dab v. (d; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at one's eyes with a handkerchief) dabble v. (d; intr.) to ~ at, in (to ~ in politics; to ~ at painting) dagger n. 1. to draw a ~ 2. to plunge a ~ into(smb.) 3. (misc.) to look ~s at ('to look angrily at') daisy n. (misc.) as fresh as a ~ dally v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to be slow') to ~ over (to ~ over one's work) 2. (d; intr.) ('to play') to ~ with(to ~ with smb.'s affections) dam n. 1. to build, construct, erect a ~ 2. a hydroelectric; storage ~ 3. a ~ bursts damage I n. ['harm'] 1. to cause, do ~ to; to inflict ~ on 2. to suffer, sustain ~ 3. to repair, undo ~ 4.grave, great, extensive, irreparable, serious, severe; lasting, permanent; light, slight; wide-spread ~ 5. fire; flood; material; property; structural ~ 6. brain ~ (irreversible brain ~) 7. ~ from (~ from the fire) 8. ~ to (was there much ~ to the car? the ~ done to the house was extensive; grave ~ to one's reputation) II v. 1. to ~ badly 2. easily ~d damages n. ['compensation'] 1. to award ~ (the court awarded ~) 2. to claim; sue for ~ 3. to pay; receive, recover ~ 4. compensatory; exemplary, punitive; nominal ~ 5. ~ for damn n. (colloq.) ['small amount'] not to give a(tinker's) ~ (I don't give a ~ for their opinions!) damnedest, damndest n. (colloq.) ['utmost'] to do, try one's ~ damper n. ['deadening influence'] to put a ~ on dance I n. 1. to do, perform a ~ 2. to have a ~ with 3. to sit out a ~ 4. (the) classical ~; modern ~ 5. a barn; belly; circle, round; folk; formal; square; sword; tap; war ~ 6. to go to a ~ 7. at a ~(they met at a ~) 8. (misc.) (BE) to lead smb. a merry ~ (AE has to lead smb. a merry chase) II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to the music of a rock group) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with 3. (misc.)to ~ for, with joy dancer n. a ballet; ballroom; belly; folk; tap; taxi dancing n. aerobic; ballroom, social; belly; break; folk; tap ~ dander n. ['temper'] to get one's ~ up danger n. 1. to constitute, represent; create (a) ~2. to run a ~ 3. to expose to ~ 4. to face; sense (a)~ 5. to avert (a) ~ 6. (a) deadly, grave, mortal; imminent, impending ~ 7. (legal) a clear and present ~ 8. a ~ to (a ~ to national security) 9. a ~ that + clause (there was a ~ that fire would breakout) 10. in ~ (our lives were in ~; the building is in imminent ~ of collapsing) 11. out of ~ dangerous adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to play in the street) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that so many people have guns) dangle v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ from (his keys ~d from a chain) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ before, in front of (to ~ bait in front of smb.) dare I n. to take a ~ II v. 1. (E) I don't ~ to protest 2. (F) I ~ not protest (formal); I don't ~ protest; she didn't ~ open her mouth; how ~ you speak to me like that?3. (H) he ~d me to sue him USAGE NOTE: Some purists believe that / don't dare protest is an incorrect blend of I don't dare to protest and /dare not protest. daring adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to attempt the climb at night) dark I adj. 1. pitch ('completely') ~ 2. (misc.) as ~ as night ('very dark'); to grow ~ II n. ['darkness'] 1. after ~ 2. in the ~ (to grope for the door in the ~) ['ignorance'] 3. to keep smb. in the ~ darkness n. 1. complete, pitch, total ~ 2. ~ falls darn n. (colloq.) ['small amount'] not to give a ~(I don't give a ~!) dart v. l.(D;tr.) to ~ at (to ~ a glance at smb.)2.(P; intr.) the children ~ed into the room; the hare ~ed along the edge of the clearing darts n. to play ~ USAGE NOTE: A singular verb is used with this noun-- darts is a popular game. dash I n. ['rush'] 1. to make a ~ for (to make a ~ for safety) 2. a frantic, mad ~ II v. (P; intr.) when the rain started, we ~ed for cover data n. 1. to feed in; process; retrieve; store ~ 2.to cite; evaluate; gather ~ 3. biographical; raw; scientific; statistical ~ USAGE NOTE: Purists insist on the data are available and consider the data is available to be incorrect. date I n. ['time'] 1. to fix, set a ~ 2. to bring(smb.) up to ~ 3. to bear a ~ (the letter bears no ~) 4. a significant ~ (in history) 5. a cut-off; due; target ~ 6. at a certain ~ (the meeting will be held at a later ~; at a future ~) 7. on a certain ~ (on this ~ in history) 8. to ~ (how many have returned their invitations to ~?) ['rendezvous'] 9. to have; make a ~ 10. to go out on a ~ 11. to break a ~ 12.a blind; double ~ 13. a ~ with ['misc.'] 14. out of ~; to go out of ~; up to ~; to bring a dictionary up to ~ II v. (d; intr.) to ~ from (this custom ~s from the seventeenth century) date back v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (the temple ~s back to the tenth century) dating n. carbon ~ daughter n. 1. to adopt a ~ 2. to marry off a ~ 3.an only ~ 4. an adopted; foster ~; stepdaughter 5.a ~ to (she was like a ~ to me) dawdle v. (D; intr.) ('to waste time') to ~ over dawn n. 1. (formal) ~ breaks 2. at (the crack of) ~ dawn on v. 1. (L) it ~ed on me that the following day would be her birthday 2. (Q) it finally ~ed onus what must be done day n. 1. a chilly, cool; clear, nice; cloudy; cold; foggy; gloomy; hot, stifling; rainy; sunny; warm ~ 2. an eventful, field, memorable, red-letter ~ (we had a field ~ criticizing their report) 3. a holy; opening; visiting; wedding; working ~ (opening ~ of the baseball season) 4. ~ breaks, dawns (poetic) 5. by ~ (London by ~) 6. by the ~ (to be paid by the ~) 7. for a ~ (we are going to town for the ~) 8. in a ~ (we cannot do the whole job in a ~; back in the old ~s) 9. on a certain ~ (on the following ~; on New Year's Day) 10. within several ~s (within ten ~s) 11. (misc.) ~ after ~; ~ and night ('all the time'); D-day ('a day on which a significant event is scheduled to begin'); to take a ~ off; I rue the ~ ('I wish that that day had never been'); from ~ to ~; ~ in, ~ out; to carry the ~('to be victorious'); the other ~ ('recently'); his ~s are numbered ('he will die soon'); the dog ~s ('the hot days of July and August'); halcyon ~s; the good old ~s; it was a big ('successful') ~ for our team; to take one ~ at a time; judgment ~; on the ~ (BE; colloq.) ('when the time comes') USAGE NOTE: The collocation by day contrasts with by night (London by day is very different from London by night), (see the Usage Note for night) daybreak n. at ~ daydream v. (D; intr.) to ~ about daylight n. in broad ~ daylights n. (colloq.) ['insides'] 1. to beat, wallop the ~ out of smb. ['wits'] 2. to scare the (living) ~ out of smb. daze n. in a ~ (he's always in a ~) dazed adj. ~ at (~ at the sight of the carnage) dead I adj. ['having died'] 1. to drop ~ (of a heart attack) 2. (misc.) to be left for ~; to rise from the ~; the quick and the ~; to play ~ ['unresponsive'] 3. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (he was ~ to the world) II n. ['period of greatest quiet'] in the ~ of the night dead horse n. (colloq.) ['a topic that has been exhausted'] to beat a ~ deadline n. 1. to establish, set a ~ 2. to meet a ~3. to extend a ~ 4. to miss a ~ 5. to work against a ~ deadlock n. 1. to reach a ~ 2. to break a ~ dead set I adj. ['resolutely'] ~ against II n. ['attack'] to make a ~ at deaf adj. 1. stone ~ 2. (cannot stand alone) ~ to(they were ~ to all our pleas) deafness n. acquired; congenital ~ deal I n. ['transaction'] 1. to close, wrap up (colloq.); do (BE), make (AE), strike a ~ with (we closed the ~ with them yesterday) ['treatment'] 2.a fair, square; raw (colloq.), rotten (colloq.),rough (colloq.) ~ (she got a raw ~ from her boss)['arrangement'] 3. a package ~ ['amount'] 4. a good, great ~ ['misc.'] 5. (colloq.) a big ~ ('an impressive matter'); it means a great ~ to her ('it is very important to her') II v. l. (formal)(A) he dealt a death blow to the enemy; or: he dealt the enemy a deathblow 2.(d; intr.) to ~ in (they ~ in furs) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with (we ~ with many customers; to ~ with complaints; I'll ~ with the children later; this chapter ~s with the problem of inflation) dealer n. 1. an art; book; car; junk ~ 2. a ~ in (a ~ in rare books) dealership n. an automobile (AE) ~ dealings n. ['business']!, straight; underhanded ~ 2. ~ with (I have had ~ with them) dear adj. 1. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (this project is ~ to my heart) 2. (misc.) to hold smb. ~ death n. 1. to cause ~ 2. to face ~; to meet one's ~ 3. to feign ~ 4. to mourn smb.'s ~ 5. a certain, sure; heroine's, hero's; lingering; living; natural; painful; sudden, unexpected; untimely; violent ~(to die a natural ~; to meet a violent ~) 6. brain ~7. cot (BE), crib (AE) ~ 8. ~ by (~ by drowning; fire; firing squad; hanging; lethal injection) 9. at one's ~ (at her ~ the estate was broken up) 10. to ~ (beaten; bored; burnt; frozen; put; shot; starved to ~) 11. (misc.) a fight to the ~; a ~ in the family; (sports) sudden ~ ('an overtime period ending when the first point or goal is scored'); ~ to tyrants!; in ~ as in life; till ~ do us part deathblow n. to deal a ~ (they dealt the enemy a ~) death knell n. to sound the ~ deathwatch n. to maintain a ~ debar v. (formal) (d; tr.) to ~ from debate I n. 1. to conduct, hold; moderate a ~ 2.an acrimonious, bitter; heated, lively, sharp, spirited ~ 3. a campaign; parliamentary ~ 4. a ~ about; with II v. 1. to ~ heatedly, hotly 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about (to ~ about disarmament) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ with 4. (Q) we ~d what to do debit v. ('to charge') 1. (D; tr.) to ~ against, to (to ~ a purchase against smb.'s account; to ~ an amount to smb.'s account) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with (~ her account with the entire amount) debris n. to clear ~ debt n. 1. to contract, incur, run up a ~; to get into, go into ~ 2. to collect, recover a ~ 3. to discharge, pay (off), settle; wipe out; write off a ~ 4.to cancel; repudiate a ~ 5. a bad; outstanding, unsettled ~ 6. a business; gambling; personal, private ~; the national ~ 7. in ~ for; to (he is in ~ tome for a large sum; deeply in ~) 8. out of ~ (to stay out of ~) 9. (misc.) a ~ of honor debut n. 1. to make one's ~ 2. a ~ as (to make one's ~ as an actor) decay n. 1. to fall into ~ 2. tooth ~ 3. radioactive ~ 4. moral ~ deceit n. 1. to practice ~ 2. to expose ~ deceitful adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to say such things behind her back) deceive v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into doing smt.) decency n. 1. common ~ 2. the ~ to + inf. (he didn't even have the ~ to call) 3. (misc.) to observe the ~cies; a spark of ~ decent adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of her to help us) deception n. 1. to practice ~ 2. (a) deliberate ~ decide v. 1. to ~ unanimously 2. (d; intr.) ('to make a decision') to ~ against (to ~ against buying a car) 3. (d; intr.) ('to choose') to ~ between (it was difficult to ~ between the two) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to find for') (the jury ~d for the plaintiff) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to choose in favor of) (we have ~d on a new computer) 6. (E) ('to choose')we ~d to stay home 7. (L) ('to make a decision')she ~d that the children would stay home 8. (Q)('to make a decision') we could not ~ what to do decision n. ['act of deciding'] 1. to arrive at, make, reach, take (BE) a ~ 2. (esp. legal) to affirm; appeal; hand down (AE), render a ~ 3. (esp. legal) to overrule, reverse a ~ 4. to reconsider a ~5. an arbitrary; clear-cut; crucial; ethical; fair, just; favorable; final; firm; hasty, rash, snap; irreversible, irrevocable; landmark; momentous; unfair; unfavorable ~ 6. a court; split ('divided')~ 7. a ~ about, on 8. a ~ to + inf. (we made the ~ to accept their offer) 9. the ~ that + clause (we applauded the ~ that taxes would be cut) ['decisiveness'] ['firmness'] 10. to lack ~ 11. of ~ (a man, woman of ~) deck n. ['pack of playing cards'] (AE) 1. to cut; shuffle a ~ 2. to stack a ~ ('to arrange cards dishonestly') (also fig.) ['floor on a ship'] 3. to swab a ~ 4. a flight; main; poop; promenade; upper ~ deck out v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ in (~ed out in their Sunday best) declaration n. 1. to issue, make a ~ 2. a solemn ~ 3. a currency; customs ~ declare v. 1. (B) he ~d his love to her 2. (D;tr.)to ~ against, on (to ~ war on another country) 3. (L)the president ~d that the situation would improve 4. (M) the court ~d the law to be unconstitutional 5. (N; used with a noun, adjective, past participle)the court ~d the law unconstitutional; the government ~d him persona non grata declension n. an adjective; noun; strong; weak ~ decline I n. 1. to go into, suffer a ~ 2. a gradual; sharp; steady; steep ~ 3. a ~ in (a ~ in trade) 4. on the ~ II v. (E) she ~d to address the delegates decorate v. (D; tr.) ('to give a medal to') to ~ for (to ~ a soldier for valor) decoration n. ['medal'] 1. to award a ~ 2. (AE) to write smb. up for a ~ decorations n. ['ornaments'] 1. to put up ~ 2. Christmas ~ decorator n. an interior ~ decorum n. 1. to display ~ 2. strict ~ decouple v. (D; tr.) ('to separate') to ~ from decrease n. 1. a gradual; sharp; steady ~ 2. a ~ in 3. on the ~ (crime is on the ~) decree I n. 1. to enact; issue a ~ 2. to rescind, revoke a ~ 3. a consent (legal); divorce; executive; government; royal ~ 4. a ~ that + clause; subj. (we had to obey the ~ that beards be/should be shaved off) II v. (formal) (L; may be subj.) the government ~d that a new tax be/should be imposed; the government ~d that it was illegal to traffic in furs decry v. (formal) (K) she decried their gambling and drinking dedicate v. (d;refl.,tr.)to ~ to (she ~d her life to science; the book was ~d to her husband; they ~d themselves to helping the poor) dedication n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2. total ~ 3. ~ to (~ to the cause of freedom) 4. ~ to + inf. (they had the ~ to continue their research in spite of the obstacles) deduce v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from (what can we ~ from these figures?) 2. (L) on the basis of the evidence we ~d that he was guilty 3. (Q) the police were able to ~ where the fugitive was hiding deduct v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ a tax from one's wages) deduction n. ['subtracting'] ['deducting'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ for; from (our employer makes a deduction from our salary for the income tax)['conclusion'] 3. to make a ~ 4. an illogical; logical ~ 5. a ~ about 6. the ~ that + clause (these events confirm my ~ that he was to blame) deed I n. ['something done'] 1. to do, perform a ~2. a brave, daring, heroic; chivalrous; dirty (colloq.); great; illustrious; kind; noble; wicked ~ 3.in word and ~ ['legal instrument of transfer'] 4. to transfer a ~ 5. a title ~ 6. a ~ to (to hold a ~ to property) 7. by ~ (to transfer property by ~) II v. (AE) (B) ('to transfer') he ~ed the property to his daughter deem v. (formal) (N; used with an adjective, noun) we ~ her worthy of support deep adj. 1. ~ in (~ in thought; ~ in the forest) 2.(misc.) the well was forty feet ~ deep water n. ['trouble'] in ~ deer n. 1. a herd of ~ 2. a young ~ is a fawn 3. a female ~ is a doe 4. a male ~ is a buck, stag 5. the meat of a ~ is venison default I n. by ~ (to lose by ~) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a debt) defeat I n. 1. to inflict (formal) a ~ on 2. to meet, suffer (a) ~ (at smb.'s hands) 3. to invite ~ 4. to admit ~ 5. a crushing, decisive, resounding, total, utter; ignominious, shameful ~ II v. to ~ decisively defect I n. 1. to correct a ~ 2. a glaring ~ 3. a birth, congenital; hearing; mechanical; mental; physical; speech; structural ~ 4. a ~ in (there was a ~ in the transmission) II v. ('to desert') 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from the army) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to the enemy) defective adj. ~ in defence (BE) see defense defenceless (BE) see defenseless defend v. 1. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ against, from (she ~ed herself against the attack) 2. (K) I cannot ~ his drinking on the job defendant n. to arraign a ~ defender n. 1. a public ~ ('a lawyer who represents poor people at public expense') 2. a staunch ~ (of the faith) defense, defence n. 1. to conduct, organize, put up a ~ 2. to overwhelm smb.'s ~s 3. an adequate; airtight, impenetrable; heroic; inadequate, weak; strong; stubborn ~ 4. civil; national ~; military ~s5. (sports) a man-to-man; zone ~ 6. a legal ~ 7. a ~ against, for 8. in ~ of defenseless, defenceless adj. ~ against (~ against any attack) defense pact, defence pact n. a mutual ~ defensive I adj. ~ about (they were very ~ about their party's record on tax reform) II n. on the ~ (to put smb. on the ~) defer v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ in; to (he ~red to his partner in everything) 2. (formal) (G) we ~red going deference n. 1. to show ~ to 2. in ~ to 3. with all ~ to deferential adj. ['respectful'] ~ to defiance n. ['resistance'] 1. to glare in ~ 2. ~ towards (~ towards all authority) 3. in ~ of (to actin ~ of one's parents) defiant adj. ~ towards deficiency n. ['defect'] ['inadequacy'] 1. a hearing; iron; mental; mineral; vitamin ~ 2. (a) ~ in ['incompleted work'] (as in school) (AE) 3. to makeup a ~ deficient adj. ~ in deficit n. 1. to make up a ~ 2. an operating; trade ~3. a ~ in define v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (we can ~ burn-out as exhaustion) defined adj. ['outlined, delineated'] 1. sharply ~ 2. ~ against (sharply ~ against a light background) definite adj. 1. ~ about (she was ~ about it) 2. ~ that + clause (is it ~ that they will sign the contract?) definition n. 1. to formulate, give, provide, write a ~ 2. a dictionary; formulaic; referential; synonym ~ deflect v. (D; tr.) to ~ from defraud v. (D; tr.) to ~ of (he ~ed them of their money) defy v. (H; passive is rare) she ~fied them to prove her guilty degenerate v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; into degradation n. moral; public ~ degrading adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to work in such conditions) degree n. ['academic title'] 1. to award a ~ to; to confer a ~ on 2. to do (BE), earn, receive, take a ~ 3. an academic; advanced, graduate, post-graduate (esp. BE); college ~ 4. an earned; honorary ~ 5. a bachelor's; doctoral, doctor's; master's ~ 6. (BE) a good ~ ('a first or upper second at a British university') 7. a ~ in (to take a ~ in history) ['extent'] ['level'] 8. to achieve a ~ (to achieve a high ~ of proficiency) 9. a great, high, large; slight ~ 10. to a ~ (to a high ~) ['form of an adjective or adverb'] 11. the comparative; positive; superlative ~ ['misc.'] 12. by ~s ('gradually'); (BE; colloq.) to a ~ ('to a very high degree') deicide n. (formal) to commit ~ deign v. (formal or humorous) (E) she ~ed to be interviewed dejected adj. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to learn that he had failed the examination) dekko n. (slang) (BE) ['look'] to have a ~ at delay I n. 1. to brook no ~ 2. a ~ in (she apologized for the ~ in answering) II v. 1. (G) we ~ed sending the telegram 2.(K) he ~ed my calling the police delaying action n. to fight a ~ delegate I n. 1. a party ~ 2. a ~ at large 3. a ~ to(a ~ to a convention) II v. 1. (B) he ~d his responsibilities to a deputy 2. (H) she was ~d to represent us delegation n. 1. to head a ~ 2. an official; unofficial ~ 3. a ~ from; to delete v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ smt. from a dossier) deleterious adj. ~ to deliberate I adj. ~ in (~ in one's speech) II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, on, over2. (rare) (Q) we ~d where to meet deliberations n. ~ about delicacy n. 1. extreme, great ~ 2. a matter of extreme ~ delicatessen n. kosher ~ delight I n. 1. to feel ~; to take ~ in (they took ~ in watching the children play) 2. great, intense, sheer; sardonic ~ 3. ~ at 4. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ to watch such fine acting) 5. to smb.'s ~ (to my great ~, our guests arrived on time) II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in the beauties of nature) 2. (R) it ~ed me (to learn) that you can attend delighted adj. 1. ~ at, by, with 2. ~ to + inf. (we'll be ~ to come) 3. ~ that + clause (I'm ~ that you were able to visit us) delightful adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to swim in the heated pool) delinquency n. 1. juvenile ~ 2. ~ in delinquent I adj. ~ in (~ in paying one's rent) II n. a juvenile; tax ~ delirium n. in a ~ deliver v. 1. (B) they ~ed the merchandise to us 2. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ from (~ us from evil) 3. (pompous) (D; refl.) to ~ of (to ~ oneself of an opinion) deliverance n. (formal) ~ from (~ from captivity) delivery n. ['act of delivering'] ['bringing'] 1. to make a ~ 2. to accept, take ~ 3. an emergency ~; (an) overnight; prompt ~ (we guarantee prompt ~) 4. general (AE); recorded (BE); rural-free(AE); special ~ 5. a ~ to 6. on ~ (payment on ~)['childbirth'] 7. a breech; normal ~ ['manner of speaking or throwing'] 8. an effective ~ delude v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ into deluge v. (d; tr.) to ~ with (we were ~d with offers) delusion n. 1. to cherish, cling to a ~ 2. a ~ that +clause (he was under a ~ that he would inherit money) 3. under a ~ (to labor under a ~) 4.(misc.) ~s of grandeur delve v. (d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into the background of a case) demand I n. ['urgent request'] 1. to make a ~ 2.to meet, satisfy a ~; to give in to, yield to a ~ 3. to reject a ~ 4. to drop a ~ 5. an excessive, exorbitant; inexorable; moderate, modest, reasonable; terroristic ~ 6. union; wage ~s 7. a ~ for; on (a ~ for compensation; to make ~s on smb.'s time) 8.a ~ that + clause; subj. (they rejected our demand that no one be/should be punished) 9. at, on ~(payment on ~) ['desire for a commodity'] 10. to create a ~ 11. to meet, satisfy a ~ 12. (a) brisk, enormous, great, strong; limited ~ 13. a ~ for(there is a brisk ~ for home computers) 14. in ~(small cars are in great ~) 15. consumer ~['misc.'] 16. the law of supply and ~ II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from, of (to ~ an apology from smb.) 2. (E) she ~s to be informed of everything 3. (L; subj.) we ~ed that he help us demanding adj. ~ of (she is very ~ of her employees) demarcation n. a ~ between (lines of ~ between the two zones) demarche n. 1. to make, present a ~ to 2. a diplomatic ~ demean I v. (formal) (D; refl.) ('to degrade') to ~ by (I will not ~ myself by cheating on the examination) II v. (formal) (d; refl.) ('to behave') (he ~ed himself like a gentleman) demerit n. a ~ for (a ~ for being late) demobilization n. on, upon ~ democracy n. a constitutional; parliamentary; representative ~ Democrat n. (US) a registered ~ demonstrate v. 1. to ~ convincingly 2. (B) ('to explain by showing') they ~d the new invention to us 3. (D; intr.) ('to protest by marching') to ~ against (the students ~d against the government)4. (D; intr.) ('to display support by marching') to ~ for (to ~ for lower taxes) 5. (L; to) ('to prove by showing') we ~d (to them) that a new computer would save considerable time 6. (Q) ('to explain by showing') she ~d how the computer works demonstration n. ['explanation'] 1. to give, put on a ~ ['protest'] 2. to organize, stage a ~ 3. a mass; organized; public; spontaneous; staged; student ~4. a ~ against demote v. (D;tr.) to ~ from; to (he was ~d to the rank of corporal) demur v. (formal) (D; intr.) ('to object') to ~ at, to (to ~ at a proposal) den n. a gambling; opium ~; a ~ of iniquity denial n. 1. to issue a ~ 2. a flat; outright; strong; unqualified ~ 3. a ~ that + clause (they issued a ~ that their firm had been involved) denomination n. ['group'] a religious ~ (to belong to a religious ~) denominator n. 1. to find the lowest common ~ 2.a common ~ denounce v. 1. to ~ roundly 2. (B) to ~ smb. to the police 3. (D; tr.) to ~ as (to ~ smb. as an illegal alien) 4. (K) she ~d his drinking density n. population; traffic ~ dent n. 1. to make a ~ in (he made a ~ in the door; to make a ~ in the backlog of work) 2. to hammer out, remove, straighten out a ~ denture n. a partial ~ denude v. (D; tr.) to ~ of (the hillside was ~d of trees) denunciation n. 1. to issue, make a ~ 2. a bitter, scathing, strong, vehement; sweeping ~ deny v. 1. to ~ categorically, emphatically, fervently, flatly, strongly, vehemently 2. (A; usu. used without to) he ~ies himself nothing; they were ~ied admittance; to ~ smb. bail; Everton's defence ~ied Liverpool the winning goal; he ~ies nothing to his family; or: he ~ies his family nothing 3. (G) she ~ied knowing anything 4. (L)she ~ied that she had been there 5. (rare) (M) he ~ied it to be the case deodorant n. 1. to apply, put on a ~ 2. a cream; roll-on; spray; stick; underarm ~ depart v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for London)2. (D; intr.) to ~ from (our train ~s from platform G) department n. ['division of a school, of a university'] 1. a strong; weak ~ 2. an accounting; anthropology; astronomy; biology; chemistry; classics; economics; English; French; geology; German; history; Italian; linguistics; mathematics; music; nursing; philosophy; physics; political science; psychology; Slavic, Slavonic; sociology; Spanish ~ ['division of a company or government'] 3. an accounting; finance; fire (AE); health; personnel; police; recreation; sanitation; service ~ ['division of a hospital'] 4. a casualty(BE), emergency (AE) ~ departure n. 1. to mark a ~ from (this marks a ~ from established procedures) 2. a sudden ~ 3. a ~ for 4. a ~ from depend see depend on dependence n. 1. drug ~ 2. ~ on, upon dependency n. 1. a colonial ~ 2. drug ~ dependent adj. ~ for; on, upon (he is ~ on his parents for support) depend on, depend upon v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for advice) 2. (H) you can ~ her to be there depict v. 1. (B) they ~ed the situation to us in great detail 2. (d; tr.) to ~ as (he was ~ed as a traitor) 3. (J) the artist ~ed him strolling through a garden deplete v. (D;tr.) to ~ of deplorable adj. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that such corruption exists) deplore v. 1. to ~ deeply, thoroughly 2. (K) we ~ their taking drugs deport I v. (formal) ('to behave') 1. (d; refl.) to ~ like (he ~ed himself like a gentleman) 2. (P; refl.) to ~ oneself well II v. (D; tr.) ('to send out of the country')to ~ from; to depose v. (D; tr.) to ~ from deposit I n. ['money put into a bank account'] 1.to make a ~ 2. a demand; time ~ 3. on ~ (the money was on ~ in a bank) ['down payment'] 4. to give, leave a ~ on 5. to forfeit one's ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ in (to ~ money in a bank) deposition n. (legal) 1. (of a witness) to make a ~2. (of a lawyer) to defend; notice; take a ~ 3. as worn ~ 4. a ~ that (he made a ~ that he had witnessed the accident) deposits n. coal; mineral; oil ~ depot n. an ammunition; freight (AE) ~ depreciate v. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in value) depress v. (formal) (R) it ~ed everyone that no progress was made during the negotiations depressed adj. 1. ~ at (~ at the bad news) 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to learn of her illness) depressing adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to read the headlines) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that so many young people use drugs) depression n. ['low economic activity'] 1. to cause a ~ 2. a major, severe; minor ~ 3. an economic ~['dejection'] 4. to cause ~ 5. chronic; deep, severe, total ~ (he was in a state of total ~) depressor n. a tongue ~ deprivation n. to suffer ~ deprive v. (d; tr.) to ~ of (to ~ smb. of everything) depth n. ['distance from the top to bottom'] ['distance from front to back'] 1. in ~ (the river is thirty feet in ~) ['place at the bottom of a body of water'] 2. to reach a ~ (the divers reached great ~s)['capability'] 3. beyond, out of one's ~ ['worst part'] 4. in the ~s (in the ~s of the depression)['misc.'] 5. in ~ ('thoroughly'); to plumb the ~s of smt. ('to get to the root of smt.'); in the ~s of despair; to lack ~ ('to be superficial') depth charge n. to drop a ~ depute v. (formal) (BE) 1. (B) ('to assign') (he ~d the bookkeeping to me while he was away) 2. (H)('to appoint as deputy') to ~ smb. to do smt. deputize v. 1. (esp. AE) (D; tr.) ('to appoint') to ~ as (he ~d me as his assistant) 2. (BE) (D; intr.)to ~ for ('to replace') (to ~ for smb. as secretary) 3. (AE) (H) ('to appoint as deputy') to ~ smb. to do smt. deputy n. a special ~ deranged adj. mentally ~ derelict I adj. ~ in (~ in one's duty) II n. a human ~ derision n. 1. to arouse, provoke ~ 2. an object of derive v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to come') to ~ from (many words ~ from Latin) 2. (D; tr.) ('to trace') to ~ from (to ~ a word from a Latin root) 3. (D; tr.)('to receive') to ~ from (to ~ pleasure from music) derogatory adj.; ~ of, to, towards descend v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ from ('to come down from') (do you know from whom you are ~ed?) 2.(d; intr.) ('to swoop down') to ~ on, upon (the guerrillas ~ed on the village) 3. (d; intr.) ('to stoop') to ~ to (to ~ to a life of petty crime) descendant n. a direct ~ descended adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. directly ~ 2. ~ from (~ from a royal family) descent n. ['origin'] 1. to trace one's ~ 2. direct ~ 3. ~ from 4. of a certain ~ ['decline'] 5. a gradual, steep ~ describe v. 1. to ~ minutely; vividly 2. (B) she ~d the scene to us 3. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ as (he was ~d as being very cruel) 4. (K) she ~d in detail their resisting the invaders 5. (Q) he ~d how we should proceed description n. 1. to give, provide a ~ 2. to answer to a ~ (he answers to the ~ of the escaped convict) 3. to beggar, defy ~ 4. an accurate, correct, exact; blow-by-blow; clear; detailed, thorough; firsthand; glowing; lively, picturesque, vivid; matter- of-fact, objective; superficial ~ 5. a job ~ desensitize v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ smb. to suffering) desert I n. 1. to reclaim a ~ 2. an arid; trackless ~ 3. a cultural ~ II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ the stage for Hollywood) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from (he ~ed from his regiment) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to the enemy) deserts n. ['reward'] ['punishment'] to get one's just ~ deserve v. 1. to ~ richly 2. (E) she ~d to win 3. (G) he ~d being recommended for a decoration 4. (misc.) to ~ ill of; to ~ well of deserving adj. 1. richly ~ 2. ~ of (~ of help) design I n. ['plan'] 1. a ~ for (a ~ for a new library) ['intention'] 2. by ~ (was it by accident or by ~?) II v. 1. (C) he ~ed a beautiful house for us; or: he ~ed us a beautiful house 2. (d; tr.) to ~ as3. (d; tr.) to ~ for (~ed for recreational purposes) designate I adj. (placed after a noun) a minister ~ II v. l.(D;tr.) to ~ as (the state was ~d as a disaster area) 2. (H) we ~d him to serve as our delegate 3. (N; used with a noun) the state was ~d a disaster area designation n. a ~ as designed adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ for (~ for use in cold climates) 2. ~ to + inf. (the equipment is ~ to operate at any altitude) designer n. an aircraft; fashion; interior ~ designs n. ['evil intentions'] 1. to have ~ against, on, upon (to have ~ on smb.'s money) 2. sinister desirable adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to wait) 2. ~ that + clause; subj. (it is ~ that you be/should be there by two o'clock) desire I n. 1. to arouse, create, whet (a) ~ 2. to express, voice a ~ 3. to feel a ~ 4. to satisfy a ~ 5.to stifle, suppress a ~ 6. (an) ardent, blind, burning, earnest, fervent, intense, keen, overwhelming, passionate, strong; sincere; unfulfilled ~ 7.animal; sexual ~s 8. a ~ for 9. a ~ to + inf. (a ~ to excel) 10. a ~ that + clause; subj. (it was her ~ that the estate be/should be divided evenly) II v. 1. to deeply, fervently, strongly ~ 2.(E) she ~s to remain neutral in the dispute 3. (for ~ mal) (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. 4. (formal) (L; subj.) I ~ that he be present desirous adj. (formal) 1. (cannot stand alone) ~ of (~ of fame) 2. ~ that; subj. (he is ~ that you be/should be there) desist v. (formal) (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from further litigation) desk n. ['counter'] 1. (in a hotel) a front (AE),reception (BE) ~ ['department'] 2. (at a news ~ paper) a city; copy ~ ['table for writing'] 3. to clear one's ~ 4. a cluttered ~ 5. a roll top; writing ~ USAGE NOTE: In AE copy desk means 'local news desk'; in BE it means 'financial news desk'. desolation n. complete, utter ~ despair I n. 1. to overcome ~ 2. deep, sheer, total, utter ~ 3. the depths of ~ 4. in ~ (in utter ~)5. out of ~ (to do smt. out of ~) II v. 1. to ~ deeply 2. (D;intr.) to ~ of (to ~ of success) despatch (rare) (BE) see dispatch desperate adj. ~ for (~ for help) desperation n. in ~ despicable adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to desert his family) despise v. 1. to ~ utterly 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (I ~d him for his cowardice) 3. (K) I ~ his refusing to accept responsibility despoil v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ of despondent adj. ~ about, over despot n. an absolute; benevolent; enlightened ~ destination n. 1. to reach one's ~; to arrive at one's ~ 2. one's final, ultimate ~ destine v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ for 2. (H) fate ~d her to go far in life destined adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ for (the shipment is ~ for New York) 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ from birth to become president) destiny n. 1. to achieve, fulfill one's ~ 2. to decide, shape smb.'s ~ 3. Manifest Destiny 4. ~ to + inf. (it was her ~ to make an important medical discovery) destitute adj. ~ of (~ of feeling) destitution n. in ~ (to die in ~) destroyer n. a tank ~ destruction n. 1. to carry out ~ (with a human subject: the soldiers carried out the total ~ of the village) 2. to cause ~ (with any subject: the flood caused great ~) 3. complete, total, utter; wanton destructive adj. ~ of detach v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (the officer was ~ed temporarily from his unit) detail I n. ['small part'] ['minute treatment'] 1. to bring up, cite ~s 2. to go into ~; to fill in, furnish (the) ~s 3. essential, important; (a) graphic, gruesome, harrowing, lurid, revolting, sordid, unsavory; meticulous, microscopic, minute; petty ~; a mere, minor; technical ~ (they went into lurid ~; they brought up petty ~s; the newspapers wrote of the gruesome ~s; he described the event in graphic ~; only the police knew the sordid ~s of the crime; can you fill in the technical ~s?) 4. in ~ (to treat a topic in minute ~) ['detachment'] (usu. mil.) 5. to form a ~ 6. a fatigue, work ~ II v. (usu. mil.) (D; tr.) ('to assign') to ~ for (to ~ a unit for fatigue duty) detained adj. unavoidably ~ detective n. an amateur; house (obsol.); private ~ detector n. a lie; mine; smoke ~ detention n. in ~ (he was kept in ~ for two hours) deter v. (D; tr.) to ~ from detergent n. (a) laundry; liquid ~ determination n. ['decisiveness'] 1. to show ~ 2. dogged, firm, great, iron, sheer, unflinching, unyielding ~ ['firm intention'] 3. ~ to + inf. (I admire her ~ to succeed) ['judicial decision'] 4. to come to a ~ (of a case) 5. the final ~ (of a case) determine v. 1. (rare ) (E) he ~d to learn English (more usu. is: he is ~d to learn English) 2. (L) the police ~d that no crime had been committed 3. (Q) we must ~ where the conference will take place determined adj. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to finish law school) deterrent n. 1. a nuclear ~; the ultimate ~ 2. a ~ to detest v. 1. (G) he ~s working 2. (K) we ~ his constantly lying detestable adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to speak like that; it was ~ of them to do that) detour n. 1. to set up a ~ 2. to follow, make, take a ~ 3. a ~ around detract v. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ from (the scandal will not ~ from his fame) detriment n. 1. a ~ to 2. to the ~ of detrimental adj. ~ to (smoking is ~ to health) devastation n. 1. to cause ~ 2. complete, total, utter ~ develop v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; into (to ~ from a child into an adult) developer n. a property (BE); real-estate (AE) ~ development n. 1. arrested; economic; historical; intellectual; physical ~ 2. a housing ~ 3. (BE) a ribbon ~ ('line of similar buildings constructed along roads leading out of a town') deviate v. 1. to ~ sharply 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from deviation n. 1. a sharp ~ 2. a ~ from device n. 1. a detonating; intrauterine; flotation; labor-saving; listening; mnemonic ~ 2. a ~ for 3. (misc.) left to one's own ~s ('on one's own') devil n. ['spirit of evil'] 1. go to the ~! ('damn you!') ['severe reprimand'] (esp. AE) 2. to catch the ~ ['fellow'] (colloq.) 3. a lucky; poor ~ ['disturbed state'] 4. in a ~ of a mess ['misc.'] 5. where in the ~ did she go? devoid adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ of (~ of any redeeming features) devolve v. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to be transferred') to ~ on, upon (his duties ~d on his deputy) devote v. 1. to ~ oneself completely, entirely 2. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ to (he ~d himself to his work; we must ~ a lot of time to this project) devoted adj. 1. blindly, completely, entirely ~ 2. ~ to (~ to one's family) devotee n. a ~ of (a ~ of the theater) devotion n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2. absolute, blind, complete, deep, great, slavish, thorough, undying, unswerving, utter ~ 3. ~ to (blind ~ to the cause) 4. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to serve without pay?) devour v. to ~ eagerly, ravenously dexterity n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2. great; manual ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (does he have enough ~ to cope with a job like that?) diabetes n. to develop ~ diagnosis n. 1. to make a ~ 2. to confirm a ~ 3. (med.) differential ~ 4. a ~ that + clause (further studies confirmed the ~ that the tumor was benign) diagonal I adj. ~ to II n. on the ~ (to cut on the ~) diagram n. to draw a ~ dial I n. to turn a ~ II v. to ~ direct, directly (she ~led London direct) dialect n. 1. to speak (in) a ~ 2. a local, regional; social; standard ~ dialing, dialling n. direct ~ dialogue n. 1. to have a ~ with 2. a meaningful ~ 3. a ~ between; with diamond n. 1. to cut; grind; polish; set a ~ 2. a cut; flawless, perfect; industrial; rough, uncut ~ 3. a ~ sparkles diaper n. (AE) 1. to change, put on a ~ 2. disposable ~s (BE has nappy) diaphragm n. ['contraceptive device'] to insert a ~ diarrhea, diarrhoea n. 1. to come down with; have ~ 2. severe ~ 3. an attack of ~ diary n. 1. to keep a ~ 2. a personal ~ diatribe n. 1. to utter a ~ 2. a bitter ~ 3. a ~ against dice n. 1. to roll, throw (the) ~ 2. crooked, loaded ~ 3. a roll of the ~ dicker v. to ~ for; with dictate v. 1. (D;intr.,tr.) to ~ to (she was ~ing to her secretary; the conqueror ~s terms to the conquered) 2. (Q) they ~d how everything would be done dictation n. 1. to give ~ 2. to take, take down ~ dictator n. an absolute; benevolent; brutal; military; ruthless ~ dictatorship n. 1. to establish, set up a ~ 2. an absolute; benevolent; brutal; military; ruthless ~ diction n. clear ~ dictionary n. 1. to compile a ~ 2. to expand; revise; update a ~ 3. to consult a ~ 4. an abridged, desk; bilingual; biographical; college, collegiate (AE); combinatorial, combinatory; dialect; etymological; general-use, general-purpose; historical; learner's; medical; monolingual; multivolume; names; orthographic, spelling; phonetic, pronouncing; pocket; reverse; technical; unabridged ~ 5. a ~ of abbreviations; collocations; foreign words; synonyms die I n. the ~ is cast (fig.) II v. 1. to ~ hard; heroically (rumors ~ hard; he died heroically at the front) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ by (to ~ by the sword; to ~ by one's own hand) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for one's beliefs) 4. (colloq.) (d; intr.) (only in the progressive) to ~ for ('to want') (she's dying for a cup of coffee) 5. to ~ from, of (he died of tuberculosis; to ~ of natural causes) 6. (colloq.) (E) (only in the progressive) ('to want') she's dying to find out 7. (misc.) to ~ in action; to ~ in battle; (fig.) to ~ laughing; (legal) to ~ intestate diet n. 1. to be on, follow, stick to a ~; to go on a ~ 2. to prescribe a ~ 3. a balanced, well-balanced; bland; crash; reducing; special; starvation; steady; therapeutic ~ 4. a high-calorie; high-carbohydrate; high-fiber, high-fibre; high-protein; low-calorie; low-carbohydrate; low-cholesterol; low-residue; low-salt, low-sodium; salt-free ~ differ v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, on 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from (this arrangement ~s from the one I had in mind) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ on; with (I ~ with you on that point) difference n. 1. to make a ~ 2. to tell the ~ 3. to compose, reconcile, resolve, settle, thrash out ~s 4. to set aside ~s 5. to split the ~ ('to take an average') 6. a considerable, great, marked, noticeable, striking; essential; irreconcilable; minor, slight; radical; subtle; superficial ~ 7. a ~ among, between; from 8. a ~ in (a ~ in age) 9. a ~ to (that makes no ~ to me) 10. (misc.) a world of ~ ('a considerable difference') different adj. 1. basically, entirely, radically ~ 2. ~ from, than (AE), to (BE) USAGE NOTE: Some purists consider only different from to be correct. Note that when a clause follows, than becomes a conjunction, but from and to remain prepositions -- different than we thought; different from/to what we thought. differentiate v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ between 2. (d; tr.) to ~ from differentiation n. to make a ~ between difficult adj. 1. ~ for (typing is ~ for me) 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to please him == he is ~ to please = he is a ~ person to please; it is ~ to translate this book = this book is ~ to translate = this is a ~ book to translate; it is ~ for me to translate such material = such material is ~ for me to translate) difficulty n. 1. to cause, create, make, present ~ties for 2. to come across, encounter, experience, face, meet, run into ~ties 3. to clear up, overcome, resolve, surmount a ~ 4. (a) grave, great, insurmountable, serious, severe ~ 5. economic, financial ~ties 6. a ~ arises 7. ~ in (she has ~ in breathing = she has ~ breathing) 8. in ~ (he is in serious ~) diffuse v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ through (~d through the air) dig I n. (colloq.) ['excavation'] 1. to go on a ~ 2. an archeological ~ ['poke'] 3. to give smb. a ~ (in the ribs) II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for ('to search for') (to ~ for gold) 2. (d; intr.) ('to delve') to ~ into (to ~ into a report) 3. (d; intr., tr.) ('to jab') to ~ into (his elbow was ~ging into my ribs; he dug his spurs into the sides of the horse) dignitary n. visiting ~ries dignity n. 1. to possess ~ 2. to maintain one's ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (does he have enough ~ to cope with a hostile press?) 4. (misc.) to live in ~; to die in/with ~ digress v. (D; intr.) to ~ from digression n. ['act of digressing'] 1. a ~ from ['digressive remarks'] 2. a ~ on (he launched into a ~ on the need for more power plants) dilate v. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to speak or write in detail') to ~ on, upon (to ~ upon a subject) dilemma n. 1. to resolve a ~ 2. in a ~ 3. (misc.) on the horns of a ~ diligence n. 1. (legal) due ~ 2. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to finish the job on time?) diligent adj. ~ in (~ in one's work) dillydally v. (D; intr.) to ~ with dimension n. ['importance'] 1. to assume, take on a ~ (the issue assumed serious ~s) 2. (misc.) a problem of international ~s ['measurement'] (can be fig.) 3. a third ~ 4. in a ~ (in two ~s) din n. ['noise'] 1. to make a ~ 2. above the ~ dine v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ on ('to eat') (to ~ on steak) 2. (misc.) to ~ at home; to ~ out dining n. congregate ~ dinner n. 1. to eat, have ~ 2. to make, prepare ~ 3. a TV ~ 4. at, during ~ 5. for ~ (what will we have for ~?) dint n. by ~ of (by ~ of hard work) dip I n. ['short swim'] 1. to have (BE), take a ~ ['semiliquid food'] 2. a cheese ~ II v. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to withdraw from') (to ~ into one's savings) diphtheria n. to come down with, contract; prevent ~ diploma n. 1. to award, confer, present a ~ 2. a college; high-school (AE) ~ 3. a ~ in (a ~ in Applied Linguistics) diplomacy n. 1. to rely on, resort to ~ 2. dollar; gunboat; media; public; quiet; shuttle ~ 3. megaphone ~ (using public propaganda rather than negotiations) diplomat n. a career, professional ~ diplomatic immunity n. 1. to grant ~ 2. to have ~ 3. to withdraw ~ direct v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to point') to ~ against, at (they ~ed the attacks against the enemy's seaports) 2. (d; tr.) ('to address') to ~ at, to (the remark was ~ed at you) 3. (D; tr.) ('to guide') to ~ to (can you ~ me to the post office?) 4. (d; tr.) ('to aim') to ~ to, towards (our efforts were ~ed towards the elimination of poverty) 5. (H) ('to order') he ~ed us to remain silent 6. (L; subj.) ('to order') the government ~ed that supplies be sent to the flooded areas direction n. ['course'] 1. the opposite; right; wrong ~ ['supervision'] 2. under smb.'s ~ ['guidance'] 3. to give ~ to directions n. ['instructions'] 1. to give, issue ~ 2. to follow ~ 3. ~ for 4. ~ that + clause; subj. (she gave ~ that her estate be given/should be given to charity) directive n. 1. to issue a ~ 2. a ~ that + clause; may be used with the subj. (the government issued a ~ that all firearms be/must be handed in) director n. an acting; athletic; casting; funeral; managing; music; program ~ directorate n. interlocking ~s directory n. a city; telephone ~ dirge n. a funeral ~ dirt n. 1. in the ~ (to play in the ~) 2. (misc.) to hit the ~ ('to fall to the ground') disability n. a learning; physical ~ (children with learning ~ties) disabled adj., n. learning; physically ~ (learning ~ children; help for the learning ~) disabuse v. (D;tr.)to ~ of disadvantage n. 1. to offset, outweigh a ~ 2. a decided ~ 3. a ~ for, to 4. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ not to have a car available = it was a ~ not having a car available) 5. at a ~ (that places me at a decided ~) disadvantageous adj. ~ to disagree v. 1. to ~ completely; sharply 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about, on; with disagreeable adj. ~ to disagreement n. 1. to express a ~ 2. to resolve a ~ 3. a bitter, marked, serious, sharp; slight ~ 4. a ~ among, between, with 5. a ~ about, over disappear v. 1. to ~ completely 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from view) disappearance n. a mysterious; sudden ~ disappoint v. (formal) (R) it ~ed everyone that she did not win the prize disappointed adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ about, at, in, with (~ at/with the results; I was ~ in/with him) 3. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to learn that she had failed the course) 4. ~ that + clause (we are ~ that you will not be able to attend) disappointing adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to analyze the results) 2. ~ that + inf. (it's ~ that so few showed up) disappointment n. 1. to express; feel ~ 2. (a) bitter, deep, great, keen, profound ~ 3. ~ about, at, over (she felt deep ~ at not getting the job) 4. ~ that + clause (he expressed keen ~ that the hearing had been postponed) 5. to smb.'s ~ (to our great ~, it started to rain) disapproval n. 1. to express (one's) ~ 2. strong ~ disapprove v. 1. to ~ completely, strongly, thoroughly, utterly 2. (D; intr.) to ~ of (they ~d strongly of my proposal) disarmament n. general, universal; multilateral; nuclear; phased; unilateral ~ disarray n. 1. total ~ 2. in ~ (to break up in total ~) disassociate, dissociate v. (D; refl.) to ~ from USAGE NOTE: Some purists prefer dissociate. disaster n. 1. to cause a ~ 2. to experience, meet, suffer (a) ~ 3. to court ~ 4. to cope with; recover from (a) ~ 5. to avert (a) ~ 6. a catastrophic, devastating, major, tragic, unqualified ~ 7. an impending; national; natural; near ~ disastrous adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ to + inf. (it would be ~ to wait) disbar v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ from practice) disbelief n. 1. complete, total, utter ~ 2. ~ in disburse v. (B) to ~ funds to the states disc n. ['tag'] (BE) (mil.) 1. an identification ~ ['recording'] 2. to cut a ~ (see disk) discharge I n. 1. a dishonorable; general; honorable; medical ~ (from the armed forces) 2. a ~ from (a ~ from the hospital) II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ smb. from hospital/from the hospital) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ waste into a river) disciple n. an ardent, devoted; fanatical ~ discipline I n. 1. to establish; maintain ~ 2. to crack down on violations of ~ 3. to undermine ~ 4. to violate ~ 5. firm, harsh, iron, severe, stem, strict; lax, loose, slack; military; party ~ 6. the ~ to + inf. (they didn't have enough ~ to cope with the job) II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for2. (H; usu. refl.) (she ~d herself to exercise every day) disciplined adj. highly ~ disclose v. 1. (B) the authorities finally ~d the facts to the press 2. (L) the report ~d that he had served time in prison disclosure n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a financial; public; sensational, startling ~ 3. a ~ that + clause (the ~ that he had been in prison ruined his chances for public office) discomfort n. 1. to cause ~ 2. to bear ~ 3. to alleviate ~ 4. physical ~ disconcert v. (formal) (R) it ~ed us (to learn) that they had refused our offer disconcerting adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to watch them make one mistake after the other) 2. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that so many pupils have dropped out of school) disconnect v. (D; tr.) to ~ from disconsolate adj. ~ about, at, over discontent n. 1. to cause, stir up ~ 2. outspoken; widespread ~ 3. ~ about, at, with discontinue v. (G) she ~d paying rent discord n. 1. to arouse, generate, stir up; spread ~ 2. domestic, family ~ 3. ~ among, between 4. ~ in (~ in one's family relationships) discount n. 1. to give a ~ 2. a cash ~ 3. a ~ on (to give a ~ on all purchases) 4. at a ~ (she sold it at a~) discourage v. (D; tr.) to ~ from discouraged adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ at, about, over 3. ~ to + inf. (we were ~ to see that many students had failed) discouragement n. deep ~ discouraging adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to read the newspapers) 3. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that so little progress has been made in banning nuclear weapons) discourse I n. (grammar) direct; indirect ~ II v. (formal) (D; intr.) to ~ upon discourteous adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to say that) discourtesy n. 1. to show ~ 2. (a) grave ~ discover v. 1. (J) I ~ed them swimming in our pool 2. (L) we ~ed that he can cook 3. (rare) (M) we ~ed him to be a good cook 4. (Q) I never have ~ed how it works discovery n. ['finding'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a dramatic; exciting, startling, world-shaking; scientific ~ 3. a ~ that + clause (we made the exciting ~ that exercise can be fun) ['pretrial disclosure of facts'] (legal) 4. to conduct ~ discredit n. 1. to bring ~ on, to 2. a ~ to (a ~ to one's family) discreet adj. (it was not ~ of you to say that) discrepancy n. 1. a glaring, striking, wide ~ 2. a ~ between; in discretion n. 1. to exercise, show, use ~ in 2. complete, full, wide ~ 3. ~ to + inf. (she has full ~ to make decisions) 4. at one's ~ (to act at one's own ~) 5. with ~ (to proceed with ~) discriminate v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ against (to ~ against minorities) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ among, between 3. (d; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ right from wrong) discrimination n. 1. to practice ~ 2. to subject smb. to ~ 3. age; racial; religious; reverse; sex ~ 4. ~ against discus n. to throw the ~ discuss v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ smt. with smb.) 2. (Q) we ~ed how we would do it discussion n. 1. to arouse, provoke, stir up (a) ~ 2. to have; lead a ~3. to bring smt. up for ~; to come up for ~ 4. an animated, brisk, heated, lively, spirited; brief; candid, frank, open; lengthy; peaceful, quiet; serious ~ 5. a group; panel; round-table ~ (to lead a panel ~) 6. a ~ about, of 7. under ~ (their case is now under ~) disdain n. ~ for (to have the greatest ~ for smt.) disdainful adj. ~ of; towards disease n. 1. to come down with, contract a ~ 2. to carry; spread (a) ~ 3. to cure; prevent (a) ~ 4. to eradicate stamp out, wipe out (a) ~; to bring a ~ under control 5. an acute; common; deadly; degenerative; fatal, terminal; incurable, untreatable; lingering; mild; protracted; rare; serious ~ 6. an acquired; chronic; communicable, contagious, infectious; congenital; mental; occupational; sexually transmitted, social, venereal; skin; tropical ~ 7. Addison's; Alzheimer's; caisson; foot-and-mouth; heart; Hodgkin's; Legionnaire's ~ 8. a ~ spreads 9. the outbreak of a ~ disembark v. (D; intr.) to ~ from disengage v. (formal) (D; refl., tr.) to ~ from disentangle v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ from disfavor, disfavour n. 1. to fall into ~ with 2. in ~ disfigured adj. badly ~ disgrace I n. 1. to bring; suffer ~ 2. deep; public ~ 3. a ~ to (he is a ~ to his family) 4. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ to behave like that = it was a ~ behaving like that) 5. a ~ that (it's a ~ that these roads are so poorly marked) 6. in ~ (he quit in ~ over the bribe) II v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ by (he ~d himself by getting drunk) disgraceful adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to behave like that = it was ~ behaving like that) disgruntled adj. ~ at, over, with disguise I n. 1. to assume a ~ 2. to shed, throw off a ~ 3. a clever ~ 4. in ~ II v. 1. thinly ~d 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he was ~d as a waiter) disgust I n. 1. to express; feel ~ 2. ~ at, with 3. in ~ (he left in great ~) 4. to one's ~ (to my ~ I discovered that...) II v. 1. to ~ thoroughly 2. (R) it ~ed everyone that he had taken bribes disgusted adj. 1. ~ at, with 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to see him drunk) 3. ~ that + clause (I am ~ that he is absent again) disgusting adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to watch) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that the crime rate is so high) dish n. ['food served in a dish'] 1. a favorite; main; side ~ ['container for food'] 2. a chafing ~ disharmony n. to stir up ~ dishearten v. (formal) (R) it ~ed all of us (to learn) that she had been dismissed disheartened adj. 1. ~ at 2. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to learn of the bad news) disheartening adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to read the daily press) 2. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that so few passed the test) dishes n. ['dirty utensils left after a meal'] 1. to do, wash; rinse; stack the ~ 2. dirty ~ 3. plastic ~ ['containers for holding food'] 4. a set of ~ USAGE NOTE: BE usu. uses to wash up rather than to do, wash the dishes. dishonest adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to lie about one's age) dishonor, dishonour n. 1. to bring ~ on, to 2. a ~ to dish out v. (B) he was ~ing out food to the women dishwasher n. 1. to load, stack a ~ 2. an automatic disinclined adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ to + inf., (he seems ~ to put up resistance) disk n. ['structure in a spinal column'] 1. to slip ('dislocate') a ~ 2. a slipped ~ ['flat plate for computer storage'] 3. to format; make a ~; to copy onto a ~ 4. a back-up; fixed, hard; floppy ~ USAGE NOTE: BE prefers the spelling disc for 1 and 2. diskette n. see disk 3 dislike I n. 1. to take a ~ to 2. to show a ~ for, of 3. an active, cordial, hearty, strong, violent ~ II v. 1. to ~ deeply, very much 2. (G) he ~s going to the opera 3. (K) we ~ his hanging around with that crowd dislodge v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (the doctor ~d the bone from her throat) disloyal adj. ~ to disloyalty n. to demonstrate ~ to dismay I n. 1. to express; feel ~ 2. ~ at, with 3. to smb.'s ~ (to my ~, he was absent again) II v. (formal) (R) it ~ed me to learn of her actions; it ~ed us that the project had been canceled dismayed adj. 1. ~ at, with 2. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to see that he had a flat tire) dismaying adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to contemplate the results of their incompetence) dismiss v. 1. to ~ curtly, summarily; lightly 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he was ~ed as incompetent) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ for (I was ~ed for being late) 4. (D; tr.) to ~ from (he was ~ed from his job) 5. (misc.) (BE; cricket) the bowler ~ed the next batsman for six runs dismissal n. 1. a curt; summary ~ 2. a ~ from dismount v. (D; intr.) to ~ from disobedience n. 1. willful ~ 2. civil ~ 3. ~ to (~ to orders) disobedient adj. ~ to disorder n. ['lack of order'] 1. to throw into ~ 2. in ~ (to retreat in ~) ['riot'] 3. violent ~s 4. ~s broke out ['ailment'] 5. a brain; circulatory; digestive, intestinal; mental; minor; neurotic; personality; respiratory ~ disoriented adj. ~ as to (~ as to time and place) disparity n. 1. a great, wide ~ 2. a ~ between, in dispatch I n. ['news item'] ['message'] 1. to file; send a ~ 2. to dateline a ~ 3. a ~ from; to 4. a ~ that + clause (we read her ~ that war had been declared) 5. (misc.) (BE; mil.) mentioned in ~es (for bravery in combat) ['promptness'] 6. with great ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (the message was ~ed from battalion headquarters to each company) dispensation n. papal; special ~ dispense v. 1. (B) to ~ charity to the needy; to ~ equal justice to all 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with the formalities) dispenser n. a soap ~ dispersed adj. widely ~ display I n. 1. to make, put on a ~ (to make a vulgar ~ of one's wealth) 2. a dazzling, imposing, impressive; lavish, ostentatious; modest; public; spectacular ~ (to make a public ~ of grief; to put on a dazzling ~ of one's skill) 3. a graphic ~ (of a computer) II v. (B) he ~ed his ignorance to everyone displeased adj. ~ at, with displeasure n. 1. to incur smb.'s ~ 2. to show one's ~ with 3. to smb.'s ~ disposal n. ['availability'] 1. to have at one's ~ (I had a huge car at my ~) 2. to place smt. at smb.'s ~ 3. at smb.'s ~ ['device used to grind up garbage'] 4. a garbage ~; or: a garbage-disposal unit ['elimination of refuse'] 5. waste ~ dispose v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ of ('to deal with') (to ~ of the opposition) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ of ('to get rid of) (to ~ of the rubbish) 3. (formal) (H) ('to incline') what ~d him to do it? disposed adj. (formal) ['inclined'] (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ to, towards (he seems well ~ towards us) 2. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to accept our offer) disposition n. ['inclination'] 1. a ~ to + inf. (a ~ to argue) ['personality'] 2. a bland; buoyant, cheerful, genial, pleasant, sunny; mild; unpleasant ~ dispossess v. (D; tr.) to ~ of (they were ~ed of their wealth) disproportionate adj. ~ to dispute I n. 1. to stir up a ~ about 2. to arbitrate; resolve, settles ~ (to settle a ~ out of court) 3. an acrimonious, bitter, heated, sharp; public ~ 4. a border; labor ~ 5. a ~ about, over; with 6. in ~ (this point is in ~) II v. (L)I do not ~ that he was there disqualify v. (D; tr.) to ~ from disregard I n. 1. to show ~ 2. willful ~ 3. ~ for II v. (K) we cannot ~ his coming late to work so often disrepair n. 1. a state of ~ 2. in ~ (the building is in ~) disrepute n. 1. to fall into ~ 2. to hold smb. in ~ disrespect n. 1. to show ~ 2. to intend, mean no ~ 3. deep, profound ~ 4. ~ for (I meant no ~ for your traditions) disrespectful adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of them to say that) disruption n. 1. complete, total ~ 2. ~ in dissatisfaction n. 1. to express, voice; feel ~ 2. deep, keen, profound; growing; widespread ~ 3. ~ about, with (they expressed deep ~ with working conditions) dissatisfactory adj. ~ to dissatisfied adj. ~ with dissension n. 1. to introduce; sow, stir up ~ 2. deep ~ 3. ~ among, between dissent I n. 1. to express ~ 2. to brook (formal), tolerate no ~ 3. ~ from II v. (D; intr.) to ~ from dissertation n. 1. to defend; write a ~ (to write a ~ under smb.'s supervision) 2. to supervise a ~ 3. a doctoral ~ 4. a ~ about, on USAGE NOTE: AE prefers a doctoral dissertation, master's thesis; BE prefers a doctoral thesis, master's dissertation/ master's essay. disservice n. 1. to do smb. a ~ 2. a ~ to dissident n. a political ~ dissimilarity n. a ~ between dissociate v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ from (we ~d ourselves from his views) (see the Usage Note for disassociate) dissolve v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ into dissonance n. cognitive ~ ('the holding of beliefs that contradict accepted facts') dissuade v. (D; tr.) to ~ from distance I n. 1. to cover; run; travel; walk a ~ 2. to keep a ~ (to keep a safe ~ between cars) 3. to close the ~ between 4. a discreet; good, great, long; safe; short ~ (we traveled a short ~) 5. (a) shouting; striking; walking ~ (it's within easy walking ~) 6. (a) braking, stopping ~ 7. a ~ between; from; to (the ~ between New York and London is three thousand miles; the ~ from Philadelphia to Chicago is less than eight hundred miles) 8. at a ~ (at a discreet ~; we spotted them at a ~ of two hundred yards) 9. from a ~ (I spotted her from a ~) 10. in the ~ (the city was visible in the ~) (misc.) 11. to keep one's ~ ('to not allow familiarity'); a short ~ away; quite a ~ II v. (D; refl.) to ~ from distant adj. ~ from distaste n. 1. to develop; express; feel; show a ~2. a strong ~ 3. a ~ for distasteful adj. 1. ~ to (his behavior was ~ to everyone) 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ for me to have to enforce discipline) distil, distill v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ whiskey from grain) distinct adj. ~ from distinction n. ['differentiation'] 1. to draw, make a ~ 2. to blur a ~ 3. a clear-cut; dubious; fine; subtle ~ 4. a ~ between ['eminence'] ['superiority'] 5. to enjoy, have, hold a ~ (he holds the dubious ~ of being the first person to break the new speed limit) 6. a doubtful, dubious ~ 7. of ~ (an artist of ~) 8. with ~ (to serve with ~) distinctive adj. ~ of distinguish v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ among, between 2. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ good from evil) distinguishable adj. 1. clearly, plainly ~ 2. ~ from distinguished adj. ~ for distortion n. a crude, gross; deliberate ~ distract v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (the music ~ed them from their studies) distraught adj. ~ at, over, with distress I n. 1. to feel; suffer ~ 2. to alleviate, ease ~ 3. deep, great, profound ~ 4. economic, financial ~ 5. ~ at, over, with 6. to smb.'s ~ (to our ~, her condition did not improve) II v. (R) it ~ed me (to read) that a new epidemic had broken out distressed adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ at, by, with (~ at the news) 3. ~ to + inf. (I was deeply ~ to learn of your loss) distressing adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to listen to the news) 3. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that nations constantly quarrel) distribute v. 1. to ~ fairly; unfairly; widely 2. (B) the instructor ~d the test papers to the students 3. (D; tr.) to ~ among (to ~ food among the poor) distribution n. 1. fair; unfair; wide ~ 2. (math.) normal ~ 3. (ling.) complementary ~ 4. ~ among (the ~ of surplus food among the needy) district n. 1. the business (AE); financial; red-light; theater ~ 2. a health; school ~ distrustful adj. ~ of disturb v. (R) it ~ed me (to read) that a new epidemic had broken out disturbance n. 1. to cause, create, make a ~ 2. to quell, put down a ~ disturbed adj. 1. emotionally ~ 2. ~ about, at, by, over 3. ~ to + inf. (I am ~ to learn of this latest incident) disturbing adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to find evidence of widespread corruption) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that so few people vote) disuse n. to fall into ~ ditch n. 1. to dig a ~ 2. a deep; shallow ~ ditty n. 1. to sing a ~ 2. a popular ~ dive I n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a swallow (BE), swan (AE) ~ 3. a back, headfirst; high ~ 4. a crash ~ (of a submarine) 5. a power ~ (of a plane) 6. a ~ for (they made a ~ for the ditch) 7. a ~ from; into 8. (misc.) (colloq.) to take a ~ ('to lose a contest deliberately') II v. 1. to ~ headfirst 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from; into (she ~d into the pool from the high diving board) diverge v. (D; intr.) to ~ from diversion n. ['amusement'] a favorite; popular ~ divert v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to divest v. (formal) (d; refl., tr.) to ~ of (they ~ed themselves of all stocks and bonds) divide I n. 1. a continental ~; (in North America) the Great Divide 2. (fig.) the great ~ ('death') (to cross the great ~) II v. 1. to ~ equally, evenly 2. (D;tr.) to ~ among, between; with (to ~ profits among the partners) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ by (to ~ six by three) 4. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ into (they ~d the loot into equal shares; to ~ three into six) divided adj. 1. sharply ~ 2. ~ on, over (they are sharply ~ over the choice of a new chairperson) dividend n. ['sum divided among stockholders'] 1. to declare a ~ 2. (also fig.) to pay a ~ 3. a stock ~ divide up v. (D; tr.) to ~ among, between; into (they ~d up the profits into equal shares) dividing line n. 1. to draw a ~ between 2. to cross the ~ divisible adj. ~ by; into division n. ['mathematical operation of dividing'] 1. to do ~ 2. long; short ~ ['major military unit'] 3. an airborne; armored; infantry; motorized ~ ['classification'] 4. to make a ~ 5. an arbitrary ~ ['dividing'] 6. an equal; sharp; unequal ~ 7. cell ~ divisor n. a common ~ divorce n. 1. to file for, sue for ~ 2. to get, receive a ~ 3. to grant a ~ 4. (a) no-fault ~; an uncontested ~; (a) ~ by mutual consent 5. (misc.) a ~ settlement divorced adj. ~ from (he was ~d from his wife) divulge v. (B) to ~ information to the press dizzy adj. 1. ~ from (~ from the rays of the sun) 2. ~ with (~ with success) do v. 1. (C) ('to perform') she did a favor for me; or: she did me a favor 2. (d; tr.) to ~ about ('to help improve') (what can we ~ about his school-work?) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ by ('to treat') (the firm did very well by her when she retired) 4. (BE) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to act as housekeeper for') (she does for me twice a week) 5. (colloq.) (BE) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to ruin') (that long hike nearly did for me) 6. (d; tr.) to ~ for ('to make arrangements for') (what did you ~ for light when the electricity was turned off?) 7. (D; tr.) to ~ for ('to help') (what can I ~ for you?) 8. (d; tr.) to ~ out of ('to cheat out of) (they did him out of his inheritance) 9. (d; tr.) to ~ to ('to inflict on') (what did they do to him?) 10. (d; tr.) to ~ with ('to use for') (what should we ~ with this old typewriter?) 11. (d; intr.) to ~ without ('to manage without') (we had to ~ without fresh fruit) 12. (AE) (G; only in the construction: he is done...) he is done talking 13. (P; intr.) ('to fare') she is ~ing very well do away v. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to eliminate') (they did away with that department several years ago) dock I n. ['basin for ships'] 1. to go into ~ 2. a dry, floating ~ 3. at, in, on a ~ (there was labor trouble down on the ~s) II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at (the ship ~ed at Portsmouth) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with (the spaceship ~ed with the satellite) III v. (D; tr.) ('to deduct, take') to ~ from (they ~ed ten dollars from her wages) docket n. ['agenda'] on the ~ doctor n. 1. a family ~ 2. a witch ~ 3. a barefoot ~ ('an auxiliary medical worker in a rural area, esp. in China') 4. ~s see; treat (their) patients 5. (misc.) to see ('consult') a ~ doctorate n. 1. to award, grant a ~ 2. to earn a ~ 3. an earned (AE); honorary ~ 4. a ~ in (a ~ in physics) doctrine n. 1. to apply; preach a ~ 2. to establish a ~ 3. to disprove a ~ 4. a sound ~ 5. a basic; defense ~ 6. a ~ that + clause; subj. (it was their basic ~ that nothing interfere/should interfere with free trade) document n. 1. to draw up a ~ 2. to file; store ~s 3. to classify; declassify a ~ 4. a classified; confidential; restricted; secret; top-secret ~ 5. an authentic ~ 6. a ~ about, concerning documentation n. 1. to provide ~ for 2. strong; weak ~ dodge v. (D; intr.) to ~ behind (to ~ behind a door) dodger n. ['evader'] a draft; tax ~ dog n. 1. to breed; keep ~s 2. to walk a ~ (on a leash) 3. to muzzle a ~ 4. to curb one's ~ 5. a mad, rabid; stray; vicious; wild ~ 6. a bird (AE), gun (BE); Eskimo; guard (BE); guide, seeing- eye; hunting; pet; police; sheep; toy ~; watchdog; working ~ 7. ~s bark; bite; growl; salivate; snap; snarl; whine; yelp 8. a pack of (wild) ~s 9. a young ~ is a puppy 10. a female ~ is a bitch 11. (misc.) a lucky ~ ('a lucky person'); a running ~ ('a lackey'); a ~'s life ('a wretched existence'); to work like a ~ ('to work very hard') USAGE NOTE: In CE a police dog is one used by the police; in AE it can also mean a breed of dog called a German shepherd in AE and an Alsatian in BE. dogfight n. ['aerial combat'] to engage in a ~ doghouse n. (colloq.) ['disfavor'] in the ~ dogma n. 1. political; religious ~ 2. the ~ that + clause (they rejected the ~ that the earth is the center of the universe) doily n. a lace; linen; paper ~ doldrums n. (colloq.) ['stagnation'] in the ~ dole n. (colloq.) (BE) ['unemployment insurance'] on the ~ (to be on the ~; to go on/sign on the ~) dole out v. (B) to ~ food to the needy doll n. a paper; rag ~ dollar n. a half; silver ~ doll up v. (colloq. )(D;refl.,tr.) to ~ for (she ~ed herself up for the party) dolphin n. 1. a school of ~s 2. a young ~ is a calf 3. a female ~ is a cow 4. a male ~ is a bull domain n. ['sector'] the public ~ (in the public ~) dominance n. 1. ~ in 2. ~ over domination n. 1. world ~ 2. ~ over 3. under smb.'s ~ dominion n. ~ over donate v. (B) she ~d her books to the library donation n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a voluntary ~ 3. a ~ to done adj. 1. (AE) ~ with (we're ~ with the chores) 2. (BE) to have ~ with (we've ~ with the plates) 3. (misc.) after that hike, I'm ~ for ('I'm completely exhausted') donkey n. ~s bray, go heehaw, heehaw donor n. 1. an anonymous ~ 2. a blood; organ ~ doom I n. 1. to seal smb.'s ~ 2. (misc.) the crack of ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (he was ~ed to oblivion) doomed adj. 1. ~ to (~ to failure) 2. ~ to + inf. (he is ~ to eke out a miserable existence) door n. 1. to hang a ~ 2. to close, shut; lock; open; slam; unlock a ~ 3. to break down, force a ~ 4. to knock on a ~ 5. the ~ is ajar; closed; locked; open; unlocked 6. a back; double; French (AE; BE has French window); front, main; revolving; screen; side; sliding; stage; storm (esp. AE) ~ 7. a ~ to (the ~ to this room is never locked) 8. at the ~ (who is at the ~?) 9. (misc.) behind closed ~s ('in secret'); they live next ~ to us; to sell from ~ to ~; to close the ~ on any compromise ('to rule out the possibility of any compromise'); at death's ~ ('almost dead'); to show smb. the ~ ('to ask smb. to leave') doorbell n. to ring a ~ doornail n. (misc.) as dead as a ~ doorway n. 1. (fig.) the ~ to (the ~ to freedom) 2. in the ~ (she stood in the ~) dope n. (colloq.) ['drugs'] to take ~ dormancy n. a state of ~ dormant adj. to lie ~ dose n. 1. to administer, give; measure out a ~ 2. to take a ~ 3. a fatal, lethal ~ dotage n. to be in one's ~ dote v. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon (she ~s on her grandchildren) double I n. ['double time, accelerated marching cadence'] (usu. mil.) 1. at, on the ~ ['misc.'] 2. (colloq.) on the ~ ('very quickly') II v. (D; intr.) ('to do smt. additional') to ~ as (the gardener ~d as the chauffeur) doubles n. (tennis) men's; mixed; women's ~ double take n. (colloq.) ['delayed reaction'] to do a ~ double up v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to share living accommodations') to ~ with 2. (misc.) to ~ in pain doubt I n. 1. to raise (a) ~ (her proposal raised serious ~s in my mind) 2. to cast ~ on 3. to feel ~; to entertain, harbor ~s about 4. to express, voice (a) ~ 5. to dispel, resolve a ~ 6. a deep, serious, strong; gnawing; lingering; reasonable; slight ~ 7. ~s appear, arise 8. a ~ about, of 9. a ~ that + clause (he expressed serious ~ that he could finish the job on time) 10. beyond (a shadow of) a ~; without a ~ 11. in ~ (the result was never in serious ~) 12. (misc.) to give smb. the benefit of the ~; (colloq.) there is no ~ about it: she's the best USAGE NOTE: Some purists recommend that whether or the more informal if be used with the noun doubt, especially in the meaning 'uncertainty'--she expressed doubt (about/as to) whether they would finish on time ('she was not certain whether they would finish on time'). In the meaning of 'disbelief, the conjunction that is common-she expressed doubt that they would finish on time ('she did not believe that they would finish on time'). Note that in interrogative sentences the use of that prevails--is there any doubt that they will finish on time? In negative sentences the conjunction that must be used--there is no doubt that they will finish on time. II v. 1. to ~ strongly, very much 2. (L) I ~ that (if, whether) she will want to participate USAGE NOTE: See the Usage Note for doubt I. Thus, to express 'uncertainty', one can say--she doubted whether they would finish on time. To express 'disbelief, one can say--she doubted that they would finish on time. In negative sentences, only that is used--she doesn't doubt that they will finish on time. doubtful adj. 1. ~ of 2. ~ that + inf. (it's ~ that she will be present) USAGE NOTE: See the Usage Note for doubt I. Thus, to express' uncertainty', one can say-it is doubtful whether they will finish on time. To express 'disbelief, one can say-it is doubtful that they will finish on time. dough n. 1. to knead, mix, roll, work ~ 2. flaky; firm; stiff ~ 3. ~ rises doughnuts n. 1. to make ~ 2. glazed; jelly ~ dove n. 1. a gentle ~ 2. ~s coo dovetail v. (D; tr., intr.) ('to fit') to ~ into down adj. (colloq.) ['angry'] ~ on (he's ~ on us) downfall n. 1. to bring about smb.'s ~ 2. to head for a ~ downgrade v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (the embassy was ~d to a legation) down payment n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ on downpour n. a brief; steady; sudden; torrential ~ dowry n. to provide a ~ for dozen n. a baker's; round ~ draft I n. ['rough copy'] 1. to make, prepare a ~ 2. a final, polished; preliminary, rough; working ~ ['conscription'] (AE) 3. to introduce the ~ 4. to dodge, evade the ~ ['current of air'] 5. to sit in a ~ ['order for payment'] 6. to honor a ~ 7. a bank ~ 8. a ~ for; on (a ~ on the Paris branch of our bank for one thousand pounds) ['drawing of liquid'] 9. on ~ (beer on ~) USAGE NOTE: BE prefers the spelling draught in senses 5 and 9. II v. (AE)(D;tr.) ('to conscript') to-into (to ~ young people into the army) 2. (H) they ~ed her to serve as their delegate drag I n. ['puff] 1. to take a ~ (on a cigarette) ['obstacle'] (colloq.) 2. a ~ on (a ~ on the economy) ['street'] (colloq.) 3. the main ~ ['women's clothing worn by a male transvestite'] (slang) 4. in ~ 5. (misc.) a ~ queen II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to search at the bottom of a lake, river, sea') to ~ for (to ~ for a body) 2. (D; tr.) ('to search') to ~ for (they ~ged the lake for the body) 3. (d; tr.) ('to pull') to ~ into (they ~ged the tables into the garden; to be ~ged into a war) 4. (d; intr.) ('to draw deeply') to ~ on (to ~ on a pipe) 5. (d; tr.) ('to pull') to ~ out of (we ~ged the old sofa out of the house) 6. (D; tr.) ('to pull') to ~ through (they ~ged the logs through the forest) 7. (D; tr.) ('to pull') to ~ (over) to (they ~ged him to the door) drag down v. (usu. fig.) (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. down into the gutter) dragnet n. ['network'] a police ~ dragoon v. (rare) (d; intr.) ('to coerce') to ~ into drag over v. (D; tr.) ('to pull') to ~ to (they ~ged her over to the car) drain I n. 1. to clean out, clear, unblock, unclog a ~ 2. to block, clog a ~ 3. (misc.) a brain ~ II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ from (the blood ~ed from his face when he heard the news) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ of (~ the tank of all water) 3. (N; used with an adjective) they ~ed the swamps dry drama n. 1. a courtroom; epic ~ 2. high ~ 3. a ~ unfolds dramatics n. to study ~ drapes n. (AE; BE has curtains) 1. to hang ~ 2. to draw; open the ~ 3. window ~ draught (BE) see draft 5,9 draw I n. ['act of drawing a weapon'] 1. on the ~ (quick on the ~) 2. (misc.) to beat smb. to the ~ ['lottery'] (esp. BE) 3. to hold a ~ (AE has drawing) II v. 1. (C) ('to sketch')-a picture for me; or: ~ me a picture 2. (D; tr.) to ~ against, on ('to take from') (to ~ a check/cheque against an account) 3. (D; intr.) ('to pick a number at random') to ~ for (to ~ for a prize) 4. (D; tr.) ('to remove') to ~ from (to ~ money from an account; to ~ water from a well) 5. (D; tr.) ('to elicit') to ~ from (to ~ applause from an audience) 6. (d; tr.) ('to bring') to ~ into (to ~ smb. into a quarrel) 7. (d; intr.) ('to puff) to ~ on (to ~ on a pipe) 8. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to take from') (to ~ on one's reserves; to ~ on an account) 9. (D; tr.) ('to attract') to ~ to (to ~ smb.'s attention to smt.) 10. (J) ('to sketch') the artist drew her looking out at the sea 11. (N; used with an adjective) ('to pull') ~ the rope tight 12. (misc.) he drew a gun on his opponent; to ~ to a close; sharply drawn draw away v. (D; intr.) to ~ from ('to increase the distance from') (the leader drew away from the pack) drawbridge n. to lower; raise a ~ drawer n. 1. to close, push in a ~ 2. to open, pull out a ~ drawing n. ['picture'] 1. to do, make a ~ 2. a composite ~ ['representation by lines'] 3. mechanical ~ 4. (a) freehand; line ~ ['lottery'] (esp. AE) 5. to hold a ~ (BE has draw) drawing board n. ['planning stage'] 1. on the ~ 2. (misc.) back to the ~ dread v. 1. (rare) (E) I ~ to see him again 2. (G) she ~s going to the dentist dreadful adj. ~ to + int. (it is ~ to contemplate the possibility of another war) dream I n. ['image seen while sleeping'] 1. to have a ~ 2. to interpret ~s 3. a bad; recurring; wet; wild ~ 4. a ~ about, of ['hope'] ['goal'] 5. to achieve one's ~s 6. a childhood; visionary; wild ~ 7. a ~ comes true 8. a ~ of 9. a ~ to + int. (it was his ~ to become a teacher) 10. a ~ that + clause (it was only a ~ that he might be elected) 11. beyond one's wildest ~s II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, of 2. (L) she never ~ed that she would someday write dictionaries dreary adj. it was very ~ to do the same job every day = it was very ~ doing the same job every day dregs n. the ~ of society drench v. 1. to ~ thoroughly 2. (D); tr.) to ~ to (we were ~ed to the skin) dress I n. ['clothing']!, casual, informal; evening, formal; native ~ 2. improper; proper ~ 3. in ~ (in informal ~) ['woman's frock'] 4. a casual; cocktail; evening (esp. BE); low-cut; maternity; summer ~ 5. a ~ is long; short; tight 6. a ~ fits (well) 7. in a ~ (she was in a summer ~) ['garment for sleeping'] (BE) 8. a nightdress II v. 1. to ~ elegantly, smartly; lightly; warmly 2. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ as (he was ~ed as a sailor) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for dinner) 4. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ in (to ~ in black) dressing n. ['bandage'] 1. to apply, put on a ~ (to apply a ~ to a wound) 2. to remove; replace a ~ 3. a sterile ~ ['sauce'] 4. a salad ~ (blue cheese; creamy Italian; French; Italian; Roquefort; Russian; Thousand Island; vinegar-and-oil ~) dress up v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ as (he ~ed up as a cowboy; they ~ed her up as a ballerina) dribble n. (basketball) a double ~ drift I n. (colloq.) ['meaning'] to get the ~ II v. 1.(d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into a life of crime) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with the current) drift away v. (D; intr.) to ~ from drift back v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (the strikers ~ed back to work) drill I n. ['boring tool'] 1. to operate, use a ~ 2. an electric, power; hand; rotary ~ ['exercise'] 3. to conduct a ~ 4. (mil.) close-order ~ 5. an air-raid; evacuation; fire ~ II v. 1.(D; intr.) ('to prospect') to ~ for (to ~ for oil) 2. (D; tr.) ('to train') to ~ in (to ~ students in pronunciation) 3. (d; tr.) ('to instill') to ~ into (to ~ discipline into cadets) drink I n. 1. to fix, make, mix a ~ 2. to pour a ~ 3. to have, take; nurse; toss off a ~ 4. a fizzy (BE); potent, stiff, strong; still (BE) ('not sparkling'); weak ~ 5. a mixed; soft ~ 6. (misc.) to drown one's sorrows in ~ II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ from (I always ~ tea from a glass) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to (let's ~ to good health) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ a toast to smb.) 4. (misc.) to ~ oneself to death; to ~ smb. under the table drinker n. a hard, heavy ~ drinking n. 1. excessive; hard, heavy ~ 2. a bout of ~ drip I n. a steady ~ II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from (the water was ~ping from the tap) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with drive I n. ['trip in a vehicle'] 1. to go for, go on, have (BE), take a ~ 2. an easy ~ (it's an easy half hour ~ to their place) 3. a test ~ ['campaign'] 4. to initiate, launch a ~ for (to launch a ~ for flood relief) 5. a charity; fund-raising ~ ['energy'] 6. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to finish the job?) ['impulse'] 7. an elemental ~ ['type of propulsion'] 8. a chain; disc (BE), disk (AE); fluid; four-wheel; front- wheel; rear-wheel ~ (see also driveway) II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to suggest') (what is she ~ing at?) 2. (d; tr.) ('to direct') to ~ through (to ~ a nail through a wall) 3. (D; tr.) ('to transport') to ~ to (she drove me to the station; who ~s the children to school?) 4. (d; tr.) to ~ to ('to bring to') (to ~ smb. to despair) 5. (H) ('to force') he was driven by necessity to steal 6. (N; used with an adjective) ('to make') he drove me crazy drive down v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (let's ~ to the beach) drive home v. 1. (B) to ~ a point home to smb. 2. (L) he could not ~ to her that we cannot afford a new car 3. (Q) we must ~ to him where the difficulties lie driver n. 1. a lorry (BE), truck; mule; tractor ~ 2. (BE) an engine ~ (AE has engineer) 3. a learner (BE), student (AE) ~ 4. a hit-and-run ~ driver's license n. (AE) 1. to issue a ~ 2. to revoke; suspend a ~ driveway n. (esp. AE; BE prefers drive) 1. to pave, surface a ~ 2. a ~ between (a ~ between two houses) driving n. city; defensive; drunken; highway (AE), motorway (BE); reckless; rush-hour; safe; stop-and-go; turnpike ~ driving licence n. (BE) 1. to issue a ~ 2. to revoke; suspend a ~ drool v. (colloq.)(D; intr.) ('to show pleasure') to ~ over (they were ~ing over their new grandchild) drop I n. ['fall'] 1. a sharp; sheer; sudden ~ 2. a ~ in (a sharp ~ in the interest rate) ['depository'] 3. a mail ~ II v. 1. (A; used without to) ('to write') ~ me a line when you get there 2. (d; intr.) ('to lag') to ~ behind (he ~ped behind the other runners) 3. (D; intr., tr.) ('to fall; to let fall') to ~ from (the book ~ped from her hand; his name was ~ped from the list) 4. (d; intr., tr.) ('to fall; to let fall') to ~ into (the stone ~ped into the water; I ~ped a coin into the slot) 5. (D; tr.) ('to let fall') to ~ on, to (she ~ped a book on the floor) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to abandon') (to ~ of school) 7. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to disappear') (to ~ out of sight) 8. (D; intr.) ('to fall') to ~ to (prices ~ped to the lowest point in a year; everyone ~ped to the ground) 9. (misc.) to ~ dead drop behind v. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in one's work) drop in v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (~ on me at any time) drop off v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to leave') to ~ at (could you ~ the books at the library?) 2. (misc.) to ~ to sleep droppings n. animal ~ drops n. (med.) 1. to put in ~ 2. cough; eye; knockout; nose ~ drudgery n. sheer ~ drug n. 1. to administer; prescribe a ~ 2. to take a ~ 3. a mild; powerful, strong; weak ~ 4. a generic; habit-forming; miracle, wonder; non-addictive; nonprescription, over-the-counter; prescription; proprietary; sulfa (AE), sulpha (BE); toxic ~ 5. (misc.) a ~ on the market ('smt. for which there is little demand'); a ~ addict; a ~ dealer/pusher drugs n. 1. to take ~ 2. to peddle, push, sell, traffic in (illicit) ~ 3. hard; soft ~ 4. illegal, illicit ~ drugstore n. (esp. AE; BE has chemist's) at, in a ~ (he works at/in a ~) drum I n. ['percussion instrument'] 1. to beat, play; roll a ~ 2. a bass ~; kettledrum; snare ~ 3. muffled ~s 4. the ~s roll ['cylinder'] 5. a brake ~ II v. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smt. into smb.'s head) drumfire n. ['barrage'] to keep up an incessant ~ drum up v. (D; tr.) to ~ for (he ~med up some business for us) drunk I adj. 1. dead, roaring, stinking ~ 2. to get ~ on (he got ~ on cheap wine) 3. ~ with (~ with power) II n. to roll ('rob') a ~ drunkard n. an habitual ~ dry adj. to go, run ~ (the well ran ~) dry run n. (esp. AE) to do, make a ~ dub I v. (N; used with a noun) ('to name') they ~bed him Bud II v. (d; tr.) ('to provide with a new sound track') to ~ into (to ~ a film into English) dubious adj. 1. ~ about, of 2. ~ if, that, whether + clause (it's ~ if they'll come) duck I n. 1. ~s quack; waddle 2. a young ~ is a duckling 3. a male ~ is a drake 4. (misc.) to take to like a ~ takes to water ('to adapt to smt. quickly and easily') II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to move quickly') to ~ into (we ~ed into the nearest building) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to evade') (to ~ out of an obligation) ducking n. to give smb. a ~ dudgeon n. ['indignation'] in high ~ due I adj. 1. (cannot stand alone) ~ for (~ for a promotion) 2. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (her absence was ~ to illness) 3. to come, fall ~ (the note has fallen ~) 4. ~ to + inf. (the train is ~ to arrive at ten o'clock) USAGE NOTE: Purists prefer to use due to as an adjectival predicate phrase modifying the subject--her absence was due to illness. Otherwise, because of or owing to is preferred--she was absent because of illness; owing to illness she was absent. II n. ['recognition'] to give smb. her/his ~ duel n. 1. to fight a ~ 2. to challenge smb. to a ~ 3. a ~ to the death due process n. (legal) to observe ~ dues n. 1. to pay ~ 2. annual; membership ~ duet n. to play; sing a ~ dukes n. (colloq.) ['fists'] to put up one's ~ dumb adj. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['stupid'] 1. to play ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of you to say that) dumbfounded adj. 1. completely ~ 2. ~ at, by (~ at the news) 3. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to learn that his wife had left him) dummy n. (slang) ['stupid person'] a ~ to + inf. (he was a ~ to agree) (see also pacifier) dummy run (BE) see dry run dump I n. ['place for dumping'] (esp. AE) 1. a garbage, trash ~; the town ~ (BE prefers refuse tip) ['dilapidated place'] (colloq.) 2. a real ~ (this town is a real ~) II v. (slang) (AE) to ~ on ('to project bad experiences or feelings on') (I have enough troubles of my own--don't ~ on me) dun v. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for payment) dupe v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (he was ~d into signing) duplicate n. 1. to make a ~ 2. in ~ duplicity n. ~ in duration n. 1. long; moderate; short ~ 2. of a certain ~ (of short ~) 3. for the ~ (of the war) duress n. under ~ (to sign a confession under ~) dusk n. at ~ dust n. 1. to gather; raise ~ 2. fine, powdery ~ 3. cosmic; gold; radioactive; volcanic ~ 4. a cloud; layer; particle of ~ 5. ~ collects; settles 6. (misc.) from ~ to ~ duster see the Usage Note for eraser dusting n. a light ~ (of snow) Dutch n. (colloq.) (may be derog.) 1. in ~ ('in trouble') 2. to go ~ ('to eat or drink with everyone paying her/his own way') duty n. ['obligation'] ['service'] 1. to assume, take on a ~ 2. to carry out, discharge, do, perform one's ~ 3. to shirk one's ~ 4. an ethical, moral; legal; painful, unpleasant; pleasant ~ 5. a civic; official; patriotic; professional ~; supervisory ~ties 6. (esp. mil.) active; detached; fatigue; guard; light; overseas; sea; special; temporary ~ (to see active ~) 7. a ~ to (a ~ to one's country) 8. a ~ to + int. (physicians have a ~ to report such cases) 9. on ~; off ~ (who was on ~ yesterday? when do you get off ~?) 10. (misc.) a sense of ~; in line of ~; ~ calls ['tariff] ['tax'] 11. to impose a ~ on 12. to pay ~ on 13. to lift a ~ from 14. to exempt smt. from ~ 15. (BE) a death ~ (AE has inheritance tax) dwell v. (d; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a question; to ~ on one's personal problems) dweller n. a cave; cliff; lake ~ dwindle v. (D; intr.) to ~ (away) to (to ~ to nothing) dye I n. 1. to apply ~ to 2. natural; synthetic ~s II v. (N; used with an adjective) she ~d the dress blue dynamite n. 1. ~ explodes 2. a stick of ~ dynasty n. 1. to establish, found a ~ 2. to overthrow a ~ dysentery n. 1. to come down with ~ 2. an attack of ~ 3. amebic ~ each determiner, pronoun ~ of (~ of them) USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposition of is necessary when a pronoun follows. When a noun follows, two constructions are possible--we saw each student; we saw each of the students. eager adj. 1. ~ for (~ for success) 2. ~ to + int. (she's ~ to help) eagerness n. ~ to + int. (we appreciate his ~ to help) eagle n. 1. a bald; golden ~ 2. ~s scream; soar 3. a young ~ is an eaglet ear n. 1. to perk up, prick up; wiggle one's ~s 2. to pierce smb.'s ~ 3. a musical ~ 4. the inner; middle; outer ~ 5. one's ~s perk up, prick up; ring 6. an ~ for (to have an ~ for music) 7. by ~ (to play music by ~) 8. (misc.) to lend an ~ to ('to pay attention to'); to turn a deaf ~ to ('to pay no attention to'); to fall on deaf ~s ('to be disregarded'); a cauliflower ~ ('an ear deformed by repeated blows'); to have smb.'s ~ ('to have access to smb. who is superior in rank'); to box smb.'s ~s ('to strike smb. on the head'); the loud music grated on our ~s; up to one's ~s in debt ('heavily in debt'); to play it by ~ ('to improvise') earache n. to have an ~ (AE),to have ~ (BE) eardrum n. a perforated ~ earmark v. (d; tr.) to ~ for (money has been ~ed for the new library) earmarks n. ['characteristics'] to have all the ~ of earn v. (C) his accomplishments ~ed respect for him; or: his accomplishments ~ed him respect earnest I adj. ~ about II n. in ~ about earnings n. annual; average; gross; net ~ earplug n. to insert an ~ earshot n. out of ~; within ~ earth n. 1. to circle; orbit the ~ 2. the ~ revolves around the sun; rotates on its axis 3. on (the) ~ (is there more land or water on ~?) 4. (misc.) down to ~ ('practical'); who on ~ would ever do that? what on ~ is that? earthquake n. 1. to record an ~ 2. a devastating; light; severe ~ 3. an ~ strikes (a severe ~ struck the area) 4. the magnitude of an ~ earwax n. to remove ~ ease I n. 1. at ~ (to put smb. at ~; ill at ~) 2. at ~ with (she feels at ~ with us) 3. (formal) for ~ in (for ~ in sleeping) 4. with ~ (he can lift a hundred pounds with great ~) II v. (P;refl.,tr.) they ~d the piano through the window easement n. ['right of way'] (legal) to grant an ~ ease up v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (you should ~ on your workers: you've been pushing them too hard) east I adj., adv. ~ of II n. 1. in, to the ~ 2. (AE) back ~ ('in the eastern part of the US') 3. (BE) out ~ ('in, to Asia') 4. the Far; Middle; Near ~ USAGE NOTE: The Far East refers to the countries of eastern Asia. The Middle East refers to the countries of the eastern Mediterranean. The Near East is now generally a synonym of the preceding term; formerly it referred to the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire. easy adj. ['not difficult'] 1. ~ for (that job was ~ for her) ['lenient'] 2. (cannot stand alone) ~ on (you are too ~ on the children; go ~ on him: he's been sick) ['showing moderation'] 3. (cannot stand alone) ~ on (go ~ on the hot peppers) ['not difficult'] 4. (cannot stand alone) ~ to + int. (this book is ~ to translate = it is ~ to translate this book = this is an ~ book to translate; Bob is ~ to please = it is ~ to please Bob; it is not ~ to be a parent = it is not ~ being a parent; it is ~ for you to say that) eat v. 1. to ~ heartily, voraciously 2. (d; intr.) to ~ into (acid ~s into metal) 3. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ out of (our cat ~s out of her own dish) eat away v. (d; intr.) to ~ at (the waves ~ at the shore) eater n. a heavy; light ~ eavesdrop v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a conversation) ebb n. 1. at a low ~ 2. on the ~ (the tide is on the ~) eccentric adj.. ~ in (~ in one's habits) echelon n. 1. (mil.) the forward; rear ~ 2. the higher, top, upper ~s of society echo n. to produce an ~ eclipse n. ['obscuring of the moon or sun'] 1. a full, total; lunar; partial; solar ~ ['dimming of one's influence'] 2. in ~ ecology n. deep; human ~ economical adj. ['inexpensive'] ~ to + int. (it's more ~ to go by bus = it's more ~ going by bus) economics n. supply-side; trickle-down ~ economize v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on fuel) economy n. ['frugality'] 1. to practice ~ 2. strict ~ ['economic structure'] 3. a free-market; national; peacetime; planned; shaky; sound; wartime ~ ['the science of economies'] 4. political ~ ecstasy n. 1. pure, sheer ~ 2. in ~ over ecstatic adj. ~ about, at, over (~ at being selected) edge I n. ['margin, border'] (also fig. )1. a cutting; jagged, ragged ~ 2. at, on an ~ (she stood at the ~ of the crater) ['advantage'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 3. an ~ on (to gain a competitive ~ on smb.) ['misc.'] 4. to take the ~ off one's appetite ('to satisfy one's appetite partially'); to be on ~ ('to be tense') II v. (P; intr., tr.) to ~ one's way through a crowd edgy adj. (colloq.) ['nervous'] ~ about edict n. 1. to issue an ~ 2. to recall, rescind an ~ 3. a royal; solemn ~ 4. an ~ that + clause (the government issued an ~ that all prisoners would be released) edition n. 1. to bring out, publish an ~ (to bring out a new ~) 2. (of a book, dictionary) an abridged; annotated; corrected; critical; deluxe; expanded; first; hardback; limited; paperback; revised; thumb-indexed; unabridged; unexpurgated; variorum ~ 3. (of a newspaper) a city, home; evening; final; morning; special ~ 4. (misc.) (BE) an omnibus ~ ('the rebroadcast of the week's episodes of a soap opera or of a series') editor n. 1. a city ~ 2. a copy; managing; news; technical ~ USAGE NOTE: In AE, city editor means 'local news editor'; in BE it means 'London financial editor'. editorial n. 1. to write an ~ 2. an ~ about editorship n. under the ~ of educate v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for, to (~d to one's responsibilities) 2. (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. educated adj. highly, well; poorly ~ education n. 1. to provide an ~ 2. compulsory; free ~ 3. elementary (esp. AE), primary; higher; secondary ~; a college, university ~ 4. adult (AE), continuing, further (BE); health; in-service; physical; pre-professional; professional; remedial; sex; special; vocational ~ 5. a broad, general; liberal ~; (a) progressive ~ 6. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to cope with the job?) eel n. 1. a conger; electric ~ 2. (misc.) as slippery as an ~ effect n. ['efficacy'] ['influence'] 1. to have, produce an ~ on 2. to heighten an ~ 3. to take ~ (the drug took ~) 4. to feel an ~ (I feel the ~ of the narcotic) 5. to mar; negate, nullify; sleep off the ~ (of smt.) 6. an adverse; beneficial, salutary; calculated; cumulative; deleterious, harmful; desired; dramatic; exhilarating; far- reaching; hypnotic; limited, marginal; minimal; net; practical; profound ~ 7. a domino; greenhouse ('warming of the earth's surface'); halo ('overly favorable judgment based on irrelevant factors'); knock-on (BE) ('additional'); placebo; retroactive; ripple ('gradually spreading influence'); side ~ 8. an ~ wears off 9. to little ~ ['operation'] 10. to put into ~ (to put new regulations into ~) 11. to go into, take ~ (when does the new law take ~?) 12. in ~ (the ordinance is still in ~) ['desired impression'] 13. for ~ (she said that purely for ~) ['meaning'] 14. to the ~ (he said smt. to the ~ that he might be late; words to that ~) ['reality'] ['practice'] 15. in ~ effective adj. 1. ~ against (~ against the common cold) 2. ~ in (~ in fighting forest fires) 3. ~ to + inf. (it would be more ~ not to respond to the charges) effects n. ['belongings'] 1. household; personal ~ ['impressions'] 2. sound; special ~ ['results'] 3. ill efficiency n. 1. to impair ~ 2. fighting; maximum, peak ~ 3. ~ in (~ in combating absenteeism) 4. at a certain ~ (at peak ~) efficient adj. 1. ~ in (she was very ~ in reducing waste) 2. ~ to + inf. (it is not ~ to hire poorly trained workers) effigy n. to burn; hang smb. in ~ effort n. 1. to make, put forth an ~ ~ 2. to redouble one's ~s 3. to spare no ~ 4. to foil, stymie, thwart smb.'s ~s 5. an abortive; all-out, furious, gallant, great. Herculean, heroic, massive, maximum, painstaking, strenuous, valiant; collaborative, joint; concerted; conscious; desperate, frantic; minimal; sincere; studious; superhuman; useless, vain ~; ceaseless, unceasing; unsparing, untiring; wasted ~s 6. a team ~; the war ~ 7. an ~ to + inf. (they made an all-out ~ to finish the work on time) effrontery n. the ~ to + inf. (he had the ~ to demand more money) egg I n. 1. to hatch; incubate; lay ~s 2. to beat (AE), whisk (BE); boil; fry; poach an ~ 3. to candle ~s 4. an addled, bad, rotten ~; boiled; devilled; fried; hard- boiled; poached; raw; Scotch (BE); scrambled; soft-boiled ~s 5. (misc.) a bad/ rotten ~ ('a bad person'); a good ~ ('a good person'); to have ~ on one's face ('to be in an embarrassing position'); (BE) to teach one's grandmother to suck ~s ('to try to tell smb. smt. that they already know') II v. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into doing smt.) egg on v. (H) to ~ smb. on to do smt. ego n. 1. to feed, flatter smb.'s ~ 2. an inflated, overbearing, overwhelming ~ 3. an alter ~ either determiner, pronoun ~ of (~ of the two; ~ of them) USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposition of is necessary when two or a pronoun follows. When a noun follows, the following constructions are used--either student will know the answer; either of the students will know the answer. eject v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from (to ~ from a disabled plane; they were ~ed from the room for disorderly conduct) elaborate v. (D; intr.) to ~ on elated adj. ~ about, at, over (~ at the good news) elbow I n. 1. a tennis ~ ('an elbow that hurts because of excessive exercise') 2. at smb.'s ~ ('close to smb.') II v. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ through (to ~ one's way through a crowd) elbowroom n. 1. to give smb. ~ 2. ~ for elect v. 1. to ~ unanimously 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as 3. (D; tr.) to ~ to (he was ~ed to the state legislature) 4. (formal) (E) he ~ed to become a physician 5. (H) she was ~ed to represent us 6. (N; used with a noun) the nation ~ed her vice-president election n. 1. to hold, schedule an ~ 2. to carry, win an ~ 3. to decide, swing an ~ (her last speech swung the ~ in her favor) 4. to concede; lose an ~ 5. to fix, rig an ~ 6. a close, hotly contested; rigged ~ 7. a free; general; local; national; primary; runoff ~ 8. smb.'s ~ to (her ~ to the senate was welcome news) 9. (misc.) ~ fever ('excitement before an election'); (BE) the runup to an ~ ('an election campaign') electrician n. to call (in) an ~ electricity n. 1. to generate; induce ~ 2. to conduct ~ 3. static ~ 4. ~ flows electrocardiogram n. to do; have an ~ elegance n. 1. faded; sheer ~ 2. sartorial ~ element n. ['component'] 1. a basic, essential, vital ~ ['group'] 2. a foreign ~ 3. criminal; extremist; subversive; undesirable ~s ['substance'] 4. chemical ~s ['natural environment'] 5. in one's ~; out of one's ~ ['factor'] 6. the human ~ elephant n. 1. a rogue ('wild') ~ 2. ~s trumpet 3. a herd of ~s 4. a young ~ is a calf 5. a female ~ is a cow 6. a male ~ is a bull elevate v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ smb. to the peerage) elevator n. (AE for 1-6; BE has lift) ['device for raising and lowering people and freight'] 1. to operate an ~ (an ~ operator operates an ~) 2. to take an ~ (we took the ~ to the tenth floor) 3. a down; express; self-service; up ~ 4. a freight ~ 5. a service ~ 6. a bank of ~s ['storage building'] 7. a grain ~ elicit v. (D;tr.)to ~ from eligibility n. ~ for eligible adj. 1. ~ for (~ for promotion) 2. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to vote) eliminate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from elimination n. ~ from elite n. a party; power; social ~ elixir n. the ~ of life elk n. 1. a herd of ~ 2. a female ~ is a cow 3. a male ~ is a bull USAGE NOTE: The European elk is the North American moose. The North American elk resembles the European red deer, but is larger. elope v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (she ~d with her childhood sweetheart) eloquence n. flowery ~ eloquent adj. to wax ~ emanate v. (d; intr.) to ~ from emancipate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ serfs from bondage) emancipation n. ~ from embankment n. a railroad, railway ~ embargo n. 1. to impose an ~ 2. to place, put an ~ on 3. to lift, remove an ~ from 4. a trade ~ 5. an ~ against, on 6. under ~ embark v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for France) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a new career) embarrass v. (R) it ~ed him to be caught cheating embarrassed adj. 1. ~ about, at, over 2. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to see his name in print) embarrassing adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to fail the exam) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that our streets are so dirty) embarrassment n. 1. to cause ~ 2. to feel ~ 3. ~ about, at, over (we felt ~ about the disclosure) 4. an ~ to (his outburst was an ~ to his family) 5. to smb.'s ~ (to my ~, she accepted the invitation) embassy n. 1. a foreign ~ 2. at, in an ~ (she works at/in the ~) embed v. (D;refl.,tr.) to ~ in embers n. 1. burning; live ~ 2. the glow of (burning) ~ embezzle v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from embezzlement n. 1. to commit ~ 2. ~ from emblazoned adj. ~ with emblem n. a national ~ embodiment n. a living ~ (of an ideal) embody v. (D;tr.) to ~ in embolden v. (formal) (H) what ~ed him to make the attempt? embolism n. a coronary ~ embrace n. a loving, tender, warm; passionate; tight ~ embroider v. (D;tr.) to ~ for (she ~ed a towel for me) embroil v. (D;tr.) to ~ in embryo n. an ~ develops emerge v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ as (he ~d as the leading contender) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from (the sun ~d from behind the clouds; to ~ from the shadows) emergency n. 1. to cause, create; declare an ~ 2. a grave, serious; life-and-death; life-threatening; national ~ 3. a state of ~ 4. in case of an ~ (esp. AE); in (the event of) an ~ emergency cord n. (AE) to pull an ~ (BE has communication cord) emigrate v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to eminence n. of ~ (a person of great ~) eminent adj. ~ in emissary n. an ~ to emission n. 1. to control ~s 2. sulfur (AE), sulphur ~s 3. a nocturnal ~ emit v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smoke into the air) emotion n. 1. to stir up, whip up ~(s) 2. to express; show ~ 3. deep, sincere; pent-up; strong ~(s) 4. conflicting, mixed ~s 5. with ~ (to speak with deep ~) empathize v. (D; intr.) to ~ with empathy n. 1. to feel; show ~ 2. ~ with emphasis n. 1. to lay, place, put ~ on 2. particular, special ~ emphasize v. 1. (B) she ~d its importance to me 2. (L) I ~d that everyone should come on time emphatic adj. ~ about, in empire n. 1. to govern, rule an ~ 2. to build up; consolidate an ~ 3. to break up an ~ 4. a colonial; commercial; publishing ~ emplacement n. an antiaircraft; concealed; gun ~ employ v. 1. to ~ gainfully 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as (she was ~ed as a programmer) employee n. 1. to engage (esp. BE), hire (esp. AE), take on an ~ 2. to dismiss, fire, sack (colloq.) an ~; (BE) to make an ~ redundant 3. a government; white-collar ~ 4. a full-time; part-time ~ 5. a fellow ~ employer n. an equal-opportunities (BE), equal-opportunity ~ employment n. 1. to give, provide ~ 2. to find; seek ~ 3. casual (BE); full-time; part-time; seasonal; steady ~ 4. ~ peaks; rises 5. ~ is down; up 6. ~ as (to find ~ as a mechanic) empower v. (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. empty I adj. ~ of (~ of meaning) II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to flow') to ~ into (the Danube ~ties into the Black Sea) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ of enable v. (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. enamored adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ of encase v. (D;tr.) to ~ in enclose v. (D;tr.) to ~ in encore n. to do; play; sing an ~ encounter n. a brief, fleeting; casual; chance; close ~ encourage v. 1. (H) she ~d me to leave 2. (K) who ~d his taking drugs? 3. (R) it ~d me (to learn) that they had promised to help encouraged adj. 1. ~ at, by (~ at the news) 2. ~ to + inf. (I was ~ to see such excellent results) encouragement n. 1. to give, offer, provide ~ 2. to find ~ in 3. warm ~ encouraging adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to read that illiteracy is declining) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that the inflation rate has dropped) encroach v. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon (to ~ on smb.'s territory) encrusted adj. ~ with encumber v. (D; tr.) to ~ with encyclopedia, encyclopaedia n. 1. to compile an ~ 2. (humorous) a walking ~ end I n. ['finish'] 1. to put an ~ to smt. 2. at the ~ (at the ~ of the word) 3. by the ~ (by the ~ of the year) 4. to the ~ (to the bitter ~) ['outer part'] 5. the opposite ~ 6. from ~ to ~; from the beginning to the ~ ['purpose'] 7. to accomplish, achieve one's ~s ['misc.'] 8. to be on the receiving ~ ('to be a recipient'); to make both ~s meet ('to manage to get along on one's income'); to the ~s of the earth ('to the most remote parts of the earth'); in the ~ ('finally') II v. 1. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ by (he ~ed his remarks by quoting Lincoln) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ in (the word ~s in a consonant; to ~ in a draw; to ~ in disaster) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ with (we ~ed our meal with a nice dessert) endear v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ to (she ~ed herself to everyone) endeavor, endeavour v. (formal) (E) he ~ed to remain calm endemic adj. ~ in, to ending n. 1. a happy; sad; surprise ~ (to have a happy ~) 2. (grammar) a feminine; grammatical; inflectional; masculine; neuter ~ endorsement n. ['approval'] 1. to give one's ~ 2. to receive smb.'s ~ 3. to withdraw one's ~ 4. a qualified; unqualified ~ endow v. 1. to ~ richly 2. (d; tr.) to ~ with endowment n. to provide an ~ for endup v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ as (she ~ed up as governor of the state) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ by (she ~ed up by going to law school) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with (I ~ed up with the estate) 4. (J) he ~ed up robbing banks 5. (S) she ~ed up governor of the state; to ~ rich endurance n. 1. to test smb.'s ~ 2. physical ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to run the entire distance?) 4. beyond ~ 5. (misc.) smb.'s powers of ~ endure v. 1. (G) she cannot ~ seeing hungry children 2. (K) I cannot ~ his suffering 3. (misc.) to ~ to the bitter end enema n. 1. to administer, give an ~ 2. to get, have an ~ enemy n. 1. to conquer, overcome, rout an ~ 2. to confront, face an ~ 3. an arch, avowed, bitter, implacable, mortal, sworn; common; formidable, powerful; insidious; mutual; natural; political; secret ~ 4. a public ~ 5. (misc.) to be one's own worst ~ energy n. ['capacity'] 1. to apply, expend one's ~; to redirect one's energies 2. to dissipate; sap smb.'s ~ 3. boundless, limitless, unflagging; latent; misguided; unharnessed ~ 4. a burst of ~ 5. the ~ to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to get all of these jobs done?) ['usable power'] 6. to provide ~ for 7. to harness ~ (to harness solar ~) 8. atomic, nuclear; kinetic; solar ~ 9. sources of ~ 10. (misc.) an ~ crisis enforce v. to ~ rigidly, strictly, stringently enforcement n. 1. rigid, strict, stringent ~ 2. law engage v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ as (to ~ smb. as a guide) 2. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ in (to ~ in sports; to ~ smb. in conversation) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with (the first gear ~s with the second) 4. (H) we ~d him to drive us around the city engaged adj. ['busy'] 1. actively; directly ~ 2. ~ in, on (esp. BE) (we are ~ in compiling a dictionary) ['betrothed'] 3. ~ to (Bill is ~ to Betty) ['hired'] 4. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to work in public relations) engagement n. ['betrothal'] 1. to announce an ~ 2. to break (off) an ~ 3. an ~ to (her ~ to him was announced in the local paper) ['appointment'] ['obligation'] 4. to cancel an ~ 5. a luncheon; previous, prior; social; speaking ~ ['battle'] 6. to break off an ~ 7. a naval ~ engine n. ['motor'] 1. to crank, start; operate, run; rev up an ~ 2. to lubricate; repair; service; tune up an ~ 3. to cut, kill, turn off; warm up an ~ 4. an air-cooled; aircraft; diesel; donkey; electric; internal- combustion; jet; radial; reciprocating; rotary; steam; turbojet; V-8; valve-in-head ~ 5. an ~ breaks down; floods; functions, runs, works; gets overheated; idles; knocks, sputters; stalls 6. an ~ burns gasoline (AE), petrol (BE) 7. an ~ runs on electric power; solar energy ['vehicle'] 8. a fire ~ engineer n. ['skilled specialist in a branch of engineering'] 1. a chemical; civil; electrical; flight; graduate; highway; marine; mechanical; metallurgical; mining; operating; sanitary; systems; transportation ~ [^driver'] 2. a locomotive ~ (AE; BE has engine driver) ['technician'] 3. an operating; radio; sound ~ engineering n. chemical; civil; electrical; genetic; highway; hydraulic; marine; mechanical; metallurgical; sanitary; systems; traffic; transportation English n. I.American; Australian; Basic; Black; British; Canadian; Common, World; Indian; Middle; Modern; Old ~ 2. BBC; broken, fractured; colloquial; idiomatic; the King's, the Queen's; nonstandard; pidgin; Shakespearean; spoken; standard; substandard; written ~ 3. in fluent; good; plain ~ engrave v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) to ~ on (the events ~d themselves on my memory) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with engrossed adj. 1. deeply ~ 2. ~ in (~ in one's work) engulf v. (D;tr.)to ~ in enigma n. an ~ to enjoin v. (formal) 1. (esp. AE)(d;tr.) ('to forbid') to ~ from 2. (d; tr.) ('to order') to ~ on (to ~ a duty on smb.) 3. (H) ('to order') to ~ smb. to obey the law enjoy v. 1. to ~ enormously, greatly, immensely, very much 2. (G) she ~s swimming 3. (K) they ~ his singing enjoyable adj. 1. highly ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to swim in the ocean) enjoyment n. 1. to give, provide ~ 2. to derive ~ from 3. full, great ~ enlarge v. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to discuss in detail') enlargement n. to make an ~ (of a photograph) enlighten v. (D;tr.) to ~ about, on (can you ~ me on this subject?) enlightening adj. 1. thoroughly ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to read the old newspaper accounts of the incident) enlist v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for three years) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in the army) 3. (H) we ~ed them to help enlistment n. to extend one's ~ enmeshed adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ in (~ in legal details) enmity n. 1. to stir up ~ 2. to incur smb.'s ~ 3. bitter ~ 4. ~ against, towards; among, between enough adj., determiner, pronoun 1. ~ for (that's ~ for me) 2. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to know that they are safe; we've had ~ excitement to last a lifetime) 3. ~ of (~ of them) USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposition of is necessary when a pronoun follows. When a noun follows, the use of of the limits the meaning--we have seen enough documentaries; we have seen enough of the documentaries that we had discussed earlier. enquire (BE) see inquire enquiries n. (BE) 1. directory ~ (AE has directory assistance or information) 2. long-distance, trunk ~ (AE has long-distance information) enrage v. (R) (rare) it ~d me (to learn) that he had embezzled company funds enraged adj. 1. ~ at, by, over 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to leam that her friends had left without her) enroll, enrol v. (D; intr., refl., tr.) to ~ for, in (to ~ for a course; to ~ students in a course) enrollment, enrolment n. 1. heavy; light ~ 2. open ('unrestricted') ~ 3. ~ in (the ~ in several courses went up) en route adv. ~ from; to (they are ~ to London) ensconced adj. ~ in (~ in an easy chair) ensue v. (D; intr.) to ~ from ensure v. (formal) 1. (A; usu. used without to) the present contract cannot ~ you a job 2. (d; tr.) to ~ against (to ~ workers against accidents) 3. (K) I cannot ~ his being on time 4. (L) no one can ~ that he'll come entail v. 1. (G) it ~s moving to another city 2. (K) this job would ~ your learning how to use a computer entangle v. (D; tr.) to ~ in, with entanglement n. ~ in, with enter v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to come in') to ~ by (to ~ by the rear door) 2. (D; tr.) ('to enroll') to ~ in (to ~ smb. in a contest) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to participate in') (to ~ into negotiations) 4. (D; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to begin') to ~ upon a new career enterprise n. ['initiative'] 1. free; private ~ 2. a joint ~ 3. of ~ (a person of great ~) ['firm'] 4. a commercial ~ entertain v. (D; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ children with funny stories) entertaining adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to watch people in a restaurant) entertainment n. 1. to provide ~ 2. live ~ 3. ~ to + inf. (it was pure ~ to watch them dance) 4. to smb.'s ~ (to everyone's ~, he showed up in a clown's costume) 5. ~ for enthralling adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to watch the ballet) enthuse v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ about, over enthusiasm n. 1. to arouse, kindle, stir up ~ 2. to demonstrate, display, show; radiate ~ 3. to dampen smb.'s ~ 4. boundless, great, unbounded, unbridled, wild ~ 5. ~ for 6. the ~ to + inf. (they had enough ~ to continue the campaign in spite of the difficulties) enthusiastic adj. ~ about, at, over entice v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into a life of crime) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with (they ~d the children with candy) entirety n. in its ~ entitle v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ to (your years of service ~ you to a pension) 2. (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. entitled adj.. (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ to (she is fully ~ to benefits) 2. ~ to + inf. (we are ~ to attend all concerts free) entrance n. 1. to make one's ~ 2. a back, rear; front, main; service; side ~ 3. a grand, triumphal ~ (to make a grand ~) 4. an ~ from; into, to (the ~ to this building) 5. at an ~ (wait for me at the ~) entranced adj. ~ at, over, with entrap v. (D; tr.) to ~ in, into entreat v. (formal) (H) to ~ smb. to do smt. entree n. ['access'] to gain ~ into, to entrepreneur n. an independent; private ~ entrust v. 1. (B) he ~ed his money to me 2. (d;tr.) to ~ with (she ~ed me with her watch) entrusted adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ with entry n. ['headword and definition'] (in a dictionary) 1. to give, include an ~ 2. a run-on ~ 3. at, in, under an ~ ['act of entering'] 4. to make an ~ (to make a triumphal ~; to make an ~ in a diary) 5. to gain ~ to (they gained ~ to his apartment) 6. forced ~ (of a burglar) 7. an ~ into (she announced her ~ into the presidential race; our ~ into the war) ['bookkeeping procedure'] 8. to make an ~ for 9. double; single ~ entry blank, entry form n. to send in, submit an ~ for enumerate v. (B) to ~ the facts to smb. enunciate v. 1. to ~ clearly 2. (B) he ~d his theory to his colleagues envelop v. (D;intr.) to ~ in envelope n. 1. to address; seal an ~ 2. a pay ~ (AE; BE has pay packet) 3. a self-addressed; stamped; window ~ USAGE NOTE: AE has stamped self-addressed envelope; BE has stamped addressed envelope. envious adj. ~ of environment n. 1. to clean up; preserve, protect the ~ 2. to pollute the ~ 3. a healthy ~ envisage v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ as (we ~ this dictionary as a hand book for serious students) 2. (L) we had not ~d that the situation would get so bad envision (AE) see envisage envoy n. 1. to dispatch an ~ 2. a personal ~ 3. an ~ extraordinary 4. an ~ to (our ~ to Paris) envy I n. 1. to arouse, stir up ~ of 2. to feel ~ 3. to show ~ 4. out of ~ (he did it out of ~) 5. ~ at 6. (misc.) an object of ~; consumed/green with ~ II v. (0) they ~ us our new house epic n. a folk ~ epicenter, epicentre n. at the ~ epidemic n. 1. to touch off, trigger an ~ 2. to contain, control an ~ 3. an ~ breaks out; spreads 4. a cholera; flu; measles; typhoid; typhus ~ epigram n. to compose; deliver an ~ epilepsy n. to have ~ epilogue n. an ~ to episode n. a dramatic; humorous; thrilling; touching; tragic ~ epithet n. a harsh, offensive, vile ~ epoch n. 1. to mark; usher in an ~ 2. a glacial; revolutionary ~ equal I ad/. 1. ~ in (~ in price) 2. ~ to (one kilometer is ~ to five eighths of a mile; ~ to the occasion) II n. an ~ in (to have no ~ in political cunning) III v. (D;tr.)to ~ in equality n. 1. to achieve, attain ~ 2. racial; religious; total ~ 3. ~ among, between (~ between the sexes) 4. ~ in (~ in pay) 5.~ of (~ of opportunity) equanimity n. to upset smb.'s ~ equate v. (D; tr.) to ~ with (one should not ~ wealth with happiness) equation n. 1. to formulate, state an ~ 2. to solve, work (esp. AE) an ~ 3. a differential; first-degree; identical; integral; linear; quadratic; simple ~; an ~ in one unknown; an ~ in two unknowns 4. (misc.) the human ~ equator n. above; at, on; below the ~ equidistant adj. ~ from equilibrium n. 1. to maintain one's ~ 2. to lose one's ~ 3. to upset the ~ equinox n. the autumnal; vernal ~ equip v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ for; with 2. (H) her training ~ped her to cope with the new job equipment n. 1. hunting; military; office; sports ~ 2. (the) ~ for (~ for road construction) 3. the ~ to + int. (do you have enough ~ to do the job?) equipped adj. 1. ~ for; with 2. ~ to + inf. (our hospital is ~ to handle emergency cases) equity n. ['supplementary system of justice'] in ~ (a suit in ~) equivalent I adj. ~ in; to II n. an approximate; exact ~ equivocal adj. ~ about era n. 1. to introduce, usher in an ~ 2. the Christian, Common; Roman Era 3. the horse-and-buggy ~ 4. in an ~ (in the Roman Era) USAGE NOTE: The Common Era is abbreviated as C.E.; thus, 1920 C.E. equals 1920 A.D. erase v. (D; tr.) to ~ from eraser n. a blackboard; ink ~ USAGE NOTE: In BE an eraser is usu. called a rubber; a blackboard eraser may be called a duster. erect adj. to stand ~ erosion n. glacial; soil ~ errand n. 1. to do, run an ~; to go on an ~ 2. personal ~s 3. a fool's ('useless') ~ 4. an ~ for (could you run an ~ for me?) 5. (misc.) an ~ of mercy erroneous adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to assume that the press always prints the truth) error n. 1. to commit, make an ~ 2. to compound an ~ 3. to correct, rectify an ~ 4. to admit to (making) an ~ 5. a cardinal, costly, egregious, flagrant, glaring, grievous, serious ~ 6. a clerical; grammatical; printer's, typographical; tactical; typing ~ 7. (statistics) (a) random ~ 8. an ~ in (an ~ in judgment) 9. an ~ to + inf. (it was an ~ to invite them) 10. by, through ~ (her name was omitted by ~) erudition n. 1. to display; flaunt one's ~ 2. great ~ erupt v. (D; intr.) to ~ into (the demonstrations ~ed into violence) eruption n. 1. a volcanic ~ 2. a skin ~ escalate v. (D; intr.) to ~ into (the local war ~d into a major conflict) escalator n. a down; up ~ escapade n. a childish, schoolboy; wild ~ escape I n. ['act of escaping']!, to make, organize an ~; to make good one's ~ 2. to foil, thwart an ~ 3. a clean; hairbreadth, narrow ~ 4. an ~ from (an ~ from prison) ['misc.'] 5. a fire ~ ('an emergency staircase') II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to (to ~ from prison) 2. (G) a famous actor cannot ~ being recognized escort I n. 1. to provide an ~ for 2. an armed; motorcycle; police ~ 3. an ~ for 4. under ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to escrow n. to hold in ~ escutcheon n. 1. an armorial ~ 2. (misc.) (humorous) a blot on one's ~ espionage n. 1. to conduct, engage in ~ 2. industrial; military ~ esprit de corps n. 1. to develop (an) ~ 2. (a) strong essay n. 1. to write an ~ about, on 2. a critical ~ (see the Usage Note for dissertation) essence n. 1. the very ~ of smt. 2. in ~ essential adj. 1. ~ for; to 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to work hard) 3. ~ that + clause; subj. (it is ~ that all be present) essentials n. the bare, basic ~ establish v. 1. (d;refl.,tr.)to ~ as (the press ~ed him as the leading contender) 2. (L) the police ~ed that she was innocent estate n. 1. to administer, manage an ~ 2. (BE) a housing ~ 3. (BE) an industrial ~ 4. (misc.) to come into an ~ ('to inherit smt.') esteem I n. 1. to hold smb. in high ~ 2. to fall; rise in smb.'s ~ 3. high ~ II v. to ~ highly estimate I n. 1. to give, make; submit an ~ (the contractors had to submit ~s) 2. (colloq.) (AE) a ballpark ('approximate') ~ 3. an approximate, rough; conservative; long-range; preliminary; short-range; written ~ 4. an ~ that + clause (it's my ~ that the interest rate will drop by two percent) 5. by smb.'s ~ (by my ~) II v. 1. (L) I ~ that we'll arrive at about two o'clock 2. (M) we ~ the cost to be five thousand dollars estimation n. in smb.'s ~ (in my ~ the situation is not critical) estrange v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (~d from his wife) estrangement n. (an) ~ between; from etch v. 1. to ~ sharply 2. (D;tr.) to ~ into (sharply ~ed into my memory) ether n. under ~ ethic n. the work ~ ethical adj. ~ to + inf. (it is not ~ to plagiarize) ethics n. professional ~ etiquette n. 1. to prescribe ~ 2. courtroom; military; social ~ etymology n. 1. to ascertain, determine, trace an ~ 2. folk ~ (the professor explained the origin of a word by folk ~) Eucharist n. to celebrate; give; receive the ~ eulogy n. 1. to deliver a ~ for 2. a touching ~ euphoria n. a feeling; state of ~ evacuate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (the civilians were ~d from the city to farms) evacuation n. 1. to carry out an ~ 2. a mass ~ 3. an ~ from; to evade v. (G) they ~ paying taxes by living abroad evaluate v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he was ~d as unfit for military service) evaluation n. 1. to make an ~ 2. a critical; fair, objective ~ evasion n. tax ~ eve n. 1. Christmas; New Year's Eve (on New Year's Eve) 2. on the ~ (on the ~ of the wedding) USAGE NOTE. In AE Christmas Eve means the 'night before Christmas'; in BE it can also mean 'the entire day before Christmas'. even adj. 1. ~ with (the water was ~ with the roof) 2. to get ~ with smb. ('to avenge oneself on smb.'); to break ~ (when betting) evening n. 1. in the ~; (AE) ~s (he works in the ~; or AE: he works ~s) 2. on a certain ~ (on that evening) event n. 1. a disastrous; dramatic; historical; literary; major; outstanding; sensational; significant; social; spectacular; sporting; tragic ~ 2. a media ~ (to stage a media ~) 3. a blessed ~ ('a birth') 4. current ~s 5. (sports) field ~s 6. an ~ occurs, takes place 7. in the ~ that + clause (in the ~ that they come) 8. in an ~ (in the ~ of fire; in any ~) 9. (misc.) the media sometimes manipulate ~s ever adv. ~ so much evict v. (D; tr.) to ~ from eviction n. an ~ from evidence n. 1. to furnish, give, introduce, produce, provide ~ 2. to dig up, find, turn up, unearth; gather ~; to piece together ~ 3. to plant ~ (on smb.) 4. to suppress; withhold ~ 5. to turn King's (BE), Queen's (BE), state's (AE) ~ 6. admissible; ample; circumstantial; cogent, compelling, convincing; conclusive; concrete, hard; damaging; direct; documentary; hearsay; inadmissible; incontestable, indisputable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; material; prima facie; reliable, trustworthy; satisfactory; strong; substantial; telltale ~ 7. a body of ~ 8. a piece; scrap, shred of ~ 9. ~ against 10. ~ that + clause (the lawyer produced conclusive ~ that the accused could not have been at the scene of the crime) 11. in ~ (they were very much in ~) 12. (misc.) the bulk of the ~ evident adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that she will be elected) evil I adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to kill) II n. 1. to do ~ 2. to root out ~ 3. an unmitigated; necessary ~ 4. (misc.) the lesser of two ~s evocative adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) ~ of evolution n. 1. a gradual; historical ~ 2. an ~ from; into, to evolve v. (d; intr.) to ~ from, out of; into exact I adj. ~ in II v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ tribute from the population) exaggerate v. to ~ greatly, grossly exaggerated adj. greatly, grossly ~ exaggeration n. 1. a gross ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it is an ~ to claim that inflation has been controlled) exam n. ['test'] 1. see examination 2. (colloq.) (AE) to ace an ~ examination n. ['test'] ['set of questions'] 1. to administer, conduct, give an ~ 2. to draw up, make up an ~ 3. to monitor, proctor, supervise an ~ 4. to sit (BE), take an ~ 5. to fail; pass an ~ 6. a difficult, stiff; easy ~ 7. a bar; civil-service; competitive; comprehensive; doctoral; entrance; external; final; makeup; master's; multiple-choice; open-book; oral; placement; qualifying; state-board (AE); true- false; written ~ 8. an ~ in, on (an ~ in physics; an ~ on irregular verbs) ['inspection'] ['scrutiny'] 9. to do, make an ~ 10. a careful, close, complete, in-depth, thorough; cursory, perfunctory, superficial ~ 11. a physical ~ (the doctor did a thorough physical ~ of/on the patient) 12. on ~ (on close ~ of the facts, she discovered that...) examine v. 1. to ~ carefully, closely, thoroughly 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ a car for defects) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ in (to ~ students in physics) examiner n. a bank; medical ~ example n. 1. to cite, give, provide an ~ 2. to set an ~ for 3. to make an ~ of 4. to follow smb.'s ~ 5. a classic; concrete; extreme; glaring, striking; illustrative; impressive; prime, shining; typical ~ 6. (misc.) to lead by personal ~ exasperate v. (R) it ~s me that they never keep their promises exasperated adj. 1. ~ at, by 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to find nobody at home) exasperating adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to teach in a school like that one) 3. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that we cannot find any spare parts) excavations n. to carry out archeological ~ exceed v. (D; tr.) to ~ in (to ~ smb. in productivity) excel v. (D; intr.) to ~ at, in (to ~ at sports) excellence n. ~ at, in exception n. ['exclusion'] 1. to make an ~ for 2. an ~ to (an ~ to the rule) ['objection'] 3. to take ~ to (she took strong ~ to what he said) excerpt I n. 1. to quote an ~ 2. an ~ from II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ a passage from a work) excess n. 1. in ~ of 2. to ~ (to drink to ~) exchange I n. ['act of exchanging'] 1. to agree to; make an ~ 2. a cultural ~ 3. in ~ for 4. an ~ between ['place where items are bought or sold'] 5. a commodity; corn (BE), grain (AE); fanners'; post (AE); stock ~ ['central office'] 6. an employment (BE), labour (BE); telephone ~ ['currency'] 7. foreign ~ USAGE NOTE: The BE terms employment exchange and labour exchange have been largely superseded by Job Centre. II v. 1. (D;tr.) to ~ for (I ~d the defective tire for a good one) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ places with smb.) exchange rate n. 1. to set an ~ 2. to apply an ~ excited adj. 1. ~ about, at, over (to get ~ about smt.) 2. ~ to + int. (she was ~ to learn the news) excitement n. 1. to arouse, create, stir up ~ 2. to feel ~ 3. considerable, great, intense; mounting ~ 4. ~ builds (to a climax); mounts 5. ~ about, at, over exciting adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to read adventure stories) exclaim v. (formal) (L) he ~ed that he was innocent exclude v. (D; tr.) to ~ from exclusion n. ~ from exclusive adj. mutually ~ excommunication n. to decree, order, pronounce (an) ~ exculpate v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ from excursion n. 1. to go on an ~ 2. an ~ to excursus n. an ~ into excuse I n. 1. to find; make; make up an ~ for 2. to accept an ~ 3. to reject an ~ 4. an acceptable, good; convincing; feeble, flimsy, lams, poor, weak; glib; plausible; ready-made; unacceptable; valid ~ 5. an ~ for (an ~ for being late) 6. an ~ to + inf. (it was just an ~ to leave early) 7. an ~ that + clause (they accepted the ~ that I had been ill) 8. (misc.) a poor ~ for something II v. 1. (D;tr.) to ~ as (he was ~d as physically unfit for duty) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for coming late) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ from (he was ~d from drill; BE also has: he was ~d drill) 4. (G) we will never ~ taking innocent hostages 5. (K) please ~ my arriving late execute v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he was ~d as a deserter) execution n. 1. to carry out an ~ 2. a mass; public ~ 3. ~ by (~ by firing squad) executive n. a chief ~ exempt I adj. ~ from II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from exemption n. 1. to claim an ~ 2. to grant an ~ 3. a draft (AE); tax ~ 4. an ~ for (he received an ~ for his elderly parents) 5. an ~ from (an ~ from the draft) exercise I n. 1. to engage in, go in for ~ 2. to do ~s 3. hard, strenuous, vigorous; regular ~ 4. (an) aerobic; flexibility; isometric; relaxation; setting- up; warming-up ~ 5. physical ~ 6. a form of ~ (brisk walking is an excellent form of aerobic ~) 7. (fig.) an ~ in (an ~ in futility) II v. to ~ hard, strenuously, vigorously exercised adj. ['upset'] ~ about, over exercises n. ['ceremony'] to hold ~ exertion n. physical; strenuous ~ exhaustion n. 1. he at; nervous; total ~ 2. a state of exhibit I n. ['exhibition'] 1. to mount, organize an ~ 2. an art; photo; traveling ~ 3. on ~ ['piece of evidence shown in court'] (legal) 4. ~ A II v. (B) she ~ed her paintings to the public exhibition n. 1. to put on, stage an ~ 2. to close; open an ~ 3. an art; international; photo; trade ~ 4. (misc.) to make an ~ of oneself (by behaving badly) exhilarating adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to climb mountains) exhort v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ smb. to action) 2. (H) to ~ students to work harder exile I n. 1. to send smb. into ~ 2. in ~ (to live in ~) II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to exist v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on bread and water) existence n. 1. to lead a certain ~ (to lead a drab ~) 2. to eke out a (miserable) ~ 3. a drab, miserable; precarious ~ exit I n. 1. to make one's (she made a hasty ~) 2. (in a plane) an emergency; tail; window; wing ~ 3. an ~ from; to 4. (misc.) no ~! II v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to (to ~ to the system on a computer) exodus n. 1. a mass ~ (there is a mass ~ from Paris every August) 2. an ~ from exonerate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from exorcise v. (D; tr.) to ~ from expand v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) ('to become larger') ('to make larger') to ~ into (to ~ an article into a book) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to explain in detail') (to ~ on a topic) expanse n. a broad, wide ~ expatiate v. (formal) (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to discuss in detail') expatriate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to expect v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from, of (we ~ed more from him) 2. (E) she ~s to leave tomorrow 3. (H) we ~ed them to wait 4. (L) I ~ that the weather will be nice expectancy n. life ~ expectation n. in ~ of expectations n. 1. to come up to, meet ~ 2. to exceed, surpass ~ 3. to fall short of ~ 4. great, high ~ 5. ~ for (they had great ~ for their daughter) 6. beyond ~ (to succeed beyond all ~) expedient adj. ~ to + inf. (sometimes it is ~ to make concessions) expedition n. 1. to launch, mount, organize; lead an ~ 2. to go on an ~ 3. an archeological; hunting; military; mountain-climbing; punitive; scientific ~ 4. an ~ into, to (to lead an ~ to the Amazon) 5. (misc.) a fishing ~ ('an attempt to obtain information') expel v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ a child from school) expend v. (D; tr.) to ~ for, on (to ~ considerable funds on a new skating rink) expenditure n. 1. to curb, curtail, cut down (on), reduce ~s 2. a capital ~ 3. an ~ for expense n. 1. to incur, run up an ~ 2. to go to great ~; to spare no ~; to put smb. to great ~ 3. to curb, curtail, cut down (on), reduce ~s 4. to spare no ~ 5. to defray ~s 6. to reimburse ~s 7. to share ~s 8. business; entertainment; incidental; legal; operating; overhead; personal; traveling ~ 9. at smb.'s ~ (at my ~; at government ~) expense account n. to pad an ~ expensive adj. ~ to + inf. (it's more ~ to live in the city than in the country) experience n. ['practice'] ['participation'] 1. to acquire, gain, gather, get ~ from 2. broad, wide; direct, firsthand; hands-on; practical; previous ~ 3. a learning ~ 4. ~ to + inf. (they don't have enough ~ to do the job) 5. by, from ~ (to know from previous ~) ['adventure'] ['event'] 6. to have; share an ~ (I had quite an ~) 7. an enlightening; ennobling; harrowing, painful, unnerving, unpleasant; interesting; memorable; pleasant; rewarding; unforgettable ~ experienced adj. ~ at, in experiment I n. 1. to carry out, conduct, perform, run an ~ on 2. a control; controlled ~ 3. a chemistry; physics ~ II v. (D; intr.) to ~ on, upon, with expert I adj. ~ at, in II n. 1. a demolition; efficiency; self-styled; technical ~ 2. an ~ at, in, on (an ~ at troubleshooting; an ~ in computer science) expertise n. 1. technical ~ 2. ~ in 3. the ~ to + inf. (does she have the ~ to do the job?) expiration n. at, on the ~ (what will he do at the ~ of his term in office?) explain v. 1. to ~ satisfactorily 2. (B) she ~ed the problem to me 3. (L; to) he ~ed (to us) that the examination would take place later 4. (Q) he ~ed why he was late explanation n. 1. to give, offer, provide an ~ 2. to accept an ~ 3. a lucid; rational; satisfactory; simple; unsatisfactory ~ 4. an ~ for 5. an ~ that + clause (they accepted her ~ that she had been unavoidably detained) expletive n. ~ deleted explicit adj. 1. sexually ~ 2. ~ about explode v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with rage) exploit n. 1. to perform an ~ 2. a fantastic; heroic exploitation n. commercial ~ exploration n. space ~ explore v. to ~ carefully, gingerly (they had to ~ this possibility very gingerly) explorer n. a brave; intrepid ~ explosion n. 1. to set off, touch off an ~ 2. a deafening, loud ~ 3. a population ~ explosive n. 1. to set off an ~ 2. to plant an ~ 3. (a) high; plastic ~ exponent n. ['champion'] a leading ~ (a leading ~ of reform) export v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from; to (we ~ to many countries; they ~ tractors from the West Coast to several Asian countries) expose v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ to (to ~ smb. to danger; ~d to the elements) n. to publish an ~ exposition n. 1. to hold an ~ 2. an international ~ expostulate v. (formal) (D; intr.) ('to argue') to ~ about, on; with exposure n. ['being exposed'] 1. ~ to (~ to the elements) 2. of ~ (to die of ~) ['time during which film is exposed'] 3. a double; time ~ ['baring one's private parts'] 4. indecent ~ ['location in relation to the sun'] 5. a southern ~ (a house with a southern ~) ['publicity'] 6. wide ~ expound v. (formal) 1. (B) she ~ed her theory to her colleagues 2. (d; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on one's favorite subject) express v. 1. to ~ clearly; forcefully 2. (B) he ~ed his sympathy to the bereaved family 3. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ in (to ~ oneself in good English) expression n. ['phrase'] 1. a colloquial; common; elliptical; figurative; fixed; hackneyed, trite; idiomatic; technical ~ ['look'] 2. an angry; dead-pan; grave, serious; happy; intense; pained; pleasant; puzzled, quizzical; vacuous ~ (she had a pained ~ on her face) expressive adj. ~ of expropriate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ land from the absentee owners) expulsion n. ~ from expunge v. (D; tr.) to ~ from expurgate v. (D; tr.) to ~ from extend v. 1. (A) ('to convey') they ~ed a warm welcome to us; or: they ~ed us a warm welcome 2. (d; intr.) ('to reach') to ~ beyond (the forest ~s beyond the border) 3. (d; intr.) ('to reach') to ~ from; to (the border ~s to the river) 4. (D; tr.) ('to prolong') to ~ from; to (we ~ed the fence to the edge of our property) 5. (d; intr.) ('to continue') to ~ into (the cold wave ~ed into March) 6. (d; intr., tr.) ('to spread') to ~ over (his power ~s over the whole country) 7. (P; intr.) ('to stretch') the plateau ~s for many miles extension n. ['increase in time allowed'] 1. to grant an ~ 2. to ask for, request; get, receive an ~ ['branch'] (AE) 3. a university ~ extent n. to a certain ~ (to a great ~; they were emaciated to such an ~ that they required special treatment) exterior n. a stem ~ (a soft heart under a stem ~ ) extermination n. complete, total ~ external adj. ~ to (formal) extinguisher n. a fire ~ extoll v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (they were ~ed as heroes) extort v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ money from merchants) extortion n. to commit; practice ~ extra n. ['special edition of a newspaper'] to issue, publish, put out an ~ extract I n. lemon; vanilla ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ information from smb.) extraction n. ['origin'] of a certain ~ (a family of Irish ~) extradite v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to extradition n. 1. to ask for ~ 2. to grant smb.'s ~ 3. to fight, oppose ~ 4. to waive ~ ('to agree to be extradited') extraneous adj. ~ to extraordinary adj. ~ that (it was ~ that no one reported the incident to the police) extrapolate v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from, on the basis of extravagance n. ~ in extravagant adj. ~ in (~ in spending their father's money) extreme n. 1. to go to an ~ (to go from one ~ to the other) 2. at an ~ (at the other ~) 3. in the ~ ('extremely') extreme unction n. to administer, give ~ (see the Usage Note for unction) extremist n. a political; religious ~ extremities n. ['limbs'] the lower; upper ~ extricate v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ from (she ~d herself from a difficult situation) extrinsic adj. (formal) ~ to exult v. (D; intr.) to ~ at, in, over exultation n. ~ at, in, over eye n. ['organ of sight'] 1. to blink; close, shut; open; roll; squint one's ~s 2. to drop, lower; lift, raise one's ~s 3. to rest; strain one's ~s 4. to lay, set one's ~s on smt. ('to see smt.') 5. to keep one's ~s open, peeled (esp. AE), skinned (BE) ('to be watchful') 6. the naked ~ (the meteor could be seen with the naked ~) 7. bulging; glassy ~s 8. ~s twinkle; twitch 9. a pair of ~s 10. in one's ~s (tears were in his ~s; fear could be seen in their ~s) ['vision, sight'] 11. good, strong; weak ~s 12. an eagle ~ ('keen sight') ['area around the eyes'] 13. (also fig.) a black ~ (to give smb. a black ~) ['look, glance'] 14. to cast an ~ on smt.; to run one's ~ over smt.; to fix one's ~ on smt. 15. to take one's ~s off (they could not take their ~s off Hannah) 16. an anxious; critical; sharp, watchful, weather; suspicious ~ 17. a jaundiced ~ ('an envious, hostile look') 18. (of one who flirts) bedroom ('seductive') ~s; a roving, wandering ~ (he has a roving ~) 19. curious, prying; piercing ~s ['attention'] ['interest'] ['observation'] 20. to catch smb.'s ~ 21. to open smb.'s ~s (to the truth) 22. to close, shut one's ~s (to the truth); to turn a blind ~ to smt. ('to let smt. pass as if unnoticed') 23. to keep an ~ on smt. ('to keep smt. under observation') 24. to keep an ~ out for smt. ('to watch for smt. attentively') 25. the public ~ (to be constantly in the public ~) 26. with an ~ to (with an ~ to public opinion) ['judgment'] ['viewpoint'] 27. a good, keen ~ 28. an ~ for (she has a good ~ for distances) 29. to the trained ~ 30. in smb.'s ~s (in the ~s of the law, he is innocent until proved guilty) ['perception'] ['appreciation'] 31. to open smb.'s ~s to smt. 32. an ~ for (an ~ for beauty; to have an ~ for a good bargain) ['device that detects'] 33. an electric ~ ['detective'] (colloq.) 34. a private ~ ['prosthesis for an eye'] 35. an artificial, glass ~ ['misc.'] 36. an ~ for an ~ ('an equivalent retaliation'); to feast one's ~s on smt. ('to look at smt. with great pleasure'); to give smb. the ~ ('to flirt with smb.') or ('to give smb. a visual signal'); to make ~s at smb. ('to look lovingly at smb.'); to see ~ to ~ with ('to agree with'); the mind's ~ ('the visual recollection of past events'); the evil ~ ('a look intended to inflict harm'); his ~ fell on a bargain ('he discovered a bargain'); under the teacher's watchful ~; without batting an ~ (esp. AE) ('while remaining calm'); easy on the ~s ('pretty'); more than meets the ~ ('more than is seen'); to look someone in the ~ ('to look at someone directly'); before one's ~s eyebrow n. 1. to pluck, tweeze one's ~s 2. bushy ~s 3. (misc.) to lift, raise an ~ ('to express one's surprise') eyeglasses n. (AE: CE has glasses) a pair of ~ eyelash see eyelid 2 eyelid n. 1. drooping ~s 2. (misc.) without batting an ~ (esp. BE) ('while remaining calm') (AE has without batting an eyelash) eye shadow n. to apply, put on ~ eyesight n. keen; poor, weak ~ eyeteeth n. to cut one's ~ on smt. ('to become knowledgeable while doing smt.') eye witness n. an ~ to (there was an ~ to the crime) fable n. a ~ about fabric n. ['material'] 1. to weave a ~ 2. a cotton; rayon; silk; synthetic; woolen; wrinkle-free ~ ['structure'] 3. a basic; social ~ (the basic ~ of the country) fabrication n. an outright, total ~ face I n. ['grimace'] 1. to make, pull (BE) a ~ (at) ['prestige'] 2. to save ~ 3. to lose ~ ['front part of the head'] 4. to press one's ~ (against a window) 5. (fig.) to show one's ~ (he didn't dare show his ~) 6. to powder one's ~ 7. a beautiful, handsome, pretty; familiar; oval; round; ruddy; strange; ugly ~ 8. (misc.) to come/meet ~ to ~; to bring ~ to ~; to look smb. in the ~; I would never say that to her ~; to laugh in smb.'s ~; ~ down ['expression'] 9. an angry; funny; happy; poker, straight; sad; serious ~ (to keep a straight ~) ['makeup'] (colloq.) 10. to put one's ~ on ['misc.'] 11. in the ~ of serious difficulties ('facing serious difficulties'); on the ~ of it ('judging by appearances'); to disappear from the ~ of the earth; to fly in the ~ of smt. ('to defy smt. energetically') II v. 1. to ~ squarely 2. (d; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ smb. with irrefutable evidence) 3. (G) I could not ~ going there alone 4. (P; intr.) to ~ east face up v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to reality) facial n. 1. to do a ~ 2. to get a ~ facilities n. ['installations'] 1. to provide ~ for 2. ample; excellent; modem; outmoded; poor; rundown ~ 3. dining, eating; educational; hotel; medical; port; public; public health; recreational; research; storage; transportation ~ (our city has excellent port ~) 4. ~ for facility n. ['skill'] 1. a ~ for, in, with (to have a ~ for languages) ['installation'] 2. to operate a ~ fact n. ['something that is true'] 1. to ascertain, establish a ~ 2. to check, confirm, verify a ~ 3. to cite; collect, gather, marshal; present (the) ~s 4. to classify; evaluate, interpret (the) ~s 5. to face (the) ~s 6. to distort, twist; embellish, embroider (the) ~s 7. to ignore a ~ 8. an accepted, established; cold, dry, hard, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, unquestionable; firsthand ~ 9. a basic, essential; historic; proven; statistical; well- known ~; the bare ~s 10. a ~ that + clause (it's a ~ that some officials are corrupt) ['reality'] 11. to distinguish ~ from fiction 12. in ~ ['misc.'] 13. a question of ~; the ~s of life faction n. a contending; extremist; opposing; rebel ~ factor n. 1. a contributing; critical, deciding, determining, essential, major ~ 2. (math. and fig.) a common ~ 3. (meteorology) a wind-chill ~ 4. a safety ~ 5. a ~ in factory n. 1. to manage, operate a ~ 2. to open a ~ 3. to close, shut down a ~ 4. an automobile (AE), motorcar (BE); clothing; munitions; shoe; textile ~ 5. at, in a ~ (she works at/in a ~) faculty n. ['division of a university'] (esp. BE; CE has school) 1. a ~ of education; law; medicine; science ['teaching staff] (esp. AE) 2. on the ~ (she is on the ~) 3. a college, university; school ~ 4. the standing ('permanent') ~ ['ability'] 5. a ~ for (a ~ for learning languages) fad n. 1. the latest, newest ~ 2. a passing ~ faddism n. food ~ fade v. 1.(d; intr.)(usu. fig.) to ~ from, out of (to ~ from the picture) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into obscurity) 3. (misc.) (AE) to ~ in the stretch ('to drop out of contention near the end of a contest') fail I n. without ~ II v. 1. to ~ dismally, miserably 2. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in business) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ on (to ~ a student on an examination) 4. (E) he ~ed to comprehend the seriousness of the problem failure n. 1. to experience ~ 2. an abject, complete, dismal, hopeless, miserable, outright ~ 3. a box-office; crop ~ 4. heart ~ 5. a power ~ 6. a ~ to + int. (the patient's ~ to respond to treatment was discouraging) faint I adj. to feel ~ from (she felt ~ from lack of air) II n. 1. to fall into a ~ 2. a dead-(to fall into a dead ~) III v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from loss of blood) fair I adj. 1. scrupulously ~ 2. ~ to (he's ~ to his employees) 3. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to say that she deserved the promotion) 4. ~ that + clause (it's not ~ that our application was rejected) II n. an annual; book; county; health; livestock; state (US); trade; world's ~ faith n. ['firm belief, trust'] 1. to have ~ in; to place one's ~ in 2. to lose ~ in 3. to shake smb.'s ~ in 4. an abiding, enduring, steadfast; deep, strong, unshakable ~ 5. on ~ (to accept on ~) ['fidelity to one's promises'] 6. to keep ~ with 7. to demonstrate, show good ~ 8. in good ~; in bad ~ (she acted in good ~) ['religion'] 9. to adhere to, practice a ~ 10. to abjure, recant, renounce one's ~ 11. the true ~ (brought up in the true ~) 12. by ~ (she is a Buddhist by ~) faithful I adj. ~ in; to II n. (plural) the party ~ faithfulness n. ~ to faithless adj. (formal) ~ to fake v. (esp. AE) (usu. sports) (d; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~ an opposing player out of position) fall I n. ['dropping, coming down'] 1. to have, take a ~ 2. to break a ~ 3. a bad, nasty ~ (she had a bad ~ and broke her ankle) 4. a free ~ (of a parachutist) 5. a ~ from (a ~ from a horse) ['autumn'] (AE) 6. an early; late ~ 7. in (the) ~ (we have a lot of rain in the ~) II v. 1. ('to drop') to ~ flat, headlong; short 2. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to become infatuated with') (he fell for her) 3. (D; intr.) ('to drop') to ~ from (to ~ from a tree; to ~ from grace) 4. (d; intr.) ('to come'); ('to drop') to ~ into (to ~ into disfavor; to ~ into disrepute; to ~ into place; to ~ into a trap) 5. (d; intr.) ('to be divided') to ~ into (to ~ into three categories) 6. (D; intr.) ('to drop') to ~ off (to ~ off a table) 7. (D; intr.) ('to drop') to ~ on (to ~ on one's back; the stress ~s on the last syllable) 8. (d; intr.) ('to come') to ~ on (the holiday fell on a Monday) 9. (d; intr.) ('to drop') to ~ out of (to ~ out of bed; to ~ out of favor) 10. (d; intr.) to ~ over (she fell over the side of the ship) 11. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to devolve') to ~ to (it fell to me to break the news) 12. (D; intr.) ('to drop') to ~ to (he fell to his knees; the book fell to the floor) 13. (d; intr.) ('to drop') ('to come') to ~ under (to ~ under a train; to ~ under smb.'s influence) 14. (misc.) to ~ asleep; to ~ due; to ~ foul of the law; to ~ ill; to ~ in love with smb.; to ~ in battle; to ~ silent; to ~ on hard times; to ~ to pieces; to ~ into step fallacy n. 1. a ~ to + int. (it's a ~ to assume that he will help) 2. a ~ that (it's a ~ that all politicians are corrupt foil back v. 1.(D; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into an easy chair) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ on, to (the troops fell back to their defensive positions) foil behind v. (D; intr.) to ~ in, with (to ~ with the rent) fall in v. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with the wrong crowd) falling out n. (colloq.) ['quarrel'] to have a ~ with fallout n. 1. radioactive ~ 2. ~ from (also fig.) fall out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to quarrel') to ~ with (to ~ with smb.) 2. (misc.) the platoon fell out on the company street fallow adj. ['uncultivated'] to lie ~ (the field lay fall short v. (D; intr.) to ~ of (they fell short of their goal) foil to v. (G) he fell to brooding false front n. ['deceptive manner'] to put up a ~ falsehood n. 1. to tell, utter a ~ 2. an absolute, downright, utter ~ falsetto n. to sing ~ fatter v. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in one's determination) fame n. 1. to achieve, attain, win; seek ~ 2. international; undying ~ 3. at the height of one's ~ familiar adj. ['known'] 1. ~ to (is this area ~ to you?) 2. (misc.) all too ~ ['acquainted'] 3. thoroughly ~ 4. ~ with (are you ~ with the details?) familiarity n. 1. thorough ~ 2. ~ with familiarize v. (d; refl., tr.) to ~ with (she had to ~ herself with the facts of the case) family n. ['social unit traditionally consisting of parents and children'] 1. to start a ~ 2. to clothe; feed; raise; support a ~ 3. the close, immediate; extended; nuclear ~ 4. a good ('respected') ~ (he comes from a good ~) 5. a blended; broken ~ 6. the head of a ~; a member ofa~7. in the ~ (poor vision runs in the ~) 8. (misc.) ~ planning ('birth control'); (old-fashioned) in the ~ way ('pregnant) ['group of related languages'] 9. a language ~ (in the same language ~) family style adv. (esp. AE) to serve (a meal) ~ famine n. 1. ~ strikes (~ struck several provinces) 2. widespread ~ famous adj. 1. ~ as (he is ~ as an actor) 2. ~ for (the city is ~ for its museums) fan I n. ['electrical device for cooling'] 1. to turn on; turn off a ~ 2. a ceiling; exhaust (AE), extractor (BE) ~ ['paper or cloth fan'] 3. to wave a ~ II n. ['admirer'] ['supporter'] 1. an ardent ~ 2. (AE) a ~ roots (for a team) USAGE NOTE: In CE one can be a fan of a certain sport--a football fan. In AE one can also be a fan of a certain team-- a Dodger fan. In BE, however, one would usu. be called a supporter of a team. fanatic n. 1. a religious ~ 2. a ~ to + inf. (he had to be a ~ to do that) fancy I n. 1. to take a ~ to 2. to catch, strike, take (BE), tickle smb.'s ~ 3. a passing ~ 4. a flight of ~ II v. L (d; tr.) ('to like') to ~ as (I don't ~ him as an actor) 2. (G) ('to like') I don't ~ going there 3. (G) ('to imagine') just ~ winning first prize 4. (L) ('to imagine') she ~cied that she heard footsteps fanfare n. with great-fangs n. an animal bares its ~ fan out v. to ~ in all directions fantasize v. (D; intr.) to ~ about fantastic adj. (colloq.) ['very good'] ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to work with them = it's ~ working with them) fantasy n. 1. to act out a ~ 2. to indulge in ~ 3. a childhood; sexual ~ 4. (misc.) (to live in) a world of ~/~ world far adj., adv. 1. ~ from (~ from the city; the problem is ~ from being solved) 2. by ~ (she is by ~ the better player) 3. (misc.) to go ~ on one's connections; ~ be it from me to criticize, but... USAGE NOTE: The phrases by far and far and away mean 'very much'-she is by far/far and away the better player. In nonstandard BE the two phrases are blended to produce by far and away. farce n. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ to conduct a trial under such conditions) fare I n. ['payment for transportation'] 1. to charge; pay a ~ 2. a full; half; reduced ~ 3. at a ~ (at a reduced ~) ['food'] 4. simple ~ II v. (formal) (P; intr.) she ~d well in the big city farewell n. 1. to make one's ~s 2. to bid smb. ~ 3. a fond; sad ~ 4. a ~ to farm n. 1. to manage, operate, run, work a ~ 2. a chicken; collective; dairy; poultry; private; sheep; stock; truck (AE) ~ 3. on a ~ (to work on a ~) farmer n. a dirt (AE); tenant ~ fanning n. 1. to be engaged in ~ 2. chicken; collective; cooperative; dairy; pig; poultry; sheep; state; stock; subsistence; truck ~ farmland n. to cultivate, work ~ form out v. (B) the work was ~ed out to several associates farsighted adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of her to buy up this property) farsightedness n. the ~ to + inf. (they had enough ~ to provide for their old age) fascinated adj. 1. ~ at, with (~ at the spectacle of a rocket launching) 2. ~ to + inf. (I was ~ to learn of their work fascinating adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to listen to her) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that migratory birds never get lost) fascination n. 1. to have, hold a ~ for (the Himalayas have/hold a special ~ for climbers) 2. a morbid; special ~ 3. ~ with fashion I n. ['vogue'] 1. to set a ~ 2. to come into ~; to go out of ~ 3. current ~(s); the latest ~(s) 4. high ~ 5. in ~ (big hats are no longer in ~) ['manner'] 6. in a ~ (she behaved in a strange ~) II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from, out of (to ~ a pipe out of clay) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ clay into a pipe) fashion show n. to hold, organize a ~ fast I adv. to hold ~ to (they held ~ to their beliefs) II n. 1. to observe a ~ 2. to break a ~ fasten v. (D; tr.) to ~ onto, to fastidious adj. ~ about (~ about one's appearance) fast-talk v. (colloq.) (D; tr.) to ~ into; out of (to ~ smb. into doing smt.) fat n. 1. to trim (away) the ~ 2. animal; deep; excess; polyunsaturated; vegetable ~ (to fry in deep ~) 3. subcutaneous ~ 4. (misc.) (colloq.) to live off the ~ of the land ('to live very well'); to chew the ~ ('to chat') fatal adj. ~ to + inf. (it would be ~ to hesitate) fatalities n. 1. to cause ~ 2. highway (AE), motorway (BE), traffic ~ fate n. 1. to decide, seal smb.'s ~ 2. to tempt ~ 3. to meet one's ~ 4. blind; cruel; inexorable ~ 5. ~ decreed (that we would win the lottery) 6. a stroke of ~ fated adj. (formal) 1. ~ to + inf. (they were ~ never to meet) 2. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that they should never meet again) father n. 1. an expectant; proud ~ 2. a foster ~; stepfather 3. a ~ to (he was like a ~ to them) 4. (misc.) the city ~s; a founding ~ fatigue n. 1. to feel ~ 2. battle, combat; mental ~ 3. metal ~ 4. a state of ~ (she was in a state of complete ~) faucet n. (AE) 1. to turn on a ~ 2. a ~ leaks 3. a leaky ~ (CE has tap) fault I n. 1. to find ~ with 2. to correct a ~ 3. to overlook smb.'s ~s 4. a grievous; human ~ 5. a ~ that + clause (it was not my ~ that he was late) 6. at ~ (we were all at ~) 7. through smb.'s ~ 8. to a ~ (she is fastidious to a ~) II v. (D; tr.) ('to blame') to ~ for faux pas n. 1. to commit, make a ~ 2. a grave ~ favor, favour n. ['friendly act, service'] 1. to do, grant (smb.) a ~ 2. to perform a ~ (for smb.) ['approval'] ['liking'] 3. to curry ~ with; to vie for smb.'s ~ 4. to find, gain ~ with; to find ~ in smb.'s eyes 5. to lose ~ 6. universal ~ 7. in ~ with 8. out of ~ (to fall out of ~) 9. to look with ~ on smt. ['support'] 10. in ~ of (these f^cts speak in ~ of his acquittal; we are in ~ of reform) 11. in smb.'s ~ (the odds are in her ~) II v. 1. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ with (she will now ~ us with a song) 2. (G) he ~s raising taxes favorable, favourable adj. ~ for, to favored, favoured adj. 1. heavily ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (our team is heavily ~ to win) favorite, favourite n. a heavy, strong ~ favoritism, favouritism n. 1. to show ~ 2. strong ~ favors, favours n. ['sexual privileges'] to grant one's ~ to smb.; to bestow one's ~s on fawn v. (d; intr.) to ~ on, over fear I n. 1. to arouse, inspire, instill, kindle ~ 2. to express; feel; show ~ (she felt ~ for their safety) 3. to confirm one's ~s 4. to allay, dispel; overcome ~ 5. grave, mortal, strong; groundless; idle; inarticulate; lingering; sudden ~ 6. ~ that + clause (there are ~s that no compromise can be worked out) 7. for ~ of (he lied for ~ of being punished) 8. in ~ of (he is in ~ of his life) 9. out of ~ (he did it out of ~) 10. (misc.) to strike ~ into smb.'s heart II v. 1. to ~ greatly, very much 2. (d; intr.) to ~ for (I ~ for his safety) 3. (E) I ~ to think what may happen 4. (K) he ~s my getting involved 5. (L) we ~ that we will not be able to attend fearful adj. 1. ~ of 2. ~ that + clause (they were ~ that the river would flood) feasible adj. ~ to + inf. (it was not ~ to build a bridge at that point) feast I n. a royal, sumptuous ~ II v. (formal) (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on, upon (to ~ on Chateaubriand; to ~ one's eyes on beautiful scenery) feat n. 1. to accomplish, perform a ~ 2. a brave, heroic; brilliant, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, remarkable ~ (to perform a remarkable ~) 3. no mean, small ~ (it was no mean ~ to get him to agree) feather n. 1. to pluck ~s (from a chicken) 2. (misc.) as light as a ~('very light'); a ~ in one's cap ('a symbol of accomplishment'); to smooth smb.'s ruffled ~s ('to calm smb.') feature I n. ['quality'] 1. a characteristic, distinctive, distinguishing; notable; noteworthy; special ~ 2. a redeeming ~ ['contour'] ['line'] 3. coarse; delicate, fine; prominent; regular; sharp; soft; striking ~s ['main film'] 4. a double ~ ('a program consisting of two films in a movie theater') ['special item'] 5. an optional ~ (we chose several optional ~s for our new car) II v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (she was ~d as a dancer) federate v. (D; tr.) to ~ into federation n. 1. to form a ~ 2. a ~ among, between fed up adj. ~ of (BE), with fee n. 1. to charge a ~ 2. to split ~s (as of lawyers, doctors) 3. to waive one's ~ 4. a fat, large; nominal ~ 5. an admission, entrance; contingency; laboratory; membership; registration ~ 6. a ~ for (a ~ for service) 7. for a ~ (for a nominal ~) feed v. 1. (A) they fed erroneous information to us; or: they fed us erroneous information 2. (d; tr.) to ~ into, to (to ~ data into a computer) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ on (certain animals ~ on insects) feedback n. negative; positive ~ feeding n. breast; communal; forced; intravenous feel I n. (colloq.) to have a (good) ~ for II v. 1. ('to believe') to ~ keenly, strongly 2. (D; intr.) ('to have an opinion') to ~ about (how do you ~ about this problem?) 3. (d; intr.) ('to grope') to ~ (around) for (he felt in his pockets for his keys) 4. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to sympathize with') (I ~ for them) 5. (D; tr.) ('to experience') to ~ for (to ~ pity for smb.) 6. (I) ('to sense') he could ~ his heart beat 7. (J) ('to sense') he could ~ his heart beating 8. (L) ('to believe') we ~ that you should return home 9. (s) to ~ comfortable; I ~ cheated; to ~ sorry about smt.; to ~ good ('happy'); to ~ fine/well ('healthy'); to ~ bad ('unwell') or ('sad') 10. (BE) (S) I ~ such a fool 11. (misc.) it ~s good to be on vacation; it felt nice to swim in the heated pool; she felt proud of her children; to ~ bad/badly ('sad') about smt. feeler n. ['probe'] to put out, throw out a ~ feeling n. ['emotional reaction'] 1. to arouse, stir up ~ ['appreciation'] 2. to develop a ~ for (to develop a ~ for classical music) ['sentiment'] ['sensation'] 3. to express; show one's ~s 4. to experience, have a ~ 5. to harbor ~s (to harbor warm ~s of friendship towards smb.) 6. to hide, mask; repress one's ~s 7. to lose ~ (he lost all ~ in his foot) 8. a deep, strong; eery, strange; friendly, tender, warm; gloomy, sad; hostile; intangible; intense; queasy; satisfied; sick; sinking; sneaking; uneasy ~ 9. (colloq.) a gut ('instinctive') ~ 10. one's innermost, intimate; pent-up ~s 11. hard ~s (we have no hard ~s ('we are not angry') 12. a ~ that + clause (I had an eery ~ that I had been there before) ['attitude'] ['opinion'] 13. definite; strong ~s (we have strong ~s about this matter) 14. popular ~ (popular ~ was running against the president) 15. ~s about, on (to have definite ~s on a subject) ['sensitivity'] 16. to hurt smb.'s ~s 17. delicate, sensitive ~s ['premonition'] 18. a ~ that + clause (I had a ~ that she would show up) feel like v. 1. (G) she ~s like resting 2. (S; used only with nouns) to ~ a fool; it ~s like satin feel up v. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to feel capable of) (do you ~ to a drive to town?) feign v. (formal) (L) he ~ed that he was sick feint n. to make a ~ fellow n. ['scholar'] ['fellowship holder'] 1. a research; senior; teaching ~ ['man'] 2. a good; honest; nice, regular; young ~ fellowship n. ['stipend; support for studies'] 1. to award, grant; establish a ~ 2. to receive, win a ~ 3. a graduate, postgraduate (esp. BE); postdoctoral ~ [community of interest'] 4. to foster, promote (good) ~ 5. ~ with felony n. 1. to commit, perpetrate a ~ 2. to compound a ~ ('to waive prosecution in return for compensation') feminist n. an ardent, dedicated, devoted; moderate; radical ~ fence n. 1. to build, erect, put up a ~ 2. a high; low ~ 3. a barbed-wire; chain-link; picket; rail; snow; wrought-iron ~ 4. a ~ around 5. (misc.) to mend ~s ('to set things right'); on the ~ ('uncommitted') fend v. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for oneself) fender n. (AE) a dented ~ (BE has wing) ferment n. 1. intellectual; social ~ 2. in ~ (the country was in ~) ferry I n. 1. to board; take a ~ 2. by ~ (to cross a river by ~) II v. (d; tr.) to ~ across (to ~ troops across a river) fertilizer n. 1. to spread ~ 2. artificial; chemical; natural ~ fervor, fervour n. (a) messianic; religious ~ festival n. 1. to hold a ~ 2. a dance; drama; folk; music ~ fetch v. (C) please ~ my pipe for me; or: please ~ me my pipe fete n. (esp. BE) 1. to hold a ~ 2. a church; village fetish n. to make a ~ of smt. (they made a ~ of good grooming) fetus, foetus n. 1. to abort a ~ 2. a viable ~ 3. an unborn ~ feud I n. 1. to stir up a ~ 2. a blood; family, internecine; personal ~ 3. a ~ between, with II v. (D; intr.) to ~ over; with fever n. ['elevated temperature of the body'] 1. to come down with, develop a ~ 2. a constant; high; intermittent; mild, slight; recurrent; remittent ~ 3. a ~ breaks, subsides ['disease or condition'] 4. glandular; hay; relapsing; rheumatic; Rocky Mountain spotted; scarlet; trench; typhoid; undulant; yellow ~ fever pitch n. 1. to reach (a) ~ 2. at (a) ~ few I determiner, n., pronoun 1. relatively ~ 2. a ~ of (we saw a ~ of them) USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposition of is necessary when a pronoun follows. Compare the following constructions with nouns--we saw very few students; we saw a few ('several') students. II n. 1. (a) precious, very ~ 2. (misc.) to have a ~ too many ('to drink too much'); ~ and far between ('rare'); just a ~, only a ~ fiasco n. 1. to end in a ~ 2. a complete, total, utter fib n. to tell a ~ fiber, fibre n. 1. coarse; synthetic; wool ~ 2. moral ~ 3. nerve ~ fiction n. 1. pure ~ (her story was pure ~) 2. science ~ fiddle n. 1. to play the ~ 2. (colloq.; AE) a bass ~ (CE has double bass) 3. (misc.) as fit as a ~ ('very healthy') fidelity n. ['loyalty'] 1. to swear ~ 2. ~ to ['quality of electronic reproduction'] 3. high ~ fidget v. (D; intr.) to ~ with field n. ['cultivated area'] 1. to plow; till, work a ~ 2. a corn; wheat ~ 3. in a ~ (farmers were working in the ~s) ['area used for athletic events'] 4. to take the ~ 5. a baseball; football, soccer (BE often has pitch); playing ~ 6. on the ~ (how many players were on the football ~?) ['area used as a landing strip'] 7. a flying, landing ~ 8. on the ~ ['area used for practical work'] 9. to work (out) in the ~ ['unbroken expanse'] ['space'] 10. an open ~ 11. a visual ~ ['area producing a natural resource'] 12. a coal; gold; oil ~ ['space in which electric lines of force are present'] (physics) 13. an electromagnetic, magnetic ~ ['area of activity'] 14. in a ~ (in the ~ of science) ['misc.'] 15. on the ~ of honor field day n. ['a great success'] to have a ~ (they had a ~ with the reporters) field glasses n. to focus, train ~ on fieldwork n. to do ~ fiend n. a sex ~ Fifth n. (colloq.) (AE) ['the Fifth Amendment protecting witnesses against self-incrimination'] to invoke, take the ~ fight I n. ['struggle'] 1. to pick, provoke, start a ~ (he picked a ~ with me) 2. to put up, wage a ~ (to wage a ~ against corruption) 3. to get into a ~ (to get into a ~ with a neighbor about the property line) 4. a bitter, desperate, fierce, hard, stubborn; clean, fair; dirty, unfair; last-ditch ~; a ~ to the death (to put up a last- ditch ~) 5. a fist ~ 6. a ~ breaks out, starts 7. a ~ about, over; against; among, between; for; with (a ~ for justice; a ~ between local politicians) 8. a ~ to + inf. (we joined the ~ to reduce waste) ['boxing match'] 9. to hold, stage a ~ 10. to fix a ~ ('to influence the results of a ~ illegally') 11. a clean; dirty ~ 12. (misc.) the big ~ (everyone was talking about the big ~) II v. 1. to ~ bravely, heroically; clean; desperately, hard, stubbornly; dirty, unfairly; fair, fairly 2. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ about, over; against; among; for; with (he was always ~ing with his neighbors about the noise; Great Britain fought with Turkey against Russia; they are always ~ing among themselves; the United States fought a war with Mexico over their common border; the war was fought for a just cause; the dogs were ~ing over a bone) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ like (they fought like heroes) 4. (misc.) to ~ to the finish; to ~ with one's fists fighter n. ['pugilist'] 1. a clean; dirty ~ ['fighting aircraft'] 2. a long-range; medium-range ~ ['misc.'] 3. a firefighter fighting n. 1. to step up the ~ 2. bitter, fierce, hard, heavy; hand-to-hand ~ 3. clean; dirty ~ 4. street ~ 5. ~ breaks out; rages figure I n. ['impression'] ['appearance'] 1. to cut a (fine) ~ ('to make a strong impression') 2. a conspicuous, dashing, fine, handsome, imposing, striking, trim ~ (to cut a dashing ~) 3. a ridiculous, sorry ~ ['person'] ['personage'] 4. a familiar; national; political; prominent, well-known; public; religious; underworld ~ 5. a father; mother; parental ~ ['number'] 6. to bandy ~s 7. approximate, ball-park (AE; colloq.), round; available; exact; official; reliable ~s 8. in ~s (in round ~s) II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to play a role') to ~ in (she ~d prominently in history) 2. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ('to estimate') (L) we ~d that he would arrive at around two o'clock 3. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (M) ('to estimate') I ~d him to be worth a few hundred thousand figure on v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (G) ('to intend') I ~d on staying a few days figure out v. (colloq.) (AE) 1. (L) he ~d out that we could not possibly get there on time 2. (Q) she could not ~ how to do it filch v. (d;tr.) ('to steal') to ~ from file I n. ['dossier'] ['folder'] 1. to make up, open a ~ 2. to keep a ~ 3. to close a ~ 4. official ~s 5. a vertical ~ 6. a ~ on (to keep a ~ on smb.) 7. on ~ (these documents are kept on ~) ['collection of data in a computer'] 8. to copy; create; delete, erase; edit; print a ~ II v. 1.(D; intr.) ('to apply') to ~ for (to ~ for divorce) 2. (D; tr.) ('to submit') to ~ with (she ~d an application with several employment agencies) III n. ['row'] I. Indian, single ~ 2. in single ~ IV v. ('to move in a line') 1.(d; intr.) to ~ by, past (to ~ past a coffin) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ into; out of (to ~ into an auditorium; the jury ~d out of the courtroom) file V n. ['tool for smoothing surfaces'] a nail ~ filibuster n. to carry on, conduct, engage in, wage a ~ filing n. ['storage of data'] to do ~ fill I n. ['what is necessary to satisfy'] to drink; eat; have one's ~ II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ to (the auditorium was ~ed to capacity; to ~ to overflowing) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ with (the lecture hall ~ed with people; to ~ a hole with sand) fill in v. (D; intr.) to ~ for ('to replace') (to ~ for a friend) filling n. (dental) 1. to put in a ~ 2. to cement a ~ 3. a broken, cracked ~ 4. a permanent; temporary ~ 5. a ~ breaks, cracks; chips; falls out film n. ['cinema picture, motion picture'] 1. to edit; make, produce, shoot a ~ (the ~ was shot on location) 2. to release; show a ~ 3. to ban; censor a ~ 4. to rate; review a ~ 5. an action; adult, blue (BE), X-rated; adventure; children's; color; documentary; educational; feature; gangster; instructional; propaganda; silent; sound; television, TV; training; travel ~ 6. (misc.) (BE) to work in ~s ('to work in the film industry') ['roll of material used to take photographs'] 7. to insert, load; remove; rewind; wind ~ 8. to develop ~ 9. to splice ~ 10. black-and-white; color; fast; 16-millimeter; 35-millimeter ~ filter I n. 1. to pass smt. through a ~ 2. a cloth; sand ~ II v. 1.(d; intr.) to ~ into (foreign influence began to ~ into the country) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ through filth n. in ~ (to live in ~) fin n. a caudal; dorsal; pectoral; pelvic ~ finale n. the grand ~ finals n. (AE) ['final examinations'] to take one's finance n. high; public ~ financing n. deficit; private; public ~ find I n. 1. an archeological ~ 2. a lucky; rare ~ II v. 1. (C)~ an interesting book for me; or: ~ me an interesting book 2. (legal) (d; intr.) ('to decide') to ~ against; for (to ~ for the plaintiff) 3. (D; tr.) ('to discover') to ~ for (have you found a suitable candidate for the job?) 4. (J) ('to discover') we found her working on her book 5. (L) ('to discover') we found that she was always ready to help 6. (M) ('to discover') we found London to be a fascinating city 7. (N; used with an adjective, past participle) we found Alaska interesting; to ~ smb. wanting; the soldiers found the village destroyed; she was found guilty by the jury finding n. 1. ~ that + clause (it was the court's ~ that no crime had been committed) 2. (misc.) to rubber-stamp a committee's ~s find out v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about (we found out about the accident yesterday) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for (she found out about the concert for me) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ from (we found out from the reporter that the fire had been started by an arsonist) 4. (L) we found out that the train would be late 5. (Q) I finally found out how to operate the new computer fine I adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to reduce taxes, but the deficit will be increased) II n. 1. to impose, levy a ~ on smb. 2. (colloq.) to slap a ~ on smb. 3. to pay a ~ 4. a heavy, stiff ~ 5. a mandatory ~ 6. a ~ for (a ~ for illegal parking) III v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for illegal parking) 2. (0; can be used with one animate object) the police ~d him twenty dollars; the police ~d him finely n. ['showy clothing'] in all one's ~ (dressed up in all their ~) finger I n. 1. to point a ~ at 2. (usu. fig.) to snap one's ~s (I jump when she snaps her ~s)('I obey her commands without question') 3. an accusing; warning ~ (to point an accusing ~ at smb.) 4. an index; little; middle; ring; trigger ~ 5. (misc.) to prick a ~; she jammed her ~ in the door; to lay a ~ on smb. ('to harm smb.'); I can't lay/put my ~ on what is wrong ('I cannot discover what is wrong'); to count on one's ~s; to keep one's ~s crossed ('to hope for smt. '); to lift a ~ ('to make an effort'); to have one's ~ in smt. ('to be involved in smt.'); the ~ of suspicion points at/to you ('you are under suspicion'); to have smb. wrapped around one's little ~ ('to have smb.'s complete devotion') II v. (colloq.) (D; tr.) ('to identify') to ~ as (he was ~ed as one of the escaped convicts) fingerprints n. 1. to take smb.'s ~ 2. telltale ~ 3. a set of ~ (the police got a clean set of ~) fingertips n. at one's ~ (to have information at one's ~) finicky adj. ~ about finish I n. ['end'] 1. a hairbreadth, photo ~ 2. at the ~ 3. to the ~ (to fight to the ~) ['polish'] 4. a dull; glazed; glossy ~ II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ by, with (they ~ed their performance by singing a song/with a song; are you ~ed with your work?) 2. (G) they ~ed working at four o'clock finish line n. to cross; reach the ~ finish up v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ by, with (we ~ed up the year with no profit; they ~ed up by scrubbing the floor) fire I n. ['destructive burning'] 1. to set, start a ~; to set ~ to (they set ~ to the barn) 2. to catch ~ (the house caught ~) 3. to contain; extinguish, put out; stamp out a ~; to bring a ~ under control 4. a raging, roaring ~ 5. a brush; electrical; forest ~ 6. a ~ breaks out; burns; goes out; smoulders; spreads (the ~ burned out of control for two hours) 7. on ~ (the house was on ~) ['burning, combustion'] 8. to build, kindle, light, make a ~; to strike ~ 9. to fuel; poke, stir; stoke a ~ 10. to bank; douse, extinguish, put out a ~ 11. a ~ bums 12. (misc.) the ~ is out; the glow of a ~ ['shooting'] 13. to commence, open ~ (to open ~ on the enemy) 14. to exchange ~ (with the enemy) 15. to call down ~ on 16. to attract, draw ~ 17. to cease ~ (cease ~!); to hold one's ~ 18. concentrated, fierce, heavy, murderous; cross; harassing; hostile; incoming; interdictory; rapid ~ 19. artillery; automatic; machine-gun; rifle; semiautomatic; small-arms ~ 20. under ~ (also fig.) 21. (misc.) the baptism of ~ ['misc.'] 22. to play with ~ ('to take a risk'); to fight ~ with ~ ('to use extreme measures as a counterattack'); to set the Thames (BE)/the world on ~ ('to be very successful') II v. 1. to ~ point-blank 2. (B) the quarterback ~d a pass to an end 3. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ at (he ~d at me; he ~d his pistol at me) 4. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ into (to ~ into the air; to ~ into a crowd) fire alarm n. 1. to set a ~ 2. to activate, set off, trigger a ~ 3. a ~ goes off, rings fire away v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at the enemy) fire back v. (D; intr.) to ~ at firecracker n. 1. to light, set off a ~ 2. a ~ goes off fire drill n. to conduct, hold a ~ fired up adj. ['excited'] ~ with fire extinguisher n. 1. to train a ~ (on a fire) 2. to operate a ~ 3. to recharge a ~ fire sale n. to hold a ~ fireworks n. a spectacular display of ~ firing line n. ['line from which soldiers fire their weapons'] in (BE), on (AE) the ~ (also fig.) firm I adj.. ['competitive, strong'] 1. ~ against (the pound was ~ against the dollar) ['strict'] 2. ~ with (~ with the children) II n. ['company'] 1. to establish; manage, operate, run a ~ 2. an advertising; business; manufacturing; shipping ~ first adj., n. 1. to come in ~ (in a race) 2. the ~ to + inf. (she was the ~ to arrive) 3. among the ~ 4. at ~ first aid n. 1. to administer, give ~ 2. to get ~ first-class adv. to travel ~ first strike n. 1. to carry out, make a ~ 2. (misc.) a first-strike capability fish I n. 1. to catch (a) ~ 2. baked; broiled; dried; filleted; fresh; freshwater; fried; frozen; saltwater; smoked ~ 3. tropical ~ 4. ~ bite at bait; swim 5. a school, shoal of ~ 6. (misc.) to drink like a ~ ('to drink excessive amounts of alcohol'); a queer ~ ('a strange person') II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for compliments) 2. to go ~ing fish fry n. to have a ~ fishing n. 1. to go in for ~ 2. deep-sea ~ USAGE NOTE: Compare to go in for fishing with to go fishing. fishy adj. (colloq.) ~ about (there is smt. ~ about them) fission n. binary; nuclear ~ fist n. 1. to make a ~ 2. to clench; raise; shake one's ~ 3. a tight ~ 4. (misc.) an iron ~ ('a harsh policy'); a mailed ~ ('a threat of armed force') fisticuffs n. to engage in ~ fit I n. ['emotional reaction'] 1. to have, throw a ~ ['misc.'] 2. by ~s and starts ('in irregular bursts of activity') II adj. ['qualified'] ['physically capable'] 1. physically ~ 2. ~ for (~ for duty) 3. ~ to + inf. (he is not ~ to work) 4. to keep ~ ['suitable'] 5. to see, think ~ to + inf. (they saw ~ to employ smb. else) III n. ['manner of fitting'] a good; loose; snug, tight ~ IV v. 1. to ~ together 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ a customer for a new suit) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ into (everything fit into the suitcase) 4. (d; tr.) to ~ into (she was able to ~ all the books into one carton) USAGE NOTE: In BE the past and past participle of fit are usu. fitted. AE usu. has fit when the verb cannot be used in the passive form ~ the tailor fitted the customer carefully (CE); the suit was fitted carefully by the tailor (CE); the suit fit me a year ago (AE). fit in v. (D; intr.) to ~ with ('to blend in') (she fit right in with our crowd) fitness n. 1. physical ~ 2. ~ for fit out v. (d; tr.) to ~ as (the ship was ~ted out as a tender) fitting I adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to pay tribute to the early pioneers) 2. ~ that + clause; subj. (it is ~ that she be/should be honored) II n. ['small part'] 1. an electrical; female; gas; male ~ ['trying on of a garment'] 2. to go for a ~ 3. (misc.) a ~ room fix I n. (colloq.) ['difficult situation'] 1. to be in a ~ 2. a fine, nice, pretty ~ ['injection of a narcotic'] (slang) 3. to get; need a ~ II v. 1. (esp. AE) (C) ('to prepare') ~ a drink for me; or: ~ me a drink 2. (d; tr.) to ~ on (she ~ed her gaze on him) 3. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (E) ('to get ready') they're ~ing to eat fixation n. ['obsession'] a ~ on (to have a ~ on smt.) fixing n. 1. price ~ 2. (misc.) (colloq.) a turkey with all the ~s fixture n. a lighting; plumbing; shop (esp. BE), store (esp. AE) ~ fix up v. (D; tr.) (colloq.) to ~ with ('to match with') (to ~ smb. up with a good job; my friends ~ed me up with her) flag n. 1. to display, fly; hang out; hoist, raise, run up, unfurl; wave a ~ 2. to dip, lower a ~; to strike the ~ 3. a garrison; holiday; national ~ 4. the white ~ ('symbol of surrender') 5. a ~ flies, flutters (the ~ was flying at half-mast) 6. under a ~ (the ship sailed under the Panamanian ~) 7. (misc.) to show/wave the ~ ('to demonstrate one's patriotism'); (under) a ~ of truce flair n. 1. to develop; show a ~ for 2. a distinctive flame n. 1. (also fig.) to kindle a ~ 2. (fig.) to stir the ~s (of racism) 3. to burst into ~ 4. a clear; open ~ 5. a ~ burns 6. in ~s (the house was in ~s) 7. (misc.) an (the) eternal ~; the Olympic ~; my old ~ ('my old love') flank n. 1. to turn ('go around') a ~ (to turn the enemy's ~) 2. on a ~ (on the left ~) 3. (misc.) a ~ attack flap n. (slang) ['commotion'] 1. a political ~ 2. in a ~ about, over flare n. 1. to light; shoot up a ~ 2. to set out, set up a ~ (they set up ~s along the runway) 3. a parachute ~ flare up v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at the slightest provocation) flash I n. 1. an electronic ~ (for a camera) 2. a hot ~ (AE; BE has hot flush) 3. a news ~ 4. in a ~ ('quickly') II v. 1. (usu. B; rarely A) ('to convey by light') they ~ed a signal to the crew 2. (D; tr.) ('to shine') to ~ at (the driver ~ed his lights at us) 3. (d; intr.) ('to come suddenly') to ~ into (a brilliant idea ~ed into her mind) 4. (d; intr.) ('to pass') to ~ through (a thought ~ed through my mind) 5. (D; intr.) ('to glow') to ~ with (her eyes ~ed with anger) flashback n. 1. to insert, interject, put in a ~ (as part of a film) 2. a ~ to (a ~ to smb.'s childhood) flashlight n. (AE;BE has torch) 1. to turn on a ~ 2. to shine a ~ on flask n. a Thermos (BE), vacuum (BE) ~ (AE has Thermos bottle) flat adj. ['flavorless, stale'] 1. to go ~ (the beer has gone ~) ['extended at full length'] 2. (also fig.) to fall ~ (as an actor he fell ~) ['exact'] 3. she ran a mile in seven minutes ~ II n. ['deflated tire'] (esp. AE; BE prefers flat tyre or puncture) 1. to have a ~ 2. to change; fix a ~ ['apartment'] (esp. BE) 3. to rent a ~ from 4. to let a ~ to 5. to furnish; redecorate; renovate a ~ 6. a cold-water (esp. AE; obsol.); council; service; studio ~ 7. converted; purpose-built ~s 8. a block of ~s (AE has apartment house) flatter v. 1. (D; refl.) to ~ on (to ~ oneself on one's knowledge of history) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ smb. about, on flattered adj. 1. ~ at, by (~ at the invitation) 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to be invited) 3. ~ that + clause (we were ~ that she came to visit us) flattering adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to be interviewed on TV) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that we've been chosen) flattery n. to resort to, use ~ flavor, flavour n. ['characteristic quality'] 1. to impart a ~ to 2. a colloquial; foreign; old-world ~ ['taste'] 3. a bitter; delicate; pleasant; strong; tart ~ 4. an artificial; natural ~ flaw n. 1. a fatal ~ 2. a ~ in (there's a ~ in your reasoning) flea n. ~s bite flee v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to fleece v. (D; tr.) to ~ of fleet adj. ~ of foot flesh n. 1. to mortify the ~ 2. proud ~ flesh out v. (D; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ a report with greater detail) flexibility n. 1. to demonstrate, show ~ 2. ~ in; towards 3. the ~ to + inf. (he has enough ~ to cope with the job) flexible adj. ~ in; towards flick v. (D; intr.) to ~ through ('to go through quickly') (to ~ through a report) flies (BE) see fly III flight I n. ['flying'] 1. to lake a ~ 2. to overbook a ~ 3. a chartered; coast-to-coast; connecting; cross-country; direct; domestic; international; maiden; manned; nonstop; reconnaissance; round-the-world; scheduled; shakedown; solo; space; suborbital; test; unmanned ~ 4. a bumpy, rough; smooth ~ 5. a ~ from; to (a ~ from Philadelphia to Frankfurt) 6. a ~ over (a ~ over the South Pole) 7. in ~ (at that moment the plane was in ~ over the Mediterranean) 8. on a ~ (on the ~ to Chicago) II n. ['fleeing'] 1. to take ~ 2. to put to ~ (their army was put to ~) 3. full, headlong ~ (the enemy was in full ~) 4. in ~ flinch v. (D; intr.) to ~ from fling I n. (colloq.) ['attempt'] 1. to have, take (esp. BE) a ~ at smt. ['period of self-indulgence'] 2. to have a last ~ II v. l. (D; tr.) to ~ at (to ~ a stone at smb.) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ to (they flung their rifles to the ground) 3. (N; used with an adjective) we flung the doors open 4. (P; tr.) they flung their hats into the air; to ~ caution to the winds flip v. 1. (slang) (D; intr.) ('to lose one's mind') to ~ over (he ~ped over her) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to go through quickly') (to ~ through an article) flirt I n. an incorrigible; terrible ~ II v. (D; intr.) to ~ with flirtation n. to carry on, engage in a ~ with flit v. (P; intr.) bees ~ from flower to flower; the idea ~ted into his brain flock I n. to tend a ~ (of sheep) II v. (P; intr.) the crowd ~ed around the speaker; customers ~ed into the store; to ~ together floe n. an ice ~ flood I n. 1. a flash; raging ~ 2. the ~ inundated; struck (several cities) 3. a ~ subsides II v. (D;tr.) to ~ with (to ~ the market with cheap goods) floodlight n. to focus; shine a ~ on floodwaters n. 1. raging; rising ~ 2. ~ subside floor n. ['story'] 1. the first; ground; lower; main; second; top; upper ~ 2. on a ~ (on the second ~) ['lower surface of a room'] 3. a dirt (AE), earth (BE); inlaid; parquet; tile; wooden ~ 4. on a ~ (he was sleeping on the ~) 5. (misc.) to buff; mop; scrub; sweep; wax a ~ ['right to speak'] 6. to ask for; get, take the ~ 7. to give smb. the ~ 8. to yield the ~ ['place where members sit'] 9. from the ~ (a motion was made from the ~) ['misc.'] 10. the ocean ~ flop I n. a ~ as II v. (D; intr.) to ~ as (she ~ped as a stage actress) flora n. 1. intestinal ~ 2. (misc.) ~ and fauna ('plants and animals') floss n. 1. dental ~ 2. candy ~ (BE; AE has cotton candy) flour n. 1. to mix ~ with; to sift ~ 2. bleached; cake; enriched; self-rising (AE), self-raising (BE); unbleached; white ~ 3. (BE) corn ~ (AE has cornstarch) flow I n. 1. to regulate a ~ 2. to staunch the ~ (of blood) 3. a smooth; steady ~ 4. a cash ~ 5. a lava ~ 6. a ~ from; to (the ~ of traffic to the city) II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from, out of (water ~ed from the pipe) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to (the river ~s from east to west) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ into, to (rivers ~ into the sea) flower n. ['plant'] 1. to grow; plant ~s 2. to pick, pluck ~s 3. a fragrant ~ 4. artificial; cut ~s 5. ~s bloom; fade, wither, wilt 6. (misc.) a bouquet; spray of ~s flu n. 1. to come down with (the) ~ 2. intestinal ~ 3. a strain of ~ (virus) 4. an attack, bout; outbreak; touch of (the) ~ fluctuate v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ between 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with (his mood ~s with the weather) fluency n. 1. to acquire ~ 2. to demonstrate, display ~ 3. ~ in (~ in a foreign language) 4. ~ to + inf. (she has enough ~ to order a meal in English) fluent adj. ~ in (~ in English) fluids n. 1. (med.) to force; measure; restrict; withhold ~ 2. to drink, take ~ 3. body; clear; cold; hot ~ fluke n. (colloq.) ['stroke of luck'] 1. a pure ~ 2. by a ~ (he won by a ~) flunk v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to ~ out of (he ~d out of school) flush I adj. ~ with (~ with the ground) II n. 1. a hot ~ (BE; AE has hot flash) 2. the first ~ (of success) III v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with pride) IV v. (d; tr.) ('to chase') to ~ from, out of (they were ~ed from their hiding place) flute n. to play the— flux n. in ~ fly I n. 1. to swat a ~ 2. a fruit; tsetse ~ II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ across, over (to ~ across the ocean) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to attack') 3. (D; intr., tr.) ('to travel by plane') ('to pilot') to ~ from; to (she flew from New York to London; he flew his private plane to Florida) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to arrive by plane') (to ~ into Chicago) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to go into') (to ~ into a rage) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to depart by plane') (to ~ out of Chicago) 7. (misc.) to ~ blind ('to ~ a plane solely with the help of instruments'); to ~ high ('to be elated'); to ~ nonstop; to ~ in the face of tradition ('to defy tradition'); to ~ off the handle ('to become angry') III n. ['opening on trousers']!, to close, do up (BE), zip up one's ~ 2. to open, unzip one's! ~ flying n. blind; formation; instrument; stunt ~ flying colors, flying colours n. ['success'] to come through with ~ flyover (BE) see overpass fob off v. (colloq.) 1. (D; tr.) ('to get rid of by deceit') to ~ on (to ~ cheap merchandise on customers) 2. (BE) (D; tr.) ('to deceive') to ~ with (to ~ customers with cheap merchandise) focus I n. 1. to bring smt. into ~ 2. in ~; out of ~ II v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on (we must ~ our attention on two major problems) fodder n. 1. cannon ~ 2. ~ for foe n. 1. a bitter, implacable; formidable; sworn ~ 2. a political ~ 3. (misc.) to vanquish a ~ foetus (BE) see fetus fog n. 1. (a) dense, heavy, thick; light ~ 2. a ground ~ 3. a ~ clears, lets up, lifts 4. a patch of ~ 5. (misc.) in a ~ ('bewildered') foible n. a human ~ foil n. aluminium (BE), aluminum (AE); gold; silver ~; tinfoil foist off v. (D; tr.) to ~ on (to ~ inferior merchandise on a customer) fold v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (she ~ed the newspaper into a hat) folder n. a manila ~ fold up v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ into (the bed ~s up into the wall) follow v. 1. to ~ blindly; closely; faithfully 2. (d; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in smb.'s footsteps) 3. (L) it ~s from what has been said that he cannot be considered for the job follower n. a faithful ~ following n. ['followers'] a large ~ follow through v. (D; intr.) ('to continue') to ~ with follow-up n. 1. to do a ~ on (the reporter did a ~ on her first story) 2. a ~ to (this letter is the ~ to our telephone conversation) follow up v. 1.(D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a story) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ with (we should ~ with a letter) folly n. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to persist) fond adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ of (she is ~ of him) fondness n. ~ for font n. ['bowl'] a baptismal ~ food n. 1. to cook, prepare; heat; reheat ~ 2. to bolt, gulp (down); eat; swallow ~ 3. appetizing, delicious, tasty; coarse; exotic; fine; heavy; light; nourishing, wholesome; plain; rich; simple; spicy ~ 4. frozen; gourmet; health; junk; kosher; soul (AE) ~ 5. scraps of ~ 6. (misc.) ~ for thought fool I n. 1. to play the ~ 2. to make a ~ of smb. 3. a big; doddering (old); poor; silly; stupid, utter; young ~ 4. a ~ to + inf. (I was a ~ to trust him) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ with fool about (BE) see fool around fool around v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (don't ~ with fire) foolhardy adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to even try) foolish adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to take the test without preparation; he was ~ to try) foolishness n. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to do it) foot n. ['lower extremity of a leg'] 1. to stamp; tap one's ~; to shuffle one's feet 2. to gain, get to one's feet 3. to set ~ on (she has never set ~ on foreign soil) 4. flat feet 5. in one's stocking feet 6. at one's feet (the dog lay at his feet) 7. on ~ (they came on ~) 8. (misc.) to drag one's feet ('to move very slowly') or ('to refuse to act'); fast/quick on one's feet; to put one's best ~ forward ('to attempt to make a good impression'); to put one's ~ down ('to act firmly'); to get a ~ in the door ('to make an initial step'); underfoot ('beneath one's feet'); to put one's ~ in one's mouth ('to make an inappropriate statement'); she always lands on her feet ('she always manages to get out of difficulty') ['bottom, end'] 9. at the ~ of (at the ~ of the bed) ['unit of measurement equalling twelve inches'] 10. a cubic; square ~ football n. 1. to play ~ 2. a ~ game (AE), match (BE) 3. association ~ ('soccer') foot fault n. (tennis) to commit a ~ foothold n. 1. to establish, gain, secure, win a ~ 2. a firm ~ footing n. 1. to keep one's ~ 2. to lose one's ~ 3. an equal; solid, sure; unequal ~ 4. on a certain ~ (to be on a friendly ~ with smb.; to place a country on a war ~) footnote n. a ~ to (the ~s to a chapter) footprint n. to leave a ~ (in the snow) footrace n. to run a ~ footsie n. (slang) ['collusion'] ['flirting'] to play ~ with footstep n. 1. to dog smb.'s ~s 2. to follow in smb.'s ~s footwork n. fancy ~ (as of a boxer) forage v. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for food) foray n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a bold ~ 3. a ~ into forbid v. (formal)!, to ~ categorically, expressly, outright 2. (H) she has forbidden him to smoke in her presence; I ~ you to take the car force I n. ['compulsion'] ['violence'] 1. to apply, resort to, use ~ 2. to renounce (the use of) ~ 3. armed; brute; deadly; moral; physical; spiritual ~ ['military power'] 4. to marshal, muster, rally one's ~s; to join ~s with 5. armed, military; ground; naval ~s (strong naval ~s began to shell the enemy positions) 6. an air ~ 7. an expeditionary; guerrilla; occupation; peacekeeping; task ~ (a naval task ~) 8. a show of ~ ['organized body, group'] 9. a labor, work; police; sales ~ 10. in full ~ (the police were out in full ~) ['energy'] ['power'] 11. to spend one's ~ (the storm has spent its ~) 12. centrifugal; centripetal ~ 13. an explosive; irresistible; magnetic; motivating ~ 14. the vital ~ ('basic force') ['effect'] 15. in ~ (the regulation is still in ~) II v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ into (they ~d their way into the building) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ off (we were ~ d off the road) 3. (d; refl., tr.) to ~ on (she tried to ~ her views on us) 4. (d; tr.) to ~ through (to ~ one's way through a crowd) 5. (H) they ~d her to sign 6. (N; used with an adjective) he ~d the door open foreboding n. 1. a gloomy ~ 2. a ~ that + clause (I have a ~ that there will be a bad storm) forecast I n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a long-range; short-range; weather ~ (to give the weather ~) II v. (L) she forecast that an earthquake would occur foreclose v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (they will ~ on us) ('they will foreclose our mortgage') foredoomed adj. ~ to (~ to failure) forefront n. in the ~ foreground n. in the ~ forehead n. a high ~ foreign adj. ~ to forerunner n. ['precursor'] a ~ of, to foresee v. 1. (K) nobody could ~ his running away 2. (L) he foresaw that prices would drop 3. (Q) who can ~ what should be done? foresight n. the ~ to + inf. (he had the ~ to provide for the education of his children) forest n. 1. to clear a ~ 2. a dense, thick; impenetrable; luxuriant; primeval; virgin ~ 3. a broad-leaf; coniferous; deciduous; evergreen; (tropical) rain ~ 4. a national; state (US) ~ 5. the ~ stretches for miles forethought n. the ~ to + inf. (she had the ~ to save money) forewarn v. (D; tr.) to ~ of foreword n. a ~ to forfeit v. (B) he ~ed the game to his opponent forge v. (d; intr.) ('to move ahead') to ~ into the lead forgery n. 1. to commit ~ 2. a clever; crude; skillful ~ forget v. 1. to ~ completely, utterly 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about (she forgot about the concert) 3. (E) I forgot to call 4. (G; usu. in neg. and interrogative constructions) the children will never ~ visiting this park 5. (K) the audience will not ~ his singing this role 6. (L) don't ~ that we are going out this evening 7. (Q) a person never ~s how to swim USAGE NOTE: The sentence she forgot to buy a newspaper means that she did not buy a newspaper. The sentence she forgot about buying a newspaper may mean either that she did not buy a newspaper or that she bought a newspaper but does not remember buying it. forgetful adj. ~ of (he has become ~ of things) forgive v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for a mistake) 2. (biblical) (0; may be used with one object) ~ us our sins fork n. ['pronged device'] 1. a tuning ~ ['division into branches'] 2. at a ~ in the road ['implement for eating'] 3. a dinner; salad ~ fork over v. (colloq.) (B) we had to ~ our savings to our creditors form I n. ['printed document'] 1. to fill in (BE), fill out (esp. AE), fill up (obsol. BE) a ~ 2. an application; tax ~ ['shape'] ['manner'] 3. to assume, take (on) a ~ (to assume human ~) 4. an abridged, condensed; comprehensive; concise; convenient, handy; revised ~ 5. in a ~ (the book came out in abridged ~; we reject fraud in any ~; a fiend in human ~) ['grammatical element'] 6. a bound; colloquial; combining; diminutive; free; inflectional; obsolete; plural; singular; surface; underlying; verbal ~ ['behavior'] 7. bad; good, proper ~ (it's bad ~ to come late to a formal reception) ['condition'] 8. bad; excellent, good, superb ~ 9. in (certain) ~ (she was in superb ~ today--she didn't lose a single match) ['good condition'] 10. in ~ (I'm not in ~ today) 11. off ~ ['table giving information'] 12. a racing ~ ['school class'] (BE) 13. in a ~ (in the fourth ~) II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from, out of (they ~ed an army out of rabble) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ chopped beef into patties) formal adj. ~ with (he is always ~ with his colleagues) formalities n. 1. to complete, go through the ~ 2. bureaucratic; legal ~; (the) usual ~ format n. a suitable ~ formation n. ['arrangement of troops, ships, aircraft'] 1. to break ~ 2. close; tight ~ 3. battle ~ (drawn up in battle ~) 4. in ~ (to fly in close ~) ['structure'] ['grouping'] 5. a cloud; rock ~ 6. (ling.) a back ~ formula n. ['milk mixture for infant feeding'] 1. to make up, prepare ~ ['symbolic representation'] ['method'] 2. to devise a ~ 3. a scientific ~ 4. a ~ for 5. a ~ to + inf. (a ~ to change lead into gold) form up v. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in three ranks) fort n. 1. a strong ~ 2. a ~ falls; holds out 3. (misc.) to hold the ~ ('to bear responsibility in the absence of others') fortify v. l.(D;tr.) to ~ against 2. (D;refl.,tr.) to ~ with (he ~ied himself with a shot of whiskey) fortitude n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2. (humorous) intestinal ~ ('great courage') 3. moral ~ 4. the ~ to + inf. (they had enough ~ to finish the job) fortress n. 1. to besiege; storm, take a ~ 2. an impregnable; strong ~ 3. a ~ falls, surrenders; holds out fortunate adj. 1. ~ in (we are ~ in having such a nice house) 2. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to have influential friends) 3. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that we can all meet tomorrow) fortune n. ['wealth'] 1. to accumulate, amass, make a ~ 2. to come into, inherit a ~ 3. to dissipate, run through, squander a ~ 4. an enormous, large, vast ~ 5. a family ~ ['luck'] 6. to try one's ~ 7. the (bad; good) ~ to + inf. (they had the good ~ to find a suitable house quickly; we had the bad fortune to get caught in a storm) 8. (bad; good) ~ that + clause (it was our good ~ that it did not rain) 9. ~ smiled on us 10. a stroke of good ~ ['fate'] 11. to tell smb.'s ~ forum n. 1. to conduct, hold a ~ 2. an open, public ~ 3. a ~ about, on forward v. 1. (usu. B; occasionally A) they always ~ my mail to me 2. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (to ~ letters to a new address; the books were ~ed from Amsterdam to Tokyo) foul I adv. l. see afoul 2. to fall ~ of (to fall ~ of the law) II n. 1. to commit a ~ 2. a personal; team; technical ~ III v. (esp. basketball) (D; intr.) to ~ out of (to ~ out of a game) foul out v. (esp. basketball) (D; intr.) to ~ on (he ~ed out on five personals) foul play n. ['violence'] to meet with ~ found v. (D; tr.) to ~ on (our country was ~ed on certain principles) foundation n. ['underlying base'] 1. to lay a ~ 2. to undermine a ~ 3. a firm, solid, sound, strong ~ 4. the ~ (of a building) settles ['an endowed institution'] 5. a charitable, philanthropic; educational ~ fountain n. 1. a drinking, water ~ 2. (esp. AE) a soda ~ fours n. ['two hands and two feet'] on all ~ fox n. 1. an arctic, white; desert; red; silver ~ 2. a ~ yelps 3. a young ~ is a cub, pup 4. a female ~ is a vixen 5. (misc.) as sly as a ~ fraction n. 1. to reduce a ~ 2. a common; complex, compound; decimal; improper; irreducible; partial; proper; simple, vulgar ~ fracture n. 1. to reduce, set a ~ 2. a compound; compression; greenstick; hairline; simple; stress frailty n. human ~ frame n. a mirror; picture ~ framework n. 1. a conceptual ~ 2. within a ~ franchise n. ['the right to vote'] 1. to exercise one's ~ ['the license to sell a product or services in a certain area'] 2. to grant a ~ 3. to have, hold a ~ 4. to withdraw a ~ frank adj. 1. brutally, perfectly ~ 2. ~ about; with (she was ~ with us about everything) frankness n. 1. disarming ~ 2. ~ about fraternity n. (US) 1. to pledge a ~ ('to agree to join a fraternity') 2. a college ~ (see also sorority) fraternize v. (D; intr.) to ~ with fratricide n. to commit ~ fraud n. 1. to commit ~; to perpetrate (a) ~ 2. to expose (a) ~ 3. mail; vote ~ fraudulent adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to claim an exemption of that type) fraught adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ with (the situation was ~ with danger) fray n. to enter, join the ~ frazzle n. burnt to a ~ ('completely burnt') freak out v. (slang) (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on (to ~ on drugs) free I adj. 1. ~ from, of (~ from pain; ~ of debt) 2. ~ with (~ with advice) 3. ~ to + inf. (I am ~ to accept your invitation) 4. (misc.) to set, turn smb. II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from freedom n. 1. to gain, secure, win ~ 2. to abridge, curtail (a) ~ 3. academic; political; religious ~ 4. ~ of assembly; of the press; of religion, worship; of speech 5. ~ from (~ from want) 6. the ~ to + inf. (we have the ~ to do what we want) free hand n. ['freedom of action'] 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. to get; have a ~ free throw n. (basketball) to make a ~ freeze I n. ['frost'] ['freezing'] 1. a deep, hard ~ ['freezer'] (BE) 2. a deep ~ ['fixing at a certain level'] 3. to impose a ~ 4. a nuclear; wage, wages (BE) ~ 5. a ~ on II v. 1. to ~ hard, solid (it froze hard last night) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ to (his exposed skin froze to the metal; to ~ to death) freezer n. 1. a home ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ compartment (in a refrigerator) freight n. ['goods, cargo'] 1. to carry; handle; ship ~ ['freight train'] (colloq.) 2. to hop, jump ('board') a ~ French n. Canadian ~ (natives of Quebec speak Canadian ~) French leave n. (obsol.) ['leaving without saying goodbye'] to take ~ French toast n. to make ~ frenzy n. 1. a wild ~ 2. in a ~ (in a ~ of despair) frequency n. ['number of repetitions'] 1. alarming; great, high; low ~ 2. with ~ (with alarming ~) ['number of periodic waves per unit of time'] (physics) 3. high; low; medium ~ 4. a radio ~ 5. on a ~ fresco n. to paint a ~ fresh I adj. ['recent'] ['new'] ~ from, out of (~ out of school) II adj. (colloq.) (AE) ['bold'] ['impudent'] ~ with (don't get ~ with me) freshener n. an air, room ~ fret v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over 2. (misc.) to ~ and fume friction n. 1. to create, generate, produce ~ 2. ~ among, between; with (there has been some ~ between the union and management) friend n. 1. to make a ~; to make ~s with smb. 2. a bosom, close, good, intimate; fair-weather; faithful, fast, loyal, staunch, strong, true; false; lifelong; mutual; personal; special ~ 3. inseparable ~s 4. a pen ~ (BE; CE has pen pal) 5. a ~ to (she was a good ~ to us) 5. (misc.) my good ~ friendliness n. ~ to, towards friendly adj. 1. ~ of (that was ~ of you) 2. ~ to, towards, with 3. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to offer his help) friendship n. 1. to cement, develop, make, strike up a ~ 2. to cherish, cultivate a ~ 3. to promote (international) ~ 4. to break up, destroy a ~ 5. a close, firm, intimate, strong, warm; lifelong; long ~6. the bonds of ~ 7. (a) ~ among, between; with fright n. 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. a nasty; sudden ~ 3. stage ~ 4. in, with ~ (to scream with ~) frighten v. 1. (d;tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into submission) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~ smb. out of doing smt.) 3. (misc.) to ~ smb. to death frightened adj. ~ about, at, of (~ at the very thought) frightening adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to even contemplate such a possibility) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that a war could break out at any time) frightful adj. see frightening fringe n. 1. the lunatic ~ 2. on the ~s (of society) fringe benefits n. to get; provide ~ fritter away v. (D; tr.) to ~ on (to ~ one's time away on trifles) frivolous adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to make such an accusation) frog n. 1. a grass; green; wood ~ 2. ~s croak; jump 3. (misc.) to have a ~ in one's throat ('to be hoarse') front I adv. to face ~ II n. ['front line'] (mil. )1. at, on the ~(the war correspondents spent two days at the ~; there has been no activity on this ~) ['area of activity'] 2. the home; political ~ 3. on a ~ (on the home ~) ['advanced part'] 4. at the ~ of; in ~ of ['movement'] ['campaign'] 5. a popular; united ~ (to present a united ~) ['boundary'] (meteorology) 6. a cold; occluded; stationary; warm ~ ['walk, road along a body of water'] (BE) 7. a river; sea ~ 8. along a ~ (to walk along the sea ~) 9. on a ~ (is there a hotel on the sea ~?) ['behavior'] 10. to put on, put up a ~ 11. a bold, brazen ~ (to put on a bold ~) ['facade'] 12. a ~ for (the store was a ~ for illegal drug sales) III v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for the mob) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ on (our building ~s on the main road) frontage n. ocean; river ~ frontier n. 1. to advance, extend a ~ (to extend the ~s of science) 2. to cross a ~ 3. on a ~ front line n. at, in, on the ~ frost n. 1. a hard, heavy, severe; light, slight ~ 2. eternal ~, permafrost 3. a touch of ~ frown v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at ('to look with displeasure at') (the teacher ~ed at the noisy children) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to disapprove of) (they ~ on all forms of affection in public) frozen adj. ~ hard, solid frugal adj. (formal) ~ of (esp. BE), with (~ of one's money) frugality n. to practice ~ fruit n. 1. to grow ~ 2. (also fig.) to bear ~ (not all trees bear ~) 3. ripe; unripe ~ 4. fresh; luscious; young ~ 5. citrus; tropical ~ (our country exports citrus ~) 6. (fig.) forbidden ~ 7. canned (AE), tinned (BE); dried; fresh; frozen ~ 8. (misc.) (fig.) the ~s of one's labor fruitcake n. (misc.)(colloq.) as nutty as a ~ ('completely insane') fruition n. 1. to bring smt. to ~ 2. to come to ~ frustrated adj. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to find no support among his friends) frustrating adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ for me to work in a place like that) 2. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that so few people support this worthy cause) frustration n. to vent one's ~ on fry v. (C) ~ an egg for me; or: ~ me an egg fry-up n. (colloq.) (BE) ['frying of foods'] to do, have a ~ fudge v. (D; intr.) ('to hedge') to ~ on (to ~ on an issue) fuel n. 1. to take on ~ 2. to run out of ~ 3. jet; liquid; nuclear; solid ~ 4. fossil; synthetic ~s 5. (misc.) (usu. fig.) to add ~ to the fire fugitive n. 1. to track down a ~ 2. a ~ from (a ~ from justice) fulfillment, fulfilment n. 1. personal ~ (a sense of personal ~) 2. partial ~ (of the requirements for a doctoral degree) full adj. ~ of (~ of wine) fulminate v. (D; intr.) to ~ against fumble I n. to make a ~ - II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to grope') to ~ for (he was -ling in his pocket for the key) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to handle clumsily') (she was ~ling with the lock) fume v. (D; intr.) to ~ about, at, over (to ~ at the delay) (see also fret) fumes n. 1. to inhale ~ 2. cigar; cigarette; gas ~ fun n. 1. to have ~ (we had a lot of ~) 2. to make ~ of smb.; to poke ~ at smb. 3. to spoil the ~ 4. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to go on the roller coaster = it was ~ going on the roller coaster) 5. for, in ~ (to play for ~) function n. ['characteristic action'] 1. to fulfill, perform a ~ 2. a grammatical ~ 3. the bodily ~s ['mathematical correspondence'] 4. an exponential; inverse; linear; trigonometric ~ ['social event'] 5. to attend a ~ 6. an annual; social ~ fund n. 1. to establish, set up a ~ 2. to administer, manage a ~ 3. an inexhaustible ~ 4. a contingency, emergency; pension; secret; sinking; slush; strike; trust ~ 5. a mutual ~ (AE; BE has unit trust) fundamental adj. ~ to funds n. 1. to raise ~ 2. to disburse, pay out ~ 3. matching; private; public ~ 4. (stamped on a check) insufficient ~ (AE; BE has refer to drawer) 5. ~ dry up, run out 6. the ~ to + inf. (we have enough ~ to complete the work) funeral n. 1. to conduct; hold a ~ 2. a military; state funk n. ['depressed state'] (colloq.) a blue ~ (in a blue ~) funny adj. (colloq.) ['strange'] ['interesting'] 1. ~ about (there's smt. ~ about that affair) 2. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to watch how people order in a restaurant = it's ~ watching how people order in a restaurant) 3. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that they didn't call) funny bone n. to tickle smb.'s ~ furious adj. 1. ~ about, at, over smt. 2. ~ at (esp. AE), with smb. 3. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to learn that his pay check had been lost) 4. ~ that + clause (she was ~ that the information had been leaked) furlough n. (esp. AE) on ~ furnace n. 1. to stoke a ~ 2. a blast; coal; coke; gas; hot-air; oil; open-hearth ~ furnish v. 1. to ~ elegantly; luxuriously; plainly; tastefully 2. (D; tr.) ('to provide') to ~ for (to ~ blankets for the refugees) 3. (D; tr.) ('to provide') to ~ with (can you ~ us with the necessary information?) 4. (D; tr.) ('to supply with furniture') to ~ with (they ~ed the room with very expensive tables, chairs, and drapes) furniture n. 1. to upholster ~ 2. antique; garden, lawn, outdoor, patio; modem; office; period; secondhand, used; unfinished (esp. AE) ~ 3. an article, piece, stick of ~ furor, furore n. to create a ~ furrow n. 1. to make, turn a ~ 2. an even, straight furtherance n. in ~ of fury n. 1. to vent one's ~ on, upon 2. pent-up; savage, unbridled ~ fuse I n. ['tube, wick used to set off an explosive charge'] 1. to light a ~ 2. a slow ~ (also fig.) II n. ['safety device'] 1. to blow, blow out (esp. AE) a ~ 2. to change a ~ 3. a safety ~ 4. a ~ blows, blows out (esp. AE) 5. (misc.) to blow a ~ ('to get very angry') III n. (CE) ['detonating device'] 1. to arm, set a ~ 2. a contact; delayed; percussion; proximity; time ~ (AE also has fuze) IV v. (D; intr.) to ~ with fusion n. nuclear ~ fuss I n. 1. to kick up, make a ~ 2. a ~ about, over II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with fussy adj. ~ about futile adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to speculate about what might have been = it's ~ speculating about what might have been) futility n. an exercise in ~ future n. 1. to predict the ~ 2. to plan (out) the ~ 3. to face the ~; to look into the ~ 4. a bleak; bright, promising, rosy; unforeseeable ~ 5. the distant; foreseeable; immediate, near ~ 6. a ~ for (there is no ~ for them here) 7. in the ~ (in the near ~) 8. (BE) in ~ ('from now on') (be more careful in ~) 9. (misc.) what will the ~ bring? fuze (AE) see fuse III gadfly n. ['annoying person'] a ~ to (the reporter was a constant ~ to the government) gadget n. 1. a ~ for (they have a ~ for everything) 2. a ~ to + inf. (a ~ to clean windows) gaff n. (slang) (BE) to blow the ~ ('to reveal a secret') gaffe n. ['blunder'] to make a ~ gag I n. (colloq.) ['joke'] as, for a ~ (she did it as/ for a ~) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on food) gaga adv. (colloq.) ['enthusiastic'] to go ~ over smt. gage see gauge gain I n. 1. to make ~s (in recent years minority groups have made considerable political ~s) 2. to consolidate one's ~s 3. to nullify a ~ 4. a considerable, enormous, notable, substantial, tremendous; tangible ~ 5. ill-gotten ~s 6. (economics) capital ~s 7. a ~ to (a ~ to our profession) II v. 1. to ~ in ('to acquire') (to ~ in experience) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ on ('to move faster than') (the police were ~ing on the fugitive; to ~ on one's pursuers) gait n. 1. a steady; unsteady ~ 2. at a certain ~ (at a steady ~) gale n. 1. a heavy, raging, severe, strong; sudden ~ 2. a ~ blows itself out; rages gall n. (colloq.) ['impudence'] 1. unmitigated ~ 2. the ~ to + inf. (he had the ~ to sue for damages) gallant adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to say that) gallantry n. to display ~ gallery n. an art; fresco; press; shooting ~ galling adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to watch him deceive everyone) gallon n. an imperial ~ gallop n. at a ~ gallows n. to be sent to the ~ galvanize v. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into action) gambit n. (chess) 1. to play a ~ 2. to accept; decline a ~ 3. an opening ~ gamble v. (D; intr.) ('to risk') to ~ on (to ~ on smb.'s cooperation) gambler n. a compulsive, inveterate; professional gambling n. compulsive; illegal; legal ~ game n. ['contest, match'] 1. to play; win a ~ 2. to lose a ~ 3. (AE) to call ('cancel') a (baseball) ~ 4. to throw ('purposely lose') a ~ 5. a close; crucial; fair ~ 6. a bowl (Am. football); championship; home; match (tennis); practice; wild-card (Am. professional football) ~ ['form of recreation'] 7. to play a ~ 8. a ball; board; children's; numbers; parlor; video; word ~ 9. a ~ of chance; a ~ of skill ['deception'] 10. to see through smb.'s ~ 11. (AE) a con, confidence ~ ['tactic, strategy'] 12. a waiting ~ 1.3. a cat-and-mouse ~ ['hunted animals'] 14. to hunt; stalk ~ 15. big; small ~ 16. (fig.) fair ~ ('a legitimate object of attack') (to be fair ~ for smb.) 17. (misc.) a ~ preserve, refuge ['prostitution'] (colloq.) (BE) 18. on the ~ ['misc.'] 19. the mating ~ (see the Usage Note for match) games n. ['competition'] ['maneuvers'] 1. to hold ~ 2. war ~ 3. the Commonwealth; Olympic; summer; winter ~ gamut n. 1. to run the ~ from; to 2.,the whole ~ (her performance ran the whole ~ from outstanding to terrible) gander n. (colloq.) ['look'] to take a ~ at gang n. 1. to form a ~ 2. to join a ~ 3. to break up, bust (up) a ~ 4. a chain; section; street; work ~ 5. an inner-city; juvenile ~ gangrene n. ~ sets in gang up v. (d; intr.) to ~ against, on gaol (BE) see jail gap n. 1. to leave a ~ 2. to bridge, close, fill a ~ 3. a sorely felt, unbridgeable, wide ~ 4. a communications; credibility; generation; trade ~ 5. the gender ~ 6. a ~ between 7. a ~ in gape v. (D; intr.) to ~ at garage n. 1. a parking ~ 2. (misc.) to park a car in a ~ garage sale n. (AE) to have, hold a ~ garb I n. 1. formal ~ 2. in (formal) ~ II v. (d; refl.) to ~ in (they ~ed themselves in colorful costumes) garbage n. (esp. AE) 1. to collect, pick up the ~ 2. to dispose of; dump ~ garden n. 1. to lay out; plant a ~ 2. to maintain a ~ 3. to water; weed a ~ 4. a botanical; formal; market (BE); rock; sunken; terraced; vegetable; zoological ~ (see the Usage Note for yard) gardening n. 1. to do, go in for ~ 2. landscape; market (BE) ~ garlic n. 1. clove of ~ 2. a whiff of ~ garment n. a foundation ~ gas n. ['accelerator'] 1. to step on the ~ ['combustible gaseous mixture'] 2. to light, turn on the ~ 3. to turn off the ~ 4. coal; natural ~ ['substance dispersed through the air to disable the enemy'] 5. mustard; nerve; poison, toxic; tear ~ ['misc.'] 6. laughing ~ ('nitrous oxide') (see also gasoline) gash n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a deep ~ gasoline n. (AE) high-octane; leaded; lead-free, unleaded; premium; regular ~ (BE has petrol) gasp I n. 1. to emit, give, let out a ~ 2. an audible ~ 3. a ~ for (a ~ for breath) 4. (misc.) the last ~ ('the last effort') II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to express surprise at') (they ~ed at our offer) 2. (D; intr.) ('to breathe with difficulty') to ~ for (to ~ for breath) gas range n. to light, turn on a ~ gate n. 1. a starting ~ (at a racetrack) 2. at a ~ 3. (misc.) (colloq.) to give smb. the ~ ('to reject smb.') gateway n. a ~ to (the ~ to the west) gather v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to assemble') to ~ around (they ~ed around the speaker) 2. (d; tr.) ('to conclude') to ~ from (I ~ from the expression on your face that you don't like the proposal) 3. (L) ('to conclude') I ~ that you don't like him gathering n. a public; social ~ gauge n. ['measuring device'] 1. a fuel; oil; pressure; rain; tire- pressure; water; wind ~ ['distance between rails'] 2. broad, wide; narrow; standard gauntlet I n. ['challenge'] 1. to throw down the ~ 2. to pick up, take up the ~ II n. ['ordeal'] to run a ~ (to run the ~ of reporters) gavel I n. 1. to rap a ~ 2. a rap of the ~ II v. (d;tr.) to-into (he-led the protesters into silence) gawk v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ at gaze I n. an admiring; intense, rapt, steady, unblinking; wistful ~ II v. 1. to ~ intently 2. (d; intr.) to ~ at gear I n. ['toothed wheel as part of a transmission'] 1. to change (BE), shift ~s 2. to reverse ~s 3. to strip ~s 4. bottom (BE), low; high (AE), top (BE); reverse ~ 5. a worm ~ 6. ~s clash, grind; jam, lock, stick; mesh 7. in ~; out of ~ ['equipment'] 8. fishing; hunting; skiing ~ ['clothing'] (colloq.) (BE) 9. trendy ~ II v. (d; tr.) to ~ to (the whole economy is ~ed to the tourist trade) gear up v. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ for (we are ~ing up for increased production) gender n. 1. grammatical ~ 2. (the) feminine; masculine; neuter ~ (many languages have no neuter ~) gene n. 1. to transfer, transplant ~s 2. to cut; splice ~s 3. a dominant; recessive ~ general n. 1. a brigadier (US); commanding; four-star; lieutenant; major ~ 2. (US) a ~ of the Army generality n. 1. a broad, sweeping ~ 2. (to speak) in ~ties generalization n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a broad, sweeping; valid ~ 3. a ~ about 4. a ~ that + clause (it is a valid ~ that exercise promotes good health) generalize v. (D; intr.) to ~ about general quarters n. to sound ~ generation n. 1. the coming, next; new; older; present; younger ~ 2. future; past ~s 3. a lost ~ 4. (misc.) a ~ gap generosity n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2. great, lavish, magnanimous, unstinting ~ 3. (misc.) to abuse smb.'s ~ generous adj. 1. ~ in; with (~ with money) 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of her to contribute such a large sum) genial adj. ~ towards genitalia n. (plural) female; male ~ genius n. ['great mental capacity, ability'] 1. to demonstrate, show ~ 2. an inventive; rare ~ 3. a spark of ~ ['ability'] 4. a ~ for (he has a ~ for getting into trouble) ['person of great mental capacity, ability'] 5. an artistic; budding; inventive; mathematical; mechanical; military; musical; rare; real ~ 6. a ~ to + inf. (she was a ~ to think of that) genocide n. to commit, perpetrate ~ gentle adj. ~ with gentleman n. 1. the complete, perfect, real, true ~ 2. a country ~ 3. (misc.) every inch a ~; a ~ of the old school gentry n. the landed; local ~ gen up v. (slang) (BE) (D; tr.) ('to inform') to ~ about, on (they ~ned me up on the situation) geography n. dialect, linguistic; economic; physical; political ~ geometry n. descriptive; Euclidean; plane; projective; solid ~ germ n. ['microorganism'] 1. ~s multiply 2. (some) ~s cause disease germane adj. ~ to (~ to the discussion) German measles n. ['rubella'] to catch, come down with ~ gestation n. period of ~ gesticulate v. to ~ frantically, wildly gesture n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a bold; conciliatory; frantic; friendly; glorious, grand, grandiose, magnificent; habitual; humane, kind; imperious ~ get v. 1. (B) ('to deliver') I have to ~ a message to her 2. (C) ('to obtain') she got a newspaper for me; or: she got me a newspaper 3. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ across ('to cross'); ('to cause to cross') (to ~ across a bridge; the general finally got his troops across the river) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ after ('to exert pressure on') (you'll have to ~ after them: they are coming to work late every day) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ around ('to evade') (we cannot ~ around the regulations) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to suggest') (what are you -ting at?) 7. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to reach') (I hope that the children cannot ~ at the medicine; you're safe here: your enemies cannot ~ at you; to ~ at the truth) 8. (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to ~ behind ('to support') (we must ~ behind her campaign) 9. (d; intr.) to ~ between ('to try to separate') (never ~ between fighting dogs) 10. (d; intr., refl., tr.) to ~ into ('to enter'); ('to cause to enter') (to ~ into trouble; to ~ oneself into debt; to ~ smb. into trouble; to ~ into a fight) 11. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to affect') (what got into him?) 12. (d; intr.) to ~ off ('to leave') (to ~ off a train) 13. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to enter') (to ~ on a train) 14. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to affect') (to ~ on smb.'s nerves) 15. (d; tr.) to ~ on ('to cause to enter') (he finally got the whole group on the train) 16. (d; intr.) to ~ onto ('to enter') (she could not ~ onto the train) 17. (d; intr.) to ~ onto ('to take up for discussion') (we got onto a very interesting topic) 18. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to ~ onto ('to become aware of) (we finally got onto her schemes) 19. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ out of ('to leave'); ('to extricate'); ('to extricate oneself from') (to ~ out of a car; I got him out of trouble; to ~ out of trouble; when did he ~ out of prison?) 20. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to overcome') (you'll have to ~ over your fear of speaking in public) 21. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to recover from') (has she got/gotten over the shock?) 22. (d; intr.) to ~ past ('to slip by') (we got past the guard) 23. (d; intr.) ('to be unnoticed') to ~ past (the error got past him) 24. (d; intr., tr.) ('to pass'); ('to cause to pass') to ~ through (to ~ through a door; we could not ~ the piano through the window) 25. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to reach') (to ~ to a telephone; to ~ to the point; we got to the theater late) 26. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to affect') (her pleas got to me) 27. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to bribe') (they got to the mayor himself) 28. (d; tr.) ('to deliver') to ~ to (to ~ smb. to a hospital) 29. (d; intr.) to ~ within ('to come') (don't ~ within range of the enemy artillery) 30. (E) ('to succeed in') if you can ~ to see her, you may receive some help; if you ~ to know her, you'll like her 31. (colloq.) (E; used in the perfect tense) ('to be obliged to') she's got to finish the work by tomorrow 32. (G) ('to begin') he finally got going 33. (H; no passive) ('to bring about') she finally got the television to work; I got a gardener to cut the grass 34. (J; more usu. is H) ('to bring about') she finally got the television working 35. (N; used with an adjective, past participle) ('to make') we got our tools ready; he got us involved; try to ~ them interested 36. (P; intr.) ('to arrive') he finally got home 37. (s) ('to become') to ~ angry; to ~ drunk; to ~ loose; to ~ rid of; to ~ even with smb. 38. (misc.) to ~ cracking ('to start moving'); to ~ in touch with smb.; to ~ nowhere ('to be unsuccessful'); to ~ somewhere ('to score a success') USAGE NOTE: In AE, the past participle of to get is usu. gotten--they'd gotten everything ready. In BE, it is got--they'd got everything ready. (Note that ill-gotten gains is CE.) However, AE does use have got especially in the meaning 'must'. Thus, the sentence I've got to go is CE. Only BE uses had got to form the past tense of this construction-- I'd got to do it yesterday 'I had to do it yesterday'. BE also has he'd got work 'he had work'. get across v. (B) ('to make clear') she tried to ~ her ideas across to us get after v. (H) ('to induce') you'll have to ~ him to trim the bushes get ahead v. (d; intr.) to ~ of ('to occupy a position in front of) (try to ~ of him) get along v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to manage') to ~ on (we cannot ~ on his salary) 2. (D; intr.) ('to relate') to ~ with (how does she ~ with her brother?) get around v. (d; intr.) ('to find time') to ~ to (we finally got around to answering our correspondence) getaway n. 1. to make (good) one's ~ 2. a quick ~ get away v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to escape') to ~ from (to ~ from one's pursuers) 2. (D; intr.) ('to escape') to ~ with (the thieves got away with the loot) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to succeed in') (they didn't ~ with their scheme) get back v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to get revenge') to ~ at; for (we got back at him for his insult) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to resume') (to ~ to work) get behind v. (D; intr.) ('to be late') to ~ in, with (to ~ with one's payments) get by v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to manage') to ~ on (to ~ on very little) 2. (D; intr.) ('to manage') to ~ with (we'll have to ~ with one car) get down v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to dismount') to ~ from (to ~ from a horse) 2. (D; tr.) ('to bring down') to ~ from (she got the book down from the shelf) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to begin'); ('to take up') (to ~ to work; to ~ to details) get in v. ('to join') 1. (d; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on the act) ('to participate in'); (to ~ on the ground floor) ('to join at the very beginning') 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with the wrong crowd) get off v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to begin with') (to ~ to a good start) 2. (D; intr.) ('to escape') to ~ with (he got off with a light sentence; to ~ with a few scratches) get on v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to advance') to ~ in (to ~ in years) 2. (d; intr.) ('to continue') to ~ with (to ~ with one's work) 3. (esp. BE) (d; intr.) ('to get along') to ~ with (how does she ~ with her brother?) get out of v. (E) I couldn't ~ doing it get over v. (D; intr.) ('to pass') to ~ to (to ~ to the other side) get round (BE) see get around get through v. 1. (B) ('to deliver') (she finally got the message through to them) 2. (D; intr.) ('to reach') to ~ to (we could not ~ to her) get-together n. to have a ~ get together v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to agree on') (we finally got together on a compromise) 2. (D; intr.) ('to meet') to ~ with (we got together with some friends last night) get-up n. ['outfit'] an elaborate ~ get up v. (D; intr.) ('to rise') to ~ from (to ~ from the table) ghastly adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to say that) ghetto n. an inner-city, urban ~ ghost n. ['apparition'] 1. to see a ~ 2. a ~ appears 3. to believe in ~s gibe I n. a ~ about, at II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at gift n. ['present'] 1. to give, present a ~ to 2. to heap, lavish ~s on 3. an extravagant, lavish; generous; outright ~ 4. a farewell; graduation; shower; wedding ~ ['talent'] 5. a ~ for (a ~ for languages) gifted adj. intellectually; physically ~ giggle I n. a nervous; silly ~ II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at gimmick n. an advertising, promotional ~ girder n. a steel ~ girdle n. 1. a tight, trim ~ 2. a panty ~ girt n. 1. a career; chorus; college (esp. AE); dancing; flower; office; pinup; working ~ 2. a ball ~ (who retrieves tennis balls) 3. (old-fashioned) a good ('virtuous') ~ 4. a call ~ ('prostitute who can be summoned by telephone') USAGE NOTE: It can be offensive to call a woman a girl. Thus, career woman and working woman are considered by many to be more acceptable than career girl and working girl. (See the Usage Note for woman.) In some circles, working girl can be a euphemism for prostitute. In addition, the former use of girl in the meaning of 'black female' is considered offensive. (See also the Usage Note for boy.) girlfriend n. a steady ~ girth n. to measure the ~ of gist n. (colloq.) ['main meaning'] to get the ~ of give v. 1. (A) she gave the book to me; or: she gave me the book 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (she gave the money for a new health center) 3. (H) she gave us to understand that she would attend giveaway n. (colloq.) ['unintentional revelation'] a dead ~ give back v. (usu. B; sometimes A) she gave the money back to us give in v. (D; intr.) ('to yield') to ~ to (we had to ~ to their demands) given adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (~ to exaggeration) give out v. (B) we gave the food out to those who needed it give over v. (colloq.) (BE) (used in the imper.) (G) ('to stop') ~ hitting the child give up v. 1. (B) ('to yield') he gave up his seat to a man on crutches 2. (D; intr.) ('to lose hope') to ~ on (we have given up on him) 3. (G) ('to stop') she gave up attempting to influence them give way v. (d; intr.) ('to yield') to ~ to (reason gave way to hysteria) glad adj. 1. ~ about, of 2. ~ to + inf. (I will be ~ to help) 3. ~ that + clause (we are ~ that they are coming) gladiator n. a Roman ~ glance I n. 1. to cast, dart, shoot; steal a ~ at 2. to exchange ~s 3. an admiring; amused; casual, cursory, fleeting, passing; conspiratorial; disapproving, indignant; furtive, stolen, surreptitious; imploring; knowing; meaningful, significant; penetrating, probing, searching; quizzical; shy; sidelong; suspicious; wistful; withering ~ 4. at a ~ (I recognized her at a ~) II v. 1. ('to look') to ~ admiringly; casually; furtively, surreptitiously; imploringly; indignantly; knowingly; meaningfully; quizzically; shyly; suspiciously 2. (d; intr.) ('to look') to ~ at 3. (d; intr.) ('to ricochet') to ~ off (the rock ~d off the window) gland n. 1. the pituitary; prostate; thyroid ~ 2. the adrenal; eccrine, sweat; endocrine; lachrymal; lymph; mammary; salivary ~s 3. swollen ~s glare I n. in the ~ (in the ~ of publicity) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at glass n. ['transparent substance'] 1. to blow, make ~ 2. cut; ground; plate; safety; sheet; stained ~ 3. a pane of ~ ['tumbler'] ['container'] 4. to drink a ~ (of water) 5. to drain; fill a ~ 6. to raise one's ~ (to give a toast) 7. to clink, touch ~es (when giving a toast) 8. a champagne; cocktail; drinking; shot; water; wine ~ 9. a measuring ~ ['optical instrument'] 10. a magnifying ~ glasses n. ['spectacles'] 1. dark, sun; reading ~ ['binoculars'] 2. field; opera ~ ['misc.'] 3. to see life through rose-colored ~ ('to see only the good in life') gleam I n. 1. a faint ~ 2. a wild ~ (there was a wild ~ in his eyes) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ with glean v. (D; tr.) to ~ from glee n. 1. to express ~ 2. with ~ (to dance with ~ ) glider n. 1. to fly a ~ 2. to launch; tow a ~ 3. a ~ flies; glides; soars glimmer n. a faint, pale, slight, weak ~ glimpse n. 1. to catch a ~ of 2. a brief, fleeting ~ 3. a ~ into (a ~ into the life of a coal miner) glint v. (D; intr.) to ~ with glisten v. (D; intr.) to ~ with glitch n. (slang) ['mishap'] an unexpected ~ glitter v. 1.(D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in the sunlight) 2. (D;intr.) to ~ with gloat v. (D; intr.) to ~ over globe n. to circle, girdle the ~ gloom n. 1. to express ~ 2. (an) all-pervading, deep ~ 3. ~ about, over (to express ~ over the situation) gloomy adj. ~ about, over glorious adj. ~ to + inf. (it would be ~ to live in a peaceful world) glory I n. 1. to achieve, win ~ 2. to bring ~ to 3. to reflect ~ on 4. eternal, everlasting ~ 5. military ~ 6. a blaze of ~ 7. ~ to (eternal ~ to our heroes!) 8. in (one's) ~ (to bask in smb.'s ~; to be in one's ~) II v. (d; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in one's triumph) gloss I n. ['luster'] a high ~ II v. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to cover up') (to ~ over one's mistakes) glove n. 1. boxing; kid; lace; leather; rubber; suede; work ~s 2. an oven ~ (esp. BE; AE has pot holder) 3. a pair of ~s 4. (misc.) to fit like a ~ ('to fit perfectly') glow I n. 1. to cast, emit a ~ 2. an eerie ~ 3. a soft; warm ~ II v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with pride) glower v. (D; intr.) to ~ at glued adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (he was ~ to his TV set; her eyes were ~ to the door) glum adj. ~ about glut I n. a ~ on the market II v. (D;refl.,tr.) to ~ with (to ~ the market with cheap goods) glutton n. a ~ for punishment gnaw v. (d; intr.) to ~ (away) at go I n. (colloq.) ['attempt'] 1. a ~ at (let's have a ~ at it) ['misc.'] 2. to make a ~ of it ('to get along'); always on the ~ II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to proceed') to ~ about (to ~ about one's business) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ across ('to cross') (to ~ across a river) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ against ('to be opposed to'); ('to be unfavorable to') (this ~es against my principles; to ~ against the grain; the war began to ~ against them) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ beyond ('to exceed') (to ~ beyond the call of duty) 5. (d; intr.) ('to pass') to ~ by (to ~ by smb.'s house) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ by ('to follow') (to ~ by the rules) 7. (d; intr.) ('to be known') to ~ by (he used to ~ by another name) 8. (d; intr.) to ~ down ('to descend') (to ~ down a hill) 9. (d; intr.) ('to leave') to ~ for (to ~ for a drive; to ~ for a walk; to ~ for the doctor) 10. (d; intr.) ('to be spent') to ~ for (half our money ~es for food) (see also 21) 11. (d; intr.) ('to be sold') to ~ for (the painting went for a hundred dollars) 12. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to attack') (he went straight for me; to ~ for the jugular) 13. (d; intr.) ('to try') to ~ for (she went for the first prize) 14. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to concern') (what he said ~es for you too) 15. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to like') (I could ~ for her; we could ~ for a drink) 16. (d; intr. ('to move') to ~ from; to (to ~ from the ridiculous to the sublime) 17. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to enter') (to ~ into town; to ~ into the army; to ~ into detail) 18. (d; intr.) to ~ off ('to leave') (to ~ off duty; the train went off the tracks; to ~ off the air) 19. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to leave') (to ~ on a trip) 20. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to judge by'); ('to rely on') (we must ~ on the assumption that he'll agree; we don't have much to ~ on) 21. (esp. BE) (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to be spent for') (half our money ~es on food) (see also 10) 22. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to leave') (to ~ out of the house) 23. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to examine') (to ~ over the books) 24. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to be sold out in') (the dictionary went through three printings) 25. (d; intr.) ('to pass') to ~ through (to ~ through a red light; to ~ through a door) 26. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to endure') (she went through a lot) 27. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to spend, squander') (he went through his inheritance in six months) 28. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to repeat') (to ~ through the main points again) 29. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to conduct') (to ~ through a ceremony) 30. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to examine') (to ~ through the books) 31. (d; intr.) ('to travel') to ~ to (we went to Alaska) 32. (d; intr.) ('to move') to ~ to (she went to the door) 33. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to attend') (to ~ to school; to ~ to college) 34. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to be received by') (the estate went to her; first prize went to my cousin) 35. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to reach') (this road ~es to town; the railway ~es to the border) 36. (d; intr.) ('to move') to ~ towards (she went towards the exit) 37. (d; intr.) to ~ towards ('to be devoted to') (our contributions went towards setting up a shelter for the homeless) 38. (d; intr.) to ~ up ('to ascend') (to ~ up a hill) 39. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to date'); ('to be a companion to') (Jim ~es with Nancy) 40. (d; intr.) ('to combine') to ~ with (what verb ~es with that noun?) 41. (E; usu. in progressive tenses) ('to intend, plan') we are ~ing to see them; that just ~es to show you that I'm right 42. (G) to ~ shopping 43. (s) to ~ unnoticed; everything went wrong 44. (misc.) to ~ abroad; to ~ bad ('to be corrupted'); ('to turn sour'); to ~ bankrupt; to ~ to bed; to ~ begging ('to be in little demand'); to ~ broke ('to run out of money'); (BE) to ~ to the country ('to hold a general election'); to ~ easy on smb. ('to treat smb. leniently'); to ~ to great expense ('to spend a great deal'); to ~ to extremes; to ~ native ('to behave like the natives'); to ~ overboard ('to exaggerate'); to ~ to pieces ('to disintegrate'); to ~ to press ('to be printed'); to ~ to sea ('to become a sailor'); to ~ steady (esp. AE) ('to be a boyfriend or girlfriend'); to ~ to trial (the case went to trial); to ~ to waste ('to be wasted'); to ~ wrong ('to be corrupted'); to ~ from bad to worse ('to become much worse'); she has a lot ~ing for her ('she has many advantages') goad v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ smb. into doing smt.) 2. (H) he kept ~ ing me to fight go-ahead n. 1. to give smb. the ~ 2. to get the ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (we got the ~ to proceed with the investigation) go ahead v. (D; intr.) ('to proceed') to ~ with (to ~ with one's plans) goal n. 1. to set a ~ 2. to achieve, attain, reach, realize a ~ 3. (sports) to kick, make, score a ~ 4. (sports) to nullify a ~ 5. an immediate; long-range, long-term; ultimate ~ 6. (sports) a field ~ 7. (BE) (soccer) an own ~ ('a goal scored by a player against his own team') go along v. (D; intr.) to ~ with ('to agree to') (to ~ with a compromise) goat n. 1. to keep (BE), raise (esp. AE) ~s 2. a mountain ~ 3. ~s baa, bleat 4. a herd of ~s 5. a young ~ is a kid 6. a female ~ is a doe or nanny goat 7. a male ~ is a buck or billy goat 8. (misc.) to get smb.'s ~ ('to irritate smb.') go away v. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for a rest) go back v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to renege') to ~ on (to ~ on one's promise) 2. (D; intr.) ('to return') to ~ to (he went back to his home) God n. 1. to bless; praise; worship ~ 2. to believe in ~ 3. (misc.) in praise of ~ go down v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to become known') to ~ in as (to ~ in history as a great ruler) 2. (D; intr.) ('to descend') to ~ into (to ~ into a mine) 3. (d; intr.) ('to descend') to ~ to (to ~ to the river) 4. (misc.) to ~ to defeat godsend n. 1. a real ~ 2. a ~ to godspeed n. (old-fashioned) to bid, wish smb. ~ go forward v. (d; intr.) ('to proceed') to ~ with (to ~ with one's plans) goggle v. (D;intr.) to ~ at go in v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to occupy oneself) to ~ for (to ~ for gardening) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to join') (he agreed to ~ with them) going n. ['progress'] rough, slow ~ gold n. 1. to mine; prospect for ~ 2. to strike ~ (also fig.) ('to discover smt. valuable') 3. pure, solid ~ 4. a bar of ~ 5. (misc.) as good as ~ ('very good') gold standard n. 1. to adopt the ~ 2. to go off the golf n. 1. to play ~ 2. clock (BE); miniature ~ 3. a round of ~ (to play a round of ~) golf ball n. to drive; putt a ~ gong n. to sound a ~ gonorrhea n. to catch, contract ~ good I adj. 1. any ~ (is he any ~ at chess?) 2. ~ at, in (she is ~ at/in mathematics) 3. ~ for (exercise is ~ for you) 4. ~ to (he is ~ to his parents) 5. ~ with (he is ~ with his hands) 6. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to be home again; it was ~ of you to come) 7. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that we don't have to work tomorrow) II n. ['something useful'] 1. to do ~ 2. the common; highest ~ ['positive qualities'] 3. to bring out the ~ in smb. ['favor'] 4. in ~ with smb. ['favorable result'] 5. to come to no ~ ['restitution'] 6. to make ~ goods n. 1. capital; consumer; dry (esp. AE), soft (esp. BE); durable; manufactured; yard ~ 2. (misc.) to have the ~ on (colloq.) ('to have evidence against'); one's worldly ~ goodwill n. to show ~ go on v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to advance') to ~ to (to ~ to greater accomplishments) 2. (D; intr.) ('to continue') to ~ with (they went on with their work) 3. (E) ('to advance') she went on to become dean 4. (G) ('to continue') he went right on typing goose n. 1. geese cackle, honk 2. a flock, gaggle of geese 3. a young ~ is a gosling 4. a male ~ is a gander go out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to leave') to ~ for (to ~ for a walk) 2. (D; intr.) ('to try out') to ~ for (to ~ for a team) 3. (D; intr.) ('to go steady') to ~ with (Olga has been ~ing out with Joe) 4. (misc.) our hearts ~ to the bereaved ('we have deep sympathy for the bereaved'); to ~ into the world ('to become independent') go over v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to pass') to ~ to (to ~ to the attack) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to desert to') (to ~ to the enemy) Gordian knot n. to cut the ~ gorge v. (D;refl.) to ~ on, with (to ~ oneself on sweets) gospel, Gospel n. 1. to preach; spread the ~ 2. to believe in the ~ 3. the ~ truth gossip I n. 1. to spread ~ 2. common; idle; malicious, vicious; silly ~ 3. a piece, tidbit (AE), titbit (BE) of ~ 4. ~ about 5. ~ that + clause (have you heard the ~ that he intends to resign?) II v. (D; intr.) to ~ about go through v. (d; intr.) ('to proceed') to ~ with (to ~ with one's plans) goulash n. Hungarian ~ go up v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to approach') (she went up to him and said something) 2. (D; intr.) ('to ascend') (to ~ to the top) governess n. a ~ for, to (she served as a ~ to three small children) government n. 1. to form a ~ 2. to head; operate, run a ~ 3. to destabilize, subvert; dissolve; overthrow; seize a ~ 4. (a) clean; corrupt; strong; weak ~ 5. a caretaker; civil; coalition; military; provisional ~ 6. an authoritarian; communist; conservative; democratic; dictatorial; liberal; minority; parliamentary; reactionary; shadow; socialist; totalitarian ~ 7. (a) central; federal; local; municipal; national; provincial ~ 8. a student ~ 9. a ~ falls 10. under a ~ (to live under a democratic ~) 11. (misc.) (BE) ~ and opposition; the ~ benches governor n. 1. to appoint; elect smb. ~ 2. a deputy, lieutenant; military ~ 3. a ~ general gown n. a dressing; evening (AE); formal; hospital ~; nightgown (esp. AE); wedding ~ grab v. 1. (C)~ a few for me; or: ~ me a few 2. (d; intr.) to ~ for (she ~bed for his pistol) grace n. ['short prayer'] 1. to say ~ ['sense'] ['decency'] 2. the ~ to + inf. (she had the good ~ to concede defeat) ['favor'] 3. divine ~ 4. to fall from ~ 5. by the ~ of God 6. in smb.'s good ~s 7. (rel.) a state of ~ ['willingness'] 8. with bad; good ~ ['attractiveness'] 9. effortless ~ ['feature'] 10. a saving ~ gracious adj. 1. ~ to, towards (she is ~ to all) 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to make the offer; she was ~ enough to introduce me to them) gradation n. 1. (ling.) vowel ~ 2. a ~ in grade n. ['mark, rating'] (esp. AE) 1. to make out ~s; to give a ~ 2. to get, receive a ~ 3. an excellent, high; failing; fair, mediocre; low; passing ~ 4. (a student's) average ~s ['standard'] 5. to make the ~ 6. a high; low; medium; prime ~ ['degree of descent, rise'] 7. a slight; steep ~ graduate I n. a college (AE), university; high-school (AE) ~ II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from college) 2. (misc.) to ~ with honors, cum laude graduate studies n. to pursue ~ graduate work n. to do ~ graduation n. 1. a college; high-school (AE) ~ 2. ~ from (~ from college) 3. on ~ (on ~ from college, she got a good job) graduation exercises n. to hold ~ graft I n. ['act of grafting, inserting'] 1. to do a ~ 2. a bone; skin ~ 3. a (skin) ~ takes ['bribes'] 4. ~ and corruption ['work'] (colloq.) (BE) 5. hard ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ on to, onto grain n. ['food plants'] 1. to grow ~ 2. to store ~ ['texture'] 3. a fine; rough; smooth ~ 4. against the ~; with the ~ ['misc.'] 5. to take smt. with a ~ of salt ('to be skeptical about smt.') grammar n. comparative; descriptive; functional; generative; historical; prescriptive; structuralist; systemic; transformational ~ grand adj. see great grandeur n. delusions of ~ grant I n. 1. to award, give a ~ 2. a block; cash; categorical (AE); federal (AE); government; matching; research ~ 3. a ~ for (a ~ for research on folklore) 4. a ~ to + inf. (we received a ~ to attend the conference) II v. 1. (A) the government ~ed a pension to her; or: the government ~ed her a pension 2. (L; may have an object) I ~ (you) that this is true 3. (formal) (M) I ~ this to be true granted adj. 1. to take smb. for ~ ('to assume that smb. will agree, cooperate') 2. to take smt. for ~ ('to assume that smt. is certain to happen') grapefruit n. 1. pink; seedless; white ~ 2. (misc.) half a ~; a ~ section grapes n. 1. to pick ~ 2. to press ~ 3. seedless; sweet ~ 4. a bunch of ~ 5. (usu. fig.) sour ~ grapevine n. ['circulation of rumors, gossip'] by, through the ~ (to hear news through the ~) graphics n. computer ~ grapple v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for (they ~d for the key) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with a problem) grasp I n. ['comprehension'] 1. a firm; thorough ~ 2. an intuitive ~ ['reach'] 3. beyond one's ~; within one's ~ II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ at, for 2. (D;tr.) to ~ by (to ~ smb. by the arm) grass n. 1. to cut, mow (the) ~ 2. high, tall ~ 3. a blade; tuft of grasshopper n. 1. ~s jump, leap 2. ~s chirp grass on v. (slang) (BE) (D; intr.) ('to inform on') to ~ to (he ~ed on them to the police) grate v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (the noise ~s on my ears) grateful adj. 1. ~ for; to (1 am ~ to you for your help) 2. ~ that + clause (I'm ~ that you can help) gratification n. 1. to express ~ 2. deep, profound; instant ~ 3. smb.'s ~ at gratified adj. 1. ~ at, by, over, with (~ at the outcome) 2. ~ to + inf. (we were ~ to learn that our proposal has been accepted) 3. ~ that + clause (I am ~ that you can come) gratifying adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to see the results of the exam) 2. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that she lived to see the fruits of her labor) gratitude n. 1. to express; feel; show ~ 2. deep, profound, sincere, undying; everlasting ~ 3. ~ for (she expressed her ~ for our help) grave n. 1. to dig a ~ 2. to desecrate a ~ 3. amass; pauper's; unmarked; watery ~ 4. at a ~ (to pray at a ~) 5. (misc.) a gravedigger gravitate v. (d; intr.) to ~ to, towards gravity n. ['seriousness'] 1. to grasp the ~ (of a situation) ['weight'] 2. specific; zero ~ 3. the center; force of ~ gravy n. thick; watery ~ gray (AE) see grey graze v. (d; intr.) to ~ against (he ~d against the table) grease n. 1. to cut, dissolve ~ 2. axle ~ 3. a spot of ~ 4. (misc.) (colloq.) elbow ~ ('hard work') great adj. (colloq.) 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of you to help; it was ~ to see everyone again = it was ~ seeing everyone again) 2. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that we could finally meet) great divide n. to cross the ~ ('to die') great guns n. (colloq.) to go ~ ('to have great energy') greatness n. to achieve ~ great one n. (colloq.) ['enthusiast'] a ~ for (he's a ~ for telling fibs) greed n. 1. to demonstrate, display ~ 2. insatiable ~ 3. ~ for 4. consumed with ~ greedy adj. 1. ~ for 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of them to eat up all the candy) Greek n. (colloq.) it was (all) ~ to me ('it was incomprehensible to me') green I adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ with (envy) II n. ['color'] 1. bright; dark; light ~ ['green light'] 2. on ~ (turn on ~ only) green light n. ['permission to continue'] 1. to give smb. the ~ 2. to get the ~ greeting n. 1. to exchange; extend, send ~s 2. to extend a ~ 3. a cordial, friendly, sincere, warm ~ 4. cordial, friendly, sincere, warm, warmest ~s 5. an official ~; official ~s 6. holiday, season's ~s (see also regards) grenade n. 1. to launch; lob, throw a ~ 2. a hand; percussion; rifle ~ 3. (misc.) to pull the pin on a ~ grey n. dark; light ~ grief n. 1. to express; feel, suffer ~ 2. to come to ~ 3. bitter, deep, inconsolable, overwhelming, profound ~ 4. ~ at, over 5. of ~ (to die of ~) 6. (misc.) good ~! (exclamation expressing mild dismay) grievance n. 1. to air, vent a ~ 2. to file, submit a (formal) ~ 3. to hear a ~ (the committee heard the ~) 4. to nurse a ~ 5. to redress; settle a ~ 6. a justified, legitimate, valid; unjustified ~ 7. a ~ against grieve v. 1. to ~ deeply 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for, over 3. (R) it ~d me (to learn) that she had been severely injured grill I n. 1. a charcoal ~ 2. mixed ~ II v. (C) ~ a hamburger for me; or: ~ me a hamburger grimace n. to give, make a ~ grin I n. a broad; contagious, infectious; foolish, silly; sardonic ~ II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at grind v. 1. (C) ~ a pound of coffee for me; or: ~ me a pound of coffee 2. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ wheat into flour) 3. (N: used with an adjective) I ground the coffee very fine grinder n. (AE) a meat ~ (BE has mincing machine, mincer) grip n. ['grasp'] ['hold'] 1. to get a ~ on 2. to lose one's ~ 3. to relax, release; tighten one's ~ 4. a firm, iron, strong, tight, vise-like; loose, weak ~ ['control'] 5. to get a ~ on oneself 6. to lose one's ~ 7. in the ~ of (in the ~ of a general strike) ['device that grips'] 8. a hair ~ (BE; AE has bobby pin) ['stagehand'] 9. a first, key ~ gripe I n. (colloq.) ['complaint'] 1. a legitimate ~ (he has a legitimate ~) 2. a ~ about II v. (colloq. )(D; intr.) ('to complain') to ~ about, at grips n. (colloq.) to come to ~ with smt. (esp. AE) ('to confront') grist n. ~ for smb.'s mill ('smt. used to good advantage') grit n. ['courage, perseverance'] (colloq.) 1. to display, show ~ 2. true ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (they had enough ~ to hold out in the face of real hardship) groan I n. 1. to emit, heave, utter a ~ 2. a loud ~ II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over (to ~ over new taxes) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with frustration) 3. (L) he ~ed that he had been shot 4. (misc.) to ~ under the weight of oppression groom v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ as (she was ~ed as our next candidate) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for the presidency) grooming n. good ~ grope v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for one's keys) 2. (P; intr.) to ~ around (in the dark) grotesque adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to come dressed like that) ground n. ['contested area'] 1. to gain ~ on 2. to hold, stand one's ~ 3. to give ~ 4. to lose, yield ~ ['soil'] ['terrain'] 5. to cover ~ 6. firm, hard, solid; frozen; high; soft ~ 7. hallowed, holy ~ 8. on the ~ ['interest'] 9. common ~ ['area used for a specific purpose'] 10. a breeding; burial; dumping; hunting; parade; picnic; proving; recreation (BE) ~ ['area of knowledge'] 11. to cover ~ ['misc.'] 12. to break ~ ('to begin building'); to get off the ~ ('to get started'); from the ~ up ('from the very beginning'); on delicate ~ ('in a situation that demands great tact'); to get off the ~ ('to get started'); on shaky ~ ('without a firm basis'); one's favorite stamping ~ ('one's favorite spot') grounded adj. (usu. does not stand alone) ~ in (she is well ~ in grammar) grounding n. a ~ in (a good ~ in physics) grounds n. ['basis, foundation'] 1. to give smb. ~ 2. ample; solid ~ 3. ~ for (~ for divorce) 4. ~ to + inf. (we had sufficient ~ to sue; there were no ~ to deny bail) 5. on ~ (on what ~?) ['sediment'] 6. coffee ~ ['area used for a specific purpose'] 7. hospital ~ 8. on the (hospital) ~ groundwork n. to do, lay the ~ for group I n. 1. an affinity; age; control; discussion; encounter; ethnic, minority; peer; pressure; social; special-interest; splinter ~ 2. (BE) a ginger ~ ('a group of activists') 3. a blood ~ II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ around (the scouts ~ed around their leader) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ under (to ~ several types under one heading) grouse v. (D; intr.) to ~ about grove n. an olive; orange ~ grovel v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ to (she will not ~ to anyone) 2. (misc.) to ~ in the dirt grow v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to develop') to ~ from (oaks ~ from acorns) 2. (d; intr.) ('to develop') to ~ into (the small shop grew into a large firm) 3. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to become likable') (the strange new sculpture just ~s on you) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to become too large for') (the children grew out of their clothes) 5. (d; intr.) ('to develop') to ~ out of (the city grew out of a small village) 6. (d; intr.) ('to develop') to ~ to (to ~ to adulthood; to ~ to one's full height) 7. (E) ('to begin') we grew to love them 8. (s) ('to become') to ~ longer; old; older; taller (in the autumn/fall the days ~ longer) USAGE NOTE: The verb grow 'to become' often suggests a gradual process rather than a sudden change. Compare to grow cold (gradually) and to turn cold (suddenly). growl v. 1. (B) he ~ed a few words to us 2. (D; intr.) to ~ at (the dog ~ed at the jogger) 3. (L; to) he ~ed (to us) that he would be late growth n. 1. to foster, promote ~ 2. to retard, stunt ~ 3. rapid; untrammeled; zero ~ 4. economic; population ~ (zero population ~) 5. (med.) a cancerous, malignant; inoperable; non-cancerous, non-malignant ~ 6. (biology) cell ~ 7. ~ in 8. (misc.) a scraggly ~ (of beard) grow up v. (E) she grew up to be an able politician grub v. (d; intr.) ('to rummage') to ~ for (to ~ for food) grudge n. 1. to bear, harbor, hold, nurse a ~ 2. a bitter; deep-seated ~ 3. a ~ against grumble v. 1. to ~ constantly 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about, at, over; to (to ~ at new taxes) 3. (L; to) they ~d (to us) that the decision was not fair grumbler n. a chronic, constant ~ grumbling n. chronic, constant ~ grumpy adj. (colloq.) ~ about grunt I n. to utter a ~ II v. 1. (B) she ~ed a few words to them 2. (L; to) he ~ed (to her) that he would get up later 3. (misc.) to ~ and groan guarantee I n. ['assurance of quality'] 1. to give, offer, provide a ~ 2. a written ~ 3. a ~ against (a ~ against mechanical defects) ['assurance, pledge'] 4. to give a ~ 5. a firm ~ 6. a ~ that + clause (we have a firm ~ that the work will be finished on time) II v. 1. to ~ fully 2. (A; usu. without to) we cannot ~ you regular hours 3. (D; tr.) to ~ against (to ~ a new car against rust) 4. (H) it's ~d to last five years 5. (L) she can ~ that you will be satisfied 6. (formal) (M) the owner ~d the coins to be genuine guard I n. ['group of sentries'] ['sentry'] 1. to call out the ~ 2. to mount, post the ~ 3. to change, relieve the ~ 4. an advance; armed; color; honor; palace; police; rear; security ~ (they slipped past the palace ~) 5. under ~ ['guard duty'] 6. to stand ~ over 7. on ~ (to go on ~) ['militia'] 8. a home ~ ['police officer'] ['auxiliary police officer'] 9. (AE) a crossing ~ 10. a prison ~ (AE; BE has warder, wardress) ['alertness'] ['readiness to fight'] 11. off ~; on ~ (to be caught off ~) 12. to put smb. on one's ~ 13. to keep one's ~ up ['protective article of clothing'] 14. a knee; nose; shin ~ (see the Usage Note for warden) II v. 1. to ~ closely (the player was ~ed closely by her opponent) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ against (to ~ against catching cold) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ against (to ~ an embassy against intruders) 4. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ smb. from harm) guardian n. 1. to appoint smb. ~ 2. (often fig.) a self-appointed ~ guerrilla n. 1. an armed ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ band guess I n. 1. to hazard, make a ~ 2. a lucky; random, wild; rough; shrewd ~ 3. a ~ that + clause (it is only a ~ that she will be appointed) II v. 1. to ~ shrewdly; wildly 2. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at smb.'s age) 3. (colloq.) (AE) (L) I ~ that he'll be late 4. (Q) ~ where the money is guest n. 1. to have ~s (for dinner) 2. an invited; unexpected; unwelcome; wedding; weekend; welcome ~ 3. a regular ~ (at a hotel) guff n. (colloq.) ['back talk'] to take ~ (I will not take any of your ~) guffaw n. 1. to emit, give, let out a ~ 2. a loud ~ guidance n. 1. to provide ~ for 2. friendly; parental; vocational ~ 3. under smb.'s ~ guide I n. ['guidebook'] 1. a handy ~ 2. a ~ to (this handbook is a good ~ to London) ['person who guides'] 3. a tour ~ II v. (D; tr.) to ~ around, through (to ~ smb. around a city) guidelines n. 1. to draw up ~ for 2. to adhere to, follow ~ 3. to violate ~ gullt n. 1. to establish smb. 's ~ 2. to bear ~ for 3. to admit; expiate one's ~ 4. (misc.) ~ by association guiltless adj. ~ of gullty adj. 1. to find; pronounce ~ of (the jury found him ~ of murder) 2. (misc.) to plead ~; to plead not ~; ~ as charged guise n. in, under the ~ of (under the ~ of friendship) guitar n. 1. to play the (a) ~ 2. to strum a ~ 3. an acoustic; electric, steel; Hawaiian ~ gulf n. 1. a wide, yawning ~ 2. a ~ between (a wide ~ between generations) gull v. (D; tr.) ('to trick') to ~ into gulp n. at, in a ~ (she swallowed the whole spoonful at one ~) gum n. 1. to chew ~ 2. bubble; chewing ~ 3. a stick of ~ gumption n. (colloq.) ['courage'] the ~ to + inf. (will she have enough ~ to refuse?) gun I n. 1. to aim; fire; point a ~ at smb. 2. to turn a ~ on smb. 3. to draw a ~ 4. to hold a ~ on smb.; to hold a ~ to smb.'s head 5. to load; unload a ~ 6. to man a ~ 7. (artillery) to lay ('adjust') a ~ 8. to carry, pack (AE, colloq.) a ~ 9. to silence an enemy ~ 10. to spike ('make unusable') a ~ 11. an antiaircraft; antitank; BB; burp (colloq.), submachine, Tommy (colloq.); field; heavy; machine; ray; riot ~; shotgun; starter's; stun; zip (AE) ~ 12. a grease; spray ~ 13. a ~ fires, goes off; jams; misfires 14. (misc.) to jump the ~ ('to start too early') II v. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to search for with a gun') (also fig.) gunfire n. 1. heavy, murderous ~ 2. under ~ gungho adj. (slang) (AE) ['enthusiastic'] ~ about gunpoint n. to hold smb. at ~ gunpowder n. 1. smokeless ~ 2. a grain of ~ gurgle v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (the baby ~d a few sounds to us) gush v. (d; intr.) to ~ from (a column of oil ~ed from the ground) gusher n. ['oil well from which oil gushes'] to hit a gush forth v. (D; intr.) to ~ from gust n. fitful; strong ~s (the wind was blowing in fitful ~s) gusto n. with ~ (with great ~) gutless adj. (colloq.) ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to lie) guts n. (colloq.) 1. the ~ to + inf. (he doesn't have the ~ to do it) 2. (misc.) to hate smb.'s ~ ('to hate smb. very much') gutter n. (fig.) 1. to get down into the ~ 2. to drag smb. down into the ~ guy n. (colloq.) 1. a great, nice, regular ~ 2. a bad; good ~ USAGE NOTE: In AE you guys (colloq.) can now be used in speaking not only to a group of men, but also to a group of men and women, and even to a group of women only. gymnastics n. to do ~ gyp v. (slang) (D; tr.) to ~ out of (he ~ped me out of my share) gyrate v. to ~ wildly