Professional Documents
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
gim mick
BrE / mk / NAmE / mk / noun word origin example bank ( often disapproving ) an unusual trick or unnecessary device that is intended to attract attention or to persuade people a promotional/publicity/sales gimmick We don't use gimmicks to sell our products. gim micky / BrE mki ; NAmE mki / adjective
a gimmicky idea
swoon
BrE / swun / NAmE / swun / verb verb forms word origin
1 [ intransitive ] ~ (over sb) to feel very excited, emotional, etc. about sb that you think is se
He's used to having women swooning over him. 2 [ intransitive ] ( old-fashioned ) to become unconscious faint swoon noun [ singular ] : ( old-fashioned ) to go into a swoon
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
res on ate
BrE / reznet /
NAmE / reznet / verb verb forms word origin example bank ( formal ) 1 [ intransitive ] ( of a voice, an instrument, etc. ) to make a deep, clear sound that continues Her voice resonated through the theatre. 2 [ intransitive ] ( of a place ) to be filled with sound; to make a sound continue longer resound a resonating chamber ~ with sth The room resonated with the chatter of 100 people. 3 [ intransitive ] ~ (with sb/sth) to remind sb of sth; to be similar to what sb thinks or belie These issues resonated with the voters. His speech resonated with the fears and suspicions of his audience. resonate with sth ( literary ) to be full of a particular quality or feeling She makes a simple story resonate with complex themes and emotions.
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
hu mil ity
BrE / hjumlti / NAmE / hjumlti / noun word origin [ uncountable ] the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people; the quality of being humble Her first defeat was an early lesson in humility. an act of genuine humility
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
con trived
BrE / kntravd / NAmE / kntravd / adjective example bank ( disapproving ) planned in advance and not natural or genuine; written or arranged in a way that is not natural o a contrived situation
con trive
BrE / kntrav / NAmE / kntrav / verb verb forms word origin ( formal ) 1 ~ to do sth to manage to do sth despite difficulties She contrived to spend a couple of hours with him every Sunday evening. Somehow they contrived to live on her tiny income. 2 ~ sth to succeed in making sth happen despite difficulties I decided to contrive a meeting between the two of them. 3 ~ sth to think of or make sth, for example a plan or a machine, in a clever way They contrived a plan to defraud the company.
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BrE / kntravns / NAmE / kntravns / noun ( formal ) 1 [ countable , uncountable ] ( usually disapproving ) something that sb has done or w The film is spoilt by unrealistic contrivances of plot. The story is told with a complete absence of contrivance. Examinations are a contrivance to see how a student tackles new problems. 2 [ countable ] a clever or complicated device or tool made for a particular purpose His workshop was full of mechanical contrivances. 3 [ countable , uncountable ] a clever plan or trick; the act of using a clever plan or trick an ingenious contrivance to get her to sign the document without reading it
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
smirk
BrE / smk /
NAmE / smrk / verb verb forms word origin example bank example bank [ intransitive ] to smile in a silly or unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased with yourself, know sth that It was hard not to smirk. He smirked unpleasantly when we told him the bad news. smirk noun She had a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
af flu ent
BrE / flunt / NAmE / flunt / adjective word origin synonyms example bank ( formal ) having a lot of money and a good standard of living prosperous , wealthy affluent Western countries a very affluent neighbourhood af flu ence / BrE fluns ; NAmE fluns / noun [ uncountable ]
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
en am oured
( especially US en amored ) BrE / nmd / NAmE / nmrd / adjective 1 ( formal ) ( often in negative sentences ) liking sth a lot ~ of sth He was less than enamoured of the music. ~ with sth ( humorous ) I'm not exactly enamoured with the idea of spending a whole day wi
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
BrE / kmjunlzm / BrE / kmjnlzm / NAmE / kmjnlzm / noun [ uncountable ] 1 the fact of living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities 2 ( IndE ) a strong sense of belonging to a particular, especially religious, community, which can
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
per se cute
BrE / pskjut / NAmE / prskjut / verb verb forms word origin collocations example bank [ often passive ] 1 ~ sb (for sth) to treat sb in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, religion o Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. persecuted minorities 2 ~ sb to deliberately annoy sb all the time and make their life unpleasant harass Why are the media persecuting him like this? per se cu tion / BrE pskjun ; NAmE prskjun / noun [ uncountable , coun
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
am biva lent
BrE / mbvlnt /
NAmE / mbvlnt / adjective word origin example bank example bank ~ (about/towards sb/sth) having or showing both good and bad feelings about sb/sth She seems to feel ambivalent about her new job. He has an ambivalent attitude towards her. am biva lence / BrE mbvlns ; NAmE mbvlns / noun [ uncountable , sing ~ (about/towards sb/sth) There was ambivalence among church members about women be Many people feel some ambivalence towards television and its effect on our lives. am biva lent ly / BrE mbvlntli ; NAmE mbvlntli / adverb
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
BrE / demrfks / NAmE / demrfks / noun [ plural ] ( statistics ) data relating to the population and different groups within it the demographics of radio listeners
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dem og raphy
BrE / dmrfi / NAmE / dmrfi / noun word origin [ uncountable ] the changing number of births, deaths, diseases, etc. in a community over a period of time; the sc the social demography of Africa dem og raph er / BrE dmrf(r) ; NAmE dmrfr / noun
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im plode
BrE / mpld / NAmE / mplod / verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 [ intransitive ] to burst or explode and collapse into the centre 2 [ intransitive ] ( of an organization, a system, etc. ) to fail suddenly and completely im plo sion / BrE mpln ; NAmE mplon / noun [ countable , uncountable
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fall out
BrE / flat / NAmE / flat / noun [ uncountable ] 1 dangerous radioactive dust that is in the air after a nuclear explosion 2 the bad results of a situation or an action the political fallout of the current crisis
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
BrE / fmdbl / NAmE / frmdbl / BrE / fmdbl / NAmE / frmdbl / adjective word origin example bank if people, things or situations are formidable , you feel fear and/or respect for them, because th In debate he was a formidable opponent. Somehow the small but formidable woman fought her way through the crowd to reach her son. She has a formidable list of qualifications. The two players together make a formidable combination. The task was a formidable one. They had to overcome formidable obstacles. for mid ably / BrE fmdbli ; NAmE frmdbli / / BrE fmdbli ; NAmE frmdbli
He now has the chance to prove himself in a formidably difficult role. She's formidably intelligent.
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sane
BrE / sen / NAmE / sen / adjective word origin thesaurus example bank ( saner , san est ) 1 having a normal healthy mind; not mentally ill of sound mind No sane person would do that. Being able to get out of the city at the weekend keeps me sane . 2 sensible and reasonable the sane way to solve the problem insane see also sanity sane ly / BrE senli ; NAmE senli / adverb
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
cour tesy
noun, adjective
BrE / ktsi / NAmE / krtsi / noun word origin example bank ( pl. cour tesies ) 1 [ uncountable ] polite behaviour that shows respect for other people politeness I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff. We asked them, as a matter of courtesy, if we could photograph their house. It's only common courtesy to tell the neighbours that we'll be having a party (= the sort of b 2 [ countable , usually plural ] ( formal ) a polite thing that you say or do when you me an exchange of courtesies before the meeting courtesy of sb/sth 1 ( also by courtesy of sb/sth ) with the official permission of sb/sth and as a favour The pictures have been reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum.
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
BrE / lvd / NAmE / lvd / adjective word origin example bank 1 extremely angry furious Dad will be livid when he finds out. 2 dark bluish-grey in colour a livid bruise
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livid
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
dip lo mat ic
BrE / dplmtk / NAmE / dplmtk / adjective word origin 1 connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy ) a diplomatic crisis Attempts are being made to settle the dispute by diplomatic means.
to break off/establish/restore diplomatic relations with a country 2 having or showing skill in dealing with people in difficult situations tactful a diplomatic answer You could try being a little more diplomatic this time. dip lo mat ic al ly / BrE dplmtkli ; NAmE dplmtkli / adverb
The country remained diplomatically isolated. Why don't we take a break for coffee? she suggested diplomatically.
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
thun der
noun, verb
BrE / nd(r) / NAmE / ndr / noun word origin collocations example bank [ uncountable ] 1 the loud noise that you hear after a flash of lightning , during a storm the rumble of distant thunder a clap/crash/roll of thunder Thunder crashed in the sky. 2 a loud noise like thunder the thunder of hooves see sb has a face like thunder sb's face is like thunder at face n. , steal sb's verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 [ intransitive ] when it thunders , there is a loud noise in the sky during a storm 2 [ intransitive ] to make a very loud deep noise roar A voice thundered in my ear. thundering traffic 3 [ intransitive ] + adv./prep. to move very fast and with a loud deep noise roar Heavy trucks kept thundering past. 4 [ transitive ] ~ sth + adv./prep. ( informal ) to make sth move somewhere very fast Essien thundered the ball past the goalie. 5 [ intransitive , transitive ] ( literary ) to shout, complain, etc. very loudly and angrily ~ (sth) He thundered against the evils of television.
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
asy lum
BrE / salm / NAmE / salm / noun word origin example bank 1 ( also formal political asylum ) [ uncountable ] protection that a government gives to p to seek/apply for/be granted asylum There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed. 2 [ countable ] ( old use ) a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, o
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
asylum seeker
BrE NAmE noun collocations a person who has been forced to leave their own country because they are in danger and who arri
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adjective, noun BrE / wkd / NAmE / wkd / adjective word origin example bank ( wick ed er , wick ed est )
wicked
1 morally bad
evil a wicked deed stories about a wicked witch 2 ( informal ) slightly bad but in a way that is amusing and/or attractive
mischievous a wicked grin Jane has a wicked sense of humour. 3 dangerous, harmful or powerful He has a wicked punch. a wicked-looking knife 4 ( slang ) very good This song's wicked. wick ed ly / BrE wkdli ; NAmE wkdli / adverb
Martin grinned wickedly. a wickedly funny comedy a wickedly sharp blade wickedly tempting cakes wick ed ness / BrE wkdns ; NAmE wkdns / noun [ uncountable ]
noun word origin the wicked [ plural ] people who are wicked (there's) no peace/rest for the wicked ( usually humorous ) used when sb is compla
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OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
con spire
BrE / knspa(r) / NAmE / knspar / verb verb forms word origin ( formal ) 1 [ intransitive ] to secretly plan with other people to do sth illegal or harmful ~ (with sb) (against sb) They were accused of conspiring against the king. ~ (together) (to do sth) They deny conspiring together to smuggle drugs. ~ (with sb) (to do sth) She admitted conspiring with her lover to murder her husband. 2 [ intransitive ] ( of events ) to seem to work together to make sth bad happen ~ against sb/sth Circumstances had conspired against them. ~ to do sth Everything conspired to make her life a misery.
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can ard
BrE / knd / NAmE / knrd / BrE / knd / NAmE / knrd / noun word origin ( formal ) a false report or piece of news
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noun, verb BrE / fl / NAmE / fl / noun word origin example bank 1 ( BrE also silver foil ) [ uncountable ] metal made into very thin sheets that is used for c ( NAmE ) aluminum foil Cover the fish loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. see also tinfoil 2 [ uncountable ] paper that is covered in very thin sheets of metal The chocolates are individually wrapped in gold foil. 3 [ countable ] ~ (for sb/sth) a person or thing that contrasts with, and therefore emphasiz The pale walls provide a perfect foil for the furniture. His mellow guitar technique is the ideal foil for her soaring voice. 4 [ countable ] a long thin light sword used in the sport of fencing verb verb forms word origin example bank [ often passive ] to stop sth from happening, especially sth illegal; to prevent sb from doing sth thwart ~ sth to foil a plan/crime/plot Customs officials foiled an attempt to smuggle the paintings out of the country. ~ sb (in sth) They were foiled in their attempt to smuggle the paintings.
OxfordUniversityPress,2010
foil
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
thwart
BrE / wt / NAmE / wrt / verb verb forms word origin example bank [ often passive ] to prevent sb from doing what they want to do frustrate ~ sth to thwart sb's plans ~ sb (in sth) She was thwarted in her attempt to take control of the party.
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noun, verb BrE / les / NAmE / les / noun word origin example bank 1 [ uncountable ] a delicate material made from threads of cotton, silk, etc. that are twisted i a lace handkerchief a tablecloth edged with lace lace curtains see also lacy 2 [ countable ] = shoelace Your laces are undone. verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 [ intransitive , transitive ] to be fastened with laces ; to fasten sth with laces ~ (up) She was wearing a dress that laced up at the side. ~ sth (up) He was sitting on the bed lacing up his shoes. see also lace-up 2 [ transitive ] ~ sth to put a lace through the holes in a shoe, a boot, etc. related noun lace-up 3 [ transitive ] ~ sth (with sth) to add a small amount of alcohol, a drug, poison, etc. to a dr spike He had laced her milk with rum. 4 [ transitive ] ~ sth (with sth) to add a particular quality to a book, speech, etc Her conversation was laced with witty asides.
lace
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
mealy-mouthed
BrE NAmE adjective ( disapproving ) not willing or honest enough to speak in a direct or open way about what you really think mealy-mouthed politicians
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re past
BrE / rpst / NAmE / rpst / noun word origin ( old-fashioned or formal ) a meal
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broth
BrE / br / NAmE / br / NAmE / br / noun word origin example bank [ uncountable , countable ] thick soup made by boiling meat or fish and vegetables in water chicken broth see also Scotch broth , see too many cooks spoil the broth at cook
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n.
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
pol it ico
BrE / pltk / NAmE / pltko / noun word origin ( pl. pol it icos ) ( informal , disapproving ) a politician; a person who is active in politics
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adjective, noun, verb BrE / slk / NAmE / slk / adjective word origin example bank ( slack er , slack est ) 1 not stretched tight loose She was staring into space, her mouth slack. The rope suddenly went slack. slack muscles 2 ( of business ) not having many customers or sales; not busy a slack period Wednesdays are always slack. slack demand for beef 3 ( disapproving ) not putting enough care, attention or energy into sth and so not doing it wel He's been very slack in his work lately. Discipline in the classroom is very slack. We lost because of some slack defending on our part. slack ly / BrE slkli ; NAmE slkli / adverb Her arms hung slackly by her sides. slack ness / BrE slkns ; NAmE slkns / noun [ uncountable ] noun word origin [ uncountable ] see also slacks 1 the part of a rope, etc. that is hanging loosely There's too much slack in the tow rope. 2 people, money or space that should be used more fully in an organization There's very little slack in the budget. 3 very small pieces of coal
slack
cut sb some slack ( informal ) to be less critical of sb or less strict with them Hey, cut him some slack! He's doing his best! take up the slack
1 to improve the way money or people are used in an organization 2 to pull on a rope, etc. until it is tight
We took up the slack and then pulled as hard as we could. verb verb forms word origin [ intransitive ] to work less hard than you usually do or should do slack off (on sth) to do sth more slowly or with less energy than before He's gone from success to success in his movie career, and there's no sign of him slacking off.
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flip-flop
noun, verb
BrE NAmE noun word origin ( NAmE also thong ) a type of sandal (= open shoe) that has a piece of leather, etc. that goes between the big toe and t a pair of flip-flops verb verb forms word origin ( -pp- ) [ intransitive ] ~ (on sth) ( informal , especially NAmE ) to change your opinion about sth, especially when you then hold the opposite opinion The vice-president was accused of flip-flopping on several major issues.
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flip-flopper
BrE / flpflp(r) / NAmE / flpflpr / noun ( informal , especially NAmE ) a person, especially a politician, who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy He described his opponent as a flip-flopper.
Voters may not worry about consistency and may actually prefer a flip-flopper. see also U-turn
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flip pant
BrE / flpnt / NAmE / flpnt / ( also informal flip ) adjective word origin showing that you do not take sth as seriously as other people think you should a flippant answer/attitude Sorry, I didn't mean to sound flippant. You can't afford to be flippant about such matters. flip pancy / BrE flpnsi ; NAmE flpnsi / noun [ uncountable ]
His flippancy conceals a deep insecurity. flip pant ly / BrE flpntli ; NAmE flpntli / adverb
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
flip per
BrE / flp(r) / NAmE / flpr / noun [ usually plural ] 1 a flat part of the body of some sea animals such as seals and turtles , used for swimming 2 a long flat piece of rubber or plastic that you wear on your foot to help you swim more quickly
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flip side
BrE NAmE noun [ usually singular ] ~ (of/to sth) 1 different and less welcome aspects of an idea, argument or action It was only after they were married that she began to see the flip side of the fairy tale.
2 ( old-fashioned ) the side of a record that does not have the main song or piece of music on it
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BrE / kldhp(r) / NAmE / kldhpr / noun ( informal ) 1 [ usually plural ] a large heavy shoe 2 ( disapproving ) an awkward or clumsy person
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clod
BrE / kld / NAmE / kld / noun word origin 1 [ usually plural ] a lump of earth or clay clods of earth 2 ( informal ) a stupid person
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BrE / fi / NAmE / fi / adjective ( informal ) 1 ( especially BrE ) not in perfect condition; bad in some way That meat smells a bit iffy to me. 2 not certain The weather looks slightly iffy.
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iffy
OxfordAdvancedLearnersDictionary,8thedition
dither
verb, noun
BrE / d(r) / NAmE / dr / verb verb forms word origin [ intransitive ] to hesitate about what to do because you are unable to decide Stop dithering and get on with it. ~ over sth She was dithering over what to wear. noun word origin [ singular ] ( informal ) 1 a state of not being able to decide what you should do I'm in a dither about who to invite. 2 a state of excitement or worry Don't get yourself in a dither over everything.
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ob scure
NAmE / bskjr / adjective word origin example bank 1 not well known unknown an obscure German poet We went to see one of Shakespeare's more obscure plays. He was born around 1650 but his origins remain obscure. 2 difficult to understand I found her lecture very obscure. For some obscure reason , he failed to turn up. The meaning of his comment was obscure to everyone but himself. ob scure ly / BrE ; NAmE / adverb They were making her feel obscurely worried (= for reasons that were difficult to understand) . verb verb forms word origin example bank ~ sth to make it difficult to see, hear or understand sth
The view was obscured by fog. We mustn't let these minor details obscure the main issue. A shadow fell across her face, obscuring her expression.
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ob scur ity
BrE / bskjrti / NAmE / bskjrti / noun word origin example bank ( pl. ob scur ities ) 1 [ uncountable ] the state in which sb/sth is not well known or has been forgotten The actress was only 17 when she was plucked from obscurity and made a star. He spent most of his life working in obscurity. 2 [ uncountable , countable , usually plural ] the quality of being difficult to unde The course teaches students to avoid ambiguity and obscurity of expression. a speech full of obscurities 3 [ uncountable ] ( literary ) the state of being dark darkness
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noun, verb BrE / prp / NAmE / prp / noun word origin example bank 1 a piece of wood, metal, etc. used to support sth or keep it in position Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. a pit prop (= one used in a coal mine) 2 a person or thing that gives help or support to sb/sth that is weak After being the emotional prop he needed for so long, she dared not leave him. 3 [ usually plural ] a small object used by actors during the performance of a play or in a film He is responsible for all the stage props and lighting. 4 ( also prop forward ) ( in rugby ) a player on either side of the front row of a scrum give props to sb ( informal ) used to say that people should appreciate what sb has done be I gotta give props to the bass player.
prop
Please give props to the researchers for all their work. Props here means proper respect or recognition. verb verb forms word origin example bank ( -pp- ) to support an object by leaning it against sth, or putting sth under it etc; to support a person in th ~ sth/sb/yourself (up) (against sth) He propped his bike against the wall. She propped herself up on one elbow. He lay propped against the pillows. ~ sth + adj. The door was propped open. prop sth up
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BrE / trit(r) / NAmE / tritr / noun word origin the driver of a chariot
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ex em plar
BrE / zempl(r) / NAmE / zemplr / noun word origin ( formal ) a person or thing that is a good or typical example of sth model Her career was an exemplar of individual success at a time of great economic hardship.
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verb, noun BrE / slk / NAmE / slk / verb verb forms word origin example bank [ intransitive ] ( disapproving ) to look angry and refuse to speak or smile because you want people to know that you are upset ab He went off to sulk in his room. noun word origin example bank ( BrE also the sulks [ plural ] ) a period of not speaking and being bad-tempered because you are angry about sth Jo was in a sulk upstairs. to have the sulks
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sulk
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BrE / slki / NAmE / slki / adjective word origin ( disapproving ) bad-tempered or not speaking because you are angry about sth Sarah had looked sulky all morning. a sulky child He lapsed into a sulky silence. sulk ily / BrE slkli ; NAmE slkli / adverb
sulky
Tommy went sulkily off to bed. sulki ness / BrE slkins ; NAmE slkins / noun [ uncountable ]
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cor nu co pia
noun word origin 1 ( also horn of plenty ) a decorative object shaped like an animal's horn, shown in art as full
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noun, verb BrE / rft / NAmE / rft / noun word origin example bank 1 [ countable ] a piece cut from a living plant and fixed in a cut made in another plant, so that A healthy shoot should form a strong graft. 2 [ countable ] a piece of skin, bone, etc. removed from a living body and placed in another pa a skin graft 3 [ uncountable ] ( BrE , informal ) hard work Their success was the result of years of hard graft . 4 [ uncountable ] ( especially NAmE ) the use of illegal or unfair methods, especially briber He promised an end to graft and corruption in public life. verb verb forms word origin 1 [ transitive ] ~ sth (onto/to/into sth) | ~ sth (on) (from sth) to take a piece of skin, b newly grafted tissue New skin had to be grafted on from his back. 2 [ transitive ] ~ sth (onto sth) to cut a piece from a living plant and attach it to another pla 3 [ transitive ] ~ sth (onto sth) to make one idea, system, etc. become part of another one Old values are being grafted onto a new social class. 4 [ intransitive ] ( BrE , informal ) to work hard She's been grafting all day.
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graft
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folly
BrE / fli / NAmE / fli / noun word origin example bank ( pl. follies ) 1 [ uncountable , countable ] a lack of good judgement; the fact of doing sth stupid; an a stupidity an act of sheer folly Giving up a secure job seems to be the height of folly. ~ (to do sth) It would be folly to turn the offer down. the follies of youth His idealism had been soured by the varied spectacle of human folly. 2 [ countable ] a building that has no practical purpose but was built in the past for decoratio
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shoo-in
BrE NAmE noun word origin ~ (for sth) | ~ (to do sth) ( NAmE , informal ) a person or team that will win easily He's a shoo-in for the nomination.
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graf fiti
BrE / rfiti / NAmE / rfiti / noun word origin example bank [ uncountable , plural ] drawings or writing on a wall, etc. in a public place The subway was covered in graffiti. Someone had scrawled graffiti all over the school walls.
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amid
BrE / md / NAmE / md / ( also mid , amidst / BrE mdst ; NAmE mdst / ) preposition word origin ( formal ) 1 in the middle of or during sth, especially sth that causes excitement or fear He finished his speech amid tremendous applause. The firm collapsed amid allegations of fraud. 2 surrounded by sth The hotel was in a beautiful position amid lemon groves.
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amid ships
BrE / mdps / NAmE / mdps / adverb word origin ( technical ) in or near the middle part of a ship
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splen did
adjective, exclamation
BrE / splendd / NAmE / splendd / adjective word origin example bank ( especially BrE ) 1 ( old-fashioned ) excellent; very good great What a splendid idea! We've all had a splendid time. It will be a splendid opportunity to practise your Spanish. The meal was simply splendid. 2 very impressive; very beautiful
splendid scenery The hotel stands in splendid isolation , surrounded by moorland. splen did ly / BrE splenddli ; NAmE splenddli / adverb
You all played splendidly. The guests were splendidly dressed. exclamation word origin ( old-fashioned , especially BrE ) used to show that you approve of sth, or are pleased You're both coming? Splendid!
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quoth
BrE / kw / NAmE / kwo / verb word origin + speech ( old use or humorous ) used meaning said before I, he or she
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scep tical
NAmE / skeptkl / adjective example bank ~ (about/of sth) having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that sth will happen I am sceptical about his chances of winning. The public remain sceptical of these claims. She looked highly sceptical. scep tic al ly ( BrE ) ( NAmE skep tic al ly ) / BrE skeptkli ; NAmE skeptkli / adve
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scep ti cism
( BrE )
NAmE / skeptszm / noun thesaurus example bank [ uncountable , singular ] an attitude of doubting that claims or statements are true or that sth will happen Such claims should be regarded with a certain amount of scepticism. Other scientists have expressed scepticism about these results.
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scep tic
NAmE / skeptk / noun word origin example bank a person who usually doubts that claims or statements are true, especially those that other people I am a born sceptic. He was unable to convince the sceptics in the audience. see also Euro-sceptic
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en tou rage
BrE / ntur / NAmE / ntur / noun word origin [ countable + singular or plural verb ] a group of people who travel with an important person the President and members of his immediate entourage an entourage of adoring fans
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alas
BrE / ls / NAmE / ls / exclamation word origin ( old use or literary ) used to show you are sad or sorry For many people, alas, hunger is part of everyday life.
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ig noble
BrE / nbl / NAmE / nobl / adjective word origin example bank ( formal ) not good or honest; that should make you feel shame base ignoble thoughts an ignoble person noble
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ig no mini ous
BrE / nmnis / NAmE / nmnis / adjective word origin ( formal ) that makes, or should make, you feel ashamed disgraceful , humiliating an ignominious defeat He made one mistake and his career came to an ignominious end. ig no mini ous ly / BrE nmnisli ; NAmE nmnisli / adverb
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ig no mini ous
BrE / nmnis / NAmE / nmnis / adjective word origin ( formal ) that makes, or should make, you feel ashamed disgraceful , humiliating an ignominious defeat He made one mistake and his career came to an ignominious end. ig no mini ous ly / BrE nmnisli ; NAmE nmnisli / adverb
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wretch ed
BrE / retd / NAmE / retd / adjective word origin example bank 1 ( of a person ) feeling ill/sick or unhappy You look wretchedwhat's wrong? I felt wretched about the way things had turned out. 2 ( formal ) extremely bad or unpleasant awful She had a wretched time of it at school. The animals are kept in the most wretched conditions. 3 ( formal ) making you feel sympathy or pity pitiful She finally agreed to have the wretched animal put down. 4 [ only before noun ] ( informal ) used to show that you think that sb/sth is extremely an Is it that wretched woman again? wretch ed ly / BrE retdli ; NAmE retdli / adverb
I'm so sorry, she said wretchedly. wretch ed ness / BrE retdns ; NAmE retdns / noun [ uncountable ]
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BrE / lmbr / NAmE / lmbr / adjective moving in a slow, heavy and awkward way a lumbering dinosaur
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lum ber
NAmE / lmbr / noun word origin [ uncountable ] 1 ( especially NAmE ) = timber a lumber mill 2 ( BrE ) pieces of furniture, and other large objects that you do not use any more a lumber room (= for storing lumber in) verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 [ intransitive ] + adv./prep. to move in a slow, heavy and awkward way A family of elephants lumbered by. The huge convoy of trucks lumbered out of the city. 2 [ transitive , usually passive ] ~ sb (with sb/sth) ( informal ) to give sb a respons When our parents went out, my sister got lumbered with me for the evening. She might say Yes. Then you'd be lumbered.
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lib eral
1 willing to understand and respect other people's behaviour, opinions, etc, especially when they
liberal attitudes/views/opinions
politics
2 wanting or allowing a lot of political and economic freedom and supporting gradual social, pol Some politicians want more liberal trade relations with Europe. liberal democracy liberal theories a liberal politician 3 Liberal connected with the British Liberal Party in the past, or of a Liberal Party in another co
generous
4 ~ (with sth) generous; given in large amounts lavish She is very liberal with her money. I think Sam is too liberal with his criticism (= he criticizes people too much) . Divorced fathers should have liberal access to their children. We ate cake with liberal amounts of whipped cream.
education
5 concerned with increasing sb's general knowledge and experience rather than particular skills
a liberal education
not exact
Apply the cream liberally. The word original is liberally interpreted in copyright law. noun word origin
sb who respects others
1 a person who understands and respects other people's opinions and behaviour, especially whe
He liked to think of himself as a liberal.
politics
2 a person who supports political, social and religious change Reform is popular with middle-class liberals. 3 Liberal ( politics ) a member of the British Liberal Party in the past, or of a Liberal Party in a
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liberal arts
BrE NAmE noun word origin [ plural ] ( especially NAmE ) subjects of study that develop students' general knowledge and ability to think, rather than their a liberal arts college
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Liberal Democrat
BrE NAmE noun ( abbr. Lib Dem ) a member or supporter of the Liberal Democrats
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BrE NAmE noun culture [ plural ] ( abbr. Lib Dems ) one of the main British political parties, in favour of some political and social change, but not ext compare the Conservative Party , the Labour Party
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lib er al ism
BrE / lbrlzm / NAmE / lbrlzm / noun [ uncountable ] liberal opinions and beliefs, especially in politics
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lib er al ity
BrE / lbrlti / NAmE / lbrlti / noun word origin [ uncountable ] ( formal ) 1 respect for political, religious or moral views, even if you do not agree with them She is known for the liberality of her views. 2 the quality of being generous
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lib er al ize
( BrE also
-ise
BrE / lbrlaz / NAmE / lbrlaz / verb verb forms ~ sth to make sth such as a law or a political or religious system less strict lib er al ization , -isa tion / BrE lbrlazen ; NAmE lbrlzen / noun [ uncou
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BrE NAmE ( also the Liberals ) a former British political party. It developed in the mid 19th century from the Whigs , and under Liberal noun a member or supporter of the Liberal Party.
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lib er ate
verb verb forms word origin example bank 1 ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) to free a country or a person from the control of sb else The city was liberated by the advancing army. 2 ~ sb (from sth) to free sb from sth that restricts their enjoyment of life Writing poetry liberated her from the routine of everyday life. lib er ation / BrE lbren ; NAmE lbren / noun [ uncountable , singular ]
a war of liberation liberation from poverty women's liberation lib er ator / BrE lbret(r) ; NAmE lbretr / noun
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lib er ated
BrE / lbretd / NAmE / lbretd / adjective free from the restrictions of traditional ideas about social and sexual behaviour a liberated woman
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verb, noun BrE / rt / NAmE / rt / verb verb forms word origin example bank ( -tt- ) [ intransitive , transitive ] to decay, or make sth decay, naturally and gradually decompose rotting leaves ~ (away) The window frame had rotted away completely. ( figurative ) prisoners thrown in jail and left to rot ~ sth Too much sugar will rot your teeth. see also rotten noun
rot
word origin [ uncountable ] 1 the process or state of decaying and falling apart The wood must not get damp as rot can quickly result. see also dry rot , wet rot 2 the rot used to describe the fact that a situation is getting worse The rot set in last year when they reorganized the department. The team should manage to stop the rot if they play well this week. 3 ( old-fashioned , BrE ) nonsense; silly things that sb says rubbish Don't talk such rot!
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food/flour/coffee
verb, noun BrE / rand / NAmE / rand / verb verb forms word origin example bank ( ground , ground / BrE rand ; NAmE rand / )
grind
1 [ transitive ] ~ sth (down/up) | ~ sth (to/into sth) to break or crush sth into very smal
to grind coffee/corn The animal has teeth that grind its food into a pulp. see also ground adj. 2 [ transitive ] ~ sth to produce sth such as flour by crushing The flour is ground using traditional methods. 3 [ transitive ] ~ sth ( NAmE ) = mince
make sharp/smooth
4 [ transitive ] ~ sth to make sth sharp or smooth by rubbing it against a hard surface
a special stone for grinding knives
press into surface
5 [ transitive ] to press or rub sth into a surface ~ sth into sth He ground his cigarette into the ashtray. ~ sth in The dirt on her hands was ground in.
rub together
6 [ intransitive , transitive ] to rub together, or to make hard objects rub together, often ~ (together) Parts of the machine were grinding together noisily.
~ sth (together) She grinds her teeth when she is asleep. He ground the gears on the car.
machine
1 [ singular ] ( informal ) an activity that is tiring or boring and takes a lot of time
the daily grind of family life It's a long grind to the top of that particular profession.
of machines
3 ( US ) ( BrE swot ) [ countable ] ( informal ) a person who spends too much time studying
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co hort
BrE / kht / NAmE / kohrt / noun word origin example bank [ countable + singular or plural verb ] 1 ( technical ) a group of people who share a common feature or aspect of behaviour the 1999 birth cohort (= all those born in 1999) 2 ( disapproving ) a member of a group of people who support another person Robinson and his cohorts were soon ejected from the hall.
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an arch ist
BrE / nkst / NAmE / nrkst / noun word origin a person who believes that laws and governments are not necessary an arch is tic / BrE nkstk ; NAmE nrkstk / adjective
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an archy
BrE / nki / NAmE / nrki / noun word origin example bank [ uncountable ] a situation in a country, an organization, etc. in which there is no government, order or control The overthrow of the military regime was followed by a period of anarchy. There was complete anarchy in the classroom when their usual teacher was away. an arch ic / BrE nkk ; NAmE nrkk / ( also less frequent an arch ic al / BrE
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fount
BrE / fant / NAmE / fant / noun word origin ~ (of sth) ( literary or humorous ) the place where sth important comes from source She treats him as if he were the fount of all knowledge .
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un abashed
BrE / nbt / NAmE / nbt / adjective example bank not ashamed, embarrassed or affected by people's disapproval, when other people would be He was unabashed by the reaction he had caused. She watched them kissing with unabashed interest. He appeared unabashed by all the media attention. abashed un abashed ly / BrE nbdli ; NAmE nbdli / adverb
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be stir
BrE / bst(r) / NAmE / bstr / verb verb forms ( -rr- ) ~ yourself ( formal or humorous ) to start doing things after a period during which you have been doing nothing rouse He needs to bestir himself and start looking for a job.
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dredge
BrE / dred / NAmE / dred /
verb verb forms word origin 1 [ transitive , intransitive ] ~ (sth) (for sth) to remove mud, stones, etc. from the bott They're dredging the harbour so that larger ships can use it. They dredge the bay for gravel. 2 [ transitive ] ~ sth (up) (from sth) to bring sth up from the bottom of a river, etc. using a waste dredged (up) from the seabed 3 [ transitive ] ~ sth in/with sth to cover food lightly with sugar, flour, etc Dredge the top of the cake with icing sugar. dredge sth up
1 ( usually disapproving ) to mention sth that has been forgotten, especially sth unpleasant or The papers keep trying to dredge up details of his past love life. 2 to manage to remember sth, especially sth that happened a long time ago Now she was dredging up memories from the depths of her mind.
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BrE / dred(r) / NAmE / dredr / noun a boat or machine that is used to clear mud, etc. from the bottom of a river, or to make the river w
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dredger
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noun, verb BrE / wd / NAmE / wd / noun word origin example bank 1 a thick pile of pieces of paper, paper money, etc. folded or rolled together He pulled a thick wad of 10 notes out of his pocket. ( BrE , slang ) They had a wad/wads of money (= a large amount) . She came in with tears streaming down her face, clutching a wad of tissues. 2 a mass of soft material, used for blocking sth or keeping sth in place The nurse used a wad of cotton wool to stop the bleeding. verb verb forms
wad
word origin ( -dd- ) 1 ~ sth (up) ( especially NAmE ) to fold or press sth into a tight wad 2 ~ sth to fill sth with soft material for warmth or protection
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BrE / kntrdkn / NAmE / kntrdkn / noun word origin example bank 1 [ countable , uncountable ] ~ (between A and B) a lack of agreement between facts There is a contradiction between the two sets of figures. His public speeches are in direct contradiction to his personal lifestyle. How can we resolve this apparent contradiction? 2 [ uncountable , countable ] the act of saying that sth that sb else has said is wrong or n I think I can say, without fear of contradiction , that Now you say you both left at tenthat's a contradiction of your last statement. a contradiction in terms a statement containing two words that contradict each other's meaning A nomad settlement is a contradiction in terms.
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BrE / kntrdkt / NAmE / kntrdkt / verb verb forms word origin language bank example bank 1 to say that sth that sb else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true ~ sth All evening her husband contradicted everything she said. ~ sb/yourself You've just contradicted yourself (= said the opposite of what you said befo ~ (sb) + speech No, it's not, she contradicted (him). 2 ~ sth | ~ each other ( of statements or pieces of evidence ) to be so different from each othe The two stories contradict each other.
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BrE / kntrdktri / NAmE / kntrdktri / adjective word origin example bank containing or showing a contradiction conflicting We are faced with two apparently contradictory statements. The advice I received was often contradictory.
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BrE / kntrdstkn / NAmE / kntrdstkn / noun in contradistinction to sth/sb ( formal ) in contrast with sth/sb Lionesses, in contradistinction to the females of other animals, are the hunters.
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BrE / kntrfktv / NAmE / kntrfktv / adjective ( grammar ) ( of verbs ) talking about sth that is not true. Pretend and wish are contrafactive verbs. compare factive , non-factive
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BrE / kntrfl / NAmE / kntrflo / noun ( BrE ) a system that is used when one half of a large road is closed for repairs, and the traffic going in bo A contraflow system is in operation on this section of the motorway.
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BrE / kntrndket / NAmE / kntrndket / verb verb forms ~ sth ( medical ) if a drug or treatment is contraindicated , there is a medical reason why it should not be used i This drug is contraindicated in patients with asthma.
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token ism
BrE / tknzm / NAmE / toknzm / noun [ uncountable ] ( disapproving ) the fact of doing sth only in order to do what the law requires or to satisfy a particular group of pe Appointing one woman to the otherwise all-male staff could look like tokenism.
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BrE / stdi / NAmE / strdi / adjective word origin ( stur dier , stur di est ) 1 ( of an object ) strong and not easily damaged robust a sturdy pair of boots
sturdy
a sturdy table The vehicle is sturdy enough to withstand rough terrain. 2 ( of people and animals, or their bodies ) physically strong and healthy a man of sturdy build sturdy legs a sturdy breed of cattle 3 not easily influenced or changed by other people firm , determined The village has always maintained a sturdy independence. a sturdy defence of the government's position stur dily / BrE stdli ; NAmE strdli / adverb
The boat was sturdily made. a sturdily built young man a sturdily independent community stur di ness / BrE stdins ; NAmE strdins / noun [ uncountable ]
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BrE / mnstrsti / NAmE / mnstrsti / noun word origin ( pl. mon stros ities ) something that is very large and very ugly, especially a building eyesore a concrete monstrosity
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pro voke
BrE / prvk / NAmE / prvok / verb verb forms word origin thesaurus example bank 1 ~ sth to cause a particular reaction or have a particular effect The announcement provoked a storm of protest.
The article was intended to provoke discussion. Dairy products may provoke allergic reactions in some people. 2 ~ sb (into sth/into doing sth) | ~ sb to do sth to say or do sth that you know will annoy goad The lawyer claimed his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant. Be careful what you sayhe's easily provoked.
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BrE / kntenn / NAmE / kntenn / noun word origin example bank ( formal ) 1 [ uncountable ] angry disagreement between people dispute One area of contention is the availability of nursery care. a point of contention 2 [ countable ] ~ (that) a belief or an opinion that you express, especially in an argument It is our client's contention that the fire was an accident. I would reject that contention. in contention (for sth) with a chance of winning sth Only three teams are now in contention for the title. out of contention (for sth) without a chance of winning sth more at bone of contention at bone
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n.
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cer tain ly
BrE / stnli / NAmE / srtnli / adverb language bank which word? example bank 1 without doubt
definitely Without treatment, she will almost certainly die. Certainly, the early years are crucial to a child's development. I'm certainly never going there again. She was certainly attractive but you couldn't call her beautiful. 2 ( used in answer to questions ) of course May I see your passport, Mr Scott? Certainly. Do you think all this money will change your life? Certainly not.
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ex chequer
BrE / kstek(r) / NAmE / kstekr / noun word origin [ singular ] 1 ( often the Exchequer ) (in Britain) the government department that controls public mone treasury see also Chancellor of the Exchequer 2 the public or national supply of money This resulted in a considerable loss to the exchequer.
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de vise
BrE / dvaz / NAmE / dvaz / verb verb forms word origin example bank ~ sth to invent sth new or a new way of doing sth think up A new system has been devised to control traffic in the city.
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spurt
verb, noun
BrE / spt / NAmE / sprt / verb verb forms word origin 1 [ intransitive , transitive ] ( of liquid or flames ) to burst or pour out suddenly; to prod ~ (from sth) Blood was spurting from her nose. ~ out (of/from sth) Red and yellow flames spurted out of the fire. ~ sth Her nose was spurting blood. ~ sth + adv./prep. The volcano spurted clouds of steam and ash high into the air. 2 [ intransitive ] + adv./prep. to increase your speed for a short time to get somewhere fast She spurted past me to get to the line first. noun word origin example bank 1 an amount of liquid or flames that comes out of somewhere with great force a great spurt of blood 2 a sudden increase in speed, effort, activity or emotion for a short period of time You'd better put on a spurt (= hurry up) if you want to finish that work today. Babies get very hungry during growth spurts. a sudden spurt of anger in spurts in short periods of great activity, powerful movement, etc, rather than in a steady, continuous wa The water came out of the tap in spurts.
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lam ented
BrE / lmentd / NAmE / lmentd / adjective ( formal or humorous ) ( of sb/sth that has died or disappeared ) missed very much her late lamented husband the last edition of the much lamented newspaper
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bur geon
BrE / bdn /
NAmE / brdn / verb verb forms word origin example bank [ intransitive ] ( formal ) to begin to grow or develop rapidly bur geon ing / BrE bdn ; NAmE brdn / adjective
Letter Word
PartofSpeech
e to buy sth
eves
or realistic
ith them.
or political beliefs
ntable ]
/ adverb
thunder at steal
v.
rink
ll enough
m/movie
ecause it is good
he same way
bout sth
t it grows there; the process or result of doing this art of the body which has been damaged; the process or r
one, etc. from one part of the body and attach it to a dam
ant
erb
e believe in
noying
sibility, etc, that they do not want and that they cannot ge
ountry
another country
technical skills
treme
ntable ]
embarrassing
wider
in a particular situation
ey
ter
ay
Meaning
us
rtificial
y difficult
minium foil
maged part
et rid of
e the party of social and political reform . It lost support after the rise of the Labour Party in the
achine
Synonyms
Examples
Date
12Sep11
12Sep11
y. In the elections of 1983 and 1987 the Liberals achieved some success by joining with the Soc
cial Democratic Party to form the Alliance, and the two parties were officially united in 1988 .
arty to form the Alliance, and the two parties were official