /n flkt/ (inflicts, inflicting, in-

inflict
ments between members of a group flicted) verb to inflict pain or damage

infiltrate / nfltret/ (infiltrates, infil-
infiltrate
on someone to cause pain or damage to

trating, infiltrated) verb to become, or to someone or something Drugs can inflict
make someone become, a member of an serious harm on young people. The
organisation secretly, without the officials bombs inflicted heavy damage on the capi-
knowing tal.
infinite / nfnt/ adj with no end influence / nfluns/ noun the ability
infinite influence
infinitive /n fntv/ noun the basic to change someone or something; an effect

infinitive
form of a verb, usually shown with to [~on] He has had a good influence on the
infinity /n fnti/ noun a space or quanti-
infinity
|
other staff in the department. The influ-
ty that never ends ence of the moon on the tides. He was
infirmary /n f#
mri/ (plural infirma-
infirmary charged with driving under the influence of
alcohol. verb (influences, influencing,
|
ries) noun an old word for a hospital, now

influenced) to make someone or some-
used in names the Glasgow Royal Infir-
thing change She was deeply influenced
mary by her old teacher. The moon influences
inflame /n flem/ (inflames, inflaming,
inflame
|
the tides. The price of oil has influenced
inflamed) verb 1. to make more violent the price of industrial goods.
His speech was calculated to inflame pub- influential /nflu enl/ adj 1. which
influential
lic opinion. 2. to make part of the body re- causes change Her speech was influen-
act by becoming red and sore His eyes tial in changing the opinion of the other
had become inflamed from the chlorine in members of the committee. 2. powerful
the water. She has influential friends who got the po-
inflamed /n flemd/ adj red and sore
inflamed
|
lice to drop the charges.
inflammable /n flmb()l/ adj which influx / nflks/ noun a sudden flow into
inflammable
influx
|
can easily catch fire info / nf/ abbr information

info
inflammation /nfl me()n/ noun

inflammation
inform /n f
m/ (informs, informing,
inform
|
|
the process or state of being sore, red and informed) verb to tell someone something
swollen as a reaction to an infection, an ir- officially Have you informed the police
ritation or an injury that your watch has been stolen? I regret
inflammatory /n flmt()ri/ adj
inflammatory
| to inform you that your father has died.

which makes people behave violently We are pleased to inform you that your of-
His inflammatory speeches caused riots. fer has been accepted.
inflatable / n fletb()l/ adj which can informal /n f
m()l/ adj 1. relaxed,
inflatable informal
| |
be inflated or blown up not formal Dress casually the party will

informant 330
be informal. The guide gave us an infor- ate yourself with someone to make your-
mal talk on the history of the castle. 2. (of self liked by someone
language) used when talking to friends and ingratiating /n (reiet/ adj which
ingratiating
family will help make someone like you

informant /n f
mnt/ noun a person ingratitude /n (rttju
d/ noun not be-
informant ingratitude
| |
who informs or who gives information to ing grateful

someone ingredient /n (ri
dint/ noun a materi-
ingredient
information /nf me()n/ noun a

information
| al or substance which you use to make

set of facts about something [~about/on/as something Make sure youve got all your
to/regarding] She couldnt give the police ingredients together before you start cook-
any information about how the accident ing.
happened. She gave me a very useful inhabit /n hbt/ (inhabits, inhabiting,
inhabit
piece or bit of information. inhabited) verb to live in a place

informative /n f
mtv/ adj which inhabitant /n hbt()nt/ noun a per-
informative inhabitant
| |
tells you a lot, which provides a lot of in- son who lives in a particular place
formation inhabited /n hbtd/ adj lived in, es-
inhabited
informed /n f
md/ adj having a lot of
informed
| pecially by humans
information, or having the latest informa- inhale / n hel/ (inhales, inhaling, in-
inhale
tion haled) verb to breathe in, to draw some-

informer /n f
m/ noun a person who thing into your lungs when breathing
informer
gives information to the police about a inherent /n hrnt/ adj natural, which
inherent
crime or criminals, sometimes someone belongs to someone or something naturally

who is himself a criminal inherit /n hert/ (inherits, inheriting, in-
inherit
infraction /n frkn/ noun the act of

infraction
| herited) verb 1. to receive money or prop-

breaking the law erty from a person who has died She in-
infrastructure / nfrstrkt/ herited a small fortune from her father.
infrastructure
noun the basic structure of roads, railways When her grandfather died she inherited
and other connections in a country the shop. 2. to have characteristics passed
infrequent /n fri
kwnt/ adj not fre-
infrequent
|
on from a parent I think she has inherited
quent, not happening very often her fathers grumpy character. 3. to take
over a client or a problem from someone
infringe / n frnd/ (infringes, infring-
infringe
|
When they bought the shop they inherited a
ing, infringed) verb to break a law or a lot of ancient equipment. The new man-
right (NOTE: + infringement n) ager had inherited a lot of financial prob-
infuriate /n fjriet/ (infuriates, infu-
infuriate
|
lems.
riating, infuriated) verb to make someone inheritance /n hert()ns/ noun
inheritance
very angry Slow service in restaurants property which is received from a dead
always infuriates him. person
infuriating /n fjriet/ adj which
infuriating
inhibit /n hbt/ (inhibits, inhibiting,

inhibit
|
|
makes you very annoyed inhibited) verb to prevent an action hap-

infusion / n fju
()n/ noun 1. an addi-
infusion
| pening
tion of something new which will make an inhibited /n hbtd/ adj not being able
inhibited
improvement The football club needs an to express yourself freely or to do what you
infusion of capital to buy new players. 2. a want to do
drink made by pouring boiling water onto inhibition /nh b()n/ noun the ac-
inhibition
a dry substance such as tea or flowers tion of some mental influence which pre-
ingenious /n di
nis/ adj very clever
ingenious
|
vents normal reactions
It was an ingenious plan. (NOTE: Do not inhospitable / nh sptb()l/ adj not
inhospitable
confuse with ingenuous.) welcoming

ingenuity /nd nju
ti/ noun skill in
ingenuity
inhuman /n hju
mn/ adj cruel, not hu-
inhuman
|
|
inventing new things man

ingest / n dest/ (ingests, ingesting, in- inhumane /nhju
men/ adj not hu-
ingest
inhumane
|
|
gested) verb to take into the body as if it mane; barbarous

were food inhumanity /nhju
mnti/ noun the
inhumanity
ingrained /n (rend/ adj deeply fixed

ingrained
| cruel treatment of people or animals

ingratiate /n (reiet/ (ingratiates, in- initial / n()l/ adj first The initial
ingratiate initial
| |
gratiating, ingratiated) verb to ingrati- stage of the project went off smoothly. My
331 innocent
initial reaction was to say no. He start- injury / ndri/ (plural injuries) noun
injury
ed the business with an initial sum of 500. damage to your body He never really re-
verb (initials, initialling, initialled) to covered from his football injury. She re-
write the first letters of your name on a ceived severe back injuries in the accident.
document to show you have read and ap- injustice /n dsts/ noun a lack of jus-
injustice
proved it Can you initial each page of the tice

contract to show that you have approved ink /k/ noun the liquid in a pen He has
ink
it? Please initial the agreement at the ink marks on his shirt. The ink wont
place marked with an X. come off the tablecloth. She wrote com-
initially / n()li/ adv at the begin-
initially
|
ments on his work in red ink.
ning Initially we didnt like the new flat, ink-jet printer / nk det prnt/ noun
ink-jet printer
but we have got used to it now. a computer printer that prints characters by
initiate / niet/ (initiates, initiating, in-
initiate
|
sending out little jets of ink
itiated) verb 1. to start something He ini-
inkling / kl/ noun a small idea
inkling
tiated the new project last year. 2. to intro-

inland / nlnd/ adv away from the coast
inland
duce someone into something secret He

initiated her into the secrets of digging for of a country If you go inland from the
gold. 3. to show someone the basic infor- port, you soon get into the forest.
in-laws / n l
z/ plural noun the parents
in-laws
mation about something

initiative / ntv/ noun a decision
initiative
|
of your wife or husband He visited his in-
which is intended to solve a problem The laws while his wife was in hospital.
inlet / nlet/ noun a small branch of water
inlet
government has proposed various initia-

tives to get the negotiations moving again. off a large stretch of water The smugglers
to take the initiative to decide to do could have used any one of the numerous
something which other people are reluctant inlets along this stretch of coastline.
to do The manager decided to take the in- in-line skating /n lan sket/ noun
in-line skating
itiative and ask for a meeting with the boss. same as rollerblading
The president took the initiative in asking inmate / nmet/ noun a person living in
inmate
the rebel leader to come for talks. a home or in a prison

inject /n dekt/ (injects, injecting, in-
inject
inn /n/ noun a small hotel

inn
|
jected) verb 1. to force a liquid into some-

inner / n/ adj inside Go through
inner
thing under pressure The nurse injected

the drug using a needle and syringe. He that arch and you will come to the inner
injected himself with a drug. 2. to put courtyard. Heat is conducted from the in-
something new into something to inject ner to the outer layer of the material.
inner circle /n s#
k()l/ noun a small
inner circle
some cash into a company Come on, lets

try to inject some life into these rehearsals! group of people closely associated with an
injection /n dekn/ noun the act of
injection
important person such as a president
inner city /n sti/ noun the central
|
inner city
putting a liquid into the body using a nee-

dle The doctor gave him a flu injection. part of a city
innermost / nmst/ adj 1. furthest in-
innermost
injunction /n dk()n/ noun 1. a

injunction
court order forcing someone to stop doing side A long dark corridor led to the in-
something or not to do something He got nermost part of the bank vault. 2. deepest,
an injunction preventing his ex-wife from most private His poems reveal his inner-
selling his car. The company applied for most feelings.
innings / nz/ (plural same) noun (in
innings
an injunction to stop their rivals marketing

a product which was similar to theirs. 2. an cricket) the time when a team or a player is
instruction, order The children were giv- batting (NOTE: In US English, in baseball,
en strict injunctions not to open the door. the singular inning is used.)
Most people ignored the governments in- innocence / ns()ns/ noun 1. not be-
innocence
junction to spend less and save more. ing guilty The lawyers tried to prove his
injure / nd/ (injures, injuring, injured)
injure
innocence. 2. not having any experience or

verb to cause pain or damage to a part of particular knowledge In my innocence, I
the body He injured his back playing believed them when they said they were po-
rugby. He was badly injured in a car ac- lice officers.
cident. innocent / ns()nt/ adj not guilty He
innocent
injured / ndd/ noun hurt The in-

injured
was found to be innocent of the crime. In

jured girl had fallen off her bike. English law, the accused is always pre-
innocuous 332
sumed to be innocent until he is proved to inscribe /n skrab/ (inscribes, inscrib-
inscribe
be guilty. ing, inscribed) verb 1. to write, especially

innocuous / nkjus/ adj harmless to write a note inside a book when giving it
innocuous
innovation /n ve()n/ noun a

innovation
|
to someone The book is inscribed with
new invention, a new way of doing some- best wishes to John, from the author. 2. to
thing write permanently, as on stone The
names of the dead soldiers are inscribed on
innovative / nvetv/ adj new in a way
innovative
the walls of the cemetery.

that has not been tried before a very inno- inscription /n skrpn/ noun 1. words
inscription
vative design cut on a surface such as stone The tomb

innuendo /nju end / (plural innuen-
innuendo
|
has an inscription in Latin. 2. a note writ-
does or innuendos) noun a remark that ten in a book which is given to someone
suggests someone has done something The inscription in the front of the book is by
wrong, but without giving direct details the author who gave it to his mother.
innumerable / nju
m()rb()l/ adj insect / nsekt/ noun a small animal with
innumerable
insect
|
very many, which cannot be counted six legs and a body in three parts A but-
inoffensive /n fensv/ adj harmless terfly is a kind of insect. Insects have eat-
inoffensive
input / npt/ noun 1. a contribution to

input
en the leaves of the cabbages. She was
a discussion Thank you very much for stung by an insect.
insecticide /n sektsad/ noun a liquid
insecticide
your input during the seminar. 2. informa- |
tion that is put into a computer [~from/~in- or powder which kills insects
insecure /ns kj/ adj 1. not safe
insecure
to/to] The input from the various branch- |
es is fed automatically into the head office She felt insecure when walking down the
computer. High Street alone at night. 2. not firmly
inquest / kwest/ noun a legal inquiry
inquest
fixed Be careful! that scaffolding looks
into how someone died insecure.
insemination /nsem ne()n/ noun
insemination
inquire /n kwa/ (inquires /

inquire
| |
| |
kwa/, inquiring, inquired), enquire the process of making a woman or female

verb 1. to ask questions about something animal pregnant
insensitive /n senstv/ adj not worry-
insensitive
The chef inquired if anything was wrong |
with the meal. She phoned the travel ing how other people feel, not sensitive to
agent to inquire about air fares to Austral- other peoples feelings
insert1 /n s#
t/ (inserts, inserting, in-
insert
ia. She inquired about my mothers |
health. 2. to investigate, to try to find out serted) verb to put something inside some-
about something The police are inquir- thing else She inserted another sentence
ing into his background. The social serv- into the letter. He inserted each leaflet
ices are inquiring about the missing girl. into an envelope. Insert a coin into the
inquiring /n kwar/ adj interested in
inquiring
slot.
insert2 / ns#
t/ noun a paper which is put
|
insert
finding out information

inside something The invitation card had
inquiry /n kwari/ noun 1. a formal
inquiry
an insert with a map showing how to get to

investigation into a problem a govern- the hotel.
ment inquiry into the police force A pub-
inset / nset/ noun a small piece which is
inset
lic inquiry will be held about plans to build

another airport. 2. a question about some- put into something larger, such as a small
thing I refer to your inquiry of May 25th. picture inside a larger one
inside /n sad/ adv in a house or other
inside
All inquiries should be addressed to this

|
department. He made an inquiry about building Come on inside its cold in the
trains to Edinburgh. (NOTE: also spelt en- street. It rained all afternoon, so we just
quiry.) sat inside and watched TV. Is there any-
one there? The house seems quite dark
inquisitive /n kwztv/ adj asking a lot
inquisitive
inside. prep in There was nothing in-

of questions side the bottle. She was sitting inside the
insane / n sen/ adj with a mental disor-
insane
|
car, reading a book. Ive never been in-
der side his office.
insanity /n snti/ noun a severe mental inside leg / nsad le( / noun the meas-
insanity
inside leg
| |
disorder or illness urement of an inside trouser leg seam

insatiable /n seb()l/ adj which can- inside out /nsad at/ adv 1. turned
insatiable inside out
not be satisfied with the inner part facing outwards He

333 instead
put his pyjamas on inside out. 2. to know inspector /n spekt/ noun a senior
inspector
something inside out to know something official who examines something closely
very well She knows Central London in- inspiration /nsp re()n/ noun 1. a
inspiration
side out. sudden urge to create something Her in-

insider /n sad/ noun a person who
insider
|
spiration comes from the countryside of
works in an organisation and therefore her native Cornwall. 2. a sudden good idea
knows secret information We had run out of sugar and all the shops
insider dealing /n sad di
l/ noun
insider dealing
| were closed, but she had an inspiration and

the illegal buying or selling of shares by tried the railway station snack bar.
people who have inside information about inspire /n spa/ (inspires, inspiring,
inspire
a company inspired) verb to make someone feel a

insidious /n sdis/ adj working secret-
insidious
| wish to do something
ly to do harm inspired /n spad/ adj filled with a de-
inspired
insight / nsat/ noun clear ideas or

insight
sire to do something
knowledge instability /nst blti/ noun the condi-
instability
insignificant /ns( nfknt/ adj very

insignificant
|
tion of not being steady (NOTE: The adjec-
small and unimportant tive is unstable.)
insincere /nsn s/ adj not sincere
insincere
install /n st
l/ (installs, installing,
install
|
|
insinuate / n snjuet/ (insinuates, in-

insinuate
| installed) verb to put a piece of equipment

sinuating, insinuated) verb 1. to suggest into the place where it will operate It took
by hinting at something in an unpleasant the plumber a week to install the new cen-
way The finance director seemed to be tral heating system.
insinuating that the boss was incompetent. instalment /n st
lmnt/ noun 1. a
instalment
2. to insinuate yourself to work your

|
payment of part of a total amount of mon-

way gradually into a favourable position ey, which is made regularly They are
He managed to insinuate himself into the paying for the kitchen by monthly instal-
MDs good books. ments. You pay 25 down and twelve
insipid /n spd/ adj with no particular
insipid
|
monthly instalments of 20. 2. a part of
taste They served us some insipid tomato something which is being broadcast or de-
soup. livered in parts The next instalment of the
insist /n sst/ (insists, insisting, in-
insist
| thriller will be shown on Monday evening.

sisted) verb to state firmly [~(that)] He in- (NOTE: [all senses] The US spelling is in-
sisted that he had never touched the car. stallment.)
I insist on an immediate explanation. instance / nstns/ noun an example
instance
insistence /n sstns/ noun firm de-

insistence
| There have been several instances of bul-

mands for something lying in our local school. In this instance,
insistent /n sstnt/ adj stating or de- we will pay for the damage. for instance
insistent
manding something firmly as an example Why dont you take up a

in so far as /n s f
z /, insofar new sport golf, for instance?
in so far as
instant / nstnt/ noun a moment or

instant
as conj to the extent that

insolent / nslnt/ adj rude and lacking second For an instant, he stood still and
insolent
in respect watched the policemen. adj immediate

insoluble / n sljb()l/ adj 1. (of a sub- A savings account can give you instant ac-
insoluble
stance) which will not dissolve in water 2. cess to your money.

instantaneous /nstn tenis/ adj
instantaneous
(of a problem) which cannot be solved |
insolvent /n slvnt/ adj (especially of immediate

insolvent
instantly / nstntli/ adv so soon after an

instantly
a business) not able to pay debts

insomnia /n smni/ noun the condi- event that no time appears to have passed
insomnia
tion of not being able to sleep in between

inspect /n spekt/ (inspects, inspect- instant messaging /nstnt
inspect instant messaging
ing, inspected) verb to look at something mesd/ noun a system for communi-
closely She inspected the room to see if it cating directly by electronic means such as
had been cleaned properly. e-mail
inspection /n spek()n/ noun the instead /n sted/, instead of adv in place
inspection instead
| |
process of examining something closely of We havent any coffee would you like
They carried out an inspection of the some tea instead? If you cant go, can I
drains. go instead? Im going instead of him, be-
instep 334
cause hes ill. Instead of stopping when insubordinate /ns b
dnt/ adj not
insubordinate
the police officer shouted, he ran away. obeying orders

instep / nstep/ noun the arched middle insubstantial /nsb stnl/ adj 1.
instep insubstantial
part of your foot (NOTE: Do not confuse with not very solid or strong 2. not seeming real
in step.) insufficient /ns f()nt/ adj not
insufficient
instigate / nst(et/ (instigating, insti-

instigate
enough
gated) verb to make something happen insular / nsjl/ adj 1. thinking only of
insular
(NOTE: + instigation n) your own local interests Opponents of the

instil /n stl/ (instils, instilling, instilled)
instil
|
UK joining the euro were accused of being
verb to put an idea into someones mind insular. 2. referring to an island The insu-
gradually lar flora and fauna of the Galapagos are
instinct / nstkt/ noun something
instinct
unique.
which you have from birth and have not insulate / nsjlet/ (insulates, insulat-
insulate
learnt Many animals have a hunting ining, insulated) verb to prevent heat or cold
stinct. or sound escaping or entering
instinctive /n stktv/ adj (of a reac-
instinctive
insulation /nsj le()n/ noun 1. the

insulation
|
|
tion) natural process of preventing heat or cold or sound

institute / nsttju
t/ noun an organi-
institute
escaping or entering Good insulation

sation set up for a special purpose They saves energy. 2. materials used to insulate
are proposing to set up a new institute of something The previous owners had used
education. She goes to the research insti- straw in the roof for insulation.
tutes library every week. insulin / nsjln/ noun a hormone which
insulin
institution /nst tju

()n/ noun 1.
institution
|
controls the way in which the body con-
an organisation or society set up for a spe- verts sugar into energy and controls the
cial purpose A prison is an institution level of sugar in the blood
which houses criminals. 2. a permanent insult1 / nslt/ noun a rude word said to
insult
custom British institutions such as cream or about a person That is an insult to the
teas and the royal family The lottery has government. The crowd shouted insults
rapidly become a national institution. 3. at the police.
the process of setting something up the
insult2 /n slt/ (insults, insulting, in-
insult
institution of legal action against the pres- |
ident sulted) verb to say rude things about some-

one He was accused of insulting the pres-
instruct /n strkt/ (instructs, in-
instruct
idents wife.
structing, instructed) verb to show some-
insulting /n slt / adj rude Im
insulting
one how to do something (formal) We |
were all instructed in the use of the fire used to hearing insulting things about my
safety equipment. business.
insurance /n rns/ noun an
insurance
instruction /n strkn/ noun 1. a

instruction
|
|
statement telling someone what they must agreement with a company by which you
do 2. something which explains how some- are paid money for loss or damage in return
thing is to be done or used She gave us for regular payments of money [~for] Do
detailed instructions how to get to the you have insurance for your travel?
insure /n / (insures, insuring, in-
insure
church. |
instructive /n strktv/ adj which

instructive
|
sured) verb to agree with a company that if
gives a lot of information you pay them a regular amount of money,
instructor /n strkt/ noun a teacher,
instructor
|
they will pay you for loss or damage to
especially of a sport property or persons (NOTE: Do not confuse
with ensure.)
instrument / nstrmnt/ noun a
instrument
insurmountable /ns mantb()l/
insurmountable
piece of equipment or a tool The techni- |
cal staff have instruments which measure adj which cannot be solved or dealt with
the flow of electricity. successfully
insurrection /ns rekn/ noun a re-
insurrection
instrumental /nstr ment()l/ adj 1.

instrumental
|
|
playing an important part in getting some- bellion against a government

intact /n tkt/ adj in one piece, not bro-
intact
thing done The mayor was instrumental |
in getting our building proposals passed by ken

intake / ntek/ noun 1. a thing or things
intake
the planning committee. 2. referring to a

musical instrument I prefer instrumental which are taken in She is trying to reduce
music to choral music. her calorie intake or her intake of calories.
335 interest
2. a group of new students, soldiers, etc. intensive /n tensv / adj with a lot of ef-
intensive
We are increasing our intake of mature stu- fort He took a two-week intensive course
dents again this year. This years intake in German.
of recruits has more potential officers than intensive care /ntensv ke/ noun
intensive care
usual. the close care and treatment of patients

intangible /n tndb()l/ adj which who are very ill or badly injured so that es-
intangible
cannot be defined sential action can be taken with a minimum

integral / nt(rl/ adj which forms part
integral
of delay if it is needed
intent /n tent/ noun an aim
intent
of something |
intention /n tenn/ noun an aim or

intention
integrate / nt(ret/ (integrates, inte-

integrate
|
grating, integrated) verb to link up to form plan to do something [~of] I have no in-
a whole (NOTE: + integration n) tention of going to the party. The fans
came with the deliberate intention of stir-
integrity /n te(rti/ noun honesty, moral
integrity
|
ring up trouble.
principles His integrity is in doubt since intentional /n tenn()l/ adj done on
intentional
the report on the company loan scandal. purpose

intellect / ntlekt/ noun the power of the
intellect
interact /ntr kt/ (interacts, interact-

interact
brain to think or reason You could see at ing, interacted) verb to interact with
once that she was a person of superior in- someone to work in a friendly way with
tellect. someone She is interacting well with her
intellectual /nt lektul/ noun a teachers. to interact with something to
intellectual
person who uses his or her brain to make a have an effect on something
living Left-wing intellectuals have criti- interactive /ntr ktv/ adj each hav-
interactive
cised the Prime Minister. ing an effect on the others We teach dra-
intellectual property /ntlektjl ma through interactive groups.
intellectual property
prpti/ noun original creative work or intercept /nt sept/ (intercepts, inter-

intercept
ideas which can be protected by law cepting, intercepted) verb to stop some-
intelligence /n teldns/ noun 1.
intelligence
|
thing as it is passing (NOTE: + interception
the ability to think and understand His in- n)
interchangeable /nt tendb()l/
interchangeable
telligence is well above average. 2. infor- |
mation provided by the secret services adj which can be exchanged for each other
intercom / ntkm/ noun a radio for
intercom
Intelligence gathered by our network of

agents is very useful to us in planning fu- speaking to people over a short distance in-
ture strategy. side a building
intercontinental /ntknt nent()l/
intercontinental
intelligent /n teldnt/ adj able to

intelligent
|
|
understand and learn things very well adj from one continent to another, between
Hes the most intelligent child in his class. continents
intercourse / ntk
s/ noun 1. same as
intercourse
intelligible /n teldb()l/ adj which

intelligible
can be understood sexual intercourse They had intercourse

on the first night they met. 2. communica-
intend / n tend/ (intends, intending,
intend
|
tion between people How do you do? is
intended) verb [~that] to intend to do a polite expression used in normal social
something to plan to do something We intercourse.
intended to get up early but we all over- interdependent /ntd pendnt/ adj
interdependent
slept. The company intends to sue for 1. needing each other to exist 2. relying on
damages. each others help or support
intense / n tens/ adj very strong or ex-
intense
interest / ntrst/ noun 1. special at-

interest
|
treme There was a period of intense ac- tention to something [~in] She takes a lot
tivity to try to finish the work before they of interest in politics. He has no interest
went on holiday. She had an intense pe- in what his sister is doing. Why doesnt
riod of study before the exams. he take more interest in local affairs? 2. a
intensify /n tensfa/ (intensifies, in-
intensify
| thing that you enjoy doing Her main in-

tensifying, intensified) verb 1. to become terest is canoeing. List your special inter-
stronger The rain intensified and contin- ests on your CV. 3. a payment made to
ued all night. 2. to make something be- someone who lends money [~on] He was
come stronger He intensified his attacks hoping to get 5% interest on his savings.
on the government. (NOTE: + intensifica- How much interest do I have to pay if I bor-
tion n) row 1000? verb (interests, interesting,
interested 336
interested) to attract someone The book
short interlude, then the noise started
didnt interest me at all. He tried to inter- again.
est several companies in his new invention. intermediary /nt mi
diri/ (plural in-
intermediary
interested / ntrstd/ adj with a per-

interested
termediaries) noun a person who is the

sonal interest in something Hes interest- link between parties who do not agree or
ed in old churches. Shes interested in who are negotiating He refused to act as
crime fiction. an intermediary between the two directors.
interesting / ntrst/ adj attracting intermediate /nt mi
dit/ adj 1. be-
interesting intermediate
your attention; enjoyable Theres an in- tween two points We are at an intermedi-
teresting article in the newspaper on Euro- ate stage in our research work. 2. between
pean football. She didnt find the TV pro- beginners and advanced She has passed
gramme very interesting. Whats so in- her intermediate level English.
teresting about old cars? I find them dull. interminable /n t#
mnb()l/ adj
interminable
interest rate / ntrst ret/ noun a per-

interest rate
which never ends, which is boring

centage charged for borrowing money intermission /nt m()n/ noun es-
intermission
interface / ntfes/ noun 1. a point

|
interface
pecially US an interval in a performance

where two computer systems connect or a intermittent /nt mt()nt/ adj stop-
intermittent
program which allows two computer sys- ping and starting in an irregular way In-
tems to be connected 2. an area where two termittent showers are expected over the
different systems meet and interact Great weekend.
progress is being made at the interface be-
intern1 / nt#
n/ noun US a medical
intern
tween medical science and genetic engi-

neering. school graduate who is working in a hospi-
interfere /nt f/ (interferes, interfer-
interfere
|
tal while at the same time finishing his
ing, interfered) verb 1. to try to become in-
studies Hospital interns work very long
volved in a situation that is not your con- hours.
intern2 /n t#
n/ (interns, interning, in-
intern
cern [~in] His mother was always inter- |
fering in his private life. 2. to be treat terned) verb to put someone in a prison or
something in such a way that it does not in a camp without trial, usually for political
work well [~with] Stop interfering with reasons Many intellectuals and oppo-
the TV controls. nents of the military regime have been in-
interference /nt frns/ noun 1.
interference
|
terned.
internal /n t#
n()l/ adj inside
internal
an involvement with someone elses life or |
international /nt n()nl/ adj

international
business [~in] His parents interference in |
his travel plans annoyed him. 2. a noise between countries an international con-
which affects radio or TV programmes ference on the environment an important
interim / ntrm/ noun in the interim international company noun a sportsper-
interim
meanwhile We are still redecorating the son who has played for his or her countrys
offices: in the interim you will have to team against another country There are
share an office with your boss. three England internationals in our local
interior /n tri/ noun an inner part of a
interior
|
team.
Internet / ntnet/ noun an international
Internet
building, car, etc. She cautiously walked

into the interior of the cave. The interior network allowing people to exchange in-
of the building is fine, but the exterior formation on computers using telephone
needs repainting. lines We send messages over the Internet
interior designer /n tri d to hundreds of users of our products. He
interior designer
| |
zan/ noun a person who designs the in- searched the Internet for information on
side of a building, including wall cover- cheap plane tickets. (NOTE: also called sim-
ings, paint colours, furniture, fabrics, etc. ply the Net)
interject / nt dekt/ (interjects, inter- interpersonal /nt p#
s()n()l/ adj
interpersonal
interject
|
|
jecting, interjected) verb to interrupt with between people

a comment interplay / ntple/ noun a reaction be-
interplay
interjection /nt dekn/ noun an tween two things

interjection
exclamation, a word used to show an emo- interpret /n t#

prt/ (interprets, in-
interpret
tion such as surprise terpreting, interpreted) verb to translate

interlude / ntlu
d/ noun a short break
interlude
what someone is saying into a different

between two parts of an activity when language His brother knows Greek, so he
something different happens There was a will interpret for us.
337 intimate
interpretation /nt#
pr te()n/ morning, but it will rain in the afternoon.
interpretation
| |
noun 1. a meaning A poem can have There will be a short interval during which
many interpretations. The book puts the table will be cleared. 2. a period of time
quite a different interpretation on the between two acts in a play Anyone arriv-
meaning of the rule. 2. the act of translating ing late wont be allowed in until the first
what someone is saying into a different interval.
language She is taking a course in simul- intervene /nt vi
n/ (intervenes, in-
intervene
taneous interpretation. 3. a way of playing tervening, intervened) verb 1. to be be-

a piece of music Two of the young musi- tween two things After they left Singa-
cians were praised for their interpretations pore, several years intervened before they
of Bach. went to Australia. 2. to try to change some-
interpreter /n t#
prt/ noun a per-
interpreter
|
thing that is happening [~in] Six or seven
son who translates what someone is saying boys had joined in the fight before the
into a different language teachers intervened. The government re-
interrelated /ntr letd/ adj in a rela-
interrelated
| fused to intervene in the dispute.

tionship in which each depends on or is af- intervening /nt vi
n / adj coming
intervening
fected by the other or others between two things We knew each other
interrogate /n ter(et/ (interrogates,
interrogate
|
at school but havent met often in the inter-
interrogating, interrogated) verb to ask vening years.
someone questions to get information, of-
intervention /nt venn/ noun an
intervention
ten unpleasantly and for a long period of |
time (NOTE: + interrogation n) act of intervening between two things, or

interrogative / nt r(tv/ adj which
interrogative
|
an action to make a change in a system
interview / ntvju
/ noun 1. a con-
interview
asks a question
interrupt /nt rpt/ (interrupts, inter-
interrupt
|
versation between a famous or interesting
rupting, interrupted) verb to start talking person and a journalist, broadcast on radio
when someone else is talking Excuse me or TV, or printed in a newspaper She
for interrupting, but have you seen the of- gave an interview to the Sunday magazine.
fice keys anywhere? 2. a formal meeting in which one or more
interruption /nt rpn/ noun
interruption
|
people ask you questions to find out if you
something that interrupts or stops you from are suitable for something such as a partic-
working ular job or a course at university We
intersect /nt sekt/ (intersects, inter-
intersect
|
asked six candidates for interview. Hes
secting, intersected) verb to cut across
had eight interviews, but still no job offers.
When will you attend your first inter-
each other
view? verb (interviews, interviewing, in-
intersection / ntsekn/ noun 1. a
intersection
|
terviewed) 1. to ask a famous or interesting
place where two or more roads cross The person questions about themselves and
accident occurred at one of the busiest in- their work in order to publish or broadcast
tersections in the city. 2. a place where what they say The journalist interviewed
lines cut across each other The intersec- the Prime Minister. 2. to meet a person who
tion on the graph shows when the pound is applying for something such as a job or
became weaker than the dollar. a place on a university course, to see if he
intersperse /nt sp#
s/ (intersperses,
intersperse
|
or she is suitable We interviewed ten can-
interspersing, interspersed) verb 1. to in- didates, but did not find anyone we liked.
terrupt one activity with another for short
intimacy / ntmsi/ noun a sexual rela-
intimacy
periods of time 2. to put various things in or

among something else tionship with someone
interstate1 /nt stet / adj 1. between intimate1 / ntmt/ adj 1. very close
intimate
interstate
two countries Interstate negotiations are She is an intimate friend from my school-
continuing to decide on the expansion of days. They had intimate knowledge of the
the EU. 2. US between two states We took layout of the house. 2. sexual an intimate
the interstate freeway to San Diego. relationship 3. very detailed They had in-
interstate2 / ntstet/ noun US a road timate knowledge of the layout of the
interstate
between two states They took Interstate house.

80 to Nevada. intimate2 / ntmet/ (intimates, inti-
intimate
interval / ntv()l/ noun 1. a period of mating, intimated) verb to announce or to

interval
time between two events or points in time suggest He intimated that he was going
There will be bright intervals during the to resign and go to work in Australia.
intimidate 338
intimidate /n tmdet / (intimidates, Mary Queen of Scots. verb (intrigues, in-
intimidate
intimidating, intimidated) verb to frighten triguing, intrigued) 1. to make secret

someone by threatening them or appearing plans, especially to harm someone She
to threaten them (NOTE: + intimidation n) intrigued to get the ambassador assassi-
intimidated /n tmdetd/ adj feeling nated. 2. to make someone interested The
intimidated
frightened or feeling that someone is better girls story intrigued him.

intriguing /n tri
(/ adj which makes
intriguing
than you at doing something |
intimidating /n tmdet/ adj fright- you interested

intimidating
ening intrinsic /n trnsk/ adj forming a basic

intrinsic
into / nt, nt, ntu

/ prep 1. used part of something
into
for showing movement towards the inside intro / ntr/ noun an introduction, espe-
intro
She went into the shop. He fell into the cially to a piece of music
lake. Put the cards back into their box. introduce /ntr dju
s/ (introduces,
introduce
You cant get ten people into a taxi. We introducing, introduced) verb to tell
all stopped talking when he came into the someone another persons name when they
room. The bus is going into the town cen- meet for the first time He introduced me
tre. 2. hitting against something The bus to a friend of his called Anne. She intro-
drove into a lamp post. 3. used for showing duced me to her new teacher.
a change The tadpole changed into a
introduction /ntr dkn / noun 1.
introduction
frog. Water turns into steam when it is |
heated. 4. used for showing that you are di- a part at the beginning of a book which de-
viding something Try to cut the cake into scribes the subject of the book Read the
ten equal pieces. introduction which gives an explanation of
the books layout. 2. a book which gives
intolerable /n tlrb()l/ adj which
intolerable
|
basic information about a subject Hes
you cannot bear the author of an introduction to mathemat-
intolerance /n tlrns/ noun a refusal
intolerance
|
ics.
to accept the points of view of other people
introductory /ntr dkt()ri/ adj in-
introductory
intolerant /n tlrnt/ adj refusing to

intolerant |
|
troducing something
accept the points of view of other people
introspective /ntr spektv/ adj
introspective
intonation /nt ne()n/ noun a

intonation |
thinking a lot about yourself

rise or fall of the voice in speech or singing
introvert / ntrv#
introvert
intoxicated /n tksketd/ adj 1.

intoxicated
drunk, under the effects of alcohol He does not like to be with other people
intrude /n tru
d/ (intrudes, intruding,
intrude
was charged with driving while intoxicat- |
ed. 2. extremely excited Intoxicated with intruded) verb to go in or become involved

their success, they decided to go out to cel- where you are not wanted
intruder /n tru
d/ noun a person
intruder
ebrate. |
intractable /n trktb()l/ adj very who has got into a place, usually illegally
intractable
intrusion /n tru
()n/ noun the act
intrusion
difficult to deal with; which is impossible |
to solve of intruding
intranet / ntrnet/ noun a computer net- intrusive /n tru
sv/ adj which intrudes
intranet intrusive
work within an organisation and is not wanted

intransigent / n trnsdnt/ adj de- intuition /ntju ()n/ noun thinking of
intransigent
intuition
|
|
termined not to change your mind something or knowing something natural-

intransitive /n trnstv/ adj describes
intransitive
| ly, without it being explained

a verb that does not need a direct object to intuitive /n tju
tv/ adj based on intui-
intuitive
complete its meaning tion

intravenous /ntr vi
ns/ adj put into
intravenous
Inuit / nut/ noun a member of a group of

Inuit
|
a vein people living in the north of Canada and

intrepid /n trepd/ adj without fear, very
intrepid
|
Greenland (NOTE: also called Eskimo or Es-
brave (literary or humorous) kimos, though this may be offensive)
intricacy / ntrksi/ noun the state of
intricacy
inundate / nndet/ (inundates, inun-

inundate
being very complicated dating, inundated) verb 1. to have more

intricate / ntrkt/ adj very complicat-
intricate
things or people than you can deal with

ed, made of many different parts We have been inundated with requests for
intrigue / ntri
(/ noun a secret plan
intrigue
tickets. The relief camps were inundated

The story is one of intrigues at the court of with refugees. 2. to flood a place Acres of
339 invoice
farmland were inundated when the banks [~in] She was advised to invest in govern-
of the river gave way. ment bonds. He invested all his money in
invade /n ved/ (invades, invading, in- a restaurant. 2. to spend money on some-
invade
vaded) verb 1. to attack and enter a country thing which you believe will be useful [~in]
with an army William the Conqueror in- We have invested in a new fridge.
vaded England in 1066. 2. to invade investigate /n vest(et/ (investi-
investigate
someones privacy when people such as gates, investigating, investigated) verb to

journalists try to find out details of some- try to find out about something
ones private life She claimed that the [~what/why/whether etc] We are investi-
photographers had invaded her privacy by gating the possibility of going to live
climbing over the wall. abroad. She asked me to investigate why
invalid / nvld/ adj sick or disabled
invalid
she had had no response to her complaint.

Her invalid mother lives in a nursing home. investigation /n vest (e()n/
investigation
| |
noun a sick or disabled person Shes noun a close examination [/~into] a police
been an invalid since her operation. investigation into the causes of the crash
invaluable /n vljub()l/ adj ex-
invaluable
| on investigation when it was examined

tremely valuable On further investigation, the newspaper re-
invariably /n veribli/ adv always
invariably
| port was shown to be quite untrue.

invasion /n ve()n/ noun entering a investigative /n vest(tv / adj who
invasion investigative
|
|
country by force with an army The inva- or which investigates

sion took place in early June. investment /n vestmnt/ noun 1.
investment
invent /n vent/ (invents, inventing,

|
invent
|
money which has been invested in some-
invented) verb 1. to create a new process or thing such as shares or property, and is ex-
a new machine She invented a new type pected to make a profit [~in] He has been
of computer terminal. Who invented this very successful with his investments in
communication system? 2. to make up an property. 2. money spent by a government
excuse When she asked him why he was or a company to improve it or make it more
late he invented some story about the train successful [~in] The economy is suffering
not arriving. from a lack of investment in training.
invention /n venn/ noun 1. the act
invention
invigorate /n v(ret/ (invigorates,

invigorate
|
|
of creating a new process or a new machine invigorating, invigorated) verb to make

The invention of computers was made
someone feel healthy and full of energy
possible by developments in electronics. 2.
invincible /n vnsb()l/ adj which can-
invincible
a machine or process that someone has in- |
vented not be defeated

invisible /n vzb()l/ adj which cannot
invisible
inventive /n ventv/ adj which creates

inventive
|
|
something in a way that shows imagination be seen The message was written in invis-
inventor /n vent/ noun a person
inventor
|
ible ink and hidden inside the pages of a
who invents new processes or new ma- book.
invitation /nv te()n/ noun a let-
invitation
chines |
inventory / nvnt()ri/ noun 1. a list

inventory
ter or card, asking someone to do some-
of all the things in a place such as a house thing or go somewhere [~to] He received
The landlord checked the inventory when
an invitation to his sisters wedding. She
the tenants left. 2. US all the goods in a had an invitation to dinner. at someones
warehouse Our whole inventory was de- invitation invited by someone She spoke
stroyed by fire. We are carrying a high in- to the meeting at the invitation of the com-
ventory. mittee.
invite /n vat/ (invites, inviting, invit-
invite
invert /n v#
t/ (inverts, inverting, in-
invert
|
|
verted) verb to turn something upside ed) verb to ask someone to do something,
down or back to front Invert the mould especially to come to a social event such as
and ease the jelly onto the dish. a party We invited two hundred people to
inverted commas / nv#
td kmz/
inverted commas
|
the party. She invited us to come in.
plural noun printed or written marks ( or ) Shes been invited to talk to the club.
inviting /n vat / adj which attracts
inviting
showing that a quotation starts or finishes |
invest /n vest/ (invests, investing, invoice / nvs/ noun a note sent to

invest invoice
invested) verb 1. to use your money for ask for payment for services or goods
buying things such as property or shares in Our invoice dated November 10th has still
a company, so that you will make a profit not been paid. They sent in their invoice
invoke 340
six weeks late. Ask the sales assistant to oured ring in the eye, with the pupil at its
make out an invoice for 250. centre The iris has muscles that adjust
invoke /n vk/ (invokes, invoking, in- the size of the pupil.
invoke
Irish / ar/ adj referring to Ireland

Irish
voked) verb to call on someone or some-

thing for help or support The Irish Sea lies between Ireland and
involuntary /n vlnt()ri/ adj 1. done Britain.
involuntary
iron / an/ noun 1. a common grey

iron
suddenly in a way that you cannot control

His leg gave an involuntary jerk when the metal The old gates are made of iron.
doctor tapped his knee. Her cry was the cast iron, wrought iron (NOTE: no plural in
involuntary reaction of a mother protecting this sense: some iron, lumps of iron, pieces
her young. 2. not done willingly Does the of iron) 2. an object with a flat metal bot-
travel insurance cover the involuntary can- tom, which is heated and used to make
cellation of the holiday? clothes smooth after washing Dont
involve /n vlv/ (involves, involving, leave the iron there it will burn the
involve
involved) verb 1. to include someone or clothes. If your iron is not hot enough it
something in an activity or situation a wont take the creases out. verb (irons,
competition involving teams from ten dif- ironing, ironed) to make cloth smooth us-
ferent countries We want to involve the ing an iron She was ironing shirts when
local community in the decision about the the telephone rang. Her skirt doesnt
bypass. Members of the local council are look as if it has been ironed.
ironing / an/ noun clothes which
ironing
involved in the company which has won the

contract for the new road. 2. to make an ac- have been washed and are ready to be
tivity necessary Going to Cambridge ironed
ironing board / an b
d/ noun a
ironing board
from here involves taking a bus and then

the train. special narrow table used when ironing
involved /n vlvd/ adj complicated clothes
involved
involvement /n vlvmnt/ noun the irony / arni/ noun 1. a way of referring

irony
involvement
fact of being connected with someone, or to something where you say the opposite of
involved in something [~in/with//] Did she what you mean Do I detect a note of iro-
have any involvement with the music festi- ny in his letter? 2. a situation when some-
val? The police were unable to prove his thing happens at the wrong moment, as if
involvement in the crime. deliberately planned The irony of it was
inward / nwd/ adj on the inside
inward
that the rain finally stopped on the last day
inwardly / nwdli/ adv 1. to or inside
inwardly of our holiday.
irrational / r()n()l/ adj not sensible
irrational
yourself 2. on or to the inside of something |
or reasonable
inwards / nwdz/ adv towards the in-
inwards
irreconcilable /rekn salb()l/ adj

irreconcilable
side These doors open inwards. | |
which cannot be made to agree

in-your-face / n j/ adj direct or obvious
in-your-face
irregular / re(jl/ adj 1. not happening

irregular
in a way that is designed to attract attention |
in a regular way An irregular pattern of

iodine / adi
n/ noun a chemical put on
iodine
lines and circles. His heart had an irreg-

cuts in the skin to prevent infection ular beat. 2. not level An irregular stone
IOU /a ju
/ noun a paper promising
IOU
path leads across the garden. 3. not hap-

that you will pay back money which you pening always at the same time His pay-
have borrowed (NOTE: It spells the words I ments are very irregular. He makes irreg-
owe you.) ular visits to his mother in hospital. 4. not
IPA abbr International Phonetic Alphabet
IPA
according to rules or a usual way of doing

IQ abbr intelligence quotient She has
IQ
something This procedure is highly irreg-

an IQ of 110. ular.
irate /a ret/ adj very angry irregularity /re(j lrti/ (plural irreg-
irate irregularity
| | |
Ireland / alnd/ noun a large island ularities) noun a thing which goes against
Ireland
forming the western part of the British the rules or the law
irrelevant / relvnt/ adj with no con-
irrelevant
Isles, containing the Republic of Ireland |
and Northern Ireland These birds are nection to the present subject
found all over Ireland. irreparable / rep()rb()l/ adj which
irreparable
iris / ars/ noun 1. a plant with tall flat cannot be repaired

iris
irreplaceable /r plesb()l/ adj

irreplaceable
leaves and usually yellow or purple flowers |
Irises grow well in damp soil. 2. a col- which cannot be replaced

341 it
irrepressible /r presb()l/ adj which isle /al/ noun an island (literary)
irrepressible isle
cannot be held back isnt / z()nt/ short for is not

isnt
irresistible / r zstb()l/ adj which isolate / aslet/ (isolates, isolating,

irresistible
isolate
|
cannot be controlled, which you cannot isolated) verb 1. to put something or some-
refuse one in a place alone Violent prisoners are
irrespective /r spektv/ prep irre-
irrespective
| usually isolated from the others. 2. to sepa-

spective of taking no account of Anyone rate a chemical substance from a com-
parking on a double yellow line will be pound, to identify a single microorganism
fined, irrespective of who they are. The among many Doctors have isolated a
appointment will be made on merit, irre- new form of the flu virus. Scientists have
spective of age or sex. been able to isolate the substance which
irresponsible /r spnsb()l/ adj act- causes the disease.
irresponsible
ing or done in a way that shows a lack of isolated / asletd/ adj 1. separated
isolated
good sense from others They live in an isolated vil-

irreverent / rev()rnt/ adj not showing
irreverent
| lage in the hills. 2. one only

respect, often in a humorous way isolation /as le()n/ noun the
isolation
irreversible /r v#
sb()l/ adj which
irreversible
| state of being cut off from communication

cannot be changed back to how it was be- with other people He lived for six months
fore on the island in complete isolation.
irrevocable / revkb()l/ adj which isolationism /as le()nz()m/
irrevocable isolationism
| |
cannot be changed noun a countrys policy of deliberately not

irrigate / r(et/ (irrigates, irrigating, ir- becoming involved in international rela-
irrigate
rigated) verb to supply water to land to al- tions

low plants to grow, usually through a sys- ISP /a es pi
/ abbr Internet service pro-
ISP
tem of little channels (NOTE: + irrigation n) vider

irritable / rtb()l/ adj easily annoyed issue / u
/ noun 1. a subject or prob-
irritable issue
He was tired and irritable, and snapped at lem that people talk or write about The
the children. main issues will be discussed at the meet-
irritant / rt()nt/ noun 1. a thing which
irritant
ing. 2. an occasion when something is offi-

annoys The mosquitoes were a minor ir- cially given out The issue of identity
ritant, the big problem was the alligators. cards has been delayed. 3. a newspaper or
2. a substance which can irritate Irritants magazine which is published at a particular
like chlorine in swimming pool water can time We bought the January issue of the
make the eyes inflamed. magazine. verb (issues, issuing, issued)
irritate / rtet / (irritates, irritating, irri- 1. to make something available for use
irritate
tated) verb to make someone feel angry or The new set of stamps will be issued next
impatient It irritates me when the trains week. Initially the euro was issued along-
run late. side the former national currencies. 2. to
irritated / rtetd/ adj annoyed
irritated
give something out officially The gov-
irritating / rtet/ adj which annoys
irritating
ernment issued a report on city centre traf-
fic. Each soldier was issued with a gun.
irritation /r te()n/ noun a feeling
irritation
3. to come out of somewhere [~from]

|
of being annoyed and impatient She Smoke began to issue from the hole in the
watched with irritation as he tried to fix the ground. to make an issue of something
wheel again. to have a big discussion about something
is /z/ 3rd person singular present of be
is
Shes apologised so dont try to make an is-

-ish / / suffix 1. having the quality of, like,
-ish
sue of it. to take issue with someone or

tending to 2. almost, nearly something to disagree with someone or
Islam / zl
m/ noun the religion of the
Islam
something
Muslims, founded by the prophet Muham- it /t/ pron 1. used to refer to something
it
mad which has just been mentioned What do

island / alnd/ noun a piece of land
island
you want me to do with the box? Put it

with water all around it They live on a lit- down. Wheres the box? Its here. She
tle island in the middle of the river. The picked up a potato and then dropped it on
Greek islands are favourite holiday desti- the ground. I put my book down some-
nations. where and now I cant find it. Wheres the
islander / alnd/ noun a person who
islander
newspaper? Its on the chair. 2. used for

lives on an island talking about the weather, the date or time
IT 342
or another situation Look! Its snowing. itemise / atmaz/ (itemises, itemis-
itemise
Its miles from here to the railway sta- ing, itemised), itemize verb to make a de-
tion. Is it the 30th today? Its almost tailed list of things
impossible to get a ticket at this time of itinerary /a tnrri/ (plural itineraries)
itinerary
year. What time is it? Its ten oclock. noun a list of places to be visited on one
Its dangerous to use an electric saw when journey
its wet. (NOTE: Its = it is or it has. Do not itll / t()l/ contr it will
itll
confuse with its.) its /ts/ adj belonging to it I cant

its
IT abbr information technology

IT
use the car one of its tyres is flat. The

company pays its staff very badly. (NOTE:
italic / tlk/ noun a printing type with
italic
Do not confuse with its.)

sloping letters
its /ts/ short for 1. it is 2. it has (NOTE:
its
italics / tlks/ plural noun sloping let-

italics
|
Do not confuse with its.)
ters This example is printed in italics. itself /t self/ pron 1. used for referring
itself
Compare Roman back to a thing or an animal The dog

itch /t/ noun a place on the skin where
itch
seems to have hurt itself. The screw had

you want to scratch Ive got an itch in the worked itself loose. 2. used for emphasis
middle of my back thats driving me mad! If the plug is all right there must be some-
verb (itches, itching, itched) to make thing wrong with the computer itself. all
someone want to scratch The cream by itself alone, with no one helping The
made his skin itch more than before. church stands all by itself in the middle of
the street. The bus started to move all by
itchy / ti/ adj which makes a person
itchy
itself.
want to scratch The main symptom of the
IV /a vi
/ noun the Roman numeral for
IV
disease is an itchy red rash.

four or fourth
itd / td/ short form 1. it had 2. it would
itd
Ive /av/ short form I have

Ive
item / atm/ noun a thing shown in a ivory / avri/ noun a hard whitish sub-
item
ivory
list We are discussing item four on the stance from an elephants tusk She
agenda. Please find enclosed an order bought some finely carved ivory chessmen.
for the following items from your cata- Trade in ivory has been banned.
logue. I couldnt buy several items on the ivy / avi/ (plural ivies or same) noun an
ivy
shopping list because the shop had sold evergreen plant which climbs up walls and
out. trees
J
j /de/, J noun the tenth letter of the alpha- jagged / d(d/ adj with edges which
j jagged
bet, between I and K are rough and not even

jab /db/ (jabs, jabbing, jabbed) verb to jaguar / d(ju/ noun a large wild cat
jab jaguar
suddenly push something with a sharp ob- with marks like spots on its skin, which
ject He jabbed the piece of meat with his lives in Central and South America
fork. She jabbed me in the back with her jail /del/, gaol noun a prison She
jail
umbrella. was sent to jail for three months. verb

jack /dk/ noun 1. a tool for raising
jack
(jails, jailing, jailed; gaols) to put someone

something heavy, especially a car I used in prison He was jailed for six years.
the jack to lift the car up and take the wheel jailer / del/, jailor, gaoler noun a per-
jailer
off. 2. (in playing cards) the card with the son who guards prisoners in a jail (dated)
face of a young man, with a value between Jain /dan/, Jaina noun a member of a
Jain
the queen and the ten I won because I had Hindu group which believes that people
the jack of hearts. should have deep respect for any living
jack up phrasal verb 1. to lift up some- creature (NOTE: + Jainism n)
thing heavy with a jack They jacked up jam / dm/ noun 1. a sweet food made
jam
the car to remove the exhaust pipe. 2. to by boiling fruit and sugar together a pot
raise profits or prices The newspaper of apricot jam Do you want jam or honey
article alleged that dealers had jacked up on your bread? We made jam with the
prices to make bigger profits. fruit in the garden. Have you any more
jackal / dk()l/ noun an African wild
jackal
jam the jar is empty? 2. a situation in

animal, similar to a dog, which feeds main- which too many things block something
ly on dead flesh a traffic jam There is a paper jam in the
jacket / dkt/ noun a short coat He
jacket
printer. verb (jams, jamming, jammed)

was wearing a blue jacket and brown trou- 1. (of machines) to stick and not be able to
sers. Take your jacket off if you are hot. move Hold on the paper has jammed in
This orange jacket shows up in the dark the printer. 2. to force things into a small
when I ride my bike. space Dont try to jam all those boxes
jacket potato / dkt p tet/ noun into the car boot. The switchboard was
jacket potato
a potato cooked in an oven with its skin on jammed with calls.

jack-in-the-box / dk n bks/ jamboree /dmb ri
/ noun a large
jack-in-the-box jamboree
noun a toy in which a doll jumps up out of gathering of people for a celebration
a box when the lid is opened Jan. abbr January
Jan.
jackknife / dknaf / (jackknifes, jack- jangle / d(l/ (jangles, jangling, jan-

jackknife jangle
knifing, jackknifed) verb (of an articulated gled) verb to make a noise of pieces of met-
vehicle) to go out of control, when the two al hitting together He jangled the keys in
parts bend in half so that they are pointing his pocket.
in different directions The section of the janitor / dnt/ noun especially US a
janitor
motorway is closed where a lorry has jack- person who looks after a building, e.g. by
knifed. making sure it is clean and that the rubbish
Jacuzzi /d ku
zi/ trademark a type of
Jacuzzi
| is cleared away
bath which has bubbly water The health January / dnjuri/ (plural Januar-
January
club has two Jacuzzis and a whirlpool. ys) noun the first month of the year, fol-
jade /ded/ noun a hard green stone used
jade
lowed by February He was born on Jan-

for making jewellery and other attractive uary 26th. Its his birthday on January
objects 26. We never go on holiday in January
jaded / dedd/ adj worn out, tired because its too cold. We all went skiing
jaded
jar 344
last January. (NOTE: January 26th or Janu- jeer /d/ (jeers, jeering, jeered) verb to
jeer
ary 26: say the twenty-sixth of January or laugh in a unpleasant way [~at] Youll
January the twenty-sixth; American Eng- never win, he jeered. The other children
lish: January twenty-sixth.) often jeered at him because he was fat.
jar /d
/ noun a container for food
jar
jelly / deli / (plural jellies) noun a type

jelly
such as jam, usually made of glass There of sweet food made with fruit, which
was some honey left in the bottom of the shakes when you touch it or move it The
jar. Use a jam jar for the water you col- children had fish fingers and chips fol-
lect. verb (jars, jarring, jarred) to pro- lowed by jelly and ice-cream.
duce an unpleasant effect The drilling
jellyfish / delif/ (plural jellyfishes or
jellyfish
sound jarred on my ears. Orange cur-

tains will jar with purple cushions. He same) noun an animal with a body like jel-
tripped over the step, jarring his knee. ly, which lives in the sea
jeopardise / depdaz/ (jeopardises,
jeopardise
jargon / d
(n/, jargoon noun a spe-
jargon
cial type of language used by a trade or jeopardising, jeopardised), jeopardize

profession or a particular group of people verb to be likely to harm
jeopardy / depdi/ noun in jeopardy
jeopardy
People are confused by computers because

they dont understand the jargon. in danger The managements attitude to
jaundice / d
nds/ noun a condition safety has put us all in jeopardy. The sale
jaundice
where there is too much bile in the blood, of the company has put thousands of jobs
and the skin and the whites of the eyes be- in jeopardy.
come yellow jerk /d#
k/ noun a sudden sharp pull He
jerk
jaundiced / d
ndst/ adj negative and felt a jerk on the fishing line. verb (jerks,
jaundiced
tending to criticise things jerking, jerked) to suddenly pull some-

jaunt /d
nt/ noun a short journey, espe- thing hard, often causing pain or injury
jaunt
cially for pleasure He jerked the rope.

jaunty / d
nti/ (jauntier, jauntiest) adj jerky / d#
ki/ adj abrupt, sudden
jerky
jaunty
happy and confident jersey / d#

zi/ noun 1. a warm piece of
jersey
javelin / dv()ln/ noun a long spear

javelin
clothing which covers the top part of your

used in battle or in sport body and your arms She was knitting a
jaw /d
/ noun the bones in the face pink jersey for the new baby. 2. a special
jaw
which hold the teeth and form the mouth shirt worn by a member of a sports team
jazz / dz/ noun a type of music with a
jazz
After every game the players swapped jer-
strong rhythm, and in which the players of- seys with the other team.
jet /det/ noun 1. a long narrow stream of
jet
ten make the music up as they play; jazz

was first played in the southern United liquid or gas A jet of water put out the
States flames. 2. an aircraft with jet engines Jets
jazz up phrasal verb to make bright and flew low overhead.
attractive (informal) jet black /det blk/ adj very black and
jet black
jealous / dels/ adj feeling annoyed be-

jealous
shiny
cause you want something which belongs jet engine / det endn/ noun an
jet engine
to someone else John was jealous of engine which gets its power from a stream
Mark because all the girls fancied him. of gas
She was jealous of his new car. Her new
jet lag / det l(/ noun the feeling of be-
jet lag
boyfriend is very handsome Im jealous!

ing extremely tired after a long journey by
jealousy / delsi / noun the feeling of
jealousy
plane
being annoyed because someone has
Jet Ski / det ski
/ trademark a jet-pro-
Jet Ski
something which you want but do not have

jeans / di
nz/ plural noun trousers
jeans
pelled vehicle for one person which travels
made of a type of strong cotton, often blue across water
jettison / dets()n/ (jettisons, jetti-
jettison
She came into the office in jeans. He

bought a new pair of jeans. soning, jettisoned) verb to throw fuel from
jeep /di
p/ trademark a strong four-
jeep
a plane, or goods from a ship into the sea to
wheel drive vehicle used for travelling over make it lighter
jetty / deti/ (plural jetties) noun a small
jetty
rough ground, especially used by the army

The convoy of jeeps and tanks crossed structure, e.g. at the side of a river, where
slowly over the bridge. boats can tie up
345 joined-up
Jew /du
/ noun a member of the group of job security / db skjrti/ noun a
Jew job security
people who lived in Israel in ancient times situation in which an employee is likely to
or who believe in Judaism keep his or her job until he retires
jewel / du
l/ noun a valuable stone such job-share / db e/ verb to share a sin-
jewel
job-share
as a diamond gle job with another person so that each of

jeweller / du
jeweller
you works for part of the day or week

makes or sells jewellery, and usually jockey / dki/ noun a person who rides
jockey
watches as well (NOTE: The US spelling is horses in races Hes an experienced jock-
jeweler.) ey and knows how to handle a horse over a
jewellery / du
lri/ noun things that
jewellery
muddy racecourse. Hes the youngest

you wear as decoration round your neck, jockey to ride in the Grand National. verb
fingers, etc., made from things such as val- (jockeys, jockeying, jockeyed) to jock-
uable stones, gold and silver The burglar ey for position to try to improve your po-
stole all her jewellery. (NOTE: no plural) sition in relation to other people Theres
Jewish / du
/ adj 1. of Judaism 2. of
Jewish
a vacancy for managing director, and the

Jews sales director and the production director
jibe /dab/ noun an unpleasant remark are jockeying for position.
jibe
jig /d(/ noun 1. a type of fast lively jocular / dkjl/ adj in a humorous
jocular
jig
dance When he heard the news he did a way, treating things as a joke
little jig around the office. 2. music for this jog /d(/ (jogs, jogging, jogged) verb
jog
dance The band started to play an Irish 1. to run fairly slowly, especially for exer-
jig and everyone got up to dance. cise He jogged along the river bank for
jiggle / d(()l/ (jiggles, jiggling, jig-
jiggle
two miles. She was listening to her per-

gled) verb 1. to move quickly or nervously sonal stereo as she was jogging. 2. to push
2. to move something a little If you jiggle someone or something slightly Someone
the top a bit, it should come off fairly easi- jogged my elbow and I spilt my drink. to
ly. jog someones memory to make someone
jigsaw / d(s
/ noun jigsaw puzzle a remember something The police are hop-
jigsaw
picture made of shaped pieces of wood or ing that the film from the security camera
cardboard that you have to try to fit togeth- will jog peoples memories.
er As its raining, lets stay indoors and jogging / d(/ noun the practice of
jogging
try to do this huge jigsaw of the Houses of running in slow steady way for exercise
Parliament. join /dn / (joins, joining, joined)
join
jingle / d(()l/ (jingles, jingling, jin-

jingle
verb 1. to come together Go on for about

gled) verb to make a sound like pieces of two hundred metres, until the road joins the
metal knocking together The doorbell motorway. The two rivers join about four
jingled as he went into the shop. kilometres beyond the town. 2. to become a
jinx /dks / noun something which
jinx
member of a club or other organisation

brings bad luck After university, he is going to join the po-
jittery / dtri/ adj nervous and unable to lice. She joined the army because she
jittery
concentrate wanted to travel. 3. to do something with

job /db/ noun 1. regular work which
job
someone Were going to have a cup of
you get paid for [~as] Shes got a job as coffee would you like to join us? Wont
a shop assistant in the local supermarket. you join us for a game of golf?
When the factory closed, hundreds of peo- join in phrasal verb to take part in
ple lost their jobs. 2. a specific piece of something done as a group
work Dont sit down, there are a couple join up phrasal verb 1. to link things to-
of jobs I want you to do. He does all sorts gether Shes getting better at writing,
of little electrical jobs around the house. 3. and can do joined-up letters. 2. to join the
difficulty (informal) I had a job trying to army, navy or air force He joined up
find your house. What a job it was getting when he was 18 and soon rose to become
a hotel room at the time of the music festi- an officer.
val! joined-up / dnd p/ adj 1. used to de-
joined-up
job description / db dskrpn/

job description
|
scribe handwriting in which each letter of
noun an official document from a company a word is joined to the next, especially by
which says what a job involves children learning to write in this way 2.
jobless / dbls/ adj with no job
jobless
well-planned or with all its separate parts

joiner 346
working well together, e.g. of government magazines, or reporting on events for radio
or a policy or TV
joiner / dn / noun a person who builds journalist / d#
n()lst/ noun a per-
joiner journalist
things out of wood, especially windows son who writes for newspapers or maga-
and doors for houses zines, or reports on events for radio or TV
Journalists asked the policeman some
joint / dnt/ noun 1. a place where
joint
bones come together and can move, such very awkward questions. Film stars were
as the knee or the elbow Her elbow joint greeted by journalists from around the
hurt after her game of tennis. 2. a large world at the premire of the new film.
journey / d#
ni/ noun an occasion
journey
piece of meat, especially for cooking in an

oven The joint of lamb was very tender. when you travel somewhere, usually a long
We all sat round the table while Father distance Its at least two days journey
carved the joint. adj combined, with two from here. They went on a train journey
or more things connected together across China. She has a difficult journey
joke /dk/ noun a thing said or done
joke to work every day she has to change bus-
to make people laugh [~about] She es twice.
jovial / dvil/ adj good-humoured,
jovial
poured water down his neck as a joke.

They all laughed at his jokes about student happy
joy /d/ noun very great happiness
joy
life in the 1960s.

The birth of our baby son filled us with joy.
joker / dk/ noun an extra card, with
joker
joypad / dpd/ noun a control for a

joypad
the picture of a clown on it, used as a bonus

in some card games computer game which you hold in your
hand
jolly / dli/ adj (jollier, jolliest) happy,
jolly
joyriding / drad/ noun the crime of

joyriding
pleasant, enjoyable It was marvellous to

see all the jolly faces of the children. Her high-speed driving in a stolen car
joystick / dstk/ noun 1. a rod which
joystick
birthday party was a very jolly affair. adv

very (used for emphasis) Its jolly hard controls the movements of an aircraft
work carrying all those boxes up to the at- Pull on the joystick to make the plane rise.
tic. 2. a device that allows the user to move the
cursor round a screen by moving an upright
jolt /dlt/ noun a sudden shake or
jolt
arm
shock, or violent push The train stopped jubilant / du
blnt/ adj full of happi-
jubilant
with a jolt. verb (jolts, jolting, jolted) 1. ness, e.g. because of winning something
to move with sudden movements The
jubilee / du
bli
/ noun a celebration on
jubilee
train jolted twice before moving off. 2. to

push or to shake suddenly The people in the date of an important event which hap-
the back of the truck were jolted about from pened in the past
Judaism / du
dez()m/ noun the reli-
Judaism
side to side as we bumped over the rocky

track. 3. to give a sudden shock to The gion of the Jewish people, which is based
sound of the whistle jolted her into action. on the texts called the Torah and Talmud
judge /dd/ noun 1. a person whose
judge
jostle / ds()l/ (jostles, jostling, jos-

jostle
tled) verb to push or to knock into people, job is to make legal decisions in a court of
especially in a crowd to jostle for posi- law He was convicted for stealing, but
tion to push others so as to get into a good the judge let him off with a small fine. 2. a
position The cars on the starting line person who decides who should win a
were jostling for position. competition The three judges of the
beauty contest couldnt agree. verb
jot /dt/ (jots, jotting, jotted) verb also
jot
(judges, judging, judged) 1. to make deci-

jot down to make quick notes about some- sions in situations such as a court of law or
thing He jotted her address on an enve- a competition He was judged guilty.
lope. He jotted down her phone number. Her painting was judged the best and she
journal / d#
n()l/ noun a book where
journal
won first prize. 2. to make a assessment of

you write details of things that have hap- a situation [~what/whether/when
pened which you want to remember He etc/~(that)] Its hard to judge whether he
kept a journal during his visit to China. likes the job or not. The Senator judged it
She wrote a journal of the gradual progress would be impossible for him to win the
of her illness. Presidency so he dropped out of the race.
journalism / d#
n()lz()m/ noun judgment / ddmnt/, judgement
journalism judgment
the profession of writing for newspapers or noun 1. a legal decision by a judge or court
347 junkie
The judgment of the tribunal was fair. jumbo / dmb/ adj very large
jumbo
He
We will appeal against the judgment. 2. the ordered jumbo sausages and chips. She
ability to make good decisions He trusted bought a jumbo box of fireworks.
his wifes judgment in everything. jump /dmp/ noun 1. a sudden move-
jump
judgmental /dd mnt()l/ adj tend- ment up or down into the air The jump
judgmental
ing to judge or criticise people was higher than she thought and she hurt
judicial / du
d()l/ adj referring to a
judicial
|
her leg. 2. a sudden increase [~in] verb
legal process or to a court of law (jumps, jumping, jumped) 1. to go sud-
denly into the air from or towards the
judicious /du
ds/ adj based on
judicious
|
ground [///////~down/up/over etc] She
good judgment jumped down from the chair. The horse
judo / du
d/ noun an Olympic sport,
judo
jumped over the fence. 2. to make a sudden

derived from the traditional Japanese art of movement because you are frightened
fighting without weapons between two She jumped when I came up behind her
people quietly and said Boo!. When they fired
jug / d(/ noun a container with a han- the gun, it made me jump.
jug
dle, used for pouring liquids jump at phrasal verb to accept enthusi-
juggle / d(()l/ (juggles, juggling,
juggle
astically
jumper / dmp/ noun a warm piece
jumper
juggled) verb 1. to throw and catch several

things such as balls, so that most of them of clothing, usually made of wool, which
are in the air at the same time Try and covers the top part of your body and your
juggle four balls at once. 2. to keep chang- arms
jumpy / dmpi/ (jumpier, jumpiest) adj
jumpy
ing things or arranging them in a compli-

cated way I will have to juggle my meet- nervous and excited
junction / dkn/ noun a place
junction
ings so that I can fit everyone in. Shes

trying to juggle her investments to get the where railway lines or roads meet Go as
best interest rate. far as the next junction and you will see the
juggler / d(l/ noun a person who jug-
juggler
library on your right. Leave the motor-
gles way at Junction 5.
juncture / dkt/ noun a point in
juncture
juice /du
s / noun a liquid from fruit,
juice
time
vegetables or meat They charged me 1
June /du
n/ noun the sixth month of
June
for two glasses of orange juice. She had

a glass of grapefruit juice for breakfast. the year, between May and July June 17
Last June we had a holiday in Canada.
juicy / du
si/ (juicier, juiciest) adj full of
juicy
(NOTE: June 17th or June 17: say June the

juice seventeenth or the seventeenth of June or
jukebox / du
kbks/ noun a coin-oper-
jukebox
in US English: June seventeenth.)

ated machine which plays records or CDs jungle / d(l/ noun an area of thick
jungle
July /d la/ noun the seventh month

July
| tropical forest which is difficult to travel

of the year, between June and August through
July 23 We went to Spain last July. July junior / du
ni/ adj intended for
junior
is always one of the busiest months for hol- younger children She sings in the junior
idays. (NOTE: July 23rd or July 23: say July choir. He plays for the junior hockey
the twenty-third or the twenty-third of July; team.
American English: July twenty-third.) junior high school / du
ni ha/ noun
junior high school
jumble / dmbl/ noun a confused mess a school in the US for children from 12 to
jumble
His clothes were lying in a jumble on the 15 years old

junior school / du
ni sku
l/ noun a
junior school
floor. A jumble of thoughts raced through

my mind. verb (jumbles, jumbling, jum- school for children from 7 to 11 years old
bled) also jumble up to mix or confuse junk /dk/ noun useless articles, rub-
junk
things The books are all jumbled up bish Dont keep that its junk. You
can you sort them out? His thoughts were should throw away all that junk you keep
all jumbled in his head. under your bed.
jumble sale / dmbl sel/ noun a sale junk food / dk fu
d/ noun prepared
jumble sale junk food
of old clothes and other things which peo- food which is not healthy, e.g. because it
ple no longer want, organised by a club or contains a lot of fat or sugar
organisation to raise money (NOTE: The US junkie / dki/ noun (slang) 1. a person
junkie
term is rummage sale.) who is addicted to an illegal drug The

junk mail 348

park is full of junkies and dossers at night. justice / dsts/ noun fair treatment
justice
2. a person who is very enthusiastic about in law Justice must always be seen to be
something and cannot get enough of it done.
Im something of a crossword junkie. justifiable / dstfab()l/ adj which
justifiable
Some Internet junkies spend a fortune on can be justified

telephone bills. justification /dstf ke()n/
justification
junk mail / dk mel/ noun advertis-

junk mail
noun 1. a reason which shows that some-

ing material sent through the post, often thing has been done correctly [~for] What
thrown away immediately by the people was his justification for doing that? They
who receive it because they do not want it tried to find some justification for what
junta / dnt/ noun a ruling group of
junta
they had done. 2. (in typing and printing) ar-

ministers, a government which has taken ranging the words so that the ends of the
power by force (NOTE: used mainly of mili- lines are straight An American hyphena-
tary governments. The word is correctly pro- tion and justification program will not
nounced as / hnt/ but this pronunciation work with British English spellings.
is not often used in English.) justified / dstfad / adj shown to be
justified
jurisdiction /drs dkn/ noun le- right

jurisdiction
gal power over someone or something justify / dstfa/ (justifies, justify-

justify
juror / dr/ noun a member of a jury ing, justified) verb to show that something
juror
is fair, to prove that something is right

jury / dri/ (plural juries) noun 1. a
jury
group of twelve citizens who are sworn to How can you justify spending all that mon-
decide whether someone is guilty or inno- ey? How can you justify your behaviour?
jut /dt/ (juts, jutting, jutted) verb also
jut
cent after hearing the evidence given in a

court of law The jury brought in a verdict jut out to stick out, usually horizontally
of not guilty. 2. a group of judges in a com- My hotel room has a balcony jutting out
petition Hes been chosen to serve on the over a busy main road. The cliff juts out
jury for the literary prize. the jury is still into the lake.
juvenile / du
vnal/ adj 1. referring
juvenile
out (on this) no one is sure what the result

will be to young people Young offenders are
just /dst/ adv 1. exactly Is that too
just
tried before a juvenile court. 2. silly and
much sugar? No, its just right. Thank annoying noun a young person, officially,
you, thats just what I was looking for. one under eighteen years of age The po-
Just how many of students have got com- lice entered the club and arrested four peo-
puters? What time is it? Its just seven ple, two of them juveniles.
juvenile delinquent /du
vnal d
juvenile delinquent
oclock. Hes just fifteen his birthday |
was yesterday. 2. showing the very recent lkwnt/ noun a young person who com-
past The train has just arrived from Par- mits minor crimes, especially crimes
is. She had just got into her bath when the against property
juxtapose /dkst pz/ (juxtapos-
juxtapose
phone rang. Thanks for calling I was |
just going to phone you. 3. only Were es, juxtaposing, juxtaposed) verb to place
just good friends, nothing more. Ive side by side, so as to show a difference
been to Berlin just once. (NOTE: + juxtaposition n)
K
k /ke/, K noun the eleventh letter of the al- product has keen competition but its sell-
k
phabet, between J and L ing well. 4. very sensitive Bats have a

K /ke/ abbr one thousand keen sense of hearing.
K
kaleidoscope /k ladskp/ noun 1. keep /ki

p/ (keeps, keeping, kept)
kaleidoscope keep
a toy formed of a tube with mirrors which verb 1. to continue to have something
reflect small pieces of coloured material Can I keep the newspaper I borrowed from
and make patterns when you move it while you? I dont want that book any more,
looking into it 2. something which has a se- you can keep it. The police kept my gun
ries of patterns and colours The kaleido- and wont give it back. 2. to continue to do
scope of autumn colours which you only something The clock kept going even af-
see in parts of North America. ter I dropped it on the floor. He had to
kangaroo /k( ru
/ noun a large keep smiling so that people would think he
kangaroo
Australian animal, of which the female was pleased. Keep quiet or theyll hear
carries its young in a pouch you. Luckily the weather kept fine for the
karaoke /kri ki/ noun entertain- fair. The food will keep warm in the oven.
karaoke
ment, coming originally from Japan, in 3. to have or to put something in a particu-

which people sing to recorded music lar place I keep my car keys in my pocket.
karate /k r
ti/ noun a Japanese style of Where do you keep the paper for the laser
karate
fighting, where you hit sharp quick blows printer? 4. to make someone or something
with the side of the hand or kicks with the stay in a place or state Its cruel to keep
feet animals in cages. I was kept late at the
karma / k
m/ noun 1. the Hindu and
karma
office. They kept us waiting for half an
Buddhist belief that the quality of peoples hour. We put the plates in the oven to keep
current and future lives is determined by them warm. 5. to stay Keep close to me.
their behaviour in this and past lives 2. the keep back phrasal verb 1. to hold on to
atmosphere which some people can feel is something which you should give to
present in a place, situation, person, or ob- someone They kept back 20 from the
ject 3. destiny or fate deposit to cover damage to the carpet. 2.
kayak / kak / noun a type of small boat
kayak
to keep something back from some-
which is pointed at both ends, and almost one not to tell someone information
completely covered, with only a narrow which you could give to them I have the
opening for one person to sit in feeling that shes keeping something
kebab /k bb/ noun small pieces of
kebab
|
back from us.
meat or vegetables, cooked on a long metal keep down phrasal verb 1. to keep at a
stick low level Keep your voice down, the
keen /ki
n/ (keener, keenest) adj 1. en-
keen
police will hear us! 2. to bend down in or-
thusiastic about doing something or want- der to hide from someone Keep down
ing to do something I wanted to see the behind the wall so that they wont see us.
film but my friend wasnt keen. Were keep off phrasal verb 1. not to walk on
keen to keep the cost as low as possible. 2. something Keep off the grass! 2. not to
keen on something/someone liking use If he can keep off drink, his health
something or someone a lot [~on] I am will improve.
not very keen on classical music. I dont keep on phrasal verb to continue doing
think shes very keen on her new maths something My computer keeps on
teacher. Hes keen on keeping fit he breaking down. The cars kept on mov-
goes running every morning. 3. very strong ing, though very slowly. Keep on try-
She has a keen interest in politics. Our ing!
keeper 350
keep on at phrasal verb to criticise kerb /k#
b/ noun the stone edge of a path
kerb
someone all the time [~about] (informal) along the side of a road
She keeps on at me about going to visit kernel / k#
n()l/ noun 1. the softer inside
kernel
her. part of a nut which you can eat Squirrels

keep out phrasal verb 1. to stop some- bite into nuts to get at the kernel. 2. the cen-
one going in We put up notices telling tre, the essential part At the heart of every
people to keep their dogs out of the field classical myth is a kernel of truth. (NOTE:
where the lambs are. 2. not to go in Do not confuse with colonel.)
There were Keep Out! notices round kerosene / kersi
n/ noun especially US
kerosene
the building site. 3. not to get involved a type of thin oil, e.g. used in lights or heat-
He kept out of the quarrel. Try to keep ers
out of trouble with the police. ketchup / ketp/ noun a type of tomato
ketchup
keep to phrasal verb 1. to follow the same sauce

direction when you are going somewhere kettle / ket()l/ noun a container used for
kettle
Keep to this road until you come to the

boiling water
library, then turn left. 2. to make some- key /ki
/ noun 1. a shaped piece of met-
key
thing stay inside a limit Keep your al that you use to open a lock or to start a
speed to 30 miles per hour in towns. 3. to car I cant start the car, Ive lost the key.
do what you have agreed to do, or what a Where did you put the front door key? 2.
rule or law says you must do Dont one of the moving parts which you push
worry Ill keep to my promise to pay back down with your fingers on a typewriter, a
the money. The company kept to the computer or a musical instrument such as a
regulations and had good records. 4. not piano The F key always sticks. There
to move away from the main subject be- are 64 keys on the keyboard. 3. a system of
ing discussed Lets keep to the subject musical tones This piece of music is writ-
of widening the motorway. Keep to the ten in the key of F major. adj most impor-
point. tant The key person in the team is the
keep up phrasal verb 1. to make some- goalkeeper. The key person in the compa-
thing stay at the same high level He ny is the sales manager. Oil is a key in-
finds it very difficult to keep up his Ger- dustry.
man. They wont be able to keep up that keyboard / ki
b
d/ noun a set of keys
keyboard
speed for very long. 2. to prevent some- on something such as a computer or piano
one from going to sleep or to bed The
She spilled her coffee on the computer
noise from the street kept us up all night. keyboard. He practises on the keyboard
keep up with phrasal verb 1. to go at every day. verb (keyboards, keyboard-
the same speed as someone My foot ing, keyboarded) to put information into a
hurts, thats why I cant keep up with the computer using a keyboard She was key-
others. His salary hasnt kept up with boarding the figures.
the cost of living. 2. to keep yourself in-
keyhole / ki
hl/ noun a hole in a lock
keyhole
formed about Have you been keeping

up with the news from Russia? which you put a key into
keynote / ki
nt/ noun a main subject
keynote
keeper / ki
p/ noun 1. a person in charge
keeper
The keynote of the meeting was the need

of a certain type of animal in a zoo an el- for political compromise.
ephant keeper 2. a person in charge of a
keypad / ki
pd/ noun a set of special
keypad
section of a museum The keeper of Ro-

man coins in the British Museum. 3. same keys on a computer keyboard, e.g. the
as goalkeeper (sport) number keys
keyword / ki
w#
d/ noun 1. a word used
keyword
keeping / ki
p/ noun in or out of
keeping
as a reference point for further information

keeping with in or not in the same style as or as a guide to show you what is contained
something else The dinner plates are an- in a document 2. a series of letters and
tiques, in keeping with the furniture in the numbers, often in the form of a common
dining room. word, which has a special meaning for a
keg /ke(/ noun a small round container
keg
computer database or programming or

for liquid, especially alcohol command language
kennel / ken()l/ noun a small house for khaki / k
ki / adj of a dull yellow-brown
kennel
khaki
a dog colour, like that sometimes worn by sol-

kept /kept/ past tense and past partici-
kept
diers I dont like those dull khaki cush-

ple of keep ions in the living room.
351 king
kick /kk/ noun 1. the act of hitting kiln /kln/ noun an oven for making ob-
kick kiln
something with your foot The goalkeeper jects from clay hard enough to last
gave the ball a kick. 2. a feeling of excite- kilo / ki
l/ abbr kilogram
kilo
ment He gets a kick out of watching a kilobyte / klbat/ noun a unit of stor-
kilobyte
football match on TV. verb (kicks, kick- age for a computer equal to 1,024 bytes
ing, kicked) to hit something with your
kilogram / kl(rm /, kilogramme
kilogram
foot He kicked the ball into the net. She

kicked her little brother. noun a measure of weight equal to one
kick in phrasal verb 1. to make something
thousand grams (NOTE: written kg after fig-
open by kicking it The police kicked the ures: 20kg)
kilometre / kl mi
t/ noun a meas-
kilometre
door in. 2. to start to have an effect The |
car really moves when the turbocharger ure of distance equal to one thousand me-
kicks in. tres
kilt /klt/ noun a skirt, usually of tartan
kilt
kick off phrasal verb 1. to start a game

of football They kicked off at 3.00 and cloth, worn by men in Scotland, and also
by half-time there was still no score. 2. to by women
start Lets kick off with a discussion kin /kn/ noun next of kin a persons
kin
about modern painters. nearest relative After the fatal accident,

kick out phrasal verb to get rid of the police informed the next of kin.
someone (informal) Names of the victims will not be released
kick-off / kk f/ noun the start of a foot- until their next of kin have been informed.
kick-off
ball game kind /kand/ adj friendly and helpful

kind
kick start / kk st
t/ verb to make Its very kind of you to offer to help. How
kick start
something start or start again The gov- kind of you to invite him to your party!
ernments plans to kick start the economy. You should always be kind to little chil-
kid /kd / noun 1. a child (informal) dren. Hes a kind old gentleman. noun
kid
There were a few school kids on their bicy- a type [~of] A butterfly is a kind of insect.
cles. Theyre married with two kids. 2. a We have several kinds of apples in our
young goat verb (kids, kidding, kidded) garden. We discussed all kinds of things.
to make someone believe something which of a kind similar The three sisters are
is not true Are you kidding? She tried three of a kind. its nothing of the kind
to kid me that shed had an accident. thats not correct at all kind of in a certain
kiddie / kdi/ noun a small child
kiddie
way (informal) I was kind of annoyed
(informal) when she told me that.
kidnap / kdnp/ (kidnaps, kidnap- kindergarten / knd(
t()n/ noun a
kindergarten
kidnap
ping, kidnapped) verb to take someone school for little children

kindle / knd()l/ (kindles, kindling, kin-
kindle
away illegally and keep them prisoner

(NOTE: + kidnapper n) dled) verb 1. to make something catch fire
kidney / kdni/ noun one of a pair of A cigarette end must have kindled the
kidney
organs in animals that clean the blood and dead leaves. 2. to make someone start to
remove waste from it feel something The aim of the class is to
kidney bean / kdni bi
n/ noun a type of kindle an interest in art.
kidney bean
kindling / kndl/ noun material such as

kindling
bean with reddish seeds which look a little

like kidneys small pieces of wood, used for starting a
kill / kl/ (kills, killing, killed) verb to fire
kill
make someone or something die Sixty kindness / kandns/ noun 1. the

kindness
people were killed in the plane crash. A quality of being kind She was touched by
long period of dry weather could kill all the his kindness. 2. a kind act
crops. king /k/ noun 1. a man who governs
king
killer / kl/ noun 1. a person who kills

killer
a country by right of birth The king and

The police are still hunting for the killer. 2. queen came to visit the town. (NOTE: king is
which kills a killer flu virus spelt with a capital letter when used with a
killing / kl/ noun the process of putting
killing
name or when referring to a particular per-

a person or animal to death The police son: King Henry VIII.) 2. the main piece in
are investigating the killing of the tourists. chess She moved her knight to place his
There have been reports of killings in the king in check. 3. (in cards) the card with the
villages. The killing of rhinos has been face of a man, coming before the ace and
banned. after the queen in value He knew he could
kingdom 352
win when he drew the king of spades. 4. a strangers. He has this knack of acciden-
person in the top position tally offending people.
kingdom / kdm/ noun 1. the land knackered / nkd/ adj very tired
kingdom knackered
ruled over by a king or queen England is (slang)

part of the United Kingdom. He gave her knead / ni
d/ (kneads, kneading, knead-
knead
a book of fairy stories about a magic king- ed) verb to press and fold dough before it is
dom. 2. a part of the world of nature the cooked to make bread
animal kingdom knee /ni
/ noun 1. the part on your body
knee
kingpin / kpn/ noun the main person

kingpin
where the upper and the lower leg join,

in an organisation (informal) where your leg bends She sat the child on
king-size / k saz/ adj bigger than the
king-size
her knee. He was on his knees looking

usual size under the bed. 2. the part of a pair of trou-
kink /kk/ noun 1. a twist in something
kink
sers that covers the knee My jeans have

that should be straight Can you straight- holes in both knees.
en the flex, its got a kink in it. 2. a peculiar kneecap / ni
kp/ noun the little bone in
kneecap
mental state He has a kink about wom- front of the knee He hurt his kneecap
ens underwear. when he fell.
kinship / knp/ noun the relationship
kinship
knee-jerk / ni
d#
k/ adj tending to re-
knee-jerk
that exists between people in the same fam- act without thinking, or happening as a re-
ily sult of such a reaction
kiosk / ki
sk/ noun a small shelter, for
kiosk
kneel /ni
l/ (kneels, kneeling,
kneel
selling goods out of doors kneeled, knelt) verb to go down on your

kipper / kp/ noun a split herring, salted
kipper
knees
and smoked knew /nju
/ past tense of know
knew
kiss /ks/ noun the act of touching

kiss
knickers / nkz/ plural noun a piece of a

knickers
someone with your lips to show that you womans or girls underwear for the lower
are pleased to see them or that you like body She bought a pair of blue knickers.
them [~on] She gave the baby a kiss on
knife /naf/ noun (plural knives) an in-
knife
the cheek. to blow someone a kiss to

touch your lips with your hand and then strument used for cutting, with a sharp
hold out your hand to a person at a distance metal blade fixed in a handle Put out a
As the train left, she blew him a kiss.
knife, fork and spoon for each person.
verb (kisses, kissing, kissed) to touch You need a sharp knife to cut meat. verb
someone with your lips to show that you (knifes, knifing, knifed) to injure someone
are pleased to see them or that you like using a knife He was knifed in the back
them [~on] They kissed each other on during the fight.
knighthood / nathd/ noun the posi-
knighthood
both cheeks.
kit /kt/ noun clothes and personal
kit
tion of being a knight
knit / nt/ (knits, knitting, knitted or
knit
equipment, usually kept in a bag Did you

bring your tennis kit? knit) verb to make cloth out of wool by
kitchen / ktn/ noun a room where
kitchen
joining threads together using two long
you can cook food She put the meat down needles My mother is knitting me a pull-
on the kitchen table. If youre hungry, over. She was wearing a blue knitted hat.
knitting / nt/ noun 1. the action of
knitting
have a look in the kitchen to see if theres

anything to eat. making something out of wool with knit-
kite /kat/ noun a toy made of light ting needles Her great hobby is knitting.
kite
wood and paper or cloth which is flown in 2. a piece of work which is in the process
the wind on the end of a string He was of being made by knitting She brought
flying his kite from the top of the hill. her knitting with her to the conference.
kitten / kt()n/ noun a young cat knitwear / ntwe / noun knitted clothes
knitwear
kitten
kitty / kti/ noun money which has been such as jumpers and pullovers
kitty
knives /navz/ plural of knife

knives
collected from each member of a group of

people to be used for everyone later We knob /nb/ noun 1. a rounded handle that
knob
each put 5 into the kitty for the office par- you turn, e.g. on a door or drawer To open
ty. the door, just turn the knob. 2. a round ob-
knack /nk/ noun an ability or tendency
knack
ject which you turn to operate a radio or

to do something, often something wrong TV, etc. Turn the knob to increase the
(informal) She has a knack for talking to volume.
353 knowing
knock /nk/ noun a sound made by hit- ing something The letter in the paper
knock
ting something verb (knocks, knocking, should silence the governments knockers.
knock-on effect / nk n fekt/ adj an
knock-on effect
knocked) to hit something Knock twice |
before going in. Youll need a heavy ham- effect which follows on from something
mer to knock that nail in. [~on] The airport strike had a knock-on
knock about phrasal verb 1. to wander effect on the tourist industry.
knockout / nkat/ noun (in boxing) the
knockout
about doing nothing He spent several

years knocking about the back streets of action of hitting someone so hard that they
New Orleans. 2. to knock someone lose consciousness He won by a knockout
about to beat someone He was badly (KO) in the third round.
knocked about in the fight. to knock knot /nt/ noun 1. one or more pieces
knot
something about to damage something of string, rope, or other fibre, twisted and
The cathedral was badly knocked about fastened together Boy Scouts are sup-
in the bombardment. 3. to be in a place posed to be able to tie knots. Is the knot
(informal ) Can you see my hammer of my tie straight? 2. a measure of the
knocking about anywhere? speed of a ship, or of the wind The ship
knock back phrasal verb 1. to drink a was doing 22 knots when she hit the rocks.
drink quickly He knocked back his Theres a wind speed of 60 knots.
drink and ran outside. 2. to knock know /n/ (knows, knowing, knew,
know
someone back a sum to cost someone an known) verb 1. to have learned something,
amount of money It will knock me back or have information about something
a few hundred pounds. [~(that)/~what/whether/if/ why/ how etc]
knock down phrasal verb 1. to make Do you know all the words to this song?
something fall down They are going to He didnt know that she had died. You
knock down the old house to build a fac- knew it would be expensive. His secre-
tory. 2. to hit someone or something tary doesnt know where he is. Do you
She was knocked down by a car. 3. to re- know how to start the computer? Do you
duce a price They knocked the price know the Spanish for one two three?
down to 50. 4. to sell something to 2. to have met someone I know your sis-
someone at an auction It was knocked ter we were at school together. I used to
down to a German buyer for 250. know a man called Peter Jones who
worked in your company. to know some-
knock off phrasal verb 1. to make
one by sight to know who someone is,
something fall off by hitting it The cat even though you have never spoken to him
knocked the glass off the shelf. 2. to stop or her 3. to have been to a place often I
work The workmen all knocked off at know Paris very well. She doesnt know
4.30. 3. to reduce the price of something Germany at all. to know somewhere
by an amount He knocked 1000 off the like the back of your hand to be very fa-
price of the car. miliar with a place as far as I know all I
knock out phrasal verb 1. to hit some- know is that As far as I know, he left by
one so hard that they are no longer con- car at 6 p.m. Is she in trouble? Not as
scious She was knocked out by a blow far as I know. in the know knowing
on the head. The boxer was knocked out something that most people do not know
in the third round. 2. to make someone go Those in the know say thats the best res-
to sleep The doctor gave her something taurant in town. Someone in the know
which knocked her out. gave me the tip. to know better than to
knock up phrasal verb 1. to wake some- have the experience to avoid making a mis-
one up Can you knock me up early to- take You should know better than to wake
morrow morning? 2. to put something grandfather up when hes having his after-
together rapidly She knocked up a din- noon nap. you never know perhaps
ner for six people at half an hours no- You never know, she may still turn up.
tice. He knocked up a garden shed out know-all / n
l / noun a person who
know-all
of old pieces of timber. claims he knows everything (informal)

knocker / nk/ noun 1. a knob or ring know-how / n ha/ noun knowledge
knocker know-how
attached to a door which can be hit against about how something is made or is done
it to call attention The bell on the front (informal)
knowing / n/ adj showing that you
knowing
door doesnt work, so you have to use the

knocker. 2. a person who is always criticis- know about something
knowingly 354
knowingly / nli/ adv 1. deliberately, ing hard (informal)
knowingly
on purpose He is accused of knowingly knuckle under phrasal verb to give in to

handling stolen goods. 2. showing that you someone
know about something He glanced koala / k
l/, koala bear noun a small
koala
knowingly in her direction. Australian animal which carries its young

knowledge / nld/ noun the general
knowledge
in a pouch and lives in trees

facts or information that people know No
kosher / k / adj (of food) prepared ac-
kosher
encyclopedia can contain all human

knowledge. cording to Jewish law
Kremlin / kremln/ noun the Russian
Kremlin
knowledgeable / nldb()l/ adj

knowledgeable
who knows a lot about something government and its building in Moscow
known /nn/ past participle of know kudos / kju
ds/ noun glory, fame
kudos
known
knuckle / nk()l/ noun a part where two kung fu /k fu

/ noun a Chinese style
knuckle kung fu
bones join in a finger of fighting, where you can kick as well as

knuckle down phrasal verb to start work- punch
L
l /el/, L noun the twelfth letter of the alpha- bour the point, but may I raise the question
l
bet, between K and M for the third time?

lab /lb/ noun same as laboratory laboured / lebd/ adj showing signs of
laboured
lab
(informal) too much effort (NOTE: The US spelling is

labored.)
label / leb()l/ noun a note attached to
label
labourer / lebr / noun a person who

labourer
something to give information about, e.g.

its price, its contents or someones name does heavy work with his hands
labour force / leb f
s/ noun the total
labour force
and address She stuck a label on the par-

cel. The price on the label is 25.00. number of workers employed in a country,
verb (labels, labelling, labelled) to put a la- an industry or an organisation
bel on something All the goods are la- labour-intensive /lebr n tensv/
labour-intensive
belled with the correct price. adj involving a high number of employees
labor / leb/ noun, verb US spelling of or greater costs for labour than for other ar-
labor
labour eas such as materials, machines or design

labour market / leb m
kt/ noun a
labour market
laboratory /l brt()ri/ (plural lab-

laboratory
oratories) noun a place where scientific supply of workers ready and available for
experiments, testing and research are car- work
labour movement / leb mu
vmnt /
labour movement
ried out Shes a chemist working in the

university laboratories. All our products noun organisations whose aims are to im-
are tested in our own laboratories. prove conditions for workers and get polit-
laborious /l b
ris/ adj difficult, in-
laborious
|
ical power
labyrinth / lbrn/ noun a system of
labyrinth
volving a lot of work over a period of time,

and often boring Moving the pile of sand complicated paths, alleys or corridors
to the back of the house was a laborious which it is difficult to find your way out of
lace / les/ noun 1. a thin strip of mate-
lace
task
labor union / leb jnjn/ noun US
labor union
rial for tying up a shoe or other piece of
a trade union clothing His laces kept coming undone.
Shes too little to be able to do up her laces
labour / leb/ noun 1. work, especial-
labour
herself. 2. cloth made with open patterns of

ly hard work Does the price include the threads, like a net a lace tablecloth Her
cost of labour? 2. the people who do work wedding dress was trimmed with lace.
Cheap labour is difficult to find. 3. the
(NOTE: no plural in this sense)
process of giving birth to a baby She went
laceration /ls re()n/ noun a place
laceration
into labour at home, and her husband |
drove her to the hospital. She was in la- where flesh has been torn
lack /lk/ noun the fact that you do not
lack
bour for 12 hours. verb (labours, labour-

ing, laboured) 1. to work hard They la- have something The children are suffer-
boured night and day to finish the project ing from a lack of food. The project was
in time. 2. to do something with difficulty cancelled because of lack of funds. (NOTE:
She laboured across the room to me. to no plural) verb (lacks, lacking, lacked)
labour under an impression or a delu- not to have enough of something The
sion to have a wrong impression, to as- sales staff lack interest in what they are do-
sume something which is quite wrong He ing.
lacking / lk/ adj not having any
lacking
was labouring under the delusion that air

fares were cheaper in Europe than in the [~in] Support for people looking after eld-
USA. to labour the point to discuss erly relatives has been sadly lacking.
something for too long I dont want to la- Shes completely lacking in business sense.
lacquer 356
lacquer / lk / noun 1. a type of hard a leg of lamb roast lamb (NOTE: no plu-
lacquer

shiny varnish or paint, often used on wood ral in this sense)
or metal The coating of lacquer on the lambast /lm bst/ verb to be very crit-
lambast
chest had begun to crack. 2. a spray for ical of someone or something

keeping hair in place (old) Cover your lame /lem/ adj (lamer, lamest) 1. not able
lame
eyes if youre using hair lacquer anywhere to walk properly He is lame in his left leg.
near your face. (NOTE: + lacquer v) 2. weak or unsatisfactory He produced a
lactose / lkts/ noun a sugar con-
lactose
very lame excuse for not coming to the

tained in milk meeting. verb (lames, laming, lamed) to
lad /ld/ noun a boy or young man
lad
injure someone so that he or she cannot

ladder / ld/ noun an object made of walk properly
ladder
several bars between two posts, used for lame duck /lem dk/ noun someone
lame duck
climbing up to high places The ladder or something that is regarded as weak and
was leaning against the wall. He was unsuccessful
climbing up a ladder. She got down off lame-duck / lem dk/ adj regarded as
lame-duck
the ladder. weak and unsuccessful lame-duck com-

ladle / led()l/ noun a large deep spoon
ladle
pany lame-duck president (NOTE: only

for serving liquid foods such as soup The used before a noun)
cook stood by the soup bowl, with her ladle lament /l ment/ (laments, lamenting,
lament
in her hand. verb (ladles, ladling, ladled) lamented) verb to be very sad about We
also ladle out to serve with a ladle are still lamenting the closure of our local
lady / ledi/ (plural ladies) noun a polite
lady
post office. (NOTE: + lament n)

way of referring to a woman There are lamentable / lmntb()l/ adj very
lamentable
two ladies waiting to see you. bad

ladybird / ledib#
d/ noun a type of small
ladybird
laminate1 / lmnt/ (laminates, lami-

laminate
beetle, usually red with black spots (NOTE:

nating, laminated) verb 1. to cover some-
The US term is ladybug.)
thing with a thin protective sheet 2. to bond
lag /l(/ noun an interval of time between
lag
layers together
two linked happenings Theres often a
laminate2 / lmnet/ noun a hard mate-
laminate
long time lag between setting up in busi-

ness and seeing any results. jet lag verb rial made up of bonded layers
lamp / lmp/ noun an object which pro-
lamp
(lags, lagging, lagged) 1. to be behind, to

fall behind She was lagging 10m behind duces light The hall is lit by large electric
the leaders. 2. to cover water pipes to pre- lamps.
lampoon /lm pu
n/ (lampoons, lam-
lampoon
vent them losing heat or freezing Make |
sure your pipes are lagged before the win- pooning, lampooned) verb to use humour
ter. as a way of attacking somebody or some-
lager / l
( / noun a type of light beer thing in a piece of writing
lager
He came to the bar and ordered six pints lamppost / lmppst / noun a tall post
lamppost
of lager. by the side of a road, holding a lamp

lagoon /l (u
n/ noun a shallow part of lampshade / lmped/ noun a cover
lagoon
lampshade
|
the sea in the tropics, surrounded by reefs put over a lamp

laid /led/ past tense and past participle
laid
LAN /ln/ abbr local area network

LAN
of lay lance /l
ns/ noun a long pointed stick
lance
laid-back /led bk/ adj relaxed, not

laid-back
carried by a knight in armour

in a hurry (informal)
land /lnd/ noun earth, as opposed to
land
lain /len/ past participle of lie verb 2

lain
water They were glad to be back on (dry)

lair /le/ noun a place where a wild animal
lair
land again after two weeks at sea. (NOTE:

sleeps (informal) no plural) verb (lands, landing, landed)
lake /lek/ noun an area of water sur-
lake
to arrive on the ground, or on another sur-

rounded by land Lets take a boat out on face [~at/~on/in/under] The flight from
the lake. We can sail across the lake. Amsterdam has landed. We will be land-
The hotel stands on the shores of Lake ing at London Airport in five minutes.
Windermere. The ducks tried to land on the ice.
lamb /lm/ noun 1. a young sheep In
lamb
land up phrasal verb to end in a place

spring, the fields are full of sheep and their (informal) I got the wrong train and
little lambs. 2. meat from a lamb or sheep landed up in Scotland.
357 larder
landfill / lndfl/ noun a way of dispos- language laboratory / l(wd l
landfill language laboratory
ing of rubbish by putting it into holes in the brt()ri/ noun a room with tape record-
ground and covering it with earth ers and monitors where students listen to
landing / lnd/ noun 1. (especially of lessons in foreign languages in order to
landing
aircraft) an instance of arriving on the practise their language skills

languid / l(wd/ adj moving slowly,
languid
ground or on a surface The plane made a

smooth landing. crash-landing 2. a flat without any energy
area at the top of a set of stairs She was languish / l(w/ (languishes, lan-
languish
waiting for me on the landing. guishing, languished) verb to become

landlady / lndledi/ (plural landla- weaker or more ill, to be in a bad situation
landlady
lanky / lki/ (lankier, lankiest) adj tall,

lanky
dies) noun a woman from whom you rent a

place to live You must pay your rent to the thin and awkward
landlady every month. lantern / lntn/ noun an oil or gas lamp
lantern
landline / ln(d)lan/ noun a telephone which can be carried in the hand
landline
which sends sound by cable rather than by lap /lp/ noun 1. the part of your body
lap
satellite. Compare mobile phone from your waist to your knees when you
landlocked / lndlkt/ adj more or less are sitting She listened to the story, sit-
landlocked
surrounded by land ting in her fathers lap. 2. one turn round a

landlord / lndl
d/ noun a man or
landlord
racetrack Hes finished lap 23 only two
company from whom you rent property laps to go! verb (laps, lapping, lapped)
such as a house, room or office Tell the 1. (of animals) to drink with the tongue
landlord if your roof leaks. The landlord The dog lapped the water in the pond. 2. to
refused to make any repairs to the roof. go so fast that you are one whole lap ahead
landmark / lndm
k/ noun a building
landmark
of another person in a race The winner
or large object on land which you can see had lapped three other runners.
lap up phrasal verb 1. (of animals) to
easily The statue is a famous landmark.
drink greedily with the tongue The cat
landmass / lndms/ noun a large area
landmass
was lapping up the milk. 2. to accept

of land something enthusiastically She told
landmine / lndman/ noun a small
landmine
him how good his book was, and he just

bomb hidden under the surface of the soil, sat there lapping it up.
which explodes if disturbed lapel /l pel/ noun one of the two parts of
lapel
landowner / lndn / noun a person

landowner
a coat or jacket which are folded back, just

who owns land, and may rent it out above the top button that fastens it
landscape / lndskep / noun 1. the lapse /lps/ noun 1. an interval of time,
landscape
lapse
appearance of the countryside the beau- especially when something does not take
tiful landscape of the West Country 2. a place There is a lapse of two seconds be-
painting of a country scene He collects tween touching the switch and the screen
18th century English landscapes. lighting up. They have started work on
landslide / lndslad/ noun 1. a sudden the motorway again after a considerable
landslide
fall of large amounts of soil and rocks lapse of time. 2. a failure of something to
down the side of a mountain Landslides work properly I must have had a lapse of
have blocked several roads through the memory. verb (lapses, lapsing, lapsed)
mountains. 2. an large majority obtained in 1. to stop All rubbish collections lapsed
an election The Socialists won in a land- during the strike. 2. to stop being valid
slide or won a landslide victory. My parking permit has lapsed, I must get it
lane /len/ noun 1. a narrow road, often
lane
renewed.
in the country a lane with hedges on both lapse into phrasal verb to fall into a
sides 2. a part of a road for traffic going in worse state than before The country
a particular direction or at a certain speed lapsed into anarchy when the president
Motorways usually have three lanes on ei- was assassinated. After the brain oper-
ther side. One lane of the motorway has ation, she lapsed into a coma from which
been closed for repairs. she never recovered.
language / l(wd/ noun a way of laptop / lptp/ noun a small compu-
laptop
language
speaking or writing used in a country or by ter which can be held on your knees
lard /l
d/ noun pork fat used in cooking
lard
a group of people We go to English lan-

larder / l
d/ noun a cool room or cup-
larder
guage classes twice a week. She can

speak several European languages. board for storing food
large 358
large /l
d/ adj big the last one My last car but one was a
large
She ordered a
large cup of coffee. Our house has one Rolls Royce.
large bedroom and two very small ones. last-ditch /l
st dt/ adj final, last be-
last-ditch
How large is your garden? Why has she fore something unpleasant happens
got an office which is larger than mine? lasting / l
st/ adj which lasts for a
lasting
largely / l
dli/ adv mainly, mostly
largely
long time
The price rises are largely due to increased lastly / l
stli/ adv at the end
lastly
demand. last-minute /l
st mnt/ adj very
last-minute
large-scale / l
d skel/ adj involv-
large-scale
late
ing large numbers of people or large last name / l
st nem/ noun a persons
last name
amounts of money surname

lark /l
k/ noun a bird which sings and last orders /l
st
dz/ plural noun, in-
lark
last orders
flies high in the sky Larks were singing terj the final opportunity to buy drinks be-
high up above the fields. fore a pub or bar closes
larva / l
v/ (plural larvae) noun the ear- last word /l
st w#
d/ noun the very lat-
larva last word
ly stage of development of an insect, like a est fashion

fat worm and different in form from the latch /lt/ noun the fastening for a door
latch
adult consisting of a small bar which fits into a

lasagne /l znj/ noun a type of flat
lasagne
| catch The burglars pushed on the door

pasta, served cooked with meat or vegeta- and broke the latch.
ble sauce late /let/ adj 1. after the usual or ex-
late
laser / lez/ noun an instrument which pected time The plane is thirty minutes
laser
produces a concentrated beam of light; la- late. Its too late to change your ticket.
sers can be used to cut through hard mate- Hurry or youll be late for the show. We
rials, and to carry out some medical opera- apologise for the late arrival of the plane
tions from Amsterdam. 2. at the end of a period
laser printer / lez prnt/ noun an of-
laser printer
of time The traffic was bad in the late af-
fice printing machine which prints using a ternoon. He moved to London in the late
laser beam 1980s. 3. a word used about people instead
of dead in order to be polite His late fa-
lash /l / (lashes, lashing, lashed) verb
lash
ther was a director of the company. (NOTE:

1. to beat something with a whip She only used before a noun in this meaning)
lashed at the horse to make it go faster. 2.
latecomer / letkm/ noun a person
latecomer
to beat against something, as if with a whip

The rain was lashing against the win-
who arrives late
lately / letli/ adv during recent days or
lately
dows. 3. to fasten or tie down tightly with

rope Containers carried on the deck of a weeks
late-night / let nat/ adj happening late
late-night
ship must be securely lashed down.

lass /ls/ noun (in the North of England &
lass
at night
latent / let()nt/ adj present but not yet
latent
Scotland) a girl or young woman

last /l
st/ adj 1. coming at the end of a
last
developed; hidden
later / let/ adv at a time after the
later
list, line or period of time The post office

is the last building on the right. The in- present; at a time after a time which has
voice must be paid by the last day of the been mentioned The family came to live
month. at last, at long last in the end, af- in England and she was born a month later.
ter a long time 2. most recent Shes been Can we meet later this evening? see
ill for the last ten days. The last three you later! I hope to see you again later to-
books I read were rubbish. adv 1. at the day later (on) afterwards, at a later time
Ill do it later on. We were only told lat-
end Out of a queue of twenty people, I
was served last. Ill print the labels last. er that she was very ill.
lateral / lt()rl/ adj referring to the side
lateral
2. most recently When did you see her

latest / letst/ (informal) adj the most re-
latest
last? She was looking ill when I saw her

last or when I last saw her. verb (lasts, cent Have you seen his latest film? He
lasting, lasted) to continue for some time always drives the latest model car. The
[~for/until/through etc] The storm lasted latest snow reports are published each day
all night. The meeting lasted for three in the papers. noun the latest the most
hours. The fine weather wont last until recent news Have you heard the latest
the weekend. last but one the one before about Gina? at the latest no later than
359 lawful
the time stated Ill ring back before 7 the water, especially for the first time and
oclock at the latest. with a lot of ceremony The Queen
latex / leteks/ noun the milky juice from launched the new ship. 2. to send a space-
latex
a rubber tree The raw latex is collected craft into space The spacecraft was
and then heated to make rubber. launched from Cape Kennedy. 3. to start
lather / l
/ noun 1. a mass of soap bub-
lather
selling a new product Were launching
bles The barber covered my chin with the new perfume in the spring.
launderette /l
nd ret/, laundrette
launderette
lather. 2. (especially on horses) a sweat like |
froth noun a shop with washing machines which

Latin / ltn/ noun the language spoken anyone can pay to use (NOTE: The US term
Latin
by the ancient Romans We learnt Latin at is laundromat.)

school. The inscription on the tomb is in laundry / l
ndri/ noun 1. clothes that
laundry
Latin. need to be washed Please put any laun-

latitude / lttju
d/ noun 1. a position on dry into the bag provided. (NOTE: no plural)
latitude
the earths surface measured in degrees 2. a place where clothes are washed The
north or south of the equator Pine trees hotels sheets and towels are sent to the
grow in temperate latitudes. longitude 2. laundry every day.
freedom to do what you want to do The laurel / lrl/ noun a large bush with
laurel
management allows the heads of depart- smooth shiny evergreen leaves

ment considerable latitude in selecting lava / l
v/ noun the hot liquid rock
lava
staff. flowing from a volcano which becomes

latte / lte/ noun a coffee made with hot
latte
solid when it cools

milk lavatory / lvtri/ (plural lavatories)
lavatory
latter / lt/ adj 1. used for referring to

latter
noun same as toilet The gents lavatory is

the second of two people or things men- to the right. The lavatories are situated at
tioned 2. towards the end of the period of the rear of the plane.
time mentioned Im busy on Monday and
lavender / lvnd/ noun 1. a shrub with
lavender
Tuesday, but Ill be free during the latter

part of the week. noun the latter the small lilac-coloured flowers and narrow
second person or thing mentioned of two leaves, grown for perfume My grand-
people or things Which do you prefer, ap- mother puts bags filled with dried lavender
ples or pears? I prefer the latter. flowers in her wardrobe to make her
clothes smell nice. 2. a bluish-purple col-
laugh /l
f/ noun a sound you make
laugh
our adj bluish purple

when you think something is funny Hes
lavish / lv/ adj 1. very generous He
lavish
got a lovely deep laugh. Thats right,

she said with a laugh. verb (laughs, bought all the children lavish presents. 2.
laughing, laughed) to make a sound to larger than necessary Grandmother al-
show you think something is funny [/~at] ways gives us lavish portions. verb (lav-
Everyone was laughing at his jokes. to ishes, lavishing, lavished) to lavish
do something for a laugh to do something something on someone to give lots of
as a joke or for fun Dont be angry they something to someone He lavished
only did it for a laugh. presents on his grandchildren. She lav-
laughable / l
fb()l/ adj ridiculous or
laughable ishes a lot of care on her collection of or-
unreasonable chids.
law /l
/ noun one of the rules govern-
law
laughing stock / l
f stk/ noun a
laughing stock
person who is laughed at by everyone ing a country, usually in the form of an act
of parliament [~on] Parliament has
laughter / l
ft/ noun the sound or act
laughter
passed a new law on environmental protec-

of laughing As soon as he opened his tion. to be a law unto yourself to do ex-
mouth, the audience burst into laughter. actly what you want
(NOTE: no plural)
law-abiding / l
bad/ adj who
law-abiding
launch /l
nt/ noun 1. the act of start-
launch
|
ing off a boat or a spacecraft The launch obeys the law

lawcourt / l
k
t/ noun a court where
lawcourt
of the new car went off successfully. The

rocket launch has been delayed by two cases are heard by a judge and jury, or by a
weeks. 2. the act of starting off the sale of a magistrate
lawful / l
f()l/ adj allowed by the law
lawful
new product The launch of the new car

went off successfully. verb (launches, (formal) Their behaviour was perfectly
launching, launched) 1. to put a boat into lawful.
lawless 360
lawless / l
ls/ adj not controlled by the profession, who is not an expert in some-
lawless
law or by the police thing

law-making / l
mek/ noun the layout / leat/ noun a design, e.g. of a
law-making layout
process of making laws garden or a book

lawn /l
n/ noun a part of a garden cov- laze /lez/ (lazes, lazing, lazed) verb to re-
laze
lawn
ered with short grass lax, to do nothing or very little

laziness / lezins/ noun the state of be-
laziness
lawsuit / l
su
t / noun a case brought to
lawsuit
a court to bring a lawsuit against some- ing lazy

lazy / lezi/ (lazier, laziest) adj not
lazy
one to tell someone to appear in court be-

cause you think they have acted wrongly wanting to do any work Shes just lazy
towards you The parents of the victims thats why the work never gets done on
brought a lawsuit against the tour compa- time. He is so lazy he does not even both-
ny. er to open his mail. (NOTE: + lazily adv)
lawyer / l
j/ noun a person who has lb /pandz/ abbr pound take 6lb of
lb
lawyer
studied law and can advise you on legal sugar It weighs 26 lbs.
lead1 /led/ noun 1. a very heavy soft
lead
matters If you are arrested you have the

right to speak to your lawyer. metal Tie a piece of lead to your fishing
lax /lks/ adj not strict
lax
line to make it sink. 2. the black part in the
laxative / lkstv/ noun medicine
laxative
middle of a pencil
which causes a bowel movement The lead on phrasal verb 1. to go first
doctor prescribed a laxative to help his Lead on, we will all follow! 2. to lead
constipation. someone on to mislead someone by
promising something Hes just leading
lay /le/ (lays, laying, laid) verb 1. to put
lay
you on. They promised him a new car,

something down flat [~on/against/over etc] but they were just leading him on.
He laid the papers on the table. A new
lead up to phrasal verb to happen in a
carpet has been laid in the dining room. 2. way that makes something else important
to lay the table to arrange knives, fork,
happen the events that led up to the
spoons, plates and glasses on a table for a First World War
meal The table is laid for four people. 3.
lead2 /li
d/ noun 1. an electric wire which
lead
(of birds, turtles, etc.) to produce an egg

The hens laid three eggs. joins a machine to the electricity supply
lay off phrasal verb 1. to dismiss employ-
The lead is too short to go across the room.
2. first place during a race He went into
ees for a time, until more work is availa-
ble The factory has had to lay off half the lead or he took the lead. Whos in the
its workforce because of a temporary lead at the halfway mark? She has a lead
lack of orders. 2. to stop doing or using of 20m over her nearest rival. 3. a long
something You should lay off bread piece of leather or other material used to
and potatoes if you want to reduce hold a dog All dogs must be kept on a
weight. lead in the park. verb (leads, leading,
leaded) 1. to be in first place during a race
lay on phrasal verb to provide something
or match Our side was leading at half
lay out phrasal verb 1. to arrange sometime. They were leading by three metres.
thing in an organised way The plans 2. to go in front to show someone the way
were laid out on the table. They laid out She led us into the hall. 3. (of a path or
the childrens presents under the Christ- road) to go in a particular direction The
mas tree. 2. to design a plan for a garden, road leads you to the top of the hill. 4. to be
a book, etc. The grounds of the hotel the main person in a group She is leading
are laid out with trees and flowerbeds. 3. a group of businesswomen on a tour of
to spend She laid out thousands of Chinese factories.
pounds on her wedding dress. leader / li
d/ noun a person who is in
leader
layby / leba/ noun a place at the side of

layby
charge of an organisation or group of peo-

a road where vehicles can park ple He is the leader of our tour group.
layer / le/ noun an amount of a sub- leadership / li
dp/ noun 1. the
layer
leadership
stance that lies on a flat surface She put a ability to manage or direct others We
layer of chocolate on the cake, then one of think he has certain leadership qualities. 2.
cream. the position of a leader Under his leader-
layman / lemn/ (plural laymen) noun a
layman
ship the party went from strength to

person who does not belong to a particular strength. 3. a group of leaders of an organ-
361 learning
isation The leadership was weaker after was leaning against the shed. She leant
the presidents resignation. her bike against the wall.
leading / li
d/ adj most important lean on phrasal verb 1. to try to force
leading
He took the leading role in the play. someone to do what you want They
leading-edge / li
d ed/ noun the
leading-edge
leant on him to get him to agree. 2. to de-
most modern developments in technology, pend on someone If things get difficult
science or some other field she always has her father to lean on.
leaning / li
n/ noun a tendency towards
leaning
leading question / li
d kwetn/
leading question
She has socialist leanings. He has a

noun a question which is worded in order
to get a particular answer leaning towards a career in the church.
leant /lent/ past tense and past participle
leant
leaf /li
f / (plural leaves) noun one of the
leaf
of lean
flat green parts of a plant The leaves of
leap /li
p/ (leaps, leaping, leapt or
leap
the trees turn brown or red in autumn.

Caterpillars have eaten the leaves of the leaped) verb to jump He leapt over the
roses. ditch. She leapt with joy when she heard
the news. He leapt into the train as it was
leaflet / li
flt/ noun a sheet of paper,
leaflet
leaving.
often folded, giving information leap at phrasal verb to accept eagerly
leafy / li
fi/ adj 1. with lots of leaves
leafy
something which is suggested

These lettuces are really leafy. 2. with lots leap-frog / li
p fr(/ verb to advance
leap-frog
of trees We strolled along the leafy ave- more quickly than someone else
nue. leapt /lept/ past tense and past participle
leapt
league /li
(/ noun a group of sports
league
of leap
clubs which play matches against each oth- leap year / li
p j/ noun every fourth
leap year
er He plays for one of the clubs in the lo- year, in which February has 29 days
cal football league. learn /l#
n / (learns, learning, learned
learn
leak /li
k/ noun 1. a hole in an object
leak
or learnt) verb 1. to get knowledge of

where liquid or gas can escape [~in] I can something, or about how to do something
smell gas there must be a gas leak in the We learn French and German at school.
kitchen. 2. an occasion on which secret in- to learn to do something to become able
formation is given to the public She was to do something new Hes learnt to speak
embarrassed by the leak of the news. The more slowly and clearly when giving talks.
leak of the report led to the ministers res- to learn how to do something to get the
ignation. (NOTE: Do not confuse with leek.) skill of doing something new Everyone
verb (leaks, leaking, leaked) 1. (of liquid needs to learn how to cook simple things.
or gas, etc.) to flow away, to escape from to learn something by heart to learn and
its container [~from/out of/into/through etc] remember something She learnt the
Water must have been leaking through poem by heart. to learn from your mis-
the ceiling for days. 2. to pass on secret in- takes to make mistakes and because of
formation to the public [~to] Govern- them learn how something should be done
ments dont like their plans to be leaked to He doesnt want to ask advice, so I only
the press. We found that the sales direc- hope he learns from his mistakes. 2. to hear
tor was leaking information to a rival com- news or find out about something
pany. [~about/of/~(that)] How did you come to
leakage / li
kd/ noun an escape of liq-
leakage
learn about the product? Her boss

uid or gas Theres a smell of gas there learned that she was planning to leave the
must a leakage somewhere. company.
leaky / li
ki/ adj which leaks learned / l#
nd / adj who has a lot of
leaky learned
lean /li
n/ adj 1. (of a person) thin
lean
knowledge Learned professors have
Hes a lean athletic man. 2. (of meat) with written to the paper contradicting the gov-
little fat a slice of lean bacon verb ernments calculations.
learner / l#
n/ noun a person who is
learner
(leans, leaning, leant or leaned) 1. to

move your body from the waist [~over/for- learning how to do something The
ward/on] He leaned over and picked up evening swimming classes are specially for
the cushion. Its dangerous to lean out of adult learners. The new dictionary is
car windows. She felt dizzy and leant on good for advanced learners of English.
learning / l#
n/ noun the process of
learning
a chair for support. 2. to be in or to put into

a sloping position [~against] The ladder gaining knowledge, especially by formal
learning curve 362

study different methods of language open and the dog got out. leave me alone
learning dont disturb me 4. not to take something
learning curve / l#
n k#
v/ noun a Leave some pizza for your brother. 5. to
learning curve
gradual process of learning a steep choose to stop being in a relationship with

learning curve the need to learn new skills someone Shes left her husband. 6. not to
fast Being promoted into a new depart- do something She went out leaving all
ment involved a steep learning curve. the washing up. to leave somebody to do
learnt past tense and past participle of
learnt
something not to do something, so that
learn someone else has to do it He left to ar-
range the holiday.
lease /li
s/ noun a written contract, al-
lease
leave behind phrasal verb not to take

lowing someone to use a building or piece someone or something with you
of land for a particular period Were rent- leave off phrasal verb 1. to stop doing
ing our offices on a twenty-year lease.
verb (leases, leasing, leased) to give or
something 2. to forget to include She
left the postcode off the address. The
hold something on a lease He leases the
shop from an Australian company. My waitress left the drinks off the bill.
leave out phrasal verb 1. to forget
landlord leases out six other flats.
something or someone 2. not to put
leash /li
/ noun a strap for holding a dog
leash
something in
least /li
st/ adj 1. used for describing
least
leaves /li
vz/ 1. leaf 2. leave
leaves
the smallest amount This car uses by far lecherous / letrs/ adj only interested
lecherous
the least petrol. 2. having less of a particu- in sexual intercourse

lar quality than anything else of its type lecture / lekt/ noun a talk on a par-
lecture
These people are the least well-off, yet they ticular subject given to people such as stu-
have to pay the most. pron the least the dents [~on] She gave a lecture on Chinese
smallest or the most unimportant amount art. verb (lectures, lecturing, lectured)
She was the one who spent the least during 1. to give a lecture on something [~on] He
their trip round Holland. adv less than will lecture on Roman history next Thurs-
everyone or everything else I liked that day. 2. to teach a subject, by giving lectures
part of the book least. He was the least [~on] She lectures on history at Birming-
conceited man she had ever met. at least ham University.
1. mentioning one good thing in a bad situ-
lecturer / lektr/ noun 1. a person who
lecturer
ation 2. to correct a statement 3. as the

smallest thing 4. not less than least of all gives a talk on a particular subject This
absolutely less than everyone or everything weeks lecturer is talking about modern
else No one was interested in what I said, art. 2. a teacher in a university or college
least of all my son. Theres nothing much He has been a lecturer in biology for five
to do here, least of all in the evenings. years.
led /led/ past tense and past participle
led
not in the least not at all It doesnt both-

er me in the least to work on Sundays. to of lead
ledge /led/ noun a narrow flat part which
ledge
say the least which was more than I ex-

pected I thought he was in the office so sticks out from a cliff or a building
ledger / led/ noun a large book in
ledger
when I saw him in the supermarket I was

surprised to say the least. which accounts are written
leather / le/ noun the skin of certain leech /li
t/ noun a type of parasitic worm
leech
leather
animals used to make things such as shoes which lives in water and sucks the blood of
and bags a leather bag My shoes have animals by attaching itself to the skin
leek /li
k/ noun a vegetable of the onion
leek
leather soles.
leave /li
v/ (leaves, leaving, left) verb
leave
family, with a white stem and long green
1. to go away from a place [~for] When leaves ( NOTE: Do not confuse with leak.)
leer /l/ (leers, leering, leered) verb to
leer
they couldnt find what they wanted, they

left the shop. When does the next bus look with a leer at someone The men
leave for Oxford? 2. to forget to take some- were sitting in the pavement caf, leering
thing with you I left my toothbrush at at girls passing in the street. (NOTE: + leer
home. 3. to allow something to stay in a n)
leeway / li
we/ noun the time or space
leeway
particular condition Did you leave the

light on when you locked up? Yesterday available
she left the iron on, and burnt a hole in the left /left/ adj 1. relating to the side of the
left
ironing board. Someone left the door body which has the hand that most people
363 lend
do not use for writing I cant write with someone The companys overdraft is a
my left hand. The post office is on the left legacy of the previous finance director.
side of the street as you go towards the legal / li
(()l/ adj 1. allowed by the
legal
church. 2. (in politics) relating to people law Its legal to drive at 17 years old in
with left-wing opinions His politics are the UK 2. relating to the law
left of centre. Compare right noun the legal aid /li
(()l ed/ noun free legal
legal aid
side towards the left Remember to drive work done for people without enough
on the left when you are in Britain. The money to pay lawyers fees
school is on the left as you go towards the legalisation, legalization noun the ac-
legalisation
town centre. She was sitting on the chair- tion of making something legal
mans left. adv towards the left Go legalise (legalises, legalising, legal-
legalise
straight ahead and turn left at the traffic ised), legalize (legalizes, legalizing, le-
lights. galized) verb to make something legal
left-click / left klk/ verb (in computing)
left-click
legality /l (lti/ noun being allowed by

legality
to click with the left mouse button law

left-hand /left hnd/ adj on the left
left-hand
legally / li
(li/ adv according to the law
legally
side The book is in the left-hand drawer

legend / lednd/ noun 1. a story, or
legend
of his desk. In England cars drive on the

left-hand side of the road. group of stories, from the past which may
not be based on fact The legend of Jason
left-handed /left hndd/ adj using
left-handed
and the Golden Fleece. 2. a famous person

the left hand more often than the right for whose name often appears in the news
doing things Shes left-handed, so we got Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood legend
her a left-handed cup for her birthday.
legendary / lednd()ri/ adj 1. famous,
legendary
left-luggage office /left l(d fs/

left-luggage office
often talked about His meanness is legen-

noun a place where suitcases can be left dary. Her legendary dislike of men with
and collected later for a fee (NOTE: The US beards. 2. referring to legends A legen-
term is baggage room.) dary tale of witches and good fairies.
leftover / leftv/ adj which is not used
leftover
legible / ledb()l/ adj able to be read

legible
Ive finished painting the kitchen what easily

shall I do with the leftover paint? legion / li
dn/ noun a group, especially
legion
leftovers / leftvz/ plural noun food

leftovers
of soldiers
which is left after a meal The children legislate / ledslet/ (legislates, legis-
legislate
will eat the leftovers tomorrow morning. lating, legislated) verb to make a law or
left-wing /left w/ adj in politics,
left-wing
laws
relating to people who believe that money legislation /led sle()n/ noun
legislation
and property should be shared more equal- laws, written rules which are passed by
ly Parliament and applied in the courts
lefty / lefti/ noun a person with left-wing
lefty
legislative / ledsltv / adj referring to

legislative
beliefs laws or to law-making

leg /le( / noun 1. one of the parts of the
leg
legislature / ledslt/ noun a body

legislature
body with which a person or animal walks which makes laws Members of the legis-
The bird was standing on one leg, asleep.
lature voted against the proposal.
Some animals cant stand on their back
legitimate /l dtmt/ adj fair and rea-
legitimate
legs. She fell down the steps and broke |
her leg. 2. one of the parts of a chair or ta- sonable, or allowed by the law They have
ble which touch the floor The table has legitimate concerns about the project. He
four legs. 3. a leg of an animal used for acted in legitimate defence of his rights.
leisure centre / le sent/ noun a
leisure centre
food roast leg of lamb Would you like a

chicken leg? to pull someones leg to try building where people can play sports, put
to make someone believe something that is on plays, dance, act, etc.
leisurely / leli/ adj without any hurry
leisurely
not true for a joke Dont worry, she will

lemon / lemn/ noun a pale yellow fruit
lemon
get here on time I was only pulling your

leg. with a sour taste Oranges are much
legacy / le(si/ (plural legacies) noun 1.
legacy
sweeter than lemons.
lemonade /lem ned/ noun a usual-
lemonade
what is left to a person after someones |
death He received a large legacy from his ly fizzy lemon-flavoured drink

lend /lend/ (lends, lending, lent) verb
lend
uncle. The legacy can be paid only to the

rightful claimant. 2. what is left behind by to let someone use something for a certain
lender 364
period of time He asked me if I would film was less interesting than the first. I
lend him 5 till Monday. I lent her my want a car which is less difficult to drive.
dictionary and now she wont give it back. prep with a certain amount taken away
Compare borrow We pay 10 an hour, less 50p for insurance.
lender / lend/ noun a person who lends more or less almost Ive more or less
lender
money finished painting the kitchen. less and

length /le/ noun 1. a measurement of
length
less diminishing all the time I enjoy my
how long something is from end to end work less and less. Hes less and less
The table is at least twelve feet in length. 2. able to look after his garden.
lessen / les()n/ (lessens, lessening,
lessen
a long piece of something She bought a

length of curtain material in the sale. We lessened) verb to become less, or to make
need two lengths of piping for the new cen- something become less Wearing a seat
tral heating system. belt lessens the risk of injury. (NOTE: Do not
lengthen / len/ (lengthens, length- confuse with lesson.)
lengthen
lesser / les/ adj smaller, not as large or

lesser
ening, lengthened) verb 1. to make longer

You can lengthen the skirt by turning important the lesser of two evils one of
down the hem. 2. to become longer The two things which is not quite as bad as the
shadows began to lengthen across the lawn other Faced with the choice of taking a
as the sun sank slowly down in the west. taxi or waiting in the rain for a bus, we
lengthy / lei/ (lengthier, lengthiest) chose the lesser of two evils and decided to
lengthy
adj very long take the taxi.

lenient / li
nint/ adj not strict or severe lesson / les()n/ noun 1. a period of
lenient lesson
lens /lenz/ noun a curved piece of glass or time, especially in school, when you are
lens
plastic, used for looking through to make taught something [~in] He went to sleep
things clearer or bigger My eyesight is during the French lesson. We have six
not very good, and I have to have glasses lessons of history a week. Shes taking or
with strong lenses. contact lens having driving lessons. He gives Spanish
lent /lent/ past tense and past participle
lent
lessons at home in the evenings. 2. some-
of lend thing which you learn from experience and
lentil / lentl/ noun a small round dried
lentil which makes you wiser to learn a les-
seed, used especially in soups and stews son, to learn your lesson to learn some-
thing from experience to teach some-
Leo / li
/ noun one of the signs of the
Leo
one a lesson to punish someone for doing

Zodiac, shaped like a lion, covering the pe- something wrong I refused to pay her bill
riod 23rd July to 22nd August this time that will teach her a lesson.
leopard / lepd/ noun a large wild spot-
leopard
let /let/ (lets, letting, let) verb 1. to al-

let
ted cat, living in Africa low someone to do something [~on//] He

leotard / li
t
d/ noun a skin-tight one-
leotard
let her borrow his car. Will you let me see

piece costume covering the top of the body, the papers? 2. to allow someone to use a
worn by ballet dancers house or office in return for payment [~to]
leper / lep/ noun a person who has lepro-
leper
Were letting our cottage to some friends

sy for the weekend.
leprosy / leprsi/ (plural leprosies) noun
leprosy
let down phrasal verb 1. to lower

a serious infectious disease which slowly something or someone They let him
destroys flesh and nerves down into the mine on a rope. 2. to make
lesbian / lezbin/ adj who is sexually at- the air go out of something such as a tyre
lesbian
tracted to other women They went to the or balloon Someone had let down my
Lesbian and Gay Pride march in London. front tyre. 3. not to help when someone
noun a woman who is lesbian expects you to help I asked three peo-
lesion / li
()n/ noun a wound or sore, or ple to speak at the meeting but they all let
lesion
other damage to the body me down.

less /les / adj, pron a smaller amount let go phrasal verb to stop holding on
less
(of) You will get thinner if you eat less to something

bread. The total bill came to less than let in phrasal verb to allow to come in
10. She finished her homework in less let off phrasal verb 1. to make some-
than an hour. He sold it for less than he thing such as a gun or bomb fire explode
had paid for it. adv not as much I like They let off fireworks in the town cen-
that one less than this one. The second tre. 2. to not punish someone severely
365 liability
He was charged with stealing, but the during the flood. The ground floor is lev-
judge let him off with a fine. 3. to agree el with the street. 2. a floor in a building
that someone need not do something Go up to the next level. The toilets are at
She let the class off their homework. street level. adj 1. flat and even Are
let on phrasal verb to tell a secret these shelves level, or do they slope to the
let out phrasal verb 1. to allow to go left? 2. equal, the same At half-time the
out The boys let the pigs out of the field. scores were level.
We let the dogs out into the garden in level crossing /lev()l krs/
level crossing
the evening. She let the air out of my noun a place where a road crosses a railway
front tyre. 2. to make a piece of clothing line without a bridge or tunnel (NOTE: The
bigger Can you let out these trousers, US term is grade crossing.)
theyre getting too tight? (NOTE: In this level-headed /lev()l hedd/ adj sensi-
level-headed
meaning the opposite is to take in.) ble

let up phrasal verb to do less, to become
level playing-field /lev()l ple/
level playing-field
less The snow didnt let up all day.

Shes working too hard she ought to let noun a situation in which all the conditions
up a bit. are the same for everyone who is involved,
so that nobody has an unfair advantage
letdown / letdan/ noun a disappoint-
letdown
lever / li
v/ noun an object like a bar,
lever
ment
lethal / li
()l/ adj dangerous and able
lethal
which helps you to lift a heavy object, or to
to kill She took a lethal overdose. move part of a machine Lift the lever,
then push it down again to make the ma-
lethargic /l
dk/ adj showing lethar-
lethargic
chine work. We used a pole as a lever to

gy lift up the block of stone. verb (levers,
lethargy / ledi/ noun a tired feeling,
lethargy
levering, levered) to move with a lever

when your movements are extremely slow They levered the door open with an iron
and you are almost unable to do anything bar.
letter / let/ noun 1. a piece of writing
letter
leverage / li
vrd/ noun 1. the power
leverage
sent from one person to another to pass on to move something heavy by using a lever
information There were two letters for They used a longer bar to get better lev-
you in the post. Dont forget to write a erage. Youll need a longer pole to in-
letter to your mother to tell her what we are crease the leverage. 2. an influence which
doing. Weve had a letter from the bank you can use to get what you want His
manager. 2. one of the signs which make business contacts were useful leverage in
up the alphabet, a sign used in writing discussing terms for the contract. She
which corresponds to a particular sound has a majority of the shares in the company
Z is the last letter of the alphabet. Im try- and therefore can exert a lot of leverage
ing to think of a word with ten letters begin- over the directors.
ning with A and ending with R. to the let-
levitate / levtet/ (levitates, levitating,
levitate
ter exactly as shown or stated They fol-

lowed his instructions to the letter. levitated) verb to rise into the air, as if by
letterbox / letbks/ noun 1. a box in the
letterbox
magic
levy / levi/ noun (plural levies) an official
levy
road where you post letters Theres a let-

terbox at the corner of the street. 2. a hole tax or other payment I think the import
in a front door through which letters are de- levies on luxury goods are too high. We
livered The Sunday paper is too big to go paid the levy on time. verb (levies, levy-
through the letterbox. ing, levied) to order a person to pay a tax
lettuce / lets/ noun a plant with large
lettuce
or other payment, or to collect it The cus-
green leaves which are used in salads toms levied a large fine.
lewd /lu
d/ adj rude because of referring
lewd
(NOTE: no plural except when referring to

several plants: a row of lettuces) to sex in an unpleasant way
leukaemia /lu
ki
mi/ noun any of sev- liability /la blti/ (plural liabilities)
leukaemia liability
|
|
eral serious illnesses where an unusual noun 1. a legal responsibility Make sure
number of white blood cells form in the you understand your legal liabilities before
blood (NOTE: The US spelling is leukemia.) you sign the contract. 2. a tendency to do
level / lev()l/ noun 1. a position relat-
level
something a liability to burst into tears

ing to height or amount [/~with] I want to when criticised 3. something or someone
lower the level of our borrowings. The who causes problems or makes you feel
water reached a level of 5m above normal embarrassed [~for/~to]
liable 366
liable / lab()l/ adj 1. legally responsi- on Two of the escaped prisoners are still
liable
ble for something [~for] Parents can be at liberty. to be at liberty to do some-

made liable for their childrens debts. thing to be free to do something You are
You will be liable for payment of the fine. 2. at liberty to go now.
likely to have or do something [~to] The libido /l bi
d/ noun the feeling of
libido
figures are liable to error. The trains are wanting to have sex
liable to be late at present. Libra / li
br/ noun one of the signs of the
Libra
liaise /li ez/ (liaises, liaising, liaised)

liaise
| zodiac, shaped like a pair of scales, cover-

verb to inform someone of what is being ing the period 22nd September to 23rd Oc-
done or planned so that everyone who is in- tober
volved can work together well [~with] librarian /la brerin/ noun a person
librarian
Can you liaise with each individual man- who works in a library
ager regarding the move to new offices? library / labrri/ noun 1. a place
library
liaison /li ez()n/ noun 1. the process

liaison
|
where books are kept, especially ones
of keeping someone informed of what is which you can borrow He forgot to take
happening [~between/~with] There has his books back to the library. You cant
been a total lack of liaison between the po- keep it, its a library book. 2. a collection of
lice and the customs department on this things such as books or records He has a
case. 2. a sexual relationship [~be- big record library.
tween/~with] His liaison with the singer lice /las/ plural of louse
lice
was soon well-known. licence / las()ns/ noun a document

licence
liar / la/ noun a person who tells lies

liar
which gives official permission to own

Lib Dem /lb dem/ abbr Liberal Demo-
Lib Dem
something or to do something She has

crat Delegates at the Lib Dem party con- applied for an export licence for these
ference. paintings.
libel / lab()l/ noun a written state- license / las()ns/ (licenses, licens-
libel
license
ment about someone which is not true and ing, licensed) verb to give someone offi-
may damage their reputation I will sue cial permission to do something The res-
you for libel. verb (libels, libelling, li- taurant is licensed to serve beer, wines and
belled) to damage someones reputation in spirits. She is licensed to run an employ-
writing He accused the newspaper of li- ment agency.
belling him. Compare slander (NOTE: US licensed / las()nst/ adj given official
licensed
spelling is libeling libeled) permission to do something

liberal / lb()rl/ adj not strict, willing licensee /las()n si
/ noun a person
liberal
licensee
to accept other peoples views The liber- who has a licence for a particular activity,
al view would be to let the teenagers run especially a person who is in charge of a
the club themselves. public house
Liberal / lb()rl/ noun (in politics) refer- license plate / las()ns plet/ noun US
Liberal
license plate
ring to or supporting the Liberal Party a number plate on a vehicle

liberalise / lb()rlaz/ (liberalises, lib- lichen / lakn, ltn/ noun a very
liberalise
lichen
eralising, liberalised), liberalize verb to small plant which grows on the surface of
make things such as laws more liberal stones or trunks of trees
liberate / lbret/ (liberates, liberating, lick /lk/ (licks, licking, licked) verb to
liberate
lick
liberated) verb to set someone or some- make a gentle movement with your tongue
thing free from something (NOTE: + libera- across the surface of something You
tion n) shouldnt lick the plate when youve fin-
liberated / lbretd/ adj 1. not influ-
liberated
ished your pudding.

enced by a societys traditional ideas about lid /ld/ noun a covering for a container,
lid
how people should behave e.g. the way sometimes with a handle Wheres the lid
women should behave 2. set free from ene- for the black saucepan? He managed to
my control get the lid off the jam jar.
liberating / lbret / adj which liber- lie /la/ verb (lies, lying, lied) 1. to say
liberating
lie
ates you something which is not true [~about/~to]

liberty / lbti/ noun freedom When he
liberty
She was lying when she said she had been

was in prison he wrote poems about his at home all evening. He lied about the ac-
lost liberty. Anti-terrorist legislation can cident to the headmaster. 2. to be in a flat
be seen as an infringement of the liberty of position Six soldiers lay dead on the
the individual. at liberty free; not in pris- ground. The dog spends the evening lying
367 lifestyle
in front of the fire. 3. to be in a particular lifebuoy / lafb/ noun a float used in
lifebuoy
place There were bits of paper and ciga- an emergency to keep somebodys head
rette packets lying all over the pavement. and shoulders above water until help ar-
The city of Quito lies near the equator. rives
noun something that is not true Thats a life cycle / laf sak()l/ noun all the
life cycle
lie! I didnt say that! to tell lies to say changes which a living creature goes
things that are not true to lie in wait for through during its life
someone to hide and wait for someone to
life expectancy / laf kspektnsi/
life expectancy
come so as to attack him |
noun 1. the number of years that a person

lie down phrasal verb to put yourself in
or animal is likely to live Average life ex-
a flat position, e.g. on a bed pectancy has increased to over 80 for
lie in phrasal verb to stay in bed late in women. 2. the length of time that some-
the morning (informal) I think Ill lie in thing is expected to continue The life ex-
this morning. pectancy of this government is short it
lie detector / la dtekt/ noun a ma-
lie detector
|
only has a majority of one in Parliament.
chine which is used to check if someone is lifeguard / laf(
lifeguard
telling the truth, e.g. when the police are is on duty on a beach or at a swimming
questioning them pool, and who saves people who get into
lie-in / lan/ noun to have a lie-in to
lie-in
difficulty in the water

stay in bed longer than usual (informal) I life insurance / laf nrns/ noun a
life insurance
cant wait until Saturday comes, then I can type of insurance paying an amount of
have a lie-in. money to your family if you die
lieu /lju
/ noun in lieu of in place (of)
lieu
life jacket / laf dkt/ noun some-

life jacket
When she was sacked she was given four

thing which you wear when you are on a
weeks pay in lieu of notice. He accepted boat and which will prevent you from sink-
a car in lieu of payment.
ing if you fall into the water
lieutenant /lef tennt/ noun 1. a rank
lieutenant
lifeless / lafls/ adj 1. not alive, or ap-

| lifeless
in the armed forces below a captain The

lieutenant has to report to his captain. 2. pearing not to be alive Her lifeless body
someone whose job is to help an important was lying across the bed. 2. not lively or in-
person The mayor came into the room teresting The dancers performance was
with two of his lieutenants. dull and lifeless.
lifelike / laflak/ adj just like a living per-
lifelike
life /laf/ (plural lives) noun 1. the peri-

life
od during which you are alive He spent son

lifeline / laflan/ noun 1. a rope thrown
lifeline
his whole life working on the farm. for

life for as long as someone is alive They to a person who is sinking in water They
put him behind bars for life. His pension threw him a lifeline from the boat. 2. the
gives him a comfortable income for life. 2. help given to someone in difficulties The
the fact of being a living person [~of] Life scholarship offers a lifeline to young writ-
is a precious thing; dont waste it. 3. a par- ers. The government grant is a lifeline
ticular experience of life I think Id enjoy which helps them put on exhibitions of
the life of a celebrity. She had a hard life young painters work at their gallery.
lifelong / lafl/ adj lasting your whole
lifelong
as a child. 4. living things [~of] animal

and plant life Scientists are still looking life
for life on Mars. theres no sign of life in life saving / laf sev/ adj able to pre-
life saving
the house it looks as though there is no one vent someone from dying
in 5. enthusiasm or energy The young ac- life sentence /laf sentns/ noun the
life sentence
tors injected some life into the old play. punishment of being sent to prison for
The film comes to life when she appears on many years for committing murder
the screen. Shes always full of life. to
life-size /laf saz/ adj the same size as
life-size
lose your life to die Several lives were

lost when the ship sank. to take your life the real thing
life-span / laf spn/ noun the length
life-span
or your own life to kill yourself In a fit of

despair she took her life. of time something exists
lifebelt / lafbelt/ noun a large ring which life story /laf st
ri/ noun a detailed ac-
lifebelt life story
helps to prevent you from sinking in water count of all the events of someones life
lifeboat / lafbt/ noun a special boat lifestyle / lafstal/ noun the way in
lifeboat lifestyle
used to save people from danger at sea which someone or a group of people live
life-threatening 368
life-threatening /laf ret()n d the lake. 2. to become bright and happy
life-threatening
zi
z/ adj which may kill Her face lit up when she saw the presents
lifetime / laftam/ noun the time when
lifetime
under the Christmas tree. 3. to start to
you are alive smoke Please do not light up until cof-
fee has been served.
lift /lft / noun 1. a machine which takes
lift
light aircraft /lat ekr

ft/ noun a
light aircraft
people up or down from one floor to anoth- |
er in a building Take the lift to the tenth small plane

light bulb / lat blb/ noun a glass ball
light bulb
floor. Push the button to call the lift.

Your room is on the fifteenth floor, so you which gives electric light
lighten / lat()n/ (lightens, lightening,
lighten
may wish to use the lift. 2. a ride in a car

that you give to someone She gave me a lightened) verb 1. to make or become less
lift to the station. verb (lifts, lifting, lifted) dark You can lighten the room by paint-
to take something, often off the ground, ing it white. The sky lightened as dawn
and put it in a higher position My brief- broke. 2. to become less heavy, or to make
case is so heavy I can hardly lift it. He something become less heavy Ill have to
lifted the little girl up so that she could see lighten my suitcase its much too heavy.
light entertainment /lat ent
light entertainment
the procession. |
lift-off / lft f/ noun the act of sending a

lift-off
tenmnt/ noun entertainment that is not
spacecraft up into the air serious, usually involving things such as
telling jokes, singing, dancing or popular
ligament / l(mnt/ noun a thick band
ligament
music
of fibrous tissue which connects the bones lighter / lat/ noun a small object used
lighter
at a joint for lighting things such as cigarettes Can

light /lat/ noun 1. brightness, the op-
light
I borrow your lighter? mine has run out

posite of darkness I cant read the map by of gas.
the light of the moon. Theres not enough light-headed /lat hedd/ adj with the
light-headed
light to take a photo. 2. a piece of electrical feeling that you are going to fall down
equipment which gives light Turn the light-hearted /lat h
td/ adj happy,
light-hearted
light on I cant see to read. Its danger- not very serious

ous to ride a bicycle with no lights. In the
light industry /lat ndstri/ noun an
light industry
fog, I could just see the red lights of the car industry which makes small products, such
in front of me. verb (lights, lighting, lit or
lighted) to start to burn, or make something
as clothes, books or things you use in the
home
start to burn He is trying to get the fire to
lighting / lat / noun the light in a
lighting
light. Can you light the candles on the

birthday cake? adj 1. not heavy I can place
lightly / latli/ adv 1. gently, without force
lightly
lift this box easily its quite light. You

She touched my arm lightly. I always
need light clothing for tropical countries.
Shes just been ill, and can only do light sleep lightly and wake up several times
work. 2. pale He was wearing a light each night. 2. not severely 3. without much
green shirt. I prefer a light carpet to a rich food She always eats lightly at
dark one. 3. having a lot of light so that you lunchtime. 4. not very much some lightly
can see well The big windows make the cooked vegetables
lightning / latn/ noun a flash of
lightning
kitchen very light. It was six oclock in

the morning and just getting light. to electricity in the sky in a storm The storm
cast or throw light on something to make approached with thunder and lightning.
lightweight / latwet/ noun a weight of
lightweight
something easier to understand The pa-

pers throw light on how the minister a boxer between featherweight and welter-
reached his decision. to come to light to weight the lightweight champion a
be discovered Documents have come to lightweight title fight
light year / lat j/ noun the distance
light year
light which could help the police in their

investigations. in the light of something travelled by light during one year,equal to
when something is considered In the about 9.3 billion kilometres Stars are
light of the reports in the press, can the light years from earth.
minister explain his decision? like /lak/ prep 1. similar to, in the same
like
light up phrasal verb 1. to make some- way as Hes like his mother in many
thing bright The flames from the burn- ways, but he has his fathers nose. Like
ing petrol store lit up the night sky. The you, I dont get on with the new boss. The
firework display lit up the gardens and picture doesnt look like him at all. He
369 line
can swim like a fish. It tastes like straw- lilt /llt/ noun a way of speaking or singing
lilt
berries. Whats that record? it sounds with a light well-marked rhythm

like Elgar. 2. used for asking someone to lily / lli/ (plural lilies) noun a type of flow-
lily
describe something What was the weather shaped like a trumpet, which grows from
er like when you were on holiday? a bulb
Whats he like, her new boyfriend? verb limb /lm/ noun a leg or arm He was
limb
(likes, liking, liked) 1. to have pleasant lucky not to break a limb in the accident.
feelings about someone or something Do limbo / lmb/ (plural limbos) noun the
limbo
you like the new manager? She doesnt position of being halfway between two
like eating meat. How does he like his stages After losing his seat in the election
new job? No one likes driving in rush he now finds himself in political limbo.
hour traffic. In the evening, I like to sit lime /lam/ noun 1. a white substance con-
lime
quietly and read the newspaper. 2. to want taining calcium, used in making cement
Take as many apples as you like. would
The builder ordered some bags of lime. 2. a
like used for telling someone what you
small yellowish-green tropical fruit like a
want in a polite way Id like you to meet lemon or the tree which bears such fruit
one of our sales executives. Id like to go You need the juice of two limes to make this
to Paris next week. recipe.
likeable / lakb()l/ adj pleasant
likeable
limerick / lmrk/ noun a type of funny

limerick
likelihood / laklihd/ noun being likely

likelihood
poem with five lines

to happen limit / lmt/ noun the furthest point be-
limit
likely / lakli/ (likelier, likeliest) adj yond which you cannot go [~of/~on/~to]
likely
probably going to happen Its likely to We were never allowed to go beyond the
snow this weekend. Hes not likely to limits of the garden. Whats the limit on
come to the party. Is that at all likely? your credit card? Is there a limit to how
like-minded /lak mandd / adj who
like-minded
much we can use at one time? verb (lim-
has the same opinions its, limiting, limited) not to allow some-
thing to go beyond a certain point [~to]
liken / lakn/ (likens, likening, likened)
liken
Her parents limited the number of evenings

verb to liken something or someone to she could go out. The amount we can
something or someone else to compare spend on entertainment is limited to 500
two things, by showing how one is similar each month.
to the other Can I liken her to a ray of limitation /lm te()n/ noun 1. the
limitation
sunlight? He likened being tackled by the act of limiting someone or something 2. a

South African forward to being hit by a rhi- thing which stops you going further
no. [~of/~on] the limitations of a machine
likeness / lakns/ noun 1. a picture or
likeness
limited / lmtd/ adj which has a limit

limited
other object which looks like someone limiting / lmt/ adj which limits
limiting
The sketch is an astonishing likeness of limitless / lmtls/ adj without any limit
limitless
grandmother. 2. the fact of being like

limousine /lm zi
n/, limo noun a large
limousine
someone else There is a strong family |
likeness in all the children. expensive car, especially one that is longer
than usual
likewise / lakwaz/ adv in the same way
likewise
limp /lmp/ verb to walk in a way which is

limp
liking / lak/ noun a feeling of enjoy-

liking
affected by having an injured leg or foot

ing something [~for] She has a liking for After the accident she limped badly. noun
chocolate. for someones liking not be- a way that someone walks, when one leg
ing what someone likes in a particular way hurts or is shorter than the other His limp
This drink is too sweet for my liking. to has improved since his operation. adj
take a liking to someone or something to soft, not strong All we had as a salad was
start to like someone or something The two limp lettuce leaves. He gave me a
manager has taken a liking to her. to limp handshake. She went limp and we
someones liking being the kind of thing had to give her a glass of water.
someone likes Is this type of music to line /lan/ noun 1. a long thin mark
line
your liking? She drew a straight line across the sheet of

lilac / lalk/ noun 1. a tree with purple or
lilac
paper. The tennis ball went over the line.

white flowers They have a pretty lilac in 2. a row of written or printed words He
their front garden. 2. a pale purple colour printed the first two lines and showed them
adj pale purple to me. Can you read the bottom line on
linear 370
the chart? to drop someone a line to studies linguistics Linguists have discov-
send someone a short letter (informal) Ill ered similarities between Sanskrit and an-
drop you a line when I get to New York. 3. cient Greek.
a long row of people or things We had to linguistic /l (wstk/ adj referring
linguistic
stand in (a) line for half an hour to get into to language or languages
the exhibition. The line of lorries linguistics /l (wstks/ noun the
linguistics
stretched for miles at the frontier. 4. a long science of language

string or wire with a particular use a fish-
lining / lan/ noun material sewn onto
lining
ing line 5. a wire along which telephone the inside of something such as a piece of
messages are sent Can you speak louder clothing Youll need a coat with a warm
the line is bad. to be on the line to be lining if youre going to Canada in winter.
talking to someone on the telephone She has a pair of boots with a fur lining.
Dont interrupt Im on the line to New
link /lk/ noun 1. something which
link
York. Do you want to speak to Charles

while hes on the line? 6. metal rails on connects two things or places [~be-
which trains run A tree had blown onto tween/~with] The Channel Tunnel pro-
the line. 7. a part of a railway system the vides a fast rail link between England and
west coast line 8. a way of doing things France. 2. one of the rings in a chain a
to take a hard line not to be weak The chain with solid gold links verb (links,
headmaster takes a hard line with boys linking, linked) 1. to join places or things
who sell drugs in the playground. in line together [~to/with] Eurostar links London
with according to We acted in line with with Paris and Brussels. 2. to be related in
the decision taken at the meeting. to some way [~to] His salary is linked to the
draw the line at to refuse to do something cost of living.
I dont mind having a cup of coffee with link up phrasal verb to join two or more
the boss, but I draw the line at having to in- things together We have been able to
vite him for a meal at home. to be on the link up all our computers to form a net-
right lines to be doing things the right way work.
link-up / lk p/ noun a connection be-
link-up
line up phrasal verb to stand in a line

Line up over there if you want to take the tween two things
linoleum /l nlim/ noun a hard
linoleum
next boat. |
linear / lni/ adj 1. referring to lines a smooth floor covering, made in large rolls
linear
lion / lan/ noun a large wild yellowish-

lion
linear diagram 2. referring to length A

metre is a linear measurement. brown animal of the cat family (NOTE: The
line manager / lan mnd/ noun a female is a lioness and the young are
line manager
manager in a company who is involved in cubs.)

production or the central part of the busi- lioness / lanes/ noun a female lion
lioness
ness and who is in charge of the employees lip /lp/ noun 1. one of the two pink or
lip
in that part of the company red parts forming the outside of the mouth
linen / lnn/ noun a strong cloth made
linen
Put some cream on your lips to stop them

from natural fibres a linen tablecloth getting chapped. 2. the edge of a round
He bought a white linen suit. deep hole in the ground They stood on the
liner / lan/ noun a large passenger ship lip of the crater and looked down into the
liner
They went on a cruise round the Carib- volcano.

bean on an American liner. lip-read / lp ri
d/ (lip-reads, lip-read-
lip-read
line-up / lan p/ noun a group or list of ing, lip-read) verb (of a deaf person) to un-
line-up
people derstand what someone says by watching

linger / l(/ (lingers, lingering, lin- the movements of his or her lips
linger
lipstick / lpstk/ noun a substance for

lipstick
gered) verb to stay longer than necessary

or than expected colouring the lips
lingerie / lnri/ noun womens under- liquefy / lkwfa/ (liquefies, liquefying,
lingerie liquefy
wear liquefied) verb to become liquid

lingering / l(r/ adj which remains liqueur /l kj, l k#
/ noun strong
lingering liqueur
| |
for some time sweet alcohol, made from fruit or herbs

linguist / l(wst/ noun 1. a person liquid / lkwd/ noun a substance such as
linguist liquid
who knows foreign languages well Only water, which flows easily and which is nei-
the very best linguists can hope to become ther a gas nor a solid You will need to
interpreters for the EU. 2. a person who drink more liquids in hot weather. adj in
371 live
a form which flows easily a bottle of liq- When he left school he was barely liter-
uid soap ate. Compare illiterate, numerate
liquor / lk/ noun an alcoholic drink literature / lt()rt/ noun 1. books
liquor literature
liquor store / lk st
/ noun US a shop or writing, especially when considered to
liquor store
which sells alcohol (NOTE: The British term be of high quality Shes studying English
is off-licence.) and American literature. 2. written infor-
lisp /lsp/ noun a speech difficulty in
lisp
mation about something [~on] Do you
which s is pronounced as th She have any literature on holidays in Greece?
speaks with a lisp. (NOTE: + lisp v) (NOTE: no plural)
lithe /la/ adj able to bend your body eas-
lithe
list /lst/ noun a number of things such

list
as names or addresses, written or said one ily

litigation /lt (e()n/ noun an act of
litigation
after another Weve drawn up a list of |
people to invite to the party. He was ill, bringing a legal case against someone in
so we crossed his name off the list. The order to have a disagreement settled
litre / li
t/ noun a unit of measurement
litre
names on the list are in alphabetical order.

verb (lists, listing, listed) to say or to for liquids, equal to 1000 millilitres (NOTE:
write a number of things one after the other usually written l or L after figures: 25 l, say
The contents are listed on the label. She twenty-five litres.)
listed the ingredients on the back of an en- litter / lt/ noun 1. rubbish on streets or in
litter
velope. The catalogue lists twenty-three public places The council tries to keep
models of washing machine. the main street clear of litter. (NOTE: no plu-
listen / ls()n/ (listens, listening, lis- ral in this sense) 2. a group of young ani-
listen
tened) verb to pay attention to someone mals born at one time She had a litter of
who is talking or to something which you eight puppies.
can hear [~to/~for] Dont make a noise little / lt()l/ adj (less, least) 1. small
little
Im trying to listen to a music programme. They have two children a baby boy and
I was listening for the sound of a car a little girl. (NOTE: no comparative or super-
stopping outside. to listen out for some- lative forms in this sense) 2. not much We
thing to wait to see if you hear something drink very little milk. A TV uses very little
Can you listen out for the telephone electricity. He looked at it for a little
while Im in the garden? while. adv not much; not often Its little
listener / ls()n/ noun a person who lis- more than two miles from the sea. We go
listener
tens to the cinema very little these days.

listing / lst/ noun a published list of in- little by little / lt()l ba lt()l/ adv
little by little
listing
formation gradually
listless / lst()ls/ adj with no energy, little finger /lt()l f(/ noun the
little finger
listless
weak and tired smallest of the five fingers

listserv / lsts#
v/ noun an Internet serv- live1 /lav/ adj 1. living, not dead There
live
listserv
ice allowing users to have online discus- are strict rules about transporting live an-
sions imals. 2. carrying electricity Dont touch
lit /lt/ past tense and past participle of
lit
the live wires. 3. not recorded; being broad-
light cast at the same time as events take place
-lit /lt/ suffix showing where light comes
-lit a live radio show adv at the same time as
from events take place The show was broad-
cast live.
lite /lat/ adj low in calories, sugar, fat, or
lite
live down phrasal verb to stop being em-

alcohol barrassed by something which has finally
liter / li
t/ noun US spelling of litre
liter
been forgotten by everyone hell never

literacy / lt()rsi/ noun being able to
literacy
live it down it will never be forgotten

read and write. Compare illiteracy, numer- live in phrasal verb to live in the build-
acy ing where you work
literal / lt()rl/ adj keeping to the ex-
literal
live off phrasal verb to earn money

act meaning of the original words A liter- from
al translation usually sounds odd. live on phrasal verb to use food or
literary / lt()rri/ adj relating to liter-
literary
money to stay alive They lived on bread

ature and water for two weeks.
literate / lt()rt/ adj able to read and
literate
live through phrasal verb to experience

write Most people in Britain are literate. something dangerous
live 372
live together phrasal verb (of two peo- into or on to a vehicle such as a truck or van
ple) to live in the same house and have a [~with] They loaded the van with furniture
sexual relationship and personal belongings. 2. to put bullets
live with phrasal verb to put up with into a gun, or a film into a camera [~with]
something As for aircraft noise youll They loaded their guns and hid behind the
just have to live with it. verb to live in wall. 3. to put a program into a computer
the same house as someone else as if Load the word-processing program before
married He lives with a writer of chil- you start keyboarding.
drens books. loaded / ldd/ adj 1. having a lot of
loaded
live2 /lv/ (lives, living, lived) verb 1. to

live
money Chris is loaded he won the lot-

have your home in a place They have tery! 2. referring to a gun which contains
gone to live in France. Do you prefer liv- bullets or a camera which contains a film
ing in the country to the town? He lives loaf /lf/ (plural loaves) noun bread
loaf
next door to a film star. Where does your made in a large round shape, which you
daughter live? 2. to be alive King Henry can cut into slices before eating it He
VIII lived in the 16th century. The doctor bought a loaf of bread at the bakers. We
doesnt think she will live much longer. eat about 10 loaves of bread per week.
livelihood / lavlihd/ noun a way of
livelihood
loan /ln/ noun 1. a thing lent, espe-

loan
earning your living cially an amount of money He bought

lively / lavli/ (livelier, liveliest) adj
lively
the house with a 100,000 loan from the

very active bank. 2. the act of lending something to
liver / lv/ noun 1. a large organ in the
liver
someone I had the loan of his car for

body which helps you to process food and three weeks. on loan being lent The
cleans the blood 2. animals liver used as picture is on loan to the National Gallery.
food Ill start with chicken liver pt. loath /l/ adj to be loath to do some-
loath
He looked at the menu and ordered liver thing to be unwilling to do something

and bacon. Personally, Im very loath to get involved.
lives /lavz/ 3rd person singular
lives
loathe /l/ (loathes, loathing, loathed)

loathe
present of life verb to hate very much (NOTE: + loathing n)

livestock / lavstk/ noun farm animals,
livestock
loaves /lvz/ plural of loaf

loaves
which are kept to produce meat, milk or

lob /lb / (lobs, lobbing, lobbed) verb to
lob
other products
livid / lvd/ adj extremely angry Her fa-
livid throw or hit a ball slowly high into the air
He lobbed a ball at his sister.
ther was livid when he heard she had spent
lobby / lbi/ noun 1. an entrance hall
lobby
the night with her boyfriend.

living / lv/ adj having the signs such
living
Ill meet you in the hotel lobby in half an
as breathing or growing of not being dead hour. 2. a group of people who try to influ-
Does she have any living relatives?
ence important people, especially mem-
noun money that you need for things such bers of parliament The MPs met members
as food and clothes He earns his living by of the anti-abortion lobby. verb (lobbies,
selling postcards to tourists. lobbying, lobbied) to try to influence
living room / lv ru
m/ noun (in a
living room someone, especially in order to get a bill
house or flat) a comfortable room for sit-
through Parliament She lobbied her MP
ting in with a detailed letter and other documents.
lobbyist / lbist/ noun a person who is
lobbyist
living standards / lv stnddz/

living standards
plural noun the quality of personal home paid to represent a pressure group
lobster / lbst/ noun the flesh of this
lobster
life, such as the amount and quality of food

or clothes you can buy or the type of car shellfish used as food
local / lk()l/ adj relating to a place
local
you own As long as living standards con-

tinue to improve, everyone is happy. (NOTE: or district near where you are or where you
also the standard of living) live She works as a nurse in the local
lizard / lzd/ noun a small animal with hospital. The local paper comes out on
lizard
a long tail and rough skin Fridays. She was formerly the headmis-
load /ld/ noun a number of heavy ob- tress of the local school.
load
local anaesthetic /lk()l ns

local anaesthetic
jects which are carried in a vehicle such as |
truck The lorry delivered a load of bricks. etk/ noun a substance which removes
verb (loads, loading, loaded) 1. to put the feeling in a certain part of the body
something, especially something heavy, only
373 logic
local area network /lk()l eri locker / lk/ noun a small cupboard
local area network locker
netw#
k/ noun a network of personal for personal things which you can close
computers within a small area with a key
local authority /lk()l
rti/ locket / lkt/ noun a piece of jewellery
locket
local authority
noun a section of elected government which consists of a small case that you can
which runs a town or district keep a picture in, attached to a chain which
local
local government
government /lk()l is worn round the neck

locomotive /lk mtv/ noun the
locomotive
(v()nmnt/ noun organisations dealing |
with the matters of small areas of the coun- engine of a train

lodge /ld/ noun a small house at the
lodge
try, such as towns and counties

locality /l klti/ noun an area of the
locality
|
gates of a large building If the lodge is as
country or district of a town (formal) in big as that, just imagine the size of the
the locality near by There are two thea- main house! verb (lodges, lodging,
tres and four cinemas in the locality. lodged) 1. to rent a room in a house He
lodges with Mrs Bishop in London Road. 2.
locally / lk()li/ adv in the district
locally
to become stuck A piece of bread was

near where you are lodged in her windpipe. The bullet was
local time / lk()l tam/ noun the
local time
lodged in his spine. 3. to leave something

time of day in a particular place with someone to look after for you [~with]
locate / l ket/ (locates, locating, They lodged all the documents with the
locate
located) verb to find the position of some- solicitor. 4. to make an official complaint
thing Divers are trying to locate the about someone or something [~with] They
Spanish galleon. lodged a complaint with the local electric-
ity company.
location /l ke()n/ noun a place
location
lodger / ld/ noun a person who pays

| lodger
or position The hotel is in a very central

location. to stay in a room in a house
lodging / ld/ noun a place where
lodging
loch /lx/ noun (in Scotland ) an inland

loch
someone lodges
lake or arm of the sea
loft /lft/ noun the top part of a house
loft
lock / lk/ noun a part of a door or con-

lock
right under the roof They converted their

tainer such as a box, used for fastening it so loft into a bedroom.
that you can only open it with a key She
lofty / lfti/ (loftier, loftiest) adj 1. very
lofty
left the key in the lock, so the burglars got

in easily. We changed the locks on the high From the lofty height of the church
doors after a set of keys were stolen. verb tower the boys could see for miles. The
(locks, locking, locked) 1. to close a door lofty ceiling and wide windows gave the
or a container such as a box, using a key studio a wonderful feeling of space. 2.
I forgot to lock the safe. We always lock proud Her lofty attitude towards her col-
the front door before we go to bed. 2. to fix leagues does not make her many friends.
log /l(/ noun a thick piece of a tree
log
something or to become fixed in a certain

position The wheels suddenly locked as He brought in a load of logs for the fire.
he went round the corner. under lock log in, log on phrasal verb (in computing)
and key locked up firmly We keep our to start to use a computer system, usually
jewels safely under lock and key. by typing a particular word
lock in phrasal verb to make someone log off, log out phrasal verb to finish us-
stay inside a place by locking the door ing a computer system, usually by typing
lock out phrasal verb to make someone a particular word
loggerheads / l(hedz/ noun to be
loggerheads
stay outside a place by locking the door

lock up phrasal verb 1. to close a build- at loggerheads with someone to always
ing by locking the doors He always arguing with someone He has been at
locks up before he goes home. She was loggerheads with the town council for
locking up the shop when a man walked some months.
logic / ldk/ noun 1. formal reasoning
logic
in. 2. to keep a person or thing inside a

place or container by locking the door or Your logic is flawed just because shes an
lid Lock up the jewels in the safe or lock MA doesnt mean shes a good teacher. 2.
the jewels up in the safe. 3. to put some- sensible thinking, good reason I dont see
one in prison They locked him up for a the logic of owning two cars and not being
week. able to drive.
logical 374
logical / ldk()l/ adj 1. clearly rea- long time long ago many years before the
logical
soned a logical conclusion 2. (of a per- present time Long ago this was a wealthy
son) able to reason clearly Shes a very farming area. verb to want something
logical person and thinks everything very much [~for] Im longing for a cup of
through carefully. tea. Everyone was longing to be back
login / l(n/ noun the act of logging in to home. as long as, so long as provided
login
a computer system that, on the condition that I like going on

logistics /l dstks/ noun the organi-
logistics
|
picnics as long as it doesnt rain. no
sation of the movement of large numbers longer not any more I no longer have
of people and things such as vehicles and that car. before long in a short time
supplies Shell be boss of the company before long.
for long for a long time He wasnt out
logo / l(/ (plural logos) noun a
logo
symbol or design used by a company in or- of a job for long.

long-awaited /l wetd / adj for
long-awaited
der for people to recognise its products |
loins /lnz/ plural noun the part of the

loins
which people have been waiting for a long
body between the hips time
long-distance /l dstns/ adj 1. (of a
long-distance
loiter / lt/ (loiters, loitering, loitered)

loiter
|
verb to stand or walk slowly about doing sports race) between two places which are
nothing far apart She was over fifty when she took
loll /ll/ (lolls, lolling, lolled) verb to sit or
loll up long-distance running. Youll have to
lie in a lazy way They spent the afternoon get fit if youre going to run a long-dis-
lolling about in armchairs, watching the tance race. 2. made over a long distance
cricket. We spent three days walking along one of
the long-distance paths in the hills.
lolly / lli/ noun 1. a lollipop, a sweet on
lolly
Long-distance telephone calls cost less af-

the end of a stick 2. money What hap- ter 6 p.m.
pened to the lolly, then?
long-drawn-out /l dr
n at/ adj
long-drawn-out
lone /ln/ adj single, one alone. wolf

lone
which continues for a long period of time

(NOTE: Do not confuse with loan.)
long-haul /l h
l/ adj over a large
long-haul
loneliness / lnlins/ noun 1. a feeling

loneliness
distance, especially between continents

of sadness you can get from being alone
longing / l/ noun a strong wish to
longing
After his wife died it took him a long time

to get over his feelings of loneliness. 2. the have something
longitude / l(tju
d/ noun a position
longitude
state of being alone He was attracted by

the loneliness of the hotel, all by itself on on the earths surface measured in degrees
the top of the cliff. east or west of an imaginary line running
lonely / lnli / (lonelier, loneliest) adj
lonely north-south through Greenwich, a town
1. feeling sad because of being alone Its
just to the east of London
long-lasting /l l
st/ adj which
long-lasting
odd how lonely you can be in a big city full

of people. 2. (of a place) with few or no lasts a long time
long-life / l laf/ adj (of food and drink)
long-life
people around The cliff top is a lonely

place at night. We spent the weekend in a treated with a special process so that it will
lonely cottage in the Welsh hills. stay fresh for a long time
long-lost /l lst/ adj who or which is
long-lost
loner / ln/ noun a person who prefers

loner
to be alone not seen for a long time

long-range /l rend/ adj which
long-range
lonesome / lns()m/ adj especially

lonesome
US lonely, sad because of being alone covers a long distance or a long time.
long /l/ adj 1. not short in length a
long
short-range
long-running /l rn/ adj which
long-running
long piece of string The Nile is the long-

est river in the world. My hair needs cut- has been going on for a long time Our
ting its getting too long. 2. not short in long-running dispute with our neighbours.
longsighted / l satd/ adj able to see
longsighted
time What a long programme it lasted |
almost three hours. Theyve been waiting things clearly things which are far away
for the bus for a long time. We dont ap- but not things which are close. short-
prove of long holidays in this job. 3. used sighted
longstanding /l stnd/ adj which
longstanding
for asking about an amount of time How |
long is it before your holiday starts? adv has been in existence for a long time
a long time Have you been waiting long? long-suffering /l sf()r/ adj pa-
long-suffering
I didnt want to wait any longer. noun a tient with problems caused by other people
375 loose
long-term /l t#
m/ adj planned to to make coffee and answer the phone.
long-term
last for a long time look out phrasal verb to be careful

long-time / l tam/ adj who has exist- Look out! the car is going backwards!
long-time
ed for a long time look out for phrasal verb 1. to try to see
long wave / l wev/ noun a radio or find someone or something Were
long wave
wave with a wavelength longer than 1000 looking out for new offices because ours
metres. medium wave, short wave are too small. Ill look out for his sister
long weekend /l wi
k end/ noun a
long weekend
|
at the party. 2. to be careful about Look
weekend, including Friday night out for ice on the pavement.
long-winded /l wndd/ adj (of a
long-winded
look over phrasal verb 1. to examine
person) talking too much in a boring way quickly She looked over the figures and
said they seemed to be OK. 2. to have a
loo /lu
/ (plural loos) noun a toilet or a
loo
view over something The office looks

room in which there is a toilet (informal ) over a disused warehouse.
look /lk/ verb (looks, looking,
look
look up phrasal verb 1. to turn your

looked) 1. to turn your eyes to see some- eyes upwards She looked up and saw
thing [~at/~through/under/in/outetc] I clouds in the sky. 2. to try to find some in-
want you to look carefully at this photo- formation in a book Ill look up his ad-
graph. Look in the restaurant and see if dress in the telephone book. Look up
there are any tables free. If you look out the word in the dictionary if you dont
of the office window you can see our house. know what it means. 3. to get in touch
He opened the lid of the box and looked
with Look me up when youre next in
inside. 2. to appear to be Those pies look London. 4. to get better Things are
good. He looks much older than forty. 3. looking up.
used as an interjection Look! if we dont look up to phrasal verb to admire or re-
sort this out now, well never do it. noun spect someone
1. the way someone or something appears
lookalike / lklak/ noun a person who
lookalike
There is a French look about her clothes.

2. the act of seeing something with your look like someone else, especially some-
eyes Have a good look at this photograph one famous (informal)
lookout / lkat/ noun 1. a careful
lookout
and tell me if you recognise anyone in it.

We only had time for a quick look round the watch Keep a sharp lookout for pick-
town. 3. a search for something pockets. From their lookout post they
[~for/~around] I didnt see him at the con- could see across the square. 2. a person
cert though I had a good look around. We who is on watch The captain posted a
had a look for the ring and couldnt find it lookout in the bows. to be on the lookout
anywhere. for to watch carefully for Shes always on
look after phrasal verb to take care of the lookout for bargains. The police are
someone or something on the lookout for car thieves.
loom /lu
m/ (looms, looming, loomed)
loom
look ahead phrasal verb to make plans

for the future verb to appear in a rather threatening way
look back phrasal verb to turn your A storm loomed on the horizon. A bus
head to see what is behind you He suddenly loomed out of the fog.
loony / lu
ni/, looney noun a person who
loony
looked back and saw a police car was fol-

lowing him. is regarded as silly or crazy (insult) Who-
look for phrasal verb to search for ever invented bungee-jumping was a bit of
something, to try to find something a loony.
loop /lu
p/ noun a curve formed by a piece
loop
look forward to phrasal verb to think

happily about something which is going of something such as string, which crosses
to happen over itself To tie your laces, start by mak-
look into phrasal verb to try to find out ing a loop.
loophole / lu
phl/ noun a means of
loophole
about a matter or problem

look on phrasal verb 1. to watch without avoiding a law
loose /lu
s/ (looser, loosest) adj 1. (of
loose
doing anything The police beat up the

demonstrators while the tourists just a garment) not tight Wear loose trousers
looked on. 2. to consider, to think of and a teeshirt for the dance class. 2. not at-
something as We look on trade fairs as tached to anything The front wheel is
a bit of relaxation after the office. He loose and needs tightening. The boat
looks on his secretary as simply someone came loose and started to drift away.
loose cannon 376

Once he was let loose, the dog ran across loss /ls / noun 1. the state of no longer
loss
the park. having something He was very unhappy

loose cannon /lu
s knn/ noun at the loss of his house. The loss of a child
loose cannon
someone who is not easily controlled and is almost unbearable to a parent. 2. money
may do or say things which are not official- which you have spent and have not got
ly approved (slang) back through earnings Companies often
loose change /lu
s tend/ noun make losses in their first year of opera-
loose change
money in coins only tions. to be at a loss (to do something)

loose end /lu
s end/ noun one of the de-
loose end
not to know what to do We are at a loss
tails in something such as a problem or sit- to know how to proceed since our appeal
uation which has not yet been dealt with has been rejected. Im at a loss for some-
loosely / lu
sli/ adv 1. not tightly The
loosely
thing to do now that the party has been
skirt fits loosely round her waist. He tied cancelled.
lost /lst/ past tense and past participle
lost
his horse loosely to the post. 2. in a way

which is not completely accurate The of lose
lost cause /lst k
z/ noun something
lost cause
word can be loosely translated as hanging

down. such as a plan or activity which cannot suc-
loosen / lu
s()n/ (loosens, loosening,
loosen
ceed
lot /lt/ noun a lot of, lots of a large
lot
loosened) verb to make something less

tight He loosened his shoelaces and re- number or a large quantity Ive been to
laxed. the cinema quite a lot recently. Shes feel-
loot / lu
t/ noun 1. things which have been
loot
ing a lot better now. What a lot of cars
stolen The police discovered the rest of there are in the car park! Lots of people
the loot under his bed. 2. money (informal) are looking for jobs. Theres lots of time
Hes got plenty of loot. verb (loots, before the train leaves. the lot everything
looting, looted) to steal, especially from Thats the lot theres nothing left.
shops and houses, during a riot or other There were old pots and books and news-
emergency Some houses were looted papers we sold the lot for 50. We
during the floods. (NOTE: + looter n; loot- picked a kilo of strawberries and ate the lot
ing n) for dinner.
lotion / l()n/ noun a liquid used on
lotion
lope /lp/ (lopes, loping, loped) verb to

lope
run with long easy steps the skin to make it smooth or to protect it
lottery / ltri/ (plural lotteries) noun a
lottery
lopsided /lp sadd/ adj leaning to one

lopsided
side, with one side lower than the other game of chance in which tickets with num-
lord /l
d/ noun 1. a man who has a
lord
bers on are sold with prizes given for cer-
high social rank He was born a lord. tain numbers
loud /lad/ adj very easy to hear
loud
Powerful lords forced King John to sign the

Magna Carta. 2. an expression of surprise Cant you stop your watch making such a
or shock Good lord! I didnt realise it loud noise? Turn down the radio its
was so late! too loud. adv loudly I cant sing any
lore /l
/ noun traditional beliefs and
lore
louder. She laughed out loud in church.
loudly / ladli/ adv in a way which is easy
loudly
knowledge. folklore (NOTE: no plural)

lorry / lri/ noun a large motor vehicle
lorry
to hear
loudness / ladns/ noun the state of
loudness
for carrying goods

lose /lu
z/ (loses, losing, lost) verb 1.
lose
being loud, being noisy
loudspeaker /lad spi
k/ noun the
loudspeaker
to put or drop something somewhere and |
not to know where it is I cant find my part of an object such as a radio or CD

wallet I think I lost it on the train. If you player which allows sound to be heard
lounge /land/ noun a comfortable
lounge
lose your ticket youll have to buy another

one. 2. not to have something any longer room for sitting in Lets go and watch TV
We lost money on the lottery. 3. not to win in the lounge.
louse /las/ (plural lice) noun a small in-
louse
We lost the match 10 0. Did you win?

No, we lost. to lose your way to not sect which sucks blood and lives on the
know where you are or which direction to skin as a parasite on animals and humans
go in They lost their way in the fog on the lousy / lazi/ (lousier, lousiest) adj ex-
lousy
mountain. tremely bad or unpleasant

loser / lu
z/ noun a person who does lout /lat/ noun a rude and badly behaved
loser lout
not win young man (insult) lager

377 loyalties
lovable / lvb()l/ adj pleasant, easy to low-calorie /l klri/ adj containing
lovable low-calorie
love few calories

love /lv/ noun 1. a strong feeling of low-cut /l kt/ adj used to describe
love low-cut
liking someone or something very much womens clothing which has a low neck-
his love for his children Her great love is line and shows the top part of the chest
opera. 2. (in games such as tennis) a score lower / la/ adj not as high They
lower
of zero points She lost the first set six booked a cabin on the lower deck. verb
love (60). verb (loves, loving, loved) 1. (lowers, lowering, lowered) to make
to have strong feelings of affection for something go down They lowered the
someone or something I love you!, he boat into the water.
said. She loves little children. The chil- lower case /l kes/ noun small let-
lower case
dren love their teacher. His wife thinks he ters such as a, b and c as opposed to capi-
loves someone else. 2. to like something tals such as A, B and C
very much I love chocolate ice cream. lower class /l kl
s/ noun a group
lower class
to love doing something to enjoy doing of people in society who are not rich, aris-
something very much We love going on tocratic or middle-class (dated)
holiday by the seaside. to love to do
low-fat /l ft/ adj containing very lit-
low-fat
something to like or want to do something

very much He loved to watch the birds in tle fat Do you have any low-fat yoghurt?
low-key /l ki
/ adj quiet, without
low-key
the garden. Id love to come with you, but

Ive got too much work to do. to be in much excitement
lowlands / llndz/ plural noun a low-
lowlands
love to love someone or to love each other

I told her I was in love with her. lying area of the country the Lowlands of
love affair / lv fe/ noun a sexual re-
love affair
|
Scotland
low-level /l lev()l/ adj 1. positioned
low-level
lationship between two people who are not

married to each other or done at lower than the usual level 2. low
loved ones /lvd wns/ plural noun
loved ones
in status or degree
low-lying /l la/ adj which is near
low-lying
your family and friends

love life / lv laf / noun someones sexu-
love life
to sea level, or to the level of a river
low-paid /l ped/ adj not being paid
low-paid
al relationships
much for a job She has a low-paid job as
lovely / lvli/ (lovelier, loveliest) adj 1.
lovely
a cleaner or her job as a cleaner is very

very pleasant to look at She looks lovely low-paid.
in that dress. Theres a lovely garden be-
low point / l pnt/ noun the least en-
low point
hind the house. 2. pleasant or enjoyable I

had a lovely time on holiday. It was love- joyable or successful period of something
low profile /l prfal/ noun behav-
low profile
ly to have all those visitors when I was in

hospital. iour that avoids public attention
low-rise / l raz/ adj (of buildings) con-
low-rise
lover / lv/ noun 1. a person, especial-

lover
ly a man, who is having a sexual relation- sisting of only a few levels

low season /l si
z()n/ noun a time
low season
ship with someone Her lover was arrest-

ed when the womans body was found on of year, usually during the winter, when
the beach. 2. a person who loves something few people go on holiday, and when air
a lover of French food fares and hotel prices are cheaper
loving / lv/ adj affectionate, showing low-tech /l tek/ noun simple and not
low-tech
loving
love highly developed technically a low-tech

low /l/ adj (lower, lowest) not high
low
solution
low tide /l tad/, low water noun the
low tide
She hit her head on the low branch. The

town is surrounded by low hills. We shop lowest level of the sea the land, or the time
around to find the lowest prices. The en- when the sea is at this level
loyal / ll/ adj who supports someone or
loyal
gine works best at low speeds. The tem-

perature here is too low for oranges to something for along time without changing
grow. Sales were lower in December than Dogs are very loyal to their owners.
in November. adv (lower, lowest) to- loyalist / llst/ noun a person who is
loyalist
wards the bottom; not high up The plane loyal to someone or something
was flying too low it hit the trees. loyalties / lltiz/ plural noun the strong
loyalties
lowbrow / lbra/ adj not difficult to

lowbrow
feelings of support and friendship which

understand and of a low quality you have for someone or something
loyalty 378
loyalty / llti/ noun the quality of being to sleep. The report was not very critical
loyalty
loyal and that lulled them into a false sense of

lozenge / lznd/ noun 1. a diamond security.
lozenge
shape, especially when used in heraldry lumber / lmb/ (lumbers, lumbering,

lumber
The shield has a pattern of red lozenges. 2. lumbered) verb 1. to give someone some-
a sweet medicine in the form of a pill She thing he or she doesnt want to do [~with]
was sucking cough lozenges to get rid of (informal) You always manage to lumber
her cough. me with the worst jobs. Why do I always
LSD /el es di
/ noun an illegal drug get lumbered with doing the shopping? 2.
LSD
which has a powerful effect, e.g. making to move slowly and heavily The tractor
people see things which are not real lumbered across the field pulling a trailer
Ltd abbr limited company full of hay. Watch where youre treading,
Ltd
lubricate / lu
brket/ (lubricates, lubri-
lubricate
you lumbering great hulk! (NOTE: Do not
cating, lubricated) verb to cover some- confuse with lumbar.)
lumberjack / lmbdk/ noun a per-
lumberjack
thing with a lubricant to make it run

smoothly (NOTE: + lubrication n) son who cuts down trees
lucid / lu
sd/ adj 1. clear, easily under- luminous / lu
mns/ adj which gives
lucid luminous
stood The old lady gave a clear and lucid out light in the dark
account of the incident to the police. 2. able lump /lmp/ noun 1. a piece of some-
lump
to think clearly For most of the time he thing, often with no particular shape a
was delirious but in his few lucid moments lump of sugar 2. a hard or swollen part on
he seemed to recognise me. the body [~on] She went to the doctor be-
luck /lk / noun something, usually
luck
cause she had found a lump on her neck.

good, which happens to you The bus is lump sum /lmp sm/ noun money
lump sum
empty thats a bit of luck! to do some- paid in one payment, not in several small
thing for luck because I hope it will bring payments
me luck Ill wear this ring for luck. lumpy / lmpi/ (lumpier, lumpiest) adj
lumpy
luckily / lkli/ adv used for showing

luckily
with solid lumps in it

that you think an event was lucky lunacy / lu
nsi / noun madness, idiotic
lunacy
lucky / lki/ (luckier, luckiest) adj 1.

lucky
behaviour
having good things happening to you, es- lunar / lu
n/ adj referring to the moon
lunar
pecially if they are unexpected Hes

lunatic / lu
ntk/ noun a person who
lunatic
lucky not to have been sent to prison.

How lucky you are to be going to Spain! 2. acts in a mad way (informal insult) Dont
bringing good luck Fifteen is my lucky be such a lunatic try to talk to her! He
number. drove like a lunatic to catch the ferry.
lunch /lnt/ noun the meal eaten in
lunch
lucrative / lu
krtv/ adj bringing in a lot
lucrative
of money or profit the middle of the day Come on lunch

ludicrous / lu
dkrs/ adj ridiculous,
ludicrous
will be ready soon. We always have lunch
which makes you laugh at 12.30. We are having fish and chips for
lunch. Im not hungry so I dont want a
lug /l(/ (lugs, lugging, lugged) verb to
lug
big lunch. The restaurant serves 150

carry or pull something heavy I had to lunches a day.
lug my cases up two flights of stairs. Lug-
lunchtime / lnttam/ noun the time
lunchtime
ging those boxes up into the attic has worn

me out. when you usually have lunch
lung /l/ noun one of two organs in the
lung
luggage / l(d/ noun suitcases or

luggage
bags for carrying your clothes and other chest with which you breathe
lunge / lnd/ (lunges, lunging, lunged)
lunge
things when travelling

lukewarm /lu
k w
m/ adj 1. not very verb to make a sudden movement forwards
lukewarm
hot The soup was only lukewarm. We The baby suddenly lunged at the candles
sent back the coffee because it was luke- on the cake. ( NOTE: + lunge n)
lupin / lu
pn/ noun a plant with tall flow-
lupin
warm. 2. not enthusiastic He was only

lukewarm about our project. ers in different colours
lull /ll/ noun a quiet period After last lurch /l#
t/ noun a sudden unsteady
lull lurch
weeks hectic rushing around this weeks movement The ship gave a sudden lurch.
lull was welcome. verb (lulls, lulling, verb (lurches, lurching, lurched) to
lulled) to make someone calmer, to soothe make a sudden unsteady movement
someone She sang a song to lull the baby When the taxi finally lurched to a stop I
379 lyrics
was shaking all over. He lurched over to ical vegetation rapidly covered the clear-
the bar and ordered another drink. ing.
lure /lj/ noun a thing which attracts a lust / lst/ noun 1. strong sexual desire
lure lust
person or animal The white beaches are He looked at her with eyes full of lust. 2. a
a lure for tourists. verb (lures, luring, great desire for something She is driven
lured) to attract someone, especially into by a lust for power.
something bad She was lured to the club luxurious /l( zjris/ adj very com-
luxurious
by reports of high wages for bar staff. fortable and expensive

lurid / ljrd/ adj 1. glowing with bril- luxury / lkri/ (plural luxuries) noun 1.
lurid
luxury
liant colours The flames gave a lurid great comfort He lived a life of great lux-
glow to the scene. She was wearing a lu- ury. A hot bath is a real luxury after two
rid pink tracksuit. 2. (of a book or film) sen- weeks camping in the mountains. 2. a thing
sational, meant to shock There were sev- which is pleasant to have, but not necessary
eral lurid descriptions of conditions in the She often buys little luxuries for dessert
refugee camps. on Friday nights.
lurk /l#
k/ (lurks, lurking, lurked) verb to lying / la/ present participle of lie
lurk lying
be hidden lynch /lnt/ (lynches, lynching,

lynch
luscious / ls / adj very sweet and

luscious
lynched) verb (of a mob) to catch an ac-

juicy cused person and execute him or her, espe-
lush /l/ adj ((of plants)) very green and cially by hanging, without a trial
lush
lyrics / lrks / plural noun the words of a

lyrics
growing well The cattle were put to graze

on the lush grass by the river. Lush trop- song He wrote the lyrics for the musical.
M
m /em/, M noun the thirteenth letter of the keystrokes I do the page layouts using a
m
alphabet, between L and N macro.

ma /m
/ noun a mother (informal) macro- /mkr/ prefix on a large scale
macro-
ma
mad /md/ (madder, maddest) adj 1.

mad
maam noun a formal or polite way of re-

maam
ferring to a lady silly or crazy Everyone thought he was

mac /mk/, mack noun a coat which
mac
mad to try to cross the Atlantic in a rowing
keeps off water, which is worn when it is boat. 2. very angry (informal ) Shes mad
raining (informal) (NOTE: short for mackin- at or with him for borrowing her car. He
tosh) was hopping mad when they told him his
car had been stolen. 3. having a serious
macabre /m k
br/ adj very strange
macabre
medical condition which affects the brain

and horrifying, especially referring to dead (offensive) (NOTE: + madly adv) mad
bodies
about someone or something very keen
macaroni /mk rni/ noun an Italian
macaroni
|
on someone or something (informal) Hes
food made of short thick tubes of flour mad about jigsaw puzzles.
paste madam / mdm/ (plural mesdames)
madam
machete /m eti/ noun a large sharp

machete
|
noun 1. a polite way of addressing a wom-
knife an, often used by people who are providing
machine /m i
n/ noun a piece of
machine
|
a service such as waiters or shop assistants
equipment that uses power We have Can I help you, madam? 2. used when
bought a machine for putting leaflets in en- writing a letter to a woman whom you do
velopes. There is a message on my an- not know Dear Madam
swering machine. She made her dress on mad cow disease /md ka dzi
z/
mad cow disease
her sewing machine. The washing ma- noun bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a
chine has broken and flooded the kitchen. disease affecting the brains of cattle
machine gun /m i
n (n/ noun a gun
machine gun
| (informal)
which automatically fires many bullets maddening / md()n / adj exasperat-
maddening
rapidly, one after the other ing or annoying

machine-readable / m i
n made /med/ past tense and past parti-
machine-readable
made
|
ri
db()l/ adj which can be used by a ciple of make (NOTE: Do not confuse with
computer maid.)
machinery /m i
nri/ noun 1. ma- madhouse / mdhas/ noun a place
machinery madhouse
chines in general The factory has got rid where there is a lot of confused activity
of a lot of old machinery. 2. a way of organ- (informal)
ising something [~for] a review of local madman / mdmn/ (plural mad-
madman
government machinery the machinery for men) noun a person who is mentally ill (of-
awarding government contracts fensive)
macho / mt/ adj behaving in a way madness / mdns/ noun stupid be-
macho
madness
that is thought to be typical of a man (dis- haviour which may be dangerous Its
approving) sheer madness to go out in a little boat in
mackerel / mkrl/ (plural mackerels or this weather.
mackerel
same) noun a sea fish with dark flesh, eaten maestro / mastr/ noun a musical
maestro
grilled or smoked; also canned and made genius

into pt mag /m(/ noun an illustrated publica-
mag
macro / mkr/ (plural macros), mac-

macro
tion which comes out regularly He found

roinstruction noun a block of instructions a pile of old car mags in a corner of the
for a computer identified by one or more shop.
381 main clause

magazine /m( zi
n/ noun a large the naked eye. 2. the degree to which things
magazine
thin book with a paper cover, which is pub- appear larger when magnified What mag-
lished regularly The gardening magazine nification do you get with these binocu-
comes out on Fridays. lars?
maggot / m(t/ noun a white caterpil- magnificent /m( nfs()nt/ adj very
maggot magnificent
lar of a fly, which eats rotting meat impressive or beautiful

magic / mdk/ noun 1. a mysterious magnify / m(nfa/ (magnifies, mag-
magic
magnify
imaginary power to make things happen 2. nifying, magnified) verb to make some-
a special enjoyable atmosphere [~of] the thing appear larger
magic of a summers evening 3. tricks such magnitude / m(ntju
d/ noun im-
magnitude
as making things appear and disappear, portance They did not underestimate the
performed by an entertainer called a magi- magnitude of the task. We will need more
cian adj with mysterious imaginary staff if we take on a project of this magni-
qualities The children found themselves tude.
in a magic wood. as if by magic sudden-
magnolia /m( nli/ noun a large tree
magnolia
ly, without any possible explanation He |
pushed a button and, as if by magic, lights with huge white or pink flowers
mag tape / m( tep/ noun same as
mag tape
came on all over the garden.

magical / mdk()l/ adj as if produced magnetic tape
magical
mahogany /m h(ni/ noun a dark red

mahogany
by magic |
magic bullet /mdk blt/ noun 1. a tropical hardwood, now becoming rare
magic bullet
medicine which can quickly cure a serious maid /med/ noun a female servant The
maid
illness 2. a quick solution to a difficult maid forgot to change the towels. The
problem chalet has a daily maid to do the cleaning.
magician /m d()n/ noun 1. a wiz- maiden / med()n/ noun an unmarried
magician
maiden
|
ard Merlin was the great magician in me- girl or woman The village maidens
dieval legends. 2. a conjurer They hired a danced at the wedding.
magician to entertain the children at the maiden name / med()n nem/ noun
maiden name
party. the surname of a woman before she is mar-

magistrate / mdstret/ noun a
magistrate
ried
judge who tries cases in a minor court
mail /mel/ noun 1. letters which are de-
mail
magnanimous /m( nnms/ adj

magnanimous
livered or which are sent The mail hasnt

very kind and generous to someone you
come yet. The receipt was in this morn-
have defeated or to someone who is weaker ings mail. 2. a service provided by the post
than you
office We sent the parcel by sea mail.
magnate / m(net/ noun an important
magnate
Its cheaper to send the order by surface

and powerful businessman mail than by air.
magnesium /m( ni
zim/ noun a
magnesium
mailbox / melbks/ noun US 1. one of

| mailbox
white metal which is used in making alloys

and is also an essential element in biologi- several boxes where incoming mail is put
cal life in a large building I checked the mailbox
to see if I had any letters. 2. a box for
magnet / m(nt/ noun 1. a piece of
magnet
putting letters and packets in which you

metal which attracts iron and steel She want to mail I posted the letter in the
has a Mickey Mouse which sticks to the mailbox at the corner of the street.
fridge door with a magnet. 2. anything
mailing list / mel lst/ noun a list
mailing list
which attracts people or things [~for] The

big city is a magnet for teenagers running of names and addresses of people to whom
away from home. information can be sent
maim /mem/ (maims, maiming,
maim
magnetic / m( netk/ adj which at-

magnetic
tracts metal maimed) verb to injure someone very bad-

magnetism / m(ntz()m/ noun 1.
magnetism
ly, sometimes causing permanent damage
main /men/ adj most important The
main
the quality of being magnetic 2. being

charming and attractive The princess had main thing is to get to work on time.
enormous personal magnetism. Their main factory is in Scotland. Janu-
magnification / m(nf ke()n/ ary is the main month for skiing holidays.
magnification
noun 1. the action of making something ap- A car will meet you at the main entrance.
main clause /men kl
z/ noun the
main clause
pear larger Magnification enables us to

see things that are too small to be visible to main part of a sentence
main course 382

main course / men k
s/ noun the officer in the army below colonel A ma-
main course
most important part of a meal, usually a jor came up in a truck with six soldiers.
dish of meat and vegetables or fish and (NOTE: also used as a title before a surname:
vegetables Major Smith)
mainframe / menfrem/ noun a large majority /m drti/ noun 1. the larg-
mainframe majority
computer er part of a group The majority of the

main line /men lan/ noun an important members of the club dont want to change
main line
main railway line the rules. in the majority being more

mainly / menli/ adv most often We
mainly
than half of the members Women are in a
sell mainly to businesses. People mainly majority on the committee. 2. a number of
go on holiday in the summer. voters which is larger than half She was
main road /men rd/ noun the largest
main road
elected with a majority of 10,000. 3. the
and busiest road in a place age when you become legally adult He
mainstay / menste/ noun a main sup-
mainstay will inherit money from his grandfather
port that plays the most important part in when he reaches his majority.
make /mek/ (makes, making, made)
make
keeping something going

verb 1. to produce or build something
mainstream / menstri
m/ adj (of a
mainstream
[~with/~of/out of] These knives are made

group) most important
of steel. He made a boat out of old pieces
maintain /men ten/ (maintains,
maintain
|
of wood. Shes making a birthday cake. 2.
maintaining, maintained) verb 1. to make
to get something ready [~with] Do you
something stay the same We like to main- want me to make some tea? 3. to add up to
tain good relations with our customers. 2. a total Six and four make ten. 4. to give
to keep something in good working order someone a particular feeling The smell of
The boiler needs to be regularly main- curry makes me hungry. The rough sea
tained. 3. to continue to state something as made him feel sick. Looking at old photo-
a fact [~(that)] Throughout the trial he graphs made her sad. He made himself
maintained that the car was not his. comfortable in the armchair. 5. to force
maintenance / mentnns/ noun 1.
maintenance
someone to do something His mother

the act of keeping something in working made him clean his room. The teacher
order We offer a full maintenance serv- made us all stay in after school. I cant
ice. 2. the act of keeping things going or make the car go any faster. What on earth
working the maintenance of contacts made you do that? to make do (with
with government officials 3. money for up- something) to use something because
keep, especially paid by a divorced or sep- there is nothing else available to make
arated person to help pay for living expens- sense 1. to be understood The message
es for children to pay maintenance for doesnt make sense. 2. to be a good idea
the children It makes sense to put a little money into
maisonette / mez net/ noun a flat on
maisonette
|
your savings account every week.
two floors in a larger house make for phrasal verb 1. to go towards
maize /mez/ noun a widely grown cereal
maize
a place The army was making for the

crop, with tall plants bearing large yellow capital. As soon as the film started, she
seeds (NOTE: Do not confuse with maze. The made straight for the exit. 2. to help
US term is corn.) something to happen Non-stick pans
majestic /m destk/ adj grand or state-
majestic
| make for easier washing up.

ly make of phrasal verb to have an im-
majesty / mdsti/ noun 1. a beautiful
majesty
pression or opinion about something

or impressive sight The majesty of the make off with phrasal verb to steal
snow-covered mountains took his breath something
away. 2. used as a title for a king or queen make out phrasal verb 1. to be able to
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II see clearly Can you make out the house
major / med/ adj important Smok-
major
in the dark? 2. to be able to understand

ing is a major cause of lung cancer. Com- I cant make out why he doesnt want to
puters are a major influence on modern income. 3. to claim something which is
dustrial society. Many small roads are probably not true The English weather
blocked by snow, but the major roads are isnt really as bad as it is made out to be.
open. the major part of something most She tries to make out that shes very
of something The major part of the film poor. 4. to write something, such as a
takes place in Scotland. noun a rank of an name The cheque is made out to Mr
383 management
Smith. 5. US to be successful He tried malice / mls/ noun an unfriendly or
malice
opening a fish restaurant but it didnt spiteful feeling towards someone

make out. How is Bobby making out at malicious /m ls/ adj done because
malicious
school? you want to harm someone There has

make up phrasal verb 1. to invent a sto- been some malicious gossip about her. It
ry He said he had seen a man climbing was a malicious attempt to make her lose
into the house, but in fact he made the her job.
whole story up. 2. to make yourself up malignant /m l(nnt/ adj likely to be
malignant
to put on makeup, e.g. powder and lip- cause death

stick 3. to form something The staff is mallet / mlt/ noun a large wooden
mallet
made up of secretaries and drivers. 4. hammer

to make up your mind to decide on
malnourished /ml nrt/ adj suffer-
malnourished
something They cant make up their |
minds on where to go for their holiday. 5. ing from malnutrition

malnutrition /mlnj tr()n/ noun
malnutrition
to make up for lost time to act quickly |
because you did not act earlier Its June the state of not having enough to eat
malpractice /ml prkts/ noun the
malpractice
already well have to plant our beans |
now to make up for lost time. 6. to be- practice of acting in an unprofessional or

come friends again They quarrelled, illegal way (by a doctor, lawyer, accountant,
and then made it up. 7. to make it up etc.)
to someone to compensate someone for malt /m
lt/ noun barley grains which
malt
something, e.g. for something lost or have been through the malting process and
damaged Dont worry about the paint are used in breweries to make beer and in
on your carpet well make it up to you. distilleries to make whisky
make-believe / mek bli
v/ noun the maltreat /ml tri
t/ (maltreats, mal-
make-believe maltreat
| |
practice of pretending that something is treating, maltreated) verb to treat someone

true when it is not badly
makeshift / mekft/ adj used tempo- mama /m m
/, mamma noun a childs
makeshift mama
rarily in place of something else name for mother (informal dated)

makeup / mekp/ noun substances, mammal / mm()l/ noun a type of
makeup mammal
e.g. face powder and lipstick, which people animal which gives birth to live young and
put on their face to make it more beautiful feeds them with milk
or change their appearance in some way mammoth / mm/ noun a very large
mammoth
She wears no makeup apart from a little hairy elephant living in prehistoric times
eye shadow. He spent hours over his Theres a full-size model of a mammoth in
makeup for the part of the monster. the museum. The woolly mammoth is
making / mek/ present participle of
making
thought to have become extinct during the

make last Ice Age.
malaise /m lez/ noun 1. a feeling of be- man /mn/ noun (plural men) a male
malaise
man
ing slightly ill She had a feeling of ma- human being That tall man is my brother.
laise but couldnt say what caused it. 2. a Theres a young man at reception asking
feeling of being slightly worried There is for Mr Smith. verb (mans, manning,
a general malaise among the middle-class manned) to provide staff to work some-
which might make them vote against the thing The switchboard is manned all day.
government. She sometimes mans the front desk when
malaria /m leri/ noun a tropical dis- the receptionist is ill.
malaria
ease caused by a parasite which enters the manage / mnd/ (manages, man-
manage
body after a bite from a female mosquito aging, managed) verb to be in charge of
male /mel/ adj relating to the sex
male
something She manages all our offices in

which does not give birth to young A Europe. We want to appoint someone to
male deer is called a stag. (NOTE: Do not manage the new shop.
confuse with mail.) manageable / mndb()l/ adj
manageable
malevolent /m levlnt/ adj who

malevolent
| which can be dealt with easily

wants to harm other people management / mndmnt/ noun
management
malfunction /ml fkn/ noun the

malfunction
| 1. a group of people who direct workers

fact of not working properly The data The management has decided to move to
was lost due to a software malfunction. new offices. 2. the practice of directing and
(NOTE: + malfunction v) controlling work Hes taking a course in
manager 384
management. If anything goes wrong mania / meni/ noun 1. a form of mental
mania
now its just a case of bad management. illness where the patient is very excited and
manager / mnd / noun 1. the per- violent 2. a passion for something He has
manager
son in charge of a department in a shop or a mania for collecting old cars. She has
in a business The bank manager wants to a mania for white clothes.
maniac / menik/ noun a crazy person
maniac
talk about your account. The sales man-

ager organised a publicity campaign. We were nearly killed by some maniac
Shes the manager of the shoe department. driving a sports car.
2. a person in charge of a sports team The manic / mnk/ adj wildly energetic
manic
club have just sacked their manager. The scene of manic activity in the office as
manageress /mnd res/ noun a everyone rushed to finish the work before
manageress
woman who manages a shop or department the deadline.

manicure / mnkj/ noun the act of
manicure
(dated)
managerial /mn dril/ adj refer- looking after the hands and nails
managerial
manifest / mnfest/ (manifests, mani-

manifest
ring to managers
managing director /mnd festing, manifested) verb to show some-
managing director
da rekt/ noun a director in charge of a

|
thing The cat manifested no interest in
company her food whatsoever. to manifest itself
Mandarin / mndrn/ noun the princi-
Mandarin
as something to show itself as something
The disease first manifests itself as a
pal spoken form of Chinese, the official
language of China slight skin rash.
manifestation /mnfe ste()n/
manifestation
mandate / mndet/ noun the power

mandate
|
given to a person to act on behalf of some- noun an appearance

manipulate /m npjlet/ (manipu-
manipulate
one else |
lates, manipulating, manipulated) verb 1.

mandatory / mndt()ri/ adj which
mandatory
has to be done or has to take place because to influence people or situations so that
of a rule or law you get what you want By manipulating
the media the government made sure its
mane /men/ noun the long hair on the
mane
message got across to the people. 2. to han-

neck of a lion or horse (NOTE: Do not con- dle something She found it difficult to
fuse with main.) manipulate the instruments when wearing
manger / mend/ noun a box for food
manger
protective clothing.
for farm animals, e.g. horses or cows manipulative /m npjltv/ adj con-
manipulative
mangle / m(l/ (mangles, mangling,

mangle
trolling and using people, so as to get them

mangled) verb 1. to squash something or to do what you want
chop something up The mangled remains mankind /mn kand / noun the hu-
mankind
of a dog run over by a lorry. 2. to spoil man race, all human beings (dated)
something by doing it badly He mangled manly / mnli/ adj looking or behaving
manly
his part so much that the audience as a man should look or behave
laughed. The poem was completely man- man-made / mn med/ adj which has
man-made
gled in translation.
been made by human beings
mangrove / m(rv/ noun a tree
mangrove
manner / mn/ noun a way of behav-

| manner
which grows beside water in hot countries ing The staff dont like the new manag-
and which has roots above the ground ers manner. She has a very abrupt man-
manhandle / mnhnd()l/ (manhan-
manhandle
ner of speaking to you. plural noun man-

dles, manhandling, manhandled) verb 1. ners a way of behaving in public Its bad
to move something large and heavy by manners to speak with your mouth full.
hand Ten men were needed to manhandle Those boys need to be taught some man-
the statue into place. 2. to handle someone ners.
roughly The protesters complained they mannerism / mnrz()m/ noun a
mannerism
had been manhandled by the police. gesture or way of speaking which is partic-
manhole / mnhl/ noun a hole in the
manhole
ular to one person

road or pavement through which you go manoeuvre /m nu
v / noun a planned
manoeuvre
below the ground, e.g. into the sewers action to avoid something or to deceive
manhood / mnhd/ noun the state of
manhood
someone The captain had to make a sud-

being a man (NOTE: no plural) den manoeuvre to avoid hitting the smaller
manhunt / mnhnt/ noun a search for
manhunt
| ship. The company has carried out vari-

someone, especially by the police ous manoeuvres to avoid bankruptcy.
385 mare
verb 1. to move something heavy or diffi- rooms that the hotel was booked up. She
cult to handle We manoeuvred the piano ate twice as many cakes as her sister did. 2.
into position on the stage. A big lorry is asking a question How many times have
difficult to manoeuvre round corners. 2. to you been to France? How many passen-
work to put yourself in a good position gers were there on the plane? pron a large
She managed to manoeuvre herself onto number of people Many of the students
the board of the company. (NOTE: [all sens- knew the lecturer when he was a student
es] The US spelling is maneuver.) himself. Many would say that smoking
manor / mn/ noun a country house should be banned in all public places.
manor
and the land surrounding it (NOTE: Do not Maori / mari / noun 1. a person of the
Maori
confuse with manner.) race of the original inhabitants of New

manpower / mnpa/ noun the Zealand The Maoris decorated the prows
manpower
number of workers in a country or industry of their war canoes. 2. the language spoken
or organisation by the race of the original inhabitants of
mansion / mnn/ noun a very large New Zealand
mansion
map /mp/ noun a drawing which

map
private house Hes bought a mansion

overlooking the golf course. They live in shows a place such as a town, a country or
a mansion in Hampstead with its own the world as if it is seen from the air
swimming pool and tennis courts. Heres a map of Europe. The village
manslaughter / mnsl
t/ noun the where they live is so small I cant find it on
manslaughter
offence of killing someone without having the map. Show me on the map where the
intended to do so or of killing someone in- mountains are. They lost their way be-
tentionally but with mitigating circum- cause theyd forgotten to take a map.
maple / mep()l/ noun a northern tree,
maple
stances. Compare murder

mantra / mntr/ noun a phrase which is growing mainly in Canada and the USA,
mantra
chanted many times, as in a prayer with sweet sap

manual / mnjul/ noun a book of in- mar /m
/ (mars, marring, marred) verb
mar
manual
structions Look in the manual to see if it to spoil something

marathon / mr()n/ noun a race, of-
marathon
tells you how to change the toner car-

tridge. ten run on roads in a city, covering a dis-
manufacture /mnj fkt/ (manu- tance of 42 kilometres Shes training for
manufacture
factures, manufacturing, manufactured) the New York marathon.

verb to make products for sale We no marauding /m r
d/ adj moving
marauding
longer manufacture tractors here. from place to place to steal and destroy
manufacturer /mnj fktr/ things
manufacturer
noun a person or company producing in- marble / m

b()l/ noun a very hard type
marble
dustrial products of stone which can be polished so that it

manufacturing /mnj fktr/ shines The entrance hall has a marble
manufacturing
noun the business of making things in large floor. The table top is made from a single
quantities for sale Only 25% of the na- slab of green marble.
tions workforce is now engaged in manu- march /m
t / noun the act of walking so
march
facturing. that your legs move at exactly the same

manure /m nj/ noun animal dung times as everyone elses, especially by sol-
manure
used as fertiliser on land The farmers diers The soldiers were tired after their
were out in the field, spreading manure. long march through the mountains. verb
manuscript / mnjskrpt / noun 1. a (marches, marching, marched) 1. to walk
manuscript
document, letter or poem which has been in this way The guards marched after the
written by hand the sale of several man- band. We were just in time to see the sol-
uscript letters by King Charles II One of diers march past. 2. to walk in a protest
the original manuscripts of the Domesday march Thousands of workers marched to
Book is kept in London. 2. a handwritten or the parliament building. (NOTE: + marcher
typed version of a book which has not been n)
March /m
t/ noun the third month of
March
printed or published He sent his manu-

script to several publishers, but no one the year, between February and April
wanted to publish it. (NOTE: March 6th or March 6: say March
many / meni/ adj 1. a large number of the sixth or the sixth of March or in US
many
things or people Many old people live on English: March sixth.)

mare /me/ noun a female horse
mare
the south coast. So many people wanted

margarine 386
margarine /m
d ri
n/ noun a sub- prices up to make a better margin.
margarine
stance made from animal or vegetable oil marked /m

kt/ adj very obvious, def-
marked
which is used instead of butter inite This months sales showed a

margin / m
dn/ noun a white space marked improvement. His performance
margin
at the edge of a page of writing Write was first class in marked contrast to his
your comments in the margin. We left a game last week.
wide margin so that you can write notes in marker / m
k/ noun 1. a thing which
marker
it. marks something The golfer put down a

marginalise / m
dnlaz/ (margin- marker before moving his ball. 2. a person
marginalise
alises, marginalising, marginalised), who gives a mark to something, e.g. a piece

marginalize verb to make someone or of work, an examination or an entry in a
something less important competition Our teacher is a very hard
marijuana /mr w
n/ noun a drug marker nobody gets more than seven out
marijuana
made from hemp of ten.

marina /m ri
n/ noun a special harbour market / m
kt/ noun 1. a place
marina market
with floating jetties where a large number where products such as fruit and vegeta-
of yachts and pleasure boats can be tied up bles are sold from small tables, often in the
marinade / mrned/ noun a mixture of open air 2. a place where a product is re-
marinade
wine and herbs, etc., in which meat or fish quired or where a product could be sold
is soaked before cooking The marinade [~for/~in] The potential global market for
gives a delicious flavour to the meat. this product is enormous. 3. the activity of
marinate / mrnet / (marinates, mari-
marinate
trading in goods the market in luxury im-
nating, marinated) verb same as marinade ported goods verb (markets, marketing,
marketed) to sell products using marketing
marine /m ri
n/ adj referring to the sea
marine
marine plants and animals techniques This product is being market-

ed in all European countries.
marital / mrt()l/ adj referring to a
marital
marketable / m
ktb()l/ adj which
marketable
marriage
can be sold easily
marital status /mrt()l stets/
marital status
market economy /m
kt knmi/
market economy
noun the position of being married, di- |
noun a system of economy in which prices

vorced or not married
and earnings are controlled by the peoples
maritime / mrtam/ adj referring to
maritime
demands rather than by the government

the sea or ships
market forces /m
kt f
sz/ plural
market forces
mark /m
k/ noun 1. a small spot of a
mark
noun commercial influences which have an

different colour [~on] The red wine has effect on the success of a product or firm
made a mark on the tablecloth. She has a Market forces decide which firms succeed
mark on her forehead where she hit her and which fail.
head. 2. the points given to a student
market garden /m
kt (
d()n/
market garden
[~for/in] What mark did you get for your

homework? She got good marks in Eng- noun a small farm which grows vegetables
lish and history. No one got full marks or fruit which are sold in a nearby town
marketing / m
kt/ noun the
marketing
the top mark was 8 out of 10. 3. a particular

point or level His income has reached the methods used by a company to encourage
100, 000 mark. verb (marks, marking, people buy a product
marketplace / m
ktples/ noun 1.
marketplace
marked) 1. to make a mark or write on

something The box was marked Fragile an open space in the middle of a town
2. to correct and give points to work The where a market is held The marketplace
teacher hasnt finished marking our home- is usually right in the centre of a town. 2.
work. Has the English exam been marked the activity of selling goods or services
yet? 3. (in games) to follow an opposing Our sales staff find life difficult in the mar-
player closely, so as to prevent him or her ketplace. What is the reaction to the new
getting the ball car in the marketplace?
market research /m
kt r s#
t/
market research
mark down phrasal verb to reduce the |
price of something We have marked all noun the activity of examining the possible
prices down by 30% for the sale. sales of a product and the possible custom-
mark up phrasal verb to increase the ers before it is put on the market
market share /m
kt e/ noun the
market share
price of something These prices have

been marked up by 10%. If retailers percentage of possible sales which a com-
find the discount too low they mark the pany or product has
387 mash
marking / m
k/ noun 1. the action sleepy to think clearly. (NOTE: The US spell-
marking
of making marks 2. the action of correcting ing is marshaling marshaled)

something, e.g. exercises or homework marshmallow /m
ml/ noun a
marshmallow
Marking is not a job I like. soft white or pink sweet

marksman / m
ksmn/ (plural marks- marsupial /m
su
pil / noun a type of
marksman marsupial
men) noun a person who shoots well animal found in Australia, which carries its
mark-up / m
k p/ noun an amount young in a pouch in the front of its body
mark-up
martial / m
()l/ adj referring to war
martial
added to the cost price to give the selling

price (formal)
marmalade / m
mled/ noun a jam martial law /m
()l l
/ noun mainte-
marmalade martial law
made from fruits such as oranges, lemons nance of law by the army instead of the po-
or grapefruit and eaten at breakfast lice
maroon /m ru
n/ adj deep purple red Martian / m
()n/ noun an imaginary
maroon Martian
noun a deep purple-red colour person living on or coming from the planet
marquee /m
ki
/ noun a very large tent
marquee
|
Mars A story about Martians who come
marquess / m
kws/ noun a member
marquess
to invade the Earth.
martyr / m
t/ noun 1. a person killed or
martyr
of the nobility, the rank below a duke

made to suffer because of his or her beliefs
marriage / mrd/ noun 1. the state
marriage
St Stephen, the first Christian martyr

of being legally joined as husband and wife Christian martyrs were killed by the Ro-
A large number of marriages end in di-
mans. She was a martyr in the cause of
vorce. She has two sons by her first mar- national liberation. 2. a person who pre-
riage. 2. a wedding, the ceremony of being tends to suffer in order to get sympathy
married They had a simple marriage, She sat at the switchboard all day, looking
with just ten guests. The marriage took a real martyr.
place at the registry office.
martyrdom / m
tdm/ noun the fact
martyrdom
married / mrid/ adj joined as hus-

married
of suffering death for your beliefs

band and wife Are you married or sin-
marvel / m
v()l/ noun a thing which
marvel
gle? Married life must suit him hes put

on weight. you think is wonderful The building is
one of the marvels of the modern age. Its
marrow / mr/ noun a large green
marrow
a marvel that she managed to remember

vegetable of the pumpkin family, similar to my birthday. verb (marvels, marvelling,
a large cucumber His marrow was the marvelled) to show wonder or surprise at
biggest exhibit in the vegetable show. someone or something Everyone mar-
marry / mri/ (marries, marrying,
marry
velled at the sheer size of the statue. (NOTE:

married) verb 1. to make two people hus- marvelling marvelled but American spell-
band and wife They were married in ing is marveling marveled)
church. 2. to become the husband or wife marvellous / m
vls/ adj wonder-
marvellous
of someone She married the boy next ful (NOTE: The US spelling is marvelous.)
door. to get married to someone to be
Marxism / m
ksz()m/ noun the polit-
Marxism
joined as husband and wife in a ceremony

|
ical theories of Karl Marx, which led to

Theyre getting married next Saturday.
communism and socialism
marsh /m
/ noun an area of wet land
marsh
marzipan / m
zpn/ noun a paste
marzipan
marshal / m
()l/ noun 1. a military of-
marshal
made from ground almonds, sugar and egg,

ficer of the highest rank 2. an organiser of used to cover a fruit cake before icing or to
a race or a show Marshals tried to direct make individual little sweets
the crowds to the grandstands. Some mascara /m sk
r/ noun a substance
mascara
marshals rushed to the scene of the crash for making eyelashes dark
and others waved flags to try to stop the
mascot / mskt/ noun an object or an-
mascot
race. 3. US an officer of a court Federal

marshals raided several houses looking for imal which you think brings good luck
masculine / mskjln/ adj suitable
masculine
a prisoner who had escaped from jail. 4.

US the chief of police or chief of the fire for or typical of a man She had a very
brigade in an area verb (marshals, mar- masculine hair style.
masculinity /mskj lnti/ noun male
masculinity
shalling, marshalled) to organise people |
or things into order Extra police were qualities, what is typical of a male
mash /m/ (mashes, mashing,
mash
brought in to marshal the crowds of fans.

He tried to marshal the facts but was too mashed) verb to crush something into a
mask 388
paste Mash the ingredients together be- dio or mobile phone signals They have
fore adding water. She mashed the pota- put up a television mast on top of the hill.
toes with butter and milk. master / m
st/ (masters, mastering,
master
mask /m
sk/ noun something which
mask
mastered) verb to become skilled at some-

covers or protects your face The burglars thing She has mastered the art of TV
wore black masks. He wore a mask to go newscasting. Although he passed his
diving. driving test some time ago, he still hasnt
masochism / mskz()m/ noun 1. a mastered the art of motorway driving.
masochism
condition in which a person takes sexual mastermind / m

stmand/ noun a
mastermind
pleasure in being hurt or badly treated 2. very clever person a criminal master-
the practice of doing something painful mind verb (masterminds, mastermind-
and enjoying it Taking all those children ing, masterminded) to be the brains be-
to France sounds more like masochism hind a plan The escape was mastermind-
than a holiday to me. (NOTE: + masochist ed by two convicted murderers.
n) masterpiece / m
stpi
s /, master-
masterpiece
masonry / mesnri/ noun the stones

masonry
work noun a very fine painting, book, piece

used to make a building of music, etc.
masquerade /msk red/ (masquer-
masquerade
masters degree / m
stz d(ri
/
masters degree
|
|
ades, masquerading, masqueraded) verb noun a degree for further study after a
to pretend to be someone else [~as] The Bachelor of Arts degree
thief was masquerading as a policeman.
mastery / m
st()ri/ noun 1. the com-
mastery
mass /ms/ noun 1. a large number or

mass
plete understanding of a subject or great

large quantity of things Masses of people
went to the exhibition. A mass of leaves skill at a game The French side showed
their complete mastery of the game. Her
blew onto the pavement. I have a mass of mastery of Italian is well-known. 2. having
letters or masses of letters to write. 2. a
Catholic church service adj involving a control over someone or something
masturbate / mstbet/ (mastur-
masturbate
large number of people They found a

mass grave on the hillside. The group is bates, masturbating, masturbated) verb
organising a mass protest to parliament. to rub your own sex organs to excite them
verb (masses, massing, massed) to gath- and get pleasure (NOTE: + masturbation n)
mat /mt/ noun a small piece of some-
mat
er in large numbers
massacre / msk/ noun the killing of thing such as carpet, used as a floor cover-
massacre
a large number of people or animals Wit- ing Wipe your shoes on the mat before
nesses to the massacre led reporters to a you come in.
match /mt/ noun 1. a single occa-
match
mass grave in the hillside. (NOTE: + massa-

cre v) sion when two teams or players compete
massage / ms
/ noun a rubbing of with each other in a sport We watched the
massage
the body to relieve pain or to get someone football match on TV. He won the last two
to relax She gave me a massage. (NOTE: + tennis matches he played. 2. a small piece
massage v) of wood with a one end which catches fire
massive / msv/ adj very large He when you rub it against a special surface
massive
had a massive heart attack. The company He bought a packet of cigarettes and a box
has massive losses. A massive rock came of matches. She struck a match and lit a
hurtling down the mountainside towards candle. verb (matches, matching,
them. matched) to fit or to go with something
mass-market /ms m
kt/ adj made
mass-market
The yellow wallpaper doesnt match the
in large quantities for a wide market bright green carpet.
matchbox / mtbks/ noun a small
matchbox
mass media /ms mi

di/ plural noun
mass media
the means of passing information to a large box with matches inside

matching / mt/ adj which fits or
matching
number of people, e.g. newspapers, TV

and radio goes with something
mass-produced /ms pr dju
st/ adj mate /met/ noun 1. a friend, especially
mass-produced mate
manufactured in large quantities a mans friend Hes gone down to the pub
mast /m
st/ noun 1. a tall pole on a ship with his mates. 2. one of a pair of people or
mast
which carries the sails The gale was so animals, especially where these can pro-
strong that it snapped the ships mast. 2. a duce young together verb (mates, mat-
tall metal structure for broadcasting TV, ra- ing, mated) (of animals) to breed A mule
389 may
is the result of a donkey mating with a as a matter of course in the usual way
horse. The police checked his driving licence as a
material /m tril/ noun 1. some- matter of course. no matter what what-
material
thing which can be used to make some- ever No matter what time it is, call the
thing You can buy all the materials you doctor immediately the symptoms appear.
need in the DIY shop. 2. cloth I bought no matter how however No matter how
three metres of material to make curtains. hard he tried he couldnt ride a bike.
matter-of-fact / mtr v fkt/ adj
matter-of-fact
What material is your coat made of?

(NOTE: no plural) 3. facts or information practical, not showing any emotion
Shes gathering material for a TV pro- matting / mt / noun large mats, or
matting
gramme on drugs. (NOTE: no plural) strong material from which mats are made
materialise (materialises, materialis- mattress / mtrs/ noun a thick pad
materialise mattress
ing, materialised), materialize (material- forming the part of a bed that you lie on
izes, materializing, materialized) verb 1. mature /m t/ (matures, maturing,
mature
to become real His planned holiday nev- matured) verb 1. to become mature
er materialised. She promised the staff an Whisky is left to mature for years. He ma-
extra weeks holiday but it never material- tured a lot during his year in Germany.
ised. 2. to appear A man on horseback Girls are supposed to mature faster than
suddenly materialised out of the mist. Af- boys. 2. to become due for payment The
ter a couple of phone calls, the money we policy will mature in 20 years time.
were owed duly materialised. maturity /m trti/ noun 1. the state
maturity
materialism /m trilz()m/ noun an

materialism
|
of being an adult or of doing things like an
interest only in physical things, especially adult Hes only twelve, yet his painting
money and property, not in spiritual ones already shows signs of considerable matu-
maternal / m t#
n()l/ adj referring to a rity. 2. the time when a bond becomes due
maternal
mother to be paid The bonds have reached matu-

mathematician /m()m t()n/ rity.
mathematician
maul /m
l/ (mauls, mauling, mauled)
maul
noun an expert at mathematics

mathematics / m mtks/, verb 1. to attack or handle someone rough-
mathematics
maths /ms/ noun the science of num- ly He was badly mauled by the tiger. 2. to
bers and measurements criticise someone severely The minister
matine / mtne/, matinee noun an af-
matine
was mauled by the tabloid press. (NOTE: Do
ternoon performance of a play or film not confuse with mall.)
mausoleum /m
s li
m/ noun a spe-
mausoleum
matriarch / metri
k/ noun a respected
matriarch
|
old woman cial building in which an important person

matrimony / mtrmni/ noun the state
matrimony is buried
mauve / mv/ noun a light pinkish-pur-
mauve
of being married
ple colour She had the dining room walls
matter / mt/ noun 1. a problem or
matter
painted in mauve. adj light pinkish purple

difficulty [~with] You look worried
maverick / mvrk/ noun a person who
maverick
whats the matter? Whats the matter

with your leg? theres something the is unusual and does not fit into a normal
matter with my phone my phone is not pattern Shes a political maverick.
max /mks/ abbr maximum
max
working properly 2. a concern or business

maxim / mksm/ noun a wise saying
maxim
[~for] a serious matter affecting every

maximum / mksmm/ adj the
maximum
family with young children This is a mat-

ter for discussion with your financial ad- greatest possible What is the maximum
viser. 3. a particular type of material We number of guests the hotel can take?
put rotting vegetable matter on the garden noun the greatest possible number or
as fertiliser. Take some reading matter amount The maximum we are allowed to
for the journey. 4. the substances that eve- charge per person is 10. at the maxi-
rything that exists is made of verb (mat- mum not more than We can seat 15 at the
ters, mattering, mattered) to be important maximum.
[~that/~which/whether/how etc] It doesnt may /me/ modal verb 1. it is possible
may
matter if youre late. His job matters a lot Take your umbrella, they say it may rain.
to him. Does it matter if we sit by the win- Here we are sitting in the bar, and he may
dow? as a matter of fact to tell you the be waiting for us outside. If you dont
truth I know Paris quite well, as a matter hurry you may not catch the train. 2. it is
of fact I go there every month on business. allowed Guests may park in the hotel car
May 390
park free of charge. You may sit down if have your meals in your room at a small
you wish. 3. asking questions politely extra charge.
May I ask you a question? May we have mealtime / mi
ltam/ noun a time when
mealtime
breakfast early tomorrow as we need to you usually eat

leave the hotel before 8 oclock? (NOTE:
mean /mi
n/ adj 1. not liking to spend
mean
The negative is may not. May is usually

used with other verbs and is followed by to.) money or to give people things Dont be
May /me/ noun the fifth month of the
May mean let me borrow your car. Shes
year, after April and before June Her very mean with her money. 2. nasty or un-
birthdays in May. Today is May 15th. pleasant [~to] The other children were be-
She was born on May 15. We went on ing mean to him. That was a mean thing
holiday last May. (NOTE: May 15th or May to say. He played a mean trick on his
15: say the fifteenth of May or May the fif- mother. verb (means, meaning, meant)
1. used when you have not understood
teenth or in US English: May fifteenth.)
something Did he mean me when he was
maybe / mebi/ adv possibly, perhaps
maybe
talking about fat old men? What do you

Maybe the next bus will be the one we
mean when you say shes old-fashioned? 2.
want. Maybe you should ask a police- to show or represent something [~(that)]
man. Maybe the weather forecast was Zimmer means room in German.
right after all. maybe not possibly not When a red light comes on it means that
Are you coming? Maybe not. you have to stop. meant to mean a lot
mayhem / mehem/ noun wild confu-
mayhem
or nothing to someone to be very impor-

sion (informal) tant or not important at all His family
mayonnaise /me nez/ noun a sauce
mayonnaise
|
means a lot to him. 3. to mean to do
for cold dishes, made of oil, eggs and lem- something to plan to do something I
on juice or vinegar meant to phone you but I forgot.
mayor / me/ noun a person who is chosen
mayor
meander /mi nd / (meanders, mean-

meander
as the official head of a town, city or local dering, meandered) verb 1. to wind about
council From the top of the hill you can see how
maze /mez/ noun 1. a network of puz-
maze
the river meanders around the town. The

zling paths in which you can get lost We road meanders through several little vil-
couldnt find our way out of the Hampton lages. 2. to continue without any aim The
Court maze. He led me along a maze of negotiations meandered on without any de-
corridors. 2. a complicated network of cision being reached.
things We have to try to find our way
meaning / mi
n/ noun what some-
meaning
through the maze of European regulations.

(NOTE: Do not confuse with maize.) thing represents If you want to find the
MB abbr megabyte
MB
meaning of the word, look it up in a dic-
tionary. The meaning of a red light is
MD /em di
/ noun a director who is in
MD
pretty clear to me.

charge of a whole company. Full form
meaningful / mi
nf()l/ adj full of
meaningful
managing director
me /mi
/ pron used by the person who is
me
meaning, significant
meaningless / mi
nls/ adj not mean-
meaningless
speaking to talk about himself or herself

give me that book Could you give me that ing anything
book, please? Im shouting as loud as I means /mi
nz/ noun 1. a way or meth-
means
can cant you hear me? Shes much od of doing something Well have to
taller than me. Who is it? Its me! Can write we cant contact her by any other
you hear me? Shes taller than me. means. Do we have any means of copying
meadow / med/ noun a large field of
meadow
all these documents quickly? The bus is

grass the cheapest means of getting round the
meagre / mi
(/ adj small, not enough
meagre
town. 2. money Theyd like to buy a flat

(NOTE: The US spelling is meager.) but they dont have the means. beyond
meal /mi
l/ noun an occasion when
meal
someones means too expensive for some-

people eat food, or the food that is eaten one to buy by all means of course By
Most people have three meals a day all means use my phone if you want to. by
breakfast, lunch and dinner. You sleep no means not at all Shes by no means
better if you only eat a light meal in the sure of getting the job. by means of by
evening. When they had finished their using something He got her money by
evening meal they watched TV. You can means of a trick.
391 medieval
means test / mi
nz test/ noun an in- mechanic /m knk / noun a person
means test mechanic
quiry to find out how much money some- who works on machines
one has, to see whether he or she should mechanical / m knk()l/ adj relating
mechanical
qualify for a benefit or grant to machines Engineers are trying to fix a

meant /ment/ verb to be meant to mechanical fault.
meant
do something should do something, or mechanism / meknz()m/ noun 1. the

mechanism
ought to do something Were meant to be working parts of a machine If you take

at the station at 11 oclock. This medi- the back off the watch you can see the del-
cine is not meant to be used by children. icate mechanism. 2. a way in which some-
Trains are meant to leave every half-hour. thing works The mechanism for award-
mean ing government contracts.
meantime / mi
ntam/ in the medal / med()l/ noun a round metal ob-
meantime medal
meantime meanwhile, during this time ject, made to represent an important occa-
We waited for her for hours in the rain, and sion or battle, and given to people who
in the meantime, she was happily sitting at have performed well
home watching TV. The new stadium will medallion /m dlin/ noun a round
medallion
be finished by Easter but in the meantime piece of metal worn round the neck on a
we will still have to use the old one. chain as an ornament
meanwhile / mi
nwal/ adv during medallist / med()lst/ noun a person
meanwhile medallist
this time She hid under the table mean- who wins a medal in a competition (NOTE:
while, the footsteps were coming nearer. The US spelling is medalist.)
measure / me/ noun 1. an action meddle / med()l/ (meddles, meddling,
measure meddle
a safety measure What measures are you meddled) verb to interfere in something
planning to fight air pollution? The gov- that is nothing to do with you [~in/with]
ernment has taken measures to reduce Dont meddle in matters that dont concern
street crime. 2. a certain amount or size you. (NOTE: do not confuse with medal)
We have no accurate measure of the pres- media / mi
di/ noun newspapers, TV
media
sure inside the volcano. There was a and radio The book attracted a lot of in-
measure of truth in what she said. verb terest in the media. mass media plural
(measures, measuring, measured) 1. to of medium
find out the length or quantity of some- mediate / mi
diet/ (mediates, mediat-
mediate
thing She measured the window for curing, mediated) verb to intervene to try to
tains. He measured the size of the gar- bring agreement between two opponents
den. 2. to be of a certain size or quantity (NOTE: + mediator n)
a package which measures or a package medic / medk / noun a doctor (informal )
medic
measuring 10cm by 25cm How much do

medical / medk()l/ adj relating to
medical
you measure round your waist? The table

measures four foot long by three foot wide. medicine Shes a medical student. The
Red Cross provided medical help.
measured tread / med tred/ with
measured tread
medication /med ke()n/ noun 1.

medication
measured tread in a slow and stately way

|
drugs taken by a patient Are you taking

measurement / memnt/ noun a
measurement
any medication? 2. treatment by giving

quantity or size, found by measuring He drugs The doctor prescribed a course of
took the measurements of the room. The medication.
piano wont go through the door are you medicinal /m ds()n()l/ adj referring
medicinal
sure you took the right measurements? to medicine He has a drink of whisky be-
The measurements of the box are 25cm x fore he goes to bed for medicinal purposes.
20cm x 5cm.
medicine / med()s()n/ noun 1. a
medicine
meat /mi
t/ noun food from an animal
meat
drug taken to treat a disease If you have a

or bird Can I have some more meat, cough you should take some cough medi-
please? Would you like meat or fish for cine. The chemist told me to take the
your main course? I like my meat very medicine four times a day. Some cough
well cooked. medicines make you feel sleepy. 2. the
meaty / mi
ti/ adj with a lot of details or
meaty
study of diseases and how to cure or pre-

information a meaty report vent them He went to university to study
mecca / mek / noun a place which at- medicine. (NOTE: no plural in this sense)
mecca
medieval /medi i
v()l/ adj referring
medieval
tracts a large number of people Its a |
mecca for motor-racing enthusiasts. to the Middle Ages

mediocre 392
mediocre /mi
di k/ adj ordinary, not US to meet someone He met with the
mediocre
particularly good sales people in New York.

meditate / medtet/ (meditates, medi- meeting / mi
t / noun an occasion on
meditate meeting
tating, meditated) verb 1. to remain in a which people come together, especially in

calm, silent state, without thought Dont order to discuss something
disturb him hes meditating. 2. to think [~of/~about/on/~with] The next meeting of
deeply about something [~on/about] The the club will be next month. There will be
accident made them spend some time med- another meeting about safety procedures
itating on how they spent their lives. soon. I had a meeting with my boss this
Mediterranean /medt renin/ adj morning.
Mediterranean
megabyte / me(bat/ noun a unit of

megabyte
referring to the Mediterranean Sea, be-

tween Europe and Africa, and the countries storage for a computer equal to 1,048,576
surrounding it The Mediterranean cli- bytes. Abbreviation MB
mate is good for olives. She has bought a megahertz / me( h#
ts/ (plural same)
megahertz
villa on one of the Mediterranean islands. noun a unit equal to one million hertz
medium / mi
dim/ adj middle, aver- megalomaniac /me(l menik/
medium
megalomaniac
age He is of medium height. adj a person who enjoys having power over
medium-sized / mi
dim sazd/ adj other people
medium-sized
which is neither very large nor very small megaphone / me(fn/ noun a metal
megaphone
medium wave / mi
dim wev/ noun a
medium wave
trumpet which makes the voice sound

radio frequency range between 200 and louder
1000 metres melancholy / melnk()li/ noun great
melancholy
medley / medli / noun a mixture of differ- sadness There was an air of melancholy
medley
ent things, such as pieces of music as the contents of the house were auc-
meek /mi
k/ adj humble, always willing tioned.
meek
melanin / melnn/ noun a substance

melanin
to do what other people want, feeling you

are not important that gives colour to skin, hair and eyes
meet /mi
t/ (meets, meeting, met) melanoma /mel nm/ noun a ma-
meet melanoma
verb 1. to come together with someone lignant type of skin tumour

[~for] He met her at the railway station. melee / mele/, mle noun 1. a noisy
melee
Well meet for lunch before we go to the confused fight 2. a confused mixture of
cinema. to meet to do something to people or things
come together with someone to discuss mellow / mel/ (mellows, mellowing,
mellow
something or make a decision We met the mellowed) verb 1. to become soft or rich
builder yesterday to discuss the plans for Time has mellowed the brickwork to a soft
our new house. 2. to get to know someone deep red. 2. to become ripe, to mature
Ive never met your sister. Come and You should leave the wine to mellow for
meet her then! Have you met our sales some years.
manager? Yes, we have already met. 3. to melodrama / meldr
m/ noun a
melodrama
produce a particular response The play or event that is full of excitement and
schools proposal met strong opposition violent emotions
from parents. 4. to satisfy what is necessary
melodramatic /meldr mtk/ adj
melodramatic
Does the car now meet the standards set

|
by the motor racing authorities? The full of violent and exaggerated emotions
melody / meldi/ (plural melodies) noun
melody
company will meet your expenses. 5. to join

at a particular point Several streets meet a tune
melon / meln/ noun a large round
melon
at Piccadilly Circus. If you draw a diag-

onal line from each corner of a square to fruit which grows on a plant which grows
the opposite corner, the two lines will meet near the ground
in the centre. melt /melt/ (melts, melting, melted)
melt
meet up phrasal verb (of several peo- verb 1. to change from a solid to a liquid by
ple) to come together heating, or to cause a solid to do this If
meet with phrasal verb 1. to find or to the sun comes out your snowman will melt.
come up against a problem The ad- The heat of the sun melted the road.
vancing soldiers met with stiff resistance. Glass will melt at very high temperatures.
She met with an accident on the escala- 2. to disappear
tor. 2. to have an accident She met with melt down phrasal verb to heat metal and
an accident on the escalator. 3. usually make it into blocks so that it can be used
393 mention
again They stole the rings and melted one The mayor unveiled the memorial to
them down into gold bars. the dead poet.
memorise (memorises, memorising,
memorise
melt away verb to go gradually The ri-

melt away
oters melted away when the police ap- memorised), memorize verb to learn
peared. something thoroughly so that you know
meltdown / meltdan / noun the col- and can repeat all of it
meltdown
memory / mem()ri/ (plural memo-

memory
lapse of a nuclear power station because of

overheating (informal) ries) noun 1. (in people) the ability to re-
melting pot / melt pt/ noun a place
melting pot
member [/~for] I have a clear memory of
where people of different origins come to my first visit to France. My memory for
live together faces is poor. 2. (in computers) the capacity
member / memb/ noun 1. a person
member for storing information This computer
who belongs to a group The two boys has a much larger memory than the old
went swimming while the other members of one.
men /men/ plural of man
men
the family sat on the beach. Three mem-

menace / mens/ noun 1. someone or
menace
bers of staff are away sick. 2. an organisa-

tion or country which belongs to a group something which can harm people Shes
the members of the United Nations the an absolute menace on the motorway. 2. a
member states of the EU tone which threatens The menace in his
Member of Parliament /membr
Member of Parliament
voice made her shiver. verb (menaces,
v p
lmnt/ noun a person elected to menacing, menaced) to threaten The
represent a constituency in Parliament members of the gang were menaced with
(NOTE: often abbreviated to MP) imprisonment. Several regions are men-
aced by drought.
membership / membp/ noun 1.
membership
mend /mend/ (mends, mending,

mend
the state of belonging to a group I must

mended) verb to make something work
remember to renew my membership.
Membership costs 50 a year. 2. the mem- which has a fault Shes trying to mend the
washing machine.
bers of a group The club has a member-
meningitis /menn dats/ noun an in-
meningitis
ship of five hundred. |
flammation of the membranes which sur-

membrane / membren/ noun 1. a
membrane
round the brain and spinal cord, where the

thin layer of tissue which lines or covers patient has violent headaches, fever, and
part of the inside of the body A mem- stiff neck muscles, and can become deliri-
brane connecting the tongue to the bottom ous
of the mouth. 2. a thin material The metal
menopause / menp
z / noun the time
menopause
is covered with a waterproof membrane.

when a woman stops menstruating and can
memento /m ment/ (plural memen-
memento
|
no longer have children
tos or mementoes) noun a thing kept to re-
menstrual / menstrul/ adj referring to
menstrual
mind you of something menstruation

memo / mem/ noun a note or short
memo
menstruate / menstruet/ (menstru-

menstruate
message between people working in the ates, menstruating, menstruated) verb to

same organisation bleed from the uterus during menstruation
memoirs / memw
z/ plural noun an au-
memoirs
(NOTE: + menstruation n)
tobiographical work, written in a less for- mental / ment()l/ adj relating to the
mental
mal way than a full autobiography The mind Ive lost my calculator hows
general spent his retirement writing his your mental arithmetic?
memoirs. mentality /men tlti/ noun a way of
mentality
memorabilia /mem()r bli/ noun

|
memorabilia
|
thinking which is typical of someone or of
things which used to belong to a famous a group
person or organisation and are kept to re- mentally / ment()li / adv concerning the
mentally
mind you of them ability to think They were tested mentally

memorable / mem()rb()l/ adj which
memorable
and physically.
you cannot forget easily mention / menn/ (mentions, men-
mention
memorandum /mem rndm/ (plu-

memorandum
|
tioning, mentioned) verb to refer to some-
ral memorandums or memoranda) noun a thing [~(that)] The press has not men-
short note (NOTE: often shortened to memo) tioned the accident. Can you mention to
memorial /m m
ril/ noun a monu-
memorial
| everyone that the date of the next meeting

ment to remind you of something or some- has been changed?
mentor 394
mentor / ment
/ noun a person who meridian /m rdin / noun an imaginary
mentor meridian
teaches, or helps younger people starting line running from the North Pole to the
their careers South Pole at right angles to the equator (lit-
menu / menju
/ noun 1. a list of food erary)
menu
meringue /m r/ noun a sweet baked

meringue
available in a restaurant The lunch menu |
changes every week. Some dishes are not dessert made of egg whites and sugar
on the menu, but are written on a black- merit / mert/ noun the quality of being
merit
board. 2. a list of choices available on a good or excellent There is some merit in

computer program what he says, but I cant agree with all of
MEP abbr Member of the European Par-
MEP
it. This picture has no artistic merit what-
liament soever. verb (merits, meriting, merited)
mercenary / m#
s()n()ri/ (plural mer-
mercenary
to be worthy of or to deserve something
cenaries) noun a soldier who is paid to The plan merits further discussion. Her
fight for a foreign country He was one of essay only merited a B+.
mermaid / m#
med/ noun an imaginary
mermaid
a group of mercenaries hired to protect the

president. The national army was mainly creature, half woman and half fish
merry / meri/ (merrier, merriest) adj 1.
merry
formed of foreign mercenaries.

merchandise / m#
tndaz/ noun
merchandise
happy and cheerful I wish you a Merry
goods for sale Christmas. 2. slightly drunk We all got a
bit merry that evening.
merchandising / m#
t()ndaz/
merchandising
merry-go-round / meri ( rand/

| merry-go-round
noun products such as toys and clothes

which are related to a popular film, TV noun (in a fairground) a large machine,
programme, sports team, or event which turns round and plays music, usually
with horses to sit on which move up and
merchant / m#
tnt/ noun a business-
merchant
down
man who buys and sells a particular prod-
mesh /me/ noun an arrangement of
mesh
uct a tobacco merchant a wine mer-

chant threads with spaces in between like a net
We put wire mesh round the chicken pen to
merchant bank / m#
tnt bk/
merchant bank
keep foxes out. verb (meshes, meshing,

noun a bank which lends money to compa- meshed) (of gears) to link together with
nies, not to people cogs on another wheel For some reason
merchant navy /m#
tnt nevi /,
merchant navy
the gears on my bike dont mesh together

merchant marine noun a countrys com- properly.
mercial ships mess /mes/ noun dirt or disorder The
mess
merciful / m#
sf()l/ adj kind and for-
merciful
milk bottle broke and made a mess on the

giving, showing mercy They decided to floor. We had to clear up the mess after
confess their crime and hope the king the party.
would be merciful. mess about phrasal verb 1. to spend
merciless / m#
sls/ adj showing no your spare time doing something without
merciless
mercy having planned what to do He spends

mercy / m#
si/ noun 1. kindness towards
mercy
his weekends messing about in the gar-
unfortunate people The parents of the lit- den. 2. to mess someone about to treat
tle boy pleaded with the kidnappers for someone badly (informal) If you start
mercy. 2. a gift of fate at the mercy of de- messing me about, therell be trouble.
pendent on Cricket games are always at The garage has messed me about so
the mercy of the weather. The success of much Im going to take my car some-
the garden party is very much at the mercy where else for servicing.
of the weather. mess up phrasal verb 1. to make dirty
Youve messed up your brand new
mere /m/ adj simply, only
mere
school uniform! I hope it doesnt mess

merely / mli/ adv simply, only Im
merely
up your arrangements. 2. to spoil some-

not criticising you I merely said I would thing Im sorry we cant come I hope
have done it differently. it doesnt mess up your arrangements.
merge /m#
d/ (merges, merging,
merge
message / mesd/ noun information

message
merged) verb to join together with some- which is sent to someone I will leave a
thing message with his secretary. Can you give
merger / m#
d/ noun the joining to-
merger
the director a message from his wife? We

gether of two companies got his message by e-mail.
395 microchip
messaging / mesd / noun the proc- meter / mi
t/ noun 1. a piece of equip-
messaging meter
ess of sending a message using an electron- ment for counting how much of something
ic messaging system such as time, water or gas has been used
messenger / mesnd/ noun a per- He came to read the gas meter. 2. US spell-
messenger
son who brings a message ing of metre

messiah /m sa/ noun 1. a person who methadone / medn/ noun a syn-
methadone
messiah
has a great impact on something the mes- thetic painkilling drug, used as a substitute
siah of the ecological movement 2. Messi- for heroin in the treatment of addiction
method / med/ noun a way of doing
method
ah a name Christians use for Jesus Christ

For Christians, Christmas celebrates the something We use the most up-to-date
birth of the Messiah. 3. a person whom the manufacturing methods. What is the best
Jews expect will come to free them The method of payment?
coming of the Messiah is prophesied in the methodical /m dk()l/ adj done
methodical
Book of Isaiah. carefully, in an orderly way The police

messy / mesi/ (messier, messiest) adj
messy
carried out a methodical search of the

1. dirty Making pottery is a messy busi- house room by room.
ness. Little children are always messy methodology /me dldi/ noun
methodology
eaters. 2. unpleasant and disorganised It methods used in a certain process or study

was a long messy divorce case. meticulous /m tkjls/ adj being very
meticulous
met /met/ past tense and past participle careful about details to be meticulous in
met
of meet doing something or about something to

metabolism /m tblz()m/ noun
metabolism
| pay great attention to detail when you do

chemical processes which are continually something He is very meticulous in send-
taking place in organisms and which are ing off his tax return on time. They were
essential to life not very meticulous about their payments.
metal / met()l/ noun a material, such metre / mi
t/ noun a standard meas-
metal metre
as iron, which can carry heat and electricity urement of length, equal to 100 centime-
and is used for making things a metal fry- tres
ing pan These spoons are plastic but the metric / metrk/ adj using the metre as a
metric
knives are metal. basic measurement

metallic /me tlk/ adj like metal, refer- metro /metr/, Metro noun (in some
metallic metro
ring to metal Suddenly we heard a quiet towns) an underground railway system

metallic sound, like a chain being moved. metropolis /m trpls/ noun a large
metropolis
metamorphosis /met m
fss/
metamorphosis
| capital city
(plural metamorphoses) noun a change to metropolitan /metr plt()n/ adj re-
metropolitan
something quite different, especially an inferring to a large capital city She spent
sects change of form her childhood in a little village and found
metaphor / metf/ noun a way of de-
metaphor
it difficult to get used to the metropolitan

scribing something by giving it the quali- bustle of central London.
ties of something else, as in our eagle- Mexican wave /mekskn wev/ noun
Mexican wave
eyed readers soon spotted the mistake. an action when people watching an event
Compare simile stand up, raise their arms in turn, and then
mete
mete verb sit down, giving the impression of a wave

mete out phrasal verb to give a punish- running through the crowd
ment miaow /mja/ noun a call made by a cat
miaow
meteor / mi
ti/ noun a solid body which
meteor
We heard plaintive miaows coming from

enters the earths atmosphere from outer inside the cupboard. verb (miaows, mi-
space, usually burning up and shining aowing, miaowed) to make a miaow The
brightly as it does so cat was miaowing to be let in. ( NOTE: [all
meteoric / mi
ti rk/ adj sudden, unex- senses] The US spelling is meow.)
meteoric
mice /mas/ plural of mouse

mice
pected and very noticeable

meteorite / mi
tirat/ noun a piece of microbe / makrb/ noun a very small
meteorite microbe
solid rock which falls from outer space organism which can only be seen with a
onto the earths surface microscope
meteorology /mi
ti rldi/ noun the microchip / makrtp/ noun a very
meteorology microchip
study of climate and weather (NOTE: + me- small part, used in computers, with elec-
teorologist n) tronic connections on it
microcosm 396
microcosm / makrkz()m/ noun a middle ground / md()l (rand/ noun
microcosm middle ground
miniature version a position between extremes of opinion

microorganism /makr middleman / md()lmn/ (plural mid-
microorganism middleman
| |

(nz()m/ noun a very small organism dlemen) noun a businessman who buys
which can only be seen with a microscope from the manufacturer and sells to custom-
microphone / makrfn/ noun a ers
microphone
piece of electrical equipment used for mak- middle management /md()l

middle management
ing someones voice louder, or for record- mndmnt/ noun departmental man-
ing sound He had difficulty in making agers who are not as important as directors
himself heard without a microphone. middle name / md()l nem/ noun a
middle name
microprocessor / makrprses/

microprocessor
| second given name of someone

noun the central processing unit inside a middle-of-the-road /md()l v
middle-of-the-road
microcomputer rd/ adj (in politics) of the centre, moder-

microscope / makrskp/ noun a
microscope
ate
piece of equipment which makes things middle school / md()l sku
l/ noun a
middle school
look much bigger than they really are, al- state school for children in the UK from
lowing you to examine things which are age 8 to 13
very small midfield / mdfi
ld/ noun 1. the central
midfield
microscopic /makr skpk/ adj ex-

microscopic
|
section of a football pitch The goalkeeper
tremely small, or so small that you need to kicked the ball to midfield. 2. the players
use a microscope to see it who play in the midfield The midfield is
microwave / makrwev/ noun a small
microwave
the most important section of a football

oven which cooks very quickly using very team.
short electric waves Put the dish in the midfielder / mdfi
ld/ noun a member
midfielder
microwave for three minutes. verb (mi- of a football team active in the central area
crowaves, microwaving, microwaved) to of the playing field, often both in attack
cook something in a microwave You can and defence
microwave those potatoes. midget / mdt/ noun a very short per-
midget
mid-air /md e/ adj, adv in the air, fly-

mid-air
son (offensive)
ing The two planes collided in mid-air. midnight / mdnat/ noun twelve
midnight
A mid-air collision between the two planes. oclock at night I must go to bed its af-
midday / md de/ noun twelve
midday
|
ter midnight. We only reached the hotel
oclock in the middle of the day at midnight.
middle / md()l/ adj in the centre;
middle
midriff / mdrf/ noun the front part of

midriff
halfway between two ends They live in your body above the waist and below the
the middle house, the one with the green chest
door. in the middle 1. in the centre She
midst /mdst/ noun middle
midst
was standing in the middle of the road, try-

midsummer / md sm / noun the mid-
midsummer
ing to cross over. Chad is a country in the |
middle of Africa. 2. halfway through a pe- dle of the summer

midterm /mid t#
m/ noun a point half-
midterm
riod of time We were woken in the middle |
of the night by a dog barking. We were way through an academic term, or through
just in the middle of eating our supper a term of office midterm elections We
when they called. His telephone rang in have our midterm exam next week. Com-
the middle of the meeting. The house was pare half-term
midway /md we/ adv half-way We
midway
built in the middle of the eighteenth centu- |
ry. arranged to meet them midway between

middle-aged /md()l edd/ adj London and Oxford. The lights went out
middle-aged
between approximately 40 and 60 years midway through the performance.

midweek /md wi
k/ adj, adv in the
midweek
old |
middle class /md()l kl

s/ noun a middle of the week If you travel mid-
middle class
social or economic group of people who week, the fares are higher than if you travel
usually have more than enough money to at the weekend.
midwife / mdwaf/ (plural midwives)
midwife
live on, and who often own their own prop-

erty noun a professional nurse who helps a
Middle England / md()l (lnd/ woman give birth, often at home (formal)
Middle England
midwinter /md wnt/ noun the middle

midwinter
noun the section of English society which |
is regarded as socially traditional of the winter

397 millennium
miffed /mfd/ adj feeling annoyed or of- plan was welcomed. He had a mild heart
miffed
fended attack and was soon back to work again. 2.

might /mat/ modal verb 1. it is possi- not strong-tasting Well choose the mild-
might
ble Take an umbrella it might rain. If est curry on the menu.

mile /mal/ noun a measure of length,
mile
he isnt here, he might be waiting outside.

I might call in to see you tomorrow if I equal to 1.61 kilometres He thinks noth-
have time. That was a stupid thing to do ing of cycling ten miles to work every day.
you might have been killed! They might The car cant go any faster than sixty
win, but I wouldnt bet on it. 2. should miles per hour. The line of cars stretched
(have done) You might try and stay for three miles from the road works.
awake next time. he might have done mileage / mald/ noun 1. the distance
mileage
something to help it would have been bet- travelled in miles 2. to get a lot of or
ter if he had done something to help you more mileage out of something to take as
might have told me I wish you had told much advantage as possible of something
me You might have told me youd invited Can we get any more mileage out of his
her as well. 3. making a request politely appearance on TV?
Might I have another cup of tea? 4. used mileometer /ma lmt /, milometer
mileometer
for suggesting something You might like noun a device in a vehicle for recording the
to read this book. We havent got any distance travelled
bread left, but you might try the shop on the milestone / malstn/ noun an impor-
milestone
corner. (NOTE: The negative is might not or, tant point in time This year marks an im-
especially in speaking, mightnt. might is portant milestone in the firms history.
usually used with other verbs and is not fol- milieu / mi
lj#
/ noun a society which
milieu
lowed by to. Note also that might is used as surrounds someone

the past tense of may: They said they might militant / mltnt/ noun 1. a person who
militant
cancel the event if the weather was wet.) is very active in supporting a cause or a po-
noun strength She pulled at it with all her litical party The party must keep its mili-
might, and still could not move it. All the tants under control. 2. a person who sup-
might of the armed forces is displayed dur- ports a policy of using violence to achieve
ing the National Day parade. might aims A few militants in the march started
(just) as well used to refer to a different throwing stones at the police. (NOTE: + mil-
course of action They said the photos will itancy n)
be ready in 20 minutes, so we might as well
military / mlt()ri/ adj relating to the
military
wait. The letter was too late for the post,

armed forces The two leaders discussed
so I might as well have left it until tomor-
row. the possibility of military intervention.
Military spending has fallen over the past
mightnt short for might not
mightnt
three years.
mighty / mati / (mightier, mightiest) adj
mighty
militia /m l/ noun an emergency po-

militia
having a lot of force or strength (literary) lice force organised like an army
With one mighty heave he lifted the sack milk / mlk/ noun a white liquid pro-
milk
onto the lorry. All she could remember duced by some female animals to feed their
was getting a mighty blow on the head, and young, especially the liquid produced by
then everything went black. cows Do you want milk with your coffee?
migraine / mi
(ren, ma(ren/ noun a
migraine
Can we have two glasses of milk, please?

sharp headache often associated with vom- Dont forget to buy some milk, theres
iting and seeing bright lights none in the fridge.
migrant / ma(rnt/ noun a worker who milkman / mlkmn/ (plural milkmen)
migrant
milkman
moves from one job to another or from one noun a man who brings milk to each house
country to another to look for work The in the morning
government is trying to prevent migrants milk shake /mlk ek/ noun a drink
milk shake
coming into the country. made by beating milk with sweet liquid or
migrate /ma (ret/ (migrates, migrat-
migrate
|
fruit
ing, migrated) verb to move from one mill /ml/ noun 1. a small machine for
mill
place to another as the weather becomes turning seeds into powder There is a pep-
warmer or colder (NOTE: + migration n) per mill on the table. 2. a large factory a
mike /mak/ abbr microphone (informal)
mike
paper mill
mild /mald/ adj 1. not severe There millennium /m lenim/ (plural millen-
mild millennium
was some mild criticism, but generally the nia) noun a period of a thousand years
milligram 398
milligram / ml(rm/ noun one thou- birthday. 3. to look after someone or some-
milligram
sandth of a gram thing for someone, or while the owner is

millilitre / mlli
t/ noun a unit of meas- away Have you got anyone to mind the
millilitre
urement of liquid, equal to one thousandth children when you start work? never
of a litre (NOTE: usually written ml after fig- mind dont worry Never mind youll
ures. The US spelling is millimeter.) get another chance to enter the competi-
millimetre / mlmi
t/ noun one of a
millimetre
tion next year. would or do you mind
thousand parts of a metre (NOTE: usually asking politely Do you mind if I open the
written mm after figures: 35mm. The US window? Would you mind shutting the
spelling is millimeter.) door? wouldnt mind would rather like
million / mljn/ noun the number
million
I wouldnt mind a cup of coffee. mind
1,000,000 your own business! dont interfere with
other peoples affairs to have something
millionaire /mlj ne/ noun a per-
millionaire
in mind to be planning a decision about

|
son who has more than a million pounds or something or someone Lets do some-
a million dollars (NOTE: To show the curren- thing unusual this weekend what do you
cy in which a person is a millionaire, say a
have in mind? to have something on
dollar millionaire, a sterling millionaire,
your mind to be worrying about something
etc.)
Shes not her usual cheery self today I
millionth / mljn/, 1,000,000th adj,
millionth
think shes got something on her mind. to

noun relating to 1,000,000 in a series take someones mind off something to try
noun number 1,000,000 in a series to stop someone worrying about something
millisecond / mlseknd/ noun a unit
millisecond
|
Lets go out to take your mind off your in-
of measurement of time, equal to one thou- terview. to make up your mind (to do
sandth of a second something) to decide (to do something)
mime /mam/ (mimes, miming, mimed)
mime
I cant make up my mind whether to take

verb to tell a story or show emotions the afternoon off to do some shopping or
through gestures He mimed getting into a stay in the office and work. She couldnt
car and driving off. (NOTE: + mime n) make up her mind what clothes to wear to
mimic / mmk/ noun a person who imi-
mimic
the wedding. to change your mind to de-

tates A good mimic imitates a persons cide to do something different He was
body language as well as their voice. going to go by car but then changed his
verb (mimics, mimicking, mimicked) to mind and went by bus. He has decided to
copy the way someone speaks or behaves, go on holiday next week and nothing will
especially to amuse other people make him change his mind. to be in two
min abbr 1. minimum 2. minute
min
minds about something not to be sure
mince /mns/ he didnt mince his
mince
about something, to be undecided Im in
words he said what he had to say in a two minds about his proposal.
mind-blowing /mand bl/ adj ex-
mind-blowing
straightforward way
mind /mand/ noun the part of the body tremely impressive, surprising or shocking
mind
which controls memory and reasoning minder / mand/ noun a person who
minder
His mind always seems to be on other protects someone (informal) bodyguard 1

things. Ive forgotten her name it just mindful / mandf()l/ adj remembering
mindful
slipped my mind. I think about her night or thinking about something carefully
and day I just cant get her out of my when doing something He is mindful of
mind. My mind went blank as soon as I his responsibilities as a parent, even
saw the exam paper. to bear in mind to though his job often takes him away from
remember something that might change a home. You should be mindful of the risks
decision Bear in mind that it takes 2 you are taking in not following the guide-
hours to get there. Bear me in mind when lines.
youre looking for help. verb (minds,
mindless / mandls/ adj stupid, done
mindless
minding, minded) 1. to be careful [~(that)]

Mind the plate its hot! Mind that you
without thinking
mindset / mandset/ noun a way of
mindset
dont forget the meeting starts early at 4

oclock. 2. to be annoyed or upset by some- thinking, general attitude to things
mine /man/ pron belonging to me
mine
thing [~if/~(that)] There arent enough

chairs, but I dont mind standing up. No- That book is mine. Can I borrow your
body will mind if youre late. He didnt bike, mines been stolen. Shes a great
mind that his daughter had forgotten his friend of mine. noun a deep hole in the
399 mint
ground from which substances such as coal for drivers is 18. noun the smallest possi-
are taken The coal mine has stopped ble amount We try to keep expenditure to
working after fifty years. He has shares a minimum. She does the bare minimum
in an African gold mine. of study, just enough to pass her exams.
minefield / manfi
ld/ noun 1. an area of minimum wage /mnmm wed/
minefield minimum wage
land or sea where mines have been laid noun the lowest hourly wage which a com-
Minefields lay along both sides of the road. pany can legally pay its workers
2. a difficult and dangerous situation Try- mining / man/ noun 1. the action of
mining
ing to find your way round EU agriculture taking coal and other minerals out of the
regulations is an absolute minefield. The land We used a Welsh mining village as a
company got caught up in the minefield of base for climbing in the mountains. The
government tax regulations. company is engaged in mining for dia-
miner / man/ noun a person who works
miner
monds or in diamond mining. 2. the process

in a mine (NOTE: Do not confuse with mi- of placing mines underground or under wa-
nor.) ter The mining of the harbour was car-
mineral / mn()rl/ noun a substance, ried out by marines.
mineral
such as rock, which is dug out of the earth, miniskirt / mnisk#
t/ noun a skirt
miniskirt
or which is found in food What is the which is very short

mineral content of spinach? The compa- minister / mnst/ noun 1. the mem-
minister
ny hopes to discover valuable minerals in ber of a government in charge of a depart-

the mountains. ment The inquiry is to be headed by a
mineral water / mn()rl w
t/ noun
mineral water
former government minister. He was the

water from a spring Minister of Defence in the previous gov-
mingle / m(l/ (mingles, mingling,
mingle
ernment. 2. a clergyman
mingled) verb 1. to mix together The fla- ministerial /mn stril/ adj referring
ministerial
vours of chocolate and lemon mingle deli- to a government minister

ciously. 2. to mix, to join in a party The ministry / mnstri/ (plural ministries)
ministry
host and hostess started to mingle with noun a government department He works
their guests. in the Ministry of Defence. (NOTE: In the UK
mini- /mni/ adj, prefix very small
mini-
and the USA, important ministries are also

miniature / mnt/ adj much smaller
miniature
called departments: the Department of

than the usual size He has a miniature Work and Pensions, the Commerce Depart-
camera. ment.)
minibar / mnib
/ noun a refrigerator in mink /mk/ noun a small animal whose
minibar mink
a hotel room containing cold drinks fur is very valuable Mink are now found
minibus / mnibs/ noun a small bus in the wild in Britain.
minibus
holding about twelve passengers minnow / mn / noun a very small

minnow
minicab / mnikb/ noun a car which a

minicab
| freshwater fish
person drives as a taxi minor / man/ adj not very serious or
minor
minimal / mnm()l/ adj very low or

minimal
important It was just a minor injury.

small, the smallest possible She has a minor role in the film. He
minimalism / mnm()lz()m/ noun played a minor part in the revolution.
minimalism
1. a movement of abstract artists who pronoun a person under the age of 18, who is
duce paintings and sculptures that make not considered to be an adult We are for-
use of basic colours and geometric shapes bidden to serve alcohol to minors. (NOTE:
in impersonal arrangements. The move- Do not confuse with miner.)
ment started in New York in the 1960s. 2. a minority /ma nrti/ noun 1. a
minority
simple style in art, design or literature 3. a number or quantity which is less than half
style in music with a simplicity of rhythm of a total A large minority of members
and tone voted against the proposal. in the mi-
minimise / mnmaz/ (minimises, min- nority being less than half of the members
minimise
imising, minimised), minimize (minimiz- The men are in the minority. 2. the period
es, minimizing, minimized) verb to reduce when a person is less than 18 years old
to the smallest amount; to make something During the kings minority the country was
seem very small ruled by his uncle.
minimum / mnmm/ adj smallest mint /mnt/ (mints, minting, minted) verb
minimum mint
possible The minimum amount you can to make coins British coins are minted by
save is 25 per month. The minimum age the Royal Mint.
minus 400
minus / mans/ prep 1. reduced by misbehaviour /msb hevj/ noun bad
minus misbehaviour
Ten minus eight equals two (10 8 = 2). behaviour (NOTE: The US spelling is misbe-
Net salary is gross salary minus tax and havior.)
National Insurance deductions. 2. below misc. abbr miscellaneous
misc.
It was minus 10 degrees (-10) outside. miscalculate /ms klkjlet/ (miscal-

miscalculate
minuscule / mnskju
l/ adj very small
minuscule
culates, miscalculating, miscalculated)

minus sign / mans san/, minus noun verb to calculate wrongly (NOTE: + miscal-
minus sign
a symbol, (-), used to show a negative culation n)

miscarriage / mskrd/ noun the loss
miscarriage
quantity or subtraction
minute1 / mnt / noun 1. one of 60 parts
minute
of a baby during pregnancy She had two
of an hour There are sixty minutes in an miscarriages before having her first child.
miscarry /ms kri/ (miscarries, mis-
miscarry
hour, and sixty seconds in a minute. The |
doctor can see you for ten minutes only. carrying, miscarried) verb 1. (of a plan) to
The house is about ten minutes walk or is go wrong 2. to produce a baby which is not
a ten-minute walk from the office. 2. a very sufficiently developed to live She miscar-
short space of time Ill be ready in a ried three months into her pregnancy.
minute. Why dont you wait for a minute miscellaneous /ms lenis/ adj vari-
miscellaneous
and see if the dentist is free? I wont be a ous or mixed, not all of the same sort
minute Ill be very quick Im just going mischief / mstf/ noun behaviour, es-
mischief
to pop into the bank I wont be a minute. pecially by children, which causes trouble
at any minute, any minute now very
to make mischief to make trouble for
soon I expect the train to arrive at any other people Shes always trying to make
minute. mischief between me and the boss.
minute2 /ma nju
t/ adj extremely small
minute
mischievous / mstvs/ adj enjoying

mischievous
|
A minute piece of dust must have got into annoying people and causing trouble
the watch. Hes a very mischievous little boy. She
minutes / mnts/ plural noun notes taken
minutes
had a mischievous look in her eyes.

of what has been said at a meeting Who misconception / mskn sepn/
misconception
volunteers to take the minutes of the meet- noun a mistaken idea

ing? Copies of the minutes of the last misconduct /ms kndkt/ noun a
misconduct
meeting will be sent to all members of the wrong action by a professional person or
committee. worker
miracle / mrk()l/ noun 1. a very lucky
miracle
misdeed /ms di
d/ noun a wicked ac-
misdeed
event It was a miracle she was not killed tion

in the accident. 2. an event which you can- misdemeanour /msd mi
n/ noun a
misdemeanour
not explain, and which people believe hap- minor crime (NOTE: The US spelling is mis-
pens by the power of God She went to the demeanor.)
shrine and was cured it must have been a
miserable / mz()rb()l/ adj 1. very
miserable
miracle.
sad Shes been really miserable since her
miraculous /m rkjls/ adj wonder-
miraculous
|
boyfriend left her. 2. (of weather) bad or un-
ful, which cannot be explained pleasant What miserable weather will it
mirage / mr
/ noun an imaginary
mirage
ever stop raining?

sight caused by hot air, such as an oasis misery / mzri/ noun great unhappi-
misery
seen in a desert ness

mirror / mr/ noun a piece of glass
mirror
misfire /ms fa/ (misfires, misfiring,

misfire
with a metal backing which reflects an im- misfired) verb not to fire properly
age They looked at themselves in the mir- misfit / msft/ noun a person who does
misfit
ror. not fit in with a group, who does not fit into
mirth /m#
/ noun enjoyment, especially
mirth
society
shown by laughter misfortune /ms f
tn/ noun 1. bad
misfortune
/mspr
misapprehension
misapprehension | luck It was his misfortune to be born in

hen()n/ noun an incorrect understand- the year when his father was declared
ing bankrupt. 2. a piece of bad luck Misfor-
misbehave /msb hev/ (misbehaves, tunes never come singly.
misbehave
misgiving /ms (v/ noun a doubt or

misgiving
misbehaving, misbehaved) verb to behave |
badly fear that something will go wrong

401 mission statement

misguided /ms (add/ adj based on miss /ms/ verb (misses, missing,
misguided miss
wrong decisions missed) 1. not to hit something that you

mishandle /ms hnd()l/ (mishan- are trying to hit He missed the target.
mishandle
dles, mishandling, mishandled) verb 1. to She tried to shoot the rabbit but missed. 2.
deal with a situation badly 2. to treat some- not to see, hear or notice someone or some-
thing roughly thing We missed the road in the dark. I
mishap / mshp/ noun a little accident
mishap
missed the article about books in yester-
mishmash / mm/ noun a confusing
mishmash
|
days evening paper. I arrived late, so
mixture missed most of the discussion. 3. not to
catch something that you are trying to
misinform /msn f
m/ (misinforms,
misinform
|
catch He tried to catch the ball but he
misinforming, misinformed) verb to give missed it. She missed the last bus and had
someone the wrong information to walk home. 4. to be sad because some-
misinterpret /msn t#
prt/ (misinter-
misinterpret
|
one is not there any more Well all miss
prets, misinterpreting, misinterpreted) Jack when he retires. to miss doing
verb not to understand correctly something to be sad because you are not
misjudge /ms dd/ (misjudges, mis-
misjudge
| doing something any more I miss living

judging, misjudged) verb 1. to judge by the sea. noun an instance of not hitting
wrongly He misjudged the distance he something that you are trying to hit He
had to jump and fell into the ditch. 2. to hit the target twice and then had two miss-
form a wrong opinion about someone or es.
something I thought he was lazy, but I miss out on phrasal verb not to enjoy
obviously misjudged him. something because you are not there
mislay /ms le/ (mislays, mislaying,
mislay
| miss out phrasal verb to leave out, to

mislaid) verb to put something down and forget to put in
not to remember where it is Miss /ms/ noun a polite title given to a
Miss
mislead /ms li
d/ (misleads, mislead-
mislead
|
girl or woman who is not married Have
ing, misled) verb to give someone wrong you met Miss Jones, our new sales manag-
information er? The letter is addressed to Miss Anne
mismanagement /ms mndmnt/
mismanagement
| Smith. (NOTE: used before a surname, or a

noun bad organisation and management first name and surname)
(NOTE: + mismanage v) missile / msal/ noun a weapon which is
missile
mismatch / msmt/ noun a badly

mismatch
sent or thrown They think the plane was

matched pair brought down by an enemy missile. They
misnomer /ms nm/ noun a wrong
misnomer
| threw missiles at the police.

name missing / ms/ adj lost, which is not
missing
misogynist /m sdnst/ noun a man

misogynist
|
there Im looking for my missing car
who hates women keys. They found there was a lot of money
misplaced /ms plest/ adj directed at missing. The police searched everywhere
misplaced
the wrong person or thing for the missing children.

misprint / msprnt / noun a mistake in mission / m()n/ noun 1. an aim or
misprint mission
printing purpose for which someone is sent The

mispronounce /mspr nans/ (mis- students were sent on a mission to find the
mispronounce
pronounces, mispronouncing, mispro- best place to camp. 2. a group of people

nounced) verb to pronounce a sound or sent somewhere with a particular aim a
word wrongly United Nations peace mission Several
misquote
misquote
/ms kwt/ (misquotes, |

firms took part in a business mission to Ja-
misquoting, misquoted) verb to quote pan. A rescue mission was sent out into
someone or something incorrectly the mountains.
misread /ms ri
d/ (misreads, misread- missionary / m()n()ri/ (plural mis-
missionary
misread
ing, misread) verb 1. to read something in- sionaries) noun a person who tries to con-
correctly 2. to misinterpret something vert people to his or her religion Europe-
misrepresent /msrepr zent / (mis-
misrepresent
|
an missionaries tried to convert the inhab-
represents, misrepresenting, misrepre- itants of the Pacific Islands.
/ m()n
mission statement
sented) verb to report what someone mission statement

thinks wrongly (NOTE: + misrepresenta- stetmnt/ noun a statement which gives
tion n) the aims of an organisation
misspell 402
misspell /ms spel/ (misspells, mis- mite /mat/ noun 1. a tiny animal of the
misspell mite
spelling, misspelt) verb to spell wrongly spider family which lives in soil or is a par-
mist /mst/ noun tiny drops of water that asite on animals or plants House mites
mist
hang in the air Early morning mist cov- can cause allergies. 2. a very small child
ered the fields. The poor little mite looks half-starved.
mistake /m stek/ noun an act or be- mitigate / mt(et / (mitigates, mitigat-
mistake mitigate
lief that is wrong There are lots of mising, mitigated) verb to make less serious
takes in this essay. Youve made a mis- (NOTE: + mitigation n)
take my name is David, not John. verb mitt /mt/ noun a padded glove worn by a
mitt
(mistakes, mistaking, mistook, mistaken) baseball player

to not understand or not realise something mix /mks/ (mixes, mixing, mixed)
mix
Theres no mistaking him, with his red verb to combine things She made the
hair and purple anorak. by mistake as an cake by mixing eggs and flour.
accident They sent the wrong items by mix up phrasal verb to think that a per-
mistake. By mistake she put my letter into son or thing is someone or something
an envelope for the chairman. We took else I always mix her up with her sister.
the wrong bus by mistake. He put my coat mixed /mkst/ adj 1. made up of differ-
mixed
on by mistake in the cloakroom. ent things put together The recipe uses
mistaken /m stekn/ adj wrong
mistaken
|
mixed herbs. 2. involving different age
mister / mst/ noun a way of addressing
mister
groups, ethnic groups or sexes The reac-

a man (= Mr.) Whats the time, mister? tion to the proposal has been rather mixed
mistook /m stk/ past tense of mis- some people approve, but others disap-
mistook
take prove. 3. involving some good things and

mistreat / ms tri
t/ (mistreats, mistreat- some bad things There has been a mixed
mistreat
ing, mistreated) verb to treat something or reaction to our proposal. in mixed com-
someone badly or roughly pany when both men and women are to-
mistress / mstrs/ noun 1. a woman gether Thats not the sort of joke you can
mistress
who has a sexual relationship with a man tell in mixed company.

mixed blessing /mkst bles/ noun
mixed blessing
without being married to him She had en-

gaged a detective to follow her husband something which can have advantages and
and photograph him with his mistress. 2. a disadvantages as well
mixed salad noun a salad that includes
mixed salad
woman teacher the geography mistress 3.

a woman in charge of or who owns an ani- lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and other
mal The dog chased after a rabbit but vegetables
came back when his mistress whistled. mixed school / mkst sku
l/ noun a
mixed school
mistrust /ms trst/ noun not having school for both boys and girls
mistrust
any confidence The occupying army mixed up /mkst p/ adj confused in
mixed up
aroused considerable mistrust in the local your mind to be mixed up in or with to

population. (NOTE: + mistrust v) be part of or involved in something He
misunderstand /msnd stnd/ was mixed up in the bank scandal. How
misunderstand
(misunderstands, misunderstanding, did she get mixed up with those awful peo-
misunderstood) verb not to understand ple?
correctly mixer / mks/ noun a machine for mix-
mixer
misunderstanding /msnd ing

misunderstanding
stnd/ noun a situation where some- mixture / mkst/ noun 1. a number

mixture
thing has not been understood correctly of things mixed together a mixture of
misunderstood /msnd std/ adj flour, fat and water 2. something made up
misunderstood
not appreciated because people do not un- of different types of thing His latest
derstand you. misunderstand paintings are a strange mixture of shapes
misuse1 /ms ju
s/ noun a wrong use and colours.
misuse
mix-up / mks p/ noun a confusion

mix-up
The directors of the charity were accused

of misuse of funds. moan /mn/ noun a low sound made by
moan
misuse2 /ms ju
z/ (misuses, misusing, someone who is in pain or upset The res-
misuse
misused) verb to use something in a wrong cue team could hear moans from under the
way She misused the money which she wreckage. When she read the news she
had been given to look after. He felt mis- gave a loud moan. verb (moans, moan-
used when the company refused to help ing, moaned) to make a low sound as if
him. you are in pain I could hear someone
403 modern-day
moaning in the bathroom. They could spends his time making model planes. 2. a
hear someone moaning in the cellar. good example of something [/~for] The
moat /mt / noun a wide ditch with water conference was a model of good organisa-
moat
in it, made as a protection round a castle or tion. Their report can be used as a model
town for all the other departments. 3. a person
mob /mb/ noun a large number of people who wears new clothes to show them to
mob
behaving in a noisy, angry or uncontrolled customers He used only top models to

way Mobs of looters ran through the show his designs during the London Fash-
streets. An angry mob surged towards the ion Week. 4. a particular type of product
factory gates. produced at a particular time This is this
mobile / mbal/ adj able to move or
mobile
years model. He bought a 1979 model
be moved a mobile library noun 1. a Mini. verb (models, modelling, mod-
mobile phone Ill call him on his mobile. elled) 1. to wear newly designed clothes to
He gave me the number of his mobile. 2. show to customers She is modelling the
an object made of small pieces of metal, autumn collection by Dior. 2. to make
card etc., which when hung up move shapes in clay He modelled a statue of
around with the movements of the air the little girl. 3. to copy something [~on]
They bought a mobile of clowns to hang The garden is modelled on the famous one
over the babys cot. at Versailles.
mobile home /mbal hm/ noun modelling / md()l/ noun 1. the job
modelling
mobile home
US a large caravan in which people can live of being a fashion model With your looks
permanently, which is usually based in a you could take up modelling as a career. 2.
special park the process of making models (NOTE: [all
mobile phone /mbal fn/ noun senses] The US spelling is modeling.)
mobile phone
a small telephone which you can carry modem / mdem/ noun a device
modem
around. Compare landline which links a computer to the telephone

mobility /m blti/ noun being able to
mobility
|
lines, so as to send data. Full form modula-
move easily tor-demodulator
mobster / mbst/ noun especially US a
mobster
moderate1 / md()rt / adj not exces-

moderate
member of a criminal gang (informal) sive She had moderate success in her ex-
mocha / mk / noun 1. a type of strong
mocha
ams. The economy has ended a period of

dark coffee 2. a coffee and chocolate fla- steady moderate growth. The unions
vouring used in baking wage demands are really quite moderate.
mock / mk/ (mocks, mocking, mocked)
mock
noun a person whose political ideas are not

verb to laugh at someone or something in very violent After years of struggle the
an unkind way Dont mock the singer moderates have gained control of the par-
hes doing the best he can. ty.
mockery / mkri / noun 1. a thing which
mockery
moderate2 / mdret/ (moderates,

moderate
is only a bad imitation, which is of no use moderating, moderated) verb to make or

The trial was a mockery of justice. 2. the
become less strong They moderated their
action of laughing at someone or some- demands. As the wind moderated, the
thing in an unkind way He could see the waves became smaller.
mockery in her eyes. to make a mockery
moderation /md re()n/ noun the
moderation
of something to make something seem |
useless The exam makes a mockery of the fact of not being excessive
modern / md()n/ adj referring to the
modern
governments insistence on educational

standards. present time It is a fairly modern inven-
mock-up / mk p / noun a scale model tion it was patented only in the 1980s.
mock-up
of a new product for testing purposes You expect really modern offices to have
modal verb / md()l v#
b/ noun a air-conditioning systems.
modal verb
verb such as can, which is used with an- modern-day / md()n de/ adj 1. at the
modern-day
other verb to express an idea such as possi- present time Modern-day living is be-
bility coming more and more stressful. 2. exist-
mode /md/ noun a way of doing
mode
ing now, but very similar to somebody or

something something that existed in the past The
model / md()l/ noun 1. a small ver- army needs a modern-day Napoleon to
model
sion of something larger The exhibition lead it. Hes a modern-day equivalent of
has a model of the new town hall. He a Victorian factory owner.
modernity 404
modernity /m d#
nti/ noun the quali- verb to rub a cream or liquid onto your skin
modernity
ty or idea of being modern or up-to-date to prevent it from being dry

/md()n molar / ml/ noun a large back tooth
molar
modern languages
modern languages
l(wdz/ plural noun languages which used for grinding food

are spoken today Shes studying German molasses /m lsz/ noun a thick black
molasses
and Italian in the modern languages de- syrup removed from sugar as it is being re-
partment. fined (NOTE: The usual British term is black
modest / mdst/ adj not telling other treacle.)
modest
people about your achievements He was mold /mld, mldi/, moldy US spell-
mold
very modest about his gold medal. ing of mould, mouldy

modesty / mdsti/ noun 1. the quality mole /ml/ noun 1. a small animal
modesty mole
of being modest Modesty forbids me to with soft dark grey fur, which lives under
mention all my other achievements. 2. the the ground 2. a small dark spot on the skin
quality of not being excessive, being quite She has a little mole on her cheek. The
small We think he stole some money from doctor removed a mole from the back of her
the petty cash box, but in view of the mod- hand.
esty of the sum involved, we wont report it molecule / mlkju
l/ noun the smallest
molecule
to the police. 3. a reservation about show- unit in a substance that can exist by itself
ing parts of your body molest /m lest/ (molests, molesting,
molest
modicum / mdkm/ noun a fairly

modicum
molested) verb to attack a child or a wom-

small amount an, especially in a sexual way
modification /mdf ke()n/ mollify / mlfa/ (mollifies, mollifying,
modification
mollify
noun an alteration mollified) verb to make someone less an-

modifier / mdfa/ noun a word or noyed or less upset
modifier
phrase that affects the meaning of another, mollusc / mlsk/ noun an animal with
mollusc
usually describing it or restricting its no backbone, but usually with a soft body
meaning. Pink in the phrase the pink rib- and a shell, such as a snail or an oyster
bon and fire in the compound fire (NOTE: The US spelling is mollusk.)
alarm are modifiers. mollycoddle / mlikd()l/ (molly-
mollycoddle
modify / mdfa/ (modifies, modifying,

modify
coddles, mollycoddling, mollycoddled)

modified) verb to change something to suit verb to treat someone in an overprotective
a different situation The design was mod- and overindulgent way
ified to make the car faster. molten / mltn/ adj which has become
molten
modular / mdjl/ adj made of various

modular
liquid with heat molten lava

modules mom /mm/ noun US a childs name
mom
module / mdju
l/ noun a part of
module
for mother (informal) His mom always

something such as a course of study, which waits for him outside school. (NOTE: The
is made up of various sections The sci- British term is mum or mummy.)
ence course is made up of a series of mod- moment / mmnt/ noun a very
moment
ules. short time Can you please wait a moment

mogul / m(()l/ noun the boss of a
mogul
the doctor is on the phone? I only saw

large business organisation, especially a her for a moment. in a moment in a short
film or a TV company time from now
mohair / mhe/ noun a very soft wool momentary / mmnt()ri/ adj which
mohair momentary
from a type of goat only lasts for a short time

moist /mst/ adj slightly wet, often in momentous /m ments/ adj very im-
moist momentous
a pleasant way To clean the oven, just portant

wipe it with a moist cloth. The cake momentum /m mentm/ noun a for-
momentum
should be moist, not too dry. ward movement

moisten / ms()n/ (moistens, mois-
moisten
Mon. abbr Monday

Mon.
tening, moistened) verb to make slightly monarch / mnk/ noun the king or
monarch
wet queen
moisture / mst/ noun small drops monarchy / mnki/ (plural monar-
moisture
monarchy
of water in the air or on a surface (NOTE: no chies) noun 1. a system of government

plural) with a hereditary ruler such as a king or
moisturise (moisturises, moisturising,
moisturise
queen Theres a big debate about wheth-

moisturised), moisturize (moisturizes) er we should get rid of the monarchy and
405 monotony
become a republic. 2. a country ruled by a monkey business / mki bzns /
monkey business
monarch All European countries with noun tricks, cheating

kings or queens are constitutional monar- monkey wrench / mki rent/ noun a
monkey wrench
chies. large spanner with an adjustable grip

monastery / mnst()ri/ (plural mon-
monastery
monochrome / mnkrm/ adj ap-

monochrome
asteries) noun a religious establishment pearing only in black, white or grey

where monks live; the buildings of such a monogamous /m n(ms/ adj
monogamous
place. Compare convent where a person has only one husband or

Monday / mnde/ noun the first day
Monday
wife
of the working week, the day between Sun- monogamy / m n(mi/ noun the sys-
monogamy
day and Tuesday Some stores are shut on tem of marriage to only one person at a
Mondays. She had to go to the doctor last time
Monday. The 15th is a Sunday, so the
monogram / mn(rm/ noun the ini-
monogram
16th must be a Monday.

tials of a name linked together artistically
monetary / mnt()ri/ adj referring
monetary
monolingual / mn l(wl/ adj 1.

monolingual
to money or currency |
speaking only one language 2. written or

money / mni / noun 1. coins or notes
money
made in only one language

which are used for buying things How monolith / mnl/ noun 1. a tall rock
monolith
much money have you got in the bank?

standing by itself 2. something large, un-
He doesnt earn very much money. We changeable and out-of-date, especially a
spent more money last week than in the
long-established organisation
previous month. We ran out of money in
monolithic / mn lk/ adj 1. built us-
monolithic
Spain and had to come home early. 2. the |
type of coins and notes used in a country ing very large stones or blocks of some
I want to change my British pounds into other material 2. large, uniform in charac-
Mexican money. 3. to make money to ter, and slow to change
monologue / mnl(/ noun a long
monologue
make a profit
money market / mni m
kt/ noun a
money market
speech by one actor or other person alone
market for buying and selling short-term (NOTE: The US spelling is monolog.)
monopolise /m nplaz/ (monopo-
monopolise
loans |
money order / mni

d/ noun a doc-
money order
lises, monopolising, monopolised), mo-
ument which can be used for passing mon- nopolize verb to use something entirely for
ey from one person to another through the yourself Dont monopolise the computer
post let some of the others have a go.
monopoly /m npli/ (plural monopo-
monopoly
mongrel / m(rl/ adj, noun a dog of

mongrel
|
lies) noun a system where one person or

mixed breed Theyve bought a mongrel
puppy. company supplies all of a product in one
area without any competition
monitor / mnt/ noun the screen of
monitor
monorail / mnrel/ noun a railway

monorail
a computer, or a small television screen |
in which trains travel along a single rail

used for checking what is happening My
monosyllabic /mns lbk/ adj 1.
monosyllabic
computer has a colour monitor. Details |
of flight arrivals and departures are dis- (of words) with only one syllable mono-
played on monitors around the airport. syllabic words such as hat and cat 2.
verb (monitors, monitoring, monitored) to using short simple words and not saying
check or to watch over the progress of much In answer to the reporters ques-
something Doctors are monitoring her tions he gave a series of monosyllabic re-
heart condition. How do you monitor the plies.
monosyllable / mnslb()l/ noun
monosyllable
performance of the sales staff? |
monk /mk/ noun a man who is a mem-

monk
a word which only has one syllable
monotone / mntn/ noun 1. a sound
monotone
ber of a religious group who live together

in a monastery, away from other people. that stays at the same pitch without rising
Compare friar (NOTE: The equivalent wom- or falling 2. a lack of variety in colour, or
en are nuns.) some other quality
monkey / mki/ noun a tropical animal monotonous /m nt()ns / adj bor-
monotonous
monkey
|
which lives in trees and normally has a ing and never changing
monotony /m nt()ni/ noun a lack of
monotony
long tail Monkeys ran up the trees look- |
ing for fruit. variety, which leads to boredom

monsoon 406
monsoon /mn su
n/ noun a season of and shines at night The first man walked
monsoon
wind and rain in tropical countries At last on the moon in 1969. The moon is shin-
the monsoon brought relief after the hot ing very brightly tonight. Theres no
dry summer. moon because its cloudy. once in a blue
monster / mnst/ noun a strange and moon very rarely (informal ) We only go to
monster
frightening animal The Loch Ness Mon- the theatre once in a blue moon. to be
ster is said to be a large dinosaur living in over the moon about something to be
the bottom of Loch Ness in Scotland. She very happy and excited Shes over the
drew a picture of a green monster with pur- moon about her exam results. Theyre ab-
ple horns and huge teeth. adj very large solutely over the moon with their first baby.
moonbeam / mu
nbi
m/ noun a ray of
moonbeam
Look at the monster cabbage Dads grown

in the garden. What a monster sandwich! light from the moon
monstrosity /mn strsti/ noun a hor- moonlight / mu
nlat/ noun the light
monstrosity moonlight
rible, large, ugly thing from the moon We could see the path
monstrous / mnstrs/ adj 1. huge and clearly in the moonlight.
monstrous
moonlighting / mu
nlat/ noun the
moonlighting
ugly a monstrous sea serpent 2. very

shocking or unfair Thats a monstrous activity of doing a second job, usually in
accusation. the evening, separate from your regular job
month /mn/ noun one of the twelve (informal)
month
moonlit / mu
nlt/ adj lit by light from
moonlit
parts that a year is divided into December

is the last month of the year. What day of the moon
the month is it today? There was a lot of moor / m/ noun a large area of poor
moor
hot weather last month, in fact it was hot land covered with grass and small bushes
all month long. Shes taken a months The horsemen galloped across the moor.
holiday to visit her parents in Australia. The Lake District is wild country, full of
We havent had any homework for months. moors and forests. verb (moors, moor-
monthly / mnli / adj, adv happening ing, moored) to attach a boat to something
monthly
every month He is paying for his car by The boat was moored to the river bank.
monthly instalments. My monthly salary He moored his boat with a piece of rope.
cheque is late. She gets paid monthly. mooring / mr/ noun 1. a place where
mooring
monument / mnjmnt/ noun a stone, a boat, ship, or aircraft can be held still or
monument
building or statue, built in memory of tied up 2. a chain or rope used for holding
someone who is dead They put up a mon- still or tying up a boat, ship, or aircraft
ument to the people from the village who moose /mu
s/ (plural same) noun a large
moose
died in the war. deer from North America

monumental /mnj ment()l/ adj 1. moot /mu
t/ (moots, mooting, mooted)
monumental moot
very large and impressive Brahms mon- verb to raise a question The idea was first
umental Fourth Symphony 2. very serious mooted in 1967.
He made a monumental error. mop /mp/ (mops, mopping, mopped)
mop
moo /mu
/ (moos, mooing, mooed) verb verb to wash something with a mop She
moo
to make a noise like a cow The cows were was mopping the kitchen floor.
mooing because they wanted to be milked. mop up phrasal verb 1. to clear up spilt
(NOTE: + moo n) liquid Use a cloth to mop up the water
mood /mu
d/ noun 1. the way you are on the floor. We spent days mopping up
mood
feeling at a particular time Wait until after the floods. 2. to overcome small
shes in a good mood and then ask her. groups of enemy fighters It took our
The boss is in a terrible mood this morn- soldiers several days to mop up the last
ing. Her mood changed as soon as she pockets of enemy resistance in the moun-
opened the letter. A mood of gloom fell tains.
over the office. 2. a period of bad temper mope /mp/ (mopes, moping, moped)
mope
Dont talk to the boss hes in one of his verb to sit miserably, thinking about how
moods. bad things are
moody / mu
di / (moodier, moodiest) adj moped / mped/ noun a two-wheeled
moody moped
often in a bad temper; changing quickly cycle with a low-powered engine (NOTE: Do
from being in a good mood to a bad one not confuse with the verb moped / mpd/
(NOTE: + moodily adv) .)
moon /mu
n/ noun an object in the sky moral / mrl/ adj 1. relating to right
moon moral
like a planet which goes round the Earth and wrong behaviour Judges have a mor-
407 most
al obligation to be impartial. He refused in Paris for lunch you have to get the early
to join the army on moral grounds. 2. relat- morning train.
ing to good behaviour Shes a very moral moron / m
rn / noun a very stupid per-
moron
person. noun something which you can son (insult)

learn from a story [~of] There must be a morose /m rs/ adj miserable and bad-
morose
moral in this somewhere. The moral of tempered

the story is that if you always tell lies, no morphine / m
fi
n/ noun a drug made
morphine
one will believe you when you tell the truth. from opium, used to relieve pain
morale /m r
l/ noun a confident
morale
morsel / m
s()l/ noun a small piece,
morsel
|
feeling particularly of food

moralise / mrlaz/ (moralises, moral-
moralise
mortal / m
t()l/ adj 1. human and
mortal
ising, moralised), moralize verb to draw a therefore bound to die 2. referring to injury
lesson from a story or event serious enough to cause someone to die
moralistic /mr lstk/ adj attempting
moralistic
|
He suffered a mortal blow in the fight.
or intending to teach people the difference noun an ordinary human being (informal)
between right and wrong mortality /m
tlti/ noun the state
mortality
morality /m rlti/ noun a sense of

morality
| of being a human, and knowing that all hu-

moral standards man beings must die Having a heart at-
morally / mrli/ adv according to the tack makes you acutely aware of your own
morally
principles of correct human behaviour mortality.

moral support / mrl s p
t/ noun mortally / m
t()li/ adv ending in death
moral support mortally
encouragement and support intended to He was mortally wounded in battle.

mortar / m
t/ noun a bowl for crushing
mortar
give someone more confidence

moratorium /mr t
rim/ (plural things with a pestle Crush the seeds with
moratorium
moratoriums or moratoria) noun a tempo- a mortar and pestle.

mortgage / m
(d/ noun an agree-
mortgage
rary stop, such as to repayments of money

owed ment by which someone lends money on
morbid / m
bd/ adj showing an un- the security of a property [~on] He took
morbid
healthy interest in death or unpleasant out a mortgage on the house. She bought
things Even as a little boy he showed a a house with a 200,000 mortgage. verb
morbid curiosity in skeletons. All this (mortgages, mortgaging, mortgaged) to
talk about death and decomposition seems give a property as security for a loan He
distinctly morbid to me. mortgaged his house to set up his business.
Because his house was already mort-
more /m
/ adj extra, which is added
more
Do you want any more tea? There are gaged, he had to take out a second mort-
many more trains during the week than at gage to pay for his car.
mortified / m
tfad/ adj feeling ex-
mortified
the weekend. adv used with adjectives to

make the comparative form The dog was treme embarrassment or shame
mortuary / m
tjuri/ (plural mortuar-
mortuary
more frightened than I was. She is much

more intelligent than her sister. The din- ies) noun a place where dead bodies are
ner was even more unpleasant than I had kept before burial
mosaic /m zek/ noun a picture made
mosaic
thought it would be. pron an extra thing |
or amount Is there any more of that soup? of tiny pieces of coloured stone, glass, etc.,
300 for that suit thats more than I can stuck to a wall or floor, etc.
afford! Weve only got nine men, we need mosque /msk/ noun a building
mosque
two more to make a football team. where Muslims meet for prayer
moreover /m
r v/ adv in addi- mosquito /m ski
t/ noun a small
moreover
mosquito
| |
tion Its freezing cold, and moreover flying insect which bites people and ani-
youre too young to go out in the dark. mals and sucks their blood
morgue /m
(/ noun a building where moss /ms/ noun a small green plant like
morgue moss
dead bodies are kept before being buried fur, growing in compact low clumps in
morning / m
n/ noun the first part damp places on the ground or on stones
morning
most /mst/ adj the largest number of

most
of the day, before 12 oclock Every

morning he took his briefcase and went to Most people go on holiday in the sum-
the office. Tomorrow morning we will be mer. He spends most evenings watching
meeting our Japanese agents. Have you TV. Most apples are sweet. pron a very
read the morning paper? If we want to be large number or amount Most of the work
mostly 408
was done by my wife. She spent most of to set something in motion to make some-
the evening on the phone to her sister. It thing start to happen Now that we have
rained for most of our holiday. Most of planning permission for the new sports
the children in the group can ride bikes. hall, we can set things in motion to get the
adv used with adjectives and the for mak- foundations laid.
ing the superlative form Shes the most motionless / m()n()ls/ adj not
motionless
intelligent child in the class. The most moving

important thing if you are a sales repre- motion picture /m()n pkt/
motion picture
sentative is to be able to drive a car. to noun US a cinema film

make the most of something to get as motivate / mtvet/ (motivates, moti-
motivate
much profit or value from something as vating, motivated) verb to encourage

possible You should make the most of the someone to do something
warm weather before the snows come. at motivated / mt vetd/ adj having
motivated
(the) most no more than There were

enough interest or determination to do
twenty people at the most in the theatre. something
mostly / mstli/ adv 1. usually, most
mostly
motivation /mt ve()n/ noun en-

motivation
often We sometimes go to France for our

|
couragement or determination to do some-

holidays, but we mostly stay in Britain. 2. thing
almost all The staff are mostly women of
motive / mtv/ noun a reason for doing
motive
about twenty.
something The police are trying to find a
MOT / em a ti
/ noun in the United
MOT
Kingdom, an annual test to check that a car motive for the murder.
motley / mtli/ adj of varied types or col-
motley
or other vehicle is safe on the roads

motel /m tel/ noun a hotel for car driv-
motel ours
motor / mt/ noun the part of a ma-
| motor
ers which is near a main road and where

there are plenty of parking spaces chine which makes it work The model
moth /m/ noun a flying insect similar to
moth plane has a tiny electric motor.
motorbike / mtbak/ noun a motor-
motorbike
a butterfly, but which has brown wings and

flies mainly at night cycle
motorboat / mtbt/ noun a boat
motorboat
mother / m/ noun a woman who

mother
has children Hes twenty-two but still driven by a motor

motorcade / mtked/ noun US an
motorcade
lives with his mother. Her mothers a

dentist. Mother! Theres someone asking official procession of cars
motorcycle / mtsak()l/ noun a
motorcycle
for you on the telephone.

motherboard / mb
d/ noun the type of large bicycle driven by a motor
motherboard
motoring / mtr/ noun the driving

motoring
main circuit board in a computer

motherhood / mhd/ noun the state of a car (dated) The costs of motoring or
motherhood
of being a mother motoring costs seem to increase year by

mother-in-law / mr n l
/ (plural
mother-in-law
year.
motorised / mtrazd/, motorized
motorised
mothers-in-law) noun the mother of your

wife or husband adj driven by, or working with the help of a
motherly / mli/ adj like a mother motor
motherly
mother-of-pearl /mr v p#
l/ motorist / mtrst/ noun a person
motorist
mother-of-pearl
noun a shiny substance found on the inside who drives a car

motor neurone disease /mt
motor neurone disease
of oyster shells
Mothers Day / mz de/ noun a day
Mothers Day
njrn dzi
z/ noun an illness that af-
|
in the spring when mothers get presents or fects the motor neurons, gradually affect-
cards or flowers from their children ing all the bodys physical functions
mother tongue / m t/ noun the motor racing /mt res/ noun the
motor racing
mother tongue
language which you spoke when you were sport of racing fast cars
motor vehicle /mt vi
k()l/ noun
motor vehicle
a little child
motif / m ti
f/ noun a particular pat- any road vehicle that works by means of an
motif
tern which is repeated in a design or in a engine

motorway / mtwe/ noun a road
motorway
piece of music
motion / m()n/ noun the act of with several lanes, on which traffic can
motion
moving The motion of the ship made him travel at high speeds
mottled / mt()ld/ adj marked with an
mottled
feel ill. in motion moving Do not try to

get on or off while the train is in motion. uneven pattern of different colours
409 mouthful
motto / mt/ noun a short phrase mourn /m
n/ (mourns, mourning,
motto mourn
which is used to sum up an attitude Be mourned) verb to feel very sad about
Prepared is the motto of the Scouts. someone or something
mould / mld/, mold noun 1. a type of mourner / m
n / noun a person who
mould mourner
soft earth 2. a hollow shape into which a mourns someone who has died
liquid is poured, so that when the liquid be- mournful / m
nf()l/ adj very sad
mournful
comes hard it takes that shape Gold bars mourning / m

n/ noun 1. a period of
mourning
are made by pouring molten gold into time when you grieve over the death of a
moulds. 3. a grey fungus which looks like person The official period of mourning
powder Throw that bread away its got for the dead president was one week. 2.
mould on it. (NOTE: [all noun senses] The dark clothes worn as a mark of respect for
US spelling is mold.) verb (moulds, someone who has died Only the close
moulding, moulded) to shape something family members wore mourning to the fu-
She moulded a little dog out of clay. neral. (NOTE: Do not confuse with morn-
moulding / mld/ noun a thing which
moulding
ing.)
has been moulded, especially plaster deco- mouse /mas/ (plural mice) noun 1. a
mouse
rations on the ceiling of a room (NOTE: The small animal with a long tail, often living
US spelling is molding.) in holes in the walls of houses I saw a
mouldy / mldi/ adj covered with
mouldy
mouse sitting in the middle of the kitchen

mould (NOTE: The US spelling is moldy.) floor. Our cat is good at catching mice. 2.
moult /mlt/ (moults, moulting, moult-
moult
a piece of computer equipment which is

ed), molt verb to lose feathers or hair at a held in the hand and moved across a flat
certain period of the year (NOTE: The US surface, used to control activity on the
spelling is molt.) screen You can cut, paste and copy using
mound /mand/ noun 1. a small hill the mouse. Using the mouse, move the
mound
They built a mound of stones to mark the cursor to the start button and click twice.
farthest point they reached. The castle is Click twice on the mouse to start the pro-
built on top of a mound. Stonehenge is gram.
surrounded by burial mounds. 2. a heap of mouse mat /mas mt/, mouse pad
mouse mat
things Theres a mound of letters waiting /mas pd/ noun a soft plastic mat on
to be signed. which you move a mouse around
mount /mant/ (mounts, mounting, mousse /mu
s/ noun a light food made
mount mousse
mounted) verb 1. to climb on to some- of whipped eggs, cream and flavouring

thing; to climb up something They moustache /m st
/ noun the hair
moustache
mounted their horses and rode off. He grown on the upper lip (NOTE: The US spell-
mounted the stairs two at a time. The car ing is mustache.)
turned, mounted the pavement, and hit a mouth1 /ma/ noun 1. the opening in
mouth
wall. 2. to increase Tension is mounting your face through which you take in food
as the time for the football final approach- and drink, and which has your teeth and
es. tongue inside Its not polite to talk with
mountain / mantn/ noun a very
mountain
your mouth full. He snored because he

high piece of land, rising much higher than slept with his mouth open. The cat was
the land which surrounds it Every week- carrying a mouse in its mouth. 2. a wide or
end we go climbing in the Scottish moun- round entrance The mouth of the cave is
tains. hidden by bushes. The train came out of
mountain bike / mantn bak/ noun a
mountain bike
the mouth of the tunnel. New York is built

strong bike with thick tyres, used for coun- on the mouth of the Hudson river.
try cycling mouth2 /ma / (mouths, mouthing,
mouth
mountaineer /mant n/ noun a per-

mountaineer
|
mouthed) verb to speak without making
son who climbs mountains as a sport any sound She mouthed No across the
mountaineering /mant nr/
mountaineering
| room.
noun the sport of climbing mountains mouthful / mafl/ noun 1. an amount
mouthful
mountainous / mantns / adj with

mountainous
which you can hold in your mouth He

many high mountains It is a mountainous took a mouthful of meat and chewed hard.
region, and very difficult for tanks and ar- The baby took a mouthful and immedi-
tillery. Parts of Scotland are very moun- ately spat it out. She dived into the waves
tainous. and got a mouthful of salt water. 2. a com-
mounting / mant/ adj increasing plicated word or phrase Ill spell the
mounting
mouth-organ 410
name of the Welsh village for you its a bit lice moved the crowd on. 3. to deal with
of a mouthful. the next item We will now move on to
mouth-organ / ma
(n/ noun a item 10 on the agenda.
mouth-organ
movement / mu
vmnt/ noun an act
movement
small musical instrument which you play

by blowing and moving across your mouth of moving, not being still There was
to get different notes hardly any movement in the trees. All you
mouthpiece / mapi
s/ noun 1. a part
mouthpiece
could see was a slight movement of the ti-
of a musical instrument which goes into gers tail.
movie / mu
vi/ noun especially US a
movie
the mouth There is a reed attached to the

mouthpiece of a clarinet. 2. the part of a cinema film We watch a movie most
telephone that you speak into He put his weekends.
movie star / mu
vi st
/ noun US a very
movie star
hand over the mouthpiece so she couldnt

hear what he was saying. 3. a person who successful film actor
speaks on behalf of someone, especially a movie theater / mu
vi t/ noun US
movie theater
political party She acts as the mouthpiece a building where films are shown
for the party. moving / mu
v/ adj making you feel
moving
mouthwash / maw/ noun an anti-

mouthwash
emotion a moving story The funeral

septic solution used to treat infection in the was very moving.
mouth or bad breath mow /m/ (mows, mowing, mowed,
mow
mouth-watering / ma w
tr/ adj mown or mowed) verb to cut grass, hay,
mouth-watering
which looks and smells so delicious that it etc.

makes your mouth water mow down phrasal verb to kill
move /mu
v/ noun 1. a change in posi- mower / m/ noun a machine which
move mower
tion The police were watching every cuts grass

MP abbr member of parliament
MP
move he made. 2. an action done to achieve

something [~towards/~into] It was a clev- MP3 /em pi
ri
/ noun 1. a computer file
MP3
er move to get here early before the crowds standard which you can use to get and play
arrive. The agreement is a move towards music from the Internet 2. a file which con-
a fairer system. The company is planning tains music in MP3 format
a move into childrens clothes. whats mpg / empi
di
/ abbr miles per gallon
mpg
the next move? what do we have to do mph abbr miles per hour
mph
next? who will make the first move?

MPV /em pi
vi
/ noun a car similar to a
MPV
who will act first? 3. a change of house or

office verb (moves, moving, moved) 1. van, which usually has three rows of seats
Mr / mst/ noun the polite title given to
Mr
to change the place of something Move

the chairs to the side of the room. Whos a man (at the beginning of a letter) Dear
moved my drink? He moved his hand to Mr Smith, Mr Jones is our new sales
show he had heard. 2. to change your posi- manager. Here are Mr and Mrs Smith.
tion Some animal was moving about out- (NOTE: used before a surname, sometimes
side the tent. The only thing moving was with both the first name and surname)
MRI abbr magnetic resonance imaging
MRI
the tip of the cats tail. get a move on!

Mrs / msz/ noun the title given to a
Mrs
hurry up! on the move being active and

moving around After Ive been on the married woman (at the beginning of a let-
move all day I just want to get home and go ter) Dear Mrs Jones, Mrs Jones is our
to bed. to make a move to leave some- manager. (NOTE: used before a surname,
where Its time to make a move. sometimes with both the first name and sur-
move in phrasal verb 1. to put your name.)
Ms /mz, mz/ noun (at the beginning of
Ms
possessions into a new house and start to

live there They only moved in last week. a letter) a way of referring to a woman
They got married and moved in with without saying whether or not she is mar-
her parents. 2. to come together as a ried (NOTE: Ms is used with a surname,
group The lions moved in for the kill. sometimes with both the first name and sur-
When everything is ready the police will name.)
move in on the gang. much /mt/ adj a lot of with much
much
move on phrasal verb 1. to go forward love from Aunt Mary How much sugar do
We stopped for a quick visit to the ca- you need? I never take much money with
thedral and then moved on to the next me when I go on holiday. She eats too
town. 2. to make people move The po- much meat. adv a lot Hes feeling much
411 multiply
better today. Its much less cold in the keys. Shes afraid of going out at night
south of the country. Does it matter very for fear of being mugged. The gang spe-
much? Much as I like her, I dont want to cialises in mugging tourists.
share an office with her. pron a lot He muggy / m(i / adj (of weather) warm and
muggy
didnt write much in his exam. Much of wet

the work has already been done. as mug shot / m( t/ noun a photograph
mug shot
much as the same quantity of something as of someones face

You havent eaten as much fruit as she
mule / mju
l/ noun 1. a cross between a
mule
has.
donkey and a horse He entered the town
muck /mk/ noun farmyard manure
muck
riding on a mule. 2. a light shoe with no

muck in phrasal verb to do work together
back part at the heel
(informal )
mull /ml/ (mulls, mulling, mulled) verb
mull
muck up phrasal verb to ruin something

(informal ) mull over phrasal verb to think about or
mucky / mki/ (muckier, muckiest) adj
mucky
consider something
mullah / ml/ noun a title of respect for
mullah
very dirty (informal)

mucus / mju
ks/ noun a slippery liquid
mucus
a learned Muslim man
multicultural /mlti kltrl/ adj re-
multicultural
secreted by mucous membranes inside the |
body, which protects the membranes ferring to several cultures together

(NOTE: Do not confuse with mucous.) multigym / mltdm/ noun a piece of
multigym
mud /md/ noun wet earth

mud
exercise equipment with a range of weights

muddle / md()l/ noun a confused mess multilateral /mlti lt()rl/ adj be-
muddle multilateral
The papers were lying all over the floor tween several people or groups
in a muddle. She tried to put up the tent multimedia / mltimi
di/ noun a
multimedia
on her own but she got into a muddle. means of communication using several dif-
There was some muddle over the tickets. ferent media, such as sound, moving imag-
verb (muddles, muddling, muddled) to es, computer screens, etc. The company
confuse, to mix up Dont muddle the pa- gave a multimedia presentation to show off
pers up Ive just put them in order. its new product range. The pop concert
Granny often muddles up our names. I was a spectacular multimedia event.
always muddle him with his brother they
multimillionaire /mltimlj ne/
multimillionaire
are very alike. |
noun a person who has several million

muddle through phrasal verb to get
pounds or dollars
through your work, to succeed in a con-
multinational /mlti n()nl/ noun
multinational
fused way |
muddled / md()ld/ adj confused, not

muddled
a company which operates in several dif-
clear and not well organised ferent countries Our business has been
bought by one of the big multinationals.
muddy / mdi/ (muddier, muddiest)
muddy
multiple / mltp()l/ adj involving

multiple
adj full of mud; covered with mud

mudflap / mdflp/ noun a flap hanging
mudflap
many people or things She was taken to
behind the wheel of a car to protect the hospital suffering from multiple injuries.
multiple-choice / mltp()l ts/ adj
multiple-choice
bodywork from damage by dirt or stones

muesli / mju
zli/ noun a breakfast food
muesli
(of an exam question) in which the task is to
of flakes of cereal, dried fruit, etc., eaten choose the correct answer from a list of
with milk usually 4 possible answers, marked A, B, C
muffin / mfn/ noun a small round cake
muffin
and D
multiplex / mltpleks/ noun 1. a large
multiplex
eaten warm with butter

muffle / mf()l/ (muffles, muffling,
muffle
cinema building containing several sepa-
muffled) verb 1. to wrap someone up in rate projection rooms 2. the sending of sev-
cloth for warmth She muffled herself in a eral different signals along one communi-
big woollen shawl. 2. to make a loud noise cations line
multiplicity /mlt plsti / noun a large
multiplicity
quieter She wrapped a cloth around the |
hammer to muffle the sound of the blows. variety of things

mug /m(/ noun a large cup with a multiply / mltpla/ (multiplies, mul-
mug multiply
handle She passed round mugs. verb tiplying, multiplied) verb to calculate the
(mugs, mugging, mugged) to attack and result when several numbers are added to-
steal from someone in the street She was gether a certain number of times Square
mugged as she was looking for her car measurements are calculated by multiply-
multi-purpose 412
ing length by width. Ten multiplied by someone deliberately He was accused of
five gives fifty. murdering a policeman.
multi-purpose /mlti p#
ps/ adj hav- murderer / m#
dr/ noun a person
multi-purpose murderer
ing several different uses who has committed a murder

multiracial /mlti re()l/ adj referring murderous / m#
drs / adj likely to kill
multiracial murderous
murky / m#
ki/ (murkier, murkiest) adj
murky
to various races
multi-storey /mlti st
ri/ adj with dark and dirty
multi-storey
murmur / m#
m/ noun a low sound of
murmur
several storeys (NOTE: The US spelling is

multi-story.) people talking There was a murmur of
multitasking / mltit
sk/ noun the voices in the hall. verb (murmurs, mur-
multitasking
activity of doing two or more jobs at the muring, murmured) to speak very quietly
same time She murmured something and closed her
multitude / mlttju
d/ noun 1. a very
multitude
eyes.
muscle / ms()l/ noun one of the part
muscle
large number 2. a crowd of people He

stood up to address the assembled multi- of the body which makes other parts move
tude. He has very powerful arm muscles.
muscular / mskjl/ adj 1. referring to
muscular
mum /mm/ same as mummy

mum
mumble / mmbl/ (mumbles, mum-

mumble
muscles She suffered from muscular pain
bling, mumbled) verb to speak in a low
after working in the garden. 2. with big
voice which is not clear He mumbled an muscles He has very muscular arms. A
excuse and left the room. She mumbled couple of muscular bouncers stood at the
something about the telephone and went to door of the club.
muse /mju
z/ (muses, musing, mused)
muse
the back of the shop.

verb to think deeply She spent hours mus-
mumbo-jumbo /mmb dmb/
mumbo-jumbo
ing about her youth. He was sitting in his

noun 1. complicated and confusing lan-
garden musing on the beauty of the autumn
guage that is difficult to understand 2. lan- colours.
guage or practices that are regarded as un-
museum /mju
zi
m/ noun a build-
museum
usual or strange |
ing which you can visit to see a collection

mummy / mmi/ (plural mummies)
mummy
of valuable or rare objects The National

noun 1. a childs name for mother Tell Museum of Art The museum has a rich
your mum I want to see her. Hello, John, collection of Italian paintings.
is your mummy at home? Mummy! can I
mush /m/ noun 1. a soft, semi-liquid
mush
have a biscuit? 2. a dead body which has

been treated with chemicals to stop it de- substance 2. over-emotional or soppy
caying We went to see the Egyptian mum- words or ideas
mushroom / mru
m/ noun a round
mushroom
mies in the British Museum.

white or brown fungus which can be eaten
munch /mnt/ (munches, munching,
munch
Do you want fried mushrooms with your

munched) verb to eat noisily something
steak? She ordered a mushroom ome-
such as an apple or raw carrot, with a regu- lette. (NOTE: Fungi which are poisonous are
lar movement of your mouth called toadstools.)
mundane / mn den/ adj ordinary, not
mundane
music / mju
zk/ noun 1. the sound
| music
exciting made when you sing or play an instrument

municipal /mju
nsp()l/ adj refer-
municipal
|
Do you like Russian music? Shes tak-
ring to a town which has its own local gov- ing music lessons. Her music teacher
ernment says she plays the violin very well. 2. writ-
munitions /mju
n()nz/ plural noun
munitions
| ten signs which you read to play an instru-

weapons and ammunition She works in a ment Heres some music, see if you can
munitions factory. play it on the piano. He can play the pi-
mural / mjrl/ noun a painting on a ano by ear he doesnt need any music.
mural
wall The murals were painted by Giotto musical / mju

zk()l/ adj relating to
musical
in the fourteenth century. fresco music Do you play any musical instru-
murder / m#
d / noun the act of delib- ment?
murder
musician /mj z()n/ noun a person

musician
erately killing someone The murder was |
committed during the night. She was ac- whose job is to play music a group of
cused of murder. They denied the murder young musicians playing the street The
charge. Compare manslaughter verb actors applauded the group of musicians
(murders, murdering, murdered) to kill who had played during Twelfth Night.
413 my
Muslim / mzlm/ adj relating to the not pronounced In the word crumb the
Muslim
religion of the prophet Muhammad noun letter b is mute.

a person who follows the religion of the muted / mju
td/ adj 1. quiet, not noisy
muted
prophet Muhammad The press gave the proposal a muted wel-

muslin / mzln/ noun a very fine thin come. Criticism of the governments pro-
muslin
cotton cloth posals has been muted. 2. not bright I

mussel / ms()l/ noun a small shellfish,
mussel
prefer muted colours for the sitting room.
mutilate / mju
tlet/ (mutilates, muti-
mutilate
with a blue black shell ( NOTE: Do not con-

fuse with muscle.) lating, mutilated) verb to damage some-
must /mst, mst/ modal verb 1. it is
must
thing by cutting off part of it (NOTE: + mu-
necessary that You must go to bed before tilation n)
mutinous / mju
tns/ adj likely to take
mutinous
eleven, or your mother will be angry. We

mustnt be late or well miss the last bus. part in a mutiny, likely not to obey
You must hurry up if you want to see the TV mutiny / mju
tni/ noun a rebellion
mutiny
programme. Must you really go so soon? against someone in a position of authority

(NOTE: The negative is must not or, espe- such as the officers in the army or navy
cially in speaking, mustnt; neednt is also The officers kept a lookout for any signs of
used. Note also the meanings: mustnt = mutiny among the crew. (NOTE: + mutiny v)
not allowed; neednt = not necessary: We mutter / mt/ (mutters, muttering, mut-
mutter
mustnt be late; You neednt hurry.) 2. used tered) verb to mumble, to speak in a low
for showing that you think something is and indistinct voice Dont mutter, I cant
very likely I must have left my briefcase understand you. He muttered something
on the train. There is someone knocking about the telephone and went to the back of
at the door it must be the postman. You the shop.
must be wet through after walking in the
mutton / mt()n/ noun the meat of a
mutton
rain. (NOTE: The negative is cant: It cant be

the doctor. The past tense is had to: I must
sheep ( NOTE: not very often used: lamb is
generally used for all meat from sheep as
go to the dentist; Yesterday I had to go to the
well as lambs)
dentist. The negative is didnt have to. The
mutual / mju
tul/ adj referring to what
mutual
perfect tense is must have: I must have left

it on the train. The negative is cant have: I is done by two people, countries, compa-
cant have left it on the train. Note also that nies, etc., to each other by mutual agree-
must is usually used with other verbs and is ment, by mutual consent with the agree-
not followed by to.) 3. used for encouraging ment of both parties By mutual agree-
someone to do something You must go ment they have decided to sell the flat and
and see this film -its excellent. noun split the money between them.
mutually / mju
tuli/ adv to two peo-
mutually
something important When in Florida, a

trip to the Everglades is a must. ple; by two people
muster / mst/ (musters, mustering, muzzle / mz()l/ noun 1. the front part
muster muzzle
mustered) verb to gather something, or a of an animals head, especially the mouth,

number of things or people, together He jaws and nose She stroked the horses
tried to muster all his supporters before the long, silky muzzle. 2. a system of straps
vote. I find it difficult to muster enough placed round the mouth of a dog to prevent
energy to go for a walk after lunch. it from biting Our dog has to wear a muz-
mustnt / ms()nt/ short for must not zle when hes taken for a walk. 3. the mouth
mustnt
musty / msti/ (mustier, mustiest) adj

musty
of a gun She found herself looking down
the muzzle of a gun. The army was
smelling damp, rotten or stale; smelling
old equipped with muzzle-loading rifles. verb
(muzzles, muzzling, muzzled) 1. to stop
mutant / mju
t()nt/ noun an organism
mutant
someone from saying what they want to

carrying a gene in which mutation has oc- publicly 2. to put a muzzle on a dog to pre-
curred This plant appears to be a mutant. vent it biting I always muzzle my dog
mutate /mju
tet/ (mutates, mutating,
mutate
| when I walk him through the childrens

mutated) verb to undergo a change in playground.
structure which changes a gene or chromo- my /ma/ adj belonging to me Is that
my
some (NOTE: + mutation n) my pen youre using? Have you seen my

mute /mju
t/ adj 1. not speaking A look
mute
glasses anywhere? We went skiing and I

of mute horror crossed her face. 2. which is broke my leg.
myriad 414
myriad / mrid/ noun a very large mystical / mstk()l/ adj in contact with
myriad mystical
number There are myriads of islands in spiritual forces by some process which
the mouth of the river. The sky was bright cannot be understood
mysticism / mstsz()m/ noun a reli-
mysticism
with a myriad of stars.

gion based on attempts to achieve union
myself /ma self/ pron used for refer-
myself
with God by prayer and meditation

ring back to I I hurt myself climbing mystify / mstfa/ (mystifies, mystify-
mystify
down the ladder. Its true I saw it my- ing, mystified) verb to puzzle someone
self. I enjoyed myself a lot at the party. mystique / m sti
k/ noun a mysterious
mystique
all by myself all alone, with no one else atmosphere about a person or thing
I built the house all by myself. I dont like myth /m/ noun an ancient story about
myth
being all by myself in the house at night. gods poems based on the myths of Greece
mysterious / m stris/ adj which
mysterious
| and Rome
cannot be explained mythical / mk()l/ adj 1. referring to
mythical
mystery / mst()ri/ (plural myster-

mystery
ancient tales of gods The unicorn is a
ies) noun something that cannot be ex- mythical animal. 2. untrue, which does not
plained The police finally cleared up the exist He keeps talking about some myth-
mystery of the missing body. Its a mys- ical order from Japan.
mythology /m ldi / noun ancient
mythology
tery how the box came to be hidden under |
folk stories from a particular source The

her bed. floor was covered with mosaics showing
mystic / mstk/ noun a person who at-
mystic
scenes from Greek mythology. According

tempts to achieve union with God through to ancient Scandinavian mythology, he cut
prayer, meditation, etc. off the head of the dragon.
N
n /en/, N noun the fourteenth letter of the naive /na i
v/ adj innocent, lacking expe-
n naive
alphabet, between M and O rience

N abbr 1. north 2. northern naked / nekd/ adj not wearing clothes
N naked
nab /nb/ (nabs, nabbing, nabbed) verb The little children were playing in the river
nab
1. to snatch something quickly (informal) stark naked. A naked man was standing
When we came down to the pool we found on the balcony.
name /nem/ noun a special way of
name
that the others had nabbed all the best

seats. Pass me that bottle before anyone calling someone or something Hello! My
else nabs it. 2. to arrest someone The po- names James. Whats the name of the
lice nabbed him as he was coming out of shop next to the post office? to put your
the bank. name down for something to apply for
naff /nf/ adj attempting to be stylish, but something She put her name down to join
naff
instead appearing boring or silly the club. verb (names, naming, named)
nag /n(/ (nags, nagging, nagged) verb
nag
to call someone or something by a name
1. to ask someone over and over again for They named him Nicholas. They have a
something or to do something They been black cat named Jonah. to name some-
nagging me about changing the date for one after someone to give someone the
weeks. Shes been nagging me to buy a same name as someone else They named
new car. 2. to keep worrying someone [~at] their son Peter after his grandfather.
name-dropping / nemdrp / noun
name-dropping
The feeling that he had met her some- |
where before kept nagging at him. the practice of mentioning the names of fa-
nagging / n(/ adj that worries you
nagging
mous people whom you know, with the in-
over a long period of time tention of impressing those who are listen-
nail /nel/ noun 1. a small thin metal ob-
nail
ing
nameless / nemls/ adj 1. with no name
nameless
ject which you use for attaching two pieces

of a hard material such as wood Hit the 2. not to be mentioned because it is dis-
nail hard with the hammer. You need a gusting or frightening
namely / nemli/ adv that is to say
namely
hammer to knock that nail in. 2. the hard

namesake / nemsek/ noun a person
namesake
part at the end of your fingers and toes

She painted her nails red. verb (nails, with the same name as another
nan / nn/ noun a type of flat bread, often
nan
nailing, nailed) to attach something with

nails He nailed the notice to the door. eaten with curry
to hit the nail on the head to judge some- nap / np/ noun a short sleep After lunch
nap
thing accurately (informal) he always takes a little nap. (NOTE: + nap v)

nail down phrasal verb to attach some- nape /nep/ noun the back of the neck
nape
thing flat with nails They nailed down napkin / npkn/ noun 1. a small square
napkin
the floorboards or they nailed the floor- of cloth or paper provided for each person
boards down. at a meal table, and may be used for clean-
nail file / nel fal/ noun a flat stick cov-
nail file
ing fingers or mouth, or to protect clothes

ered with sandpaper, used to smooth your 2. a nappy The baby must have his napkin
fingernails changed.
nail polish /nel pl/ noun same as nappy / npi/ (plural nappies) noun a
nail polish nappy
nail varnish cloth which is wrapped round a babys bot-

nail varnish / nel v
n/ noun a liquid tom to absorb urine and faeces
nail varnish
narcissism / n
ssz()m/ noun a ten-
narcissism
which is put on fingernails or toenails, and

which dries quickly to form a hard, shiny dency to admire yourself, especially your
surface own appearance
narcotic 416
narcotic /n
ktk/ noun a pain-reliev- put a privately-owned industry under state
narcotic
ing drug which makes a patient sleep The ownership and control
doctor put her to sleep with a powerful nationalism / n()nlz()m/ noun
nationalism
narcotic. 1. the political opinion of wanting inde-

narrate /n ret/ (narrates, narrating,
narrate
| pendence for your country During the

narrated) verb to tell a story occupation, all feelings of nationalism had
narration /n re()n/ noun speaking or to be suppressed. 2. a feeling of great pride
narration
writing about things that have happened in your country, or a feeling that your
narrative / nrtv/ noun a written story
narrative
country is better than others Danish na-
Hes writing a narrative about their jour-
tionalism as shown by their football sup-
neys in South America. porters.
nationalist / n()nlst/ noun a per-
nationalist
narrator /n ret/ noun a person who

narrator
tells a story son who wants his or her country to be in-

narrow / nr/ adj not wide Why is
narrow
dependent a Welsh nationalist The na-
your bicycle seat so narrow? We went tionalists have not been invited to the nego-
down a narrow passage to the shop. verb tiations.
nationalistic /n()n lstk / adj
nationalistic
(narrows, narrowing, narrowed) to be- |
come less wide The road narrows sud- strongly supporting your own country
nationality /n nlti/ (plural na-
nationality
denly, and there is hardly enough room for |
two cars to pass. tionalities) noun the status of being a citi-

narrowly / nrli/ adv only just zen of a state He is of German nationali-
narrowly
narrow-minded /nr mandd/ adj

narrow-minded
ty.
national park1 /n()nl p
k/ noun
national park
not tolerant of others views, not capable of

seeing many points of view an area of land protected by the govern-
nasal / nez()l/ adj 1. referring to the
nasal
ment for people to enjoy The Peak Dis-
nose She used nasal drops to try to cure trict in Derbyshire is a national park. We
her cold. 2. speaking as if through the nose went camping in the national park.
national park2 /n()nl p
k /
national park
He speaks with a nasal accent.

nasty / n
sti/ adj unpleasant
nasty
noun an area of land protected by the gov-
nation / ne()n/ noun 1. a country
nation
ernment for people to enjoy The Peak
the member nations of the EU 2. the people District in Derbyshire is a national park.
national security /n()nl s
national security
living in a country The whole nation was |
shocked by the terrible events. kjrti/ noun the systems that are in-
national / n()nl/ adj belonging to
national
tended to protect a nation from danger
national service /n()nl s#
vs /
national service
a country We want to celebrate our na-

tional culture. The story appeared in the noun in some countries, a period that citi-
national newspapers. zens must spend working in their national
national anthem /n()nl nm/
national anthem
armed forces
nation-state /ne()n stet/ noun a
nation-state
noun a piece of music which is used to rep-

resent the nation officially, and is played at country which is an independent political
official ceremonies unit, formed of people with the same na-
national curriculum /n()nl k
national curriculum
|
tionality and often the same language and
rkjlm/ noun the subjects studied at traditions
nationwide / ne()nwad/ adj all over
nationwide
school by all children aged between 5 and

16 in England and Wales (NOTE: The Na- the country The union called for a na-
tional curriculum is made up of three core tionwide strike. We offer a nationwide
subjects English, maths and science; and delivery service.
seven foundation subjects art, design and native / netv/ noun 1. a person born
native
technology, geography, history, music, phys- in a particular place Shes a native of

ical education, and a foreign language.) Cornwall. 2. a flower, bird, etc., which has
National Insurance /n()nl n always been in a place The robin is a na-
National Insurance
rns/ noun a government-run insur- tive of the British Isles. adj belonging to
ance which provides for state medical care, a country The tiger is native to India.
unemployment payments, etc. Native American /netv merkn/
Native American
nationalise (nationalises, nationalis-

nationalise
noun a member of any of the peoples who

ing, nationalised), nationalize (national- were living in North, Central, and South
izes, nationalizing, nationalized) verb to America before the arrival of Europeans
417 nearly
native speaker /netv spi
k / naval / nev()l/ adj referring to the navy
native speaker naval
noun a person who speaks a language from navel / nev()l/ noun a depression in the
navel
childhood middle of the abdomen, just below the

natter / nt/ noun a casual friendly talk
natter
waist, where the umbilical cord was de-

(informal) Come round for coffee tomor- tached after birth (NOTE: In childrens lan-
row and we can have a natter. (NOTE: + nat- guage a navel is called a belly button or
ter v) tummy button. Do not confuse with naval.)
natural / nt()rl/ adj 1. ordinary,
natural
navigate / nv(et/ (navigates, navi-

navigate
not unusual Her behaviour at the meet- gating, navigated) verb 1. to guide a ship
ing was quite natural. Its natural to wor- or aircraft The pilot navigated the boat
ry about your first baby. 2. coming from into the harbour. 2. to give directions to the
nature, and not produced or caused by peo- driver of a car Can you navigate as far as
ple Do you think the colour of her hair is Marble Arch? I know my way from there.
natural? Yes, shes a natural blonde.
navigation /nv (e()n/ noun 1.
navigation
The inquest decided that he died from nat- |
ural causes. the job of finding out or deciding how to

natural gas /nt()rl (s/ noun gas
natural gas get to a place, e.g. using a map In the six-
which is found in the earth and not made in teenth century, navigation was done by the
a gasworks stars. Thanks to Jims bad navigation we
lost our way twice. 2. the movement of
natural history /nt()rl hst()ri /
natural history
ships or aircraft The canal is open to nav-

noun the study of plants and animals
igation again.
naturalist / nt()rlst/ noun a person
naturalist
navigator / nv(et/ noun a person

navigator
who is interested in and studies natural his-

tory who calculates the distances and direction
taken by an aircraft or ship The navigator
naturally / nt()rli/ adv of course
naturally
Naturally the top team beat the bottom

estimates that we should reach the coast in
about ten minutes.
team. Do you want to watch the game?
navy / nevi/ noun (plural navies) 1. a
navy
Naturally!
natural resources /nt()rl r
natural resources
|
military force which fights battles at sea
z
sz/ plural noun minerals, energy He left school and joined the navy. The
sources, etc., which can be used commer- navy has many ships. 2. also navy blue a
cially, such as coal or water power Can- very dark blue colour adj also navy blue
ada is a country which is very rich in natu- of a very dark blue colour
Nazi / n
tsi/ noun a member or supporter
Nazi
ral resources.
nature / net)/ noun 1. plants and of Adolf Hitlers fascist German National
nature
animals We must try to protect nature and Socialist Party

near /n/ adv, prep, adj 1. close to, not
near
the environment. 2. the character of a per-

son, thing, or animal By living there, you far away from Our house is near the post
discover the true nature of the country. office. Bring your chair nearer to the ta-
He has a very aggressive nature. ble. He lives quite near or quite near
nature reserve / net rz#
v/ noun here. Which is the nearest chemists? 2.
nature reserve
an area of land where animals and plants soon, not far off in time Her birthday is
are protected on December 21st its quite near to
naughty / n
ti / (naughtier, naughti- Christmas. Can you phone again nearer
naughty
est) adj (usually of a child ) causing trouble the day and Ill see if I can find a few min-
and not obedient to adults Children who utes to see you? verb (nears, nearing,
are naughty should be punished. It was neared) to get closer to a place or time
very naughty of you to put glue on your Were nearing the end of the year.
daddys chair. (NOTE: + naughtily adv; nearby /n ba/ adv, adj not far away
nearby
naughtiness n) He lives just nearby. They met in a near-

nausea / n
zi/ noun a feeling of sick-
nausea
by restaurant.
ness, a desire to vomit nearly / nli/ adv almost Hes near-
nearly
nauseating / n
ziet/ adj which
nauseating
ly 18 hell be going to university next

makes you sick or disgusted year. The film lasted nearly three hours.
nauseous / n
zis/ adj US feeling sick,
nauseous
The book isnt nearly as good as the last

feeling about to vomit one I read. Hurry up, its nearly time for
nautical / n
tk()l/ adj referring to breakfast. We havent got nearly enough
nautical
ships and the sea time to get to London.

neat 418
neat /ni
t/ adj tidy, without any mess thing is necessary or wanted [~for]
neat
a blouse with a neat lace collar Leave Theres no need for you to wait I can find
your bedroom neat and tidy. Her hand- my own way. in need requiring food and
writing is very neat. help The Red Cross is bringing supplies
necessarily /nes serli/ adv which to families in need. to be in need of to
necessarily
cannot be avoided Going to Newcastle want something Theyre in urgent need of

from here necessarily means changing medical supplies.
needle / ni
d()l/ noun 1. a long thin
needle
trains twice.
necessary / ness()ri/ adj which has sharp object with a hole at one end, used
necessary
to be done Dont phone me in the evening for sewing This needle hasnt got a very
unless its absolutely necessary. Is it nec- sharp point. You must try to put the piece
essary to finish the work today? of wool through the hole in the needle.
necessitate /n sestet/ (necessitates,
necessitate
|
knitting needle a thin pointed plastic or
necessitating, necessitated) verb to make metal stick used for knitting 2. a long thin
something necessary sharp piece of medical equipment, used for
necessity / n sesti/ (plural necessi-
necessity
|
putting medicine into your body 3. a small
ties) noun 1. an essential thing, or thing thin part on a piece of equipment, which
that is needed A car is a necessity if you points to something such as a number He
live in the country. Can they afford the looked at the dial and saw the needle was
simple necessities of life? 2. the fact that it pointing to zero. 4. one of the thin leaves of
is necessary to do or have something [~for] a pine tree She had lots of pine needles
Theres no necessity for identification
stuck in her hair.
needless / ni
dls/ adj not necessary
needless
we know everyone here.

neck /nek/ noun 1. a part which joins
neck
needless to say as you might expect
your head to your body She was sitting in Needless to say, they cant pay for it them-
a draught and got a stiff neck. The mayor selves.
needlework / ni
d()lw#
k/ noun deco-
needlework
wears a gold chain round his neck. 2. the

part of a piece of clothing which goes rative sewing
neednt / ni
d()nt/ modal verb it is
neednt
round your neck I cant wear this shirt

the neck is too tight. not necessary She neednt come if she has
necklace / nekls/ noun a piece of a cold. You neednt have made a cake
necklace
jewellery which you wear round your neck Im not hungry. She neednt make such a
a diamond necklace fuss about a little spider. (NOTE: Neednt is
neckline / neklan/ noun the line usually used with other verbs and is not fol-
neckline
formed by the edge of an item of clothing lowed by to. Note also the difference be-
where it goes around the neck tween neednt = not necessary and mustnt
nectar / nekt/ noun a liquid produced by
nectar
= not allowed: You neednt hurry; We mustnt
flowers to attract bees Honey is made be late.)
negate /n (et/ (negates, negating, ne-
negate
from the nectar collected by bees. |
nectarine / nektri
n/ noun a fruit like a
nectarine
gated) verb to cancel something out, to re-
peach with a smooth skin move the effect of something (formal)
(NOTE: + negation n)
need /ni
d/ verb (needs, needing,
need
negative / ne(tv/ adj 1. meaning

negative
needed) 1. to require something, or have to

have something We shall need some eu- no a negative response 2. showing that
ros for our holiday in Spain. Painting something is not there Her blood test was
needs a lot of skill. I need someone to negative. noun 1. a statement meaning
help me with the cooking. 2. to want some- no The answer was in the negative. 2.
thing Does anyone need any more cof- developed film with an image where the
fee? modal verb used with other verbs light parts are dark and dark parts light
meaning to be necessary Need you make Dont touch the negatives with your dirty
so much noise in the bath? Need you go fingers.
neglect /n (lekt/ (neglects, neglecting,
neglect
now? The living room needs painting or |
needs to be painted. You dont need to neglected) verb not to do something He

come if you have a cold. The police need neglected to tell the police that he had been
to know who saw the accident. You involved in an accident.
neglectful /n (lektf()l/ adj not doing
neglectful
neednt bother waiting for me. ( NOTE: The |
negative is need not or, especially in speak- anything about something that is your re-
ing, neednt.) noun the fact that some- sponsibility
419 net
negligence / ne(ldns/ noun a lack of neon / ni
n/ noun an inert gas found in
negligence neon
suitable care in carrying out a duty or activ- very small quantities in the atmosphere and
ity used in illuminated signs
negligent / ne(ld()nt/ adj showing nephew / nefju
/ noun a son of your
negligent nephew
negligence, not taking proper care sister or brother, or a son of your husbands
negligible / ne(ldb()l/ adj very or wifes brother or sister
negligible
nepotism / neptz()m/ noun the un-

nepotism
small, not worth bothering about

negotiable /n (ib()l/ adj 1. which fair practice of giving jobs to members of
negotiable
can be changed or decided by discussions your own family rather than to people who
between the people involved The salary deserve to have them
nerd /n#
d/ noun a person who is very in-
nerd
for the job is negotiable. 2. which can be

exchanged for cash terested in technical things, especially
negotiate /n (iet/ (negotiates, computers, and who other people some-
negotiate
negotiating, negotiated) verb 1. to discuss times think is boring

nerve /n#
v/ noun 1. one of the fibres
nerve
with someone We are negotiating with

the travel agent about a refund. 2. to go in your body which take messages to and
round something which is in the way We from the brain Nerves are very delicate
had to negotiate several boulders in the and easily damaged. 2. over-confidence or
road. The burglars managed to negotiate rude behaviour Hes got a nerve to ask
the alarm system successfully. for a day off, when he was away all last
negotiation /n(i e()n/ noun week. 3. the ability to keep your fear under
negotiation
| |
the process of discussing something control in order to achieve something It

neigh /ne/ (neighs, neighing, neighed)
neigh
takes a lot of nerve to disagree with your
verb to make the sound of a horse We friends. He went over to speak to her but
could hear the horses neighing in the sta- at the last minute he lost his nerve.
nerve-racking / n#
v rk/ adj which
nerve-racking
bles. (NOTE: + neigh n)

neighbor / neb/ noun US spelling of
neighbor
is extremely frightening or worrying
nerve-wracking /n#
v rk/ adj same
nerve-wracking
neighbour
neighbour / neb/ noun 1. a person
neighbour
as nerve-racking
nervous / n#
vs/ adj 1. worried and
nervous
who lives near you He doesnt get on

with his neighbours. 2. a person who is sit- easily frightened Shes always been of a
ting next to you Help yourself and then nervous disposition She gets nervous if
pass the plate on to your neighbour. 3. an- she is alone in the house at night. Hes
other person (old) Love of your neigh- nervous about driving in London. 2. refer-
bour is one of the essentials of Christian ring to the nerves the nervous system
nervous breakdown /n#
vs
nervous breakdown
doctrine.
neighbourhood / nebhd/ noun a
neighbourhood
brekdan/ noun a non-medical expres-
small area and the people who live in it sion for a condition where a patient be-
This is a quiet neighbourhood we dont comes so worried or upset that he or she is
like noisy parties. The doctor knows eve- not able to do anything
nervousness / n#
vsns/ noun a state
nervousness
ryone in the neighbourhood.

neighbouring / nebr/ adj which is of worry and tension
neighbouring
nervous system / n#
vs sstm /
nervous system
close to you (NOTE: The US spelling is

neighboring.) noun the system of nerves in the body
neighbourly / nebli/ adv friendly to nest /nest/ noun a structure built by
nest
neighbourly
the people near you Its very neighbourly birds, and by some animals and insects, to
of you to lend us your lawnmower. People lay their eggs in an ants nest The birds
in this street arent very neighbourly. built their nests among the trees. The
(NOTE: The US spelling is neighborly.) blackbirds have laid three eggs in their
neither / na, ni
/ adj, pron not nest.
neither
nestle / nes()l/ (nestles, nestling, nes-

nestle
either of two people or things Neither car

or neither of the cars passed the test. Nei- tled) verb to be in a safe and sheltered place
ther sister is dark or neither of the sisters is Their cottage nestles at the bottom of the
dark. adv not either; used for showing valley. A church nestling in the hills.
that a negative statement applies to two net /net/, nett noun 1. a woven material
net
things or people He doesnt eat meat and with large holes A long skirt made of pink
neither does his wife. She isnt fat but net. 2. a piece of this material used for a
neither is she really very thin. special purpose a fishing net 3. same as
netball 420
Internet adj after all payments such as tax neutron / nju
trn/ noun a neutral parti-
neutron
have been considered That figure is net, cle in the nucleus of an atom
not gross. never / nev/ adv not at any time; not
never
netball / netb
l/ noun a team game sim-
netball
ever Well never forget that restaurant.

ilar to basketball, played by two teams of Ive never bought anything in that shop al-
seven players, usually women, in which though Ive often been inside it. He never
the aim is to score points by throwing the eats meat.
ball through a horizontal ring into a high nevertheless /nev les/ adv al-
nevertheless
net though a particular situation exists I

netting / net/ noun a loosely woven
netting
know it is raining, but nevertheless Id like

material to go for a walk along the beach. She had
network / netw#
k/ noun 1. a system a cold, but went to the meeting neverthe-
network
of things such as roads or railways con- less.

necting different places the British rail new /nju
/ adj 1. made very recently, or
new
network a satellite TV network There is never used before Put some new paper in
a network of tunnels under the castle. 2. a the printer. The new version of the soft-
system of computers which are connected ware is now available. 2. which arrived re-
together How does this network operate? cently There are two new secretaries in
You can book at any of our hotels the office. 3. completely different from
throughout the country using our computer what was before We need someone with
network. 3. a group of people connected new ideas. They put some new wallpaper
with each other his rapidly developing in the bedroom.
network of contacts in government verb New Age /nju
ed/ adj of modern ideas
New Age
(networks, networking, networked) to about spiritual and medical matters

connect two or more computers in order to
newborn / nju
b
n/ adj which has been
newborn
allow them to exchange information

Workstations within an office are usually born recently The mother and her new-
networked and share resources. born baby survived the crash.
newcomer / nju
km/ noun a person
newcomer
neural / njrl/ adj referring to a nerve

neural
or the nervous system who has just come to a place

newfangled /nju
f(ld/ adj mod-
newfangled
neurology /nj rldi/ noun the study

neurology
|
of nerves and the illnesses which affect ern and complicated (informal )
new-found / nju
fand/ adj that has
new-found
them
neurosis /nj rss / (plural neuroses)
neurosis
been found recently
newly / nju
li / adv recently
|
newly
noun a mental state in which a patient

newly-weds / nju
li wedz/ plural noun
newly-weds
thinks all the time about something in an

excessive way and experiences strong two people who have just got married
emotions about it, such as fear of empty news /nju
z/ noun spoken or written
news
spaces information about what has happened

neurotic /nj rtk/ adj worried or al-
neurotic
| Whats the news of your sister? I dont

ways thinking about something in an ex- want to hear any bad news. He was
cessive way She has a neurotic dislike of watching the 10 oclock news on TV. to
cats. Dont get neurotic about the change break the news to someone to tell some-
in the firms logo. one the bad news He broke the news to
neuter / nju
t/ (neuters, neutering, his daughters.
neuter
newsagent / nju
zednt/ noun a per-
newsagent
neutered) verb to remove an animals sex

organs We took our tomcat to the vet to son who sells newspapers (NOTE: Newsa-
have him neutered. gent has no connection with news agency.)
neutral / nju
trl/ noun (of motor vehi- newsflash / nju
zfl/ noun a short
neutral newsflash
cles) not in gear The car is in neutral. piece of news broadcast at an unexpected
neutralise / nju
trlaz/ (neutralises, time
neutralise
newsgroup / nju
z(ru
p/ noun an In-
newsgroup
neutralising, neutralised), neutralize verb |
to work against the effect of something ternet discussion group

We acted immediately to neutralise the newsletter / nju
zlet/ noun a printed
newsletter
threat from their navy. sheet or small newspaper giving news

neutrality /nju
trlti/ noun the fact of
neutrality
| about a company, a club or other organisa-

being neutral in a war tion
421 nightie
newspaper / nju
zpep/ noun a set nicety / nasti/ (plural niceties) noun a
newspaper nicety
of loose folded sheets of paper, containing slight or exact detail

news of what has happened, especially in niche /ni
/ noun a place which curves in-
niche
the last 24 hours He was so absorbed in wards in a wall There are statues in nich-
his newspaper that he didnt notice that the es all round the garden.
toast had burnt. We saw your picture in nick /nk/ noun 1. a small cut in something
nick
the local newspaper. The newspapers are He made a nick in the stick. 2. a prison
full of news of the election. Hes been in the nick for the last year.
newsprint / nju
zprnt/ noun cheap pa-
newsprint
verb (nicks, nicking, nicked) 1. to make a

per used for newspapers and magazines small cut in something He nicked his fin-
newsreader / nju
zri
d/ noun a per- ger with a razor blade. 2. to steal some-
newsreader
son who reads the news on radio or TV thing (informal) A group of young lads
newsworthy / nju
zw#
i/ adj interest-
newsworthy
who went around nicking things from the
ing enough to be in the newspapers or on local shops. Whos nicked my umbrella?
radio or TV in the nick of time just in time (informal)
nickel / nk()l/ noun 1. a metallic ele-

nickel
new wave /nju

wev/ noun an original
new wave
movement in the arts ment, used in making special metal alloys

nickel-plated handlebars We use an al-
New Years Day /nju
jz de/
New Years Day
loy of copper and nickel. 2. US and Canada

noun 1st January
a 5-cent coin Can you lend me a nickel?
New Years Eve /nju
jz i
v/
New Years Eve
nickname / nknem/ noun a short or in-

nickname
noun 31st December

formal name given to someone Her real
next /nekst/ adj, adv 1. coming after in
next
names Henrietta, but everyone calls her

time On Wednesday we go to Paris, and by her nickname Bobbles. verb to give a
the next day we travel to Italy. First you nickname to someone He was nicknamed
put the eggs into a bowl and next you add Camel because of his big nose.
some sugar. Dont forget to give me a call nicotine / nkti
n/ noun a harmful sub-
nicotine
when youre next in town. Next week is stance in tobacco, also used for killing in-
the start of our holiday. The next time you sects
go to the supermarket, can you get some
niece /ni
s/ noun a daughter of a broth-
niece
coffee? 2. nearest in place The ball went

over the fence into the next garden. She er or sister, or a daughter of your husbands
took the seat next to mine. pron the thing or wifes brother or sister
nifty / nfti/ adj very good or effective
nifty
or person following After two buses went

niggle / n(()l/ (niggles, niggling, nig-
niggle
past full, the next was almost empty. Ill

be back from holiday the week after next. gled) verb 1. to criticise someone or some-
(asking the next person in the queue to thing in an annoying way 2. to be a cause
come) Next, please! of worry to somebody, especially in a small
next door /nekst d
/ adj, adv in the
next door
way over a long period of time
niggling / n(()l/ adj small and not
niggling
house next to this one Who lives next

door to your mother? The shop is next very important
night /nat/ noun the time when it is
night
door to a bank.
nib /nb/ noun the point of a pen, from dark Its dangerous to walk alone in the
nib
which the ink flows streets at night. Burglars got into the of-
nibble / nb()l/ (nibbles, nibbling, nib-
nibble
fice during the night. He is on night duty
bled) verb to eat something by taking small three days a week. Theyre planning to
bites She was nibbling a biscuit. The have a night out tomorrow.
nightclub / natklb/ noun a club which
nightclub
mice have nibbled into the flour sacks.

(NOTE: + nibble n) is only open at night
nightdress / natdres/ noun a long
nightdress
nice /nas/ adj 1. pleasant, enjoyable

nice

We had a nice time at the seaside. If the loose dress which you wear in bed (NOTE:
weathers nice lets have a picnic. The usually called a nightie)
nightfall / natf
l/ noun the time when
nightfall
nicest thing about the town is that it is on

the sea. 2. pleasant, polite That wasnt a night starts
very nice thing to say. Try and be nice to nightgown / nat(an/ noun a night-
nightgown
your grandfather. dress or nightshirt

nice-looking /nas lk/ adj attractive nightie / nati/
nice-looking nightie
noun a nightdress
or pleasing to look at (informal)
nightingale 422
nightingale / nat(el/ noun a small which the milk passes She held the baby
nightingale
singing bird which sings at night to her nipple.

night life / nat laf/ noun entertainment nirvana /n v
n/ noun a state of spir-
nirvana
night life
|
in a town at night itual enlightenment in religions such as

nightly / natli/ adv every night Car
nightly
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism
nitrate / natret/ noun a chemical com-
nitrate
thefts are a nightly occurrence around

here. pound containing nitrogen and oxygen, ex-
nightmare / natme/ noun a very
nightmare
isting in all plants
nitrogen / natrdn/ noun an im-
nitrogen
frightening dream
portant gas which is essential for life, and
nightshirt / nat#
t/ noun a piece of
nightshirt
which forms most of the atmosphere

clothing like a long loose shirt for wearing
nitwit / ntwt/ noun a stupid idiot (insult)
nitwit
in bed
no /n/ adj, adv 1. used for giving a
no
night-time / nat tam/ noun a period

night-time
negative answer I asked my mother if we

when it is night could borrow her car but she said no.
nil /nl/ noun 1. the number 0 (used in
nil
Do you want another cup of coffee? No,

giving the result of a game) We lost three thank you. 2. not any Theres no milk left
nil. 2. nothing Our advertising budget in the fridge. We live in a little village,
has been cut to nil. and theres no post office for miles around.
nimble / nmbl/ (nimbler, nimblest) adj
nimble
We had no reply to our fax. no entry

able to move quickly you may not go in this way no exit you
nine /nan/ noun the number 9 may not go out this way no parking you
nine
9/11 /nan lev()n/ noun the events of 9

9/11
|
may not park no smoking you may not
September 2001, when terrorists flew air- smoke
no. / nmb/ abbr number
no.
craft into the two towers of the World

nobility /n blti/ noun 1. all noble
nobility
Trade Center in New York, destroying |
them and causing thousands of deaths families, taken as a group The king invit-
999 /nan nan nan/ noun a telephone
999
ed members of the nobility to the meeting.
The nobility fought hard to protect their
number to call the emergency services in
Britain The firemen came quickly when privileges. 2. the quality of being extreme-
we called 999. The ambulance answered ly polite, being impressive and brave The
the 999 call. nobility of his actions is not in doubt.
noble / nb()l/ noun a person of high
noble
nineteen /nan ti
n/ noun the number
nineteen
19 rank The nobles forced the king to sign

the treaty.
nineteenth /nan ti
n/, 19th adj re-
nineteenth
nobleman / nb()lmn/ (plural noble-

| nobleman
lating to number 19 in a series noun men) noun a man of high rank

number 19 in a series
noblewoman / nb()lwmn/ (plural
noblewoman
ninetieth / nanti/, 90th adj relating

ninetieth
noblewomen) noun a woman of high rank

to number 90 in a series Its his ninetieth nobody / nbdi/ pron same as no
nobody
birthday tomorrow. noun number 90 in a one

series
nocturnal /nk t#
n()l/ adj relating to
nocturnal
ninety / nanti/ noun number 90

ninety |
the night The nocturnal habits of the

nineties the numbers between 90 and 99 badger.
ninth /nan/ adj relating to number 9
ninth
nod /nd/ verb (nods, nodding, nod-

nod
in a series Youre the ninth person in the ded) 1. to move the head slightly up and
queue. noun number 9 in a series down, meaning yes When he asked her
nip /np/ (nips, nipping, nipped) verb 1. to
nip
if she understood, she nodded (her head).

squeeze sharply We nipped off the end of He nodded in agreement. (NOTE: The oppo-
the stalk to stop the plant growing any tall- site is to shake your head, meaning no.) 2.
er. The crab nipped his thumb as he to move the head slightly up and down, to
picked it up. bud 2. to bite sharply The mean hello or goodbye [~at] She nod-
dog nipped the postman in the leg. 3. to go ded at me as I went past. noun a move-
very quickly Ill just nip round to the ment of the head up and down, meaning
newsagents and get the evening paper. yes He gave me a nod as I came in.
Well nip down to the pub for a drink. nod off phrasal verb to go to sleep She
nod off
nipple / np()l/ noun the darker part

nipple
was nodding off in front of the television.

in the centre of a womans breast, through (NOTE: nodding nodded)
423 nonsense
nodule / ndju
l/ noun a small lump or non-committal /nn k mt()l/ adj
nodule non-committal
swelling not deciding on a definite course of action,

no-go area /n ( eri/ noun an not agreeing with either side in an argu-
no-go area
area of a town where ordinary people or the ment

police cannot go nonconformist /nnkn f
mst/ adj,
nonconformist
noise /nz/ noun 1. a loud or unpleas- noun not following the usual social con-
noise
ant sound I cant hear you for the noise ventions His nonconformist attitude to
of the workmen in the street. Lets not in- staff relations.
vite the children I cant stand noise. 2. non-count / nn kant/ adj same as un-
non-count
sound in general There was a noise of countable

running water in the bathroom. The nondescript / nndskrpt/ adj very or-
nondescript
washing machine is making a funny noise. dinary, without any special qualities
He woke up when he heard a noise in the none /nn/ pron 1. not any How
none
kitchen. many dogs have you got? None. Can

noise pollution / nz plu
()n/
noise pollution
|
you buy some milk? Weve none left in the
noun spoiling peoples enjoyment of the fridge? A little money is better than none
outdoors by making a lot of noise at all. 2. not one None of my friends
noisily / nzli/ adv making a lot of
noisily
smokes. None of the group can speak

noise Chinese.
noisy / nzi/ (noisier, noisiest) adj nonentity /n nentti/ noun a person
noisy
nonentity
who or which makes a lot of noise a who is completely unimportant

crowd of noisy little boys Unfortunately, nonetheless /nn les/ adv although
nonetheless
the hotel overlooks a noisy crossroads. a particular situation exists

This lawn mower is noisier than our old non-event /nn vent/ noun an occa-
non-event
one. sion or event which makes you feel disap-

nomad / nmd/ noun a person who
nomad
pointed because it is not as good as you ex-

moves from place to place in a large area of pected
land without settling in any one spot nonexistent / nn( zstnt/ adj which
nonexistent
no-mans-land / n mnz lnd/

|
no-mans-land
does not exist, which is not real

noun land between two countries or ar-
non-fiction /nn fkn/ noun books
non-fiction
mies, which does not belong to either which are about real things, events or peo-
nominal / nmn()l/ adj 1. in name, not
nominal
ple, and are not stories

in fact Hes the nominal head of the com- non-flammable /nn flmb()l/ adj
non-flammable
pany, but his secretary does all the work. which does not burn easily
His appointment as director is entirely
non-intervention /nn nt
non-intervention
nominal I will continue to be in charge. 2. |
involving a small amount of money We ven()n/ noun a decision or policy to

pay a nominal fee. The subscription is re- avoid becoming involved in disagreements
ally nominal. We make a nominal charge between two other people or countries
non-member /nn memb/ noun not a
non-member
for our services.

nominate / nmnet / (nominates,
nominate
member of a particular organisation
no-no / n n/ noun a thing which is
no-no
nominating, nominated) verb to suggest

someone for a post (NOTE: + nomination n) not allowed (informal)
nominee /nm ni
/ noun a person who no-nonsense /n nnsns/ adj sen-
no-nonsense
nominee
has been suggested for something such as sible, serious and honest
non-payment /nn pemnt/ noun a
non-payment
a job
non- /nn/ prefix not failure to pay
non-
non-aggression /nn (re()n/ nonplussed /nn plst/ adj confused

nonplussed
non-aggression
|
|
non-proliferation /nn prlf
non-proliferation
noun a governments policy of not attack- | |
ing other countries re()n/ noun the practice of limiting the

nonchalant / nn()lnt/ adj not production or spread of something, espe-
nonchalant
showing any excitement or worry about an- cially nuclear weapons or other weapons of
ything mass destruction
non-combatant /nn kmbtnt/ non-resident /nn rezd()nt / noun a
non-combatant non-resident
noun 1. a person who is not in the armed person who is not living in a place or not
forces during a war 2. a chaplain, medical staying there very long
nonsense / nnsns/ noun silly ideas
nonsense
officer, or other member of the armed forc-

es who does not take part in battle Im too fat nonsense! He talked a lot
non sequitur 424

of nonsense. Its nonsense to expect peo- normally / n
m()li/ adv usually
normally

ple to pay money for that. (NOTE: no plural) The bus is normally late. She doesnt nor-
non sequitur /nn sekwt/ noun a mally drink wine.
non sequitur
north /n
/ noun the direction to your
north
statement which appears to have no con-

nection to what was said immediately be- left when you are facing the direction in
fore it which the sun rises There will be snow in
non-smoker /nn smk/ noun a per- the north of the country. Its cold when
non-smoker
son who does not smoke the wind blows from the north. adj relat-
non-standard /nn stndd/ adj not
non-standard
ing to the north We went on holiday to the
meeting the requirements of an accepted north coast of Scotland. The north side of
standard our house never gets any sun. When the
north wind blows, you can expect snow.
nonstarter /nn st
t/ noun a project
nonstarter
|
adv towards the north They were travel-
or plan which is never going to be accepted ling north at the time. Go north for three
non-stick / nn stk/ adj with a surface
non-stick
miles and then youll see the road to Lon-

which prevents food sticking to it don. Our office windows face north.
non-stop /nn stp/ adj which does northbound / n
band/ adj travelling
non-stop
northbound
not stop a non-stop train to Paris They towards the north

took a non-stop flight to Australia. All north-east /n
i
st / adv the direc-
north-east
our flights to Toronto are non-stop. adv tion between north and east
without stopping The planes flies to north-easterly /n
i
stli/ adj 1. to-
north-easterly
Hong Kong non-stop. They worked non- wards the north-east 2. (of a wind) blowing
stop to finish the job on time. from the north-east noun a wind from the
noodles / nu
d()lz/ plural noun long flat
noodles
north-east
pieces of pasta I ordered spicy meatballs north-eastern /n
i
stn/ adj from,
north-eastern
with noodles. We started with chicken of or in the north-east

noodle soup. northerly / n
li/ adj 1. towards the
northerly
nook /nk/ noun a small hiding place

nook
north 2. (of a wind) blowing from the north

noon /nu
n/ noun twelve oclock in the
noon
northern / n
()n/ adj from, of or in
northern
middle of the day the north They live in the northern part of
no one / n wn/ pron no person
no one
the country.
We met no one we knew. No one here northerner / n
()n /, Northerner
northerner
takes sugar in their tea. There was no- noun a person who lives in or comes from
body in the caf. Nobody wants to do her the north of a country or region
job. no one else no other person No one northern hemisphere /n
()n
northern hemisphere
elses child behaved as badly as ours on hem sf/ noun the part of the earth
|
the plane! above the equator

noose /nu
s/ noun a circle in a piece of
noose
northernmost / n
()nmst/ adj
northernmost
rope which becomes tight as you pull on it furthest to the north

nope /np/ interj no Any luck? Nope! North Pole / n
pl/ noun the fur-
nope
North Pole
nor /n
/ conj and not I dont want to
nor
thest point north on the earth

go Nor me! I did not meet him that northward / n
wd/ adj towards the
northward
year nor in subsequent years. I never north

went there again, nor did my wife. neither northwards / n
wdz/ adv towards
northwards
norm /n
m/ noun the standard
norm
the north
normal / n
m()l/ adj usual or expect- north-west /n
west / adv the di-
normal north-west
ed We hope to restore normal service as rection between west and north

soon as possible. Look at the rain its north-westerly / n
westli/ adj 1.
north-westerly
just a normal British summer. Whats the towards the north-west 2. (of a wind) low-
size of a normal swimming pool? At her ing from the north-west
age, its only normal for her to want to go north-western /n
westn/ adj
north-western
to parties. from, of or in the north-west

normalise / n
mlaz/ (normalises, nose /nz/ noun a part of the body on
normalise
nose
normalising, normalised), normalize verb your face which you breathe through and
to make normal again smell with He has a cold, and his nose is
normality /n
mlti/ noun the fact of
normality
| red. Dogs have wet noses. Shes got flu

being normal her nose is running. Dont wipe your
425 notice
nose on your sleeve, use a tissue. under noticed The food was notably better than
his, her, etc. very nose in front of him, her, the last time we ate there.
etc. I did it under his very nose and he notation /n te()n/ noun a system of
notation
didnt notice a thing. to blow your nose symbols used to show notes in music, or to
to blow air through your nose into a hand- show signs used in mathematics
kerchief to remove liquid from your nose notch /nt/ noun a small V-shaped cut
notch
to speak through your nose to talk as if He cut two notches in the stick with his
your nose is blocked, so that you say b penknife.
rather than m and d rather than n to note /nt/ noun 1. a few words in
note
look down your nose at something to writing to remind yourself of something

look at something as if you dont think it is She made a note of what she needed to buy
very good Shes got a degree and looks before she went to the supermarket. She
down her nose at the other secretaries. to made a few notes before she gave her
turn your nose up at something to show speech. He left us a note to say hed be
that you dont feel something is good back later. 2. a short message She left a
enough for you Its a marvellous deal, I note for the managing director with his
dont see why you should turn your nose up secretary. He wrote me a note to say he
at it. couldnt come. 3. a piece of paper money
nosebleed / nzbli
d/ noun blood
nosebleed
I tried to pay with a 10 note. 4. a musical

coming from the nose sound or a written sign meaning a musical
nosedive / nzdav/ noun (of some-
nosedive
sound He cant sing high notes. verb

thing flying) a steep movement downwards (notes, noting, noted) 1. to write down
(NOTE: + nosedive v) something in a few words The policeman
nostalgia /n stld/ noun a sad feel- noted in his notebook all the details of the
nostalgia
ing of wanting things to be the same as they accident. 2. to take notice of something
were in the past [~(that)] Please note that our prices were
nostalgic /n stldk/ adj referring to
nostalgic
|
raised on January 1st. to take note of to
nostalgia pay attention to We have to take note of
nostril / nstrl/ noun one of the two
nostril
public opinion.
notebook / ntbk/ noun a small book
notebook
holes in your nose, which you breathe

through for making notes The policeman wrote
not /nt/ adv used with verbs to show
not
down the details in his notebook.
noted / ntd/ adj famous
noted
the negative A service charge is not in-

notepad / ntpd / noun 1. a block of
notepad
cluded. It isnt there. She cant come.

He didnt want any meat. We couldnt go paper for writing notes I took a notepad
home because of the fog. Dont you like to jot down any interesting points from the
coffee? not exactly 1. not completely lecture. 2. (in computing) a part of the
Was it a disaster? Not exactly a disaster, screen used to store information even if the
but it didnt go very well. Its not exactly terminal is switched off Use the notepad
the colour I wanted. 2. used for emphasis- to make changes to your file.
notepaper / ntpep/ noun 1. a pa-
notepaper
ing a negative Hes not exactly pleased at

having to pay out so much money. per for writing letters It must be an offi-
noteither and notalso She doesnt cial order, its written on the companys
eat meat, and she doesnt eat fish either. headed notepaper. Youll find some note-
It wasnt hot, but it wasnt very cold either. paper in the hotel bedroom. 2. US paper for
not onlybut also not just thisbut this writing rough notes on
as well The film wasnt only very long, noteworthy / ntw#
i / adj worth no-
noteworthy
but it was also very bad. ticing because it is interesting or special

notable / ntb()l/ adj which is worth nothing / n / pron not anything
notable nothing
noticing It was a notable achievement. Theres nothing interesting on TV. She

She was notable by her absence. The said nothing about what she had seen.
town is notable for its currant cakes. Theres nothing more we can do. for
noun an important person a meeting of nothing free, without having to pay
local notables Were friends of the woman running the
notably / ntbli/ adv 1. especially show and she got us in for nothing.
notably
notice / nts/ noun 1. a piece of

notice
Some Western countries, notably Canada

and the United States, have a very high writing giving information, usually put in a
standard of living. 2. in a way that is easily place where everyone can see it He
noticeable 426
pinned up a notice about the staff tennis nourish / nr/ (nourishes, nourish-
nourish
match. 2. an official warning that some- ing, nourished) verb 1. to give food to
thing has to be done, that something is go- someone All the children look very well
ing to happen They gave us five minutes nourished. 2. to keep things such as ideas
notice to leave the office. If you want to or hopes alive The news nourished their
resign, you have to give a months notice. hopes that their son might still be alive.
The train times were changed without no- nourishing / nr/ adj which pro-
nourishing
tice. verb (notices, noticing, noticed) to vides people, animals, or plants with the
see; to take note of [~(that)/~how/what/who substances they need to live, grow and re-
etc] I didnt notice you had come in. main fit and healthy
Did you notice how tired John was look- nourishment / nrmnt/ noun food
nourishment
ing? I wore one blue and one white sock in general She just lies in bed and refuses
all day and nobody noticed. at short no- to take any nourishment.
tice with very little warning It had to be
novel / nv()l/ noun a long story with
novel
done at short notice. The bank manager

imaginary characters and events Pick-
will not see anyone at such short notice. wick Papers was Dickens first major nov-
until further notice until different instruc-
tions are given You must pay 200 on the el. adj new and unusual Visiting New
York is a novel experience for me.
30th of each month until further notice.
novelist / nv()lst/ noun a person who
novelist
noticeable / ntsb()l/ adj which

noticeable
writes novels
is easily noticed
novelty / nv()lti/ (plural novelties)
novelty
noticeboard / ntsb
d/ noun a board
noticeboard
noun 1. a new thing you have not experi-

which is fixed to a wall, on which notices enced before Flying in a plane is still a
can be attached novelty for them. 2. the fact of being new
notification /ntf ke()n/ noun
notification
|
The novelty of the new job soon wore off. 3.
the act of informing someone an unusual little object, usually with no
notify / ntfa/ (notifies, notifying, no- practical use Small shops selling novel-
notify
tified) verb to tell someone about some- ties and souvenirs.

thing formally [~of/about] They were no- November /n vemb/ noun the
November
tified of the arrival of the shipment. We eleventh month of the year, the month after
will notify you of the exact fee at a later October and before December November
date. 5 Today is November 5th. She was born
notion / n()n/ noun an idea She in November. We never go on holiday in
notion
has this strange notion that she ought to be November. (NOTE: November 5th or No-
a TV star. vember 5: say November the fifth or the
notoriety /nt rati/ noun a bad rep-
notoriety
|
fifth of November or in US English: Novem-
utation ber fifth.)
novice / nvs / noun a person who has
novice
notorious / n t
ris/ adj well known
notorious
for bad qualities, or for doing bad things very little experience or skill, e.g. in a job
or sport Hes still a novice at rowing. A
nougat / nu
(
/ noun a type of white
nougat
competition like this is not for novices.

sweet made with nuts, honey and the white
now /na/ adv at or around this point in
now
parts of eggs
time I can hear a train coming now.
nought /n
t/ noun 1. the number 0
nought
Please can we go home now? The flight

One million can be written as 1m or as is only two hours he ought to be in Berlin
one and six noughts. (NOTE: nought is more by now. Nows the best time for going ski-
common in British English; in US English, ing. A week from now well be sitting on
zero is more usual.) 2. nothing the beach. interj showing a warning
noun /nan/ noun (in grammar) a word
noun
Now then, dont be rude to the teacher!

which can be the subject or object of a verb Come on now, work hard! Now, now! No-
and is used to refer to a person, thing or an- body wants to hear you crying. now and
imal nouns such as brick and ele- then from time to time, not continuously
phant In the cat caught a mouse, cat until now, up to now until this point in
and mouse are both nouns. time Until now, Ive never had to see a
noun phrase /nan frez / noun a word doctor.
noun phrase
nowadays / nadez/ adv at the

nowadays
or group of which is used in the same way

as a noun, e.g. as the subject, object, or top- present time Nowadays lots of people go
ic, in a sentence to Spain on holiday. The traffic is so bad
427 numerate
nowadays that it takes us an hour to drive nugget / n(t/ noun 1. a lump of gold in
nugget
to Piccadilly Circus. its natural state 2. a little lump of food fried

nowhere / nwe/ adv not in or to with others chicken nuggets
nowhere
nuisance / nju
s()ns/ noun a thing
nuisance
any place My wallet was nowhere to be

found. Where are you going? Nowhere. which annoys people
There is nowhere else for them to live. nuke /nju
k/ verb (nukes, nuking,
nuke
to get nowhere not to have any success I nuked) to attack with nuclear weapons
rang six shops to try and find a spare part, noun a nuclear weapon
but got nowhere. nullify / nlfa/ (nullifies, nullifying,
nullify
no-win situation /n wn / noun a sit-

no-win situation
nullified) verb 1. to make something no

uation in which you are likely to fail or suf- longer legal or official This new amend-
fer, whatever you do ment to the contract will nullify the condi-
noxious / nks / adj harmful or poison-
noxious
tions we have just agreed. It nullified all

ous our attempts at negotiation. 2. to make use-
nozzle / nz()l/ noun a fitting at the end
nozzle
less His speech has nullified all our at-
of a pipe which controls the flow of liquid tempts at negotiation.
numb /nm/ adj not able to feel things
numb
nuance / nju
ns/ noun a slight shade of
nuance
meaning that you touch The tips of his fingers went

numb. His hands were numb with cold.
nuclear / nju
kli/ adj relating to ener-
nuclear
number / nmb/ noun 1. a sign that

number
gy made from parts of atoms a nuclear

power station represents an amount 13 is not a lucky
number. Their house is number 49. Can
nuclear family /nju
kli fm()li /
nuclear family
you give me your telephone number? A

noun a family consisting simply of parents number 6 bus goes to Oxford Street.
and children. extended family Please quote your account number. 2. a
nuclear reactor /nju
kli ri kt/
nuclear reactor
| quantity of people or things The number

noun a machine which creates heat and en- of tickets sold was disappointing. A large
ergy by starting and controlling atomic fis- number of children or large numbers of
sion children will be sitting the exam. There
nucleus / nju
klis/ (plural nuclei) were only a small number of people at the
nucleus
noun 1. the central part of an atom, formed meeting. verb (numbers, numbering,
of neutrons and protons Electrons orbit numbered) to give something a number
the nucleus of the atom. 2. the central body The raffle tickets are numbered 1 to 1000.
in a cell, containing DNA and RNA, and I refer to our invoices numbered 234 and
controlling the way that the cell works 235. All the seats are clearly numbered.
First the nucleus divides, then the whole his days are numbered he hasnt much
cell splits in two. 3. a centre around which time left to live

something gathers The six experienced number one /nmb wn/ noun 1.
number one
players form the nucleus of the new team. yourself, your own interests 2. the most im-
nude / nju
d/ adj not wearing clothes, es- portant thing or person His latest single
nude
pecially in situations where people are ex- is number one in the charts. Shes
pected to wear some clothes Nude sun- number one in the organisation.
number plate / nmb plet/ noun
number plate
bathing is not allowed on this beach. She

has appeared nude on stage several times. one of two signs fixed on the front and
nudge /nd/ noun a little push, usually back of a vehicle which shows the official
nudge
with the elbow She gave me a nudge to number of the vehicle (NOTE: The US term
wake me up. verb (nudges, nudging, is license plate.)
numbing / nm/ adj causing a lack of
numbing
nudged) to give a little push, usually with

the elbow He nudged me when it was my feeling in a part of the body
turn to speak. numbness / nmns/ noun having no
numbness
nudism / nju
dz()m/ noun a belief in feeling
nudism
the physical and mental advantages of not numeracy / nju

m()rsi/ noun the abil-
numeracy
wearing any clothes ity to work with numbers

nudist / nju
dst/ noun a person who numeral / nju
m()rl/ noun a written
nudist numeral
chooses not wear clothes adj relating to sign representing a number

nudists numerate / nju
m()rt / adj able to
numerate
nudity / nju
dti/ noun nakedness
nudity
work with numbers

numerous 428
numerous / nju
m()rs/ adj very nutrient / nju
trint/ noun a substance
numerous nutrient
many He has been fined for speeding on in food which encourages the growth of
numerous occasions. living things
nun /nn/ noun a woman member of a re- nutrition /nju
tr())n/ noun 1. the
nun nutrition
ligious group who live together (NOTE: Do way in which food affects health A
not confuse with none. Note: the equivalent scheme to improve nutrition in the poorer
men are monks.) areas. 2. the study of food We are study-
nurse /n#
s/ noun a person who looks ing nutrition as part of the food science
nurse
after sick people (woman or man) She has course.

a job as a nurse in the local hospital. verb nutritionist /nju
tr()nst/ noun a
nutritionist
(nurses, nursing, nursed) to look after person who is an expert in the study of nu-
people who are ill When she fell ill her trition and who advises people about what
daughter nursed her until she was better. to eat in order to be healthy
nursery / n#
s()ri/ (plural nurseries) nutritious /nju
trs/ adj valuable as
nursery nutritious
noun a school for very young children, or a food

place where very young children are nuts /nts/ adj crazy (informal) nuts
nuts
looked after My sister went to a nursery about someone or something very keen
every day from the age of 18 months. on someone or something Hes nuts
nursery rhyme / n#
s()ri ram/ noun a about old cars. to drive someone nuts
nursery rhyme
little piece of poetry for children to make someone crazy I wish theyd turn
nursery school / n#
s()ri sku
l/ noun the music down its driving me nuts.
nursery school
nutshell / ntel / noun the hard outside

nutshell
a school for very small children, for chil-

dren under five years old part of a nut in a nutshell as concisely as
nursing / n#
s/ noun the profession of possible Its a long and complicated sto-
nursing
being a nurse She decided to go in for ry, but, in a nutshell, he left his wife and set
nursing. Have you considered nursing as fire to the house.
a career? nutter / nt/ noun a person who other
nutter
nursing home / n#
s hm/ noun people think is extremely strange or crazy
nursing home
a small private hospital (offensive informal)

nurture / n#
t/ (nurtures, nurturing, nutty / nti/ adj 1. full of nuts a nutty
nutty
nurture
nurtured) verb to care for children, plants chocolate bar 2. crazy Hes a typical nut-
or ideas and encourage them to develop ty professor. I think its a bit of a nutty
nut /nt/ noun 1. a dry fruit with a hard idea myself.
nut
nuzzle / nz()l/ (nuzzles, nuzzling,

nuzzle
shell, that grows on trees 2. a metal ring

which screws on a bolt to hold it tight nuzzled) verb to press your nose up to
Screw the nut on tightly. the nuts and nylon / naln / noun a type of strong
nylon
bolts of something the main details of artificial material used to make things such
something (informal) Youll need to mas- as clothing or sheets
ter the nuts and bolts of the stock market nymphomaniac /nmf menik/
nymphomaniac
before going to work in the city. noun an offensive word for a woman who
nutcracker / ntkrk/ noun a bird
nutcracker
| is always thinking about sex or wanting to

that eats pine nuts have sex
O
o //, O noun the fifteenth letter of the al- object2 /b dekt/ (objects, objecting,
o object
phabet, between N and P objected) verb to say that you do not like
oak /k/ noun 1. a type of large tree something or you do not want something to
oak
which loses its leaves in winter a forest of happen I object to being treated like a
oak trees Oaks produce thousands of child. He objected that the pay was too
acorns each year. 2. wood from this tree low.
an oak table objection /b dekn/ noun a reason
objection
oar /
/ noun a long wooden pole with a for refusing to agree to [~to] Do you have
oar
flat part at the end, used for moving a boat any objection to me smoking? Any objec-
along tions to the plan? to raise an objection
oasis / ess / (plural oases) noun 1. a to something to object to something She
oasis
place in the desert where there is water, and raised several objections to the proposal.
objective /b dektv/ adj consider-
objective
where plants grow After crossing the |
desert for days they finally arrived at an ing things from a general point of view and
oasis. 2. a quiet pleasant place which is dif- not from your own You must be objective
ferent from everything else around it when planning the future of your business.
Golden Square is an oasis of calm in the noun something that you are trying or in-
middle of Londons West End. tending to achieve Our main objective is
oath // noun a swear word As the to make the club financially sound. The
oath
police grabbed him, he let out a long string company has achieved all its objectives.
of oaths. objectivity /bdek tvti/ noun the
objectivity
oatmeal / tmi
l/ noun small rough fact of being objective
oatmeal
pieces of crushed oats, used especially to objector /b dekt/ noun a person who
objector
make porridge objects

obedient / bi
dint/ adj doing what you obligation /bl (e()n/ noun 1.
obedient
obligation
|
|
are told to do Our old dog is very obedi- something that you must do, e.g. for legal
ent he always comes when you call him. reasons [~to] You have an obligation to
obese / bi
s/ adj someone who is
obese
|
attend the meeting. 2. a feeling of being
obese is so fat that it is dangerous for their grateful to someone because they have
health done something for you [~to/towards] He
obesity / bi
sti/ noun the medical felt an obligation towards his older sister
obesity
condition of being extremely fat for the way she had always supported his
obey / be/ (obeys, obeying, obeyed) plans.
obey
verb to do what someone tells you to do obligatory / bl(t()ri/ adj which has
obligatory
If you cant obey orders you shouldnt be a to be done according to rules or laws
policeman. Everyone must obey the law. oblige / blad/ (obliges, obliging,
oblige
obituary / bturi/ (plural obituaries)

obituary
| obliged) verb 1. to force someone to do

noun a written account of someones life, something He was obliged to hand the
published after his or her death money back. to feel obliged to do some-
object1 / bdekt/ noun 1. a thing They thing to feel it is your duty to do something
object
thought they saw a strange object in the He felt obliged to study medicine at uni-
sky. 2. an aim Their object is to take con- versity because his father was a doctor. 2.
trol of the radio station. 3. a noun, pronoun to do something useful or helpful He
or phrase which follows directly from a wanted to oblige you by weeding your gar-
verb or preposition In the phrase the cat den for you. 3. to be obliged to someone
caught the mouse, the word mouse is the to be grateful to someone for having done
object of the verb caught. something (formal ) Thank you Im
obliging 430
much obliged to you for your help. Id be observed. 2. to watch something with a lot
obliged if you could shut the window. of attention They observed and recorded
obliging / blad/ adj ready to help all the changes carefully. 3. to make a re-
obliging
obliterate / bltret/ (obliterates, ob-

obliterate
|
mark [~that] I merely observed that the
literating, obliterated) verb to destroy bus was late as usual.
observer /b z#
v/ noun a person who
observer
completely (NOTE: + obliteration n) |
oblivion / blvin/ noun 1. the fact of

oblivion
|
goes to an event and watches but does not
being completely forgotten After being take part
obsess /b ses/ (obsesses, obsessing,
obsess
famous during the war the town fell into |
complete oblivion. 2. the fact of not notic- obsessed) verb to think about someone or
ing what is going on around you He sat something all the time, especially in a way
there in a state of complete oblivion. that seems extreme to other people He is
oblivious / blvis/ adj not noticing
oblivious
obsessed by money.
obsessed /b sest/ adj thinking about
|
obsessed
oblong / bl/ noun a shape with two

oblong
|
pairs of equal sides, one pair being longer someone or something all the time in a way
than the other The screen is an oblong, which seems extreme to other people
obsession / b se()n/ noun 1. a fixed
obsession
approximately 30cm by 40cm. |
obnoxious /b nks / adj very un-

obnoxious
|
idea which you think about all the time
pleasant or very offensive Making money is an obsession with him. 2.
an idea or problem which worries you all
oboe / b/ noun a woodwind instru-
oboe
the time, often connected with mental ill-

ment, with a smaller range than the clarinet ness She has an obsession with cleanli-
obscene /b si
n/ adj offensive to moral
obscene
|
ness.
standards or normal feelings He earns an obsessive /b sesv/ adj showing an ob-
obsessive
obscene amount of money. session

obscenity /b senti/ (plural obsceni-
obscenity
obsolete / bsli
t/ adj no longer used
obsolete
|
ties) noun 1. the fact of being obscene

obstacle / bstk()l/ noun something
obstacle
The artist narrowly escaped being prose- which prevents someone from moving for-
cuted for obscenity. 2. something which is ward or making progress Outdated com-
obscene She regards the mere existence puter systems can be an obstacle to suc-
of nuclear weapons as an obscenity. cess. Drivers have to negotiate obstacles
obscure /b skj/ (obscures, obscur-
obscure
|
in the road.
ing, obscured) verb to hide, especially by obstetrician / bst tr()n/ noun a
obstetrician
covering During a solar eclipse, the doctor who is an expert in obstetrics

moon obscures the sun.
obstetrics /b stetrks/ noun a branch
obstetrics
obscurity /b skjrti/ noun the fact of

obscurity |
|
of medicine dealing with pregnancy, child-
being obscure, not being well-known birth and the period immediately after
observance /b z#
v()ns/ noun the ac-
observance
|
childbirth
tion of obeying a law or rule obstinate / bstnt/ adj 1. determined
obstinate
observant /b z#
vnt/ adj who notices
observant
|
not to change your mind or not to change
many details your opinion or course of action, whatever
observation /bz ve()n/ noun
observation
| other people say Shes such an obstinate

1. the action of observing By careful ob- person, that you can never make her
servation, the police found out where the change her mind. Stop being so obstinate
thieves had hidden the money. under ob- and do what I say! 2. difficult to remove
servation being carefully watched The She tried to get rid of the obstinate red
patient will be kept under observation for a wine stain on the tablecloth.
few days. 2. a remark [~about/on] He obstruct /b strkt / (obstructs, ob-
obstruct
made several observations about the gov- structing, obstructed) verb to put some-
ernment. thing in the way, so that nothing can pass
observatory /b z#
vtri/ noun a place
observatory
| through The artery was obstructed by a

from which stars and planets can be blood clot. A large black car was ob-
watched structing the entrance.
observe /b z#
v/ (observes, ob- obstruction /b strkn/ noun 1. the
observe obstruction
| |
serving, observed) verb 1. to follow or to act of obstructing The fullback was pe-
obey something such as a law, rule or cus- nalised for obstruction. 2. a thing which
tom His family observes all the religious gets in the way His car broke down and
festivals strictly. The local laws must be caused an obstruction on the motorway.
431 octopus
obstructive /b strktv/ adj causing The manager is occupied just at
obstructive
| [~with]
difficulties and not cooperating the moment. Keeping a class of 30 little
obtain /b ten/ (obtains, obtaining, children occupied is difficult. He is occu-
obtain
obtained) verb to manage to get something pied with sorting out the mail.
She obtained a copy of the will. He ob- occupier / kjpa/ noun a person who
occupier

tained control of the business. lives in a particular house or flat
obtainable /b tenb()l/ adj which occupy / kjpa/ (occupies, occu-
obtainable
occupy
|
can be obtained pying, occupied) verb 1. to live in or work

obtrusive /b tru
sv/ adj which sticks
obtrusive
|
in They occupy the flat on the first floor.
out or which is in the way The firm occupies offices in the centre of
obvious / bvis/ adj clear; easily
obvious
town. 2. (of time, thoughts or attention) to

seen Its obvious that we will have to pay use or fill Dealing with the office occu-
for the damage. It was obvious to every- pies most of my time. 3. to take control of a
one that the shop was not making any mon- place by being inside it Protesters occu-
ey. pied the TV station. 4. to hold a post Who
obviously / bvisli/ adv clearly occupies the post of company secretary.
obviously
Obviously we will need to borrow various (NOTE: occupies occupying occupied)

pieces of equipment. occur / k#
/ (occurs, occurring, oc-
occur
occasion / ke()n/ noun 1. a

occasion
| curred) verb 1. to happen When did the

special occasion a special event such as a accident occur? 2. to come to your mind
wedding The babys first birthday was a [~to] Did it never occur to you that she
special occasion. Its an extra-special was lying? Its just occurred to me that I
occasion shes one hundred years old to- didnt bring the keys. 3. to exist Iron ore
day! 2. a time when something happens I occurs in several parts of the country.
didnt meet him on that particular occa- occurrence / krns/ noun a hap-
occurrence
sion. on occasion from time to time pening

On occasion, we spend a weekend in the
ocean / ()n/ noun a very large
ocean
country.
area of sea surrounding the large areas of
occasional / ke()n()l/ adj hap-
occasional
|
land on the Earth Ocean currents can be
pening sometimes, but not very often He very treacherous. Ocean liners used to
was an occasional visitor to my parents dock here.
house. We make the occasional trip to
oclock / klk/ adv used with num-
oclock
London. |
occasionally / ke()nli/ adv

occasionally
|
bers to show the time Get up its 7
sometimes, not very often Occasionally oclock. We never open the shop before
he has to work late. We occasionally go 10 oclock. By 2 oclock in the morning
to the cinema. everyone was asleep. (NOTE: Oclock is only
used for the exact hour, not for times which
occupancy / kjpnsi / noun the act of
occupancy
include minutes. It can also be omitted: We

moving into a property, such as a house, an got home before eight. or We got home be-
office or a room in a hotel, either perma- fore eight oclock.)
nently or for a short stay
octagon / kt(n/ noun a geometrical
octagon
occupant / kjpnt/ noun the per-

occupant
son or company occupying a property figure with eight sides

octave / ktv/ noun (in music) the eight
octave
occupation /kj pe()n/ noun 1.

occupation
the act of taking control of a place, or the notes between the first and last notes of a
fact of being in such a situation the occu- scale
October /k tb/ noun the tenth
October
pation of the country by enemy soldiers |
The city had been under enemy occupation month of the year, between September and
for a week. 2. a job, position, employment November October 18 Do you ever go
What is her occupation? His main oc- on holiday in October? Today is October
cupation is running a small engineering 18th. Last October we moved to London.
works. (NOTE: October 18th or October 18: say
occupational /kj pe()nl/ adj October the eighteenth or the eighteenth
occupational
referring to a job of October; in US English: October eight-

occupied / kjupad/ adj 1. being eenth.)
occupied
octopus / ktps/ noun a sea animal

octopus
used All the rooms in the hotel are occu-

pied. All the toilets are occupied, so with eight long arms called tentacles.
youll have to wait. 2. busy with an activity squid
OD 432
OD /a di
/ noun a large amount of a drug
OD
to be fond of, to be tired of, to smell of, to be

taken at one time and causing illness or afraid of, etc.)
death of course /v k
s/ adv 1. used to say
of course
odd /d/ adj 1. unusual and not normal yes or no more strongly Are you com-
odd
Its odd that she can never remember ing with us? Of course I am! Do you
how to get to their house. He doesnt like want to lose all your money? Of course
chocolate Really, how odd! 2. odd not! 2. used for stating something that is
numbers numbers such as 17 or 33 which not surprising He is rich, so of course he
cannot be divided by two The buildings lives in a big house.
with odd numbers are on the opposite side off /f/ adv, prep 1. showing movement
off
of the street. 3. (of an amount) almost, not or position away from a place Were off to
exact or accurate She had 200 odd the shops. The office is just off the main
records in cardboard boxes 4. one forming road. They spent their holiday on an is-
part of a pair 5. done only rarely or occa- land off the coast of Wales. The children
sionally Ive only been to the odd concert got off the bus. Take your boots off before
in the last few years. On the odd occa- you come into the house. 2. away from
sions Ive met him, hes seemed very nice. work She took the week off. Its my day
oddity / dti/ (plural oddities) noun 1. off today. Half the staff are off with flu. 3.
oddity
the state of being odd I was struck by the not switched on Switch the light off be-
oddity of the situation, sitting at the same fore you leave the office. Is the TV off?
offal / f()l/ noun organs such as the
offal
table as my two former wives. 2. an unusual

person or thing This symphony is a bit of heart or liver of an animal used as food
an oddity, it only has two movements. off and on /f nd n/ adv not contin-
off and on
odd jobs /d dbz/ plural noun small uously, with breaks in between
odd jobs
pieces of work, especially repairs, done in off-balance /f blns/ adv not stand-
off-balance
the house He does odd jobs for us around ing steadily The sudden movement of the
the house. bus threw her off-balance.
odds /dz/ to be at odds with some- offbeat /f bi
t/ adj unusual
odds offbeat
one to disagree with someone all the time off-centre /f sent/ adj not at the cen-
off-centre
ode /d / noun a long poem often ad- tre of something (NOTE: The US spelling is
ode
dressed to a person or thing off-center.)

odour / d/ noun a smell, especially an off-chance / f t
ns/ noun a slight
odour off-chance
unpleasant smell the odour of rotten eggs possibility on the off-chance in case
(NOTE: The US spelling is odor.) something happens
odyssey / dsi/ noun a long journey off-colour /f kl/ adj not well
off-colour
odyssey
|
with many exciting or unusual events (NOTE: The US spelling is off-color.)

oestrogen / i
strdn/ noun a hor- off-duty /f dju
ti/ adj who is not on
off-duty
oestrogen
mone produced in the ovaries which con- duty

offence / fens/ noun 1. the state of
offence
trols sexual development and the reproduc- |
tive system (NOTE: The US spelling is estro- being offended He took offence when I
gen.) said he looked bigger than before. 2. a
of /v, v/ prep 1. used for showing a crime, an act which is against the law He
of
connection Shes the sister of the girl was charged with committing an offence.
who you met at the party. Wheres the top Since it was his first offence, he was let off
of the jam jar? What are the names of with a fine. to take offence at to be of-
Henry VIIIs wives? 2. used for showing a fended by He took offence at being called
part or a quantity a litre of orange juice a coward. Dont take offence I didnt
How much of the cloth do you need? To- really mean it.
offend / fend/ (offends, offending, of-
offend
day is the sixth of March. There are four |
boys and two girls six of them altogether. fended) verb 1. to do or say something that
Half of the staff are on holiday. 3. used makes someone angry or upset He of-
for giving a specific age, amount, etc The fended the whole village by the article he
school takes children of ten and over. He wrote in the paper. That wallpaper of-
earns a salary of over 30,000. 4. showing fends my sense of taste. 2. to commit a
position, material, cause He lives in the crime He was released from prison and
north of the town. The jumper is made of immediately offended again.
offender / fend/ noun a person who
offender
cotton. She died of cancer. ( NOTE: Of is of- |
ten used after verbs or adjectives: to think of, commits an offence against the law
433 often
offense / fens/ noun US spelling of of- Officially he knows nothing about the
offense
|
fence problem, but unofficially he has given us a
offensive / fensv/ adj 1. unpleasant lot of advice about it.
offensive
|
officious / fs/ adj very ready to give
officious
What an offensive smell! 2. not polite; rude |
The waiter was quite offensive. advice or tell people what to do, especially
offer / f/ noun a thing which is sug- when the advice is not wanted
offer
off-licence / f las()ns/ noun a shop

off-licence
gested She accepted his offer of a job in

Paris. He turned down her offer to drive which has a licence to sell alcoholic drinks
him to the station. verb (offers, offering, to be taken away
offered) to suggest doing something for off-limits /f lmts/ adj (of a place)
off-limits
someone or giving someone something where you are not allowed to go

She offered to drive him to the station. on offline /f lan/ adj not connected to a
offline
offer which has been offered There are computer

several good holiday bargains on offer. off-peak /f pi
k/ adj not at the most
off-peak
offering / f()r/ noun a thing which is

offering
busy time Off-peak fares are considera-

offered; a present bly less expensive.
off-guard /f (
d/ adj not prepared and
off-guard
off-putting /f pt/ adj rather un-

off-putting
therefore surprised when something such pleasant or annoying

as an attack happens offset /f set/ (offsets, offsetting, off-
offset
offhand /f hnd/ adv immediately,

offhand |
|
set) verb to balance one thing against an-
without thinking carefully I cant say off- other Losses in France more than offset
hand whether Ill be able to go. our profits in the domestic market.
office / fs/ noun a room or building
office
offshoot / fu
t/ noun something which
offshoot
where you do work such as writing, tele- branches from something else
phoning and working at a computer Ill
offside /f sad/ adv (in football) between
offside
be working late at the office this evening.

|
the ball and the opposing teams goal The

We bought some new office furniture.
goal was disallowed because he was off-
Dad has his office at the top of the house. side. adj referring to the side of a car
office block / fs blk/ noun a large
office block
nearest to the middle of the road Your off-

building containing many offices side rear light isnt working.
office hours /fs az/ plural noun
office hours
offspring / fspr/ (plural same)

offspring
the time when an office is open Staff are noun 1. the young of an animal The moth-
not allowed to make private calls during er deer produces her offspring in early
office hours. spring. 2. a child or children Her off-
officer / fs/ noun a person who
officer
spring are all very musical.

holds an official position The customs of- offstage / f sted/ adv outside the area
offstage
ficer asked me to open my suitcase. of a stage used for acting

official / f()l/ adj 1. relating to an
official
off-the-cuff / f kf/ adj, adv made

off-the-cuff
|
organisation, especially one which is part without notes He was only asked to speak
of a government or some other authority at the last minute, and for an off-the-cuff
He left official papers in his car. We had speech, it was excellent.
an official order from the local authority.
off-the-peg /f pe(/ adj, adv (of
off-the-peg
He represents an official body. 2. done or

approved by someone in authority She clothes) which are mass-produced, ready to
received an official letter of explanation. fit any person of a certain size
off-the-record /f i
/ adj (of a state-
off-the-record
The strike was made official by the union

headquarters. noun a person holding a ment) said privately and not to be repeated
recognised position They were met by an as an official statement or to have the
official from the embassy. Ill ask an offi- speakers name published
off-the-wall /f w
l/ adj very unu-
off-the-wall
cial of the social services department to

help you. sual and strange (informal)
officially / f()li/ adv 1. in an official off-white /f wat/ adj yellowish white
off-white
officially
often / f()n/ adv on many occasions

often
way He has been officially named as a

member of the British team. She has been I often have to go to town on business.
officially named as our representative at Do you eat beef often? How often is there
the meeting. 2. according to what is said in a bus to Richmond? every so often from
public Officially, you are not supposed to time to time We go to the cinema every so
go in through this door, but everyone does. often.
ogle 434
ogle / (()l/ (ogles, ogling, ogled) verb of mine. 3. relating to something which has
ogle
to look at someone in a way that shows a been used for a long time Put on an old
sexual interest in them shirt if youre going to wash the car. He
ogre / (/ noun an imaginary person in got rid of his old car and bought a new one.
ogre
childrens stories, who is very large and 4. used with a number to talk about some-
cruel and eats people Puss in Boots ones age Hes six years old today. How
knocked at the door of the ogres castle. old are you?
oh / / interj showing surprise, interest old age /ld ed/ noun a period of
old age
oh
or excitement your life when you are old

0800 number / et hndrd old age pension /ld ed penn/
old age pension
0800 number
nmb/ noun a telephone number that can noun a government pension given to a per-
be rung free of charge son who is past retirement age
old age pensioner /ld ed
old age pensioner
000 noun blood clotting which blocks an

000
artery or vein pen()n/ noun a person who has retired

oil /l/ noun 1. a liquid taken from
oil
and lives on a pension. Abbreviation OAP
old-fashioned /ld f()nd / adj no
old-fashioned
plants and animals, which flows smoothly

and is used in cooking Cook the vegeta- longer in fashion She wore old-fashioned
bles in hot oil. 2. a thick mineral liquid clothes.
found mainly underground and used as a old flame / ld flem/ noun a former
old flame
fuel or to make something move smoothly boyfriend or girlfriend

The door squeaks it needs some oil.
old hand /ld hnd/ noun a person
old hand
Some of the beaches are covered with oil. who is very skilled and experienced at do-
The company is drilling for oil in the ing something
desert.
old hat /ld ht/ adj old-fashioned or
old hat
oilfield / lfi
ld/ noun an area of rock un-
oilfield
out of date (informal)

der which oil lies and which can be drilled
old-time / ld tam/ adj done in an old-
old-time
to take out oil

fashioned way
oil paint / l pent/ noun paint made
oil paint
old wives tale /ld wavz tel/ noun

old wives tale
with colours and oil

an old, and often silly, idea
oil painting / l pent/ noun a pic-
oil painting
old-world / ld w#
ld/ adj old-fash-
old-world
ture painted in oil paints

oil rig / l r(/ noun a structure for drill-
oil rig ioned in a way that is liked This hotel still
ing for oil provides old-world hospitality.
olive / lv/ noun a small black or green
olive
oil slick / l slk/ noun a layer of oil

oil slick
which has spilled into the sea from a tanker fruit from which oil is made for use in
or oil rig and which floats on the water cooking Olives are grown in Mediterra-
nean countries like Spain, Greece and Ita-
oil tanker / l tk/ noun a large ship
oil tanker
ly. Which do you prefer green or black

specially constructed for carrying oil olives?
oil well / l wel / noun a hole in the
oil well
olive branch / lv br
nt/ noun a sign
olive branch
ground from which oil is pumped of peace

ointment / ntmnt/ noun a smooth
ointment
olive oil /lv l/ noun an oil made

olive oil
healing cream which you spread on the

skin from olives
omelette / mlt/ noun a dish made of
omelette
OK / ke /, okay interj 1. used for an-

OK
swering yes to a question Would you beaten eggs, cooked in a frying pan and
like a coffee? OK! 2. used for starting to folded over before serving, with various
talk about something after a pause Its fillings inside (NOTE: The US spelling is
ten oclock OK, lets get going. adj omelet.)
omen / mn/ noun a thing that indi-
omen
all right He was off ill yesterday, but he

seems to be OK now. Is it OK for me to cates what will happen in the future
ominous / mns/ adj threatening bad
ominous
bring the dogs?

old /ld/ adj 1. having had a long life results
old
omission / m()n/ noun 1. the act

omission
My uncle is an old man hes eighty- |
four. She lives in an old peoples home. 2. of omitting We were surprised at the
having existed for a long time He collects omission of his name from the list of candi-
old cars. Play some old music, I dont dates. 2. a thing which has been omitted
like this modern stuff. Shes an old friend I can think of at least two obvious omis-
435 one-way
sions from your list of famous playwrights: Which hat do you like best the black
Shakespeare and Shaw! one or the red one? One of the staff will
omit / mt/ (omits, omitting, omitted) help you carry the box to your car. Ive
omit
verb to leave something out She omitted lost my map have you got one? Small
the date when she signed the contract. cars use less petrol than big ones. one or
omnipotent /m npt()nt/ adj all-
omnipotent
|
two a few One or two people stayed be-
powerful hind to chat. in ones and twos a few at a
time The guests were arriving in ones
on /n/ prep 1. on the top or surface of
on
and twos. last but one the one before the

something Put the box down on the floor. last This is the last weekend but one be-
Flies can walk on the ceiling. 2. hanging
fore Christmas. one by one one after an-
from Hang your coat on the hook. 3. other He ate all the chocolates one by
showing movement or place A crowd of one. They came in one by one and sat in
children got on the train. The pictures on a row at the back of the hall.
page three. The post office is on the left-
one another /wn n/ adj, pron
one another
hand side of the street. 4. doing something |
I have to go to Germany on business.

each other We write to one another every
Were off on holiday tomorrow. 5. referring week.
1471 /wn f
sev()n wn/ noun a tel-
1471
to a time, date or day The shop is open on

Sundays. We went to see my mother on ephone number that you can use to find out
my birthday. 6. a means of travel You can who was the last person to telephone you
one-man /wn mn/ adj consisting of,
one-man
go there on foot it only takes five minutes.

She came on her motorbike. 7. using an designed for, featuring or performed, run
instrument or machine He played some or worked by only one person
music on the piano. The song is available one-night stand /wn nat stnd/
one-night stand
on CD. He was on the telephone for most noun 1. a stop for a single performance of
of the morning. The film was on TV last a play or by a pop group, before moving to
night. adv 1. being worn Have you all another theatre the following night 2. a sex-
got your wellingtons on? The central ual relationship which lasts for only one
heating was off, so he kept his coat on in night (informal)
the house. 2. operating Have you put the one-off /wn f/ adj which is done, hap-
one-off
kettle on? The heating is on. She left all pens or is made only once Its a one-off
the lights on. She turned the engine on. bargain.
He switched the TV on. 3. being shown or one-on-one /wn n wn/ adj US same
one-on-one
played Whats on at the theatre this as one-to-one

week?
one-person /wn p#
s()n/ adj consist-
one-person
on and off /n nd f/ adv not contin-

on and off
ing of, designed for, featuring or per-

uously but with breaks in between formed, run or worked by only one person
once /wns/ adv 1. one time Take the
once
oneself /wn self/ pron referring to

oneself
tablets once a day. The magazine comes the person speaking as an indefinite subject
out once a month. How many times did
one-sided /wn sadd/ adj dealing
one-sided
you go to the cinema last year? Only

once. 2. at a time in the past Once, when with or favouring one side only
one-time / wn tam/ adj former
one-time
it was snowing, the car skidded into a

one-to-one /wn t wn/ adj where
one-to-one
ditch. Hes someone I knew once when I

worked in London. conj as soon as one person has to deal with one other per-
Once he starts talking you cant get him to son only The two presidents had a one-
stop. Once weve moved house Ill give to-one conversation. She is taking a one-
you a phone call. once and for all finally to-one Spanish conversation course.
Ill tell you once and for all stop talk- one-track mind /wn trk mand/
one-track mind
ing!. The government wants to eradicate noun to have (got) a one-track mind to
poverty once and for all. once in a while think too much about one thing, especially
from time to time Its nice to go and have sex
an Indian meal once in a while. one-upmanship /wn pmnp/
one-upmanship
oncoming / nkm/ adj coming to-

oncoming
noun the practice of trying to do better than

wards you another person so as to appear superior to
one /wn/ noun 1. the number 1 2. a him or her
one
one-way /wn we/ adj going in one

one-way
single item Have a toffee oh dear,

theres only one left! pron a single thing direction only
one-woman 436
one-woman /wn wmn/ adj consist- through The surface of the glass is treat-
one-woman
ing of, designed for, featuring or pered to make it opaque. Opaque black
formed, run or worked by only one person tights are the fashion this winter. 2. diffi-
ongoing / n(/ adj which is contin- cult to understand The meaning of the
ongoing
uing document is completely opaque to me.

onion / njn/ noun a round, strong-
onion
Her writings are notorious for being
tasting vegetable which is made up of opaque to non-specialists.
open / pn/ adj 1. not shut The
open
many layers
online / nlan/ adj, adv directly connect-
online
safe door is open. Leave the window
ed to a computer You need to know the open its very hot in here. 2. available for
password to access the data online. use by or the enjoyment of the public Is
onlooker / nlk / noun a person who
onlooker
the supermarket open on Sundays? The
watches an event show is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The
competition is open to anyone over the age
only / nli/ adj without others of the
only
of fifteen. verb (opens, opening,

same type Dont break it its the only opened) 1. to make something open Can
one Ive got. adv 1. with no one or noth- you open the door for me, Im trying to car-
ing else Weve only got ten pounds be- ry these heavy boxes? Dont open the en-
tween us. Only an accountant can deal velope until tomorrow. 2. to start doing
with this problem. This lift is for staff on- something, to start a business A new res-
ly. 2. as recently as We saw her only last taurant is going to open next door to us.
week. Only yesterday the bank phoned Most shops open early in the morning.
for information. conj but, except I
open up phrasal verb 1. to start working
would have arrived on time, only the train
A new bookshop has opened up next
was late. only just almost not only too
very much door. 2. to make available for use We
are opening up the park to visitors.
only child /nli tald/ noun son or
only child
open air /pn e/ noun a place out-

open air
daughter who has no other brothers or sis-

ters side which is not covered or hidden We
keep the plants in the greenhouse during
on-off /n f/ adj something which keeps
on-off
the winter, but bring them out into the open

on starting and stopping air in the summer.
on-screen /n skri
n/ adj, adv on a
on-screen
open-air / pn e/ adj in the open, not

open-air
computer screen rather than on paper in a building

Most of our design work is done on-screen.
open day / pn de/ noun a day when
open day
onset / nset/ noun beginning

onset
a building is open to the public

onslaught / nsl
t / noun a sudden se-
onslaught
open-ended /pn endd/ adj with

open-ended
vere attack no fixed limit and with some items not

onto / nt, nt, ntu
/ prep on or
onto
specified
to something The speaker went up onto opener / p()n/ noun a piece of
opener
the platform. The door opens directly equipment for opening things such as tins
onto the garden. Turn the box onto its or bottles
side.
open house / pn has/ noun a situ-
open house
onus / ns/ noun a responsibility for

onus
ation when people are welcome to visit at

doing something difficult any time
onward / nwd/ adj further forward
onward
opening / p()n/ noun 1. the ac-

opening
Nothing can stop the onward march of tion of becoming open The opening of
computer technology. the exhibition has been postponed. The
onwards / nwdz/ adv further forwards
onwards
office opening times are 9.30 to 5.30. 2. a

ooh! /u
/ interj showing surprise or shock
ooh!
hole or space [~in] The cows got out

(informal) through an opening in the wall.
oops! /u
ps/ interj showing surprise or opening hours / p()n az/ plural
oops!
opening hours
that you are sorry (informal) noun the times that a business such as a
ooze / u
z/ (oozes, oozing, oozed) verb
ooze
shop or bank is working and open to the

(of liquid) to flow slowly public
opal / p()l/ noun a semi-precious opening night /p()n nat/ noun
opal
opening night
white stone with changing colours the first evening performance when a new
opaque / pek/ adj 1. which you can-
opaque
| film or play is shown (NOTE: for a play also

not see through, but which does allow light first night)
437 oppose
open invitation /pn nv te()n/ who operates a machine, etc. The factory
open invitation
noun 1. an invitation to visit someone or used to employ two hundred operatives.

somewhere at any time 2. something which operator / pret/ noun 1. a person
operator
encourages someone to do something who works instruments, etc. Hes a com-

wrong or to commit a crime Leaving the puter operator. Shes a machine opera-
garage door open was an open invitation tor. 2. a person who works a telephone
to car thieves. switchboard Dial 0 for the operator.
openly / pnli/ adv in a frank and You can place a call through or via the op-
openly
open way erator. 3. a person who organises things

open market /pn m
kt/ noun a ophthalmologist /fl mldst/
open market ophthalmologist
market where anyone can buy or sell noun a doctor who treats diseases of the
open-minded /pn mandd/ adj eye. Compare optician, optometrist
open-minded
not having prejudices or fixed opinions and opinion / pnjn/ noun what some-
opinion
willing to listen to other peoples ideas one thinks about something [~on/~of] She
open-mouthed / pn mad/ adj has an opinion on every subject. Whats
open-mouthed
with the mouth open in surprise or shock your opinion of their latest album? In my
openness / pns/ noun the state of opinion, we should wait until the weather
openness
being open gets warmer before we go on holiday.

open-plan /pn pln/ adj describing opinionated / pnjnetd/ adj with
opinionated
open-plan
|
a building or an area of a building with no strong fixed opinions

opinion poll / pnjn pl/ noun
opinion poll
internal walls to divide it up an open- |
plan school open-plan offices asking a sample group of people questions,

opera / p()r/ noun a performance on a so as to get the probable opinion of the
opera
stage with music in which the words are whole population

opium / pim/ noun a drug made from
opium
sung and not spoken

opera house / p()r has/ noun a a type of poppy, used in the preparation of
opera house
theatre in which operas are performed codeine and heroin

operate / pret/ (operates, operat- opponent / pnnt/ noun 1. a per-
opponent
operate
|
ing, operated) verb 1. to make something son or group which is against something
work He knows how to operate the ma- [~of] Opponents of the planned motorway
chine. She is learning how to operate the have occupied the site. 2. (in boxing, an
new telephone switchboard. 2. to treat a pa- election, etc.) a person who fights someone
tient by cutting open the body [~on] She else His opponent in the election is a lo-
was operated on by our top surgeons cal councillor. He knocked out his last
operating system / pret three opponents.
operating system
sstm/ noun basic software that controls opportune / ptju

n/ adj happening by
opportune
the running of the hardware on a computer, chance at the right time

and the management of data files, without opportunist /p tju
nst/ noun a per-
opportunist
the user having to operate it son who takes advantage of opportunities,

operating theatre / pret t/ especially at the expense of others (NOTE: +
operating theatre
noun a special room in a hospital where opportunism n)

surgeons carry out operations opportunistic /ptju
nstk/ adj try-
opportunistic
operation /p re()n/ noun 1. an ing to take advantage from an opportunity

operation
organised action to achieve a specific goal which is offered

The rescue operation was successful. 2. a opportunity /p tju
nti/ (plural
opportunity
treatment when a surgeon cuts open the opportunities) noun a chance or circum-
body [~on] Shes had three operations on stances which allow you to do something
her leg. The operation lasted almost two [~for] When you were in London, did you
hours. to come into operation to begin have much opportunity for sightseeing?
to be applied The new schedules came Id like to take this opportunity to thank all
into operation on June 1st. members of staff for the work they have
operational /p re()nl/ adj 1. re- done over the past year.
operational
ferring to the working of something The oppose / pz/ (opposes, oppos-

oppose
operational procedure is described in the ing, opposed) verb 1. to put yourself

manual. 2. ready for use The new set-up against someone in an election She is op-
will be fully operational by next year. posing him in the election. 2. to try to pre-
operative / p()rtv/ adj working or in vent something happening Several
operative
operation noun a worker, especially one groups oppose the new law.
opposed to 438
opposed to / pzd tu
/ adj not agree- Ill opt out if you dont mind. He opted
opposed to
ing with He is opposed to the govern- out of the trip because he couldnt afford
ments policy on education. the price of a ticket.
opposing / pz/ adj 1. playing, optic / ptk/ adj referring to the eye or to
opposing optic
fighting or arguing against you The play- sight

ers on the opposing side refused to shake optical / ptk()l/ adj referring to the
optical
hands with us. He fouled a member of the eyes or to eyesight

opposing team. 2. which is the opposite optical illusion /ptk()l lu
()n/
optical illusion
She holds quite opposing views to mine. noun a thing which appears different from
opposite / pzt/ prep on the other
opposite
what it really is because your eye doesnt

side of, facing I work in the offices oppo- recognise it
site the railway station. She sat down op- optician /p t()n/ noun a person
optician
posite me. adj which is on the other side who tests your eyes and sells glasses
The shops not on this side of the street optics / ptks/ noun the study of sight
optics
its on the opposite side. Her van hit a and light rays
tree on the opposite side of the road. Her optimal / ptm()l/ adj referring to the
optimal
van was hit by a lorry going in the opposite best or most desirable (formal)
direction. noun something which is com-
optimism / ptmz()m/ noun a belief
optimism
pletely different Black is the opposite of

white. Shes just the opposite of her or attitude that everything is as good as it
brother hes tall and thin, shes short and can be or will work out for the best in the
fat. He likes to say one thing, and then do future
optimist / ptmst/ noun a person who
optimist
the opposite.
opposition /p z()n/ noun 1. the
opposition
|
believes everything will work out for the
action of opposing [~between/~to] There best in the end
optimistic /pt mstk/ adj a feeling
optimistic
was a lot of opposition to the companys |
plans to build a supermarket. 2. (in politics) that everything will work out for the best
optimum / ptmm/ adj best The
optimum
the party or group which opposes the gov-

ernment The leader of the opposition market offers optimum conditions for
rose to speak. The party lost the election sales. What is the optimum speed for fuel
and is now in opposition. consumption?
oppress / pres/ (oppresses, oppress- option / pn/ noun a choice, other
option
oppress
ing, oppressed) verb 1. to make people possible action One option would be to
suffer, especially by harsh government sell the house.
optional / p()n()l/ adj which may or
optional
The barons oppressed the peasants. 2. to

make someone feel shut in and depressed may not be chosen
The atmosphere in this office really op- optometrist /p tmtrst/ noun a per-
optometrist
presses me. Playing in India for the first son who tests your eyesight, prescribes and
time, the members of the team felt op- sells glasses or contact lenses, etc.
pressed by the heat. (NOTE: + oppression n) opulent / pjlnt/ adj rich, luxurious or
opulent
oppressed / prest/ adj treated in a cru-

oppressed
|
splendid
el and unfair way or /
/ conj 1. used for joining two parts
or
oppressive / presv/ adj 1. cruel and

oppressive
| of a sentence which show two possibilities

unfair in using power Under the gener- You can come with us in the car or just
als oppressive regime, ordinary citizens take the bus. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
were afraid to speak out against the gov- Was he killed in an accident or was he
ernment. 2. making someone feel trapped murdered? The film starts at 6.30 or
and depressed Theres a very oppressive 6.45, I cant remember which. 2. used for
atmosphere in the office. 3. referring to un- showing that you are not sure about an
pleasant hot weather without any wind amount Five or six people came into the
oppressor / pres/ noun a person who shop. It costs three or four dollars.
oppressor
oppresses others oral /

rl/ adj spoken rather than written
oral
opt /pt/ (opts, opting, opted) verb to de- down There is an oral test as well as a
opt
cide in favour of something In the end, written one.

she opted for a little black dress. orange / rnd/ noun 1. a sweet,
orange
opt out phrasal verb to decide not to brightly coloured Mediterranean fruit
take part in something She decided to roast duck and orange sauce She had a
opt out of the pension scheme. I think glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee
439 organisation
for breakfast. 2. a yellowish-red colour, They ordered the protesters out of the
like that of an orange adj of the colour of building. The doctor ordered him to take
an orange four weeks holiday. 2. (of a customer) to
orator / rt/ noun a person who speaks ask for something to be served or to be sent
orator
well in public One of best orators in Par- They ordered chicken and chips and
liament. some wine. Ive ordered a new computer
oratory / rt()ri/ noun the art of mak-
oratory
for the office. They ordered a Rolls Royce
ing formal public speeches for the managing director. out of order
orbit /
bt/ noun the curved path of
orbit
not working Youll have to use the stairs,
something moving through space The the lift is out of order. in order correct,
rocket will put the satellite into orbit round valid Are his papers in order? in order
the earth. verb (orbits, orbiting, orbited) to used for showing why something is done
She called out all their names in order to
to move in a curved path round something
The satellite orbits the earth once every
check who was there. He looked under
five hours. the car in order to see if there was an oil
leak.
orchard /
td/ noun a field of fruit
orchard
order about phrasal verb to tell some-

trees
one what to do all the time
orchestra /
kstr/ noun a large group
orchestra
orderly /
dli/ noun a person who does
orderly
of musicians who play together the Lon-

don Symphony Orchestra general work
ordinarily /
d()n()rli / adv normally
ordinarily
orchestrate /
kstret/ (orchestrates,
orchestrate
orchestrating, orchestrated) verb 1. to ar-

or usually Ordinarily we dont allow vis-
range a piece of music for an orchestra itors in here. Its not something we ordi-
Mussorgskys Pictures at an Exhibition narily do.
ordinary /
d()n()ri/ adj not special
ordinary
was orchestrated by Ravel. 2. to organise a

Ill wear my ordinary suit to the wedding.
demonstration They orchestrated the pro-
test marches in such a way as to get them They lead a very ordinary life. out of
on the TV news every evening. the ordinary unusual or different Their

orchid /
kd/ noun a plant with colour-
orchid
flat is quite out of the ordinary.
ordination /
d ne()n/ noun the act
ordination
ful showy flowers, which, in the wild, of- |
ten grows on other plants or ceremony of ordaining someone as a

ordain /
den/ (ordains, ordaining, or-
ordain
priest
ore /
/ noun a type of stone found in the
|
ore
dained) verb 1. to make someone a priest

or a member of the clergy in a formal cere- earth from which metals are obtained
mony He was ordained in Canterbury (NOTE: Do not confuse with oar.)
oregano /r (
n/ noun a herb used
oregano
Cathedral. 2. to order that something be |
done The king ordained that all children in cooking

organ /
(n/ noun 1. a part of the
organ
over five had to be registered with the tax

authorities. Fate ordained that the chil- body with a special function, such as the
dren would never see their father again. heart or liver He was badly injured and
ordeal /
di
l/ noun a painful test or some of his organs had stopped function-
ordeal
difficult time ing. 2. a musical instrument which is often

order /
d/ noun 1. an instruction to
order
played in churches with one or more key-
someone to do something He shouted or- boards and many pipes through which air
ders to the workmen. If you cant obey is pumped to make a sound She played
orders you cant be a soldier. 2. a request to the organ at our wedding. The organ
buy something, or the thing requested [~for] played the Wedding March as the bride
Weve had a large order for books from and groom walked down the aisle.
organic /
(nk/ adj relating to living
organic
Russia. She gave the waitress her order. |
3. a special way of organising things in a things

organisation /
(na ze()n/, or-
organisation
sequence Put the invoices in order of |
their dates. 4. a situation in which rules or ganization noun 1. the act of arranging
laws are obeyed without unrest or violence something The organisation of the meet-
Problems of law and order are important ing is done by the secretary. 2. an organised
to the local authorities. The army entered group or institution Hes chairman of an
the university campus and managed to re- organisation which looks after blind peo-
store order. verb (orders, ordering, or- ple. International relief organisations
dered) 1. to tell someone to do something are sending supplies.
organisational 440
organisational /
(na ze()n()l/, nally came from France in the 18th centu-
organisational
organizational adj relating to the way in ry.

which something is organised originate / rdnet/ (originates, orig-
originate
organise /
(naz/ (organises, organ-
organise
inating, originated) verb 1. to begin, to

ising, organised), organize verb 1. to ar- start from or to have a beginning This
range something She is responsible for strain of flu originated in Hong Kong.
organising the meeting. We organised His problems at work originated from
ourselves into two groups. The company home. 2. to make for the first time
is organised in three sections. 2. to put into originator / rdnet/ noun some-
originator
| |
good order We have put her in charge of one who begins, creates or invents some-
organising the city archives. thing
organised /
(nazd/, organized adj
organised
ornament /
nmnt/ noun a small
ornament
1. (of a person) working efficiently and ac- object used as decoration Theres a row
cording to a plan 2. (of an activity) planned of china ornaments on the mantelpiece.
carefully, and involving many different
ornamental /
n ment()l/ adj 1. act-
ornamental
people or elements |
organiser /
(naz/, organizer noun
organiser ing as an ornament A box with ornamen-
a person who arranges things tal carvings on its sides. 2. pretty rather
than useful The table is purely ornamen-
organism /
(nz()m/ noun a liv-
organism
tal: its far too small to use as a dining ta-

ing thing ble.
organist /
(nst/ noun a person who
organist
ornate /
net/ adj with too much orna-
ornate
plays the organ |
mentation
orgasm /
(z()m/ noun the climax of
orgasm
ornithology /
n ldi/ noun the
ornithology
a sexual act, when a person experiences a |
moment of great excitement study of birds (NOTE: + ornithologist n)

orgy /
di/ (plural orgies) noun 1. an un- orphan /
f()n/ noun a child whose par-
orphan
orgy
controlled party with drinking, dancing ents are dead Shes an orphan both her
and sexual activity The celebrations rap- parents were killed in a car crash. verb
idly became a drunken orgy. Jennys (orphans, orphaning, orphaned) to make
birthday party turned into an all-night or- someone an orphan Hundreds of children
gy. 2. an uncontrolled activity an orgy of were orphaned during the war.
orphanage /
f()nd/ noun a home
orphanage
spending
oriental /
ri ent()l/ adj referring to the where orphans are looked after
oriental
countries of East Asia (dated) orthodox /

dks/ adj 1. holding the
orthodox
orientation /
rin te()n/ noun 1.
orientation
| generally accepted beliefs of a religion or a

the attitudes, views or aims of a person or philosophy The Chancellor of the Ex-
organisation 2. the process of helping peo- chequer is following orthodox financial
ple to get to know a place, job or subject 3. principles. 2. observing traditional reli-
the direction that something faces, or the gious practices very strictly
line of that direction in relation to the com- orthodoxy /
dksi/ (plural ortho-
orthodoxy
pass doxies) noun an opinion that is generally

origin / rdn/ noun where some-
origin
accepted at a particular time He chal-

thing or someone comes from What is the lenged the orthodoxies of the scientific es-
origin of the word taboo? His family tablishment.
has French origins. orthopaedic /
pi
dk/ adj referring
orthopaedic
original / rdn()l/ adj 1. new and

|
original
|
to the treatment of bones and joints
interesting The planners have produced
oscillate / slet/ (oscillates, oscillat-
oscillate
some very original ideas for the new town

ing, oscillated) verb to swing from one
centre. 2. not a copy They sent a copy of
the original invoice. He kept the original side to the other ( NOTE: + oscillation n)
osmosis /z mss/ noun the move-
osmosis
receipt for reference. noun a thing from |
which other things are copied Send a ment of a solution from one part through a
copy of the letter but keep the original. semi-permeable membrane to another part
originality /rd nlti/ noun the fact ostensible / stensb()l/ adj which
ostensible
originality
| | |
of being original, new or different seems on the surface to be real, when in

originally / rdn()li/ adv in the fact it is not
originally
ostentatious /sten tes/ adj look-

ostentatious
beginning Originally it was mine, but I |
gave it to my brother. The family origi- ing showy and expensive, so as to impress
441 outdated
osteopathy /sti pi/ noun a treat-
osteopathy
| is always followed by to and a verb in the in-

ment for some medical conditions that infinitive.)
volves massaging and bending parts of the oughtnt short for ought not
oughtnt
body ounce /ans/ noun a measure of

ounce
osteoporosis /stip
rss/ noun
osteoporosis
| weight, equal to 28 grams (NOTE: usually

a condition where the bones become thin, written oz after figures: 3oz of butter, say
porous and brittle, because of lack of calci- three ounces of butter)
um and lack of physical exercise our /a/ adj belonging to us Our of-
our
ostracise / strsaz/ (ostracises, os-

ostracise
fice is near the station. Our cat is missing

tracising, ostracised), ostracize verb to again. Two of our children caught flu.
refuse to talk to somebody or allow them to (NOTE: Do not confuse with hour.)
be part of a group ours /az/ pron a thing or person that
ours
ostrich / strt/ (plural ostriches or

ostrich
belongs to us That house over there is

same) noun a very large bird which cannot ours. Friends of ours told us that the res-
fly but which can run fast, and is found in taurant was good. Can we borrow your
Africa car, because ours is being serviced? (NOTE:
other / / adj, pron 1. a different per-
other
Do not confuse with hours.)

son or thing We went swimming while the ourselves /a selvz/ pron to for re-
ourselves
other members of the group sat and ferring back to the subject pronoun we
watched. I dont like chocolate cakes We all organised ourselves into two teams.
can I have one of the others? Im fed up We were enjoying ourselves when the po-
with that restaurant cant we go to some lice came.
other place? 2. second one of two He has oust /ast/ (ousts, ousting, ousted) verb
oust
two cars one is red, and the other one is to force someone to leave a position
blue. One of their daughters is fat, but the out /at/ adv 1. away from inside
out
other is quite thin. plural noun others oth- How did the tiger get out of its cage? She
er people or things Ill have to ask the pulled out a box of matches. Take the
others if they agree. Are there any others computer out of its packing case. 2. not at
in the box? home No one answered the phone they
otherwise / waz/ adv 1. apart
otherwise
must all be out.

from something just mentioned Your lit- outbid /at bd/ (outbids, outbidding,
outbid
tle boy can be noisy sometimes, but other- outbidded) verb to bid higher than some-
wise hes an excellent pupil. 2. if not, or one else
else Are you sure you can come on Tues- outbox / atbks/ noun US an out tray
outbox
day? Otherwise Ill have to give the tick-

outbreak / atbrek/ noun a sudden se-
outbreak
ets to someone else.

ries of cases of an illness or unrest the
OTT abbr over the top (informal) Throw-
OTT
outbreak of war There has been an out-

ing the letter on the floor and stamping on break of measles at the school.
it was a bit OTT.
outburst / atb#
st/ noun a sudden dis-
outburst
otter / t/ noun a small fish-eating mam-

otter
play of violent emotion The boss is prone

mal with webbed feet living mainly by riv- to sudden outbursts of enthusiasm.
ers
outcast / atk
st / noun a person who
outcast
ouch / at/ interj showing that you have

ouch
has been rejected by society, or driven

been hurt Ouch! That was my foot you away from a group
trod on!
outclass /at kl
s/ (outclasses, out-
outclass
ought /
t/ modal verb 1. it would be a
ought |
classing, outclassed) verb to be signifi-

good thing to You ought to go swimming cantly better than other people at doing
more often. You ought to see the doctor if something
your cough doesnt get better. He
outcome / atkm/ noun a result
outcome
oughtnt to eat so much hell get fat.

The travel agent ought to have told you the The outcome of the match was in doubt un-
hotel was full before you went on holiday. til the final few minutes. What was the
2. used for showing that you expect some- outcome of the appeal?
outcrop / atkrp/ noun a rock which
outcrop
thing to happen or to be the case She

ought to pass her driving test easily. He sticks out of the surface of the ground
outcry / atkra/ noun a loud protest
outcry
left his office at six, so he ought to be home

by now. (NOTE: The negative is ought not from a number of people
outdated /at detd/ adj old-fashioned
outdated
or, especially in speaking, oughtnt. Ought |

outdo 442
outdo /at du
/ (outdoing, outdid, out- noun a person who has been outlawed
outdo
|
done) verb to do better than (dated) They read about Robin Hood, the
outdoor /at d
/ adj in the open air famous English outlaw.
outdoor
outdoors /at d
z/ adv in the open outlay / atle/ noun money spent
outlay
outdoors
outlet / atlt/ noun 1. a place where

outlet
air, not inside a building The ceremony is

usually held outdoors. Why dont we take something can be sold or distributed He
our coffee outdoors and sit in the sun? owns a small number of clothing outlets in
The concert will be held outdoors if the south-east London. 2. the means by which
weather is good. (NOTE: You can also say an idea or feeling can get out He did
out of doors.) weight-lifting as an outlet for his stress at
outer / at/ adj on the outside work.
outer

outline / atlan / noun a line showing the
outline
Though the outer surface of the pie was

hot, the inside was still cold. outer edge of something
outermost / atmst/ adj furthest out outlive /at lv/ (outlives, outliving, out-
outermost outlive
or furthest from the centre lived) verb 1. to live longer than someone
outer space /at spes/ noun the area He outlived all his brothers and sisters.
outer space
beyond the Earths atmosphere She outlived her husband by twenty years.
outfit / atft/ noun a set of clothes, of-
outfit
2. to last longer than something to out-
ten worn for a particular purpose She live its usefulness to be no longer any use
bought a new outfit for the wedding. For Our old telephone system has outlived its
the fancy dress party she wore a nurses usefulness.
outlook / atlk / noun 1. a view of the
outlook
outfit.
outflank /at flk/ (outflanks, out- world in general His gloomy outlook on
outflank
flanking, outflanked) verb to go round the life shows in his novels. 2. a view of what
side of an enemy will happen in the future We think the
outgoing /at (/ adj 1. referring to
outgoing
|
outlook for the company is excellent. The
a phone call or post which is going out of a outlook for tomorrows weather is mainly
building an outgoing call He hurried to sunny with some rain. The economic out-
catch the outgoing post. 2. lively, who likes look is not good.
outlying / atla/ adj away from a
outlying
to be with others He has a very outgoing

personality. 3. referring to someone who is town or city
outmanoeuvre /atm nu
v/ (out-
outmanoeuvre
leaving a job She proposed a vote of |
thanks to the outgoing chairman. manoeuvres, outmanoeuvring, outma-

outgoings / at(z/ plural noun reg- noeuvred) verb to gain an advantage over
outgoings
ular expenditure someone by acting or working more clev-

outgrow /at (r/ (outgrows, out-
outgrow
|
erly (NOTE: The US spelling is outmaneu-
growing, outgrew, outgrown) verb 1. to ver.)
outmoded /at mdd/ adj old-fash-
outmoded
grow too big for clothes Shes already |
outgrown the dress I bought her for Christ- ioned

outnumber /at nmb/ (outnumbers,
outnumber
mas. 2. to change your behaviour as you |
grow up We hoped theyd soon outgrow outnumbering, outnumbered) verb to be

that sort of behaviour. (NOTE: You can also greater in number than something
out of date /at v det/ adj 1. with-
out of date
say to grow out of.)

outing / at/ noun a short trip The out recent information 2. no longer in fash-
outing
children went on an outing to the seaside. ion Flared trousers are rather out of
outlandish /at lnd/ adj strange or date.
outlandish
out of the way /at v we/ adj not

out of the way
different from the usual

outlast /at l
st/ (outlasts, outlasting, near any main town They live in an out of
outlast
outlasted) verb to exist longer than another the way village in the West Country.
out-of-town /at v tan/ adj not near
out-of-town
person or thing or to be successful for long-

er than another thing to a town centre
outlaw / atl
/ verb (outlaws, outlaw- outpatient / atpe()nt/ noun a per-
outpatient
outlaw
ing, outlawed) 1. to say that something is son who goes to a hospital for treatment,
unlawful The government has proposed a without staying there overnight
bill to outlaw drinking in public. 2. to de- outperform /atp f
m/ (outper-
outperform
clare someone to be beyond the protection forms, outperforming, outperformed)

of the law (old) The leader of the bandits verb to do something better or more quick-
was outlawed and fled into the mountains. ly than somebody or something else
443 over
outplay /at ple/ (outplays, outplay- do better than someone Japanese firms
outplay
ing, outplayed) verb to play better than have been outstripping their American ri-
someone else vals.
outpost / atpst/ noun a small town outward / atwd/ adj, adv 1. towards
outpost outward
or small fort in a distant part of an occupied the outside or away from the centre or
territory starting point The outward journey takes
outpouring / atp
r/ noun the sud- about six hours. 2. on the outside His out-
outpouring
den expression of a strong emotion or pro- ward appearance belies his true character.
outwardly / atwdli/ adv as it seems on
outwardly
duction of something in large amounts

output / atpt/ noun an amount the outside
output
which a firm, machine or person produces outwards / atwdz/ adv towards the
outwards
The factory has doubled its output in the outside or away from the centre or starting
last six months. point
outrage / atred/ noun 1. a strong feel- outweigh /at we/ (outweighs, out-
outrage outweigh
ing of anger because something very unfair weighing, outweighed) verb to be more
or cruel has happened [~over/at] There important than something
was outrage at the way he had been treat- outwit /at wt/ (outwits, outwitting,
outwit
ed. 2. a shocking or violent event terror- outwitted) verb to trick someone by being
ist outrages 3. something that makes you cleverer than they are
very angry I think the extra tax on fuel is oval / v()l/ noun a long round shape
oval
an outrage! verb (outrages, outraging, similar to an egg, but flat adj with this
outraged) to shock, to be a cause of great shape The pie was cooked in an oval
indignation His behaviour outraged his bowl.
parents. ovary / v()ri/ (plural ovaries) noun
ovary
outrageous /at reds/ adj causing

outrageous
|
one of two organs in a woman or female
indignation and shock animal which produce ova or egg cells and
outright /at rat/ adj complete The
outright
|
secrete the female hormone oestrogen
play was an outright success. Shes the ovation / ve()n/ noun great ap-
ovation
outright winner of the competition. adv 1. plause

openly He told me outright that he didnt
oven / v()n/ noun a metal box with a
oven
like me. 2. immediately The van hit him

and he was killed outright. door, used for cooking Dont put that
plate in the oven its made of plastic.
outset / atset/ noun the beginning
outset
Supper is cooking in the oven. Can you

outside / atsad/ noun the outer sur-
outside
look in the oven and see if the meat is

face or the part which is not inside He cooked?
polished the outside of his car. The apple over / v/ prep 1. above or higher
over
was red and shiny on the outside, but rotten than He put a blanket over the bed.
inside. adj which is on the outer surface Planes fly over our house every minute.
The outside walls of the house are made of The river rose over its banks. 2. on the oth-
brick. adv not inside a building Its er side or to the other side Our office is
beautiful and warm outside in the garden. just over the road from the bank. He
The dogs all wet it must be raining out-
threw the ball over the wall. The children
side. ran over the road. 3. from the top of He
outsider /at sad/ noun a person
outsider
|
fell over the cliff. She looked over the
who does not belong to a group She has edge of the balcony. 4. during Over the
always been a bit of an outsider. last few weeks the weather has been cold
outspoken /at spkn/ adj speaking
outspoken
|
and wet. Lets discuss the problem over
very frankly lunch. 5. more than Children over 16
outstanding /at stnd/ adj ex-
outstanding
|
years old have to pay full price. The car
cellent or of a very high standard or quality costs over 40,000. We had to wait for
an antique Chinese vase of outstanding over two hours. adv 1. down from being
quality Her performance was outstand- upright The bottle fell over and all the
ing. contents poured out. She knocked over
outstrip /at strp/ (outstrips, outstrip-
outstrip
| the plant pot. He leaned over and picked

ping, outstripped) verb 1. to go faster than up a pin from the floor. 2. more than Chil-
someone They outstripped everybody dren of 16 and over pay full price. There
else in their new boat. She outstripped all are special prices for groups of 30 and
the other competitors to win the race. 2. to over. 3. not used, left behind Any food left
over- 444
over after the meal can be given to the weeping and wailing was terribly over-
poor. adj finished Is the match over yet? done. 2. cooked too much I complained
When the civil war was over everyone because my steak was overdone.
had more food to eat. overdose / vds/ noun a dose of a
overdose
over- /v/ prefix 1. extremely over-

over-
drug which is more than normal She went

anxious 2. more than the over-60s 3. too into a coma after an overdose of heroin.
much overworked overdone (NOTE: + overdose v)
overall1 /vr
l/ adj covering or tak-
overall
overdraft / vdr
ft/ noun an amount
overdraft
|
ing in everything The overall outlook for of money which you can withdraw from
the country is good. The overall impres- your bank account with the banks permis-
sion was favourable. sion, which is more than there is in the ac-
overall2 / vr
l / noun a light coat
overall
count
worn at work He was wearing a white overdue /v dju
/ adj 1. which has
overdue
overall as he had just come out of the lab-

|
not been paid at the correct time This in-

oratory. Put an overall over your clothes voice is overdue please pay immediately.
before you start painting.
2. which is late Her library books were
overawed /v
d/ adj surprised and
overawed
|
overdue so she had to pay a fine. This vis-
impressed by something They were over- it to my mother is long overdue.
awed by the immense size of the statue.
overestimate /vr estmet/ (over-
overestimate
overbearing /v ber / adj trying

overbearing |
estimates, overestimating, overestimat-

to dominate others
ed) verb to think something is larger or
overcast / vk
st/ adj (of the sky)
overcast
worse than it really is

dull and cloudy
overflow1 / v fl/ (overflows, over-
overflow
overcharge /v t
d/ (overcharg-
overcharge
|
|
es, overcharging, overcharged) verb to flowing, overflowed) verb 1. to move out

charge somebody too much for something of a container or restricted space The riv-
overcoat / vkt/ noun a thick out-
overcoat er overflowed its banks. The crowd was
door coat which you wear over other so big that it overflowed into the street out-
clothes side the hall. 2. to be so full of things or
people that there is not enough space for
overcome /v km/ (overcomes,
overcome
them all [~with] The room was overflow-

overcoming, overcame, overcome) verb ing with journalists.
1. to deal with a difficult situation Do you
overflow2 / vfl/ noun 1. a liquid
overflow
think the drugs problem can ever be over-

come? 2. to make someone helpless She which has overflowed This ditch takes
was overcome by fear. Two people were away the overflow from the pond. 2. a pipe
overcome by smoke. 3. to gain victory over or hole which allows a liquid to flow out of
an enemy The boys quickly overcame a container that is too full The overflow
their attackers. was blocked and water started coming
overcompensate /v kmpnset/
overcompensate
|
through the ceiling. 3. an amount or
(overcompensates, overcompensating, number which will not fit a given space
overcompensated) verb to try to do more The new towns were built to house the
than you should to make up for something overflow population from the capital.
The stadium was full and the overflow
overcrowded /v kradd/ adj with
overcrowded
watched the match on giant TV screens in

|
too many people inside

the park next door.
overcrowding /v krad/ noun
overcrowding
overgrown /v (rn/ adj (of e.g. a

| overgrown
having too many people or things in a |
small area garden) covered with plants and long grass

overdo /v du
/ (overdoing, overdid,
overdo
|
because of not being looked after
overhang /v h/ (overhangs,
overhang
overdone) verb to do too much, work too |
hard or to use too much of something overhanging, overhung) verb to stick out
They overdid the red velvet and made the above something else The upper storey of
sitting room look like a bar. Dont overdo the house overhangs the street.
the exercises in the first few weeks. The overhaul1 /v h
l/ (overhauls, over-
overhaul
doctor says Ive been overdoing it recently hauling, overhauled) verb 1. to examine
and need a rest. He overdid it and something carefully and make changes so
strained his back. that it works better We need to overhaul
overdone /v dn/ adj 1. exaggerat- the companys union agreements. 2. to
overdone
ed All right, its a tragedy, but all that overtake another ship or car From being
445 overstep
last in the race he gradually moved up and something with too much emotion or ac-
in the end overhauled the leaders. tion
overhaul2 / vh
l/ noun the act of ex- override /v rad/ (overrides,
overhaul override
amining and improving or repairing some- overriding, overrode, overridden) verb 1.

thing a long overdue overhaul of our to cancel an instruction The chairman de-
safety procedures My cars in the garage cided to override the committees decision.
for a complete overhaul. 2. to be more important than other things
overhead /v hed/ adv above you
overhead
|
The groups safety overrides any other
Look at that plane overhead. Please put considerations.
overriding /v rad/ adj more im-
overriding
your hand luggage in the lockers overhead. |
overhear /v h/ (overhears, over-

overhear
|
portant than all others
overrule /v ru
l/ (overrules, over-
overrule
hearing, overheard) verb to hear acciden- |
tally something which you are not meant to ruling, overruled) verb (in a meeting) not to
hear I couldnt help overhearing what allow a decision because you are more
you said just then. powerful than the person who took the de-
overheat /v hi
t/ (overheats, over- cision Mr Smith tried to object but his ob-
overheat
heating, overheated) verb to get too hot jection was overruled by the chairman.
The committee overruled the decision
overjoyed /v dd/ adj extremely
overjoyed
made by the secretary.

happy
overrun /v rn/ (overruns, overrun-
overrun
overkill / vkl/ noun more of some-

overkill |
ning, overran, overrun) verb 1. to go be-

thing than is wanted or appropriate yond a certain time limit The meeting
overlap1 / vlp/ (overlaps, overlap-
overlap
overran by thirty minutes. 2. to beat some-

ping, overlapped) verb to cover part of one or occupy their territory very quickly
something else Try not to let the pieces of The enemy overran our coastal defences
wallpaper overlap. and began advancing inland. 3. to be filled
overlap2 / v lp/ noun an amount by with a crowd of people, animals or things
overlap
which something overlaps The city centre is overrun with tourists eve-
overleaf /v lif/ adv referring to the
overleaf
|
ry summer.
overseas1 / v si
z/ adv in or to a for-
overseas
other side of a page of a book or other pub- |
lication eign country Sues gone overseas to work

overload /v ld/ (overloads, over-
overload
|
for a few years.
overseas2 / vsi
z/ adj relating to for-
overseas
loading, overloaded) verb to put too heavy

a load on something eign countries Overseas sales are impor-
overlook /v lk/ (overlooks, over-
overlook
|
tant for our company.
oversee /v si
/ (oversees, oversee-
oversee
looking, overlooked) verb not to notice |
something She overlooked several mising, oversaw, overseen) verb to supervise
takes when she was correcting the exam something
papers. overshadow / v d/ (overshad-
overshadow
overnight /v nat/ adv for the whole

overnight
| ows, overshadowing, overshadowed)

night We will stay overnight in France on verb to make someone or something less
our way to Italy. Will the food stay fresh conspicuous by being more brilliant your-
overnight? adj lasting all night They self
took an overnight flight back from China. overshoot /v u
t/ (overshoots,
overshoot
There are three sleeping cars on the over- overshooting, overshot) verb to go further
night express. than you are supposed to
overpower / v pa/ (overpowers,
overpower
oversight / vsat/ noun a mistake

oversight
|
overpowering, overpowered) verb to con- made by not doing something because you
trol someone by force forgot it or did not notice it
overpowering /v par/ adj very
overpowering
overspend /v spend/ (overspends,

overspend
|
|
strong an overpowering smell of cheese overspending, overspent) verb to spend

overrated /v retd/ adj said to be
overrated
| more than you should

better than it really is overstep /v step/ (oversteps, over-
overstep
overreact /vri kt/ (overreacts,

overreact
| stepping, overstepped) verb to go further

overreacting, overreacted) verb to react to than you ought to
overt 446
overt / v#
t/ adj open and not hidden /v rat/ (overwrites,
overt overwrite
| overwrite |
overtake /v tek/ (overtakes, over- overwriting, overwrote, overwritten) verb

overtake
taking, overtook, overtaken) verb to go to delete computer data or a computer file

past someone travelling in front of you and replace it with other data or a file with
the same name
overthrow / v r/ (overthrows,
overthrow
ow /a/ interj an expression of pain

| ow
overthrowing, overthrew, overthrown)

owe // (owes, owing, owed) verb 1.
owe
verb to defeat Do you think the rebels can

overthrow the military government? The to be in a situation where you will have to
former rgime was overthrown and the pay someone money, either because you
President fled. have borrowed some from them, or be-
overtime / vtam/ noun hours
overtime
cause you have bought something from
worked more than the usual working time them He still owes me the 50 he bor-
He worked six hours overtime. The
rowed last month. 2. to owe something
overtime rate is one and a half times nor- to something or someone to have some-
mal pay. The basic wage is 110 a week, thing because of something or someone
but you can expect to earn more than that else He owes his good health to taking a
with overtime. lot of exercise. 3. to feel that something
should be done He owes her an apology.
overtone / vtn/ noun a meaning
overtone
I owe my sister a letter.

|
or quality which is suggested and not stat-

owing to / tu
/ prep because of
owing to
ed openly or made obvious in something

The plane was late owing to fog.
overture / vtj/ noun a short piece
overture
owl /al/ noun a large bird which hunts

owl
of music played at the beginning of an op-

era or a concert The orchestra played the small animals, mainly at night
own / n/ adj belonging to you alone
own
overture to The Magic Flute. to make

overtures to someone to try to begin ne- I dont need to borrow a car I have my
gotiations with someone The socialists own car. He has his own book shop.
made overtures to the communists with the noun of my or his own belonging to me
aim of forming a left-wing alliance. or to him alone He has an office of his
own. I have a car of my own. verb
overturn /v t#
n/ (overturns, over-
overturn
(owns, owning, owned) to have or possess

|
turning, overturned) verb 1. to make

something I dont own a car. (all) on
something fall over or to turn upside down my or his or her, etc own alone Im on
The baby accidentally overturned the
my own this evening my girlfriends gone
goldfish bowl. The fishing boat over- out with her family. He built the house all
turned in the storm. 2. to vote against a pre- on his own. to get your own back to have
vious decision The decision to raise sub- revenge on someone (informal) He got his
scriptions was overturned by the council. own back on her for telling the teacher
overvalue / v vlju
/ (overvalues,
overvalue
|
what he did. to hold your own to remain
overvaluing, overvalued) verb to give firm against a threat He held his own dur-
something a higher value than is right ing the interview by the police.
overview / vvju
/ noun a general owner / n/ noun a person who
overview
owner
view of a subject [~of] His book gives a owns something The police are trying to
good overview of the history of the period. find the owner of the stolen car. Insur-
overweight /v wet/ adj having a ance is necessary for all house owners.
overweight
body that weighs too much ownership / np/ noun a situa-

ownership
overwhelm /v welm/ (over- tion where someone owns something

overwhelm
own goal /n (l/ noun 1. a goal

own goal
whelms, overwhelming, overwhelmed)

verb 1. to conquer something completely scored against your own side by mistake
The enemy was overwhelmed by our He tried to pass back to the goalkeeper and
troops. His enthusiasm overwhelms me. scored an own goal. 2. something that is in-
2. to have more of something than you can tended to help you do something but has
do or cope with The new receptionist was the opposite effect Their attempts to
overwhelmed by her job. show that the government was financially
overwhelming /v welm/ adj
overwhelming
|
incompetent led to a spectacular own goal.
ox /ks/ (plural oxen) noun male or female
ox
enormous There was an overwhelming

response to their appeal for money. They domestic cattle or a castrated bull used as a
got an overwhelming yes vote. draught animal
447 ozone layer

oxide / ksad/ noun a chemical com- ozone / zn/ noun a harmful form of
oxide ozone
pound formed of oxygen and another ele- oxygen, which is found in the atmosphere
ment and which is poisonous to humans when
oxygen / ksdn/ noun a common gas concentrated
oxygen
ozone layer / zn le/ noun a layer

ozone layer
which is present in the air and is essential

for plant and animal life of ozone in the upper atmosphere, formed
oyster / st/ noun a type of shellfish by the action of sunlight on oxygen, which
oyster
with two shells, highly valued as food acts as protection against harmful rays
oz abbr ounce(s) (NOTE: say twelve
oz
from the Sun
ounces of flour, five ounces of butter)
P
p1 /pi
/, P noun the sixteenth letter of the packed his toothbrush at the bottom of the
p
alphabet, between O and Q bag. 2. to put things in containers ready for

p2 /pi
/ abbr pence This book costs 99p. sending The books are packed in boxes of
p
You should get a 60p ticket from the ma- twenty. Fish are packed in ice. 3. to put a
chine. I bought the children 50p ice lot of people or things into something
creams each. penny How can you pack ten adults into one tent?
pa / p
/ noun a childs name for father
pa
The streets are packed with Christmas
(informal) shoppers. The supermarket shelves are

PA abbr personal assistant
PA
packed with fruit and vegetables.
pace /pes/ noun 1. the distance cov-
pace
pack in phrasal verb to pack it in to
ered by one step Walk thirty paces to the stop whatever you are doing (informal)
north of the stone. Step three paces back. Its getting dark, lets pack it in for the
2. speed The car was travelling at quite a day. He packed in his job and bought a
pace. verb (paces, pacing, paced) 1. to farm.
walk He paced backwards and forwards pack off phrasal verb to send someone
in front of the door. 2. to measure by walk- away (informal) Weve packed the chil-
ing [~about/around] He paced out the dis- dren off to their grandparents for the
tance between the tree and the house. to summer holidays.
keep pace with to keep up with She kept pack up phrasal verb 1. to put things
pace with the leaders for the first three into a box before going away They
laps. Wages havent kept pace with infla- packed up all their equipment and left. 2.
tion. to set the pace to set the standard to stop working Ill pack up now and
for something to be done finish the job tomorrow morning. 3. to
pacemaker / pesmek/ noun an elec-
pacemaker
break down One of the planes engines

tronic device which is implanted in a pa- packed up when we were taking off.
tients chest and which stimulates and reg- package / pkd/ noun 1. a parcel
package
ulates the heartbeat which has been wrapped up for sending

pacifism / psfz()m/ noun opposi-
pacifism
There was a package for you in the post.

tion to war We mailed the package to you yesterday. 2.
pacifist / psfst/ noun a person who
pacifist
a box or bag in which goods are sold In-

supports pacifism My father was a paci- structions for use are printed on the pack-
fist and refused to do military service. age. 3. a set of goods or services offered to-
pacify / psfa/ (pacifies, pacifying,
pacify
gether at one time a software package

pacified) verb to make someone calm package holiday /pkd hlde/
package holiday
pack /pk/ noun 1. a set of things put

pack
noun a holiday where everything including

together in a box [~of] He bought a pack a hotel, food and travel is arranged and
of chewing gum. 2. a set of playing cards paid for before you leave
[~of] a pack of cards Shuffle the pack. 3.
packaging / pkd/ noun 1. paper,
packaging
a group of wild animals together [~of] a

pack of wild dogs 4. a bag which you can cardboard or plastic used to wrap goods
carry on your back [~of] Will you be able The boxes are sent in dust-proof packag-
to manage this walk with a heavy pack on ing. 2. the act of wrapping of goods The
your back? verb (packs, packing, packaging is all done by machines.
packed / pkt/ adj 1. full of people
packed
packed) 1. to put things into a suitcase

ready for travelling The taxis arrived The restaurant was packed and there were
and she hasnt packed her suitcase yet. no free tables. 2. put in a container a
Ive finished packing, so we can start. He packed lunch
449 paint
packet / pkt/ noun a small bag, par- ture on page 6. (NOTE: With numbers the
packet
cel or box [~of] a packet of cigarettes a word the is left out: on the next page but on
packet of soup page 50.) verb (pages, paging, paged) to
packing / pk/ noun 1. putting call someone by radio, over a loudspeaker,
packing
things into suitcases or bags My wifes in etc. Mr Smith isnt in his office at the mo-
the hotel room doing our packing. 2. mate- ment Ill page him for you.
pageant / pdnt/ noun a grand dis-
pageant
rial used to protect goods which are being

packed The goods are sealed in airtight play of people in historical costumes
packing. pager / ped/ noun a small electronic
pager
pact /pkt/ noun an agreement or treaty device that makes a noise or displays a
pact
pad /pd/ noun 1. a soft cushion which message when someone is trying to contact
pad
protects a person or thing from something you

pagoda /p (d/ noun a tall tower
pagoda
Put a pad of cotton on your knee. 2. a set |
of sheets of paper attached together verb with several storeys, used as a temple,
(pads, padding, padded) to walk softly found in the Far East, e.g. in China, Korea
with regular steps [~across/down/into etc] and Japan
The tiger was padding up and down in its paid /ped/ past tense and past partici-
paid
cage. ple of pay

pad out phrasal verb to add text to a pail /pel/ noun an old-fashioned word for
pail
speech or article, just to make it longer a bucket (NOTE: Do not confuse with pale.)
padding / pd/ noun 1. a soft material pain /pen/ noun a feeling in your body
padding
pain
which protects, used in dressmaking, or to of being hurt or ill If you have a pain in
make things like cushions or chairs The your chest, you ought to see a doctor. She
tailor put some more padding in the shoul- had to take drugs because she could not
ders of the jacket. We put cotton wool un- stand the pain. I get pains in my teeth
der the bandage as padding. 2. words add- when I eat ice cream.
ed to a speech or article to make it longer pained /pend/ adj annoyed or upset
pained
The speech was over an hour long, but painful / penf()l/ adj hurting, caus-
painful
most of it was just padding. Your essay ing pain She got a painful blow on the
has got too much padding in it. back of the head. I have very painful
paddle / pd()l/ noun a walk in shallow
paddle
memories of my first school.

water The little children went for a pad- painfully / penf()li/ adv 1. in a way
painfully
dle in the sea. verb (paddles, paddling, which hurts He twisted his ankle painful-
paddled) to make a boat move forward us- ly. I am painfully aware that most people
ing a paddle We stopped paddling and let are blaming me for the accident. 2. used for
the canoe drift with the current. emphasising how difficult or unpleasant
paddock / pdk/, puddock noun a
paddock
something is So far, progress on building

small enclosed field, where horses can run the dam has been painfully slow.
paddy field / pdi fi
ld/ noun a field
paddy field
painkiller / penkl/ noun a drug which

painkiller
filled with water, in which rice is grown stops someone feeling pain
padlock / pdlk/ noun a small lock
padlock
painstaking / penztek/ adj (of a per-

painstaking
with a hook The gate is fastened with a son) done slowly and carefully in order to
padlock. (NOTE: + padlock v) avoid mistakes The design is the result of
paediatrician / pi
di tr()n/ noun a
paediatrician
|
years of painstaking effort.
doctor who specialises in treating children paint /pent/ noun a coloured liquid
paint
paediatrics /pi
di trks/ noun the
paediatrics
|
which you use to give something a colour
study of the treatment of childrens diseas- or to make a picture We gave the ceiling
es two coats of paint. I need a two-litre tin
pagan / pe(n/ adj believing in a form
pagan
of green paint. The paints coming off the

of religion which is not one of the main front door. (NOTE: no plural) verb (paints,
formal religions The missionaries tried painting, painted) 1. to cover something
to ban pagan religious practices. The ex- with paint We got someone in to paint the
plorers visited a pagan temple. house. They painted their front door blue.
page /ped / noun a side of a sheet of
page
She painted her toenails bright red. 2. to

paper used in a book, newspaper or maga- make a picture of something using paint
zine Its a short book, it only has 64 pag- She painted a picture of the village. Hes
es. The crossword is on the back page. painting his mother. The sky is not easy to
Start reading at page 34. Look at the pic- paint.
paintbrush 450
paintbrush / pentbr/ noun a brush pallor / pl/ noun paleness of the face
paintbrush pallor
used to put paint on something palm /p

m/ noun 1. the soft inside sur-
palm
painter / pent/ noun 1. a person who

painter
face of your hand She held out some

paints something such as a house The crumbs in the palm of her hand and the
painter is coming next week to paint the birds came and ate them. 2. a tall tropical
kitchen. 2. a person who paints pictures tree with long leaves an oasis surrounded
He collects pictures by 19th-century by date palms The boy climbed a coconut
French painters. palm and brought down a nut.
painting / pent/ noun 1. the act of palm off phrasal verb to palm some-
painting
putting paint on something or of making thing off on someone to give something

pictures with paint Painting and decorat- worthless to someone hoping that he or
ing is my trade 2. a picture done with paints she wont notice (informal) We tried to
Do you like this painting of the old palm off our old sofa onto my brother.
church? palm tree /p
m tri
/ noun a tall tropical
palm tree
paintwork / pentw#
k/ noun a surface
paintwork
tree with long leaves

which has been painted paltry / p
ltri/ (paltrier, paltriest) adj
paltry
pair /pe/ noun 1. two things taken to-

pair
very small
gether [~of] a pair of socks a pair of pamper / pmp/ (pampers, pamper-
pamper
gloves Shes bought a new pair of boots. ing, pampered) verb to treat someone too
2. two things joined together to make a sin- well, by giving him or her too much food or
gle one [~of] He took a pair of binoculars making his or her life too comfortable
with him when he went out walking. Im pamphlet / pmflt/ noun a small
pamphlet
looking for a clean pair of trousers. booklet giving information about some-
Wheres my pair of green shorts? This thing
pair of scissors is blunt.
pan /pn/ noun a metal cooking con-
pan
pal /pl/ noun a friend (informal)

pal
tainer with a handle Boil the potatoes in

palace / pls/ noun a large building
palace
a pan of water. She burnt her hand on the

where a king, queen, president, etc., lives hot frying pan. frying pan, saucepan
palatable / pltb()l/ adj nice to eat,
palatable
pan out phrasal verb to turn out, to suc-

tasting good ceed (informal)
palate / plt/ noun 1. the top part of the
palate
panache /p n/ noun a confident and

panache
inside of the mouth I burnt my palate showy way of doing things

with the hot soup. 2. being able to judge the
pancake / pnkek/ as flat as a pan-
pancake
quality of food or drink A trained palate

easily distinguishes different types of wine. cake very flat The country round Cam-
(NOTE: Do not confuse with palette, pallet.) bridge is as flat as a pancake.
panda / pnd/ noun a large black and
panda
palatial /p le()l/ adj magnificent, like

palatial
a palace white animal found in China, which looks

pale /pel/ (paler, palest) adj 1. light-
pale like a bear (NOTE: do not confuse with pan-
der)
coloured What colour is your hat? Its
pandemonium /pnd mnim/
pandemonium
a pale blue colour. 2. not looking healthy, |
with a white face Shes always pale and noun great uproar and confusion
pander / pnd/ (panders, pandering,
pander
that worries me. When she read the letter

she went pale. (NOTE: Do not confuse with pandered) verb to pander to something
pail.) to try to satisfy something The book pan-
palette / plt/ noun 1. a flat board on
palette
ders to the low taste of the reading public.
p & p abbr postage and packing
p & p
which an artist mixes his or her colours

She squeezed a blob of paint onto her pal- pane /pen/ noun a sheet of glass, e.g. in a
pane
ette. 2. a range of colours available, espe- window or door (NOTE: Do not confuse with
cially on a computer graphics program pain.)
You can create your own colours and add panel / pn()l/ noun 1. a flat piece of
panel
them to the palette. (NOTE: Do not confuse something such as wood or metal, which
with palate, pallet.) forms part of something Unscrew the
pall /p
l/ noun a cloth put over a coffin
pall
panel at the back of the washing machine.

verb (palls, palling, palled) to become less 2. a group of people who answer questions
interesting Her bright chatter began to or who judge a competition Shes on the
pall after a while. panel that will interview candidates for the
pallid / pld/ adj sickly pale post.
pallid
451 paradise
panelling / pn()l/ noun sheets of [~on] I buy the paper to read on the train
panelling
wood, used especially to cover walls (NOTE: every morning. My photo was on the
The US spelling is paneling.) front page of todays paper. Our local pa-
pang /p/ noun a sudden strong feeling per comes out on Fridays. The Sunday
pang
panic / pnk/ noun sudden great fear papers are so big that it takes me all day to
panic
The forecast of flooding caused panic in read them. 3. an exam [~on] The English
towns near the river. verb (panics, pan- paper was very difficult.
paperback / pepbk/ noun a cheap
paperback
icking, panicked) to become very fright-

ened Dont panic, the fire engine is on its book with a paper cover
paper boy / pep b/ noun a boy
paper boy
way.
panic-stricken / pnk strkn/ adj whose job is to deliver newspapers to hous-
panic-stricken
mad with fright es

panorama /pn r
m/ noun a view paperclip / pepklp/ noun a piece of
paperclip
panorama
over a wide expanse of landscape bent wire for holding pieces of paper to-
pansy / pnzi/ noun a small garden plant gether
pansy
paper girl / pep (#

l/ noun a girl
paper girl
with large brightly coloured petals She

planted pansies in her window boxes. whose job is to deliver newspapers to hous-
pant / pnt/ (pants, panting, panted) es
pant
paperweight / pepwet/ noun a heavy

paperweight
verb to breathe fast He was red in the face

and panting as he crossed the finishing block put on papers to prevent them from
line. being blown away
panther / pn/ noun a large black paperwork / pepw#
k/ noun office
paperwork
panther
leopard from North America work

panties / pntiz/ plural noun womens paprika / pprk/ noun a red spice
panties paprika
brief knickers A pair of panties were left made from powdered sweet peppers
par /p
/ noun 1. the fact of being equal 2.
par
on the washing line. She carries a spare

pair of panties in her handbag. (in golf) the number of strokes usually
pantomime / pntmam/ noun a fun- needed by a good golfer to hit the ball into
pantomime
ny Christmas play for children, with songs the hole He went round in five under par.
and dances on a traditional fairy-tale sub- below par not very well Hes feeling a
ject (informal) bit below par after his illness. par for the
pantry / pntri/ noun a cool cupboard or course what usually happens (informal)
pantry
small room for keeping food in Jack forgot my birthday again, but thats
pants /pnts/ plural noun 1. briefs,
pants
par for the course. to be on a par with
shorts worn on the lower part of the body something or someone to be equal to
under other clothes She was standing by something or someone It isnt really on a
the window in her bra and pants. I put on par with their previous performances.
parable / prb()l/ noun a short story
parable
clean pants and socks every morning. 2.

US trousers The waiter was wearing a with a religious or moral point
paracetamol /pr si
tml/ noun
paracetamol
black jacket and a pair of striped pants. I |
need a belt to keep my pants up. a common drug, used to stop symptoms,
paparazzi /pp rtsi/ plural noun e.g. of flu, colds and headaches (NOTE: no
paparazzi
photographers who follow famous people plural: take two paracetamol before break-
to take pictures of them for newspapers fast)
parachute / pru
t/ (parachutes,
parachute
The paparazzi were lying in wait for the

couple as they left the hotel. parachuting, parachuted) verb to drop
papaya /p pa/ noun a green tropical something attached to a parachute They
papaya
fruit with yellow flesh parachuted supplies to the villages.

paper / pep/ noun 1. thin, often parade /p red/ noun a public display of
parade
paper
|
white, material, which you write on, and soldiers A sergeant inspects the men be-
which is used for wrapping or to make fore they go on parade.
paradigm / prdam/ noun an example
paradigm
books, newspapers and magazines [~on]

He got a letter written on pink paper. I which others can copy
paradise / prdas/ noun 1. a wonder-
paradise
need another piece of paper or sheet of pa-

per to finish my letter. There was a box of ful place where good people are supposed
paper handkerchiefs by the bed. (NOTE: no to live after death For a moment, I
plural for this meaning: some paper, a piece thought I must have died and gone to par-
of paper, a sheet of paper) 2. a newspaper adise. 2. any beautiful place or a place
paradox 452
where you feel very happy Their grand- paranoid / prnd / adj suffering from
paranoid
parents farm was a paradise for the chil- a fixed delusion

dren. paraphernalia /prf neli/ noun a
paraphernalia
paradox / prdks/ noun a thing which

paradox
mass of bits and pieces of equipment

appears to contradict itself but may really paraphrase / prfrez/ (paraphrases,
paraphrase
be true paraphrasing, paraphrased) verb to re-

paradoxical /pr dksk()l/ adj peat what someone has said or written, us-
paradoxical
contradictory like a paradox ing different words

paraffin / prfn/ noun a thin liquid paraplegic /pr pli
dk/ adj para-
paraffin paraplegic
used as a fuel, e.g. for lamps and heaters lysed in the part of the body below the
paragon / pr(n/ noun a perfect hu-
paragon
waist
parasite / prsat/ noun 1. an animal or
parasite
man being
paragraph / pr(r
f/ noun a sec-
paragraph
plant which lives on or inside another or-
tion of several written sentences starting on ganism and draws nourishment from it
a new line to answer the first paragraph Many diseases are carried by parasites. 2.
of your letter or paragraph one of your let- a person who does no useful work and gets
ter Please refer to the paragraph headed money from others He is a parasite on
Shipping Instructions. society.
parasol / prsl/ noun a light umbrella
parasol
parallel / prlel/ adj (of lines) which

parallel
to protect you from the rays of the Sun

are side by side and remain the same dis-
paratrooper / prtru
p/ noun a sol-
paratrooper
tance apart without ever touching Draw

two parallel lines three millimetres apart. dier who is a parachutist (NOTE: often short-
The road is parallel to or with the rail-
ened to para)
paratroops / prtru
ps/ plural noun
paratroops
way.
parallelogram /pr lel(rm/ noun
parallelogram
|
paratroopers A small group of paratroops
a shape with four sides in which each side led the attack.
parcel / p
s()l/ noun something that
parcel
is parallel to the one opposite

is wrapped in paper and sent by post The
paralyse / prlaz/ (paralyses, para-
paralyse
lysing, paralysed) verb 1. to cause paraly-

postman has brought a parcel for you.
The parcel was wrapped up in brown pa-
sis in someone 2. to make someone or
something unable to move or function nor- per. If youre going to the post office, can
mally for a short time The strike para- you post this parcel for me?
lysed the country. (NOTE: The US spelling is parcel out phrasal verb to divide some-
paralyze.) thing up among several people
parched /p
tt / adj very dry due to lack
parched
paralysis /p rlss/ noun 1. a condi-

paralysis
tion where the muscles of part of the body of rain

pardon / p
d()n/ noun the act of for-
pardon
cannot move because of damage to the

nerves 2. an inability to move or function giving someone verb (pardons, pardon-
normally ing, pardoned) to forgive someone for
having done something wrong Pardon
paramedic /pr medk/ noun a per-
paramedic
me for interrupting, but youre wanted on

son who works in a medical profession the phone. Please pardon my rudeness in
linked to that of a nurse or doctor, such as not answering your call earlier. I beg
an ambulance driver or therapist your pardon! excuse me! forgive me! I
parameter /p rmt/ noun a value
parameter
|
beg your pardon, I didnt hear what you
which shows the limits of something said. I do beg your pardon I didnt
paramilitary / pr mlt()ri/ adj or-
paramilitary
| know you were busy.

ganised in the same way as the army, but pare /pe/ (pares, paring, pared) verb to
pare
not a part of it Members of paramilitary make something smaller by cutting off a

organisations were asked to surrender small amount He managed to pare three
their arms. seconds off his previous best time.
paramount / prmant/ adj most im- parent / pernt/ noun 1. a father or
paramount
parent
portant mother 2. an organisation which owns or

paranoia /pr n/ noun a mental rules another Our parent company is
paranoia
disorder in which the patient imagines based in Switzerland.

parentage / perntd/ noun some-
parentage
things, usually that he or she is being per-

secuted or attacked ones origin
453 partial
parentheses /p rensi
z/ plural noun has passed a law forbidding the sale of
parentheses
a printing symbol ( ) which encloses words these drugs.

or characters and separates them from the Parmesan /p
m zn/ noun a type of
Parmesan
rest of the text She put the phrase in pa- hard Italian cheese that is often grated and
rentheses. sprinkled on pasta dishes
parenthood / pernthd/ noun the parody / prdi / noun (plural parodies)
parenthood parody
state of being a parent poetry, a play or a song which imitates

parenting / pernt/ noun the activity
parenting
someone to make fun He wrote a parody

of looking after children of Wodehouse. verb (parodies, parody-
parents / pernts/ noun your mother ing, parodied) to imitate someone in order
parents
and father His parents live in Manches- to make fun His writing style is very easy
ter. Did your parents tell you I had met to parody.
them in London? parole / p rl/ noun the act of allowing
parole
parish / pr/ noun 1. an area served by

parish
a prisoner who has behaved well to be re-

a church Hes the vicar of a country par- leased from prison early on condition that
ish. They worship regularly in their local he or she continues to behave well outside
parish church. Father Thomas is our par- prison She will be eligible for parole in
ish priest. 2. an administrative district in a three weeks time. He was let out on pa-
county with a church as its centre Hes role and immediately offended again.
going through the local parish records to verb (paroles, paroling, paroled) to let a
try to establish when his family first came prisoner out of prison on condition that he
to the village. or she behaves well After six months he
parishioner /p r()n / noun a person was paroled.
parishioner
who lives in or belongs to a parish parrot / prt/ noun a brightly coloured

parrot
parity / prti/ noun the fact of being tropical bird with a large curved beak He
parity
equal, especially having the same rates of keeps a green parrot in a cage in his living
pay and conditions as others room.
park / p
k/ noun an open space with parsley / p
sli/ noun a green herb with
park parsley
grass and trees Hyde Park and Regents flat or curly leaves, used in cooking
Park are in the middle of London. You parsnip / p
snp/ noun a plant with a
parsnip
can ride a bicycle across the park but cars thick white root which is eaten boiled or
are not allowed in. verb (parks, parking, roasted as a vegetable and has a sweet taste
parked) to leave your car somewhere while part /p
t/ noun 1. a piece or section
part
you are not using it You can park your [~of] Parts of the film were very good.
car in the street next to the hotel. You They live in the downstairs part of a large
mustnt park on a double yellow line. house. They spend part of the year in
parka / p
k/ noun a warm waterproof
parka
France. 2. a person that an actor plays, e.g.

jacket with a hood in a play or film [~of] He played the part
parking / p
k / noun the act of leav-
parking
of Hamlet. verb (parts, parting, parted)

ing a car somewhere when you are not us- to separate or move apart The curtains
ing it parted and the show began. to play a
parking lot / p
k lt/ noun US an
parking lot
part to be one of several people or things

area where you can leave a car when you which do something The guests played
are not using it an important part in putting out the hotel
parking meter / p
k mi
t/ noun a fire. to take part in something to join in
parking meter
device into which you put money to pay for an activity They all took part in the game.
parking for a certain time Did he take part in the concert?
parking ticket / p
k tkt/ noun a part with phrasal verb to give or sell
parking ticket
paper which you get when you leave a car something to someone He refused to
parked wrongly, telling you that you will part with his old bicycle.
have to pay a fine part exchange /p
t ks tend/
part exchange
Parkinsons disease / p
knsnz d noun giving an old product as part of the
Parkinsons disease
zi
z/ noun a disease which affects the parts payment for a new one
of the brain which control movement, mak- partial / p
()l/ adj 1. not complete
partial
ing the hands and legs shake He got partial compensation for the dam-
parliament / p
lmnt / noun a
parliament
age to his house. The treatment was only

group of elected representatives who de- a partial success. 2. with a liking for some-
cide on the laws of a country Parliament thing [~to] Everyone knows he is partial
participant 454
to a slice of cake. 3. biased The judge was partner / p
tn/ noun 1. a person
partner
accused of being partial. who plays games or dances with someone

participant /p
tspnt/ noun a per- Take your partners for the waltz. Sally
participant
|
son who takes part [~in] is my usual tennis partner. 2. a person with
participate /p
tspet/ (partici- whom you are in a relationship, especially
participate
pates, participating, participated) verb to one you live with We invited him and his
take part in something partner for drinks. 3. a person who owns
participle /p
tsp()l/ noun a word and works in a business together with one
participle
formed from a verb, used either to form or more others He became a partner in a
perfect or progressive forms or as an adjec- firm of solicitors.
partnership / p
tnp/ noun a busi-
partnership
tive or noun. The present participle of to

go is going and the past participle is ness relationship between two or more
gone. people in which the risks and profits are
particle / p
tk()l/ noun a very small shared according to a letter of agreement
particle
piece between the partners [~between] to go

particular /p tkjl/ adj special, re- into partnership (with someone) to join
particular
ferring to one thing or person and to no with someone to form a partnership He

other The photocopier only works with went into partnership with his brother to
one particular type of paper. market his new invention.
particularly /p tkjlli/ adv spe- part-time /p
t tam/ adj, adv not for
part-time
particularly
cially I particularly asked them not to the whole working day or week He is try-
walk on the lawn. Its a particularly dif- ing to find part-time work when the chil-
ficult problem. He isnt particularly wor- dren are in school. We are looking for
ried about the result. part-time staff to keyboard data. She
particulars / p tkjlz/ plural noun de- works part-time in the local supermarket.
particulars
party / p
ti/ (plural parties) noun a
party
tails the sheet which gives particulars of

the house for sale The inspector asked special occasion when several people
for particulars of the missing car. meet, usually in someones house, in order
parting / p
t/ noun 1. the act of leav- to celebrate something such as a birthday
parting
ing someone Our final parting took place Were having a party on New Years Eve.
outside the railway station. 2. the line Our family Christmas party was a disas-
which marks where your hair is separated ter as usual. She invited twenty friends to
when you comb it My parting is on the her birthday party.
left side. pass /p
s/ noun (in football, etc.) the
pass
parting shot /p
t t/ noun the last,
parting shot
act of sending the ball to another player

often unpleasant, words spoken when leav- He sent a long pass across the field and
ing someone Smith headed it into goal. verb (passes,
partisan / p
tz()n, p
t zn/, par- passing, passed) 1. to move something to-
partisan
tizan noun 1. a person who supports a pol- wards someone [~to] Can you pass me the
icy forcefully Shes a partisan of having salt, please? He passed the ball back to
more women Members of Parliament. 2. a the goalkeeper. 2. to be successful in a test
member of a local armed resistance move- or examination [~to] He passed in Eng-
ment, fighting against an occupying army lish, but failed in French. She passed her
The town was captured by partisans. driving test first time!
partition /p
t()n/ noun 1. a division pass away phrasal verb to die (NOTE:
partition
of a country into separate parts Did you also pass on)

agree with the partition of the country after pass off phrasal verb 1. to take place
the war? 2. a thin wall between two spaces, The meeting passed off without any prob-
especially one splitting a large room into lems. 2. to pass something off as
sections We put a partition across the something else to pretend that something
centre of the room to make two separate is another thing in order to cheat He
bedrooms for the boys. (NOTE: + partition v) passed the wine off as French. to pass
partly / p
tli/ adv not completely yourself off as something to pretend to
partly
The house is partly furnished. Im only be something He passed himself off as

partly satisfied with the result. Were sell- a rich banker from South America.
ing our house in London, partly because pass on phrasal verb 1. to move some-
we need the money, but also because we thing on to someone else She passed on
want to move nearer to the sea. the information to her boss. 2. to die My
455 pastoral
father passed on two years ago. (NOTE: Passover / p
sv/ noun a Jewish
Passover
also pass away in the same meaning) spring festival which celebrates the release
pass out phrasal verb to become un- of Jews from captivity in Egypt
conscious for a short time He passed passport / p
sp
t/ noun an official
passport
out when he saw the blood. document allowing you to travel from one
pass round phrasal verb to hand some- country to another If you are going
thing to various people She passed the abroad you need to have a valid passport.
box of chocolates round the table. The We had to show our passports at cus-
steward passed round immigration toms. His passport is out of date.
forms. password / p
sw#
d/ noun a secret
password
pass up phrasal verb not to make use word which you need to know to be al-
of a chance or opportunity which is of- lowed to do something such as use a partic-
fered ular computer
passable / p
sb()l/ adj fairly good
passable
past /p
st/ prep 1. later than, after
past
He did a passable imitation of the prime Its past the childrens bedtime. Its ten
minister. past nine (9.10) weve missed the TV
passage / psd/ noun 1. a long nar-
passage
news. 2. passing in front of something If

row space with walls on either side you go past the bank, youll see the shop on
[~through/~to] She hurried along the pas- your left. She walked past me without
sage. Theres an underground passage saying anything. The car went past at at
between the two railway stations. 2. a sec- least 60 miles an hour. (NOTE: Past is used
tion of a piece of writing [~through/~to] for times between oclock and the half-hour:
She quoted passages from the Bible. I 3.05 = five past three; 3.15 = a quarter past
photocopied a particularly interesting pas- three; 3.25 = twenty-five past three; 3.30 =
sage from the textbook. half past three. For times after half past see
passageway / psdwe/ noun a cor-
passageway
to. Past is also used with many verbs: to go

ridor past, to drive past, to fly past, etc.) adj
passenger / psnd/ noun a per- happening in a time which his finished
passenger
son who is travelling, e.g. in a car, bus, He has spent the past year working in
train or plane, but who is not the driver or France. The time for talking is past
one of the people who works on it His what we need is action. noun the time be-
cars quite big it can take three passen- fore now In the past we always had an of-
gers on the back seat. The plane was car- fice party just before Christmas.
rying 104 passengers and a crew of ten. pasta / pst/ noun an Italian food made
pasta
passer-by /p
s ba/ (plural passers- of flour and water, and sometimes eggs,
passer-by
by) noun a person who is walking past cooked by boiling, and eaten with oil or
passing / p
s/ adj 1. existing for a
passing
sauce (NOTE: no plural: some pasta, a bowl
short time only Its just a passing fash- of pasta; note that pasta takes a singular
ion. 2. which is going past The driver of verb: the pasta is very good here)
paste /pest/ noun 1. a thin liquid glue
paste
a passing car saw the accident.

passion / p()n/ noun a very strong Spread the paste evenly over the back of
passion
feeling of love, especially sexual love He the wallpaper. 2. soft food The cake is
couldnt hide the passion he felt for her. covered with almond paste. Mix the flour,
passionate / p()nt / adj strongly
passionate
eggs and milk to a smooth paste. Add to-
emotional mato paste to the soup. verb (pastes,
pasting, pasted) to glue something such as
passive / psv/ adj allowing things to
passive
paper She pasted a sheet of coloured pa-

happen to you and not taking any action per over the front of the box. He pasted
yourself He wasnt one of the ringlead- the postcards into his scrapbook. cut
ers, he only played a passive role in the
pastime / p
stam/ noun a hobby,
pastime
coup. noun the form of a verb which

shows that the subject is being acted upon something you do to pass your spare time
pastor / p
st / noun a member of the
pastor
(NOTE: If you say the car hit him the verb is

active, but he was hit by the car is passive.) Protestant clergy
passive smoking /psv smk/ pastoral / p
st()rl/ adj 1. referring to
passive smoking pastoral
noun the act of breathing in smoke from country life Virgil was famous for his
other peoples cigarettes, when you do not pastoral poetry. 2. referring to guidance in
smoke yourself connection with someones personal prob-
past participle 456

lems Theres an important pastoral side take out a patent for a new type of light
to a teachers job. bulb They have applied for a patent for
past participle /p
st p
tsp()l/ their new invention.
past participle
noun a word formed from a verb, used ei- patent leather /petnt le/ noun
patent leather
ther to form a past tense or as an adjective. leather with an extremely shiny surface
The past participle of go is gone. paternal /p t#
n()l/ adj referring to a
paternal
pastry / pestri/ noun a mixture of

pastry
father
flour, fat and water, used to make pies paternity /p t#
nti/ noun 1. the fact of
paternity
She was in the kitchen making pastry. being a father 2. the identity of a father
pasture / p
st/ noun a grassy area
pasture
The court had first to establish the childs

where animals such as horses, cows and paternity.
sheep can graze paternity leave /p t#
nti li
v/ noun
paternity leave
pasty1 / psti / (plural pasties) noun a

|
pasty
permission for a man to be away from

pastry folded round a filling of meat and work when his wife has a baby
vegetables path /p
/ noun a narrow track for
path
pasty2 / pesti/ (pastier, pastiest) adj

pasty
walking [~of/~through/~to] Theres a path

white and unhealthy across the field. Follow the path until you
pat /pt/ noun a gentle touch with the
pat
get to the sea.

hand I didnt hit her I just gave her a lit- pathetic /p etk / adj making you
pathetic
tle pat. verb (pats, patting, patted) to feel either sympathy or a lack of respect
give someone or something a pat He pat- He made a pathetic attempt at a joke. She
ted his pocket to make sure that his wallet looked a pathetic figure standing in the
was still there. to pat someone on the rain.
back to praise someone a pat on the
pathological /p ldk()l/ adj re-
pathological
back praise The committee got a pat on

|
the back for having organised the show so ferring to a disease or which is caused by a
well. disease a pathological condition
pathologist /p ldst / noun 1. a
pathologist
patch /pt/ noun 1. a small piece of

patch
|
material used for covering up a hole, e.g. in doctor who specialises in the study of dis-
clothes His mother sewed a patch over eases and the changes in the body caused
the hole in his trousers. 2. a small area of by disease A pathologist took samples for
something They built a shed on a patch of examination in the laboratory. 2. a doctor
ground by the railway line. Theres a who examines dead bodies to find out the
patch of rust on the car door. cause of death The pathologist found
patch up phrasal verb 1. to mend traces of poison in the corpse.
pathology /p ldi/ noun the study
pathology
something with difficulty The mechan- |
ics managed to patch up the engine. of diseases and the changes in structure
The surgeon patched him up but warned and function which diseases cause in the
him not to fight with knives again. 2. to body
pathos / pes/ noun a quality in some-
pathos
patch up a quarrel to become more

friendly again after quarrelling They thing which makes you feel pity (NOTE: The
had a bitter argument, but patched up adjective is pathetic.)
their quarrel in time for the party. pathway / p
we/ noun a track for
pathway
patchwork / ptw#
k/ noun 1. a piece
patchwork
walking along
of needlework made by sewing small piec- patience / pe()ns/ noun the quality
patience
es of material together in patterns All the of being patient With a little patience,
women in the family came together to sew youll soon learn how to ride a bike. I
a patchwork quilt. 2. an area which looks dont have the patience to wait that long.
like a patchwork quilt a typical English to try someones patience to make some-
landscape with a patchwork of small fields one impatient Looking after a class of
patchy / pti/ adj not the same every-
patchy
thirty little children would try anyones pa-

where If you dont prepare the surface tience.
properly, the paint will look patchy. patient / pe()nt/ adj the ability to
patient
pt / pte/ noun a paste made of

pt
wait a long time without getting annoyed

cooked meat or fish finely minced You must be patient you will get served in
patent / petnt, ptnt/ noun an offi-
patent
time. noun a sick person who is in hospi-

cial confirmation that you have the sole tal or who is being treated by a doctor, den-
right to make or sell a new invention to tist, psychiatrist, etc. There are three oth-
457 pay
er patients in the ward. The nurse is try- slowly, with lots of pauses. verb (pauses,
ing to take the patients temperature. pausing, paused) to stop or rest for a short
patiently / pe()ntli/ adv without time before continuing [~for] She paused
patiently
getting annoyed for a second to look at her watch.

patio / pti/ (plural patios) noun a pave /pev/ (paves, paving, paved) verb
pave
patio
paved area outside a house or other build- to cover a road or path, etc., with a hard
ing for sitting or eating surface In the old town, the streets are
patriotic /ptri tk/ adj proud of your paved with cobblestones. There is a
patriotic
country and willing to defend it paved courtyard behind the restaurant.

patrol /p trl/ noun 1. the act of keep-
patrol
|
to pave the way for something to prepare
ing guard by walking or driving in one di- the way for something to happen The
rection and then back again They make election of the new president paves the way
regular patrols round the walls of the pris- for a change of government.
pavement / pevmnt/ noun 1. a hard
pavement
on. He was on patrol in the centre of town

when he saw some youths running away path for people to walk on at the side of a
from a bank. 2. a group of people keeping road Walk on the pavement, not in the
guard Each time a patrol went past we road. Look out; the pavement is covered
hid behind a wall. verb (patrols, patrol- with ice! 2. US a hard road surface
pavilion /p vlin/ noun 1. a small
pavilion
ling, patrolled) to keep guard on a place by |
walking or driving up and down Armed building for people playing sport to rest in
security guards are patrolling the ware- between games The rest of the team
house. watched from the pavilion as he scored the
patron / petrn/ noun 1. a person who winning run. 2. a separate building at a
patron
protects or supports someone or something large exhibition Have you seen the Cana-
[~of] Shes a great patron of the arts. 2. a dian pavilion yet?
person who goes regularly to a place, e.g. a paving stone / pev stn/ noun a
paving stone
shop, hotel, restaurant or theatre [~of] The large flat stone slab used for making paths
car park is for the use of hotel patrons only. and patios
patronage / ptrnd/ noun the prac- paw /p
/ noun the foot of an animal
patronage paw
tice of giving support or encouragement to such as a cat or dog The bear held the fish
someone, e.g. an artist in its paws.
patron saint /petrn sent/ noun a pawn /p
n/ noun 1. the smallest piece
patron saint
pawn
saint who is believed to protect a particular on the chessboard [~in] He took two of my
group of people pawns. She sacrificed a pawn in order to
patter / pt/ noun 1. a light tapping
patter
put his king in check. 2. a person who is

noise the patter of raindrops on the roof controlled by someone more powerful [~in]
I heard a patter of feet in the corridor. 2. He was just a pawn in the hands of pow-
rapid talk by someone such as a salesman erful bankers. verb (pawns, pawning,
or trickster, to keep your attention He pawned) to leave an object in exchange for
kept up a continuous patter as he shuffled borrowing money: you claim back the ob-
the cards. verb (patters, pattering, pat- ject when you pay back the money I was
tered) to make a light tapping noise The so desperate that I pawned my mobile
rain pattered on the windows. phone. He was in a bad state even his
pattern / pt()n/ noun 1. instructions dinner jacket had been pawned. She
pattern
which you follow to make something [~of] pawned her ring to get money for food.
She copied a pattern from a magazine to pawnbroker / p
nbrk/ noun a per-
pawnbroker
knit her son a pullover. 2. a design of some- son who lends money in exchange for val-
thing, e.g. lines or flowers, repeated again uables left with him or her
and again on cloth, wallpaper, etc. [~of] pay /pe/ noun the money you receive
pay
She was wearing a coat with a pattern of for working Theyre on strike for more
black and white spots. Do you like the pay. I cant afford luxuries on my miser-
pattern on our new carpet? able pay. verb (pays, paying, paid) 1. to
paunch /p
nt/ noun a mans fat stom-
paunch
give someone money for something

ach [~to/~with//] How much did you pay for
pause /p
z/ noun a short stop during
pause
your car? We pay 100 a week in rent.

a period of activity such as work [~for/~in] Please pay the waiter for your drinks.
Walk quickly and then have a short pause She paid him 10 for his old bike. 2. to give
after every 100 steps. He read his speech money to someone for doing something
payee 458
We pay secretaries 10 an pea /pi
/ noun a climbing plant of
pea
[~to/~with//]
hour. I paid them one pound each for which the round green seeds are eaten as
washing the car. Ill pay you a pound to vegetables
wash my car. (NOTE: You pay someone to peace /pi
s/ noun 1. the state of not be-
peace
wash the car before he or she washes it, ing at war [~with/] The UN troops are try-
but you pay someone for washing the car ing to keep the peace in the area. Both
after he or she has washed it.) sides are hoping to reach a peace settle-
pay back phrasal verb to give someone ment. 2. a calm quiet state [~with/] Noisy
money which you owe them He bor- motorcycles ruin the peace and quiet of the
rowed 10 last week and hasnt paid me village.
back. to pay someone back for some- peaceful / pi
sf()l/ adj enjoyable be-
peaceful
thing to take revenge on someone for cause there is very little noise or activity
having done something That will pay We spent a peaceful afternoon by the river.
them back for ruining our party, he said
peacekeeper / pi
ski
p/ noun a person
peacekeeper
as he smashed their car window.

who tries to maintain peace
pay in phrasal verb to put money into
peacetime / pi
stam/ noun a period
peacetime
an account
when a country is not fighting in a war
pay off phrasal verb 1. to finish paying
peach /pi
t/ noun a sweet fruit with a
peach
money which is owed Hes aiming to

pay off his mortgage in ten years. She large stone and very soft skin [~of] We
said she couldnt pay off the loan. 2. to had peaches and cream for dessert.
peacock / pi
kk/ noun a type of com-
peacock
pay all the money owed to someone and

end his or her employment When the mon brown butterfly with round purple
company was taken over the factory was spots on its wings
closed and all the workers were paid off. peak /pi
k/ noun 1. the top of a moun-
peak
3. to be successful Their more cautious tain Can you see that snow-covered peak
approach eventually paid off. All that in the distance? Its Mont Blanc. 2. the
hard work paid off when she came top of highest point The team has to reach a
her class. peak of fitness before the match. The
pay out phrasal verb 1. to give money graph shows the peaks and troughs of pol-
to someone The insurance company lution over the last month. 3. the front part
paid out thousands of pounds to claim- of a cap, which sticks out He wore a
ants after the storm. We have paid out white cap with a dark blue peak.
half our profits in dividends. 2. to unroll peal /pi
l/ noun the sound of bells ringing
peal
a rope They paid out the rope gradually Peals rang out from the church tower on
as I climbed down the cliff. Christmas morning.
pay up phrasal verb to pay all the mon- peanut / pi
nt / noun a nut which grows
peanut
ey which you owe The tourist paid up under the ground in a shell
quickly when the taxi driver called the peanut butter /pi
nt bt/ noun a
peanut butter
police. paste made from crushed peanuts

payee /pe i
/ noun a person who is paid
payee
pear /pe / noun a fruit like a long ap-

pear
|
money ple, with one end wider than the other

payment / pemnt/ noun the fact of
payment
pearl / p#
l/ noun a valuable round
pearl
giving money for something [~for] I make white jewel formed inside an oyster She
regular monthly payments into her ac- wore a string of pearls which her grand-
count. She made a payment of 10,000 to mother had given her.
the solicitor.
pear-shaped / pe ept/ to go pear-
pear-shaped
payphone / pefn/ noun a public

payphone
shaped to go wrong, not to work properly

phone in which you insert money to make (informal) Since the shop opened, every-
a call thing seems to be going pear-shaped.
payroll / perl/ noun 1. the people em- peasant / pez()nt/ noun a farm labourer
payroll
peasant
ployed by a company and paid by it The or farmer living in a backward region

company has 250 people on the payroll. 2. peat /pi
t/ noun wet soil in a bog, made
peat
the total wages paid by a company from partly decayed mosses and other
PC /pi
si
/ abbr personal computer,
PC
plants
police constable, politically correct pebble / peb()l/ noun a small round
pebble
PE
PE abbr physical education a PE class stone

459 pellet
pecan / pi
kn, p kn/ noun a sweet pedicure / pedkj/ noun the act of
pecan pedicure
nut from a tree which grows in the south of looking after the feet
the USA pedigree / ped(ri
/ noun a table show-
pedigree
peck /pek/ (pecks, pecking, pecked) verb

peck
ing the ancestors of an animal bred by a

(of a bird) to bite with a beak Hens were breeder
pecking around in the yard. pee /pi
/ noun 1. waste water from the
pee
peckish / pek / adj slightly hungry

peckish
body (informal) This drinks horrible, it

(informal) tastes like pee! 2. the act of passing waste
peculiar /p kju
li/ adj 1. strange water from the body I need to go for a
peculiar
[~that] Theres a peculiar smell coming pee. He had a quick pee and then went
from the kitchen. Its peculiar that she back to the meeting. verb (pees, peeing,
never opens the curtains in her house. 2. peed) to pass waste water from the body
only found in one particular place or per- The cats peed all over my flowerbed.
son [~to] He apologised to her in his own peek /pi
k/ noun a quick look He
peek
peculiar way. French fries with mayon- opened the fridge door and had a peek at
naise is a dish which is peculiar to Bel- the dessert. (NOTE: Do not confuse with
gium. peak.) verb (peeks, peeking, peeked) to
peculiarity /pkju
li rti/ (plural pe- look at something quickly She peeked
peculiarity
| |
culiarities) noun an odd feature or detail through the window and saw there was no
which makes something different one in the kitchen.
pedagogical /ped (dk()l/ adj re- peel /pi
l/ noun the outer skin of a fruit or
pedagogical peel
ferring to teaching a vegetable Throw the banana peel into

pedal / ped()l/ noun 1. an object the rubbish bin. This orange has got very
pedal
worked by the foot to make a machine op- thick peel. (NOTE: no plural. Do not confuse
erate If you want to stop the car put your with peal.) verb (peels, peeling, peeled)
foot down on the brake pedal. 2. a flat rest to take the outer skin off a fruit or a vege-
which you press down on with your foot to table He was peeling a banana. If the
make a bicycle go forwards He stood up potatoes are very small you can boil them
on the pedals to make the bike go up the without peeling them.
peep /pi
p/ noun a quick look He
peep
hill. verb (pedals, pedalling, pedalled)

to make a bicycle go by pushing on the opened the fridge door and had a peep in-
pedals He had to pedal hard to get up the side. verb (peeps, peeping, peeped) to
hill. look quickly and secretly at something
pedantic /p dntk/ adj who worries She peeped into the box. We found him
pedantic
too much about small details peeping through the keyhole.

peddle / ped()l/ (peddles, peddling, peer /p/ noun a member of the a high so-
peer
peddle
peddled) verb 1. to sell goods from door to cial class in the UK Peers sit in the House
door or in the street He makes a living of Lords.
peeved /pi
vd/ adj annoyed and bothered
peeved
peddling cleaning products door to door.

She tried to peddle the information to var- peg / pe(/ noun 1. a small wooden or metal
peg
ious newspapers. 2. to sell illegal drugs object used for holding something in place
He was accused of peddling drugs. (NOTE: The children hang their coats on pegs in
Do not confuse with pedal.) the cloakroom. They used no nails in
pedestal / pedst()l/ noun a base for a building the roof it is all held together
pedestal
statue to put someone on a pedestal to with wooden pegs. 2. clothes peg little
treat someone as if he or she were very spe- wooden clip, used to attach wet clothes to
cial or important, even if they have faults a washing line. off-the-peg verb (pegs,
He had always put his wife on a pedestal pegging, pegged) to attach something
and was horrified to hear the stories about with a peg She pegged the washing out on
her which came out in court. the line.
pedestrian /p destrin/ noun a per- pelican / pelkn/ noun a large water
pedestrian pelican
son who walks, rather than drives along, in bird, which catches fish and keeps the fish
a street Two pedestrians were also in- in a bag of skin under its beak The zoo
jured in the accident. keeper brought a bucket of fish to feed the
pedestrian crossing /pdestrin pelicans.
pedestrian crossing
krs/ noun a place where pedestrians pellet / pelt / noun 1. a small ball of lead,
pellet
can cross a road (NOTE: Another US term is used in shotguns There may still be pel-
crosswalk.) lets left in the pheasant so be careful when
pelt 460
you eat it. 2. a small ball of something advice from our lawyers He has been
The boys made bread pellets and threw suspended on full pay, pending an inquiry.
them across the room. The cattle feed pendulum / pendjlm/ noun 1. a
pendulum
comes in the form of pellets. weight on the end of a chain which swings
pelt /pelt/ noun a skin of an animal with
pelt
from side to side, making a clock work If

fur on it The trappers sold the pelts at the you look in the clock case, you can see the
trading post. verb (pelts, pelting, pelted) pendulum swinging back and forth. 2. a
1. to pelt someone with something to trend from one extreme to another A few
throw things at someone The crowd pelt- years ago every household had two cars,
ed the speaker with rotten tomatoes. 2. to now the pendulum has swung in the oppo-
run very fast I pelted after her to try to site direction and more people are using
catch her up. 3. the rain was pelting public transport.
down it was raining very hard penetrate / pentret / (penetrates, pen-
penetrate
pelvis / pelvs/ (plural pelvises or pel-

pelvis
etrating, penetrated) verb to go into or

ves) noun the group of bones and cartilage through something (NOTE: + penetration n)
which forms a ring and connects the thigh penetrating / pentret/ adj deep and
penetrating
bones to the spine searching

pen /pen/ noun an object for writing
pen
penfriend / penfrend/ noun someone,

penfriend
with, using ink Ive lost my red pen can

I borrow yours? If you havent got a pen often in another country, whom you write
you can always write in pencil. to regularly without ever meeting him or
her
penal / pi
n()l/ adj referring to punish-
penal
penguin / pe(wn/ noun a black and

penguin
ment
penalise (penalises, penalising, penal-
penalise
white bird found in the Antarctic, which
ised), penalize (penalizes, penalizing, pe- swims well but cannot fly
penicillin /pen sln/ noun a common
penicillin
nalized) verb to punish someone |
penalty / pen()lti / (plural penalties)

penalty
antibiotic, made from a mould
peninsula /p nnsjl/ noun a large
peninsula
noun 1. a punishment for breaking a law or |
rule [~for/~of/for] The maximum penalty piece of land which goes out into the sea
for this offence is two years imprisonment. penis / pi
ns/ (plural penises or penes)
penis
The coup failed and the leaders had to noun the male organ used for passing urine
pay the penalty. 2. in sport, an advantage and for sexual intercourse
given to one side who has broken a rule, es- penitent / pent()nt/ adj being sorry for
penitent
pecially a kick directly at goal awarded to having done something wrong If you are
the opposite side in football [~for/~of/for] penitent, God will forgive you.
He was awarded a penalty kick. They
penitentiary /pen tenri/ (plural pen-
penitentiary
scored from a penalty. to take or miss a |
or the penalty in football, to be the person itentiaries) noun US a prison

penknife / pennaf/ (plural penknives)
penknife
who kicks the ball to try to score a goal

when a penalty is given or who does not noun a small pocket knife which folds up
score in this situation pen name / pen nem/ noun a name used
pen name
penance / penns/ noun punishment by a writer which is not his or her own
penance
which someone accepts as a way of ac- penniless / penls/ adj with no money
penniless
knowledging a bad action penny / peni/ (plural pennies or

penny
pence /pens/ plural of penny

pence
pence) noun the smallest British coin, one

penchant / p/ noun a special lik-
penchant
hundredth of a pound It cost 4.99, so I

ing for something paid with a 5 note and got a penny
pencil / pensl / noun an object for
pencil
change. I came out without my purse and

writing or drawing with, made of wood, I havent got a penny on me. (NOTE: Pen-
with a long piece of black or coloured ma- nies is used to refer to several coins, but
terial through the middle pence refers to the price. In prices, pence is
pencil sharpener / pensl
pn/ always written p and often said as /pi
/ : This
pencil sharpener
noun an instrument for sharpening pencils book only costs 60p.: say sixty p or sixty
pendant / pendnt/ noun a piece of jew- pence.) not have a penny not have any
pendant
ellery which hangs from a chain round money

your neck pension / penn/ noun money paid
pension
pending / pend/ prep while waiting for

pending
regularly, e.g. to someone who has retired

something to happen (formal) pending from work He has a good pension from
461 performance
his firm. She finds her pension is not low percentage of the population voted.
enough to live on. What percentage of businesses are likely
pensioner / penn/ noun a person to be affected? Oh, about 40 per cent.
pensioner
perceptible /p septb()l/ adj which

perceptible
who gets a pension |
pensive / pensv/ adj thoughtful can be noticed by the senses, i.e. seen,
pensive
pentagon / pent(n/ noun a geometri-

pentagon
heard, smelled, tasted or touched
perception /p sepn/ noun the
perception
cal figure with five sides He drew a pen- |
tagon on the blackboard. ability to notice or realise something [~of]

perceptive / p septv/ adj showing that
perceptive
pentathlon /pen tln/ noun an athlet-

pentathlon
|
|
ic competition in which competitors have you understand something clearly

perch /p#
t/ noun a type of small fresh-
perch
to compete in five different sports

penthouse / penthas/ noun a flat on
penthouse
water fish verb (perches, perching,
the top floor of a high building perched or perched) (of a person or a build-
ing) to place someone or something high up
penultimate /p nltmt/ adj next to
penultimate
a castle perched high on the mountain-

|
last side She was sitting perched on a bar

people / pi
p()l/ noun men, women
people
stool.
or children considered as a group There percolate / p#
klet/ (percolates, per-
percolate
were at least twenty people waiting to see colating, percolated) verb to filter through
the doctor. So many people wanted to see perennial /p renil / noun a plant which
perennial
the film that there were queues every night.

|
flowers every year without needing to be

A group of people from our office went to
sown again Most of the plants in this bed
Paris by train. are perennials. Compare annual, biennial
pepper / pep/ noun 1. a strong-tast-
pepper
perfect1 / p#
fkt/ adj 1. good in every
perfect
ing powder used in cooking, made from the way Your coat is a perfect fit. Dont
whole seeds of a plant (black pepper) or change anything the room is perfect as it
from seeds with the outer layer removed is. 2. completely suitable Shes the per-
(white pepper) Add salt and pepper to fect secretary. George would be perfect
taste. (NOTE: no plural in this sense) 2. a hol- for the job of salesman. I was in a perfect
low green, red or yellow fruit used as a position to see what happened.
vegetable We had stuffed peppers for
perfect2 /p fekt/ (perfects, perfecting,
perfect
lunch.
|
perfected) verb to make something new

peppermint / pepmnt/ noun a herb
peppermint
and perfect She perfected a process for

which is grown to produce an oil used in speeding up the bottling system.
sweets, drinks and toothpaste I always perfection /p fekn/ noun the state of
perfection
use peppermint-flavoured toothpaste. being perfect to perfection perfectly

pep talk / pep t
k/ noun a talk designed
pep talk
He timed his kick to perfection.

to encourage people, e.g. to work hard or to perfectionist /p feknst/ noun a
perfectionist
win a match (informal) person who demands that everything has to

per /p#
, p/ prep for each I cant cy-
per
be perfect
cle any faster than fifteen miles per hour. perfectly / p#
fktli/ adv very well
perfectly
Potatoes cost 10p per kilo. We paid our That dress fits you perfectly.
secretaries 10 per hour. perforated / p#
fretd/ adj which has
perforated
per annum /p#

nm/ adv for each
per annum
a hole or holes in it, especially with a line

year of small holes designed to make tearing
perceive /p si
v/ (perceives, per-
perceive
|
easy
ceiving, perceived) verb to notice or real- perform /p f
m/ (performs, per-
perform
ise something [~that] The changes are so forming, performed) verb 1. to do an ac-
slight that theyre almost impossible to tion She performed a perfect dive. Its
perceive with the naked eye. I perceived the sort of task that can be performed by
a worsening in his condition during the any computer. 2. to do something such as
night. acting, dancing or singing in public The
per cent /p sent/, percent noun out of
per cent
dance group will perform at the local the-

each hundred Fifty per cent of staff are atre next week. The play will be per-
aged over 40. (NOTE: The symbol % is used formed in the village hall.
after numbers: 50%.) performance /p f
mns/ noun 1.
performance
percentage /p sentd/ noun an

percentage
| the way in which someone or something

amount considered in relation to 100 A works, e.g. how successful they are or how
performer 462
much they achieve Were looking for given by a company to employees in addi-
ways to improve our performance. After tion to their salaries
last nights miserable performance I dont perm /p#
m/ noun curls or a wave put into
perm
think the team is likely to reach the semi-fi- your hair artificially Shes had a perm
nals. 2. a public show for entertainment and its changed her appearance.
The next performance will start at 8 permanent / p#
mnnt/ adj lasting
permanent
oclock. There are three performances a or intended to last, for ever He has found
day during the summer. a permanent job. She is in permanent em-
performer /p f
m/ noun a person
performer
|
ployment. They are living with her par-
who gives a public show in order to enter- ents temporarily its not a permanent ar-
tain people rangement.
perfume / p#
fju
m/ noun 1. a liquid permanently / p#
mnntli/ adv for ev-
perfume
permanently
which smells nice, and which you put on er; always

your skin 2. a pleasant smell, especially of permeate / p#
miet/ (permeates, per-
permeate
flowers the strong perfume of the roses meating, permeated) verb to move right
perhaps /p hps/ adv possibly
perhaps
|
through something
Perhaps the train is late. Theyre late permissible /p msb()l/ adj which
permissible
perhaps the snows very deep. Is it going can be allowed

to be fine? Perhaps not, I can see clouds
permission /p m()n/ noun the
permission
over there. |
freedom which you are given to do some-

peril / perl/ noun great danger at your
peril
thing by someone in authority You need

peril you risk everything if you do this
You disregard your doctors advice at your permission from the boss to go into the
storeroom. He asked the managers per-
peril. in peril facing a risk The ship was mission to take a day off.
on the rocks and the lives of the crew were
permissive /p msv/ adj allowing
permissive
in peril. |
perilous / perls/ adj very dangerous

perilous people a large amount of freedom in the
way they behave, especially in sexual mat-
perimeter /p rmt/ noun the outside
perimeter
ters
edge of an enclosed area
permit1 / p#
mt/ noun an official paper
permit
period / prid/ noun 1. an amount of

period
which allows you to do something You

time She swam under water for a short
period. The offer is open for a limited pe- have to have a permit to sell ice cream from
a van.
riod only. It was an unhappy period in
permit2 /p mt/ (permits, permitting,
permit
her life. 2. the time during which a lesson |
is given in school We have three periods permitted) verb to allow someone to do

of English on Thursdays. something This ticket permits three peo-
periodic / pri dk/ adj repeated after a
periodic
|
ple to go into the exhibition. Smoking is
regular period of time periodic attacks of not permitted in underground stations.
permutation /p#
mj te()n/ noun
permutation
the illness We carry out periodic reviews |
of the companys financial position. the act of putting several things together in
periodical /pri dk()l/ noun a mag-
periodical
various combinations
perpetrate / p#
ptret/ (perpetrates,
|
perpetrate
azine which appears regularly He writes

for several London periodicals. perpetrating, perpetrated) verb to commit
periphery /p rf()ri/ noun an edge, not
periphery
|
a crime ( NOTE: + perpetrator n)
perpetual /p petul/ adj continuous,
perpetual
the centre |
perish / per/ (perishes, perishing, per-

perish
without any end
perpetuate /p petuet/ (perpetuates,
perpetuate
ished) verb 1. to die The ship sank and |
twenty-five sailors perished. 2. to decay perpetuating, perpetuated) verb to make

The rubber has perished and the lid isnt something continue
perplexed /p plekst/ adj feeling con-
perplexed
airtight any more. |
perishable / perb()l/ adj which can fused

perishable
go bad easily Perishable food like pt persecute / p#

skju
t/ (persecutes,
persecute
must be kept in a fridge. persecuting, persecuted) verb to treat

perjury / p#
dri/ noun a crime of tell- someone badly on political or religious be-
perjury
ing lies when you have sworn to tell the liefs or because of their race (NOTE: + per-
truth in court secutor n)
perk /p#
k/ noun something extra such as perseverance /p#
s vrns/ noun
perk perseverance
company cars or private health insurance the act of persevering

463 pertinent
persevere /p#
s v/ (perseveres, per- one become fit, e.g. by teaching them a set
persevere
severing, persevered) verb to continue do- of physical exercises and advising them
ing something even if it is difficult what to eat
[~with/in] If you persevere with your exer- personify /p snfa/ (personifies,
personify
cises you should lose weight. He perse- personifying, personified) verb 1. to be a

vered in denying his involvement. good example of something He seemed
persist /p sst/ (persists, persisting,
persist
| to personify all that was best in American

persisted) verb to continue to exist to life. 2. to use a character in art to represent
persist in doing something to continue a quality The artist personified the wind
doing something, even if you should not as a fat red-faced man, blowing hard.
He will persist in singing while he works (NOTE: + personification n)
although weve told him many times to personnel /p#
s nel / noun staff, the
personnel
stop. She persists in refusing to see a doc- people employed by a company

tor.
perspective /p spektv/ noun 1. (in
perspective
persistent /p sstnt/ adj continuing

persistent |
art) a way of drawing objects or scenes, so

|
to do something, even though people want

you to stop that they appear to have depth or distance
Hes got the perspective wrong thats
person / p#
s()n/ (plural people or
person
why the picture looks so odd. 2. a way of

persons) noun a man or woman The po- looking at something A French politi-
lice say a person entered the house by the cians perspective on the problem will be
window. His fathers a very interesting completely different from mine. She was
person. in person used to emphasise that looking at the situation from the perspec-
someone is physically present Several tive of a parent with two young children.
celebrities were at the first night in person. to put or keep things in perspective to
persona /p sn/ noun a persons
persona
|
show or react to events in a balanced way
character as seen by other people You must put the sales figures in perspec-
personable / p#
s()nb()l/ adj attrac-
personable
tive they look bad, but theyre much bet-

tive, good-looking or having a pleasant ter than last year.
character perspiration /p#
sp re()n/ noun
perspiration
personal / p#
s()n()l/ adj 1. belong-
|
personal
the drops of liquid which come to the sur-

ing or referring to a particular person or face of your skin when you are hot
people They lost all their personal prop-
perspire /p spa/ (perspires, perspir-
perspire
erty in the fire. 2. relating to something that |
ing, perspired) verb to cause small drops

you would not like to discuss with most
people Can I ask you a personal ques- of liquid to come to the surface of your skin
tion? Thats personal Id rather not tell because you are feeling hot
persuade /p swed/ (persuades,
persuade
you. |
personal computer /p#
s()n()l
personal computer
persuading, persuaded) verb to get some-
km pju
t / noun a small computer used
|
one to do what you want by explaining or
by a person at home. Abbreviation PC asking She managed to persuade the
personality /p#
s nlti/ noun 1.
personality
|
bank manager to give her a loan. After
character He has a strange personality. 2. ten hours of discussion, they persuaded
a famous person, especially a TV or radio him to leave.
persuasion /p swe()n/ noun 1.
persuasion
star The new supermarket is going to be |
opened by a famous sporting personality. the act of persuading It took a lot of per-
personally / p#
s()n()li/ adv 1.
personally
suasion on his part to get her to change her
from your own point of view Personally, mind. With a bit of gentle persuasion, he
I think youre making a mistake. 2. in per- agreed to be chairman. 2. a firm, usually
son He is sorry that he cant be here to religious, belief People of that persua-
accept the prize personally. dont take it sion refuse to do military service. People
personally dont think it was meant to crit- of varying political persuasions have
icise you signed the petition.
personal pronoun /p#
s()n()l persuasive /p swesv/ adj able to
persuasive
personal pronoun
|
prnan/ noun (in grammar) a pronoun make people agree to accept something
which refers to a person, such as I, he, They employed some very persuasive argu-
she, him, her, etc. ments to get us to support their proposal.
personal trainer /p#
s()n()l tren/ pertinent / p#
tnnt/ adj which is rele-
personal trainer pertinent
noun a person whose job is to help some- vant

perturbed 464
perturbed /p t#
bd / adj made to feel building of the new road. We went to the
perturbed
worried or frightened town hall to hand the petition to the mayor.

peruse /p ru
z/ (peruses, perusing, verb (petitions, petitioning, petitioned)
peruse
perused) verb to read something carefully to ask someone for something officially, to
(NOTE: + perusal n) make an official request for something
pervade /p ved/ (pervades, pervad-
pervade
|
They petitioned the town council for a new
ing, pervaded) verb to spread everywhere library. He petitioned the government to
perverse /p v#
s/ adj continuing to do
perverse
|
provide a special pension. She is peti-
something even if it is wrong tioning for divorce.
petrified / petrfad / adj 1. changed to
petrified
perversion /p v#
()n/ noun 1. behav-
perversion
iour that is considered not natural and pos- stone You can find petrified trees at the
sibly immoral sexual perversion 2. the bottom of the gorge. 2. unable to move be-
act of changing something to make it bad cause you are afraid I thought he was go-
or wrong Her story is a perversion of the ing to shoot me, I was absolutely petrified.
petrol / petrl/ noun a liquid used as a
petrol
truth.
pervert1 / p#
v#
pervert
fuel for engines This car doesnt use very
commits sexual acts which are thought to much petrol. The bus ran out of petrol on
be not natural or normal a sexual pervert the motorway. Petrol prices are lower at
pervert2 / p v#
t/ (perverts, perverting,
pervert
|
supermarkets. (NOTE: no plural: some pet-
rol, a litre of petrol)
perverted) verb to change someone or
petroleum /p trlim/ noun raw min-
petroleum
something to make them evil |
perverted /p v#
td/ adj which has
perverted
|
eral oil which comes from under the earth
been made bad or wrong or sea
petrol station / petrl ste()n/
petrol station
pessimism / pesmz()m/ noun the

pessimism
state of believing that only bad things will noun a place where you can buy petrol for
happen your car
petty / peti/ adj 1. unimportant I havent
petty
pessimist / pesmst/ noun a person

pessimist
who thinks only bad things will happen time to deal with petty points of detail. 2.
pessimistic /pes mstk / adj believing
pessimistic
|
with a narrow point of view It was very
that only bad things will happen petty of her to ask for her money back.
petulant / petjlnt/ adj feeling an-
petulant
pest /pest/ noun 1. a plant, animal or in-

pest
sect which causes problems Many farm- noyed

pew /pju
/ noun a long wooden seat in a
pew
ers look on rabbits as a pest. 2. a person

who annoys someone That little boy is an church
pH /pi
et/ noun a measure of the con-
pH
absolute pest he wont stop whistling.

pester / pest/ (pesters, pestering, pes- centration of hydrogen ions in a solution,
pester
tered) verb to keep annoying someone or which shows how acid or alkaline it is
asking them for something to pester phantom / fntm/ noun an imaginary
phantom
someone into doing something to keep creature thought to be the spirit of a dead
asking or telling someone to do something person Phantoms were supposed to have
until they do what you want She pestered been seen in the churchyard at dead of
him into getting his hair cut. night. adj not real but imaginary, espe-
pesticide / pestsad/ noun a poison to cially in a way which is frightening She
pesticide
kill pests felt a phantom presence standing beside

pet /pet/ noun an animal kept in the home her.
pet
pharmaceutical /f
m sju
tk()l/
pharmaceutical
The family has several pets two cats, a |
dog and a hamster. adj referring to medicines

petal / pet()l/ noun the colourful part of pharmacist / f
msst/ noun a person
petal pharmacist
a flower who prepares and sells medicines

pharmacology / f
m kldi/ noun
peter
peter verb pharmacology
peter out phrasal verb to come to an end, the study of drugs and medicines
to gradually stop pharmacy / f
msi/ (plural pharma-
pharmacy
petite /p ti
t/ adj (of a woman) small and
petite
|
cies) noun 1. a shop which makes and sells
delicate medicines He runs the pharmacy in the
petition /p t()n/ noun an official re-
petition
| High Street. 2. the study of medicines

quest, often signed by many people She Shes studying pharmacy. He has a diplo-
wanted me to sign a petition against the ma in pharmacy.
465 photo
phase /fez/ noun a stage in the devel- phobia / fbi/ noun extreme fear of a
phase phobia
opment of something The project is now particular thing

in its final phase. Its a phase shes going phone /fn/ noun a telephone If
phone
through and hopefully she will grow out of someone rings, can you answer the phone
it. Im sure dyeing his hair green is just a for me? She lifted the phone and called
phase. verb (phases, phasing, phased) the ambulance. by phone using the tele-
to introduce something gradually The phone to place an order by phone verb
changes will be phased over three years. (phones, phoning, phoned) to speak to
phase in or out phrasal verb to introduce someone using a telephone Your wife
or remove something gradually The phoned when you were out. Can you
new telephone system will be phased in phone me at ten oclock tomorrow
over the next two months. evening? I need to phone our office in
PhD /pi
et di
/ noun an advanced de- New York. to phone for something to
PhD
gree from a university in an arts subject. make a phone call to ask for something
Full form Doctor of Philosophy (NOTE: He phoned for a taxi. to phone about
written after the name: Alec Smart PhD) something to make a phone call to speak
pheasant / fez()nt/ noun a large bright- about something He phoned about the
pheasant
ly coloured bird with a long tail, shot for message he had received.
sport and food phone back phrasal verb to reply by tel-
phenomenal /f nmn()l/ adj surpris- ephone; to call again The manager is
phenomenal
ing out can you phone back in about fifteen

phenomenon /f nmnn/ (plural
phenomenon
|
minutes? She phoned back three min-
phenomena) noun something very surpris- utes later to ask me my address.
phone book / fn bk/ noun a book
phone book
ing or unusual which happens and which

people cannot explain [~of] which gives the names of people and busi-
phew /fju
/ interj showing surprise or
phew
nesses in a town in alphabetical order, with
showing pleasure that you have avoided their addresses and phone numbers
phone call / fn k
l/ noun an occa-
phone call
something unpleasant
philanthropist /f lnrpst/ noun a
philanthropist
|
sion on which you speak to someone by
person who does good things to help peo- telephone
phonecard / fnk
d/ noun a plastic
phonecard
ple
philistine / flstan/ noun a person who card which you use to pay for calls on a
philistine
is not sympathetic to the arts He thinks public telephone

phone-in / fn n/ noun a radio show,
phone-in
people who dont appreciate modern jazz

are simply philistines. where members of the public telephone a
philosopher /f lsf/ noun a person speaker to ask questions or put their points
philosopher
who studies the meaning of human exist- of view

phone number / fn nmb / noun
phone number
ence; a person who teaches philosophy

philosophical /fl sfk()l/ adj 1. a series of numbers that you press on a tel-
philosophical
carefully calm in the face of problems to ephone to contact a particular person

phonetic /f netk/ adj referring to spo-
phonetic
take a philosophical attitude Its best to |
be philosophical about it and not get too ken sounds

upset. 2. referring to philosophy She was phonetics /f netks/ noun 1. the study
phonetics
involved in a philosophical argument. of the sounds of a language Every lin-

philosophy /f lsfi/ (plural philos- guist has to take a course in basic phonet-
philosophy
ophies) noun 1. the study of the meaning ics. 2. written signs which show how words
of human existence Hes studying philos- are pronounced Each word is followed by
ophy. 2. a general way of thinking My its phonetics which show you how the word
philosophy is that you should treat people should be pronounced.
as you would want them to treat you. phoney / fni/ adj not real, not what it
phoney
phlegm /flem/ noun an unpleasant thick seems to be He gave a phoney address in

phlegm
liquid substance which you get in the nose Paris. She made a lot of phoney claims in
and throat when you have a cold She her story in the newspaper. noun a person
sneezes a lot and coughs up phlegm from who is not what he or she seems to be
the throat. The cough mixture should Hes just an old phoney he doesnt have
loosen the phlegm on your chest. any experience of TV reporting at all.
phlegmatic /fle( mtk/ adj calm, not photo / ft/ (plural photos) noun a
phlegmatic photo
flustered photograph; a picture taken using a camera

photocopier 466
Heres a photo of the village in the snow. It is physically impossible to get a piano
Ive brought some holiday photos to into that little car.
show you. physical science /fzk()l sans/
physical science
photocopier / ftkpi/ noun a

photocopier
noun a science that deals with subjects

machine which makes photocopies such as physics or chemistry, rather than
photocopy / ftkpi/ noun (plu- with the science of living creatures
photocopy
ral photocopies) a copy of a document physician /f z()n/ noun US a doctor

physician
made by photographing it She made six physics / fzks / noun the study of
physics
photocopies of the contract. verb (photo- things such as heat, light and sound, and
copies, photocopying, photocopied) to the way in which they affect objects She
copy something and make a print of it teaches physics at the local college. Its a
Can you photocopy this letter, please? law of physics that things fall down to the
photogenic /ft denk/ adj who
photogenic
| ground and not up into the sky.

looks well in photographs physiology / fzi ldi/ noun the study
physiology
photograph / ft(r
f/ noun a pic-
photograph
of the way in which living things work

ture taken with a camera [~of] Ive found physiotherapy /fzi erpi/ noun a
physiotherapy
an old black and white photograph of my treatment for problems with joints, mus-
parents wedding. Shes trying to take a cles and nerves, e.g. by exercise, massage
photograph of the cat. He kept her pho- or heat treatment (NOTE: + physiotherapist
tograph in his wallet. Youll need two n)
passport photographs to get your visa. physique /f zi
k/ noun the shape of a
physique
verb (photographs, photographing, pho- persons body, especially the muscles

tographed) to take a picture with a camera
pianist / pi
nst/ noun a person who
pianist
She was photographing the flowers in the

plays the piano, especially as their job
public gardens.
piano /pi n/ noun a large musical
piano
photographer /f t(rf/ noun a per-

photographer |
|
instrument with black and white keys
son who takes photographs, especially as a which you press to make music Shes
job taking piano lessons. She played the pi-
photography /f t(rfi/ noun the
photography
|
ano while her brother sang.
practice of taking pictures on sensitive film piccolo / pkl/ (plural piccolos) noun
piccolo
with a camera a small wind instrument, like a little flute

photo opportunity / ft
photo opportunity
pick /pk/ (picks, picking, picked) verb

pick
ptju
nti/ noun an arranged situation 1. to choose something The captain picks
where a famous person can be filmed or the football team. She was picked to play
photographed by journalists the part of the victims mother. The Asso-
phrasal verb /frez()l v#
b/ noun a
phrasal verb
ciation has picked Paris for its next meet-

type of verb which has two or three parts, ing. 2. to take fruit or flowers from plants
which together have a meaning different Theyve picked all the strawberries.
from that of the main verb, such as tell Dont pick the flowers in the public gar-
off, look after and put up with dens. take your pick choose which one
phrase /frez/ noun a short sentence or
phrase
you want Weve got green, red and blue

group of words Try to translate the whole balloons just take your pick!
phrase, not just one word at a time. Im pick on phrasal verb to choose someone
trying to remember a phrase from Ham- to attack or criticise
let. pick out phrasal verb to choose some-
phrase book / frez bk/ noun a book
phrase book
thing or someone
of translations of common expressions pick up phrasal verb 1. to take some-
physical / fzk()l/ adj relating to the
physical
thing that is lying on a surface and lift it

human body The illness is mental rather in your hand She dropped her handker-
than physical. He has a strong physical chief and he picked it up. He bent down
attraction for her. to pick up a pound coin which he saw on
physical education /fzk()l edj
physical education
|
the pavement. I picked up some holiday
ke()n/ noun physical exercise taught as brochures at the travel agents. 2. to
part of the school curriculum. Abbrevia- learn something easily without being
tion PE taught She never took any piano les-
physically / fzkli/ adv 1. relating to
physically
sons, she just picked it up. He picked up

the body I find him physically very at- some German when he was working in
tractive. 2. relating to the laws of nature Germany. 3. to give someone a lift in a
467 pile
vehicle We will pick you up from the out on a piecemeal basis. They had
hotel. Can you send a taxi to pick us up bought all sorts of paintings piecemeal.
at seven oclock? 4. to meet someone by pie-chart / pa t
t/ noun a diagram
pie-chart
chance and start a relationship with them shaped like a circle with pieces cut out
Shes a girl he picked up in a bar. 5. to showing how something is divided up
arrest somebody He was picked up by pier /p/ noun 1. a structure built from
pier
the police at the airport. 6. to improve, to the land out into the sea, often with enter-
get better Shes been in bed for weeks, tainments on it If you go to Brighton, you
but is beginning to pick up. Business is must go on the pier. We went for a stroll
picking up after the Christmas holiday. along the pier. He spent his holiday fish-
picket / pkt/ noun 1. a worker who
picket
ing from the end of the pier. 2. one of the

refuses to go into work and stands at the tall strong structures holding up a bridge
gate of a factory to try to persuade other The boat collided with one of the piers of
workers to not go to work, because of a dis- the railway bridge. (NOTE: Do not confuse
agreement with their employers The with peer.)
pickets at the main gate tried to stop lorries pierce /ps/ (pierces, piercing, pierced)
pierce
from entering. 2. a group of pickets They verb to make a hole in something

organised a picket of the factory. 3. a per- piercing / ps/ adj (of a sound) un-
piercing
son who stands outside a place to protest pleasantly high and loud They suddenly
against what is going on inside Pickets heard a piercing cry. He let out a pierc-
stood outside the laboratory. ing yell.
pickle / pk()l/ (pickles, pickling, pick-
pickle
pig /p(/ noun a pink or black farm an-

pig
led) verb to preserve vegetables in vinegar imal with short legs kept for its meat (NOTE:
She bought some small onions for pick-
Fresh meat from a pig is called pork. Ba-
ling. con, gammon and ham are types of
pickpocket / pkpkt/ noun a person
pickpocket
smoked or cured meat from a pig.)

who steals things from peoples pockets pigeon / pdn / noun a fat grey bird
pigeon
pick-up / pk p/ noun a light van with an

pick-up
which is common in towns

open back They loaded all their gear into pigeonhole / pdnhl/ noun one of a
pigeonhole
the back of a pick-up. series of small square spaces in shelves,

picky / pki/ adj hard to please
picky
used to put away things such as papers or

picnic / pknk/ noun a meal eaten out- letters I looked in my pigeonhole to see if
picnic
doors away from home If its fine, lets go there were any messages for me. verb (pi-
for a picnic. They stopped by a wood, and geonholes, pigeonholing, pigeonholed)
had a picnic lunch. verb (picnics, pic- 1. to file letters or papers, often as the best
nicking, picnicked) to eat a picnic Peo- way to forget about them 2. to say that
ple were picnicking on the bank of the riv- someone or something belongs to a partic-
er. ular group or class As an artist he is not
pictorial /pk t
ril/ adj referring to pic-
pictorial
|
easy to pigeonhole.
pigeon-toed /pd()n td/ adj walk-
pigeon-toed
tures
picture / pkt/ noun a drawing, a
picture
ing with the toes turning in
piggyback / p(ibk/ noun carrying
piggyback
painting or a photograph She drew a pic-

ture of the house. The book has pages of someone on your back with his arms round
pictures of wild animals. She cut out the your neck
piglet / p(lt/ noun a little pig
piglet
picture of the President from the magazine.

picturesque /pkt resk/ adj (of plac- pigment / p(mnt/ noun a substance
picturesque pigment
es) attractive, like in a picture which colours

pie /pa/ noun meat or fruit cooked in a pigmentation /p(men te()n/ noun
pie pigmentation
pastry case For pudding, theres apple the colouring of the skin
pie and ice cream. If were going on a pigsty / p(sta/ (plural pigsties) noun 1.
pigsty
picnic, Ill buy a big pork pie. a little building where a pig is kept 2. an
piece /pi
s/ noun a bit of something or untidy place
piece
one of a number of similar things [~of] pike /pak/ noun a large fish which lives in
pike
Would you like another piece of cake? I rivers and lakes

need two pieces of black cloth. pile / pal/ noun a large mass of things
pile
piecemeal / pi
smi
l/ adj, adv separate-
piecemeal
[~of] Look at that pile of washing. The

ly, done bit by bit The work was carried pile of plates crashed onto the floor. The
pile-up 468
wind blew piles of dead leaves into the make his or her mind up Im trying to
road. He was carrying a huge pile of pin the chairman down to make a deci-
books. sion. Shes very vague about dates
pile-up / pal p/ noun a serious accident its difficult to pin her down.
pile-up
involving a series of vehicles which have pinball / pnb

l/ noun an indoor game
pinball
crashed into each other (informal) played on a sloping electronic table in

pilfer / plf/ (pilfers, pilfering, pilfered) which a player makes a ball move quickly
pilfer
verb to steal small objects or small amounts past obstacles to score points
of money from the office or shop where pinch /pnt/ noun 1. the action of
pinch
you work squeezing something between your finger

pilgrim / pl(rm/ noun a person who and thumb He gave her arm a pinch. 2. a
pilgrim
goes to visit a holy place small quantity of something held between

pilgrimage / pl(rmd/ noun 1. a jour- finger and thumb Add a pinch of salt to
pilgrimage
ney to an important religious place for reli- the boiling water. verb (pinches, pinch-
gious reasons The church is organising a ing, pinched) 1. to squeeze something
pilgrimage to Rome in April. All Muslims tightly, using the finger and thumb Ow!
should make the pilgrimage to Mecca at Youre pinching me! 2. to steal something,
least once. 2. a journey to any important especially something that is not very valu-
place, especially one connected with a fa- able (informal) Someones pinched my
mous person Many tourists make the pil- pen!
pine /pan/ noun 1. pine (tree) a type of
pine
grimage to Dickens house in London.

pill /pl/ noun medicine in solid form, evergreen tree with needle-shaped leaves
pill
usually in a small round shape [~for] Take They planted a row of pines along the edge
two pills before breakfast. of the field. 2. wood from a pine tree
pillage / pld/ (pillages, pillaging, pil-
pillage
Weve bought a pine table for the kitchen.
laged) verb to damage buildings and steal There are pine cupboards in the chil-
goods from a place, especially in a war drens bedroom. verb to feel sad because
The invaders pillaged the monastery build- you do not have something any more [~for]
ings, then set fire to them. Shes miserable because shes pining for
pillar / pl/ noun a strong tall object

pillar
her cat.
pineapple / panp()l/ noun a large
pineapple
which supports part of a building

pillow / pl / noun a cloth bag full of
pillow
sweet tropical fruit, with stiff leaves with
soft material which you put your head on in sharp points on top
pine cone / pan kn/ noun the hard
pine cone
bed
pilot / palt/ noun a person who flies
pilot
case containing the fruit of a pine tree
ping /p/ (pings, pinging, pinged) verb
ping
a plane or other aircraft Hes training to

be an airline pilot. Hes a helicopter pilot to make a ping A little bell pings when
for an oil company. the oven reaches the right temperature.
pimp /pmp/ noun a man who makes (NOTE: + ping n)
pimp
pink /pk/ adj pale red or flesh col-

pink
money by finding customers for prostitutes

The pimps are supposed to protect the oured Your cheeks look pink and healthy
girls if customers turn nasty. (NOTE: + pimp now. noun a pale red colour The bright
v) pink of those flowers shows clearly across
pimple / pmpl/ noun a small lump on
pimple
the garden.
pinkish adj of a colour that is close to
pinkish
the surface of the skin, containing pus

pin /pn/ noun a small thin sharp metal pink
pin
pinnacle / pnk()l/ noun 1. the highest

pinnacle
object with a round piece at the top, used

for fastening things such as pieces of cloth point of someones career By becoming
or paper She fastened the ribbons to her Lord Chief Justice he reached the pinnacle
dress with a pin before sewing them on. of his legal career. 2. the highest point of a
verb (pins, pinning, pinned) to attach pointed rock A narrow ridge connected
something with a pin She pinned up a no- the two pinnacles. 3. a tall, thin stone tower
tice about the meeting. He pinned her looking down on the domes and pinna-
photograph on the wall. He pinned the cles of the old Italian city
calendar to the wall by his desk. pinpoint / pnpnt/ (pinpoints, pin-
pinpoint
pin down phrasal verb to pin some- pointing, pinpointed) verb to show exactly
one down to get someone to say what he where something is We can pinpoint the
or she really thinks, to get someone to ships exact position by radar.
469 pity
pinstripe / pnstrap/ noun a thin light make an illegal copy of something such as
pinstripe
line on a dark cloth a book, disk or design The designs for the
pint /pant/ noun a liquid measure, new dress collection were pirated in the
pint
equal to 0.568 of a litre Far East. I found a pirated copy of my

pin-up / pn p/ noun a picture of a per-
pin-up
book on sale in a street market.
Pisces / pasi
z/ noun one of the signs of
Pisces
son, especially one of a sexually attractive

person or in which the person is wearing the zodiac, shaped like fish, covering the
very few clothes period 19th February to 20th March
pioneer /pa n/ noun 1. a person who piss off phrasal verb 1. to leave some-
pioneer
is among the first to try to do something where (offensive slang) 2. to annoy some-
the pioneers in the field of laser surgery one piss off! go away!
He was one of the pioneers of radar. 2. a pistol / pstl/ noun a small gun which is
pistol
person who is among the first to discover held in the hand

or settle in a new land The first pioneers piston / pstn / noun (in an engine) a
piston
settled in this valley in about 1860. verb round flat piece of metal which moves up
(pioneers, pioneering, pioneered) to be and down in a cylinder
the first to do something The company pit /pt/ noun 1. a deep dark hole in the
pit
pioneered developments in the field of elec- ground They dug a pit to bury the rub-
tronics. bish. 2. a mine; a place where substances
pious / pas/ adj showing great respect
pious
such as coal are dug out of the ground My

for religion grandfather spent his whole life working
pip /pp/ noun a small seed in some fruits
pip
down a pit.
Take out all the pips when you cut up the
pitch /pt/ noun 1. the ground on
pitch
grapefruit. (NOTE: Fruits such as apples, which a game is played [~of] Ill time you,
pears, oranges and lemons all have pips.) if you run round the football pitch. The
pipe /pap/ noun 1. a tube, especially
pipe
pitch is too wet to play on. He dribbled

one that carries a liquid or a gas from one the ball the whole length of the pitch and
place to another Hes clearing a blocked scored. 2. the level of a period of anger or
pipe in the kitchen. The water came out excitement [~of] Excitement was at fever
of the hole in the pipe. drainpipe 2. a tube pitch. verb (pitches, pitching, pitched)
for smoking tobacco, with a small bowl at to put up a tent [~for/~with] They pitched
one end in which the tobacco burns their tent in a field by the beach.
pipeline / paplan/ noun a very large
pipeline
pitcher / pt/ noun 1. a large container

pitcher
tube for carrying oil, natural gas, etc., over for liquids, with a handle and a specially
long distances An oil pipeline crosses the shaped part on the top edge for pouring the
desert. in the pipeline being worked on, liquid out My aunt brought out a pitcher
coming The company has a series of new of lemonade. 2. a person who throws the
products in the pipeline. She has two new ball in baseball The Dodgers are without
novels in the pipeline. their regular pitcher this afternoon.
piping / pap/ noun tubes in general
piping
pitfall / ptf
l/ noun a hidden danger
pitfall
The old lead piping was removed and re-

pithy / pi/ adj full of serious meaning
pithy
placed with plastic.

He made some pithy remarks.
piping hot /pap ht/ adv extremely
piping hot
pitiful / ptf()l/ adj 1. making you feel

pitiful
hot Porridge should be served piping hot.

sorry for someone or something 2. not at all
piqued /pi
kd/ adj feeling annoyed or an-
piqued
good His attempts at singing were pitiful.

gry about something
pitiless / ptls/ adj not showing any
pitiless
piracy / parsi/ noun 1. the crime of at-

piracy
tacking ships at sea and stealing what is in pity His voice was harsh and pitiless.
pitta bread / pt bred/ noun a type of
pitta bread
them Piracy is on the increase in the

South China Sea. 2. the illegal copying of flat bread
pittance / pt()ns/ noun a very low
pittance
things such as books, records or computer

programs The government is trying to amount that someone earns
stamp out video piracy. pitted / ptd/ adj with the stones re-
pitted
piranha /p r
n/ noun a small tropical moved
piranha
fish which attacks animals, including man pity / pti/ noun a feeling of sympathy
pity
pirate / part/ noun a person who makes

pirate
for someone who is in a bad situation

illegal copies of things such as books or [~about] Have you no pity for the home-
videos verb (pirates, pirating, pirated) to less? verb (pities, pitying, pitied) to feel
pivot 470
sympathy for someone I pity those chil- ants in the garden. verb (plagues, plagu-
dren. to take pity on someone to feel ing, plagued) to annoy someone or cause
sorry for someone At last someone took them problems We were plagued with
pity on her and showed her how to work wasps last summer. She keeps plaguing
the machine. me with silly questions.
pivot / pvt/ noun a point on which plaice /ples/ (plural same) noun a com-
pivot plaice
something turns mon flat sea fish

pivotal / pvt()l/ adj central, of great plaid /pld/ noun a type of cloth which
pivotal plaid
importance has a pattern of different coloured lines on

pixel / pksl/ noun a single point on a it He wore plaid trousers.
pixel
computer display plain /plen/ adj 1. simple and not com-

plain
pizza / pi
ts/ noun an Italian food, plicated We put plain wallpaper in the
pizza
consisting of a flat round piece of bread dining room. The outside is decorated
cooked with things such as cheese, toma- with leaves and flowers, but the inside is
toes and onions on top quite plain. 2. easy to understand The in-
placard / plk
d/ noun 1. a notice on a structions are written in plain English. 3.
placard
large piece of thin board The protesters obvious Its perfectly plain what he
carried placards bearing anti-government wants. We made it plain to them that this
slogans. 2. a large notice, picture or adver- was our final offer. 4. a more polite word
tisement stuck on a wall Placards ap- than "unattractive", used for describing a
peared in shop windows announcing that person His two daughters are rather
the circus was coming to town. plain. noun a flat area of country a
placate /pl ket/ (placates, placating, broad plain bordered by mountains (NOTE:
placate
placated) verb to calm someone, to make Do not confuse with plane.)

plain chocolate /plen tklt/ noun a
plain chocolate
someone less angry

place /ples/ noun 1. where something dark bitter chocolate
place
plainclothes / plenklz/ adj wear-

plainclothes
is, or where something happens [~for/~on]

We found a nice place for a picnic. 2. ing ordinary clothes, not a uniform
where something is usually kept [~for/~on] plainly / plenli/ adv 1. in a way that is
plainly
Make sure you put the file back in the easy to see Hes plainly bored by the
right place. 3. a seat [~for/~on] Im keep- French lesson. Plainly, the plan is not
ing this place for my sister. Im sorry, but working. 2. clearly It is plainly visible
this place has been taken. 4. a position in a from here. The sounds of a violent argu-
race The British runners are in the first ment could be heard plainly from behind
three places. verb (places, placing, the door. 3. without much decoration a
placed) to put something somewhere The plainly decorated room She always
waitress placed the teapot on the table. dresses very plainly.
Please place the envelope in the box. all plaintiff / plentf/ noun a person who
plaintiff
over the place everywhere There were starts a legal action against someone in the
dead leaves lying all over the place. to civil courts (dated) (NOTE: This is an old
change places with someone to take each term; it has now been replaced by claimant.
others seat If you cant see the screen, The other party in an action is the defend-
change places with me. ant.)
placebo /pl si
b/ (plural placebos or plaintive / plentv/ adj (of sounds) sad
placebo
plaintive
|
placeboes) noun a pill which appears to be and complaining

a drug, but has no medicine in it plait /plt/ (plaits, plaiting, plaited) verb
plait
placement / plesmnt/ noun the action

placement
to form someones hair into a plait My

of finding a job for someone mother used to plait my hair before I went
placid / plsd/ adj calm
placid
to school in the morning.

plagiarise / pledraz/ (plagiarises, plan /pln/ noun 1. an organised way
plagiarise
plan
plagiarising, plagiarised), plagiarize verb of doing things [~for] He made a plan to

to copy the work of another author and pre- get up earlier in future. She drew up
tend it is your own plans for the village fair. 2. a drawing of
plagiarism / pledrz()m/ noun cop-
plagiarism
the way something is arranged [~for]

ying another persons written work and Here are the plans for the kitchen. The
passing it off as your own fire exits are shown on the plan of the of-
plague /ple(/ noun a great quantity of
plague
fice. verb (plans, planning, planned) 1.

unpleasant things Weve had a plague of to arrange how you are going to do some-
471 platform
thing Shes busy planning her holiday in dental floss every morning to control
Greece. 2. to intend to do something They plaque.
are planning to move to London next plasma / plzm/ noun a thin yellow liq-
plasma
month. We werent planning to go on hol- uid which makes up the main part of blood
iday this year. I plan to take the 5 oclock plasma screen / plzm skri
n/ noun
plasma screen
flight to New York. according to plan in a very thin television or computer screen
the way it was arranged The party went which shows extremely clear images
off according to plan.
plaster / pl
st/ noun 1. a mixture of
plaster
plane /plen/ noun 1. an aircraft with

plane
sand and a white substance called lime,

wings When is the next plane for Glas- which is mixed with water and used for
gow? How are you getting to Paris?
Were going by plane. Dont panic, covering the inside walls of houses The
flat hasnt been decorated yet and there is
youve got plenty of time to catch your
plane. He was stuck in a traffic jam and still bare plaster in most of the rooms. 2. a
white substance which becomes hard when
missed his plane. 2. a tool with a sharp it dries, used to cover a broken arm or leg
blade for making wood smooth He
smoothed off the rough edges with a plane. and hold it in place He had an accident
skiing and now has his leg in plaster. 3.
planet / plnt/ noun 1. one of the ob-
planet
sticking plaster adhesive tape used for

jects in space which move round the Sun covering small wounds She put a piece of
Is there life on any of the planets? Earth sticking plaster on my cut.
is the third planet from the Sun. 2. the plan-
plastic / plstk/ noun a strong mate-
plastic
et the planet Earth an environmental dis-

aster which could affect the whole planet rial made from chemicals, used to make
many things We take plastic plates when
plank /plk/ noun a long flat piece of
plank
we go to the beach. The supermarket

wood used in building gives you plastic bags to put your shopping
plankton / plktn / plural noun very
plankton
in. We cover our garden furniture with

small animals and plants which live and plastic sheets when it rains. (NOTE: no plu-
move about slowly in the sea, and are the ral: a bowl made of plastic)
food of large animals plastic surgery /plstk s#
dri/
plastic surgery
planner / pln/ noun a person who

planner
noun a medical treatment to repair dam-

draws up plans The planners made the aged parts of the body
car park too small. COMMENT: Plastic surgery is used espe-
planning / pln/ noun the act or
planning
cially to treat accident victims or people

practice of making plans The trip will who have suffered burns. When surgery
need very careful planning. The project is is used simply to improve your appear-
still in the planning stage. ance in some way, it is called cosmetic
surgery.
plant /pl
nt/ noun 1. a living thing
plant
plate /plet/ noun 1. a flat round dish

plate
which grows in the ground and has leaves,

a stem and roots He planted a row of cab- for putting food on Put one pie on each
bage plants. Sunflower plants grow very plate. Pass all the plates down to the end
tall. 2. a large factory They are planning of the table. 2. a flat piece of something
to build a car plant near the river. verb such as metal or glass The dentist has a
(plants, planting, planted) to put a plant in brass plate on his door.
plateau / plt/ (plural plateaus or pla-
plateau
the ground Weve planted two pear trees

and a peach tree in the garden. teaux) noun 1. an area of high flat land
plantation /pl
n te()n/ noun 1. an
plantation
|
the high plateau region of southern Argen-
area of trees planted as a crop a planta- tina The town lies on a plateau about
tion of pines 2. a tropical farm growing a 2000 feet above sea level. 2. the highest
particular crop a coffee plantation a point that will be reached House prices
rubber plantation seem to have reached a plateau.
plateful / pletfl/ noun the quantity held
plateful
plaque /plk, pl
k/ noun 1. a flat plate
plaque
made of a hard substance such as stone or by a plate

platform / pltf
m/ noun 1. a high
platform
metal and with some writing on the surface

They put up a plaque to commemorate flat structure by the side of the railway
the soldiers who died. The Princess un- lines at a station, to help passengers get on
veiled a plaque commemorating her visit or off the trains easily The train for Liv-
and the opening of the new library. 2. a erpool will leave from platform 10. 2. a
substance which forms on the teeth Use high wooden floor for speakers to speak
platinum 472
from The main speakers sat in a row on player / ple/ noun 1. a person who
player
the platform. plays a game You only need two players

platinum / pltnm/ noun a valuable for chess. Rugby players have to be fit.
platinum
metal which does not corrode, and is used Four of the players in the opposing team
in jewellery are ill. 2. a person who plays a musical in-
platitude / plttju
d/ noun a remark
platitude
strument a famous horn player
playful / plef()l/ adj lively and enjoying
playful
considered to be ordinary and of little in-

terest playing
platonic /pl tnk/ adj (of a relationship) playground / ple(rand/ noun a place,
playground
platonic
which is not sexual at a school or in a public area, where chil-

platoon /pl tu
n/ noun a small group of
platoon
|
dren can play
playgroup / ple(ru
p/ noun a group of
playgroup
soldiers with a lieutenant in charge, part of

a company small children who play together, looked
platter / plt / noun 1. a large flat serv-
platter
after by a teacher
playing field / ple fi
ld/ noun a large
playing field
ing plate A huge joint of meat was car-

ried in on a platter. 2. a large plate of pre- field where sports can be played
playmate / plemet/ noun a child who
playmate
pared food, arranged in an attractive way |
We ordered a seafood platter. regularly plays with another

plausible / pl
zb()l/ adj 1. which playoff / plef/ noun a game to decide
plausible playoff
sounds as though it could be correct or true the final result, played between two players
He couldnt produce any plausible ex- or teams that have the same score
cuse to explain why he was in the ware- playroom / pleru
m/ noun a room in
playroom
house. 2. good at telling lies so that people which children can play
believe what you say He sounds very plaything / ple/ noun 1. something
plaything
plausible over the phone. or someone that a person uses simply for
play /ple/ noun a story which is acted
play
his own pleasure Luxury yachts are the

in a theatre or on TV Did you see the play playthings of the rich. 2. a toy for a child to
on TV last night? We went to the National play with (old) I keep all the childrens
Theatre to see the new play. Two of playthings in this cupboard.
Shakespeares plays are on the list for the playtime / pletam/ noun a time in
playtime
English exam. verb (plays, playing, school when children can play
played) 1. to take part in a game
playwright / plerat/ noun a person
playwright
[~for/~against/~with] He plays rugby for

the university. Have you ever played who writes plays
Plc abbr public limited company
Plc
against him before? I played tennis with

plea /pli
/ noun 1. an answer to a charge in
plea
the children. 2. to make music on a musical

instrument or to put a recording on a ma- court 2. a request
chine such as a CD player He cant play plead /pli
d/ (pleads, pleading, pleaded)
plead
the violin very well. Let me play you my verb 1. to answer a charge in a law court 2.
new CD. 3. to enjoy yourself [~with] He to give an excuse 3. to try to change some-
doesnt like playing with other children. ones mind by asking again and again
When youve finished your lesson you can [~with] I pleaded with her not to go.
go out to play.
pleasant / plez()nt/ adj enjoyable or
pleasant
play back phrasal verb to listen to attractive What a pleasant garden!

something which you have just recorded How pleasant it is to sit here under the
play down phrasal verb to make some- trees!
thing seem less important please /pli
z/ interj used when you are
please
play off phrasal verb to play someone making a polite request or accepting an of-
off against someone to try to benefit by fer Can you close the window, please?
making two people compete against each Please sit down. Can I have a ham sand-
other Children try to get what they want wich, please? Do you want some more
by playing their parents off against each tea? Yes, please! Compare thank you
other. verb (pleases, pleasing, pleased) to make
play up phrasal verb to cause trouble someone happy or satisfied Shes not dif-
playboy / pleb/ noun a rich man who
playboy
ficult to please. please yourself do as

spends his time enjoying himself rather you like Shall I take the red one or the
than working green one? Please yourself.
473 plumb
pleased /pli
zd/ adj happy plot /plt/ noun 1. a small area of land,
pleased plot
Were
very pleased with our new house. Im e.g. used for building or for growing vege-
pleased to hear youre feeling better. He tables They own a plot of land next to the
wasnt pleased when he heard his exam re- river. The plot isnt big enough to build a
sults. house on. 2. the basic story of a book, play
pleasing / pli
z/ adj which pleases or film The novel has a complicated plot.
pleasing
pleasurable / ple()rb()l/ adj pleas- I wont tell you the plot of the film I
pleasurable
ant, which gives pleasure dont want to spoil it for you. 3. a secret and
pleasure / ple/ noun a pleasant feel-
pleasure
evil plan They hatched a plot to hold up
ing His greatest pleasure is sitting by the the security van.
plough /pla/ noun a farm machine for
plough
river. It gives me great pleasure to be

able to visit you today. with pleasure turning over soil The plough is pulled by
used for saying that you are happy to do a tractor. (NOTE: The US spelling is plow.)
something for someone Ill do the job plough on verb to continue doing some-
with pleasure. thing difficult If I want to finish today
plebiscite / plebsat / noun a type of
plebiscite
Id better plough on.
vote, where the whole population of a plough through / pla n/ verb to con-
town, region or country is asked to vote to tinue doing something unpleasant until it
decide a particular issue is finished It took me four hours to
pledge / pled/ (pledges, pledging,
pledge
plough through the pile of complaints.
plow /pla/ noun, verb US spelling of
plow
pledged) verb 1. to promise something for-

mally 2. to give something as a pledge plough
ploy /pl/ noun a clever trick
ploy
when borrowing money

plentiful / plentf()l/ adj in large quan- pluck /plk/ (plucks, plucking,
pluck
plentiful
tities plucked) verb 1. to pull out feathers from a

plenty / plenti / noun a large quantity
plenty
bird to pluck a chicken Ask the butcher
Youve got plenty of time to catch the train. to pluck the pheasants for you. 2. to pull
Plenty of people complain about the bus and let go of the strings of a guitar or other
service. Have you got enough bread? musical instrument, in order to make a
Yes, weve got plenty. (NOTE: no plural) sound He was gently plucking the strings
plight /plat/ noun a bad situation or con-
plight
of his guitar.
plucky / plki/ (pluckier, pluckiest) adj
plucky
dition (dated) You must pity the plight of

the people made homeless by the war. brave
plug /pl(/ noun 1. a flat round rubber
plug
plod / pld/ (plods, plodding, plodded)

plod
verb 1. to walk slowly and with heavy steps object which covers the hole in a bath or
The camels plodded across the desert. sink Can you call reception and tell them
He plodded round the department stores theres no plug in the bath? She pulled
but didnt find anything he wanted. 2. to out the plug and let the water drain away.
work steadily The police plodded slowly 2. an object attached to the end of a wire,
through a list of people who had to be in- which you push into a hole in the wall to
terviewed. make a piece of electrical equipment work
The vacuum cleaner is supplied with a
plonk /plk/ noun cheap wine (informal)
plonk
I bought a bottle of Spanish plonk from

plug.
the supermarket. verb (plonks, plonking, plug in phrasal verb to connect a piece
plonked) to put something down in a care- of electrical equipment to an electricity
less way The waiter just plonked the supply by pushing the plug into a hole in
plates down in front of us and went off. A the wall The computer wasnt plugged
big fat man plonked himself down in the in thats why it wouldnt work.
plughole / pl(hl/ noun a hole in a
plughole
seat next to me and went to sleep.

plop /plp/ noun the noise made by some-
plop
bath or washbasin through which the dirty
thing falling into water There was a little water runs away
plum /plm/ noun a gold, red or purple
plum
plop as the frog jumped into the lake.

verb (plops, plopping, plopped) 1. to fruit with a smooth skin and a large stone
make a noise like a stone falling into water She bought a pound of plums to make a pie.
plumage / plu
md/ noun feathers on a
plumage
2. to sit down heavily; to put something

down She plopped herself down on the bird
plumb (plumbs, plumbing, plumbed)
plumb
settee. He plopped the letter into the pil-

lar box. verb 1. to measure the depth of water by us-
plumber 474
ing a plumb line to plumb the oceans plywood / plawd/ noun a sheet of
plywood
depths 2. to try to understand something wood made of several thin layers of wood
fully Scientists are still trying to plumb stuck together
the mysteries of the beginning of the uni- PM abbr prime minister, post mortem
PM
verse. p.m. /pi
em/ adv in the afternoon, af-
p.m.
plumber / plm/ noun a person whose

plumber
ter midday The exhibition is open from

job is to install or repair things such as wa- 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. If you phone New
ter pipes and heating systems York after 6 p.m. the calls are at a cheaper
plumbing / plm / noun a system of
plumbing
rate. (NOTE: The US spelling is P.M. a.m. is

water pipes in a house usually used to show the exact hour and the
plume /plu
m/ noun 1. a long feather, es-
plume
word oclock is left out. The US spelling is

pecially one worn in a hat a hat with os- A.M.)
trich plumes 2. a long cloud of smoke from PMS /pi
em es/ abbr premenstrual syn-
PMS
a factory chimney or volcano A plume of drome

smoke rose from the burning oil depot. PMT abbr premenstrual tension
PMT
plummet / plmt/ (plummets, plum-

plummet
pneumonia /nju
mni/ noun an ill-
pneumonia
meting, plummeted) verb to fall sharply ness caused by inflammation of a lung,

plump /plmp/ adj (of a person) slightly
plump
where the lung becomes filled with fluid

fat in an attractive way Hes a short man PO abbr post office
PO
with a plump red face. Is she pregnant or

poach /pt/ (poaches, poaching,
poach
is she just plumper than she was?

poached) verb to persuade an employee to
plunder / plnd/ (plunders, plunder-
plunder
leave his or her job and work for another

ing, plundered) verb to take or use some-
thing that belongs to someone else employer They poached our best sales-
man.
plunge /plnd/ (plunges, plunging,
plunge
poacher / pt/ noun a person who

poacher
plunged) verb 1. to throw yourself into wa-

ter He plunged into the river to rescue the catches game illegally
pocket / pkt/ noun one of several lit-
pocket
little boy. 2. to fall sharply Share prices

plunged on the news of the devaluation. tle bags sewn into the inside of a piece of
plural / plrl/ adj, noun (in grammar)
plural
clothing such as a coat, in which you can
(which is) the form of a word showing that keep things, e.g. money, handkerchief or
there is more than one Does govern- keys She looked in all her pockets but
ment take a singular or plural verb? couldnt find her keys. He was leaning
Whats the plural of mouse? The verb against a fence with his hands in his pock-
should be in the plural after programs. ets.
pocketful / pktfl/ noun an amount
pocketful
plus /pls/ prep 1. added to His sala-

plus
ry plus bonus comes to more than 30,000. contained in a pocket

pocket money / pkt mni/ noun
pocket money
(NOTE: In calculations plus is usually shown

by the sign + : 10 + 4 = 14: say ten plus four money which parents give to their children
equals fourteen.) 2. more than houses each week
pod /pd/ noun a long green case in which
pod
valued at 200,000 plus

plush /pl/ adj luxurious (informal) some small vegetables such as peas or
plush

The cars got a very plush interior. They beans grow Mangetout peas are eaten in
always stay at the plushest hotel they can their pods.
podiatrist /p datrst/ noun a person
podiatrist
find. |
plus sign / pls san/ noun a sign (+) who looks after peoples feet and diseases
plus sign
meaning more than of the feet

plutonium /plu
tnim/ noun a radio- podium / pdim/ noun a small raised
plutonium podium
active element, also used to produce nucle- platform, e.g. for winning sportsmen or or-
ar power chestral conductors, to stand on
ply /pla/ (plies, plying, plied) verb to go poem / pm/ noun a piece of writing
ply poem
backwards and forwards The little ferry with words carefully chosen to sound at-
plies between Birkenhead and Liverpool. tractive or interesting, set out in lines usu-
to ply someone with something to keep ally of a regular length which sometimes
giving someone something to eat, drink, end in words which sound the same He
etc They plied the boys with drink and wrote a long poem about an old sailor.
cigarettes, and then started asking them The poem about the First World War was
questions. set to music by Britten.
475 police
poet / pt/ noun a person who writes pointed / pntd/ adj with a sharp
poet pointed
poems point at one end a pointed stick

pointer / pnt/ noun 1. something
pointer
poetry / ptri/ noun poems in gener-

poetry
al Reading poetry makes me cry. This is which points The pointer moved quickly
a good example of German poetry. (NOTE: around the dial. He used a pointer to
no plural) show us our positions on the wall map. 2. a
piece of advice or information She asked
poignant / pnjnt/ adj making you sad
poignant
her teacher for some pointers to help her

point /pnt/ noun 1. a sharp end of
point
with her project.

something long The point of my pencil pointless / pntls/ adj with no sense
pointless
has broken. The stick has a very sharp poise /pz/ noun balance, a graceful way
poise
point. 2. a particular place The path led of holding your head or of standing upright
us for miles through the woods and in the She has the grace and poise of a ballet
end we came back to the point where we dancer.
started from. We had reached a point poison / pz()n/ noun a substance
poison
2,000m above sea level. 3. a particular mo- which kills you or makes you ill if it is
ment in time From that point on, things swallowed or if it gets into the blood
began to change. At what point did you Theres enough poison in this bottle to kill
decide to resign? at that point at that the whole town. Dont drink that its
time All the lights went off at that point. poison.
at this point in time at this particular poisoning / pz()n/ noun an oc-
poisoning
moment At this point in time, it is not casion when someone is made ill or killed
possible for me to answer reporters ques- by something poisonous
tions. 4. a meaning or reason [/~in] The poisonous / pz()ns/ adj able to
poisonous
main point of the meeting is to see how we kill or harm people or animals with poison
can continue to run the centre without a poke /pk/ noun a quick push with a
poke
grant. I see your point I see what you finger or something sharp He got a poke
mean I see your point, but there are other in the eye from someones umbrella. verb
factors to be considered. I cant see the (pokes, poking, poked) to push something
point of doing that. 5. a score in a game or someone quickly with a finger or with
Their team scored three points. In rugby, something sharp He poked the heap with
a try counts as five points. verb (points, his stick. to poke fun at someone or
pointing, pointed) to aim a gun or your fin- something to laugh at someone or some-
ger at something [~at/~to] Its rude to thing in an unkind way He poked fun at
point at people. Dont point that gun at the maths teacher. She poked fun at his
me it might go off. The guide pointed to odd hat.
the map to show where we were. its be- poker / pk/ noun 1. a long metal rod
poker
side the point its got nothing to do with for stirring up a fire She stirred the dying
the main subject Whether or not the coat fire with the poker. 2. a card game in which
matches your hat is beside the point its the players gamble on the cards in their
simply too big for you. on the point of hands, at the same time trying to hide their
doing something just about to do some- position from the other players They
thing I was on the point of phoning you. played poker until 3 oclock in the morn-
point out phrasal verb 1. to show ing. He won 25 at poker.
something The tour guide will point out poky / pki/ adj cramped or small
poky
the main things to see in the town. The They have a poky little flat in the centre of
report points out the mistakes made by London.
the agency over the last few years. 2. to polar / pl/ adj referring to the North
polar
give a point of view She pointed out Pole or the South Pole
that the children in her class were better pole /pl/ noun a long wooden or met-
pole
behaved than in previous years. al stick

point up phrasal verb to make something Pole /pl/ noun a person from Poland
Pole
seem very obvious polemic /p lemk / noun 1. a fierce writ-

polemic
point-blank /pnt blk/ adv sharp-

point-blank
ten or spoken attack 2. a style of making

ly, directly and rudely I told him point- fierce attacks His very effective use of po-
blank that his work was no good. at lemic in his speeches.
point-blank range at very close range He police /p li
s/ noun the people whose
police
was shot at point-blank range. job is to control traffic, to try to stop crime
police constable 476

and to catch criminals The police are polite /p lat/ (politer, politest) adj
polite
looking for the driver of the car. The po- pleasant towards other people, not rude
lice emergency number is 999. Call the Sales staff should be polite to customers.
police Ive just seen someone drive off in politely /p latli/ adv in a polite way
politely
my car. Ask the lady politely if you can have a

/p li
s
police constable
police constable | sweetie.

knstb()l/ noun an ordinary member of politeness /p latns/ noun the prac-
politeness
the police (NOTE: also used as a title before tice of being polite
a name: Police Constable John Smith; usu- political /p ltk()l/ adj referring to
political
ally shortened to PC or WPC for women po- government or to party politics I dont
lice constables: PC John Smith) want to get involved in a political argu-
police force /p li
s f
s/ noun the
police force
| ment. She gave up her political career

group of police in a certain area when she had the children.
policeman /p li
smn, p li
swmn/ political prisoner /pltk()l
political prisoner
policeman
|
| |
(plural policemen) noun a man who is an prz()n/ noun a person kept in prison
ordinary member of the police because he or she is an opponent of the po-
police officer /p li
s fs/ noun a
police officer
litical party in power
political science /pltk()l sans/
|
political science
member of the police |
noun the study of governments and their

police state /p li
s stet/ noun a coun-
police state
|
use of political power
try whose government controls the free-
politician /pl t()n/ noun a per-
politician
dom of the people through the police |
son who works in politics, especially a

police station /p li
s ste()n/
police station
|
member of parliament Politicians from
noun a building with the offices of a partic- all parties have welcomed the report.
ular local police force politics / pltks/ plural noun the ide-
politics
policewoman /p li
swmn/ (plural
policewoman
|
as and methods used in governing a coun-
policewomen) noun a woman who is an or- try noun the study of how countries are
dinary member of the police governed He studied politics and eco-
policy / plsi/ (plural policies) noun nomics at university. (NOTE: takes a singu-
policy
decisions on the general way of doing lar verb)

something [~on] government policy on polka / plk/ noun a type of lively dance
polka
wages or government wages policy It is poll /pl/ noun 1. a vote or the act of
poll
not our policy to give details of employees voting We are still waiting for the results
over the phone. People voted Labour be- of yesterdays poll. A poll of factory
cause they liked their policies. workers showed that more than 50% sup-
polio / pli/ noun an illness caused by
polio
ported the unions demands. 2. the number

a virus which can cause muscles to stop of votes cast in an election The poll was
working She caught polio when she was lower than usual only 35% of the voters
ten years old. bothered to vote.
polish / pl/ noun a substance used pollen / pln/ noun a yellow powder on
pollen
polish
to make things shiny Wash the car thor- the stamens of a flower which touches part
oughly before you put the polish on. verb of a female flower and so creates seeds
pollen count / pln kant/ noun a
pollen count
(polishes, polishing, polished) to rub

something in order to make it shiny He number showing the amount of pollen in
polished his shoes until they shone. the air, which can cause hay fever
polling station / pl ste()n/
polling station
polish off phrasal verb 1. to finish off a

job quickly He polished off his essay in noun a place where you vote in an election,
half an hour. 2. to eat a meal quickly usually in a public building such as a li-
They polished off the scrambled eggs and brary or school
then asked for baked beans. pollster / plst/ noun an expert in un-
pollster
polish up phrasal verb to improve a skill derstanding what polls mean

Polish / pl/ adj relating to Poland pollutant /p lu
t()nt / noun a substance
Polish pollutant
The Polish Army joined in the manoeu- which pollutes

pollute /p lu
t/ (pollutes, polluting,
pollute
vres. noun the language spoken in Poland |
I know three words of Polish. You will polluted) verb to make the environment
need an English-Polish phrase book if dirty by discharging harmful substances
youre visiting Warsaw. into it
477 popular
polluted /p lu
td/ adj made dirty pool /pu
l/ noun 1. a small lake
polluted pool
| He
pollution /p lu
()n/ noun 1. the dived in and swam across the mountain
pollution
process of making the environment dirty pool. We looked for shrimps in the rock
Pollution of the atmosphere has increased pools. 2. a large bath of water for swim-
over the last 50 years. 2. chemicals and ming in an outdoor pool a heated pool
other substances that harm people and the We have a little swimming pool in the
environment It took six months to clean garden. He swam two lengths of the pool.
up the oil pollution on the beaches. The 3. a game rather like snooker, where you
pollution in the centre of town is so bad hit balls into pockets using a long stick
that people have started wearing face called a cue We were playing pool in the
masks. bar.
poor /p
/ adj 1. with little or no money
poor
polo / pl/ noun a ball game in which

polo
The family is very poor now that both

two teams ride on ponies, trying to hit a
small hard ball with clubs like long ham- parents have no work. This is one of the
mers Theres a polo match in the park poorest countries in Africa. 2. of not very
this afternoon. He plays polo every Sat- good quality Vines can grow even in poor
urday. soil. They were selling off poor quality
vegetables at a cheap price. Shes been in
polo shirt / pl #
t/ noun a shirt
polo shirt
poor health for some months. 3. used for

with short sleeves, a collar and three or showing you are sorry Poor old you, hav-
four buttons at the neck ing to stay at home and finish your home-
polyester /pli est/ noun a type of
polyester
|
work while we go to the cinema. My poor
synthetic fibre used especially to make legs, after climbing up the mountain!
clothing poorly / p
li/ adv in quite a bad way
poorly
polystyrene /pli stari

n/ noun a light
polystyrene
|
The offices are poorly laid out. The job is
plastic used as a heat insulator or as pack- very poorly paid. adj ill (informal) She
ing material felt quite poorly and had to go home. He
polythene / pli
n/ noun a type of
polythene
was very poorly on Monday, but by the end

strong transparent plastic used in thin of the week he was a little better.
sheets pop / pp/ noun a noise like a cork com-
pop
pomegranate / pm(rnt/ noun a ing out of a bottle There was a pop as

pomegranate
tropical fruit with many black seeds cov- she lit the gas. verb (pops, popping,
ered in juicy red flesh popped) 1. to go somewhere quickly Ill
pomp /pmp/ noun a splendid ceremony
pomp
just pop down to the town. He popped
into the chemists. Im just popping
pompous / pmps/ adj using very dig-
pompous
nified language to make yourself sound round to Janes. Id only popped out for
more important (disapproving) a moment. 2. to put something somewhere
quickly (informal) Pop the pie in the mi-
pond /pnd/ noun a small lake
pond
crowave for three minutes.

ponder / pnd/ (ponders, pondering,
ponder
popcorn / ppk
n/ noun the seed of a
popcorn
pondered) verb to think deeply about type of maize plant which is heated until it
something bursts and is eaten as a snack
pontificate /pn tfket/ (pontifi- Pope /pp/ noun the head of the Roman
pontificate
Pope
| |
cates, pontificating, pontificated) verb to Catholic Church

give your opinion on something in a way poplar / ppl/ noun a common tall and
poplar
which suggests that you believe your opin- slender tree

ion is the only right one (formal) pop music / pp mju
zk/ noun
pop music
pony / pni/ (plural ponies) noun a small

pony
modern popular music

horse poppy / ppi/ (plural poppies) noun a
poppy
ponytail / pnitel/ noun a hairstyle

ponytail
common red wild flower which often

where your hair is tied at the back and falls grows in fields
loosely populace / ppjls/ noun the ordinary
populace
poo /pu
/ noun faeces, solid waste matter
poo
people (formal) The rest of the populace

passed from the body (informal; childrens envied the privileges of the rich.
slang) popular / ppjl/ adj liked by a lot of
popular
poodle / pu
d()l/ noun a type of curly-
poodle
people The department store is popular

haired dog, with its fur usually cut in a cu- with young mothers. The South Coast is
rious way the most popular area for holidays.
popularity 478
popularity /ppj lrti/ noun the fact portable / p
tb()l/ adj which can
popularity portable
of being liked by a lot of people be carried He used his portable computer

popularly / ppjlli/ adv by most peo-
popularly
on the plane. Portable phones wont
ple She was popularly supposed to pos- work in the Underground.
portal / p
t()l/ noun an imposing en-
portal
sess magic powers.

populate / ppjlet/ (populates, popu-
populate
trance (literary)
porter / p
t/ noun a doorkeeper in a
porter
lating, populated) verb 1. to go and live in

an area Settlers moved away from the building such as a hotel or a block of flats
coast and began to populate the interior. Ask the porter if there have been any
The area is populated by peasant farmers. messages for us.

portfolio /p
t fli/ noun 1. a col-
portfolio
2. to put people to live in an area The king |
decided to populate the colony with retired lection of work such as drawing or writing
soldiers. that one person has done, or a large flat
population /ppj le()n/ noun
population
case in which it is carried He brought a
portfolio of samples of his work. 2. a
|
the number of people who live in a place

The population of the country is 60 million. portfolio of investments or shares all the
Paris has a population of over three mil-
shares owned by someone 3. a ministers
lion. job in a government
porthole / p
thl/ noun a round win-
porthole
populous / ppjls/ adj densely popu-

populous
dow in the side of a ship

lated
portion / p
()n/ noun 1. a part This
portion
porcelain / p
s()ln/ noun fine china
porcelain
is only a small portion of the material we

porch /p
t/ noun 1. a sheltered area
porch
collected. Our carriage was in the rear

joined onto a doorway You werent in portion of the train. 2. a serving of food,
when I called, so I left the parcel in the usually for one person The portions in
porch. 2. US a balcony at ground level that restaurant are tiny. Ask the waiter if
around a house They like to sit out on the they serve childrens portions.
porch on summer evenings. portly / p
tli/ (portlier, portliest) adj
portly
pore /p
/ noun a tiny hole in the skin or
pore
rather fat
in a leaf, through which moisture such as portrait / p
trt/ noun a painting or pho-
portrait
sweat passes I was sweating from every tograph of a person He has painted a por-
pore as I waited for the results of the test. trait of the Queen. Old portraits of mem-
Water evaporates from the pores of the bers of the family lined the walls of the din-
leaves. ing room.
pork /p
k/ noun fresh meat from a pig, portray /p
tre/ (portrays, portraying,
pork portray
eaten cooked ( NOTE: no plural. Note also portrayed) verb to paint or to describe a
that salted or smoked meat from a pig is scene or a person (NOTE: + portrayal n)
ham or bacon.) pose /pz/ noun 1. a way of standing
pose
porn /p
n/ noun pornography (informal) sitting or lying She is painted standing in
porn
pornography
pornography
/p
n(rfi/
| noun an elegant pose. He struck a funny pose
books, films, etc., with obscene subject as I was taking the photo. 2. a way of be-
matter having which is just a pretence Hed like
you to think hes an expert but its just a
porous / p
rs/ adj which has many lit-
porous
pose. verb (poses, posing, posed) 1. to

tle holes in it, allowing water or air to seep set a problem or put a question Violent
through slowly children pose a problem for schools. 2. to
porpoise / p
ps/ noun a sea animal
porpoise
stand or sit still while someone paints or

similar to a dolphin, which swims in photographs you [~for] He posed for her
groups (NOTE: A group of them is a school in his uniform. 3. to pretend to be some-
of porpoises.) thing [~as] He got into the prison by pos-
porridge / prd/ noun oatmeal cooked
porridge
ing as a doctor.
in water or milk, eaten for breakfast posh /p/ adj expensive and attractive;
posh
port /p
t/ noun 1. a place along a coast suitable for special occasions I decided
port
where boats can stop, or a town with a Id better wear my poshest frock to the
place like this a fishing port The ship is wedding. We ate in a really posh restau-
due in port on Tuesday. We left port at rant.
position /p z()n/ noun 1. a place
position
12.00. 2. an opening in a computer for |
plugging in an attachment a mouse port where someone or something is From his

479 posting
position on the roof he can see the whole of post /pst/ noun 1. a long piece of
post
the street. The ships last known position wood or metal put in the ground The
was 200 miles east of Bermuda. 2. a job fence is attached to concrete posts. His
The sales manager has a key position in the shot hit the goalpost. goalpost 2. a job
firm. Hes going to apply for a position He applied for a post in the sales depart-
as manager. We have several positions ment. We have three posts vacant. They
vacant. 3. a situation or state of affairs advertised the post in The Times. 3. let-
What is the companys cash position? 4. ters and parcels that are sent and received
someones opinion [~on] Ive made my The morning post comes around nine
position on suitable payment quite clear. 5. oclock. There were no cheques in this
to be in a position to do something to be mornings post. Has the post arrived yet?
able to do something I am not in a posi- 4. the system of sending letters and parcels
tion to answer your question at this point in It is easier to send the parcel by post than
time. verb (positions, positioning, posi- to deliver it by hand. verb (posts, post-
tioned) to put or place someone or some- ing, posted) to send a letter or parcel
thing in a position She positioned herself Dont forget to post your Christmas cards.
near the exit. The letter should have arrived by now
positive / pztv/ adj 1. certain or we posted it ten days ago. to keep some-
positive
sure Im positive I put the key in my pock- one posted to keep someone informed
et. Are you positive he said six oclock? Please keep us posted about your holiday
2. (in a test) showing that the person tested arrangements.
has a particular condition The cancer test post- /pst/ prefix later than or after
post-
was positive. post-Christmas sales post-holiday gloom

possess /p zes/ (possesses, pos- postage / pstd/ noun money
possess postage
sessing, possessed) verb to own some- which you pay to send something by post
thing They possess several farms in the postage stamp / pstd stmp/
postage stamp
south of the country. He lost all he pos- noun a piece of paper which you buy and
sessed in the fire. stick on a letter or parcel to pay for it to be
possession /p ze()n/ noun own-
possession
| sent on by the post office

ership When he couldnt keep up the postal order / pst()l
d/ noun a
postal order
mortgage payments the bank took posses- paper which you can buy for sending small
sion of the house. in someones posses- amounts of money through the post
sion being held by someone The jewel-
postbox / pstbks/ noun a box into
postbox
lery came into my possession when my which you can put letters, which will then
mother died. be collected and sent on by the post office
possessive /p zesv/ adj who treats
possessive
postcard / pstk
d/ noun a piece of
postcard
|
someone or something as if he or she owns card often with a picture on one side,
him, her or it His girlfriends very pos- which you send to someone with a short
sessive and hates it when he goes out with message on it
his mates. He gets very possessive about
postcode / pstkd/ noun a series
postcode
his gold pen and wont let anyone else use

it. of letters and numbers given at the end of
an address, to help the people whose job is
possibility /ps blti/ noun the fact
possibility
to sort letters
of being likely to happen [~of/~(that)] Is
poster / pst/ noun a large notice,
poster
there any possibility of getting a ticket to

the show? There is always the possibility picture or advertisement stuck on a wall
posterity /p sterti/ noun the genera-
posterity
that the plane will be early. |
possible / psb()l/ adj able to be

possible
tions which will follow this one
postgraduate /pst (rdt/ noun
postgraduate
done She agreed that the changes were |
possible. a person who has a first degree from a uni-

possibly / psbli/ adv 1. perhaps
possibly
versity and who is studying for a further
The meeting will possibly finish late. Jan- degree Hes taking a postgraduate
uary had possibly the worst snowstorms we course in physics.
posthumous / pstjms/ adj after
posthumous
have ever seen. 2. used with can or cant

to make a phrase stronger You cant pos- death
posting / pst/ noun a new job with
posting
sibly eat 22 pancakes! How can you pos-

sibly expect me to do all that work in one the same organisation, for which you have
day? to move to a different country or district
Post-it 480
Post-it / pst t/ trademark a small piece beer its terribly potent. People dont
Post-it
of gummed coloured paper which you can realise how potent these drugs are.
write a note on and stick onto something potential /p tenl/ adj possible
potential
postman / pstmn / (plural postmen) Hes a potential world champion. The

postman
noun a person who delivers letters to hous- potential profits from the deal are enor-
es mous. noun the possibility of developing
postmark / pstm
k/ noun a mark
postmark
into something useful or valuable The
stamped on a letter to show when and discovery has enormous potential. She
where it was posted a letter with a Lon- doesnt have much experience, but she has
don postmark You can see from the post- a lot of potential. The whole area has
mark that it was posted two weeks ago. great potential for economic growth.
pothole / pthl/ noun 1. a hole in a
pothole
(NOTE: + postmark v)
post mortem /pst m
tm/ noun 1. road surface The council still hasnt filled
post mortem
the examination of a corpse to find out the in the potholes in our street. 2. a deep hole
cause of death The post mortem revealed in rock worn away by water They were
that she had been poisoned. 2. an examina- exploring a pothole in the Mendip Hills.
potholing / pthl/ noun the sport of
potholing
tion of something which has happened

The government is carrying out a post exploring potholes in rock
mortem on the result of the elections. Ab- potion / p()n/ noun a liquid mixture
potion
breviation PM of medicine (dated )

postnatal /pst net()l/ adj which
postnatal
potluck /pt lk/ noun to take potluck

potluck
|
|
happens after childbirth to take whatever comes, with no possibility

post office / pst fs/ noun a build-
post office
of choosing anything different

ing where you can do such things as buying potter / pt/ noun a person who makes
potter
stamps, sending letters and parcels and pots out of clay a potters wheel The
paying bills The main post office is in the potter makes cups and bowls to sell in craft
High Street. There are two parcels to be shops. verb also potter about not to do
taken to the post office. anything in particular or to do little jobs
postpone /pst pn/ (postpones,
postpone
| here and there He spent Saturday morn-

postponing, postponed) verb to change ing pottering about in the garden. (NOTE:
the time or date of an event so that it will The US term is putter around)
happen a later date or time The meeting pottery / ptri / noun 1. a place where
pottery
has been postponed until next week. (NOTE: pots are made There are several local
+ postponement n) potteries where you can buy dishes. I
posture / pst/ noun a way of sitting
posture
bought this vase from the pottery where it

or standing She does exercises to improve was made. (NOTE: The plural in this sense is
her posture. potteries.) 2. objects such as pots and
postwar /pst w
/ adj referring to the plates, made of clay Theres a man in the
postwar
period after a war market who sells local pottery. She

pot /pt/ noun 1. a glass or china con-
pot
brought me some Spanish pottery as a
tainer, usually without a handle The plant present.
potty / pti/ noun a small pot where a
potty
is too big it needs a bigger pot. She

made ten pots of strawberry jam. teapot young child can urinate or defecate
2. a deep metal container with a long han- pouch /pat/ noun 1. a small bag for
pouch
dle, used for cooking Do I have to wash carrying objects such as coins She car-
all the pots and pans by hand? ried the ring in a small leather pouch
potassium /p tsim/ noun soft metal round her neck. 2. a bag in the skin in front
potassium
found in rocks, essential to biological life of some animals, where the young are car-
potato /p tet/ (plural potatoes) ried The kangaroo carries its young in its
potato
noun a common white or yellow root vege- pouch.

poultry / pltri/ noun common farm
poultry
table which grows under the ground

boiled potatoes mashed potatoes roast birds such as ducks or hens, reared for eggs
potatoes Do you want any more pota- or to be eaten
toes? Were having roast lamb and pota- pounce /pans/ (pounces, pouncing,
pounce
toes for Sunday lunch. pounced) verb 1. to jump quickly to catch

potent / pt()nt/ adj which has a
potent
something The cat was watching the

strong effect Dont drink too much of that bird, ready to pounce. 2. to criticise some-
481 practically
thing strongly [~on] He pounced on the TV set. 4. political control The socialists
only mistake Id made. came to power in 1997. During the peri-
pound /pand/ noun 1. a measure of od when he was in power the countrys
pound
weight, equal to about 450 grams (NOTE: economy was ruined. 5. an important, pow-
pound is usually written lb after figures: It erful country China is one of the great
weighs 26lb.; Take 6lb of sugar: say twenty- powers.
power base / pa bes/ noun a group
power base
six pounds, six pounds.) 2. a unit of money

used in Britain and several other countries or area which supports a politician
He earns more than six pounds an hour. power cut / pa kt/ noun same as
power cut
The price of the car is over 50,000 (fifty power failure

thousand pounds). He tried to pay for his power failure / pa felj/ noun a
power failure
bus ticket with a 20 note (twenty-pound breakdown in electricity supplies

note). (NOTE: pound is usually written be- powerful / paf()l/ adj having a lot
powerful
fore figures: 20, 6,000: say twenty

of force, influence or capability This
pounds, six thousand pounds. With the
model has a more powerful engine. The
word note, pound is singular: twenty
treasurer is the most powerful person in the
pounds but a twenty-pound note.) verb
organisation. The raft was swept away by
(pounds, pounding, pounded) 1. to hit
the powerful current. This is the most
something hard He pounded the table powerful personal computer on the market.
with his fist. 2. to smash something into lit-
powerless / pals/ adj unable to do
powerless
tle pieces The ship was pounded to pieces

by heavy waves. anything because of not having any power
or authority
pour /p
/ (pours, pouring, poured)
pour
power steering / pa str/ noun

power steering
verb 1. to make a liquid flow [~over/in-

to/down etc] The waiter poured water all steering in a car, which is powered by the
over the table. He poured the wine into engine
power tool / pa tu
l/ noun a powerful
power tool
the glasses. She poured water down his

neck as a joke. 2. to flow out or down [~out electrical tool
pp abbr pages
pp
of/into etc] Crowds of people poured into

the stadium Smoke was pouring out of PR abbr public relations
PR
the house. practicable / prktkb()l/ adj which

practicable
pour down phrasal verb to rain very can be done or can be put into practice
hard Dont go out without an umbrella practical / prktk()l/ adj 1. refer-
practical
its pouring down. ring to real actions and events rather than
pout /pat/ (pouts, pouting, pouted)
pout
ideas or plans She needs some practical

verb to make a sulky expression with your experience. I need some practical advice
lips When she pouts she looks very sexy. on how to build a wall. 2. possible or sen-
(NOTE: + pout n) sible It isnt practical to plug the compu-
poverty / pvti/ noun the fact of be- ter into the same socket as the TV. Has
poverty
ing poor He lost all his money and died anyone got a more practical suggestion to
in poverty. Poverty can drive people to make? You need practical clothing for
crime. camping. We must be practical and not
powder / pad/ noun a substance like
powder
try anything too ambitious.
practicality /prkt klti/ (plural
practicality
flour with very small dry grains The drug |
is available in the form of a white powder. practicalities) noun 1. a way in which

This machine grinds pepper corns to something works in practice We havent
powder. yet got down to discussing the practicali-
power / pa/ noun 1. the ability to
power
ties of selling the shop. 2. a way in which
control people or happenings [~over] the something is practical or possible I have
power a parent has over their child He is doubts about the practicality of the
the official leader, but his wife has all the scheme.
practical joke /prktk()l dk/
practical joke
real power. I havent the power or it isnt

in my power to ban the demonstration. 2. a noun a trick played on someone to make
driving force They use the power of the other people laugh
practically / prktkli/ adv almost
practically
waves to generate electricity. The engine

is driven by steam power. 3. electricity Practically all the students passed the test.
used to drive machines or devices Turn The summer is practically over. His suit
off the power before you try to repair the is such a dark grey it is practically black.
practice 482
practice / prkts/ noun 1. the act of prank /prk/ noun a trick
practice prank
doing something, as opposed to thinking prattle / prt()l/ (prattles, prattling,

prattle
about it or planning it 2. a repeated activity prattled) verb to chatter a lot about things
done so that you can improve You need which arent important
more practice before youre ready to enter prawn /pr
n/ noun a shellfish like a large
prawn
the competition. Hes at football practice shrimp

this evening. The cars make several prac- pray /pre/ (prays, praying, prayed)
pray
tice runs before the race. 3. a way of doing verb to speak to God, asking for something,
something, especially a way that is regular- or asking for someone to be helped or pro-
ly used Its a standard practice for shops tected [~for] The men were praying in
to open late one day a week for staff train- front of the shrine. Weve been praying
ing. Its been our practice for many years for you.
to walk the dogs before breakfast. verb
prayer /pre/ noun the act of speaking
prayer
US spelling of practise in practice when

something is done or carried out The plan to God [~for] They said prayers for the
seems very interesting, but what will it cost sick. She says her prayers every night be-
in practice? out of practice not able to fore going to bed.
pre- /pri
/ prefix before the pre-Christ-
pre-
do something because of not having done it

recently I used to be able to play quite mas rush We have been invited for pre-
well, but Im a bit out of practice. to put lunch drinks.
preach /pri
t/ (preaches, preaching,
preach
something into practice to apply or use

something I hope soon to be able to put preached) verb 1. to give a sermon in
some of my ideas into practice. church 2. to recommend or advise some-
practise / prkts/ (practises, prac-
practise
thing
preacher / pri
t / noun a person who
preacher
tising, practised) verb 1. to do something

many times in order to become better at it gives a sermon in church
precarious /pr keris/ adj not safe,
precarious
Hes practising catching and throwing. |
2. to work as a doctor, dentist or lawyer likely to fall off or to fail

precaution /pr k
()n/ noun care
precaution
Hes officially retired but still practises |
part-time. taken in advance to avoid something un-

practised / prktst/ adj skilful at doing
practised
pleasant
precede /pr si
d/ (precedes, preced-
precede
something because you have had a lot of |
practice (NOTE: The US spelling is prac- ing, preceded) verb to take place before
ticed.) something
practitioner / prk t()n/ noun a precedence / presd()ns/ noun to
precedence
practitioner
person who does a skilled job. GP take precedence over someone or some-
pragmatic /pr( mtk/ adj dealing
pragmatic
|
thing to be more important than, when
with facts or practical matters, not con- considered as part of a hierarchy Presi-
cerned with theories dents take precedence over prime minis-
ters.
prairie / preri/ noun an area of grass-
prairie
precedent / presd()nt/ noun a thing

precedent
covered plain in North America, mainly which has happened before, and which can
without trees, where most of the worlds be a guide as to what should be done [~for]
grain is produced The trial has set a precedent for future li-
praise /prez/ noun admiration, the act of
praise
bel cases.
showing approval The rescue team preceding /pr si
d/ adj which
preceding
earned the praise of the survivors. verb comes before something

(praises, praising, praised) to express
precinct / pri
skt/ noun US an admin-
precinct
strong approval of something or someone istrative district in a town the 16th pre-
The mayor praised the firemen for their
cinct
efforts in putting out the fire.
precious / pres/ adj 1. worth a lot of
precious
praiseworthy / prezw#
i/ adj which
praiseworthy
money a precious stone 2. of great value

should be praised to someone All her precious photographs
pram /prm/, praam noun a light car-
pram
were saved from the fire. The memories

riage for pushing a baby in of that holiday are very precious to me.
prance /pr
ns/ (prances, prancing, precious metal /pres met()l/ noun
prance precious metal
pranced) verb to jump about, to move fast a metal, such as gold, which is worth a lot
and lightly of money
483 preference
precious stone / pres stn/ noun a would rise. The weather forecasters have
precious stone
stone such as a diamond, which is rare and predicted rain. Everything happened ex-
very valuable actly as I had predicted.
precipice / presps/ noun a high cliff on predictable /pr dktb()l/ adj which
precipice predictable
the side of a mountain, not usually near the could be predicted

sea prediction /pr dkn/ noun an in-
prediction
precipitate /pr sptet/ (precipitates,

precipitate
|
stance of foretelling something
precipitating, precipitated) verb to make predisposition
predisposition /pri
dsp z()n/ |
something happen suddenly The assassi- noun the fact of being predisposed
nation precipitated a political crisis.
predominant /pr dmnnt/ adj most
predominant
precipitation /prsp te()n/ noun a

precipitation |
| |
striking or obvious
quantity of rain, snow, etc., which falls on
predominantly /pr dmnntli/ adv
predominantly
a certain place The north-west of the |
country experienced higher precipitation mainly

predominate /pr dmnet/ (predomi-
predominate
than normal. |
prcis / presi
/ (plural prcis) noun a
prcis
nates, predominating, predominated)
summary of the main points of a text I verb to be more powerful than others
preeminent /pri emnnt/ adj excellent,
preeminent
made a prcis of the report for my boss. |
precise /pr sas/ adj exact We need

precise
|
much better than everything else
pre-empt /pri
empt/ (pre-empts, pre-
pre-empt
to know the precise measurements of the

box. At that precise moment my father empting, pre-empted) verb to get an ad-
walked in. Can you be more precise vantage over somebody by doing some-
about what the men looked like? thing quickly before anyone else
precisely /pr sasli/ adv exactly preen /pri
n/ (preens, preening,
precisely preen
The train arrived at 12.00 precisely. I preened) verb (of a bird) to smooth its
dont know precisely when it was, but it feathers
was about three months ago. How, pre- prefabricated /pri
fbrketd/ adj (of
prefabricated
cisely, do you expect me to cope with all a building) built from sections which are
this work? easy to put together
precision /pr s()n/ noun accuracy
precision
preface / prefs/ noun the text at the be-

preface
|
preclude /pr klu

d/ (precludes, pre-
preclude
|
ginning of a book, after the title page, in
cluding, precluded) verb to prevent some- which the author introduces the book and
thing taking place (formal) thanks people for helping make it She ex-
precocious /pr ks/ adj (of a child)
precocious
| plains in a preface what motivated her to

surprisingly advanced for its age write the book. Compare foreword
preconception / pri
kn sepn/ noun prefect / pri
fekt/ noun an older school
preconception prefect
an idea which is formed in advance, with- pupil chosen to be in charge of others The
out the benefit of information or experi- prefects help to maintain discipline in the
ence school.
precondition /pri
kn d()n/ noun a prefer /pr f#
/ (prefers, preferring,
precondition
prefer
|
|
condition which is set in advance preferred) verb to like one thing better than
precursor /pr k#
s/ noun a thing
precursor
| another [~to] Which do you prefer -butter

which leads to something more important to margarine? She prefers walking to go-
predate /pri
det/ (predates, predat- ing on the Underground. We went to the
predate
ing, predated) verb to come before some- pub, but she preferred to stay at home and
thing in time watch TV. Id prefer not to go to Germany
predator / predt/ noun an animal this summer.
predator
preferable / pref()rb()l/ adj which

preferable
which kills and eats other animals

predecessor / pri
dses/ noun a you would prefer
predecessor
person who has held the same job, etc., be- preferably / pref()rbli/ adv express-
preferably
fore you ing something that would be preferred

predicament /pr dkmnt/ noun Id like to book a seat, preferably one next
predicament
trouble or a difficult situation to a window.

predict /pr dkt/ (predicts, predict- preference / pref()rns/ noun a lik-
predict preference
ing, predicted) verb to foretell something ing for one thing more than another [~for]
or tell in advance what will happen [~(that)] The children all showed a marked prefer-
He predicted correctly that oil prices ence for chocolate ice cream.
preferential 484
preferential /pref renl/ adj showing premeditated /pri
medtetd / adj (of
preferential premeditated
| |
that one person or thing is preferred to an- a crime) planned before it is committed
other premier / premi/ noun a prime minister
premier
prefix / pri
fks/ noun a group of let- or head of government The French pre-
prefix
ters put in front of another to form a new mier is visiting London.

premire / premie/ noun the first per-
premire
word
pregnancy / pre(nnsi/ noun the state
pregnancy
formance of something, e.g. a film or a
of being pregnant play
premiership / premip / noun 1. the
premiership
pregnant / pre(nnt/ adj (of a woman

pregnant
or female animal) carrying a developing time when someone is Prime Minister

baby inside the body Dont carry heavy The introduction of income tax was the
weights when youre pregnant. She most important event of his premiership. 2.
hasnt told her family yet that shes preg- a premier league, the group of top football
nant. There are three pregnant women in clubs who play against each other a pre-
my office. miership match
premise / prems/, premiss noun an
premise
preheat /pri
hi
t/ (preheats, preheat-
preheat
ing, preheated) verb to make an oven hot

assumption, a thing which you assume to
before putting something to cook in it be true
premises / premsz/ plural noun a
premises
prehistoric /pri
h strk/ adj belong-
prehistoric
|
building and the land it stands on Smok-
ing to the time before there was a written ing is not allowed on the premises. There
history is a doctor on the premises at all times.
prejudge /pri
dd/ (prejudges, pre-
prejudge
premium / pri
mim/ noun 1. an amount
premium
|
judging, prejudged) verb to judge some- paid for an insurance policy The house
thing or someone without hearing all the insurance premium has to be paid this
facts month. We pay a monthly premium of 5.
prejudice / predds/ noun an unfair
prejudice
2. an extra amount They pay a premium

feeling of not liking someone or something for work completed ahead of schedule.
The committee was accused of prejudice adj higher quality and therefore more ex-
against older candidates. verb (prejudic- pensive than other similar things at a
es, prejudicing, prejudiced) to make premium scarce, and therefore valuable
someone have less friendly feelings to- Fresh vegetables were at a premium during
wards someone or something the winter months.
prejudiced / preddst/ adj unfairly premonition /prem n()n/ noun a
prejudiced premonition
biased against someone feeling that something is going to happen

preliminary /pr lmn()ri/ adj which preoccupation /pri
kj pe()n/
preliminary preoccupation
| | |
goes before something The executive noun something that you think about a lot,
committee will hold a preliminary meeting usually so much that you ignore other
the day before the conference opens. This things his preoccupation with his busi-
is only the preliminary report the main ness
report will be published later. noun (plu- preoccupied /pri kjpad/ adj wor-
preoccupied
ral preliminaries) something which is done ried and thinking only about one thing
as a preparation for something else preparation /prep re()n/ noun
preparation
prelude / prelju
d/ noun 1. something
prelude
1. the action of getting ready [~for] The

which takes place before something more preparations for the wedding went on for
important Putting tanks near the border months. Weve completed our prepara-
is a prelude to a full-scale invasion. 2. a tions and now were ready to start. in
short introductory piece of music on one preparation for something getting ready
theme for something She bought a hat in prep-
premature / premt/ adj 1. which aration for the wedding. 2. a substance
premature
happens before the right time Celebrat- which has been mixed a chemical prepa-
ing victory before the votes have been ration
preparatory /pr prt()ri/ adj which
preparatory
counted is a little premature. This can be |
a cause of premature death. 2. (of a baby) prepares someone for something This is
born less than nine months after concep- a preparatory course in Chinese for begin-
tion Little John was six weeks premature ners.
prepare /pr pe/ (prepares, prepar-
prepare
and only weighed three pounds when he |
was born. ing, prepared) verb 1. to get something

485 preside
ready [~for] We have prepared the hall for The hotel still has some vacancies at
the school play. I have some friends com- present. for the present for now That
ing to dinner and I havent prepared the will be enough for the present.
meal. 2. to get ready for something [~for] present2 /pr zent/ (presents, present-
present
He is preparing for his exam. Youd bet- ing, presented) verb 1. to give something
ter prepare yourself for some bad news. formally to someone as a present When
prepared /pr ped/ adj ready Be he retired after thirty years, the firm pre-
prepared
prepared, you may get quite a shock. Six sented him with a large clock. 2. to intro-
people are coming to dinner and Ive got duce a show on TV or radio Shes pre-
nothing prepared. senting a programme on gardening.
preponderance /pr pnd()rns/ presentable /pr zentb()l/ adj clean
preponderance presentable
| |
noun a greater number of one type of peo- and tidy, suitable to appear in public
ple or things than any other in a group presentation / prez()n te()n/
presentation
preposition /prep z()n/ noun a noun 1. the act of giving something to

preposition
word used with a noun or pronoun to show someone The chairman will make the
place or time presentation to the retiring sales manager.
preposterous /pr pst()rs/ adj silly 2. a formal occasion on which something is
preposterous
or absurd given to someone 3. a formal occasion on

prerequisite /pri
rekwzt / noun a
prerequisite
|
which someone tells other people about
thing which you must have before you can their work The company made a presen-
do something tation of the services they could offer.
present-day /prez()nt de/ adj
present-day
prescribe /pr skrab/ (prescribes, pre-

prescribe
scribing, prescribed) verb 1. to order that modern

presenter /pr zent/ noun a person
presenter
something should be done Three days |
notice has been given, as prescribed by who presents a TV or radio show

presently / prez()ntli/ adv 1. soon Ill
presently
law. We have to study two prescribed

texts for our exam. 2. (of a doctor) to tell be there presently. Hell be making a
someone to use something He prescribed speech presently. 2. US now, at the present
a course of injections. She prescribed time Hes presently working for a chem-
some antibiotics. ical company. Shes presently in Eng-
prescription /pr skrpn/ noun an
prescription
|
land. What is presently being done to
order written by a doctor to a pharmacist correct the problem?
present participle /prez()nt p
present participle
asking for a drug to be prepared and sold to |
a patient [~for] The doctor has given him tsp()l/ noun a word formed by adding
a prescription for painkillers. available -ing to a verb, used either to form the
on prescription available from a chemist present continuous tense, e.g. I am reading,
only when prescribed by a doctor This or as an adjective or noun
preservation /prez ve()n/ noun
preservation
medicine is only available on prescription. |
presence / prez()ns/ noun 1. the fact the action of protecting [~of] The trust is
presence
of being present The presence of both his mainly concerned with the preservation of
wives in court was noted. Your presence historic buildings.
preservative /pr z#
vtv/ noun a sub-
preservative
is requested at a meeting of the committee |
on June 23rd. 2. an effect you have on other stance added to food to stop it from going
people The general has a commanding bad
presence. preserve /pr z#
v/ (preserves, pre-
preserve
present1 / prez()nt/ noun 1. something serving, preserved) verb 1. to look after

present
which you give to someone, e.g. on their something and keep it in the same state
birthday I got a watch as a Christmas Our committee aims to preserve the wild-
present. How many birthday presents did life in our area. The doctors aim is to
you get? Her colleagues gave her a preserve the life of the unborn child. They
present when she got married. 2. the time would like to preserve their own alphabet
we are in now The novel is set in the rather than use the Roman one. 2. to treat
present. 3. the form of a verb showing that something so that it does not decay Meat
the action is happening now The present can be preserved in salt. Freezing is a
of the verb to go is he goes or he is go- common method of preserving meat.
preside /pr zad/ (presides, presiding,
preside
ing. adj at a place when something hap- |
pens there How many people were presided) verb 1. to be the person in charge
present at the meeting? at present now of a meeting or event [~at/over] The meet-
presidency 486
ing was held in the town hall, with the may- They put pressure on the government to
or presiding. The deputy presided in the build a new motorway. 2. the force of
absence of the chairperson. Maureen something such as air which is pushing or
usually presides over our book club meet- squeezing There is not enough pressure
ings. 2. to be in power during a particular in your tyres. under pressure feeling
period He presided over a period of rad- that you are being forced to do something
ical change. He did it under pressure. Were under
presidency / prezdnsi/ noun the job pressure to agree to a postponement.
presidency
of being president He has been proposed pressure group / pre (ru

p/ noun
pressure group
as a candidate for the presidency. a group of people who try to influence an

president / prezd()nt/, President organisation, e.g. the government or the lo-
president
noun the head of a republic President cal town council

Bush was elected in 2000. The French prestige /pre sti
/ noun importance,
prestige
president came on an official visit. (NOTE: e.g. because of high quality or high value
also used as a title before a surname: Pres-
prestigious /pre stds/ adj which
prestigious
ident Wilson)
brings prestige
presidential /prez denl/ adj relating
presidential
presumably /pr zju

mbli/ adv ex-
| presumably
to a president |
pressing something that is likely Presum-

press /pres/ noun 1. newspapers taken
press
ably this is what she wanted us to do.

as a group The election wasnt reported
presume /pr zju
m/ (presumes,
presume
in the British press. There has been no |
mention of the problem in the press. (NOTE: presuming, presumed) verb 1. to suppose
no plural) 2. journalists and other people or assume something [~(that)] I presume
who work for newspapers, or on radio and this little bridge is safe for cars? The jury
TV Everywhere she went she was fol- has to presume he is innocent until he is
lowed by the press. Press photographers proved guilty. She is presumed to have
were standing outside Number 10. verb fled to South America. 2. not or never to
(presses, pressing, pressed) 1. to push or presume to do something not to do some-
squeeze something 2. to iron something thing because it would be rude to do it
His jacket needs to be pressed. (formal ) I wouldnt presume to contradict
press on or forward phrasal verb to con- her shes the expert.
presumption /pr zmpn/ noun a
presumption
tinue In spite of the weather they |
pressed on with the preparations for the thing which is assumed to be correct We
village fair. are working on the presumption that what
press
press conference
conference / pres he has said is in fact true.

knf()rns/ noun a meeting where news- presumptuous /pr zmptus/ adj
presumptuous
paper, radio and TV reporters are invited to rude or bold

hear news of a new product or a takeover presuppose / pri
s pz/ (presup-
presuppose
bid, or to talk to a famous person poses, presupposing, presupposed) verb

pressing / pres/ adj urgent, which
pressing
to depend on something having already

needs to be done quickly happened
press office / pres fs/ noun an office pretence /pr tens/ noun the act of mak-
press office
pretence
in an organisation which is responsible for ing someone believe something which is

relations with the media untrue, the action of pretending They
press release / pres rli
s/ noun a
press release
| made a pretence of being interested. All

sheet giving news about something which this talk about his aristocratic connections
is sent to newspapers and TV and radio sta- is mere pretence or is just a pretence. by
tions false pretences by doing or saying some-
press-up / pres p/ noun an exercise thing to cheat someone He was sent to
press-up
where you lie on the floor and push your- prison for obtaining money by false pre-
self up with your arms tences.
pressure / pre/ noun 1. something pretend /pr tend/ (pretends, pre-
pressure pretend
which forces you to do something [~on] tending, pretended) verb to make some-
Theres pressure on the journalist to reveal one believe you are something else, so as to
his source.Pressure from farmers forced trick them [~(that)] She pretended she had
the minister to change his mind. to put flu and phoned to say she was having the
pressure on someone to do something to day off. He got into the house by pretend-
try to force someone to do something ing to be a telephone engineer.
487 prima donna

pretentious /pr tens / adj claiming to prey /pre/ noun an animal eaten by an-
pretentious prey
be more important than you are other animal Mice and small birds are
pretext / pri
tekst/ noun an excuse for
pretext
the favourite prey of owls.
price /pras/ noun money which you
price
doing something which is not the real rea-

son for doing it have to pay to buy something The price
pretty / prti/ adj (prettier, prettiest) 1.
pretty
of petrol is going up. I dont want to pay
a pretty woman or girl has a face that is such a high price for a hotel room. There
quite attractive Her daughters are very has been a sharp increase in house prices
pretty. (NOTE: Usually pretty is used of during the first six months of the year. to
things or girls, not of boys or men.) 2. quite increase in price to become more expen-
pleasant to look at Thats a pretty neck- sive
priceless / prasls/ adj 1. extremely
priceless
lace. adv fairly (informal) The patients

condition is pretty much the same as it was valuable His priceless collection of
yesterday. Im pretty sure Im right. You paintings was destroyed in the fire. This
did pretty well, considering it was the first ring is quite priceless. 2. very funny
time you had tried rock-climbing. Some of the things she said were absolutely
prevail /pr vel/ (prevails, prevailing,
prevail
priceless.
price tag / pras t(/ noun 1. a ticket
|
price tag
prevailed) verb 1. to exist [~upon] A pos-

itive attitude prevails in the team. 2. to be with a price written on it How much is
widely accepted A feeling that we were this shirt? The price tag has come off it.
persuaded by doubtful evidence prevails. 3. 2. a price at which something is for sale
to win or succeed in something 4. to pre- car with a 50,000 price tag
pricey / prasi/ (pricier, priciest) adj ex-
pricey
vail upon someone to do something to

persuade someone to do something pensive (informal)
prick /prk/ (pricks, pricking, pricked)
prick
(formal) Can I prevail on you to make a

speech? verb to make a very small hole with a sharp
prevailing /pr vel/ adj usual, com-
prevailing
|
point in the outer layer of something such
mon as skin She pricked her finger when she
was picking roses. Prick the sausages be-
prevailing wind /prvel wnd/
prevailing wind
|
fore you fry them to stop them from burst-
noun a wind which usually blows from a
ing.
certain direction
prickle / prk()l/ noun a sharp point on a
prickle
prevalent / prevlnt/ adj common, oc-

prevalent
plant or animal
curring frequently prickly / prkli/ adj 1. covered with prick-
prickly
prevent /pr vent/ (prevents, pre-

prevent
|
les a prickly holly bush a prickly hedge-
venting, prevented) verb to stop some- hog 2. (of a person) who takes offence eas-
thing happening We must try to prevent ily Be careful what you say to her shes
any more flooding. very prickly.
prevention /pr venn/ noun the pride /prad/ noun 1. a pleasure in your
prevention
pride
|
process of stopping something from hap- own ability or possessions He takes great
pening [~of] pride in his garden. 2. a feeling of respect
preview / pri
vju
/ noun a private show-
preview
for yourself that is sometimes too strong,

ing of a film or exhibition before it is open making you behave wrongly His pride
to the public would not let him admit that he had made
previous / pri
vis/ adj happening or
previous
a mistake.
priest /pri
st/ noun a person who car-
priest
existing at an earlier time The letter was

sent to my previous address. The gang of ries out formal religious duties
priestess /pri
stes/ noun a female
priestess
workers had arrived the previous night and |
started work first thing in the morning. I priest in a non-Christian religion

had spent the previous day getting to know priesthood / pri
sthd/ noun all priests
priesthood
my way round the town. considered as a group The priesthood re-

previously / pri
visli/ adv at a time fused to accept the governments decree.
previously
before This is my first train trip to Paris prima donna /pri

m dn/ (plural pri-
prima donna
previously Ive always gone by plane. ma donnas) noun 1. the main female sing-
The arrangements had been made six er in an opera company 2. a person who
weeks previously. At that time they were thinks he or she is extremely important and
living in New York, and previously had makes a fuss if things are not done in the
lived in London. way they want Hes a real prima donna
primarily 488
when it comes to choosing flowers for his principality /prns plti/ (plural prin-
principality
office. cipalities) noun a country ruled by a prince

primarily / pram()rli/ adv mainly, the Principality of Monaco
primarily

mostly principally / prnsp()li/ adv mainly
principally
primary / pramri/ adj main, basic

primary
principle / prnsp()l/ noun 1. a gen-

principle
Our primary concern is the safety of our eral rule [~of/~that] the principles of nu-
passengers. clear physics It is a principle in our sys-
primary school / pramri sku
l/
primary school
tem of justice that a person is innocent un-

noun a school for children up to the age of til he is proved guilty. 2. a personal sense of
eleven what is right Shes a woman of very
primate / pramet/ noun an archbishop strong principles. Its against my princi-
primate
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Pri- ples to work on a Sunday. (NOTE: do not
mate of all England. confuse with principal) on principle be-
prime /pram/ adj most important The
prime
cause of what you believe She refuses to
prime suspect in the case is the dead wom- eat meat on principle. in principle in
ans husband. This is a prime example of agreement with the general rule I agree
what is wrong with this country. in principle, but we need to discuss some of
prime minister /pram mnst/,
prime minister
the details more thoroughly. In principle,
Prime Minister noun the head of the gov-
the results should be the same every time
ernment in Britain and other countries you do the experiment.
principled / prnsp()ld/ adj based or
principled
the Australian Prime Minister or the Prime

Minister of Australia She cut out the pic- acting on firmly held moral principles
ture of the Prime Minister from the newsprint /prnt/ verb (prints, printing,
print
paper. The Prime Minister will address printed) 1. to mark letters or pictures on
the nation at 6 oclock tonight. He was paper with a machine, and so produce a
determined to become prime minister be- book, leaflet or newspaper etc. The book
fore the age of 40. (NOTE: Use initial capitals is printed directly from a computer disk.
when you are talking about a particular We had five hundred copies of the leaflet
prime minister.) printed. 2. to write capital letters or letters
primer / pram/ noun 1. a special paint which are not joined together Print your
primer
which is put on bare wood before giving name in the space below. noun 1. letters
the top coats 2. a book with simple instruc- printed on a page I cant read this book
tions or that is an introduction to a subject the print is too small. 2. a photograph If
primeval /pra mi
v()l/ adj referring to
primeval
|
you are not happy with your colour prints,
the period at the beginning of the worlds we can guarantee a full refund.
existence the primeval forest print out phrasal verb to print informa-
primitive / prmtv/ adj 1. referring to
primitive
tion from a computer through a printing
the very early stages in the development of machine She printed out three copies of
something such as a plant or animal the letter.
printer / prnt/ noun 1. a person or
printer
primitive life forms 2. rough or crude

They live in a primitive hut in the woods. company that prints things such as books
The system is a bit primitive but it works. and newspapers The book has gone to the
primrose / prmrz/ noun a small pale printer, and we should have copies next
primrose
yellow spring flower week. 2. a machine for printing documents

printing / prnt/ noun 1. the art,
printing
prince /prns/ noun the son of a king or

prince
queen business and process of printing books,

princess /prn ses/ (plural princess-
princess
|
newspapers, etc. Errors may have crept
es) noun the daughter of a king or queen into the text during printing. 2. a number of
Once upon a time a beautiful princess lived copies of a book printed at the same time
in a castle by the edge of the forest. The book was published with a first print-
ing of 5,000 copies. The second printing
principal / prnsp()l/ adj most im-
principal
has sold out and a third has been ordered.

portant The countrys principal products
printing press / prnt pres/ noun a
printing press
are paper and wood. She played a prin-

cipal role in setting up the organisation. machine for printing books, newspapers,
noun the head of a school or college The etc.
printout / prntat/ noun paper print-
printout
principal wants to see you in her office.

(NOTE: Do not confuse with principle.) ed with information from a computer
489 probation
prior / pra/ adj 1. previous The house owned and run by individuals or groups,
prior
can be visited by prior arrangement with not by the state

the owner. I had to refuse her invitation private practice /pravt prkts/
private practice
because I had a prior engagement in Lon- noun a doctors or dentists practice where
don. 2. prior to something before the clients pay, as opposed to one which is
(formal) They had left prior to my arrival. part of the National Health Service
I received the bill prior to receiving the private school / pravt sku
l/ noun a
private school
goods. school that is not run by the state and which

prioritise /pra rtaz/ (prioritises,
prioritise
| | the students have to pay to attend. Com-

prioritising, prioritised), prioritize verb to pare public school, state school
rank things according to importance or ur- private secretary /pravt
private secretary
gency sekrt()ri / noun someone who deals with

priority /pra rti/ (plural priorities)
priority
| an important persons correspondence and

noun 1. a right to be first Children have affairs
priority in the waiting list. to have or privet / prvt/ noun a common shrub
privet
take priority over sth to be more impor- with small green or yellow leaves, used for
tant than something and need to be done garden hedges
first People with serious injuries have privilege / prvld/ noun a favour or
privilege
priority over those with only cuts and right granted to some people but not to eve-
bruises. to give something top priority ryone
to make something the most important privileged / prvldd/ adj who has a
privileged
item We should give top priority to solv- special advantage

ing our own financial problems. The prize /praz/ noun a reward given to
prize
President wants us to give the problem top someone who has won a competition He
priority. 2. a thing which has to be done won first prize in the music competition.
first Finding somewhere to stay the night He answered all the questions correctly
was our main priority. and claimed the prize. The prize was
prism / prz()m/ noun a glass block,
prism
awarded jointly to the young British and

usually with a cross-section shaped like a Russian competitors.
triangle, which splits white light up into the pro /pr/ noun (informal) 1. a profession-
pro
colours of the rainbow al sportsperson, actor or musician 2. some-

prison / prz()n/ noun a building
prison
one who does something very well because

where people are kept when they are being they have been doing it for a long time
punished for a crime The judge sent him proactive /pr ktv/ adj working by
proactive
to prison for five years. His fathers in starting actions yourself, rather than react-
prison for burglary. (NOTE: Prison is often ing to what other people do
used without the article the.)
probability / prb blti / noun the
probability
prisoner / prz()n/ noun a person

prisoner |
quality of being probable [~of/~that]

who is in prison The prisoners were tak- There is little probability of the work being
en away in a police van. finished on time. The probability is that
pristine / prsti
n/ adj fresh like new
pristine
there will be no outright winner. in all

privacy / prvsi/ noun not being dis-
privacy
probability very probably In all proba-

turbed by other people bility they will get married at Easter.
private / pravt/ adj 1. which belongs probable / prbb()l/ adj likely Its
private probable
to one person, and is not available to every- probable that the ship sank in a storm.
one He flew there in his private jet. 2. that probably / prbbli/ adv used for say-
probably
you would not like to discuss with most ing that something is likely to happen
people You have no right to interfere in Were probably going to Spain for our hol-
my private affairs. This is a private dis- idays. My father is probably going to re-
cussion between me and my son. in pri- tire next year. Are you going to Spain as
vate away from other people She asked usual this year? Very probably.
to see the teacher in private. probation /pr be()n/ noun 1. a le-
probation
private detective /pravt d

private detective
|
gal system for dealing with criminals
tektv/, private investigator noun a de- where they are not sent to prison provided
tective who is not part of a police force, and that they continue to behave well under the
works for a fee supervision of a probation officer She
private enterprise /pravt
private enterprise
was put on probation for one year or was

entpraz/ noun businesses that are put on one years probation. 2. a period
probationary 490
when a new employee is being tested be- process1 /pr ses/ noun 1. the meth-
process
fore being given a permanent job on pro- od of making something a new process
bation being tested We are employing for extracting oil from coal 2. in the
him on three months probation. She process of doing something while doing
cant have a pay rise as she is still on pro- something She interrupted me while I
bation. was in the process of writing my report.
probationary /pr be()n()ri/ adj re- We were in the process of moving to Lon-
probationary
ferring to a time when a person is on pro- don when I had the offer of a job in Austral-
bation ia. verb (processes, processing, proc-
essed) 1. to make goods from raw materi-
probation officer /pr be()n fs/
probation officer
noun an official of the social services who

als The uranium has to be processed
supervises young people on probation before it can be used in a nuclear reactor.
2. to deal with a claim or bill in the usual
probe /prb/ noun a thorough inves-
probe
way to process an insurance claim Or-

tigation [~into] a police probe into organ- ders are processed in our warehouse.
ised crime verb (probes, probing, process2
process
/pr ses/ (processes,

probed) to examine something deeply [~in-
|
processing, processed) verb to walk in a

to] I dont want the police to start probing
procession The peers and peeresses
into my financial affairs. The surgeon processed into Westminster Abbey.
probed the wound to try to find the bullet.
procession /pr se()n/ noun a group
procession
problem / prblm/ noun 1. some-

problem |
of people walking in line, sometimes with

thing or someone that causes difficulty music playing in procession in a line as
Were having problems with the new com- part of a ceremony The people who have
puter system. to pose a problem to be received their degrees will walk in proces-
something that is difficult to change or im- sion through the university grounds.
prove What to do with truants poses a
processor / prses/ noun 1. a ma-
processor
problem for the schools. to solve a prob-

lem to find an answer to a problem The chine that processes Mix the ingredients
police are trying to solve the problem of in a food processor. 2. a computer which
how the thieves got into the house. We processes information
proclaim /pr klem/ (proclaims,
proclaim
have called in an expert to solve our com- |
puter problem. 2. a question in a test, espe- proclaiming, proclaimed) verb to make an

cially in mathematics Most of the stu- official statement in public
dents could do all the problems in the proclamation /prkl me()n/ noun
proclamation
maths test. no problem used for giving an official public statement

an informal agreement to a request procrastinate /pr krstnet/ (pro-
procrastinate
procedure /pr si
d/ noun 1. the
procedure
|
crastinates, procrastinating, procrasti-
way in which something ought to be car- nated) verb to delay, to postpone some-
ried out To obtain permission to build a thing until later
new house you need to follow the correct procure /pr kj/ (procures, procur-
procure
procedure. 2. a medical treatment a new ing, procured) verb (formal ) 1. to obtain

procedure for treating burns something Somehow he had managed to
proceed /pr si
d/ (proceeds, pro-
proceed
| procure the equipment he needed without

ceeding, proceeded) verb 1. to go further anyone knowing. We need to procure a
He proceeded down the High Street to- map of the area. 2. to arrange for a woman
wards the river. 2. to do something after to provide sexual intercourse for money
something else [~with] The students then prod /prd/ (prods, prodding, prodded)
prod
proceeded to shout and throw bottles at verb 1. to poke somebody or something

passing cars. with a finger or stick He prodded the pig
proceedings /pr si
dz/ plural with his stick. 2. to prod someone into
proceedings
noun a report of what takes place at a meet- doing something to do something to per-
ing the proceedings of the Archaeologi- suade someone to take action The group
cal Society tried to prod the government into action or
proceeds / prsi
dz/ plural noun
proceeds
into taking some sort of action.
prodigy / prddi/ noun a remarkable
prodigy
money which you receive when you sell

something She sold her house and invest- person, usually a young person By the
ed the proceeds in a little shop. All the age of ten he was already a mathematical
proceeds of the village fair go to charity. prodigy.
491 profit
produce1 /pr dju
s/ (produces, professional life and his private life complete-
produce
ducing, produced) verb 1. to show some- ly separate. 2. expert or skilled They did
thing or bring something out of e.g. your a very professional job in designing the
pocket The tax office asked him to pro- new office. 3. (of sportsmen) who is paid to
duce the relevant documents. He pro- play a professional footballer noun an
duced a bundle of notes from his inside expert Dont try to deal with the problem
pocket. The factory produces cars and yourself get a professional in.
trucks. 2. to organise a play or film She is professionalism /pr
professionalism
producing Hamlet for the local drama fe()nlz()m/ noun being an expert,
club. 3. to make something, especially in a having skill People admired the profes-
factory The factory produces cars and sionalism with which he dealt with the
trucks. 4. to give birth to young Our cat problem.
has produced six kittens. 5. to grow crops professor / pr fes/ noun 1. the most
professor
The region produces enough rice to supply senior teacher in a particular subject at a
the needs of the whole country. university a professor of English an
produce2 / prdju
s/ noun things that
produce
economics professor 2. the title taken by

have been grown in a garden or on a farm some teachers of music and art She goes
vegetables and other garden produce to Professor Smith for piano lessons.
(NOTE: Do not confuse with product.) (NOTE: used as a title before a name: Profes-
producer /pr dju
s/ noun a compa-
producer
| sor Smith.)
ny or country which makes or grows some- proffer / prf/ (proffers, proffering,
proffer
thing an important producer of steel proffered) verb to offer something

The company is a major car producer. proficiency /pr f()nsi/ noun a skill
proficiency
product / prdkt/ noun 1. a thing

product |
in doing something
which is manufactured The government
proficient /pr f()nt/ adj able to do
proficient
is helping industry to sell more products |
abroad. (NOTE: Do not confuse with pro- something very well [~at/in] Im not very
duce.) 2. something that happens or exists proficient at mental arithmetic. By the
as a result of something else [~of] 3. (in summer I had become reasonably profi-
mathematics) a number which is the result cient in German.
profile / prfal/ noun 1. a view of
profile
when numbers are multiplied The prod-

uct of 4 times 10 is 40. someones head, seen from the side a
production /pr dkn/ noun 1. the
production
|
photograph showing her in profile 2. to
making of something We are trying to keep or maintain a low profile to be quiet,
step up production. Production will prob- not to be obvious It would be better if you
ably be held up by the strike. 2. putting on kept a low profile until all the fuss has died
a play or film The film is currently in pro- down. to keep or maintain a high pro-
duction at Teddington Studios. file to keep yourself in the view of the pub-
production line /pr dkn lan/
production line
|
lic A politician needs to keep a high pro-
noun a system of making a product, where
file. Advertising helps to maintain the
each item such as a car moves slowly companys high profile. 3. a short biogra-
through the factory with new sections be- phy of a famous person in a newspaper
ing added to it as it goes along Theres a profile of the Chancellor in the
Sunday paper.
productive /pr dktv/ adj which pro-
productive
profit / prft/ noun money you gain

| profit
duces results
from selling something which is more than
productivity /prdk tvti/ noun the
productivity
the money you paid for it [~from/~on] All

rate of output, rate of production in a facto- the profits from the sale of her paintings go
ry to charity. Were unlikely to make a profit
Prof abbr professor Prof Stanley Ridge
Prof
on the house. The sale produced a good

profess /pr fes/ (professes, profess-
profess
|
profit or a handsome profit. to make a
ing, professed) verb to declare something profit to have more money as a result of a
profession /pr fe()n/ noun work
profession
|
deal We aim to make a quick profit. We
which needs special training, skill or made a large profit when we sold our
knowledge the legal profession the house. It you dont make a profit you will
medical profession the teaching profes- soon be out of business. verb (profits,
sion She is an accountant by profession. profiting, profited) to produce a benefit
professional /pr fe()n()l/ adj 1.
professional
| [~from] (formal) These measures will

relating to a profession He keeps his pro- profit the business in the longer term.
profitable 492
profit from phrasal verb to gain from progression /pr (re()n/ noun a
progression
something [~from] We have profited slow change to a better or later stage

from his knowledge and experience. progressive /pr (resv/ adj 1. (of
progressive
profitable / prftb()l/ adj likely to

profitable
movement) in stages I have noticed a pro-

produce a profit gressive improvement in your work. 2. (of
profound /pr fand/ adj very serious,
profound
| ideas) advanced They elected a leader

very deep with progressive views on education.
profuse /pr fju
s/ adj abundant, exces- prohibit /pr hbt/ (prohibits, prohib-
profuse prohibit
| |
sive iting, prohibited) verb to say that some-

profusion /pr fju
()n/ noun a very thing must not be done (NOTE: + prohibi-
profusion
large quantity in profusion in large tion n)

quantities There are wild flowers in pro- prohibitive /pr hbtv/ adj so expen-
prohibitive
fusion in the countryside in early summer. sive that you cannot afford it
prognosis /pr( nss / (plural prog- project1 / prdekt/ noun work planned
prognosis
project
|
noses) noun an opinion of how something, by students on their own She asked her
such as a disease, will develop teacher for some pointers to help her with
program / pr(rm / noun instruc-
program
her project.
tions given to a computer to load a pro- project2 /pr dekt/ (projects, project-
project
gram to run a program a graphics pro- ing, projected) verb to send a picture onto
gram a word-processing program verb a screen The lecturer projected slides of
(programs, programming, programmed) his visit to the Arctic.
to give instructions to a computer They projectile /pr dektal/ noun a thing
projectile
can program the computer to produce which is thrown, or fired from a gun
those results for you.
projection /pr dekn/ noun 1. a
projection
programme / pr(rm/ noun 1. a

programme |
calculation of something which is forecast

TV or radio show [~on] We watched a for the future We have made a projection
programme on life in the 17th century. of the additional housing needed in this
Theres a football programme on after the area by the year 2010. Computer projec-
news. I want to listen to the phone-in pro- tions forecast an easy win for the govern-
gramme at 9.15. There are no good tele- ment. 2. a thing which sticks out She
vision programmes tonight. The pro- gashed her arm on a sharp projection of
gramme gives a list of the actors. 2. a paper rock. 3. the action of projecting a picture
in a theatre or at a sports event, which gives onto a screen
information about the show verb (pro-
projector /pr dekt/ noun a machine
projector
grammes, programming, programmed) |
to arrange programmes on TV or radio which sends pictures onto a screen

proliferate /pr lfret/ (proliferates,
proliferate
The new chat show is programmed to com- |
pete with the gardening programme on the proliferating, proliferated) verb to increase
other channel. quickly in number (formal)
programmer / pr(rm/ noun 1. a proliferation /prlf re()n/ noun a
proliferation
programmer
| |
person who programs a computer The rapid spread

prolific /pr lfk/ adj 1. producing many
prolific
programmers made a few alterations to |
our software. 2. a person who programmes children, fruit or other offspring Rabbits
TV or radio shows Programmers are al- are notoriously prolific. 2. producing a lot
ways trying to win audiences from other of something Hes a prolific writer of
channels. travel guides.
programming / pr(rm/ noun the prologue / prl(/ noun 1. a piece spo-
programming prologue
process of creating computer programs ken as the introduction of a play or poem

progress1 / pr(res/ noun a movement The prologue sets the scene and introduces
progress
forwards The traffic is still making pretty the main characters. Compare epilogue 2.
slow progress. ( NOTE: no plural) in a preliminary event that leads on to some-
progress which is happening or being thing else The discussions between For-
done The meeting is still in progress. eign Ministers are a prologue to the sign-
We still have a lot of work in progress. ing of a full-scale treaty. (NOTE: [all senses]
progress2 /pr (res/ (progresses, The US spelling is prolog.)
progress
prolong /pr l/ (prolongs, prolong-

prolong
progressing, progressed) verb to advance |
Work on the new road is progressing ing, prolonged) verb to make something
slowly. longer
493 pronunciation
prolonged /pr ld/ adj lasting for a promontory / prmnt()ri/ (plural
prolonged promontory
long time promontories) noun a piece of high land

prom /prm/ noun 1. a promenade Lets
prom
jutting out into the sea
promote /pr mt/ (promotes, pro-
promote
go for a stroll along the prom. 2. US a |
school dance They met at the High moting, promoted) verb 1. to give some-
School prom. one a better job He was promoted from
salesman to sales manager. 2. to make sure
promenade / prm n
d/ noun a walk-
promenade
|
that people know about a product or serv-
way built along the side of the sea We ice, by advertising it There are posters all
stood on the promenade and looked out to over the place promoting the new night
sea. Our hotel was right on the prome- club. 3. to encourage something The
nade. clubs aim is to promote gardening.
prominence / prmnns / noun 1. be-
prominence
promotion /pr m()n/ noun 1. a

promotion
ing important or famous He first rose to move to a better job He ruined his chanc-
prominence in the 1960s. 2. to give es of promotion when he argued with the
prominence to sth to emphasise some- boss. 2. advertising of a new product
thing The newspapers gave too much Were giving away small bottles of sham-
prominence to that part of the speech. poo as a promotion.
prominent / prmnnt/ adj 1. standing promotional / pr m()n()l/ adj
prominent promotional
out, easily seen She has a very prominent used in an advertising campaign
nose. 2. famous or important a prominent prompt /prmpt / adj done immediately
prompt
trade union leader They assassinated a Thank you for your prompt reply. verb
prominent member of the ruling party. (prompts, prompting, prompted) to tell an
promiscuous /pr mskjus/ adj who
promiscuous
|
actor words which he or she has forgotten
He had to be prompted in the middle of a
has sexual relations with many people
long speech.
promise / prms/ noun the act of say-
promise
promptly / prmptli/ adv very soon

promptly
ing that you will definitely do something

[~to] my promise to the children to play
after an event, in a way that is helpful or ef-
with them later But you made a promise ficient
prone /prn/ adj 1. likely to do some-
prone
not to tell anyone else and now youve told

my mother! Ill pay you back on Friday thing, or likely to be affected by something
thats a promise. to go back on a prom- such as an illness [~to] When youre tired
ise, to break a promise not to do what you you are prone to make mistakes. Hes
said you would do The management went prone to chest infections. My brother is
back on its promise to increase salaries. really accident-prone! 2. lying flat They
He broke his promise to take her to Mexico found her lying prone on the floor.
prong /pr/ noun one of the sharp points
prong
on holiday. to keep a promise to do what

you said you would do He says he will of a fork
pronoun / prnan/ noun a word
pronoun
pay next week, but he never keeps his

promises. She kept her promise to write used instead of a noun, such as I, you,
to him every day. verb (promises, prom- he, she and it
pronounce /pr nans/ (pronounces,
pronounce
ising, promised) to give your word that |
you will definitely do something They pronouncing, pronounced) verb 1. to

promised to be back for supper. You must speak sounds, especially in a particular
promise to bring the computer back when way How do you pronounce Paris in
you have finished with it. He promised he French? 2. to state something officially
would look into the problem. She prom- He was pronounced dead on arrival at hos-
ised the staff an extra weeks holiday but it pital. The priest pronounced them man
never materialised. and wife.
pronounced /pr nanst/ adj noticea-
pronounced
promising / prms/ adj 1. who is

promising
|
likely to succeed Shes the most promis- ble

pronouncement /pr nansmnt/
pronouncement
ing candidate we have interviewed so far. |
2. good, and likely to become much better noun an official or formal statement
The results of the antibiotic have been pronunciation /pr nnsi e()n/
pronunciation
| |
very promising. The economic situation noun a way of saying words Whats the
looks much more promising than it did a correct pronunciation of controversy?
year ago. You should try to improve your pronuncia-
proof 494
tion by taking lessons from native speak- which you say will happen in the future
ers. None of his gloomy prophecies has come
proof /pru
f/ noun a thing which true. She made a prophecy that they
proof
proves or which shows that something is would be married within a month.

true [~that/~of] The police have no proof prophesy / prfsa/ (prophesies,
prophesy
that he committed the murder.Theres no prophesying, prophesied) verb to say

real proof of his guilt. what will happen in the future
-proof /pru
f/ suffix which prevents some- prophet / prft/ noun 1. a person who
-proof prophet
thing getting in, getting out or harming a says what will happen in the future 2. a
soundproof studio great religious leader
proofread / pru
fri
d/ (proofreads, prophetic /pr fetk/ adj which says
proofread
prophetic
proofreading, proofread) verb to read what will happen in the future

proofs and make corrections to them proponent /pr pnnt/ noun a person
proponent
prop /prp/ noun a support or stick which

prop
who supports something

holds something up I used a piece of proportion /pr p
()n/ noun a part
proportion
wood as a prop to keep the window open. of a whole Only a small proportion of his
propaganda /prp (nd/ noun the
propaganda
|
income comes from his TV appearances.
spreading of false or biased information proportional /pr p
()n()l/ adj
proportional
about something which you want the pub- which is directly related to something
lic to believe The amount you get in interest is propor-
propagate / prp(et/ (propagates,
propagate
tional to the amount invested.

propagating, propagated) verb 1. to pro- proposal /pr pz()l/ noun a plan
proposal
duce new plants I tried to propagate the which has been suggested [~for] propos-
plants by taking cuttings. 2. to spread ideas als for changes to the rules The commit-
Its a view being propagated by certain
tee made a proposal to rebuild the club-
sections of the press. (NOTE: + propagation house. His proposal was accepted by the
n) committee. She put forward a proposal
propel /pr pel/ (propels, propelling,
propel
|
but it was rejected.
propelled) verb to push something forward
propose /pr pz/ (proposes, pro-
propose
propensity /pr pensti/ noun a tenden-

propensity |
|
posing, proposed) verb to make a sugges-
cy to do something tion [~that] I propose that we all go for a
proper / prp/ adj right and correct;
proper
swim.
in the way that things are normally done proposition / prp z()n/ noun a
proposition
She didnt put the sugar back into its prop- thing which has been proposed We dis-
er place in the cupboard. This is the cussed the proposition that all people are
proper way to use a knife and fork. The equal.The proposition is not very attrac-
parcel wasnt delivered because it didnt tive.
have the proper address.
proprietor /pr prat/ noun an owner
proprietor
properly / prpli/ adv correctly

properly |
propriety /pr prati/ noun correct be-

propriety
The accident happened because the garage |
hadnt fitted the wheel properly. The par- haviour in society

propulsion /pr pln/ noun the force
propulsion
cel wasnt properly addressed. |
proper noun /prp nan/, proper

proper noun
of moving something forward
prosaic /pr zek/ adj ordinary and
prosaic
name noun a word which is the name of a |
place, a person, a building or a title, etc rather dull, not poetic or imaginative or ro-
property / prpti/ noun 1. something
property
mantic
prose / prz/ noun something written in
prose
that belongs to a particular person The

furniture is the property of the landlord. ordinary language, not poetry
prosecute / prskju
t/ (prosecutes,
prosecute
The hotel guests lost all their property in

the fire. The management is not responsi- prosecuting, prosecuted) verb to bring
ble for property left in the restaurant. 2. someone to court to answer a criminal
buildings and land The family owns prop- charge People found stealing from the
erty in West London. A lot of industrial shop will be prosecuted.
property was damaged in the war. (NOTE: prosecution /prs kju
()n/ noun
prosecution
[all senses] no plural) 1. the process of bringing someone to court

prophecy / prfsi/ noun 1. the practice
prophecy
to answer a criminal charge [~for] He fac-

of saying what will happen in the future es prosecution for fraud. 2. the lawyers
He had the gift of prophecy. 2. a thing who represent the party who brings a
495 prove
charge against someone The costs of the protein / prti
n/ noun a substance in
protein
case will be borne by the prosecution. food such as meat, eggs and nuts which is
The prosecution argued that the money had one of the elements in food which you need
been stolen. to keep your body working properly
prospect / prspekt/ noun a future pos- protest1 / prtest / noun a statement
prospect protest
sibility There is no prospect of getting that you object or disapprove of something

her to change her mind. What are the She resigned as a protest against the
prospects for peace in the region? plural change in government policy. The new
noun prospects future opportunities, espe- road went ahead despite the protests of the
cially in your work His job prospects are local inhabitants. in protest at showing
very good. What are our prospects of that you do not approve of something The
success in this business deal? staff occupied the offices in protest at their
prospective /pr spektv/ adj who or low pay.
prospective
protest2 /pr test/ (protests, protesting,

protest
which may do something in the future |
prospectus /pr spekts/ noun a docu- protested) verb 1. to say or show that you
prospectus
ment which gives information to attract do not approve of something [~against/at]

customers Some of the workers are protesting against
prosper / prsp/ (prospers, prosper-
prosper
poor working conditions. After being
ing, prospered) verb to succeed; to be- stuck in the train for twenty minutes, the
come rich passengers began to protest. 2. to insist
that something is true, when others think it
prosperity /pr sperti/ noun being rich
prosperity
isnt She went to prison still protesting

and successful her innocence.
prosperous / prsp()rs/ adj wealthy,
prosperous
Protestant / prtstnt/ noun a

Protestant
rich member of a Christian Church which sepa-

prostitute / prsttju
t/ noun a woman
prostitute
rated from the Catholic Church at the time

who receives money for sexual intercourse of the Reformation
prostitution /prst tju
()n/ noun protestation / prt ste()n/ noun a
prostitution
protestation
|
|
the practice of providing sexual inter- strong or firm statement that something is
course in return for payment true
prostrate / prstret/ adj lying flat on protester /pr test/, protestor noun a
prostrate
protester
your face He was lying prostrate on the person who protests in a public way about
floor. (NOTE: Do not confuse with prostate.) something they dont agree with Several
protagonist /pr t(nst/ noun the
protagonist
| protesters stood outside the banks offices

main character in a story The protagonist handing out leaflets.
is a Danish prince. protocol / prtkl/ noun correct dip-
protocol
protect /pr tekt/ (protects, protect- lomatic behaviour Diplomatic protocol

protect
ing, protected) verb to keep someone or dictates which ambassador sits next to the
something safe from harm or danger Queen.
[~against/~from] The cover protects the prototype / prttap / noun the first
prototype
machine from dust. The injection is sup- model of a new machine

posed to protect you against the disease. protracted /pr trktd/ adj very
protracted
protected /pr tektd/ adj (of species of lengthy

protected
animals or plants) classified as being in protrude /pr tru

d/ (protrudes, pro-
protrude
danger of extinction truding, protruded) verb to stick out

protection /pr tekn/ noun shelter, protrusion /pr tru
()n/ noun some-
protection protrusion
| |
the process of being protected thing which protrudes

[~from/~against] The trees give some pro- proud /prad/ adj showing pleasure in
proud
tection from the rain. The injection gives what you or someone else has done or in
some protection against cholera. The something which belongs to you Were
legislation offers no protection to tempo- proud of the fact we did it all without help
rary workers. from anyone else.
protective /pr tektv/ adj who or proudly / pradli/ adv showing that you
protective proudly
which protects are proud of something

protg / prte/ noun a person, usu- prove /pru
v/ (proves, proving,
protg prove
ally a young person, who is supported in proved or proven) verb to show that some-
artistic work with money or advice, by thing is true [~(that)] The experiment
someone else proves that light travels in a straight line.
proven 496
The police think he stole the car but they a reaction take place His reply provoked
cant prove it. I was determined to prove an angry response from the crowd.
him wrong or that he was wrong. proof prow /pra/ noun the front end of a boat
prow
proven / pru
v()n/ adj tested and shown prowess / praes/ noun great skill
proven
prowess
to be correct prowl /pral/ verb (prowls, prowling,

prowl
proverb / prv#
b/ noun a saying which
proverb
prowled) to move about quietly She

teaches you something thinks she saw someone prowling about in
provide /pr vad/ (provides, provid- the undergrowth. The police are on the
provide
ing, provided) verb to supply [~for] We lookout for looters prowling around the de-
provide free travel for all our members. serted town. noun on the prowl mov-
Medical help was provided by the Red ing quietly looking for something a tiger
Cross. Our hosts provided us with a car on the prowl in the jungle
prowler / pral/ noun a person who
prowler
and driver.
provided (that) /pr vadd t/, pro- moves about an area looking for an oppor-
provided
viding /pr vad/ conj on condition that;

|
tunity to commit a criminal act
proximity /prk smti/ noun the fact of
proximity
as long as, so long as Its nice to go on a |
picnic provided it doesnt rain. You can being close to something

all come to watch the rehearsal providing proxy / prksi/ (plural proxies) noun 1. a
proxy
you dont interrupt. document which gives someone the power

providence / prvd()ns/ noun a lucky to act on behalf of someone else If you
providence
force which protects you (literary) are away from home on voting day, you can
provider /pr vad/ noun a person who
provider
|
cast your vote by proxy. 2. a person who
provides material support for someone or acts on behalf of someone else to act as
something, especially a family a proxy for someone
prude /pru
d/ noun a prudish person
prude
province / prvns/ noun 1. a large

province
prudent / pru
dnt/ adj showing good
prudent
administrative division of a country the

provinces of Canada 2. an area of knowl- sense and using good judgement It would
edge or of responsibility Thats not my be prudent to consult a lawyer before you
province youll have to ask the finance sign the contract.
prune /pru
n/ (prunes, pruning, pruned)
prune
manager.
provision /pr v()n/ noun 1. the act verb 1. to cut back a tree or shrub, to keep
provision
of providing something to make provi- it in good shape That bush is blocking the
sion for to see that something is allowed window it needs pruning. 2. to reduce the
for in the future Weve made provision size of something such as expenditure or
for the computer network to be expanded. parts of a book We had to prune about
There is no provision for or no provision half the text.
pry /pra/ (pries, prying, pried) verb 1. to
pry
has been made for car parking in the plans

for the office block. 2. a condition in a con- look inquisitively into something [~into]
tract She accused the press of prying into her
provisional /pr v()n()l/ adj tem-
provisional
|
private life. 2. to pry something open or
porary A provisional government was set apart US to use force to open or split
up by the army. something He pried the lid open.
PS /pi
es/ noun an additional note at the
PS
proviso /pr vaz/ (plural provisos or

proviso
provisoes) noun a condition end of a letter Did you read the PS at the
provocation /prv ke()n/ noun the
provocation
end of the letter? Full form post scriptum
psalm / s
m/, Psalm noun a religious
| psalm
action of making someone annoyed

poem or song from the Bible
provocative /pr vktv/ adj 1. likely
provocative
pseudonym / sju
dnm/ noun a false
| pseudonym
to make someone annoyed His provoca-

tive remarks did not go down well with the or invented name used by an author
psyche / saki/ noun the subconscious
psyche
management. 2. likely to make someone

sexually excited In some countries it is mind
psychiatrist /sa katrst/ noun a per-
psychiatrist
considered provocative for women to wear |
short skirts. son who studies and treats mental disease

provoke /pr vk/ (provokes, provok- psychiatry /sa katri/ noun the study
psychiatry
provoke
|
|
ing, provoked) verb 1. to make someone of mental disease

psychic / sakk / adj referring to super-
psychic
angry She provoked him into throwing a

brick through her front window. 2. to make natural forces He spends his time investi-
497 publish
gating reports of psychic phenomena. public-address system /pblk
public-address system
She must be psychic if she can tell the re- dres/ noun full form of PA
sult of the lottery in advance. publican / pblkn/ noun a person who
publican
psychoanalysis /sak nlss/

psychoanalysis
| manages a pub
noun a treatment of mental disorder where publication /pbl ke()n/ noun 1.
publication
a specialist talks to patients and analyses the process of making something public
their condition The publication of the official figures has
psychoanalyst /sak n()lst/
psychoanalyst
| been delayed. 2. a book or newspaper

noun a doctor who is trained in psychoa- which has been published He asked the
nalysis (NOTE: also shortened to analyst) library for a list of gardening publications.
psychologist /sa kldst/ noun a public figure /pblk f(/ noun a
psychologist public figure
person who studies the human mind well-known person such as an actor or pol-
psychology /sa kldi/ noun the
psychology
|
itician
public holiday /pblk hlde/
public holiday
study of the human mind the psychology

department in the university Shes taking noun a day when most businesses and
a psychology course. banks are closed
psychopath / sakp/ noun a crimi- publicise / pblsaz/ (publicises, pub-
publicise
psychopath
nal who is dangerous and mentally unsta- licising, publicised), publicize verb to at-
ble tract peoples attention to something; to
psychosis /sa kss/ (plural psycho-
psychosis
|
make publicity for something
publicist / pblsst/ noun a person who
publicist
ses) noun any serious mental disorder in

which someone can no longer tell what is attracts peoples attention to something
real through advertising
publicity /p blsti/ noun advertising
publicity
psychosomatic /saks mtk/ adj

psychosomatic
|
|
describing a physical illness that is caused which attracts peoples attention to some-
by a mental problem thing Were trying to get publicity for our
psychotherapy /sak erpi/ noun
psychotherapy
school play. The failure of the show was
blamed on bad publicity.
|
a treatment of mental disorders by psycho-

publicly / pblkli/ adv in public The
publicly
logical methods, as when a psychothera-

pist talks to patients and encourages them Prime Minister publicly denied the accusa-
to talk about their problems (NOTE: + psy- tions.
public school /pblk sku
l/ noun 1.
public school
chotherapist n)
psychotic /sa ktk / adj referring to or
psychotic
|
(in Britain) a private fee-paying secondary
experiencing psychosis school which is not part of the state educa-
tion system Eton and Winchester are two
pt abbr pint
pt
famous British public schools. Compare

PTO interj please turn over, letters
PTO
private school, state school 2. (in the

written at the bottom of a page, showing USA) a school which is paid for by public
that there is something written on the other taxes The state has decided to spend
side more money on its public school system.
pub /pb/ noun a place where you can public sector / pblk sekt/ noun the
pub
public sector
buy beer and other alcoholic drinks, and nationalised industries and the civil service
sometimes meals I happened to meet him public service / pblk s#
vs/ noun 1.
public service
at the pub. We had a sandwich and some the practice of working for the state 2. all
beer in the pub. government agencies and their personnel
puberty / pju
bti/ noun the time of life
puberty
Hes hoping for a job in the public service.

when childhood ends and adolescence and public
public transport
transport /pblk
sexual maturity begin trnsp
t/ noun transport such as buses
pubic / pju
bk/ adj referring to the area
pubic
and trains which can be used by everyone

around the sexual organs publish / pbl/ (publishes, publish-
publish
public / pblk/ adj relating to the peo-

public
ing, published) verb 1. to bring out a book

ple in general The crown jewels are on or newspaper for sale The company pub-
public display in the Tower of London. lishes six magazines for the business mar-
Its in the public interest that the facts ket. We publish dictionaries for students.
should be known. noun people in general 2. to make something publicly known
The public have the right to know what is The government has not published the fig-
going on. ures yet.
publisher 498
publisher / pbl/ noun a person or wards the side of the road and stop The
publisher
company that produces books or newspa- police car signalled to him to pull over.
pers for sale pull together phrasal verb 1. to work
publishing / pbl/ noun the proc- with someone else to achieve something
publishing
ess of producing books or newspapers for 2. to pull yourself together to become

sale more calm Although he was shocked by
pudding / pd/ noun 1. a sweet dish
pudding
the news he soon pulled himself together.
at the end of the meal Ill have ice cream pull up phrasal verb 1. to bring some-
for my pudding. 2. a sweet cooked food thing closer Pull your chair up to the
puddle / pd()l/ noun a small pool of
puddle
window. 2. (of a vehicle) to stop A car
water, e.g. on the ground after it has rained pulled up and the driver asked me if I
puff /pf/ noun a small breath of air or
puff
wanted a lift. He didnt manage to pull
smoke He took a puff on his cigarette. up in time and ran into the back of the car
Little puffs of smoke came out of the chim- in front.
pull-down menu / pl dan menju
/
pull-down menu
ney. verb (puffs, puffing, puffed) 1. to

blow White smoke was puffing out of the noun a menu which appears as a list on part
engine. He sat in a corner, puffing on his of a computer screen
pulley / pli/ noun apparatus for lifting
pulley
pipe. 2. to breathe with difficulty He was

puffing and panting and hed only run fifty heavy weights with a rope that runs round
yards. several wheels
puffy / pfi/ adj swollen pullover / plv/ noun a piece of
puffy pullover
pugnacious /p( nes/ adj ready to clothing made of wool, which covers the
pugnacious
argue or fight top part of your body

puke /pju
k/ (pukes, puking, puked), pulmonary / plmn()ri/ adj referring
pulmonary
puke
puke up verb also puke up to bring up to the lungs

pulp /plp/ noun a squashy mass Cook
pulp
partly digested food into your mouth

(informal) The baby puked all over the the apples to a pulp. If you dont do as I
carpet. to make someone (want to) say Ill beat you to a pulp.
puke to make someone feel angry and up- pulpit / plpt/ noun the raised platform
pulpit
set All these stories about lottery million- in a church where the priest preaches
aires make me puke. pulsate /pl set/ (pulsates, pulsating,
pulsate
pull /pl/ (pulls, pulling, pulled) verb

pull
pulsated) verb to throb regularly

to move something towards you or after pulse /pls/ noun a regular beat of
pulse
you Pull the door to open it, dont push your heart The doctor took his pulse.
it. The truck was pulling a trailer. She Her pulse is very weak.
pulled an envelope out of her bag. pulverise / plvraz/ (pulverises, pul-
pulverise
pull down phrasal verb to knock down verising, pulverised), pulverize verb to
a building crush something to powder
pull off phrasal verb 1. to take off a
pummel / pm()l/ (pummels, pummel-
pummel
piece of clothing by pulling He sat ling, pummelled) verb to hit something

down and pulled off his dirty boots. 2. to hard repeatedly
succeed in doing something very good,
pump /pmp/ noun a machine for forc-
pump
especially if it is unexpected The deal

will be great for the company, if we can ing liquids or air into something a bicycle
pull it off. 3. to drive off a road and stop pump verb (pumps, pumping, pumped)
He pulled off the road and lit a ciga-
to force in something such as liquid or air
rette. with a pump Your back tyre needs pump-
pull out phrasal verb 1. to take some- ing up. The heart pumps blood round the
thing out by pulling They used a rope to body.
pumpkin / pmpkn/ noun a large round
pumpkin
pull the car out of the river. 2. to drive a

car away from the side of the road He orange-coloured vegetable
pun /pn/ noun a play with words which
pun
forgot to signal as he was pulling out.

Dont pull out into the main road until have several different meanings He made
you can see that there is nothing coming. an awful pun about ploughing on with his
3. to stop being part of a deal or agree- book on agriculture.
ment Our Australian partners pulled punch /pnt/ noun 1. a blow with the
punch
out at the last moment. fist She landed two punches on his head.
pull over phrasal verb to drive a car to- 2. a metal tool for making holes The
499 purge
holes in the belt are made with a punch. the favourite. Punters lost thousands
verb (punches, punching, punched) 1. to when the favourite fell at the last fence. 2.
hit someone with your fist He punched a person who uses a service We have to
me on the nose. 2. to make holes in some- keep the punters happy.
thing with a punch The conductor puny / pju
ni/ (punier, puniest) adj 1.
puny
punched my ticket. weak and feeble The puny body of the

punchline / pntlan/ noun the last part
punchline
baby piglet. Their puny efforts were to-

of a joke, which is the part that makes you tally unequal to the task. 2. very small
laugh This years pay rise is the puniest weve
punctual / pktul/ adj on time He ever had.
punctual
was punctual for his appointment with the pup / pp/ noun the young of certain ani-
pup
dentist. mals, especially a young dog or seal Our

punctuate / pktuet/ (punctuates, bitch has had pups. They went out onto
punctuate
punctuating, punctuated) verb 1. to inter- rocky islands looking for seal pups.
rupt something Their conversation was pupil / pju
p()l/ noun 1. a child at a
pupil
punctuated with long silences. 2. to add school There are twenty-five pupils in the
punctuation marks to a text The sentence class. The piano teacher thinks she is her
was not punctuated correctly. best pupil. 2. a black hole in the central part
punctuation /pktu e()n/ noun of the eye, through which the light passes
punctuation
the practice of dividing up groups of words The pupil of the eye grows larger when
using special printed symbols there is less light.
puncture / pkt/ noun a hole in a puppet / ppt/ noun a doll which
puncture puppet
tyre Ive got a puncture in my back tyre. moves, used to give a show
verb (punctures, puncturing, punc- puppeteer /pp t/ noun a person
puppeteer
tured) to make a small hole in something who gives a performance using puppets
The tyre had been punctured by a nail. puppy / ppi/ (plural puppies) noun a
puppy
pundit / pndt/ noun an expert, espe-

pundit
young dog Our dog has had six puppies.

cially in political matters purchase / p#
ts/ noun something
purchase
pungent / pndnt/ adj 1. with a strong

pungent
that has been bought She had difficulty

taste or smell a particularly pungent type getting all her purchases into the car. to
of goats cheese The pungent odour of make a purchase to buy something We
curry came from the kitchen. 2. (of com- didnt make many purchases on our trip to
ments) strong and sharp She reserved her Oxford Street. verb (purchases, pur-
most pungent criticism for the way we per- chasing, purchased) to buy something
formed the musical numbers. They purchased their car in France and
punish / pn/ (punishes, punish-
punish
brought it back to the UK

ing, punished) verb to make someone suf- purchaser / p#
ts/ noun a person
purchaser
fer because of something they have done who buys something

The children must be punished for stealing pure /pj/ (purer, purest) adj 1. not
pure
apples. The simplest way to punish them spoiled by being mixed with other things or
will be to make them pay for the damage substances of a lower quality a bottle of
they caused. pure water a pure silk blouse a pure
punishable / pnb()l/ adj for which
punishable
mountain stream 2. total, complete This

you can be punished is pure nonsense. It is pure extortion. It
punishing / pn/ adj exhausting,
punishing
is pure spite on his part. It was by pure

which makes you tired good luck that I happened to find it.
punishment / pnmnt/ noun a purely / pjli / adv only, solely Hes
punishment purely
treatment given to punish someone [~for] doing it purely for the money. This is a
As a punishment for your behaviour, youll purely educational visit.
wash the kitchen floor. purgatory / p#
(t()ri / noun 1. a place
purgatory
punitive / pju
ntv/ adj which aims to
punitive
where some people believe your soul will

punish suffer temporarily after you die, before en-
punk /pk/ noun a person who dress- tering heaven Masses were said for the
punk
es in unconventional clothes, has brightly souls in purgatory. 2. an experience which

coloured hair and pins through parts of the makes you suffer It was sheer purgatory
body listening to her singing out of tune.
punter / pnt/ noun 1. a person who purge /p#
d/ (purges, purging, purged)
punter purge
gambles Most of the punters had backed verb 1. to remove something bad or harm-
purify 500
ful from your mind or body I want you to The boys fled, pursued by their older
purge your minds of any unhappy memo- brother.
ries. This special diet is designed to pursuit /p sju
t/ noun 1. a chase after
pursuit
purge the toxins from your body. 2. to re- someone in pursuit of looking for We
move opponents or other unacceptable set off in pursuit of our friends who had just
people from a group The activists have left the hotel. The robbers left in a stolen
purged the party of moderates or have car with the police in pursuit. 2. the proc-
purged the moderates from the party. 3. to ess of trying to find something, or trying to
make a patient have a bowel movement do something Her aim in life is the pur-
Old-fashioned doctors frequently purged suit of pleasure. 3. an occupation or pas-
their patients. time (dated)
purify / pjrfa/ (purifies, purifying, pus /ps/ noun a yellow liquid formed in
purify pus
purified) verb to make something or some- the body as a reaction to infection

one pure (NOTE: + purification n) push /p/ noun the action of making
push
purist / pjrst/ noun a person who in- something move forwards He gave the
purist
sists that everything has to be done in the pram a little push and sent it out into the
correct way road. Can you give the car a push? It
puritan / pjrt()n/ noun a puritanical
puritan
wont start. verb (pushes, pushing,
person pushed) to make something move away
from you or in front of you Well have to
purity / pjrti/ noun the quality of
purity
push the car to get it to start. The piano

being pure is too heavy to lift, so well have to push it
purple / p#
p()l/ noun a bluish-red col-
purple
into the next room. Did she fall down the

our adj bluish red stairs or was she pushed?
purplish1 adj similar to purple
purplish
push off phrasal verb to start on a jour-

purplish2 adj of a colour that is close to ney (informal) push off! go away!
purplish
pushbutton / pbt()n/ adj operated

pushbutton
purple
purport /p p
t/ (purports, purporting,
purport
|
by a button which can be pushed a push-
purported) verb to claim something He button timer
pusher / p/ noun a person who sells
pusher
purported to be a friend of the princess.

purpose / p#
ps/ noun an aim or plan
purpose
drugs illegally (slang)
pushover / pv/ noun 1. some-
pushover
The purpose of the meeting is to plan the |
village fair. thing that is easy to do 2. a person who is

purpose-built /p#
ps blt/ adj made
purpose-built
easily tricked
pushy / pi/ adj always trying to push
pushy
specially for a purpose

yourself forward, trying too hard to
purposeful / p#
psf()l/ adj with a spe-
purposeful
achieve success (informal)

cific aim in view
pussyfoot / psift/ (pussyfoots, pus-
pussyfoot
purposely / p#
psli/ adv intentionally
purposely
syfooting, pussyfooted) verb also pussy-

purr /p#
/ noun 1. the noise made by a cat
purr
foot about to be unable to decide what to

when pleased The cat rubbed against my do or how to do something (informal)
leg with a loud purr. 2. a steady low noise Stop pussyfooting about and make your
made by a machine or engine the purr of mind up!
the boats engine verb (purrs, purring, put / pt/ (puts, putting, put) verb to
put
purred) 1. (of a cat) to make a noise to place something somewhere Did you re-
show pleasure He purrs when you tickle member to put the milk in the fridge?
his stomach. 2. (of an engine) to make a Where do you want me to put this book?
steady low noise as it operates We purred put away phrasal verb to clear things
along at seventy miles an hour. away
purse /p#
s/ noun a small bag for car-
purse
put back phrasal verb to put something

rying money I know I had my purse in my where it was before
pocket when I left home. She put her tick- put by phrasal verb to save money
et in her purse so that she wouldnt forget put down phrasal verb 1. to place
where it was. something lower down onto a surface
pursue /p sju
/ (pursues, pursuing,
pursue
| He put his suitcase down on the floor be-

pursued) verb to go after someone in order side him. 2. to write something down 3. to
to try to catch him or her (formal) The po- charge something Put that book down
lice pursued the stolen car across London. on my account. 4. to let passengers get off
501 pyjamas
The taxi driver put me down outside the her hand to stop herself from falling. 3. to
hotel. 5. to make a deposit to put down switch something off He put the light
money on a house 6. to kill an animal that out and went to bed. 4. to put out to sea
is old or ill, painlessly using drugs The (of ships) to leave harbour
cat will have to be put down. 7. to defeat put through phrasal verb 1. to put
a group of people who make an attack someone through to someone to con-
against people in authority nect them on the phone Peter is out so
put forward phrasal verb 1. to suggest Ill put you through to Simon. I asked to
something I put forward several sug- speak to the accounts department and
gestions for plays we might go to see. 2. they put me through to sales. 2. to make
to change an arrangement to meet some- someone experience something unpleas-
one to a earlier time Can we put for- ant I dont want to be put through that
ward the meeting from Thursday to treatment again.
Wednesday? 3. to change the time on a put up phrasal verb 1. to attach some-
clock to a later one You have to put the thing to a wall, to attach something high
clocks forward by one hour in March. up Ive put up the photos of my family
put in phrasal verb 1. to place some- over my desk. They are putting up
thing inside something I forgot to put in Christmas decorations all along Regent
my pyjamas when I packed the case. 2. to Street. 2. to build something They put
fix something such as a system or a large up a wooden shed in their garden. 3. to
piece of equipment in place so that it can lift something up The gunman told us to
be used The first thing we have to do put our hands up. 4. to increase some-
with the cottage is to put in central heat- thing, to make something higher The
ing. 3. to do work She put in three shop has put up all its prices by 5%. 5. to
hours overtime work yesterday evening. give someone a place to sleep in your
4. to put in for to apply for She put in
house Theyve missed the last train,
for a job in the accounts department. can you put them up for the night?
He has put in for a grant to study in Italy. put up with phrasal verb to accept
someone or something unpleasant I
put off phrasal verb 1. to arrange for dont think I can put up with that noise
something to take place later We have any longer.
put the meeting off until next month. 2. to
putrid / pju
trd/ adj decayed; which
putrid
take someones attention so that they

cannot do things properly Stop making smells extremely unpleasant
putt /pt/ noun a short shot on a green in
putt
that strange noise, its putting me off my

work. 3. to say something that makes golf He sank a fifteen-foot putt to win the
someone decide not to do something game. (NOTE: + putt v)
putty / pti/ noun a soft substance which
putty
He told a story about cows that put me off

my food. I was going to see the film, but becomes hard after a time, used especially
my brother said something which put me for fixing the glass in windows
puzzle / pz()l/ noun 1. a game where
puzzle
off.
put on phrasal verb 1. to place some- you have to find the answer to a problem
thing on top of something, on a surface I cant do todays crossword puzzle. 2.
Put the lid on the saucepan. He put his something that is hard to understand Its
hand on my arm. Put the suitcases a puzzle to me why they dont go to live in
down on the floor. 2. to dress yourself in the country. verb (puzzles, puzzling,
a certain piece of clothing I put a clean puzzled) to be difficult to understand It
shirt on before I went to the party. Put puzzles me how the robbers managed to get
your gloves on, its cold outside. Put on away.
puzzled / pz()ld/ adj confused, not un-
puzzled
your wellies if youre going out in the

rain. 3. to switch something on Can derstanding something
puzzling / pz()l/ adj which is diffi-
puzzling
you put the light on, its getting dark?

Put on the kettle and well have some tea. cult to understand and does not seem rea-
4. to add something She has put on a lot sonable
of weight since I saw her last. PVC noun a strong plastic material, used
PVC
put out phrasal verb 1. to place some- in floor coverings, water pipes and clothing
pyjamas /p d
mz/ plural noun a
pyjamas
thing outside Did you remember to put |
the cat out? 2. to stretch out a part of your light shirt and trousers which you wear in
body, e.g. your hand or foot She put out bed I bought two pairs of pyjamas in the
pylon 502
sale. When fire broke out in the hotel, the pyre /pa/ noun a large fire which is
pyre
guests ran into the street in their pyjamas. burned as part of a ceremony
pylon / paln/ noun a tall metal tower for python / pa()n/ noun a large snake
pylon python
carrying electric wires which kills animals by crushing them

pyramid / prmd/ noun a shape with
pyramid
a square base and four sides rising to meet

at a point
Q
q /kju
/, Q noun the seventeenth letter of I want to add one qualification to the
q
the alphabet, between P and R agreement: if the goods are not delivered
QC /kju
si
/ noun a senior British barris- by the 30th of June, then the order will be
QC
ter. Full form Queens Counsel cancelled. 3. being successful in a test or

quack /kwk/ noun 1. a sound made by a
quack
competition which takes you on to the next
duck I heard a quack in the reeds. 2. a stage She didnt reach the necessary
bad doctor (disapproving) I went to see standard for qualification.
qualified / kwlfad/ adj 1. with the
qualified
the quack and he gave me some pills.

verb (quacks, quacking, quacked) to right qualifications Shes a qualified doc-
make a noise like a duck We could hear tor. 2. not complete, with conditions at-
the ducks quacking on the lake. tached The committee gave its qualified
quadruple / kwdrp()l/ (quadruples,
quadruple
approval. The school fair was only a

quadrupling, quadrupled) verb to multi- qualified success.
ply four times Our profits have quadru- qualifier / kwlfa/ noun 1. a person
qualifier
pled in the last three years. who qualifies in a sports competition

quagmire / kw(ma/ noun 1. an area
quagmire
How many qualifiers were there from the

of extremely wet ground, where you may first round? 2. a round of a sports competi-
be in danger of sinking or of becoming tion which qualifies a team to go to the next
stuck Be careful when you take the path round They won their qualifier and went
across the quagmire. After the rain, the through to the semi-final.
football pitch was like a quagmire. 2. a sit-
qualify / kwlfa/ (qualifies, qualify-
qualify
uation which is very complicated The

project got bogged down in a quagmire of ing, qualified) verb 1. to study for and ob-
government restrictions. tain a qualification which allows you to do
quaint /kwent/ adj attractive in a way
quaint
a certain type of work [~as] When I first
which is strange or unusual qualified I worked as a solicitor. He has
qualified as an engineer. 2. to attach condi-
quake /kwek/ verb (quakes, quaking,
quake
tions to something I must qualify the of-

quaked) 1. to shake The explosion made
fer by saying that your proposals still have
the buildings quake. 2. to shake because
you have a strong feeling such as fear or to be approved by the chairman. 3. to be in
because you are very cold [~with] She was the right position for something, or have
quaking with fear at the thought of going the right to have something [~for] The
for an interview. noun an occasion when project does not qualify for a government
there is a violent shaking of the earth, grant. 4. to pass a test or one section of a
caused by volcanic activity or movement competition and so go on to the next stage
of the Earths crust (informal ) Thousands [~for] She qualified for round two of the
of buildings were flattened in the San Fran- competition.
quality / kwlti/ (plural qualities)
quality
cisco quake of 1906.

qualification /kwlf ke()n/ noun 1. how good something is We want
qualification
noun 1. something necessary for a job, to measure the air quality in the centre of
such as proof that you have completed a town. There are several high-quality res-
particular course of study [~for/~in] Does taurants in the West End. (NOTE: no plural)
she have the right qualifications for the 2. something which is part of a persons
job?I dont have any qualifications in com- character She has many good qualities,
puting. 2. something which limits the but unfortunately is extremely lazy. What
meaning of a statement, or shows that you qualities do you expect in a good sales-
do not agree with something completely man?
quantifier 504
quantifier / kwntfa/ noun a word string quartet 3. four people or four things
quantifier
such as all or some that shows the range A quartet of British archaeologists dis-
of things referred to covered the tomb. Have you read his
quantify / kwntfa/ (quantifies, quan- quartet of novels about Egypt?
quantify
quartz /kw
ts/ noun a hard mineral of-
quartz
tifying, quantified) verb to measure some-

thing in quantities ten found as crystals in rocks and which
quantity / kwntti/ (plural quanti- makes up the major part of sand
quantity
quash /kw/ (quashes, quashing,

quash
ties) noun an amount [~of]

quantum leap /kwntm li
p/ noun a quashed) verb 1. to make a judgment or
quantum leap
big improvement in knowledge or a big ruling no longer valid The appeal court
change, especially to something better quashed the verdict. He applied for judi-
quarantine / kwrnti
n/ noun a period
quarantine
cial review to quash the order. 2. to make
of time when an animal or a person, usual- something end The government moved
ly coming from another country, has to be quickly to quash rumours of a split in the
kept apart from others to avoid the risk of Cabinet.
quaver / kwev/ (quavers, quavering,
quaver
passing on diseases The animals were put

in quarantine on arrival at the port. (NOTE: quavered) verb (of voice) to shake slightly
+ quarantine v) A quavering voice answered the tele-
quarrel / kwrl / noun an argument

quarrel
I phone.
quay /ki
/ noun the part of a harbour or
quay
think the quarrel was over who was in

charge of the cash desk. Hes had a quar- port where boats stop (NOTE: Do not con-
rel with his wife. fuse with key.)
quarry / kwri/ noun an animal or person queasy / kwi
zi/ adj feeling sick
queasy
quarry
queen /kwi
n/ noun 1. the wife of a
queen
who is being hunted Gunmen surrounded

the building where the kidnappers were, king King Charles Is queen was the
but their quarry managed to escape. verb daughter of the king of France. 2. a woman
(quarries, quarrying, quarried) to dig who rules a country The Queen some-
stone out of the ground The stone used to times lives in Windsor Castle. Queen Vic-
build the castle was quarried locally. toria was queen for many years. 3. in the
quart /kw
t/ noun a measure of liquid game of chess, the second most important
quart
equal to two pints or one quarter of a gallon piece, after the king In three moves he
quarter / kw
t/ noun one of four
quarter
had captured my queen.
queer /kw/ noun a homosexual man (of-
queer
parts, a fourth, 25% She cut the pear into

quarters. The jar is only a quarter empty. fensive; unless used by people who are gay)
quell /kwel/ (quells, quelling, quelled)
quell
He paid only a quarter of the normal fare

because he works for the airline. verb 1. to calm a situation in which there is
quarter-final /kw
t fan()l/ a lot of noise and fighting Extra police
quarter-final
noun (in sport) one of four matches in a were drafted in to quell the disturbances. 2.
competition, in which the person or team to hold back feelings She tried to quell
which wins goes into the semi-finals her fears about the journey. It was diffi-
quarterly / kw
tli/ adj, adv which
quarterly
cult to quell a feeling of resentment.
quench /kwent/ (quenches, quench-
quench
happens every three months a quarterly

payment There is a quarterly charge for ing, quenched) verb to quench your
electricity. We pay the rent quarterly or thirst to have a drink when you are thirsty
on a quarterly basis. noun (plural quar- I expect you would like something to
terlies) a magazine which appears every quench your thirst.
query / kwri/ (plural queries) noun a
query
three months He writes for one of the po-

litical quarterlies. question She had to answer a mass of
quarters / kw
tz/ plural noun places queries about the tax form.
quarters
quest /kwest/ noun a search

quest
where people live When they come off

duty the staff go back to their quarters. at question / kwest()n/ noun 1. a sen-
question
close quarters close to, very near I had tence which needs an answer The teacher
seen her often on TV, but this was the first couldnt answer the childrens questions.
time I had seen her at close quarters. Some of the questions in the exam were too
quartet / kw
tet/, quartette noun 1. difficult. The manager refused to answer
quartet
four musicians playing together She questions from journalists about the fire. 2.
plays the cello in a string quartet. 2. a piece a problem or matter The question is, who
of music for four musicians a Beethoven do we appoint to run the shop when were
505 quit
on holiday? The main question is that of quick /kwk/ adj done with speed or in
quick
cost. He raised the question of moving to a short time Im trying to work out the
a less expensive part of town. verb (ques- quickest way to get to the Tower of London.
tions, questioning, questioned) to ask We had a quick lunch and then went off
questions The police questioned the driv- for a walk. He is much quicker at calcu-
er for four hours. in question under dis- lating than I am. I am not sure that going
cussion Please keep to the matter in by air to Paris is quicker than taking the
question. it is out of the question it can- train.
not possibly be done You cannot borrow quicken / kwkn/ (quickens, quicken-
quicken
any more money its out of the question. ing, quickened) verb 1. to make something
Its out of the question for her to have any go faster He quickened his steps as he
more time off. neared the house. 2. to make more active,
questionable / kwestnb()l/ adj to become more active The decision is
questionable
which is not completely honest or straight- bound to quicken racial tensions. The in-
forward terest of the public began to quicken as it
questioning / kwest()n/ noun a sit- came closer to the time for the festival.
questioning
quickie / kwki/ noun something which

quickie
uation in which someone is asked a lot of

questions, especially formally or officially, takes only a short time to deal with, e.g. a
or an instance of this drink or question
question mark / kwetn m
k/ quickly / kwkli/ adv very fast, with-
quickly
question mark
noun a sign (?) used in writing to show that out taking much time He ate his supper
a question is being asked very quickly because he wanted to watch
questionnaire /kwest ne/ noun
questionnaire
|
the match on TV. The firemen came
a printed list of questions given to people quickly when we called 999.
quid /kwd/ (plural same) noun a pound
quid
to answer, usually questions about what

they like or what they buy (informal)
quiet / kwat/ adj 1. without any
quiet
question tag / kwest()n t(/ noun a

question tag
short phrase at the end of a statement that noise a house in a quiet street I wish the
changes it into a question. In English, ex- children would be quiet. Im trying to
amples are the phrases isnt it? and have work. 2. with no great excitement We had
you? a quiet holiday by the sea. Its a quiet lit-
tle village. The hotel is in the quietest
queue /kju
/ noun a line of people or
queue
part of the town.

things such as cars, waiting one behind the
quieten / kwat()n/ (quietens, quiet-
quieten
other for something [~for] We joined the

queue for tickets at the entrance to the sta- ening, quietened) verb to make somebody
dium. There was a queue of people wait- quiet, to calm somebody down
quietly / kwatli/ adv without mak-
quietly
ing to get into the exhibition. to form a

queue to stand in line Please form a ing any noise The burglar climbed quiet-
queue to the left of the door. Queues ly up to the window. She shut the door
formed at ticket offices when the news of quietly behind her.
quilt /kwlt/ noun a thick cover for a bed.
quilt
cheap fares became known. to jump the

queue to go in front of other people stand- patchwork
quintessential /kwnt senl/ adj
quintessential
ing in a queue Are you trying to jump the |
queue? Go to the back! verb (queueing which is a perfect example of something

quintet /kwn tet/, quintette noun 1. five
quintet
or queuing, queued) also queue up to |
stand in a line waiting for something [~for] musicians playing together She plays the
We spent hours queuing for tickets. cello in a string quintet. 2. a piece of music
quibble / kwb()l/ verb (quibbles, quib- for five musicians a Mozart flute quintet
quibble
quip /kwp/ (quips, quipping, quipped)

quip
bling, quibbled) to argue about the details

of something which is extremely unimpor- verb to make a joke or a clever remark
tant [~about] They spent hours quibbling Hey, big spender! she quipped as she saw
about who should pay the bill. noun a mi- him staggering out of the supermarket lad-
nor argument I have only a few quibbles en with plastic bags.
quirk /kw#
k/ noun an unusual or strange
quirk
about the style, but basically I like the

book. thing
quiche /ki
/ noun an open pastry case quirky / kw#
ki/ adj strange, unusual
quiche quirky
with a filling of food such as eggs or vege- quit /kwt/ (quits, quitting, quitted or
quit
tables quit) verb 1. to leave something such as a

quite 506
job or a place and not return When the quizzical / kwzk()l/ adj showing that
quizzical
boss criticised her, she quit. Im fed up you think something is surprising or funny
with the office, Im thinking of quitting. 2. quorum / kw
rm/ noun the number of
quorum
US to stop doing something Will you quit people who have to be present at a meeting
bothering me! He quit smoking. to make it official or legal
quite /kwat / adv 1. to some degree
quite
quota / kwt/ noun 1. a fixed amount

quota
Its quite a long play. Shes quite a good of things that should be supplied or re-
writer. The book is quite amusing but I
liked the TV play better. 2. to a great degree ceived according to official rules 2. an
amount of something that someone has to
Youre quite mad to go walking in a
do, e.g. a share of work
snowstorm. Hes quite right. I dont
quotation /kw te()n/ noun the
quotation
quite understand why you want to go Chi- |
na. not quite not completely The work words of one person which are repeated by
is not quite finished yet. Have you eaten another person
quotation marks /kw te()n
quotation marks
all the bread? Not quite. |
quiver / kwv/ (quivers, quivering,

quiver
m
ks/ plural noun printed or written
quivered) verb to shake slightly The dog marks ( ) showing that a quotation starts or
watched the snake, quivering with fear. finishes
The children rushed to the Christmas tree, quote /kwt / noun a quotation
quote
quivering with excitement. (NOTE: + quiver [~from] I need some good quotes from his
n) speech to put into my report. verb
quiz /kwz/ noun a game where you are
quiz
(quotes, quoting, quoted) to repeat what

asked a series of questions She got all the someone has said or written He started
questions right in the quiz. They organ- his speech by quoting lines from Shake-
ised a general knowledge quiz. speares Hamlet.
R
r /
/, R noun the eighteenth letter of the al- racism / resz()m/ noun the belief that
r racism
phabet, between Q and S a group of people are not as good as others

rabbi / rba/ noun a Jewish religious because they are of a different race, and
rabbi
leader or teacher (NOTE: also used as a title treating them differently

racist / resst/ noun a person who treats
racist
before a name: Rabbi Jonathan Sacks)

rabbit / rbt/ noun a common wild
rabbit
someone differently because of race Hes
animal with grey fur, long ears and a short an old racist and you wont change his
white tail The rabbit ran down its hole. views. The former regime was full of rac-
She keeps a pet rabbit in a cage. ists.
rack /rk/ noun a frame for holding
rack
rabbit warren / rbt wrn/ noun 1. a

rabbit warren
series of underground tunnels where rab- things, e.g. letters, tools or suitcases He
bits live There are many rabbit warrens put the envelope in the letter rack on his
in the park. 2. an area where there are a lot desk.
racket / rkt/ noun 1. a light frame
racket
of narrow streets We got lost in the rabbit

warren of old streets behind the market. with tight strings, used for hitting the ball
rabble / rb()l/ noun a crowd, a large
rabble
in games She bought a new tennis racket
violent mass of people at the start of the summer season. She
asked if she could borrow his badminton
rabies / rebi
z/ noun a serious disease
rabies
racket for the tournament. 2. a loud noise

which can cause death and which is passed (informal) Stop that racket at once! The
to humans by infected animals people next door make a terrible racket
race / res/ noun a competition to see
race
when theyre having a party.

which person, animal or vehicle is the fast- racy / resi/ adj (of behaviour) slightly
racy
est She was second in the 200 metres shocking

race. The bicycle race goes round the
radiance / redins/ noun the quality of
radiance
whole country. verb (races, racing,

raced) 1. to run fast They saw the bus
shining extremely brightly
radiant / redint/ adj 1. very happy a
radiant
coming and raced to the bus stop. He

snatched some watches from the shop win- radiant smile She looked radiant in her
dow and then raced away down the street. wedding photos. 2. very bright or shining
2. to compete in a race Ill race you to see radiant blue 3. (of heat) sent out in the form
who gets to school first. of rays
radiate / rediet/ (radiates, radiating,
radiate
racecourse / resk
s/ noun a grass-
racecourse
covered track where horse races are held radiated) verb 1. to send out rays or heat
The Sun radiates heat. 2. to spread out
racehorse / resh
s/ noun a horse bred
racehorse
from a central point The paths radiated

and trained especially to run in horse races from the tree in the centre of the garden.
race relations /res r le()nz/ plural
race relations
|
The pain can radiate down both arms and
noun relations between different groups of up into the neck and jaw.
races in the same country Race relations radiation /redi e()n/ noun the proc-
radiation
officers have been appointed in some po- ess of sending out rays or heat
lice forces.
radiator / rediet/ noun 1. a metal ob-
radiator
racetrack / restrk/ noun a track

racetrack
ject, usually fixed to a wall, which is filled

where races are run with hot water for heating a room Turn
racial / re()l/ adj referring to different
racial
the radiator down its boiling in here.

races When we arrived at the hotel our room was
racing / res/ noun competitions to
racing
cold, so we switched the radiators on. 2. a

see who is fastest metal container filled with cold water for
radical 508
preventing a car engine from becoming too scissors to cut the wrapping paper you
hot The radiator overheated causing the wouldnt have made the edge all ragged.
car to break down. raid /red/ noun a sudden attack; a sudden
raid
radical / rdk()l/ noun a member of

radical
visit by the police verb (raids, raiding,

a radical party Two Radicals voted raided) to make a sudden attack on a place
against the government. The police raided the club. We caught
radio / redi/ noun 1. a method of the boys raiding the fridge.
radio
sending out and receiving messages using raider / red/ noun a person who takes
raider
air waves They got the news by radio. part in a raid

We always listen to BBC radio when were rail /rel/ noun 1. a straight metal or
rail
on holiday. 2. a machine which sends out wooden bar The pictures all hang from a
and receives messages using air waves picture rail. Hold onto the rail as you go
Turn on the radio its time for the weath- down the stairs. There is a heated towel
er forecast. I heard the news on the car rail in the bathroom. 2. one of two parallel
radio. Please, turn the radio down Im metal bars on which trains run Dont try
on the phone. to cross the rails its dangerous. 3. the
radioactive /redi ktv/ adj (of a
radioactive
|
railway, a system of travel using trains
substance) which, as its nucleus breaks up, Six million commuters travel to work by
gives off energy in the form of radiation rail each day. We ship all our goods by
which can pass through other substances rail. Rail travellers are complaining
radioactivity /redik tvti/ noun
radioactivity
|
about rising fares. Rail travel is cheaper
energy in the form of radiation from radio- than air travel.
active substances railroad / relrd/ noun US same as rail-
railroad
radiography /redi (rfi/ noun the

radiography
|
way
practice or process of making X-ray photo-
railway / relwe/ noun a way of trav-
railway
graphs
elling which uses trains to carry passengers
radish / rd/ noun a small red root veg-
radish
and goods The railway station is in the

etable, eaten raw in salads centre of town. The French railway sys-
radius / redis/ noun 1. a line from
radius
tem has high-speed trains to all major cit-

the centre of a circle to the outside edge ies.
We were all asked to measure the radius of
railway embankment /relwe m
railway embankment
the circle. 2. the distance in any direction |
from a particular central point People bkmnt/ noun a raised bank of earth to
within a radius of twenty miles heard the carry a railway
rain /ren/ noun drops of water which
rain
explosion. The school accepts children

living within a two-mile radius. fall from the clouds The ground is very
raffle / rf()l/ noun a game where you
raffle
dry weve had no rain for days. Yester-
buy a ticket with a number on it, in the day we had 3cm of rain or 3cm of rain fell
hope of winning a prize She won a bottle here yesterday. If you have to go out in
of perfume in a raffle. the rain take an umbrella. All this rain
raft /r
ft/ noun many, a lot of They had
raft
will help the plants grow. verb (rains,
raining, rained) to fall as drops of water
to answer a raft of questions about govern-
ment policy. from the clouds As soon as we sat down
and took out the sandwiches it started to
rafter / r
ft/ noun one of the long
rafter
rain. Look at the clouds, its going to

straight pieces of wood which hold up a rain.
roof
rainbow / renb/ noun a shape like
rainbow
rag /r(/ noun a piece of torn cloth He

rag
used an old oily rag to clean his motorbike. half a circle which shines with many col-
ours in the sky when it is sunny and raining
rage /red/ noun sudden extreme anger
rage
at the same time

Her face was red with rage. to fly into a
raincoat / renkt / noun a coat which
raincoat
rage to get very angry suddenly When he

phoned her she flew into a rage. verb keeps off water, which you wear when it is
(rages, raging, raged) to be violent The raining
raindrop / rendrp/ noun a drop of wa-
raindrop
storm raged all night.

ragged / r(d/ adj 1. (of clothes) torn ter which falls from a cloud
ragged
rainfall / renf
l/ noun the amount of
rainfall
The old photographs showed poor children

standing in ragged clothes. 2. (of edge of rain which falls in a place over a certain pe-
paper or cloth) not straight If youd used riod
509 range
rain forest / ren frst/ noun a thick bles, rambling, rambled) 1. to go for a
rain forest
forest which grows in tropical regions walk for pleasure in the countryside We
where there is a lot of rain went rambling last weekend. 2. also ram-
rainstorm / renst
m/ noun a storm ble on to talk on and on in a confused way
rainstorm
with a lot of rain He has a tendency to ramble, and his
rainwater / renw
t/ noun water
rainwater
phone calls never last less than half an
which has fallen as rain hour. She went rambling on about her
raise /rez/ (raises, raising, raised)
raise
boy, and it wasnt until later that I real-
verb 1. to put something in a higher posi- ised she was talking about her cat.
ramp /rmp/ noun a small curved shape
ramp
tion or at a higher level He picked up the

flag and raised it over his head. Air fares across the surface of a road Drive care-
will be raised on June 1st. 2. to mention a fully ramps ahead!
rampage / rmped/ noun to go on
rampage
subject which could be discussed No one

raised the subject of politics. The manag- the rampage to go about breaking things
er tried to prevent the question of pay being or creating a lot of noise and mess After
raised. 3. to obtain money The hospital is their teams defeat the fans went on the
trying to raise 2m to finance its building rampage around the town. verb (rampag-
programme. Where will he raise the mon- es, rampaging, rampaged) also rampage
ey from to start up his business? 4. to look about to create a lot of mess and noise
after a child She was raised by her aunt She was rampaging about, throwing books
in Canada. (NOTE: Do not confuse with raze. and pictures all over the place.
Note also: raises raising raised.) rampant / rmpnt / adj existing every-
rampant
raisin / rez()n/ noun a dried grape

raisin
where without being controlled

rake / rek/ noun the angle of a slope The
rake
ramshackle / rmk()l/ adj badly

ramshackle
rake of the stage is quite steep. verb damaged and falling to pieces
(rakes, raking, raked) to move a camera or
ran /rn / past tense of run
ran
gun slowly sideways so that it covers a

ranch /r
nt / noun (in North or South
ranch
wide area From their lookout post they

were able to rake the whole square with America) a farm where horses or cows are
machine-gun fire. kept, especially in North or South America
rake in phrasal verb to gather something The cowboys returned to the ranch each
together (informal) evening. They left the city and bought a

rake up phrasal verb 1. to pull dead ranch in Colorado.
rancour / rk/ noun an angry feeling
rancour
leaves together with a rake She raked

the dead leaves up into a pile. 2. to bring against someone or something (NOTE: The
together We had difficulty in raking up US spelling is rancor.)
the money to buy the house. 3. to bring random / rndm/ adj done without any
random
back something unpleasant from the past planning at random without choosing
The newspapers tried to rake up the old carefully Pick any card at random.
scandal. rang /r/ past tense of ring
rang
rally / rli/ (plural rallies) noun a large

rally
range /rend/ noun 1. a choice or se-

range
meeting of members of a group or political ries of things which are available We

party We are holding a rally to protest have a range of holidays at all prices. I
against the job cuts. am looking for something in the 2030
ram /rm/ (rams, ramming, rammed)
ram
price range. 2. a distance which you can

verb to move or hammer something down go; a distance over which you can see or
hard hear The missile only has a range of 100
RAM /rm/ noun random access memory,
RAM
km. The police said the man had been

computer memory that allows access to shot at close range. The optician told her
any part of the memory in any order with- that her range of vision would be limited.
out having to access the rest of memory 3. a series of buildings or mountains in line
Ramadan / rmdn / noun a Muslim
Ramadan
There is a range of outbuildings next to

religious festival, the ninth month of the the farmhouse which can be converted into
Muslim year, during which believers are holiday cottages. They looked out at the
not allowed to eat or drink during the day vast mountain range from the plane win-
ramble / rmbl/ noun a walk for pleas-
ramble
dow. verb (ranges, ranging, ranged) to

ure in the countryside Were going for a include all things within a range [~from]
ramble through the woods. verb (ram- Sizes range from small to extra large.
rank 510
rank /rk/ noun 1. a position in soci- rapture / rpt/ noun a state of great
rank rapture
ety or in a service such as the army or po- happiness or enthusiasm

lice What rank does he hold in the police rare /re / adj not usual or common
rare
force? She rose to the rank of captain. 2. Its very rare to meet a foreigner who
a row of people, especially soldiers The speaks perfect Chinese. Experienced
soldiers kept rank as they advanced to- sales staff are rare these days. The forest
wards the enemy. 3. a row of things The is the habitat of a rare species of frog.
room was full of people watching ranks of rarely / reli/ adv almost never I
rarely
computer screens. verb (ranks, ranking, rarely buy a Sunday newspaper. He is

ranked) to be placed in order of impor- rarely in his office on Friday afternoons.
tance Shakespeare ranks among the rarity / rerti/ noun 1. the state of being
rarity
greatest world authors. As an artist he rare The rarity of the species means that
doesnt rank as highly as his sister. the it must be protected. 2. a rare thing Hot
rank and file ordinary people sunny days are a rarity in November. We
ranking / rk/ noun a position in or-
ranking
get so few tourists that a coachload of them

der of importance is a real rarity.
rankle / rk()l/ (rankles, rankling, rash /r/ noun a mass of red spots on
rankle rash
rankled) verb to cause continuing bitter your skin, which stays for a time and then
feelings disappears She had a rash on her arms.
ransack / rnsk/ (ransacks, ransack-
ransack
adj done without thinking carefully or sen-
ing, ransacked) verb to cause a lot of dam- sibly It was a bit rash of him to suggest
age and mess while searching a place to that he would pay for everyone. (NOTE:
find something rasher rashest)
rasher / r/ noun a thin piece of ba-
rasher
ransom / rns()m/ noun money paid to

ransom
con
get back someone who is being held pris-
rasp /r
sp/ (rasps, rasping, rasped)
rasp
oner The daughter of the banker was held

verb to make a grating noise The steel
by kidnappers who asked for a ransom of
1m. bolt rasped as he slid it back.
raspberry / r
zb()ri/ (plural raspber-
raspberry
rant /rnt/ (rants, ranting, ranted) verb

rant
ries) noun a rude noise made with the

to complain or shout loudly mouth to show that you think something is
rap /rp/ noun a form of African Carib-
rap
rubbish Instead of replying, she blew him

bean music where the singer speaks words a raspberry.
quickly over a strong beat, improvising as Rastafarian /rst ferin/ noun a
Rastafarian
he or she goes along The club played rap member of an Afro-Caribbean religious
all evening. verb (raps, rapping, rapped) group that considers the former emperor of
to sing rap music Although he couldnt Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, to be God
play the guitar or the drums he was great rat /rt/ noun a small furry animal like a
rat
at rapping. large mouse which has a long tail and can

rape /rep/ noun the offence of attacking a
rape
carry disease The citys sewers are full of

person and forcing them to have sex rats.
Theres been a dramatic increase in the rate /ret/ noun 1. a number shown as a
rate
number of rapes in this area over the past proportion of another 2. how frequently
year. He was in court, charged with rape. something is done There has been a
rapid / rpd/ adj done very quickly or
rapid
sharp increase in the countrys birth rate

happening very quickly There has been a His heart was beating at a rate of only 59
rapid rise in property prices this year. per minute. 3. a level of payment He im-
The rapid change in the weather forced the mediately accepted the rate offered. Be-
yachts to turn for home. fore we discuss the project further, I would
rapidly / rpdli/ adv quickly
rapidly
like to talk about the rates of payment.
Their rate of pay is lower than ours. 4.
rapist / repst/ noun a person who has
rapist
speed At the rate hes going, hell be

raped someone there before us. If you type at a steady
rapper / rp/ noun a person who speaks
rapper
rate of 70 words per minute youll finish

words to rap music copying the text today.
rapport /r p
/ noun an understanding, rather / r
/ adv to a slight degree
rapport rather
a close connection between two people or Their house is rather on the small side.
groups Her dress is a rather pretty shade of blue.
511 react
ratify / rtfa/ (ratifies, ratifying, rati- large party for young people, with bright
ratify
fied) verb to approve something officially lights, loud music and usually drugs
(NOTE: + ratification n) raven / rev()n/ noun a big black bird
raven
rating / ret/ noun 1. the act or practice like a very large crow
rating
of giving a score or mark for something ravenous / rv()ns/ adj very hungry
ravenous
What rating would you give that film? 2. (in ravine /r vi

n/ noun a deep narrow val-
ravine
the navy) an ordinary seaman The new ley

commander joined the navy 20 years ago ravishing / rv/ adj very beautiful
ravishing
as a rating.
raw /r
/ adj not cooked Dont be silly
raw
ratio / rei/ noun an amount of

ratio
you cant eat raw potatoes! We had a

something measured in relation to another salad of raw cabbage and tomatoes. Su-
amount the ratio of successes to failures shi is a Japanese dish of raw fish. They
Our athletes beat theirs by a ratio of two
served the meat almost raw.
to one (2:1).
raw materials /r
m trilz/ plu-
raw materials
ration / r()n/ noun an amount of food

ration |
ral noun substances such as wool, wood or

or supplies allowed The rations provided
for the expedition were more than suffi- sand which are still in their natural state
cient. The prisoners had to survive on and have not yet been made into manufac-
meagre rations. verb (rations, rationing, tured goods
ray /re/ noun a beam of light or heat A
ray
rationed) to allow only a certain amount of

food or supplies Petrol may be rationed ray of sunshine hit the window pane and lit
this winter. During the war we were ra- up the gloomy room.
raze /rez/ (razes, razing, razed) verb to
raze
tioned to one ounce of cheese per person

per week. destroy a building or a town completely
rational / r()n()l/ adj sensible,
rational
The office block will be razed to the ground
based on reason to make way for the new road.
razor / rez/ noun an instrument with
razor
rationale / r n
l/ noun a set of rea-
rationale
sons for which something is done a very sharp blade for removing hair from
rationalise / r()nlaz/ (rationalis-
rationalise
the face or body
razor blade / rez bled/ noun a blade
razor blade
es, rationalising, rationalised), rational-

ize verb 1. to find a reason for actions for a razor, which can be used several times
which do not appear to be rational He before being thrown away
Rd abbr road Our address is 1 Cam-
Rd
tried to rationalise what he had done. 2. to

make something such as a system or a busi- bridge Rd.
ness work in a more effective way The re /ri
/ prep concerning
re
rail company is trying to rationalise its re- /ri

/ prefix again
re-
freight services. reach /ri

t/ noun how far you can
reach
rattle / rt()l/ (rattles, rattling, rattled)

rattle
stretch out your hand Keep the medicine

verb to make a repeated noise like two bottle out of the reach of the children.
pieces of wood hitting each other The verb (reaches, reaching, reached) 1. to
wind made the windows rattle. stretch out your hand to She reached
rattle off phrasal verb to say something across the table and took some meat from
very quickly my plate. Hes quite tall enough to reach
raucous / r
ks/ adj loud and unpleas-
raucous
the tool cupboard. Can you reach me

ant to listen to the raucous cries of the down the suitcase from the top shelf? 2. to
birds Raucous laughter greeted his ap- arrive at a place We were held up by fog
pearance on stage. A raucous crowd and only reached home at midnight. The
gathered in front of the palace. plane reaches Hong Kong at midday. We
ravage / rvd/ (ravages, ravaging, wrote to tell her we were coming to visit,
ravage
ravaged) verb to damage or to destroy a but the letter never reached her. 3. to get to
place The countryside had been ravaged a certain level The amount we owe the
by years of civil war. bank has reached 100,000.
rave /rev/ verb (raves, raving, raved) 1. react /ri kt/ (reacts, reacting, react-
rave react
to speak in an excited way He ranted and ed) verb 1. to do or to say something in re-
raved until someone came to see what was sponse to words or an action [~ to] How
the matter. 2. to be very enthusiastic about will he react to the news? When she
something She raves about this little res- heard the rumour she didnt react at all. 2.
taurant in the West End. noun a very to behave in a particular way as a result of
reaction 512
something [~to] How did he react to the readily / redli/ adv 1. easily and
readily
news of her death? He didnt react at all quickly This product is readily available
well to the injection. 3. to show opposition in most shops. 2. willingly Is there any-
to something [~against] The farmers re- one readily available to help me this week-
acted against the new law by blocking the end? She came readily when I asked her
roads with their tractors. 4. (of a chemical ) to help me.
to change chemical composition because readiness / redins/ noun being ready
readiness
of a substance [~with] Acids react with or willing

metals. reading / ri
d/ noun 1. the act of
reading
reaction /ri kn/ noun 1. a thing

reaction
|
looking at and understanding written
done or said as a result of something else words Reading and writing should be
[~to] His immediate reaction to the news taught early. 2. an occasion when someone
was to burst into laughter. There was a speaks the words of something which is
very negative reaction to the proposed written They gave a poetry reading in the
building development. 2. a process of bookshop.
chemical change A chemical reaction readjust /ri
dst/ (readjusts, read-
readjust
takes place when the acid is added. justing, readjusted) verb to adjust again
reactionary /ri kn()ri/ adj ex- read-out / ri
d at/ noun the data pro-
reactionary
read-out
|
tremely conservative, opposed to any duced by electronic equipment, e.g. a com-

change Reactionary elements in the gov- puter, and which you can read or hear
ernment may try to block the presidents ready / redi/ (readier, readiest) adj 1.
ready
plan. prepared for something or to do something

read /ri
d/ (reads, reading, read) verb
read
[~for] Hold on Ill be ready in two min-

1. to look at and understand written words utes. Are all the children ready for
[~about] Were reading about the general school? Why isnt the coach here? The
election. She was reading a book when I group are all ready to go. 2. available and
saw her. What are you reading at the mo- suitable to be used or eaten Dont sit
ment? 2. to look at and understand written down yet the meal isnt ready. Is my dry
music She can play the piano by ear, but cleaning ready yet? 3. willing Shes al-
cant read music. 3. to understand the ways ready to help in the garden.
meaning of data from something such as a ready-made /redi med/ adj which is
ready-made
computer disk or a piece of electronic mass-produced and ready to use

equipment My PC cannot read these old real /rl/ adj 1. not false or artificial
real
disks. The scanner reads the code on Is that watch real gold? That plastic ap-
each product. 4. to speak the words of ple looks very real or looks just like the real
something which is written The chair- thing. He has a real leather case. 2. used
man read a message from the president for emphasising something That car is a
during the meeting. She reads a story to real bargain at 300. Their little girl is
the children every night. Can you read going to be a real beauty. Wasps can be a
the instructions on the medicine bottle? real problem on picnics. Theres a real
The print is too small for me. danger that the shop will be closed. 3.
read aloud, read out phrasal verb to which exists in the world, not only in
speak the words you are reading someones imagination or in stories She
reader / ri
d/ noun 1. a person who
reader
believes fairies are real.

reads, especially a person who reads regu- real estate / rl stet/ noun land or
real estate
larly or who reads a particular newspaper buildings which are bought or sold
or type of book a message from the editor realise / rlaz/ (realises, realising,
realise
to all our readers Shes a great reader of realised), realize verb 1. to understand
science fiction. 2. a school book to help clearly something that you did not under-
children to learn to read The teacher stand before He didnt realise what he
handed out the new readers to the class. was letting himself in for when he said he
I remember one of my first readers it was would paint the house. We soon realised
about pirates. we were on the wrong road. When she
readership / ri
dp/ noun all the peo-
readership
went into the managers office she did not

ple who regularly read a particular maga- realise she was going to be sacked. 2. to
zine or newspaper, or read the books of a make something become real After four
particular writer The paper is targeting a years of hard work, the motor racing team
younger readership. realised their dream of winning the Grand
513 reasonably
Prix. By buying a house by the sea he re- dent. They sat towards the rear of the cin-
alised his greatest ambition. ema. adj at the back The children sat in
realism / rlz()m/ noun 1. behav- the rear seats in the car. He wound down
realism
iour which faces facts, accepting things as the rear window. verb (rears, rearing,
they are and not trying to change them or reared) 1. to look after animals or children
fight against them My job is to try to as they are growing up They rear horses
bring some realism to their proposals. on their farm. They stopped rearing pigs
With the arrival of the new managing di- because of the smell. 2. to rise up, or to lift
rector an air of realism has finally entered something up A rhino suddenly reared up
the company. 2. the fact or practice of out of the long grass. The walls of the
showing things in writing or painting as castle reared up before them. The spectre
they really are He brought piles of sand of inflation reared its ugly head.
and a deckchair into the studio to lend re- rearrange /ri
rend/ (rearranges,
rearrange
alism to the photos for the holiday bro- rearranging, rearranged) verb 1. to ar-
chure. Realism dominated French paint- range something again She rearranged
ing in the latter part of the 19th century. the furniture so that the room looked quite
realist / rlst/ noun 1. a person who ac-
realist
different. 2. to change the time of a meeting

cepts life as it really is, and does not try to Can I rearrange my appointment for next
change it or fight it He told me that he week?
didnt believe in love at first sight as he was rear-view mirror /r vju
mr/ noun
rear-view mirror
a realist. 2. an artist or writer who shows a mirror in the centre of the front of a car,
things as they really are Realist painters so that the driver can see what is behind
were popular in the 19th century. him without turning round
realistic /r lstk/ adj 1. which looks
realistic
reason / ri
z()n/ noun 1. a thing
reason
|
as if it is real These flowers look so real- which explains why something has hap-
istic, I cant believe theyre made of plastic. pened [~for/~that] The airline gave no
2. accepting life as it really is Lets be re- reason for the planes late arrival. The
alistic youll never earn enough money to boss asked him for the reason why he was
buy this house. Im just being realistic behind with his work. 2. the ability to make
when I say that you should reconsider the sensible judgments She wouldnt listen to
offer. reason. verb (reasons, reasoning, rea-
reality /ri lti/ (plural realities) noun
reality
|
soned) to think or to plan something care-
what is real and not imaginary the grim fully and sensibly [~(that)] He reasoned
realities of life in an industrial town He that any work is better than no work, so he
worked hard, and his dreams of wealth took the job. If you take the time to reason
soon became a reality. in reality in fact it out, youll find a solution to the problem.
She always told people she was poor, but in it stands to reason it is reasonable It
reality she was worth millions. stands to reason that he wants to join his
really / rli/ adv 1. in fact The build-
really
fathers firm. to see reason to see that

ing really belongs to my father. 2. used to someones argument is right or reasonable
show surprise Shes not really French, is She was going to report her neighbours
she? She doesnt like apples. Really, to the police, but in the end we got her to
how strange! Did you really mean what see reason. within reason to a sensible
you said? degree, in a sensible way The children
realm /relm/ noun 1. a kingdom, especial-
realm
get 5 pocket money each week, and we let

ly the United Kingdom defence of the them spend it as they like, within reason.
realm 2. an area of experience It is quite for some reason in a way which you can-
within the realms of possibility. not explain For some reason (or other)
real time / rl tam/ noun an action of a the builders sent us two invoices.
real time
computer which takes place at the same reasonable / ri

z()nb()l/ adj 1.
reasonable
time as the problem it is solving sensible The manager of the shop was
reap / ri
p/ (reaps, reaping, reaped) verb
reap
very reasonable when she tried to explain

to cut a grain crop In September everyone that she had left her credit cards at home.
went to the farm to help reap the corn. 2. not expensive The hotels charges are
reappear /ri
p/ (reappears, reap- quite reasonable. The restaurant offers
reappear
pearing, reappeared) verb to appear again good food at reasonable prices.

rear /r/ noun the part at the back The reasonably / ri
z()nbli / adv 1. in a
rear reasonably
rear of the car was damaged in the acci- reasonable way The meals are very rea-
reasoned 514
sonably priced. Very reasonably, he rebuke /r bju
k/ (rebukes, rebuking,
rebuke
asked for a check on the brakes of the car rebuked) verb to criticise someone sharply
before buying it. 2. quite It is reasonably She rebuked the MD for not doing
easy. enough for the shareholders. (NOTE: + re-
reasoned / ri
z()nd/ adj carefully
reasoned
buke n)
thought out rebut /r bt/ (rebuts, rebutting, rebut-
rebut
reasoning / ri
z()n/ noun opinions, ted) verb to state that something such as an
reasoning
views, or decisions argument is not true

reassure /ri
/ (reassures, reas- recalcitrant /r klstrnt/ adj deter-
reassure recalcitrant
| |
suring, reassured) verb to make someone mined not to change your mind, behaving
less afraid or less worried (NOTE: + reas- in a difficult way
surance n) recall1 / ri
k
l/ noun the act of asking
recall
reassuring /ri
r/ adj which re-
reassuring
| for products to be returned, or the act of or-

assures, which makes you less worried dering someone to return The recall of
rebate / ri
bet/ noun a reduction in the
rebate
the faulty goods caused the manufacturers
amount of money to be paid We are offer- some serious 3problems. The recall of
ing a 10% rebate on selected goods. the ambassador is expected any time now.
recall2 /r k
l/ (recalls, recalling, re-
recall
rebel1 / reb()l/ noun a person who fights

rebel
|
against a government or against those who called) verb 1. to remember something I

are in authority The rebels fled to the seem to recall that you promised to do it.
mountains after the army captured their I dont recall having met her before. She
headquarters. He considers himself couldnt recall any details of the accident.
something of a rebel because he wears his 2. (of a manufacturer) to ask for products to
hair in a ponytail. be returned because of possible faults
rebel2 /r bel/ (rebels, rebelling, re-
rebel
|
They recalled 10,000 washing machines
belled) verb to fight against someone or
because of a faulty electrical connection.
something The peasants were rebelling They have recalled all their 2001 models
against the kings men. The class reas there is a fault in the steering. 3. to tell a
belled at the idea of doing extra homework. government official to come home from a
foreign country The United States re-
rebellion /r beljn/ noun a fight against
rebellion
|
called their representatives after the mili-
the government, against the people in au- tary coup.
thority
recap /ri
kp/ (recaps, recapping, re-
recap
rebellious /r beljs / adj fighting

rebellious |
|
capped) verb to state the main points of
against authority something again
rebirth /ri
b#
/ noun being born again,
rebirth
recede /r si
d/ (recedes, receding,
recede
|
|
starting again receded) verb to go away or to move back

reboot /ri
bu
t/ (reboots, rebooting, re-
reboot
receipt /r si
t/ noun a piece of paper
receipt
|
|
booted) verb to start a computer again that shows you have paid for something or
rebound1 / ri
band/ noun bouncing
rebound
have received something [~for] We cant

back The rebound was so fast that he give you your money back if you dont have
missed the ball altogether. There was a a receipt. Would you like a receipt for the
rebound in Tokyo share prices yesterday. petrol?
rebound2 /r band/ (rebounds, re-
rebound
receive /r si
v/ (receives, receiving,
receive
|
|
bounding, rebounded) verb 1. to move received) verb 1. to get something which

back after hitting something The ball re- has been sent We received a parcel from
bounded off the goalpost. 2. to have a bad the supplier this morning. We only re-
effect on you instead of the person the ac- ceived our tickets the day before we were
tion was directed at [~on] His attacks on due to leave. The staff have not received
local shopkeepers rebounded on him when any wages for six months. 2. to meet or to
they all voted against him in the elections. welcome a visitor The group was re-
rebuff /r bf/ (rebuffs, rebuffing, re-
rebuff
| ceived by the mayor.

buffed) verb to refuse something sharply receiver /r si
v/ noun 1. the part of a
receiver
They rebuffed all offers of help. (NOTE: + re- telephone which you hold to your ear and
buff n) listen through He shouted get stuffed!
rebuild /ri
bld/ (rebuilds, rebuilding,
rebuild
| and slammed down the receiver. 2. the part

rebuilt) verb to build again of a radio or television which receives
515 recognise
broadcast programmes Our radio receiv- soup from the newspaper. You can buy
er picked up your signal quite clearly. postcards with recipes of local dishes.
recent / ri
s()nt/ adj taking place not recipient /r spint/ noun a person who
recent recipient
very long ago We will mail you our most receives something
reciprocal /r sprk()l/ adj which is
reciprocal
recent catalogue. The changes are recent |
they were made only last week. done by two people, groups of people or by
recently / ri
s()ntli/ adv only a short
recently
such things as countries or companies, to
time ago Ive seen him quite a lot recent- each other
reciprocate /r sprket/ (recipro-
reciprocate
ly. They recently decided to move to Aus- |
tralia. cates, reciprocating, reciprocated) verb

receptacle /r septk()l/ noun a con-
receptacle
|
to do the same thing to someone in return
tainer for something he or she has done to you
recital /r sat()l/ noun a performance of
recital
reception /r sepn/ noun 1. the way

reception |
music by a musician or a small group of

in which people react to something that musicians
happens or to someone who arrives The
recite /r sat/ (recites, reciting, recited)
recite
committee gave the proposal a favourable |
reception. The critics gave the play a verb to speak a poem or other piece of writ-
warm reception. The minister had a rowing aloud in public ( NOTE: + recitation n)
reckless / rekls/ adj risky or done with-
reckless
dy reception at the meeting. 2. the place in

a hotel where guests go when they arrive or out thinking
reckon / rekn/ (reckons, reckoning,
reckon
leave, e.g. to get the key to their room

Lets meet at reception at 9.00 am tomor- reckoned) verb 1. to calculate, or to esti-
row. 3. a place in a large building where mate [~(that)] We reckon well be there
visitors go when they arrive and say who before lunch. I reckon the costs to be
they have come to see Theres a parcel about 25,000. 2. to think [~(that)] I reck-
waiting for you in reception. 4. a big party on we should have stayed at home.
reckoning / rekn/ noun a calculation
reckoning
held to welcome special guests He host-

ed a reception for the prince. 5. the quality reclaim /r klem/ (reclaims, reclaiming,
reclaim
of the sound on a radio or the sound and reclaimed) verb 1. to claim something
picture of a TV broadcast Perhaps youd which you owned before After he
get better reception if you moved the aeri- stopped paying the hire purchase instal-
al. ments, the finance company tried to re-
receptionist /r sepnst/ noun a
receptionist
|
claim his car. His car was towed away
person in a place such as a hotel or doctors and he had to go to the pound to reclaim it.
office who meets visitors and answers the (NOTE: also claim back in this sense) 2. to
telephone take land, such as a marsh or waste sites,
receptive /r septv/ adj 1. interested in
receptive
and make it suitable for use They re-
claimed a whole stretch of land along the
|
what is being presented 2. willing to accept

an idea or proposal [~to] The manage- banks of the river. The airport was built
ment was not at all receptive to the employ- on reclaimed land in the bay.
recline /r klan/ (reclines, reclining, re-
recline
ees suggestions. |
clined) verb 1. to lie back She reclined on

recess /r ses/ noun 1. an alcove or part
recess
|
the sofa and closed her eyes. 2. to make
of the wall of a room which is set back something lie further back If you feel
The large stone urn stands in the recess by tired during the plane journey, recline your
the doorway. 2. an official holiday of the seat and try to sleep.
law courts or parliament The decision recluse /r klu
s/ noun a person who
recluse
was taken when parliament was in recess.

|
lives all alone and does not see anyone else

3. US a recreation period at school They
recognisable / rek(nazb()l/ adj
recognisable
had a game during the recess.

who can be recognised
recession /r se()n/ noun a situa-
recession
recognise / rek(naz/ (recognises,

| recognise
tion when a countrys economy is doing recognising, recognised), recognize verb

badly 1. to know someone or something because
recharge /ri
t
d/ (recharges, re-
recharge
|
you have seen him or her or it before
charging, recharged) verb to put an elec- Hed changed so much since I last saw him
tric charge into something again that I hardly recognised him. He didnt
recipe / respi/ noun instructions for
recipe
recognise his fathers voice over the phone.

cooking food I copied the recipe for leek Do you recognise the handwriting on the
recognition 516
letter? 2. to admit something that has gone people become friendly Social workers
wrong or is bad I recognise that we managed to reconcile him with his family.
should have acted earlier. 3. to approve of reconciliation
reconciliation /reknsli e()n/

|
something or someone officially The lan- noun 1. the bringing together of two people
guage school has been recognised by the to become friends again Do you think a
Ministry of Education. She is recognised reconciliation is at all possible between the
as an expert in the field of genetics. 4. to two brothers? 2. making two accounts
express praise for something which has agree The reconciliation of the accounts
been done They recognised her years of may take a long time.
service.
reconnaissance /r kns()ns/ noun
reconnaissance
recognition /rek( n()n/ noun

recognition |
a survey of enemy territory to get military

the fact that someone recognises or ac-
knowledges something [~of] In recogni- information
reconsider /ri
kn sd/ (reconsiders,
reconsider
tion of his services he was given a watch. |
recoil / ri
kl/ (recoils, recoiling, re-
recoil
reconsidering, reconsidered) verb to
coiled) verb 1. to move backwards sudden- think something over again
reconstitute /ri
knsttju
t/ (recon-
reconstitute
ly The gun recoils at least two metres af- |
ter being fired. 2. to move away quickly stitutes, reconstituting, reconstituted)

from something unpleasant When she verb to form something again as it was be-
saw the dead dog in the road she recoiled fore
in disgust. 3. to feel strongly that some- reconstruct /ri
kn strkt/ (recon-
reconstruct
thing is unpleasant and want to avoid it structs, reconstructing, reconstructed)

He recoiled from carrying out the captains verb 1. to construct something again The
orders. centre of the town was reconstructed using
recollect /rek lekt/ (recollects, recol-
recollect
|
old photographs. 2. to work out how a
lecting, recollected) verb to remember crime must have been committed by taking
something from the past all the known facts and using actors to play
recollection /rek lekn/ noun re-
recollection
| the parts of the people involved The po-

membering something from the past lice are trying to reconstruct the crime, in
recommend /rek mend/ (recom- the hope that it will produce new evidence.
recommend
reconstruction /ri
kn strkn/
reconstruction
mends, recommending, recommended) |
verb 1. to tell someone that it would be noun 1. the act of reconstructing, of build-
good to do something [~(that)] I would ing again the economic reconstruction of
recommend that you talk to the bank man- the area after the earthquake Theyre
ager. This restaurant was recommended planning the reconstruction of the old for-
by a friend. 2. to praise something or some- tress as a tourist attraction. 2. a thing re-
one She was highly recommended by her constructed This is not the original build-
boss. I certainly would not recommend ing, its a modern reconstruction. 3. work-
Miss Smith for the job. Can you recom- ing out how a crime must have been
mend a good hotel in Amsterdam? committed by examining all known facts
recommendation /rekmen
recommendation
| and using an actor to play the part of the

de()n/ noun 1. advice My recommen- victim, etc. The police are hoping that
dation is that you shouldnt sign the con- the reconstruction of the crime will jog
tract. Hes staying in bed at the doctors peoples memories.
recommendation. 2. giving praise record1 / rek
d/ noun 1. a success in
record
recompense / rekmpens/ (recom-

recompense
sport which is better than any other She

penses, recompensing, recompensed) holds the world record for the 100 metres.
verb to give compensation, payment or re- He broke the world record or he set up a
ward to someone or for something new world record at the last Olympics.
reconcile / reknsal/ (reconciles, rec-
reconcile
The college team is trying to set a new

onciling, reconciled) verb 1. to make two record for eating tins of beans. 2. written
different things agree We cant reconcile evidence of something which has hap-
her story with the facts we already knew. 2. pened We have no record of the sale. 3. a
to reconcile yourself to something to flat round piece of usually black plastic on
accept something that you do not like She which sound is stored She bought me an
seems reconciled to staying at home and old Elvis Presley record for Christmas.
looking after her mother. 3. to reconcile Burglars broke into his flat and stole his
someone with someone else to make two record collection. off the record in pri-
517 redden
vate and not to be made public She spoke re-create /ri
kri et/ verb to make some-
re-create
off the record about her marriage. thing that used to exist appear or happen
record2 /r k
d/ (records, recording, again in a similar way
record
recorded) verb 1. to report something or to recreation1 / rekri e()n/ noun enjoy-

recreation
make a note of something First, I have to able activities that people do for fun The
record the sales, then Ill post the parcels. park is used for sport and recreation. The
2. to put sounds or images onto something survey shows that fishing and gardening
such as a film, tape or disc The police re- are peoples favourite recreations.
corded the whole conversation on a hidden recreation2 / ri
kri e()n/ noun creat-
recreation
tape-recorder. This song has been badly ing again We have been given a grant to
recorded. help pay for the recreation of the 19th-cen-
record-breaking / rek
d brek/ adj tury flower garden.
record-breaking
which breaks records recrimination /rkrm ne()n/ noun

recrimination
| |
recorder /r k
d/ noun 1. an instru- blaming someone else for something
recorder
ment which records sound My tape re- recruit /r kru

t/ noun a new soldier or a
recruit
corder doesnt work, so I cant record the new member of staff or member of a club
concert. 2. a musical instrument that you Recruits are not allowed in the officers
play by blowing Like most children, I mess. The club needs new recruits. verb
learnt to play the recorder at school. (recruits, recruiting, recruited) to encour-
recording /r k
d/ noun 1. the ac- age someone to join the army, a company
recording
tion of putting sounds or images onto or a club They have sent teams to univer-
something such as a film, tape or disc the sities to recruit new graduates. (NOTE: + re-
recording of a video The recording ses- cruitment n)
rectangle / rekt(l/ noun a shape
rectangle
sion starts at 3pm. 2. music or speech

which has been recorded Did you know with four sides and right angles at the cor-
there was a new recording of the concerto? ners, with two long sides and two short
recount1 / ri
kant/ noun the act of sides
recount
rectify / rektfa/ (rectifies, rectifying,

rectify
counting again, especially counting votes

again The vote was very close, so the los- rectified) verb to correct something
er asked for a recount. After three re- rectum / rektm/ noun the end part of the
rectum
counts Edward Jones was declared the large intestine leading from the colon to
winner by eleven votes. the anus
recount2 /r kant/ (recounts, recount- recuperate /r ku
pret/ (recuperates,
recount recuperate
| |
ing, recounted) verb to tell a story He re- recuperating, recuperated) verb to get
counted his story to the police. better after an illness (NOTE: + recupera-
recount3 /ri
kant/ (recounts, recount- tion n)
recount
recur /r k#
/ (recurs, recurring, re-
recur
ing, recounted) verb to count something |
again All the votes had to be recounted. curred) verb to happen again
recover1 /r kv/ (recovers, recov- recycle /ri
sak()l/ (recycles, recy-
recover recycle
| |
ering, recovered) verb to get back some- cling, recycled) verb to process waste ma-
thing which has been lost or stolen You terial so that it can be used again
red /red/ adj (redder, reddest) coloured
red
must work much harder if you want to re-

cover the money you invested in your busi- like the colour of blood She turned bright
ness. Shes trying to recover damages red when we asked her what had happened
from the driver of the car. to the money. Dont start yet the traffic
recover2 /ri
kv/ (recovers, recover- lights are still red. noun a colour like the
recover
ing, recovered) verb to put a new cover on colour of blood I would like a darker red
a piece of furniture Instead of buying a for the door.
red card /red k
d/ noun a card dis-
red card
new chair, I had the old one recovered.

recovery /r kv()ri/ noun 1. the fact played by the referee when dismissing a
recovery
that someone gets well again after being ill player for doing something against the
[~from] her recovery from a knee injury rules
redcurrant /red krnt/ noun a garden
redcurrant
She made a quick recovery and is now back |
at work. 2. getting back something which fruit in the form of little red berries a jar
has been lost or stolen [~of] The TV proof redcurrant jelly The redcurrants need
gramme led to the recovery of all the stolen more sugar theyre very sour.
goods. We are aiming for the complete redden / red()n/ (reddens, reddening,
redden
recovery of the money invested. reddened) verb 1. to become red The

reddish 518
trees stood out dark against the reddening redo /ri
du
/ (redoes, redoing, redid, re-
redo
evening sky. His eyes were reddened from done) verb to do something again
lack of sleep. 2. to go red in the face be- redress /r dres/ (redresses, redress-
redress
cause you are ashamed or embarrassed ing, redressed) verb to correct something
She reddened slightly as he gave her a kiss. or to compensate They plan to redress the
reddish / red / adj of a colour that is
reddish
wrongs of society by taxing the rich. ( NOTE:

close to red + redress n) to redress the balance to
redeem /r di
m/ (redeems, redeeming, make something fair again Last year I
redeem
redeemed) verb to make something better gave my daughter some money, so this year
than it seemed to be at first The playing Ill give the same amount to my son to re-
by the orchestra was redeemed by the sing- dress the balance.
ing of the soprano and tenor. to redeem red tape /red tep/ noun official pa-
red tape
yourself to do something good to remove perwork which takes a long time to com-
the bad effect of something you did previ- plete (informal)
ously reduce /r dju
s/ (reduces, reducing,
reduce
redemption /r dempn/ noun 1. the

redemption
| reduced) verb to make something smaller

action of redeeming a debt The bond is or less The police are fighting to reduce
due for redemption. 2. being saved from sin traffic accidents. Prices have been re-
redeploy /ri
d pl/ (redeploys, rede- duced by 15 per cent. Id like to reduce
redeploy
ploying, redeployed) verb to use people or the size of the photograph so that we can
equipment in a different area or for a differ- use it as a Christmas card.
ent activity reduction /r dkn/ noun the act of
reduction
redevelop /ri
d velp/ (redevelops, making something smaller in size or
redevelop
redeveloping, redeveloped) verb to im- number Price reductions start on 1st Au-
prove a run down area by renovating old gust. The company was forced to make
buildings and building new ones job reductions.
red-handed /red hndd/ adj in the act redundancy /r dndnsi/ noun be-
red-handed redundancy
of committing a crime ing no longer employed, because the job is

redhead / redhed/ noun a person with no longer needed
redhead
redundant /r dndnt/ adj not need-

redundant
red hair |
red herring /red her/ noun a piece of

red herring
ed to be made redundant to lose your
information which is not important, and is job because you are not needed any more
given to someone to distract attention from Five employees were made redundant this
what is really important week. My son thinks hell be made redun-
red hot /red ht/ adj very hot Watch
red hot
dant, so hes already looking for another
out that pan is red hot! job.
redwood / redwd/ noun a very tall con-
redwood
redial /ri
dal/ (redials, redialling, redi-
redial
alled) verb to dial a number on a telephone ifer which grows on the West Coast of the
again United States
reed /ri
d/ noun a thin piece of wood or
reed
redirect /ri
da rekt/ (redirects, redi-
redirect
recting, redirected) verb 1. to send a letter metal inside a musical instrument, which
on to another address or a phone call to an- vibrates when you blow on it (NOTE: Do not
other number We have asked the post of- confuse with read.)
reef /ri
f/ noun a long line of rocks just
reef
fice to redirect all our mail when we are

away. Phone calls can be redirected to above or below the surface of the sea The
our office number. He redirected the yacht hit a reef and sank. The Great Bar-
email to his boss. 2. to use something in an- rier Reef is a reef off the north-east coast of
other way We are trying to get him to re- Australia.
reek /ri
k/ (reeks, reeking, reeked) verb
reek
direct his energy towards some more con-

structive work. to smell strongly of something (NOTE: +
redistribute /ri
d strbju
t/ (redistrib- reek n)
redistribute
reel /ri
l/ (reels, reeling, reeled) verb to
reel
utes, redistributing, redistributed) verb to

share something out again in a different stagger
way reel in phrasal verb to pull in a line round
red meat /red mi
t/ noun meat such as a reel
red meat
lamb or beef which is red in colour before reel off phrasal verb to give a list of
it is cooked names or figures rapidly
519 refrain
re-elect /ri
lekt/ verb to elect someone 18th century. 2. improvement The latest
re-elect
again model has various refinements which the

ref /ref/ noun 1. same as referee earlier models lacked. This is a refine-
ref
Come
on ref that was a foul! 2. same as refer- ment of our previous word-processing pro-
ence gram.
refer /r f#
/ (refers, referring, re- refinery /r fanri/ (plural refineries)
refinery
refer
| |
ferred) verb 1. to be about something or noun a plant where a raw material, such as
someone Do you think he was referring ore, oil or sugar is processed to remove im-
to me when he said some staff would have purities
to leave? 2. to look into something for in- reflect /r flekt/ (reflects, reflecting,
reflect
formation He referred to his diary to see reflected) verb to send back light, heat or
if he had a free afternoon. 3. to pass a prob- an image of something [~off] a picture of
lem to someone to decide We have re- snow-capped mountains reflected in a
ferred your complaint to our head office. clear blue lake The light reflected off the
He was referred to an ear specialist by his top of the car. White surfaces reflect light
GP. better than dark ones.
referee /ref ri
/ noun (in sports) a reflective /r flektv / adj 1. thoughtful
referee
reflective
|
|
person who makes sure that a game is The poem was written when the poet was in
played according to the rules When fight- a reflective mood. 2. which reflects Cy-
ing broke out between the players, the ref- clists should wear reflective armbands
eree stopped the match. The referee sent when cycling in the dark.
several players off. reflector /r flekt/ noun apparatus
reflector
reference / ref()rns/ noun an act of

reference |
which reflects
mentioning something or someone [~to]
reflex / ri
fleks/ noun an automatic reac-
reflex
She made a reference to her brother-in-

law. The report made no reference to the tion to something The doctor tested his
bank. with reference to concerning reflexes by tapping on his knee with a little
something With reference to your letter hammer. By stopping the car when the
of May 25th. little girl ran into the road she showed how
good her reflexes were.
reference book / ref()rns bk/ noun
reference book
reflexive /r fleksv/ adj (in grammar) a

reflexive
a book, such as a dictionary or an encyclo- |
pedia, where you can look for information verb or pronoun which refers back to the
referendum /ref rendm/ (plural ref-
referendum subject
reflexive verb /r fleksv v#
b/ noun a
|
reflexive verb
erendums or referenda) noun a vote where |
all the people of a country are asked to vote transitive verb whose subject and object
on a single question both refer to the same person or thing
refill1 /ri
fl/ (refills, refilling, refilled) reflexology /ri
flek sldi/ noun a
reflexology
refill
|
|
verb to fill a container that has become treatment to relieve tension by massaging
empty The waiter refilled our glasses. the soles of the feet and toes to stimulate
We stopped twice to refill the car on the the nerves and increase the blood supply
way to Scotland. reform /r f
m/ noun the act of chang-
reform
refill2 / ri
fl / noun another amount of a ing something to make it better [~to/~of]
refill
drink that you have finished Your glass is The government is planning a series of re-
empty can I get you a refill? forms to the benefit system.the reform of
refine /r fan/ (refines, refining, re- the armed forces verb (reforms, reform-
refine
fined) verb 1. to make something more ing, reformed) 1. to change something in

pure Juice from sugar cane is refined by order to make it better They want to re-
boiling. 2. to make something better The form the educational system. 2. to stop
process needs to be further refined before committing crimes, or to stop having bad
we can introduce it nationally. The com- habits and to become good After her time
pany needs to refine its sales techniques. in prison she became a reformed character.
refined /r fand/ adj 1. which has been
refined
|
He used to drink a lot, but since he got
made pure white refined sugar 2. very el- married he has reformed.
reformer /r f
m/ noun a person who
reformer
egant and polite In refined society, you |
dont slurp your soup. tries to make something better

refinement /r fanmnt/ noun 1. ele- refrain /r fren/ verb to keep yourself
refinement refrain
| |
gance The drawing room of the old house from doing something [~from] (formal)
gives an idea of the refinement of life in the Please refrain from smoking during dinner.
refresh 520
We must ask everyone to refrain from ap- refuse1 /r fju
z/ (refuses, refusing, re-
refuse
plauding until the signal is given. fused) verb 1. to say that you will not do
refresh /r fre/ (refreshes, refreshing, something His father refused to lend him
refresh
refreshed) verb 1. to make fresh again A any more money. He asked for permis-
coat of paint will refresh the room. 2. to sion to see his family, but it was refused. 2.
make someone less tired After a good the car refused to start the car would
nights sleep she felt refreshed. to re- not start Once again this morning the car
fresh yourself to do something to make refused to start.
refuse2 / refju
s/ noun rubbish and
refuse
yourself less tired I need a drink to re-

fresh myself before the second half. things which are not wanted Please put
refreshing /r fre/ adj something
refreshing
|
all refuse in the bin. Refuse collection on
which is refreshing makes you feel fresh or our road is on Thursdays. (NOTE: no plural)
refute /r fju
t/ (refutes, refuting, refut-
refute
full of energy again I had a refreshing |
drink of cold water. A refreshing shower ed) verb 1. to prove that something is
of rain cooled the air. wrong He has tried to refute Einsteins
refreshments /r fremnts/ plural
refreshments
|
theory. 2. to show that something is untrue
He refuted her allegations completely.
noun food and drink Light refreshments
regain /r (en/ (regains, regaining, re-
regain
will be served after the concert. Refresh- |
ments are being offered in a tent on the gained) verb to get something back which
lawn. was lost
regal / ri
(()l/ adj referring to a king or
regal
refrigerate /r frdret/ (refrigerates,

refrigerate
refrigerating, refrigerated) verb to keep queen The regal splendour of the state
food cold so that it will not go bad opening of parliament.
regard /r (
d/ verb (regards, re-
regard
refrigerator /r frdret / noun an

refrigerator
|
|
electrical machine used in the kitchen for garding, regarded) 1. to have an opinion
keeping food and drink cold Theres about someone [~as] She is highly re-
some orange juice in the refrigerator. garded by the manager. They regarded
(NOTE: often called a fridge) their neighbour with suspicion. to re-
gard someone or something as to consid-
refuel /ri
fju
l/ (refuels, refuelling, re-
refuel
|
er someone or something to be something
fuelled) verb to put more fuel into a ship, The police are regarding the case as at-
plane, car or other vehicle tempted murder. The others regarded him
refuge / refju
d/ noun to take ref-
refuge
as a nuisance. 2. to look at someone or

uge to shelter When the tornado ap- something (formal ) noun 1. the extent to
proached, they took refuge in the cellar. which you consider something or care
We took refuge from the rain under a cov- about it [~for] She had little regard for our
ered bus shelter. safety. 2. an opinion of someone that shows
refugee /refj di
/ noun a person
refugee
|
how much you respect them [~for] We
who has left his or her country because of have a very high regard for your system of
war or because the government did not like government.He is held in high regard by
allow his or her religious or political be- his staff. plural noun regards best wishes
liefs She sends her (kind) regards. Please
give my regards to your mother. as re-
refund1 / ri
fnd/ noun money paid back
refund
gards relating to As regards the cost of

She got a refund after she complained to
the trip, Ill let you know soon what the fi-
the manager. nal figure is. with regard to relating to
refund2 /r fnd/ (refunds, refunding,
refund
|
With regard to your request for extra funds.
refunded) verb to pay money back We regarding /r (
d / prep relating to,
regarding
will refund the cost of postage. The tour concerning He left instructions regarding
company only refunded 100 of the 400 I his possessions. Regarding your offer, I
had paid. think we will have to say no.
refurbish /ri
f#
b/ (refurbishes, re-
refurbish
regardless /r (
dls/ adv without
regardless
|
|
furbishing, refurbished) verb to make paying any attention to regardless of in

something like new spite of They drove through the war zone
refusal /r fju
z()l/ noun saying that regardless of the danger. to carry on re-
refusal
you do not accept something His refusal gardless to continue in spite of everything
to help was unexpected. Did you accept? Although the temperature was well over
no! I sent a letter of refusal. 40, they carried on working regardless.
521 rehash
regenerate /r denret/ (regener- registry office / redstri fs/ noun
regenerate registry office
ates, regenerating, regenerated) verb to an office where records of births, marriag-

make something grow strong again es and deaths are kept and where you can
reggae / re(e/ noun a type of West Indi-
reggae
be married in a civil ceremony
regress /r (res/ (regresses, regress-
regress
an music |
ing, regressed) verb to return to an earlier

regime /re i
m/, rgime noun 1. a usu-
regime
stage or condition (NOTE: + regression n)

|
ally harsh type of government or adminis-

regret /r (ret/ noun the feeling of being
regret
tration Under a military regime, civil lib- |
erties may be restricted. 2. the government sorry that something has happened I have
of a country The former rgime was absolutely no regrets about what we did.
overthrown and the President fled. verb (regrets, regretting, regretted) to be
sorry that something has happened I re-
regiment / redmnt/ noun a group of
regiment
gret that I cannot be with you this evening.

soldiers, usually commanded by a colonel I regret the trouble this has caused you.
or lieutenant-colonel We regret the delay in the arrival of our
regimented / redmentd/ adj strictly
regimented
flight from Amsterdam.

organised or kept under strict discipline regrettable /r (retb()l/ adj which
regrettable
region / ri
dn/ noun a large area of a
region
must be regretted
country The South-West region is well regular / re(jl/ adj 1. done at the
regular
known for its apples. same time each day His regular train is
regional / ri
d()nl/ adj relating to a the 12.45. The regular flight to Athens
regional
region The recession has not affected the leaves at 06.00. 2. usual or standard The
whole country it is only regional. After regular price is 1.25, but we are offering
the national news, here is the regional them at 99p.
regularly / re(jlli/ adv on most oc-
regularly
news for the South West.

register / redst/ noun 1. a list of
register
casions She is regularly the first person
names I cant find your name in the reg- to arrive at the office each morning.
regulate / re(j let/ (regulates, regu-
regulate
ister. His name was struck off the register. |
2. a book in which you sign your name lating, regulated) verb 1. to adjust a ma-
After the wedding, the bride and groom chine so that it works in a certain way
and witnesses all signed the register. The heater needs to be regulated to keep
Please sign the hotel register when you the temperature steady. Turn this knob to
check in. verb (registers, registering, regulate the volume. Her heartbeat is
registered) to write a name officially in a regulated by the pacemaker. 2. to maintain
list [~with/~for] Babies have to be regis- something by law Speed on the motor-
tered with the registrar as soon as they are way is strictly regulated.
regulation / re(j le()n/ plural
regulation
born. Students are registering for their |
courses this week. If you dont register, noun regulations laws or rules controlling
we wont be able to get in touch with you. something The restaurant broke the fire
register office /redst fs/ noun an
register office
regulations. Safety regulations were not
office where records of births, marriages being properly followed.
rehab / ri
hb/ noun the process of cur-
rehab
and deaths are kept and where you can be |
married in a civil ceremony ing someone of an addiction to drugs or al-

registrar /red str
/ noun 1. a person
registrar
cohol
rehabilitate /ri
bltet/ (rehabili-
|
rehabilitate
who keeps official records The registrar |
of births, marriages and deaths. They tates, rehabilitating, rehabilitated) verb 1.

were married by the registrar. 2. a qualified to train a disabled person or an ex-prisoner
doctor or surgeon in a hospital who super- to lead a normal life and fit into society
vises house doctors Shes a registrar at Prisoners need special training in order to
our local hospital. be rehabilitated. 2. to cure someone of an
addiction to drugs or alcohol (NOTE: + reha-
registration /red stre()n/ noun
registration
|
bilitation n)
the act of registering
rehash /ri
h/ (rehashes, rehashing,
rehash
/red
|
registration number
registration number |
rehashed) verb to bring out an old story,
stre()n nmb/ noun the official book, idea, or other work in more or less
number of a car the same form as before Her recent arti-
registry / redstri/ noun a place where
registry
cle just rehashed the same themes as her

official records are kept book.
rehearsal 522
rehearsal /r h#
s()l/ noun a practice reject2 / ri
dekt/ noun something which
rehearsal reject
of a play or concert before the first public is not accepted because it is not satisfacto-
performance. dress rehearsal ry
rejection /r dekn/ noun a refusal
rejection
rehearse /r h#
s/ (rehearses, re-
rehearse
|
|
hearsing, rehearsed) verb to practise a to accept

rejoice /r ds/ (rejoices, rejoicing, re-
rejoice
play or a concert before a public perform- |
ance joiced) verb to be very happy We all re-

rehouse / ri
haz/ (rehouses, rehous-
rehouse
|
joiced to hear the news that the baby had
ing, rehoused) verb to move somebody to been found.
rejoin /ri
dn/ (rejoins, rejoining, re-
rejoin
other, often better, housing |
joined) verb to join again (formal)

reign /ren/ noun a period when a king,
reign
rejuvenate /r du
vnet/ (rejuve-
rejuvenate
queen or emperor rules during the reign |
nates, rejuvenating, rejuvenated) verb 1.

of Elizabeth I verb (reigns, reigning,
reigned) to rule Queen Victoria reigned
to make someone young again She came
between 1837 and 1901. She reigned back from the health farm completely reju-
during a period of great prosperity. (NOTE: venated. 2. to give something new vigour
Do not confuse with rain.)
and strength He hopes to rejuvenate the
club by attracting younger members.
reimburse /ri
m b#
s/ (reimburses,
reimburse
rekindle /ri
knd()l/ (rekindles, rekin-
rekindle
|
|
reimbursing, reimbursed) verb to pay dling, rekindled) verb to start again or to

someone the money he or she has spent for make something happen again
a particular purpose [~for] (formal ) You relapse / ri
lps, r lps/ noun (of pa-
relapse
will be reimbursed for your expenses or

|
tient or disease) becoming worse after

your expenses will be reimbursed. seeming to be getting better He had a re-
reincarnation /ri
nk
ne()n/ noun
reincarnation
|
lapse and had to go back into hospital.
1. a persons soul born again in another (NOTE: + relapse v)
body or animal after death The ancient relate /r let/ (relates, relating, relat-
relate
Egyptians believed that the owl was the reed) verb 1. to have or make a connection
incarnation of the god Horus. 2. reappear- with something else [~to] They have re-
ance of someone in another form His lat- lated the rise in standards to better teach-
est reincarnation was as an insurance ing. They say a happy childhood and suc-
salesman. cess in life are related. 2. to understand
reinforce /ri
n f
s/ (reinforces, re-
reinforce
| someone and be able to communicate with

inforcing, reinforced) verb to make strong- them [~to/with] Do you find it difficult to
er or more solid relate to him? The children relate well
reinforcement /ri
n f
smnt/ noun
reinforcement
|
with their grandparents. 3. to tell a story
the act of reinforcing One of the walls (formal ) It took him half an hour to relate
needs reinforcement. what had happened.
relate to phrasal verb 1. to be concerned
reinstate /ri
n stet/ (reinstates, rein-
reinstate
with something The regulations relate

stating, reinstated) verb to put someone
to the movement of boats in the harbour.
back into a job from which he or she was 2. to be able to understand something
dismissed ( NOTE: + reinstatement n) The book deals with peoples feelings in
reinvent /ri
n vent/ (reinvents, rein-
reinvent
|
a way I can relate to.
venting, reinvented) verb to make some- related to /r letd t/ adj 1. belong-
related to
thing popular again after it has been out of ing to the same family as Are you related
fashion for a time to the Smith family in London Road? 2.
reiterate /ri
tret/ (reiterates, reiter-
reiterate
| connected in some way with The disease

ating, reiterated) verb to say again (NOTE: + is related to the weakness of the heart mus-
reiteration n) cle. He has a drug-related illness.
reject1 /r dekt/ (rejects, rejecting, re- There are several related items on the
reject
jected) verb 1. to refuse to accept some- agenda.

relating to /r let tu
/ adv relating
relating to
thing She rejected my suggestion that we |
changed our plans. The proposals for the to or connected with documents relating
new project were rejected. 2. to refuse to to the sale of the house
relation /r le()n/ noun 1. a member
relation
accept something because it is not satisfac- |
tory Poles shorter than the standard size of a family All my relations live in Cana-
are rejected. da. Lauras no relation of mine, shes just
523 relieve
a friend. 2. a link between two things [~be- the news to the other members of her fami-
tween] Is there any relation between ly. All messages are relayed through this
wealth and happiness? plural noun rela- office. 2. to pass on a TV or radio broadcast
tions the way that people or organizations through a secondary station The pro-
behave towards each other We try to grammes are received in the capital and
maintain good relations with our custom- then relayed to TV stations round the coun-
ers. Relations between the two countries try.
have become tense. in relation to relating release /r li
s/ (releases, releasing,
release
to or connected with Documents in rela- released) verb 1. to stop holding some-

tion to the sale. thing, or to stop keeping someone prisoner
relationship /r le()np/ noun 1.
relationship
| The hostages were released last night.

a close friendship, especially one in which Pull that lever to release the brakes. 2. to
two people are involved in a romantic or make something public The government
sexual way with each other She decided has released figures about the number of
to end the relationship when she found he people out of work.
had been seeing other women. 2. the way relegate / rel(et/ (relegates, relegat-
relegate
that people or organisations behave to- ing, relegated) verb 1. (in sports) to move a
wards each other [/~with] We try to have a team down from a higher division to a low-
good working relationship with our staff. 3. er one They were relegated from the pre-
a link or connection [~between] There is mier division. 2. to put into a worse posi-
a proven relationship between smoking tion On the arrival of the new manager, I
and lung cancer. was relegated to the accounts department.
relative / reltv/ noun a person who
relative
(NOTE: + relegation n)
is related to someone We have several relent /r lent/ (relents, relenting, relent-
relent
relatives living in Canada. He has no lived) verb to be less strict; to decide to be less
ing relatives. strict than before
relative clause / reltv kl
z/ noun a relentless /r lentls/ adj continuing
relative clause relentless
subordinate clause that provides additional without giving up

information about person or thing and relevance / relv()ns/ noun the fact
relevance
which is joined to the previous clause by that something is relevant

words like which, who or that relevant / relv()nt/ adj if something
relevant
relatively / reltvli/ adv to some ex-

relatively
is relevant, it has something to do with the

tent The children have been relatively thing being mentioned Which is the rele-
free from colds this winter. We are deal- vant government department? Can you
ing with a relatively new company. give me the relevant papers? Is this infor-
relative pronoun /reltv prnan/
relative pronoun
mation at all relevant?

noun a pronoun, such as who or which, reliable /r lab()l/ adj which can be re-
reliable
which connects two clauses lied on or which can be trusted It is a very

relax /r lks/ (relaxes, relaxing, re- reliable car. The sales manager is com-
relax
laxed) verb to rest from work or to be less pletely reliable.

tense They spent the first week of their reliance /r lans/ noun the fact that
reliance
holiday relaxing on the beach. Guests someone relies on something

can relax in the bar before going to eat in reliant /r lant/ adj which relies on
reliant
the restaurant. Just lie back and relax something

the injection wont hurt. relic / relk/ noun something which re-
relic
relaxed /r lkst/ adj not upset or

relaxed
|
mains from the past That cap is a relic of
nervous Even if he failed his test, hes my time as a naval cadet.
still very relaxed about the whole thing. relief /r li
f/ noun 1. the reduction of
relief
relaxing /r lks/ adj which makes

relaxing
|
pain or stress [~from] medicines that
you less tense bring relief from pain He breathed a sigh
relay1 / ri
le/ noun a group of people
relay
of relief when the police car went past

working in turn with other groups A shift without stopping. What a relief to have
is usually composed of groups of workers finished my exams! 2. help given to people
who work in relays. All the work had who need it urgently The Red Cross is or-
been done by the time the next relay ar- ganising relief for the flood victims.
rived. relieve /r li
v/ (relieves, relieving, re-
relieve
relay2 /r le / (relays, relaying, relayed)

relay
| lieved) verb 1. to make something unpleas-

verb 1. to pass on a message She relayed ant better or easier He took aspirins to re-
relieved 524
lieve the pain. 2. to take over from some- remaining /r men/ adj which is
remaining
one You can go and have something to left

eat Im here to relieve you for an hour. remains /r menz/ plural noun 1.
remains
relieved /r li
vd/ adj glad to be rid of
relieved
| things left over or left behind The re-

a problem mains of the evening meal were left on the
religion /r ldn / noun a belief in
religion
|
table until the next morning. Were trying
gods or in one God Does their religion to save the Roman remains from total oblit-
help them to lead a good life? It is eration by the construction company. 2. the
against my religion to eat meat on Fridays. body of a dead person The emperors re-
mains were buried in the cathedral.
religious /r lds/ adj relating to
religious
remake / ri
mek/ noun new film with
| remake
religion There is a period of religious

study every morning. the same story as an old film Theyre
planning yet another remake of David
religiously /r ldsli/ adv regularly
religiously
|
Copperfield.
and carefully He followed all their in- remand / r m
nd / noun sending a pris-
remand
structions religiously. oner away for a time when a case is ad-

relinquish /r lkw/ (relinquishes,
relinquish
|
journed to be heard at a later date verb
relinquishing, relinquished) verb to leave (remands, remanding, remanded) 1. to
or to let go of something send a prisoner away to reappear later to
relish / rel/ noun 1. spicy pickles or
relish
answer a case which has been adjourned 2.

spicy sauce Eat your sausages with mus- US to send a case back to a lower court
tard or relish. 2. enjoyment She argued remark /r m
k/ noun a comment
remark
with him with great relish. verb (relishes, [~about/on] He made some remark about
relishing, relished) to enjoy I dont rel- my being late. to make or pass remarks
ish having to take my exam again. about to make sharp or rude comments
relive /ri
lv/ (relives, reliving, relived) about She made some remarks about the
relive
verb to go through something again, espe- dirty tablecloth. verb (remarks, remark-
cially in your mind ing, remarked) to notice and comment on
relocate /ri
l ket/ (relocates, relo-
relocate
|
[~on/upon/~that] She remarked on how
cating, relocated) verb to move an office, dirty the caf was. Customers remarked
factory or staff to a different place (NOTE: + that the shop looked brighter.
remarkable /r m
kb()l/ adj very
remarkable
relocation n) |
unusual Shes a remarkable woman.

reluctant /r lktnt/ adj not willing to
reluctant
Its remarkable that the bank has not asked

do something He seemed reluctant to us to pay back the money.
help. (NOTE: + reluctance n)
remarkably /r m
kbli/ adv to an unu-
remarkably
reluctantly /r lktntli/ adv not will-

reluctantly |
|
sually great degree, or in an unusual way
ingly She remained remarkably calm.
rely
rely verb remarry /ri

mri/ (remarries, remarry-
remarry
rely on phrasal verb to believe or know ing, remarried) verb to marry again
that something will happen or that some- remedial /r mi
dil / adj which cures or
remedial
one will do something We can rely on which makes something better

him to finish the work on time. Can remedy / remdi/ noun a thing which
remedy
these machines be relied on? may cure [~for] Its an old remedy for
remain /r men/ (remains, remain-
remain
| hayfever.
ing, remained) verb 1. to stay We expect remember /r memb/ (remembers,
remember
it will remain fine for the rest of the week. remembering, remembered) verb to bring
She remained behind at the office to fin- back into your mind something which you
ish her work. 2. to be left Half the food have seen or heard before
remained uneaten and had to be thrown [/~when/where/how etc] Do you remem-
away. After the accident not much re- ber when we got lost in the fog? My
mained of the car. grandmother can remember seeing the first
remainder /r mend/ noun what is
remainder
| television programmes. She remembered

left after everything else has gone What seeing it on the dining room table. She
shall we do for the remainder of the holi- cant remember where she put her umbrel-
days? After the bride and groom left, the la. I dont remember having been in this
remainder of the party stayed in the hotel hotel before. I remember my grandmoth-
to have supper. er very well. Its strange that I can never
525 rendezvous
remember my fathers birthday. Did you remote control /rmt kn trl/
remote control
| |
remember to switch off the kitchen light? noun a small piece of electronic equipment
(NOTE: You remember doing something which you use for controlling something
which you did in the past; you remember to such as a TV or CD player from a distance
do something in the future.) remotely /r mtli/ adv 1. very slightly,
remotely
remembrance /r membrns/ noun

remembrance
| or not even very slightly Im not remotely

memory interested in meeting him. 2. at a great dis-
remind /r mand/ (reminds, remind- tance from a town a remotely situated
remind
ing, reminded) verb to make someone re- farm 3. without direct physical contact
member something [~that] She reminded They were able to set the controls remotely.
him that the meeting had to finish at 6.30. removable /r mu
vb()l/ adj designed
removable
Now that youve reminded me, I do re- so as to be easily taken off and put back on
member seeing him last week. Remind again
me to book the tickets for New York. removal /r mu
v()l/ noun 1. taking
removal
reminder /r mand/ noun 1. a thing

reminder
| something or someone away the removal

which reminds you of something Keep of the ban on importing computers
this picture as a reminder of happier days. Refuse collectors are responsible for the
He tied a knot in his handkerchief as a re- removal of household waste. The opposi-
minder of what he had to do. 2. a letter to tion called for the removal of the Foreign
remind a customer to do something Secretary. 2. the process of moving to a
reminisce /rem ns/ (reminisces, rem-
reminisce
| new home, new office, etc.

iniscing, reminisced) verb to talk about remove /r mu
v/ (removes, remov-
remove
memories of the past (NOTE: + reminis- ing, removed) verb to take something
cence n) away You can remove his name from the
reminiscent /rem ns()nt/ adj which
reminiscent
| mailing list. The waitress removed the

reminds you of the past dirty plates and brought us some tea.
remission /r m()n/ noun 1. a reduc- remover /r mu
v/ noun 1. a person
remission remover
| |
tion of a prison sentence He was sen- who moves furniture from one house to an-
tenced to five years, but should only serve other Were moving house tomorrow
three with remission. He earned remis- the removers will be here at 7.30 am. 2. a
sion for good behaviour. 2. a period when thing which removes
an illness is less severe The cancer is in remuneration /rmju
n re()n/
remuneration
| |
remission. noun payment for services done (NOTE: +

remittance /r mt()ns/ noun money
remittance
| remunerate v)
which is sent renaissance /r nes()ns/, renas-
renaissance
remnant / remnnt/ noun a quantity or

remnant
cence noun a rebirth or a starting again

piece left over British cinema has undergone a renais-
remonstrate / remnstret/ (remon- sance in recent years.
remonstrate
strates, remonstrating, remonstrated) rename /ri

nem/ (renames, renaming,
rename
verb to reason with someone about some- renamed) verb to give something a new
thing they have done (formal ) name
remorse /r m
s/ noun regret about render / rend/ (renders, rendering,
remorse render
something wrong which you have done rendered) verb 1. to translate The text
remorseless /r m
sls/ adj 1. which was badly rendered in Italian. 2. to provide
remorseless
cannot be stopped The Green Belt is sup- services rendered to the country 3. to
posed to stop the remorseless advance of make someone or something change into a
houses into the countryside. Theres particular state She was rendered speech-
nothing you can do to hold back the re- less by their letter. The experts rendered
morseless advance of old age. 2. cruel, the bomb safe.
showing no pity A remorseless artillery rendezvous / rndevu
/ noun (plural
rendezvous
bombardment pounded the town. same) 1. an appointment or meeting He

remote /r mt/ adj 1. far away from
remote
| arranged a rendezvous with her. 2. a place

towns and places where there are lots of where a meeting takes place verb (ren-
people The hotel is situated in a remote dezvouses, rendezvousing, rendez-
mountain village. 2. not very likely voused) to arrange to meet, or meet some-
Theres a remote chance of finding a cure where You go north, and well go west
for his illness. The possibility of him ar- and well all rendezvous at the camp at
riving on time is remote. 16.00.
rendition 526
rendition /ren d()n/ noun a perform- which is broken or has been damaged [~to]
rendition
ance of a song, etc. The hotel is closed while they are carry-
renege /r ne(, r ni
(/ (reneges, re- ing out repairs to the kitchens. His car is
renege
| |
neging, reneged) verb not to do something in the garage for repair.

repatriate /ri
ptriet/ (repatriates, re-
repatriate
which you had promised to do (formal ) |
renew /r nju
/ (renews, renewing, re- patriating, repatriated) verb to bring or to
renew
newed) verb 1. to start again Renew your send someone back to their home country
efforts and dont lose hope. 2. to replace (NOTE: + repatriation n)
repay /r pe/ (repays, repaying, repaid)
repay
something old with something new We |
need to renew the wiring in the kitchen. 3. verb 1. to pay back Ill try to repay what
to continue something for a further period I owe you next month. Thank you for your
of time Dont forget to renew your insur- help I hope to be able to repay you one
ance policy. (NOTE: + renewal n) day. 2. to be worth
renewable /r nju
b()l/ adj which can repayment /r pemnt/ noun paying
renewable repayment
| |
be renewed The season ticket is renewa- back

ble for a further year. repeal /r pi
l/ (repeals, repealing, re-
repeal
renewed /r nju
d/ adj continuing with pealed) verb to end a law officially The
renewed
new energy, strength or enthusiasm Bill seeks to repeal the existing legislation.
renounce /r nans/ (renounces, re- (NOTE: + repeal n)
renounce
repeat /r pi
t/ (repeats, repeating,
repeat
nouncing, renounced) verb 1. to give up a |
right or a claim She renounced her claim repeated) verb to say something again
to the property. 2. to state publicly that you [~that] She kept on repeating that she
are going to stop believing in something or wanted to go home. Could you repeat
are not going to behave in a certain way what you just said? He repeated the ad-
The government has renounced the use of dress so that the policeman could write it
force in dealing with international terror- down. to repeat yourself to say the same
ists. They called on the extremists to re- thing over and over again Hes getting
nounce violence. (NOTE: + renunciation n) old he keeps repeating himself.
renovate / renvet/ (renovates, reno- repeated /r pi
td/ adj happening again
renovate repeated
vating, renovated) verb to make a building and again

like new again (NOTE: + renovation n) repeatedly /r pi
tdli/ adv very many
repeatedly
renowned /r nand/ adj known and ad- times, often so many that it is annoying
renowned
mired by many people the renowned Ital- repel /r pel/ (repels, repelling, repelled)
repel
ian conductor Rome is renowned as the verb 1. to drive back an attack The army
centre of Catholicism. easily repelled the invaders. 2. to drive
rent /rent/ noun money paid to live in a something away The paint has an ingre-
rent
flat or house or to use an office or car dient that repels water. She sprayed the
Rents are high in the centre of the town. kitchen with a spray to repel flies. 3. to be
The landlord asked me to pay three so unpleasant that it drives people away
months rent in advance. verb (rents, The taste repelled me so much that I could
renting, rented) to pay money to use a not finish my meal.
house, flat, office or car He rents an of- repent /r pent / (repents, repenting, re-
repent
fice in the centre of town. He rented a vil- pented) verb to be very sorry for what you
la by the beach for three weeks. have done, or for what you have not done
rental / rent()l/ noun rent, money paid (NOTE: + repentance n)
rental
to use a room, flat, office, car, etc. repercussions / ri

p k()nz/ plural
repercussions
rep /rep/ noun a salesman who visits noun a result or effect, usually unpleasant
rep
clients, trying to sell them something The government decision on pensions will
They have vacancies for reps in the north have widespread repercussions. The
of the country. We have a reps meeting BBC is trying to deal with the repercus-
every three months. sions of the critical programme on India.
repair /r pe/ verb (repairs, repairing, repertoire / reptw
/ noun the
repertoire
repair
repaired) to make something work which plays, songs or pieces of music which
is broken or damaged I dropped my someone has learned She has an exten-
watch on the pavement, and I dont think it sive repertoire, covering most of the impor-
can be repaired. Shes trying to repair tant soprano roles.
repetition /rep t()n/ noun 1. the
repetition
the washing machine. The photocopier is |
being repaired. noun mending something act of repeating, of saying the same thing
527 repressed
again Constant repetition of the song porting, reported) to present yourself offi-
made sure we all knew it by heart. 2. a cially [~for/~to] to report for work Can-
thing which is repeated The police will didates should report to the office at 9.00.
try to prevent a repetition of the ugly reportedly /r p
tdli/ adv according to
reportedly
scenes at the football ground. what has been reported

repetitive /r pettv/ adj which is re- reported speech /rp
td spi
t/
repetitive
reported speech
|
|
peated very frequently and is boring noun same as indirect speech

rephrase /ri
frez/ (rephrases, re- reporter /r p
t/ noun a journalist
rephrase
reporter
| |
phrasing, rephrased) verb to say some- who writes reports of events for a newspa-
thing again, but in a different way per or for a TV news programme
replace /r ples/ (replaces, replac- reporting /r p
t/ noun the action
replace reporting
| |
ing, replaced) verb to put something back of reporting something in the press
where it was before Please replace the repose /r pz/ noun calm, resting a
repose
books correctly on the shelves. state of repose

replacement /r plesmnt/ noun 1. repossess /ri
p zes/ (repossesses,
replacement
repossess
|
|
a thing which is used to replace something repossessing, repossessed) verb to take

[~for] An electric motor was bought as a back an item which someone is buying un-
replacement for the old one. 2. the action of der a hire-purchase agreement, or a house
replacing something with something else which someone is buying under a mort-
[~for] The mechanics recommended the gage agreement, because the purchaser
replacement of the hand pump with an cannot continue the payments (NOTE: + re-
electric model. possession n)
replay1 / ri
ple/ noun a match which is reprehensible /repr hensb()l/ adj
replay
reprehensible
played again because the first match was a which can be criticised
draw They drew 22 so there will be a re- represent /repr zent/ (represents,
represent
play next week. representing, represented) verb 1. to

replay2 /ri
ple/ (replays, replaying, re-
replay
|
speak or act on behalf of someone or of a
played) verb to play again He replayed group of people He asked his solicitor to
the message on the answerphone several represent him at the meeting. 2. to mean
times, but still couldnt understand it. something, or to be a symbol of something
The match will be replayed next week. g The dark green on the map represents
replenish /r plen/ (replenishes, re-
replenish
| woods.
plenishing, replenished) verb to fill up representation /reprzen te()n/
representation
again noun 1. the act of selling goods for a com-

replica / replk / noun an exact copy
replica
pany We can provide representation

replicate / replket/ (replicates, repli- throughout Europe. 2. having someone to
replicate
cating, replicated) verb to do or make act on your behalf The residents associ-
something in exactly the same way as be- ation wants representation on the commit-
fore tee. 3. a way of showing The design on
reply / r pla/ noun (plural replies) 1. the Lebanese flag is a representation of a
reply
an answer, especially to a letter or tele- cedar tree.

representative /repr zenttv/ adj
representative
phone call [~to] We wrote last week, but |
havent had a reply yet. We had six re- typical of all the people or things in a group
plies to our advertisement. 2. in reply as The sample isnt representative of the
an answer In reply to my letter, I received whole batch. noun a person who repre-
a fax two days later. She just shook her sents, who speaks on behalf of someone
head in reply and turned away. verb (re- else [~of/from] Representatives of the
plies, replying, replied) to answer [~to] workforce have asked to meet the manage-
He never replies to my letters. We wrote ment. He asked his solicitor to act as his
last week, but he hasnt replied yet. He representative.
refused to reply to questions until his law- repress /r pres/ (represses, repress-
repress
yer arrived. ing, repressed) verb 1. to control a natural

report /r p
t/ noun a description of impulse She had difficulty in repressing a
report
what has happened or what will happen smile. 2. to restrict peoples freedom, etc.
[~of/~that] We read the reports of the ac- The ordinary people have been repressed
cident in the newspaper. Can you confirm for so long that they do not know what it is
the report that the council is planning to to be free. (NOTE: + repression n)
sell the old town hall? verb (reports, re- repressed /r prest/ adj suppressed
repressed
|
repressive 528
repressive /r presv/ adj severe, strict republican /r pblkn/ noun a person
repressive republican
| |
or using force to keep people under control who believes that a republic is the best
reprieve /r pri
v / noun 1. temporarily form of government Some republicans
reprieve
stopping a sentence or order by a court made speeches against the emperor.

Republican /r pblkn / noun US a
Republican
He was granted a last-minute reprieve. 2. |
saving something which was planned for member of the Republican Party, one of the
demolition This magnificent building two main political parties in the USA
was to be demolished, but the reprieve repudiate /r pju
diet/ (repudiates, re-
repudiate
came just in time to save it. (NOTE: + re- pudiating, repudiated) verb to reject or to
prieve v) refuse to accept ( NOTE: + repudiation n)
reprimand / reprm
nd/ (reprimands,
reprimand
repugnant /r p(nnt/ adj very un-

repugnant
reprimanding, reprimanded) verb to criti- pleasant, offensive or unacceptable

cise someone severely for doing something
repulse /r pls/ (repulses, repulsing,
repulse
wrong The report reprimanded the direc- |
tors for their negligence. (NOTE: + repri- repulsed) verb to push back someone who
mand n) is attacking
repulsion /r pln/ noun 1. a feeling of
repulsion
reprint1 / ri
prnt/ noun the printing of
reprint
|
copies of a book again after a first printing dislike He looked at the plate of snails
The mistake on the title page will be cor-
with repulsion. 2. (in physics) the act of
rected in the reprint. pushing something away Magnetic re-
pulsion can be demonstrated by trying to
reprint2 /ri
prnt/ (reprints, reprinting,
reprint
join the negative ends of two magnets.

reprinted) verb to print more copies of a
repulsive /r plsv/ adj unpleasant,
repulsive
document or book The book is being re- |
printed. which makes you disgusted

reputable / repjtb()l/ adj well
reputable
reprisal /r praz()l/ noun punishment

reprisal
of someone in revenge for something thought of, with a good reputation

reputation /repj te()n/ noun an
reputation
reproach /r prt/ noun 1. a statement

reproach
|
|
of blame or a criticism beyond reproach opinion that people have of someone

blameless 2. a thing which is a disgrace [~as/~for] He has a reputation as a strict
verb (reproaches, reproaching, re- teacher. His bad reputation wont help
proached) to criticise someone for some- him find a suitable job.
repute /r pju
t / noun a reputation or
repute
thing for having done something [~for/with] |
reprocess /ri
prses/ (reprocesses, general opinion (formal )
reprocess
reputed /r pju
td/ adj supposed, said to
reputed
reprocessing, reprocessed) verb to proc- |
ess again be
reproduce /ri
pr dju
s/ (reproduces, request /r kwest/ noun asking for
reproduce request
| |
reproducing, reproduced) verb 1. to make something [~for] Theyve made a request

a copy of something such as artistic mate- for extra funding.Your request will be dealt
rial or musical sounds It is very difficult with as soon as possible. verb (requests,
to reproduce the sound of an owl accurate- requesting, requested) to ask for some-
ly. Some of the paintings have been re- thing politely or formally [~that] The po-
produced in this book. His letters have lice are requesting that everyone stays in-
been reproduced in the biography. 2. to side the building. I am enclosing the leaf-
produce babies or young animals lets you requested. Guests are requested
reproduction /ri
pr dkn/ noun to leave their keys at reception. on re-
reproduction
1. a copy of a painting or other work of art quest if asked for catalogue available
2. the action of reproducing 3. the produc- on request
tion of young The rate of reproduction of require /r kwa/ (requires, requir-
require
mice is incredible. ing, required) verb to need something

reptile / reptal/ noun a cold-blooded an-
reptile
The disease requires careful nursing.

imal which has skin covered with scales Writing the program requires a computer
and which lays eggs specialist.
republic /r pblk/ noun a system of required /r kwad/ adj which must be
republic required
| |
government in which elected representa- done or provided We can cut the wood to
tives have power and the leader is an elect- the required length. We cant reply be-
ed or nominated president France is a re- cause we dont have the required informa-
public while Spain is a monarchy. tion.
529 residency
requirement /r kwamnt/ noun resent /r zent/ (resents, resenting, re-
requirement resent
| |
what is necessary It is a requirement of sented) verb to feel annoyed because of

the job that you should be able to drive. something that you think is unfair She re-
requisite / rekwzt/ adj necessary sents having to do other peoples work.
requisite
resentful /r zentf()l/ adj feeling anger

resentful
(formal) Does he have the requisite gov- |
ernment permits? We need someone with or bitterness about something someone has
the requisite skills to run the bar. done
re-release /re r li
s/ verb to make a resentment /r zentmnt/ noun the
re-release resentment
| |
music recording or a film available again feeling of being angry and upset about
some time after it first came out something that someone else has done
re-route /ri
ru
t/ verb to send people or There is lot of resentment at or over the de-
re-route
vehicles along a route which is different to cision to close the school. The decision
the usual one caused a lot of resentment among local
rerun / ri
rn/ noun 1. the second show-
rerun
people.
reservation /rez ve()n/ noun the
reservation
ing of a programme or film on TV Dur- |
ing the summer all the TV channels show act of booking something, e.g. a seat or ta-
reruns of old sitcoms. 2. a thing which hap- ble I want to make a reservation on the
pens again We want to avoid a rerun of train to Plymouth tomorrow evening.
reserve /r z#
v/ verb (reserves, re-
reserve
the trouble we had at the last meeting. |
resale / ri
sel/ noun the act of selling of serving, reserved) to book a seat or a table
resale
something again I want to reserve a table for four people.

Can you reserve two seats for me for the
reschedule /ri
edju
l/ (reschedules,
reschedule
rescheduling, rescheduled) verb to ar- evening performance? Were very busy

range an appointment again for a later time this evening. Have you reserved? noun an
My plane was delayed by fog, so I had to
amount kept back in case it is needed in the
reschedule all my meetings. future Our reserves of coal were used up
during the winter. in reserve waiting to
rescue / reskju
/ verb (rescues, rescu-
rescue
ing, rescued) to save someone from a dan-

be used Were keeping the can of petrol in
gerous or difficult situation The lifeboat reserve.
reserved /r z#
vd/ adj 1. booked
reserved
rescued the crew of the sinking ship.When |
the river flooded, the party of tourists had There are two reserved tables and one free
to be rescued by helicopter. The company one. Is this seat reserved? 2. who does
nearly collapsed, but was rescued by the not reveal his or her thoughts and feelings
Clare is very reserved and doesnt talk
bank. (NOTE: + rescuer n) noun the action
of saving someone or something in a diffi- much. Hes a very reserved man and does
cult or dangerous situation Mountain res- not mix with other members of staff.
reservoir / rezvw
/ noun a large, usu-
reservoir
cue requires well-trained people. No one

could swim well enough to go to her res- ally artificial, lake where drinking water is
cue. kept for pumping to a city
reset /ri
set/ (resets, resetting, reset)
reset
research /r s#
t/ noun scientific
research
|
|
study, which tries to find out facts [~in- verb to set something again The local
to/~on] The company is carrying out re- time is 12.15: please reset your watches.
search into the condition. Our laborato- His broken leg was set badly, and the doc-
ries are conducting important research on tors had to reset it.
resettle /ri
set()l/ (resettles, reset-
resettle
patient responses. Our researches proved |
that the letter was a forgery. verb (re- tling, resettled) verb to settle someone in
searches, researching, researched) to another place
reshape / ri
ep/ (reshapes, reshap-
reshape
study something in order to find out facts |
Research your subject thoroughly before ing, reshaped) verb to shape something
you start writing about it. again, to give something a different shape
resemblance /r zemblns/ noun the reside /r zad/ (resides, residing, resid-
resemblance reside
| |
fact of looking like someone [~to/~be- ed) verb to live somewhere (formal )
tween] She bears a strong resemblance to residence / rezd()ns / noun 1. a
residence
her father. The resemblance between the large house They have a country resi-
two brothers is remarkable. dence where they spend their weekends. 2.
resemble /r zembl/ (resembles, re- the act of living in a place
resemble
residency / rezd()nsi / noun the fact of

residency
sembling, resembled) verb to look like

someone or something being legally entitled to love in a country
resident 530
resident / rezd()nt/ noun a person resit /ri
st/ (resits, resitting, resat) verb
resident resit
who lives in a place, e.g. a country or a ho- to take an examination again after having
tel You need an entry permit if youre not failed
a resident of the country. Only residents resolute / rezlu
t/ adj determined, hav-
resolute
are allowed to park their cars here. adj ing made up your mind
who lives permanently in a place There is resolution /rez lu
()n/ noun 1. a de-
resolution
a resident caretaker. cision to be decided at a meeting 2. the fact

residual /r zdjul/ adj remaining after
residual
| of being determined to do something Her

everything else has gone resolution to succeed is so strong that I am
residue / rezdju
/ noun what is left after
residue
sure she will get through. 3. (of a TV or
a process has taken place After the sugar computer image) clearness of a picture on a
has been refined the residue is used for cat- screen, calculated as the number of pixels
tle feed. per unit of area
resolve /r zlv/ (formal) verb (re-
resolve
resign /r zan/ (resigns, resigning,

resign
|
|
resigned) verb to give up a job He re- solves, resolving, resolved) to strongly

signed with effect from July 1st. She has decide to do something We all resolved to
resigned (her position) as finance director. avoid these mistakes next time. noun a
strong decision to do something The
resignation /rez( ne()n/ noun 1.
resignation
head teacher encouraged him in his re-

the act of giving up a job His resignation solve to go to university.
was accepted by the Prime Minister.
resort /r z
t/ noun 1. a place where
resort
Have you written your letter of resigna- |
tion? 2. the attitude of accepting an un- people go on holiday a famous Swiss ski
pleasant or unwanted situation a look of resort Crowds have been flocking to the
resignation on his face resorts on the south coast. 2. as a or in
the last resort when everything else fails
resigned /r zand/ adj accepting some-
resigned
|
Having tried everything without success,
thing unpleasant he accepted her offer as a last resort.
resilient /r zlint / adj 1. which easily verb to resort to to do something in a dif-
resilient
returns to its original shape after being ficult situation, when everything else has
squashed Cork is a surprisingly resilient failed In the end the police had to resort
material. 2. (of a person) who is strong or to lifting the protestors out the road.
able to recover easily from a shock (per- resounding /r zand/ adj 1. great or
resounding
son) She is a very resilient person, in complete The exhibition was a resound-
spite of her age, and has gone back home ing success. 2. loud a resounding bang
from hospital to look after herself. resource /r z
s/ noun a source of
resource
resin / rezn/ noun 1. a sticky oil which

resin
supply for what is needed or used finan-

comes from some types of pine tree Am- cial resources The country is rich in oil,
ber is a yellow stone which is fossilised res- minerals and other natural resources.
in. 2. a solid or liquid organic compound, a resourceful / r z
sf()l/ adj good at
resourceful
polymer used in the making of plastic He looking after yourself or at dealing with
made some interesting table decorations problems
with gold coins in blocks of transparent respect / r spekt/ noun admiration for
respect
resin. someone [~for] He showed very little re-

resist /r zst/ (resists, resisting, re-
resist
|
spect for his teacher. No one deserves
sisted) verb to oppose or fight against more respect than her mother for the way
something He resisted all attempts to she coped with the bad news. verb (re-
make him sell the house. Bands of guer- spects, respecting, respected) to admire
rillas resisted doggedly in the mountains. someone, especially because of his or her
They resisted the enemy attacks for two achievements or status Everyone respect-
weeks. ed her for what she said.
resistance /r zstns/ noun opposi- respectable /r spektb()l/ adj consid-
resistance
respectable
|
|
tion to or fighting against something The ered by people to be good, and deserving to
patients had no resistance to disease. be respected Shes marrying a very re-
Skiers crouch down low to minimise wind spectable young engineer. I dont want to
resistance. There was a lot of resistance bring up my children here, it is not a re-
to the new plan from the local residents. spectable area.
resistant /r zst()nt/ adj which resists respected /r spektd/ adj admired
resistant respected
| |
something by many people

531 restrict
respectful /r spektf()l/ adj full of re- responsive /r spnsv/ adj 1. showing
respectful responsive
| |
spect sympathy or reacting favourably to some-

respective /r spektv/ adj referring thing The management was not very re-
respective
separately to each of the people just men- sponsive to the demands of the staff. 2. re-
tioned acting to something The cat is very re-
respectively /r spektvli/ adv in the
respectively
|
sponsive to being stroked. His flu seems
order just mentioned to be responsive to antibiotics.
rest /rest/ noun 1. a period of being
rest
respirator / respret/ noun a machine

respirator
which is used in hospital to help patients to quiet and peaceful, being asleep or doing
breathe when they cannot breathe by them- nothing All you need is a good nights
selves rest and youll be fine again tomorrow.
respiratory /r sprt()ri/ adj referring
respiratory
|
We took a few minutes rest and started
to breathing running again. Im having a well-earned
rest after working hard all week. 2. what is
respite / respat/ noun a rest, a period
respite
left Here are the twins, but where are the

when things are slightly better without rest of the children? I drank most of the
respite without stopping Rescue teams
milk and the cat drank the rest. Throw the
worked without respite for three days in rest of the food away it will go bad.
their search for survivors. (NOTE: Rest takes a singular verb when it re-
respond /r spnd/ (responds, re-
respond
|
fers to a singular: Heres the rest of the milk;
sponding, responded) verb 1. to give a re- Wheres the rest of the string? The rest of
ply She shouted at him, but he didnt re- the money has been lost. It takes a plural
spond. 2. to show a favourable reaction to verb when it refers to a plural: Here are the
something [~to] I hope the public will re- rest of the children; Where are the rest of the
spond to our new advertisement. The chairs? The rest of the books have been
government has responded to pressure lost.) verb (rests, resting, rested) 1. to
from industry. spend time relaxing or not using energy
response /r spns/ noun something
response
|
Dont disturb your father hes resting.
that you do or say as a reaction to some- They ran for ten miles, rested for a few min-
thing [~to/~from] There was no response utes, and then ran on again. 2. to lean
to our call for help. The changes pro- something against something She rested
duced an angry response from customers. her bike against the wall.
in response to something as an answer restaurant / rest()rnt/ noun a
restaurant
or reaction to something In response to place where you can buy and eat a meal I
the United Nations request for aid, the dont want to stay at home tonight lets
government has sent blankets and tents. go out to the Italian restaurant in the High
responsibility /rspns blti/ (plu-
responsibility
| |
Street. Shes was waiting for me at the
ral responsibilities) noun 1. the fact of be- restaurant.
ing in a position in which you look after or rested / restd/ adj feeling calm and re-
rested
deal with something [~for] The manage- laxed after a rest

ment accepts no responsibility for custom- restful / restf()l/ adj which makes you
restful
ers property. There is no responsibility feel calm and relaxed

on his part for the poor results. Who
restless / restls/ adj too nervous, wor-
restless
should take responsibility for the students

welfare? 2. something that someone is re- ried or full of energy to keep still
restore /r st
/ (restores, restoring,
restore
sponsible for |
responsible /r spnsb()l/ adj 1.

responsible
|
restored) verb to repair something and
looking after something and so likely to be make it seem new again The old house
blamed if something goes wrong He is has been restored and is now open to the
not responsible for the restaurant next public.
restrain /r stren/ (restrains, restrain-
restrain
door to his hotel. Customers are respon- |
sible for all breakages. He is responsible ing, restrained) verb to prevent or try to
for a class of 25 children. responsible to stop someone doing something It took six
someone under the authority of someone policemen to restrain him.
restrained /r strend/ adj controlled or
restrained
Shes directly responsible to the sales man- |
ager. 2. (of a person) reliable and able to be calm

restraint /r strent/ noun control
restraint
trusted to be sensible |
responsibly /r spnsbli/ adv in a re- restrict /r strkt/ (restricts, restrict-

responsibly restrict
| |
sponsible way ing, restricted) verb to limit someone or

restricted 532
something You are restricted to two bot- to start something up again (NOTE: + resur-
tles per person. rection n)
restricted /r strktd/ adj limited resuscitate /r sstet/ (resuscitates,
restricted resuscitate
|
|
restriction /r strkn/ noun a limi-

restriction
|
resuscitating, resuscitated) verb to make
tation [~on] The police have placed re- someone who appears to be dead start
strictions on his movements. breathing again, and to restart the circula-
tion of blood (NOTE: + resuscitation n)
restrictive /r strktv/ adj which limits
restrictive
retail / ri
tel/ noun the business of selling
| retail
restructure /ri
strkt/ (restruc-
restructure
|
small quantities of goods direct to the pub-
tures, restructuring, restructured) verb to lic We specialise in the retail of ordinary
reorganise something, especially the finan- household goods. The goods in stock
cial basis of a company have a retail value of 10,000. verb (re-
result /r zlt/ noun 1. something
result
| tails, retailing, retailed) to sell goods di-

which happens because of something else rect to customers who do not sell them
What was the result of the police investi- again
gation? as a result (of something) be- retailer / ri
tel/ noun a shopkeeper who
retailer
cause of something There was a traffic sells goods directly to the public. Compare
jam and as a result, she missed her plane. wholesaler
2. the final score in a game, the final marks retailing / ri
tel/ noun the business of
retailing
in an exam, etc. What was the result of selling goods at full price to the public
the last race?She isnt pleased with her retain /r ten/ (retains, retaining, re-
retain
exam results. I had great fun making the tained) verb to keep something Please
rug but Im only partly happy with the re- retain this invoice for tax purposes. One
sult. He listened to the football results on book especially retained my attention so
the radio. I bought it. He managed to retain his
resume /r zju
m / (resumes, resuming,
resume
| composure in spite of being constantly

resumed) verb 1. to start something again heckled.
after stopping The meeting resumed after retaliate /r tliet/ (retaliates, retaliat-
retaliate
a short break. Normal train services will ing, retaliated) verb to attack someone in
resume after the track has been repaired. revenge (NOTE: + retaliation n)
After the fire, the staff resumed work as retention / r tenn/ noun 1. the act of
retention
normal. 2. to go back to a place resume keeping something The committee voted

your places for the retention of the existing system. 2.
rsum / rezju
me/ noun 1. a short
rsum
| the act of holding something back

summing-up of the main points of a discus- rethink / ri
k/ (rethinks, rethinking,
rethink
sion or of a book I cant attend the meet- rethought) verb to think again about or re-
ing, but I would like a rsum of the discus- consider something We should rethink
sion. A brief rsum of the contents of the the whole plan now that the council has re-
book is all I need. 2. US a summary of a fused planning permission.
persons life story with details of education reticent / rets()nt/ adj not willing to
reticent
and work experience Attach a rsum to talk about something

your application form. retina / retn/ noun an inside layer of the
retina
resumption /r zmpn/ noun the act

resumption
| eye, which is sensitive to light

of starting again retinue / retnju
/ noun a group of peo-
retinue
resurface /ri
s#
fs/ (resurfaces, re-
resurface
| ple following an important person

surfacing, resurfaced) verb 1. to put a new retire /r ta/ (retires, retiring, re-
retire
surface on a road No one can park on our tired) verb 1. to stop work and take a pen-
street because they are resurfacing it to- sion [~from] He will retire from his job as
day. 2. to come back to the surface again or manager next April. Shes retiring this
appear again The bird dived into the wa- year. 2. to make an employee stop work
ter and resurfaced several minutes later in and take a pension They decided to retire
a different part of the river. He disap- all staff over 50.
peared for a time, then resurfaced as man- retired /r tad/ adj who has stopped
retired
aging director of a TV company. work and draws a pension

resurrect /rez rekt/ (resurrects, res- retirement / r tamnt/ noun 1. the
resurrect retirement
| |
urrecting, resurrected) verb 1. to bring act of retiring from work He was given a
something back to use He resurrected his watch as a retirement present. He claims
old plan for rebuilding the town centre. 2. that the pension hell get on his retirement
533 revenue
wont be sufficient. 2. a period of life when come back or go back [~from/~to] When
you are retired He spent his retirement in she returned from lunch she found two
his house in France. Most people look messages waiting for her. When do you
forward to their retirement. plan to return to Paris? 2. to give or send
retiring /r tar/ adj shy, quiet and re- something back [~to] The letter was re-
retiring
served turned to the sender.

retort /r t
t/ (retorts, retorting, retort- reunification /ri
ju
nf ke()n/
reunification
retort
|
|
ed) verb to reply sharply (literary) She re- noun the act of joining again something
torted that she had plenty of money and which has been split. Compare unification
reunion /ri
ju
njn/ noun a meeting of
reunion
didnt want any gifts from him. (NOTE: + re- |
tort n) people who have not met for a long time

retract /r trkt/ (retracts, retracting, reunite /ri
ju
nat/ (reunites, reunit-
retract reunite
| |
retracted) verb 1. to pull back The landing, reunited) verb to join people or things
ing gear retracted after take-off. 2. to with- together again
draw something which has been said He reuse /ri
ju
s/ (reuses, reusing, re-
reuse
refuses to retract a single word of his state- used) verb to use again something which
ment. has already been used
retreat /r tri
t/ verb (retreats, retreat- revamp1 /ri
vmp/ (revamps, revamp-
retreat revamp
| |
ing, retreated) if soldiers retreat, they stop ing, revamped) verb to improve the ap-
fighting and move back and away from the pearance of something which is slightly
battle Napoleon retreated from Moscow old-fashioned The whole image of the
in 1812. noun the act of moving back and company needs revamping.
away from a battle The armys retreat revamp2 / ri
vmp/ noun a complete
revamp
was swift and unexpected. change of the appearance of something

retrial / ri
tral/ noun a second trial of a
retrial
| Our headed notepaper has had a complete

case when the first trial was not conducted revamp.
properly or no verdict was reached reveal /r vi
l/ (reveals, revealing, re-
reveal
retribution /retr bju

()n/ noun a
retribution
| vealed) verb to show or mention something

well-deserved punishment which was hidden [~(that)] He revealed
retrieve /r tri
v/ (retrieves, retriev- that he actually knew very little about cars.
retrieve
ing, retrieved) verb 1. to get back some- An unexpected fault was revealed during
thing which was lost He retrieved his um- the test. The X-ray revealed a brain tu-
brella from the lost-property office. 2. to mour.
bring back something which has been revealing /r vi
l/ adj which shows
revealing
stored in a computer She retrieved the something which is usually hidden

address files which she thought had been revelation /rev le()n/ noun 1. the
revelation
deleted. act of showing or mentioning something

retrospect / retrspekt/ noun in ret-
retrospect
which was secret Her revelation that she

rospect when you look back In retro- had two children took everyone by sur-
spect, our decision to make him finance di- prise. 2. something which was a secret
rector was quite wrong. which now everyone knows His singing
retrospective /retr spektv/ noun was a revelation.
retrospective
an exhibition of works of art covering the reveller / rev()l/ noun a person who is
reveller
whole career of an artist This has been having a good time (NOTE: The US spelling
the first Henry Moore retrospective for is reveler.)
some years. revenge /r vend/ noun the act of
revenge
retry /ri
tra/ (retries, retrying, retried)
retry
| punishing someone in return for harm he or

verb to have a retrial of a case which has al- she has caused you [~for] They attacked
ready been tried once the police station in revenge for the arrest
return /r t#
n/ noun 1. the act of going of three members of the gang. All the time
return
or coming back to a place [~from/] It he spent in prison, his only thought was of
snowed on the day of her return from Can- revenge. He had his revenge in the end,
ada. Ill come and see you on my return. when her car broke down and she had to
2. the key on a keyboard which you press phone for help.
when you have finished keying something, revenue / revnju
/ noun 1. money
revenue
or when you want to start a new line To which is received His only source of rev-
change directory, type C: and press return. enue is his shop. 2. money received by a
verb (returns, returning, returned) 1. to government in tax
reverberate 534
reverberate /r v#
bret/ (reverber- way The bank will review our overdraft
reverberate
ates, reverberating, reverberated) verb to position at the end of the month. Lets re-
echo or to ring out loudly and repeatedly view the situation in the light of the new de-
revere /r v/ (reveres, revering, re- velopments. 3. US to study a lesson again
revere
vered) verb to worship someone or to re- You must review your geography before the
spect someone very highly exam.
reverence / rev()rns/ noun great re- reviewer /r vju
/ noun a person who
reviewer
reverence
|
spect writes comments on something, e.g. books,

reverie / revri / noun a dream which you
reverie
plays or films
revile /r val/ (reviles, reviling, reviled)
revile
have during the day when you are not |
asleep verb to criticise someone or something

reversal /r v#
s()l/ noun a change to
reversal
harshly
revise /r vaz/ (revises, revising, re-
|
revise
the opposite |
reverse /r v#
s/ adj opposite to the
reverse
|
vised) verb 1. to study a lesson again [~for]
Im revising for my history test. There
front The reverse side of the carpet is
made of foam rubber. The conditions are isnt enough time to revise before the exam.
printed on the reverse side of the invoice. 2. to change something or make something
noun 1. the opposite side Didnt you read correct He is revising the speech he is due
what was on the reverse of the label? 2. a to give this evening. These figures will
car gear which makes you go backwards have to be revised, there seems to be a mis-
Put the car into reverse and back very take.
revision /r v()n/ noun the action
revision
slowly into the garage. The cars stuck in |
reverse! verb (reverses, reversing, re- of revising something

revival /r vav()l/ noun the act of
revival
versed) 1. to make something do the oppo- |
site The page order was reversed by mis- bringing something back into existence
revive /r vav/ (revives, reviving, re-
revive
take. Dont try to reverse the trend, go |
along with it. 2. to make a car go back- vived) verb 1. to recover, to get well again
wards Reverse as far as you can, then go After drinking some water he had revived
forward. Be careful not to reverse into enough to go on with the marathon. 2. to
that lamppost. in reverse order back- bring someone back to life again The
wards They called out the names of the paramedics managed to revive her on the
prize-winners in reverse order. way to the hospital. 3. to make something
reversible /r v#
sb()l/ adj which can popular again It wont be easy to revive
reversible
be worn with either side out peoples interest in old country crafts.
reversing light /r v#
s lat/ noun a revoke /r vk/ (revokes, revoking, re-
revoke
reversing light
|
|
light on the back of a car which lights up voked) verb to cancel something, e.g. a
when the car is put into reverse gear right, agreement or permission
revert /r v#
t/ (reverts, reverting, re- revolt /r vlt/ (revolts, revolting, re-
revolt
revert
|
|
verted) verb to go back or come back to an volted) verb 1. to rise up against authority
earlier state The prisoners revolted against the harsh
review /r vju
/ noun 1. written com-
review
|
treatment they were receiving. ( NOTE: In this
ments on something, e.g. a book, play or sense the noun is also revolt.) 2. to disgust
film, published in a newspaper or maga- someone It revolted me to see all that
zine Did you read the review of her latest food being thrown away. (NOTE: in this
film in todays paper? His book got some sense the noun is revulsion.)
revolting /r vlt/ adj extremely un-
revolting
very good reviews. 2. a monthly or weekly |
magazine which contains articles of gener- pleasant, often so unpleasant as to make

al interest His first short story appeared you feel ill a revolting smell
revolution /rev lu
()n/ noun 1. an
revolution
in a Scottish literary review. 3. an examina- |
tion of several things together The com- armed rising against a government He
panys annual review of each departments led an unsuccessful revolution against the
performance. verb (reviews, reviewing, last president. During the French Revo-
reviewed) 1. to read a book, see a film, etc., lution many aristocrats were executed. 2. a
and write comments about it in a newspa- change in the way things are done [~in] a
per or magazine Her exhibition was re- revolution in data processing
revolutionary /rev lu
()n()ri/ (plu-
revolutionary
viewed in todays paper. Whoever re- |
viewed her latest book, obviously didnt ral revolutionaries) noun a person who
like it. 2. to examine something in a general takes part in an uprising against a govern-
535 ride
ment The captured revolutionaries were rhubarb / ru
b
b/ noun a plant of which
rhubarb
shot when the army took control. the thick red leaf stalks are cooked and eat-
revolve /r vlv/ (revolves, revolving, en as a dessert
revolve
revolved) verb to turn round a fixed point rhyme /ram/ noun the way in which
rhyme
[~around] The Earth revolves around the some words end in the same sound Can
Sun. you think of a rhyme for taught? verb
revolver / r vlv/ noun a small hand (rhymes, rhyming, rhymed) to end with
revolver
gun in which the chamber for cartridges the same sound as another word [~with]
turns after each shot is fired, so that another Mr rhymes with sister
rhythm / r()m/ noun a strong regular
rhythm
shot can be fired quickly

revulsion /r vln / noun disgust beat in music or poetry They stamped
revulsion
reward /r w
d/ noun money given to
reward
|
their feet to the rhythm of the music.
rib /rb/ noun one of 24 curved bones
rib
someone for work done or as a prize for

finding something, or for information which protect your chest He fell down
about something When she took the purse while skiing and broke two ribs.
ribbed /rbd/ adj with a pattern of raised
ribbed
she had found to the police station she got

a 25 reward. He is not interested in lines (of knitting)
money the Olympic gold medal will be re- ribbon / rbn/ noun a long thin strip of
ribbon
ward enough. verb (rewards, rewarding, material for tying things or used as decora-
rewarded) to give someone money as a tion
prize for finding something, or for doing rice /ras/ noun the seeds of a tropical
rice
something He was rewarded for finding plant which are cooked and eaten She
the box of papers. All her efforts were re- only had a bowl of rice for her evening
warded when she won first prize. meal. Cook the rice with some saffron to
rewarding /r w
d/ adj which gives
rewarding
| make it yellow.
satisfaction rich /rt/ adj 1. who has a lot of money
rich
rewind /ri
wand/ noun the action of
rewind
| If only we were rich, then we could buy a

winding something back verb (rewinds, bigger house. He never spends anything,
rewinding, rewound) to wind something and so he gets richer and richer. 2. made
back After playing the cassette he re- with a lot of cream, butter, or eggs This
wound it. The flex will rewind automati- cream cake is too rich for me.
cally when you press the red button. riches / rtz/ plural noun wealth In
riches
rework /ri
w#
k/ (reworks, reworking,
rework
| spite of all their riches they are not a happy

reworked) verb to work on something family.
again rickety / rkti/ adj wobbly, likely to fall
rickety
rewrite /ri
rat/ (rewrites, rewriting, re-
rewrite
| down
wrote, rewritten) verb to write something rickshaw / rk
/, ricksha noun a vehi-
rickshaw
again in different words She rewrote the cle which people sit in and which is pulled
essay, adding more references. by a person
rhetoric / retrk/ noun the art of ricochet / rke/ (ricochets, ricochet-
rhetoric ricochet
speaking in a way which is intended to ing or ricochetting, ricocheted or rico-

make people change their minds She chetted) verb to bounce off a surface at an
came away from the meeting enthused by angle
the Prime Ministers rhetoric. rid /rd/ adj to get rid of something
rid
rhetorical question /rtrk()l

rhetorical question
| to throw something away Do you want to

kwestn/ noun a question which makes get rid of that old bookcase? We have
a statement, rather than expecting an an- been told to get rid of twenty staff. She
swer doesnt seem able to get rid of her cold.
rheumatism / ru
mtz()m/ noun a ridden / rd()n/ past participle of ride
rheumatism ridden
disease which gives painful or stiff joints riddle / rd()l/ noun a puzzling question
riddle
or muscles to which you have to find the answer

rhododendron /rd dendrn/ noun
rhododendron
| Heres a riddle for you: whats black and

a large evergreen shrub with clusters of white and red all over?.
huge pink, red or purple flowers ride /rad/ noun a pleasant trip, e.g. on
ride
rhombus / rmbs/ (plural rhombuses

rhombus
a horse or a bike or in a car [~on/~in] Can

or rhombi) noun a shape with four equal I have a ride on your motorbike? He took
sides but with no right angles us all for a ride in his new car. The sta-
rider 536
tion is only a short bus ride from the col- When you get to the next crossroads, turn
lege. verb (rides, riding, rode, ridden) to to the right. Go straight ahead, and take
go on a horse, on a bike, etc. He rode his the second road on the right. adv 1. di-
bike across the road without looking. rectly, or in a straight line Instead of stop-
Shes never ridden (on) an elephant. My ping at the crossroads, he drove right on
little sister is learning to ride, but shes across the main road and To get to the
frightened of big horses. police station, keep right on to the end of
rider / rad/ noun a person who rides the road, and then turn left. Go right
rider
The rider of the black horse fell at the first along to the end of the corridor, youll see
fence. Motorcycle riders must wear hel- my office in front of you. 2. exactly The
mets. pub is right at the end of the road. The
ridge /rd/ noun a long narrow raised phone rang right in the middle of the TV
ridge
part programme. She stood right in front of

ridicule / rdkju
l/ noun mocking,
ridicule
the TV and no one could see the screen. 3.
laughing at someone She was afraid of towards the right-hand side To get to the
the ridicule of her colleagues. verb (ridi- station, turn right at the traffic lights.
cules, ridiculing, ridiculed) to laugh at Children should be taught to look right and
someone or something She ridiculed his left before crossing the road. interj
attempts at speaking Italian. agreed, OK Right, so we all meet again
ridiculous /r dkjls/ adj extremely
ridiculous at 7 oclock?
right-hand /rat hnd/ adj on the
| right-hand
silly or unreasonable
riding / rad/ noun the sport of going on
riding right side
right-handed /rat hndd/ adj us-
right-handed
horseback He loves riding. Lets go rid-

ing in the park. ing the right hand more often than the left
for things like writing and eating
rife /raf/ adj common Crime is rife in
rife
right-hand man /rat hnd mn/

right-hand man
some parts of the town.

(plural right-hand men) noun the main as-
rifle / raf()l/ noun a gun with a long bar-
rifle
rel which you hold with two hands, against sistant

right-wing /rat w/ adj belonging or
right-wing
your shoulder The gunman was on a roof

with a rifle. He was shooting at a target relating to the conservative political parties
rigid / rdd/ adj stiff and not bending
rigid
with an air rifle.

rift /rft/ noun a split or crack
rift
much
rigmarole / r(mrl/ noun a process
rigmarole
rig /r(/ (rigs, rigging, rigged) verb to ar-

rig
|
range a dishonest result (informal) rig up which is unnecessarily complicated

rigorous / r(rs/ adj very thorough
rigorous
rig up phrasal verb to arrange something

rigour / r(/ noun the fact of being strict
rigour
or construct something quickly

rigging / r(/ noun 1. the ropes on a
rigging
or severe We will pursue the case with the
ship The rigging creaked in the storm. full rigour of the law. (NOTE: The US spell-
Sailors ran up the rigging to wave to the ing is rigor.)
rile / ral/ (riles, riling, riled) verb to make
rile
crowds on the quayside. 2. the practice of

arranging a vote to give a dishonest result someone angry or annoyed
rim /rm/ noun 1. the edge of something
rim
Vote rigging is very common here.

right /rat/ adj 1. correct She didnt round, like a wheel or a cup The rim of
right
put the bottles back in the Youre right the glass is chipped. 2. a frame of specta-
the number 8 bus doesnt go to Marble cles He wears glasses with steel rims.
rind /rand/ noun a skin on fruit, bacon or
rind
Arch. She gave the right answer every

time. He says the answer is 285 quite cheese
right! Is the station clock right? Is this ring /r/ noun 1. a round shape, e.g. of
ring
the right train for Manchester? all right 2. metal She has a gold ring in her nose.
on the same side as the hand which most He wears a ring on his little finger. 2. a cir-
people use to write with In England cars cle of people or things The teacher asked
dont drive on the right side of the road. the children to sit in a ring round her. 3. the
The keys are in the top right drawer of my noise of an electric bell There was a ring
desk. He was holding the suitcase in his at the door. 4. a space where a circus show
right hand. noun the side opposite to the takes place or where a boxing match is held
left [~of] Who was that girl sitting on the The horses galloped round the ring.
right of your father? When driving in The ringmaster came into the ring with his
France remember to keep to the right. top hat and whip. verb (rings, ringing,
537 rivet
rang, rung) 1. to make a sound with a bell ripen / rapn/ (ripens, ripening, rip-
ripen
The postman rang the doorbell. Is that ened) verb to become ripe
your phone ringing? 2. to telephone some- rip-off / rp f/ noun a bad deal (informal)
rip-off
one He rang me to say he would be late. ripple / rp()l/ noun a little wave
ripple
Dont ring tomorrow afternoon the of-

rise /raz/ noun a movement or slope
rise
fice will be closed. Dont ring me, Ill upwards [~in] Salaries are increasing to
ring you. to ring a bell to remind some- keep up with the rise in the cost of living.
one of something The name rings a bell. There is a gentle rise until you get to the
Does the name Arbuthnot ring any bells?
top of the hill. verb (rises, rising, rose,
ring back phrasal verb to telephone to risen) to go up The sun always rises in
answer someone (informal) the east. The road rises steeply for a few
ring off phrasal verb to put down the miles. Prices have been rising steadily
phone all year. If you open the oven door, the
ring up phrasal verb to speak to some- cake wont rise properly.
one using a telephone risk /rsk/ noun a possible bad result
risk
ringleader / rli
ringleader
There is not much risk of rain in August.

organises a revolt or some crime At the risk of looking foolish, Im going to
ring road / r rd/ noun a road which
ring road
ask her to come out with me. The risk of
goes right round a town going blind is very remote. There is a fi-
nancial risk attached to this deal. verb
rink /rk/ noun a large enclosed area, e.g.
rink
(risks, risking, risked) to do something

for ice skating, playing ice hockey or roller
skating which may possibly harm you The fire-
man risked his life to save her. He risked
rinse /rns/ verb (rinses, rinsing, rinsed)
rinse
all his savings on buying the bookshop.

to put things covered with soap or dirty risky / rski/ (riskier, riskiest) adj which
risky
things into clean water to remove the soap is dangerous

or the dirt Rinse the dishes before putting
risqu / rske/ adj slightly indecent
risqu
them on the draining board to dry. noun

rite /rat / noun a religious ceremony
rite
the act of washing something in clean wa-

ritual / rtul/ noun 1. a religious cere-
ritual
ter to get rid of soap Give your shirt a

good rinse. mony the ritual of the mass 2. something
riot / rat/ noun noisy and usually vi-
riot
which you do regularly in the same way
olent behaviour by a crowd of people The Every evening its the same ritual: he puts
protesters started a riot. the cat out and locks the door. We dont
follow any particular ritual on Christmas
rioter / rat/ noun a person who takes
rioter
Day, we take the day as it comes.

part in a riot rival / rav()l/ adj who competes Two
rival
riotous / rats/ adj disorderly, as in a

riotous
rival companies are trying to win the con-

riot tract. Is this the rival product you were
rip /rp/ noun a tear in cloth He lost the
rip
talking about? Simon and I are friends

race because of a rip in his sail. verb but we play for rival teams. noun a per-
(rips, ripping, ripped) 1. to tear something son or a company that competes H538
roughly I ripped my sleeve on a nail. We keep our prices low to compete with our
She ripped open the parcel to see what he rivals.
had given her. The old bathroom is being rivalry / rav()lri/ noun competition
rivalry
ripped out and new units put in. 2. to go river / rv/ noun a large mass of fresh
river
through something violently The fire water which runs across the land and goes
ripped through the building. into the sea or into a large lake London is
rip off phrasal verb 1. to tear something on the River Thames. The river is very
off something else Its the last day of deep here, so its dangerous to swim in it.
the month so you can rip the page off the (NOTE: With names of rivers, you usually say
calendar. Someone has ripped off the the River: the River Thames; the River Am-
books cover. 2. to rip someone off to azon; the River Nile.)
cheat someone or to make someone pay rivet / rvt/ noun a large metal pin which
rivet
too much (slang) They were ripped off fastens metal plates together The workers
in the market. were driving rivets into the metal sheets
ripe /rap/ adj ready to eat or to be
ripe
with huge hammers. verb (rivets, rivet-

picked Dont eat that apple it isnt ripe ing, riveted) 1. to fasten metal plates to-
yet. gether Workmen riveted the sheets of
riveting 538
metal together. 2. to attract the attention of robbery / rbri/ (plural robberies) noun
robbery
someone The audience was riveted by his the act of attacking and stealing someone
stories. He sat riveted to the TV set. robe /rb/ noun a long, loose dress for
robe
Her eyes were riveted on the door, as if she men or women The professors came onto
expected someone to come in. the platform in their academic robes. The
riveting / rvt/ adj which holds every-
riveting
Arab sheikh rode up on a camel in his flow-

ones attention (informal ) ing robes.
road /rd/ noun a hard surface which
road
robin / rbn/ noun a common small

robin
vehicles travel on The road to York goes brown bird with a red breast
directly north from London. Drivers must
robot / rbt/ noun a machine which
robot
be careful because roads are icy. Chil-

dren are taught to look both ways before is designed to work like a person automat-
crossing the road. Our office address is: ically
robust /r bst/ adj 1. strong and
robust
26 London Road. (NOTE: often used in |
names: London Road, York Road, etc., and healthy 2. not likely to fail or break a ro-
usually written Rd: London Rd, etc.) bust system 3. vigorous and determined
roadblock / rdblk/ noun a barrier put
roadblock
He gave some robust answers to the jour-
across a road by the police nalists questions.
rock /rk / noun 1. a large stone or a
rock
road map /rd mp/ noun a map which

road map
shows the roads in a certain area large piece of stone The ship was break-
road rage / rd red/ noun a violent
road rage
ing up on the rocks. 2. a hard pink sweet
attack by a driver on another car or its driv- shaped like a stick, often with the name of
er, caused by anger at the way the other a town printed in it, bought mainly by tour-
driver has been driving ists a stick of Brighton rock 3. rock music
loud popular music with a strong rhythm
roadside / rdsad/ noun the side of a
roadside
Rock is the only music he listens to. verb

road We couldnt find a picnic area, so in (rocks, rocking, rocked) to move from
the end we picnicked on the roadside. side to side, or to make something move
They had a puncture so they stopped by the from side to side The little boat rocked in
roadside to change the wheel. the wake of the ferry. The explosion
roadway / rdwe/ noun a main surface
roadway
rocked the town.

of a road (NOTE: The US term is pavement.)
rock bottom /rk btm/ noun the
rock bottom
roadworks / rdw#
ks/ plural noun re-
roadworks
lowest point
pairs to a road It took longer than normal
rocket / rkt/ noun 1. a type of space ve-
rocket
to get to Birmingham because of all the

roadworks. hicle that looks like a tall tower 2. a type of
firework which flies up into the sky We
roadworthy / rdw#
i/ adj in a fit
roadworthy
stood in the square and watched the rock-

state to be driven on a road
ets lighting up the sky. 3. a type of bomb
roam /rm/ (roams, roaming, roamed)
roam
which is shot through space at an enemy

verb to wander about a place without any They fired a homemade rocket into the po-
particular destination lice station.
roar /r
/ (roars, roaring, roared) verb to
roar
rocking chair / rk te/ noun a chair

rocking chair
make a deep loud noise He roared with which rocks backwards and forwards on
laughter at the film. The lion roared and rockers
then attacked.
rock music / rk mju
zk/ noun loud
rock music
roast /rst/ verb (roasts, roasting,

roast
roasted) to cook food over a fire or in an

popular music with a strong rhythm
rocky / rki/ adj 1. full of rocks and large
rocky
oven If you want the meat thoroughly

cooked, roast it for a longer period at a stones They followed a rocky path up the
lower temperature. You can either roast mountain. 2. difficult The company has
pigeons or cook them in a casserole. adj had a rocky year. My brother and sister-
which has been roasted What a lovely in-law are going through a rocky patch at
smell of roast meat! We had roast chicken the moment. 3. not steady My chair is a
for dinner. bit rocky.
rob /rb/ (robs, robbing, robbed) verb rod /rd/ noun a long stick You need
rod
rob
to attack and steal from someone something rigid like a metal rod to hold the
robber / rb/ noun a person who at-
robber
tent upright.
rode /rd/ past tense of ride
rode
tacks and steals from someone

539 roof
rodent / rd()nt/ noun an animal ground is so bumpy, youll need a roller to
rodent
which chews and gnaws, such as a mouse flatten it. They used the roller just before
or a rat the match started. steamroller 2. a plastic
rodeo / rdi, r de/ (plural rode- tube used for rolling hair into curls She
rodeo
os) noun a display of skill by cowboys came to the door in her dressing gown and
roe /r/ noun the eggs of fish They ate
roe
rollers.
rollerblades / rlbledz/ trademark
rollerblades
salmon roe on toast. (NOTE: Do not confuse

with row.) roller skates with a single set of wheels
rogue /r(/ noun a wicked or dishonest
rogue
placed in line on the sole of each skate
rollerblading / rlbled/ noun the
rollerblading
person That car dealer is a bit of a rogue

you shouldnt really trust him. sport of going on rollerblades
roller coaster /rl kst / noun 1. a
roller coaster
role /rl/, rle noun 1. a part played by

role
someone in a play or film He plays the fairground railway which goes up and
role of the king. 2. a part played by some- down steep slopes We all went for a ride
one in real life [~in] He played an impor- on the roller coaster. 2. a dangerous or
tant role in getting the project off the risky series of events that cannot be con-
ground. Sleep has an important role in trolled The government had a roller-
good health. (NOTE: Do not confuse with coaster ride during its first weeks in office.
rolling pin / rl pn/ noun a wooden
rolling pin
roll.)
role model / rl md()l/ noun a
role model
roller with handles, for flattening pastry
Roman / rmn/ noun 1. a person who
Roman
person who should be taken as an example

which others can copy lives or lived in Rome The Romans in-
role play / rl ple/ noun an activity in
role play
vaded Britain in AD 43. 2. a printing type
which people each play the part of another with straight letters The book is set in
person, as part of a training exercise Times Roman. Compare italic
Roman Catholic /rmn k()lk/
Roman Catholic
roll /rl/ noun 1. a tube of something

roll
which has been turned over and over on it- noun a person who belongs to the Christian
self a roll of fax paper a roll of toilet Church of which the Pope is the head
paper or a toilet roll 2. a very small loaf of When the Pope visited the country thou-
bread for one person, sometimes cut in half sands of Roman Catholics attended mass.
romance /r mns / noun 1. a love
romance
and used to make a sandwich a bowl of |
soup and a bread roll verb (rolls, rolling, affair She told us all about her holiday
rolled) 1. to make something go forward by romance. Their romance didnt last. 2. a
turning it over and over He rolled the ball love story Youll enjoy this book if you
to the other player. 2. to go forward by like romances.
Roman numeral /rmn nju
mrl /
Roman numeral
turning over and over The ball rolled

down the hill. My pound coin has rolled noun a number belonging to the set written
under the piano. 3. to make something with the symbols I,V, X, C, D and M. Com-
move on wheels or rollers The table is fit- pare Arabic numeral
romantic /r mntk/ adj 1. full of
romantic
ted with wheels, just roll it into the room. |
The patient was rolled into the operating mystery and love romantic music The
theatre ten minutes ago. 4. to turn some- atmosphere in the restaurant was very ro-
thing flat over and over so that it forms a mantic. 2. used to describe something, of-
cylinder He rolled the poster into a tube. ten a literary or artistic style, which is
roll up phrasal verb 1. to turn some- based on personal emotions or imagination
thing flat over and over until it is a tube (of a literary or artistic style) His style is
He rolled up the carpet or rolled the car- too romantic for my liking. She has a ro-
pet up. A hedgehog will roll up into a mantic view of life.
ball if you touch it. 2. to arrive They just Romany / rmni/ noun a member of a
Romany
rolled up and asked if we could put them people originally from India, who travel
up for the night. The bridegroom finally from place to place rather than live in a per-
rolled up an hour late and said hed had manent home
a puncture. romp /rmp/ (romps, romping, romped)
romp
rollcall / rlk
l/ noun the act of reading
rollcall
verb to play about energetically She was

a list of names romping with her friends on the sofa when
roller / rl/ noun 1. a heavy round her mother came in.
roller
roof /ru
f/ noun 1. a part of a building
roof
object which rolls, e.g. one used for mak-

ing lawns or cricket pitches flat The which covers it and protects it The cat
roofing 540
walked across the roof of the greenhouse. rope / rp/ noun a very thick cord
rope

She lives in a little cottage with a thatched Youll need a rope to pull the car out of the
roof. 2. the top of the inside of the mouth ditch. The burglar climbed down from the
I burnt the roof of my mouth drinking hot balcony on a rope. verb (ropes, roping,
soup. 3. the top of a vehicle, e.g. a car, bus roped) to tie together with a rope The
or lorry We had to put the cases on the climbers roped themselves together. We
roof of the car. roped the sofa onto the roof of the car.
roofing / ru
f/ noun material which is rosary / rzri/ noun a string of beads
roofing rosary
used to make roofs which Catholics use to count out a set of

roof rack / ru
f rk/ noun a frame fixed
roof rack
prayers
rose / rz/ noun a common garden
rose
to the roof of a car for carrying luggage

rooftop / ru
ftp/ noun the top of a roof
rooftop
flower with a strong pleasant smell He
The plane flew low over the rooftops of gave her a bunch of red roses. These
the village. roses have a beautiful scent. past tense of
rise
rook /rk/ noun 1. a large black bird
rook
ros / rze/ noun a pink wine which

ros
What is the difference between a rook and

a crow? Crows usually live in pairs, gets its colour from the black grape skins
while rooks live in colonies. 2. (in chess) being left only for a short time in the fer-
one of two pieces used in chess, shaped menting mixture
rosemary / rzmri/ noun a bush herb
rosemary
like a little castle tower She took my last

rook. with spiky green leaves, used in cooking
rosette /r zet/ noun a ribbon bunched
rosette
rookie / rki/ noun a new recruit in the

rookie
|
armed forces or in the police (informal) to look like a flower, used as a decoration
or as a badge
room /ru
m/ noun 1. a part of a build-
room
roster / rst/ noun a list of duties which

roster
ing, divided from other parts by walls

The flat has six rooms, plus kitchen and have to be done and the people who have to
bathroom. We want an office with at least do them
rostrum / rstrm/ noun a raised stand
rostrum
four rooms. 2. a bedroom in a hotel Your

room is 316 heres your key. His room for a speaker
rosy / rzi/ (rosier, rosiest) adj 1. bright
rosy
is just opposite mine. 3. a space for some-

thing [~for] There isnt enough room in pink and healthy The children had rosy
the car for six people. The table is too big cheeks when they came in from their walk.
it takes up a lot of room. to make room 2. very favourable Our future is looking
for someone or something to squeeze up rosier than it has done for years.
rot /rt / (rots, rotting, rotted) verb to de-
rot
to give space for someone or something

There is no way we can make room for an- cay The wooden fence is not very old but
other passenger. it has already started to rot. rotten
room-mate / ru
m met/ noun a person rota / rt/ noun a roster, a list of duties
room-mate rota
who shares a room with you, especially at which have to be done and the people who
college have to do them
room service / ru
m s#
vs/ noun an rotary / rtri/ adj which turns round
room service rotary
arrangement in a hotel where food or drink rotate / r tet/ (rotates, rotating, rotat-
rotate
can be served in a guests bedroom ed) verb to turn round or turn something
roomy / ru
mi/ (roomier, roomiest) adj round an axis like a wheel
roomy
rotation /r te()n/ noun 1. move-

rotation
with plenty of space inside |
root / ru
t/ noun 1. a part of a plant
root
ment around a central point the rotation
which goes down into the ground, and of the earth round the sun 2. the act of tak-
which takes nourishment from the soil ing turns the rotation of players in a team
rote /rt/ noun learning by heart, often
rote
Im not surprised the plant died it has

hardly any roots. 2. the part of a hair or a without understanding it
rotten / rt()n/ adj 1. decayed The
rotten
tooth which goes down into the skin He

pulled her hair out by the roots. to put apple looked nice on the outside, but inside
down roots to live somewhere long it was rotten. Dont walk on that plank, I
enough to feel that you belong there to think it is rotten. 2. unpleasant I had a
take root 1. (of an idea) to become estab- rotten time at the party no one would
lished 2. (of part of a plant) to make roots dance with me. We had rotten weather on
The cuttings died none of them took root. holiday.
541 routine
rottweiler / rt wal/ noun a large pow- round down phrasal verb to decrease to
rottweiler
erful dog with a black smooth coat with the nearest full figure
brown round on phrasal verb to start to criticise
rough /rf/ adj 1. not smooth Rub someone suddenly
rough
down any rough edges with sandpaper. 2. round up phrasal verb 1. to gather people
not very accurate I made some rough cal- or animals together The secret police
culations on the back of an envelope. 3. not rounded up about fifty suspects and took
finished, or with no details He made a them off in vans. She rounded up the
rough draft of the new design. 4. not gentle children and took them into the museum.
Dont be rough when youre playing with The farmer is out in the fields rounding
the puppy. up his sheep. 2. to increase to the nearest
rough-and-tumble /rf n tmbl/
rough-and-tumble
full figure The figures have been
noun a way of living that involves a lot of rounded up to the nearest dollar. I
conflict owed him 4.98 so I rounded it up to
5.00.
roughen / rf()n/ (roughens, roughen-
roughen
roundabout / randbat/ noun 1. a

roundabout
ing, roughened) verb to become rough, or

make something become rough place where several roads meet, and traffic
has to move in a circle When you get to
roughly / rfli/ adv 1. in a way that is
roughly
the next roundabout, turn right. 2. (in a chil-

not gentle enough Dont play so roughly drens playground) a heavy wheel which
with the children. The men threw the box- turns, and which children ride on in a park
es of china roughly into the back of their The children all ran to get on the round-
van. 2. approximately There were rough- about. A small child fell from the round-
ly one hundred people in the audience. about and hurt his leg badly. 3. (in a
Ten euros make roughly six pounds. The fairground) a large machine in a fairground
cost of building the new kitchen will be which turns round and plays music, usually
roughly 25,000. with horses to sit on which move up and
roughshod / rfd/ adv to ride
roughshod
down
roughshod over somebody or something rounded / randd/ adj with a smooth or
rounded
to treat somebody with no justice or con- round shape

sideration, or disregard something com- roundly / randli/ adv strongly and
roundly
pletely clearly
roulette /ru
let/ noun a game of chance
roulette
round-the-clock /rand i
/ adj
round-the-clock
|
where bets are made on the numbers in throughout the day and night
boxes on a flat rotating wheel where a
round trip / rand trp/ noun a jour-
round trip
small ball will lodge when the wheel stops

ney from one place to another and back
turning
again
round /rand/ adj 1. with a shape like
round
roundup / randp/ noun a summary

roundup
a circle In Chinese restaurants, you usu-

rouse /raz/ (rouses, rousing, roused)
rouse
ally sit at round tables. 2. with a shape like

verb 1. to wake someone who is sleeping
a sphere Soccer is played with a round
ball, while a Rugby ball is oval. People The shouts of the firemen roused the sleep-
used to believe that the Earth was flat, not ing patients. 2. to get someone to act The
round. adv, prep 1. in a circular way or difficulty will be to rouse the chairman into
movement The wheels of the lorry went action. Compare arouse
rousing / raz/ adj loud and noisy
rousing
round and round. The Earth goes round

rout /rat/ noun the complete defeat of an
rout
the Sun. He was the first person to sail

round the world single-handed. We all army or a team The final match of the se-
sat round the table chatting. He ran down ries ended in a rout for the home side.
the street and disappeared round a corner. verb (routs, routing, routed) to defeat
2. towards the back She turned round someone completely The enemy army
when he tapped her on the shoulder. was routed. (NOTE: + rout n)
route /ru
t/ noun a way to be followed
route
Dont look round when youre driving on

the motorway. 3. from one person to anoth- to get to a destination We still have to de-
er They passed round some papers for cide which route we will take.
everyone to sign. Can you pass the plate routine /ru
ti
n/ noun the usual, regu-
routine
of cakes round, please? 4. in various places lar way of doing things He doesnt like
They spent the afternoon going round the his daily routine to be disturbed. A
town. change of routine might do you good. adj
roving 542
done as part of a regular pattern of activi- of rubber used for removing pencil marks
ties He went to the doctor for a routine He used a rubber to try to rub out what
examination. he had written.
roving / rv/ adj going from place to rubber band /rb bnd/ noun same
roving rubber band
place as elastic band

row1 /r/ noun a line of things, side by rubbish / rb/ noun 1. waste, things
row rubbish
side or one after the other He has a row which are no use and are thrown away We
of cabbages in the garden. They pulled had to step over heaps of rubbish to get to
down an old house to build a row of shops. the restaurant. 2. worthless nonsense
I want two seats in the front row. Have you read his new book? Its rub-
row2 /ra/ noun (informal) 1. a serious ar- bish! Hes talking rubbish, dont listen to
row
gument They had a row about who was him.

responsible for the accident. 2. a loud noise rubble / rb()l/ noun small stones or
rubble
Stop making that dreadful row! broken bricks from damaged buildings,
rowdy / radi/ (rowdier, rowdiest) adj in-
rowdy
also used in making such things as paths

volving people who are making a great rubella /ru
bel/ noun a usually mild
rubella
deal of noise A rowdy party in the flat disease which gives a red rash but which
next door kept us all awake. The minister can affect an unborn child if caught by a
had a rowdy reception at the meeting. pregnant woman
royal / rl/ adj relating to a king or ruby / ru
bi/ (plural rubies) noun a red
royal
ruby
queen precious stone A necklace of rubies and

royal blue /rl blu
/ noun a deep blue
royal blue
pearls.
royalist / rlst/ noun a person support- rucksack / rksk/ noun a large bag
royalist
rucksack
ing rule by a king or queen carried on the back when walking

royalty / rlti/ (plural royalties) noun 1. rude /ru
d/ adj not polite and likely to
royalty
rude
members of a kings or queens family offend people Dont point at people its
Please dress formally, there will be royalty rude. The teacher asked who had written
present. 2. money paid to the author of a rude words on the board. He was rude to
book or an actor in a film as a percentage the teacher. (NOTE: ruder rudest)
of sales Do you receive royalties on the rudely / ru
dli/ adv in a rude way
rudely
sales of your book? All royalty cheques

rudimentary /ru
d ment()ri/ adj ba-
rudimentary
are paid direct to my account in Switzer- |
land. sic; not fully developed

rudiments / ru
dmnts/ plural noun
rudiments
RSVP abbr letters printed on an invita-

RSVP
tion asking the person invited to reply. Full simple basic facts He went on a short
form rpondez sil vous plat course so hes learnt the rudiments of sail-
ing.
rub /rb/ (rubs, rubbing, rubbed) verb
rub
ruffle / rf()l/ (ruffles, ruffling, ruffled)

ruffle
to move something across the surface of

something else He rubbed his hands to- verb to disturb feathers or water or some-
gether to get them warm. These new ones hair The breeze ruffled the surface
shoes have rubbed against my heel and of the lake. She ruffled his hair.
rug /r(/ noun 1. a small carpet This
rug
given me a blister. The cat rubbed herself

against my legs. beautiful rug comes from the Middle East.
rub in phrasal verb to make an oint- 2. a thick blanket, especially one used
ment or cream enter the skin by rubbing when travelling Put a rug over your
She rubbed the ointment into her skin. knees if youre cold. We spread rugs on
rub out phrasal verb to remove a pencil the grass to have our picnic.
rugby / r(bi/, rugby football /r(bi
rugby
mark with a rubber

rub up phrasal verb to rub someone up ftb
l/ noun a type of football played
the wrong way to annoy someone with an oval ball which is thrown as well as
(informal) Shes in a bad mood, some- kicked
rugged / r(d/ adj 1. rough, rocky, une-
rugged
one must have rubbed her up the wrong

way. ven The rugged landscape of the moon.
rubber / rb/ noun 1. a strong sub- 2. tough and sturdy At school, he rapidly
rubber
stance that bends easily, made from the sap developed a rugged independence.
ruin / ru
n/ (ruins, ruining, ruined)
ruin
of a tropical tree Car tyres are made of

rubber. Many years ago, we visited a verb to spoil something completely Our
rubber plantation in Malaysia. 2. a piece picnic was ruined by the rain.
543 run
ruins / ru
nz/ plural noun remains of run /rn/ verb (runs, running, ran, run)
ruins run
old or damaged buildings in ruins de- 1. to go quickly on foot When she heard
stroyed The town was in ruins after the the telephone, she ran upstairs. Children
war. After being arrested at the night must be taught not to run across the road.
club, his career was in ruins. Shes running in the 200 metre race. 2.
rule /ru
l/ noun a statement of the right (of buses, trains, etc.) to be operating All
rule
things to do or the right way to behave underground trains are running late be-
There are no rules that forbid parking here cause of the accident. This bus doesnt
at night. According to the rules, your run on Sundays. 3. (of vehicles) to work
ticket must be paid for two weeks in ad- He left his car in the street with the engine
vance. against the rules not as the rules running. My cars not running very well
say You cant hold the football in your at the moment. 4. to direct or organise an
hands its against the rules. verb (rules, organisation He runs a chain of shoe
ruling, ruled) to govern or to control The shops. I want someone to run the sales
president rules the country according to department for me when Im away on holi-
very old-fashioned principles. day. He runs the local youth club. The
rule out phrasal verb to leave something country is run by the army. 5. to drive
out, not to consider something someone by car Let me run you to the sta-
ruler / ru
l/ noun 1. a person who gov-
ruler
tion. 6. (of liquid) to flow, to move along
erns A ruler should be fair. Hes the rul- smoothly The river runs past our house.
er of a small African state. 2. a long piece noun 1. the act of going quickly on foot,
of wood or plastic with measurements usually as a sport She entered for the 10-
marked on it, used for measuring and mile run. I always go for a run before
drawing straight lines You need a ruler to breakfast. You must be tired out after that
draw straight lines. long run. 2. a score of 1 in cricket He
ruling / ru
l/ noun a legal decision
ruling
made 45 runs before he was out.
made by a judge or other arbitrator The run across phrasal verb 1. to cross
judge will give a ruling on the case next something quickly on foot The little
week. According to the ruling of the boy ran across the road after his ball. 2.
court, the contract was illegal. to find or to meet someone by accident
rum /rm/ noun an alcoholic drink made
rum
I ran across it in a secondhand bookshop.
from the juice of sugar cane She had a run after phrasal verb to follow some-
glass of rum and pineapple juice. one fast
rumble / rmbl/ (rumbles, rumbling,
rumble
run away phrasal verb 1. to escape or to
rumbled) verb to make a low rolling noise go away fast They were running away
Wooden carts full of stone rumbled past.
from the police. She ran away from
Thunder rumbled in the distance. Im
school when she was 16. The young-
so hungry my tummys rumbling. sters ran away to Paris. 2. to run away
with someone to go away from your
rumbling / rmbl/ noun a low rolling
rumbling
family to live with someone or to marry

noise someone She ran away with her Ger-
ruminate / ru
mnet/ (ruminates, rumi-
ruminate
man teacher.
nating, ruminated) verb to think over a run down phrasal verb 1. to go down
problem He spent the weekend ruminat- quickly on foot She ran down the stairs
ing on what to do next. two at a time. Can you run down to the
rummage / rmd/ (rummages, rum-
rummage
village and buy me some bread? 2. (of

maging, rummaged) verb to search about clock, machine) to stop working or go
for something She rummaged in her slower because of lack of power The
drawer until she found the pair of gloves. clock has run down it needs a new bat-
rumour / ru
m/ noun a story spread
rumour
tery. 3. to criticise someone Its not fair

from one person to another but which may to run him down when hes not there to
not be true People have been spreading defend himself. 4. to reduce the quantity
rumours about his private life.Theres a ru- of something Were running down our
mour going around that Johns getting stocks of coal before the summer. 5. to
married. (NOTE: The US spelling is rumor.) knock down with a vehicle She was run
rump /rmp/ noun the back part of an an-
rump
down by a car which did not stop.

imal run into phrasal verb 1. to go into a
rumpled / rmpld/ adj creased or unti-
rumpled
place fast She ran into the street, shout-

dy ing Fire!. 2. to go fast and hit some-
runaway 544
thing, usually in a vehicle He didnt runaway / rnwe/ noun a person who
runaway
look where he was going and ran into an has run away from home The police are
old lady. The bus turned the corner too looking for the runaways.
fast and ran into a parked van. 3. to rundown1 /rn dan/ adj 1. unwell or
rundown
amount to something Costs have run tired If you feel run down, ask the chemist
into thousands of pounds. Her income for vitamins. 2. dilapidated, not looked af-
runs into five figures. 4. to find someone ter He drives a run-down old car.
by chance I ran into him again in a caf rundown2 / rndan/ noun a summary
rundown
on the South Bank. 5. to flow The river Give me a quick run-down on what hap-
runs into the sea. pened at the meeting.
run off phrasal verb 1. to go away fast rung /r/ noun one of the bars on a
rung
He grabbed the watch and ran off down ladder Put your foot on the bottom rung
the street. 2. to print using a machine to hold the ladder steady. past participle
She ran off a few photocopies of the leaf- of ring
let. run-in / rn n/ noun an argument
run-in
run off with phrasal verb 1. to go away (informal)

with someone He ran off with the girl runner / rn/ noun a person or horse
runner
next door and phoned his parents to say running in a race My horse came in last
they had gone to Paris. 2. to steal some- of seven runners. There are 30,000 run-
thing and go away She ran off with our ners in the London Marathon.
petty cash. runner bean /rn bi
n/ noun a type of
runner bean
run on phrasal verb 1. to continue climbing bean

The text runs on to the next page. Does runner-up /rnr p/ (plural run-
runner-up
the play run on until very late? 2. to use ners-up) noun a person who comes after
something as a fuel The machine runs the winner in a race or competition
on electricity. running / rn/ adj for three days
running
run out phrasal verb to have nothing running one day after another for three
left of something The car ran out of days The company have made a profit for
petrol on the motorway. I must go to the six years or the sixth year running. noun
supermarket were running out of but- 1. the activity of running, as a sport or a lei-
ter. sure activity 2. the action of managing I
run over phrasal verb 1. to knock now leave the running of the firm to my
someone down by hitting them with a ve- daughter. to be in the running to be a
hicle She was run over by a taxi. The candidate for something Three people
car ran over a dog. 2. to continue The are in the running for the post of chairper-
description of the accident runs over two son. to be out of the running to no long-
pages. er be a candidate for something Shes out
of the running for the job in France.
run through phrasal verb 1. to read a
running battle /rn bt()l/ noun a
running battle
list rapidly Lets run through the agen-

da before the meeting starts to see if there battle which moves around from place to
are any problem areas. She ran place
running costs / rn ksts/ noun the
running costs
through the paragraph again to make

sure she understood what it meant. 2. to money spent regularly on operating a busi-
use up We have run through our entire ness
running total /rn tt()l/ noun a
running total
stock of wine in one weekend. 3. to repeat

Just run through that scene again to see total which is carried from one column of
if you all know your lines. figures to the next
running water /rn w
t/ noun
running water
run up phrasal verb 1. to go some-

where quickly on foot [~to] She ran up water which is available in a house through
and asked if we were ready. He ran up water mains and taps
runny / rni/ adj in liquid form
runny
to the policeman and asked him to call an

ambulance. 2. to make debts go up quick- run-of-the-mill /rn v ml/ adj or-
run-of-the-mill
ly The business was running up debts of dinary

thousands of pounds each week. run-up / rn p/ noun a period leading up
run-up
run up against phrasal verb to find to some event In the run-up to the elec-
your way blocked by something tion.
545 rye
runway / rnwe/ noun a track on rusted) to form rust Dont leave the ham-
runway
which planes land and take off at an airport mer and screwdriver in the rain theyll
rupture / rpt/ (ruptures, rupturing, rust.
rupture
ruptured) verb to break or burst A water rustic / rstk/ adj 1. of country style
rustic
main ruptured and the centre of town was They live in a little rustic cottage on the
flooded. ( NOTE: + rupture n) edge of a lake. 2. rough, not elegant We
rural / rrl / adj relating to the coun-
rural
bought a rustic bench and table for eating

tryside Rural roads are usually fairly in the garden.
narrow. We live quite close to a town but rustle / rs()l/ verb (rustles, rustling,
rustle
the country round us still looks very rural. rustled) to make a soft noise like dry sur-
ruse / ru
z/ noun a clever trick
ruse
faces rubbing against each other Her

rush /r/ noun a fast movement [~of]
rush
long skirt rustled as she sat down. Dont

There was a rush of hot air when they rustle the newspaper when the radio is on,
opened the door. There has been a rush I cant hear it properly. noun the noise of
to change pounds to euros. When the film dry leaves or pieces of paper rubbing to-
ended there was a rush for the toilets. gether Listen to the rustle of the dry
verb (rushes, rushing, rushed) to hurry, to leaves in the hedge.
go forward fast The ambulance rushed to rustle up phrasal verb to get something
the accident. Crowds of shoppers rushed ready quickly (informal)
to the shops on the first day of the sales.
rusty / rsti/ adj covered with rust She
rusty
rush into phrasal verb 1. to go into a

tried to cut the string with a pair of rusty
place quickly He rushed into the room old scissors. He has a rusty old fridge in
waving a piece of paper. 2. to get into a
his front garden.
situation too quickly, without really
rut /rt/ noun a deep track made in soft
rut
thinking They rushed into an alliance

with the socialists and regretted it imme- earth by the wheels of vehicles The front
diately. Dont rush into marriage if wheel of the car was stuck in a deep rut.
ruthless / ru
ls/ adj cruel, with no pity
ruthless
youre doubtful about your partner.

rushed /rt/ adj done very quickly for anyone
rushed
rush hour / r a/ noun a time of rye /ra/ noun 1. a type of dark brown ce-
rush hour rye
day when traffic is bad and when trains are real, used to make bread and American
full whiskey They are harvesting the rye to-
rust /rst/ noun a reddish-brown sub- day. 2. rye whiskey or American whiskey;
rust
stance formed on iron and steel when left a glass of this whiskey A large rye and
in damp air There is a bit of rust on the soda, please. (NOTE: Do not confuse with
bonnet of the car. verb (rusts, rusting, wry.)
S
s /es/, S noun the nineteenth letter of the She believed it was her sacred duty to look
s
alphabet, between R and T after his garden while he was away.

s short for 1. is 2. has suffix used on the sacred cow /sekrd ka/ noun a be-
s sacred cow
end of a noun to show possession or rela- lief or idea which is not to be criticised
tionship between things Judys book sacrifice / skrfas / noun 1. something
sacrifice
the dogs puppies the roses scent a which you give up to achieve something
days holiday
more important He finally won the com-
S abbr 1. south 2. southern
S
petition, but at great personal sacrifice.

sabbatical /s btk()l/, sabbatic
sabbatical
|
She made many financial sacrifices to get
noun leave granted to people such as teach- her children through university. to make
ers for study and travel after a period of sacrifices to not have or do something for
work yourself so that someone else can benefit
sabotage / sbt
/ (sabotages, sab-
sabotage
or you can do something better later 2. the

otaging, sabotaged) verb to destroy some- act of making an offering to a god by kill-
thing, to render something useless deliber- ing an animal or person He ordered the
ately He sabotaged the whole plan by sacrifice of two lambs to please the gods.
passing the details to the police. (NOTE: + verb (sacrifices, sacrificing, sacrificed) 1.
sabotage n) to give something up I have sacrificed my
saboteur /sb t#
/ noun a person who
saboteur
| career to be able to stay at home and bring

commits sabotage up my children. She has sacrificed her-
sabre / seb/ noun a sword with a curved self for the cause of animal welfare. 2. to
sabre
blade ( NOTE: The US spelling is saber.) kill an animal or person to please a god
sabre-rattling / seb rt()l/ noun The priests sacrificed a goat to the god-
sabre-rattling
an aggressive display or threat of force or dess.

sacrilege / skrld/ noun behaviour
sacrilege
military action (NOTE: The US spelling is

saber-rattling.) towards something holy or important to
saccharin / skrn/ noun a substance other people which lacks respect
saccharin
used as a substitute for sugar sacrosanct / skrskt/ adj not to be

sacrosanct
sachet / se/ noun a small plastic or

sachet
criticised or changed
paper bag containing something sad /sd/ adj not happy Hes sad be-
sad
sack /sk/ noun a large bag made of

sack
cause the holidays have come to an end.

strong cloth or paper, used for carrying What a sad film everyone was crying.
heavy things a sack of potatoes verb Reading his poems makes me sad. It was
(sacks, sacking, sacked) to force some- sad to leave the house for the last time.
one to leave his or her job He was sacked He felt sad watching the boat sail away.
because he was always late for work. Its sad that he cant come to see us.
sacking / sk/ noun dismissal from a
sacking
sadden / sd()n/ (saddens, sadden-

sadden
job The union protested against the sack-

ings. ing, saddened) verb to make someone un-
happy
sacrament / skrmnt/ noun a Chris-
sacrament
saddle / sd()l/ noun 1. a riders seat on

saddle
tian religious ceremony the sacrament of

marriage a bicycle or motorbike 2. a riders seat on a
sacred / sekrd/ adj 1. associated with
sacred
horse He leapt into the saddle and rode
religion The sacred texts were kept away.
sadhu / s
du
/, saddhu noun in Hindu-
sadhu
locked away. 2. respected Nothing is sa-

cred to a reporter chasing a good story. ism, a holy man
547 saint
sadist / sedst/ noun a person who gets rope walker to catch him or her if he or she
sadist
pleasure from being cruel (NOTE: + sadism falls He was killed when he walked the
n) tightrope without a safety net. 2. something
sadly / sdli/ adv 1. in a sad way She which protects you if things go wrong He
sadly
smiled sadly. 2. used for saying that some- has a second job, which is a useful safety
thing makes you sad Sadly, John couldnt net if he is made redundant.
safety pin / sefti pn/ noun a pin whose
safety pin
join us for my birthday party.

sadness / sdns/ noun a feeling of be- point fits into a cover when it is fastened,
sadness
ing very unhappy and so cant hurt you

saffron / sfrn/ (plural saffrons or
saffron
s.a.e. abbr self-addressed envelope,

s.a.e.
stamped addressed envelope same) noun an orange-coloured powder

safari /s f
ri/ noun an expedition to made from crocus flowers, used in cooking
safari
photograph or kill wild animals, especially to give colour and flavour to food She
in Africa made rice with saffron.
safe /sef/ adj (safer, safest) not in sag /s(/ (sags, sagging, sagged) verb
sag
safe
danger, or not likely to be hurt In this to sink or bend in the middle under weight
cave, we should be safe from the thunder- or pressure
saga / s
( / noun 1. an old story of hero-
saga
storm. All the children are safe, but the

school was burnt down. Is it safe to touch ic achievement or adventure, especially in
this snake? noun a strong box for keeping Norway and Iceland the sagas of ancient
things such as documents, money or jewels kings of Iceland 2. a long story I dont
in Put your valuables in the hotel safe. want to hear her tell the saga of the acci-
The burglars managed to open the safe. dent all over again.
safe deposit box /sef d pzt sage /sed/ noun 1. an aromatic herb
safe deposit box sage
bks/ noun a small box which you can with silvery-green leaves used in cookery
rent to hold jewellery or documents in a 2. an old wise man The king invited sages
banks strongroom to his castle to give him advice.
safeguard / sef(
d/ (safeguards, Sagittarius /sd teris/ noun one
safeguard Sagittarius
safeguarding, safeguarded) verb to proof the signs of the Zodiac, shaped like an
tect something Our aim is to safeguard archer, covering the period from 22nd No-
the interests of the widow and children. vember to 21st December
said /sed/ past tense and past participle
said
(NOTE: + safeguard n)
safe haven /sef hev()n/ noun a of say
safe haven
place which is safe from attack, where sail /sel/ noun a piece of cloth which
sail
someone is protected from danger catches the wind and drives a boat along
safe keeping /sef ki
p/ noun the The wind dropped so they lowered the sail
safe keeping
care of something in a safe place and started to row. They hoisted the sail
safely / sefli/ adv without being hurt and set out across the Channel. verb
safely
The rescue services succeeded in getting (sails, sailing, sailed) 1. to travel on water
all the passengers safely off the burning The ship was sailing towards the rocks.
train. We were shown how to handle ex- We were sailing east. He was the first
plosives safely. Drive safely! she said person to sail across the Atlantic single-
as she waved goodbye. handed. Shes planning to sail round the
safe sex /sef seks/ noun having sex in world. 2. to leave a harbour The ferry
safe sex
a way that avoids transmission of a sexual sails at 12.00.

sailboard / selb
d/ noun a board with a
sailboard
disease, e.g. by using a condom and only

having one sexual partner sail, used for travelling across water
safety / sefti/ noun 1. being safe sailing / sel/ noun travel in a ship
sailing
safety
sailing boat / sel bt/ noun a boat

sailing boat
Our main concern is the safety of the chil-

dren. 2. for safety in order to make some- which uses mainly sails to travel
thing safe Put the money in the office safe sailor / sel/ noun a person who works
sailor
for safety. Keep a note of the numbers of on a ship The sailors were washing down
your travellers cheques for safety. the deck of the ship.
safety belt / sefti belt/ noun a belt saint /sent / noun 1. a person who led a
safety belt saint
which you wear in a plane to stop you be- very holy life, and is recognised by the
ing hurt if there is an accident Christian Church There are more than 50
safety net / sefti net/ noun 1. a net statues of saints on the west front of the ca-
safety net
stretched under someone such as a tight- thedral. St Peter was a fisherman. Will
sake 548
Mother Teresa be made a saint? 2. a very sales assistant / selz sstnt/
sales assistant
good or devoted person She has the pa- noun a person who sells goods to custom-
tience of a saint and never shouts at the ers in a shop
children. He may be no saint in his per- salesman / selzmn/ (plural sales-
salesman
sonal life but he has the support of the vot- men) noun a person who represents a com-
ers. (NOTE: abbreviated with names to St pany, selling its products or services to oth-
/snt/) er companies
sake1 /sek/ for the sake of some- salesperson / selzp#
s()n/ (plural
sake
salesperson
thing, for somethings sake for certain salespeople or salespersons) noun a per-
reasons or purposes, or because of some- son who sells goods in a shop
thing They gave the children sweets, just saleswoman / selzwmn/ (plural
saleswoman
for the sake of a little peace and quiet. saleswomen) noun a woman who sells
The muggers killed the old lady, just for the goods to customers in a shop
sake of 20. for the sake of someone, saline / selan/ adj containing salt
saline
for someones sake because you want to

saliva /s lav/ noun a fluid in the
saliva
help someone or to please someone Will |
you come to the party for my sake? The mouth, secreted by the salivary glands,
president decided to resign for the sake of which starts the process of digesting food
salivate / slvet/ (salivates, salivat-
salivate
the country. for old times sake in order

to remember a relationship or activity from ing, salivated) verb to produce saliva
sallow / sl/ adj slightly yellow, un-
sallow
the past We always send them a Christ-

mas card, just for old times sake. for healthy looking
salmon / smn/ noun a large fish with
salmon
heavens sake, for goodness sake used

for showing you are annoyed or worried silver skin and pink flesh that lives in the
Whats all the fuss? Its only a little sea, but swims up rivers to produce young
scratch, for heavens sake. For goodness in the winter
sake try to be quiet, we dont want wake salon / sln/ noun a shop where people
salon
everyone! can have their hair cut or styled, or have

sake2 / s
ki/ noun a Japanese rice wine beauty treatments
sake
We had a glass of sake with our meal. saloon /s lu

n/ noun 1. US a place
saloon
salad / sld/ noun a mixture of cold where alcoholic drinks are sold (dated)
salad
vegetables eaten raw, or a meal that in- The conversation stopped when the
cludes such a mixture a chicken salad stranger walked into the saloon. 2. same as
sandwich We found some ham, tomatoes car
salsa / sls/ noun 1. a spicy sauce made
salsa
and lettuce in the fridge, and made our-

selves a salad. with chopped vegetables, of Mexican ori-
salad dressing / sld dres/ noun a gin 2. Latin American dance music com-
salad dressing
sauce consisting of a mixture of oil, vine- bining jazz and rock

salt /s
lt/ noun a white substance that
salt
gar and herbs or spices, used on salad

salami /s l
mi/ noun a large dry Ital-
salami
|
you put on food to make it taste better or
ian-style sausage eaten cold in thin slices put on roads to make snow or ice melt
salt cellar / slt sel/ noun a small pot
salt cellar
salary / slri / (plural salaries) noun

salary
payment for work, especially in a profes- containing salt usually with a hole in the
sional or office job She started work at a top so that it can be sprinkled on food
saltwater / s
ltw
t/ adj referring to
saltwater
low salary, but soon went up the salary

scale. I expect a salary increase as from water which contains salt
salty / s
lti/ (saltier, saltiest) adj tasting
salty
next month.
sale /sel/ noun 1. the act of selling, the
sale
of salt
salute / s lu
t/ noun a movement which
salute
act of giving an item or doing a service in |
exchange for money The sale of the expresses respect or recognition, especial-
house produced 200,000. The shop only ly the movement of putting your right hand
opened this morning and weve just made up to touch the side of your forehead The
our first sale. 2. an occasion when things officer returned the soldiers salute. verb
are sold at cheaper prices Theres a sale (salutes, saluting, saluted) to give a salute
this week in the department store along the to someone Ordinary soldiers must sa-
High Street. I bought these plates for 1 lute their officers.
salvage / slvd/ (salvages, salvag-
salvage
in a sale. The sale price is 50% of the

normal price. ing, salvaged) verb 1. to save from a wreck
549 sarcasm
or a fire We are selling off a warehouse sandbag / sndb(/ noun a bag filled
sandbag
full of salvaged goods. We managed to with sand and used as a protection

salvage the computer discs from the fire. 2. sand dune / snd dju
n/ noun an area
sand dune
to save something from loss The compa- of sand blown by the wind into small hills
ny is trying to salvage its reputation after and ridges which have very little soil or
the managing director was sent to prison vegetation
for fraud. The receiver managed to sal- sandpaper / sndpep/ noun thick pa-
sandpaper
vage something from the collapse of the per covered with sand used for smoothing
company. (NOTE: + salvage n) rough surfaces Use fine sandpaper if you
salvation /sl ve()n/ noun the ac-
salvation
|
want to get a very smooth finish. (NOTE: +
tion of saving a persons soul from sin sandpaper v)
same /sem/ adj, pron 1. being, look- sandpit / sndpt/ noun a place in a gar-
same
sandpit
ing, sounding, etc. exactly alike These den, with sand where children can play
two beers taste the same. You must get sandstone / sndstn/ noun a type of
sandstone
very bored doing the same work every day. reddish brown rock, formed of tiny pieces
She was wearing the same dress as me. of sand
This book is not the same size as that one. sandstorm / sndst
m/ noun a high
sandstorm
2. showing that two or more things are in

wind in the desert, which carries large
fact one They all live in the same street. amounts of sand with it
Should we all leave at the same time?
sandwich / snwd/ noun a light
sandwich
Our children go to the same school as

theirs. same again, please! please serve meal made with two pieces of bread with
us the same drinks or food as before other food between them She ordered a
(informal) cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee.
What sort of sandwiches do you want to
sample / s
mpl/ noun a specimen, a
sample
take for your lunch? I didnt have a big

small part which is used to show what the meal just a sandwich with some beer in
whole is like a sample of the cloth or a the pub.
cloth sample We interviewed a sample of
sane /sen/ (saner, sanest) adj not mad
sane
potential customers. He gave a blood

sang /s/ past tense of sing
sang
sample.
sanguine / s(wn/ adj confident, op-
sanguine
sanatorium /sn t
rim/ (plural san-
sanatorium
atoriums or sanatoria) noun a hospital for timistic

sanitary / snt()ri/ adj referring to hy-
sanitary
the treatment of invalids, especially people

suffering from tuberculosis giene or to health
sanitary towel / snt()ri tal/,
sanitary towel
sanction / skn/ noun approval, per-

sanction
mission You will need the sanction of the sanitary napkin noun a pad of absorbent
local authorities before you can knock the cotton used by a woman to absorb blood
house down. verb (sanctions, sanction- during her period
sanitation /sn te()n/ noun being
sanitation
ing, sanctioned) to approve something |
The committee sanctioned the expenditure hygienic, especially referring to public hy-
of 1.2m on the development project. giene and the removal of household waste
sanctity / sktti/ noun holiness
sanctity
and sewage
sanity / snti/ noun the state of being
sanity
sanctuary / skturi/ (plural sanctu-

sanctuary
aries) noun 1. a place of safety The sane

sank /sk/ past tense of sink
sank
church became a sanctuary for illegal im-

sap /sp/ noun the liquid which flows in-
sap
migrants. People escaping from the revo-

lutionary troops sought sanctuary in the side plants and trees They cut a notch in
church. 2. a place for the protection of wild the bark of the tree and the sap ran out.
animals or birds They established several verb (saps, sapping, sapped) to make
bird sanctuaries near the sea. something weaker His strength was
sand /snd/ noun a mass of very small
sand
sapped by the cold.
sapling / spl/ noun a young tree
sapling
bits of rock found on beaches and in the

desert a beach of fine white sand the sapphire / sfa/ noun a bright blue
sapphire
black sand beaches of the Northern coast precious stone

of New Zealand sarcasm / s
kz()m/ noun sharp un-
sarcasm
sandal / snd()l/ noun a light shoe with

sandal
pleasant remarks which mean the opposite

an open top of what they say
sardine 550
sardine /s
di
n/ noun a small silvery pleased with what he or she has received or
sardine
fish which can be eaten fresh, or common- achieved The councils decision should
ly bought in tins satisfy most people. Our aim is to satisfy
sardonic /s
dnk/ adj scornful, show- our customers.
sardonic
satisfying / stsfa/ adj which

satisfying
ing you feel superior to someone

sari / s
ri/, saree noun a long piece of satisfies
sari
cloth, especially silk, which Indian women SATs /sts/ noun in the UK, national
SATs
wear wrapped round their bodies tests taken at various ages during second-
sash /s/ noun 1. an ornamental scarf or ary school. Full form Standard Assess-
sash
belt In France, mayors wear a red, white ment Tests

and blue sash. 2. a wooden frame holding satsuma /st su
m / noun a type of
satsuma
panes of glass small orange, with peel which is easily re-

sat /st/ past tense and past participle moved
sat
of sit saturate / stret/ (saturates, satu-

saturate
SAT /st/ noun US in the USA, a pre-col-

SAT
rating, saturated) verb to fill something

lege test (trademark of the College Entrance with the maximum amount of a liquid or
Examination Board) Full form Scholastic substance which can be absorbed (NOTE: +
Aptitude Test. SATs saturation n)
Satan / set()n/ noun the Devil saturated fat /stretd ft/ noun
Satan saturated fat
satanism / set()nz()m/ noun the butter and other types of animal fat, which
satanism
worship of Satan contain the largest amount of hydrogen

satellite / stlat/ noun 1. an object
satellite
possible
Saturday / stde/ noun the sixth
Saturday
in space which goes round the Earth and

sends and receives signals, pictures and day of the week, the day between Friday
data The signals are transmitted by satel- and Sunday He works in a shop, so Sat-
lite all round the world. 2. an object like a urday is a normal working day for him.
planet which goes round a planet The We go shopping in London most Saturdays.
Moon is the only satellite of the Earth. Saturday is the Jewish day of rest. To-
satellite dish / stlat d/ noun an day is Saturday, November 15th. The
satellite dish
aerial, shaped like a large saucer, used to 15th is a Saturday, so the 16th must be a
capture satellite broadcasts Sunday. We arranged to meet up on Sat-
satellite television /st()lat
satellite television
urday.
telv()n/ noun television programmes sauce /s
s/ noun a liquid with a par-
sauce
broadcast using satellite technology ticular taste, poured over food ice cream
satin / stn/ noun a silk material with a
satin
with chocolate sauce We had chicken
glossy surface She bought some black with a barbecue sauce. The waitress put
satin to make a dress. a bottle of tomato sauce on the table.
saucepan / s
spn/ noun a deep
saucepan
satire / sta/ noun 1. a way of attack-

satire
ing people in speaking or writing by mak- metal cooking pan with a lid and a long
ing them seem ridiculous his use of satire handle
saucer / s
s/ noun a shallow dish
saucer
in his weekly political column 2. a piece of

writing which criticises people by making which a cup stands on
them seem ridiculous Gullivers Trav- saucy / s
si / (saucier, sauciest) adj
saucy
els is a satire on 18th-century England. cheeky

satirist / strst/ noun a person who sauna / s
n/ noun 1. a bath taken by sit-
satirist
sauna
writes or performs satires ting in a room filled with very hot steam
satisfaction /sts fkn/ noun a
satisfaction
| We all had a sauna and then went for a

good feeling; a sense of comfort or happi- swim in the lake. 2. a room where you can
ness We got a lot of satisfaction from have a very hot steam bath There is a sau-
beating our old rivals. na in the basement of the hotel.
satisfactory /sts fkt()ri/ adj good saunter / s
nt/ (saunters, sauntering,
satisfactory saunter
enough, or quite good sauntered) verb to walk slowly, to stroll

satisfied / stsfad/ adj accepting She sauntered into the bar and ordered a
satisfied
that something is enough, is good or is cor- whisky.

rect sausage / ssd/ noun a food which
sausage
satisfy / stsfa/ (satisfies, satisfy-

satisfy
is a tube of skin full of a mixture of meat

ing, satisfied) verb to make someone and spices
551 scaffolding
sausage roll /ssd rl/ noun a of the West. (NOTE: The US spelling is sav-
sausage roll
small roll of pastry with a piece of sausage ior.)

or some sausagemeat inside savour / sev/ verb to appreciate or en-
savour
saut / ste/ (sauts, sauting, sau- joy something He ate slowly, savouring
saut
ted) verb to fry something in a little fat his meal. The general stood at the top of
She sauted some potatoes to go with the the hill, savouring his victory. (NOTE: The
meat. US spelling is savor.)
savage / svd/ noun a person from a savoury / sevri/ adj with a salty taste,
savoury
savage
culture that is not considered civilised (dat- or other taste which is not sweet I dont
ed offensive) How could he turn into such particularly like sweets, I prefer savoury
a savage and attack her like that? verb things. (NOTE: The US spelling is savory.)
(savages, savaging, savaged) to attack noun a food that is salty or spicy, served as
somebody with teeth He was savaged by a snack often with an alcoholic drink
an Alsatian. They served little savouries with the drinks
savagery / svd()ri/ noun being sav-
savagery
before dinner.
savvy / svi/ noun practical knowledge
savvy
age
savanna /s vn/, savannah noun a saw /s
/ past tense of see noun a tool
savanna saw
dry grass-covered plain with few trees, with a long metal blade with teeth along its
usually referring to the grasslands of South edge, used for cutting He was cutting
America and Africa logs with a saw. verb (saws, sawing,
save /sev/ (saves, saving, saved)
save
sawed, sawed or sawn) to cut something
verb 1. to stop something from being dam- with a saw She was sawing wood. You
aged [~from] We managed to save most of will need to saw that piece of wood in half.
sawdust / s
dst/ noun powder pro-
sawdust
the paintings from the fire. 2. to keep things

such as money, food or other articles so duced when you saw wood
that you can use them later [~for] Save sawmill / s
ml/ noun a factory where
sawmill
those bones for the dog. If you save 10 wood is cut into planks by machines
a week, youll have 520 at the end of a sax /sks/ noun a saxophone (informal)
sax
year. Im saving to buy a new computer.

saxophone / sksfn/ noun a large
saxophone
3. not to waste something such as time or

money By walking to work, he saves 25 brass musical instrument with keys
say /se/ (says, saying, said) verb 1. to
say
a week in bus fares. If you have your car

checked regularly it will save you a lot of speak words [~(that)/~how/what/who etc]
expense in the future. Going by air saves She says the weather will be fine tomorrow.
a lot of time. 4. to stop someone from being Did she say how many chairs she want-
hurt or killed [~from] The firefighters ed? Whats she saying? I dont know, I
saved six people from the burning house. dont understand Dutch. Dont forget to
How many passengers were saved when say thank you after the party. 2. to give
the ferry sank? 5. to store data on a compu- information in writing [~(that)] The letter
ter disk Dont forget to save your files says that we owe the bank 200. The no-
when you have finished working on them. tice says that you are not allowed to walk
saver / sev/ noun 1. a person who saves
saver
on the grass.
saying / se/ noun a phrase which is
saying
money All savers will receive a bonus

this year. 2. a special offer or ticket which often used to describe an aspect of every-
allows you to buy something at a lower day life
price Among this weeks savers are scab /skb/ noun 1. a crust of dry blood
scab
baked beans at 50p. Saver tickets are not which forms over a wound and protects it
valid on trains before 9.30. The scab fell off where he had grazed his
saving / sev/ noun using less [/~on]
saving
knee. 2. a worker who goes on working

We could make a saving of 10% on fuel when there is a strike We dont want
costs. suffix which uses less energy- scabs here.
saving light bulbs scaffold / skfld/ noun a wooden
scaffold
saving grace / sev (res/ noun a

saving grace
platform on which an execution takes place

quality or feature which makes a situation scaffolding / skfld/ noun a con-
scaffolding
less bad than it seemed struction of poles and planks which make a
saviour / sevj/ noun a person who
saviour
series of platforms for workmen to stand

saves people He was called the Saviour on while working
scald 552
scald /sk
ld / (scalds, scalding, scald- scar /sk
/ noun a mark left on the skin
scald scar
ed) verb to burn a part of the body with hot after a wound has healed He still has the
liquid or steam scars of his operation. verb (scars, scar-
scalding / sk
ld/ adj very hot ring, scarred) 1. to leave a mark on the
scalding
scale /skel/ noun 1. a proportion used

scale
skin after a wound has healed His arm
to show a large object in a smaller form a was scarred as a result of the accident. 2.
map with a scale of 1 to 100,000 a scale to affect someones feelings badly The
model of the new town centre development bullying she received at school has scarred
The architects design is drawn to scale.
her for life.
scarce /skes/ adj if something is scarce,
scarce
2. a measuring system which is graded into

various levels The Richter scale is used there is much less of it than you need
to measure earthquakes. This happened at a period when food was
scallop / sklp/, scollop noun a type of
scallop
scarce. Good designers are getting
shellfish with a pair of semicircular flat scarce.
scarcely / skesli/ adv almost not
scarcely
shells We had scallops fried in butter.

scarcity / skesti/ noun a lack of some-
scarcity
scalp /sklp/ noun the skin which covers

scalp
the skull He was taken to hospital with a thing, the state of being scarce
scare /ske/ verb (scares, scaring,
scare
scalp wound. Rubbing the scalp will en-

courage your hair to grow. scared) to make someone feel fear The
scalpel / sklpl/ noun a sharp pointed
scalpel thought of travelling alone across Africa
knife used in surgery scares me. She was scared by the spider
in the bathroom. noun a fright What a
scam /skm/ noun a case of fraud (slang)
scam
scare you gave me jumping out at me in

scamper / skmp/ (scampers, scamp-
scamper
the dark like that!

ering, scampered) verb to run fast with lit- scared /sked/ adj feeling or showing
scared
tle steps fear Dont be scared the snake is harm-

scampi / skmpi/ plural noun large
scampi
less. She was too scared to answer the

prawns door. Im scared at the idea of driving in
scan /skn/ noun 1. the examination Londons rush-hour traffic. She looked
scan
of part of the body by passing X-rays round with a scared expression.

through the body and analysing the result scarf /sk
f/ (plural scarves) noun a
scarf
in a computer She went to have a scan af- long piece of cloth which is worn round
ter ten weeks of pregnancy. 2. a picture of your neck to keep yourself warm Take
part of the body shown on a screen, derived your scarf its snowing.
by computers from X-rays 3. the examina- scarlet / sk
lt/ adj brilliant red
scarlet
tion of an image or an object to obtain data scarves /sk

vz / plural of scarf
scarves
A heat scan will quickly show which com-

scary / skeri/ (scarier, scariest) adj
scary
ponent is overheating. frightening (informal)

scandal / sknd()l/ noun 1. talk
scandal
scathing / ske/ adj very critical

scathing
about wrong things someone is supposed scatter / skt/ (scatters, scattering,

scatter
to have done This latest scandal could scattered) verb 1. to throw something in
bring the government down. 2. something various places The crowd scattered flow-
unfair or cruel that makes people very an- ers all over the path. 2. to run in different
gry Its a scandal that she was never al- directions When the police arrived, the
lowed to see her children. children scattered.
scandalous / skndls/ adj which is
scandalous
scattered / sktd/ adj spread out

scattered
shameful and wrong over a wide area

scanner / skn/ noun 1. a machine
scanner
scattering / sktr/ noun a small

scattering
which scans part of the body The hospital quantity or number of things
has acquired the most up-to-date scanner. scavenge / skvnd/ (scavenges,
scavenge
2. an electronic device that scans, especial- scavenging, scavenged) verb 1. to feed on

ly a device that scans images or text and dead and decaying matter Vultures live
converts them to computer data We used by scavenging on the corpses of animals
a small hand-held scanner to get the pho- which have died in the desert. 2. to get food
tos onto our computer system. or other useful items from rubbish Chil-
scant /sknt/ adj not enough
scant
dren were scavenging for food in the heaps

scapegoat / skep(t/ noun a person
scapegoat
of rubbish round the city. (NOTE: + scaven-

who is blamed instead of someone else ger n)
553 science
scenario / s n
ri/ (plural scenarios) pany pension scheme. He has thought up
scenario
noun the general way in which you think some scheme for making money very quick-
something may happen The worst sce- ly.
nario would be if she wanted to come on schizophrenia /skts fri
ni/ noun
schizophrenia
holiday with us. a mental disorder where the patient with-

scene /si
n/ noun 1. a place where draws from other people, has delusions and
scene
something has happened It took the am- seems to lose contact with the real world
scholar / skl/ noun 1. a learned person
scholar
bulance ten minutes to get to the scene of

the accident. The fire brigade were on the He is a well-known scholar of medieval
scene very quickly. A photographer was French history. 2. a student at school or
at the scene to record the ceremony. 2. a university who has a scholarship Be-
short part of a play or film Did you like cause I was a scholar my parents didnt
the scene where he is trying to climb up the have to pay any fees.
skyscraper? It was one of the funniest scholarly / sklli/ adj referring to seri-
scholarly
scenes I have ever seen. ous study at a high level

scenery / si
nri/ noun 1. the features scholarship / sklp/ noun 1. money
scenery scholarship
of the countryside the beautiful scenery given to someone to help pay for the cost of
of the Lake District 2. the objects and back- his or her study The college offers schol-
grounds on a theatre stage that make it look arships to attract the best students. She
like a real place They lowered the scenery got or won a scholarship to carry out re-
onto the stage. In between the acts all the search into causes of cancer. 2. a deep
scenery has to be changed. (NOTE: no plural) learning The article shows sound schol-
scenic / si
nk/ adj referring to beautiful arship.
scenic
scenery scholastic /sk lstk/ adj referring to

scholastic
scent /sent/ noun 1. a pleasant smell of a schools or teaching methods

scent
school /sku
l/ noun 1. a place where
school
particular type the scent of roses in the

cottage garden 2. perfume That new students, usually children, are taught Our
scent of yours makes me sneeze. (NOTE: Do little boy is four, so hell be going to school
not confuse with cent, sent.) this year. Some children start school
sceptic / skeptk/ noun a person who al- younger than that. What did the children
sceptic
ways doubts the truth of what he or she is do at school today? When he was sixteen,
told I am a sceptic when it comes to as- he left school and joined the army. Which
trology. (NOTE: The US spelling is skeptic.) school did you go to? 2. a section of a col-
sceptical / skeptk()l/ adj thinking
sceptical
lege or university The school of medicine
that something is probably not true or good is one of the largest in the country. Shes
You seem sceptical about his new plan.
studying at law school. verb (schools,
Im sceptical of the need for these changes. schooling, schooled) to train someone in
scepticism / skeptsz()m/ noun
scepticism a particular skill
schoolboy / sku
lb/ noun a boy who
| schoolboy
doubt or uncertainty (NOTE: The US spelling

is skepticism.) goes to school
schoolchild / sku
ltald/ (plural
schoolchild
schedule / edju
l/ noun 1. a list of
schedule
|
schoolchildren) noun a child who goes to

times of departure and arrival of forms of
transport such as trains, planes or coaches school
schooldays / sku
ldez/ plural noun the
schooldays
The summer schedules have been pub-

lished. 2. a programme or list of events time when you are at school
schoolgirl / sku
l(#
l/ noun a girl who
schoolgirl
the schedule of events for the music festival

verb (schedules, scheduling, sched- goes to school
schooling / sku
l/ noun education at
schooling
uled) 1. to put something on an official list

See the list of scheduled prices. The school level
school leaver / sku
l li
v/ noun a
school leaver
house has been scheduled as an ancient

monument. 2. to arrange the times for young person who has just left secondary
something The building is scheduled for school
completion in May. The flight is sched- schoolteacher / sku
lti
t/ noun a
schoolteacher
uled to arrive at six oclock. We have person who teaches in a school

scheduled the meeting for Tuesday morn- science / sans/ noun the study of
science
ing. natural physical things, based on observa-

scheme /ski
m/ noun a plan for mak-
scheme
tion and experiment She took a science

ing something work She joined the com- course or studied science. We have a new
science fiction 554

science teacher this term. He has a mas- 2. to make something very hot and dry
ters degree in marine science. social sci- The sun has scorched the grass.
ence scorched /sk
tt/ adj slightly burnt or
scorched
science fiction / sans fkn/

science fiction
browned
noun stories of life in the future, based on scorching / sk
t/ adj very hot and
scorching
imaginary scientific developments dry (informal)

scientific /san tfk/ adj relating to
scientific
score /sk
/ noun the number of goals
score
|
science We employ hundreds of people in or points made in a match The final score
scientific research. Hes the director of a in the rugby match was 2210. I didnt
scientific institute. see the beginning of the match whats the
scientist / santst/ noun a person
scientist
score? verb (scores, scoring, scored) to

who studies a science, often doing research make a goal or point in a match They
Scientists have not yet found a cure for scored three goals in the first twenty min-
the common cold. Space scientists are ex- utes. She scored sixty-five!
amining the photographs of Mars. scoreboard / sk
b
d/ noun a large
scoreboard
sci-fi / sa fa/ noun same as science fic-

sci-fi
board on which the score in a game is

tion shown as the game progresses
scintillating / sntlet/ adj sparkling scorn /sk
n/ noun a feeling of thinking
scintillating
scorn
scissors / szz/ plural noun a tool for

scissors
that someone or something is not good

cutting things such as paper and cloth, enough verb (scorns, scorning,
made of two blades attached in the middle, scorned) to refuse to accept an idea or a
with handles with holes for the thumb and suggestion Most young people in the of-
fingers These scissors arent very sharp. fice scorn the idea that smoking can be bad
Have you got a pair of scissors I can bor- for your health. She scorned his proposal
row? of a lift.
scoff /skf/ (scoffs, scoffing, scoffed) scornful / sk
nf()l/ adj considering
scoff scornful
verb to eat something greedily (informal) something not good enough

scold /skld/ (scolds, scolding, scold- Scorpio / sk
pi/ noun one of the
scold
Scorpio
ed) verb to speak to someone angrily signs of the Zodiac, shaped like a scorpion,
scone /skn/ noun a type of small round covering the period 23rd October to 21st
scone
soft bread, sometimes with dried fruit in it, November

eaten with butter or cream and jam scorpion / sk
pin/ noun a poisonous
scorpion
scoop /sku
p/ noun 1. a deep round
scoop
tropical animal which stings with its long

spoon with a short handle, for serving soft curved tail
food such as ice cream 2. a portion of soft Scot /skt/ noun a person from Scotland
Scot
food such as ice cream verb (scoops, Scotch /skt/ adj used for referring
Scotch
scooping, scooped) to lift something or to some things, especially food and drink,
someone up in a single quick movement from Scotland
She scooped up the babies into her arms
Scotland / sktlnd/ noun a country to
Scotland
and ran upstairs. He scooped all the

newspapers off the floor. the north of England, forming part of the
United Kingdom He was brought up in
scooter / sku
t / noun 1. a childs two-
scooter
Scotland. Scotlands most famous export

wheeled vehicle which is pushed along is whisky.
with one foot while the other foot is on the
Scots /skts / adj Scottish Not proven
Scots
board 2. a vehicle like a small motorbike

with a platform for the feet She dodged is a decision in Scots Law.
Scottish / skt/ adj relating to Scot-
Scottish
through the traffic on her scooter.

scope /skp/ noun 1. the different
scope
land
scoundrel / skandrl/ noun a bad per-
scoundrel
types of thing that something deals with

[~of] These matters are beyond the scope son, with no principles
of our investigation. 2. an opportunity or scour / ska/ (scours, scouring,
scour
possibility [~for] The job will give him scoured) verb 1. to clean something by
plenty of scope for developing his talents. scrubbing with a hard material Her first
scorch / sk
t/ (scorches, scorching,
scorch
job was scouring dirty pans in the restau-

scorched) verb 1. to burn something rant. 2. to search everywhere in a place
slightly or brown something He acciden- We scoured the market and couldnt find
tally scorched the tablecloth with the iron. any aubergines. The police have been
555 scribble
scouring the woods near the village where scrawl /skr
l/ (scrawls, scrawling,
scrawl
the little girl lived. scrawled) verb to write something badly or

scourge /sk#
d/ noun a thing which carelessly He scrawled a few notes on a
scourge
causes suffering bit of paper. (NOTE: + scrawl n)

scout /skat / noun a member of the scrawny / skr
ni/ adj extremely thin
scout scrawny
Scout Association verb (scouts, scout- scream /skri

m / noun a loud cry of pain
scream
ing, scouted) also scout around to look verb (screams, screaming, screamed)
out for something [~for] to shout loudly or make a very loud sound
scowl /skal/ (scowls, scowling, She screamed at the class to stop singing.
scowl
scowled) verb to make a scowl They screamed in pain. People on the

scramble / skrmbl/ (scrambles, third floor were screaming for help.
scramble
screech /skri
t/ (screeches, screech-
screech
scrambling, scrambled) verb 1. to climb

using your hands and knees 2. to hurry to ing, screeched) verb to make a piercing
do something (NOTE: + scramble n) sound ( NOTE: + screech n)
scrambled eggs /skrmbld e(z / screen /skri
n/ noun 1. a flat panel
scrambled eggs screen
plural noun eggs mixed together and stirred which acts as protection against some-
as they are cooked in butter thing, e.g. draughts, fire or noise The
scrap /skrp/ noun 1. a little piece a hedge acts as a screen against the noise
scrap
scrap of paper There isnt a scrap of evi- from the motorway. 2. a flat glass surface
dence against him. She is collecting on which a picture is shown a computer
scraps of cloth to make a quilt. 2. waste screen a TV screen Ill call the infor-
materials to sell a car for scrap The mation up on the screen. 3. a flat white sur-
scrap value of the car is 200. verb face for projecting films or pictures a cin-
(scraps, scrapping, scrapped) 1. to throw ema complex with four screens Well put
something away as useless They had to up the screen on the stage. verb (screens,
scrap 10,000 faulty spare parts. 2. to give screening, screened) to show a film in a
up or stop working on a plan Weve cinema or on TV Tonights film will be
scrapped our plans to go to Greece. screened half an hour later than adver-
scrapbook / skrpbk/ noun a book
scrapbook
tised.
screenplay / skri
nple/ noun a scenar-
screenplay
with blank pages on which you can stick

pictures or stories cut from newspapers or io, a written draft of a film with details,
magazines e.g., of plot, characters and scenes
scrape /skrep/ (scrapes, scraping, screen saver / skri
n sev/ noun a
screen saver
scrape
scraped) verb 1. to scratch something with computer program which protects the
a hard object which is pulled across a sur- screen by making it go black or show a pic-
face 2. to remove something from the sur- ture when the computer is out of use for a
face of something while
screenwriter / skri
nrat/ noun a per-
screenwriter
scrape through phrasal verb to pass an

examination with difficulty son who writes screenplays
screw /skru
/ noun a type of nail
screw
scrape together phrasal verb to gather

things together with difficulty which you twist to make it go into a hard
scrappy / skrpi/ (scrappier, scrappi- surface I need some longer screws to go
scrappy
est) adj made of bits and pieces; not joined through this thick plank. The plate was
up properly (informal) fixed to the door with brass screws. verb
scratch /skrt/ noun 1. a long wound
scratch
(screws, screwing, screwed) 1. to attach
on the skin Put some antiseptic on the something with screws The picture was
scratches on your arms. 2. a long mark screwed to the wall. 2. to attach something
made by a sharp point I will never be able by twisting He filled up the bottle and
to cover up the scratches on the car door. screwed on the top. Screw the lid on
verb (scratches, scratching, scratched) 1. tightly.
screwdriver / skru
drav/ noun a tool
screwdriver
to make a long wound on the skin His

legs were scratched by the bushes along with a long handle and special end which is
the path. 2. to make a mark on something used for turning screws
screwed-up /skru
d p/ adj worried
screwed-up
with a sharp point He scratched his name

on the tree with a knife. 3. to rub a part of and unhappy
scribble / skrb()l/ (scribbles, scrib-
scribble
the body which itches with your fingernails

If your head itches, just scratch it. Stop bling, scribbled) verb 1. to make marks
scratching it will make your rash worse! which dont have any meaning The kids
script 556
have scribbled all over their bedroom scuff /skf/ (scuffs, scuffing, scuffed)
scuff
walls. 2. to write something hurriedly and verb to scratch the surface of something
badly She scribbled a few notes in the scuffle / skf()l/ noun a small fight
scuffle
train. (NOTE: + scribble n) Scuffles broke out in the crowd. (NOTE: +

script /skrpt/ noun 1. the written text of
script
scuffle v)
a film or play The actors settled down sculptor / sklpt/, sculptress noun a
sculptor
with their scripts for the first reading. 2. a person who makes figures or shapes out of
style or system of handwriting The Ger- wood, metal or stone
mans used to write in Gothic script. sculpture / sklpt/ noun a piece of
sculpture
scripture / skrpt/, Scripture noun the

scripture
art that is a figure carved out of stone or

writings regarded as holy by a religion a wood or made out of metal
passage translated from Buddhist scrip- scum /skm/ noun 1. a layer of dirty
scum
tures The story of Vishnu is set down in foam on the surface of a liquid As the liq-
Hindu scripture. uid boils, a grey scum forms on the surface
scriptwriter / skrptrat/ noun a per-
scriptwriter
and should be removed. 2. people of the

son who writes scripts for films or for TV worst type (offensive) Those muggers are
or radio plays just scum, I hope they get sent to prison.
scroll /skrl/ noun a long piece of paper scurry / skri/ (scurries, scurrying,
scroll
scurry
with writing on it, stored as a roll verb scurried) verb 1. to hurry to do something
(scrolls, scrolling, scrolled) to move dis- 2. to run fast, taking short steps
played text up or down a computer screen, scuttle / skt()l/ (scuttles, scuttling,
scuttle
one line at a time She rapidly scrolled scuttled) verb to run fast, taking short steps
down until she came to the address she scuttle off or away verb to run away fast
wanted.
scythe / sa/ noun a farming implement
scythe
scroll bar / skrl b

/ noun a bar on a
scroll bar
with a long slightly curved blade attached

computer screen which is used to scroll up to a handle with two short projecting hand
and down grips, used for cutting long grass
scrooge /skru
d /, Scrooge noun a
scrooge
sea /si
/ noun an area of salt water be-
sea
mean or miserly person (informal) tween continents or islands which is large

scrounge /skrand/ (scrounges,
scrounge
but not as large as an ocean Swimming in

scrounging, scrounged) verb to try to get the sea is more exciting than swimming in
something without paying for it (informal ) a river. The seas too rough for the ferries
scrub /skrb/ verb (scrubs, scrubbing, to operate. His friends own a house by
scrub
scrubbed) to clean something by rubbing the sea. The North Sea separates Britain
it with a brush noun 1. an area of land from Denmark and Germany.
with a few small bushes They walked for sea change /si
tend/ noun a very
sea change
miles through the scrub until they came to big change

a river. 2. the action of scrubbing After a seafood / si
fu
d/ noun fish or shell-
seafood
game of rugby you will need a good scrub. fish which can be eaten
scruffy / skrfi/ (scruffier, scruffiest)
scruffy
seafront / si
frnt/ noun a road or wide
seafront
adj untidy or dirty path which runs beside the sea in a seaside
scrum /skrm/ noun (in rugby) an ar-
scrum
town
rangement in which the players of both seagull / si
(l/ noun a large white sea
seagull
teams crowd together with their heads bird

down and try to get the ball seal /si
l/ noun a large animal with
seal
/skrnt/
scrunch
scrunch (scrunches, short smooth fur which eats fish and lives
scrunching, scrunched) verb to squash or near or in the sea verb (seals, sealing,
crush something with your hand sealed) to close something tightly a box
scrupulous / skru
pjls/ adj 1. very
scrupulous
carefully sealed with sticky tape

careful 2. very honest or morally correct seal off phrasal verb to close a place off
scrutiny / skru
tni / noun a careful ex- so as to prevent anyone getting inside
scrutiny
sea level / si
lev()l/ noun the level of
sea level
amination of facts or a very close look at

something the sea, taken as a point for measuring alti-
scuba diving / sku
b dav/ noun tude
scuba diving
sea lion / si
lan/ noun a large species
sea lion
the activity of swimming underwater, us-

ing breathing apparatus of seal
557 second
seam /si
m/ noun 1. a line where two thing usually happens The tourist season
seam
pieces of material are attached together is very long here from March to Septem-
She sewed the seams on the sewing ma- ber. The football season lasts from Sep-
chine. Hes got fatter, so can you let out tember to May. London is very crowded
a seam at the back of his coat? 2. a layer of during the school holiday season. high
mineral beneath the earths surface The season, low season
coal seams are two metres thick. The seasonal / si
z()n()l/ adj 1. which
seasonal
gold seam was worked out some years ago. only lasts for a season, usually the holiday
(NOTE: Do not confuse with seem.) season Work on the island is only season-
seaman / si
mn/ (plural seamen) noun a al. 2. characteristic of a particular time of
seaman
man who works on a ship ( NOTE: Do not year In December the supermarket
confuse with semen.) shelves are stocked with Christmas deco-
seance / sens/ noun a meeting at rations and other seasonal goods. We
seance
which people try to communicate with can expect seasonal weather, with temper-
dead people atures about average for the time of year.
seaport / si
p
t/ noun a town with a seasoned / si
z()nd / adj 1. (of food )
seaport seasoned
large harbour which has had seasoning put on it to im-

search /s#
t/ noun the action of trying prove the flavour 2. who has had a lot of
search
to find something [~for/~of] A search was experience a seasoned traveller

seasoning / si
z()n/ noun spices
seasoning
carried out for the missing animal. Our

search of the flat revealed nothing. I did which are added to food
a quick search on the Internet for referenc- season ticket / si
z()n tkt/ noun
season ticket
es to Proust. verb (searches, searching, a railway, bus or theatre ticket, which you
searched) 1. to examine something or can use for a whole year or a month at a
someone very carefully The police time
searched the house but didnt find any seat /si
t/ noun a chair, something
seat
weapons. She was stopped and searched which you sit on He was sitting in the
by customs. 2. to look carefully to try to drivers seat. Can we have two seats in
find something [~for/~through] Were the front row? Our kitchen chairs have
searching for the missing files. I searched wooden seats. Bicycle seats are narrow.
the Internet for references to Ireland. She to take a seat to sit down Please take
searched through her papers, trying to find a seat, the dentist will see you in a few min-
the document. utes. Please take your seats, the play is
search engine / s#
t endn/ noun
search engine
about to begin. All the seats on the bus

a program which allows you to search for were taken so I had to stand. to take your
particular words or phrases on the Internet seat to sit down in a seat reserved for you,
searcher / s#
t/ noun a person who especially at the theatre Please take your
searcher
searches seats, the play is about to begin.

searching / s#
t / adj very detailed a seat belt / si
t belt/ noun a belt which
searching seat belt
searching question you wear in a car or plane to stop you being

search party / s#
t p
ti/ noun a hurt if there is an accident
search party
seating / si
t/ noun seats for people
seating
group of people sent to look for someone

search warrant / s#
t wrnt/ noun seaweed / si
wi
d/ noun a plant which
search warrant seaweed
an official document signed by a magis- grows in the sea

trate which allows police to go into a build- sec noun a second (informal)
sec
ing and look for criminals, weapons or sto- secluded / s klu

dd/ adj quiet or away
secluded
len goods from crowds We found a secluded spot by

seashell / si
el/ noun a shell of a shell-
seashell
the river for our picnic.

fish which lives in the sea seclusion /s klu
()n/ noun solitude
seclusion
seashore / si
/ noun a sandy area

seashore
second1 / seknd / noun 1. one of sixty

second
along the edge of the sea parts which make up a minute Ill give
seasick / si
sk/ adj ill because of the
seasick
you ten seconds to get out of my room.

movement of a ship They say the bomb will go off in twenty sec-
seaside / si
dsad/ noun an area near
seaside
onds. 2. a very short time Please wait a

the sea where people go to have a holiday second. Wait here, Ill be back in a sec-
season / si
z()n/ noun 1. one of four
season
ond. 3. number 2 in a series (NOTE: In dates

parts of a year Spring is her favourite second is usually written 2nd or 2: August
season. 2. a part of the year when some- 2nd, 1932, 2 July 1666 (American style is 2
second 558
secrecy / si
krsi/ noun the fact of being
secrecy
July 1666), say the second of July or July

the second (American style is July sec- secret or keeping something secret
ond). With the names of kings and queens secret / si
krt/ adj not known about
secret
second is usually written II: Queen Eliza- by other people There is a secret door
beth II, say Queen Elizabeth the Second.) into the cellar. noun a thing which is not
adj 1. coming after the first and before the known or which is kept hidden If I tell
third February is the second month of the you my secret will you promise not to tell it
year. Its his second birthday next week. to anyone else? to keep a secret not to
Womens clothes are on the second floor. tell someone something which you know
Thats the second time the telephone has and no one else does Can you keep a se-
rung while were eating. 2. next after the cret?
longest, best, tallest etc. (followed by a su- secret agent /si
krt ednt/ noun a
secret agent
perlative) This is the second longest spy

bridge in the world. Hes the second secretarial /sekr teril/ adj referring
secretarial
highest paid member of staff. to the work of a secretary

second2 /s knd/ (seconds, second- secretary / sekrt()ri/ (plural secre-
second
secretary
|
ing, seconded) verb to lend a member of taries) noun a person who does work such
staff, e.g. to another company or a govern- as writing letters, answering the phone and
ment department, for a fixed period of time filing documents for someone
He was seconded to the Department of
Secretary of State /sekrt()ri v
Secretary of State
Trade for two years. secondment stet/ noun 1. a member of the govern-
secondary / seknd()ri / adj less im-
secondary
ment in charge of a department 2. US a sen-

portant ior member of the government in charge of
secondary school / seknd()ri foreign affairs
secondary school
sku
l/ noun a school for children after the secrete /s kri
t/ (secretes, secreting,
secrete
age of eleven or twelve secreted) verb 1. to produce a liquid sub-

second best /seknd best/ noun stance such as an oil or a hormone The
second best
something which is not as good as the best gland secretes hormones. 2. to hide some-
second-class /seknd kl
s/ adj,
second-class
thing They found packets of drugs secret-
adv 1. (of travel or hotels) less expensive ed under the floor of the car.
secretion /s kri
()n/ noun 1. the proc-
secretion
and less comfortable than first-class I |
find second-class hotels are perfectly ade- ess by which something is produced by a
quate. We always travel second-class be- gland This gland stimulates the secretion
cause it is cheaper. 2. (of a postal service) of hormones. 2. a substance produced by a
less expensive and slower than the first- gland Penguins use a secretion from
class postal service A second-class letter glands near their tails to make their feath-
is cheaper than a first-class. Send it sec- ers waterproof.
secretive / si
krtv/ adj liking to keep
secretive
ond-class if it is not urgent.

second cousin /seknd kz()n/
second cousin
things secret Shes very secretive about
noun a child of your mothers or fathers her holiday plans.
secretly / si
krtli/ adv without any-
secretly
cousin
second-guess / seknd (es/ verb to try
second-guess
one knowing
secret service / si
krt s#
vs/ noun a
secret service
to guess what someone will do

government department which spies on
secondhand / seknd hnd/ adj not
secondhand
|
other countries
new; which someone else has owned be- sect /sekt/ noun a religious group
sect
fore Weve just bought a secondhand car.

sectarian /sek terin/ adj referring to
sectarian
second language /seknd

second language |
conflicts between religious groups

l(wd/ noun a language which you section / sekn / noun a part of some-
section
know but which is not the language you

thing which, when joined to other parts,
learned when you first started to speak goes to make up a whole the brass sec-
secondly / sekndli/ adv as the sec-
secondly
tion of the orchestra the financial section

ond item in a list. Compare firstly, thirdly of the newspaper He works in a com-
secondment /s kndmnt/ noun the
secondment
| pletely different section of the organisa-

fact of being seconded to another job tion.
second-rate /seknd ret/ adj not of sector / sekt/ noun 1. a part of the
second-rate sector
very good quality. Compare first-rate, economy or of the business organisation of

third-rate a country [~of] companies working in the
559 seen
financial sector All sectors of industry dark. We ran because we could see the
suffered from the rise in the exchange rate. bus coming. I have never seen a badger
2. a part of a circle between two lines before. 2. to watch something such as a
drawn from the centre to the outside edge film I dont want to go to the cinema this
The circle had been divided into five sec- week, Ive seen that film twice already.
tors. We saw the football match on TV. 3. to un-
secular / sekjl/ adj not religious, not derstand something
secular
connected with religion [~(that)/~why/what/who/how etc] Dont

secure /s kj/ adj firmly fixed
secure
|
you see that theyre trying to trick you? I
Dont step on that plank, its not secure. cant see why they need to borrow so much
verb (secures, securing, secured) to be money. I see you want me to help you.
successful in getting something important 4. to visit someone, e.g. a lawyer or doctor
If your tooth aches that badly you should
He secured the support of a big bank.
They secured a valuable new contract. see a dentist. He went to see his bank
manager to arrange a mortgage.
securely /s kjli/ adv in a secure way
securely
see off phrasal verb to go to the airport or

security /s kjrti/ noun 1. safety or
security
|
station with someone who is leaving on a
protection against harm There were wor- journey
ries about security during the princes vis-
see through phrasal verb 1. to see from
it. Security in this office is nil. Security one side of something to the other I
guards patrol the factory at night. 2. a
thing given to someone who has lent you cant see through the window its so
dirty. 2. not to be tricked by something or
money and which is returned when the
loan is repaid He uses his house as secu- someone Wont they quickly see
through such a poor excuse? He pre-
rity for a loan. The bank lent him 20,000
without security. tended he was helping me, but I soon saw
through him.
security service /skjrti s#
vs/
security service
see to phrasal verb to arrange something

|
noun a government service which looks af-

or make sure that something is done
ter the security of the country
seed /si
d/ noun a part of a plant which
seed
sedan /s dn/ noun US a two- or four-

sedan
door car with seating for four or five people is formed after the flowers die and from
which a new plant will grow a packet of
sedate /s det/ (sedates, sedating, se-
sedate
|
carrot seed Sow the seeds in fine earth.
dated) verb to give someone a drug to Can you eat pumpkin seeds?
make them calm or go to sleep The pa-
seedling / si
dl/ noun a very young
seedling
tient became violent and had to be sedated.

plant growing from a seed
sedation /s de()n/ noun the act of
sedation
seedy / si
di/ adj poor and dirty The
| seedy
calming a patient with a drug

tour included three nights in a rather seedy
sedative / sedtv/ noun a drug which
sedative
hotel.
acts on the nervous system to help a patient
seeing / si
/ conj seeing that since
seeing
sleep or to relieve stress I was prescribed

sedatives by my doctor. Seeing that everyones here, lets begin.
seek /si
k/ (seeks, seeking, sought)
seek
sediment / sedmnt/ noun solid parti-

sediment
cles which fall to the bottom of a liquid verb to look for someone or something
seduce /s dju
s/ (seduces, seducing,
seduce
|
(formal) The police are seeking a group of
seduced) verb 1. to persuade someone to teenagers who were in the area when the
have sex She was seduced by her history attack took place.
seem /si
m/ (seems, seeming,
seem
teacher. 2. to persuade someone to do

something which is perhaps wrong He seemed) verb to give the appearance of be-
was seduced by the idea of earning a vast ing something She seems to like or It
salary. (NOTE: + seduction n) seems that she likes her new job. Every-
seductive /s dktv / adj 1. sexually ap-
seductive
|
one seemed to be having a good time at the
pealing 2. attractive party. The new boss seems very nice. It
see /si
/ (sees, seeing, saw, seen) verb
see
seems to me that the parcel has gone to the
wrong house. It seemed strange to us that
1. to use your eyes to notice something
[~(that)/~what/where/who etc] Can you
no one answered the phone. (NOTE: Do not
confuse with seam.)
see that this colour is slightly different?
seemingly / si
mli/ adv apparently
seemingly
See how the level of the water rises? They

seen /si
n/ past participle of see
seen
say eating carrots helps you to see in the

seep 560
seep /si
p/ (seeps, seeping, seeped) self /self/ (plural selves) noun your
seep self
verb (of a liquid ) to flow slowly through a own person or character She was ill for
substance or out of a container some time, but now shes her old self again.
seesaw / si
s
/ noun a plank with seats Shes not her usual happy self today I
seesaw
at each end, balanced in the middle, so that think shes got something on her mind.
self- /self / prefix referring to yourself
self-
when one end goes down the other goes up

The seesaw wont work properly because self-assured /self
d/ adj confident
self-assured
youre heavier than me. verb (seesaws, and sure of yourself

seesawing, seesawed) to go first one way self-awareness /self wens/ noun
self-awareness
then the other The opinion polls see- the fact of having a clear and accurate
sawed between the two parties. knowledge of your own character
seethe / si
/ (seethes, seething,
seethe
self-catering /self ket()r/ noun the

self-catering
seethed) verb 1. to be very angry 2. to practice of doing the cooking for yourself
move about like boiling water self-centred / self sentd/ adj thinking
self-centred
segment / se(mnt/ noun a part of

segment
only about yourself and your own concerns

something, especially something which di- self-confessed /self kn fest/ adj who
self-confessed
vides naturally into different parts grape- admits to being something

fruit segments 30 to 40-year-olds are
self-confidence /self knfdns/
self-confidence
the most affluent segment of the popula-

tion. noun the fact of being self-confident
self-conscious / self kns/ adj em-
self-conscious
segregate / se(r(et/ (segregates,

segregate
segregating, segregated) verb to separate barrassed because you feel you have cer-
people into groups (NOTE: + segregation n) tain faults
self-control /self kn trl/ noun the
self-control
seismic / sazmk/ adj referring to earth-

seismic
|
quakes fact of keeping your feelings under control

self-defence /self d fens/ noun the act
self-defence
seize /si
z/ (seizes, seizing, seized)
seize |
verb to grab something and hold it tight

of defending yourself
self-destruct /self d strkt/ (self-de-
self-destruct
She seized the bag of sweets in both hands |
and would not let go. structs, self-destructing, self-destruct-

seize up phrasal verb to stop working ed) verb to destroy itself
self-destructive /self d strktv/ adj
self-destructive
properly |
seizure / si
/ noun 1. the act of taking
seizure
doing things which are likely to cause
possession of something The court or- yourself harm
self-determination /self dt#
m
self-determination
dered the seizure of the shipment of books. |
2. a sudden contraction of the muscles, es- ne()n/ noun a free choice by the people
pecially in a heart attack or an epileptic fit of a country as to how they should be gov-
A member of the audience has had a sei- erned
self-discipline /self dspln/ noun
self-discipline
zure. She has epileptic seizures. |
seldom / seldm/ adv not often (NOTE:

seldom
the ability to control your behaviour and do
Note the word order when seldom is at the what you should do
self-effacing /self fes/ adj modest
self-effacing
beginning of a phrase: you seldom hear or |
seldom do you hear) about your own achievements or good

select /s lekt/ (selects, selecting, se-
select
|
qualities
self-employed /self m pld/ adj
self-employed
lected) verb to choose something or some- |
one carefully She looked carefully at the working for yourself, not employed by a
shelves before selecting a book. He was company a self-employed accountant
selected for the England squad. Selected He worked for a bank for ten years but now
items are reduced by 25%. is self-employed.
selection /s lekn/ noun 1. a range self-esteem /self sti
m/ noun a
selection self-esteem
|
|
There is a huge selection of hats to good opinion of yourself and your ability
choose from. 2. a thing which has or things self-evident /self evd()nt/ adj obvi-
self-evident
which have been chosen a selection of ous

French cheeses self-explanatory /self k
self-explanatory
selective /s lektv/ adj choosing splnt()ri/ adj which explains itself

selective
carefully between different possibilities easily

selector /s lekt / noun a person who self-governing /self (vn/ adj
selector self-governing
chooses people to play in a national team which governs itself

561 semi-final
self-help /self help/ noun the fact of us- and cheaply to get rid of them At the
self-help
ing your own efforts to help yourself, with- end of the day the market stalls sell off
out relying on other people or the govern- their fruit and vegetables very cheaply.
ment sell out phrasal verb 1. to sell every
self-important /self m p
t()nt / adj item of a particular type Have you got
self-important
behaving as if you believe you are very im- the dress in a size 12? No, Im afraid
portant weve sold out. Were selling out of
self-imposed /self m pzd/ adj cho- these hats fast. 2. US to sell a business to
self-imposed
sen for yourself someone He sold out to his partner and

self-indulgent /self n dld()nt/ adj
self-indulgent
|
retired. 3. to give in to a group of influen-
allowing yourself to do what you feel like tial people The environmental group
without self-control has accused the government of selling
self-inflicted /self n flktd/ adj caused
self-inflicted
|
out to the oil companies.
by yourself sell up phrasal verb to sell a business
self-interest /self ntrst/ noun work-
self-interest He sold up and retired.
sell-by date / sel ba det/ noun the
sell-by date
ing for your own benefit

selfish / self/ adj doing things only
selfish date on a packet of food, which is the last
for yourself and not for other people date on which the food can be sold while it
is guaranteed to be good
selfless / selfls/ adj not thinking of
selfless
seller / sel/ noun 1. a person who sells

seller
yourself, only of others

self-made /self med/ adj rich and suc-
self-made something There were a few postcard
sellers by the cathedral. 2. an item which
cessful because of your own work, not be-
cause you inherited money or position sells This book is a steady seller.
sell-off / sel f/ noun the act of selling
sell-off
self-pity /self pti/ noun pity for your-

self-pity
self something to private buyers

Sellotape / seltep/ trademark a type
Sellotape
self-portrait /self p
tret/ noun a
self-portrait
painting of the artist done by himself or of sticky tape She put the books in a box
herself and sealed it with Sellotape.
sellout / selat/ noun 1. a betrayal of all
sellout
self-preservation /self prez

self-preservation
ve()n/ noun the wish to protect your- your principles They said his change of
self from harm policy was a sellout to the forces of the
self-reliant /self r lant / adj relying
self-reliant
|
right. Its a sellout the council should
only on yourself to make decisions have stood up for our rights. 2. a perform-
ance of a play, film or concert for which all
self-respect /self r spekt/ noun pride
self-respect
|
the tickets have been sold The new musi-
in yourself cal is a sellout.
self-righteous /self rats/ adj feel-
self-righteous
semantic /s mntk/ adj referring to

semantic
ing sure that you are doing what is right the meanings of words and phrases
self-rule /self ru
l/ noun the right of a
self-rule
semblance / semblns / noun an appear-

semblance
country or a state to govern itself ance

self-satisfied /self stsfad/ adj feel-
self-satisfied
semen / si
mn/ noun a thick pale fluid
| semen
ing very pleased with yourself or with your

actions containing spermatozoa, produced by the
testes and ejaculated from the penis (NOTE:
self-service /self s#
vs/ adj (of a shop
self-service
Do not confuse with seaman.)

or restaurant) in which you take things
semester /s mest/ noun a term in a
semester
yourself before paying for them, rather |
than being served by an assistant school or college year which only has two
terms
self-sufficient /self s f()nt/ adj
self-sufficient
semicircle / semis#
k()l/ noun half a
| semicircle
able to provide everything for yourself |
sell /sel/ (sells, selling, sold) verb 1. to

sell circle
semicolon /semi kln/ noun a punc-
semicolon
give something to someone for money |
[~to/~for] He sold the house to my father. tuation mark (;) used to separate two parts
We managed to sell the car for 500. of a sentence and also used to show a pause
semi-conscious /semi kns/ adj
semi-conscious
The shop sells vegetables but not meat. 2.

to be sold [~for] Those packs sell for 25 not fully conscious
a dozen. Her latest book is selling very semi-final /semi fan()l/ noun one
semi-final
well. of the last two matches in a competition,

sell off phrasal verb to sell goods quickly the winners of which go into the final game
seminar 562
seminar / semn
/ noun the meeting of seniority /si
ni rti/ noun 1. the fact of
seminar seniority
a small group of university students to dis- being older or more important 2. the fact of
cuss a subject with a teacher being a member of a group longer than
seminary / semnri/ noun a college someone else He has several years sen-
seminary
where people train to become priests iority over me as a member of the club.
semitone / semitn/ noun the smallest sensation /sen se()n/ noun 1. a
sensation
semitone
|
interval between notes in music, the inter- general feeling I felt the curious sensa-
val between two keys on a piano tion that I had been in the room before. 2. a
senate / sent/ noun the upper house of
senate
physical feeling She had a burning sen-
the legislative body in some countries sation in her arm. 3. a thing or person that
She was first elected to the Senate in 2001. causes great excitement The new ballet
was the sensation of the season.
senator / sent/ noun a member of a
senator
sensational /sen se()n()l/ adj 1.

sensational
senate (NOTE: written with a capital letter |
when used as a title: Senator Jackson) which causes great excitement His sen-
sational discovery shocked the world of ar-
send /send/ (sends, sending, sent)
send
chaeology. 2. very good A sensational

verb 1. to make someone or something go
new film dont miss it! You look sensa-
from one place to another My mother tional in that outfit.
sent me to the bakers to buy some bread.
/sen se()n
sensationalism
I was sent home from school because I had sensationalism | |
a headache. He sent the ball into the net. lz()m/ noun the practice of making
The firm is sending him out to Australia
things seem especially exciting or shock-
for six months. 2. to use the postal services ing, e.g. in newspaper reporting
sense /sens/ noun 1. one of the five
sense
to get something to someone The office

sends 200 Christmas cards every year. ways in which you notice something
Send me a postcard when you get to Rus- (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch) Dogs
sia. Send the letter by air if you want it to have a good sense of smell. His senses
arrive next week. Send your donations to had been dulled by the drugs he was tak-
the following address. ing. 2. a meaning He was using bear in
send for phrasal verb to ask someone to the sense of to carry. 3. the fact of being
come sensible At least someone showed some
send in phrasal verb to send a letter to an sense and tried to calm the situation. She
organisation didnt have the sense to refuse. I thought
send off phrasal verb 1. (in games) to tell Patrick would have had more sense than
someone to go off the field The referee that.
senseless / sensls/ adj done for no
senseless
sent both players off. 2. to post something

He sent the postcard off without a good reason a senseless attack on a little
stamp. old lady Its senseless to buy clothes you
send up phrasal verb 1. to make some- dont need, just because they are in the
thing go up They sent up an emergency sales.
sensible / sensb()l/ adj 1. showing
sensible
flare. The cold weather has sent up the

price of vegetables. 2. to make jokes good judgment and wisdom Staying in-
about someone (informal) In one of his doors was the sensible thing to do. Try
TV sketches, he sends up the Foreign and be sensible for once! 2. (of shoes)
Minister. strong and comfortable for walking, rather
sender / send/ noun a person who sends
sender
than fashionable
sensitive / senstv/ adj 1. easily up-
sensitive
something, especially a letter The letter

was returned to the sender. set Shes a very sensitive young woman.
senile / si
nal/ adj referring to someone Some actors are extremely sensitive to
senile
whose is forgetful and confused because of criticism. 2. which measures very accu-
old age rately a very sensitive light meter
sensitivity /sens tvti/ noun sensi-
sensitivity
senior / si
ni/ adj 1. older the senior
senior
|
members of the tribe 2. more important, tive feelings

sensor / sens/ noun an electronic de-
sensor
e.g. in rank A sergeant is senior to a cor-

poral. My senior colleagues do not agree vice that reacts to something such as heat,
with me. light or smoke
senior citizen /si
ni stz()n/ noun sensory / sensri/ adj referring to the
senior citizen sensory
an old person who does not work senses

563 serious
sensual / sensjul / adj referring to and October September 3 The weather
sensual
pleasures of the body, not of the mind is usually good in September. Her birth-
sensuous / sensjus/ adj which gives day is in September. Today is September
sensuous
pleasure to the senses 3rd. We always try to take a short holiday

sent / sent/ past tense and past partici-
sent
in September. (NOTE: September 3rd or
ple of send September 3: say September the third or
sentence / sentns/ noun 1. a series
sentence
the third of September or in US English
of words put together to make a complete September third.)
septic / septk/ adj (of a part of a body or
septic
statement, usually ending in a full stop I

dont understand the second sentence in a wound) infected with bacteria
your letter. Begin each sentence with a sequel / si
kwl/ noun 1. the continua-
sequel
capital letter. 2. a judgment of a court He tion of something, such as a story or a play

was given a six-month prison sentence. The sequel will be screened tomorrow
The judge passed sentence on the accused. night. 2. a result, something which follows
verb (sentences, sentencing, sen- The sequel to the discovery was that the
tenced) to give someone an official legal driver of the truck was arrested.
punishment She was sentenced to three sequence / si
kwns/ noun a series
sequence
weeks in prison. He was sentenced to of things which happen or follow one after
death for murder. the other The sequence of events which
sentiment / sentmnt/ noun a general
sentiment
led to the accident.

feeling The government had to take pub- sequin / si
kwn/ noun a small round
sequin
lic sentiment into account. shiny metal ornament, sewn onto clothes
sentimental /sent ment()l/ adj
sentimental
serene /s ri
n/ adj calm, not worried
| serene
showing emotions of love or pity, not rea- |
sergeant / s
dnt/ noun a non-
sergeant
son
sentry
sentry
/ sentri/ (plural sentries commissioned officer in the army, or an of-

/ sentn()l/), sentinel noun a soldier on ficer of low rank in the police (NOTE: also
duty, e.g. at a gate used as a title before a surname: Sergeant
Jones)
separate1 / sep()rt/ adj not together or
separate
sergeant major /s
dnt med/
sergeant major
attached They are in separate rooms.

The house has one bathroom with a sepa- noun a non-commissioned officer of mid-
rate toilet. The dogs were kept separate dle rank in the army and some other armed
from the other pets. Can you give us two forces
serial / sril/ noun a story that is broad-
serial
separate invoices?
separate2 / sepret / (separates, sepa- cast on TV or radio in separate parts an
separate
rating, separated) verb 1. to divide people Australian police serial (NOTE: Do not con-
or things The employees are separated fuse with cereal.)
into permanent and temporary staff. The serial number / sril nmb/ noun a
serial number
teacher separated the class into two number that is given to something such as
groups. 2. to keep people or things apart a piece of equipment or a bank note so that
The police tried to separate the two gangs. it can be identified
Is it possible to separate religion from series / sri
z/ (plural same) noun 1. a
series
politics? group of things which come one after the

separated / sepretd/ adj not living
separated
other in order We had a series of phone

together any more calls from the bank. 2. TV or radio pro-
separately / sep()rtli/ adv individ-
separately
grammes which are broadcast at the same

ually, rather than together or as a group time each week Theres a new wildlife se-
separation /sep re()n/ noun 1. the ries starting this week.
separation
act of dividing people or things 2. the fact serious / sris/ adj 1. not funny or
serious
of living apart A six-month separation of not joking a very serious play Hes
mother and child may have long-term ef- such a serious little boy. Stop laughing
fects. After my parents separation I lived its very serious. Hes very serious about
with my father. the proposal. The doctors expression
separatist / sep()rtst/ noun a person
separatist
was very serious. 2. important and possibly

who believes that part of the country dangerous There was a serious accident
should become separate and independent on the motorway. The storm caused seri-
September /sep temb/ noun the ous damage. Theres no need to worry
September
ninth month of the year, between August its nothing serious. 3. carefully planned
seriously 564
The management is making serious at- mony My mother never misses the nine
tempts to improve working conditions. oclock service on Sundays. 7. (in games
seriously / srisli/ adv 1. in a seri- like tennis) the action of hitting the ball first
seriously
ous way She should laugh more she She has a very powerful service. verb
mustnt always take things so seriously. 2. (services, servicing, serviced) to keep a
to a great extent The cargo was seriously machine in good working order The car
damaged by water. Her mother is seri- needs to be serviced every six months.
service charge / s#
vs t
d/ noun a
service charge
ously ill.
seriousness / si
risns/ noun the fact charge added to a bill in a restaurant to pay
seriousness
of being serious for service

sermon / s#
mn/ noun a talk given by a serviceman / s#
vsmn/ (plural serv-
serviceman
sermon
priest in church He gave a sermon about icemen) noun a male member of the army,
the need to love your neighbours. navy or air force
serotonin /sr tnn/ noun a chemi- services / s#
vsz/ noun an area next
services
serotonin
cal in your body which affects your moods to a motorway with a service station, res-
and the sending of messages through your taurants and sometimes a hotel
service station / s#
vs ste()n/
service station
nerves
serpent / s#
pnt/ noun a snake (literary noun a garage where you can buy petrol
serpent
or dated) and have small repairs done to a car

servant / s#
vnt/ noun a person who servicewoman / s#
vswmn/ (plural
servicewoman
servant
|
is paid to work for a family They employ servicewomen) noun a woman member of
two servants in their London home. Get the army, navy or air force
serviette /s#
vi et/ noun a square piece
serviette
it yourself Im not your servant! |
serve /s#
v/ (serves, serving, served) of cloth or paper used to protect clothes
serve
verb 1. to give food or drink to someone and wipe your mouth at meals (NOTE: Al-
She served the soup in small bowls. Just though serviette is perfectly correct Eng-
take a plate and serve yourself. Has eve- lish, some people prefer to use the word
ryone been served? 2. to go with a dish napkin.)
serving / s#
v/ noun an amount of
serving
[~with] Fish is served with a white sauce.

You usually serve red wine with meat. 3. food served to one person
to help a customer, e.g. in a shop Are you sesame / sesmi/ noun a plant with
sesame
being served? The manager served me small flat seeds that are used in cooking,
himself. 4. (in games like tennis) to start a sometimes scattered on top of bread or
point by hitting the ball, in sports such as cakes, or to make oil
tennis and squash She served two faults session / se()n/ noun the time when
session
in a row. He served first. an activity is taking place All these long

server / s#
v/ noun a dedicated com-
server
sessions in front of the computer screen are

puter or program which provides a func- ruining my eyesight.
tion to a network set /set / noun a group of things which
set
service / s#
vs/ noun 1. a facility
service
go together, which are used together or

which the public needs Our train service which are sold together He carries a set
to London is very bad. The postal service of tools in the back of his car. The six
is efficient. The hotel provides a laundry chairs are sold as a set. verb (sets, set-
service. 2. the act of serving or helping ting, set) 1. to put something somewhere,
someone in a shop or restaurant The food usually carefully She set the plate of bis-
is good here, but the service is very slow. cuits down on the table next to her chair. 2.
The bill includes an extra 10% for service. to fix something When we go to France
Is the service included? The bill does we have to set our watches to French time.
not include service. 3. a regular check of a The price of the new computer has been
machine The car has had its 20,000-kil- set at 500. 3. to make something happen
ometre service. 4. a group of people work- He went to sleep smoking a cigarette and
ing together the ambulance service 5. a set the house on fire. All the prisoners
time when you work for a company or or- were set free. I had been worried about
ganisation or in the armed forces She did her, but her letter set my mind at rest. 4. to
six years service in the police. He was go down The sun rises in the east and sets
awarded a gold watch for his long service in the west. adj ready Were all set for a
to the company. As a soldier, he saw serv- swim. My bags are packed and Im all set
ice in Northern Ireland. 6. a religious cere- to leave. The government is set to intro-
565 sever
duce new anti-smoking laws. Her latest settle / set()l/ (settles, settling, set-
settle
novel is set to become the best-selling book tled) verb 1. to arrange or agree something
of the year. [~on] Have you settled on a title for the
set about phrasal verb to start to do new film yet? Well, Im glad everythings
something settled at last. Will these two sides ever
set aside phrasal verb 1. to dismiss or resettle their differences? 2. to place yourself
ject something The proposal was set in a comfortable position She switched
aside by the committee. 2. to save some- on the television and settled in her favour-
thing and keep it for future use We set ite armchair. 3. to fall to the ground, or to
money aside every month for the chil- the bottom of something, gently Wait for
drens holidays. the dust to settle. A layer of mud settled
set back phrasal verb 1. to delay some- at the bottom of the pond.
thing or make something late The bad settle down phrasal verb 1. to place your-
weather has set the harvest back by two self in a comfortable position After din-
weeks. 2. to place something further back ner, she likes to settle down in a
The house is set back from the road. comfortable chair with a good book. 2. to
set down phrasal verb 1. to let passengers
change to a calmer way of life without
get off The bus set down several pas- many changes of house or much travel-
sengers and two others got on. 2. to put ling He has worked all over the world,
something in writing The rules are set and doesnt seem ready to settle down.
down in this booklet. She had lots of boyfriends, and then got
married and settled down in Surrey.
set in phrasal verb to start and become
settle for phrasal verb to choose or to de-
permanent cide on something which is not quite
set off phrasal verb 1. to begin a trip what you want
Were setting off for Germany tomorrow. settle in phrasal verb to become accus-
They all set off on a long walk after
tomed to something new such as a house
lunch. 2. to start something happening or job
They set off a bomb in the shopping cen-
settlement / set()lmnt/ noun 1. the
settlement
tre. If you touch the wire it will set off

the alarm. Being in the same room as a payment of a bill This invoice has not
cat will set off my asthma. been paid can you arrange for immediate
settlement? 2. an agreement in a dispute
set out phrasal verb 1. to begin a journey In the end a settlement was reached be-
The hunters set out to cross the moun-
tween management and workers. 3. a place
tains. We have to set out early tomor- where a group of people come to live a
row. 2. to explain something clearly We mining settlement in the hills
asked her to set out the details in her re- settler / set()l/ noun a person who
settler
port. 3. to aim to do something He set

goes to live in a new country
out to ruin the party.
set-top box /set tp bks/ noun a de-
set-top box
set to phrasal verb to start to work hard

vice shaped like a box, which is used to op-
(dated )
erate cable television
set up phrasal verb 1. to establish some- setup / setp/ noun 1. the way something
setup
thing to set up a committee or a work- is organised 2. an action taken to deceive

ing party A fund has been set up to someone
receive donations from the public. He
seven / sev()n/ noun the number 7
seven
set himself up as an estate agent. 2. to de-

seventeen /sev()n ti
n/ noun the
seventeen
ceive someone deliberately (informal) |
We were set up by the police. number 17

seventeenth /sev()n ti
n/ adj,
seventeenth
setback / setbk/ noun a problem

setback
|
noun number 17 in a series noun number

which makes something late or stops 17 in a series
something going ahead
seventh / sevn/ adj relating to
seventh
set piece /set pi

s/ noun an action which
set piece
number 7 in a series noun number 7 in a

is carefully planned in advance series
settee /se ti
/ noun a long seat with a soft
settee
seventy / sev()nti/ noun the number

seventy
|
back where several people can sit 70 seventies the numbers between 70
setting / set/ noun the background and 79
setting
sever / sev/ (severs, severing, sev-

sever
for a story The setting for the story is

Hong Kong in 1935. ered) verb to cut off
several 566
several / sev()rl/ adj, pron more /sekul
several sexual intercourse
sexual intercourse
than a few, but not a lot Several buildings ntk
s/ noun the act in which a man
were damaged in the storm. Weve met puts his penis inside a womans vagina
several times. Several of the students are sexuality /seku lti/ noun sexual
sexuality
going to Italy. Most of the guests left ear- feelings or activity

ly but several stayed on till midnight. sexually / sekli/ adv in a sexual way
sexually
severe /s v/ adj 1. very strict He

severe
sexual orientation /sekul

rin
sexual orientation
|
|
was very severe with any child who did not te()n/ noun attraction to someone of
behave. Discipline in the school was se- the opposite sex, of the same sex or both
vere. 2. having a very bad effect The gov-
sex worker / seks w#
k/ noun a person
sex worker
ernment imposed severe financial restric-

tions on importers. The severe weather who gets paid to have sex with people or
has closed several main roads. (NOTE: se- who appears in pornographic films or pho-
verity n) tographs
sexy / seksi/ (sexier, sexiest) adj sex-
sexy
severely /s vli/ adv 1. strictly She

severely
was severely punished for being late. 2. to ually attractive

SGML /es di
em el/ noun a computer
SGML
a great extent a severely injured survivor |
Train services have been severely affect- language which uses a system of codes to
ed by snow. create files
sh // interj used to ask for silence
sh
sew /s/ (sews, sewing, sewed, sewn

sew
shabby / bi/ adj (of clothes) used about

shabby
or sewed) verb to attach, make or repair

something by using a needle and thread clothes which are of poor quality or look
(NOTE: Do not confuse with sow.) worn out He wore a shabby coat with two
sewage / su
d/ noun waste water and
sewage
buttons missing.
shack /k/ noun a rough wooden shelter
shack
other waste from toilets, carried away in

pipes under the ground He lived for years in a little shack in the
sewer / su
/ noun a large pipe which
sewer
woods.
shackle / k()l/ (shackles, shackling,
shackle
takes waste water and refuse away from

buildings shackled) verb to fasten someone to some-
sewing / s/ noun things such as
sewing
thing or to another person with a chain
clothes which someone is in the process of The slaves were shackled together.
shade /ed/ noun 1. a variety of a partic-
shade
sewing
sewn /sn/ past participle of sew
sewn
ular colour Her hat is a rather pretty
shade of green. 2. a dark place which is not
sex /seks/ noun 1. one of two groups,
sex
in the sun We sat in the shade of a tree.

male and female, into which animals and Lets try and find some shade its too hot
plants can be divided Theyve had a baby, in the sun.
but I dont know what sex it is. There is
shadow / d/ noun a dark place
shadow
no discrimination on the grounds of sex,

race and religion. 2. physical activity behind an object where light is cut off by
which, between a man and a woman, could the object In the evening, the trees cast
cause a baby to develop a film full of sex long shadows across the lawn. She saw
and violence Sex was the last thing on his shadow move down the hall. They
her mind. to have sex with someone to rested for a while, in the shadow of a large
perform a sexual act with someone tree.
shadowy / di/ (shadowier, shad-
shadowy
sex appeal / seks pi

l/ noun the fact of
sex appeal
owiest) adj not easily seen or not well

being attractive to the opposite sex
known
sexism / seksz()m/ noun unfair treat-
sexism
shady / edi/ adj 1. out of the light of the

shady
ment because of a persons sex

sun At midday in Madrid, its better to
sex life / seks laf / noun the part of
sex life
walk on the shady side of the street. 2. not

someones life that involves their sexual re- honest He made several shady deals.
lationships shaft /
ft / noun 1. the long handle of
shaft
sex offender / seks fend/ noun a

sex offender
|
a tool such as a spade The shaft of the
person who commits a crime involving sex spade was so old it snapped in two. 2. a
sexual / sekul/ adj relating to the ac-
sexual
thin beam of light Tiny particles of dust

tivity of having sex Their relationship were dancing in a shaft of sunlight. 3. a
was never sexual. deep hole connecting one place to another
567 shark
The shaft had become blocked with rub- with shame. To my shame, I did nothing
bish. to help.
shaggy / (i/ adj long and untidy shameful / emf()l/ adj extremely im-
shaggy shameful
shake /ek/ (shakes, shaking, moral or dishonest, causing shame

shake
shameless / emls/ adj not ashamed

shameless
shook, shaken) verb to move something

from side to side or up and down Shake shampoo /m pu
/ noun 1. liquid
shampoo
the bottle before pouring. The house soap for washing your hair or for washing
shakes every time a train goes past. His things such as carpets or cars There are
hand shook as he opened the envelope. to sachets of shampoo in the bathroom. 2. the
shake your head to move your head from action of washing the hair She went to the
side to side to mean no When I asked hairdressers for a shampoo.
my dad if I could borrow the car he just shant /
nt/ short form shall not
shant
shook his head.

shanty town / nti tan/ noun a large
shanty town
shake off phrasal verb to get rid of

something, usually something unpleasant group of huts belonging to poor people
shape /ep/ noun the form of how
shape
shakeup / ekp/ noun a total reorgani-

shakeup
sation something looks A design in the shape of

a letter S. The old table was a funny
shaky / eki/ (shakier, shakiest) adj 1.
shaky
shape. verb (shapes, shaping, shaped)

not very safe, not very reliable Be care- to make into a certain form He shaped
ful, that ladder is a bit shaky. The cham- the pastry into the form of a little boat.
pion driver got off to a shaky start. Your shape up phrasal verb to result, to end up
argument sounds a bit shaky to me. 2. feel- Things are shaping up as we expected.
ing weak Hes still shaky after his opera- Its shaping up to be a fine day.
tion.
shaped /ept/ adj with a certain shape
shaped
shall /l, l/ modal verb 1. used to

shall
shapeless / epls/ adj with no definite

shapeless
make the future tense We shall be out on

Saturday evening. I shant say anything shape
shapely / epli/ adj with an attractive
shapely
I shall keep my mouth shut! Tomorrow we

shant be home until after 10 oclock. 2. shape
used to show a suggestion Shall we open share /e/ noun a part of something
share
the windows? Shall I give them a ring? that is divided between two or more people
(NOTE: shall is mainly used with I and we. Did he get his share of the prize money?
The negative is shant and the past tense is Theres a lot of work to do, so everyone
should.) must do their share. to have a share in to
shallot / lt/ noun a type of small on-
shallot
| take part in, to have a part of All the staff

ion should have a share in decisions about the
shallow / l/ adj not far from top
shallow
companys future. She has her share of
to bottom Children were playing in the the responsibility for the accident. verb
shallow end of the pool. The river is so (shares, sharing, shared) 1. also share
shallow in summer that you can walk out to divide up something among several
across it. people [~among/between] The money will
sham /m/ noun a person or thing which
sham be shared out among her sons. Lets
is false Her claim to be a great pianist is share the cost. 2. to use something which
just a sham. The governments promises someone else also uses We share an of-
were just a sham. fice. We shared a taxi to the airport.
shareholder / ehld/ noun a per-
shareholder
shambles / mblz/ noun 1. a com-

shambles
plete lack of organisation The whole trip son who owns shares in a company
shareware / ewe/ noun computer
shareware
to Paris was a shambles lost tickets, no |
hotel booking, everything that could go software which you try for short period be-
wrong did go wrong. 2. a mess She stood fore deciding if you want to buy the right to
at the door looking at the shambles after use it
sharia / ri
/ noun Islamic religious
sharia
the office party. Tidy up your bedroom |
it is an absolute shambles. law, based on the teaching of the Koran

shame /em/ noun the bad feeling shark /
k/ noun a large dangerous
shame shark
you get when you know you have done fish which lives in the sea and can kill peo-
something wrong or cruel which you ple The lifeguards shouted when a shark
should not have done She went bright red was spotted in the water.
sharp 568
sharp /
p/ adj 1. with an edge or to France together. Im angry with her
sharp
point which can easily cut or pass through shes taken my motorbike. Shes a sweet
something For injections, a needle has to little cat, but shes no good at catching
have a very sharp point. The beach is mice. The customs officers boarded the
covered with sharp stones. This knife is ship when she docked. (NOTE: When it is the
useless it isnt sharp enough. 2. sudden object, she becomes her: She hit the ball or
and great There was a sharp drop in in- the ball hit her. When it follows the verb to
terest rates. The road makes a sharp be, she usually becomes her: Whos that?
right-hand bend. He received a sharp Its her, the girl we met yesterday.)
blow on the back of his head. We had a sheaf /i
f/ (plural sheaves) noun 1. a
sheaf
sharp frost last night. 3. bitter Lemons large pile of papers He threw a sheaf of
have a very sharp taste. 4. quick to notice papers onto my desk and told me to sort
things He has a sharp sense of justice. them out. The jury had to examine
She has a sharp eye for a bargain. Hes sheaves of evidence collected by the fraud
pretty sharp at spotting mistakes. adv 1. squad. 2. a collection of the stems of plants
exactly The coach will leave the hotel at such as wheat tied together after cutting
7.30 sharp. 2. suddenly, at an angle The They spent all day picking up sheaves and
road turned sharp right. loading them on carts.
sharpen /
pn/ (sharpens, sharpen- shears /z/ plural noun very large scis-
sharpen shears
ing, sharpened) verb to make something sors, used for cutting plants or for cutting
sharp the wool off sheep Hes cutting the hedge
shatter / t/ (shatters, shattering, with the shears.
shatter
sheath /i
/ noun a cover for a weapon
sheath
shattered) verb 1. to break into little pieces

He knocked the vase with his elbow and such as a knife Put your knife back in its
it shattered onto the floor. The bomb sheath.
shattered the windows of several houses. 2. sheaves / i
vz/ plural of sheaf
sheaves
to destroy, to upset violently His hopes of shed /ed/ noun a small wooden building
shed
going to university were shattered when he They kept the mower in a shed at the bot-
failed the exam. A loud sneeze shattered tom of the garden. Shes in the garden
the silence in the library. shed putting geraniums into pots. verb
shattered / td/ adj 1. very upset
shattered
(sheds, shedding, shed) to lose some-

She was shattered when the result of the thing which you are carrying or wearing
court case was announced. 2. very tired In autumn, the trees shed their leaves as
(informal) He looked shattered after the soon as the weather turns cold. A lorry
marathon. has shed its load of wood at the rounda-
shave /ev/ noun the act of cutting off bout. We shed our clothes and dived into
shave
the hair on your face with a razor He de- the cool water.
shed /i
d/ short form 1. she had 2. she
shed
cided to have a shave before going out to

dinner. verb (shaves, shaving, shaved, would
shaved or shaven) 1. to cut off the hair on sheen /i
n/ noun an extremely shiny sur-
sheen
your face with a razor He cut himself face

shaving. 2. to cut the hair on your head or, sheep /i
p/ (plural same) noun a com-
sheep
on a part of your body, so that it is very mon farm animal, which gives wool and
short I didnt recognise him with his head meat a flock of sheep The sheep are in
shaved. the field.
shaver / ev/ noun an electrical tool sheepdog / i
pd(/ noun a dog trained
shaver
sheepdog
used for cutting hair off your body and used to control sheep
shavings / evz/ plural noun small sheepish / i
p/ adj embarrassed and
shavings
sheepish
thin slices of something such as wood or showing that you are ashamed
cheese, cut off with a knife They packed sheepskin / i
pskn/ noun the skin of a
sheepskin
the china in a box of wood shavings. sheep, with the wool still on it, used to
shawl /
l/ noun a large square of warm
shawl
make something such as a coat or a floor

material for wearing around the shoulders covering
or head sheer // adj 1. used for emphasizing
sheer
she /i
/ pron used for referring to a fe-
she
something It was sheer heaven to get into

male person, a female animal and some- a hot bath after skiing. She was crying
times to cars, ships and countries Shes out of sheer frustration. Its sheer mad-
my sister. She and I are going on holiday ness to go out without a coat in this weath-
569 shin
er. 2. very steep It was a sheer drop to the shelving / elv/ noun 1. rows of
shelving
beach below. shelves Ive installed metal shelving in

sheet /i
t/ noun 1. a large piece of thin the garden shed. 2. the act of delaying
sheet
cloth which is put on a bed, either to lie on something such as a plan to do something
or to cover you She changed the sheets on The shelving of the project has resulted
the bed. 2. a large flat piece of something in chaos.
shenanigans /sh nn(nz / plural
shenanigans
such as paper, metal, ice or plastic Can |
you give me another sheet of paper? bal- noun behaviour that is dishonest or immor-
ance sheet al, but often in a way that can interesting or
sheeting / i
t/ noun thin material used funny
sheeting
shepherd / epd / (shepherds, shep-

shepherd
for covering things

shelf /elf/ (plural shelves) noun a flat herding, shepherded) verb to take people
shelf
piece of wood attached to a wall or in a somewhere moving them as a group The

cupboard on which things can be put He children were shepherded into the build-
put up or built some shelves in the kitchen. ing. The police were shepherding the
The shelves were packed with books. crowds away from the scene of the acci-
Put that book back on the shelf. Can you dent.
sheriff / erf/ noun US an official in
sheriff
reach me down the box from the top shelf?

The plates are on the top shelf in the charge of justice in a particular part of a
kitchen cupboard. state the sheriff of Orange County
shelf life / elf laf / noun the number of sherry / eri/ noun a type of strong wine,
shelf life sherry
days or weeks that a product can be kept in made in Spain She brought two bottles of
a shop and still be good to use sherry back from Spain.
shell /el/ noun 1. the hard outside part shes /i
z/ short for 1. she has 2. she is
shes
shell
shh / / interj another spelling of sh (NOTE:

shh
which covers some animals such as snails

or tortoises The children spent hours col- also spelt sh!)
lecting shells on the beach. 2. the hard out- shield /i
ld/ noun a large flat object
shield
side part of an egg or a nut I found a big carried by people such as police officers
piece of shell in my omelette. eggshell, for protection from attack Our police of-
nutshell 3. a metal tube which is fired from ficers carry riot shields. verb (shields,
a gun and explodes when it hits something shielding, shielded) to protect someone or
A shell landed on the hospital. something from being reached or seen
shell /i
l/ short form she will He tried to shield her from the wind.
shell
shellfish / elf/ noun sea animals shift /ft/ noun a change of something
shellfish shift
such as crabs and oysters which have a such as position or direction [~in/~to-
hard outer covering and which you can eat wards/to] a shift in policy There is a
shelter / elt/ noun 1. protection We shift in the market towards higher priced
shelter
stood in the shelter of a tree waiting for the goods. There has been a shift of emphasis
rain to stop. On the mountain there was from opposition to partnership. verb
no shelter from the pouring rain. to take (shifts, shifting, shifted) to change posi-
shelter to go somewhere for protection tion or direction Weve shifted the televi-
When the gunmen started to shoot we all sion from the kitchen into the dining room.
took shelter behind a wall. 2. a structure or My opinion has shifted since I read the
building which protects you from bad official report.
shift key / ft ki
/ noun the key which
shift key
weather or danger People stood in the bus

shelter out of the rain as they waited for the changes characters on a keyboard to capital
bus to come. verb (shelters, sheltering, letters
shifty / fti/ adj not looking honest
shifty
sheltered) to go somewhere for protection

Sheep were sheltering from the snow be- Shiite / i
at/, Shiite noun a follower of
Shiite
side the hedge. the Shia branch of Islam

shelve /elv/ (shelves, shelving, shimmer / m/ (shimmers, shimmer-
shelve shimmer
shelved) verb 1. to put back to a later date ing, shimmered) verb to shine softly with
The project was shelved for lack of mon- light in a way which is not steady The
ey. Discussion of the problem has been lake shimmered in the moonlight.
shelved. 2. to slope down The beach shin /n/ noun the front part of your leg
shin
shelves gently so it is safe for little chil- below the knee He scraped his shin
dren. climbing over the wall. They kicked him
shelves /elvz/ plural of shelf
shelves
in the shins.
shine 570
shine /an/ (shines, shining, shone) shoal /l/ noun 1. a bank of sand under
shine shoal
verb 1. to be bright with light The sun is the water The shoals are clearly marked
shining and they say itll be hot today. on the chart of the harbour. 2. a group of
She polished the table until it shone. The fish swimming about a shoal of herring
wine glasses shone in the light of the can- shock /k/ noun a sudden unpleasant
shock
dles. Why do cats eyes shine in the dark? surprise It gave me quite a shock when
The moon shone down on the waiting you walked in. Hes in for a nasty shock.
crowd. 2. to make light fall on something in a state of shock reacting badly to a
He shone his torch into the cellar. sudden unpleasant surprise She was in a
shingle / (l/ noun 1. a mass of small
shingle
state of shock after hearing of the accident.

stones on a beach A shingle beach is verb (shocks, shocking, shocked) to
quite hard to walk on in your bare feet. 2. a give someone a sudden unpleasant surprise
small flat piece of something such as wood The conditions in the hospital shocked
which is fixed on a wall or roof as a cover- the inspectors.
ing I must get up on the roof, some of the shocked /kt/ adj having an unpleas-
shocked
shingles need replacing. ant surprise

Shinto / nt/ noun a Japanese religion shocking / k / adj very unpleas-
Shinto
shocking
with many gods and spirits of the natural ant, which gives someone a sudden sur-
world prise
shiny / ani/ (shinier, shiniest) adj shock wave / k wev/ noun a strong
shiny
shock wave
which shines emotional feeling after something has hap-

ship /p/ noun a large boat for carrying pened The shock waves from the collapse
ship
passengers and goods on the sea Shes a of the government will be felt for some
fine ship. How many ships does the Royal time.
Navy have? The first time we went to the shoddy / di/ adj badly done, badly
shoddy
United States, we went by ship. (NOTE: A made The shoddy workmanship of these
ship is often referred to as she or her.) shoes. Theyre selling off shoddy goods
shipbuilder / pbld/ noun a person
shipbuilder
| at cheap prices.
or business that makes ships shoe /u
/ noun a piece of clothing
shoe
shipment / pmnt/ noun 1. the which is worn on your foot Shes bought
shipment
sending of goods 2. goods which are sent a new pair of shoes. He put his shoes on
somewhere by ship or other means of and went out. Take your shoes off if your
transport feet hurt.
shipping / p/ noun 1. the sending shoelace / u
les/ noun a string for ty-
shipping shoelace
of goods Shipping by rail can often work ing up shoes

out cheaper. 2. ships They attacked ene- shoestring / u
str/ noun on a shoe-
shoestring
my shipping in the Channel. string done with only a little money

shipwreck / prek/ noun an accident Were trying to run this business on a shoe-
shipwreck
which sinks a ship string. Theyre living on a shoestring.

shipyard / pj
d/ noun a factory where shone /n/ past tense and past parti-
shipyard shone
ships are built ciple of shine

shirk /#
k/ (shirks, shirking, shirked) shoo /u
/ (shoos, shooing, shooed)
shirk shoo
verb to try not to do something, especially verb to make an animal or a person go

work somewhere by waving your hands at them
shirt /#
t/ noun a light piece of cloth- She shooed her group of four-year-olds
shirt
ing which you wear on the top part of the into the bus.
shook /k/ past tense of shake
shook
body The teacher wore a blue suit and a

white shirt. When he came back from the shoot /u
t/ noun a new growth of a
shoot
trip he had a suitcase full of dirty shirts. plant, growing from a seed or from a
Its so hot that the workers in the fields branch One or two green shoots are al-
have taken their shirts off. ready showing where I sowed my lettuces.
shiver / v/ verb (shivers, shivering,
shiver
After pruning, the roses will send out a

shivered) to shake with cold or fear She lot of strong new shoots. verb (shoots,
shivered in the cold night air. He was shooting, shot) 1. to fire a gun [~at] En-
coughing and shivering, so the doctor told emy troops were shooting at us. Dont
him to stay in bed. noun the action of shoot were coming out. 2. to hit or kill by
shaking because of feeling cold or fright- firing a gun One of the robbers was shot
ened by a police officer. We went out hunting
571 short-range
and shot two rabbits. 3. to go very fast shopping mall / p ml/ noun an
shopping mall
When the bell rang she shot down the enclosed covered shopping area with
stairs. He started the engine and the car shops, restaurants, banks and other facili-
shot out of the garage. 4. to aim a ball at the ties
goal He shot, and the ball bounced off the shore /
/ noun land at the edge of the
shore
post. sea or a lake She stood on the shore wav-

shoot down phrasal verb to make an airing as the boat sailed away.
craft crash by hitting it with bullets from shore up phrasal verb to hold something
a gun up which might fall down They had to
shoot up phrasal verb 1. to go up fast put in metal beams to shore up the ceil-
Prices shot up during the strike. 2. to ing. The army is trying to shore up the
grow fast These tomatoes have shot up presidents regime.
since I planted them. She used to be
shoreline /
lan/ noun the area along
shoreline
such a small child but shes really shot up

in the last couple of years. the edge of the sea or a lake, where water
meets land
shooting / u
t/ noun the action of
shooting
short /
t/ adj 1. (of size or length) not
short
shooting or killing with a gun

shooting star /u
t st
/ noun a
shooting star
long Have you got a short piece of wire?
small rock which travels very fast through 2. (of distance) not far She only lives a
space and shines brightly short distance away. The taxi driver
shoot-out / u
t at/ noun a fight with
shoot-out wanted to take me through the high street,
but I told him there was a shorter route.
guns
The shortest way to the railway station is to
shop /p/ noun a place where you can
shop
go through the park. 3. (of time) not lasting

buy things Quite a few shops are open on a long time He phoned a short time ago.
Sundays. I never go to that shop its We had a short holiday in June. She
much too expensive. The sweet shop is managed to have a short sleep on the
opposite the fire station. verb (shops, plane. 4. (of height) not tall He is only 1m
shopping, shopped) to look for and buy 40 much shorter than his brother.
things in shops [~for] Shes out shopping
shortage /
td/ noun the fact that
shortage
for his birthday present. Mums gone

shopping. They went shopping in Oxford you do not have something you need a
Street. Do you ever shop locally? shortage of skilled staff During the war,
shop around phrasal verb to go to vari- there were food shortages.
shortcoming /
tkmz/ noun a
shortcoming
ous shops to find which one has the

cheapest goods before you buy anything fault that reduces the effectiveness of
shop assistant / p sstnt/ noun a
shop assistant
|
something or someone
short cut /
t kt/ noun 1. a way which
short cut
person who serves the customers in a shop

shopkeeper / pki
p/ noun a person is shorter than usual We can take a short
shopkeeper
who owns a shop cut through the park. 2. a quicker way of

shoplifter / plft/ noun a person who doing something There are no short cuts
shoplifter
steals things from shops to learning Russian.

shoplifting / plft/ noun stealing shorten /
t()n/ (shortens, shorten-
shorten
shoplifting
from shops (NOTE: + shoplifter n) ing, shortened) verb to make shorter

shopper / p/ noun a person who shortfall /
tf
l/ noun an amount
shopper shortfall
buys things from shops which is missing from a total

shopping / p/ noun 1. the activity shorthand /
thnd/ noun a way of
shopping shorthand
of buying things in a shop We do all our writing using a system of signs

shopping at the weekend. Hes gone out shortlist /
tlst/ noun a list of some of
shortlist
to do the weekly shopping. 2. things which the people who have applied for a job, and
you have bought in a shop Put all your who have been chosen to come for an inter-
shopping on the table. She was carrying view Hes on the shortlist for the job.
two baskets of shopping. (NOTE: no plural: (NOTE: + shortlist v)
some shopping, a lot of shopping)
shortlived /
t lvd/ adj which does
shortlived
shopping centre / p sent/

shopping centre |
noun a building with several different

not last for a long time
shortly /
tli/ adv soon
shortly
shops and restaurants, together with a car

short-range /
t rend/ adj which
short-range
park We must stop them from building

any more out-of-town shopping centres. covers a short distance or a short time
shorts 572
shorts /
ts/ plural noun short trou- shoulder / ld/ noun the part of
shorts shoulder
sers for men or women, that stop above the the body at the top of the arm The police-
knees He was wearing a pair of green man hurt me on the shoulder. He fell and
running shorts. They wont let you into dislocated his shoulder. Look over your
the church in shorts. shoulder, hes just behind you.
shortsighted /
t satd/ adj 1. able to shoulder blade / ld bled/ noun
shoulder blade
shortsighted
see close objects clearly, but not objects one of two large flat bones covering the top
which are further away Im shortsighted part of your back
shouldnt / ud()nt/ short for should
shouldnt
and have to wear glasses. 2. not thinking

about what may happen in the future It is not
very shortsighted of him to spend all the shout /at/ noun a loud cry She
shout
money on a new car. The government has gave a shout and dived into the water.
adopted a very shortsighted policy. People came running when they heard the
short story /
t stri/ noun a piece shouts of the children. verb (shouts,
short story
of fiction which is much shorter than a shouting, shouted) to make a loud cry or
novel to speak very loudly They stamped on the
short-term /
t t#
m/ adj for a short
short-term
floor and shouted. I had to shout to the
period only waitress to get served. They were shout-
ing greetings to one another across the
short wave /
t wev/ noun a radio
short wave
street.
communications frequency below 60 me- shove /v/ noun a sudden push She
shove
tres. long wave, medium wave gave the car a shove and it rolled down the
shot /t/ noun 1. the action of shoot-
shot
hill. verb (shoves, shoving, shoved) to

ing [~at] The police fired two shots at the push someone or something roughly He
car. Some shots were fired during the shoved the papers into his pocket. Stop
bank robbery. 2. a kick or hit to try to score shoving theres no more room on the bus.
a goal His shot was saved by the goal- shove off phrasal verb (informal) 1. to
keeper. past tense and past participle of leave Its time we shoved off. 2. to go
shoot like a shot very rapidly He away Shove off and let me finish my
heard a noise and was off like a shot. meal.
shotgun / t(n/ noun a gun which shovel / v()l/ noun a tool with a long
shotgun shovel
fires small pellets handle and a wide flat part for picking up
should /d/ modal verb 1. used in giv-
should
things such as earth or stones The work-
ing advice or warnings for saying what is men picked up shovels and started to clear
the best thing to do You should go to the the pile of sand. ( NOTE: + shovel v)
show // noun 1. an exhibition,
show
doctor if your cough gets worse. I should

have been more careful. She shouldnt things which are arranged for people to
eat so much if shes trying to lose weight. look at a fashion show 2. something
Should I ask for more coffee? Why should which is on at a theatre Were going to a
I clean up your mess? (NOTE: Ought to can show tonight. What time does the show
be used instead of should.) 2. used to say start? verb (shows, showing, showed,
what you expect to happen If you leave shown) 1. to let someone see something
now you should be there by 4 oclock. He wanted to show me his holiday photos.
Their train should have arrived by now. You have to show your passport at the
There shouldnt be any more problems check-in desk. 2. to point something out to
now. (NOTE: Ought to can be used instead someone [~what/how/why etc] Show me
of should.) 3. used to show a possibility where the accident happened. He asked
If the President should die in office, the me to show him the way to the railway sta-
Vice-President automatically takes over. tion. The salesman showed her how to
Ill be in the next room should you need me. work the photocopier. My watch shows
4. same as would (formal) We should like the date as well as the time. 3. to be seen,
to offer you our congratulations. If I had to be obvious The repairs were badly
enough money I should like to buy a new done and it shows. Her rash has almost
car. (NOTE: The negative is should not or, disappeared and hardly shows at all. on
especially in speaking, shouldnt. Note also show arranged for everyone to see Is
that should is used as the past tense of there anything new on show in this years
shall: I suggested we should go to an Indian exhibition?
restaurant.) show off phrasal verb 1. to show how
573 shrivel
much better than other people you think showroom / ru
m/ noun a room or
showroom
you are Dont watch her dancing about shop where goods are arranged for sale
like that shes just showing off. 2. to let showy / i/ adj which attracts attention
showy
a lot of people see something which you because of its bright colours or shiny sur-
are proud of He drove past with the ra- face
dio on very loud, showing off his new car. shrank /rk/ past tense of shrink
shrank
show up phrasal verb 1. to do some-

shrapnel / rpn()l/ noun pieces of
shrapnel
thing which shows other people to be

worse than you She dances so well that metal from a shell or bomb which has ex-
she shows us all up. 2. to be seen clearly ploded
shred /red/ noun a long narrow piece
shred
When I ride my bike at night I wear an

orange jacket because it shows up clear- torn off something She tore his newspa-
ly in the dark. 3. to come to or arrive in a per to shreds. verb (shreds, shredding,
place (informal) We invited all our shredded) 1. to tear or cut paper into long
friends to the picnic but it rained and thin pieces, which can then be thrown away
only five of them showed up. or used as packing material They sent a
showbiz / bz/ noun same as show
showbiz
pile of old invoices to be shredded. She
business (informal) told the police that the manager had told
her to shred all the documents in the file. 2.
show business / bzns/ noun the
show business
to cut something into very thin pieces

business of providing entertainment for Heres a utensil for shredding vegetables.
people Add a cup of shredded carrot.
showcase / kes/ noun 1. a cupboard
showcase
shredder / red/ noun a machine for

shredder
with a glass front or top to arrange objects shredding paper

for sale The thieves smashed the show-
shrewd /ru
d/ adj clever or wise
shrewd
case and went off with a tray of rings. 2. an

shriek /ri
k/ (shrieks, shrieking,
shriek
event designed to make someone or some-

thing known to the public The computer shrieked) verb to make the sound of a
show is a showcase for the latest develop- shriek She ran shrieking into the street.
ments in information technology. The children were shrieking with laughter.
showdown / dan/ noun a final ar- (NOTE: + shriek n)
showdown
shrill /rl/ (shriller, shrillest) adj 1.

shrill
gument which will solve a serious disa-

greement which has a harsh high sound The engine
shower / a/ noun 1. a slight fall of has started to make a shrill whistle when I
shower
rain or snow In April theres usually a change gear. 2. loud and complaining
mixture of sunshine and showers. There The art gallery is making increasingly
were snow showers this morning, but it is shrill complaints about lack of government
sunny again now. 2. a piece of equipment funding.
shrimp /rmp/ noun an almost transpar-
shrimp
in a bathroom, usually fixed high up on the

wall, which sends out water to wash your ent little shellfish with a tail
whole body 3. an occasion when you wash shrine /ran/ noun a place which is vis-
shrine
your body with a shower She went up to ited to remember a holy person or someone
her room and had a shower. He has a who has died Someone had put flowers at
cold shower every morning. You cant the roadside shrine. The bedroom had
take a shower now, theres no hot water. become a shrine to her dead son.
verb (showers, showering, showered) to shrink /rk/ (shrinks, shrinking,
shrink
wash yourself under a shower He show- shrank or shrunk, shrunk or shrunken)

ered and went down to greet his guests. verb 1. to make something smaller The
showing / / noun a result which
showing
water must have been too hot its shrunk

shows how well or badly you are doing my shirt. 2. to get smaller My shirt has
showman / mn/ noun an entertain-
showman
shrunk in the wash. The market for type-

er, especially one who performs in very writers has shrunk almost to nothing.
skilled and exciting way shrinkage / rkd/ noun the action of
shrinkage
shown / n/ past participle of show

shown
shrinking I have noticed some shrinkage

show-off / f/ noun a person who in the pullover after washing.
show-off
shows off (informal) shrivel / rv()l/ (shrivels, shrivelling,

shrivel
showpiece / pi
s/ noun the most im-
showpiece
shrivelled) verb to make the surface of

portant object in a collection or an exhibi- something become dry and creased, or to
tion of its type become like this
shroud 574
shroud /rad/ noun a long cloth cover- In Germany, shops shut on Saturday after-
shroud
ing a dead body The corpse was wrapped noons. The restaurant shuts at midnight.
in a white shroud. verb (shrouds, shut down phrasal verb 1. to close
shrouding, shrouded) to cover Thick fog completely The factory shut down for
shrouded the town. Clouds of smoke the holiday weekend. 2. to switch off an
shrouded the factory. electrical system They had to shut
shrub /rb/ noun a small plant with stiff down the factory because pollution levels
shrub
stems were too high.

shrubbery / rbri/ (plural shrubber- shut in phrasal verb to lock someone in-
shrubbery
ies) noun a part of a garden where shrubs side a place

grow shut off phrasal verb 1. to switch some-
shrug /r(/ (shrugs, shrugging, thing off Can you shut off the water
shrug
shrugged) verb to make the movement of while I mend the tap? 2. to stop access to
a shrug with your shoulders When I We can shut off the dining room with
asked him what he thought about it all, he folding doors. The house is shut off
just shrugged or shrugged his shoulders from the road by a high wall.
and walked off. shut out phrasal verb 1. to lock someone
shrug off phrasal verb to treat something outside a place I was shut out of the
as if it is not something to worry about house because Id left my keys inside. If
shrunk /rk/ past participle of shrink the dog keeps on barking youll have to
shrunk
shrunken / rkn/ adj wrinkled and

shrunken
shut him out. 2. to stop light getting in-
dried up side, or to stop people seeing inside
Those thick curtains should shut out the
shudder / d/ (shudders, shudder-
shudder
light from the childrens room. A high

ing, shuddered) verb to shake violently
wall shuts out the view of the factory. 3.
with fear The thought of eating worms
makes me shudder. She shuddered at the to stop thinking about something Try to
thought of spending Christmas with his shut out the memory of the accident.
parents. I shudder to think how much shut up phrasal verb 1. to close some-
money she spends on clothes each month. thing inside a place I hate being shut up
shuffle / f()l/ (shuffles, shuffling,
shuffle
indoors on a sunny day. 2. an impolite
shuffled) verb 1. to walk dragging your
way of telling someone to stop talking or
feet along the ground He shuffled into the to stop making a noise Tell those chil-
room in his slippers. 2. to mix the playing dren to shut up Im trying to work.
cards before starting a game I think he Shut up! were tired of listening to your
must have done something to the cards complaints. Once he starts talking its
when he was shuffling them. impossible to shut him up.
shutdown / tdan/ noun the action of
shutdown
shun /n/ (shuns, shunning, shunned)

shun
|
verb to avoid shutting down

shunt /nt/ (shunts, shunting, shunt- shutter / t/ noun 1. a folding wood-
shutter
shunt
ed) verb 1. to put someone or something en or metal cover for a window Close the
into a less important place The carriages shutters if the sunlight is too bright. 2. the
will be shunted into a siding. He was part of a camera which opens and closes
shunted off to our office in Bordeaux. 2. to very quickly to allow the light to go on to
move a vehicle backwards and forwards the film He released the shutter and took
She shunted backwards and forwards until the picture.
she was parked close to the pavement. shuttle / t()l/ noun 1. a means of
shuttle
shush / / interj be quiet!

shush
transport which goes frequently from one

shut /t/ adj not open Some shops place to another and back again Theres
shut
are shut on Sundays, but most big stores a shuttle bus from the hotel to the exhibi-
are open. We tried to get into the museum tion grounds. 2. a small object for holding
but it was shut. She lay with her eyes thread and which takes the thread back-
shut. Come in the door isnt shut! wards and forwards when weaving or sew-
verb (shuts, shutting, shut) 1. to close ing with a machine verb (shuttles, shut-
something which is open Can you please tling, shuttled) to go between two places
shut the window its getting cold in here. frequently Waiters were shuttling back-
Heres your present shut your eyes and wards and forwards from the kitchen to the
guess what it is. 2. to close for business dining room.
575 sidetrack
shuttlecock / t()lkk/ noun a light sides of the paper. 4. one of two or more
shuttlecock
little object with feathers stuck in it, which parts or edges of something Our office is
players hit over a net in badminton on the opposite side of the street to the
shy /a/ adj nervous and afraid to speak bank. Londons Heathrow Airport is on
shy
or do something Hes so shy he sat in the the west side of the city. The hitch-hikers
back row and didnt speak to anyone. were standing by the side of the road. She
sibling / sbl/ noun a brother or sis-
sibling
sat to one side of the fireplace. 5. one of
ter two parts separated by something In the
sick /sk/ adj 1. not in good health
sick
UK, cars drive on the left-hand side of the
Hes been sick for months. We have five road. She jumped over the fence to get to
staff off sick. 2. to be sick to bring up the other side. 6. a sports team The local
food from the stomach into the mouth side was beaten 2 0. 7. the part of the
The last time I ate oysters I was sick all body between the top of the legs and the
night. to feel sick to feel ill because you shoulder I cant sleep when Im lying on
want to bring up food from the stomach my right side. The policemen stood by the
When I got up this morning I felt sick and prisoners side. They all stood side by
went back to bed. The greasy food made side. adj which is at the side There is a
her feel sick. 3. involving subjects or beside entrance to the shop. Can you take
haviour that many people are upset or of- that bucket round to the side door?
sideboard / sadb
d/ noun a large piece
sideboard
fended by a sick joke noun the contents

of the stomach when they come out of furniture made like a table with a cup-
through the mouth (informal) to make board underneath and used for storing ob-
someone sick to make someone very an- jects such as plates, cups and glasses
side effect / sad fekt/ noun an ef-
side effect
noyed All my friends earn more than I do |
it makes me sick! fect produced by a medical treatment such

sick up phrasal verb to bring up food as a drug, which is not the main effect in-
from your stomach into your mouth tended
(informal ) sidekick / sadkk/ noun someone who
sidekick
sicken / skn/ (sickens, sickening,

sicken
works as a helper for another person

sickened) verb to make someone feel ex- (informal)
tremely upset It sickens me to think of sidelight / sadlat/ noun one of the
sidelight
foxes being killed. small lights on each side of the front of a

sickening / sk()n/ adj making you
sickening
car Switch your sidelights on its begin-

upset or nervous to be sickening for ning to get dark.
something to have the first signs of an ill- sideline / sadlan/ noun a business
sideline
ness (informal) Shes looking pale she which you carry out in addition to your
must be sickening for something. usual job He runs a profitable sideline
sick leave / sk li
v/ noun a period when
sick leave
selling postcards to tourists.

an employee is away from work because of sidelong / sadl/ adj from one side
sidelong
illness
sideshow / sad/ noun 1. a small stall
sideshow
sickly / skli/ adj not healthy Your

sickly
plants are looking rather sickly, do they with a game of skill at an event such as a
need more fertiliser? He turned a sickly fair Among the sideshows were stalls
yellow colour, and we rushed him to the selling candy floss and a shooting gallery.
doctor. 2. an activity that is less important than an-
other activity connected with it The Eu-
sickness / skns/ noun 1. the feeling
sickness
ropean Parliament is just a sideshow the

of wanting to bring up food from the stom- real decisions are taken by the Council of
ach into the mouth 2. not being well Ministers.
There is a lot of sickness about during the
sidestep / sadstep/ (sidesteps, side-
sidestep
winter months.
stepping, sidestepped) verb to avoid
side /sad/ noun 1. one of the four parts
side
which with the top and bottom make a sol- something unpleasant (informal)
side street / sad stri
t/ noun a small
side street
id object such as a box Stand the box up-

right dont turn it onto its side. 2. one of street which leads off a main street
sidetrack / sadtrk/ (sidetracks, side-
sidetrack
the two parts which with the front and back

make a building The garage is attached tracking, sidetracked) verb to attract
to the side of the house. 3. one of the sur- someones attention away from a more im-
faces of a flat object Please write on both portant problem
sidewalk 576
sidewalk / sadw
k/ noun US a pave- sightseeing / satsi
/ noun visiting
sidewalk sightseeing
ment A girl was walking slowly along the the sights of a town as a tourist
sidewalk. We sat at a sidewalk caf. sign /san/ noun 1. a movement of the
sign
sideways / sadwez/ adv to the side

sideways
hand which means something He made a

or from the side Crabs walk sideways. sign to us to sit down. 2. something such as
Take a step sideways and you will be able a drawing or a notice which advertises
to see the castle. If you look at the post something The shop has a big sign out-
sideways youll see how bent it is. side it saying for sale. A no smoking
sidle / sad()l/ (sidles, sidling, sidled) sign hung on the wall. 3. something which
sidle
verb to walk in a way which shows you are shows that something is happening or has
slightly afraid and not go directly forwards happened [~of/~that] There is no sign of
siege /si
d/ noun an act of surrounding the rain stopping. Were waiting for signs
siege
an enemy town or castle with an army to that the economy is improving. He should
prevent supplies getting in, and so force the have arrived by now, but theres no sign of
people inside to come out and stop fighting him. 4. a printed character the pound sign
siesta /si est/ noun a rest period in the
siesta
|
() the dollar sign ($) the hash sign ()
middle of the day, especially common in verb (signs, signing, signed) to write
Mediterranean countries your name in a special way on a document

sieve /sv / noun an object used in the
sieve
to show that you have written it or that you
kitchen, made of a frame with a metal or have approved it [~for] Who signed for the
plastic net, used to pour through liquids or parcel? Sign on the dotted line, please.
substances such as flour, in order to re- The letter is signed by the managing direc-
move lumps or separate some of the parts tor.
Put the flour through a sieve. Boil the sign on phrasal verb 1. to start work He
peas for a few minutes and put in a sieve to signed on and started work immediately.
strain. 2. to start drawing unemployment benefit
She signed on after losing her job.
sift /sft/ (sifts, sifting, sifted) verb to
sift
signal / s(n()l/ noun 1. a sign or

signal
sieve something
sift through phrasal verb to examine movement which tells someone to do
something carefully The police sifted something [~for] Ill give you a signal to
through the rubble to see if they could start singing. This was the signal for the
find traces of the bomb. army to advance. 2. a device used to tell
sigh /sa/ noun a long deep breath, show-
sigh
someone to do something The signal was
ing feelings such as sadness or showing at red so the train had to stop. verb (sig-
that you feel tired She gave a deep sigh nals, signalling, signalled) to make signs
and put the phone down. You could hear to tell someone to do something [~that]
the sighs of relief from the audience when The driver signalled that he was turning
the hero was saved. verb (sighs, sighing, right. She signalled to me that we were
sighed) to breathe with a sigh He sighed running out of time.
signatory / s(nt()ri/ (plural signato-
signatory
and wrote out another cheque.

sight /sat/ noun 1. one of the five sens-
sight
ries) noun a person who signs a contract
signature / s(nt/ noun a name
signature
es, being able to see My grandfathers

sight isnt very good any more. 2. the fact written in a special way by someone to
of being able to see something He cant show that a document has been authorised
stand the sight of blood. We caught sight or accepted [~of] We need the signatures
of an eagle up in the mountains. She kept of two members. He found a pile of
waving until the car disappeared from cheques on his desk waiting for his signa-
sight. The fog cleared and the mountains ture.
came into sight. They waved until the significance /s( nfkns/ noun 1.
significance
boat was out of sight. 3. something, espe- meaning What is the significance of your
cially something famous, which you ought logo of a ship? 2. importance We didnt
to see They went off to see the sights of understand the significance of this sudden
Beijing. at first sight when you see change of temperature. of great signifi-
something for the first time At first sight cance very important The contents of the
I thought he was wearing a wig. letter were of great significance.
sighted / satd/ adj able to see significant / s( nfknt/ adj impor-
sighted significant
sighting / sat/ noun an occasion when

sighting
tant or noticeable It is highly significant

you see someone or something that everyone else was asked to the meet-
577 simmer down

ing, but not the finance director. There the silly newspaper articles that must be
has been a significant improvement in his the silliest.
condition. silo / sal/ (plural silos) noun 1. a large
silo
signify / s(nfa/ (signifies, signify- container for storing crops such as grain
signify
ing, signified) verb 1. to mean The letter They are building huge grain silos near the
seems to signify that they have accepted port. The hay is stored in silos until it is
our terms. 2. to be important It doesnt needed. 2. a deep hole in the ground in
signify in the least. which missiles are kept The missiles
signing / san/ noun 1. the action of were taken out of their silos and destroyed.
signing
silt /slt/ noun soft mud which settles at

silt
putting your signature on a document

The signing of the peace treaty took place the bottom of water The silt was several
in the Palace of Versailles. 2. a footballer inches deep in places.
who has just moved to a new club The silver / slv/ noun 1. a precious grey
silver
only goal was by their new signing. metal often used for making jewellery
sign language / san l(wd/ noun Gold is worth more than silver. How
sign language
signs made with the hands and fingers, much is an ounce of silver worth? 2. a
used for communicating by people who are shiny grey colour, like silver adj of a
not able to hear or speak very well shiny grey colour, like silver The car has
signpost / sanpst/ noun a post with been resprayed with silver paint. She
signpost
signs showing directions to places You wore silver sandals to match her handbag.
silver medal /slv med()l/ noun the
silver medal
should have turned right at that last sign-

post. The signpost said it was 20 miles to prize given to someone who finishes in
Bristol. verb (signposts, signposting, second place in a race or competition
signposted) to put signposts along a road silverware / slvwe/ noun silver ob-
silverware
to show directions The way to the har- jects, especially things such as knives and
bour is clearly signposted. forks
silence / salns/ noun a situation silver wedding /slv wed / noun an
silence silver wedding
which is quiet, without any noise I love anniversary of 25 years of marriage

the silence of the countryside at night. SIM card / sm k
d/ noun a special type
SIM card
The crowds waited in silence. There was of plastic card put into a mobile phone,
a sudden silence as she came in. which contains the personal information
silent / salnt/ adj not talking or mak-
silent
relating to the person who owns the phone,

ing any noise He kept silent for the whole including things such as their PIN number
meeting. This new washing machine is or stored phone numbers
almost silent. They showed some old si- similar / sml/ adj very much like
similar
lent films. someone or something but not exactly the

silhouette /slu et/ noun a black shape
silhouette
| same The two cars are very similar in ap-

of a person or thing against a light back- pearance. Our situation is rather similar
ground We could see two silhouettes in to yours.
the background, but couldnt make out who similarity /sm lrti/ (plural simi-
similarity
they were. larities) noun being similar [~to/~between]

silicon / slkn/ noun a chemical ele-
silicon
He bears an astonishing similarity to the

ment which is used in the electronics in- Prince of Wales. There is no similarity
dustry because of its semiconductor prop- whatsoever between the two cases. The
erties two children are fair with blue eyes, but the
silicon chip / slkn tp/ noun a small similarity stops there.
silicon chip
piece of silicon able to store data, used in a similarly / smlli/ adv in a similar
similarly
computer way All these infections must be treated

silk /slk/ noun cloth made from fibres similarly. He always writes a nice thank
silk
produced by insects She was wearing a you letter, and similarly so does his sister.
beautiful silk scarf. I bought some blue simile / smli/ noun a comparison of one
simile
silk to make a dress. thing to another, using like or as, e.g.

sill /sl/ noun a flat shelf below a window, as flat as a pancake. Compare metaphor
sill
either inside or outside simmer / sm/ (simmers, simmering,

simmer
silly / sli/ (sillier, silliest) adj stupid in simmered) verb to cook by boiling gently
silly
an annoying way Dont be silly you We left the soup to simmer gently.
simmer down phrasal verb to become
simmer down
cant go to the party dressed like that!

She asked a lot of silly questions. Of all calmer after being very annoyed
simple 578
simple / smpl/ adj 1. easy to do or sincere /sn s/ adj very honest and
simple sincere
understand The machine is very simple to real, not false or pretended

use. 2. not unusual, special or complicated sincerely /sn sli/ adv honestly or
sincerely
They had a simple meal of bread and really Yours sincerely, Sincerely yours
soup. Its a very simple pattern of lines words used as an ending to a letter ad-
and squares. ( NOTE: simpler simplest) dressed to a named person
simplicity /sm plsti/ noun the qual- sincerity /sn serti/ noun honesty
simplicity
sincerity
|
|
ity of being simple sing /s/ (sings, singing, sang, sung)

sing
simplify / smplfa/ (simplifies, sim-

simplify
verb to make music with your voice She

plifying, simplified) verb to make some- was singing as she worked. Please sing
thing simple another song. The birds were singing in
simplistic /sm plstk / adj too simple,
simplistic
| the garden.
so simple as to seem foolish singe /snd/ (singes, singeing, singed)
singe
simply / smpli/ adv 1. in a simple way

simply
verb to burn the outside of something

He described very simply how the acci- singer / s/ noun a person who sings
singer
dent had happened. She always dresses single / s(()l/ adj 1. one alone He
single
very simply. 2. only He did it simply to handed her a single sheet of paper. There
annoy everyone. She gave a new look to wasnt a single person I knew at the party.
the room simply by painting one wall red. The single most important fact about him
3. used for emphasis Your garden is sim- is that he has no money. 2. for one person
ply beautiful. Its simply terrible what only Have you got a single room for two
shall we do? nights, please? We prefer two single beds
simulate / smjlet/ (simulates, simu-
simulate
to a double bed. 3. not married Shes

lating, simulated) verb to copy the way twenty-nine and still single. Are there
something behaves, or the way something any single men on the course?
happens single out phrasal verb to notice or
simulation /smj le()n/ noun an
simulation
|
choose one person or thing among sever-
operation in which a computer is made to al
copy a real life situation or a machine, single currency /s(()l krnsi /
single currency
showing how something works or will noun one system of money which is shared
work in the future by several countries
simulator / smjlet / noun a piece of
simulator
single-handed /s(()l hndd/ adj,

single-handed
equipment that simulates something else adv all by yourself a single-handed yacht
simultaneous /sm()l tenis/ adj
simultaneous
|
race He sailed single-handed round the
happening at the same time as something world. I cant do all this work single-
else handed.
sin /sn/ noun 1. an evil action which
sin
single-minded /s(()l mandd/ adj

single-minded
goes against the rules of a religion Greed thinking only of one thing
is one of the seven deadly sins. 2. some- single parent /s(()l pernt/ noun
single parent
thing bad It would be a sin to waste all one parent who is bringing up a child or
that meat. verb (sins, sinning, sinned) to children alone
commit a sin, to do something evil The
singly / s(li/ adv one by one
singly
priest told him he had sinned.

singular / s(jl/ adj showing that
singular
since /sns/ prep during the period af-

since
ter Shes been here since Monday. there is only one thing or person She is
Weve been working non-stop since four a singular pronoun.
singularly / s(jlli / adv 1. strangely
singularly
oclock cant we have a rest? conj 1.

during the period after He has had trou- 2. particularly
sinister / snst/ adj which looks evil,
sinister
ble borrowing money ever since he was

rude to the bank manager. Since we got which suggests that something bad will
to the hotel, it has rained every day. 2. be- happen
sink /sk/ noun a fixed container for
sink
cause Since hes ill, you cant ask him to

help you. Since its such a fine day, lets water in which you wash things such as
go for a walk. adv during the period until dishes in a kitchen The sink was piled
now She phoned on Sunday and we ha- high with dirty dishes. He was washing
vent heard from her since. He left Eng- his hands at the kitchen sink. verb (sinks,
land in 1990 and has lived abroad ever sinking, sank, sunk) 1. to go down to the
since. bottom of something such as water or mud
579 six
The ferry sank in 30m of water. 2. to fall sit /st/ (sits, sitting, sat) verb 1. to be
sit

suddenly [~to] House prices have sunk to resting with your bottom on something
an all-time low. She was so upset that she Mother was sitting in bed reading. There
just sank into an armchair and closed her were no seats left, so they had to sit on the
eyes. My heart sank when I heard the floor. 2. (of a bird ) to rest The robin al-
news. ways comes and sits on the fence when Im
sink in phrasal verb to become fixed in digging.
the mind sit back phrasal verb 1. to rest your back
sinking feeling / sk fi
l/ noun a against the back of a chair when sitting
sinking feeling
sudden feeling of disappointment you get Just sit back and enjoy the film. 2. to do
when you realise that something has gone nothing He just sat back and watched
wrong everyone else do the work.
sinner / sn/ noun someone who does
sinner
sit down phrasal verb to sit on a seat
something that is morally wrong sit on phrasal verb 1. to be a member of a
committee She sat on the local choral
sinus / sans/ noun an empty space in-
sinus
society committee for fifteen years. 2. to

side the body, especially the spaces inside do nothing about something that should
your head behind the cheekbone and nose have been dealt with They sat on the re-
sip /sp/ noun the act of drinking a small
sip
port for three months.

amount She took a sip of water, and went sit up phrasal verb 1. to sit with your back
on with her speech. verb (sips, sipping, straight Sit up straight! 2. to move from
sipped) to drink something taking only a a lying to a sitting position Hes too
small amount at a time The girl was sip- weak to sit up. He sat up in bed to eat
ping her drink quietly. his breakfast. 3. to delay going to bed or
siphon / saf()n/ (siphons, siphoning,
siphon
to go to bed later than usual We sat up

siphoned), syphon (syphons) verb to replaying cards until 2 a.m.
move liquid by using a bent tube to direct sitcom / stkm/ noun a TV comedy se-
sitcom
it to another place Petrol had been si- ries which always takes place in the same
phoned from the tanks of cars parked in the place, with the same characters, each week
car park. (informal) (NOTE: short for situation come-
sir /s#
/ noun 1. a polite way of speak-
sir
dy)
ing to a man, e.g. a man who is a customer site /sat/ noun 1. a place where some-
site
in a shop (usually used by someone serving thing is or will be [~for] a building site
in a shop or restaurant) Would you like a This is the site for the new factory. 2. a
drink with your lunch, sir? Please come place where something happened, where
this way, sir. 2. the title given to a knight something once existed This was the site
Dear Sir a polite way of beginning a letter of the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
to a man you do not know sitter / st/ noun 1. a person who looks
sitter
siren / sarn/ noun a piece of equipment

siren
after children in a house, while their par-

which makes a loud warning signal ents are out We wont be able to go to the
sister / sst/ noun 1. a girl or woman cinema because I cant find a sitter. 2. a
sister
who has the same father and mother as person who poses, while someone paints or
someone else His three sisters all look photographs him or her The sitter was his
alike. My younger sister Louise works in mother.
sitting / st/ noun a time when a
sitting
a bank. Do you have any sisters? 2. a sen-

ior female nurse in charge of a ward The group of people eat together Take your
sister told me my son was getting better. seats for the second sitting.
(NOTE: The male equivalent is charge sitting room / st ru
m/ noun a
sitting room
nurse.) comfortable room in a house for sitting in

sister-in-law / sstr n l
/ (plural sis- situation /stu e()n/ noun 1. the
sister-in-law
situation
ters-in-law) noun 1. the wife of your broth- position which someone or something is in
er 2. the sister of your husband or wife because of things which have happened
My sister-in-law is always telling us funny Whats your opinion of the companys
stories about things my husband did when present situation? I wonder how she got
he was a little boy. herself into this situation? 2. a place where
sisterly / sstli/ adj, adv relating to or something is The hotel is in a very pleas-
sisterly
characteristic of a sister, especially in a ant situation by the sea.

six /sks/ noun the number 6
six
kind or caring way

sixteen 580
sixteen /sks ti
n/ noun the number She was sketching the old church. He
sixteen
16 sketched out his plan on the back of an en-

sixteenth /sks ti
n/ adj relating to velope.
sixteenth
sketchbook / sketbk/, sketchpad

sketchbook
number 16 in a series noun number 16 in

a series noun a book of drawing paper for sketch-
sixth /sks/ adj relating to number 6 in ing
sixth
a series noun 1. number 6 in a series 2. sketchy / sketi / (sketchier, sketchiest)

sketchy
one part of six equal parts Ten minutes is adj not complete, not full
a sixth of an hour. skewed /skju
d/ adj unbalanced
skewed
sixth form / sks f

m/ noun the final
sixth form
skewer / skju
/ noun a long thin metal
skewer
two years in a secondary school, with stu- or wooden rod for putting through pieces
dents between 16 and 18 years old of meat, fish or vegetables when cooking
sixtieth / skst/ adj relating to number
sixtieth
or grilling She put some pieces of chicken

60 in a series noun number 60 in a series and onion on the skewer.
sixty / sksti / noun the number 60
sixty
ski /ski
/ noun (plural skis) one of two
ski
sixties the numbers between 60 and 69 long flat objects which are attached to your
size /saz/ noun the measurements of
size
boots for sliding over snow We always

something, how big something is, or how hire skis when we get to the ski resort.
many there are of something The size of Someone stole my new pair of skis. verb
the staff has doubled in the last two years. (skis, skiing, skied or skid) to travel on
Their garage is about the same size as skis The mountain rescue team had to ski
our house. The school has an Olympic to the site of the avalanche. We skied
size swimming pool. He takes size ten in down to the bottom of the slope without
shoes. falling. She broke her arm skiing.
size up phrasal verb to judge someones skid /skd/ (skids, skidding, skidded)
skid
qualities She quickly sized him up. verb to slide sideways in a vehicle suddenly
sizeable / sazb()l/ adj quite big
sizeable
because the wheels do not grip the surface

sizzle / sz()l/ (sizzles, sizzling, siz-
sizzle
He skidded to a halt. If you brake too

zled) verb to make a sound like food cook- hard on ice youre likely to skid.
ing in oil or fat skier / ski
/ noun a person who goes ski-
skier
sizzling / szl/ adj very hot (informal)

sizzling
ing
skate /sket/ noun a boot with a blade
skate
skiing / ski
/ noun the sport of slid-
skiing
attached to the bottom which you wear for ing on skis

sliding over ice a pair of skates verb
skilful / sklf()l/ adj showing a lot of
skilful
(skates, skating, skated) to move wearing

skill
skates She skated across the frozen lake.
skilfully / sklfli/ adv in a skilful way
skilfully
skateboard / sketb
d/ noun a board
skateboard
with two pairs of wheels underneath, It was difficult but he did it very skilfully.
skill /skl/ noun the ability to do some-
skill
which you stand on to move about

skating rink / sket rk/ noun a spe-
skating rink
thing well Portrait painting needs a lot of
cial area for skating, or for playing games skill. This job will help you develop man-
such as hockey on skates agement skills. Hes a craftsman of great
skeletal / skelt()l/ adj very thin, like a
skeletal skill.
skilled / skld/ adj 1. able to do some-
skilled
skeleton
skeleton / skelt()n/ noun all the
skeleton
thing well, using a particular skill Shes a
bones which make up a body They found skilled therapist. We need skilled pro-
the skeleton of a rabbit in the garden shed. grammers. 2. needing a particular skill
He demonstrated joints using the skele-
nursing and other skilled professions
skillful / sklf()l/ adj US spelling of skil-
skillful
ton in the biology lab. the skeleton in

the cupboard an embarrassing secret that a ful
/skm/
skim
family is trying to keep hidden skim (skims, skimming,

skeptical / skeptk()l/ adj US spelling skimmed) verb 1. to remove things floating
skeptical
of sceptical on a liquid 2. to move quickly over the sur-

sketch /sket/ noun a rough quick face of something
sketch
skimmed milk /skmd mlk / noun milk

skimmed milk
drawing He made a sketch of the church.

verb (sketches, sketching, sketched) to from which most of the fat has been re-
make a rough quick drawing of something moved
581 slap
skimpy / skmpi/ (skimpier, skimpiest) skyline / skalan/ noun the shape of
skimpy skyline
adj small, not big enough buildings seen against the sky
skin /skn/ noun 1. the outer surface of skyscraper / skaskrep/ noun a very
skin skyscraper
the body The babys skin is very smooth. tall building

2. the outer surface of a fruit or vegetable slab /slb/ noun a flat square or rectangu-
slab
This orange has a very thick skin. You lar block of stone or concrete
can cook these new potatoes with their slack /slk/ adj 1. not pulled tight or not
slack
skins on. fitting tightly The wind had dropped and

skinhead / sknhed/ noun a young man
skinhead
the sails were slack. The ropes are slack

with very short hair or a shaved head, often pull on them to make them tight. 2. not
considered as behaving in an aggressive busy Business is slack at the end of the
manner week. January is always a slack period
skinny / skni/ (skinnier, skinniest)
skinny
for us.
adj too thin to be attractive A tall skinny slacken / slkn/ (slackens, slacken-
slacken
guy walked in. She has very skinny legs. ing, slackened) verb 1. to make something
skip /skp/ (skips, skipping, skipped) looser 2. also slacken off to become slower
skip
verb 1. to run along partly hopping and or less busy Youve been working too
partly jumping The children skipped hap- hard you need to slacken off Trade
pily down the lane. 2. to jump over a rope slackened during January.
which you turn over your head Some slag /sl(/ noun the waste material left
slag
girls were skipping in the playground. 3. to after metal has been extracted from ore, or
miss part of something (informal) She after coal has been mined
skipped the middle chapters and went on to slain /slen/ past participle of slay
slain
read the end of the story. Im not hungry, slalom / sl

lm/ noun a type of race
slalom
Ill skip the pudding. where you have to zigzag fast between a
skipper / skp/ noun 1. the captain of
skipper
series of posts
a ship We reported to the skipper that slam /slm/ (slams, slamming,
slam
there was water in the ships engine room. slammed) verb 1. to bang a door shut
2. the captain of a team Hes the youngest When he saw me, he slammed the door in
skipper ever of the national rugby team. my face. 2. to shut with a bang The door
skirmish / sk#
m/ noun a minor fight
skirmish
slammed and I was locked out. 3. to move

between opposite sides There were sev- or hit something with great force The car
eral skirmishes between rival fans, but no slammed into a tree. He slammed his fist
serious fighting. on the desk.
skirt /sk#
t/ noun a piece of clothing slander / sl
nd/ noun an untrue spo-
skirt
slander
worn by women over the lower part of the ken statement which damages a persons
body from the waist down She started reputation to sue somebody for slander
wearing jeans to work, but was told to What she said about me is slander.
wear a skirt. slang /sl/ noun popular words or
slang
ski slope / ski

slp/ noun a specially
ski slope
phrases used by certain groups of people,

prepared and marked slope for skiing down but which are not used in formal situations
a mountain Dont use slang in your essay. Slang
skulk /sklk / (skulks, skulking, skulked)
skulk
expressions are sometimes difficult to un-

verb to creep about mysteriously because derstand.
you are planning something wrong slant /sl
nt/ noun a slope The garden
slant
skull /skl/ noun the bones which are

skull
is on a slant, which makes cutting the lawn

joined together to form the head difficult. verb (slants, slanting, slanted)
sky /ska/ noun a space above the earth to slope The path slants down the side of
sky
which is blue during the day and where the the hill. The picture seems to be slanting
moon and stars appear at night What to the right.
makes the sky blue? Its going to be a slanted / sl
ntd/ adj 1. sloping 2. bi-
slanted
beautiful day theres not a cloud in the ased

sky. The wind carried the glider high up slap /slp/ noun a blow given with your
slap
into the sky. hand flat She gave him a slap in the face.
skydiving / skadav/ noun the sport
skydiving
| verb (slaps, slapping, slapped) 1. to hit

of jumping out of a plane with a parachute someone or something with your hand flat
skylight / skalat/ noun a window in a She slapped his face. 2. to tap someone or
skylight
roof or ceiling something as a friendly gesture They all

slapstick 582
slapped him on the back to congratulate sleek /sli
k/ adj smooth and shiny
sleek
the
him. a slap on the wrist a small punish- cats sleek coat After dinner we walked
ment, a slight criticism The department across the sleek lawns to the river.
had a slap on the wrist from the inspectors, sleep /sli
p/ (sleeps, sleeping, slept)
sleep
but nothing serious. verb to rest with your eyes closed not
slapstick / slpstk/ noun a rough com- knowing what is happening around you
slapstick
edy which involves such things as knock- She never sleeps for more than six hours
ing people over and throwing water over each night. He slept through the whole of
them the TV news. Dont make any noise
slash /sl/ (slashes, slashing, Daddys trying to sleep.
slash
slashed) verb to make a long cut in some- sleep around phrasal verb to have sexual
thing with a knife, often violently He intercourse with various people
slashed the painting with a kitchen knife. (informal)
slat /slt/ noun a thin flat piece of wood
slat
sleep in phrasal verb to sleep later than
usual in the morning
slate /slet/ noun a thin piece of this stone
slate
sleep off phrasal verb to get rid of an ill-

used to cover a roof The slates were al-
ready piled up on the roof ready for fixing. ness by sleeping
sleeper / sli
p/ noun 1. a person who
sleeper
slaughter / sl
t/ noun 1. the killing of
slaughter
sleeps Electrodes are attached to sleep-

many people the terrible slaughter of in- ers to record brain waves. hes a heavy
nocent people in the riots 2. the killing of sleeper he always sleeps deeply 2. a car-
animals These lambs will be ready for riage on a train where passengers sleep on
slaughter in a week or so. verb (slaugh- long journeys The last two carriages of
ters, slaughtering, slaughtered) 1. to kill
the train were sleepers. 3. an overnight
many people or animals at the same time train with sleeping cars The Edinburgh
Thousands of civilians were slaughtered by sleeper leaves at 11.30 p.m.
the advancing army. 2. to kill animals for
sleeping bag / sli
p b(/ noun a
sleeping bag
their meat
comfortable warm bag for sleeping in, of-
slaughterhouse / sl
thas / noun a
slaughterhouse
ten used by campers

place where animals are killed for meat sleepover / sli
pv/ noun a childs
sleepover
(dated)
party involving an overnight stay at some-
slave /slev/ noun a person who be-
slave
body elses house

longs to someone legally and works for sleepwalking / sli
pw
k/ noun get-
sleepwalking
him or her without pay verb (slaves, ting up and walking about even though you
slaving, slaved) also slave away to work are still asleep
hard (informal) sleepy / sli
pi/ adj feeling ready to go
sleepy
slavery / slevri/ noun 1. the state of be-

slavery
to sleep The children had a busy day

ing a slave Girls were kidnapped and they were very sleepy by 8 oclock. The
sold into slavery. 2. the buying and selling injection will make you feel sleepy. If you
of slaves In Britain, slavery was abol- feel sleepy, dont try to drive the car. Sit-
ished in the 19th century. ting in front of the TV made him sleepier
slay /sle / (slays, slaying, slew, slain)
slay
and sleepier.
verb to kill someone or something (formal sleet /sli
t/ noun snow mixed with rain
sleet
or literary) (NOTE: Do not confuse with The temperature fell and the rain turned to
sleigh.) sleet. (NOTE: + sleet v)
sleaze /sli
z/ noun behaviour which is sleeve /sli
v/ noun the part of a piece
sleaze
sleeve
disreputable of clothing which covers your arm The

sleazy / sli
zi/ (sleazier, sleaziest) adj sleeves on this shirt are too long. He was
sleazy
dirty or disreputable wearing a blue shirt with short sleeves.

sled /sled/ noun same as sledge sleight of hand /slat v hnd/ noun
sled sleight of hand
sledge /sled/ noun a small vehicle with

sledge
the quick movements of a conjurer when
long pieces of wood or metal underneath, performing a card trick
slender / slend/ adj long and thin, or tall
slender
for sliding fast over snow Children

dragged their sledges to the top of the and slim slender fingers a slender flow-
snow-covered hill. verb (sledges, sledg- er stem a girl with a slender figure
slept /slept / past tense and past partici-
slept
ing, sledged) to go on a sledge; to play at

sliding on the snow on a sledge The chil- ple of sleep
dren were sledging down the hill. slew /slu
/ past tense of slay
slew
583 slope
slice /slas/ noun a thin piece cut off slinging, slung) to throw Little boys
slice

something to eat Can you cut some more were slinging snowballs at passing cars.
slices of bread? Have a slice of chocolate He slung his briefcase into the back of the
cake. verb (slices, slicing, sliced) 1. to car.
cut something into thin pieces Would you slink /slk/ (slinks, slinking, slunk) verb
slink
slice some more bread? 2. to cut or move to creep about in order to avoid being no-
through something easily [~through/~into] ticed
The blade sliced through the thick layers. slip /slp/ verb (slips, slipping,
slip
The car sliced through the fence and slipped) 1. to push something without be-
overturned. ing seen The postman slipped the letters
slide / slad/ noun 1. a slippery metal or
slide
through the letter box. He slipped the

plastic structure for children to slide down keys into his pocket. 2. to go quickly Ill
There are swings and a slide in the local just slip down to the post office with this
playground. 2. a small piece of film which letter. noun a small, often careless mis-
can be projected onto a screen She take Dont worry about that. It was just a
showed us the slides of her last trip. slip. He made a few slips in his calcula-
There will be a slide show in the village tions.
hall. verb (slides, sliding, slid) to move slip up phrasal verb to make a silly mis-
smoothly over a slippery surface The take (informal)
drawer slides in and out easily. The car slipper / slp/ noun a soft indoor shoe
slipper
slid to a stop. The children were sliding slippers / slpz/ noun light comfortable
slippers
on the ice when it broke. shoes worn indoors He ran out into the
slight /slat/ adj 1. not very big or no-
slight
street in his dressing gown and slippers.

ticeable There was only a slight differ- They put their slippers on when they come
ence between the two colours. Ive no- into the house.
ticed a slight improvement in the students slippery / slp()ri/ adj so smooth that
slippery
results this month. 2. (of people) small and one can easily slip and fall
thin Their daughters a slight young girl.
slippery slope / slpri slp/ noun a
slippery slope
not (in) the slightest not in any way

Are you worried about passing your ex- dangerous situation that can get very bad if
am? Not in the slightest! She wasnt it is not stopped
slip road / slp rd/ noun a small road
slip road
(in) the slightest bit nervous.

slightly / slatli/ adv to only a small
slightly which leads to or from a motorway
slit /slt/ noun a long cut or narrow open-
slit
extent He was only slightly hurt in the

car crash. The American bank is offering ing She peeped through a slit in the cur-
a slightly better interest rate. I only know tains.
slither / sl/ (slithers, slithering, slith-
slither
him slightly.
slim /slm/ adj (slimmer, slimmest)
slim
ered) verb 1. to slide about in various direc-
with a body that is thin in an attractive way tions 2. to move over a surface like a snake
sliver / slv/ noun a long thin piece
sliver
How do you manage to stay so slim?

slob /slb/ noun a lazy, dirty person
slob
She looks slimmer in that dress. verb

(slims, slimming, slimmed) to eat less slobber / slb/ (slobbers, slobbering,
slobber
food, or eat only special foods, in order to slobbered) verb to let saliva come out of
become thin She started slimming before your mouth
her summer holidays. slog /sl(/ noun a difficult job Building
slog
slime /slam/ noun a slippery substance,

slime
the wall was quite a slog. Its a hard slog

which covers surfaces from here to the top of the mountain. verb
slimming / slm/ noun the process of (slogs, slogging, slogged) to walk with
slimming
trying to lose weight, especially by eating difficulty They had to slog through miles
less of jungle to get to the temple.
slimy / slami/ adj covered with some- slogan / sl(n/ noun a phrase which is
slogan
slimy
thing that is unpleasant and slippery easy to remember and is used in publicity
Watch out, the rocks are slimy. Whats for a product or for a political party
slop /slp/ (slops, slopping, slopped)
slop
this slimy mess at the bottom of the fridge?

sling /sl/ noun an apparatus made of verb (of liquid) to spill
sling
slope / slp/ noun a surface or piece

slope
ropes and pulleys for lifting and carrying

goods They arranged a sling to lift the pi- of ground that has one end higher than the
ano into the upstairs flat. verb (slings, other The land rises in a gentle slope to
sloppy 584
the church. They stopped halfway down at the bottom of the petrol tank. 2. the thick
the slope. verb (slopes, sloping, sloped) soft part of sewage
to have one end higher than the other The slug /sl(/ noun a small bullet (informal)
slug
road slopes down to the sea. A slug from the rifle hit the wall above my
sloppy / slpi/ (sloppier, sloppiest) adj
sloppy
head.
1. untidy Hes such a sloppy eater, hes sluggish / sl(/ adj 1. reacting slowly
sluggish
made a mess all over his pullover. 2. loose 2. slow-moving a sluggish stream
and untidy She was wearing a sloppy sluice /slu
s/ noun a gate which closes a
sluice
jumper. 3. badly done They said her work channel for water, especially through a
was sloppy and had to be done again. 4. dam They opened the sluices to release
stupidly sentimental Shes a sloppy old the water behind the dam. verb (sluices,
dog, shes no good at guarding. What a sluicing, sluiced) to wash something with
sloppy film! lots of water Youll have to sluice out the
slosh /sl/ (sloshes, sloshing,
slosh
pig sty. She sluiced the dirty bucket under

sloshed) verb 1. to splash We sloshed the tap.
through the mud to get to the cottage. 2. to slum /slm/ noun a crowded, dirty district
slum
hit someone or something (informal) She inside a large town. shanty town
suddenly sloshed him with her umbrella.
slumber / slmb/ noun sleep (literary)
slumber
slot /slt/ noun a long thin hole A coin

slot
has got stuck in the slot of the parking me- His peaceful slumbers were rudely dis-
turbed by the telephone.
ter. Put the system disk into the slot on the
slump /slmp/ noun 1. a rapid fall 2. a pe-
slump
front of your computer.

slot machine / slt mi
n/ noun 1. a
slot machine
|
riod of economic collapse with high unem-
machine for gambling 2. a machine which ployment and loss of trade verb (slumps,
provides something such as drinks, food or slumping, slumped) 1. to lose value fast or
cigarettes when you put a coin into a slot reduce suddenly The pound slumped on
the foreign exchange markets. 2. to sit or lie
slouch /slat/ (slouches, slouching,
slouch
down clumsily or heavily He sat slumped

slouched) verb to stand, sit or walk in a on a chair doing his homework. At the
bad position, with bent shoulders end of the day, she just slumped down onto
slow /sl/ adj 1. needing a long time
slow
the sofa.
to do something Luckily, the car was only
slung /sl/ past tense and past participle
slung
going at a slow speed. She is the slowest of sling

walker of the group. The company is very
slur /sl#
/ noun an insult The report cast
slur
slow at answering my letters. Sales got

off to a slow start but picked up later. 2. a slur on his integrity. verb (slurs, slur-
showing a time which is earlier than the ring, slurred) to speak words indistinctly
right time The office clock is four minutes You could tell he had been taking drugs by
slow. the way he slurred his words.
slurp /sl#
p/ (slurps, slurping, slurped)
slurp
slow down phrasal verb 1. to go more

slowly The van had to slow down as it verb to drink and make a noise
slush /sl/ noun 1. melting snow The
slush
came to the traffic lights. Please slow

down, I cant keep up with you. 2. to snow has started to melt and the roads are
make something go more slowly The covered with slush. 2. sentimental writing
snow slowed the traffic down on the mo- (informal) Her latest novel is just slush.
torway. sly /sla/ adj good at doing secret or slight-
sly
slowdown / sldan/ noun a slowing

slowdown
ly dishonest things
down of business activity smack /smk/ verb (smacks, smacking,
smack
slowly / slli/ adv at a slow speed

slowly
smacked) to hit someone with your hand

Luckily, the car was going very slowly flat noun an act of hitting someone, espe-
when it hit the fence. The group walked cially a child, with your hand flat
slowly round the exhibition. Speak more small /sm
l/ adj not large in size or
small
slowly so that everyone can understand. amount Small cars are more economical
slow motion /sl m()n/ noun
slow motion
than large ones. The house is too big for

showing a film at a slower speed than it us, so were selling it and buying a smaller
was filmed at, so that the action seems to one. She only paid a small amount for
have slowed down that clock. The guidebook isnt small
sludge /sld/ noun 1. soft muddy mate-
sludge
enough to carry in your pocket. These

rial in a liquid Theres some black sludge trousers are already too small for him.
585 smoke
small intestine /sm
l n testn / noun smell /smel / noun 1. one of the five
small intestine smell
the top section of the intestines, leading senses, which you can feel through your
down from the stomach nose Animals have a better sense of smell
smallpox / sm
lpks/ noun formerly a than humans. 2. something which you can
smallpox
very serious, usually fatal, contagious dis- sense with your nose I love the smell of
ease, with a severe rash which leaves many coffee. Theres a smell of burning or
small scars on the skin theres a burning smell coming from the
small-scale / sm
l skel/ adj working
small-scale
kitchen. verb (smells, smelling, smelt or
in a small way, with few staff and not much smelled) 1. to notice the smell of some-
money thing Can you smell gas? My nose is so
small talk / sm
l t
k/ noun informal
small talk
blocked that I cant smell. 2. to make a
conversation smell [~like/~of] This cheese smells like
soap. His breath smelt of garlic. Whats
smart /sm
t/ adj 1. having a neat ap-
smart
for dinner? it smells very good! 3. to

pearance A smart young man asked me if bring your nose close to something to
he could use my mobile phone. He looked smell it She bent down to smell the flow-
very smart in his uniform. 2. intelligent It ers.
was smart of her to note the cars number
smelly / smeli / (smellier, smelliest) adj
smelly
plate. verb (smarts, smarting, smarted)

to hurt with a burning feeling which has a nasty smell
smelt /smelt/ past tense and past partici-
smelt
smart card / sm
t k
d/ noun a credit
smart card
card with a microchip, used for withdraw- ple of smell

smile /smal/ noun a way of showing
smile
ing money from cash machines or buying

things that you are pleased, by turning your
smarten
smarten verb mouth up at the corners The dentist gave

smash /sm/ (smashes, smashing,
smash
me a friendly smile. She had a big smile
smashed) verb 1. to break into pieces He as she told them the good news. verb
dropped the plate and it smashed to pieces. (smiles, smiling, smiled) to show that you
2. to break something into pieces, often us- are pleased by turning your mouth up at the
ing force or violence Demonstrators corners [~at] That girl has just smiled at
smashed the windows of police cars. 3. to me. Everyone smile please Im taking a
do better than the previous best perform- picture!
smirk /sm#
k / (smirks, smirking,
smirk
ance She smashed the world record. Six

records were smashed at the Olympics. 4. smirked) verb to give an unpleasant smile
to hit against something violently The that shows that you think you are superior
train smashed into the car. The crowd to someone else She smirked as the other
smashed through the railings. girls all heard theyd lost their jobs.
smock /smk/ noun a long loose overall
smock
smash up phrasal verb to break every-

thing in a place worn over clothes to protect them
smashing / sm/ adj very good, fan- smog /sm(/ noun pollution of the at-
smashing smog
tastic (dated informal) mosphere in towns, caused by warm damp

smear /sm/ noun 1. a dirty mark Wait- air combined with waste gases from cars
smear
smoke /smk/ noun a white, grey or

smoke
er, theres a lipstick smear on this cup! 2. a

small amount of something put on glass for black substance produced by something
examining under a microscope 3. words that is burning The restaurant was full of
about someone which are not true but cigarette smoke. Clouds of smoke were
which are meant to harm his or her reputa- pouring out of the upstairs windows. Two
tion The report about my wife was just a people died from inhaling toxic smoke.
dirty smear. verb (smears, smearing, Smoke detectors are fitted in all the rooms.
smeared) 1. to spread something roughly verb (smokes, smoking, smoked) 1. to
over a surface She smeared glue all over produce smoke Two days after the fire,
the piece of wood or she smeared the piece the ruins of the factory were still smoking.
of wood with glue. How did your shirt get 2. to breathe in smoke from something
smeared with paint? 2. to make dirty marks such as a cigarette Everyone was smok-
He smeared the kitchen table with his ing even though the signs said no smok-
dirty fingers. 3. to hurt someones reputa- ing. She doesnt smoke much. You
tion by saying things which are not true shouldnt smoke if you want to play foot-
The report was just an attempt to smear ball. Ive never seen her smoking a cigar
her. before.
smoker 586
smoker / smk/ noun a person who own achievements, in a way that is annoy-
smoker
smokes ing
smokescreen / smkskri
n/ noun smuggle / sm(()l/ (smuggles, smug-
smokescreen smuggle
something said or done to mislead some- gling, smuggled) verb 1. to take goods into
body a country secretly and illegally They tried
smoking / smk/ noun the action
smoking
to smuggle cigarettes into the country.
of smoking cigarettes, cigars or a pipe We had to smuggle the spare parts over the
no smoking do not smoke here I always border. 2. to take something into or out of a
sit in the no smoking part of the restau- place secretly and dishonestly The knives
rant. were smuggled into the prison by a some-
one visiting a prisoner. Well never know
smooth /smu
/ adj 1. with no bumps
smooth
how they smuggled the letter out. (NOTE: +

or rough parts the smooth surface of a smuggling n)
polished table The babys skin is very
snack /snk/ noun a light meal, or a
snack
smooth. Velvet has a smooth side and a

rough side. 2. with no sudden unpleasant small amount of food eaten between meals
We didnt have time to stop for a proper
movements Dirt in the fuel tank can pre-
vent the smooth running of the engine. lunch, so we just had a snack on the motor-
We had a very smooth ride. way.
snag /sn(/ noun a little problem which
snag
smoothie / smu
i/ noun 1. a charming
smoothie
man who is good at persuading people to prevents you from doing something
do what he wants 2. a drink made with Weve run into a snag: there are no flights
milk, fruit, yoghurt or ice cream to the island on Sundays. The only snag
is that hes not a very good driver.
smoothly / smu
li/ adv in a smooth
smoothly
snail /snel / noun a small animal which

snail
way
moves slowly along the ground, which has
smoothness / smu
ns/ noun the state
smoothness
a soft body and a spiral-shaped shell on its

of being smooth The fabric has all the back at a snails pace extremely slowly
smoothness of a babys skin. The smooth- Negotiations over the sale of the flat have
ness of the ride makes up for the high fare. been progressing at a snails pace.
smother / sm/ (smothers, smother-
smother
snail mail / snel mel/ noun mail sent

snail mail
ing, smothered) verb 1. to kill someone by using the postal system, rather than being
stopping them from breathing They took sent electronically as email
the kittens and smothered them. Never snake /snek/ noun a long thin animal
snake
put a pillow over someones face you may which has no legs and moves along the
smother them! 2. to cover something com- ground by wriggling Is this snake safe to
pletely a chocolate cake simply smoth- handle?
ered in cream The firemen put out the fire
snap /snp/ noun a photograph taken
snap
by smothering it with foam. 3. to show too

much love towards someone, especially quickly (informal) She showed me an old
your children black-and-white snap of the house. He
took a lot of snaps of his children. adj
smoulder / smld/ (smoulders,
smoulder
sudden They carried out a snap check or

smouldering, smouldered) verb 1. to burn a snap inspection of the passengers lug-
slowly The incense sticks smouldered in gage. The government called a snap elec-
the entrance to the temple. 2. to feel strong tion. verb (snaps, snapping, snapped)
emotion but keep it hidden 3. (of emotions) 1. to break sharply with a dry noise The
to be strong but hidden branch snapped as he fell against it. 2. to
SMS noun a system for sending text mes-
SMS
move or be moved with a sudden sharp

sages between mobile phones noise [~at] The handle snapped off. to
smudge /smd/ noun a dirty mark
smudge
snap your fingers to make a clicking noise

There is a smudge on the top corner of the with your middle finger and thumb They
photograph. He had a black smudge on sat snapping their fingers in time to the
his cheek. verb (smudges, smudging, music. to snap out of it to stop being de-
smudged) to make a dirty mark, e.g. by pressed (informal) He told her to snap out
rubbing ink which is not dry Dont touch of it.
the print with your wet hands, or youll snap up phrasal verb to buy quickly
smudge it. snappy / snpi/ (snappier, snappiest)
snappy
smug /sm(/ (smugger, smuggest) adj

smug
adj 1. sharp and fashionable (dated

pleased about something, especially your informal) Shes wearing a very snappy
587 snorkel
outfit. 2. irritable, short-tempered He free ticket with Air Canada is not to be
tends to be snappy towards the end of the sniffed at.
day. sniffle / snf()l/ (sniffles, sniffling, snif-
sniffle
snapshot / snpt/ noun a photograph

snapshot
fled) verb to keep on sniffing because of a

taken quickly without special equipment cold, or because you want to cry He was
snare /sne/ noun a trap His offer of a sniffling and sneezing, and in the end I told
snare
well-paid job in Luxembourg was just a him to go home early. Stop sniffling!
snare. verb (snares, snaring, snared) to Blow your nose!
catch with a snare We snared three rab- snigger / sn(/ (sniggers, sniggering,
snigger
bits. sniggered) verb to laugh quietly in an un-

snarl /sn
l/ verb (snarls, snarling,
snarl
pleasant way They sniggered as the

snarled) to growl angrily The leopard teacher came into the room.
snarled as he approached its cage. Take snip /snp/ (snips, snipping, snipped)
snip
your money, and get out he snarled. verb to cut something quickly with scissors
noun an angry growl As she opened the She snipped two inches off the hem of the
door of the cage she heard a snarl. dress.
snatch /snt/ (snatches, snatching, sniper / snap/ noun a hidden soldier
snatch
sniper
snatched) verb to grab something sudden- who shoots at the enemy (NOTE: + snipe v)
ly and quickly He came beside her on his snippet / snpt/ noun a little bit of infor-
snippet
bike and snatched her handbag. mation

sneak /sni
k/ verb (sneaks, sneaking,
sneak
snivel / snv()l/ (snivels, snivelling,

snivel
sneaked) 1. to go or do something quietly snivelled) verb to cry or complain in an an-

without being seen She sneaked into the noying way
room while he was asleep. He sneaked
snob /snb/ noun 1. a person who likes
snob
the book out of the library. 2. to tell an adult

that another child has done something people who are of a higher social class than
wrong noun a person who tells an adult himself or herself Dont ask him to your
what another child has done (informal) party, hes such a snob. 2. a person who
You promised not to say anything, you little thinks he or she knows much more about
sneak! art or is better-educated than other people
an art snob an intellectual snob
sneak up phrasal verb to creep up behind
snobbery / snbri/ noun the behaviour
snobbery
someone without being noticed

sneakers / sni
kz/ plural noun US soft
sneakers
of a snob
snog /sn(/ (snogs, snogging,
snog
sports shoes with rubber soles She came

to work in sneakers. snogged) verb to kiss and hug someone
sneaky / sni
ki/ adj deceitful and secret
sneaky
(slang)
snooker / snu
k/ noun a game for two
snooker
sneer /sn/ noun an unpleasant smile

sneer
He held the whip in his hand and looked at players played on a table with twenty-two
her with a sneer. verb (sneers, sneering, balls of different colours which you hit
sneered) to give someone a sarcastic smile with a long thin stick
snoop /snu
p / (snoops, snooping,
snoop
or to speak in a contemptuous way

sneeze /sni
z/ noun the uncontrolled
sneeze
snooped) verb to investigate something or
action of blowing air suddenly out through someone secretly (informal)
snooze /snu
z/ (snoozes, snoozing,
snooze
your mouth and nose because of an irrita-

tion inside your nose Coughs and sneez- snoozed) verb to sleep lightly for a short
es spread diseases. verb (sneezes) to time (informal) The dog was snoozing on
make a sneeze The smell of roses makes the rug in front of the fire. (NOTE: + snooze
me sneeze. He has hayfever and cant n)
stop sneezing. snore /sn
/ noun a loud noise which
snore
snide /snad/ adj unkind, often in a clever someone who is sleeping produces in his or
snide
or indirect way her nose and throat His snores kept her
sniff / snf/ noun the act of breathing in air awake. verb (snores, snoring, snored)
sniff
through your nose The dog gave a sniff at to make a snore I cant get to sleep be-
the plate before licking it. He gave a little cause my husband snores.
snorkel / sn
k()l/ noun a tube which
snorkel
sniff and walked out of the shop. verb

(sniffs, sniffing, sniffed) to breathe in air allows an underwater swimmer to breathe
through your nose its not to be sniffed in air She could still see Brians snorkel
at you should not refuse it (informal) A on the surface of the water.
snorkelling 588
snorkelling / sn
k()l/ noun swim- /snb/
snorkelling snub
snub (snubs, snubbing,

ming with a snorkel (NOTE: The US spelling snubbed) verb to insult someone by refus-
is snorkeling.) ing to speak to them or by not paying any
snort /sn
t/ (snorts, snorting, snorted)
snort
attention to them He snubbed all her at-
verb 1. to make a loud noise blowing air out tempts to be friendly.
snuck /snk/ US past tense and past par-
snuck
through the nose The horses snorted and

pawed the ground. 2. to take a powdered ticiple of sneak
drug such as cocaine by breathing them snuff /snf/ noun powdered tobacco
snuff
through the nose (NOTE: + snort n) which is sniffed into the nose
snot /snt/ noun mucus in the nose (offen-
snot
snug /sn(/ (snugger, snuggest) adj

snug
sive informal ) warm and comfortable

snotty / snti/ adj 1. covered with mucus
snotty
snuggle / sn(()l/ (snuggles, snug-

snuggle
(offensive informal) 2. looking down on oth- gling, snuggled) verb to get yourself into a
ers who you think are inferior (informal) warm and comfortable position
Dont be so snotty! I know how to do it, just so /s / adv 1. showing how much
so
as much as you do! Its so cold that the lake is covered with ice.
snout /snat/ noun the nose and mouth of
snout
We liked Greece so much that were go-

some animals such as pigs ing there again on holiday next year. The
snow /sn/ noun water which falls as
snow
soup was so salty that I couldnt eat it. 2.

light white pieces of ice in cold weather also She was late and so was I. The
Two metres of snow fell during the night. children all caught flu, and so did their
The highest mountains are always covered teacher. I like apples. So do I. Hes a
with snow. Children were out playing in good cook and so is his wife. The teacher
the snow. We went for a skiing holiday will be late and so will everyone else. 3.
and there was hardly any snow. verb showing that the answer is yes Does
(snows, snowing, snowed) to fall as snow this train go to London? I think so. Was
Look its started to snow! It snowed your car completely smashed? Im afraid
all day, and the streets were blocked. It so. Will you be coming to the party? I
hardly ever snows here in March. (NOTE: hope so! Are they going to be at the meet-
The verb snow is always used with the sub- ing? I suppose so. conj and this is the
ject it.) reason why It was snowing hard so we
snowball / snb
l/ (snowballs,
snowball
couldnt go for a walk. Shes got flu so
snowballing, snowballed) verb to get she cant come to the office. so what
steadily bigger The protests started slow- what does it matter?
soak / sk/ (soaks, soaking, soaked)
soak
ly and then snowballed into mass demon-

strations. verb 1. to put something in a liquid for a
snowboarding / snb
d/ noun the
snowboarding
time Dry beans should be soaked in cold
sport of sliding down a snow-covered slope water for 24 hours. 2. to make something
while standing on a board with both feet or someone very wet I forgot my umbrel-
la and got soaked. The rain soaked the
snowdrift / sndrft/ noun snow which
snowdrift
soil.
has been blown into a heap by the wind
soaked /skt/ adj very wet
soaked
snowdrop / sndrp/ noun a bulb with

snowdrop
soaking / sk/ adj, adv very wet

soaking
little white bell-shaped flowers in the early

spring Dont let the dog into the kitchen hes
soaking or hes soaking wet.
snowfall / snf
l/ noun the amount of
snowfall
so-and-so / s n s/ noun 1. an un-

so-and-so
snow which has fallen

pleasant person 2. also Mr/Mrs/Miss So-
snowflake / snflek/ noun a small
snowflake
and-so a person whose name is not men-

piece of snow formed of a number of ice tioned Its the usual story so-and-so
crystals buys a green car, and suddenly everyone
snowman / snmn/ (plural snow-
snowman
has green cars.

men) noun a model of a man made of snow
soap /sp/ noun a substance which
soap
snowplough / snpla/ noun a heavy

snowplough
you wash with, made from oils and usually

vehicle with a plough on the front used to with a pleasant smell Theres no soap left
clear snow off roads and railway tracks in the bathroom. Ive put a new bar of
snowstorm / snst
m/ noun a storm
snowstorm
soap in the kitchen. There is a liquid soap

when the wind blows and snow falls dispenser in the gents toilets.
589 soft
soap opera / sp p()r/ noun a se- never met her socially. They get on very
soap opera
rial story on television about the daily lives well socially. 2. with respect to other peo-
of a set of characters ple or society the socially unacceptable
soap powder / sp pad / noun soap behaviour of some football fans These
soap powder
in the form of powder, used in washing ma- policies are socially divisive.
social science /s()l sans/ noun
social science
chines or dishwashers
soar /s
/ (soars, soaring, soared) the study of people and the society they
soar
verb 1. to go up very quickly Food prices live in, including such subjects as sociolo-
soared during the cold weather. 2. to fly gy, history and economics
social security /s()l s
social security
high up into the sky The rocket went |
soaring into the night sky. (NOTE: Do not kjrti/ noun money or help provided by
confuse with sore.) the government to people who need it
sob /sb/ verb (sobs, sobbing, social services /s()l s#
vsz/
social services
sob
sobbed) to cry, taking short breaths like plural noun government services to help
hiccups She lay sobbing on the bed. people with family problems The chil-
The little girl sobbed herself to sleep. dren are being looked after by social serv-
noun a short breath like a hiccup, made by ices.
social worker / s()l w#
k / noun a
social worker
someone who is crying You could hear

the sobs as she lay on her bed. He gave a person who works to help people with fam-
sob, and put the phone down. ily or financial problems (NOTE: + social
sober / sb/ adj 1. not drunk I work n)
sober
society /s sati/ noun 1. a large

society
wasnt drunk after the party I was stone |
cold sober. 2. serious, not frivolous The group of people, usually all the people liv-
sober truth is that we cant afford it. It ing in a country, considered as an organ-
was a very sober gathering, nobody ised community a free and democratic
laughed or made a joke. 3. dark with no society a member of society Society
bright colours She was wearing a sober needs to be protected against these crimi-
dark grey suit. nals. (NOTE: no plural) 2. a club or associa-
sobering / sbr/ adj which makes tion of people who have the same interests
sobering
you think seriously He belongs to the local drama society.
so-called / s k
ld/ adj called by a building society
so-called
socio-economic /si i
k
socio-economic
wrong name |
soccer / sk/ noun a game played be-

soccer
nmk/ adj referring to social and eco-
tween two teams of eleven players with a nomic conditions
sociology /ssi ldi/ noun the study
sociology
round ball which can be kicked or hit with |
the head, but not carried (NOTE: The game of social systems and how people live in
is called football in most countries, but is society (NOTE: + sociologist n)
sock /sk/ noun a piece of clothing
sock
generally called soccer in the USA to distin-

guish it from American football.) worn on your foot inside a shoe a pair of
sociable / sb()l/ adj friendly, lik- socks to pull your socks up to try to do
sociable
ing the company of other people better (informal) Hell have to pull his
social / s()l/ adj relating to people
social
socks up or hell lose his job.
socket / skt/ noun 1. a set of holes into
socket
as a group, or to human society in general

an area with very serious social prob- which an electric plug can be fitted There
lems Inequality leads to social conflict. is a socket on the wall that you can plug the
socialism / slz()m/ noun 1. the
socialism
vacuum cleaner into. This plug doesnt fit
ideas and beliefs of socialists, that the that socket. 2. a hollow part in a bone, into
means of production and distribution which another bone fits
sodden / sd()n/ adj as full of a liquid
sodden
should belong to the people, that people

should be cared for by the state and that all or other substance as can be absorbed
sodium / sdim/ noun a soft white
sodium
wealth should be shared equally His

book explains the principles of socialism. metal, which can catch fire, and is only
2. a political system where the state is run found combined with other substances
sofa / sf/ noun a long comfortable
sofa
on socialist principles Under socialism,

this factory was owned by the state. ( NOTE: seat with a soft back
so far /s f
/ adv until now
so far
+ socialist n)
socially / s()li/ adv 1. in a friendly soft /sft/ adj 1. which moves easily
socially soft
situation I know her from work but Ive when pressed There are big soft arm-
soft copy 590

chairs in the lobby of the hotel. I dont see the soldiers march past. Enemy sol-
like soft seats in a car. Do you like soft ice diers blew up the bridge. The children
cream? 2. not loud When she spoke, her are playing with their toy soldiers.
voice was so soft that we could hardly hear soldier on phrasal verb to continue doing
her. Soft music was playing in the back- something, in spite of difficulties Even
ground. 3. not bright Soft lighting makes though sales are down, we must soldier
a room look warm. on. Shes soldiering on with her prepa-
soft copy /sft kpi/ noun data stored rations for the exam.
soft copy
on a computer, rather than being printed on sold out /sld at/ adj no longer in
sold out
paper stock, because all the stock has been sold

soft drink / sft drk / noun a drink sole /sl/ adj only; belonging to one
soft drink sole
which is not alcoholic person Their sole aim is to make money.

soften / sf()n/ (softens, softening, She was the sole survivor from the crash.
soften
softened) verb to make something soft, to I have sole responsibility for what goes
become soft on in this office. noun 1. the underneath
soften up verb to make someone weaker side of your foot He tickled the soles of
before asking for something, or before her feet. 2. the main underneath part of a
launching an attack Can you try and shoe, but not the heel These shoes need
soften him up a bit before I ask to borrow mending Ive got holes in both soles.
solely / slli/ adv 1. only The machine
solely
the car? Bombing raids were made to

soften up the enemy defences. was designed solely for that purpose. 2.
soft-spoken /sft spkn/ adj having without other people being involved He
soft-spoken
a quiet gentle voice was solely to blame for what happened.

solemn / slm/ adj 1. serious and for-
solemn
soft touch /sft tt/ noun a person

soft touch
who can be easily persuaded to do some- mal The doctor looked very solemn and
thing for you shook his head. At the most solemn mo-
software / sftwe/ noun computer
software
ment of the ceremony someones mobile
programs which are put into a computer to phone rang. 2. which should be treated as
make it work, as opposed to the computer very serious He made a solemn promise
itself What word-processing software do never to smoke again.
solicit / s lst/ (solicits, soliciting, so-
solicit
you use? Compare hardware (NOTE: no plu- |
ral) licited) verb 1. to ask someone for some-

soggy / s(i/ (soggier, soggiest) adj wet
soggy
thing such as business or financial support
(formal ) 2. to offer sex to people Prosti-
and soft to an unpleasant degree
tutes were openly soliciting outside the sta-
soil /sl/ noun the earth in which
soil
tion.
plants grow Put some soil in the plant pot
solicitor /s lst/ noun a lawyer who
solicitor
and then sow your flower seeds. This |
soils too poor for growing fruit trees. gives advice to members of the public and
The farm has fields of rich black soil. acts for them in legal matters
solid / sld/ adj 1. hard and not liquid
solid
soiled /sld/ adj spoiled by dirt or other

soiled
a solid lump of fat She is allowed some

unpleasant substances The sheets on the
bed were soiled. solid food. 2. firm or strong Is the table
solid enough to stand on? His wealth is
solace / sls/ noun comfort
solace
built on a solid base of property and

solar / sl/ adj relating to the sun (NOTE:
solar
shares. 3. not hollow Cricket is played

The similar word relating to the moon is lu- with a solid ball. 4. made only of one ma-
nar and to the stars is stellar.) terial The box is made of solid silver.
solar energy / sl endi/, solar
solar energy
noun a hard substance which is not liquid

power / sl pa/ noun electricity pro- Many solids melt when heated and become
duced from the radiation of the sun liquids.
solar panel /sl pn()l/ noun a solidarity /sl drti/ noun a general
solar panel solidarity
group of special electric cells used to turn common interest with other people
the suns energy into electricity solidify /s ldfa/ (solidifies, solidify-
solidify
sold /sld/ past tense and past participle

sold
ing, solidified) verb to become solid

of sell solitary / slt()ri/ adj 1. one only It
solitary
soldier / sld/ noun a member of

soldier
was late November, and a solitary tourist

an army Heres a photograph of my fa- was sitting in the waterfront caf. I dont
ther as a soldier. We were just in time to remember one solitary occasion when he
591 son
helped with the washing up. 2. being alone We saw it in some shop or other in Regent
My sister lives a solitary life in the coun- Street. 4. relating to a period of time or a
try. distance Dont wait for me, I may be
solitary confinement /slt()ri kn some time. Their house is some way away
solitary confinement
fanmnt/ noun being kept alone in a cell, from the railway station.
without being able to see or speak to other somebody / smbdi/ pron 1. same as
somebody
prisoners someone 2. someone who is considered to

solitude / sltju
d/ noun the state of be- be important
solitude
ing alone some day / sm de/ adv at a time in the

some day
solo / sl/ noun (plural solos or soli) a future that is not specified Some day Ill
solo
piece of music played or sung by one per- get round to cleaning out the garage.
son alone She played a violin solo. adj somehow / smha/ adv by some
somehow
done by one person alone a piece for solo means that are not yet known Somehow
trumpet Our daughter gave a solo per- we must get back home by 6 oclock.
formance at the school concert. He someone / smwn/ pron a person
someone
crashed on his first solo flight. who is not identified or referred to in par-
soloist / slst / noun a musician who
soloist
ticular way Can someone answer the

plays a solo phone? I know someone who can fix your
soluble / sljb()l/ adj 1. which can be
soluble
car. I need someone tall who can reach

dissolved a tablet of soluble aspirin the top shelf for me. someone else an ex-
The pill is soluble in water. 2. which can be tra person, or a different person Ive got
solved The problem is simply not soluble. four volunteers already, but I still need
The difficulties are soluble, given a little someone else. If Jo is ill, could someone
money. else help you?
solution /s lu
()n/ noun 1. the ac- someplace / smples / adv US some-
solution
someplace
|
tion of solving a problem [~to] Finding a where (informal )

solution to this problem is taking longer somersault / sms
lt/ noun a move-
somersault
than expected. 2. a mixture of a solid sub- ment in which you roll over, head first He
stance dissolved in a liquid Bathe your did a couple of somersaults on the mat.
eye in a weak salt solution. (NOTE: + somersault v)
solve /slv/ (solves, solving, solved)
solve
something / sm/ pron 1. a thing

something
verb to find an answer to a problem or which is not identified or referred to in par-

question The loan will solve some of his ticular Theres something soft at the bot-
financial problems. He tried to solve the tom of the bag. Somethings gone wrong
riddle. with the TV. Can I have something to
solvent / slv()nt/ noun a liquid in
solvent
drink, please? Theres something about

which a solid substance can be dissolved her that I dont like. 2. an important thing
sombre / smb/ adj dark and gloomy
sombre
Come in and sit down, Ive got something

(NOTE: The US spelling is somber.) to tell you.
some /sm, sm/ adj, pron 1. a certain sometime / smtam/ adv at a time
some
sometime
number of Some young drivers drive which is not specified The accident hap-
much too fast. Some books were dampened sometime after midnight. Lets
aged in the fire. Some days it was so hot meet sometime next week.
that we just stayed by the swimming pool sometimes / smtamz/ adv on
sometimes
all day. Can you cut some more slices of some occasions but not on others Some-
bread? She bought some oranges and ba- times the car starts easily, and sometimes it
nanas. Weve just picked some strawber- wont start at all. She sometimes comes
ries. some of a few Some of the stu- to see us when shes in town on business.
dents are ill. Some of these apples are too
somewhat / smwt/ adv to a fairly
somewhat
green. 2. a certain amount of Can you buy

some bread when you go to town? Can I great degree (formal )
somewhere / smwe/ adv in or at a
somewhere
have some more coffee? Her illness is of

some concern to her family. 3. used for replace which is not identified I left my um-
ferring to a person or thing you cannot brella somewhere when I was in London.
identify (followed by a singular noun) Lets go somewhere else, this pub is full.
Some man just knocked on the door and His parents live somewhere in Germany.
son /sn/ noun a male child of a father
son
tried to sell me a magazine. I read it in

some book I borrowed from the library. or mother Hes the son of the famous run-
sonata 592
ner. They have a large family two sons sorry / sri/ adj feeling unhappy,
sorry
and four daughters. ashamed or disappointed about something

sonata / s n
t/ noun a piece of music interj used to excuse yourself Sorry! I
sonata
|

in three or four movements for one or more didnt see that table had been reserved.
instruments, accompanied by an orchestra, Can I have another mint, please? sorry, I
piano, harpsichord, etc. havent any left. to feel sorry for some-
song /s/ noun a set of words which
song
one to be sympathetic about someones
are sung, usually to music She was sing- problems We all feel sorry for her her
ing a song in the bath. The groups latest family is always criticising her. to feel
song has just come out on CD. The sol- sorry for yourself to be miserable Hes
diers marched along, singing a song. feeling very sorry for himself hes just
been made redundant.
songwriter / srat/ noun a person
songwriter
sort /s
t/ noun a type There were all
sort
who writes popular songs

sorts of people at the meeting. I had an
sonic / snk/ adj referring to sound that
sonic
unpleasant sort of day at the office. What

can be heard by the human ear sorts of ice cream have you got? Do you
son-in-law / sn n l
/ (plural sons-in-
son-in-law
like this sort of TV show? verb (sorts,

law) noun the husband of a daughter sorting, sorted) to arrange in order or
sonnet / snt/ noun a poem with four-
sonnet
groups The apples are sorted according

teen lines and one of several rhyming pat- to size before being packed. The votes are
terns sorted then counted.
soon /su
n/ adv in a short time from
soon
sort out phrasal verb 1. to settle a prob-

now Dont worry, well soon be in Ox- lem Did you sort out the hotel bill? 2.
ford. It will soon be time to go to bed. to put things in order or in groups I
The fire started soon after 11 oclock. must sort out the papers in this drawer.
sooner / su
n/ adv earlier Cant we Until theyre sorted out, we shant know
sooner
meet any sooner than that? which are our files and which are theirs.
soot /st/ noun a black deposit of carbon
soot
3. to collect or select things of a particu-
which rises in the smoke produced by lar kind from a mixed group of things
burning coal, wood and oil and which col- Sort out all the blue folders and bring
lects on the inside surfaces of chimneys them to me, please.
so-so /s s/ adj, adv not very good
so-so
soothe /su
/ (soothes, soothing,
soothe
soothed) verb to make something less or not very well How are you today?
painful or to calm only so-so. The results of the test were
only so-so.
sophisticated /s fstketd/ adj 1.
sophisticated
souffl / su
fle/ noun 1. a light cooked
| souffl
knowing a lot about the way people be-

have, and what is stylish or fashionable dish, made from eggs beaten up with a sa-
They think smoking makes them look so- voury flavouring, eaten hot a cheese
phisticated. 2. cleverly designed and com- souffl 2. a cold dessert made from beaten
plicated His office is full of the latest and eggs, whipped cream and gelatine a lem-
most sophisticated computer equipment. on souffl
sought /s
sought
sopping / sp/ adj very wet

sopping
ciple of seek
soprano /s pr
n/ adj relating to a
soprano
sought-after / s
t
ft/ adj wanted
| sought-after
high-pitched womans singing voice She by many people

sings soprano in the local choir. noun a
soul /sl/ noun the spirit in a person,
soul
woman with a high-pitched singing voice

The sopranos are too feeble I can hardly which is believed by some people to go on
hear them. existing after the person dies Do you be-
lieve your soul lives on when your body
sorcery / s
sri/ noun (in fairy tales)
sorcery
dies? From the depths of his soul he

wicked magic longed to be free. (NOTE: Do not confuse
sordid / s
dd/ adj unpleasant or dirty
sordid
with sole.)
sore /s
/ (sorer, sorest) adj rough and
sore
soul-searching / sl s#
t/ noun an
soul-searching
swollen or painful He cant play tennis examination of your own motives or con-
because he has a sore elbow. (NOTE: Do not science
confuse with soar.) sound /sand/ noun a noise, some-
sound
sorely / s
li/ adv very much (formal)
sorely
thing which you can hear Sounds of mu-

sorrow / sr/ noun sadness
sorrow
sic came from the street. I thought I heard

593 sow
the sound of guns. Please can you turn sourness / sans/ noun the state of
sourness
down the sound on the TV when Im on the being sour

phone? She crept out of her bedroom and south /sa/ noun the direction facing
south
we didnt hear a sound. verb (sounds, towards the sun at midday Look south
sounding, sounded) 1. to make a noise, or from the mountain, and you will see the city
to cause something to make a noise [~like] in the distance. The city is to the south of
The noise sounds like wind blowing in the river. The wind is blowing from the
the trees. They sounded the alarm after south. adj relating to the south The
two prisoners escaped. 2. to seem It south coast is popular for holidaymakers.
sounds as if hes made an unfortunate Cross to the south side of the river. adv
choice. The book sounds interesting ac- towards the south Many birds fly south
cording to what Ive heard. adv deeply for the winter. The river flows south into
The children were sound asleep when the the Mediterranean.
police came. southbound / saband/ adj travel-
southbound
sound off phrasal verb to start talking ling towards the south
loudly about something (informal) south-east /sa i
st/ adj, adv, noun
south-east
sound out phrasal verb to ask some- the direction between south and east
ones opinion about something Ill South-East Asia is an important trading
sound out the other members of the com- area. The river runs south-east from
mittee to see what they think. here. House prices are higher in the
soundbite / sandbat/ noun a short
soundbite
south-east than anywhere else in England.

phrase, usually spoken by a politician, es- southerly / sli/ adj 1. towards the
southerly
pecially made so as to be broadcast on ra- south 2. (of a wind) blowing from the south
dio or TV southern / s()n/ adj from, of or in
southern
sound card /sand k

d/ noun a cir-
sound card
the south The southern part of the coun-

cuit board that allows a computer to pro- try is warmer than the north.
duce sound southerner / s()n/ noun a person
southerner
sound effects / sand fekts/ plural who lives in or comes from the south of a
sound effects
noun the artificial sounds used to give an country or region

impression of the real thing All the sound southern hemisphere noun the part of
southern hemisphere
effects for the film were produced electron- the earth below the equator
ically. southernmost / s()nmst/ adj
southernmost
soundly / sandli/ adv deeply or thor-

soundly
furthest to the south

oughly South Pole / sa pl/ noun the fur-
South Pole
soundtrack / sandtrk/ noun the thest point south on the earth

soundtrack
southward / sawd/ adj towards the

southward
track of a film on which the sound is re-

corded south
soup /su
p/ noun a liquid food which southwards / sawdz/ adv towards
soup southwards
you eat hot from a bowl at the beginning of the south

a meal, usually made from meat, fish or south-west / sa west/ adj, adv,
south-west
vegetables We have onion soup or mush- noun the direction between south and west
room soup today. Does anyone want souvenir /su
v n/ noun a thing
souvenir
soup? A bowl of hot soup is always wel- bought to remind you of the place where
come on a cold day. If youre hungry, you bought it
open a tin of soup. sovereign / svrn/ noun a king or
sovereign
soup kitchen /su

p ktn/ noun a
soup kitchen
queen The sovereign is not supposed to

place that serves free hot meals to people become involved in party politics.
who have no money to buy food sovereignty / svrnti/ (plural sover-
sovereignty
sour / sa/ adj with a sharp bitter taste

sour
eignties) noun the total power of a govern-

If the cooked fruit is too sour, you can add ment
some sugar. Nobody likes sour milk. Soviet / svit/ adj of the former Soviet
Soviet
source /s
s/ noun a place where Union its people, culture, or political sys-
source
something comes from [~of] I think the tem

sow /s/ (sows, sowing, sowed, sown
sow
source of the infection is in one of your

teeth. The source of the river is in the or sowed) verb to put seeds into soil so that
mountains. You must declare income they become plants Peas and beans
from all sources to the tax office. should be sown in April. Sow the seed
soya bean 594

thinly in fine soil. (NOTE: Do not confuse spank / spk/ (spanks, spanking,
spank
with sew.) spanked) verb to hit a childs bottom as a

soya bean / s bi
n/ noun a bean from punishment
soya bean
spanner / spn/ noun a metal tool with

spanner
a plant used for food and oil

spa /sp
/ noun 1. a place where mineral
spa
an opening which fits round a nut and
water comes out of the ground naturally which can be twisted to undo the nut or
and where people go to drink or bathe be- tighten it
spar /sp
/ (spars, sparring, sparred)
spar
cause of its medicinal properties He

spends two weeks every summer at a verb to practise boxing with someone He
French spa. 2. an exercise and health centre sparred every morning before the fight.
spare /spe/ adj available but not being
spare
in a hotel
space /spes/ noun 1. an empty place used I always take a spare pair of shoes
space
between other things Theres a space to when I travel. plural noun spares spare
park your car over there. Write your parts or pieces used to mend broken parts
name and reference number in the space at of a car or other machine We cant get
the top of the paper. 2. an area which is spares for that make of washing machine.
available for something [~for] Is there Its difficult to get spares for the car be-
space in your car for another passenger? cause they dont make this model any more.
His desk takes up too much space. 3. also verb (spares, sparing, spared) to give
outer space the area beyond the earths at- something or to do without something
mosphere the knowledge of the universe Can you spare your assistant to help me for
gained from exploring outer space space a day? Can you spare about five minutes
vehicles This is a photograph of the earth to talk about the problem? If you have a
taken from space. moment to spare, can you clean the car?
spark /sp
k/ noun a little flash of fire or
spark
space probe / spes prb/ noun a

space probe
spacecraft sent into space for scientific of light Sparks flew as the train went over
purposes the junction. verb (sparks, sparking,
sparked) 1. to send out sparks or to make
space shuttle / spes t()l/ noun a
space shuttle
electric sparks 2. to make something start

type of plane which is launched by a rock- suddenly The proposed closure of the
et, flies in space and then returns eventual- station sparked anger among travellers.
ly to earth so that it can be used for another The shooting of the teenager sparked off a
trip riot.
space station / spes ste()n/ noun a
space station
spark off phrasal verb same as spark verb

satellite which orbits the earth in which 2
people can live and carry out scientific ex- sparkle / sp
k()l/ (sparkles, spar-
sparkle
periments kling, sparkled) verb to shine brightly

spacious / spes/ adj very large, with
spacious
Her jewels sparkled in the light of the can-

plenty of space dles. His eyes sparkled when he heard the
spade /sped/ noun 1. a tool with a
spade
salary offered.
wide square blade at the end of a long han- sparkling / sp
kl/ adj 1. shining with
sparkling
dle, used for digging or moving something little lights a necklace of sparkling dia-
such as soil or sand 2. a similar small plas- monds 2. which has bubbles in it, which is
tic tool, used by children The children fizzy a bottle of sparkling water
took their buckets and spades to the beach. spark plug / sp
k pl(/ noun a part of
spark plug
spaghetti /sp (eti/ noun long thin

spaghetti
| an engine which produces sparks that ig-

strips of pasta, cooked and eaten with a nite the fuel
sauce sparrow / spr/ noun a very common
sparrow
spam /spm/ noun unwanted commer-

spam
small brown and grey bird

cial e-mails sparse /sp
s/ (sparser, sparsest) adj
sparse
span /spn/ noun the width of wings or not thick or not in large quantities (NOTE: +
span
of an arch Each section of the bridge has sparsely adv)

spartan / sp
t()n/ adj harsh or hard
spartan
a span of fifty feet. verb (spans, span-

ning, spanned) to stretch across space or spasm / spz()m/ noun a sudden, usu-
spasm
time Her career spanned thirty years. ally painful, involuntary contraction of a
A stone bridge spans the river. muscle, such as when you have cramp
spaniel / spnjl/ noun a type of dog spat /spt/ past tense and past participle
spaniel spat
with large ears that droop down of spit

595 specifically
spate /spet/ noun a sudden rush of the front of an attacking force The minis-
spate
something We had a spate of inquiries after has spearheaded the attack on the
ter our ad in the Times. newspapers.
spatial / spe()l/ adj referring to space special / spe()l/ adj having a partic-
spatial special
spatter / spt/ (spatters, spattering,

spatter
ular importance or use a report from our
spattered) verb to splash with little spots special correspondent in Hong Kong
of liquid This is a very special day for us its our
spawn /sp
n/ noun a mass of eggs of a
spawn
twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. He has
fish or a frog The children could see the a special pair of scissors for cutting metal.
special effects /spe()l fekts/ plural
special effects
frog spawn floating on the surface of the |
pond. verb (spawns, spawning, noun the impression of something like a

spawned) 1. (of fish) to produce a mass of fire, a snowstorm or an earthquake, made
eggs Salmon swim up the river to spawn. artificially in a film or play The special
2. to produce a mass of things The meet- effects in the film were created by comput-
ings of the committee spawned a huge ers.
specialise / spelaz/ (specialises,
specialise
amount of documents.
speak /spi
k/ (speaks, speaking, specialising, specialised), specialize verb
speak
spoke or spake, spoken) verb 1. to say 1. to study one particular subject At uni-
words [~to/~with/~about] She spoke to me versity, she specialised in marine biology.
just before the meeting. Ive been speak- 2. to produce one thing in particular The
ing with my colleagues about the problem. company specialises in electronic compo-
The manager wants to speak to you about nents.
specialist / spelst/ noun 1. a per-
specialist
sales in Africa. He walked past me with-

out speaking. 2. to be able to say things in son who knows a lot about something
a particular language We need someone You should go to a tax specialist for advice.
who can speak Russian. He speaks Eng- 2. a doctor who specialises in a certain
lish with an American accent. You will branch of medicine He was referred to a
have to brush up your Japanese as my heart specialist.
speciality /spei lti/ noun 1. a thing
speciality
mother speaks hardly any English. to |
speak your mind to say exactly what you you are very good at doing The speciality
think speak for yourself thats what you of the restaurant is its fish soup. Finding
think, I dont agree We both think the de- the right partners for people is my special-
cision is crazy. Speak for yourself! ity. 2. a particular interest, knowledge or
speak out phrasal verb to make your study The companys speciality is com-
opinions or feelings known strongly puter programmes for schools. His speci-
speak up phrasal verb 1. to speak louder; ality is the history of Wales in the 15th cen-
to say what you have to say in a louder tury. (NOTE: [all senses] The US term is spe-
voice Can you speak up please we cialty.)
specially / spe()li/ adv in particular
specially
cant hear you at the back! 2. to make

your opinions known strongly Hes not or more than usual
afraid to speak up when he thinks some- special needs /spe()l ni
dz/ plural
special needs
ones been unfairly treated. noun the needs of a person with mental or
speak up for verb to show your support physical disabilities, which are different
for He was the only person who spoke from the needs of most people
up for me at the inquiry. specialty / spe()lti/ noun US same as
specialty
speaker / spi
k/ noun 1. a person
speaker
speciality
who speaks We need an English speaker species / spi
i
z/ noun a group of liv-
species
to help with the tour. 2. a loudspeaker ing things such as animals or plants which
One of the speakers doesnt work. can breed with each other Several species
spear /sp/ noun a long pointed throw- of butterfly are likely to become extinct.
spear
ing stick, formerly used as a weapon specific /sp sfk/ adj relating to
specific
They kill fish with spears. verb to push something in particular Can you be more
something sharp into something to catch it specific about what youre trying to
Spearing fish is not easy. She managed achieve? I gave specific instructions that
to spear a sausage on the barbecue with I was not to be disturbed. Is the money in-
her fork. tended for a specific purpose?
spearhead / sphed/ (spearheads, specifically /sp sfkli / adv particu-
spearhead specifically
spearheading, spearheaded) verb to be in larly I specifically said I didnt want a

specification 596
blue door. The advertisement is specifi- a risky deal which may produce a short-
cally aimed at people over 50. term profit
specification /spesf ke()n/ noun speculative / spekjltv/ adj made by
specification speculative
detailed information about what is needed guessing

specifics /sp sfks/ plural noun the sped /sped/ past tense and past participle
specifics sped
particular details of something The min- of speed

speech /spi
t / noun 1. a formal talk
speech
ister outlined the plan but refused to go

into specifics. given to an audience She made some
specify / spesfa / (specifies, speci- notes before giving her speech. He
specify
fying, specified) verb to give clear details wound up his speech with a story about his
of what is needed father. Who will be making the speech at
specimen / spesmn/ noun a sample of
specimen
the prize giving? 2. the ability to say
something taken as standard words, or the act of saying words His
speech has been affected by brain damage.
speck /spek/ noun a tiny spot of colour
speck
Some of these expressions are only used

specs /speks/ plural noun same as
specs
in speech, not in writing.

spectacles (informal) I cant see any- speech-impaired /spi
t m ped/ adj
speech-impaired
thing without my specs! not able to speak

spectacle / spektk()l/ noun some-
spectacle
speechless / spi
tls/ adj very angry
speechless
thing very impressive to look at The fire- or surprised

work display is a spectacle not to be speed /spi
d/ noun the rate at which
speed
missed. For sheer spectacle you cant something moves or is done [~of] The
beat a military parade. train travels at speeds of over 200 km per
spectacles / spektk()lz/ plural noun
spectacles
hour. The coach was travelling at a high

glass lenses worn in front of your eyes to speed when it crashed. The speed with
correct vision I cant remember where I which they repaired the gas leak was in-
put my spectacles. Hes worn spectacles credible. verb (speeds, speeding, sped
since he was a child. or speeded) to move quickly The ball
spectacular /spek tkjl/ adj very
spectacular
|
sped across the ice.
impressive to see or watch The display speed up phrasal verb 1. to go faster
was even more spectacular than last year. She speeded up because she was late. 2.
She was very ill, but has made a spectac- to make something happen faster Cant
ular recovery. noun an impressive show we speed up production? We are aim-
a firework spectacular on November 5th ing to speed up our delivery times.
A musical spectacular featuring over a speedboat / spi
dbt/ noun a small
speedboat
hundred singers and dancers. fast motorboat

spectator /spek tet/ noun a person
spectator
speeding / spi
d/ noun the offence of
speeding
|
who watches an event like a football match driving a vehicle faster than the speed limit
or a horse show speed limit / spi
d lmt/ noun the fast-
speed limit
spectre / spekt/ noun 1. a ghost (liter-

spectre
est speed at which vehicles are allowed to

ary) 2. an image of something which may go legally
cause problems in the future The spectre speedometer /sp dmt/ noun an in-
speedometer
of mass unemployment loomed over the strument which shows how fast a vehicle is
country. travelling
spectrum / spektrm/ noun 1. a speedy / spi
di / (speedier, speediest)
spectrum
speedy
range of colours from red to violet as seen adj very fast

in a rainbow 2. a range of something The spell /spel/ verb (spells, spelling,
spell
bank tries to offer a wide spectrum of serv- spelt or spelled) to write or say correctly
ices. the letters that make a word W-O-R-R-Y
speculate / spekjlet / (speculates,
speculate
spells worry How do you spell your

speculating, speculated) verb 1. to make surname? We spelt his name wrong on
guesses about something (NOTE: + specula- the envelope. noun words which are in-
tor n) 2. to take a risk in business which tended to have a magic effect when they
you hope will bring profit are spoken The wicked witch cast a spell
speculation /spekj le()n/ noun on the princess.
speculation
1. trying to guess what will happen spell out phrasal verb to explain very
[~about] Theres been a lot of speculation clearly Let me spell out the conse-
in the press about who might get the job. 2. quences of this course of action.
597 spine
spellbinding / spelband/ adj refer- spicy / spasi/ (spicier, spiciest) adj 1.
spellbinding spicy
ring to something which is so interesting it with a lot of spices He loves spicy Indian
holds your attention completely food. Mexican cooking is hot and spicy.
spellbound / spelband / adj so interest- 2. including something which excites sex-
spellbound
ed in something that it holds your attention ual interest (informal) The paper pub-
completely lished a spicy story about the MP and two
spellchecker / speltek/ noun a com-
spellchecker
girls.
spider / spad/ noun a small animal
spider
puter program which checks the spelling of

text and suggests corrections with eight legs which makes a web and eats
spelling / spel/ noun the correct
spelling
insects
spike /spak/ noun a piece of metal or
spike
way in which words are spelt

spelt /spelt/ past tense and past partici-
spelt
wood wit ha sharp point The wall was
ple of spell topped with a row of metal spikes.
spill /spl/ verb (spills, spilling, spilt or
spill
spend /spend/ (spends, spending,

spend
spent) verb 1. to pay money I went shop- spilled) to pour a liquid or a powder out of
ping and spent a fortune. Why do we a container by mistake That glass is too
spend so much money on food? 2. to use full youll spill it. He spilt soup down
time doing something He wants to spend the front of his shirt. She dropped the bag
more time with his family. She spent and some of the flour spilled out onto the
months arguing with the income tax peo- floor. noun the act of pouring a liquid by
ple. Dont spend too long on your home- accident The authorities are trying to
work. Why dont you come and spend the cope with the oil spill from the tanker.
spilt /splt/ spill
spilt
weekend with us?

spending / spend/ noun money spent spin /spn/ verb (spins, spinning,
spin
spending
spending money / spend mni/

spending money
spun) 1. to move round and round very fast
noun money for ordinary personal expens- The earth is spinning in space. The
es plane was spinning out of control. 2. to

spendthrift / spendrft/ noun a person
spendthrift
make something turn round and round
who spends money fast The washing machine spins the clothes to
get the water out of them. He spun the
spent /spent/ adj used
spent
wheel to make sure it turned freely. 3. (of a

sperm /sp#
m/ noun a male sex cell
sperm
spider) to make a web The spider has

which fertilises female eggs Out of mil- spun a web between the two posts. noun
lions of sperm only one will fertilise an the turning movement of a ball as it moves
egg. He put so much spin on the ball that it
spew /spju
/ (spews, spewing, spewed)
spew
bounced sideways. He jammed on the

verb to pour out Gallons of toxic waste brakes and the car went into a spin.
spewed into the river. He spewed out a spin out phrasal verb to make something
stream of racial abuse. last as long as possible
SPF noun the amount of protection from
SPF
spinach / spnd/ noun an annual plant

spinach
the sun a sun cream or other sunscreen will grown for its green leaves eaten raw as sal-
give to your skin. Full form sun protection ad or cooked as a vegetable
factor spinal cord / span()l k
d/ noun a part
spinal cord
sphere /sf/ noun an object which is per-

sphere
of the central nervous system which runs

fectly round like a ball The earth is not down the centre of the spine
quite a perfect sphere. spin doctor / spn dkt/ noun a per-
spin doctor
spherical / sferk()l/ adj shaped like a

spherical
son who explains news in a way that makes

sphere, perfectly round it flattering to the person or organisation
sphinx /sfks/ noun in ancient Egyptian
sphinx
employing him
and Greek mythology, a creature with a li- spine /span/ noun 1. a series of bones
spine
ons body and the head of a man joined together from your skull down the
spice /spas / noun a substance made from
spice
middle of your back He injured his spine

the roots, flowers, seeds or leaves of plants, playing rugby. (NOTE: The bones in the
which is used to flavour food Add a blend spine are the vertebrae.) 2. a sharp part like
of your favourite spices. You need lots of a pin, on a plant, animal or fish The por-
different spices for Indian cookery. cupine has dangerous spines. Did you
spick-and-span /spk n spn/ adj
spick-and-span
know that lemon trees had spines? 3. the

very neat and clean back edge of a book, which usually has the
spineless 598
title printed on it The title and the au- pool with a loud splash. Listen to the
thors name are printed on the front of the splash of the waves against the rocks.
book and also on the spine. verb (splashes, splashing, splashed) 1.
spineless / spanls/ adj who is weak (of liquid) to make a noise when something
spineless
and cowardly Hes so spineless he is dropped into it or when it hits something

should say what he thinks to the manager I missed the ball and it splashed into the
himself. pool. The rain splashed against the win-
spinoff / spnf/ noun a useful thing dows. 2. to make someone wet by sending
spinoff
which comes from a process, but is not the liquid on to him The car drove past
main aim of the process through a puddle and splashed my trou-
spiral / sparl/ noun a shape which is
spiral
sers. 3. to move through water, making a
twisted round and round like a spring He noise He splashed his way through the
drew a spiral on the sheet of paper. adj shallow water to the rocks. The little chil-
which twists round and round A spiral dren were splashing about in the paddling
staircase leads to the top of the tower. pool.
splatter / splt/ (splatters, splattering,
splatter
spire / spa/ noun a pointed top of a

spire
church tower splattered) verb to splash drops of liquid

splay /sple/ (splays, splaying, splayed)
splay
spirit / sprt/ noun 1. the mental atti-

spirit
tude which controls how someone behaves verb to spread fingers or legs apart
splendid / splendd/ adj extremely good
splendid
generally She has a great spirit of fun.

He had an independent spirit. 2. feelings or impressive
splendour / splend/ noun magnifi-
splendour
which are typical of a particular occasion

3. the part of a person that is said to still ex- cence (NOTE: The US spelling is splendor.)
ist after death 4. alcohol (NOTE: usually plu- splice /splas/ (splices, splicing,
splice
ral) spliced) verb to join two pieces of rope or

spirited / sprtd/ adj very lively film together
spirited
spiritual / sprtul/ adj relating to splint /splnt/ noun a stiff bar tied to a
spiritual splint
the spirit or the soul The churchs main broken part of the body to prevent the bone
task is to give spiritual advice to its mem- from moving
bers. splinter group / splnt (ru
p/ noun a
splinter group
spiritualism / sprtulz()m/ noun group of people who have separated from a
spiritualism
the belief in the possibility of communica- main group The protesters are from a
tion with people who have died splinter group which broke away from the
spit /spt/ (spits, spitting, spit, spat) verb party some years ago.
spit
split /splt/ (splits, splitting, split) verb

split
1. to push liquid or food out of your mouth

He took a mouthful and immediately spat 1. to divide something into parts He split
it out. 2. to send liquid out of the mouth to the log into small pieces with an axe. 2. to
show contempt He spat on or at the car divide or come apart My trousers were
as it drove away. 3. to rain a little It isnt too tight they split when I bent down.
really raining its just spitting. After they lost the election, the party split
spite /spat/ noun bad feeling They into various factions.
spite
sprayed his car with white paint out of split up phrasal verb 1. to divide We
spite. verb (spites, spiting, spited) to an- must try to split up the class into groups
noy someone on purpose He did it to of three or four. 2. to start to live apart
spite his sister. in spite of although They had a row and split up.
something happened or was done In spite split second /splt seknd/ noun a
split second
of all his meetings, he still found time to very short space of time
ring his wife. We all enjoyed ourselves, in splutter / splt/ (splutters, spluttering,
splutter
spite of the awful weather. spluttered) verb 1. to speak rapidly, using

spiteful / spatf()l/ adj full of a nasty
spiteful
very short phrases, especially when angry

feelings against someone what, what, what do you mean by
spitting image /spt md/ noun that? he spluttered in fury. 2. to make a
spitting image
someone who looks exactly like someone hissing sound The wet logs were splutter-
else (informal ) Hes the spitting image of ing on the fire.
his father. spoil /spl/ (spoils, spoiling, spoiled
spoil
splash /spl / noun a sound made when

splash
or spoilt) verb 1. to change something

something falls into a liquid or when a liq- which was good so that it is no longer good
uid hits something hard She fell into the We had such bad weather that our camp-
599 spot
ing holiday was spoilt. Half the contents spoof /spu
f/ noun an amusing imitation
spoof
of the warehouse were spoiled by floodwa- to trick someone

ter. 2. to be too kind to someone, especially spooky / spu
ki/ (spookier, spookiest)
spooky
a child, so that he or she sometimes be- adj frightening and which makes you think
comes badly behaved Youll spoil that there may be ghosts around (informal)
child if you always give in to him. Grand- spool /spu
l/ noun a cylinder round
spool
parents are allowed to spoil their grand- which you wind something
children a little. spoon /spu
n/ noun an object used for
spoon
spoils /splz/ noun things bought She

spoils
eating liquids and soft food, or for stirring

came back from the jumble sale, laden with food which is being cooked, with a handle
spoils. at one end and a small bowl at the other,
spoilsport / splsp
t/ noun a person
spoilsport
Use a spoon to eat your pudding. We

who spoils other peoples enjoyment need a big spoon to serve the soup.
spoilt /splt / adj (of a child) treated in a spoon-feed / spu
n fi
d/ verb 1. to give
spoilt
spoon-feed
way which is too kind, and so is badly be- someone food with a spoon 2. to provide
haved everything for people so that they need do
spoke /spk/ past tense of speak
spoke
nothing to help themselves

spoken / spkn/ past participle of spoonful / spu
nfl/ noun an amount
spoken spoonful
speak adj said aloud which a spoon can hold

sponge /spnd/ noun 1. a soft material sporadic /sp rdk/ adj happening at
sponge sporadic
full of small holes used to make things like irregular intervals

cushions The sofa has sponge cushions. sport /sp
t/ noun a game or games in-
sport
2. a sea animal with a skeleton which is full volving physical activity and competition
of holes Diving down into the Red Sea Do you like watching sport on TV? The
you could see sponges on the sea floor. world of sport is mourning the death of the
verb (sponges, sponging, sponged) to racing driver. The only sport I play is ten-
wipe clean with a sponge He sponged the nis. She doesnt play any sport at all.
kitchen table. sporting / sp
t/ adj 1. referring to
sporting
sponge bag /spnd b(/ noun a bag

sponge bag
sport a big sporting weekend on TV, with

used to hold toiletries, especially when tennis matches, the World Cup and a golf
travelling tournament 2. pleasant and willing to help,
sponge cake / spnd kek/ noun a
sponge cake
especially when playing a sport Hes a

light soft cake very sporting chap.
spongy / spndi/ adj soft and full of sports car / sp
ts k
/ noun a fast open
spongy
sports car
holes car
sponsor / spns/ noun 1. a person or sports centre / sp
ts sent/ noun a
sponsor
sports centre
company that pays to financially help a place where several different sports can be
sport, an exhibition or a music festival, in played
return for the right to advertise at sporting sportsman / sp
tsmn/ (plural sports-
sportsman
events, on sports clothes or programmes 2. men) noun a man who plays a sport
a company which pays part of the cost of sportsmanlike / sp
tsmnlak / adj
sportsmanlike
making a TV or radio programme by ad- fair and polite

vertising on the programme 3. a person
sportsmanship / sp
tsmnp/ noun
sportsmanship
who pays money to a charity when some-

one else walks, swims, or runs a certain fair and polite behaviour when playing
distance 4. a person who takes responsibil- sport
sportswear / sp
tswe / noun clothes
sportswear
ity for someone verb (sponsors, spon-

soring, sponsored) 1. to be a sponsor worn to play sport (NOTE: no plural)
sportswoman / sp
tswmn/ (plural
sportswoman
The company has sponsored the football |
match. Will you sponsor me if I apply to sportswomen) noun a woman who plays a
join the club? I sponsored her to take sport
sporty / sp
ti/ adj interested in sport and
sporty
part in a marathon for charity. 2. to be the

god-parent of a child and promise to help enjoying sport
the child to lead a Christian life (NOTE: + spot /spt/ noun 1. a coloured mark,
spot
sponsorship n) usually round Her dress has a pattern of

spontaneous / spn tenis/ adj which
spontaneous
| white and red spots. He wore a blue tie

happens of its own accord, which is not with white spots. 2. a particular place
forced or prepared in advance This is the exact spot where the queen died.
spot check 600

3. a small round mark or pimple on the skin Spread the paper flat on the table. 2. to
She suddenly came out in spots after eat- move over a wide area [~to] The fire start-
ing fish. verb (spots, spotting, spotted) ed in the top floor and soon spread to the
to notice something or someone The roof. The flu epidemic spread rapidly. 3.
teacher didnt spot the mistake. We spot- to cover with a layer of something
ted him in the crowd. on the spot 1. at a [~over/~on] She spread a white cloth over
particular place where something happens the table. He was spreading butter on a
I happened to be on the spot when the in- piece of bread. noun 1. the action of mov-
cident took place. 2. immediately I gave ing over a wide area Doctors are trying
her his number and she phoned him on the to check the spread of the disease. 2. a soft
spot. food consisting of meat, fish or cheese,
spot check / spt tek/ noun a check which you can spread on something such
spot check
made suddenly and at random as bread As snacks, they offered us water

spotless / sptls/ adj completely clean, biscuits with cheese spread.
spotless
spreadsheet / spredi
t/ noun a display
spreadsheet
with no dirty marks at all

spotlight / sptlat/ noun a bright light of columns of figures produced by a com-
spotlight
which shines on one small area She stood puter

spree /spri
/ noun a short time of doing
spree
in the spotlights on the stage. verb (spot-

lights, spotlighting, spotlit or spotlight- something enjoyable
ed) to draw attention to something clearly sprig /spr(/ noun a little branch
sprig
We want to spotlight the dangers of rid- sprightly / spratli/

sprightly
(sprightlier,
ing bicycles without lights. sprightliest) adj lively and energetic
spot-on /spt n/ adj absolutely correct
spot-on
spring /spr/ noun 1. the season of the

spring
(informal) His analysis of the situation year between winter and summer In
was spot-on. spring all the trees start to grow new
spotty / spti/ (spottier, spottiest) adj
spotty
leaves. We always go to Greece in the

covered with pimples spring. They started work last spring or
spouse /spas/ noun a husband or wife
spouse
in the spring of last year and they still ha-

spout /spat/ noun a tube on a container vent finished. 2. a wire which is twisted
spout
which is shaped for pouring liquid out of round and round and which goes back to its
the container You fill the kettle through original shape after you have pulled it or
the spout. Cut here and pull out to form a pushed it The mattress is so old the
spout. springs have burst through the cover.
sprain /spren/ verb (sprains, spraining, Theres a spring to keep the door shut. 3. a
sprain
sprained) to damage a joint of the body by place where a stream of water rushes out of
twisting it suddenly and violently He the ground The town of Bath was built in
sprained his ankle jumping over the fence. Roman times around hot springs. verb
noun a condition where a joint is injured (springs, springing, sprang, sprung) to
because of a sudden violent movement move suddenly Everyone sprang to life
He is walking with a stick because of an when the officer shouted. The door
ankle sprain. sprang open without anyone touching it.
sprang /spr/ past tense of spring
sprang
spring from verb to come suddenly from
Where on earth did you spring from?
sprawl /spr
l/ (sprawls, sprawling,
sprawl
springboard / sprb
d/ noun 1. a long
springboard
sprawled) verb to lie with your arms and

legs spread out He sprawled in his arm- flexible board used to dive or jump off 2. a
chair and turned on the TV. The boy on thing used to help you start something He
the bike hit her and sent her sprawling. bought a small company and used it as a
spray /spre/ noun a mass of tiny drops
spray
springboard to enter the US market.
spring-clean /spr kli
n/ verb to
spring-clean
of liquid The waves crashed against the

sea wall sending spray over the road. An clean a house thoroughly It took me a
aerosol sends out a liquid in a fine spray. week to spring-clean the house. (NOTE: +
She uses a nasal spray to clear her catarrh. spring-clean n)
spring onion /spr njn/ noun a
spring onion
verb (sprays, spraying, sprayed) to send

out liquid in fine drops He sprayed water very small onion with long green leaves,
all over the garden with the hose. They used in salads and in cooking (NOTE: The
sprayed the room with disinfectant. US term is scallions.)
spread /spred/ verb (spreads, spread- springtime / sprtam/ noun the time
spread springtime
ing, spread) 1. to arrange over a wide area of year when it is spring

601 squarely
sprinkle / sprkl/ (sprinkles, sprin- watch someone in secret, to find out what
sprinkle
kling, sprinkled) verb to put small amounts they are planning to do [~on] Their neigh-
of a liquid or powder over a surface by bours had been spying on them and told the
shaking police.
sprinkler / sprkl/ noun a device for spyhole / spahl/ noun a small hole in
sprinkler spyhole
sprinkling water a door for looking through to see who is

sprinkling / sprkl/ noun a small or there
sprinkling
sq. abbr square

sq.
thin scattering
sprint /sprnt / (sprints, sprinting, squabble / skwb()l/ (squabbles,
squabble
sprint
sprinted) verb to run very fast over a short squabbling, squabbled) verb to argue
distance I had to sprint to catch the bus. They spent the whole evening squabbling
She sprinted down the track. (NOTE: + over money. (NOTE: + squabble n)
squad /skwd/ noun 1. a small group
squad
sprint n)
sprinter / sprnt/ noun a runner who of soldiers who perform duties together
sprinter
runs in sprint races Corporal, take your squad and guard the
sprout /sprat / noun a new shoot of a
sprout
prisoners. 2. a department in the police
plant The vine is covered with new service Hes the head of the drugs squad.
Shes investigating on behalf of the fraud
sprouts. verb (sprouts, sprouting,
sprouted) to produce new shoots Throw squad. 3. a group of players from whom a
those old potatoes away, theyre starting to sports team will be chosen The England
sprout. The bush had begun to sprout squad for the World Cup has been selected.
squad car / skwd k
/ noun a police
squad car
fresh green leaves.

spruce /spru
s/ (plural same or spruces)
spruce
car on patrol duty
squadron / skwdrn/ noun a group
squadron
noun a softwood tree growing in cold for-

ests a forest of spruce of aircraft or of naval ships
squalid / skwld/ adj referring to a
squalid
sprung /spr/ past participle of spring

sprung
spry /spra/ adj agile and lively

spry
room or building that is dirty and unpleas-
ant The prisoners are kept in squalid con-
spud /spd/ noun a potato (informal)
spud
ditions.
spun /spn/ past participle of spin
spun
squall /skw
l/ noun a sudden gust of
squall
spur /sp#
/ noun something which stimu-
spur
wind A sudden squall capsized the boat.

lates an action The letter from the univer- squalor / skwl / noun dirty conditions
squalor
sity was the spur that encouraged him to

squander / skwnd/ (squanders,
squander
work harder. verb (spurs, spurring, squandering, squandered) verb to waste

spurred) to urge someone on The run-
money, energy or opportunity
ners were spurred on by the shouts of the
square /skwe/ noun 1. a shape with
square
crowd.
four equal sides and four right-angled cor-
spurious / spjris/ adj not based on
spurious
ners The board on which you play chess

facts is made up of black and white squares.
spurn / sp#
n/ (spurns, spurning,
spurn
Graph paper is covered with small

spurned) verb to reject an offer scornfully squares. 2. an open space in a town, with
spurt /sp#
t/ verb 1. also spurt out to
spurt
big buildings all round The hotel is in the

come out in a strong jet Oil spurted out main square of the town, opposite the town
of the burst pipe. 2. to run fast suddenly hall. Red Square is in the middle of Mos-
He spurted past two runners and came in cow. 3. (in mathematics) a number that is
first. noun 1. a strong flow of liquid the result of multiplying another number
They tried to block the spurts of water com- by itself 9 is the square of 3. adj 1.
ing out of the pipe. 2. a sudden sudden ef- shaped like a square, with four equal sides
fort He put on a spurt and won the race. and four right-angled corners You cant
sputter / spt/ (sputters, sputtering,
sputter
fit six people round a small square table.

sputtered) verb to send out sparks or small An A4 piece of paper isnt square. 2. multi-
drops plied by itself back to square one to
spy /spa/ noun (plural spies) a person start again from the point you originally
spy
who is paid to try to find out secret infor- started from (informal) The test plane
mation about the enemy or a rival group crashed, so its back to square one again.
squarely / skweli/ adv in a direct and
squarely
[~for] He was a spy for the Russians.

verb (spies, spying, spied) 1. to work as a straightforward way He looked her
spy [~for] He spied for the Russians. 2. to squarely in the face.
square meal 602

square meal /skwe mi
l/ noun a large squeezed my arm gently. He squeezed an
square meal
meal orange to get the juice. She squeezed

square root /skwe ru
t/ noun a some toothpaste out onto her brush. 2. to
square root
number which, multiplied by itself, will force something, or to force your own
produce a particular number 3 is the body, into a small space You cant
square root of 9. squeeze six people into that little car.
squash /skw/ verb (squashes,
squash
More people tried to squeeze on the train
squashing, squashed) to crush or to even though it was full already. The cat
squeeze something Hundreds of passen- managed to squeeze through the window.
squelch /skwelt/ (squelches, squelch-
squelch
gers were squashed into the train. He sat

on my hat and squashed it flat. noun a ing, squelched) verb to make a wet suck-
fast game for two players played in an ening noise He squelched through the mud.
closed court, with a small, squashy rubber (NOTE: + squelch n)
squid /skwd/ (plural same or squids)
squid
ball and light, long-handled rackets He

plays squash to unwind after a day at the noun a sea animal with eight long arms or
office. Lets play a game of squash. tentacles, smaller than an octopus
squat /skwt/ (squats, squatting, squiggle / skw(()l/ noun a curved, ir-
squat squiggle
squatted) verb to move your body close to regular line or mark

the ground so that you are sitting on your squint /skwnt/ (squints, squinting,
squint
heels She squatted on the floor, trying to squinted) verb 1. to have eyes which look
get the stains out of the carpet. in different directions He squints badly,
squatter / skwt/ noun a person who which makes it difficult to know who he is
squatter
squats in someone elses property or ille- looking at. 2. to half-close your eyes to
gally on waste ground look at a something The picture shows
squawk /skw
k/ (squawks, squawk- him squinting at the sun. He squinted
squawk
ing, squawked) verb to make short harsh through the keyhole but couldnt see any-
cries The eagle brought back some food thing. (NOTE: + squint n)
squirm /skw#
m/ (squirms, squirming,
squirm
for her squawking chicks. (NOTE: + squawk

n) squirmed) verb 1. to wriggle about 2. to
squeak /skwi
k / noun a quiet high sound feel very embarrassed
squeak
squirrel / skwrl/ noun a small red or

squirrel
like the sound that a mouse makes You

can tell when someone comes into the gar- grey wild animal with a large tail which
den by the squeak of the gate. verb lives in trees and eats nuts The squirrel
(squeaks, squeaking, squeaked) to make sat up on a branch nibbling a nut. Squir-
a squeak That door squeaks the hinges rels hoard nuts for the winter.
need oiling. squirt /skw#
t / (squirts, squirting,
squirt
squeaky clean /skwi

ki kli
n/ noun 1. squirted) verb to send out a thin powerful
squeaky clean
extremely clean All the work surfaces flow of liquid Dont squirt so much
have to be squeaky clean. 2. morally pure washing-up liquid into the bowl. She
The ministers squeaky clean image has squeezed the tube hard and masses of
been tarnished by the scandal. toothpaste squirted out. (NOTE: + squirt n)
squeal / skwi
l/ noun a loud high noise squish /skw/ (squishes, squishing,
squish
squeal
The children let out squeals of delight squished) verb to press, squeeze or crush
when they saw the presents under the something soft
squishy / skwi/ adj soft, squashy and
squishy
Christmas tree. The car turned the cor-

ner with a squeal of tyres. verb (squeals, wet
squealing, squealed) to make a loud high- St abbr 1. street 2. saint
St
pitched noise She squealed when she stab /stb/ verb (stabs, stabbing,
stab
heard she had won first prize. As the car stabbed) to push a sharp knife with force
turned the corner its tyres squealed. into someone or something He was
squeamish / skwi
m/ adj likely to be
squeamish
stabbed in the chest. noun a deep wound

upset by nasty things made by the point of a knife He died of
squeeze /skwi
z/ noun the act of
squeeze
stab wounds. to have a stab at some-

pressing or crushing I gave her hand a thing to try to do something Im keen to
squeeze. verb (squeezes, squeezing, have a stab at driving the tractor. stab in
squeezed) 1. to press on something or to the back an attack by someone who is
press or crush something like a fruit or a thought to be a friend His speech was a
tube to get something out of it She stab in the back for the party leader. to
603 stain
stab someone in the back to do some- staged) to put on or arrange a play, a show,
thing unpleasant to someone who thinks a musical or other performance or event
you are a friend She was stabbed in the The exhibition is being staged in the col-
back by people who owed their success to lege library.
her. stagecoach / stedkt/ noun (in the
stagecoach
stabbing / stb/ noun an attack where

stabbing
18th and 19th centuries) a horse-drawn pas-

someone is stabbed The stabbing of the senger coach which used to run regularly
young nurse shocked everyone. along certain routes
stability /st blti/ noun being stable
stability
stage fright / sted frat/ noun nerv-

stage fright
|
or steady ousness which actors feel before going

stable / steb()l/ adj which does not
stable
onto the stage

change The hospital said his condition
stage manager /sted mnd/
stage manager
was stable. noun a building for keeping a

noun a person who organises a perform-
horse My horse is not in his stable, whos
riding him? ance of a play, opera or other performance
stagger / st(/ verb (staggers, stag-
stagger
stack /stk/ noun a pile or heap of things

stack
one on top of the other a stack of books gering, staggered) 1. to walk unsteadily,
and papers a stack of, stacks of lots of almost falling down She managed to
(informal) You can charge the tourists stagger across the road and into the police
what you like theyve got stacks of money. station. Three men staggered out of the
verb (stacks, stacking, stacked) to pile pub. 2. to surprise someone very much I
things on top of each other The skis are was staggered at the amount they charge
stacked outside the chalet. She stacked for service. 3. to arrange something such as
up the dirty plates. The warehouse is holidays or working hours, so that they do
stacked with boxes. not all begin and end at the same time We
stadium / stedim/ noun a large build-
stadium
have to stagger the lunch hour so that there
ing where crowds of people watch sport, is always someone on the switchboard.
with seats arranged around a sports field noun the movement of someone who is
staggering He walked with a noticeable
staff /st
f/ noun all the people who
staff
stagger.
work in a company, school, college, or oth-
staggered / st(d/ adj 1. shocked or
staggered
er organisation Shes on the school staff.

Only staff can use this lift. A quarter of very surprised at something 2. not in a con-
our staff are ill. That firm pays its staff secutive sequence or in a straight line
very badly. He joined the staff last Mon- staggering / st(r/ adj very surpris-
staggering
day. Three members of staff are away ing

sick. (NOTE: staff refers to a group of people stagnant / st(nnt/ adj 1. (of water)
stagnant
and so is often followed by a verb in the plu- which does not flow, which is not pure
ral.)
enough to drink The marsh was full of
staffing / st
f/ noun the process of
staffing
stagnant pools of brown water. Mosqui-

providing workers for an organisation toes breed in stagnant water. 2. (of busi-
stag /st(/ noun 1. an adult male deer
stag
ness) not active, not increasing Turnover

Dont approach the stags in the autumn was stagnant for the first half of the year.
they can be very dangerous. (NOTE: Female There is a danger of the economy becom-
deer are does.) 2. a person who buys a new ing stagnant.
issue of shares and sells them immediately stagnate /st( net/ (stagnates, stag-
stagnate
to make a profit
|
nating, stagnated) verb not to increase, not

stage /sted/ noun 1. a raised floor,
stage
to make progress
especially where the actors perform in a
staid /sted/ adj serious and solemn
staid
theatre The pop group came onto the

stain /sten/ noun a mark which is dif-
stain
stage and started to sing. 2. one of several

points of development [~of/in] the differ- ficult to remove, e.g. ink or blood It is dif-
ent stages of a production process The ficult to remove coffee stains from the ta-
first stage in the process is to grind the rock blecloth. There was a round stain on the
to powder. in stages in different steps table where he had put his wine glass.
The company has agreed to repay the loan verb (stains, staining, stained) to make a
in stages. 3. a section of a long journey mark of a different colour on something
Stage one of the tour takes us from Paris to If you eat those berries they will stain your
Bordeaux. verb (stages, staging, teeth. His shirt was stained with blood.
stained glass 604

stained glass /stend (l
s/ noun stamina / stmn / noun the strength to
stained glass stamina
glass which has been coloured, used for do something over a long period
making church windows stammer / stm/ verb (stammers,
stammer
stainless steel /stenls sti

l/ noun a
stainless steel
stammering, stammered) to repeat sounds

type of steel with a high percentage of when speaking, e.g. because of feeling
chromium in it, which makes it less likely nervous He stammers badly when mak-
to rust ing speeches. She rushed into the police
stair /ste/ noun one step in a series of
stair
station and stammered out hes hes

steps, going up or down inside a building hes after me, hes got got a knife.
He was sitting on the bottom stair. plural noun a speech problem that involves hesi-
noun stairs steps which go up or down in- tating and repeating sounds when speaking
side a building. downstairs, upstairs Because of his stammer he was shy and
staircase / stekes/ noun a set of stairs reserved at school.
staircase
which go from one floor in a building to stamp /stmp/ noun 1. a little piece of
stamp
another paper with a price printed on it which you

stairway / stewe/ noun a set of stairs
stairway
stick on a letter to show that you have paid

which go from one floor inside or outside a for it to be sent by post a first-class stamp
building to another She forgot to put a stamp on the letter be-
stake /stek/ noun a strong pointed fore she posted it. He wants to show me
stake
piece of wood or metal, pushed into the his stamp collection. 2. a mark made on
ground to mark something, or to hold something The invoice has the stamp re-
something up [~in/into] They hammered ceived with thanks on it. The customs of-
stakes into the ground to put up a wire ficer looked at the stamps in his passport.
fence. The apple trees are attached to verb (stamps, stamping, stamped) 1. to
stakes. mark something with a stamp They
stale /stel/ adj food which is stale is old stamped my passport when I entered the
stale
and no longer fresh (NOTE: staler stalest) country. 2. to walk heavily, banging your
stalemate / stelmet/ noun 1. (in chess)
stalemate
feet on the ground [~on] They stamped on
a situation where neither player can make the ants to kill them. He was so angry
any move permitted by the rules, and so no that he stamped out of the room.
one wins 2. a situation where neither side stamp out phrasal verb to stop something
stampede /stm pi
d/ noun an uncon-
stampede
will compromise The discussions have |
reached a stalemate. Negotiations are trolled movement of many animals or peo-

continuing to try to break the stalemate or ple After the film finished there was a
to find a way out of the stalemate. stampede for the doors. (NOTE: + stampede
stalk /st
k/ noun the stem of a plant v)
stalk
which holds a leaf, a flower or a fruit stance /stns/ noun 1. the position of
stance
Roses with very long stalks are more ex- someone when standing His stance is so
pensive. verb (stalks, stalking, stalked) awkward Im surprised he can even hit the
to stay near someone and watch him or her ball. 2. a point of view or opinion Her
all the time, especially in a way that is stance on environmental issues is surpris-
frightening or upsetting She told the po- ing. The Conservative Party takes a dif-
lice that a man was stalking her. The ferent stance towards health.
hunters stalked the deer for several miles. stand /stnd / verb (stands, standing,
stand
stalker / st
k/ noun a person who fol-
stalker
stood) 1. to be upright on your feet, the op-

lows people or animals posite of sitting or lying down She stood
stall /st
l/ noun a place in a market where
stall
on a chair to reach the top shelf. They

one person sells his or her goods He has were so tired they could hardly keep stand-
a flower stall at Waterloo Station. We ing. If there are no seats left, well have
wandered round the market looking at the to stand. Dont just stand there doing
stalls. verb (stalls, stalling, stalled) (of a nothing come and help us. 2. to be up-
car engine) to stop unintentionally, often right Only a few houses were still stand-
when trying to drive off without accelerating after the earthquake. The jar was
ing If he takes his foot off the accelerator, standing in the middle of the table. 3. to ac-
the engine stalls. The car stalled at the cept something bad that continues The
traffic lights and he couldnt restart it. office is filthy I dont know how you can
stallion / stljn/ noun an adult male
stallion
stand working here. She cant stand all

horse, especially one kept for breeding this noise. He stopped going to French
605 staple
lessons because he couldnt stand the standard. 2. an excellent quality which is
teacher. noun something which holds set as a target This product does not meet
something up The pot of flowers fell off our standards. She has set a standard
its stand. which it will be difficult to match. 3. a large
stand by phrasal verb 1. to refuse to official flag The royal standard flies over
change something you have said I Buckingham Palace. adj 1. usual, not spe-
stand by what I said in my statement to cial She joined on a standard contract.
the police. 2. to stand and watch, without You will need to follow the standard proce-
getting involved Several people just dure to join the association. 2. on a tall
stood by and made no attempt to help. 3. pole
standby / stndba/ noun a thing which
standby
to be ready We have several fire en-

gines standing by. 4. to give help She is ready to be used if necessary I always
stood by him while he was in prison. have bread in the freezer as a standby. on
stand down phrasal verb to agree not to standby waiting and ready to act if needed
stay in a position or not to stand for elec- We have a doctor on standby. Army re-
tion servists have been put on standby.
stand-in / stnd n/ noun a person who
stand-in
stand for phrasal verb 1. to have a mean-

ing What do the letters BBC stand for? takes the place of someone else
standing / stnd/ noun 1. the position
standing
2. to be a candidate in an election Shes

standing for parliament. 3. to accept of being upright on your feet Standing all
They will never stand for that. I wont day at the exhibition is very tiring. 2. repu-
stand for any nonsense from the children. tation a hotel of good standing His
stand out phrasal verb 1. to be easily standing in the community has never been
seen Their house stands out because it higher.
standing army /stnd
mi/ noun a
standing army
is painted pink. Her red hair makes her

stand out in a crowd. 2. to be very clear professional military force which exists in
against a background That picture times of peace as well as war
standing joke / stnd dk/ noun
standing joke
would stand out better against a white

wall. 3. to be much better than others something that people often make jokes
Two of the young musicians stood out for about His style of dancing is a bit of a
their interpretations of Bach. standing joke with us.
standing order /stnd
d/ noun
standing order
stand up phrasal verb 1. to get up from

sitting When the teacher comes into the an order written by a customer asking a
room all the children should stand up. bank to pay money regularly to an account,
He stood up to offer his seat to the old la- or to a company to send something regular-
dy. 2. to stand upright, to hold yourself ly
standing ovation /stnd
standing ovation
upright Stand up straight and face for- |
ward. 3. to put something in an upright ve()n/ noun applause at the end of a

position Stand the books up on the performance where all the audience stand
shelf. She stood her umbrella up by the up and clap and cheer
door. 4. to stand someone up not to stand-off / stnd f/ noun a situation
stand-off
meet someone even though you had ar- where two sides cannot agree and neither
ranged to (informal) We were going to can win
have dinner together and he stood me up. standpoint / stndpnt/ noun a posi-
standpoint
stand up for phrasal verb to try to defend tion from which you look at a problem
someone or something in a difficult situ- standstill / stndstl/ noun a situation
standstill
ation He stood up for the rights of chil- where nothing moves

dren. stank /stk/ past tense of stink
stank
stand up to phrasal verb 1. to oppose stanza / stnz/ noun a section of a

stanza
someone bravely No one was prepared poem made up of a series of lines

to stand up to the head of department. 2. staple / step()l/ noun a piece of wire
staple
to be able to resist difficult conditions which is pushed through papers and bent
A carpet in a shop has to stand up to a lot over to hold them together He used some
of wear. scissors to take the staples out of the pa-
standard / stndd/ noun 1. the level
standard
pers. verb (staples, stapling, stapled) to

of quality something has The standard of fasten papers together with a staple or with
service in this restaurant is very high. staples Dont staple the cheque to the or-
This piece of work is not up to your usual der form.
staple diet 606

staple diet /step()l dat/ noun the starling / st
l/ noun a common dark
staple diet starling
main part of what you eat European bird with a green gloss to its
stapler / stepl/ noun a device used to
stapler
feathers
starry-eyed / st
ri ad/ adj unrealisti-
starry-eyed
attach papers together with staples

star /st
/ noun 1. a bright object which
star
cally optimistic about your future life or
can be seen in the sky at night like a very career
star sign / st
san/ noun the sign of the
star sign
distant bright light On a clear night you

can see thousands of stars. The pole star zodiac which marks your birth
shows the direction of the North Pole. 2. a star-studded /st
stdd/ adj includ-
star-studded
shape that has several points like a star ing many film or stage stars
Draw a big star and colour it red. 3. a fa- start /st
t/ noun the beginning of
start
mous person who is very well known to the something Its the start of the fishing sea-
public football stars Shes one of the son tomorrow. Building the house took
stars of the latest Spielberg movie. Who only six months from start to finish.
is your favourite film star? verb (stars, Things went wrong from the start. Lets
starring, starred) to appear as a main char- forget all youve done up to now, and make
acter in a film or play [~in/~oppo- a fresh start. verb (starts, starting, start-
site/~with/alongside] He starred opposite ed) 1. to begin to do something [~as/~by]
Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally She He didnt start as an actor he was a di-
starred in Gone with the Wind. Hell be rector first. When you learn Russian, you
starring with such big names as Tom have to start by learning the alphabet.
Cruise and Gene Hackman. Mike Myers The babies all started to cry or all started
stars as the bungling hero. He has a star- crying at the same time. He started to eat
ring role in the new production of Guys or he started eating his dinner before the
and Dolls. rest of the family. Take an umbrella its
starboard / st
bd/ noun the right-
starboard
starting to rain. 2. (of a machine) to begin

hand side of a ship or aircraft when facing to work The car wont start the battery
the front must be flat. The engine started beauti-
starch /st
t/ noun the usual form in fully. to start with first of all We have
starch
which carbohydrates exist in food, espe- lots to do but to start with well do the
cially in bread, rice and potatoes To get a washing up. for a start as the first point
balanced diet you need to eat both protein For a start, tell me the exact time when
and starch. you made the phone call.
starchy / st
ti/ adj 1. (of food) which
starchy
start off phrasal verb 1. to begin Well
contains a lot of starch Children eat too start off with soup and then have a meat
much starchy food. 2. very formal His dish. 2. to leave on a journey You can
starchy manner put everyone off. start off now, and Ill follow when Im
ready.
stardom / st
dm/ noun the state of be-
stardom
ing a film star, a football star etc. start out phrasal verb 1. to leave on a
journey She started out for home two
stare /ste/ verb (stares, staring,
stare
hours ago, so I am surprised she hasnt

stared) to look at someone or something arrived. 2. to begin Id like to start out
for a long time [~at] Its rude to stare at by saying how pleased I am to be here.
people. She stared sadly out of the win- start up phrasal verb 1. to make a busi-
dow at the rain. noun a long fixed look ness begin to work She started up a res-
He gave her a stare and walked on. taurant, but it failed. 2. to make a
starfish / st
f/ (plural same or star-
starfish
machine start to work He started up the

fishes) noun a flat sea animal, with five tractor.
arms branching like a star from a central starter / st
t / noun 1. a person who
starter
body starts doing something There were sixty

stark /st
k/ adj (starker, starkest) 1.
stark
starters in the race, but only twenty fin-

complete He stared at the figures in stark ished. 2. a person who organises the start of
disbelief. 2. bare and simple the stark something The starter fired his pistol and
outline of the rocks a stark lunar land- the race started. 3. the first part of a meal
scape adv completely I dont usually What do you all want as starters? I dont
walk round the house stark naked. want a starter just the main course. for
starlight / st
lat/ noun the light from
starlight
starters as the first thing to be done We

the stars need to get the room cleaned for starters.
607 status symbol

starting point / st
t pnt/ noun a statement to the press. 2. same as bank
starting point
place where something begins statement

startle / st
t()l/ (startles, startling, state-of-the-art /stet v i
t/ adj
startle state-of-the-art
startled) verb to make someone suddenly technically as advanced as possible

surprised state school / stet sku
l/ noun a
state school
starvation /st
ve()n/ noun illness school which is funded by the state. Com-
starvation
through lack of food pare private school, public school

starve /st
v/ (starves, starving, statesman / stetsmn/ (plural states-
starve statesman
starved) verb not to have enough food men) noun an experienced political leader
Many people starved to death in the desert. or representative of a country (NOTE: +
starving / st
v/ adj 1. not having statesmanship n)
starving
static / sttk / noun 1. electrical interfer-

static
enough to eat to stay healthy Relief work-

ers tried to bring supplies to the starving ence in the air which disturbs a radio signal
people. 2. very hungry (informal) Isnt 2. same as static electricity When I
dinner ready yet, Im absolutely starving! touched the car door the static gave me a
stash /st/ verb (stashes, stashing, shock.
stash
static electricity /sttk lek trsti/

static electricity
stashed) 1. also stash away to store in a |
safe place He has thousands of dollars noun an electric charge that does not flow,
stashed away in overseas bank accounts. 2. as opposed to electricity which is flowing
to put Make sure you stash all items of in a current
hand luggage in the rack above your seat. station / ste()n/ noun 1. a place
station
noun a hidden store of things We found where trains stop and passengers get on or
a stash of old love letters in a secret draw- off The train leaves the Central Station at
er. 14.15. This is a fast train it doesnt stop
state /stet/ noun 1. the way something at every station. Well try to get a sand-
state
or someone is at a specific time The chil- wich at the station buffet. 2. a large main
dren are in a state of excitement. They left building for a service The fire station is
the flat in a terrible state. Shes not in a just down the road from us. He was ar-
fit state to receive visitors. 2. the govern- rested and taken to the local police station.
ment of a country We all pay taxes to the stationary / ste()n()ri/ adj not mov-
stationary
state. The state should pay for the upkeep ing (NOTE: Do not confuse with stationery.)
of museums. 3. an independent country stationer / ste()n/ noun a person
stationer
The member states of the European Union. who has a shop which sells stationery
4. one of the parts of a federal country the stationery / ste()n()ri/ noun things
stationery
State of Arizona New South Wales has the such as paper, envelopes, pens and ink
largest population of all the Australian which you use for writing (NOTE: no plural.
states. verb (states, stating, stated) to Do not confuse with stationary.)
give information clearly [~that] Please
statistic /st tstk/ noun a fact given in
statistic
state your name and address. It states in |
the instructions that you must not open the the form of numbers
statistician /stt st()n/ noun a per-
statistician
can near a flame. The document states |
that all revenue has to be declared to the son who studies or analyses statistics
statistics /st tstks/ noun the study
statistics
tax office. in a state 1. in a very unhappy, |
worried or upset condition Shes in such of facts in the form of numbers

statue / sttu
/ noun a solid image of a
statue
a state that I dont want to leave her alone.

He was in a terrible state after the phone person or animal made from a substance
call. 2. in a dirty or bad condition Look at such as stone or metal
the state of your trousers. They left our stature / stt/ noun 1. height her im-
stature
flat in a terrible state. posing stature 2. importance His stature

stateless / stetls/ adj who is not a cit-
stateless
in the party has never been greater.

izen of any country status / stets/ noun 1. social impor-
status
stately home /stetli hm/ noun a

stately home
tance when compared to other people He

palace or large house, usually belonging to has a low-status job on the Underground.
an aristocratic family His status in the company has been rising
statement / stetmnt/ noun 1. steadily. 2. a general position
statement
status symbol / stets smbl/ noun

status symbol
something that is spoken or written public-

ly [~on/about] a statement about or on the a thing which you use which shows that
new procedures She refused to issue a you are more important than someone else
statute 608
statute / sttu
t/ noun a written law, the cellar and tried to find the safe. (NOTE:
statute
established in an Act of Parliament Do not confuse with steel.)

statutory / sttt()ri/ adj imposed by stealth /stel/ noun by stealth in a se-
statutory stealth
law cret way, without anyone knowing They

staunch /st
nt/ verb to stop blood tried to get into the government laboratory
staunch
flowing They tried to staunch the blood by stealth.

by putting ice on the wound. They tied a steam /sti
m/ noun the substance like
steam
bandage tightly round his arm in an at- clouds which comes off hot or boiling wa-
tempt to staunch the flow of blood. ter Clouds of steam were coming out of
stay /ste/ (stays, staying, stayed)
stay
the kitchen.
verb 1. not to change The temperature steam up phrasal verb to become cov-
stayed below zero all day. In spite of the ered with steam My glasses got all
fire, he stayed calm. I wont be able to steamed up when I went into the Palm
stay awake until midnight. 2. to stop in a House at Kew Gardens.
place They came for lunch and stayed un-
steamer / sti
m/ noun 1. a pan with
steamer
til after midnight. Im rather tired so Ill

holes in the bottom which is placed over
stay at home tomorrow. Hes ill and has boiling water to cook food by steaming
to stay in bed. 3. to stop in a place as a vis-
The best way to cook vegetables is in a
itor They stayed two nights in Edinburgh steamer. 2. a large ship powered by steam
on their tour of Scotland. Where will you
We took the steamer from Cape Town to
be staying when youre in New York? My Mombasa.
parents are staying at the Hotel London.
steamroller / sti
mrl/ noun a very
steamroller
stay out phrasal verb to remain away

from home heavy vehicle with a large cylinder as a
stay up phrasal verb not to go to bed front wheel, used to flatten new road sur-
faces verb (steamrollers, steamroller-
STD abbr sexually transmitted disease
STD
ing, steamrollered) to force everyone to do

stead /sted/ noun 1. it stood him in
stead
what you want They steamrollered the

good stead it was very useful to him Be- bill through Congress.
ing able to speak Japanese stood him in
steamship / sti
mp/ noun a large ship
steamship
good stead. 2. in your stead in place of

you (formal) When he was ill, she took the powered by steam
steamy / sti
mi/ (steamier, steamiest)
steamy
chair in his stead. instead

steadily / stedli/ adv regularly or con- adj 1. hot and humid, as if full of steam
steadily
tinuously She chose a steamy summer day to visit

steady / stedi/ adj (steadier, steadi-
steady
London. 2. full of descriptions of sex This
est) 1. firm and not moving or shaking is her steamiest novel yet.
steel /sti
l/ noun a strong metal made
steel
You need a steady hand to draw a straight

line without a ruler. He put a piece of pa- from iron and carbon Steel knives are
per under the table leg to keep it steady. 2. best for the kitchen. The door is made of
continuing in a regular way There is a solid steel.
steady demand for computers. The car steelworks / sti
lw#
ks/ (plural same)
steelworks
was doing a steady seventy miles an hour. noun a factory where steel is made
She hasnt got a steady boyfriend. verb
steely / sti
li/ adj 1. strongly determined
steely
(steadies, steadying, steadied) to keep

2. grey-blue
something firm He put out his hand to
steep /sti
p/ adj 1. which rises or falls
steep
steady the ladder.

steak /stek/ noun 1. a thick piece of
steak
quickly The car climbed the steep hill
meat, usually beef He ordered steak and with some difficulty. The steps up the
chips. Im going to grill these steaks. 2. a church tower are steeper than our stairs at
thick piece of a big fish A grilled salmon home. 2. very sharply increasing or falling
a steep increase in interest charges a
steak for me, please! (NOTE: Do not confuse
with stake.) steep fall in share prices
steeple / sti
p()l/ noun a church tower
steeple
steal /sti
l/ (steals, stealing, stole,
steal
stolen) verb 1. to take and keep something with a spire on top

steer /st/ (steers, steering, steered)
steer
that belongs to another person without per-

mission [~from] He stole some CDs from verb to make a vehicle go in a particular di-
a music shop. Someone tried to steal my rection She steered the car into the ga-
handbag. 2. to move quietly He stole into rage.
609 sterility
steering / str/ noun the parts of a ve- stepbrother / stepbr/ noun the son
steering stepbrother
hicle which control the direction in which of a stepfather or stepmother

step-by-step /step ba step/ adj grad-
step-by-step
it travels
stem /stem/ noun the tall thin part of a
stem
ual a step-by-step process
stepchild / steptald/ (plural stepchil-
stepchild
plant which holds a leaf, a flower or a fruit |
Trim the stems before you put the flowers

dren) noun a stepdaughter or stepson
stepdaughter / stepd
t / noun the
stepdaughter
in the vase.
daughter of a wife or husband from another
stench /stent/ noun an unpleasant
stench
marriage
strong smell
stepfather / stepf
/ noun the hus-
stepfather
stencil / stensl/ noun a design which is

stencil
band of a mother, who is not a persons fa-

painted in this way The bathroom is dec- ther
orated with stencils of fish and shellfish. stepladder / stepld / noun a small
stepladder
verb (stencils, stencilling, stencilled) to ladder in two parts, hinged together, which
mark with a stencil His name was sten- is steady when opened up and does not
cilled on each piece of luggage. need to lean on anything
step /step/ noun 1. a movement of your stepmother / stepm/ noun the wife
step stepmother
foot when walking I wonder when the of a father, who is not a persons mother
baby will take his first steps. Take a step stepping-stone / step stn / noun 1.
stepping-stone
sideways and you will be able to see the one of a series of large stones placed to al-
castle. 2. a regular movement of feet at the low you to cross a stream I lost my bal-
same time as other people 3. one stair, ance going over the stepping-stones. 2. a
which goes up or down There are two useful stage in your career Working in
steps down into the kitchen. I counted 75 head office is a useful stepping-stone to be-
steps to the top of the tower. Be careful, coming a manager.
theres a step up into the bathroom. 4. an stepsister / stepsst/ noun the daugh-
stepsister
action which is done or has to be done out ter of a stepfather or stepmother

of several The first and most important stepson / stepsn/ noun the son of a
stepson
step is to find out how much money we can wife or husband from another marriage
spend. verb (steps, stepping, stepped) stereo / steri/ noun a machine
stereo
to walk in a particular direction He which plays music or other sound through

stepped out in front of a bicycle and was two different loudspeakers I bought a
knocked down. She stepped off the bus new pair of speakers for my stereo. in
into a puddle. Dont step back, theres a stereo using two speakers to produce
child behind you. in step moving your sound
feet at the same rate as everybody else I stereotype / steritap / noun a pattern
stereotype
tried to keep in step with him as we walked for a certain type of person
along. The recruits cant even march in sterile / steral/ adj 1. free from infec-
sterile
step. out of step moving your feet at a tious organisms She put a sterile dressing
different rate from everyone else One of on the wound. 2. infertile, not able to pro-
the squad always gets out of step. to take duce offspring The flowers on some
steps to to act to encourage or prevent plants are sterile. 3. not producing any use-
something We should take steps to en- ful results They engaged in a sterile de-
courage female applicants. The museum bate about human rights.
must take steps to make sure that nothing sterilise / sterlaz/ (sterilises, sterilis-
sterilise
else is stolen. ing, sterilised), sterilize (sterilizes, steri-

step in phrasal verb 1. to enter Please lizing, sterilized) verb 1. to make some-
step in and see what we have to offer. 2. thing sterile by killing infectious organ-
to do something in an area where you isms Surgical instruments must be
were not involved before Everything sterilised before used. The soil needs to
was working fine until the manager be sterilised before being used for green-
stepped in. Fortunately a teacher house cultivation. 2. to make a person una-
stepped in to break up the fight. ble to have children A vasectomy is a sur-
step up phrasal verb 1. to walk onto gical operation to sterilise men.
something higher He stepped up onto sterility /ste rlti/ noun being unable to
sterility
the platform. 2. to increase the quantity produce offspring Increased sterility has
of something The company wants to been found in men living near the nuclear
step up production to 2,000 units a day. site.
sterling 610
sterling / st#
l/ noun British currency fice. Im going, I cant stick it here any
sterling
The prices are quoted in sterling. longer. to stick together to stay together
stern /st#
n/ adj serious and strict The If we stick together they should let us into
stern
judge addressed some stern words to the the club.

boys. stick out phrasal verb 1. to push some-
steroid / strd/ noun 1. one of several
steroid
thing out 2. to be further forward or fur-
natural chemical compounds which affect ther away from something Your wallet
the body and its functions 2. a synthetic is sticking out of your pocket. The bal-
chemical used to treat some disorders and cony sticks out over the road.
also used by some athletes to improve their stick up phrasal verb 1. to be further up
strength The random sample of urine ob- above a surface or to extend beyond a
tained from the athlete proved that he had surface The aerial sticks up above the
been taking steroids. She was banned roof of the car. 2. to attach something to
from competing after tests showed that she something such as a wall or noticeboard
had taken steroids. for people to see She stuck up a notice
stethoscope / steskp/ noun an in-
stethoscope about the village fte. to stick up for
someone or something to defend some-
strument consisting of a tube with a metal
disc at one end and two parts that go in the one or something against criticism He
ears at the other, used by doctors to listen stuck up for his rights and in the end won
to sounds made inside the body by organs the case. Will you stick up for me if I get
such as the heart or lungs into trouble at school?
sticker / stk / noun a small piece of
sticker
stew / stju
/ noun a dish of meat and veg-
stew
etables cooked together for a long time paper or plastic which you can stick on
This lamb stew is a French recipe. verb something to show a price, as a decoration
(stews, stewing, stewed) to cook food for
or to advertise something
stickler / stkl/ noun someone who in-
stickler
a long time in liquid Stew the apples until

they are completely soft. sists on the correctness of details
sticky / stki/ adj 1. covered with
sticky
steward / stju
d/ noun 1. a man who
steward
looks after passengers, and serves meals or something which sticks like glue My fin-
drinks on a ship, aircraft, train or in a club gers are all sticky. This stuff is terribly
The steward served us tea on deck. 2. a sticky I cant get it off my fingers. 2. with
person who organises public events such as glue on one side so that it sticks easily
stiff /stf/ adj 1. which does not move
stiff
races etc. The stewards will inspect the

course to see if the race can go ahead. easily The lock is very stiff I cant turn
stewardess / stju
des/ noun a woman
stewardess
|
the key. Ive got a stiff neck. She was
who looks after passengers and serves food feeling stiff all over after running in the
and drinks on a ship or aircraft (dated) race. 2. with hard bristles You need a stiff
brush to get the mud off your shoes.
stick /stk/ noun 1. a thin piece of wood
stick
stiffen / stf()n/ (stiffens, stiffening,

stiffen
He jabbed a pointed stick into the hole.

I need a strong stick to tie this plant to. 2. a stiffened) verb 1. to become or make stiff
thin branch of a tree 3. anything long and 2. to become cautious or unfriendly 3. (of
thin carrots cut into sticks verb (sticks, wind) to become stronger 4. to make
sticking, stuck) 1. to attach something stronger The TV broadcasts helped to
somewhere firmly, especially with glue stiffen resistance to the governments new
[~on/~together] She stuck the stamp on measures.
stiffness / stfns/ noun 1. having mus-
stiffness
the letter. Can you stick the pieces of the

cup together again? 2. to be fixed or not to cle pains after doing exercise, or being un-
be able to move [~to/~in] Some of the able to move easily because of damaged
sauce stuck to the pan. The car was stuck joints Arthritis accompanied by a certain
in the mud. The door sticks you need to amount of stiffness in the joints. 2. the qual-
push it hard to open it. He was stuck in ity of being stiff The stiffness of the ma-
Italy without any money. 3. to push some- terial makes it unsuitable for a dress.
stifle / staf()l/ (stifles, stifling, stifled)
stifle
thing into something [~in/into] He stuck

his hand into the hole. She stuck her fin- verb 1. to make someone not able to
ger in the jam to taste it. 4. to stay in a place breathe, not to be able to breathe because
[~to] Stick close to your mother and you of heat or smoke The firemen were al-
wont get lost. 5. to put up with I dont most stifled by the toxic gas. 2. to prevent
know how she can stick working in that of- something The plan of the authorities is
611 stockade
to stifle any protests before they start. to stint /stnt/ noun a period of working
stint

stifle a yawn to try to prevent yourself Its your turn to help now, Ive done my
from yawning He had difficulty in stifling stint. She had a long stint as a sister in a
a yawn. London hospital.
stifling / staf()l/ adj extremely hot
stifling
stipulate / stpjlet / (stipulates, stipu-

stipulate
He stepped off the plane into the stifling lating, stipulated) verb to insist, to make it
heat of the Louisiana sunshine. a condition that (NOTE: + stipulation n)
stigma / st(m / noun 1. a feeling of
stigma
stir /st#
/ (stirs, stirring, stirred) verb
stir
shame 2. a part of the female organ of a to move a liquid or powder or something

flower that forms seeds after receiving pol- which is cooking, to mix it up He was
len stirring the sugar into his coffee. Keep
still /stl/ adj not moving Stand still
still
stirring the porridge, or it will stick to the

while I take the photo. There was no bottom of the pan.
wind, and the surface of the lake was com- stir up phrasal verb to encourage
pletely still. adv 1. continuing until now strong emotions or reactions The fans
or until then I thought he had left, but I came with the deliberate intention of stir-
see hes still there. They came for lunch ring up trouble.
and were still sitting at the table at eight
stir-fry / st#
fra/ verb to cook vegeta-
stir-fry
oclock in the evening. Weeks afterwards,

theyre still talking about the accident. 2. in bles or meat quickly in hot oil, while con-
spite of everything It wasnt sunny for the tinuously stirring Stir-fry the vegetables
picnic still, it didnt rain. He still insist- separately, not all together. (NOTE: + stir-
ed on going on holiday even though he had fry n)
stirring / st#
r/ adj making you feel
stirring
broken his leg.

still life /stl laf/ (plural still lifes) noun strong emotions, especially pride or enthu-
still life
a painting of objects such as fruit, bottles, siasm

stirrup / strp / noun a metal loop hang-
stirrup
flowers or food
stilted / stltd/ adj forced and unnatural ing from the saddle into which a rider puts
stilted
stimulant / stmjlnt/ noun 1. a sub- his foot

stimulant
stitch /stt/ noun 1. a little loop of

stitch
stance which makes the body function fast-

er Caffeine is a stimulant. 2. something thread made with a needle in sewing or
which encourages more activity Tax cuts with knitting needles when knitting She
should act as a stimulant to the economy. used very small stitches in her embroidery.
stimulate / stmjlet/ (stimulates, Very fine wool will give you more stitches
stimulate
stimulating, stimulated) verb to encourage than in the pattern. 2. a small loop of

someone or an organ to be more active thread used by a surgeon to attach the sides
(NOTE: + stimulation n) of a wound together to help it to heal She
stimulating / stmjlet/ adj causing had three stitches in her arm. Come back
stimulating
interest, excitement or enthusiasm in ten days time to have the stitches re-
stimulus / stmjls/ (plural stimuli)
stimulus
moved. verb (stitches, stitching,
noun an encouragement or incentive that stitched) to attach something with a needle
leads to greater activity and thread She stitched the badge to his
sting /st/ noun a wound made by an
sting
jacket.
stock /stk/ noun 1. a supply of some-
stock
insect or plant Bee stings can be very

painful. Have you anything for wasp thing kept to use when needed I keep a
stings? verb (stings, stinging, stung) 1. good stock of printing paper at home.
to wound someone with an insects or Our stocks of food are running low. 2. a liq-
plants sting Ive been stung by a wasp. uid made from boiling bones in water, used
The plants stung her bare legs. 2. to give a as a base for soups and sauces Fry the on-
burning feeling The antiseptic may sting ions and pour in some chicken stock. verb
a little at first. (stocks, stocking, stocked) to keep goods
stingy / stndi / adj not very generous
stingy
for sale in a shop or warehouse They
(informal) dont stock this book. We try to stock the
stink /stk/ (informal) noun a very un-
stink
most popular colours.
pleasant smell the stink of cigarette stock up phrasal verb to buy supplies for
smoke verb (stinks, stinking, stank or use in the future
stockade / st ked/ noun a strong fence
stockade
stunk, stunk) to have a nasty smell The |
office stinks of gas. made of thick upright poles

stockbroker 612
stockbroker / stkbrk/ noun a per- equal to 14 pounds or 6.35 kilograms
stockbroker
son who buys or sells shares for clients Shes trying to lose weight and so far has
stocking / stk/ noun a long light lost a stone and a half. He weighs twelve
stocking
piece of womens clothing which covers all stone ten (i.e. 12 stone 10 pounds). (NOTE:
of a leg and foot no plural in this sense: He weighs ten stone.
stockist / stkst/ noun a person or shop
stockist
In the USA, human body weight is always
which stocks a certain product given only in pounds.)
stoned /stnd/ adj 1. (of fruit) with the
stoned
stock market / stk m

kt/ noun a
stock market
place where shares are bought and sold stone removed We only buy stoned olives.
stockpile / stkpal/ (stockpiles, stock-
stockpile
2. high on drugs (informal) He was com-
piling, stockpiled) verb to collect large pletely stoned when I met him.
stony / stni/ adj made of lots of stones
stony
supplies of something that you will need in

the future We started to stockpile raw They walked carefully across the stony
materials in case there was a rail strike. beach.
stood /std/ past tense and past parti-
stood
(NOTE: + stockpile n)
stocktaking / stktek/ noun count- ciple of stand
stocktaking
ing and listing the existing stock in a shop stool /stu

l/ noun a small seat with no
stool
or business back When the little girl sat on the piano

stocky / stki/ (stockier, stockiest) adj
stocky
stool her feet didnt touch the floor. foot-

with large shoulders, a strong body and stool
short, strong legs /stu
p/
stoop
stoop (stoops, stooping,

stodgy / stdi/ (stodgier, stodgiest)
stodgy
stooped) verb to bend forward

adj (of food ) heavy and filling stop /stp/ verb (stops, stopping,
stop
stoical / stk()l/ adj accepting what

stoical
stopped) 1. not to move any more, e.g. in

happens without complaining order to let people get on or off [~at] The
stoke /stk/ (stokes, stoking, stoked)
stoke
motorcycle didnt stop at the red light.

verb to put wood or coal into a fire This train stops at all stations to London
stole /stl/ past tense of steal Waterloo. The bus went right past with-
stole
stolen / stln/ past participle of

stolen
out stopping. 2. to make something not
steal move any more The policeman stopped
stolid / stld / adj serious, not easily ex-
stolid
the traffic to let the lorry back out of the ga-
cited rage. Stop that boy! hes stolen my
purse. 3. not to do something any more
stomach / stmk/ noun 1. a part of
stomach
The office clock has stopped at 4.15. At

the body shaped like a bag, into which food last it stopped raining and we could go out.
passes after being swallowed and where it She spoke for two hours without stop-
continues to be digested I dont want an- ping. We all stopped work and went
ything to eat my stomachs upset or I home. The restaurant stops serving
have a stomach upset. He has had stom- meals at midnight. 4. to stop someone or
ach trouble for some time. 2. the front of something (from) doing something to
your body between your chest and your make someone or something not do some-
waist He had been kicked in the stomach. thing any more The rain stopped us from
stomach ache / stmk ek/ noun a
stomach ache
having a picnic. How can the police stop

pain in the abdomen people stealing cars? Cant you stop the
stomp /stmp / (stomps, stomping,
stomp
children from making such a noise? The

stomped) verb to walk with heavy steps plumber couldnt stop the tap dripping. 5.
stone /stn/ noun 1. a very hard ma-
stone
to stay as a visitor in a place [~in] They

terial, found in the earth, used for building stopped for a few days in Paris. noun 1.
All the houses in the town are built in the the end of something, especially of move-
local grey stone. The stone carvings in ment The police want to put a stop to car
the old church date from the 15th century. crimes. to come to a stop or a full stop
Stone floors can be very cold. (NOTE: no to stop moving or continuing The car
plural: some stone, a piece of stone, a block rolled on without the driver, and finally
of stone) 2. a small piece of stone The came to a stop at the bottom of the hill.
children were playing at throwing stones All the building work came to a stop when
into the pond. The beach isnt good for the money ran out. 2. a place where you
bathing as its covered with very sharp break a journey Well make a stop at the
stones. 3. a British measure of weight next service station. 3. a place where a bus
613 straight
or train lets passengers get on or off We story / st
ri / (plural stories) noun 1. a
story
have been waiting at the bus stop for twen- description that tells things that did not re-
ty minutes. There are six stops between ally happen but are invented by someone
here and Marble Arch. [~of/about] The book is the story of two
stop by phrasal verb to visit someone for children during the war. She writes chil-
a short time drens stories about animals. 2. a descrip-
stop off phrasal verb to stop for a time in tion that tells what really happened She
a place before going on with your jour- told her story to the journalist.
ney storyteller / st
ritel/ noun a person
storyteller
stopgap / stp(p/ noun something who tells a story

stopgap
stout /stat/ adj 1. (of a person) quite fat

stout
used for a short time, while waiting for

something better to be found He has become much stouter and has dif-
stoplight / stplat/ noun US a traffic ficulty going up stairs. 2. (of material )
stoplight
light strong or thick Take a few sheets of stout

stop over /stp v/ verb to spend a
stop over
paper. Find a stout branch to stand on.
stove /stv/ noun a piece of equip-
stove
night in a place on a long journey Well

stop over in Rome on the flight to Hong ment for heating or cooking
stow /st/ (stows, stowing, stowed)
stow
Kong.
stopover / stpv/ noun a short over- verb to put away He had stowed all the
stopover
night stop on a long journey by air luggage in the boot of the car.
stoppage / stpd/ noun 1. the action
stoppage
stow away phrasal verb 1. to put away
of stopping something from moving De- Its June time you stowed away your
liveries will be late because of stoppages skis. 2. to travel secretly on a ship or air-
on the production line. 2. money taken craft without paying the fare They
from an employees wages to pay for insur- found two students stowing away in a
ance and tax lifeboat.
stowaway / stwe/ noun a person
stowaway
stopper / stp/ noun an object that you

stopper
put into the mouth of a bottle or jar to close who travels secretly on a ship or aircraft
it without paying
straddle / strd()l/ (straddles, strad-
straddle
stopwatch / stpwt/ noun a watch

stopwatch
which can be started and stopped by press- dling, straddled) verb 1. to stand with legs
ing a button, used for timing races apart, on either side of something He
storage / st
rd/ noun the act of
storage straddled the ditch. 2. be on both sides of
keeping something in a store or warehouse something The town straddles the main
We put our furniture into storage. We
highway to the north.
straggle / str(()l/ (straggles, strag-
straggle
dont have enough storage space in this

house. gling, straggled) verb 1. to move in various
store /st
/ noun a shop, usually a big
store
directions, not in an orderly fashion After
shop You can buy shoes in any of the big the flood went down a few people straggled
stores in town. Does the store have a food back to their villages each day. 2. to grow
department? verb (stores, storing, or lie in various directions Her hair was
stored) 1. to keep food etc. to use later
straggling over her face. (NOTE: + straggler
n)
We store (away) all our vegetables in the
straight /stret/ adj 1. not curved
straight
garden shed. 2. to keep something in a a
computer file We store all our personnel long straight street The line isnt straight.
She has straight black hair. Stand up
records on computer.
storey / st
ri/ noun a whole floor in a
storey straight! 2. not sloping Is the picture
straight? Your tie isnt straight. adv 1.
building
in a straight line, not curving The road
stork /st
k/ noun a large white bird with
stork
goes straight across the plain for two hun-

long legs and a long thin red beak dred kilometres. She was sitting straight
storm /st
m/ noun a high wind and
storm
in front of you. 2. immediately Wait for

very bad weather Several ships got into me here Ill come straight back. If there
difficulties in the storm. How many trees is a problem, you should go straight to the
were blown down in last nights storm? manager. 3. without stopping or changing
stormy / st
mi/ adj when there are
stormy
She drank the milk straight out of the bot-

storms They are forecasting stormy tle. The cat ran straight across the road
weather for the weekend. in front of the car. He looked me straight
straightaway 614
in the face. The plane flies straight to person in a place where he has never been
Washington. before [~to] Hes a stranger to these
straightaway /stret we/ adv at once parts. I cant tell you how to get to the
straightaway
straighten / stret()n/ (straightens, post office Im a stranger here myself.

straighten
strangle / str(l/ (strangles, stran-

strangle
straightening, straightened) verb to make

something straight gling, strangled) verb 1. to kill by squeez-
straighten up phrasal verb 1. to stand ing the throat so that someone cannot
straight after bending He straightened breathe or swallow The marks on his
up and looked at me. 2. to make some- neck showed that he had been strangled. 2.
thing tidy I must straighten up my bed- to slow the development of something
room before I leave. The companys expansion is being stran-
straightforward /stret f
wd/ adj
straightforward
|
gled by lack of funds.
stranglehold / str(lhld/ noun
stranglehold
easy to understand or carry out The in- |
structions are quite straightforward. control which prevents you doing what you
strain /stren/ noun 1. nervous tension
strain
want to do
strap /strp/ noun a long flat piece of
strap
and stress Can she stand the strain of

working in that office? 2. a variety, breed material used to attach something Can
They are trying to find a cure for a new you do up the strap of my bag for me? I
strain of the flu virus. verb (strains, put a strap round my suitcase to make it
straining, strained) 1. to injure part of more secure. verb (straps, strapping,
your body by pulling too hard He strapped) to fasten something with a strap
strained a muscle in his back or he strained He strapped on his rucksack. The pa-
his back. The effort strained his heart. 2. tient was strapped to a stretcher. Make
to make great efforts to do something sure the baby is strapped into her seat.
strata / str
t/ plural of stratum
strata
They strained to lift the piano into the van.

3. to pour liquid through a sieve to separate strategic /str ti
dk/ adj 1. done with
strategic
solids from it the intention of achieving a specific aim 2.

strained /strend/ adj tense or unfriendly attacking an enemy from a long distance
strained
Relations between them became strategic weapons

strained. strategist / strtdst/ noun someone
strategist
strainer / stren/ noun a kitchen utensil who makes business, military or other
strainer
with metal or nylon mesh, used to separate plans

solids from a liquid strategy / strtdi/ (plural strate-
strategy
straitjacket / stretdkt/, straight- gies) noun the decisions you make about
straitjacket
jacket noun something which prevents you how you are going to do something Their
from acting freely strategy is to note which of their rivals
strand /strnd/ noun one piece of hair or models sells best and then copy it. The
strand
thread Strands of hair kept blowing government has no long-term strategy for
across her forehead. dealing with crime.
stranded / strndd / adj alone and una- stratum / str
tm/ (plural strata or stra-
stratum
stranded
ble to move tums) noun a layer, especially of rock As

strange /strend/ adj 1. not usual
strange
they dug down, they exposed several strata
Something is the matter with the engine of rock.
straw / str
/ noun 1. dry stems and leaves
straw
its making a strange noise. She told

some very strange stories about the firm of crops, used for animals to sleep on
she used to work for. It felt strange to be Youve been lying on the ground youve
sitting in the office on a Saturday after- got bits of straw in your hair. The tractor
noon. Its strange that no one spotted the picked up bundles of straw and loaded
mistake. 2. which you have never seen be- them onto a truck. 2. a thin plastic tube for
fore or where you have never been before sucking up liquids She was drinking or-
I find it difficult getting to sleep in a ange juice through a straw.
strawberry / str
b()ri/ (plural straw-
strawberry
strange room. We went to Korea and had

lots of strange food to eat. (NOTE: stranger berries) noun a common soft red summer
strangest) fruit which grows on low plants
stranger / strend/ noun 1. a person stray /stre/ verb (strays, straying,
stranger stray
whom you have never met [~to] Hes a strayed) to move away from the place
complete stranger to me. Children are where something is expected to be, or from
told not to accept lifts from strangers. 2. a a subject being discussed She told the
615 strict
children not to stray too far. noun a pet to make something stronger The sea wall
animal which is lost or without a home is being strengthened to prevent another
We have two female cats at home and they flood. This will only strengthen their de-
attract all the strays in the district. adj 1. termination to oppose the government.
not where it should be He was killed by a We are planning to strengthen airport se-
stray bullet from a sniper. 2. ((of a pet ani- curity. 2. to become stronger The wind is
mal)) lost or without a home We found a strengthening from the south-west.
stray cat and brought it home. strenuous / strenjus/ adj requiring a
strenuous
streak /stri
k/ noun 1. a line of colour
streak
lot of physical effort or energy The doc-

The cloth is blue with streaks of red in it. tor has told him to avoid strenuous exer-
Shes had blonde streaks put in her hair. 2. cise. Its a very strenuous job.
a particularly characteristic type of behav- stress /stres/ noun 1. nervous strain
stress
iour 3. a period when a series of things hap- caused by an outside influence Shes suf-
pens I hope our streak of bad luck is com- fering from stress. How will he cope with
ing to an end. verb (streaks, streaking, the stress of working in an office? 2. the
streaked) 1. to go very fast The rocket force or pressure on something Stresses
streaked across the sky. 2. to run about na- inside the earth create earthquakes. verb
ked in public (informal) (stresses, stressing, stressed) to put em-
stream /stri
m/ noun 1. a small river
stream
phasis on something [~that] She stressed

Can you jump across that stream? 2. things that the work must be completed on time.
which pass continuously Crossing the I must stress the importance of keeping the
road is difficult because of the constant plan secret.
stream of traffic. stressed /strest/ adj worried and tense
stressed
streamer / stri
m/ noun a long paper stressful / stresf()l/ adj (of a situation)
streamer
stressful
strip used for decoration which causes stress

streaming / stri
m/ noun a method of stress mark /stres m
k/ noun a mark
streaming
stress mark
sending a continuous stream of data over showing which syllable of a word should
the Internet to a computer, providing live be stressed
video or sound stretch /stret/ verb (stretches,
stretch
streamline / stri
mlan/ (streamlines,
streamline
stretching, stretched) 1. to spread out for

streamlining, streamlined) verb 1. to de- a great distance The line of cars stretched
sign a car, plane or boat so that it can move for three miles from the accident. The
easily through water or air The body of queue stretched from the door of the cine-
the car was streamlined to make it faster. 2. ma right round the corner. White sandy
to make something more efficient or more beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. 2.
simple We are trying to streamline the to push out your arms or legs as far as they
accounting system. can The cat woke up and stretched. 3. to
street /stri
t/ noun 1. a road in a town,
street
pull out so that it becomes loose Dont

usually with houses on each side It is dif- hang your jumper up like that you will
ficult to park in our street on Saturday just stretch it. These trousers are not sup-
mornings. Her flat is on a noisy street. posed to stretch. noun 1. a long piece of
The school is in the next street. 2. used with land, water or road Stretches of the river
names Whats your office address? 16 have been so polluted that bathing is dan-
Cambridge Street. Oxford Street, Bond gerous. 2. a long period of time For long
Street and Regent Street are the main shop- stretches we had nothing to do. at a
ping areas in London. ( NOTE: When used in stretch without a break He played the pi-
names, street is usually written St: Oxford ano for two hours at a stretch. to stretch
St.) your legs to go for a short walk after sitting
streetwise / stri
twaz/ adj able to deal for a long time In the coffee break I went
streetwise
with difficult and dangerous situations in a out into the garden to stretch my legs.
stretcher / stret/ noun a folding bed
stretcher
modern city
strength /stre/ noun the quality of with handles, on which an injured person
strength
being physically strong She hasnt got can be carried by two people
strew /stru
/ (strews, strewing, strewed,
strew
the strength to lift it. You should test the

strength of the rope before you start climb- strewn) verb to scatter over a wide area
ing. strict /strkt / adj 1. which must be
strict
strengthen / stre()n/ (strength-

strengthen
obeyed I gave strict instructions that no

ens, strengthening, strengthened) verb 1. one was to be allowed in. The rules are
strictly 616
very strict and any bad behaviour will be This string isnt strong enough to tie up
severely punished. 2. expecting people to that big parcel. She bought a ball of
obey rules Our parents are very strict string. Weve run out of string. (NOTE: no
with us about staying up late. plural in this sense: some string; a piece of
strictly / strktli/ adv in a strict way string) 2. one of the long pieces of fibre or
strictly
All staff must follow strictly the procedures wire on a musical instrument which makes
in the training manual. a note when you hit it a guitar has six
stride /strad / noun a long step In three
stride
strings He was playing the violin when
strides he was across the room and out of one of the strings broke. 3. one of the
the door. verb (strides, striding, strode, strong pieces of fibre which form the flat
stridden) to walk with long steps He part of a tennis racket One of the strings
strode into the room. We could see him has snapped.
striding across the field to take shelter from string along phrasal verb 1. to walk
the rain. to make great strides to ad- along in a line behind someone The
vance quickly Researchers have made teachers walked in front and the children
great strides in the treatment of asthma. strung along behind. 2. to promise some-
to take something in your stride to deal one something to get him or her to agree
with something easily Other people al- to do what you want He was just string-
ways seem to have problems, but she just ing her along he never intended to mar-
takes everything in her stride. ry her, but just wanted to get at her
strident / strad()nt/ adj unpleasantly
strident
money.
stringed instrument / strd
stringed instrument
loud and harsh

strife /straf/ noun trouble between peo-
strife
nstrmnt/ noun a musical instrument
ple where the notes are played on strings
stringent / strndnt/ adj strict or se-
stringent
strike /strak/ noun the stopping of

strike
work by workers because of lack of agree- vere

strip /strp/ noun a long narrow piece
strip
ment with management or because of or-

ders from a trade union They all voted in of something He tore the paper into
favour of a strike. A strike was avoided at strips. Houses are to be built along the
the last minute. verb (strikes, striking, strip of land near the church. verb
struck) 1. to stop working because of disa- (strips, stripping, stripped) to take off
greement with management The workers your clothes Strip to the waist for your
are striking in protest against bad working chest X-ray. He stripped down to his un-
conditions. 2. to hit something hard She derpants.
stripe /strap/ noun a long line of colour
stripe
struck her head on the low door. He

struck a match and lit the fire. 3. (of a clock) He has an umbrella with red, white and
to ring to mark an hour The clock had just blue stripes.
struck one when she heard a noise in the stripper / strp/ noun a person who per-
stripper
corridor. 4. to come to someones mind A forms a striptease

thought just struck me. It suddenly struck striptease / strpti
z/ noun an entertain-
striptease
me that I had seen him somewhere before. ment where someone takes their clothes off
strike off phrasal verb to remove a name piece by piece
from a list because of bad behaviour strive /strav/ (strives, striving, strove,
strive
strike up phrasal verb to start playing a striven) verb to try very hard to do some-
piece of music The band struck up, and thing, especially over a long period of time
everyone settled in their seats. Everyone is striving for a solution to the
striker / strak/ noun 1. a worker who is
striker
dispute. He always strove to do as well as

on strike Strikers picketed the factory. 2. his brother.
a football player whose main task is to strode /strd/ past tense of stride
strode
score goals His pass back to the goal- stroke /strk/ noun 1. a serious med-
stroke
keeper was intercepted by the opposition ical condition in which someone suddenly
striker who promptly scored. becomes unconscious because blood has
striking / strak/ adj noticeable, un-
striking
stopped flowing normally to the brain He

usual She bears a striking resemblance to was paralysed after his stroke. She had a
the Queen. It is a very striking portrait of stroke and died. 2. the act of hitting some-
Winston Churchill. thing such as a ball It took him three
string /str/ noun 1. a strong thin fibre
string
strokes to get the ball onto the green. 3. a

used for tying up things such as parcels style of swimming She won the 200m
617 stuff
breast stroke. verb (strokes, stroking, stubble / stb()l/ noun 1. short stems
stubble
stroked) to run your hands gently over left in the ground after a crop such as wheat
something or someone She was stroking has been cut 2. short hairs which grow on a
the cat as it sat in her lap. mans chin if he does not shave for several
stroll /strl/ (strolls, strolling, strolled) days She told him to shave, as she didnt
stroll
verb to walk slowly as a way of relaxing like his stubble.

People were strolling in the park. On stubborn / stbn/ adj determined not
stubborn
Sunday evenings, everyone strolls along to change your mind Hes so stubborn
the boulevard. (NOTE: + stroll n) he only does what he wants to do.
strong /str/ adj 1. who has a lot of stuck /stk/ past tense and past participle
strong
stuck
strength Im not strong enough to carry of stick

that box. 2. which has a lot of force or stud /std/ noun 1. a small round piece
stud
strength The string broke we need of metal jewellery worn in the ear, nose or
something stronger. The wind was so elsewhere on the body She wears a stud
strong that it blew some tiles off the roof. 3. in her nose. 2. a young man who is ex-
having a powerful smell, taste or effect I tremely sexually attractive (informal) 3. a
dont like strong cheese. You need a cup nail with a head that stands out above a sur-
of strong black coffee to wake you up. face He had a pattern of studs on his belt.
There was a strong smell of gas in the
student / stju
d()nt/ noun a person
student
kitchen. strength
who is studying at a college, university or
stronghold / strhld/ noun 1. a
stronghold
school All the science students came to

place such as a castle which is difficult for my lecture. Shes a brilliant student.
an enemy to defeat The enemy strong- Two students had to sit the exam again.
hold finally surrendered. 2. a place which
studio / stju
di/ noun 1. a room
studio
is famous for something Rome is re-

nowned as the stronghold of Catholicism. where an artist paints She uses this room
The club is a stronghold of male chauvin-
as a studio because of the good light. 2. a
ism. place where things such as films or broad-
casts are made And now, back to the stu-
strongly / strli/ adv in a strong way
strongly
dio for the latest news and weather report.

stroppy / strpi/ adj behaving in a rude
stroppy
They spent the whole day recording the

and angry way (informal) piece in the studio. 3. a very small flat for
strove /strv/ past tense of strive
strove
one person, usually one room with a small

struck /strk/ past tense and past par-
struck
kitchen and bathroom You can rent a stu-

ticiple of strike dio overlooking the sea for 300 a week in
structural / strkt()rl/ adj refer-
structural
high season.
ring to a structure studious / stju
dis/ adj enjoying study,
studious
structure / strkt/ noun a building

structure
spending a lot of time studying

or something else that is built study / stdi/ noun (plural studies) the
study
struggle / str(()l/ noun a fight Af-

struggle
work of examining something carefully to

ter a short struggle the burglar was arrest- learn more about it [~on/~on] The review
ed. verb (struggles, struggling, strug- has published studies on the new drug.
gled) to try hard to do something difficult Im preparing a study of new production
[~with/for] Shes struggling with her techniques. verb (studies, studying,
maths homework. The industry is strug- studied) 1. to learn about a subject at col-
gling for survival. He struggled to carry lege or university I plan to study for a law
all the shopping to the car. degree. He is studying medicine at uni-
strum / strm/ (strums, strumming,
strum
versity. 2. to look at something carefully

strummed) verb to play a stringed instru- She was studying the guidebook.
ment by running your fingers across the stuff /stf/ noun 1. a substance, espe-
stuff
strings in an informal way cially something unpleasant Youve got

strut /strt/ (struts, strutting, strutted)
strut
some black stuff stuck to your shoe. 2.

verb to walk in a proud and important way equipment or possessions Dump all your
She strutted across the stage to collect stuff in the living room. Take all that stuff
her prize. He refused to accept their offer and put it in the dustbin. All your photo-
and strutted out of the room. graphic stuff is still in the back of my car.
stub / stb/ noun a small piece left after
stub
verb (stuffs, stuffing, stuffed) 1. to push

something has been used He walked something into something to fill it He
along the gutter looking for cigarette stubs. stuffed his pockets full of peppermints.
stuffing 618
The 20 notes were stuffed into a small her scooter. He made several stupid mis-
plastic wallet. 2. to put small pieces of food takes.
such as bread, meat or herbs inside meat or stupor / stju
p/ noun the state of being
stupor
vegetables before cooking them We had almost unconscious

roast veal stuffed with mushrooms. sturdy / st#
di/ (sturdier, sturdiest) adj
sturdy
stuffing / stf/ noun 1. a mixture of

stuffing
well made and not easily damaged

small pieces of food such as bread, fat, on- stutter / stt/ noun a speech problem
stutter
ions and herbs put inside a chicken, fish or where you repeat the sound at the begin-
vegetables before cooking them I pre- ning of a word several times He is taking
pared the stuffing for the fish according to therapy to try to cure his stutter. verb
my mothers recipe. 2. a soft material used (stutters, stuttering, stuttered) to repeat
to fill things such as childrens toys or chair the same sounds when speaking He stut-
seats The stuffings coming out of this tered badly when making his speech.
cushion.
sty /sta/ noun a little building where a pig
sty
stuffy / stfi/ (stuffier, stuffiest) adj

stuffy
is kept. pigsty
without any fresh air Cant you open a
style /stal/ noun 1. a way of doing
style
window, its so stuffy in here?

something, especially a way of designing,
stumble / stmbl / (stumbles, stum-
stumble
drawing or writing [~of] his original style

bling, stumbled) verb 1. to almost fall by of painting The room is decorated in Chi-
hitting your foot against something 2. to nese style. 2. a fashionable way of doing
make mistakes when reading aloud or things She always dresses with style.
speaking They live in grand style. hairstyle
stumbling block / stmbl blk/
stumbling block
stylised / stalazd/, stylized adj drawn

stylised
noun something which prevents you doing or designed in a fixed way that does not
what you want to do look natural
stump /stmp/ noun 1. a short piece of
stump
stylish / stal/ adj attractive and fash-

stylish
something left sticking up, such as the ionable

main stem of a tree that has been cut down
stylistic /sta lstk/ adj referring to style
stylistic
After cutting down the trees, we need to

|
get rid of the stumps. 2. one of the three in art

suave /sw
v / (suaver, suavest) adj ex-
suave
sticks placed in the ground in cricket The

ball hit the stumps and the last man was tremely polite with very good manners,
out. though often with an unpleasant character
sub /sb/ abbr 1. submarine 2. subscrip-
sub
stump up phrasal verb to pay money

(informal) tion 3. substitute
stun /stn/ (stuns, stunning, stunned) sub- /sb/ prefix below, under
stun sub-
verb 1. to make someone become uncon- subcommittee / sbkmti/ noun a

subcommittee
scious with a blow to the head 2. to shock small committee which is set up by a main
someone completely She was stunned committee and deals with a specific matter
when he told her that he was already mar- subconscious /sb kns/ noun a
subconscious
ried. part of your mind which has ideas or feel-

stung /st/ past tense of sting
stung
ings which you do not realise are there

stunk /stk/ past tense and past partici-
stunk
Somewhere, deep in his subconscious, was

ple of stink a feeling of hatred for his family.
stunning / stn/ adj impressive, ex- subcontinent /sb kntnnt/ noun a
stunning subcontinent
tremely beautiful large mass of land which is a separate part

stunt /stnt/ noun a trick or dangerous of a continent
stunt
subcontract / sbkntrkt/ noun a

subcontract
act done to attract attention Climbing up |
the outside of the building was just a pub- contract between the main company man-
licity stunt. Hes so fit that he insists on aging a whole project and another firm
doing all the stunts in his films himself. who will do part of the work
stupendous /stju
pends/ adj ex- subculture / sbklt/ noun a sepa-
stupendous subculture
| |
tremely unusual, very large or impressive rate social group within a larger culture
stupid / stju
pd/ adj 1. not very intel- subdivide /sbd vad/ (subdivides,
stupid subdivide
ligent What a stupid man! 2. behaving in subdividing, subdivided) verb to divide

a way that is not sensible It was stupid of up something which has already been di-
her not to wear a helmet when riding on vided
619 subside
subdivision / sbdv()n/ noun the with something, especially with water At
subdivision
division of something into smaller parts high tide the rocks are completely sub-
subdue /sb dju
/ (subdues, subduing, merged. 2. to go under water The subma-
subdue
subdued) verb to defeat, to bring under rine submerged and disappeared from
control view.
subdued /sb dju
d/ adj 1. very quiet, submission /sb m()n/ noun 1. the
submission
subdued
|
|
not excited The audience was very sub- state of giving in or having to obey some-
dued. 2. not bright, not loud The room one 2. a piece of evidence, a document or
has been painted in subdued colours. A an argument used in court
submissive /sb msv / adj (of a per-
submissive
subdued discussion was going on in a far |
corner of the restaurant. son) who obeys all orders, or who gives in
subgroup / sb(ru
p/ noun a small easily
subgroup
submit /sb mt/ (submits, submit-

submit
separate group within a larger group |
subheading / sbhed / noun a head- ting, submitted) verb 1. to put something

subheading
ing used to divide something such as a long forward for someone to examine [~to]
document into smaller sections You are requested to submit your proposal
subject / sbdkt / noun 1. the thing
subject
to the planning committee. 2. to accept that
which you are talking about or writing someone has the power to make you do
about The debate is on the subject of pol- something you dont want to do
subordinate /s b
dnt/ noun a per-
subordinate
lution.He suddenly changed the subject of |
the conversation. 2. an area of knowledge son who is under the direction of someone
which you are studying Maths is his else His subordinates find him difficult to
weakest subject. You can take up to five work with.
subjects at A Level. 3. to be the subject subordinate clause /sb
dnt
subordinate clause
of to be the person or thing talked about or kl

z/ noun a clause in a sentence which
studied The painter Chagall will be the depends on the main clause
subject of our lecture today. Advertising subpoena /s pi
n/ noun a court order
subpoena
costs are the subject of close examination telling someone to appear in court She
by the auditors. 4. (in grammar) a noun or has been served a subpoena to appear in
pronoun which comes before a verb and court next month. (NOTE: + subpoena v)
shows the person or thing that does the ac- subscribe /sb skrab/ (subscribes,
subscribe
tion expressed by the verb In the sentence subscribing, subscribed) verb to give
the cat sat on the mat the word cat is the money to He subscribes to several char-
subject of the verb sat. ities.
subjective /sb dektv/ adj seen from subscription /sb skrpn/ noun 1.
subjective
subscription
|
|
your own point of view, and therefore pos- the amount of money which someone pays
sibly influenced by your feelings or beliefs to a magazine for a series of issues Did
subject line / sbdkt lan/ noun the
subject line
you remember to pay the subscription to

part at the top of an e-mail where the sub- the computer magazine? 2. money paid to
ject of the message is written a club for a years membership He forgot
subject matter / sbdkt mt/ to renew his club subscription.
subject matter
noun the subject dealt with in something subsection / sbsek()n/ noun a divi-
subsection
such as a book or TV programme sion of a section such as in a document

subjunctive /sb dktv/ noun the subsequent / sbskwnt/ adj which
subjunctive subsequent
form of a verb used to express something comes later (formal ) The rain and the
such as a doubt, suggestion or wish subsequent flooding disrupted the match.
sublime /s blam/ (sublimer, sub- All subsequent reports must be sent to me
sublime
limest) adj impressive, beautiful the sub- immediately they arrive.

lime music of Beethovens Ninth Symphony subsequently / sbskwntli/ adv hap-
subsequently
the sublime sight of snow-capped moun- pening later or following something which
tains towering above the lake has already happened I subsequently dis-
submarine /sbm ri
n/ noun a special covered that there had been a mistake.
submarine
type of ship which can travel under water subset / sbset/ noun a mathematical
subset
The submarine dived before she was spot- set whose elements are contained in anoth-
ted by enemy aircraft. adj under the water er set
a submarine pipeline subside /sb sad/ (subsides, subsid-
subside
submerge /sb m#
d/ (submerges,
submerge
| ing, subsided) verb 1. to go down, to be-

submerging, submerged) verb 1. to cover come less loud or strong After the rain-
subsidence 620
storms passed, the flood waters gradually tute something or someone for some-
subsided. His anger subsided and he be- thing or someone else to put something or
gan to try to find out what had happened. someone in the place of something or
He waited for the noise to subside before someone else He secretly substituted the
going on with his speech. 2. (of a piece of fake diamond for the real one. to substi-
ground or a building) to fall to a lower level tute for someone to replace someone
The office block is subsiding because it is Who will be substituting for the sales man-
built on clay. ager when shes away on holiday?
subsidence / sbsd()ns/ noun (of a substitution / sbst tju
()n/ noun
subsidence substitution
piece of ground or a building) an act of sink- the act of substituting someone or some-
ing or falling to a lower level thing for someone or something else
subsidiary / sb sdiri/ (plural subsidi- subsume /sb sju
m/ (subsumes, sub-
subsidiary
subsume
|
|
aries) noun a company which is owned by suming, subsumed) verb to include some-
a parent company Most of the profit thing in a larger group or set (formal)
comes from subsidiaries in the Far East. subterfuge / sbtfju
d/ noun a trick
subterfuge
subsidise / sbsdaz / (subsidises,

subsidise
or clever way of doing something

subsidising, subsidised), subsidize verb
subterranean /sbt renin/ adj un-
subterranean
to help by giving money |
der the ground

subsidy / sbsdi/ (plural subsidies)
subsidy
subtitle / sbtat()l/ noun a translation

subtitle
noun money given to help pay for some-

thing which does not make a profit of the words spoken in a film which are
subsist /sb sst/ (subsists, subsisting,
subsist
|
shown at the bottom of the screen
subtle / st()l/ (subtler, subtlest) adj 1.
subtle
subsisted) verb 1. to stay alive, to manage

2. to continue to exist (formal) (NOTE: + not obvious or easily seen Theres a sub-
subsistence n) tle difference between the two political
substance / sbstns / noun a solid
substance
parties. 2. complicated or delicate a
or liquid material, especially one used in sauce with a subtle taste of lemon A sub-
chemistry A secret substance is added to tler shade would be better than that bright
the product to give it its yellow colour. colour.
subtlety / st()lti/ noun careful thought
subtlety
Toxic substances got into the drinking wa-

ter. processes which are difficult to explain
substandard /sb stndd/ adj not up subtract /sb trkt/ (subtracts, sub-
substandard subtract
| |
to the usual standard tracting, subtracted) verb to take one

substantial /sb stnl/ adj 1. large number away from another (NOTE: Sub-
substantial
or important She was awarded substan- tracting is usually shown by the minus sign
tial damages. He received a substantial : 10 4 = 6: say ten subtract four equals
sum when he left the company. A sub- six.)
stantial amount of work remains to be subtraction /sb trkn/ noun the act
subtraction
done. 2. large enough to satisfy someone of subtracting one number from another
We had a substantial meal at the local pub. suburb / sb#
b/ noun an area on the
suburb
3. solid or strong This wall is too flimsy, edge of a town where there are houses and
we need something much more substantial. shops but not usually factories or other
substantially /sb stnli/ adv 1.
substantially
|
large industries
mainly, mostly Their forecast was sub-
suburban /s b#
bn/ adj referring to
suburban
stantially correct. 2. by a large amount |
The cost of raw materials has risen sub- the suburbs

suburbia /s b#
bi/ noun the middle-
suburbia
stantially over the last year. |
substantiate /sb stniet/ (substan-

substantiate
|
class suburban districts around a city
subversive /sb v#
sv/ adj acting se-
subversive
tiates, substantiating, substantiated) |
verb to prove that something which has cretly against the government or people in
been stated is true authority The police are investigating
substitute / sbsttju
t/ noun a per-
substitute
subversive elements in the student organi-
son or thing that takes the place of some- sations.
subvert /sb v#
t/ (subverts, subvert-
subvert
one or something else [~for] This type of |
plastic can be used as a substitute for ing, subverted) verb to make something
leather. The substitute teacher was very such as a system fail, or to damage or de-
good. When the goalkeeper was injured stroy the existing political system (NOTE: +
they sent on a substitute. verb to substi- subversion n)
621 suet
subway / sbwe/ noun 1. an under- stolen goods. 2. very; so much There was
subway
ground passage along which people can such a crowd at the party that there werent
walk, e.g. so that they do not have to cross enough chairs to go round. Its such a
a busy road Theres a subway from the shame that shes ill and has to miss her sis-
bus station to the shopping centre. 2. US an ters wedding. such as used for giving an
underground railway system the New example Some shops such as food stores
York subway It will be quicker to take the are open on Sundays. no such (person
subway to Grand Central Station. (NOTE: or thing) a person or thing like that is not
The London equivalent is the tube or Un- in existence There is no such day as April
derground.) 31st. Someone was asking for a Mr Simp-
sub-zero /sb zr/ adj below zero son but there is no such person working
sub-zero
degrees in temperature here.

succeed /sk si
d/ (succeeds, suc- suck / sk/ (sucks, sucking, sucked)
suck
succeed
ceeding, succeeded) verb to do well in a verb 1. to hold something with your mouth
particular activity [~in] We hope you suc- and pull at it with your tongue The baby
ceed in your chosen career. His business didnt stop sucking his thumb until he was
succeeded better than he expected. six. 2. to have something in your mouth
success /sk ses/ noun 1. the fact that which makes your mouth produce water
success
you achieve what you have been trying to He bought a bag of sweets to suck in the
do Shes been looking for a job in a li- car.
sucker / sk/ noun 1. a part of an animal
sucker
brary, but without any success so far. 2. the

fact that something or someone does well which sticks to a surface by sucking An
the success of the car in the Japanese mar- octopus has rows of suckers on its arms. 2.
ket Her photo was in the newspapers af- a little plastic cup which sticks to a surface
ter her Olympic success. by suction Some hooks can be glued to
successful /sk sesf()l/ adj who or the wall, others stick with suckers. 3. a per-
successful
which does well Hes a successful busi- son who is easily tricked into doing some-
ness man. Shes very successful at hiding thing 4. a person who cannot resist some-
her real age. Their trip to German proved thing Hes a sucker for chocolate des-
successful. serts. Hes a sucker for any pretty girl. 5.
successfully /sk sesf()li/ adv
successfully
|
(of a plant) a shoot which comes from the
achieving what was intended bottom of the stem or from a root You
succession /sk se()n/ noun 1. a se-
succession
|
need to cut all those suckers off the roses.
suction / skn / noun the action of
suction
ries of the same type of thing I had a suc-

cession of phone calls from my relatives. sucking out air, so that two surfaces stick
in succession one after the other Three together
sudden / sd()n/ adj which happens
sudden
people in succession have asked me the

same question. He won the title five times very quickly or unexpectedly The sudden
in succession. 2. taking a property or a title change in the weather caught us unpre-
from someone who has died The ques- pared. The bus came to a sudden stop.
tion of the succession to the throne is often His decision to go to Canada was very sud-
mentioned in the newspapers. den. all of a sudden suddenly All of a
successive /sk sesv/ adj which come sudden the room went dark.
successive
one after the other suddenly / sd()nli/ adv quickly and

suddenly
successor /sk ses/ noun a person giving you a shock The car in front
successor
who takes over from someone stopped suddenly and I ran into the back of
success story /sk ses st
ri/ noun a it. Suddenly the room went dark. She
success story
person or something such as an invention suddenly realised it was already five

that has been a great success oclock.
succinct /sk skt/ adj exact, not using sue /sju
/ (sues, suing, sued) verb to take
sue
succinct
many words someone to court, to start a legal case

succumb /s km/ (succumbs, suc- against someone to get payment for the
succumb
cumbing, succumbed) verb (formal) 1. to harm or damage they have caused

suede /swed/ noun leather with a soft
suede
accept defeat 2. to die from an illness or in-

jury [~to] The heroine of the book suc- surface that looks like velvet
cumbed to tuberculosis. suet / su
t/ noun the hard fat from
suet
such /st/ adj 1. of this type The po-

such
around an animals kidneys, used in cook-

lice are looking for such things as drugs or ing
suffer 622
suffer / sf/ (suffers, suffering, suf- thing [~of] The music is suggestive of a
suffer
fered) verb 1. to receive an injury He suf- calm evening in the country.

fered multiple injuries in the accident. 2. suicidal /su
sad()l/ adj wanting to
suicidal
to suffer from something to have an ill- kill yourself He has suicidal tendencies.
ness or a fault She suffers from arthritis. After her sons death she became suicid-
The companys products suffer from bad al.
design. Our car suffers from a tendency suicide / su
sad/ noun 1. the act of kill-
suicide
to overheat. ing yourself Whether her death was mur-

sufferer / sfr/ noun a person who has
sufferer
der or suicide is not yet known. to com-

a particular disease mit suicide to kill yourself He killed his
suffering / sf()r/ noun feeling pain
suffering
two children and then committed suicide.

over a long period of time 2. a person who has killed himself
suffice /s fas/ (suffices, sufficing, suf- suicide note / su
sad nt/ noun a
suffice
suicide note
|
ficed) verb to be enough (formal) letter left by someone who has committed
sufficient /s f()nt/ adj as much as
sufficient
| suicide
is needed Does she have sufficient funds suit /su
t/ noun 1. a set of pieces of
suit
to pay for her trip? There isnt sufficient clothing made of the same cloth and worn
room to put the big sofa in here. Allow together, e.g. a jacket and trousers or skirt
yourself sufficient time to get to the airport. A dark grey suit will be just right for the
self-sufficient interview. The pale blue suit she was
suffix / sfks / noun letters added to the
suffix
wearing was very chic. 2. one of the four

end of a word to make another word. Com- sets of cards with the same symbol in a
pare prefix pack of cards Clubs and spades are the
suffocate / sfket/ (suffocates, suf-
suffocate
two black suits and hearts and diamonds

focating, suffocated) verb 1. to make are the two red suits. verb (suits, suiting,
someone stop breathing by cutting off the suited) 1. to look good when worn by
supply of air, or to die from lack of air to someone Green usually suits people with
breathe She was accused of suffocating red hair. That hat doesnt suit her. 2. to be
the baby. The family suffocated in the convenient for someone Hell only do it
smoke-filled room. 2. to be uncomfortable when it suits him to do it. Thursday at 11
because of heat and lack of air (informal) oclock will suit me fine. suit yourself do
Were suffocating in this little room. (NOTE: what you want
+ suffocation n) suitability /su
t blti / noun the degree
suitability
suffrage / sfrd/ noun a right to vote in

suffrage
to which someone or something is suitable

elections suitable / su
tb()l/ adj which fits or
suitable
sugar / (/ noun a substance that

sugar
which is convenient Im looking for a

you use to make food sweet How much suitable present We advertised the job
sugar do you take in your tea? A spoonful again because there were no suitable can-
of sugar will be enough. Can you pass me didates. A blue dress would be more suit-
the sugar, please? able for an interview.
suggest /s dest/ (suggests, sug-
suggest
suitcase / su
tkes/ noun a box with a
suitcase
|
gesting, suggested) verb to mention an handle which you carry your clothes in
idea to see what other people think of it when you are travelling
[~(that)/~what/why/where etc] The chair-
suite /swi
t/ noun 1. a set of rooms, espe-
suite
man suggested that the next meeting cially expensive rooms Their offices are
should be held in October. What does he in a suite of rooms on the eleventh floor.
suggest we do in this case? I suggested a They booked a suite at the Savoy Hotel. 2.
visit to the museum. a set of pieces of furniture
suggestion /s destn/ noun an
suggestion
suitor / su
t/ noun a person who wants
| suitor
idea that you mention for people to think

about [~for] Do you have any suggestions to marry a girl (old)
sulk /slk/ (sulks, sulking, sulked) verb
sulk
for how we could improve things? Whose

suggestion was it that we should go out in to show you are annoyed by not saying an-
a boat? I bought those shares at the ything Theyre sulking because we didnt
stockbrokers suggestion. invite them.
sulky / slki/ (sulkier, sulkiest) adj show-
sulky
suggestive /s destv/ adj 1. relating

suggestive
to sex He sang some very suggestive ing that you are annoyed
sullen / sln/ adj silent and sulky
sullen
songs. 2. suggestive of suggesting some-

623 sunburnt
sulphur / slf/ noun a non-metallic ele- summer clothes its never hot enough
sulphur
ment, which is usually found in the form of here.

summer camp / sm kmp/ noun a
summer camp
yellow powder, and smells of rotten eggs

(NOTE: The US or technical spelling is sul- place where children go for a holiday with-
fur.) out their parents in the summer, usually in
sulphur dioxide /slf da ksad/
sulphur dioxide
|
the country
summer holiday /sm hlde /
summer holiday
noun a colourless gas which has a strong

unpleasant smell and causes serious air noun a holiday which you have in the sum-
pollution (NOTE: The US or technical spell- mer (NOTE: The US term is summer vaca-
ing is sulfur dioxide.) tion.)
summer school / sm sku
l / noun
summer school
sultan / sltn/ noun a Muslim prince

sultan
classes held at a school, college or univer-

sultana /sl t
n/ noun a type of pale
sultana
sity during the summer holiday

seedless raisin. Compare currant, raisin
summertime / smtam/ noun the
summertime
sultry / sltri/ (sultrier, sultriest) adj 1.

sultry
time of year when it is summer

(of weather) hot and making you feel un- summit / smt/ noun the top of a
summit
comfortably sticky A massive thunder- mountain It took us three hours hard

storm brought the sultry weather to an end. climbing to reach the summit.
2. attractive in a dark and passionate way
summon / smn/ (summons, sum-
summon
Her sultry good looks attracted the eye of

moning, summoned) verb to tell people to
her boss.
come to a meeting (formal) The president
sum /sm/ noun 1. a quantity of money
sum
summoned a meeting of the supreme coun-

A large sum of money was stolen from his cil. She was summoned to appear before
safe. We are owed the sum of 500. He the committee.
only paid a small sum for the car. 2. a sim- summons / smnz/ noun 1. an official
summons
ple problem in arithmetic She tried to do order to go to see someone He received a

the sum in her head. 3. the total of two or summons to see the president. 2. an official
more numbers added together The sum of order or document telling someone to ap-
all four sides will give you the perimeter of pear in court to be tried for a criminal of-
the field. fence or to defend a civil action He threw
sum up phrasal verb 1. to make a summa- away the summons and went on holiday to
ry of what has been said Id just like to Spain.
sum up what has been said so far. Can sumo / su
m/ noun a Japanese style of
sumo
you sum up the most important points in wrestling, where two very large wrestlers
the speech for me? 2. (of a judge) to speak try to throw each other out of a ring
at the end of a trial and go over all the ev- sumptuous / smptus/ adj very ex-
sumptuous
idence and arguments for the benefit of pensive or impressive

the jury I was surprised the judge did
sun /sn/ noun 1. a very bright star
sun
not mention that when he summed up.

round which the earth travels and which
summarily / smrli/ adv immediately
summarily
gives light and heat The sun was just ris-

and without discussion or attention to the ing when I got up. Ill try taking a photo-
usual way of doing things graph now that the suns come out. 2. the
summarise / smraz/ (summaris-
summarise
light from the sun Id prefer a table out

es, summarising, summarised), summa- of the sun. She spent her whole holiday
rize verb to make a short account of what just sitting in the sun.
has happened or what has been said sunbathe / snbe/ (sunbathes, sun-
sunbathe
summary / smri/ noun a short de- bathing, sunbathed) verb to lie in the sun
summary
scription of what has been said or written, to get your skin brown (NOTE: + sunbather
or of what happened, without giving all the n)
details She gave a summary of what hap- sunbed / snbed/ noun 1. a piece of
sunbed
pened at the meeting. Heres a summary equipment which you use to make your
of the book in case you dont have time to skin look brown by means of ultraviolet
read it. light 2. a piece of furniture on which you
summer / sm/ noun the hottest sea- lie in the sun
summer
sunburn / snb#
n/ noun damage to the
sunburn
son of the year, between spring and autumn

Next summer we are going to Greece. skin caused by being in the sun for too long
The summer in Australia coincides with sunburnt / snb#
nt/ adj (of the skin)
sunburnt
our winter here in England. I havent any damaged or made red by the sun
Sunday 624
Sunday / snde/ noun the seventh /su
pkm pju
t/
Sunday supercomputer
supercomputer |
day of the week, the day between Saturday noun a high-speed computer
and Monday Last Sunday we went on a superficial /su
p f()l/ adj 1. af-
superficial
picnic. Most shops are now open on Sun- fecting only the top surface The damage
days. Can we fix a lunch for next Sun- was only superficial. She had a few su-
day? The 15th is a Saturday, so the 16th perficial cuts on her skin but nothing seri-
must be a Sunday. Today is Sunday, No- ous. 2. dealing only with the most obvious
vember 19th. and simple matters I cant answer your
Sunday school / snde sku
l/ noun
Sunday school
question because I only have a very super-

classes held on a Sunday, where children ficial knowledge of the subject. 3. not seri-
are taught about the Christian religion ous or important My brother and I only
sundial / sndal/ noun a type of out- discuss superficial topics like the weather
sundial
door clock with a central piece whose and sport. Hes very superficial, you
shadow points to the time when the sun cant have a serious conversation with
shines on it him.
sundown / sndan/ noun the time superfluous /su
p#
flus/ adj which is
sundown superfluous
when the sun goes down in the evening more than is needed; not necessary, not
sundry / sndri/ adj various The tour- needed
sundry
superhuman /su
p hju
mn/ adj be-
superhuman
ists made sundry purchases in the market. |
sunflower / snfla/ noun a very large yond what humans are usually able to do,
sunflower
yellow flower on a very tall stem or having unusually great abilities

sung /s/ past participle of sing superimpose /su
prm pz/ (su-
sung superimpose
sunglasses / sn(l
sz/ plural noun perimposes, superimposing, superim-
sunglasses
dark glasses worn to protect your eyes posed) verb to lay one picture over another
from the sun I always wear sunglasses so that they are both visible; to print one
when Im driving. thing on top of another If you superim-
sunk /sk/ past participle of sink
sunk
pose one picture on the other you get the
impression of a ghost in the room.
sunlight / snlat/ noun the light
sunlight
superintendent /su
prn tendnt/
superintendent
which comes from the sun (NOTE: no plural) |
noun a person who is responsible for work,

sunlit / snlt / adj bright with the light of
sunlit
the sun or for a place Go and see the building su-

perintendent if a pipe is leaking.
Sunni / sni/ noun 1. one of the main
Sunni
superior /s pri/ noun a person in a

superior
branches of Islam 2. a member of the Sunni |
branch of Islam higher rank Each manager is responsible

to his superior.
sunny / sni/ adj 1. with the sun shin-
sunny
superiority /spri rti/ noun being

superiority
ing Another sunny day! They forecast | |
that it will be sunny this afternoon. 2. more important, more intelligent, better
where the sun often shines We live on the than someone else The superiority of the
sunny side of the street. Their sitting Brazilians in the World Cup was obvious.
room is bright and sunny, but the dining He gives the impression of effortless supe-
room is dark. riority.
superlative /s p#
ltv/ adj extremely
superlative
sunrise / snraz/ noun the time when

sunrise
|
the sun comes up in the morning good Hes a superlative goalkeeper.

noun the form of an adjective or adverb
sunroof / snru
f/ noun a part of the roof
sunroof
of a car which opens to let in light and air showing the highest level when compared
with another Biggest is the superlative
sunscreen / snskri
n/ noun a cream
sunscreen
of big. Put a few superlatives in the ad

which you put on your skin to prevent sun- to emphasise the superiority of the product.
burn
supermarket / su
pm
kt/ noun a
supermarket
sunset / snset / noun the time when the

sunset
large store selling mainly food and goods

sun goes down in the evening for the house, where customers serve
sunshine / snan/ noun a pleasant
sunshine
themselves and pay at a checkout Weve

light from the sun (NOTE: no plural) got no tea left, can you buy some from the
suntan / sntn/ noun the brown colour
suntan
supermarket?
of skin caused by sunlight supermodel / su
pmd()l/ noun a fa-
supermodel
super / su
p/ adj very good (dated)
super
mous fashion model who earns a lot of

superb /s p#
b/ adj extremely good
superb
| money
625 supposedly
supernatural /su
p nt()rl/ adj (supplies, supplying, supplied) to provide
supernatural
which cannot be explained by the laws of something which is needed Details of ad-
nature He believes in supernatural oc- dresses and phone numbers can be sup-
currences like ghosts. plied by the store staff. He was asked to
superpower / su
ppa/ noun an ex- supply a blood sample. She was asked to
superpower
tremely powerful country with great eco- supply the names of two referees. They
nomic strength and large armed forces have signed a contract to supply online in-
supersede /su
p si
d/ (supersedes,
supersede
|
formation. in short supply not available
superseding, superseded) verb to take the in large enough quantities to meet peoples
place of something which has become old needs Fresh vegetables are in short sup-
and no longer useful ply during the winter.
supersonic /su
p snk/ adj going support /s p
t/ noun 1. an object or
support
supersonic
|
|
faster than the speed of sound structure which stops something from fall-
superstar / su
pst
/ noun an extreme-
superstar
ing They had to build wooden supports to
ly famous film actor or other performer hold up the wall. 2. help or encouragement
We have had no financial support from
superstition /su
p st()n/ noun a
superstition
belief in magic and that some things are the bank. 3. an act of encouraging and
lucky and others unlucky helping someone, or of agreeing with their
plans The chairman has the support of
superstore / su
pst
/ noun a very
superstore
the committee. She spoke in support of

large self-service store selling a wide range our plan. verb (supports, supporting,
of goods or selling a variety of things of the supported) 1. to hold something up to stop
same type it falling down The roof is supported on
supervise / su
pvaz/ (supervises,
supervise
ten huge pillars. 2. to provide money to

supervising, supervised) verb to watch help someone or something We hope the
carefully, to see that work is well done banks will support us during the develop-
supervisor / su
pvaz/ noun a per-
supervisor
ment period. 3. to encourage someone or

son whose job is making sure that other something Which football team do you
people are working well support? She hopes the other members of
supper / sp/ noun the meal which you
supper
the committee will support her.

eat in the evening supporter /s p
t / noun a person
supporter
supplant / s pl
nt/ (supplants, sup-
supplant
|
who encourages someone or something
planting, supplanted) verb to take the It sounds a good idea to me Im surprised
place of someone or something it hasnt attracted more supporters.
supple / sp()l/ adj who or which bends
supple
support group /s p
t (ru
p/ noun a
support group
easily group of people who meet to discuss their

supplement1 / splmnt/ noun 1. a
supplement
problems and help one another

thing which is in addition, especially an ad-
supportive /s p
tv/ adj who sup-
supportive
ditional amount The company gives him |
200 per month as a supplement to his pen- ports, helps or encourages

suppose /s pz/ (supposes, sup-
suppose
sion. You need to take a vitamin supple- |
ment every morning. 2. a magazine which posing, supposed) verb 1. to think some-
is part of a newspaper I read his article in thing is likely to be true or to happen
the Sunday supplement. 3. an additional [~(that)] I suppose youve heard the
section at the back of a book Look in the news? Will you be coming to the meeting
supplement at the back of the book. this evening? I suppose Ill have to. I
supplement2 / splment/ (supple-
supplement
dont suppose many people will come. 2.
ments, supplementing, supplemented) (showing doubt) what happens if? [~(that)]
verb to add to We will supplement the or- Suppose it rains tomorrow, do you still
dinary staff with six part-timers during the want to go for a walk? Hes very late
Christmas rush. suppose hes had an accident? Suppose I
supplementary /spl ment()ri/ adj
supplementary
|
win the lottery! I suppose so used to
in addition to what is already there give a doubtful yes Please can I go to
the party? Oh, I suppose so.
supplier /s pla/ noun a person, com-
supplier
supposed /s pzt/ adj accepted as

supposed
pany or country that supplies something |
supply / s pla/ noun (plural supplies)

supply
|
true but not definitely true
supposedly /s pzdli/ adv as we
supposedly
a store of something which is needed We |
have two weeks supply of coal. verb suppose

supposition 626
supposition /sp z()n/ on the surface of the road. The surface of
supposition
| noun
something which is thought to be true or the water was completely still. He stayed
correct, but cannot be proved a long time under water before coming
suppress /s pres/ (suppresses, sup- back to the surface. Dinosaurs disap-
suppress
pressing, suppressed) verb 1. to limit peared from the surface of the earth mil-
something such as a persons freedom lions of years ago. verb (surfaces, sur-
The rebellion was ruthlessly suppressed facing, surfaced) to come up to the surface
and its leaders executed. 2. to stop some- The captain gave orders for the subma-
thing being made public All opposition rine to surface. His fear of failure has
newspapers have been suppressed. They surfaced again.
surfboard / s#
fb
d/ noun a long board
surfboard
tried to suppress the evidence but it had al-

ready got into the newspapers. 3. to stop made especially for standing on to ride on
yourself showing what you really feel top of large waves coming onto a beach
She suppressed her feeling of annoyance surfing / s#
f/ noun 1. to ride waves on
surfing
and tried to look happy. He couldnt sup- a surfboard as a sport or for fun 2. to keep
press a smile. (NOTE: + suppression n) switching from channel to channel on a tel-
supremacy /s premsi/ noun the posi- evision or from site to site on the Internet
supremacy
tion of being the strongest power in no particular order

supreme /s pri
m / adj greatest, in the surge /s#
d / noun a sudden increase in
supreme surge
highest position Her dog was supreme the quantity of something The fine
champion. It meant one last supreme ef- weather has brought a surge of interest in
fort, but they did it. camping. The TV commercials generated
supremely /s pri
mli/ adv to the great- a surge of orders. verb (surges, surging,
supremely
est degree surged) 1. to rise suddenly The waves

surcharge / s#
t
d/ noun an extra
surcharge
surged up onto the rocks. 2. to move in a
charge There is a 10% surcharge on mass The crowd surged (forward) onto
goods that are delivered. the football pitch. The fans surged
sure / / adj without any doubt Is he
sure
around the pop stars car.
surgeon / s#
dn/ noun a doctor who
surgeon
sure he can borrow his mothers car? Im

sure I left my wallet in my coat pocket. performs medical operations
surgery / s#
dri/ (plural surgeries)
surgery
Its sure to be cold in Russia in December.

Make sure or be sure that your computer noun 1. treatment of disease in which doc-
is switched off before you leave. adv tors cut into or remove part of the body
mainly US meaning yes Can I borrow She had surgery to straighten her nose.
your car? sure, go ahead! I need some- The patient will need surgery to remove the
one to help with this computer program scars left by the accident. (NOTE: no plural in
sure, I can do it. this sense) 2. a room where a doctor or
sure-footed /
ftd/ adj 1. unlikely
sure-footed
dentist sees and examines patients I
to trip or fall 2. confident and not likely to phoned the doctors surgery to make an ap-
make mistakes pointment.
surgical / s#
dk()l/ adj referring to
surgical
surely / li/ adv of course, certainly

surely
(used mostly in questions where a certain surgery

surly / s#
li/ (surlier, surliest) adj ex-
surly
answer is expected) Surely they cant ex-

pect us to work on Sundays? But surely tremely unfriendly
surmise /s maz/ (surmises, surmis-
surmise
their office is in London, not Oxford? |
Theyll surely complain about the amount ing, surmised) verb to make a guess about
of work they have to do. something
surf /s#
f/ noun 1. a mass of white foam surmount /s mant/ (surmounts, sur-
surmount
surf
|
coming onto a beach on large waves The mounting, surmounted) verb 1. to over-
surf is too rough for children to bathe. 2. come an obstacle It took us some time to
waves breaking along a shore (NOTE: Do not surmount the obstacles in our path. 2. to be
confuse with serf.) verb (surfs, surfing, on top of The summit is surmounted by
surfed) to ride on large waves coming onto an observatory.
a beach on a surf board Id like to be able surname / s#
nem/ noun the name of
surname
to surf. Its too dangerous to go surfing someones family, shared by all people in
today. the family. Compare first name
surface / s#
fs/ noun the top part of surpass /s p
s/ (surpasses, surpass-
surface surpass
something When it rains, water collects ing, surpassed) verb to do better than
627 suspend
surplus / s#
pls/ noun more goods than questions 2. the careful examination of a
surplus
are needed building to see if it is in good enough con-

surprise /s praz/ noun 1. the feeling dition
surprise
survey2 /s ve/ (surveys, surveying,

survey
you get when something happens which |
you did not expect to happen He ex- surveyed) verb 1. to ask people questions
pressed surprise when I told him Id lost to get information about something
my job. To his great surprise, a lot of peo- Roughly half the people we surveyed were
ple bought his book. What a surprise to in favour of the scheme. Theyre survey-
find that we were at school together! 2. an ing the site. 2. to measure land in order to
unexpected event They baked a cake for produce a plan or map Theyre surveying
her birthday as a surprise. What a sur- the area where the new runway will be
prise to see you again after so long! verb built.
(surprises, surprising, surprised) to surveyor /s ve/ noun 1. a person who
surveyor
make someone surprised It wouldnt sur- examines buildings to see if they are in
prise me if it rained. What surprises me good condition 2. a person who surveys
is that she left without saying goodbye. land
surprised /s prazd/ adj feeling or survival /s vav()l/ noun the state of
surprised
survival
|
|
showing surprise She was surprised to continuing to exist The survival of the
see her former boyfriend at the party. We crew depended on the supplies carried in
were surprised to hear that hes got a good the boat. The survival rate of babies has
job. started to fall.
surprising / s praz/ adj which you survive /s vav/ (survives, surviv-
surprising survive
| |
do not expect There was a surprising end ing, survived) verb to continue to be alive
to the story. Wasnt it surprising to see after an experience such as accident, attack
the two sisters together again? Its hard- or serious illness It was such a terrible
ly surprising she doesnt want to meet you crash, it was miracle that anyone survived.
again after what you said. He survived a massive heart attack.
surreal /s rl/ adj extremely unusual, survivor /s vav/ noun a person who is
surreal
survivor
|
|
as if in a dream still alive after an experience such as an ac-

surrender /s rend/ noun giving in to
surrender
| cident, attack or serious illness

an enemy because you have lost the sur- susceptible /s septb()l/ adj 1. likely
susceptible
render of the enemy generals verb (sur- to catch a disease She is susceptible to
renders, surrendering, surrendered) to colds and throat infections. 2. easily influ-
accept that you have been defeated by enced Hes very susceptible to pretty
someone else Our troops were surround- women. 3. able to be dealt with in a partic-
ed by the enemy and were forced to surren- ular way
der. sushi / su
i/ noun small cakes of rice
sushi
surreptitious /srp ts/ adj done in

surreptitious
|
mixed with fish or vegetables and wrapped
secret in seaweed
surrogate mother /sr(t m/ suspect1 /s spekt/ (suspects, sus-
surrogate mother
suspect
noun a woman who becomes pregnant and pecting, suspected) verb 1. to think that
has a baby for a woman who is not able to something is likely I suspect its going to
do this herself, be more difficult than we thought at first.
surround /s rand/ (surrounds,
surround
| We suspected all along that something was

surrounding, surrounded) verb to be all wrong. 2. to suspect someone of doing
round something or someone The house something to think that someone may have
is surrounded by beautiful countryside. done something wrong I suspect him of
The President has surrounded himself with being involved in the robbery. They were
experts. wrongly suspected of taking bribes.
surroundings /s randz / plural suspect2 / sspekt/ noun a person who
surroundings suspect
noun the area around a person or place is thought to have committed a crime The
The surroundings of the hotel are very police arrested several suspects for ques-
peaceful. She found herself in very un- tioning. adj 1. which is not reliable
pleasant surroundings. Such high figures for exports look a bit sus-
surveillance /s velns/ noun a careful pect to me. 2. which might be dangerous or
surveillance
watch over someone or something illegal a suspect package

survey1 / s#
ve/ noun 1. a way of find- suspend /s spend/ (suspends, sus-
survey suspend
ing out about something by asking people pending, suspended) verb 1. to hang
suspenders 628
something The ham is suspended over a something, a situation or the correct way to
smoky fire for some time, which gives it a use something (informal)
particular taste. 2. to stop something for a suss out phrasal verb to discover some-
time Work on the construction project thing (informal)
has been suspended. Sailings have been sustain /s sten/ (sustains, sustain-
sustain
suspended until the weather gets better. 3. ing, sustained) verb 1. to make something
to stop someone from doing something, continue How long can this level of activ-
such as working He has been suspended ity be sustained? 2. to receive an injury
on full pay while investigations are contin- (formal ) He sustained severe head inju-
uing. ries. 3. to give you strength You need a
suspenders / s spendz/ plural noun
suspenders
| good breakfast to sustain you through the

US long narrow bands of material which go day. 4. to support something Will the roof
over your shoulders to hold up your trou- sustain the weight of the snow?
sers He wore bright red suspenders with sustainable /s stenb()l/ adj which
sustainable
his jeans. (NOTE: The British term is brac- does not damage natural resources and
es.) which leaves the environment in good con-
suspense /s spens/ noun nervous ex- dition
suspense
sustained /s stend/ adj which contin-

sustained
citement experienced while waiting for |
something to happen or for someone to do ues for a long time

something sustenance / sstnns/ noun food
sustenance
suspension /s spenn/ noun 1. a sys- swab /swb/ noun 1. a thick piece of soft
suspension swab
tem of springs which supports a car and cloth, often attached to a small stick, used
helps it to move smoothly Hydraulic sus- for cleaning a cut in your body or for tak-
pension gives you a very smooth ride. 2. ing samples of infection for analysis 2. a
the action of hanging from something 3. sample of infection taken for analysis
the action of stopping something for a time The swabs from his mouth were sent away
suspension of payments by the bank to the laboratory. 3. a cloth for wiping
There has been a temporary suspension of floors clear of water
deliveries. swagger / sw(/ (swaggers, swagger-
swagger
suspension bridge /s spenn ing, swaggered) verb to walk in a proud

suspension bridge
brd/ noun a bridge which hangs from way, swinging your shoulders He swag-
strong ropes, chains or wires attached to gered into the office, showing off his new
tall towers suntan. (NOTE: + swagger n)
Swahili /sw
hi
li/ noun the language of
Swahili
suspicion /s sp()n/ noun 1. a feeling

suspicion
|
|
that something is wrong or that someone the Swahili people

swallow / swl/ (swallows, swal-
swallow
has committed a crime His behaviour

confirmed my suspicion that he was lying. lowing, swallowed) verb to make food or
They were arrested on suspicion of ex- liquid pass down your throat from your
porting stolen goods. His actions imme- mouth to the stomach He swallowed his
diately aroused suspicion on the part of the beer and ran back to the office. She swal-
police. The bank regards his business lowed hard and knocked on the door to the
deals with considerable suspicion. 2. a interview room.
swam /swm/ past tense of swim
swam
general feeling that something is going to

happen I have a suspicion that hes com- swan /swn/ noun a large white water
swan
ing to see me because he wants to borrow bird with a long curved neck
some money. Her suspicions proved to be swansong / swns/ noun a last per-
swansong
correct when she saw the wedding an- formance or appearance

nounced in the paper. swap /swp/ (swaps, swapping,
swap
suspicious /s sps/ adj which

suspicious
|
swapped) verb to exchange something for
seems to be wrong, dangerous or connect- something else Can I swap my tickets for
ed with a crime The police found a suspi- next Fridays show? Lets swap places,
cious package on the station platform. so that I can talk to Susan. After every
We became suspicious when we realised game the players swapped jerseys with the
we hadnt seen him for three days. other team.
suss /ss/ (susses, sussing, sussed) swarm /sw
m/ noun a large group of in-
suss swarm
verb to discover or understand something sects flying around together A swarm of

such as somebodys reason for doing flies buzzed around the meat.
629 swell
swat /swt/ (swats, swatting, swatted) power in the general election. A feeling
swat
verb to hit and kill a fly of anger swept through the crowd.
swathe /swe/ noun a long wide band of sweep away phrasal verb to carry some-
swathe
land, grass or trees Great swathes of for- thing away very quickly The river
est were destroyed in the fire. flooded and swept away part of the vil-
sway /swe/ (sways, swaying, swayed) lage.
sway
sweepstake / swi
pstek/ noun a form
sweepstake
verb 1. to move slowly and smoothly from

side to side The crowd swayed in time to of gambling on a horse race where each
the music. The palm trees swayed in the person bets on a certain horse, and the
breeze. 2. to have an influence on someone holder of the winning ticket takes all the
The committee was swayed by a letter money which has been bet
from the president. sweet /swi
t/ adj 1. tasting like sugar,
sweet
swear /swe/ (swears, swearing, swore, and neither sour nor bitter These apples
swear
sworn) verb 1. to make a serious public are sweeter than those green ones. 2. very
promise He swore he was telling the kind or pleasant He sent me such a sweet
truth. Do you swear never to go there birthday card. It was sweet of her to send
again? to swear someone to secrecy to me flowers. What a sweet little girl!
make someone swear not to tell a secret How sweet of you to help me with my lug-
He was sworn to secrecy. 2. to shout offen- gage! noun 1. a small piece of sweet
sive or rude words They were shouting food, made with sugar She bought some
and swearing at the police. Dont let me sweets to eat in the cinema. He likes to
catch you swearing again! I could have suck sweets when he is driving. 2. sweet
sworn I was completely sure I could food eaten at the end of a meal Whats on
have sworn I put my keys in my coat pocket. the menu for sweet? Im afraid I havent
swear by phrasal verb to believe com- made a sweet. I wont have any sweet,
pletely in something (informal) He thank you, just some coffee. to have a
swears by Chinese herbal medicine. sweet tooth to like sweet food Hes very
swear word /swe/ noun an offensive or
swear word
fond of puddings hes got a real sweet
rude word, which most people think should tooth!
sweet chestnut /swi
t tesnt/ noun a
sweet chestnut
not be spoken
sweat /swet/ noun drops of salt liquid
sweat
chestnut from a sweet chestnut tree, which
which come through your skin when you produces edible fruit (fruit)
sweetcorn / swi
t k
n/ noun the large
sweetcorn
are hot or when you are afraid After

working in the vineyard he was drenched yellow seeds of a type of maize, eaten
with sweat. He broke out into a cold cooked
sweeten / swi
t()n/ (sweetens, sweet-
sweeten
sweat when they called his name. verb

(sweats, sweating, sweated) to produce ening, sweetened) verb to make some-
sweat He ran up the hill, sweating and thing sweet Use honey to sweeten your
red in the face. cereal instead of sugar.
sweater / swet/ noun a thick piece of sweetener / swi
t()n/ noun 1. an arti-
sweater sweetener
clothing with sleeves that covers your up- ficial substance such as saccharin added to
per body food to make it sweet 2. a bribe She was
sweatshirt / swet#
t/ noun a thick cot- accused of taking sweeteners from building
sweatshirt
ton shirt with long sleeves contractors.

sweatshop / swetp/ noun a small fac- sweetheart / swi
th
t/ noun a boy-
sweetheart
sweatshop
tory where people work for long hours and friend or girlfriend (old) They were
get paid very little money sweethearts when they were at school or
sweaty / sweti/ adj feeling slightly wet
sweaty
They were childhood sweethearts.
sweetness / swi
tns/ noun a state of
sweetness
with sweat
swede /swi
d / noun a common vegetable
swede
being sweet
sweet pepper /swi
t pep/ noun a red,
sweet pepper
with a round root and yellow flesh, used

mainly in soups and stews yellow or green vegetable, eaten raw in sal-
sweep /swi
p/ (sweeps, sweeping, ads, fried, or baked in the oven
sweep
sweet potato /swi

t p tet / noun a
sweet potato
swept) verb 1. to clear up dust and dirt |
from the floor with a brush Have you vegetable like a long red potato with sweet
swept the kitchen floor yet? 2. to move rap- yellow flesh
swell /swel/ verb (swells, swelling,
swell
idly She swept into the room with a glass

of wine in her hand. The party swept to swelled, swollen or swelled) to become
swelling 630
larger, usually because of an illness or inju- swindle / swnd()l/ (swindles, swin-
swindle
ry Her feet started to swell. More peo- dling, swindled) verb to get money from
ple arrived to swell the crowd outside the someone by a trick She said she had been
shop. noun the movement of large waves swindled by the bank. He swindled the
in the open sea The boat rose and fell old lady out of 10,000. (NOTE: + swindle
with the swell. Theres a heavy swell run- n)
ning. swine /swan/ noun 1. pigs (old) 2. an un-
swine
swelling / swel/ noun a condition

swelling
pleasant man (insult) Hes a swine he

where liquid forms in part of the body, keeps us working all day long and pays us
making that part swell up peanuts. You rotten swine!
swell up verb to become larger or to in- swing /sw/ verb (swings, swinging,
swell up swing
crease in size She was bitten by an insect swung) to move from side to side or for-
and her hand swelled up. wards and backwards, while hanging from
sweltering / swelt()r/ adj very hot
sweltering
a central point Swing your arms round to
swept /swept/ past tense and past partici-
swept
warm up the muscles. He swung up and
ple of sweep down on the garden swing. A window
swung open and a man looked out. noun
swerve /sw#
v/ (swerves, swerving,
swerve
a seat held by two ropes or chains, to sit on

swerved) verb to move suddenly to one and move backwards and forwards, usually
side They think the car swerved to the left outdoors a garden swing
and hit a wall. She had to swerve to avoid swipe /swap/ noun a punch He took a
swipe
the bicycle. (NOTE: + swerve n) swipe at the man who tried to steal his wal-
swift /swft/ adj very fast Their phone
swift
let. verb (swipes, swiping, swiped) 1. to

call brought a swift response from the po- steal (informal) 2. to pass a credit card or
lice. charge card through a machine that reads
swig /sw(/ (swigs, swigging, swigged)
swig
its details 3. to hit someone or or something

verb to drink something in large mouthfuls or try to hit someone or something
(informal) They stopped and swigged wa- swipe card / swap k
d/ noun a credit
swipe card
ter from a bottle. card or charge card which can be read by

swill /swl/ (swills, swilling, swilled) verb
swill
an electronic machine
1. to wash a floor with a lot of water 2. to swirl /sw#
l/ noun a twisting movement
swirl
drink a lot of alcohol swilling pints of Swirls of smoke came out of the chimney.
beer verb (swirls, swirling, swirled) to move
swim /swm/ verb (swims, swimming, with a twisting motion Clouds of smoke
swim
swam, swum) to move in the water using were swirling round the factory.
your arms and legs to push you along She swish /sw/ (swishes, swishing,
swish
cant swim, but shes taking swimming les- swished) verb to move making a regular
sons. She swam across the English Chan- quiet sound We sat by the motorway, lis-
nel. Salmon swim upstream to get to their tening to the cars swishing past. (NOTE: +
spawning grounds. noun an occasion swish n)
when you swim What about a swim be- switch /swt / noun a small object
switch
fore breakfast? Its too cold for a swim. which you push up or down to stop or start
swimmer / swm/ noun a person who is
swimmer
a piece of electrical equipment The

swimming switch to turn off the electricity is in the
swimming / swm/ noun the activi- cupboard. There is a light switch by the
swimming
ty or sport of moving through water using bed. verb (switches, switching,

your arms and legs switched) 1. to do something different sud-
swimming costume
swimming costume / swm denly [~from/to/~between] We decided to

kstju
m/ noun a piece of clothing worn switch from gas to electricity. He likes to
by women or girls when swimming switch between working in television and
the theatre. 2. to change or exchange some-
swimming pool / swm pu
l/ noun a
swimming pool
thing Lets switch places. He switched

large pool for swimming flights in Montreal and went on to Calgary.
swimming trunks / swm trks/
swimming trunks
switch off phrasal verb 1. to make an

plural noun short trousers worn by men and piece of electrical equipment stop
boys when swimming Dont forget to switch off the TV before
swimsuit / swmsu
t/ noun a one-piece
swimsuit
you go to bed. She forgot to switch her

swimming costume for women and girls car lights off or switch off her car lights.
631 synonymous
The kettle switches itself off automati-
obvious. 2. a movement in literature and art
cally when it boils. 2. to stop listening to in the 19th century in which feelings were
what someone is saying (informal) If not expressed in a straightforward way
you talk too slowly, everyone starts to symmetrical /s metrk()l/ adj with
symmetrical
switch off. I just switched off once the two sides exactly the same
discussion started getting too technical.
symmetry / smtri/ noun a state
symmetry
switch on phrasal verb to make a piece of

where two sides of something are exactly
electrical equipment start Can you the same
switch the radio on its time for the
sympathetic / smp etk / adj
sympathetic
evening news. When you put the light |
on in the bathroom, the fan switches itself showing that you understand someones
on automatically. problems
sympathise / smpaz/ (sympathis-
sympathise
switchboard / swtb
d/ noun a cen-
switchboard
tral point in a telephone system, where all es, sympathising, sympathised), sympa-
internal and external lines meet thize verb 1. to show that you understand
swivel / swv()l/ (swivels, swivelling,
swivel
someones problems [~with] My husband
swivelled) verb to turn around a point snores too I sympathise! I get back
Swivel your chair to face the monitor. He pains, and I sympathise with all fellow suf-
swivelled round in his chair and looked out ferers. 2. to agree with or support someone
of the window. or something [~with] I sympathise with
swollen / swln/ past participle of
swollen their goals but not their methods of achiev-
swell adj much bigger than usual
ing them
sympathy / smpi/ noun a feeling
sympathy
swoop /swu
p/ (swoops, swooping,
swoop
swooped) verb to come down quickly of understanding for someone elses prob-
The planes swooped (down) low over the lems, or after someones death [~for] I
enemy camp. have no sympathy for those students who
swop /swp/ noun, verb same as swap
swop didnt work hard. We received many mes-
sages of sympathy when my wife died.
sword /s
d/ noun a weapon with a han-
sword
symphony / smfni/ (plural sympho-

symphony
dle and a long sharp blade

nies) noun a long piece of music in several
swordfish / s
df/ noun a fish with a
swordfish
parts, called movements, played by a full

long pointed upper jaw like a sword orchestra
swore /sw
/ past tense of swear
swore
symptom / smptm/ noun 1. a

symptom
swot /swt/ verb (swots, swotting, swot-

swot
change in the body, showing that a disease

ted) to study hard noun a person who you
is present He has all the symptoms of flu.
dislike because they study very hard 2. a visible sign which shows that some-
swum /swm/ past participle of swim
swum
thing is happening Factory closures are

swung /sw/ past tense and past partici-
swung
seen as a symptom of economic failure.

ple of swing symptomatic /smpt mtk/ adj
symptomatic
sycamore / skm
/ noun a large tree
|
sycamore
showing that something exists (formal )

of the maple family
synagogue / sn((/ noun a building
synagogue
syllable / slb()l/ noun a whole

syllable
where people of the Jewish faith pray and

word or part of a word which has one sin- study their religion
gle sound. monosyllable
syndicate / sndkt/ noun a group of
syndicate
syllabus / slbs/ (plural syllabi or syl-

syllabus
labuses) noun a list of subjects to be stud-

people or companies working together to
make money a German finance syndicate
ied
syndrome / sndrm/ noun 1. a group
syndrome
symbol / smbl/ noun a sign, letter,

symbol
picture or shape which means something of symptoms which, taken together, show
or shows something [~of/~for] The crown that a particular disease is present Their
was the symbol of the empire. The olive daughter has Downs syndrome. 2. a gener-
branch is a symbol of peace. Pb is the al feeling or way of approaching a situation
Its an example of the lets go home ear-
chemical symbol for lead. (NOTE: Do not
confuse with cymbal.) ly on Friday afternoon syndrome.
synonym / snnm/ noun a word which
synonym
symbolism / smblz()m/ noun 1. us-

symbolism
ing symbols to express things such as feel- means almost the same as another word
synonymous /s nnms/ adj meaning
synonymous
ings The symbolism of chopping down |
the orchard as the old man watched was the same

synopsis 632
synopsis /s npss / (plural synopses) out through a needle to give an injection
synopsis
noun a short text, giving the basic details of I close my eyes when I see the dentists sy-
something ringe ready.
syntax / sntks/ noun the grammati- syrup / srp/ noun a sweet liquid To
syntax
syrup
cal rules for putting words together into make syrup, dissolve sugar in a cup of boil-
phrases ing water.
synthesis / snss/ (plural syntheses)
synthesis
system / sstm/ noun 1. a group of

system
noun producing something by combining a

number of smaller elements things which work together the system of
motorways or the motorway system the
synthetic /sn etk/ adj made from
synthetic
London underground railway system 2. a

|
artificial materials The coat she was

wearing was made of synthetic fur. way in which things are organised [~for]
Ive got my own system for dealing with in-
syphilis / sfls/ noun a serious sexually
syphilis
voices.
transmitted disease
systematic /sst mtk/ adj well-or-
systematic
syphon / saf()n/ another spelling of si-

syphon
|
phon ganised
syringe /s rnd/ noun a surgical instru- systems analyst / sstmz nlst/
systems analyst
syringe
ment made of a tube with a plunger which noun a person who examines computer
slides down inside it, forcing the contents systems
T
t /ti
/, T noun the twentieth letter of the al- of information about famous people, and
t
phabet, between S and U not much serious news (NOTE: Large format
ta /t
/ interj thank you (informal) newspapers are called broadsheets.)
ta
tab /tb/ noun 1. a small piece of paper or taboo /t bu

/ adj not talked about be-
tab taboo
cloth which sticks out from a surface, used, cause of being rude or embarrassing
e.g., for pulling open a box Pull the tab Talking about pay rises is taboo in this of-
up to lift the cover off the box. 2. a piece of fice. Money used to be a taboo subject at
metal which you pull to open a drinks can home. noun a custom which forbids
The tab of the beer can came off when I something There is a taboo against eat-
tried to open it. 3. to pick up the tab to ing pork in the Muslim religion.
pay the bill (informal) Ill take you all out tack /tk/ noun 1. a small nail with a wide
tack
to lunch the company will pick up the tab. head 2. (in sewing) a loose stitch used to
4. the tab key on a keyboard to keep tabs
hold cloth in place when making clothes,
on someone to keep watch on someone
which can be removed later She put in a
Im not too happy about the performance row of tacks to show where the pockets
of our new representative in the Far East
were to go. 3. a movement of a sailing boat
you had better keep tabs on him for a
while. in a certain direction as it sails against the
wind verb (tacks, tacking, tacked) 1. to
tabby / tbi/ noun a cat with brown or or-
tabby
nail something down using tacks He

ange stripes tacked down the edge of the carpet. 2. to
tab key / tb ki
/ noun a key on a key-
tab key
make a loose stitch which will be taken out

board which you press to jump forward to later She tacked up the hem of her skirt.
a set place on the line to change tack to start doing something
table / teb()l/ noun 1. a piece of fur-
table
different Originally he offered to pay all

niture with a flat top and legs, used to eat the costs of the party and then changed
or work at We had breakfast sitting round tack and asked everyone to pay for them-
the kitchen table. He asked for a table by selves.
the window. She says she booked a table tack on phrasal verb to add something at
for six people for 12.30. 2. a list of num- the end
bers, facts, or information set out in an or-
tackle / tk()l/ verb (tackles, tack-
tackle
ganised way
tablecloth / teb()lkl/ noun a cloth
tablecloth
|
ling, tackled) 1. to try to deal with a prob-
which covers a table during a meal lem or job You cant tackle a job like
tablespoon / teb()lspu
n / noun 1. a
tablespoon
changing the central heating system on
large spoon for serving food at table 2. an your own. You start cleaning the dining
amount held in a tablespoon Add two ta- room and Ill tackle the washing up. 2. (in
blespoons of sugar. football, etc.) to try to get the ball from an
opposing player He was tackled before
tablet / tblt/ noun a small round pill
tablet
taken as medicine Take two tablets before he could score. noun equipment He
meals. brought his fishing tackle with him.
tacky / tki/ (tackier, tackiest) adj look-
tacky
table tennis / teb()l tens/ noun a

table tennis
game similar to tennis, but played on a ing cheap and of bad quality The decora-
large table with a net across the centre, tions were expensive, but they just look
with small round bats and a very light tacky.
taco / tk/ noun a Mexican savoury
taco
white ball
tabloid / tbld/ noun a newspaper with
tabloid
pastry that is filled with meat and vegeta-

a small page size, usually containing a lot bles, and cooked until it is hard
tact 634
tact /tkt/ noun being careful not to of- ments. This course is tailored to the
tact
fend people, being careful to say the right needs of women going back to work.
thing tailor-made /tel med/ adj made to
tailor-made
tactful / tktf()l/ adj showing tact fit certain needs

tactful
tactic / tktk/ noun a way of doing take /tek/ (takes, taking, took, taken)
take
tactic
something so as to get an advantage (often verb 1. to lift and move something She
plural) His tactic is to wait until near took the pot of jam down from the shelf.
closing time, when the supermarket reduc- The waiter took the tablecloth off the table.
es the price of bread. 2. to carry something to another place
tactless / tktls/ adj offensive, not al-
tactless
Can you take this cheque to the bank for
ways intentionally me, please? 3. to go with someone or
something to another place Hes taking
tad /td/ a tad a little, a bit Ill have a
tad
the children to school. They took the car

tad more, if I may. I thought that lesson to the garage. We took a taxi to the hotel.
was a tad boring. 4. to steal something Someones taken my
tadpole / tdpl/ noun a frog in its first
tadpole
watch. 5. to go away with something which

stage after hatching, when it has a body someone else was using Someone has
and tail taken the newspaper I was reading.
taffeta / tft/ noun a stiff shiny materi-
taffeta
Whos taken my cup of coffee? 6. to use or

al often used to make womens clothes occupy something Sorry, all these seats
tag /t(/ noun 1. a label or a piece of pa-
tag
are taken. 7. to do a test You must go to

per or plastic attached to something to bed early because youll be taking your ex-
show e.g. a price, contents, or someones ams tomorrow morning. She had to take
name and address 2. a childrens game her driving test three times before she fi-
where the first child has to try to touch an- nally passed. 8. to accept something If
other one who then chases the others in they offer you the job, take it immediately.
turn They were playing tag in the school 9. to do certain actions We took our holi-
playground. verb (tags, tagging, tagged) day in September this year. Shes taking
to attach a label to something a shower after going to the beach. She
tai chi /ta ti
/ noun a Chinese form of took a photograph or took a picture of the
tai chi
very slow physical exercise aimed at assist- Tower of London. She needs to take a
ing relaxation and improving balance rest. 10. to need a certain amount of time or
tail /tel/ noun 1. a long thin part at the
tail
number of people It took three strong
end of the body of an animal or bird, which men to move the piano. They took two
can move All you could see was a slight days or it took them two days to get to Lon-
movement of the cats tail. The dog don. When he wants to watch a TV pro-
rushed up to him, wagging its tail. 2. an gramme it never seems to take him long to
end or back part of something The tail of finish his homework. to take place to
the queue stretched round the corner and happen The reception will take place on
into the next street. I prefer to sit near the Saturday.
tail of the aircraft. take after phrasal verb to look like a par-
tail off phrasal verb to become fainter or ent or relative
less take away phrasal verb 1. to remove
something or someone Take those scis-
tailback / telbk/ noun a long line of
tailback
sors away from little Nicky he could cut

cars that is moving very slowly, or not himself. The ambulance came and took
moving at all her away. The police took away piles of
tailgate / tel(et/ noun US a door at the
tailgate
documents from the office. 2. to subtract

back of a car, that opens to give access to one number from another ( NOTE: Take
the storage space He had difficulty shut- away is usually shown by the sign : 10
ting the tailgate over the box. 4 = 6: say ten take away four equals six.)
tail light / tel lat/ noun a back light of a
tail light
take back phrasal verb 1. to go back

vehicle with something If the trousers are too
tailor / tel/ noun a person who makes
tailor
short you can take them back to the shop.

clothes for men He gets all his clothes 2. to accept something which someone
made by a tailor in Oxford Street. verb has brought back I took my trousers to
(tailors, tailoring, tailored) to adapt some- the shop where I had bought them, but
thing to fit a particular need The pay- they wouldnt take them back because I
ments can be tailored to suit your require- didnt have a receipt. 3. to withdraw
635 talent
something which has been said, and apol- you now. When our history teacher was
ogise for it I take it all back theyre a ill, the English teacher had to take over
marvellous team. his classes. The Socialists took over
take down phrasal verb 1. to reach up and from the Conservatives. 2. to buy a busi-
bring something down I took the jar ness by buying most of its shares The
down from the shelf. 2. to bring some- company was taken over by a big group
thing down which had been put up On last month.
January 6th we take down the Christmas take to phrasal verb 1. to start to do some-
decorations. They have finished the thing as a habit Hes taken to looking
roof and are taking down the scaffolding. under his bed every night to make sure no
3. to write down The policeman took one is hiding there. Shes recently tak-
down his name and address. en to wearing trousers to work. 2. to start
take in phrasal verb 1. to bring inside to like someone She took to her boss
something which was outside In Octo- right away.
ber they took in the lemon trees from the take up phrasal verb 1. to fill a space or
gardens. 2. to understand something I time This settee takes up too much
dont think she took in anything of what room. Being in charge of the staff
you said. 3. to deceive someone Thou- sports club takes up too much of my time.
sands of people were taken in by the ad- 2. to remove something which was on a
vertisement. 4. to make a piece of floor or other low surface You will need
clothing smaller Can you take these to take up the rugs if you want to polish
trousers in? Theyre much too loose the floor. 3. to start to do a certain activity
She was over fifty when she took up
round the waist.
take off phrasal verb 1. to remove
long-distance running. 4. to take
something, especially your clothes He someone up on something to accept an
offer made by someone He asked me if
took off all his clothes or he took all his
clothes off. Take your dirty boots off I wanted two tickets to Wimbledon and I
took him up on his offer. 5. to make some-
before you come into the kitchen. hat 2. thing such as a skirt or dress shorter
to make an amount smaller He took 25 Can you take up the hem of this coat?
off the price. 3. (of a plane) to leave the
takeaway / tekwe/ noun a shop where
takeaway
ground The plane took off at 4.30. 4. to

start to rise fast Sales took off after the you can buy cooked food to eat somewhere
TV commercials. 5. to imitate someone in else Theres an Indian takeaway round
a funny way He likes to make everyone the corner. We had a Chinese takeaway.
noun, adj a hot meal that you buy in a
laugh by taking off the head teacher.
shop and eat somewhere else We had a
take on phrasal verb 1. to agree to do a
takeaway Chinese meal.
job Shes taken on a part-time job in
taken / tekn/ past participle of take
taken
addition to the one shes already got. 2.

takeoff / tekf/ noun 1. (of an aircraft)
takeoff
to agree to have someone as a worker

The shop has taken on four trainees. the act of leaving the ground The takeoff
We need to take on more staff to cope was without any problems. I always ask
with the work. 3. to fight someone It for a seat by the window, so that I can
seems he is taking on the whole govern- watch the takeoff. 2. an amusing imitation
ment. of someone He did a wonderful takeoff of
take out phrasal verb 1. to pull some- the head teacher.
takeover / tekv/ noun 1. the buying
takeover
thing out He took out a gun and waved

it around. The dentist had to take my of a controlling interest in a business by
tooth out. 2. to invite someone to go out buying more than 50% of the shares The
Im taking all the office staff out for a takeover may mean that a lot of people will
drink. to take it out on someone to lose their jobs. 2. occupying a country and
make someone suffer because you are removing the government Many people
upset or worried He keeps on taking it were killed during the military takeover.
talcum powder / tlkm pad/ noun
talcum powder
out on his secretary.

take over phrasal verb 1. to start to do soft scented powder, used to soften the skin
something in place of someone else or reduce rubbing
tale /tel/ noun a story (literary)
tale
Miss Black took over from Mr Jones on

talent / tlnt/ noun an ability or skill
talent
May 1st. Thanks for looking after the

switchboard for me Ill take over from [~for] At university, he showed a talent for
talented 636
acting. Her many talents include singing tame /tem/ (tamer, tamest) adj a tame
tame
and playing the piano. animal can live with people because it is no
talented / tlntd/ adj with a lot of tal- longer wild Dont be afraid of that fox
talented
ent hes perfectly tame.

tamper / tmp/ (tampers, tampering,
tamper
talisman / tlzmn/ noun an object be-

talisman
lieved to give protection to somebody car- tampered) verb to tamper with some-
rying or wearing it thing to change something that you should
talk /t
k/ verb (talks, talking, talked)
talk
not touch Someone has been tampering
with the weighing machine. I hope no one
to say things, to speak [~about/~to/with] I tampered with the test sample.
didnt understand what he was talking
tampon / tmpn/ noun a tube of ab-
tampon
about. We must talk to the neighbours

about their noisy dog it kept me awake sorbent material placed inside the vagina to
again last night. We talked for hours. soak up menstrual blood I need to buy a
noun 1. a conversation, a discussion [~with] packet of tampons from the chemist.
tan /tn/ noun a brownish-yellow colour
tan
I had a long talk with my father about

what I should study at university. We had of the skin after being in the sun She got
a little talk, and she agreed with what the a tan from spending each day on the beach.
committee had decided. 2. a lecture about a suntan verb (tans, tanning, tanned) to
subject [~on] He gave a short talk on the get brown from being in the sun She tans
history of the town. easily just half an hour in the sun and
talk into phrasal verb to talk someone shes quite brown.
tandem / tndm/ noun a bicycle for
tandem
into doing something to persuade some-

one to do something The salesman two people Im sure thats the second
talked us into buying a new car. time today weve passed that couple on
talk over phrasal verb to discuss some- their tandem. in tandem together, in
thing pairs They worked in tandem for many
talk round phrasal verb to persuade years.
tandoori /tn dri/ (plural tandooris)
tandoori
someone to change their mind |
noun 1. a method of Indian cooking where

talkative / t
ktv/ adj liking to talk a
talkative
the food is usually marinated in yoghurt

lot, or sometimes too much and spices, then cooked in a traditional
talker / t
k / noun a person who talks a
talker
clay oven 2. food cooked in this way

lot tangent / tndnt/ noun a line which
tangent
tall /t
l/ adj high, usually higher than
tall
touches a curve without cutting through it

normal the tallest building in London The line AB forms a tangent to the circle
Can you see those tall trees over there? at the point P. to fly or to go off at a tan-
Hes the tallest boy in his class. How tall gent, to go off on a tangent to start talking
are you? Im 1 metre 68 centimetres. about something quite different He sud-
His brother is over six feet tall. (NOTE: Tall denly flew off at a tangent and started talk-
is used with people and thin things like trees ing about his car. She went off at a tan-
or skyscrapers; for things which are a long gent almost from the beginning of the dis-
way above the ground use high: high cussion.
clouds, a high mountain.) tangerine /tnd ri
n/ noun a kind of
tangerine
tally / tli/ noun a note, account or score

tally
small orange with soft skin which peels

Whats the tally in the race so far? easily
Weve had two crashes and four retire- tangible / tndb()l/ adj which is real
tangible
ments through mechanical failure. The or noticeable

scorer keeps a tally of the runs scored. tangle with phrasal verb to get into an ar-
Did you keep a tally of all your expenses? gument with someone Tourists are ad-
verb (tallies, tallying, tallied) to agree vised not to tangle with the local football
The totals in the two columns dont tally. supporters.
The figures in my notebook tally with the tango / t(/ noun a South American
tango
computer figures. dance for two people, where you glide

talon / tln/ noun the big claw of a bird
talon
sideways
of prey tank /tk/ noun 1. a large container
tank
tambourine /tmb ri
n/ noun a small
tambourine
| for liquids How much oil is left in the

drum with metal discs attached to the rim, tank? 2. an army vehicle which is covered
so that they jangle when it is hit in strong metal, has tracks instead of
637 task force

wheels and has powerful guns Tanks cigarettes verb (tars, tarring, tarred) to
rolled along the main streets of the town. cover with melted tar a special machine
tankard / tkd/ noun a large mug for for tarring roads
tankard
drinking beer tarantula /t rntjl/ noun a large

tarantula
tanker / tk/ noun a ship or lorry for mildly poisonous tropical spider
tanker
carrying liquids, especially oil target / t

(t/ noun 1. an object which
target
tanned /tnd/ adj brown from having

tanned
you aim at e.g. with a gun His last shot

been exposed to the sun missed the target altogether. She hit the
tantrum / tntrm/ noun a sudden at- target three times in all. 2. a goal which
tantrum
tack of uncontrollable bad temper you try to reach [~of] to set targets to fix
tap /tp/ noun an object which you quantities of work which employees have
tap
turn in order to let liquid or gas come out of to produce to meet a target to produce
a pipe He washed his hands under the tap the quantity of goods or sales which is ex-
in the kitchen. verb (taps, tapping, pected We need to set targets for our
tapped) to hit something gently [~on] sales staff to meet. to miss a target not to
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. on produce the amount of goods or sales
tap available when you need it We should which is expected The factory missed its
have all this information on tap. production targets again this year.
tape /tep/ noun 1. a long narrow piece tariff / trf/ noun 1. a tax to be paid for
tape tariff
of cloth or plastic She stitched tape along importing or exporting goods 2. a list of
the bottom of the sleeves to stop it fraying. prices for things such as electricity, gas or
2. same as magnetic tape magnetic tape water The new winter tariff will be intro-
special plastic tape on which sounds and duced next week.
pictures can be recorded, also used for re- Tarmac / t
mk/ trademark a trade-
Tarmac
cording computer data on tape recorded mark for a hard road surface made of tar
on magnetic tape We have the whole con- mixed with small stones The sun was so
versation on tape. verb (tapes, taping, hot, the Tarmac was starting to melt.
taped) 1. to record something on tape or on tarnish / t
n/ (tarnishes, tarnishing,
tarnish
video The whole conversation was taped tarnished) verb 1. (of metal ) to become dis-
by the police. I didnt see the programme coloured Silver tarnishes easily on con-
because I was at work, but Ive taped it. 2. tact with the air. 2. to ruin a reputation
to attach something with sticky tape She The sex scandal has irreparably tarnished
taped up the box before taking it to the post his reputation as a politician.
office.
tarot / tr/ noun a special set of cards
tarot
tape deck / tep dek/ noun a part of a

tape deck
with pictures on them, such as the Emper-

stereo system, which plays tapes or, the Pope, the Hanged Man and the Fool,
tape measure / tep me/ noun a
tape measure
used in telling fortunes

measuring tape, a long strip marked in cen-
tarpaulin /t
p
ln/ noun a piece of
tarpaulin
timetres or inches, used for measuring |
thick waterproof canvas, used to cover

taper / tep/ (tapers, tapering, tapered)
taper
things left outside

verb 1. to make something thinner at the
tart /t
t/ noun a woman who looks or
tart
end You will need to taper the piece of

wood to make it fit into the hole. 2. to be- dresses like a prostitute (offensive)
tartan / t
t()n/ noun a distinctive pat-
tartan
come thinner at the end Her new shoes

taper to a point. tern in such a cloth, worn by members of a
taper off phrasal verb to become less Scottish clan My Scottish grandmother
thick, strong, large, etc. Interest in the gave me a rug with the Mackay tartan on it
project seems to have tapered off. or a Mackay tartan rug.
tapestry / tpstri / (plural tapestries) task /t
sk/ noun something, especial-
task
tapestry
noun a thick woven cloth with a picture or ly a piece of work, that has to be done He
design, usually hung on walls or used to had the unpleasant task of telling his moth-
cover chairs The walls were hung with er about it.
taskbar / t
skb
/ noun a display on a
taskbar
tapestries.
tap water / tp w
t/ noun water computer screen with symbols showing
tap water
which comes through pipes into a building which programs are open and operating
tar /t
/ noun a similar black oily sub- task force / t
sk f
s/ noun a special
tar task force
stance which comes from burning tobacco group of people chosen to carry out a diffi-
cigarettes with low tar content or low tar cult task
tassel 638
tassel / ts()l/ noun a group of threads newspaper headline says TAXES TO GO
tassel
tied together to form a ball, with the ends UP.

hanging free taxation /tk se()n/ noun the ac-
taxation
taste /test/ noun 1. one of the five tion of imposing taxes

taste
senses, by which you can tell differences of tax evasion / tks ve()n/ noun il-
tax evasion
flavour between things you eat, using your legally trying not to pay tax
tongue She loves the taste of oranges. taxi / tksi/ noun a car which you can
taxi
Ive got a cold, so Ive lost all sense of hire with a driver Can you call a taxi to
taste. 2. a flavour of something that you eat take me to the airport? Why arent there
or drink The pudding has a funny or any taxis at the station today? There are
strange taste. Do you like the taste of no buses on Sunday afternoons, so we had
garlic? This milk shake has no taste at to take a taxi to the party. (NOTE: also often
all. verb (tastes, tasting, tasted) 1. to no- called a cab and sometimes taxicab)
tice the taste of something with your taxi rank / tksi rk/ noun a place in
taxi rank
tongue Can you taste the garlic in this the street where taxis can wait
soup? Shes got a cold so she cant taste taxpayer / tkspe/ noun a person who
taxpayer
anything. 2. to have a certain taste This pays tax, especially income tax
cheese tastes like soap. The bread tastes tax return / tks rt#
n/ noun a form to
tax return
vaguely of onions. The pudding tastes

|
be filled in to inform the tax office of your

very good. 3. to try food or drink to see if earnings and allowances
you like it Would you like to taste the
tea /ti
/ noun 1. a drink made from hot
tea
wine?
water which has been poured onto the
taste buds / test bdz/ plural noun are-
taste buds
dried leaves of a tropical plant Can I have

as on your tongue which enable you to tell another cup of tea or some more tea? I
differences in flavour dont like tea can I have coffee instead?
tasteful / testf()l/ adj showing good
tasteful
2. a cup of tea Can we have two teas and

taste two cakes, please? 3. the dried leaves of a
tasteless / testls/ adj 1. with no spe-
tasteless
tropical plant used to make a warm drink

cial flavour Chicken can be quite taste- Weve run out of tea, can you put it on your
less unless you add herbs to it. 2. showing shopping list? Put a spoonful of tea into
bad taste a restaurant with tasteless dec- the pot and add boiling water. 4. a meal
orations She made a tasteless remark eaten in the late afternoon or early evening
about her mothers dress. The children have had their tea.
tasty / testi/ (tastier, tastiest) adj teabag / ti
b(/, tea bag noun a small
tasty
teabag
with a pleasant taste paper bag with tea leaves in it which you
tattoo /t tu
/ noun 1. a decoration on
tattoo
|
put into the pot with hot water
skin made by pricking with a needle and teach /ti
t/ (teaches, teaching,
teach
putting colour into the wound She has a taught) verb to show someone how to do
little tattoo of a rose on her left shoulder. 2. something She taught me how to dance.
a military parade Crowds went to see the He teaches maths in the local school.
tattoo last night. teacher / ti
teacher
tatty / tti/ adj worn out, in bad condition

tatty
teaches, especially in a school Mr Jones

taught /t
taught
is our maths teacher. The French teacher

ciple of teach is ill today. He trained as a primary
taunt /t
nt/ (taunts, taunting, taunted)
taunt
school teacher. pet

verb to jeer at someone sarcastically He teaching / ti
t/ noun the work of
teaching
taunted the minister with or about his fi- being a teacher or of giving lessons The
nancial problems. (NOTE: + taunt n) report praised the high standard of teach-
Taurus / t
rs/ noun one of the signs of
Taurus
ing at the college. He was working in a

the Zodiac, shaped like a bull, covering the bank, but has decided to go into teaching
period 20th April to 20th May instead.
taut / t
t/ adj stretched tight teacup / ti
kp/ noun a cup for drinking
taut teacup
tax /tks/ noun money taken by the tea out of

tax
teak /ti
k/ noun 1. the hard wood of a trop-
teak
government from things such as peoples

incomes and sales, to pay for government ical tree, which is resistant to water, and is
services [~on] The government is plan- used for making things such as outdoor
ning to introduce a tax on food. You must furniture We bought some teak furniture
pay your tax on the correct date. The for the patio. The table is solid teak. 2.
639 teens
the large tropical tree which produces this ing tea Get out the best tea set because
wood the teak forests of Indonesia Aunt Flora is coming.
team /ti
m/ noun 1. a group of people COMMENT: A
tea set will include cups, sau-
team
who play a game together There are elev- cers, small plates, a large plate for cakes,
a teapot, milk jug and sugar basin.
en people in a football team and fifteen in
teaspoon / ti
spu
n/ noun a small spoon
teaspoon
a rugby team. Shes in the team for next

Saturdays game. 2. a group of people who for stirring tea or other liquid Can you
work together [~of] We have a team of bring me a teaspoon, please?
tea towel / ti
tal/ noun a cloth which
tea towel
scientists tracking the animals move-

ments. They make a very effective team. you use for drying plates and dishes
techie / teki/, tekkie noun a person who
techie
team-mate / ti
mmet/ noun someone in
team-mate
the same team as you understands the more technical aspects of

things such as computers (informal)
teamwork / ti
mw#
k/ noun working to-
teamwork
technical / teknk()l/ adj relating to

technical
gether as a group
industrial processes or practical work
teapot / ti
pt/ noun a container which is
teapot
Dont bother with the technical details of

used for making tea in how the machine works, just tell me what it
tear1 /t/ noun a drop of salt water
tear
does. The instructions are too technical

which forms in your eye when you cry for the ordinary person to understand.
Tears were running down her cheeks. to technicality /tekn klti/ noun a little,
technicality
burst into tears to suddenly start crying usually unimportant, detail which relates
in tears crying All the family were in to something
tears. technician /tek n()n/ noun a person
technician
tear2 /te/ verb (tears, tearing, tore, torn)

|
tear
who is a specialist in a particular area of in-

1. to make a hole in something by pulling dustry or science
He tore his trousers climbing over the technique /tek ni
k/ noun a way of
technique
fence. My coat is torn can it be mend- doing something [~for/~of] modern tech-
ed? 2. to pull something into small pieces niques of firefighting He developed a new
He tore the letter in half. She tore up
technique for processing steel.
old newspapers to pack the cups and sau- techno / tekn/ noun a type of fast
techno
cers. noun a place where something has a dance music using electronic instruments
hole in it from being torn Can you mend
technology /tek nldi/ noun the
technology
the tear in my jeans? wear and tear |
use or study of industrial or scientific skills

tear apart phrasal verb to pull something
We already have the technology to pro-
to pieces duce such a machine. The government
tear down phrasal verb 1. to knock some- has promised increased support for sci-
thing down They tore down the old ence and technology.
town hall and replaced it with a super- teddy bear / tedi be/, teddy (plural
teddy bear
market. 2. to remove a piece of paper or teddies) noun a childs toy bear The little
cloth which is hanging up The crowd boy was clutching his old teddy bear.
tore down the pictures of the president.
tedious / ti
dis/ adj boring
tedious
The police tore down the opposition par-

tee /ti
/ noun 1. a raised grass area on a
tee
tys election posters.

golf course where the ball is placed when
tearful / tf()l/ adj sad, crying
tearful
you begin to play each hole He is walking

tear gas / t (s/ noun gas which
tear gas
towards the sixteenth tee. 2. a little peg

makes your eyes burn, used by police to which is pushed into ground, on which the
control crowds golf ball is placed to start playing a hole
tear up phrasal verb to destroy something
tear up
The ground is so hard I can hardly stick my

such as a document by tearing it into small tee in.
pieces She tore up all her fathers letters. teenage / ti
ned/ adj referring to
teenage
to tear up an agreement to refuse to do young people aged between 13 and 19

what you have agreed to do the teenage years The teenage market for
tease /ti
z/ (teases, teasing, teased) verb
tease
their records is enormous.

to say or do something to annoy someone teenager / ti
ned/ noun a young
teenager
on purpose He teased her about her new person aged between 13 and 19 She
haircut. Stop teasing that poor cat. writes stories for teenagers.
tea set / ti
set/, tea service / ti
s#
vs / teens /ti
nz/ plural noun the age between
tea set teens
noun a set of matching china, used for serv- 13 and 19

teeny 640
teeny / ti
ni/ adj very small (informal) phone Your wife telephoned when you
teeny
teeshirt / ti
#
t/, T-shirt noun a light were out. Can you telephone me at ten
teeshirt
shirt with a round neck and no buttons or oclock tomorrow evening? I need to tel-
collar, usually with short sleeves ephone our office in New York. (NOTE: Tel-
teeter / ti
t/ (teeters, teetering, tee-
teeter
ephone is often shortened to phone: phone
tered) verb to wobble, to be very unstable call, phone book, but not in the expressions
telephone switchboard, telephone opera-
teeth /ti
/ plural of tooth
teeth
tor, telephone exchange.)

teethe /ti
/ (teethes, teething, teethed)
teethe
telephone box / telfn bks/ noun a

telephone box
verb (of a baby) to have the first teeth start-

shelter with windows round it containing a
ing to grow The baby wakes up at night public telephone (NOTE: often shortened to
because he is teething.
phone box)
teething problems / ti
teething problems
telephone directory / telfn da

telephone directory
prblmz/, teething troubles / ti
rekt()ri/ noun a book which lists names

trb()lz/ plural noun problems which
of people and businesses in alphabetical
happen when a new process or system is order with their phone numbers and ad-
being introduced We are experiencing
dresses
some teething problems with the new soft-
telephone exchange / telfn ks
telephone exchange
ware system. |
tend/ noun a central telephone switch-

teetotal /ti
tt()l/ adj who never
teetotal
board
drinks alcohol
telephone number / telfn
telephone number
TEFL abbr teaching of English as a for-

TEFL
nmb/ noun the number of a particular

eign language telephone (NOTE: often shortened to phone
tel abbr telephone
tel
number)
telecommunications /telikmju
n
telecommunications
telesales / teli selz/ noun same as tele-

telesales
| |
ke()nz/ plural noun a communication

|
marketing
system using e.g. telephone, radio, TV, sat- telescope / telskp/ noun a piece
telescope
ellites Thanks to modern telecommunica- of equipment for looking at objects which

tions, the information can be sent to our of- are very far away, consisting of a long tube
fice in Japan in seconds. (NOTE: also short- with a series of lenses in it With a tele-
ened to telecoms / telkmz/)
scope you can see the ships very clearly.
telecommuter / telikmju
t/ noun a
telecommuter
He watched the stars using a telescope in

person who works from home, using email his back garden.
and telephone as their main means of com- televise / telvaz/ (televises, televis-
televise
municating with the company they work ing, televised) verb to broadcast some-
for thing by television
teleconference / teli knf()rns/
teleconference
television /tel v()n/ noun 1.

| television
noun a meeting held by people in different sound and pictures which are sent through
places using telephone and television the air or along cables and appear on a spe-
telegram / tel(rm/ noun a message
telegram
cial machine television programmes He

sent by telegraph stayed in his room all evening, watching
telegraph pole / tel(r
f pl/, tele-
telegraph pole
television. 2. a piece of electrical equip-

graph post noun a pole which holds up a ment which shows television pictures I
telephone line switched off the television before going to
telemarketing / telm
kt/ noun
telemarketing
| bed. (NOTE: Television is often written or

the activity of selling goods and services spoken as TV / ti
vi
/ .)
by telephone teleworker / teliw#
k/ noun a person
teleworker
telepathy / t lepi / noun sending

telepathy
| who works from home, using telephone

thoughts or mental images from one per- and email as their principal way of com-
son to another without using the senses municating with the company they work
telephone / telfn/ noun a machine for
telephone
tell /tel/ (tells, telling, told) verb 1. to

tell
which you use to speak to someone who is

some distance away I was in the garden communicate something to someone, e.g. a
when you called, but by the time I got to the story or a joke She told me a long story
house the telephone had stopped ringing. about how she got lost in London. I dont
She lifted the telephone and called the am- think they are telling the truth. 2. to give in-
bulance. verb (telephones, telephoning, formation to someone [~how/what/whether
telephoned) to call someone using a tele- etc/~(that)/~about] She told me how to get
641 tender
there. He told the police that he had seen cient Greek or Roman We visited the
the accident take place. Dont tell my Greek temples on the islands.
mother you saw me at the pub. Nobody tempo / temp/ noun 1. a rhythm or the
tempo
told us about the picnic. 3. to tell some- beat of music The tempo of the band
one what to do to give someone instruc- speeded up as midnight approached. 2. the
tions The teacher told the children to speed at which something happens He
stand in a line. Give a shout to tell us found it difficult to keep up with the tempo
when to start. 4. to notice something of life in the City.
[~(that)] You can tell he is embarrassed temporarily /temp() rerli/ adv for a
temporarily
because his face goes red. He cant tell short time only
the difference between butter and marga-
temporary / temp()rri/ adj existing
temporary
rine.
or lasting only for a limited time She has
tell off phrasal verb to speak to some-
a temporary job with a construction com-
one angrily about something wrong he or pany. This arrangement is only tempo-
she has done (informal) rary.
teller / tel/ noun a clerk in a bank who
teller
tempt /tempt / (tempts, tempting,

tempt
takes in money or pays it out to customers tempted) verb to try to persuade someone
The teller told me that I couldnt cash the
to do something, especially something
cheque. pleasant or wrong Can I tempt you to
telling / tel/ adj which has a certain ef-
telling
have another cream cake? They tried to

fect tempt him to leave his job and work for
telltale / teltel/ adj which shows some-
telltale
them.
thing temptation /temp te()n/ noun 1. the
temptation
telly / teli/ noun a television (informal)

telly
state of being tempted 2. something which

temp /temp/ noun a worker who is ap- attracts people Putting chocolates near
temp
pointed for a short time We have two the cash desk is just a temptation for little
temps working in the office this week. children.
verb (temps, temping, temped) to work as tempting / tempt/ adj which attracts
tempting
a temp She has done some temping jobs. ten /ten/ noun the number 10
ten
Im temping for the moment until I can

tenacious /t nes/ adj holding on to
tenacious
find something permanent. an idea tightly her tenacious belief in so-

temper / temp/ noun the state of be-
temper
cialist principles
coming angry You have to learn to con- tenancy / tennsi/ noun a period during
tenancy
trol your temper. He has a violent temper. which a tenant has an agreement to rent a
She got into a temper.
property
temperament / temprmnt/ noun the
temperament
tenant / tennt/ noun a person or compa-

tenant
nature of a person ny that rents e.g. a room, a flat, a house, an

temperate / temp()rt/ adj which is
temperate
office or land in which to live or work

neither very hot nor very cold The tem- tend /tend/ (tends, tending, tended)
tend
perate forests of northern Europe have verb 1. to look after something His job is
been badly affected by acid rain. to tend the flower beds in front of the town
temperature / temprt/ noun 1.
temperature
hall. 2. to tend to do something to be

heat measured in degrees The tempera- likely to do something She tends to lose
ture of water in the swimming pool is 25. her temper very easily.
Temperatures at night can fall well below
tendency / tendnsi/ noun the way in
tendency
zero. We use this thermometer to take the which someone or something is likely to
patients temperature. 2. an illness where act The photocopier has a tendency to
your body is hotter than normal The doc- break down if you try to do too many copies
tor says hes got a temperature and has to at the same time. He has an unfortunate
stay in bed. tendency to sit in a corner and go to sleep
tempest / tempst/ noun a big storm (lit-
tempest
at parties.
erary) tender / tend/ adj 1. (of food) easy to cut
tender
template / templet/ noun something

template
|
or chew a plate of tender young beans
that is used as a pattern to make other sim- The meat was so tender, you hardly needed
ilar things a knife to cut it. 2. showing love The
temple / templ/ noun a building for
temple
plants need a lot of tender loving care. 3.

worship, usually Hindu or Buddhist, or an- painful when touched
tendon 642
tendon / tendn/ noun a piece of strong very enthusiastic His tepid reaction to my
tendon
tissue which attaches a muscle to a bone great plan disappointed me.

tenement / tenmnt / noun a large old tequila /t ki
l/ noun a strong Mexican
tenement tequila
building which is divided into flats alcoholic drink

tenet / tent/ noun a basic principle or be- term /t#
m/ noun 1. one of the parts of
tenet term
lief a school or university year The autumn

tenner / ten/ noun a ten pound note
tenner
term ends on December 15th. Next term

(informal) Ill be starting to learn the piano. 2. a word
tennis / tens/ noun a game for two or or phrase which has a particular meaning
tennis
four players who use rackets to hit a ball He used several technical terms which I
over a net Hes joined the local tennis didnt understand. Some people use dar-
club. Would you like a game of tennis? ling as a term of affection.
tenor / ten/ adj with a high pitch, similar terminal / t#
mn()l/ noun a building at
tenor terminal
to that of a tenor He plays the tenor sax- an airport where planes arrive or leave
ophone. He has a pleasant tenor voice. The flight leaves from Terminal 4. adj re-
Compare bass noun a man who sings ferring to the last period of a serious illness
with the highest male voice The tenors that will lead to death terminal cancer
start the song, followed by the sopranos. The condition is terminal.
ten-pin bowling /ten pn bl/ terminate / t#
mnet/ (terminates, ter-
ten-pin bowling terminate
noun a game where you roll a large ball and minating, terminated) verb to end some-
try to knock down ten targets, shaped like thing (NOTE: + termination n)
bottles terminology /t#
m nldi/ noun
terminology
tense /tens/ adj (tenser, tensest) nerv-

tense
special words or phrases used in a particu-

ous and worried I always get tense before lar subject area
going to an interview. The atmosphere in terminus / t#
mns/ (plural termini or
terminus
the hall was tense as everyone waited for terminuses) noun 1. a station at the end of
the result of the vote. noun the form of a a railway line Waterloo Station is the ter-
verb which shows the time when the action minus for Eurostar trains from Paris and
takes place Brussels. 2. the place at the end of a jour-
tension / tenn / noun 1. a state of
tension
ney by bus or coach We got off two stops

nervous anxiety Tension built up as we before the terminus.
waited for the result. 2. a state of hostility termite / t#
mat/ noun a tropical white
termite
between countries, races, or groups [~be- insect, like a large ant, which eats wood
tween] The talks are aimed at reducing
terrace / ters/ noun 1. a flat outdoor
terrace
tension between these neighbouring repub-

lics. 3. the state of being tight Theres a area which is raised above another area
lot of tension in your muscles. The guests had drinks on the terrace before
tent /tent/ noun a shelter made of cloth,
tent
going in to dinner. 2. a row of similar hous-
held up by poles and attached to the ground es connected together
terracotta /ter kt/ noun 1. a red clay
terracotta
with ropes |
tentacle / tentk()l/ noun a long arm

tentacle
used to make little statues, pots and tiles
with suckers, such as that of an octopus Terracotta flowerpots can crack in very
tenth /ten/ adj relating to number 10
tenth cold weather. 2. a dull red-brown colour
terrain /t ren/ noun a particular type of
terrain
in a series noun number 10 in a series |
tenuous / tenjus/ adj not strong, very

tenuous
land surface
terrestrial /t restril/ adj 1. referring to
terrestrial
slight |
tenure / tenj/ noun 1. a right to hold

tenure
the planet Earth 2. (of an animal or plant)
property or a position Freehold farmers which lives on land, not in water Mice
have tenure of their land. 2. a period when and rats are terrestrial animals. (NOTE: An-
you hold an office during his tenure as imals and plants that live in water are aquat-
honorary secretary 3. (in a college or uni- ic.)
terrible / terb()l/ adj very bad We
terrible
versity) a right to hold a job permanently

Hes on a contract but hopes to get tenure shouldnt have come to this party the mu-
next year. sics terrible. There was a terrible storm
tepid / tepd/ adj 1. slightly warm There last night.
tepid
terribly / terbli/ adv 1. very Im ter-

terribly
was no hot water left so my bath was only

tepid. Theres only a bit of coffee left in ribly sorry to have kept you waiting. The
your mug and its probably tepid. 2. not situation is terribly serious. 2. in a very bad
643 thank
way The farmers suffered terribly from test case / test kes/ noun a court case
test case
drought. in which the decision will establish a prin-

terrier / teri/ noun a small dog, original-
terrier
ciple which other cases can follow
testify / testfa/ (testifies, testifying,
testify
ly one used in hunting

terrific /t rfk/ adj 1. extremely good
terrific
testified) verb to give evidence in court
testimony / testmni/ noun a statement
|
testimony
We had a terrific time at the party. 2. very

big or loud There was a terrific bang and given in court about what happened
test tube / test tju
b / noun a small glass
test tube
the whole building collapsed.

tube, open at the top and with a rounded
terrified / terfad/ adj very frightened
terrified
bottom, used in laboratories to hold liquids

terrify / terfa / (terrifies, terrifying, ter-
terrify
during experiments Position the base of

rified) verb to make someone very fright- the test tube over the flame.
ened The sound of thunder terrifies me. tetanus / tet()ns/ noun a serious dis-
tetanus
territory / tert()ri/ (plural territo-

territory
ease caused by infection of a wound by

ries) noun 1. a large area of land They oc- bacteria in the soil, which affects the spinal
cupied all the territory on the east bank of cord and causes the jaw muscles to stiffen
the river. 2. land which belongs to a coun- tether / te/ noun a rope which attaches
tether
try A group of soldiers had wandered into an animal to a post The horse had slipped
enemy territory. 3. an area which an animal its tether and was galloping away down the
or bird thinks belongs only to it Animals street. verb (tethers, tethering, tethered)
often fight to defend their territories. to attach an animal to a post with a rope
terror / ter/ noun great fear They He tethered his horse to a post. to be at
terror
live in constant terror of terrorist attacks. the end of your tether to be unable to stand
terrorism / terrz()m/ noun a policy
terrorism
any more, to have lost all patience He
of using violence in a political cause Acts was at the end of his tether and resigned af-
of terrorism continued during the whole ter just one month in the job.
text /tekst/ noun the written parts of a
text
summer. The government has said that it

will not give in to terrorism. document or book, not the pictures Its a
book for little children, with lots of pictures
terrorist / terrst/ noun a person who
terrorist
and very little text.

practises terrorism Terrorists hijacked a textbook / tekstbk/ noun a book which
textbook
plane and told the pilot to fly to Rome. adj students use to learn about the subject they
referring to terrorism Terrorist attacks are studying
have increased over the last few weeks.
textile / tekstal/ noun cloth
textile
terse /t#
s/ adj concise, short, using few
terse
text message / tekst mesd / noun a

text message
words message sent by telephone, using short

tertiary / t#
ri/ adj referring to a third
tertiary
forms of words, which appear on the

stage, especially to the level of education screen of a mobile phone
after the secondary Shes studying at the text messaging / tekst mesd/
text messaging
local tertiary college. noun the action of sending text messages

texture / tekst/ noun the way in which
TESOL
TESOL abbr Teaching of English to

texture
Speakers of Other Languages the surface of a material can be felt the

test /test/ noun 1. an examination to
test
soft texture of velvet
textured / tekstd/ adj with a certain
textured
see if you know something We had an

English test yesterday. She passed her texture
than /n, n/ conj used to show a
than
driving test. 2. an examination to see if

something is working well The doctor comparison Its hotter this week than it
will have to do a blood test. It is a good was last week. prep used to link two parts
test of the cars ability to brake fast. verb of a comparison His car is bigger than
(tests, testing, tested) 1. to find out how mine. She was born in London, so she
well someone can do something or how knows it better than any other town. You
well someone knows something The cant get more than four people into this
teacher tested my spoken German. 2. to ex- lift. Its less than five kilometres to the
amine someone or something to see if eve- nearest station.
rything is working well We need to test thank /k/ (thanks, thanking,
thank
your reactions to noise and bright lights. thanked) verb to say or do something that
He has to have his eyes tested. She tested shows you are grateful to someone for do-
her new car in the snow. ing something for you She thanked the
thankful 644
policeman for helping her to cross the room. When it is the subject, that can be re-
street. Dont forget to thank Aunt Ann for placed by which or who: a house that has
her present. red windows or a house which has red win-
thankful / kf()l/ adj glad because a
thankful
dows; the man that stole the car or the man

worry has gone away. mercy who stole the car.) conj used after verbs
thanks /ks/ noun a word showing like say or think and adjectives like
thanks
that you are grateful We sent our thanks glad or disappointed, and after so or
for the gift. We did our best to help but such (after verbs like; and adjectives like)
got no thanks for it. The committee The restaurant was so expensive that we
passed a vote of thanks to the school for could only afford one dish. It rained so
having organised the meeting. Many hard that the street was like a river. We
thanks for your letter of the 15th. interj had such a lot of work that we didnt have
used to show you are grateful Do you any lunch. There was such a long queue
want some more tea? No thanks. Ive had that we didnt bother waiting. They told
two cups already. Anyone want a lift to me that the manager was out. I dont
the station? Thanks, its a long walk from think they knew that we were coming. Im
here. glad that the weather turned out fine.
Thanksgiving / ks(v / noun an
Thanksgiving
| (NOTE: That is often left out: He didnt know

American festival, celebrating the first har- we were coming; Its so hot in here we all
vest of the Pilgrims who settled in the Unit- want a drink of water.) adv to such a de-
ed States, on the fourth Thursday in No- gree You must remember him, its not all
vember that long ago that we had a drink with him.
COMMENT:
The traditional menu for His new car is not really that big.
Thanksgiving dinner is roast turkey with
thaw /
/ noun a time of warm weather
thaw
cranberry sauce, followed by pumpkin

pie. which makes snow and ice melt The thaw
thanks to / ks tu
/ prep used for
thanks to
came early this year. verb (thaws, thaw-
saying that someone or something is re- ing, thawed) to melt The ice is thawing
sponsible for something or to blame for on the village pond.
the //; before a vowel // article 1.
the
something
thank you / k ju
/ interj showing meaning something in particular, as op-
thank you
that you are grateful Thank you very posed to a Wheres the book you
much for your letter of the 15th. Did you brought back from the library? Thats the
remember to say thank you to your grand- cat from next door. The town centre has
mother for the present? Would you like been made into a pedestrian zone. 2. used
another piece of cake? No thank you, Ive with something of which only one exists,
had enough. noun something that you do e.g. in the names of places an expedition
or say to show you are grateful Lets say to the Antarctic A spacecraft landed on
a big thank you to the people who organ- the moon. The sun came up over the hills.
ised the show. 3. used for referring to a thing in general
that /t/ adj used to show something
that
born on the 31st of January Theres noth-

or someone that is further away or in the ing interesting on the television tonight.
past Can you see that white house on the She refuses to use the telephone. The
corner over there? Do you remember the streets are crowded at lunchtime. Many
name of that awful hotel in Brighton? people were out of work during the 1990s.
Compare this pron something or some- Both sisters play the flute. 4. meaning
one that is further away Thats the book I something special Its the shop for mens
was talking about. Do you know who that clothes. Shes the doctor for childrens
is sitting at the next table? Is that the diseases. Thats not the Charlie Chaplin,
one? Yes, thats it. Compare this rela- is it? 5. used to compare The more he eats
tive pronoun used to give more information the thinner he seems to get. The sooner
about someone or something just men- you do it the better. This is by far the
tioned Where is the parcel that she sent shortest way to London. Shes the tallest
you yesterday? Can you see the man that person in the office.
sold you the ticket? Theres the suitcase the Antarctic
that you left on the train! (NOTE: When it is the Antarctic noun the area round the
the object of a relative clause, that can South Pole
theater / t/ noun US spelling of the-
theater
sometimes be left out: Wheres the letter he

sent you? Heres the box you left in the bed- atre
645 thermometer
theatre / t/ noun a building in theoretical / retk()l/ adj 1. refer-
theatre theoretical
which plays are shown Im trying to get ring to theories a theoretical study of the
tickets for the theatre tonight. What is the universe 2. not proved in practice She has
play at the local theatre this week? Well the theoretical power to dismiss any of the
have dinner early and then go to the thea- staff.
tre. (NOTE: The US spelling is theater.) theorist / rst/ noun a person who de-
theorist
theatrical /i trk()l/ adj 1. referring

theatrical
|
velops theories
to the theatre She had a distinguished theory / ri / (plural theories) noun 1.
theory
theatrical career before going into films. 2. an explanation of something which has not
exaggerated, dramatic and not natural been proved but which you believe is true
Throwing the letter on the floor and stamp- [~that/~about] I have this theory that the
ing on it was a bit theatrical. criminal wanted to be caught.She doesnt
theft /eft/ noun 1. the practice of stealing
theft
have any theories about why he never

2. an act of stealing Thefts in supermar- came back. 2. a careful scientific explana-
kets have increased enormously. tion of why something happens Galileo
their /e/ adj belonging to them Af-
their
put forward the theory that the earth turns

ter the film, we went to their house for sup- round the sun. 3. a statement of general
per. (NOTE: Do not confuse with there, principles which may not apply in practice
theyre.) In theory the treatment should work, but
theirs /ez/ pron the one that belongs
theirs
no one has ever tried it.

to them Which car is theirs the Ford? therapist / erpst/ noun a person who
therapist
Shes a friend of theirs. The girls wanted is specially trained to give therapy
to borrow my car theirs wouldnt start.
therapy / erpi/ noun the treatment of a
therapy
them /m, em/ pron 1. referring to

them
patient to help cure a disease or condition

people or things that have been mentioned
there /e/ adv 1. in that place Is that
there
before Do you like cream cakes? No, I

dont like them very much. Theres a black van still there parked outside the
group of people waiting outside. Tell house? Where have you put the tea?
them to come in. She saw her friends and There, on the kitchen counter. 2. to that
asked them to help her. 2. referring to a sin- place We havent been to the British Mu-
gle person, used instead of him or her If seum yet. Lets go there tomorrow.
someone phones, ask them to call back lat- Have you ever been to China? Yes, I went
er. there last month. 3. used when giving
theme /i
m/ noun the main subject of
theme
something to someone There you are:
a book or article The theme of the book is two fish and chips and a pot of tea. (NOTE:
how to deal with illness in the family. Do not confuse with their, theyre.) pron
used usually before the verb when the real
theme park / i
m p
k/ noun an amuse-
theme park
subject follows the verb Theres a little

ment park based on a single theme such as door leading onto the patio. Theres
a medieval castle someone at the door asking for you.
themselves /m selvz/ pron refer-
themselves
|
There are some pages missing in my news-
ring to the same people or things that are paper. Were there a lot of people at the
the subject of the verb Cats always spend cinema? There seems to have been a lot
a lot of time cleaning themselves. Its no of rain during the night.
use going to the surgery the doctors are
thereabouts /er bats / adv 1. near
thereabouts
all ill themselves. |
that place They live in Glasgow or there-

then /en/ adv 1. at that time in the past
then
abouts. 2. about that number They owe us

or future He had been very busy up till
250 or thereabouts.
then. Ever since then Ive refused to eat
therefore / ef
/ adv for this reason
therefore
oysters. Were having a party next week.

What a pity! Ill be in Scotland then. 2. I therefore have decided not to grant his
after that We all sat down, and then after request. They have reduced their prices,
a few minutes the waiter brought us the therefore we should reduce ours if we want
menu. It was a busy trip he went to to stay competitive.
thermal / #
m()l/ adj referring to heat
thermal
Greece, then to Italy and finally to Spain.

theology /i ldi/ noun the study of noun a rising current of warm air Hang-
theology
religion and the belief in God gliders rose into the air on thermals.
theorem / rm/ noun a statement thermometer / mmt/ noun an in-
theorem thermometer
which can be proved in mathematics strument for measuring temperature

thermostat 646
thermostat / #
mstt/ noun an in- thief /i
f / (plural thieves) noun a person
thermostat thief
strument which controls heating according who steals. thick

to a set temperature thigh /a / noun the part at the top of the
thigh
thesaurus / s
rs / (plural thesaurus-
thesaurus
| leg between your knee and your hip

es or thesauri) noun a book with words thimble / mb()l/ noun a small cup
thimble
collected into groups of similar meaning worn to protect the end of your finger when
these / i
z/ plural of this
these
sewing
thesis / i
ss/ (plural theses) noun 1. a thin /n/ (thinner, thinnest) adj 1. not
thesis thin
long piece of written research prepared by fat The table has very thin legs. He
a candidate for a higher university degree looks too thin he should eat more. 2. not
She is writing her thesis on the place of thick a plate of thin sandwiches The
women in Spanish literature. 2. a particular book is printed on very thin paper. The
point of view His thesis is that, the lower parcel was sent in a thin cardboard box. 3.
the income tax rate, the more people will (of a liquid) which flows easily, often be-
spend. cause of containing too much water All
they /e/ pron 1. referring to people or we had for lunch was a bowl of thin soup.
they
things Where do you keep the spoons? Add water to make the paint thinner.
Theyre in the right-hand drawer. Who thing / / noun 1. an object Can you
thing
are those people in uniform? Theyre see that black thing in the pan of soup?
traffic wardens. The children played in What do you use that big blue thing for? 2.
the sun and they all got sunburnt. 2. refer- something in general They all just sat
ring to people in general They say its go- there and didnt say a thing. The first
ing to be fine this weekend. thing to do is to call an ambulance. That
theyd /ed/ short form 1. they had 2. was a stupid thing to do! a good thing
theyd
they would something lucky Its a good thing there

theyll /el/ short form they will
theyll
was no police officer on duty at the door.
thingy / i/ noun something whose
thingy
theyre /e / short form they are (NOTE:

theyre
Do not confuse with their, there.) name you dont know or cant remember
think / k/ (thinks, thinking,
think
theyve / ev/ short form they have

theyve
thought) verb 1. to consider something,

thick /k / adj 1. bigger than usual
thick
when measured from side to side He cut e.g. in order to make a decision [~about/of]
She never thinks about how other people
a slice of bread which was so thick it
wouldnt go into the toaster. The walls of might feel. Whenever I think of him, I
the castle are three metres thick. Some smile. You need to think carefully before
oranges have very thick skins. He took a making your choice. 2. to have an opinion
piece of thick rope. 2. growing close to- or belief [~(that)/~of/about] I think Lon-
gether They tried to make their way don is a nicer town to live in than Frank-
through thick jungle. The field was cov- furt. Everyone thinks were mad to go on
ered with thick grass. 3. (of a liquid) which holiday in December. What did you think
cannot flow easily If the paint is too thick of the film? What will he think about my
add some water. A bowl of thick soup is new haircut? The gang is thought to be
just what we need on a cold day like this. based in Spain. 3. to make a plan to do
something [~(that)/~of/about] Were
thicken / kn/ (thickens, thickening,
thicken
thinking we might open an office in New

thickened) verb 1. to make something York. Ive been thinking about going to
thick Thicken the sauce with cornflour. 2. art college. to think twice to consider
to become thick The custard will thicken very carefully Think twice before you
when you heat it. sign that contract. Id think twice about
thicket / kt/ noun a small wood of
thicket
spending all the money youve saved.

trees and bushes growing close together think about phrasal verb 1. to have some-
thickness / kns/ noun 1. the state of
thickness
one or something in your mind I was

being thick or the extent to which some- just thinking about you when you phoned.
thing is thick 2. a layer of something All she thinks about is food. 2. to have
thick-skinned /k sknd/ adj able to an opinion about something What do
thick-skinned
stand a lot of criticism Luckily hes a you think about the governments plans
thick-skinned individual or he would be to increase taxes?
very upset at what the tabloids say about think of phrasal verb 1. to consider a plan
him. in your mind We are thinking of going
647 though
to Greece on holiday. 2. to have an opin- thirsty / #
sti/ adj feeling that you
thirsty
ion about something What do you think want to drink Its so hot here that it
of the governments plans to increase makes me thirsty.
taxes? I didnt think much of the play. thirteen /#
ti
n/ noun the number
thirteen
She asked him what he thought of her 13

idea. to think better of something to thirteenth /#
ti
n/ adj relating to
thirteenth
change your mind about something He number 13 in a series noun number 13 in

was going to pay the whole cost himself, a series
and then thought better of it. to tell
thirtieth / #
t/ adj relating to number
thirtieth
someone what you think of something

to criticise something He went up to her 30 in a series (NOTE: With dates thirtieth is
usually written 30th: May 30th, 1921; June
and told her exactly what he thought of
30th, 1896 (American style is 30 June
her stupid idea. to think highly of
1896): say the thirtieth of June or June the
someone to have a high opinion of
thirtieth (American style is June thirtieth).)
someone to think nothing of doing
noun number 30 in a series
something to consider something nor-
thirty / #
ti/ noun the number 30
thirty
mal or easy She thinks nothing of work-

ing ten hours a day. think nothing of it! Hes thirty (years old). thirties the num-
please dont bother to thank me for it bers between 30 and 39
this /s/ adj, pron used to show some-
this
think out phrasal verb to consider some-

thing carefully in all its details thing which is nearer or in the present, in
think over phrasal verb to consider a plan contrast to something else This is the
or proposal very carefully shop I was telling you about. I prefer
think through phrasal verb to consider these earrings to those ones. I saw him
something carefully in all its details on the train this morning. My mother is
think up phrasal verb to invent a plan or coming for tea this afternoon. I expect to
new idea hear from him this week. adv so much
I knew you were going to be late, but I
thinker / k/ noun a person who
thinker
didnt expect you to be this late.

thinks
thistle / s()l/ noun a large wild plant
thistle
thinking / k/ noun the process of

thinking
with prickly leaves and purple flowers

reasoning about something
THNQ abbr thank you
THNQ
think tank / k tk/ noun a group of

think tank
thong // noun a rubber sandal held on

thong
advisers who are appointed to discuss im-

portant problems and suggest how they by a strap between the toes
thorn /
n/ noun a thin pointed part on
thorn
should be solved
third /#
d/ adj relating to number 3 in
third
some plants Most roses have thorns.
thorough / r/ adj 1. including eve-
thorough
a series She came third in the race. The

cake shop is the third shop on the right. rything that needs to be dealt with very
It will be her third birthday next Friday. carefully The police have carried out a
noun 1. number 3 in a series Her birthday thorough search of the woods. 2. used for
is on the third of March or March the third emphasis They made a thorough mess of
(March 3rd). 2. one of three equal parts of it. It was a thorough waste of time.
thoroughbred / rbred/ noun a horse
thoroughbred
something A third of the airlines planes

are jumbos. Two-thirds of the staff are of high quality whose parents and other
part-timers. relatives are all known
thirdly / #
dli/ adv as the third item on a thoroughfare / rfe/ noun a main
thirdly thoroughfare
list. Compare firstly, secondly road through a town, usually where there is
third party /#
d p
ti/ noun any per- a lot of traffic
third party
thoroughly / rli/ adv 1. in a complete

thoroughly
son other than the two main parties in-

volved in a contract or a civil case and careful way We searched the garden
third-rate /#
d ret/ adj quite bad. thoroughly but couldnt find his red ball. 2.
third-rate
Compare first-rate, second-rate used for emphasis Im thoroughly fed up

thirst / #
st/ noun 1. a feeling of wanting
thirst
with the whole business.
those /z/ plural of that
those
to drink Digging the garden has given me

though // adv, conj 1. used for
though
such a thirst! They ran to the mountain

stream to quench their thirst. 2. a feeling of mentioning something that makes some-
wanting something He studied at night to thing else seem surprising Though tired,
satisfy his thirst for knowledge. she still kept on running. We dont em-
thought 648
ploy a computer programmer, though many The police took the threat to the Prime
companies do. 2. but It is unlikely though Minister very seriously. Do you think
possible. as though as if His voice they will carry out their threat to bomb the
sounded strange over the telephone, as capital if we dont surrender?
though he was standing in a cave. That threaten / ret()n/ (threatens,
threaten
shirt doesnt look as though it has been threatening, threatened) verb to warn that
ironed. It looks as though there is no one you are going to do something unpleasant,
in. even though in spite of the fact that especially if someone does not do what
He didnt wear a coat, even though it was you want She threatened to go to the po-
snowing. lice. The teacher threatened her with
thought /
t/ past tense and past par-
thought
punishment.
ticiple of think noun an idea which you threatening / ret()n / adj suggesting
threatening
have when thinking [~of] I was terrified that something unpleasant will happen
at the thought of doing the exam. He had three /ri
/ noun the number 3 (NOTE:
three
an awful thought suppose they had left three (3) but third (3rd))
the bathroom taps running?
3-D /ri
di
/ noun vision in three dimen-
3-D
thoughtful /
tf()l/ adj 1. thinking
thoughtful
sions
about something a lot He looked thought-
three-quarters /ri
kw
tz/ plural
three-quarters
ful, and I wondered if there was something

wrong. 2. being sensitive to what other noun three fourths, 75%
threshold / rehld/ noun 1. a bar
threshold
people want It was very thoughtful of you

to come to see me in hospital. across the floor of a doorway She
thoughtless /
tls/ adj without
thoughtless
stopped at the threshold and looked back
thinking about other people into the room. 2. a point where something
thousand / az()nd / noun the
thousand
begins Shes on the threshold of a great
number 1,000 We paid two hundred thou- career in teaching.
threw /ru
/ past tense of throw (NOTE:
threw
sand pounds for the house (200,000).

thousands of a large number of Thou- Do not confuse with through.)
thrill /rl/ noun a feeling of great excite-
thrill
sands of people lost money in the scheme.

thousandth / azn/ adj relating to ment It gave me a thrill to see you all
thousandth
number 1,000 in a series noun 1. number again after so many years. I experienced
1,000 in a series 2. one part out of a thou- the thrill of sailing near to a waterfall.
sand a thousandth of a second verb (thrills, thrilling, thrilled) to make
thrash /r/ (thrashes, thrashing,
thrash
someone very excited We were thrilled to
thrashed) verb to defeat another person or get your letter.
thriller / rl/ noun an exciting work of
thriller
team easily (informal) She expects to be

thrashed by the champion. art, e.g. a crime novel or a film
thrilling / rl/ adj which makes you
thrilling
thrash out phrasal verb 1. to try to hit

wildly in all directions He thrashed out very excited
at the youths with his stick. 2. to discuss thrive /rav/ (thrives, thriving,
thrive
something until a solution is found We thrived) verb to grow well and be strong
sat down with the management and a thriving community
thrashed out a compromise. They spent throat /rt/ noun 1. the tube which
throat
all day thrashing out a solution to the goes from the back of your mouth down
problem. the inside of your neck Ive got a sore
thrashing / r/ noun 1. a severe
thrashing
throat. She got a fish bone stuck in her

beating 2. an easy defeat in a game throat. 2. your neck, especially the front
thread /red/ noun a long strand of cot-
thread
part He put his hands round her throat

ton, silk, or other fibre A spider spins a and pressed hard. to clear your throat to
thread to make its web. Wait a moment, give a little cough He cleared his throat
theres a white thread showing on your and started to speak.
coat. throb /rb/ (throbs, throbbing,
throb
threadbare / redbe/ adj very worn

threadbare
throbbed) verb 1. to beat fast She stopped

threat /ret/ noun a warning to some-
threat
running, and stood still with her heart

one that you are going to do something un- throbbing. The engine started to throb
pleasant, especially if he or she does not do more regularly and the great ship started to
what you want [~of/~to] The company move. 2. to have a pain which comes regu-
made numerous threats of legal action. larly like a heartbeat When I woke up I
649 thump
had a sore throat and my head was throb- it off.
bing. throw out phrasal verb 1. to push some-
throne /rn/ noun a chair on which a one outside When they started to fight,
throne
king or queen sits during ceremonies they were thrown out of the restaurant. 2.
throng /r/ noun a large crowd of peo-
throng
to get rid of something which you do not
ple (literary) The stars had difficulty mak- need Im throwing out this old office
ing their way through the throng of fans desk. 3. to refuse to accept something
outside the cinema. verb (throngs, The proposal was thrown out by the plan-
thronging, thronged) to crowd together ning committee.
The children thronged round the TV star. throw up phrasal verb 1. to let food come
The shopping precinct was thronged with up from your stomach and out through
shoppers in the days before Christmas. your mouth (informal) The cat threw up
throttle / rt()l/ noun a valve on a pipe
throttle
all over the sofa. 2. to give up something
Shes thrown up her job and gone to
in an engine, which allows variable quanti-
ties of fuel to pass into an engine He had live in Australia.
throwback / rbk/ noun a person or
throwback
to retire from the race when his throttle |
jammed. verb (throttles, throttling, throt- thing that seems to belong to a time in the
tled) to strangle someone by squeezing the past
throw-in / r n/ noun (in football) the
throw-in
neck, and preventing him or her breathing

I could throttle him sometimes when he act of throwing the ball back into play from
gives me that sort of answer. the touchline
thrown /rn/ past participle of
thrown
through /ru
/ prep 1. across to the in-
through
side of something The bullet went throw (NOTE: Do not confuse with throne.)
thru /ru
/ prep, adv, adj US same as
thru
straight through the door. She looked

through the open door. Cold air is com- through
thrush /r/ (plural thrushes or same)
thrush
ing in through the hole in the wall. The

street goes straight through the centre of noun a common brown bird with brown
the town. She pushed the needle through spots on its light-coloured breast
the ball of wool. 2. during a period of time thrust /rst/ verb (thrusts, thrusting,
thrust
They insisted on talking all through the thrust) to push something somewhere sud-
film. Snow accumulated through the win- denly and hard He thrust the newspaper
ter. adv going in at one side and coming into his pocket. She thrust the documents
out of the other side Someone left the into her briefcase. noun 1. the act of sud-
gate open and all the sheep got through. denly pushing something strongly He
throughout /ru at/ prep, adv in all was killed with a thrust of his opponents
throughout
or several parts of Throughout the coun- sword. 2. a force which pushes someone or
try floods are causing problems on the something The thrust of the engines
roads. Heavy snow fell throughout the pushed him back in his seat. the thrust of
night. something the important or main part of
throw /r/ (throws, throwing, threw,
throw
the content of a report, speech or discus-
thrown) verb to send something through sion
thud /d/ noun a dull, heavy noise His
thud
the air How far can he throw a cricket

ball? They were throwing stones through head hit the ground with a sickening thud.
car windows. She threw the letter into the They could hear the thud of the guns in
wastepaper basket. He was thrown into the distance. verb (thuds, thudding,
the air by the blast from the bomb. thudded) to make a dull noise A stone
throw away phrasal verb to get rid of thudded into the wall behind him.
thug /(/ noun a violent person
thug
something which you do not need any

thumb /m/ noun a part on the side of
thumb
more
throw in phrasal verb to add something your hand that looks like a short thick fin-
extra as a bargain When we bought our ger The baby was sucking its thumb.
new oven, they threw in a set of sauce- How she cried when she hit her thumb with
pans as a free gift. the hammer!
thumbnail / mnel/ noun the nail on
thumbnail
throw off phrasal verb 1. to remove |
something quickly She threw off the your thumb

thump /mp/ noun a dull noise
thump
bedclothes and ran out of the room. 2. to

recover from an illness Shes had a There was a thump from upstairs as if
cough for several days, and cant throw someone had fallen out of bed. verb
thunder 650
(thumps, thumping, thumped) to hit ticket / tkt / noun 1. a piece of paper
ticket
someone hard with your fist or card which allows you to travel They
thunder / nd/ noun a loud noise in the wont let you get onto the train without a
thunder
air following a flash of lightning a tropi- ticket. Weve lost our plane tickets how
cal storm accompanied by thunder and can we get to Chicago? 2. a piece of paper
lightning He was woken by the sound of which allows you to go into a place, e.g. a
thunder. verb (thunders, thundering, cinema or an exhibition [~for] Can I have
thundered) to make a loud noise in the air three tickets for the 8.30 show please?
following lightning It thundered during We tried several theatres but there were no
the night. tickets left anywhere.
thunderstorm / ndst
m/ noun a tickle / tk()l/ (tickles, tickling, tickled)
tickle
thunderstorm
storm with rain, thunder and lightning verb 1. to touch someone in a sensitive part
Thurs.
Thurs. abbr Thursday of the body in order to make him or her

laugh She tickled his toes and made him
Thursday / #
zde/ noun the day be-
Thursday
laugh. 2. to cause a slight uncomfortable

tween Wednesday and Friday, the fourth feeling on the skin of part of the body, or to
day of the week Last Thursday was have that feeling
Christmas Day. Shall we arrange to meet
tidal wave / tad()l wev/ noun a huge
tidal wave
next Thursday? Today is Thursday, April

14th. The club meets on Thursdays or wave in the sea, caused by an underwater
every Thursday. The 15th is a Wednes- earthquake and not by the tide
tide /tad/ noun the regular rising and fall-
tide
day, so the 16th must be a Thursday.

thus /s/ adv 1. in this way The two
thus
ing movement of the sea The tide came in
and cut off the children on the rocks. The
pieces fit together thus. She is only fif-
teen, and thus cannot vote. 2. as a result tide is out we can walk across the sand.
tidily / tadli / adv in a tidy way
tidily
She is only fifteen, and thus is not able to

tidy / tadi/ (tidier, tidiest) adj with every-
tidy
take part in the over-sixteens competition.

thwart /w
t/ (thwarts, thwarting,
thwart
thing arranged in the correct way or in an
thwarted) verb to prevent someone doing organised way I want your room to be
something He was thwarted by the police completely tidy before you go out. She
in his attempt to get into the building. His put her clothes in a tidy pile.
tie /ta/ noun 1. a long piece of coloured
tie
career move was thwarted by the new man-

ager. cloth which men wear round their necks
thyme /tam/ noun a common herb used
thyme
under the collar of their shirts Hes wear-
as flavouring ing a blue tie with red stripes. They wont
let you into the restaurant if you havent
tiara /ti
r/ noun a small jewelled crown
tiara
|
got a tie on. 2. a result in a competition or
tic /tk/ noun a twitch of the muscles, usu-
tic
election where both sides have the same

ally in the face, which cannot be controlled score The result was a tie and the vote
tick /tk/ noun 1. a sound made every sec- had to be taken again. verb (ties, tying,
tick
ond by a clock The only sound we could tied) 1. to attach something with string,
hear in the room was the tick of the grand- rope or twine The parcel was tied with a
father clock. 2. a mark written to show that little piece of string. He tied his horse to
something is correct Put a tick in the box the post. The burglars tied his hands be-
marked R. verb (ticks, ticking, ticked) hind his back. 2. to have the same score as
1. to mark something with a tick to show another team in a competition They tied
that you approve Tick the box marked R for second place.
if you require a receipt. 2. to make a quiet tie down phrasal verb 1. to attach some-
regular sound noise like a clock All you thing to the floor, to the ground, etc. 2. to
could hear was the clock ticking in the cor- make someone accept certain conditions
ner of the library. Watch out! That par- tie up phrasal verb 1. to put string or rope
cels ticking! round something The parcel was tied
tick off phrasal verb 1. to mark something up with thick string. You should tie that
with a tick She ticked off the names on dog up or it will bite someone. 2. to buy
the list. 2. to tick someone off to say something, so that the money is not avail-
that you are annoyed with someone able for other purposes All his fortune
(informal) The policeman ticked them is tied up in property. to be tied up to
off for running across the road in front of be busy Im rather tied up at the mo-
a bus. ment can we try to meet next week some
651 time
time? sun went down. noun a drawer for keep-
tiebreaker / tabrek/, tiebreak noun a ing cash in a shop There was not much
tiebreaker
way of deciding the winner of a game or a money in the till at the end of the day.
tilt /tlt/ (tilts, tilting, tilted) verb 1. to
tilt
competition, e.g. by asking an extra ques-

tion slope The shelf is tilting to the right.
tie-in noun something such as a book,
tie-in
Youll have to change places the boat is
which is brought out in connection with a tilting. 2. to put something in a sloping po-
successful film or television programme sition He tilted the barrel over to get the
tier /t/ noun one of a series of steps, usu-
tier
last drops of beer out.
timber / tmb/ noun wood cut ready
timber
ally a row of seats in a theatre They sat on

the topmost tier of seats. for building These trees are being grown
tiff /tf/ noun a small argument or quarrel
tiff
to provide timber for houses.
time /tam/ noun 1. a particular point in
time
(informal)
tiger / ta(/ noun a large wild animal of
tiger
the day shown in hours and minutes
the cat family which is yellow with black What time is it or whats the time? Can
stripes and lives mainly in India and China you tell me the time please? The time is
(NOTE: The female is a tigress.)
exactly four thirty. Departure times are
delayed by up to fifteen minutes because of
tight /tat/ adj 1. fitting too closely
tight

the volume of traffic. to tell the time to
These shoes hurt theyre too tight. 2. read the time on a clock or watch Shes
holding firmly Keep a tight hold of the only three so she cant tell the time yet. 2.
bag, we dont want it stolen. the hour at which something usually hap-
tighten / tat()n/ (tightens, tightening,
tighten
pens [~for] The closing time for the office

tightened) verb to make tight or become is 5.30. Its must be nearly time for din-
tight ner Im hungry. Is it time for the chil-
tighten up /tat()n p n/ verb to con- dren to go to bed? bedtime, lunchtime 3.
trol something more carefully [~on] an amount of hours, days, weeks, months
They have tightened up on parking in this or years that is available for someone to do
area. something [~for] Do you have time for a
tight-knit /tat nt/ adj (of a group of peo- cup of coffee? Theres no need to hurry
tight-knit
ple) who are good friends together weve got plenty of time. He spent all that
tight-lipped /tat lpt/ adj not prepared time watching the TV. If the fire alarm
tight-lipped
to comment on a subject rings, dont waste time putting clothes on

tightly / tatli / adv in a tight way
tightly
run out of the hotel fast. 4. a certain period
We havent been to France for a long
tightrope / tatrp/ noun a rope
tightrope
time. We had a letter from my mother a

stretched between two poles on which short time ago. 5. a particular moment
someone can walk or perform tricks
when something happens They didnt
tights /tats/ plural noun a piece of cloth-
tights
hear anything as they were asleep at the

ing made of thin material, covering your time. By the time the ambulance arrived
hips, and your legs and feet separately, the man had died. You cant do two
worn especially by girls, women and danc- things at the same time. 6. a period when
ers Look youve got a hole in your things are pleasant or bad Everyone had
tights! a good time at the party. We had an awful
tile /tal/ noun 1. a flat piece of baked clay
tile
time on holiday the hotel was dreadful,

used as a covering for floors, walls or roofs and it rained solidly for ten days. 7. one of
The floor is covered with red tiles. We several moments or periods when some-
are putting white tiles on the bathroom thing happens Ive seen that film on TV
walls. 2. a similar piece of another kind of four times already. Thats the last time
material used to cover floors or walls Ill ask them to play cards. Next time you
They put cork tiles on the walls. verb come, bring your swimming things. time
(tiles, tiling, tiled) to cover the surface of a after time, time and again repeatedly,
roof, a floor or a wall with tiles a white- again and again Ive told her time after
tiled bathroom They have tiled the kitch- time not to do it. 8. the rhythm of a piece of
en with red floor tiles. music Its difficult keeping time in a mod-
till /tl/ prep, conj up to the time when
till
ern piece like this. He tapped his foot in

I dont expect him to be home till after nine time to the music. verb (times, timing,
oclock. They worked from morning till timed) to count something in hours, min-
night to finish the job. We worked till the utes and seconds I timed him as he ran
time bomb 652

round the track. Dont forget to time the times for something to happen You are
eggs they have to cook for only three min- timetabled to speak at 4.30.
utes. find time / fand tam / to do sometime zone / tam zn / noun one of
time zone
thing even though you are busy In the 24 bands in the world in which the same
middle of the meeting he still found time to standard time is used
phone his girlfriend. We must find time to timid / tmd/ adj afraid to do something
timid
visit the new staff sports club. for the timing / tam/ noun the act of arrang-
timing
time being temporarily We will leave the ing the time at which something happens
furniture as it is for the time being. in tin /tn/ noun 1. a silver-coloured soft
tin
time after a particular period from now metal Bronze is a mixture of copper and
Were going on holiday in four weeks time. tin. There have been tin mines in Corn-
to take time to need a certain amount of
wall since Roman times. 2. a metal contain-
time It didnt take you much time to get er in which food or another substance is
dressed. Dont hurry me, I like to take my sold and can be kept for a long time Im
time. at times on some occasions At lazy Ill just open a tin of soup. She
times I think hes quite mad. at all times bought three tins of cat food. Well need
always Passengers should keep hold of three tins of white paint for the ceiling. 3.
their baggage at all times. any metal box Keep the biscuits in a tin
time bomb / tam bm/ noun 1. a bomb
time bomb
or theyll go soft. She puts her spare

with a clock attached, which can be set to coins into a tin by the telephone.
explode at a certain time They said that tinfoil / tnfl/ noun a thin sheet of alu-
tinfoil
they had left a time bomb in the railway minium, used to cover food
station. 2. a difficult situation which will
tinge /tnd/ noun a slight colour or feel-
tinge
happen in the future The rapid increase

ing of something She has has blonde hair
in the worlds population is a time bomb
for future governments. with tinges of red. The fabric is red with
a blue tinge. There was a slight tinge of
time-consuming / tam knsju
m/
time-consuming
|
sadness in the air as they left the house for
adj which takes a lot of time to do the last time.
time frame / tam frem/ noun the peri-
time frame
tingle / t(l/ noun a feeling like a lot of

tingle
od of time during which something should small sharp things sticking into your skin
take place It didnt hurt, I just felt a tingle in my leg.
timeless / tamls/ adj which is not af-
timeless
We felt a tingle of excitement as we queued

fected by time for the roller coaster. verb (tingles, tin-
time limit / tam lmt/ noun a point
time limit
gling, tingled) to have a sharp prickling

in time by which something should be feeling Are your fingers tingling? asked
done the doctor. It will tingle when I put the
timely / tamli/ adj which happens at the antiseptic on your cut.
timely
right moment tinker / tk/ (tinkers, tinkering, tink-

tinker
time off /tam f/ noun time away from ered), tinker around verb to try to make
time off
work or school something work better, but not very suc-

time out /tam at/ noun to take time cessfully [~with] He spent Saturday
time out
out from something to take a rest from morning tinkering about with his car. The
some activity She took time out from her government are just tinkering with the
work to come and say hello to the visitors. economy when they should be taking
timer / tam/ noun a device which times
timer
strong action.
tinkle / tkl/ noun a noise like the ring-
tinkle
things The timer buzzed to show that the

five minutes were up. ing of a little bell verb (tinkles, tinkling,
timescale / tamskel / noun the period
timescale
tinkled) to make a little ringing noise The
of time during which something should be little bell tinkled as she went into the shop.
tinned /tnd/ adj preserved and sold in a
tinned
completed
timetable / tamteb()l/ noun a printed
timetable
tin
tin opener / tn p()n/ noun an ob-
tin opener
list which shows the times at which some-

thing such as classes in school or trains ject used for opening tins of food
tinsel / tnsl/ noun thin strips of glitter-
tinsel
leaving will happen We have two English

lessons on the timetable today. Accord- ing metal used as Christmas decorations
tint /tnt / noun a slight shade of colour
tint
ing to the timetable, there should be a train

to London at 10.22. verb (timetables, A rosy tint in the eastern sky was the first
timetabling, timetabled) to arrange the sign of dawn. Do you prefer this blue
653 toadstool
with a tint of grey in it? verb (tints, tint- bed. If you feel tired, lie down on my bed.
ing, tinted) to give something a slight 2. feeling that you need rest Were all
shade of colour tinted glass Windows of tired after a long day at the office.
aircraft are tinted to reduce the glare from tireless / tals/ adj full of energy, never
tireless
the sun. He was wearing tinted specta- needing to rest

cles. How much would it cost to have my tiresome / tas()m/ adj annoying
tiresome
hair tinted? tiring / tar/ adj which makes you

tiring
tiny / tani/ (tinier, tiniest) adj very

tiny
tired
small Can I have just a tiny bit more pud- tissue / tu
/ noun a soft paper hand-
tissue
ding? The spot is so tiny you can hardly kerchief There is a box of tissues beside
see it. She lives in a tiny village in the the bed.
Welsh mountains. tit /tt/ noun a womans breast (informal)
tit
tip /tp/ noun 1. the end of something

tip
titbit / ttbt/ noun a special little piece of

titbit
long [~of] You have to touch the tip of food or of gossip (NOTE: The US spelling is
your nose with your finger. 2. money given tidbit.)
to someone who has provided a service
title / tat()l/ noun 1. the name of
title
The service hasnt been very good should something, e.g. a book, play, painting or
we leave a tip for the waiter? The staff
film Hes almost finished the play but
are not allowed to accept tips. 3. advice on hasnt found a title for it yet. 2. a word such
something which could be profitable [~on] as Dr, Mr, Professor, Lord, Sir or Lady put
He gave me some tips on training my
in front of a name to show an honour or a
dog. 4. a place where household rubbish is qualification
taken to be thrown away verb (tips, tip-
title role / tat()l rl/ noun the part in a
title role
ping, tipped) 1. to pour something out

He picked up the box and tipped the con- play or film which gives the name to the
tents out onto the floor. She tipped all the play or film
titter / tt/ (titters, tittering, tittered)
titter
food out of the bag. 2. to give money to

someone who has helped you I tipped the verb to give a little laugh (NOTE: + titter n)
T-junction / ti
dkn/ noun a junc-
T-junction
waiter 1. Should we tip the driver?

tip off phrasal verb to warn someone tion where one road joins another at right
about something (informal) We think he angles
to /t, t, tu
/ prep 1. showing direc-
to
tipped the burglars off that the police

were outside. tion or place They went to the police sta-
tip up phrasal verb 1. to lean and fall over tion. Do you know the way to the beach?
The cup tipped up and all the tea went The river is to the north of the town.
into the saucer. 2. to turn something over Everyone take one step to the right, please.
so that the contents fall out He tipped 2. showing a period of time The office is
up the bottle to see if there was any toma- open from 9.30 to 5.30, Monday to Friday.
to sauce left inside. She slept from 11.30 to 8.30 the following
tip-off / tp f/ noun a piece of useful in-

tip-off
morning. 3. showing time in minutes be-
formation, given secretly (informal) fore an hour Get up its five to seven
(6.55). The train leaves at a quarter to
tipsy / tpsi/ adj rather drunk
tipsy
eight (7.45). (NOTE: To is used for times be-

tiptoe / tpt/ (tiptoes, tiptoeing, tip-
tiptoe
tween the half hour and oclock: 3.35 = twen-

toed) verb to walk quietly on the tips of ty-five to four; 3.45 = a quarter to four; 3.55
your toes She tiptoed into the room and = five minutes to four. For times after the
looked at the baby. hour see past.) 4. showing a person or ani-
tirade /ta red/ noun a long speech at-
tirade
|
mal that receives something Take the
tacking something book to the librarian. Pass the salt to
tire / ta/ (tires, tiring, tired) verb 1. to
tire
your grandfather. You must be kind to

become tired He is getting old and tires cats. 5. showing a connection or relation-
easily. 2. to make someone become tired ship They lost by twelve to nine. There
We went for a long cycle ride to tire the are four keys to the office. In this class
children out. to tire of something or there are 28 children to one teacher.
someone to lose interest in something or toadstool / tdstu
l/ noun a small fun-
toadstool
someone The children soon tired of play- gus shaped like an umbrella, but usually
ing with their toy soldiers. not edible, and sometimes poisonous
tired / tad/ adj 1. feeling that you
tired
(NOTE: White edible fungi are called mush-

want to sleep Im tired I think Ill go to rooms.)
toast 654
toast /tst/ noun pieces of bread which tween two states The symbol can be tog-
toast
have been heated at a high temperature un- gled on and off the display.
til they are brown Can you make some toil /tl/ (toils, toiling, toiled) verb to
toil
more toast? She asked for scrambled work hard They toiled for months to try to
eggs on toast. improve the conditions of the workers.
toaster / tst/ noun an electric device
toaster
She was toiling away at a hot stove. (NOTE:

for toasting bread + toil n)
tobacco /t bk / noun the dried toilet / tlt/ noun 1. a bowl with a
tobacco toilet
leaves of a plant used to make cigarettes seat on which you sit to get rid of waste
and cigars, and for smoking in pipes (NOTE: from your body There is a shower and
no plural) toilet in the bathroom. to flush a toilet to
toboggan /t b(n/ noun a sledge press a handle to make water flow through
toboggan
made of a long flat piece of wood curved the toilet bowl to clear it Dont forget to
upwards at the front, designed for sliding flush the toilet. 2. a room with a toilet bowl
downhill on snow or ice The children in it The ladies toilet is at the end of the
pulled their toboggans to the hill. corridor. The gents toilets are down-
today /t de/ noun this day Todays
today
|
stairs and to the right. Theres a public
her sixth birthday. Whats the date to- toilet at the railway station.
toilet paper / tlt pep/ noun soft
toilet paper
day? Theres a story in todays newspa-

per about a burglary in our road. adv on paper for wiping your bottom after going
this day He said he wanted to see me to- to the toilet
day, but he hasnt come yet. toiletries / tltriz/ plural noun things,
toiletries
toddler / tdl/ noun a child who has

toddler
e.g. soap, cream and perfume,which are

just learnt to walk used in washing the body or making your-
toe /t/ noun one of the five parts like self smell nice
toe
fingers at the end of the foot She trod on toilet roll / tlt rl/ noun a roll of toi-
toilet roll
my toe and didnt say she was sorry. to let paper

keep someone on their toes to keep token / tkn/ noun 1. a thing which is
token
someone ready or alert My job is to make a sign or symbol of something Please ac-
sure the staff are always on their toes. cept this small gift as a token of our grati-
TOEFL / tf()l/ trademark Test of Eng-
TOEFL
tude. 2. a piece of paper or card, which is

lish as a Foreign Language used in the place of money You can use
TOEIC / tk/ trademark Test of English
TOEIC
these tokens to pay for meals. 3. a plastic or

for International Communication metal disc, which is used instead of money
toenail / tnel/ noun a nail covering the She put a token into the slot machine.
toenail
end of a toe told /tld/ past tense and past partici-

told
toffee / tfi/ noun a sticky sweet made by ple of tell

toffee
cooking sugar and butter tolerance / tlrns/ noun 1. the prac-

tolerance
tofu / tfu
/ noun bean curd, a soft white
tofu
tice of accepting or allowing something

paste made from soya beans which you do not agree with tolerance of
together /t (e/ adv 1. doing some- other peoples views 2. the ability of the
together
thing with someone else or in a group body to stand the effect of a drug or a poi-
Tell the children to stay together or theyll son
get lost. Why dont we all go to the cine- tolerant / tlrnt/ adj who shows toler-
tolerant
ma together? 2. joined with something else ance

or with each other Tie the sticks together tolerate / tlret/ (tolerates, tolerating,
tolerate
with string. Do you think you can stick tolerated) verb 1. to allow something
the pieces of the cup together again? If which you do not like to happen without
you add all the figures together, youll get complaining about it She does not toler-
the total sales. Weve had three sand- ate singing in the classroom. 2. to allow
wiches and three beers how much does something which you do not agree with to
that come to all together? exist Opposition parties are not tolerated
togetherness /t (ens/ noun a feel-
togetherness
|
in that country. He is not known for tol-
ing of friendliness and closeness with a erating people with opposing views to his.
person or people you know well 3. to accept the effect of a drug or a poison
toggle / t(()l/ (toggles, toggling, tog-
toggle
The body can tolerate small amounts of

gled) verb (in computers) to change be- poison. (NOTE: + toleration n)
655 toothbrush
toll /tl/ noun 1. a payment for using a clear that English was not his native
toll
service, usually a road, bridge or ferry 2. tongue. 3. a long loose piece of leather un-
the number of people hurt, of buildings der the laces in a shoe
damaged, etc. 3. the solemn ringing of a tongue-in-cheek /t n ti
k/ adj not
tongue-in-cheek
bell The toll of the great bell could be meant seriously

heard across the marshes. verb (tolls, tongue-tied / t tad/ adj so shy as to
tongue-tied
tolling, tolled) to ring a bell slowly, as for be unable to say anything

a funeral The bell was tolling as the cof- tongue-twister / t twst/ noun a
tongue-twister
fin arrived at the church. phrase like red lorry, yellow lorry, which
tomato /t m
t/ (plural tomatoes)
tomato
|
is difficult to say quickly
noun a small round red fruit used in salads tonic / tnk/ noun something which
tonic
and cooking Tomatoes cost 30p per kilo. makes you stronger Hes taking a course
We had a salad of raw cabbage and to-
of iron tonic tablets. Going on holiday
matoes. Someone in the crowd threw a will be a tonic for you.
tomato at the speaker on the platform.
tonight /t nat/ adv, noun the night or
tonight
tomb /tu
m/ noun a grave, sometimes
tomb |
the evening of today I cant stop were

one with an underground vault getting ready for tonights party. Ill be at
tomboy / tmb/ noun a girl who enjoys
tomboy
home from eight oclock tonight. I dont

playing boys games suppose theres anything interesting on TV
tombstone / tu
mstn/ noun a large
tombstone
tonight.
stone placed on a grave with the name of tonne /tn/ noun a metric ton, a weight
tonne
the dead person written on it of 1,000 kilograms People in the region

tomcat / tmkt/ noun a male cat
tomcat
need over 900 tonnes of wheat to survive

tome /tm/ noun a large book
tome
the winter.
tomorrow /t mr/ adv on to the tonsil / tns()l/ noun one of two soft
tomorrow
tonsil
|
day after today Are you free for lunch to- lumps of tissue at the back of the throat
morrow? I mustnt forget I have a den- tonsillitis /tns lats/ noun an inflam-
tonsillitis
tists appointment tomorrow morning. mation of the tonsils

We are going to an Italian restaurant to- too /tu
/ adv 1. more than necessary
too
morrow evening. noun the day after today There are too many people to fit into the
Todays Monday, so tomorrow must be
lift. I think we bought too much bread.
Tuesday. Tomorrow is our tenth wedding Its too hot for us to sit in the sun. 2. (often
anniversary. at the end of a clause) also She had some
ton /tn/ noun a measure of weight
ton
coffee and I had some too. She comes

equal to 2240 pounds a ship carrying from Scotland too.
1000 tons of coal took /tk/ past tense of take
took
tone /tn/ noun a way of saying

tone
tool / tu
l/ noun an instrument which
tool
something, or of writing something, which

you hold in your hand to do specific work,
shows a particular feeling His tone of such as a hammer or a spade a set of gar-
voice showed he was angry. She said hel-
dening tools
lo in a friendly tone of voice. You could
toolbar / tu
lb
/ noun a line of icons on
toolbar
tell from the tone of his letter that he was

annoyed. a computer screen which you click on to
tone down phrasal verb to make some- get the computer to do certain things
tool shed /tu
l ed/ noun a small wood-
tool shed
thing less offensive

tone up phrasal verb to make your body en shed in a garden where tools are kept
toot /tu
t/ (toots, tooting, tooted) verb to
toot
firmer or fitter
toner / tn/ noun 1. a black powder,
toner
blow a horn sharply She tooted as she
like dry ink, used in photocopiers and laser turned the corner. (NOTE: + toot n)
tooth /tu
/ (plural teeth) noun one of a
tooth
printers The printer has run out of toner.

2. a substance used on your skin to make it set of hard white objects in the mouth
look nicer or smoother (NOTE: no plural) which you use to bite or chew food Chil-
tongue /t/ noun 1. the long organ in
tongue
dren must learn to clean their teeth twice a
your mouth which can move and is used day. The dentist took one of her teeth out.
toothache / tu
ek/ noun a pain in a
toothache
for tasting, swallowing and speaking The

soup was so hot it burnt my tongue. 2. a tooth (NOTE: no plural)
toothbrush / tu
br/ noun a small
toothbrush
language (literary) They spoke to each

other in a strange foreign tongue. It was brush which you use to clean your teeth
toothpaste 656
toothpaste / tu
pest/ noun a soft sub- topmost / tpmst / adj highest or
toothpaste topmost
stance which you spread on a toothbrush nearest the top

and then use to clean your teeth (NOTE: no topography / t p(rfi/ noun the study
topography
plural: some toothpaste, a tube of tooth- or description of the physical features of a

paste) place and its rivers, mountains, and valleys
toothpick / tu
pk/ noun a little pointed topping / tp / noun things such as
toothpick topping
piece of wood, used for cleaning between cream or melted cheese, put on the top of
the teeth food such as cakes, pizzas, or ice cream
top /tp/ noun 1. the highest place or topple / tp()l/ (topples, toppling, top-
top topple
highest point of something He climbed to pled) verb He lost his balance and top-
the top of the stairs and sat down. The pled forwards.
bird is sitting on the top of the apple tree. topple over phrasal verb to fall down
There is a roof garden on top of the hotel. top secret / tp si
krt/ adj absolutely
top secret
Look at the photograph at the top of page secret

four. Manchester United are still at the topsy-turvy / tpsi t#
vi/ adj in disor-
topsy-turvy
top of the league table. on top of the der or all upside down
world very healthy or very happy 2. the flat torch /t
t/ noun a small electric light
torch
upper surface of something a birthday that you can carry Take a torch if youre
cake with sugar and fruit on top Do not going into the cave. I always carry a
put coffee cups on top of the computer. small torch in the car.
The desk has a black top. 3. a cover for a tore /t
/ past tense of tear
tore
container Take the top off the jar, and see

torment1 / t
ment/ noun extreme pain
torment
whats inside. She forgot to screw the top

back on the bottle. 4. a piece of clothing the torment of parents who are separated
covering the upper part of the body She from their children
torment2 /t
ment/ (torments, tor-
torment
wore jeans and a yellow top. adj 1. in the |
highest place The restaurant is on the top menting, tormented) verb to make some-
floor of the building. Jams and marma- one suffer The old couple were tormented
lades are on the top shelf. 2. best Shes by their neighbours children and in the
one of the worlds top tennis players. on end moved to a different street. He was
top of /n tp v/ 1. on the top surface of constantly tormented by doubt.
torn /t
n/ past participle of tear
torn
He put the book down on top of the others

tornado /t
ned/ (plural tornados or
tornado
he had bought. 2. in addition to On top of |
all my office work, I have to clean the tornadoes) noun a violent storm with a
house and look after the baby. at the top whirlwind
of her voice in a very loud voice from torpedo /t
pi
d/ noun (plural torpe-
torpedo
top to bottom completely does) a missile like a shell which travels

top up phrasal verb to add liquid to fill under the water The submarine fired a
completely something which is half emp- torpedo. The ship was hit by three torpe-
ty does and sank immediately. verb (torpe-
top-down /tp dan/ adj working from does, torpedoing, torpedoed) 1. to sink a
top-down
general things to more specific ones ship using a torpedo The ship was torpe-
doed by an enemy submarine. 2. to ruin
top hat /tp ht/ noun a tall cylindrical
top hat
someones plans His grandiose scheme

hat with a narrow brim which is worn by a for a leisure complex was torpedoed by the
man on formal occasions
council planning department.
top-heavy /tp hevi/ adj with the top
top-heavy
torrent / trnt/ noun 1. a fast rushing

torrent
part heavier than the bottom, and so likely stream To get to the farm we had to cross
to fall over a mountain torrent. 2. a fast flow The
topic / tpk/ noun the subject of a dis-
topic
rain came down in torrents.

cussion or conversation Can we move on torrential /t renl/ adj like a torrent
torrential
to another topic? to bring up a topic to torrential rain

start to discuss something She brought up torso / t
s/ (plural torsos or torsi)
torso
the topic of where to go on holiday. noun the main part of the body, not includ-
topical / tpk()l/ adj interesting at
topical
ing the head, arms and legs

the present time tortilla /t
ti
/ noun 1. a type of Spanish
tortilla
topless / tpls/ adj not wearing any

topless
omelette, often made with potato and on-

clothes on the top part of your body ion 2. a round, flat bread made of corn or
657 touchstone
wheat flour Tortillas are part of Mexican contact someone Ill try to get in touch
food. with you next week. to put someone in
tortoise / t
ts/ noun a reptile covered touch with someone to arrange for some-
tortoise
with a hard shell which moves very slowly one to have contact with someone The
on land and can live to be very old bank put us in touch with a local lawyer.
torture / t
t/ noun 1. making someone
torture
to stay in touch with someone to keep
suffer pain as a punishment or to make contact with someone We met in Hong
them reveal a secret They accused the po- Kong thirty years ago but we have still kept
lice of using torture to get information in touch. 3. a gentle physical contact [~of]
about the plot. 2. extreme mental or physi- the touch of his hand on my face 4. a very
cal pain verb (tortures, torturing, tor- small amount [~of] He added a few touch-
tured) to inflict mental or physical pain on es of paint to the picture. Theres a touch
someone was tortured with doubts The of frost in the air this morning. verb
soldiers tortured their prisoners. (touches, touching, touched) 1. to feel
Tory / t
ri/ (plural Tories) noun a member
Tory
something with your fingers The police-
of the Conservative party The Tories man touched him on the shoulder. Dont
have recently elected a new leader. touch that cake its for your mother. 2. to
be so close to something that you press
toss /ts/ verb (tosses, tossing,
toss
against it His feet dont touch the floor

tossed) 1. to throw something up into the
when he sits on a big chair. There is a
air He tried to toss the pancake and it fell mark on the wall where the sofa touches it.
on the kitchen floor. She tossed me her to lose touch with someone to lose con-
car keys. 2. to move something about The tact with someone They used to live next
waves tossed the little boat up and down. door, but weve lost touch with them now
The horse tossed its head. noun 1. the act that theyve moved to London.
of throwing something into the air 2. a
touch down phrasal verb 1. to land The
sharp movement of the head up and down
With a toss of its head, the horse galloped
plane touched down at 13.20. 2. to score
off. to toss and turn to move about in a try in rugby, by touching the ground be-
bed, not able to sleep hind the opponents line with the ball
He touched down behind the posts.
tot /tt/ noun 1. a little child She took the
tot
touch up phrasal verb to add a small

tot by the hand and led him back into the amount of paint to a surface
house. There are special classes where
touch-and-go /tt n (/ adj possi-
touch-and-go
they teach tiny tots to swim. 2. a small glass

of alcohol A tot of whisky before dinner ble that anything can happen
touchdown / ttdan/ noun 1. the
touchdown
wont do you any harm.

total / tt()l/ adj complete or whole
total
landing of a plane or spacecraft The
The expedition was a total failure. plane veered across the runway as one of
Their total losses come to over 400,000. its tyres burst on touchdown. 2. (in rugby)
noun the whole amount The total comes scoring a try by touching the ground be-
to more than 1,000. hind the opponents line with the ball He
totalitarian /ttl terin/ adj hav-
totalitarian
| |
burst through for a touchdown between the
ing total power and not allowing any oppo- posts. 3. US scoring a goal in American
sition or personal freedom football by taking the ball over the oppo-
nents line He completed a pass for the
totally / tt()li/ adv used for empha-
totally
winning touchdown.
sis The house was totally destroyed in the
touched /ttt/ adj grateful, pleased with
touched
fire. I had totally forgotten that I had

touching / tt/ adj making you feel
touching
promised to be there. He disagrees total-

ly with what the first speaker said. emotion, especially affection or sympathy
I had a touching letter from my sister,
totter / tt/ noun to walk unsteadily or to
totter
wobble I cannot bear to look at her tot- thanking me for my help when she was ill.
touchline / ttlan/ noun a white line
touchline
tering along in those platform shoes. The

old lady manages to totter over to the bak- along the side of a football field
touch screen / tt skri
n/ noun a com-
touch screen
ery to get some fresh bread every day.

touch /tt/ noun 1. one of the five puter screen which you operate by touch-
touch
senses, the sense of feeling with the fingers ing displayed options with your finger
touchstone / ttstn/ noun some-
touchstone
The sense of touch becomes very strong |
in the dark. 2. in touch with having contact thing which is an excellent example and is
with to get in touch with someone to a standard by which to judge other things
touchy 658
touchy / tti/ adj 1. easily offended towards /t w
dz/ prep 1. in the di-
touchy towards
Dont mention his red hair hes very rection of The crowd ran towards the po-
touchy about it. 2. which is likely to cause lice station. The bus was travelling south,
offence Dont mention his divorce- its a towards London. The ship sailed straight
very touchy subject at the moment. towards the rocks. 2. near in time Do you
tough /tf/ adj 1. (of meat) difficult to have any free time towards the end of the
tough
chew or to cut My steaks a bit tough month? The exhibition will be held to-
hows yours? 2. requiring a lot of physical wards the middle of October. 3. as part of
effort, or a lot of bravery or confidence the money to pay for something He gave
Shes very good at taking tough decisions. me 100 towards the cost of the hotel. 4. in
You have to be tough to succeed in busi- relation to She always behaved very
ness. kindly towards her father.
toughen / tf()n/ (toughens, toughen- towel / tal/ noun a large piece of soft
towel
toughen
ing, toughened) verb 1. to make tough or cloth for drying something, especially your
harder Cooking the meat too much will body Theres only one towel in the bath-
simply toughen it. 2. to make more strict or room. After washing her hair, she wound
severe The aim is to toughen university the towel round her head. Ill get some
entrance requirements. fresh towels.
toupee / tu
pe / noun artificial hair worn tower / ta/ noun a tall structure
tower
toupee
to cover a bald area on a mans head The castle has thick walls and four square
tour /t/ noun a holiday journey to
tour
towers.
tower block / ta blk/ noun a very tall
tower block
various places coming back eventually to

the place you started from [~of] She gave block of flats
town /tan/ noun a place, larger than a
town
us a tour of the old castle. verb (tours,

touring, toured) to go on holiday, visiting village, where people live and work, with
various places They toured the south of houses, shops, offices, factories and other
France. buildings Theres no shop in our village,
tourism / trz()m/ noun the business so we do our shopping in the nearest town.
tourism
of providing travel, accommodation, food They moved their office to the centre of
and entertainment for tourists town.
tourist / trst/ noun a person who town hall /tan h
l/ noun the main
town hall
tourist
goes on holiday to visit places away from building in a town, where the town council
their home The tourists were talking Ger- meets, and where many of the council de-
man. There were parties of tourists visit- partments are
toxic / tksk/ adj harmful
toxic
ing all the churches. Trafalgar Square is

always full of tourists. toxin / tksn/ noun a poisonous sub-
toxin
tournament / tnmnt/ noun a sport-

tournament
stance produced inside the body by germs

ing competition with many games where toy /t/ noun a thing for children to
toy
competitors who lose drop out until only play with We gave him a box of toy sol-
one is left diers for Christmas. The childrens toys
tourniquet / t
nke/ noun a tight band-
tourniquet
are all over the sitting room floor.

age put round an arm or leg to stop bleed- trace /tres/ noun something which
trace
ing shows that something existed [~of] The

tout /tat/ (touts, touting, touted) verb 1.
tout
police found traces of blood in the kitchen.

to praise something in the hope that people verb (traces, tracing, traced) to find
will believe you The book was touted as where someone or something is They
a masterpiece. 2. to try to persuade people couldnt trace the letter. The police
to buy something traced him to Dover.
tow /t/ verb (tows, towing, towed) to track /trk/ noun a rough path We
tow track
pull something behind a vehicle The mo- followed a track through the forest. plural
torways were crowded with cars towing noun tracks a series of footprints left by an
caravans. They towed the ship into port. animal or marks left by things like wheels
noun the action of pulling something to make tracks for to go towards They
We got a tractor to give us a tow to the made tracks for the nearest hotel. verb
nearest garage. (NOTE: Do not confuse with (tracks, tracking, tracked) to follow some-
toe.) in tow accompanied by someone one or an animal The hunters tracked the
(informal) They were approached by a bear through the forest. The police
group of parents with children in tow. tracked the gang to a flat in south London.
659 trailer
track down phrasal verb to track tradesman / tredzmn/ (plural trades-
tradesman
someone down to follow and catch men) noun a person who runs a shop
something, e.g. a criminal Did you (dated)
track down your old boss? to track tradition /tr d()n/ noun beliefs,
tradition
something down to manage to find stories and ways of doing things which are
something I finally tracked down that passed from one generation to the next
file which you were looking for. Its a family tradition for the eldest son to
trackball / trkb
l/ noun a ball used in-
trackball
take over the business. According to lo-

stead of a computer mouse to control the cal tradition, the queen died in this bed.
cursor on a computer screen traditional /tr d()n()l/ adj done
traditional
track record / trk rek

d/ noun the
track record
in a way that has been used for a long time

success or failure of someone or a business On Easter Day it is traditional to give
in the past chocolate eggs to the children. Villagers
tracksuit / trksu
t/ noun a pair of still wear their traditional costumes on
tracksuit
matching trousers and top, in warm materi- Sundays.

traditionalist /tr d()nlst/ noun a
traditionalist
al, worn when practising sports |
tract /trkt/ noun 1. a large area of land

tract
person who does things in a traditional way
traditionally /tr d()nli/ adv ac-
traditionally
Whole tracts of forest have been contami- |
nated by acid rain. 2. a system of organs cording to tradition

and tubes in the body which are linked to- traffic / trfk/ noun cars, buses and
traffic
gether The respiratory tract takes air into other vehicles which are travelling on a
the lungs. street or road I leave the office early on
traction / trkn/ noun 1. the gripping
traction
Fridays because there is so much traffic

power between one surface and another, leaving London. The lights turned green
e.g. between a tyre and the road These and the traffic moved forward. Rush-
tyres are so old they have no traction at all hour traffic is worse on Fridays.
on ice. 2. the force used in pulling a load traffic jam / trfk dm/ noun a situa-
traffic jam
trade /tred/ noun the business of buy- tion where cars, buses and other vehicles
trade
ing and selling [~in/~with] the illegal cannot move forward on a road because
trade in ivory Britains trade with the rest there is too much traffic, because there has
of Europe is up by 10%. verb (trades, been an accident or because of roadworks
trading, traded) to buy and sell, to carry on tragedy / trddi/ noun 1. a serious
tragedy
a business [~in/~with] They trade in furs. play, film, or novel which ends sadly
The company has ceased trading with Shakespeares tragedy King Lear is play-
Europe. ing at the National Theatre. 2. a very un-
trade in phrasal verb to give in an old happy event Tragedy struck the family
item, such as a car or washing-machine, when their mother was killed in a car
as part of the payment for a new one crash.
trade on phrasal verb to exploit or to use tragic / trdk/ adj very sad a trag-
tragic
something to your advantage ic accident on the motorway

trade deficit / tred defst/ noun the trail /trel/ noun 1. tracks left by an an-
trade deficit trail
difference between the value of a countrys imal or by a criminal We followed the

exports and the value of its imports trail of the bear through the forest. The
trade fair / tred fe / noun an occasion burglars left in a red sports car, and a po-
trade fair
when manufacturers and producers exhibit lice car was soon on their trail. 2. a path or
their products and services to try to sell track Keep to the trail otherwise you will
them get lost. verb to trail behind someone
trademark / tredm
k/ noun a particu-
trademark
to follow slowly after someone She came
lar name, design, etc., which has been reg- third, trailing a long way behind the first
istered by the manufacturer and which can- two runners. The little children trailed
not be used by other manufacturers behind the older ones.
trailer / trel/ noun 1. a small goods ve-
trailer
trade name
trade name noun same as brand name

hicle pulled behind a car We carried all
trade-off / tred f/ noun exchanging
trade-off
our camping gear in the trailer. 2. US a van

one thing for another as part of a deal with beds, a table, and washing facilities,
trader / tred/ noun a person who does
trader
which can be towed by a car 3. parts of a

business full-length film shown as an advertisement
train 660
for it We saw the trailer last week, and it tramped through the snow to get to the
put me off the film. camp.
train /tren/ noun an engine pulling a trampoline / trmpli
n/ noun a large
train trampoline
group of coaches on the railway The train sheet of elastic material stretched across a
to Paris leaves from platform 1. Hun- frame, which you can bounce or jump on
dreds of people go to work every day by trance /tr
ns/ noun a state when you are
trance
train. Well be changing trains at Crewe. not alert but not asleep, and do not notice
verb (trains, training, trained) 1. to teach what is going on around you
someone or an animal how to do a particu- tranquil / trkwl/ adj calm or peaceful
tranquil
lar activity [~in/~as] He trained as a doc- transaction /trn zkn/ noun a

transaction
tor. Shes being trained in self-defence. piece of business

The dogs are trained to smell and find ille- transatlantic /trnzt lntk/ adj 1.
transatlantic
gal substances. 2. to become fit by practis- across the Atlantic Transatlantic flights
ing for a sport [~for] Hes training for the take about six hours depending on the
100 metres. Shes training for the Olym- wind. Prices for transatlantic phone
pics. calls have been reduced. 2. on the other
trained /trend/ adj who has been
trained
side of the Atlantic our transatlantic

through a course of training trading partners
trainee /tre ni
/ noun a person who is transcend /trn send/ (transcends,
trainee
transcend
|
|
being trained transcending, transcended) verb to go

trainer / tren/ noun a person who
trainer
better or further than something or to be

trains an athlete His trainer says hes in much more important than something
peak condition for the fight. plural noun transcribe /trn skrab/ (transcribes,
transcribe
trainers light sports shoes transcribing, transcribed) verb to write

trainers / trenz/ plural noun light
trainers
out the text of something which is heard

sports shoes She needs a new pair of His speech was transcribed from the radio
trainers for school. He comes to work tape. The sound of each word has been
every morning in trainers. transcribed into phonetic characters.
training / tren/ noun 1. the process transcript / trnskrpt/ noun a written
training transcript
of being taught a skill or being trained record of something which has been noted
The shop is closed on Tuesday mornings in shorthand, or text of what was said on a
for staff training. There is a short train- radio programme, at a meeting, etc.
ing period for new staff. 2. practise for a transfer (transfers, transferring,
transfer
sport to be in training to practise for a transferred) verb 1. to move something or

sport Shes in training for the Olympics. someone to another place [~to] The mon-
trait /tret/ noun a particular character- ey will be transferred directly to your bank
trait
istic of someone account. She transferred her passport

traitor / tret/ noun a person who be- from her handbag to her jacket pocket.
traitor
trays his or her country, especially by giv- Hes been transferred to our New York of-
ing secret information to the enemy fice. 2. to change from one type of travel to
trajectory /tr dekt()ri/ noun the
trajectory
|
another [~to] They transferred us to an-
curving movement of something which has other plane at London.
transform /trns f
m/ (transforms,
transform
been thrown or shot through the air |
tramp /trmp/ noun 1. a person who has

tramp
transforming, transformed) verb to
nowhere to live and walks from place to change the appearance or character of
place looking for work or begging for food someone or something completely The
or money The farmer was surprised to outside of the building has been trans-
find a tramp asleep in one of his barns. 2. a formed by cleaning. The book has trans-
long walk We went for a tramp along the formed my views on medical care.
transformer /trns f
m/ noun a de-
transformer
cliffs last Sunday. 3. the noise made by of |
feet hitting the ground regularly as some- vice for changing the voltage of an alter-
one walks the tramp of marching soldiers nating current
transgress /trnz (res/ (transgress-
transgress
verb (tramps, tramping, tramped) 1. to |
walk with a regular heavy step You could es, transgressing, transgressed) verb to
hear soldiers tramping through the streets go against a rule ( NOTE: + transgression n)
transient / trnzint/ adj which will not
transient
at night. 2. to walk for a long way, or walk

with difficulty They tramped for miles last Fame for most pop groups is very
before they came to a little inn. They transient.
661 trap
transit / trnst/ noun the movement of all its actions. 3. a photograph which is
transit
passengers or goods on the way to a desti- printed on transparent film so that it can be
nation in transit in the process of being projected on to a screen Transparency is
moved from one place to another The po- another name for slide. Do you want to
lice seized the goods when they were in have prints or transparencies?
transit between London and Manchester. transparent /trns prnt/ adj which
transparent
transition /trn z()n/ noun the proc- you can see through The meat is wrapped
transition
ess of moving from one situation to anoth- in transparent plastic film.

er transpire /trn spa/ (transpires, tran-
transpire
transitory / trnst()ri/ adj not lasting spiring, transpired) verb 1. to become ob-
transitory
for a long time vious It transpired that she had never

translate /trns let/ (translates, trans- seen the letter. 2. (of a plant) to lose water
translate
lating, translated) verb to put written or through the surface of a leaf In tropical
spoken words into another language Can rainforests, up to 75% of rainfall will tran-
you translate what he said? He asked his spire into the atmosphere.
transplant1 / trnspl
nt/ noun 1. the
transplant
secretary to translate the letter from the

German agent. She translates mainly act of replacing a damaged organ or part of
from Spanish into English, not from Eng- the body with a part from another body, or
lish into Spanish. with a part from somewhere else on the
translation /trns le()n/ noun writ- same body He had a heart transplant. 2.
translation
ing or speech which has been translated I an organ or piece of tissue which is trans-
read Tolstoys War and Peace in transla- planted The kidney transplant was reject-
tion. She passed the translation of the leted.
transplant2 / trns pl
nt / (trans-
transplant
ter to the accounts department. |
translator /trns let/ noun a person plants, transplanting, transplanted) verb

translator
who translates 1. to move a plant from one place to anoth-

translucent /trns lu
s()nt/ adj which
translucent
|
er You should not transplant trees in the
light can pass through, but which you can- summer. 2. to replace a damaged organ or
not see through clearly other body part with a healthy part They
transmission / trnz m()n/ noun 1.
transmission
transplanted a kidney from his brother.
transport1 / trnsp
t/ noun the move-
|
transport
passing of disease from one person to an-

other Patients must be isolated to prevent ment of goods or people in vehicles Air
transmission of the disease to the general transport is the quickest way to travel from
public. 2. a radio or TV broadcast We in- one country to another. Rail transport
terrupt this transmission to bring you a costs are getting lower. What means of
news flash. 3. (in a car) a series of moving transport will you use to get to the hotel?
transport2 /trns p
t/ (transports,
transport
parts which pass the power from the engine |
through the gearbox and clutch to the axles transporting, transported) verb to move
Theres a strange noise coming from the goods or people from one place to another
transmission. in a vehicle The company transports mil-
transmit /trnz mt/ (transmits, trans-
transmit
|
lions of tons of goods by rail each year.
mitting, transmitted) verb 1. to pass a dis- The visitors will be transported to the fac-
ease from one person to another The dis- tory by helicopter.
transportation / trnsp
te()n/
transportation
ease was transmitted to all the people he |
came into contact with. The disease is noun the action or means of moving goods
transmitted by fleas. 2. to send out a pro- or people The company will provide
gramme or a message by radio or TV The transportation to the airport.
transpose /trns pz/ (transposes,
transpose
message was transmitted to the ship by ra- |
dio. transposing, transposed) verb to make

transmitter /trnz mt/ noun appara- two things change places
transmitter
transvestite /trnz vestat/ noun a

transvestite
tus for sending out radio or TV signals |
transparency /trns prnsi/ noun 1. person who wears the clothes of the oppo-
transparency
the quality of being transparent The site sex. drag

trap /trp/ noun an object used for
trap
transparency of the water allows you to see

the coral reefs. 2. being clear when making catching an animal We have a mouse in
decisions, and being open to the public the kitchen so we will put down a trap.
about official actions The government in- verb (traps, trapping, trapped) to catch or
sists on the importance of transparency in hold someone or something Several peo-
trapezium 662
ple were trapped in the wreckage of the travesty / trvsti/ noun a ridiculous or
travesty
plane. He was trapped on video as he en- poor imitation Its a travesty of the truth.
tered the bank. trawl /tr
l/ (trawls, trawling, trawled)
trawl
trapezium /tr pi
zim/ noun 1. a flat
trapezium
| verb to search something large in order to

four-sided geometric shape, where two of get something We trawled the files for a
the sides are parallel and the other two recent photo of the businessman. to
sides are not (NOTE: The US term is trape- trawl through something for something
zoid.) 2. US a flat four-sided geometric to search through something He spent
shape, where none of the sides are parallel hours trawling through boxes until he
(NOTE: The British term is trapezoid.) found the letter he was looking for.
trash /tr/ noun 1. US useless things trawler / tr
l/ noun a fishing boat
trash trawler

Throw out all that trash from her bedroom. which pulls a net behind it
2. something of bad quality, e.g. a newspa- tray /tre/ noun a flat board for carrying
tray
per verb (trashes, trashing, trashed) 1. food, and things like glasses, cups and sau-
to smash up Someone trashed the tele- cers He had his lunch on a tray in his
phones. 2. to ruin someones reputation bedroom. She bumped into a waitress
She wrote an article trashing the pop sing- who was carrying a tray of glasses.
er. treacherous / tretrs/ adv 1. danger-
treacherous
trashcan / trkn/ noun US a large

trashcan
ous There are treacherous reefs just off-

plastic or metal container for household shore. Black ice is making the roads very
rubbish (informal) treacherous. 2. not to be trusted His
trashy / tri/ adj of bad quality
trashy
treacherous behaviour led to the loss of the

trauma / tr
m / noun a mental shock town to the enemy.
trauma
caused by a sudden unpleasant experience, treachery / tretri/ noun the act of be-
treachery
which was not expected to take place traying or of being a traitor to your country,
traumatic /tr
mtk/ adj which gives friends, etc.
traumatic
a sharp and unpleasant shock treacle / tri

k()l/ noun a thick dark-
treacle
travel / trv()l/ noun the action of brown liquid produced when sugar is being
travel
moving from one country or place to an- refined You can use treacle in Christmas
other Air travel is the only really fast cakes and Christmas puddings.
method of going from one country to an- tread /tred/ verb (treads, treading, trod)
tread
other. verb (travels, travelling, travelled) to step or to walk, especially with force
to move from one country or place to an- She trod on my toe and didnt say she was
other He travels fifty miles by car to go to sorry. Watch where youre treading
work every day. He has travelled across theres broken glass on the floor. noun the
the United States several times on his mo- top part of a stair or step which you stand
torbike. The bullet must have travelled on The carpet on the bottom tread is
several metres before it hit the wall. (NOTE: loose. Metal treads are noisy.
The US spelling is traveling traveled.) treadmill / tredml/ noun 1. an exercise
treadmill
travel agency / trv()l ednsi/

travel agency
machine with a moving belt on which you

noun an office which arranges tickets and walk or jog without actually moving for-
accommodation for travellers ward 2. dull work which has to be done
travel agent / trv()l ednt/ noun a every day
travel agent
treason / tri
z()n/ noun the crime of be-
treason
person or company that arranges tickets

and accommodation for its customers traying your country, by giving your coun-
traveller / trv()l/ noun 1. a person trys secrets to the enemy or by helping the
traveller
who travels travellers on the 9 oclock enemy during wartime

train to London Travellers to France are treasure / tre/ noun jewels, gold, or
treasure
experiencing delays because of the dock other valuable things the treasures in the
strike. 2. a person who has no fixed home British Museum They are diving in the
and who travels around the country The Caribbean looking for pirates treasure.
fields were full of hippies and travellers. treasurer / trer/ noun a person who
treasurer
travellers cheque / trv()lz tek/ looks after the money of a club, society or
travellers cheque
noun a cheque which you buy at a bank be- other organisation Please send your sub-
fore you travel and which you can then use scriptions to the treasurer by May 1st.
in a foreign country treat /tri
t/ noun a special thing which
treat
traverse /tr v#
s/ (traverses, travers-
traverse
| gives pleasure Its always a treat to sit

ing, traversed) verb to go across down quietly at home after a hard day in
663 trick
the shop. verb (treats, treating, treated) and all the lights went out. Theres tre-
1. to deal with someone or something She mendous excitement here in Trafalgar
was badly treated by her uncle. It you Square as we wait for the election result.
treat the staff well they will work well. He tremor / trem/ noun a slight shaking
tremor
didnt treat my suggestion seriously. 2. to They noticed a tremor in her hands.

give medical help to a sick or injured per- trench /trent/ noun a long narrow ditch
trench
son After the accident some of the pas- They dug trenches for drainage round the
sengers had to be treated in hospital for camp. He fought in the trenches during
cuts and bruises. She is being treated for the First World War.
rheumatism. trend /trend/ noun a general tendency
trend
treatise / tri
tz/ noun a long piece of
treatise
[~towards] There is a trend towards shop-

formal writing on a specialised subject ping in smaller local stores. The govern-
treatment / tri
tmnt/ noun 1. a way
treatment
ment studies economic trends to decide

of behaving towards something or some- whether to raise taxes or not.
one The report criticised the treatment of trendy / trendi/ (trendier, trendiest) adj
trendy
prisoners in the jail. What sort of treat- very fashionable (informal ) Shes always
ment did you get at school? 2. a way of wearing the trendiest clothes. Its trendy
looking after a sick or injured person [~for] nowadays to care about the environment.
The treatment for skin cancer is very trepidation /trep de()n/ noun nerv-
trepidation
painful. He is having a course of heat ous worry

treatment. trial / tral/ noun 1. a court case held
trial
treaty / tri
ti/ noun a written legal agree-
treaty
before a judge The trial will be heard

ment between two or more countries The next week. 2. the act of testing something
treaty was signed in 1845. Countries are The new model is undergoing its final tri-
negotiating a treaty to ban nuclear weap- als. on trial being tested to see if it is ac-
ons. ceptable The system is still on trial.
treble / treb()l/ noun 1. a boys high- trial run /tral rn/ noun a test of
treble trial run
pitched soprano voice The treble solo something which is new to see how good it
rose above the sound of the basses. 2. a is
high-pitched musical instrument The triangle / tra(l/ noun a shape
triangle
school has six recorders: two bass, two with three straight sides and three angles
tenors and two trebles. verb (trebles, tre- The end of the roof is shaped like a trian-
bling, trebled) to increase by three times gle.
The council is planning to treble the triathlon /tra ln/ noun an Olympic
triathlon
amount it spends on education. The value endurance sport in which competitors must
of our house has trebled in the last fifteen complete a 1,500-metre swim, then cycle
years. 40 kilometres and finally run 10,000 me-
tree /tri
/ noun a very large plant, with
tree
tres
a thick trunk, branches and leaves The tribe /trab/ noun a group of people with
tribe
cat climbed up an apple tree and couldnt the same race, language and customs She
get down. In autumn, the leaves on the went into the jungle to study the jungle
trees in the park turn brown and red. He tribes.
was sheltering under a tree and was struck tribunal /tra bju
n()l/ noun a specialist
tribunal
by lightning. court outside the main judicial system

trek /trek/ noun a long hard journey Its
trek
which examines special problems and

quite a trek to the centre of town from here. makes judgments
(NOTE: + trek v) tribute / trbju
t/ noun words or gifts to
tribute
trellis / trels/ noun a frame of criss-

trellis
show respect to someone, especially some-

crossed pieces of light wood, used for one who has died
plants to climb up tribute band / trbju
t bnd/ noun a
tribute band
tremble / trembl/ (trembles, trem-

tremble
musical group that tries to look and sound

bling, trembled) verb to shake because you like and performs songs and music made
are cold or afraid, or worried by something popular by a famous predecessor
She was trembling with cold. I tremble trick /trk/ noun a clever act to deceive
trick
at the thought of how much the meal will or confuse someone The recorded sound
cost. of barking is just a trick to make burglars
tremendous /tr mends/ adj very
tremendous
| think there is a dog in the house. verb

big There was a tremendous explosion (tricks, tricking, tricked) to deceive some-
trickery 664
one Weve been tricked, theres nothing put has tripled over the last year. Weve
in the box. to trick someone into doing tripled the number of visitors to the muse-
something to make someone do something um since we reduced the entrance fee.
which they did not mean to do by means of tripod / trapd/ noun a stand with three
tripod
a trick He tricked the old lady into giving legs

him all her money. to trick someone out trite /trat/ adj very ordinary and unexcit-
trite
of something to get someone to lose some- ing or used too often

thing by a trick She tricked the bank out
triumph / tramf/ noun a great victo-
triumph
of 100,000.
trickery / trkri/ noun deceiving by us-
trickery
ry or great achievement [~over/~of] their
ing tricks recent triumph over the French The
bridge is a triumph of modern engineering.
trickle / trk()l/ (trickles, trickling,
trickle
verb (triumphs, triumphing, triumphed)

trickled) verb to flow gently [~over] to triumph over something to be
trick question /trk kwestn/ noun a
trick question
successful in spite of difficulties which

question which is intended to deceive peo- could have stopped you He triumphed
ple over his disabilities to become world
tricky / trki/ adj requiring a lot of champion. to triumph over someone to
tricky
skill, patience or intelligence Getting the win a victory over someone Our local
wire through the little hole is quite tricky. team triumphed over their old rivals.
tried /(-`/0`/ past tense and past participle triumphant /tra mfnt/ adj happy or
tried triumphant
of try proud because you have won

tries /traz/ plural of try. 3rd person sin-
tries
trivia / trvi/ noun details which are not

trivia
gular present of try important

trifle / traf()l/ noun a small thing which
trifle
trivial / trvil / adj not important

trivial
is not important (literary) The president

trod /trd/ past tense of tread
trod
does not bother himself with trifles.

trodden / trd()n/ past participle of
trodden
trigger / tr(/ noun a little lever which

trigger
you pull to fire a gun tread

trolley / trli/ noun a small vehicle on
trolley
trilogy / trldi/ (plural trilogies) noun a

trilogy
novel or play in three separate parts which wheels which is designed to be pushed
are linked together They put the piano onto a trolley to move it
trim /trm/ verb (trims, trimming,
trim out of the house.
trombone /trm bn/ noun a brass mu-
trombone
trimmed) to cut something to make it tidy |
Ask the hairdresser to trim your beard. sical instrument like a large trumpet, where
adj (trimmer, trimmest) 1. cut short to give different notes are made by sliding a tube
a tidy appearance She always keeps her in or out
troop /tru
p/ noun a large group of
troop
hedges trim. 2. slim and fit He keeps him-

self trim by going for a long walk every people She took a troop of schoolchildren
day. to visit the museum. (NOTE: Do not confuse
trinket / trkt/ noun a cheap ornament with troupe.) plural noun troops soldiers
trinket
trio / tri
/ (plural trios) noun a group of
trio
Enemy troops occupied the town.
trophy / trfi/ noun a prize given for
trophy
three people, especially a group of three

musicians winning a competition His mantelpiece
trip /trp/ noun a short journey [~to] is full of trophies which he won at golf.
trip
Our trip to Paris was cancelled. Were Our team carried off the trophy for the
going on a trip to the seaside. verb (trips, third year in a row.
tropical / trpk()l/ adj relating to
tropical
tripping, tripped) to catch your foot in

something so that you stagger and fall hot countries In tropical countries it is al-
down [~on/over] She tripped over a cable ways hot.
as she was coming out of the workshop. trot /trt/ noun the action of running
trot
trip over phrasal verb to catch your foot with short regular steps, like a horse does
in something so that you fall She was Lets start todays exercises with a short
running away from him when she tripped trot round the football field. verb (trots,
over. trotting, trotted) to run with short regular
triple / trp()l/ (triples, tripling, tripled)
triple
steps Weve got no butter left, so Ill trot

verb to become three times as large; to off to the shop to buy some. She trotted
make something three times as large Out- down the path to meet us.
665 trust
trouble / trb()l/ noun problems or truant / tru
nt/ noun to play truant
trouble truant
worries The trouble with old cars is that not to go to school when you should They
sometimes they dont start. The children didnt go to school, but played truant and
were no trouble at all. We are having went fishing instead.
some computer trouble or some trouble truce /tru
s/ noun an agreement between
truce
with the computer. verb (troubles, trou- two armies or enemies to stop fighting for
bling, troubled) to make someone feel a time
worried I can see that theres something truck /trk/ noun a goods vehicle used
truck
troubling him. asking for trouble likely for carrying heavy loads (informal)
to cause problems If you dont take out Trucks thundered past the house all night.
insurance, its just asking for trouble. its They loaded the truck with bricks.
no trouble it is easy to do, it wont cause true /tru
/ adj 1. correct according to
true
any problems Looking after your cat is facts or reality What he says is simply not
no trouble I like animals. true. Its quite true that she comes from
troubled / trb()ld / adj 1. where there
troubled
Scotland. Is it true that hes been married

are problems He comes from a troubled twice? truth 2. faithful or loyal an ex-
family background. We live in troubled pression of true love Shes a true friend.
times. 2. worried He has a troubled look to come true to happen as was predicted
on his face. They seem troubled but I Her forecast of bad storms came true.
dont know why. true to life like things really are
troublemaker / trb()lmek/ noun a truffle / trf()l/ noun 1. a type of round
troublemaker
truffle
person who causes problems for other peo- black edible fungus found under the earth
ple near trees Specially trained pigs are
troubleshooting / trb()lu
t/
troubleshooting
trained to sniff out the best truffles. 2. a soft

noun sorting out problems, in business or sweet made of chocolate, often flavoured
in technology with rum We bought our hosts a bottle of
troublesome / trb()ls()m/ adj wine and a box of chocolate truffles.
troublesome
which causes trouble or which is annoying truly / tru

li/ adv used for emphasis
truly
trouble spot / trb()l spt/ noun a He truly believes that was what happened.
trouble spot
place where trouble, especially political Im truly grateful for all your help. Do
unrest or violence, occurs you love me, really and truly?
trough /trf/ noun 1. a long narrow open trump card / trmp k
d / noun an ad-
trough trump card
container for food or water for farm ani- vantage which is kept ready for use in an
mals The pigs were so greedy for their emergency
food, some of them even got into the trumpet / trmpt/ noun a brass musical
trumpet
trough. 2. a low point between two higher instrument which is played by blowing,
points of something that rises and falls reg- with three parts which you press with your
ularly The graph shows the peaks and fingers He plays the trumpet in the school
troughs of the number of births in different orchestra. She practises the trumpet in
months. the evenings.
trounce /trans/ (trounces, trouncing, truncheon / trntn/ noun a short,
trounce truncheon
trounced) verb to defeat someone easily thick stick used by policemen as a weapon
troupe /tru
p/ noun a group of actors or trundle / trnd()l/ (trundles, trundling,
troupe trundle
other performers who perform together trundled) verb to push or roll along some-
(NOTE: Do not confuse with troop.) thing heavy or to move in a heavy way
trousers / trazz/ plural trunk /trk/ noun 1. the thick stem of
trousers trunk
noun
clothes which cover your body from the a tree Ivy was climbing up the trunk of the
waist down, each leg separately He tore oak tree. 2. an elephants long nose 3. a
his trousers climbing over the fence. She large box for storing or sending clothes
was wearing a red jumper and grey trou- They sent a trunk of clothes in advance to
sers. He bought two pairs of trousers in the new house.
the sale. trunk road / trk rd/ noun a main
trunk road
trout /trat / noun a type of edible fresh-

trout
road
water fish trunks /trks/ plural noun shorts worn
trunks
trowel / tral/ noun a hand tool, like a

trowel
by a man when swimming

large spoon, used in gardening trust /trst/ verb (trusts, trusting,
trust
truancy / tru
nsi/ noun the action of not
truancy
trusted) to be confident that someone is re-

going to school when you should liable You can trust his instructions he
trustee 666
knows a lot about computers. I wouldnt plants a tub of daffodils 2. a small, round
trust him farther than I could kick him. container for food, usually with a lid a
noun a belief that something will work well tub of coleslaw 3. a bath
or that someone will do something [~in] tuba / tju
b/ noun a large bass brass in-
tuba
Dont put too much trust in his navigating strument

skills. to take something on trust to take tube /tju
b/ noun 1. a long pipe for car-
tube
something without looking to see if it is all rying liquids or gas He was lying in a
right We took his statement on trust. hospital bed with tubes coming out of his
trustee /tr sti
/ noun a person who ad-
trustee
|
nose and mouth. Air flows down this tube
ministers a trust or who directs a charity or to the face mask. 2. a soft container for a
other public institution soft substance like toothpaste, which you
trust fund / trst fnd/ noun an invest-
trust fund
squeeze to get the substance out I forgot

ment fund which is managed on behalf of to pack a tube of toothpaste. I need a tube
another person of glue to mend the cup. She bought a
trustworthy / trstw#
i/ adj who can
trustworthy
tube of mustard. 3. (in London) the under-

be depended upon ground railway system Its quicker to
truth /tru
/ noun being true; a true sto- take the tube to Oxford Circus than to go by
truth
ry [~about] The police are trying to work bus. Youll have to go by bus because
out the truth about what happened. Do theres a tube strike.
you think he is telling the truth? I dont tuberculosis /tjb#
kj lss/ noun
tuberculosis
| |
think there is any truth in his story. home an infectious disease caused by a bacillus,
truths where infected lumps form in the lungs
truthful / tru
f()l/ adj 1. who always
truthful
tubing / tju
b/ noun tubes in general
tubing
tells the truth Shes a very truthful child.

tuck /tk/ (tucks, tucking, tucked) verb
tuck
2. giving true facts To be truthful, Im not

quite sure where we are. The young man to put something carefully into a narrow or
gave a truthful account of what happened. small place She tucked the blanket
around the baby. He tucked the note into
try /tra/ verb (tries, trying, tried) 1. to
try
his shirt pocket.

make an effort to do something You have
tuck in phrasal verb 1. to fold something
to try hard if you want to succeed. Dont
try to ride a motorbike if youve never rid- carefully around someone or something
den one before. 2. to test or to see if some- and push the ends in She tucked the
thing is good I tried the new toothpaste baby in or She tucked the blanket in
and I didnt like the taste. 3. to hear a civil (around the baby). 2. to start eating en-
or criminal case in court The case will be thusiastically The foods ready, every-
tried by a judge and jury. noun (plural one can tuck in. We all tucked in to a
tries) an attempt to do something Shes
huge lunch.
going to have a try at water skiing. He tuck up /tk p/ verb to push the edge
had two tries before he passed his driving of the bedclothes around someone to
test. lets give it a try lets see if it works keep them warm By eight oclock the
try on phrasal verb 1. to put on a piece of children were all tucked up in bed.
Tues.
clothing to see if it fits You must try the Tues. abbr Tuesday
trousers on before you buy them. Did Tuesday / tju
zde/ noun the second
Tuesday
you try on the shoes at the shop? 2. to day of the week, the day between Monday
try it on to try to trick someone (informal) and Wednesday I saw him in the office
Dont believe him hes just trying it last Tuesday. The club always meets on
on. Tuesdays. Shall we meet next Tuesday
try out phrasal verb to test something, to evening? Today is Tuesday, April 30th.
see if it is good The 15th is a Monday, so the 16th must be
trying / tra/ adj annoying and difficult a Tuesday. We went to the cinema last
trying
to deal with Tuesday.

T-shirt / ti
#
t/ noun another spelling of tuft /tft/ noun a small bunch of some-
T-shirt tuft
teeshirt She was wearing jeans and a T- thing like grass or feathers
shirt. No wonder youre cold if you went tug / t(/ verb (tugs, tugging, tugged) to
tug
out in just a T-shirt. give something a sudden hard pull He

tsp. abbr teaspoon
tsp.
tugged on the rope and a bell rang. noun

tub /tb/ noun 1. a round container with
tub
a sudden pull He felt a tug on the line

straight sides, often used for growing he had caught a fish!
667 turn
tug-of-war /t( v w
/ noun a bitter water near the rocks. 2. likely to have riots
tug-of-war
struggle between two sides After the di- or civil war It was a turbulent period in
vorce the children were caught in a tug-of- the countrys history.
war between their parents. turf /t#
f/ noun 1. an area of grass which is
turf
tuition /tju ()n/ noun the teaching

tuition
| mown and looked after After the rain, the

of students dry springy turf suddenly turned wet and
tulip / tju
lp/ noun a common spring sticky underfoot. 2. a piece of grass and soil
tulip
bulb with flowers in brilliant colours, which can be planted to form a lawn
shaped like cups Make sure the ground is flat before laying
tumble / tmbl/ (tumbles, tumbling,
tumble
the strips of turf. It is quicker to lay turfs
tumbled) verb to fall He tumbled down than to sow grass seed.
turkey / t#
ki/ noun a large farm bird,
turkey
the stairs head first. She arrived home

late after the party and just tumbled into similar to a chicken but much bigger, often
bed. (NOTE: + tumble n) eaten at Christmas We had roast turkey
tumbler / tmbl/ noun a glass with a and potatoes. Whos going to carve the
tumbler
flat base and straight sides, used for serv- turkey?

Turkey / t#
ki / noun a country in the
Turkey
ing drinks
tummy / tmi/ (plural tummies) noun the eastern Mediterranean, south of the Black
tummy
stomach (informal; childrens language) Sea (NOTE: capital: Ankara; people: the
tumour / tju
m/ noun an unusual swell- Turks; language: Turkish; currency: Turk-
tumour
ing or growth of new cells in the body ish lira)

turmoil / t#
ml/ noun a state of disorder
turmoil
(NOTE: The US spelling is tumor.)

tuna / tju
n/ (plural same or tunas) noun
tuna
and confusion
turn /t#
n/ noun 1. a change of direc-
turn
a very large sea fish used for food

tune / tju
n/ noun a series of musical tion, especially of a vehicle The bus
tune
notes which have a pattern He wrote made a sudden turn to the left. U-turn 2. a
some of the tunes for the musical. She road which leaves another road Take the
walked away whistling a little tune. next turn on the right. verb (turns, turn-
tune in phrasal verb to adjust a radio so ing, turned) 1. to go round in a circle The
that it takes broadcasts from a particular wheels of the train started to turn slowly.
station Be careful the machine goes on turning
tunic / tju
nk/ noun 1. a long loose shirt
tunic
for a few seconds after it has been switched
She was wearing a matching tunic and
off. 2. to make something go round Turn
skirt. 2. a short uniform jacket worn by sol- the handle to the right to open the safe. 3.
diers, policemen and others The guards- to change direction, to go in another direc-
men spent hours polishing the buttons on tion Turn left at the next traffic lights.
their tunics. The car turned the corner too fast and hit a
lamppost. The path turns to the right af-
tunnel / tn()l/ noun a long passage
tunnel
ter the pub. 4. to move your head or body

under the ground The Channel Tunnel so that you face in another direction Can
links Britain to France. The road round everyone turn to look at the camera,
Lake Lucerne goes through six tunnels. please. 5. to change into something differ-
They are digging a new tunnel for the un- ent Leaves turn red or brown in the au-
derground railway. tumn. When he was fifty, his hair turned
tunnel vision /tn()l v()n/ noun 1.
tunnel vision
grey.
seeing only the area immediately in front turn away phrasal verb 1. to send people
of the eye 2. having the tendency to con- away The restaurant is full, so we have
centrate on only one aspect of a problem had to turn people away. 2. to turn so as
turban / t#
bn/ noun a long piece of
turban
not to face someone He turned away

cloth worn wrapped round your head because he didnt want to be photo-
turbine / t#
ban/ noun a machine which
turbine
graphed.
produces power from the action of water, turn back phrasal verb 1. to turn round
gas or steam turning a wheel with blades and go back in the opposite direction 2. to
which runs a generator tell someone to go back The police
turbulence / t#
bjlns/ noun a distur-
turbulence
tried to turn back the people who had no

bance in air or water currents tickets.
turbulent / t#
bjlnt/ adj 1. which is
turbulent
turn down phrasal verb 1. to refuse some-

moving violently Watch out for turbulent thing which is offered He was offered a
turnaround 668
job in Australia, but turned it down. done. 3. to have a certain amount of sales
She has turned down a job or turned a job We turn over about three million
down in the town hall. 2. to make some- pounds per annum.
thing less noisy or less strong Can you turn round phrasal verb to move your
turn down the radio Im trying to work. head or body so that you face in another
Turn down the gas or turn the gas down direction
the soup will burn. 3. to fold back a turn up phrasal verb 1. to arrive The
sheet on a bed, so that the pillow is un- food was spoiled because half the guests
covered didnt turn up until nine oclock. He
turn in phrasal verb 1. to take someone or turned up unexpectedly just as I was
something to someone in authority leaving the office. 2. to be found in a par-
Everyone was asked to turn in their guns. ticular place The police searched eve-
He caught the thief and turned him in to rywhere, and the little girl finally turned
the police. 2. to go to bed Its after elev- up in Edinburgh. The keys turned up in
en oclock time to turn in! my trouser pocket. 3. to make something
turn into phrasal verb 1. to change to louder or stronger Can you turn up the
become something different The witch radio or turn the radio up I cant hear
turned the prince into a frog. We are it. Turn up the gas or turn the gas up,
planning to turn this room into a muse- the potatoes arent cooked yet. 4. to un-
um. 2. to change direction and go into fold To keep warm he turned up his
something We went down the main coat collar.
turnaround / t#
nrand/ noun same as
turnaround
road for a short way and then turned into

a little lane on the left. turnround
turning / t#
n / noun a road which
turning
turn off phrasal verb 1. to make a piece of

electrical equipment stop working goes away from another road
turning point / t#
n pnt/ noun the
turning point
Dont forget to turn the TV off when you

go to bed. Turn off the lights or turn the time when an important or decisive change
lights off fathers going to show his hol- takes place
turnip / t#
np/ noun a common vegeta-
turnip
iday films. 2. to leave a road you are trav-

elling on You can turn off the main ble, with a round white root
turnout / t#
nat/ noun a crowd of peo-
turnout
street into one of the car parks. Heres

where we turn off. ple who come to a show or a meeting The
turn on phrasal verb 1. to make a piece of football match attracted only a small turn-
electrical equipment start working Can out. There was a record turnout for the
you turn the light on or turn on the light flower show.
turnover / t#
nv/ noun the amount
turnover
its too dark to read. 2. to attack some-

one suddenly The dog suddenly turned of sales of goods or services by a business
on the girl. The newspapers suddenly Our turnover is rising each year.
turned on the prime minister. turnround / t#
nrand/ noun the proc-
turnround
turn out phrasal verb 1. to force someone ess of receiving orders and sending out
to go out They were turned out of their goods (NOTE: The US term is turnaround.)
turnstile / t#
nstal / noun a little revolv-
turnstile
house when they couldnt pay the rent. 2.

to produce or make The factory turns ing gate which has a counter to record the
out more than 10,000 cars a week. 3. to number of people going through it
switch off Please turn out all the lights turntable / t#
nteb()l/ noun a flat part
turntable
or turn all the lights out before you go up of a record player which turns with the
to bed. 4. to happen in the end We got record on it I dont think the turntable is
talking, and it turned out that she was at aligned correctly the records seem to
school with my brother. The party turn at the wrong speed.
didnt start very well, but everything turquoise / t#
kwz/ adj blue-green I
turquoise
turned out all right in the end. 5. to come bought a pale turquoise silk dress to go to
out The whole town turned out to watch the wedding. From the top of the cliff the
the cycle race. sea looked turquoise in the sunshine.
turn over phrasal verb 1. to roll over turret / trt/ noun 1. a small tower
turret
The lorry went round the corner too fast From here, you can see the castles pointed
and turned over. Their boat turned over turrets. 2. a small armoured structure with
in the storm. 2. to show the other side a gun inside, on a ship or tank The turret
He turned over the burger to see if it was of the tank swung round until the barrel of
669 two
the gun was pointing directly at the presi- etc., but twenty-first (21st), twenty-sec-
dents palace. ond (22nd), etc.) twenties the numbers
tusk /tsk/ noun the long tooth of some between 20 and 29
tusk
animals such as elephants and walruses twenty-first / twenti f#

st/ adj, noun re-
twenty-first
tussle / ts()l/ noun a fight or argument

tussle
ferring to 21
He got into a tussle with two men outside 24/7 /twenti f
sev()n/ adv 24 hours a
24/7
a pub. After a short tussle with the man- day, 7 days a week without stopping
ager she got a refund. (NOTE: + tussle v) 20/20 vision / twenti twenti v()n/
20/20 vision
tutor / tju
t/ noun a teacher, especially a
tutor
noun perfect eyesight

person who teaches only one student or a
twice /twas/ adv two times
twice
Turn it
small group of students His first job was
as private tutor to some German children. off Ive seen that programme twice al-
verb (tutors, tutoring, tutored) to teach a
ready. Twice two is four, twice four is
small group of students (formal) She eight. Im fifteen, shes thirty, so shes
earns extra money by tutoring foreign stu- twice as old as I am.
twiddle / twd()l/ (twiddles, twiddling,
twiddle
dents in English.
tutorial /tju
t
ril/ noun a teaching ses-
tutorial
|
twiddled) verb to twist something aimless-
sion between a tutor and one or more stu- ly She twiddled the knobs, hoping to find
dents a German radio station.
twig /tw(/ noun a little branch of a tree or
twig
tuxedo /tk si
d/ noun US a mans
tuxedo
formal black or white jacket, worn with a bush There is a bud at the end of each
bow tie twig. The bird made its nest of twigs and
TV /ti
vi
/ noun a television They
TV
leaves.
twilight / twalat/ noun a time when the
twilight
watch TV every night. The TV news is

usually at nine oclock. Some childrens light is weak, between sunset and night
TV programmes are very dull. The twin /twn/ adj, noun one of two babies
twin
daughter of a friend of mine was on TV last born at the same time to the same mother
night. he and his twin brother Shes expecting
twang /tw/ noun a sound made when twins.
twang
the string of a musical instrument or a taut twin beds /twn beds/ plural noun two
twin beds
wire is pulled and released You could single beds placed in a bedroom
hear the twang of his guitar. There was a twinge /twnd/ noun a short sharp pain
twinge
loud twang as the cable snapped.

twinkle / twkl/ (twinkles, twinkling,
twinkle
tweak /twi
k / (tweaks, tweaking,
tweak
twinkled) verb to shine with a little moving

tweaked) verb 1. to pinch and pull with
your finger and thumb She tweaked his light His eyes twinkled as he showed the
nose. 2. to adjust something carefully children the sweets he had bought. We
With a little tweaking we got the graphics could see the lights of the harbour twin-
right. kling in the distance. (NOTE: + twinkle n)
twirl /tw#
l/ (twirls, twirling, twirled) verb
twirl
tweed /twi
d / noun a usually rough wool-
tweed
len cloth made with strands of different 1. to twist something round in your hand
coloured wool I wish I could twirl a baton like those girls
tweezers / twi
zz/ plural noun little
tweezers in the procession. 2. to spin round Mod-
metal pincers for pulling out a hair or splin- els twirled round on the catwalk. (NOTE: +
twirl n)
ter She pulled the hair out with her tweez-
twist /twst/ (twists, twisting, twisted)
twist
ers.
twelfth /twelf/ adj relating to number
twelfth
verb 1. to wind something round something
She twisted the string round a piece of
12 in a series noun number 12 in a series
twelve /twelv/ noun the number 12
twelve
stick. 2. to turn in different directions The
path twisted between the fields.
twentieth / twent/ adj relating to
twentieth
twitch /twt/ (twitches, twitching,

twitch
number 20 in a series (NOTE: With dates

twentieth is usually written 20th: May 20th, twitched) verb to make small movements
1921; June 20th, 1896 (American style is 20 of the muscles ( NOTE: + twitch n)
2 /tu
/ prep to (informal)
2
June 1896): say the twentieth of June or

two /tu
/ noun the number 2 to put
two
June the twentieth (American style is June

twentieth).) noun number 20 in a series two and two together to draw a conclusion
twenty / twenti/ noun the number 20 from something They put two and two to-
twenty
(NOTE: twenty-one (21), twenty-two (22) gether and decided she must be pregnant.
2.1 670
2.1 /tu
wn/ noun an upper second class typeface / tapfes/ noun a set of printed
2.1 typeface
university degree characters which have been designed with

2.2 /tu
tu
/ noun a lower second class
2.2
a certain style and have a certain name
typewriter / taprat/ noun a machine
|
typewriter
university degree
which prints letters or numbers on a piece
/tu
da
two-dimensional
two-dimensional |
of paper when keys are pressed
menn()l/ adj with two dimensions, flat typical / tpk()l/ adj having the usual
typical
twofold / tu
fld/ adv, adj twice as
twofold
qualities of a particular group or occasion

much Describe a typical day at school. Hes
two-time / tu
tam/ verb to be unfaithful
two-time
definitely not a typical bank manager.
typify / tpfa/ (typifies, typifying, typi-
typify
to your marriage partner or lover (informal)

fied) verb to be a good example of some-
tycoon /ta ku
n/ noun a very rich busi-
tycoon
thing
nessman
typing / tap/ noun the action of writ-
typing
tying / ta/ present participle of tie

tying
ing letters with a typewriter

type /tap/ noun a group of people, an- typist / tapst/ noun a person whose job
type typist
imals or things that are similar to each oth- is to type letters on a typewriter
er [~of] This type of bank account pays tyrant / tarnt/ noun a ruler who rules
tyrant
10% interest. What type of accommoda- by force and fear

tion are you looking for? verb (types, tyre / ta/ noun a ring made of rubber
tyre
typing, typed) to write with a computer or which is put round a wheel Check the
typewriter Please type your letters your pressure in the car tyres before starting a
writings so bad I cant read it. She only journey. They used an old tyre to make a
typed two lines and made six mistakes. seat for the garden swing.
U
u /ju
/, U noun the twenty-first letter of the umbilical cord /m blk()l k
d/
u umbilical cord
alphabet, between T and V noun a cord which links the foetus to the
ubiquitous /ju
bkwts/ adj which is placenta inside the womb
ubiquitous
or which seems to be everywhere umbrage noun take umbrage (at

umbrage
udder / d/ noun a gland which produc-

udder
something) to be offended by someone

es milk, a bag which hangs under the body umbrella /m brel/ noun a round
umbrella
of a cow or female goat frame covered with cloth which you hold
UFO /ju
ef , ju
f/ abbr unidenti-
UFO
over your head to keep off the rain Can I

fied flying object borrow your umbrella? As it was starting
ugh /x/ interj showing a feeling that
ugh
to rain, he opened his umbrella. The wind

something is unpleasant blew my umbrella inside out.
ugly / (li/ adj unpleasant to look at umpire / mpa/ noun a person who
ugly umpire
What an ugly pattern! The part of the acts as a judge in a game to see that the
town round the railway station is even ug- game is played according to the rules The
lier than the rest. umpire ruled that the ball was out. He
uh huh / h/ interj showing that you
uh huh
was disqualified for shouting at the um-

agree or that you are listening pire. (NOTE: + umpire v)
uh-oh / / interj used as the written umpteen /mp ti
n/ adj a large number
uh-oh umpteen
form of an exclamation made to express (informal) Ive been to France umpteen

worry or a warning times. There are umpteen forms to fill in.
UK abbr United Kingdom Exports from
UK
UN abbr United Nations UN peacekeep-

UN
the UK or UK exports rose last year. ing forces are in the area. The British
ulcer / ls/ noun an open sore on or in-
ulcer
Ambassador to the UN spoke in the debate.

side the body un- /n / prefix not
un-
ulterior motive /ltri mtv/

ulterior motive
unable /n eb()l/ adj not able to do

unable
|
|
noun a hidden reason for doing something

something I regret that I am unable to ac-
which will give you an advantage cept your suggestion. She was unable to
ultimate / ltmt/ noun the most val-
ultimate
come to the meeting. (NOTE: be unable to is

uable or desirable thing Our first-class a rather formal way of saying cant.)
cabins are the ultimate in travelling luxury.
baggage /n
unaccompanied baggage
unaccompanied
ultimately / ltmtli/ adv in the end
ultimately |
kmpnid b(d/ noun cases which

ultimatum /lt metm/ noun a final
ultimatum
|
are sent by air, with no passenger travelling
demand, proposal sent to someone stating with them
that unless he does something within a pe-
unanimous /ju
nnms/ adj with
unanimous
riod of time, action will be taken |
everyone agreeing
ultra- /ltr/ prefix more than normal, ex-
ultra-
unasked /n
skt/ adj without having
unasked
cessively |
ultrasonic /ltr snk/ adj relating to

ultrasonic
|
been asked Our unasked questions would
frequencies above the range of human always remain so now.
unassuming / n sju
m/ adj quiet
unassuming
hearing |
ultrasound / ltrsand/ noun a very

ultrasound
or modest
unattached /n ttt/ adj not mar-
unattached
high frequency sound wave, used to detect |
objects in the body or under water ried, or not in a sexual relationship with an-
um /m/ interj showing that you are not yone
um
unattainable /n tenb()l/ adj im-

unattainable
sure what to say Um, perhaps its no I |
dont know the answer. possible to achieve or reach

unattractive 672
unattractive /n trktv/ adj not at- uncommon /n kmn/ adj strange or
unattractive uncommon
| |
tractive Her husband is a rather unat- unusual

tractive man. The house is unattractive uncommunicative /nk
uncommunicative
from the outside. mju

nktv/ adj not saying much, or not
unaware /n we/ adj not knowing or answering people
unaware
uncomplicated / n kmplketd/ adj

uncomplicated
realising something [~of/~that] He said |
he was unaware of any rule forbidding an- easy to deal with or understand In chil-
imals in the restaurant. She walked out of drens books, the writing should be clear
the shop with her boyfriend, unaware that and uncomplicated. The procedure is rel-
the photographers were waiting outside. atively quick and uncomplicated.
unawares /n wez / adv without be- uncompromising /n
unawares uncompromising
|
|
ing expected to catch someone una- kmprmaz/ adj unwilling to give in

wares to catch someone by surprise The or to change your ideas
unconcerned /nkn s#
nd/ adj not
unconcerned
TV cameras caught her unawares as she |
slept through the reception. The security worried, not bothered

cameras caught him unawares as he was unconditional /nkn d()nl/ adj
unconditional
putting a packet in the rubbish bin. with no conditions attached

unbearable /n berb()l/ adj so bad unconfirmed /nkn f#
md/ adj which
unbearable unconfirmed
| |
that you cannot accept it or deal with it has not been confirmed
unbelievable /nb li
vb()l/ adj unconnected /nk nektd/ adj not re-
unbelievable unconnected
|
|
which is difficult to believe lated or connected to anything else or each

unbending /n bend/ adj not flexible
unbending
|
other
unconscious /n kns/ adj 1. in a
unconscious
in opinions or attitudes |
unbiased /n bast/ adj without any

unbiased
|
physical condition in which you are not
bias aware of what is happening He was
found unconscious in the street. She was
unblock /n blk/ (unblocks, unblock-
unblock
|
unconscious for two days after the acci-
ing, unblocked) verb to remove something
dent. 2. not realising something [~of] He
that is stopping something from flowing was quite unconscious of how funny he
unborn /n b
n/ adj not yet born
unborn
|
looked. noun the unconscious the part
unbreakable /n brekb()l/ adj
unbreakable
| of the mind which stores thoughts, memo-

which cannot be broken ries or feelings which you are not con-
unbroken /n brkn/ adj which has scious of, but which influence what you do
unbroken
uncontrolled /nkn trld/ adj which

uncontrolled
not been broken |
unbutton /n bt()n/ (unbuttons, un- has not been controlled

unbutton
unconventional / nkn ven()n()l/

unconventional
buttoning, unbuttoned) verb to undo but- |
tons adj not usual

uncalled-for /n k
ld f
/ adj not de- uncork /n k
k/ (uncorks, uncorking,
uncork
uncalled-for
|
|
served uncorked) verb to remove the cork from a

uncanny /n kni/ adj mysterious,
uncanny
bottle
uncountable / n kantb()l/ adj de-
|
uncountable
which seems unnatural |
uncaring /n ker/ adj without having

uncaring
|
scribing a noun that does not refer to a sin-
any sympathy gle object
uncover /n kv/ (uncovers, uncover-
uncover
uncertain /n s#
t()n/ adj not sure, or
uncertain |
ing, uncovered) verb 1. to take a cover off

|
not decided She is uncertain whether to something Leaving the pots of jam un-
accept the job. Hes uncertain about covered will simply attract wasps. 2. to find
what to do next. Their plans are still un- something which was hidden They un-
certain. covered a secret store of gold coins. The
uncle / k()l/ noun a brother of your
uncle
police have uncovered a series of secret fi-

father or mother He was brought up by nancial deals.
his uncle in Scotland. We had a surprise under / nd/ prep 1. in or to a place
under
visitor last night old Uncle Charles. where something else is on top or above
unclear /n kl/ adj not clear
unclear
|
We all hid under the table. My pen rolled
uncomfortable / n kmftb()l/ adj
uncomfortable
| under the sofa. 2. less than a number The

not comfortable What a very uncomfort- old table sold for under 10. The train
able bed! Plastic seats are very uncom- goes to Paris in under three hours. Under
fortable in hot weather. half of the members turned up for the meet-
673 understand
ing. 3. according to Under the terms of underground2 / nd(rand/ noun a
underground
the agreement, the goods should be deliv- railway in a town, which runs under the
ered in October. adv in a lower place ground Thousands of people use the un-
underage /ndr ed/ adj younger derground to go to work. Take the under-
underage
than the legal age ground to go to Oxford Circus. Its usu-

underarm / ndr
m/ noun the area
underarm
|
ally quicker to get across town by under-
under the shoulder joint ground. (NOTE: The London Underground is
often called the Tube. In the United States,
undercarriage / ndkrd/ noun the
undercarriage
an underground railway is called a subway.)

landing gear of an aircraft, the aircrafts
undergrowth / nd(r/ noun plants
undergrowth
wheels and their supports

which grow thickly under large trees
underclass / ndkl
s/ noun the low-
underclass
underhand /nd hnd / adj not honest

underhand
est class in society

underlie /nd la/ (underlying, under-
underlie
undercover /nd kv/ adj acting in

undercover |
|
lay, underlain) verb to be beneath, to be the
disguise Two undercover policemen were basic cause of something
sent to the night club to monitor the sale of
underline (underlines, underlining,
underline
drugs. adv in secret He was working

underlined) verb to write a line under a
undercover for the British government at
the time. word or figure He wrote the title and then
underlined it in red.
undercurrent / ndkrnt/ noun 1. a
undercurrent
underlying /nd la/ adj which is

underlying
current of water under the surface 2. hid- the reason for everything
den feelings
undermine /nd man/ (undermines,
undermine
undercut /nd kt/ (undercuts, un-

undercut |
|
undermining, undermined) verb to make
dercutting, undercut) verb to sell more weaker
cheaply than someone underneath /nd ni
/ prep under
underneath
underdog / ndd(/ noun the person

|
underdog
She wore a long green jumper under-

or team that is weaker, that is going to lose neath her coat. Can you see if my pen is
underdone /nd dn/ adj not cooked
underdone
| underneath the sofa? adv under He put

enough, or not overcooked the box of books down on the kitchen table
underestimate1 /ndr estmt/ noun and my sandwiches were underneath!
underestimate
underpants / ndpnts/ plural noun

underpants
an estimate which is less than the actual

figure The figure of 50,000 was a con- mens short underwear for the part of the
siderable underestimate. body from the waist to the top of the legs
underestimate2 /ndr estmet/ (un-
underestimate
|
The doctor told him to strip down to his un-
derestimates, underestimating, underes- derpants. His wife gave him a pair of
timated) verb to think that something is bright red white and blue underpants for
smaller or not as bad as it really is He un- his birthday.
underpass / ndp
s/ noun a road
underpass
derestimated the amount of time needed to

finish the work. Dont underestimate the which is built under another
intelligence of the average voter. underpin /nd pn/ (underpins, un-
underpin
underfund /nd fnd/ (underfunds, derpinning, underpinned) verb to support

underfund
underprivileged /nd prvldd/

underprivileged
underfunding, underfunded) verb to pro- |
vide too little money to enable something adj not having the same opportunities as
to happen or operate satisfactorily other people
undergo /nd (/ (undergoes, un- underrated /nd retd/ adj deserving
undergo underrated
|
|
dergoing, underwent, undergone) verb to to be valued more

suffer, to have something happen to you underscore /nd sk
/ (under-
underscore
/nd (rdt/ scores, underscoring, underscored) verb

undergraduate
undergraduate |
noun a student at university who is study- to emphasise

undershirt / nd#
t/ noun US a
undershirt
ing for his or her first degree

underground1 /nd (rand/ adv un-
underground
|
light piece of underclothing for the top half
der the ground The ordinary railway line of the body (NOTE: The British term is vest.)
underside / ndsad/ noun a side that
underside
goes underground for a short distance.

Worms live all their life underground. adj is underneath
understand /nd stnd / (under-
understand
built under the ground Theres an under- |
ground passage to the tower. The hotel stands, understanding, understood) verb
has an underground car park. 1. to know what something means Dont
understandable 674
try to talk English to Mr Yoshida he undertook /nd tk/ past tense of un-
undertook
doesnt understand it. 2. to have sympathy dertake

for someone Shes a good teacher she underused /nd ju
zd/ adj not used
underused
really understands children. 3. to know enough

why something happens or how something undervalue /nd vlju
/ (underval-
undervalue
works [~how/why/what etc] I can easily ues, undervaluing, undervalued) verb to

understand why his wife left him. I still value at less than the true rate
dont understand how to operate the new underwater /nd w
t/ adj below the
underwater
laser printer. surface of the water How long can you

understandable /nd stndb()l/
understandable
|
stay underwater? He dived and swam
adj normal, which is easy to understand underwater for several seconds. She goes
understanding /nd stnd/
understanding
| on holiday to the Red Sea to do underwater

noun 1. the fact that someone understands photography.
something [~of] My understanding of under way /nd we/ adv in progress
under way
how the Internet works is limited. 2. sym- The show finally got under way after a lot
pathy for someone else and their problems of delays.
The aim is to promote understanding be- underwear / ndwe/ noun clothes
underwear
tween the two countries. 3. a private agree- worn next to your skin under other clothes
ment We reached an understanding with (NOTE: no plural)
the lawyers. The understanding was that underweight /nd wet/ adj not
underweight
we would all go to the office after lunch. 4. heavy enough, which weighs less than usu-
on the understanding that on condition al
that, provided that We accept the terms of underwent / nd went/ past tense
underwent
the treaty, on the understanding that it has of undergo

to be passed by Parliament. adj sympa-
underworld / ndw#
ld/ noun 1. (in
underworld
thetic His understanding attitude was

much appreciated. mythology) a place inhabited by the dead
Orpheus went down into the Underworld
understatement / ndstetmnt/
understatement
|
to search for his wife. 2. the world of crim-
noun a statement which does not tell the inals The police superintendent is an ex-
facts forcefully enough pert on Londons underworld gangs.
understood /nd std/ past tense
understood
undesirable /nd zarb()l/ adj not

undesirable
|
|
and past participle of understand wanted Its highly undesirable that they
understudy / ndstdi/ noun an actor
understudy
should build a factory in the national park.

who learns a part in the play so as to be able undid /n dd/ past tense of undo
undid
to act it if the usual actor cannot perform undies / ndiz/ plural noun underwear,
undies
The understudy had to take over last night especially womens underwear (informal)
when the male lead fell and broke his arm. Ive just washed my undies, I hope theyll
undertake /nd tek/ (undertakes,
undertake
| be dry by the morning.

undertaking, undertook, undertaken) undo /n du
/ (undoes, undoing, un-
undo
verb 1. to agree to do something He has did, undone) verb to open something

undertaken to pay her 100 a week for which is tied or fastened The first thing
twelve weeks. 2. to do something They he did on getting home was to undo his tie.
undertook a survey of the market on our Undo your top button if your collar is too
behalf. tight.
undertaker / ndtek/ noun a person undoubtedly /n datdli/ adv certain-
undertaker undoubtedly
who organises funerals ly

undertaking / ndtek/ noun 1. a undress /n dres/ (undresses, un-
undertaking undress
business The Post Office must be consid- dressing, undressed) verb to take your
ered as a commercial undertaking, not as a clothes off
undressed /n drest/ adj having just
undressed
public service. 2. a promise She gave him |
an undertaking that she would continue to taken off your clothes The children are
work for a further six months. They have getting undressed ready for bed. Are you
given us a written undertaking that they undressed yet?
will not play loud music after ten oclock at unearth /n #
/ (unearths, unearthing,
unearth
night. 3. a large-scale job unearthed) verb to dig up; to discover

undertone / ndtn/ noun 1. a quiet uneasy /n i
zi/ (uneasier, uneasiest)
undertone uneasy
voice 2. a hidden feeling adj nervous and worried

675 unification
unemployed /nm pld/ adj with- ble. 2. (of a story) to become clear As the
unemployed
out a job The government is encouraging full extent of the disaster unfolded, so it be-
unemployed teenagers to apply for training came clear that the emergency services
grants. could not cope.
unemployment /nm plmnt/ unforgettable /nf (etb()l/ adj
unemployment unforgettable
| |
noun a lack of work The unemployment which cannot be forgotten

figures or the figures for unemployment are unforgivable /nf (vb()l/ adj im-
unforgivable
rising. possible to forgive

unemployment benefit /nm unfortunate /n f
t()nt/ adj
unemployment benefit
unfortunate
|
|
plmnt benft/ noun money paid by which makes you sad It was very unfor-
the government to someone who is unem- tunate that she couldnt come to see us.
ployed unfortunately /n f
t()ntli/ adv
unfortunately
unending /n end/ adj which is going

|
unending
|
which you wish was not true Unfortu-
on for ever, with no end nately the train arrived so late that she
unenviable /n envib()l/ adj difficult
unenviable
|
missed the meeting.
or unpleasant unfounded /n fandd/ adj without
unfounded
unequal /n i
kwl/ adj not equal The
unequal
|
any basis in truth
management was accused of applying une- unfriendly /n frendli / (unfriendlier,
unfriendly
qual conditions to male and female em- unfriendliest) adj not acting like a friend
ployees.
unfulfilled /nfl fld/ adj which has
unfulfilled
uneven /n i
v()n/ adj not smooth or
uneven |
|
not been carried out
flat
unfurl /n f#
l/ (unfurls, unfurling, un-
unfurl
unexpected /nk spektd/ adj which

unexpected |
furled) verb to unroll like a flag

|
is surprising and not what was expected

ungainly /n (enli / adj moving without
ungainly
We had an unexpected visit from the police. |
His failure was quite unexpected.

grace
ungracious /n (res/ adj not well-
ungracious
unexpectedly /nk spektdli/ adv in

unexpectedly
|
|
an unexpected way mannered

ungrammatical /n(r mtk()l/ adj
ungrammatical
unfailing /n fel/ adj which never

unfailing
|
|
changes, which is always there using incorrect grammar

ungrateful /n (retf()l/ adj not grate-
ungrateful
unfair /n fe/ adj not fair Its unfair

unfair
|
|
to expect her to do all the housework while ful

unhappily /n hpli/ adv in a sad way
unhappily
her sisters dont lift a finger to help. |
unfairly /n feli/ adv in an unfair way unhappy /n hpi/ (unhappier, un-
unfairly unhappy
| |
unfairness /n fens/ noun lack of happiest) adj sad, not happy Hes unhap-
unfairness
justice or fairness py in his job because his boss is always

unfamiliar /nf mlj/ adj not know-
unfamiliar
|
criticising him. She looked very unhappy
ing at all well when she came out of the hospital. The
unfashionable /n f()nb()l/ adj
unfashionable
|
children had an unhappy childhood. (NOTE:
not fashionable + unhappiness n)
unhealthy /n heli/ adj not healthy, es-
unhealthy
unfasten /n f
s()n/ (unfastens, un-
unfasten
|
|
fastening, unfastened) verb to undo a belt, pecially often ill I thought her face was
tie or button etc. which is fastened an unhealthy colour.
unheard of /n h#
d v/ adj strange or
unheard of
unfeeling / n fi
l/ adj not caring or
unfeeling
|
|
sympathetic odd
unhurried /n hrid/ adj done in a quiet,
unhurried
unfinished /n fnt/ adj which has not

unfinished
|
|
been finished relaxed way

unfit /n ft/ adj not fit, not in good phys- unicorn / ju
nk
n/ noun an imaginary
unicorn
unfit
ical condition I used to play a lot of ten- animal, a white horse with one long,
nis but Ive got unfit during the winter. straight horn growing from the centre of its
Hes so unfit, he goes red in the face if he head
unidentified /na dentfad/ adj
unidentified
simply bends down to pick something up off |
the floor. which you do not recognise, which you

unfold /n fld/ (unfolds, unfolding, cannot identify
unfold
unification /ju
nf ke()n/ noun the
unification
unfolded) verb 1. to spread out something |
which is folded, such as a newspaper She act of joining two countries together to
unfolded the tablecloth and put it on the ta- form one. Compare reunification
uniform 676
uniform / ju
nf
m/ noun special universal /ju
n v#
s()l/ adj which
uniform universal
clothes worn by all members of an organi- is understood or experienced by everyone

sation or group He went to the fancy in the world There is a universal hope for
dress party dressed in a policemans uni- peace in the region.
form. Who are those people in French universe / ju
nv#
s/ noun all space
universe
army uniform? What colour is her school and everything that exists in it, including
uniform? The holiday camp staff all wear the earth, the planets and the stars
yellow uniforms. in uniform wearing a university /ju
n v#
sti/ (plural uni-
university
uniform The policeman was not in universities) noun an educational institution
form at the time. where students study for degrees and
uniformed / ju
nf
md/ adj wearing a
uniformed
where students and teachers do research

uniform You need to do well at school to be able to
unify / ju
nfa/ (unifies, unifying, uni-
unify
go to university. My sister is at university.

fied) verb to join separate countries or unjust /n dst / adj not fair
unjust
groups together to form a single one

unkempt /n kempt/ adj not looked af-
unkempt
unilateral /ju
n lt()rl/ adj done by
unilateral |
|
ter, especially referring to things which
one side only, not taken jointly need cutting
unimportant /nm p
t()nt/ adj not
unimportant
unkind /n kand/ (unkinder, unkind-

unkind
|
|
important est) adj acting in an unpleasant way to

unintentional /nn ten()n()l/ adj
unintentional
|
someone It was unkind of him to keep
which is not intended talking about her weight.
uninterested /n ntrstd/ adj not
uninterested
unkindness /n kandns/ noun the ac-

unkindness
|
|
having any interest in something tion of treating someone unpleasantly

union / ju
njn/ noun the state of be-
union
unknown /n nn/ adj not known

unknown
ing joined together, or the process of join- She was killed by an unknown attacker.
ing together The college received a gift of money from
Union Jack /ju
njn dk/ noun
Union Jack
an unknown person.
the national flag of the United Kingdom unleash /n li
/ (unleashes, unleash-
unleash
The Union Jack was flying over the embas- ing, unleashed) verb to allow a violent
sy. The streets were decorated with Un- force to become free The governments
ion Jacks. decision unleashed a wave of protests
unique /ju
ni
k/ adj different to any-
unique
|
throughout the country.
thing else and therefore the only on of its unless /n les/ conj except if Unless
unless
type The stamp is unique, and so is worth we hear from you within ten days, we will
a great deal. Hes studying the unique start legal action. I think they dont want
vegetation of the island. to see us, unless of course theyre ill.
unisex / ju
nseks / adj which can be
unisex
unlike /n lak/ adj, prep 1. totally dif-

unlike
used by both men and women ferent from Hes quite unlike his brother.
unit / ju
nt/ noun 1. one part of some-
unit
2. not normal or typical it is unlike him

thing larger If you pass three units of the to be rude he is not usually rude
course you can move to the next level. 2. unlikely /n lakli/ adj 1. not likely
unlikely
one piece of furniture, such as a cupboard Its unlikely that many people will come to
or set of shelves which can be matched the show. 2. which is probably not true
with others The kitchen is designed as a He trotted out some unlikely excuse about
basic set of units with more units which can how his train ticket had been eaten by the
be added later. 3. the amount used to meas- dog.
ure something Kilos and pounds are
unlimited /n lmtd/ adj with no limits
unlimited
units of weight. 4. a single number less than |
unload /n ld/ (unloads, unloading,

unload
ten 63 has six tens and three units. |
unite /ju
nat/ (unites, uniting, unit-
unite
|
unloaded) verb to remove a load from a ve-
ed) verb to join together into a single body hicle
unlock /n lk/ (unlocks, unlocking,
unlock
united /ju
natd / adj joined together
united
|
|
as a whole Relief workers from various unlocked) verb to open something which
countries worked as a united team. They was locked
unluckily /n lkli/ adv with bad luck
unluckily
were united in their desire to improve their |
working conditions. unlucky /n lki/ (unluckier, unlucki-

unlucky
unity / ju
nti / noun being one whole
unity
est) adj not lucky, or bringing bad luck

677 unsuccessful
unnatural /n nt()rl / adj 1. which unroll /n rl/ (unrolls, unrolling, un-
unnatural unroll
| |
is not as it is in nature His face was an rolled) verb to undo something which is
unnatural blue colour. 2. which does not rolled up
follow the usual pattern It seems unnatu- unruly /n ru
li/ (unrulier, unruliest) adj
unruly
ral that he should take his father to court. wild, with no discipline
Their behaviour seemed unnatural to me. unsafe /n sef/ adj dangerous to feel
unsafe
unnecessary /n ness()ri/ adj unsafe to feel you are in danger She
unnecessary
which is not needed, or which does not doesnt like to be alone at night, she says
have to be done It is unnecessary for you she feels unsafe.
to wear a suit to the party. She makes a unsatisfactory /nsts fkt()ri/
unsatisfactory
lot of unnecessary phone calls. adj not satisfactory

unobtrusive /nb tru
sv/ adj not ob- unscrew /n skru
/ (unscrews, un-
unobtrusive unscrew
| |
vious; not easily noticed screwing, unscrewed) verb 1. to open by

unoccupied /n kjpad/ adj not be-
unoccupied
|
twisting a top which screws on The top of
ing used by anyone this bottle opens by unscrewing so you
dont need a bottle opener. 2. to unfasten
unofficial /n f()l/ adj not approved
unofficial
|
by taking out screws My screwdriver is
by an administration or by people in power much too big to unscrew the back of the TV.
unorthodox /n
dks/ adj not usual
unorthodox
unscrupulous / n skru
pjls/ adj not
unscrupulous
|
|
unpack /n pk/ (unpacks, unpacking,

unpack
| worrying too much about honesty

unpacked) verb to take things out of cases unseen /n si
n/ adj not seen, invisible
unseen
in which they were sent or carried unselfish /n self/ adj thinking only of
unselfish
unpleasant /n plez()nt / adj not

unpleasant
| other people
pleasant Theres a very unpleasant smell unsettled /n set()ld/ adj 1. (of
unsettled
in the kitchen. Try not to be unpleasant to weather) which changes often Unsettled
the waitress. (NOTE: + unpleasantly adv; weather is forecast for the next few days. 2.
unpleasantness n) not calm The present unsettled market
unplug /n pl(/ (unplugs, unplugging, shows no sign of becoming more stable.
unplug
unplugged) verb to remove a plug from a unsettling /n set()l/ adj which
unsettling
socket makes you nervous and worried

unpopular /n ppjl/ adj not liked by unshaven /n evn/ adj without hav-
unpopular unshaven
| |
many people ing shaved

unpredictable /npr dktb()l/ adj unsightly /n satli/ adj very unpleasant
unsightly
unpredictable
|
|
which cannot be predicted or forecast to look at She has an unsightly scar on

unprepared /npr ped/ adj not ready
unprepared
her face.
unsociable /n sb()l/ adj not
| unsociable
unprepared to do something not will- |
ing to do something The students are unfriendly, not wanting to meet other people
unsophisticated /ns fstketd/
unsophisticated
prepared to pay the increased tuition fees. |
adj simple; not sophisticated

unprofessional /npr fe()n()l/
unprofessional
unsound /n sand/ adj not based on

| unsound
adj not according to professional standards |
fact or logic His reasoning is unsound.

unreal /n rl/ adj not like the real world
unreal
unstable / n steb()l/ adj 1. not secure

| unstable
unrealistic /nr lstk/ adj not taking

unrealistic |
|
or firm The platform had become unsta-
into account the true facts of a situation ble. 2. likely to change suddenly The eco-
unreasonable /n ri
z()nb()l/ adj
unreasonable
| nomic situation has become very unstable.

not reasonable or fair Neighbouring states were worried that
unrelated /nr letd/ adj 1. not relat- the unstable military regime could be over-
unrelated
ed, with no connection Two unrelated in- thrown. 3. with a mental state that is likely
cidents occurred during the night. The to change quickly
unsteady /n stedi/ adj not steady; wob-
unsteady
sudden increase in temperature is quite un- |
related to her heart condition. 2. not be- bly

longing to the same family They have the unsubscribe /nsb skrab/ verb to
unsubscribe
same surname, but as far as I know are un- ask not to receive something any longer
related. unsubstantiated /nsb stnietd/
unsubstantiated
unrest /n rest/ noun a situation where adj not having any supporting evidence
unrest
unsuccessful /nsk sesf()l/ adj

unsuccessful
people protest to try to get political or in- |
dustrial change which does not succeed

unsuitable 678
unsuitable /n su
tb()l/ adj not suita- unworkable /n w#
kb()l/ adj which
unsuitable unworkable
| |
ble will not work

unsure /n / adj not sure unwound /n wand/ past tense and
unsure
She was
unwound
|
|
unsure whether to go to work or to stay at past participle of unwind

home. Im unsure as to which route is the unwrap /n rp/ (unwraps, unwrap-
unwrap
quickest. ping, unwrapped) verb to take the wrap-

untangle /n t(()l/ (untangles, un-
untangle
|
ping off something
tangling, untangled) verb 1. to separate
unzip /n zp/ (unzips, unzipping, un-
unzip
and free from tangles 2. to make simpler |
and clearer zipped) verb to undo a zip fastener

up /p/ adv 1. in or to a high place Put
up
untidy /n tadi/ (untidier, untidiest) adj

untidy
not tidy your hands up above your head. Whats

the cat doing up there on the cupboard?
untie /n ta/ (unties, untying, untied)
untie
(NOTE: up is often used after verbs: to keep

|
verb to open something which is tied with

up, to turn up.) 2. to a higher position His
a knot temperature went up suddenly. The price
until / n tl/ conj up to the time when
until
|
of petrol seems to go up every week. 3. not
She was perfectly well until she ate the in bed The children were still up when
strawberries. He blew his whistle until they should have been in bed. They
the police came. prep, conj up to the time stayed up all night watching films on TV.
when I dont expect to be back until after He got up at six because he had an early
ten oclock. Until yesterday, I felt very train to catch. Its past eight oclock
well. you should be up by now. 4. completely, en-
untold /n tld / adj very large; so large
untold
| tirely The puddles dried up quickly in the

that it cannot be counted The lottery of- sun. 5. happening in an unpleasant or dan-
fers people the possibility of untold wealth. gerous way Somethings up the engine
The new treatment should help untold has stopped! prep 1. in or to a high place
numbers of asthma sufferers. They ran up the stairs. She doesnt like
untrue /n tru
/ adj not true going up ladders. 2. along Go up the
untrue
untruth /n tru

/ noun a lie (literary)
untruth
|
street to the traffic lights and then turn
His statement was an untruth. right. The house is about two hundred
metres up the road. whats up? whats
unusual /n ju
l/ adj not normal
unusual
|
the matter? whats up with him? what is
or expected It is unusual to have rain at the matter with him? Whats up with the
this time of year. She chose a very unusu- cat? It wont eat anything.
al colour scheme for her sitting room.
up-and-coming /p n km/ adj
up-and-coming
unveil /n vel/ (unveils, unveiling, un-

unveil
becoming fashionable and likely to suc-

veiled) verb 1. to take a cover off some-
ceed
thing, to open it formally The statue was
upbeat / pbi
t/ adj feeling optimistic
upbeat
unveiled by the mayor. 2. to reveal details

of a new plan etc. The committee will un- and happy (informal) The conference end-
veil its proposals next week. ed on a very upbeat note. Were all very
unwell /n wel/ adj in a bad state of
unwell
|
upbeat about the potential sales of the new
health (NOTE: not used before a noun: the model.
upbringing / pbr/ noun the way
upbringing
baby was unwell but a sick baby)

unwieldy / n wi
ldi/ adj large and awk-
unwieldy
|
a child is brought up
upcoming / pkm/ adj approaching
upcoming
ward
unwilling /n wl/ adj not wanting to soon, forthcoming
unwilling
do something update1 / pdet/ noun the latest infor-

update
unwind /n wand/ (unwinds, unwind- mation The manager gave us an update
unwind
ing, unwound) verb 1. to undo something on the latest sales figures.

which has been wound Pull to unwind update2 /p det/ (updates, updating,
update
the flex it will rewind automatically when updated) verb to add the latest information
you press the red button. 2. to relax Gar- to something so that it is quite up-to-date
dening at the weekend helps him to un- She was asked to update the telephone list.
wind. The figures are updated annually. They
unwise /n waz/ adj rash or not prudent;
unwise
| have updated their guidebook to Greece to

not wise include current prices.
679 upsurge
upend /p end/ (upends, upending, up- uprising / praz/ noun a rebellion or
upend uprising
ended) verb to turn something over on its revolt

end uproar / pr
/ noun 1. a loud noise 2. an-
uproar
up front /p frnt/ adv in advance

up front
gry criticism by a lot of people There was

upgrade /p (red/ verb (upgrades, up- an uproar over the increase in fares.
upgrade
uproot /p ru
t/ (uproots, uprooting,
uproot
grading, upgraded) 1. to improve the qual- |
ity or performance of something such as a uprooted) verb 1. to pull a plant out of the
computer 2. to give someone a higher posi- ground with its roots Everywhere you
tion or better facilities noun software or could see trees uprooted by the storm. 2. to
equipment that will make a computer sys- make a family move to a totally new area
tem more powerful or up to date Families were uprooted from their homes
upheaval /p hi
v()l/ noun a great and taken to camps many miles away.
upheaval
change upset1 /p set/ adj very worried or un-

upset
uphold /p hld / (upholds, upholding, happy His parents get upset if he comes
uphold
upheld) verb to reject an appeal and sup- home late. verb (upsets, upsetting, up-
port an earlier judgment The appeal set) 1. to make someone worried or unhap-
court upheld the decision of the lower py Dont upset your mother by telling her
court. youre planning to go to live in Russia. 2.
upholstery /p hlst()ri/ noun covers
upholstery
|
to knock something over He upset all the
for chairs; padded seats and cushions The coffee cups.
upset2 / pset/ noun 1. an unexpected
upset
upholstery matches the colour scheme in

the sitting-room. defeat There was a major upset in the
upkeep / pki
p/ noun 1. the cost and
upkeep
tennis tournament when the number three
process of keeping property such as a seed was beaten in the first round. 2. a
house, garden or car in good order 2. the slight illness because of something you
cost of paying for childrens clothes, food, have eaten or drunk a stomach upset
upsetting /p set/ adj which causes
upsetting
etc. |
upload / pld/ (uploads, uploading,

upload
|
you to feel worried, unhappy or anxious
upshot / pt/ noun a result
upshot
uploaded) verb to send information or pro-

grams from your computer to a larger sys- upside / psad/ noun the positive side of
upside
tem, e.g. over the Internet a situation

up-market / p m
kt/ adj more expen- upside down /psad dan/ adv
up-market upside down
sive, appealing to the wealthy section of with the top underneath Dont turn the
the market box upside down all the papers will fall
upon / pn/ prep 1. on The church out. The car shot off the road and ended
upon
was built upon a grassy hill. 2. likely to up upside down in a ditch. Bats were
happen soon The summer holidays will hanging upside down from the branches.
soon be upon us again. upstage /p sted/ (upstages, upstag-
upstage
upper / p/ adj higher or further up

upper
ing, upstaged) verb to take attention away

The upper slopes of the mountain are cov- from someone who should be more impor-
ered in snow. He had a rash on his right tant In last nights performance, the pri-
upper arm. ma ballerina was completely upstaged by
upper case /p kes/ noun (in printing) the youngest dancer.
upper case
upstairs /p stez/ adv on or to the

upstairs
capital letters |
uppermost / pmst/ adj 1. highest upper part of something, e.g. a building or

uppermost
The birds are nesting in the uppermost bus She ran upstairs with the letter. I
branches of the apple tree. 2. most impor- left my glasses upstairs. Lets go upstairs
tant Which plan has the uppermost sig- onto the top deck you can see London
nificance for you? adv in the top position much better. adj on the upper floors of a
Carry the box with this side uppermost. building We have an upstairs kitchen.
Which side of the painting should be up- We let the one of the upstairs offices to an
permost? accountant.
upright / prat / adj straight up He upstart / pst
t/ noun an inexperienced
upstart
upright
got dizzy as soon as he stood upright. Put person who has just started a job and feels
the backs of your seats into the upright po- he knows everything about it
upsurge / ps#
d/ noun a sudden in-
upsurge
sition for landing. She picked up the vase

and placed it upright on the table. crease
uptake 680
uptake / ptek / slow or quick on the us! The company did well last year the
uptake
uptake slow or quick to understand management have given us a bonus.

uptight /p tat/ adj nervous and angry usable / ju
zb()l/ adj which can be
uptight usable
(informal) used
up to date /p t det/, up-to-date usage / ju
sd/ noun 1. a way of us-
up to date usage
adv with the latest information I keep my- ing a word It is a technical term that is
self up to date on the political situation by now in common usage. The book clearly
reading the newspaper every day. explains common legal terms and their us-
up-to-the-minute /p t mnt/ age. 2. the amount of something that is
up-to-the-minute
adj very recent used Our usage of electricity is too high.

uptown / ptan/ adv US in or to the out- use1 /ju
z/ (uses, using, used) verb 1. to
uptown use
er residential parts of a town take something such as a tool and do some-

upturn / pt#
n/ noun a movement to- thing with it Did you use a sewing ma-
upturn
wards higher sales or profits chine to make your curtains? The cars
upward / pwd/ adj moving towards
upward
worth quite a lot of money its hardly
a higher level The spacecrafts engines been used. Do you know how to use a
generate enormous upward thrust. adv computer? Can I use this knife for cutting
US same as upwards meat? 2. to take a substance and do some-
upwards / pwdz/ adv towards the
upwards
thing with it Dont use the tap water for
top The path went upwards for a mile drinking. Does this car use much petrol?
Turn down the heating were using too
then levelled off.
much gas.
uranium /j renim/ noun a radioactive
uranium
use up phrasal verb to use all of some-

metal used in producing atomic energy
thing
urban / #
bn / adj 1. relating to towns
urban
use2 /ju
s/ noun 1. a purpose Can you
use
They enjoy an urban lifestyle. 2. living in

towns The urban fox has become a men- find any use for this piece of cloth? 2. the
ace in parts of London. fact of being used The coffee machine
has been in daily use for years. to make
urbane /#
ben/ adj having an easy re-
urbane
use of something to use something You

|
laxed manner should make more use of your bicycle.

urge /#
d/ noun a strong wish to do
urge
used /ju
zd/ adj which is not new a
used
something She felt an urge to punch him

on the nose. verb (urges, urging, urged) shop selling used clothes a used-car
to advise someone strongly to do some- salesman
used to / ju
zt tu
/ adj 1. to be used
used to
thing He urged her to do what her father

said. to something or to doing something not
urgency / #
dnsi / noun the fact of be-
urgency
to worry about doing something, because
ing very important or needing to be done you do it often Farmers are used to get-
quickly ting up early. Were used to hard work in
this office. Im not used to eating such a
urgent / #
dnt/ adj which is impor-
urgent
large meal at lunchtime. 2. showing that

tant and needs to be done quickly He had something happened often or regularly in
an urgent message to go to the police sta- the past There used to be lots of small
tion. She had an urgent operation. The shops in the village until the supermarket
leader of the council called an urgent was built. When we were children, we
meeting. This parcel is urgent and needs used to go to France every year for our hol-
to get there tomorrow. idays. The police think he used to live in
urinate / jrnet/ (urinates, urinating,
urinate
London. He used not to smoke a pipe.

urinated) verb to pass waste liquid from (NOTE: The forms used in the negative and
the body questions: He used to work in London, He
urine / jrn/ noun a yellowish liquid
urine
didnt use to work in London or He used not

which is passed out of the body, containing to work in London, Didnt he use to work in
water and waste matter London?)
URL /ju

el/ abbr Uniform Resource
URL
useful / ju
sf()l/ adj who or which
useful
Locator can help you do something I find these

urn /#
n / noun a very large vase
urn
scissors very useful for opening letters.

us /s, s/ object pronoun meaning me
us
Shes a very useful person to have in the of-

and other people Mother gave us each fice. to make yourself useful to do
50p to buy ice cream. Whos there? Its something to help
681 U-turn
useless / ju
sls/ adj which is not use- utensil /ju
tens()l/ noun a tool or ob-
useless utensil
ful ject used when cooking knives, bowls

user / ju
z/ noun a person who uses a and other kitchen utensils
user
uterus / ju
t()rs/ noun the hollow or-
uterus
tool or a service We have mailed the users

of our equipment about the possible design gan in a womans body where a fertilised
fault. egg is lodged and an unborn baby is carried
user-friendly /ju
z frendli/ adj easy (technical)
user-friendly
utilise / ju
tlaz/ (utilises, utilising, uti-
utilise
to use without special training

username / ju
znem/ noun a name lised), utilize verb to use something
username
which you use when operating a computer (formal) Hes keen to utilise his program-
program ming skills.
usher / / noun a man who shows peo- utmost / tmst/ noun the greatest ac-
usher utmost
ple to their seats in a cinema or at a wed- tion possible They did their utmost to
ding save the children from the fire.
utopia /ju
tpi /, Utopia noun an im-
utopia
usher in phrasal verb 1. to bring someone |
in They were ushered into the chair- aginary perfect world

mans office. 2. to be the beginning of utter / t/ (utters, uttering, uttered) verb
utter
The end of the war ushered in a period of to speak; to make a sound She only ut-
great prosperity. tered a few words during the whole
usual / ju
ul/ adj done or used on evening.
usual
most occasions She took her usual bus to utterance / t()rns/ noun some-
utterance
the office. Is it usual for him to arrive so thing which is said

late? utterly / tli/ adv completely
utterly
usually / ju
uli/ adv in most cases U-turn / ju
t#
n/ noun 1. the act of
usually U-turn
or on most occasions turning round to go back in the opposite di-

usurp /ju
z#
p/ (usurps, usurping, rection The police car did or made a U-
usurp
usurped) verb to take and use a right which turn and went back to the hotel. U-turns
is not yours, especially to take the throne are not allowed on motorways. 2. a com-
from a king plete change in policy
V
v1 / v#
ss, vi
/ abbr versus vacuum flask / vkjum fl
sk/ noun
v vacuum flask
v2 /vi
/, V noun the twenty-second letter of a type of bottle which keeps liquids hot or
v
the alphabet, between U and W. V-neck cold (NOTE: also commonly called by a trade
V /vi
/ noun the Roman numeral for five or
V
name, thermos)
vagina /v dan/ noun a passage in a
vagina
fifth King George V |
vacancy / veknsi/ noun 1. a job for

vacancy
female body connecting the uterus to the
which there is no employee [~for] We ad- vulva and through which a baby is born
vagrant / ve(rnt/ noun a tramp, a per-
vagrant
vertised a vacancy for a receptionist in the

local paper. 2. a room in a hotel which is son who travels from place to place with no
available to stay in All the hotels had home or work
vague /ve(/ adj with no details
vague
signs saying No vacancies.

vacant / veknt/ adj empty and avail- vain /ven/ adj very proud of your appear-
vacant vain
able for you to use There are six rooms ance or achievements Hes always comb-
vacant in the new wing of the hotel. Is the ing his hair hes very vain. (NOTE: Do not
toilet vacant yet? confuse with vein.)
vacate /v ket/ (vacates, vacating, va- valentine / vlntan/ noun the person
vacate valentine
cated) verb to leave something empty you say you love particularly (old) He
vacation /v ke()n/ noun 1. espe-
vacation
|
asked her to be his valentine.
Valentines Day / vlntanz de/
Valentines Day
cially US a holiday The family went on

vacation in Canada. 2. a period when the noun 14th February, a day when people
universities and law courts are closed Im send cards and flowers to loved ones
spending my vacation working on a vine- valet / vlt/ noun 1. a servant who looks
valet
yard in Italy. after a mans clothes 2. a person who parks

vaccinate / vksnet/ (vaccinates, your car at a restaurant or hotel
vaccinate
vaccinating, vaccinated) verb to use a vac- valiant / vlint/ adj brave

valiant
cine to give a person immunisation against valid / vld/ adj 1. which can be law-
valid
a specific disease [~against] Make sure fully used for a particular time Travellers
you are vaccinated before you travel to Af- must have a valid ticket before boarding
rica. She was vaccinated against small- the train. I have a season ticket which is
pox as a child. valid for one year. He was carrying a val-
vaccine / vksi
n/ noun a substance
vaccine
id passport. 2. which is acceptable because

which contains the germs of a disease and it is true That is not a valid argument or
which is injected into a patient to prevent excuse. She made several valid points in
him or her from catching the disease her speech.
vacuum / vkjum/ noun 1. a space validate / vldet/ (validates, validat-
vacuum validate
which is completely empty of all matter, ing, validated) verb 1. to check to see if
including air The experiment has to be something is correct The document has
carried out in a vacuum. 2. US same as to be validated by the bank. 2. to make
vacuum cleaner verb (vacuums, vacu- something valid The ticket has to be
uming, vacuumed) to clean a carpet or a stamped to validate it. 3. to certify official-
room using a vacuum cleaner She vacu- ly that something is acceptable The new
ums the hall every day. I must vacuum the course has not yet been validated by the
living room before my mother arrives. academic board.
vacuum cleaner / vkjum kli
n/ valley / vli/ noun a long piece of low
vacuum cleaner valley
noun a machine which cleans by sucking land through which a river runs Fog
up dust forms in the valleys at night. A lot of com-
683 vary
puter companies are based in the Thames vantage point / v
ntd pnt/ noun
vantage point
Valley. a place from which you can see well

valuable / vljb()l/ adj 1. worth a vapour / vep/ noun a substance in the
valuable
vapour
lot of money Be careful, that glass is val- form of a gas, usually caused by heating
uable! The burglars stole everything that (NOTE: The US spelling is vapor.)
was valuable. 2. useful or helpful She variable / verib()l/ noun a thing
variable
gave me some very valuable advice. which varies We have to take a great
valuables / vljb()lz/ plural noun
valuables
many variables into account.

items which are worth a lot of money You
variance / verins/ noun the amount of
variance
can deposit valuables in the hotel safe. difference between two things to be at
valuation /vlju e()n/ noun 1. an
valuation
|
variance with something not to agree or to
estimate of the worth of something A be slightly different from something The
350 valuation for this ring is much too actual sales are at variance with the sales
low. 2. the act of estimating the worth of reported by the reps.
something At the end of a financial year,
variant / verint/ noun the spelling of a
variant
we have to do a stock valuation. We

asked for a valuation of the property or for word or name which is slightly different
variation /veri e()n/ noun a
variation
a property valuation. |
value / vlju
/ noun an amount of
value
change from one state or level to another
money which something is worth the fall [~in] The variation in colour or the col-
in the value of the yen He imported goods our variation is because the cloth has been
to the value of 500. Items of value can dyed by hand.
varied / verd/ adj made up of differ-
varied
be deposited in the hotel safe overnight.

verb (values, valuing, valued) to consider ent sorts and kinds
something as being valuable She values variety /v rati/ (plural varieties)
variety
her friendship with him. good value (for noun 1. frequent differences or changes
money) a bargain, something which is that make something interesting Her new
worth the price paid for it That restaurant job, unlike the old one, doesnt lack variety.
gives value for money. Holidays in Italy a variety of things or people a lot of dif-
are good value because of the exchange ferent sorts of things or people Shes had
rate. a variety of boyfriends. We had a variety
values / vlju
z/ plural noun principles,
values
of visitors at the office today. We couldnt

important things in life Hes a believer in go on holiday this year for a variety of rea-
traditional family values. sons. 2. a different type of plant or animal
valve /vlv/ noun a device in a tube in the same species Do you have this new
valve
which allows liquid or air to pass through variety of rose? Is this a new variety of
in one direction only potato? variety is the spice of life if you
vampire / vmpa/ noun an evil person meet lots of different people, visit lots of
vampire
who supposedly sucks blood from his or different places, etc., then this makes your
her victims life exciting
van /vn/ noun a covered goods vehi- various / veris/ adj several different
various
van
cle A delivery van ran into the back of my The shop sells goods from various coun-
car. Our van will call this afternoon to tries. Ill be out of the office today I
pick up the goods. have to see various suppliers.
vandal / vnd()l/ noun a person who variously / verisli/ adv in different
vandal variously
takes pleasure in destroying property, espe- ways

cially public property varnish / v
n/ noun a liquid which
varnish
vandalism / vndlz()m/ noun the

vandalism
| when painted on something gives it a shiny

meaningless destruction of property surface He applied two coats of varnish
vanilla /v nl/ noun a flavouring made
vanilla
| to the door. verb (varnishes, varnishing,

from the seed pods of a tropical plant varnished) to paint something with a liq-
vanish / vn/ (vanishes, vanishing, uid varnish, to give a shiny surface to
vanish
vanished) verb to disappear suddenly something Can you varnish our front
The magician made the rabbit vanish. door?
vanity / vnti / noun the fact of being ex- vary / veri/ (varies, varying, varied)
vanity vary
cessively proud of your appearance, feel- verb 1. to change what you do often The
ing that you are very handsome or beauti- temperature varies from 8 degrees C at
ful night to 18 degrees C during the day. 2. to
vase 684
be different [~from] Prices of flats vary vehement / vi
mnt/ adj forceful
vehement
from a few thousand pounds to millions. vehicle / vi

k()l/ noun a machine
vehicle
vase /v
z/ noun a container used for
vase
which carries passengers or goods, e.g. a

cut flowers, or simply for decoration car, lorry or bus a three-wheeled vehicle
vasectomy / v sektmi/ noun a surgi- Goods vehicles can park at the back of
vasectomy
cal operation to sterilise a man the building.

vast /v
st/ adj extremely big, often veil /vel/ noun 1. a light cloth which can
veil
vast
extremely wide A vast area of the region cover a womans head or face At the fu-
was affected by the flood. There are vast neral she wore a hat with a black veil.
differences in price between the two shops. The bride lifted her veil as she came out of
vastly / v
stli/ adv very much
vastly
the church. 2. something which stops you
vat /vt/ noun a large container for liquids
vat
seeing or understanding A veil of mist lay
over the valley. A veil of secrecy has pre-
VAT /vi
e ti
, vt / abbr value added
VAT
vented us finding out what really hap-

tax VAT is an indirect tax. The invoice pened.
includes VAT at 17.5%. Hotels and res-
vein /ven/ noun a small tube in the body
vein
taurants have to charge VAT like any other

business. In Britain there is no VAT on which takes blood from the tissues back to
books. the heart (NOTE: Do not confuse with vain.)
Velcro / velkr/ trademark a material
Velcro
vault /v
lt/ noun 1. an arched stone ceil-
vault
ing The 11th-century vault of the chapel with stiff fibres which cling tight when
in the Tower of London. 2. an underground pressed together Her sandals have Velcro
room for burying people She is buried in straps. The rucksack fastens with Velcro.
velocity /v lsti/ noun speed
velocity
the family vault. 3. a high jump |
velvet / velvt/ noun a cloth made from

velvet
VCR /vi
si

/ abbr video cassette re-
VCR
corder silk, with a soft pile surface on one side

vendetta /ven det/ noun a private quar-
vendetta
VDU abbr visual display unit

VDU
|
rel between families or persons

ve /v / short form have
ve
vendor / vend/, vender noun a person

vendor
veal /vi
l/ noun meat from a calf
veal
who sells a property (formal) The ven-

veer /v / (veers, veering, veered) verb 1.
veer
dors solicitor is trying to get the purchaser

to turn in a direction suddenly The car to hurry up.
suddenly veered to the right and crashed veneer /v n/ noun 1. a thin layer of ex-
veneer
through a wall. She veered away off the pensive wood glued to the surface of ordi-
main road into a little lane. 2. to change nary wood The table has a mahogany ve-
plans or ideas The government seems to neer. 2. behaviour or an appearance which
be veering towards the left. hides the truth [~of] His veneer of polite-
veg /ved/ noun vegetables (informal)
veg
ness soon disappeared as the old lady

vegan / vi
(n/ noun a person who does
vegan
asked more and more questions.

not eat meat, dairy produce, eggs or fish, venetian blind / vni
()n bland/
venetian blind
but only eats vegetables and fruit noun a blind to shut out light, made of hor-
vegetable / vedtb()l/ noun a plant
vegetable
izontal strips, e.g. of plastic or wood,

which is grown to be eaten but which is not which can be opened or shut or raised and
usually sweet We grow potatoes, carrots lowered by pulling a string
and other sorts of vegetables in the garden. vengeance / vendns/ noun harm
vengeance
The soup of the day is vegetable soup. caused to someone in return for harm he or
Green vegetables are a good source of die- she has caused you He has vowed to ex-
tary fibre. act vengeance for the wrong done to his
vegetarian / ved terin/ adj not con-
vegetarian
| family. She is seeking vengeance for the

taining meat, or for people who do not eat killing of her child. with a vengeance
meat a vegetarian dish He is on a veg- very strongly (informal) The rain came
etarian diet. She asked for the vegetarian down again with a vengeance.
menu. noun a person who eats only fruit, venison / vens()n/ noun meat from a
venison
vegetables, bread, eggs, etc., but does not deer

eat meat, and sometimes not fish venom / venm / noun 1. poison, e.g.
venom
vegetation / ved te()n/ noun

vegetation
|
from the bite of a snake The venom of
plants certain snakes may cause paralysis. 2. bit-
veggie / vedi/ noun (informal) 1. a vege-
veggie
ter hatred The venom in her reply was ob-

tarian 2. a vegetable vious.
685 very
venomous / venms/ adj 1. with poi- were growing all along the motorway verg-
venomous
son in its bite This snake is particularly es. 2. the edge on the verge of some-
venomous. She was bitten by a venomous thing about to experience something The
spider. 2. showing bitter hatred She gave company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
him a venomous look. His venomous let- She was on the verge of a nervous break-
ter was printed in the newspaper. down.
vent /vent/ noun 1. a hole through which verify / verfa/ (verifies, verifying, veri-
vent verify
air or gas can escape The gas heater is fied) verb to check to see if documents or a
connected to a vent in the wall. 2. a slit in statement are correct (NOTE: + verification
the back of a coat or jacket allowing you to n)
sit down more easily He always wears vermin / v#
mn/ noun animals or in-
vermin
jackets with double vents. sects, e.g. mice, fleas or cockroaches,

ventilate / ventlet/ (ventilates, venti- which eat crops, bring disease into houses,
ventilate
lating, ventilated) verb to allow fresh air to live on other animals, etc.
come into a place The freshly painted versatile / v#
stal/ adj 1. good at doing
versatile
kitchen needs to be ventilated for several various things equally well 2. (of a ma-
hours. Children tend to fall asleep in chine, material, etc.) which is suitable for
poorly ventilated classrooms. various uses The car is extremely versa-
ventilation /vent le()n/ noun the tile: it can be used on rough mountain
ventilation
process of bringing fresh air into a place tracks, but is equally suitable for town use.
venture / vent/ noun a new activity, verse /v#
s/ noun 1. a group of lines
venture verse
especially in business, which involves which form a part of a song or poem We

some risk She has started a new venture sang all the verses of the National Anthem.
a computer shop. verb (ventures, ven- She read the first verse to the class. 2. po-
turing, ventured) 1. to say something cau- etry He published a small book of verse.
tiously or reluctantly 2. to go somewhere Compare prose (NOTE: no plural in this
when it may be exciting or unpleasant We sense)
couldnt wait any longer, so we ventured version / v#
()n/ noun 1. a descrip-
version
out into the rain. tion of what happened as seen by one per-
venture capital /vent kpt()l/
venture capital
son The victim told her version of events

noun money which you invest in a new to the jury. 2. a type of something, e.g. a
business when there is a high risk of failure work of art or model of car This is the
venue / venju
/ noun an agreed place film version of the novel. He bought the
venue
where an event such as a meeting will be cheapest version available.

held versus / v#
ss/ prep (in a sports match
versus
verb /v#
b/ noun (in grammar) a word or a civil court case) against (NOTE: usually
verb
which shows an action, being or feeling, written v, sometimes also vs: Manchester
such as to hit or to thank United v Arsenal; Smith vs the Inland Reve-
verbal / v#
b()l/ adj spoken and not nue)
verbal
vertebra / v#
tbr/ (plural vertebrae)
vertebra
written down She gave me a verbal ac-

count of what had happened. It was a noun one of the 24 bones which form the
verbal agreement between the two of us. vertebral column or backbone
verbal noun /v#
b()l nan/ noun a vertical / v#
tk()l/ adj standing or ris-
verbal noun vertical
gerund, a noun formed from the present ing straight up He drew a few vertical
participle of a verb (NOTE: In English, ger- lines to represent trees. We looked at the
unds are formed from the -ing form of vertical cliff and wondered how to climb it.
verbs, as in Cycling is good exercise; Choral vertigo / v#
t(/ noun dizziness or loss
vertigo
singing is very popular in Wales.) of balance where everything seems to rush

verbatim /v#
betm/ adj using exactly round you, especially when you are in a
verbatim
the same words a verbatim account high place Some ear conditions may
That was what she said, verbatim. cause vertigo.
verdict / v#
dkt/ noun a decision made verve /v#
v/ noun enthusiasm, a feeling
verdict verve
in a court to come to or reach a verdict of liveliness

to decide whether the accused is guilty or very / veri/ adv used to make an adjec-
very
not tive or adverb stronger Its very hot in the

verge /v#
d/ noun 1. a border of grass
verge
car why dont you open a window? Can

along the side of a road You can park on you see that very tall pine tree over there?
the verge outside the house. Wild flowers The time seemed to go very quickly when
vessel 686
we were on holiday. adj used to make a vibrant / vabrnt/ adj (of a person) full
vibrant
noun stronger He did his very best to get of energy a teacher with a vibrant per-
tickets. The scene takes place at the very sonality
beginning of the book. vibrate /va bret/ (vibrates, vibrating,
vibrate
vessel / ves()l/ noun a ship Vessels

vessel
vibrated) verb to move slightly, but rapidly

from all countries crowded into the har- and continuously
bour. vibration /va bre()n/ noun a fast
vibration
vest /vest/ noun 1. a light piece of under-

vest
and continuous shaking movement

clothing for the top half of the body He vicar / vk/ noun (in the Church of
vicar
wears a thick vest in winter. If you dont England) a priest in charge of a parish
have a clean vest, wear a T-shirt instead. 2. vicarage / vk()rd/ noun a house of a
vicarage
US a short coat with buttons and without vicar

any sleeves, which is worn over a shirt and
vice /vas/ noun 1. criminal activity in-
vice
under a jacket He wore a pale gray vest

with a black jacket. volving sex 2. a tool that screws tight to
hold something firm while it is being
vested interest /vestd ntrst/ noun
vested interest
worked on
a special interest in keeping an existing
vice- /vas/ prefix a person who is second
vice-
state of affairs
in rank to someone
vestige / vestd/ noun remains
vestige
vice-president /vas prezd()nt /

vice-president
vet /vet/ (vets, vetting, vetted) verb to

vet
noun 1. the deputy to a president 2. US one

check someone or something carefully to of the executive directors of a company
see if they are suitable All candidates
vice versa /vasi v#
s/ adv the other
vice versa
have to be vetted by the managing director.

veteran / vet()rn/ noun 1. a member of
veteran way from what has just been mentioned
vicinity /v snti/ noun an area around
vicinity
the armed forces who has fought in a war |
The veterans visited war graves on the 50th something The police are searching the
anniversary of the battle. 2. a person who vicinity of the lake.
vicious / vs/ adj cruel and violent
vicious
has a lot of experience He is a veteran of

many takeover bids. a vicious attack on an elderly lady
veterinary / vet()rnri/ adj refer- vicious circle /vs s#
k()l/ noun a
vicious circle
veterinary
ring to the treatment of sick animals situation in which by trying to solve one
veterinary surgeon / vet()rnri
veterinary surgeon
problem you find yourself in another
s#
dn/ noun a doctor who specialises in which is worse than the first
victim / vktm/ noun a person who is
victim
treating animals (NOTE: always shortened to

vet when speaking) attacked, who is in an accident The vic-
veto / vi
t/ noun (plural vetoes) a ban
veto
tims of the train crash were taken to the lo-
or order not to allow something to become cal hospital. She was the victim of a vio-
law, even if it has been passed by a parlia- lent attack outside her front door. Earth-
ment verb (vetoes, vetoing, vetoed) to quake victims were housed in tents.
victimise / vktmaz/ (victimises, vic-
victimise
forbid something The proposal was ve-

toed by the president. The council has ve- timising, victimised), victimize (victimiz-
toed all plans to hold protest marches in es, victimizing, victimized) verb to treat
the centre of town. someone more unfairly than others
via / va/ prep through We drove to victor / vkt/ noun a person who wins a
victor
via
London via Windsor. We are sending the fight, game or battle

payment via our office in London. The Victorian / vk t
rin/ noun a person
Victorian
shipment is going via the Suez Canal. living at the time of Queen Victoria He
viable / vab()l/ adj 1. able to work in wrote the biography of several eminent
viable
practice The project is certainly viable. Victorians.

It is no longer viable to extract tin from victorious /vk t
ris/ adj having won
victorious
these mines. 2. (of a foetus) which can sur- a game or a battle

vive if born A foetus is viable after about victory / vkt()ri/ (plural victories)
victory
28 weeks of pregnancy. noun the fact of winning something, e.g. a

viaduct / vadkt/ noun a long bridge
viaduct
battle, a fight or a game the American

carrying a road or railway across a valley victory in the Olympics They won a clear
vibe /vab/ noun a particular kind of feel-
vibe
victory in the general election. The guer-

ing which you connect with a certain place rillas won a victory over the government
or person (informal) troops.
687 vintage
video / vdi/ noun 1. a machine near the place where the accident hap-
video
which records TV programmes Dont pened.

forget to set the video for 8 p.m. before you vigilant / vdlnt/ adj staying very
vigilant
go out. 2. a magnetic tape on which you aware of possible danger The disease
can record TV programmes or films for particularly affects young children, so par-
playing back on a television set She ents must remain vigilant.
bought a box of blank videos. vigilante /vd lnti/ noun a person
vigilante
video game / vdi (em/ noun an

video game
who is a member of group which tries to

electronic game which you play on a tele- enforce law and order in their area, espe-
vision or computer screen cially when the police seem to find it im-
videophone / vdifn/ noun a tele-
videophone
| possible to do so
phone with a screen where you can see the vigorous / v(rs/ adj very energetic or
vigorous
person you are speaking to strong

videotape / vditep/ noun a magnet-
videotape
vigour / v(/ noun energy (NOTE: The US

vigour
ic tape on which pictures and sound can be spelling is vigor.)

recorded for playing back on a television
vile /val/ adj extremely unpleasant or bad
vile
set
vilify / vlfa/ (vilifies, vilifying, vilified)
vilify
vie / va/ (vies, vying, vied) verb to be in

vie
|
competition with someone or something verb to criticise someone, especially un-

[~with/~for] They vied with the German fairly (formal)
villa / vl/ noun a large country or seaside
villa
team for the gold medal. The best stu-

dents are vying for the scholarship. The house, usually in a warm country He is
food at this little restaurant vies with that staying in a villa on the Mediterranean.
of more expensive establishments. They are renting a villa in Greece for Au-
view /vju
/ noun 1. what you can see
view
gust.
village / vld/ noun a small group of
village
from a certain place You can get a good

view of the sea from the church tower. We houses in the country, like a little town, of-
asked for a room with a sea view and were ten with a church, and usually some shops
given one looking out over the bus depot. 2. They live in a mountain village. The vil-
an opinion or a way of thinking about lage shop sells just about everything we
something [~on/about/~of/~that] What need.
are your views on politics? I cant accept village green / vld (ri
n/ noun a pub-
village green
your view of life. Its my view that she lic grassy area in the middle of a village
lied to save herself. In his view, the gov- villager / vld/ noun a person who
villager
ernment ought to act now. lives in a village

viewer / vju
/ noun 1. a person who
viewer
villain / vln/ noun 1. a wicked char-

villain
watches TV The programme attracted acter in a work of art, e.g. a film or novel
ten million viewers. 2. a small device He plays the villain in the pantomime. 2. a
through which you can look at colour criminal The villains must be caught.
slides She bought a little viewer to look
vindicate / vndket/ (vindicates, vin-
vindicate
at her slides.
dicating, vindicated) verb to justify; to
viewfinder / vju
fand/ noun a small
viewfinder
show that someone was right (NOTE: + vin-

window in a camera through which you dication n)
look when taking a picture, and which
vindictive /vn dktv/ adj wanting to
vindictive
shows the exact picture you are about to |
take take revenge; spiteful

vine /van/ noun a climbing plant which
vine
viewing / vju
/ noun 1. the act of in-
viewing
specting something such as a house which produces grapes. grapevine

vinegar / vn(/ noun a liquid with a
vinegar
you are thinking of buying 2. the act of

watching television sour taste, usually made from wine, used in
viewpoint / vju
pnt/ noun a point of
viewpoint
cooking and for pickling
vineyard / vnjd/ noun an area planted
vineyard
view, a particular way of thinking about

things with vines for making wine
vigil / vdl / noun the act of staying qui- vintage / vntd/ noun all the wine
vigil vintage
etly in a place to look after someone who is made in a particular year 1995 was a very
ill, to pray for something, or as a protest good vintage. adj 1. (of wine) made in a
a vigil for peace A nurse kept vigil by her high-quality year 2. showing the best typi-
bedside. The family held a silent vigil cal qualities of someone The film is vin-
vinyl 688
tage Laurel and Hardy. 3. (of objects) old virility /v rlti/ noun manliness; the fact
virility
but well-preserved and often valuable of being virile

vinyl / van()l/ noun a type of strong virtual / v#
tul/ adj almost The
vinyl virtual
plastic sheet which can be made to look company has a virtual monopoly of French
like other materials such as leather or tiles wine imports. His grandfather has be-
viola /vi l/ noun 1. a small pansy-like come a virtual recluse.
viola
virtually / v#
tuli/ adv almost
virtually
garden flower 2. a stringed instrument

slightly larger than a violin She plays the These shirts have been reduced so much
viola in the city orchestra. that were virtually giving them away.
violate / valet/ (violates, violating, vi-
violate
Its virtually impossible to get tickets for
olated) verb 1. to break a rule, to go against the concert.
virtual reality /v#
tl ri lti/ noun
virtual reality
the law The council has violated the |
planning regulations. The rebels violated the simulation of a real-life scene or real
the conditions of the peace treaty. 2. to treat events on a computer
virtue / v#
tu
/ noun 1. a particular
virtue
something or someone without respect to

violate the sanctity of a church goodness of character, a good quality
violation /va le()n/ noun the ac-
violation
|
Honesty is his principal virtue. 2. a special
tion of violating something or someone thing which gives you an advantage The
violence / valns/ noun action
violence virtue of the train link to France is that you
which is intended to hurt someone Acts arrive right in the centre of Paris. by vir-
tue of something as a result of something
of violence must be punished.
(formal ) Hes eligible for British citizen-
violent / valnt/ adj 1. very strong
violent
ship by virtue of his father who was born in

The discussion led to a violent argument. Newcastle.
A violent storm blew all night. 2. using virtuoso /v#
t s/ (plural virtuo-
virtuoso
force to hurt people Her husband was a sos or virtuosi) noun a person who is
very violent man. skilled in an art, especially one who can
violently / valntli/ adv 1. with
violently
play a musical instrument extremely well

physical force, often with the intention of virtuous / v#
ts/ adj 1. very good or
virtuous
hurting This horse threw him violently honest She was a virtuous old lady who
onto the ground. She hurled the bottle vi- never said a bad word against her neigh-
olently across the table. 2. with great feel- bours. 2. feeling satisfied because you
ing She violently rejected the accusations think that you have done something good
made against her. He reacted violently to There is nothing virtuous about going to
the injection. The oysters made her vio- the office on Saturday morning we do it
lently sick. as a matter of course. She said she felt
violet / valt/ noun a bluish-purple col-
violet
virtuous doing her exercises first thing in

our Her lips turned violet as she gasped the morning. I wont have any pudding
for breath. Ill be virtuous.
violin /va ln/ noun a musical instru- virulent / vrlnt/ adj 1. (of a form of a
violin
virulent
ment with strings that hold under your chin disease or an organism) strongly active
and play with a bow The new flu virus is said to be particularly
VIP abbr very important person virulent. He contracted a virulent form of
VIP
viper / vap/ noun a small European poi-

viper
the disease. 2. very harsh The newspaper
sonous snake carried a virulent attack on the Foreign
Minister.
viral / varl/ adj caused by or referring to
viral
virus / vars/ noun 1. a very small liv-

virus
a virus
ing thing that causes disease by living in
virgin / v#
dn/ noun a person who has
virgin
the bodies of people or animals Scientists

never had sex She was a virgin until she have isolated a new flu virus. Shingles is
was married. caused by the same virus as chickenpox. 2.
virginity /v dnti/ noun the fact of be-
virginity
|
a part of a computer program which is de-
ing a virgin signed to destroy files on someone elses
Virgo / v#
(/ noun one of the signs of computer You must check the program
Virgo
the Zodiac, shaped like a girl, covering the for viruses.

period 23rd August to 22nd September visa / vi
z/ noun a special stamp on a
visa
virile / vral/ adj with strong male char- passport allowing you to enter a country
virile
vis--vis /vi
z vi
/ prep in relation to
vis--vis
acteristics
689 voice
viscous / vsks/ adj thick and slow- vivacious /v ves/ adj full of life or
viscous vivacious
moving excitement
visibility /vz blti/ noun an ability to vivid / vvd/ adj 1. very bright
visibility
vivid
|
vivid
see clearly yellow sunflowers the vivid colours of the
visible / vzb()l/ adj which can be
visible
Mediterranean beach 2. representing real

seen events clearly She has a vivid imagina-
visibly / vzbli/ adv in a way which eve- tion. The play is a vivid portrayal of
visibly
ryone can see country life. I had a really vivid dream

vision / v()n/ noun 1. eyesight, last night. She gave a vivid account of
vision
your ability to see After the age of 50, the her experiences at the hands of the kidnap-
vision of many people begins to fail. 2. a pers.
vivisection / vv sekn/ noun the
vivisection
thing which you imagine He had visions |
of himself stuck in London with no pass- practice of operating on live animals for
port and no money. She had visions of the purpose of scientific research
him being arrested for drug smuggling. vixen / vksn/ noun a female fox
vixen
visionary / v()n()ri/ adj idealistic,

visionary
V-neck / vi
nek/ noun a piece of cloth-
V-neck
with original ideas His visionary designs ing, e.g. a dress, or a pullover, with a neck
influenced a whole generation. shaped like a V
visit / vzt/ noun a short stay with
visit
vocab / vkb/ noun vocabulary

vocab
someone or in a town or a country

[~to/~from] We will be making a short vis- (informal)
vocabulary /v kbjlri/ noun 1. all
vocabulary
it to London next week. They had a visit |
from the police. verb (visits, visiting, vis- the words used by a person or group of per-
ited) to stay a short time with someone or sons specialist legal vocabulary She
in a town or country I am on my way to reads French newspapers to improve her
visit my sister in hospital. They are away French vocabulary. 2. a printed list of
visiting friends in the north of the country. words There is a German-English vocab-
The group of tourists are going to visit ulary at the back of the book.
the glass factory. He spent a week in vocal / vk()l/ adj 1. referring to the
vocal
Scotland, visiting museums in Edinburgh voice Singers need to do vocal exercises

and Glasgow. daily. 2. protesting loudly The protesters
visitation /vz te()n/ noun an in-
visitation
| were very vocal at the demonstration.

stance of someone believing that he or she vocal cords / vk()l k
dz/ plural
vocal cords
has seen a spirit noun folds in the larynx which are brought
visitor / vzt/ noun a person who
visitor
together to make sounds when air passes

comes to visit [~to] The number of visi- between them
tors to the museum has risen sharply. We vocalist / vklst/ noun a singer, espe-
vocalist
had a surprise visitor yesterday the bank cially in a pop group

manager!
vocation /v ke()n/ noun work
vocation
visor / vaz/, vizor noun a part of a hel-

visor
|
met, which is hinged and can drop down to which you feel you have been called to do
cover and protect the eyes He lifted his or for which you have a special talent
vocational /v ke()n()l/ adj refer-
vocational
visor to talk to the policeman. |
vista / vst/ noun a wide view

vista
ring to a vocation
visual / vl/ adj referring to seeing vociferous /v sfrs/ adj shouting
vociferous
visual
|
visual aid / vl ed/ noun something,

visual aid
loudly
vodka / vdk/ noun a strong, colourless
vodka
e.g. a picture or a chart, that you use to ex-

plain something to people alcohol made from grain or potatoes, orig-
vital / vat()l/ adj extremely important inally in Russia and Poland We talked
vital
It is vital that we act quickly. Oxygen is over a glass of vodka.

vital to human life. vogue /v(/ noun the fashion in
vogue
vitality /va tlti/ noun great energy

vitality
| vogue fashionable This year, black is

vitally / vat()li/ adv in a very important back in vogue again.
vitally
way voice /vs/ noun a sound made when

voice
vitamin / vtmn/ noun an essential sub-

vitamin
you speak or sing I didnt recognise his

stance which is found in food and is needed voice over the telephone. The chairman
for growth and health spoke for a few minutes in a low voice.
voice-activated 690
voice-activated /vs ktvetd/ adj volunteer /vln t/ noun a person
voice-activated volunteer
| |
(of a piece of equipment) operated by the who offers to do something without being
sound of your voice paid or being forced to do it The informa-
voice box / vs bks/ noun the larynx, tion desk is staffed by volunteers. verb
voice box
the upper part of the windpipe, where (volunteers, volunteering, volunteered)

sounds are made by the voice to offer to do something without being paid
voice mail / vsmel/ noun a type of tel- or being forced to do it Will anyone vol-
voice mail
ephone answering system, where messages unteer for the job of washing up? He vol-
can be left for a person unteered to collect the entrance tickets.
void /vd/ noun emptiness He tried to voluptuous /v lpts/ adj evoking
voluptuous
void
|
fill the void in his life caused by the death sensual pleasure
vomit / vmt/ noun partly digested food
vomit
of his wife. She stood on the bridge for a

few minutes, looking down into the void. which has been brought up into the mouth
volatile / vltal/ adj 1. which can easily from the stomach There was vomit all
volatile
change into gas at normal temperatures (of over the bathroom floor. He choked on
a substance) canisters of highly volatile his own vomit. verb (vomits, vomiting,
liquid petroleum gas 2. changing your vomited) to bring up partly digested food
mind or mood frequently The voters are into your mouth He vomited last night
very volatile. 3. not stable, likely to move and now has a high temperature. She
up or down sharply a volatile stock mar- vomited her breakfast.
voodoo / vu
du
/ noun witchcraft prac-
voodoo
ket
volcano /vl ken/ noun a mountain tised in the West Indies
volcano
voracious /v res/ adj very enthusi-

voracious
which lava, ash and gas may flow out of |
from time to time astic a voracious reader

vole /vl/ noun a small animal, like a vote /vt/ noun the act of marking a
vole vote
mouse, but with a shorter tail paper, holding up your hand, etc., to show
volley / vli/ noun 1. a series of shots your opinion or who you want to be elected
volley
fired at the same time The police fired a [~for/in favour of/~against] There were
volley into the crowd. Volleys of gunfire only ten votes in favour of the plan. The
could be heard in the distance. 2. (in sport) majority of votes were against strike ac-
the act of hitting the ball before it touches tion. How many votes did the other can-
the ground He managed to return a very didate get? verb (votes, voting, voted) to
difficult volley. mark a paper, to hold up your hand, etc., to
volleyball / vlib
l/ noun an Olympic show your opinion or who you want to be
volleyball
sport played on a rectangular court be- elected [~for/in favour of/~against] We all
tween two teams of six, in which a large in- voted for the changes. Even some of his
flated ball is hit over a high net with the friends voted against him. Only forty per
hands, and the object is to prevent the ball cent of the people were interested enough
touching the floor of the court to vote. Most of the strikers voted to go
volt /vlt/ noun the standard unit of for
volt
back to work. to vote for or against a
measuring electric force. Abbreviation V proposal to say that you agree or do not
voltage / vltd/ noun an electric force
voltage
agree with a proposal Twenty people ac-
expressed in volts tually voted for the proposal to demolish
the old church.
volume / vlju
m/ noun 1. the amount
volume
voter / vt/ noun a person who votes or

voter
of sound She turned down the volume on

the radio. He drives with the car radio on who has the right to vote
vouch
at full volume. 2. the capacity, the amount vouch verb

which is contained inside something vouch for phrasal verb to guarantee that
What is the volume of this barrel? 3. one something is true or that someone will
book, especially one in a series Have you behave well
voucher / vat/ noun a paper which
voucher
read the third volume of his history of me-

dieval Europe? is given instead of money
voluntary / vlnt()ri/ adj 1. done vow /va/ noun a solemn promise He
voluntary vow
because you want to do it, and done with- made a vow to go on a pilgrimage to Jeru-
out being paid Many retired people do salem. She vowed to have her revenge but
voluntary work. 2. done willingly, without she died before she could keep her vow.
being forced He made a voluntary con- verb (vows, vowing, vowed) to make a sol-
tribution to the fund. emn promise to do something She vowed
691 vulture
that she would never let it happen again. front of the children. He made a vulgar
He vowed to pay the money back. gesture at the police officer. 2. not in good
vowel / val/ noun one of the five letters,
vowel
taste His pink Rolls Royce is particularly

a, e, i, o and u, which represent sounds vulgar.
made without using the teeth, tongue or
vulnerable / vln()rb()l/ adj who
vulnerable
lips (NOTE: The letters representing sounds

which are not vowels are consonants. Note or which can easily be hurt
vulture / vlt/ noun a large bird that
vulture
also that in some languages y is a vowel.)

voyage / vd/ noun a long journey, es- mainly eats dead animals Vultures live by
voyage
pecially by ship or spacecraft scavenging on the bodies of animals which

vs abbr versus have died. Scavengers like vultures wait
vs
vulgar / vl(/ adj 1. rude or indecent in the trees near where the lions are hunt-
vulgar
Dont use that sort of vulgar language in ing.

W
w / db()lju
/, W noun the twenty-third wages. She is earning a good wage or
w
letter of the alphabet, between V and X good wages in the pizza restaurant.
wager / wed/ noun money which you
W wager
W abbr 1. west 2. western

wacky / wki/ (wackier, wackiest) adj
wacky
promise to pay if something you expect to
crazy or silly (informal) happen does not take place She made a
wager that the government would lose the
wad /wd/ noun 1. a thick piece of soft
wad
election. (NOTE: + wager v)

material The nurse put a sterile wad on
waggle / w(()l/ (waggles, waggling,
waggle
the sore. 2. a thick pile of banknotes or pa-

waggled) verb to move from side to side
pers He had a wad of banknotes in his
hand. The hole was blocked with a wad quickly
wagon / w(n/, waggon noun a rail-
wagon
of old papers.
way truck used for carrying heavy loads
waddle / wd()l/ (waddles, waddling,
waddle
The container wagons are leaving the

waddled) verb to walk swaying from side freight terminal.
to side like a duck
waif /wef/ noun a person, especially a
waif
wade /wed/ (wades, wading, waded)

wade
child, who is thin and does not look healthy

verb to walk through water They waded
wail /wel/ (wails, wailing, wailed) verb to
wail
into the sea. make a high-pitched mournful cry At the

wafer / wef/ noun a thin biscuit
wafer
news, she just sat down and wailed. ( NOTE:

waffle / wf()l/ noun 1. a type of crisp
waffle
+ wail n)
pancake cooked in an iron mould and eaten waist / west/ noun 1. the narrow part
waist
with syrup We bought waffles at the stall of the body between the bottom of the
in the fairground. Waffles are very popu- chest and the hips She measures 32 inch-
lar in Belgium. 2. unnecessary or muddled es round the waist or has a 32-inch waist.
speaking or writing (informal) You dont 2. the part of a piece of clothing, e.g. a
need to read the article, it is just waffle. skirt, trousers or dress, that goes round the
Dont tell me you listened to all his waffle! middle of your body The waist of these
verb (waffles, waffling, waffled) to talk trousers is too small for me. (NOTE: Do not
too much without saying anything clearly confuse with waste.)
(informal) What are you waffling on waistband / wes(t)bnd/ noun a band
waistband
about? If someone mentions the word of fabric on a piece of clothing, e.g. a skirt,
ecology, our lecturer will waffle on for 20 trousers or dress, that goes round the mid-
minutes. dle of your body
waft /w
ft/ (wafts, wafting, wafted) verb waistcoat / westkt/ noun a short
waft
waistcoat
to carry something gently through the air coat with buttons and without any sleeves,
The delicious smell of strawberry jam which is worn over a shirt and under a jack-
wafted through the window to where I was et
sitting. waistline / westlan/ noun a measure-
waistline
wag /w(/ (wags, wagging, wagged)

wag
ment around your waist, showing how fat

verb to move something from side to side you are
or up and down The dog ran up to him, wait /wet/ (waits, waiting, waited)
wait
wagging its tail. The grandmother verb to stay where you are, and not do any-
wagged her finger at the little boy who was thing until something happens or someone
picking the flowers. comes [~for/~until] Dont wait for me, Ill
wage / wed/, wages noun money paid,
wage
be late. Wait here until the ambulance ar-

usually in cash each week, to a worker for rives. They had been waiting for half an
work done The company pays quite good hour in the rain before the bus finally ar-
693 Walkman
rived. Wait a minute, my shoelace is un- months old, and is just starting to walk.
done. We gave our order half an hour She was walking along the high street on
ago, but are still waiting. cant wait to do her way to the bank. We walked slowly
something very eager to do something I across the bridge. The visitors walked
cant wait to see what happens. round the factory. to walk someone
wait up phrasal verb not to go to bed home to go with someone who is walking
because you are waiting for someone home It was getting late, so I walked her
waiter / wet/ noun a man who brings home. 2. to take an animal for a walk
waiter
food and drink to customers in a restaurant Hes gone to walk the dog in the fields.
waiting list / wet lst/ noun a list
waiting list
She walks her dog every morning. noun
of people waiting for a service or medical 1. a usually pleasant journey on foot Lets
treatment all go for a walk in the park. 2. a distance
waiting room / wet ru
m/ noun a
waiting room
which you cover on foot Its only a short
room where you wait, e.g. at a doctors, walk to the beach. Its only five minutes
dentists or railway station walk from the office to the bank or the bank
waitress / wetrs/ noun a woman who
waitress is only a five minutes walk from the office.
brings food and drink to customers in a res- walk into phrasal verb to enter on foot
taurant. waiter walk off phrasal verb to go away on
waive /wev/ (waives, waiving, waived)
waive
foot She walked off and left him holding
verb to give up a right or a claim (NOTE: Do the shopping. The builders walked off
not confuse with wave.) the site because they said it was too dan-
gerous.
waiver / wev/ noun a document show-
waiver
walk off with phrasal verb 1. to win

ing that someone is willing to give up a
right or claim (NOTE: Do not confuse with She walked off with first prize. 2. to steal
The burglar walked off with all my sil-
waver.)
ver cups.
wake /wek/ (wakes, waking, woke,
wake
walk out phrasal verb 1. to go out on

woken) verb 1. to stop someones sleep
The telephone woke her or she was woken foot She walked out of the house and
by the telephone. I banged on her door, down the street. 2. to go out angrily He
but I cant wake her. He asked to be wok- walked out of the restaurant, saying that
en at 7.00. 2. to stop sleeping He woke the service was too slow. 3. (of workers)
suddenly, feeling drops of water falling on to go on strike, to stop working and leave
his head. your office or factory The office staff
wake up phrasal verb 1. to stop some-
walked out in protest. to walk out on
someone to leave someone suddenly
ones sleep He was woken up by the She walked out on her husband and went
sound of the dog barking. 2. to stop sleep-
ing She woke up in the middle of the to live with her mother. Our sales man-
ager walked out on us just as we were
night, thinking she had heard a noise.
Come on, wake up! Its past ten oclock. starting our autumn sales campaign.
walker / w
k/ noun a person who
walker
He woke up to find water coming

through the roof of the tent. to wake up goes walking for pleasure and exercise
walkie-talkie / w
ki t
ki/ noun a
walkie-talkie
to something to realise something

When is he going to wake up to the fact portable two-way radio
that he is never going to be promoted? walking / w
k/ noun going on foot
walking
waken / wekn/ (wakens, wakening, as a relaxation, e.g. along paths or up

waken
wakened) verb to make someone wake up mountains

wake-up call / wek p k
l/ noun a walking frame / w
k frem/ noun a
wake-up call walking frame
phone call from the hotel switchboard to metal frame used by someone who has dif-
wake a guest up ficulty walking, to help him or her move
waking / wek/ adj awake, not asleep about
waking
Wales /welz/ noun a country to the west walking stick / w

k stk/ noun a
Wales walking stick
of England, forming part of the United strong wooden or metal stick with a handle
Kingdom There are some high moun- used as a support when walking
tains in North Wales. Welsh (NOTE: capi- Walkman / w
kmn/ trademark for a
Walkman
tal: Cardiff; people: the Welsh; languages: small portable cassette player which you
Welsh, English) can carry around with you and which has
walk /w
k/ verb (walks, walking,
walk
headphones for you to listen to music with

walked) 1. to go on foot The baby is ten The chap next to me in the Underground
walkout 694
had his Walkman on full blast. He likes to waltzed) 1. to dance a waltz 2. to do some-
listen to rock music on his Walkman. thing in a relaxed way that shows you are
walkout / w
kat/ noun a strike by not worrying or not trying hard She
walkout
workers waltzed into the bank and said she wanted

walkover / w
kv/ noun an easy vic- to withdraw $200,000 in cash. He
walkover
tory (informal) waltzed off with first prize.

walkway / w
kwe/ noun an outdoor wander / wnd/ (wanders, wander-
wander
walkway
path where you can walk between building, wandered) verb to walk somewhere
ings, usually raised above ground level without any specific destination They
wall / w
l/ noun a structure made from wandered round the town in the rain.
wall
wander off/away verb to walk away

wander off/away
things such as bricks or stones, built up to

make one of the sides of a building, of a from where you should be Two of the
room or to surround a space The walls of party wandered off into the market.
the restaurant are decorated with pictures wane /wen/ (wanes, waning, waned)
wane
of film stars. Theres a clock on the wall verb to appear smaller; to become less ef-
behind my desk. He got into the house by fective His influence over his family is
climbing over the garden wall. waning. He takes vitamin tablets to boost
wall up phrasal verb to block something his waning energy.
such as a door or an entrance with a wall wangle / w(l/ (wangles, wangling,
wangle
wallaby / wlbi/ noun an Australian an-

wallaby
wangled) verb to get something by a trick

imal like a small kangaroo (informal)
wallet / wlt/ noun a small flat leather wanna / wn/ contr want to (informal)
wallet
wanna
case for carrying things such as credit wannabe / wnbi/ noun a person who
wannabe
cards and banknotes in your pocket would like to be something or someone

wallop / wlp/ (wallops, walloping,
wallop
different (informal)
walloped) verb to hit someone or some-
want /wnt/ (wants, wanting, wanted)
want
thing very hard

verb 1. to hope that you will do something,
wallow / wl/ (wallows, wallowing,
wallow
that something will happen, or that you

wallowed) verb 1. (of animals) to roll will get something She wants a new car
around in mud When I hear of animals for her birthday. Where do you want to
wallowing in mud, I immediately think of go for your holidays? He wants to be a
hippos. 2. (of a person) to take a lot of teacher. 2. to ask someone to do something
pleasure in doing something He positive- The manager wants me to go and see
ly wallows in gossip about media people. him. I want those windows painted. 3. to
Its time she stopped wallowing in self-pity. need something With five children, what
wallpaper / w
lpep/ noun paper with
wallpaper
they want is a bigger house. You want to

different patterns on it, covering the walls take some rest.
of a room The wallpaper was light green wanted / wntd/ adj searched for by the
wanted
to match the carpet.

police, usually because of a crime
Wall Street / w
l stri
t / noun a street
Wall Street
wanting / wnt/ adj lacking a neces-

wanting
in New York where the Stock Exchange is,

the American finance centre in New York sary feature or quality
wanton / wntn/ adj in a way which is
wanton
He walked along Wall Street, looking for

the companys offices. uncontrolled or without reason
wally / wli/ noun an offensive word that war /w
/ noun a period of fighting be-
war
wally
deliberately insults somebodys intelli- tween countries [~with/~between] the nu-

gence merous wars between the English and the
walrus / w
lrs/ noun an animal which
walrus
Scots In 1914 Britain was at war with
looks like a large seal, with two long tusks Germany or Britain and Germany were at
pointing downwards war. Millions of soldiers and civilians
waltz /w
ls/ noun (plural waltzes) 1. a
waltz
were killed during the war.
war crime / w
kram/ noun a crime
war crime
slow dance in which a man and woman

turn around together as they move forward committed during a war which is against
The next dance is a waltz, so Ill ask her international agreements on the rules of
to dance. 2. music suitable for such a dance war
ward /w
d/ noun a room or set of
ward
Listen, the orchestra is playing a waltz.

The Blue Danube is one of Strauss most rooms in a hospital, with beds for patients
famous waltzes. verb (waltzes, waltzing, The childrens ward is at the end of the
695 wary
corridor. She was taken into the accident pockets. 2. to inform someone that some-
and emergency ward. thing is likely to happen [~that/~of] The
warder / w
d/, wardress noun a prison railway has warned that there will be a
warder
officer, a person who guards prisoners (old) strike tomorrow. The weather forecast
wardrobe / w
drb / noun a tall cup- warned of storms in the English Channel.
wardrobe
board in which you hang your clothes He (NOTE: You warn someone of something, or
moved the wardrobe from the landing into warn someone that something may hap-
the bedroom. pen.)
warehouse / wehas/ noun a large
warehouse
warn off phrasal verb to warn someone
building where goods are stored Our off something to advise someone not to
goods are dispatched from the central do something Two men came to see him
warehouse to shops all over the country. and warned him off going to the police.
warfare / w
fe/ noun fighting a war,
warfare
They hope that this tragedy will warn
especially the method of fighting other adolescents off drugs.
warning / w
n/ noun news about a
warning
war game / w
(em/ noun a military
war game
exercise possible danger [~to/~against] He shout-

warhead / w
hed/ noun the top end of a
warhead
ed a warning to the children. The govern-
missile which explodes when it hits some- ment has issued a warning against travel-
thing ling in some areas of the country. Each
warlord / w
l
d/ noun a military leader
warlord packet of cigarettes has a government
health warning printed on it. adj which
who rules part of a country informs about a danger Red warning
warm /w
m/ adj 1. fairly hot The
warm
flags are raised if the sea is dangerous.

temperature is below freezing outside but Warning notices were put up round the
its nice and warm in the office. The chil- building site.
dren tried to keep warm by playing foot-
warp /w
p/ (warps, warping, warped)
warp
ball. Are you warm enough, or do you

want another blanket? This coat is not verb 1. to twist out of shape Cycling
very warm. The winter sun can be quite across potholes can warp your front wheel.
If you leave the planks out in the rain they
warm in February. 2. pleasant and friendly
We had a warm welcome from our
will warp. 2. to have a bad effect on some-
friends. She has a really warm personal- ones mind or character The beatings he
ity. verb (warms, warming, warmed) to had from his father seem to have warped
make something hotter Come and warm his mind.
warped /w
pt/ adj strange and twisted
warped
your hands by the fire. Ill warm some

warrant / wrnt/ noun an official docu-
warrant
soup. The greenhouse effect has the re-

sult of warming the general temperature of ment from a court giving someone permis-
the earths atmosphere. sion to do something The magistrate is-
warm up phrasal verb 1. to make hotter sued a warrant for her arrest.
A cup of coffee will soon warm you up. warranty / wrnti/ (plural warranties)
warranty
Ill just warm up some soup for supper. noun a legal document which promises that
2. to practise or exercise The orchestra goods you buy will work properly or that
is just warming up before the concert. an object is of good quality
war memorial / w
mm
ril/ noun a warren / wrn/ noun same as rabbit
war memorial warren
structure built to remember soldiers who warren

died in a war warring / w
r / adj at war
warring
warm-hearted /w
m h
td/ adj
warm-hearted
warrior / wri/ noun a person who

warrior
friendly and kind fights in battle

warmth /w
m / noun the fact of being
warmth
warship / w
p/ noun an armed ship
warship
warm or feeling warm It was cold and which is used for fighting, not for carrying
rainy outside, and he looked forward to the passengers or goods
warmth of his home.
wart /w
t/ noun a small hard lump on the
wart
warn /w
n/ (warns, warning,
warn
skin, which is not harmful

warned) verb 1. to inform someone of a
wartime / w
tam/ noun a time of war
wartime
possible danger [~that/~against/~of] The

war-torn /w
t
n/ adj (of a country or
war-torn
guide warned us that there might be snakes

in the grass. Children are warned of the area) very badly affected by war
wary / weri/ (warier, wariest) adj aware
wary
dangers of playing on the frozen lake.

The group was warned to look out for pick- of a possible problem with someone or
was 696
something I am very wary of any of his washing machine / w mi
n/
washing machine
ideas for making money. noun a machine for washing clothes (NOTE:
was / wz, wz/ past tense of be A machine for washing plates and cutlery is
was
wash /w/ verb (washes, washing,

wash
a dishwasher.)
washing powder / w pad/,
washing powder
washed) to clean something using water

Cooks should always wash their hands be- soap powder / sp pad/ noun soap in
fore touching food! I must wash the car powder form, used in washing machines or
before we go to the wedding. The moment dishwashers
washing up /w p/ noun 1. the
washing up
I had washed the windows it started to

rain. His football shirt needs washing. activity of washing all the objects which
linen noun the action of cleaning, using have been used in preparing and eating a
water The car needs a wash. Hes in the meal Can someone help with the washing
bathroom, having a quick wash. up? It took us hours to do the washing up
wash down phrasal verb 1. to wash after the party. Use this little brush for
with a large amount of water They the washing up. 2. things such as dirty
washed down the van with buckets of wa- dishes and glasses waiting to be cleaned
ter. The sailors were washing down the There is a pile of washing up waiting to be
deck. 2. to have a drink with food He put into the dishwasher.
had a pizza washed down by a glass of washing-up liquid /w p
washing-up liquid
beer. lkwd/ noun a liquid detergent used for

wash up phrasal verb 1. to clean ob- washing dirty dishes
jects such as dirty cups, plates, knives washout / wat/ noun 1. a failure be-
washout
and forks with water It took us hours to cause of rain The village fete was a com-
wash up after the party. My brothers plete washout. 2. a failure No one turned
washing up, while Im sitting watching up for the memorial service it was a
the TV. 2. (of the sea) to bring something washout.
up onto the beach Its interesting to wasnt / wznt/ be
wasnt
walk along the shore to see what has

wasp /wsp/ noun an insect which has
wasp
been washed up onto the beach during

the night. 3. US to wash your face and black and yellow bands of colour round its
hands He went into the bathroom to body and which can sting
wastage / westd/ noun 1. the act of
wastage
wash up.
washable / wb()l/ adj (of clothing)
washable
wasting There is an enormous wastage of
which can be washed in water, as opposed natural resources. 2. an amount lost by be-
to being dry-cleaned ing wasted Allow 10% extra material for
wastage.
washbasin / wbes()n/ noun a
washbasin
waste /west / noun 1. an unnecessary

waste
container for holding water for washing the

hands and face, which has taps and is usu- use of time or money It is a waste of time
ally attached to the wall of a bathroom asking the boss for a rise. That computer
is a waste of money there are plenty of
washed-up /wd p/ adj having failed
washed-up
cheaper models. 2. rubbish, things which

and not likely to be successful again are no use and are thrown away Put all
washer / w/ noun 1. a rubber ring in-
washer
your waste in the rubbish bin. verb

side a pipe which prevents liquid escaping (wastes, wasting, wasted) to use more of
from a joint The tap is leaking, and I something than you need Dont waste
think the washer needs replacing. 2. a met- time putting your shoes on jump out of
al ring under a nut or bolt Put a washer the window now. We turned off all the
on the bolt to make it screw tight. heating so as not to waste energy. adj
washing / w/ noun clothes which useless and ready to be thrown away
washing
have been washed, or which are ready to be Keep all your waste paper and recycle it.
washed Put the washing in the washing Waste products need to be disposed of
machine. She hung out the washing to carefully.
dry. to do the washing to wash dirty waste bin /west bn/ noun a container
waste bin
clothes Im not doing the washing today. for putting rubbish in

washing line / w lan/ noun a long wasted / westd/ adj 1. useless 2. (of a
washing line wasted
piece of rope fixed between two poles or persons body) extremely thin and weak 3.
hooks and used for hanging washing on to under the influence of drink or drugs
dry (informal)
697 watertight
wasteful / westf()l/ adj which wastes a watercolour / w
tkl / noun 1. paint
wasteful watercolour
lot which is mixed with water and used by art-

wasteland / westlnd/ noun land ists He prefers using watercolours to oils.
wasteland
which is not used for anything 2. a picture painted using watercolours

wastepaper basket /wes(t) pep
wastepaper basket
|
There is an exhibition of Turners water-
b
skt/ noun a small box or basket where colours in the Tate Gallery. She bought a
useless papers can be put watercolour of the village church. (NOTE:
[all senses] The US spelling is watercolor.)
watch /wt/ verb (watches, watch-
watch
water cooler /w
t ku
l/ noun a ma-
water cooler
ing, watched) 1. to look at and notice

something [~how/who/what etc] Watch chine which people can get cold drinking-
how the mother elephant feeds her ba- water from, used in places such as offices
watercress / w
tkres/ noun a low
watercress
bies.Did you watch the news on TV last

night? I love watching football. Every- spreading plant grown in water streams
one was watching the children dancing. 2. and eaten in salads and soup
waterfall / w
tf
l/ noun a place
waterfall
to look at something carefully to make sure

that nothing happens [~(that)] Watch the where a stream falls down a steep drop
waterfront / w
tfrnt/ noun a bank of
waterfront
potatoes dont burn. Can you watch the

baby while Im at the hairdressers? a river or shore of the sea and the buildings
noun 1. an object like a little clock which along it
waterhole / w
thl/ noun a small
waterhole
you wear on your wrist She looked at her

watch impatiently. What time is it? my pool in the desert or other dry area, where
watch has stopped. 2. the activity of watch- animals come to drink
ing something carefully Visitors should waterlogged / w
tl(d/ adj water-
waterlogged
be on the watch for pickpockets. Keep a logged ground is full of water, so the sur-
watch on the potatoes to make sure they face stays wet for a long time After so
dont burn. (NOTE: no plural) much rain, the waterlogged golf course
watch out phrasal verb to be careful had to be closed. Most plants cannot
Watch out! theres a car coming! grow in waterlogged soil.
watchdog / wtd(/ noun 1. a dog watermark / w
tm
k/ noun 1. a hid-
watchdog watermark
used to guard a house or other buildings den mark in paper, usually put there to
Alsatians are often used as watchdogs. 2. a prove that the paper is legal or official If
person or committee that examines things you hold a banknote up to the light you will
such as public spending or public morals see the watermark. 2. a line showing the
The report of the watchdog committee on level water has reached On the wall by
water pricing. the river you can see various watermarks
watchful / wtf()l/ adj very careful showing the level of floods in different
watchful
watchman / wtmn/ (plural watch-

watchman
years.
watermelon / w
tmeln/ noun a very
watermelon
men) noun a person who guards a building,

usually when it is empty large type of melon with red flesh, large
watchword / wtw#
d / noun a word
watchword
black seeds and dark green skin
water polo / w
t pl/ noun a ball
|
water polo
or phrase which shows someones attitude

towards life in general or towards a partic- game played in water by two teams, each
ular subject or situation trying to throw a ball into a goal
waterproof / w
tpru
f/ adj not letting
waterproof
water / w
t/ noun the liquid which
water
falls as rain and forms rivers, lakes and water go through waterproof clothing
seas. It makes up a large part of the bodies These boots arent waterproof my socks
of living creatures, and is used for drinking are soaking wet.
watershed / w
ted/ noun a point
watershed
and in cooking; also in industrial process-

es. Can we have three glasses of water where an important permanent change
please? Cook the vegetables in boiling takes place
waterskiing / w
tski
/ noun the
waterskiing
water. Is the tap water safe to drink?

The water temperature is 60. (NOTE: no sport of moving over the surface of a lake
plural: some water; a drop of water) verb or river on large skis, pulled by a fast boat
water table / w
t teb()l/ noun a
water table
(waters, watering, watered) to pour water

on the soil round a plant to make it grow natural level of water below the ground
watertight / w
ttat/ adj 1. made so
watertight
Because it is hot we need to water the gar-

den every day. She was watering her pots that water cannot get in or out The food
of flowers. has to be kept in watertight containers. Is
waterway 698
the seal round the radiator watertight? 2. low me. 2. the means of doing something
which cannot be shown to be false She [~of] Isnt there a faster way of digging
has a watertight alibi for the time when the the hole? My mother showed me the way
crime was committed. to make marmalade. The way she said it
waterway / w
twe/ noun a canal or implied it was my fault. 3. the distance be-
waterway
deep river along which boats can easily tween one place and another The nearest
travel bank is quite a long way away. Hes got
watery / w
t()ri/ adj like water, which
watery
a long way to go before he qualifies as a
has a lot of water in it doctor. 4. a path or road which goes some-
watt /wt/ noun the standard unit of elec-
watt
where Our neighbours across the way.
trical power Ill walk the first part of the way home with
you. 5. a particular direction from here a
wave /wev/ noun 1. a raised mass of
wave
one-way street Can you tell which way

water on the surface of the sea, a lake or a the wind is blowing? This way please,
river Waves were breaking on the rocks. everybody! 6. a space where someone
Watch out for big waves on the beach.
wants to be or which someone wants to use
The sea was calm, with hardly any waves. Get out of my way Im in a hurry. Its
Mexican wave 2. an up and down move-
best to keep out of the way of the police for
ment of your hand 3. a regular curve on the a moment. I wanted to take a short cut,
surface of hair His hair has a natural but there was a lorry in the way. to get
wave. 4. a sudden increase in something your own way to do what you want to do,
A wave of anger surged through the crowd. even if other people dont want you to do it
verb (waves, waving, waved) 1. to move
(informal) She always seems to get her
up and down in the wind The flags were own way. to make your way to go to a
waving outside the town hall. 2. to make an place with some difficulty Can you make
up and down movement of the hand, [~to] your way to passport control? He made
The star waved to fans as he boarded the his way to the tourist information office.
plane to New York. The children waved
way in /we n/ noun an entrance
way in
until the car was out of sight. They waved

waylay /we le / (waylays, waylaying,
waylay
goodbye as the boat left the harbour. to |
wave to someone to signal to someone by waylaid) verb 1. to stop and attack some-
moving your hand up and down When I one The gang waylaid the cashier as she
saw him I waved to him to cross the road. was walking back to the office. 2. to stop
waveband / wevbnd/ noun a group of
waveband
someone to talk to them I was waylaid by
radio waves which are close together an old friend on my way to the Post Office.
way out /we at/ noun an exit This
way out
wavelength / wevle/ noun the dis-

wavelength
tance between similar points on radio is the way out of the car park. He
waves They used a short wavelength for couldnt find the way out in the dark.
way-out /we at/ adj strange, exciting
way-out
transmitting messages.
waver / wev/ (wavers, wavering, wa-
waver
(dated informal) They played some really
vered) verb to be unable to decide what to way-out music.
wayside noun fall by the wayside to
wayside
do (NOTE: Do not confuse with waiver.)

wavy / wevi/ (wavier, waviest) adj 1. ((of
wavy
fail or to stop before something is complet-
hair)) slightly curly 2. curving up and down ed
way up /we p/ noun a way in which
way up
He drew a wavy line across the bottom of

the page. something stands
wax /wks/ noun a solid substance made wayward / wewd/ adj tending to do
wayward
wax
from fat or oil, used for making things such what he or she wants rather than what is ex-
as candles and polish She brought a tin of pected
WC noun same as toilet (NOTE: mainly used
WC
wax polish and started to polish the furni-

ture. on signs)
way /we/ noun 1. the direction in we /wi
/ pron used by someone speak-
way we
which something can be found or in which ing or writing to refer to himself or herself
someone or something is going [~to] Do and others He said we could go into the
you know the way to the post office? The exhibition. We were not allowed into the
bus is going the wrong way for the station. restaurant in jeans. We had a wonderful
She showed us the way to the railway sta- holiday we all enjoyed ourselves enor-
tion. They lost their way and had to ask mously. (NOTE: When it is the object we be-
for directions. Ill lead the way just fol- comes us: We gave it to him; He gave it to
699 webcast
us. When it follows the verb to be, we usual- wear out phrasal verb 1. to use some-
ly becomes us: Who is it? Its us!) thing so much that it becomes broken and
weak /wi
k/ adj 1. not strong After his useless Walking across the USA, he
weak
illness he is still very weak. I dont like wore out three pairs of boots. 2. to
weak tea. 2. not effective a weak leader wear yourself out to become very tired
a weak argument 3. not having knowl- through doing something She wore her-
edge or skill Shes weaker at science than self out looking after the old lady.
wear and tear /wer n te/ noun the
wear and tear
at maths. French is his weakest subject.

(NOTE: + weakly adv. Do not confuse with action of damaging something through use
week.) fair wear and tear damage through nor-
weaken / wi
kn/ (weakens, weaken- mal use which is accepted by an insurance
weaken
ing, weakened) verb to make or to become company The policy covers most forms of
weak damage but not wear and tear to the ma-
weakling / wi
kl/ noun a person who
weakling
chine.
wearing / wer/ adj tiring
wearing
lacks physical strength

weakness / wi
kns/ noun 1. the state weary / wri/ adj very tired
weary
weakness
weasel / wi
z()l/ noun a small thin furry
weasel
of being weak The doctor noticed the

weakness of her pulse. 2. weakness for a wild animal which kills and eats birds and
liking for something [~for] (informal) I other small animals The weasel chased
have a weakness for Danish pastries. the rabbit into its burrow.
wealth /wel/ noun a large amount of weather / we/ noun conditions out-
wealth weather
money and property which someone owns side, e.g. if it is raining, hot, cold or sunny
His wealth was acquired in business. Whats the weather going to be like to-
wealthy / weli/ (wealthier, wealthiest) day? If the weather gets any better, then
wealthy
adj (of a person) very rich we can go out in the boat. under the
wean /wi
n/ (weans, weaning, weaned)
wean
weather miserable or unwell Shes feel-
verb to make a baby start to eat solid food ing a bit under the weather.
weatherbeaten / webi
t()n/ adj 1.
weatherbeaten
after only drinking mothers milk At

what age should you start to wean a baby? (of a face) made brown by the wind and sun
to wean someone off or away from The weatherbeaten faces of the old
something to get someone to drop a bad mountain farmers. 2. worn and marked by
habit (informal) We must try to wean him rain, sun and wind There are a few
off the TV for a period. weatherbeaten fishermens cottages down
weapon / wepn/ noun an object such
weapon
by the harbour.
weave /wi
v/ (weaves, weaving, wove,
weave
as a gun, sword or bomb, which you fight

other people with nuclear and biological woven) verb 1. to make cloth by twisting fi-
weapons The crowd used sticks and iron bres over and under each other The cloth
bars as weapons. is woven from the wool of local sheep.
weaponry / wepnri/ noun weapons
weaponry
The new weaving machines were installed
wear /we/ (wears, wearing, wore,
wear
last week. 2. to make something by a simi-
worn) verb 1. to have something such as lar method, but using things such as very
clothes or jewellery on your body What thin pieces of wood or the dried stems of
dress are you wearing to the party? plants She learnt how to weave baskets.
web / web/ noun 1. a net spun by spiders
web
When last seen, he was wearing a blue

raincoat. Shes wearing her mothers The garden is full of spiders webs in au-
earrings. She wears her hair very short. tumn. 2. the web the thousands of websites
2. to damage something or make it thin and webpages within the Internet, which
through using it The tread on the car users can visit 3. a set of events that cause
tyres is worn. Ive worn a hole in the heel problems [~of] The truth had been hidden
of my sock. by a web of lies and intrigue.
web browser / web braz/ noun a
web browser
wear down phrasal verb 1. to disappear

gradually, or make something disappear program for showing and using pages on
by much use 2. to make someone gradu- the World Wide Web
webcam / webkm/ noun a video cam-
webcam
ally lose their confidence or effectiveness

They wore down the enemys resist- era recording pictures that are broadcast
ance. live on the Internet
webcast / webk
st/ noun a broadcast
webcast
wear off phrasal verb to disappear

gradually on the World Wide Web
webmaster 700
webmaster / webm
st/ noun a person weekend /wi
k end/ noun Saturday
webmaster weekend
who designs or manages a website and Sunday, or the period from Friday
webpage / webped/ noun a single evening to Sunday evening Were going
webpage
file of text and graphics, forming part of a to the coast for the weekend. Why dont
website you come to spend next weekend with us in
website / websat/ noun a collection of
website
the country? At weekends, we try to
pages on the Web which have been pro- spend time in the garden.
weekly / wi
kli/ adj, adv happening or
weekly
duced by one person or organisation and

are linked together published once a week Are you paid
wed /wed/ (weds, wedding, wedded or
wed
weekly or monthly? We have a weekly pa-
wed) verb to marry (formal, used mainly in per which tells us all the local news. The
newspapers) weekly rate for the job is 250. (NOTE: Do
wed /wi
d/ short form 1. we had 2. we
wed
not confuse with weakly.) noun (plural
would weeklies) a magazine published once a
week
wedding / wed/ noun a marriage
wedding
weep /wi
p/ (weeps, weeping, wept) verb
weep
ceremony, when two people are officially

made husband and wife This Saturday to produce tears
weigh /we/ (weighs, weighing,
weigh
Im going to John and Marys wedding.

wedding anniversary / wed n
wedding anniversary
|
weighed) verb 1. to use scales or a weigh-
v#
s()ri/ noun a celebration every year of ing machine to measure how heavy some-
the date of a wedding thing is Can you weigh this parcel for
me? They weighed his suitcase at the
wedding ring / wed r/ noun a ring
wedding ring
check-in desk. I weighed myself this

which is put on the finger during the wed- morning. 2. to have a particular weight
ding ceremony This piece of meat weighs 100 grams.
wedge /wed/ noun a solid piece of
wedge
How much do you weigh? She only

something such as wood, metal or rubber weighs 40 kilos.
in the shape of a V Put a wedge under the weigh down phrasal verb to be
door to hold it open. weighed down with to be bent because
Wednesday / wenzde / noun the day
Wednesday
you are carrying something heavy The

between Tuesday and Thursday, the third car was weighed down with all our lug-
day of the week She came for tea last gage. The branches of the pear trees
Wednesday. Wednesdays are always busy were weighed down with fruit. to be
days for us. Can we meet next Wednesday weighed down with to be anxious or
afternoon? Wednesday the 24th would be worried about something
a good date for a meeting. The 15th is a weigh in phrasal verb 1. (of boxers and
Tuesday, so the 16th must be a Wednesday. jockeys) to have your weight measured
Weds abbreviation Wednesday
Weds
before a fight or horse race The boxer

wee /wi
/ (wees, weeing, weed) verb to
wee
weighed in at 200lbs. 2. to join in an ar-

urinate (childs word) Do you want to wee, gument [~with] (informal) He weighed in
Tommy? ( NOTE: also wee-wee) with some forceful comments.
weed / wi
d/ noun a wild plant that you do weigh up phrasal verb to form an opinion
weed
not want in a garden or crop of someone or something

weedy / wi
di / adj 1. thin and weak His weight /wet/ noun 1. how heavy
weedy weight
opponent was a weedy little man who something is Whats the maximum
looked as though he had never had a fight weight of parcel the post office will accept?
before. 2. covered with weeds Weve 2. how heavy a person is His weight is
been away and the garden is so weedy. less than it was a year ago. 3. something
week /wi
k/ noun a period of seven which is heavy If you lift heavy weights
week
days, usually from Monday to Sunday like paving stones, you may hurt your back.
There are 52 weeks in the year. The firm (NOTE: Do not confuse with wait.) thats a
gives us two weeks holiday at Easter. Its weight off my mind! that is something I
my aunts 80th birthday next week. I go need not worry about any longer
weighted / wetd/ adj changed by the
weighted
to the cinema at least once a week. (NOTE:

Do not confuse with weak.) addition of an amount to a total
weekday / wi
kde/ noun any of the days weightlifting / wetlft/ noun the
weekday weightlifting
from Monday to Friday, when most offices sport or exercise of lifting heavy weights
are open (NOTE: + weightlifter n)
701 well-to-do
weight training / wet tren/ noun 2. very much He got back from the office
weight training
physical training using weights to make late well after eight oclock. You should
your muscles strong go to the Tower of London its well worth
weighty / weti/ (weightier, weightiest) a visit. There were well over sixty people
weighty
adj 1. important or serious We now face at the meeting. Shes well over eighty.
the weighty problem of trying to expand adj (better, best) healthy Shes looking
into new markets. 2. heavy Shes tired af- well after her holiday! The secretarys
ter lugging her weighty bag round London. not very well today shes had to stay off
weir /w/ noun a small structure built
weir
work. It took him some weeks to get well
across a river to control the flow of water after his flu. interj used for starting a sen-
From here, you can see the weir and the tence Well, Ill show you round the house
lock. first. Well now, weve done the washing
up so we can sit and watch TV. noun a
weird /wd/ adj strange in a way that
weird
makes you feel nervous or frightened very deep hole dug in the ground with wa-
ter or oil at the bottom as well also
(NOTE: weirder weirdest)
When my aunt comes to stay she brings her
weirdo / wd/ (plural weirdos) noun a
weirdo
two cats and the dog as well. You cant

person regarded as strange (slang) eat fish and chips and a meat pie as well!
welcome / welkm/ verb (welcomes,
welcome
as well as in addition to Some newsa-

welcoming, welcomed) 1. to greet some- gents sell groceries as well as newspapers.
one in a friendly way The staff welcomed She ate a slice of cheesecake as well as
the new assistant to the office. When we two scoops of ice cream.
arrived at the hotel we were welcomed by well /wi
l/ contr we will
well
a couple of barking guard dogs. 2. to be

well- /wel/ prefix in a satisfactory way
well-
pleased to hear news I warmly welcome

the result of the election. I would wel- well-attended well-chosen (NOTE: Well- is
come any suggestions as to how to stop the used in front of many adjectives, see the fol-
water seeping into the basement. noun lowing words. Note also the comparative in
the action of greeting someone There these compounds: well-advised better
was not much of a welcome from the staff advised; well-off better off.)
when we arrived at the hotel. a warm well-behaved / wel b hevd / adj hav-
well-behaved
welcome a friendly welcome They gave ing good behaviour

me a warm welcome. to outstay your well-being /wel bi
/ noun a feeling of
well-being
welcome to stay longer than your hosts being healthy and happy
thought you were going to stay adj met or well-brought-up /wel br
t p / adj
well-brought-up
greeted with pleasure They made me very polite because of having been shown the
welcome. youre welcome! a reply to correct way to behave when young
thank you Thanks for carrying the bags
well-built /wel blt/ adj strong and solid
well-built
for me youre welcome!

well done /wel dn/ interj used for
well done
weld /weld/ (welds, welding, welded)

weld
verb to join two pieces of metal together by praising someone for their success Well
heating them together The chassis can be done, the England team! Well done to all
repaired by welding the two pieces togeth- of you who passed the exam! adj (of meat)
er. which has been cooked a long time Can
I have my steak well-done, please?
welfare / welfe/ noun the act or prac-
welfare
well-heeled /wel hi
ld/ adj rich
well-heeled
tice of providing the things which people

need and which help them to be healthy (informal)
wellie / weli/ noun a wellington boot
wellie
The club looks after the welfare of the old

people in the town. The government has wellington / weltn/ noun a loose
wellington
taken measures to reform the welfare sys- knee-length rubber boot

tem. well-known /wel nn/ adj known
well-known
welfare state /welfe stet/ noun a

welfare state
by a lot of people
state which makes sure that all its citizens well-off /wel f/ adj rich
well-off
have suitable houses, education, public

well-paid /wel ped / adj earning a
well-paid
transport and health services

well /wel / adv 1. in a way that is satis-
well
good salary
well-timed /wel tamd/ adj happening
well-timed
factory He doesnt speak Russian very

well. Our business is small, but its doing at a favourable time
well-to-do /wel t du
/ adj rich
well-to-do
well. Is the new computer working well?

well-wisher 702
well-wisher / wel w/ noun a person Westminster / westmnst/ noun 1. in
well-wisher Westminster
who is friendly towards someone the area of London where Westminster Ab-
Welsh /wel/ adj relating to Wales bey and the Houses of Parliament are
Welsh
We will be going climbing in the Welsh Tourists always go to Westminster as part

mountains at Easter. noun 1. the Welsh of their visit to London. 2. the British Par-
the people of Wales The Welsh are proud liament itself The news was greeted with
of their heritage. The Welsh are magnifi- surprise at Westminster. MPs returned to
cent singers. 2. the language spoken in Westminster after the summer recess.
wet /wet/ adj 1. covered in water or oth-
wet
Wales Welsh is used in schools in many

parts of Wales. er liquid She forgot her umbrella and got
went /went/ past tense of go
went
wet walking back from the shops. The
wept /wept/ past tense and past partici-
wept
chairs all wet where he knocked over his
ple of weep beer. The baby is wet can you change
her nappy? 2. raining The summer
were /w, w#
/ 1st person plural past
were
months are the wettest part of the year.

of be. 2nd person plural past of be. 3rd per- Theres nothing I like better than a wet
son plural past of be Sunday in London. 3. not yet dry Watch
were / wi
/ short form we are
were
out! the paints still wet.

werent /w#
nt/ short form were not
werent
wet blanket /wet blkt/ noun an un-

wet blanket
werewolf / wewlf/ (plural were-

werewolf
happy person who spoils social events, e.g.

wolves), werwolf noun a person who is parties, by making other people feel un-
thought to change into the form of a wolf at happy (informal)
night and back into human form in the day wetsuit / wetsu
t/ noun a rubber suit
wetsuit
west /west/ noun 1. the direction of

west
worn by swimmers and divers to keep

where the sun sets [~of] We live in a vil- themselves warm in the water
lage to the west of the town. The sun sets weve /wi
v/ short form we have
weve
in the west and rises in the east. Their whack /wk/ (whacks, whacking,
whack
house has a garden that faces west or a whacked) verb to hit hard, making a loud
west-facing garden. 2. West the countries noise She whacked her head on the low
in the western part of the world, e.g. Eu- doorway. He whacked the ball hard with
rope and North America adj relating to his bat. (NOTE: + whack n)
the west She lives on the west coast of the whacked /wkt/ adj feeling extremely
whacked
United States. The west part of the town tired

is near the river. adv towards the west whale /wel/ noun a very large creature
whale
Go west for about ten kilometres, and then

youll come to the national park. The riv- that lives in the sea You can take a boat
into the mouth of the river to see the
er flows west into the ocean.
whales. ( NOTE: Do not confuse with wail.)
westbound / westband/ adj travelling
westbound
whaling / wel/ noun the practice of

whaling
towards the west hunting whales

westerly / westli/ adj 1. towards the
westerly
wham /wm/ noun the loud noise pro-

wham
west 2. (of a wind ) blowing from the west duced by a solid heavy blow
western / westn/ adj from, of or in
western
wharf /w
f/ (plural wharves or wharfs)
wharf
the south The western part of Canada noun a quay where a ship can tie up to load
has wonderful scenery. noun a book or or unload
film about life in the western USA in the what / wt/ adj asking a question
what
nineteenth century, especially about cow- What kind of music do you like? What
boys She likes watching old westerns on
type of food does he like best? pron 1. the
TV. thing which Did you see what was in the
westerner / westn/, Westerner noun
westerner
box? What we like to do most on holiday

1. a person who lives in or comes from the is just to visit old churches. 2. asking a
west of a country or region 2. a person question Whats the correct time? What
from Europe or North America did he give you for your birthday? What
westernised, westernized adj accepting
westernised
happened to his car? (NOTE: When what

and using things such as the ideas, cus- used to ask a direct question, the verb is put
toms, and industrial methods of countries before the subject: Whats the time? but not
in Western Europe and the United States when it is used in a statement: They dont
westernmost / westnmst/ adj fur-
westernmost
know what the time is.) adv showing sur-

thest to the west prise What a huge meal! What beauti-
703 whether
ful weather! interj showing surprise when /wen/ adv at what time (asking a
when
What! did you hear what he said? I won question) When is the last train for Paris?
the lottery! What! When did you last go to the dentist?
whatever /wt ev/ pron 1. it does not When are we going to get paid? Since
whatever
matter what (form of what used for empha- when has he been wearing glasses? I
sis; in questions) You can have whatever asked her when her friend was leaving.
you like for Christmas. She always does (NOTE: After when used to ask a direct ques-
whatever she feels like doing. I want that tion, the verb is put before the subject: When
car whatever the price. 2. used instead of does the film start?; When is he coming? but
what for emphasis in questions Ive not when it is used in a statement: He
sold the car. Whatever for? Whatever doesnt know when the film starts.; They
made him do that? Whatever does that cant tell me when he is coming.) conj 1. at
red light mean? the time that When he was young, the
whatnot / wtnt/ noun something of family was living in London. When you
whatnot
the same or a similar kind go on holiday, leave your key with the
whats /wts/ short for 1. what has 2.
whats
neighbours so they can feed the cat. Do
what is you remember the day when we all went for
whatsoever /wts ev/ adj, pron
whatsoever
|
a picnic in the park? Let me know when
used for emphasising whatever There is youre ready to go. 2. after When the
no truth whatsoever in the report. The speaker had finished, he sat down. Wash
police found no suspicious documents up the plates when youve finished your
whatsoever. breakfast. 3. even if The salesman said
the car was worth 5,000 when he really
wheat /wi
t/ noun a plant of which the
wheat
knew it was worth only half that.

grain is used to make flour (NOTE: no plural)
whenever /wen ev/ adv at any time
whenever
wheedle / wi
d()l/ (wheedles, whee-
wheedle |
dling, wheedled) verb to try to persuade

that Come for tea whenever you like.
someone to do something, especially by We try to see my mother whenever we can
speaking to them in a soft voice or whenever possible.
where /we/ adv 1. (asking a question)
where
wheel /wi
l/ noun 1. a round object on
wheel
which a vehicle such as a bicycle, a car or in what place, to what place Where did I
a train runs The front wheel and the back put my glasses? Do you know where the
wheel of the motorbike were both damaged restaurant is? Where are the knives and
in the accident. We got a flat tyre so I had forks? Where are you going for your hol-
to get out to change the wheel. 2. any sim- iday? 2. in a place in which Stay where
ilar round object which turns a steering you are and dont move. They still live in
wheel gear wheels verb (wheels, the same house where they were living
wheeling, wheeled) to push something twenty years ago. Heres where the wire
along which has wheels He wheeled his has been cut.
whereas /wer z/ conj if you com-
whereas
motorbike into the garage. She was |
wheeling her bike along the pavement. pare this with the fact that He likes tea
The waiter wheeled in a sweet trolley. whereas she prefers coffee.
wheelbarrow / wi
lbr/ noun a large whereupon /wer pn/ conj at that
whereupon
wheelbarrow
|
container with one wheel at the front and point, after that (literary)
wherever /wer ev/ adv 1. to or in
wherever
two handles, used by people such as build- |
ers and gardeners for pushing heavy loads any place You can sit wherever you want.
around Wherever we go on holiday, we never
wheelchair / wi
lte/ noun a chair on make hotel reservations. The police want
wheelchair
wheels which people who cannot walk use to ask her questions, wherever she may be.
to move around a special entrance for 2. used instead of where for emphasis
wheelchair users Wherever did you get that hat?
wheeler-dealer /wi
l di
l/ noun a whet /wet/ (whets, whetting, whetted)
wheeler-dealer whet
person who is skilled and successful, but verb to whet your appetite to make you
possibly dishonest, in getting what they more interested in something by giving
want, especially in business or politics you a little taste of it The brochures whet
wheeze /wi
z/ (wheezes, wheezing, your appetite for holidays by the sea.
wheeze
whether / we/ conj 1. (showing

whether
wheezed) verb to make a whistling sound

when breathing The little boy had an at- doubt, or not having reached a decision)
tack of asthma and started to wheeze. used to mean if for showing doubt, or for
whew 704
showing that you have not decided some- whimsical / wmzk()l/ adj unusual or
whimsical
thing Do you know whether theyre com- strange, not very serious
ing? I cant make up my mind whether to whine /wan/ (whines, whining, whined)
whine
go on holiday now or later. 2. (applying to verb 1. to make a loud high noise You can
either of two things) used for referring to ei- hear the engines of the racing cars whining
ther of two things or people All employ- in the background. The dogs whined
ees, whether managers or ordinary staff, when we locked them up in the kitchen. 2.
must take a medical test. (NOTE: Do not con- to complain frequently in a way that an-
fuse with weather.) noys other people (NOTE: Do not confuse
whew /fju
/ interj used to express an emo-
whew
with wine.+ whine n)

whinge /wnd / (whinges, whingeing,
whinge
tion such as great, surprise or to show that

you feel too hot, or you are very pleased whinged) verb to complain in a whining
that something unpleasant has not hap- voice (informal)
pened whip /wp/ noun a long, thin piece of
whip
which /wt/ adj, pron 1. (asking a leather with a handle, used to hit animals to
which
question) what person or thing Which make them do what you want The rider
dress are you wearing to the wedding? used her whip to make the horse run faster.
Which boy threw that stone? 2. (only used verb (whips, whipping, whipped) to hit
with things, not people) that The French someone or an animal with a whip He
restaurant which is next door to the office. whipped the horse to make it go faster.
Theyve eaten all the bread which you whip up phrasal verb 1. to make some-
bought yesterday. thing increase suddenly The announce-
whichever /wt ev/ pron 1. any one
whichever
|
ment whipped up the crowds
in a group You can take several routes, enthusiasm. The wind whipped up the
but whichever you choose, the journey will waves on the lake. 2. to get food ready
still take three hours. 2. used for emphasis- quickly Ill just whip up a salad.
whirl /w#
l/ (whirls, whirling, whirled)
whirl
ing which Take whichever you want.

adj used for emphasising that it it is not im- verb to turn round quickly She put on her
portant which person or thing is being renew skirt and whirled around for every one
ferred to Whichever newspaper you read, to see. The childrens paper windmills
youll get the same story. whirled in the wind.
whirlpool / w#
lpu
l/ noun a stream of
whirlpool
whiff /wf / noun a slight smell

whiff
water that turns round and round very fast

while /wal/ conj 1. at the time that
while
whirlwind / w#
lwnd / noun something
whirlwind
He tried to cut my hair while he was watch- which happens more quickly than usual
ing TV. While we were on holiday some- They had a whirlwind romance, and got
one broke into our house. Shall I clean married on holiday.
the kitchen while youre having a bath? 2. whirr /w#
/ (whirrs, whirring, whirred)
whirr
showing difference He likes meat, while verb to make a low sound like something
his sister is a vegetarian. Everyone is turning The journalists cameras were
watching TV, while Im in the kitchen mak- whirring and clicking as she stepped out of
ing the dinner. 3. although (formal) While the church.
there may still be delays, the service is
whisk /wsk/ (whisks, whisking,
whisk
much better than it used to be. noun a

whisked) verb to mix food such as cream
short time Its a while since Ive seen
him. in a while in a short time, soon Ill or eggs until they become thick and firm
be ready in a while. to be worth some- Next, whisk the mixture until it is creamy.
ones while to be worth doing Its worth
I always whisk egg whites by hand.
whiskey / wski/ noun Irish or American
whiskey
your while keeping copies of your work, in

case your computer goes wrong. whisky
whisky / wski/ (plural whiskies) noun an
whisky
whilst /walst/ conj while (formal)

whilst
alcoholic drink, made in Scotland from

whim / wm/ noun a sudden wish or desire
whim
barley The company produces thousands

whimper / wmp/ (whimpers, whim- of bottles of whisky every year. I dont
whimper
pering, whimpered) verb (of a person or like whisky I prefer gin.

whisper / wsp/ verb (whispers,
whisper
small animal) to make low weak cries She

whimpered that she would be OK. The whispering, whispered) to speak very qui-
dog was whimpering because it was tied etly, so that only the person you are talking
up. (NOTE: + whimper n) to can hear He whispered instructions to
705 whole
the other members of the gang. She whis- tempt to cover up mistakes or dishonest be-
pered to the nurse that she wanted some- haviour Everyone said the report was a
thing to drink. noun a quiet voice, or whitewash and nobody was ever arrested.
words spoken very quietly She spoke in a (NOTE: + whitewash v)
whisper. whitewater rafting
whitewater rafting /watwt

whistle /ws()l/ noun 1. a high sound rft/ noun the sport of riding in small
whistle
made by blowing through your lips when strong rubber boats down dangerous rivers
they are almost closed She gave a whistle whitish /wat/ adj similar to white or
whitish
of surprise. We heard a whistle and saw partly white

a dog running across the field. 2. a simple
whiz /wz/ verb (whizzes, whizzing,
whiz
instrument which makes a high sound,

played by blowing He blew on his whistle whizzed) to move very fast Someone
to stop the match. verb (whistles, whis- whizzed past me but I didnt see who it was.
tling, whistled) 1. to blow through your Shes been whizzing around all afternoon
lips to make a high sound They marched trying to sort out her trip to the Caribbean.
along, whistling an Irish song. He whis- noun a whistling sound made by some-
tled for a taxi. 2. to make a high sound as a thing moving very fast
signal, using a small metal instrument whizz /wz/ verb, noun another spelling of
whizz
white /wat/ adj (whiter, whitest) of a

white
whiz
colour like snow or milk A white shirt is who /hu/ pron 1. (asking a question)
who
part of the uniform. A white car will al- which person or persons Who phoned?
ways look dirty. Her hair is now com- Who are you talking to? Who spoke at the
pletely white. Do you take y

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EASIER ENGLISH

with an e? from A to Z completely, all community of Christian monks or nuns

enormous hole a useful guidebook ened by having something left out

aback / bk/ adv taken aback sur-

balls which can be moved on bars disgusting (formal )

abide / bad/ (abides, abiding, abode or

abandoning, abandoned) verb 1. to leave abided) verb 1. to abide by to keep to

abandoned / bndnd/ adj no longer

abandonment / bndnmnt/ noun

rassed the best of my ability Ill do it as well as I

| can 2. the fact of being clever suitable for

abject poverty 2. making you feel thing to be going to do something very

There are special activities for able chil- |

dren. noun 1. an order to soldiers to turn to face

above / bv/ prep 1. higher than

The plane was flying above the clouds.

The temperature in the street was above 30

ship docked, customs officers came aboard honest and legal

abode / bd/ noun the place where

abreast / brest/ adv side by side

such as a law or right moving parts of a text

abrupt / brpt/ adj 1. sudden 2. using

bad (formal) few words and not being very polite

abruptly / brptli/ adv briefly and im-

ring to Aborigines noun same as Aborig- politely

Aborigine /b rdni/ noun an Aus-

2. to perform an abortion on a foetus sconding, absconded) verb (formal) 1. to

about / bat/ prep 1. referring to

| seiled) verb to come down a cliff or wall

abundance / bndns/ noun a large

the staff are absent with flu. quantity

abundant / bndnt/ adj existing in

who is not there large quantities

absent-minded / bs()nt mandd/

treatment the sexual abuse of children

total of something The governments action is

course Did you build it yourself? Abso- |

lutely! abused) verb 1. to treat someone very bad-

things about someone The crowd noisily

ture from the air. 2. to reduce a shock The |

abyss / bs/ noun 1. a deep hole 2. a hor-

of absorbing something or of being ab- rible or frightening situation

ing to study at a university Members of

abstention /b stenn/ noun the act or

especially not drinking alcohol accelerating, accelerated) verb to go fast-

er Dont accelerate when you get to traf-

pedal which makes a car go faster crime

way of pronouncing something He pleasant thing which happens and causes

ates, accentuating, accentuated) verb to ing without being planned or expected an

accidentally / ks dent()li/ adv with-

accepted) verb 1. to take and keep a |

gift. 2. to say yes or to agree to something |

ia. I invited her to come with us and she especially publicly

cept.) to someone as a sign of praise

enough to be accepted, although not partic- commodates, accommodating, accom-

gift of flowers would be very acceptable. taking trouble to help people

acceptance /k septns/ noun 1. the

modation has no plural.)

for wheelchairs. At present there is no noun 1. music played to accompany some-

get information from a computer She panies, accompanying, accompanied)

She accompanied me to the door. 2. to play

sories) noun 1. a useful piece of equip- es, accomplishing, accomplished) verb

ed or skilled cial approval

aback / bk/ adv taken aback sur-

abandoned / bndnd/ adj no longer

abandonment / bndnmnt/ noun

above / bv/ prep 1. higher than

abrupt / brpt/ adj 1. sudden 2. using

abruptly / brptli/ adv briefly and im-

Aborigine /b rdni/ noun an Aus-

abundance / bndns/ noun a large

abundant / bndnt/ adj existing in

absent-minded /bs()nt mandd/

accidentally /ks dent()li/ adv with-

accuracy / kjrsi/ noun the fact of

acrid / krd/ adj with a bitter smell

acknowledge /k nld/ (acknowl-

acolyte / klat/ noun a person who

acting / kt/ noun the profession of an

action replay /kn ri

addict / dkt/ noun a person who cannot

ad hoc / d hk/ adj arranged for a spe-

adjust / dst/ (adjusts, adjusting, admission fee /d m()n fi