Dictionary of english word combinations

Комбинаторный словарь английского языка, Бенсон М., Бенсон Э., Илсон Р., 1990.

   Данный словарь — переиздание в СССР словаря, впервые выпущенного в 1986 г. издательством „Джон Бенджамине Паблишинг Компани» (Амстердам-Филадельфия). Это первый большой словарь словосочетаний современного английского языка.
Словарь содержит около 14 тыс. слов и более 75 тыс. грамматических и лексических словосочетаний английского языка. Порядок следования словосочетаний отвечает современным требованиям методики преподавания английского языка.
Словарь предназначен для специалистов в области английского языка, преподавателей английского языка высших учебных заведений, студентов, переводчиков.
Распространяется только на территории СССР.

А.
assault n. 1. (often mil.) to carry out. make; lead an — on (the troops carried out an — on the enemy position) 2. (legal) to commit — 3. (usu. legal) aggravated; bodily; criminal; indecent — 4. an allout; armed; military — 5. (usu. mil.) by — (to take by)

assistance n. 1. to give, offer, provide, render — 2. considerable, great — 3. clerical; directory (AE); economic, financial; legal; material; public; technical — 4. -to (economic -to underdeveloped countries) 5. of — (he was of considerable — to us).

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словарь по английскому языку :: английский язык :: Бенсон :: Бенсон :: Илсон

                    М. Бенсон, Э. Бенсон, Р. Илсон
комбинаторный
СЛОВАРЬ
АНГЛИЙСКОГО
ЯЗЫКА
Специальное издание
ДЖОН БЕНДЖАМИНС ПАБЛИШИНГ КОМПАНИ,
АМСТЕРДАМ/ФИЛАДЕЛЬФИЯ
„РУССКИЙ ЯЗЫК", МОСКВА
1990

lib К 81.2-Англ-4
Б46
M. Беисои, Э. Бенсон, Р. Илсои.
Б46 Комбинаторный словарь английского языка — М.: Рус. яз.,
1990 - 286 с.
ISBN 5-200-01363-1
Данный словарь - переиздание в СССР словаря, впервые выпу-
выпущенного в 1986 г. издательством „Джон Бенджамине Паблишинг
Компани" (Амстердам-Филадельфия). Это первый большой сло-
словарь словосочетаний современного английского языка.
Словарь содержит около 14 тыс. слов и более 75 тыс. граммати-
грамматических и лексических словосочетаний английского языка. Порядок
следования словосочетаний отвечает современным требованиям
методики преподавания английского языка.
Словарь предназначен для специалистов в области английского
языка, преподавателей английского языка высших учебных за-
заведений, студентов, переводчиков.
Распространяется только на территории СССР.
, 4602030000-176
' 015 @1)-90
КБ-45-17-89
ISBN 5-200-01363-1
Зав. редакцией
Л. П. ПОПОВА
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Original edition published by: John Benjamins Publishing Company Amsterdam-Philadelphia
Copyright © 1986 by John Benjamins Publishing Company.
This edition is authorized for sale only in the Soviet Union.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
Background
Gl—G8
Special Note on Transitivity
Survey of Verb Patterns
LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
Background
LI—L7
ARRANGEMENT OF ENTRIES
General
Order of Entries
Noun Entries
Adjective Entries
Verb Entries
STYLE GUIDE
The Swung Dash
Collocational Strings
Definitions and Paraphrases
Illustrative Phrases
Usage Notes
Pronunciation
ABBREVIATIONS
DICTIONARY
vu
ix
ix
ix
ix
x
xxii
xxii
xxiv
xxiv
xxiv
xxix
xxix
xxix
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxxi
xxxi
xxxi
xxxiii
xxxiii
xxxiv
xxxiv
XXXV

PREFACE
The BBI Combinatory Dictionary of English gives essential grammatical
and lexical recurrent word combinations, often called collocations; when neces-
necessary, it provides definitions, paraphrases, and Usage Notes. The methods and
terminology used to present these collocations in the Dictionary are explained
in the Introduction.
Much of the material provided in this Dictionary has never before been
published. This material is of vital importance to those learners of English who
are native speakers of other languages. Heretofore, they have had no source
that would consistently indicate, for example, which verbs are used with which
nouns; they could not find in any existing dictionary such collocations as call an
alert, lay down a barrage, hatch a conspiracy, impose an embargo, roll a hoop,
draw up a list, administer an oath, enter (make) a plea, crack a smile, punch a time
clock, inflict a wound, etc. This Dictionary provides such collocations; in order
to enable the user of the Dictionary to find them quickly and easily, they are
given in the entries for the nouns.
Knowledge of other languages is normally of no help in finding English col-
collocations. For administer an oath, French has faire preter serment, Spanish —
hacer prestar juramento, German — den Eid abnehmen, Russian—privesti к
prisjage, etc. Thousands of similar examples could be cited.
Use of the Combinatory Dictionary will help learners avoid such errors as
*they mentioned him the book, *a stranger was lurking, *we are very fond, *we
send you hearty greetings, *she told when she would arrive, etc.
The BBI Dictionary is a companion volume to the Lexicographic Descrip-
Description of English. The latter work deals with the major problems facing compilers
of general-purpose dictionaries of English, includes background information
about the lexicographic treatment of collocations, describes the lexical, gram-
grammatical, and orthographic differences between American English (AE) and
British English (BE), and provides an extensive bibliography. This bibliog-
bibliography indicates the major secondary sources used for the BBI Dictionary.
In the BBI Dictionary, attention is consistently paid to lexical and colloca-
collocational differences between AE and BE. These differences are noted in the
entries and Usage Notes. The Introduction gives details concerning their treat-

PREFACE
mcnt. AE spelling is used in the BBI Dictionary; however, in the headwords,
the BE spelling is also given.
We should like to express our gratitude for the help and advice that many
persons gave us during the compilation of the Dictionary. All cannot be named
here. We should, however, like to mention Mrs. Anne Zarit of Philadelphia,
whose help was greatly appreciated. In closing, we note with appreciation the
guidance, support, and encouragement of our friends at John Benjamins BV.
The authors will be grateful for comments and suggestions from users of
the Dictionary.
M.B.,E.B.,R.I.
I
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL
In English, as in other languages, there are many fixed, identifiable, non-
idiomatic phrases and constructions. Such groups of words are called recurrent
combinations, fixed combinations, or collocations. Collocations fall into two
major groups: grammatical collocations and lexical collocations.
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
Background
A grammatical collocation is a phrase consisting of a dominant word
(noun, adjective, verb) and a preposition or grammatical structure such as an
infinitive or clause. For example, Noam Chomsky in his Aspects of the Theory
of Syntax (page 191) points out that decide on a boat, meaning 'choose (to buy)
a boat' contains the collocation decide on (in his terminology: close construc-
construction), whereas decide on a boat, meaning 'make a decision while on a boat' is a
free combination (in his terminology: loose association). Any native speaker of
English feels that the components of decide on 'choose' and of other fixed
phrases such as account for, accuse (somebody) of, adapt to, agonize over, aim
at, etc. 'collocate' with each other. The native speaker will reject violations of
collocability such as * decide at a boat, * account over a loss, * accuse somebody
on a crime, * adapt towards new conditions, etc.
Free combinations, on the other hand, consist of elements that are joined
in accordance with the general rules of English syntax and freely allow substitu-
substitution. For example, in English a verb may be followed by adverbials (of time,
place, and manner). The resultant number of possible combinations is limitless:
they decided — after lunch, at three o'clock, during recess, immediately, in the
library, on the boat, quickly, reluctantly, unhesitatingly, with a heavy heart, etc.
Collocations should be included in dictionaries; free combinations, on the
other hand, should generally not be included. (The inclusion of free combina-
combinations is sometimes essential to illustrate a sense of a polysemous entry in a gen-
general-purpose dictionary.)
We will now describe eight major types of grammatical collocations; all of
these are included in this Dictionary. The types are designated by Gl, G2, etc.

INTRODUCTION
Gl
Gl collocations consist of noun + preposition combinations. We do not
normally include noun + of combinations. A very large number of English
nouns can be used with of, especially to denote the concepts of 'direct object',
'subject', or 'possession'. Thus, we include the combination blockade against,
but not blockade of. The phrase the blockade of enemy ports is a regular trans-
transformation of to blockade enemy ports. We include apathy towards, but not
apathy of. A phrase such as the apathy of the electorate is predictable on the
basis of the known functions of the preposition of.
We also do not include noun + by combinations. The phrase the blockade
of enemy ports by our navy is a predictable and regular transformation of the
sentence: our navy blockaded the enemy ports. In addition, as already indicated,
we will not include free combinations, such as apathy among (the members of
our party), apathy in (France), etc.
To save space, we usually do not include such derived prepositions as con-
concerning, regarding, in regard to, with regard to. Note that the prepositions just
listed are usually synonymous with about. Thus, an argument about is synony-
synonymous with an argument concerning, an argument regarding, etc.
G2
G2 collocations consist of nouns followed by to + infinitive. There are five
syntactic patterns in which this construction is most frequently encountered;
these patterns are the following:
1. It was a pleasure (a problem, a struggle) to do it.
2. They had the foresight (instructions, an obligation, permission, the
right) to do it.
3. They felt a compulsion (an impulse, a need) to do it.
4. They made an attempt (an effort, a promise, a vow) to do it.
5. He was a fool (a genius, an idiot) to do it.
Some nouns can also be used with a verb form in -ing: it's a pleasure to work
there = it's a pleasure working there = working there is a pleasure (= to work
there is a pleasure). Such nouns usually occur in the first syntactic pattern listed
above. The use of the -ing form is shown in the entries.
We do not include nouns if they are followed by infinitives normally
associated with the whole sentence rather than with the noun: Such infinitives
express purpose; the phrase in order may be inserted between the noun and the
infinitive with no change of meaning: they sold their house (in order) to cut down
I
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
on expenses, he mowed his lawn (in order) to impress his new neighbors, she
closed the window (in order) to keep the flies out, etc.
Nor do we include nouns that occur in phrases such as a procedure to follow,
a book to read, a place to eat, a way to do it, etc. In such constructions, the infin-
infinitive can be replaced by a relative clause: a procedure that is to be followed, a
book that should be read, a place at which one can (should) eat, a way in which
one may (should) do it. The BBI does not include colloquial phrases often
found in advertisements: the dictionary to end all dictionaries, a computer to
satisfy all needs, etc.
Lastly, we usually do not include nouns preceded by a descriptive adjec-
adjective: an interesting book to read, a difficult person to understand, a clever thing
to say, etc.
Note that in addition to nouns, some adjectives (G6) and some verbs (Pat-
(Pattern E) are followed by to + infinitive.
G3
We include here nouns that can be followed by a that clause: we reached an
agreement that she would represent us in court; he took an oath that he would do
his duty. The Dictionary does not include nouns followed by relative clauses
introduced by that, i.e., when that can be replaced by which: we reached an
agreement that would go into effect in a month; he took the same oath that his pred-
predecessor had taken. Nor does it include nouns that can be followed by a clause
only when they are objects of a preposition: it was by chance that we met; it was
with (considerable) pride that he presented his findings.
Some nouns can be followed by a clause with the present subjunctive in for-
formal English: it was his desire that his estate be divided equally. See the comments
on the use of the subjunctive in G8L. The use of the subjunctive is indicated in
the entries for such nouns.
G3 nouns expressing emotion (astonishment, surprise) may take a 'puta-
'putative' should: she expressed surprise that he should be thinking of changing jobs.
G4
G4 collocations consist of preposition + noun combinations. Examples
are: by accident, in advance, to somebody's advantage, on somebody's advice,
under somebody's aegis, in agony, on (the) alert, at anchor, etc.

INTRODUCTION
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
G5
G5 collocations are adjective + preposition combinations that occur in the
predicate or as set-off attributives (verbless clauses): they were angry at
everyone — angry at everyone, they stayed home — my friends, angry at
everyone, stayed home.
Some adjectives must be followed by a prepositional phrase: they were
fond of children. One does not normally say: *they were fond. In the sense
'craving' the adjective hungry is always followed by for in the predicate: they
were hungry for news. The sentence they were hungry would have a different
meaning. In a similar manner the adjective deaf in the sense 'unwilling to listen'
is always followed by to: they were deaf to our pleas for help. Adjectives that are
consistently used with a preposition in at least one sense are marked 'cannot
stand alone' in the entries.
Derived prepositions such as concerning, regarding, in regard to, with
regard to, are not included in the entries. Note that the prepositions just listed
are usually synonymous with about.
In general, we do not include past participles (formed from transitive
verbs) followed by the preposition by: this construction is regular and predicta-
predictable. Thus, this Dictionary does not give such phrases as abandoned by, absolved
by, etc.
We include adjective + of constructions when the subject of the construc-
construction is animate (usually human): they are afraid (ashamed, confident, critical,
demanding, envious, etc.) of him. See G6 for a discussion of adjective + o/con-
structions used with a 'dummy' // subject.
G6
G6 collocations consist of predicate adjectives and a following to + infini-
infinitive. Adjectives occur in two basic constructions with infinitives.
1. it was necessary to work
In this construction, the it is a 'dummy' or 'empty' subject; it has no ante-
antecedent. Prepositional phrases with for can be inserted into this construction
with many adjectives: it was necessary for him to work. If the verb is transitive, a
direct object is, of course, added: it was necessary to supervise them closely.
Some adjectives can be used with a prepositional phrase beginning with of: it
was stupid logo — it was stupid of them to go. (Sometimes, both o/and/orare
possible: it was stupid of them to go; it was stupid for them to go.)
Most adjectives that appear in adjective + of constructions (with the
'dummy' it subject) followed by to + infinitive can also be used in sentences
without the infinitive. An example is: it was stupid of them to go — // was stupid
of them (or: that was stupid of them). The possibility of dropping the to + infin-
infinitive is usually not indicated in the Dictionary.
2. she (the girl) is ready to go; it (the machine) was designed to operate
at high altitudes
In this construction, the subject is 'real' and usually animate. Some adjec-
adjectives, however, normally occur in this construction with an inanimate subject:
calculated, designed, etc. (See the example provided above with designed.) Sev-
Several adjectives can occur in this construction with either an animate or an inani-
inanimate subject; an example is bound: she was bound to find out — it ('the acci-
accident') was bound to happen. Other adjectives of this type are destined, known,
liable, likely, etc.
Several adjectives can be used in both constructions: it was supposed to
rain — she was supposed to work today. Some adjectives have the same mean-
meaning in both constructions: it was difficult to convince him — he was difficult to
convince. Other adjectives of this type are easy, hard, impossible, and tough.
It should be noted that a large number of adjectives, when used with
adverbs such as too and enough, can be followed by an infinitive: he was too
absorbed to notice, she was alert enough to see it. These are not included in the
Dictionary. The Dictionary does not include past participles that can be fol-
followed by a to + infinitive phrase of purpose: the text was proofread (in order)
to eliminate errors. Nor does the Dictionary include past participles that are
used in passive constructions: she was appointed (chosen, designated, elected,
etc.) to serve as our delegate. Such constructions represent, in fact, the passive
transformation of verb pattern H. (See below).
The Dictionary does, however, include many other past participles: he was
amazed (amused, annoyed, appalled, astonished, etc.) to see the results of our
research.
G6 collocations are normally illustrated in the Dictionary by examples. The
examples will show in which construction (or constructions) each adjective is
used. Note that many adjectives used with /fand ofcan also be used with he/she:
it was stupid of him/her to go — he/she was stupid to go.
Some G6 adjectives are normally not used without a following infinitive
(or prepositional phrase), especially with an animate subject. We usually do
not say *he is destined, *he is easy, *he is likely, etc., but rather he is destined to

INTRODUCTION
go far, he is easy to get along with, he is not likely to be late, etc. G6 adjectives
of this type are marked 'cannot stand alone' in the entries.
A few G6 adjectives (usually used with the 'dummy' it) can also be fol-
followed by a verb form in -ing: it's nice to work here = it's nice working here. The
use of the -ing form is shown in the entries.
Note that in addition to adjectives, some nouns (G2) and some verbs (pat-
(pattern E), are followed by to + infinitive.
G7
G7 adjectives (many of which are also in G6) can be followed by a that
clause: she was afraid that she would fail the examination; it was nice that he was
able to come home for the holidays. Several adjectives are followed by the pres-
present subjunctive in formal English: it was imperative that I be there at three
o'clock; it is necessary that he be replaced immediately. See the comments on the
use of the present subjunctive in G8L.
G8
G8 collocations consist of nineteen English verb patterns, designated by
the capital letters A to S. A description of each verb pattern follows.
A. Pattern A verbs allow the dative movement transformation, that is,
allow the shift of an indirect object (usu. animate) to a position before the direct
object, with deletion of to when both objects are nouns and when the direct
object is a noun: he sent the book to his brother — he sent his brother the book
and he sent the book to him — he sent him the book. However, when both
objects are pronouns, this transformation is common only in BE: he sent it to
him — he sent him it (marginal in AE). BE also allows he sent it him.
B. Pattern В verbs are transitive; when they have an indirect object, they
do not allow the dative movement transformation, i.e., the shift of the indirect
object (usu. animate) to a position before the direct object with the deletion of
to. Thus, we have they described the book to her, they mentioned the book to her,
they returned the book to her, but not *they described her the book, etc. Com-
Compare the A pattern verb send, which does allow the transformation: they sent
him the book. Verbs denoting types of noise fit pattern B: he screamed some-
something to her. Other such verbs are: babble, bark, bellow, growl, etc.
In a few rare cases, AE and BE usage differs. An example is the verb
recommend, which in AE belongs to pattern В and in BE to pattern A. Such dif-
differences are indicated in the Dictionary.
I
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
C. In pattern C, transitive verbs used with the preposition for allow the
dative movement transformation, i.e., allow the deletion of for and the shift of
the indirect object (usu. animate) to a position before the direct object: she
bought a shirt for her husband — she bought her husband a shirt, she bought a
shirt for him — she bought him a shirt.
It must be emphasized that the Dictionary gives only those verbs that occur
most frequently in the various meanings of make — create. For example, in
regard to culinary operations, the Dictionary includes the verbs bake, boil,
brew, broil, chop, cook, fry, grill, grind, peel, scramble, slice, and toast (as in:
bake me a cake, boil him an egg, brew her some tea, broil us a few steaks, etc.).
However, the Dictionary does not include less frequently used verbs that can be
used in the same constructions. Examples are: barbecue, braise, brown, devil,
fricassee, oven bake, pan broil, pan fry, parboil, poach, saute, scallop, shirr,
steam, stew, etc.
D. In this pattern, the verb forms a collocation with a specific preposition
(+ object). Free combinations such as to walk in the park are excluded. In addi-
addition, combinations of the type verb + by or with are excluded when the latter
denote 'means' or 'instrument': they came by train, we cut bread with a knife, etc.
Collocations consisting of a verb + as (+ object) are included in the Dictio-
Dictionary: to act as, to intrepret as, to serve as, to treat as, etc.
Some D-pattern verbs are normally not used without a prepositional
phrase. For example, one does not say: *we will adhere, "they based their con-
conclusions, "our committee consists, etc. Well formed sentences are: we will
adhere to the plan, they based their conclusions on the available facts, our com-
committee consists of six members, etc. When a verb (or a certain sense of a verb)
is normally followed by a prepositional phrase, its pattern is designated by the
small letter d.
The Dictionary does include compound verbs followed by prepositions:
break in on, catch up to, etc. Note that out of is treated as a compound preposi-
ition.
Transitive D-pattern verbs used with to and B-pattern verbs produce iden-
identical constructions. We assign to В those verbs that are normally used with an
animate indirect object, and to D — verbs normally occurring with inanimate
indirect objects. Compare B: we described the meeting to them andD: weinvited
them to the meeting.
E. In this pattern, verbs are followed by to + infinitive. Examples of this
construction are: they began to speak, she continued to write, he decided to

INTRODUCTION
come, we offered to help, etc. Verbs are not included if they are normally used
in phrases of purpose, that is, if in order can be inserted with no change of
meaning: they were drilling (in order) to improve their pronunciation, he was
running (in order) to catch a train, she stopped (in order) to chat, etc.
F. This pattern includes the small number of verbs that are followed by
an infinitive without to: we must work. These verbs, with the exception of dare,
help (esp. AE), and need, are called modals. The verbal phrases had better and
would rather also fit this pattern: he had better (would rather) go.
G. In this pattern, verbs are followed by a second verb in -ing. Typical
examples of this construction are: they enjoy watching television, he kept talk-
talking, we miss going to work every day, the house needs painting, she quit smok-
smoking, he regrets living so far from his family, etc.
Note that some pattern G verbs are also in pattern E. Thus, we have
approximately synonymous constructions: he began reading — he began to
read, she continued speaking — she continued to speak.
Several verbs, however, that appear in both G and E have a different
meaning in each construction. The sentence he remembered to tell them means
that 'he intended to tell them and told them'; he remembered telling them means
that 'he remembered the act of telling them'. In a similar manner, the construc-
construction he forgot to tell them means that 'he intended to tell them, but forgot to do
so'; he forgot (about) telling them means that 'he forgot that he (had) told them'.
Note also the difference between the pattern G construction she stopped
chatting 'she terminated her chat' and she stopped to chat. The latter construc-
construction contains an infinitive phrase of purpose similar to that in she dropped in (in
order) to chat, she telephoned her friend (in order) to chat, etc.
H. In this pattern, transitive verbs are followed by an object and to +
infinitive. Typical examples of this construction are: she asked me to come; they
challenged us to fight; we forced them to leave; he invited me to participate; she
permitted the children to watch television.
Many of the verbs in this pattern can take the infinitive to be after the direct
object: we advised them to be careful, she asked us to be punctual, the director
authorized us to be in the laboratory, etc. For verbs that are normally used only
with to be after the direct object, see pattern M.
Most H-pattern verbs can be passivized: / was asked to come, we were
authorized to use the laboratory, etc. Some, however, cannot be: beseech, bring,
cable, cause, commit, get, have, intend, like, prefer, telegraph, telephone, thank,
trouble, want, wire, wish, and write.
I
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
I. In this pattern, transitive verbs are followed by a direct object and an
infinitive without to. Examples of this construction are: she heard them leave,
we let the children go to the park, they saw her drive up to the house, he watched
them unload the car, etc. Some of these verbs are also used in pattern J.
The use of I-pattern verbs in the passive occurs occasionally: we felt the
earth move — the earth was felt to move; they made us get up — we were made
to get up. Note the appearance of to + infinitive in the passive construction. In
some instances, the -ing form seems more natural when the verb is passivized:
she was seen driving up to the house. Most I-pattern verbs cannot be pas-
passivized: we had them fix our roof, she helped us move the furniture, they let the
children go home, I watched them unload the car, etc.
J. In this pattern, verbs are followed by an object and a verb form in -ing.
Typical examples of this construction are: / caught them stealing apples, we
found the children sleeping on the floor, he kept me waiting two hours, etc. Note
that some verbs in this list are also used in pattern I. Thus, we have approxi-
approximately synonymous constructions: she heard them leaving — she heard them
leave, he felt his heart beating — he felt his heart beat, we watched them dancing
— we watched them dance, etc.
J-pattern verbs can usually be passivized: they were caught stealing apples,
the children were found sleeping on the floor, I was kept waiting two hours, etc.
K. In this pattern, verbs can be followed by a possessive (pronoun or
noun) and a gerund, i.e., a verbal noun. Typical examples of this construction
are: please excuse my waking you so early, this fact justifies Bob's coming late,
they love his clowning. Some of these constructions are very close to those in
pattern J, which consist of verb + direct object + present participle. Note the
following constructions that are virtually synonymous: / cannot imagine them
stealing apples — / cannot imagine their stealing apples; we noticed him leaving
early — we noticed his leaving early; they remembered Bill making that mistake
— they remembered Bill's making that mistake, etc.
The possessive construction is awkward when two objects are joined by a
conjunction. Thus, the construction / can't imagine Bill (or Bill's) and Mary's
doing that is far less likely to occur than the pattern J construction / can't
imagine Bill and Mary doing that.
Native speakers of English often have individual preferences for one con-
construction and may not find the other construction acceptable. Some speakers
tend to avoid the possessive construction, which is considered to be bookish.
Thus, instead of we excused his coming late, many will say we excused him for

INTRODUCTION
coming late; instead of we anticipated his refusing, they prefer we anticipated his
refusal, etc. In this Dictionary we have attempted to include only the most fre-
frequently occurring verbs that can be followed by a possessive.
L. In this pattern, verbs can be followed by a noun clause beginning with
the conjunction that. Examples are: they admitted that they were wrong, she
believed that her sister would come, he denied that he had taken the money, we
hoped that the weather would be nice. In colloquial English the that may be omit-
omitted: they admitted they were wrong, she believed her sister would come, etc.
Some verbs always take a noun or pronoun object before the that clause:
she assured me that she would arrive on time, they convinced us that we should
invest our money at once, he informed his students that the examination had been
canceled. Such verbs are marked 'must have an object' in the entries. Other
verbs can be used with or without a nominal object: he bet that it would rain —
he bet me that it would rain; we cabled that we would arrive on Tuesday — we
cabled them that we would arrive on Tuesday; she promised that she would come
— she promised her brother that she would come; we showed that we were good
workers — we showed everyone that we were good workers, etc. Such verbs are
marked 'may have an object' in the entries. Most of the objects in the sentences
just cited seem to be direct objects, i.e., cannot be preceded by to. Note how-
however that the (especially AE) construction he wrote me that he would come next
month has the CE variant he wrote to me that he would come next month. Cer-
Certain verbs in pattern L (often belonging also to pattern B) may be followed by
a prepositional phrase with to: he swore that he would stop drinking — he swore
to us that he would stop drinking. Such verbs are marked 'to' in the entries.
Some verbs in pattern L allow the insertion of the fact with little or no
change in meaning: he acknowledged (admitted, confirmed, forgot, mentioned,
etc.) that he was guilty or the fact that he was guilty.
Verbs denoting types of noise fit pattern L: growl, grumble, grunt, mum-
mumble, etc.
Several verbs, in 'correct' or formal English, are followed by a verb in the
present subjunctive in the that clause. Examples are: he demanded that I be
there tomorrow at ten o'clock, we moved that the resolution be accepted, the
officer ordered that the soldier report to his unit immediately, she proposed that
our class hold a reunion, they suggested that the firm appoint a new personnel
manager. In BE the modal should is normally used (also in AE as a variant):
they suggested that the firm should appoint anew personnel manager. The verbs
used with a following subjunctive in formal English are marked subj. in the
entries. The variant with should is also shown in the entries.
I
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
Some L-pattern verbs can be followed by a clause either with the subjunc-
subjunctive or with the indicative; there is a difference in meaning. Compare: I suggest
that she be/should be there at two o'clock — the facts suggest that she is there.
A few L-pattern verbs regularly have 'dummy' it as their subject: it appears
that they will not come. Other verbs of this type are: follow, seem, transpire, turn
out, etc.
M. In this pattern, transitive verbs can be followed by a direct object, the
infinitive to be, and either an adjective, or a past participle, or a noun/pronoun.
In most instances, the same verb can be followed by any of these three forms.
Examples of this construction are: we consider her to be very capable—we con-
consider her to be well trained — we consider her to be a competent engineer; the
court declared the law to be unconstitutional — the court declared the law to be
superseded by more recent legislation — the court declared the law to be a viola-
violation of the Constitution; we found the roads to be excellent—we found the roads
to be cleared of snow — we found the roads to be a serious problem for the state
treasury.
Note that this pattern includes verbs that normally take to be after the
direct object. For verbs that combine freely with infinitives other than to be, see
pattern H.
N. In this pattern, transitive verbs can be followed by a direct object and
an adjective or a past participle or a noun/pronoun. Here are several examples
of this construction with an adjective: she dyed her hair red, we found them
interesting, he made his meaning clear, the police set the prisoner free. Verbs
used with adjectives in this construction are marked 'used with an adjective' in
the entries.
Examples with a past participle are: the soldiers found the village
destroyed, she had her tonsils removed, we heard the aria sung in Italian. Verbs
used with past participles are marked 'used with a past participle' in the entries.
Examples with a noun/pronoun are: we appointed (designated, elected,
made, named) Bob secretary, her friends call her Becky, they ordained him
priest. Verbs used with nouns/pronouns are marked 'used with a noun' in the
entries. Many of these verbs are also used in pattern H (appoint, designate,
elect, name). Approximately synonymous constructions of the following types
can thus be formed: we appointed (designated, etc.) him secretary; or: we
appointed him to serve as secretary; or: we appointed him to be secretary.
Some pattern N verbs are also used in pattern M. Note the following
synonymous constructions: we consider her (to be) a competent engineer; the
2—127

INTRODUCTION
court declared the law (to be) unconstitutional; we found the roads (to be) cleared
of snow; we proved him (to be) guilty, etc.
Finally, it should be noted that some N-pattern verbs are used only with
certain adjectives or with a certain adjective. For example, with the verb paint,
we can say to paint the walls blue/green/ white, etc. With the verb shoot, we can
only say to shoot somebody dead.
O. In this pattern, transitive verbs can take two objects, neither of which
can normally be used in a prepositional phrase with to or for. Examples of sen-
sentences with such double objects are: the teacher asked the pupil a question, we bet
her ten pounds, the police fined him fifty dollars, God will forgive them their sins,
she tipped the waiter five dollars, etc. Note the superficial similarity of the con-
constructions we bet him ten pounds and we sent him ten pounds. (See pattern A.)
Only the second construction allows the transformation we sent ten pounds to
him.
Pattern О is also very close structurally to pattern N (which has a noun/pro-
noun/pronoun following the direct object: they called him afoot). The latter construction
has one direct object (him), followed by a predicate (object) complement (a
fool).
Some pattern О verbs can be used with either of their objects alone: the
teacher asked the pupil — the teacher asked a question. Such verbs are marked
'can be used with one object' in the entries.
Verbs pertaining to gambling such as bet, lay, and wager are noteworthy in
being able to take in effect three objects — a person, an amount, and a clause
denoting the point of the bet: we bet him ten pounds that it would rain. Bet can
be used with any of the three objects alone; lay seems to require the first and
the second; wager can be used with either the second or the third alone.
O-pattern verbs can usually be passivized; in most instances, at least one
object can become the subject of the passive construction. Examples are: no
questions were asked, ten pounds were bet, he was fined fifty dollars, they will be
forgiven, the waiter was tipped five dollars.
P. In this pattern, intransitive, reflexive, and transitive verbs must be fol-
followed by an adverbial. The adverbial may be an adverb, a prepositional phrase,
a noun phrase, or a clause. For example, we cannot normally say in English *he
carried himself. An adverbial is required to form a complete sentence: he car-
carried himself well; or: he carried himself with dignity. In a similar manner, with-
without adverbials the following sentences are not complete: * Tuesday comes, *we
fared, *the meeting will last, * my brother is living (= 'dwelling'), "astrangeman
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
was lurking, * I nosed the car, *she put pressure (cf.: she exerted pressure, which
is acceptable), *the boys sneaked, "they tramped, *the trunk weighs, etc.
Acceptable sentences can be formed only if an appropriate adverbial is added:
Tuesday comes after Monday, we fared well, the meeting will last two hours, my
brother is living in Utah, a strange man was lurking where we least expected him,
I nosed the car (out) into the street, she put pressure on them, the boys sneaked
into the auditorium, they tramped through the woods, the trunk weighs thirty
pounds.
Note that some polysemous verbs cited above may have senses that do not
require an adverbial: they are coming, is he still living? a shot-putter puts the
shot, etc.
Some adverbials of duration may resemble direct objects: the meeting will
last all day, this job took two hours, etc. In fact, these verbs are intransitive; we
can say, for example, the meeting will last long. We must also mention here sen-
sentences with verbs of measurement, such as the trunk weighs thirty pounds. We
treat thirty pounds as an adverbial complement rather than as a direct object,
thus distinguishing this sense of weigh (which we consider to be intransitive)
from the sense used in the sentence she weighed the trunk (which we consider
to be transitive).
Some verbs are invariably followed by a particle: hang around, well up,
etc. Such forms can be considered compound verbs (phrasal verbs) and should
be given in dictionaries as separate entries. They are not included in this pat-
pattern.
In this Dictionary we have attempted to give only the most commonly used
verbs and senses that have obligatory adverbials. We have not included all
verbs that are followed by a way-phrase and an obligatory adverbial: we
elbowed (fought, jostled, made, pushed, worked, etc.) our way through the
crowd, they bribed their way to success, the Tatar cavalry burned its way through
Eastern Europe, etc. The number of such verbs is very large.
Q. In this pattern, verbs can be followed by an interrogative word: how,
what, when, where, which, who, why; to these we add whether (which often
alternates in clauses with if). These interrogative forms are often called wh-
words. Note: verbs that can be followed only by what are not included. An
example is the verb want; we can say he wants what I want, but not *he wants
how I want.
The verbs entered in the Dictionary can be followed by a wft-word and usu-
usually by either a to + infinitive construction or by a clause: he asked how to do
it, she could not decide whether or not to begin, she knew when to keep quiet —
2*

INTRODUCTION
he asked how he should do it, she could not decide whether (if) she should begin,
she knew when it was best to keep quiet.
Although most pattern О verbs do not take a noun/pronoun object before
the wA-construction, several must have an object: we told them what to do, they
informed us where applications were being accepted, etc. Such verbs are marked
'must have an object1 in the entires. A few verbs can be used with or without an
object: she asked why we had come — she asked us why we had come. Such
verbs are marked 'may have an object' in the entries.
R. In this pattern, transitive verbs (often expressing emotion) are pre-
preceded by the dummy it and are followed by to + infinitive or by that + clause
or by either. The construction (or constructions) in which each verb usually
seems to occur is shown in the entries. Examples are: it behooves/behoves you
to study more; it puzzled me that they never answered the telephone; it surprised
me to learn of her decision and it surprised me that our offer was rejected.
S. In this pattern, a small number of intransitive verbs are followed by a
predicate noun or by a predicate adjective: she became an engineer; he was a
teacher; he became smug; she was enthusiastic. The verb make, used intransi-
intransitively, belongs here: he'll make a good teacher.
A somewhat larger group of intransitive verbs can be followed only by a
predicate adjective; these verbs are coded with the small letters. Examples are:
she looks fine; the flowers smell nice; the food tastes good.
Special Note on Transitivity
Verbs are always transitive in the following patterns: A, B, C, H, I, J, K,
M, N, O, and R. In four other patterns verbs are consistently intransitive: E, F,
G, and S. In the fifteen patterns just listed, verbs are not marked for transitiv-
transitivity. In patterns D and P, verbs of both types occur and are marked as tr. or intr.
In patterns L and Q, verbs can be followed by a clause, and consequently, can
be considered to be transitive. If another object must be used, the verb is
marked 'must have an object'. If another object may be used, the verb is
marked 'may have an object'.
Survey of Verb Patterns
In this survey the following special symbols are used: s = subject; v = verb;
о = object (direct or indirect); с = complement; a = adverbial (when obligato-
obligatory); v-ing = verb form in -ing.
GRAMMATICAL COLLOCATIONS
DESIGNATION
A
В
С
Dandd
E
F
G
H
J
К
L
M
N
О
P
Q
R
s
s
4 PATTERN
= svo to о (or) svoo
= svo to о
= svo for о (or) svoo
= sv prep, о (or) svo prep, о
= sv to inf.
= sv inf.
= svv-ing
= svo to inf.
= svo inf.
= svov-ing
= sv possessive v-ing
= sv(o) fftef-clause
= svo to be с
= svoc
= svoo
= sv(o)a
= sv(o) wh-word
= s(/7)vo to inf. (or) s(/7)vo /Aa/-clause
= sve (adjective or noun)
= sve (adjective)
Note that collocational types G2 and G3 (for nouns) and G6 and G7 (for
adjectives) are closely related grammatically to some of the verb patterns given
above.

INTRODUCTION
LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
Background
Lexical collocations, in contrast to grammatical collocations, normally do
not contain prepositions, infinitives, or clauses. Typical lexical collocations con-
consist of nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. An example of an adjective +
noun collocation is warmest regards, as in I send warmest regards. Typical viola-
violations of lexical collocability are * I send hot regards and * I send hearty regards.
Many lexical collocations in English consist of a verb and noun, such as
bring in an acquittal, file an affidavit, put on airs, etc. The various types of lexi-
lexical collocations included in the Combinatory Dictionary will be described
below.
The Combinatory Dictionary does not include free lexical combinations.
Free lexical combinations are those in which the two elements do not
repeatedly co-occur; the elements are not bound specifically to each other; they
occur with other lexical items freely. Thus, a construction such as condemn
murder is a free combination. The verb condemn occurs with an unlimited
number of nouns: they condemned — the abduction, abortion, abuse of power,
the acquittal, etc. In a similar manner, murder combines freely with hundreds
of verbs: abhor, accept, acclaim, advocate, etc.
On the other hand, commit murder is a collocation. The verb commit is
limited in use to a small number of nouns, meaning 'crime', 'wrongdoing'; it
collocates specifically with murder.
We will now describe seven major types of lexical collocations; all of these
are included in the Dictionary. The types are designated by LI, L2, L3, etc. The
Dictionary attempts to give only those lexical collocations that are in common
LI collocations consist of a verb (usually transitive) and a noun/pronoun
(or prepositional phrase). Most LI collocations consist of a verb denoting crea-
creation and/or activation and a noun/pronoun. We call such fixed lexical combina-
combinations CA collocations. Here are examples of collocations with verbs denoting
creation: come to an agreement, make an impression, compose music, set a
record, reach a verdict, inflict a wound. Here are examples of collocations that
express the concept of activation: set an alarm, fly a kite, launch a missile, punch
a time clock, spin a top, wind a watch.
In some instances, the same noun collocates with one verb (or verbs) to
LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
denote creation and with another verb (or verbs) to denote activation: establish
a principle (= creation) — apply a principle (= activation); draw up a will (=
creation) — execute a will (= activation).
In many instances the meanings creation and activation are united in one
verb: call an alert, display bravery, hatch a conspiracy, impose an embargo, pro-
produce friction, inflict an injustice, offer opposition, pose a question, lay a smoke
screen, put out a tracer, commit treason, issue a warning.
CA collocations are arbitrary and non-predictable. Non-native speakers
cannot cope with them; they must have a guide. They have no way of knowing
that one says in English make an estimate (but not *make an estimation), com-
commit treason (but not "commit treachery). In English one says commit fraud and
perpetrate fraud. However, only the collocation commit suicide is possible; one
does not say *perpetrate suicide.
Even the native speaker may need at times to refer to a list of CA colloca-
collocations. Many may not know which verbs collocate with such nouns as the follow-
following: acquittal, afterburners, authority, barrage, bench warrant, Caesarean sec-
section, cartwheel, circuit breaker, cloture, copyright, counsel, coup degruce, coup
d'etat, etc. A native speaker of AE, who says to take up a collection, will not
know which verb collocates with the colloquial BE synonym of CE collection,
namely whip-round (have). Speakers of BE prefer to have a bath; AE speakers
invariably take a bath. CE speakers make a decision; BE speakers can also take
a decision.
Many nouns collocate with verbs that refer to the actions of more than one
participant. Such nouns will have different CA collocations according to which
participant's role is being described. Thus, a copyright office grants or registers
a copyright, but an author or publisher holds or secures one.
CA collocations for polysemous nouns are extremely important. For
example, the entry for the noun line has the following collocations: draw a line
(on paper); form a line (= 'line up'); drop smb. a line (= 'write smb. a letter').
The entry for operation has: perform an operation (in a hospital); carry out
(conduct) an operation (on the battlefield).
As indicated above, the Combinatory Dictionary does not include free
combinations. Thus, we exclude many combinations with verbs such as build,
cause, cook, grow, make, manufacture, prepare, etc. even though, strictly
speaking, they convey the meanings of 'creation' or 'activation'. Such verbs
form an almost limitless number of combinations: build bridges (houses,
roads), cause damage (deafness, a death), cook meat (potatoes, vegetables),
etc.; such combinations seem to be predictable on the basis of the meaning of

INTRODUCTION
their component elements.
On the other hand, we have included in LI many collocations even if they
do not mean 'creation' or 'activation'. Examples are: do the laundry, decline a
noun, take one's seat, carry a story, confirm a suspicion, resist temptation, conju-
conjugate a verb, etc.
L2
L2 collocations consist of a verb meaning essentially eradication and/or
nullification and a noun. Such fixed lexical combinations are called EN colloca-
collocations. Typical examples are the following: reject an appeal, lift a blockade, break
a code, reverse a decision, dispel fear, squander a fortune, demolish (raze, tear
down) a house, repeal a law, revoke a license, annul a marriage, suspend martial
law, scrub (cancel) a mission, withdraw an offer, countermand an order, renege
on a promise, crush (put down) resistance, break up a set (of china), rescind a
tax, ease tension, quench one's thirst, denounce (abrogate) a treaty, exterminate
vermin, override a veto, etc.
The Combinatory Dictionary does not include predictable free EN combi-
combinations. For example, the verb destroy can be used with a very large number
of nouns denoting physical objects; these have not been entered. Examples are:
to destroy — a barn, bridge, building, city, document, factory, harbor, house,
laboratory, port, road, school, village, etc.
L3
L3 collocations consist of an adjective and a noun. One well known pair of
examples is strong tea (not * mighty tea) and weak tea (not * feeble tea). In many
instances, more than one adjective (or more than one form of the same adjec-
adjective) can collocate with the same noun: warm, warmest (not *hot); kind, kind-
kindest; best (not *good) regards. Other examples of L3 collocations are: reckless
abandon, a chronic alcoholic, a pitched battle, a formidable challenge, a crush-
crushing defeat, a rough estimate, an implacable foe, a sweeping generalization, etc.
As already indicated, the Dictionary attempts to give only the most com-
commonly used lexical collocations. Many L3 collocations can be considered to be
cliches. The Dictionary does not normally give collocations that are used solely
in technical language. However, the Dictionary does give some technical collo-
collocations that will be of interest to students and teachers of English for Special
Purposes.
In English, nouns are often used as adjectives. Nouns used attributively
LEXICAL COLLOCATIONS
may enter into L3 collocations: house arrest, jet engine, land reform, aptitude
test. These collocations are given at the entry for the second noun. However, if
in a 'fused' compound the second noun does not have the same basic meaning
as it has when used alone, the compound is not included as an L3 collocation.
Examples of such Multi-Word Lexical Units (MLUs) are: bowling alley, sitting
duck, long shot, stuffed shirt, etc. An MLU is listed as a separate headword if
it enters into a collocation. For example, the colloquial MLU double take ('de-
('delayed reaction') is given as a headword since it is part of the collocation to do a
double take.
In some instances, noun + noun collocations can be found more easily by
the user of the Dictionary when they are listed at the entry for the first noun
rather than at the entry for the second noun. For example, cabinet reshuffle is
given at cabinet, drug pusher at drag, etc. Such collocations are listed in the
entries under misc.
L4
L4 collocations consist of a noun and verb; the verb names an action
characteristic of the person or thing designated by the noun: adjectives modify,
alarms go off (ring, sound), bees buzz (sting, swarm), blizzards rage, blood cir-
circulates (clots, congeals, flows, runs), bombs explode (go off)', etc. The Dictio-
Dictionary does not include predictable combinations such as bakers bake, boxers
box, cooks cook, dancers dance, fencers fence, etc.
L5
L5 collocations indicate the unit that is associated with a noun. The struc-
structure of an L5 collocation is often поил, ofnounr Such collocations may indi-
indicate:
a. the larger unit to which a single member belongs: a colony
(swarm) of bees, a herd of buffalo, a pack of dogs, a bouquet of flowers,
a pride of lions, a school of whales, etc.
b. the specific, concrete, small unit of something larger, more gen-
general: a bit (piece/word) of advice, an article of clothing, an act of vio-
violence, etc.
L6
L6 collocations consist of an adverb and an adjective. Examples are:
deeply absorbed, strictly accurate, closely (intimately) acquainted, hopelessly

INTRODUCTION
addicted, sound asleep, keenly (very much) aware, etc.
L7
L7 collocations consist of a verb and an adverb. Examples are: affect
deeply, amuse thoroughly, anchor firmly, apologize humbly, appreciate sin-
sincerely, argue heatedly, etc.
ARRANGEMENT OF ENTRIES
ARRANGEMENT OF ENTRIES
General
The Dictionary provides entries primarily for nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
A few entries for adverbs and prepositions are also given. We will now describe
the arrangement of each type of entry. Note that the following five principles
apply to all entries.
1. Collocational types are indicated by illustrative phrases or sentences
rather than by type designations. Verb entries are also coded.
2. Lexical collocations precede grammatical collocations.
3. Words characteristic of one variety of English are marked AE (for
American English) or BE (for British English). For details concerning variety
labeling, see the Style Guide, Collocational Strings, 9.
4. This Dictionary does not normally include idioms, i.e., frozen expres-
expressions in which the meaning of the whole does not reflect the meanings of the
component parts: to kill two birds with one stone 'to achieve two aims with one
action'; to be beside oneself"'to be in a state of great emotional confusion'. Some
phrases, especially those expressing a simile, are transitional between colloca-
collocations and idioms, that is, the meanings of the component parts are reflected
partially in the meaning of the whole. The Dictionary does include important
phrases of this type. For example, under misc., the entry for bird has as free as
a bird, the entry for feather has as light as a feather, the entry for sugar has as
sweet as sugar, etc.
5. The Dictionary does include important fixed phrases that do not fit into
any of the types of grammatical and lexical collocations described above. Thus,
the entry for business gives to mix business with pleasure, the entry for eye gives
to feast one's eyes on smt., etc. Such phrases are normally given under misc.
Order of Entries
Headwords, including compounds, are listed in strictly alphabetical order.
Thus, the phrasal (compound) verb go along follows goal. Solid compounds
precede those written as two words. For example, makeup n. precedes make
up v. Homographs, i.e., words with the same spelling, are listed according to
the alphabetical order of their part of speech. Their order is, consequently,
adjective, adverb, noun, verb. For example, abandon I n. precedes abandon II

INTRODUCTION
Noun Entries
Collocational types given in noun entries are customarily arranged in the
following order: LI, L2, L3, L4, L5, Gl, G2, G3, G4. Usually, each colloca-
collocational type is given in a separate numbered item. However, in order to save
space, two collocational types may be shown in the same item. For example, in
the entry for allusion, we have to make an allusion to. This construction shows
both LI and Gl.
Adjective Entries
Collocational types are arranged in the following order: L6, G5, G6, G7.
Verb Entries
L7 collocations are given first; they are followed by the verbal patterns of
G8, namely A to S. Items showing G8 items are coded, that is, each item is
marked by a letter designating the appropriate verbal pattern. G8 items are
listed in the alphabetical order of their letter codes. When there are several D/d
collocations, these are given in the alphabetical order of the collocating prepo-
STYLE GUIDE
STYLE GUIDE
The Swung Dash
1. The swung dash (~) usually replaces the headword within the entry.
The swung dash is repeated only when necessary.
2. In entries for compound (phrasal) verbs the swung dash represents both
the verb and the particle only when they are used in the unseparated infinitive
or imperative form and also in the simple present tense, unseparated. with no
(third-person singular) ending. The entry for get away has an infinitive in the
collocation to ~ from; the entry for reach out has an imperative in the illustra-
illustrative phrase: ~ vour hand to me. The entry for run short has the illustrative
phrase they never ~ of money. In all other instances, the swung dash represents
only the verb; the particle is shown separately. The entry take down has the
illustrative phrase to ~ testimony down in shorthand. (Here the verb and parti-
particle are separated in the infinitive form.) The entry set apart has the phrase cer-
certain traits ~ them apart from the others. (Here in the simple present tense the
verb and particle are separated.) The entry run around has the phrase he ~s
around with a fast crowd. (Here the verb in the simple present tense has the
third-person singular ending.)
3. The headword is used rather than the swung dash when irregular gram-
grammatical forms occur. Usually, these are irregular past tense forms of verbs.
Occasionally irregular noun plurals must be shown. For example*in the entry
for prisoner of war we have to interrogate; repatriate prisoners of war; in goose
we have geese cackle, honk.
Collocational Strings
1. When a headword collocates with various other words, the Dictionary
usually lists the resultant collocations in strings. The presentation of colloca-
collocations in strings not only saves an enormous amount of space, but it also allows
the concentration of a great deal of material, facilitating the use of the Dictio-
Dictionary by its readers.
2. When collocations are listed in a string, a comma separates synonyms
or near synonyms. Members of the collocational string are listed in alphabetical
order. The entry for advice gives to give, offer ~. This string represents the
synonymous collocations to give advice and to offer advice.
3. A semicolon separates non-synonymous collocations that are presented
in a string. The entry for answerable has ~ for; to. This string represents the

INTRODUCTION
non-synonymous collocations answerable for and answerable to.
4. Both synonymous and non-synonymous collocations may be listed in
one string. The entry for booth has an information; phone, telephone; polling,
voting; projection —. This string represents the collocation an information
booth, the synonymous collocations a phone booth and a telephone booth, the
synonymous collocations a polling booth and a voting booth, and the colloca-
ion a projection booth. Note that synonymous members of a string are grouped
together, even though this upsets the overall alphabetical order. Note also that
the article is not repeated in the string.
5. When the same noun collocates with different verbs and with different
prepositions, the resultant collocations must be shown in different strings.
Thus, under degree ('academic title') we have to award a — to; to confer a~on.
Note that these collocations are synonymous; the semicolon between them sep-
separates different collocational strings rather than non-synonymous members of
the same string. Another example is found in the entry damage ('harm'), which
gives to cause, do — to; to inflict — on. These two strings represent the three
synonymous collocations to cause damage to, to do damage to, to inflict damage
on.
6. Separate strings are required when differences in the use of articles or
of number must be shown. Differences in the use of articles are indicated in busi-
business 5: a mail-order ~; show —; the travel—. In atrocity 2 we see that the sec-
second string shows a collocation normally used in the plural: a dreadful, grisly,
gruesome, horrible, horrid, monstrous, revolting, vile —; death-camp ~ties.
7. As indicated above under Lexical Collocations, some nouns collocate
with verbs that refer to the actions of more than one participant. Only verbs
referring to the actions of the same participant may be listed in one string. Thus,
the entry for copyright has one string for the actions of the copyright office (to
grant, register a~) and a different string for the actions of an author or publisher
(to hold; secure a~).
8. The examples given above show that normally each string has one
swung dash. The sole exception occurs in strings that include a compound
word, i.e., a word consisting of two (or more) roots spelled as one word. The
last element of the compound is the same element with which the other mem-
members of the string collocate. In such instances, the member of the string preced-
preceding the compound must be followed by the swung dash. Under boat we have an
assault; fishing; flying —; gunboat; lifeboat; mosquito —.
9. Stylistic and variety labels referring to one member of the string nor-,
mally follow that member. Under show I we have to catch (colloq.), see, take in
STYLE GUIDE
a ~. The entry accountant has a certified public (AE), chartered (BE) ~. Note
that the variety label CE is usually not used. Thus, the entry for different 2 has
-from, than (AE), to (BE). This means that CE has different from, AE has dif-
different than, and BE has different to.
Definitions and Paraphrases
1. Definitions and paraphrases are enclosed in single quotation marks.
2. Definitions of nouns and adjectives in single quotation marks and
square brackets refer to items that follow. Note the following example: accent
n. ['pronunciation'] to affect, assume, imitate, put on; cultivate an —, etc. When
'miscellaneous' items are not covered by any previously given definition, they
are listed at the end of the entry and are preceded by misc. in single quotation
marks and square brackets. For an example, see the entry for account I.
3. Definitions of senses of verbs and paraphrases of illustrative phrases are
given in single quotation marks and parentheses. Such definitions and para-
paraphrases refer to the preceding item. An example of a paraphrase is provided in
the entry aback. The collocation given is taken aback; the illustrative phrase is
/ was taken aback, which is paraphrased as / was startled.
4. When verb definitions refer to the headword, they stand immediately
after the coding. For example, go II5 has the coding (d; intr.), followed by the
definition Do pass'), the collocation to — by, and the illustrative phrase to — by
smb. 's house. If, however, the meaning of the verb is clear only in combination
with the following preposition, the definition follows not the coding, but the
collocation. Thus, go 6 has the coding (d; intr.), the collocation to- by, the
definition ('to follow'), and the illustrative phrase to — by the rules.
Illustrative Phrases
1. Illustrative phrases follow the collocation that they refer to; they are
given in parentheses. The entry adherence 2 has the collocation ~ to followed
by the illustrative phrase strict — to a plan.
2. When synonyms are indicated in an illustrative phrase, they are sepa-
separated by a slash (/). The entry for amazement has the illustrative phrase: they
expressed their — at/with our performance.
3. Note that a collocation may be expanded so as to serve as an illustra-
illustration. Under river 3 we have the L4 collocation a — flows expanded by the
phrase (into the sea), enclosed in parentheses. Thus, river 3 reads: a — flows
(into the sea).

INTRODUCTION
Usage Notes
Usage Notes in the BBI provide additional information about the appro-
appropriate use of headwords and their collocations. The views of purists concerning
correct usage are sometimes given. Usage Notes may also include details about
the differences between AE and BE; for additional information about these dif-
differences, see the Lexicographic Description of English. Note that the swung
dash is not used in the Usage Notes.
Pronunciation
In general» the BBI Dictionary does not indicate pronunciation. In a few
instances, however, phonemic transcription is provided in order to differen-
differentiate homographs. Thus, bow I is transcribed as /bau/ and bow HI as /bou/; use
I is transcribed as /ju:s/ and use II as /ju:z/. For details concerning the simplified
transcription used in the BBI, see the Lexicographic Description of English.
It should be noted that in some English homographs the stress of adjectives
and nouns on one hand, and that of verbs on the other, may be different. In
such instances, the adjective or noun has the stress on the first syllable, and the
verb has the stress on the second syllable. Entries given in the BBI for such
homographs with stress differences include: absent, abstract, address, ally,
annex, compress, conduct, conflict, contract, contrast, convert, defect, discourse,
escort, excerpt, extract, impact, implant, increase, intrigue, object, overhaul,
permit, present, produce, progress, prospect, protest, rebel, rebound, recall (in
AE), record, recount, refund, refuse, relay, remit (in BE), subject, suspect,
transfer, transplant, transport, upset.
A few nouns have variant stresses, i.e., either on the first or on the second
syllable. Examples are: address ('place of residence'), ally, intrigue, recall (in
AE), remit (in BE; this noun is not used in AE). Several verbs have variant
stresses. Examples are: ally (in AE), annex, transport (in AE). In the meaning
'to summarize', the verb abstract is stressed on the first syllable. Note that the
noun upset is stressed on the first syllable, whereas both the adjective and the
verb are stressed on the second syllable; the adjective is, in fact, a past partici-
participle form.
ABBREVIATIONS
adv.
AE
Am.
anat.
BE
Br.
CA
CE
cf.
colloq.
derog.
EN
esp.
fig-
GB
imper.
inf.
ling-
lit.
math,
med.
mil.
misc.
mus.
neg.
obsol.
occ.
pol.
pred.
prep.
refl.
rel.
3—127
ABBREVIATIONS
adjective
adverb
American English
American
anatomical
British English
British
creation and/or activation
Common English
compare
colloquial
commercial
derogatory
eradication and/or nullification
especially
figurative
Great Britain
imperative
infinitive
intransitive
linguistics
literary
mathematics
medicine, medical
military
miscellaneous
music
noun
negative
obsolete
occasionally
politics, political
predicative
preposition
reflexive
religion, religious

INTRODUCTION
subj.
(T)
tr.
usu.
US
V.
subjunctive
Trademark
transitive
usually
United States
verb
The capital letters A to S denote the verb patterns, explained in the
Introduction, Grammatical Collocations, section G8.
accent
aback adv. taken ~ (I was taken ~) ('I was star-
startled')
abacus n. to operate, use an ~
abandon I n. reckless, wild ~
abandon II v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (they ~ed us to our
fate)
abbreviate v. (D; tr.) to ~ to {Esquire can be ~d
to Esq.)
ABC n. as easy, simple as ~
abdicate v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (the king has ~d
from the throne) USAGE NOTE: One can also
say-the king has abdicated the throne; most fre-
frequently, one simply says—the king has abdicated.
abduct v. (D; tr;) to ~ from (to ~ a child from its
home)
aberration n. a mental ~
abet v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ in (to ~ smb. in
doing smt.; to aid and ~ smb. in doing smt.)
abeyance n. (formal) in, into ~ (to hold in ~; to
fall into ~)
abhor v. 1. (G) he ~s being idle 2. (K) she ~s his
smoking
abhorrent adj. (formal) ~ to (his behavior was ~
to everyone)
abide v. (d; intr.) 1. to — by ('to agree to, obey')
(we must ~ by her decision) 2. (obsol. and formal)
(d; intr.) ('to stay') to ~ with
ability n. 1. to demonstrate, display, exhibit, show
~ 2. to appreciate, recognize ~ 3. creative; excep-
exceptional, great, outstanding, remarkable; innate,
natural; latent ~ 4. an ounce of ~ (he doesn't have
an ounce of ~) 5. ~ at, in 6. the ~ to + inf. (the ~
to reason) 7. of ~ (a person of great ~; to the best
of one's—)
ablaze adj. 1. ~ with (the city was ~ with lights) 2.
to set ~
able adj. ~ to 4- inf. (she was not ~ to reach him)
USAGE NOTE: In passive constructions, able is
replaced by the verb can— he cannot be reached.
ablutions n. (formal) to perform one's ~
aboard adv. 1. to come; go ~ 2. all ~!
abode n. (formal) to take up one's ~
abortion n. 1. to do, perform an ~ on 2. to induce
an ~ 3. to get, have an ~ 4. (a) criminal, illegal;
induced; spontaneous; therapeutic ~; legalized ~
abound v. (formal) 1. (d; intr.) to ~ in (this coun-
country ~s in opportunities) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with (the
book ~s with misprints)
about I adj. (cannot stand alone) ['ready'] 1. — to
+ inf. (the performance is — to begin) ['willing']
(colloq.) (AE) 2. not ~ to 4- inf. (we are not ~ to
stop now; we are not ~ to be taken in by their cam-
campaign promises) ['misc.'] 3. to set ~ doing smt.
about II prep. 1. be quick ~ it ('do it quickly') 2.
how/what ~ us?
about-face n. (esp. AE) ['sudden change in
attitude'] to do an ~
abreast adj. (usu. does not stand alone) ~ of (to be
~ of the news; to keep smb. ~ of the latest
developments)
abroad adv. from ~ (he had to return from ~)
abscond v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; with (they ~ed
from the country with the funds)
absence n. 1. an excused; unexcused ~ 2. ~ from
(an unexcused ~ from school) 3. during, in smb.'s
absent I adj. ~ from (she was ~ from school)
absent II v. (D; refl.) to ~ from (to ~ oneself
from a meeting)
absentia n. in ~ (to be tried in ~)
absolution n. (rel.) to grant, pronounce ~ from
(to grant ~ from sin)
absolve v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (he was ~d from his
promise)
absorb v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (the small firms were
~ed into large cartels)
absorbed adj. 1. deeply, completely, thoroughly,
totally ~ 2. ~ by, with; in (she was ~ by/with the
problem; the children were ~ in their homework;
~ in thought)
abstain v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from alcohol)
abstinence n. 1. to practice ~ 2. complete, total ~
3. ~ from (~ from alcohol)
abstract I n. in the ~
abstract II v. (technical) (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~
iron from ore)
absurd adj. 1. patently; totally ~ 2. ~ to 4- inf. (it
was ~ to leave such a large tip) 3. ~ that 4- clause
(it's ~ that we have to get up so early)
absurdity n. it was the height of ~ (to insist on a
refund)
abundance n. 1. an ~ of (there was an ~ of water
power) 2. in ~ (we had food in ~) 3. of ~ (a life of
~)
abundant adj. (formal) ~ in (~ in natural
resources)
abuse n. ['insulting language'] 1. to heap, shower
~ on, upon; to hurl ~ at 2. to take ~ (she took a
lot of ~ from him) 3. verbal ~ 4. a shower, stream
of ~ 5. a term of — ['rough use'] 6. to take ~ (this
car has taken a lot of ~) ['mistreatment'] 7. child;
personal; sexual ~ ['improper use'] 8. drug ~
abusive adj. ~ to (he became ~ to his guests)
abut v. (D; intr.) to ~ against, on, upon
abyss n. a gaping, yawning ~
academe n. (formal) the groves, halls of ~
academy n. 1. a military; naval; riding ~ 2. an ~
for (an ~ for boys) 3. at an ~
accede v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (they ~d to our
demands)
accelerator n. 1. to depress, step on an ~ 2. to ease
up, let up on an —
accent n. ['pronunciation'] 1. to affect, assume,
imitate, put on; cultivate an ~ 2. to speak with an
~ 3. to get rid of an ~ 4. a foreign; heavy, notice-
noticeable, pronounced, strong, thick; slight ~ ['stress']
5. to place, put the ~ on (to place the ~ on a sylla-
syllable) 6. (ling.) an acute; grave; pitch, tonic ~ (see
3*

accept
activity
also stress)
accept v. 1. to - blindly; fully; readily 2. (D; tr.)
to — as (they —ed us as their equals) 3. (formal)
(BE) (L) I — that the proposal may be defeated
acceptable adj. 1.completely,fully;mutually-2.
- to (the conditions are - to all concerned)
acceptance n. 1. blind - (blind - of dogma) 2.
universal — (to meet with universal —)
access n. 1. to gain, get - 2. to deny - 3. direct;
easy, free, unlimited; limited — 4. (computers)
random - 5. - to (we gained/got - to the files; -
to a building)
accessary (esp. BE) see accessory 1,2
accessibility п. - to (the professor's - to all stu-
students)
accessible adj. 1. easily - 2. - to (the stacks are -
to the public; the director is — to everyone)
accession n. 1. on one's — (on his — to the throne
he inherited vast estates) 2. - to (her - to power)
accessory n. ['accomplice'] 1. an — to (an — to a
crime) 2. (legal) an — before the fact; an — after
the fact ['optional equipment'] 3. auto (AE);
matching; skiing; smoking —ries
accident n. ['unexpected, unpleasant event']
['catastrophe'] 1. to have, meet with an — (they
had an — during their trip) 2. to prevent —s 3. an
awful, bad, dreadful, frightful, horrible, nasty,
serious, shocking; fatal; near; unavoidable; unfor-
unfortunate - 4. an automobile (AE), motorcar (BE);
hit-and-run; hunting; industrial; railroad (AE),
railway (BE), train — 5. an — occurs, takes place
(a bad — took place) 6. in an — (he was in a hunt-
hunting ~) ['chance'] ['luck'] 7. pure, sheer - 8. an -
that + clause (it was pure - that we met) 9. by -
(we discovered it by —; it was by pure — that we
found the money)
acclaim v. (N; used with a noun) the mob—ed him
emperor
acclamation n. by - (to elect smb. by -)
acclimate (AE)see acclimatize
acclimatize v. (D;intr., refl., tr.) to —to(we—d
quickly/—d ourselves quickly to the jungle; he
became —d to the new surroundings)
accolade n. l.to bestow an —on 2. the ultimate —
accommodate v. (D;intr., refl.,tr.) to- to (they
—d easily to the new conditions)
accommodation I n. ['agreement'] ['adjustment']
1. to come to, make; reach, work out an — 2. an —
between; on; to; with (to make an — to wartime
conditions; to reach an - with neighboring coun-
countries)
accommodation II (BE) see accommodations
accommodations n. (AE) ['place to live'] 1. to se-
secure; seek — 2. deluxe; first-class; hotel; second-
class; travel —
accompaniment n. 1. an— to (a piano— to a song)
2. to the — of (to the — of soft music)
accompany v. (D;tr.) to-on (to-a singer on the
piano)
accomplice n. 1. an unwitting-2. an-in, to (an
— in crime)
accomplished adj. —at
accomplishment n. 1. see achievement 1 for
adjective + noun collocations 2. no mean — 3. an
— to 4- inf. (it was a real — to defeat them) 4. of —
(a man, woman of many —s)
accord I n. l.tocometo,reachan — 2.an — with
smb. about smt. (we reached an — with the
neighboring country about our common border)
3. an — that + clause (they came to an — that prof-
profits would be shared equally) 4. in — with 5. (for-
(formal) of one's own — (he participated of his own —)
accord II v. (formal) 1. (A) we —ed a hero's wel-
welcome to him; or: we —ed him a hero's welcome 2.
(rare) (d; intr.) to — with (our information does
not — with his report)
accordance n. in — with (in — with your instruc-
instructions)
account I n. ['description'] ['report'] 1. to give,
render an — 2. an accurate, true; biased, one-
onesided; blow-by-blow, detailed, full; eyewitness;
fictitious; first-hand; running; vivid - (she gave a
detailed - of the incident) 3. newspaper, press -s
(according to press —s) 4. by all —s ['explanation']
5. to call smb. to — ['consideration'] 6. to take — of
smt; to take smt. into — ['business arrangement']
['record of a business arrangement'] 7. to open an
— 8. to keep an — (I keep an — in that bank) 9. to
charge smb.'s — 10. to balance; close; settle an —
11. to overdraw an — 12. to pay smt. into an — 13.
to charge smt. to an — 14. an active; blocked;
charge (AE), credit (BE); checking (AE), current
(BE); deposit (BE), savings; dollar; expense;
inactive; individual retirement (AE); joint;
money-market; outstanding — 15. in an — (the
funds were in her —) 16. on — (to put smt. on
smb.'s —) ['dispute'] 17. to settle an — (I have an
— to settle with him) 18. an old — ['sake'] 19. on
smb.'s — (do not refuse on my —) 20. on — of (he
did it on - of me) ['showing'] ['performance'] 21.
to give a good — of oneself ['misc.'] 22. on no —
('under no circumstances')
account II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - for ('to explain')
(he could not - for the missing funds; how do you
— for the accident?) 2. (d; intr.) to - for ('to cause
the destruction of) (our battery -ed for three
enemy planes)
accountable adj. 1. strictly - 2. - for; to (we are
— to our parents for our actions) 3. to hold smb. —
for smt.
accountant n. a certified public (AE), chartered
(BE)-
accounting n. 1. to give, render an-2. a strict -
3. cost —
accounts n. ['books'] 1. to keep - ['record of
transactions'] 2. - payable; receivable ['differ-
['differences'] 3. to settle, square —
accredit v. (D;tr.)to — to (our envoy was— edto
their new government)
accrue v. (D; intr.) to — to (the interest —d to our
account)
accuracy n. 1. historical; reasonable; scientific;
strict, total - 2. - in
accurate adj. 1. fairly; strictly - 2. - to + inf. (it
would be — to say that he is lazy)
accusation n. 1. to bring, make an — against (he
brought an — of theft against Smith; more usu. is:
he accused Smith of theft) 2. to deny; refute an —
3. a damaging, grave; false, groundless,
unfounded, unjust; sweeping — 4. an — against; of
(an — of gross negligence) 5. an — that + clause
(he denied the — that he had accepted bribes)
accuse v. (D; tr.) to- of (he was -d of murder)
accused adj. to stand —
accustom v. (d;refl.,tr.)to —to (we had to —our-
—ourselves to the new working conditions; more usu.
is: we had to get —ed to the new working condi-
conditions)
accustomed adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (— to
hard work; — to walking long distances; he got —
to the warm climate)
ace n. ['a serve that an opponent cannot touch']
(tennis) 1. to score an — ['expert combat pilot'] 2.
a flying — ['misc.'] 3. within an — of ('very close
to'); an — in the hole ('a concealed advantage')
ache I n. a dull; steady - (he felt a dull - in his
shoulder) (see backache, earache, headache,
stomachache, toothache)
ache II v. 1. (d; intr.) 1. to - for (to - for com-
company) 2. (E) he is —ing to get even
achievement n. 1. a brilliant, crowning, dazzling,
epic, glorious, great, lasting, magnificent, major,
memorable, monumental, notable, outstanding,
phenomenal, remarkable, signal, superb, won-
wonderful — 2. an — in (outstanding —s in science)
add n. 1. corrosive, strong — 2. boric; citric; hy-
hydrochloric; sulfuric — 3. — corrodes
acknowledge v. l.to — gratefully 2. (B) the author
—d her debt to her research assistants 3. (D; tr.) to
- as (she -d him as her heir) 4. (G) he -d being
ignorant of the facts 5. (K) he -d my being the
first to think of it 6. (L; to) she -d (to us) that she
was to blame 7. (rare) (M) they —d us to be the
winners of the contest 8. (formal and rare) (N;
used with a past participle) he -d himself defeated
acknowledgment n. l.to make an-of 2. a frank;
grateful; public - 3. in - of
acme n. to attain, reach the-of
acquaint v. 1. to - thoroughly 2. (D; refl., tr.) to
- with (the lawyer -ed herself with the facts of
the case)
acquaintance n. ['familiarity'] 1. to have an - with
(he has some - with statistics) 2. a slight, superfi-
superficial — 3. on — (on closer — he proved to be a nice
person) 4. an — with ['casual friendship'] 5. to
make smb.'s — 6. to keep up; renew; strike up an
- with 7. a casual, nodding, passing, slight — (to
have a nodding - with smb.) ['friend'] 8. a casual
acquaintanceship n. 1. to strike up an - with 2. a
casual; close, intimate — 3. an — with
acquainted adj. 1. casually; closely, intimately,
thoroughly - 2. - with (he got/became - with the
situation; are you - with him?)
acquiesce v. (D; intr.) to - in, to (they-d in the
decision) USAGE NOTE: Some purists feel that
the collocation acquiesce to is now old-
fashioned.
acquiescence n. 1. complete, total - 2. - in, to (-
in a decision)
acquisition n. 1. to make an - 2. (BE) an - to (he
is a valuable — to our firm)
acquit v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to exonerate') to — of (the
jury —ted her of all charges) 2. (P; refl.) ('to
behave') she —ted herself well; he —ted himself
like a veteran
acquittal n. (legal) to bring in an — (the jury
brought in an —)
acrimony n. bitter, sharp—
acrobatics n. 1. to perform — 2.(fig.) mental —
acronym n. to form an —
act I n. ['action'] 1. to commit, perform an — 2. a
barbaric, barbarous; courageous; criminal;
foolish, rash; heroic, noble; humane; illegal;
impulsive; justified; kind; overt; statesmanlike;
thoughtful — (she performed an heroic —) 3. an —
of (an — of faith; he committed an — of folly) 4. in
the — (caught in the —) ['performance'] 5. a circus;
nightclub; variety (BE), vaudeville (AE) - 6.
(misc.) to put on an — ('to pretend') ['misc.'] 7. to
get into the — ('to participate')
act II v. 1. to — impulsively; irresponsibly;
responsibly 2. (d; intr.) ('to serve') to — as (she
—ed as our interpreter) 3. (d; intr.) to — for ('to
replace') and esp. BE ('to represent as one's
lawyer') 4. (d; intr.) ('to behave') to - like (the
soldier —ed like a real hero) 5. (D; intr.) ('to take
action') to — on, upon (to — on smb.'s advice; to
— on a request) 6. (d; intr.) ('to take action') to —
out of (they -ed out of fear) 7. (d; intr.) ('to
behave') to - towards (how did they - towards
you?) 8. (P; intr.) ('to behave') the soldier -ed
bravely
action n. ['activity'] ['act'] 1. to initiate; take -; to
go into — 2. to put smt. into — (we put our plan
into —) 3. to prod, spur smb. into — 4. concerted,
united; decisive; direct; disciplinary; drastic;
emergency; hasty, rash; immediate, prompt;
remedial; vigorous — (we must take immediate —)
5. (AE) affirmative — ('giving preference to mem-
members of minority groups') 6. industrial (BE), (a)
job (AE) — ('a protest by workers') 7. congres-
congressional^; political — 8. a reflex — ['combat; military
or police activity'] 9. to go into — 10. to see — ('to
participate in combat') 11. to break off — 12. to
take evasive — ('to maneuver in order to escape
enemy fire') 13. enemy -; a delaying, holding;
police; punitive; rearguard — 14. in — (killed in —)
15. out of — (two tanks were put out of —) ['law-
['lawsuit'] 16. to bring, institute, take — against smb.
for smt. (he brought legal - against his neighbor)
17. to dismiss an — (the judge dismissed the —) 18.
a civil; class; legal - ['initiative'] ['enterprise'] 19.
a man, woman of — ['plot of a play, novel'] 20. the
- drags; picks up (the - picks up in the third act)
['misc.'] 21. (colloq.) a piece of the - ('participa-
('participation in an activity') (he wants a piece of the —)
activity n. 1. to engage in, participate in, take part
in an — (all students take part in extracurricular
—ties) 2. to resume one's —ties 3. to break off, ter-
terminate an — 4. to curb; paralyze — (business —
was paralyzed) 5. bustling, constant, feverish,
furious, uninterrupted - 6. behind-the-scenes;
business, economic; cultural; intellectual; physi-
physical; political; scientific; subversive; terrorist — 7.
extracurricular; recreational; social; union —ties

actor, actress
8. to buzz, hum with — 9. a burst of —
actor, actress n. 1. to cast an — 2. a character —
act up v. (D; intr.) ('to function badly') to — on
(my leg has been —ing up on me)
acuity n. mental; visual —
acumen n. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. busi-
business; legal — 3. the — to 4- inf. (she had enough -
to see through the scheme)
acupuncture n. to do, perform —
ad n. a classified, small (BE); help-wanted; want
— (see also advertisement)
adage n. an old-
adamant adj. 1. - about; in 2. - that + clause;
subj. when the subjects of the clauses are different
(he was - that he was fit to go; she was - that he
not go)
adapt v. 1. (D;tr.) to— for; from (to ~ a novel for
the stage; to — a film from a novel) 2. (D; intr.,
refl., tr.) to — to (we —ed quickly to life in Paris;
she had to — herself to local conditions)
adaptation n. 1. to make an — 2. an — for (an — of
a novel for television)
add v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (we —ed this
amount to the bill; these changes -ed to the con-
confusion) 2. (L) she -ed that she would not bring the
children
addendum n. an - to
addict n. a confirmed; drug —
addicted adj. 1. chronically, hopelessly - 2. - to
(— to drugs)
addiction n. 1. chronic, hopeless — 2. (an) - to (—
to drugs)
adding machine n. to operate, use an —
addition n. ['adding of numbers'] 1. to do - ['part
added'] 2. to make an — 3. an — to (an — to the
family; an — to a report) 4. in — to (in — to his sal-
salary, he earns a lot from royalties)
add on v. (D; tr.) to - to (to - a garage to the
house)
address I n. ['speech'] 1. to deliver, give an - 2.
an eloquent, moving, stirring — 3. an inaugural;
keynote — 4. an — about, concerning ['place of
residence'] ['place for receiving mail'] 5. to change
one's — 6. a business; forwarding; home; perma-
permanent; return; temporary — 7. at an — (at what —
does she live?)
address II v. 1. (B) she —ed her remarks to us; I
-ed the letter to him 2. (d; tr.) to - as (you should
— him as 'sir') 3. (d; tr.) to — to (— her mail to this
post-office box) 4. (d; refl.) ('to refer') to - to (the
candidates did not — themselves to the issues)
add up v. (d; intr.) to-to (it all-sup to a hoax;
the figures — to 50)
adept adj. — at, in (— at solving crossword puz-
puzzles)
adequate adj. 1. — for (the food was — for all of
us) 2. - to (she was - to the task) 3. - to + inf. (it
would be — to list just the basic objections)
adhere v. 1. to - closely, doggedly, strictly, stub-
stubbornly, tenaciously 2. (d; intr.) to — to (to —
strictly to a plan)
adherence n. 1. close, strict - 2. - to (strict - to
a plan)
adieu n. to bid smb. —
adjacent adj. - to (~ to our building)
adjective n. 1. to compare an - 2. an attributive;
descriptive; possessive; predicate, predicative —
3. —s modify nouns
adjourn v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to stop') to - for (to -
for lunch) 2. (d; intr.) ('to move') (to - to the liv-
living room for brandy)
adjudge v. (formal) (M and N; used with an adjec-
adjective) the court ~d him (to be) guilty
adjunct n. an — to (an adverb is usually an — to a
verb)
adjure v. (formal) (H) to — smb. to tell the truth
adjust v. (D. intr., tr.) to — to (he had to - to the
new climate; we —ed our watches to local time)
adjuster n. an insurance —
adjustment n. 1. to make an ~ 2. an ~ in, of (an ~
in/of his salary; an — of the brakes) 3. an — to (an
— to a new environment)
adjutant n. an — general
administer v. l.(B) ('to give') to —an oath to smb.
2. (d; intr.) to - to ('to help with') (to - to smb.'s
needs)
administration n. ['management'] 1. business;
public - ['government'] 2. a centralized; civil; co-
colonial; decentralized; federal —
administrator n. a civil; school -
admiral n. a rear; vice -; a fleet - (US); an - of
the fleet (GB)
admiration n. 1. to arouse, win; command ~ 2. to
express; feel — 3. blind; deep, great, sincere,
strong, undying; grudging; mutual; ungrudging —
4. — for (he felt great — for them) 5. in, with — (to
look at smb. with —)
admire v. 1. to — greatly, very much 2. (D; tr.) to
- for (we - her for her tact) 3. (K) they all ~d his
behaving in that manner
admirer n. an ardent, devoted, enthusiastic, fer-
fervent, sincere; secret —
admission n. ['access'] 1. to apply for; gain; seek -
2. to deny, refuse - 3. free, open; restricted,
selective —; rolling (esp. AE) —s 4. — to (she
applied for — to the university) ['confession'] 5. to
make an — of (he made an — of guilt) 6. a damag-
damaging ~ 7. an ~ that + clause (his — that he had been
at the scene of the crime led to his conviction) 8.
by, on smb.'s own — ['entry fee'] 9. general —
admit v. 1. to - readily 2. (B) ('to confess') the
accused —ted his guilt to the police 3. (D; tr.) ('to
allow entry') to - into, to (the manager -ted him
to the theater; she was -ted to the university) 4.
(formal) (d; intr.) ('to tolerate') to - of (the situa-
situation ~s of no delay) 5. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to con-
confess') to — to (he —ted to his complicity in the
crime; the boy —ted to stealing the apples) 6. (G)
('to confess') the employee —ted stealing the
money 7. (L; to) ('to confess') the clerk —ted (to
the police) that he had taken the jewels
admittance n. 1. to gain — to 2. to deny — to (he
was denied — to the concert)
admonish v. (formal) 1. (D; tr.) to - for (the
teacher —ed the child for coming late to school) 2.
(H) to — smb. to do smt.
ado n. 1. to make (much)-about, over 2. without
much —
affidavit
v. (D; tr.) to — as (they —ed the child as
their heir)
adoption n. to put up for — (to put a child up for
adore v. 1. (D; tr.) to — for (we — them for their
generosity) 2. (G) she —s visiting museums
adrift adj., adv. to cast, turn —
adroit adj. — at, in (—at staying out of trouble)
adroitness n. — at, in (— at giving injections)
adultery n. to commit — with
adulthood n. to reach —
adults n. consenting —
advance I n. ['forward movement'] 1. (usu. mil.)
to make; press an ~ 2. (usu. mil.) an ~ against,
on, to, towards (our troops made an ~ against the
enemy) 3. an — in (~ in science) 4. an ~ into (an
~ into new territory) ['early payment'] 5. to
receive an ~ 6. to pay an ~ 7. an — on (to receive
an ~ on royalties) ['misc.'] 8. she paid her rent in
~; in ~ of the main party
advance II v. 1. (A) we ~d a month's salary to
him; or: we ~d him a month's salary 2. (D; intr.)
to ~ against, on, to, towards (our troops ~d on
the next town) 3. (D; tr.) to - to (he was ~d to the
rank of corporal)
advanced adj. ~ in (~ in industrial development)
advancement n. 1. to further, speed smb.'s-2. to
block smb.'s ~ 3. professional — 4. rapid, slow ~
advances n. ['effort to become friendly or to enter
into negotiations'] 1. to make ~ to (he made ~ to
her; the Americans made ~ to the Russians) 2. to
rebuff, reject smb.'s ~
advantage n. 1. to have an ~ of; over (our team
had the ~ of experience; her connections gave her
an ~ over the others) 2. to gain; press (home) an
- 3. to take ~ of ('to exploit') 4. to outweigh an ~
5. a clear, decided; mutual; unfair — 6. an ~ to (his
wealth was an obvious ~ to us) 7. an ~ to + inf. (it
was an ~ to have that team as our opponent in the
first round = it was an ~ having that team as our
opponent in the first round) 8. an — that + clause;
subj. (it was to his ~ that she not participate) 9. to
smb.'s —; used to good ~ (see also 8) 10. at an ~
11. (tennis) - in; ~ out 12. (misc.) (BE) you have
the — of me ('you know more than I do')
advantageous adj. 1. clearly ~ 2. ~ to (his deci-
decision was ~ to us) 3. ~ to + inf. (it would be — to
wait)
adventure n. 1. to have, meet with an ~ 2. a bold;
breathtaking, exciting, real, thrilling —; high ~ 3.
an ~ to + inf. (it was an ~ to visit that place = it
was an ~ visiting that place)
adventurer n. a bold, dauntless, intrepid ~
adverb n. an interrogative; negative ~
adversary n. a formidable, worthy ~
adverse adj. (formal) - to (~ to our interests)
adversity n. to face; overcome —
advert I (BE) see advertisement
advert II v. (formal and rare) (d; intr.) ('to refer')
to— to
advertise v. 1. (D; intr.) to — for (to ~ for a maid)
2. (L) they ~d that a position was open
advertisement n. 1. to place, publish, run an —for
(to run an — for a used car) 2. a classified; full-
page-
advertising n. classified; outdoor; word-of-mouth
advice n. 1. to give, offer - 2. to act on, follow,
take — 3. to disregard, refuse, turn a deaf ear to —
4. friendly; good, sage, sensible, sound; mislead-
misleading; parting; professional; unsolicited — 5. a bit,
piece, word of — 6. — about, on 7. — to (my — to
him was that...) 8. — to + inf. (we took his — to
remain silent) 9. — that + clause; subj. (my — is
that you see/should see a doctor) 10. against
smb.'s — 11. on, upon smb.'s ~ (on — of counsel;
I acted on her —)
advisable adj. — to 4- inf. (it was — to leave
immediately)
advise v. 1. to - strongly 2. (D;tr.) to-about, on
3. (d; intr., tr.) to — against (to — smb. against a
course of action) 4. (formal) (d; tr.) to — of (to —
smb. of the facts) 5. (G) who —d making that
statement? 6. (H) she -d us not to wait 7. (K) who
—d his making that statement? 8. (L; must have an
object) she —d us that we should leave 9. (Q; must
have an object) he —d us what to do
advisement n. (often legal) to take smt. under —
adviser, advisor n. 1. an economic; financial;
legal; political; senior; spiritual; technical — 2. an
— on; to (an — on foreign affairs; an — to the pres-
president)
advisory adj. — to
advocate I n. 1. an aggressive, strong — 2. a
client, patient; consumer — 3. the devil's —
advocate II v. 1. (G) he —d bringing legal action
2. (K) she —d our withdrawing from the contest 3.
(formal) (L; subj.) they ~d that one candidate
withdraw
aegis n. under smb.'s —
aerial n. (BE) a television, TV - (AE has
antenna)
aeroplane (BE) see airplane
aether (BE) see ether
afar adv. from —
affair n. ['romantic liaison'] 1. to carry on, have an
— with 2. a casual; clandestine, secret; illicit; love;
tempestuous - ['matter'] ['event'] 3. to investi-
investigate an — 4. to cover up, hush up an —; to wash
one's hands of an — 5. a delicate; private; sinister,
sordid, ugly — 6. an — of honor ['social event'] 7.
a dull; exciting; formal; gala; informal —
affairs n. 1. to administer, conduct — (of state) 2.
to arrange; manage; settle; straighten out one's —
3. civil; community; cultural; current; domestic,
internal; external, foreign; international; legal;
military; national; political; public; veterans —
affect v. l.to — smb. deeply,profoundly,strongly
2. (formal and rare) (BE) (E) he ~ed not to hear
affection n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show;
return — 2. to feel — 3. to gain, win smb.'s — (she
won the children's —) 4. deep, strong, warm — 5.
— for (to feel — for smb.)
affectionate adj. — to, towards, with (—with chil-
children)
affections n. to alienate smb.'s —
affidavit /•. (legal) to file an — (the lawyer filed an
— on behalf of her client)

affiliate
affiliate v. (D;refl.,tr.) to-to, with (to-oneself
with a movement; they are ~d with the national
committee; to become —d with)
affiliation n. 1. to form an ~ with 2. business;
labor; party, political ~s
affinity n. 1. to demonstrate, show (an) ~ 2. to
feel; have (an) ~ 3. (a) close; elective; natural;
strong — 4. — between; for; to; with (he always felt
a close ~ with the underdog)
affirm v. 1. to ~ categorically 2. (L) the ministry
~ed that the visit had been postponed
affirmative n. to reply in the ~
affix v. (D;tr.) to — to (to — one's signature to a
document)
afflicted adj. 1. grievously ~ 2. — with (~ with a
disease)
affluence n. in ~ (to live in ~)
affluent adj. ~ in (~ in worldly goods)
afford v. 1. to well-2. (formal) (A) it ~ed great
pleasure to him; or: it ~ed him great pleasure
3.(E; preceded by the forms: can — cannot -- can't
-- could) we cannot ~ to buy a new house; we can
ill — to lose this contract 4. (formal) (K; preceded
by the forms: can - cannot - can't — could) we
could not ~ his signing up for another course
affront n. 1. (formal) to suffer an ~ 2. a shocking
— 3. an — to (it was an ~ to common decency)
afloat adj. 1. to keep smt. ~ 2. to set (a ship) ~
aflutter adj. (colloq.) 1. all - 2. - with (~ with
excitement)
afoul adv. to run ~ of (to run ~ of the law) (also
foul II)
afraid adj. 1. deathly, terribly - 2. - of (the child
was — of the dark) 3. - to + inf. (he was - to dive
from the high board) 4. ~ that + clause (we were
~ that he would find out) 5. (misc.) is it true? I'm
— so
after,afterwards adv. shortly-
afterburners n. to activate, go to ~ (our intercep-
interceptors had to go to ~)
aftermath n. 1. a grim ~ 2. an — of, to 3. in the ~
(in the ~ of/to that incident, he had to leave town)
afternoon n. in the ~; ~s (AE), on any ~; on
Wednesday ~
aftershave n. to apply, put on; use ~
afteitaste n. 1. to leave an ~ 2. a nice, pleasant;
unpleasant ~ (it left a pleasant ~)
agape adj. (formal) ['gaping'] — with (~ with
excitement)
age n. ['stage of life'] 1. to live to, reach an — 2. an
advanced, (ripe) old, venerable — (she lived to a
ripe old ~) 3. an early, tender, young — (at an
early ~; at a very young ~) 4. middle — 5. (a) col-
college; high-school (AE); preschool; school ~ 6. (a)
retirement, retiring (BE) — 7. a legal ~; the ~ of
consent 8. at an — (at a tender —; at the — of six)
9. of an — (people of all —s) 10. (misc.) to come of
— ('to reach one's majority'); to look one's — ('to
not have a youthful appearance') ['era'] ['period']
11. to usher in an ~- (to usher in the computer ~)
12. a golden; heroic - 13. the Dark; Middle ~s
(during the Middle ~s) 14. the Bronze; Ice; Iron;
nuclear; Stone — 15. in an — (in the nuclear ~) 16.
for ~s 17. through the —s
agency n. 1. an advertising; detective; employ-
employment; government; health-care; home-health;
intelligence; law-enforcement; news; private;
public; regulatory; ticket; travel; voluntary;
watchdog; welfare ~ 2. at an ~ (she works at a
travel ~)
agenda n. 1. to draw up, make up an ~ 2. to place,
put smt. on the — (to put an item on the ~) 3. a
hidden ~
agent n. ['representative'] 1. a double; enemy;
estate (BE), land (BE), real-estate (AE); free;
insurance; literary; press; purchasing; rental; se-
secret, undercover; snipping; special; ticket (AE;
BE has booking clerk) — 2. an — provocateur 3.
an ~ for (an ~ for a large firm) ['substance'] 4. an
asphyxiating; chemical ~
aggrandizement n. territorial ~
aggregate n. in the ~
aggression n. ['attack'] 1. to commit ~ against 2.
to repel, repulse — 3. armed; brazen, naked, out-
outright, stark, unprovoked ~ ['aggressiveness'] 4. to
manifest — 5. to control, stifle — 6. deep-seated,
hidden, deep-rooted — 7. an act of — (to commit
an act of ~)
aghast adj. ~ at (~ at the very thought of going
back to work)
agitate v. 1. to ~ strongly 2. (D; intr.) to ~
against; for (they were ~ing for reform)
agitation n. 1. political; student; subversive — 2. ~
against; for
agitator n. apolitical-
aglow adj. ~ with (~ with happiness)
ago adv. ~ that + clause (it was five years ~ that
we met)
agog adj. — over; with (she was all — over her new
granddaughter)
agonize v. (D; intr.) to — over (to — over a deci-
decision)
agony n. 1. to experience, feel ~ 2. to prolong the
— 3. acute, deep, great, indescribable, untold;
mortal— 4. in — (in great ~)
agree v. 1. ('toconcur')to-completely,entirely,
fully, wholeheartedly; readily 2. (D; intr.) ('to
concur') to — about; on, to; with (to — with smb.
about smt.; to — on/to a compromise) 3. (d; intr.)
(of food, climate) to ~ with ('to suit') (the food
doesn't ~ with me) 4. (grammar) (D; intr.) ('to
correspond') to — in; with (Latin adjectives ~
with nouns in gender) 5. (E) ('to consent') they ~d
to help 6. (L) ('to concur') we ~d that everyone
would receive an equal share
agreeable adj. 1. mutually ~ 2. ~ to (they were all
— to our proposal; is this — to you?)
agreement n. ['contract, settlement, treaty'] 1. to
come to, conclude, enter into, negotiate, reach,
work out an — 2. to carry out an ~ 3. to break, vio-
violate; denounce an ~ 4. a binding; contractual;
ironclad; legal; tacit; tentative ~ (we reached. na
tentative ~) 5. an armistice; ceasefire; F,aies; trade
— 6. a bilateral; executive; gentleman's ~ 7. an ~
about, on; between; with (an ~ v;as worked out
between them on all points) 8. an — to + inf. (we
reached an ~ with them to cooperate fully at all
times) 9. an ~ that + clause (the negotiators came
alignment
to an ~ that all troops would be withdrawn) ['con-
['concord, harmony'] 10. to express; reach — 11. com-
complete, full, solid; mutual; tacit ~ (they reached full
— on all points) 12. ~ about, on 13. by ~ (by
mutual —) 14. in — (we were in full ~ with them on
all points) ['grammatical concord'] 15. grammati-
grammatical ~ 16. — in (~ in case, gender, and number)
aground adj., adv. to run ~ (the ship ran ~)
ahead adj., adv. 1. far — 2. — by (our team was ~
by three points) 3. — of (~ of one's competitors) 4.
(misc.) straight ~; full speed ~
aid I n. 1. to extend, give, offer, provide, render
— 2. to come to smb.'s — 3. to cut off, withdraw ~
4. generous, unstinting ~ 5. audiovisual; teaching
—s 6. first — (first — to the injured) 7. a hearing ~
8. economic; foreign; government — 9. legal ~
(for the poor) 10. (an) — for; in; to (an — to
memorization; economic — to developing coun-
countries) 11. (misc.) to enlist smb.'s ~
aid II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ in (she ~ed him in his
work) 2. (гаге) (Н) to - smb. to do smt. 3. (misc.)
to — and abet
aide /i. 1. a home (BE), home health (AE); presi-
presidential — 2. an — to
AIDS n. to contract, get ~
ailment n. a chronic; common; minor ~
aim I n. ['purpose'] ['goal'] 1. to achieve one's ~
2. a chief; immediate; long-range ~ 3. idealistic,
lofty ~-s 4. an ~ to + inf. (it was our — to complete
the work before the end of the month)['aiming of
a weapon'] 5. to take — at 6. careful; steady — (she
took careful — at the intruder)
aim II v. 1. (D;intr.,tr.)to~at(he~edatme;
I ~ed the revolver at the intruder) 2. (d; intr.) to
— for (he ~ed for the heart; she was ~ing for a
promotion) 3. (E) we — to please
air I n. ['atmosphere'] 1. to clear the ~ 2. to
breathe, inhale ~ 3. to pollute the — 4. balmy,
mild; bracing, brisk, crisp, refreshing; compres-
compressed; country; dry; foul; fresh; humid; polar; pol-
polluted; stale - 5. a breath of (fresh) ~; a blast of
hot ~ 6. in the — (the decisive battles were fought
in the ~) ['transportation by aircraft'] 7. by — (to
travel by ~) ['medium through which radio signals
are transmitted'] 8. on the — (to go on the ~; our
station is on the ~) 9. off the ~ (that station never
goes off the ~) ['appearance'] 10. to assume an ~
(to assume an ~ of innocence) 11. a detached;
knowing; nonchalant; superior, triumphant ~
['tune'] 12. a martial ~ (the band struck up a mar-
martial ~) ['misc.'] 13. in the — ('imminent'); to walk
on — ('to be elated'); to give smb. the — ('to reject
smb.'); up in the ~ ('unsettled'); to disappear into
thin ~
air II v. (B) he is ready to ~- his views to anyone
air conditioner n. 1. to run; turn on an ~ 2. to turn
off an — 3. a central; room — 4. the — was on, was
running
air conditioning n. central-
aircraft n. enemy; friendly; unidentified ~
airline n. a domestic; feeder; international, over-
overseas; local ~
n. by ~ (to send a letter by ~)
e, aeroplane n. 1. to board; take an ~ 2. to
bringdown, land; ditch; fly, pilot; hijack; navigate
an ~ (a pilot flies an ~) 3. to bring down, shoot
down an — (our fire brought down an enemy ~) 4.
a jet; propeller-driven — 5. an — crashes; cruises;
flies; gains altitude; lands, touches down; levels
off; loses altitude; reaches an altitude; takes off;
taxis along the runway
airport /l. at an ~
air raid n. to carry out, conduct an ~ against
airs /l. ['affected manners'] to give oneself, put on
air show n. to hold, put on, stage an ~
air superiority n. 1. to establish ~ 2. complete,
overwhelming, total ~
aisle /l. 1. to clear the ~s 2. in the ~ (don't stand
in the ~) 3. on the ~ (to sit on the ~)
ajar adj. to leave ~ (she left the door ~)
akin adj. (formal) (usu. does not stand alone)-to
(a feeling — to love)
alarm n. ['warning device'] ['warning'] 1. to acti-
activate; give, send in, set off, sound; set an ~ (she set
the — to go off at five) 2. to deactivate, turn off an
— 3. a burglar; fire; silent; smoke — 4. a false — 5.
an ~ goes off, rings, sounds ['apprehension, fear']
6. to express; feel — 7. to cause — (the incident
caused great ~) 8. — at (to express ~ at the danger
of war)
alarm clock n. 1. to set an ~ 2. an ~ goes off, rings,
sounds
alarmed adj. ~ at, by (we were — at the news of
the earthquake)
alarming adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to think of the
possible consequences)
album /l. an autograph; photograph; stamp ~
alcohol n. 1. to distill, make ~ 2. to abstain from
~ 3. to reek of — 4. ethyl, grain; methyl, wood;
pure, unadulterated; rubbing (AE; BE has surgi-
surgical spirit) ~
alcoholic /i. a chronic ~
alcoholism n. acute; chronic ~
alert I adj. ~ to (~ to danger)
alert II n. 1. to call an ~ 2. to place, put (troops)
on ~ 3. to call off, cancel an ~ 4. (a) full; prelimi-
preliminary; red — (the troops were on full —) 5. on (the)
— (to be on the ~) 6. (misc.) in a state of ~
alert HI v. (D;tr.) to-to (we must-the public
to the danger)
A levels n. (BE) to sit one's ~
algebra n. to do ~
alias n. under an ~
aHbi л. 1. to establish; provide an — for 2. to con-
confirm smb.'s — 3. to break, disprove an — 4. an air-
airtight, foolproof, unassailable ~ 5. his ~ held up
alien I adj. (formal) ~ to (such ideas are ~ to us)
alien II n. 1. to intern an ~ 2. an enemy; illegal ~
alienate v. (D; tr.) to — from (she was ~d from her
family)
alienation п. ~ from (~ from one's old friends)
alight v. (formal) (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from
a vehicle)
align v. (D; refl., tr.) to - with (the wheels must
be ~ed with the frame; he ~ed himself with the
left wing of the party)
n. in; out of — (the wheels are out of ~)

alimony
8
alimony п. to award — (the judge awarded the
wife —)
alive adj. 1. very much — 2. (cannot stand alone)
— to (— to the danger of becoming overconfident)
all determiner, pronoun — of (we saw — of them)
USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposition of is
necessary when a personal pronoun follows.
When a noun follows, of is omitted-the dean
saw all students ('the dean saw every student'). To
express limited meaning, of the or the (very
common in BE) can be inserted--the dean saw all
students who had received poor grades = the dean
saw all (of) the students who had received poor
grades.
allegation n. ['assertion'] 1. to make an - 2. to
drop, retract, withdraw an — 3. to deny; refute an
— 4. a false; serious; unproved, unsubstantiated,
unsupported; vague — 5. an — about; against (—s
of fraud were made against him) 6. an — that +
clause (their - that she had taken the money
proved to be false)
allege v. (L) it has been -d that you stole the
money
allegiance n. 1. to give; pledge, swear — 2. to dis-
disavow, forsake one's - to 3. true, unfailing,
unswerving - 4. - to (~ to a cause)
allergic adj. —to(—todust)
allergy л. to acquire, develop an ~ to
alliance n. 1. to enter into, form an — 2. to dissolve
an — 3. a defense; military; political; unholy — 4.
an - against; between; with (to form an - with
one's neighbors against the common enemy) 5. an
— to + inf. (an — to defend an area against any
invader)
allied adj. — against; to, with (we were — with
them against the aggressor)
allocate v. l.(B; more rarely- A) the dean-d the
funds to several students 2. (D; tr.) to - for (our
committee —d money for the memorial)
allocation n. 1. to make an — 2. a budget — 3. an
— for; to
allot v. 1. (A) the city has —ted space to us; or: the
city has -ted us space 2. (D; tr.) to - for
allow v. 1. (A; usu. without the preposition) ('to
permit') he -ed himself no meat 2. (d; intr.) ('to
provide') to - for (we -ed for the difference in
age; you must - for shrinkage) 3. (D; tr.) ('to
give') to - for (they -ed an hour for lunch) 4.
(formal) (d; intr.) to - of ('to permit') (our finan-
financial situation —s of no unnecessary expenditures)
5. (H) ('to permit') we -ed the children to go to
the park 6. (formal) (L) ('to admit') I must - that
he is capable
allowance n. ['taking into account'] 1. to make
(an) - for (to make -/an - for inexperience; to
make ~s for wear and tear) ['sum granted'] 2. to
grant an — 3. a cost-of-living; depletion; trade-in
— 4. a daily; fixed; weekly —
allude v. 1. to - vaguely 2. (d; intr.) to - to (the
story ~d to a mystery in his past)
allusion n. 1. to make an — to (she made no — to
the incident) 2. a vague —
ally I n. a faithful, staunch—
ally II v. (D; intr., refl.) to-against; to, with (we
—ied ourselves with our friends against the com-
common enemy)
alms n. (formal) 1. to dispense, give — 2. — for (—
for the needy)
alone adj. to leave smb. —
aloof adj. 1. to hold oneself, remain, stand — 2. —
from (he remained — from the others)
alphabet n. 1. the Arabic; Cyrillic; Greek; He-
Hebrew; Latin; Phoenician; Sanskrit — 2. a phonetic;
runic —
altar л. 1. at the - 2. to lead smb. to the -
alteration n. 1. to make an — 2. a major; minor,
slight —
altercation n. 1. to have an-2. an-about, over;
between; with
alternate v. 1. (D; intr.) to - between (they -
between supporting us and opposing us) 2. (D;
intr.) to - in (we - in doing the household chores)
3. (d; intr., tr.) to - with (sunny weather -d with
rain; the coach -d Jones with Wilson)
alternative n. 1. to propose an — 2. to fall back on
an — 3. a viable — 4. an — to 5. no — but to + inf.
(we have no — but to compromise)
altitude n. 1. to reach an - of 2. to lose - 3. a
cruising - 4. at an - (at high -s)
amalgamate v. (D; intr., tr.) to - with (our firm
will be —d with a Japanese company)
amateur n. a rank —
amaze v. (R) it-d me (to learn) that he had been
promoted
amazed adj. 1. - at, by (he was - at what he saw)
2. - to + inf. (she was - to see the results of the
research) 3. - that + clause (we were - that he
agreed so quickly)
amazement n. 1. complete, total, utter 2. - at,
with (they expressed their — at/with our perfor-
performance) 3. in — (they stared in —) 4. to one's — (to
my utter —, he arrived on time)
amazing adj. 1. - to + inf. (it was - to watch
them perform) 2. - that + clause (it was - that
she was able to solve the problem so quickly)
ambassador n. 1. to appoint an-2. to recall an-
3. an — extraordinary; an — plenipotentiary; an
ambassador-at-large 4. a goodwill; roving — 5. an
— to (our — to Rome)
ambiguity n. 1. to clear up, remove an—; to avoid
— 2. an — about, concerning
ambition n. 1. to achieve, attain, fulfill, realize
one's — 2. to spur, stir smb.'s — 3. to limit, restrain
one's — 4. boundless, unbridled; overweening —
5. a burning, cherished; frustrated; unrealized —
6. territorial —s (of an aggressor) 7. an — to + inf.
(he achieved his — to become mayor)
ambitious adj. (formal) (esp. BE) - to + inf. (she
is — to succeed)
ambivalent adj. -about
amble v. (P; intr.) to - along the road
ambush n. 1. to lay, sef an - for 2. to draw smb.
into an — 3. to lie in — (for) 4. to run into an — 5.
from — (to attack from —)
amen n. to say —
amenable adj. — to (— to compromise)
amendment n. 1. to adopt; propose; ratify an-2.
a constitutional — 3. an — to (an — to the constitu-
anniversary
tion)
n. to make — for (he wanted to make —
for the damage that he had caused)
amenities n. ['comforts'] 1. to provide the - for
['greetings'] 2. to exchange - ['proper manners']
3. to observe the —
American n. 1. a native — ('an American Indian')
2. General — ('the English spoken in most of the
US1)
amiss adj., adv. (formal) 1. to take smt. — 2. to go
ammunition n. 1. to provide - for (also fig.) 2. to
issue - 3. blank; dummy; live; tracer -
amnesty n. 1. to declare, grant, offer (an) — (he
was granted —) 2. a general; political — 3. an — for
(the government declared a general — for political
prisoners)
amok, amuck adv. to run —
amorous adj. (rare) — of
amount I n. 1. an ample, considerable, enor-
enormous, huge, large, tremendous; moderate; negli-
negligible, paltry, small — 2. the full —
amount II v. (d; intr.) to — to (it— s to fraud; he'll
never — to anything)
amuse v. 1. to —greatly, thoroughly, very much 2.
(D; refl., tr.) to — by, with (she —d the children
with tricks; they ~d themselves by playing games)
3. (R) it -d us to watch them play; it -d me that
they would never admit to being wrong
amused adj. 1. highly, thoroughly, vastly — 2. —
at, by (she was — at/by that story) 3. — to + inf. (I
was — to see him playing up to the boss) 4. to keep
smb. — (he kept the children — by reading stories)
amusement n. 1. to provide —for 2. to find —in 3.
to smb.'s — (much to my —, everyone believed her
story)
amusing adj. 1. highly - 2. - to (it was - to
everyone) 3. — to + inf. (it was — to watch the
trained elephants perform)
anaemia (BE) see anemia
anaesthesia (BE) see anesthesia
anaesthetic (BE) see anesthetic
analogous adj. — to, with
analogy л. 1. to draw, make an — 2. a close; super-
superficial — (there is a close — between these two
phenomena) 3. an — between; to, with 4. by — (to
reason by —) 5. on the — of (to say thunk on the
analogy of sunk)
analysis n. ['examination of component parts'] 1.
to make an — 2. a careful, painstaking, thorough;
in-depth; penetrating — 3. (ling.) discourse — 4.
(chemistry) qualitative; quantitative — 5. (math.)
vector — 6. upon ~ (upon further —, we con-
concluded that...) 7. in the last, final, ultimate -
['psychoanalysis'] 8. to undergo —
anarchy n. 1. complete, total, utter — 2. — reigns
anathema n. 1. to declare, pronounce an — on 2.
to lift an — from 3. — to (his theories were — to his
colleagues)
anatomy n. comparative; descriptive—
ancestor n. a common; remote—
ancestry /i. 1. to trace one's — 2. of (a certain) —
(to be of French-)
I /l. 1. to cast, drop — 2. to raise, weigh —
3. at - (to ride at ~)
anchor II v. to —firmly
anecdote n. 1. to relate, tell an-2. a funny, witty;
off-color —
anemia, anaemia n. 1. to develop-2. pernicious;
sickle-cell -
anesthesia, anaesthesia n. 1. to induce, produce —
2. to undergo — 3. general; local — 4. the — wears
off
anesthetic, anaesthetic n. 1. to administer, give an
— 2. to have, take an — 3. a general; local — 4. the
— wears off 5. under (an) —
angel /l. (lit.) a guardian, ministering —
anger In. 1. to arouse, stir up — 2. to express;
feel; show - 3. to allay, appease, calm smb.'s -;
to repress, swallow one's — 4. to vent one's — 5.
blind, burning, deep, profound, seething; righ-
righteous; unbridled — 6. a blaze, fit, outburst of — 7.
— at; towards, with (he finally expressed his deep
— at being mistreated) 8. in; with — (she struck
back in —; burning with —)
anger II v. (R) it —ed me (to learn) that they had
not kept their promise
angle I /l. ['space between two straight lines that
meet'] 1. an acute; alternate; complementary;
exterior; interior; obtuse; right; solid — 2. a sharp
— (at a sharp —) 3. the side; vertex of an — ['devia-
['deviation from a straight line'] 4. at an - (at an - of
thirty degrees; at a rakish -; at a right ~) ['view-
['viewpoint'] ['aspect'] 5. from an — (to examine a ques-
question from various —s) ['motive; scheme'] (colloq.)
(esp. AE) 6. to have an -
angle II v. (d; intr.) to — for ('to try to obtain')
(she was —ing for an invitation)
angry adj. 1. to become, get — 2. — about; at,
with; for (he was — at/with his neighbor about the
noisy party; we were — at being disturbed; she was
— at/with me for being late) 3. - to + inf. (I was
— to learn of his refusal to help) 4. - that + clause
(we were ~ that our request had been rejected)
anguish /l. (formal) 1. to cause — 2. deep; mental
— 3. — at, over 4. in — (in — over smb.'s death)
animadversion n. (formal) to make an -on, upon
animadvert v. (formal) (D; intr.) to - on, upon
(to — on corruption)
animal n. 1. to domesticate an —; to tame; train a
wild — 2. to trap an — 3. to hunt wild —s 4. to
butcher, slaughter —s (for food) 5. to skin an — 6.
to stuff an — 7. to neuter an ~ 8. a carnivorous,
flesh-eating; domestic; draft; herbivorous; pack;
predatory; wild — 9. (misc.) like a caged —;
human beings are social —s
animation n. suspended —
animosity n. 1. to arouse, stir up - 2. to feel - 3.
burning, deep, seething — 4. racial; religious — 5.
— against, to, towards (she felt a burning —
towards them)
ankle /i. 1. to sprain, turn, twist one's — 2. a well-
turned ('shapely') — 3. (misc.) — deep in mud
annex I annexe n. an — to (an — to the main
building; an — to a treaty)
annex II v. (D; tr.) to — to (they ~ed the con-
conquered territory to their country)
anniversary n. 1. to celebrate, commemorate,

annotation
10
mark, reach an — 2. a wedding ~ 3. a diamond;
golden; silver — 4. on an — (on their tenth wed-
wedding -)
annotation n. 1. to make an ~ (to make —s on a
text) 2. copious —s
announce v. l.(B) they —d the news to the report-
reporters 2. (L; to) the president of the firm -d (to the
employees) that there would be a bonus
announcement n. 1. to issue, make an — 2. a for-
formal, official; public; spot — 3. an — about, of 4. an
— that + clause (they made a public — that an
amnesty would be declared)
announcer n. a radio; sports —
annoy v. 1. to — greatly, very much 2. (R) it —ed
me to be kept waiting so long; it —ed us that they
took so long to answer
annoyance n. 1. to express; feel; show — 2. — at,
over, with 3. — that + clause (his — that he had
been awakened so early was evident) 4. to one's —
(much to my —, he was late)
annoyed adj. 1. — at, with (we were — at losing the
order; he was — at/with the children) 2. — to + inf.
(he was - to find his door unlocked) 3. - that +
clause (she was — that the library was still closed)
annoying adj. 1. highly - 2. - to (it was - to
everyone) 3. — to + inf. (it is — to read nothing but
bad news) 4. — that + clause (it's — that there is no
hot water)
n. 1. to grant an — 2. to obtain an —
v. (N; used with a noun) they —ed him king
In. 1. to give, offer, provide an — 2. a
blunt, curt; civil; diplomatic; direct; equivocal;
evasive, vague; glib; ready; straight; wise; witty —
3. a negative; positive — 4. the right; wrong — 5.
(BE) a dusty ('unsatisfactory') — 6. an — to 7. in —
to (in — to your question)
answer II v. 1. ('to respond') to ~ glibly 2. (d;
intr.) ('to be responsible') to — to smb. for smt.
(the directors had to — to the stockholders for the
loss) 3. (d; intr.) ('to respond') to — to (to — to a
name; the child —s only to its nickname) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to correspond') to — to (she —s to the
description) 5. (L; may have an object) ('to
respond') they —ed (us) that they would come
answerable adj. — for; to (we are — to our
superiors for our actions)
answerback v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (children should
not — to their parents)
ant л. 1. army; carpenter; harvester; honey; leaf-
cutter —s 2.a colony of —s
antagonism n. 1. to arouse, stir up —2. to feel (an)
— 3. deep, deep-rooted, profound, strong — 4. —
between; to, towards (to feel a strong ~ towards
smb.)
antagonist n. a formidable —
antagonistic adj. — to, towards (he is very — to us)
antelope n. a herd of —
antenna п. (AE) a loop; TV - (BE has aerial)
anterior adj. (formal) — to
anthem n. a national — (the band played/struck up
the national —)
anthropology /l. cultural; physical; social —
antibiotic n. 1. to prescribe an — 2. to take an — 3.
a broad-spectrum —
antidpate v. 1. (G) we-spending two weeks here
2. (K) we —d his winning first prize 3. (L) I —d that
they would be late
anticipation n. 1. eager, keen - 2. in - of (an
exhibit was scheduled in - of his visit) 3. with -
(to look forward to smt. with eager —)
anticlimax n. an —to (everything was an —to win-
winning an Olympic gold medal)
antidote n. 1. to administer, give an —2. to take an
— 3. an — against, for, to (he took an — for the
poison; an — to complacency)
antifreeze n. to add; drain —
antipathy n. 1. to feel (an) — 2. (a) deep, strong;
natural — 3. — to, towards (he felt strong/a strong
— towards foreigners)
antique n. a genuine —
antithesis n. 1. the direct, very — 2. an — between
3. an — of, to (the — to my theory)
antithetical adj. - to
antlers n. 1. to lock — 2. to shed — 3. a pair of —
anxiety n. 1. to feel —2. to relieve one's —3. deep,
grave, great, high — 4. — about; for (— for smb.'s
safety) 5. — to + inf. (in his — not to offend them,
he agreed to concessions) 6. in — (see 5)
anxious adj. 1. — about (— about the world situa-
situation) 2. — for (we were — for them to meet you) 3.
— to + inf. (she is — to help) 4. — that + clause;
subj. (he was very — that we meet/should meet)
any 1. adv. (used with the comparative form of
adjectives and with good) — better (I wonder if
they can work — better); — good (I don't think
that this wine is — good); — easier (that doesn't
make my job — easier); — more difficult (do not
make my job — more difficult than it is now) 2.
determiner, pronoun — to + inf. (we don't have —
books to sell; we don't have — to sell) 3. deter-
determiner, pronoun — of (I did not see — 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—did
you see any students? did you see any of the stu-
students whom we had discussed earlier? (see the
Usage Note for something)
anybody pronoun do you have — to talk to? (see
the Usage Note for something)
anyone see anybody
anyplace (AE)see anywhere
anything pronoun 1. do you have — to say? 2.
(misc.) — but ('not at all') (see the Usage Note for
something)
anywhere adv. do you have — to go? (see the
Usage Note for something)
apart adj., adv. 1. to fall - 2. to tell - 3. - from
(— from everything else)
apartment n. (esp. AE) 1. to rent an — from 2. to
rent (out) an — to 3. to furnish; redecorate; reno-
renovate an — 4. a duplex; efficiency; furnished; gar-
garden; high-rise; penthouse; studio; unfurnished —
apathetic adj. — about; to, towards (he is — about
everything)
apathy n. 1. to feel; show —towards 2. to cast off,
shed, throw off one's — 3. — towards
apes /l. the higher —
/l. l.the — to + inf. (she had the necessary
11
appointment
— to order the meal in French) 2. with great —
apologetic adj. - about, for (she was - for her
blunder)
apologist n. an — for
apologize v. 1. to - humbly 2. (D; intr.) to - for;
to (he —d to us for being late)
apology n. 1. to make, offer an-2. to demand an
— 3. an abject, humble; public; sincere — 4. an —
for; to (Jim made an — to the teacher for his rude
behavior)
apostasy n. (formal) (an) - from
apostate n. (formal) an - from (an - from the
true faith)
appall, appal v. (R) it -ed me to see such sloppy
work; it —ed them that no preparations had been
made
appalled adj. 1. - at, by (we were - at/by the
news) 2. - to + inf. (I was - to see the results of
their work 3. - that + clause (everyone was - that
the murderer had been released on parole)
appalling adj. 1. — to + inf. (it was — to see him in
that condition) 2. - that + clause (it is - that so
many people evade paying taxes)
apparel n. wearing —
apparent adj. 1. clearly; increasingly — 2. — to 3.
— that + clause (it was — to all that he was guilty)
apparition л. 1. a strange - 2. an - appears; dis-
disappears
appeal I n. ['request'] ['request for review'] 1.
to make an - 2. (legal) to file, lodge, make; lose;
win an - 3. (legal) to take an - to a higher court
4. (also legal) to deny, dismiss, reject, throw out
an — 5. a desperate, urgent; eloquent, irresist-
irresistible, ringing, stirring; emotional; final, last — 6.
an — against, from; for; to (to file an — against
a decision; to make an — to the public for dona-
donations; there is no — from a verdict of the higher
court) ['attraction'] 7. box-office; sales; sex; snob
II v. l.(D; intr.) ('to request a review') to
— against (to — against a decision) 2. (D; intr.) ('to
request') to — for; to (they —ed to us for help) 3.
(d; intr.) ('to request') to — to smb. to + inf. (he
-ed to them to support his campaign) 4. (d; intr.)
to — to ('to resort to') (to — to common sense) 5.
(d; intr.) to - to ('to please') (he doesn't - to her)
appear v. 1. (D; intr.) to - against; for (she -ed
against him in court) 2. (D; intr.) to - to (she -ed
to him in a dream) 3. (E) she -s to be well 4. (L;
to) it ~s (to me) that they will not come 5. (esp.
BE) (S) to - sad; to - a fool 6. (misc.) to - before
a committee; to — in print; to — on the scene; to —
on stage; to — in person; to — at the door; the story
—ed in the newspaper
appearance n. ['appearing'] 1. to make, put in an
- (the policeman made a timely -) 2. a guest; per-
personal; public; TV - (the actor made a personal -)
3. at one's — (the crowd went wild at their first —
on stage) ['outward impression'] 4. a disheveled;
immaculate, neat; shabby; unkempt, untidy - 5.
in — (neat in —) 6. at first —
appearances n. ['outward looks'] 1. to keep up-
2. outward - 3. by - (to judge by -) 4. for the
sake of - 5. from, to all - (to all -, the matter is
closed)
append v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a translation to a
document)
appendage n. an — to
appendectomy n. 1. to do, perform an - on 2. to
have an —
appendix /i. 1. (anatomical) an inflamed; ruptured
— 2. (anatomical) an — bursts, ruptures 3. an — to
(an — to a textbook)
appertain v. (formal) (d; intr.) to - to
appetite n. 1. to whet one's; to work up an — 2. to
satisfy one's — 3. to curb; spoil, take away one's —
4. a good, healthy, hearty, ravenous, voracious;
insatiable — 5. an — for
applaud v. to — heartily, loudly
applause n. 1. to draw, get, win — for 2. heavy,
lengthy, prolonged; light, weak; loud, thunderous
— 3. a burst; ripple; round of — 4. to (the) — (she
appeared on stage to the thunderous - of her
admirers)
apple n. 1. cooking; eating -s 2. a baked; green;
sour — 3. (misc.) a rotten — ('an undesirable per-
person')
applicable adj. - to (- to a case)
applicant n. an - for (an - for a position)
application n. ['request'] 1. to file, make, put in,
send in, submit an — 2. to screen —s 3. to reject,
turn down; withdraw an — 4. a fellowship; mem-
membership — 5. a formal; written — 6. an — for (an —
for admission to a university) 7. an — to + inf. (he
filed an - to be admitted to the intensive course)
8. by, on - ['putting to use'] 9. - to (the - of
theory to practice) ['placing'] 10. — to (the — of ice
to the forehead)
application form n. 1. to fill in (esp. BE), to fill out
(AE), fill up (BE, rare) an - 2. to file, submit an
apply v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to request') to - for; to (we
—lied to the authorities for assistance; the captain
-lied to headquarters for a transfer; she -lied for
a fellowship) 2. (D; intr.) ('to seek admission to')
to — to (she —lied to three universities) 3. (D;
intr.) ('to be relevant') to - to (the rule does not
apply to this case) 4. (D; refl.) ('to concentrate
one's efforts') to — to (she —lied herself to her new
duties with great energy) 5. (D; tr.) ('to put on') to
— to (to — paint to a surface; to — ointment to a
rash) 6. (D; tr.) ('to put to use') to - to (to -
theory to practice) 7. (d; tr.) ('to channel') to —
towards (to — money towards a purchase) 8. (E)
('to request') he —lied to be transferred
appoint v. 1. (D;tr.) to -as (we -ed him as trea-
treasurer) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (they —ed her to the com-
mitee) 3. (H) they -ed me to serve as secretary 4.
(M and N; used with a noun) we —ed her (to be)
treasurer
appointment n. ['agreement to meet'] 1. to keep;
make an — with 2. to break; cancel an — 3. by —
(he will see you by ~) 4. an - to + inf. (she had an
— to see the dean) ['selection'] 5. an — to (they
announced her — to the commission) 6. an — as
(an - as professor) ['position'] 7. to hold; receive
an — 8. a permanent; temporary — ['designation']
9. by — to Her Majesty

apportion
12
apportion v. (D; tr.) to - among, between (the
funds were —ed among the various departments)
apposition /1. (grammar) in — to (the second noun
is in — to the first)
appraisal n. 1. to give, make an — of 2. a down-to-
earth; objective —
appraise v. (D; tr.) to - at (the house was -d at
seventy thousand dollars)
appreciate v. 1. to —deeply, greatly, keenly, sin-
sincerely, very much 2. (K) we — your helping us 3.
(misc.) we ~ the fact that you have helped us
appreciation n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show
one's — for 2. to express; feel — 3. deep, keen, sin-
sincere — 4. in — of (he did this in — of the help that
he had received)
appreciative adj. 1. deeply, keenly, sincerely - 2.
-of (-of help)
apprehension n. ['foreboding'] ['fear'] 1. to
express; feel; show — 2. to allay one's —(s) 3.
grave — 4. — for (we felt — for their safety) ['con-
['conception'] 5. under an —
apprehensive adj. 1. - about, for, of (- about
recent developments) 2. ~ that + clause (we were
~ that they might forget)
apprentice In. an — to (he was an — to a master
craftsman)
apprentice II v. (B) at an early age, I was ~d to a
carpenter
apprenticeship n. to fill; serve an —
apprise v. (formal) (d; tr.) to — of (he was— dof
the decision by his lawyer)
approach I n. 1. to make an-2. to take an-(to
take a judicious — to a problem) 3. a forthright;
holistic; judicious; pragmatic; rational; scholarly;
scientific — 4. with the — (with the — of spring, we
began to feel better) 5. an - from; to (I like her -
to the problem; the —es to a stadium; the pilot
began her - to the runway)
approach II v. l.(D;tr.) to-about (I was afraid
to — them about this matter) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to —
from (to — from the other direction) 3. (d; tr.) to
— with (to — smb. with a request)
appropriate I adj. 1. — for; to (— for us; — to the
occasion) 2. — to + inf. (it is not — to tip a bus
driver) 3. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that he be/
should be present)
appropriate II v. 1. (B) Congress -d the funds to
the states 2. (D; tr.) to — for (the committee —d
money for the memorial)
appropriation /i. 1. to make an-for (our govern-
government made an — for the project) 2. defense;
foreign-aid —s
approval n. 1. to give one's — for 2. to nod; voice
one's — 3. to meet with, win — 4. one's complete,
unqualified; qualified; tacit — 5. final; public — 6.
— to + inf. (we received their — to continue the
research) 7. on - (we bought it on ~) 8. (misc.) to
receive smb.'s stamp of —
approve v. 1. to — of wholeheartedly 2. (D; intr.)
to — of (we —d of his decision)
approximate v. (BE) (D; intr.) ('to come near') to
— to (to - to the truth)
apt adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (he is —
to exaggerate)
aptitude n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show (an)
— 2. (a) great, outstanding; natural; special — 3.
mechanical; scholastic — 4. an — for, in (an — for
painting)
arbitrate v. (D; intr.) to — between (to — between
opposing parties)
arbitration n. 1. to conduct —2. to go to; resort to
— (the union and management went to —; the dis-
dispute went to -) 3. binding; voluntary - 4.-
between; of
arcade n. an amusement (BE); penny; video-
videogame-
architecture n. Baroque; Byzantine; Colonial;
Eastern; Gothic; Greek; Modern; Renaissance;
Roman; Romanesque —
ardor, ardour /i. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. to
cool, dampen one's — 3. fervent, intense; patriotic
— 4. - for
area n. 1. to close off, rope off an — 2. an assem-
assembly, staging; built-up; catchment; disaster; distres-
distressed; drainage; impacted ('crowded with federal
employees'); metropolitan, urban; residential;
rural; service - 3. (soccer) a penalty - 4.
(meteorology) a high-pressure; low-pressure —
arena n. a sports —
arguable adj. - that + clause (it is - that some
unemployment is necessary)
argue v. 1. to-calmly, logically, plausibly, sensi-
sensibly; heatedly, passionately, strenuously, vehe-
vehemently 2. (D; intr.) to - about, over; with (we -d
with them about the new law) 3. (d; intr.) to —
against; for (to — against the amendment; to — for
the new policy) 4. (d; tr.) to — out of (to — smb.
out of doing smt.) 5. (L) she -d logically that the
new regulations would harm the poor
argument /i. ['dispute'] 1. to get into, have an — 2.
to break off, terminate; clinch, settle an — 3. an
angry, bitter, heated, loud, violent — 4. an —
breaks out 5. an — about, over; between; with (I
had a bitter — with him about politics) ['state-
['statement'] 6. to drive home, press; offer, present, put
forward an — 7. to confute, rebut, refute an — 8.
an airtight, balanced, cogent, compelling, conclu-
conclusive, convincing, irrefutable, logical, persuasive,
rational, solid, sound, telling, trenchant, unassail-
unassailable, valid — 9. a groundless; spurious; tenuous,
weak — 10. an — about; against; for (she pre-
presented a convincing - against the proposal) 11. an
— that + clause (I cannot accept his — that war is
inevitable) 12. (misc.) (legal) to hear —s against;
for
aristocrat n. a born —
arithmetic n. todo-
arm I л. ['upper limb'] 1. to bend; cross; fold;
lower; raise; stretch; swing; wave one's —s 2.
(misc.) to take smb. by the —; to fling/put/throw
one's —s around smb.; to carry smt. under one's
—; to greet smb. with open/outstretched —s; to
walk — in — with; with —s akimbo ['power'] 3. the
long — of the law ['division'] 4. our naval air — ['at-
['attachment'] 5. a pickup, tone — ['misc.'] 6. to twist
smb.'s — ('to exert pressure on smb.')
arm II v. (D; intr., refl., tr.) to - against (to -
against a potential enemy)
13
ask
armed adj. — to the teeth
armistice n. 1. to agree on, work out; declare; sign
an — 2. to violate an — 3. to suspend an —
armor, armour n. 1. heavy; light — 2. (misc.) to
pierce —
arms n. ['weapons'] 1. to bear; take up — 2. to call
to — 3. (mil.) inspection; left shoulder; order;
port; present; right shoulder; trail —! 4. to lay
down one's — 5. small — 6. under — ('armed')
['misc.'] 7. up in — ('stirred up')
arms race n. 1. to accelerate, step up the — 2. to
curb the —
army n. 1. to command, lead; drill, train; rally an
— 2. to mobilize, raise an — 3. to equip, supply an
— 4. to array, commit, deploy, field; concentrate,
mass an — 5. to inspect, muster, review an — 6. to
encircle, envelop, surround; outfight; outflank;
outmaneuver; overrun; surprise an — 7. to crush,
decimate, defeat, rout an —; to put an — to flight
8. to demobilize, disband an — 9. a rebel; regular,
standing; territorial; volunteer — 10. an advanc-
advancing; conquering; defeated; occupation, occupy-
occupying; retreating; victorious — 11. an — advances;
attacks; conducts war, engages in combat, fights;
pulls back, retreats, withdraws 12. (misc.) to join
the-
aroma /i. 1. a delicate, delightful, fragrant, pleas-
pleasant, pleasing; tantalizing — 2. an — emanates from
arouse v. (D; tr.) to — from (to — smb. from a
deep sleep)
aroused adj. easily; sexually —
arraignment n. 1. (legal) to hold an — for 2. a pub-
public-
arrange v. 1. to - neatly; tastefully 2. (d; intr.) to
— for (to — for a series of lectures; we —d for him
to give a concert) 3. (E) they —d to leave early 4.
(L) I —d that they should be seated next to each
other
arrangement n. 1. to make, work out an — 2. a
floral; seating; working — 3. an — for; with 4. an —
to + inf. (they made an —/—s to meet secretly) 5.
by — (by special —) 6. under an — (under a special
~)
array I /i. ['order'] 1. in battle —; drawn up in full
— ['display'] 2. an imposing, impressive —
array II v. (D; tr.) to — against (—ed against the
enemy)
arrears n. in — (he is in — with his rent)
arrest I n. ['detention'] 1. to make an — 2. to resist
— 3. a citizen's; false —; house — 4. an — for, on
charges of (to make an — for murder) 5. under —
(to be under —; to place/put smb. under —) ['stop-
['stoppage'] 6. a cardiac —
arrest II v. (D; tr.) to — for, on charges of (the
police —ed him for murder)
arrest warrant п. (АЕ) to issue an —
arrival n. 1. an early; late — 2. an — at, in; from 3.
on one's — (on our — in Chicago)
arrive v. 1. (D; intr.) to — at, in; from (they —d
from Paris) 2. (s) they —d safe and sound 3.
(misc.) to — early; late; on time
arrogance n. 1. to demonstrate, display, exhibit —
2. insufferable, overpowering, overwhelming — 3.
the — to + inf. (he had the — to ask for more
money)
arrogant adj. — towards
arrogate v. (formal) (B) to —a privilege to oneself
arrow n. 1. to shoot an — at 2. a poisoned; spent —
3. (misc.) as straight as an —
arson n. to commit —
art n. 1. to practice an — (to practice the occult —
of the alchemist) 2. abstract; classical; folk; im-
impressionist; modern; pop; primitive; verbal — 3.
(the) applied; creative; fine; graphic; industrial;
language; liberal; martial; performing; plastic —s
4. an — to (there is an — to making a good omelet)
5. a work of —
artefacts (BE) see artifacts
artery n. ['blood vessel'] 1. a blocked, occluded;
coronary; pulmonary; ruptured — 2. (misc.) hard-
hardening of the —ries ['channel'] 3. a major; traffic —
arthritis n. to develop —
article I n. ['essay'] 1. to write an - 2. (BE) a
leading — 3. an — about (she wrote an — about her
research) ['section'] 4. according to an — (accord-
(according to — two of our constitution) ['object'] 5. sec-
secondhand; toilet —s ['grammatical affix'] 6. to take
an — (certain nouns always take the definite —) 7.
the definite; indefinite —
article II v. (BE) (d;tr.) ('to apprentice') to -to,
with (to — smb. to a firm of solicitors)
artifacts, artefacts n. ancient; cultural—
artillery n. antiaircraft; coast; field; heavy; light;
long-range; medium; self-propelled —
artist /l. 1. a dramatic; gifted, talented; struggling
— 2. a pavement (BE), sidewalk (AE) — 3. a con;
escape; make-up; quick-change; trapeze —
artistry /l. brilliant —
ascendancy n. 1. to attain, gain —over 2. (a) clear-
cut; overwhelming —
ascent /l. 1 .to make an — (to make the — of a
mountain) 2. a gradual; steep —
ascertain v. 1. (L) she —ed that fraud had been
committed 2. (Q) can you — who he is?
asceticism n. to practice —
ascribe v. 1. (B) the painting was —d to an
unknown artist 2. (d; tr.) to — to (she —d her suc-
success to hard work)
ash л. volcanic —
ashamed adj. 1. thoroughly —2.— of (he was —of
himself) 3. — to + inf. (she was — to admit her mis-
mistake) 4. — that + clause (he was — that his family
was poor)
ashes n. 1. to rake; spread — 2. to reduce to — 3.
(misc.) to rise from the —
ashore adv. 1. to put, set — 2. to come; go —
aside adv. 1. to move; stand — 2. to push, shove;
put; take —
asinine adj. — to + inf. (it was — to behave like
that)
ask v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) ('to inquire') to — about,
after (BE) (they —ed me about my work; he —ed
about/after her mother) 2. (d; intr., tr.) ('to
request') to — for (she —ed me politely for the
book; the guest —ed for the manager) 3. (D; tr.)
('to invite') to — to (we —ed them to the party) 4.
(D; tr.) ('to request') to — smt. of (I have a favor
to — of you; he is —ing a great deal of us) 5. (E)

askance
14
('to request') she —ed to be excused; we —ed to
see him 6. (H) ('to request') she —ed us to come to
the concert 7. (L; subj.) ('to request') the family
~ed that the story not be/should not be printed 8.
(O; can be used with one object) ('to pose') he
—ed (her) a question (also possible is: he —ed a
question of her) 9. (Q; may have an object) ('to
inquire of) he —ed (his son) point-blank where he
was going; she —ed wistfully how she might help
askance adv. to look— at
asking n. (colloq.) for the ~ (it's yours for the —)
asleep adj. 1. to be fast, sound ~ 2. to fall —
aspect n. ['view'] ['side'] 1. a frightening; grim;
humorous; serious — (the humorous — of the situ-
situation) 2. from an — (from this —) 3. in an — (in all
~s)
aspersion n. to cast—son
aspirant n. an — for; to (an ~ to the throne)
aspiration n. (formal) 1. lofty, noble ~s 2. an — to
(—s to independence)
aspire v. (formal) 1. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to suc-
success) 2. (E) she —d to become a lawyer
aspirin n. 1. to take (an)-2. an-tablet (he took
two — tablets; or: he took two —s)
ass n. ['fool'] 1. a pompous — ['donkey'] 2. —es
bray
assail v. (formal) to — bitterly
assassination n. 1. to carry out an — 2. a character;
political —
assault n. 1. (often mil.) to carry out, make; lead
an — on (the troops carried out an — on the enemy
position) 2. (legal) to commit — 3. (usu. legal)
aggravated; bodily; criminal; indecent — 4. an all-
out; armed; military — 5. (usu. mil.) by — (totake
by-)
assault and battery n. (legal) to commit —
assembly n. 1. to convene an — 2. a constitutional;
deliberative; general; legislative; national; public
— 3. (misc.) the right of —
assent I n. 1. to give; nod one's —to (she gave her
— to our plan) 2. by common —
assent II v. (formal) (D; intr.) to —to (we—ed to
his proposal)
assert v. 1. to - boldly 2. (L) she-ed that she was
innocent
assertion n. 1. to make an — 2. to deny; refute an
— 3. a bold; sweeping; unfounded — 4. an — that
+ clause (we do not believe his — that he is inno-
innocent)
assess v. (D;tr.) to-at (the value of this property
was —ed at one million dollars)
assessment n. to make an — (she made a careful —
of the situation)
asset n. 1. an invaluable, valuable — 2. an — to
(she was an invaluable — to our firm)
assets n. l.t о realize; unfreeze-2. current; finan-
financial; frozen; hidden; intangible; liquid; tangible —
asseverate v. (formal and rare) (L) they—ed that
they would never surrender
assign v. 1. (A) they — ed a very difficult mission to
us; or: they —ed us a very difficult mission 2. (D;
tr.) to — to (headquarters —ed the soldiers to a dif-
different unit; an experienced detective was — ed to
the case; to — a painting to a certain century) 3.
(esp. BE) (H) we were —ed to prepare a meal
assignation n. (formal) to make an —
assignment n. ['task'] ['mission'] 1. to give smb. an
— 2. to carry out an — (the ambassador carried out
her — brilliantly) 3. a dangerous; difficult, rough,
tough; easy — 4. an overseas; rush; special — 5. an
— to + inf. (an — to guard the president) 6. on —
('on a mission') (the correspondent was on — in
the Far East) ['homework'] (esp. AE) 7. to give,
hand out an — 8. to do; hand in an — (the pupil's
did their —) 9. a difficult; easy — ['appointment']
(esp. AE) 10. an — to (an — to a new job)
assimilate v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to - into, to (the
newcomers tried to — into the community;
America has —d millions of immigrants into its
way of life) 2. (D; intr.) to - with (they did not -
with the local population)
assimilation n. —into, to (their —into society was
swift)
assist I n. (colloq.) with an — from
assist II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to-at, in, with (the
young nurse was —ing at her first operation; to —
in the preparation of a report; to — with the edit-
editing of a manuscript) 2. (formal, гаге) (Н) to —
smb. to do smt.
assistance n. 1. to give, offer, provide, render- 2.
considerable, great — 3. clerical; directory (AE);
economic, financial; legal; material; public; tech-
technical — 4. — to (economic — to underdeveloped
countries) 5. of — (he was of considerable — to us)
assistant n. 1. a personal (BE; AE has personal
secretary); research; shop (BE; AE has sales-
clerk); teaching — 2. an — to (an — to the presi-
president)
associate v. (d; intr., tr.) to — with (we — with all
sorts of people; one usually —s poverty with mis-
misery)
association n. ['organization'] 1. to form an — 2. a
bar — (AE; BE has law society) 3. a building and
loan — (AE; BE has building society) ['connec-
['connection'] 4. a close — 5. an — with 6. in — with ['con-
['connection in the mind'] 7. to bring up, call up an — 8.
free-
/l. a wide —
v. 1. (L) we -d that he was dead 2. (M)
everyone —d him to be dead
assumed adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (she
was — to be out of the country)
assumption n. 1. to make an — 2. an erroneous,
false; implicit; reasonable; safe; valid — 3. an —
about; of (to make an — of guilt) 4. an — that +
clause (we all made the — that the new company
would fail) 5. on an — (we proceeded on the — that
he would help)
assurance n. 1. to give an — that + clause (he gave
every - that he would attend) 2. (BE) life - (see
the Usage Note for insurance)
assurances n. 1. to give, provide-of 2.-that +
clause (the contractor gave — that the work would
be completed on time)
assure v. 1. (d; tr.) to —of (we—ed her of our sup-
support) 2. (L; must have an object) they —d us that
they would not be late
v. 1. to — greatly, very much 2. (R) it —ed
15
attorney
me to learn that he was here; it —ed us that they
were able to survive
astonished adj. 1. greatly, very much — 2. — at, by
(they were — at/by the news of his escape) 3. — +
inf. (I was — to learn of his divorce) 4. — that +
clause (she was — that he had survived)
astonishing adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it was - to
watch them perform) 3. — that + clause (it was —
to everyone that the court had made such a deci-
decision)
astonishment n. 1. to express — 2. — at (he could
not conceal his — at seeing them together) 3. —
that + clause (they expressed — that I won the
election) 4. in — (they gaped in —) 5. to smb.'s —
(to our —, they arrived on time)
astound v. (R) it — ed me to find the country so
backward; it — ed us that they came
astounded adj. 1. — at, by (— at the news) 2. — to
+ inf. (everyone was — to learn of her exploits) 3.
— that + clause (I was — that the mayor had taken
bribes)
astounding adj. 1. — to + inf. (it was — to watch)
2. — that + clause (it was — that an experienced
engineer had made such a miscalculation)
astray adv. 1. to lead smb. — 2. to go —
astride adv. (formal) to sit — (to sit — smb.'s knee)
astute adj. (formal) — at (— at conducting negoti-
negotiations)
asunder adv. (formal) to rend, tear —
asylum n. 1. to grant — to 2. to receive; seek — 3.
to deny smb. — 4. political — (they were granted
political -)
athlete n. an all-around (AE), all-round;
amateur; professional; weekend; world-class —
athletics n. 1. (esp. BE) to go in for - 2. intercol-
intercollegiate —
atlas /l. a dialect, linguistic; geographical —
atmosphere n. 1. a formal; friendly; informal,
relaxed; stifling, stultifying; tense — 2. a polluted;
rarified — 3. the upper —
atom /l. to split the —
atone v. (D;intr.) to — for (to — for one's sins)
atonement /i. to make — for
atrocity /l. 1. to commit an — 2. a dreadful, grisly,
gruesome, horrible, horrid, monstrous, revolting,
vile —; death-camp —ties
attach v. 1. (d; refl.) ('to join') to — to (she —ed
herself to our group) 2. (D; tr.) ('to fasten') to -
to (she — ed an aerial/antenna to the radio; a tag
was — ed to each article) 3. (d; tr.) ('to assign tem-
temporarily') to — to (the officer was —ed to head-
headquarters) 4. (d; tr.) ('to ascribe') to — to (we —ed
no significance to her statement)
attache n. an air-force; commercial; cultural;
military; naval; press —
attached adj. 1. deeply, strongly - 2. - to
attachment n. 1. to feel; form an —2. a close past-
pasting; sentimental; strong — 3. an — to (to form a
lasting —to smb.)
attack I /l. ['assault'] (also fig.) 1. to carry out,
make; launch, mount; lead, spearhead; press an —
2. to provoke an — 3. to blunt; break up, repel,
repulse an — 4. (often mil.) an all-out, concerted,
full-scale; coordinated; mock; pre-emptive;
sneak, surprise — 5. (usu. mil.) an air; enemy;
flank; frontal; torpedo — 6. a bitter, blistering,
savage, scathing, sharp, violent; scurrilous, vic-
vicious; unprovoked; wanton — 7. an — fails, fizzles
out; succeeds 8. an — against, on (our forces
launched an all-out — against the enemy; he made
a blistering — on his opponent) 9. under — ['onset
of an ailment'] 10. to have an — (she had an — of
hiccups) 11. an acute; light, slight; recurrent; sud-
sudden — 12. a fatal; heart —
attack II v. to — viciously
attempt In. 1. to make an — 2. to foil, thwart an
— 3. an abortive, fruitless, futile, vain; all-out,
concerted, last-ditch; bold, brazen, daring; crude;
deliberate; feeble, halfhearted, weak; first; pre-
premature; successful —; repeated —s 4. an — against,
on (an — on smb.'s life) 5. an — at (an — at being
funny) 6. an — to + inf. (we made an — to get in
touch with them)
attempt II v. 1. (E) she -ed to find a job 2. (rare)
(G) he —ed walking 3. (misc.) to — smt. in vain
attend v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to one's duties; to
— to a customer)
attendance n. ['persons present'] ['number of per-
persons present'] 1. to check —; to take — (in school)
2. average; daily; low, poor; perfect — 3. — has
gone up; — has fallen, gone down ['presence'] 4. —
at (— at a ceremony) 5. in — (a nurse was in —)
['misc.'] 6. to dance — on smb. ('to fawn over
smb.')
attendant n. 1. a flight; wedding - 2. an - to
attention n. ['concentration'] ['notice'] 1. to
attract, capture, catch, command, draw, get;
hold, retain, rivet smb.'s — 2. to devote one's —
to; to focus one's — on; to pay — to 3. to bring smt.
to smb.'s — 4. to distract, divert smb.'s — 5. to
escape one's — 6. close; meticulous; rapt; undi-
undivided — (this matter will require your undivided
—) 7. — to (meticulous — to detail) ['position of
attention'] (usu. mil.) 8. to call smb. to — (the
sergeant called his platoon to —); to come to, snap
to —; to stand at —; or: to stand at the position of
—; or: (BE) to stand to — ['care'] 9. to give — to;
to lavish — on 10. medical — (to receive medical
—) 11. individual; personal — (the manager gave
me her personal —; I lavished my individual — on
him)
attentive adj. — to (— to our needs)
attest v. (formal) (d; intr.) to — to (several wit-
witnesses can — to her good character)
attire n. 1. casual; civilian; formal — 2. in — (in
formal —)
attitude n. 1. to assume, strike, take an — 2. a bel-
belligerent, defiant, surly; casual; cavalier; conde-
condescending, patronizing; hands-off; holier-than-
thou; irreverent; liberal; negative; positive; rev-
reverent; scornful — 3. an — about; of; to, towards (to
assume an — of defiance towards all authority) 4.
an — that + clause (I didn't like his — that he
deserves special treatment)
attorney n. (esp. AE) 1. to hire, retain an — 2. a
defense; district (AE; BE has public prosecutor);
prosecuting — 3. an attorney-at-law 4. (CE) an —
general 5. (CE) a power of —
4—127

attract
16
attract v. (D; tr.) to — to (a crowd was —ed to the
scene of the accident)
attracted adj. - to (he was - to her)
attraction n. ['charm'] 1. to feel an ~ to 2. an
irresistible, strong; sexual — (she felt a strong — to
him) ['something that attracts'] 3. a box-office;
public; scenic; tourist —
attractive adj. 1. physically; sexually - 2. - to
(the offer is very — to us)
attributable adj. — to (the fire was ~ to careless-
carelessness)
attribute v. (d; tr.) to - to (we - this saying to
Shakespeare; they —d their success to hard work)
attrition n. 1. a rate of-2. by-(the staff will be
reduced by —)
attune v. (D;refl.,tr.)to —to(youwillhaveto —
your ears to this type of music)
atypical adj. — of (such behavior was — of him)
auction n. 1. to hold an — 2. an — takes place 3. to
put smt. up for — 4. a public — 5. at (an) —; by —
(we bought these items at an ~; they sold their
house by —)
audacious adj. — to + inf. (it was — of her to try
that)
audacity n. 1. to demonstrate, show ~ 2. sheer —
3. the — to + inf. (he had the — to ask for an
increase in salary)
audience n. [interview'] 1. to give, grant an — 2.
to receive; seek an — with 3. at an — ['group of
spectators'] 4. to attract, draw an — 5. to electrify,
grip, move, stir, sway an — 6. an appreciative,
enthusiastic, responsive; cold, passive, unrespon-
unresponsive; sympathetic; unsympathetic — 7. a capacity;
captive; live; mass; select, standing-room-only;
studio —
audit n. 1. to carry out, conduct an — 2. a tax —
audition In. 1. to give smb. an ~ 2. to hold —s
audition II v. l.(D;intr.,tr.)to-for(he-edfor
the role of the butler; they ~ed her for a part in the
school play) 2. (E) she —ed to play Juliet
auditorium n. 1. a main ~ 2. in an ~
augur v. (D;intr.;P) to-for (this-swell for the
future)
aura n. a glittering —
auspices n. under the — of smt. (under the— of the
mayor's office)
austerity n. 1. to practice — 2. strict; wartime ~
authenticate v. (D; tr.) to - as (the painting was
—ed as genuine)
authenticity n. 1. to establish, prove; vouch for the
— of smt. 2. to doubt, question the — of smt.
author n. an anonymous; beginning; classic; con-
contemporary; established, famous, noted, recog-
recognized, well-known; prolific; rising; talented;
young -
authorities n. ['governmental officials'] civil, civil-
civilian; government; local; military; occupation —
authority n. ['control'] ['power'] 1. to assume;
delegate; demonstrate, show; establish; exercise,
wield; invoke - 2. to defy; deny, reject; under-
undermine — 3. absolute, complete, full, supreme,
unquestioned; parental — 4. — for; over (he
assumed — for overseas operations; a command-
commanding officer has complete — over her personnel) 5.
in — (who was in —?) 6. of — (a man, woman of —)
7. under smb.'s — (these employees are under my
~) ['legal power'] ['authorization'] 8. to abuse,
overstep one's — 9. legal; ministerial; presiden-
presidential; reviewing (mil.); royal — 10. by, on smb.'s —
(by whose — were these funds spent? she did it on
her own —) 11. the — to + inf. (the police had the
— to conduct a search) ['expert'] ['source'] 12. to
cite, invoke an — 13. a competent, reliable; indis-
indisputable, irrefutable, unimpeachable, unques-
unquestioned; leading, respected ~; the greatest living —
14. an — on (an outstanding — on shipbuilding) 15.
on — (on good —; on the highest —)
authorization n. 1. to give, grant — 2. to receive —
3. to revoke smb.'s — 4. official ~ 5. — for 6. (the)
— to + inf. (we received — to begin demolition)
authorize v. 1. (H) the director -d us to work in
the laboratory 2. (K) she —d his entering the vault
authorized adj. 1. (usu. does not stand alone)-to
+ inf. (we are not — to enter the restricted area)
authorship /i. to establish - (to establish the - of
an ancient mansucript)
automatic adj. fully -
automatic pilot n. to engage; disengage the-
automobile п. (AE) to drive, operate; park an -
(see car 1-9)
autonomy n. 1. to grant — 2. to seek —
autopsy n. to do, perform an — on
autumn n. (esp. BE) in (the) -
auxiliary /i. 1. (grammar) a modal - 2. (BE) a
nursing —
avail I /l. (formal) ['aid'] 1. of little - 2. to no -
avail II v. (formal) 1. intr. ('to help') to — against
(nothing could — against the enemy attack) 2. (d;
refl.) ('to make use') to — of (she —ed herself of
the offer)
available adj. 1. easily, readily — 2. to make one-
oneself —; to make smt. — 3. — to (the information is
— to anyone) 4. — for (are you — for a meeting
tomorrow?) 5. — to + inf. (is there anyone — to
replace her?)
avenge v. (D;refl.)to — on, upon (to — oneself on
an enemy)
avenue n. ['opportunity'] 1. to explore every — 2.
an - to (an - to success) ['street'] 3. in (BE), on
(AE) an - ,
aver v. (formal) (L) he-red that he was innocent
average n. 1. to calculate, work out an —2. (misc.)
above —; below —; on the — she works seven
hours a day; (AE) he finished school with а В —
average out v. (d; intr.) to — at, to (snowfall —s
out in this part of the country at/to twenty inches a
year)
averse adj. (formal) — to (I would not be — to tak-
taking a drink)
aversion n. (formal) 1. to have; take an — to 2. a
deep, deep-rooted, distinct, marked; pet — 3. an
— to (an — to animals)
avert v. (formal) (D; tr.) to — from (he —ed his
eyes from the scene of the accident)
aviation n. civil; military—
avid adj. (formal) (usu. does not stand alone) —
for (- for fame)
avoid v. 1. to — studiously 2. (G) she managed to
17
axis
— being punished
avow v. (formal) (M or N; used with a noun) he
—ed himself (to be) a socialist
avowal n. 1. to make an — 2. an — that + clause
(she made a solemn — that she would never reveal
the secret)
awake I adj. 1. wide — 2. — to (— to the danger of
inflation)
awake II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — from (she awoke
from a deep sleep) 2. (d; intr.) to — to (I awoke to
bright sunlight) 3. (E) they awoke to find the
house in flames
awaken v. 1. see awake II 2. (formal and rare)
(d; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to a sense of duty)
awakening n. a rude, sudden—
award In. 1. to grant, make, present an — 2. to
receive an — 3. an — for
award II v. 1. (A) the judges —ed the prize to her;
or: the judges —ed her the prize 2. (D; tr.) to — for
(to — a prize for research)
aware adj. 1. keenly, painfully, very much — 2.
(cannot stand alone) — of (they were — of the dif-
difficulties) 3. - that + clause (he was - that the
deadline had passed)
n. — that + clause (there is a general —
that smoking is harmful)
away adv. — from (he is — from home)
awe I n. 1. to inspire — in (he inspired — in
everyone) 2. to hold smb. in — 3. in — of (to stand
in —of smb.)
awe II v. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into
silence)
awful adj. (colloq.) 1. - about (I feel - about it)
2. — for (the situation is — for all of us) 3. — to +
inf. (it was — to work there = it was — working
there) 4. — that + clause (it's — that they were
reprimanded because of my mistake)
awkward adj. 1. - with (he is - with children) 2.
(BE) - for (Monday is - for me) 3. - to + inf. (it
is — to discuss such matters in public = it is — dis-
discussing such matters in public)
AWOL adj. togo-
awry adj., adv. to go — (our plans have gone —)
ax, axe n. 1. to swing, wield an — 2. (misc.) to have
an — to grind ('to seek personal advantage')
axiom /i. 1. to lay down an - 2. an - that + clause
(we accept the - that a straight line is the shortest
distance between two points)
axis л. on an — (to rotate on an —)

babble
18
в
babble I n. childish; confused; incessant —
babble II v. 1. to-ceaselessly, incessantly 2. (B)
he —d a few words to her 3. (D; intr.) to — about
babe п. а — in the woods ('a naive person")
babel n. 1. above the — (his voice was heard above
the —) 2. a — of tongues
baboon n. a troop of—s
baby /l. 1. (of a woman) to have a ~ 2. (of a
woman) to carry a — (a pregnant woman carries a
— for nine months; to carry a — to term) 3. (of a
mother) to nurse a — 4. (of a midwife, nurse, doc-
doctor) to deliver a — 5. (of a clergyman) to baptize a
— 6. to change a — ('to change the baby's diaper/
nappy1) 7. to calm, comfort, hush a — 8. to lull;
put; rock a — to sleep 9. to diaper (AE); swaddle
a — 10. to wean a — 11. to bubble (AE), burp a —
12. a blue; full-term; newborn; premature;
stillborn; test-tube; thalidomide - 13. a - bab-
babbles, coos; bawls; burps; crawls, creeps; cries;
drools; teethes; throws up; toddles; whimpers
baby carriage /l. (AE) to push, wheel a-(BE has
pram)
baby-sit v. (D; intr.) to - for (who ~s for you?)
bachelor n. a confirmed; eligible ~
back I adj. у adv. 1. — to (things are — to normal)
2. way — (— back in the eighteenth century) 3.
(misc.) to go — on one's promise/word ('to fail to
keep one's promise')
back II n. ['part of the body opposite to the front']
1. to turn one's — to smb.; (usu. fig.) to turn one's
— on smb. 2. to arch one's — (the cat arched its —)
3. a broad — 4. on one's, smb.'s — (to lie on one's
—; a heavy bag was on his —) 5. to stand — to —;
they stood with their —s to the door ['rear part'] 6.
at, in the — (of) (a room at the — of the house; we
sat in the back of the car) 7. from the — ['area
behind smt.'] 8. at the, in (AE) ~ of (BE: a garden
at the — of the house = AE: a yard in — of the
house) ['misc.'] 9. he did it behind my — ('he did it
without my knowledge'); in the — of one's mind
('subconsciously'); to break one's — ('to work
very hard'); to get one's — up ('to balk at smt.');
get off my — (colloq.) ('leave me alone'); if you
scratch my —, I'll scratch yours (colloq.) (if you
help me, I'll help you'); in - of (AE) ('behind'); to
have one's — to the wall ('to be in a desperate posi-
position'); to break the — of a job ('to do most of a
job'); to put some — into one's work ('to make a
maximum physical effort'); who will sit in —?
back III v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to support') to ~ against
(the independents will — us against the majority
party) 2. (D; tr.) to — for (we will — her for public
office) 3. (d; intr., tr.) ('to move') to — into (to —
into a garage; she —ed the car into the driveway)
4. (d; intr., tr.) to — out of (he —ed out of the
driveway; to — a car out of a garage) 5. (D; intr.)
('to withdraw') to — out of (they —ed out of the
deal)
backache n. 1. to have - (BE)/a - (AE) 2. (a)
chronic, nagging, persistent ~
back away v. (D; intr.) to ~ from
backbone /i. ['courage'] the — to + inf. (will he
have the - to tell the truth?)
backdate v. (D; tr.) to — to (to ~ an agreement to
the beginning of the year)
back down v. (D; intr.) to — from (they had to —
from their demands)
backdrop n. 1. to provide a-for 2. against a-of
backer n. a financial —
back formation n. (ling.) a — from (to burgle is a
— from burglar)
background n. ['one's experience, past'] 1. to
check smb.'s — 2. a broad; narrow; rich;
specialized — 3. one's academic, educational; cul-
cultural ; religious — 4. a — for (to have the right — for
a job) ['rear part of a picture, scene'] 5. against, on
a — (against a dark ~) ['surroundings'] 6. an
appropriate, fitting — 7. a — to (the music served
as a ~ to the recitation of poetry) ['a less impor-
important position'] 8. to relegate smb. to the — 9. in the
— (to remain in the —) ['history, past'] 10. an his-
historical — 11. a — to (do you know the — to this
case?)
backing n. 1. financial — 2. — for (financial — for
a project)
backlog /l. 1. to accumulate, build up a — 2. to
reduce a —
back off v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from one's
demands)
backseat n. to take a — to smb. (she will not take
a — to anyone)
backstroke n. to do, swim the ~
backup л. ['substitute'] a — for, to
back up v. (D; intr.) to — to (he —ed up to the
loading platform)
backwater n. a cultural —
bacon n. 1. crisp; lean; smoked; streaky (BE) —2.
a rasher of — 3. (misc.) to bring home the — ('to
succeed')
bacteria n. non-pathogenic; pathogenic; virulent
bad I adj. 1. — for (smoking is — for your health)
2. - to + inf. (it's - to lie) 3. - that + clause (it's
too — that he was not able to attend the meeting)
4. (misc.) not — ('quite good'); not half — ('fairly
good'); that's (just) too — ('nothing can be done
about that')
bad II n. 1. (colloq.) to be in — with smb. ('to be
on bad terms with smb.') 2. to go from — to worse
bad form n. (esp. BE) - to + inf. (it's - to be late)
badger v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (they —ed me into
buying a new car) 2. (D; tr.) to — with (to — smb.
with questions)
baffle v. 1. to - completely 2. (R) it ~d me that
they rejected our offer
bag n. ['suitcase'] 1. to pack, unpack one's —s 2. to
check one's —s ['container'] ['pouch'] 3. an air —
(that inflates within a car on impact) 4. a barracks;
19
banns
carrier (BE), shopping; duffel, kit (BE); flight;
garment; ice; jiffy ('padded bag used for mailing');
musette (AE); overnight; paper; plastic; sleeping
— 5. (BE) a sponge — ('bag for toilet articles') 6.
(AE) a doggy — ('bag for leftover food given to a
diner in a restaurant') 7. (AE) a grab — (BE has
lucky dip) 8. a tea - ['leather ball1] 9. (AE) a
punching — (BE has punching ball) ['misc.'] 10.
in the — ('assured of success')
baggage n. 1. (esp. AE) to check; claim one's ~ 2.
excess —
bagpipes n. 1. to play the - 2. - wail
bail I /i. 1. to grant, set — 2. to post, put up, stand
— for; (colloq.) to go — for 3. to make, raise — 4.
to deny smb. — 5. to forfeit, jump, skip — 6. on —
(to release smb. on —; to be set free on a thousand
dollars -)
bail II v. 1. (AE) (d; intr.) ('to parachute') to -
out of (to - out of an airplane) 2. (d; tr.) Dto
remove') to — out of (— water out of a boat) 3. (d;
tr.) ('to help') to — out of (to — smb. out of trou-
trouble)
bailiwick n. in one's own —
bait /l. 1. to hold out, offer; put out, set out — 2. to
nibble at; swallow, take the — 3. to rise to the — 4.
tempting —
bake v. (C) he —d a cake for us; or: he —d us a
cake
bakery n. at, in a — (she works at/in a —)
balance In. 1. to strike a - between 2. to keep;
recover one's — 3. to lose one's — 4. to disturb,
upset the —; to throw smt. off — 5. a delicate — 6.
(bookkeeping) a trial — 7. a bank; credit; debit;
foreign-trade, trade — 8. a favorable; unfavorable
— (a favorable trade ~) 9. the strategic - 10.
(misc.) to hang in the — ('to be uncertain'); on —
Call in all')
balance II v. (d; tr.) to— against (to - one argu-
argument against the other)
balance of power /i. to hold the —
bale (BE) see bail III
balk v. (D; intr.) to-at (he-ed at the price)
Balkans n. in the —
ball I n. ['game'] 1. to play — ['round object used
in a sport1] 2. to bat; bounce; catch; drop; fumble;
hit; kick; throw a — 3. a — bounces 4. the — is dead
('the ball does not bounce') 5. a cue; medicine — 6.
(BE) a punching — (AE has punching bag) 7. a
baseball; basketball; football; golf; tennis ~; vol-
volleyball ['round mass'] 8. a cotton — 9. in a — (to
curl up in a ~) ['glass object used in fortune tell-
telling'] 10. a crystal — ['misc.'] 11. to start the — roll-
rolling ('to begin an activity'); (colloq.) on the — ('ef-
('efficient'); (AE) to play - with ('to cooperate with')
ball II /l. ['formal dance'] 1. to have, organize a -
2. a costume; fancy-dress; inaugural; masked — 3.
at a — (to dance at a —) 4. (misc.) (esp. AE; col-
colloq.) to have a — ('to enjoy oneself)
л. a folk; lewd, ribald —
n. 1. to take on — 2. to drop —
/l. 1. to dance, perform; stage a — 2. classi-
classical; folk -; (a) water -
balloon л. 1. to fly; launch a — 2. to blow up,
inflate; deflate a — 3. a — bursts 4. a barrage;
observation — 5. (fig.) a trial — (to send up a
trial-)
ballot n. 1. to cast a — 2. to invalidate a - 3. an
absentee; open; secret; straw; void — 4. a -
against; for 5. by — (to vote by secret —)
ballot box n. to stuff the ~es
balm n. 1. to apply a - 2. a healing, soothing —
bamboozle v. (colloq.) ('to trick1) 1. (D; tr.) to -
into 2. to — out of
ban I n. 1. to impose, place put a— on 2. to lift a
— from 3. a test ~ 4. a wartime — 5. a — on
ban II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from (they were ~ned
from attending) 2. (K) the police ~ned their
demonstrating in the park
banana n. 1. to peel a —2. a green; ripe; rotten —
band I n. ['orchestra'] 1. to form a — 2. a brass;
concert; dance; jazz; marching; military; regimen-
regimental; school; string — 3. a big — 4. a ~ marches; per-
performs, plays 5. (misc.) to strike up the ~ ['group1]
6. a predatory; roving — 7. a ~ of marauders
band II n. ['ring'] 1. a wedding - ['range of
wavelengths'] 2. a wave ~ 3. a citizens ~ (or: CB)
['circular strip'] 4. a brake; rubber —
bandage n. 1. to apply, put on a — 2. to roll a — 3.
to remove a ~ 4. to loosen; tighten a ~
Band-Aid (T) n. (esp. AE) to apply, put on a —
bandit n. a masked -
band together v. (D; intr., refl.) to - against (the
liberals —ed together against the new legislation)
bandwagon n. ['attractive cause'] to climb on,
jump on the —
bandy v. (D;tr.) to-with (to-words with smb.)
bang I n. with a — (the door slammed with a —)
bang II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against; into; on (she
-ed on the door; I -ed into the wall) 2. (D; tr.) to
— against, on (he — ed his head on the low ceiling)
bang away v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to shoot1) to —
at (we — ed away at the enemy plane)
banish v. (D; tr.) to —from; to (she was—ed from
the country)
banjo /l. to play; strum a—
bank I n. ['financial establishment1] 1. to charter;
establish a — 2. a central; commercial; credit;
drive-in; land; national, people's, state; merchant
(BE); reserve; savings — 3. a — closes, collapses,
fails 4. at, in a — (she works at/in a —) ['fund held
in a gambling game'] 5. to break the — ['place of
storage1] 6. a blood; corneal, eye; data; organ;
soil; sperm — 7. a citation — (for dictionaries)
bank II v. (d; intr.) to —on ('to rely on1) (we were
—ing on your support)
bank III n. ['shore'] 1. a rugged; sloping; steep —
2. a river — 3. on a —
bank IV n. [Tow1] ['tier1] an elevator (AE) -
banker n. an international; investment; merchant
(BE)-
banking /l. electronic; international —
bankrupt adj. to go —
bankruptcy /l. to declare, go into, file for, petition
for-
banner n. 1. to plant; unfurl a — 2. a — flutters,
waves 3. a regimental — 4. (fig.) under a —
banns n. ['declaration of an impending marriage1]
to publish the —

banquet
20
banquet п. 1. to arrange, give, hold a — 2. to cater
a — 3. an elaborate, lavish, sumptuous — 4. a
farewell; formal; state — 5. a — for 6. at a —
banter n. 1. to exchange ~ with 2. good-natured,
light; witty -
baptism n. 1. to administer-2. to accept, receive,
undergo — 3. (misc.) the — of fire
baptize v. (N; used with a noun) they ~d him
Joseph
bar I n. ['counter or place where drinks are sold']
1. to manage, operate, run a — 2. to stop at a — (on
the way home); to drink at the —; to drop into a —
3. a cash (AE); cocktail; coffee (BE); gay; open
('free'); public (BE); salad; saloon (BE); singles
— ['barrier'] 4. the color — 5. a — to (a — to suc-
success) ['barrier in a law court'] 6. at the — (the pris-
prisoner at the —; to be tried at the —) 7. before the —
(of justice) ['the profession of barrister, trial
lawyer'] (esp. BE) 8. to be admitted, called to the
— 9. to read for the — ['metal strip used as a bar-
barrier'] 10. behind —s ('in prison') (he was put
behind ~s) ['strip used in gymnastics'] 11. a hori-
horizontal — 12. parallel —s 13. on the — (to work out
on the ~) ['handrail used by ballet dancers'] 14. at
the ~ (to warm up at the ~) ['metal strip used in a
suspension system'] 15. a torsion — ['lever on a
typewriter'] 16. a space — ['oblong piece'] 17. a
candy; chocolate — ['musical measure'] 18. to
hum; play; sing a few —s
bar II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to exclude') to - from (he
was —red from the competition) 2. (K) ('to for-
forbid') they -red his participating
barb n. ['critical remark'] to sling ~s at
barbarism, barbarity n. 1. to demonstrate, display
— 2. outright, unmitigated, utter —
barbaroiis adj. — to + inf. (it was — to treat pris-
prisoners in that manner)
barbecue I n. ['party at which barbecued meat is
served'] 1. to have a — 2. at a —
barbecue II v. (C) she —d a steak for me; or: she
—d me a steak
barbed wire, barbwire n. to string —
barbell n. 1. to clean; lift; press a ~ 2. an adjusta-
adjustable ~
barber n. at the-'s
barbershop n. (esp. AE) at, in a - (he is at/in the
bare adj. 1. —of (the hills were — of vegetation) 2.
(misc.) to lay smt. —
bargain I n. ['agreement'] 1. to drive; make,
strike; seal a — 2. to meet one's end of a — 3. a
hard — (she drives a hard —) 4. a — with (we struck
a — with them) 5. a — to + inf. (they made a ~ not
to cut prices) ['advantageous purchase'] 6. to find,
get a — 7. to shop for —s 8. a good, real — ['misc.']
9. to make the best of a bad — (*to do one's best in
a difficult situation')
bargain II v. 1. ('to negotiate') to - shrewdly 2.
(D; intr.) ('to negotiate') to — for; over; with (we
—ed with them for the property) 3. (d; intr.) to —
for (BE), on (AE) ('to count on') (I wasn't -ing
on any trouble)
bargaining n. collective; plea —
barge I n. 1. to drive; float; tow a - 2. to load;
unload a —
barge II v. (d; intr.) to — into (she —d into the
room)
barge in v. (D; intr.) to-on (to —on a conversa-
conversation)
baritone n. to sing —
bark I n. ['covering of a tree']-peels
bark II n. ['the sound made by a dog'] a furious;
loud, noisy —
bark HI v. 1. to - furiously 2. (B) the sergeant
—ed an order to his squad 3. (D; intr.) to — at (the
dog —ed at the jogger)
barn n. a car — (AE; BE has waggon shed)
barnacles n. — cling (to the bottom of a ship)
barometer n. 1. an aneroid; mercurial — 2. a — is
steady; falls; rises
baron n. ['magnate'] a cattle; coal; oil; robber;
steel -
barracks n. 1. (AE) to GI the - 2. (AE) to police
(up) the — 3. disciplinary — 4. restricted to —
barrage n. 1. to lay down a —2. to lift a —3. a roll-
rolling — 4. an advertising; propaganda —
barrel n. 1. to tap a — 2. (misc.) (colloq.) to have
smb. over a — ('to have placed smb. in a difficult
position')
barricade n. 1. to place, set up a — 2. to man the
—s 3. to remove, take down a — 4. a barbed-wire
— 5. a — against
barrier n. 1. to erect, place, set up a — 2. to over-
overcome, take a — (the horse took the — easily) 3. to
break down; remove a — 4. the sonic, sound — (to
break the sound -) 5. a crush (BE), police - 6. a
cultural; language; racial — (to break a racial —) 7.
a — between 8. a — to (a — to progress)
barrow n. to push a —
barter I n. 1. to engage in — 2. — between; for;
with
barter II v. l.(D;intr.,tr.)to — for (to — furs for.
tobacco) 2. (D; intr.) to — with
base I n. ['center of operations'] 1. to establish,
set up a — 2. an advanced, forward; main — 3. an
air, air-force; army; military; missile; naval — 4.
(misc.) a power —; a — of operations ['goal'] (AE)
(baseball) 5. to reach; touch a — 6. to steal a — 7.
(misc.) (slang) she couldn't get to first — with
them ('she couldn't even begin to achieve any suc-
success with them') ['collection'] 8. a data - ['basic
ingredient'] 9. an oil —
base II v. (d; tr.) to — on, upon (we —d our con-
conclusions on facts)
baseball n. ['game'] 1. to play - 2. night - ['ball']
3. to pitch a —
basement n. 1. (AE) a finished; full - 2. (esp.
AE) a bargain — (in a department store)
bash I n. (slang) (BE) ['attempt'] to have a - at
smt.
bash II v. (D; tr.) to — against (he — ed his head
against the door)
bashful adj. -with
bask adj. —to
basic training n. (mil.) to go through, take—
basin n. 1. a river; tidal — 2. a handbasin (BE),
washbasin, wash-hand (BE) —
basis n. 1. to form, provide a — for 2. a firm, solid,
21
bearing
sound; first-name; scientific; shaky — 3. on a —
(on a solid —; she was promoted on the — of her
accomplishments; to be paid on an hourly —; to be
on a first-name —)
bask v. to — in (to — in the sunshine; to — in the
adulation of one's followers)
basket n. ['receptacle'] 1. to make, weave a — 2. a
laundry, linen (BE); picnic; wastepaper; wicker —
['goal in basketball'] 3. to make, score, sink a — 4.
to shoot at the — 5. to miss the —
basketball n. ['game'] 1. to play - ['ball used in
the game of basketball'] 2. to dribble; pass a -
bass n. 1. to sing - 2. a deep -
bat I n. ['club'] 1. to swing a —2. a baseball; crick-
cricket - ['one's turn batting'] 3. (AE) at - (who's at
-?) ['misc.'] 4. (colloq.) (BE) at full - ('very
fast')
bat II n. ['flying mammal'] 1. —s fly at night 2.
(misc.) as blind as a —
batch n. a fresh — (of dough)
bath n. 1. to have (BE), take a - 2. to draw, run
a — 3. (BE) a swimming — 4. a sitz; steam, Turk-
Turkish; whirlpool - 5. (misc.) a blood - ('slaughter')
USAGE NOTE: In BE, one meaning of bath is
'bathtub'.
bathed adj. - in (- in sunshine)
bather n. a sun —
bathing suit n. (esp. AE) a one-piece; two-piece-
bathroom see the Usage Note for room
baton n. 1. (in a relay race) to pass the — 2. (of a
drum major) to twirl a - 3. (of an orchestra
leader) to raise a —
battalion n. to command a — (a major commands
a-)
batter I n. ['mixture for baking'] to mix up; pour;
stir (a) -
batter II v. (D;tr.) to-to (to-smt. to pieces)
batter III л. ['one whose turn it is to bat']
(baseball) a leadoff-
battery /l. ['a group of cells that store and furnish
current'] 1. to charge; recharge a — 2. to dis-
discharge, run down a - 3. a flashlight (AE), torch
(BE); storage — 4. a — charges (itself) 5. a — dis-
discharges, runs (itself) down 6. a — is dead, flat (BE)
['artillery unit'] 7. to command a — (a captain
commands a —) 8. a missile —
battle In. 1. to do, give, join - 2. to fight, wage;
lose; win a — 3. to break off, terminate a — 4. a
bloody; decisive; fierce, pitched, raging; losing;
running — 5. a naval — 6. a — royal 7. a — rages 8.
a — against; among, between; for, over; with (they
fought a — among themselves for domination of
the market; the — against inflation; to join — with
smb.; a — between two strong adversaries) 9. a —
to + inf. (it was a real — to win the election) 10. at
a - (at the - of Gettysburg) 11. in - (to be killed
in-)
battle II v. (D; intr.) to -against, with; for, over
battlefield n. on the - (to die on the -)
battleship n. a pocket-
battle station n. to take up one's—
batty adj. (slang) ['mad'] to go — over
baulk (esp. BE) see balk
bay I n. 1. to hold, keep at-2. to bring to-
bay II v. (D; intr.) to — at (the hounds were —ing
at the fox)
bayonet n. 1. to thrust a - into (smb.'s body) 2. to
fix; unfix —s
bazaar n. 1. a charity - 2. at a -
bazooka n. to fire; operate a —
be v. l.(E;usu. in the past) he was never to see his
family again; she was to become famous 2. (S) to
— a teacher; to — happy
beach n. 1. an isolated; private; public; sandy — 2.
at, on the —
beachhead n. to establish; hold; secure a —
beacon n. 1. a homing; landing; radar; radio;
rotating — 2. (BE) a Belisha — ('a light marking a
pedestrian crossing') 3. a - to (to serve as a - to
others)
bead n. ['front sight'] to draw a — on
beads n. 1. (rel.) to say, count one's — 2. to string
— 3. (rel.) prayer — 4. a string of —
beam I n. ['shaft of light'] 1. to direct, shine a -
at 2. a high; low - (on a car) 3. a - from; to ['sig-
['signal'] 4. a radar; radio — 5. (also fig.) off the —; on
the — ['piece of wood'] 6. a balance —
beam II v. 1. (B) they -ed the program to the
countries of Central America 2. (AE) (d; tr.) to -
at (the sales campaign was —ed at young profes-
professionals) 3. (D; intr.) to — with (to — with joy)
bean n. 1. broad; French (BE), haricot (BE), kid-
kidney; lima; navy; pinto; runner (BE), string; wax
-s 2. baked -s 3. (misc.) to spill the -s (slang)
('to reveal a secret'); to use the old - (slang) ('to
use one's head'); full of -s (slang) ('mistaken')
(AE); ('full of energy') (BE)
bear 1/7. 1. the black; brown; grizzly; Kodiak;
polar - 2. a teddy - 3. -s hibernate
bear II v. 1. (formal) (A; the omission of to is
rare) ('to carry') the servants were —ing food to
the guests 2. (A; used without to) ('to give birth
to') she bore him two children 3. (d; intr.) ('to per-
pertain') to - on (these facts - on the case) 4.(d;
intr.) ('to move') to - to (we had to - to the right)
5. (d; intr.) ('to have patience') to - with (please
— with me for a few minutes) 6. (E; preceded by:
can - cannot - can't) ('to stand, tolerate') she
can't — to watch them suffer 7. (G; often used
with: can - cannot - can't) ('to stand, tolerate') he
can't — being alone; her words — repeating 8. (K)
('to stand, tolerate') I cannot — his behaving in
that manner 9. (O; can be used with one inanimate
object) ('to feel') she -s them a grudge; he ~s (us)
no ill will 10. (P; refl.) ('to behave') she bore her-
herself with dignity 11. (misc.) to bring to — on (she
brought her influence to — on the legislators)
beard n. 1. to grow a — 2. to shave off; trim one's
— 3. to stroke one's — 4. a bushy, heavy, rough,
thick; light, sparse; neat, trim -
bear down v. (d; intr.) to — on (our destroyers
bore down on the enemy carrier)
bearing n. ['relation'] 1. to have a - on (that fact
has no — on the case) 2. a direct — ['position'] 3. to
take a — on (we took a — on the hill) ['carriage']
['manner'] 4. a dignified; military; regal, royal —
['machine part that supports'] 5. to burn out a - 6.

bearings
22
a ball; roller — ['charge on a coat of arms'] 7. a
heraldic —
bearings n. ['orientation'] 1. to get one's - 2. to
lose one's —
bear up v. (D; intr.) to - against, under (to -
under pressure)
beast n. ['qualities of an animal'] 1. to bring out
the — in smb. ['animal'] 2. a wild —
beat I л. ['a regularly traversed round'] 1. to pa-
patrol, walk one's - 2. to cover one's — 3. a police-
policeman's - ['rhythm'] 4. an irregular; regular, steady
— 5. to a — (to dance to the — of jungle music)
['unit of rhythm'] 6. a - to (four ~s to a measure)
beat II v. 1. to — brutally, mercilessly, severely,
viciously 2. (d; intr., tr.) ('to strike') to - against
(the bird beat its wings against the bars of its cage;
the waves — against the rocks) 3. (d; tr.) ('to ham-
hammer') to — into (to — facts into smb.'s head; to —
swords into plowshares) 4. (d; tr.) ('to strike') to —
into, to (to — smb. into submission; to — smb. to
death) 5. (d; intr.) ('to strike') to - on (smb. was
-ing on the door) 6. (colloq.) (D; tr.) ('to arrive
ahead of) to - to (I'll - you to the car!) 7. (N;
used with an adjective) ('to strike') they beat him
unconscious 8. (slang) (R) ('to astound') it —s me
that they turned down the invitation
beat down v. 1. (D; intr.) to - on (the sun beat
down on us mercilessly) 2. (BE) (D; tr.) ('to per-
persuade to reduce a price') to — to (I beat them down
to ten pounds)
beating л. 1. to give smb. a- 2. to get, take a -3.
a brutal, good, merciless, severe, vicious — (he got
a good ~)
beat out v. (D;tr.) to-for (we beat them out for
the title by ten points)
beat up v. (slang) (AE) (d; intr.) to - on ('to
beat') (to — on smb.)
beau л. (colloq.) a steady —
beautiful adj. — to + inf. (it was — to watch)
beauty л. ['a beautiful person or thing'] 1. a daz-
dazzling, raving, striking - 2. a bathing ~ ['good
looks'] 3. to enhance — 4. dazzling, striking,
wholesome —
beauty contest л. 1. to hold, stage a — 2. to enter
beaver л. 1. a colony of —s 2. (misc.) an eager —
('an overzealous person')
beaver away v. (slang) (BE) (D; intr.) ('to work
hard') to — at
beck n. to be at smb.'s — and call
beckon v. 1. (D; intr.) to - to (he -ed to her) 2.
(H) she —ed me to follow
become v. 1. (d; intr.) to — of (what became of
her?) 2. (formal) (R) it doesn't - you to speak like
that 3. (S) she became a teacher; to — depressed
becoming adj. (rare) - to (that is not - to you)
bed л. ['article of furniture for sleeping'] 1. to
make, make up a — 2. to undo a — 3. to lie, stay in
~; to lie, sit on a - 4. to get out of - 5. to take to
one's - ('to remain in bed because of illness'] 6. a
double; king-size; queen-size; single; twin — 7. a
bunk; camp (BE); folding; hospital; rollaway;
sofa; truckle (BE), trundle (AE); water - 8. an
unmade - 9. a feather - ('a feather mattress')
['ground at the bottom of a body of water'] 10. a
river — ['plot of ground'] 11. a flower —
bedfellow n. strange —s (politics make strange
~s)
bedroom n. a master; spare ~
bedside n. at smb.'s —
bedsore л. 1. to develop, get a —2. to prevent a —
bee I n. ['insect'] 1. to keep -s 2. a killer; queen;
worker — 3. —s buzz, hum; sting; swarm 4. a clus-
cluster; colony; swarm of —s 5. (misc.) as busy as a —
bee II n. (esp. AE) ['meeting to work or com-
compete'] a quilting; sewing; spelling; spinning -
beef I n. 1. to boil; braise; broil; cook; roast; stew
- 2. chipped; corned; salt (BE) - 3. (AE) - Wel-
Wellington 4. baby; prime - USAGE NOTE: Corned
beef in the US is not the same as corned beef in
GB.
beef II v. (D; intr.) ('to complain') to-about
beeline л. ['shortest route'] to make a - for ('to go
directly toward')
beer n. 1. to brew — 2. cold; strong; weak — 3.
ginger; light; near - 4. (AE) root ~ 5. a bottle;
can; glass; mug, stein of —
beet n. 1. a sugar - 2. (misc.) as red as a - (AE;
BE has: as red as a beetroot)
beg v. 1. to - humbly 2. (D; intr.) to - for (to -
for mercy) 3. (formal) (d; tr.) to - of (I must - a
favor of you) 4. (E) they -ged to be allowed to go;
I - to differ 5. (H) they -ged her to help 6. (L;
subj.) he -ged that his family be/should be spared
7. (misc.) to go -ging ('to be unwanted') (those
jobs went —ging)
begging n. to live by —
begin v. 1. (D; intr.) to - by, with (they began by
saying a prayer; or: they began with a prayer) 2.
(E) she began to work 3. (G) she began working
beginner л. a rank —
beginning л. 1. to make a - 2. to mark a - 3. an
auspicious, promising — 4. at, in the — 5. from
(the) — (from — to end; from the very —)
begrudge v. (O; can be used with one inanimate
object) he —s us our success
beguile v. (formal) 1. (D; tr.) to - into (he -d me
into lending him money) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of 3.
(D; tr.) to - with (to - children with stories)
behalf n. in (AE), on smb.'s - USAGE NOTE:
Some purists maintain that in AE in smb. %s behalf
means 'for smb.'s benefit', whereas on smb.'s
behalf means 'as smb.'s representative'.
behave v. 1. (d; intr.) to — like (he —d like a gen-
gentleman) 2. (D; intr.) to — towards (how did they —
towards you?)
behavior, behaviour n. 1. to exhibit - (to exhibit
strange —) 2. abnormal; asocial; criminal; dip-
diplomatic; disciplined; disruptive; inconsiderate;
inexcusable; infantile; irrational; model; modest;
neurotic; normal; obsequious; promiscuous; pro-
provocative; ruthless; scandalous; scurrilous;
strange; sullen; undiplomatic; undisciplined;
unorthodox; unruly; unsportsmanlike — 3. good
— (in prison) 4. — towards, with 5. on one's — (to
be on one's best —)
behest n. at smb.'s —
behind adv., prep. 1. to fall, lag ~ 2. to remain,
23
bestow
stay — 3. — by (our team is — by two points) 4. —
in, with (he's — with his payments) 5. (misc.) to be
solidly — smb. ('to support smb. wholeheartedly')
beholden adj. (cannot stand alone) — for; to (we
are — to nobody for anything)
behoove, behove v. (R) (formal) it — s them to
help the needy
being л. 1. to come into — 2. an extraterrestrial;
human; mortal; rational; supernatural ~
belch n. to emit, let out a ~
belief n. 1. to express; hold a — 2. to shake one's
— 3. to give up, relinquish one's — 4. a basic; doc-
doctrinaire; erroneous, false, mistaken; firm, strong,
unshakable; popular; prevalent; unpopular ~ 5. a
— in (nothing will shake his — in ghosts) 6. a ~ that
+ clause (it is their firm — that the earth is flat) 7.
beyond - 8. in the ~ that...
believe v. 1. to — firmly, sincerely, strongly; mis-
mistakenly 2. (D; intr.) to - in (to - in ghosts) 3. (D;
tr.) to- of (I can't - it of him) 4. (L) we - that she
will come 5. (M) they all — the story to be true 6.
(misc.) I — so; I — not
believer n. 1. a firm, sincere, strong; true — 2. a —
in (he's no — in miracles)
bed n. 1. to cast a — 2. to ring, sound a — 3. a
church; door — 4. a diving — 5. wedding —s 6. a —
chimes, clangs, peals, rings, sounds, tolls 7.
(misc.) (boxing) to come out for the —
belligerency л. 1. to demonstrate, display, exhibit
— 2. a state of - 3. - towards
belligerent adj. -towards
bellow v. 1. (B) he — ed a command to his men 2.
(L) he — ed that he would fight any man at the bar
bellows л. to operate, use —
bellyache v. (slang) (D; intr.) ('to complain') to —
about
belong v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to deserve to be') to — in
(he ~s in jail) 2. (d; intr.) to - to ('to be owned
by') (the book ~s to her) 3. (d; intr.) to - to ('to
be a member of) (to — to an organization) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to be appropriate') to — under (this item
—s under a different heading)
belongings n. one's earthly; personal—
below prep. — in (to be — smb. in rank)
belt I n. ['band'] 1. to buckle, fasten one's — 2.
(also fig.) to tighten one's — 3. to loosen; undo
one's — 4. a life; money; safety, seat, shoulder —
5. a cartridge; Sam Browne — 6. a garter (AE),
suspender (BE) — 7. a chastity — 8. a conveyor —
9. (usu. fig.) below the - ('unfairly') ['zone'] (AE)
10. the Bible; corn; cotton — ['symbol of expertise
in judo or karate'] 11. a black; brown; white —
['misc.'] 12. under one's — ('experienced, lived
through')
belt II v. (colloq.) (O) I-ed him one
bench л. ['judge's seat'] 1. from the — (a
reprimand from the —) 2. on the — (who will be on
the — during her trial?) ['places in Parliament']
(BE) 3. the back; cross; front - ['place where
reserve players sit'] 4. on the — (he spent ten
minutes on the —) ['table'] 5. a work —
bench warrant л. to issue a —
bend 1л. 1. to make a — (the river makes a —) 2.
a horseshoe; sharp; slight — 3. a knee — 4. (misc.)
(colloq.) (BE) round the — ('mentally unsound')
bend II v. l.(D;intr.,tr.)to~to(theroad-s.to
the right; she cannot — them to her will) 2. (D; tr.)
to — into (she bent the bar into the right shape)
bender n. (colloq.) ['drunken spree'] to go on a —
benediction л. 1. to give, offer, pronounce the —
2. to pronounce a — over
beneficial adj. 1. — for, to (— to health) 2. — to +
inf. (it would be — to keep abreast of develop-
developments in Asia)
beneficiary л. to name a —; to name smb. (as) (a)
benefit 1л. 1. to derive, get, reap (a) — from 2. a
death; fringe; sickness (BE); tax - 3. to be of - to
4. for smb.'s — 5. (misc.) to give smb. the — of the
doubt; without — of clergy
benefit II v. (D; intr.) to —from (we all—ed from
her success)
benefits л. 1. to provide — 2. to collect; reap — 3.
to withhold — 4. disability; fringe; health-care;
old-age; retirement; strike; survivors' (AE);
unemployment; veterans'; workers' —
benevolent adj. — towards
bent I adj. (cannot stand alone) ['determined'] —
on (he was — on getting himself hurt; — on mis-
mischief)
bent II л. ['propensity'] 1. to have; show a — for
2. to follow one's (own) — 3. an artistic; decided;
natural —
bequeath v. (formal) (A) she — ed her fortune to
him; or: she —ed him her fortune
bequest n. 1. to make a — 2. a — to
berate v. (D; tr.) to - for
bereft adj. (cannot stand alone) ['stripped'] — of
(— of all hope; — of one's senses) USAGE NOTE:
In the meaning 'having recently lost a dear one',
the form bereaved is used-the bereaved parents.
berry л. to pick —ies
berserk adj. to go —
berth л. 1. to make up a — 2. a lower; sleeping;
upper — 3. (misc.) to give smb. a wide — ('to avoid
smb.')
beseech v. (formal) (H; no passive) to — smb. to
show mercy
beset adj. (cannot stand alone) — by, with (— by
doubts)
beside prep, to be — oneself with (he was — him-
himself with grief)
best I adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — not to speak of it
in public) 2. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that she
say/should say nothing to the press)
best II л. 1. to do, give; try one's (level) — 2. to
make the — (of smt.) 3. to get the — (of smb.) 4. to
look one's — 5. one's level — 6. next, second — 7.
one's — to + inf. (she tried her — to finish the job
on time) 8. at one's — (she is not at her — in the
morning) 9. for the — (it turned out for the —) 10.
in the — of (he's not in the — of health) 11. in one's
Sunday - 12. to the - of (to the - of my ability)
13. (misc.) (colloq.) give my — to your family
bestir v. (formal and rare) (H; refl.) we must —
ourselves to get there on time
bestow v. (formal) (d; tr.) to — on, upon (to — an
honor on smb.)

bet
24
bet 1л. 1. to make a — 2. to place a — on 3. to
accept, take a ~ 4. a side — 5. a ~ that + clause
(she made a — that her team would win) 6. on a —
(he did it on a —) 7. (misc.) to hedge one's ~s ('to
protect oneself by placing several bets')
bet II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on (he bet on that
horse; he bet a month's salary on that horse) 2. (L;
may have an object) I bet (her) that it would snow
3. (O; can be used with one, two, or three objects)
we bet him; we bet ten pounds; we bet him ten
pounds; we bet him ten pounds that it would rain
betake v. (formal and obsol.) (P; refl.) he betook
himself to the fair
betray v. (B) the informer —ed them to the police
betroth v. (rare) (B) they were ~ed to each other
at an early age
betrothal л. 1. to announce a ~ 2. a ~ to
better I adj. 1. any - (is she any ~ today?) 2. -
at (he is ~ at tennis than at squash) 3. ~ to + inf.
(it is ~ to give than to receive) 4. ~ that + clause;
subj. (it's ~ that she go/should go alone)
better II л. l.togetthe-ofsmb. 2. to think-of
smt. 3. for the ~ (a change for the ~; to take a turn
for the ~)
betting л. off-track; parimutuel ~
beverage n. an alcoholic; carbonated; intoxicat-
intoxicating; non-alcoholic ~-
beware v. (D;intr.;onlyintheimper.)~of(~of
the dog!)
bewildered adj. — to + inf. (she was — to find
them gone)
bewildering adj. — to + inf. (it was — to con-
contemplate all the possibilities)
bias л. ['prejudice'] 1. to demonstrate, display,
exhibit, show — 2. to root out ~ 3. deep-rooted,
strong — 4. a — against; for; towards ['diagonal
line'] 5. on the ~ (to cut on the ~)
biased adj. 1. strongly — 2. — against; towards
Bible n. the Holy ~
bibliography л. 1. to compile, make up a ~ 2. an
annotated; comprehensive; selective ~
bicentenary n. to celebrate, mark, observe a ~
bicentennial (esp. AE)see bicentenary
bicker v. (D; intr.) 1. to ~ constantly, incessantly
2. to ~ about, over; with
bickering л. constant, incessant ~
bicycle n. 1. to pedal, ride a — 2. to get on, mount
a ~ 3. an exercise, stationary; racing ~ 4. by — (to
go somewhere by ~)
bid I n. ['bidding of an amount'] 1. to enter, file,
make, put in, submit a — 2. to call for, invite ~s 3.
to raise one's — 4. to consider, entertain ~s 5. to
recall a ~ 6. an opening; sealed — 7. the highest ~
8. a — for, on (she made a ~ on the painting) ['at-
['attempt'] 9. to make a — 10. a desperate ~ 11. a ~
for (she made a ~ for the nomination) 12. a — to
+ inf. (he made a — to regain his former influence)
bid II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for (she bid twenty
pounds for the vase) 2. (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to ~
on (to ~ on a contract)
bid III v. 1. (formal) (A) she bade farewell to
them; or: she bade them farewell 2. (obsol.) (H) to
— smb. to do smt. 3. (obsol.) (I) to — smb. do smt.
bidder л. the highest; lowest ~
bidding л. ['offering of bids'] 1. to open the ~ 2.
competitive; spirited ~- ['request'] 3. to do smb.'s
~ 4. at smb.'s ~
big adj. ['kind'] ['good'] (colloq., ironical) 1. — of
(that's ~ of you) 2. — to + inf. (it was ~ of you to
do that) ['older'] 3. a — boy; brother; girl; sister
['very powerful'] 4. — business; government;
labor
bigamy n. to commit; practice ~
bigot л. a fanatical, ingrained, narrow-minded,
vicious; religious —
bigoted adj. 1. strongly — 2. — against 3. ~ to +
inf. (it was ~ to say that)
bigotry л. 1. to arouse, stir up ~ 2. to
demonstrate, display ~ 3. fanatical, ingrained,
narrow-minded, vicious; religious — 4. — against
bike л. to ride a-(see bicycle)
bilk v. (D;tr.)to~ out of (they ~ed us out of the
money)
bill I л. ['proposed law'] 1. to draft; introduce,
propose; oppose; pass; support a ~ 2. to move;
railroad a ~ through a legislature 3. to quash,
reject, vote down; veto a — 4. to shelve a ~
['banknote'] (AE) 5. to break, change; pass a — 6.
marked ~s ['statement of money owed'] ['debt'] 7.
to run up a — 8. to foot (colloq.), pay; settle a — 9.
a hospital, medical; hotel; telephone; utility (gas
and electric; water) ~- 10. a ~ falls due, matures
['poster'] 11. to post, stick (BE) a ~ (post no ~s!)
['misc.'] 12. to fill, fit the ~ ('to meet all require-
requirements')
bill II v. l.(D;tr.)('tocharge') to-for(thedoc-
to-for(thedoctor did not — them for the visit) 2. (H) ('to cast');
('to announce') he was —ed to appear as Hamlet
billet л. an officers' —
billiards n. to play-
billing /l. ['prominence in advertising, promo-
promotion'] top — (to get top ~)
bill of health л. ['approval'] 1. to give smb. a clean
— 2. to get, receive a clean ~
bill of sale n. to make up, prepare a ~
bin /l. a storage ~
bind I л. ['trouble'] ['dilemma'] 1. a double ~ 2.
ina~
bind II v. l.(D;tr.) ('to put together') to-in (to
— a book in leather) 2. (D; tr.) ('to tie') to ~ to
(they bound him to a post) 3. (D; tr.) ('to require')
to — to (to ~ smb. to secrecy) 4. (H) ('to require')
the contract ~s you to pay interest
binder л. ['deposit of money'] (esp. AE) 1. to
place, put down a — on ['holder for sheets of
paper'] 2. a loose-leaf; ring ~ ['broad bandage']
(AE) 3. to apply a — 4. an abdominal; breast;
straight ~
binding I adj. ~ on, upon (the agreement is ~ on
you)
binding II /l. ['fastening of the sections of a book']
1. a handsome; leather ~ 2. in a ~ (the book is in
a leather ~) ['narrow strip of fabric'] 3. to sew on,
tack on a ~
bind over v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (she was bound over
to the grand jury)
binge n. (colloq.) 1. ['a drunken spree'] to go on a
— ['unrestrained activity'] 2. a shopping ~~
25
bleeding
binoculars n. 1. to adjust, focus; train— on 2. high-
powered, powerful — 3. a pair of ~
biography л. an authorized; critical; unauthorized
biology /l. molecular-
bird л. 1. game; land; migratory;tropical;wading;
water —s 2. ~s of passage; ~s of prey 3. (usu. fig.)
a rare ~ 4. ~s build nests; chirp, twitter, warble;
flock together; fly; migrate; molt; sing; soar 5. a
covey, flock of ~s 6. (misc.) to ring —s (for scien-
scientific purposes); a ~ in the hand ('smt. already pos-
possessed'); —s of a feather ('people with similar
characteristics, tastes, and standards'); as free as a
~ ('absolutely free')
bird call /l. to do, imitate a ~
birdwatchmg л. to go in for, take up ~ (as a
hobby)
birth n. 1. to give ~ (she gave ~ to twins) 2. a
breech; multiple; normal; premature — 3. at ~
(she weighed seven pounds at -~) 4. by — (he's
Spanish by ~) 5. of — (of noble ~)
birth control /l. to practice-
birthday л. 1. to attain (formal), reach a ~ 2. to
celebrate, mark a — 3. at, on a — (on her tenth ~)
4. happy ~!
birth pangs n. to endure, suffer ~
birthrate л. 1. a falling; high; low; rising; stable ~
2. the crude ~
biscuit /l. 1. to bake ~s 2. a sweet - (BE; AE has
cookie) 3. a cream — (BE; AE has sandwich
cookie) 4. baking-powder; soda; tea ~s 5. (misc.)
to take the - ('to be the best or worst') (BE; CE
has to take the cake)
bishop n. an Anglican, Episcopal; Catholic;
Orthodox ~
bison л. a herd of-
bit I л. ['share'] 1. to do one's ~ ['small piece'] 2.
a tiny ~ ['misc.'] 3. every — ('completely'); — by ~
('little by little'); he's a — of a snob ('he is some-
something of a snob'); she's not the least — upset ('she's
not at all upset'); wait a ~ ('wait a little')
bit II /l. ['mouthpiece on a horse's bridle'] to take
the ~ (between one's teeth) (also fig.)
bitch v. (slang; vulgar) (D; intr.) to ~ about
(they're always —ing about the food)
bitchy adj. (colloq.) ['nasty'] ~ about
bite I л. ['act of biting'] ['result of biting'] 1. to
take a ~ (she took a — out of the apple) 2. an
insect; mosquito; snake ~ ['ability to bite'] 3. a
powerful — (the large dog has a powerful —)
['snack'] 4. to grab, have a — 5. a quick — ['request
for a loan'] (colloq.) 6. to put the ~ on smb.
['amount of money deducted'] (colloq.) 7. to take
a ~ from, out of (the wage tax takes quite a — from
his paycheck)
bite II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at (also fig.) (to — at
the bait) 2. (D; intr.) to — into, on (she bit into the
apple)
bitter I adj. ~ about (he was ~ about his lot)
bitter II n. to take the ~ (with the sweet)
bitterness n. 1. to feel - 2. a touch of - 3. ~
about, over; towards
bivouac /l. 1. to go on; set up a ~ 2. to be on ~
bizarre adj. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that we ran
into each other in such a remote corner of the
world)
blabber v. (B) he ~ed everything to the press
black л. ['profit'] 1. in the - (to operate in the ~)
['sign of mourning'] 2. to wear — 3. jet ~
blackboard n. 1. to clean, wash; erase (esp. AE) a
~ 2. to write on the — 3. at the — (two pupils were
at the ~) 4. (misc.) to send a pupil to the ~
blacklist n. on a —
black magic n. to practice ~
blackmail I n. to commit; practice ~
blackmail II v. (D; tr.) to - into (to - smb. into
doing smt.)
black market n. on the ~ (to buy smt. on the —)
black-marketing, black-marketeering n. to engage
in, to go in for —
blackout л. ['extinguishing or concealment of all
lights during wartime'] 1. to impose, order a — 2.
to observe a ~ ['suppression of news'] 3. to
impose, order a — 4. to lift a — 5. to violate a — 6.
a news ~
_ n. 1. to empty one's — 2. a full ~
"л. 1. a blunt, dull; sharp — 2. a rotary — 3.
a razor —
blame I л. 1. to ascribe, assign, attribute (the) ~
to smb. 2. to lay, place, put the — on smb.; to lay
the — at smb.'s door 3. to assess; fix the — 4. to
shift the ~ to smb. (else) 5. to assume, bear, take
the — for (she took the ~ for my mistake) 6. the ~
falls on smb.
blame II v. 1. to ~ unfairly, unjustly 2. (D;tr.) to
— for (they ~d her for the accident) 3. (d; tr.) to ~
on (they ~d the accident on her) 4. to be to — for
(I am not to — for the mistake)
blanch v. 1. (D; intr.) to-at (he ~ed at the sight
of the mutilated corpse) 2. (D; intr.) to — with (to
— with fear)
blank I adj. to go — (my mind went —)
blank II л. 1. to draw a — ('to achieve no result')
2. a complete ~
blanket л. 1. a bath; receiving; saddle; sheet — 2.
a security ~
blase adj. ~ about (they were very — about win-
winning first prize)
blaspheme v. (D; intr.) to — against (to ~ against
God)
blasphemous adj. ~ to + inf. (it was — to speak in
that manner)
blasphemy л. to commit; utter — against
blast л. ['explosion'] 1. to set off a ~ ['gust of
wind'] 2. an icy — ['verbal attack'] 3. to issue a ~
against 4. a vicious, withering — ['misc.'] 5. at full
— (the work was proceeding at full ~)
blather n. ['nonsense'] 1. sheer, utter ~ 2. ~ about
blaze л. to extinguish, put out a ~
blaze away v. (D; intr.) to — at (to — at the enemy)
blazes л. go to ~! ('damn you!')
bleach л. liquid ~
bleed v. 1. to — profusely, uncontrollably 2. (fig.)
(D; intr.) to — for (my heart ~s for him) 3. (D;
intr.) to — from (to — from the nose) 4. (N; used
with an adjective) to — smb. white 5. (misc.) to ~
to death
bleeding n. 1. to staunch, stop (the) ~ 2. heavy,

blemish
profuse, uncontrollable ~ 3. internal; menopausal
~ 4. ~ from (~ from the rectum)
blemish n. a minor; ugly-
blench v. (D; intr.) ('to flinch') to-at (he ~ed at
the sight)
blend v. 1. to ~ together (their voices ~ together
well) 2. (d; intr.) to - into (to ~ into the crowd) 3.
(D; intr.) to ~ with (water does not ~ with oil)
blend in v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (she ~ed in with
the crowd)
bless v. (D; tr.) to — with (we are ~ed with good
health)
blessing n. 1. to give, make, pronounce, say a ~
over 2. to chant a ~ 3. to give one's — to; to bestow
one's ~ on 4. a divine; priestly ~; God's ~ 5. a ~
for (it was a ~ for us) 6. a ~ that + clause (it was
a ~ that we didn't have to make the trip) 7. (misc.)
a mixed ~; a ~ in disguise; to count one's ~s
blight n. 1. to cast, put a ~ on, upon 2. a potato ~
3. urban ~ 4. a ~ on (a ~ on one's honor)
blind I adj. ['sightless'] 1. legally-2. (misc.)as-
as a bat ['blinded'] (cannot stand alone) 3. ~ to (~
to danger) 4. ~ with (~ with rage)
blind II v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (his infatuation ~ed
him to her faults)
blind III (BE) see window shade
blindness n. color; congenital; night; snow ~
blinds n. 1. to adjust; draw; lower; raise the — 2.
Venetian ~
blink v. (D; intr.) to— at ('to show surprise') (she
didn't even ~ at his outrageous proposal)
bliss n. 1. to enjoy ~ 2. complete, pure, sheer,
total, utter ~ 3. domestic, marital, nuptial, wed-
wedded ~ 4. ~ to + inf. (it was — to be without a tele-
telephone = it was — being without a telephone)
blister n. 1. to open a ~ 2. a fever ~ (AE; CE has
cold sore) 3. a ~ bursts; forms
blizzard n. 1. a raging; winter ~ 2. a ~ rages;
strikes 3. a ~ blows itself out
bloc n. 1. the Communist; eastern; NATO; Soviet
— 2. a voting ~
block n. ['interruption'] ['obstacle'] 1. (Am. foot-
football) to throw a — at smb. 2. a mental — (when it
comes to word games, I have a mental ~) 3.
(med.) a heart; nerve; saddle — 4. a stumbling ~
['street'] ['city square'] (AE) 5. a city ~ (the build-
building occupies an entire city ~) 6. around the ~; in,
on a ~ (they went around the ~; they live in this
~) ['apartment house'] (BE) 7. a council ~ 8. a
tower ~ ('a high-rise apartment') 9. (misc.) a — of
flats ['platform'] 10. a butcher's; chopping;
headsman's ~ ['auctioneer's platform'] 11. the
auction ~ 12. on the ~ ('being auctioned')
['group'] ['bloc'] 13. a trade ~ ['rectangular unit
used in construction'] 14. a building; cinder; con-
concrete ~ ['support'] ['brace'] 15. a starting ~ (fora
runner) ['section of text'] (computers) 16. to copy;
delete; end; move a ~
blockade n. 1. to impose; maintain a — 2. to break
(through); lift; run a — 3. a ~ against; on
blocks n. to play with-
blonde n. a natural; platinum ~
blood n. 1. to draw, let ~ 2. to lose; shed, spill ~
3. to staunch the flow of — 4. to donate; type ~ 5.
26
blue; pure; royal ~ 6. whole ~ 7. hot ('fiery') ~ 8.
~ cakes; circulates, flows, runs; clots, coagulates,
congeals, curdles; spurts (~ spurted from the
wound) 9. (fig.) ~ boils; freezes; runs cold 10.
(fig.) ~ tells 11. by ~ (related by ~) 12. of ~ (of
royal ~) 13. (misc.) to run in the — ('to be heredi-
hereditary '); in cold ~ ('without feeling'); to draw first
— ('to score the first success'); fresh/ new ~ ('new
personnel'); old ~ ('old personnel'); (colloq.)
tired ~ ('rundown condition of the body')
blood cell n. a red; white -
blood count n. 1. to do a — on 2. to have a ~
(done)
blood pressure n. 1. to take smb.'s — 2. elevated,
high; labile; low; normal ~
blood test n. 1. to do a — 2. to have a - (done)
blood transfusion n. 1. to administer, (colloq.) do,
give a ~ 2. to get, have a ~
blood vessel n. 1. an occluded ~ 2. a ~ bursts
bloom n. 1. to come into — 2. full ~ 3. in ~ (the
tulips are in full ~)
bloomer (BE) see blooper
blooper n. (colloq.) (AE) ['blunder'] 1. to com-
commit, make a ~ 2. a prize ~
blossom I л. in ~ (the trees are in ~)
blossom II v. (D; intr.) to— into (their friendship
~ed into true love)
blot n. 1. leave a ~ 2. a ~ on (his actions left a ~
on our name)
blotter n. ['blotting paper'] 1. a — absorbs (ink,
water) ['record'] 2. a police ~
blouse n. a full; peasant; see-through ~
blow I n. 1. to deal, deliver, strike a ~ (he dealt
us a severe ~) 2. to heap, rain ~s on smb. 3. to
come to ~s; to exchange ~s 4. to take a ~ (the
boxer took several ~s to the head) 5. to cushion;
deflect, parry, ward off; dodge a ~ 6. a body;
crushing, hard, heavy, powerful, resounding,
severe, staggering, telling; decisive; fatal, mortal;
glancing, light ~ 7. indiscriminate ~s (to rain
indiscriminate ~s on one's victims) 8. a low ('il-
('illegal') ~ (also fig.) 9. an exchange of ~s 10. a ~
against, at (to strike a ~ against poverty) 11. a ~
for (to strike a ~ for freedom) 12. a ~ on, to (a ~
on the head; he took a — to the chin; a ~ to one's
hopes) 13. under ~s (to reel under crushing ~s)
blow II v. 1. to ~ hard (the wind was —ing hard)
2. (A; usu. without to) she blew him a kiss 3. (D;
intr.) to ~ on (~ on the soup; it's too hot) 4.
(misc.) (slang) hqblew ('came') into town
blowout n. ['flat tire'] 1. to have a ~ 2. to fix a ~
bludgeon v. 1. (d;tr.) ('to force by beating') to ~
into (to ~ smb. into doing smt.) (also fig.) 2.
(misc.) to — smb. to death
blue n. ['color'] 1. dark; light ~ ['something col-
colored blue'] 2. a patch of — ['symbol of belonging to
a team at Oxford or Cambridge'] (BE) 3. to get,
win one's — ['misc.'] 4. out of the ~ ('unexpected-
('unexpectedly')
blueprint n. 1. to draw up, make a —2. a— for; of
(fig.: a — for peace)
blues n. (colloq.) to sing the ~ ('to complain')
bluff I n. ['false threat'] 1. to call smb.'s - ('to
challenge smb. to carry out a false threat') 2. to fall
27
book
for smb.'s ~ ('to be deceived by a false threat')
bluff II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ into; out of (they ~ed
him into making concessions) 2. to be caught ~ing
blunder In. 1. to commit, make a ~ 2. a costly,
egregious, fatal, glaring, grave, serious, stupid,
terrible ~ 3. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ toinvite
them)
blunder II v. (d; intr.) to ~on, upon ('to happen
on')
blush I n. 1. a deep-2. (misc.) at first-('at first
sight'); in the first — of youth ('as a youth')
blush II v. 1. to ~ deeply; readily 2. (D; intr.) to
~ at (to ~ at the very suggestion) 3. (D; intr.) to
~ for, with (he ~ed with shame)
boar n. a wild ~
board n. ['ship's deck'] 1. to go on — ['commis-
['commission'] 2. an advisory; draft (AE); editorial; liquor-
control (AE); parole; school; zoning ~ 3. on a ~
(to serve on a ~) ['footboard'] 4. a running ~ (on
a car) ['flat piece of wood or other material'] 5. a
baseboard (AE), skirting (BE); bulletin (AE),
notice (BE) ~; checkerboard; chessboard; cut-
cutting; dart; diving; drawing; emery; ironing ~
['misc.'] 6. a sounding ~; across the ~ ('for
everyone')
boarder n. to keep, take in ~s
boards n. (esp. AE) ['qualifying examination'] 1.
to pass; take one's ~ 2. college; state ~
boast I n. 1. to make a — 2. an empty, idle, vain;
proud ~
boast II v. 1. to ~ idly;proudly2. (D;intr.) to-
about, of (to ~ of one's success) 3. (L; to) she ~ed
(to the reporters) that she would win the race
boastful adj. - about, of
boat n. 1. to row; sail; steer a ~ 2. to launch, lower
a — 3. to overturn, swamp, upset a — 4. an assault;
fishing; flying ~; gunboat; lifeboat; mosquito, PT
(AE; BE has MTB); patrol ~; rowboat (AE),
rowing (BE) ~; sailboat (AE), sailing (BE) ~;
torpedo — 5. a ~ goes, sails; heaves; pitches; rolls
6. by — (to cross a river by ~) 7. (misc.) to be in the
same — ('to be in the same circumstances'); to
miss the ~ ('to let an opportunity slip by'); to push
the — out (BE; colloq.) Do make aspecial effort')
bobsled, bobsleigh n. to ride a ~; to race on ~s
bode v. 1. (D; intr.; P) to - for (these events ~
well for us) 2. (formal) (O) this ~s us no good
body n. ['substance'] ['firmness'] 1. to give — to
['group'] ['unit'] 2. an advisory; deliberative;
elected; governing; student ~; the — politic 3. in a
— (they presented their petition in a ~) ['physical
object'] 4. a foreign — (to remove a foreign — from
one's eye) 5. a gaseous; liquid; solid — 6. a celes-
celestial, heavenly — ['corpse'] 7. to cremate; embalm;
exhume a — 8. a bloated; decomposing — ['physi-
['physical structure of a person'] 9. to build up, condition,
strengthen one's — 10. to sell one's — 11. a healthy
- 12. (colloq.) the - beautiful
bog n. a peat —
boggle v. (d; intr.) to - at (the mind ~s at the
idea)
boil I n. ['state of boiling'] 1. to bring to a ~
(bring the milk to a ~) 2. to come to a — (the water
must first come to a ~)
boil II v. 1. to ~ gently; hard 2. (C) he ~ed an egg
for her; or: he ~ed her an egg 3. (D; intr.) to ~
with (to ~ with rage)
boil III n. ['furuncle'] 1. to lance a - 2. a-comes
to a head 3. to apply hot compresses to a ~
boil down v. 1. (d; intr.) to -to (it all ~s down to
one simple fact) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ to (she ~ed the
whole story down to one paragraph)
boiler п. а ~ cracks, ruptures
boiling point n. to reach the-
bold adj. (often used humorously) to be so-as to
+ inf. (may I be so ~ as to ask how old you are?)
boldface n. to print in —
bolshy adj. (colloq.) (BE) ['rebellious'] ~ about
bolt I n. 1. a lightning-2. (misc.) like a-out of
the blue ('unexpectedly')
bolt II v. to — upright
bomb n. 1. to detonate, explode, set off; drop;
fuse a ~ 2. to plant a ~ 3. to deactivate, defuse a
— 4. to dispose of an unexploded — 5. an atom,
atomic, fission, nuclear; fusion, hydrogen; neu-
neutron ~ 6. a clean; dirty — 7. a buzz; car; fragmen-
fragmentation; high-explosive; incendiary; letter; napalm;
petrol (esp. BE); pipe; plastic; smoke; stink; time
- 8. a smart ('guided') - 9. (AE) a cherry - ('a
type of firecracker') 10. a — explodes, goes off 11.
(misc.) (colloq.) (BE) to go like a ~ ('to be very
successful')
n. 1. to conduct a — 2. air; intensive
bomber n. 1. a dive-bomber; fighter; heavy; light;
long-range; medium — 2. an enemy ~
bombing n. area; around-the-clock; carpet; dive;
indiscriminate, random; pin-point, precision; sat-
saturation; shuttle; strategic; tactical ~
bombshell n. ['sensation'] to drop a ~
bond n. ['certificate'] 1. to issue a -2. to cash (in),
redeem a ~ 3. a debenture; development; govern-
government; long-term; municipal; negotiable; savings;
serial; treasury; war - ['tie'] ['link'] 4. to form;
strengthen a - (of friendship) with 5. a close, firm,
strong; spiritual ~ 6. a - between ['fetters'] 7. to
break, cast off one's ~s ['guarantee'] ['obligation']
8. to set ~ (the judge set — for him at two
thousand dollars) 9. to furnish, post a — 10. to for-
forfeit a — ['storage under supervision'] 11. in ~; out
of ~ (bottled in ~; to take wine out of ~)
bondage n. 1. to sell into — 2. to deliver from — 3.
in ~to
bone n. ['partofaskeleton']l.toseta(broken)~
2. to break, fracture a — 3. a (broken) — knits 4. to
the — (chilled/frozen to the ~) ['complaint'] (col-
(colloq.) 5. to pick a — with smb.
boner n. (slang) (AE) ['blunder'] to pull a -
bone up v. (colloq.) (AE) (D; intr.) to - on (she
had to — on her French)
bonfire n. 1. to build, light, make a — 2. to sit
around/round a — 3. a blazing, roaring ~
(BE) see hood
n. 1. to give, pay a — 2. to get, receive a ~
3. an annual; Christmas; cost-of-living ~
booby trap n. 1. to set a- 2. to set off, trigger a~
3. to deactivate a — 4. a — explodes, goes off
book I n. 1. to bring out, publish, put out; write a

book
28
— 2. to ban; censor; copyright; dedicate, inscribe;
edit; expurgate; pirate; proofread; review; revise;
translate a — 3 to bind a — 4. to set a — in type 5.
to charge, check a — (out of a library) 6. to renew
a — (borrowed from a library) 7. a children's;
comic; complaint —; cookbook (AE), cookery
(BE) —; handbook; illustrated; library; phrase;
picture; prayer; rare; ration; reference; ring (BE)
—; schoolbook; telephone —; textbook 8. (col-
loq.) the Good Book ('the Bible') 9. a - appears,
comes out, is published 10. a — goes out of print;
is sold out 11. a — about, on (a — about comput-
computers) 12. (misc.) to make — ('to make or accept
bets'); a closed — ('an obscure matter, person');
('a completed event, condition'); an open — ('an
accessible subject, person'); (slang) to throw the
— at smb. ('to punish an accused person
severely'); to go by the - ('to adhere strictly to
regulations')
book II v. (esp. BE) l.(C) she-ed a seat for me;
or: she —ed me a seat 2. (D; intr. tr.) to — through
to (can we — a ticket through to Berlin?)
bookcase n. built-in ~s
bookends n. a pair of ~
booking n. (esp. BE) 1. to make a — 2. to cancel
a —
bookkeeping n. 1. to do the - 2. double-entry;
single-entry —
books n. ['financial records'] 1. to keep (the) — 2.
to audit, go over, inspect the —
book up v. to — fully, solid (the hotel is ~ed up
solid = the hotel is fully ~ed up)
boom n. 1. a sonic — 2. a baby; business,
economic; postwar; wartime —
boomerang n. 1. to throw a — 2. a — always
returns
boon n. a — to (a — to science)
boor n. an insufferable —
boost n. 1. to give (smb.) a — 2. a big — 3. a — to
(a — to their morale)
boot see the Usage Note for trunk
booth n. an information; phone, telephone; poll-
polling, voting; projection —
boots n. 1. to put on; take off (one's) — 2. bower
(BE; slang; worn by young rowdies); hip; leather;
riding — 3. a pair of — 4. (misc.) to lick smb.'s —
('to be overly subservient to smb.')
bootstraps n. to pull oneself up by one's own ~
('to emerge from poverty through one's own
efforts')
booty n. 1. to capture, seize, take — 2. war —
border I n. 1. to draw, establish, fix a — 2. to
cross, slip across a — 3. to patrol a — 4. a closed;
common; disputed; fixed; open; recognized;
unguarded — 5. a — between 6. across, over a —
(to smuggle goods across a —) 7. at, on the — 8. as
far as, up to the — (she drove me as far as the ~)
9. (misc.) north of the —; south of the —
border II v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (to — on the
absurd)
borderline n. 1. a — between 2. on the —
bore I n. a crashing, frightful, insufferable, utter
bore II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) ('to dig') to - through
(to - a hole through a board) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
weary') to — to (he —d us to death/to tears)
bored adj. 1. -to (~ to death/to tears) 2. -with;
BE also has, esp. in children's language: — of (—
with life) 3. (misc.) he was — doing nothing
boredom n. 1. complete, sheer, utter — 2. out of —
(he started drinking again out of ~)
boring adj. — to + inf. (it was — to sit there with-
without anything to do)
born adj. 1. — of (— of poor parents) 2. — to (— to
wealth; — to illiterate parents) 3. — to + inf. (he
was — to rule) 4. (misc.) — free
borrow v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — from (she —ed a
book from me; they are always —ing from us) 2.
(D; tr.) to — from; into (the word was —ed from
English into German)
borrowing n. a — from (a — from French)
bosom n. 1. an ample-2. (formal) in the-(in the
— of one's family)
boss n. 1. an absolute, undisputed — 2. a straw —
('one who has little authority') 3. a party, political
both determiner, pronoun — of (we saw — 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 both of the students; we saw both students.
bother I n. 1. a — to (he was a — to everyone) 2.
a — to + inf. (it was no — to take care of them) 3.
(BE) a spot of - 4. (esp. BE) he had a lot of -
finding our house
bother II v. l.(D;intr.,tr.) to— about, with (she
didn't — me about/with the details) 2. (E; usu. in
neg. sentences) he didn't — to shave; don't — to
get up 3. (G; usu. in neg. sentences) he didn't -
getting up 4. (R) it ~ed me (to learn) that she had
not been promoted
bottle n. ['container for liquids'] 1. to break;
empty; fill; rinse; uncork a — 2. a baby (AE), feed-
feeding (BE), nursing (AE); hot-water — 3. a Thermos
— (AE; BE has Thermos flask) 4. a disposable,
no-deposit, no-return; plastic; returnable, reusa-
reusable — ['alcohol'] 5. to take to the — ('to begin to
drink to excess') 6. to hit the — ('to drink to
excess') 7. over a — ('while drinking') ['courage']
(slang) (BE) 8. to have a lot of — 9. the — to + inf.
(she hasn't got the — to do it)
bottleneck n. 1. to form, produce a — 2. to be
caught, trapped in a — 3. to eliminate a — 4. a — in
bottom n. 1. (usu. fig.) to scrape the ~ of the bar-
barrel ('to use one's last resources') 2. (fig.) to hit
('reach') ~ 3. to sink to the ~ 4. a double, false -
5. a — to (there's a false — to the suitcase) 6. at, on
the — (at the — of the well; we never could find out
what was at the — of the affair) 7. (misc.) to get to
the — of an affair ('to clear up a matter)
bough n. 1. a slender — 2. —s sway in the breeze
bounce I n. 1. a — to (there's a — to his walk) 2.
on the — (to catch a ball on the —; to hit on the first
~)
bounce II v. 1. (d; intr.) to -out of (she ~d out
of the chair) 2. (d; intr.) to - to (he ~d to his feet)
3. (misc.) to — up and down (she —d the ball up
and down)
29
brave
bounce back v. (D; intr.) to -from (our team ~d
back from its defeat)
bound I adj. (cannot stand alone) ['headed'] 1. -
for (— for London) 2. homeward —
bound II adj. ['covered'] - in (the book was ~ in
leather)
bound III adj. ['sure'] (cannot stand alone) ~ to
+ inf. (she is — to find out)
bound IV v. (formal) (D; tr.) to - on, to (Ger-
(Germany ~s France on the east)
bound V n. see bounds
boundary n. 1. to draw, fix, set; redraw a ~ 2. to
form a — 3. a common — 4. a — between
bounds n. I.tosetthe~2.outof~to3.within~
4. (misc.) to know no — (her generosity knew no
bound up adj. (cannot stand alone) ['connected']
— in; with (— in one's work; her future is — with
this firm)
bounty n. l.tooffer;paya —2.acash~3.a —for
bow I /bau/ n. ['bending of the head or body'] 1.
to make; take a - (the actor took his ~) 2. a low
— 3. a — to ['debut'] 4. to make one's —
bow II v. 1. ('to bend the head or body') to -
politely 2. (D; intr.) ('to bend the head or body')
to — before; to (to — politely to one's host; to —
before an emperor) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to
abandon') (to - out of politics)
bow III /bou/ n. ['device for shooting arrows'] 1.
to draw a — (in order to shoot an arrow) ['decora-
['decorative ribbon'] 2. to wear a - (in one's hair) ['knot']
3. to tie a -
bowdown /bau/ v. (D; intr.) to ~ to
bowels n. 1. to move one's — 2. loose —
bowl n. ['dish, vessel'] 1. a punch; salad; soup;
sugar (AE); washing-up (BE) - ['championship
football game'] (AE) 2. the Cotton; Rose; Sugar
— ['region'] (esp. AE) 3. a dust; rice -
bowling n. 1. to go in for - 2. to go -
bowling alley n. at a ~ (she works at a ~)
bow out v. (D; intr.) ('to give up') to-as (he had
to — as a contender)
bow tie /bou/ n. 1. to tie a - 2. to undo, untie a -
box n. 1. a call (BE), telephone (BE)-2. a letter
(BE) ~, mailbox (AE), pillar (BE) - 3. a signal -
(BE;AEhas signal tower) 4. (ice hockey) a pen-
penalty — 5. a witness — (BE; AE has witness stand)
6. a music (AE), musical (BE) - 7. a prompt
(BE), prompter's (AE) - 8. a shooting - (BE;
CE has hunting lodge) 9. a black - ('electronic
recording device') 10. a jewelry; lunch; spice — 11.
a poor - (in a church) 12. a press - (for jour-
journalists) 13. a safe-deposit - 14. (BE) a Christmas
— ('a Christmas gift') 15. a suggestion — 16. a fire-
alarm -17. (slang) (BE) on the - ('on television')
boxer n. 1. a clean; dirty - 2. ~s box; break;
clinch 3. (misc.) to knock out a —
boring n. to go in for-
boy n. 1. an altar; barrow (BE; CE has street ven-
vendor) ;. bugle; cabin; chorus; college (esp. AE);
delivery; messenger; newspaper; office; shoe-
shine; stock; water - 2. a best - ('assistant gaffer
on a TV or film set') 3. a ball - (who retrieves ten-
tennis balls) 4. (AE; southern) a good old (ole) - ('a
good fellow') 5. a mere — 6. a whipping — ('a
scapegoat') 7. a blue-eyed (BE), fair-haired (AE)
— ('a favorite') 8. (BE) a back-room — ('a scien-
scientist') USAGE NOTE: The meaning of 'non-white
servant', now obsolete, is considered offensive.
The AE use of boy in the meaning of 'black
male', now obsolete, is also considered offensive.
boycott n. 1. to impose a - 2. to lift a - 3. an
economic, trade; secondary — 4. a — of, on (they
imposed a - on all imports; they lifted their - of
imports
boyfriend n. a steady-
brace I n. aback; leg;shoulder-
brace II v. 1. (D; intr., refl.) to-for (to-for an
attack) 2. (E; refl.) she —d herself to hear what the
doctor would say
braces (BE) see suspenders
bracket n. ['support'] 1. to put up -s (on a wall)
['mark used to enclose'] 2. to enclose (a word) in
—s; to put (a word) into —s 3. angle, broken;
round; square —s ['group with similar characteris-
characteristics'] 4. an age; income; tax -
v. (D; intr.) to - about
I n. gold; silver ~
II v. (D; tr.) to — into (to — one's hair into
pigtails)
brain n. 1. to use one's — 2. to beat, rack one's —
over (she racked her ~ over the problem) 3. to
pick smb.'s — 4. (colloq.) on the — (he has nothing
but rock music on the —)
brains n. 1. to blow one's - out ('to shoot oneself
through the head') 2. the - to + inf. (does he have
enough - to figure it out?)
brainstorm n. (AE) ['sudden bright idea'] to have
a - (see the Usage Note for wave)
brake n. 1. to apply, step on a-; to pump the -s;
to put on the —s; to jam on/slam on the —s 2. to
ride the —s ('to use the brakes excessively') 3.
(fig.) to put a - on (the government put a - on
plans for expansion) 4. to release a — 5. an air;
coaster; disk; electric; emergency; foot; hand;
hydraulic; mechanical; power — 6. the —s jam-
jammed, locked; faded; failed; held, worked;
screeched
branch n. ['division'] 1. the executive; judicial;
legislative — (of the government) ['limb of a tree']
2. to trim ~es
branch off v. (D; intr.) to — from (the spur —es off
here from the main line)
branch out v. (D; intr.) to — from; into (our firm
has — ed out into various industries)
brand I n. 1. to put a —on (an animal) 2. a name,
popular —
brand II v. 1. (d; tr.) to - as (he was -ed as a
traitor) 2. (N; used with a noun) to be —ed a
traitor
brash, brassy adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to
demand more)
brass n. (colloq.) ['officers'] 1. air-force; army;
navy; Pentagon — 2. the top - ['daring'] 3. the -
to + inf. (she had the - to ask for a raise)
brat n. (colloq.) 1. a spoiled - 2. an Army -
('child in an Army family')
brave adj. — to + inf. (it was — of you to do that)

bravery
30
bravery п. to demonstrate, display, exhibit, show;
inspire ~
brawl n. a barroom, drunken ~
breach n. ['violation'] 1. to commit a ~ (of
etiquette, of the peace) 2. an egregious, flagrant ~
['gap'] 3. to effect, make a ~ (in enemy lines) 4. to
close, seal off a — 5. to fling oneself, throw oneself
into the ~ ['break in friendly relations'] 6. to cause
a ~ 7. to heal a ~
bread n. ['baked food'] 1. to bake ~ 2. to toast ~
3. to break ~ with ('to eat with') 4. fresh; moldy;
stale ~ 5. black; brown; corn; dark; leavened; rye;
sliced; unleavened; wheat; white; whole meal
(BE), whole wheat (AE) ~ 6. a crust; loaf; piece,
slice of ~ ['living'] 7. to earn one's daily ~ 8.
(misc.) to take the — out of smb.'s mouth
breadth n. (formal) in ~ (it is ten feet in ~)
break I n. ['dash'] 1. to make a ~ (for safety) ['es-
['escape'] 2. a mass; prison — ['interruption'] 3. to
make a ~ 4. a ~ in, with (a — in the conversation;
to make a ~ with tradition) ['rest'] 5. to have (esp.
BE), take a - 6. a coffee; news; station (AE); tea
(esp. BE) ~ 7. during, on a — ['opportunity'] (col-
loq.) 8. to give smb. a ~ ['good fortune'] 9. to get
a — 10. a lucky; unexpected ~ 11. a tax ~
break II v. 1. (B) ('to communicate') I had to ~
the news to them 2. (D; intr.) ('to curl and fall') to
~ against, on (the waves were —ing against the
rocks) 3. (d; intr.) ('to dash') to ~ for (to ~ for
cover) 4. (d; intr.) ('to take time') to ~ for (they
broke for lunch) 5. (d; intr.) ('to enter forcibly') to
~ into (burglars broke into the house) 6. (d; intr.)
('to begin') to ~ into (to — into song) 7. (d; tr.) ('to
cure') to ~ of (in time he was broken of his drug
habit) 8. (D; tr.) ('to crack') to ~ on (she broke a
tooth on a bone) 9. (d; intr.) ('to escape') to ~ out
of (two prisoners broke out of jail; our troops
broke out of the encirclement) 10. (d; intr.) ('to
penetrate') to — through (to — through enemy
lines) 11. (d; intr.) ('to end relations') to ~ with (I
broke with them) 12. (D; tr.) ('to cut off) to ~
with (she broke all ties with her friends) 13.
(misc.) to ~ loose; to — smb. on the wheel
breakaway v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (he broke away
from his captors)
breakdown n. 1. to have, suffer a ~ (he had a
nervous ~) 2. a complete; mental; nervous — 3. a
~ in communications
break down v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ into (to - a
substance into its components) 2. (misc.) to ~ in
tears
breaker n. a circuit ~
breakfast n. 1. to eat, have ~ 2. to make, prepare
~ 3. a continental; full; hurried; nutritious, whole-
wholesome; substantial ~ 4. at ~ (what did you discuss
at ~?) 5. for - (to eat eggs for ~) 6. (misc.) to
have ~ in bed; bed and ~ (as in a tourist home)
break free v. (D; intr.) to — from
break-in n. to commit a ~
break in v. (D; intr.) to— on (he broke in on their
conversation)
breaking n. (the crime of) ~ and entering
break loose v. (D; intr.) to — from
break off v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (they broke off
from the main wing of the party)
breakout n. 1. to organize a ~ (from prison) 2. to
achieve, effect a — (from an enemy encirclement)
break out v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ in (he broke out in
a rash) 2. (misc.) (Am. football) the back broke
out in/into the open
breakthrough n. 1. to achieve, effect, make a ~ 2.
a scientific ~
break through v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (they broke
through to the encircled unit)
breakup v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to-into (they broke
up the estate into small lots; our party broke up
into several splinter groups) 2. (colloq.) (D; intr.)
to ~ with (he broke up with his girlfriend) 3.
(misc.) ~ it up! (esp. AE; slang) ('stop fighting/
congregating and separate!')
breast n. 1. to beat one's ~ 2. to put a (newborn)
infant to ~ 3. (of an infant) to take the ~ 4. a
pigeon ~ ('a deformity of the chest') 5. (cul.)
chicken ~s 6. (misc.) to make a clean ~ of smt.
('to confess smt.')
breaststroke n. to do, swim the ~
breath n. 1. to draw, take a — 2. to catch; hold
one's ~ 3. to get one's — back 4. to lose one's — 5.
a deep; long — (she took a deep ~) 6. out of ~
('breathless') 7. (misc.) to spare, save one's — ('to
avoid a futile conversation'); to waste one's — ('to
speak in vain'); to take smb.'s ~ away ('to stun
smb.'); in the same — ('at the same time'); to one's
last — ('to the end of one's life'); under one's ~
('in a whisper'); with bated ~ ('with the breath
held, in suspense')
breathe v. 1. to-deeply 2. (B) he didn't-a word
to anyone 3. (d; tr.) to ~ into (she —d new life into
the project)
breather n. ['rest'] to have (BE), take a ~
breathing n. 1. deep; heavy, labored, noisy;
irregular; regular, steady ~ 2. (ling.) rough;
smooth ~
breathtaking adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to watch
the acrobats perform)
breeches n. riding-
n. 1. a — apart 2. a hardy; rare ~
n. a cattle, livestock; horse; poultry ~
: n. 1. cattle, livestock; horse; poultry —2.
selective ~ 3. of ~ (a person of good ~~)
breeze n. [Might wind'] 1. a ~ blows, comes up 2.
a gentle, light, soft ~ ['easy task'] (slang) (AE) 3.
a ~ to + inf. (it was a — to get him to agree = it was
a ~ getting him to agree) ['misc.'] 4. (colloq.)
(AE) to bat, shoot the ~ ('to chat')
brew I n. (a)home-
(a)homebrew II v. (C) she —ed some tea for us; or: she
—ed us some tea
brew-up n. (BE) ['making tea'] to have a ~
bribe I n. 1. to give, offer a ~2. to accept, take a
bribe II v. l.(D;tr.) to-into (to-smb. into col-
collusion) 2. (H) they —d him to overlook the viola-
violation
brick n. (colloq.) (BE) ['blunder'] to drop a ~
brickbats n. ['insults'] to hurl ~ at
bricks n. 1. to lay ~ (a bricklayer lays ~) 2. to
point ~
31
brow
bride n. 1. to take a ~ 2. a ~ takes a husband 3. a
beautiful, lovely — 4. a child; war — 5. a bride-to-
be; a future ~; one's intended ~
bridge I n. ['structure carrying a roadway'] 1. to
build, construct, erect a ~ 2. to throw a — across
a river 3. an arch; Bailey; bascule; cantilever;
covered ~; drawbridge; footbridge; pontoon; rail-
railroad (AE), railway (BE); suspension; toll; truss ~
(to raise a drawbridge) 4. a jet — (at an airport) 5.
a ~ collapses 6. a — across, over (a ~ across a
river) 7. (misc.) our planes knocked out the enemy
— ['partial denture'] 8. to make; put in a ~
bridge II n. ['card game'] auction; contract; du-
duplicate ~
bridgehead n. 1. to establish a ~ 2. to develop,
enlarge a ~
bridle I n. to put on a —
bridle II v. (D; intr.) to — at (she ~d at her
friend's nasty remark)
brief I n. ['summary of a legal case'] 1. to draw up;
file a — ['brevity'] 2. in ~ ['misc.'] 3. to hold no ~
for ('not to argue for')
brief II v. (D; tr.) to ~ smb. about, on (he had to
~ his lawyer on the case)
briefing n. 1. to give smb. a - 2. to get, receive a
— 3. a — about, on
brigade n. 1. a bucket; fire - (BE; AE has fire
department) 2. (misc.) a brigadier (BE)/brigadier
general (AE) commands a ~
brilliant adj. ~ + inf. (it was - of him to find a so-
solution so quickly)
brim I n. to the - (to fill smt. to the ~)
brim II v. (D; intr.) to — with (she was —ming
with enthusiasm)
brim over v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with
enthusiasm)
bring v. 1. (A) ('to carry') she brought word to
them; or: she brought them word 2. (C) ('to
carry') he brought a book for me; or: he brought
me a book 3. (d; tr.) ('to present') to ~ before (to
~ a proposal before a committee) 4. (d; tr.) ('to
summon') to — before (he was brought before the
court) 5. (d; tr.) ('to carry') to ~ into (she brought
the chairs into the house) 6. (d; tr.) to — on ('to
cause') (he brought trouble on himself) 7. (d; tr.)
to ~ to ('to cause to reach') (to — water to a boil;
her speech brought the crowd to its feet; we must
~ him to his senses; to ~ smb. to life) 8. (d; tr.) to
~ within ('to cause to reach') (another few feet
will ~ them within range) 9. (H; no passive) ('to
induce') we could not ~ him to share our views;
she could not ~ herself to read the letter 10. (J)
('to cause to come') his last-minute appeal
brought them rushing to his aid 11. (misc.) to — a
child into the world
bring around v. (AE) (D; tr.) ('to convince') to—
to (she brought them around to our point of view)
bring back v. 1. (C) bring back some coffee for
me; or: bring me back some coffee 2. (D; tr.) ('to
return') to ~ to (to ~ smb. back to life)
bring down v. 1. (mil.) (D; tr.) ('to call for') to ~
on (the artillery spotter brought down fire on the
enemy tanks) 2. (D; tr.) ('to reduce') to ~ to (they
finally brought the price down to a reasonable fig-
figure)
bring home v. (D; tr.) ('to make known') to — to
(the bombing brought the war home to the civilian
population)
bring in v. (D;tr.) ('to include') to —on (we must
~ them in on our plans)
bring out v. (D; intr.) ('to evoke') to - in (the
crisis brought out the best in her)
bring over v. (D; tr.) ('to move') to — to (the inci-
incident brought them over to our side)
bring round (CE)see bring around
bring together v. (D; tr.) ('to unite') to ~ for (we
brought them together for negotiations)
bring up v. 1. (B) I didn't want to — the subject to
her at that time 2. (d; tr.) to ~ against ('to confront
with') (the drought brought us up against serious
difficulties) 3. (D; tr.) ('to raise') to - for (to ~ up
a question for discussion) 4. (D; tr.) to — on ('to
inculcate with') (they brought the children up on
stories about the Old West) 5. (D; tr.) ('to lift') to
~ to (we brought their proficiency up to the
required level) 6. (H) ('to educate, raise') our
parents brought us up to respect others 7. (misc.)
her scream brought us up short ('her scream star-
startled us')
brink n. at, on the ~ (he teetered on the very — of
disaster; at the — of war)
brinkmanship, brinkmanship n. to practice —
bristle v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at (he ~d at the
remark) 2. (D; intr.) to — with (she ~d with
anger)
broach v. 1. (B) I would like to ~ the subject to
him 2. (D; tr.) to - with (I didn't want to ~ the
matter with her)
broadcast In. 1. to carry a — 2. to beam a — to 3.
to jam a — 4. a live ~
broadcast II v. 1. to — live 2. (B) they — the news
to the local population every day 3. (N; used with
an adjective) they broadcast the interview live
broadside n. to fire a-at
brogue n. 1. to speak (in, with) a — 2. a heavy,
incomprehensible, thick ~
broil v. (C) he broiled a few steaks for us; or: he
broiled us a few steaks
broiled adj. (AE) charcoal -
broke adj. (colloq.) ['having no money']1. to go ~
2. flat ~
broker n. 1. to act as a — for 2. an insurance; mar-
marriage; real-estate (AE; BE has estate agent) — 3.
(AE) a power — 4. an honest ~
bromide n. (colloq.) ['platitude'] a (tired, old) -
about
bronco n. 1. to ride a ~ 2. to break a ~
Bronx cheer n. (AE) to give, let out a—
brood v. (D; intr.) to — about, over
brook n. a babbling —
broth n. beef; chicken; clear ~
brother n. 1. a big, older; kid (colloq.), little,
younger; twin — 2. a foster; half—; stepbrother 3.
a blood; lay; soul — 4. a — to (he was like a ~ to us)
5. (misc.) Big Brother ('government that exercises
complete control')
brouhaha n. ['fuss'] a — over
brow n. to knit, wrinkle one's ~
5—127

browbeat
32
browbeat v. (D; tr.) to - into (they could not -
him into confessing)
browse v. (D; intr.) to — through (to — through
books)
brant n. to bear, take the - (our battalion bore
the — of the attack)
brash I n. 1. to apply a-to 2. a bottle; clothes-;
hairbrush; nailbrush; paintbrush; scrub (AE),
scrubbing (BE); shaving —; toothbrush;
upholstery —
brash II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against (she -ed
against the table) 2. (d; intr.) to - by, past (she
—ed by me) 3. (d; tr.) to — off (he —ed the crumbs
off the table) 4. (N; used with an adjective) she
~ed her coat clean
brash III n. [*briefencounter']l.tohavea~with
(to have a — with the authorities) 2. a close — (a
close — with the law)
brush-off n. ['snub'] to give smb. the ~
brash up v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against (to - against
a wall) 2. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on one's Latin)
brutal adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to do that)
brutality n. 1. to demonstrate, display, exhibit -
2. extreme — 3. police — 4. an act of — 5. — to,
towards, with
bubble n. 1. to blow —s 2. to prick a — 3. to burst
a — 4. a — bursts 5. soap —s
bubble over v. (D; intr.) to - with (the children
were —ling over with excitement)
bubbling adj. ~ with (~ with enthusiasm)
buck I n. (colloq.) (AE) ['responsibility'] to pass
the-
buck II v. (colloq.) (AE)l.(d; intr.) to-against
('to oppose') 2. (D; intr.) ('to make an all-out
effort') to - for (to ~ for a promotion)
bucket л. 1. a coal; fire; ice; water - 2. a metal;
wooden - 3. an empty; full ~ 4. (misc.) (colloq.)
to kick the - (*to die')
buckle I n. 1. to fasten a ~ 2. to undo, unfasten a
— 3. a brass —
buckle II v. (D; intr.) ('to collapse') to - under
(to — under severe pressure)
buckle down v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to-to (to-to
work)
bud n. ['cellembeddedinthetongue']l.ataste-
['early stage'] 2. to nip in the —
buddy n. a bosom; old -
budget I n. 1. to draw up a —2. to submit a —3.
to balance a — 4. to adhere to; keep, remain within
a - 5. to exceed; stretch a - 6. to cut, reduce a -
7. an annual; federal; household; itemized;
municipal; national; state — 8. an item in, on a —
budget II v. 1. (d; intr.) to-for (they-ed for a
new copying machine) 2. (D; tr.) to - for (we -ed
a thousand dollars for new books)
buff n. ['the bare skin'] 1. in the - 2. (BE) to strip
to the — ['devotee'] 3. a history; jazz; opera, thea-
theater-
buffalo n. a herd of-
buffer n. 1. to act as a — between 2. (misc.) a —
state
buffet v. to be — ed from pillar to post ('to be
forced to go to many places')
buffoon n. to play the —
bug n. ['listening device'] 1. to install a — 2. to
remove, tear out a ~
bugle n. 1. to blow, play a-2. a-sounds
build I n. ['figure'] a heavy; slight; slim; stocky;
sturdy —
build II v. 1. (C) they built a new library for us;
or: they built us a new library 2. (D; tr.) to - into
(he built cupboards into the walls) 3. (D; tr.) to -
on (to - a relationship on trust) 4. (D; tr.) to - out
of (they built a boat out of wood)
building n. 1. to build, erect, put up; renovate a —
2. to demolish, raze, tear down a - 3. to gut a -
(fire gutted the ~) 4. a dilapidated, gutted, ram-
ramshackle, tumbledown; low; tall — 5. an apartment
(AE); public -
buildup n. a military-
build up v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (they built him up
into a huge success) 2. (D; intr.) to - to (the ten-
tension built up to a climax)
built adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. - around (the
whole story was — around one character) 2. — into
(quality was - into their products) 3. (misc.) jerry
('cheaply') -; purpose - (BE)
bulb n. ['light bulb'] 1. to change, put in, screw in
(AE) a — 2. a — blows out; burns out 3. an electric;
frosted; light; three-way - 4. the glare of a -
['tuber'] 5. a crocus; tulip -
bulge v. (D; intr.) to — with (her suitcase was —ing
with presents)
bulk In. 1. a lumbering — 2. in — (to sell smt. in
bulk II v. (rare) to - large (the case-ed large in
his thoughts)
bull I n. n. ['adult male of a bovine animal'] 1. a
— bellows; gores ['nonsense'] (colloq.) 2. to shoot
the - ['misc.'] 3. to take the - by the horns ('to
confront a problem boldly'); like a — in a china
shop ('in a rough, crude, or clumsy manner')
bull II n. ['letter'] a papal-
bulldoze v. to - through (they -d their way
through all obstacles)
bulldozer n. to operate a —
bullet n. 1. to shoot a — 2. a stray; tracer — 3. a —
ricochets 4. a - lodges somewhere (the - lodged
in her shoulder) 5. a hail, volley of -s 6. (misc.) to
bite the — ('to perform a very unpleasant task')
bulletin n. 1. to issue a — about 2. an all-points —
3. a daily; news — 4. the — that + clause (we heard
the — that the dam had burst)
bullfight n. to hold, stage a -
bull's eye n. to hit, score a-
bully I n. (colloq.) a big—
bully II v. (D; tr.) to — into (they —ied him into
doing it)
bulwark п. а — against
bump v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against, into (she —ed
into me) 2. (D; tr.) to - against, on (she -ed her
arm against the table) 3. (colloq.) (AE) (D; tr.)
('to remove without warning') to — from (he was
-ed from the flight)
bumpkin n. a country —
bump up v. (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to - against (he
—ed up against me)
bum's rush n. (colloq.) to give smb. the - ('to
33
butter up
eject smb.')
bun n. ['knot of hair that resembles a bun'] 1. in a
— (she wore her hair in a —) ['type of pastry'] 2. a
cinnamon, sticky —
bundle n. (slang) ['a large amount of money'] to
make a —
bundle off v. (D; tr.) to-to (we-d the children
off to school)
bundle up v. (D; intr., refl.,tr.) to-against (they
—d up against the cold)
bungle v. to — completely (they completely —d
the job)
bunk n. (slang) (BE) to do a - ('to disappear')
buoy n. 1. to anchor a-2. a bell; breeches; life-
burden In. 1. to bear, carry, shoulder a - 2. to
impose, place a — on smb. 3. to alleviate, lighten,
relieve a — 4. to share a — 5. to distribute a —
equitably 6. a crushing, heavy, onerous — 7. a
financial; tax - 8. a ~ on, to (he became a ~ to his
family) 9. (misc.) it was a heavy — to bear
burden II v. (D;tr.) to-with (she didn't want to
— us with her problems)
bureau n. a better-business (AE); credit; farm;
missing-persons; news; service; speakers'; travel;
weather (AE; BE has meteorological office) —
bureaucracy n. a government; overgrown, swol-
swollen-
burglar n. a cat —
burglar alarm n. see alarm
n. to commit (a) —
I n. a — takes place (the — took place at sea)
In. 1. to receive a — 2. a brush, friction;
first-degree; minor, superficial; second-degree,
moderate; third-degree, severe - 3. (misc.) (esp.
AE) a slow — ('increasing fury')
burn И v. (d; refl.) to — into (the incident —ed
itself into my memory) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (he
—ed the meat to a crisp; the wood —ed to ashes;
she was -ed to death) 3. (D; intr.) to - with (his
cheeks —ed with shame) 4. (N; used with a noun)
to — smb. alive 5. (misc.) to — smb. at the stake;
she —ed her hand on the stove
burner n. 1. to light, turn on; turn off a - 2. a Bun-
sen; charcoal; gas; oil ~ 3. (misc.) (esp. AE) to
put smt. on the back — ('to postpone action on
smt.')
burnout n. (colloq.) (AE) ['exhaustion'] to
experience, suffer —
burn up v. (slang) (AE) (R) it -ed me up that she
was not promoted
burp n. 1. to let out, make a — 2. a loud, noisy —
burrow v. (D; intr.) to-into(themoles-edinto
our lawn)
bursary n. (BE) 1. to award a - 2. to receive a -
burst I n. ['series of shots'] 1. to fire a — at ['out-
['outbreak'] 2. a sudden - 3. in -s ['misc.'] 4. she
finally finished the job in/with a sudden - of
energy
burst II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - into (the mob burst
into the room; to — into flames; to — into tears) 2.
(d; intr.) to — out of (to — out of a room) 3. (D;
intr.) to - with (to - with pride; the granaries are
—ing with grain) 4. (E) she was —ing to tell
everyone the news
burst in v. (D; intr.) to — on, upon (we burst in on
them without warning)
burst out v. (G) they burst out laughing
burton n. (slang) (BE) to go for a-('to be lost; to
be broken; to be killed; to fail')
bury v. l.(d; refl., tr.) to -in (he -ied himself in
his work) 2. (N; used with an adjective) they -ied
him alive
bus n. 1. to drive a — 2. (as a passenger) to board,
get on; catch a ~; get off a -; to go by -; to ride
a ~; to ride in a -; to take a - 3. a city; double-
decker; local; long-distance (AE; BE has coach);
school; sightseeing — 4. by — (they came by —)
bush n. 1. to prune, trim a - 2. (misc.) to beat
about/around the — ('to speak indirectly')
bushel n. by the - (to sell by the -)
business n. ['commerce'] ['trade'] 1. to conduct,
do, transact; drum up — (to do — with smb.) 2. to
go into - 3. to go out of - 4. big; small ~ 5. a mail-
mailorder -; show -; the travel - 6. retail; wholesale
— 7. (AE) a land-office ('brisk') - (to do a land-
office — in real estate) 8- — drops off; picks up 9.
— is brisk, booming, flourishing, thriving; slack; —
is at a standstill 10. in — (to be in — for oneself) 11.
on - (to travel on -^) ['firm'] 12. to build up;
establish; launch a — 13. to manage, operate, run
a — 14. to buy into; buy out; take over a — ['work']
15. to get down to — 16. to go about one's — 17. to
talk — ['affairs'] 18. to mind one's (own) — 19.
bad; dirty; funny; (colloq.) monkey - 20. com-
company; personal; unfinished - ['misc.'] 21. he has
no — leaving so early ('he should not leave so
early1); to know one's — ('to be competent in one's
field'); to state one's - ('to explain what one is
doing'); to mix — with pleasure ('tocombine work
and recreation'); to mean — ('to be serious about
achieving one's ends'); to give smb. the — ('to
deceive smb.'); it's none of your - ('the matter
doesn't concern you')
n. (US) forced; school; voluntary—
n. (colloq.) ['arrest'] 1. to make a — 2. a drug
bustle off v. (D; tr.) to-to (she-ed the children
off to school)
busy I adj. l.~ at, with (the children were-with
their homework) 2. to be — doing smt. (she was —
getting dinner ready) 3. to keep smb. —
busy II v. (d; refl.) to-by, with (he-ied himself
with various jobs)
butcher n. a family - (BE) ('a butcher's business
run by a single family'); ('a butcher's business that
sells retail rather than wholesale')
butt I n. a cigarette; rifle—
butt II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against 2. (colloq.) (d;
intr.) to — into (to — into smb.'s business)
butter n. 1. to churn; cream; make — 2. to spread
— (on bread) 3. apple (AE); cocoa; peanut;
prune; salted; sweet; whipped - 4. fresh; rancid -
5. a pat; stick of — 6. in — (to fry in —)
butterfly n. 1. to collect -flies 2. a - flits from
flower to flower 3. (misc.) a social - ('one who
leads an active social life')
butter up v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to - to (he keeps
—ing up to the boss)

butt in
34
butt in v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a conversa-
conversation)
button n. ['fastener'] 1. to sew on a ~ 2. to lose; rip
off, tear off a — 3. a — comes off (my — came off)
['push button'] 4. to press, push a — 5. a panic (col-
(colloq.); push - ['badge'] 6. a campaign -
buy I n. (colloq.) ['purchase'] a good -
buy II v. l.(C) we bought a book for her; or: we
bought her a book 2. (D; tr.) to ~ from (she
bought her car from a local dealer) 3. (d; intr.) to
— into (to — into a business) 4. (misc.) to — as is
('to purchase with no guarantee of quality'); to —
retail; to — wholesale; to — at a reasonable price
buy back v. (D; tr.) to - from
buyer n. a prospective —
buying n. impulse; panic -
buzz I n. (colloq.) ('telephone call') to give smb.
a —
buzz II v. l.(D; intr.) to-for (to-for one's sec-
secretary) 2. (D; intr.) to - with (to - with activity)
buzzer n. 1. to press, sound a-2. at the-(at the
—, stop work immediately!)
bye n. (sports) to draw a —
by-election see election
bypass n. a coronary-
byplay n. — between
bystander n. an innocent —
35
call
cab n. 1. to call for; get; hail; hire; take a — 2. to
drive a — (for a living) 3. a radio — 4. by —; in a —
(to go somewhere by —)
cabbage n. 1. red; savoy; white — 2. boiled — 3. a
head of - 4. (AE) corned beef and -
cabin n. ['compartment'] 1. a first-class; second-
class — ['small house'] 2. a log — 3. a tourist —
cabinet n. ['case'] ['cupboard'] 1. a built-in; china;
file, filing; kitchen - ['body of advisors'] 2. the
president's — 3. a coalition; kitchen ('informal') —
4. a shadow — ('members of the opposition party
who will form the next cabinet') 5. (misc.) a —
minister (not US); a — reshuffle ['cabinet meet-
meeting'] (BE) 6. to hold a - 7. in - (to take a decision
in-)
cable I n. ['wire'] 1. to lay, string-2. a submarine
—; the transatlantic — 3. an electric, power; tele-
telegraph; telephone — ['cablegram'] 4. to send a — 5.
a — from; to
cable II v. 1. (A) we —d the message to them; or:
we —d them the message 2. (d; intr., tr.) to — for
(they —d for immediate delivery) 3. (H) we —d
them to return home immediately 4. (L; may have
an object) she —d (us) that the manuscript had
arrived 5. (Q; may have an object) they —d (us)
where to meet
cablegram n. 1. to send a — 2. to get, receive a —
3. a — from; to
cadence n. (usu. mil.) 1. to count — 2. in —
cadet n. 1. an air-force; military; naval — 2.
(slang) (AE) a space — ('an absent-minded per-
person')
caesarean, caesarean section n. 1. to do, perform
a — on 2. (misc.) to be delivered by —
cafe n. a transport — (BE; AE has truck stop)
cafeteria n. a school —
cage n. a bank teller's (AE) ~
cagey adj. (colloq.) ['sly'] — about
cahoots n. (esp. AE) in — with ('in partnership
with')
cajole v. 1. (d;tr.) (with an inanimate object) to —
from, out of (she —d some money from him) 2. (d;
tr.) to — into (he —d me into signing over the prop-
property) 3. (d; tr.) (with an animate object) to — out
of (they —d him out of changing his will)
cake n. 1. to bake; frost (esp. AE), ice a — 2. a
birthday; chocolate; coffee; honey; layer;
Madeira (BE), pound (AE); marble; sponge;
wedding; white — 3. a piece, slice of — 4. (misc.)
a piece of — ('smt. very easy to do'); to take the —
('to be the best or worst')
calamity n. 1. to avert; ward off a — 2. to survive
a — 3. a — befalls smb. 4. a crushing, dire, great;
national —
calculate v. (L)we-d that the trip would take two
days
calculated adj. 1. ill; well-2. (usu. does not stand
alone) — to + inf. (his actions were — to provoke
his opponents)
calculations n. 1. to do — 2. mathematical —
calculator n. 1. to use, operate a — 2. a pocket —
calculus n. ['mathematical method'] 1. differen-
differential; integral; vector — ['deposit formed in an
organ of the body'] 2. a renal; urinary —
calendar n. ['chart that shows the days and
months'] 1. the Chinese; Gregorian; Hindu;
Islamic, Muslim; Jewish; Julian; Roman — 2. a
perpetual — ['schedule'] 3. to clear one's — 4. a
court; full; school; social — 5. on a — (what's on
your — this week?)
calf n. 1. a — bleats 2. in — (the cow was in —) 3.
(misc.) the meat of the — is veal
caliber, calibre n. ['diameter of the barrel of a
weapon'] 1. heavy; light — ['quality'] 2. high; low
— 3. of a certain — (there are few workers left of
her-)
calisthenics, callisthenics n. 1. to do - 2. daily;
group, mass —
call I n. ['appeal'] ['summons'] 1. to issue a — for
(the government issued a — to the populace for
voluntary contributions) 2. to answer, heed,
respond to a — (to answer the — of duty) 3. a clar-
clarion — 4. a curtain — (the actor had five curtain —s)
5. at smb.'s beck and — ['visit'] 6. to make, pay a
— on smb. 7. to make a — at a place (the ships
made —s at several ports) 8. a business; courtesy;
port; professional — 9. a house — (my doctor
makes house —s) 10. a — to (a — to arms) ['invita-
['invitation'] 11. to accept a — ['telephone call'] 12. to give
smb. a — 13. to make, place a — to smb. 14. to
answer; return; take a — (who will take her —?)
15. to put a — through (the operator put my —
right through) 16. a business; collect (AE), trans-
transferred-charge (BE); conference; dial-direct (AE),
direct-dialled (BE); emergency; local; long-dis-
long-distance, toll (AE), trunk (BE); operator-assisted;
ordinary (BE), station-to-station (AE); personal
(BE), person-to-person (AE); telephone; wake-
up — 17. a — from; to ['signal'] 18. a bugle —
['reading aloud'] 19. a roll — ['duty'] 20. on —
(which nurse is on —?) ['need'] 21. a — for (there
is no — for such behavior) 22. a ~ to + inf. (there
was no — to complain) ['formation'] (AE) (usu.
mil.) 23. sick — (to go on sick —) ['misc.'] 24. a
close — ('a narrow escape')
call II v. 1. (C) ('to summon') she — ed a taxi for
me; or: she —ed me a taxi 2. (d; intr.) ('to visit') to
— at (the ship will — at several ports) 3. (d; intr.)
to — for ('to fetch') (I'll — for you at two o'clock)
4. (d; intr.) to — for ('to require') (the position —s
for an experienced engineer) 5. (d; intr.) to — for
('to seek') (to — for help) 6. (d; tr.) ('to summon')
to — into (she was —ed into the room) 7. (D; intr.)
to — on ('to visit') (several friends —ed on us) 8.
(colloq.) (d; tr.) to — on ('to reprimand') (the boss
—ed me on my sloppy writing) 9. (d; tr.) ('to sum-
summon') to — out of (she was —ed out of town on
business) 10. (D; intr.) ('to shout') to — to (she

call down
36
—ed to me in a loud voice) 11. (d; tr.) ('to sum-
summon') to ~ to (to — smb. to account; to — smt. to
mind; the chair —ed the delegates to order; to be
—ed to the bar) 12. (N; used with a noun or adjec-
adjective) ('to describe as') she —ed him a stuffed shirt;
I — that mean 13. (O) ('to describe as') to — smb.
a bad name 14. (misc.) (esp. AE) ('to telephone')
to — long-distance
call down v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to summon') to — on,
upon (to — the wrath of God on smb.'s head) 2.
(D; intr.) ('to shout') to — to (he —ed down to us
from the roof)
call on v. 1. (D; tr.) to — for (to — a pupil for an
answer) 2. (H) the mayor —ed on the people to
remain calm
callous adj. 1. — to (— to suffering) 2. — to + inf.
(it was — of him to say that)
call out v. (D; intr., tr.) ('to shout') to - to (he
—ed smt. out to me)
call over v. (D;tr.)to —to(I—edhimovertoour
table)
call up v. (D; intr.) ('to shout') to-from; to (she
—ed up to us from the basement)
call upon v. see call on
calm n. 1. to shatter the - 2. a dead, perfect - 3.
(misc.) the — before the storm
calories n. 1. to count — 2. to burn — 3. empty —
(in junk food)
calumny n. to heap— on
camel n. an Arabian, one-humped; Bactrian, two-
humped —
camera n. 1. to load a ~ 2. an automatic; box; cine
(BE), motion-picture (AE), movie (AE); minia-
miniature; television, TV - 3. candid - ('taking pic-
pictures of people without their knowledge') 4. off —
('not being filmed') 5. on — ('being filmed')
6.(misc.) to face the — (in order to be photo-
photographed)
n. a motion-picture (AE); television
camouflage n. 1. to utilize -2. natural - 3. by -
(to conceal by —)
camp n. 1. to make, pitch, set up a — 2. to break,
strike — 3. an army; concentration; detention; dis-
placed-persons, DP; internment; labor; prisoner-
of-war, POW, PW (AE); refugee; repatriation;
summer; training; work — 4. a trailer — (AE; BE
has caravan park) 5. the enemy; rival — 6. an
armed-
campaign I n. 1. to carry on, conduct, wage;
launch, mount, organize a — 2. an active, vigor-
vigorous; feeble, weak; whirlwind — 3. an advertising;
anti-smoking; educational; election, political;
membership; military; national, nationwide; pub-
public-relations; smear; whispering; whistle-stop;
write-in — 4. the — got off to a good start; the —
fizzled (out) 5. a — against; for (the — against
smoking; a — for equal rights) 6. a — to + inf. (a
— to curb alcoholism)
campaign II v. 1. to - vigorously 2. (D; intr.) to
— against; for
camp bed (BE) see cot 1,2
camper n. a summer ~ (person)
campus n. (esp. AE) 1. a college, university — 2.
off; on — (to live on —)
can I n. l.(AE) an ash, garbage, trash — (BE has
dustbin) 2. a milk; watering — 3. a tin —
can II v. (F) she ~ work (see the Usage Note for
able)
Canadian n. a French —
canal n. 1. to build, construct, dig a ~ 2. an irriga-
irrigation—
canard n. 1. to circulate, spread a — 2. an absurd,
preposterous ~
canary п. а — sings
cancer n. 1. to develop — 2. breast; colon, colorec-
tal; lung; metastatic; rectal; skin; stomach — 3.
inoperable; terminal — 4. — metastasizes; spreads
candid adj. 1. - about 2. - with
candidacy, candidature n. 1. to announce, file
one's — 2. to withdraw one's —
candidate n. 1. to put up a — (for office) 2. to
adopt (BE); endorse a - 3. (BE) to de-select a -
('to refuse at the local level to support a party can-
candidate adopted at the national level') 4. a party;
write-in — 5. a defeated; handpicked; leading;
successful; unsuccessful; victorious (a successful
— for admission to the university; a victorious —
for the party's nomination) 6. a — for (a — for the
presidency)
candle n. 1. to dip-s 2. to light a-3. to blow out,
extinguish, snuff out a — 4. the — was burning; was
flickering; was going out; was sputtering 5. a wax
— 6. the flame of a - 7. (misc.) to burn the - at
both ends ('to dissipate one's energy by doing too
much'); not to hold a — to smb. ('to be far inferior
to smb.')
candlelight n. by - (to read by-)
candlestick n. 1. brass; silver — s 2. a pair of — s
candor n. 1. complete; disarming — 2. the — to +
inf. (she had enough — to tell them the truth)
candy n. (AE) 1. chocolate; cotton; hard - 2. a
box; piece of — (BE has sweets)
cane n. ['walking stick'] 1. to carry; twirl a —
['plant'] 2. sugar —
cannibalism n. to engage in, practice —
cannon n. 1. to fire a — 2. to aim a — at; to train a
— on 3. to load a — 4. a — booms, roars; fires 5. a
water — (the police trained a — on the mob)
canoe n. to paddle a —
canon n. ['dogma'] 1. to establish, lay down a ~
['round'] (mus.) 2. to sing a —
cap n. ['container holding an explosive charge'] 1.
a percussion — ['head covering'] 2. to place, put a
— on one's head 3. a baseball; bathing; dunce; for-
forage (BE), garrison; overseas; service; skull — 4.
(BE) a cricket; rugby - (showing that the wearer
is a member of a certain team) 5. (fig.) a thinking
— ['ceiling'] 6. to place a — on (to place a — on
expenditures)
capability n. 1. to demonstrate one's -ties 2. a
defense; nuclear - 3. the - to + inf. (the - to
win) 4. beyond; within one's —ties
capable adj. - of (he is - of anything)
capacity n. ['abilitytohold']l.to~(filledto~J.
lung; seating; storage - 3. a - of (a - of twenty
gallons) ['ability'] 4. intellectual, mental — 5.
one's earning — 6. a — for (a — for making friends)
37
carriage
7. the — to + inf. (she has the — to go all the way
to the top) ['ability to produce'] 8. plant; produc-
productive — (our country's productive —) 9. full, peak —
10. at — (to operate at peak —) ['function'] 11. an
administrative; advisory; official; professional;
unofficial — 12. in a — (she acted in an advisory ~;
in his — as legal advisor, he helped us a great deal)
caper n. 1. to cut a — 2. a childish —
capital n. ['wealth'] 1. to borrow; raise — 2. to
invest, put up; tie up — 3. to withdraw — 4. bor-
borrowed; circulating, working; fixed, permanent;
foreign; idle ~ ['gain'] 5. to make — out of smt. 6.
political - (they made political - out of the inci-
incident) ['official seat of government'] 7. to establish
a — 8. a national; provincial; state — 9. foreign;
world —s ['main center'] 10. a diamond; fashion;
film — (Hollywood is the film — of the world)
capitalize v. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on smb.'s mis-
mistakes)
capital punishment n. 1. to impose; re-introduce
- 2. to abolish -
capitulate v. (D; intr.) to-to (to-to the enemy)
capricious adj. - to + inf. (it was - to act in that
manner)
capsule n. a space; time —
captain n. 1. (AE) a bell - 2. a ship's; team - 3.
(AE) a precinct - (in the police) 4. (mil.) a -
commands a company or battery 5. (misc.) —s of
industry ('leading industrialists')
captive adj. to hold smb. —
car n. ['automobile, motorcar'] 1. to drive, oper-
operate a — 2. to bring a — to a stop; to stop a — 3. to
back a - (she backed the - into the garage) 4. to
ride in a - 5. to go, travel by - 6. to hire (BE),
rent a - 7. to break in (AE), run in (BE) a (new)
— 8. to jack up; park; register; repair; road-test;
service; tune up; winterize a — 9. to smash up,
total, wreck a - 10. an armored; command; geta-
getaway; Panda (BE), patrol, police, prowl (AE),
squad (AE); passenger; racing; scout; sports;
stock — 11. an estate — (BE; AE has station
wagon) 12. a new; secondhand, used — ['vehicle
that moves on rails'] 13. (on a train) (AE; BE has
carriage, wagon, van) a baggage; box; cattle;
club, lounge, parlor; dining, restaurant (BE); flat;
freight; mail; railroad; sleeping; tank — 14. a trol-
trolley - (AE; BE has tram) 15. a cable - 16.
(misc.) to uncouple railroad/railway — s
carbon n. radioactive —
card n. 1. a boxing; calling, visiting; credit; filing;
identity; index (AE), record (BE); library (AE);
membership; playing; postal; race (BE), racing
(AE); ration; time — 2. a boarding — (for board-
boarding a plane) 3. a report — (AE; BE has school
report) 4. a trump - (also fig.) ('advantage') 5. a
flash — (used as a teaching aid) 6. an anniversary;
birthday; Christmas; confirmation; Easter; get-
well; graduation; greeting; Hanukkah; New
Year's; sympathy — 7. (misc.) a drawing — ('one
who attracts large audiences')
cards n. 1. to play - 2. to cut; deal; shuffle the -
3. playing — 4. (misc.) to stack the — ('to prear-
prearrange conditions to one's own advantage') to hold
all the — ('to be in a strong negotiating position');
to be in (AE), on (BE) the - ('to be destined by
fate')
care I n. ['caution'] 1. to exercise, take —2. great,
meticulous, painstaking, scrupulous, utmost — 3.
— to + inf. (she took — to avoid catching cold) 4.
— that + clause (take — that you don't get
involved) ['solicitude'] ['maintenance'] ['keep'] 5.
to provide — for 6. to take — of 7. to entrust smb.
to smb.'s —; to put smb. in smb.'s — 8. (tender)
loving; parental — 9. antenatal (BE), antepartal,
prenatal (AE); child; coronary; custodial; day;
dental; domiciliary; emergency; extended; foster;
health; hospice; in-patient; intensive; long-term;
medical; nursing; out-patient; postnatal, postpar-
tum; respite; special — (this patient requires inten-
intensive —; day — for children) 10. primary (health) —
11. in smb.'s - (the children were left in my -) 12.
under smb.'s — (under a doctor's —) 13. (misc.) a
coronary-care unit; an intensive-care unit ['misc.']
14. in — of ('at smb.'s address')
care II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to be interested') to -
about (she doesn't — about our opinions) 2. (D;
intr.) ('to like') to — about, for (he —s about us;
she —s a lot for you; would you — for some more
coffee?) 3. (d; intr.) ('to take care of) to - for
(she -s for her elderly mother) 4. (E) ('to want')
I don't — to attend
career n. 1. to carve out, make a —(for oneself) 2.
to enter on; launch a — 3. to abandon, give up
one's - 4. to cut short smb.'s - (the accident cut
short her —) 5. a brilliant, distinguished; check-
checkered; promising; successful; turbulent - 6. an
academic; amateur; diplomatic; literary; military;
political; professional; public; stage — 7. a — as (to
carve out a — as a diplomat) 8. a — in (she made a
— for herself in politics)
careful adj. 1. — about, of (a good writer is —
about details) 2. - in (to be-in negotiating a new
trade agreement) 3. — with (we must be — with
dynamite) 4. — to + inf. (she was — to avoid con-
controversy)
careless adj. 1. - about, in, or, with (- about
one's appearance) 2. — to + inf. (it was — of you
to leave the door unlocked)
carelessness n. — about, in, with
caress I n. a gentle —
caress II v. to — gently
cargo n. 1. to carry, haul — 2. to load, take on;
stow; transfer — 3. to unload — 4. contraband;
general — 5. (misc.) a — plane; ship
caricature n. 1. to draw a-of 2. a bold, striking-
carol I n. a Christmas —
carol II v. to go —ing
carp v. (D; intr.) to — at
carpet n. 1. to beat a - 2. to lay a - 3. to take up
a — (the — must be taken up and cleaned) 4.
(misc.) to roll out the red — for smb. ('to give smb.
a warm reception'); a flying, magic —; to call smb.
on the - ('to call smb. to account for her/his
actions')
carpeting n. ['floor covering'] 1. fitted (BE), wall-
to-wall — ['severe reprimand'] (BE) 2. to give
smb. a —
carriage n. ['vehicle'] 1. see baby carriage 2. a

carriageway
38
railway ~ (BE; AE has railroad car) 3. a horse-
drawn — ['support'] 4. a gun; typewriter — ['bear-
['bearing'] 5. an erect; proud ~
carriageway n. a dual ~ (BE; AE has divided
highway)
carrier n. 1. an aircraft; escort; personnel; troop ~
2. a letter, mail ~ (AE; CE has postman) 3. a
common, public — ('a transport service used by
the public') 4. a chronic — (of a disease)
carrot n. 1. diced ~s 2. a bunch of ~s
carry v. 1. (B) she ~ied the books to me 2. (d; tr.)
to — from; to (we ~ied the table from the door to
the center of the room) 3. (d; tr.) to ~ into (~ the
chairs into the house) 4. (d; tr.) to — out of (we
~ied the books out of the room) 5. (P; refl.) she
~ies herself well 6. (misc.) to — to excess, to an
extreme ('to go too far')
carryback v. (B) he ~ied the books back to her
carryforward v. (D; tr.) to - to (the figures must
be ~ied forward to the next page)
carry on v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to continue') to — with
(~ with your work) 2. (D; intr.) ('to have an
affair') to ~ with (he was -ying on with a married
woman) 3. (BE) (G) to - talking
carry-over п. а ~ from; to (a ~ from the past)
carryover v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (~ these figures
over to the next page; to ~ a tradition from one
generation to another)
cart n. 1. to draw, pull; push a — 2. a — creaks;
lumbers 3. a shopping ~ (AE; BE has trolley) 4.
(misc.) to put the ~ before the horse ('to do in the
wrong order'); to upset the apple ~~ ('to ruin
smb.'s plans')
cartel n. 1. to form a — 2. to break up a ~ 3. an
international, multinational ~
cartilage n. (a)torn-
cart off v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (they ~ed him off to jail)
cartoon n. 1. to draw a ~ 2. an animated; political
— 3. a strip ~ (BE; CE has comic strip)
cartridge n. a blank; practice; ruptured; spent ~
cartwheel n. to do, turn a ~
carve v. 1. (C) he ~d an ornament for me; or: he
—d me an ornament 2. (D; tr.) to — from, out of
(to ~ a figure from ivory) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ in (to
~ in wood)
carving n. an ivory; wood ~
case I n. ['legal action'] ['argument'] 1. to hear,
try a — (the court will not hear this ~) 2. to argue,
plead a ~ (the lawyer argued the ~ skillfully) 3. to
make (out), present, state; take a ~ (she made out
a good ~ for her client; the president took his ~ to
the people) 4. to lose; win a — 5. to decide; settle
a ~ (they settled the - out of court) 6. to rest one's
— ('to cease introducing evidence') (the defense
lawyer rested her ~) 7. to dismiss, throw out a ~
(the judge dismissed the ~) 8. an airtight,
ironclad, open-and-shut, watertight; clear;
strong; weak ~ 9. a civil; criminal; pending; test ~
10. a ~ goes to trial 11. a ~ against (we had an air-
airtight — against him) 12. (misc.) to have a good ~
('to have a convincing argument') (often ironic)
['crime, felony'] 13. to break, crack, solve a - (the
detective broke the ~) 14. to investigate, work on
a — (the police worked on the ~ for a year) ['in-
['instance, occurrence, example'] 15. to cite a — 16.
an attested; authenticated; borderline; celebrat-
celebrated; clear; flagrant; hypothetical; isolated, rare;
open-and-shut ('easily settled'); similar; special ~
17. (med.) an acute; advanced; chronic; hopeless;
lingering; mild; terminal ~ 18. to be the ~ ('to be
so') 19. in a certain — (in this ~; in any ~; in — of
emergency) 20. a — in point ('a pertinent case')
['inflectional form'] 21. to govern, take a ~ (cer-
(certain Russian verbs take the dative ~) 22. the abla-
ablative; accusative; dative; genitive; instrumental;
locative; oblique; prepositional; vocative ~
['misc.'] 23. a basket — ('smb. without arms or legs
or who is in a completely hopeless situation'); as
the ~ may be
case II n. ['container'] ['cover'] an attache; dis-
display; jewelry; packing; pillow; watch ~
caseload n. 1. to carry a ~ 2. to increase; reduce
smb.'s — 3. a heavy; light ~ (the social worker car-
carries a heavy ~)
cash In. 1. to pay (in) ~ 2. to run out of — 3. out
of, short of ~ 4. cold, hard; loose; ready; spare ~
5. petty ~ 6. (misc.) — on the barrel (esp. AE)/nail
(BE) ('pay now in cash'); ~ on delivery ('pay
when the order is delivered')
cash II v. (D; tr.) to ~ for (she ~ed the money
order for me)
cash hi v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ on (to-onone's
sudden popularity)
casino n. a gambling ~
casserole n. 1. to bake a —2. a meat; vegetable-
cast I n. ['set of performers'] 1. to head a - 2. to
select a — 3. an all-star; supporting — ['rigid dres-
dressing of gauze'] (med.) 4. to apply a ~ to; to put a
~ on (to put a ~ on a leg) 5. a plaster ~
cast II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to assign to a role') to — as
(he was cast as Hamlet) 2. (d; tr.) ('to throw') to ~
on (his actions have cast doubts on our entire cam-
campaign)
cast about v. (d; intr.) to-for ('to seek') (to-for
a solution)
caste n. 1. a warrior ~ 2. a — system
cast hi v. to ~ one's lot with smb. ('to join forces
with smb.')
casual adj. ~ about (she was very — about winning
the prize)
casualties n. 1. to inflict ~ on 2. to incur, suffer,
take — 3. to report — 4. heavy, serious; light ~ (to
inflict heavy ~ on the enemy) 5. civilian; military;
traffic ~»
cat n. 1. to neuter a —; to spay a (female) — 2. an
alley; stray — 3. an Angora; Burmese; Persian;
Siamese ~ 4. ~s meow (AE), miaow (BE); purr;
scratch 5. a young — is a kitten 6. a male — is a
tomcat 7. (misc.) to let the — out of the bag ('to
reveal a secret')
catalog, catalogue n. 1. to compile, make up a - 2.
an author; card; subject; union ~ 3. a college,
school, university; mail-order; museum ~
catapult v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ to (he was ~ed to
fame)
cataract n. (med.) 1. to develop a ~ 2. to remove
a~
n. 1. to suffer a ~ 2. a financial;
39
center
major, overwhelming ~ 3. a — for, to (the fire was
a — to everyone)
catch I n. ['hook'] 1. to fasten a - 2. a safety ~
['smt. caught'] 3. a good ~ (the fishermen brought
in a good ~) 4. the ~ of the day; the day's ~ ['act
of catching'] 5. a running ~ (as in baseball)
catch II v. 1. to ~ red-handed, in the act 2. (C)
she caught a small fish for me; or: she caught me a
small fish 3. (D; tr.) to — from (she caught a cold
from her brother) 4. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ in (the kite
caught in a tree) 5. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on (his shirt
caught on a nail; he caught his shirt on a nail) 6. (J)
we caught him stealing 7. (colloq.) (esp. BE) (O)
she caught him one in the eye 8. (misc.) we caught
him at his old tricks
catch on v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ to ('to comprehend')
(he caught on to what I said immediately) 2. (D;
intr.) ('to become popular') to — with (to ~ with
the public)
catchup v. l.(D; intr.) to— on (to— on one's cor-
correspondence) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ to (AE), with (I'll
— with you later; BE also has: I'll — you up later)
catechism n. (rel.) to recite the-
category n. 1. to establish, set up a — 2. to assign
to, put into a — 3. to fit into a ~
cater v. (d; intr.) to ~ for (BE), to (to ~ to all
tastes) USAGE NOTE: In BE cater to is typi-
typically pejorative, meaning 'to pander to'.
eater-cornered, catty-cornered adj., adv. (AE) ~
to
catheter n. (med.) to change; insert; irrigate;
remove a ~
Catholicism n. Roman-
cattle n. 1. to breed; raise (esp. AE), rear (BE) ~
2. to drive; graze; round up — 3. to brand — 4.
dairy; prize ~ 5. ~ graze 6. a head of ~; a herd of
~ 7. young ~ are calves 8. female — are cows 9.
male — are bulls
catty adj. (colloq.) ['malicious'] - about
catty-cornered see eater-cornered
caucus n. 1. to hold a — 2. a party ~
caught up adj. ['involved'] — in (~ in radical
movements)
cause I n. ['movement'] ['objective'] 1. to
advance, champion, fight for, promote; serve a ~
2. to espouse, plead a — 3. to take up a ~ 4. a com-
common; good, just, worthwhile, worthy ~ (to make
common — with smb.) 5. a lost — ['reason'] 6. to
give; show — for 7. (legal) probable — 8. a deep-
rooted, root, underlying; immediate; leading,
major; primary; secondary; ultimate ~ 9. natural
~s (to die of natural ~s) 10. (a) — for (there is no
~ for alarm) 11. — to + inf. (to find — to rejoice;
there is no — to complain; she had good — to be
disappointed)
cause II v. 1. (A; usu. without to) we ~d them
a lot of trouble 2. (гаге) (Н; no passive) the inci-
incident ~d me to reflect
caution I n. 1. to exercise, use —2. due; extreme,
great — 3. with ~ (to view with ~) 4. (misc.) to
fling/hurl/throw ~~ to the winds
caution II v. 1. (D; tr.) to —about, against (they
~ed us against drinking the water) 2. (H) she ~ed
us not to go
cautious adj. 1. — about, of (he was ~ about com-
committing himself; she was — of strangers) 2. ~ in (~
in using firearms) 3. ~ with (be — with them)
cavalry n. 1. to commit ~ 2. heavy; light ~
cave n. 1. to explore a — 2. a deep ~
cavil v. (formal) (D; intr.) to — at
cavity n. 1. to fill a ~ (in a tooth) 2. the abdominal;
chest; oral ~
cease v. 1. (E) the old empire has ~d to exist 2.
(rare) (G) we ~d pretending
cease-fire n. 1. to declare; sign; work out a— 2. to
honor, observe a ~ 3. to break, violate a ~ 4. a
temporary ~ 5. the ~ has gone into effect
cede v. (A) France ~d the territory to them; or:
France ceded them the territory
ceiling n. ['upper limit'] 1. to place, set a - (on
prices) 2. to lower; raise a — 3. to abolish, lift a ~
(on prices) 4. a high; low — 5. a price; rent ~ ['top
of a room'] 6. a high; low ~ ['misc.'] 7. (slang) to
hit the ~ (AE; CE has roof) ('to lose one's
temper')
celebrate v. to — formally; joyously; noisily; offi-
officially; privately; publicly; quietly; solemnly
celebrated adj. 1. ~ as (~ as a painter) 2. ~ for (~
for scientific research)
celebration n. 1. to hold a - 2. a formal; joyous;
noisy; quiet; solemn — 3. a centenary; official;
public; religious ~
celebriry n. ['famous person'] a film, Hollywood;
international; literary; local; national; visiting —
celery n. 1. crisp — 2. a bunch of ~
celibacy n. to practice —
cell n. ['cubicle, small room'] 1. a jail, prison;
monk's; padded ~ ['small mass of protoplasm'] 2.
to form a — 3. a blood; cancer; egg; germ; nerve;
sperm — ['receptacle containing electrodes and an
electrocyte'] 4. a dry; photoelectric; primary; vol-
voltaic — ['smallest unit of an organization'] 5. to
form a — 6. a local; party ~
cellar n. a cyclone, storm; wine ~
cellophane n. to wrap smt. in —
cement I n. 1. to mix; pour — 2. Portland ~3. ~
sets
cement II v. to ~ smt. together
cemetery n. at, in a — (she works at/in the ~; to be
buried in a ~)
censor n. a government; military ~
censorship n. 1. to impose, introduce — 2. to exer-
exercise, practice — 3. to abolish, lift — 4. rigid, strict
— 5. film; government(al); military; press — 6. ~
of, over
censure I n. bitter, strong; public —
censure II v. 1. to - bitterly, strongly 2. (D; tr.)
to — as (they were ~d as traitors) 3. (D; tr.) to ~
for (the senator was ~d for income tax evasion)
census n. 1. to conduct, take a —2. a national —3.
at, in a - (at the last ~)
cent n. (colloq.) not to have a red — ('to have no
money at all')
center I centre n. ['point equally distant from all
points on a circumference'] 1. dead — 2. at, in the
— (at the — of a circle) ['central point'] 3. a storm
~ (also fig.) 4. at, in a — (at the — of operations;
right in the — of activity) ['location where an activ-

center
40
ity takes place; focus of activity'] 5. an amuse-
amusement; birthing (AE), childbearing (AE); busi-
business, commercial; civic; communications; com-
community; convention; crisis; cultural; day-care;
fashion; financial; health; industrial; job (BE); lit-
literary; manufacturing; medical; research; science;
senior-citizen; separation (mil.); service; shop-
shopping; social; trade; wine-producing ~ 6. (fig.) a
nerve; storm — 7. a national; world — ['group of
nerve cells'] 8. a nerve —
center II centre v. (d; intr., tr.) to — on, upon
(attention ~ed on their opening statements)
central adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) — to
(such values are — to our way of life)
century n. 1. from; to a — (from the fifth to the
tenth —) 2. in a — (in the ninth —) 3. over, through
the —ries
ceremony n. ['formal act'] 1. to conduct, hold,
perform a — 2. a flag-raising; formal; funeral;
marriage, wedding; opening; religious; solemn;
wreath-laying — (to perform a religious —) ['for-
['formality'] 3. to stand on - 4. appropriate - 5. with
— (with appropriate —) 6. without — (they all
pitched in without ~)
certain adj. 1. absolutely, completely, totally;
almost, nearly; quite; very — 2. far from — 3. for
— 4. — about, of (we were — of his support) 5. —
to + inf. (she is — to agree) 6. — that + clause (it
is — that they will sign the contract; make — that
all doors are locked; are you — that you turned the
gas off?)
certainty n. 1. absolute, dead; mathematical;
moral — 2. — of (there is no — of success) 3. — that
+ clause (there is no ~ that an agreement will be
reached) 4. with — (to state with —)
certificate n. 1. to issue a — 2. to cash (in) a — 3. a
baptismal; birth; death; marriage; medical ~ 4. a
money-market; savings; stock; tax-free; treasury
— 5. a gift — 6. a teaching — (you cannot teach in
this state without a teaching —) 7. (BE) a school —
certification n. 1. to grant — 2. to receive —
certify v. 1. (esp. BE) (D; tr.) to - as (the
psychiatrist —fied him as insane) 2. (L) she —fied
that it was a true copy 3. (M) can you - this to be
a true copy? 4. (esp. BE) (N; used with an adjec-
adjective) he was —fied insane
certitude n. 1. absolute, complete, utter — 2. —
that + clause (it is with ~ that I can attest to her
good character)
chafe v. (d; intr.) to-at, under (to-at the delay;
to — under restrictions)
chaff n. to separate the (wheat from the) ~ (by
threshing or winnowing)
chagrin n. 1. to express; feel-2. deep, profound
— 3. (formal) - at (to feel - at being rejected) 4.
— that + clause (she expressed her — that the bill
had been voted down) 5. to smb.'s — (to my great
—, the trick did not work)
chagrined adj. 1. - at (~ at being rejected) 2. - to
+ inf. (she was — to learn of the outcome) 3. —
that + clause (we are — that the meeting cannot
take place)
chain I n. ['series of metal links'] 1. to keep (a
dog) on a — 2. to put —s on (the tires of a car) 3. a
bicycle; tire — 4. a link in a — ['measuring instru-
instrument'] 5. an engineer's; surveyor's — ['shackles']
6. in —s (the prisoners were in —s) ['group of
associated enterprises'] 7. a department-store;
hotel; restaurant — ['misc.'] 8. a human —; to pull
the - (BE) ('to flush the toilet')
chain II v. (D;tr.) to -to (to -a dog to a fence)
chair n. ['piece of furniture for sitting'] 1. a camp
(BE), folding; deck; easy; rocking; swivel — ['pro-
['professorship'] 2. to endow; establish a — 3. to be
appointed to, receive a — 4. to hold, occupy a — 5.
to give up, relinquish a — 6. a university — ['posi-
['position of chairperson'] 7. (esp. BE) to occupy; take
the — 8. a rotating — ['chairperson'] 9. to address
one's questions to the — ['misc.'] 10. an electric ~
('a device for executing criminals')
chairman n. 1. a department(al) — 2. — of the
board USAGE NOTE: BE usu. has department
head, head of (the) department.
chairmanship n. a rotating —
chairperson see chairman 1
chairwoman see chairman 1
chalet n. a Swiss-
chalk n. 1. to write with — (on a blackboard) 2. a
piece of —
chalk up v. 1. (d; tr.) to — against (to — ten vic-
victories against two defeats) 2. (D; tr.) to — for (to
— another victory for our team) 3. (d; tr.) to — to
(to — smt. up to lack of experience)
challenge I n. ['dare'] 1. to issue, send a — 2. to
accept, respond to, take up a — 3. to meet a — 4.
a formidable, real — 5. a — to (it was a — to our
very existence) 6. a — to + inf. (it was a — just to
survive) ['demand for identification'] (usu. mil.)
7. to give the — (the sentry gave the —) ['objection
to a prospective juror'] (legal) 8. a peremptory —
(to use one's peremptory —)
challenge II v. . (D;tr.) to -to (to -smb. to a
duel) 2. (H) he -d me to fight
challenger n. to take on a —
chamber n. 1. the lower; upper- 2. an assembly;
council; parliamentary; senate — ['room'] ['com-
['compartment'] 3. a gas; torture — 4. a combustion;
decompression —
chameleon n. —s change their color
champ v. 1. (d; intr.) to-at (to-at the bit) 2. (E)
they were —ing to get home
n. to drink; quaff; sip—
n. a defending; national; world —
n. ['position of a champion'] 1. to
hold; win a — 2. to regain; retain a — 3. to give up,
lose, relinquish a — 4. an individual; national;
team; world —
championships n. ['contest'] 1. to hold - 2. (the)
national; world —
chance I n. ['opportunity'] ['possibility'] 1. to
have, stand a — of (she has a good — of success; he
doesn't have a ghost of a —) 2. to let a — slip by; to
miss one's — 3. an earthly, poor, slight, slim; even;
fair; fighting; good; last; only; outside; sporting —
(he doesn't have an earthly — of being elected) 4.
little, small - (there is little - of that happening)
5. a — against (she doesn't stand a — against such
strong competitors) 6. a — for (a — for success) 7.
41
charge
a — to + inf. (she had a — to visit her family) 8. a
— that + clause (there is no — that she will win)
['luck'] 9. to take a — on ('to try one's luck at'] 10.
to leave smt. to - 11. pure, sheer - 12. a lucky -
13. by — (it was by pure — that we met)
chance II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — upon ('to find by
chance') (to — upon a rare item) 2. (formal) (E)
('to happen') I —d to be there when they arrived
chandelier n. a crystal —
change I n. ['alteration'] ['transition'] 1. to bring
about, effect, make a — 2. to undergo — 3. a dras-
drastic, great, marked, momentous, radical, striking,
sweeping; long overdue, needed, welcome; quick;
sudden -; little - (there was little - in his condi-
condition) 4. a — occurs, takes place 5. a — for (a — for
the better) 6. a — from; into, to (the — from spring
to summer) 7. a — in, of (a — in the weather; —s in
personnel; a — of diet; the — of seasons) 8. for a —
(let's eat out for a -) ['money returned'] ['metal
coins'] 9. to give; make; return — for (can you give
me — for a pound?) 10. to count; get, take one's —
11. to keep the — 12. loose; small — ['change of
clothing'] 13. to make a — 14. a quick — (to make
a quick —)
change II v. 1. to - drastically, radically 2. (D;
intr.) ('to transfer') to - for (we must - at the next
station for Chicago) 3. (D; tr.) ('to exchange') to
— for (to — dollars for pounds) 4. (D; intr.) ('to
put on different clothes') to — for (to — for dinner)
5. (D; intr., tr.) ('to be transformed; to trans-
transform') to — from; into (the disease —d him from
an athlete into an invalid; to — dollars into
pounds) 6. (D; intr.) ('to put on different clothes')
to — into (to — into smt. less formal) 7. (D; intr.,
tr.) ('to transfer') to - to (we must - to an
express; she —d the appointment to Monday) 8.
(D; tr.) ('to exchange') to — with (I would not
want to — places with her)
change back v. 1. (d; intr.) to-from; to (they-d
back to peacetime production) 2. (d; intr.) to -
into (we —d back into casual wear)
changeover n. 1. a complete, radical, thorough,
total — 2. a — from; to (a — from a peacetime to a
war economy)
changeover v. (d; intr.) to —from; to (the country
—d over to a war economy; to — to the decimal
system)
n. a coin; record—
I n. 1. to change— s 2. a television, TV —
II v. (D;tr.)to —into (we had to —their
energy into useful activities)
channels n. 1. diplomatic; military; regular — 2.
through — (he sent his request for transfer through
regular —; to go through —)
chaos n. 1. to cause, create — 2. complete, total,
utter — 3. economic; political — 4. — ensues,
results 5. a state of —
chap n. (colloq.) a decent, fine, good, nice —
chapel n. ['place of worship'] 1. (a) hospital; mili-
military; prison; ship's — ['Nonconformist place of
worship'] (BE) (used as an adjective) 2. are you
church or —?
chaperon, chaperone n. to serve as a-(to serve as
a — at a dance)
n. a hospital; military; prison; ship's —
chapter n. 1. a closing; introductory, opening — 2.
a — about, on 3. (misc.) a closed — in one's life
('smt. that belongs to the past'); to quote — and
verse ('to cite an exact source')
character n. ['personality'] ['behavior'] 1. to form,
mold one's — 2. to epitomize; reflect smb.'s — 3.
one's moral; true — 4. a bad, disreputable; firm,
strong; excellent, fine, good; impeccable, stain-
stainless; lovable; national; upright; weak — 5. of — (a
person of good —) ['role'] ['person playing a role']
6. to assume; play, portray a — 7. to delineate,
depict, draw; develop; kill off a — 8. a fictitious;
leading, main, major, principal; minor, support-
supporting — 9. in —; out of — (his behavior was in — with
his upbringing; her actions were out of —) ['per-
['person, esp. dubious or eccentric'] 10. a dangerous;
disreputable; historical; seedy, shady; strange,
weird; suspicious; tough; underworld; unforgetta-
unforgettable — ['letter, figure'] 11. to form, trace; write —s
12. Arabic; Chinese; cuneiform; Cyrillic; Greek;
Hebrew; Hindi; Latin; mathematical; special —s
['nature'] 13. to have a — of one's own 14. an offi-
official; political; subversive; unofficial — (the state-
statements were of a political —)
characteristic I adj. -of
characteristic II n. 1. a distinctive, marked; dis-
distinguishing, identifying; dominant, outstanding;
unique — 2. facial; individual; national; physical
—s
characterize v. (d; tr.) ('to describe') to — as (he
can be —d as a fanatic)
charades n. to play —
charcoal n. to burn —
charge I n. ['accusation'] 1. to bring, level, make
a —; to prefer, press —s 2. to concoct, cook up,
fabricate, trump up a — (they trumped up various
—s against her) 3. to prove, substantiate a — 4. to
face a — 5. to dismiss, throw out a — (the judge dis-
dismissed all —s) 6. to drop, retract, withdraw a — 7.
to deny; refute; repudiate a — 8. a baseless, fabri-
fabricated, false, trumped-up; frivolous — 9. a —
against smb. (to bring —s of forgery against smb.)
10. a - that (he denied the - that he had taken
bribes) 11. on a — of (he was arraigned on a — of
embezzlement; to be arrested on various —s) 12.
['attack'] to lead; make a — against 13. to sound
the — 14. to fight off, repel, repulse a — 15. a
bayonet; cavalry; infantry — ['explosive'] 16. to
set off a — 17. a depth — ['responsibility'] 18. to
place, put smb. in — of smt. 19. to take — of smt.
20. to be in — of smt. ['custody'] 21. in smb.'s —
(the child was in my -) ['cost'] ['price'] 22. to
make a — 23. to reverse, transfer (BE) (the) —s
(when telephoning) 24. an exorbitant; reasonable
— 25. an admission; carrying; cover; minimum;
service — 26. a — against, to (a — to smb.'s
account) 27. a — for (there will be no — for instal-
installation) ['infusion of stored energy'] 28. to give (a
battery) a - 29. an electric; quick; slow - ['thrill']
(slang) 30. to give smb. a big — 31. to get a — out
of smt. 32. an emotional — ['instructions'] 33. to
give one's — (the judge gave her — to the jury) 34.
a — to (the judge's — to the jury)

charge
42
charge II v. 1. D to ask inpayment') to ~ double
2. (D; intr.) ('to rash') to — at (the bull —d at us)
3. (d; intr.) ('to ask payment') to — for (they didn't
— for it) 4. (D; intr., tr.) to - for ('to ask in pay-
payment') (they —d ten dollars for shipping our
books; he —s by the hour for laying a carpet) 5. (d;
intr.) ('to rush') to — into; out of (to — into a
room) 6. (D; tr.) to — out of ('to borrow from') (to
— a book out of a library) 7. (D; tr.) ('to impose as
an obligation') to — to (— it to my account) 8. (D;
tr.) ('to accuse') to — with (he was —d with mur-
murder) 9. (D; tr.) ('to saturate') to - with (the air was
—d with tension) 10. (D; tr.) ('to assign') to — with
(our agency has been ~d with the responsibility of
gathering all pertinent information) 11. (L) ('to
accuse') they ~d that he had cheated them 12. (O;
may be used with one object) ('to ask payment')
she —d (me) fifty dollars for her services; how
much did he —? did they — you?
chargeable adj. —to
charitable adj. 1. ~ towards 2. - to + inf. (it was
— of her to say that)
charity n. 1. to dispense, distribute, give— to; to
bestow — on, upon 2. to accept — 3. to ask for, beg
for, plead for — 4. an act of — 5. — for (— for the
needy) 6. (misc.) (proverb) — begins at home
charm n. ['amulet'] 1. to wear a — ['attractive
quality'] 2. to turn on, use one's — 3. to exude;
have, possess — 4. to lend — to 5. great, irresisti-
irresistible; natural; particular, special; unfailing — 6. the
— to + inf. (she has enough — to win anyone over)
['misc.'] 7. it works like a — ('it works perfectly')
charmed adj. — to + inf. (I would be — to accept
your invitation)
charmer n. 1. (to be) a real ~ 2. a snake —
charming adj. 1. — to (she is — to everyone) 2. —
to + inf. (it was — to watch them)
chart I n. 1. to compile a — 2. an aeronautical;
clinical; eye; flow; genealogical; statistical; wall ~
chart II v. (D; tr.) to-for (he has-ed a difficult
course for us)
charter n. 1. to apply for; take out a — 2. to grant
a — 3. to revoke a — 4. a — to + inf. (the company
was granted a — to trade in the occupied territory)
charter flight n. to organize a —
chary adj. 1. — about (— about doing smt.) 2. — of
(— of strangers)
chase I n. 1. to give — to 2. to abandon, give up
the - 3. a wild-goose - 4. in - of (in full ~) 5.
(misc.) (AE) to lead smb. a merry — (BE has to
lead smb. a merry dance)
chase II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — after (to — after fame)
2. (D; tr.) to — from, out of (— the dog out of our
yard!)
chaser n. 1. a submarine — 2. (misc.) (colloq.) an
ambulance — (esp. AE) ('a lawyer who seeks
clients among accident victims'); whiskey with a
beer — ('whiskey served with a glass of beer')
chasm n. 1. to bridge a — 2. a gaping, yawning ~
chat I n. 1. to have a ~ 2. a friendly, nice, pleasant
— 3. a — about; with (I had a pleasant — with them
about our new grandchildren) 4. a — between
chat II v. (D; intr.) to-about; to (BE), with
chatter I n. constant, endless, idle, incessant ~
chatter II v. 1. ('to talk fast') to - incessantly 2.
(D; intr.) ('to talk fast') to - about 3. (D; intr.)
('to click') to — from, with (his teeth were —ing
with the cold)
cheap adj. 1.(colloq.)dirt-2. — to + inf.(it'snot
— to live in the city; it is —er to live in the south
than in the north) 3. (misc.) to hold life —
cheat I /t. 1. a downright; notorious — 2. a tax —
cheat II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — at (to — at cards)
2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to deceive') (to — on one's
wife) 3. (D; tr.) to - out of (he -ed us out of our
money) 4. (misc.) to — on an examination
check I n. ['order to a bank'] (BE has cheque) 1.
to issue, make out, write out a — to 2. to draw a —
against one's account; to draw a — on a bank 3. to
cash; clear; deposit; present a — 4. to cover a —
(by making a deposit) 5. to endorse; negotiate a —
6. to pass a (bad) —; to kite a — (AE) ('to write a
bad —'); to raise ('increase fraudulently') a — 7. to
stop payment of, on a — 8. a bad ('not covered');
blank; cashier's; certified; crossed (BE); negoti-
negotiable; traveler's — 9. a — bounces; clears 10. by —
(to pay by —) ['verification'] ['control'] 11. to con-
conduct, make, run a — of, on 12. a background; bed;
loyalty; spot — (to ran a background — on all new
employees) ['endangered position of the king']
(chess) 13. to produce a — 14. to discover — 15.
discovered; perpetual — 16. in — (your king is in
-) ['bill in a restaurant'] (AE) 17. to pay the -
['token of ownership, of a right'] 18. a baggage
(AE); claim; hat; rain (AE) — ['blocking of an
opponent'] (ice hockey) 19. a board; body; hook
— ['device for braking'] 20. a door — ['restraint']
21. to hold, keep in—
check II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - into ('to verify') (to
— into smb.'s story) 2. (d; intr.) to — into ('to
register at') (to — into a hotel) 3. (d; intr.) to — on
('to verify') (to — on smb.'s story) 4. (d; intr.) to —
out of ('to announce one's departure from') (to —
out of a hotel) 5. (d; tr.) to — out of ('to borrow
from') (she -ed the book out of the library) 6. (D;
intr.) to — through ('to look through') (to —
through the files) 7. (AE) (d; tr.) to — through to
('to register as far as') (she —ed her suitcase
through to Chicago)
checkbook n. to reconcile a — with (a bank state-
statement)
checkers n. 1. to play— 2. Chinese—
check in v. (D; intr.) to - at (to - at a hotel)
checking account n. (AE) to balance a — (every
month)
checklist n. 1. to compile, make up a — 2. to go
down, go through a —
checkout v. (D; tr.) ('to borrow') to — from (she
—ed out a book from the library)
checkrein n. (rare) a — on, upon
checkup n. 1. to do, give a — (the doctor gave me
a thorough —) 2. to have a — (I had a — at the hos-
hospital yesterday) 3. an annual; careful; regular;
thorough —
check up v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on smb.'s
story)
cheek n. ['side of the face'] 1. to puff (out) one's
—s 2. burning, flushed; dimpled; roll, rounded;
43
choice
hollow, sunken; pale; rosy, ruddy —s ['impu-
['impudence'] (colloq.) 3. the - to + inf. (she had the -
to phone me at home)
cheekbones n. high, prominent —
cheeky adj. (colloq.) ['impudent'] - to + inf. (it
was — of her to phone you at home)
cheer I n. ['rallying cry'] ['cry of approval'] 1. to
give, shout a — (let's give him three —s) 2. to draw
a — (her performance drew —s) 3. to acknowledge
the —s (of the crowd) 4. a loud, ringing, rousing —
5. a school — (let's give the school —!) ['good
mood'] 6. Christmas; good — 7. of — Mo be of
good-) )
cheer II v. 1. to — enthusiastically, loudly 2. (D;
intr.) to - for (they -ed loudly for their team) 3.
(N; refl.; used with an adjective) they —ed them-
themselves hoarse
cheese n. 1. grated; grilled (AE), toasted (BE);
hard; mild; semi-soft; sharp; smoked; soft — 2.
(misc.) (colloq.) say —! ('smile'!)
chemistry n. ['science that deals with substances']
1. analytical; inorganic; organic; physical — ['per-
['personal feelings'] (colloq.) 2. personal —; the right;
wrong — 3. the — between
cheque (BE) see check 1,1-10
chequebook (BE) see checkbook
chess n. 1. to play — 2. (misc.) a — game; master;
match
chest n. ['thorax'] 1. to beat; throw out one's —
(with pride) 2. a barrel - ['box'] 3. a hope (AE;
BE has bottom drawer); ice; medicine; silver;
tool-
chestnuts n. 1. to roast — 2. (misc.) to pull smb.'s
— out of the fire ('to extricate smb. from an
unpleasant situation')
chewing gum n. a piece; stick of —
chic I adj. ['fashionable'] — to + inf. (it's very —
to give up smoking)
chic II n. 1. an indefinable-2. radical-
chick n. 1. to hatch —s 2. —s cheep 3. a brood of —s
chicken In. 1. — s cluck 2. a brood of —s 3. a
young — is a chick, cockerel (BE) 4. a female — is
a hen 5. a male — is a cock (esp. BE)/rooster (esp.
AE) 6. (misc.) to count one's —s before they are
hatched ('to rejoice prematurely')
chicken II v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to - out of ('to
abandon') (to — out of an agreement)
chickenpox n. to catch, come down with (the) —
chide v. (D; tr.) to - for
n. 1. an Indian - 2. a fire; police (AE) -
lam n. a tribal-
n. 1. to adopt; bear, give birth to, have a —
(she had four children) 2. to carry a — (a mother
carries a — for nine months) 3. to beget; conceive
a — 4. to bring up, raise, rear a — 5. to feed; nurse;
wean a — 6. to indulge, pamper, spoil a — 7. to
toilet-train, train a — 8. to acknowledge a — (as
one's own) 9. to marry off one's —10. an adopted;
foster; illegitimate, love, natural; legitimate; only;
unwanted — 11. a delinquent; disobedient; incor-
incorrigible; mischievous; problem; recalcitrant; stub-
stubborn; unruly; self-willed, wilful; wayward —12. an
indulged, pampered, spoiled — 13. a disciplined,
obedient, well-behaved — 14. a bright, gifted,
intelligent; sensitive — 15. a precocious; young —
16. a dull, slow; handicapped; retarded; under-
underprivileged - 17. a flower (of the 1960s); latchkey
(who comes home to an empty house) — 18. a
happy; loving; well-cared for — 19. an abused,
mistreated; neglected — 20. a — develops, grows
(into adulthood) 21. (misc.) to be with - (old-
fashioned) ('to be pregnant')
childbirth n. 1. natural; prepared — 2. in — (she
died in —)
childhood n. 1. to spend one's — (somewhere) 2.
one's second — 3. in one's — 4. since —
childish adj. — to + inf. (it was - of him to do that)
child's play n. (colloq.) ['easy task'] 1. - to (that's
— to him) 2. — to + inf. (it was — to solve that rid-
die)
chill In. 1. (fig.) to cast a — on, over 2. to catch a
— 3. to take the - off (take the - off the milk)
chill II v. 1. (C) — a glass for me; or (rare): — me
a glass 2. (misc.) —ed to the bone
chills n. to send — up one's spine ('to frighten
smb.')
chime v. (d; intr.) to — into ('to join in') (she
always — s into a conversation)
chime in v. (D; intr.) to - with (to - with one's
opinion)
chimes n. 1. to sound — 2. organ — 3. — sound
chimney n. 1. smoke goes up a — 2. smoke comes
out of a —
chin n. 1. a double; smooth — 2. a glass ('weak')—
(of a boxer) 3. (misc.) to keep one's — up ('not to
become discouraged'); to take it on the — ('to suf-
suffer a misfortune courageously')
china n. ['porcelain'] 1. fine — 2. a set of —
chink n. a — in one's armor ('a weak point')
chip n. ['thin slice'] (AE) 1. a potato - (BE has
crisp) ['semiconductor body'] 2. an integrated-
circuit; silicon — ['misc.'] 3. a bargaining — ('smt.
that can be used to win concessions'); a — off the
old block ('a child who resembles its parent'); to
have a — on one's shoulder ('to harbor resent-
resentment')
chip away v. (d; intr.) to — at (to — at a rock; the
police kept —ping away at their alibi)
chip in v. 1. (D; intr.) to -for (they all -ped in for
a present) 2. (D; intr.) to — with (we all —ped in
with our suggestions)
chips n. ['gambling tokens'] to cash in one's —
(also fig.) ('to die')
chisel v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to shape with a chisel') to -
from, out of (to — smt. from wood) 2. (colloq.)
(D; tr.) to - out of ('to cheat out of) (he -ed me
out of my money)
chiseled adj. ['shaped'] finely-
chloroform n. to administer, give — to
chock-full adj. (colloq.)-of
chocolate n. ['candy, sweet'] 1. dark; milk — 2. a
bar of — ['beverage'] 3. hot — 4. a cup of —
choice n. 1. to exercise, make a — 2. a bad, sorry,
wrong; careful; difficult; first; good, happy, intel-
intelligent, judicious, wise; random; second; wide (she
made the wrong —) 3. (a) free; individual; limited
— (to exercise individual —) 4. a — among,
between; of (a — between two jobs; a — of colors)

choir
44
5. (misc.) we have a difficult -~ to make; take your
~; freedom of ~; Hobson's ('no') ~
choir n. 1. to form; lead a ~ 2. to sing in a ~
choke I n. (on a car) 1. to pull out; push in the ~
2. an automatic; manual ~
choke II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a bone)
2. (d; intr.) to — with (to — with emotion) 3.
(misc.) to ~ to death
choked adj. ['blocked'] ~ with (~ with weeds)
choked up adj. (all) ~ with (~ with emotion)
cholera n. 1. to come down with, contract ~ 2.
(misc.) a ~ epidemic
cholesterol n. 1. to cut down on-2. high; low in-
choose v. 1. to ~ carefully, judiciously; to - at
random 2. (D; intr.) to — among, between, from
(to ~ between two offers) 3. (D; tr.) to - as (they
chose her as their spokesperson) 4. (D; intr., tr.)
to ~ by (to — by lot; to — by tossing a coin) 5. (D;
tr.) to — for (~ a book for me) 6. (D; tr.) to ~ from
(they chose us from a large number of candidates)
7. (E) she chose to remain at home 8. (H) they
chose me to serve as their representative
choosey adj. (colloq.; esp. AE) ~ about
choosing n. of one's own —
chop I n. ['cut of meat'] 1. a chump (BE); lamb;
mutton; pork; veal — ['blow'] 2. a karate ~
chop II v. (C) ~ some wood for me; or: ~ me
some wood
chopper n. a food; meat ~
chopsticks n. to use-
chop up v. 1. (C) — some wood for me; or (col-
(colloq.): ~ me up some wood 2. (D; tr.) to — into (he
~ped the log up into firewood)
chord I n. ['combination of three or more musical
notes'] 1. to play ~s 2. a dominant; major; minor
chord II n. ['feeling, emotion'] 1. to strike, touch
a — 2. a popular; responsive, sensitive, sympa-
sympathetic ~ (to strike a responsive ~)
chores n. 1. to do one's — 2. daily; routine —
chortle v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ with (to - with glee)
chorus n. ['group of singers'] 1. a female; male;
mixed ~ ['simultaneous utterance'] 2. to join in,
swell the ~
chowder п. (АЕ) clam; corn; fish ~
christen v. (N; used with a noun) they —ed the
child Joseph
christening n. to perform a —
Christian n. a believing (esp. BE); born-again;
evangelical; fundamentalist; good; practicing -
Christmas n. 1. to celebrate - 2. a white — 3. on
— 4. on ~ day; on — eve; Merry ~
Christmas tree n. to decorate, trim a —
chronicle n. 1. to keep a — 2. a daily; monthly;
weekly ~ 3. (misc.) a — of events
chuck v. (colloq.) (usu. B) - the ball to me
chuckle I n. 1. to have; let out a— (we had a good
~) 2. a hearty — 3. a ~ about, over
chuckle II v. 1. (D; intr.) to-about, over 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to oneself) 3. (D; intr.) to ~
with (to ~ with glee)
dmnt n. (colloq.) a childhood; old; school ~
chummy adj. (colloq.) ['friendly'] - with
chum up v. (D; intr.) to — with
church n. 1. to consecrate, dedicate a ~ 2. to
attend, go to - 3. the Catholic; Christian; (East-
(Eastern) Orthodox; Protestant; Uniate — 4. the Angli-
Anglican; Baptist; Christian Science; Congregational;
Episcopal; Lutheran; Mennonite; Methodist;
Mormon; Presbyterian; Seventh Day Adventist;
Unitarian ~ 5. an evangelical; fundamentalist ~
6. (esp. GB) an established ('official'); free ('Non-
('Nonconformist') ~ 7. (esp. GB) The Church of Eng-
England; Ireland; Scotland 8. at, in -
churlish adj. — to + inf. (it would be - to offer
such petty criticism)
cider n. hard (AE); sweet ~
dgar n. 1. to light (up); puff on; smoke a - 2. a
Havana ~
dgarette n. 1. to light (up); puff on, smoke a — 2.
to roll a ~ (he used to roll his own ~s) 3. to extin-
extinguish, put out, stub out a — 4. a live — 5. a filter-
tip; king-size; low-tar; mentholated ~ 6. a carton;
pack (AE), packet (BE) of ~s
cinch n. (colloq.) ['certainty'] l.~ to + inf. (he'sa
~ to be elected) 2. - that + clause (it's a ~ that
he'll win)
cinders n. to spread ~ (on a snow-covered road)
cinema n. (BE) at, in the ~
cipher n. ['code'] 1. to break, solve a ~ 2. in ~
drde n. ['circular geometric figure'] 1. to
describe, draw a ~ 2. to square a — (to square a ~-
is impossible) 3. the Antarctic; Arctic; polar — (at
the Arctic ~) 4. the great — (on the earth's sur-
surface) 5. a traffic - (AE; BE has roundabout) 6.
(sports) the center ~; the winner's ~ (at a
racecourse/racetrack) 7. the area; circumference;
diameter; radius of a — ['group resembling the fig-
figure of a circle'] 8. to form a — 9. to join a — (she
joined the — of dancers) ['group'] 10. academic;
artistic; business, financial; court; diplomatic;
exclusive, select; high; informed, well-informed;
literary; official; political; professional; ruling ~s
(to move in the highest ~s) 11. a charmed ('exclu-
('exclusive'); close, closed, inner, intimate, narrow; wide
~ (a close ~ of friends) 12. a linguistic; quilting;
sewing — 13. a family — 14. in a — (in our — of
friends; in informed ~s) ['cycle'] 15. to come full
— ['misc.'] 16. a vicious ~ ('an insoluble, never-
ending problem'); to go around in ~s ('to behave
in a confused manner')
circuit n. ['path of an electric current'] 1. to break;
close a — 2. a closed; integrated; printed; short ~
['route traveled by a judge on tour'] 3. to make a
— (the judge makes a ~ every year) 4. on ~ (the
judge was on ~) ['series of similar events'] 5. the
lecture; rodeo; talk-show ~
drcuit breaker n. to trip a-
circular n. 1. to send out a — 2. to distribute ~s
circulate v. 1. (D; intr.) to — among (the host ~d
among the guests) 2. (D; intr.) to — through
(blood ~s through the body)
circulation n. ['distribution'] 1. to put into ~ (to
put more money into ~) 2. to withdraw from ~ (to
withdraw old banknotes from ~) 3. enormous,
large, wide; general; limited, small; national,
nationwide — (this magazine has attained a wide
45
clause
~) 4. in ~ (this money is no longer in ~) ['move-
['movement'] 5. blood ~; or: ~ of the blood 6. good,
healthy; poor ~
circumcision n. to do, perform a ~ (on)
circumference n. in ~ (ten feet in ~)
circumstances n. 1. adverse, difficult, trying ~ 2.
reduced, straitened ~ 3. aggravating; extenuat-
extenuating, mitigating ~ 4. attendant; compelling; excep-
exceptional, special; favorable; suspicious; tragic; un-
unavoidable; unforeseen ~ 5. a combination of — 6.
due to — (our absence was due to — beyond our
control) 7. in, under ~ (in certain ~, I would
agree; she will not go under any ~; they lived in
difficult ~)
circus n. 1. to present, put on a ~ 2. to go to the ~
3. a three-ring; traveling — 4. at a — 5. (misc.) a
three-ring ~ ('hectic activity')
citation n. ['reference'] 1. the earliest —(of the use
of a word) 2. a — from ['summons'] 3. to issue a •—
for 4. a — to + inf. (she received a — to appear in
court) ['mention of meritorious performance']
(AE) (mil.) 5. to write smb. up for a — 6. to
receive a ~ (for bravery) 7. a unit ~
dte v. 1. (B) she—dan interesting passage to us 2.
(D; tr.) to — as (to ~ smt. as an example) 3. (AE)
(mil.) (D; tr.) to ~ for (to - smb. for bravery)
citizen n. 1. a law-abiding; eminent, leading,
prominent; respectable, solid — 2. a senior — 3. a
private; second-class — 4. a native-born (esp.
AE); naturalized, new ~
citizenry n. an informed -
citizenship n. 1. to grant -2. to acquire, receive —
3. to revoke smb. 's ~ 4. to give up, renounce one's
~ 5. dual ~
dry n. 1. to govern, manage (AE), run a — 2. a
capital; cosmopolitan; densely populated; free;
garden (BE), planned; port; provincial; satellite
~; twin —ties 3. (the) central; inner — 4. a
beleaguered; open ~ (during wartime) 5. in a ~
(to live in the ~) (see the Usage Note for town)
civil adj. l.~ to (he wasn't even — to his guests) 2.
(formal) — to + inf. (it was — of them to offer their
help)
civil action n. (legal) to bring a-
dvilization n. 1. to introduce; spread — 2. to
create a ~ 3. to destroy, stamp out — 4. an ancient;
modern ~
dad adj. 1. fully; lightly, scantily; partially ~ 2.
smartly ~
daim 1л. 1. to enter, file, lodge, make, put for-
forward, put in, submit; establish; press; substantiate
a ~ (she filed a ~ for compensation) 2. to lay ~ to;
to stake, stake out a - to 3. (esp. AE) to jump
('steal') smb.'s ~ 4. to contest; disallow, dismiss,
reject; dispute a — 5. to forfeit; give up, renounce,
waive, withdraw a — 6. to settle a — (they settled
their — out of court) 7. an excessive, extravagant,
unreasonable; fraudulent; legal; moral; outstand-
outstanding; prior; specious; undisputed; unsubstantiated,
unsupported ~; competing, conflicting, rival ~s
8. a disability; insurance — 9. a — against; for; on;
to (she submitted a ~ for damages against the
other driver; there are many ~s on my time; he
has no ~ to the estate; a — to fame) 10. a ~ that +
clause (the - that he could reduce taxes proved to
be false)
daim II v. 1. (E) she ~s to own this property 2.
(L) he ~s that he was cheated
daimant n. a — to (a — to the estate)
dam n. baked—s
clamber v. (P; intr.) to — into/onto a bus
damor, damour In. 1. an insistent; loud; public
~ 2. a — against; for (a — against new taxes)
damor, clamour II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to ~
for justice) 2. (E) they were ~ing to see the
senator
damp v. (d; tr.) to — on, upon (to — controls on
interest rates)
dampdown n. a— on
damp down v. (D; intr.) to — on (to ~ on pick-
pickpockets)
dan л. а ~ gathers
dang n. a metallic —
clanger n. (colloq.) (BE) ('blunder') to drop a —
dank v. to — shut
dap v. ('to put') 1. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to — smb.
into jail) 2. (d; tr.) to — on (to — a muzzle on a
dog) 3. (d; tr.) to - to (he ~ped his hand to his
mouth)
clarification n. to provide; seek —
dash I n. 1. a bitter; bloody; violent — 2. a ~
between (there was a violent — between the two
rivals) 3. a — with (a — with the police)
dash II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to argue') to — over 2.
(D; intr.) ('to struggle') to - with (the
demonstrators ~ed with the police) 3. (D; intr.)
('not to match') to — with (red ~es with green)
dasp I n. atie —
dasp II v. (d; tr.) to-to (she-ed the baby to her
bosom)
dass I n. ['lesson'] 1. to conduct, hold (a) —; to
give, meet one's —; to schedule; reschedule a — 2.
to attend, go to ~; to sit in on a — (esp. AE) 3. to
cut (esp. AE); miss a — 4. to call off, cancel; dis-
dismiss a — 5. an advanced; beginners'; intermediate
— (to sit in on an advanced English —) ['group'] 6.
to form a — 7. the educated; leisure; lower; mid-
middle; privileged; ruling; social; underprivileged;
upper; working — 8. (misc.) out of one's ~ ('out-
('outclassed'); in a ~ of one's own ('unsurpassed'); —
conflict/struggle ['division of travelers'] 9. cabin;
economy; first; second; third; tourist — (to travel
first-class) ['group of pupils, students graduating
together'] (AE) 10. the freshman; junior; senior;
sophomore ~
dass II see classify 1-4
classification n. to make a —
dassify v. 1. (D; tr.) to - according to (the chil-
children were ~fied according to age) 2. (D; tr.) to ~
among, with 3. (D; tr.) to — as (she was ~fied as
fit for service) 4. (D; tr.) to — by (to ~ books by
subject) 5. (N; used with an adjective) to — infor-
information confidential
datter v. (P; intr.) the cart ~ed over the cobble-
cobblestones
dause n. ['group of words with a subject and pred-
predicate'] 1. a conditional; dependent, subordinate;
independent, main; nonrestrictive; relative;

claw
46
restrictive; verbless — ['provision'] ['article'] 2.
(esp. AE) a grandfather — ('a clause that exempts
those already engaged in an activity prohibited by
new legislation') 3. an escalator; penalty — 4. a
most-favored-nation —
daw In. 1. to retract one's ~s (cats retract their
—s) 2. sharp —s 3. nonretractile; retractile —s
daw II v. (d; tr.) to — to (to — one's way to the
top)
day n. 1. to model, shape, work ~ 2. to bake;
temper — 3. modeling; potter's —
dean I ad)., adv. 1. immaculately, spotlessly —2.
(misc.) to come — ('to confess'); we're — out of
food ('we're completely out of food')
dean II v. (D;tr.) to-out of (the store washed
out of cigarettes)
deaner n. ['device'] 1. a pipe; vacuum —['person']
2. a street —
deaning n. 1. dry — 2. a spring; thorough —
deanliness n. personal —
deanse v. (formal) (D; tr.) to — of (to — one's
thoughts of sin)
dean up v. (colloq.) (AE) (D; intr.) ('to make a
profit') to — on (to — on a deal)
dear I adj. 1. crystal, perfectly; painfully ~ 2.
(cannot stand alone) ~ about (are you — about the
situation?) 3. — from (the answer is — from these
facts) 4. — of (the roads were — of snow; to keep
— of trouble) 5. — to (the situation is — to
everyone) 6. — that + clause (it was — that they
would not come; the teacher made it — that discip-
discipline would be maintained)
dear II n. [Encoded language'] in the ~ (to send
a message in the ~)
dear III v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to authorize'); ('to pre-
prepare') to — for (to — an article for export; our
plane was —ed for takeoff; to — a deck for action)
2. (D; tr.) ('to remove') to — from (to — the snow
from the driveway) 3. (D; tr.) ('to free') to - of (to
— a harbor of mines; to — smb. of guilt; to — land
of trees) 4. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to - out of ('to
leave') (to — out of town) 5. (d; tr.) ('to remove')
to — out of (to — things out of a cupboard) 6. (D;
tr.) ('to complete formalities for') to — with (to —
a shipment with the authorities) 7. (H) ('to
authorize') we were —ed to land
deanutce n. ['act of clearing away']1. slum — ['au-
['authorization'] 2. to give; receive — for 3. customs —
4. — to + inf. (the control tower gave the pilot —
to land) ['space between parts'] 5. valve — ['certifi-
['certification of eligibility for access to classified mate-
h rial'] 6. to give; receive — 7. (a) security —
dearinghouse л. а — for (a — for information)
dear off v. (D; intr.) ('to leave') to-of (-of my
property!)
deavage n. ['division'] a sharp— between (a sharp
— developed between the two factions)
deave v. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to cling') to — to (to
— to old customs)
deaver n. a butcher's; meat—
demency n. 1. to show — 2. to beg for, seek — 3.
to deny —
derk I n. 1. a booking - (BE; AE has ticket
agent) 2. a desk (AE), reception (BE), room
(AE) - (in a hotel) 3. a bank (BE); city (AE),
town; cipher, code; court; filing; mail, postal —;
salesclerk(AE;BEhas shop assistant); shipping;
stockroom —
derk II v. (D; intr.) (legal) to -for (the budding
lawyer was —ing for a prominent judge)
dever adj. 1. — at, in (she is — at arranging furni-
furniture) 2. - with (he is - with his hands) 3. - to +
inf. (it was - of her to think of that)
dew see due
dick v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to be successful') to -
with (the new show —ed with the public)
dient n. to serve a —
clientele n. an exclusive —
diff n. 1. to climb, scale a — 2. a rugged; sheer,
steep —
climate n. 1. a friendly; hospitable; inhospitable;
invigorating — 2. an arctic, frigid; continental;
damp; dry; hot; humid; maritime; Mediterranean;
mild, moderate, temperate; severe; subtropical;
tropical; warm; wet —
climax n. 1. to come to, reach a — 2. to bring smt.
to a —; to work up to a — 3. to mark a — 4. a
dramatic, thrilling — 5. a sexual — 6. a — to (the —
to our efforts)
climb I n. a difficult, hard; easy; gradual; rough,
rugged; steep; tortuous —
climb II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — aboard (to — aboard
a raft) 2. (d; intr.) to — down (to — down a hill) 3.
(d; intr.) to — onto, upon (the child —ed onto her
mother's lap) 4. (d; intr.) to — out of (to — out of
a pit) 5. (D; intr.) to - to (to - to the top) 6. (D;
intr.) to — up (to — up a hill)
climb-down n. (BE) ['retreat'] a — from (a — from
an untenable position)
climb down v. 1. (D; intr.) to — from (to— from
a tree) 2. (BE) (D; intr.) ('to retreat') to - from
(to — from an untenable position)
climber n. 1. a mountain — 2. a social —
clinch n. in a —
ding v. 1. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to one's posses-
possessions; to — to old customs; they clung to the float-
floating wreckage; he clung to my arm) 2. (misc.) to —
together
clinic n. 1. to hold a —2. an abortion; animal; den-
dental; diagnostic; family-planning; mental health;
outpatient; special; speech; well-child (AE) - 3.
at, in a — (she works at the —)
dip I n. ['device to hold cartridges'] 1. to insert a
— 2. a cartridge — ['device that fastens'] 3. a
paper; tie —
dip II n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['speed'] at a - (to
move at a fast —)
dip III v. 1. (esp. AE) (D; tr.) to - from (to -
articles from a newspaper) 2. (d; tr.) to — to (to —
one page to another) 3. (N; used with an adjec-
adjective) she —ped his hair short
clipper n. 1. a nail — 2. a barber's — s 3. a coupon
— ('one whose income is derived from stocks and
bonds')
clipping n. 1. a newspaper, press — (AE; BE has
press cutting) 2. fingernail; toenail — s
n. a court; military—
I n. ['shield'] under a — (under the — of
47
coach
anonymity)
doak II v. (d; tr.) to - in (-ed in secrecy)
doakroom see the Usage Note for room
dock In. 1. to regulate, set; wind a — 2. to
advance a —; or: to set, turn a — ahead (by one
hour) 3. to set, turn a - back (by ten minutes) 4.
an alarm; cuckoo; electric; grandfather; wall — 5.
a biological — 6. a — is fast; right; slow 7. a — gains
time; goes; keeps time; loses time; runs down;
stops 8. a — strikes the hour 9. (misc.) to watch the
— ('to wait impatiently for the end of the working
day'); to work around the — ('to work without
rest'); the — ran out ('the allotted time expired');
to stop the — ('to suspend play in a game so that
the clock stops running')
dock II v. (D; tr.) ('to time') to-at (he was-ed
at a record speed)
dockwork n. (misc.) to work like —('to work per-
perfectly'); as regular as — ('completely regular')
dose I adj., adv. /klous/ ['near'] 1. - to (- to
tears; we live — to town; — to the truth) ['stingy']
(colloq.) 2. — with (— with one's money) ['secre-
['secretive'] 3. - about (- about one's past) ['on intimate
terms'] 4. - to, with (- with one's parents)
['misc.'] 5. to see smt. - to (BE), up
dose II n. /klouz/ ['finish'] 1. to bring to a — 2. to
come to, draw to a — ['end of a letter'] 3. the com-
complimentary — (to a letter)
dose III v. /klouz/ 1. (d; intr.) to - about,
around, round ('to encircle') (night —d around us)
2. (D; tr.) to — for (to — a store for renovations)
3. (d; intr.) to — on ('to get near to') (the police
were -ing on the fugitive) 4.(D; tr.) ('to shut') to
— on (she —d the door on him) 5. (D; tr.) ('to
shut') to — to (they —d their eyes to the truth) 6.
(d; intr.) to - with ('to engage') (to - with the
enemy) 7. (d; intr., tr.) ('to finish') to - with (they
—d the concert with a march) 8. (N; used with an
adjective) ('to shut') she —d the door tight 9. (s)
stocks —d strong; weak
dosed adj. 1. - for (- for repairs) 2. - to (the
road was — to traffic; — to the public)
dose in v. /klouz/ 1. (D; intr.) to — for ('to
approach and prepare for') (to - for the kill) 2.
(D; intr.) to - on ('to bring to bay') (the police -d
in on the fugitives)
dosemoathed adj. -about
doseness n. —to
doset n. ['cupboard'] 1. a china; clothes; linen;
walk in - ['toilet'] (esp. BE) 2. a water - ['misc.']
3. to come out of the — ('to come out into the open
about smt.')
doseted adj. — with (he was — with the mayor for
an hour)
dot n. 1. to form a — 2. to dissolve a — 3. a blood
— 4. a — forms
doth n. 1. to weave — 2. homespun — 3. a drop —
4. a loin — 5. a bolt; strip of —
dome v. 1. (D; tr.) to - in (-d in wool) 2. (misc.)
fully; partially —d
dothes n. 1. to change; put on; take off; wear —2.
to launder, wash — 3. night; summer; swaddling;
winter — 4. new; old — 5. civilian — 6. in — (the
soldier was in civilian —)
dothesline n. to put up, string; take down a —
doming n. 1. to put on; wear —2. to take off one's
— 3. heavy; light; outer; protective; warm — 4.
summer; winter — 5. custom-made, tailor-made;
ready-to-wear; secondhand, used; shabby; trendy
— 6. an article of — 7. (misc.) to model —
dotnre n. to apply, impose, invoke—
doud n. 1. to disperse —s (the strong wind dis-
dispersed the —s) 2. dark; heavy, thick; high; scat-
scattered; threatening —s 3. rain, storm —s; thun-
thunderclouds 4. a mushroom; radioactive — 5. —s
form; gather 6. —s scud across the sky 7. (misc.)
under a — (of suspicion); the gathering —s of war;
in the — s ('absorbed in one's fantasies'); to seed
—s (to produce rain)
doudburst n. a sudden —
doudy adj. partly — (in weather forecasts)
dout n. (colloq.) (AE) ['influence'] ['power'] 1. to
have, wield - 2. political - (he has a great deal of
political -)
dover n. ['plant'] 1. a four-leaf — ['prosperity'] 2.
to roll in — ('to live in luxury)
down I n. 1. to act, play the —2. a circus —
down II v. (D; intr.) to — with
dab n. ['association'] 1. to form, organize a —2. to
join a — 3. to break up, disband a — 4. an exclu-
exclusive; private — 5. an athletic; book; country; fan;
glee; jockey; tennis; yachting — 6. a — breaks up,
disbands 7. a Christmas — (esp. AE) ('type of sav-
savings account to provide money for the purchase of
Christmas presents'); a savings — ['piece of wood']
8. a golf; Indian - ['misc.'] 9. (colloq.) join the -!
('we are in the same situation!') (see the Usage
Note for team)
due n. 1. to discover, find, uncover a — 2. to fur-
furnish, provide, supply a — 3. an important, key,
vital — 4. a — to (the police had no — to her iden-
identity)
due in v. (colloq.) (D; tr.) to — on ('to inform
about')
dumsy adj. 1. - at (he's - at sports) 2. - of (that
was — of her) 3. — with (to be — with one's hands)
4. — to + inf. (it was — of you to make a mistake
like that)
duster I n. a consonant —
duster II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — around (the crowd
—ed around the entrance) 2. (P; intr.) they —ed in
small groups
dutch I n. ['device for engaging and disengaging
a transmission'] 1. to engage, throw in the — ('to
release the clutch pedal') 2. to work the — 3. to dis-
disengage the - ('to depress the clutch pedal') 4. to
ride the - ('to keep the clutch pedal partially
depressed') ['crisis'] 5. in a — (to count on smb. in
a —) ['misc.'] 6. a — hitter ('smb. who is called on
to help in a crisis')
dutch II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - at (to - at a branch)
2. (d; tr.) to - to (she -ed her children to her
breast) 3. (misc.) to — at a straw ('to consider any
possibility')
dutches n. ['power'] in smb.'s — (in the — of the
enemy)
coach I n. ['trainer of an athlete or team']1. a bas-
basketball; crew; fencing; football; soccer; swim-
6—127

coach
48
ming; tennis; track-and-field; volleyball -
['trainer of a performer or troupe'] 2. a drama;
voice - ['long-distance bus'] (esp. BE) 3. to go,
travel by - ['airplane'] 4. an air -
coach II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for (to - a team for a
championship match) 2. (D; tr.) to — in
coal n. 1. to mine, produce - 2. to burn, use - 3.
to shovel - (into a furnace) 4. anthracite, hard;
bituminous, soft; brown - 5. hot, live -s (to cook
meat over hot —s) 6. a bed of ~s
coalesce v. (D; intr.) to - into
coalition n. (pol.) 1. to form a - 2. to break up,
dissolve a - 3. a - breaks up, falls apart 4. a polit-
political - 5. (AE) a rainbow - ('a political coalition
consisting of representatives of various ethnic
groups') 6. a broadly based, umbrella - ('a group
consisting of many diverse elements') 7. a —
among, between, of
coast n. 1. a forbidding, inhospitable; rugged-2.
off a - (a ship sank right off the -) 3. along, on the
— (there are many fishing towns on the —) 4. (AE)
on the Coast ('on the Pacific Coast of the US'))
(he's out on the Coast) 5. (misc.) the - is clear
('there is no danger in sight')
coastline n. a broken, jagged -
coat n. ['sleevedoutergarment']l.tohavea —on,
wear a — 2. to take off one's — 3. an all-weather;
fur; fur-lined; mink -; overcoat; raincoat;
sheepskin; spring; trench; winter; zip-lined —
['layer of paint'] 4. to apply, put on a - (we had to
put on a second —)
coating n. an outer; protective —
coat of arms n. a family -
coax v. 1. (D; tr.) to - into; out of (she -ed me
into going) 2. (H) he -ed me to do it
cobweb n. ['spider's network'] to spin a-(spiders
spin —s)
cobwebs n. (colloq.) ['confusion'] to clear, sweep
the — from one's brain
cocaine n. to freebase; snort; shoot —
cock n. ['rooster'] (esp. BE) 1. ~s cock-a-doodle-
doo, crow ['water tap'] 2. a ball - ['opening of a
water tap'] 3. full - (a water tap turned on full -)
cocktail n. 1. to make, mix, prepare a-2. fruit-;
a prawn (BE), shrimp (AE) - 3. a champagne -
cocoon n. to spin a ~
code n. ['cryptographic system'] 1. to design,
make up a — 2. to break, crack, decipher a — 3. a
binary - 4. фе Morse - 5. in - (to send a message
in -) ['body of laws, principles'] 6. to establish,
formulate, lay down a — 7. a building; civil; crimi-
criminal, penal; ethical, moral; sanitary; uniform;
unwritten -; a - of ethics ['system of symbols'] 8.
an area (AE), dialling (BE) - 9. the genetic -10.
a postal (BE), zip (AE) -
codicil n. (legal) 1. to draw up a-2. a-to (a will)
coerce v. 1. (D; tr.) to - into (to - smb. into doing
smt.) 2. (H) (rare) he was -d to sign
coercion n. under — (to do smt. under —)
coeval adj. (formal) ['contemporary'] - with
coexist v. l.to-peacefully2.(D;intr.)to-with
coexistence n. 1. peaceful - 2. - with
coffee n. 1. to brew; grind; make; percolate; strain
- 2. to stir - (with a spoon) 3. to grow - 4. strong;
weak - 5. black; white (BE) -, - with cream 6.
decaffeinated; ersatz; fresh; instant; Irish; Turk-
Turkish — 7. a cup of —; one —; or: one cup of —; two
—s; or: two cups of — (bring us two cups of —)
coffin n. to lower a — into a grave
cogitate v. (formal) (D; intr.) to - on
cognate adj. - to, with (Dutch is - to English and
German)
cognizance n. (formal) ['notice'] to take - of
cognizant adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) - of
(— of the danger)
cohabit v. (D; intr.) to-with
coherence n. to lack-
cohesion n. - among, between
coil I n. an induction; primary—
coil II v. l.(d; intr., refl.) to-around/round (the
snake -ed around its victim) 2. (d; intr., refl.) to
- into (to - into a ball)
coin n. 1. to mint, strike-s 2. to drop a-(into a
slot) 3. to spin a —; or: to flip, throw, toss a — (in
order to decide an issue) (they tossed a - to decide
who would go first) 4. to collect -s 5. antique;
counterfeit; gold; metal; rare; silver; valuable -s
6. (misc.) common - ('smt. that is widely
known'); to pay back in the same — ('to treat smb.
as he or she has treated others')
coincide v. (D; intr.) to - with
coincidence n. 1. mere, pure, sheer-2. a happy;
interesting; odd, strange; remarkable - 3. a -
that + clause (it was pure — that we were seated
together) 4. by - (we ended up in the same town
by sheer —)
coincidental adj. -with
cold I adj. ['of a low temperature'] 1. biting, bit-
bitter, bitterly - (it was bitter -) 2. - to (~ to the
touch) ['unfriendly'] 3. — towards
cold II n. ['low temperature'] 1. biting, bitter,
extreme, intense, severe - 2. the - has let up ['ill-
['illness'] 3. to catch, come down with, contract a - 4.
to have; nurse a —; to suffer from a — 5. to fight
off, shake off, throw off a - 6. a bad, severe; lin-
lingering; slight — 7. the common —; a chest; head —
cold cream n. to apply —
cold feet n. (colloq.) ['reluctance'] at the last
minute he got - and withdrew from the deal
cold fight n. ['clear view'] in the-of reality
cold shoulder n. (colloq.) ['snub'] to give smb. the
cold turkey n. (colloq.) ['abrupt cessation of the
use of drugs and other harmful substances'] to go
collaborate v. (D; intr.) to-in, on; with (to-on
a project with smb.)
collaboration n. 1. international - 2. in -with
collaborator n. (historical and pejorative) a war-
wartime-
collapse I n. 1. (an) economic-2. an emotional,
mental - 3. a total - (he was in a state of total -)
collapse II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - from, with (to -
from exhaustion) 2. (d; intr.) to - under (the
weight of smt.)
collar n. 1. a button-down; stand-up; starched;
stiff; turndown - 2. (misc.) hot under the - ('very
angry')
49
come
collate v. (D; tr.) to — with (to — one edition with
another edition)
collateral n. to put up — for
collect v. 1. (D; intr.) to — around (a crowd —ed
around them) 2. (D; tr.) to — from (to — money
from one's colleagues) 3.(D; intr.) to — on (to —
on one's insurance)
collection n. 1. to take up a — (of money) 2. to
break up a — 3. an art; coin; private; stamp —
collective n. a workers' —
collector n. 1. an art; coin; rare-book; stamp — 2.
a tax; ticket; toll - 3. (AE) a garbage, trash - (BE
has dustman) 4. an ardent, avid, serious —
college n. 1. to go to — 2. to apply for admission to
(a) —; to enroll, matriculate at (a) —; to enter (a)
— 3. to finish, graduate from — 4. to put smb.
through — ('to pay for smb.'s college education')
5. to drop out of; fail out of (AE), flunk out of
(AE; slang) — 6. a business (AE); community
(AE); junior (AE); technical (BE); village (BE);
war -; a College of Further Education (BE) 7.
(US) the Electoral College 8. at, in - (she's away
at —; he made many friends when he was in —)
USAGE NOTE: One says to go to college, but
to go to a good college, (see the Usage Note for
university)
collide v. 1. to — head-on 2. (D; intr.) to — with
(they —d with another ship)
collision n. 1. to cause a — 2. a head-on; midair —
3. a near — 4. a — between; with (the — between
the ships was caused by fog)
collocate v. (D; intr.) to — with (some verbs —
with certain nouns)
collocation n. a grammatical; lexical —
colloquy n. (formal) a — between
collude v. 1. (D; intr.) to - with 2. (E) to - with
smb. to do smt.
collusion n. 1. — between 2. in — with
colon n. (med.) the ascending; descending; trans-
transverse —
colonel n. 1. a chicken (AE; slang), full; lieuten-
lieutenant — 2. a — commands a regiment
colony n. 1. to establish a — 2. to disband a — 3. a
crown — 4. an artists'; leper; nudist; penal — 5. an
ant-
color, colour I n. ['hue'] 1. bright, brilliant; dark;
dull; garish, gaudy, loud; harsh; natural; rich;
soft; subdued; vivid; warm —s 2. (usu. fig.) glow-
glowing —s (to picture smt. in glowing —s) 3. com-
complementary; primary; secondary —s 4. —s clash;
fade; match 5. in — (in natural —) 6. a combination
of —s; a riot of — ['features'] 7. local — ['paint'] 8.
oil; water —s (to paint with oil —s) ['vividness'] 9.
to add, lend — (to a story) ['complexion'] 10. to
change — ('to become pale; to blush') 11. (misc.)
the fresh air brought the — back to his cheeks
color, colour II v. (N; used with an adjective) she
—ed her hair red
coloring, colouring n. artificial; natural; protec-
protective-
color line, colour fine n. ['social boundary
between races of different color'] to cross the —
colors, colours n. ['banner, flag'] 1. to display,
show the — 2. to salute; troop the — 3. to dip; haul
down, strike the — 4. college; regimental; school
— ['armed forces'] 5. to be called to the — ['charac-
['character'] 6. to show one's — 7. one's true — ['misc.'] 8.
to come through with flying — ('to score an im-
impressive success'); under false — ('passing oneself
off as another'); to ride under the — of a certain
stable
column n. ['series of articles'] 1. a syndicated — (in
a newspaper) ['vertical division of a page'] 2.
advertising (esp. BE) —s; correspondence (esp.
BE) —s; a personal; society; sports — ['list of num-
numbers'] 3. to add up a — ['shaft'] 4. a steering — (on
a car) 5. (med.) the spinal, vertebral — ['row'] 6. a
tank — ['misc.'] 7. a fifth — ('enemy supporters
behind one's own lines')
columnist n. 1. a syndicated - 2. a fifth - ('an
enemy agent operating behind one's own lines')
coma n. 1. to fall, lapse, slip into a — 2. to come
out of a — 3. a deep; irreversible —
comb n. a fine-tooth — (usu. fig.) (we went
through the documents with a fine-tooth —)
combat n. 1. to engage in, go into — 2. to break off
— 3. close, hand-to-hand; deadly, fierce, mortal —
4. — between
combination n. 1. a rare; strange — 2. (ling.) a
fixed, recurrent; free —
combine v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — against (to —
forces against a common enemy) 2. (D; intr., tr.)
to — with (hydrogen —s with oxygen; to — initia-
initiative with caution; to — business with pleasure)
combo n. (colloq.) a jazz—
combustion n. 1. to produce — 2. internal; spon-
spontaneous —
come v. 1. (d; intr.) to - across ('to meet by
chance') (to — across an old friend) 2. (d; intr.) to
— at ('to attack') (he came at me with a knife) 3.
(d; intr.) to — between ('to alienate'); ('to sepa-
separate') (to — between two friends) 4. (d; intr.) ('to
originate') to - from (she -s from a different
country; milk —s from cows) 5. (d; intr.) ('to
enter') to — into (to — into being; to — into use; to
— into focus; to — into the open; to — into view) 6.
(d; intr.) to — on, upon ('to meet') (to — upon a
stranger; to - upon a shocking scene) 7. (d; intr.)
to - on ('to begin'); ('to enter') (to - on duty; to
— on the scene) 8. (d; intr.) to — out of ('to leave')
(he came out of the room) 9. (d; intr.) to — over
('to affect') (what has come over you?) 10. (d;
intr.) ('to amount') to - to (the bill came to twenty
dollars) 11. (d; intr.) to - to ('to arrive at'); ('to
reach') (the incident came to their attention; to —
to grief; success came to her early; he came to his
senses; it came to our knowledge that...; to — to
terms; when it —s to politics; to — to the point) 12.
(D; intr.) ('to be due') to — to (he got what was
—ing to him) 13. (d; intr.) ('to happen') to — to (no
harm came to them) 14. (d; intr.) to — to ('to be
remembered by') (her name finally came to me)
15. (d; intr.) ('to fall') to - under (to - under the
jurisdiction of a court; to — under suspicion; to —
under smb.'s influence; to — under fire) 16. (E)
('to occur') if it came to be known that...; to — to
pass ('to happen') 17. (E) ('to begin') they finally
came to consider me a friend 18. (G) ('to
*6

come across
50
approach') the children came running 19. (P;
intr.) ('to occur in a certain order') Tuesday —s
after Monday 20. (s) to — true; the dressing came
undone 21. (misc.) what will — ('become') of him?
the years to —; to — on strong ('to try to make a
very strong impression'); to — into a fortune ('to
inherit or acquire a fortune'); the case never did ~
before the court; he had it —ing ('he deserved his
punishment')
come across v. (d; intr.) to — as ('to appear') (he
—s across as being very intelligent)
come around v. (D; intr.) ('to change') to — to
(she finally came around to our viewpoint)
come away v. (d; intr.) ('to leave') to - with (he
came away with a favorable impression)
comeback n. ['recovery'] 1. to attempt, try; make
a — 2. a successful; unsuccessful — ['retort'] 3. a
snappy -
comeback v. (D;intr.) to - to ('to return') (they
came back to their hometown; the details are -ing
back to me)
comedian n. an alternative (BE) ('anti-establish-
('anti-establishment'); nightclub; radio; stand-up; TV —
come down v. 1. (BE) (D; intr.) to - from ('to
leave') (to - from Oxford) 2. (d; intr.) to - from
('to originate from') (this statue has come down to
us from the fifteenth century) 3. (d; intr.) to — on
('to treat') (the teacher came down hard on him
for missing class) 4. (d; intr.) to — to ('to amount
to') (it — s down to the same old thing) 5. (d; intr.)
to - with ('to catch, develop') (to - with a cold)
comedy n. black; light; musical; situation;
slapstick —
come forward v. (D; intr.) to — with ('to present')
(to — with new evidence)
come in v. 1. (d; intr.) to - for ('to be subjected
to') (to — for criticism) 2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to
join') (to — on a project)
come out v. 1. (d; intr.) to -against ('to oppose')
(to - against a proposal) 2. (d; intr.) to - for ('to
support') (to - for a bill) 3. (d; intr.) to - for ('to
try out for') (are you —ing out for the team?) 4. (d;
intr.) to - with ('to publish') (to - with a new
book) 5. (P; intr.) ('to end up'); ('to result') to -
on top ('to be victorious') 6. (s) the pictures came
out fine 7. (misc.) to — in spots ('to be covered
with spots as a result of illness'); they came out
from behind the bushes
come over v. 1. (D; intr.) to - to ('to approach')
(she came over to our table) 2. (D; intr.) ('to
come') to — with (their ancestors came over with
the Pilgrims) 3. (BE) (s) ('to begin to feel') to -
faint; nervous
come round see come around
come through v. (D; intr.) to-with ('to provide')
(he finally came through with the money)
come up v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against ('to meet') (to
— against opposition) 2. (D; intr.) to — for ('to be
brought up for') (the question finally came up for
discussion) 3. (d; intr.) to - to ('to reach') (the
water came up to our knees) 4. (d; intr.) to — to
('to approach') ('he came up to me and introduced
himself) 5. (d; intr.) to - with ('to produce') (she
came up with a good idea) 6. (misc.) to — to expe-
expert, (colloq.) ['well-deserved misfor-
tations
comeuppi
tune'] to get one's —
comfort n. 1. to bring, give, provide — 2. to derive
— from; to find, take; seek — in (she finds — in
helping others) 3. to enjoy the —s (of life) 4. cold,
little — 5. creature —s; spiritual — 6. a — to (he was
a great — to his parents) 7. a — to + inf. (it was a
— to know that they were safe) 8. in — (to live in
comfortable adj. (colloq.) — with (are you — with
this decision?)
comforter n. (AE) a down —
comforting adj. — to + inf. (it was — to be sure of
their support)
coming n. the Second Coming
comma n. 1. to place, put in a — 2. inverted — s
(BE;CEhas quotation marks)
command I n. ['authority'] ['control'] 1. to
assume, take (over) — 2. to exercise — 3. to give
up, relinquish; lose one's — 4. firm — 5. — of, over
(he assumed — of the regiment) 6. in — of (he was
put in — of the task force; who will be placed in —
of the division?) 7. under smb.'s — (we were under
her -) 8. the chain of - ['headquarters'] 9. the
high, supreme — 10. a unified — ['order'] 11. to
carry out, execute; give, issue a — 12. a — that +
clause; subj. (we obeyed their — that prisoners be/
should be treated properly) 13. at smb.'s — (at his
— we opened fire) ['military unit'] 14. a combat;
military — ['mastery'] 15. fluent, perfect — (fluent
— of a language)
command II v. 1. (H) he -ed his men to fire 2. (L;
subj.) the captain — ed that the company fall in/
should fall in
commandant n. (AE) (mil.) the - of the Marine
Corps; the — of a service school
commander n. 1. a lieutenant; naval — 2. a battal-
battalion; camp; company; division; regimental; su-
supreme — 3. a — commands a unit
commandment n. (rel.) 1. to keep the-s 2. to vio-
violate a — 3. the Ten Commandments
commence v. (formal) 1. (D; intr.) to — with
(we'll — with a reading of the minutes of the last
meeting) 2. (rare) (G) (mil.) - firing!
commencement exercises n. (AE) to attend; hold
commend v. 1. to-highly 2. (formal) (B) lean -
him to you 3. (D; tr.) to — for (she was —ed for
bravery)
commendable adj. - to + inf. (it is - to help
others)
n. a — for (a — for bravery)
adj. — to, with
adj. — to, with (a reward — with
the results achieved)
comment I n. ['observation'] ['remark'] 1. to
make a — 2. (an) appropriate, fitting; caustic, crit-
critical, scathing, unfavorable; cryptic; favorable;
inappropriate; ironic, wry; nasty, vicious; off-the-
record; passing; perceptive, shrewd; sarcastic — 3.
(a) — about, on (there was no — about the incident
in the press) 4. (a) — from (there was no — from
the other party) 5. a — that + clause (her — that
51
she would retire soon was greeted with dismay) 6.
without further - ['gossip'] ['talk'] 7. to arouse,
cause, evoke - 8. considerable; critical, scathing;
favorable; unfavorable - (the incident evoked
considerable — in the capitals of western Europe)
comment II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about, on 2. (L)
she — ed that she was very happy to be a guest in
their country
commentary n. 1. to give a — 2. a play-by-play,
running — 3. (misc.) a sad — (on the world situa-
situation)
commentator n. a news; radio; TV —
commerce n. 1. to carry on, engage in — 2. to
develop, expand — 3. interstate; overseas — 4. —
between; with (to carry on — with the countries of
Central America)
commercial n. ['paid spoken advertisement'] 1. to
sponsor a — 2. a radio; TV —
commiserate v. (d; intr.) to — on; with (I — with
you on your misfortune)
commissar n. apolitical —
commission I n. ['committee'] ['council'] 1. to
appoint, establish a — 2. to disband a — 3. a fact-
finding; investigating; joint; planning; roving — 4.
a — on (a — on the problems of alcoholism) ['cer-
['certificate conferring rank'] (usu. mil.) 5. to award,
confer a — 6. to earn, win a (battlefield) — 7. to
resign one's - 8. a battlefield - ['fee'] 9. to
charge; pay a — 10. to deduct; divide a — 11. a —
for, on 12. on — (to work on —) ['operating condi-
condition'] 13. to put out of — (the storm put all power
lines out of —) ['task'] (formal) 14. to execute a —
15. a — to + inf. (a — to serve)
commission II v. 1. (H) she -ed an artist to paint
her portrait 2. (N; used with a noun) she was —ed
a second lieutenant
commissioner n. 1. a high - for (the high - for
occupied territories) 2. a fire; health; police; water
— 3. (GB) the Canadian High Commissioner in
London
commit v. 1. (d; refl.) ('to devote') to - to (to -
oneself to a cause) 2. (D; tr.) ('to assign') to - to
(to - funds to a project) 3. (D; tr.) ('to confine')
to — to (to — smb. to a mental hospital; —ted to
prison) 4. (d; tr.) ('to place') (to — a child to a rela-
relative's care; to — a poem to memory; to — one's
thoughts to paper) 5. (H; usu. refl.; no passive)
('to promise') he —ted himself to support her
parents
commitment n. ['promise'] 1. to make a - 2. to
meet a — 3. a firm — 4. a — to + inf. (he made a —
to pay off his debts) 5. a - that + clause (they reaf-
reaffirmed their — that they would help) ['devotion']
6. to demonstrate, display, show — 7. an all-out,
total - 8. (a) - to (- to a cause)
committed adj. 1.-to (-to his principles) 2.-to
+ inf. (they are — to help us; or, more usu.: they
are — to helping us)
committee n. 1. to appoint, establish, form,
organize, set up a — 2. to disband a — 3. an ad-hoc;
advisory; budget; credentials; executive; griev-
grievance; nominating; planning; program; select; spe-
special; standing; steering; strike; watchdog; ways-
and-means —; a — of the whole 4. a — on (a — on
company
problems of the elderly) 5. on a - (who is serving
on the -?) 6. (misc.) to report a bill out of -
commodity n. 1. to trade in-ties 2. a farm; mar-
marketable; staple —
common I adj. 1. quite-2. (cannot stand alone
after a noun) - to (a heritage - to both our
peoples)
common II n. in — with
commonplace I adj. - to + inf. (it was-for them
to travel abroad)
commonplace II n. 1. to state a-2. a-to + inf.
(it's a — to say that people should work hard)
common sense n. 1. to apply, exercise, show, use
— 2. the — to + inf. (he had the — to remain silent)
3. (misc.) good; plain - (just plain, good, old -)
common touch n. to have; lose the —
commotion n. 1. cause, create, raise a — 2. a —
subsides 3. in a state of —
commune v. (d; intr.) to-with (to-with nature)
communicate v. 1. to - officially; unofficially 2.
(B) she tried to - her thoughts to her children 3.
(D; intr.) to - with (to - with one's parents)
communication n. ['message'] 1. to address,
direct, send (all) —s (to a certain place) 2. a direct;
official; personal; privileged ('confidential') - 3. a
— from; to ['act, means of communicating'] 4. to
establish — 5. to cut off —s 6. mass —s 7. radio;
two-way — 8. — with (to establish — with the
rescue team; to cut off all -s with the mainland) 9.
in - with (she has been in - with her family)
communication cord n. (BE) to pull a - (AE has
emergency cord)
communion n. ['sharing'] 1. - with ['a Christian
sacrament, the Eucharist'] 2. to administer, give -
3. to take - 4. Holy Communion
communique n. 1. to issue a — 2. a joint — 3. an
official — 4. a — about, on (they issued a — on the
results of the conference)
community n. ['group of persons with common
interests'] 1. an (the) academic, college, univer-
university; business; gay; intelligence; religious; scien-
scientific; speech — ['group of persons who live
together'] 2. a close-knit - 3. a life-care (AE);
retirement —
commute v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to travel regularly') to
— between; from; to (to — between two cities; to
— from the suburbs to the city) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
change') to - to (the Governer -d his death sen-
sentence to life imprisonment)
commuter n. 1. a suburban — 2. a — between;
from; to
compact n. (formal) ['agreement'] 1. to make a -
with 2. a — between; with
companion n. 1. a boon, close, inseparable - 2. a
life; traveling — 3. a — for, to (she worked as a —
to an elderly woman)
company n. ['military unit consisting of several
platoons'] 1. to command a — (a captain com-
commands a —) 2. to deploy; form a — 3. a cannon;
headquarters; infantry — ['companionship'] 4. to
keep (smb.) —; to seek smb.'s — 5. to part — with
6. (good) — for (the children were good — for us)
['guests'] 7. to have; invite — (we enjoy having —)
['associates'] ['association'] ['gathering of per-

comparable
sons'] 8. to keep — with 9. mixed — (don't use that
word in mixed —) 10. (colloq.) bad, fast — ('reck-
('reckless, wild associates') (he runs around in/with fast
—) 11. present — ('those present') (present —
excepted) 12. in — (to behave appropriately in —;
in — with smb.) ['firm'] 13. to manage, operate,
run a — 14. to establish, form a — 15. a finance;
holding; insurance; investment; joint-stock; ship-
shipping; transport (esp. BE), transportation — 16. an
opera; repertory (esp. BE), stock (AE); theatrical
- 17. (BE) a (public) limited - (AE prefers cor-
corporation) 18. a — fails, goes bankrupt ['fire-fight-
['fire-fighting unit'] 19. an engine, hose; ladder —
comparable adj. -to,with
compare I n. beyond —
compare II v. 1. to —advantageously, favorably;
unfavorably 2. (d; intr.) to — to, with (these roads
cannot — with ours) 3. (d; tr.) to — to, with (how
would you — this wine with a good French wine?)
USAGE NOTE: The construction to compare x
to у usually means 'to claim a similarity between
x and y' (to compare New York to a beehive). The
construction to compare x with/and у usually
means 'to discuss similarities and differences
between x and y' (to compare New York with/and
London).
comparison n. 1. to draw, make a ~ 2. to hold up
under — 3. to defy — 4. a favorable; unfavorable —
5. a — between; to, with (there is no — between
them; she made a — of our literature to theirs; I
would like to draw a — of recent events with those
of the 1930s) 6. beyond - 7. by - (her works suf-
suffer by -) 8. in - with USAGE NOTE: Note that
there can be a difference in meaning between a
comparison of New York to a beehive and a com-
comparison of New York with/and London. See the
Usage Note for compare II. The preposition
between can be used in both meanings -- a com-
comparison between New York and a beehive and a
comparison between New York and London.
compartment n. 1. a glove - 2. a first-class; sec-
second-class — 3. a watertight —
compartmentalize v. (D; tr.) to - into
compass n. 1. to box the - 2. to read a — 3. a
magnetic; mariner's —
compassion n. 1. to arouse — 2. to demonstrate,
display, show; feel, have — 3. deep, profound,
strong — 4. — for 5. out of — (to act out of —)
compatibility n. - between, with
compatible adj. -with
compel v. (H) to ~ smb. to do smt.
compensate v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to make up for') to —
for (I cannot — for my inferiority complex) 2. (D;
tr.) ('to reimburse') to — for (to — smb. for dam-
compensation n. 1. to make, pay; offer — 2. to
deny, refuse — 3. adequate, appropriate — 4.
unemployment; workmen's (AE) — 5. — for (—
for the damage suffered)
compete v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against, with (that
store —s with us) 2. (D; intr.) to — for (to — for
first prize) 3. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in a contest)
competence n. ['ability'] 1. to acquire, gain — 2. —
for (does she have the necessary — for the posi-
52
tion?) 3. - in (- in English) 4. the - to + inf. (do
they have the — to cope with the job?) ['jurisdic-
['jurisdiction'] (legal) 5. beyond; within the — (the matter
lay within the — of the court)
competent adj. 1. highly - 2. ~ as (he is ~ as a
teacher) 3. - at, in (she is - in her field) 4. - to +
inf. (she is — to teach history; — to stand trial)
competition n. ['rivalry'] ['opposition'] 1. to offer,
provide — 2. to undercut, undersell the — 3. bitter,
fierce, formidable, keen, stiff, strong; cutthroat,
unfair, unscrupulous; fair; free, unfettered;
healthy — 4. — among, between; with (stiff —
among several firms) 5. — for (— for control of the
market) 6. in - with ['contest'] ['match'] 7. to
hold, stage a - 8. a gymnastics; high-diving;
speed-skating — 9. (an) open — 10. a — for (a — for
the championship)
competitive adj. 1.fiercely,keenly— 2. —with(to
be - with the best)
competitor n. a formidable, keen, strong;
unscrupulous —
compilation n. 1. to do, make a — 2. a — from (var-
(various sources)
compile v. (D; tr.) to - from (to — a dictionary
from various sources)
complacency n. — about; towards
complacent adj. -about
complain v. 1. to - bitterly, loudly, vociferously;
constantly 2. (D; intr.) to — about, of; to (I —ed to
fhe manager about the service; she — ed of indiges-
indigestion) 3. (L; to) she -ed (to the manager) that
there was no hot water
complainer n. a chronic —
complaint n. 1. to bring, file, lodge, make, register
a — 2. to express, voice a — 3. to act on, respond
to a — 4. to disregard, ignore; reject a — 5. a bitter,
loud, vociferous; justified; legitimate; unjustified
— 6. a — about; with (she filed a — about the ser-
service with the manager) 7. a — against (they lodged
a — against me) 8. a — to (our — to the dean was
ignored) 9. a — that + clause (they rejected his —
that proper procedures had not been followed) 10.
(misc.) grounds for/a cause for —
complement n. 1. a full — 2. (naval) a ship's —
('crew') 3. (grammar) a predicate — 4. a — to
complementary adj. —to
complete adj. — with (a turkey dinner — with all
the trimmings)
completion n. 1. to near — 2. on — of (on — of this
dictionary we will need a rest)
complex n. 1. an Electra; inferiority; Oedipus;
persecution; superiority — 2. the military-indus-
military-industrial-
complexion n. a clear; dark; fair; florid, ruddy;
pasty; sallow —
compliance n. 1. - with (- with the law) 2. in -
with (in — with regulations)
complication n. 1. to cause— s2. to avoid— s3. — s
arise, set in
complicity n. 1. — between 2. — in (a crime)
compliment I n. ['praise'] 1. to pay smb. a — 2. to
lavish, shower —s on 3. to return a — 4. to angle
for, fish for —s 5. to bandy —s 6. a backhanded,
dubious, left-handed; nice, pretty; sincere — 7. a
53
conclusion
— on (she paid him a nice — on his success)
compliment II v. (D; tr.) to — on (I —ed him on
his performance)
compliments n. ['greetings'] 1. to convey, present,
send one's — 2. (misc.) with the author's —; with
the — of the management
comply v. (D; intr.) to - with (to - with the law;
to — with smb.'s request)
component n. an essential —
comport v. (formal) (P; refl.) to — oneself with
dignity; to — oneself well
compose v. (B) to — an ode to an emperor
composed adj. (cannot stand alone'] ['consisting']
— of (the team was — of seasoned players) (see the
Usage Note for comprised)
composer n. a major; minor; popular—
composition n. ['essay'] 1. to do, write a —
['typesetting'] 2. to do — ['piece of music'] 3. to
perform, play a —
composure n. 1. to keep, retain; regain one's — 2.
to lose one's —
compound I n. ['result of mixing'] a chemical;
organic —
compound II n. ['enclosure'] a prison—
comprehensible adj. —to
comprehension n. 1. to defy, elude — 2. beyond—
comprehensives n. (AE) ['comprehensive exami-
examination'] to take one's —
compress I n. 1. to apply a —to 2. a cold; dry; hot;
wet —
compress II v. (D; tr.) to — into (to — a whole
paragraph into two sentences)
comprised adj. (cannot stand alone) ['consisting']
— of USAGE NOTE: Some purists prefer com-
composed of to comprised of.
compromise In. 1. to agree on, come to, reach,
work out a — 2. to reject a — 3. an acceptable,
reasonable — 4. a — between; with
compromise II v. (D; intr.) to — on, over; with
(they —d on certain items with us)
comptroller n. (AE) the Comptroller General
compulsion n. 1. to feel a-2. (a) moral - 3. a -
to + inf. (he felt no — to do it) 4. under — (to give
in under —)
compulsory n. — for
compunction n. 1. to feel, have; show — 2. —
about (she felt no — about making us wait) 3. with-
without — (he violated the law without the slightest —)
computer n. 1. to operate, use a —; to turn on;
turn off a — 2. to program a — 3. an analog; digital;
electronic; general-purpose; home; mainframe —;
microcomputer; minicomputer; parallel; per-
personal; serial — 4. the — is down ('the computer is
not functioning') 5. the — is up ('the computer is
functioning') 6. a — bombs (AE), crashes 7. on a
— (to run a program on a —)
comrade n. 1. one's fallen —s 2. a — in arms 3. an
old-
con v. (colloq.) ('to trick') l.(D;tr.) to — into (to
trick smb. into doing smt.) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of
(he —ned me out of my money)
conceal v. (D; tr.) to — from
concede v. 1. (B) he finally —d the election to his
opponent 2. (L; to ) she —d (to us) that she had
been mistaken
conceded adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf.
(this painting is — to be her best work)
conceit n. insufferable, overwhelming —
conceivable adj. - that + clause (it is - that they
knew about it beforehand)
conceive v. 1. (d; intr.) to — of (can you — of such
cruelty?) 2. (L) I could not - that he would do
such a thing
concentrate v. (D;intr.,tr.)to — on (to — all our
efforts on solving the problem)
concentration n. 1. to disrupt, disturb one's — 2.
deep — 3. — on 4. in — (in deep —)
concept n. 1. to formulate, frame a —2. to grasp a
— 3. the — that + clause (the — that trade lessens
international tensions is valid)
conception n. ['concept'] 1. a clear; vague — 2. the
— that + clause (the — that the superpowers must
fight is dangerous) ['becoming pregnant or being
conceived'] 3. at —
concern I n. ['interest'] ['apprehension'] 1. to
arouse, cause, give — 2. to express, voice; feel;
show — 3. considerable, deep, grave, serious;
growing; national; overriding; particular; pri-
primary; public — 4. an object of — 5. — about, for,
over, with (— about debts; — for the children; —
over the future) 6. (esp. BE) - to + inf. (- to
know the truth) 7. — that + clause (to express —
that they might fail) 8. of - to (the matter was of
deep — to us) 9. out of — (she did it out of — for her
family) ['firm'] 10. to manage a — 11. (misc.) a
going ('successful') —
concern II v. l.(d; refl.) to — oneself about, over,
with (she — ed herself with the problem of illiter-
illiteracy) 2. (misc.) to whom it may —
concerned adj. 1. deeply, greatly — 2. — about,
for, over; with (- about safety) 3. (esp. BE) - to
+ inf. (— to know your decision) 4. — that +
clause (we are — that they might have missed the
train) 5. (misc.) as far as I'm - USAGE NOTE:
The phrases concerned about, concerned over and
less frequently, concerned for, mean 'worried
about' (concerned about your safety). The phrase
concerned with means 'interested in' (concerned
with establishing the truth).
concert n. ['musical program'] 1. to give, hold,
stage a — 2. to cancel a — 3. a band; orchestral;
pop, promenade (BE); rock; subscription — 4. at
a — (we met at the —) ['harmony, agreement—'] 5.
in — ('together') (to work in —; voices raised in —)
concerto n. 1. to compose a — 2. to perform, play
a — 3. a piano; violin —
concession n. ['yielding'] 1. to grant, make a — 2.
a — to ['right to conduct business'] 3. to grant;
receive a — 4. a parking; refreshment — 5. a — to
+ inf. (their firm received a — to prospect for oil)
conclave n. ['meeting'] a party—
conclude v. (L) we —d that he would not come
conclusion n. 1. to arrive at, come to, draw, reach
a —; to jump to a — 2. to bring to a — 3. a correct;
erroneous, invalid, wrong; foregone; hasty; ines-
inescapable, inevitable; reasonable, tenable, valid —
4. a — that + clause (their — that war is inevitable
is disturbing) 5. at the - (at the - of the concert)

w
concoction
54
concoction n. (colloq.) to whip up a —
concomitant adj. (formal) - with
concord n. (formal) in — with
concordance n. [Mist of words'] 1. to compile a —
['harmony'] 2. in — with
concordat n. (rel.) 1. to conclude, draw up a ~ 2.
a — between; with
concrete n. 1. to pour ~ 2. prestressed; ready-mix;
reinforced — 3. a slab of —
concubine n. 1. to have, keep a — 2. by one's — (he
had many children by his —s)
concur v. (formal) ('to agree') 1. to ~ completely,
fully 2. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in supporting a
cause) 3. (D; intr.) to — with (to — with an opin-
opinion; to — with smb.) 4. (L) we — that the practice
should be halted
concurrence n. 1. complete, full — 2. — in 3. in —
with 4. with the - of
concession n. 1. to receive a —2. a severe; slight —
3. a brain —
condemn v. 1. to — bitterly, harshly, strongly;
unfairly, unjustly 2. (D; tr.) to — as (they were
—ed as traitors) 3. (D; tr.) to — for (he was —ed for
stealing a horse) 4. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to
death; -ed to hard labor) 5. (H) he was -ed to
spend the rest of his life in prison
condemnation n. 1. to issue a ~ 2. a bitter, harsh,
scathing, strong; sweeping —
condense v. (D; tr.) to — into (you must — your
paper into a few paragraphs)
condescend v. (formal) 1. (d; intr.) to — to (to —
to cheating) 2. (E) to ~ to mingle with the workers
condition I n. ['requirement'] 1. to impose, set;
state, stipulate a - 2. to accept a - 3. to fulfill,
meet, satisfy a — 4. an essential — 5. on — that +
clause; subj. (she will join us on ~ that you also be
there) ['state of repair'] 6. bad, poor, terrible;
excellent, good — 7. operating, running — 8. in —
(our house is in good —; his car is in running —; the
roads are in terrible —) ['good health'] ['fitness'] 9.
to get into — 10. in —; out of — (he never exercises
and is out of ~) ['state of health'] 11. critical, poor;
fair, satisfactory; good; serious; stable; weakened
- 12. in - (the patient was in critical -) ['ail-
['ailment'] 13. a heart; lung — 14. an untreatable —
condition II v. 1. (D; refl.) to - for 2. (formal)
(D; tr.) to - on 3. (D; tr.) to - to (~ed to life in
the jungle) 4. (H) to — smb. to do smt.
conditional adj. -on
conditioned adj. - to + inf. (the dog was ~ to
attack at a certain signal)
conditioner n. a hair; skin —
conditions n. ['circumstances'] 1. favorable;
unfavorable — 2. difficult; normal; pitiful,
squalid; repressive ~ 3. living; weather; working
— (if weather — permit) 4. in — (they live in
squalid —) 5. under — (to work under difficult —)
condolences n. 1. to convey, express, offer ~ 2.
heartfelt, sincere — 3. — on (I conveyed our sin-
sincere — to them on the death of their mother)
condole with v. (esp. BE) (D; tr.) to - on (to -
smb. on the death of a parent)
condone v. (K) I don't ~ his coming late to work
conducive adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ to (exercise
is — to good health)
conduct I n. 1. appropriate; chivalrous; ethical;
irreproachable; proper — 2. disorderly; improper;
inappropriate, unbecoming; unethical ~ 3. (mil.)
dishonorable (AE); good —; — unbecoming an
officer
conduct II v. 1. (d; refl.) to -like (he -ed him-
himself like a good soldier) 2. (P; refl.) to - oneself
with dignity 3. (formal) (P; tr.) she was —ed into
the conference room; they — ed us through the
museum
conductor n. ['substance that conducts'] 1. a light-
lightning — ['person who collects fares'] (BE) 2. a bus
— ['director'] 3. a guest; orchestra —
cone n. 1. an ice-cream — 2. a pine —
confederacy n. 1. to form a — 2. a — among,
betweep; with
confederate v. (D; intr.) to - with
confederation n. 1. to form a — 2. a — among,
between; with 3. a loose, weak —
confer v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to converse') to — about;
with (we will ~ with them about this matter) 2. (D;
tr.) ('to award') to — on (to — an award on smb.)
conference n. 1. to convene; hold a — 2. a news,
press; peace; staff; summit — 3. a — between 4. a
— on (to hold a — on disarmament) 5. at a —
(you'll see her at the press —) 6. in — (he is in —
and cannot come to the telephone)
confess v. 1. to — frankly, honestly; willingly 2.
(B) he -ed his crime to the police 3. (D; intr.) to
— to (to — to a crime; to — to the police; he —ed
to cheating on the exam) 4. (L; to) he —ed (to us)
that he had lied
confession n. 1. to make a — 2. to extort, force a —
from; to beat a — out of (the police beat a — out of
him) 3. to repudiate, retract, take back, withdraw
a ~ 4. a deathbed; forced; full; public; voluntary
— 5. (rel.) to hear smb.'s — 6. (rel.) to go to — 7.
a ~ that + clause (he made a public ~ that he had
accepted bribes)
confetti n. to sprinkle, throw -
confide v. 1. (B) he -d his secret to us 2. (d; intr.)
to — in (she —s in her sister)
confidence n. ['trust'] ['reliance'] 1. to enjoy,
have; gain, win smb.'s — 2. to inspire, instill — in
smb. 3. to have; place one's ~ in smb. 4. to mis-
misplace one's — 5. to take smb. into one's — 6. to
shake smb.'s — 7. to betray smb.'s — 8. absolute,
every, perfect — (I have absolute — in her ability)
9. — in (my — in him was shaken) ['secrecy'] ['se-
['secret'] 10. to exchange —s 11. to violate a — 12.
strict — 13. in — (she told it to me in strictest —)
['belief in one's own ability'] ['firm belief] 14. to
express; gain — 15. to exude, ooze — (he just
oozes —) 16. to shake smb.'s — 17. buoyant,
unbounded — 18. the — to + inf. (he doesn't have
enough — to proceed on his own) 19. — that +
clause (nothing could shake her — that she would
succeed)
confident adj. 1. - of (~ of success) 2. ~ that +
clause (she was ~ that she would succeed)
confidential adj. strictly-
confidentiality n. 1. to maintain - 2. to violate-
3. strict -
55
conservation
confine v. (D; refl., tr.) to-to (-d to bed;-d to
quarters; the lecturer —d herself to one topic; —
yourself to the facts)
confinement n. ['imprisonment'] ['being con-
confined'] 1. solitary — (they put him into solitary —)
2. — to (— to quarters) 3. in — (in solitary —)
['lying-in'] (obsol.) 4. in - (before the birth of a
child)
confirm v. (L) the president —ed that a summit
conference would take place
confirmation n. 1. official; unofficial-2.-that +
clause (we have received — that she will attend)
confiscate v. (D; tr.) to - from
conflagration n. a major —
conflict In. 1. to provoke a — 2. to come into ~
with 3. to resolve a — 4. armed; direct — 5. (a) —
about, over; among, between; with (a — between
neighboring countries over their common border;
a — with one's relatives about the terms of a will)
6. in (a) — with (their stories are in — with each
other)
conflict II v. (D; intr.) to — with (your version —s
with mine)
confluence n. at a — (the city lies at the — of three
rivers)
conform v. (D; intr.) to— to, with (to— to specifi-
specifications)
conformance n. in — with
conformity n. 1. strict - 2. - to 3. in - with
confront v. (D;tr.)to —with (to —a prisoner with
a witness)
confrontation n. 1. to provoke a — 2. a direct — 3.
a - with
confuse v. (d; tr.) to — with (I always — him with
his brother)
confused adj. — to + inf. (I was — to learn of his
latest decision)
confusing adj. — to + inf. (it was — to listen to the
testimony)
confusion n. 1. to cause, create — 2. to clear up —
3. — arises; reigns 4. to throw into — (their unex-
unexpected arrival threw our plans into —) 5. com-
complete, general, utter — 6. a scene; state of — (it was
a scene of utter —) 7. — between
congestion n. 1. traffic — 2. nasal; lung, pulmo-
pulmonary—
congratulate v. 1. to —heartily, sincerely, warmly
2. (D; refl. tr.) to — on, upon (to — smb. on her/his
promotion)
congratulations n. 1. to extend, offer — on 2.
deepest, heartiest, hearty, sincere, warm, warm-
warmest — 3. — on, upon (my warmest — on your pro-
promotion!)
congress n. 1. to convene, hold a — 2. an annual;
biennial; party —
congruence n. (formal or technical) — with
congruent adj. (formal or technical) — to, with
congruity n. (formal) — with
congruous adj. (formal) — to, with
conjecture I n. (formal) ['guess'] 1. to make a —
2. a — that + clause (her — that the election would
be a landslide proved to be true)
conjecture II v. (formal) (L) ('to guess') the press
—d that a summit conference would take place
conjugation n. ['verb forms1] an irregular; regular
conjunction n. ['connecting word'] 1. a coordinat-
coordinating; subordinating — ['cooperation'] ['coinci-
['coincidence'] 2. in — with
connect v. 1. to — closely, intimately; loosely 2.
(d; intr.) to — to, with (this bus is supposed to —
with a train) 3. (D; tr.) to - to, with (are you -ed
with this firm? to — a TV set to an antenna)
connection, connexion n. ['association'] 1. to
establish, make a — 2. to break, sever a — 3. a
close, intimate; foreign; international; loose,
tenuous — 4. a — between; to; with (there was no
— between the two phenomena; to have a — with
smb.) 5. in a certain — (in this —; in — with the
other matter) ['acquaintance'] ['tie'] 6. business;
professional; social —s ['transfer during a trip'] 7.
to make; miss a — ['linking of two telephones'] 8.
to get a — ['misc.'] 9. to have —s ('to have influen-
influential supporters')
connect up v. (D; tr.) to - to, with (to - a tele-
telephone up to the exchange)
connexion (BE) see connection
connive v. l.(D;intr.)to-at;with2.(E)they-d
(with each other) to cheat her
conquest n. 1. to make a — 2. to consolidate;
extend one's —s 3. world —
conscience n. 1. to appeal to; arouse smb.'s - 2. to
have smt. on one's — 3. to ease one's — 4. a clear;
guilty — (to have a guilty —) 5. a matter of — 6. in
-(in all good-)
conscientious adj. - about (she is - about her
work)
conscious adj. 1. fully — 2. (cannot stand alone) —
of (— of danger) 3. — that + clause (she became —
that everyone was staring at her)
consciousness n. ['conscious state'] 1. to lose;
recover, regain — ['awareness'] 2. to raise smb.'s
— 3. class; political; social — ['misc.'] 4. stream of
conscript v. (D;tr.)to —into (to —youths into the
armed forces)
conscription n. 1. to introduce — 2. military; uni-
universal —
consecrate v. 1. (d; tr.) to - to (she -d her life to
helping the poor) 2. (N; used with a noun) he was
—d archbishop
consecration n. —to
consensus n. 1. to reach a — 2. a — that + clause
(there is a — that we should abstain)
consent In. 1. to give one's — to 2. to refuse,
withhold one's — 3. common; general; informed;
mutual; parental; tacit; unanimous — 4. by — (by
mutual —) 5. (misc.) the age of —
consent II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - to (to - to a pro-
proposal) 2. (E) she -ed to help
consequence n. ['importance'] 1. of—(a matter of
some -) ['result'] 2. in - of
consequences n. ['results'] 1. to have — for 2. to
accept, bear, face, suffer, take the - 3. far-reach-
far-reaching, fateful; grave, serious; inevitable; unforesee-
unforeseeable; unforeseen —
conservation n. 1. forest; soil; water; wild-life —2.
(the) — of natural resources

conservative
56
conservative I n. a dyed-in-the-wool; political —
conservative II adj. — in (— in one's views)
conservatory n. a music ~
consider v. 1. ('to regard') to - favorably 2. (D;
tr.) Do regard'); ('to examine') to — as (we —ed
him as a possible candidate) 3. (D; tr.) ('to regard
as a candidate') to — for (he cannot be —ed for the
job) 4. (G) ('to contemplate') she —ed resigning 5.
(M) ('to believe') we - her to be our friend 6. (N;
used with an adjective, noun, past participle) ('to
believe') we — her qualified; we — her a genius 7.
(Q) ('to contemplate') they -ed where to hide the
money USAGE NOTE: Note the contrasts
between consider as and consider in the follow-
following text ~ In her book she considers ('examines')
Shakespeare as a playwright and as a poet. She
considers ('believes') Shakespeare (to be) both a
great playwright and a great poet. However, she
considers ('believes') Shakespeare (to be) even
greater as a playwright than as a poet.
considerate adj. 1. — of (he was — of everyone) 2.
— towards 3. — to + inf. (it was — of her to do that)
consideration n. ['thought'] ['concern'] 1. to give
— to (to give some — to a matter) 2. to show — for
3. to take smt. into — 4. to deserve; require — (the
matter requires careful ~) 5. careful; due; serious
~ 6. an overriding — 7. financial; humanitarian;
personal —s 8. for smb.'s — (I submit the enclosed
proposal for your —) 9. in — of (in — of past ser-
services) 10. on careful — of 11. out of — for smb. 12.
under — (the matter is under —) 13. with — for
(with due — for your feelings, we must reject your
request) ['fee'] 14. for a — (for a modest —, he'll
do anything)
consign v. 1. (B) they ~ed the shipment to us 2.
(d; tr.) to — to (the paintings were —ed to our
care)
consignment n. ['a sale allowing the dealer to
return unsold merchandise'] to sell; ship on ~
consist v. 1. (d; intr.) to — of ('to be composed of)
(our state —s of thirty counties) 2. (formal) (d;
intr.) to — in ('to be equivalent to') (freedom —s in
the absence of oppressive laws)
consistent adj. — with (—with our principles)
consistory n. (usu. rel.) to convoke, hold a ~
consolation n. 1. to afford, offer — 2. — to 3. a —
to + inf. (it's a — to know that they are safe = it's
a — knowing that they are safe) 4. a — that +
clause (our only — was that no one was hurt seri-
seriously)
console v. 1. (D; tr.) to — on (to — smb. on the loss
of a loved one) 2. (d; refl.) to — with (I —d myself
with the thought that the situation could be worse)
consomme n. 1. clear ~ 2. a bowl; cup of ~
consonance n. in ~ with
consonant I adj. (formal) — to, with
consonant II n. 1. to articulate, pronounce a —2.
a dental; double, geminate; final; guttural; hard;
labial; liquid; soft; unvoiced; velar; voiced — 3.
(misc.) a — cluster
consort v. (formal) (d; intr.) to — with
consortium n. to form, organize a —
conspicuous adj. — for, in
conspiracy n. 1. to hatch, organize a ~ 2. to crush;
foil a — 3. (a) criminal — 4. a — against; with 5. a
— to + inf. (a — to overthrow the government)
conspire v. 1. (D; intr.) to - against; with 2. (E)
they —d to overthrow the government
constable n. (BE) ['police officer'] a chief -
consternation n. 1. to cause —2. to express; feel-
3. in — 4. to smb.'s — (to our —, the current was
turned off)
constituent n. (ling.) an immediate; ultimate—
constitute v. (formal and rare) (N; used with a
noun) they —d her chief justice
constitution n. ['basic law'] 1. to adopt, establish;
ratify a — 2. to draw up, frame, write a — 3. to pre-
preserve, safeguard a — 4. to abrogate; amend a - 5.
to violate a — 6. a written; unwritten — ['physical
makeup'] 7. a feeble, frail; iron, rugged, strong —
constitutional adj. -to + inf. (it is not —to censor
the press)
constitutionality n. to challenge, question; estab-
establish the-(of a law)
constrain v. (formal) 1. (D; tr.) to - from 2. (H)
to — smb. to do smt.
constrained adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) -
to + inf. (we were — to act)
constraint n. ['restriction']!, to impose, place, put
a — on, upon 2. legal —s ['control'] 3. to show —
['compulsion'] 4. under — (to act under —)
construction n. ['building industry'] 1. in — (he is
in —) ['act of building'] 2. shoddy — 3. commer-
commercial; modular; residential — 4. under — (the new
skyscraper is under —) ['interpretation'] 5. to put
a — on (he put the wrong — on my statement)
['syntactic phrase'] 6. an absolute; idiomatic —
construe v. 1. (d;tr.) to —as (he—d the statement
as a threat) 2. (M) I —d his speech to be a warning
consul n. a —general
consulate п. а — general
consult v. 1. (D; intr.) to —about; with (to-with
smb. about a problem) 2. (D; tr.) to — about (to —
smb. about smt.)
consultant n. 1. a business; legal; medical; nurs-
nursing; political — 2. a — for, on; to (a — to the presi-
president on foreign policy) 3. (med.) a — in
consultation n. 1. to hold — s 2. — s about, on; with
3. in — (she is in — and cannot come to the phone)
consumption n. conspicuous; mass —
contact n. ['being together'] ['connection'] 1. to
come in, into —; to establish, make — 2. to main-
maintain, stay in — 3. to bring into — 4. to break off;
lose — 5. (electrical) to break — 6. close, intimate;
direct; eye; face-to-face; indirect — 7. cultural;
personal; radar; radio — (the control tower was in
radar - with the plane) 8. - with (to establish -
with one's relatives; to stay in — with friends) 9. in
— (have they been in —?) 10. on — (the bomb
exploded on — with the ground) 11. a point of —
['acquaintance'] ['tie'] 12. business; professional;
international; social —s
contagious adj. extremely, highly —
contaminate v. (D; tr.) to - by, with (to - smb.
with smt; a wound —d by bacteria)
contemplate v. (G) he —d resigning
contemplation n. 1. quiet-2. lost in-
contemporaneous adj. (formal) — with
57
controls
contemporary adj. —with
contempt n. ['scorn'] 1. to demonstrate, display,
show — for 2. bitter, deep, profound, total,
unmitigated, utter — 3. — for 4. beneath — ['disre-
['disrespect'] (legal) 5. to hold in — (to hold smb. in — of
court) ('to accuse smb. of disrespect for a court')
6. civil; criminal —
contemptible adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to
behave like that)
contemptuous adj. —of (he was —of all authority)
contend v. (formal) 1. (D; intr.) ('to compete') to
— for; with (to — for a position) 2. (L) ('to claim')
he — ed that he had been cheated
contender n. 1. a leading; likely; presidential — 2.
a — for (the leading — for the heavyweight crown)
content I adj. 1. — with (they were — with their
lot) 2. — to + inf. (she was not — to remain at
home)
content II n. to smb.'s heart's — ('to one's com-
complete satisfaction')
content III v. (formal) (d; refl.) to - with (to -
oneself with a simple life)
contention n. ['argument'] 1. to rebut, refute a —
2. a bone of — ('something contentious') 3. a —
that + inf. (it is his — that taxes are too low) ['com-
['competition'] 4. in — with
contents n. 1. to divulge the - (of a letter) 2. a
table of-
contest n. 1. to hold, stage a — 2. to judge a — 3.
to enter a — 4. a bitter, hard-fought; close; one-
onesided — 5. a baby; beauty; oratorical — 6. a —
among, between; for
contestant n. a-for
contested adj. bitterly, hotly, vigorously—
context n. 1. an historical —2. in; out of—; within
a — (to cite a passage out of —)
contiguous adj. — to, with
continent n. on a —
contingency n. 1. to provide for every — 2. a —
arises 3. an unforeseen —
contingent adj. (pompous) (cannot stand alone) —
on, upon (the time of his arrival is — on the
weather)
continuance /n. ['adjournment'] (legal) (AE) to
grant a —
continue v. 1. to — unabated 2. (D; intr.) to — by
(she —d by citing more facts) 3. (D; intr.) to —
with (she -d with her work) 4. (E) they -d to
write 5. (G) they —d writing
continuity n. to break the —
continuum n. 1. the health-illness — 2. along a —
contraband n. 1. to smuggle — 2. to seize — 3. — of
war
contraception n. to practice, use-
contraceptive n. a chemical; oral; vaginal—
contract I n. 1. to conclude, sign; negotiate; ratify
a — 2. to carry out, execute a — 3. to draw up,
write a — 4. to assign (after bidding), let; award a
— 5. to abrogate, cancel, repudiate a — 6. to
breach, break, violate a — 7. a legal, valid; void —
8. (colloq.) (AE) a sweetheart — ('an agreement
favorable to the employer that was reached with-
without the participation of the union members') 8.
(AE) a yellow-dog — ('a contract that obligates
the workers not to join a union') 9. a marriage —
10. a — for; with 11. under — with (that player is
under — with our team)
contract II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for; with (the city
—ed for a new library with their firm) 2. (E) the
firm — ed to construct the bridge
contractions n. to time (labor) —
contractor n. a building; defense; electrical; gen-
general; plumbing —; a sub-contractor
contradiction n. 1. an apparent; basic; glaring;
inherent — 2. a — between; to 3. in — with 4.
(misc.) a — in terms
contradictory adj. —to
contradistinction n. (formal) in — to
contraption n. (colloq.) to build, put together,
slap together a —
contrary I adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (his
actions are — to the rules)
contrary II n. 1. on, to the — (does your back feel
any better? on the —, it feels much worse) 2. to the
— (I will come next month unless you write to the
contrast In. 1. to present a — 2. a harsh, sharp,
startling, striking — 3. a — between, to, with 4. by
— with 5. in — to (in — to their neighbors, they live
modestly)
contrast II v. 1. to-sharply2. (D;intr.,tr.)to-
with (their deeds — with their promises)
contravention n. (formal) in — of (to act in — of
international law)
contribute v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for (we -d clothing
for the flood victims) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to - to,
towards (to — to charity; she —d a week's salary to
the relief fund)
contribution n. 1. to make a — 2. to send in a — 3.
a charitable; generous; monetary; token; volun-
voluntary — (to make a generous — to charity) 4. a bril-
brilliant, notable, outstanding, remarkable; key;
major; valuable — (she made an outstanding — to
science) 5. a — to, towards
contributor n. ['one who gives money'] 1. a gener-
generous; regular — 2. a — to (a generous — to charity)
['one who contributes scholarly works'] 3. a pro-
prolific; regular — 4. a — to (a regular — to a journal)
contrition n. 1. to show — 2. to express; feel — 3.
an act of — 4. — for
contrive v. (E) she somehow —d to arrange a
meeting
control n. 1. to establish; exercise, exert —over 2.
to assume, take — of 3. to bring smt. under — (the
fire was finally brought under —) 4. to wrest —
from 5. to lose — of (she lost — of the car) 6. abso-
absolute; close, strict; full; government; lax, loose;
parental; remote — (to exert strict — over smt.) 7.
birth; communicable-disease; cost; damage; emis-
emissions; fire; flight; flood; gun; mission; pest; qual-
quality; stress; thought — 8. price; rent; wage —(s) 9. —
of, over (to establish — over prices) 10. in — of
(she was in full — of the situation) 11. beyond, out
of — (the car went out of —; the fire got out of —)
12. under — (the fire was finally brought under —;
the area was placed under the — of the military)
controller n. an air-traffic, flight—
controls n. ['restrictions'] 1. to impose, introduce;

controversial
58
tighten — on 2. to lift, remove — from 3. price;
rent; wage ~ ['regulating instruments'] 4. to take
over the — (the copilot took over the —)
controversial adj. bitterly, highly —
controversy n. 1. to arouse, cause, fuel, stir up (a)
— 2. to settle a — 3. a bitter, furious, heated, lively
— 4. a — about, over 5. a — between, with
convalesce v. (D; intr.) to — from
convenience n. ['comfort'] 1. a ~ to + inf. (it's a
great — to live in town = it's a great — living in
town) 2. at one's — (answer at your —) ['device
that adds to comfort'] 3. modern ~s 4. (BE) a pub-
public — ('a public toilet')
convenient adj. 1. — for (will Tuesday be — for
you?) 2. — to + inf. (it is very — to have the bus
stop so close = it is very ~ having the bus stop so
close) 3. — that + clause (it's very — that he can
drive you to work)
convention n. ['assembly'] ['conference'] 1. to
hold a — 2. an annual; national; party; political ~
['agreement'] 3. a copyright —
converge v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon; towards (to —
on the speaker's platform)
conversant adj. (cannot stand alone) ['familiar'] 1.
thoroughly — 2. — in 3. — with (— with proce-
procedures)
conversation n. ['talk'] 1. to begin, strike up; carry
on, have a — 2. to make — (we had little in com-
common, and it was difficult to make —) 3. to bug,
monitor, tap a ~ 4. to monopolize; stimulate a —
5. to break off, terminate; interrupt a — 6. (an)
animated, lively; intimate; light; serious — 7. (a)
private; telephone — 8. fragments, scraps of a —
(we overheard scraps of their —) 9. (a) — about;
with 10. in — (she was in ~ with a friend) ['sexual
intercourse'] (legal) 11. criminal — ('adultery')
conversations n. ['negotiations'] 1. to hold ~ 2. to
bug, monitor — 3. to break off—4. — about; with
converse v. 1. to ~ fluently (to — fluently in a
foreign language) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about; with
conversion n. ['change'] 1. condo — 2. a — from;
to ['a score made by a kick or pass after a goal has
been scored'] (Am. football, rugby) 3. to make a
— ['adoption of a religion'] 4. to undergo —
convert In. 1. to gain a — 2. a — to (a — to Bud-
Buddhism)
convert II v. 1. (AE) (D; intr.) ('to change one's
religion') to — from; to (they —ed from Buddhism
to Hinduism) 2. (D; intr., tr.) ('to change'); ('to
change smb.'s religion') to — from; into, to (to —
smb. to Islam; the plant ~ed to microchip produc-
production; they ~ed their money from marks into
pounds; to ~ a barn into a garage)
converter n. a catalytic —
convertible adj. 1. freely — 2. — into, to (— into
hard currency)
convey v. 1. (B) ('to give') — my best wishes to
them 2. (D; tr.) ('to transfer') to — from; to (the
title to the property was —ed from them to you)
conveyance n. ['vehicle'] a public —
convkt v. (D; tr.) to — of (he washed of murder)
conviction n. ['strong belief] 1. to carry ~ (his
story carries —) 2. a burning, deep, firm, strong;
lifelong — 3. a — that + clause (she expressed her
firm — that television was harmful to children) 4.
by — (a pacifist by —) ['guilty verdict'] 5. to get a
— (the prosecutor got ten —s last year) 6. to over-
overturn a — (the appeals court overturned the —) 7. a
— for (a — for embezzlement)
convince v. 1. (D;tr.) to — of (he —d me of his sin-
sincerity) 2. (slightly colloq.) (AE) (H) we -ed ('per-
('persuaded') her to stay home 3. (L; must have an
object) he ~d everyone that he was honest
convinced adj. 1. absolutely, completely, firmly,
thoroughly — 2. — that + clause (we are — that our
project will succeed)
convocation n. ['assembly'] 1. to hold a ~ ['assem-
['assembly of graduates of a university'] (GB) 2. a
member of —
convoy n. 1. to form a — 2. in, under — (to travel
in-)
convulsions n. to go into —
cook In. 1. the chief, head - 2. (AE) a short-
order —
cook II v. (C) — some vegetables for us; or — us
some vegetables
cooker n. a pressure —
cookie n. 1. (AE) a homemade; sandwich — 2. a
fortune —
cooking n. 1. to do the ~ 2. home; home-style ~
cookout n. to have a —
cool I adj. ['calm'] 1. to keep, remain, stay — ['in-
['indifferent'] ['unfriendly'] 2. — to, towards (she was
— to the idea)
cool II n. (slang) ['composure'] to keep; lose
one's —
cool III v. (D; tr.) to - to (boil the mixture and
then — it to room temperature)
coolant n. to add —
coolness n. ['indifference'] ~ to, towards
coop n. 1. a chicken ~ 2. (misc.) (colloq.) to fly
the — ('to escape')
cooperate v. (D; intr.) to ~ in, on; with (to — on
a project with smb.)
cooperation n. 1. close; wholehearted — 2. — in;
with (— in a project with another university) 3. in
~ with (their dictionary was published in ~ with
the Ministry of Education) 4. (misc.) to enlist
smb.'s —
cooperative, co-op, coop n. a consumers'; farm-
farmers'; producers'; workers' —
coop up v. (D;tr.)to —in;with(wewere—edup
in a small room)
coordinate v. 1. to - closely 2. (D; tr.) to - with
(we must — our operations with theirs)
coordination n. 1. close — 2. — among, between;
with
cop v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to - out of
('to renege on') (to — out of a responsibility)
cope v. (D; intr.) to-with (to-with difficulties)
cop out v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ('to renege') to ~
on (to — on a responsibility)
copulate v. (D; intr.) to — with
copy n. ['reproduction'] 1. to make, run off a — 2.
to Xerox (T) a — 3. to print —pies (the publisher
decided to print ten thousand —pies of the book)
4. to inscribe a — (the author inscribed a — of her
book for him) 5. (a) clean, fair ~; hard ('reada-
('reada59
counselor, counsellor
ble') — (from a computer); a rough; true — 6. a
backup; carbon; extra; master—; photocopy; pre-
presentation; top (BE) ('original'); Xerox (T) -
['manuscript'] ['draft of material to be printed'] 7.
to edit — ['issue'] 8. an advance; back — ['news'] 9.
to make good — ('to be newsworthy')
copybook n. (BE) to blot one's — ('to ruin one's
reputation')
copyright n. 1. (of a copyright office) to grant,;
register a — 2. (of an author, publisher) to apply'
for; claim; hold; secure a — 3. to infringe a — 4. an
ad-interim; full-term; statutory ~ 5. a — on (a
book) 6. under —
cord n. a communication (BE), emergency (AE);
electric (AE; BE has flex); extension; spinal;
umbilical —
cordial adj. —to,towards
cordon n. ['protective ring of police, soldiers'] 1.
to form a — 2. to throw a — around.(an area)
cords n. the vocal —
core n. 1. the hard - 2. at the - (at the - of the
problem) 3. to the — (rotten to the ~)
cork n. to pop, remove a —
corn n. ['maize'] 1. to grow, raise; husk — 2. hy-
hybrid; Indian; sweet; young — 3. an ear of — 4.
(misc.) — on the cob
corner n. 1. to round, turn a ~ 2. a blind — 3. (also
fig.) around the — (they live around the —; to go
around the —; prosperity is just around the —) 4.
at, on a — (of a street) 5. in the — (of a room) 6.
(misc.) the four — s of the globe; I could see her out
of the — of my eye; (boxing) a neutral —
cornerstone n. to lay a —
corollary п. а — to
coronation n. to hold a —
corporal n. a lance —
corporation n. 1. to establish, form, set up a — 2.
to manage, run a — 3. to dissolve a — 4. (BE) a
public — 5. a multinational —
corps n. 1. the diplomatic; press —2. an air; army;
marine —
corpse n. 1. to bury; lay out a — 2. to dig up,
exhume a — 3. a — decays, decomposes, rots
corpus n. (ling.) to collect, gather a —
corpuscle n. a red; white —
correct adj. ['true'] 1. — in (you are — in thinking
that he is foolish) 2. — to + inf. (it would be — to
say that we have committed a blunder) 3. — that +
clause (is it — that he has resigned?)
correction n. 1. to make a — 2. to mark — s (in a
text)
correlate v. (d;intr.,tr.)to — with (to — one set of
data with another set)
correlation л. а — between
correspond v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to be equal') to — to
(what German word —s to hound?) 2. (BE) (D;
intr.) ('to be in harmony') to ~ with (his actions do
not — with his words; to — with one's needs) 3. (D;
intr.) ('to write') to — about; with (they have been
—ing with each other about this matter for years)
correspondence n. ['exchange of letters'] 1. to
carry on, conduct (a) — 2. to break off — 3. busi-
business, commercial; personal — 4. — about;
between; with 5. in — with (to be in — with smb.
about smt.) ['conformity'] 6. close — 7. — between
(— between theory and practice)
correspondent n. a foreign; special; war—
corresponding adj. — to
corridor n. 1. an air; long; narrow; winding — 2. a
— across; between; through
corruption n. political —
cortex n. the cerebral —
cosigner n. a — for (a — for a promissory note)
cosmetics n. to apply, put on; use —
cost In. 1. to bear a —; to pay —s; to spare no —
2. to cut, reduce —s 3. to estimate; put, set a — at
(he put the — at one hundred dollars) 4. court;
direct; fixed; indirect; overhead —s (who will pay
the court —s?) 5. a high — (the high — of energy)
6. a unit — 7. at a certain — (at any —; at all —s; at
the — of his health; at a terrible —; at no — to the
taxpayer)
cost II v. 1. (O; may be used with one inanimate
object) it cost us ten dollars; it cost ten dollars 2.
(P; with an animate object) his blunder cost us
dearly 3. (misc.) it —s (us) five thousand dollars a
year to maintain this house
co-star v. (D; intr.) to — with
costly adj. — to + inf. (it is — to run an air con-
conditioner all day)
costume n. 1. an academic; bathing (BE), swim-
swimming (BE) — 2. (a) folk, national, native — (they
were all in native —)
cot n. ['folding bed'] (AE; BE has camp bed) 1. to
open up, unfold a — 2. a folding — ['child's bed']
(BE) 3. see crib
cottage n. a summer; weekend —
cotton In. 1. to gin; grow; pick; plant — 2. (AE)
absorbent — 3. a bale of —
cotton II v. (colloq.) (AE) (d; intr.) ('to take a
liking') to - to
cotton on v. (colloq.) (BE) (D; intr.) ('to under-
understand') to — to
cotton up v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (d; intr.) ('to try
to ingratiate oneself) to — to
couch I n. a studio —
couch II v. (formal) (D; tr.) to — in (to — a
request in tactful language)
cough I n. 1. to develop a —2. to suppress a —3.
a bad, heavy; croupy; dry; hacking, persistent;
smoker's —
cough II v. to — loudly
coughing n. a fit of-
could v. (F) he — not attend the meeting
council n. 1. to convene a — 2. a city (AE), local
(BE); executive; student; township (AE) - 3. The
Privy Council
counsel I n. ['advice'] 1. to give, offer, provide—
2. sage, wise — 3. — about, concerning ['lawyer']
4. a legal - 5. - for (- for the defense; - for the
prosecution)
counsel II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - about, in 2. (D; tr.)
to — against (I —ed him against going) 3. (H) he
—ed us to wait
counseling n. family; guidance; marriage; pas-
pastoral; vocational —
counselor, counsellor n. ['adviser'] 1. a guidance
— 2. a — to (a — to the ambassador)

count
60
count I n. ['act of counting'] ['total, tally'] 1. to
make, take a — 2. to keep — of 3. to lose — of 4.
(boxing) to go down for the — ('to be counted
out'); to take a — of ten 5. an accurate, correct —
6. a blood; body; cell; pollen — 7. the — stands
at... 8. by smb.'s - (by my ~) ['issue'] 9. on a cer-
certain - (on all -s) ['charge, accusation'] 10. on a
certain — (he was guilty on all —s)
count II v. l.(d;intr.) ('to be taken into account')
to — against (your previous convictions will —
against you) 2. (d; intr., tr.) ('to be considered; to
consider') to — as (the draw —s as a victory; we
—ed the draw as a victory) 3. (d; intr.) ('to be val-
valued') (his opinion —s for very little) 4. (d; intr.)
('to rely') to - for; on, upon (she -ed on us for
help; she -ed on us to help her) 5. (D; intr.) ('to
name numbers') to — from; to (to — from one to
ten) 6. (D; intr.) ('to be taken into account') to —
towards (do associate members — towards a
quorum?) 7. (N; refl.; used with an adjective) ('to
consider') we must — ourselves lucky (to have
escaped)
countdown n. 1. a final — 2. a — from; to (the — to
zero has begun)
countenance n. (biblical) a shining —
counter I adj., adv. to go — to
counter II n. ['surface, table over which business
is conducted'] 1. a bargain; lunch; notions (AE) ~
2. at a — ['misc.'] 3. over the — ('through a
broker's office'); ('without a prescription'); under
the - ('illicitly')
counter III v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to -with (she -ed
with an even stronger argument; they —ed our
proposal with one of their own) 2. (L) she —ed
that her advice had not been heeded
counterattack n. 1. to launch, make a — 2. a —
against
counterbalance n. a-to
counterblow n. 1. to deal, deliver a — 2. a —
against, to
countercharge n. 1. to bring, file, make a —2. a ~
counterclaim n. 1. to bring, enter, make a- 2. a -
counterespionage n. 1. to conduct - 2. - against
counterfeit n. a crude; skillful -
counterintelligence n. to conduct —
countenneasures n. 1. to take — 2. — against
counteroffensive n. 1. to launch, undertake a-2.
to go over to the - 3. a - against
counteroffer n. to make a —
counterpart n. 1. to have a — in 2. a — of, to
counterplot n. 1. to hatch a-2. a-against
counterpoint n. ['accompanying melody'] 1. dou-
double; single; triple — 2. in — to ['contrasting ele-
element'] 3. to serve as a — to
counterproductive adj. —to
counterproposal n. to make, offer a — to
counterpunch n. to deliver, throw a -
counterrevolution n. 1. to foment, stir up a —2. to
carry out; organize a — 3. a — against
countersign n. to give the —
countersuit n. (legal) 1. to bring a- 2. a -against
counterweight n. a —to
country n. ['nation'] 1. to govern, rule, run a — 2.
a civilized - 3. one's mother, native - 4. a host;
neighboring — 5. developing; third-world; under-
underdeveloped —ies ['rural area'] 6. the back — 7.
open; rough, rugged - (in open -) 8. in the - (to
live in the country) ['misc.'] 9. (BE) to go to the —
('to hold a general election')
count up v. (d; intr.) to-to (the child could-to
twenty)
coup /i. ['successful action'] to score a - (see also
coup d'etat)
coup de grace n. ['finishing shot'] to deliver the-
coup d'etat n. ['sudden overthrow of a govern-
government'] 1. to carry out, stage a — 2. a bloodless;
bloody -
couple I /i. a married; unmarried —
couple II v. (D; tr.) to - to, with (to - a dining
car to a train)
couplet n. a rhyming-
coupon n. 1. to detach; redeem a — 2. to clip —s
('to profit from stocks and bonds')
courage n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show — 2.
to get up, muster, screw up, summon up — 3. to
take - to + inf. (it takes - to tell the truth) 4.
dauntless, indomitable; grim; moral; physical — 5.
the - to + inf. (he lacked the - to do it) 6. of - (a
person of great—)
courageous adj. - to + inf. (it was - of her to vol-
volunteer)
courier n. 1. to dispatch a — 2. a diplomatic — 3. a
-to
course I n. ['organized program of study'] 1. to
conduct, give, offer, teach a - 2. to take a - 3. to
audit, sit in on a — 4. to enroll for, register for, sign
up for a — 5. to fail; pass a —; to take a — pass-fail
(AE) 6. to complete; drop; drop out of; withdraw
from a — 7. to introduce; organize, plan a — 8. to
cancel a - 9. a demanding, difficult, rigorous;
easy, gut (colloq.) — 10. an advanced; beginning,
elementary, introductory; intermediate — 11. (at
a university) an elective; graduate, postgraduate
(esp. BE); intensive; laboratory; lecture; non-
credit; required; survey; undergraduate — 12. a
correspondence; day-release (BE); extension
(AE); makeup; refresher — 13. a — covers, deals
with, treats a subject (our history — covered the
nineteenth century) 14. a — in, on (she took a —
in mathematics; I offered a - on lexicography)
['itinerary'] ['path'] 15. to chart, map out, mark
out a — 16. to follow, pursue, take a — (the law
must take its —) 17. to set — for (we set — for the
nearest port) 18. to change — (it's not good to
change - in midstream) 19. to stay the - ('to per-
persist until the end') 20. to run its - (the disease ran
its expected —) 21. a collision; middle; natural;
zigzag — (events took their natural —) 22. a — of
action (to pursue a — of action) 23. off —; on —
(our ship was right on -; to be on a collision -; the
plane was off -) ['playing area'] 24. a golf -;
racecourse (esp. BE) ['training area'] 25. an obsta-
obstacle — ['period'] 26. in the — of (in the — of an
investigation; in the - of time; in due -) ['misc.']
27. of — ('naturally') (see the Usage Note for
track)
61
crawl
course II v. (d; intr.) to-through (the blood-d
through her veins)
court n. ['place where justice is administered'] 1.
to hold — 2. to adjourn; dismiss (a) — 3. to take
smb. to - 4. to clog the -s (with frivolous litiga-
litigation) 5. an appeals (esp. BE), appellate; circuit;
city, municipal; county; criminal; crown (BE);
district (AE); domestic relations, family; federal
(US); high; juvenile; kangaroo ('irregular');
magistrate's; moot; night; orphans'; police; pro-
probate; small-claims; superior; supreme; traffic;
trial — 6. a — of appeals; a — of common pleas; a
— of domestic relations; a — of law; a — of original
jurisdiction 7. in - (to testify in -; in open -) 8.
out of — (to settle a case out of —) ['sovereign's
residence'] 9. to hold - 10. at - (at the - of Louis
XIV) ['homage'] 11. to pay - to smb. ['sports
arena'] 12. a basketball; clay (for tennis); grass
(for tennis); squash; tennis; volleyball - ['motel']
(obsol.) (AE) 13. a motor, tourist -
courteous adj. 1. - to, towards (she is - to
everyone) 2. - to + inf. (it was - of him to do
that)
courtesy n. 1. to demonstrate, extend, show —
(they showed us every —) 2. common; unfailing —
3. professional; senatorial (US) - 4. - to, towards
(it was done as a - to you) 5. the - to + inf. (he
didn't have the — to answer my letter) 6. (misc.)
she did me the — of remaining silent; a basket of
fruit was delivered to our door: — of the manage-
management
courthouse n. (esp. AE) a county; federal; state -
court martial n. 1. to hold a-2. a drumhead gen-
general; special; summary —
cousin n. 1. a first; second -; a first - once
removed 2. a - to (she is a first - to the count) 3.
(colloq.) kissing ('friendly') -s
covenant n. a-between
Coventry n. (esp. BE) to send to-('to ostracize')
cover I n. ['shelter'] ['concealment'] 1. to seek;
take - 2. to break - 3. (colloq.) to blow one's -
('to give oneself away') 4. under - (under - of
darkness) ['covering'] 5. cloud - 6. a dust; mat-
mattress; pillow — ['defense'] 7. air — ['front'] 8. a —
for (the whole operation was a — for foreign
agents) ['envelope'] 9. under separate - ['bind-
['binding'] 10. from - to - (to read a book from - to -)
cover II v. 1. ('to report on') to - live (the event
will be -ed live by TV) 2. (D; refl., tr.) ('to pro-
protect') to - against (this policy will - you against
flood damage) 3. (d; intr.) to - for ('to substitute
for') (to — for a friend)
coverage n. ['insurance'] 1. to provide — for 2.
comprehensive, full — ['reporting'] 3. to receive —
4. complete, extensive, full, wide - (the story
received wide —) 5. live; television —
cover up v. (D; intr.) to - for ('to protect') (she
—ed up for me when I made that blunder)
covetous adj. — of
cow In. 1. to milk a — 2. a dairy, milch — 3. —s
calve; low, moo 4. the meat of the — is beef 5. a
young - is a calf 6. (misc.) (colloq.) holy -! (AE);
silly -! (BE)
cow II v. (D;tr.)to — into (to — smb. into making
concessions)
coward n. an abject, dastardly, dirty —
cowardice n. 1. to demonstrate, show —2. abject,
rank; moral - 3. (misc.) a streak of -
cowardly adj. — to + inf. (it was — of them to
behave like that)
coy adj. - about; with (don't be - with me about
your past record)
cozen v. (formal) 1. (d; tr.) to - into 2. (d; tr.) to
— out of (to — smb. out of his money)
cozy up v. (colloq.) (AE) (D; intr.) to - to
crab n. ['rower's defective stroke'] to catch a -
crack n. ['remark'] (colloq.) 1. to make a — 2. a
dirty, nasty — 3. a — that (her — that you are
always late was unjustified) ['moment'] 4. at the —
of dawn ['attempt'] 5. to have a — at (let's have a
— at it)
crackdown n. 1. to launch a — 2. a — on (a — on
drunk drivers)
crack down v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on drug
dealers)
cracked up adj. (colloq.) (cannot stand alone)
['reputed'] - to be (this hotel is not what it's - to
be)
cracker n. (esp. AE) a graham; soda; unsalted —
crackpot n. (colloq.) a - to + inf. (he was a - to
doit)
cradle n. 1. to rock a-2. (misc.) from the-to the
grave ('during one's whole life')
craft n. ['occupation'] 1. to ply, practice a — 2. to
learn, master a - ['boat'] 3. a landing - 4. (in
plural) small —
craftsman n. a master —
cram v. l.(D; intr.) ('to study hastily') to -for (to
— for an exam) 2. (d; tr.) ('to jam') to — into (to —
one's things into a suitcase)
cramp n. 1. to get a - (esp. AE)/get - (BE) 2.
writer's — 3. (BE) seized with —
cranberry n. topick-ries
crane n. to operate a —
crank n. ['handle'] to turn, use a —
crap game n. a floating —
craps n. to play, shoot—
crash In. 1. a loud, resounding — 2. a plane;
stockmarket —
crash II v. 1. (d; intr.) to-into (the car-ed into
a pole) 2. (d; intr.) to — through (the car —ed
through the barrier) 3. (d; intr.) to - to (to - to
the floor) 4. (misc.) the plane —ed in flames
crass adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to ask how
much you earn)
crave v. l.to — strongly 2. (d; intr.) to — for (to —
for peace and quiet) USAGE NOTE: The phrase
to crave for smt. is less common than to crave
smt.
craving n. l.to feel, have a — 2. a powerful, strong
— 3. a — for
craw n. ['crop of a bird or insect'] to stick in smb. 's
— ('to be distasteful to smb.')
crawl I n. ['swimming stroke'] 1. to swim the —
['act of crawling'] (also fig.) 2. to a — (traffic
slowed to a —)
crawl II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a hole)
2. (d; intr.) to - out of (to - out of the ruins) 3. (d;

crawl out
62
intr.) to — with (the city is —ing with reporters)
crawl out v. (D; intr.) to — from under (to — from
under the ruins)
crayon n. colored—s
craze n. 1. the current, latest, newest — 2. the —
swept the country 3. a — for
crazy adj. (colloq.) ['infatuated1] 1. (cannot stand
alone) — about (he is — about her) ['foolish'] 2. —
to + inf. (it was — of her to do that; she was — to
drive without headlights) 3. to drive smb. —
cream n. ['component of milk'] 1. to whip — 2.
clotted (BE); double (BE), whipping; ice; single
(BE); sour, soured (BE); whipped - ['cosmetic']
3. to apply — 4. cold; face; hand; shaving; skin;
vanishing —
crease n. to iron out, remove the — s
credence n. 1. to attach, give, lend —to 2. to find;
gain-
credentials n. 1. to present one's —2. to evaluate;
examine smb.'s —
credibility n. 1. to establish-2. to lose one's-3.
(misc.) a — gap
credit I n. ['time given for payment'] 1. to allow,
give, extend, offer — (this store does not give —) 2.
to deny, refuse smb. — 3. consumer — 4. on — (to
buy smt. on —) ['recognition'] ['honor'] 5. to do —
to; to reflect — on (her work does — to her
teachers) 6. to get, take — for (he took — for my
work) 7. to give smb. — for (I give her — for being
so sensible) 8. a — to (she is a — to her parents) 9.
— that + clause (it was to her — that she never
gave up) 10. to smb.'s — (to her —, she was never
late to work; with all due — to you) ['sum allowed,
deducted'] 11. an energy (AE); tax — ['recogni-
['recognition that a student has completed a course or unit
of study'] 12. to get, receive — for a course 13.
advanced —
credit II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - to (to - an amount to
smb.'s account) 2. (d; tr.) to — with (to — smb.
with common sense; to — an account with fifty dol-
dollars)
credit card n. to issue a —
creditor n. to pay off one's —s
credo я. a — that + clause (it is our — that
everyone is equal)
credulity n. to strain smb.'s—
creed n. 1. to adhere to a —2. a political; religious
— 3. a — that + clause (it is our — that we must
help the poor) 4. (misc.) all races and —s
creep v. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a hole) 2. (d;
intr.) to — out of (an insect crept out of the pipe)
3. (misc.) to — on all fours; to — out from under a
bush
creeps n. (colloq.) ['fear'] it gives me the —
creep up v. (D; intr.) to — on (he crept up on me
in the dark)
creepy adj. (colloq.) ['weird'] — about (there is
smt. — about him)
crescendo n. 1. to reach a — 2. a deafening —
crest n. ['top'] 1. to ride the - (to ride the - of
popularity) 2. at the — ['heraldic device'] 3. a fam-
family-
crew n. ['group working together'] 1. a ground;
gun; road; skeleton; stage; tank; work; wrecking
— ['ship's personnel'] 2. a ship's — 3. a — mutinies
4. in a — ['rowing team'] 5. a varsity — 6. to go out
for — ['misc.'] 7. a motley — ('a disparate group')
crib I n. (AE) 1. to assemble, put up a —2. to dis-
dismantle a — (BE has cot)
crib II v. (colloq.) (D; intr., tr.) ('to plagiarize')
to — from
cricket I n. ['game'] 1. to play — ['fair play'] (col-
(colloq.) 2. — to + inf. (it's not — to cheat at cards)
cricket II n. ['insect'] — s chirp
crier /i. a town —
crime n. 1. to commit, perpetrate a — 2. to deter;
eradicate, stamp out, wipe out; prevent — 3. an
atrocious, brutal, heinous, horrible, infamous,
outrageous, vicious — 4. a daring; economic;
major, serious; minor, petty; perfect; political;
victimless; violent; war —; (a) white collar —; a —
of passion 5. organized — 6. a — against (a —
against humanity) 7. a — to + inf. (it was a — to
butcher French like that) 8. a — that + clause (it is
a — that so many people go to bed hungry) 9.
(misc.) to investigate a —; to report a — (to the
police); it's a — the way he behaves
criminal I adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to do
that) 2. — that + clause (it is — that he is allowed
to remain in this country)
criminal II n. 1. to apprehend, arrest a—; to bring
a — to justice 2. to pardon; parole; release a — 3.
to rehabilitate a — 4. a born; common; desperate;
habitual, hardened, inveterate; infamous, notori-
notorious; master; war — 5. a band, gang of —s
crimp n. (colloq.) (AE) ['obstacle'] to put a - in
crisis n. 1. to cause, precipitate, provoke, stir up a
— 2. to aggravate a — 3. to avert, forestall a — 4.
to defuse, overcome, settle a —; to ride out a — 5.
an acute, grave, serious; impending; mounting —
6. a cabinet; economic, financial; energy; food;
housing; identity; mid-life; political — 7. a — con-
concerning, over (there was a — over the budget
deficit) 8. a - in (the - in health care) 9. in a -
crisp n. burned to a —
criterion n. 1. to apply; establish a — 2. to meet,
satisfy criteria 3. a reliable, valid —
critic n. 1. a harsh, severe, unkind; impartial — 2.
an art; drama; literary; music; social —
critical adj. ['criticizing'] 1. — of (he was — of my
work) ['crucial'] 2. — to (— to our work) 3. — that
+ clause; subj. (it is — that the work be/should be
completed on time)
criticism n. 1. to arouse, provoke, stir up — 2. to
express, offer —; to level — at 3. to take — 4. to
temper one's — 5. to subject smb. to — 6. adverse,
biting, damaging, devastating, harsh, hostile,
scathing, severe, sharp, sweeping, unsparing,
withering — 7. constructive; fair; mild; nitpicking,
petty; sober; valid - 8. textual - 9. (the) higher;
lower - (of the Bible) 10. the barbs of -
criticize v. 1. to —fairly; harshly, severely, sharply
2. (D; tr.) to — for (to — smb. for sloppy work)
critique n. to give, present a—
crop In. 1. to grow; plant a — 2. to gather, har-
harvest, reap a — 3. to bear, yield a — 4. to rotate —s
5. to dust, spray —s 6. a bountiful, bumper,
record; poor — 7. a cash; staple —
63
cult
crop II v. (N; used with an adjective) they —ped
the grass short
cropper n. ['failure'] to come a — ('to fail')
croquet n. to play —
croquettes n. chicken; salmon —s
cross I adj. ['irritable'] — at, with (— at smt.; —
with smb.)
cross II n. ['symbol of the Christian religion'] 1. to
die on the — (said of Jesus Christ) 2. to bear one's
— ('to bear a heavy burden') 3. to make the sign of
the —['figure of a cross'] 4. to make one's — (in
place of a signature) 5. a Greek; Latin; Maltese —
['mixture'] 6. a — between (a — between two
III v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) ('togo')to -from; to
(they —ed from one bank of the river to the other;
we — ed the valley from one ridge to the other) 2.
(D; tr.) ('to breed') to - with (to - one breed with
another)
cross-examination n. 1. to conduct a — 2. to sub-
subject smb. to — 3. a rapid-fire — 4. under —
cross-examine v. to— sharply
crossfire n. to be caught in a —
crossing n. 1. to make a — 2. a rough; smooth — 3.
a border - 4. a grade (AE), level (BE); Panda
(BE), pedestriar, pelican (BE), zebra (BE); rail-
railroad (AE), railway (esp. BE) — 5. a transoceanic
— 6. at a — (at the border —)
crossover v. (D; intr.) to — into, to (she— ed over
to the other lane)
cross-purposes n. at — (to work at —)
cross-refer v. (D;intr.,tr.)to — to
cross-reference n. 1. to make a — 2. a — to
n. at a — (also fig.)
crossword (BE) see crossword puzzle
crossword puzzle n. (esp. AE) to do, work (out) a
In. 1. —s caw 2. (misc.) as the — flies ('in a
straight line'); to eat — ('to be placed in a humiliat-
humiliating position')
crow II v. (colloq.) ('to exult') (d; intr.) to -
about, over (to — about one's success; to — over
an enemy's misfortune)
crowd I n. ['throng'] 1. to attract, draw a — 2. to
disperse a — 3. an enormous, huge, tremendous;
overflow — 4. a — collects, gathers; disperses;
thins out 5. a — mills, swarms (around the
entrance) ['audience'] 6. a capacity — ['group'] 7.
a bad; fast, wild —; the wrong — (to run around
with a fast —; she got in with the wrong —)
crowd II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — around (to — around
the entrance) 2. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a
small room) 3. (d; tr.) to - off, out of (they -ed
me off the road) 4. (d; intr.) to — through (they
—ed through the turnstiles) 5. (misc.) to —
together
crown I n. ['part of a tooth'] 1. to put a — on (a
tooth) ['monarch's headdress'] 2. to wear a —
['boxing title'] 3. to win the (heavyweight) -
crown II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — with (their efforts were
—ed with success) 2. (N; used with a noun) they
—ed him emperor
crucial adj. 1. — for, to (these negotiations are —
for/to the future of our firm) 2. — that + clause;
subj. (it is — that this matter remain/should
remain secret)
crude adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to say that)
cruel adj. 1. — to, towards (— to animals) 2. — to
+ inf. (it was - of him to say that)
cruelty n. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. consum-
consummate, deliberate, wanton — 3. mental — 4. — to,
towards (— to animals)
cruise In. 1. to go on, take a — 2. a shakedown;
world — 3. a — around (to take a — around the
world)
cruise II v. (D; intr.) to — around (to — around
the world)
cruiser n. a battle; heavy; light; medium —
crumble v. (D; intr.) to — into
crunch n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['shortage'] 1. an
energy — ['showdown'] 2. if it comes to a —
crusade In. 1. to conduct; launch a — 2. to
embark on; engage in; go on; join a — 3. a one-
man, one-woman — 4. a holy — 5. a — against; for
(a — against smoking)
crusade II v. (D; intr.) to — against; for (to —
against smoking)
crush I n. (colloq.) ['infatuation'] 1. a schoolboy;
schoolgirl; youthful — 2. a — on (to have a — on
smb.)
crush II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against (the mob— ed
against the barriers) 2. (misc.) to — smb. to death
crust n. (colloq.) ['impudence'] the — to + inf.
(she had the — to ask for a raise)
crutch n. 1. to walk on, with — es 2. a pair of — es
cry I n. 1. to gjve, raise (formal), utter a — 2. an
anguished, plaintive; heart-rending; loud, lusty;
piercing; rallying — 3. a battle, war — 4. a — for (a
— for help) 5. (misc.) a far — from ('very far from')
cry II v. 1. to — loudly 2. (d; intr.) ('to appeal') to
- for (to - for justice) 3. (d; intr.) ('to weep') to
- for, with (to - for joy; to - with grief) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to weep') to — over (to — over one's bad
luck) 5. (d; intr.) to - to ('to complain to') (don't
come —ing to me) 6. (misc.) to — wolf ('to give a
false alarm'); to — havoc ('to warn of disaster'); to
— one's eyes out; to — over spilled/spilt milk ('to
complain in vain'); she cried herself to sleep
cry out v. l.(d; intr.) ('to appeal') to —against; for
(to — against injustice; to — for equal rights) 2. (d;
intr., tr.) ('to shout') to — to (he cried out to us to
stop)
crystal n. fine —
cube n. an ice-
icecube root n. to find, extract the —
cucumber n. 1. to peel; slice a — 2. (misc.) as cool
asa —
cuddle up v. (D; intr.) to — to (the twins— dupto
each other)
cudgels n. ['defense'] to take up the — for
cue n. ['signal'] 1. to give the — 2. to take one's —
from smb. 3. to miss the — 4. on —
cuff n. 1. a French — 2. (misc.) (esp. AE) on the —
('on credit')
cull v. (D; tr.) to - from
culminate v. (d; intr.) to — in (to — in victory)
cult n. 1. to join a — 2. a cargo; fertility; personal-
personality-
7—127

cultivation
64
cultivation п. under -
culture n. ['enlightenment'] ['developed intellec-
intellectual faculties'] 1. to develop a — 2. to bring — to 3.
to disseminate, foster, spread — 4. ethnic; human;
material — ['professional training'] 5. beauty —
['bacteria cultured for examination or vaccine pro-
production'] 6. to do, grow a —
cunning I adj. — to + inf. (it was ~ of them to do
that)
cunning II n. to show —
cup n. ['prize'] 1. to lose; win a — 2. a challenge —
['small drinking vessel'] 3. to drain one's — 4. a
coffee; drinking; paper; plastic —; teacup 5.
(misc.) to be in one's cups ('to be drunk')
cupboard n. 1. an airing (BE); built-in — 2. (usu.
fig.) a bare —
cupid n. to play —
curb n. ['restraint'] a — on
curd n. soybean (AE), soya bean (BE) —
cure In. 1. to effect, provide, work a — 2. a cer-
certain, sure; complete; miraculous — 3. a rest; water
— 4. a — for
cure II v. (D; tr.) to — of (to — smb. of a disease)
curfew n. 1. to impose a — 2. to lift a — 3. a mid-
midnight —
curious adj. ['eager to know'] 1. — about (— about
smb.'s past) 2. — to + inf. (I would be — to know
what really happened) ['odd'] 3. - that + clause
(it is — that she didn't remember the incident)
curiosity n. 1. to arouse, excite, pique, whet
(one's) — 2. to satisy one's — 3. healthy; idle; intel-
intellectual; natural; unquenchable ~ 4. — about 5. out
of -(he did it out of -)
curls n. natural —
curl up v. (D;intr.) to — in, into (to — into a ball)
currency n. ['paper money'] 1. to issue; print — 2.
to call in, withdraw — 3. convertible, hard;
foreign; non-convertible, soft, weak; stable,
strong — ['general use'] 4. to enjoy, have — (to
enjoy wide —)
current n. ['flow of electricity'] 1. alternating;
direct; electric; high-tension; low-tension; oscil-
oscillating — ['flow'] 2. an air — 3. an underwater — 4.
against; with the —
curriculum n. 1. to draw up, design a — 2. a col-
college, university; school — 3. a basic, core — 4. a —
in (the — in engineering)
curry n. 1. hot, mild — 2. fish; meat; vegetable —
curse I n. 1. to pronounce, put a — on, upon smb.
2. to utter a — 3. to lift a — 4. under a —
curse II v. (D; tr.) to - for (she -d him for his
clumsiness)
curtain n. 1. to draw; lower; raise a — 2. (in the
theater) to ring down; ring up the — 3. to hang, put
up —s 4. a drop; shower; stage, theater — 5. (fig.)
a bamboo; iron — 6. (in the theater) the — goes up,
rises; comes down, drops, falls
curtain caB n. to take a —
curtains n. (colloq.) ['ruin'] - for (it will be - for
him if he loses his job)
curtsy I n. to make a —
curtsy II v. (D;intr.)to~to(to-totheQueen)
curve I n. 1. to describe, make a — (the road
makes a — to the right) 2. to plot a — ('to locate a
curve by plotted points') 3. (teaching) to grade
(AE), mark on a — 4. a hairpin, horseshoe; sharp
II v. 1. to-sharply 2. (D; intr.) to - to (to
— to the right)
custody n. ['guardianship'] 1. to award, grant —2.
to receive, take — 3. joint — ['arrest'] 4. to take
smb. into — 5. police; protective — 6. in — ('under
arrest') (held in —)
custom n. 1. to establish a — 2. to cherish,
observe, practice a — 3. (a) local — 4. an ancient,
old; pagan; quaint; tribal — 5. a — to + inf. (it is
not our — to break the law) 6. a — that + clause (it
is an old — that men tip their hats when greeting
smb.)
customary adj. — to + inf. (it is —to tip the waiter)
customer n. 1. to attract — s 2. an irate; prospec-
prospective; satisfied; steady — 3. a cash — 4. (misc.) an
ugly — ('a violent person')
customs n. 1. to clear, get through, go through,
pass through — (we got through — very quickly) 2.
to clear, get smt. through — (we got the toys
through — without difficulty) 3. to declare smt. at
cut I n. ['wound made by smt. sharp'] 1. a clean;
deep; superficial — ['reduction'] 2. to take a — 3.
a budget; pay; personnel; tax — 4. a — in (we had
to take a — in pay) ['haircut'] 5. a crew —
cut II v. 1. ('to gash') to - deeply 2. (C) ('to
sever') — a slice of cake for me; or: — me a slice of
cake 3. (d; intr.) ('to go') to — across (to — across
a field) 4. (D; tr.) ('to sever') to - from (to - a
branch from a tree; he was cut from the team; she
cut a thin slice from the loaf) 5. (d; intr.) ('to slice')
to — into (she cut into the cake) 6. (D; tr.) ('to
slice') to — into (he cut the meat into small pieces)
7. (D; refl.) ('to gash') to - on (she cut herself on
a knife) 8. (D; tr.) ('to remove') to - out of (she
was cut out of the will) 9. (d; intr.) ('to go*) to -
through (they cut through the woods; let's —
through this building) 10. (D; tr.) (*to reduce') to
— to (they cut the budget to the minimum) 11. (N;
used with an adjective) ('to trim') she cut her hair
short 12. (misc.) to — smb. short ('to interrupt
smb.'); to — smb. to the quick ('to insult smb.
deeply')
cut ahead v. (d; intr.) to - of ('to cut off) (the
other runner cut ahead of her)
cutaway v. (D;tr.)to — from
cutback п. а — in (a — in production)
cutback v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on smoking)
cut down v. l.(D;intr.)to —on (to —on smoking)
2. (misc.) to — smb. down to size ('to deflate
smb.'s ego')
cut in v. l.(D; intr.) to —on (he cut in on me when
I was dancing) 2. (slang) (D; tr.) to — on (he cut
me in on the deal)
cutlet n. a veal —
cut off v. 1. (C) ('to slice') he cut off a slice for me;
or: he cut me off a slice 2. (D; tr.) ('to separate') to
— from (we were cut off from civilization)
cutout adj. ['suited'] 1.-for (she wasn't-for this
job 2. — to + inf. (I wasn't — to be an adminis-
administrator)
65
czar
cut out v. (D; tr.) to — from (to — an article out
from the newspaper)
cutter n. a cookie (AE); paper -
cutting n. a press - (BE; AE has press clipping)
cut up v. (D; tr.) to - into (to - smt. up into
pieces)
cyde n. 1. to complete a—; to come full — 2. to go
through, pass through a — 3. a business;
economic; estrous (AE), oestrous (BE); life;
menstrual - 4. (as on a washing machine) a deli-
delicate; normal; permanent-press — 5. in —s (some
epidemics occur in —s)
cynical adj. - about (-about smb.'s motives)
cypher (esp. BE) see cipher
czar n. a financial; gambling; shipbuilding — (BE
spelling is tsar)

dab
66
D
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 hydro-
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-
widespread - 5. fire; flood; material; property; struc-
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)
damage 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)
dance II v. l.(D; intr.) to-to (to-to the music
of a rock group) 2. (D; intr.) to - with 3. (misc.)
to — for, with joy
n. a ballet; ballroom; belly; folk; tap; taxi
j n. aerobic; ballroom, social; belly;break;
folk; Гар -
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 pres-
present — 8. a — to (a — to national security) 9. a —
that + clause (there was a — that fire would break
out) 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 n. to take a —
dare 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 —
dark 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. 1. (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.
I n. ['rush'] 1. to make a — for (to make a —
for safety) 2. a frantic, mad -
dash 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-
date 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) ~
dawnon v. l.(L) it -ed on me that the following
day would be her birthday 2. (Q) it finally -ed on
us what must be done
day n. 1. a chilly, cool; clear, nice; cloudy; cold;
foggy; gloomy; hot, stifling; rainy; sunny; warm —
67
decide
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 (poet-
(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 fol-
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 sig-
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 Lon-
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)
dead 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
dead set 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 (col-
(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')
deal II v. 1. (formal) (A) he dealt a deathblow 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 com-
complaints; I'll - with the children later; this chapter
—s with the problem of inflation)
n. 1. an art; book; car; junk — 2. a — in (a
— in rare books)
dealership n. an automobile (AE) —
dealings n. ['business'] 1. 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 kneU n. to sound the —
deathwatch n. to maintain a —
debar v. (formal) (d; tr.) to - from
debate In. 1. to conduct, hold; moderate a — 2.
an acrimonious, bitter; heated, lively, sharp, spir-
spirited — 3. a campaign; parliamentary — 4. a —
about; with
debate 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. Docharge')l.(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 dis-
discharge, pay (off), settle; wipe out; write off a — 4.
to cancel; repudiate a — 5. a bad; outstanding,
unsettled — 6. a business; gambling; personal, pri-
private —jthe national — 7. in — for; to (he is in — to
me 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 — ties; 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 buy-
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)

decision
68
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) ['deci-
['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 dis-
dishonestly') (also fig.) ['floor on a ship'] 3. to swab a
— 4. a flight; main; poop; promenade; upp»er ~
deck out v. (D;refl.,tr.)to~in(~edoutintheir
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 govern-
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-
decline 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; execu-
executive; government; royal ~ 4. a — that + clause;
subj. (we had to obey the — that beards be/should
be shaved off)
decree II v. (formal) (L; may be subj.) the gov-
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 evi-
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 (col-
loq.); 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 ~)
deed 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 ~)
default 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 ~
defeat 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)
defect II v. ('to desert') l.(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 repre-
represents poor people at public expense') 2. a staunch
— (of the faith)
defense, defence n. I. 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 ~s
5. (sports) a man-to-man; zone ~~ 6. a legal ~ 7. a
~ against, for 8. in — of
defenseless, defenceless adj. ~ against (~ с
any attack)
defense pact, defence pact n. a mutual ~
69
demand
defensive I adj. ~ about (they were very ~ about
their party's record on tax reform)
defensive 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 act
in ~ of one's parents)
defiant adj. ~ towards
deficiency n. ['defect'] ['inadequacy'] 1. a hearing;
iron; mental; mineral; vitamin ~ 2. (a) — in ['in-
completed work"] (as in school) (AE) 3. to make
up a ~
defident 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 con-
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-
postgraduate (esp. BE); college — 4. an earned; hon-
honorary — 5. a bachelor's; doctoral, doctor's; mas-
master's — 6. (BE) a good — ('a first or upper second
at a British university') 7. a ~ in (to take a ~ in his-
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; posi-
positive; superlative ~ ['misc.'] 12. by ~s ('gradu-
('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 1л. 1. to brook no — 2. a ~ in (she
apologized for the ~ in answering)
delay II v. 1. (G) we ~ed sending the telegram 2.
(K) he ~ed my calling the police
delaying action n. to fight a ~
delegate In. 1. a party - 2. a - at large 3. a ~ to
(a ~ to a convention)
delegate 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; unoffi-
unofficial ~ 3. a ~ from; to
delete v. (D; tr.) to — from (to ~smt. from a dos-
dossier)
deleterious adj. — to
deliberate I adj. — in (~ in one's speech)
deliberate II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — about, on, over
2. (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)
delight 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)
delinquent 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, exorbi-
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

demand
70
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 —
(smalt cars are in great —) 15. consumer —
['misc.'] 16. the law of supply and —
demand 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 dip-
diplomatic —
demean I v. (formal) (D; refl.) ('to degrade') to
— by (I will not — myself by cheating on the exami-
examination)
demean 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 —)
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, fer-
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. (гаге) (М) 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 univer-
university'] 1. a strong; weak — 2. an accounting;
anthropology; astronomy; biology; chemistry;
classics; economics; English; French; geology;
German; history; Italian; linguistics; mathemat-
mathematics; music; nursing; philosophy; physics; political
science; psychology; Slavic, Slavonic; sociology;
Spanish — ['division of a company or govern-
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
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') l.(d; refl.) to -
like (he -ed himself like a gentleman) 2. (P; refl.)
to — oneself well
deport 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 —
deposit 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. a
sworn — 4. a — that (he made a — that he had wit-
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
71
despair
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 every-
everything)
depth n. ['distance from the top to bottom'] ['dis-
['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. (В) (Чо 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)
derelict 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.) (Чо 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; mat-
matter-of-fact, objective; superficial — 5. a job —
desensitize v. (D;tr.) to-to (to-smb. to suffer-
suffering)
desert In. 1. to reclaim a — 2. an arid; trackless —
3. a cultural —
desert 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 lib-
library) ['intention'] 2. by — (was it by accident or by
-?)
design II v. 1. (C) he—ed a beautiful house for us;
or: he —ed us a beautiful house 2. (d; tr.) to — as
3. (d; tr.) to — for (—ed for recreational purposes)
designate I adj. (placed after a noun) a minister—
designate 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 п. а - 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, burn-
burning, earnest, fervent, intense, keen, overwhelm-
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)
desire II v. 1. to deeply, fervently, strongly — 2.
(E) she —s to remain neutral in the dispute 3. (for-
(formal) (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-
newspaper) a city; copy — ['table for writing'] 3. to clear
one's — 4. a cluttered — 5. a rolltop; writing —
USAGE NOTE: In AE copy desk means local
news desk'; in BE it means 'financial news desk'.
desolation n. complete, utter—
despair In. 1. to overcome — 2. deep, sheer,
total, utter - 3. the depths of - 4. in - (in utter -)
5. out of — (to do smt. out of —)

despair
despair II v. 1. to— deeply2. (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-utterly2. (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-for2. (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 dis-
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 sub-
subject: the soldiers carried out the total — of the vil-
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, grue-
gruesome, harrowing, lurid, revolting, sordid, unsa-
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 —
detail 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. (гаге) (Е) 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
72
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-sworking2. (K) we-hiscon-
we-hisconstantly 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 - ['dis-
['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
diagonal II n. on the — (to cut on the —)
n. to draw a —
I n. to turn a —
dial II v. to — direct, directly (she —led London
direct)
I
73
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; seta —2. a cut;
flawless, perfect; industrial; rough, uncut — 3. a —
sparkles
diaper n. (AE) 1. to change, put on a — 2. dispos-
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 con-
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; mili-
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; etymologi-
etymological; general-use, general-purpose; historical;
learner's; medical; monolingual; multivolume;
names; orthographic, spelling; phonetic, pro-
pronouncing; pocket; reverse; technical; unabridged
— 5. a — of abbreviations; collocations; foreign
words; synonyms
die I n. the-is cast (fig.)
die 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-carbohy-
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
din
4. to set aside —s 5. to split the — ('to take an aver-
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. l.(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, experi-
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)
dig 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 ['di-
['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
74
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 —
dip II v. (d; intr.) to - into ('to withdraw from')
(to — into one's savings)
diphtheria n. to come down with, contract; pre-
prevent —
dipJoma 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 sea-
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 — ['guid-
['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 hav-
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
adj. —to
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 п. а 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) bit-
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 hear-
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; honora-
honorable; medical — (from the armed forces) 2. a —
from (a — from the hospital)
discharge 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, stern,
strict; lax, loose, slack; military; party — 6. the —
to + inf. (they didn't have enough — to cope with
the job)
discipline II v. l.(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
n. 1. to make a — 2. a financial; public;
75
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 stu-
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 —
discourse 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 drama-
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. com-
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, spir-
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 —)
n. — for (to have the greatest — for smt.)
adj. — of; towards
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, untreata-
ble; lingering; mild; protracted; rare; serious — 6.
an acquired; chronic; communicable, contagious,
infectious; congenital; mental; occupational; sex-
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 In. 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 — behav-
behaving like that) 5. a - that (it's a - that these roads
are so poorly marked) 6. in — (he quit in — over
the bribe)
disgrace 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 —
disguise 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 dis-
discovered that...)
disgust 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 — ['com iner 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 —

dishonest
76
['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
Ash 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)
Ask n. ['structure in a spinal column'] 1. to slip
('dislocate') a — 2. a slipped ~ ['flat plate for com-
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 disk3
dislike I n. 1. to take a— to 2. to show a— for, of
3. an active, cordial, hearty, strong, violent ~
dislike 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)
dismay II v. (formal) (R) it ~ed me to learn of her
actions; it ~ed us that the project had been can-
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
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 ~
dfepatch 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 vul-
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)
display 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 gar-
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; unpleas-
unpleasant ~
dispossess v. (D; tr.) to — of (they were ~ed of
their wealth)
disproportionate adj. —to
dispute I n. 1. to stir up a —a bout 2. to arbitrate;
resolve, settle a — (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 ~)
dispute 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
disregard 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 work-
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
77
divisor
dissent 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. apolitical-
dissimilarity п. а - between
dissociate v. (D; refl., tr.) to-from (we—dour-
selves from his views) (see the Usage Note for dis-
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 In. 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 ~
distance 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, finan-
financial — 5. — at, over, with 6. to smb.'s ~ (to our ~,
her condition did not improve)
distress 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 ~
Д*л ut-Л *шЛ1 n.t
oisirasirai aaj. — oi
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 evi-
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 In. 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')
dive 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 ~)
divide 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']!,
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 fine 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
78
divorce п. 1. to file for, sue for —2. to get, receive
a ~ 3. to grant a — 4. (a) no-fault ~; an uncon-
tested -~; (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 Do 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. ['basinforships']l.togointo~2.adry,
floating ~ 3. at, in, on a ~ (there was labor trouble
down on the ~s)
dock II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at (the ship ~ed at
Portsmouth) 2. (D; intr.) to — with (the spaceship
~ed with the satellite)
dock 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; confi-
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 lack-
lackey'); a ~'s life ('a wretched existence'); to work
like a ~ ('to work very hard') USAGE NOTE: In
CEa 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 insur-
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 /l. 1. a school of ~s 2. a young ~ is a calf
3. a female ~ is a cow 4. a male — is a bull
domain л. ['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 (Tm
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-
doom II v. (D; tr.) to - to (he was-ed to obliv-
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.
79
draw
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')
double 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 accom-
accommodations') to ~ with 2. (misc.) to ~ in pain
doubt In. 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 seri-
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 // be used with
the noun doubt, especially in the meaning 'un-
certainty'-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 sen-
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.
doubt 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'uncer-
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
fora —
downgrade v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (the embassy was
~d to a legation)
down payment ii. 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.
draft 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
drag 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 In. 1. to clean out, clear, unblock, unclog a
— 2. to block, clog a — 3. (misc.) a brain ~
drain 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 draw-
drawing)
draw 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 ran-
random') to ~ for (to ~ for a prize) A. (D; tr.) ('to
8—127

draw away
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 com-
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 + inf. (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 + inf. (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
dream II v. 1. (D; intr.) to-about, of 2. (L) she
never —ed that she would someday write dic-
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'] 1. 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
dress 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; Rus-
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)
" " ble n. (basketball) a double -
I n. (colloq.) ['meaning'] to get the —
80
drift II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a life of
crime) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to — with the cur-
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 -**
drill II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to prospect') to-for (to
— for oil) 2. (D; tr.) ('to train') to ~ in (to — stu-
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 —
drink 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 —
drip 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 pro-
propulsion'] 8. a chain; disc (BE), disk (AE); fluid;
four-wheel; front-wheel; rear-wheel — (see also
driveway)
drive II v. l.(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 trans-
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 dif-
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;
81
duty
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 grand-
grandchild)
drop I n. ['fall'] 1. a sharp; sheer; sudden — 2. a —
in (a sharp — in the interest rate) ['depository'] 3.
a mail —
drop 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 —
drum 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)
drunk 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
dub 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 In. 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')
duck 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 pre-
prefer to use due to as an adjectival predicate phrase
modifying the subject—her absence was due to ill-
illness. Otherwise, because of or owing to is pre-
preferred-she was absent because of illness; owing to
illness she was absent.
due 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 л. 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 —)
dump II v. (slang) (AE) to — on ('to project bad
experiences or feelings on') (I have enough trou-
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 /l. - in
duration n. 1. long; moderate; short — 2. of a cer-
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

dwell
82
—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 + inf. (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
dye 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 over-
overthrow a ~
dysentery n. 1. to come down with — 2. an attack
of — 3. amebic —
83
edict
E
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 + inf.
(she's — to help)
eagerness n. — to + inf. (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; mid-
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 atten-
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')
n. to have an — (AE), to have — (BE)
л. a perforated —
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
earnest II n. in — about
n. annual; average; gross; net —
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 —)
ease II v. (P;refl.,tr.) they-d the piano through
the window
easement n. ['right of way'] (legal) to grant an -
ease op v. (D; intr.) to -on (you should -on your
workers: you've been pushing them too hard)
east I adj., adv. —of
east 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 coun-
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 Otto-
Ottoman Empire.
easy adj. ['not difficult'] 1. — for (that job was —
for her) [ienient'] 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 + inf. (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 conver-
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. ['obscuringofthemoonorsun'] 1. afull,
total; lunar; partial; solar — ['dimming of one's
influence'] 2. in —
ecology n. deep; human —
economical adj. ['inexpensive'] — to + inf. (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')
edge 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
edition л. 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; unexpur-
gated; 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-ser-
in-service; physical; рге-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, pro-
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; calcu-
calculated; cumulative; deleterious, harmful; desired;
dramatic; exhilarating; far-reaching; hypnotic;
limited, marginal; minimal; net; practical; pro-
profound — 7. a domino; greenhouse ('warming of
the earth's surface'); halo ('overly favorable judg-
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 ~
84
effort n. 1. to make, put forth an 2. to redou-
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; col-
collaborative, joint; concerted; conscious; desper-
desperate, frantic; minimal; sincere; studious; superhu-
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 can-
candle ~s 4. an addled, bad, rotten ~; boiled; devil-
devilled; fried; hard-boiled; poached; raw; Scotch
(BE); scrambled; soft-boiled -s 5. (misc.) a bad/
rotten — ('a bad person'); a good — ('a good per-
person'); to have — on one's face ('to be in an embar-
embarrassing position'); (BE) to teach one's grand-
grandmother to suck —s ('to try to tell smb. smt. that
they already know')
egg 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 preposi-
preposition of is necessary when two or a pronoun fol-
follows. When a noun follows, the following con-
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 dis-
disabled plane; they were -~ed from the room for dis-
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.')
elbow 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 legisla-
legislature) 4. (formal) (E) he —ed to become a physi-
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 con-
conduct — 3. static — 4. — flows
electrocardiogram n. to do; have an —
I
85
elegance n. 1. faded; sheer — 2. sartorial —
eleinent n. ['component'] 1. a basic, essential,
vital — ['group'] 2. a foreign — 3. criminal;
extremist; subversive; undesirable —s ['sub-
['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-
anon 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 diclosure) 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 (burn-
(burning)-
embezzle v. (D; intr., tr.)to —from
embezzlement n. 1. to commit — 2. — from
emblazoned adj. —with
n. a national —
enclose
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. l.(d;intr.)to — as (he —das 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), sul-
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 (col-
loq.) an —; (BE) to make an — redundant 3. a gov-
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; sea-
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)
empty 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
86
encore п. 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 и. 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 man-
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')
end 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. (P; refl., tr.) to ~ to (she ~ed herself to
everyone)
endeavor, endeavour v. (formal) (E) he —ed to
remain calm
endemic adj. ~ in, to
ending /?. i. 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 gover-
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 chil-
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 —gies 2. to dissipate; sap smb.'s
— 3. boundless, limitless, unflagging; latent; mis-
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, nucle-
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 dictio-
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; pre-
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; inter-
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 ~
engmeer n. ['skilled specialist in a branch of
engineering'] 1. a chemical; civil; electrical; flight;
graduate; highway; marine; mechanical; metallur-
metallurgical; mining; operating; sanitary; systems; trans-
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; metal-
metallurgical; sanitary; systems; traffic; transportation
English n. 1. American; Australian; Basic; Black;
British; Canadian; Common, World; Indian; Mid-
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 ~
eagrave v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) to ~ on (the events ~d
themselves on my memory) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with
engrossed adj. I. deeply ~ 2. ~ in (~ in one's
work)
87
envelope
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. l.(D; intr.) to-for (to-for three у ears)
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. bit-
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 inqnire
enquiries n. (BE) 1. directory ~ (AE has direc-
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 learn 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 com-
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 par-
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 damp-
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 chil-
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 dictio-
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 —

envious
88
89
exasperating
(AE; BE has pay packet) 3. a self-addressed;
stamped; window ~ USAGE NOTE: AE has
stamped self-addressed envelope; В Е 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 handboook 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 In. 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 ~
envy II v. (O) they ~ us our new house
epic n. a folk-
epicenter, epicentre n. at the ~
epidemic n. 1. to touch off, trigger an ~ 2. to con-
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; touch-
touching; tragic ~
epithet n. a harsh, offensive, vile ~
epoch n. 1. to mark; usher in an ~ 2. a glacial;
revolutionary ~
equal I adj. 1. ~ in (~ in price) 2. ~ to (one
kilometer is ~ to five eighths of a mile; ~ to the
occasion)
equal II n. an ~ in (to have no ~ in political cun-
cunning)
equal III v. (D;tr.)to~in
equality n. 1. to achieve, attain ~ 2. racial; religi-
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
equilibrinm 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
+ inf. (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
equivalent II n. an approximate; exact-
equivocal adj. —about
era n. 1. to introduce, usher in an ~ 2. the Chris-
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. per-
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 (mak-
(making) an ~ 5. a cardinal, costly, egregious, flagrant,
glaring, grievous, serious ~ 6. a clerical; grammat-
grammatical; printer's, typographical; tactical; typing ~ 7.
(statistics) (a) random ~ 8. an ~ in (an ~ in judg-
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'] 1. 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')
escape II v. 1. (D; intr.) to -from; to (to -from
prison) 2. (G) a famous actor cannot ~ being rec-
recognized
escort I n. 1. to provide an ~ for 2. an armed;
motorcycle; police ~ 3. an ~ for 4. under ~
escort II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to
escrow n. to hold in —
escutcheon n. 1. an armorial ~ 2. (misc.) (humor-
(humorous) a blot on one's ~
espionage n. 1. to conduct, engage in ~ 2. indus-
industrial; military ~
espritdecorps n. l.todevelop(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 ~ » (misc.) to
come into an ~ ('to inherit smt.')
1 n. l.toholdsmb.inhigh ?. to fall;rise
in smb.'s ~3. high~
esteem II v. to ~ highly
estimate I я. 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 per-
percent) 5. by smb.'s ~ (by my ~)
estimate 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; mili-
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; liter-
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, pro-
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, com-
compelling, convincing; conclusive; concrete, hard;
damaging; direct; documentary; hearsay; inad-
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)
evil II n. 1. to do ~ 2. to root out ~ 3. an unmiti-
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
exact II v. (formal) (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ trib-
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; com-
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) ['in-
['inspection'] ['scrutiny'] 9. to do, make an ~ 10. a
careful, close, complete, in-depth, thorough; cur-
cursory, perfunctory, superficial ~ 11. a physical ~
(the doctor did a thorough physical ~ of/on the
patient) 12. on ~ (on close ~ of the facts, she dis-
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

excavations
90
(it's — that we cannot find any spare parts)
excavations n. to carry out archeological ~
exceed v. (D; tr.) to - in (to - smb. in productiv-
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
excerpt 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); farmers';
post (AE); stock - ['central office'] 6. an employ-
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.
exchange II v. 1. (D;tr.) to -for (I -d the defec-
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 + inf. (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 inno-
innocent
exclude v. (D; tr.) to — from
exdvsion it. — 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, lame, 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
excuse II v. l.(D;tr.) to-as (he was-das phys-
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 desert-
deserter)
execution it. 1. to carry out an-2. a mass; public
— 3. — by (— by firing squad)
executive n. a chief-
exempt I adj. —from
exempt 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)
exercise II v. to — hard, strenuously, vigorously
exercised adj. ['upset'] — about, over
exercises n. ['ceremony'] to hold—
exertion n. physical; strenuous—
exhaustion n. 1. heat; 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
exhibit II v. (B) she -ed her paintings to the pub-
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 moun-
mountains)
exhort v. 1. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to action)
2. (H) to — students to work harder
exile In. 1. to send smb. into — 2. in — (to live in
~)
exile 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, misera-
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 —!
exit II v. (D; intr.) to — from; to (to — to the sys-
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. abroad,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 it. 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 daugh-
91
extoll
ter) 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 informa-
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; operat-
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 chemis-
chemistry; physics —
experiment II v. (D; intr.) to — on, upon, with
expert I adj. — at, in
expert 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; sim-
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)
expose 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 ele-
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 south-
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-
deadpan; grave, serious; happy; intense; pained; pleas-
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']!, 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 stern — (a soft heart under a stern —)
extermination n. complete, total—
external adj. —to(formal)
extinguisher n. afire-
extoll v. (D; tr.) to —as (they were—ed as heroes)

extort
92
extort v. (D;tr.) to-from (to-money from mer-
merchants)
extortion n. to commit; practice —
extra n. ['special edition of a newspaper'] to issue,
publish, put out an ~
extract I n. lemon; vanilla—
extract 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. apolitical; religious —
extremities n. ['limbs'] the lower; upper ~
extricate v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ from (she ~d her-
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) ['vi-
['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, hos-
hostile look') 18. (of one who flirts) bedroom ('seduc-
('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 dis-
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 retalia-
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 bar-
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 some-
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)
93
fall
fable л. а — 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; seri-
serious ~ (to keep a straight ~) ['makeup'] (colloq.)
10. to put one's ~ on ['misc.'] 11. in the ~ of seri-
serious difficulties ('facing serious difficulties'); on
the ~ of it ('judging by appearances'); to disap-
disappear from the ~ of the earth; to fly in the ~ of smt.
('to defy smt. energetically')
face 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; modern; outmoded; poor; run-
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, estab-
established; cold, dry, hard, incontestable, incon-
incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable, unquestion-
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 con-
contest')
fail I n. without ~
fail 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, com-
complete, dismal, hopeless, miserable, outright — 3. a
box-office; crop ~ 4. heart ~ 5. a power ~ 6. a ~
to + inf. (the patient's ~ to respond to treatment
was discouraging)
faint I adj. to feel ~ from (she felt ~ from lack of
air)
faint II n. 1. to fall into a ~ 2. a dead- (to fall into
a dead ~)
faint 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)
fair II n. an annual; book; county; health; live-
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
faithful 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) ['au-
['autumn'] (AE) 6. an early; late ~ 7. in (the) - (we
have a lot of rain in the ~)
fall 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 ~

fallacy
94
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.) Do
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 influ-
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 + inf. (it's a ~ to assume that
he will help) 2. a - that (it's a - that all politicians
are corrupt
fallback 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)
faH 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.)
fan 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)
fall 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-
falter v. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in one's determi-
determination)
fame n. 1. to achieve, attain, win; seek — 2. inter-
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 of a — 7. in the — (poor
vision runs in the —) 8. (misc.) — planning ('birth
control*); (old-fashioned) in the — way ('preg-
('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), extrac-
extractor (BE) - ['paper or cloth fan'] 3. to wave a -
fan 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—
fancy II v. l.(d;tr.)('tolike')to-as(Idon'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. у adv. 1.—from (—from the city; the prob-
problem is — from being solved) 2. by — (she is by —
the better player) 3. (misc.) to go — on one's con-
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 —
fare II v. (formal) (P; intr.) she —d well in the big
city
fareweU n. 1. to make one's — s 2. to bid smb. — 3.
a fond; sad — 4. a — to
form 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 -)
former n. a dirt (AE); tenant-
farming n. 1. to be engaged in —2. chicken collec-
collective; cooperative; dairy; pig; poultry; sheep; state;
stock; subsistence; track —
farmland n. to cultivate, work-
form oat v. (B) the work was —ed out to several
associates
farsighted adj. - to + inf. (it was - of her to buy
up this property)
95
feed
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
l)
never get lost)
fascination n. 1.
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 —) ['man-
['manner'] 6. in a — (she behaved in a strange —)
fashion 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)
fast II n. 1. to observe a — 2. to break a —
fasten v. (D; tr.) to — onto, to
fastidious adj. — about (— about one's appear-
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), motor-
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-
foted 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 —)
foncet n. (AE) 1. to turn on a - 2. a - leaks 3. a
leaky ~(CE has tap)
faoH 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 —)
fault II v. (D;tr.)(*to blame') to-for
faux pas n. 1. to commit, make a — 2. a grave —
favor I favour n. ['friendly act, service'] 1. to do,
grant (smb.) a — 2. to perform a — (for smb.) ['ap-
['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 facts speak in - of his
acquittal; we are in — of reform) 11. in smb.'s —
(the odds are in her —)
favor II favour 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 In. 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
fear 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 —
feast II v. (formal) (D; intr., tr.) to — on, upon
(to — on Chateaubriand; to — one's eyes on beau-
beautiful scenery)
feat n. 1. to accomplish, perform a — 2. a brave,
heroic; brilliant, notable, noteworthy, outstand-
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.')
featare I n. ['quality'] 1. a characteristic, distinc-
distinctive, distinguishing; notable; noteworthy; special
- 2. a redeeming - ['contour'] ['Kne'] 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') ['spe-
['special item'] 5. an optional — (we chose several
optional —s for our new car)
featare 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; nomi-
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
9—127

feedback
96
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
feel 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 Do sym-
sympathize with') (I - for them) 5. (D; tr.) Do experi-
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 - com-
comfortable; I — cheated; to - sorry about smt.; to -
good Chappy'); 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—
feeing 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; sink-
sinking; sneaking; uneasy - 9. (colloq.) a gut ('instinc-
('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 ['premoni-
['premonition'] 18. a - that + clause (I had a ~ that she
would show up)
feel ike v. 1. (G) she ~s like resting 2. (S; used
only with nouns) to - a fool; it -s like satin
fed яр 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 л. ['scholar'] ['fellowship holder'] 1. a
research; senior; teaching — ['man'] 2. a good;
honest; nice, regular; young —
fettowsfaip n. ['stipend; support for studies'] 1. to
award, grant; establish a — 2. to receive, win a —
3. a graduate, postgraduate (esp. BE); postdoc-
postdoctoral - ['community of interest'] 4. to foster, pro-
promote (good) - 5. - with
felony n. 1. to commit, perpetrate a ~ 2. to com-
compound a ~ ('to waive prosecution in return for
compensation')
n. an ardent, dedicated, devoted; moder-
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 - ('uncommit-
('uncommitted')
fend v. (d; intr.) to - for (to — for oneself)
fender «. (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 —)
ferry II v. (d; tr.) to - across (to - troops across
a river)
fertilizer n. 1. to spread ~ 2. artificial; chemical;
natural —
fervor, fervoer n. (a) messianic; religious -
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
л. to make a - of smt. (they made a - of
good grooming)
fetes, foetns n. 1. to abort a - 2. a viable-3. an
unborn —
fend I ./i. 1. to stir up a — 2. a blood; family, inter-
internecine; personal - 3. a - between, with
fend 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, п., pronoun 1. relatively —2.4i
- of (we saw a - of them) USAGE NOTE: The
use of the preposition of is necessary when a pro-
pronoun follows. Compare the following construc-
constructions with nouns-we saw very few students; we
saw a few ('several') students.
few 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 —
n. 1. to end in a — 2. a complete, total, utter
n. to tell a-
bre n. l.coarse;synthetic;wool~2.rnoral
— 3. nerve —
fiction n. 1. pure-(her story was pure ~) 2. sci-
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
97
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 gbttses n. to focus, train — on
fieMwork n. todo-
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 tkc
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-)
fight II v. 1. to — bravely, heroically; clean; des-
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 con-
conspicuous, dashing, fine, handsome, imposing,
striking, trim — (to cut a dashing —) 3. a ridicu-
ridiculous, sorry — ['person'] ['personage'] 4. a familiar;
national; political; prominent, well-known; pub-
public; religious; underworld — 5. a father; mother;
parental — ['number'] 6. to bandy —s 7. approxi-
approximate, ball-park (AE; colloq.), round; available;
exact; official; reliable —s 8. in —s (in round —s)
figure II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to play a role') to - in
(she —d prominently in history) 2. (colloq.) (esp.
financing
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 ont 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 —
file II v. l.(D; intr.) ('to apply') to-for (to —for
divorce) 2. (D; tr.) ('to submit') to - with (she —d
an application with several employment agencies)
file III n. ['row'] 1. Indian, single —2. in single —
file IV v. ('to move in a line') l.(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 —
fiffimster n. to carry on, conduct, engage in, wage
a —
filing n. ['storage of data'] to do-
U I n. ['what is necessary to satisfy'] to drink;
eat; have one's —
fffl 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
fffan 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; televi-
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 In. 1. to pass smt. through a — 2. a cloth;
sand-
filter II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (foreign influence
began to — into the country) 2. (d; tr.) to —
through
fflth n. in - (to live in -)
n. a caudal; dorsal; pectoral; pelvic—
n. the grand —
n. (AE) ['final examinations'] to take one's
n. high; public —
n. deficit; private; public —
9*

find
98
find I n. 1. anarcheological ~ 2. alucky; rare-
find 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.) Do discover') to — for (have you found a
suitable candidate for the job?) 4. (J) ('to dis-
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 oat 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 compu-
computer
fine I adj. ~ to + inf. (it's — to reduce taxes, but
the deficit will be increased)
fine II n. 1. to impose, levy a ~ on smb. 2. (col-
(colloq.) to slap a ~ on smb. 3. to pay a ~ 4. a heavy,
stiff ~ 5. a mandatory — 6. a ~ for (a ~ for illegal
parking)
fine III v. l.(D;tr.) to -for (to -smb. for illegal
parking) 2. (O; can be used with one animate
object) the police —d him twenty dollars; the
police —dhim
fineiy 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')
finger 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'] La hairbreadth, photo-2. at
the ~ 3. to the ~ (to fight to the ~) ['polish'] 4. a
dull; glazed; glossy -
finish 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 Hue n. to cross; reach the —
finish op 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. ['destractiveburning']l.toset,starta~;
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 — burns
12. (misc.) the ~ is out; the glow of a - ['shoot-
['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; hos-
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'^
fire II v. 1. to - point-blank 2. (B) the quarter-
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
firedrffl n. to conduct, hold a—
fired op adj. ['excited'] — with
fire extinguisher n. 1. to train a — (on a fire) 2. to
operate a — 3. to recharge a ~
firesale n. to hold a-
fireworks n. a spectacular display of—
firing Hne 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)
firm II n. ['company'] 1. to establish; manage,
operate, run a — 2. an advertising; business; man-
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~
firstaid 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 л. l.tocatch(a)-2. baked;broiled;dried;
filleted; fresh; freshwater; fried; frozen; saltwa-
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
1
99
flavor, flavour
~ ('a strange person')
fish II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to - for compli-
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')
flsticoffs 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')
fit 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)
fit III n. ['manner of fitting'] a good; loose; snug,
tight-
fit 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 car-
carton) USAGE NOTE: In BE the past and past par-
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 hi v. (D; intr.) to ~ with ('to blend in') (she fit
right in with our crowd)
fitness n. 1. physical ~ 2. — for
fit oat 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)
fitting II n. ['small part'] 1. an electrical; female;
gas; male ~ ['trying on of a garment'] 2. to go for
a — 3. (misc.) a — room
hi», (colloq.) ['difficult situation'] 1. to be in a
- 2. a fine, nice, pretty ~ ['injection of a narcotic']
(slang) 3. to get; need a ~
fix 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 it. a lighting; plumbing; shop (esp. BE),
store (esp. AE) ~
fix op 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; hangout; 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, flut-
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
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 id 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')
flash 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)
flashhack n. 1. to insert, interject, put in a — (as
part of a film) 2. a — to (a — to smb.'s childhood)
flashlight n. (AE;BEhas 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']l.togo~(thebeerhas
gone ~) ['extended at full length'] 2. (also fig.) to
fall - (as an actor he fell —) ['exact'] 3. she ran a
mile in seven minutes ~
flat 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 inter-
interviewed on TV) 2. - that + clause (it's — that
we've been chosen)
flattery n. to resort to, use ~
flavor, flaroar 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
flaw п. 1. a fatal — 2. a — in (there's a — in your
reasoning)
flea n. —sbite
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 —
fleshout 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 Do go through
quickly') (to — through a report)
flies (BE) see fry III
flight I n. ['flying'] 1. to take 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)
flight 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 - atsmt. ['period of self-indulgence']
2. to have a last —
fltag II v. l.(D;tr.)to-at(to-astoneatsmb.)
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.) Do 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 /i. an incorrigible; terrible ~
flirt 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)
flock 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
flood П 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;
100
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
flop 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 cot-
cotton candy)
flow 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)
flow 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; out-
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, dis-
display — 3. — in (— in a foreign language) 4. — to +
inf. (she has enough — to order a meal in English)
fluent adj. -in(-inEnglish)
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)
flush II n. 1. a hot-(BE; AE has hot flash) 2.
the first — (of success)
flush III v. (D; intr.) to -with (to -with pride)
flush 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 -
fly II v. l.(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 tradi-
tradition ('to defy tradition'); to - off the handle ('to
101
force
become angry')
fly III n. ['opening on trousers'] 1. to dose, do up
(BE), zip up one's — 2. to open, unzip one'si-
flyhuj n. blind; formation; instrument; stunt—
flyiag 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 cus-
customers) 2. (BE) (D; tr.) ('to deceive') to - with
(to — customers with cheap merchandise)
focus I n. 1. to bringsmt. into — 2. in—; out of—
focus 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 merchan-
merchandise on a customer)
foM v. (D; tr.) to — into (she-ed the newspaper
into a hat)
folder it. amanila —
foM up v. (D; intr., tr.) to-into (the bed-sup
into the wall)
fottow 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 consid-
considered for the job
fottower n. a faithful-
foBowktg n. ['followers'] a large-
fonow through v. (D; intr.) ('to continue') to-
with
feflow-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)
foBow up v. 1. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a story)
2. (D; intr., tr.) to - with (we should - with a let-
letter)
foty 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 In. 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)
fool 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)
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 inapprop-
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 —
footbal n. 1. to play - 2. a - game (AE), match
(BE) 3. association - ('soccer')
footfault n. (tennis) to commit a—
foothold n. 1. to establish, gain, secure, win a —2.
afirm —
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) 1. 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 expedition-
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 explo-
explosive; irresistible; magnetic; motivating — 14. the
vital - ('basic force') ['effect'] 15. in - (the regu-
regulation is still in —)
force П 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

foreboding
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 —)
forecast 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.
n. a high —
foreign adj. -to
forenumer 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 pro-
provide for the education of his children)
forest n. 1. to clear a-2. a dense, thick; impene-
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; skill-
skillful-
forget v. 1. to -completely,utterly 2. (D;intr.)to
- about (she forgot about the concert) 3. (E) I for-
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 news-
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.
forgetfal adj. - of (he has become - of things)
forgive v. 1. (D;tr.) to -for (to -smb. for amis-
take) 2. (biblical) (O; 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 ['implememt
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 —;
102
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 con-
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 -)
form II v. l.(D;tr.)to-from,outof(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 col-
colleagues)
formalities n. 1. to complete, go through the-2.
bureaucratic; legal -; (the) usual —
format n. a suitable —
formation n. ['arrangement of troops, ships, air-
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 —
formal* n. ['milk mixture for infant feeding']!, 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-against2.(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
fortanate adj. 1. - in (we are — in having such a
nice house) 2. - to + inf. (she is - to have influen-
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 dissi-
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 -
foram 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 - let-
letters to a new address; the books were -ed from
Amsterdam to Tokyo)
foul I adv. l.see afoal 2. to fall - of (to fall -
of the law)
font II n. 1. to commit a — 2. a personal; team;
103
frivolous
technical —
fool HI v. (esp. basketball) (D; intr.) to — out of
(to — out of a game)
fool oat v. (esp. basketball) (D; intr.) to -on (he
—ed out on five personals)
foal play n. ['violence'] to meet with—
found v. (D;tr.) to —on (our country was—ed on
certain principles)
fonadation 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; educa-
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; com-
complex, compound; decimal; improper; irreducible;
partial; proper; simple, vulgar —
fracture n. 1. to reduce, set a — 2. a compound;
compression; greens tick; 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 cer-
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)
frankaese 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 —
freed n. 1. to commit —; to perpetrate (a) — 2. to
expose (a) — 3. mail; vote —
fraadalent adj. - to + inf. (it was - to claim an
exemption of that type)
franght adj. (cannot stand alone) — with (the situ-
situation was — with danger)
fray n. to enter, join the—
frazzle n. burnt to a — ('completely burnt')
freak oat 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.
free 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)
freehand 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
freeze 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. alarm-
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)
fresh 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. insepara-
inseparable ~s 4. a pen — (BE; CE has penpal) 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 sub-
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 con-
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)
frivokms adj. — to + inf. (it was —of him to make
such an accusation)

frog
frog п. 1. a grass; green; wood — 2. —s croak;
jump 3. (misc.) to have a — in one's throat Do be
hoarse')
front I adv. to face —
front 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 ['move-
['movement'] ['campaign'] 5. a popular; united — (to pre-
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)
front III v. l.(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 —
frontline n. at, in, on the —
frost n. 1. a hard, heavy, severe; light, slight -2.
eternal —, permafrost 3. a touch of —
frown v. l.(D; intr.) to-at ('to look with displea-
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)
i adj. —hard,solid
__„_ 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), tin-
tinned (BE); dried; fresh; frozen — 8. (misc.) (fig.)
the —s of one's labor
frnltcake n. (misc.)(colloq.) as nutty as a —('com-
—('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)
unstinting 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-ар n. (colloq.) (BE) ['frying of foods'] to do,
have a —
radge v. (D; intr.) ('to hedge') to— on (to —on an
issue)
feel 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)
personal —) 2. partial — (of the requirements for a
doctoral degree)
fefl adj. -of(-ofwine)
104
v. (D; intr.) to — against
I «. to make a —
пшюте II v. l.(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)
feme v. (D; intr.) to -about, at, over (to -at the
delay) (see also fret)
femes /t. 1. to inhale-2. cigar; cigarette; gas-
fen 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 «. ['characteristic action'] 1. to fulfill,
perform a — 2. a grammatical — 3. the bodily —s
['mathematical correspondence'] 4. an exponen-
exponential; inverse; linear; trigonometric — ['social
event'] 5. to attend a — 6. an annual; social —
fend л. 1. to establish, set up a — 2. to administer,
manage a — 3. an inexhaustible — 4. a con-
contingency, emergency; pension; secret; sinking;
slush; strike; trust - 5. a mutual - (AE; BE has
unit trust)
fundamental adj. — to
fends 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)
" n. 1. to conduct; hold a — 2. a military;
state
tank n. ['depressed state'] (colloq.) a blue — (in a
blue ~)
fenny adj. (colloq.) ['strange'] ['interesting'] 1.-
about (there's smt. - about that affair) 2. - to +
inf. (it's — to watch how people order in a restau-
restaurant = it's — watching how people order in a
restaurant) 3. - that + clause (it's — that they
didn't call)
fenny bone ft. 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 ft. (esp.AE)on-
tamuce ft. 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 infor-
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; modern; office; period; sec-
secondhand, used; unfinished (esp. AE) — 3. an arti-
article, piece, stick of —
иг, furore ft. to create a —
ft. 1. to make, turn a —2. an even, straight
105
age, unbridled —
fuse I n. ['tube, wick used to set off an explosive
charge'] 1. to light a — 2. a slow — (also fig.)
fuse 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')
fuse III n. (CE) ['detonating device'] 1. to arm,
set a — 2. a contact; delayed; percussion; proxim-
proximity; time — (AE also has fuze)
IV v. (D; intr.) to — with
mi n. nuclear —
i I n. 1. to kick up, make a — 2. a — about, over
i II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about, over 2. (D;
faze
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)
fetffity 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
n. in —of
fery n. 1. to vent one's — on, upon 2. pent-up; sav-

106
gadfly ra. ['annoying person'] a — to (the reporter
was a constant — to the government)
gadget ra. 1. a— for (they have a— for everything)
2. a — to + inf. (a — to clean windows)
gaff ra. (slang) (BE) to blow the — ('to reveal a se-
secret')
gaffe ra. ['blunder'] to make a —
gag I ra. (colloq.) ['joke'] as, for a ~ (she did it as/
fora-)
gag II v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on food)
gaga adv. (colloq.) ['enthusiastic'] to go — over
smt.
gage see gauge
gain I ra. 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 consider-
considerable, enormous, notable, substantial, tremen-
tremendous; tangible — 5. ill-gotten — s 6. (economics)
capital —s 7. a — to (a — to our profession)
gain II v. 1. to — in ('to acquire') (to — in experi-
experience) 2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to move faster than')
(the police were —ing on the fugitive; to — on
one's pursuers)
gait ra. 1. a steady; unsteady — 2. at a certain — (at
a steady —)
gale ra. 1. a heavy, raging, severe, strong; sudden
— 2. a — blows itself out; rages
gall ra. (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 ra. to display —
gallery ra. an art; fresco; press; shooting —
gaffing adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it's — to watch
him deceive everyone)
gallon ra. an imperial —
gallop ra. at a —
gallows ra. to be sent to the —
galvanize v. (d; tr.) to - into (to — smb. into
action)
gambit ra. (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)
ra. a compulsive, inveterate; professional
_b ra. compulsive; illegal; legal —
щшак га. ['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 wait-
waiting ~ 13. 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 ['prostitu-
['prostitution'] (colloq.) (BE) 18. on the - ['misc.'] 19. the
mating — (see the Usage Note for match)
games ra. ['competition'] ['maneuvers'] 1. to hold
— 2. war — 3. the Commonwealth; Olympic; sum-
summer; winter —
gamnt ra. 1. to run the — from; to 2. the whole —
(her performance ran the whole ~ from outstand-
outstanding to terrible)
gander ra. (colloq.) ['look'] to take a — at
gang ra. 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 ra. — sets in
gangnp v. (d; intr.) to ~ against, on
gaol (BE) see jail
gap ra. 1. to leave a — 2. to bridge, close, fill a — 3.
a sorely felt, unbridgeable, wide — 4. a communi-
communications; credibility; generation; trade — 5. the
gender — 6. a — between 7. a — in
gape v. (D; intr.)to -at
garage ra. 1. a parking — 2. (misc.) to park a car in
a —
garage sale ra. (AE) to have, hold a ~
garb I ra. 1. formal — 2. in (formal) ~
garb II v. (d; refl.) to — in (they —ed themselves
in colorful costumes)
garbage ra. (esp. AEI. 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 ra. 1. to do, go in for — 2. landscape;
market (BE) -
garlic ra. 1. a clove of - 2. a whiff of -
garment ra. a foundation —
gas ra. ['accelerator'] 1. to step on the — ['combus-
['combustible gaseous mixture'] 2. to light, turn on the - 3.
to turn off the — 4. coal; natural ~ ['substance dis-
dispersed through the air to disable the enemy'] 5.
mustard; nerve; poison, toxic; tear — ['misc.'] 6.
laughing - ('nitrous oxide') (see also gasoline)
gash ra. 1. to make a — 2. a deep—
gasoline ra. (AE) high-octane; leaded; lead-free,
unleaded; premium; regular — (BE has petrol)
gasp I ra. 1. to emit, give, let out a —2. an audible
— 3. a — for (a - for breath) 4. (misc.) the last -
('the last effort')
gasp 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 ra. to light, turn on a —
gate ra. 1. a starting - (at a racetrack) 2. at a — 3.
(misc.) (colloq.) to give smb. the — ('to reject
smb.')
gateway л. а — to (the — to the west)
gather v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to assemble') to — around
(they ~ed around the speaker) 2. (d; tr.) ('to con-
!
i
107
dude') 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 —
gaage n. ['measuring device'] 1. a fuel; oil; pres-
pressure; rain; tire-pressure; water; wind — ['distance
between rails'] 2. broad, wide; narrow; standard
I ra. ['challenge'] 1. to throw down the —
2. to pick up, take up the —
ganntlet II ra. ['ordeal'] to run a — (to run the — of
reporters)
gavel Ira. 1. to rap a — 2. a rap of the —
gavel II v. (d; tr.) to — into (he-led the protest-
protesters into silence)
gawk v. (colloq.) (D; intr.)to -at
gaze I ra. an admiring; intense, rapt, steady,
unblinking; wistful —
gaze II v. 1. to — intently 2. (d; intr.) to — at
gear I ra. ['toothed wheel as part of a transmis-
transmission'] 1. to change (BE), shift —s 2. to reverse —s
3. to strip -s4. bottom (BE), low; high (AE), top
(BE); reverse — 5. a worm — 6. —s clash, grind;
jam, lock, stick; mesh 7. in —; out of — ['equip-
['equipment'] 8. fishing; hunting; skiing — ['clothing']
(colloq.) (BE) 9. trendy -
gear II v. (d; tr.) to — to (the whole economy is
—ed to the tourist trade)
gear np v. (d; intr., tr.) to — for (we are —ing up
for increased production)
gender ra. 1. grammatical — 2. (the) feminine;
masculine; neuter — (many languages have no
neuter —)
gene ra. 1. to transfer, transplant —s 2. to cut;
splice —s 3. a dominant; recessive —
general ra. 1. a brigadier (US); commanding; four-
star; lieutenant; major — 2. (US) a — of the Army
generality ra. 1. a broad, sweeping — 2. (to speak)
in-ties
generalization ra. 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)
" v. (D; intr.) to — about
ra. to sound —
ra. 1. the coming, next; new; older;
present; younger — 2. future; past —s 3. a lost — 4.
(misc.) a-gap
generosity ra. 1. to demonstrate, display, show —
2. great, lavish, magnanimous, unstinting — 3.
(misc.) to abuse smb.'s —
generons adj. 1. — in; with (- with money) 2. - to
+ inf. (it was — of her to contribute such a large
sum)
adj. —towards
ra. (plural) female; male—
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 get-
getting into trouble) ['person of great mental capac-
capacity, ability'] 5. an artistic; budding; inventive;
mathematical; mechanical; military; musical;
rare; real — 6. a — to + inf. (she was a — to think
of that)
ra. to commit, perpetrate —
gentle adj. - with
gentleman ra. 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 np v. (slang) (BE) (D; tr.) ('to inform') to -
about, on (they —ned me up on the situation)
geography ra. dialect, linguistic; economic; physi-
physical; political —
geometry ra. descriptive; Euclidean; plane; pro-
jective; solid —
germ ra. ['microorganism'] 1. — s multiply 2.
(some) —s cause disease
germane adj. — to (— to the discussion)
German measles ra. ['rubella'] to catch, come
down with —
gestation ra. period of—
gesticulate v. to — frantically, wildly
gesture ra. 1. to make a — 2. a bold; conciliatory;
frantic; friendly; glorious, grand, grandiose, mag-
magnificent; habitual; humane, kind; imperious —
get v. l.(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

get across
the window) 25. (d; intr.) to - to ('to reach') (to -
to a telephone; to ~ to the point; we got to the 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 —
drank; 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 unsuc-
unsuccessful'); to ~ somewhere ('to score a success')
USAGE NOTE: In AE, the past participle of to
get is usu. gorrew-they'd gotten everything
ready. In BE, it is gof--they'd got everything
ready. (Note that Ш-gotten gains is CE.) How-
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--/**/ got to do it yesterday
'I had to do it yesterday'. BE also has he'd got
work "he had work'.
get aerate v. (В) (Чо 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 posi-
position in front of) (try to — of him)
get along v. l.(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 correspon-
correspondence)
getaway n. 1. to make (good) one's —2. a quick —
getaway v. l.(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. l.(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.
108
(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.)('tof>ass')to — to (to-to the
other side)
get rowed (BE) see get around
gettbrongh v. l.(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-ар n. ['outfit'] an elaborate ~
getap 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
gibe 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—
giggle II v. (D; intr.) to - at
gimmick n. an advertising, promotional —
girder n. a steel —
girdle n. 1. a tight, trim — 2. a panty —
girl n. 1. a career; chorus; college (esp. AE); danc-
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 ty telephone') USAGE NOTE: It
can be offensive to call a woman a girl. Thus,
career woman and working woman are consid-
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 —
ghth n. to measure the — of
gist n. (colloq.) ['main meaning'] to get the — of
109
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 fa v. (D; intr.) ('to yield') to - to (we had to
— to their demands)
given adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (— to exag-
exaggeration)
give oat 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
givenp 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, cur-
cursory, fleeting, passing; conspiratorial; disapprov-
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 —)
glance II v. 1. ('to look') to — admiringly; casu-
casually; furtively, surreptitiously; imploringly; indig-
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)
glare 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 instru-
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)
gleam 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
go
n. a faint, pale, slight, weak —
n. 1. to catch a — of 2. a brief, fleeting —
3. a — into (a — into the life of a coal miner)
gHnt v. (D; intr.) to - with
glisten v. (D; intr.) to — with
gtttch n. (slang) ['mishap'] an unexpected—
glitter v. l.(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 sit-
situation)
gloomy adj. — about, over
glorious adj. — to + inf. (it would be — to live in a
peaceful world)
glory In. 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
glory II v. (d; intr.) to — in (to — in one's
triumph)
gloss I n. ['luster'] a high —
gloss 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)
яг v. (D; intr.) to — at
adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (he was — to
his TV set; her eyes were — to the door)
gram adj. —about
gmt I n. a — on the market
grot II v. (D;refl.,tr.) to-with (to-the market
with cheap goods)
gratton п. а — 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 —
go 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

goad
ПО
went for the first prize) 14. (d; intr.) to - for ('to
concern') (what he said ~es for you too) IS. (col-
loq.) (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 Do 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. (col-
loq.) (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 dictio-
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 con-
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 com-
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 ~ shop-
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) D° be a boyfriend or
girlfriend'); to ~ to trial (the case went to trial); to
— to waste ('to be wasted'); to ~ wrong ('to be cor-
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 Do 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.)
Do 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 hi 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—
; n. to sound a —
rrhea n. to catch, contract ~
guv» I adj. 1. any — (is he any ~ at chess?) 2. ~
at, in (she is — at/in mathematics) 3. — for (exer-
(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)
good 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 ~ ['restitu-
['restitution'] 6. to make —
goods n. 1. capital; consumer; dry (esp. AE), soft
111
on
(esp. BE); durable; manufactured; yard — 2.
(misc.) to have the ~ on (colloq.) ('to have evi-
evidence against'); one's worldly —
goodwill n. to show ~
goon v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to advance') to ~ to (to ~ to
greater accomplishments) 2. (D; intr.) ('to con-
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 gan-
gander
go oat 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.) Do pass') to - to (to ~ to
the attack) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to desert to') (to
~ to the enemy)
Gordianknot 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; mali-
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?)
gossip 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; over-
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 stu-
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; hospi-
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'] ['de-
['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 ~ ['at-
['attractiveness'] 9. effortless — ['feature'] 10. a sav-
gradous 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 excel-
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 л. a college (AE), university; high-
school (AE)~
graduate 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. todo —
graduation n. 1. a college; high-school (AE) - 2.
~ from (~ from college) 3. on — (on — from col-
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 -
graft II v. (D; tr.) to — on to, onto
gram 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)
grant 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 ~
grasp 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')
10-127

grate
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 (I 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 out-
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 sit-
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. tocut, 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.—for2. — to + inf. (itwas— ofthem
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)
green 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 —s5.
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 dis-
dismay)
112
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. l.to —deeply2. (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 —
grill 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 —
grin 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 п. (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) ['de-
['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
gripe 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.) l.to dis-
display, show — 2. true — 3. the — to + inf. (they had
enough — to hold out in the face of real hardship)
groan I n. l.to emit, heave, utter a —2. aloud —
groan 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. l.(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
113
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 п. а — 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. hos-
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 —
group 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 sud-
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
" ' n. a chronic, constant-
g n. chronic, constant —
adj. (colloq.) — about
grunt I n. to utter a —
grunt 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
I n. ['assurance of quality'] 1. to give,
guitar
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)
guarantee 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)
guard 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 In. 1. to hazard, make a — 2. a lucky; ran-
random, wild; rough; shrewd — 3. a — that + clause
(it is only a — that she will be appointed)
guess II v. l.to — shrewdly;wildly2.(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; wel-
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; paren-
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 —
guide 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 —
guilt n. 1. to establish smb.'s — 2. to bear — for 3.
to admit; expiate one's — 4. (misc.) — by associa-
association
guiltless adj. - of
guilty 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 —
10*

gulf m
gulf n. 1. a wide, yawning - 2. a ~ between (a
wide — between generations)
gull v. (D;tr.)Cto trick') to - into
gulp n. at, in a — (she swallowed the whole spoon-
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.), sub-
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')
gun 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 -
^_ 114
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)
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 - Doliate
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 (col-
(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— pedmeout
of my share)
gyrate v. to-wildly
115
hand
н
n. ['custom'] ['usual manner'] 1. to acquire,
develop, form a — 2. to make a — of smt. 3. to get
into a — 4. to break a —; to get out of a —; (slang)
to kick the — 5. to break smb. of a — 6. an annoy-
annoying; bad; entrenched, ingrained; filthy; good;
incurable; nasty; repulsive — 7. irregular; regular
—s 8. a — of (he has a bad — of interrupting
people) 9. by force of - 10. out of - (I did it out
of-) ['costume'] 11. a monk's; nun's; riding -
"*tat n. a natural —
I n. ['hireling'] a party —
II v. ('to chop') 1. (d; intr.) to - at (to - at
a tree) 2. (misc.) they — ed their way through the
forest; to — (a body) to pieces
hackles n. ['anger'] to raise smb.'s —
haggle v. (D; intr.) to —about, over; with
hail v. 1. (C) ('to summon') — a taxi for me; or: —
me a taxi 2. (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to — from ('to be
from') (where do you - from?) 3. (D; tr.) Do
proclaim') to — as (she was —ed as a heroine) 4.
(rare) (N; used with a noun) ('to name') to — smb.
emperor
hailstones n. - fall
hair n. 1. to brush; comb — 2. to backcomb (BE),
tease (AE); braid; do; set; style — 3. to cut; trim —
4. to shampoo, wash — 5. to color; dye; tint — 6. to
part one's — (he parts his — in the middle, and I
part mine on the side) 7. to stroke smb.'s — 8. to
lose, shed one's — (people lose their —; animals
shed their —) 9. curly; kinky; straight; wavy — 10.
long; short; thick; thinning — 11. unmanageable,
unruly - 12. dark; light - 13. black; blond;
brown; grey; red; white — 14. pubic — 15. — falls
out; grows 16. a single —17. a curl, lock; strand of
-18. a head; shock of - (he has a thick head of —)
19. (misc.) to split —s ('to nitpick'); to get in smb.'s
— ('to annoy smb.'); to let one's — down ('to lose
one's inhibitions'); by a — ('by a small margin')
in. 1. to get a — 2. to give smb. a — 3. a short
n. a receding —
half determiner, pronoun 1. (in telling time) —
past the hour (it's — past four) 2. - of (- of them)
3. (misc.) it's not - bad ('it's fairly good') USAGE
NOTE: The use of the preposition of is neces-
necessary when a pronoun follows. When a noun fol-
follows, the of may be omitted-half (of) the stu-
students; half (of) the audience. However, compare-
she spent half (of) the money; she spent her half of
the money. Note the constructions—a half hour,
half an hour.
half-mast n. at — (the flags were flying at —)
half price n. at — (to admit children at —)
halfway adj., adv. 1. — between 2. (misc.) to meet
smb. — ('to compromise with smb.')
hall n. a concert; dance; entrance; lecture; mess;
music; pool; study; town —
halo п. а — around (the sun, moon)
halt n. 1. to call a — 2. to bring smt. to a — 3. to
come to a — 4. a complete; grinding, screeching —
halter n. to put a ~ on an animal
ham n. baked; cured; honey-roast (BE), sugar-
cured (AE) -
hamburger n. to grill a —
hammer In. 1. to swing a — 2. (sports) to throw
the — 3. a drop — 4. to come under the (auc-
(auctioneer's) - ('to be sold at auction')
hammer II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - at (to - at enemy
positions) 2. (D; tr.) to — into (to — a nail into a
wall; to — an idea into smb.'s head)
hammer and tongs adv. to go at smb. — ('to attack
smb. with great energy')
hammer away v. (d; intr.) to - at (to - at a com-
compromise; to — at the enemy)
hamper v. (D;tr.)to-in
hand I n. ['part of the arm below the wrist'] 1. to
shake smb.'s —; to shake —s with smb. 2. to clasp,
grab, grasp; take smb.'s — 3. to hold; join —s 4. to
lay one's —s on 5. to cup one's —s 6. to clap one's
—s 7. to wring one's —s 8. to lower; raise one's —
9. bare; delicate; dishpan (esp. AE); gentle —s (he
grasped the hot metal with his bare —s) 10. a pair
of —s 11. by — (to do smt. by —) 12. by the — (to
lead smb. by the —; to take smb. by the —) 13. —s
off; —s up ['help'] ['active participation'] 14. to
give, lend smb. a — 15. to lift a — (he would not lift
a — to help) 16. to have a — in 17. a guiding; help-
helping — (to lend a helping —) 18. a — at, in, with
(give me a — with the dishes) ['worker'] (esp. AE)
19. a hired; ranch - ['specialist'] 20. an old - (at
smt.) ['pointer on a clock'] 21. an hour; minute;
second, sweep-second — ['ability'] 22. to try one's
- at smt. ['control'] 23. to get out of - 24. to take
smb. in — 25. a firm; iron — ['pledge of betrothal']
(formal) 26. to ask for smb.'s — ['cards held by a
player'] (also fig.) 27. to show, tip one's — 28. to
have, hold a — 29. a good, strong; weak — (she
held a strong —) ['possession'] ['ownership'] 30. to
fall into smb. 's —s 31. to change —s 32. enemy; pri-
private —s (the documents fell into enemy —s)
['source'] 33. at first — ('directly') 34. at second -
('indirectly') ['viewpoint'] 35. on one — ('from one
viewpoint'); on the other — ('from the other view-
viewpoint') ['closeness'] 36. at, on — (near at —)
['misc.'] 37. to lay a — on smb. ('to harm smb.');
from — to mouth ('barely existing'); to have one's
—s full ('to be very busy'); to eat out of smb.'s —
('to be subservient to smb.'); to force smb. 's — ('to
compel smb. to act'); to throw up one's —s ('to
give up'); to wash one's —s of smt. ('to shed all
responsibility for smt.'); with a heavy —
('crudely'); to suffer at smb.'s ~s; with clean —s
('innocent'); to go — in — ('to go together'); to win
—s down ('to win easily'); all —s on deck! ('all
sailors on deck'); to have time on one's —s ('to
have free time'); to have worthless property on
one's —s ('to be burdened by worthless property')
II v. (A) —the salt to me; or: —me the salt

hand back
back v. (usu. B; occ. A) she —ed the docu-
documents back to me
n. team —
n. a — for (a — for beginners)
n. 1. to put (the) — on smb. 2. to remove
hand down v. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (to ~ a tradi-
tradition to the next generation; to ~ old clothes from
one child to the next)
handicap n. ['assigned advantage or disadvan-
disadvantage'] 1. to assign, give a — ['hindrance'] 2. to
overcome a — 3. a — to 4. under a —
hand in v. (B) to ~ homework in to the teacher
handle n. ['part grasped by the hand'] 1. (BE) a
starting — ['misc.'] (colloq.) 2. to fly off the - ('to
lose one's temper'); to get a — on smt. ('to com-
comprehend smt.')
handler n. a baggage; food —
handling n. 1. delicate; gentle; rough; tactful ~
(the matter requires delicate —) 2. special — (by
the post office)
hand on v. (D; tr.) to - to (to - traditions to the
next generation)
n. to grind, play a—
n. (colloq.) ['alms'] 1. to give smb. a — 2.
to ask for a —
handout v. (B) to - food to the needy
handover v. (B) to ~ a criminal to the police
handpfeked adj. 1.-for 2.-to + inf. (she was -
to do the job)
handrail n. 1. to grasp a-2. to hold on to a-
handshake n. 1. a firm; warm —2. (misc.) a golden
— ('a gift presented to smb. who is retiring')
handspring n. to do, turn a —
handwriting n. 1. illegible; legible-2. (misc.) to
see the — on the wall ('to foresee an impending
disaster')
handy adj. 1. - at; with (she's - with tools) 2. -
for (this tool is — for various jobs) 3. — to + inf.
(it's — to have a pharmacy so close = it's — having
a pharmacy so close)
hang I n. (colloq.) ['knack'] to get the-of smt.
hang II v. 1. ('to be suspended'); ('to fall') to -
limp; loose, loosely 2. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to -
around ('to frequent') (to — around a bar) 3. (D;
intr.) ('to be suspended') to — by (to — by a
thread) (see also 16) 4.(D; tr.) ('to execute by
hanging') to — for (he was ~ed for murder ~) 5.
(d; intr.) ('to be suspended') to — from (flags hung
from the windows) 6. (d; intr.) ('to cling') to — on
(to — on smb.'s arm) 7. (d; intr.) to — on, upon
('to listen closely to') (they hung on every word) 8.
(d; intr.) to — on ('to depend on') (the outcome —s
on the results of the election) 9. (d; intr.) to ~ on
('to be oppressive') time —s on their hands) 10. (d;
intr., tr.) ('to be suspended'); ('to suspend') to ~
on (she hung the picture on the wall) 11. (d; intr.)
('to cling') to — onto (he hung onto my arm) 12.
(colloq.) (d; intr.) to — onto ('to keep, retain') (we
intend to — onto this property; they hung onto
their customs) 13. (d; intr.) ('to lean') to — out of
(to — out of a window) 14. (d; intr.) ('to be sus-
suspended') to — over (the coat was —ing over the
chair; the threat of war hung over the country) 15.
116
(d; tr.) ('to drape, suspend') to — over (she hung
the wet towel over the tub) 16. (misc.) to — by a
thread ('to be in a critical situation') USAGE
NOTE: The past and past participle of hang are
hung or hanged. The form hanged is more
usual in the sense 'killed by hanging'. In other
senses the form hung is usual.
hang around v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) ('to spend
time') to — with (he likes to — with the boys down
at the bar)
hang back v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from giving
information)
hang down v. (D; intr.) to — from; to (to — from
a branch)
hanger n. a coat —
hang on v. l.(D; intr.) to -to ('to grasp') (to -to
the rail) 2. (D; intr.) to - to ('to keep') (to - to
one's privileges)
hangout n. (colloq.) ['gathering place'] a — for
hangout v. (slang) (D; intr.) ('to spend time') to-
with (to — with one's friends)
hangup v. (D; intr.) to —on (she hung up on me)
('she broke off her telephone conversation with
me')
hanker v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) 1. (d; intr.) to -
after, for ('to want') (to - for a good steak) 2. (E)
('to want') she —ed to go south
hankering n. (colloq.) 1. a - for 2. a - to + inf. (a
— to travel)
happen v. 1. (D; intr.) to-to (what-ed to you?)
2. (E) she —ed to be there when we arrived
happiness n. 1. personal —2. a feeling, glow of—
happy adj. 1. — about; with 2. (colloq.) — for (we
are - for them) 3. - to + inf. (I'll be - to attend
the meeting; she'll be - to work here = she'll be -
working here) 4. — that + clause (they are very —
that the proposal was accepted)
harakiri n. to commit —
harangue n. to deliver, launch into a—
harassment n. 1. to engage in — 2. police; sexual —
harbor, harbour n. 1. to clear a-2. to blockade;
mine a - 3. a natural - 4. a safe - (also fig.)
hard adj. ['demanding'] 1. (cannot stand alone)-
on (she's very - on herself) ['difficult'] 2. - to +
inf. (this book is - to translate = it is - to trans-
translate this book = it is a — book to translate; she is
— to understand = it is — to understand her; it is
— to get them to participate = it is — getting them
to participate) 3. - for (this job will be - for me;
it is — for us to concentrate) ['misc.'] 4. to play —
to get ('to pretend to be uninterested in an invita-
invitation or proposal')
hardened adj. (cannot stand alone)-to (-to suf-
suffering)
hardline n. (pol.) to adopt, take; follow a-
hard put adj. ['facing difficulties'] - to + inf. (she
was — to pay her rent)
hardship n. 1. to bear, suffer, undergo - 2. to
overcome a — 3. a — to + inf. (it was a real — for
her to get to work on time)
hard time n. (colloq.) 1. to give smb. a- ('to make
things difficult for smb.') 2. (misc.) we had a —
finding her
hard up adj. (colloq.) ('in need of)-for (they are
117
head
— for new ideas)
hark back v. (d; intr.) ('to revert') to — to (to — to
the old days)
harm n. 1. to cause, do —2. to undo —3. consider-
considerable, grave, great, immeasurable, irreparable,
severe — 4. (grievous) bodily — 5. — in; to (there
is no — in doing that; was any — done to the chil-
children?)
harmful adj. 1. — to (— to one's health) 2. - to +
inf. (it's — to smoke)
harmless adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it's — to day-
daydream)
harmonica n. (esp. AE) to play a —
harmonize v. (D; intr.) to — with
harmony n. ['concord, agreement'] 1. to achieve
— 2. in — with ['congraity'] (ling.) 3. vowel —
v. (D;tr.)to — to (to — horses to a coach)
I n. to play the —
II v. (d; intr.) to — on (to keep— ing on the
same old theme)
harpoon n. to hurl, throw; shoot a—
harsh adj. -to, with (he's too-with the children)
harvest n. 1. to bring in, reap a — 2. an abundant,
bountiful, rich; poor —
hash v. (colloq.) (AE)(d; intr.) to-over ('to dis-
discuss') (to — over a question)
hassle I n. ['struggle'] a - to + inf. (it was a — to
get a visa = it was a — getting a visa)
hassle II v. (D; tr.) to - about, over
haste n. 1. to make — ('to hurry') 2. in — (they
acted in great —)
hasten v. (E) he -ed to apologize
hat n. 1. to doff; don; tip a — 2. a cardinal's; fur;
straw; ten-gallon; top — 3. (misc.) to pass the —
('to collect money'); to take one's — off to ('to
congratulate smb.'); to talk through one's — ('to
say foolish things'); to throw one's — into the ring
('to enter a political campaign'); to take one's —
off to smb. ('to feel respect for smb.')
hatch n. 1. to batten down the —es 2. an escape —
hate Isee hatred
hate II v. 1. to -deeply, intensely, utterly 2. (E)
he —s to work 3. (G) she —s going to school 4.
(rare) (J) he —s people watching when he prac-
practices 5. (K) she —s his staying out late
hateful adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it was - of him
to say that)
hatred n. 1. to arouse, stir up —2. to instill —3. to
incur — 4. to develop; express; feel; show — 5.
blind, deep-rooted, implacable, intense, pro-
profound, violent, virulent — 6. — for, towards 7. con-
consumed with, filled with -
hat trick n. to do a-
haul I n. ['distance'] a long; short - (also fig.)
haul II v. (D; tr.) to - from; to (to - coal from
the mines to the city)
haul up v. (D; tr.) to - before (to - smb. up
before a magistrate)
haunt n. a favorite; quiet —
have v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to keep') - about (BE),
around (it's dangerous to — a gun around the
house) 2. (d; tr.) to - against ('to consider as
grounds for rejection, dislike') (I - nothing
against him) 3. (d; tr.) to - for ('to consume')
(what are we —ing for dinner?) 4. (colloq.) (d; tr.)
to — on ('to possess evidence against') (you —
nothing on me) 5. (E) ('to be obligated') we — to
leave 6. (H; usu. with words such as nothing,
something) I — nothing to say to her; I — nothing
to wear; we — smt. to tell you 7. (esp. AE) (I) ('to
cause') he had a gardener cut the grass (CE also
has: he got a gardener to cut the grass); she had
her research assistant look up the information;
what would you have me do? 8. (J) we soon had
them all laughing 9. (N; used with an adjective;
past participle) ('to consume'); ('to cause') I'll
have my martini dry; we had a meal sent up to our
room; they had the building torn down; he had his
hair cut; she had her tonsils removed 10. (misc.)
he had two children by his first wife; to — it in for
smb. ('to have a grudge against smb.'); she had a
strange thing happen to her ('a strange thing hap-
happened to her')
haven n. a tax —
havoc n. to play, raise, wreak — with
hay n. 1. to make — 2. to bundle, gather, stack —
3. a haystack 4. (misc.) (AE; colloq.) to hit the -
('to go to sleep')
haymaker n. (colloq.) ['punch'] to throw a —
hayride n. to go on a —
haywire adj. (colloq.) to go — ('to be ruined')
hazard n. 1. a fire; occupational — 2. a — to (a —
to health)
hazardous adj. 1. — to (- to one's health) 2. - to
+ inf. (it is — to work at that height = it is — work-
working at that height)
hazy adj. — about (she's — about the details)
head I n. ['upper part of the body'] 1. to nod;
shake one's — 2. to bare; bow; drop, hang, lower;
lift, raise; move; poke, stick; scratch; toss; turn
one's — (to scratch one's — in amazement; to poke
one's — around the corner) 3. to hold one's — high
('to be proud') 4. from - to foot ['length of a
horse's head'] 5. by a — (our horse won by a —)
['poise'] 6. to lose one's — 7. a cool, level — (to
keep a level —) ['person'] 8. to count — s ['brain']
9. to use one's — 10. to cram, fill, stuff smb.'s —
(with nonsense) 11. a clear — 12. to have a — for
(figures) ['climax'] 13. to bring smt. to a — 14. to
come to a — (the boil came to a —; when will the
crisis come to a -?) ['front part'] 15. at the - (of
a column) ['leader'] 16. a titular — ['chairperson']
(esp. BE) 17. a department -, a - of (the) depart-
department (AE usu. has chairman, chairperson)
['misc.'] 18. a thick - of hair; success went to his
— ('his success made him conceited'); — over heels
('completely'); —s up ('watch out'); to get smt.
through one's — ('to finally comprehend smt.'); to
hang one's — in shame ('to be greatly embarras-
embarrassed'); to be — and shoulders above smb. ('to be
greatly superior to smb.'); to keep one's — above
water ('to survive barely'); over one's — ('incom-
('incomprehensible'); out of one's - ('delirious'); to make
— or tail of ('to comprehend'); to put — s together
('to collaborate'); prejudice reared its ugly —
('prejudice appeared'); he took it into his — to
leave ('he decided suddenly to leave')
" II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to go') to - for (to - for

headache
118
the city; to - for a downfall) 2. (P; intr., tr.) they
~ed (their boat) east
headache n. 1. to have a ~ 2. a bad, racking,
severe, splitting; migraine; sick (esp. AE); slight
heading n. 1. a chapter ~ 2. under a ~
headlights n. to dim (one's) -
headline n. 1. to carry a ~ 2. banner; front-page;
screaming —s 3. in (banner) —s
beadlock n. ['wrestling hold'] to put a - on smb.
headquarters n. 1. to set up ~ 2. supreme ~ 3. at
n. to have a — on, over
headway n. to gain, make ~ against
healer n. a faith-
healing n. faith -
health n. ['condition of the body and mind'] 1. to
enjoy good - 2. to promote (good) - 3. to
recover, regain one's — 4. to ruin, undermine
smb.'s — 5. bad, broken, failing, feeble, fragile,
frail, ill, poor; delicate; good, robust — 6. holistic;
mental; physical — 7. for one's — (she swims for
her —) 8. (misc.) the state of one's — ['science of
protecting the health of the community'] 9. com-
community, public; occupational — ['misc.'] 10. here's
to your (good) —!
healthy adj. ['promoting health'] 1. - for (smok-
(smoking is not - for you) ['safe'] (colloq.) 2. - to + inf.
(it's not — to walk there at night = it's not - walk-
walking there at night)
heap I n. a compost; dump; scrap —
heap II v. (d; tr.) to - on, upon (to — gifts on
smb.)
hear v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to learn') to - about, of (we
have heard of her; have you heard about the earth-
earthquake?) 2. (d; intr.) ('to receive word') to — from
(I have not heard from him about this matter) 3.
(I) ('to perceive by ear') I heard them go out 4. (J)
('to perceive by ear') we heard him coming up the
stairs 5. (L) ('to learn') we have heard that he is in
town 6. (N; used with a past participle) ('to listen
to') we heard the aria sung in Italian 7. (Q) ('to
learn') we heard why she left
hearing n. ['perception of sounds'] 1. acute, keen
— 2. defective, impaired — 3. hard of —; —
impaired ['session of a committee, court'] 4. to
conduct, hold a - 5. a fair, impartial; open - (he
got a fair —) 6. Congressional —s 7. an administra-
administrative; judicial; pre-trial; public — 8. at a — (to tes-
testify at a -)
heart n. ['organ that circulates the blood'] 1. to
transplant a — 2. a healthy, strong; weak - 3. an
artificial - 4. a - beats; fails, stops; palpitates,
throbs; pumps blood ['the heart as the center of
emotions'] 5. to gladden; harden smb.'s — 6. to
break; steal, win smb.'s — 7. my — aches, bleeds
(for her) 8. from the — (to speak from the —) 9. in
one's — (in my -1 know that she is right) ['disposi-
['disposition'] 10. a cold, cruel, hard; good, kind, soft, ten-
tender, warm; stout — (she has a kind —); a — of gold
['liking'] 11. to have a - for (she has no — for this
type of work) 12. after one's own — (he's a man
after my own ~) ['sympathy'] 13. to have a -
(have a — and lend me some money) ['essence']
14. to get to the — of smt. 15. at — (he's not bad at
~) ['feeling'] 16. a heavy; light - 17. with a
(heavy) - ['courage'] 18. to take — from (he took
- from her example) 19. to lose — 20. a brave;
faint - 21. the - to + inf. (I didn't have the - to
tell her) ['memory'] 22. by - (to know a poem by
~) ['resolve'] 23. to set one's - (on doing smt.) 24.
a change of - ['misc.'] 25. a bleeding - ('one who
always supports the underdog'); to eat one's - out
('to brood'); to lose one's — to ('to fall in love
with'); from the bottom of one's - ('sincerely'); to
have one's - in the right place ('to have good
intentions'); to do smb.'s — good ('to make one
happy'); with all one's — ('wholeheartedly'); to
take smt. to — ('to take smt. seriously'); the way to "
smb.'s —
heart attack n. 1. to have a - 2. a fatal; massive;
mild; severe; sudden —
heartbroken adj. 1. - about, at, over (- over a
friend's death) 2. - to + inf. (she was — to learn
of the verdict) 3. — that + clause (I'm — that he
cannot come)
heart failure n. congestive; massive —
heartless adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to say
that)
heartstrings n. ['deep feelings'] to tug at smb.'s-
heat I n. ['warmth'] 1. to generate, produce;
radiate — 2. to alleviate the — 3. blistering,
extreme, great, intense, oppressive, scorching,
stifling, sweltering, unbearable — 4. dry; penetrat-
penetrating; radiant; red; white — 5. animal; body — 6. —
emanates from (an oven) ['excitement'] 7. in the —
(of battle) ['estrus, sexual excitement'] 8. in (AE),
on (BE) — (the bitch was in —) ['heating system']
9. to turn on the — 10. to turn off the — 11. electric;
gas; steam - ['preliminary race, race'] 12. to run a
dead — 13. a qualifying — ['pressure'] (colloq.) 14.
to put the — on (the police were putting the — on
him)
heat II v. 1. (C) — some water for me; or: — me
some water 2. (D; tr.) to - to (she —ed the oven
to two hundred degrees)
heater n. an electric; hot-water, immersion (BE);
kerosene (AE), paraffin (BE); oil; space -
heating n. central; forced-air; space —
heave v. (P; tr.) ('to throw') they —d the trash into
the pit
heave-ho n. (colloq.) ['ejection'] to give smb. the
(old)-
heaven n. 1. in — 2. (misc.) in seventh — ('in a
state of bliss'); to move — and earth ('to make a
maximum effort')
hedge n. ['row of shrubs'] 1. to crop, trim a -
['protection against loss'] 2. a - against (a -
against inflation)
heed n. to pay — to; to take — of
heedful adj. (cannot stand alone) - of (~ of
advice)
heedless adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ of (~ of
danger)
heel n. ['tyrannical oppression'] 1. under the -
(under the — of the occupier) ['misc.'] 2. smb.'s
Achilles' — ('smb.'s vulnerable point')
n. 1. to click one's — 2. built-up; high; low —
119
hill
3. to be at, on smb.'s — ('to follow smb. closely')
4. (misc.) to cool one's — ('to be kept waiting');
down at the — ('shabby'); to kick up one's — ('to
be very lively'); to show one's ~ ('to flee'); to take
to one's — ('to flee'); hard on smb.'s ~ ('close to
smb.')
hegemony n. —over
height n. 1. to attain, reach a — 2. to clear; scale a
— 3. a dizzy, precipitous, vertiginous —; dizzying
—s 4. a — above; below (at a — of two hundred feet
above sea level) 5. at a — (at the — of one's suc-
success; to fly at a — of ten thousand feet) 6. in — (ten
feet in-)
heir n. 1. to fall — (to fall - to a large estate) 2. an
— apparent; an — presumptive 3. an immediate;
rightful - 4. - to
heirloom n. a family; priceless—
helicopter n. to fly, pilot a — (see also airplane)
hell n. (colloq.) ['the netherworld'] 1. go to -!
['scolding'] 2. to catch, get — 3. to give smb. —
['misc.'] 4. a — of a team ('an excellent team'); for
the — of it ('for no real reason'); to be — on ('to be
harmful to'); (BE; slang) bloody -
hell-bent adj. (cannot stand alone) ['determined']
1. — for, on (— on balancing the budget) 2. — to +
inf. (— to balance the budget)
n. 1. to take (over) the-2. at the-
n. 1. a crash, safety; sun (AE) — 2. a steel
help I n. 1. to give, offer, provide — 2. to call for,
seek — 3. a big, great — (she was a big — to us) 4.
domestic — 5. (BE) a home — 6. of — to (she was
of great — to us) 7. (misc.) — wanted (as in a news-
newspaper advertisement)
help II v. 1. (D;tr.) ('to assist') to-in, with (we
—ed them in their work; she — ed me with the
translation) 2. (D; tr.) ('to assist in moving') to —
into; off; out of (— them into the house; — her off
the train; - him out of the car) 3. (D; refl.) ('to
serve oneself) to — to (she —ed herself to the
dessert) 4. (D; tr.) ('to serve') to — to (can I — you
to some food?) 5. (E) they -ed to cook the meal
6. (esp. AE) (F) ('to assist') she -ed move the fur-
furniture 7. (G; often used with: cannot - can't ~
couldn't) ('to keep from') we couldn't — laughing
8. (H) she —ed us to move the furniture 9. (esp.
AE) (I) she —ed us move the furniture 10. (misc.)
I couldn't - but laugh
helpful adj. 1. - in; to (she's been very - to us) 2.
— to + inf. (it's always — to be well-informed)
helping n. a generous; second—
hem n. 1. to let out; lower; raise a —2. to pin up;
shorten, take up; straighten a —
hemisphere n. the eastern; northern; southern;
western —
I in adj. — on all sides
n. a cerebral; internal—
n. 1. —s cackle, cluck 2. —s lay eggs
hepatitis n. infectious; serum—
herbs n. medicinal —
herd n. 1. to drive; round up a — 2. to tend a — 3.
(misc.) to ride — on ('to control')
here adv. from —
heresy n. 1. to be be guilty of — 2. to preach — 3.
- to + inf. (it was - to talk like that)
heritage n. 1. to cherish one's — 2. to repudiate
one's — 3. a priceless, proud, rich — 4. a cultural;
family; religious —
hernia n. a hiatal; inguinal —
hero n. a conquering; folk; local; military, war;
national; popular; unsung —
heroic adj. — to + inf. (it was — of them to oppose
the invader)
heroin n. to do (colloq.), inject, shoot (colloq.) —
heroine see hero
ra. to demonstrate, display —
n. 1. to come down with, contract, get — 2.
genital —
hesitancy n. 1. to show — 2. — about, in
hesitant adj. — about (they are — about signing a
contract)
hesitate v. 1. (D; intr.) to — over (to — over a
choice) 2. (E) she -d to act; do not — to call me
hesitation n. 1. to show — 2. momentary — 3. —
about, in (I have no — about throwing him out)
hew v. (d; intr.) ('to adhere') (AE) to - to (to -
to the party line)
hex n. (AE) to put a — on smb.
hide I n. 1. to tana — 2. (misc.) to save smb.'s —
('to save smb.'s life'); to tan smb.'s — ('to spank
smb.')
hide II v. l.(D; intr.) to -behind (to -behind a
legal technicality) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — from
hide-and-seek n. to play-
hideaway n. a secret —
hideous adj. - to + inf. (it was - to watch)
hideout n. a secret—
hideout v. to — from (to — from the police)
hiding n. 1. to go into —2. to come out of—3. in —
hierarchy n. 1. to rise in the — 2. an academic;
church; corporate; military; ruling —
high I adj. 1. - in (-in iron) 2. (misc.) (colloq.)
to get — on (a drug)
high II n. ['acme'] 1. an all-time - ['state of
euphoria'] (slang) 2. to reach a —
highball n. ['type of drink'] to make, mix a—
highhanded adj. - to + inf. (it was - of him to
remove the equipment without permission)
high horse n. (colloq.) ['arrogance'] to get on
n. (her, his, your) royal —
high-pressure v. (D; tr.) to - into (she was -d
into signing)
high sign n. (esp. AE) ['signal'] 1. to give smb. the
- 2. to get the -
high time n. — to + inf. (it's - to leave)
high treason n. to commit —
highway n. (AE) 1. a divided - 2. a belt; limited-
hijacking n. 1. to carry out, commit a — 2. to foil,
thwart a —
hike n. 1. to go on; organize a — 2. a long; short —
(they went on a long —) 3. an overnight — (as of
Boy Scouts)
hill n. 1. to come down; go up a — 2. rolling —s; a
steep — 3. in the —s (to live in the —s) 4. on a —
(the house stood on a —) 5. (misc.) (colloq.) to
take to the —s ('to take refuge in the hills')

hilt
hilt п. ['limit'] to the -
hinder v. 1. (D;tr.)to~from2. (D; tr.) to - in
hindrance n. a-to
hinge v. (d; intr.) ('to depend') to — on, upon
hint I n. 1. to drop, give a - 2. to take a - 3. a
broad, obvious; delicate, gentle, subtle ~ 4. the
merest — 5. a — about, of (a — about the answer;
a ~ of suspicion) 6. a — that + clause (she dropped
a — that she would retire soon) 7. at a — (they fled
at the first - of trouble)
hint II v. l.(d.intr.)to~at2.(L;to)he~ed(to
us) that an agreement had been reached
hip I adj. (slang) ['aware'] - to
hip II n. to shake, sway, wiggle one's ~s
hire I n. for-
hire II v. (H) we ~d her to mow our lawn
hired adj. ~ to + inf. (he was ~ to work as a gar-
gardener)
hire out v. (D;refl.,tr.)to-as;to(he~dhimself
out as a mercenary to the highest bidder)
hire purchase n. (BE) on ~ (to buy smt. on ~)
hiss v. (D; intr.) to - at (the crowd ~ed at the
delay)
history n. 1. to make — 2. to trace the — of smt. 3.
to distort; revise, rewrite — 4. to go down in — as
(he went down in ~ as a tyrant) 5. ancient; cultur-
cultural; medieval; military; modern; natural ~ 6. a
case; personal — 7. oral — 8. (misc.) — repeats
itself; a page in ~
hit I n. ['blow that strikes the target'] 1. to score
a — 2. to take a — (our ship took several direct —s)
3. a direct — ['success'] (colloq.) 4. to make a —
with (she made quite a ~ with the audience) 5. a
smash —
hit II v. 1. ('to strike') to - hard 2. (d; intr.) ('to
strike') to — against, on (he hit his head on the
ceiling) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ at ('to attack') (the press
hit hard at governmental corruption) 4. (slang)
(AE) (d; tr.) to - for ('to make a request of) (he
hit me for twenty dollars) 5. (D; tr.) ('to strike') to
— in (to — smb. in the face) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ on,
upon ('to discover') (they finally hit on an accept-
acceptable compromise) 7. (BE) (O; can be used with
one animate object) ('to strike') he hit me a hard
blow
hit back v. (D; intr.) to ~ at
hitch I n. (colloq.) ['obstacle'] ['stoppage'] 1. a
slight ~ 2. a ~ in (there's been a slight ~ in our
plans) 3. without a - (it went off without a ~)
['period of military service'] (esp. AE) 4. to do a —
5. to sign up for another ~
hitch II v. (d; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ horses to a cart)
hitch up v. (D;tr.) to-to (to —horses to a cart)
hit off v. to hit it off with smb. ('to get along well
with smb.')
hit up v. (slang) (d; tr.) ('to request') to - for (he
hit me up for a loan)
hoax n. 1. to perpetrate a —2. to play a —on smb.
3. a literary —
hobby n. to have, go in for, pursue a —
hobnob v. (d; intr.) to-with
hock n. (colloq.) in — ('pawned')
hockey n. 1. to play - 2. field; ice ~
"In. ['grip'] 1. to catch, get, grab, lay, seize,
120
take — of 2. to keep — of 3. to relax one's — 4. a
firm, strong — ['type of wrestling grip'] 5. to break
a — ['control, domination'] 6. to relinquish one's
— 7. a — over (they refused to relinquish their —
over this area) ['waiting, esp. on the telephone'] 8.
to put smb. on —
hold II v. l.Do keep') to-high (to-one's head
high; also fig.) 2. (d; tr.) to — against ('to take into
account') (we will not — your past blunders
against you; they held his criminal record against
him) 3. (d; intr.) to - onto ('to seize and cling to')
(— onto my arm) 4. (d; intr.) ('to adhere') to — to
(to — to the terms of a contract) 5. (d; tr.) ('to
make smb. adhere') to — to (they held us to the
terms of the contract) 6. (d; tr.) ('to restrict') to —
to (we held the visiting team to a tie) 7. (d; intr.)
('to agree') to —with (I don't — with his ideas) 8.
(L) ('to assert') we - that these truths are self-evi-
self-evident 9. (M) ('to consider') we ~ him to be respon-
responsible 10. (N; used with an adjective) ('to con-
consider'); ('to keep') to — smb. responsible; she held
the ladder steady; they — life cheap
hold III n. ['interior of a ship below decks'] in the
hold back v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to keep') to - from (lack
of education held him back from promotion) 2. (d;
intr.) to — with (to — with one's reserves)
holder n. 1. a cigarette; napkin — 2. (AE) a pot -
holdings n. [investments'] 1. to diversify one's —
2. far-flung -
hold out v. 1. (B) ('to offer') they didn't - much
hope to us 2. (D; intr.) to — against ('to resist')
(they held out against the enemy for a month) 3.
(D; intr.) to - for ('to demand') (they held out for
better terms) 4. (d; intr.) to — on ('to keep infor-
information from') (don't — on me)
holdover п. а — from (a — from the old days)
hold up v. 1. (d; tr.) to — as (to — as an example
2. (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to — on (they had to - on
their travel plans) 3. (d; tr.) to — to (to — smt. up
to ridicule)
hole n. 1. to bore; dig a —2. to fill in a —3. a deep;
gaping, yawning — 4. a rabbit; watering — 5.
(misc.) to pick —s in smt. ('to find flaws in smt.');
to poke a — in smb.'s argument; (golf) to shoot a
— in one
hole up v. (colloq.) (D; intr., tr.) to - in (they
were —d up in an old farmhouse)
holiday n. ['day set aside for the suspension of bus-
business , labor'] 1. to celebrate, observe a — 2. a bank
(BE), legal (AE), public; national; religious ~
['period of rest'] (esp. BE; AE prefers vacation)
3. to take a — 4. to go on — 5. a summer — 6. a —
from 7. on — (she was away on —) ['misc.'] 8. a
busman's — ('a holiday spent in doing one's usual
work') (see the Usage Note for vacation)
hollow v. (d; tr.) to — out of (to — a canoe out of
a log)
holster n. a shoulder—
holy water n. to sprinkle —
homage n. 1. to pay— to 2. in — to
home n. ['establishment providing care or ser-
service'] 1. to manage, operate, run a — 2. a convales-
convalescent; detention; funeral (AE); nursing; remand
121
horrified
(BE); rest; retirement - ['residence'] 3. to build;
establish a — 4. to provide a - for 5. to make one's
— at, in 6. an ancestral; country; mobile; summer;
winter — 7. a — for, to (San Francisco was — to
them for years) 8. at — (she is never at —; AE also
has: she is never —) ['family'] 9. a broken; foster;
good — ['misc.'] 10. to romp — ('to score an easy
victory'); she is at — in Greek literature; to go —
USAGE NOTE: In many instances home is used
as an adverb~to go home; to romp home, etc.
home in v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a target)
home run n. (AE; baseball and fig.) ['hit that
allows the batter to score a run'] to hit a —
homesick adj. - for
home visit n. to go on, make a —
homework n. 1. to do — 2. to hand in — 3. to cor-
correct; grade —
homicide n. 1. to commit — 2. excusable; feloni-
felonious; justifiable —
homfly n. to deliver a —
honest adj. 1. - about; with (be - about this mat-
matter with us) 2. — to + inf. (it's not — to discuss
company affairs with outsiders)
honesty n. 1. to impugn smb.'s — 2. — in 3. the —
to + inf. (she had the — to report the bribe)
honey n. 1. to gather — 2. (misc.) as sweet as —
honeycombed adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ with
honeymoon n. 1. to go on a —2. to spend a —(they
spent their — in Hawaii)
honk v. (D; intr.) to - at
honor I honour n. ['respect'] ['credit'] 1. to
bring, do — to (she brought — to her family) 2. an
— to (he is an — to his school) 3. in smb.'s —; in —
of (to give a reception in smb.'s ~) ['distinction']
['recognition'] 4. to win (an) - 5. to confer an -
on 6. a dubious; great, high — 7. an — that +
clause (it was a great — that we were chosen) 8. (to
graduate) with —s ['privilege'] 9. to have the —
(may I have the — of your company?) 10. an — to
+ inf. (it was an — to serve with you) ['integrity']
['reputation'] 11. to stake one's — on smt. 12.
one's word of—; an affair of — 13. on one's (word
of) - ['rite'] 14. to do the ~s ('to serve as host') 15.
military —s (to be buried with full military —s)
['misc.'] 16. a (military) guard of —
honor II honour v. 1. (D; tr.) to-as (she was
—ed as a community leader) 2. (D; tr.) to — with
honorable, honourable adj. - to + inf. (it is not —
to deceive them with false promises)
honorarium n. to pay; receive an —
honored, honoured adj. 1. - to + inf. (he was ~
to be invited) 2. — that + clause (I am — that you
have decided to offer me the position)
hood n. (AE) ['cover over an engine'] to check
under the — (of a car) (BE has bonnet)
hoodwink v. 1. (D; tr.) to - into 2. (D; tr.) to ~
out of
hoof n. 1. a cloven — 2. on the - (to buy cattle on
the-)
hook n. ['curved piece of metal, wood'] 1. a
crochet; meat; pruning — ['blow delivered with
bent arm'] 2. to deliver a — (he delivered a right —
to his opponent's jaw) ['misc.'] (slang) 3. off the ~
('relieved of responsibility')
hooked adj. (slang) ['addicted'] - on (~ on drugs)
hookey, hooky n. (colloq.) (AE) ['unexcused
absence from school'] to play —
hooks and eyes n. ['typeoffastening'Jtosewon —
hookup v. l.(D;tr.)to~to(to~atelephoneup
to the cable) 2. (D; intr.) to - with ('to join')
hoop n. to roll a —
hoopla n. (slang) (AE) ['bustle, noise, fuss'] the -
subsides
hoot I n. (colloq.) ['slightest care'] not to give a —
hoot II v. (D; intr.) ('to shout') to - at
hop I n. ['short flight'] 1. a short —2. a— from; to
(it's a short — from Detroit to Cleveland)
hop II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (the children — ped
into their nice warm beds) 2. (d; intr.) to — out of
(to — out of a chair)
hope I n. 1. to arouse, inspire, stir up —2. to raise
smb.'s —s 3. to express, voice a — 4. to cherish,
entertain, nurse a — 5. to pin, place, put one's —s
on 6. to dash, deflate, dispel; thwart smb.'s —s 7.
to abandon, give up — 8. an ardent, fervent, fond;
faint, slender, slight; false; high; idle, illusory,
vain; real; realistic, reasonable; unrealistic,
unreasonable — 9. —s come true; fade 10. a
flicker, glimmer, ray, spark of — 11.— for, in, of
(— of recovery; we had high —s for her) 12. a —
that + clause (it was our — that they would settle
near us; there was little — that she would be
elected) 13. in, with the — (we returned to the
park in the — of finding her wallet) 14. beyond,
past-
hope II v. 1. to — fervently, sincerely, very much
2. (D; intr.) to — for (to — for an improvement) 3.
(E) she —s to see them soon 4. (L) we — that you
are comfortable 5. (misc.) I — so; I — not
hopeful I adj. 1. — of 2. - that + clause (we are
— that they will agree)
hopeful II n. a presidential -
hopeless adj. 1. — at (he's — at balancing the
checkbook) 2. — to + inf. (it's — to expect him to
help)
hopper n. ['container for bills that are being con-
considered'] a legislative —
hopscotch n. to play —
horizon n. 1. (fig.) to broaden one's —s 2. on the
— (to appear on the —)
hormone n. a growth; sex —
horn n. 1. to blow, sound a — 2. (misc.) on the —s
of a dilemma ('in a dilemma'); to lock —s with ('to
come into conflict with'); to take the bull by the —s
('to confront a problem boldly'); (AE) to blow/
toot one's own — ('to boast')
hornet n. —s sting
hornet's nest n. ['angry reaction'] to stir up a—
horn in v. (D; intr.) to — on ('to interrupt')
Horn of Africa n. in, on the-
horoscope n. to read smb.'s—
horrible adj. 1. - to + inf. (it is - to work there =
it is — working there) 2. — that + clause (it's —
that he was fired)
horrid adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it's - of you to
tease them like that)
horrified adj. 1. — at (— at the prospect of losing
one's job) 2. — to + inf. (she was — to learn the

horrify
news) 3. — that + clause (we were — that he had
been chosen)
horrify v. (R) it-fied us (to learn) that their house
had burned down
horrifying adj. — to + inf. (it is — to contemplate
that possibility)
horror n. 1. to express; feel — 2. to have a — of 3.
indescribable, unspeakable ~ 4. ~ at (she expres-
expressed her — at the crime) 5. in — (to scream in —) 6.
to one's ~ (to his ~, the bus caught fire)
horror-stricken adj. —at
horse n. ['animal'] 1. to mount; ride; walk a ~; to
lead a ~ by the bridle 2. to curry; harness; hobble;
saddle; shoe a ~ 3. to break (in) a — 4. to breed,
raise -s 5. a cart (BE), draft (AE), dray; race;
saddle; thoroughbred; wild ~; a workhorse (usu.
fig.) 6. ~s canter; gallop; neigh; snicker; trot;
whinny 7. an unbroken — bucks 8. a herd of (wild)
~s; a pair; team of ~s 9. a young — is a foal 10. a
female ~ is a mare 11. a male ~ is a stallion; a cas-
castrated male — is a gelding 12. a young female ~ is
a filly 13. a young male — is a colt ['padded block']
(gymnastics) 14. a pommel, side (AE); vaulting ~
['misc.'] 15. to back the wrong — ('to support the
losing side'); to beat/flog a dead ~ ('to discuss an
issue that has already been settled'); from the ~'s
mouth ('from an original source'); to hold one's
—s ('to behave more carefully'); a — of a diferent
color Dan entirely different matter'); on one's high
~ ('behaving arrogantly'); to eat like a — ('to eat
a great deal'); to work like a — ('to work very
hard'); to play the ~s ('to bet on horse races')
horse around v. (slang) (AE) (D; intr.) to - with
horseback n. on —
hose n. ['flexible tube'] 1. to play, train a — on 2.
a fire; garden; rubber; water ~ ['stockings'] 3.
mesh —; pantyhose (AE); stretch; support ~
hosiery n. support—
hospitable adj. -to
hospital n. 1. to establish, found a — 2. to go to —
(BE)/to go to the ~ (AE) 3. a base; children's;
city, municipal; community, non-profit; cottage
(BE); evacuation; field; general; mental; military;
private, proprietary (AE); state; station; teach-
teaching; veterans ~ 4. at, in a ~ (she works at/in the ~)
5. in - (BE)/in the - (AE) (she's ill and has been
in/in the - for a week) USAGE NOTE: In BE,
the phrases to go to hospital, to be in hospital
mean 'to be hospitalized'; in AE one says to go to
the hospital, to be in the hospital.
hospitality n. 1. to extend, offer, show — 2. to
abuse smb.'s — 3. warm —
host n. 1. to play— to (who will play— to the next
Olympic Games?) 2. a congenial — 3. — to (which
city will be - to the next World's Fair?)
hostage n. 1. to take smb. ~ 2. to seize, take ~s3.
to hold smb. (as a) —
hostel n. a youth -
hostess n. 1. an air (BE), airline (AE) ~ 2. a
dance-hall; nightclub - USAGE NOTE: The
term flight attendant has almost completely
replaced air hostess and airline hostess,
adj. 1. openly — 2. — to, towards
n. ['war'] 1. to open — 2. to suspend —
122
3. — break out 4. an outbreak of — 5. — between
hostility n. 1. to arouse, stir up ~ 2. to display,
show — 3. to express; feel — 4. bitter, deep, pro-
profound; open — 5. — against, to, towards 6. —
between
hot adj. piping, scalding; unbearably —
hotel n. 1. to manage, operate, run a — 2. a
deluxe, five-star, luxury; first-class; four-star; run-
rundown, seedy; swanky (colloq.); three-star — 3. at,
in a — (she works at/in a —) 4. (misc.) to check in,
register at a —; to check out of a —
hot line n. 1. to establish, set up a — 2. a —
between
hot pursuit n. in —(they crossed the border in —of
the terrorists)
bound I n. ['hunting dog'] 1. a pack of —s 2. (esp.
BE) to ride to —s, to follow the —s ('to hunt on
horseback with dogs') ['enthusiast'] 3. autograph
—s
hound II v. l.(d;tr.)to~from,outof(they~ed
her out of office) 2. (d; tr.) to — into (to — smb.
into doing smt.) 3. (H) they kept —ing me to get a
haircut
hour n. 1. to show, tell the —(my watch shows the
minute and —) 2. a solid ('full') — (the police gril-
grilled him for three solid ~s) 3. an ungodly ('very
early'); ('very late') — (she called at an ungodly —)
4. the decisive —; or: the — of decision 5. the
cocktail — 6. office; peak; visiting —s (during peak
—s more trains run) 7. the rush — (traffic is very
heavy during the rush —) 8. at a certain — (at the
appointed —) 9. by the — (to pay workers by the
—) 10. in a certain — (in one's — of need) 11. in,
inside, within an ~ (she'll be here in an —) 12. on
the — ('every hour') 13. (misc.) to keep late —s
('to go to bed late'); one's finest — ('the noblest
period in one's life'); in the wee —s of the morning
('late at night'); after ~s ('after work'); (a) happy
— ('period in which a bar sells alcoholic drinks at
a reduced price'); H-hour/zero — ('time at which a
significant event is scheduled to begin')
boose n. ['building'] ['home'] 1. to build, put up a
— 2. to redecorate, refurbish, remodel, renovate a
— 3. to demolish, raze, tear down a ~ 4. to rent a
~ from smb. 5. to let (BE), rent out (AE) a - to
smb. 6. a dilapidated, ramshackle ~ 7. an apart-
apartment (AE); brick; clapboard; country; detached;
frame; manor (esp. BE); one-family, single; pre-
prefabricated; ranch (AE); rooming; row (AE), ter-
terraced (BE); semidetached; summer; town ~ 8. a
haunted — 9. (AE) a fraternity; sorority —
['housekeeping'] 10. to keep — for smb. ['theater']
11. to bring the — down ('to win thunderous
approval') 12. an empty; full, packed — (to play to
a packed —) 13. an opera — ['chamber of a parlia-
parliament'] 14. a lower; upper — ['firm'] 15. a banking;
discount; gambling; mail-order; pharmaceutical;
publishing ~; slaughterhouse ['place providing a
public service'] 16. a boarding; halfway; safe; set-
settlement ~ ['bar'] (BE) 17. a free; public; tied -
['shelter'] 18. a reptile - (at a zoo) ['misc.'] 19. a
— of correction/detention ('a prison'); a disorderly
— ('a brothel'); (AE) a station — ('a police sta-
station'); drinks are on the — ('drinks are served
I
123
free'); an open — ('informal hospitality'); ('a resi-
residence being sold or rented out that is open for
inspection')
house arrest n. to place, put smb. under —
household n. 1. to establish, set up a — 2. to run a
housekeeping n. 1. to do - 2. light ~
housework n. to do —
n. council (BE), public (AE); fair (AE),
open (AE); low-cost, low-income; off-campus;
student; subsidized; substandard —
hovel n. a miserable, wretched —
hover v. 1. (d; intr.) to— around (we ~ed around
our guide) 2. (d; intr.) to — between (to —
between life and death) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ over (the
fear of a new war ~ed over us)
howl I n. to let out a —
howl II v. 1. (D; intr.) to-at 2. (D; intr.) to-in,
with (to — with pain)
Hoyle n. according to —('according to the rules')
" "i«. ['focal point'] at the-(at the-of activity)
In. 1. to go into a —2. in a —
II v. (usu. P; intr.) to — around a fire; to
— together
hue n. to raise a — and cry
huff n. (to leave) in a —
hug n. to give smb. a ~
hum v. 1. (usu. B; occ. A) — the tune to me 2. (D;
tr.) to — for (to — a song for smb.)
human adj. — to + inf. (it's only —to seek a better
life)
humanity n. ['quality of being humane'] 1. to dis-
display — 2. common — ['the human race'] 3. a crime
against —
humble pie n. (forced) to eat-
humiliating adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is - to take
orders from him) 2. — that + clause (it's — that we
may not make our own decisions)
humiliation n. 1. to suffer-2. abject-
humffity n. to demonstrate, display—
humor, humour n. ['something funny'] 1. bitter,
caustic; black; deadpan, dry, straight; earthy; gal-
gallows; infectious; irrepressible; slapstick; sly, wry;
subtle — 2. a sense of — 3. a dash, trace, vein of —
['mood'] 4. (a) bad; good — (she's in good —
today) 5. a — to +. inf. (he's in no — to be fooled
with) 6. in a certain — (in bad —)
hump n. ['fit of depression'] (colloq.) (BE) 1. it
gives me the — ('it depresses me') ['worst part*]
(colloq.) 2. over the —
hunch n. (colloq.) ['feeling'] ['suspicion'] 1. to
play a — ('to act on the basis of a hunch') 2. a —
that (I have a — that she will not come) 3. on a —
(she did it on a —)
hunger I n. 1. (formal) to allay, alleviate, appease
one's — 2. to satisfy one's —; to gratify one's —
(fig.) 3. ravenous — 4. — for (— for knowledge) 5.
of-(tocUeof-)
hunger II v. (D; intr.) to - after, for
hungry adj. 1. (cannot stand alone) — for (— for
news) 2. to go —
hunt I n. 1. to organize, stage a —2. a —for (a —
for big game)
hypothesize
II v. (D; intr.) to-for (to-for big game)
hunter n. a bargain; big-game; bounty; fortune;
head; souvenir —
hurdle n. 1. to clear, take a - 2. to hit, knock
down a — 3. high; low — s
hurl v. (d; refl., tr.) to - at (to - oneself at the
enemy; to — insults at smb.)
hurrah n. the last - ('a last attempt')
hurricane n. 1. a severe, violent — 2. a — hits,
strikes (the - struck several cities) 3. a - blows
itself out 4. the eye of a —
hurry I n. 1. in a — 2. a — to + inf. (we were in a
- to finish)
hurry II v. (E) he-ied to respond to her letter
hurry back v. (D; intr.) to-to (she-ried back to
her desk)
hurt I adj. ['insulted'] 1. deeply - ['injured'] 2.
badly —
hurt II v. 1. to-badly, seriously; deeply; slightly
2. (R) it — s me to cough; it — s me to see her ruin
her life
hurtle v. (P; intr.) to — through the air (a large
rock came —ling through the air)
husband n. 1. to leave one's - 2. a common-law;
cuckolded; estranged —; ex-husband, former;
faithful; henpecked; jealous; philandering,
unfaithful — 3. (misc.) she had two children by her
first-
husbandry n. animal —
hush п. а — fell (over the crowd)
hustings n. ['route of an election campaign'] to go
out on the —
hustle I n. (slang) ['quick movement'] to get a -
on (AE)
hustle II v. (P;tr.) the police-d the prisoner into
a cell
hut n. 1. a bamboo; thatched -2. a Nissen (BE),
Quonset (AE) -
hutch n. a rabbit —
hydrant n. 1. to open, turn on a — 2. a fire —
hyena n. 1. a brown; laughing; spotted; striped —
2. a clan, pack of —s
hygiene n. 1. to practice (good) - 2. dental;
feminine; field; industrial; mental; personal; sex-
sexual; social —
hygfenist n. a dental (AE), oral (BE)-
hymen n. to rupture a —
hymn n. 1. to chant, sing a — 2. a rousing; solemn
— 3. a — to (a — to freedom)
hypersensitive adj. — about, to
hypertension n. essential; malignant; mild; severe
hypnosis n. 1. to induce, produce-2. to put smb.
under — 3. under —
hypnotism n. to practice —
hypocrisy n. to display —
hypocritical adj. 1. — about 2. - to + inf. (it was
- of her to make the offer)
hypothesis n. 1. to advance, formulate, propose a
— 2. to confirm a — 3. a null; working — 4. the —
that + clause (she advanced the - that the disease
was spread by rodents)
hypothesize v. 1. (D;intr.) to-about2. (L) they
-d that the disease was spread by rodents

hysterectomy
hysterectomy п. 1. to do, perform a — on 2. to
have a —
hysteria n. 1. to produce —2. mass —3. an attack,
124
I
fit of-
hysterical adj. -about
hysterics n. a fit of - (to have a fit of ~)
125
imbalance
ice n. 1. to form, make, produce — 2. to melt — 3.
hard; soft — 4. cracked; crushed; dry; water — 5.
pack ~ 6. — forms; melts 7. on the ~ (to slip on the
—) 8. (misc.) to break the ~ ('to create a more
relaxed atmosphere'); to cut no — ('to have no
effect'); on thin — ('in a dangerous situation'); on
— ('in reserve')
iceberg n. 1. to hit, strike an — (the ship struck an
-) 2. (misc.) (fig.) the tip of the ~
icebox n. (colloq.) to raid the - ('to eat heartily
esp. during the night')
ice cream n. 1. to make — 2. hand-dipped — 3.
chocolate; strawberry; vanilla ~
icicle n. an — forms; hangs down
icon n. to paint an ~
idea n. 1. to get, hit upon an ~ 2. to develop;
entertain, toy with an — 3. to communicate, dis-
disseminate —s; to market, package an ~ 4. to imple-
implement an — 5. to endorse, favor an ~ 6. to dismiss,
reject an — 7. a bright, brilliant, clever, ingenious;
logical — 8. an absurd, crazy, fantastic, far-
farfetched; desperate; silly, stupid; strange — 9. a
fresh, new, novel — 10. a daring; grandiose —11.
an old, outmoded, stale, warmed-over — 12. an
approximate, rough; clear; fixed; general; main;
vague — 13. the faintest, slightest — (she didn't
have the faintest — of what I meant) 14. the — that
+ clause (I had no — that she would attend the
meeting) 15. (misc.) he didn't get the - ('he did
not understand')
ideal I adj. -for
ideal II n. 1. to attain; realize an — 2. a lofty,
noble —; high — s
idealistic adj. - about
identical adj. — to, with (his hat is — to mine)
identification n. 1. to make an -2. positive -
identify v. 1. (B) she -fled the intruder to the
police 2. (D; refl., tr.) to — as; to (he —fied himself
as an old friend of the family; she —fied him to the
police as the intruder) 3. (d.; intr., refl., tr.) to —
with (she always — fies with the underdog; he
didn't want to be —fied with the liberals)
identity n. 1. to establish smb.'s — 2. mistaken —
(it was a case of mistaken —)
ideology n. to embrace; espouse an —
idiocy n. 1. congenital — 2. — to + inf. (it was
sheer — for him to arrive late)
idiot n. 1. a blithering, blooming, driveling — 2.
the local, village — 3. an — to + inf. (he was an —
to agree)
idiotic adj. - to + inf. (they were - to do that)
idle adj. to stand — (the machinery stood — for a
month)
idol n. 1. to worship an - 2. (fig.) a fallen;
matinee; national; popular —
idolize v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (she was—dasa movie
star)
ignition n. (in a car) 1. to turn on the — 2. to turn
off ine-
inert. 1. to betray, demonstrate, display,
show — 2. abysmal, blatant, crass, profound,
total; blissful — 3. — about; of 4. in — of
ignorant adj. 1. blissfully - 2. - in; of (- of the
facts)
ignore v. 1. to - completely, totally 2. (K) you'll
have to — their talking so loud
ilk n. ['kind'] of a certain —
ill adj. 1. to be taken - 2. to fall - 3. desperately,
gravely, seriously; incurably, terminally — 4. emo-
emotionally; mentally; physically — 5. — with (she is —
with a tropical disease) 6. (misc.) — at ease ('un-
('uncomfortable')
ill-advised adj. — to + inf. (you would be — not to
invite both of them)
ill-disposed adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) —
to, towards (they are — towards me)
illegal adj. — to + inf. (it is — to drive while intoxi-
intoxicated)
ill feeling n. 1. to stir up — 2. — over (there was a
great deal of — stirred up over the appointment)
illiteracy n. 1. to eliminate, stamp out — 2. func-
functional; widespread —
illiterate n. a functional —
illness n. 1. to get over an — 2. a fatal; grave,
major, serious; incurable; lingering; slight; sud-
sudden; terminal; untreatable — 3. mental —
illogical adj. - to + inf. (it's - to assume that)
illuminating adj. - to + inf. (it was - to read the
candidate's earlier speeches)
illusion n. 1. to create, produce an — 2. to cherish,
harbor an — 3. to dispel an — 4. an optical — 5. an
— about 6. an — to + inf. (it's an — to think that...)
7. an — that + clause (it is an — that appeasement
will deter an aggressor) 8. under an —
illustration n. ['example'] 1. to give, offer, provide
an — ['picture'] 2. to draw an —
illustrative adj. — of (— of one's views)
ill will n. 1. to stir up — 2. to bear, harbor —
towards smb. 3. — about, over; between
image n. 1. to project an — 2. a public; tarnished
— 3. a spitting —, spit and — (a spitting — of
George Washington) 4. (misc.) to be created in
the - of God
imagery n. vivid —
imagination n. 1. to excite, fire smb.'s — 2. to use
one's — 3. to defy, stagger, stir smb.'s — 4. an
active, lively, vivid; creative; feeble; wild — 5. a
figment of smb.'s — 6. the — to + inf. (does she
have the — to figure out what happened?) 7. in
one's — 8. (misc.) by no stretch of the —
imagine v. 1. (d; tr.) to — as (can you — her as an
actress?) 2. (G) I can't - going to the party with-
without an invitation 3. (J) can you — me becoming a
teacher? 4. (K) it is difficult to — his marrying any-
anyone 5. (L) I - that they will be delighted to hear
from you 6. (N; used with an adjective, noun, past
participle) can you — him president?
n. 1. to correct, redress an — 2. an —

imbecile
126
between
imbecile n. an — to + inf. (he was an ~ to sign a
contract with them)
imbecilic adj. - to + inf. (it was - to do that)
imbued adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. deeply, pro-
profoundly, thoroughly — 2. — with (— with a fighting
spirit)
imitation n. 1. to do an ~ of smb. 2. a pale ~ 3. in
-of
imitative adj. (formal)-of
immaterial adj. 1. wholly - 2. - to
immature adj. — to + inf. (it was — of her to do
that)
immaturity n. to display —
immerse v. 1. to-deeply 2. (D;refl.,tr.)to-in
(she —d herself in the water; —d in one's work)
immersion n. 1. total — 2. — in (total — in one's
work)
immigrant n. 1. an illegal — 2. an — from; to (~s
to Canada)
immigrate v. (D; intr.) to — from; into, to (to —
into a country)
immigration n. — from; into, to
immodest adj. — to *+ inf. (it was — of me to say
that)
immoral adj. - to + inf. (it's - to steal)
immune adj. ['exempt'] 1. — from (— from pros-
prosecution; her prestige made her — from criticism)
['unaffected'] 2. — to (— to a disease; his self-con-
self-confidence made him — to criticism)
immunity n. 1. to acquire, develop — 2. acquired;
natural — 3. active; passive — 4. diplomatic — 5. —
from, to (— from prosecution; — to a disease)
immunization n. 1. to carry out a (mass) —against
2. active; passive —
immunize v. (D; tr.) to — against (the children
have been —d against poliomyelitis)
impact I n. 1. to have an — on, upon 2. a consider-
considerable, strong; dramatic; emotional — 3. on — (the
pole collapses on —)
impact II v. (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to - on
impaired adj. hearing; visually —
impairment n. (a) hearing; memory; mental;
physical; speech; visual —
impale v. (D; tr.) to — on, upon (the driver was
thrown from the car and —d on a fence)
impart v. (B) to — knowledge to students
impartiality n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show —
2.-in
impasse n. 1. to reach an — 2. to break an — 3. at
an — (negotiations were at an —)
impatience n. 1. to display, show — 2. — with 3. —
to + inf. (we noted her — to begin)
impatient adj. 1.-at, with (-at the delay;-with
children) 2. - for (I was - for the trip to start) 3.
— to + inf. (we were — to leave)
impeach v. (D; tr.) to-for (to ~ smb. for taking
bribes)
impediment n. 1. a speech — 2. an — to (an — to
impel v. (formal) l.(d;tr.) to-into, to 2. (H)to
— smb. to do smt.
impelled adj. (cannot stand alone) —to + inf. (she
felt — to intercede)
imperative I adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to act now)
2. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that you be/should
be present)
imperative II n. 1. a moral — 2. an — that +
clause; subj. (it is a moral — that no concessions
be/should be made)
imperceptible adj. — to (— to the touch)
imperfection n. a slight —
impersonation n. to do an —
impertinence n. the — to + inf. (he had the — to
demand a raise)
impertinent adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it was — of
him to behave like that)
impervious adj. — to (— to criticism)
impetuous adj. — to + inf. (it was — of her to do
that)
impetus n. 1. to give, provide an — 2. to gain — 3.
an — to 4. an — to + inf. (there was no — to work
harder)
impinge v. (formal) (d; intr.) to— on, upon (to-
(toon smb.'s rights)
impingement n. an —on, upon
implant I n. a breast; heart; kidney —
implant II v. (d; tr.) to — in (to — respect for
democracy in the younger generation)
implicate v. (D; tr.) to — in (to — smb. in a scan-
scandal)
implication n. 1. a derogatory, negative; subtle —
2. an — for 3. an — that + clause (I resent your —
that my work is unsatisfactory) 4. by —
implicit adj. 1. -in (-in the contract) 2. -that +
clause (it is — in our agreement that she will be a
partner)
implore v. (formal) (H) they-d her to help
imply v. (L; to) she -lied (to us) that she knew
more than she had told the reporters
impolite adj. — to + inf. (it is — to interrupt some-
someone who is speaking)
import v. (D;tr.)to — from; into (to — goods from
abroad)
importance n. 1. to acquire, assume — 2. to attach,
attribute — to3. great, paramount, utmost, vital —
(the matter assumed paramount —) 4. — for, to 5.
of — (it was a question of great — to us)
important adj. 1. — for (irrigation is — for farm-
farming) 2. — to (winning the contest was very — to
her) 3. - to + inf. (it is - to study hard) 4. - that
+ clause; subj. (it is — that everyone attend/
should attend)
importune v. (formal) 1. (D; tr.) to - for 2. (H) to
— smb. to do smt.
impose v. 1. (D; intr., refl.) to — on, upon ('to
take advantage of) (to — on smb.'s good nature;
don't - yourself on them) 2. (D; tr.) ('to levy') to
— on (to — a new tax on cigarettes)
impossible adj. 1. almost, practically, virtually,
well-nigh — 2. — for (it's — for me to help) 3. — to
+ inf. (it is — to predict the future; that child is —
to control = it is — to control that child) 4. (misc.)
to attempt; do the —
impractical adj. — to + inf. (it's — to live in one
city and work in another)
impregnate v. (d; tr.) to - with
impress v. 1. to - deeply; favorably 2. (D; tr.) to
127
incompatibility
— as (she —ed me as a scholar) 3. (d; tr.) to — on,
upon (he tried to — on them the importance of
being punctual) 4. (D; tr.) to - with (she -ed me
with her grasp of the subject) 5. (R) it -ed me that
they cooperated so willingly
impressed adj. 1. easily - 2. deeply, greatly,
highly, strongly —
impression n. 1. to create an-2. to make an-on,
upon 3. to gain an — 4. an accurate; deep, indel-
indelible, lasting, profound, strong; erroneous, false,
inaccurate, wrong; excellent; favorable; first;
fleeting; general; good; painful; personal; pleas-
pleasant; unfavorable, unpleasant; vivid — 5. an — that
+ clause (she created the erroneous — that her
family is wealthy) 6. under an — (I was under the
— that you would come)
imprimatur n. the royal —
imprint n. 1. to bear an - (to bear the - of genius)
2. to leave one's — on
imprisonment n. life -
improbable adj. 1. highly - 2. - that + clause (it's
— that she'll accept the invitation)
improper adj. 1. - for 2. - to + inf. (it was - to
do that)
impropriety n. crass —
improve v. l.(D;intr.)to — in (she has —din Eng-
English) 2. (d; intr.) to - on, upon (I cannot - on her
performance)
improvement n. 1. to bring about an - 2. to show
(an) — 3. a decided, distinct, marked, substantial;
minor — 4. an — in, of (an — in her work; an — of
service) 5. an — on, over, upon (this edition is an
— over the previous one)
improvisation n. to do an —
imprudent adj. — to + inf. (it was — of them to
speculate on the stock exchange)
impudence n. 1. brazen — 2. the — to + inf. (he
had the — to breach the contract)
impudent adj. - to + inf. (it was - of her to
answer like that; she was — to answer like that)
impulse n. ['driving force'] 1. to feel an — 2. to
curb, resist an — 3. an irresistible — 4. an ~ to +
inf. (he felt an irresistible - to buy a new TV set)
5. on, under (an) — (to act on —) ['stimulus'] 6. to
convey, transmit an — 7. a nerve —
impute v. (formal) (d; tr.) to - to (to - base
motives to smb.)
in I adv. (colloq.) 1. - for ('facing') (they are -
for trouble) 2. - with ('on intimate terms with')
(they are — with highly influential people)
in II n. (colloq.) ['influence'] to have an — with
smb.
in III prep. - smb. to + inf. (it's not - me to lie;
she doesn't have it - her to break her word)
inability n. - to + inf. (her - to pay caused trou-
trouble)
inaccessible adj. — to (—to students)
inaccuracy n. a glaring —
inaccurate adj. - to + inf. (it is - to say that she
was dismissed)
inadequate adj. 1. ~ for; to (the supply of water is
— for the trip; — to the occasion) 2. — to + inf.
(the supply is — to meet the demand)
adj. — to
inappropriate adj. 1. — for, to (— to the occasion)
2. — to + inf. (it is — for you to wear shorts at a for-
formal reception) 3. — that + clause; subj. (it is —
that he be/should be present)
inatteution n. - to (-to detail)
inattentive adj. -to
inaudible adj. - to
inaugurate v. (D; tr.) to — as (to be —d as presi-
president)
inauguration n. to hold an —
incantation n. to chant, utter an —
incapable adj. (cannot stand alone) - of (she is-
of cheating)
incense n. to burn —
incensed adj. 1. — about, at, over 2. — to + inf.
(she was — to learn of the accusation)
incentive n. 1. to offer an - 2. a powerful, strong
— 3. an — to (an — to investment) 4. an — to + inf.
(they have no — to work harder)
inception n. fromsmt.'s —
nicest n. to commit — (with)
inch In. 1. to contest, fight for every — of one's
land 2. a cubic; square — 3. every — ('to the utmost
degree') (she is every — a champion) 4. within an
— ('almost') (he was beaten within an — of his life)
5. (misc.) — by —
inch II v. (P; intr.) to — forward slowly
incidence n. a high; low — (a high — of crime)
incident I adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) - to
(the risks — to military service)
incident II n. 1. to provoke an — 2. to cover up,
suppress an — 3. an amusing, funny, humorous;
curious; painful, unpleasant; pleasant; strange;
touching; ugly — 4. a border — 5. an — occurs,
takes place
adj. — to (problems — to growing up)
n. 1. to make an — 2. a deep —
n. central; lateral —
v. 1. (D; tr.) to — to (to — workers to rebel-
rebellion) 2. (H) to — the populace to riot
incitement n. -to(-toriot)
inclination n. 1. to feel an — 2. a natural; strong —
3, an — for, to, towards 4. an — to + inf. (the car-
carburetor has an — to flood)
incline v. (BE) 1. (d; intr.) to-to, towards (he— s
to laziness) 2. (d; tr.) to — to (it —d me to anger)
3. (E) I - to believe that she is innocent 4. (H) the
news —d me to leave at once
inclined adj. (cannot stand alone) - to + inf. (I
am — to agree)
include v. (D; tr.) to — among, in (to — smb. in a
list of candidates; who was —d among the guests?)
inclusive adj. - of
incognito adv. to go, travel —
incognizant adj. - of
income n. 1. to earn an — 2. an annual; earned;
fixed; gross; independent; monthly; net; taxable;
unearned; weekly — 3. per capita — 4. beyond
one's — (they live beyond their —) 5. within one's
— (to live within one's —)
adj. —with
adj. — to, with
adv. to hold smb. —
-with
11 — 127

incompatible
incompatible adj. -with
incompetence n. -at,in
incompetent adj. 1. - at, in 2. - to + inf. (he is -
to judge)
incomplete n. ['academic deficiency'] to make up
an — (the student had to make up three —s)
incomprehensible adj. 1. - to 2. - that + clause
(it is - that they were admitted to the program)
inconceivable adj. 1. - to 2. - that + clause (it is
- that she could be considered for the job)
incongruous adj. -with
inconsiderate adj. 1. - of (he's - of her feelings)
2. - to + inf. (it was - of you to say that)
inconsistent adj. -with
inconvenience n. 1. to cause - 2. to put up with
(an) - 3. (a) considerable, great; slight -
inconvenient adj. 1. - for 2. - to + inf. (it is - to
meet tomorrow)
incorporate v. (D; tr.) to - into
incorrect adj. 1. - in 2. - to + inf. (it's - to say
that he is a good administrator)
increase I n. 1. a considerable, large, sharp, siza-
sizable, substantial; moderate; slight; steady - 2. a
rate — 3. an — in (an — in coal consumption) 4. on
the-
increase II v. l.(D; intr., tr.) to-by (production
~d by ten percent) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to - from; to
(the physician -d the dosage from one to four)
incredible adj. - that + clause (it was - that
nobody paid attention to the new invention)
* n. an - in (an - in salary)
„s v. (D;tr.)to-in
v. (D;tr.) to -in, into (to — ideas in the
minds of young people)
incumbent adj. (cannot stand alone) - on, upon
+ to + inf. (it's - on you to warn them)
incursion n. 1. to make an — 2. an armed — 3. an
- into (to make an - into enemy territory)
indebted adj. 1. deeply - 2. (cannot stand alone)
- for; to (we are — to her for her help)
indecent adj. - to + inf. (it was - of him to do
that)
adj. - about
ition n. to pay-for
v. (D; tr.) to — for
mj п. 1. to pay an-2. double-
™.. v. (BE) (d; intr.) Do request officially') to
- for; on (we had to - on the company for new
typewriters)
n. to make an —
independence n. I.toachieve,gain,win~from2.
to declare one's - from 3. to lose one's - 4. polit-
political-
independent adj. 1. fiercely - 2. - of
index n. ['alphabetical list'] 1. to compile, do,
make an — 2. an author; cumulative; subject - 3.
an - to (an - to a book) [indicator'] 4. a con-
consumer-price, cost-of-living; price — 5. an - to (an
- to economic progress) ['ratio of one dimension
to another'] 6. a cephaHc; cranial; facial -
Indian n. an American - USAGE NOTE: To
somebody from Canada and the United States,
the primary meaning of Indian is 'American
Indian'. To somebody from other English-speak-
, 128
ing countries, the primary meaning is 'native of
India'. Note that a West Indian is always some-
somebody from the West Indies.
indicate v. 1. (B) she -d her reasons to us 2. (L;
to) they -d (to us) that they would sign the con-
contract
indication n. 1. to give an -2. an- that + clause
(there is every - that she will recover)
tive adj. -of
v. (D; tr.) to — for (to — smb. for murder)
nent n. (usu. legal) 1. to hand up, issue, pre-
present, return an - 2. to waive (the) - 3. to quash an
- 4. (fig.) a stinging; sweeping - 5. an - against
6. an — for 7. on — (to try a case on —)
indifference n. 1. to affect, feign - 2. to display, "
show - 3. marked; studied - 4. - about, concern-
concerning 5. — to, towards
indifferent adj. 1. to remain - 2. - about, con-
concerning 3. — to, towards
indigenous adj. -to
indigestion n. 1. to cause - 2. to give smb. -
(pickles give me -) 3. acute, severe; chronic - 4.
an attack, touch of-
indignant adj. 1. - about, at, over 2. (misc.) to
wax — (over smt.)
indignation n. 1. to arouse - 2. to express; feel,
show - 3. burning; helpless; public; righteous -
4. - about, at, over (to feel - at gross injustice) 5.
to smb.'s —
indignity n. 1. to inflict an-on 2. to suffer-ties
indiscreet adj. - to + inf. (it was - of her to say
that)
n. 1. to commit an — 2. a youthful —
adj. —in
adj. - for, to (- to life)
adj. (formal) - to + inf. (she appears
- to go)
adj. — from
n. rugged —
n. to express one's —
v. (D; tr.) to - against; in; with
indoctrination n. - against; in; with
induce v. (H) we could not — her to come
inducement n. 1. to offer, provide an -2. a strong
- 3. an - to4. an - to + inf. (we had no - to work
harder)
induct v. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into the
armed forces)
induction n. - into (- into the armed forces)
indulge v. (d;intr.,refl.,tr.)to — in (to-inthe
luxury of a nice, warm bath; he —s her in every-
everything)
n. to ask for smb.'s—
adj. -towards
n. 1. to build up, develop (an) - 2. (an)
- springs up 3. a basic, key — 4. a cottage;
defense; high-tech - 5. heavy; light - 6. the film;
machine-tool; meat-packing; pharmaceutical;
steel; textile; tourist, travel; trucking (esp. AE) —
7. a smokestack ('old, obsolete') - 8. (misc.) gov-
government often regulates -; a branch of -
inelegant adj. - to + inf. (it was - to phrase the
request in that manner)
nwngmiity n. -for
129
inhere
adj. 1. - for 2. - to + inf. (she is still -
to vote)
inept adj. — at, in
ineptitude n. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. — at,
in
inequality n. —between
inertia n. 1. sheer — 2. through —
inevitable adj. - that + clause (it was - that she
would find out)
inexcusable adj. 1. — to + inf. (it was — of him to
blurt that out) 2. — that + clause (it is — that she
was left out)
inexperienced adj. —at,in
infaffibffity n. 1. papal — 2. — in
infallible adj. - in
infancy n. ['first stage'] in one's — (the industry
was still in its —)
infant n. 1. to nurse, suckle; wean an — 2. a new-
newborn; premature — 3. (misc.) — mortality (see also
baby 7-11,13)
infanticide n. to commit-
infantile adj. - to + inf. (it was - to behave like
that)
n. light; motorized; mountain —
adj. — with
n. —with
infection n. 1. to pass on, spread, transmit (an) —
2. a latent; localized; primary; secondary; serious,
severe; slight, superficial; systemic —
infer v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from (to — a conclusion
from the facts) 2. (L) I — that my proposal has
been accepted 3. (Q) we had to — what she meant
inference n. 1. to draw, make an — from 2. an
invalid; valid — 3. an — that + clause (we made the
— that she had been wrongly accused)
inferior adj. 1. - in (- in rank) 2. - to (he felt -
to them)
inferiority n. 1. a feeling of-2.-to
inferno n. a blazing, raging, roaring —
infidelity n. 1. conjugal, marital - 2. - to (- to
one's ideals)
n. — among, between
" v. (D; intr.) to - into
n. — into; through (enemy — into our
lines)
n. 1. to split an — 2. a split —
n. to —
n. 1. to cause (an) — 2. (an) — sub-
subsides
n. 1. to cause — 2. to control, curb — 3.
creeping; double-digit; galloping, rampant, runa-
runaway, uncontrolled —
inflection, inflexion n. a falling; rising—
inflexibility n. ~ in
inflexible adj. - in
inflict v. (D; tr.) to ~ on (to ~ heavy losses on the
enemy)
influence I n. 1. to exert — on 2. to use one's — 3.
to wield — 4. to bring — to bear 5. to flaunt one's
— 6. (colloq.) to peddle — 7. to consolidate,
strengthen one's — 8. to counteract, curb, neu-
neutralize smb.'s - 9. (a) bad, baleful, baneful; far-
reaching; good; leavening, moderating; negative;
pernicious; positive; powerful, profound, strong;
salutary; undue; unwholesome — 10. cultural;
moral — 11. an — for (an — for good) 12. the — to
+ inf. (they have enough — to get the bill passed)
13. under smb.'s —; under the — of (to come under
smb.'s —; to drive under the — of alcohol) 14.
(misc.) outside —s; a sphere of —; an — peddler
influence II v. 1. to — deeply, profoundly,
strongly 2. (D; tr.) to — in 3. (H) who —d her to do
that?
adj. — in
n. an — from; into
inform v. 1. (D; tr.) to - about, of (we -ed them
of the incident) 2. (d; intr.) to — against, on (he
—ed on his accomplices) 3. (L; must have an
object) she — ed them that she would come 4. (Q;
must have an object) the thief —ed the police
where the money was hidden
adj. — with (she's — with everyone)
n. a native —
n. 1. to furnish, give, offer, provide —
2. to collect, dig up, find, gather; extract — 3. to
classify - 4. to divulge, leak - 5. to declassify - 6.
to feed — (into a computer) 7. to retrieve — (from
a computer) 8. to cover up, suppress, withhold —
9. classified, confidential; detailed; firsthand;
inside; misleading; reliable; secondhand; secret —
10. (AE) long-distance — (BE has long-distance
enquiries, trunk enquiries) 11. — about, on 12. —
that + clause (we have — that she has returned to
this country) 13. for smb.'s — (for your —)
informative adj. - to + inf. (it was - to read the
latest statistics)
informed adj. 1. to keep smb. — 2. — about
informer n. 1. to turn ('become') — 2. a police —
inform on v. (D; intr.) to — to (he —ed on them to
the police)
infraction n. 1. to commit an — 2. a minor —
infringe v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (to — on smb.'s
rights)
infringement n. an—of, on (an —of smb.'s rights)
infuriate v. (R) it -d me (to read) that he had
been indicted
infuriated adj. 1. - about, at, over; with 2. - to +
inf. (he was — to find his seat occupied)
infuriating adj. 1. - to + inf. (it's - to pay such
prices for inferior merchandise) 2. — that + clause
(it's — that these items are so expensive)
infuse v. (d; tr.) to — into (to — new life into the
troops)
infusion n. 1. an intravenous — 2. an — into
ingenious adj. — to + inf. (it was — of her to solve
the problem so quickly)
ingenuity n. 1. human — 2. the — to + inf. (she had
the — to succeed where everyone else had failed)
ingrained adj. deeply -
ingratiate v. (D; refl.) to - with (she -d herself
with the boss)
ingratitude n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show —
2. base, rank —
ingredients n. 1. to combine - (in baking) 2.
basic; principal — 3. (misc.) the book has all the —
of a best-seller
v. to —deeply
v. (formal) to — in

inherent
adj. — in, to
inherit v. (D; tr.) to - from (to - a fortune from
an uncle)
inhibit v. (D;tr.)to-from
inhospitable adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it is - to
turn a stranger away)
inhumanity n. man's-to man
inimical adj. (formal) - to (actions - to the
maintenance of friendly relations between our
countries)
initiate v. (d; tr.) to — into (to — students into the
mysteries of linguistics)
initiation n. 1. to conduct an -2. an -into (an -
into a fraternity)
initiative n. 1. to demonstrate, display, exercise,
show — 2. to take the — 3. to stifle — 4. private —
5. the - to + inf. (does she have enough - to get
this job done?) 6. on one's (own) - (she made the
decision on her own —)
inject v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to — a note of humor
into the proceedings)
injection n. 1. to administer, give an -2. to get an
— 3. a lethal — 4. a hypodermic; intradermal;
intramuscular; intravenous; subcutaneous ~
injudicious adj. (formal) - to + inf. (it was - of
you to speak to the press)
injunction n. 1. to grant, hand down, issue an -2.
to deliver an — 3. an — against (an — against pick-
picketing) 4. a permanent; temporary — 5. an — to +
inf. (an — to prevent picketing) 6. an — that +
clause; subj. (the court issued an — that picketing
not take/should not take place)
injure v. to - badly, seriously, severely; slightly
injurious adj. -to
injuty n. 1. to inflict (an)-on 2. to receive, suffer,
sustain an — 3. a fatal; minor, slight; serious,
severe — 4. bodily —; an internal — 5. an — to (an
— to the head) 6. (misc.) to add insult to -
injustice n. 1. to do an — to 2. to commit an — 3.
to redress an - 4. (a) blatant, gross, rank - 5. an
-to
ink n. 1. indelible; India (AE), Indian (BE); invis-
invisible; marking; permanent; printer's; secret; wash-
washable - 2. a blob, drop of-
inkling n. 1. the faintest, slightest - 2. an - that +
clause (I didn't have the slightest - that he was ill)
adv. to go, travel —
n. a prison —
adj. —in
n. 1. to maintain; prove, show one's —
2. (misc.) an air of injured —
innocent adj. —of
innovation n. La daring-2. an-in
innuendo n. 1. to cast, make an-2. an-about 3.
an — that + clause (she made an — that he had a
prison record)
inoculate v. (D; tr.) to - against (to - a dog
against rabies)
inoculation n. 1. to give an - 2. an - against (an
— against tetanus)
input n. -into
inquest n. 1. to conduct, hold an ~ 2. a coroner's;
formal — 3. an — into
inquire v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about, after; into 2.
130
(Q) he —d where we were to meet USAGE
NOTE: In BE, the spelling enquire is also used-
we enquired about her health.
inquiry n. 1. to conduct, make; launch an — 2. a
discreet; exhaustive, thorough; official — 3. an —
about (to make —ries about a matter) 4. an — into
(an official — into the incident was launched)
USAGE NOTE: The noun inquiry can mean
'question' or 'investigation'. In BE, the spelling
enquiry is often recommended for the meaning
'question'-an enquiry about her health. Com-
Compare—an official inquiry into the incident.
inquisition n. 1. to carry out, conduct an - 2. a
cruel, senseless —
inquisitive adj. -about
inroads n. 1. to make — 2. deep — 3. — in, into, on,
upon (to make — on the freedom of the press)
insane adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to risk
everything)
insanity n. 1. (legal) to plead - 2. outright, pure,
sheer - 3. (legal) temporary - 4. - to + inf. (it
was sheer — to steal the money)
inscribe v. (D;tr.) to-for (to-a book for smb.)
inscription n. 1. to bear an — 2. to decipher an —
insecticide n. to spray, spread, use an —
insects n. 1.-bite; crawl, creep; fly 2. a swarm of
(flying) -
insecure adj. —about;in
insecurity n. a feeling of —
insemination n. artificial -
insensibility n. 1. to display, show-2.-to
insensible adj. -to
insensitive adj. 1.-to (-to the feelings of others)
2. — to + inf. (it was — of her to bring that up)
n. 1. to display, show — 2. — to
adj. —from
v. (D; tr.) to — into (to — a new sentence
into a paragraph; to — a key into a lock)
inside I adv. — out ('with the inner surface facing
out*); ('thoroughly') (to know a subject — out)
USAGE NOTE: The compound preposition
inside of can refer to time or space. Referring to
time, it is colloq. CE-to finish a job inside of an
hour; referring to space, it is colloq. AE-inside of
a building.
inside II n. (colloq.) ['confidential information']
1. to have the — on ['position of trust'] 2. to be on
the-
insight n. 1. to gain; have (an)-into 2. to provide
(an) - 3. a deep - 4. the - to + inf. (she had the
— to predict what would happen)
insignia n. military; royal ~
insinuate v. 1. (d; refl.) ('to ingratiate') to - into
(to - oneself into smb.'s good graces) 2. (L; to)
('to suggest') she - (to us) that her partner had
embezzled funds
insinuation n. 1. to make an - 2. an - that +
clause (she didn't like his — that she had cheated)
insist v. 1. to — absolutely, definitely, positively;
stubbornly 2. (D; intr.) to - on (they - on more
money; she —ed on coming with us) 3. (L; can be
used with the subj.) she -ed that everyone attend;
he — ed that the accused was innocent
n. 1. dogged, firm, stubborn — 2. — on
131
(— on an increase in salary) 3. — that + clause;
subj. (we resent your — that the debt be/should be
paid at once)
insistent adj. 1. - on, upon 2. - that + clause;
subj. (- that the debt be/should be paid)
insolence n. 1. to display - 2. the - to + inf. (they
had the — to file a complaint)
insolent adj. 1. — in (— in their manner) 2. — to,
towards 3. - to + inf. (it was - of them to demand
special treatment)
insolvency n. to force into —
insomnia n. to suffer from ~
inspection n. 1. to carry out, conduct, make an -
2. a close, thorough; cursory, perfunctory; visual
— 3. a technical — 4. on — (on closer — the money
turned out to be counterfeit)
inspector n. 1. a customs; fire; health; mine;
police — 2. the — general
inspiration n. 1. to give, offer, provide - 2. to
derive, draw — from 3. divine — 4. — comes (from
many sources) 5. a flash, spark of — 6. an — for
(what provided the - for the statue?) 7. an - to
(her example was an - to young people) 8. the -
to + inf. (what gave him the — to do it?)
inspire v. 1. (D; tr.) to - in, with (formal) (to -
awe in smb.; to — smb. with awe) 2. (H) to — smb.
to do smt.
adj. - to + inf. (it was - to watch)
v. (d; tr.) to - as (to - smb. as president)
ations n. military; naval; port ~
installment, instalment n. 1. to pay an - 2.
monthly; quarterly —s 3. in —s (the book came out
in —s; to pay in —s)
installment plan n. on the-(to buy smt. on the-)
instance n. ['example'] 1. to cite, give an — 2. an
isolated, rare — 3. for — 4. in an — (in rare —s; in
a few isolated —s)
instant n. at a certain - (at that - I realized who
had planned the whole scheme)
instigate v. (esp. BE) (H) to - smb. to do smt.
instigation n. at smb.'s-
instffl, instil v. 1. to-deeply, firmly 2. (D;tr.) to
— in, into (to — respect for the law in the younger
generation)
instinct n. 1. to arouse an-2. a basic; destructive;
herd; human; killer; maternal; natural — 3. ani-
animal; predatory —s 4. an unerring — 5. an — for 6.
the — to + inf. (nothing can destroy the — to sur-
survive)
institute n. 1. a research — 2. an — for (an — for
theoretical research) 3. at an - (to work at an -)
institution n. 1. to endow; support an — 2. a chari-
charitable; educational; financial; penal; philan-
philanthropic; social; state-supported — 3. a heavily
endowed — 4. (misc.) an — of higher learning; the
— of marriage
instruct v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to teach') to - in (to - sol-
soldiers in field hygiene) 2. (H) ('to order') she -ed
us to begin work at once 3. (L; must have an
object) (*to inform*) we have been —ed that the
matter has been settled by our lawyers 4. (Q; must
have an object) ('to order') we were —ed where to
meet
n. 1. to conduct, give, provide — 2. to
integrity
take — (before converting to a religion) 3.
advanced; beginning, elementary; bilingual;
intermediate; remedial — 4. computer-assisted —
5. - in (to provide advanced - in mathematics)
instructions n. 1. to give, issue-2. to leave-(for
smb.) 3. to carry out, follow — 4. to await (further)
— 5. verbal; written — 6. — for 7. — to + inf. (we
had — to report to her) 8. — that + clause; subj.
(she left - that her estate be/should be divided
evenly) 9. on — (we acted on your —)
instructive adj. - to + inf. (it will be - to analyze
the results)
instructor n. an — in, of (an — in physics)
instrument n. ['implement'] 1. a blunt; delicate;
sharp — 2. surgical —s; —s of torture 3. an — for
(an - for good) ['device for producing a musical
sound'] 4. to play an — 5. a brass; musical; percus-
percussion; stringed; wind; woodwind —
instrumental adj. (cannot stand alone) - in (her
help was — in tracking down the criminal)
insubordinate adj. -to
insubordination n. 1. rank — 2. — to (— to author-
authority)
insufficient adj. 1. - for, in 2. - to + inf. (it's - to
cite only one example)
v. (D; tr.) to — against, from
n. — against, from
n. 1. to fling, hurl an — at 2. to swallow, take
an — 3. to avenge an — 4. a gratuitous; imaginary;
nasty, vicious — 5. an — to (an — to smb.'s intelli-
intelligence) 6. (misc.) a stream of —s; to add — to injury
insetted adj. deeply -
insurance n. 1. to provide — for 2. to sell, write;
underwrite — 3. to carry; take out — (our firm car-
carries fire —) 4. to cancel; renew — 5. accident;
automobile (AE), motor (BE), motor-car (BE);
collision; comprehensive; compulsory; disability;
endowment; fire; flight; flood; group; health;
homeowner's; hospitalization; hurricane; liability
(AE), third party (BE); life; major-medical (AE);
marine; no-fault; property; term (esp. AE); title;
whole life - 6. (GB) National Insurance 7. social;
unemployment — 8. — against; on (— against loss
from flood; — on one's personal effects) 9. (misc.)
an - policy USAGE NOTE: BE has traditionally
distinguished between insurance (to provide
compensation for what may happen) and assur-
assurance (to provide compensation for what will hap-
happen); thus— fire insurance and life assurance.
However, nowadays, life insurance is also used
in BE.
insure v. (D;refl.,tr.)to — against; for (to — one's
home against loss from fire; to — one's life for fifty
thousand dollars)
insured adj. fully; heavily—
insurrection n. 1. to foment, stir up an — 2. to
crush, put down, quell, suppress an —
insusceptible adj. - to
integrate v. (D; intr., tr.) to — into; with
integration n. 1. economic; racial; school; token-
2. — into
integrity n. 1. to display, show — 2. great — 3. the
— to + inf. (he had the — not to accept bribes) 4.
(misc.) a person of —

intellect
132
intellect п. 1. (a) keen, sharp, superior — 2. of —
(a person of keen —)
intelligence n. ['ability to comprehend, learn'] 1.
to demonstrate, show ~ 2. great, high, keen;
limited; low; normal; outstanding, remarkable —
3. artificial; native - 4. the - to + inf. (she had the
— to see through their scheme) 5. of a certain — (a
person of considerable ~) ['information'] 6. to
collect, gather ~ 7. classified; combat, military;
industrial; secret —
intelligent adj. - to + inf. (it would not be - to
provoke her)
intelligible adj. - to
intend v. l.(d;tr.)('todesign')to-as(itwas-ed
as a joke) 2. (d; tr.) ('to design') to - for (the book
is -ed for children) 3. (E) ('to plan') she -s to file
suit 4. (G) ('to plan') what do you — doing? 5.
(BE) (H) ('to want') we - them to do it 6. (L;
subj.) ('to want') we never —ed that she get/
should get involved
intended adj. (cannot stand alone)-for (this dic-
dictionary is — for serious students)
intent I adj. (cannot stand alone) —on, upon (she
is — on getting the job done quickly)
intent II n. 1.criminal-2.-to + inf.(with-to
kill) 3. by - 4. (misc.) to all -s and purposes
('practically'); (legal) loitering with - (to commit
a crime)
intention n. 1. to announce, declare, state one's -
2. to make one's —s clear 3. every; no — (she has
every — of accepting the invitation) 4. honorable
—s 5. the — to + inf. (have you heard of her — to
resign?)
interact v. (d; intr.) to - with
interaction n. — among, between; with
intercede v. (D; intr.) to-for; with (to-with the
authorities for smb.)
j^tyfHrh>ngp aMf adj. — with
intercoarse n. 1. to have-with 2. anal .heterosex-
.heterosexual; oral; sexual — 3. social — 4. — among,
between; with
interest I n. ['concern'] ['curiosity'] 1. to arouse,
generate, pique, stir up; revive — (in) 2. to hold
smb.'s - 3. to demonstrate, display, evince, man-
manifest, show - 4. to express; take an - in (she took
a keen — in the project) 5. to lose - (in) 6. an
academic; active; deep, intense, keen, lively, pro-
profound, serious, strong; passing; vested — 7. broad;
common, mutual; narrow —s 8. human — (this
story has a lot of human -) 9. personal; popular -
10. the national; (the) public - 11. - flags; peaks;
picks up; wanes 12. a conflict of -(s) 13. - in (to
show no — in financial matters) 14. — to + inf. (it's
in/to our — to have stable prices) 15. in smb.'s —
(to act in one's own —) 16. in a certain — (in the
national -; in the public -) 17. in the -sof (in the
—s of safety; in the —s of our organization) 18. of
— to (this story will be of — to us) 19. to smb.'s —
(see 14) ['money paid for the use of money'] 20. to
bear, pay, yield - 21. to draw; receive - 22. to
add; calculate; charge; compound — 23. com-
compound; simple — 24. — accrues (to an account) 25.
— on (— on a loan; six percent — is paid on all
accounts) 26. at a certain (rate of) - (at six percent
—) ['share'] 27. to own an — (in a business) 28. a
half - (see also interests)
interest II v. 1. to-greatly, very much 2. (D;tr.)
to — in (could I — you in this project?)
interested adj. 1. deeply, greatly, highly, keenly,
very much — 2. — in (we are — in politics) 3. — to
+ inf. (you will be — to know that an agreement
has been reached)
interesting adj. 1. highly - 2. - for; to 3. - to +
inf. (he's — to watch = it's — to watch him) 4. —
that + clause (it's — that the incident was not
reported in the newspapers)
interests n. ['stakes, investments'] 1. to have — (to
have — throughout the world) 2. to advance,
further, promote one's — 3. to defend, guard, look ^
after, protect one's — 4. to serve smb.'s — (it
serves their — to have stability in the area) 5. far-
flung; international; worldwide — 6. — clash; coin-
coincide ['groups having a common concern'] 7. bank-
banking; business, commercial; competing; control-
controlling; shipping; special; steel; vested —
interface I n. an — between; with
interface II v. (D; intr., tr.) to - with (to - a
machine with a computer)
interfere v. (D; intr.) to - in; with USAGE
NOTE: In BE, to interfere with smb. often
means 'to molest smb. sexually'.
interference n. 1. to brook no — 2. unwarranted —
3. — in, with 4. (misc.) (esp. Am. football) to run
-for
interim n. in the-
interject v. (D; tr.) to - into
interjection n. an — into (the — of new issues into
a campaign)
interlace v. (d; tr.) to - with
interlaid v. (formal) (d; tr.) to - with (to - a
speech with local expressions)
mtertibrary loan n. to borrow, get a book on/
through —
interlude n. La romantic — 2. a musical —
intermarriage n. — between, with
intermarry v. (D; intr.) to - with (to - with the
local population)
intermediary /i. an - between (an - between the
warring groups)
intermingle v. (d; intr.) to - with (to - with the
crowd)
intermission n. an - between USAGE NOTE: In
AE, intermission has the meaning 'pause
between parts of a theatrical performance'. In BE,
interval is used in this meaning.
internship п. (АЕ) to serve one's-
interplay n. — among, between
v. (D; tr.) to - into t
v. (D;refl.,tr.)to —among, between
v. 1. (B) I had to -the passage to them
2. (d; tr.) to — as (they —ed his response as an
admission of guilt) 3. (D; intr.) to - for (to - for
foreign visitors)
interpretation n. l.tomakean-2.afree,liberal,
loose; strict - (of the law)
interpreter n. 1. to serve (smb.) as an - 2. a con-
conference; court; simultaneous —
interpreting n. conference; simultaneous—
133
involve
n. to conduct an—
interrogator n. 1. to serve as an — 2. a prisoner-of-
war—
interrogatory n. (legal) to file; serve an -
intersection n. 1. a busy; dangerous — 2. at an —
intersperse v. (P;tr.) to —anecdotes throughout a
speech
intertwine v. (D; intr.) to — with
interval n. ['space of time between events'] 1. a
brief, short; irregular; regular — 2. a lucid — 3. at
a certain — (at regular —s) ['distance'] ['gap'] 4. to
maintain an — (the proper — should be main-
maintained between vehicles) 5. an — between (see the
Usage Note for intermission)
intervene v. 1. (D; intr.) to-between 2. (D; intr.)
to — in; with (to — in smb.'s affairs; to — with the
authorities)
intervention n. 1. armed, military; government —
2. nursing; surgical — 3. divine —
interview In. 1. to conduct an — 2. to give, grant
an — 3. an exclusive; job; personal; taped; tele-
telephone; television, TV - 4. an - for; with (an -
with the personnel director for a job)
interview II v. (D; tr.) to - for (to - smb. for a
job)
interwoven adj. —with
intestine n. the large; small—
intimacy n. - between; with
intimate I adj. -with
intimate II v. 1. (B) she -d her wishes to us 2. (L;
to) they —d (to us) that an agreement would be
worked out soon 3. (Q) they would not - how the
problem could be solved
intimation n. 1. to give an - 2. - that + clause
(there was no — that she would retire)
intimidate v. (D; tr.) to - into (to - smb. into
doing smt.)
intolerable adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it's - to
allow hardened criminals to roam our streets) 3. —
that + clause (it is — that such excesses are
allowed)
intolerance п. [Чаек of tolerance'] 1. to display,
show — 2. to stir up — against 3. racial; religious —
['sensitivity'] 4. — to (drugs)
intolerant adj. ~ of
intonation n. a falling; rising ~
intoxication n. a state of-
n. — about
adj. —about
I n. 1. to carry on, engage in (an) — 2.
high; petty - 3. a hotbed; web of -
mtrigne II v. (d; intr.) to - against; with (to -
against the government)
intrinsic adj. —in, to
introduce v. 1. (B) she-d me to her friends 2. (D;
tr.) to — into (to — new methods into an industry)
3. (d; tr.) to — to (to — students to the elements of
computer science)
introduction n. 1. to make an-2. to serve as an-
3. a formal — 4. an — into, to (an — to a book) 5.
(misc.) a letter of —
introductory adj. (formal)-to
intmde v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into 2. (D; intr.) to —
on, upon (to — on smb.'s privacy)
n. 1. to make an — 2. an unwarranted;
unwelcome - 3. an - into (to make an - into
enemy territory) 4. an — on (an — on my time) 5.
(misc.) pardon my —
intuition n. by — (she sensed what was wrong by
mure v. (formal) (d; tr.) to - to (to - smb. to
hardship; —d to danger)
invalid v. (BE) 1. (d;tr.) to-home 2. (d; tr.) to
- out of (to be -ed out of the army)
mvamable adj. - to
invasion n. 1. to carry out; launch an-2. to repel,
repulse an —
invective n. 1. to hurl -/-s at 2. bitter; coarse,
vulgar — 3. a stream, torrent of —/—s 4. — against
inveigh v. (formal) (d; intr.) to - against
inveigle v. (d;tr.) to-into; out of (to-smb. into
doing smt.)
invention n. 1. to come up with an — 2. to patent,
register an - 3. to market, promote an - 4. an
ingenious —
inventory n. 1. to make an - (of); to take (an)-
(of) 2. to reduce (an) - (by having a sale) 3. an
annual — 4. closed for —
invest v. 1. ('to place money') to-heavily 2. (D;
intr., tr.) ('to place money') to — in (to — heavily
in municipal bonds; to — surplus funds in stocks)
3. (formal) (d; tr.) ('to entrust') to — with (to —
smb. with authority)
invested adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone)-with
(— with broad powers)
investigation n. 1. to carry out, conduct, make;
launch an — 2. a cursory, perfunctory; impartial;
painstaking, thorough - 3. a criminal; police - 4.
an — into, of (to launch an — into charges of cor-
corruption) 5. on, upon — (on closer — we discovered
the cause of the fire) 6. under - (the incident is
under —)
investigator n. a government; private —
investment n. 1. to make an — 2. a bad, poor;
good, lucrative, profitable; solid, sound - 3.
heavy; long-term; overseas —s4. an — in (—s in oil
stocks)
n. a heavy; large; small; speculative-
adj. — to + inf. (it's — to swim in the
i adj. — to (—to the naked eye)
invitation n. 1. to extend, issue, send an - 2. to
send out —s 3. to decline, spurn an — 4. a cordial,
kind; formal; informal — 5. an — to (an — to a
party) 6. an - to + inf. (she has received an - to
attend the reception) 7. by — (participation is by —
only)
invite v. 1. to — cordially (everyone is cordially
-d) 2. (D; tr.) to - to (we -d them to our party)
3. (H) they —d us to participate
invite over v. (D; tr.) to - for; to (we -d them
over to our place for a drink)
invocation n. to offer, pronounce the-
invoice n. 1. to issue; send an — 2. a duplicate;
original —
involve v. 1. (D; tr.) to - in; with (to - smb. in a
project; we were -d with the technical details) 2.
(K) that job would — my traveling a great deal

involved
134
involved adj. 1. emotionally - with 2. -in; with (I
got her — in the planning; to become — with smb.)
involvement n. 1. an emotional — 2. — in; with
invulnerable adj. —to
inward adv. —bound
1Q n. 1. to test smb.'s — 2. an average, normal;
high; low — 3. an — of (an — of one hundred; the
— of a genius) 4. (misc.) an — test
irate adj. — about
ire /i. to arouse, rouse smb.'s —
irk v. (R) it —s her to have to get up so early; it —s
me that they get all the credit
irksome adj. (formal) — to + inf. (it is — to listen
to his constant complaints)
iron n. ['type of metal'] 1. to mine; smelt — 2. cast;
corrugated; crude; pig; scrap; wrought — ['device
for pressing clothes'] 3. to plug in an — 4. to unplug
an — 5. an electric; steam — ['rodlike device used
for branding'] 6. a branding — ['tool used to apply
solder'] 7. a soldering — ['instrument used to curl
hair'] 8. a curling - ['hook'] 9. a climbing; grap-
grappling - ['utensil for making waffles'] 10. a waffle
ironic, ironical adj. - that + clause (it's - that the
weakest student in mathematics was elected class
treasurer)
ironing n. to do the-
irons n. ['shackles'] 1. to put smb. into — 2. in —
irony n. 1. bitter — 2. dramatic, tragic — 3. a touch
of — 4. an — that + clause (it was a tragic — that he
was killed in a traffic accident after the war)
irrational adj. — to + inf. (it was — to react in that
manner)
irregular adj. grossly, highly —
irregularity n. 1. a gross — 2. — in (an — in the
accounts)
irrelevant adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it's - to cite
such outdated evidence) 3. - that + clause (it's -
that she was out of town)
irrespective adj. —of
irresponsible adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to
speak to reporters)
irritant n. an-to
irritate v. 1. to-greatly, very much 2. (R) it-d
me (to learn) that she had been promoted
irritated adj. 1. - at (- at being awakened so
early) 2. — to + inf. (he was — to see her dancing
with someone else)
irritating adj. 1. — to + inf. (it's — to see them
waste so much time) 2. — that + clause (it's — that
he got off so easy)
irritation n. 1. to express; feel-2.-at, with 3. -
that + clause (he could not hide his — that he had
not been invited)
irrupt v. (D;intr.)to — in; into (to — in a frenzied
demonstration)
irruption n. an — into
island n. 1. a deserted, uninhabited; tropical — 2.
a safety (AE), traffic - 3. on an -
isolate v. (D;tr.)to-from
isolated adj. —from
isotope n. a radioactive—
issue I n. ['number of a journal'] 1. to bring out, ,
publish an — 2. a back; current — 3. an — comes
out, is published ['question'] 4. to bring up, raise
an - 5. to address; face; straddle an - 6. to settle
an — 7. a burning; collateral, side; dead; divisive;
moral; political; sensitive; substantive — 8. at —
(the point at -) 9. (misc.) to force the ~; to take
— with smb. on smt. ('to disagree with smb. about
smt.') ['progeny'] 10. without - (to die without -)
issue II v. l.(B) ('todistribute') the army -d new
rifles to the troops 2. (esp. BE) (d; intr.) ('to
come') to — from (blood —d from the wound;
smoke —d from the chimneys) 3. (rare) (BE) (d;
tr.) to — with (the school —d the pupils with new
textbooks)
it pronoun of — (they made a mess of —; to have
had a hard time of —)
itch I n. ['itchy feeling'] 1. to relieve an - 2.
['wish'] (colloq.) an - to + inf. (she has an - to go
out west)
itch II v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) ('to yearn') to - for
(to - for a fight)
itching I adj. (colloq.) (cannot stand alone) 1.—
for (he's — for a fight) 2. — to + inf. (he's — to get
into action)
itching II n. 1. to cause - 2. to alleviate, relieve
(the) -
item n. 1. a luxury — 2. a budget — 3. a collector's
- (BE has collector's piece) 4. - by - (she
answered all objections — by —)
itinerary n. 1. to plan (out), prepare an —2. a ten-
tentative — 3. according to an —
ivy n. 1. — climbs 2. (misc.) (US) poison —
135
job
jab I n. ['short punch'] 1. to throw a — 2. a left;
right - 3. a - to (a left - to the head)
jab II v. l.(D; intr.) to -at (he -bed at the other
boxer with his left) 2. (D; tr.) to - in (she -bed
me in the ribs)
jabber v. (D; intr.) to - about
jack n. (esp. BE) (colloq.) ['human being'] every
man —
jackal n. a pack of—s
jackass n. a damned; stupid ~
jacket n. ['garment for the upper body'] 1. a din-
dinner; field; flak; life; pea; smoking; sport (AE),
sports - ['cover'] 2. (AE) a record - 3. a dust -
('cover for a book') ['potato skin'] 4. to cook
potatoes in their —s
jackpot n. to hit the-(also fig.)
jacks n. to play (a game of) —
jag n. (colloq.) ['state of intoxication'] 1. to have a
— on ['spell'] 2. a crying —
jail n. 1. to go to-(he went to-for his crime) 2.
to be sent to - (she was sent to - for shoplifting)
3. to serve time in — 4. to break —; to break out of
jailbreak n. 1. to attempt; make a - 2. a daring;
mass —
jam I /i. ['food made by boiling fruit with sugar']
1. to spread - (on bread) 2. apricot; grape; peach;
plum; red raspberry; strawberry —
jam II n. ['blockage'] 1. a log; traffic - ['difficult
situation'] 2. (to be) in a —
jam III v. 1. to-full 2. (D;tr.)to~in(she-med
her fingers in the door; or: she got her fingers
—med in the door) 3. (d; intr., tr.) to — into (they
all tried to — into the small room; he —med every-
everything into one suitcase) 4. (d; tr.) to - on (he
-med a hat on his head) 5. (D; tr.) to - with (the
street was -med with traffic) 6. (N; used with an
adjective) to — smt. full
jamboree n. a boy scout; girl scout—
jam-packed adj. — with
jangle v. (D; intr.) to — on Dto irritate') (to — on
smb.'s nerves)
jar I л. ['jolt'] 1. to feel a - 2. a slight -
jar II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against ('to strike') (I
—red against the table) 2. (d; intr.) to — on ('to
irritate') (the noise —red on my nerves) 3. (esp.
BE) (d; intr.) ('to clash') to - with 4. (N; used
with an adjective) to — a tooth loose
jar III n. ['container'] 1. a biscuit (BE), cookie
(AE) — 2. an earthenware; glass; Mason (esp.
AE); plastic; stone —
jargon n. 1. to speak in, use - 2. professional,
technical, trade —
jaunt n. ['pleasure trip'] 1. to go on a - 2. a -
through; to
javelin n. to hurl, throw a -
jaw I n. 1. to move one's — (his — was broken and
he could not move it) 2. to set one's - (she set her
- in determination) 3. to dislocate one's - 4. the
lower; upper - 5. (misc.) snatched from the -s of
death
jaw II v. (colloq.)(D; intr.)('tospeakangrily')to
— about; at
jealous adj. 1. bitterly, blindly, violently - 2. - of
jealousy n. 1. to arouse - 2. to feel - 3. bitter,
blind; fierce; groundless, unfounded; petty - 4.
interservice; professional — 5. a fit of — 6. —
towards
jeans n. blue (AE); designer -
jeer v. (D; intr.) to - at
jelly n. ['food made from boiled fruit juice'] apple;
blackberry; cherry; currant; grape; mint; peach;
plum; quince; strawberry —
jeopardy n. 1. to place, put (smb.) in - 2. (legal)
double — 3. in — (our lives were in —)
jerk n. ['sudden movement'] with a - (the train
started with a —)
jest I n. (formal) 1. an idle - 2. in - (that was said
in-)
jest II v. (formal) (D; intr.) to - about; with
jester n. a court —
jet I n. to fly, pilot a - (see airplane 1,2)
jet II v. (d; intr.) ('to fly by jet') to -from; to (to
— to London)
jewel n. 1. to mount a — 2. crown; precious; price-
priceless —s
jewelry, jewellery n. antique; costume; imitation;
junk; precious —
jibe v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to - with (his
story doesn't — with yours)
jiffy n. (colloq.) ['short time'] in a -
jig n. to dance, do a —
jigsaw (BE) see jigsaw puzzle
jigsaw puzzle п. (АЁ) to do, put together a-
jingle n. 1. to compose, make up a — 2. an adver-
advertising; rhyming —
jinx /i. to put a-on smb.
jitters n. (colloq.) ['panic'] 1. to have the - 2. to
give smb. the - 3. a case of the - (she had a bad
case of the —)
job n. ['task'] 1. to do a - 2. to take on a - 3. a
backbreaking; difficult, hard - 4. odd -s (he does
odd —s) 5. a — to + inf. (it was quite a — to find
him = it was quite a - finding him = we had quite
a — finding him) ['employment'] 6. to get, land,
take a — 7. to hunt for, look for a — 8. to hold, hold
down a — 9. to give up, quit; lose a — 10. a cushy,
easy, soft; demanding; menial; steady — 11. a
desk; full-time; part-time; summer — 12. at a —
(she was working at two -s) 13. on the - (he is
always on the -) (also fig.) ['criminal act'] (col-
(colloq.) 14. to do , pull a - 15. an inside - ['misc.']
16. a snow - (AE) ('deceit'); to do a hatchet - on
smb. ('to criticize smb. harshly'); a put-up — ('a
prearranged scheme'); he really did a - on his
opponent ('he inflicted a crushing defeat on his
opponent') USAGE NOTE: In colloq. BE, on
the job can also mean 'having sex'.

jockey
jockey I n. a disc (BE), disk (AE)-
jockey II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — for (to — for posi-
position) 2. (d; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into position)
jogging n. to go in for-
jom v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for (would you ~ us for a
drink?) 2. (d; intr.) to — in (they all —ed in singing
the national anthem) 3. (D; tr.) to — in (to — smb.
in a drink) 4. (D; tr.) to — to, with (to — one wire
to another; they all ~ed hands with each other; to
— forces with one's allies) 5. (D; intr.) to — with
(we must — with them in fighting tyranny)
join in v. 1. (D; intr.) to — as (she ~ed in as a vol-
volunteer) 2. (D; intr.) to — with
joint n. 1. (med.) to dislocate a — 2. (anatomical)
an elbow; hip; knee; shoulder — 3. (technical) a
ball-and-socket; mortise; riveted; toggle; univer-
universal; welded — 4. (misc.) (slang) to case a — ('to
inspect a place before robbing it') (also fig.)
jom up v. (D; intr.) to — with (we'll — with you in
the next town)
joke I n. 1. to crack, tell a — 2. to ad-lib a ~ 3. to
play a — on 4. to carry a — too far 5. to take a — (he
can't take a —) 6. to make a — of smt. 7. a clean;
coarse, crude; dirty, obscene, off-color, smutty;
old, stale; practical; sick — 8. the butt, object of a
— 9. a — about 10. (colloq.) no — to + inf. (it's no
— to oppose smb. like her = it's no — opposing
smb. like her) 11. (misc.) as a —; to turn smt. into
a —; the —' was on me
joke II v. (D; intr.) to - about; with (I was-ing
with her about her latest escapade)
joker n. 1. a practical — 2. (cards) —s wild; a — in
the pack (also fig.)
joking n. -aside
jolt I n. ['shock'] 1. a severe - 2. a - to (it was a
— to her pride)
jolt II v. (D;tr.) to -out of (she was finally -ed
out of her depression)
jostle v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for position) 2.
(d; intr.) to — with (the children were —ling with
each other)
journal n. ['diary'] 1. to keep a — ['magazine'] 2.
to publish, put out a — 3. to edit a — 4. to subscribe
to, take (esp. BE; old-fashioned) a — 5. a profes-
professional; scholarly ~
journalism n. advocacy; yellow—
journey I n. 1. to go on, make, set out on, under-
undertake a — 2. a long; pleasant; safe; sentimental; tir-
tiring ~ (we had a pleasant —) 3. a round-the-world
— 4. a — into; through; to
jonmey II v. (d; intr.) to — from; to
jowls n. heavy —
joy n. 1. to express; feel — 2. to find, take — 3. to
radiate — 4. boundless, great, indescribable, inef-
ineffable, overwhelming, sheer, unbounded, unbri-
unbridled — 5. — in (they found — in helping others) 6.
a - to + inf. (it was a - to behold) 7. - that +
clause (she could not hide her — that everyone was
safe) 8. for, with - (to dance with -)
joyful adj. — about, over
joyride n. to go for, on a —
jubilant adj. — about, at, over (they were — over
their victory)
n. 1. to express; feel — 2. — about, at,
136
over (— over a victory)
jubilee n. a diamond; golden; silver —
Judaism n. Conservative; Liberal (BE), Progres-
Progressive (BE); Orthodox; Reform - USAGE NOTE:
Liberal Judaism and Progressive Judaism in
Great Britain are approximately equivalent to
Reform Judaism in North America. Reform
Judaism in Great Britain is approximately equiv-
equivalent to Conservative Judaism in North America.
judge I n. 1. a fair, impartial; harsh, severe;
lenient — 2. a hanging ('severe') — 3. an adminis-
administrative; circuit; district; itinerant; trial — 4.
(sports) a field — 5. (mil.) a — advocate; a — advo-
advocate general
judge II v. 1. to — fairly, impartially; harshly,
severely, sternly; leniently 2. (d; intr.) to — by,
from (to — by appearances; to — from the facts) 3.
(colloq.) (L) we - that she is the best candidate 4.
(M) I - her to be about twenty years old 5. (Q) we
cannot — whether she is guilty
judgment, judgement n. 1. to display, exercise,
show — (she always exercises good —) 2. to form,
make a — 3. to hand down, pass, pronounce, ren-
render —>on 4. to sit in — on 5. to reserve — 6. good;
impaired; poor; sober; sound — (to display poor
—) 7. a value — 8. a — against; for 9. a — that +
clause (I repeat my — that he was to blame) 10. in
smb.'s — (in my —, she is not guilty)
judiciary n. the federal (US)-
judicious adj. (formal) - to + inf. (it would be -
to remain silent)
jugular n. ['jugular vein'] to go for the —(colloq.)
('to attempt to finish off)
juice n. 1. digestive, gastric —s 2. apple; fruit;
grapefruit; lemon; orange; tomato; vegetable —
jump I n. 1. to take a — (on horseback) 2. to make
a - (with a parachute) 3. (sports) the broad (AE),
long; high; ski; triple — 4. (sports) a water — 5. a
delayed (parachute) — 6. (basketball) the center
— 7. a quantum — 8. a — from; to 9. (misc.) to get
the — on smb. ('to anticipate smb.')
jump II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — across (to — across a
stream) 2. (d; intr.) to — at ('to be eager for') (she
—ed at the chance) 3. (d; intr.) to — for, with (to
— for joy) 4. (d; intr.) to — from, off (he —ed off
the roof) 5. (d; intr.) to — from; to (to — from one
topic to another) 6. (d; intr.) ('to leap') to — into;
onto (the child — ed into bed; the dog —ed onto the
sofa) 7. (d; intr.) to — on ('to attack') (he —ed on
his opponent) 8. (d; intr.) to — out of (to — out of
a window) 9. (d; intr.) to — over (to — over a
fence) 10. (d; intr.) to - to (to - to one's feet) 11.
(d; intr.) ('to rush') to — to (to — to conclusions; to
— to smb.'s defense) 12. (misc.) to — down smb.'s
throat ('to berate smb.'); to — up and down (for
joy)
jump dear v. (D; intr.) to — of (she —ed clear of
the wreckage)
jump down v. (D; intr.) to — from (he —ed down
from the roof)
jump off v. (d; intr.) to —to (she—ed off to a good
start)
jump up v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from one's
seat) 2. (D; intr.) to — on, onto (to — onto the
137
table)
jumpy adj. (colloq.) ['nervous'] — about
juncture n. 1. (ling.) close; open; terminal — 2.
(misc.) at this — ('in this situation')
jungle n. ['tropical forest'] 1. a dense; tropical —
['dangerous place'] 2. an asphalt, concrete;
blackboard -
junior I adj. 1. — in (— in rank) 2. — to (he is —
to me by three years)
junior II n. — by (he is my — by four years)
junket n. ['pleasure trip'] 1. to go on a — 2. a fact-
finding — 3. a — to (the legislators went on a — to
Hawaii)
junta n. 1. a military; revolutionary; ruling —2. by
— (government by —)
jurisdiction n. 1. to have — 2. local — 3. original;
primary — (a court of original —) 4. — over (to
have — over a case) 5. outside; under, within a —
(that case is under the — of this court)
jurisprudence n. analytical; medical —
juror n. 1. to challenge a (prospective) — 2. an
alternate; prospective —
jury n. 1. to empanel, swear in a — 2. to charge,
instruct; sequester a — (the judge charged the —)
3. to dismiss a — 4. to fix ('corrupt') a — 5. to serve
on a — 6. a hung ('deadlocked') — 7. a grand;
petit; trial - 8. a blue-ribbon ('special') - 9. a -
comes to, reaches a verdict 10. (misc.) the — is still
out ('the jury is still deliberating'); the - is still out
juxtaposition
on him (AE) ('a final decision has still not been
reached concerning him'); (a) trial by —
jury trial n. to waive a —
just adj. — to, towards
justice n. ['rules of law'] ['administration of law']
1. to administer, dispense, mete out, render — 2.
to obstruct — 3. to pervert — 4. divine; frontier
(US); poetic; summary — 5. — prevails6. a miscar-
miscarriage; travesty of — 7. (misc.) to bring (a criminal)
to —; to temper — with mercy ['recognition,
appreciation'] 8. to do — to (her portrait does not
do — to her) 9. in — to ['judge'] 10. an associate
(esp. US); chief (esp. US) -; Lord Chief Justice
(GB); a supreme court — ['magistrate'] 11. a traf-
traffic court -; a - of the peace USAGE NOTE: The
plural of Lord Chief Justice is Lords Chief Jus-
Justice.
justification n. to find - for
justified adj. — in (we are — in assuming that she
will attend)
justify v. 1. (B) can you — your actions to me? 2.
(G) nothing — ties cheating on an exam 3. (K)
what — fied her being late?
jut out v. l.(D; intr.) to —from; over (the balcony
—s out over the swimming pool) 2. (D; intr.) to —
into (to — into the sea)
juxtapose v. (D; tr.) to - with
juxtaposed adj. —with
juxtaposition n. in — with

kangaroo
к
kangaroo п. 1. —s hop, leap 2. (Australian) a mob
of-s
kayak n. to paddle a —
keel n. on an even — ('well-balanced')
keel over v. (D; intr.) to - from (to - from the
heat)
keen adj. ['very interested'] (esp. BE) 1. - on
(she's — on music; he's — on her) ['eager'] (BE) 2.
— to + inf. (she is — to pass the examination)
keep I n. ['maintenance'] to earn one's ~
keep II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to have') to — about (esp.
BE), around (do you — a screwdriver around the
house?) 2. (d; intr.) to - after ('to keep persuad-
persuading') (~ after the children: they are still too
untidy) 3. (d; tr.) to - at ('to hold') (she kept them
at their studies) 4. (d; tr.) ('to hold') to - for (the
librarian will - the book for you) 5. (d; intr., refl.)
to - from ('to refrain') (she could not - from talk-
talking) 6. (d; tr.) ('to conceal') to - from (to - a se-
secret from smb.) 7. (d; tr.) ('to hold back*); ('topre-
('toprevent') to — from (the rain kept us from going;
don't - her from her work) 8. (d; intr.) ('to
remain') to - off (- off the grass) 9. (d; tr.) ('to
hold') to - off (- the children off the street) 10.
(d; intr.) ('to remain') to — out of (— out of my
way; I kept out of their quarrel) 11. (d; tr.) ('to
hold') to — out of (— the guests out of the house)
12. (d; intr.) ('to be confined') to - to (she kept to
her room) 13. (d; intr.) ('to continue') to - to (to
— to the right) 14. (D; tr.) ('to reserve') to - to (to
— a secret to oneself) 15. (G) ('to continue') she
kept reading 16. (J) ('to cause') he kept us waiting
17. (N; used with an adjective, noun, past partici-
participle) (to maintain'); ('to hold') she kept us busy;
they kept him prisoner; the fire kept us warm; she
kept the children amused with her stories 18. (P;
intr., tr.) ('to continue'); ('to hold') to — right; to
— a car in a garage 19. (s) ('to remain') to - quiet;
to — warm
keep abreast v. l.(d; intr.) ('to be informed') to -
of (she kept abreast of the news) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
inform') to - of (they kept me abreast of the latest
developments)
keep after v. (H) ('to keep urging') they kept after
me to buy a new car
keep ahead v. (D; intr.) ('to remain in front') to-
of (he kept ahead of his rivals)
keep aloof v. (D; intr.) to-from ('to remain at a
distance from') (she kept aloof from the others)
keep away v. (D; intr., tr.) to - from (he kept
away from us; she kept the dogs away from the
children)
keep back v. (D; tr.) to - from (they kept her
back from the crowd)
keep dear v. (D; intr., tr.) to-of (-of him; they
kept the roads clear of snow)
keeping n. ['care'] 1. in - (in safe -) ['confor-
['conformity'] 2. in - with (in - with regulations) 3. out of
— with
138
keep on v. (G) ('to continue*) she kept on working
keep up v. (D; intr.) to — with ('to remain on the
same level with') (I ran to - with the others; she
worked hard to — with the other students)
keg n. a powder —
ketter (BE) see kilter
ken n. ['understanding'] beyond; within one's -
kettle n. 1. to put a-up to boil 2. a teakettle 3. a
- boils; whistles 4. (misc.) (colloq.) a fine - of
fish ('a mess') ^
kettledrum n. to play a-
key I .n. ['device for turning the bolt of a door'] 1.
to duplicate; make a — 2. to insert; turn a — 3. to
fit, match a — 4. a duplicate; master; skeleton — 5.
—s dangle (on a chain) 6. a bunch of —s 7. a — to
(a — to a door) ['solution'] 8. a — to (to hold the —
to a mystery; a — to the exercises in a textbook)
['system of notes'] (mus.) 9. a high; low; major;
minor - 10. in a (certain) - (played in the - of C)
11. off - ['button on a keyboard'] 12. to press,
strike a — 13. to jam a — 14. to de-jam a — 15. (on
a typewriter) a backspace; dead; de-jammer; shift
— 16. (on a computer) a function, soft —
key II v. see keyed
keyboard n. a standard —
keyed adj. (esp. BE) (cannot stand alone) — to (—
to the needs of our armed forces; our plants are —
to producing civilian aircraft)
keyed up adj. ['psychologically ready'] - for, over
(— for the big game)
keyhole n. to look through, peep through a—
keypanch n. to operate a —
keystone n. a —to (the —to success is hard work)
kibosh n. (colloq.) ['end'] to put the - on smt.
kick n. ['blow delivered with the foot'] 1. to give
smb. a - 2. a nasty, vicious - 3. (soccer) a free;
penalty — 4. a — in (a — in the groin) ['thrill']
(slang) 5. to get a — out of smt. ['strong effect']
(slang) 6. a - to (this vodka has a - to it)
kicks n. (colloq.) ['thrill'] for -(they did it for-)
kid v. (colloq.) (D;tr.) ('to tease good-naturedly')
to - about (they -ded him about his paunch)
kid around v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to fool') to -
with
kid gloves n. to treat smb. with — ('to treat smb.
with great deference or mildness')
kidney n. 1. to transplant a-2. an artificial; float-
floating-
kill I n. 1. to make a-(the lion made the-) 2. at
the - (to be in at the -) 3. (misc.) to go in for the
kill II v. 1. to -(smb.) outright 2. (usu.mil.) -ed
in action
killer n. ['murderer'] 1. a multiple, serial;
psychopathic — 2. a — strikes
kitting n. ['putting to death'] 1. (a) mercy - [Marge
profit'] (colloq.) 2. to make a —
kilter n. ['order'] out of—
kind I adj. 1. - of (that was very - of you) 2. ~
J39
to (— to animals) 3. — to + inf. (it was — of you to
help us)
kind II n. ['sort'] 1. of a - (of all -s; of several
—s; two of a —) ['same manner'] 2. in — (to be paid
back in —; to respond in —) ['goods'] 3. in — (to
pay smb. back in —) ['misc.'] (colloq.) 4. — of
('somewhat')
kindergarten n. to attend, go to—
kindly adv. ['readily'] to take — to ('to accept
readily')
kindness n. ['quality of being good, kind'] 1. to
display, show — 2. human — 3. — to, towards 4.
out of - (she did it out of -) ['good, kind act'] 5.
to do smb. a — 6. to repay, return a —
king n. 1. to crown a — 2. to crown; proclaim smb.
— 3. to depose, dethrone a — 4. (chess) to
checkmate a — 5. a despotic; popular; strong;
weak — 6. a — mounts a throne 7. a — abdicates (a
throne) 8. (misc.) to toast the —
kingdom n. the animal; mineral; plant, vegetable
king's evidence n. (BE) to turn — (see also
queen's evidence, state's evidence)
kink n. ['imperfection'] to iron out the —s
kinship n. to feel (a) - with smb.
kiosk n. a telephone - (BE; CE has telephone
booth)
kiss In. 1. to blow, throw; give (smb.) a — 2. to
steal a — 3. a fervent, passionate; French; loving,
tender - 4. a - on (a - on the cheek) 5. (misc.)
the-of death
kiss II v. 1. to -passionately; tenderly 2. (D;tr.)
to — on (she —ed the baby on the cheek) 3. (O; can
be used with one animate object) (she —ed him
goodnight)
kit n. ['equipment'] 1. a first-aid; instruction;
mess; sewing; shaving; survival — ['clothing and
equipment'] (BE) 2. camping; travelling - 3.
(misc.) (mil.) a — bag
kitchen n. a field; soup —
kite n. 1. to fly a - 2. (misc.) (AE; colloq.) go fly
a-! ('goaway')
kith n. ['friends and relatives'] — and kin
kitty n. ['fund, pool'] in the - (how much is in the
-?)
knack n. ['skill'] 1. to get, have the - of smt. 2. an
uncanny — 3. a — for (she has a — forgetting into
trouble) 4. a — to (there's a — to baking a good
cake)
knee n. 1. to bend one's—s 2. to dislocate; wrench
one's - 3. a trick ('defective') - 4. (fig.) at smb.'s
— (she learned the language at her mother's —) 5.
(usu. fig.) on bended - (s)
kneel v. (D; intr.) to - before
knell n. to sound, toll the—
knife n. ['instrument for cutting'] 1. to plunge a —
into smb. 2. to pull a - (on smb.) 3. to stab smb.
with a — 4. to sharpen a — 5. a dull; sharp — 6. a
bowie; boy-scout; bread; butcher (esp. AE),
butcher's (esp. BE); clasp; electric; flic (BE; AE
has switchblade); hunting; kitchen; paper (BE;
AE has letter opener); paring; pocket; sheath;
steak; trench — ['surgery'] 7. under the — (she was
under the — for two hours)
knowledge
knight n. to dub smb. —
knighthood n. to bestow a — on, upon
knit v. (C) — a scarf for me; or: — me a scarf
knitting n. ['action of knitting'] 1. to do — ['one's
own business'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 2. to mind,
stick to, tend to one's (own) —
knob n. 1. to turn a — 2. a control —
knock I n. ['thumping noise'] 1. engine — 2. a
gentle; loud — 3. a — at, on (a — at/on the door)
['blow'] (colloq.) 4. hard — s (she has taken some
hard —s in her life)
knock II v. 1. ('to rap') to - loudly 2. (colloq.) (d;
intr.) ('to wander') to — about, around (he —ed
around the western part of the state for a few
months) 3. (d; intr., tr.) ('to strike') to — against
(she —ed her head against the ceiling) 4. (D; intr.)
('to rap') to — at, on (to — at/on the door) 5. (d;
tr.) ('to pound') to — into (to — some sense into
smb.'s head) 6. (d; tr.) to - off ('to fell') (he -ed
me off my feet) 7. (d; tr.) ('to remove') to — out of
(the impact —ed two teeth out of his mouth) 8. (N;
used with an adjective) ('to render by striking') to
— smb. cold 9. (P; tr.) ('to render by striking') she
—ed me down 10. (misc.) — it off! (slang) ('stop!')
knock down v. (colloq.) (BE) (D; tr.) ('to per-
persuade to reduce a price') to — to (I —ed him down
to ten pounds)
knockout n. 1. to score a — 2. a technical —
knot n. 1. to tie; tighten a — 2. to loosen; undo,
untie a — 3. the Gordian — (to cut the Gordian —)
4. a loose; tight — 5. a bowline; granny; reef (esp.
BE), square-
know v. 1. (D; intr.) to — about, of (we knew
about the incident) 2. (D; tr.) to - as (I knew her
as a colleague) 3. (d; tr.) to — by (to — a poem by
heart; to — smb. by name; I knew her by sight
only) 4. (d; tr.) to — from ('to be able to differen-
differentiate') (the little child doesn't — a dog from a cat)
5. (H; only in the past and perfect) (I've known
her to lose her temper) 6. (BE) (I; only in the past
and perfect) I've known her lose her temper 7. (L)
we — that they will come 8. (formal) (M) I — him
to be a fool 9. (Q) she -s how to drive 10. (misc.)
to — smt. for a fact ('to know smt. to be true'); to
— smt. by heart; to — smt. inside out = to — smt.
backwards and forwards
know-how n. 1. the necessary — (he doesn't have
the necessary — for the job) 2. the — to + inf. (she
has the - to do the job)
knowing n. there is no — (what they will do)
knowledge n. 1. to acquire, accumulate, gain — 2.
to demonstrate, display, show; flaunt, parade
one's — (of a subject) 3. to communicate, dissemi-
disseminate; impart — 4. to absorb, assimilate, soak up —
5. (esp. BE) to bring smt. to smb.'s — 6. to brush
up (on) one's - (of a subject) 7. to deny - (of
smt.) 8. direct; extensive; inside, intimate; intui-
intuitive; profound, thorough; rudimentary, slight,
superficial — 9. fluent; reading; speaking; working
— (to have fluent — of English; to have reading/a
reading — of several languages) 10. common — 11.
carnal — (to have carnal — of) 12. — about, of 13.
the — to + inf. (she has enough — about the sub-
subject to write a good book) 14. the — that + clause

knowledgeable
140
(it is common — that he has spent time in prison)
15. to smb.'s - (to my -, she has never been here)
16. (esp. BE) to come to smb.'s — (it came to our
— that she had left town) 17. (misc.) to the best of
one's —
knowledgeable adj. -about
known adj. 1. - as (~ as a patron of the arts) 2. -
for (- for being witty) 3. - to (- to everyone) 4.
(cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (he is — to fre-
frequent that bar; she is — to be a patron of the arts)
5. — that + clause (it is — that she has a criminal
record)
knuckle n. 1. to rap smb. on, over the —s 2. to
crack one's —s 3. brass —s (AE; BE has knuckle
duster)
knuckle down v. (D; intr.) to-to (to-to work)
knuckle under v. (D; intr.) ('to submit') to ~ to
(to — to an aggressor)
kowtow v. (d; intr.) to - to (*to fawn over') (to -
to the boss)
kudos n. (colloq.) ['praise'] 1. - to smb. for smt.
(- to our mayor for reducing taxes) 2. (BE) to get
-for
141
I n. ['sticker'] 1. to attach, put on, stick on;
sew on a ~ 2. to bear, carry, have a — 3. to
remove, take off a — 4. an adhesive, gummed — 5.
a brand; designer; manufacturers'; union — (on a
garment) ['descriptive phrase in a dictionary
entry'] 6. to apply, use a — 7. a field; regional;
stylistic; temporal; usage; warning — ['recording
company'] 8. on, under a — (on what — was the
song recorded?) ['misc.'] 9. to pin a — on smb. ('to
assign smb. to a category')
label II v. 1. (d; tr.) to - as (he was -ed as a
delinquent) 2. (D; tr.) to - with (all items should
be —ed with a price) 3. (N; used with a noun) her
story was —ed a hoax
labor I labour n. ['work*] 1. to do, perform — 2.
manual, physical; menial; painstaking; produc-
productive; sweated (BE), sweatshop; skilled; unskilled
— 3. a division of — 4. (misc.) (a) division of —; a
— of love ['servitude'] 5. forced; hard; slave — (he
got ten years at hard —; democratic countries for-
forbid forced —; slave — has been outlawed) ['work
force'] 6. child; migrant; organized; seasonal; skil-
skilled; unskilled — ['giving birth'] 7. to induce — 8. to
go into — 9. difficult, prolonged, protracted; easy;
false — 10. in — (she was in — for five hours)
labor II labour v. 1. (d; intr.) to — as (to — as a
migrant worker) 2. (d; intr.) to — under (to —
under a misconception)
laboratory n. a chemistry; crime; language;
physics; research —
laborer, labourer n. 1. a common; day; immig-
immigrant; itinerant; skilled; unskilled — 2. (BE) an
agricultural labourer (CE has farm worker) 3.
(BE) a casual labourer (AE has transient worker)
lace I n. delicate; exquisite; fine —
lace II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into ('to attack ver-
verbally') (they —d into her for being late) 2. (D; tr.)
to — with ('to add to') (they —d the punch with
rum)
laceration n. a deep; minor, superficial; severe ~
lack I n. for —of (for — of fuel, their planes were
grounded)
lack II v. (D; intr.) to — for (formal) (we don't —
for anything)
lacking adj. 1. badly, completely, sadly, totally,
utterly — 2. — in (— in common sense)
n. to apply —
/i. a young —
n. ['framework with rungs for climbing'] 1.
to put up a — 2. to steady a — 3. to lean a —
(against a wall) 4. to climb, go up, mount a — 5. to
come down, descend a — 6. an aerial; extension;
rope — 7. an accommodation — (over the side of a
ship) ['unraveled stitches in a stocking'] (BE; AE
has runner) 8. to get, have a - ['path'] 9. the -
to success ['hierarchy'] 10. the social —
laden adj. 1. fully - 2. - with
lady n. 1. a leading; young — 2. (esp. AE) the first
— ('wife of the President or of a state governor') 3.
(esp. AE) a bag — ('a destitute woman living on
the streets') 4. (misc.) the first — of the American
theater
lag I n. 1. a cultural; time — 2. jet —
lag II v. (D; intr.) to — behind; in (she —ged
behind the others)
lag behind v. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in one's work)
laid up adj. - with (- with the flu)
lake n. 1. a deep; dry — 2. at, on a — (they have a
summer bungalow at/on the —)
lam I n. (slang) ['flight'] on the — (she took it on
the-) ('she fled')
lam II v. (slang) (d; intr.) to — into ('to attack')
lamb n. 1. a sacrificial — 2. — s bleat 3. (misc.) as
gentle as a —; like a — to (the) slaughter
lambchops n. 1. to broil (AE), grill - 2. a rack of
adj. — in (—in one leg)
1л. 1. a bitter —2. a —for
II v. 1. to-bitterly, deeply 2. (D; intr.) to
— for, over
lamp n. 1. to plug in a — 2. to turn on a — 3. to light
a — 4. to unplug a — 5. to turn off a — 6. an
anglepoise (BE); electric; floor (AE), standard
(BE); fluorescent; gooseneck; incandescent;
neon; reading; safety —; sunlamp; table;
ultraviolet; wall — 7. a kerosene (AE), paraffin
(BE); oil; spirit -
lance n. to throw a —
land I n. ['soil'] ['ground'] 1. to clear — (to clear
— of trees and brush) 2. to cultivate; irrigate;
redistribute — 3. arable; barren; fertile; grazing;
marginal — 4. private; public — 5. a plot of —
['solid surface of the earth'] 6. to raise, sight —
(from a ship) 7. to reach - 8. dry - 9. a body of -
10. by - (to travel by -) 11. on (the) - ['rural
area'] 12. to go back to the — ['country'] ['do-
['domain'] 13. one's native — 14. a promised — (we
were in the promised —) ['area'] 15. no man's —
(in no man's —) ['misc.'] 16. the Holy Land
land II v. (colloq.) (O)Cto punch') she-ed him
one in the eye
landfill n. a sanitary —
landing n. ['coming down to earth'] 1. to make a —
2. a belly; bumpy; crash; emergency; forced; hard;
instrument; pancake; safe; smooth; soft; three-
point — 3. a parachute — ['level part of a stair-
staircase'] 4. on a —
landing gear n. 1. to raise, retract a - 2. to let
down, lower a — 3. a retractable —
landlord n. an absentee; slum —
landscape n. a beautiful; bleak, gloomy—
lane n. 1. to shift —s 2. to cross over into, get over
into the other — 3. the fast (also fig.); inside; out-
outside; passing; slow — 4. (BE) the nearside ('left');
offside ('right') — 5. an air; sea; shipping —
language n. ['linguistic system of communication']
1. to use a — 2. to plan; standardize a — 3. to learn,
master a — 4. to speak (in) a — 5. to butcher, mur-

languish
der; enrich; purify a — 6. (the) spoken; written —
7. one's native — 8. a foreign; international,
world; national; official; second; universal — 9.
colloquial, informal; formal; idiomatic; literary,
standard; nontechnical; substandard; technical ~
10. an ancient; artificial; classical; creolized; dead,
extinct; living; modern; natural; sign; trade — 11.
an agglutinative; inflecting; isolating; synthetic;
tone — 12. an object, target; source — ['style of
speaking or writing'] 13. abusive; bad, coarse,
crude, dirty, foul, nasty, obscene, offensive,
unprintable, vile, vulgar; rough, strong, vitupera-
vituperative — 14. elegant; everyday, plain, simple; flow-
flowery; polite; rich — 15. children's; diplomatic —
['system of signs, symbols used by a computer'] 16.
a computer, machine, programming — ['misc.']
17. — acquisition; — maintenance
languish v. (D; intr.) (to —in prison)
lantern n. 1. to light a — 2. to shine a — on 3. a bat-
battery-operated; kerosene (AE), paraffin (BE);
propane ~ 4. a ~ flashes; gleams; shines
lap I n. ['complete circuit around a track'] 1. on a
- (they are on the last -) [4part of the body from
the knees to waist of a sitting person'] 2. in, on
smb.'s — (the little girl sat in her mother's —) 3.
(misc.) in the — of the gods ('with an uncertain
future')
lap II v. (d; intr.) to — against (the waves —ped
against the sides of the boat)
lapse I n. 1. a momentary, temporary— (of mem-
memory) 2. a linguistic — 3. a — in (a — in judgment)
lapse II v. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a coma)
larceny n. 1. to commit - 2. aggravated; grand;
petty; simple —
lard n. to render —
larder n. a full, well-stocked —
large 1. at — ('uncaptured') (the prisoner was still
at —) 2. an assemblywoman at — ('an assemblywo-
assemblywoman who represents several or all districts') 3. by
and — ('in general')
lark I n. ['prank'] for a — (he did it just for a —)
lark II n. ['type of bird'] -s sing, warble
lash v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against (the rain —ed
against the roof) 2. (d; intr.) to - at, into (the
speakers —ed into the government) 3. (d; tr.) to —
into (to — a crowd into a fury)
lash back v. (D; intr.) to - at, against (to - at
one's critics)
lash out v. (D; intr.) to — against, at
lasso n. 1. to throw a — 2. to catch with a —
last I adj., adv. 1. to come in — (in a race) 2. the
— to + inf. (she was the — to finish) 3. at —; at long
last II n. to breathe one's —
last III v. 1. (d; intr.) to - from; to, until (the
meeting —ed from one to three) 2. (P; intr.) the
examination —ed two hours; the food will — (us)
(for) a week; the meeting —ed (for) an hour
last rites n. to administer (the) —
last word n. to get in, have the —(she had the— in
the argument)
latch v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to — onto (since he
didn't know anyone else, he —ed onto us)
late adj. 1. - for (she was - for class) 2. - in (we
142
were — in filing our tax return; I was — in getting
up) 3. — with (they are — with the rent) 4. of —
('recently')
later adv. —on
lathe n. 1. to operate a — 2. a turret; vertical —
lather n. ['sweating'] to work oneself into a —
latitude n. ['freedom of action'] 1. to allow smb. ~
in (we are allowed quite a bit of — in selecting our
subjects) ['distance measured in degrees north or
south of the equator'] 2. high; low —s 3. at a — (at
a — of ten degrees north)
laudable adj. (formal) — to + inf. (it was — of you
to help them)
laugh I n. 1. to get a-(the joke got a big-) 2. to
stifle, suppress a — 3. a belly; derisive; forced;
hearty, loud; infectious; sardonic; subdued — 4.
(misc.) to have the last — on smb.; to do smt. for
a — (for —s)
laugh II v. l.(D; intr.) to — about ('to show one's
amusement by laughing') (everyone —ed about
the incident) 2. (D; intr.) to — at ('to respond to
smt. funny by laughter') (to — at a joke) 3. (D;
intr.) to — at Dto show one's derision') (they —ed
at our efforts; she —ed at our warnings) 4. (d; tr.)
to — out of ('to drive out by laughter') (he was —ed
out of court) 5. (N; used with an adjective) he —ed
himself hoarse 6. (misc.) to — up one's sleeve ('to
laugh secretly'); to burst out —ing
laughingstock n. to make a — of smb.
laughter n. 1. to cause, provoke — 2. contagious,
infectious; convulsive; derisive; hearty, loud,
raucous, uproarious; sardonic; subdued — 3. a
burst, fit, gale; ripple of — 4. (misc.) to double up
with-
launch v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to fire') to - against, at (the
missiles were — ed against enemy targets) 2. (d;
intr.) to — into ('to begin') (to — into a tirade)
laundry n. ['clothes, linens that are to be washed
or have been washed'] 1. to do the — 2. to dry;
fold; iron the — 3. clean; dirty — ['establishment
for washing clothes, linens'] 4. a self-service — 5.
at, in a — (they work at a —)
laurels n. to rest on one's—
lava n. —flows
lavish I adj. —in, with (—with praise; —in donat-
donating money to charity)
lavish II v. (d; tr.) to — on (to — gifts on smb.)
law n. ['statute, regulation'] 1. to administer,
apply, enforce a — 2. to adopt, enact, pass; draft;
promulgate a — 3. to obey, observe a — 4. to inter-
interpret a — (courts interpret —s) 5. to annul, repeal,
revoke a —; to declare a — unconstitutional (US)
6. to break, flout, violate a — 7. to challenge, test;
cite; strike down a — (in the courts) 8. a fair, just;
stringent; unfair — 9. a blue (US); dietary; ex post
facto; lemon (US); shield (US); sunset (US); sun-
sunshine (US); sus (GB); unwritten; zoning —; the
licensing —s (GB) 10. a — against (there is no —
against fishing) 11. a — that + clause (there is a —
that all income must be reported) ['body of sta-
statutes, regulations'] 12. to administer, apply,
enforce the — 13. toobey the — 14. to interpret the
— (courts interpret the —) 15. to break; flout the —
16. administrative; antitrust; business, commer-
143
cial; canon; case; civil; common; constitutional;
copyright; corporate; criminal; environmental;
family, marriage; feudal; immigration; interna-
international; Islamic; labor; lynch; maritime; military;
Mosaic; natural; occupation; parliamentary;
patent; private; public; Roman; statutory; sub-
substantive - 17. the supreme - (of the land) 18.
according to the - 19. against the - (it is against
the — to smoke in an elevator) ['jurisprudence']
['lawyer's profession'] 20. to practice — 21. to
study - ['principle'] 22. Mendel's; Newton's;
periodic — 23. the — of diminishing returns; the —
of gravity; the - of motion; the - of supply and
demand; (also fig.) the - of the jungle ['misc.'] 24.
to take the — into one's own hands; to lay down
the —; in the eyes of the —; an attorney at — (AE);
everyone is equal under the -; the letter of the -;
the spirit of the -; a higher ('divine') -
law and order n. to maintain —
lawful adj. - to + inf. (is it - to hunt deer in this
state?)
lawn n. to mow, trim a —
lawn mower n. to operate, work a-
lawsuit n. 1. to bring, file, institute; lose; settle;
win a — 2. a — against; over
lawyer n. 1. to hire, retain a - 2. a practicing - 3.
a civil-rights; corporation; criminal; trial — 4. a
Philadelphia ('shrewd') — 5. (humorous; usu.
mil.) a barrack-room (esp. BE), guardhouse (esp.
AE) — Da soldier who claims to know all about
military law')
lax adj. 1. — about (they are — about their appear-
appearance) 2. - in (the police were - in enforcing the
law)
laxative n. 1. to take a - 2. to prescribe a - 3. an
effective; mild; strong —
lay v. 1. (N; used with an adjective) ('to render');
('to place') she laid her soul bare; they laid the
boards flat 2. (colloq.) (O; can be used with two or
three objects) Dto bet') he laid me ten dollars (that
it would not rain) 3. (P; tr.) ('to place') we laid the
books on the table
layaway plan n. (esp. AE) (to buy smt.) on the -
layer n. 1. the bottom; outer; top — 2. an even;
uneven — 3. a protective — 4. in —s (to dress in —s)
lay off v. (D; tr.) to - from (she was laid off from
her job at the factory)
layout n. ['design'] an artist's; typographer's-
layover п. а - between (a - between planes)
leach out v. (D; tr.) Dto dissolve') to -from
lead I /liyd/ n. ['position in front'] ['leading posi-
position'] 1. to assume, take the — in 2. to build up,
increase one's — 3. to hold, maintain the — 4. to
follow smb.'s - 5. to give up, lose, relinquish the
— 6. a commanding — 7. a — over (she built up a
commanding — over her closest rivals) ['principal
role'] 8. to play the - 9. the female; male - ['due']
10. to run down, track down a - ['leash'] (BE) 11.
see leash 1,2
lead II/liyd/ v. 1. (D;tr.) ('to guide') to-against
fto — troops against the enemy) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
guide') to - by (to - smb. by the hand; to - a
horse by the bridle) 3. (d; intr.) ('to go') to -
from; to (the path —s from the house to the river;
lean
all roads — to Rome) 4. (d; tr.) ('to guide') to —
from; to (she led the group from the bus to the
auditorium) 5. (D; tr.) to - in (to - the students
in a cheer) 6. (d; intr.) ('to guide') to — into (the
prisoners were led into the courtroom) 7. (d; tr.)
('to guide') to - off (he led the team off the field)
8. (d; tr.) ('to guide') to — out of (the fire fighters
led them out of the burning building) 9. (d; tr.) ('to
guide') to - through (to - smb. through the fog)
10. (d; intr.) to - to ('to result in') (the infection
led to gangrene; these evening courses will — to an
academic degree) 11. (d; intr.) ('to begin') to —
with (the boxer led with a left jab) 12. (H) ('to
induce') what led her to resign? I was led to
believe that she would accept our offer 13. (P;
intr.) ('to go') the road —s nowhere 14. (misc.) to
— smb. a merry chase (AE) = to - smb. a merry/
pretty dance (BE)
lead back v. (D; intr., tr.) ('to return') to - to (the
road —s back to town; she led us back to the start-
starting point)
lead down v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to go') to — to (the path
—s down to the main road) 2. (d; tr.) ('to guide') to
— to (they led us down to the river)
leader n. 1. a born, natural; undisputed — 2. (in a
legislature) a floor; majority; minority; opposition
— 3. a labor; military; political; troop — 4. a
squadron — 5. a — in
leadership n. 1. to assume, take on, take over the
— 2. to exercise — 3. to relinquish, surrender — 4.
collective; party — 5. — in
lead off v. (D; intr.) ('to begin') to - with (she led
off with a lively song)
lead up v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to go up') to-to (the path
—s up to the top) 2. (d; intr.) to — to ('to precede
and cause') (can you describe the events that led
up to your decision?) 3. (D; tr.) ('to guide') to - to
(he led us up to the top)
leaf I n. 1. a fig - (also fig.) 2. a bay; tea - 3. gold
— 4. autumn; deciduous leaves 5. leaves fall; rus-
rustle; turn (the leaves were turning yellow) 6.
(misc.) to turn over a new — ('to make a fresh
start'); to take a - from smb.'s book ('to follow
smb.'s example')
leaf II v. (d; intr.) to — through ('to look through
superficially') (to — through a book)
leaflet n. propaganda —s (to drop propaganda —s
over enemy lines)
league n. ['alliance'] 1. to form a — 2. in — with
['group of teams'] 3. to form a - 4. (esp. Am.
baseball) a big, major; bush (colloq.), minor —
leak In. 1. to spring a — 2. to plug, stop a —
leak II v. l.(B) ('to divulge') they -ed the news
to the press 2. (d; intr.) Dto enter by flowing') to -
into (water -ed into the basement) 3. (D; intr.)
('to escape by flowing') to - out of (the oil -ed
out of the tank) 4. (D; intr.) Dto be divulged') to -
to (the news —ed to the press)
leak out v. (D; intr.) to-to (the news-ed out to
the press)
lean v. 1. (d; intr.) to — across, over (to— across
a table) 2. (d; intr.) to — against, on (to — against
a wall; to — on a desk) 3. (d; intr.) to — on ('to rely
on') (they had to - on their friends for help) 4.
12—127

leaning
(colloq.) (d; intr.) to — on ('to exert pressure on')
5. (d; intr.) to — out of (to — out of a window) 6.
(d; intr.) to - to (to - to one side) 7. (d; intr.) ('to
tend') to — to, towards (they are now —ing to our
position) 8. (misc.) to — over backwards to help
smb. Dto make a maximum effort to help smb.')
leaning n. 1. a strong - 2. a - towards (to have a
strong — towards political conservatism)
leap In. 1. a quantum — 2. a — forward
leap II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at ('to be eager for') (to
- at an opportunity) 2. (d; intr.) to - out of (the
dolphin -ed out of the water) 3. (d; intr.) to -
over (to — over a fence) 4. (misc.) to — to smb.'s
defense ('to defend smb. with enthusiasm')
leap down v. (D; intr.) to - from (to - from a
tree)
leapfrog I n. to play-
leapfrog II v. (d; intr.) to — from; to (American
forces —ged from one island to another)
learn v. 1. (d; intr.) to - about, of 2. (d; intr.) to
- by (to - by experience) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to -
from (to — from experience; she —ed everything
from me) 4. (E) she is —ing to drive 5. (L) we have
-ed that he has found a job 6. (Q) they are -ing
how to dance
learning n. book (colloq.); higher; programmed -
lease I n. 1. to take a — 2. to lose; renew a — 3. to
cancel a — 4. mining; (off-shore) oil —s 5. a —
expires, runs out 6. under (a) — (to hold land
under -) 7. (misc.) a new - of (BE), on (AE) life
('a new chance to lead a happy life')
lease II v. 1. (usu. B; occ. A) to - property to
smb. 2. (D; tr.) to — as (they —d the building as a
warehouse) 3. (D; tr.) to - from (to - property
from smb.)
lease out v. (B) to - property to smb.
leash n. ['strap'] 1. to slip ('get free of) a - 2. on
a — (to walk a dog on a —) ['control'] ['restraint']
3. to hold in — 4. to strain at the — ('to attempt to
cast off controls')
least n. at the -
leather n. composition; genuine; imitation;
patent; saddle —
leave I n. ['period of absence from duty, work'] 1.
to give, grant a — 2. to extend smb.'s — 3. to go on
—; to take a — 4. to overstay one's — 5. to cancel
smb.'s — 6. an annual; compassionate; maternity;
research; sabbatical; shore; sick; terminal —; a —
of absence 7. on - (she was on maternity -) ['per-
['permission'] (formal) 8. to ask - (to do smt.) 9. by
smb.'s - ['departure'] (formal) 10. to take - of
['misc.'] 11. to take — of one's senses ('to act irra-
irrationally') (see the Usage Note for vacation)
leave II v. 1. (A) ('to bequeath') he left his estate
to her; or: he left her his estate 2. (C) ('to entrust')
she left the report for me; or: she left me the report
3. (D; intr.) ('to depart') to - for (they have left
for London) 4. (D; tr.) ('to abandon') to - for
(she left her comfortable home for a rugged life in
the desert; he was left for dead on the battlefield;
to ~ Paris for London) 5. (d; tr.) to - out of ('to
omit') (we had to — this paragraph out of the text)
6. (d; tr.) ('to abandon') to - to (we left them to
their own devices; I — the decision to your judg-
144
ment) 7. (d; tr.) ('to cause to remain') to — with
(they left the children with her mother; she left her
books with us) 8. (H) ('to take leave of) we left
them to muddle through on their own 9. (J) ('to
abandon') I left him working in the garden 10. (N;
used with an adjective, past participle, noun) ('to
cause to be in a certain state or condition') they
left the fields fallow; the film left me cold; the
flood left them homeless; — me alone; the enemy
left the countryside devastated; the war left her an
orphan 11. (P; tr.) ('to forget') I left my books at
home
leave of absence n. see leave I
leave up v. (B) we left this decision up to her
lecture I n. ['formal talk'] 1. to deliver, give a-2.
to attend; follow ('understand') a — 3. a — about,
on 4. at a — ['reprimand'] 5. to give smb. a —
(about smt.)
lecture II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to discuss formally') to
— about, on 2. (D; tr.) ('to reprimand') to — for
(she ~d the boys for being late) 3. (d; intr.) ('to
discuss formally') to - to (to - to advanced stu-
students)
lecturer n. La senior-(BE) 2. a-in, on (a-in
English) (see the Usage Note for professor)
leech n. to apply—es to
leer v. (D; intr.) to —at
leery adj. —of
leeway n. to give, provide —
left n. ['left side'] 1. on the -; to the - ['radical,
leftist group'] 2. the extreme, far - ['punch deliv-
delivered with the left hand'] 3. to deliver, throw a - 4.
a hard, stiff - 5. a - to (a - to the head) ['turn to
the left'] (colloq.) 6. to take a -
leftovers n. to eat up; use up —
leg n. 1. to bend; cross; kick; lift, raise; lower;
spread; straighten; stretch one's —s 2. a game,
gammy (BE) ('lame') — 3. an artificial, wooden —
4. (an animal's) front; hind —s 5. (misc.) he
doesn't have a — to stand on ('he has no defense');
to pull smb.'s — ('to deceive smb.'); on one's last
—s ('near collapse'); to get a — up on smt. (AE;
slang) ('to be in command of a situation')
legacy n. 1. to hand down a — 2. a lasting — 3. a —
to
legal adj. — to + inf. (is it — to own a pistol in this
state?)
legend n. ['inscription'] ['wording'] 1. to bear a —
['myth, story'] 2. a - arises 3. a living; local; popu-
popular — 4. a — to (her exploits were a — to millions)
['notable person'] 5. to become a — (in one's own
time)
legislation n. ['statutes, laws'] 1. to adopt, enact,
pass; draft — 2. to veto; vote down — 3. to abro-
abrogate, repeal - 4. emergency; progressive; reme-
remedial; social —
legislature n. 1. to convene a — 2. to disband, dis-
dismiss, dissolve a — 3. a bicameral —
legitimacy n. 1. to confirm; establish the - (of
smt.) 2. to challenge, question the — (of smt.)
legitimate adj. - to + inf. (is it - to pose such
questions?)
legwork /i. (colloq.) to do the —
leisure n. at one's —
1
И5
lend v. 1. (A) she lent the money to him; or: she
lent him the money 2. (d; refl.) to — to ('to be suit-
suitable for') (it -s itself to satire) (see the Usage
Note for loan II)
length n. 1. at — (she described each event at great
—) 2. in — (ten feet in —) 3. (misc.) to keep smb.
at arm's — ('to keep smb. at a certain distance'); to
go to great —s to do smt. ('to make a great effort
to do smt.')
leniency n. 1. to show — 2. — towards, with
lenient ad]. — towards, with
lens n. 1. to grind a — 2. a concave; convex; crys-
crystalline; telephoto, telescopic — 3. contact; correc-
corrective —es
leopard n. La snow — 2. a young — is a cub 3. a
female — is a leopardess
leprosy n. 1. to develop - 2. to have, suffer from
lese majesty n. — against
lesion n. an open —
lesson n. ['instruction'] 1. to take —s (to take —s in
English) 2. to study one's —s 3. a — in ['something
that should be known'] 4. to learn a — 5. to teach
smb. a — 6. a moral; object — 7. a — to (let that be
a — to you)
let v. 1. (esp. BE; AE has to rent out) (B) ('to
give the use of in return for payment') they —
rooms to students 2. (I) ('to allow') we cannot —
them go 3. (esp. BE) (N; used with an adjective)
('to leave') — it alone
lethargy n. (in) a state of—
let in v. 1. (D; refl.) to - for ('to cause') (you'll -
yourself in for a lot of trouble if you take her in as
a partner) 2. (d; tr.) to — on ('to share') (to — smb.
in on a secret)
let off v. (D;tr.) ('to release') to-with (he was let
off with a small fine)
let on v. 1. (D; intr.) to — about ('to reveal') (she
did not ~ about her promotion) 2. (L; to) ('to indi-
indicate') he let on (to the accused) that he could be
bribed
let out v. (esp. BE) (B) to — rooms to students
(see also rent out)
let's (verbal form) (F) — continue; — go
letter n. ['written message'] 1. to type; write a — 2.
to mail, post (BE), send a — 3. to drop a — into a
mailbox (AE), letter box (BE) 4. to certify; regis-
register a — 5. to take (down), transcribe a — 6. to dic-
dictate a — 7. to deliver; forward a — 8. to get, receive
a — 9. a brief; detailed; long; rambling — 10. an
anonymous; business; chain; fan; follow-up;
form; love; open; pastoral; personal; poison-pen
— 11. an airmail; certified; dead; express; regis-
registered; special-delivery — 12. the —s crossed in the
mail (esp. AE), post (BE) 13. a — about 14. a —
from; to (we received a — from her about the inci-
incident) 15. in a - ['unit of an alphabet'] 16. a block;
capital, large, upper-case; lower-case, small —
['first letter of the name of a school, college denot-
denoting membership on a sports team'] (AE) 17. to
earn, win one's — 18. a school —
lettuce n. 1. crisp — 2. bib; iceberg; leaf — 3. a
head of -
letup п. а — in (there was no — in the bickering)
12*
license
let up v. (D; intr.) ('to ease up') to — on (she
should — on the children)
leukemia, leukaemia n. 1. to develop-2. to have,
suffer from — 3. acute —
level I adj. — with (to draw — with; — with the
street)
level II n. ['height'] ['plane'] 1. to reach a — 2. a
high; low — 3. an energy; poverty — 4. eye;
ground; sea; water — 5. the federal (US),
national; international; local; state (US) — 6. at,
on a — (at sea —; at the highest —s; on the interna-
international —) ['instrument for determining a horizon-
horizontal plane'] 7. a spirit —
level III v. 1. (d; tr.) to — against (to — charges
against smb.) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (the village was
—ed to the ground) 3. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to — with
('to tell the truth to') (she —ed with me)
level best n. to do one's —
lever n. 1. (in a polling booth) to pull a — 2. a gear
-(BE;AEhas gearshift)
levy I n. to impose a — (on)
levy II v. (D;tr.) to —on (to —a tax on rum)
lexicon n. to compile a—
liability n. 1. to accept, acknowledge, assume,
incur, take on a — 2. full; limited — 3. a — for (we
assumed full — for our children's debts)
liable adj. ['legally obligated'] 1. — for; to (she is —
to them for her children's debts) ['likely'] 2. (can-
(cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (she is — to show up
at any time)
liaise v. (BE) (D; intr.) ('to mediate') to -
between; with
liaison n. ['communication'] 1. to establish; main-
maintain — 2. a — between; with ['adulterous relation-
relationship'] 3. to have a — with
liar n. an abject, congenital, consummate, incor-
incorrigible, inveterate, outright, pathological —
lib n. (colloq.) women's - (see liberation 1)
libel n. 1. to commit — 2. (a) — against
liberal I adj. -in;with
liberal II n. a bleeding-heart; knee-jerk; staunch
liberate v. (D; tr.) to — from
liberation n. 1. women's — 2. — from
liberties n. ['undue familiarity'] to take — with
liberty n. ['freedom'] 1. to gain — 2. individual,
personal; political; religious — 3. civil —ties ['per-
['permission'] 4. to take the — (of doing smt.) (may I
take the — of reminding you of your promise?)
['authorized absence'] (AE) (naval) 5. on —
['misc.'] 6. are you at — to give us any informa-
information?
library n. 1. to accumulate, build up a — 2. to com-
computerize a — 3. a children's; circulating, lending;
law; mobile; municipal; music; public; reference;
rental; research; school; university — 4. at, in (she
works at/in the —)
license I licence n. 1. to grant, issue a — 2. to
apply for; receive; renew a — 3. to revoke; sus-
suspend a — 4. a driver's (AE), driving (BE); dog;
hunting; liquor (esp. AE); marriage; state {esp.
US) - 5. poetic - 6. a - to + inf. (we had a - to
sell beer)
license II v. (H) she is—d to practice nursing

Иск
lick v. 1. (d; intr.) to - at (the flames ~ed at the
roof of the next house) 2. (N; used with an adjec-
adjective) she —ed the plate clean
lid n. ['cover'] 1. to cover smt. with a — 2. to put a
— on smb. ['curb'] 3. to clamp, clap, put a - on
smt.
lie I n. ['falsehood'] 1. to tell a - 2. to give the -
to ('to prove to be false') 3. a bald-faced,
barefaced, blatant, brazen, deliberate, down-
downright, monstrous, outright, transparent, whop-
whopping; white — 4. a pack, tissue, web of —s 5.
(misc.) to live a — ('to continue to do something
which is felt to be dishonest')
lie II v. l.to~flatly,outright2.(D;intr.)('totell
a falsehood') to - to (he lied to the judge)
lie III v. 1. ('to be') to - ahead 2. ('to be in a
reclining position') to - flat; still 3. (P; intr.) ('to
be located') to — in bed; Mexico —s to the south 4.
(s) to - fallow (the field lay fallow) 5. (misc.) to -
in wait for
lie-detector test n. 1. to administer, give a — 2. to
subject smb. to a — 3. to take a — 4. to fail; pass a
lie down v. (misc.) to take smt. lying down ('to
accept smt. without protest'); to — on the job ('to
work very little')
lief adv. (obsol.) ['willingly'] - + inf. (I would as
— remain at home)
lien n. ['legal claim'] 1. to put, slap (esp. AE; col-
loq.) a — on smt. 2. to have a — on smt.
lie to v. (D; intr.) to-about (she ~d to me about
the incident)
lieutenant n. 1. a first; flight (GB); second - 2. a
— junior grade (US)
life n. 1. to lead a - (to lead a busy ~) 2. to pro-
prolong; save a — 3. to devote one's — (to smt.) 4. to
spend one's - (doing smt.) 5. to give, lay down,
sacrifice; risk one's - 6. to claim, snuff out, take a
— (she took her own —; the accident claimed many
lives) 7. to ruin smb.'s - 8. to bring; restore smb.
to — 9. to come to —; to take on — (the statue took
on — in the sculptor's skilled hands) 10. an active;
ascetic, austere; busy, hectic; charmed; clois-
cloistered; difficult, hard, miserable, tough; dissi-
dissipated, dissolute; dull; easy; exciting; full; happy;
idyllic; lonely, solitary; long; monastic; peaceful,
quiet, serene; short; simple; stormy, turbulent -
11. campus (esp. AE); city; civilian; country,
rural; married; modern; nomadic; political; public
— (in civilian ~ the sergeant was a teacher; mar-
married — seems to agree with them; the hunters led a
nomadic —) 12. smb.'s family, home; love; per-
personal; private; sex; social — (to lead a hectic social
—; in private — she was very easygoing) 13. ani-
animal; bird; human; marine; plant — 14. smb.'s
adult — 15. the shelf - (of smt. being sold in a
store) 16. in - (early in ~) 17. (misc.) in the prime
of —; the facts of ~; the accused got — ('the
accused was sentenced to life imprisonment'); to
show signs of —; (to hang on) for dear — ('with all
one's energy'); not on your - ('not for anything in
the world'); to start a new —; to make a new — for
oneself; to breathe (new) — into smt.; to bring
back to —; to stake one's - on smt.; a way of ~
146
lifeboat n. 1. to launch, lower a — 2. to swamp a -
(the — was swamped in the surf) 3. (misc.) to take
to the —s
life insurance n. to take out — on
lifeline n. ['rope used to save a life'] 1. to throw
smb. a — ['vital route'] 2. to cut a — 3. a — to
lifestyle n. a sedentary —
lifetime n. 1. to devote a - (to smt.) 2. in one's-
3. (misc.) to last a ~
lift I n. ['device for raising and lowering people
and freight'] (BE; AE has elevator) 1. to operate
a ~ (a liftboy or liftman operates a —) 2. to take a
~ (we took the — to the tenth floor) 3. a service ~
(see also elevator 1-6) ['conveyor suspended
from a cable'] 4. a chair, ski — ['ride'] (colloq.) 5.
to bum; get a ~ (from smb.) 6. to give smb. a ~
['boost, inspiration'] (colloq.) 7. to get a — (from
smb. or smt.) 8. to give smb. a ~ (your words of
encouragement gave us a real ~)
lift II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to raise') to ~ from (she did
not - her head from the TV set) 2. (d; tr.) ('to
steal') to ~ from (the material was ~ed from
smb.'s dissertation)
lift up v. (D; tr.) to-to (he-ed the child up to the
ceiling)
ligament n. to strain; tear a—
light I adj. 1. to make —of ('to attach little impor-
importance to') 2. -of foot
light II n. ['illumination'] ['source of brightness']
1. to put on, switch on, turn on a — 2. to shine a —
on smt. 3. to cast, shed — on smt. 4. to extinguish,
turn off, turn out a — 5. to dim the —s, turn the —s
down; to turn the ~s up 6. a bright, strong; dull,
faint; harsh; soft —; moonlight; sunlight 7. an elec-
electric; klieg; landing; neon; overhead; pilot; strobe;
traffic — 8. (on a car) a backup (AE), reversing
(BE); dome; instrument; parking —; taillight 9. a
— flickers; goes on; goes out; the —s are off, out;
the ~s are on 10. - travels (very fast) 11. (BE) the
—s have fused ('a fuse has blown') 12. by the — of
(to read by the - of a candle) ['traffic light'] 13. to
go through a — 14. against a — (to cross against the
—) 15. at a — (to stop at a —) ['flame used to light
a cigarette'] 16. to give smb. a — ['misc.'] 17. in —
of ('in view of); in the harsh —of reality; a guiding
— ('one who sets an example'); to see the — ('to
comprehend the truth'); to bring smt. to — ('to
make smt. known'); to come to — ('to become
known'); she wanted to see her name in —s ('she
wanted to succeed on the stage and become fa-
famous'); the northern —s; the southern —s
light III v. (D; intr.) (to — on, upon ('to come
across') (to — on a rare dictionary)
light bulb n. see bulb 1-4
lighter n. a cigarette —
lighting n. 1. direct; indirect; soft - 2. electric -
lightning n. 1. ball; forked; heat, sheet - 2. -
flashes; strikes 3. a bolt, flash, stroke of —
light out v. (colloq.) (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to -for
('to leave for') USAGE NOTE: The past and past
participle of this verb are usu. lit oMf--she lit out
for home.
light up v. (D; intr.) to -with (her face lit up with
pleasure)
147
liniment
like I prep, (colloq.) —to + inf. (it was —them to
be late)
like II v. 1. to — a great deal, a lot, very much 2.
(E) he ~s to read 3. (G) she ~s reading 4. (H; no
passive) (often with the conditional) I'd — him to
go; I — people to tell me the truth; I'd — you to go;
AE also has, slightly colloq.: I'd — for you to go 5.
(M) we — our friends to be honest 6. (N; used with
an adjective) I - my steak rare USAGE NOTE:
The verb like can be used with it + clause-I like
it when you smile; I'd like it if you smiled.
likelihood n. 1. great; little - 2. - that + inf.
(there is every — that she'll come) 3. in all —
likely adj. 1. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (she
is — to show up; it is not - to snow) 2. — that +
clause (it is — that there will be more rain)
liken v. (d; tr.) ('to compare') to — to (her estate
could be —ed to a fortress)
likeness n. 1. to catch a-(the artist caught the—)
2. to bear a — 3. a striking, uncanny — 4. a family
— 5. a — between; to
likewise adv. to do —
liking n. 1. to take a — to 2. to develop a — for 3.
to one's — (that is not to my —)
limb n. 1. an artificial — 2. the lower; upper —s 3.
(misc.) out on a — ('in a precarious position')
limbo n. in — (in political ~)
limelight n. 1. to hold the - 2. to hog the - 3. in
the (public) -
limit I #i. 1. to place, put, set a - on 2. to disre-
disregard, exceed a — 3. an age; speed; time; weight —
4. a — on, to 5. within —s 6. (misc.) to push smb.
to the -
limit II v. (D;refl.,tr.) to-to (she had to-her-
to-herself to twenty minutes)
limitations n. 1. to put — on 2. budgetary, finan-
financial - 3. within certain —
limited adj. 1. — in (— in resources) 2. — to
limits n. 1. city - 2. (AE) (esp. mil.) off - to; on
— to (the bar was put off — to all military person-
personnel) 3. within (reasonable) —
limousine n. 1. to hire; take a — 2. an airport; bul-
bulletproof —
limp n. 1. to have a — 2. a decided, marked, pro-
pronounced; slight —
line n. ['long, thin mark'] 1. to draw a — 2. a bro-
broken; contour; crooked; curved; dotted; fine, thin;
heavy, thick; horizontal; parallel; perpendicular;
solid, unbroken; straight; vertical; wavy —
['queue'] (AE) 3. to form a — 4. to buck ('push
into') a — 5. to get into ~; to wait in — 6. a check-
checkout; chow — ['row'] 7. to form a - 8. a picket;
police; receiving — ['row of characters'] 9. to
indent; insert a — 10. (fig.) to read between the —s
['text'] ['unit of text'] 11. to deliver a — 12. to go
over, rehearse one's —s (the actors had to
rehearse their —s several times) 13. to fluff one's
—s 14. a dull; witty — (there isn't a dull — in the
whole play) ['route'] 15. to introduce a (new) —
16. to discontinue a — 17. a feeder; main — 18. a
bus; commuter; high-speed; steamship; streetcar
(AE), tram (BE) - 19. supply ~s (to cut enemy
supply —s) ['path'] 20. to follow a — (to follow a —
of reasoning; to follow the — of least resistance)
['telephone connection'] 21. to get a —; to give
smb. a - 22. the - is busy (AE), engaged (BE) 23.
an outside; party ('shared') - 24. a hot - (the hot
— between Washington and Moscow; a hot — for
missing children) ['note'] 25. to drop smb. a — ['in-
['information'] 26. to get a — on smb. ['type of mer-
merchandise'] 27. to carry; handle; introduce a — 28.
to discontinue, drop a — 29. a complete, full —
['policy'] 30. to adhere to, follow, hew to, pursue,
take a — 31. a firm, hard; official; party — (to hew
to the official ~) ['flattering talk'] (colloq.) 32. to
give, hand smb. a — ['wire'] ['pipe'] ['conduit'] 33.
a fuel; oil; sewage; steam; telegraph; telephone —
34. high-voltage; power —s (the power —s are
down) ['boundary'] 35. a city; county; snow;
squall; state; township; tree - 36. (sports) a base;
end; foul; goal; service —; sideline 37. at, on a —
(at the goal —; on the base —; on the sidelines)
['established position along a front'] ['boundary]
(mil.) 38. to hold a - 39. a battle; cease-fire; fir-
firing; front — 40. (the) enemy —s (behind enemy
—s) 41. at, on a — (on the cease-fire —) ['conveyor
belt'] 42. an assembly, production — (to work on
an assembly —) ['occupation'] ['field of interest']
43. what — are you in? ['contour'] 44. the —s of a
ship ['limit'] 45. to hold the — (on prices) 46. to
draw the — ('to set a limit') ['turn'] ['order'] 47. in
— for (she is next in — for promotion) ['align-
['alignment'] 48. in —; out of — (the wheels are out of —)
['conformity'] 49. to toe the — 50. to bring smb.
into —; to keep smb. in — 51. to get into —; to get
out of — 52. in — with (in — with your stated pol-
policy) ['cord, device for catching fish'] 53. to cast a —
54. to reel in; reel out a — 55. a fishing — ['rope']
56. to throw a — to smb. (who is in the water) 57.
a plumb — ['division'] 58. to cross a — 59. a color
— (to cross the color ~) ['tendency'] 60. along, on
certain —s (along modern —s) ['dynasty'] 61. to
establish, found a — 62. an unbroken — ['distinc-
['distinction'] 63. a fine, nebulous, thin — between
['misc.'] 64. the bottom — ('the final result'); to be
on the firing — ('to be at the center of activity'); to
sign on the dotted — ('to sign an agreement'); a
credit — ('amount of credit alowed'); to walk a
straight —; to put smt. on the — ('to risk smt.'); to
lay it on the — ('to speak candidly'); on — ('in
operation'); in (the) — of duty
linen n. 1. to change the (bed) — 2. fresh — 3.bed;
fine; table -
liner I n. ['steamship'] a luxury; ocean; pas-
passenger; transatlantic —
liner II n. ['lining'] a helmet—
lineup n. 1. a police — (AE; BE has identification
parade) 2. (AE) to be in a — (as a suspect)
line up v. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in three ranks)
linger v. (d; intr.) to — over ('to take one's time
with') (don't — over your coffee)
n. (colloq.) ['language, dialect'] to speak the
linguistics n. applied; comparative; contrastive;
descriptive; general; generative; historical —;
psycholinguistics; sociolinguistics; structural;
transformational —
liniment n. to apply, rub in —

lining
lining п. 1. a brake; coat - 2. a zip-in - 3. (misc.)
a silver — ('the bright side of a problem')
link In. 1. to constitute a — 2. a close; strong;
weak — 3. a connecting - 4. the missing — 5. a cuff
- 6. a - between; to, with (he has ~s to the under-
underworld) 7. (misc.) (GB) the fixed - (under the
Channel)
link II v. (D; tr.) to - to, with (these events are
—ed to each other)
linkage п. — between, to, with
links n. ['golf course'] (out) on the —
link up v. (D; intr.) to — with (we —ed up with
their forces on the Danube)
linoleum n. inlaid ~
lion n. 1. a mountain — 2. ~s roar 3. a pride of —s
4. a young — is a cub 5. a female — is a lioness 6.
(misc.) the — is the king of beasts
lip n. 1. to lick; move; part; pucker; purse one's ~s
2. to press one's —s to (she pressed her —s to the
baby's forehead) 3. chapped; dry; moist; thick;
thin —s 4. the lower; upper — 5. from smb.'s —s (I
heard it from his —s) 6. on one's —s (she died with
a prayer on her —s) 7. on everyone's —s (his name
was on everyone's —s) 8. (misc.) to bite one's —
('to restrain oneself); to moisten one's —s; to lick/
smack one's —s ('to anticipate or remember with
pleasure'); to keep a stiff upper - ('to refuse to
become discouraged'); don't give me any of your
— ('don't be impudent with me'); to seal smb.'s —s
('to induce smb. to remain silent'); to read —s
lip service n. ['meaningless promise'] to pay — to
lipstick n. to apply, put on; remove, wipe off-
liquid n. 1. (a) clear; cloudy - 2. (a) dishwashing
liquor n. ['alcoholic drinks'] (esp. AE) 1. to ply
smb. with — 2. to hold one's — 3. hard, strong - 4.
malt —
list I n. ['catalog, roll'] 1. to compile, draw up,
make (up) a - 2. to head a - 3. to go down, read
down a — 4. an alphabetical —; checklist; dean's
(AE); guest; mailing; shopping; waiting - (to go
down a checklist) 5. a short - (of candidates) 6. a
casualty — 7. on a — (she was third on the —; high
on the — of priorities)
list II v. ('to include') l.(d; intr.) to -among (to
be -ed among the casualties) 2. (d; refl., tr.) to -
as (she —ed herself as an independent voter; he
was —ed as missing)
list III n. ['tilt'] a - to (a - to starboard)
list IV v. (D; intr.) ('to tilt') to-to (to-to star-
starboard)
listen v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for a signal) 2.
(D; intr.) to - to (to - to advice)
listen in v. (D; intr.) to - on, to (to - on smb.'s
conversation)
listen to v. l.(esp. AE)(I)we~edtothemsing2.
(J) we —ed to them singing
listing n. an exclusive ~ (of a property being sold)
Kst price n. (to sell smt.) at -
lists n. ['combat arena'] to enter the —
literate adj. —in
literature n. 1. to produce (a)~ 2.(an) extensive,
voluminous — 3. belletristic; classical; contempo-
contemporary; modern; professional; pulp — 4. compara-
148
tive — 5. a body of — (a considerable body of —) 6.
— about, on (there was extensive — on the topic)
litigation n. 1. to initiate, start — 2. — over; with 3.
in — (the case was in ~)
little adv. 1. precious - 2. - by - ('gradually')
liturgy n. to chant; offer; recite the —
live I /layv/ adv. ['directly'] to come — (this tele-
telecast is coming to you - from Wimbledon)
live II /liv/ v. 1. to - dangerously; high 2. (d;
intr.) to - by ('to adhere to') (to - by certain prin-
principles) 3. (d; intr.) ('to exist') to - for (they - only
for their children) 4. (d; intr.) ('to subsist') to —
off, on (they — on her salary; you cannot — on love
alone; to - off one's parents) 5. (D; intr.) ('to sur-
survive') to - to (she ~d to ninety) 6. (d; intr.) ('to
cohabit') to - with (they - with each other) 7.
(colloq.) (d; intr.) to - with ('to tolerate') (can
you — with this arrangement?) 8. (E) she ~d to
regret her decision; he ~d to be ninety 9. (P; intr.)
('to reside') to — in the country 10. (misc.) they —
beyond their means ('they spend more than they
earn'); to — from hand to mouth ('to eke out a
bare living'); to — from day to day ('to be con-
concerned only with the present'); to - together ('to
cohabit')
livelihood n. to earn one's —
livestock n. to graze —
live up v. 1. (d; intr.) to - to ('to satisfy') (to - to
expectations) 2. (misc.) (colloq.) to - it up ('to
enjoy oneself ostentatiously')
livid adj. - with (~ with rage)
Kving n. ['livelihood'] 1. to earn, get (BE), make a
— 2. to eke out a - (to eke out a precarious ~) 3.
a comfortable; honest - (to earn a comfortable ~)
['manner of existence'] 4. communal; high; subur-
suburban — 5. a standard of —
Kving room n. a sunken —
load I n. 1. to carry, transport a — 2. to lessen,
lighten a load (also fig.) 3. a heavy; light - 4. a
capacity, maximum, peak — 5. a case; work —
load II v. l.(D;tr.)to~into,onto(to~coalinto
a ship) 2. (d; tr.) to — to (to — a ship to full capac-
capacity) 3. (D; tr.) to — with (to — a ship with coal)
load down v. (d; tr.) to - with
loaf n. 1. a fish; meat - 2. a - of bread
loan I n. 1. to float, negotiate, raise a - 2. to
make a — 3. to get, receive a — 4. to secure; under-
underwrite a — 5. to pay off, repay a — 6. an interest-
free; long-term; low-interest; short-term — 7.
interlibrary — (she got the book on/through inter-
library —) 8. a — to 9. on — from; to (the painting
was on — to the National Gallery from the
Louvre)
loan II v. (A) she —ed the money to me; or: she
-ed me the money USAGE NOTE: When to
loan means 'to lend officially', it is CE-the
Louvre has loaned a painting to the National Gal-
Gallery. When it means 'to lend', it is esp. AE-she
loaned me the money.
loanword n. 1. to adopt a-2. a-from (a-from
French)
loath adj. (pompous or lit.) (cannot stand alone)
— to + inf. (we are ~ to summon the authorities)
loathe v. 1. to - deeply, intensely 2. (G) he ~s
149
loom
working
loathing /i. 1. deep, intense - 2. - for
lob v. (D;tr.) to-at (to-a ball at smt.)
lobby I n. ['pressure group'] 1. an education;
farm; labor; oil — ['large hall'] 2. a hotel; theater
— 3. in the — (let's meet in the —)
lobby II v. 1. to — actively 2. (D; intr.) to —
against; for (to — against higher taxes; to — for a
bill)
locate v. (esp. AE) (P; tr.) ('to place') we ~d our
firm in Florida
location n. 1. to pinpoint a ~ 2. at a ~ (at an undis-
undisclosed ~) 3. on — (to shoot a film on —)
lock I n. 1. to pick a — 2. a combination; dead-
bolt; double; mortise; safety; time; Yale ~ 3.
under ~ and key ('locked up securely')
lock II v. (d; intr.) to ~ on, onto ('to sight and
track') (to — onto a target)
locked adj. ['bound'] (cannot stand alone) ~ in (~
in mortal combat)
locket n. a gold; silver ~
locomotive n. 1. to drive a ~ 2. a diesel; electric;
steam ~
locusts n. 1. ~ swarm 2. a swarm of ~
lodge I n. ['house'] 1. a hunting; ski ~ ['organiza-
['organization, society'] 2. a fraternal; Masonic ~ ['motel']
(AE) 3. a motor ~
lodge II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ against; with (to ~ a
complaint against a neighbor with the police) 2.
(d; intr.) to ~ in (the bullet ~d in his shoulder)
lodger n. to take in ~s
lodgings n. to find; seek ~
log n. ['record'] ['diary'] 1. to keep a ~ 2. a ship's
~ ['piece of timber'] 3. to float ~s (down a river)
4. to split a ~; to saw a ~ in two ['misc.'] 5. to sleep
like a ~ ('to sleep very soundly')
logarithm n. a common; natural —
loggerheads n. at — with ('in disagreement with')
logic n. 1. to apply, use ~ 2. clear; cold; irrefuta-
irrefutable; simple ~ 3. deductive; formal; inductive;
symbolic ~ 4. ~ in (there is no ~ in their policy)
logical adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to assume that they
will attend)
logjam n. 1. to break (up), clear a ~ 2. (fig.) (esp.
AE) a legislative ~
loins n. ['power'] to gird one's ~('to prepare one-
oneself for a difficult task')
lollipop n. to lick, suck a ~
lonely adj. —for
lonesome adj. (AE) — for
long I adj. (colloq.) ['strong'] ~ on (~ on com-
common sense)
long II adv. 1. ~ ago 2. ~ before
long III v. l.(d; intr.) to -for(to -forpeaceJ.
(E) she —ed to return home; (rare) I —ed for them
to return
long chalk (BE) see long shot
long-distance adv. to call, telephone —
long division n. todo-
longhaul see long run
longing n. 1. to feel a — 2. a - for
longitude n. at a - (at a - often degrees west)
long run n. ['long-range outlook'] in, over the —
long shot n. ['slight chance'] not by a — (AE) ('ab-
('absolutely not')
look I n. ['glance'] ['expression'] 1. to get, have,
take a - 2. to dart, shoot; steal a — 3. to give smb.
a — 4. a blank, distant, faraway, vacant — (she had
a faraway — in her eyes) 5. an anxious, worried;
baleful; close, hard; come-hither, inviting; curi-
curious, strange; dirty, nasty, vicious; disapproving,
stern; eloquent, meaningful; furtive; grim; hag-
haggard; hungry; inquiring, searching; knowing;
penetrating; pensive, thoughtful; piercing; plead-
pleading; provocative; puzzled; rapt; scathing; sharp;
sinister; skeptical; steady; sullen; suspicious; ten-
tender; troubled; withering — (she gave us a dirty —)
6. a second — (to take a second — at smt.) ['ap-
['appearance'] 7. a tailored — ['misc.'] 8. good —s
look II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - after ('to watch') (to -
after the children) 2. (D; intr.) to - at ('to
examine') (to — at a painting) 3. (D; intr.) to — for
('to seek') (to — for a job) 4. (d; intr.) to — into
('to investigate') (to — into a complaint) 5. (d;
intr.) to — like ('to resemble') (this horse —s like
a winner; BE also has: this horse —s a winner) 6.
(d; intr.) ('to appear') to — like (it —s like rain =
it ~s as if/as though it will rain) 7. (D; intr.) ('to
watch') to — out (AE), out of (to — out of a win-
window) 8. (d; intr.) to — through ('to direct one's
gaze through') (to — through a telescope) 9. (d;
intr.) to — through ('to examine') (to — through
one's files) 10. (d; intr.) to — to ('to turn to') (to —
to one's parents for help) 11. (s) she —s terrible 12.
(misc.) to — smb. squarely in the eye; to — from
one to the other; to — one's age
look about (BE) see look around
look ahead v. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to a bright
future)
look around v. (d;intr.) to - for ('to seek') (to-
for a job)
look at v. 1. (AE) (I) - him jump 2. (J) - him
jumping
look back v. (D; intr.) to — at, on (to — at the past
year)
look down v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at; from ('to direct
one's gaze down at') (to — at the beach from the
balcony of the hotel) 2. (d; intr.) to — on ('to
despise') (to — on all forms of corruption)
look forward v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to spring;
to - to a meeting with eager anticipation; I — to
going)
look in v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on the children)
look on v. (D; tr.) to — as (we — her as a friend)
lookout n. 1. to keep a (sharp) — for 2. on the —
look out v. 1. (d; intr.) to - for ('to watch for')
(the police were —ing out for burglars) 2. (d; intr.)
to — for ('to protect') (to — for one's own
interests) 3. (d; intr.) to — on, onto ('to face') (our
windows — onto the square)
look round (BE) see look around
looks n. ['appearance'] good —
look up v. (d; intr.) to — to ('to respect') (children
— to their parents)
look upon see look on
loom I n. a hand —
loom II v. 1. (P; intr.) a ship-ed out of the fog 2.
(misc.) to — large (her possible candidacy —ed

150
large in the future plans of the party)
loop n. 1. to make a — 2. to loop the — (in an
airplane) 3. (misc.) to throw smb. for a — ('to
shock smb.')
loophole n. 1. to find a-2. to close a-3. atax-
4. a — in
loose I adj. 1. to cut (smb.) — 2. to let, set, turn
(smb.) -
loose II n. on the —
loose end (BE) at a —(see loose ends)
loose ends n. (AE) at — ('with no definite obliga-
obligations')
looting n. to engage in —
lope v. (P; intr.) she —d through the park
lord I n. a feudal —
lord II v. to — it over smb. ('to flaunt one's
superiority over smb.')
lorry n. (BE) 1. to drive, operate a — (CE has
truck) 2. an articulated — (AE has trailer truck)
3. a breakdown — (AE has tow truck) 4. a tipper
— (AE has dump truck)
lose v. 1. (B) we lost the match to them 2. (D;
intr.) to — to (our team lost to them by three
points) 3. (O) his errors lost him the match
lose out v. l.(D; intr.) to-on (to-on a deal) 2.
(D; intr.) to — to (she lost out to her rival)
loser n. a bad, poor; born; good —
loss n. 1. to inflict —es on (our forces inflicted
heavy —es on the enemy) 2. (sports) to hand smb.
a — (they handed our team its first — of the sea-
season) 3. to incur, suffer, sustain, take —es (to take
heavy —es) 4. to make up, offset, recoup, replace
a — (to recoup one's gambling —es) 5. heavy; light
—es 6. an irreparable, irreplaceable, irretrievable
— 7. a hearing; heat; memory — 8. —es in (—es in
dead and wounded) 9. a - to (an irreplaceable -
to our nation) 10. at a - (to be at a - for words)
lost adj. 1. irretrievably; totally - 2. to get - (the
small child got —) 3. (misc.) (slang) get —! ('go
away!')
lot n. ['one's fortune'] 1. to cast, throw in one's —
with 2. a happy; sorry, unhappy — 3. one's — to +
inf. (it fell to her — to break the sad news) ['object
used in deciding by chance'] 4. by — (to choose by
—) ['plot of ground'] (esp. AE) 5. an empty, va-
vacant — 6. a parking — (AE; BE has carpark) 1.
a used-car —
lotion n. 1. to apply, rub in (a) — 2. an after-shave;
body; hand; skin; suntan —
lots n. to cast, draw —
lottery n. 1. to hold a — 2. a daily; weekly — 3. a
state —
loudspeaker n. (to speak) over a—
lounge I n. 1. a cocktail — 2. a sun — (BE;AEhas
sun porch) 3. a transit — (at an airport) 4. a VIP
— (at an airport)
lounge II v. (P; intr.) she enjoys—ing around the
pool
lour see lower
louse n. a plant; wood —
lousy adj. (slang) — to + inf. (it's — to be without
work = it's — being without work)
lout /i. a stupid —
love I n. ['deep affection'] 1. to inspire — for 2.
blind; deep, profound, sincere, true; pi atonic;
undying; unrequited — 3. — for, of (— for one's
country; to have no ~ for smb.) 4. for, out of — (to
do smt. for —) 5. in — with (to fall in — with smb.;
to be hopelessly in — with smb.; head over heels in
— with smb.) ['expression of deep affection'] 6. to
give; send one's — (give them our —) ['sexual
activity'] 7. to make — ('to pet'); ('to have inter-
intercourse') 8. free ~
love II v. 1. to —blindly; dearly; deeply; passion-
passionately; really, very much (I would dearly — to see
them again) 2. (E) she —s to swim 3. (G) she —s
swimming 4. (N; used with an adjective) she —s
her steak rare 5. (misc.) (colloq.) I ~ it when you
smile; I 'd — you to come over and see our new hi-fi
lovely adj. (colloq.) — to + inf. (it was — of you to
arrange this party)
lover n. 1. to take a — 2. to jilt a — 3. an impetu-
impetuous; lousy (colloq.) —
low adj. ['lacking'] (cannot stand alone) — in, on
(she is — in funds; they were — on ammunition)
lower v. (D; intr.) ('to frown') to — at
low profile n. to keep, maintain a —
loyal adj. -to
loyalty n. 1. to command — 2. to demonstrate,
show — 3. to swear — 4. deep-rooted, deep-seat-
deep-seated, strong, unquestioned, unshakable, unswerv-
unswerving — 5. party — 6. divided —ties 7. — to (unswerv-
(unswerving — to one's friends)
luck n. ['success'] ['good fortune'] 1. to bring — 2.
to try one's — (at smt.) 3. to press, push one's — 4.
pure, sheer — 5. beginner's — 6. one's —
improves, turns; runs out 7. a bit, stroke of — 8. —
at, in (— at gambling) 9. the — to + inf. (she had
the good — to hold the winning ticket; it was pure
— to find him = it was pure - finding him) 10. -
that + clause (it was sheer — that we met) 11. in —
(you are in — to find them at home) 12. down on
one's —; out of — ['fate'] ['chance'] 13. to trust to
— 14. to try one's — (at smt.) 15. bad, hard, tough;
good; pure, sheer — (we had bad —) 16. the — to
+ inf. (we had the bad — to get there at the wrong
time) 17. — that + clause (it was bad — that he
broke his leg)
lucky adj. 1. — in (— in love) 2. — to + inf. (you
are — to be alive) 3. — that + clause (it's — that we
got here early)
ludicrous adj. 1. — to + inf. (it's — to dress like
that) 2. — that + clause (it's — that we have to
show our pass each time)
luggage n. 1. to check, register (esp. BE) one's -
2. to check one's - through (to the final destina-
destination) 3. to claim one's — 4. carry-on, hand — 5.
personalized — 6. unclaimed — 7. a piece of —
lukewarm adj. ['halfhearted'] — about, to (—
about a proposal; — to an idea) ['tepid'] 2. — to (—
to the touch)
lull I n. 1. a momentary, temporary — 2. a — in (a
momentary — in the fighting)
lull II v. l.(d;tr.)to — into (to — smb. into a false
sense of security) 2. (d; tr.) to - to (to - a child to
sleep)
lullaby /i. to hum; sing a — to
lumbar puncture n. to do, perform a-
151
lyre
lumber I n. (esp. AE) green; seasoned — (CE has
timber)
lumber II v. (P; intr.) the bear ~ed through the
forest
lumber III v. (colloq.) (BE) (D;tr.) ('to burden')
to — with (I've been —ed with all their problems)
lumps n. (colloq.) ['punishment'] to take one's —
lunacy n. 1. sheer — 2. — to + inf. (it was — to
climb that mountain)
lunatic n. a — to + inf. (he was a — to try that)
lunch n. 1. to eat, have — 2. a business, working;
three-martini (AE; colloq.) — 3. a box; picnic — 4.
at — (they were all at —)
lung n. 1. an iron — 2. congested —s
lunge In. 1. to make a — 2. a — at, towards
lunge II v. (D; intr.) to - at, for
lurch I n. ['sudden movement'] to give a — (the
stricken ship gave a —)
lurch II v. (P; intr.) he —ed towards me
lurch III n. ['vulnerable position'] in the — (to
leave smb. in the —)
lure v. (d; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into a trap)
lurk v. (P; intr.) to — in the shadows
lust I n. 1. to arouse - 2. to feel - 3. to gratify,
satisfy one's — 4. insatiable, unquenchable — 5. —
for (— for power)
lust II v. (d;intr.) to —after, for
luster, lustre n. ['glory'] 1. to add - to 2. to take on
a new —
luxuriate v. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in newly
acquired wealth)
luxury n. 1. to enjoy (a) — (to enjoy the — of a hot
bath) 2. to afford a — (can we afford the — of a sec-
second car?) 3. pure, sheer; unaccustomed — 4. — to
+ inf. (it was sheer — to relax on the beach = it
was sheer — relaxing on the beach) 5. in — (they
lived in —; to wallow in —) 6. (misc.) in the lap of
lyre n. to play the —

mace
м
152
п. ['staff used as a symbol of authority'] a
ceremonial ~
machete /i. to brandish, wield a ~
machine n. 1. to operate, run, work a ~ 2. to shut
down a ~ 3. an adding; answering; calculating;
composing, linotype, typesetting; copy, copying,
duplicating; earth-moving; heart-lung; milking;
milling; money access (AE); sanding; sewing;
threshing; video-game; voting; washing; x-ray ~
4. a mincing ~ (BE; AE has meat grinder) 5. a
fruit (BE), pinball, slot (AE) ~ (to play a pinball
~) (BE also has pintable) 6. a slot (BE), vending
~ 7. a party; political ~ 8. a ~ functions, runs;
breaks down
machine gun n. 1. to fire, operate a ~ 2. a heavy;
light; medium ~ 3. an air-cooled; water-cooled ~
4. a ~ jams
machine-gun nest n. to clean out, wipe out a ~
machinery n. ['machines'] 1. to operate, run ~ 2.
to maintain ~ ['apparatus'] 3. administrative; law-
enforcement; propaganda ~ 4. — for (~ for
negotiations)
mad adj. ['infatuated'] (colloq.) 1. (cannot stand
alone) ~ about (they are ~ about each other)
['angry'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 2. hopping ~ 3. to get
~ 4. — at (she's ~ at him; to get ~ at smb.) ['in-
['insane'] 5. stark raving ~ 6. to go ~ 7. to drive smb.
~ 8. — with (~ with pain) 9. ~ to + inf. (he was ~
to try it)
maddening adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's — to have to
wait here) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that they
never answer the telephone)
made adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ from, of, out of;
with USAGE NOTE: Compare these examples,
which illustrate general tendencies— 1. a stew can
be made with vegetables (vegetables are not the
only ingredient). 2. a stew can be made of/out of
vegetables; a chair can be made of/out of wood;
shoes are usually made of/out of leather (only one
major substance or ingredient is used). 3. synthet-
synthetic rubber can be made from petroleum; paper can
be made from wood (the basic substance has been
greatly changed), (see make II)
made-to-order adj. —for
madness n. 1. sheer, utter ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it was
sheer — to do it)
magazine n. ['supply depot'] 1. a powder ~ ['jour-
['journal'] 2. an alumni (AE); fashion; glossy; illus-
illustrated; popular ~
maggots n. crawling with ~
magic n. 1. to perform ~ 2. black ~ 3. by ~ (the
medicine worked as if by ~)
magistrate n. a police ~ (esp. AE)
magnanimity n. 1. to display, show ~ towards 2.
great -~
magnanimous adj. 1. ~ towards 2. — to + inf. (it
was — of you to make the offer)
magnate n. a coal; steel; tobacco ~
magnetism n. animal; personal; physical ~
magnitude n. 1. considerable, great ~ 2. of a cer-
certain — (of considerable ~)
magpie n. ~s chatter
maid n. ['female servant'] a chambermaid;
kitchen; lady's ~; parlormaid
mail I n. (esp. AE; BE usu. has post for 1-5,8)
['letters'] ['postal system'] 1. to address; send out
(the) ~ 2. to deliver the ~ 3. to forward; sort (the)
~ 4. incoming; outgoing; return — 5. airmail; cer-
certified; domestic; electronic; express; first-class;
foreign; franked; registered; second-class; spe-
special-delivery; surface; third-class ~ 6. fan; hate;
junk — 7. (esp. AE) a piece of — 8. by return ~
(BE has by return of post)
mail II v. (esp. AE; BE has post) (A) she ~ed
the package to me; or: she ~ed me the package 2.
(D; tr.) to ~ from; to (the letter was ~ed from
Oregon to Pennsylvania) (for BE see post II)
mail III n. ['armor'] chain ~
main n. ['main pipe, duct'] 1. an electric; gas;
sewer; water ~ 2. the water — burst
mainland n. 1. from; to the ~ 2. on the ~
mainstream n. in the ~ of politics
maintain v. (L) she ~s that the accusation is
groundless
maintenance n. 1. preventive; routine ~ 2. build-
building; health ~
majesty n. ['sovereign'] 1. Her; His; Your ~
['grandeur'] 2. in all its ~
major I n. ['academic specialization'] (AE) 1. to
give, offer a ~ (our department gives a literature
~) 2. a — in (our department offers a — in litera-
literature) ['student who is specializing'] (AE) 3. a ~ in
(she is a ~ in English; or: she is an English ~) ['of-
['officer'] 4. a ~ commands a battalion
major II v. (AE)(d;intr.) ('to specialize') to— in
(to — in Russian)
majority n. ['number greater than half] (AE);
['greater number'] (BE) 1. to get, receive a ~ 2. to
have, hold a ~ (the Democrats have a slim ~ in
the House) 3. a bare, narrow, slim, small; clear;
large; overwhelming, vast ~ 4. an absolute ~
(BE; AE has majority) 5. a relative — (BE; AE
has plurality) 6. a simple; two-thirds; working ~
7. the silent ~ (i.e., those who have moderate or
conservative views but do not voice them) 8. by a
~ (to win by an overwhelming ~) 9. in a — (in the
~ of cases) ['full legal age'] 10. to attain, reach
one's ~ USAGE NOTE: Compare the verbs in
the following constructions—the majority of the
(two hundred) votes were for peace; a majority of
two hundred votes was enough to win.
make I n. (colloq.) ['search for gain or sexual
favors'] on the ~ (he's always on the ~)
make II v. 1. (A) ('to propose') she made an offer
to us; or: she made us an offer 2. (C) ('to prepare')
~ an omelet for me; or: ~ me an omelet 3. (d;
intr.) to ~ for ('to head for') (she made for the
exit; the ship made for the open sea) 4. (d; intr.) to
153
manner
~ for ('to lead to') (willingness to compromise ~s
for success in negotiations) 5. (D; tr.) ('to pro-
provide') to ~ for (to ~ room for smb.) 6. (D; tr.) ('to
create') to ~ from, of, out of (to ~ butter from
cream; she made a table out of wood; tires can be
made from/of/out of synthetic rubber) 7. (d; tr.)
('to transform') to ~ into (to ~ a novel into a film;
the experience made her into a skeptic) 8. (slang)
(AE) (d; intr.) to ~ like ('to imitate') (to ~ like a
clown) 9. (d; tr.) to ~ of ('to interpret') (what do
you ~ of their offer?) 10. (d; tr.) ('to create') to ~
of, out of (to ~ a fool of smb.; the army made a
man out of him) 11. (D; tr.) ('to create') to ~ with
(you ~ a stew with meat and vegetables) 12. (I)
('to cause'); ('to force') she made the children
clean their room; we made them wait; the police
could not ~ him talk 13. (N; used with an adjec-
adjective, noun, past participle) ('to cause to become')
the news made us happy; the rough sea made them
seasick; we made our position clear; he made me
his deputy; she could not ~ herself understood 14.
(S; used with nouns) ('to prove to be') she made a
good deputy 15. (misc.) (AE; colloq.) he finally
made colonel ('he was finally promoted to the
rank of colonel') USAGE NOTE: When pattern I
is put into the passive, to is inserted—they were
made to wait, (see the Usage Note for made)
make away see make off
make do v. (D; intr.) to ~ with ('to manage with')
(we'll have to ~ with this stove)
make off v. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to steal and take
away') (the thieves made off with the silverware)
make out v. (colloq.) ('to have success') (D; intr.)
to ~ with (how did you ~ with the new boss?)
make over v. (esp. BE) (B) ('to transfer legally')
she made the bonds over to me
maker n. 1. an auto ~; policymaker 2. (misc.) to
meet one's ~ ('to die and go to heaven')
makeup n. ['cosmetics'] 1. to apply, put on ~ 2. to
remove ~
make up v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to recoup') (to ~
for lost time) 2. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to gain
favor with') (you should try to ~ to your boss) 3.
(D; intr.) ('to become reconciled') to ~ with (she
made up with her sister)
making n. ['evolution'] 1. in the ~ (a revolution in
the ~) ['creation'] 2. not of one's own ~
maladjustment n. an emotional ~
malady n. (lit.) a fatal; serious; strange ~
malaria n. 1. to come down with, develop ~ 2. to
eradicate, stamp out ~
malarkey n. (slang) ['nonsense'] (just) plain;
pure, sheer ~
malevolence n. pure ~
malformation n. a congenital —
malice n. 1. to bear ~ towards 2. (legal) with ~
aforethought
malicious adj. ~ towards
mall n. 1. a pedestrian; shopping ~ 2. at a ~ (she
works at a shopping ~)
malpractice n. legal; medical; professional ~
mammals n. the higher; lower ~
man n. 1. an average; fat; grown; handsome; mid-
middle-aged; old; short; tall; thin; ugly; wise; young ~
2. Cro-Magnon; Heidelberg; Java; Neanderthal;
Paleolithic; Peking; Piltdown ~ 3. a divorced;
family; married; single ~ 4. a con, confidence;
fancy (esp. BE); hatchet; hit (esp. AE); idea;
ladies'; marked; organization; party (pol.); pro-
professional; Renaissance; right-hand; self-made;
straight; straw ~; yes-man 5. an anchorman;
businessman; leading ~; liftman (BE); mainte-
maintenance ~; newspaperman; rewrite; stunt ~; weath-
weatherman 6. a moving (AE), removal (BE) ~ 7. a sec-
second-story ~ (AE; CE has cat burglar) 8. (pol.)
(AE) an advance ~ 9. enlisted men (AE; BE has
other ranks) 10. a university ~ (BE; AE has col-
college graduate) 11. a lollipop ~ (BE; AE has cross-
crossing guard) 12. a best ~ (at a wedding) 13. the
common ~, the ~ in the street 14. a ~ on horse-
horseback ('a potential dictator') 15. to a ~ ('everyone')
16. (misc.) he's a ~ of his word; ~ is mortal; (esp.
BE) every ~ jack ('every man'); a dirty old ~
(pejor.) ('an immoral man'); a medicine ~; the ~
of the year; a ~ of letters; a ~ of action; a ~ of the
world
manage v. 1. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to cope') to ~
with (we cannot ~ with the children) 2. (D; intr.)
('to cope') to ~ without (we cannot ~ without a
car) 3. (E) ('to succeed') she somehow ~d to see
him
management n. 1. efficient ~ 2. middle ~ 3. under
~ (under new ~)
manager n. 1. an assistant; branch; business; cam-
campaign; city; credit; general; hotel; office; sales;
service; stage ~ 2. a baseball ~ USAGE NOTE:
For other sports coach is used.
mandate I n. ['order'] 1. to carry out a ~ 2. a clear
~ 3. a ~ to + inf. (we had a ~ to eliminate illiter-
illiteracy) 4. under a ~ (to do smt.) ['assignment to
administer an area'] 5. a ~ over 6. under (a) ~
mandate II v. (formal) (L;subj.) the constitution
~s that the president carry out the laws
mane n. a horse's; lion's ~
maneuver I manoeuvre n. 1. to carry out, con-
conduct, execute a ~ 2. (mil.) to conduct, hold ~s 3.
a clever; military; political; tactical ~
maneuver II manoeuvre v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for
(to ~ for position) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ into (we ~ed
them into a compromise) 3. (d; tr.) to ~ out of (the
player was ~ed out of position)
mangle v. to ~ beyond recognition
manhole n. an open ~
manhood n. to grow to, reach ~
manhunt n. 1. to carry out, conduct; launch,
organize a ~ 2. a ~ for
mania п. а ~ for
maniac n. a homicidal; sex ~
manicure n. 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. to get a ~
manifest n. 1. a plane's; ship's ~ 2. on a ~
manifesto n. 1. to issue a ~ 2. a political ~
manner n. 1. an arrogant, cavalier, imperious,
overbearing; awkward; boorish; businesslike;
casual, hit-or-miss, offhand, relaxed; charming;
cloying; coarse, crude, rude, uncouth; courteous,
polite; cursory; debonair; flippant; forthcoming;
friendly; gentle, mild; gracious; grand; ingratiat-
ingratiating; intriguing; lively; matter-of-fact; obnoxious;

manoeuvre
polished; pretentious; prim; professional; servile;
sheepish; slipshod, sloppy; statesmanlike; stern;
suave; sullen, surly; unctuous — 2. bad; good —s 3.
(a doctor's) bedside — 4. in a certain - (they
behaved in a statesmanlike ~; she was
businesslike in her —; in the grand —; in an awk-
awkward —; everything was done in a well organized
—) 5. (misc.) to the — born ('born to an elevated
social position'); in a — of speaking ('as it were');
to mind one's ~s ('to behave properly')
manoeuvre (BE) see maneuver
mansion n. (US) a governor's ~
manslaughter n. 1. to commit — 2. involuntary;
voluntary —
mantle n. ['symbol of authority'] to assume;
inherit; wear the — (of power)
manual n. an instruction; laboratory; owner's;
teacher's —
manufacturer n. an aircraft; automobile (AE),
motorcar (BE); clothing; computer; drug; furni-
furniture; radio; shoe; television —
manure n. to spread —
manuscript n. 1. to edit; proofread; revise a — 2.
to submit a — (for publication) 3. to accept; reject
a — 4. an authentic; unpublished —
many determiner, pronoun — 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
saw many students; we saw many of the students
whom we had met earlier.
map n. 1. to draw; trace a ~ 2. to consult; read a
— 3. a large-scale; small-scale — 4. a contour;
dialect; military; Ordnance-Survey (GB); relief;
road; strip; weather — 5. on a — (to find a village
on a —) 6. (misc.) to put a place on the — ('to make
a place well-known'); to wipe smt. off the — ('to
destroy smt.')
marathon n. 1. to organize, stage a —2. to run a —
3. a dance —
marauder n. a band of—s
marble n. a slab of —
marbles n. 1. to play — 2. a game of — 3. (misc.)
(colloq.) to lose one's — ('to lose one's mind')
march I n. ['procession'] 1. a death; forced;
hunger; peace — 2. a — from; into, to 3. on the —
(science is on the —) ['music that accompanies
marching'] 4. to compose; play; strike up a — 5. a
funeral; military; wedding — ['misc.'] 6. to steal a
— on smb. ('to outwit smb.')
march *II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ against (to — against
the enemy) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — from; to (the bat-
battalion —ed from the barracks to the parade
ground) 3. (d; intr., tr.) to — into (the troops —ed
into town) 4. (d; intr.) to — on, to, towards (to —
on the next town)
marching orders n. ['notice of dismissal'] (colloq.)
(BE) to give smb. her/his — (AE has walking
papers)
march off v. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (they were —ed
off to prison)
mare n. a brood, stock —
margin n. 1. to adjust; set a ~ (when typing) 2. to
justify a — (in setting type, in word processing) 3.
154
a comfortable, handsome, large, wide; narrow,
slender, slim, small; safe — 4. by a — (they won by
a slim —) 5. in, on a — (to make notes in the —s) 6.
(misc.) a — of error; a — of safety
marina n. a municipal, public —
marine n. a mercantile (BE), merchant (AE) —
marionette n. to manipulate a ~
mark I n. ['sign, symbol'] 1. to make one's — ('to
make a cross in place of a signature*) 2. an accent,
stress; diacritical; exclamation (BE; AE has ex-
exclamation point); punctuation; question; quota-
quotation — 3. (mil.) a hash — 4. a laundry — ['impres-
['impression, imprint'] 5. to leave, make one's — (they will
leave their — on history) 6. a distinguishing; indel-
indelible ~ ['target'] 7. to find, hit the - (the bullet
found its ~) 8. to miss; overshoot the - 9. to fall
short of the — 10. off the —; wide of the - ['skin
blemish'] 11. a strawberry - (esp. BE; CE has
birthmark) ['victim'] 12. an easy — ['starting line
of a race'] 13. on your—s! ['misc.'] 14. to toe the-
('to adhere to the rules'); to bear the — of Cain
(see also grade 1-4)
mark II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — as (these items were
—ed as acceptable) 2. (d; tr.) to — for (~ed for
death) 3. (K) this birthday ~s his coming of age 4.
(N; used with an adjective) she —ed the docu-
documents secret
market n. ['store, shop'] 1. a fish; food ~; hyper-
hypermarket (BE); meat; open-air —; supermarket 2. at
a — (to shop at the —) ['place where trade is con-
conducted'] 3. a stock — 4. a flea; open; overseas; spot
— 5. on a — (to buy oil on the spot —; to put a new
product on the —; a new computer has just come
out on the —) ['stock market'] 6. to play the —('to
speculate') 7. to depress the — 8. a bear ('falling');
bull ('rising') — 9. the — is active; depressed; fall-
falling; firm, steady; rising; sluggish 10. the — closes
strong; weak 11. the — opens strong; weak ['sup-
['supply of goods, services'] 12. to capture, corner,
monopolize a — 13. to flood, glut a — 14. the hous-
housing; labor — 15. a buyer's; seller's — ['demand']
16. to create a — 17. to study the — 18. to depress
a — 19. a — for (there is no — for large cars) 20. in
the — for (we're in the — for a new house) 21. a
drug on the — (*smt. for which there is little
demand') ['trade'] 22. the bond; commodities;
securities; stock; used-car; wheat —
marketplace n. in the ~
marksman, markswoman n. a crack, skilled —
marmalade n. orange —
marriage n. 1. to enter into a —2. to announce a —
3. to consummate a — 4. to arrange a — 5. to pro-
propose — 6. to annul a — 7. to break up, dissolve a —
8. a bad, unhappy; broken; good; happy — 9. an
arranged; civil; common-law; communal; group;
morganatic; open; proxy; secret; trial — 10. an
interfaith; interracial; mixed — 11. a — of conve-
convenience 12. a — into (a family) 13. a — to (smb.) 14.
(misc.) to give (one's child) in —
riage ceremony n. to perform a —
arried
adj. —to
marrow n. 1. bone — 2. vegetable — (BE; AE has
squash)
marry v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into a good
255
family) 2. see marry off
marry off v. (D; tr.) to — to
marshal n. a field —
marshmallow n. to roast, toast —s
martial law n. 1. to impose, invoke — 2. to rescind;
suspend —
martini n. 1. to fix, make, mix a — 2. a dry —
martyr n. 1. to make a — (of smb.) 2. a — to (a —
to tyranny) 3. (misc.) to burn a — at the stake; to
play the —
martyrdom n. to suffer ~
marvel  n. 1. to do —s 2. a — to 3. a — that +
clause (it's a — to me that he received the award)
marvel II v. (d; intr.) to— at (to— at smb.'s skill)
marvelous, marvellous adj. 1. — to + inf. (it's — to
have a day off = it's — having a day off) 2. — that
+ clause (it's — that we could see each other
again)
mascara n. 1. to apply, put on — 2. to remove,
wipe off —
mask n. a death; gas; oxygen; ski; stocking; surgi-
surgical-
masquerade v. (D; intr.) to — as (to - as a police-
policeman)
mass I n. ['body of matter'] 1. a plastic; shapeless;
sticky — 2. a land — 3. critical — 4. atomic — 5. a
dense — (of smoke) 6. (med.) a fixed; hard;
irregular; movable; nodular; palpable —
mass II n. ['celebration of the Eucharist'] 1. to
celebrate, offer, say (a, the) — 2. to attend, hear —
3. high; low; pontifical; requiem; solemn; votive
— 4. a — for
massacre n. to carry out, perpetrate a —
massage n. 1. to give (smb.) a — 2. to get a — 3. a
back; body; facial; therapeutic —
mast n. 1. at half - 2. (misc.) (lit.) before the -
('at sea as a sailor')
master In. 1. to find one's — ('to find one who is
superior') 2. a question — (BE; AE has quizmas-
quizmaster) 3. (chess) a grand — 4. a past — 5. a — at, of
(a - of deceit)
master II v. to — completely, thoroughly
masterpiece n. 1. to create a — 2. an enduring —
mastery n. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. to
acquire — 3. (a) complete; thorough — 4. — of;
over (— of one's subject; — over other people)
mat n. 1. to weave a — 2. an exercise; place; wel-
welcome-
match I n. ['slender piece of wood that catches
fire when struck'] 1. to light, strike a — 2. to light,
put, set a — to 3. a safety — 4. a book; box of —es
match II n. ['marriage'] ['marriage partner'] 1. to
make a — 2. a good — 3. a — for ['contest'] 4. to
promote, stage a — 5. a championship; crucial; -
play-off; return; test (BE) ('international') — 6. a
football - (esp. BE; AE has football game) 7. a
boxing; cricket; fencing; golf; hockey; polo; ten-
tennis; wrestling — 8. a — between; with (a wrestling
— between two strong competitors) ['equal com-
competitor'] 9. to meet one's — 10. no — for (she
proved to be no — for me; I was no — for him) 11.
a — in (she was more than my — in ability) ['pair']
12. a good; perfect - 13. a - for USAGE NOTE:
When two teams compete before spectators, BE
mayhem
usu. has match (a football match); AE usu. has
game (a football game). However, when the team
game is of American origin, BE often uses game
too (a basketball game). A chess match is CE.
match III v. 1. (D; tr.) to - against, with ('to pit
against') (he was —ed against a formidable oppo-
opponent) 2. (D; tr.) ('to equal') to — in (no one can —
him in speed and agility) 3. (D; tr.) to — with ('to
find the equivalent of) (she wants to — this
candlestick with a similar one)
matchmaker n. a professional —
matchup v. (D; intr.) to — to, with (he doesn't —
to his opponent)
mate I n. ['petty officer'] (naval) 1. a boatswain's;
machinist's — ['junior partner'] 2. (BE) a
plumber's - 3. (US; pol.) smb.'s running —
mate II v. (D; intr., tr.) to — with (zebrasdon't —
with donkeys; to — a donkey with a mare)
material I ad]. — to (this evidence is — to our
case)
material II n. ['data'] 1. to collect, gather - 2.
source — 3. about, on (to gather — about the case)
4. — for (to gather — for a dictionary) ['matter'] 5.
radioactive; raw — 6. promotional; reading —;
writing ~s 7. packing — ['cloth'] 8. a swatch of —
materialism n. dialectal; historical —
mathematics n. elementary; higher —
matrimony n. the state of —
matron n. 1. a dignified — 2. a - of honor (at a
wedding)
matter I n. ['affair'] 1. to pursue, take up a — 2. to
arrange; clear up, settle, straighten out; compli-
complicate; simplify —s 3. to give a — (attention,
thought) (we have given this — considerable
thought) 4. to not mince —s (she never minces —s)
('she always speaks candidly') 5. an important,
pressing, serious; petty, trifling - 6. no easy;
laughing — (it's no easy — to find a house in this
city = it's no easy — finding a house in this city;
being accused of assault is no laughing —) 7. —s
came to a head 8. a — of (a — of grave importance)
9. in —s of (in —s of finance) 10. (misc.) as a — of
fact ('really'); to take —s into one's own hands; the
fact of the — is that...; no - ('it's not important');
a — of record (legal); for that — ('concerning
that'); a — of a few minutes; a — of personal opin-
opinion; a — of some urgency; a — of life and death; the
crux/heart of the — ['material'] ['substance'] 11.
printed; reading; subject — 12. gaseous; liquid;
organic; solid; vegetable — 13. gray — ('brains')
14. the front — (of a book) ['misc.'] 15. what's the
— with you?
matter II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - to (her financial
status doesn't — to us) 2. (L; to) it doesn't — (to
us) that we are not rich
mattress n. 1. a firm; soft — 2. a double, full; king-
size; queen-size; single, twin —
maturity n. to reach —
maxim n. a — that + clause (it is a valid — that
competition increases productivity)
maximum n. 1. to set a —2. at a —(excitement was
at its ~)
may v. (F) she — still show up
mayhem n. to commit —

meadow
meadow п. in a-
meal I n. ['repast'] 1. to cook, fix (esp. AE; col-
loq.), prepare a ~ 2. to eat, have; enjoy a — 3. to
make a — of (to make a — of soup) 4. to order;
serve a — 5. a big, heavy; decent, hearty, solid,
square; sumptuous — (to have a square —) 6. a
light, small; simple; skimpy — 7. a main — (the
main — of the day) ['misc.'] 8. (BE; colloq.) to
make a — of smt. ('to behave as if smt. easy were
difficult')
meal II n. ['ground seeds'] Indian —(BE; AE has
cornmeal)
mean I adj. 1. — about (he was very —about the
loan) 2. — to (he's — to everyone) 3. — to + inf. (it
was — of her to say that)
mean II n. ['mathematical value'] 1. to find a —2.
an arithmetic; harmonic — ['middle point'] 3. a
golden —
mean III v. 1. (A; usu. used without to) she
meant them no harm 2. (d; tr.) to — as (it was
meant as a favor) 3. (d; tr.) to — for (his remark
was meant for you) 4. (D; tr.) to — to (her words
meant nothing to me) 5. (E) I meant to write 6. (L)
she really meant that she wanted us to leave 7.
(misc.) they never knew what it meant to be hun-
hungry
meander v. (P; intr.) the brook —s through the
valley
meaning n. 1. to misconstrue a — 2. an accepted;
basic; clear; connotative; double, equivocal;
figurative; literal; obscure — 3. grammatical; lexi-
lexical; referential — 4. in a — (in the accepted — of
the word)
meanness n. 1. - to 2. out of — (he did it out of-)
means n. ['method'] 1. fair; foul — 2. an effective
— 3. by any — 4. (misc.) the end does not justify
the —; a — to an end ['resources'] ['wealth'] 5.
independent; moderate — 6. the — to + inf. (do
they have the — to buy such a large house?) 7.
according to, within one's — (to live within one's
—) 8. beyond one's ~ (to live beyond one's ~) 9.
of — (a person of moderate —) ['misc.'] 10. by all
— ('without fail'); by no — ('in no way')
meant adj. (cannot stand alone) ['destined'] 1. ~
for (they were — for each other) ['intended'] 2. —
to + inf. (her remark was — to be a compliment)
['supposed'] (colloq.) (BE) 3. - to + inf.
(Brighton is — to be lovely in summer)
meantime, meanwhile n. in the ~
measles n. 1. to catch, come down with (the) - 2.
an epidemic; outbreak of ~
measure I n. 1. a cubic; dry; liquid; metric — 2. a
tape — 3. in a certain — (in large —) 4. (misc.) for
good — ('as smt. extra'); made to — ('custom-
made'); to take smb.'s — ('to evaluate smb.') (see
also measures)
measure II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — against (to — one's
accomplishments against smb. else's) 2. (P; intr.)
the room —s twenty feet by ten
measurement n. 1. to take a —; to take smb.'s ~s
2. exact —s 3. a metric - 4. a scientific ~ 5. chest;
waist —s
measures n. 1. to carry out, take ~ 2. coercive;
compulsory; draconian; drastic, harsh, stern.
156
stringent; emergency; extreme, radical; preven-
preventive, prophylactic; safety, security; stopgap, tem-
temporary — 3. — to + inf. (we took ~ to insure their
safety) 4. - against (to take ~ against smuggling)
measure up v. (D; intr.) to— to (he didn't-to his
opponent)
meat /?. 1. to broil (AE), grill; cook; cure; fry;
roast — 2. to carve, cut; slice — 3. dark; fatty;
fresh; halal; kosher; lean; raw; tender; tough;
white — 4. chopped (AE), ground (AE), minced
(BE); soup — 5. — goes bad, spoils
mechanic n. an automobile (AE), motorcar (BE);
master ~
mechanics n. celestial; fluid; quantum ~
mechanism n. 1. to trigger a ~ 2. a defense; escape
medal n. 1. to award, give a — 2. to earn a ~ 3. to
strike ('make') a — 4. a bronze; gold; silver — (as
a prize) 5. a — for (to earn a — for bravery)
meddle v. (D; intr.) to ~ in; with (don't ~ in their
affairs)
media n. the mass; news ~
mediate v. (D; intr.)to— between (to-between
the warring parties)
mediation n. 1. to offer — 2. to go to - 3. -
between
mediator n. 1. to appoint a — 2. a government —
3. a — between
medication n. 1. to take (a) — 2. to administer, dis-
dispense, give (a) — 3. to order; prescribe (a) - 4. to
put smb. on - 5. to discontinue (a) - 6. to take
smb. off— 7. (an)effective; mild; potent, strong —
8, (an) intramuscular; intravenous; oral; paren-
teral; topical —
medicine n. ['method, science of treating disease']
1. to practice — 2. to study — 3. aerospace, space;
allopathic; alternative (BE), complementary
(BE), fringe (BE); aviation; ayurvedic; clinical;
community, social; defensive; family; folk; foren-
forensic, legal; group; homeopathic; industrial, occupa-
occupational; internal; military; molecular; nuclear;
osteopathic; physical; preventive; socialized;
sports; traditional; tropical; veterinary — ['re-
['remedy'] 4. to take (a) - (to take — for a cold) 5. to
prescribe (a) — 6. a cough; nonprescription, over-
the-counter; patent; proprietary — 7. strong —
(also fig.) 8. — for ['punishment'] (colloq.) 9. to
take one's — ('to accept one's punishment')
meditate v. 1. to — deeply 2. (D; intr.) to - on,
upon
meditation n. 1. to go in for, practice — 2. tran-
transcendental — 3. deep, profound — 4. (deep) in —
medium n. ['middle degree'] 1. a happy — ['sys-
['system'] 2. a - of instruction
meet I n. (esp. AE) (sports) 1. to hold, organize
a — 2. a dual; swim, swimming; track, track-and-
field -
meet II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — with ('to encounter')
(to — with approval; they met with an accident) 2.
(esp. AE) (d; intr.) to — with ('to have a meeting
with') (our negotiators will — with them tomor-
tomorrow) 3. (misc.) to — smb. halfway ('to compromise
with smb.') to - face to face; to — head-on
meeting n. 1. to call, convene a — 2. to arrange.
157
method
hold, organize a — 3. to chair, conduct, preside
over a — 4. to adjourn; break up a — 5. to call off,
cancel a — 6. a chance; clandestine, secret; closed;
mass; open; private; protest; public — 7. a board;
business; cabinet; committee; departmental;
faculty; prayer; staff; town - 8. an athletics —
(BE;AEhas track meet) 9.arace~(BE; AEhas
racing card) 10. a — between, of 11. at a — (I saw
her at the —) 12. (misc.) to call a — to order
meet up v. (AE) (D; intr.) to-with
megaphone n. (to speak) through a —
melody n. 1. to hum; play; sing a — 2. a haunting —
melon n. a juicy; ripe; tasty-
melt v. (d;intr.) to— into (to —into the crowd)
member n. 1. an active; associate; card-carrying;
charter (AE), founder (BE); honorary; life; rank-
ranking; sustaining — 2. a corresponding — (of the
Academy of Sciences) 3. (misc.) to admit new —s
into an organization
membership n. 1. to apply for — 2. to grant — 3. to
drop, resign one's — 4. closed; open — 5. (an)
agency, institutional; associate; full; honorary;
individual; life - 6. - in (AE), of (BE) (~ in/of an
organization)
membrane n. 1. mucous — 2. — s rupture
memo n. 1. an interoffice; office — 2. a — from; to
(see also memorandum)
memoirs n. to publish; write one's —
memorandum n. 1. to draw up, prepare a — 2. to
send around a — (in an office) 3. to initial a — 4. a
confidential, secret; diplomatic; interoffice; offi-
official; private — 5. a — about, on 6. a — from; to
memorial n. 1. to build, erect, put up a — 2. to
unveil a — 3. a war — 4. a — to
memory n. ['power of recalling'] 1. to jog smb.'s —
2. to commit smt. to — 3. to slip smb.'s — (the date
has slipped my —) 4. to lose one's — 5. an infalli-
infallible; photographic; powerful; retentive; short — 6.
(med.) long-term; short-term; visual — 7. a — for
(a good — for names) 8. (to speak) from — 9.
(misc.) a lapse of — ['something recalled, recollec-
recollection'] 10. to evoke, stir up a — 11. to blot out a —
12. bitter; dim, vague; enduring; fond; haunting,
poignant; pleasant; unpleasant —ries ['collective
remembrance'] 13. to honor, venerate smb.'s —
14. a blessed, sacred — 15. in — of (to erect a
memorial in smb.'s —) 16. in living — 17. of bles-
blessed, sacred — 18. (misc.) dedicated to smb.'s —
['capacity for storing information in a computer']
19. (a) random-access; read-only —
menace n. 1. to constitute a — 2. a — to
mend n. on the — ('improving')
mending n. invisible —
menopause n. to go through —
mention I n. 1. to make — of 2. to deserve — 3.
honorable — (conferred in a contest for an
accomplishment of merit that does not win a prize)
4. at the — (at the very — of his name I shuddered)
mention II v. 1. (B) she — ed the book to me 2.
(K) he failed to — my being late twice last week 3.
(L; to) they —ed (to her) that they would bring a
guest 4. (Q) she forgot to — where we should meet
5. (misc.) to — smb. by name
n. ['bill of fare'] 1. to bring a — (the waiter
brought the —) 2. on a — (what's on the —?) ['list
of commands for a computer program'] 3. an edit;
main; print —
mercenary n. a foreign ~
merchandise n. 1. to buy, purchase; order — 2. to
hawk, sell — 3. to ship — 4. to carry (a line of) —
5. assorted; first-class, high-quality; general —
merciful adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it was - of her
to offer help)
merciless adj. — to; towards
mercy n. 1. to have — on 2. to show — to, towards
3. to beg for — 4. to throw oneself at smb.'s — 5.
divine; infinite —; smb.'s tender —cies (ironic) 6.
at smb.'s — 7. (misc.) we turned him over to the
tender —cies of the student court
merge v. 1. to — gradually; imperceptibly 2. (D;
intr., tr.) to — into (to — several small companies
into one large one) 3. (D; intr.) to — with (our
bank —d with theirs)
merger n. 1. to carry out, effect a — 2. a —
between, of; with
merit n. 1. intrinsic — 2. relative —s 3. according
to, on (the basis of) — (to decide a case on its —s)
merry-go-round n. to ride (on) a —
mesh v. (D; intr.) to — with (the gears — with each
other)
mess I n. ['untidy condition'] 1. to make a — 2. to
leave a — 3. to clean away, clean up, clear up,
sweep up a — 4. in a — (to leave things in a real —)
['dining hall'] (mil.) 5. an enlisted (AE); officers'
— 6. at, in a — (they ate at the company —)
mess II v. (colloq.) to —with (don't— with him)
mess about (BE) see mess around
message n. 1. to convey; relay; send, transmit a —
2. to deliver a — 3. to get, receive a — 4. to garble;
scramble; unscramble a — 5. a clear; coded; gar-
garbled — 6. a — from; to 7. a — that + clause (we
received a — that we were to return at once) 8. in
a - 9. (misc.) to get the — ('to grasp the situa-
situation'); a divine — (from God)
messaround v. (colloq.) (AE)(D; intr.) to -with
messenger n. to dispatch a —
Messiah n. to await the —
metabolism n. 1. to disturb, upset smb.'s — 2.
basal —
metal n. 1. scrap — (to recycle scrap —) 2. a base;
ferrous; nonferrous; precious —; sheet — 3. — cor-
corrodes, rusts
metamorphose v. (D; tr.) to — into
metamorphosis n. 1. to undergo — 2. a — into
metaphor n. a mixed —
mete out v. (B) to — justice to everyone
meter I metre n. ['verse rhythm'] ['arrangement
of syllables'] 1. anapaestic, anapestic; dactylic;
heroic; iambic; trochaic — ['unit of length'] 2. a
cubic; square —
meter II n. ['instrument for measuring'] 1. to read
a — (she came to read the gas —) 2. an electric;
exposure; gas; parking; postage; water —
method n. 1. to apply, employ, use a — 2. to adopt
a — 3. to give up, scrap a — 4. an antiquated, obso-
obsolete; crude; infallible, sure; modern, up-to-date;
refined, sophisticated; sound; unorthodox — 5.
the case; deductive; inductive; scientific; Socratic

methodical
158
— 6. Madison Avenue ('high-pressure') ~s 7. the
audiovisual; direct, oral; grammar-translation —
(of foreign language instruction); the tutorial —
(of instruction) 8. teaching ~s 9. the rhythm - (of
contraception) 10. a - for; in, to (a — for learning
languages; there is a definite — in her manner of
interrogation)
methodical adj. - in (~ in one's work)
meticulous adj. -about, in (she is —in her dress)
mettle n. 1. to prove, show one's ~ 2. to put smb.
on one's ~
mezzanine п. (AE) ['first rows of a balcony in a
theater'] in the -
mickey, Mickey Finn n. (slang) ['a drink to which
a strong drug or narcotic has been added'] to slip
smb. a —
microcosm n. in ~ (the whole nation in ~)
microphone n. 1. to hook up, set up a - 2. to
speak into, through a — 3. a concealed; throat —
microscope n. 1. a compound; electron; optical ~
2. under a —
middle n. at, in the-(at the— of the last century;
in the — of the room)
middle ground n. the — between
midmorning n. at-
midnight n. at —
midnight oil n. (colloq.) to burn the — С to work or
study late at night')
midpoint n. 1. to reach a ~ 2. at (the) -
midriff n. 1. to expose one's — 2. a bare —
midsemester п. (AE) at -
midst n. in the-of
midstream n. 1. to reach - 2. in — (also fig.)
midway adj., adv. — between
midyear n. at —
mien n. (lit.) an impassive; proud —
might In. 1. armed - 2. with all one's —
might II v. (F) I-do that
migraine n. 1. a severe — 2. an attack of —
migrate v. 1. (d; intr.) to — between 2. (D; intr.)
to — from; to
migration n. 1. internal; mass — 2. annual - (the
annual — of birds) 3. — from; to
mildew n. — forms
mile n. 1. a land, statute; nautical, sea — 2. (misc.)
to miss by a — ('to miss by a great deal')
mileage n. to get - (I get good — with this small
car; to get good — out of tires)
milestone n. to reach a — (usu. fig.)
military n. to call in the-
military service n. universal —
militate v. (d; intr.) to - against (see the Usage
Note for mitigate)
militia n. to call out, mobilize the —
milk In. 1. to boil; express — 2. curdled, sour;
fresh — 3. attested (BE), certified; chocolate; con-
condensed; evaporated; fermented; fortified; fresh;
homogenized; long-life (BE); low-fat; non-fat;
pasteurized; powdered; raw; reconstituted; skim
(AE), skimmed; whole — 4. cow's; goat's —
milk II v. (N; used with an adjective) to - smt.
dry
mill I n. ['machine for grinding'] 1. a coffee; pep-
pepper — ['factory'] 2. a flour; lumber; paper; rolling;
steel; textile — ['place wnere results are achieved
in a quick, routine way'] 3. a diploma; divorce;
marriage; propaganda — ['misc.'] 4. to go through
the — ('to acquire experience under difficult con-
conditions')
mill II v. (d; intr.) to - about, around (to —
around the entrance)
millstone n. ['heavy burden'] to have a — around
one's neck
mincemeat n. to make — of ('to defeat decisively')
mind I n. 1. to make up one's — 2. to make up
one's — to do smt. 3. to cultivate, develop one's —
4. to speak one's — 5. to change one's — 6. to bear,
keep smt. in - 7. to bring, call smt. to — 8. to keep
one's — on smt. 9. to put, set one's - to smt. 10. to
set one's — at ease 11. to take one's — off smt. 12.
to cross one's — (it crossed my — that the store
would be closed at five o'clock) 13. to know one's
own — 14. to lose one's - 15. a clear; closed; dis-
disciplined; inquiring, inquisitive; keen, sharp; nar-
narrow; nimble, quick; one-track; open; scientific;
uncluttered - 16. a deranged, twisted, unbal-
unbalanced, unsound; sound — 17. in one's - (in one's
right —; in one's subconscious —) 18. on one's —
(what's on your —?) 19. out of one's — (to go out
of one's —) 20. (misc.) I have half a — to vote for
smb. else ('I may well vote for smb. else'); to give
smb. a piece of one's - ('to state one's views to
smb. very bluntly'); a meeting of the —s; we were
all of the same — ('we all had the same opinion');
a state of —
mind II v. 1. (G) I don't - waiting; would you —
opening the window? 2. (K) he didn't — her smok-
smoking; would you — my opening the window? 3. (Q)
(esp. BE) — how you go! 4. (misc.) never — about
that
mindful adj. (cannot stand alone) — of (-of one's
responsibilities)
mind's eye n. in one's —
mine n. ['excavation from which minerals are
taken'] 1. to open (up); operate, run, work a — 2.
to close down a — 3. a coal; copper; diamond;
gold; iron; lead; salt; silver; tin; zinc — 4. an aban-
abandoned; strip — ['explosive charge'] 5. to arm; lay a
— 6. to hit, strike a — 7. to detonate, set off a — 8.
to clear, remove, sweep —s 9. to detect; disarm a
— 10. a — blows up, explodes 11. an antiperson-
antipersonnel; antitank; contact; drifting, floating; land;
magnetic; pressure; submarine —
minerals n. metallic; nonmetallic; rock —
mingle v. (D; intr.) to - with
miniature n. in -
minimal pair n. (ling.) to produce; represent a —
mining n. open-cast (BE), open-pit (AE), strip
(AE); shaft -
minister I n. 1. to accredit a —2. a —plenipoten-
—plenipotentiary; a — without portfolio 3. a cabinet; foreign;
prime — 4. a — from; to
minister II v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to smb.'s
needs)
ministry n. (rel.) a lay —
minor I n. to serve —s (this bar does not serve —s)
minor II v. (AE) (d; intr.) to - in (to - in
French) ('to have French as a secondary subject')
159
mix
minority n. in a — (we were in the —; in a — of
cases)
minstrel n. a wandering —
minuet n. to dance; play a —
minus see plus
minute n. ['sixtieth part of an hour'] 1. in a —
(she'll be here in a —) ['instant'] 2. the last — (at
the last —) ['present time'] 3. this — 4. up to the —
minutes n. ['official record'] 1. to keep, take - 2.
to accept; read the — 3. to reject the —
miracle n. 1. to accomplish, perform, work a — 2.
a — that + clause (it's a — that she was not killed)
3. by a — (we survived by a —) 4. (misc.) a —
worker
miraculous adj. — that + clause (it's — that they
were rescued)
mirage n. 1. to see a — 2. a — disappears
mire n. (to be stuck) in the —
mired adj. to get — (in the mud)
mired down (esp. AE) see mired
mirror n. 1. to hang a — 2. a full-length; hand;
pocket; rear-view —
mirth n. 1. to provoke — 2. general —
misapprehension n. 1. (to labor) under a — 2. a —
that + clause (we labored under the — that we
would receive help)
miscalculate v. to —badly
miscalculation n. 1. to make a — 2. to correct a —
3. a bad, glaring, serious — 4. a — about
miscarriage n. ['abortion'] 1. to have a — ['failure']
2. a gross — (of justice)
mischief n. 1. to cause, do, make — 2. to be up to,
get into — 3. malicious — 4. out of — (to stay out
of —; to keep children out of —) 5. full of — 6. up
to-
misconception n. a popular —
misconduct n. gross; professional —
miscount n. to make a —
misdeed n. 1. to commit a — 2. to rectify a — 3. a
glaring -
misdemeanor, misdemeanour n. to commit a —
miserable adj. — to + inf. (it is — to work there =
it is — working there)
misery n. 1. to cause — 2. to alleviate, relieve — 3.
abject, deep; sheer, untold — 4. — to + inf, (it was
sheer — to live there = it was sheer — living there)
5. in — (to live in —)
misfortune n. 1. to have, suffer (a) - 2. the - to +
inf. (she had the — to get there at the wrong
moment)
misgivings n. 1. to have — about 2. to express
one's — 3. — that + clause (we had — that he
would back out of the agreement)
mishap n. (formal) 1. to have a — 2. a — befell us
misinformation n. 1. to give, peddle, plant, spread
— 2. to correct — 3. — about
misinformed adj. 1. grossly — 2. — about
misjudge v. to — badly, completely
mislead v. (D; tr.) to — about (we were misled
about this matter)
misleading adj. 1. grossly — 2. — to + inf. (it is —
to cite only certain sources)
mismanagement n. gross —
misnomer n. a — to + inf. (it's a - to call this vil-
village a city)
mispronounced adj. commonly, frequently —
misrepresentation n. gross —
miss I n. a clean; near —
miss II v. 1. to - terribly, very much 2. (G) I -
walking in the park
missed adj. sorely —
missile n. 1. to fire, launch; guide a — 2. to inter-
intercept a — 3. an air-to-air; air-to-ground, air-to-sur-
air-to-surface; antiaircraft, ground-to-air, surface-to-air;
antimissile; ballistic; cruise; ground-to-ground,
surface-to-surface; guided; intercontinental bal-
ballistic; intermediate-range, medium-range; long-
range, strategic; nuclear; short-range, tactical;
submarine-launched —
missing adj. 1. — from (— from a group) 2. (misc.)
— in action (mil.); to turn up —
missing link п. а — between
mission n. ['task'] 1. to accomplish, carry out, per-
perform; undertake a — 2. (mil.) to fly a — 3. (usu.
mil.) to cancel, scratch, scrub a — 4. a dangerous;
pioneering; suicide — 5. a combat; diplomatic;
goodwill; rescue; search-and-destroy; training —
6. on a — (they went on a goodwill — to Asia) 7. a
— to + inf. (our — was to work out a trade agree-
agreement) 8. (misc.) — impossible (often humorous)
['group sent to perform a task'] 9. a diplomatic;
military; trade — 10. a — from; to (a trade — to
Africa)
missionary n. 1. a foreign; medical— 2. a— from;
to
miss out v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a profitable
deal)
misstatement n. to make a —
mistake In. 1. to make a — 2. to correct, rectify
a — 3. to excuse, forgive a — 4. a bad, costly, glar-
glaring, serious; fatal; foolish; minor, slight — 5. —s
abound (on every page) 6. a — about; in (we made
a — about that; she made a — in counting on their
help) 7. a — to + inf. (it was a — to appoint her =
it was a — appointing her) 8. by — (to do smt. by
«•—^
/
mistake II v. (d; tr.) to — for (he mistook me for
my brother)
mistaken adj. 1. — about; in 2. - for (she was —
for her sister)
mistletoe n. ['Christmas decoration'] to stand
under the — ('to indicate one's willingness to be
kissed, during the Christmas season')
mistrial n. (legal) to declare a —
mistrust n. 1. to arouse — 2. deep, profound — 3.
— towards
mistrustful adj. -of
misunderstanding n. 1. to cause, lead to a — 2. to
clear up a — 3. a — about, over; between
mitigate v. (pompous) (d; intr.) to — against ('to
make difficult') USAGE NOTE: Many consider
the use of mitigate in place of militate to be sub-
substandard.
mitt n. ['glove'] 1. an oven — 2. (baseball) a
catcher's; first baseman's —
mix I n. ['mixture'] a cake; cement; pancake;
soup —
mix II v. 1. (B) — a nice drink for me; or: — me a
13—127

mixed up
nice drink 2. (D; intr., tr.) to - with (he doesn't -
with people like that; she — ed the brandy with
wine)
mixed up adj. 1. — in (— in a scandal) 2. — with
(she got herself — with criminals)
mixer n. ['informal dance, party'] 1. to give, hold
a — ['device for mixing'] 2. a cement, concrete;
electric —
mix-up /i. 1. to cause a — 2. a — about, in, over
mix up v. (D; tr.) to — with (he always —es me up
with my brother)
moan I n. 1. to emit a — 2. a barely audible, fee-
feeble, weak; loud —
moan II v. 1. to -feebly; loudly 2. (D: intr.) to-
about, over (to — over new taxes) 3. (D; intr.) to
— with (to moan — pain)
mob n. 1. to inflame, stir up a — 2. to control, sub-
subdue a — 3. to disperse a — 4. an angry; undisci-
undisciplined, unruly, wild — 5. a — disperses; gathers;
runs amok, runs wild
mobile adj. upwardly —
mobility n. upward —
mobilization n. 1. to order (a) — 2. to carry out —
3. full, general; partial —
mockery n. 1. to make a — of 2. a mere —
mock-up /i. ['model'] to do, prepare a —
mode /i. an access; insert — (on a computer)
model I /i. 1. to take as a —2. to pose; serve as a
— 3. a role — 4. an artist's; photographer's — 5. a
-for
model II v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) to - after, on (the
academy was — ed after a British public school) 2.
(d; intr., tr.) to — in (to — in clay)
moderate adj. — in (they were — in their
demands)
moderation n. 1. to display, show — 2. — in (— in
the consumption of alcohol) 3. in — (to drink in —)
modest adj. 1. — about (she was — about her
achievements) 2. — in
modesty n. 1. to affect; display -2. false- (with-
(without false —) 3. — about
modification n. 1. to make a — in 2. behavior —
modifier n. a dangling (esp. AE); noun —
modulation n. frequency —
' к /t. a command; lunar; service —
s operand! n. to establish, work out a—
s vivendi n. to establish, work out a —
I /i. amovie(AE) —
n. 1. to cut a — 2. an impacted — 3. a first;
second; third —
mold I mould n. ['furry growth'] to gather—
mold II mould n. 1. a jello (AE), jelly (BE);
plaster — 2. in a — (to be cast in a —)
mold III mould v. (D; tr.) to ~ from, in, out of
(to — a figure in/out of clay)
mole /i. ['burrowing insectivore'] 1. —s burrow
['spy'] 2. to plant a —
molestation n. child; sexual -
moment n. 1. to savor the — 2. a crucial; oppor-
opportune, propitious; unpropitious — 3. a rash — (in a
rash —) 4. the psychological — ('the most favora-
favorable time') 5. at a - (at that -) ('then'); (at the/this
—) ('now') 6. for the — (for the — let us drop this
subject) 7. in a — (she'll be here in a ~; in a crucial
160
— of one's life)
momentum n. to gain, gather —
monarch n. an absolute; constitutional —
monarchy n. 1. to establish, set up a — 2. to over-
overthrow a — 3. an absolute; constitutional; heredi-
hereditary; limited —
money n. 1. to coin, make, produce; counterfeit —
2. to circulate — 3. to earn, make — 4. to bank;
change; deposit; put up; raise; refund, return;
save; spend; squander, throw away; tie up; with-
withdraw — 5. to borrow; lend — 6. to invest — in; to
put — into (they invested their — in stocks and
bonds; she put her — into municipal bonds) 7.
(colloq.) to sink (a lot of) — into (a venture) 8. to
launder (illegally acquired) — 9. counterfeit; ear-
earnest; easy; hush; marked; paper; pin, pocket,
spending; prize; seed; tight; well-spent — 10.
blood; conscience — 11. tax — (politicians should
not waste tax —) 12. mad — ('small amount of
money carried for emergency use') 13. for — (to
do smt. for —) 14. out of — (we are out of —) 15.
(misc.) to have — to burn ('to have a great deal of
money')
money order n. 1. to make out a — 2. to send a —
3. to cash a —
monitor I n. 1. an electronic; heart — 2. a video —
(for a computer)
monitor II v. to —closely
monkey n. 1. a howler; rhesus; ring-tailed; spider
— 2. a horde, troop of —s 3. (misc.) (colloq.) to
make a — (out) of smb. ('to make a fool of smb.')
monkey around v. (colloq.) (AE) (D; intr.) to -
with
monkey wrench n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['disrup-
['disruption'] to throw a — into smt. ('to disrupt smt.')
w j n. to practice-
monologue, monolog n. to recite a —
mononudeosis n. (AE) infectious - (CE has
glandular fever)
monopoly n. 1. to establish, gain a — 2. to have,
hold a — 3. to break (up) a — 4. a government,
state — 5. a — of, on, over 6. (misc.) to play
Monopoly (T)
monotone n. in a —
monotonous adj. — to + inf. (it is — to watch tele-
television every day = it is — watching television every
day)
monotony /i. to break, relieve the—
monoxide n. carbon —
monstrous adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to preach
hatred) 2. — that + clause (it's — that innocent
children throughout the world go hungry)
month /i. 1. last; next; this - 2. by the - (she is
paid by the -) 3. for a - (he'll be here for a -) 4.
in a — (they will arrive in a —) 5. in, to (colloq.) a
— (there are four weeks in a —)
monument n. 1. to build, erect a — 2. an ancient;
literary; national — 3. a — to
mooch v. (slang) (AE) 1. (D; tr.) ('to beg for') to
— from (he —ed a cigarette from me) 2. (d; intr.)
('to sponge') to — off of, on (to — on one's friends)
mood I n. ['state of mind'] 1. an angry; bad, foul;
bellicose; bilious; festive, holiday; genial, good,
happy, jovial, joyful; melancholy; mellow; mercu-
161
rial; nostalgic; pensive; resentful; sullen; tranquil
— 2. in a — (in a good —)
mood II /i. ['verb form'] the conditional; impera-
imperative; indicative; subjunctive —
moon I /i. 1. a full; half; harvest; new; quarter —
2. the — wanes; waxes 3. the — comes out 4. on the
— (astronauts have walked on the —)
moon II v. (D; intr.) to — over
moonlight л 1. by-2. in the-
moonlight flit n. (colloq.) (BE) ['moving without
paying one's rent, debts'] to do a —
moor v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a boat to a pier)
moose n. 1. a band, herd of — 2. a young — is a calf
3. a female — is a cow 4. a male — is a bull (see the
Usage Note for eft)
mop I /i. a dry, dust, wet —
mop II v. (N; used with an adjective) we — ped
the floor clean
moped n. to ride a —
moral /i. a — to (there's a — to the story)
morale n. 1. to boost, lift, raise — 2. to destroy,
undermine — 3. high; low —
moral fiber, moral fibre n. the — to + inf. (does
she have the — to adhere to principle?)
moralize v. (D; intr.) to ~ about, on, over, upon
morals n. 1. to protect, safeguard (public) — 2. to
corrupt smb.'s — 3. lax, loose; strict — 4. public —
morass n. to get bogged down in a —
moratorium n. 1. to declare a — 2. to lift a — 3. a
— on
morbid adj. — about (don't be — about the future)
more determiner, pronoun — 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
drank more wine; we drank more of the wine that
you brought yesterday.
morgue n. 1. a city (esp. AE); newspaper — 2. in
a — (to work in a —)
morning /i. 1. early; late — 2. in the —; (AE) —s
(she works in the —; or AE: she works —s) 3. from
— (from — to night) 4. on a — (on a cold — last
month; on the — of July 20)
moron n. (colloq.) a — to + inf. (I was a — to
accept his offer)
Morse code n. 1. to tap out, use the — 2. to send (a
message) in —
mortality n. infant; maternal —
mortar n. ['type of cannon'] 1. a trench — ['bowl']
2. a — and pestle
mortgage n. 1. to give a —2. to hold; receive; take
out a — on 3. to pay off a — 4. to finance; foreclose;
refinance a — 5. a chattel; conventional; first; sec-
second—
mortification n. 1. deep — 2. to one's — (to my
everlasting —)
mortified adj. ['embarrassed'] 1. deeply — 2. — to
+ inf. (I was — to learn that my account was over-
overdrawn) 3. — that + clause (we were — that our
manuscript was rejected)
mortuary n. at, in a —
Moses n. holy—! (esp. AE; colloq.; interjection)
Moslem see Muslim
mosquito n. 1. —s bite; fly; hum 2. —s carry,
13*
moarning
spread disease
most determiner, n., pronoun 1. to get the — (out
of life) 2. to make the — (of one's opportunities) 3.
— of (~ of them) 4. at (the) - USAGE NOTE:
The use of the preposition of is necessary when a
pronoun follows. When a noun follows, the fol-
following constructions are used—most American
wine comes from California; most of the wines
that we import come from Europe; we like most
students; we like most of the students who study in
this department.
motel n. to check into; out of a —
mothballs n. ['protective storage'] 1. to put into —
(to put ships into —) 2. to take out of —
mother n. 1. an expectant; nursing; surrogate;
unwed; welfare; working — 2. a foster —; step-
stepmother 3. a — to (she was like a — to them) 4.
(misc.) a den —; a — superior
motif n. a guiding, leading —
motion I n. ['proposal'] 1. to make a — 2. to sec-
second a — 3. to accept; defeat, vote down a — 4. to
vote on a — 5. (AE) to table a — ('to postpone vot-
voting on a proposal') 6. (BE) to table a — ('to call for
a vote on a proposal') 7. to withdraw a — 8. the —
carried, passed 9. a — to + inf. (she made a — to
adjourn) 10. a — that + clause; subj. (she made a
— that debate be/should be stopped) 11. on a —
(on my — they brought up the question of admit-
admitting new members) ['movement'] 12. to set smt. in
— 13. harmonic; perpetual —
motion II v. 1. (D; intr.) to-to (she-ed to us)
2. (H) he —ed (to) us to come closer
motivate v. (H) what —d her to leave home?
motivation n. the — to + inf. (she has the — to
master English)
motive n. 1. to establish, find a — 2. to question
smb.'s — s 3. altruistic; base; honorable; humane;
noble; selfish; ulterior —s; the highest —s (to have
nothing but the highest —s) 4. the profit — 5. an
underlying — 6. a — behind, for (the police could
not find a — for the murder) 7. a — to + inf. (she
had no — to commit the crime)
motor I /i. 1. to start a — 2. to turn off a — 3. an
outboard — 4. a — runs, works; stalls (see also
engine 1-7)
motor II v. (d; intr.) to — to (they —ed to town)
motorbike n. to drive, ride a —
motorcar /i. (BE) to drive; park a —(see car 1-9)
motorcycle n. 1. to drive, ride a — 2. to ride on a
— (as a passenger)
motor scooter n. to drive, ride a —
motorway (BE) see highway
motto n. to coin a —
mound n. 1. a burial - 2. (baseball) (AE) to take
ine-
inean engine —
mountain n. 1. to climb, scale a — 2. high; rugged;
snow-covered —s 3. block; folded; volcanic —s 4.
a chain, range of —s 5. (misc.) the elevation,
height of a —; to make a — out of a molehill ('to
exaggerate')
mourn v. (D; intr.) to — for, over
mourning /i. 1. to declare, proclaim (a period of)
— 2. to go into — 3. deep — 4. national — 5. in —

mouse
162
for
moose п.. 1. to catch mice 2. a field; house;
meadow ; white ~ 3. mice gnaw 4. (misc.) as quiet
asa —
moustachte n. 1. to grow a — 2. to trim a ~ 3. to
finger, twist one's ~ 4. a handlebar —
mouth п.. 1. to close, shut; open one's ~ 2. to
cram, stiuff one's — (with food) 3. to rinse one's —
4. (misc..) (colloq.) a big — ('a gossip'); to shoot off
one's — ('to talk too much'); to make smb.'s —
water ('tto tempt smb.')
mouthful n. (colloq.) ['something true'] to say a —
mouthpiece n. ['spokesperson'] to act, serve as a
-for
move I m. ['act'] 1. to make a — (who will make
the first —?) 2. a false — (one false — would be
costly) 3. a brilliant; clever, smart; decisive —
['movingg of a piece in chess, checkers'] 4. to make
a ~ 5. a I brilliant; stupid, wrong — 6. an opening —
(also fig;.) ['act of moving'] 7. a — to (our firm's —
to the G!oast) 8. (misc.) (colloq.) to get a — on ('to
gofastetr');onthe —
move II v. 1. ('to stir') to — deeply, profoundly 2.
('to chainge the position of) to — bodily 3. (d;
intr.) ('tto request') to — for (to — for a new trial)
4. (D; iintr,, tr.) ('to change or cause to change
one's position, place of residence, place of work')
to ~ froom; into, to; out of (let's — from this table
to that шпе; they —d from the city to the suburbs;
the firirn is —ing to California; let's — the chair
from/omt of this room to that one; he ~d his family
from/oiut of an old house into a new apartment; we
are ~in,ig our main office from/out of the city to a
small tODwn) 5. (D; tr.) ('to stir') to — to (she was
~d to ttears) 6. (d; intr.) ('to change one's posi-
position') to — towards (to — towards the exit) 7. (H)
('to indiuce') what ~d her to make such a gesture?
8. (L; suubj.) ('to propose') she —d that the resolu-
resolution be/Vshould be approved
move in v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to close in') to — for (to —
for the kill) 2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to close in on')
(the potlice ~d in on the fugitives) 3. (D; intr.) to
~ on ("'to establish control of) (organized crime
was —inng in on the industry) 4. (D; intr.) to — on,
with (*lto take up residence with') (her relatives
wantedl to — with her)
movement n. ['organized effort to attain a goal'] 1.
to laumch a — 2. to support a — 3. to oppose; sup-
suppress aa — 4. a civil-rights; consumer; feminist,
womera's; labor; peace; political; radical;
revolutionary; social — 5. a — against; for (the ~
for equtal pay) ['division of a musical composition']
6. to perform a — ['military maneuver'] 7. a pin-
pincers — ['move'] 8. a downward; upward ~ 9.
jerky; rhythmic; uncoordinated —s 10. a —
towardfls ['evacuation'] 11. a bowel — (to have a
bowel—)
move opp v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into, to (she has —d
up to tttie position of general manager) 2. (D; intr.)
to — thnrough (to ~ through the ranks)
movie m. (esp. AE) ['film'] 1. to make, produce a
~ 2. (CCE) a home — ['cinema'] 3. a drive-in —
movies n. (AE) ['cinema'] to go to the —
mower /i. 1. to operate, work a — 2. a hand; lawn;
power —
much determiner, п., pronoun 1. to make — of
smt. 2. — of (we did not believe — of what we
heard; he isn't — of an artist) 3. ~ to + inf. (she
has ~ to say; we have — to learn) 4. (misc.) ~ as
we want to help USAGE NOTE: The use of the
preposition of is necessary when a pronoun fol-
follows—we did not believe much of what we heard.
When a noun follows, the use of of the limits the
meaning-much sorrow is caused by drug abuse;
much of the sorrow that is caused by drug abuse
could be avoided.
muck about v. (colloq.) (BE) to - with ('to mess
around with')
mucus n. 1. to secrete — 2. nasal —
mud /i. ['wet earth'] 1. to spatter — 2. — oozes,
squishes 3. — cakes 4. a layer of — 5. (misc.) to
spatter smb. with — ['malicious charges'] 6. to
sling, throw — at smb.
muddle «."['confusion'] in a —
mufti n. ['civilian clothes'] in —
mug n. a shaving ~
mulct v. (rare) (D;tr.) ('to defraud') to-of (to-
smb. of her/his money)
mule n. 1. to drive; ride a — 2. —s bray 3. a team
of —s 4. (misc.) as stubborn as a —
mull v. (d; intr.) to — over (to — over a new pro-
proposal)
multiplication n. to do-
mum adj. to remain —
mumble v. (L; to) he -d (to us) that he would get
up later
mumps n. to catch, come down with the ~
murder n. ['homicide'] 1. to commit — 2. a brutal,
cold-blooded, grisly, heinous, vicious, wanton;
premeditated; ritual ~ 3. (AE) (a) first-degree;
second-degree — 4. mass ~ 5. multiple, serial ~s
['ruinous influence'] (colloq.) 6. - on (the rainy
weather has been — on business)
murderer n. a mass; serial —
murmur n. ['complaint'] 1. to let out a — (she
didn't let out a ~) ['abnormal sound'] (med.) 2. a
heart —
muscle /i. 1. to contract; flex, tense; move; pull,
strain; relax; wrench a — 2. to develop one's —s 3.
involuntary; smooth; striated; voluntary —s4. —s
ache
muscle in v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to - on (to - on
smb.'s territory)
muse v. (D; intr.) to — about, over, upon
museum n. 1. an art (esp. AE; BE prefers art gal-
gallery); ethnographic; public; science; wax — 2. at,
in a — (to work at a —)
mushroom I n. 1. to pick ~s 2. an edible -
mushroom II v. (D; intr.) to - from; into, to
music n. 1. to compose, write — 2. to perform,
play — 3. to set smt. to — 4. to read — 5.
background; band; chamber; choral; classical;
country, hillbilly; dance; folk; funky; incidental;
instrumental; light; martial; modern; organ;
popular; rock; sacred; serious; soul — 6. sheet — 7.
a piece of ~ 8. (fig.) ~ to (what she said was ~ to
my ears) 9. to ~ (to dance to the — of a big band)
10. (misc.) to face the — ('to accept one's punish-
163
myth
menf)
musical n. to produce, stage a-
musical chairs n. to play-
musician n. an accomplished; natural; strolling-
Muslim /i. a Black; Shiite; Sunni —
muslin n. bleached; unbleached —
must v. l.(F) we-go 2. (misc.) I really-go; you
surely — know
mustache see moustache
muster I n. to pass —
muster II v. 1. (d; tr.) to - into (to - smb. into
the army) 2. (d; tr.) to - out of ('to discharge
from') (to be ~ed out of the army)
mutation n. 1. to induce a — 2. a gene —
mute adj. to stand — ('to remain silent during an
arraignment')
mutiny I /i. 1. to foment, incite, stir up; organize
a — 2. to crush, put down, quell a — 3. a — breaks
out
mutiny II v. (D; intr.) to - against
mutter v. 1. (B) she ~ed a few words to us 2. (D;
intr.) to - about 3. (L; to) she ~ed (to him) that
she would catch up later
mysterious adj. - about (~ about one's past)
mystery n. 1. to pose a — (her disappearance poses
a real —) 2. to clear up; fathom, solve, unravel a —
3. an unsolved - 4. a murder - 5. a - deepens 6.
a — to (it was a — to me) 7. (misc.) shrouded,
wrapped in —
mystified adj. - to + inf. (she was - to find her
watch gone)
mystifying adj. - that + clause (it's - that the
matter was never investigated)
myth n. 1. to create a - 2. to debunk, dispel;
explode a - 3. a - that + clause (we dispelled the
— that their army was invincible)

nadir
N
164
п. 1. to reach a — 2. at a —
ing v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at (he kept — ging at her)
2. (H) he kept —ging her to buy a new sofa
nail I n. ['tapered piece of metal'] 1. to drive,
hammer a — (he drove a — into the board) 2. to
remove a — 3. a loose — ['horny substance grow-
growing at the ends of fingers and toes'] 4. to cut, pare,
trim; do; file; manicure; polish one's —s 5. to
break a — 6. to bite one's —s 7. a fingernail; toenail
['misc.'] 8. as hard/tough as —s
nail II v. (D; tr.) to - to (she -ed the plaque to
the wall)
naive adj. 1.-of (that was-of you) 2.-to + inf.
(it's — to trust everyone; you are — to believe
them)
naked adj. 1. stark-2. (misc.) to walk around-
naked eye n. to the — (visible to the —)
name I /t. ['appellation'] 1. to adopt,-assume;
bear; use a — 2. to give smb. a — 3. to call smb. a
(bad) — 4. to immortalize smb.'s — 5. to invoke
God's — 6. an assumed; Christian (esp. BE), first,
given; code; dirty; family —, surname; fancy;
geographic; legal; maiden; married; middle; per-
personal; pet; professional; proper; stage — (she uses
her middle —) 7. a brand, proprietary, trade — 8.
a common, vernacular ('not technical') — 9. a —
for (there is no — for such conduct) 10. by - (to
know smb. by — only) 11. in — (she is the chairper-
chairperson in — only) 12. in smb.'s — (the book was
charged out in your —) 13. under a — (under an
assumed —) ['reputation'] 14. to make a ~ (for
oneself) 15. to clear one's — 16. to besmirch,
smear smb.'s (good)— 17. to give smb. a bad— 18.
a bad; good — ['misc.'] 19. to drop —s (*to boast of
one's connections'); in the — of the law
шипе II v. 1. (d; tr.) to -after, for (AE) (Hannah
was —d after her great-grandmother) 2. (d; tr.) to
— as (she was —d as the winner) 3. (H) they —d me
to head the commission 4. (N; used with a noun)
she was —d winner of the contest
j n. to engage in, go in for, resort to —
adj. to remain —
nap n. to have, take a —
napkin /i. 1. to fold a —2. to tuck a —(under one's
chin) 3. a cocktail; dinner; linen; paper —
nappy (BE) see diaper
narcosis n. 1. to produce (a state of) — 2. (a) —
wears off 3. under —
/i. to smuggle — (into a country)
v. (B) she —d her story to us
/i. a graphic; gripping ~
narrow down v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (the choice was
—ed down to a few candidates)
narrow-minded adj. — + inf. (it was — of her to
say that)
naanl passages n. blocked, congested—
nasty adj. 1. — about (they were very — about the
whole incident) 2. — to (he is — to everyone) 3. —
to + inf. (it was ~ of them to do that)
nation n. 1. to build; establish a — 2. a civilized;
friendly; independent; peace-loving; sovereign —
3. belligerent, warring —s 4. across the — (there
were strikes across the —) 5. (misc.) a member —
(of the UN)
national anthem n. to play; sing; strike up the—
National Gnard n. (US) tocallout; federalize the
nationalism n. 1. to foster — 2. extreme; rampant
nationhood n. to achieve —
native I adj. 1. — to (this flower is — to our state)
2. (misc.) to go — ('to behave like the local popula-
population when in a foreign country')
native II n. friendly; hostile-s
natter v. (colloq.) (BE) (D; intr.) ('to chatter') to
— about; to (to — on to smb. about smt.)
natural I adj. 1. (AE) - to (that comes - to me)
2. — to + inf. (it's — to want a nice car) 3. — that
+ clause (it's perfectly — that children love ice
cream)
natural II n. (colloq.) ['person who seems to be
destined for success'] a — to + inf. (she's a - to
win the election)
nature n. ['character, quality'] 1. an impetuous;
placid — 2. human — (it's only human — to want to
live well) 3. second — 4. one's true — 5. by — (she
is friendly by —) 6. in one's — (it was not in his —
to complain) 7. of a certain — (wounds of a serious
—) ['physical universe'] 8. to harness (the forces
of) — 9. (misc.) mother—; a freak of—; back to —
naught /i. (lit.) 1. to come to - 2. all for -
naughty adj. 1. — of 2. — to + inf. (it was — to do
that)
nausea n. 1. to cause — 2. a wave of — (came over
her)
adj. to feel —
adj. 1. - to 2. - to + inf. (it was - to
watch them)
nauseous adj. to feel - USAGE NOTE: Some
purists still claim that nauseous means only
'nauseating*. In fact, most speakers now use it as a
synonym of nauseated.
navigation n. celestial; electronic —
navy n. 1. a merchant — (BE; AE has merchant
marine) 2. the Royal Navy
near adv. (rare) — to (she came — to winning the
title)
nearer, nearest adj., adv. — to (the park is nearer
to our hotel than it is to yours; which stop is
nearest to Albert Hall?) USAGE NOTE: When
near is an adjective, it is not used in the colloca-
collocation * near to. (Compare close to.)
n. —to
adj. — in (~ in one's habits)
adj. 1. absolutely — 2. — for; to 3. — to
+ inf. (it is - to sleep) 4. - that + clause; subj. (it
is ~~ that we all be/should be there)
v. 1. (G) working for that firm would
165
news
— living abroad 2. (K) going to school would — his
moving to the city
necessity n. 1. to obviate a — 2. an absolute, dire;
military — 3. the bare; daily —ties 4. a — for 5. of
— (you will of — remain silent) 6. (misc.) the —ties
of life
neck I n. 1. to crane one's — 2. to twist, wring
smb.'s — 3. (misc.) to risk one's — ('to risk one's
life'); to break one's — trying to do smt. (*to make
a maximum effort to get smt. done'); to stick one's
— out ('to expose oneself to danger'); by a — ('by
a close margin'); up to one's — in work ('swamped
with work'); — and — ('even')
neck II v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) (*to hug and kiss') to
— with
neckline n. a high; low, plunging; sweetheart —
necktie n. (AE) 1. to tie a - 2. a loud - (CE has
tie)
need I n. 1. to create a - 2. to feel a-3. to fill,
meet, obviate a — 4. to satisfy a — 5. to minister to
smb.'s —s 6. an acute, crying, desperate, dire,
pressing, urgent — 7. a basic, fundamental;
biological; emotional, psychological; personal;
physical; physiological; spiritual; unfulfilled,
unmet; universal — 8. bodily; emergency; mate-
material —s 9. a — for (there is no — for violence) 10. a
— to + inf. (there was a pressing — to act
immediately; there was no — for you to go) 11. in
— (to live in dire —; badly in —) 12. in — of (in cry-
crying-of food) USAGE NOTE: The sentence she
needn 't have gone implies that she did go (though
there was no need for her to go). The sentence she
didn't need to go does not indicate if she went or
not.
need II v. 1. to —badly, desperately, sorely 2. (E)
we all — to work 3. (F; in neg. and occ. in inter-
interrogative sentences) she — not work; or: she
doesn't — to work; — she go? or: does she — to go?
4. (G) the house needs painting
needle n. 1. to thread a — 2. a crochet; darning;
hypodermic; knitting; phonograph; sewing — 3.
(misc.) a — in a haystack ('smt. that is impossible
to find')
needlepoint n. to do —
needlework n. to do —
negative n. ['exposed film'] 1. to develop a —
['phrase that rejects'] 2. in the — (to reply in the —)
['expression that contains negation'] 3. a double —
neglect I n. 1. benign; complete, total; parental —
2. child — 3. a state of —
neglect II v. 1. to - willfully 2. (E) she-ed to pay
the fine
neglectful adj. - of
negligence n. 1. contributory; criminal; rank; will-
willful — 2. (legal) gross; ordinary; slight —
negligent adj. 1. grossly — 2. — about; in
negotiate v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about, over 2. (D;
intr.) to — for 3. (D; intr.) to— with (we —d with
them for release of the prisoners; to — with smb.
about a common border)
negotiations n. 1. to conduct; enter into — 2. to
break off — 3. delicate; direct; fruitless, unsuc-
unsuccessful; high-level; marathon, round-the-clock;
successful; top-level — 4. diplomatic; peace — 5. —
between 6. — for
negotiator n. a management; union —
neighbor I neighbour n. 1. a next-door - 2. a -
to (she was a good — to us)
neighbor II neighbour v. (esp. BE) (D; intr.) to
— on
neighborhood, neighbourhood n. 1. a bad ('un-
('unsafe'); changing; friendly; good, nice, pleasant —
2. an ethnic; residential — 3. in a — (we live in a
nice—)
neighborly, neighbourly adj. - to + inf. (it was -
of you to do that)
neither determiner, pronoun — of (—of the two; —
of them) USAGE NOTE: The use of the preposi-
preposition of is necessary when two or a pronoun fol-
follows. When a noun follows, two constructions are
possible-neither student knew the answer; nei-
neither of the students knew the answer.
nelson n. ['type of wrestling hold'] a full; half —
nemesis n. to meet one's —
/i. to com a —
nerve n. ['assurance'] ['gall'] (colloq.) 1. to dis-
display, have — 2. the — to + inf. (she had the — to
ask for another day off) ['self-confidence'] 3. to
lose one's — ['sensitivity'] 4. a raw — (his remark
hit a raw —) ['band of nervous tissue'] 5. the cra-
cranial —s
nerves n. ['nervousness'] 1. an attack; bundle of —
['mental state'] 2. to fray, frazzle smb.'s —; to get
on smb.'s — 3. to calm, settle one's — 4. frayed,
frazzled; steady; strong; taut; weak — ['misc.'] 5.
to have — of steel ('to be very strong emotionally')
nervous adj. — about, of (BE) (we were — about
the recent reports of local violence)
nest n. 1. to build, make a — 2. a machine-gun —
3. (misc.) a hornets' — ('an angry reaction')
nest egg n. ['money set aside as a reserve'] to
accumulate; set aside a —
nestle v. 1. (d; intr., tr.) to — against (the children
—d against their mother) 2. (P; intr.) the small vil-
village —d in the green hills
nestle up v. (d; intr.) to — to (the children —d up
to their mother)
net /i. 1. to weave a — 2. to cast, spread a — 3. a
butterfly; fishing; mosquito — 4. a life (esp. AE),
safety (also fig.) — 5. in a — (to catch fish in a —)
netting /i. mosquito —
nettles n. —sting
network n. 1. an old-boy; old-girl — 2. a communi-
communications; road — 3. a national — (of radio, TV sta-
stations) 4. over a — (over a national —)
neurosis n. mild; severe —
neutral I adj. — in (— in a dispute)
neutral II /i. ['position of disengaged gears'] in —
(to run an engine while in —)
neutrality n. 1. to maintain, observe — 2. to
declare one's — 3. armed; strict —
new adj. 1. — at, in (I'm — at this) 2. — to (this pro-
procedure is — to us)
newcomer п. а — to
new leaf n. to turn over a — ('to begin a new way
of life')
news /i. ['new information'] 1. to announce, give;
break, flash; cover the - 2. to spread (the) - 3. to

news conference
166
censor; control; cover up, suppress (the) ~ 4. to
color, distort, twist (the) ~ 5. bad; good; interest-
interesting; sensational; shocking; startling; unexpected;
welcome -* 6. local; international; national; polit-
political - 7. the latest ~ (have you heard the latest
~?) 8. ~ spreads, travels 9. a bit, item, piece of ~;
a ~ item 10. — about, of (~ about the earthquake;
is there any news of them?) 11. the ~ that + clause
(have you heard the — that the border has been
closed?) ['newscast'] 12. to listen to; turn on;
watch the — 13. the late; morning; nightly ~ (on
TV) 14. on the ~ (we heard that item on the late
~) 15. (misc.) to make (the) ~ ('to be newswor-
newsworthy')
news conference n. to hold a ~
newspaper n. 1. to edit; print; publish a ~ 2. a
daily; evening; morning; weekly ~ 3. a ~ comes
out, is published 4. (misc.) to make the ~s ('to be
printed in the newspapers')
New Year n. to greet, ring in the ~
next adj., adv. 1. (cannot stand alone) ~ to
(there's a newsstand ~ to the hotel) 2. (misc.) ~ of
kin; ~ in line
nibble v. (D; intr.) to - at
nibble away v. (D; intr.) to - at
nice adj. 1. ~ to, with (he's ~ to the children) 2. ~
to + inf. (it's ~ just to sit and relax = it's — just sit-
sitting and relaxing; she is ~ to work with = it is — to
work with her = it is nice working with her) 3. ~
that + clause (it's ~ that we could all get together)
niche n. ['position'] 1. to carve out a — (she has
carved out a ~ for herself in her field) 2. to occupy
a ~ (she occupies a special ~ in her field)
nick n. (misc.) in the ~ of time ('precisely when
needed')
nickname v. (N; used with a noun) he was ~d
Butch
niggardly adj. (lit.)-in
niggle v. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over (to ~ over
every sentence)
nigh adv. (old-fashioned) ['near'] ~ on, onto,
unto (~ onto ten years)
night n. 1. to spend a ~ (we spent a restless ~ wait-
waiting for news) 2. a clear; dark, murky; overcast;
starlit; stormy — 3. a restless, sleepless ~ 4. a first,
opening ~ (of a play) 5. a wedding ~ 6. last;
tomorrow ~; tonight 7. at ~ (to work at ~; late at
~) 8. by ~ (London by ~) 9. for a — (to put smb.
up for the ~) 10. on a certain ~ (on the ~ of
December first; on that ~) 11. throughout the ~
12. (misc.) to bid, wish smb. good ~; (AE) to
work ~s; in the dead of the ~ USAGE NOTE:
The collocation at night is usu. used with verbs
(she works at night) and contrasts with during the
day. The collocation by night is usu. used with
nouns (London by night) and contrasts with by
day. (see the Usage Note for day)
nightcap n. ['lastdrinkofthenight']l.tohavea~
2. (misc.) to invite smb. in for a —; to join smb. in
nightclub n. at, in a ~ (to work at/in a ~)
nightfall n. at-
nightingale n. ~s sing, warble
n. 1. to have a — 2. a horrible, terrible
~ 3. a ~ about
nightshift n. 1. to work the-2. (to work) on the-
nip I n. ['stinging cold'] (there is) a — in the air
nip II v. (colloq.) (BE) (P; intr.) ('to move
quickly') she —ped out and bought some bread
nipples n. cracked; sore, tender~
nitpfck v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to — at
noble adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of him to make the
sacrifice)
nobody pronoun we had — to talk to = we had —
that we could talk to
nod I n. ['movement of the head'] 1. an approving
~ 2. a ~ to 3. (misc.) (BE) the proposal was
approved on the ~ (without the need for a vote)
['awarding of a decision'] (usu. sports) 4. to get the
nod II v. (D; intr., tr.) to — at, to (when she
entered the room, she ~ded to us)
node n. a lymph-
noise n. 1. to make, produce (a) — 2. to cut (AE;
colloq.), cut down on, reduce the — 3. constant,
persistent; deafening; loud; shrill ~ 4. a -~ abates,
dies down
nominate v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ as (she was ~d as our
candidate) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. for the
presidency) 3. (H) they ~d her to serve as chair-
chairperson
nomination n. 1. to place, put smb. (smb.'s name)
in ~ 2. to accept; reject a ~ 3. a ~ to (a — to a com-
committee)
nominative n. (grammar) the ~ absolute
nonconformity n. ~ in, to
none determiner, п., pronoun ~ 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; no
replaces none when the meaning is not limited-
we saw none of the students whom we had discus-
discussed earlier; we drank none of the wine that you
brought; we saw no students; we drank no wine.
nonsense n. 1. to speak, talk — 2. to put up with,
tolerate ~ 3. (colloq.) (AE) to cut the — 4. arrant
(lit.), complete, outright, perfect, pure, sheer,
total, utter ~ 5. ~ to + inf. (it was sheer ~ to trust
them) 6. (misc.) (BE) to make - of ('to spoil')
(the recession made - of our plans for expansion)
nonsensical adj. ~ to + inf. (it's — to trust her)
nook n. 1. a cozy ~ 2. a breakfast ~ 3. (misc.)
every ~ and cranny
noon n. 1. high ~ 2. at ~ 3. from ~ (to evening)
no one see nobody
noose n. 1. to tighten a ~ around (they tightened
the ~ around his neck) 2. a hangman's ~
norm n. ['standard'] 1. to establish, seta ~ ['aver-
['average'] 2. above; below the ~
normal adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's — to want a steady
job) 2. ~ that + clause (it's only ~ that we should
expect equal pay)
north I adj., adv. 1. ~ of 2. up ~
north II n. 1. magnetic; true —2. in, to the —
northeast n. in; to, towards the ~
North Pole n. at the -
northwest n. in; to, towards the ~~
n. 1. to blow; wipe one's ~ 2. to pick one's
167
nuisance value
~ 3. an aquiline, Roman; bulbous; pug, snub,
turned-up ~ 4. a bloody; running, runny — (the
child has a runny ~) 5. through the ~ (to breathe
through the ~) 6. a — bleeds; runs 7. (misc.) to
bury one's — in a book ('to become absorbed in a
book'); to count ~s ('to count those present'); to
cut off one's ~ to spite one's face ('to harm one's
own interests'); to lead smb. by the — ('to order
smb. around'); to pay through the ~ ('to pay an
exorbitant price'); to keep one's ~ out of smb.
else's business; to poke, stick one's ~ into smb.
else's business; to thumb one's ~ at smb. ('to defy
smb.'); to keep one's — to the grindstone ('to work
long and hard'); under smb.'s (very) — ('in smb.'s
plain sight'); to turn up one's ~ at ('to sneer at');
on the ~ (AE; colloq.) ('exactly'); a — for scandal
('an ability to ferret out scandal'); by a — ('by a
small margin'); to follow one's ~ ('to go straight
forward'); to tweak ('pinch') smb.'s ~
nose II v. 1. (colloq.) (D: intr.) to - into (to ~
into smb.'s affairs) 2. (P; tr.) she ~d the car into
the street
nosebleed n. 1. to have a ~ 2. to stop a ~3. a light;
severe ~
nose dive n. 1. (also fig.) to go into, take a ~
(stocks took a ~) 2. to come out of a ~
nostalgia n. 1. to feel ~ 2. ~ for
nostrils n. flaring, wide ~
nosy adj. (colloq.) ~ about
notable adj. —for
notch n. ['cut'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ in
notch up v. (esp. BE) (d; tr.) ('to score') to -
against (our team has ~ed up seven victories
against them)
note I n. ['memorandum'] ['record'] 1. to make a
~ of (she made a ~ of the exact time) 2. to take ~
of ['short letter'] ['official letter'] 3. to compose,
write a ~ 4. to address; deliver a ~ 5. to drop, send
smb. a ~ 6. a diplomatic; protest ~ 7. a ~ from; to
['musical tone'] 8. to hit, strike a - (she hit the
high ~ beautifully) 9. a false ~ (also fig.) 10. a
high; low ~ 11. (AE) an eighth; half; quarter;
whole ~ ['characteristic feature'] 12. to strike a ~
(to strike a sour ~) 13. a discordant; false; festive;
fresh; jarring; optimistic; personal; pessimistic;
sour; triumphant ~ 14. on a ~ (the meeting ended
on an optimistic ~) ['document relating to a debt']
15. to discount a ~ 16. a demand; promissory;
treasury ~ 17. a ~ matures ['paper money'] 18. a
banknote; pound —
note II v. 1. (L) we ~d that she was late again 2.
(Q) ~ how it is done
notebook n. a loose-leaf ~ (AE)
noted adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ for (our city is ~~
for its fine restaurants)
notes n. ['condensed record'] 1. to make, take ~~
(our students always take copious ~) 2. (usu. fig.)
to compare ~
nothing n. 1. to ask (for) ~ (to ask ~ in return) 2.
to gain ~ by (we will gain ~ by ignoring the regu-
regulations) 3. - about (we know - about it) 4. ~ to
(they are ~ to us) 5. — to + inf. (we have ~ to
lose) 6. (misc.) to leave — to chance; to make - of
being awarded an honor; we expect — of him; you
can expect nothing from them; good for ~; ~
doing ('definitely not'); we have ~ that we can dis-
discuss
notice I n. ['heed'] 1. to take ~ of 2. to attract ~
3. to escape — 4. scant ~ (to attract scant ~)
['sign'] 5. to place, pose, put up a — ['announce-
['announcement'] ['notification'] 6. to serve ~ on 7. advance
~ 8. a — that + clause (we read the — that the
water would be turned off for two hours) 9. at, on
short ~ 10. until further ~ ['warning of one's
intention to end an agreement'] 11. to give — 12.
to put smb. on — 13. a month's; week's ~ 14. (col-
(colloq.) ~ to + inf. (the landlady gave him — to
move) 15. subject to ~ ['review "] 16. to get rave
~s (the play got rave ~s) ['mention'] 17. a brief ~
18.abook~
notice II v. 1. (I) we ~d him leave the house 2. (J)
we ~d him leaving the house 3. (L) we ~d that she
had left
notification n. 1. to send ~ 2. to get, receive — 3.
~ that + clause (we read the — that our building
had been sold) 4. pending (further) ~
notify v. 1. (BE) (B) to - a crime to the police 2.
(D; tr.) to ~ about, of (we -fied the police of the
incident) 3. (BE) (H) we'll ~ her to draw up a con-
contract 4. (L; must have an object) she ~fied us that
she would accept the position 5. (formal) (Q) he
will ~ us where we are to meet
notion n. 1. to have a — 2. to dispel a — 3. a foggy,
hazy, vague; ludicrous; odd, strange; precon-
preconceived; widespread — 4. a ~ about, of (he didn't
have the slightest — of what I meant) 5. a ~ that +
clause (we tried to dispel the - that benefits would
be curtailed)
notoriety n. 1. to enjoy - 2. ~ for (~ for being
corrupt) 3. ~ surrounding (the — surrounding the
published accounts of bribery in high places)
notorious adj. 1. — as (he was — as an outlaw) 2.
~ for (our town is — for its gambling casinos)
noun n. 1. to decline, inflect a ~ 2. an abstract;
attributive; collective; common; count; mass,
uncountable; predicate; proper; verbal — 3. a
feminine; masculine; neuter —
nourishment n. 1. to take ~ 2. to give — 3. — for
novel n. 1. to publish; write a ~ 2. a detective,
mystery; dime; historical ~ 3. (misc.) to make a ~
into a film
novelty n. 1. to outgrow smt.'s~ (it outgrew its ~)
2. a ~ wears off 3. a — for, to
novice n. 1. a rank — 2. a — at, in
now adv. 1. just; right — 2. until, up to ~
nowhere adv. 1. to get, go ~ ('to fail to arrive at a
result') 2. — to + inf. (we had ~ to go) 3. (misc.)
from, out of ~
nuance n. a fine, subtle —
nucleus n. ['core'] to form a ~
nude n. in the — (to pose in the ~)
nugget n. a gold —
nuisance n. 1. to cause, create a — 2. to make a ~
of oneself 3. a confounded, damned, perpetual —
4. a public — 5. a ~ to 6. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~
to move during the semester) 7. a — that (it's a ~
that there's no hot water)
t value n. 1. to have a ~ 2. a high —

adj. (misc.) — and void
ib adj. — with (— with cold)
number I n. ['symbol indicating quantity'] 1. an
even; odd — 2. a high; low — 3. an algebraic; cardi-
cardinal; complex; compound; decimal; imaginary;
infinite; irrational; mass; mixed; natural; nega-
negative; ordinal; positive; prime; quantum; whole —
4. (misc.) the call — (of a book); the daily; lucky;
winning — (of a lottery); a serial — (of a product,
part); a serial — (of a soldier) ['quantity'] 5. to
decrease, reduce; increase a — (to reduce the — of
traffic accidents) 6. an approximate, round; cer-
certain; enormous, untold; growing; large; small — 7.
(misc.) our school has doubled its —s ['telephone
number'] 8. to call; dial a — 9. a telephone —; an
unlisted — (AE; BE has ex-directory listing/
number) ['issue'] 10. a back — ['single selection in
a program of entertainment'] 11. to do a —
['misc.'] 12. to carry a — (when adding)
number II v. (d;intr.)to —in(ourbooks —inthe
thousands)
numbers n. ['form of gambling'] 1. to play the —
['large group'] 2. in — (there is safety in —)
['misc.'] 3. by the — ('done to a specific count')
numeral n. an Arabic; Roman —
nuptials n. to officiate at, perform (the) —
nurse I n. 1. a community-health (AE), public-
health (AE) ~ (BE is approximately health vis-
visitor) 2. a community (BE), district (BE), visiting
168
(AE) — 3. a general-duty; head; industrial, occu-
occupational-health; operating-room (AE); practical;
school; supervising — 4. a graduate (AE);
Licensed Practical (AE), State Enrolled (BE);
professional; Registered (AE), State Registered
(BE) — 5. (misc.) a — practitioner
nurse II v. (d; tr.) to — back to (to — smb. back to
health)
nursery n. 1. a day — 2. at, in a —
nursing n. 1. to study — 2. community-health,
public-health — (AE; BE has health-visitor ser-
service) 3. geriatric, gerontological; maternal-child
health; medical-surgical; obstetric; operating
room; pediatric; practical; primary; professional;
psychiatric —
nut n. 1. to crack a - 2. to shell -s 3. (misc.) a
hard/tough — to crack ('a difficult problem to deal
with')
nutrients n. basic, essential ~
nuts adj. (colloq.) ['infatuated'] 1. — about (he's
— about her) ['crazy'] 2. to go —
nutshell n. (colloq.) ['brief form'] in a — (to put
smt. in a —) ('to state smt. very succinctly')
nutty adj. (slang) 1. — to + inf. (it's — to behave
like that) 2. (misc.) as — as a fruitcake
nuzzle up v. (D; intr.) to —against; to (the dog—d
up against her)
nylon n. 1. sheer — 2. a pair of —s ('a pair of nylon
stockings')
169
о
oaf n. a stupid — (you stupid —!)
oar n. to feather; peak —s
oath n. ['solemn promise; solemn promise to tell
the truth'] 1. to administer an — to smb. 2. to put
smb. under — 3. to swear, take an — 4. to violate
an — 5. a solemn — 6. a loyalty — 7. an — to + inf.
(she took an — to do her duty) 8. an — that +
clause (I took an — that I would obey all regula-
regulations) 9. on (BE), under — (to testify under — to
tell the truth) ['swearword'] 10. to mutter, utter an
— 11. a mild; strong — 12. a string of —s
oatmeal n. to cook —
obedience n. 1. to demand, exact — from 2. to
instill — in 3. to pledge, swear ~ to 4. blind, strict
- 5. - to
obedient adj. -to
obeisance n. (formal) ['curtsy'] to make one's —s
obituary n. 1. to send in; write an — 2. to print,
publish an — 3. (misc.) to read the —ries
object In. 1. a material, physical ~ 2. a sex — 3.
(grammar) a direct; indirect — 4. (misc.) an — of
derision; an unidentified flying — (= UFO)
object II v. 1. to — strenuously, strongly, vio-
violently 2. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to new taxes) 3.
(L) she ~ed that the accusation was based on
hearsay
objection n. 1. to lodge, make, raise an ~ 2. to
deal with, meet an — 3. to overrule; sustain an —
4. to withdraw an — 5. a serious, strenuous,
strong, violent, vociferous; valid — 6. (legal) —
overruled; — sustained 7. an — to (to raise an — to
a proposal; we have no objections to your going)
8. an — that + clause (the judge overruled their —
that illegal evidence had been introduced) 9. over
smb.'s —s (the resolution was adopted over the
vociferous —s of the opposition)
objectionable adj. - to
objective n. 1. to attain, gain, win an — 2. an
economic; long-range; military —
objectivity n. in all ~
objector n. a conscientious —
obligate v. (H) what does the agreement — us to
do?
obligated adj. 1. - to (I'm - to you) 2. - to + inf.
(he is — to pay off all debts by the end of the year)
obligation n. 1. to assume, take on an ~ 2. to feel
an — 3. to discharge, fulfill, meet an — 4. a legal;
moral; social —; family -s5. a military — ('re-
('required military service') 6. an — to (an — to one's
parents) 7. an — to + inf. (we have an — to help
them) 8. under (an) —
obligatory adj. 1. — for 2. (formal) — on, upon
(doing one's duty is ~ on a soldier)
oblige v. 1. (d; tr.) to — by (you would — me by not
smoking) 2. (H) the contract —s us to pay a pen-
penalty if we finish late
obliged adj. 1. — to (I'm — to you) 2. — to + inf.
(we are — to attend all classes)
obliterate v. 1. to — completely, entirely, totally,
occupation
utterly 2. (D; tr.) to - from
oblivion n. to sink into —
oblivious adj. (cannot stand alone) — of, to (— of
one's surroundings; she was — to what was going
on)
obnoxious adj. 1. — to 2. ~ to + inf. (it was — of
them to do that)
oboe n. to play the —
obscene adj. — to + inf. (it's — to make such a
comparison)
obscure adj. — to (the meaning was — to me)
obscurity n. 1. to emerge from ~ 2. to sink into —
observance n. a religious —
observant adj. —of
observation n. ['comment'] 1. to make an — 2. an
astute, keen, penetrating, shrewd — 3. a personal
— 4. an — about 5. an — that + clause (she made
the astute — that the whole matter had been
exaggerated) ['condition of being observed'] 6. to
keep; place smb. under — 7. to be under — ['act of
observing'] 8. (an) empirical; scientific —
observe v. 1. to — attentively, carefully, closely 2.
(I) we ~d them enter the building 3. (J) we -d
them entering the building 4. (L) ('to comment')
several commentators have —d that the rate of
inflation has eased 5. (Q) I —d how it was done
observer n. 1. a casual; impartial; keen, percep-
perceptive; outside; shrewd; skilled — 2. a military —
obsessed adj. —by, with (—by greed; —with fear)
obsession n. an — for; with
obsolescence n. built-in; planned —
obstacle n. 1. to pose an — 2. to come across,
encounter an — 3. to clear, overcome, surmount
an — 4. (of a horse) to take an — 5. to remove an
— 6. a formidable; insurmountable — 7. an artifi-
artificial; natural — 8. an — to (an — to progress)
obstinate adj. -about;in
obstruction n. 1. to remove an — 2. an intestinal;
respiratory — 3. an — to
obtrude v. (formal) (d; intr.) ('to intrude') to —
on,upon
obvious I adj. 1. — to (her disappointment was —
to everyone) 2. — that + clause (it's — that he is
drunk)
obvious II n. to state the —
occasion n. ['opportunity'] 1. to have; take an —
(to do smt.) 2. a propitious — 3. an — for 4. an —
to + inf. (I had no — to speak with them; there was
no — for me to tell her) 5. an — arises ['happen-
['happening'] ['event'] 6. to celebrate; mark, observe an —
7. a festive, gala; fitting, propitious; happy, joyful,
joyous; memorable; official; special; unforgetta-
unforgettable — 8. on an — (on this —; on numerous —s)
['challenge'] 9. to rise to the — ['reason'] 10. an —
for (there is no — for alarm) ['misc.'] 11. on —
('sometimes')
Occident n. in the -
occlusion n. a coronary —
occupation n. ['profession'] 1. a profitable,

occupied
170
rewarding - 2. by - (she is a waitress by ~) ['act
of occupying'] 3. a military — 4. under —
occupied adj. 1. deeply; solely - 2. - in; with
(they are — with their own concerns)
occupy v. (d; refl.,tr.) to — with (she —pied them
with minor chores)
occur v. (d; intr.) ('to come to mind') to — to (an
idea —red to her)
occurrence n. a common, daily, regular; unusual
ocean n. 1. across the - (to fly across the ~) 2. in
the-
o'clock adv. at (ten) -
odd adj. 1. — to + inf. (it was — of her to do that)
2. — that + clause (it's ~ that she is not at home)
odds n. ['allowance designed to equalize a bettor's
chances'] 1. to give, lay ~ 2. to accept, take — 3. to
buck ('oppose') the ~ ['disadvantages'] 4. to beat
the — 5. considerable, formidable, great, heavy,
hopeless, long, overwhelming — 6. ~ against (all
the — were against us) 7. against ~ (to struggle
against formidable ~) [advantages'] 8. ~ in favor
of ['disagreement'] 9. at ~ over; with ['possibility']
10. the — that + clause (what are the — that they
will show up?) ['misc.'] 11. by all - ('without ques-
question'); — and ends
ode n. 1. to compose an - 2. an - to (an - to joy)
odious adj. — to
odor, odour n. ['smell'] 1. to emit, exude, give off,
produce an — 2. to perceive; recognize an — 3. a
faint, slight; fetid, foul, rank, unpleasant; heavy;
musty; pleasant; pungent, strong — 4. an ~ ema-
emanates from ['repute'] (BE) 5. in bad; good -
off adv. ['situated'] 1. comfortably; well ~ ['not
exact'] 2. far, way (esp. AE) - 3. - in (he's way -
in his calculations)
off-balance adj., adv. caught —
offend v. to - deeply, gravely
offender n. a chronic; first —
offense, offence n. ['infraction'] 1. to commit an ~
2. a minor, petty, trivial; serious ~ 3. a capital;
impeachable; indictable - 4. an - against ['feel-
['feeling of outrage'] 5. to take — at (she takes ~ at
every remark) ['insult'] (formal) 6. to give ~
offensive I adj. 1. ~ to (his actions were - to
everyone) 2. - to + inf. (it's - to read such things
in the newspaper)
offensive II n. 1. to assume, go over to, take the
— 2. to launch, mount an — 3. (usu. mil.) to carry
out, undertake an — 4. to break off an ~ 5. an
economic; military; peace — 6. on the —
offer I n. 1. to make an ~ 2. to accept, agree to;
consider an — 3. to decline, refuse, reject, spurn
an ~ 4. to withdraw an — 5. a firm; reasonable;
tempting; tentative — 6. an introductory; job; trial
- 7. an ~ to + inf. (her - to help was accepted
gratefully) 8. (BE) on - ('available')
offer II v. 1. (A) she -ed the job to me; or: she
-ed me the job2. (D; refl., tr.) to - as (the money
was — ed as an inducement) 3. (E) they —ed to
compromise
offering n. 1. to make an ~ 2. a burnt; peace; sac-
sacrificial ~ 3. an — to
offer up v. (d; tr.) to — as (to — as a sacrifice)
office n. ['function'] ['place where a function is
performed'] 1. to assume (an) - 2. to hold; take ~
3. to seek (public) ~ 4. (pol.) to run for (AE),
stand for (BE) - 5. to resign from (an) - 6. (pol.)
(an) appointive; elective; high; public — 7. a
branch; head, home, main — 8. a booking; box,
ticket; business; dead-letter; dentist's (AE); doc-
doctor's (AE); lawyer's; left-luggage (BE); lost-and-
found (AE), lost property (BE); met (BE),
meteorological (BE); patent; post; printing - 9.
at, in an — (she works at our ~) 10. (pol.) in; out
of - (our party is out of ~) ['ministry'] (BE) 11.
the Foreign; Home ~ ['misc.'] 12. smb.'s good —s
('smb.'s services as a mediator') USAGE NOTE:
In North America, doctors and dentists have
offices; in Great Britain, they have surgeries.
officer n. ['person holding a certain rank in the
armed forces'] 1. to commission an — 2. to pro-
promote an — 3. to break, demote; dismiss an — 4. a
commissioned; non-commissioned; petty; war-
warrant ~ 5. a commanding; company-grade (AE);
field-grade (AE); flag; general; high-ranking;
line; senior; staff; top-ranking ~ 6. an air-force;
army; military; naval — 7. a duty; executive; intel-
intelligence; liaison; line; public-relations; staff —; —
of the day; - of the deck ['person holding a posi-
position of authority'] 8. a correctional (AE); execu-
executive; juvenile; medical; peace, police; personnel;
probation; public-relations; revenue (BE); senior
nursing (BE); truant (AE) -
official n. 1. a high, high-ranking, top-ranking;
responsible — 2. an appointed; elected — 3. a
church; city; county; customs; federal (US); gov-
government; health; law-enforcement, police; local;
postal; public; state —
officiate v. (D; intr.) to —at (to— at a ceremony)
offing n. in the — ('forthcoming')
offspring n. to produce —
ogle v. (d; intr.) to — at
oil n. 1. to drill for; hit, strike - 2. to pump - 3.
to produce; refine — 4. crude; refined — 5. house-
household; lubricating; machine; motor — 6. castor;
coconut; cod-liver; cooking; corn; cottonseed; lin-
linseed; mineral; olive; palm; peanut; poppyseed;
safflower; salad; sardine; sunflower; vegetable —
7. coal - ('kerosene-AE, paraffin-BE'); shale -
8. a film of - 9. (misc.) to burn the midnight - ('to
work very late at night'); — and water do not mix
oils n. to paint in —
ointment n. 1. to apply, rub in, rub on an — 2. a
skin —
OK I adj. (colloq.) - to + inf. (it is - to bring
your lunch with you)
OK II n. (colloq.) ['approval'] 1. to give one's-
2. to get the - 3. the - to + inf. (we got the - to
continue)
old age n. to live to a ripe —
olive branch n. ['symbol of peace'] to extend, hold
out, offer the —
Olympic Games n. to hold the —
omelet n. 1. to make an — 2. a cheese; mushroom;
plain; Spanish; Western —
omen n. 1. a bad; good — 2. an — for
omission n. 1. to correct, rectify an — 2. a glaring
171
orbit
— 3. (misc.) sins of —
omit v. (E) (BE) he -ted to explain why he had
been late
on prep. 1. to have smt. — smb. ('to have evidence
against smb.') 2. the fire went out — me ('the fire
went out through no fault of mine') 3. we were —
to what was happening ('we were aware of what
was happening') 4. well — in years ('rather old')
once adv. at —
one determiner, pronoun 1. — by — 2. — of (— of
them; — of the students)
ooze v. 1. (d; intr.) to — from, out of; into (blood
was —ing from the wound) 2. (d; intr.) to — with
(to — with charm)
open I adj. 1. — for (— for business) 2. (cannot
stand alone) — to (— to the public; I'm — to
suggestions) 3. (misc.) to lay oneself — to criti-
criticism; to bring smt. out into the —
open II v. 1. to — wide 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — by,
with (we —ed our meeting by singing a song; we
—ed our meeting with a song) 3. (D; tr.) to — for
(to — new land for development) 4. (D; tr.) to —
to (they —ed their meetings to the public) 5. (N;
used with an adjective) — your mouth wide
opener n. ['device that opens'] 1. a bottle; can
(AE), tin (BE) - 2. a letter - (AE; BE has paper
knife)
open house n. to have, hold an —
opening n. ['vacancy'] 1. an — for (we have an —
for an engineer) ['putting into operation'] 2. a
grand — (the grand — of a new supermarket)
open season n. an — on (an — on deer)
open up v. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (the government
has —ed up the files to the public; he finally —ed
up to the press)
opera n. 1. to perform, stage an — 2. (a) comic;
grand; light — 3. a soap — 4. a horse — ('western
film') 5. at the -
operate v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against (their troops
were —ing against the guerrillas) 2. (med.) (D;
intr.) to — for; on (the surgeon —d on her for
appendicitis; she was —d on for appendicitis)
operating system n. to boot up; reboot the — (of a
computer)
operation n. ['surgical procedure'] 1. to perform
an — 2. to have, undergo an — 3. an exploratory;
major; minor — 4. an — for (an — for the removal
of gallstones) ['military activity, movement'] 5. to
conduct; launch an — 6. guerrilla; joint; large-
scale; mine-sweeping; mopping-up — s ['state of
being functional'] 7. to put into — (the plant has
been put into —) 8. in — (the factory is in —) ['proj-
['project'] 9. a cloak-and-dagger, covert, secret; rescue;
sting (AE)-
operations n. 1. to conduct — 2. drilling; joint;
military; mining; offensive; salvage — 3. (mil.) a
theater of-
operator n. 1. a computer; crane; elevator (AE);
ham, radio; machine (AE); radar; switchboard
(AE), telephone (AE); tour - 2. (colloq.) a slick,
smooth —
opinion n. 1. to air, express, give, offer, pass,
state, venture, voice an — 2. to form an — about (I
still have not formed an — about the candidates) 3.
to mold (public) — 4. to entertain, have, hold an —
5. (legal) (AE) to hand down an — (the court
handed down an —) 6. a conflicting; considered;
dissenting; frank, honest; informed; negative;
opposing; personal; positive; prevailing, preva-
prevalent; strong — (she has strong —s about every-
everything) 7. a high; low — of (he has a high — of him-
himself) 8. (an) expert; lay — 9. public — 10. a second
— (as given by a doctor) 11. shades of — 12. an —
about, on 13. the — that + clause (she expressed
her — that a compromise would be reached) 14. in
smb.'s — (in my humble —) 15. of an — (she is of
the — that nothing will help)
opponent n. 1. a formidable, strong; weak — 2.
(ironical) my worthy —
opportunity n. 1. to grab, seize, take an — 2. to
afford, give, offer an — 3. to find; have an — 4. to
lose an — 5. a fleeting; lost, missed — 6. (AE)
equal — ('government policy of giving all citizens
an equal chance') 7. an — for 8. an — to + inf. (we
had an — to visit our parents) 9. (misc.) — knocks
('appears')
oppose v. 1. to — resolutely, strongly, vehemently
2. (K) I —d his dropping out of college
opposed adj. 1. diametrically; strongly, vehe-
vehemently — 2. — to
opposite I adj. (BE)-to USAGE NOTE: When
opposite means 'facing', it can be an adjective in
BE—her house is opposite to ours. More usu.,
opposite is used as a preposition in both BE and
AE-her house is opposite ours. When opposite
means 'diametrically opposed', it is used only in
BE as an adjective—her opinions are opposite to
ours.
opposite II n. 1. a direct — 2. an — of, to 3. (misc.)
—s attract
opposition n. 1. to arouse, stir up — 2. to offer, put
up — 3. to crush, overcome — 4. to come across,
meet, run up against — 5. (ling.) to neutralize an —
6. determined, fierce, stiff, strong, unbending,
unyielding, vehement — 7. — to (— to new taxes)
8. against, despite, in spite of, over (the) — (we
adopted the resolution over the — of the other
party) 9. in — to
oppression n. under — (to live under —)
opt v. 1. (d; intr.) to - for 2. (rare) (E) they -ed
to decline the invitation
optimism n. 1. to display, show; express — 2.
incurable, unflagging — 3. — about, over
optimist n. an incurable —
optimistic adj. 1. cautiously; incurably — 2. —
about, over 3. — that + clause (we are — that the
results will be favorable)
option n. 1. to exercise an — 2. an exclusive; first
— 3. a local — (of a political subdivision) 4. a stock
— 5. an — on 6. an — to + inf. (they had an — to
buy the team) 7. (misc.) to have no — but to...
oracle n. ['authority'] to consult an —
orange n. 1. a mandarin; navel — 2. (misc.) to
squeeze an —
oration n. 1. to deliver an — 2. a funeral —
oratory n. 1. eloquent; inflammatory, mob, rab-
rabble-rousing — 2. campaign —
orbit n. 1. to make an — around, of, round (the

orchard
spaceship made five —s of the moon) 2. in; into —
(to put a satellite into —)
orchard n. an apple; cherry; peach ~
orchestra n. 1. to conduct, direct, lead (esp. AE)
an — 2. a chamber; dance; philharmonic, sym-
symphony; pops; string —
ordain v. (formal) 1. (L; subj.) the emperor ~ed
that all foreigners be expelled 2. (N; used with a
noun) he was —ed priest
ordeal n. 1. to undergo an — 2. a terrible, trying —
3. (an) — by fire; water
order I n. ['request for merchandise or services']
1. to give, place, put in; make out, write out an —
2. to fill; take an — (has the waiter taken your —?)
3. to cancel an — 4. a prepublication; rush; ship-
shipping; side (esp. AE); standing — 5. (new) —s are
falling off 6. on — (the merchandise is on —) 7. to
— (made to —) 8. (misc.) a tall — to fill ('a difficult
task to carry out') ['command'] 9. to give, hand
down (AE), issue an — 10. to carry out, execute an
—; to obey, take —s 11. to cancel, countermand,
rescind, revoke; violate an — 12. a direct; execu-
executive — 13. doctor's; marching; sealed; verbal; writ-
written —s 14. an — to + inf. (we received an — to
attack) 15. an — that + clause; subj. (headquar-
(headquarters issued an — that the attack be/should be
resumed) 16. by smb.'s — (by whose — was this
done?) 17. under —s (we were under —s to remain
indoors) ['court decree'] 18. to issue an — 19. an
affiliation (BE); cease-and-desist; court; gag;
maintenance (BE), support (AE); restraining —
['association, group'] 20. a cloistered; Masonic;
mendicant; monastic; secret — ['system'] 21. an
economic; pecking; social — (he's at the bottom of
the pecking —) ['proper procedure'] 22. a point of
— 23. in —; out of — (the senator was out of —) 24.
to call a meeting to — ['state of peace'] 25. to
establish; maintain; restore — ['state in which
everything is in its proper place or condition'] 26.
good, shipshape — 27. in; out of — (everything is
in good —; this machine is out of — again) ['condi-
['condition'] 28. working — (in working —) ['sequence']
29. alphabetical; chronological; numerical — 30.
in; out of — (in — of importance; in alphabetical
—; these entries are out of —) ['military forma-
formation'] 31. close; extended; open — ['instructions to
pay'] 32. a money, postal (BE) — ['misc.'] 33. law
and —; a new —; an old —
order II v. 1. (С) — a copy for me; or: — me a copy
2. (D; tr.) to — from (to — merchandise from a
mail-order house) 3. (d; tr.) to — from, out of (she
-ed him out of the house) 4. (d; tr.) to ~ off (the
referee -ed the player off the field) 5. (H) the
sergeant —ed his platoon to fall in 6. (L; subj.) the
mayor —ed that free food be/should be distributed
7. (esp. AE) (N; used with a past participle) the
judge —ed the prisoner transferred to the county
jail 8. (misc.) the doctor —ed her to bed
orders n. ['ordination'] to receive (holy) —
ordinance n. ['local law'] 1. to adopt, enact, pass;
issue an — 2. to apply, enforce an — 3. to obey,
observe an — 4. to repeal, rescind, revoke an — 5.
a city, municipal; township — 6. an — that +
clause; subj. (the town issued an — that all dogs
172
be/should be muzzled)
ordnance n. naval —
ore n. copper; iron —
organ n. [part of the body'] 1. body; major; repro-
reproductive; sense, sensory; sexual; speech; vital —s
['large wind instrument'] 2. to play the — 3. a bar-
barrel; electronic; hand; pipe; reed — ['periodical'] 4.
a government; official; party —
organism n. 1. a dead; healthy; living ~ 2. a
deadly; harmful; infectious ~ 3. microorganisms;
minute —s
organization n. 1. to establish, form an ~ 2. to dis-
disband, dissolve an — 3. a charitable, philanthropic;
civic, community; government; health-mainte-
health-maintenance (AE); international; local; national; non-
nonprofit, not-for-profit (AE); official; professional;
profit-making, proprietary; religious; state; stu-
student; UN; voluntary; women's; youth — 4. a front
-for
orgasm n. to achieve—; to have, reach an —
orgy n. 1. to engage in, stage an — 2. a drunken —
Orient n. in the-
orient, orientate v. (D; refl., tr.) to — to (to —
oneself to one's surroundings)
orientation n. ['introduction'] 1. to give, offer
smb. (an) — to 2. to get, go through, receive (an)
origin n. 1. in — (the documents were Norse in —)
2. of — (she is of humble —; the fire was of unde-
undetermined —)
original n. in the — (to read a text in the—)
originality n. 1. to display, show — 2. — in
originate v. (d; intr.) to ~ from; in; with (the idea
~d with her)
orphan n. 1. to be left an — 2. a war —
orthodoxy n. strict —
oscillate v. (D; intr.) to - between
osmosis n. by — (to absorb by —)
other adj. ['second'] every — (I jog every — day)
ought v. (E) you - to help
oast v. (D; tr.) to — from
oat adj., adv. ['unconscious'] 1. — cold ('com-
('completely unconscious') ['intent on'] 2. — to + inf.
(she is — to get revenge) ['gone'] 3. — to (— to
lunch) ['misc.'] 4. over and — (used at the end of a
radio message); to turn smt. inside —; down and —
('destitute')
outage n. (AE) ['failure'] a power —
outburst n. an angry; furious; spontaneous; sud-
sudden; violent —
outcome n. 1. to decide the (final)-of 2. (AE) to
measure —s ('to evaluate results')
outcry n. 1. to make, raise an — 2. a public — 3. an
— against; for
outgrowth n. a direct —
outing n. to go on an —
outlay n. ['spending of money'] 1. to make —s for
2. a capital; huge; large; modest; small —
outlet n. ['passage'] 1. an — to (an — to the sea)
['means of expression'] 2. to find an — for (to find
an — for one's emotions) 3. to provide an — for
['retail store'] 4. a factory —
outline I n. 1. to draw up, make an — 2. a bare;
broad, general; rough — 3. in — (to draw in —; to
173
oxygen
present a project in broad —)
outline II v. 1. (B) they ~d the project to us 2. (d;
tr.) to — against (the ship was —d against the hori-
horizon)
outlook n. ['viewpoint'] 1. to have an — on (she
has a healthy — on life) 2. a healthy; negative, pes-
pessimistic; optimistic, positive — ['prospects'] 3. a
bright; dismal, gloomy — 4. the long-range, long-
term; short-range, short-term — 5. an — for (the —
for the future is bright)
outpost n. a military —
output n. 1. to increase, step up — 2. to curtail, cut
back, reduce — 3. annual; daily; monthly —
outrage n. 1. to express; feel — 2. to spark (AE),
spark off (BE), stir up — 3. an — against (an —
against public morality) 4. an — to + inf. (it was an
— to take innocent civilians hostage) 5. an — that
+ clause (it was an — that her name was omitted)
outrageous adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's — to permit
such behavior) 2. — that + clause (it's — that such
practices are allowed)
outs n. (colloq.) to be on the — with smb. ('to be
on bad terms with smb.')
outset n. at; from the —
outsider n. a rank —
outskirts n. on the — (of a city)
outspoken adj. — in (— in their opposition to new
taxes)
outstanding adj. — in (— in scientific achieve-
achievement)
outward adv. — bound
ovation n. 1. to get, receive an — 2. a standing;
thunderous, tremendous — 3. to an — (they
walked out on the stage to a thunderous —)
oven n. 1. to light, turn on an — 2. to turn off an —
3. an electric; gas; microwave; self-cleaning —
over adj. ['finished'] — between; with (it's all —
between them)
overboard adv. 1. to fall — 2. (misc.) man —! to go
— over smt. ('to carry smt. to excess')
overdose I n. a fatal, lethal—
overdose II v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a medi-
medication)
overflow v. (D; intr.) to — into (the mob— ed into
the street)
overgrown adj. — with
overhaul I n. ['repairs'] a complete; major;
thorough — (our car needs a major —)
overhaul II v. to — completely; thoroughly
overindulgence n. — in
overjoyed adj. — to + inf. (we were — to learn of
the good news)
overpass n. (esp. AE) an — over (an — over a
road) (BE has flyover)
overrated adj. vastly —
overrun adj. — with (— with weeds)
overseas adv. to go —
oversight n. 1. an — that + clause (it was through
an — that you were not invited) 2. by, through an
— (her name was omitted through an —)
overtime n. 1. to earn; work — 2. (sports) a sud-
sudden-death —
overtones n. political; racial —
overture n. ['musical introduction'] 1. to com-
compose; perform, play an — 2. an — to ['introductory
proposal'] 3. to make an —; to make —s to 4. to
spurn smb.'s —s
owe v. 1. (A) she —s ten dollars to her sister; or:
she —s her sister ten dollars (the to is usu. not
used when the indirect object is a pronoun: she
owes her ten dollars) 2. (D; tr.) to — for (we still —
one hundred dollars for the car)
owing adj. — to
owl n. —shoot
own n. and pronoun 1. to hold one's — ('to con-
continue to survive') 2. to come into one's — ('to
receive recognition') 3. on one's — ('indepen-
('independently') 4. of one's — (for reasons of one's —) ('for
one's own reasons')
owner n. 1. a part — 2. the lawful, rightful —
ownership n. communal; joint; private; public;
state -
own up v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to confess') to — to
(he — ed up to stealing the watch)
ox n. 1. oxen bellow 2. a pair; team; yoke of oxen
3. (misc.) as strong as an —
oxygen n. 1. to administer —; to give smb. — 2. to
get, receive — 3. liquid —

pace_
pace I n. ['rate of movement'] 1. to set the — 2. to
keep — with 3. to change —; to slacken the — 4. a
brisk, fast, rapid; even, steady; frantic, hectic;
grueling, killing - 5. a slack, slow, sluggish; snail's
('extremely slow') — 6. at a certain — (at a fast —)
7. off the — 8. (misc.) a change of — (also fig.)
['step'] (esp. mil.) 9. to take a — (to take three —s
forward) ['misc.'] 10. to put smb. through the —s
('to subject smb. to a test of skill')
pace II v. (P;intr.) she was-ing back and forth
pacemaker n. (med.) to insert a -
pacifler п. (АЕ) to suck on a —(BE has dummy)
pack I n. ['deck of playing cards'] 1. to cut; shuffle
a - ['load, bundle'] 2. a back; full field (mil.);
parachute — ['mass'] 3. an ice —
pack II v. 1. (C) — a sandwich for me; or: — me a
sandwich 2. (d; intr.) to — into (they all —ed into
the auditorium) 3. (D; tr.) to - into (I -ed every-
everything into one suitcase) 4. (N; used with an adjec-
adjective) — everything tight
package n. 1. to deliver a — 2. to mail (esp. AE),
post (BE); send; unwrap; wrap a - 3. a bulky;
neat — 4. (misc.) a — deal
packaging n. tamper-proof; tamper-resistant —
packed adj. 1. loosely; tightly — 2. vacuum -
packer n. a meat ~
packet n. a pay — (BE; AE has pay envelope)
packing n. ['act of packing'] to do the-
pack off v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — the children off to
camp)
pact n. 1. to agree to, make; sign a — 2. to de-
denounce a — 3. a formal; informal — 4. a defense;
mutual-assistance; nonagression; trade — 5. a — to
+ inf. (we had a — not to reveal the facts of the case)
6. a — that + clause (the two governments signed
a — that they would jointly defend their borders)
pad n. ['cushion'] 1. a heating; heel; knee; shoul-
shoulder — ['piece of material'] 2. a gauze; quilted;
scouring — ['connected sheets of paper'] 3. a
scratch; writing — ['airstrip'] 4. a helicopter;
launch, launching - ['one's residence'] (slang) 5.
at one's —
paean n. (lit.) ['hymn of praise'] 1. to sing a — 2. a
— to (to sing a — to smb.'s glory)
page I n. ['leaf of a book, journal, newspaper'] 1.
to turn a — 2. to turn down a — 3. to cite a (volume
and) — 4. to set a ~ (in type) 5. a title ~ (in a book)
6. an amusement; editorial; society; sports — (in a
newspaper) 7. (misc.) you will not find a dull — in
the whole book; a glorious — in our history; it
reads like a — from real life ['one side of a sheet of
paper'] 8. a blank —
page II n. ['youth who serves'] 1. (BE) a hotel —
2. (US) a congressional —
page III v. to ~ smb. over a loudspeaker
pageant n. a beauty; colorful ~
paid adj. highly, well-
pail n. a garbage (AE); ice; lunch; milk ~
pain I n. ['sensation of suffering'] 1. to cause — 2.
174
to inflict — on 3. to bear, endure, stand, take —
(she cannot stand any ~) 4. to feel, experience,
suffer — (she experienced constant —) 5. to allay,
alleviate, dull, ease, kill, relieve, soothe — 6. (an)
acute, excruciating, great, intense, maddening,
piercing, severe, sharp — 7. (a) chronic, constant,
gnawing, persistent, steady; dull; intractable,
stubborn; nagging; referred; shooting; slight;
stabbing; sudden; throbbing — 8. (a) back; chest;
physical (he felt sharp chest —s and went to see the
doctor) 9. — appears; disappears, wears off 10. a
spasm; stab; twinge of — 11. in — (to be in chronic
—) ['penalty'] 12. on, under, upon — of (mass
meetings were forbidden on — of death) ['bother']
13. (colloq.) a - to + inf. (it's a — to get up so
early in the morning = it's a — getting up so early
in the morning)
pain II v. 1. to-badly, deeply 2. (R) it-ed me
to watch them quarrel; it —ed me that he did not
keep his promise
pained adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (I was
— to learn of his refusal to help)
painful adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it's — to read of
such things)
pains n. ['trouble'] 1. to go to, spare no, take — to
+ inf. (she took great — to get her message across)
[physical suffering'] 2. (med.) labor - 3. growing
paint I n. 1. to apply, spread — (to apply — to a
surface; to spread - evenly) 2. to spray - (to
spray — on a wall) 3. to daub — (to daub — on a
wall) 4. to dilute - 5. to mix -s 6. to scrape - 7.
exterior; flat; floor; house; latex; lead-based;
metallic; oil-based; wall — 8. grease; war — 9. wet
—! 10. — chips; peels 11. a blob, speck; splash of —
12. a coat of — (to apply a second coat of —) 13. a
set of (oil) —s
paint II v. l.(usu. D; С occurs occ.) to-for (she
—ed a beautiful portrait for us) 2. (d; intr.) to — in
(to — in oils) 3. (J) the artist —ed her strolling
through her garden 4. (N: used with an adjective)
to — a house white 5. (misc.) to — the town red ('to
go on a binge')
painter n. 1. a house; sign - 2. a landscape; por-
portrait -
painting n. 1. to do; restore a ~ 2. to authenticate
a — 3. a finger; oil; water-color — 4. a — depicts,
portrays, shows (smt.)
pair n. (ling.) a minimal ~
pair off v. (D; intr., tr.) to — with
pair up v. (D; intr., tr.) to —with
pajamas, pyjamas n. a pair of —
pal n. a pen — (BE also has pen friend)
palace n. an imperial; presidential (not US); royal
palatable adj. -to
palate n. 1. a cleft; perforated — 2. the hard; soft
— 3. (misc.) to tickle the — ('to be very tasty')
pale I adj. ['devoid of color'] 1. deathly-2. to go,
175
turn ~ 3. — with (rage)
pale II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to become devoid of
color') to — at ('to — at the sight of blood') 2. (d;
intr.) ('to become less important') to — before,
beside (everything —d before the possibility of
war) 3. (d; intr.) ('to fade') to — into (to — into
insignificance)
pale III n. ['prescribed area'] beyond, outside the
pall I n. ['blanket of gloom'] to cast a — over
pall II v. (D; intr.) ('to become less attractive') to
— on, upon (her constant preaching began to — on
everyone)
palm I n. ['part of the hand'] 1. to read smb.'s —
('to tell smb.'s fortune') 2. (misc.) to have an itch-
itching — ('to have a great desire for money, bribes');
to grease smb.'s — ('to bribe smb.')
palm II n. a potted; royal —
palm off v. 1. (D; tr.) to - as (he -ed off the copy
as an original) 2. (D; tr.) to — on (to — inferior
merchandise on smb.)
palpable adj. — to
palsy n. cerebral —
pan 1л. 1. to grease a — 2. a baking; cake; frying
— 3. (misc.) to scour pots and —s
pan II v. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for gold)
panacea n. 1. to find a — 2. a universal — 3. a - for
panache n. (with) great —
pancake n. 1. to make a —2. (misc.) as flat as a —
pandemonium n. to cause, create, stir up —
pander v. (d; intr.) to-to (to-to the worst ele-
elements in society)
panegyric n. to deliver a —
panel n. ['board'] 1. a control, instrument —
['group that discusses or investigates a topic'] 2. to
select a — 3. to serve on a — 4. an impartial — 5. an
advisory; consumer; fact-finding; government —
6. a — on (a — on drug addiction)
panel discussion n. to hold; lead, moderate a —
paneling, panelling n. wood —
pangs n. 1. birth — 2. — of conscience; hunger (she
felt — of conscience)
panic In. 1. to cause, create; spread — 2. to feel
— at (they felt — at the thought of leaving their
family) 3. to avert, prevent — 4. — spreads; sub-
subsides 5. in a — over
panic II v. (D; intr.) to — at (to — at the outbreak
of fire)
panic button n. to press, push the —
panicky adj. to get — over
pant v. (D; intr.) to — for (to — for breath)
pants я. l.(esp.AE)see trousers 2. ski; sweat -
paper n. ['lecture, treatise'] ['essay'] 1. to deliver,
give, offer, present, read a — 2. to publish; write a
— 3. (in a school, at a university) to do, write; hand
in a — (the pupils did a — on the problem of air pol-
pollution; the students were required to hand in their
—s by the end of the semester) 4. an invited; posi-
position; term; test — 5. a — about, on 6. a — for (I had
to do a — for my history course) ['document'] 7. a
green (BE); white — ['negotiable instruments'] 8.
commercial; negotiable — ['material made from
wood pulp'] 9. to recycle (scrap) — 10. blank; blot-
blotting; bond; carbon; cigarette; filter; glossy; graph;
parley
lined; litmus; manila; scrap; scratch (esp. AE);
tar; tissue; toilet; tracing; typing; wax, waxed;
wrapping; writing — 11. (misc.) a ream of —
['sheet of writing material'] 12. to line — 13. a
piece, sheet; scrap of — 14. on ~ ('in written
form') ['newspaper'] 15. to get a — out, publish a
~ 16. a school; trade ~ (see also newspaper)
papers n. ['documents'] 1. to show one's — 2. (US)
to take out first ~ ('to begin the process of becom-
becoming a naturalized citizen') 3. first (US); naturaliza-
naturalization; second (US); ship's; working — ['school-
work'] 4. to correct, grade (esp. AE), mark — ['ar-
['articles sent by mail'] 5. printed — (BE; CE has
printed matter)
par n. ['nominal value'] 1. at ~ ['common level'] 2.
on a ~ with ['average'] 3. above, over; below — 4.
up to ~ (to feel up to ~)
parachute jump n. to make a —
parade In. 1. to have, hold, stage a ~ 2. a church
(BE); identification (BE; AE has police lineup);
inaugural; military; sick (BE; AE has sick call);
ticker-tape ~
parade II v. (P; intr.) to — in front of an audience
parade rest n. at — (the platoon was at ~)
paradise n. an earthly —
paradox n. a — that + clause (it's a — that such
good friends cannot work together)
paradoxical adj. — that + clause (it's — that we
feel cold in warm weather)
parallel I adj. — to, with
parallel II n. 1. to draw a ~ between; with 2. to
find ~s among, between 3. a striking ~ 4. (misc.)
without ~ (in history)
paralysis n. 1. complete; creeping; partial — 2.
infantile ~
paramount adj. —over
paranoid adj. — about
paratroops n. to commit, deploy; drop ~
parcel n. 1. to deliver a — 2. to address; mail (esp.
AE), post (BE); send a ~ 3. to get, receive a — 4.
to open, unwrap; wrap a ~
parcel out v. (B) she ~ed out the work to us
pardon I n. 1. to grant a ~ 2. to beg smb.'s ~3. a
full-
pardon II v. (D; tr.) to — smb. for
pare down v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to— expenses to the
minimum)
parent n. 1. to obey one's ~s 2. a loving; permis-
permissive; unfit — 3. an adoptive; foster; natural; single
—; stepparent
parentheses n. (esp. AE; BE prefers brackets) 1.
to put smt. in, into ~ 2. between, in —
parenthood n. planned ~
parity n. ['equality'] 1. to achieve, attain, establish
— 2. — among, between ['equivalence in value'] 3.
at-
park n. 1. to lay out a — 2. an amusement; city;
national; public; state — 3. a caravan (BE), trailer
(AE); theme - 4. a car - (BE; AE has parking
lot) 5. (BE) a coach ~ 6. an industrial - (AE; BE
has industrial estate)
parlay v. (d; tr.) ('to convert') to — into (to — a
small investment into a fortune)
parley I n. to hold a — with
14—127

parley
parley II v. (D; intr.) to ~ with
parliament n. 1. to convene, convoke (a) ~ 2. to
adjourn; disband, dissolve (a) ~ 3. a bicameral;
national; provincial; unicameral ~ 4. a rump ~ 5.
a ~ adjourns; convenes, meets; disbands 6. a
house of ~~ 7. in ~~ (to sit in -~) 8. (misc.) to stand
for (BE) ~; a member of ~ (in GB abbreviated as
MP) USAGE NOTE: In Great Britain, the
Queen or King opens (a session of) Parliament.
After the State Opening, Parliament is in ses-
session. Parliament sits until the session is over and
then it rises.
parlor, parlour n. 1. a beauty; funeral; massage ~
2. a sun ~ (AE; BE has sun lounge) USAGE
NOTE: The services offered by a massage parlor
are often sexual rather than therapeutic.
parody n. 1. to compose a — 2. a ~ of, on
parole I n. ['conditional release from prison'] 1.
to grant a ~ 2. to violate (one's) ~ 3. early ~ 4. on
~ (to release smb. on ~)
parole II v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ smb. from
prison)
part I n. ['share'] 1. to do one's ~~ ['viewpoint,
position'] 2. for, on one's — (for my —, I will say no
more) ['participation'] 3. to take ~ in 4. an active
~ ['role'] 5. to play a ~ (to play the ~ of Hamlet)
6. to act; look the ~ 7. to learn, memorize, study
one's ~; to understudy a ~ 8. a bit; leading,
major; speaking; walk-on ~ (she had a bit ~ in the
play) ['element, portion'] 9. to spend a ~ of (they
spent the major ~ of their life in England) 10. an
essential; important, significant; insignificant,
minor, small; large, major ~ 11. the (a) better
('greater'); good ('large') — (the better ~ of an
hour) 12. a component, constituent, integral ~ 13.
for the most ~ ('mostly') 14. in ~ ('partly'); (in
great ~) ['component of a machine] 15. a defec-
defective ~ 16. automobile (AE), motorcar (BE);
spare ~s ['division'] 17. in ~-s (a story in five ~s)
['side'] 18. to take smb.'s ~ (in a dispute) 19.
(legal) of a ~ (the party of the first ~) ['dividing
line in hair'] (AE; BE has parting) 20. to make a
~ (in one's hair) ['physical organ'] 21. the private
~s ['area'] 22. a remote ~ (in a remote ~ of the
country)
part II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ as (to ~ as friends) 2.
(d; intr., tr.) to ~ from (the children were ~ed
from their parents) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with (she
hates to ~ with her money)
partake v. (d; intr.) to ~ of (to ~ of food and
drink)
partial adj. (colloq.) ['fond of] (cannot stand
alone) ~ to
participant n. 1. an active; reluctant; willing ~ 2.
a ~ in
participate v. 1. to — actively 2. (D; intr.) to ~ in
participation n. 1. active — 2. — in
participle n. (grammar) an active; dangling (esp.
AE), misrelated (BE); passive; past; perfect;
present ~
particle n. 1. a dust; minute ~~ 2. (physics) an
alpha; elementary; subatomic ~
particular I adj. ~ about (~ about one's appear-
appearance)
176
particular II n. ['detail'] 1. in every ~; in all ~s
['misc.'] 2. in ~ ('especially')
partition v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (the area was ~ed
into two countries)
partner n. 1. an active; full; junior; senior ~ 2. a
silent (AE), sleeping (BE) ~ 3. (boxing) a spar-
sparring ~ 4. (misc.) a ~ in (~s in crime)
partnership n. 1. to form a ~ 2. to dissolve a ~ 3.
a — between 4. a ~ in 5. in — with
partridge n. a covey of ~s
parts n. (grammar) the principal -~ (of a verb)
party I adj. ['participating'] — to (~ to an
arrangement)
party II n. ['social gathering'] 1. to arrange, give,
have, throw; host a ~ for 2. to attend; crash a ~ 3.
a birthday; Christmas; cocktail; coming-out; din-
dinner; farewell; garden; going-away; lavish; New
Year's Eve; pajama, slumber; singles; stag; sur-
surprise; tea ~ 4. a ~ breaks up (the ~ broke up at
midnight) 5. at a ~ (we had a good time at the ~)
['political organization'] 6. to establish, form a ~
7. to break up, disband, dissolve a ~ 8. a centrist;
communist; conservative; labor; left-wing; lib-
liberal; majority; minority; political; populist; pro-
progressive; radical; reactionary; right-wing; ruling;
socialist; splinter ~; the — in power ['participant']
['litigant'] (legal) 9. an aggrieved; disinterested;
innocent; third ~ 10. the interested ~ties 11. a ~
to (a lawsuit) 12. (misc.) the ~ of the first, second
part ['group sent on a mission'] 13. a boarding;
landing; raiding; rescue; search; stretcher; survey-
surveying ~~
party line n. l.tofollow,hewtothe~2.todeviate
from, veer from the ~
pass I n. ['permission'] ['leave of absence'] 1. to
issue a — 2. to cancel, revoke a ~ 3. a ~ to (we got
a — to town) 4. on ~ (they are in the city on ~)
['flight'] 5. to make a ~ (over a target) ['aggressive
attempt to become friendly'] 6. to make a — (at
smb.) ['transfer of a ball, puck'] 7. to complete;
throw a ~ 8. to block; intercept a ~ 9. (Am. foot-
football) a forward; incomplete; lateral; touchdown ~
['ticket'] 10. a free ~ 11. a ~ to (we got free ~es to
the concert) ['misc.'] 12. things came to a pretty ~
('the situation became very complicated')
pass II v. 1. (A) ('to hand') ('to throw') ~ the
sugar to me; or: ~ me the sugar; my teammate
~ed the ball to me; or my teammate ~ed me the
ball 2. (D; intr.) to ~ as, for ('to be accepted as')
(he can ~ as/for a Frenchman) 3. (d; intr.) to ~
between ('to be exchanged') (a significant look
~ed between them) 4. (d; intr.) ('to shift') to ~
from; to (to ~- from one subject to another) 5. (d;
intr.) to — on, upon ('to judge') (to ~ on the
merits of a case) 6. (D; tr.) ('to deliver') to ~ on,
upon (the judge ~ed sentence on the accused; to
—• judgment on smb.) 7. (d; intr.) ('to go'); ('to
fly') to ~ over (several planes ~ed over our house;
to — over a bridge) 8. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to disre-
disregard') (they ~ed over her when promotions were
handed out) 9. (d; intr.) ('to go') to — through (she
was just —ing through town) 10. (d; tr.) ('to
insert') to ~ through (he ~ed the cable through
the loop) 11. (s) to - unnoticed 12. (misc.) (BE)
177
to be ~ed fit for service
pass III n. ['passage'] 1. to clear a ~ 2. to block a
~ 3. a mountain ~ 4. a ~ between; over; through
(a ~ through the mountains)
passage n. ['accommodations'] 1. to book —• (on a
ship) ['section'] 2. an obscure ~ (in a text) ['way,
channel'] 3. to clear; force a ~ 4. a secret ~ ['chan-
['channel in the body'] 5. nasal ~s 6. (BE) the back ~
('the rectum') ['transition'] 7. a ~ from; to 8.
(misc.) a rite of ~ ['trip'] 9. an outward ~
passageway п. а — between
pass along v. (B) -~ the message along to the
others
pass around v. (В) ~ the chocolate around to the
children
pass down v. (B) to ~ a tradition down to the next
generation
passenger n. 1. to carry ~s (trains carry many ~s
every day) 2. to pick up, take on ~s 3. to drop
(off), leave off ~-s 4. a first-class; second-class;
steerage; tourist-class; transit ~ 5. a ~ for (~s for
the next flight should go to the last gate)
passing n. ['death'] 1. to mourn smb.'s ~ ['misc.']
2. in — ('incidentally')
passion n. 1. to arouse, excite, inflame, stir up ~
2. to gratify, satisfy one's ~ 3. to curb, restrain
one's ~ 4. animal, deep, frenzied, wild ~ 5. ~s
run high 6. a ~ for (a ~ for gambling) 7. (misc.) to
fly into a ~; his eyes blazed with ~
pass off v. (d; refl., tr.) to - as (he ~ed himself off
as a doctor)
pass on v. 1. (B) they ~ed the information on to us
2. (d; intr.) to ~ to (let's ~- to another topic)
pass out v. (AE) (B) they ~ed the food out to all
who came
passport n. 1. to issue; renew a ~ 2. to apply for a
~ 3. to falsify, forge a ~ 4. to revoke a ~ 5. a dip-
diplomatic; Nansen ~ 6. a — expires 7. (fig.) a — to (a
~ to happiness)
pass round see pass around
password n. to give the ~
past n. ['time preceding the present'] 1. a check-
checkered (AE), chequered (BE); dark, murky — 2. in
the ~ 3. (misc.) to recapture the ~
paste n. to make, mix a ~
pastime n. the national ~ (in America the national
~ is baseball)
pastry /i. 1. to bake, make ~ 2. light; puff (BE) ~
3. (a) Danish ~
pat I adj., adv. (colloq.) to stand — ('to refuse to
change')
pat II n. to give smb. a ~ (on the back)
patch n. ['piece of material used to cover a hole']
1. to sew on a ~ ['insignia'] 2. a shoulder ~ ['plot
of ground'] (esp. AE) 3. a cabbage; potato ~
patent n. 1. to grant, issue a ~ 2. to apply for;
obtain, take out a — 3. to hold a — 4. to infringe a
~ 5. ~ pending ('a patent has been applied for') 6.
a ~ on (she took out a ~ on her invention)
paternity n. to establish ~
path n. 1. to beat, blaze, clear, make a — (to clear
a ~ through a jungle) 2. to cross smb.'s ~ 3. a
beaten — 4. a bridle ~- 5. a ~ goes, leads some-
somewhere 6. a ~ to (the ~ to success) 7. (misc.) to lead
14*
pay back
smb. up the garden ~ ('to deceive smb.'); to lead
smb. down the primrose ~ ('to lead smb. in an ill-
advised search for pleasure')
pathetic adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to watch her
condition deteriorate day by day) 2. ~ that +
clause (it's — that he has sunk so low)
pathway п. а — to
patience n. ['quality of being patient'] 1. to dis-
display, show ~ 2. to tax, try smb.'s ~ 3. to lose one's
~; to run out of ~ 4. endless, inexhaustible, infi-
infinite ~ 5. one's ~ wears thin 6. ~ for; with (she has
endless — with the children) 7. the ~ to + inf. (do
you have the ~ to do this job?) 8. out of ~ with
['card game'] (BE) 9. to play ~ (AE has solitaire)
patient I adj. — in; with
patient II n. 1. to cure; handle; treat a — 2. to dis-
discharge a ~ (from a hospital) 3. an ambulatory;
cardiac; comatose; hospital; mental; private ~
patriot n. an ardent, fervent; sincere ~
patriotism n. 1. to display, show — 2. (an) ardent,
fervent, strong; sincere ~
patrol n. 1. a highway (AE), motorway (BE);
military; police; reconnaissance ~ 2. (naval) a
shore ~ 3. on ~ (they are out on ~)
patron n. 1. a regular, steady ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ of
the arts
patronage n. political ~
patter v. (d; intr.) to — against, on (the rain was
~ing on the windows)
pattern In. 1. to establish, set a ~ 2. an intricate;
overall; underlying — 3. a holding; traffic — (our
plane was in a holding ~) 4. (ling.) an intonation;
speech ~ 5. a behavior; personality ~
pattern II v. (d;tr.) to "-after, on, upon(we~ed
our road system on theirs)
pause n. ['temporary stop'] 1. an awkward; long,
prolonged; pregnant; short ~ 2. a ~ in ['reason or
cause for hesitating'] 3. to give smb. ~
pavement n. ['paved surface'] 1. to tear up the ~
(in order to lay pipes) 2. the — buckles 3. (misc.)
to pound the — ('to walk about aimlessly or with
determination') USAGE NOTE: In BE, pave-
pavement also means 'sidewalk'.
pawn n. a helpless ~
pay In. 1. to draw, receive ~ 2. back; equal;
incentive; mustering-out (mil.); overtime; sever-
severance (AE; BE has redundancy payment); retroac-
retroactive; sick; strike; take-home ~ 3. — for (equal ~
for equal work) 4. in smb.'s ~~ (he was in the ~ of
the enemy)
pay II v. 1. to —handsomely, highly, well 2. (A)
she paid the money to me; or: she paid me the
money 3. (D; intr.) to — by (to - by check) 4. (D;
intr., tr.) to ~ for (have you paid for the book? I
paid ten dollars for this record) 5. (D; intr., tr.) to
~ into (we have been ~ing into a pension fund;
the money was paid into her account) 6. (d; intr.,
tr.) to ~ out of (she paid out of her own pocket) 7.
(E) it doesn't ~ to economize on essentials 8. (H)
he paid us to watch his house
payable adj. 1. ~ to 2. (misc.) — at sight; ~ on
demand
pay back v. 1. (B) we must pay the money back to
her 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (she paid me back for the

paycheck
tickets)
paycheck n. a monthly; weekly —
pay dirt n. (colloq.) (AE) ['success'] to hit, strike
payment n. 1. to make (a) — 2. to stop ~ (of, on a
check) 3. to suspend —s 4. a cash; down ('initial');
redundancy (BE; AE has severance pay); token
- 5. (a) - for, on 6. in full - (of a bill)
payoff n. to make a ~
pay out v. (B) the benefits have been paid out to
the workers
payroll n. 1. to meet (esp. AE) a — 2. a monthly;
weekly —
peace n. 1. to achieve, bring about — 2. to make —
with 3. to negotiate (a) — with 4. to impose a — on
5. to keep the — 6. to break, disturb, shatter the —
7. a durable, lasting, permanent; fragile — 8. —
reigns 9. at — with (we were at — with our
neighbors) 10. in — (to live in —) 11. (misc.) a
breach of the —; — and quiet; a — march
peacetime n. in —
peacock n. (misc.) as proud as a ~
peak n, 1. to reach a — 2. to scale the — (of a
mountain) 3. at the — (at the — of her success)
pearls n. 1. to string —2. cultured; imitation; nat-
natural — 3. a string of —
peas n. 1. split — 2. (misc.) as like as two — in a
pod
peck v. (d; intr.) to — at (to — at one's food)
pecker n. (colloq.) (BE) ['spirits'] ['courage'] to
keep one's — up
peculiar adj. 1. - to 2. - that + inf. (it's - that he
never answers his phone)
pedal n. 1. to depress, step on a — 2. a brake;
clutch; gas (AE) -
peddler, pedlar n. an influence; itinerant; smut ~
pedestal n. on a — ('held in high esteem')
peek I n. to take a ~
peek II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at; through (to - at
smt. through a window) 2. (d; intr.) to — into (to
— into the files) 3. (d; intr.) to — under (to —
under the bed)
peek in v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at 2. (misc.) she -ed
in from behind the bushes
peek out v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at 2. (D; intr.) to -
from behind (to — from behind the shades) 3. (D;
intr.) to — from under (to — from under the bed)
peel I л. a banana; lemon; potato — (see the
Usage Note for rind)
peel II v. (C) — a banana for me; or: — me a
banana
peep I n. ['sound'] 1. to let out a — 2. a — out of
(we didn't hear a — out of him)
peep II v. ('to look') l.(D; intr.) to-at; through
(to — at smb. through a keyhole) 2. (d; intr.) to —
into (to — into smb.'s dossier) 3. (d; intr.) to —
under (to — under the bed)
peep out v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at 2. (D; intr.) to —
from behind (to — from behind the blinds) 3. (D;
intr.) to — from under (to — from under the bed)
peer v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at; through (to — at smb.
through a window) 2. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into
smb.'s eyes)
n. (GB) to raise smb. to the —
178
peer oat v. 1. (D; intr.) to — at 2. (D; intr.) to —
from behind (to — from behind the curtains) 3.
(D; intr.) to — from under (to — from under a car)
peeve n. one's pet —
peevish adj. ['irritable'] - about
peg n. ['degree, step'] (fig.) to come down a —; to
bring smb. down a —
pelt v. (d; tr.) to — with (to — smb. with rocks)
pelt down v. (D; intr.) to —on (the rain—ed down
on the roof)
pen I n. ['enclosure'] 1. a pig — ['dock'] 2. a sub-
submarine —
pen II n. ['device for writing'] 1. a ballpoint; felt-
tip (AE), fibre-tip (BE); flair; fountain - 2.
(misc.) with a stroke of the —, the new law was
enacted
penalize v. (D; tr.) to — for
penalty n. 1. to impose, mete out a — 2. to pay a —
(to pay the full — for one's mistakes) 3. to rescind
a — 4. a light, mild; maximum; minimum; severe,
stiff, strict — 5. the death — 6. a — for 7. on, under
- (of death)
penance n. to do, perform — for
penchant n. a —for
pencil n. 1. an indelible; lead — 2. a cosmetic,
eyebrow — 3. a styptic —
pendulum n. 1. to swing a — 2. a — swings
penetrate v. 1. to — deeply 2. (D; intr.) to — into
(our troops —d deeply into enemy lines)
penetration n. 1. a deep — 2. (mil.) a — in depth
penicillin n. l.oral — 2. an injection, jab (BE;col-
(BE;colloq.), shot of —
penitence n. true — for
penitent adj. -for
pen name n. under a — (to write under a —)
pennant n. ['baseball championship'] (AE) to
lose; win the —
penny n. 1. to pinch —nies ('to be frugal') 2.
(misc.) a pretty — ('a large sum of money'); (BE;
colloq.) the — drops ('somebody finally under-
understands'); (BE; colloq.) to spend a — ('to use a
toilet')
pension n. 1. to award, grant a — 2. to draw,
receive a — 3. to revoke a — 4. a disability; old-
age; survivor's — 5. on a — (to live on a —; to retire
on a —) 6. (misc.) a — plan
people n. 1. average, common, plain; working —
2. old; young — 3. the chosen — 4. boat — ('desti-
('destitute refugees traveling in boats') 5. city; country;
little, ordinary; primitive —
pepper I n. ['spice'] 1. black; hot; red; white — 2.
a dash of — ['vegetable'] 3. (a) green; red; sweet —
4. stuffed -s
pepper II v. (d; tr.) ('to shower') to — with (she
was — ed with questions)
pepper away v. (D; intr.) to — at
pep talk n. to give a — (the coach gave the team a
~)
perceive v. (formal) 1. (d; tr.) to — as (I —d her
statement as a threat) 2. (L) we —d that the situa-
situation was critical
percentage n. ['profit'] (colloq.) — in (there is no
— in investing more money)
perceptible adj. 1. barely - 2. - to
179
perception n. 1. to have a — 2. clear; keen — 3.
color; depth; extrasensory — 4. the — that +
clause (events confirmed our — that she had been
treated unfairly)
perceptive adj. 1. — of (that observation was very
— of her) 2. — to + inf. (it was — of them to grasp
our meaning)
perceptiveness n. the — to + inf. (she had the — to
know what would happen)
perch In. a high —
perch II v. (P; intr.) the birds —ed on the wire
per diem n. ['daily allowance for expenses'] 1. to
pay (a) — 2. to receive (a) —
perfect I adj. — for (she would be — for the job)
perfect II n. (grammar) the future; past; present
perfection n. 1. to achieve, attain — 2. the acme of
— 3. to — (cooked to —)
perfidy n. (formal) an act of —
perform v. to — live
performance n. ['act of performing'] 1. to deliver,
give, put on a — 2. a breathtaking, inspired,
superb; listless; uneven — 3. a benefit; command;
gala; live; repeat; request — ['functioning of a
machine'] 4. engine —
performer n. a star —
perfume n. 1. to dab on, put on, spray on; use — 2.
to reek of (derog.); smell of — 3. (a) strong —
peril n. 1. to face a — 2. to avert a — 3. at one's —
4. in — (our lives were in —)
perimeter n. ['boundary'] 1. (mil.) to guard a — 2.
on a —
period /i. ['portion of time'] 1. a cooling-off; incu-
incubation; prehistoric; question-and-answer; rest;
transitional; trial; waiting — 2. (sports) an extra —
3. for a — 4. in a certain — (in that — of history)
['menstruation'] 5. to have a — 6. a monthly —
['punctuation mark'] (esp. AE; BE prefers full
stop) 7. to place, put a — (at the end of a sentence)
periodical n. 1. a current — (where does the li-
library keep current —s?) 2. bound —s
peripheral adj. — to
periphery n. on the —
periscope n. 1. to lower; raise a — 2. (as com-
commands) — down; — up
perish v. (formal) l.(D; intr.) to-by (to-by the
sword) 2. (D; intr.) to — from, of (to — from dis-
disease)
perjury n. to commit —
perm n. ['permanent wave'] 1. to give smb. a — 2.
to get a —
permeated adj. (cannot stand alone) — with (—
with idealism)
permissible adj. — to + inf. (it is not — to smoke
in the library)
permission n. 1. to give, grant — 2. planning —
(BE; AE has building permit) 3. — to + inf. (we
had — to leave early)
permit In. 1. to grant, give a — 2. to cancel,
rescind, revoke a — 3. a building (AE; BE has
planning permission); work—
permit II v. 1. (H) they-ted her to leave 2. (K)
who —ted their leaving early?
pernickety (esp. BE) see persnickety
pervaded
perpendicular adj. —to
perpetuity n. in — ('forever')
perplex v. (R) it — ed me to learn of his decision;
it -ed me that they refused the offer
perplexed adj. 1. — about, at, by, over 2. — to +
inf. (we were — to learn of your decision)
perplexing adj. — to + inf. (it was — to read so
many contradictory accounts of the incident)
persecute v. (D; tr.) to — for (they were —d for
their religious beliefs)
persecution n. 1. to suffer — 2. bloody; relentless
— 3. political; racial; religious —
perseverance n. 1. to display — 2. — at, in 3. the —
to + inf. (she had enough — to finish)
persevere v. (D; intr.) to — at, in
persist v. (D; intr.) to — in (to — in doing smt.)
persistence n. 1. to display, show — 2. dogged — 3.
— in 4. the — to + inf. (will you have the — to stick
it out?)
persistent adj. 1. doggedly — 2. — in
persnickety adj. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['fussy'] -
about
person n. 1. a juridical; real — 2. a displaced;
missing — 3. (legal) a — aggrieved 4. (grammar)
the first; second; third — 5. in — (to appear in —)
personal history n. to record, take down smb.'s —
personality n. ['noted person'] 1. a celebrated —
['behavioral characteristics'] 2. a charismatic,
charming; dynamic, forceful, magnetic, striking,
strong — 3. a dual, split; multiple — ['misc.'] 4. to
indulge in —ties ('to make impolite remarks about
people')
personnel n. enlisted (AE; BE has other ranks);
government; indigenous; military; qualified —
perspective n. 1. to put smt. into — 2. the proper,
right, true; wrong — 3. from a — (to view a situa-
situation from a new —) 4. in — (to look at, see smt. in
~)
perspicacity n. the — to + inf. (she had enough —
to see through their schemes)
perspiration n. 1. profuse — 2. beads of — (ran
down my face)
perspire v. to — profusely
persuade v. 1. (D; tr.) to — of (we had to — them
of the need to evacuate their house) 2. (H) we —d
them to leave 3. (L; must have an object) we —d
her that it would be best to wait
persuasion n. 1. friendly — 2. (humorous) religi-
religious — (what is their religious —?)
persuasiveness n. the — to + inf. (she has enough
— to convince anyone)
pertain v. (d; intr.) to — to (these facts — to the
case)
pertaining adj. (cannot stand alone) — to
pertinent adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (is it — to cite
those facts?)
perturb v. (R) it — ed me (to learn) that she was
late again
perturbed adj. 1. — about, at, by, over 2. — to +
inf. (we were — to learn of the bad news from the
front)
perturbing adj. — to + inf. (it's — to read such dis-
distortions of fact in the press)
pervaded adj. (cannot stand alone) — with (— with

perverse
180
cynicism)
perverse adj. — to + inf. (it was — to behave like
that)
perversion n. sexual ~
pervert n. asexual —
pessimism n. 1. to display - 2. to overcome - 3.
— about, at, over
pessimistic adj. — about, at, over
pester v. 1. (D; tr.) to — about, for (he kept —ing
me for his money) 2. (D; tr.) to — into (they —ed
me into going) 3. (H) they kept —ing me to buy a
new car
pet n. 1. a household ~ 2. a teacher's — 3. (misc.)
a — animal
petition I n. 1. to circulate; file, present a ~ 2. to
grant a ~ 3. to withdraw a — 4. to deny, reject a —
5. a — about; against; for
petition II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — for (to — for a
new trial; they —ed the government for tax relief)
2. (H) we have —ed city council to provide more
teachers 3. (formal) (L; subj.) they -ed that the
case be/should be retried
petrol (BE) see gasoline
petting n. heavy — (old-fashioned)
petty adj. - to + inf. (it was - of him to do that)
phalanx n. ['formation'] to form a (solid) —
pharmacy n. 1. a hospital — 2. at, in a - (she
works down at the —)
phase n. 1. to begin, enter a — 2. to go through a
— 3. a closing, final; critical, crucial; initial, new,
opening — (the war was entering its final —)
phenomenon n. 1. an isolated — 2. a natural ~
philander v. (D; intr.) to - with
philosophy n. ['belief] — that + clause (it was her
— that people should help each other)
phone see telephone
phoneme n. (ling.) an independent, separate —
phooey interjection (expresses disgust) — on!
photo see photograph
photocopy n. to make a ~
photofinish n. (to end) in a —
photograph I n. 1. to take a ~ 2. to develop;
touch up a — 3. to blow up, enlarge a — 4. to
mount a — 5. an aerial; family; group; still — 6.
(misc.) to pose for a —
photograph II v. (P; intr.) she ~s well
photography n. color; still; trick ~
phrase n. 1. to coin; turn a ~ 2. a colloquial;
empty; glib; hackneyed, trite; well-turned — 3.
(grammar) a noun; participial; prepositional; verb
physical, physical examinaton n. 1. to do a -2. to
get, have a —
physician n. 1. an attending; family; house; prac-
practicing — 2. an allopathic; homeopathic;
osteopathic —
physics n. classical, Newtonian; high-energy, par-
particle; nuclear; solid-state; theoretical —
physique n. a burly, muscular, powerful —
pianist n. a concert —
piano n. 1. to play the — 2. to tune a — 3. a baby
grand; grand; upright — 4. (misc.) a — is in tune or
out of tune
n. ['open square'] on a —
pick I n. ['tool for breaking'] an ice —
pick II n. (colloq.) ['selection'] to take one's —
pick III v. 1. (C) ('to select') — a nice melon for
me; or: — me a nice melon 2. (d; intr.) to — at ('to
eat sparingly') (to - at one's food) 3. (D; tr.) ('to
select') to — from, out of (she —ed this album from
our record library) 4. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to — on
('to find fault with') (she's always -ing on me) 5.
(H) ('to select') they ~ed me to serve as secretary
6. (N; used with an adjective) the animals —ed the
carcass clean
picketing n. informational - (esp. AE); mass -
pickings n. (colloq.) ['choice'] lean, slim ~
pickle n. 1. a dill; sour; sweet - 2. (BE) mustard
—; —s and chutney 3. (misc.) in a — ('in trouble')
USAGE NOTE: In the United States, a pickle is
a pickled cucumber. In Great Britain, the typical
pickle is a thick sauce of pickled vegetables.
pick oat v. l.(C)~ a nice melon for me; or: -me
out a nice melon 2. (D; tr.) ('to select') to — for
(we must — the best candidate for the job) 3. (H)
I —ed out a nice tie to go with this shirt
pick up v. 1. (d; intr.) to — after ('to clean up for')
(I was always -ing up after them) 2. (slang) (d;
intr.) to - on ('to continue'); ('to become aware
of)
picnic n. ['outing with a meal'] 1. to go on, have a
— ['picnic meal'] (BE) 2. to make; pack a - ['plea-
['pleasure'] (colloq.) 3. a - to + inf. (it's no - to work
there = it's no - working there)
picture I n. ['photograph'] 1. to snap, take a —
['drawing, image, painting'] 2. to draw; paint;
retouch a — 3. to frame; hang a — 4. (BE) an Iden-
Identikit (T) - 5. in a - (did you see the animals in the
~?) 6. (misc.) as pretty as a — ['film'] 7. a motion
(AE), moving (esp. AE) - 8. in a - (who played
in that ~?) 9. (esp. BE) to go to the ~s ['descrip-
['description'] 10. to draw, paint a — 11. a clear; detailed;
gloomy; realistic - 12. (misc.) (colloq.) to get the
— ('to comprehend the situation')
picture II v. 1. (d; tr.) to - as (I cannot - her as
an actress) 2. (J) can you ~ them leading a
demonstration?
pie n. 1. to bake a - 2. an apple; blueberry;
cherry; lemon-meringue; meat; mince; pecan;
pumpkin; shepherd's - 3. a piece, slice, wedge of
— 4. (misc.) as easy as —
piece n. ['figure used in a game'] 1. chess —s
['coin'] 2. a fifty-cent; gold; ten-cent ~ ['an artistic
work'] 3. a collector's - (BE; CE has collector's
item) 4. a conversation — 5. a — of music ['unit']
6. by the — ['fragment'] 7. to break into —s (the
vase fell and broke into small —s; she broke the
dish into ~s) ['misc.'] 8. to go to -s ('to fall
apart'); a solid — of work ('high-quality work'); to
give smb. a - of one's mind ('to tell smb. brusquely
what one thinks'); to speak one's — ('to state one's
opinion frankly'); a - of news; (BE; colloq.) a
nasty - of work ('a nasty person'); to pick a theory
to —s ('to disprove a theory')
piecemeal adv. to do smt. —
piecework n. to do-
dopier n. at, on a - (to meet smb. at the ~)
pig n. ['swine'] 1. a sucking (BE), suckling (AE) -
181
2. —s grunt, oink, squeal 3. a young — is a piglet 4.
a female — is a sow 5. a male — is a boar ['glutton']
(colloq.) 6. to make a — of oneself ['misc.'] 7. as
fat as a —; a male chauvinist —; to buy a — in a
poke ('to buy, accept smt. with no previous
inspection')
pigeon n. 1. a carrier, homing — 2. a clay — 3. —s
coo
piggyback adv. to carry smb. — ('to carry smb. on
one's shoulders')
pigheaded adj. — of (that was — of him)
pig out v. (slang) (AE)(D; intr.) to— on (to— on
ice cream)
pigtails n. in - (little girls in -)
pile I n. ['concrete post'] to sink a —
pile II n. ['soft raised surface on a rug'] shaggy;
smooth; soft; thick —
pile III n. ['fortune'] 1. to make a — ['reactor'] 2.
an atomic —
pile IV v. (P; intr.) ('to crowd') the children —d
into the car
pilfer v. (D; tr.) to ~ from
pilgrimage n. 1. to go on, make a — 2. a — to (they
went on a — to Jerusalem) 3. on a —
pill n. ['tablet of medicine'] 1. to swallow, take a —
2. (colloq.) to pop —s 3. a headache; sleeping —
['oral contraceptive'] 4. to take the — 5. to be on
the — ['misc.'] 6. it was a bitter — to swallow ('it
was very difficult to experience failure')
pillbox n. to storm; take a —
pillow n. to fluff up a —
pilot n. ['person who flies aircraft'] 1. an air-force;
airline, commercial; fighter; glider; helicopter;
kamikaze; licensed; test — ['person who guides
ships into and out of a port'] 2. to drop; take on the
— 3. a harbor — ['device for steering'] 4. an
automatic —
pin I n. ['metal fastener'] 1. a safety; straight — 2.
a bobby — (AE;BEhas hairgrip) 3. a drawing —
(BE; AE has thumbtack) 4. a — pricks 5. (misc.)
the head of a — ['tube-shaped piece of wood'] 6. a
rolling — ['target in bowling'] 7. to spot ('place')
—s
pin II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to trap') to — against (—ned
against the wall) 2. (D; tr.) ('to trap') to -
beneath, underneath (he was —ned beneath the
car) 3. (d; tr.) ('to place') to — on (we —ned our
hopes on her) 4. (d; tr.) to — to (her arms were
—ned to her sides)
pinball machine n. (BE also has pintable) to
play; tilt a —
pincers n. a pair of —
pinch I n. ['painful squeeze'] 1. to give smb. a —
['emergency'] (colloq.) 2. at (BE), in (esp. AE) a
— ['arrest'] (colloq.) 3. to make a —
pinch II v. (colloq.) (D; tr.) ('to arrest') to — for
(—ed for speeding)
pinch-hit v. (AE) (from baseball) (D; intr.) to-
for ('to replace')
pine v. 1. (d; intr.) to — after, for (to — for home)
2. (E) they were —ing to return home
pink n. (colloq.) ['good health'] in the-(of condi-
condition)
pinnacle n. 1. to reach a ~ (to reach the-of one's
power) 2. at a — (at the — of one's success)
pintable (BE) see machine 5
pipe I n. ['device for smoking'] 1. to light a — 2. to
puff on, smoke a — 3. to fill one's — 4. a peace —
['long tube'] 5. a drain; exhaust; overflow; water
pipe II v. (D;tr.) to —from; into, to (to —water
from a stream to a house)
pipeline n. in a — (also fig.)
pique n. a fit of-
piracy n. 1. to commit — 2. air; literary —; — on
the high seas 3. an act of —
pistol n. 1. to cock; fire a-2. to aim, point; level
a — at 3. to load a — 4. to draw, whip out a — 5. an
automatic; dueling; starting; toy; water — 6. the —
fired, went off; jammed; misfired
pit I n. an orchestra —
pit II v. (d; tr.) to — against (we were —ted
against a formidable opponent)
pitch I n. ['high-pressure sales talk'] (colloq.) 1.
to deliver a — 2. a sales — ['blade angle'] 3. a pro-
propeller — 4. reverse — ['intensity'] 5. a fever; high;
low — (to reach a fever —) ['throw of a baseball']
(esp. AE) 6. to throw a - 7. an underhand; wild -
(to uncork a wild —)
pitch II v. l.( A) ('to throw')-the ball to me; or:
— me the ball 2. (d; intr.) to — into ('to begin to
work together enthusiastically') (let's all — into
this job)
pitfall n. 1. to avoid a - 2. a hidden -
pitiful adj. — to + inf. (it's — to see such suffering)
pittance n. (formal) a mere, small —
pity n. 1. to arouse — 2. to feel; show — 3. to have,
take — on smb. 4. — for 5. a — to + inf. (it's a —
to see what has happened) 6. a — that + clause (it's
a — that the meeting was canceled) 7. out of — (he
agreed out of — for her children) 8. (misc.) for —'s
sake; a sense of —
pivot v. (D; intr.) to — on (the dancer —ed on the
ball of her foot; the future —s on what we decide
now)
placard n. to carry a —
place I n. ['space occupied at a table'] 1. to lay
(BE), set (esp. AE) a - for smb. ['position'] 2. to
take smb.'s - 3. to trade -s 4. (misc.) to know
one's — (in life); to give up one's — in line/in a
queue; to occupy a prominent — in world litera-
literature ['point in space'] 5. a meeting — 6. at, in a —
(at the same old -) ['dwelling'] 7. at smb.'s -
(let's meet at your —) ['appropriate position'] 8.
in; out of — (everything was in —) ['seat']9. to take
one's — (they took their —s) ['standing in a com-
competition'] 10. to take a - (she took second - in the
competition) 11. a — goes to (first — went to
Smith) ['duty, function'] 12. one's — to + inf. (it's
not my - to criticize them) ['stage'] ['step'] 13. in
a - (in the first ~) ['misc.'] 14. to take - ('to hap-
happen'); to go —s ('to be successful'); all over the —
('everywhere'); in — of ('instead of)
place II v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to put') to - above (to -
one's family above all other concerns) 2. (d; tr.)
('to put') to — at (she —d her car at our disposal)
3. (d; tr.) ('to present') to — before (to — evidence
before a grand jury) 4. (d; tr.) ('to put') to - in (to

placebo
- one's confidence in smb.) 5. (D; tr.) to - with
('to find a home for') (to — a child with a family)
6. (P; tr.) ('to put') to — books on a table)
placebo n. 1. to administer, give a — 2. (misc.) a ~
effect
plagiarism n. to be guilty of —
plague n. 1. bubonic — 2. a — spreads 3. (misc.) to
avoid smb. like the —
plain I adj. 1. - to (the truth is - to everybody)
2. - to + inf. (the facts are - to see) 3. - that +
clause (it's — to everyone that she will never
return) 4. (misc.) as — as day; or: as — as the nose
on your face
plain II n. 1. a broad; coastal — 2. on a —
plain clothes n. in - (the police officer was in ~)
plan I n. 1. to concoct, devise a ~ 2. to draw up,
formulate, map out a — 3. to make —s 4. to out-
outline; unveil a — 5. to accept; carry out, execute,
implement a —; to put a — into operation 6. to pre-
present, propose a — 7. to foil, frustrate, thwart;
reject; shelve a — 8. a brilliant, ingenious; compli-
complicated, elaborate; feasible; grandiose, sweeping;
impracticable; impractical; realistic; secret; well-
laid, well-thought-out - 9. a contingency; five-
year; long-term; master; security; short-term —
10. (on) the installment - (AE; BE has hire-
purchase) 11. a flight; floor — 12. a health —
('health insurance'); a pension, retirement — 13.
an easy-payment — 14. a — calls for (smt.) 15. —s
materialize 16. a — for 17. a — to + inf. (the mayor
had a ~ to reduce traffic congestion)
plan II v. l.(d; intr.) to-for (to-for one's old
age) 2. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on early retirement)
3. (E) we — to visit them soon 4. (Q) they —ned
very carefully how they would accomplish their
mission
plane I n. see airplane
plane II n. 1. an inclined — 2. on a lofty —
plane III v. (N; used with an adjective) to ~ a
board smooth
plank n. ['board extending from a ship'] to walk
the — ('to go to one's death') (see the Usage Note
for platform)
planning n. 1. grandiose; long-range, long-term;
short-range, short-term — 2. city; discharge; fam-
family-
plan on v. (G) we ~ned on spending a month in
Europe
plant I n. ['shrub,bush']l.togrow-s2.towater
a — 3. an annual; biennial; climbing; decorative;
exotic; perennial; tropical — 4. a — grows ['fac-
['factory'] ['utility'] 5. to manage, operate, run a - 6.
a power — ['buildings'] ['equipment'] 7. (the)
physical — (of an institution)
plant II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - with (to - a field with
rye) 2. (misc.) to — an idea in smb.'s head
plantation n. a coffee; cotton; rubber; sugar; tea
plaque n. ['filmy deposit on teeth'] 1. to remove —
(from teeth) 2. dental — 3. — accumulates, builds
up ['tablet'] 4. to put up a - (in smb.'s honor) 5. a
memorial —
plaster n. ['pasty composition'] 1. to apply - (to
apply — to a wall) 2. to daub — (to daub — on a
182
wall) 3. crumbling, falling — 4. ~ comes off, falls
off (a wall) ['pastelike mixture used for healing
purposes'] 5. a mustard — ['tape'] 6. (BE) (a)
sticking —
plastic n. laminated ~
plate n. ['dish'] 1. a cake; dinner; salad; soup ~
['denture'] 2. a dental; lower; upper — ['tag'] 3. a
license (AE), number (BE) - ['thin layer'] 4.
armor; silver — ['container passed around for
donations of money'] 5. to pass the — 6. a collec-
collection —
plateau n. 1. a high — 2. (misc.) to reach a — ('to
cease making progress')
platform n. ['raised stage'] 1. to mount ('ascend')
a — 2. from a — (to speak from a —) 3. a launching
- ['statement of policies'] (esp. AE; BE prefers
manifesto) 4. to draft, draw up a — 5. to adopt a
- 6. a party; political - USAGE NOTE: A polit-
political platform consists of various statements that
are called planks.
platitude n. 1. to mouth, utter a — (he's always
mouthing —s) 2. in —s (to speak in —s)
platoon n. 1. to form a - 2. to deploy a -
plaudits n. to earn; receive, win-
plausible adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to assume that
they will not accept our invitation) 2. — that +
clause (it's — that most of the voters will not sup-
support this referendum)
play I n. ['stage presentation'] 1. to present, pro-
produce, put on, stage; revive; write a — 2. to per-
perform; rehearse a - 3. to review a ~ 4. to criticize,
pan (colloq.') a — 5. a miracle; morality; mystery;
nativity; one-act; passion — 6. a — closes; opens;
runs (the — ran for two years on Broadway) 7.
(misc.) the ~ got rave reviews ['action, activity'] 8.
to bring into — (to bring various factors into —) 9.
to come into — ['competition, playing'] 10. fair;
foul; rough; team — 11. in; into; out of — (to put
the ball into ~) ['attempt to attract'] (colloq.)
(esp. AE) 12. to make a — for (he made a — for
her) ['misc.'] 13. a - on words ('a pun')
play II v. 1. ('to compete') to — fair; foul; rough
2. (C) ('to perform') - a nice song for me; or: -
me a nice song 3. (d; intr.) ('to compete') to —
against (to — against a strong opponent) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to gamble') to — for (to — for money) 5. (d;
intr.) Do perform') to - for (she -s for our team)
6. (d; intr.) to - for ('to attempt to obtain') (to -
for time) 7. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to exploit')
(to ~ on smb.'s fears) 8. (d; intr.) to — on ('to
pun') (to — on words) 9. (D; tr.) ('to do, make') to
- on (they -ed a joke on us; she -ed a trick on
me) 10. (d; intr.) ('to perform') to — to (to — to a
full house) 11. (esp. tennis) (d; intr.) ('to direct
one's strokes') to - to (to - to an opponent's
forehand) 12. (D; intr.) ('to amuse oneself) to -
with (to ~ with matches) 13. (L) (esp. in children's
language) ('to pretend') let's - that I'm the
teacher and you're the pupil 14. (O; can be used
with one object) ('to oppose in') I'll - you a game
of cards 15. (s) ('to feign') they -ed dead 16.
(misc.) to — smb. for a fool ('to ridicule smb.')
play about (BE) see play around
play around v. (D; intr.) to — with
183
playback v. (B) she -ed the tape back to us
player n. ['athlete'] 1. a clean; dirty - 2. a key -
['electronic instrument'] 3. a record —
playgoer n. a habitual —
playground n. 1. (BE) an adventure - ('children's
playground designed for spontaneous play') 2. a
city, public —
playing n. clean; dirty ~
play off v. (d; tr.) to — against ('to set against') (to
— one side off against the other)
play up v. (d; intr.) to - to ('to flatter') (to — to
the boss)
plea n. 1. to enter, make, put forward a — 2. to
answer, respond to a — 3. to deny, reject a — 4.
(slang) to cop a ~ ('to plead guilty to a lesser
charge') 5. an ardent, fervent, impassioned, mov-
moving, passionate; urgent — 6. (to enter) a guilty —;
(to enter) a — of not guilty; more usu. is: to plead
guilty; to plead not guilty 7. a — for (a — for
mercy) 8. (misc.) ~ bargaining
plead v. 1. to - fervently 2. (D; intr.) to - for;
with (to ~ with the judge for mercy) 3. (legal) to -
guilty (to a charge) 4. (legal) to — not guilty (to a
charge)
pleasant adj. - to + inf. (it's - to lie in the sun =
it's — lying in the sun; she is — to work with = it is
— to work with her « it is — working with her =
she is a — person to work with)
please v. 1. to - greatly, highly 2. (R) it ~d us to
learn of your success; it —d us greatly that you
could accept our invitation
pleased adj. 1. greatly, highly - 2. - about, at, by,
with 3. — to + inf. (we are — to be here; I am — to
meet you) 4. ~ that + clause (she was — that the
proposal had been accepted)
pleasure n. 1. to afford, give — (it gives me great
— to present the next speaker) 2. to feel; find, take
— in 3. to derive — from 4. to forgo a — 5. a
genuine, real; rare — 6. a — to + inf. (it's a — to
work with them = it's a - working with them =
they are a — to work with; it is a — to teach these
children = it is a — teaching these children = these
children are a — to teach)
plebiscite n. 1. to conduct, hold a - 2. a -to + inf.
(a — to determine the status of a territory)
pledge In. 1. to make, take a — 2. to give smb.
one's — 3. to honor, redeem one's — 4. a solemn —
5. a campaign — 6. a — to + inf. (she made a sol-
solemn — to contribute fifty pounds) 7. a — that +
clause (he took a — that he would stop smoking) 8.
(misc.) to take the ~ ('to vow to stop drinking')
pledge II v. 1. (A) she -d her support to us; or:
she ~d us her support 2. (D; tr.) to - to (she was
~d to secrecy) 3. (E) they ~d to return 4. (L) he
—d that he would repay the debt within a month
plenty determiner, п., pronoun 1. — of (— of
money) 2. - to + inf. (she gave us - to do) 3. (for-
(formal) in ~ (to live in ~) 4. (formal) of - (a time of
~)
pliers n. a pair of —
plod v. 1. (d; intr.) to — through ('to go through
laboriously') (to - through a long reading list) 2.
(P; intr.) ('to move') they —ded slowly along the
road
poetry
plot I n. ['conspiracy'] 1. to devise, hatch; weave
a — 2. to foil, thwart a ~ 3. to expose a ~ 4. a cun-
cunning, diabolic; sinister ~ 5. a ~ against 6. a ~ to +
inf. (to expose a — to overthrow the government)
['story'] 7. to build, construct the ~ (of a novel) 8.
a contrived; intricate; simple ~ 9. a — thickens
['piece of ground'] 10. a cemetery; garden ~; a ~
of land
plot II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — against (to ~ against
the government) 2. (E) they —ted to overthrow
the government 3. (Q) they were —ting how to
obtain the necessary information
plow I plough n. to pull a —
plow II plough v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into ('to
strike') (the racing car skidded and ~ed into the
crowd) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to go through
laboriously') (to — through a long reading list; to
— through a crowd; to — through deep snow)
ploy n. 1. to resort to, use a — 2. a clever, ingeni-
ingenious — 3. a — to + inf. (it was a — to get money)
pluck I n. ['courage'] the — to + inf. (he had
enough — to stand up to the boss)
pluck II v. l.(d;intr.)('totug')to~at2.(D;tr.)
('to pull') to ~ from (to — feathers from a chicken)
plug I n. ['electrical fitting'] 1. to insert, put a ~
into a socket 2. a ~ fits into a socket ['device carry-
carrying an electric current'] 3. a spark (AE), sparking
(BE) ~ ['word of praise'] (colloq.) 4. to put in a ~
for ['misc.'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 5. to pull the ~
('to cut off a life-support system'); to pull the ~ on
smt. ('to put an end to smt.')
plug II v. (d; intr., tr.) to -in to (the lamp ~s into
this receptacle)
plug away v. (D; intr.) to — at ('to work at labori-
laboriously') (to — at a job)
plumber n. 1. to call (in) a ~ 2. a master ~
plummet v. (d;intr.) to- to (to- to earth)
plump I adj. pleasingly —
plump II v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to — for ('to sup-
support')
plunge I n. ['risk'] (colloq.) to take the-
plunge II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to throw oneself) to —
from; to (to — to one's death from a cliff) 2. (d;
intr.) ('to dive'); ('to rush') to — into (to — into the
water; to — into war) 3. (d; tr.) ('to throw'); ('to
thrust') to — into (the room was —ed into dark-
darkness; to — a dagger into smb.'s heart)
plural n. in the ~
plus n. to weigh the — es and the minuses
ply v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to travel') to — between (these
ships — between the two cities) 2. (d; tr.) ('to pro-
provide') to — with (they plied him with liquor)
pneumonia n. 1. to come down with, contract,
develop — 2. bronchial; viral —
poach v. (D; intr.) ('to trespass') to — on, upon
pocket n. 1. to turn out one's —s 2. to pick smb.'s
— 3. a back; coat; hip; inside; shirt; side; watch —
4. an air —
pocketbook n. (AE) ['handbag'] to carry a-
podium n. from; on a —
poem n. 1. to compose, write; memorize; recite a
— 2. a dramatic; epic, heroic; lyric; narrative —
poet п. ~ laureate
poetry n. 1. to compose, write — 2. to memorize;

pogrom
184
185
post
read; recite; scan — 3. dramatic; epic, heroic;
lyric; narrative —
pogrom n. to carry out; instigate; organize a —
point I n. ['location, position, place, spot'] 1. to
arrive at, reach a — 2. an assembly; cutoff; focal;
jumping-off; pressure; rallying; salient; starting;
turning; vanishing; vantage — 3. the — of no
return 4. at a — (at that — in history) 5. for a — (for
all —s east) 6. from; to a — (from this — to that —)
['level'] ['degree'] 7. to arrive at, reach a — 8. a
high; low — (she has reached the high — of her
career) 9. the boiling; breaking; freezing; melting;
saturation — 10. (up) to a — (to a certain — they
are right) ['step, stage'] 11. at, on the — (they were
on the — of leaving) ['argument'] ['topic'] 12. to
bring up, make, raise a — 13. to argue; cover, dis-
discuss; emphasize, stress, underscore; explain; illus-
illustrate; review; win a — 14. to belabor, labor; strain,
stretch a — 15. to drive, hammer, press a — home;
to make one's — 16. to concede, yield a — 17. a
controversial; crucial; fine; major; minor; moot;
selling; sore; sticking; subtle; talking; telling — 18.
the — that + clause (she made the — that further
resistance was useless) 19. beside the — (her
remarks were beside the —) 20. on a — (on that —
we disagree) 21. to the — (to speak to the —) 22.
(misc.) to come to the —; — by —; a good ('con-
('convincing') —; to have a — ('to have a convincing
argument') ['core, essence'] 23. to see the — (he
never did see the — of the joke) 24. to get to the —
['emphasis'] 25. to make a — of (he made a — of
repeating her name several times) ['distinguishing
feature'] 26. smb.'s bad, weak; good, strong —s
['punctuation mark'] 27. a decimal; exclamation
(AE) — ['scoring unit'] 28. to score a — (also fig.)
29. to shave —s ('to manipulate the results of a
contest for illegal purposes') 30. (esp. tennis) a
game; match; set — 31. by —s (to lead by five —s)
32. (boxing) on —s (to win on —s) ['regard'] 33. in
— of (in — of law; in — of fact) ['aim, object, pur-
purpose, reason'] 34. to get, see the — 35. a — in
(there is no — in complaining = there is no — com-
complaining) 36. a — to (there is no — to your going)
37. (misc.) what's the —? ['tapered end'] 38. a
sharp — (this pencil has a sharp —) ['misc.'] 39. a
— of view; at the — of a gun; a Brownie — (colloq.)
('ingratiation in the eyes of a superior') (to make
Brownie —s); a case in — ('a pertinent case'); a —
of order
point II v. l.(D;intr.) to-at, to ('to draw atten-
attention to') (she —ed at me) 2. (d; tr.) ('to aim') to —
at (to - a gun at smb.) 3. (D; intr.) to - to ('to
cite') (they —ed to poverty as a major problem;
the evidence —s to him as the criminal)
pointers n. ['advice'] 1. to give smb. ~ on 2. to ask
for; get — on
pointless adj. — to + inf. (it's — to continue the
discussion)
point oat v. 1. (B) she — ed out the sights to us 2.
(L; to) they —ed out (to us) that such investments
would be risky
poise I n. 1. to keep, maintain one's — 2. to lose
one's — 3. the — to + inf. (do you have enough —
to speak without notes?)
poise II v. (D; refl.) ('to brace oneself) to - for
(she —d herself for the ordeal)
poison n. 1. to administer, give (a) — 2. to swal-
swallow, take — 3. (a) lethal; slow; strong — 4. rat —
(to spread rat —)
poison gas n. to use ~ against
poisoning n. blood; food; lead; ptomaine —
poke I n. ['punch'] (colloq.) to give smb. a — (in
the eye)
poke II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at ('to jab') (he kept
-ing at me) 2. (D; tr.) ('to jab') to - in (to - smb.
in the ribs) 3. (d; tr.) ('to extend') to - out of (to
— one's head out of the window) 4. (d; tr.) ('to
produce by piercing') to — through (to — a hole
through a wall) 5. (P; tr.) ('to thrust') to - one's
head through a window 6. (misc.) to — fun at smb.
poke about see poke around
poke around v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to — in ('to
look through') (stop —ing around in my desk)
poker n. to play —
polarization n. —between
polarize v. (D; intr., tr.) to — into (—d into oppos-
opposing camps)
pole I n. ['long, slender piece of wood, metal'] 1.
to put up a — 2. a breakaway; fishing; ski; tent;
totem; trolley — 3. a telegraph; telephone (AE);
utility (AE) -
pole II n. ['end of the earth's axis'] 1. the North;
South Pole 2. a celestial; magnetic — ['terminal of
a battery'] 3. a negative; positive — ['misc.'] 4. —s
apart; or: at opposite —s ('diametrically opposed')
police n. border; campus (US); city, municipal;
local; military; mounted; secret; security; state —
police car n. an unmarked —
policeman n. 1. a military — (abbreviated as MP)
2. see police officer
police officer n. an off-duty; plainclothes;
uniformed —
policewoman see police officer
policy I n. ['plan'] ['principle'] 1. to adopt, estab-
establish, formulate, set a — 2. to adhere to, follow,
pursue; carry out, implement a — 3. to form,
shape a — 4. a cautious; clear, clear-cut; concilia-
conciliatory; deliberate; established, set; firm; flexible;
foolish; friendly; prudent; rigid; sound, wise — 5.
(a) company; economic; foreign; government,
public; long-range, long-term; military; monetar-
y; national; official; open-door; personnel; popu-
population; scorched-earth; service; short-range,
short-term; standard; wait-and-see; written — 6. a
— to + inf. (it is our established — to treat
everyone fairly) 7. a — that + clause; subj. (it is
company — that all workers be/should be paid
according to the same criteria)
policy II n. ['contract for insurance'] 1. to take
out a — 2. to issue, write up a — 3. to reinstate a —
4. to cancel a — 5. an endowment; homeowner's;
insurance; lifetime; straight life; term —
polio, poliomyelitis n. to contract, develop—
polish n. ['gloss'] 1. to apply - 2. French (BE);
furniture — 3. nail — (AE; BE has nail varnish)
polite adj. 1.— to 2.— to + inf. (it was not — to say
that)
politeness n. 1. studied - 2. - to
politic adj. (formal) ['expedient'] - to + inf. (it
would not be - to get involved in their affairs)
political fences n. ['political standing'] to mend
one's —
politician n. an astute, shrewd; crooked; glib;
great; hack; honest —
politics n. 1. to go in for - 2. to play - 3. to talk
— 4. local, parish-pump (BE); national; partisan,
party; power; practical —
poll n. 1. to conduct, take a — 2. (AE) an exit —
(taken of voters leaving the voting booths) 3. (esp.
AE) a straw ('unofficial') - 4. a public-opinion -
5. a — among (to conduct a — among students)
pollination n. cross —
pollution n. 1. to control — 2. air; environmental;
noise, sound; water —
polo n. to play —
polyandry n. to practice-
polygamy n. to practice —
polyp n. 1. to remove a — 2. a benign; malignant —
> n. ceremonial —
n. to drain a —
v. (d; intr.) to — on, over, upon (to — over
a problem)
pontificate v. (D; intr.) to-on
pony n. a polo —
pool I n. ['joint enterprise'] 1. to form a — 2. a
car; stenographic, typing - ['group of vehicles'] 3.
a motor - ['total of money bet by gamblers'] 4. a
football - (BE has pools) ['billiards'] 5. to shoot
— ['stock, supply'] 6. a gene —
pool II n. ['basin'] 1. an indoor; outdoor; pad-
paddling (BE), wading (AE); swimming — ['small
body of water'] 2. deep; shallow; stagnant -
pools see pool 14
poor adj. — in (the country is — in natural
resources)
pop I adv. (colloq.) to go —('to make a short ex-
explosive sound')
pop II v. (P; intr., tr.) we have to-into the store
for a minute; - your head out of the window and
see if it's raining; to — round the corner
popular adj. 1. - as (she was - as a nightclub
singer) 2. - with (~ with teenagers)
popularity л. 1. to acquire, gain, win — 2. to enjoy
— 3. to lose — 4. — with
populated adj. densely, heavily; sparsely ~
population n. 1. a decreasing, shrinking; dense;
excess, overflow; expanding, growing, increasing,
rising; sparse; stable; transient — 2. an aging; civil-
civilian; foreign-born; indigenous; local; native-born;
rural; urban — 3. (misc.) a — explosion
porch n. 1. (AE) a back; front - (BE uses veran-
veranda) 2. (AE) a sun - (BE has sun lounge) 3. (AE)
a screened, screened-in — (BE uses veranda) 4.
(BE) a church -
pore v. (d; intr.) to - over ('to examine') (to -
over a document)
pores n. blocked, clogged, closed; open —
pornography n. explicit, hard-core; soft, soft-core
porpoise n. 1. a school of —s 2. a young — is a calf
3. a female — is a cow 4. a male — is a bull
porridge n. (esp. BE) 1. to cook, make - 2.
(misc.) a bowl of -; (BE; slang) to do - ('to spend
time in prison')
port n. 1. to clear ('leave') a — 2. to make — ('to
arrive at a port') 3. to call at a — 4. a free; home —
5. in; into — (to put into —)
portion n. 1. an individual — 2. equal —s
portion out v. (B) they -ed the food out to the
needy
portrait n. 1. to make, paint a — 2. to commission
a — 3. a family; full-length; group — 4. (misc.) to
pose for, sit for one's —
portray v. (d; tr.) to - as (to - smb. as a hero)
pose I n. to assume, strike a —
pose II v. l.(B) ('to put') she-da question to the
speaker 2. (d; intr.) to — as ('to pretend to be') (to
- as an expert) 3. (D; intr.) to - for ('to serve as
a model for') (to — for an artist)
position n. ['posture'] 1. to assume, take a — 2. an
awkward, uncomfortable; comfortable — 3. a
kneeling; lotus; lying; prone; sitting; squatting;
straddle; supine — 4. the fetal, foetal — ['attitude']
5. to assume, take a — 6. a firm; radical; strong;
untenable; weak — 7. an official; unofficial — 8. a
— on (to take a — on foreign aid) 9, a — that +
clause (they took the — that further resistance
would be useless) ['site'] ['military site'] 10. to
attack, storm a - 11. to hold, maintain; occupy,
take up; regain a — 12. to give up, lose, surrender
a — 13. a defensive; dominant; enemy; fortified;
impregnable; strong; unfortified; untenable, vul-
vulnerable, weak - 14. a - of strength 15. from a -
(to negotiate from a — of strength) ['place'] ['situ-
['situation'] 16. to occupy a — 17. an embarrassing;
ludicrous - 18. a high, leading, prominent;
unique — (to occupy a prominent —) 19. in a —
(she is in a — to know) ['proper place'] 20. in —
(the players were in —) 21. out of — ['job'] 22. to
apply for, look for, seek; find a - 23. a perma-
permanent; temporary; tenured — 24. a government;
managerial; official; teaching —
positive adj. — about
possess v. what —ed you to do it?
possession n. 1. to get, take -of 2. material ~s3.
in —of
possibility n. 1. to raise a — 2. to exclude, rule out
a — 3. a good, strong; remote, slim — 4. a — of
(there is a strong — of snow) 5. a — that + clause
(there's a strong — that the concert will be can-
canceled)
possible adj. 1. easily, perfectly; humanly - 2. -
to + inf. (it is — to rent a boat) 3. — that + clause
(it is - that we will be able to attend)
possum n. (colloq.) to play - ('to pretend to be
post I n. ['mail'] 1. (BE) see mail I 2. (BE) free
- 3. (CE) parcel - 4. (BE) by return of - (AE has
by return mail)
post II v. (BE) 1. (A) she-ed the book to me; or:
she -ed me the book 2. (D; tr.) to - from; to (the
letter was —ed from London to Edinburgh) (AE
has mail II)
post III n. ['station'] 1. a command; listening;
observation; trading - ['place of duty'] 2. to leave;
quit one's — 3. at one's — (to be asleep at one's —)

186
187
preparations
post IV v. (esp. BE) (d; tr.) ('to station') to - to
(she was —ed to Bonn)
post V n. ['pole'] 1. a starting - (at a horse race)
2. (colloq.) (BE) a telegraph - 3. (misc.) from pil-
pillar to — ('from one situation to another without
letup'); (BE) to pip at the - ('to overtake and
defeat at the very end')
postage n. 1. to pay the — 2. the return —
postcard n. 1. to send a — 2. to drop smb. a — 3. a
picture —
poster n. 1. to put up a — 2. a campaign —
postmaster n. the-general
postpone v. 1. (D; tr.) to - to, until (the concert
has been ~d to Wednesday) 2. (G) they ~d leav-
leaving because of the weather
postscript n. 1. to add a - 2. a - to
postulate I n. (formal) a — that + clause (his —
that the area was uninhabited proved to be true)
postulate II v. (formal) (L) they ~d that the colli-
collision had been caused by fog
posture In. 1. to assume a — 2. an erect; good —
3. a defense; political —
posture II v. (D; intr.) ('to pretend') to - as
pot n. 1. (fig.) a melting-2. a pepper-(BE; AE
has pepper shaker) 3. a chamber — 4. (misc.) to
scour —s and pans
potato n. 1. to bake; boil; fry; mash; peel —es2. a
baked ~ 3. chipped (BE), French-fried (AE);
mashed; scalloped —es
potential n. 1. to develop; realize one's — 2. a —
for
potion n. a love —
pothick /i. ['whatever is offered'] to take —
potshot n. (colloq.) ['critical remark'] to take a -
at
potter v. (BE) (d; intr.) to-about (to-about the
house) (AE has putter)
pottery n. to glaze —
potty adj. (colloq.) (esp. BE) ['infatuated'] -
about
pouch n. diplomatic — (the letter was sent by dip-
diplomatic —)
poultice n. to apply a —
pounce v. (d; intr.) to-on, upon (the cat-don
the mouse)
pound I n. ['enclosure'] a dog —
pound II v. l.(d; intr.) to-at (to-at the door;
our artillery was —ing at the enemy positions) 2.
(d; tr.) to - into (I've been trying to - some facts
into their heads) 3. (d; intr.) to - on (to - on a
table)
pour v. 1. (C) — a cool drink for me; or: — me a
cool drink 2. (d; intr.) to - down (tears ~ed down
her cheeks) 3. (d; intr., tr.) to - from (blood -ed
from the gaping wound) 4. (d; intr., tr.) to - into
(water -ed into the pit) 5. (d; intr., tr.) to - out of
(oil -ed out of the tank) 6. (d; tr.) to - over (to -
gravy over meat)
pout v. (D; intr.) to-about
poverty n. 1. to breed-(illiteracy breeds-) 2. to
eliminate, eradicate, wipe out — 3. abject, dire,
extreme, grinding, severe — 4. in — (to live in
grinding —)
powder n. 1. to put on-2. baby; baking; bleach-
bleaching; curry; dusting; face; garlic; scouring; talcum;
tooth — 3. gunpowder; smokeless — 4. (misc.)
(slang) to take a - ('to run off unexpectedly');
(colloq.) to keep one's - dry ('to remain calm')
power n. ['authority'] 1. to assume, take; exercise,
wield; seize; transfer - 2. emergency; executive;
political - 3. discretionary ~s 4. - over (they
seized — over several provinces) 5. the — to + inf.
(the prime minister has the - to dissolve parlia-
parliament) 6. in; into — (the government in —; to come
into -) ['dominance'] 7. the balance of - ['na-
['nation'] 8. the great, world ~s; a superpower 9. (the)
warring —s 10. a foreign; occupying — ['capabil-
['capability'] 11. to develop one's —s (of observation) 12.
bargaining; earning; healing; purchasing —;
recuperative; staying; supernatural —s ['military
force, police force'] 13. air; military; naval, sea;
police — 14. fire — ['source of energy'] 15. to turn
on the - 16. to cut off, turn off the - 17. electric;
hydroelectric; nuclear; water - ['motive force']
18. under one's own - ['exponent'] (math.) 19. to
raise to a — (to raise five to the third —)
powerless adj. - to + inf. (she was - to help)
power line n. to down a — (several —s were
downed during the storm)
power mower n. to operate, work a —
power of attorney n. a - to + inf. (we had a - to
conduct her business)
powwow n. (colloq.) ['conference'] to hold a -
pox n. ['plague'] a — on
practicable adj. ['feasible'] - to + inf. (it was not
— to put up a new building there)
practical adj. ['sensible'] - to + inf. (it is not - to
do that)
practice I practise /i. ['habit'] 1. to make a - of
smt. 2. a common, usual; local; universal — 3. a —
to + inf. (it was her - to drink a glass of wine every
evening) ['exercise'] 4. to have - (we have -
today at four o'clock) 5. target - 6. - at, in (~ at
tying knots) 7. the - to + inf. (I've had enough -
to pass the test) ['professional activity'] 8. (a)
legal; medical; nursing; professional — 9. (of doc-
doctors) a general; group; private — 10. a lucrative —
['application'] 11. in; into — (to put a theory into
~; in theory and in -) ['method of conducting
business'] 12. sharp, unethical, unfair, unscrupu-
unscrupulous -s 13. (esp. AE) fair-trade ~s USAGE
NOTE: In Great Britain, private practice refers
to a practice that is not under the National Health
Service.
practice II practise v. 1. (D; intr.) to - on (you
can — mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on me) 2.
(G) the boy ~d throwing the lasso
practitioner n. a family, general; nurse (esp. US)
prairie n. 1. a rolling; windswept — 2. on the —
praise I n. 1. to earn — 2. to bestow, heap, lavish
— on smb. 3. to give — to smb. 4. to sing smb.'s —s
5. faint; fulsome; glowing, high, strong, unre-
unrestrained, unstinting — 6. — for 7. in — of 8. (misc.)
a chorus of —
praise II v. 1. to - highly, strongly 2. (D;tr.) to
-for
praiseworthy adj. (formal) - to + inf. (it is - to
do volunteer work)
pram n. (BE) to push, wheel a — (AE has baby
carriage, carriage)
prance v. (P; intr.) to — around the room
prank n. 1. to play a — on smb. 2. a childish;
foolish; innocent; mischievous; wanton —
prate see prattle
prattle v. 1. to — endlessly 2. (D; intr.) to — (on)
about (he —d on endlessly about his operation)
pray v. 1. to — devoutly, fervently; silently 2. (D;
intr.) to — for; to (to — to God for good health) 3.
(L; to) we —ed (to God) that they would be safe
prayer n. 1. to offer; say; utter a — 2. to answer a
— 3. a fervent; silent — 4. (a) communal; daily;
evening; morning — 5. a — for (to offer a — for
peace) 6. a — that + clause; subj. (our — that
peace be/should be restored was heard) 7. (misc.)
the answer to all our —s
preach v. 1. (D; intr.) to — against (to — against
sin) 2. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to - at (stop-ing at me)
3. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to one's congregation) 4.
(L) to - that the end of the world is near
preacher n. an itinerant; lay —
preamble п. а — to
precaution n. 1. to take —s 2. elaborate —s 3. a —
precedence n. to have, take — over
precedent n. 1. to create, establish, set a — 2. to
cite a — 3. to break (a) — 4. a — for
precept я. a — that + clause (we adhere to the —
that all criminals can be rehabilitated)
preceptor п. а — to
precinct n. a pedestrian (BE); police; voting —
precious adj. ~ to
precipitate v. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ a country into
war)
precipitation n. heavy; light—
precise adj. — about
precision n. great, utmost; military; surgical;
unerring —
preclude v. (formal) (d; tr.) to — from (to — smb.
from doing smt.)
precondition n. to set —s
precursor n. a — of, to
predecessor n. smb.'s immediate —
predestined adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. — to (—
to glory) 2. — to + inf. (she was — to go far in life)
3. — that + clause (it was — that they would never
meet again)
predicament n. 1. an awkward; dire — (to get into
an awkward —) 2. in a —
predicate v. (d; tr.) ('to base') to — on, upon (to —
a theory on certain facts)
predict v. l.(K) I-ed their getting into trouble 2.
(L) she —ed that it would rain 3. (Q) who can —
how the elections will turn out?
prediction n. 1. to make a — 2. a — comes true
predilection n. a-for
predispose v. (formal) 1. (d; tr.) to - to 2. (H)
what —d you to go?
predisposed adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. — to (—
to violence) 2. — to + inf. (— to act rashly)
predisposition n. 1. a — to 2. a — to + inf. (a — to
act rashly)
predominance п. ~ over
predominate I adj. —over
predominate II v. (D; intr.) to - over
preeminence n. — in
preen v. (formal) (d; refl.) to — oneself on ('to
pride oneself on')
preface n. a — to (a — to a book)
prefer v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to bring') to — against (to —
charges against smb.) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (she —s
fish to meat) 3. (E) we — to remain at home 4. (G)
I -red going to a concert 5. (esp. BE) (H; no pas-
passive) I'd — you to stay out of the dispute 6. (K) I
would — your staying out of the dispute 7. (L;
subj.) she —s that he not get/should not get
involved 8. (misc.) I (very) much — living in the
suburbs USAGE NOTE: This verb can be used in
several ways to express preference—I prefer walk-
walking to riding; I prefer to walk rather than to ride; I
prefer not to ride.
preferable adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it is — to
remain silent) 3. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that
she go alone) USAGE NOTE: This adjective can
be used in several ways-walking is preferable to
riding; it's preferable to walk rather than to ride.
preference n. 1. to give — to 2. to demonstrate,
display, show; express a — 3. a decided; indi-
individual; marked — 4. (US) (a) veterans' — 5. a —
for (she showed a decided — for classical music) 6.
in —to
prefix v. (d; tr.) to — to (to — a title to a name)
pregnancy n. 1. to terminate a — 2. an ectopic;
false; full-term; normal —
prejudice I n. ['bias'] 1. to arouse, stir up — 2. to
have, hold (a) — 3. to break down, eliminate — 4.
(a) deep, deep-rooted, deep-seated, ingrained,
strong — 5. race, racial; religious — 6. — against
['harm'] 7. without — to (without — to our claims)
prejudice II v. (D; tr.) to ~ against
prejudicial adj. - to
preliminary I adj. — to
preliminary II п. ~ to
prelude п. а — to
premature adj. — to + inf. (it is — to celebrate)
premiere n. 1. to give, stage a — 2. to attend a —
3. a lavish; world —
premise n. ['proposition'] (logic) 1. the major;
minor — ['assumption'] 2. the — that + clause (her
— that the results of the election were already
decided proved to be true)
premises n. ['property'] on the — (to be consumed
on the -)
premium n. ['high value'] 1. to put a — on ['addi-
['additional sum'] 2. to pay a — 3. at a — (to sell at a —)
['fee paid to an insurance company'] 4. an insur-
insurance-
premonition n. 1. to have a — 2. a — that + clause
(she had a — that an accident would happen)
preoccupation п. а — with
preoccupied adj. — with
preordained adj. — that + clause; subj. (it was —
that they meet/should meet)
preparation n. in — for (we are resting in — for the
strenuous journey)
жпамЙлпа
prep
п. 1. to make — 2. — for

preparatory
preparatory adj. — to
prepare v. 1. to — carefully, thoroughly 2. (D;
intr., refl., tr.) to — for (she was —ing for the
examination; they — d themselves for unpleasant
news; she is '-ing a paper for presentation at the
national meeting) 3. (E) they were ~ing to leave
4. (H) parents should — children to cope with life
prepared adj. — to + inf. (we are — to leave)
preposition n. a compound; simple ~
preposterous adj. — to + inf. (it's — to speak of
such things)
prerequisite I adj. (usu. does not stand alone) —
to
prerequisite II n. a —for, to
prerogative n. 1. to exercise one's —2. the royal —
3. smb.'s — to + inf. (it's our — to order an inves-
investigation)
prescribe v. 1. (D; tr.) to — for (to — a remedy for
the common cold) 2. (formal) (L; subj.) regula-
regulations — that a lawyer draw up/should draw up the
papers
prescription n. 1. to fill (AE), make up a — 2. a —
for 3. by —; on a — (to obtain a drug on a doctor's
—; by — only)
presence n. 1. to make one's — felt, known ('to
make others notice one's presence') 2. in smb.'s ~
presenceofmind n. to display —
present I n. ['present time'] 1. at — 2. for the —
['present tense of a verb'] 3. in the —
present II n. ['gift'] 1. an anniversary; birthday;
Christmas; graduation; wedding — 2. a — for
present III v. 1. (B) ('to give') they —ed an award
to her 2. (D; tr.) ('to introduce') to — to (the new
employees were ~ed to the rest of the staff) 3. (d;
tr.) to — with ('to give a gift to') (he ~ed her with
a beautiful bouquet of roses) 4. (med.) the patient
—ed with ('complained of) severe pains
presentable adj. to make oneself ~
presentation n. ['position of a fetus'] (med.) 1. a
breech; face — ['act of presenting'] 2. to make a —
3. an oral — (of a report)
presentiment n. (formal) ['foreboding'] a — that +
clause (she had a — that an accident would take
place)
preservative n. a food —
preserve I n. 1. a forest; game, wild-life-2. (BE)
see preserves
preserve II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — against, from (to —
the environment from the ravages of pollution) 2.
(D; tr.) to — for (to — a tradition for coming gen-
generations)
preserver n. a life - USAGE NOTE: In AE, life
preserver means 'life belt', 'life jacket'; in BE, it
means 'club used for self-defence'.
preserves n. ['fruit preserved by cooking with
sugar'] apricot; blueberry; cherry; grape; peach;
raspberry; strawberry ~
preside v. (D; intr.) to — over
presidency n, 1. to gain the — 2. a rotating —
president n. 1. a vice ~ 2. an incoming; outgoing
- 3. a ~ elect
press I n. ['instrument for crushing, shaping,
squeezing'] 1. a cider; cookie (AE); hydraulic;
wine ~ ['publishing house'] 2. a university; vanity
188
— ['device for printing'] 3. a printing — 4. the ~es
roll 5. (misc.) to go to — 6. in — (our book is now
in ~) ['newspapers, magazines'] ['reporters'] 7. to
censor; control; muzzle the — 8. a free — 9. the
foreign; gutter, yellow; local — ['publicity'] 10. a
bad; good — (we got a bad ~) ['smoothness of a
fabric'] 11. (a) permanent — ['aggressive defense
used in basketball'] 12. a full-court ~ ['type of lift
used by weight lifters'] 13. to do a — 14. a bench;
military —
press II v. 1. to -hard 2. (d; intr., tr.) ('to push')
to — against (to ~ against a door) 3. (d; intr., tr.)
to — for ('to urge') (to — for reform; to — the
authorities for information) 4. (D; tr.) ('to shape')
to — into (to — clay into various forms) 5. (d; tr.)
('to place') to — into (to — all equipment into ser-
service) 6. (D; intr.) ('to squeeze') to ~ on (to — on
a button).7. (H) ('to urge') they were ~ing me to
agree to the compromise
press conference n. to hold a —
pressed adj. — for time
press on v. (D; intr.) to —with (the police ~ed on
with the investigation)
press-up n. (BE) to do a — (see also push-up)
pressure In. 1. to exert, place, put — on smb. 2.
to bring — to bear on smb. 3. to build up, increase
(the) - 4. to feel - 5. to ease, relieve (the) - 6. to
face; resist — (to resist — from extremist groups)
7. inexorable, intense, maximum, relentless,
strong, unrelieved — 8. financial; outside; paren-
parental; peer; population; public — (to resist public —)
9. air; blood; oil; water — 10. (esp. meteorology)
atmospheric; barometric; high; low —11. — builds
up, increases, rises; eases, falls 12. — for (~ for tax
reform) 13. — from (to face inexorable — from the
media) 14. under — (under relentless —)
pressure II v. (AE) 1. (D; tr.) to - into (to -
smb. into doing smt.) 2. (H) to — smb. to do smt.
pressurize v. (BE) see pressure II
prestige n. 1. to enjoy, have; gain — 2. to damage
smb.'s — 3. great, high; little, low — 4. the — to +
inf. (does she have enough — to get the party
nomination?) 5. of - (of little ~)
presume v. (formal) l.(d; intr.) to —on, upon (to
— upon smb.'s good nature) 2. (E) I will not — to
give you advice 3. (L) we can — that she will return
4. (M) we must — her to be innocent 5. (N; used
with an adjective) we must — her innocent; she
must be —d innocent until proven guilty
presumption п. а — that + clause (our decision
was based on the — that they would agree)
presumptuous adj. — to + inf. (it's ~ of you to
make such claims)
pretence see pretense
pretend v. 1. (E) ('to feign'); ('to make believe')
she ~ed not to notice; I —ed to be busy; the chil-
children —ed to be cowboys 2. (L) ('to feign'); ('to
make believe') she ~ed that she was asleep; they
—ed that they were tourists
pretender n. a — to (a ~ to a throne)
pretense, pretence n. ['simulation'] ['false show']
1. to make a — (he made no — of being objective)
2. to see through smb.'s — 3. under a — (under the
— of patriotism; under false ~s) 4. without — (a
189
person without —) ['unsupported claim'] 5. to see
through smb.'s — 6. a — that + clause (he saw
through the — that lower taxes would cause
unemployment) ['appearance'] 7. to keep, main-
maintain a — (to maintain some — of legality) ['at-
['attempt'] 8. a — at (without any — at objectivity)
pretext n. 1. to find a — for 2. a flimsy; mere — 3.
a — to + inf. (it was a — to occupy more territory)
4. a — that + clause (she refused to attend on the
— that she would be out of town) 5. at, on, under
a — (he would call for help at/on the slightest —;
under what — did she approach them?)
pretty adj. to be sitting - ('to be well off)
prevail v. 1. (D; intr.) to — against, over (to —
against overwhelming odds) 2. (d; intr.) to — on,
upon smb. to do smt. (they —ed on me to buy a
new television set)
prevent v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from (nothingcan — this
disease from spreading) 2. (BE) (J) nothing can —
this disease spreading 3. (K) you cannot ~ her get-
getting married
prevention n. 1. (health care) primary; secondary
— 2. accident; fire —
preview n. 1. to give a — 2. a sneak — (of a film)
prey In. 1. to fall — to 2. easy —
prey II v. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on small game)
price I n. l.tofix,seta-2.tohike(AE;colloq.),
increase, mark up, raise —s 3. to freeze; hold
down, keep down; maintain —s 4. to pay a — 5. to
place, put a — on smt.; to quote a — 6. bring, com-
command, fetch, get a — (icons bring a high —) 7. to
bring down —s; to undercut (smb.'s) ~s (the latest
news brought down oil —s) 8. to cut, lower, mark
down, reduce, roll back, slash ~s9. an exorbitant,
high, inflated, outrageous, prohibitive, steep, stiff
— 10. an attractive, bargain, fair, low, moderate,
popular, reasonable, reduced — 11. an asking;
buying, purchase; discount; going; list; market;
reduced; regular; resale; retail; sale; selling; unit;
wholesale — 12. (at an auction) a reserve (esp.
BE), upset (esp. AE) - 13. ~s drop, fall, go
down, slump 14. —s go up, rise, shoot up, skyrock-
skyrocket 15. a ~ for (to pay an exorbitant — for smt.) 16.
at a certain — (to sell merchandise at reduced —s)
17. (misc.) what — an economic recovery now?
(BE) ('what are the chances of an economic recov-
recovery now?'); what — glory if you die in the
trenches? (BE) ('what is the good of glory if you
die in the trenches?'); to place a — on smb.'s head
('to post a reward for apprehending or killing
smb.')
price II v. (D; refl., tr.) to - out of (they ~d
themselves out of the market)
price index n. a consumer; retail —
prick n. a pin —
pride In. 1. to take ~ in 2. to hurt smb.'s - 3.
civic; fierce, great, strong; injured, wounded —
(to take great — in one's children) 4. the — to +
inf. (do they have enough — to defend their princi-
principles?) 5. (misc.) to appeal to smb.'s —; to burst
with —; to pocket, swallow one's —
pride II v. (d; refl.) to — on (to — oneself on one's
strength)
priest n. 1. to ordain a — 2. to defrock, unfrock a
PfO
— 3. an Anglican; Catholic; Episcopalian; Mor-
Mormon; Orthodox — 4. a high; parish —
priesthood n. to enter the —
primary n. ['party election'] (AE) 1. to hold a — 2.
a closed; direct; open; preferential; presidential;
runoff —
prime n. 1. to reach one's — 2. to pass one's ~ 3.
in one's —
primed adj. 1. ~ for (— for the big game) 2. ~ to
+ inf. (we are — to begin)
prince n. 1. a crown — 2. (misc.) a — consort
princess n. a crown —
principal n. a school — (esp. AE)
principle n. 1. to establish, formulate, lay down a
— 2. to adhere to, apply a — 3. to betray, com-
compromise one's — s 4. a basic; general; guiding;
high; sound; strict — 5. the — that + clause (we
adhere to the — that everyone should be treated
fairly) 6. in — (to agree in —) 7. (misc.) a matter,
question; person of —
print I n. ['photograph'] 1. to develop; make a —
['printed state'] 2. in —; out of — (I have not seen
the story in —; the book is out of —) ['text of a con-
contract'] 3. the fine, small — (people should always
read the fine —) ['printed letters'] 4. clear; large;
small — ['impression made by type'] 5. dark; light
print II v. to — smt. (in) boldface; in italics; in
Roman
printer n. ['device for printing computer data'] a
daisy wheel; dot-matrix; laser; letter-quality;
serial; thermal —
printing n. offset-
prior adj. (cannot stand alone) — to
priority n. 1. to establish, set a — 2. to take ~ over
3. (misc.) to reexamine, rethink; reorder, sort out
one's —ties
prise (BE) see pry 2,3
prison n. 1. to go, be sent, be sentenced to — 2. to
spend time in — 3. to be released from — 4. to
break out of, escape from — 5. a maximum-secu-
maximum-security, minimum-security —
prisoner n. 1. to take smb. —; to take a — (we took
many ~s) 2. a political —
prisoner of war n. to interrogate; repatriate pris-
prisoners of war
privacy n. 1. to violate smb.'s — 2. an invasion of
one's —
private n. ['common soldier'] 1. a buck — 2. (US)
a — first-class (the British Army has lance cor-
corporal)
privilege n. 1. to award, give, grant a — 2. to
enjoy, exercise; have a — (to enjoy guest —s) 3. to
abuse a — 4. to revoke; suspend a — 5. a class; ex-
exclusive; special — 6. franking; guest; kitchen -~s 7.
executive — 8. a — to + inf. (it was a — to work
with them = it was a — working with them)
privileged adj. (usu. does not stand alone) — to +
inf. (we are — to live in a democracy)
prize In. 1. to award, give a — 2. to distribute ~s
3. to receive, win a — 4. a booby; consolation;
door —
prize II (BE) see pry 2,3
pro see professional

probability
probability п. in all-
probable adj. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that she will
not arrive until tomorrow; more usu. is: she'll
probably not arrive until tomorrow)
probate n. 1. to grant — 2. to prove a will at —
probation n. 1. to release smb. on ~ 2. to violate
(the terms of one's) — 3. on ~ (he's out on —)
probe I n. 1. to conduct; launch a — 2. an exhaus-
exhaustive, thorough — 3. an interplanetary, space ~ 4.
a police ~ 5. a ~ into, of (a police ~ into racket-
racketeering)
probe II v. 1. to ~ deeply, thoroughly 2. (d; tr.)
to ~ about, on (to ~ smb. on a matter) 3. (D;
intr.) to — for (to — for weak spots) 4. (D; intr.) to
— into (to — into the facts)
problem n. ['unsettled question'] ['source of diffi-
difficulty'] 1. to cause, create, pose, present a — 2. to
address, tackle; bring up, raise; resolve, settle,
solve a ~ 3. an acute, difficult, major, pressing,
serious; insoluble, insurmountable ~ 4. a compli-
complicated, involved, knotty, thorny ~ 5. a delicate,
ticklish ~ 6. a minor, petty — 7. an emotional;
physical; psychological; social ~ 8. a perennial ~
9. a ~ to + inf. (it's a — to make ends meet = it's
a ~ making ends meet) 10. (misc.) the crux of a ~;
to get to the heart of a ~ ['mathematical statement
requiring a solution'] 11. to do, solve a — 12. a
complicated; difficult; easy; simple ~
procedure n. 1. to establish a ~ 2. to follow a~ 3.
(a) normal, proper, regular, standard ~ (to follow
regular ~s) 4. a scientific; surgical ~ 5. (surgery)
a major; minor ~ 6. parliamentary ~s
proceed v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against (to — against
smb. in court) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ from; to (to — from
New York to Philadelphia) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with
(to ~ with one's research) 4. (E) she ~ed to tell us
every detail
proceedings n. (often legal) 1. to conduct; initiate,
institute ~ against (to initiate legal ~ against a
competitor) 2. judicial, legal ~ 3. divorce — (to
institute divorce ~)
proceeds n. ['profit'] 1. net — 2. ~ from (~ from
the sale of surplus property)
process /i. 1. the judicial ~ 2. mental ~es
processing n. data; food ~
procession n. 1. to lead a — 2. a ceremonial; fu-
funeral; torchlight ~ 3. in (a) ~ (to march in a ~)
processor n. a food; word ~
proclaim v. (formal) 1. (L; to) the president ~ed
(to the nation) that new currency would be issued
2. (N; used with a noun) the entire state was ~ed
a disaster area
proclamation n. 1. to issue, make a — 2. a ~ that
+ clause (the government issued a ~ that all pris-
prisoners would be pardoned)
proclivity n. (formal) a ~ for; to, towards
procure v. (D; tr.) to — for
prod v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to ~ smb. into doing
smt.) 2. (H) they kept ~ding me to buy a new car
prodigy n. a child; infant ~
produce I n. ['fruits and vegetables'] farm *~
produce II v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ as (she ~d several
letters as evidence) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ food
for export)
190
producer n. an executive; film, movie; steel; tele-
television, TV ~
product n. 1. to promote a (new) — 2. a by-product;
an end, finished ~ 3. a waste ~ 4. the gross nation-
national ~ (= GNP)
production n. ['work presented on the stage,
radio, TV, etc.'] 1. to put on a — 2. a Hollywood;
stage, theatrical; TV — ['process of producing'] 3.
to increase, speed up, step up ~ 4. to decrease,
roll back — 5. mass ~ 6. coal; oil; steel — 7. (misc.)
the means of — ['misc.'] 8. (slang) to make a big ~
out of smt. ('to make a big fuss over smt.')
productive adj. ~ of
products n. dairy-
profess v. (formal) (E) he — ed to know nothing
about the matter
profession n. 1. to practice a ~ 2. the legal; medi-
medical; nursing; teaching — 3. by — (she's a lawyer by
~)
professional, pro adj. and n. 1. (usu. sports) to
turn — (he turned ~ at the age of twenty) 2. a real,
true ~ (she is a real ~) ('she does her work seri-
seriously and well') USAGE NOTE: A professional
tennis player and a professional golfer compete
for money. A tennis professional and a golf pro
coach for money, usu. at clubs.
professor n. 1. (AE) an adjunct; assistant;
associate; full ~ 2. (GB) a Regius — (appointed by
the Crown) 3. a research; visiting ~ 4. a ~
emeritus, an emeritus ~ 5. a college (esp. US),
university ~ 6. (misc.) an absent-minded ~
USAGE NOTE: We speak of a professor of
Latin, but of a lecturer or reader in Latin.
professorship n. 1. to hold a — 2. an endowed ~
proficiency /i. 1. to demonstrate, display ~ 2. lan-
language ~ 3. — at, in
proficient adj. ~ at, in
profile n. ['public exposure'] 1. to keep a high; low
— ['side view'] 2. in ~
profit In. 1. to clear, earn, make, realize, reap,
turn a ~ 2. to bring (in), yield a ~ 3. a handsome,
large; marginal, small; quick ~ 4. an excess, exor-
exorbitant — 5. a clear; net; gross ~ 6. a ~ on (to make
a ~ on a deal) 7. at a — (to operate at a ~)
profit II v. (D; intr.) to - by, from
profitable adj. ~ to + inf. (is it ~ to work this
mine?)
profiteer n. awar~
profuse adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ in (~ in one's
apologies)
profusion n. in —
prognosis n. to make a ~
program I n. ['plan'] 1. to chart, draw up a —2. to
carry out, implement; evaluate; introduce;
launch; phase out, terminate a — 3. a long-range;
pilot; short-range ~ 4. a building; development;
political ~ 5. a ~ to + inf. (to launch a ~ to reduce
crime) ['schedule'] 6. on one's — (what's on your
~ today?) ['entertainment'] 7. to put on a ~
['broadcast, telecast'] 8. a call-in (AE), phone-in
(BE); radio; television — ['coded instructions for a
computer'] 9. to boot up; debug; execute; load;
reboot; run; write a — 10. a user-friendly — 11.
a computer; software; word processing ~~
Ш
['academic course of study'] 12. a graduate, post-
postgraduate (esp. BE); honors; training; under-
undergraduate ~ 13. a — in (a ~ in linguistics) ['or-
['organized activities'] 14. an orientation; outreach
(esp. AE); recreation; work-study (AE) ~
['misc.'] 15. a reading — (for a dictionary)
USAGE NOTE: The BE spelling is programme,
except for the computer uses, 9-11.
program II v. (H) to ~ a computer to store cer-
certain information USAGE NOTE: Except when
referring to the computer, the BE spelling is pro-
programme— to programme an alarm system.
programme see Usage Notes for program I, II
progress In. 1. to make ~ 2. to facilitate — 3. to
hinder, impede, obstruct ~ 4. considerable, good,
great, material; rapid; slow; smooth; spotty;
steady — 5. economic; scientific; significant;
technological ~ 6. ~ in (to make ~ in solving the
problems of air pollution) 7. ~ towards (~
towards peace) 8. in ~ (negotiations are in ~)
progress II v. (D; intr.) to ~ to
progression n. an arithmetic; geometric; har-
harmonic ~
prohibit v. l.(D;tr.)to~from2. (rare) (K) you
cannot — their going out
prohibition n. 1. to repeal (a) ~ 2. a ~ against
project n. ['organized undertaking'] 1. to con-
conceive; draw up a ~ 2. to carry out a — 3. to shelve
a ~ 4. an irrigation; land-reclamation; pilot ('ex-
('experimental'); public-works; water-conservation ~
['publicly financed housing'] (AE) 5. a housing ~
(BE has council block, housing estate)
projectile n. to fire; launch a ~
projection n. ['estimate'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a com-
computer ~ ['system of presenting a map'] 3. a
homolosine; isometric; Mercator; sinusoidal ~
projector n. 1. to operate, work a ~ 2. a cine-pro-
cine-projector (BE), film, motion-picture (AE); opaque;
overhead; slide ~
proliferation n. nuclear —
prologue п. а ~ to
prom n. (AE) ['formal school dance'] 1. the
junior; senior ~ 2. at the — 3. (misc.) to go to the
~; to take smb. to the — USAGE NOTE: In BE,
prom means 'a promenade concert'.
prominence n. 1. to acquire, gain ~ 2. to give ~ to
(to give — to a story)
promiscuity n. sexual ~
promise I n. ['vow'] 1. to give, make a ~ 2. to ful-
fulfill, keep a — 3. to break, renege on, repudiate a ~
4. a broken; empty, hollow; rash; sacred, solemn
~ 5. a campaign ~ (politicians sometimes break
campaign ~s) 6. a ~ to + inf. (she made a ~ to
write every week) 7. a -~ that + clause (they kept
their — that the debt would be repaid promptly) 8.
(misc.) to hold smb. to a — ['basis for hope'] 9. to
show — (the young boxer showed real ~) 10. of ~
(a young boxer of ~)
promise II v. 1. (A) he ~d the book to me; or: he
~d me the book 2.(E) she ~d to return early; it ~s
to be an exciting year 3. (H; often used in neg. con-
constructions) he ~d me never to show up late again
4. (L; may have an object) he —d (me) that he
would never show up late again 5. (misc.) (BE) I ~
15—127
property
you ('I assure you')
promote v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from; to (she was ~d
from captain to major) 2. (old-fashioned) (BE)
(N; used with a noun) she was ~d major
promotion n. ['advancement in rank'] 1. to put
smb. in for ~; to recommend smb. for — 2. to
make, win one's ~ (he made his — to major) ('he
was promoted to major') 3. a — from; to (a ~ to
captain; a ~ to the rank of professor) ['further-
['furtherance, fostering'] 4. health ~ ['advertising'] 5. pre-
publication ~ 6. in ~ (she is in ~)
prompt I adj. 1. ~ at, in (~ in fulfilling one's obli-
obligations) 2. — to + inf. (~ to respond)
prompt II v. (H) what ~ed you to say that?
promptness n. — at, in
prone adj. ['likely'] (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ to
(~ to exaggeration) 2. ~ to + inf. (he is — to
exaggerate)
pronoun n. a demonstrative; indefinite; interroga-
interrogative; personal; possessive; reflexive; relative ~
pronounce v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — after (~ after
me) 2. (formal) (M) the physician ~d him to be
healthy 3. (N; used with an adjective, noun) she
was officially ~d dead; they were ~d husband and
wife
pronouncement n. 1. to issue, make a ~ 2. a ~
that + clause (the government issued a ~ that
taxes would be lowered)
pronunriantento n. (derog.) 1. to issue, make a ~
2. a ~ that + clause (they issued a ~ that only their
theories would be acceptable)
pronunciation n. 1. to acquire a (good) ~ 2. a
native — (of a language) 3. (a) spelling — 4. BBC,
Received ~
proof n. ['conclusive evidence'] 1. to furnish, give,
offer, present, produce, provide ~ 2. ample,
clear, conclusive, convincing, definite, incontesta-
incontestable, indisputable, irrefutable, positive, undeni-
undeniable, unquestionable ~ 3. documentary; mathe-
mathematical ~ 4. ~ that + clause (the prosecutor fur-
furnished convincing — that the accused could have
been at the scene of the crime) 5. (misc.) the bur-
burden of — ['composed type'] 6. to correct, read ~ 7.
galley; page; reproduction ~s
prop v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ against (~ a chair against
the door) 2. (N; used with an adjective) — the win-
window open
propaganda n. 1. to engage in, spread ~ 2. to
counteract, neutralize ~ 3. enemy; ideological;
vicious ~ 4. ~ against
propensity n. (formal) 1. a ~ for (a ~ for exag-
exaggerating) 2. a ~ to + inf. (he has a ~ to exagger-
exaggerate)
proper adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is not ~ to enter that
restaurant without a jacket) 2. ~ that + clause;
subj. (it is — that she state/should state her own
opinion)
property n. 1. to confiscate, seize ~ 2. to buy;
inherit; lease; rent; sell; transfer ~ 3. to reclaim;
recover (stolen) — 4. (an) abandoned; commercial
— 5. common; communal; government; indi-
individual; joint; movable; personal; private; public;
real — 6. community ~ ('property held jointly by
two spouses') 7. a piece of ~

prophecy
192
]93
prophecy n. 1. to make a —2. a gloomy; self-ful-
self-fulfilling — 3. a — comes true; turns out to be true 4.
a —about
prophesy v. 1. (K) no one could — your becoming
governor 2. (L) I —sied that she would succeed
prophet n. 1. a false ~ 2. (rel.) a major; minor ~
propinquity n. (formal) — to
propitious adj. ~ for, to
proportion n. 1. (a) direct; inverse — 2. in — to 3.
out of — to (the punishment was out of — to the
crime)
proportional adj. -to
proportionate adj. —to
proportions n. ['extent'] 1. to assume, take on ~ 2.
epic; epidemic; menacing ~ (the outbreak
assumed epidemic —)
proposal n. 1. to make, present, put forth, put for-
forward a — 2. to accept, adopt a — 3. to consider,
entertain; receive a — 4. to kill (colloq.), reject,
turn down a — 5. a concrete — 6. a — falls through
7. a ~ for 8. a — to + inf. (the committee rejected
the — to reduce taxes) 9. a — that + clause; subj.
(they presented a ~ that all workers be/should be
given free dental care)
propose v. 1. (B)she—d anew plan to us2. (D;
intr.) to — to ('to offer marriage to*) 3. (E) I — to
leave very early 4. (G) she —d leaving very early 5.
(K) she —d his going in my place 6. (L; subj.; to)
we —d (to them) that she be/should be appointed
proposition n. ['unethical, immoral proposal']
(colloq.) 1. to make (smb.) a — ['subject, question
to be discussed'] 2. the — that + clause (we
debated the ~ that war should be outlawed)
proprieties n. ['accepted behavior'] to observe the
propriety n. ['conformity with accepted standards
of behavior'] to doubt the — of smt.
propulsion n. jet; nuclear; rocket ~
prop up v. (D; tr.) to — against (she —ped up the
chair against the door)
pros and cons n. to weigh the —
prose n. to write (in) —
prosecnte v. 1. to — vigorously 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for
(to ~ smb. for murder)
prosecution n. 1. to conduct a ~ 2. to face — 3. a
vigorous — 4. criminal — 5. — for 6. (misc.) subject
to (criminal) —
prosecutor n. a public ~ (esp BE; AEhas district
attorney)
proeeutmar n. 1. to give, hold a — 2. a ~ on
prospect I n. ['anticipated outcome'] a bleak,
grim; inviting; rosy -
prospect II v. (D; intr.) to — for (to ~ for gold)
prospects n. ['chances'] 1. to have —for (to have —
for the future) 2. - that + clause (- are that the
situation will improve) ['financial expectations'] 3.
with; without —
prosperity n. 1. to create — 2. to enjoy—
prostitution n. 1. to engage in - 2. to
decriminalize, legalize ~ 3. to ban, outlaw -
prostrate v. (D; refl.) to — oneself before
prostration n. heat; nervous —
protect v. (D;tr.) to —against, from
protection n. 1. to afford, give, provide-2.gov-
ernment; police — 3. — against, from 4. under
smb.'s — (she was placed under our —)
protective adj. -of,towards
protector п. a chest; surge —
protein n. 1. to furnish, provide — (of food) 2. (a)
complete; incomplete; simple; total ~
protest I n. ['complaint'] ['dissent'] 1. to enter,
file, lodge, register a — 2. to express, voice a — 3.
to cause, draw, spark (AE), spark off (BE), trig-
trigger a — 4. to dismiss, reject a — 5. a strong, vigor-
vigorous; weak — (we lodged a strong — with their gov-
government) 6. a — against 7. a — that + clause (the
court rejected their — that due process had not
been observed) 8. in ~ (to resign in —) 9. under —
(they complied with the order under —) ['public
demonstration of disapproval'] 10. to organize,
stage a — 11. to put down, quell a ~ 12. a noisy;
public — 13. a — against
protest II v. 1. to — strongly, vigorously 2. (D;
intr.) to — about, against (to ~ against a war; AE
also has: to — a war) 3. (K) we —ed his being
released 4. (L; to) we —ed (to the mayor) that
taxes were too high
protocol n. ['minutes'] ['statement'] 1. to draw up
a — ['official code of conduct'] 2. diplomatic; mili-
military ~
protrude v. (D; intr.) to - from
proud adj. 1. justly — 2. — of (— of one's children)
3. — to + inf. (she will be — to serve) 4. — that +
clause (he is — that he served in the army)
prove v. 1. to — conclusively 2. (B) she was able to
— her innocence to us 3. (E) she —d to be a good
worker 4. (L; to) he —d (to everyone) that he
could cope with the job 5. (M) history —d her to be
right 6. (N; used with an adjective, past participle)
the evidence —d him guilty
proverb n. a —goes, runs
provide v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for one's fam-
family; to — for every contingency) 2. (D; tr.) to — for
(to — blankets for the refugees) 3. (d; tr.) to —
with (they were —d with the proper equipment;
we —d the refugees with blankets) 4. (L; subj.)
this bill ~s that money be/should be allocated for
flood control
providence n. divine —
province n. (esp. in Canada) 1. an inland;
maritime — 2. the Province of Alberta, Quebec,
etc.
provision n. ['preparations'] 1. to make — for
['clause in a legal document'] 2. to violate a — (of
a contract)
proviso n. 1. to add a — 2. with a — that + clause;
subj. (we will agree to the proposal with the — that
overtime be/should be paid)
provocation n. 1. extreme,gross —2.-for(there
was no — for such behavior) 3. at a — (he loses his
temper at the slightest ~) 4. under — (he did use
strong language, but only under extreme —)
provocative adj. highly -
provoke v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into
doing smt.) 2. (rare) (H) to — smb. to do smt.
prowess n. 1. to demonstrate, display — 2. athlet-
athletic; military — 3. — in
1 n. on the —
proximate adj. (cannot stand alone) — to
proximity n. 1. close — 2. — to 3. in — to (in close
— to the scene of the crime)
proxy n. 1. to hold smb.'s — 2. a — to + inf. (he
had a — to vote for me) 3. by — (to vote by —)
prudent adj. — to + inf. (it was — of you to sell that
property)
prudish adj. — about
pry v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into (to — into smb.'s
affairs) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of (to — information
out of smb.) 3. (N; used with an adjective) they
pried the door open USAGE NOTE: For senses
two and three, BE uses prise or prize.
p'sandq's n. ['manners'] to mind one's —
pseudonym n. 1. to adopt; use a —2. under a— (to
write under a —)
psychology n. ['science of the mind'] 1. abnormal;
applied; behavioral; child; clinical; developmen-
developmental; educational; experimental; general; Gestalt;
social ~ ['attitudes'] 2. group; mob — ['knowledge
of a person's habits, reactions'] (colloq.) 3. to use
psychosis n. a manic-depressive —
puberty n. 1. to reach (the state of)-2. at-
public n. 1. to educate, enlighten the — 2. to fool,
mislead the — 3. the general; great British (BE;
humorous); reading; theatergoing; traveling — 4.
in —
publication n. ['act of publishing'] 1. to begin,
start — 2. to suspend — ['printed work'] 3. a gov-
government; official —
publicity n. 1. to give, provide — 2. to gain,
receive; seek — 3. to avoid, shun - 4. extensive,
wide — 5. — for 6. (misc.) a blaze of— (they left for
Europe in a blaze of —)
publk opinion n. 1. to arouse, stir up —2. to form,
mold — 3. to affect, influence; manipulate — 4. to
express — 5. to canvass, poll, probe, sound out ~
pubttc welfare see welfare
puff In. a powder —
puff II v. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on a pipe)
pufl I n. ['force'] 1. gravitational — ['influence']
(colloq.) 2. to use one's - 3. the - to + inf. (she
had enough — to avoid paying the fine)
pull II v. 1. to ~ hard 2. (AE; colloq.) (d; intr.) to
— for ('to support') (we were —ing for the home
team; they were —ing for our team to win) 3. (d;
intr.) ('to move') to — into (the train —ed into the
station) 4. (d; intr.) to - off ('to turn off) (to - off
the road) 5. (D; intr.) ('to tug') to — on (to — on a
rope) 6. (d; intr.) ('to move') to — out of (the train
~ed out of the station; to — out of a dive) 7. (d; tr.)
('to lift') to - out of (they -ed her out of the
water) 8. (misc.) to — a gun on smb.
pull ahead v. (D; intr.) to - of (to - of the other
runners)
pull alongside v. (AE) (D; intr.) to -of (to - of
the other car)
pufl away v. (D; intr., tr.) to — from (to — from
the curb; she —ed the child away from the fire)
pull back v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to - from the
others)
pufl down v. (D; tr.) to - over (she -ed her hat
down over her eyes)
15*
puney n. a fixed; movable —
pufl over v. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to the curb)
pufl up v. (D; intr.) to-to (to-to the curb)
pulp n. to beat smb. to a —
pulpit n. 1. to ascend, mount the — 2. from; on the
— (to denounce wrongdoing from the —)
puke n. 1. to take ('measure') smb.'s — 2. to quick-
quicken smb.'s — (the excitement quickened his —) 3.
an erratic, irregular, unsteady; normal; rapid; reg-
regular, steady; strong; weak —
pump In. 1. to prime; work a — 2. a gasoline
(AE), petrol (BE) - 3. a centrifugal; heat;
stomach; suction; sump —
pump II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — into (to — investments
into a company; to — water into a tank) 2. (D; tr.)
to — out of (to — water out of a flooded basement)
3. (N; used with an adjective) we —ed the base-
basement dry
punch I n. ['blow'] 1. to deliver, give, land, throw
a ~ 2. to pull ('soften') one's —es (also fig.) 3. to
roll with a — 4. a one-two; rabbit; solid; Sunday —
5. a — in, on, to (a — in the face; a — on the nose)
['misc.'] 6. to pack a — ('to be powerful'); to beat
smb. to the —
punch II v. (D; tr.) to — in, on (I — ed him in/on
the jaw)
punch III n. ['mixed drink usu. consisting of fruit
juice, liquor, etc.'] 1. to make — 2. to spike ('add
alcohol to') the — 3. to water down the —
Punch n. as pleased as ~ ('very pleased')
punctilious adj. -about
punctual adj. — in (— in paying one's rent)
punctuality n. — in
punctuation mark n. to place, put a —somewhere
puncture n. to patch, repair a —
pundit n. a political —
punish v. 1. to —cruelly; harshly, severely; lightly,
mildly; summarily 2. (D; tr.) to — for (they were
—ed harshly for their crime)
punishable adj. - by (- by death)
punishment n. 1. to administer, mete out — to 2.
to impose, inflict — on 3. to escape; suffer, take —
4. cruel, cruel and unusual; harsh, severe; just;
light, mild — 5. capital; corporal; summary — 6.
(mil.) company — 7. — for 8. as, in — for
pupil I n. ['opening in the iris of the eye'] con-
constricted; dilated —s
pupil II see the Usage Note for student
puppet n. 1. to manipulate, move a ~ 2. a hand —
purchase I n. ['act of buying'] to make a—
purchase II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for 2. (D; tr.) to —
from
purfe In. 1. to carry out, conduct a — 2. a radical,
sweeping ~
purge II v. l.(D;tr.) ('to remove') to-from (all
dissidents were —d from the party) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
cleanse') to ~ of (the party was —d of all disloyal
elements)
purify v. (D;tr.)to-of
" ' n. moral —
I adj. ['livid'] ~ with (~ with rage)
II n. dark; light-
it v. (formal) (E) ('to claim') they - to be
our friends

purported __
purported adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf.
(they are — to be wealthy)
purpose n. 1. to accomplish, achieve, fulfill a — 2.
to serve a — 3. to put smt. to a good — 4. for a —
(it was done for a good —; we arranged the meet-
meeting for the - of preventing a strike) 5. (misc.) for
all practical ~s (in reality'); on - ('purposely')
purse strings n. ['finances'] to control, hold the-
pursuance n. (formal) in - of (in - of one's
duties)
pursuant adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone) — to
pursuit n. ['chase'] 1. dogged, relentless; hot — 2.
in - of (in hot - of the terrorists) ['hobby'] 3.
one's favorite —
pus n. 1. to discharge - 2. — forms
push I n. ['act of pushing'] 1. to give smb. a ~ (our
car was stuck and they gave us a —) ['attack'] 2. a
big - 3. a - to (a - to the sea)
push II v. l.(d;intr.) ('to shove') to —against (to
- against the door) 2. (d; intr.) to - for ('to urge')
(to — for reform) 3. (d; intr.) to — into ('to force
one's way') (to — into a crowded bus) 4. (D; tr.)
('to force to move') to — into (we —ed the stalled
car into the garage) 5. (d; intr.) ('to press') to - on
(to - on a handle) 6. (d; intr., tr.) to - through
('to force one's way through') (to — through a
crowd; to — one's way through a crowd) 7. (d;
intr.) ('to move') to — to, towards (our troops —ed
towards the next village) 8. (H) ('to urge') to -
smb. to do smt. 9. (N; used with an adjective) -
the chair closer 10. (misc.) the army was —ed to
the breaking point
pushdown v. (D; intr.) to - on (to - on a lid)
push on v. (D; intr.) ('to continue') to — to (we
—ed on to the next town)
pushover n. ['easy target'] a - for
push-up л. (esp. AE) to do a - (see also press-
push up v. (D; intr.) to - on (to - on a handle)
put I adv. (colloq.) ['remaining in one place'] to
stay —
put II v. l.(B) ('to pose') to —a question to smb.
2. (d; tr.) ('to place') to - before (to - a proposal
before a committee) 3. (d; tr.) ('to place') to - in;
into (to - milk in/into the refrigerator; to - new
equipment into service; to — a criminal in prison;
to — money in/into circulation; to — a plan into
operation; to — one's affairs in order; to — a
theory into practice; to — wood into a stove; to —
sugar in/into tea; to - a car into a garage; to -
words into smb.'s mouth; to — one's faith in smb.;
- yourself in my place) 4. (d; intr.) ('to move') to
- into (the ship put into port) 5. (d; tr.) ('to
express') to — into (to — one's feelings into words)
6. (d; tr.) ('to place') to - on (to - books on a
table; to — a stamp on a letter; to — smb.'s name
on a list; the doctor put the patient on a diet) 7. (d;
tr.) (*to bet') to - on (to - money on a horse) 8.
(d; tr.) ('to place') to - out of (to - an enemy tank
194
out of action) 9. (d; tr.) ('to assign') to - to (we
put them all to work) 10. (d; tr.) ('to place') to -
to (she put her fingers to her lips) 11. (d; tr.) ('to
set') to — to (to — words to music) 12. (L; to) ('to
suggest') I put it to them that the plan should be
revised 13. (P; tr.) ('to place') - your shoes near
the door; — the skis next to the fire; — the children
to bed; — your things under the bed 14. (misc.) to
— a question to a vote; to — smb. to shame; to —
smb. under arrest; to — smb. to great expense; to
— smb. through one's paces ('to subject smb. to a
test of skill'); to — oneself in smb.'s place; the ship
put out to sea
put down v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to consider') to — as (we
can — this trip down as a business expense) 2. (d;
tr.) to — for ('to enter a pledge for') (I'll — you
down for five tickets) 3. (BE) (d; tr.) ('to enter') to
— for (to - one's son for Eton) 4.(d; tr.) ('to at-
attribute') to — to (to — a blunder down to inexperi-
inexperience)
put in v. (D; tr.) to — for ('to submit') (to — a
claim for damages)
put off v. ('to postpone') 1. (D; tr.) to - until (she
put the trip off until next week) 2. (G) we put off
leaving because of the snow
put out v. 1. (D;refl.) ('to disturb') to -oneself
out for (don't — yourself out for us) 2. (misc.) to —
to sea
put over v. (D; tr.) ('to fob off) to put smt. over
on <he put his scheme over on the unsuspecting
investors)
putter v. (AE) (d; intr.) to — around (to — around
the house) (BE has potter)
put through v. (D; tr.) ('to connect') to - to (she
was finally put through to her number)
put up v. l.(B) ('to propose') I'll put the idea up
to the whole committee 2. (old-fashioned) (BE)
(d; intr.) ('to stay') to - at; with (to - at a hotel;
to - with friends in Exeter) 3. (d; tr.) ('to offer')
to - for (to - smt. up for sale) 4. (d; tr.) ('to pro-
provide') to — for (she put up the money for the flow-
flowers) 5. (D; tr.) ('to give shelter to') to — for (to —
smb. up for a night) 6. (d; intr.) to - with ('to tol-
tolerate') (we will not - with such behavior) 7. (H)
('to place') to — water up to boil; he put the meal
up to cook
puzzle I n. 1. to solve a —2. a crossword-; jigsaw
- (AE; BE has jigsaw) 3. a - to (the whole mat-
matter was a - to the police)
puzzle II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — over (to — over a
problem) 2. (R) it -d me that they never
answered the telephone
puzzled adj. - to + inf. (we were-to learn of her
decision)
py^faf adj. 1. —to (her behavior was —to every-
everybody) 2. — that + inf. (it was — that he went
straight home)
pyjamas (BE) see
pyre n. a funeral —
195
Q
quagmire n. in a — of
quail I n. a bevy, covey of -
quail II v. (d; intr.) ('to lose courage') to - at,
before (we -ed at the thought of getting lost in the
forest)
quake v. (D; intr.) to - with (to - with fear)
qualifications n. ['qualities, attributes'] 1. excel-
excellent, fine, outstanding, strong - 2. the necessary
- 3. educational; physical; professional - 4. the -
for (she has the - for the job) 5. the - to + inf.
(this engineer has outstanding - to build the
bridge)
qualified adj. 1. eminently, fully, highly —, well-
qualified 2. — as (— as an engineer) 3. — by (— by
education and experience for the position) 4. —
for (she is highly - for the job) 5. - to + inf. (he
is — to pass judgment on this matter)
qualify v. 1. (D; intr.) to - as (she -fied as a
teacher of the handicapped) 2. (D; intr.) to — for
(she -fied for the position) 3. (E) he -fied to
teach mathematics 4. (H) what -fies her to repre-
represent us?
quality n. ['feature'] 1. admirable; endearing;
moral; personal; redeeming —ties (he has no
redeeming -ties) 2. (misc.) there was a rhapsodic
- about her playing ['degree of excellence'] 3.
excellent, superior; fine, good, high; low, poor -
4. of a certain — (of good —)
qualms n. 1. to feel, have ~ 2. - about (I have no
- about borrowing money) 3. without (any) -
quandary n. 1. a hopeless - 2. in a - (we were in
a hopeless —)
quantity n. ['amount'] 1. a considerable, large;
negligible, small; sufficient — 2. in (large) —ties
['factor'] 3. an unknown —
quarantine n. 1. to impose, institute a — 2. to lift
a - 3. strict - 4. in, under - (to place under ~)
quarrel I n. 1. to cause, lead to a-(.their political
differences led to a bitter ~) 2. to have, pick, pro-
provoke, start a - (he picked a - with his neighbor)
3. to patch up, settle a — 4. a bitter, furious, vio-
violent; long-standing; never-ending — 5. a domestic,
family — 6. a — breaks out, ensues 7. a — about,
over; between; with (a bitter — broke out between
them over the use of the telephone; he had a vio-
violent - with me about the money that he had bor-
borrowed)
quarrel II v. 1. to — bitterly, furiously, violently
2. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over; with (she -ed with
her neighbor about the noise)
quarry I n. ['prey'] 1. to stalk one's - 2. to bring
one's - to bay 3. hunted —
quarry II n. ['open excavation'] 1. to work a —2.
an abandoned — 3. a marble; stone —
quarter I n. ['mercy'] 1. to give, show-(the mer-
mercenaries gave no —) 2. to ask for; receive — ['one
fourth'] 3. (in telling time) (a) - of (AE), to (the
hour) (it was a - to five) 4. (a) - after (AE), past
(the hour) (it is a - past five)
questionnaire
quarter II v. (esp. mil.) (D; tr.) ('to assign to a
lodging place') to — on, upon (to — troops on the
local population)
quarters n. ['housing'] 1. to find - 2. bachelor;
officers' — 3. ('misc.') confined to — ['assigned
stations on a ship'] 4. battle, general — ['sources']
5. from certain - (from the highest -) ['misc.'] 6.
at close — ('close together')
quartet n. 1. to play a — 2. a piano; string; wood-
woodwind-
quay n. at, on a —
queasy adj. ['uneasy'] - about (to feel - about
smt.)
queen n. 1. to crown a — 2. to crown; proclaim
smb. — 3. to depose, dethrone a — 4. a despotic;
popular; strong; weak - 5. a - mounts the throne
6. a — abdicates (a throne) 7. a — consort; mother
8. (misc.) to toast the -; a beauty -; a drag - (col-
(colloq. and derog.) ('a male transvestite')
queen's evidence n. (BE) to turn - (see also
lung's evidence, state's evidence)
queer I adj. 1. - about (there is smt. - about
them) 2. - to + inf. (it's - to be speaking of the
heat in January) 3. - that + clause (it's - that he
hasn't arrived yet)
queer II v. (colloq.) (d;refl.) ('to put oneself in a
bad light') to - with (he -ed himself with all his
professors)
query n. 1. to put a - to 2. to respond to a - 3. a
— about
quest n. 1. a-for 2. in-of
question I n. ['query'] 1. to ask (smb.) a-; to ask
a - of smb. 2. to address, pose, put a - to smb. 3.
to bring up, raise a — 4. to answer, field, reply to,
respond to a ~ (the senator fielded all ~s
expertly) 5. to beg ('evade') the - 6. to parry
smb.'s —s 7. an academic, hypothetical, rhetori-
rhetorical; awkward, embarrassing, sticky, ticklish;
blunt, direct; civil ('polite'); debatable, moot;
irrelevant; leading; loaded, tricky; pointed; prob-
probing; relevant; thorny — 8. an essay — (on an
examination) 9. an examination, test — 10. a —
about, as to, concerning ['matter being discussed']
11. to put the — ('to vote on the matter being dis-
discussed') 12. a burning; controversial; crucial; ex-
explosive; open; vexed (esp. BE) - 13. (misc.) (col-
(colloq.) to pop the - ('to propose marriage') ['vote']
(parliamentary procedure) 14. to put a matter to
the — ['doubt'] ['dispute'] 15. to clear up, resolve
a — 16. beyond all — 17. in, into — (to come into
—; to call smt. into —) ['misc.'] 18. out of the —
('impossible')
question II v. (D;tr.) to-about (the police-ed
her about her activities)
questionable adj. highly-
questioning n. 1. close ('intensive') - 2. under -
(under close - by the district attorney)
questionnaire n. 1. to draw up, formulate a-2. to
circulate, distribute, send out a — 3. to answer, fill

queue
in, fill out (esp. AE), fill up (BE; old-fashioned) a
queue I n. (esp. BE) 1. to form a ~ 2. to join;
jump the — 3. in a — (to stand in a —)
queue II v. see queueup
queue up v. (esp. BE) (D; intr.) to-for (they had
to — for fresh fruit)
quibble I n. a minor —
quibble II v. (D;intr.) to— about, over; with (to
— about trifles)
quick I adj. 1. ~ about (be - about it) 2. - at (~
at picking up a new language) 3. — with (— with
one's hands) 4. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf.
(she is — to learn; he is — to take offense) 5.
(misc.) — on (— on one's feet)
quick II n. 1. to cut smb. to the — ('to offend smb.
gravely') 2. (misc.) the — and the dead
quicksand n. a bed of-
quiet n. to shatter the -
quih n. a crazy; down; patchwork —
quip I n. to make a — about
quip II v. l.(D; intr.) to-about; at 2. (L) she
—ped that being without a telephone for a few
days would be nice
quirk n. a strange —
196
quit v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ because of, over (he
quit his job in disgrace over the bribe) 2. (colloq.)
(D; intr.) ('to stop') to — on (the engine quit on us)
3. (G) she quit smoking
quits n. (colloq.) to call it -('to cease doing smt.')
quiver v. (D; intr.) to — with (to — with fear)
quiz I n. ['shorttest']l.togive;makeupa — 2.to
take a — 3. an oral; unannounced; written —
quiz II v. (D;tr.)to —about (the police—zed the
neighbors about the incident)
quoits n. to pitch, play—
quonim n. 1. to constitute, make (up) a - 2. to
have; lack a —
quota n. 1. to assign, establish, fix, set a — 2. to
fill, fulfill, meet a - 3. to exceed one's - 4. an
import; production; racial —
quotation n. 1. to give a — from 2. a direct —
quote I see quotation
quote II v. 1. to — directly 2. (A) she —d several
verses to us; or: she —d us several verses 3. (d;
intr.) to — from (she loves to — from Shakespeare)
4. (D; tr.) to — from (to — a passage from the
Bible)
quotient n. an intelligence - (= IQ)
197
raise
R
r /i. 1. to roll, trill an — 2. a retroflex; rolled, tril-
trilled; uvular —
n. a chief; Conservative; Orthodox; Reform
/i. —s breed quickly; burrow
rabid adj. ['fanatical'] — about, on (— on a certain
subject)
rabies n. to come down with, get —
race I n. ['group distinguished by certain physical
traits'] 1. the Caucasoid; Mongoloid; Negroid — 2.
the human — 3. the (so-called) master —
race II n. ['contest of speed'] ['competition'] 1. to
organize, stage a — 2. to drive; row; run a — 3. to
lose; win a — 4. to fix (the results of) a — 5. to
scratch ('cancel') a — (at a racetrack) 6. a close,
even, hotly contested, tight; grueling; uneven — 7.
an automobile (AE), motor (esp. BE); boat;
cross-country; dog; drag ('acceleration') —; foot-
footrace; horse; relay — 8. (pol.) a congressional; gov-
governor's, gubernatorial; political; presidential — 9.
the arms — 10. a — against, with; between; for (the
— for the presidency was run between well qual-
qualified candidates; a — against time) 11. a — to + inf.
(the — to conquer space) ['misc.'] 12. a rat —
('very hectic activity')
race HI v. 1. (D; intr.) to — against, with (to —
against time) 2. (D; intr.) to — for (to — for a
prize) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (let's — to school;
I'll — you to the car)
racialism (BE) see racism
racing n. auto (AE), motor (esp. BE); harness;
horse —
racism n. 1. to stamp out — 2. blatant, rampant,
vicious, virulent —
rack I n. ['framework, stand'] 1. a bomb; clothes;
hat; luggage (AE), roof (BE); rifle; towel — ['in-
['instrument of torture'] 2. on the —
rack II n. (obsol.) ['destruction'] to go to — and
ruin
racket I n. ['noise'] 1. to make a — 2. a terrible —
['dishonest practice'] 3. to operate, run a — 4. a
numbers; protection —
racket II racquet n. ['bat used to play tennis'] 1.
to swing a — 2. to string a — 3. a badminton; tennis
racketeer n. a big-time; petty—
radar n. early-warning —
radiant adj. - with (~ with joy)
radiate v. (D; intr.) to — from
radiation n. 1. to emit - 2. nuclear-
radio n. ['radio receiving set'] 1. to put on, switch
on, turn on a — 2. to switch off, turn off a — 3. to
turn down; turn up a — 4. to listen to the — 5. an
AM; clock; FM; shortwave; transistor — 6. on,
over the — (I heard the bad news over the —)
['radio broadcasting industry'] 7. (to be) in —
radioactivity n. 1. to emit, generate, produce —2.
(a) dangerous (level of) —
radishes n. a bunch of —
/i. 1. a cruising — 2. in, within a — of (within
a —of fifty miles)
raffle n. 1. to hold a — 2. a — for
raft n. 1. to launch a — 2. a life —
rafting n. white-water —
rag I n. to chew the — (slang) ('to chat')
rag II v. (slang) (D; tr.) to - about (they -ged
him about his beard)
rage I /i. ['anger'] 1. to provoke, stir up smb.'s —
2. to express; feel — 3. to fly into a — 4. (a) blind,
towering, ungovernable, violent; jealous; sudden
— 5. a fit, outburst of — 6. a — against 7. in a — 8.
(misc.) to quiver with — ['fashion'] (colloq.) 9. the
latest — 10. a — for 11. (misc.) it's all the —
rage II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — against, at 2. (misc.)
to — out of control (the fire —d out of control)
ragged adj. to run smb. —
rags n. 1. a bundle of — 2. (dressed) in — 3. (misc.)
from — to riches ('from poverty to prosperity') ~
raid n. 1. to carry out, conduct a — 2. an air; bor-
border; guerrilla; police; retaliatory; suicide — 3. a —
into (a — into enemy territory) 4. a — on, upon (a
— on an illegal gambling casino)
rail I n. ['barrier, handrail'] 1. at the — (to stand
at the —) 2. (to jump) over the — 3. (misc.) to hold
on to a —
rail II v. (d; intr.) ('tocomplain')to — against, at
railroad I n. (esp. AE) 1. to manage, run, operate
a — 2. a double-track; elevated; single-track — 3.
a —from; to
railroad II v. (colloq.) (d; tr.) ('to force') to -
through (to — a bill through a legislature)
rails n. 1. to go off, jump the — 2. to ride the — (see
rod 5)
railway n. 1. (esp. BE) see railroad I 2. a scenic
— (BE) 3. a cog; rack — 4. a narrow-gauge; nor-
normal-gauge —
rain In. 1. to make, produce — 2. (a) driving,
heavy, pouring, soaking, torrential; freezing;
intermittent; light; steady — 3. acid — 4. — falls;
freezes; lets up; pours; starts; stops 5. — beats,
patters (against the windows) 6. (misc.) the —
came down in buckets; to get caught in the —
rain II v. to — hard
п. а — appears, comes out
rain check n. (AE) ['offer to accept an invitation
at a later date'] to take a — on
raindrops n. - fall
rainfall n. 1. to measure — 2. annual, yearly; aver-
average; heavy; light; measurable; normal —
rain in v. (D; intr.) to — on (it was—ing in onus)
rainwater n. to catch — (in a barrel)
raise I n. (AE) 1. to give smb. a — (in salary) 2. to
deserve; get a — 3. an across-the-board; annual —
(BE has rise)
raise II v. 1. (D ;tr.) ('to lift') to-from; to (to-
a sunken ship from the bottom of the sea to the
surface) 2. (d; tr.) ('to elevate') to — to (to — smb.
to the peerage) 3. (esp. AE) (H) ('to bring up')

raising
they ~-d their children to respect the rights of
other people
raising n. consciousness —
raisins n. seeded; seedless —
rake v. (D; tr.) to — fnto (to — hay into piles)
rally I n. ['mass meeting'] 1. to hold, organize a —
2. a peace; pep; political — ['competition, race
between cars'] (also spelled rallye) 3. to hold,
organize a —
rally II v. 1. (d; intr., tr.) to — around, round (to
— around a leader) 2. (d; intr., tr.) to — for (the
commander — ied his troops for a counterattack)
3. (d; intr., tr.) to — to (they —ied to the support
of their country)
ram I n. a battering —
ram II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — into (to — piles into a
river bed) 2. (misc.) to — smt. down smb.'s throat
('to force smb. to accept smt.*)
ramble on v. (D; intr.) ('to talk in a disorganized
manner') to — about (she —d on about her child-
childhood)
ramp n. 1. a steep — 2. (misc.) to go down a —; to
go up a -
rampage n. to go on a —
ramparts n. to storm the —
ranch n. 1. a cattle; dude ~ 2. at, on a ~ (he works
at the —; to live on a —)
rancher n. a cattle —
rancor, rancour n. 1. to stir up — 2. to express;
feel; show — 3. deep-seated — 4. — against,
towards (to feel — towards smb.)
random n. at — (to choose at —)
random sample n. to select, take a ~
range I n. ['series of connecting mountains'] 1. a
mountain ~ ['distance that a gun fires, can fire'] 2.
close; long; point-blank — 3. artillery; rifle — 4. at
a certain — (at close —) 5. in, within — 6. out of —
['place where shooting is practiced'] 7. an artillery;
firing; rifle; rocket — 8. at, on a — ['extent, scope']
9. a narrow; wide — 10. within a — (within a nar-
narrow —) ['cooking stove'] 11. an electric; gas —
['open region on which livestock graze'] 12. to ride
the —13. on the — ['misc.'] 14. a driving — (where
one practices driving golf balls)
range II v. l.(d;tr.) ('to align') to-against (they
were all —d against us) 2. (d; intr.) ('to extend') to
— from; to (prices — from ten dollars to thirty dol-
dollars)
ranger n. a forest —
rank I n. ['row'] (esp. mil.) 1. to form a — 2. to
break —s (also fig.) 3. (misc.) to come up, rise
from the —s ['position, grade'] 4. to hold a — (to
hold the — of captain) 5. to pull (colloq.), use
one's — 6. high; junior; low; senior — 7. (mil.) per-
permanent (AE), substantive (BE) — 8. (mil.) other
—s(BE;AEhas enlisted personnel) 9. cabinet —
10. by, in - (to be seated by ~) 11. of - (of
cabinet —; of high —) ['misc.'] 12. to close —s ('to
unite'); a taxi — (BE; AE has taxi stand); to
come up from the —s ('to work one's way up to a
high position'); the — and file ('everyone')
rank II v. l.(d; intr., tr.) ('to be rated; to rate') to
— above (nobody —s above Shakespeare; we do
not ~ anyone above him) 2. (d; intr.) to — among
198
(she —s among our best instructors) 3. (d; intr.,
tr.) to — as (to ~ as an outstanding chess player;
we — you as our best candidate) 4. (d; intr., tr.) to
— with (Pushkin —s with Tolstoy)
rankle v. (R) it ~d me that they got all the credit
ransom n. 1. to pay (a) — for 2. to demand; exact
a — from 3. to hold smb. for —
rant v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at 2. (misc.) to— andrave
rap I n. (colloq.) (AE) ['blame'] 1. to take the —
for 2. a bad, bum — (she got a bum —) ('she was
punished for smb. else's misdeeds') ['charge'] 3. to
beat the — 4. on a — (he was sent to prison on a
murder ~)
rap II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to strike') to — at, on (to —
on the window) 2. (d; tr.) ('to strike') to — over
(she —ped him over the knuckles)
rap III v. (colloq.) (AE)(D; intr.) ('to converse')
to — about; with
rape n. 1. to commit — 2. attempted — 3. acquain-
acquaintance, date; gang; marital; statutory —
rapidity n. (with) lightning—
rapids n. to ride, shoot ('pass by') (the) -
rapport n. 1. to establish ~ 2. close-3. in-with
(they worked in close — with us)
rapprochement n. to bring about a — between
rapture n. 1. complete, total, utter —2. in —over
rare adj. 1. — to + inf. (it's — to see snow in Sep-
September) 2. — that + clause (it is — that he gets
home before dark)
raring adj. (colloq.) ['eager'] (cannot stand alone)
— to + inf. (we are — to go)
rash I adj. - to + inf. (it was-of her to try that)
rash II n. 1. a diaper (AE), nappy (BE); heat (the
baby has heat —) 2. nettle — 3. a — breaks out 4.
(misc.) to break out in a —
raspberry n. (slang) ['contemptuous noise'] to
give smb. the —
rat I n. 1. the black; brown; water — 2. (misc.) to
smell a — ('to suspect that the truth is not being
told'); a dirty — ('a contemptible person')
rat II v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to inform') to — on
rate I n. ['amount in relation to something else']
1. to fix, set a — 2. a fast; flat; high; low; moderate;
slow; steady — 3. bargain; reasonable; reduced;
regular —s 4. an accident; birth; crime; death;
divorce; fertility; growth; marriage; morbidity;
mortality — 5. a discount; exchange; group; infla-
inflation; interest; primary; tax — 6. a metabolic;
pulse; respiration — 7. an annual; hourly;
monthly; seasonal; weekly — 8. at a certain — (at
a steady—; she borrowed money at a high interest
—) ['misc.'] 9. at any — ('in any case'); first — ('top
quality')
rate II v. 1. to - high; low 2. (d; intr., tr.) ('to be
ranked; to rank') to — among (that player is —d
among the very best) 3. (d; intr., tr.) ('to be
ranked; to rank') to — as (this wine —s as excel-
excellent; she is —d as one of the best tennis players in
the country) 4. (d; intr.) ('to compare') to — with
(this wine —s with the^very best) 5. (colloq.) (AE)
(D; intr.) ('to enjoy a favored status') to — with
(she really -s with them) 6. (P; tr.) ('to rank') this
restaurant is —d very highly 7. (GB) (P; tr.) ('to
assess for tax purposes') their flat is —d at eight
199
hundred pounds this year 8. (misc.) on a scale of
one to ten, we would — this restaurant eight
rather adv. 1. —I- inf. + than (she would — play
tennis than watch TV) 2. (colloq.) - + clause +
than (I would — you stayed home than go out in
this blizzard; she would — you did your homework
than watched TV) 3. — + inf. (she would — not
watch TV) 4.(colloq.) — + clause (she would —
you didn't watch TV) 5. (misc.) I prefer to walk ~
than to ride; I prefer walking — than riding
rating n. ['classification'] ['limit'] 1. a high; low —
2. a credit; efficiency; octane; power — ['ordinary
seaman'] (BE) 3. a naval —
ratio n. 1. a compression — 2. an inverse — 3. a —
between 4. at a — of; to (at a — of three to one)
ration I n. ['fixed allowance'] 1. a daily; monthly;
weekly — 2. a food; gasoline (AE), petrol (BE) —
ration II v. 1. to -strictly 2. (D;tr.) to -to (we
were — ed to ten gallons of gasoline/petrol a
month)
rational adj. — to + inf. (it is not —to expect mira-
miracles)
rationalization n. ['excuse'] 1. a mere — 2. a — for
(a — for refusing to contribute) 3. a — to + inf. (it
was a — to argue that increased spending would
spur the economy) 4. a — that + clause (their —
that increased spending is bad has been disproved)
rationing n. 1. to introduce — 2. to end, terminate
- 3. food; gasoline (AE), petrol (BE) - 4.
emergency; wartime —
ration out v. (D; tr.) to — among, to
rations n. 1. to issue — 2. army; emergency; short
— 3. on — (we were on short —)
rattle I n. ['noise in the throat caused by air pas-
passing through mucus'] 1. the death ~ ['device pro-
producing a rattling sound'] 2. a baby's —
rattle II v. (colloq.) (R) it —d me to realize how
close we had been to a real catastrophe
rattlesnake л. а — bites, strikes
ravages n. ['destruction'] to repair the —(wrought
by war)
rave v. (D; intr.) to — about, over; to (she was
—ing to us about her grandchild)
ravine n. a deep —
raw n. ['natural state'] in the —
ray n. 1. to emit, send forth, send out — s 2. a
cathode; cosmic; death; gamma; infrared;
ultraviolet; X — 3. heat; light —s
raze v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a building to the
ground)
razor n. 1. to hone, set, sharpen a — 2. a dull;
keen, sharp — 3. a double-edged; electric; safety;
single-edged; straight —
reach I л. 1. beyond, out of — 2. in, within — (to
bring smt. within —) 3. (misc.) a boardinghouse
('very long') —; the vast —es (of the western
plains)
reach II v. 1. (A; used without to) ('to pass') —
me the salt 2. (d; intr.) ('to extend one's hand') to
— for (she —ed for a cigarette) 3. (d; intr.) ('to
extend one's hand') to — into (she —ed into her
pocket for her keys) 4. (D; intr.) ('to extend') to —
to (the rope doesn't — to the ground)
reach out v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for ('to attempt to
reality
obtain') (to — for mutual understanding) 2. (D;
tr.) ('to extend') to — for (she —ed out her hand
for the change) 3. (d; intr.) to — into, to ('to
attempt to help') (to — to the local community) 4.
(D; tr.) ('to extend') to — to (— your hand to me)
react v. 1. to — strongly 2. (D; intr.) to — against
(to — against unfair treatment) 3. (D; intr.) to — to
(to — to a stimulus; to — to a provocation)
reaction n. 1. to cause, trigger a — 2. to encounter,
meet with a — 3. an adverse, negative; favorable,
positive; strong; weak — 4. an allergic; chain;
chemical; delayed; knee-jerk (usu. fig.); natural,
normal; nuclear; physiological — 5. a — against, to
(a natural — to provocation) 6. in — to
reactionary n. a dyed-in-the wool —
reactor n. an atomic, nuclear; breeder; fission —
read v. 1. (A) she read a nice story to the children;
or: she read the children a nice story 2. (D; intr.)
to — about 3. (d; intr., tr.) to — for (she used to —
for the patients in the nursing home; could you —
that material for me?) 4. (esp. BE) (d; intr.) ('to
study') to — for (to — for a degree; to — for the
bar) 5. (d; tr.) to — into ('to attribute') (don't try
to — anything else into her letter) 6. (AE) (d; tr.)
to — out of ('to exclude') (he was read out of the
party) 7. (d; intr.) to — to (she loves to — to the
children) 8. (misc.) to — by candlelight; to — a lan-
language fluently; to — between the lines; to — aloud;
the letter —s like an accusation; the cablegram —s
as follows...; to — a child to sleep; to — smb. like
a book ('to comprehend smb.'s motives very
clearly')
reader n. ['one who reads'] 1. an avid, voracious —
2. a regular — (of a newspaper) 3. a copy — (AE;
BE has subeditor) 4. (rel.) a lay — ['university
teacher below the rank of professor'] (BE) 5. a —
in (a — ln nhveirs^ Priraotir»*» Knnt f*r »ч»вЛ;««'1 ?.
a basic -
a first; L. ,,
Usage Note for professor)
readiness n. 1. — to + inf. (her — to help was
appreciated) 2. (to hold oneself) in —
reading n. ['act of reading'] 1. light; remedial;
responsive; serious; solid — 2. a dramatic; poetry
— 3. assigned; suggested —(s) (have you done the
assigned — for the course?) 4. at a — (at the first
—) 5. in a — (you will not be able to absorb the
material in one —) ['interpretation'] 6. a new — of
(Shakespeare)
readjust v. (D;intr., refl., tr.)to- to
read up v. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on a subject)
ready adj. 1. — for (— for any emergency) 2. —
with (she is always — with an answer) 3. — to + inf.
(we are — to begin) 4. (misc.) to get (smb.) — for;
at the -
reaffirm v. (L) she —ed that she would serve as
treasurer
realism n. to lend — (the sound effects lend — to
the scene)
realist n. a down-to-earth, hardheaded —
realistic adj. — to + inf. (is it — to expect such
results?)
reality n. 1. (the) grim, harsh, sober — (the harsh
— of life) 2. in — 3. (misc.) to accept —; to deny —

realization
200
201
redemption
realization n. 1. to come to the ~ 2. the — that +
clause (the ~ that a catastrophe could occur at any
time sobered them up)
realize v. 1. to - fully 2. (L) she ~d that she had
been cheated 3. (Q) I —d how my words had been
distorted
reaper n. the grim — ('death')
reapply v. (D; intr.) to — for; to (to — for admis-
admission to a university)
reappoint v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ as (to ~ smb. as chair-
chairperson) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to a commit-
committee) 3. (H) to — smb. to serve as secretary 4. (N;
used with a noun) we ~ed her treasurer
reappraisal n. to do, make a ~
rear I n. 1. to bring up the — 2. at, from, in the —
(the column was attacked from the —)
rear II v. (H) we —ed our chldren to help others
reason I n. ['cause, justification'] 1. to cite, give a
— 2. a cogent, compelling, convincing, plausible,
sound, strong, urgent — 3. a logical; personal;
underlying; valid — 4. every —; (a) sufficient — 5.
a — against; behind; for (the real — behind their
decision was never made public; to have a ~ for
not going) 6. a — to + inf. (we had every — to com-
complain; there is sufficient — to be concerned) 7. a —
that + clause (the — that/why she did it is a mys-
mystery) 8. for a — (he quit for personal —s) ['logic'] 9.
to listen to; see —10. to stand to — ('to be logical')
(it stands to — that the majority party will be
reelected) ['reasonable limits'] 11. within — (I'll
do anything for you within —) ['sanity'] 12. to lose
one's —
reason II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ with Do attempt to
persuade') (you can't — with him) 2. (L) ('to
argue') they —ed that any new proposal would fail
reasonable adj. 1. ~ about (let's be ~ about this)
2. — to + inf. (it is not — to demand so much from
them)
reasoning n. 1. cogent, logical, plausible, solid,
sound — 2. faulty; shrewd; specious — 3. deduc-
deductive; inductive — 4. — that + clause (her — that the
crime had been committed elsewhere proved to be
true)
reassign v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to headquar-
headquarters)
reassnre v. 1. (D; tr.) to — about, of (they —d us
of their support) 2. (L; must have an object) we
~d them that we would not be late
reassuring adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to note that
airport security has been improved) 2. — that +
clause (it is — that airport security has been
improved)
rebate n. 1. to give a — 2. to get, receive a —
rebel I n. a —against
rebel II v. (D; intr.) to— against, at (to-against
tyranny; they —led at the thought of getting up
before dawn)
rebellion n. 1. to foment, stir up a — 2. to crush,
put down, quash, quell a — 3. open — 4. a —
breaks out 5. a — against 6. in — (in open —)
rebound I n. 1. (basketball) to grab a-2. (misc.)
on the — (right after her divorce she married smb.
on the-)
II v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from a
setback)
rebuff n. 1. to meet with a — 2. a polite; sharp —
rebuke I n. 1. to administer, deliver, give a — 2.
to draw, receive a — 3. a mild; scathing, sharp,
stern, stinging — 4. a — to
rebuke II v. 1. to-mildly; sharply, sternly 2. (D;
tr.) to — for (to — smb. for sloppy work)
rebuttal n. to make a —
recall I n. ['remembrance'] 1. beyond — ['mem-
['memory'] 2. complete, total — ['signal recalling
troops'] 3. to sound the — °
recall II v. 1. ('to remember') to— distinctly, viv-
vividly 2. (d; tr.) ('to remember') to — as (I — him as
a very bashful child) 3. (D; tr.) ('to call back') to —
from; to (to — smb. from retirement to active
duty) 4. (G) ('to remember') she —ed seeing him
5. (K) ('to remember') I —ed their visiting us 6.
(L) ('to remember') she —ed that she had an
appointment 7. (Q) ('to remember') I could not —
where we had agreed to meet
recede v. (D; intr.) to — from
receipt n. ['receiving'] 1. to acknowledge — of 2.
on — of ['written acknowledgment of something
received'] 3. to give, make out, write out a — 4. to
get a — 5. (esp. AE) a return — (for registered
mail) 6. a — for
receive v. 1. to — smb. coldly, coolly; favorably;
warmly 2. (d; tr.) to — as (the astronauts were —d
as conquering heroes) 3. (D; tr.) to — from (he —d
a letter from her) 4. (d; tr.) to — into (to — smb.
into-a church)
receiver n. ['part of a telephone'] 1. to pick up the
— 2. to hang up, put down, replace a — 3. a tele-
telephone — ['radio'] 4. a shortwave — ['one who
catches a forward pass'] (Am. football) 5. to hit;
spot a — (to spot a — down the field)
receivership n. 1. to put a firm into — 2. in —
reception n. ['social gathering'} 1. to give, hold;
host a — 2. a diplomatic; formal; informal; official;
wedding — 3. a — for (a — for graduating students)
4. at a — (we met at the —) ['reaction, response']
['greeting'] 5. to get, meet with a — 6. to accord,
give (smb.) a — 7. a chilly, cold, cool; cordial,
friendly, warm; emotional; enthusiastic; favora-
favorable; lavish; mixed; rousing; unfriendly — (their
proposal got a mixed —; they gave us a warm —;
the book received a favorable —) ['registration
desk in a hotel'] (BE) 8. at - (leave your key at ~)
['receiving of broadcasts'] 9. good, strong; poor,
weak —
receptive adj. — to (— to any reasonable offer)
recess n. 1. to take a — 2. a spring; summer; winter
— 3. in — (parliament was in —)
recession n. 1. a business, economic — 2. (misc.)
to come out of a —; to go into a —
recipe n. a— for
recipient n. a worthy —
reciprocate v. (D; intr.) to — by; for; with
reciprocity n. 1. — between 2. (misc.) on a basis of
recital n. 1. to give a — 2. an organ; piano; violin —
recite v. (B) she ~d her poetry to the audience
reckless adj. — to + inf. (it was — of them to go out
alone at night)
reckon v. l.(colloq.inAE)(d;intr.)('todepend')
to — on (you can always — on my support) 2. (col-
loq. in AE) (d; intr.) (*to deal') to — with (we'll
have to ~ with him later) 3. (colloq.) (L) I - we'll
have to see them eventually
reckoning n. ['navigation'] 1. dead — ['calcula-
['calculations'] 2. by smb.'s — (by my —)
---¦-•- v. (D; tr.) to — from
ition n. land; water —
! n. an aging; virtual ~
recognition n. 1. to give, grant — 2. to gain,
receive, win — 3. general, universal; growing; offi-
official; public; tacit; wide ~ (to receive universal —)
4. (diplomatic) de facto; de jure — 5. — for; from
(to receive — for one's accomplishments from
one's colleagues) 6. beyond — (burned beyond —)
7. in — of 8. (misc.) to give/show no signs of —
recognizance n. (legal) on one's own ~ (she was
released on her own —)
recognize v. 1. to — generally, universally; offi-
officially; widely 2. (D; tr.) to — as (she is universally
—d as an authority on the subject) 3. (L) we —d
that the situation was hopeless
recoil v. 1. (D;intr.)to — at,from2. (misc.)to-
(misc.)torn horror
recollect v. 1. (G) she could not — being there 2.
(K) can you — my calling you? 3. (L) I - that the
weather was cold 4. (Q) can anyone — how the
alarm is deactivated?
recollection n. 1. to have a — of 2. a hazy, vague;
painful; vivid —
recommend v. 1. to — enthusiastically, highly,
strongly 2. (BE) (A) she —ed a good dictionary to
me; or: she —ed me a good dictionary 3. (B) she
—ed a good dictionary to me 4. (D; tr.) to — as
(she was ~ed as a suitable candidate for the job) 5.
(D; tr.) to - for (to - smb. for a job) 6. (G) he
—ed waiting 7. (BE) (H; no passive) I — you to
buy this book 8. (K) he ~ed their investing in rail-
railroad stocks 9. (L; subj.; to) she —ed (to us) that
our trip be/should be postponed
recommendation n. 1. to give smb. a — 2. to pro-
provide, write a ~ for smb. 3. to make a — 4. to act on,
carry out, implement a — 5. a lukewarm; negative;
positive; strong; weak — 6. a — for 7. a — to (her
— to us was to postpone the trip) 8. a — to + inf.
(we ignored her — to postpone the trip) 9. a — that
+ clause; subj. (we ignored her — that our trip be/
should be postponed) 10. at, on smb.'s — (we
hired him on her —)
recommit v. (D; tr.) ('to confine again') to — to
(he was —ted to the mental hospital)
! I л. (formal) — for
! II v. (formal) (D; tr.) to - for
v. 1. (D; refl., tr.) to - to (he had to ~
himself to his fate) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ with (we tried to
— her with her family; to — a checkbook with a
bank statement)
reconciliation n. 1. to bring about, effect a — 2. a
-with
reconnaissance n. 1. to carry out, conduct — 2.
aerial — 3. (a) — in force
record I /i. ['best performance'] 1. to establish,
set a (new) — 2. to equal, tie a — 3. to beat, better,
break, surpass a — 4. to hold a — 5. an unbroken
— 6. an attendance; speed — 7. a national; Olym-
Olympic; world — 8. —s fall ['account of events'] ['file']
9. to keep; make a — (to keep a — of events) 10. to
close; open up a — 11. to destroy —s 12. an accu-
accurate; detailed; official; sketchy; verbatim — 13.
public — (a matter of public —) 14. medical —s 15.
of; on — (the coldest day on —) 16. (misc.) to set
the — straight ('to correct a misunderstanding')
['past performance'] 17. (to have) a clean; good ~
18. an academic; distinguished; excellent;
mediocre, spotty; safety; service — (her academic
— is excellent; he's been in jail and has a police ~;
this airline's safety — is impeccable; she has a dis-
distinguished — as a public official) ['recorded
crimes'] 19. to have a — (he's been in jail and has
a —) 20. a criminal, police — ['publication'] ['pub-
['public disclosure'] 21. to go on — 22. for the — (was his
statement for the ~?) 23. off the - (what she told
the reporters was off the —) ['grooved disc'] 24. to
cut (AE), make a - 25. to play a ~ 26. a
gramophone (BE), phonograph (AE); long-play-
long-playing-
record II v. 1. to — live 2. (L) ('to report') the
newspapers —ed that a new era in international
cooperation had begun
recorder n. a tape; voice —
recording n. 1. to make a — 2. to play a — 3. a tape
records n. ['recorded information'] 1. to file; keep
— 2. accurate —
recount I n. to do, make a — (of votes)
recount II v. (B) to — a story to smb.
recourse n. to have — to
recover v. (D; intr., tr.) to — from (to — from an
illness; the police — ed the missing items from the
bottom of the river)
recovery n. 1. to make a — 2. a quick, rapid,
speedy; remarkable; slow — (the patient made a
quick —) 3. an economic — 4. a — from 5. (misc.)
to wish smb. a speedy —
recreation n. for — (what do you do for —?)
recruit I n. afresh, green, raw—
recruit II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for (to - volunteers
for charitable work) 2. (D; tr.) to - from (to -~
volunteers from friendly countries) 3. (H) to —
mercenaries to serve in the army
recruiter n. an air force; army; marine; navy —
recuperate v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from the
flu)
recuperation n. —from
recur v. (D; intr.) ('to come again to mind') to —
to (that thought keeps —ring to me)
red n. ['color'] 1. bright; dark; light — 2. (misc.) as
- as a beet (AE), beetroot (BE) ['red light'] 3. on
— (no turn on —) ['debt'] 4. in the — (to operate in
the-)
red carpet n. ['warm reception'] to put out, roll
out the — for smb.
rededkate v. (d;refl.,tr.)to — to (we must — our-
ourselves to our cause)
rededkation n. -to
v. (D;tr.)to~from
n. 1. — from 2. beyond, past —

redeploy
v. (D; tr.) to — from; to (troops were
being —ed from Europe to Asia)
redeployment n. 1. large-scale ~ (the large-scale
— of troops) 2. — from; to
redevelopment n. urban —
red-faced adj. — with (— with shame)
red light n. 1. to go through, run (AE) a — (she ran
a — and was fined) 2. at a — (to stop at a —)
redolent adj. (formal) - of, with (~ of hon-
honeysuckle)
redound v. (formal) (d; intr.) to - to ('to affect')
(her success —s to the credit of her teachers)
redress n. legal ~
red tape n. 1. to get caught up in, get involved in
— 2. to cut, eliminate (the) —
rednce v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ in (he was —d in rank) 2.
(d; tr.) to — to (she was —d to poverty; the cor-
corporal was —d to the rank of private)
redaction n. 1. to take a-(in salary) 2. to make a
(price) — 3. a — in (a — in salary) 4. a — to 5. at a
— (to sell merchandise at a substantial —)
reef n. 1. to strike a — (the ship struck a —) 2. a
barrier; coral —
reek v. 1. (d; intr.) to-of (to-of alcohol) 2. (d;
intr.) to — with (to — with sweat)
reel v. (D; intr.) ('to stagger') to — under (to —
under blows)
reeling adj. to send smb. —
reentry п. а — into (a spaceship's — into the
atmosphere)
refer v. (d; intr., tr.) to — to (in her autobiography
she never —red to her parents; the problem was
—red to a committee; they —red me to the man-
manager)
referable adj. — to
refer back v. (d; tr.) to — to (the report was —red
back to the committee)
reference n. ['mention, allusion'] 1. to make (a) —
(she made no —s to her opponents) 2. to contain a
— (the statement contains several —s to me) 3. a
direct; indirect, oblique — 4. a — to (without — to
age) ['regard, relation'] 5. in, with — to 6. a frame
of — ['recommendation'] ['statement'] 7. to give,
provide a — 8. a good, positive, satisfactory; nega-
negative — ['consultation'] ['source of information'] 9.
further; quick - 10. for - (to file for future -)
referendum n. to conduct, hold a — on
referral n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ from; to
refill n. 1. to give smb. a — 2. a — for (a — for a
ballpoint pen)
refine v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon ('to improve') (to
— on a method)
refinery n. an oil; sugar —
reflect v. 1. ('to think about') to — closely; seri-
seriously 2. (D; intr.) to — on, upon ('to think about')
(to ~ on one's past mistakes) 3. (d; intr.) to — on
('to discredit') (her unfounded accusations — ed
on her credibility) 4. (d; intr.) to — on ('to show')
(her unselfish act — s well on her upbringing) 5. (d;
tr.) to — on ('to bring to') (the team's victory —ed
credit on the coach)
reflection n. ['criticism'] 1. a — on (this is no — on
your qualifications) ['meditation, thought'] 2.
quiet; serious; sober — 3. — on (— s on the war) 4.
202
after, on — (on further — she saw her mistake)
reflex n. 1. to test one's —es 2. a conditioned — 3.
abnormal; diminished; hyperactive; normal — es
reform n. 1. carry out, effect a —2. a far-reaching;
radical, sweeping — 3. (an) agrarian, land;
economic; labor; orthographic, spelling; penal;
social —
reformatory n. (now AE; obsol.) at, in a — (he
spent time at/in a —)
reformer n. an economic; social —
refraction n. ['eye examination'] to do a — (the
oculist did a —)
refrain I n. to sing a —
refrain II v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from smok-
smoking)
refreshments n. 1. to offer - 2. light; liquid -
refrigeration n. under — (to keep food under —)
refrigerator n. 1. to defrost a — 2. afrostfree — 3.
an electric; gas — 4. (misc.) to raid the — ('to con-
consume large quantities of food from the
refrigerator, esp. at night')
refueling, refuelling n. inflight, midair —
refuge n. 1. to give, provide — 2. to find, take;
seek — 3. a wildlife — 4. a place of — 5. — from (to
take — from the storm)
refugee n. 1. a political — 2. a — from
refund I n. 1. to give, pay a — 2. to get, receive a
- 3. a tax -
refund II v. (B) the manager — ed the purchase
price to the customer
refusal n. 1. an adamant, curt, flat, outright,
point-blank, unyielding — 2. a first — (BE; CE has
first option) 3. a — to + inf. (I could not com-
comprehend her — to help) 4. (misc.) to meet with a —
refuse I n. (BE) to collect the — (see also gar-
garbage, trash)
refuse II v. 1. to —categorically, completely, out-
outright, point-blank 2. (E) she —d to see him 3. (O;
can be used with one object) he —d them nothing
refute v. to — completely
regain v. (D; tr.) to — from
regale v. (d; tr.) to — with (to — one's guests with
funny stories)
regard I n. ['consideration'] 1. to show — 2. — for
(he shows no — for the feelings of others; you must
have — for our safety) ['esteem'] 3. high; low — (to
hold smb. in high —) ['aspect, relation'] 4. in a —
(in this —) 5. in, with — to (in — to your request,
no decision has been made)
regard II v. 1. to —highly (highly—ed in the sci-
scientific community) 2. (d; tr.) to — as (to — smb. as
a friend) 3. (d; tr.) to - with (to - smb. with con-
contempt)
regardless adj. —of
regards n. ['greetings'] 1. to convey smb.'s —; to
send one's — 2. to give smb. one's — 3. best, cor-
cordial, friendly, kind, kindest, sincere, warm, warm-
warmest; personal — (with best personal —)
regatta n. an annual —
regime n. 1. to establish a — 2. to overthrow a — 3.
a puppet; totalitarian —
regiment n. 1. a Guards (GB); infantry ~ 2. a col-
colonel commands a —
n. a border; mountainous; outlying,
203
remote; polar; unpopulated —
register I n. ['record, record book'] 1. to keep a —
2. a case; hotel - ['roster'] 3. the Social Register
['machine that registers the amount of each sale']
4. a cash —
register II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to - as (she -ed as
a Republican; he was not —ed as a voter) 2. (D;
intr., tr.) to — for (she —ed for two courses; our
departmental secretary has —ed ten students for
the seminar) 3. (D; tr.) to — in (how many —ed in
the course?) 4. (D; intr., tr.) to — with (he had to
— with the authorities; to — a pistol with the
police)
registration n. 1. to conduct — 2. gun; voter —
regress v. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to one's child-
childhood)
regret I n. 1. to express —(s) 2. to feel; show — 3.
deep, keen — 4. a token of (one's) — 5. — at, over;
for (to express — at not being able to accept an
invitation; — for one's mistake)
regret II v. 1. to — deeply, very much 2. (formal)
(E) we — to inform you that your position has
been eliminated 3. (G) I — having to leave so early
4. (K) everyone —ted his being dismissed 5. (L) we
— that we cannot accept your invitation
regrets n. ['expression of regret at declining an
invitation'] 1. to send — 2. — only (appears on invi-
invitations instructing recipients to respond only if
they are unable to accept)
regulation n. 1. to adopt, enact a — 2. to apply,
enforce a — 3. to obey, observe a — 4. to ignore;
violate a — 5. rigid, strict —s6. army;government;
health; police; security; traffic —s 7. a — that +
clause; subj. (we obeyed the — that no cars be/
should be parked there)
rehabilitation n. physical -
rehearsal n. 1. to conduct, hold; schedule a — 2. a
dress, final — 3. a — for 4. at a — (I'll see you at the
dress-)
rehearse v. (D;intr.,tr.)to —for (to —for a con-
concert)
reign I n. during smb.'s—
reign II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — over 2. (s) to — su-
supreme
reimburse v. 1. to — amply, fully, generously 2.
(rare) (B) all expenses will be -d to you 3. (D; tr.)
to — for (you will be —d for all expenses)
гстшЬидетсвд it» **** for
rein I n. ['control'] 1. to keep a — on 2. to give
free, full — to ('to remove restraints on') 3. a tight
— (to keep a tight — on smb.) 4. (misc.) to seize
the —s of government
rein II v. (D;tr.) to -to (to -a horse to the left)
reinforcements n. to bring up; commit; send—
reins n. ['straps used to control an animal'] to draw
in, tighten the —
reinstate v. 1. (D; tr.) to — as (she was —d as trea-
treasurer) 2. (D; tr.) to — in (to — smb. in her/his
former position)
rciaaue v. (B) the supply sergeant —d ammunition
to the platoon
reiterate v. l.(B) she-d her story to the police 2.
(L) he -d that he would resign
reject v. to - completely, flatly, outright, totally
relief
rejection n. complete, flat, outright, total —
rejoice v. (D; intr.) to — at, in, over (they —d at
the good news)
rejoinder n. 1. a sharp; telling - 2. a - to
relapse n. 1. to have, suffer a — 2. a complete,
total-
relate v. 1. (B) she —d her version of the incident
to the police 2. (d; intr.) to — to (this law does not
— to your case; how do they — to each other?)
related adj. — by; to (I am — to him by marriage)
relation n. 1. a — between 2. in — to
relations n. 1. to establish; have, maintain; nor-
normalize; renew — 2. to cement, improve, promote,
strengthen — 3. to break off, sever; strain — (to
break off diplomatic — with a country) 4. close,
intimate; friendly; strained, troubled — 5. busi-
business, commercial, economic, trade; diplomatic;
extramarital; foreign; international; labor; mari-
marital; premarital; public; race; sexual — (to have
sexual — with smb.) 6. — among, between; with 7.
(misc.) friends and — ('friends and relatives')
relationship n. 1. to cement; establish a - (to
establish a — with smb.) 2. to bear, have a — (to
bear a — to smt.) 3. to break off a — (to break off
a — with smb.) 4. a casual; close, intimate; direct;
indirect; meaningful; solid; tenuous; warm — 5. a
doctor-patient — 6. an extramarital; incestuous—;
interpersonal; spatial —s 7. an inverse — 8. a —
between; to, towards; with
relative I adj. -to
relative II n. a blood; close; distant —; one's
nearest —s
relaxant n. a muscle —
relaxation n. for — (what do you do for —?)
relaxing adj. — to + inf. (it is — to spend a few days
camping out)
relay I n. to run a —
relay II v. (B) she — ed the information to us
release I n. ['liberation'] 1. to bring about, effect
smb.'s — 2. a — from (a — from prison) ['surrender
of a claim or right'] (legal) 3. to agree to; sign a —
['handing over'] 4. — to (the — of information to
the press) 5. a news —
release II v. l.(D;tr.)to — from (he has been— d
from prison) 2. (D; tr.) to - to (the judge —d the
youthful culprit to his parents; the film has been
—d to various movie theaters; the information was
—d to the press)
relegate v. 1. (d;tr.) to— to (to— smb. to second-
class status) 2. (misc.) (GB) to — a team to the sec-
second division
relevance n. 1. to have — to 2. of — to (his tes-
testimony is of no — to the case)
: adj. — to (the evidence is ~ to the case)
adj. — on
rehes n. ancient; holy —; — of the past
reMef n. ['easing of pain, of a burden'] 1. to bring;
give — 2. to express; feel — 3. to find; receive; seek
— (they found — in looking at their son's photo-
photographs) 4. great, immense; instant; permanent;
temporary — 5. (esp. BE) tax — 6. — from (the
rain brought instant — from the heat) 7. — to (the
news was a great — to us) 8. a — to + inf. (it was a

relieve
204
— to get home) 9. — that + clause (they expressed
— that the crisis was over) 10. to smb.'s — (to my
— they got there safely) ['welfare, government
aid'] (esp. AE; obsol.) 11. on - (in the 1930s they
were on —) ['comic scenes'] 12. comic; mock —
['differences in height'] 13. in — (to show terrain in
~) ['sharpness of outline'] 14. in bold ~ against (a
light background)
relieve v. 1. (D; tr.) to -of (the general was ~d of
his command) 2. (R) it —d me to learn that they
were safe
relieved adj. 1. — at (we were — at the news) 2. —
to + inf. (we were — to learn that they had arrived
safely) 3. — that + clause (we were — that they had
arrived safely)
religion n. ['formal belief in a divine power'] 1. to
practice a — 2. to abjure a — 3. a fundamentalist;
monotheistic; polytheistic — 4. (an) established,
organized — 5. a personal; state — [study of sys-
systems of worship'] 6. comparative —(s)
reUgioas adj. deeply, profoundly —
refeumish v. (B) ('to yield') he -ed his business
interests to his children
I n. ['enjoyment'] to show — for
II v. l.(G) I don't -confronting him 2. (K)
no one — es his coming here
reluctance n. 1. to display, show — 2. extreme,
great — 3. — to + inf. (her — to get involved was
understandable)
remctant adj. (usu. does not stand alone) ~ to +
inf. (we were — to act)
rely v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (to — on smb. for
advice)
remain v. 1. (D; intr.) to-of (did anything-of
the wreckage?) 2. (E) that -s to be seen 3. (S) she
—ed a widow for the rest of her life; to — silent
remains n. human, mortal —
remand v. (d; tr.) ('to send') to — to (the judge
—ed the accused to the county jail)
remark I n. 1. to drop, make a ~ 2. a biting, catty,
caustic, cutting, nasty, scathing — 3. a casual;
complimentary; cryptic; derogatory; facetious;
flattering; impertinent; inane; indiscreet; off-the-
cuff; passing; pithy; pointed; reassuring; sarcastic;
slanderous; snide; suggestive; sullen; timely; trite;
trivial; witty — 4. one's closing, concluding; open-
opening —s 5. a — that + clause (she made the — that
being interviewed was boring)
remark II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (the vis-
visitors —ed on the excellent condition of the streets)
2. (L; to) she — ed (to us) that she found our story
very strange
remarkable adj. 1. - for 2. - to + inf. (it's - to
see such clean streets) 3. — that + clause (it's —
that the streets are so clean after the parade)
remedy n. 1. to resort to a — 2. to prescribe a — 3.
(legal) to pursue a (legal) - 4. (legal) to exhaust
all (legal) — ies 5. a certain, reliable, sure; effec-
effective, efficacious — 6. a cold; cough — 7. a folk;
homeopathic — 8. a — for
remember v. 1. (B; colloq. the direct object is
always a personal pronoun) please — me to your
family ('please give my regards to your family') 2.
(D; tr.) to — as (I — him as a young man) 3. (D; tr.)
to - of (what do you - of them?) 4. (E) she -ed
to buy a newspaper 5. (G) she —ed buying the
newspaper 6. (J) I — him being very generous 7.
(K) I - his being very generous 8. (L) she -ed that
she had an appointment 9. (Q) I could not — how
to open the safe USAGE NOTE: The sentence
she didn't remember to buy a newspaper means
•she forgot to buy a newspaper'. The sentence she
didn't remember buying a newspaper means 'she
had no memory of buying a newspaper', whether
she bought one or not.
remembrance n. in —of
remind v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to cause to remember') to —
about, of (he —ed me of my promise) 2. (d; tr.)
('to call to mind') to — of (he —s me of my cousin)
3. (H) she —ed me to buy a newspaper 4. (L; must
have an object) we —ed them that the meeting had
been postponed
reminder n. 1. a bitter; final; gentle; grim — 2. a —
that + clause (we received a — that the rent was
due)
v. (D; intr.) to — about
n. 1. personal — 2. — about
dj. (cannot stand alone) — of (that
melody is — of the old days)
remiss adj. (formal) — about, in (—in performing
one's duties)
remission n. ['lessening of the effects of a disease']
(med.)in —
remit I n. (BE) ['assignment, area of responsibil-
responsibility'] 1. a limited; wide — 2. a — to + inf. (they have
a — to investigate the company's affairs)
remit II v. 1. (BE) (A) they -ted the money to
us; or: they -ted us the money 2. (AE) (B) they
—ted the money to us
remittance n. 1. to enclose; send a - 2. (obsol.)
(BE) a — man ('one living abroad on money sent
from home')
remonstrate v. (formal) (D; intr.) to — about;
with (they —d with the neighbors about the noise)
remorse n. 1. to display, show —2. to express; feel
— 3. bitter, deep, profound — 4. a feeling; twinge
of — 5. — for, over (he displayed no — for his
crimes)
remote adj. —from
removal n. 1. snow - 2. (BE) furniture - 3. -
from
remove v. (D; tr.) to — from; to (to — a patient
from a respirator)
removed adj. 1. easily — 2. once; twice — (a first
cousin once —)
remover n. (a) nail-polish (AE), nail-varnish
(BE); paint; spot -
remunerate v. (formal) (D; tr.) to — for
remmieration n. 1. to offer - 2. to accept - 3. -
for
rend v. (D; tr.) ('to tear') to — into (to — one's
clothes into shreds)
render v. 1. (A) she—ed a valuable service to me;
or; she —ed me a valuable service 2. (formal) (D;
tr.) to - into (to - a text into English) 3. (N; used
with an adjective) her remark — ed me speechless
i n. 1. to have; make a —with 2. a secret
205
repressive
j n. 1. to give a-2. a letter-perfect (AE),
word-perfect (BE) -
renege v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on a commit-
commitment)
1 n. urban —
> v. (D;tr.)to — for (to — wealth for hap-
n. to make —
n. (formal) 1. to achieve, attain — 2.
great, wide — 3. of — (an artist of great —)
renowned adj. — as; for (— as a pianist; — for
one's inventions)
rent In. 1. to pay — for 2. to raise the — 3. (AE)
for - (the house is for -) (BE has the house is to
let) 4. (misc.) — control
rent II v. l.(esp. AE)(A)she— ed a room to me;
or: she —ed me a room 2. (D; tr.) to — from (to —
a house from smb.) 3. (esp. AE) (d; intr.) to - to
(she —s to students)
rental n. 1.car;film;office-2.-to
rent out v. (esp. AE) (B) to — rooms to students
(see also letont)
reorganization n. to undergo —
repair I n. ['process of restoring to working
order'] 1. to do, make a — (we have done the
necessary —s) 2. extensive, major; minor; neces-
necessary —s 3. —s to (the —s to our roof cost one
hundred dollars) 4. under — (the road is under —)
['condition'] 5. in — (to keep a car in good —; in
poor-)
repair II v. (formal or humorous) (d; intr.) ('to
go') to — to (to — to the drawing room)
reparations n. 1. to pay — 2. war — 3. — for
repartee n. witty —
repast n. a light, meager—
repatriate v. (D; tr.) to - from; to
repatriation n. 1. forced — 2. — from; to
repay v. 1. (A) she repaid the money to me; or:
she repaid me the money 2. (D; tr.) to — for (I
repaid him for his expenses) 3. (D; tr.) to - to (to
— one's debt to society)
repeat v. 1. (B) she -ed her story to us 2. (D;
intr.) ('to cause an unpleasant aftertaste') to — on
(this type of food -s on me) 3. (L; to) he —ed (to
me) that he would buy some stamps 4. (misc.) —
after me
I adj. —to
II n. an insect, mosquito —
v. 1. to — sincerely 2. (D; intr.) to — of (to
— of one's sins) 3. (rare) (G) he —ed having stolen
the car
repentance n. 1. to show — for 2. genuine, sincere
reperensskms n. 1. to have — on 2. far-reaching —
repertory n. in — (to play in —)
replace v. (D; tr.) to - by, with
replacement n. 1. to make a — 2. to get, receive a
— for 3. (misc.) the — of smt. by smt. else
replay n. action (BE), instant (AE) -
replenish v. (D; tr.) to — with
replete adj. (cannot stand alone) — with
reply In. 1. to give, make; send a — 2. to draw,
elicit a — 3. a curt, gruff; immediate, prompt;
stinging; succinct; sullen; terse; witty — 4. in — (to
nod in —) 5. in — to (in — to your letter)
reply II v. 1. to — immediately, promptly 2. (D;
intr.) to - to (she did not - to my letter) 3. (L) she
replied that she would be happy to accept our invi-
invitation
report I n. 1. to file, give, make, present, submit
a — 2. to draw up, make out, write, write out,
write up a — 3. to confirm a — 4. an accurate;
biased, slanted; confirmed; detailed, exhaustive;
favorable, positive; firsthand; negative, unfavora-
unfavorable; objective; unconfirmed — 5. an annual; daily;
incident; interim; majority; minority; monthly;
morning; newspaper; oral; status; traffic;
weather; weekly; written — 6. a classified; confi-
confidential; restricted; secret; top secret — 7. a school
- (BE; AE has report card) 8. a ~ about, on; to
(she filed a — about the incident; the annual — to
stockholders) 9. a — that + clause (we have heard
—s that the road is closed)
report II v. 1. (B) ('to relate') we -ed the infor-
information to the authorities 2. (D; intr.) to — about,
on ('to describe') (the correspondent —ed on the
situation at the front) 3. (D; intr.) ('to present
oneself) to — for; to (to — to headquarters for
duty) 4. (D; tr.) ('to inform on') to — for; to (to —
smb. to the police for violating an ordinance) 5.
(pol.) (AE) (d; tr.) to — out of ('to return smt. for
further action') (to — a bill out of committee) 6.
(D; intr.) to — to ('to answer to') (she —s directly
to the dean) 7. (G) ('to make known') several
people — ed having seen the stolen car 8. (K) ('to
make known') smb. —ed their leaving early 9. (L;
to) ('to relate') she -ed (to us) that she had
accomplished her mission 10. (M) ('to describe')
the fire was —ed to be burning out of control 11.
(N; used with an adjective, past participle) ('to
describe') the patrol —ed the entire area clear/
cleared; he was —ed missing in action 12. (Q) ('to
describe') they — ed how the incident took place
13. (esp. BE) (s) to - sick
report back v. (D; intr.) to -to (you will -to the
chairperson of the committee)
reported adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. — to + inf.
(they were — to be safe) 2. — that + clause (it was
—ed that they were safe)
reporter n. a court; cub; financial; investigative;
news; police; roving; science; society; sports; TV
report in v. (AE) (s) to - sick
repose n. in (a state of)—
represent v. 1. ('to depict') to — graphically 2. (B)
('to be the equivalent of) this room —ed home to
them 3. (esp. BE) (B) ('to convey') to - one's
grievances to the authorities 4. (d; tr.) ('to depict')
to — as (she was —ed as a hero)
representation n. ['statement'] ['protest'] 1. to
make — s to (our ambassador made — s to their
government) ['act of representing'] 2. propor-
proportional —
I adj. -of
II n. 1. a sales - (BE also has
commercial traveller) 2. an elected —
n. (to live) under —
adj. —of

reprieve _^__
reprieve n. 1. to give, grant a-2. to get, receive
a — 3. a — from
reprimand I n. 1. to administer, issue a - (the
judge issued a — from the bench) 2. to receive a —
3. a mild; severe, sharp, stern - 4. an oral; written
II v. (D; tr.) to - for (to - an
e'mployee for being late)
reprint n. to issue a-(of a book)
reprisal n. 1. to carry out —s 2. a harsh — 3. a —
against, on 4. in - for 5. (misc.) by way of -
" I n. 1. a term of-2. above, beyond-
II v. (D; refl., tr.) to-for
v. (D; tr.) to - from (to - a photo-
photograph from an old negative)
reproduction n. ['copy'] 1. (a) high-fidelity;
stereophonic — ['biological process of reproduc-
reproducing'] 2. animal; human; plant —
reprove v. (formal) (D; tr.) to - for
reptile n. —s crawl, creep, slither
republic n. 1. to establish a - 2. an autonomous;
banana (obsol.); democratic; people's -
Republican n. (US) a registered -
repugnance n. 1. to feel -2. (a) deep, profound -
repugnant adj. -to
repulsive adj. -to
reputation n. 1. to acquire, establish a - 2. to
have, hold a - (he had the - of being a heavy
drinker) 3. to guard, protect one's — 4. to com-
compromise, destroy, ruin, tarnish smb.'s — 5. an
enviable, excellent, fine, good, impeccable, spot-
spotless, unblemished, unsullied, untarnished - 6. a
tainted, tarnished, unenviable — 7. an interna-
international, worldwide; local; national — 8. a — as, for
(that judge has a - for being fair) 9. by - (to know
smb. by -) 10. (misc.) to live up to one's -; to
stake one's — on smt.
repute n. ill, low-(a place of ill-; to be held in
low-)
reputed adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. generally,
widely - 2. - to + inf. (she is - to be very gener-
generous)
reoaest I n. 1. to file, make, submit a —(to file a
- with the appropriate authorities; she has a - to
make of us; to submit a - to the mayor's office) 2.
to act on; honor a — 3. to deny, reject a — 4. a
desperate, urgent; moderate, modest; reasona-
reasonable; unreasonable — 5. a formal; informal; oral;
unofficial; written - 6. a - for (to make a - for
more money) 7. a - to + inf. (a - to be allowed to
leave) 8. a — that + clause; subj. (we submitted a
— that more lights be/should be installed on our
street) 9. at smb.'s - (she did it at my -) 10. by,
on, upon — (brochures are mailed out on —)
reoaest II v. 1. (D;tr.) to-from; of (to-a favor
of smb.) 2. (rare) (H) to - smb. to do smt. 3. (L;
subj.) she -ed that I be/should be there
require v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from, of (she — s a term
paper of each student) 2. (esp. BE) (G) the house
—s painting 3. (H) we — all incoming students to
take placement examinations 4. (K) this position
—s your getting here on time every day 5. (L;
subj.) she -d that everyone attend/should attend
the meeting
206
requirement n. 1. to establish, set -s 2. to fill, ful-
fulfill, meet, satisfy a - 3. to waive a - 4. admission,
entrance; distributional (AE); legal; minimum;
physical — s 5. a — that + clause; subj. (this candi-
candidate does not meet the — that secondary school
be/should be completed)
requisite n. a-for
requisition I n. 1. to make out, send in, submit a
— 2. to fill a — 3. a — for 4. on — (that item is on —)
requisition II v. (D; tr.) to - for
reran n. to show a-(that channel keeps showing
—s of old TV programs)
rescue I n. 1. to attempt; effect, make, mount a —
2. a daring, heroic — 3. a — from
rescue II v. (D; tr.) to - from
research n. 1. to conduct, do, pursue — 2.
detailed, laborious, painstaking, solid, thorough;
independent; original — 3. animal; market; medi-
medical; operations; scientific; space — 4. — in, into, on
(— on the development of an electric engine)
researcher n. an independent—
resemblance n. 1. to bear a ~ to 2. a close, strong;
remote; striking - 3. a family - 4. a - between; to
resemble v. to —closely
reseat v. 1. to - bitterly, strongly 2. (G) she -s
having to wait 3. (J) we — him being the center of
attraction 4. (K) we -ed his being the center of
attraction
resentful adj. 1. bitterly - 2. - about, at, of
resentment n. 1. to arouse, stir up — 2. to bear,
feel, harbor — 3. to express, voice — 4. bitter,
deep, profound, sullen — 5. — about; against; at,
towards 6. - that + clause (they felt - that
nobody paid attention to their request)
reservation n. ['booking'] 1. to make a - (we
made a - at a very good hotel) 2. to confirm a -
3. to cancel a - 4. an advance; hotel, motel -
['qualification'] 5. a mental — 6. without — ['tract
of land'] 7. an Indian; military —
reservations n. ['doubts'] 1. to have - 2. deep,
strong — 3. — about (do you have any — about the
agreement?)
reserve I n. ['restraint, coolness'] 1. to display,
show — 2. to break down smb.'s — ['limitation,
restriction'] 3. without - (to accept a proposal
without -) ['availability'] 4. in - (to hold/keep
smt. in -) ['tract of land'] 5. a nature - ['military
force kept available for future use'] 6. the active;
inactive —
reserve II v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to set aside') to - for
(these seats are -d for the handicapped) 2. (esp.
AE) (D; tr.) ('to order in advance') to - for (we
have —d a room for you) (BE usu. has to book)
reserved adj. ['restrained,reticent'] 1.-about2.
— towards, with
reserves n. ['forces kept available for future use']
(usu. mil. and sports) 1. to call out, call up the —
2. to commit one's - 3. limited; limitless -
n. an artificial; natural ~
v. (P; intr.) they — in London
ace n. ['home, abode'] 1. to establish, take
up — 2. to change one's (place of) - 3. one's legal;
permanent - ['state of being officially present'] 4.
in — (a poet in —)
207
resign v. 1. (D; intr.) to — from (she —ed from her
job) 2. (d; refl.) to - to (he -ed himself to his
fate)
resignation n. ['act of resigning'] 1. to hand in,
offer, submit, tender; withdraw one's — 2. to
accept; reject smb.'s — 3. a — from ['acceptance,
submission'] 4. — to (one's fate)
resigned adj. ['submissive'] — to (— to one's fate)
resist v. (G) they couldn't — making fun of him
resistance n. 1. to offer, put up — 2. to break
down, crush, overcome, overpower, put down,
smash, wear down — 3. determined, fierce, stiff,
strong, stubborn, valiant — 4. armed; non-violent,
passive; spotty; weak — 5. — to (— to a disease)
resistant adj. — to (— to change)
resolute adj. —in (—in one's decision to do smt.)
resolution n. ['decision'] 1. to propose a — 2. to
adopt, pass a — 3. a joint — (of Congress) 4. a — to
+ inf. (they adopted a — to increase membership
dues) 5. a — that + clause; subj. (a — was passed
that aid to farmers be/should be increased) ['vow']
6. to make a (New Year's) — ['resolve'] 7. firm —
['fine detail'] (optics) 8. sharp -
resolve I n. 1. to display, show —2. to strengthen
one's — 3. (a) firm —
resolve II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — an issue
into several component parts) 2. (E) she —d to
work harder 3. (L) we —d that we would resist to
the end
resolved adj. (usu. does not stand alone) 1. firmly
— 2. — to + inf. (we are — to finish the work on
time) 3. (formal) - that + clause; subj. (be it -
that an official delegation be/should be sent)
resort I n. ['recourse'] 1. (formal) to have — to 2.
a last — (as a last —) ['recreational center'] 3. a
health; holiday, vacation (esp. AE); summer;
winter —
resort II v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to trickery)
resources n. 1. to develop; exploit, tap — 2. to hus-
husband; marshall; pool, share one's — 3. economic;
natural; untapped — (to exploit natural —) 4. the
— to + inf. (we have the — to do the job)
respect I n. ['esteem'] 1. to pay, show — to 2. to
command, inspire — (she commands — from
everyone = she commands everyone's —) 3. to
earn, win; lose smb.'s — 4. deep, profound, sin-
sincere; due; grudging; mutual — 5. — for (— for the
law) 6. out of — (she did it out of—for her parents)
7. in - (to hold smb. in -) 8. with - (with all due
-, I disagree) ['regard'] 9. in a - (in this -; in all
—s) 10. in, with — to
respect II v. (D;tr.)to — as (to — smb. as a schol-
scholar)
respectful adj. —of, to (—of one's elders)
respects n. to pay; send one's—
respiration n. artificial; labored; normal — (to
give smb. artificial —)
respite n. 1. to allow, give-(we allowed them no
—) 2. a brief, temporary — 3. a — from (there was
no — from the cold) 4. without —
respond v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to react') to - by (they
-ed by walking out) 2. (D; intr.) to - to ('to
answer') to - to a letter 3. (D; intr.) ('to react') to
— to (to — to treatment)
resuscitation
response n. 1. to elicit, evoke a — 2. to give a — 3.
a glib; sullen; witty — 4. a lukewarm — 5. a — to 6.
in —to
responsibility n. ['accountability'] ['obligation'] 1.
to accept, assume, shoulder, take, take on (a) — 2.
to bear, exercise; share (the) — 3. to dodge,
evade, shirk — 4. an awesome; clear; grave, great,
heavy, terrible (colloq.) — 5. collective; personal
— 6. the ultimate — 7. — lies with smb. 8. — for (to
bear the — for the smooth operation of the assem-
assembly line) 9. the - to + inf. (everyone has the - to
pay taxes) 10. - that + clause; subj. (it was her -
that all members be/should be notified) 11. on
one's — (she did it on her own —) ['blame'] 12. to
lay the - at smb.'s door 13. to admit, claim - (a
shadowy group claimed - for the hijacking) 14. to
disclaim — 15. — for
responsible adj. — for; to (politicians are — to the
voters; people are - for their actions)
responsive adj. — to (— to flattery)
responsiveness n. —to
rest I n. ['repose'] 1. to have, take a — 2. a well-
earned — 3. bed; complete — 4. — from 5. at — 6.
(misc.) to go to one's eternal — ('to die'); laid to —
('buried'); at parade - (mil.); to set one's mind at
— ['support'] 7. an armrest; chin -
rest II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to stand') to - on (the
statue —s on a pedestal) 2. (d; intr.) ('to depend')
to — with (the decision — s with the court)
restaurant n. 1. to manage, operate, run a-2. an
elegant, first-class — 3. a dairy; fast-food — 4.
(BE) a licensed - (that may sell alcoholic drinks)
restful adj. - to + inf. (it's - just to sit and read
= it's — just sitting and reading)
restitution n. 1. to make; offer — 2. — for 3. — to
restore v. (d; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to her/his
former position)
restrain v. (D; refl., tr.) to-from (to-smb. from
committing violence)
restraint n. ['control'] ['act of restraining'] 1. to
display, exercise, show — 2. to cast off, fling off,
shake off (all) - 3. (legal) prior - 4. - in (they
showed — in responding to the provocation) 5. in
— of (in — of trade) ['device for restraining'] 6. to
apply, put on — s
restrict v. (D; refl., tr.) to -to (the chair -ed dis-
discussion to items on the official agenda; she — ed
herself to two meals a day)
restriction n. 1. to impose, place, put —s on 2. to
lift a-3. -son
result In. 1. to achieve, produce —s 2. to
evaluate, measure; tabulate —s 3. to negate, nul-
nullify, undo a — 4. a direct; final; lasting; logical;
negative; net; positive; striking; surprising — 5.
overall; surefire —s
result II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - from (her death -ed
from an overdose of pills) 2. (d; intr.) to — in (the
argument —ed in a fight)
resume v. (G) she —d working
resurrect v. (D;tr.) to-from (to-smb. from the
dead)
resuscitation n. 1. to give — (the victim was given
mouth-to-mouth —) 2. cardiopulmonary (=
CPR); mouth-to-mouth -
16—127

retail
208
209
rind
retail I adv. to buy; sell-
retail II v. to ~~ for (it ~s for fifty dollars)
retainer n. ['advance fee'] to put down a ~
retaliate v. (D; intr.) to ~ against; for (to ~
against the enemy for shelling civilian targets)
retaliation n. l.massive~2.anactof~3.in~for
retardant n. a fire; rust ~
retardation n. mental ~
retarded adj. mentally-
retell v. (usu. В ;occ. A) she has retold the story to
us many times
reticence n. 1. to display ~ 2. ~ about
reticent adj. -about
retina n. a detached-
retire v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to end one's working
career') to ~ from (to - from one's job) 2. (D;
intr.) ('to withdraw') to - to (the troops ~d to
safer positions; let's — to the drawing room)
retirement n. 1. to go into - 2. to come out of -
3. compulsory, forced; early ~; semi-retirement;
voluntary ~ 4. in ~ (to live in~)
retool v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ for (to — for war-
wartime production) 2. (H) to ~ a plant to build pre-
prefabricated houses
retort I n. 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ to
retort II v. (L) he ~ed heatedly that he needed no
favors
retraction n. to issue a-
retreat I n. ['withdrawal'] 1. to beat, carry out,
make a ~ (they made good their ~; the regiment
carried out its - in good order) 2. a hasty, precipi-
precipitate ~ 3. full ~ (in full ~) 4. a strategic; tactical ~
['signal for withdrawal'] 5. to sound ~ ['music for
a flag-lowering ceremony'] (mil.) 6. to play, sound
- ['secluded gathering'] 7. to go on (a) — 8. a
religious; weekend — ['secluded spot'] 9. a coun-
country-
retreat II v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to (our troops
~ed from the border to safer positions; our gov-
government has ~ed from its hard-line position)
retribution n. 1. to exact - from; to visit - on 2.
divine ~
retrieval n. data, information—
retrieve v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ data from a
computer)
retroactive adj. -to
retrorocket n. to activate, fire a —
retrospect n. in-
retrospection n. in-
return I n. ['statement about income'] 1. to file a
(tax) - 2. a joint; tax ~ ['going back, coming
back'] 3. a ~ from; to (his ~ to civilian life) 4. on
smb.'s ~ (on their — from a trip abroad) 5. the
point of no ~ ['profit'] 6. to yield a ~ (this invest-
investment will yield a ~ of ten percent) ['compensa-
['compensation'] 7. in — (to give smt. in ~) 8. in ~ for
return II v. l.(B)she~edthemoneytome2.(D;
intr., tr.) to ~ from; to (to ~ from a holiday/vaca-
holiday/vacation; she ~ed to her home; to ~ books to the li-
library)
returns n. ['election results'] 1. early; election;
final; late ~ ['misc.'] 2. many happy ~ of the day
Chappy birthday')
n. 1. to hold a ~ 2. a touching ~ 3. an
annual; class; family -
reunite v. (D; tr.) to - with (to ~ smb. with her/
his family)
reveal v. 1. (B) she ~ed the secret to us 2. (L; to)
he ~ed (to us) that he had been ill for years 3. (M)
the document ~ed her to be a conscientious
employee
reveille n. (mil.) 1. to play, sound — 2. to fall out
for-
revel v. (D; intr.) to ~ in
revelation n. 1. to make a — 2. an amazing,
astonishing, astounding, startling, stunning, sur-
surprising ~ 3. (a) divine ~ 4. a ~ to (the story was a
~ to us) 5. a — that + clause (the ~ that she had
been in prison surprised everybody)
revenge I n. 1. to exact, get, have, take — on 2.
sweet ~ 3. — for; on (to take ~ on smb. for smt.)
4. in ~ for
revenge II (BE) see avenge
revenue n. ['income'] 1. to generate, produce,
yield ~ 2. to collect ~ 3. government — 4. Inland
(BE), Internal (AE) Revenue 5. one's annual,
yearly; monthly; weekly ~
reverberate v. (D; intr.) to ~ through (the cheers
~ d through the arena)
revere v. (D; tr.) to ~ for
reverence n. 1. to feel-2. toshow~3. deep, pro-
profound ~ 4. — for 5. in — (to hold smb. in ~)
reverie n. 1. to indulge in ~s 2. to be lost in ~-
reverse n. ['setback'] 1. to suffer, sustain a ~ 2. a
serious; slight; tactical ~ 3. financial ~s ['reverse
gear'] 4. to put a transmission into ~ 5. to go into,
shift into — 6. in ~ ['reversing mechanism'] 7. an
(automatic) ribbon — (on a typewriter)
reversion n. —to
revert v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (her property ~ed to the
state; to - to enlisted status)
review I n. ['renewed study'] (AE) 1. to do a-2.
a comprehensive — ['military ceremony'] 3. to
hold a ~ (of troops) 4. to pass in ~ ['critical evalu-
evaluation'] 5. to do, write a ~ (of a book) 6. to get,
receive a — 7. a favorable, positive, rave; nega-
negative, unfavorable ~ (the play got rave ~s) 8. a
book - 9. (legal) judicial - 10. under ~ (the
entire matter is under ~)
review II v. (AE)(D; intr., tr.) ('to study again')
to ~ for (to ~ for an exam)
revise (BE) see review II
revision n. ['renewed study'] (BE) 1. to do-(he
had to do some - for the examination) ['revised
version'] 2. to make a ~
revolt I n. 1. to incite, stir up a ~ 2. to crush, put
down, quash, quell a — 3. a peasant — 4. a ~
breaks out, erupts 5. a — against
revolt II v. (D; intr.) to — against, at
revolting adj. 1. - to 2. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to con-
contemplate such a possibility) 3. ~ that + clause (it's
— that they use such obscene language)
revolution n. ['overthrow of a regime'] 1. to
foment, stir up a — 2. to carry out, conduct, fight;
organize a ~ 3. to crush, defeat, put down a — 4.
a cultural; industrial; palace; political; sexual;
social ~ ['complete orbital turn'] 5. to make a — 6.
a — about, around, round
revolve v. (D; intr.) to ~ about, around, round
(the earth —s around the sun)
revolver see pistol 1-4,6
revue n. to produce, put on, stage a-
revulsion n. 1. to express; feel - 2. deep, utmost
- 3. a feeling of ~ 4. — against, at, towards
reward I я. 1. to offer, post; pay a - 2. to claim;
reap; receive a ~ 3. a just; tangible; well-deserved
~ 4. a ~ for
reward II v. (D;tr.) to ~ for; with (she was ~ed
with a bonus for her outstanding work)
rhapsody n. to compose; play a-
rhetoric n. 1. to resort to, spout — 2. eloquent;
impassioned, passionate; soothing -
rheumatism n. 1. to develop-2. to suffer from-
3. chronic ~
rhubarb n. (slang) ['argument'] 1. to get into a ~
2. a — about
rhyme I n. 1. a nursery ~ 2. (poetry) a feminine;
masculine - 3. (misc.) without - or reason ('with
no apparent reason')
rhyme II v. (D; intr., tr.) to -with (this word ~s
with that word; to ~ one word with another)
rhythm n. 1. (a) frenzied; pulsating; steady;
undulating ~ 2. to a ~ (to dance to the ~ of
drums)
rib n. 1. to poke smb. in the ~s 2. a false; floating
— 3. (misc.) to break, fracture a ~
ribbing n. ['teasing'] to take a-
ribbon n. ['strip of ink-impregnated cloth on a
typewriter'] 1. to change a - 2. a typewriter ~ 3.
the ~ reverses (automatically) ['misc.'] 4. a blue ~
('a first prize'); to cut to ~s ('to destroy com-
completely')
rice n. 1. to mill, winnow — 2. brown; enriched;
polished; quick-cooking; wild ~
rich I adj. ~ in (~ in coal deposits)
rich II n. the idle-
riches n. to amass —
ricksha, rickshaw n. 1. to pedal; pull a-2. to ride
ina —
ricochet v. (D; intr.) to ~ off
rid II v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) to ~ of (to ~ the town of
rats) 2. to get ~ of
riddance n. (colloq.) ['act of getting rid of smt.']
good ~! (good ~ to bad rubbish!)
riddle n. 1. to solve a ~ 2. (misc.) to speak in ~s
ride I n. ['short trip by vehicle, on horseback'] 1.
to catch, get; go for, go on, have (BE), take a ~ 2.
(colloq.) to bum, hitch, thumb a - (as a hitch-
hitchhiker) 3. to give (smb.) a ~; to take (smb.) for a —
4. a joy; train ~ (to go on a joy — in a stolen car)
['attraction'] (in an amusement park) 5. to go on
the ~s ['misc.'] 6. to take smb. for a ~ ('to vic-
victimize smb.')
ride II v. l.(d; intr.) to -at (the ship was -ing at
anchor) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ by, in, on (to ~ in/on a
bus) 3. (d; intr.) to — from; to (we ~ to work by
bus) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to be wagered on') (a lot
of money was ~ing on one horse) 5. (misc.) to —
sidesaddle; to ~ roughshod over smb. ('to treat
smb. in an abusive manner')
ride out v. (d; intr.) to-to (he rode out to the pro-
procession)
16*
rider n. ['amendment, addition'] to attach a ~ to
(a bill)
ridicule n. 1. draw, incur-2. to heap, pour-on
smb. 3. (misc.) to hold smb. up to ~
ridiculous adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to apply for
that position) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that they
could not receive visas)
rife adj. ['abounding in'] 1. (cannot stand alone) —
with (the city was — with rumors) ['misc.'] 2. to
ran — ('to be out of control') (rumors about them
are running ~)
rifle I n. 1. to fire a ~ 2. to aim, point; level a-
3. to load a ~ 4. to handle, operate a ~ 5. to
assemble; disassemble a ~ 6. an air; automatic;
high-powered; hunting; recoilless; semiautomatic
~ 7. a ~ fires, goes off; jams; misfires
rifle II v. (d; intr.) to-through ('to search') to ~
through the drawers)
rift n. 1. to cause a ~ 2. to heal a ~ 3. an ideolog-
ideological — 4. a ~ among, between
rig n. ['large vehicle'] 1. to drive a ~ ['equipment']
2. an oil-drilling ~
right I adj. 1. ~ about (to be ~ about smt.) 2. ~
in (you were ~ in assuming that) 3. ~ to + inf. (it
was — of her to refuse = she was ~ to refuse) 4. ~
that + clause (it's not ~ that they should be
treated in that manner) 5. (misc.) all ~; just ~; she
is the — person for the job = she is ~ for the job
(colloq.); to be in one's - mind ('to be sane'); to
put things ~ ('to straighten things out')
right II n. ['that which is due'] 1. to achieve, gain
a ~ (to achieve full civil ~s) 2. to enjoy, exercise,
have a ~ 3. to assert, claim a ~ 4. to protect,
safeguard smb.'s ~s 5. to abdicate, relinquish,
renounce, sign away, waive a — 6. to deny (smb.)
a ~ 7. a divine; exclusive, sole; inalienable; inher-
inherent; legal; natural; vested — 8. civil; conjugal;
consumers'; film; grazing; human; individual;
mineral; patients'; political; property; squatters';
states'; veterans'; voting; women's ~s 9. the ~ of
assembly; asylum; a free press; free speech 10. a ~
to (the - to privacy) 11. the - to + inf. (the ~ to
exist; you have the ~ to remain silent) 12. within
one's ~s 13. (misc.) a bill of ~s ['right side'] 14.
on, to the ~ ['conservative group'] 15. the
extreme, far ~ ['punch delivered with the right
hand'] 16. to deliver, throw a ~ 17. a hard, stiff ~
18. a ~ to (a — to the jaw) ['turn to the right'] 19.
to take a ~ ['misc.'] 20. in the - (in accordance
with the truth, accepted standards'); she has a
promising career in her own ~; as of (BE), by —
('properly'); by ~ of (by - of conquest); ~ and
wrong; within one's ~s (you are within your ~s
not to answer); by ~s ('ideally')
right-of-way n. 1. to have the - 2. to give, yield
the ~ 3. the ~ over (ambulances have the ~ over
other vehicles)
rigid adj. ~ about, on (~ on points of procedure)
rigor mortis n. -sets in
rile v. (R) it—d me that they were paying no taxes
riled adj. (colloq.) ['annoyed'] 1. ~ at 2. ~ that +
clause (she was ~ that nobody believed her story)
rim n. along; on; up to a-(on the-of a crater)
rind n. lemon; melon ~ USAGE NOTE: One

ring
210
usu. speaks of the rind of a melon, the peel or
the rind of a lemon, and the peel of an orange.
ring I n. ['circular band'] 1. a diamond; gold; sap-
sapphire ~ 2. an earring; engagement; signet; wed-
wedding — 3. a key; napkin; teething — 4. a piston —
5. smoke —s (to blow smoke —s) 6. (misc.) to wear
a — on one's finger ['group'] 7. a smuggling; spy —
['endosed square area'] 8. the prize — ['misc.'] 9.
to run ~s around smb. ('to far outperform smb.')
ring II n. ['sound'] a false, hollow - (there was a
false — to his words)
ring III v. l.(D;tr.) to-for ('to call by ringing')
(to - for the maid) 2. (s) to - false; hollow (her
words — false)
ringside n. at-
ring up v. (D; tr.) ('to record') to — on (to — a bill
on a cash register)
rink n. 1. an ice-hockey; ice-skating; roller-skat-
roller-skating — 2. at a —
riot n. 1. to cause, foment, incite, instigate, spark
(AE), spark off (BE), stir up, touch off a ~ 2. to
crush, put down, quell a — Я. a communal; food;
race — 4. a — breaks out, erupts 5. (misc.) to run
— Dto act wildly')
riot act n. ['stern warning'] to read the — to
rioting n. communal ~
rip v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to -into ('to attack') (the
politician —ped into her opponent)
ripe adj. — for (—for the picking; the time is — for
action)
ripen v. (d; intr.) to — into (their friendship —ed
into love)
ripple v. (P; intr.) applause ~d through the
auditorium
rise I n. ['origin'] 1. to give —to ['angry reaction']
2. to get a — out of smb. ['pay increase'] (BE) 3. an
across-the-board — 4. a — in (wages) (AE has
raise) ['increase'] 5. a sharp — 6. a — in (a — in
prices) 7. on the — (prices are on the —) ['success']
8. a meteoric —
rise II v. l.(D; intr.) ('to revolt') to -against (to
— against tyranny) 2. (D; intr.) ('to ascend') to —
from (smoke rose from the chimney) 3. (d; intr.)
('to be resurrected') to — from (to — from the
dead; to - from the ashes) 4. (d; intr.) ('to
ascend') to — to (to — to the surface; to — to one's
feet) 5. (d; intr.) ('to be equal') to - to (to - to the
challenge; can you — to the occasion?)
risk I n. 1. to assume, incur, run, take; face;
spread a — (to ran the — of being outvoted) 2. to
outweigh a — (the advantages outweigh the —s) 3.
a calculated; grave, great, high; low; security —
(to take a calculated —; he is a security —) 4. a —
to (a — to safety) 5. a — to + inf. (it was a — to
enter that area) 6. at (a) — (at one's own —; at the
— of being ridiculed)
risk II v. l.(G) shewed losing everything 2. (K)
he —ed their turning against him
risky adj. - to + inf. (it's - to play with fire)
rite n. 1. to perform a — 2. a pagan; religious; sol-
solemn — 3. last —s (to administer last —s) 4. fertility
—s
ritual n. 1. to go through; perform a — 2. to make
a — of smt. 3. a pagan; religious; solemn —
rival I n. a —for; in
rival II v. (D; tr.) to - in (to - smb. in skill)
rivalry n. 1. to stir up — 2. intense, keen, strong —
3. sibling — 4. — among, between; for; in; with
(keen — between them for the award)
river n. 1. to cross; ford a — 2. to dredge a — 3. a
— floods; flows (into the sea); overflows (its
banks); recedes; rises 4. down —; up — 5. (misc.)
to sell down the - ('to betray')
rivet n. to drive a — (into metal)
riveted adj. (cannot stand alone) —on, to (all eyes
were — on the door; she stood — to the spot)
road n. 1. to resurface; surface a — 2. an impassa-
impassable; rocky (also fig.); rough (also fig.); smooth
(also fig.); straight; winding — 3. a back, country;
dirt (AE), unpaved; macadam; main, trunk (BE);
mountain; paved, surfaced; ring (BE); secondary;
service; slip (BE); toll — 4. intersecting; merging
—s 5. a — goes, leads, runs somewhere 6. a —
curves, winds 7. a — from; to (the — to town) 8. in,
on a — 9. (also fig.) on the — (on the — to recov-
recovery) 10. (misc.) to take a — (they took the wrong
-); one for the - ('a final drink')
road block n. 1. to establish, set up a - 2. to
remove a — 3. to break through, crash through,
run a —
roadhonse n. (AE) at a - (to stop at a - for a
drink)
roadside n. on the —
road sign n. to put up a —
roadster n. (obsol.) to drive a —
roadwork n. ['running'] to do — (the boxer did —
every day)
roam v. (P; intr.) to — around town
roar I n. a deep —
roar II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at 2. (D; intr.) to -
with (to — with laughter)
roast n. 1. to make a — 2. a chuck; eye; lamb;
pork; pot; rib; veal —
rob v. (D; tr.) to — of (the bandits —bed the pas-
passengers of their money)
robbery n. 1. to commit (a) — 2. armed; bank;
daylight (BE) ('overcharging'); highway (fig.) —
rock I n. ['stone'] 1. to throw a — at (see Usage
Note) 2. jagged; ragged —s 3. (misc.) solid as a —
USAGE NOTE: In BE, a rock is usu. too big to
be thrown. Thus, to throw a rock at smb. is esp.
AE.
rock II n. ['type of music'] punk—; rock-and-roll
rock III v. (D;tr.) ('to lull') to -to (to -a baby
to sleep)
rocket n. ['device propelled by a rocket engine or
explosives'] 1. to fire; launch a — 2. a booster;
liquid-fuel; long-range; multistage; solid-fuel —
['reprimand'] (colloq.) (BE) 3. to give smb. a - 4.
to get a -
rocket ship see the Usage Note for ship
rocks n. 1. on the-('with ice') (scotch on the-)
2. on the -('rained')
rod n. ['bar, shaft'] 1. a connecting; divining; light-
lightning; piston —; ramrod ['pistol'] (slang) (AE) 2. to
pack ('carry') a - ['metal track'J 3. a curtain;
traverse - ['pole'] 4. a fishing - ['misc.'] 5. to ride
the -s (AE) ('to ride illegally in the framework
211
rouse
below a railroad car')
rodent n. —sgnaw
rodeo n. to hold, stage a—
roe n. 1. to spawn — 2. hard; soft —
role n. 1. to assume, take (on) a — 2. to assign,
hand out — s 3. to interpret; perform, play; under-
understudy a — 4. an active; key; leading; passive; sec-
secondary; starring; supporting; title — 5. (misc.) cast
in the-of
roll I it. ['list of names'] 1. to call, take the — 2. an
honor - (AE; BE has roll of honour) ['small
cake or bread'] 3. to bake —s4. a hamburger; jelly
(AE), swiss (BE); kaiser (esp. AE); poppy seed;
sweet —
roll II v. l.( A) -the ball to me; or: -me the ball
2. (C) — a cigarette for me; or: — me a cigarette 3.
(d; intr., tr.) to — down (the children —ed down
the hill; we -ed the barrels down the incline) 4.
(d; intr.) to — in (to — in the mud) 5. (d; intr.) to
— off (the football -ed off the field; new cars -ed
off the assembly line) 6. (d; intr.) to — with ('to
lessen the impact by moving in the same direc-
direction') (he —ed with the punch)
rollaway, rollaway bed n. to fold up; open up a —
rolinp v. l.(d;tr.) to -in (to -smt. up in a blan-
blanket) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to - into (to - smt. into a
ball) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to - to (the ball -ed up to
me)
romance n. 1. to find — 2. a whirlwind —
romanticize v. (D;intr.)to-about
romp v. (D; intr.) to - with
roof n. 1. to install a — 2. a gabled; shingle; slate
— 3. a — leaks 4. (misc.) to raise the — ('to com-
complain vociferously'); to hit the — (AE) ('to lose
one's temper')
room n. ['partitioned part of a building'] 1. to rent
a - from 2. to let (BE), let out (BE), rent, rent out
(AE) a - to 3. to book (BE), reserve a ~ 4. an
adjoining; back; baggage (AE); banquet —; bath-
bathroom; bedroom; board; changing (BE), dressing;
common (BE); dining; double; drawing, front
(BE), living, sitting; family; game, recreation,
rumpus (AE); guest; locker; lumber (BE), stor-
storage; reading —; showroom; single; spare; utility;
waiting — 5. (in a hospital) a delivery; emergency
(AE); hospital; operating (esp. AE; BE prefers
operating theatre); private; recovery; semiprivate
— 6. a ladies', powder; men's (AE); rest (AE) —;
(BE; euphemism) the smallest — ('the room with
the toilet') 7. a furnished; rented —; (a) — to let
(now BE) ['space'] 8. to make — for 9. to occupy,
take up — 10. headroom; legroom 11. (in a thea-
theater) standing — only 12. — for (there is — for
another bed) 13. ~ to + inf. (the children have
— to play) ['possibility'] 14. — for (there is no
— for doubt) USAGE NOTE: In the US, a bath-
bathroom usu. contains a toilet, sink, and bathtub or
shower. In GB, it must contain a bath or shower
and may have a toilet and washbasin. In СЕ, а
cloakroom is a place in a public building where
coats, umbrellas, etc. may be left temporarily. In
GB, it can also denote a small room on the ground
floor of a house near the front door; this room
often contains a toilet and a place for hanging
rooster n. (esp. AE) a — cock-a-doodle-doos,
crows, goes cock-a-doodle-doo (BE has cock)
root In. 1. to take — 2. to put down —s; to strike
—(s) 3. deep — s 4. (mathematics) a cube; square —
5. by the —s (to pull smt. up by the —s) 6. (misc.)
at the — of the matter; to go back to, search for
one's —s; to get at the — of smt. ('to tackle smt. at
the source'); (BE) - and branch ('wholly'); the -
of all evil; her —s are in Canada; a — cause
root II v. (AE) (D; intr.) to - for ('to support')
(to — for a team)
root about, root around v. (D; intr.) to ~ for ('to
search for') (to — in a stack of papers for a specific
document)
rooted adj. 1. deeply — 2. — in (— in poverty) 3. —
to (— to the spot)
rooter n. (AE) an ardent —
rope In. 1. to jump, skip — 2. to ease up on;
tighten a — 3. a loose, slack; tight — 4. a length;
piece of — 5. by a — (to lower smt. by a —) 6.
(misc.) (boxing and fig.) on the —s ('in a weak,
vulnerable position')
rope II v. (colloq.) (d; tr.) to — into ('to induce')
(to — smb. into doing smt.)
rosary n. to pray, recite, say the —
rose n. 1. a long-stemmed; rambling; wild — 2. a
bouquet of — s
roster n. 1. to make up a — 2. a duty; personnel —
rostrum n. 1. to get up on, mount the — 2. from;
on a —
rot n. 1. black; creeping; dry — 2. (misc.) to talk —
('to talk nonsense')
rotate v. (D; intr.) to — on (the earth ~s on its
axis)
rotation n. 1. to make a —2. crop —
rote n. ['repetition'] by — (to learn by —)
rotten adj. (colloq.) —to + inf. (it was —of him to
do that)
range n. to apply, put on—
rough I adj. (colloq.) ['not gentle'] 1. — on
(you've been pretty — on the children) ['difficult']
2. — to + inf. (it's — to work at night = it's — work-
working at night) 3. (misc.) it was — on him, losing his
job like that
rough II n. ['unpolished condition'] in the — (a
diamond in the —)
roughshod adv. to ride— over smb. ('to treat smb.
in an inconsiderate manner')
roulette n. 1. to play — 2. Russian —
round n. ['unit of ammunition'] 1. to fire a —; to
get a — off 2. an incoming — (of artillery fire) 3.
the — jammed ['drinks served to everyone in a
group'] 4. to buy; order a — (of drinks) ['complete
game'] 5. to play, shoot a — (of golf) ['song sung in
unison in which each part is repeated'] 6. to sing a
n. to ride a —(BE; CE has merry-go-
round)
roundhouse n. ['type of blow'] to throw a—
rounds n. to make one's —(the doctor was making
her-)
rouse v. (D; tr.) to — from, out of (to — smb. out
of bed)

rouser
212
п. a rabble —
rout I n. a complete, utter —
rout II v. to - completely, utterly
route I n. 1. to map out, plan a — 2. to follow,
take a — 3. a circuitous; devious; direct; indirect;
scenic — (to take the scenic —) 4. a bus; news-
newspaper; streetcar (AE), tram (BE); truck (AE) -
5. an overland; sea; trade —
route II v. (d; tr.) to — to (to — a memorandum
to the appropriate persons)
routine n. (a) daily, ordinary; dull -
row I/rou/ n. ['arrangement in a straight line'] 1.
an even, straight - 2. in a ~ ['misc.'] 3. death -
('cell block where prisoners await execution') (on
death -); skid - (AE) ('area in a city where desti-
destitute persons congregate') (on skid —)
row II/rau/ n. 1. to kick up, make, raise a-2. to
have a — 3. a — about, over; with (to have a — with
smb. about a trifle)
row IH/rau/ v. (D;intr.) to —about, over; with
rowboat n. (AE) to row a —
rowing n. 1. to go — 2. to go in for —
rowing-boat (BE) see rowboat
row out v. (d; intr.) to - to (to - to an island)
royalty n. ['percentage of revenue'] 1. to pay a -/
—ties on (the publisher paid them —ties on their
dictionaries) 2. to bring in, earn -ties (the book
brings in handsome -ties) 3. author's -ties
rub v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — against (one part was
—bing against the other; — your hand against this
surface) 2. (d; tr.) to — into (to — lotion into one's
skin) 3. (N; used with an adjective) — it dry
rubber n. 1. crude; foam; sponge; synthetic-2.-
stretches (see the Usage Note for eraser)
rubbers n. (AE) ['rubber overshoes'] 1. to put on;
wear — 2. a pair of —
rubbish n. an accumulation, heap, pile of-
rubble n. La heap, pile of — 2. (misc.) to reduce
smt. to —
rubdown n. to give smb. a —
Rubicon n. to cross the - ('to commit oneself
irrevocably')
rub off v. 1. (D; intr.) to - on, onto (the paint
—bed off on my shirt) 2. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to —
on, onto ('to affect') (we hoped that some of these
cultural activities would — on our children)
rub up v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against ('to touch')
(don't let the wire - against the pipe) 2. (colloq.)
(d; intr.) to - against ('to have contact with') (he
used to — against many famous movie stars)
ruck n. (esp. BE) ['mass of undistinguished
people'] 1. the common - 2. above; out of the -
ruckus n. to raise a —
rude adj. 1. - of (that was - of him) 2. - to 3. -
to + inf. (it's — to talk during a concert)
rudeness n. 1. to display, show — 2. — to
rug n. 1. to weave a — 2. to clean; shampoo; vac-
vacuum a — 3. a scatter, throw; shag —
ruin I n. 1. complete, utter - 2. financial - (to
face financial —)
ruin II v. to - completely, utterly
ruins n. 1. ancient; charred, smoking — 2. a heap,
pile of — 3. (misc.) to sift through the —; to lie in —
rule I n. ['regulation'] ['principle'] 1. to establish,
lay down, make (the) -s 2. to formulate a - 3. to
adopt a — 4. to apply, enforce a — 5. to obey,
observe a — 6. to break, violate a — 7. to bend,
stretch a — 8. to rescind, revoke a — 9. a firm,
hard-and-fast, inflexible, strict - 10. a general;
ground —; the Golden Rule 11. an exclusionary
(AE); gag; parliamentary - 12. (ling.) a deletion;
rewrite; substitution — 13. a — against 14. a — for
15. a — to + inf. (it's our — not to smoke at staff
conferences) 16. a — that + clause (they estab-
established a — that everyone must share the expenses)
17. (to be) against, in violation of the -s 18.
(misc.) the golden —; a — of thumb; as a — ('gen-
('generally'); the — of law ['government, reign'] 19. to
establish; extend one's — 20. to overthrow smb.'s
— 21. benevolent; despotic; foreign; home;
majority; minority; mob; popular — 22. — over 23.
under smb.'s — (under foreign —) ['straightedge,
ruler'] 24. a slide-
rule II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - against (the judge -d
against the plaintiff) 2. (D; intr.) to - on (to - on
a question) 3. (D; intr.) to — over (to — over a
country) 4. (L; subj.) the court —d that the witness
be/should be disqualified 5. (M) the judge -d her
to be out of order 6. (N; used with an adjective)
the judge —d him incompetent to stand trial
ruler n. ['person who rules'] 1. to put a — into
power 2. to overthrow, unseat a - 3. an absolute,
despotic, dictatorial; strong; weak —
ruling n. 1. to hand down (AE), make a — (the
court handed down a —) 2. a fair, just; unfair,
unjust — 3. a court — 4, a — about, on 5. a — that
+ clause (the court's — that the company had vio-
violated the law was appealed)
rumblings n. ['rumors'] — about; of (— of discon-
discontent were heard)
ruminate v. (D; intr.) ('to reflect') to — about, on
rummage v. (D; intr.) to — through (to — through
old clothes)
rumor, rumour n. 1. to circulate, spread a — 2. to
confirm a — 3. to deny; dispel, spike a — 4. an idle,
unfounded, wild — 5. an unconfirmed; vague — 6.
—s circulate, fly, spread 7. a — that + clause (we
heard a — that she was back in town) 8. a — about
9. (misc.) — has it that she will be getting married
adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. — to + inf.
(he is — to have escaped to Canada) 2. — that +
clause (it is — that she has returned home)
rumpus n. (colloq.) to raise a—
run I n. ['course'] 1. a ski — ['freedom of move-
movement'] 2. to have free — of the house ['race'] 3. a
cross-country —; the mile — ['series of demands']
4. a — on a bank ['running away'] 5. on the —
['trial'] 6. a dry, dummy (BE) - ['flight'] 7. to
make a — (over a target) 8. a bombing — ['point
scored'] (baseball, cricket) 9. to score a - 10.
(baseball) a home — ['unraveled stitches in a
stocking'] (BE often has ladder) 11. to get, have
a — (in a stocking) ['duration'] 12. in the long;
short —
run II v. l.(C) ('to fill')-a bath for me; or-me
a bath 2. (d; intr.) to — across ('to meet by
chance') (to — across an old friend) 3. (d; intr.) to
213
rye
- after ('to chase') (to - after a bus) 4. (esp. AE)
(d; intr.) to — against ('to oppose') (I would not
like to — against her in the senatorial race; popular
feeling was —ning against the president) 5. (d;
intr.) ('to ply') to - between (this train -s
between New York and Philadelphia) 6. (d; intr.)
to — down ('to descend quickly'); ('to pour') (to —
down the stairs; tears ran down her face) 7. (esp.
AE; BE has stand) (D; intr.) ('to be a candi-
candidate') to — for (to — for office; to — for Congress)
8. (d; intr.) ('to extend') to - from; to (the sale
will — from the first of the month to the tenth; the
fence —s from the house to the road) 9. (d; intr.)
to — in ('to be present') (ability for languages —s
in their blood; talent -s in the family) 10. (d; intr.)
to — into ('to meet') (to — into an old friend; to —
into trouble) 11. (d; intr.) to - into ('to hit') (he
ran into a pole) 12. (d; intr.) to — into ('to enter
quickly') (to - into the house) 13. (d; intr.) to -
into ('to amount to') (the expenses will — into
thousands of dollars) 14. (d; intr.) ('to move
quickly') to - off (the car ran off the road) 15. (d;
tr.) ('to force') to — off (she ran the other car off
the road) 16. (d; intr., tr.) to — on ('to operate')
(the engine —s on diesel oil; they ran the business
on borrowed money) 17. (d; intr.) to — out of ('to
use up') (she ran out of money) 18. (d; intr.) to —
out of ('to leave quickly') (to — out of the room)
19. (d; intr.) ('to pass') to - through (a blue thread
—s through the cloth; a strange thought ran
through her mind) 20. (d; intr.) to — through ('to
examine') (let's — through the material again) 21.
(d; tr.) to — through ('to process') (— the data
through the computer again) 22. (d; intr.) ('to go
quickly') to - to (she ran to the doctor) 23. (d;
intr.) to — to ('to seek help from') (he keeps —ning
to his mother; don't — to the police) 24. (d; intr.)
to — to ('to amount') (the dictionary — s to a
thousand pages) 25. (d; tr.) ('to drive') to - to (I'll
— you to the station) 26. (d; intr.) to — up ('to
ascend quickly') (to — up the stairs) 27. (P; intr.)
('to go') the road — s south 28. (s) supplies are
—ning low; the differences — deep29. (misc.) to —
rampant ('to run wild'); (colloq.) — that by me
again ('repeat that for me')
run afoul v. (d; intr.) to-of (to-of the law)
run aground v. (D; intr.) to — on (the boat ran
aground on a sandbank)
runaround n. (colloq.) ['delaying action'] to give
smb. the —
run around v. (D; intr.) to — with (he —s around
with a fast crowd)
run away v. 1. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from
home) 2. (D; intr.) to - with
run back v. (D; intr.) to — to (he ran back to his
room)
run counter v. (d; intr.) to — to (their actions — to
their promises)
rundown n. ['summary'] to give smb. a —
run down v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to go') to — to (to — to
the grocery store) 2. (D; intr.) ('to descend
quickly') to - to (to - to the bottom of the hill)
run foul v. see run afoul
rung n. the bottom, lowest; highest, top — (of a
ladder)
run low v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on fuel)
runner n. ['one who runs'] 1. a distance, long-dis-
long-distance — ['unraveled stitches in a stocking'] 2. see
runlll
n. a —to
n. ['competition'] 1. in the — 2. out of the
run off v. (D; intr.) to — with (he ran off with his
company's funds)
run out v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into (to — into the
street) 2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to abandon') (he ran
out on his family)
run over v. (d; intr.) to — to (she ran over to her
friend's place)
run short v. (d; intr.) to — of (they never — of
money)
run-up n. (BE) ['preparatory period'] a — to (the
— to the election)
run up v. 1. (d; intr.) to — against ('to encounter')
(to — against strong competition; to — against dif-
difficulties) 2. (D; intr.) to — to ('to approach
quickly') (she ran up to me)
ruse n. a clever —
rush in. 1. a gold — 2. a — to + inf. (there was a
— to buy tickets for the concert) 3. in a —
rush II v. 1. to -headlong, pell-mell 2. (d; intr.)
to - at ('to attack') 3. (D; intr.) to - into (to -
headlong into a business deal) 4. (d; intr., tr.) to —
to (to — to the office; to — to smb.'s assistance; to
— smb. to the hospital)
rut n. ['groove, furrow'] 1. a deep — (in a road)
['dreary routine'] 2. in a —
ruthless adj. — in (he is — in his methods)
rye n. 1. winter — 2. a sheaf of —

sabbath
214
sabbath n. 1. to keep, observe the ~ 2. to dese-
desecrate, violate the ~
sabbatical n. 1. to give, grant a — 2. to get; have;
take a ~ 3. (to be, go) on a — (she was on a ~)
saber, sabre n. 1. to draw one's — 2. to brandish a
~~ 3. (misc.) to rattle one's ~ ('to threaten to wage
war')
sabotage n. 1. to commit — 2. an act of —
sack n. ['bag'] 1. a mail-['bed'] (colloq.) 2. to hit
the ~ ('to go to bed') ['dismissal'] (colloq.) 3. to
get the ~ 4. to give smb. the ~
sackdoth n. ['mourning'] in — and ashes
sacrament n. 1. to administer a ~ 2. to receive a~
sacred adj. - to (the shrines were — to them
sacrifice I n. 1. to make; offer a ~ 2. a great;
heroic; personal — 3. a human — 4. the supreme,
ultimate ~ 5. a — to 6. at (a) ~ (we achieved our
success at great personal —)
sacrifice II v. 1. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ for (to ~ one-
oneself for a just cause) 2. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ to (to ~
an animal to the gods)
sacrilege n. 1. to commit (a) —2. (a) —to-I-inf. (it
was — to speak like that)
sacrilegious adj. ~ to + inf. (it's — to speak like
that)
sad adj. 1. - about (we felt ~ about the accident)
2. ~ to + inf. (it is - to be alone) 3. - that +
clause (it's — that we could not see each other)
sadden v. (R) it ~ed me to watch him turn into an
alcoholic; it ~ed her that she would never see
them again
saddened adj. ~ to + inf. (we were ~ to learn of
her death)
saddle I n. 1. to put a — on (a horse) 2. an English;
stock, western ~ 3. in the ~
saddle II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for (they ~d a gentle
pony for the child) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ with (to - smb.
with an unpleasant task
saddle sore n. to develop ~s
sadism n. to display-
sadness n. 1. to express; feel — 2. deep, profound
~ 3. ~ over
sad sack n. (slang) (AE) ['inept person'] a hope-
hopeless-
safari n. l.toorganizea~2.togoona~3.a~to
safe I adj. 1. absolutely ~ 2. ~ for (~ for chil-
children) 3. ~ from (~ safe from attack) 4. ~ to + inf.
(it is not — to lean out of the window)
safe II n. 1. to open; unlock a — 2. to close; lock
a ~ 3. to break open, crack a ~ 4. a wall ~
safe-conduct n. to issue a —
safeguard n. 1. built-in ~s 2. a - against
safety n. ['security'] 1. to assure smb.'s — 2. to
jeopardize smb.'s — 3. industrial; public ~ 4. in ~
(to live in —) 5. (misc.) a margin of ~; — first! ['de-
['device that prevents accidental discharge of a
firearm'] 6. to set the — 7. to release the ~
safety factor n. a built-in —
sag v. 1. (D; intr.) to — to (to ~ to one side) 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ under (the floor ~ged under the
weight)
saga л. а ~ about, of
sagacity n. the ~ to + inf. (she had the ~ to diver-
diversify her investments)
said adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to be very wise) 2.
~ that + clause (it is — that they own five cars)
sail I n. 1. to hoist, raise the ~s; to make ~ 2. to
let out the ~s 3. to furl, take in a ~; to reduce;
slacken ~ 4. to trim ('adjust') the ~s 5. to lower,
strike the ~s 6. (misc.) to set — for ('to leave for by
ship, boat'); to make — ('to set out on a voyage')
sail II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ along (to ~ along the
coast) 2. (d; intr.) to — around, round (to ~
around the world) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ down (to ~
down a river) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to — for
Europe) 5. (d; intr.) to — from; to (to ~ from New
York to Liverpool) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ into (the ship
~ed into port) 7. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to
attack') (the opposing candidates ~ed into each
other) 8. (d; intr.) to — through (to ~ through the
straits) 9. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to
cope with easily') (she just ~ed through her finals)
10. (d; intr.) to ~ up (to ~ up the river)
sailing n. smooth ~ ('unimpeded progress')
saint n. a patron —
sake n. 1. for smb.'s ~ (do it for my ~) 2. for old
times' — 3. for pity's ~
salad n. 1. to make a ~ 2. to garnish; season a ~ 3.
a fruit; green; mixed; potato; tossed ~
salad dressing n. to make a —
salary n. 1. to pay a ~ 2. to command, draw, get,
receive; earn a — 3. (colloq.) to pull down (AE),
pull in (BE) a ~ 4. to boost, raise —ries 5. to cut,
reduce, slash ~ries 6. to attach smb.'s — 7. an
annual; fixed; handsome; meager; modest ~ 8.
(misc.) to negotiate a ~
sale n. ['selling'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a cash — 3. for,
on ~ ('being sold') (house for ~; the book will be
on ~ next month) ['selling at reduced prices'] 4. to
conduct, have, hold, run (colloq.) a ~ 5. an
annual; clearance; closeout; fire; garage (AE),
yard (AE); going-out-of-business; jumble (BE),
rummage (AE); storewide; warehouse ~ 6. on ~
(AE) = at, in a ~ (BE) ('being sold at a reduced
price')
sales n. 1. brisk — 2. gross; net ~ 3. (misc.) all ~
are final
salesman n. 1. a door-to-door ~ 2. a traveling ~
(BE also has commercial traveller)
salesmanship n. high-pressure ~
salient n. (mil.) 1. to form a ~ 2. a~ juts out (into
enemy lines)
saliva n. —dribbles
sally n. ['sortie'] 1. to make a ~ against ['trip'] 2.
a ~ into (a — into strange territory)
n. pink; red ~
n. a beauty; literary -~
215
salt n. 1. to pour ~ 2. common, table; fine; garlic;
mineral; onion ~ 3. a dash, pinch; grain of ~ 4. a
spoonful of ~ 5. (misc.) to take smt. with a grain
of — ('to regard smt. with skepticism'); the ~ of
the earth ('the very best')
salts n. bath; smelling —
salute In. 1. to fire; give a ~ (the president was
given a 21-gun ~) 2. to return; take a — 3. a smart,
snappy ~ 4. a military; naval; 19-gun; rifle; royal;
21-gun — 5. a ~ to
salute II v. to ~ smartly (the soldier ~d smartly)
salvage v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to — records from a
fire)
salvation n. 1. to bring; preach ~ 2. to seek ~ 3. ~
from
salve n. 1. to apply a ~ 2. a ~ for; to
salvo n. to fire a ~
Samaritan n. a good ~ ('a person who helps those
in need')
same n. it's all the— to me ('it makes no difference
to me')
sample n. ['representative item'] 1. to distribute,
hand out (free) ~s 2. a floor; free — ['selected seg-
segment'] (statistics) 3. a random ~
sampler n. ['needlework'] to work a ~
sampling n. (a) random —
sanction I /i. ['approval'] 1. to give ~ to 2. to
receive — 3. legal ~
sanction II v. (K) no one ~ed his smoking
marijuana
sanctions n. ['coercive measures'] 1. to apply,
impose — 2. to lift ~ 3. economic, trade ~ 4. ~
against
sanctuary n. 1. to give, offer, provide (a) ~ 2. to
find; seek - 3. a bird; wildlife ~ 4. a - for 5. a ~
from
sanctum n. an inner —
sand n. 1. to scatter, spread, sprinkle, strew — 2.
coarse; fine ~ 3. a grain of ~
sandals n. 1. beach ~ 2. a pair of ~
sandwich In. 1. to make a ~ out of 2. a cheese;
club (AE); corned-beef; double-decker; grilled-
cheese (AE), toasted-cheese (BE); ham; open-
face; tomato-and-lettuce; tuna ~
sandwich II v. (d;tr.) to-between (to —a meet-
meeting between a staff conference and lunch)
sanitation n. environmental ~
sanity n. 1. to keep, maintain, preserve, retain
one's — 2. to lose one's ~
sarcasm n. 1. biting, devastating, keen, piercing,
scathing, withering; mild ~ 2. ~ about 3. (misc.)
dripping with — (her remarks were dripping with
~)
sardines n. 1. a can (AE), tin (BE) of - 2. (misc.)
to pack in like —
sashay v. (colloq.) (AE)(P; intr.) ('to stroll') they
~ed down to the beach
satellite n. 1. to launch; orbit a - 2. an artificial
(earth); communications; spy; weather —
satire n. 1. (a) biting, scathing — 2. a — on
satisfaction n. ['act of satisfying') ['state of being
satisfied'] 1. to afford, give - to 2. to express; feel
— 3. to find, take ~ in 4. deep, profound; quiet ~
5. ~ that + clause (they felt ~ that a fair com-
saying
promise had been reached) 6. ~ about, with 7. to
smb.'s ~ (the work was done to my ~) ['compen-
['compensation for a wrong or injury'] 8. to demand; seek —
9. to get, receive; have — 10. — for (to receive ~
for an insult)
satisfactory adj. 1. highly - 2. - to
satisfied adj. 1. completely, greatly, perfectly,
thoroughly — 2. ~ with (we are ~ with the results)
3. — to + inf. (she is not — to spend her days doing
nothing) 4. — that + clause (we are ~ that all
requirements have been met)
satisfy v. 1. to ~ completely, thoroughly 2. (L;
refl.) she —fied herself that all doors were locked)
SATS n. (US) ['Standard Achievement Tests']
(for admission to US universities) to take the ~
saturate v. (D; tr.) to - with
sauce n. apple; barbecue; cranberry; soy; steak;
tomato ~
v. (P; intr.) to ~ along the street
n. liver ~ (BE; AE has liverwurst)
savage n. the noble —
savagery n. 1. to display, show — 2. an outburst of
save I n. ['action that prevents an opponent from
scoring'] 1. to make a — 2. a brilliant, spectacular
save II v. 1. (C) ~ a place for me; or: — me a place
2. (D; intr., tr.) to — for (they are ~ing for a new
car; to — money for a new TV) 3. (D; tr.) to ~
from (to — valuable records from destruction) 4.
(D; intr.) to — on (during the mild winter we ~d
on fuel) 5. (O) it will ~ you the trouble of making
a second trip; the computer will — us a lot of time
save up v. (D; intr.) to ~- for (to ~ for a new tape
recorder)
savings n. 1. to set aside - 2. to deposit; invest
one's ~ 3. to withdraw one's — (from a bank) 4. to
dip into; squander one's -~
savings bond n. (AE) 1. to issue a-2. to cash (in),
redeem a — 3. to roll over a ~
savings certificate n. 1. to issue a —2. to cash (in),
redeem a ~ 3. (AE) to roll over a ~
savour v. (BE) (d; intr.) to ~ of ('to suggest') (to
~ of treason)
savvy n. ['knowledge'] (colloq.) 1. to demonstrate
— 2. political — (to demonstrate considerable
political ~)
saw n. 1. to set ('put an edge on') a — 2. a band;
buzz (AE), circular (BE), carpenter's; chain; cop-
coping; hand; power ~
say I n. ['decision'] 1. to have the final ~ ['oppor-
['opportunity to speak'] 2. to have one's ~
say II v. 1. (B) ('to utter') she said a few words to
us 2. (d; tr.) ('to state') to — about, of (what did
they - about our offer?) 3. (d; tr.) to - for ('to say
in justification of) (what can you ~ for yourself?)
4. (d; tr.) to — to ('to respond to') (what do you ~
to the charges?) 5. (colloq.) (E) ('to state') the
instructions ~ to take one tablet every morning 6.
(L; to) ('to state') they said (to us) that they would
be late 7. (Q) ('to state') she did not ~ when our
next meeting would be 8. (misc.) to — smt. in jest;
to ~ smt. under one's breath
saying n. 1. a common, old, popular, wise — 2.

scab
(misc.) it goes without — that we will help
scab л. а — falls off; forms
scabies n. to catch, get —
scaffolding n. 1. to erect, put up — 2. to take down
scale I n. ['series of notes arranged in a certain
sequence'] (mus.) 1. to play; sing a ~ 2. a chromat-
chromatic; diatonic; major; minor; natural ~ ['system of
classifying in a series of steps'] 3. a sliding; social ~
4. a pay, salary, wage; union — ['relative size'] 5.
an enormous, grand, large; moderate; monumen-
monumental ; small ~ 6. on a certain ~ (everything was plan-
planned on a monumental —; on a — of one to ten) 7.
(misc.) drawn to —
scale II n. ['weighing machine'] 1. a bathroom;
beam; kitchen; spring; table — 2. on a — (to weigh
smt. on a —)
scale down v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ production to
decreased demand)
scales n. ['weighing machine'] 1. see scale II 2. a
pair of — 3. (misc.) to tip the — at one hundred
fifty pounds ['decisive influence'] 4. to tip, turn the
— ('to have a decisive influence')
scaffions n. (esp. AE; BE prefers spring onions)
a bunch of —
scalp n. a dry; itchy; oily ~
scamper v. (P; intr.) to — across the field
scan n. ['radiographic image'] 1. to do, perform;
interpret a — 2. to have, undergo a — 3. a bone;
CAT; heart; liver; lung -
scandal n. 1. to cause, create a ~ 2. to cover up,
hush up; uncover a — 3. a juicy, sensational — 4.
an open; political; public ~ 5. a ~ bursts, erupts 6.
a breath, hint, suggestion of ~ 7. a ~ that + clause
(it's a ~ that the buses are always so late)
scandalize v. (R) it ~d public opinion that the
mayor had taken bribes
scandalous adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it is — to behave
like that) 2. ~ that + clause (it is - that this road
has so many potholes)
scapegoat n. to make a— of smb.
scar n. 1. to leave a — 2. to bear, carry a — 3. a
hideous, ugly; identifying; noticeable, prominent;
permanent; psychological —
scarcity n. 1. to cause a — 2. a severe —
scare I n. (colloq.) 1. to give smb. a —; to put,
throw a — into smb. 2. to get a —
scare II v. (colloq.) 1. (D; tr.) to - into (to -
smb. into doing smt.) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of (she
—d me out of my wits) 3. (N; used with an adjec-
adjective) to ~ smb. stiff 4. (R) it -d us that no one
answered the doorbell 5. (misc.) to — smb. to
death
scared adj. (colloq.) 1.- at (- at the sound of the
air raid siren) 2. — to + inf. (they are — to say any-
anything)
scarf n. 1. to knit a — 2. to wear a ~ (around the
neck) 3. a knitted; silk; woolen —
scarlet fever n. to develop; have ~
scar tissue n. -forms
scavenge v. (D; intr.) to ~ for
scenario n. ['film script'] 1. to write a — 2. a film —
['potential situation'] 3. a worst-case — (in the
worst-case —)
216
scene n. ['division of a play'] 1. to play; rehearse a
— 2. to steal ('dominate') a — ['display of anger,
feelings'] 3. to make a — 4. an awkward, painful —
['location'] 5. at, on a — (she was at the — of the
crime) 6. on the national — ['spectacle, picture'] 7.
to depict a — 8. a beautiful; disgraceful, shameful;
distressing; familiar; funny; gruesome; revolting;
ridiculous; tragic — ['misc.'] 9. behind the —s ('in
secret')
scenery n. ['stage props'] 1. to set up ~ 2. to move,
shift — 3. to dismantle — 4. stage — [landscape'] 5.
beautiful, majestic, picturesque; wild — 6. (misc.)
(usu. fig.) a change of ~
scent n. ['track, trail'] 1. to have; follow; pick up a
(the) - (the dogs picked up the -) 2. to leave a -
3. a cold; false; hot — 4. (misc.) to throw smb. off
the — ['intuition'] 5. a — for (a — for news) ['odor']
6. a faint; pungent — ['sense of smell'] 7. a keen —
sceptical see skeptical
scepticism see skepticism
schedule n. 1. to draw up, make out, make up,
plan a — 2. a fixed; flexible; full; heavy; rigid;
rotating — 3. (esp. AE) an airline; bus; train —
(BE prefers timetable) 4. a production — 5. a —
for 6. according to, on; ahead of; behind — (our
work is coming along according to/on —)
scheduled adj. (cannot stand alone) - to + inf.
(we're — to arrive at one o'clock)
scheme I n. 1. to concoct, cook up, devise, think
up a ~ 2. to foil, thwart a ~ 3. a diabolical; fantas-
fantastic; get-rich-quick; grandiose; nefarious; prepos-
preposterous, wild-eyed — 4. a — to + inf. (she concocted
a — to get publicity) 5. (misc.) in the overall — of
things USAGE NOTE: In CE, a scheme can be
dishonest or crafty; this connotation is probably
encountered more frequently in AE than in BE.
scheme II v. (derog.) (E) they are —ing to take
over the government
schism n. 1. to cause, create a — 2. a — between
scholar n. an eminent; productive ~
scholarship n. ['systematized knowledge,
research'] 1. to foster, promote — 2. productive;
scientific; solid, sound, thorough — ['aid to a stu-
student, researcher, writer'] 3. to establish, found a
— 4. to award, grant a — 5. to apply for; get,
receive, win; hold a — 6. a — for (to receive a — for
language study) 7. a — to + inf. (she won a — to
study abroad)
school I n. ['educational institution'] 1. to direct;
operate a — 2. to attend, go to —; to enter (a) —
(they go to a good —) 3. to accredit a — 4. to finish,
graduate from (AE), leave (BE) - (she left - and
went to university) 5. to drop out of, leave, quit —
6. (by level) an elementary, grade (AE), grammar
(AE), primary; first (BE); infant (BE); junior
(BE); nursery - 7. (by level) a junior high (AE);
middle ~ 8. (by level) a comprehensive (BE), high
(esp. AE), secondary; grammar (BE); public
(BE) ('private secondary'); secondary modern
(BE; now rare) — 9. (by level) a graduate, post-
postgraduate (esp. BE); undergraduate — 10. (by sub-
subject) an art; ballet; beauty; business; dancing;
divinity; driving; fencing; military; naval; riding;
secretarial; technical; trade, vocational — 11. (by
217
type) a boarding; church; consolidated; corre-
correspondence; council (BE; now rare), public (AE),
state (BE); day; evening; finishing; magnet (AE);
night; parochial; preparatory; private; reform
(AE; now rare); religious; segregated; summer;
Sunday — 12. (at a university; see also faculty 1)
a dental; engineering; law; medical; nursing (AE;
CEhas school of nursing); professional— 13. at,
in (a) — (she works at/in a —; their son is still at —;
AE also has: their son is still in —) 14. a — for (a —
for gifted children) 15. (misc.) to be kept after —;
late for — ['group of persons holding similar
views'] 16. an avant-garde — of artists; a radical —
of economists 17. a — of opinion, thought 18.
(misc.) of the old — ('adhering to established tra-
traditions') ['misc.'] 19. the - of hard knocks ('life
with all its difficulties') USAGE NOTE: One says
to attend school and to go to school, but with a
modifier an article must be included- to attend a
good school, to go to a good school, they go to the
school of their choice. Note that one can say
either they go to a school in California or they go
to school in California, (see the Usage Note for
university)
school II v. 1. to - thoroughly 2. (D; tr.) to - in
(to — smb. in the martial arts) 3. (H) they were
—ed to obey instantaneously
schooled adj. — in (well — in military tactics)
schooling n. 1. to receive one's — 2. formal — 3. —
in
schoolwork n. to do one's —
science n. 1. to advance, foster, promote — 2. an
exact — 3. applied; basic; behavioral; domestic;
information; library; linguistic; military; natural;
naval; physical; political; popular; social; space —
scientist n. a nuclear; political; social—
scissors n. 1. to use — 2. to sharpen — 3. bandage
(AE); manicure; nail — 4. a pair of —
sclerosis n. multiple-
scoff v. (D; intr.) to - at
scold I n. ['person who constantly complains'] a
common —
scold II v. (D; intr.) to —about, for (they—ed me
for being late)
scolding n. 1. to give smb. a — 2. to get, receive a
scoop I n. ['utensil for scooping'] 1. a coal; flour;
grain; ice-cream — ['hot news item'] (colloq.) 2. to
get the latest -
scoop II v. (d; tr.) to — out of
scoot v. (P; intr.) the boys —ed out of the room
scooter n. 1. to ride a — 2. a motor —
score I n. ['tally'] (usu. sports) 1. to keep — 2. a
close; even; lopsided - 3. (AE) (usu. baseball) a
box — 4. a — stands (the — stood five to three =
the — stood five-three = the — stood at five to
three; how does the — stand?) 5. by a — (we won
by a lopsided —) ['points'] (sports) 6. (esp. AE) to
run up a — 7. a lopsided — (our team ran up a lop-
lopsided —) ['grievance'] ['matter'] 8. to pay off, set-
settle a - 9. an old - (they had some old -s to settle)
10. a — between (there are some old —s between
them) ['musical composition'] 11. to play; write a
— ['copy of a musical composition'] 12. a full;
scream
orchestra; piano; vocal — ['matter'] 13. on a cer-
certain — (we are even on that —) ['facts of a situa-
situation'] (colloq.) 14. to know the -
score II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) ('to make a score') to
— against (to — against a team; they —d five points
against the visiting team) 2. (D; intr., tr.) ('to
make a score') to — for (she —d ten points for her
team; who —d for their team?) 3. (d; intr.) ('to
write music') to — for (to — for full orchestra) 4.
(colloq.) (BE) (d; intr.) to - off ('to beat in an
argument') (it's difficult to — off him in an argu-
argument) 5. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to achieve success')
to - with (I really -d with the boss) 6. (s) to -
high; low (they —d high in/on the proficiency
tests)
Scoreboard n. an electronic—
scorecard n. to keep a —
scorer n. (sports) a high; low — (who was the
game's high —?)
scorn I n. 1. to express; feel —2. to heap —on 3.
— for (to feel — for smb.)
scorn II v. (formal) 1. (BE) (E) she -s to com-
compromise 2. (G) she —s compromising
scornful adj. — of
scorpion n. —s sting
scot-free adj. to get off, go —
scourge n. a — to (a — to the human race)
scout n. 1. a boy — (esp. AE; BE usu. has scout)
2. a girl-(AE; BE has girl guide) 3. a talent-
scout about, scout around v. (D; intr.) to — for (to
— for new talent)
scowl v. (D; intr.) to — at
Scrabble п. (Т) ['game'] to play-
scramble In. 1. a mad, wild — 2. a — for (a wild
— for tickets) 3. a — to + inf. (there was a — to buy
tickets)
scramble II v. 1. (C) — a couple of eggs for me;
or: — me a couple of eggs 2. (d; intr.) to — for,
over (to — for government subsidies)
scrap I n. ['waste metal'] to sell (smt.) for —
scrap II n. (colloq.) ['fight'] to put up a (good) —
scrap III v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to fight') to -
over
scrapbook n. to keep a —
scrape I n. ['awkward predicament'] ['fight'] to
get into a —
scrape II v. 1. (D;tr.) to-off (to-paint off fur-
furniture) 2. (D; intr.) to — through ('to manage to
get through') (to — through a crisis) 3. (N; used
with an adjective) (she —d the dishes clean) 4.
(misc.) to bow and — ('to be obsequious')
scrape along v. (D; intr.) to — on, with (to — on a
small salary)
scratch I n. ['injury produced by scratching'] 1.
(to come through a battle) without a — ['begin-
['beginning'] 2. from — ['prescribed level'] 3. up to —
scratch II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at (the cat was —ing
at the door) 2. (misc.) (AE; colloq.) to - for one-
oneself ('to eke out one's living independently')
scrawl n. ['bad handwriting'] 1. to decipher a — 2.
an illegible — (to write in an illegible —)
scream I л. a bloodcurdling, shrill —
scream II v. 1. (B) she — ed a few words to me 2.
(D; intr.) to - at; for (he -ed at the children for

screen
making noise) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for help)
4. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with pain) 5. (L) she
~ed that the house was on fire 6. (N; used with a
reflexive pronoun and an adjective) (she ~ed her-
herself hoarse)
screen I n. 1. to put up a —2. a radar; smoke; tele-
television, TV — 3. a — between 4. on a — (there was
no picture on the TV ~)
II v. (d; tr.) to ~ from
n. 1. to do a — 2. (a) mass ~
screen test n. 1. to get, have a —2. to give smb. a ~
screw I n. 1. to tighten; turn a ~ 2. a loose ~
screw II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — into (to ~ a bracket into
a wall) 2. (slang) (D; tr.) to - out of ('to cheat out
of) (they ~ed him out of his bonus)
screw around v. (colloq.) (D, intr.) ((to fool
around') to ~ with USAGE NOTE: This verb also
has an obscene meaning.
screw on v. (N; used with an adjective) ~ the cap
on tight
scrimp v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to be frugal') to - on (to
~ on food) 2. (misc.) to — and save
script n. ['alphabet'] phonetic — (transcribed in
phonetic ~)
Scriptures n. Holy ~ (to be found in the Holy ~)
scrounge v. (colloq.) 1. (D; intr.) ('to scavenge')
to ~ for 2. (D; tr.) ('to wheedle') to ~ from (he ~d
a cigarette from me)
scrounge around v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to
scavenge') to — for
scrub v. (N; used with an adjective) we ~bed the
tables clean
scruff n. (to take smb.) by the ~ of the neck
scruples n. 1. to have ~ 2. moral ~ 3. ~ about
scrupulous adj. ~ in (she was ~ in avoiding refer-
references to her opponent)
scrutinize v. to ~ closely, thoroughly
scrutiny n. 1. to bear ~ (his record will not bear
close ~) 2. close, strict; constant ~ 3. open to — 4.
under ~ (under constant ~)
scud v. (P; intr.) the clouds ~ded across the sky
scuffle v. (D; intr.) to ~ with
sculpture n. 1. to create, produce a ~ 2. to cast a ~
scurry v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for cover) 2.
(P; intr.) to ~ along the street
sea n. 1. to sail the ~s 2. a calm, smooth; choppy,
heavy, high, raging, rough, stormy, turbulent;
open ~ 3. at — (buried at ~) 4. (misc.) to drift out
to —; to gp to ~('to become a sailor'); to put out to
~; at ~ ('bewildered'); to sail the seven ~s ('to
travel the world as a sailor')
seaboard n. (esp. AE) 1. the eastern ~ 2. on the
(eastern) ~
seal I n. ['sea mammal'] 1. ~s bark 2. a colony of
~s 3. a young — is a pup 4. a female ~ is a cow 5.
a male ~ is a bull
seal II n. ['pieceofmoltenwax']l.aprivy;wax~
['closure'] 2. to break a ~ ['stamp, symbol'] 3. to
affix a ~ 4. a ~ of approval
seal HI v. 1. to-hermetically 2. (N; used with an
adjective) they ~ed the area shut
sea level n. above; at; below ~
sea Bon n. a colony of ~s
seam n. 1. to let out; rip open, tear open a ~ 2.
218
(misc.) (to come apart) at the ~s (also fig.)
seaman n. an able, able-bodied; junior (BE),
ordinary; merchant ~
seance n. 1. to conduct, hold a ~ 2. at a ~
seaport n. a bustling, busy ~
search In. 1. to conduct, make a ~ 2. a careful,
exhaustive, painstaking, thorough ~ 3. a fruitless
~ 4. a body; literature ~ 5. a — for (the — for
truth) 6. in — of 7. (misc.) (legal) unwarranted ~
and seizure
search II v. 1. to ~ carefully, thoroughly 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for a lost child) 3. (d; intr.) to
~ through (she —ed through her purse for the
keys)
searchlight n. 1. to direct, focus, shine a ~ 2. ~s
play on (a wall)
search party n. to organize; send out a ~
search warrant n. to issue a ~
seas n. 1. the high ~ (on the high ~) 2. see sea 2;
calm, smooth; choppy, etc. ~
seashore n. at the-
seasick adj. to get; feel —
seaside n. (BE) at, by the - (a holiday at the ~)
(AEhas shore)
season n. 1. to open, usher in the (a) ~ 2. to close,
usher out the (a) - 3. the dead, low, off, slack;
high - 4. (sports) the baseball; basketball; fishing;
football; hunting; open ~ 5. the dry; harvest; holi-
holiday; hurricane; mating, rutting; monsoon; plant-
planting; rainy; tourist — 6. at a ~ (at that ~ of the year)
7. in ~; out of — 8. (misc.) it's open ~ on members
of trie opposition ('members of the opposition are
being subjected to attack')
seasoned adj. highly; lightly ~
seat n. ['place to sit'] 1. to take one's-2. to assign
~s 3. to book (esp. BE), reserve a ~ 4. to give up,
relinquish; keep one's — 5. a box; bucket; car;
front-row; jump; ringside ~ 6. a rumble — (AE;
BE has dicky) 7. the driver's (AE), driving (BE)
~ 8. (misc.) please have a ~ ('please sit down')
['right to sit'] ['public office'] 9. to hold; win a -
10. to lose one's — ['administrative center'] 11. a
county — (AE; BE has county town) ['dominant
position'] 12. the catbird (AE), driver's (AE),
driving (BE) -
seated adj. 1. be — 2. to remain —
secateurs n. a pair of —
secede v. (D; intr.) to — from (a township cannot
— from a county)
n. — from
v. (D;refl.,tr.)to~from
n. in~
second I adj. ['inferior'] 1. ~ to (~ to none)
['placing after the first'] 2. to come in — (in a race)
second II n. ['one who ranks after the first'] 1. a
close ~ ['assistant'] 2. a ~ to smb. 3. (misc.) -
away! (in wrestling); —s out! (in boxing) ['second j
gear'] 4. in ~ (don't start in ~) [Vote of endorse-1
ment'] 5. (do I hear) a - to (the motion?)
second III n. ['sixtieth part of a minute'] 1. a split J
— 2. for a - (I'm stepping out into the corridor for |
a ~) 3. in a ~- (she'll be here in a ~) 4. (misc.) wait |
a~; it will take a ~
IV /si'kond/ v. (BE) (D; tr.) ('to assign j
219
temporarily') to ~ from; to (she was ~ed from the
British Council to a university)
secondary adj. — to
second best adj. to come off-
adv. to travel ~
n. ['subordinate role'] to play — to
n. at ~ ('indirectly')
n. (BE) on ~ from; to
second opinion n. to get a —
seconds n. ['second portion of food'] to ask for ~
second thought n. 1. to have —s about smt. 2. on
~ (AE)/on ~s (BE) ('after reconsideration') 3.
(misc.) without giving the matter a -
second wind n. to get one's —
secrecy n. 1. to ensure — 2. strict — 3. — in (~ in
conducting negotiations) 4. in - (to meet in —)
(the meetings were held in the strictest —) 5.
(misc.) to swear smb. to —
secret I adj. 1. strictly ~ 2. most; top- 3. to keep
smt. — (from smb.)
secret Ил. 1. to make a — of smt. 2. to guard,
keep a — 3. to betray, blurt out, divulge, reveal a
~ 4. to ferret out, uncover a ~ 5. a closely
guarded; military; open; state; trade ~ 6. in ~ (to
meet in ~)
secretary n. ^administrative assistant'] 1. a corre-
corresponding; executive; personal; press; recording;
social — 2. a private — (AE; BE has personal
assistant) 3. a ~ of, to ['companyofficial'] (BE) 4.
a company ~ ['officer supervising a government
department'] 5. a defense; foreign; Home (GB);
labor ~; the Secretary of State (US)
secretion n. 1. an internal — 2. a - from
secretive adj. — about (—about one's plans)
sect n. a religious —
section n. ['division of a newspaper'] 1. the busi-
business; classified; news; sports; travel — ['plane fig-
figure'] (geometry) 2. a conical; cross; vertical ~
['group of instruments'] 3. a brass; percussion;
string; woodwind — 4. in a — (to play in the wood-
woodwind ~) ['group'] 5. a cheering — (in a grand-
grandstand) ['surgical cutting'] 6. an abdominal; cesare-
an — ['area'] 7. a business; residential ~ ['depart-
['department'] 8. the political - (of an embassy) ['part'] 9.
in —s (the bookcases come in —s)
sector n. 1. the private; public — 2. in a ~ (in the
private ~)
secure I adj. 1.— against, from (-against attack)
2. — in (~ in one's beliefs)
secure II v. (D; refl., tr.) to ~ against (to ~ bor-
borders against attack)
securities n. 1. to issue; register - 2. corporate;
gilt-edged; government; negotiable —
security n. ['safety'] 1. to ensure, provide ~ 2. to
strengthen, tighten — 3. to compromise; under-
undermine — 4. collective; internal; maximum;
national; personal — (to compromise national —)
5. — against (~ against attack) 6. (misc.) a feeling,
sense of ~ ['system of insurance'] 7. social ~
USAGE NOTE: The social security systems are
quite different in the United States and Britain.
sedative n. 1. to administer, give a — 2. to take a
~ 3. a mild; strong ~
n. to deposit —
selection
n. 1. to foment, incite, stir up — 2. an act
of ~
see v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ about, after (*to take care
of) (to — about an important matter) 2. (d; tr.) to
~ as ('to visualize'); ('to consider acceptable') (I
can't ~ them as members of our organization; can
you ~ him as Hamlet?) 3. (d; tr.) ('to find attrac-
attractive') to - in (what does she ~ in him?) 4. (d; tr.)
to — of ('to encounter') (we haven't seen much of
you recently; you haven't seen the last of them) 5.
(d; intr.) to ~ through ('to comprehend') (she saw
through the scheme immediately) 6. (d; tr.) to —
through ('to assist, guide') (to — a book through
the press; they saw me through my period of grief)
7. (d; tr.) ('to accompany') to — to (she saw him to
the door) 8. (d; intr.) to - to Do attend to') (I had
to — to the arrangements) 9. (d; tr.) to —
(through) to ('to be sufficient for') (this money
will have to ~ us through to the end of the month)
10. (I) we saw him enter the building 11. (J) we
saw him entering the building 12. (L) ('to per-
perceive') they saw that further resistance was hope-
hopeless 13. (L) ('to make certain') — that you get there
on time 14. (N; used with a past participle) ('to
watch') we saw the play performed in New York
15. (Q) ('to perceive') I could not ~ how the trick
is done 16. (P; tr.) ('to accompany') I'll ~ you
home 17. (misc.) they are ~ing each other regu-
regularly ('they are dating each other'); I ~ by the
newspapers that...
seed n. 1. to plant, sow, spread ~s 2. ~s germi-
germinate, sprout; grow 3. (misc.) to go to ~ ('to be neg-
neglected and become useless')
seeding n. cloud —
seek v. (E) she sought to help
seeker n. a status —
seem v. 1. (d; intr.) to — like (she ~s like a reason-
reasonable person) 2. (E) they ~ to be pleasant; they ~
to like me 3. (L; to) it ~s (to me) that there will be
more rain 4. (S) they ~ pleasant; it ~ed a waste of
time
seep v. (P; intr.) the water ~ed into the base ment
seesaw v. (d; intr.) ('to alternate') to — between
(the lead —ed between the two teams)
seethe v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with rage)
see to v. (L) he saw to it that the same mistake
didn't happen again
segregate v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from (to — one group
from another) 2. (D; tr.) to — into (to ~ people
into different groups)
segregation n. 1. to maintain, practice — 2. racial;
religious ~
seize v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (to ~ upon a
chance remark)
seized adj. — with (an acute illness)
seizure n. ['convulsion, paroxysm'] 1. to have a —
2. a cardiac, heart; epileptic; uncontrollable ~
['act of seizing'] 3. search and ~
select v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from among (we —ed her
from among many candidates) 2. (H) we ~ed her
to represent us
selection n. ['choice'] 1. to make a — 2. natural —
['selected piece of music'] 3. to play a — 4. a musi-
musical-

self
self п. 1. one's real, true ~ 2. one's old ~ (she per-
performed like her old ~)
self-assurance see self-confidence
self-confidence n. 1. to acquire, gain; display,
show; have — 2. to instill ~ 3. to restore smb.'s ~
4. to undermine smb.'s — 5. the ~ to + inf. (she
doesn't have the — to run for public office)
self-conscious adj. -about
self-consciousness n. 1. to display ~ in 2. ~ about
self-control n. 1. to display; exercise ~ 2. to lose ~
3. admirable, complete, total ~
self-defense, self-defence n. 1. in— (to kill smb. in
~) 2. the art of-
self-denial n. to exercise, practice ~
self-determination n. 1. to give, grant ~ 2. to
achieve, realize ~
self-discipline n. 1. to display, exhibit; exercise;
have ~ 2. the — to + inf. (who has the — to write
a dictionary?)
self-examination n. 1. to do, make a ~ 2. a frank,
honest ~
self-flattery n. to indulge in *-
self-fulfillment, self-fulfilment n. to achieve; seek
self-government n. 1. to grant ~ 2. to enjoy ~
self-interest n. 1. enlightened ~ 2. in one'sown-
selfish adj. ~ to + inf. (it was-of them to do that)
self-management n. workers' —
self-pity n. to indulge in ~
self-portrait n. to do, paint a -
self-respect n. to keep one's —
self-restraint n. to display, exercise, practice,
show —
self-rule n. 1. to grant — 2. to enjoy ~
self-sufficiency n. 1. to achieve, attain - 2.
economic ~
self-treatment n. to resort to —
sell I n. (colloq.) ['method of selling'] a hard; soft
sell II v. 1. to — retail; wholesale 2. (A) we sold
our old car to him; or: we sold him our old car 3.
(d; intr., tr.) to — for (it sold for ten pounds; we
sold the car to them for three thousand dollars) 4.
(colloq.) (d; tr.) to — on ('to convince of) (to ~
smb. on an idea) 5. (misc.) to ~ as is ('to sell with
no guarantee as to quality'); to — smt. at a loss; to
— by the dozen; to ~ in bulk; to sell like hot cakes
('to be sold very quickly in large quantities'); to ~
smb. down the river ('to betray and ruin smb.')
selling n. panic-
sellout v. (D; intr., tr.) to -to (she sold out to her
partner)
semantics n. general; generative —
semester n. (esp. US) the fall; spring; summer —
semicircle n. 1. to form a ~ 2. in a ~
semicolon n. to place, put in a—
seminar n. 1. to conduct, hold a — 2. a — on
seminary n. a theological—
senate n. 1. to convene, convoke a — 2. to dis-
disband, dissolve a - 3. a - meets, is in session 4. a
~ adjourns
senator n. a junior; senior—
send v. 1. (A) we sent the manuscript to her; or:
we sent her the manuscript 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he
220
was sent as our representative) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ by
(to — a letter by airmail) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to
ask to come') (to ~ for the doctor) 5. (d; tr.) to ~
for ('to send smb. to fetch smt.') (she sent me for
some beer) 6. (d; tr.) ('to insert') to — into (the
coach sent some new players into the game) 7. (d;
tr.) to ~ on (to ~ students on a field trip) 8. (d; tr.)
to — out of (the teacher sent the unruly pupils out
of the room) 9. (d; tr.) to — to (her parents sent
her to camp) 10. (H) we sent him to buy beer 11.
(J) the explosion sent things flying; we sent him
packing ('we dismissed him summarily')
send away v. (d; intr.) to ~ for; to (we had to — to
the factory for spare parts)
send down v. (BE) (D; tr.) ('to expel') to ~ from
(he was sent down from Oxford)
send in v. (D; intr., tr.) to-for (the children sent
in box tops for prizes)
send-off n. to give smb. a (big) ~ (they gave her
quite a ~)
send out v. 1. (B) they sent out invitations to many
people 2. (d; tr.) to — as (they were sent out as our
representatives) 3. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ for (to «~ for
pizza; they sent him out for beer) 4. (d; tr.) to ~ on
(the young reporter was sent out on her first
assignment)
senior I adj. — to (she is ~ to me by one year)
senior II п. (AE) a college; graduating; high-
school (AE) ~
seniority n. according to, by — (to promote
according to ~)
sensation n. ['excitement'] 1. to cause, create a -
['feeling'] 2. a burning; choking; numbing; pleas-
pleasant; unpleasant —
sense I n. ['judgment'] 1. to display, show ~ 2.
common, good, horse (colloq.) ~ 3. a grain of—4.
the ~ to + inf. (they don't have the — to admit
defeat) 5. (misc.) to bring smb. to her/his —s; to
come to one's ~s; to take leave of one's ~s
['logic'] 6. to make ~ (her choice makes ~; it
makes — to file an application; can you make any
— out of this?) ['reaction to stimuli'] 7. to sharpen
the ~s 8. to dull the ~s 9. an intuitive; keen — 10.
the five —s 11. the sixth — ('intuition') ['feeling']
12. (to have) a false ~ (of security) 13. (misc.) a ~
of humor ['meaning'] 14. a figurative; literal, nar-
narrow, strict — 15. in a ~ (in the literal — of the
word; in every ~ of the word) ['appreciation'] 16.
a ~ of beauty
sense II v. (L) she ~d immediately that smt. was
wrong
senseless adj. ~ to + inf. (it was — to lie)
sense of humor n. 1. to demonstrate, display a ~
2. awry —
sensible adj. ['reasonable'] 1. — to + inf. (it was ~
of her to postpone the trip) ['aware'] (formal)
(BE) 2. ~ of (they were ~ of the danger that they
faced)
sensitive adj. ~ to (~ to charges of corruption; ~
to criticism)
sensitivity n. — to (—to criticism)
sensitize v. (D;tr.)to~to
sensor n. to trip a-
sentence I n. ['judgment of a court'] 1. to impose,
221
pass, pronounce (a) ~ 2. to carry out, execute a ~
3. to serve (out) a ~ 4. to commute; reduce; sus-
suspend; vacate a ~ 5. a harsh, severe, stiff; light — 6.
a death; indefinite, indeterminate; life; prison;
suspended ~ 7. under ~ 8. (misc.) to get off with
a light — ['independent group of words'] 9. to
form, formulate, make up; generate a ~ 10. an
affirmative; complex; compound; declarative;
elliptical; embedded; exclamatory; impersonal;
interrogative; negative; simple —
sentence II v. (D; tr.) to- for; to (the judge ~d
him to five years for theft; the convicted murderer
was ~d to death)
sentiment n. ['feeling'] 1. to express a — 2. to dis-
display, show — 3. a growing; lofty; patriotic; shock-
shocking; strong ~ 4. ~ against; for, in favor of (there is
growing ~ in favor of a tax reduction) 5. ~ that +
clause (there was strong ~ that the government
should step down)
sentimental adj. — about, over
sentimentality n. 1. maudlin, mawkish — 2. ~
about
sentimentalize v. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over
sentry n. 1. to post a ~ 2. to relieve a ~
separate I adj. — from (to keep — from)
separate II v. (D; intr., tr.) to — from (she was ~d
from her family; to be ~d from the service)
separation n. — from
separatism n. political; racial; religious -
sequel n. a —to
sequence n. 1. a chronological; natural — 2. in —
serenade /i. 1. to play, sing a— 2. a — to
sergeant n. 1. a buck; color; drill; first, top; flight
(BE); gunnery; master; platoon; recruiting; staff;
technical — 2. a ~ major
series n. ['sequence'] (math.) 1. an alternating;
convergent; divergent; geometric; harmonic; infi-
infinite — ['succession'] 2. an unbroken — ['cycle of
programs, publications'] 3. a miniseries; TV ~
serious adj. 1. deadly-2.— about (she is —about
her work)
sermon n. 1. to deliver, give, preach a — 2. a lay —
servant n. 1. a domestic; personal; public ~ 2. a
faithful, loyal, trusted ~ 3. a - to
serve I n. (tennis) 1. the - was good; long; out 2.
a - to (a — to the backhand)
serve II v. 1. (A) ('to bring') she ~d dinner to us;
or: she ~d us dinner 2. (d; intr.) to — as ('to fulfill
the functions of) (his illness ~d as an excuse; to —
as mayor) 3. (D; intr.) to — on ('to be a member
of) (to ~ on a jury) 4. (D; tr.) to — on ('to deliver
to') (to — a summons on smb.) 5. (tennis) (D;
intr.) ('to put the ball in play') to — to (I hate to ~
to her — she always returns the ball to my back-
backhand) 6. (D; intr.) ('to be in service') to ~ under
(he ~d directly under a general) 7. (d; tr.) to ~
with ('to deliver to') (to ~ smb. with a summons)
8. (E) ('to have an effect') it ~d to calm everyone's
nerves 9. (misc.) it ~s him right ('he got what he
deserved')
service n. ['work done for others'] 1. to do, offer,
perform, provide, render a ~ 2. custom; meritori-
meritorious; public; yeoman ('loyal') - 3. professional;
social (BE) ~s (a fee for professional ~s) 4. ~ to
set
(she received an award for meritorious — to the
community) 5. (misc.) to press smb. into ~ ['facil-
['facility that satisfies a need'] 6. to introduce; offer,
provide; restore — 7. to suspend a ~ 8. an ambu-
ambulance; answering; bus; clipping (AE), press-cut-
press-cutting (BE); customer; dating; delivery; diaper
(AE); door-to-door; employment (esp. AE);
express; ferry; health-visitor (BE), visiting-nurse
(AE); janitorial (AE); laundry; limousine (esp.
AE); news, wire; placement; postal; repair; room;
telephone; towing ~ ['operation, use'] 9. to see ~
(this equipment has seen plenty of ~) 10. in; out of
— (the bus was not in —) 11. (misc.) to put smt.
into — ['disposal'] 12. to be at smb.'s ~ ['help,
benefit'] 13. to be of — to ['religious ceremony']
14. to hold a ~; to hold ~s 15. a burial; marriage;
memorial; prayer, religious ~ 16. an evening;
morning; noontime; sunrise — (they hold sunrise
~s once a week) ['set of utensils'] 17. a coffee; din-
dinner; tea — 18. a — for ['administrative division of
government'] 19. the civil; consular; diplomatic;
foreign; intelligence, secret — 20. human ~s ('so-
('social services') ['game during which one serves']
(tennis) 21. to hold ('win'); lose one's — 22. to
break smb.'s ~ ['duty in the armed forces'] 23. to
see ~ (she saw ~ during the Second World War)
24. military; national (BE), selective (AE) ~ 25.
active; inactive ~ 26. in the — ['position as a serv-
servant'] (esp. BE) 27. domestic ~ 28. to be in —; to go
into — ['scheduled routes, flights'] 29. to intro-
introduce; offer, provide — 30. to suspend — 31. daily;
regular — 32. ~ between; from; to (regular ~
between two cities; that airline provides daily —
from New York to London) ['manner of dealing
with customers'] 33. fast; fine; slow ~ ['misc.'] 34.
lip — ('meaningless promises')
serving n. ['portion'] a generous, liberal; second;
small ~
servitude n. involuntary; penal—
session n. 1. to hold a - 2. a briefing; bull (AE;
colloq.), rap (AE; colloq.); jam; joint; legislative;
plenary; practice; rap; special; summer; winter;
working ~ 3. (colloq.) (AE) a stroking ~ ('an
attempt at conciliation') 4. a — on (to hold a spe-
special — on problems of air pollution) 5. in ~ (in se-
secret ~; the court was in ~)
set I adj. ['opposed'] 1. (cannot stand alone) ~
against (her parents were dead - against the mar-
marriage) ['ready'] 2. ~ for (we are ~ for the big
celebration) 3. ~ to + inf. (we are ~ to begin) 4.
(misc.) to get ~ for; (before a race) get ready, get
~, go! (AE; BE has ready, steady, go!)
set II n. ['collection of things used together'] 1. to
make up a — 2. to break, break up a — 3. a carving;
chemistry; chess; tea ~ ['group of six or more
games'] (tennis) 4. to play a ~ 5. to lose; win a ~
['apparatus'] 6. a radio; television, TV — ['clique']
7. the fast (old-fashioned); international; jet;
smart (old-fashioned) ~ (to belong to the jet ~)
['stage, film scenery'] 8. to dismantle, strike a —
['misc.'] 9. to make a dead - at smb. ('to attack
smb.'); ('to attempt to win smb.'s favor')
set III v. 1. (BE) (C) ('to assign') the teacher set
several problems for the pupils; or: the teacher set

set about
the pupils several problems 2. (d; tr.) ('to place')
to ~ against (to ~ a ladder against a wall) 3. (d;
tr.) ('to pit') to — against (to — brother against
brother) 4. (D; tr.) ('to arrange') to — for (to — the
stage for smt.; to — a trap for smb.; to — a date for
a wedding) 5. (d; tr.) ('to incite') to — on (to —
dogs on a trespasser) 6. (D; tr.) ('to put') to — on
(to — a price on an article) 7. (d; tr.) ('to attach')
to — on (to — one's eyes on smt.) 8. (d; tr.) ('to
adapt') to — to (to — a poem to music) 9. (d; intr.)
to — upon ('to attack') (the wolves set upon the
sheep) 10. (BE) (H) ('to assign as a task') she set
them to write reports; I set myself to study these
problems 11. (J) ('to compel') that set me thinking
12. (N; used with an adjective) to — smb. free 13.
(P; tr.) ('to place') she set the lamp on the fable 14.
(nrsc.) to — an example for smb.; to — smt. apart;
to ~ store by smb. ('to rely on smb.'); to — fire to
('to ignite'); to — a match to ('to ignite'); to —
one's mind to do smt. ('to resolve to do smt.'); to
— smt. in motion; to — one's sights on ('to aspire
to') to — sail for ('to leave by ship for')
set about v. 1. (E) ('to begin') he set about to undo
the damage that he had caused 2. (G) ('to begin')
we set about working on the project
set apart v. (D; tr.) to — from (certain traits —
them apart from the others)
set aside v. (D;tr.) to — for (to — money for one's
old age)
setback n. 1. to have, receive, suffer a — 2. a seri-
serious; unexpected ~ 3. a business; diplomatic;
financial; military; personal; political; profes-
professional —
set off v. (D; intr.) ('to start') to— for, on (to —for
home; to — on a trip)
set out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to leave') to — for; from
(to — for town) 2. (d; intr.) to — on ('to begin') (to
— on a new career) 3. (E) ('to resolve') he has set
out to get revenge 4. (misc.) to — in search of smt.
setting n. ['set of tableware'] 1. a place — for
['frame in which a gem is set'] 2. to fashion a — for
['surroundings'] 3. a natural — ['arrangement of
stage props'] 4. a stage — ['point at which a
measuring device is set'] 5. to adjust, change the —
(of a thermostat)
settle v. 1. to — peacefully (to — a dispute peace-
peacefully) 2. (d; intr.) to - for ('to be content with')
(they had to — for a very modest house with no
garage) 3. (d; intr.) ('to decide') to — on (have you
—d on a place for your vacation?) 4. (D; intr., tr.)
('to adjust accounts; to adjust') to — with (to —
with one's creditors; we have —d our accounts
with our creditors) 5. (misc.) to — (a case) out of
court; to — oneself in an armchair; to — on the
land; to — into a routine
settled adj. toget-
settledown v. 1. (D; intr.) to-into, to (to-into
a routine; to — to family life) 2. (E) to — to study
3. (misc.) to — for the night
settlement n. 1. to come to, make, negotiate,
reach a — on 2. a fair, reasonable; tentative — 3. a
lump-sum; marriage; out-of-court —
set up v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) ('to establish') to - as (she
set herself up as a real estate agent) 2. (D; tr.) ('to
222
establish') to — in (to set smb. up in business)
several determiner, pronoun — 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
saw several students; we saw several of the stu-
students whom we had discussed earlier.
sew v. (C) she ~ed a dress for me; or: she —ed me
a dress
sewage n. 1. to treat - 2. raw, untreated —
sewer n. a sanitary; storm —
sex n. ['sexual relations'] 1. to have — with smb. 2.
explicit; illicit; kinky (slang), perverse; premarital
— ['division of organisms into male and female'] 3.
the fair; female; male — 4. a member of the oppo-
opposite-
sex organs n. female; male —
sexual intercourse n. to have — with
sexuality n. human —
shack n. a dilapidated, run-down; jerry-built —
shackle v. (d; tr.) to — to (the prisoner was ~d to
the bars)
shackles n. to cast off, throw off one's —
shack up v. (slang.) (D; intr.) to — with (he — ed
up with his girlfriend)
shade I n. ['gradation of color'] 1. a delicate, pale,
pastel, soft — 2. a dark; light — ['window cover']
(AE; BE has blinds) 3. to draw, pull down; raise
the —s 4. a window — ['shaded place'] 5. in the —
['misc.'] 6. a lampshade
shade II v. (d; intr.) to — into (the colors — into
each other)
shadow n. 1. to cast, produce, throw a — (the set-
setting sun cast long —s) 2. —s fall 3. (misc.) a mere
— of one's former self; beyond a — of a doubt; to
walk in smb.'s — ('to be subservient to smb.)
shaft n. 1. to bore, sink a —2. a cardan (BE), drive
(AE) - 3. an air; elevator (AE), lift (BE) -
shake I n. ['act of shaking'] 1. to give smb. or smt.
a — (she gave the rug a good —) ['opportunity']
(colloq.) (AE) 2. a fair - (she got a fair ~)
shake II v. 1. to — vigorously; violently 2. (d; tr.)
to — from, out of (to — apples from a tree) 3. (D;
intr.) to — with (to — with fear) 4. (misc.) — well
before using
shakedown v. (D;tr.)to —from (to —fruit down
from a tree)
shaken adj. easily; visibly —
shaker n. 1. a cocktail — 2. a pepper — (AE; BE
has pepper pot)
shake-up n. a personnel —
shall v. (F) we — see
shambles n. 1. to make a — of; to turn smt. into a
— 2. in (a) — (their economy is in —)
shame 1л. 1. to bring — on, to, upon 2. to feel —
at (they felt — at accepting bribes) 3. (colloq.) an
awful, crying, dirty — 4. a — to + inf. (it's a — to
waste so much time = it's a — wasting so much
time) 5. a — that + clause (it was a — that they
could not come) 6. for, in — (to hang one's head in
—) 7. to smb.'s — (to my —, I never did help them)
8. with — (his cheeks burned with —) 9. (misc.) to
put smb. to —; a damned —; — on you!
II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into
223
doing smt.) 2. (d; tr.) to — out of
shameful adj. 1. - to + inf. (it was - of them to
surrender 2. — that + clause (it was — that they
surrendered)
shameless adj. ~ to + inf. (it was — of them to do
that)
shampoo n. ['washing of the hair'] 1. to give smb.
a — 2. to get a —
shape I n. ['form'] 1. to give — to 2. to assume a
—; to take —; to take the — of (our plans are begin-
beginning to take —; to take the — of a human being)
['good physical condition'] 3. to get (oneself) into
— 4. to keep (oneself) in — ['physical condition'] 5.
bad; good — 6. in — (to be in bad —) 7. (misc.) she
is in no — to give a speech
shape II v. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ clay into a jug)
share In. 1. to do one's — 2. an equal; fair; full;
large, lion's, major — 3. ordinary —s (BE; AE has
common stock) 4. preference —s (BE; AE has
preferred stock) 5. a — in (to have a — in the prof-
profits)
share II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — among (the thieves —d
the loot among themselves) 2. (D; intr.) to — in (to
— in the profits; to — in using the computer) 3. (D;
tr.) to — with (we —d our food with them)
sharing n. 1. profit — 2. revenue — (by the states)
shark n. La man-eating — 2. (fig.) a loan —
sharp adj. razor —
sharpener n. a pencil —
shave In. 1. to give smb. a — 2. a close — 3.
(misc.) a close — ('a narrow escape')
shave II v. (N; used with an adjective) she —d me
close; he —d his head bald
shavings n. wood —
shears n. 1. pinking; pruning — 2. a pair of —
shed v. (D; tr.) to — on (to — light on a mystery)
('to clear up a mystery')
sheen n. ['brightness'] a high —
sheep n. 1. to raise, rear (BE) - 2. to shear - 3.
— baa, bleat, go baa 4. a flock, herd of — 5. the
meat of the — is mutton 6. a young — is a lamb; its
meat is lamb 7. a female — is a ewe 8. a male — is
a ram 9. (misc.) — are tended by a shepherd
sheet n. ['piece of bed linen'] 1. a bed; cotton; per-
percale — 2. a double; fitted; flat; king-sized; queen-
sized; single; twin — 3. (misc.) to change the — s =
to put on clean —s ['financial statement'] ['record']
4. a balance — 5. (BE) a wages — ['diagram'] 6. a
flow — ['piece of paper'] 7. a blank — ['news-
['newspaper'] (colloq.) 8. a scandal - ['statement'] 9. a
charge — ('a statement of charges brought against
an accused person') ['pan'] 10. a cookie —
shelf n. 1. to build, put up a — 2. adjustable; built-
in shelves 3. a continental — 4. (misc.) on the —
('no longer in demand'); to stock shelves with
supplies
shell n. 1. to fire a — at 2. to fuse a — 3. to lob a —
(our artillery was lobbing —s into enemy posi-
positions) 4. an armor-piercing; high-explosive; hol-
hollow-charge; incendiary; mortar; smoke — 5. —s
burst
shellacking n. ['beating'] (colloq.) (AE) 1. to give
smb. a — 2. to get, take a —
shelling n. constant, round-the-clock; heavy, in-
17—127
shiver
tensive ; light —
shell out v. (colloq.) (B) ('to pay') they had to -
money to their creditors
shelter In. 1. to afford, give, offer, provide — 2.
to seek; take — from 3. an air-raid, bomb; fallout;
tax-
shelter II v. (D; tr.) to-from
shelving n. to put up —
sheriff n. a deputy —
sherry n. dry; sweet —
shield v. (D; tr.) to - against, from
shift I n. ['change'] 1. to bring about, produce a —
in 2. (ling.) a consonant; functional; vowel —
['work period'] 3. a day; eight-hour; night; split;
swing — (she works the night —; to work an eight-
hour —) ['transmission'] 4. an automatic; stan-
standard, stick —
shift II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to-from; to (to-from
first to second gear; to — responsibility to smb.
else) 2. (D; intr.) to - into (to - into neutral) 3.
(misc.) to — for oneself ('to live independently')
shift key n. (on a typewriter) to press a—
shin n. to bark ('scrape') one's —s
shine I n. ['liking'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 1. to take
a — to ['shining of shoes'] 2. to give smb. a — ('to
shine smb.'s shoes')
shine II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to give light') to — on
(the hot sun was —ing directly on our heads) 2. (d;
tr.) ('to direct') to - on (- the floodlights on this
part of the field)
shiner n. ['black eye'] (colloq.) (old-fashioned) 1.
to give smb. a — 2. to sport a —
shingle n. ['small sign designating a professional
office'] (colloq.) (AE) to hang out one's —
shingles I n. ['building material on a roof ] to lay
shingles II n. ['herpes zoster'] to develop —
ship I n. 1. to build; refit a-2. to christen; launch
a — 3. to navigate; sail a — 4. to scuttle; sink; tor-
torpedo a — 5. to abandon — (when it is sinking) 6. to
jump — ('to desert from a ship's crew') 7. to raise
a sunken — 8. to load; unload a — 9. a battleship;
capital; hospital; merchant; oceangoing; pas-
passenger; rocket; sailing —; spaceship; steamship;
supply —; warship; weather — 10. a — heaves;
pitches; rolls 11. (misc.) to board a —; to disem-
disembark from a —; to run a tight — ('to operate effi-
efficiently') USAGE NOTE: The term rocket ship is
now used chiefly in science fiction. The terms
spacecraft and space vehicle are now used for the
real thing. The term spaceship is sometimes used
for 'manned spacecraft'.
ship II v. (A) they have—ped the merchandise to
us; or: they have —ped us the merchandise
ship off v. (D; tr.) to - to (they -ped their chil-
children off to camp)
shipping n. merchant —
shipwreck n. to experience, suffer (a) ~
shipyard n. a naval —
shirk v. (G) no one should — doing her/his duty
shirt n. 1. to put on; take off a — 2. a body; dress;
hair; polo; sport; wash-and-wear — 3. (misc.) to
lose one's — ('to lose everything')
shiver I n. a — went up and down my spine

shiver
224
225
side
shiver II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at (she -ed at the
thought of getting up) 2. (D; intr.) to - from, with
(to — from the cold)
shock In. 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. to express; feel;
get, have a — 3. to absorb a — 4. an emotional;
mild, slight; profound, rude, severe, terrible — 5.
(a) culture; electric; future; insulin; shell (old-
fashioned) — 6. a — to (his arrest was a — to every-
everybody) 7. a — to + inf. (it was a — to learn of his
death = it was a — learning of his death) 8. a — that
+ clause (it came as a — that he had been released
from prison) 9. — at (everyone expressed — at the
hijacking)
shock II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into
doing smt.) 2. (R) it -ed me (to learn) that he had
been in prison
shocked adj. 1. - at (- at the results) 2. - to +
inf. (we were — to learn that he had been fired) 3.
— that + clause (everyone was — that he had been
arrested)
shocking adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to read of such
crimes) 2. — that + clause (it's — that the article
was censored)
shock therapy n. 1. to administer ~ 2. to get,
receive —
shock wave n. to send a — (the uprising sent ~s
through the country)
shoelace n. 1. to tie; untie a - 2. to knot a -
shoes n. 1. to put on; wear — 2. to slip off, take off
— 3. to break in (new) — 4. to lace (one's) — 5. to
polish, shine — 6. to fix, mend (esp. BE), repair —
7. tight; well-fitting — 8. basketball; earth; gym —;
overshoes; running; saddle —; snowshoes;sports;
tennis; track - 9. - fit; pinch 10. (misc.) to fill
smb.'s — (*to replace smb.')
shoestring n. (colloq.) ['limited funds'] on a - (to
operate a business on a —)
shoot I n. ['young plant'] 1. a bamboo -['hunting
trip'] (esp. BE) 2. (to go on) a tiger —
shoot II v. l.(D;tr.)(*to execute by shooting') to
— as (he was shot as a deserter) 2. (D; intr.) ('to
fire') to - at (to ~ at smb.) 3. (colloq.) (esp. AE)
(d; intr.) ('to aim') to - for (to - for the top) 4.
(D; intr., tr.) ('to fire') to - into (to - into the air)
5. (N; used with an adjective) ('to hit with gun-
gunfire') to — smb. dead 6. (P; intr.) ('to move
quickly') they shot past us in a sports car
shop I n. ['store'] 1. to manage, operate a — 2. an
antique —; barbershop (esp. AE), barber's —
(BE); bookshop; butcher (AE), butcher's (BE);
chemist's (BE); duty-free; gift; novelty; pastry —;
sweetshop (BE); thrift; toy — 3. a draper's — (BE;
AEhas dry-goods store) 4. at, in (she works in a
~) ['workshop'] 5. a beauty (esp. AE); body;
machine; paint; printing — ['place of work'] 6. a
closed — ('firm that hires only union members') 7.
an open — ('firm that hires union members and
non-union members') 8. a union — ('firm that
hires only workers who will join the union if they
are not already members') ['misc.'] 9. to close
down (a) — ('to stop operations'); to set up — ('to
begin operations'); to talk — ('to discuss one's
work while not at work'); a coffee - (AE; BE has
coffee bar); a betting - (BE; CE has book-
bookmaker's) USAGE NOTE: Shop and store are
CE. In BE, store tends to be used for a very large
retail establishment (department store) and shop
for the others (bookshop, sweetshop). In AE,
store is used for all, regardless of size (depart-
(department store, book store, candy store). However,
AE can also use shop for a small specialized store
(bookshop, millinery shop).
shop II v. l.(D: intr.) to-for (to-for food) 2.
(misc.) to go —ping; let's go window —ping; to —
smb. to the police (BE; slang) ('to inform on smb.
to the police')
shop around v. (D; intr.) to - for (to - for bar-
bargains)
shopper n. a Christmas; comparison; window —
shopping n. 1. to do the — 2. Christmas; compari-
comparison; window — (to do the Christmas —; to do com-
comparison —)
shore n. 1. (AE; BE has seaside) at the - (a va-
vacation at the —) 2. off — (two miles off —) 3. on a
— (smb. was standing on the —)
short adj. 1. - in (- in stature) 2. - of (- of
funds; to run - of food; to fall - of one's goal) 3.
(misc.) to be caught — ('to find oneself in acute
need'); and: (BE; colloq.) ('to feel the need to go
to the toilet')
shortage n. 1. an acute -2. a food; housing; labor;
teacher —; wartime —s
shortcut n. 1. to take a — 2. a — to (a — to success)
shorten v. l.(D;tr.)to — by (to — trousers by two
inches) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a manuscript to
acceptable length)
shortening n. (esp. AE) vegetable -
shorthand n. (to take smt. down) in —
short haul (esp. AE) see short run
short run n. ['brief period'] in the —
shorts n. 1. Bermuda; boxer - 2. a pair of -
short shrift n. ['quick work'] 1. to make - of ('to
finish with quickly') 2. to give smb. — ('to deal
with smb. summarily') 3. to get — from smb. ('to
be treated summarily by smb.')
shortsighted adj. - to + inf. (it was - of her not to
make a reservation)
short term see short run
shot n. ['act of shooting'] 1. to fire, take a — at (she
took a — at him) 2. a random; warning — 3. a pis-
pistol; rifle - ['marksman'] 4. a bad; crack, good -
['throw, kick of the ball to score points'] 5. (esp.
basketball) to make, sink; miss; take a — (to take
a — at the basket) 6. (basketball) a dunk, stuff;
foul; jump; lay-up - 7. (tennis) a drop; passing -
8. (ice hockey) a penalty - ['metal ball used in the
shot put'] 9. to put the - ['injection'] 10. to give
smb. a - 11. to get a - 12. a booster - ['critical
remark'] 13. a cheap; parting - ['attempt'] (col-
(colloq.) 14. to get; have a — at (the boxer never got a
- at the title) ['chance'] (colloq.) (AE) 15. a -
that + clause (it's a five to one — that she'll find
out) ['misc.'] 16. to call the -s ('to direct mat-
matters'); a — in the arm ('a stimulus'); a — in the dark
('a wild guess')
shotgun n. a sawed-off (AE), sawn-off (BE) -
(see also gun 1,2,4,5)
should v. (F) she-help
shoulder 1л. 1. to shrug one's —s 2. to square
one's —s 3. broad, square —s 4. (misc.) — to — (to
work — to —) ('to work closely together'); to give
smb. a cold — ('to be unfriendly to smb.'); to put
one's - to the wheel ('to work very hard'); to rub
-s with ('to associate with'); straight from the -
('in a direct manner')
shoulder II v. (d; tr.) to - through (he -ed his
way through the crowd)
shout I n. 1. to give a - 2. a loud; piercing; trium-
triumphant —
shout II v. 1. (B) she -ed a few words to me 2.
(D; intr.) to - at (don't - at me) 3. (L; to) he -ed
(to us) that we should call the police 4. (N; refl.;
used with an adjective) he —ed himself hoarse
shove n. to give smb. a —
shovel n. a steam —
show I n. ['theatrical presentation'] ['perfor-
['performance'] ['program'] 1. to direct; do, produce, put
on, stage; promote; sponsor a — 2. to catch (col-
(colloq.), see, take in a - 3. a chat (BE), talk; floor;
ice; peep; Punch-and-Judy; sound-and-light;
talent; TV; variety - (to sponsor a TV -) ['dis-
['display, exhibition'] 4. an air; auto (AE), motor
(BE); flower; horse; ice — ['misc.'] 5. for — ('de-
('designed to make an impression'); bad — ('very
bad'); good - ('very good'); to put on a - ('to pre-
pretend'); to steal the - ('to draw the most atten-
attention'); to stop the — ('to receive a great deal of
applause, attention'); a — of strength; who is run-
running this — ? ('who is in charge here?'); to get the
- on the road (slang) ('to get things going')
show II v. 1. (A) ('to display') - the book to me;
or: show me the book 2. (d; tr.) ('to guide') to -
around, over, round (esp. BE), through (she —ed
me through the museum) 3. (d; tr.) to — for ('to
have as a result of) (what can we - for our
efforts?) 4. (d; tr.) ('to guide') to - to (I -ed her
to her seat) 5. (J) ('to display') the photograph
—ed them conversing 6. (L; may have an object)
('to demonstrate') the research —ed (us) that our
theory was correct 7. (M) ('to demonstrate') she
—ed herself to be an excellent worker; history —ed
her to be a prophet 8. (Q; usu. has an object) ('to
demonstrate') can you — me how to operate the
copying machine? 9. (misc.) to — to advantage ('to
show in the best light'); to - oneself in public
showdown n. to come to, have; force a — with
shower I n. ['bath using an overhead spray'] 1. to
have (BE), take a - ['short period of rain'] ['brief
downpour'] 2. a heavy; light - 3. April; passing;
scattered -s 4. a meteor; rain; thunder - 5. a sun
- (esp. AE) ('rain that falls while the sun is shin-
shining') ['Partv to which the guests are expected to
bring gifts'] (AE) 6. to make a - for smb. 7. a
baby; bridal -
shower II v. 1. (d; tr.) to - on, upon (to - gifts on
smb.) 2. (d; tr.) to - with (to - smb. with gifts)
showing n. ['performance'] 1. to make a — 2. a
good; poor — (he made a poor —)
show up v. 1. (D; tr.) to - as (the incident -ed
him up as a charlatan) 2. (s) he — ed up drunk
shrapnel n. to catch a piece of - (in the leg)
shreds n. to rip, tear smt. to —
shrewd adj. 1. — at 2. — to + inf. (jt was — of her
to do that)
shrewdness n. 1. to display - 2. - at 3. the *• to +
inf. (she had the - to buy real estate when the
market was depressed)
shriek In. 1. to let out a — 2. a loud —
shriek II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at 2. (D; intr.) to -
with (to — with laughter)
shrine n. 1. to consecrate; create, establish a — 2.
to desecrate a — 3. a sacred — 4. a — to 5. at a —
(to pray at a —)
shrink v. (d; intr.) to — from (to — from responsi-
responsibility)
shrouded adj. - in (-in mystery)
shrubbery, shrubs n. to prune; trim —
shrug I n. with a-(of the shoulders)
shrug II v. (D; intr.) to-at ('to express indiffer-
indifference to') (she —ged at the suggestion)
shudder I n. a - ran (through the audience)
shudder II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at (to - at the
thought of going back to work) 2. (E) I —ed to
contemplate what lay ahead
shufry n. (slang) (BE) ['quick look'] to have, take
a-at
shunt v. (d; tr.) to - onto, to (to - a train onto a
siding)
shut v. l.(D;tr.)to-on(to-thedooronsmb.)
2. (D; tr.) to - to (they shut their eyes to poverty)
shut off v. (D; tr.) to - from
shutter n. ['shield in a camera') 1. to release the —
['window cover'] 2. to close; open the —s
shuttle I n. ['vehicle used on an established
route'] 1. to take a - 2. a space - 3. a - between
shuttle II v. (d; intr.) to -between (these ships -
between the two ports)
shy I adj. ['wary'] 1.-about, of (BE) ['lacking']
(esp. AE) 2. - of (we are still a little - of our
quota)
shy II v. (D; intr.) to - at (the horse shied at the
noise)
shy away v. (d; intr.) to - from (they shied away
from going through with the deal)
sic v. (D; tr.) ('to urge to attack') to - on (to - a
dog on smb.)
sick adj. 1. — at (— at heart; — at the prospect of
leaving home) 2. - of (we are - of the red tape) 3.
(misc.) — to one's stomach; worried —; to be —
and tired of smt.
sick call n. (mil.) to goon —
sicken v. (R) it-ed me to watch him drink himself
to death
sickening adj. - to + inf. (it was - to watch them
bicker constantly)
sickness n. 1. altitude, mountain; car; decompres-
decompression; morning; motion, travel; radiation; sea;
sleeping — 2. in — (and in health)
side I n. ['right or left part'] 1. the left; right-2.
the credit; debit - (of a ledger) 3. on a - (on the
sunny — of the street) ['faction, party'] 4. to take
smb.'s -; to take -s ('to support a faction') 5. the
losing; right; winning; wrong — 6. on smb.'s — (of
a dispute) ['direction'] 7. from a - (from the other
-; from all -s) 8. (to turn) to one - ['surface']
['part'] 9. a far; near; reverse —10. the east; north;
17*

side
south; west ~ 11. on a ~ (on the other ~; on the
north ~ of the town square) ['aspect'] 12. the
bright; dark, gloomy; humorous; practical ~ (of
things); the seamy — of life 13. a ~ to (there are
two ~s to every question) 14. (misc.) to study all
~s of a problem ['area near a person'] 15. at, by
smb.'s ~ (she sat at my ~) ['shore, bank'] 16. on a
~ (on the other ~ of the river) ['arrogance']
(slang) (BE) 17. to put on ~ ['misc.'] 18. to tutor
smb. on the — ('to tutor smb. part-time'); we split
our ~s laughing ('we laughed long and hard');
time is on our ~ ('time is working for us'); on
smb.'s ~ (of the family); he's a bit on the short ~
(see the Usage Note for team)
side II v. (d; intr.) to ~ against; with
sidelines n. on the ~ ('out of action')
sidestroke n. to do, swim the ~
siding n. ['material attached to the outside of a
building'] (AE) 1. to install ~ 2. aluminum ~
['short stretch of railway track'] 3. a railway ~ 4.
ona~
sidle up v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (she ~d up to me)
siege n. 1. to conduct a ~ of; to lay ~ to 2. to lift,
raise a ~ 3. a state of ~ (in a state of ~) 4. at, dur-
during a ~ (he was killed at the ~ of Leningrad) 5.
under ~ (a city under ~)
siesta n. to have a —
sieve n. to pass smt. through a ~
sift v. 1. to ~ carefully 2. (d; tr.) to ~ from (to ~
fact from fiction) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ through (to ~
through the debris)
sigh n. 1. to breathe, heave a ~ (of relief) 2. a
deep, profound ~
sight n. ['view'] 1. to catch; keep ~ of 2. to lose ~
of 3. at (the) ~ (to faint at the ~ of blood; to fall
in love at first ~) 4. by ~ (to know smb. by ~) 5.
in, within ~ (the ship was no longer in ~) 6. on ~
(to shoot looters on ~) 7. out of ~ 8. (misc.) to
come into ~ ['something seen'] 9. a beautiful;
comical, funny; disturbing; familiar; horrendous,
horrible; memorable; pitiful; pleasant; sorry;
thrilling; ugly; unpleasant ~ ['device used to aim a
gun'] 10. to adjust one's ~s 11. to line up one's ~s
12. a front; panoramic; peep; rear; telescopic ~
13. (misc.) to have smb. in one's ~s ['ability to
see'] 14. keen ~
sighting n. a confirmed; radar; visual ~
sights n. ['aspirations'] 1. to set one's— on (she set
her ~ on a career in politics) 2. to lower; raise
one's ~ 3. (misc.) to set one's ~ high ['something
worth seeing'] 4. to see, take in the ~ (the tourists
took in the ~)
sign n. ['indication'] 1. to give, show a ~ (he
showed ~s of advanced emphysema; they showed
no ~s of life) 2. an encouraging; sure, telltale,
unmistakable ~ 3. vital ~s ('basic indications of
life') 4. a — that + clause (there had been no ~
that the volcano would erupt) ['mark, symbol'] 5.
a minus; plus ~ 6. a dollar - 7. a call ~ ('identify-
('identifying letters of a radio station') ['marker'] ['placard']
8. to post, put up; set up a ~ 9. a for sale; no tres-
trespassing; road, traffic ~ 10. (esp. AE) a ~ that +
clause (the police put up a ~ that the road was
dosed) ['misc.'] 11. to make the ~ of the cross
226
signal I n. ['sign'] ['message'] 1. to flash, give,
send a ~ 2. a clear, unmistakable — 3. a smoke ~
(Indians used to send up smoke ~s) 4. a turn ~
(AE; BE has traffic indicator) 5. (AE) a traffic ~
6. a storm ~ 7. a ~ from; to 8. a ~ to + inf. (the
~ to attack) 9. a - that + clause (the troops
received the ~ that the attack was to begin) 10. at,
on a ~ (the raid began at a given ~) 11. (misc.)
(Am. football) to call the ~s (also fig.) ['electrical
impulses'] 12. a radar; shortwave ~
signal II v. 1. to ~ wildly 2. (B) they ~ed their
position to us 3. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for help)
4. (H) he ~ed us to come closer 5. (L; to; may
have an object) the radio operator ~ed (to us)/
~ed (us) that the ship was in distress 6. (misc.) she
~ed for us to come closer
signature n. 1. to affix; scrawl one's ~ 2. to forge
smb.'s ~
significance n. 1. to acquire; have ~ for 2. to be of
-to
significant adj. 1. ~ for, to 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~
to note that the story did not appear in the news-
newspapers) 3. ~ that + clause (it is ~ that our ambas-
ambassador was not invited)
signify v. (L) their statements ~ that no action will
be taken
sign on v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ as (to ~ as a seaman)
2. (misc.) (BE) to ~ for the dole
sign over v. (B) she ~ed over the property to her
children
sign np. v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ as (to ~ as a volunteer)
2. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ for (she ~ed up for an even-
evening course; to ~ smb. up for a course) 3. (D; intr. ,
tr.) to ~ with (they ~ed up with the volunteers) 4.
(E) they ~ed up to serve as volunteers 5. (H) they
~ed us up to serve as volunteers
silence n. 1. to impose ~ 2. to keep, maintain,
observe ~ 3. to break (the) ~ 4. (an) awkward;
dead; eerie; hushed; ominous; prolonged; stony ~
5. (a) complete, perfect, total, utter; stony; stun-
stunned ~ 6. — reigns 7. in ~ (we were received in ~)
8. (misc.) radio ~
silent adj. to keep, remain ~
silhouetted adj. ~ against, on (~ against a light
background)
silk n. ['fine fabric'] 1. to spin — 2. fine ~ 3. natu-
natural; synthetic ~ ['misc.'] (BE) to take ~ ('to
become a King's Counsel or Queen's Counsel)
silkworm n. 1. to keep (BE), raise (esp. AE), rear
(BE) ~s 2. ~s spin cocoons
silly adj. 1. ~ about 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of her
to say that) 3. (misc.) to make smb. look ~
silver n. sterling ~
sunilar adj. 1. strikingly ~ 2. ~ in (~ in outlook)
3. ~ to (this specimen is ~ to that one)
similarity n. 1. to bear (a) -2. a striking ~3. a ~
among, between; to
sample adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to do the job = it
was a ~ job to do)
simultaneous adj. ~with
sin I n. 1. to commit a ~ 2. to expiate; recant a -~
3. to forgive smb.'s — 4. a deadly; inexpiable; mor-
mortal; unforgivable, unpardonable; venial ~ 5. orig-
original ~ 6. a ~ against 7. a ~ to + inf. (it's a ~ to tell
227
a lie) 8. a ~ that + clause (it's a ~ that her talents
are being wasted) 9. (misc.) (obsol.) to live in ~
('to live together without being married*)
sin II v. (D; intr.) to ~ against
sincerity n. 1. to demonstrate, show ~ 2. (misc.)
to doubt smb.'s ~; in all ~
sinful adj. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to waste so much
food)
sing v. 1. (C; more rarely A) ~ a song for/to us; or:
~ us a song 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about, of 3. (D; intr.)
to ~ to (to ~ to a piano accompaniment) 4. (D;
intr.) to ~ with 5. (misc.) to ~ in tune; to ~ out of
tune; to — a baby to sleep
singer /t. a folk ~
single file n. (to walk) in-
single out v. (D; tr.) to ~ for (to ~ smb. out for
special treatment)
singular /t. in the-
sink I n. the bathroom (AE; BE has handbasin,
wash-hand basin); kitchen ~
sink II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - below (to ~ below the
surface) 2. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ into (to ~ into obliv-
oblivion; to ~ one's teeth into a good steak) 3. (D;
intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to the bottom)
sip n. to take a ~
siren /t. 1. to sound, turn on a — 2. an air-raid;
ambulance ~ 3. a — goes off, rings, sounds, wails
sister /t. 1. a big, older; kid (colloq.), little,
younger; twin ~ 2. a foster; half ~; stepsister 3. a
lay; soul ~ 4. a ~ to (she was like a ~ to us)
sit v. 1. to ~ quietly, still 2. (d; intr.) ('to pose') to
~ for (to - for a portrait) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ on ('to
be a member of) (to ~ on a committee) 4. (d;
intr.) to ~ through (we had to ~ through the
whole boring speech) 5. (misc.) to ~ tight ('to re-
refrain from taking action'); to - for an examina-
examination/to ~ an examination (BE) ('to take an exami-
examination'); to ~ on the bench ('to be a judge'); to be
-ting pretty ('to be well off)
sit down v. 1. to ~ hard 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to (to ~
to a meal)
site /i. a battlefield; camping; construction ~
sit-in я. to conduct, hold; organize, stage a ~
sit in v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to attend') to ~ as (she sat in
as our representative) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for ('to
replace') (she sat in for me while I was out of town)
3. (D; intr.) to ~ on ('to attend') (we sat in on a
few meetings)
sitter n. a baby; house ~
sitting duck n. ['easy target'] a ~ for
situation n. 1. to comprehend, grasp, take in a ~
2. to accept a ~ 3. an awkward; crisis, emergency;
critical; delicate; desperate; embarrassing; explo-
explosive; fluid; hopeless, no-win (colloq.); intolerable;
life-and-death; stable; tricky; unpleasant ~ 4. the
housing; international, world; political — 5.
(misc.) to take stock of the ~ USAGE NOTE:
Some purists prefer the simple words crisis and
emergency to phrases such as crisis situation and
emergency situation.
sit-up /i. ['exercise'] to do ~s
sit up v. (D; intr.) to-with (to-with a sick child)
sit well v. (D; intr.) to-with ('to be accepted by')
(such behavior doesn't ~ with them)
slack
six-shooter n. see pistol 1-4,6
size n. 1. to take (colloq.), wear (a) certain ~
(what ~ do you wear?) 2. an enormous, tremen-
tremendous; large; moderate; small ~ 3. the right; wrong
~ (they gave me the wrong ~) 4. boys'; children's;
girls'; junior; men's; misses'; women's ~s 5. life ~
6. of a certain ~ (of tremendous ~) 7. (misc.) what
~ shirt do you wear?
skate /i. 1. an ice; roller ~ 2. a pair of ~s
skate over n. (D; intr.) to -to (she ~d over to us)
skater n. a figure; speed ~
skating n. figure; ice; roller; speed ~
skeleton n. a human-
skeptical, sceptical adj. -about,of
skepticism, scepticism n. 1. to demonstrate, dis-
display ~ 2. to maintain (a) ~ 3. ~ about (to main-
maintain a healthy ~ about smt.) 4. (misc.) an air of ~
sketch /i. ['drawing'] 1. to draw, make a - 2. a
composite ~ 3. a rough ~ ['short essay'] 4. a brief,
thumbnail ~ 5. a biographical ~
skid v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (cars often ~ on ice)
skid row see row 13
skill /i. 1. to acquire, master; hone a ~ 2. to
demonstrate, display, show ~ 3. consummate,
great ~ 4. diplomatic; professional; technical ~ 5.
marketable ~s 6. ~ at, in; with (~ at/in using a
computer; ~ with one's hands) 7. the ~ to + inf.
(she had the — to cope with a difficult job) 8.
(misc.) to market one's ~s
skilled adj. 1. highly ~ 2. - at, in; with
skillful, skilful, adj. ~ at, in; with (~ at tying
knots; ~ with one's hands)
skim v. 1. (d; intr.) to - through ('to read
quickly') (to ~ through an article) 2. (P; intr., tr.)
('to bounce') the boy ~med stones along the sur-
surface of the water
skimp v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to - on food)
skin I /i. 1. to tan a ~ 2. to cast, shed, slip one's ~
(the snake shed its ~) 3. chapped; coarse, rough;
dark; delicate; dry; fair; fine; irritated; light; oily;
sensitive; smooth; soft ~ 4. human ~ 5. (after sun-
sunburn) ~ blisters; peels 6. (misc.) to save one's ~
('to save one's life'); a thick ~ ('insensitivity'); a
thin ~ ('excessive sensitivity'); to get under smb.'s
~ ('to irritate smb.')
skin II v. (N; used with an adjective) to - smb.
alive ('to punish smb. severely')
skirmish I n. 1. a border; minor — 2. a ~ between;
with
skirmish II v. (D; intr.) to - with
skirt /t. 1. to hem; lengthen; shorten a — 2. a
divided; full; gored ~; miniskirt; pleated; slit;
wraparound ~
skis /t. water —
skit /t. to do a— on
skunk n. (misc.) to smell a ~ (esp. AE; colloq.)
('to sense trouble')
sky n. 1. a blue, clear, cloudless; cloudy; dull,
gray, overcast, sullen; starry — 2. a — clears up;
clouds up, clouds over 3. a patch of (blue) ~ 4. in
the-
skyline /t. an imposing; jagged—
slab /i. a concrete; marble; mortuary; stone ~
slack n. ['part that hangs loose'] to take up the —

slacks
228
229
snowball
(of a rope)
slacks n. a pair of ~
slander n. to spread-
slang n. student; underworld ~
slanted adj. ['biased'] ~ against; towards (the arti-
article was ~ against our viewpoint)
slap I /i. 1. to give smb. a ~ (in the face) 2. (misc.)
a — in the face ('a direct insult'); a ~ on the wrist
('a gentle reprimand')
slap II v. l.(d;intr.) ('to strike') to-against (the
waves were ~ping against the sides of the boat) 2.
(D; tr.) ('to strike') to ~ in (to ~ smb. in the face)
3. (d; tr.) ('to impose') to — on (to — new restric-
restrictions on exporters) 4. (misc.) to ~ smb. on the
wrist ('to reprimand smb. gently')
slash v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at smb. with a
knife)
slate I n. ['record of past performance'] a clean ~
(to start off with a clean ~)
slate II v. (colloq.) (BE) (D; tr.) ('to criticize
severely') to — for (the play was ~d for its
dialogue)
slated adj. (AE) ['scheduled'] (cannot stand
alone) 1. ~ for (~ for promotion) 2. ~ to + inf.
(she is — to be promoted soon)
slaughter n. indiscriminate, mass, wanton,
wholesale —
slave I n. 1. to free, liberate a ~ 2. a fugitive,
runaway ~ 3. (fig.) a ~ to (a — to a habit) 4.
(misc.) to buy; sell ~s
slave II v. (d; intr.) to ~ over (to — over a hot
stove)
slave away v. (D; intr.) to ~ at; over (to ~ over a
hot stove)
slavery n. 1. to establish, introduce ~ 2. to abolish
— 3. white ~
sledding n. (colloq.) (AE) ['progress'] rough,
tough ~
sleep I /t. 1. to induce ~ 2. to get (enough) ~ 3.
deep, heavy, profound, sound; fitful; light; restful
~ 4. (misc.) to go to ~; to walk in one's ~; to put
to ~ ('to kill'); ('to make unconscious'); to lose ~
over ('to worry a great deal about'); one's beauty
-~; to get/have a good night's ~
sleep II v. 1. to-fitfully; lightly; soundly 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ on ('to postpone for a day') (to ~ on a
decision) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to have sexual
relations with') 4. (misc.) my foot went to ~
sleeper n. a heavy, sound; light ~
sleeve n. 1. to roll up one's ~s 2. (misc.) to have
smt. up one's ~ ('to have a secret'); to roll up one's
~s and get down to work ('to get down to serious
work')
slice I n. 1. to cut off a - of 2. a thick; thin ~
slice II v. 1. (C) ~~ a piece of meat for me; or: ~
me a piece of meat 2. (d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into
the bread) 3. (d; intr.) to — through (the ice-
icebreaker ~d through the ice) 4. (N; used with an
adjective) she ~d the bread thin
slick n. an oil ~
slide I /t. a hair ~ (BE; AE has barrette)
slide II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ down (to ~ down a
hill) 2. (d; intr.) to - from, out of (the glass slid
from her hand) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ into (the car skid-
skidded and slid into a ditch) 4. (AE) (baseball) (D;
intr.) to ~ into ('to occupy by sliding') (he slid into
second base)
slide rule n. to operate, use a -
slides n. 1. to project, show ~ 2. to mount ~
slight /i. (lit.) ['slur'] a ~ on, to (a ~ on smb.'s
honor)
slime п. ~ oozes
sling I n. in a ~ (her arm was in a ~)
sling II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — at (to ~ stones at smb.
2. (misc.) to ~ mud at smb.) ('to slander smb.')
slink v. (P; intr.) to ~ through the bushes
slip I /i. ['error'] 1. to make a ~ (of the tongue) 2.
a Freudian — ['escape'] (colloq.) 3. to give smb.
the ~ ['piece of paper'] 4. a credit (BE), deposit ~
(in a bank); a sales ~ (AE) 5. a call ~ ('request for
a library book') 6. a pink ~ ('notice of termination
of employment') 7. a rejection ~ ('notification
that a manuscript has been rejected by a pub-
publisher')
slip II v. 1. (A) ('to hand') she ~ped a note to me;
or: she ~ped me a note 2. (d; intr.) to ~ by, past
('to get by unnoticed') (they easily ~ped by the
roadblock) 3. (D; intr.) to — from, out of ('to fall
from') (the glass ~ped out of her hand) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to move quickly') to ~- into (to — into a
room) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ into ('to change into') (to
— into smt. more comfortable; to ~ into a dressing
gown) 6. (d; tr.) to ~ into {'to insert surreptiti-
surreptitiously') (to ~ a clause into a contract; she ~ped a
note into his hand) 7. (D; intr.) ('to slide and fall')
to ~ on (he —ped on a banana peel) 8. (d; intr.)
('to move quickly') to ~ out of (to ~ out of a
house) 9. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to take off) (he
~ped out of his sweat suit) 10. (d; intr., tr.) to ~
through ('to pass through; to cause to pass
through') (several scouts ~ped through their
lines; we were able to ~ an agent through their
security net; the opportunity ~ped through his
fingers)
slipcovers /i. (AE) 1. to make — 2. to put on ~ 3.
custom-made ~
slippers n. 1. house ~ 2. a pair of ~
slip up v. (D; intr.) ('to blunder') to ~ on (she
~ped up on the last question)
slit I n. a narrow-
slit II v. (N; used with an adjective) she slit the
envelope open
slither v. (P; intr.) to ~ along the ground
slobber v. (colloq.) to ~ all over smb.
slog v. (P; intr.) to ~* through the mud
slogan /t. 1. to coin a ~ 2. a catchy ~
slog away v. (D;intr.)to~at(tokeep~gingaway
at one's homework)
slope I n. a gentle, gradual ~
slope II v. 1. to ~ gently, gradually 2. (P; intr.)
the river bank ~*s to the east
slosh v. (P; intr.) to ~ through the snow
slot /i. (colloq.) ['position'] to fill; fit into a ~
slot machine n. (AE) ['gambling device'] to play a
~ (BE has fruit machine)
slouch n. (colloq.) ['incompetent person'] no ~ at
(she is no ~ at getting things done)
slouch down v. (D; intr.) to ~ behind (she ~ed
down behind the steering wheel)
slow adj. 1. ~ at, in (she was ~ in reacting) 2. ~ to
+ inf. (she was ~- to react)
slow burn /i. (slang) (AE) to do a ~ ('to become
angry gradually')
slowdown /i. an economic —
slow motion n. ['slow-motion photography'] in ~
(they showed the finish in ~)
sludge n. activated ~
slug v. (colloq.) (O) (can be used with one ani-
animate object) ('to punch') I'll ~ you one
slum v. to go ~ming
slumber n. deep ~
I /i. a business, economic —
II v. (D; intr.) to - to (the ground)
n. 1. to clean up, clear away, tear down ~ 2.
festering; inner-city, urban ~
slur I n. ['insult'] 1. to cast a ~ 2. an ethnic, racial
~ 3. a ~ on (his remark was a ~ on my character)
slur II v. (d; intr.) to ~ over ('to minimize') (to ~
over a blunder)
slut /t. a common ~
smack I v. (colloq.) (O) (can be used with one
animate object) I'll ~ you one
smack II v. (d; intr.) to ~ of ('to suggest') (to ~
of treason)
smallpox л. 1. to contract, develop ~ 2. a ~
epidemic (there have been no ~ epidemics for
many years)
small talk n. to make ~
smart I adj. ['impudent'] (colloq.) 1. to get— with
(don't get ~ with me) ['shrewd'] 2. ~ to + inf. (she
was ~ to refuse; it was — of him to reinvest his
money)
smart II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at, over (to ~ at an
insult) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ under (to ~ under injus-
injustice)
smash v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~- into (to ~ into another
car) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ through (to ~ through a
fence)
smattering n. to acquire, pick up a ~ of (they have
picked up a ~ of the language)
smear n. (med.) 1. to do, take a — 2. a Pap ~ (they
did a Pap ~ on each patient)
smell I /i. 1. to give off a ~ 2. an acrid; bad, disa-
disagreeable, foul; faint, slight; persistent; rank;
strong; sweet ~ 3. a ~ of (the ~ of paint)
smell II v. l.(D;intr.)to~like,of(to~offish)
2. (J) we ~-ed smt. burning 3. (s) the food ~s good
smile I /i. 1. to crack, flash a ~ at 2. to give smb.
a ~ 3. to evoke a — 4. to hide, repress a ~ 5. a
beguiling, intriguing; cheerful, happy; disarming;
fixed; forced; infectious; radiant; ready; sardonic;
sunny; supercilious ~ 6. (misc.) they are all ~s at
the good news
smile II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at (she ~d at me) 2.
(D; intr.) to ~ on ('to favor') (fortune ~d on us) 3.
(misc.) to ~ from ear to ear
smirk v. (D; intr.) to ~ at
smite v. (rare; formal) (N; used with an adjective)
to — smb. dead
smithereens n. to break, smash smt. into, to ~
smitten adj. ['affected'] (formal) 1. — by, with (~
by disease) ['infatuated'] (colloq.) 2. - by, with
(he was totally ~ with her)
smoke n. ['gaseous products of burning'] 1. to
belch, emit, give off ~ (chimneys belch ~) 2. to
inhale ~ 3. heavy, thick; light ~ 4. ~ pours from
(a chimney) 5. ~ eddies, spirals (upward) 6. a col-
column; pall; puff; wisp of ~ ['act of smoking'] 7. to
have a ~ 8. (to go out) for a ~
smoker n. a chain; habitual, heavy, inveterate ~
smokescreen n. to lay (down) a ~
smooth adj. 1. ~ to (~ to the touch) 2. (misc.) as
~ as silk
smuggle v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ across (to ~ goods
across a border) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ by, past, through
(to ~ a diamond past customs) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ into
(to ~ currency into a country) 4. (D; tr.) to ~ out
of (to ~ stolen goods out of a country)
smuggling /t. to engage in ~
smut /t. (esp. AE) a — peddler
snack /i. 1. to have a ~- 2. to fix ('prepare') a ~ 3.
a between-meal; midnight ~; party ~s
snag /t. ['obstacle'] (colloq.) 1. to hit a — ['jagged
tear'] 2. to get a ~ (in one's stocking)
snake In. 1. a poisonous, venomous ~ 2. ~s bite,
strike; coil; crawl; hibernate; hiss; molt, shed skin
3. (misc.) a ~ in the grass ('a treacherous person')
snake II v. (colloq.) he ~d his way through the
crowd
snap I /i. ['spell of weather'] 1. a cold ~ ['some-
['something easy'] (colloq.) 2. a ~ to + inf. (it was a ~ to
find information about that author = it was a ~
finding information about that author)
snap II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — at (the dog ~ped at
him; to ~ at the bait) 2. (misc.) to — to attention;
to ~ out of a bad mood
snapshot n. to take a ~
snarl v. 1. (B) he ~ed a few words to me 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ at
snatch I /i. ['fragment'] to catch ~es (of conversa-
conversation)
snatch II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ at (she ~ed at the
line that the sailors threw to her) 2. (D; tr.) to ~
from, out of (he ~ed the purse from her hand)
sneak v. (P; intr.) the boy ~ed into the theater; to
~ around in the bushes
sneak up v. (D; intr.) to ~ on, to (he ~ed up to
them)
sneaky adj. (colloq.)-of (that was- of him)
sneer v. (D; intr.) to ~ at
sneeze v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to — at ('to consider
lightly') (don't — at their offer)
sniff v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (the dog ~ed at her)
snipe v. (D; intr.) to— at (the press keeps—ing at
her)
snit n. (colloq.) (AE) ['state of agitation'] in a—
snook /i. (colloq.) (BE) to cock a-at ('to thumb
one's nose at')
snore I n. a loud ~
snore II v. to — loudly
snow I /i. 1. drifting; driving, heavy; light — 2.
crisp; new-fallen ~ 3. — falls; melts; sticks 4. a
blanket of ~ 5. in the ~ (to play in the ~) 6.
(misc.) to shovel ~; as white as ~
II v. to ~ hard, heavily; lightly
I /i. to throw a ~ at

snowball
snowball II v. (D; intr.) ('to expand') to ~ into
snowball fight n. to have a —
snowfall n. a heavy; light ~
snow job n. (colloq.) ['deception, flattery'] to give
smb. a ~
snowman n. to build, make a ~
snowshoes n. 1. a pair of ~ 2. (to walk) on ~
snowstorm n. see storm 1 2
snub /t. a deliberate; obvious ~
snuff /i. 1. to take ~ 2. a pinch of ~ 3. (misc.) not
up to ~ ('not up to an acceptable standard')
snuggle v. (d; intr.) to ~ against (the children ~d
against each other)
snuggle up v. (d; intr.) to— to (the little girl ~d up
to her doll)
soak v. (d; intr.) to ~ into (the water ~ed in to the
soil)
soap /i. 1. face; laundry; liquid; powdered;saddle;
scented; toilet — 2. a bar, cake of ~
sob I n. a bitter ~
sob II v. 1. to ~ bitterly 2. (B) the child -bed a
few words to us 3. (misc.) to ~ oneself to sleep
sober adj. cold,stone-
socialism n. 1. Fabian; Utopian 2. under ~ (to live
under ~)
social work n. todo —
society /i. ['group, association'] 1. to establish,
found, set up a ~ 2. to disband, dissolve a ~ 3. a
burial; historical; honor; humane; learned; liter-
literary; medical; musical; secret ~ 4. a friendly (BE),
mutual-aid (AE) ~ 5. a building ~ (BE; AE has
building and loan association) ['community'] 6. to
polarize; unite a ~ 7. an advanced; affluent;
civilized; closed; open; pluralistic; primitive ~
['class'] 8. high; polite ~ 9. in ~ (such words are
not used in polite ~)
sock I /i. I.toknit~s2. to darn, mend a ~3. ath-
athletic; knee; stretch; tube ~s 4. a pair of ~s
sock II v. (colloq.) to ~ it to smb. ('to speak to
smb., act towards smb. in a very forceful manner')
socket n. a wall-
soda n. ['form of sodium'] 1. baking; caustic;
washing ~['beverage'] 2. (a) club; cream; ice-
icecream ~ ['soda water'] 3. a dash of — 4. (misc.) (a)
whiskey and ~
sodomy n. to commit, practice ~
soft adj. (colloq.) ['attracted'] 1. ~ on (he is ~ on
her) ['lenient'] 2. ~ on (this judge is not ~ on
drunk drivers)
soft spot /t. ['weakness'] to have a ~ for
software n. computer; proprietary; public-domain
soil n. 1. to cultivate, till, work the — 2. to fertilize;
irrigate the ~ 3. barren, poor; fertile; firm;
packed; sandy; soggy; swampy ~
solace n. 1. to find ~ in 2. a ~ to (she was a ~ to
her parents)
solder n. to apply; melt ~
soldier n. 1. an armed; common; foot; profes-
professional; seasoned ~ 2. a ~ defects, deserts; enlists;
fights; goes AWOL; reenlists; serves; trains 3.
(misc.) the Unknown Soldier
sole I /t. ['bottom part of a shoe'] 1. to put (new)
~s on shoes 2. a half ~
230
sole II n. ['type of fish'] fillet of ~
solicitor n. 1. The Solicitor General ('the assistant
attorney general') 2. (GB) barristers and ~s
solicitous adj. -about,of
solicitude n. to show-for
solid adj. to be in ~ with smb.
solidarity n. 1. to express; feel; show ~ 2. ~ with
(to express one's ~ with the protestors)
solitaire n. (AE) ['card game'] to play ~ (BE has
patience)
solitary confinement n. 1. to put smb. into ~2. in
solitude n. 1. complete, utter — 2. in ~ (to live in
complete ~)
solo I adv. to dance; fly; perform; play; sing ~
solo II n. to perform a ~
solstice n. the summer; winter ~
solution n. ['answer'] ['explanation'] 1. to find a ~
2. to apply a ~ 3. an easy; glib; ideal; ingenious;
neat; satisfactory - 4. a ~ for, to (a ~ to a prob-
problem) ['mixture'] 5. a strong; weak ~ 6. a saline ~
some pronoun, determiner 1. ~ to + inf. (we have
~ to sell; we have ~ books to sell) 2. ~ 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 mean-
meaning-we saw some people; we saw some of the
people whom we had discussed earlier, (see also
the Usage Note for something)
somebody pronoun ~ to + inf. (we have ~ to talk
to) (see also the Usage Note for something)
someone see somebody
someplace (AE)see somewhere
somersault n. to do, execute, turn a ~
something п., pronoun 1. an indefinable, inde-
indescribable, intangible ~ 2. ~ for (she has ~ for you)
3. ~ to + inf. (we have ~ to say) 4. (misc.) to make
~ of oneself ('to have success in life'); ('slang') I
don't know if he wants to make ~ of it ('I don't
know if he wants to make an issue of it'); there is
~ unusual about them; she is ~ of a celebrity
USAGE NOTE: The form some and its com-
compounds are often used in affirmative statements,
whereas any and its compounds are often used in
neg. and interrogative statements. Compare we
have some books to sell—we don't have any books
to sell; we have something to say-do you have any-
anything to say? we have somebody to talk to-we don7
have anybody to talk to; we have somewhere to go-
do you have anywhere to go? However, in the
meaning 'no matter', any and its compounds
occur in affirmative statements~we will take any
of these; they can say anything they want; we will
talk to anyone; we will go anywhere. Some and
its compounds can occur in questions, especially
when an affirmative answer is expected-don't you
have something to say to me? would you like some
brandy?
somewhere adv. — to + inf. (we have ~ to go) (see
also the Usage Note for something)
son n. 1. to adopt a ~ 2. to marry off a —3. an only
~ 4. an adopted; foster ~; stepson 5. a - to (he
was like a ~ to them) 6. (misc.) a favorite ~ (AE;
pol.); a prodigal ~ (fig.)
231
song n. 1. to compose, write a ~ 2. to belt out (col-
(colloq.), sing; hum; play; whistle a ~ (the orchestra
was playing our ~) 3. a drinking; folk; love;
marching; theme ~ 4. a swan ('farewell') — 5.
(misc.) the same old ~ ('the same story, com-
complaint')
sonic barrier n. to break the-
sonic boom n. to cause, generate, produce a ~
sonnet /i. 1. to compose, write a ~ 2. an Italian,
Petrarchan; Shakespearean; Spenserian ~
sop n. ['concession'] to throw a — to
sophistication n. the ~ to + inf. (will she have
enough ~ to deal with their questions?)
sophistry /i. 1. pure ~ 2. ~ to + inf. (it's pure ~ to
rationalize such behavior)
soprano /i. to sing ~
sorcery /i. to practice ~
sore I adj. ['angry'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 1. ~ at
(why is she ~ at me?) 2. ~ over (~ over smb.'s
remark) ['hurt'] 3. ~ from (~ from riding horse-
horseback)
sore II /i. a bedsore; canker; cold; open, running;
saddle ~
sore throat n. to come down with; have a ~
sorority n. (US) 1. to pledge a ~ ('to agree to join
a sorority') 2. a college ~ (see also fraternity)
sorrow n. 1. to cause ~ 2. to express; feel; show ~
3. to alleviate smb.'s ~ 4. deep, great, inexpress-
inexpressible, keen, profound ~ 5. personal ~ 6. ~ at (to
feel deep ~ at the death of a friend) 7. to smb. 's ~
(to my great ~ I never saw them again)
sorry adj. 1. dreadfully, terribly ~ 2. ~ about 3. ~
for (she is ~ for him; we are ~ for being late) 4. ~
to + inf. (I am ~- to inform you that your applica-
application has been rejected) 5. ~ that + clause (we are
~ that you weren't able to come)
sort /i. a bad; curious; good ~ (a curious ~ of a
life)
sortie /i. 1. to carry out, make a ~ 2. to fly as-
assort of adv. (colloq.) ['more or less'] I ~ expected
it (to happen)
SOS /i. to broadcast, send an ~
soul n. 1. to save smb.'s-2. an artistic; immortal;
kindly; kindred; lost; poor; timid ~
sound I adj. ['healthy'] ~ in, of (~ in mind and
body)
sound II /i. 1. to emit, make, produce, utter;
transmit a ~ 2. to articulate, enunciate, pro-
pronounce a ~ 3. to turn down; turn up the ~ (on a
radio, TV set) 4. to carry ~ (air carries ~s) 5. a
faint; hollow; loud; rasping; soft ~ 6. ~ travels
(much slower than light) 7. a — rings out 8. to a ~
(to the ~ of music)
sound III v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ like (that ~s like a
great idea) 2. (BE) (S) that ~s a great idea 3. (s)
their excuse ~ed reasonable
sound barrier n. to break the —
sound off v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ against ('to
criticize') (to ~ against an idea)
soup /i. 1. to eat; make-2. clear; cold; hot; thick;
warm ~ 3. cabbage; celery; chicken; onion; pea;
tomato; vegetable ~ 4. a bowl; cup of ~
sour adj. to go, turn ~ (things went ~; the whole
affair turned ~)
speak
source /i. 1. to tap a ~ 2. to cite; disclose, indicate,
reveal one's ~s 3. an impeccable, unimpeachable;
reliable, reputable, trustworthy; unreliable ~ 4.
an undisclosed, unnamed ~ 5. an original ~ 6. an
energy ~ 7. ~s dry up 8. at a ~ (it is best to make
inquiries at the original ~s) 9. (misc.) ~s close to
the government revealed that...
south I adj., adv. 1. directly, straight ~ 2. ~ of (~
of the city) 3. (misc.) to go/head ~
south II n. 1. in, to the ~ 2. (misc.) down ~
South Pole n. at the-
sovereignty n. 1. to grant ~ 2. to establish ~ 3. to
violate a country's ~ 4. ~ over
space /i. 1. to save ~ 2. breathing ~; (an) empty ~
3. a crawl; parking ~ 4. office; storage ~ 5.
airspace; interplanetary, interstellar, outer ~ 6.
(a) ~ between 7. ~ for 8. (misc.) the (wide) open
~s; to indent several ~s; to violate a country's
airspace
spacebar n. (on a typewriter) to press a ~
spacecraft n. a manned ~ (see the Usage Note for
ship)
spaceffight n. 1. a manned; unmanned ~- 2. a ~ to
(a — to the moon)
space probe n. to launch a ~
space vehicle n. to launch a ~ (see the Usage Note
for ship)
spacing /i. (on a typewriter) double; single-
span /i. 1. a brief ~ 2. an attention; life; memory
~ 3. in a ~ (in the brief ~ of ten years)
spanking /i. 1. to give smb. a (good) ~ 2. to get a
~ 3. (misc.) to deserve a ~
spanner n. a box ~ (BE; AE has lug wrench)
spare v. 1. (C) can you ~ a few minutes for me
today? or: can you — me a few minutes today? 2.
(O; can be used with one animate object) ~ us the
details; he wanted to ~ you embarrassment
sparing adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ of
spark /i. 1. to emit, produce a - 2. ~s fly
sparrow /i. 1. ~s chirp 2. a flock of ~s
spasm /t. a muscle ~
spat I /i. ['quarrel'] to have a ~ with
spat II v. (D; intr.) ('to quarrel') to-with
speak v. 1. ('to talk') to ~ bluntly, candidly,
frankly, freely; coherently; correctly; fluently;
glibly; incorrectly; irresponsibly; loudly; openly;
politely; quickly, rapidly; quietly, softly; responsi-
responsibly; rudely; slowly; truthfully 2. (D; intr.) ('to
talk') to ~ about, of (to ~ about politics) 3. (d;
intr.) to ~ for ('to be a spokesperson for') (she
spoke for all of us; who will ~ for the accused?) 4.
(d; intr.) ('to talk') to ~ from (to ~ from the heart;
to ~ from experience) 5. (d; intr.) ('to converse')
to ~ in (they were ~ing in English; more usu. is:
they were -ing English) 6. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to
address') (she spoke to the crowd; to ~ to the sub-
subject; to ~ to the question on the agenda; don't ~
to him) 7. (D; intr.) ('to converse') to ~ to, with
(she spoke to me about several things; I spoke
with them for an hour) 8. (misc.) to ~ well of smb.
('to praise smb.'); to ~ ill of smb. ('to criticize
smb.'); it ~s for itself ('it is self-evident'); roughly
-ing ('approximately'); strictly ~ ('in concrete
terms')

speaker
speaker п. ['one who speaks'] 1. a native ~ (of a
language) 2. an effective, good; fluent ~ 3. a
guest; public — (she is a good public —) ['device
that amplifies sound'] 4. an extension —;
loudspeaker
speaking n. public —
speaking terms n. to be on ~ with smb.
speak out v. 1. (D;intr.) to ~ about, concerning,
on (to — on a subject) 2. (d; intr.) to — against ('to
oppose') (to — against a proposal) 3. (d; intr.) to —
for ('to support') (to — for a proposal)
speak up see speak out
spear /i. 1. to hurl, throw a — at 2. to thrust a —
into
spearhead n. 1. to send out a ~ 2. an armored ~
special adj. — to
specialist n. 1. to call in; consult a ~ 2. a ~ in, on
(a — in plastic surgery; a — on Milton)
specialize v. (D; intr.) to ~ in
species n. 1. an endangered ~ 2. a ~ becomes
extinct, dies out; survives
specifications n. 1. to adhere to, meet ~ 2. rigid ~
specify v. 1. (D; tr.) to — by (to — smb. by name)
2. (L) the contract ~fies that a penalty must be
paid if the work is not completed on time 3. (Q)
the instructions — how the medicine is to be taken
specimen n. a blood; sputum; stool; urine ~
specs (colloq.)see spectacles
spectacle n. ['show, exhibition'] 1. to stage a ~ 2.
a dramatic — ['object of curiosity'] 3. to make a —
of oneself 4. a pitiful —
spectacles n. (now esp. BE) a pair of —
spectators n. to seat — (the stadium seats sixty
thousand —)
spectrum n. a broad, wide —
speculate v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to meditate, think') to
— about, on (to — about what might have been) 2.
(D; intr.) ('to conduct business by taking risks') to
— in; on (to — in oil shares; to — in gold; to — on
the stock market) 3. (L) ('to assume, think') they
—d that the election results would be close
speculation n. ['meditation, thinking'] 1. to
indulge in - 2. idle; wild — 3. a flurry of - 4. -
about (— about the upcoming elections) 5. — that
+ clause (there was — that a treaty would be
signed) ['risky business methods'] 6. to engage in
— 7. — in (— in stocks and bonds)
speculator n. a property (BE), real-estate (AE);
stock-market —
speculum n. a nasal; vaginal ~
speech n. ['address, talk'] 1. to deliver, give, make
a — 2. to ad-lib, improvise a — 3. a boring; brief,
short; impromptu, unrehearsed; long; long-
winded; passionate; rambling; rousing, stirring ~
4. an acceptance; after-dinner; campaign;
farewell; inaugural; keynote; political; welcoming
— 5. a — about ['communication in words'] 6. free
— ['pronunciation'] 7. clipped — 8. impaired; slur-
slurred-
speechless adj. 1. to be left - 2. - with (- with
anger)
speed n. ['swiftness, velocity'] 1. to build up, pick
up; maintain — 2. to reach a — (to reach cruising
—; to reach a — of one hundred miles an hour) 3.
232
breakneck, breathtaking, high, lightning; cruis-
cruising; deliberate, full, top; low; moderate; steady;
supersonic — 4. a burst of — 5. at a certain — (at
top —) 6. (misc.) full — ahead! ['amphetamine']
(slang) 7. to shoot; snort —
speed limit n. 1. to enforce; establish a ~ 2. to
observe a — 3. to exceed a —
speedtrap n. to set up a —
spell n. ['incantation'] 1. to cast a ~ on, over 2. to
break, remove a — 3. a magic — 4. under a —
spellbinding adj. - to + inf. (it's - to read her
memoirs)
spelling n. 1. phonetic — 2. in (phonetic) ~
spell out v. (B) they ~ed out their demands to us
spend v. 1. (D; tr.) to - for, on (to - a lot of
money for a new car; to — a lot on repairs) 2. (D;
tr.) to — in (to — a great deal of time in studying/
time studying)
spending n. deficit; defense; government —
spider n. 1. —s crawl 2. —s spin webs
spill I n. ['accidental pouring'] 1. an oil ~ ['fall'] 2.
to take a — (from a horse) 3. a nasty —
spill II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - all over, on (I -ed the
milk all over her) 2. (d; intr.) ('to pour') to — into
(the crowd was —ing into the streets) 3. (d; intr.)
('to flow') to — out of (the liquid was —ing out of
the container)
spin /i. ['fast drive'] (colloq.) to go for, take a —
(let's go for a — around town)
spinal tap n. to do a — (on smb.)
spiral n. an inflationary; wage-price — (a vicious
inflationary —)
spirit I n. ['vigor'] ['enthusiasm'] 1. to display,
show — 2. to catch the — (of the times) 3. to break
smb.'s — (her — was broken) 4. (a) civic; class; col-
college; competitive; dauntless, hardy; ecumenical;
fighting; partisan; patriotic; rebellious; religious;
school; scientific; team — 5. a guiding; moving ~
6. (misc.) a ~ of good will pervaded the conversa-
conversation ['supernatural being, ghost'] 7. to conjure up,
evoke a — 8. an evil; holy — ['soul'] 9. a kindred —
10. in — (in body and in —) ['attitude'] 11.in a —
(in a — of cooperation)
spirit II v. (P; tr.) he was—ed off to prison
spirits n. ['mood'] 1. to lift, raise smb.'s ~ 2. to
dampen smb.'s — 3. good, high — 4. — droop, flag;
rise 5. in — (in high —) ['alcohol'] 6. to drink ~
spit v. 1. (D; intr.) to - at, on 2. (d; intr.) to - in,
into (to — in smb.'s face) 3. (d; tr.) to — out of (to
— smt. out of one's mouth)
spite n. 1. in-of 2. out of-(they did it out of-)
spiteful adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to say
that)
splash n. (colloq.) ['vivid impression'] to make a
(big)-
spleen /i. ['bad temper'] 1. to vent one's — on
['ductless organ near the stomach'] 2. a ruptured
splendid ad]. — to + inf. (it was — of you to make
the offer)
splendor, splendour n. 1. regal — 2. in — (to dine
in regal ~)
splice v. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a wire to a cable)
splint n. 1. to apply a — to 2. a — for (a fractured
233
leg)
splinter /i. 1. to get; have a — (in one's finger) 2. to
extract, get out, remove a — (she got the — out of
my finger)
split I /i. ['breach'] 1. a formal; irreparable — 2. a
— between 3. a — in (the party)
split II v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to divide') to - between;
with (we split the profits with them) 2. (d; intr.,
tr.) ('to divide') to — into (they split into several
factions; the teacher split the class into .two
groups)
split ticket п. (АЕ) to vote a-('to distribute one's
vote among candidates of more than one party')
split up v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to - with (she split
up with her boyfriend)
splurge v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to spend extrava-
extravagantly') to — on (to — on a new car)
spoil v. (d; intr.; usu. in a progressive form) to —
for ('to seek') (to be -ing for a fight)
spoils n. to divide the — (of war)
spokesman see spokesperson
spokesperson n. a — for (a — for the strikers)
spokeswoman see spokesperson
sponge I n. ['spongy substance'] 1. to squeeze a —
['symbol of surrender'] 2. to throw in, toss in the —
sponge II v. (colloq.) l.(D;tr.) ('to wheedle') to
— from, off, off of (AE) (he —d a cigarette from
me) 2. (d; intr.) to — on ('to impose on') (to — on
one's friends)
sponsor I /i. 1. a radio; television, TV — 2. a —
for, of
sponsor II v. (D; tr.) to — for (she —ed me for
membership)
sponsorship /t. under smb.'s —
spoon n. a dessert; measuring; soup —; table-
tablespoon; teaspoon
spoonful n. a heaping; level —
sport /t. ['person judged by her/his ability to take
a loss or teasing'] 1. a bad, poor; good — 2. a —
about (she was a good — about losing the bet)
['mockery'] 3. to make — of smb. ('to mock smb.')
['type of physical activity'] 4. a contact; spectator
— 5. an exciting; strenuous, vigorous — (skiing is
an exciting —) ['physical activity'] (BE) 6. to go in
for - 7. fond of -; in the world of - (AE has
sports)
sports n. ['physical activity'] (AE) 1. to go in for —
2. fond of —; in the world of — (BE has sport)
['types of physical activity'] 3. amateur; aquatic,
water; competitive; intercollegiate (AE), inter-
university (BE); intramural; outdoor; profes-
professional; varsity (AE); winter — ['track meet'] (BE)
4. school —; — day
sportsmanship n. to display, show—
spot I n. ['mark, stain'] 1. to leave, make a —2. to
get out, remove a — 3. a grease — ['mark on the
skin'] 4. a beauty — ['area, place'] 5. a high; iso-
isolated, secluded; low — 6. (soccer) the penalty — 7.
at a — (let's meet at this same — tomorrow) ['place
of entertainment'] (colloq.) 8. to hit ('visit') all the
night —s ['point, position'] 9. the high; low — (the
high — of our visit) ['misc.'] 10. on the — ('im-
('immediately'); ('at the center of activity'); ('exposed
to the worst danger'); to put smb. on the — ('to
squander
expose smb. to danger'); a blind — ('an area that
cannot be seen') (also fig.); to have a soft/tender/
warm — (in one's heart) for ('to have a weakness
for'); to be in a tight — ('to be in a difficult situa-
situation'); a trouble — (that reporter has been in many
trouble —s throughout the world); (BE; colloq.) a
— of bother ('a bit of trouble')
spot II v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to identify') to - as (the
police —ted him as a known criminal) 2. (J) ('to
see') we —ted them going through the gate
spot check n. to do, make a —
spotlight n. 1. to direct, focus, shine, turn a —on
2. (fig.) in the —
spouse n. a beloved; faithful; unfaithful —
spout v. (d; intr.) ('to spurt') to — from
sprawl I n. urban —
sprawl II v. (P; intr.) to — on the sofa
sprawling adj. to send smb. —
spread v. 1. to — smt. evenly (to — paint evenly) 2.
to — quickly; unchecked (the epidemic spread
unchecked) 3. (D; intr.) to — to (the epidemic
spread to neighboring countries) 4. (misc.) to —
like wildfire
spree n. 1. to go on a ~ 2. a spending; weekend ~
spring I n. ['season'] 1. an early — 2. in (the) — 3.
(misc.) there is a touch of — in the air; a harbinger
of — ['source of water'] 4. a hot, thermal; mineral;
subterranean — ['bounce, elasticity'] 5. a — to
(there was a — to her step)
spring II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — at (the lion sprang at
the hunter) 2. (D; intr.) ('to arise, result') to —
from 3. (D; tr.) ('to prepare') to — on (to — a sur-
surprise on smb.) 4. (d; intr.) ('to jump') to — to (to
— to smb.'s defense; to — to one's feet)
springboard n. a — for (a — for a new campaign)
spring-dean n. (BE) to do a-
spring-deaning (esp. AE) see spring-dean
spruce up v. (D; refl.) to — for (they —d them-
themselves up for the big party)
spunk /i. (colloq.) ['courage'] 1. to show — 2. the
— to + inf. (she had the — to defend her rights)
spur I /t. ['incentive, stimulus'] 1. a — to ['misc.']
2. on the — of the moment ('without planning')
spur II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. to action)
2. (H) what -red her to do that?
spur on v. 1. (D; tr.) to — to (to — smb. on to
greater effort) 2. (H) we —red them on to make a
greater effort
spurs /i. ['recognition'] 1. to win one's — ['devices
worn on a rider's heel'] 2. to dig, drive one's —
(into the side of a horse) 3. — jingle
spurt I л. a growth —
spurt II v. (D; intr.) to — from (blood —ed from
the wound)
sputum n. to cough up, produce—
spy v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for a foreign
power) 2. (D; intr.) to — on, upon 3. (J) we spied
them coming through the gate
squabble I n. a — about, over; between; with
II v. (D; intr.) to — about, over; with
n. 1. a demolition; firing; flying (BE) — 2. a
/i. in — (to live in —)
v. (D; tr.) to — on (to — a fortune on bad

square
234
investments)
square I n. 1. to draw, make a ~ 2. (misc.) on the
~ ('honest'); back to ~ one ('back to the begin-
beginning')
square II v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ with (their story
doesn't ~ with the facts; to ~ one's account with
smb.)
square root n. to find, extract the ~
squash I n. (BE) ['fruit drink'] lemon; orange ~
squash II п. (AE) ['marrow-like plant'] summer;
winter ~ (BE has marrow)
squawk I n. to let out a ~
squawk II v. (colloq.)(D; intr.) ('tocomplain') to
~- about
squeak n. ['shrill cry'] 1. to emit, let out a ~ ['es-
['escape'] (colloq.) 2. a close ~
squeal I n. to emit, let out a ~
squeal II v. 1. (slang)(D; intr.)('toinform')to-
intr.)('toinform')toon; to (he ~-ed on them to the police) 2. (D; intr.)
to ~ in, with (to ~ with delight)
squeamish adj. -about
squeeze I n. (colloq.) ['hug'] 1. to give smb. a ~
['misc.'] 2. in a tight ~ ('in difficulty')
squeeze II v. 1. (C) — some orange juice for me;
or: — me some orange juice 2. (d; tr.) to ~~ from,
out of (~ some tooth paste out of the tube) 3. (d;
intr., tr.) to ~ into (to ~ into a small room; to ~
juice into a glass) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ through (to ~
through a narrow passage) 5. (N; used with an
adjective) ~ the mops dry
squelch n. (colloq.) ['crushing rebuke'] a perfect
squint v. (D; intr.) to ~ at
squirm v. (d; intr.) to ~ out of ('to evade') (to ~
out of an obligation)
squirt I /t. ['instance of squirting'] 1. to give smt.
a ~ ['insignificant person'] (colloq.) 2. a little ~
squirt II v. (d; intr.) to ~ out of (the liquid ~ed
out of the bottle)
stab n. ['attempt'] (colloq.) 1. to have, make a ~
at ['sensation'] 2. a sharp; sudden ~ (of pain)
['thrust of a pointed weapon'] 3. a ~ in the back
(also fig.)
stability /t. 1. to lend ~ to 2. ~ in
stable n. 1. a livery; riding ~ 2. (misc.) (Greek
mythology) to clean the Augean ~s
stack I n. 1. a bookstack; haystack; smokestack
(esp. AEJ. (misc.) to blow one's — ('to lose one's
temper')
stack II v. 1. (esp. AE) (D; tr.) ('to arrange
underhandedly') to ~~ against (the cards were ~ed
against her) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ with (the floor was ~ed
with books)
stacks n. (in a library) closed; open ~
stack up v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ against, to ('to
compare to') (how do we ~ to the competition?)
stadium n. 1. to crowd, fill, jam, pack a ~ 2. to
empty a ~ 3. a baseball; football; Olympic — 4. a
~ empties; fills
staff n. ['personnel'] 1. an administrative; coach-
coaching; editorial; hospital; medical; nursing; office;
teaching ~ 2. a skeleton ~ 3. on the ~ 4. (misc.)
to join a ~ (she joined the ~ as an editor) ['group
of officers serving a commander'] 5. a general;
joint; military; personal; special ~ 6. on a ~ (he
was on the general ~) 7. (misc.) to assign smb. to
a ~ (she was assigned to the ~ as an intelligence
officer)
stag adj., adv. ['unaccompanied by a member of
the opposite sex'] 1. to go ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ party
stage n. ['platform on which plays are performed']
1. a revolving; sinking; sliding — 2. on (the) ~ (she
has appeared many times on ~; to go on ~)
['scene, setting'] 3. to set the ~ for (the ~ was set
for a showdown) ['level, degree, step'] 4. to reach
a ~ 5. an advanced; beginning, elementary; clos-
closing, final; critical, crucial; intermediate; opening
— 6. flood ~ 7. at a ~ (negotiations were at a cru-
crucial ~; the river was at flood ~) 8. in a ~ (in this
~ of one's development) ['portion, part'] 9. easy
~s 10. by, in ~s (to cover a distance by easy ~s; to
learn a language in easy ~s)
stagger v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from; into (to ~ into
a room) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ out of (to ~ out of a
building) 3. (R) it ~ed me to learn of his defection
4. (misc.) to ~ to one's feet; to ~ under a heavy
burden
staggered adj. 1. —at, by (— at the news of the
earthquake) 2. ~ to + inf. (she was ~ to learn of
the fire)
staggering adj. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to total up the
stain I /i. ['discolored spot'] 1. to leave a ~ 2. to
remove a ~ 3. a stubborn ~ 4. (fig.) a ~ on (a ~
on one's reputation)
stain II v. (N; used with an adjective) we ~ed the
wood dark brown
staircase n. a circular, spiral; winding ~
stairs /i. 1. to climb, go up the ~ 2. to come down;
go down the ~ 3. moving ~
stairway see staircase
stake I /t. ['piece of wood'] 1. to drive a ~ (into
the ground) 2. to plant a ~ (in the ground) ['post']
3. (to burn smb.) at the ~ ['share'] 4. to have a ~
in smt. ['risk'] 5. at ~ (our whole future is at ~)
stake II v. (D; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ a claim to smt.)
stakeout v. (D;tr.)to~on,to(AE)(to~aclaim
to a mine)
stakes n. ['wager'] ['prize'] 1. big, high ~ (to play
for high ~) ['misc.'] (AE) 2. to pull up ~ ('to move
elsewhere')
stalemate n. 1. to break a ~ 2. a continuing ~
stalk v. (P; intr.) to ~ out of the room
stall (BE) see stand 18
stamina n. the ~ to + inf. (she lacked the ~* to
finish the race)
stammer v. (B) she ~ed a few words to us
stamp I n. ['postage stamp'] 1. to put, stick a ~ on
(an envelope) 2. to lick, moisten a ~ 3. to issue a
~ (the post office has issued a new commemora-
commemorative ~) 4. to cancel a ~ 5. an airmail; commemora-
commemorative; postage; revenue; tax ~ 6. a book; roll; sheet
of —s ['coupon'] 7. a food; trading — ['device for
imprinting'] 8. a rubber ~
stamp II v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ as ('to mark') (these
revelations ~ed him as a cheat) 2. (d; intr.) to ~
on ('to crush') (to ~ on an insect) 3. (N; used with
an adjective) she ~ed the document secret
235
stampede I n. to cause, create a ~
stampede II v. (D; tr.) to ~ into (they were ~d
into selling their homes)
stand I n. ['defense'] 1. to make, put up a ~ 2. a
last — ['position'] 3. to take a ~ 4. a firm, resolute,
strong ~ 5. a — on (they took a resolute ~ on the
issue of tax reform) ['rack, small table'] 6. a music
— ['place taken by a witness'] 7. a witness ~ (AE;
BE has witness box) ['small structure used for
conducting business'] (BE often prefers stall) 8.
a fruit; hot-dog ~; newsstand; vegetable ~ ['per-
['performance, engagement'] 9. a one-night ~ ['row']
10. a taxi ~ (esp. AE; BE prefers taxi rank)
stand II v. 1. ('to hold oneself) to-firm; still 2.
(BE) (d; intr.) ('to be a candidate') to ~ as (to ~
as a Labour candidate) 3. (d; intr.) ('to hold one-
oneself erect') to ~ at (to ~ at attention; to ~ at ease)
4. (d; intr.) to ~ by ('to support') (her family stood
by her throughout the trial) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ for
('to represent') (our party used to — for progress)
6. (BE) (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to be a candidate') (to
~ for Parliament) 7. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to toler-
tolerate') (we will not ~ for such conduct) 8. (d; intr.)
to ~ on ('to insist on') (to ~ on one's rights; to ~
on ceremony) 9. (d; intr.) to — over ('to watch')
(he always ~s over me when I work) 10. (d; intr.)
('to be regarded') to ~ with (how do you ~ with
your boss?) 11. (E) ('to face') ('to have as a pros-
prospect') we stood to gain a great deal 12. (esp. BE)
(E; usu. with cannot — can't — couldn't) ('to toler-
tolerate') she couldn't ~ to wait any longer 13. (G; usu.
with cannot — can't — couldn't) ('to tolerate') she
can't ~ waiting 14. (K; usu. with cannot - can't -
couldn't) ('to tolerate') I can't ~ his boasting 15.
(esp. BE) (O) ('to buy') can I ~ you another
round of drinks? 16. (s) she stood first in her class;
to ~ accused of murder 17. (misc.) to — by one's
guns ('to defend one's viewpoint stubbornly'); to
~ on one's own feet ('to support oneself); to ~
tall (esp. AE; colloq.) ('to be resolute')
standard n. 1. to establish, set a ~ 2. to apply a ~
3. to adhere to, maintain a ~ 4. to lower; raise —s/
a — (to raise the — of living; to raise academic ~s)
5. to abandon a ~ (the gold ~ was abandoned) 6.
a high; low — 7. a double ~ (to apply a double ~)
8. the gold ~ (to go off the gold ~) 9. a living ~
(or: a ~ of living) 10. academic, scholastic ~s 11.
on a — (on a gold ~)
standardization n. to achieve, bring about ~
standard of living n. 1. to raise the-2. a high; low
~ 3. a ~ falls, goes down; goes up, rises
stand back v. (D; intr.) to -from
standby n. ['alert'] to be on ~
stand by v. (D; intr.) ('to be ready') to ~ with
(they were ~ing by with additional supplies)
stand dear v. (d; intr.) to ~ of
stand for v. (K) ('to tolerate') I will not ~ their
behaving like that
stand in v. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to substitute for')
(can anyone — for her?)
standing /i. ['duration'] 1. of (long) — (a custom of
long ~) ['status'] 2. academic; advanced — (at a
university) 3. ~ among, with (~ among the vot-
voters) 4. the ~ to + inf. (who has the ~ to take over
start off
the leadership of the party?) 5. (misc.) in good ~;
(US; on a traffic sign) No Standing/No Stopping
(GBhas No Waiting)
stand out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to be clearly visible') to
~ against (to ~ against a dark background) 2. (D;
intr.) ('to be noticeable') to — among, from, in (to
— among the others; to ~ in a crowd; to ~ from
the rest of the group) 3. (D; intr.) Dto be notice-
noticeable') to ~ as (she ~s out as the leading candidate)
standpoint n. from a ~ (from a practical ~; from
our—)
stands /t. ['benches for spectators') in the ~
standstill /t. 1. to bring smt. to a ~ 2. to come to a
~ 3. a complete, total ~ 4. at a -~ (negotiations
were at a complete -~) 5. (misc.) to fight smb. to a
stand up v. l.(d; intr.) to- for ('to defend') (to ~
for one's rights) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to oppose')
(no one dared to ~ to the boss)
star I n. ['heavenly body'] 1. a bright ~ 2. a fall-
falling, shooting — 3. the evening; morning; north ~
4. a distant ~ 5. ~s shine, twinkle ['prominent
performer'] 6. a baseball; basketball; box-office;
film, movie (AE); football; guest; rugby; soccer;
track ~ ['fortune'] 7. a ~ rises; sets, wanes (her ~
was rising) 8. under a ~ (she was born under a
lucky ~) ['medal'] 9. a battle ~
star II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - as (in his last film he
~red as a cowboy) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in a
new play)
starch I /t. corn starch; potato ~
starch II v. to — stiffly
stare I /i. a haughty; icy; vacant ~
stare II v. 1. to ~ wide-eyed 2. (D; intr.) to-at
starlet /t. a film-
starlight n. by-
start I /i. 1. to get off to, make a — 2. a false; fly-
flying, running; fresh, new; head; promising — 3. at
the ~ 4. for a ~ (for a ~ let's agree where we
should meet) 5. from the ~
start II v. 1. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ as (she —ed her
career as a dancer) 2. (D; intr.) ('to leave') to —
for (when did they ~ for the airport?) 3. (d; intr.)
('to leave') to ~ from (we ~ed from Philadelphia)
4. (d; intr.) to — on (to — on another case) 5.(d;
intr., tr.) to ~ with (we'll — with you) 6. (E) she
~ed to cough 7. (G) she —ed coughing 8. (J) what
~ed them drinking?
starter /i. for —s ('to begin with')
start in v. (d; intr.) to — on ('to put pressure on')
(then they ~ed in on her)
startle v. (R) it —d me to see them dressed like
that
startled ad]. 1. ~ at (~ at the news) 2. - to + inf.
(she was — to hear of their divorce)
startling adj. — to + inf. (it was — to realize that
we were completely cut off from the rest of the
world)
start off v. l.(d;intr.,tr.)to~as(she~edoffher
career as a dancer) 2. (D; intr.) ('to leave') to ~
for (to — for the airport) 3. (D; intr.) to — from
('to leave') (we ~ed off from our house) 4. (D;
intr., tr.) ('to begin') to — with (we —ed our tour
off with a visit to the zoo)

start out
236
237
stock
start out see start off
starve v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into sub-
submission) 2. (misc.) to — to death; to — oneself to
death
starved adj. — for, of (BE) (— for company)
state I /t. ['government'] 1. to establish, found,
set up a — 2. to govern, rule a — 3. a buffer; client;
garrison; independent; police; puppet; secular;
sovereign; welfare — 4. a member — (the member
—s of the UN) ['condition'] 5. a comatose; good;
moribund; nervous; poor; transitional; uncon-
unconscious; unspoiled; weakened — 6. one's financial;
mental — 7. a gaseous; liquid; solid — 8. in a — (in
a good ~ of repair; in a poor ~ of health; in a
highly nervous —) 9. (misc.) the — of the art ('the
level of development') ['nervous condition'] 10. in
a — (she was in quite a —) ['pomp'] 11. to lie in —
['one of the fifty American states'] 12. a dry — ('a
state in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is
prohibited') 13. (historical; US) a border; free;
slave —
state II v. 1. to — clearly; emphatically 2. (B) we
—d our views to them 3. (L; to) they —ed (to the
reporters) that a summit conference would take
place soon 4. (Q) she did not — how she expected
to win the election
statehood n. 1. to achieve —2. to seek, strive for —
statement n. ['act of stating'] {'something stated']
1. to issue, make a — 2. to confirm a — 3. to deny;
refute; retract, withdraw a — 4. a brief, short;
clear; false; oral; rash; succinct; sweeping; terse;
vague; written — 5. a — that + clause (she has
issued a - that she intends to be a candidate) 6.
(misc.) a — to the effect that... ['report'] 7. to issue
a — 8. a bank; financial; official; public — 9. a —
about (the government issued a — about the
strike)
state's evidence n. to turn - (see also King's evi-
evidence, Queen's evidence)
statesman n. an elder, prominent —
statesmanship n. to practice ~
static /i. to produce —
station I n. ['building or place used for a specific
purpose'] 1. a broadcasting; bus; coaling; coast-
coastguard; comfort (AE); experimental; fire; freight
(AE); hydroelectric, power; naval; police; poll-
polling; radar; radar-tracking; railroad (AE), railway
(esp. BE); recruiting; space; television, TV;
tracking; weather — ['place where motor vehicles
are serviced'] 2. a filling, gas (AE), gasoline (AE),
petrol (BE), service - ['place of duty'] 3. an
action; battle — ['position'] 4. one's — in life
station II v. (P; tr.) they were —ed in Germany
statistics n. 1. to collect, gather; tabulate - 2. to
bandy — (about) 3. cold, hard — 4. vital — ('essen-
('essential data about a population') 5. — indicate, show
statue n. 1. to carve; sculpt, sculpture a — 2. to cast
a — (in bronze) 3. to unveil a — 4. an equestrian —
stature n. 1. imposing — (a person of imposing —)
2. the — to + inf. (does she have the — to run for
national office?)
status n. 1. to achieve - 2. celebrity — 3. a most-
favored nation — 4. legal — (to enjoy/have legal
—) 5. one's marital —
status quo n. to maintain, preserve; restore the —
statute n. a penal —
statute of limitations n. the - takes effect, goes
into effect (or: colloq. and illogically - the —
expires, runs out)
stay I n. ['delay'] (legal) 1. to issue; vacate a — 2.
(misc.) a — of execution
stay II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('toremain') to-for(to-
for dinner) 2. (d; intr.) to - off ('to keep off) (to
— off the grass) 3. (d; intr.) to — out of ('to avoid1)
(to — out of trouble) 4. (d; intr.) to — with smb.
('to be smb.'s guest') (they —ed with us) 5. (s) to —
calm
stay abreast v. (D; intr.) to -of (to -of the news;
the runners ~ed abreast of each other)
stay ahead v. (D; intr.) to ~ of
stay away v. (D; intr.) to— from (to— from smb.)
staying power n. the — to + inf. (does she have the
- to finish the race?)
stead n. to stand smb. in good — ('to be useful to
smb.')
steady adj. 1. (colloq.) (AE) to go - with smb.
('to be smb.'s boyfriend or girlfriend') 2. (misc.)
(before a race) ready, —, go! (BE; AE has get
ready, get set, go!)
steak /t. 1. to broil (AE), grill a — 2. a juicy; ten-
tender; tough — 3. to like one's — medium; rare; well-
done 4. a beefsteak; club; cube; flank; minute;
Porterhouse; rump; Salisbury; salmon; sirloin;
Swiss; T-bone —
steal v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to give surreptitiously') to — at
(to - a glance at smb.) 2. (D; intr., tr.) ('to take
illegally') to — from (to — from the rich; he stole
money from his employer) 3. (d; intr.) ('to depart
silently') to — from, out of (she stole out of the
room)
stealth n. by — (to enter a building by —)
steal up v. (D; intr.) ('to sneak up') to —on, to (he
stole up on me in the dark)
steam I n. 1. to emit; produce — 2. — condenses;
forms 3. (misc.) (colloq.) to let off — ('to vent
one's feelings')
steam II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into; out of (to — into
harbor) 2. (N; used with an adjective) she —ed the
envelope open
steamed up adj. (colloq.) ['angry'] — about, over
steamer n. an oceangoing; tramp —
steam out v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to sea)
steel I /i. 1. to make, produce — 2. to temper — 3.
stainless — 4. a bar; ingot; sheet; slab; strip of — 5.
(misc.) cold — ('bayonet, knife used in close com-
combat')
steel II v. 1. (D; refl.) to — for (to — oneself for
the next attack) 2. (H; refl.) to - oneself to face an
ordeal
steeped adj. (cannot stand alone) — in (— in local
traditions)
steeple n. a church —
steer I /t. (colloq.) ['suggestion'] 1. to give smb. a
(bum) — 2. a bum ('bad'); friendly —
steer II /i. ['castrated bovine'] to rope a —
steerage n. ['section in a passenger ship'] 1. to
travel — 2. in — (to cross the ocean in —)
steer clear v. (d; intr.) to — of (to — of danger)
steering n. power —
steering wheel n. 1. to turn a - 2. at the — (who
was at the-?) (see wheel 7-9)
stem I n. (ling.) a consonant; verb —
stem II v. (d; intr.) to —from
stench /i. a dreadful, horrible, unbearable —
stencil /t. to cut a —
step I n. ['placing the foot'] 1. to make, take a —
(to take a — backward) 2. to retrace one's —s 3. a
giant (usu. fig.); mincing — 4. (usu. fig.) — hy —
['sequence of movements') (dancing) 5. to exe-
execute, perform a — ['stride in marching'] (mil.) 6. to
keep in — 7. to change — 8. an even, steady — 9.
half; route — 10. in —; out of — (also fig.: she was
out of — with everyone else) ['action'] 11. to take
a — 12. a bold; careful, prudent; critical; danger-
dangerous; decisive; drastic; false; fatal; forward; giant;
historic; positive; precautionary; preventive;
rash, risky — (to take a giant — forward) ['gait']
13. a heavy — ['distance'] 14. a — from (their place
is just a few — s from the station)
step II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — between (the referee
—ped between the two boxers) 2. (d; intr.) to —
into (to — into a room) 3. (d; intr.) to — off (to —
off a train) 4. (d; intr.) to — on (she —ped on my
foot; to — on the brake) 5. (d; intr.) to — out of (to
— out of the room) 6. (d; intr.) to — over (she
—ped over the body)
step aside v. (D; intr.) to — for (he —ped aside for
a younger person)
step back v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from the
abyss)
step down v. (D; intr.) to — from (to — from the
presidency)
step out v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into (to — into the cor-
corridor) 2. (D; intr.) to — on ('to betray') (he was
—ping out on his wife)
steppingstone n. a — to (a — to advancement)
steps /i. ['stairs'] 1. steep — 2. a flight of —
step up v. (D; intr.) to — to (he— ped up to me and
told me who he was)
stereotype n. to perpetuate a—
stern adj. — towards; with
stew /i. beef; Irish; mulligan; veal —
steward n. a shop —
stick I /i. 1. a hiking; hockey; pointed; walking —
2. a celery — 3. a composing — ('device for
typesetting') 4. a swagger — (carried by a military
officer) 5. (misc.) to carry a big — ('to threaten to
use force to settle a dispute')
stick II v. 1. ('to remain fixed') to — fast (the car
is stuck fast in the mud) 2. (d; intr.) to — by ('to be
loyal to') (to - by one's friends) 3. (d; tr.) ('to
thrust') to — into (to — a needle into a cushion; to
— one's hands into one's pockets) 4. (d; tr.) ('to
fasten, paste') to — on (to — a stamp on an
envelope) 5. (d; tr.) ('to thrust') to — through (she
stuck her head through the window) 6. (d; intr.)
('to adhere') to - to (the stamp didn't - to the
envelope) 7. (d; intr.) ('to limit oneself) to - to
(to - to the subject) 8. (d; intr.) to - to ('to be
loyal to') (to — to one's principles) 9. (d; intr.) ('to
remain') to — with (— with me, and you will not
get lost) 10. (misc.) to — in one's throat ('to be
hard to say'); ('to be a source of irritation')
sticker /t. a bumper; price —
stickler n. ['one who insists on exactness'] a — for
(a — for protocol)
stick out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to protrude') to — from;
into (the nail stuck out from the wall; his feet stuck
out into the aisle) 2. (D; tr.) ('to extend') to - to,
towards (she stuck out her hand to us)
sticks n. (colloq.) ['rural area'] in the — (to live
way out in the —)
stick shift /i. (colloq.) (AE) to operate a-
stick up v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to - for ('to defend')
(to — for one's friend)
stiff adj. frozen —
stigma /i. 1. to attach a — to 2. a — attaches to (no
— attaches to being poor) 3. a — about, to (there
is no — to being poor)
stigmatize v. (D;tr.)to — as (to be— das a traitor)
still I adj., adv. deathly; perfectly — (to stand per-
perfectly-)
still II n. in the - of the night
stilts /i. 1. (to walk) on — 2. a pair of —
stimulate v. 1. (d; tr.) to - into 2. (H) to - smb.
to do smt.
stimulating adj. — to + inf. (it is — intellectually to
live in a large city)
stimulation n. 1. to provide — 2. erotic, sexual —
stimulus /i. 1. to give, provide a — 2. a powerful —
3. a - to
sting n. ['skin wound'] 1. a bee; wasp — ['trap']
['police trap'] (colloq.) (AE) 2. to set up a —
stingy adj. — with (— with one's money)
stink v. (D; intr.) to — of (the place —s of rotten
fish)
stint /i. ['period of service'] to do, serve one's —
(he did his — as a soldier)
stipend n. 1. to receive a — 2. to pay a — 3. a mod-
modest — (to live on a modest —)
stipulate v. 1. (L) the contract — s that the work
must be finished by the end of the year 2. (Q) did
they — how the job was to be done?
stipulation n. 1. to make a — 2. a — that + clause
(there was a — that court costs would be shared
equally)
stir I /t. ['disturbance'] 1. to cause, create, make a
— 2. a big — 3. a — about, over
stir II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — one ingredient
into another) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (the news —red
them to greater efforts) 3. (H; usu. refl.) they
couldn't — themselves to act
stitch /t. 1. to cast, make a — 2. to drop; pick up,
take up a — 3. (med.) to put —es in 4. (med.) to
remove, take out —es 5. a chain; knit, plain (BE);
purl; running —
stock n. ['inventory, supply'] 1. to take — 2. in —;
out of — (this item is not in —) ['share, shares in a
corporation'] 3. to issue; sell — 4. common — (AE;
BE has ordinary shares) 5. blue-chip; over-the-
counter; preferred (AE; BE has preference
shares) — ['equipment'] 6. rolling — ('railway
vehicles') ['confidence, trust'] 7. to put — in smb.
['evaluation'] 8. to take — (we must take — of the
situation) ['stage productions'] 9. summer —
['livestock'] 10. to graze — ['lineage'] 11. of good

stock exchange
238
239
striking distance
— ['misc.'] 12. smb.'s — in trade ('smb.'s custom-
customary practice')
stock exchange see stock market
stocking /t. 1. mesh; nylon; seamless; silk; surgical
-s 2. a pair of ~s 3. (misc.) she got a ladder (BE)/
run (esp. AE) in her —
stocking feet n. in one's —
stock market n. 1. to gamble, speculate on the ~
2. the — closes; opens (the — closed strong)
stocks /t. ['shares on the stock market'] (esp. AE;
CEhas shares) — close; open (did —close strong
or weak?)
stock up v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (to — on supplies)
stockyards n. at, in the — (to work at/in the —)
stoical adj. —about
stoicism n. to display —
stole /t. a fur —
stomach n. ['digestive organ'] 1. to settle; turn,
upset smb.'s — 2. an empty; full; queasy; sour;
strong; upset; weak — 3. a — aches, hurts 4. on an
empty — ['inclination'] 5. to have no ~ forsmt.
stomachache n. to get a - (AE)/to get - (BE)
stone I /t. ['rock'] 1. to hurl, throw a — 2. a foun-
foundation; paving ~ 3. (misc.) to leave no — unturned
('to try all methods of achieving an end') ['gem'] 4.
to set a (precious) — 5. a precious — ['stony mass
in the body'] 6. a gallstone; kidney ~
stone II v. to — smb. to death
stool n. a Clicking, ducking; step ~
stoop v. (d; intr.) to— to ('to lower oneself to') (to
~ to cheating)
stop I /i. ['halt'] ['cessation'] 1. to make a — 2. to
put a — to (the teacher put a — to the cheating) 3.
to bring to a ~ (the driver brought the bus to a —)
4. to come to a — (the train came to a ~) 5. an
abrupt, sudden; brief; dead; full; smooth — 6. a
flag (AE), request (BE); regular, scheduled;
unscheduled; whistle (AE) ('very brief) — 7. a
bus; pit; streetcar (AE), tram (BE) ~ 8. (misc.) to
miss one's — ['place for resting'] 9. a truck — (AE;
BE has transport cafe) ['punctuation mark'] 10. a
full - (BE; AE has period)
stop II v. 1. to — short 2. (D; tr.) to — from (to —
smb. from doing smt.) 3. (G) they —ped talking 4.
(BE) (J) to - smb. doing smt. 5. (K) I can't - his
interrupting 6. (misc.) to — dead in one's tracks; to
— at nothing ('to allow no scruples to interfere
with one's efforts to achieve an end'); they —ped
(in order) to chat
stop by v. (esp. AE) (D; intr.) to - at (we'll - at
your place)
stop in v. (D; intr.) to — at (they —ped in at my
place)
stop off v. (D; intr.) to-at (we all-ped off at a
bar)
stopover /t. to make a —
stoppage /t. a work —
stopping see the Usage Note for standing
stop short v. (d; intr.) to - of (they-ped short of
imposing new taxes)
stop sign /t. to go through, run a —
storage n. ['storing'] 1. to put smt. into —2. to take
smt. out of — 3. cold — ['memory of a computer']
4. external; internal; magnetic —
store n. ['shop, establishment where goods are
sold'] (esp. AE; see the Usage Note for shop) 1.
to manage, operate, run a — 2. a bookstore;
candy; chain, multiple (BE); clothing; company;
convenience; department; discount —; drugstore;
five-and-dime (AE), five-and-ten-cent (AE);
food, grocery; furniture; general; hardware;
jewelry; music; retail; self-service; shoe; toy — 3.
(AE) a dry-goods — (BE has draper's shop) 4.
(AE) a liquor, package — (BE has off licence) 5.
(AE) a variety — (BE has haberdashery) 6. at, in
a — (she works at/in a —) ['misc.'] 7. to set — by
('to attribute importance to'); to lie/be in — ('to be
imminent'); to have smt. in — for smb. ('to have
smt. prepared for smb.')
stores n. ['supplies'] 1. naval — 2. a cache of —
storm I /t. ['atmospheric disturbance'] 1. to ride
out, weather a — (the ship finally rode out the —)
2. a blinding; heavy, severe, violent — 3. a dust;
electrical —; firestorm; hailstorm; ice —;
rainstorm; sandstorm; snowstorm; thunderstorm;
tropical — 4. a — hits, strikes; rages 5. a — blows
itself out, blows over, subsides 6. a — was gather-
gathering (also fig.) ['disturbance, commotion'] 7. to
raise, stir up a — 8. a — was brewing, gathering
['assault, attack'] (mil. and fig.) 9. to take by —
(the new play took Broadway by —) ['misc.'] 10. to
talk up a - (colloq.) ('to talk a great deal')
storm II v. (d; intr.) ('to rush angrily') to — into;
out of (to — out of a room)
story I /i. ['tale'] 1. to narrate, tell a — 2. to carry,
circulate, print, run a — (all the newspapers car-
carried the — about the fire) 3. to edit; rewrite; write
a — 4. to concoct, fabricate, invent, make up a —
5. to change, revise; embellish, embroider a — 6.
to cover up, hush up, kill, suppress a — 7. a boring;
charming; cock-and-bull, farfetched; coherent;
complicated, involved; dirty, off-color, risque;
funny, humorous; gripping; implausible; improb-
improbable; juicy; likely, plausible; long; sob; true; ugly;
untold — 8. a bedtime, children's, fairy; detective;
ghost; hard-luck; love — 9. a breaking ('very
new'); cover; exclusive; feature; front-page;
human-interest —; the inside — 10. conflicting
—ries (they told conflicting —ries to the police) 11.
a shaggy dog — ('a long rambling joke with an
illogical punch line') 12. a short — ('a short prose
narrative') 13. the whole — (who knows the whole
— of the incident?) 14. a — breaks ('becomes
known'); circulates 15. a — about, of (she told
charming —ries about her travels; to narrate grip-
gripping —ries of wartime heroism) 16. a — that +
clause (have you heard the — that she intends to
resign?) ['background information'] 17. to get the
(whole) — ['misc.'] 18. the police could not make
a coherent — out of his ravings; a success — ('a suc-
successful career')
story II storey /i. ['floor level'] a lower; top;
upper-
stove n. 1. to light a — 2. a coal; gas; kerosene
(AE), paraffin (BE); kitchen; oil; pot-belly -
straight adj. (misc.) to go — ('to be law-abiding');
to set smb. — ('to disabuse smb.')
straight ticket n. (AE) to vote a - ('to vote for all
the candidates of one party')
strain I n. ['exertion'] ['tension1] 1. to impose,
place, put a — on 2. to stand the — 3. to ease,
relieve the — 4. an emotional, mental; physical —
5. back —; eyestrain 6. a — on (a — on relations) 7.
under a —
strain II v. 1. (d; intr.) to-at (the dog-ed at the
leash/BE lead) 2. (E) they were —ing to get the car
out of the mud
strain III /t. ['variety of microorganism'] a strong,
virulent; weak —
straits n. ['difficulties'] 1. desperate, dire; finan-
financial — 2. in desperate —
strange adj. 1. — to 2. — to + inf. (it was — to work
at night — it was — working at night) 3. — that +
clause (it is — that she hasn't written for a whole
month)
stranger n. 1. a complete, perfect, total, utter — 2.
a — to (she's no — to us)
strangle v. to — smb. to death
stranglehold n. to get a — on smb.
strap n. a chin; shoulder —
stratagem n. 1. to resort to, use a — 2. a subtle —
strategist n. an armchair ('amateur') —
strategy /t. 1. to adopt, map out, plan, work out a
— 2. to apply, pursue a — 3. a global; grand, long-
range, long-term — 4. military — 5. a matter; point
of-
straw /i. ['tube'] 1. (to drink) through a — 2.
(misc.) to decide smt. by drawing — s (also fig.)
['misc.'] 3. a — in the wind ('a hint of smt. to
come'); to clutch at —s ('to try in desperation');
the last —, or: the — that broke the camel's back
('a final burden that exceeds one's endurance')
stray v. (D; intr.) 1. to — from (to — from the sub-
subject) 2. (d; intr.) to — into, onto (to — onto smb.'s
property)
streak I n. ['tendency, trait'] (usu. derog.) 1. a
cruel; jealous; mean — 2. a yellow — ('cowardice')
['series'] 3. a losing; winning —
streak II v. (P; intr.) to - across a field
streaked adj. — with (— with gray)
stream In. 1. to ford a — 2. a mountain; running;
swollen — 3. a steady — (a steady — of refugees) 4.
the jet — ('band of high-velocity winds moving
from west to east')
stream II v. (P; intr.) people were —ing towards
the town square
street n. 1. to cross a — 2. to name; number — s 3.
a bustling, busy; congested; crowded; deserted,
lonely; quiet — 4. a back; broad, wide; cross;
dead-end; high (BE), main (AE); narrow; one-
oneway; through; winding — 5. in (esp. BE), on (esp.
AE) the — (the children were playing in/on the —)
6. (BE) in the high - 7. (AE) on (the) main -
streetcar n. (AE) 1. to drive, operate a — 2. to go
by ~; to ride a -; to ride in a ~; to take a - (BE
has tram)
strength /t. ['power'] 1. to build up, develop one's
— 2. to find; gain, gather; recoup, regain; save —
3. to sap smb.'s — 4. brute, great; inner; physical;
tensile — 5. a show of — 6. the — to + inf. (do you
have the — to lift this weight?) 7. in — ('in large
numbers') ['number of personnel, units'] 8. full,
maximum — (to bring a department up to full —)
9. at; below — (our staff was at full —; it is now five
officers below —) ['misc.'] 10. on the — of smt.
('relying on smt.') (on the — of your recommenda-
recommendation); on the - (BE; colloq.) ('on the full-time
permanent staff)
stress I n. ['emphasis'] 1. to lay, place, put the —
on 2. to shift the — from; to ['intensity of sound']
3. to place, put the - on (a syllable) 4. to shift the
— from; to5. (a) dynamic; free; fixed; pitch; prim-
primary; qualitative; quantitative; secondary; strong;
weak — 6. sentence; word — ['tension'] 7. to con-
control — 8. mental; perceived;physical — 9. under —
stress II v. (L) they —ed that all regulations would
be strictly enforced
stretch I n. ['final phase1] to fade in the —
stretch II v. (N; used with an adjective) we — ed
the rope tight
stretcher n. (to carry smb.) on a —
stretch out v. (D; tr.) to - to (she stretched her
hand out to us in friendship)
strew v. (d; tr.) to — with (the field was strewn
with bodies)
stricken adj. ['afflicted'] 1. — with 2. (misc.) grief-
stricken; poverty-stricken
strict adj. 1. ~ about, concerning, in 2. — towards,
with
stricture n. a — against, on
stride I n. ['normal speed'] 1. to hit one's —
['progress'] 2. to make great —s in 3. great, tre-
tremendous —s ['misc.'] 4. to take smt. in — ('to con-
confront a new problem calmly')
stride II v. 1. to —confidently; purposefully 2. (P;
intr.) she strode confidently into the room
strife n. 1. to cause, create — 2. bitter; communal;
domestic; factional; industrial; internal; inter-
internecine; sectarian — 3. — among, between; in (to
create — between two sisters)
strike I n. ['refusal to work'] 1. to call, go (out)
on; organize a — 2. to conduct, stage a — 3. to
avert; break (up); settle a — 4. a buyers'; general;
hunger; official (BE); rent; sit-down; sympathy;
token; unofficial (BE), wildcat — (the prisoners
went on a hunger —) 5. on — (some of the workers
were on —) ['attack'] 6. to carry out a — 7. an air;
first, preemptive; second; surgical — ['disadvan-
['disadvantage'] (from baseball) (AE) 8. they have two —s
against them ('they are at a decided disadvantage')
strike II v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to refuse to work') to —
against; for (the workers struck against the com-
company for higher pay) 2. (D; tr.) ('to hit') to —
against, on (she struck her head against the door)
3. (d; tr.) ('to impress') to — as (the idea struck me
as silly) 4. (d; intr.) to - at ('to attack') (to - at the
root causes of poverty; to — at the enemy) 5. (N;
used with an adjective) ('to make') to — smb. dead
6. (BE) (O) ('to give') he struck me a heavy blow
strike back v. (D; intr.) to-at (to-at the enemy)
strikebreaker n. to bring in —s
strike out v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to act') to — against, at
(to — against injustice) 2. (d; intr.) to — for ('to set
out for') (to — for shore) 3. (misc.) to — on one's
own ('to begin an independent existence')
striking distance n. ['effective range'] within —
18—127

string
240
string п. ['grouping of players according to abil-
ability'] first; second ~ (see also strings)
strings n. ['strips used for fastening'] 1. apron ~;
shoestrings ['cords on a musical instrument1] 2. to
pick (esp. AE), pluck ~ ['influence'] (colloq.) 3.
to pull ~-
strip I n. ['runway'] 1. an airstrip, landing ~ ['di-
['dividing patch'] 2. a centre (BE), median (AE) ~
(on a road)
strip II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~- for a physical
examination) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ of (to ~ smb. of all
civil rights) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to — to (to ~ to the
waist) 4. (N; used with an adjective) to ~ smb.
naked
strip down v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (he ~ped down to
his underwear)
stripe n. ['strip, band'] 1. a sergeant's — s 2. a ser-
service ~- (worn on a soldier's sleeve to indicate
length of service) ['sort'] (esp. AE) 3. of a certain
~ (people of their ~)
stripping n. 1. weather ~ 2. (BE) (commercial)
asset ~-
striptease n. to do a —
strive v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for (to ~ for peace) 2.
(formal) (E) we ~ to please
stroke /t. ['apoplexy'] 1. to have, suffer a ~ 2. an
apoplectic; crippling, massive, severe; slight ~
['movement, series of movements'] 3. (tennis) a
backhand; forehand ~ 4. (swimming) a
backstroke; breast; butterfly ~; sidestroke
['sound of striking'] 5. at a ~ (at the ~ of mid-
midnight) ['movement of a piston'] 6. an exhaust;
exhaust-suction; intake; suction ~ ['action'] 7. a
brilliant ~ 8. (misc.) a ~ of genius; to reduce infla-
inflation at one ~; their hard-won freedoms were
abolished with the ~ of a pen ['misc.'] 9. a ~ of
luck
stroll I n. 1. to go for, take a ~ 2. to take smb. for
a ~ (she took the children for a ~)
stroll II v. (P; intr.) to ~ through the park
stroller n. (esp. AE) to push a ~ (BE has
pushchair)
structure n. 1. (ling.) to generate a ~ 2. (ling.) a
deep; intermediate; surface ~ 3. (pol.) a power ~
4. (physics) molecular ~ 5. a corporate;
economic, financial; political; price; tax; wage ~
struggle I /i. 1. to carry on, put up, wage a ~ 2. a
bitter, desperate, fierce, frantic, violent; cease-
ceaseless, unending, unrelenting; internecine; life-and-
death ~ 3. the class ~ 4. a ~ against, with; for (a
— against poverty; a ~ for justice; a ~ with one's
conscience) 5. a ~ to + inf. (it was a — to make
ends meet = it was a ~ making ends meet) 6. in ~
(locked in ~) 7. (misc.) a ~ to the death
struggle II v. 1. to ~ bravely; desperately 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ against, with (to ~- against tyranny) 3.
(D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for freedom) 4. (E) they
~d to remain alive 5. (misc.) to ~ to one's feet
strut v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into a room) 2.
(d; intr.) to ~ out of (to ~ out of a meeting)
stub n. 1. a pencil; ticket ~ 2. a check (AE),
cheque (BE) ~
stubborn adj. —about
/i. 1. sheer ~ 2. ~ about 3. ~ to +
inf. (it was sheer ~ not to agree) 4. out of ~ (she
refused to compromise out of ~)
stuck adj. (colloq.) ['burdened'] 1. ~ with (he
always gets ~ with the worst jobs; I am ~ with the
chore of breaking the bad news) ['infatuated'] 2. ~
on (he's ~ on her) ['fully involved'] (BE) 3. ~ into
(there is no holding him once he gets ~ into smt.)
stud /i. at ~ ('for breeding') (the retired
racehorses are at ~)
student /i. 1. an excellent, outstanding; good,
strong — 2. a bad, poor, weak ~ 3. day; evening;
foreign, overseas (BE); full-time; part-time; spe-
special; transfer ~ 4. a college, university; degree;
graduate, postgraduate (esp. BE); high-school
(AE); undergraduate ~ 5. (misc.) a student-
teacher USAGE NOTE: In GB, students usu.
refer to those in post-secondary education.
Younger ones are usu. called pupils. However,
secondary-school pupils in Britain have begun to
call themselves school students. In the US, the
term students is used for those at a university and
in secondary school—college students, high-school
students. Children at (BE)/in (esp. AE) primary
schools are usu. called pupils in the US, and
almost always in GB. In CE, one can differentiate
between a student of Freud ('a student of Freud's
ideas') and Freud's student ('one who was taught
personally by Freud').
studies n. 1. to complete; pursue one's ~ 2.
advanced; graduate, postgraduate (esp. BE);
undergraduate ~ 3. Black; peace; social; women's
studio n. an art; dance; film; recording; television,
TV-
study I n. ['investigation'] 1. to conduct, do,
make a ~ 2. a careful, detailed, exhaustive, in-
depth, intensive, rigorous, thorough; scientific ~
3. a classic, classical; definitive ~ 4. a case;
epidemiological; experimental; time-and-motion
(AE), work (BE) ~ 5. under ~ (the matter is
under ~) ['branch of learning, subject'] 6. nature
~ ['learning'] 7. supervised ~
study II v. 1. to ~ diligently, hard 2. (D; intr.) to
~- for (to — for a degree) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ under
(to ~ under a well-known professor) 4. (Q) to ~
how to survive in the wilderness
study up v. (colloq. )(AE)(D; intr.) to-on (to-
(toon a topic)
stuff I /i. (colloq.) ['subject matter'] 1. to know
one's ~ 2. heady ('exciting'); kid ('elementary')
~; the same old ~ ['knowledge, ability'] 3. to
show one's ~ 4. (AE) the ~ to + inf. (she has the
~- to succeed) 5. (misc.) (esp. AE) the right ~
['duties'] 6. to do one's ~
stuff II v. 1. (d;tr.) to -into (she ~ed her things
into a suitcase) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ with (they ~ed
their suitcases with all sorts of things)
stumble v. 1. (d; intr.) to — across, into, on, onto,
upon ('to meet by chance') (to ~ across an old
friend) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ over ('to trip over') (he
~-d over every sentence)
stumbling block n. a — to (a — to progress)
stump I n. to remove a — (of a tree)
stump II v. (d; intr.) to — for ('to support by mak-
241
successor
ing speeches') (to ~ for a candidate)
stun v. (R) it—ned me to see him drunk
stunned adj. — to + inf. (we were — to learn of his
defection)
stunt /t. l.todo, perform a~ 2. (colloq.) to pull a
~ ('to do smt. unexpected, probably for a bad pur-
purpose') 3. a publicity ~
stupid adj. 1. ~ about 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of
him to lie; I was — to agree)
stupidity n. 1. to display-2. sheer-3. the height
of ~ 4. ~ to + inf. (it was sheer ~ to believe him)
5. ~ that + clause (it was sheer ~ that he decided
to drop out of school)
stupor n. 1. to fall into a ~ 2. a drunken ~
style n. ['manner of expression'] 1. to develop;
polish, refine one's ~ 2. an affected; classic, classi-
classical; elegant; flowery, ornate; pedestrian; plain;
vigorous ~ ['manner of acting'] 3. to cramp smb.'s
~ 4. an abrasive; grand ~ 5. in (a) ~ (to live in a/in
grand ~) ['fashionable elegance'] 6. high — 7. in ~
(to live in ~) ['excellence of expression or
behavior'] 8. to lack ~
suasion n. ['persuasion'] moral—
subdivide v. (D; tr.)to-into
subject I adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (— to
change)
subject II n. ['topic, theme'] 1. to bring up,
broach; pursue; tackle a ~ 2. to address, cover,
deal with, discuss, take up, treat a - 3. to dwell
on; exhaust; go into a ~ 4. to avoid; drop a ~- 5. to
change the — 6. an appropriate, suitable; delicate,
ticklish; favorite; inappropriate; pleasant;
unpleasant; thorny ~ 7. a — comes up (for discus-
discussion) 8. a ~ for (a ~ for debate) 9. on a ~ (we have
nothing to say on that ~) ['course of study'] 10. to
study, tackle, take, take up a ~ 11. to master a ~
12. an elective (AE), optional (BE); required ~
13. a major (AE), main (BE); minor (AE), sec-
secondary (BE) — ['noun, noun phrase in a clause']
14. a compound; grammatical; impersonal; logi-
logical; simple ~ ['citizen of a monarchy'] (esp. BE)
15. a British; loyal; naturalized -
subject III v. (d; tr.) to ~ to (to ~ smb. to torture)
subjection n. -to
subject matter n. related; unrelated ~
subjugate v. (D;tr.)to~to
subjugation /t. in —
sublease see sublet
sublet v. 1. (B) to — an apartment to smb. 2. (D;
tr.) to ~ from (to ~ a house from smb.)
sublimate v. (D; tr.) to ~ into, to
submarine n. 1. a conventional; midget; nuclear,
nuclear-powered -~ 2. ~s dive; hunt in packs; sur-
surface
submission n. —to
submissive adj. -to
submit v. 1. (B) ('to present') they -ted their
report to us 2. (D; intr.) ('to yield') to ~ to (to ~
to superior force; to ~ to arbitration) 3. (usu.
legal) (L) ('to claim') their lawyer —s that there
are no grounds for denying bail
subordinate I adj. -to
subordinate II v. (D;refl., tr.)to~ to (they had
to ~ their own needs to the needs of the group)
subordination n. -to
subpoena In. 1. to issue a ~ 2. to serve a ~ on 3.
a — to + inf. (he received a ~- to appear in court in
two weeks)
subpoena II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ as (to — smb. as a
witness) 2. (H) to ~ smb. to testify
subscribe v. 1. (D; intr.) to — for ('to agree to
purchase') (they —d for a large number of shares)
2. (D; intr.) to ~ to ('to receive regularly') (to ~ to
a magazine) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ to ('to agree with')
(to ~ to an opinion)
subscriber n. a — to (a — to a magazine)
subscription /i. ['arrangement for receiving a
periodical'] 1. to enter a ~ to 2. to renew a ~ 3. to
cancel a ~ 4. a ~ to (a — to a magazine) ['amount
of money pledged'] 5. a public ~
subsequent adj. (cannot stand alone) — to
subservience n. — to
subservient adj. — to
subsidiary adj. -to
subsidy /t. 1. to provide a — for 2. to grant a ~- to
3. a government, state ~ 4. a ~- for; to
subsist v. (d; intr.) to ~ on
subsistence n. 1. (a) bare, hand-to-mouth — 2. a
means of ~
substance n. ['drug'] 1. (AE) a controlled — ('a
drug regulated by law') 2. (misc.) ~ abuse ['mean-
['meaningful quality'] 3. ~ to (is there any — to their
claim?) 4. (misc.) a person of ~ ['matter'] 5. a
chemical; hard; oily; pure; toxic —
substitute 1л. 1. a poor ~ 2. a ~ for (a - for
sugar)
substitute II v. (D; intr., tr.) to -for (the coach
~d Smith for Jones)
substitution n. 1. to make a - 2. a - for
subsume v. (formal) (d; tr.) ('to classify') to —
under (to — an item under a more inclusive cate-
category)
subterfuge n. to resort to, use (a) —
subtract v. (D;tr.) to-from (to-five from ten)
subtraction n. todo —
suburb n. 1. a fashionable; residential — 2. in the
~s (to live in the ~-s)
subvention see subsidy
subversion n. to engage in —
subway n. (esp. US) ['underground railway'] 1.
(to travel) by ~ 2. in the ~ (crime in the ~)
succeed v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to come after') to ~ as (she
~ed me as treasurer) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in
doing smt.; to ~- in business) 3. (D; intr.) to ~- to
('to inherit') (to — to the throne)
success /i. 1. to achieve, attain (a) ~; to enjoy ~ 2.
to score a ~ 3. to make a ~ of smt. 4. a brilliant,
great, howling, huge, resounding, signal,
thorough, total, tremendous, unequivocal,
unqualified — 5. a box-office, commercial; critical
~ 6. (a) ~ in; with
successful adj. 1. highly ~ 2. ~ at, in; with (~ in
business)
succession n. ['right to succeed to an office, posi-
position'] 1. the — to (the ~ to the throne) ['misc.'] 2.
in ~ ('successively, one after the other'); in quick
successor п. а ~ to (the — to the throne)
18*

succumb
242
succumb v. (D; intr.) to — to (to — to smb.'s urg-
urging; to — to a disease)
suck v. 1. (d; tr.) to — from (to — the juice from an
orange) 2. (N; used with an adjective) (she —ed
the lemon dry)
sucker n. (colloq.) ['easily deceived person'] 1. to
make a — out of smb. 2. a — for (she's a — for any
hardluck story)
sue v. 1. (d; intr.) to — for ('to request') (to — for
peace) 2. (D; intr., tr.) ('to seek in court') to — for
(to — for damages; she —d him for a large sum of
money) 3. (E) ('to seek in court') they —d to get
their property back
suffer v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (to ~ from insomnia)
suffering n. 1. to inflict ~ on 2. to bear, endure ~
3. to alleviate, ease, relieve ~ 4. chronic; great,
incalculable, intense, untold ~
suffice v. 1. (D; intr.) to — for (my salary —s for
our basic needs) 2. (E) it should — to cite her pre-
previous accomplishments; my salary ~s to meet our
basic needs 3. (misc.) ~ it to say that we will do our
duty
sufficient adj. 1. — for 2. ~ unto oneself ('inde-
('independent') 3. — to + inf. (it would have been — to
send a brief note)
suffix n. a derivational; inflectional ~
suffrage /t. 1. to extend, grant ~ 2. universal;
women's —
sugar /i. 1. to produce; refine ~ 2. beet; brown;
cane; confectioner's (AE), icing (BE); crude;
demerara (BE); granulated; lump; maple — 3.
(med.) blood — 4. a lump of — 5. (misc.) as sweet
as —
suggest v. 1. (B) she ~ed a compromise to us 2.
(G) I -ed waiting 3. (K) who -ed his taking part?
4. (L; subj.; to) she —ed (to us) that an exception
be/should be made 5. (Q) did she — where we
should meet?
suggestion /t. 1. to advance, make, offer, put for-
forward a — 2. to ask for, call for, invite —s 3. to act
on; adopt a — 4. to reject a — 5. an appropriate;
helpful; pertinent; preposterous — 6. a — about,
concerning 7. a — that + clause; subj. (she made a
— that each worker contribute/should contribute
one day's pay) 8. at smb.'s — (at my ~ we went on
a picnic)
suggestive adj. — of
suicide n. 1. to commit ~ 2. to attempt; con-
contemplate ~ 3. political —
suit I n. ['legal claim'] 1. to bring, file, institute (a)
— against 2. to contest; press a — 3. to lose; win a
— 4. to dismiss a — 5. a civil; class-action; malprac-
malpractice; pending ~ ['courtship'] (old-fashioned) 6. to
plead, press one's — ['set of clothes'] 7. to have a
— made 8. to put on; take off; try on a — 9. a
bathing; business (AE), lounge (BE); custom-
made, made-to-measure (BE); diving; double-
breasted; dress; gym; leisure; pants (AE),
trouser; ready-made; sailor; single-breasted; ski;
space; sweat; tank; three-piece; two-piece; union
(AE) - 10. (BE) a boiler - ('overalls') 11. a - fits
(well) 12. (misc.) (humorous) in one's birthday —
('naked') ['set of similar playing cards'] 13. to fol-
follow — (also fig.) 14. a trump — ['trait'] 15. smb.'s
strong —
suit II v. 1. to - perfectly 2. (misc.) to - to a T
('to be perfectly appropriate for')
suitability n. -for
suitable adj. 1. eminently - 2. - for 3. - to + inf.
(would it be ~ to discuss this matter at lunch?)
suitcase n. to pack; unpack a —
suite /t. ['group of connected rooms'] 1. a bridal;
executive; hotel; luxury; office; penthouse — ['set
of matched furniture'] 2. a bedroom; living-room
suited adj. 1. - for, to (- for the job; - to each
other) 2. — to + inf. (is he psychologically — to be
a police officer?)
sulk v. (D; intr.) to— about, over
sum n. 1. to raise a — (of money) 2. a considera-
considerable, large, substantial, tidy; flat; lump; nominal;
round —
summarize v. (D ;tr.) to-for (she ~d the plot for
the class)
summary n. 1. to give, make a — 2. a brief — 3. a
news —
summer n. 1. Indian, St. Luke's (BE; rare), St.
Martin's (BE; rare) ~ 2. during, over (esp. AE)
the — 3. in (the) —
summit n. ['peak'] (also fig.) 1. to reach a - 2. at
a — (to stand at the —) ['summit conference'] 3. to
hold a — 4. at a — (we met at the — in Geneva)
summit conference n. 1. to hold a — 2. at a — (to
meet at a —)
summon v. 1. (D; tr.) to — before (to be —ed
before a judge) 2. (D; tr.) to — to (we were —ed to
the director's office) 3. (H) to — smb. to do smt.
summons n. 1. to issue a — 2. to serve a — on 3. a
— to + inf. (I received a — to appear in court)
sums n. to do —
sun /i. 1. the blazing; bright; hot; midday; tropical
— 2. the — beats down; rises; sets; shines 3. in,
under the —
sunburn /t. 1. to get a — 2. a painful —
sundae n. a butterscotch; cherry; chocolate; hot-
fudge; strawberry —
sundown /i. at —
sunlight n. 1. bright, brilliant, glaring — 2. in the —
3. a shaft of -
sunrise /i. at —
sunset /t. at —
sunshine n. 1. to soak up — 2. bright, dazzling;
warm —
sunstroke /t. to get, have —
suntan n. to get a —
supercilious n. — about
superimpose v. (D; tr.) to — on (to — one image
on another; to — a new way of life on old customs)
superintendent n. a building; school ~
superior I adj. 1. clearly, decidedly, definitely,
far — 2. ~ in (— in numbers) 3. ~ to (— to all other
competitors)
superior II /t. an immediate ~
superiority n. 1. to achieve, establish — 2. to
enjoy, hold — 3. clear — 4. — in; over, to
superlative n. (to express oneself) in — s
/i. at, in a — (to shop at/in a —)
e adj. —to
243
superstition п. а — about
superstitious adj. — about
supervision n. 1. to exercise — of, over 2. to
tighten — 3. to ease up on, relax — 4. lax, slack;
strict — 5. under smb.'s —
supper /t. 1. to eat, have — 2. to make, prepare;
serve — 3. at — (what did they discuss at —?) 4. for
— (what was served for — ?)
supplement n. 1. a literary; Sunday — (to a news-
newspaper) 2. a vitamin — (to take a vitamin — every
day) 3. a — to
supplementary adj. — to
supplicate v. (formal) (H) to — smb. to do smt.
supply I /i. 1. to bring up, provide —lies 2. to lay
in, receive; replenish; store —Hes3. an abundant,
liberal, plentiful; fresh — 4. military; office; relief
—lies 5. the coal; money; water — 6. in short —
supply II v. 1. (D; tr.) to - to (to - power to
industry) 2. (D: tr.) to — with (to — industry with
power)
supply lines n. 1. to overextend — 2. to cut —
support In. 1. to give, lend, offer, provide;
pledge — 2. to enlist, line up, mobilize, round up
— for 3. to derive, draw, get, receive — from 4. to
gain, get, win — for 5. to have the — of 6. ardent,
complete, firm, solid, strong, unflagging, unqual-
unqualified, unstinting, unwavering; wholehearted ~ 7.
active; liberal; loyal; lukewarm, qualified — (to
give lukewarm — to a candidate) 8. government,
state; popular, public ~ 9. farm; price —s 10. —
for; in 11. in — of (she came out in — of the party)
support II v. 1. to — completely, strongly,
wholeheartedly 2. (K) we —ed their seeking office
supporter n. 1. an ardent, enthusiastic, fervent,
loyal, stalwart, steady, strong — 2. an athletic —
(see also the Usage Note for fan II)
supportive adj. — of
suppose v. 1. (L) we — that the situation will
improve 2. (formal) (M) we —d him to be guilty
supposed adj. — to + inf. (it was ~ to rain; she was
— to work today)
supposition /t. 1. to make a — 2. a — that (I reject
the — that she stole the money) 3. on (a) — (to con-
condemn smb. on mere —)
suppository /t. 1. to insert a — 2. a rectal; vaginal —
supremacy n. 1. to achieve, establish — 2. to
acknowledge smb.'s — 3. military; naval — 4. (so-
called) racial, white —
supreme adj. to reign —
surcharge n. 1. to add a — to 2. a — on
sure adj. 1. — about (are you — about this?) 2. —
of (— of success) 3. — to + inf. (she is — to pass the
exam) 4. — that + clause (I am — that they will
come; please make — that there will be enough
light and heat)
surf /i. to ride the —
surface n. 1. a bumpy; even, smooth; frozen;
plane; rough — 2. below, beneath, under the —
(also fig.) 3. on the ~ (also fig.) 4. (misc.) to
scratch, skim the ~ ('to treat superficially')
surge I n. (technical) a voltage —
surge II v. (P; intr.) the crowd —d around the
entrance
surgeon n. 1. a flight; orthopedic (AE),
suspend
orthopaedic (BE); plastic; veterinary (BE) — 2. a
tree — 3. a ~~ performs operations, operates (on
patients)
surgery /i. ['branch of medicine'] 1. to perform —
2. to undergo — 3. elective; emergency; heroic;
major; minor; radical; remedial — 4. bypass;
cosmetic; open-heart; plastic — ['office'] (BE) 5. a
doctor's — (CE has doctor's office) 6. an MP's —
(to receive and listen to constituents) ['misc.'] 7.
tree — (see the Usage Note for office)
surmise I n. (formal) ['conjecture'] a — that +
clause (she expressed a — that the situation would
improve)
surmise II v. (L) I —d that the situation would
improve
surplus n. 1. to accumulate a — 2. to run ('have')
a — 3. food —es; war —
surprise I /t. 1. to spring, uncork a— on smb. 2. to
achieve — 3. to express — 4. to show — 5. (a) com-
complete, outright, total — (we achieved complete ~)
6. a pleasant; unpleasant — (they sprang an
unpleasant — on us) 7. — at (to express — at recent
events) 8. a — to (the results were a complete — to
everyone) 9. a — to + inf. (it was a pleasant — to
learn of her promotion) 10. a — that + clause (it
was a — that he got here on time) 11. by — (our
troops took the fortress by —) 12. to smb.'s — (to
our — he was not drunk)
surprise II v. 1. to — greatly, very much 2. (R) it
—d me to see them drunk; it —d us that their party
won the election
surprised adj. 1. — at (— at the news) 2. — to + inf.
(I was — to see her) 3. — that + clause (everyone
was — that we attended the meeting)
surprising /i. 1. — to + inf. (it was ~ to see her
there) 2. — that + clause (it was — that she was
nominated)
surrender I n. unconditional —
surrender II v. (D; intr., tr.) to-to (to-to the
enemy; to — a fortress to the invader)
surrounded adj. — by, with
surroundings n. austere; elegant; pleasant;
unpleasant i-
surtax n. to impose a — (on)
surveillance n. 1. to conduct, maintain — 2. to
keep; place smb. under — 3. around-the-clock,
constant; close, strict — (she was placed under
strict —) 4. electronic — 5. under —
survey /t. 1. to conduct, do, make a — 2. a brief;
comprehensive — 3. a geodetic; topographical —
survival n. 1. to assure smb.'s — 2. (misc.) the — of
the fittest
survivor /t. to pick up — s (at sea)
susceptibility n. - to (- to disease)
susceptible adj. -to
suspect I /i. 1. to arrest a — 2. to interrogate,
question a — 3. to place a — under surveillance 4.
a prime —
suspect II v. 1. to-strongly 2. (D;tr.)to-as(to
be —ed as an accomplice) 3. (D; tr.) to — of (the
police ~ed him of participation in the robbery) 4.
(L) we ~ strongly that she is guilty
suspend v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to hang') to — from (to —
a hook from the ceiling) 2. (D; tr.) ('to bar tern-

suspenders
porarily') to ~ from (to — smb. from duty)
suspenders п. (AE; BE has braces) a pair of ~
(that hold up trousers)
suspense n. 1. to bear the ~ 2. to break the ~ 3. in
~ over (everyone was in ~~ over the outcome)
suspension n. independent ~ (on a car)
suspicion n. ['suspecting'] ['mistrust'] 1. to arouse,
cause, create, evoke, sow, stir (a) ~ 2. to enter-
entertain, harbor, have a ~ 3. to confirm a ~ 4. to cast
~ on 5. to allay, dispel — 6. a groundless,
unfounded ~ 7. a lingering, lurking; slight, sneak-
sneaking; strong; vague ~ 8. a ~ about, of (there was
some — about her motives) 9. ~ falls on smb. 10.
a ~ that + clause (these events confirmed my
strong ~ that he is guilty) 11. above ~- ('not sus-
suspected') 12. on ~ of (arrested on ~ of murder) 13.
under — ('suspected') 14. (misc.) a cloud of ~
['slight trace'] 15. a ~ of (not even the slightest ~
of scandal)
suspicious adj. 1. ~ about, of 2. ~ that + clause
(it was ~ that no story appeared in the press)
suture n. 1. to put in a ~ 2. to remove, take out a ~
swallow n. ['act of swallowing'] to take a —
swamp v. (d; tr.) to — by, with (they were ~ed
with work)
swan n. as graceful as a —
swap I /t. ['exchange'] to make a ~ for
swap II v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ for (she ~ped her bicy-
bicycle for a hi-fi) 2. (O) I'll ~ you my bicycle for your
hi-fi
swarm v. l.(d;intr.)('tocrowd')to— around(the
autograph seekers — ed around the actor) 2. (d;
intr.) ('to throng') to ~ into (to ~- into an
auditorium) 3. (d; intr.) ('to throng') to ~ over,
through (to ~ through the streets) 4. (d; intr.) ('to
teem') to ~ with (the streets were ~ing with
tourists)
swarming adj. ~with
swath /i. ['path'] to cut a ~ (to cut a wide ~ of
destruction)
swathe v. (d; tr.) ('to wrap') to ~ in (she was ~d
in mink)
sway I n. ['dominance']!, to hold ~ over 2. under
smb.'s ~
sway II v. 1. to ~ gently 2. (D; intr.) to ~ to (to
~ to the music) 3. (misc.) to ~ from side to side;
to ~ back and forth; to ~ in the breeze
swear v. 1. to ~ solemnly 2. (B) ('to promise sol-
solemnly') they swore allegiance to the government
3. (D) intr.) ('to curse') to ~ at (he swore at them)
4. (d; intr.) ('to rely completely') to ~ by
(everyone ~s by her remedy for a cold) 5. (d;
intr.) to ~ to ('to confirm solemnly') (to ~ to the
truth of a statement) 6. (d; tr.) ('to bind solemnly')
to ~ to (to ~ smb. to secrecy) 7. (E) ('to promise
solemnly') she swore to tell the truth 8. (L; to) ('to
promise solemnly') she swore (to us) that she
would tell the truth 9. (misc.) to ~ on the Bible; to
~ like a trooper ('to use obscene language
freely'); to ~* smb. into office
swear in v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (she was sworn in as
president)
sweat n. 1. to break out in a cold ~ 2. beads of ~
3. (misc.) by the ~ of one's brow ('by working very
244
hard')
sweater n. 1. to crochet; knit a ~ 2. a light; warm
~ 3. a plaid; woolen ~
sweep I n. ['reconnaissance'] 1. to make a ~ (be-
(behind enemy lines) ['winning of a series of con-
contests'] 2. to make a clean — (of a series) ['sweeper']
3. a chimney ~
sweep II v. l.(d; intr., tr.) ('to move overwhelm-
overwhelmingly') to ~ into (the other party swept into office;
they were swept into the sea) 2. (d; intr.) ('to move
swiftly') to ~ through (our troops swept through
the village) 3. (N; used with an adjective) ('to
clean with a broom') to ~ a floor clean
sweep down v. (d; intr.) to ~ on (the storm swept
down on the village)
sweep hi v. (D; intr.) to ~ from (the hurricane
swept in from the sea)
sweepstakes n. to win the ~
sweet adj. (colloq.) 1. — on ('in love with') (he is
~ on her) 2. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ of you to think
of me)
swell I /t. ['growing wave'] a ground ~ (a ground
~ of support was building up)
swell II v. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with pride)
swelling /i. (the) ~ goes down, subsides (the ~
went down)
swerve v. (D; intr.) to — from; to (to ~ from a
course; to ~ to the right)
swift adj. 1. (lit.) ~ of (~ of foot) 2. - to + inf.
(she was ~ to react)
swig /t. ['swallow'] to take a ~
swim I /i. 1. to have, take a ~ 2. to go for a ~
swim II v. (D; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for shore)
swindle v. (D; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~- smb. out of
money)
swing I /i. ['punch'] 1. to take a ~ at smb. 2. a wild
~ ['shift'] 3. a ~ to (in the last elections there was
a ~ to the right) ['operation'] 4. in full ~ (the work
was in full ~)
swing II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ at (he swung at
me; I swung the bat at the ball) 2. (D; intr.) to ~
from; to (to ~ from right to left)
swipe /t. (colloq.) ['critical remark'] to take a ~ at
switch I /i. ['change'] 1. to make a ~ 2. a ~ from;
to ['device used to open or close an electrical cir-
circuit'] 3. to flick, throw a ~ 4. a master; power;
time; toggle ~ ['movable section of railroad
track'] (AE) 5. a railroad ~ (BE has railway
point)
switch II v. (D; intr., tr.) to -from; into; to (to-
to the metric system; she ~ed her support to the
other candidate; to ~ from English into Russian)
switchboard n. at a ~ (to work at a ~)
switcheroo n. (slang) (AE) ['variation'] to pull a ~
switch over v. (D; intr.) to ~ to (we ~ed over to
French)
swoon I /t. to fall into a ~
swoon II v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ over (to— over a new
film idol) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with joy)
swoop /i. ['stroke'] at one fell ~~ ('at one time')
swoop down v. (D; intr.) to ~ on (the hawk —ed
down on the sheep)
swop (colloq.) (BE) see swap I, II
sword n. 1. to draw, unsheathe a ~ 2. to wield a ~
245
system
3. to cross —s with smb. (now usu. fig.) 4. to thrust
a ~ into 5. to sheathe a ~ 6. (misc.) a double-
edged, two-edged — ('smt. that can have opposite
results to those intended')
syllable /i. 1. to stress a ~ 2. a closed; open; stres-
stressed; unstressed ~
syllabus /i. to draw up, make up a ~
symbol /t. 1. a chemical; phallic; phonetic; religi-
religious; status ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ of authority
symbolic adj. — of
symmetrical adj. ~ to, with
sympathetic adj. -to,with
sympathize v. 1. to ~ deeply 2. (D; intr.) to -with
sympathy n. 1. to arouse, stir up ~ for 2. to cap-
capture; command ~ 3. to express; feel, have ~ for 4.
to display, show ~ for 5. to lavish ~ on 6. to accept
smb.'s ~ 7. deep, deepest, great, heartfelt, pro-
profound, strong ~ (please accept our deepest ~) 8.
little - for (to have little ~ for smb.) 9. one's ~
goes out to smb. 10. a token of one's ~ 11. ~- for
(to have ~ for the underdog) 12. in ~ with (to be
in complete ~ with smb.'s cause) 13. out of ~- (we
did it out of ~ for your family)
symphony /t. 1. to compose, write a ~ 2. to per-
perform, play a ~
symposium n. to hold a ~ on
symptom /i. 1. to have, manifest, show ~s (of) 2.
an acute; chronic ~ 3. a specific ~ 4. withdrawal
~s
symptomatic adj. —of
synchronize v. (D; tr.) to —with
syndrome n. 1. the China; Stockholm ~ 2. pre-
premenstrual; toxic shock ~ (to suffer from pre-
premenstrual ~)
synonymous adj. — to, with
synopsis /t. to give; make, prepare a—
synthesis n. to make a ~
syphilis n. 1. to spread, transmit — 2. to catch,
develop; have ~ 3. acquired; congenital; early;
late; latent; primary; secondary; tertiary ~
syringe n. a hypodermic ~
syrup /i. 1. chocolate; corn; maple ~ 2. cough ~
system /t. ['group of items serving a common pur-
purpose'] 1. an air-conditioning; amplifying; brake;
data-processing; filing; guidance; heating; high-
highway (AE), motorway (BE), road; intercommuni-
intercommunication; life-support; number; public-address; rail-
railroad (AE), railway (BE); sprinkler; steering;
transit (esp. AE), transport (esp. BE) ['form of
organization, principles pertaining to a form of
organization'] 2. a capitalist; caste; communist;
Copernican; economic; educational, school; elec-
electoral; governmental; hierarchical; honor; merit;
multiparty; one-party; patronage; philosophical;
political; quota; seniority; socialist; spoils; two-
party ~ 3. (colloq.) (AE) a buddy ~ 4. under a ~
(under our political -~) 5. (misc.) to beat the — ('to
circumvent established procedures') ['group of
items forming a unified whole in nature'] 6. an
ecosystem; mountain; river; solar ~ ['functionally
related group of bodily elements or structures'] 7.
the cardiovascular; central nervous; circulatory;
digestive; excretory; genito-urinary; immune;
reproductive; respiratory — ['classification']
['type of measurement'] 8. a decimal; metric;
monetary; taxonomic — ['group of substances in
or approaching equilibrium'] (chemistry) 9. a
binary; ternary ~- ['set of meteorological condi-
conditions'] 10. a high-pressure; low-pressure ~ ['pro-
['procedure'] 11. the touch ~ (of typing) ['elements
that allow the operation of a computer'] 12. to
boot up; reboot a ~ 13. a disk operating, operat-
operating ~ ['misc.'] 14. ~s analysis; ~s theory

246
Т п. to a - ('precisely') (you fit the role to a ~)
tab I n. ['tabulator, device for setting a margin']
1. to set a - ['bill'] (colloq.) (AE) 2. to pick up the
— for (she picked up the — for everyone) 3. the —
for
tab II v. (colloq.)(AE)l.(d;tr.) ('toidentify')to
— as (she was —bed as a leading contender) 2. (d;
tr.) ('to designate') to ~ for (large sums were
—bed for school construction)
tabernacle n. to build a-
table n. ['piece of furniture'] 1. to lay (esp. BE),
set (esp. AE) a — 2. to clear a — 3. a card; coffee;
dining-room; dressing; drop-leaf; end; folding;
kitchen; night; operating; ping-pong; pool; tray;
writing — 4. (AE) a training — (for members of a
team) 5. around, round a — (to sit around a —) 6.
at the —/at ~ (BE) ('while eating') (we never dis-
discuss politics at the dinner ~) ['table for conducting
discussions, negotiations'] ['negotiating session']
7. a bargaining, conference, negotiating; round ~
8. at the — (at the negotiating —) ['enumeration,
list'] 9. to compile, draw up a — 10. a conversion;
genealogy; mortality; multiplication; periodic —
11. logarithmic —s 12. in a — (to give data in ~s)
['level'] 13. a water — ['misc.'] 14. to turn the —s
on smb. ('to reverse the roles in a struggle with
smb.'); under the — ('illegally')
tablespoon n. a heaping; level —
tablet n. ['pad'] 1. a writing -['pill'] 2. to take a -
3. an aspirin — 4. a scored — ['slab'] 5. a bronze;
clay; marble —
taboo n. 1. to break, violate a — 2. a rigid — 3. a —
on 4. (to place smt.) under (a) —
tabs n. (colloq.) ['watch, surveillance'] to keep —
on
tack I n. ['short nail'] 1. a carpet; thumb (AE; BE
has drawing pin) — ['direction of a sailing ship']
2. the port; starboard ~ ['course of action'] ['di-
['direction'] 3. to change — 4. (misc.) to go off on the
wrong—
tack II v. (d; tr.) ('to attach') to - onto, to
tackle n. fishing-
tact n. 1. to display, exercise, show; have —2. con-
considerable, great; subtle - 3. the - to + inf. (does
she have the — to conduct the negotiations?)
tactfal adj. — to 4- inf. (it was not — to mention
that)
tactic n. a scare-(see tactics)
tactics n. 1. to devise; employ; use ~ 2. bullying;
delaying; diversionary; pressure; questionable;
roughhouse (AE); scare; smear; strong-arm; wily
— (to employ questionable —) 3. (esp. AE) Madi-
soh Avenue — ('reliance on sophisticated promo-
promotion, advertising') 4. salami - ('maneuvering by
tactless adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to speak
like that)
tally n. (esp. AE) 1. to make; pull - 2. saltwater
tag I n. ['children's game'] to play ~
tag II n. ['label, marker'] 1. to put a — on smt. 2.
a name; price — 3. (AE) license —s (on a car) 4.
(AE) (mil.) dog (colloq.), identification -s (BE
has identification disc) ['short phrase'] (ling.) 5. a
question —
tag III v. (colloq.) l.(d;intr.) to-after ('to fol-
follow') (the child ~ged after the others) 2. (d; tr.)
('to label') to ~ as (he was —ged as a quitter) 3.
(AE) (d; tr.) ('to fine') to ~ for (she was ~ged for
going through a red light)
tag along v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ behind (she would
always — behind them) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ with
tag end n. ['very end'] at the-(of smt.)
tail n. ['rear appendage to an animal's body'] 1. to
wag a ~ 2. to dock ('shorten') a — 3. a bushy — 4.
(misc.) to turn ~ ('to flee') ['person who conducts
surveillance'] (colloq.) 5. to put a - on smb.
tail end n. ['very end'] at the - (of smt.)
tailor I n. a custom; ladies'; men's —
tailor II v. (d; tr.) to — for; to (to ~ an insurance
policy to the needs of the insured)
tailor-made adj. ~ for (~ for the assignment)
tailspfn n. to go into a-
tainted adj. -by,with
take I n. (colloq.) ['reaction'] 1. a double ~ ('de-
('delayed reaction') (to do a double ~) ['illegal pay-
payments'] 2. on the — (they were all on the —) ('they
were all accepting bribes')
take II v. 1. to ~ (a matter) lightly; seriously 2.
(A) ('to carry') she took a cup of tea to him; or: she
took him a cup of tea 3. (d; intr.) to - after ('to
resemble') (he -s after his father) 4. (d; tr.) ('to
construe') to — as (we took her gesture as a sign of
friendship; I took his remark as a compliment) 5.
(d; tr.) ('to grasp') to — by (she took him by the
hand) 6. (D; tr.) ('to lead, accompany') to — for
(she took her daughter for a walk; he took us for a
ride) 7. (D; tr.) ('to obtain, secure') to ~ for (I
took the book for him) 8. (d; tr.) to ~ for ('to
assume to be') (do you - me for a fool?) 9. (D; tr.)
('to obtain'); ('to remove') to — from (he took the
book from her; I took the money from the safe)
10. (d; tr.) ('to subtract') to — from (— five from
ten) 11. (d; tr.) ('to carry') to — into (— the chairs
into the house) 12. (d; tr.) to - into ('to bring
into') (to — smb. into one's confidence; they took
the prisoner into custody) 13. (d; tr.) to — into ('to
include') (to ~ smt. into consideration; we took all
the facts into account) 14. (d; tr.) ('to remove');
('to deduct') to — off (I took the books off the
shelf; they took ten pounds off the bill) 15. (d; tr.)
('to carry') to — out of (— the chairs out of the
house) 16. (d; intr.) to - to ('to like') (to - kindly
to an offer; she took to them at once) 17. (d; intr.)
to ~ to ('to begin'); ('to engage in') (to — to drink;
she took to gambling at the casinos; he took to
fishing with great gusto) 18. (d; intr.) ('to go'); ('to
have recourse') to — to (to ~ to one's bed; to — to
247
tank
the streets; to — to the lifeboats; to ~ to the air-
airwaves) 19. (d; tr.) ('to lead, accompany, trans-
transport') to — to (to — smb. to dinner; she took us to
the art museum; we took them to the station) 20.
(d; tr.) ('to carry') to ~ to (I took the books to the
library; she took the money to the bank) 21. (d;
tr.) ('to move, transfer') to ~ to (they took the
case to the supreme court) 22. (D; tr.) ('to accept,
bear') to — with (he took his punishment with a
smile; to — a remark with a grain of salt) 23. (M)
('to consider'); ('to accept') I took him to be a
friend; do you — this man to be your lawful wed-
wedded husband? 24. (O) ('to require') the job took us
two hours 25. (O) ('to seize') we took him pris-
prisoner; to - smb. hostage 26. (R) ('to demand,
require') it sometimes ~s courage to tell the truth
27. (misc.) she took it on herself to break the
news; to — five (esp. AE; colloq.) ('to have a five
minute break'); they took the law into their own
hands ('they dispensed justice without a trial'); to
~ smb. to court ('to sue smb.'); to — smb. under
one's wing ('to protect and help smb.'); to — to
one's heels ('to flee'); to ~ by storm ('to over-
overwhelm completely'); to ~ by surprise ('to sur-
surprise'); to — smt. lying down ('to accept a defeat
without protest'); to ~ smt. for granted (see
granted)
take away v. (D; tr.) ('to remove') to ~ from (she
took the scissors away from the child)
take back v. 1. (D; tr.) ('to accept') to ~ from
(they took the furniture back from the customer)
2. (D; tr.) ('to return') to - to (she took the book
back to the library)
takedown v. (D; tr.) ('to writedown') to - in (to
— testimony down in shorthand)
take in v. (D; tr.) ('to accept') to — as (we took her
in as a partner)
taken adj. ['impressed'] ['infatuated'] ~ with (he
was very much — with her)
takeoff n. (colloq.) ['parody'] to do a ~ of (esp.
BE), on
take off v. 1. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to leave') to -
for (they took off for town) 2. (D; intr.) ('to begin
flight') to ~ from (we took off from a small landing
strip)
take out v. 1. (d; tr.) to - on (don't - your anger
out on me) 2. (misc.) to ~ it out on smb. ('to make
smb. else suffer for one's own problem')
takeover n. 1. a hostile ~ (of a firm) 2. (misc.) a ~
bid
takeover v. (D; intr., tr.) to — from (the new gov-
government has taken over from the outgoing govern-
government; we will — power from them)
take to v. (F) ('to resort to') they took to accepting
bribes
take up v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ on ('to accept, adopt')
(he took me up on my offer) 2. (d; intr.) to — with
('to join') (he took up with a rough crowd)
taking n. for the-(it's there for the-) ('it can be
taken by anyone who wants it')
tale n. 1. to concoct, make up a — 2. to narrate, tell
a — 3. an absorbing, exciting, fascinating, grip-
gripping; fanciful; grizzly; hair-raising, harrowing,
shocking — 4. a fairy; folk — 5. a tall ('unbelieva-
('unbelievable') — 6. (misc.) to tell —sout of school ('to reveal
secrets')
talent n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show (a) — 2.
to cultivate, develop a — 3. to squander one's —(s)
4. (a) mediocre; outstanding — 5. (a) natural — 6.
the — to 4- inf. (she has the - to go far) 7. (a) — for
(a — for painting) 8. of — (a person of considerable
talented adj. — at, in
talk I n. ['address, lecture'] 1. to give a - 2. a pep;
sales — 3. a — about, on (she gave an interesting —
on bringing up children) ['conversation'] ['chat-
['chatter'] 4. to have a - (with) 5. blunt, plain; idle,
small; loose; table - 6. a long - (she had a long -
with him about his work) 7. sweet — ('flattery') 8.
double, fast - ('deception') 9. a heart-to-heart
('frank') - 10. straight ('frank') -11. (colloq.) big
- ('boasting') 12. - about, of; with (there is - of
her resigning) 13. - that + clause (there is - that
there will be a strike) ['type of speech'] 14. baby-
(to use baby —)
talk II v. 1. to — bluntly, candidly, frankly, freely;
loud, loudly; openly 2. (D; intr.) to - about, of,
on (they were —ing about the elections; she was
—ing of her trip; to — on a topic) 3. (d; tr.) to —
into ('to persuade') (to — smb. into doing smt.) 4.
(d; tr.) to — out of ('to dissuade') (to — smb. out
of doing smt.) 5. (d; intr.) ('to speak') to — to, with
(esp. AE) (I will — to them about this problem) 6.
(misc.) to - big ('to boast'); to - oneself hoarse
talk back v. (D; intr.) to -to (to -to one's boss)
talk down v. (d; intr.) to — to (to — to the audi-
audience)
talker n. (colloq.) a fast, smooth - ('one who
speaks glibly, in a deceptive manner')
talking n. to do the - (she did all the -)
talking-to n. (colloq.) ['scolding'] to give smb. a
(good)-
talk over v. (D; tr.) ('to discuss') to — with (we
—ed it over with them)
talks n. ['negotiations'] 1. to conduct, hold —
about 2. to break off — 3. contract; exploratory;
formal; high-level; informal; peace; top-level — 4.
— about; with (— about smt.; — with smb.)
tall adj. to stand — (esp. AE; colloq.) ('to be reso-
resolute')
tally I n. to make a —
tally II v. (D; intr.) ('to correspond') to — with
tambourine n. to play (on) the —
tamper v. (d; intr.) to - with (to - with a lock;
one should not — with a jury)
tampon n. to insert a —
tan I n. to get a —
tan II v. (intr.) to-easily, readily
tandem n. in —
tangent I adj. — to (— to a circle)
tangent II n. ['digression'] to go off at, go off on
a-
tangential adj. (formal) ['incidental'] — to
tangle I n. to unravel a —
tangle II v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) ('to quarrel') to-
over; with (don't — with him)
tango n. to dance, do the —
tank n. ['armored combat vehicle'] 1. to drive a —

tanker
248
['receptacle, container'] 2. a fish; gas (AE),
gasoline (AE), petrol (BE); oil; oxygen; septic;
water ~ ['prison'] (slang) (esp. AE) 3. in the -
['misc.'] 4. a think - ('a group of thinkers, plan-
planners')
tanker n. an oil -
tantamount adj. (cannot stand alone) - to
tantrum n. 1. to have, throw a ~ 2. a temper — (he
threw a temper ~)
tap I n. 1. on -('ready to be drawn') (beer on-)
2. on ~ ('available'); ('imminent') (what's on —
for tonight?) 3. see faucet
tap II v. 1. (d;tr.) ('to ask') to-for (to-smb.
for information) 2. (D; tr.) to - on ('to strike
lightly') (to — smb. on the shoulder)
tape n. ['narrow strip of material'] 1. adhesive,
sticky (BE); friction; magnetic; masking; measur-
measuring; name; ticker — ['string stretched across the
track at the end of a race'] 2. to reach the — (both
runners reached the - together) ['tape recording']
3. to make a — 4. to play, put on; play back a - 5.
to rewind; wind a — 6. to erase a — (see also red
tape)
taper v. (d;intr.,tr.)to~to(~edtoapoint)
tape recorder n. 1. to start; turn on a — 2. to oper-
operate, play a ~ 3. to stop; turn off a ~ 4. a cassette;
reel-to-reel —
tape recording n. 1. to make a - 2. to play, play
back a ~
tapestry n. 1. to weave a ~ 2. (misc.) (BE) life's
rich —
taps n. ['signal played on a bugle'] 1. to play,
sound — 2. at — (lights go out at ~)
tar n. coal ~
tardiness n. — in
target I n. 1. to aim at; hit; shoot at a - 2. to track
a ~ 3. to miss; overshoot a — 4. a civilian; military;
moving; stationary - 5. off - ('not accurate') 6.
on — ('accurate') 7. (misc.) to use smt. as a —
target II v. (d; tr.) to-as (he was-ed as the next
victim)
target practice n. to conduct —
tariff n. 1. to impose, levy a ~ 2. to pay a — 3. a
protective ~ 4. a — on (a stiff — was imposed on
tobacco products)
tarpaulin n. to spread a -
tarry v. to ~ long
task n. 1. to carry out, do, fulfill, perform; cope
with; take on, undertake a - 2. to assign smb. a -
3. a delicate, ticklish; difficult; fruitless, hopeless;
Herculean, monumental; irksome; menial; oner-
onerous; pleasant; unpleasant; unwelcome; welcome
~ 4. (misc.) to take smb. to ~ for smt. ('to criticize
smb. for smt.')
taskmaster n. a hard, rigid, severe, stern -
taste I n. ['appreciation'] ['sense of what is
proper'] 1. to acquire, cultivate, develop a — 2. to
demonstrate, display, show (a) — 3. (an)
acquired; artistic; bad; discriminating; elegant,
excellent, exquisite; good — (it is bad ~ to ignore
an invitation to a wedding) 4. a — for (to develop
a - for music) 5. - in (they showed good - in
planning the decor; excellent — in music) 6. in (a
certain) ~ (everything was done in good —) 7.
(misc.) —s differ; a sense of ~ ['sensation obtained
from tasting, eating'] (also fig.) 8. to leave a — (the
fruit left a pleasant — in my mouth; the whole
affair left a bitter ~ in my mouth) 9. to spoil the -
10. a bad. foul; bitter; mild; nice, pleasant, sweet;
sour; strong —11. (misc.) the sense of - ['small
amount tasted'] 12. to have, take (esp. AE) a -
(of) 13. to give smb. a - of smt. (often fig.) (they
gave him a — of his own medicine)
taste II v. 1. (d;intr.) to-of (the food ~s of gar-
garlic) 2. (s) the food ~s good
taster n. a wine-
tattle v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) ('to inform") to - on
taunt I n. to hurl a — at smb.
taunt II v. 1. (D; tr.) to- about 2. (d; tr.) to -
into (to — smb. into doing smt.)
tax I n. 1. to impose, levy, put a-on 2. to collect
a - from 3. to pay a - (to pay a - on a new car;
to pay a large sum in —es; to pay a — to the govern-
government) 4. to increase, raise —es 5. to cut, lower,
reduce —es 6. to rescind, revoke a — 7. an amuse-
amusement; capital gains; cigarette; death (AE), inheri-
inheritance (BE has death duty); direct; estate; excess-
profits; excise; federal (AE); gasoline (AE), pet-
petrol (BE); gift; income; indirect; liquor; local;
negative income; nuisance; personal-property;
poll; property; real-estate; sales; state (US);
transfer; value-added; windfall-profits (US);
withholding (esp. AE; BE has PAYE) - 8. a
flat; graduated, progressive — 9. a — on (a — on
cigarettes) 10. delinquent —es 11. (misc.) - eva-
evasion; a — haven —; a - shelter; — relief
tax II v. (formal) (d; tr.) ('to accuse') to - with
(to — smb. with a crime)
taxi n. 1. to take a - 2. to hire a — 3. (misc.) to go
somewhere by —
tax return n. to file, submit a —
tea n. ['plant'] 1. to grow - ['beverage'] 2. to
brew, make; steep — 3. to drink, have — 4. strong;
weak - 5. decaffeinated; herbal; hot; iced; mint;
scented — 6. (BE) high — ('early evening meal') 7.
(BE) morning - 8. a cup; glass of - (bring us two
cups of —; or: bring us two —s) USAGE NOTE:
In Britain, tea can also mean'a meal where tea is
served'. High tea includes substantial food.
teach v. 1. (A) she taught history to us; or: she
taught us history 2. (H) she taught them to swim 3.
(L; may have an object) he taught (us) that the
best policy is to tell the truth 4. (Q) she taught me
how to drive
teacher n. 1. to certify; license; train a - 2. an
exchange; practice, student - 3. (BE) a supply -
(AE has substitute) 4. a - of (a - of English)
teaching n. 1. practice, student — 2. team — 3.
health — 4. (misc.) to go into —
teakettle n. 1. to put the - on 2. a - whistles
team n. 1. to field; organize a — 2. to coach; man-
manage a — 3. to disband, split up a — 4. a home;
opposing, rival; visiting — 5. a baseball; basket-
basketball; cricket; drill; football; soccer; track, track-
and-field; volleyball - 6. (Am. professional foot-
football) a wild-card - 7. (mil.) a combat - 8. a
negotiating - 9. (misc.) (AE) to make a - ('to
succeed in becoming a member of a team')
249
tempo
USAGE NOTE: AE uses team more often than
BE—Chicago has fielded a strong team for today's
game; Chicago is the strongest team in theteague.
BE prefers side when referring to a competitive
match—Liverpool have fielded a strong side for
today's match. BE often uses club when refer-
referring to a team in general-Liverpool is the
strongest club in the First Division. A player can
be on a team, in/on a side. In references to inter-
international competition, team, is standard in BE—
the England team in the World Cup.
team up v. (D; intr.) to — against; with (we — ed
up with them against our common enemy)
teapot n. a storm (BE), tempest (AE) in a — ('a
fuss over nothing')
tear I /tiy(r)/ n. ['drop of the fluid secreted by the
lacrimal gland'] 1. to shed a — 2. to weep (bitter)
—s 3. bitter —s 4. —s flowed, rolled, streamed
down their cheeks 5. —s welled up in my eyes 6.
(misc.) crocodile ('false') —s; to be in —s over
smt.; to break into —s; eyes fill with —s; bored to
—s
tear II /tey(r)/ n. ['rip'] 1. to make a — 2. to mend
a —
tear III v. 1. (d; intr.) to — at (to — at the ban-
bandages) 2. (d; tr.) to — from, out of (she tore several
pages out of the book) 3. (d; intr.) to — into ('to
attack verbally') (he tore into his opponent) 4. (D;
tr.) to — into, to (she tore the paper into/to pieces;
to — an argument to shreds) 5. (d; tr.) to — off (she
tore a button off the coat)
tear away v. (D;refl.,tr.) to —from (she couldn't
— herself away from the book)
tease v. 1. (D; tr.) to — about (they —d her about
her new hairdo) 2. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb.
into doing smt.)
teaspoon n. a heaping; level—
teatime n. 1. at — 2. past —
technicality n. on a — (we lost the case on a —)
technician n. a dental; lab, laboratory; medical;
radar; television, TV -
Technicolor п. (Т) in -
technique n. 1. to acquire, develop, work out; per-
perfect a — 2. to apply a — 3. an acting; dance — 4.
relaxation —s
technology n. 1. to create, develop (a) — 2. to
apply, employ — 3. to export, transfer — (to
developing countries) 4. high — (also high tech)
5. state-of-the-art -
teed off adj. (colloq.) (AE) ['angry'] - about, at
teem v. (d; intr.) to — with ('to be full of) (the
river was —ing with fish)
teens n. in one's — (they are still in their —)
teeth see tooth
telegram n. 1. to send a — 2. to get, receive a — 3.
a — from; to (a — from London to Glasgow)
telegraph v. 1. (A) they —ed the information to
us; or: they —ed us the information 2. (H; no pas-
passive) they —ed us to leave immediately 3. (L; may
have an object) she —ed (us) that the manuscript
had been received 4. (Q; may have an object) they
—ed (us) where we should meet
telepathy n. mental —
I n. 1. to hook up, install a — 2. to
answer a — 3. to tap a — 4. to disconnect a — 5. a
cordless; dial; pay, public — 6. a — rings 7. by —;
on, over the — (she spoke to him by —; I enjoyed
our chat on/over the —; to speak on/over the —; he
is always on the —) 8. (misc.) to be wanted on the
—; to call smb. to the —
telephone II v. 1. (B) they -d the message to us
2. (H; no passive) she —d us to return home 3. (L;
may have an object) he —d (us) that he would be
late 4. (Q; may have an object) I —d (them) when
to come
telephone call n. see call 1,12-17
telephone receiver n. see receiver 1-2
telescope n. 1. to focus a — on 2. a reflecting;
refracting —
television n. 1. to put on, turn on the — 2. to watch
— 3. to turn off the — 4. black-and-white; color —
5. cable, pay; closed-circuit; educational; local;
national; peak-viewing-time (BE), prime-time
(esp. AE); public — 6. on — (I saw her on —)
television set n. 1. to put on, turn on a — 2. to turn
offa-
tell v. 1. (A; usu. without to) ('to relate') she told
the news to everyone; or: she told everyone the
news; he told me his name; she told them a story;
— me the truth 2. (D; intr.) ('to be certain') to -
about (you can never — about people like that) 3.
(d; intr., tr.) ('to inform') to — about, of (he didn't
want to — about the incident; — me about the
game; she told everyone of her success) 4. (d; tr.)
('to ascertain') to — from (can you — anything
from a quick examination?) 5. (d; tr.) to — from
('to differentiate') (can you — one twin from
another?) 6. (colloq.) (d; intr., tr.) to - of (BE),
on ('to inform on') (he told on her when the
teacher returned; I'm going to — my father on
you) 7. (D; intr.) to - on ('to affect') (the strain
was beginning to — on her) 8. (H) ('to order') she
told me to leave 9. (L; must have an object) ('to
inform') we told them that we would be late 10.
(Q; must have an object) ('to inform') — me how
to get there 11. (Q) ('to ascertain') can you — from
a quick examination where his injuries are?
teller n. (AE) a bank - (BE has cashier)
telling n. ['certainty'] there is no — what will hap-
happen
temerity n. the - to + inf. (he had the - to file a
grievance)
temper n. 1. to control, keep one's — 2. to lose
one's — 3. a bad, explosive, hot, nasty, quick,
uncontrollable, ungovernable, violent — 4. a
calm, even — 5. —s flare (up) 6. a display, fit of —
(she said that in a fit of —)
temperament n. an artistic; poetic —
temperance n. — in
temperate adj. — in
temperature n. ['degree of heat or cold'] 1. to take
smb.'s — 2. a high; low; normal — 3. (smb.'s) body
— 4. room — (at room —) 5. a — drops, falls; goes
down 6. a — goes up, rises 7. a — remains steady 8.
at a (certain) — (water boils at a certain —) ['excess
over normal body heat'] 9. to have, run a — 10. a
high; slight —
n. 1. to increase, step up the — 2. to slow

tempt
250
251
down the —
tempt v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to ~ smb. into doing
smt.) 2. (H) to — smb. to do smt.
temptation n. 1. to overcome, resist — 2. to be
exposed to, face — 3. to succumb to — 4. to place,
put ~ in smb.'s way 5. irresistible, strong ~
tenacity n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2.
bulldog; great — (to demonstrate great —) 3. the —
to + inf. (she had the — to finish the job)
tend v. 1. (AE) (d; intr.) to ~ to (to ~ to one's
own business) (CE has attend to) 2. (d; intr.) to-
towards 3. (E) he —s to exaggerate
tendency n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show a ~
2. a growing; pronounced; strong; universal — 3.
homicidal; suicidal; vicious —cies (for years he has
displayed suicidal —ties) 4. a — towards 5. a — to
+ inf. (she has a - to exaggerate)
tender I adj. — to, towards, with
tender II n. ['offer, bid'] (esp. BE) 1. to make,
put in, send in, submit a — 2. to invite —s 3. a — for
['currency'] 4. legal —
tender III v. 1. (B) ('to offer') she -ed her resig-
resignation to the government 2. (BE) (d; intr.) to —
for ('to bid on') (to ~ for the construction of a new
motorway)
tenderness n. ['kindness, care'] 1. to show — 2. —
towards
tendon n. 1. to pull a ~ 2. an Achilles' —
tenet n. 1. a basic, fundamental — 2. a ~ that +
clause (our basic — is that all people are equal) 3.
(misc.) to embrace the ~s of a new philosophy
tennis n. 1. to play — 2. lawn; paddle; table — 3.
(misc.) a ~ match; a game of — (let's play a game
of —; she won the first game and went on to win
the set and match)
tennis racket n. to restring; string a —
tenor n. to sing —
tenpins n. to play —
tense I adj. — with (— with anxiety)
tense II n. (grammar) the future; future perfect;
past; past perfect; present; progressive —
tension n. ['strained relations'] ['strain'] 1. to
cause, create ~ 2. to heighten, increase — 3. to
alleviate, ease, lessen, relieve — (to alleviate/ease
— between the superpowers) 4. acute; mounting
— 5. arterial; international; nervous; pre-
premenstrual; racial — 6. — builds up, mounts 7. —
eases, subsides 8. - between ['tautness'] 9. fan-
belt — ['voltage'] 10. high; low —
tent n. 1. to erect, pitch, put up a — 2. to disman-
dismantle , take down a — 3. a circus; pup; pyramidal; wall
— 4. a croup; oxygen —
tenterhooks n. on — ('in suspense')
tenure n. ['permanence of employment as a
teacher'] 1. to give, grant — 2. to acquire, get,
receive — 3. academic —
term I n. ['expression, word'] 1. abstract; bold;
clear; flattering; general; glowing; vague ~s (she
described him in glowing ~s) 2. a general; generic;
legal; technical - 3. in ~s (to speak in general ~s)
4. (misc.) a contradiction in —s ['period of time
served'] 5. to serve a ~ (in office) 6. an unexpired
— 7. a — expires, runs out 8. a jail, prison — ['divi-
['division of a school year'] 9. the autumn (BE), fall
(AE); spring; summer - 10. at the end of a/of
(BE) - ['time at which a normal pregnancy termi-
terminates'] 11. to have a baby at - (see also terms)
term II v. ['formal'] (N; used with a noun) ('to
call') by what right does he - himself an artist?
terminal n. ['point on an electric circuit'] 1. a nega-
negative; positive — ['device by which information
enters or leaves a computer'] 2. a computer ~; a
Visual Display Terminal = VDT (AE; BE has
Visual Display Unit = VDU) ['passenger, freight
station'] 3. an airline; bus; freight; shipping; truck-
trucking - 4. at a - (let's meet at the bus ~)
termination n. ['cessation of employment'] volun-
voluntary —
terminology n. 1. to codify, create, establish, stan-
standardize (a) - 2. basic; legal;scientific; technical -
terms n. ['conditions, provisions'] 1. to dictate;
set; state; stipulate - 2. easy; favorable - 3. sur-
surrender - (to stipulate surrender - to an enemy) 4.
by the — (of an agreement) 5. on certain — (on
one's own —s; on our —) 6. under (the) — of the
agreement ['agreement'] 7. to come to — with
smb. ['relationship'] ['footing'] 8. equal, even;
familiar, intimate; speaking; unequal — 9. on cer-
certain - with (to be on speaking - with smb.; to
negotiate with smb. on equal —)
terrace n. from; on a —
terrain n. harsh, rough; hilly; mountainous;
smooth —
terrible adj. 1. - to + inf. (it was - to work there
= it was - working there) 2. - that + clause (it is
- that she lost her wallet; I feel - that you cannot
accept our invitation)
terrified adj. 1. -by, of 2. -that + clause (we are
— that there may be another earthquake)
terrify v. (R) it —fied me to contemplate the con-
consequences of your actions; it —ies us that there
may be another earthquake
terrifying adj. 1. -to + inf. (it was -to watch) 2.
— that + clause (it's — that there are so many
drunk drivers on the road)
territory n. 1. to annex; occupy-2. to cede-3.
a neutral; trust - 4. (an) occupied; unoccupied -
5. unexplored - 6. (misc.) to reconnoiter enemy
terror n. 1. to employ, engage in, resort to, sow,
unleash - 2. to inspire ~; to strike - into (to
strike - into the hearts of people) 3. sheer, stark
- 4. (colloq.) a holy - 5. in - (to live in - of smt.)
6. (misc.) a campaign, reign of ~
terrorism n. 1. indiscriminate; state; urban —2. an
act of-3. see terror 1
terrorist n. an armed; urban —
terrorize v. (D; tr.) to - into
test I n. ['examination, set of questions'] 1. to
administer, conduct, give a - 2. to draw up, make
up, set (BE) a - 3. to take a - 4. to fail; pass a -
5. a demanding, difficult; easy - 6. an achieve-
achievement; aptitude; intelligence; loyalty (esp. AE);
placement; proficiency - 7. a completion; free-
association; lie-detector; multiple-choice; objec-
objective; true-and-false — 8. a competency; means ~
9. a — in, on (a — in mathematics; a — on new
material) ['trial, experiment'] ['examination'] 10.
to carry out, conduct, do, run a — 11. exhaustive,
extensive, thorough —s 12. an acid, demanding,
exacting, severe — 13. a blood; diagnostic; endur-
endurance; laboratory; litmus; means; nuclear; paraf-
paraffin; Pap; patch; paternity; personality; psycholog-
psychological; road; saliva; screen; skin; tuberculin — 14. a
— for (to do a skin — for tuberculosis) 15. a — on
(they conducted a series of —s on me at the health
center) 16. (misc.) to stand the — of time; the —
turned out to be positive; to put smb. to the —
test II v. l.(D; intr., tr.) to-for (to-for exces-
excessive air pollution; to — the urine for sugar) 2. (D;
tr.) to — in (we —ed them in English) 3. (P; intr.)
some of our students —ed in the top percentile 4.
(esp. AE) (s) some students - high, others low
testament n. 1. the New; Old Testament 2. a — to
3. (misc.) smb.'s last will and —
test flight n. to conduct a —
testicle n. an undescended —
testify v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about (to - about a
case) 2. (D; intr.) to — against; for, on behalf of
(to — for the plaintiff) 3. (d; intr.) to — to (the
results — to the quality of their work) 4. (L) he
—fied that he had not seen the accident 5. (misc.)
to — under oath
testimonial n. 1. to give, offer a — 2. an eloquent
— 3. a — to (a — to smb.'s accomplishments)
testimony n. 1. to give, offer - 2. to cite - 3. to
recant, repudiate, retract (one's) — 4. to con-
contradict, discount, refute — 5. false, perjured; reli-
reliable — 6. — about 7. — against; for, on behalf of
(she gave - against the plaintiff) 8. - that +
clause (nothing could refute her — that the driver
was drunk)
tetanus n. to develop —
text n. 1. to set a - (in type) 2. to annotate a - 3.
an annotated — (see also textbook)
textbook n. 1. an introductory — 2. a — of, on (a
— on advanced grammar)
texture n. rough; smooth —
thank v. 1. to — profusely; sincerely 2. (D; tr.) to
— for (she —ed me profusely for my help) 3. (col-
(colloq.) (H; no passive) I'll — you to make less noise
in the future
thankful adj. 1. - for; to 2. - to + inf. (- to be
alive) 3. — that + clause (we were — that you
offered to help)
thanks n. 1. to express; give one's —; to say — 2. to
accept smb.'s — 3. one's heartfelt, sincere, warm
— 4. — for; to 5. (misc.) many —; — a lot; I finished
the whole job on time, no — to you; we completed
the work on time, — to your help
that pronoun 1. at — ('in addition') (she was a thief
and a clever one at —) 2. (misc.) take —! ('I'm
going to punch you!')
thaw n. 1. the spring ~ 2. a - sets in (also fig.)
theater, theatre n. ['building in which plays are
performed or films shown'] 1. to crowd, jam, pack
a — 2. an art; dinner (esp. AE); movie (AE; BE
has cinema); open-air; repertory — 3. at the —
(we were at the — last night) ['theatrical profes-
profession'] 4. the legitimate — 5. in the — (she was well
thought of in the ~) ['room equipped for surgical
operations'] (BE) 6. an operating theatre
theft n. 1. to commit (a) —; to practice — 2. petty
— 3. a — from (a daring — from a museum)
theme n. 1. a basic; contemporary; dominant — 2.
a — for (a — for discussion)
theorem n. 1. to deduce, formulate a — 2. to
prove; test a — 3. a binomial —
theorize v. 1. (D; intr.) to - about 2. (L) the
police —d that the burglar had entered through a
window
theory n. 1. to formulate a — 2. to advance, advo-
advocate, present, propose, suggest a - 3. to confirm;
develop; test a — 4. to disprove, explode, refute a
— 5. a pet; scientific — 6. game; information;
number; political; quantum; systems — 7. the big
bang; steady state — 8. the germ — (of disease) 9.
a — evolves; holds up 10. a — that (she has a — that
drinking milk prevents colds) 11. in — (in — their
plan makes sense) 12. on a — (they proceeded on
the — that the supplies would arrive on time) 13.
(misc.) the — of relativity; to combine — and prac-
practice
therapist n. an occupational; physical —;
psychotherapist; speech —
therapy n. 1. to employ, use — 2. art; dance; elec-
electro-convulsive (BE), electro-shock (AE); group;
inhalation; music; occupational; physical; radia-
radiation, X-ray; recreational; shock; speech — 3. — for
4. in — (she was in —)
there adv. over —
thermometer n. 1. a clinical; meat; oral; oven; rec-
rectal — 2. a — shows a temperature
thermostat n. 1. to set a - 2. to calibrate a ~
thesis n. ['research paper'] 1. to write a — 2. a doc-
doctoral, Ph.D.; master's — ['proposition,
hypothesis'] 3. to advance, propose; test a — 4. to
challenge; refute a - 5. a - about, on 6. a - that
+ clause (these developments disprove their —
that high taxes stifle investment) (see the Usage
Note for dissertation)
thick I adj. (misc.) as — as thieves ('very closely
allied'); to lay it on — ('to exaggerate')
thick II n. ['most intense part'] in the — (of the
battle)
thick and thin n. ['all difficulties'] through - (to
remain friends through —)
thief n. a common, petty; sneak —
thing n. ['deed'] ['event'] 1. to do a - (she did a
nice — when she offered to help; to do great —s; to
do the right ~) 2. a bad; difficult; easy; good;
mean; nasty; nice; sensible; strange; stupid; terri-
terrible —; the right; wrong — 3. a — to 4- inf. (it was
an easy — to do; it was the wrong — to do) ['ob-
['object'] 4. to use a — for (don't use this — for remov-
removing paint) ['facts, details'] 5. to get a - out of smb.
(I couldn't get a — out of her) 6. to know a — about
(he doesn't know a — about music); to know a —
or two ('to know quite a bit') ['fact, point'] (col-
(colloq.) 7. the - is that + clause (the - is that I still
have a great deal of work to do; the other - is that
I really don't want to go) ['article of clothing'] 8.
not to have a — to wear (I don't have a — to wear)
9. to put on; take off one's —s ['possessions,
effects'] 10. to pack one's -s ['step'] 11. the first;
next — (the next — is to submit your application)

think
252
253
tilt
['person of a certain type'] 12. a pretty; poor - (a
pretty little thing; you poor thing) ['thought, idea']
13. to say the right - ['matters'] (used in the
plural) 14. to even ~s up 15. to see —s (as they are)
16. (misc.) all ~s considered ('with everything
taken into account'); ~s don't look good; -s are
looking up for us; how do —s stand? how are —s?
['utensils'] 17. to clear the (breakfast) ~s away
['individual'] 18. a living- (there wasn't a living -
in sight) ['fear'] ['obsession'] (colloq.) 19. a -
about (she has a — about flying) ['misc.'] 20. to do
one's — ('to do what one feels competent or moti-
motivated to do'); any old ~ ('anything at all'); a sure
— ('smt. that is certain to succeed'); of all —s
('most surprisingly'); to tell smb. a - or two ('to
tell smb. frankly what one thinks')
think I n. (colloq.) (BE) to have a-about
think II v. 1. to-aloud; clearly; hard (I thought
hard and finally remembered the name) 2. (D;
intr.) ('to reflect') to ~ about, of (I was -ing
about you; to - of the past) 3. (d; intr.) ('to be
concerned') to — about, of (I was only —ing of
your welfare when I declined the offer) 4. (d; intr.)
to — of ('to have an opinion of) (what do you — of
this proposal?) 5. (d; intr.) to - of ('to consider; to
intend') (she never thought of telephoning; to —
of resigning) 6. (E) ('to remember') (she never
thought to call) 7. (L) ('to anticipate') we thought
that it would rain 8. (L) ('to believe') I - that he is
a fool 9. (M; used in the passive) ('to consider') he
is thought to be irreplaceable 10. (N; used with an
adjective) ('to consider') many people - her
charming 11. (misc.) I thought to myself that it
would be nice to have some hot soup; he doesn't —
of himself as a politician; to - better of doing smt.
('to change one's mind about doing smt.')
think about v. (J and K) ('to direct one's thoughts
to') I thought about you/your working out there in
the hot sun
think ahead v. (D; intr.) ('to direct one's thoughts
ahead') to — to (to — to the future)
think back v. (D; intr.) ('to direct one's thoughts
back') to - on, to (to - to the old days)
thinker n. a clear; great; logical; muddled; origi-
original-
thinking n. clear; good; muddled; original; posi-
positive; quick; wishful —
thinking cap n. (old-fashioned) to put on one's —
('to ponder a problem')
thinner n. paint-
third degree n. (colloq.) ['brutal, harsh interroga-
interrogation'] to give smb. the —
thirst I n. 1. to experience —; more usu. is: to be
thirsty 2. to quench, slake one's — 3. unquencha-
unquenchable ; unquenched — 4. a — for (a — for knowledge)
thirst II v. (d; intr.) to — for (to — for knowledge)
thorn n. 1. to remove a — (from one's finger) 2.
(misc.) a — in one's side ('a source of irritation')
thorough adj. —in
thoroughfare n. a busy, crowded -
thought n. ['reflection'] 1. to entertain, harbor,
have; relish a - (to harbor -s of revenge) 2. to
express, present a — 3. to gather; sum up one's —s
4. an evil; fleeting, passing; happy; intriguing;
refreshing; sober, sobering; ugly; upsetting — 5.
the - struck me that... 6. a - about, on (what are
your -s on this matter?) 7. a - that + clause (the
— that we would soon reach home gave us cour-
courage) 8. at a - (my mind boggles at the very ~) 9.
in one's —s (she was always in my —s) 10. (misc.)
that — has crossed my mind; to read smb.'s —s; a
train of —; in — and deed ['consideration'] 11. to
give — to 12. to abandon, give up all —s (of doing
smt.) 13. (misc.) perish the -! ('one should not
even consider the possibility!') ['ideas, principles']
14. liberal; logical; modern — ['opinion'] 15. to
express a - 16. a - about, on 17. a - that + clause
(she expressed her - that the case should be set-
settled without litigation) ['concentration') 18.
(deep) in - ['intention'] 19. to have no - (of doing
smt.)
thoughtful adj. 1. - about 2. - to + inf. (it was -
of her to do that)
thoughtless adj. - to + inf. (it was - of them to
make noise)
thousand n. by, in the — s (the crowd streamed
into the stadium by the —s)
thrall n. (formal) ['slavery'] in - to
thrash v. to-soundly
thrashing n. a sound —
thread I n. ['fiber, cord'] 1. to make, spin; wind —
2. coarse; fine; heavy; thin - 3. cotton; lisle;
nylon; polyester; rayon; silk — 4. a reel (BE),
spool (AE) of - 5. (misc.) to hang by a - ('to be
very uncertain') ['theme'] ['train of thought'] 6. to
lose the - (of an argument) 7. the common - (of
a story) 8. a tenuous -
thread II v. (C) - a needle for me; or: - me a
needle
threat n. 1. to issue, make, utter a — 2. to carry
out, fulfill a - 3. to be, constitute, pose a - 4. a
covert; dire, grave, serious; direct; empty, idle;
explicit; imminent; implicit; terroristic; veiled —
5. a security — 6. a — to (to constitute a — to the
party leadership) 7. a — to + inf. (she carried out
her - to resign) 8. a - that + clause (she carried
out her — that she would resign) 9. under — of
(under — of reprisals)
threaten v. 1. (D; tr.) to - with (to - smb. with
reprisals) 2. (E) she -ed to resign
threshold n. ['entrance'] 1. (also fig.) to cross a -
2. (also fig.) on the - (to be on the - of a promis-
promising career) 3. (med.) a renal —
thrift n. to practice-
thrifty adj. -in
thrill In. 1. to give, provide a — 2. to experience,
get, have a - 3. a - for smb. 4. a - to + inf. (it was
a — to ride in your new car = it was a — riding in
your new car) 5. (misc.) to gamble for the — of it
('to gamble for the sheer excitement of gambling')
thrill II v. 1. (d; intr.) to - to (she -ed to the
sound of their voices) 2. (R) it -ed me to learn of
your success
thrilled adj. 1. - with (they were - with the gift)
2. — to + inf. (she was — to receive an invitation)
3. — that + clause (we were — that he would give
a concert in our town)
adj. — to 4- inf. (it was — to see them)
thrive v. (D; intr.) to — on (to — on hard work)
throat n. 1. to clear one's — 2. to gargle one's — 3.
a clear; inflamed, red, sore; scratchy; strep — 4.
(misc.) to cut one's own — ('to ruin oneself); to
jump down smb.'s — ('to criticize smb.'); to ram
smt. down smb.'s — (*to impose smt. on smb.');
the words stuck in her — ('she found it difficult to
say'); to have a lump in one's — ('to be overcome
by emotion'); to cut/slash/slit smb.'s —
throes n. in the — (in the — of a severe economic
crisis)
thrombosis n. a coronary-
throne n. 1. to ascend, mount, succeed to a — 2. to
seize, usurp a — 3. to occupy, sit on a — 4. to abdi-
abdicate (from), give up a —
throng v. (P; intr.) they all -ed around the
speaker
throttle n. 1. to open a - 2. at full - ('at full
speed')
throw In. 1. (basketball) a free - 2. (baseball) a
wild-
throw II v. 1. (A) - the ball to her; or: - her the
ball 2. (D; tr.) to — across, over (to — a ball over
a fence) 3. (D; tr.) to - at (he threw a stone at me)
4. (d; refl., tr.) to — into (he threw himself into his
work; they threw the body into the river) 5. (d;
refl., tr.) to — on (she threw herself on the mercy
of the court; to — light on a subject) 6. (d; tr.) to
— out of (they were thrown out of work) 7. (d;
refl., tr.) to — to (I threw myself to the ground) 8.
(misc.) to — smb. off balance
throw away v. (D; tr.) ('to squander') to - on (to
— one's money on gambling)
throwback n. ['reversion'] a — to
throwback v. (B) she threw the ball back to me
throw up v. (B) ('to reproach') I was late, but she
didn't — it up to me
thrust I n. 1. to make a— 2. a— into
thrust II v. l.(d;tr.) to-at (she thrust the money
at me) 2. (d; tr.) to — into (she thrust the money
into my hand) 3. (misc.) to — one's way through a
crowd
thud n. a dull-
thumb n. ['finger'] 1. babies often suck their ~s
['misc.'] 2. under smb.'s — ('dominated by smb.');
to twiddle one's —s ('to be idle'); to turn —s down
on ('to reject')
thunder n. 1. — booms, reverberates, roars, rolls
2. a clap, peal, roll of — (a deafening clap of —) 3.
(misc.) to steal smb.'s — ('to do first what smb.
else was going to do')
thunderbolt п. а - struck (a tree)
thunderstruck adj. 1. - at (- at the news) 2. - to
+ inf. (they were — to learn that the train had
already left)
thwart v. (D;tr.)to~in
tic n. a nervous —
tick I n. (colloq.) (esp. BE) ['credit'] on - (to let
smb. have smt. on —)
tick II n. (colloq.) (BE) ['moment'] in a-(she'll
be down in a —)
ticket n. ['document showing that a fare or admis-
admission fee has been paid'] 1. to issue a — 2. to buy;
get a — 3. to honor ('accept') a — 4. a one-way
(AE), single (BE); return (BE), round-trip (AE)
— 5. a commutation (AE); complimentary, free;
library (BE); meal (AE; BE has luncheon vouch-
voucher); pawn; platform (BE); season; valid — 6. an
airplane; bus; train — 7. a — for, to (a — for a con-
concert; a — to a game) ['list of candidates'] (pol.)
(AE) 8. to split a — 9. a split; straight — (to vote a
split —) ['printed card indicating participation in a
game of chance'] 10. a winning — (she held the
winning -) 11. a lottery; sweepstakes - ['misc.']
12. to write one's own — (esp. AE; colloq.) ('to
have complete freedom of action') (see also traf-
traffic ticket)
tickled adj. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['happy'] 1. - to +
inf. (they would be - to come to the party) 2. -
that + clause (we're — that you'll be at our party)
3. (misc.) — pink/silly ('very much pleased')
tide n. ['rising and falling of the surface of bodies
of water'] 1. a daily; ebb; falling; flood; high,
spring; low, neap — 2. a — comes in; ebbs, goes
out ['trend, tendency'] 3. to buck (AE), go against
the — 4. to go with the — 5. to stem the —
tidings n. 1. to bear, bring — 2. to receive — 3.
glad; sad —
tie I n. ['necktie'] 1. to tie one's — 2. (BE) an old-
school — ('a tie showing which school the owner
attended') ['draw'] (sports) 3. to break a - 4. a
scoreless — 5. (to end) in a — ['match'] (BE)
(sports) 6. a cup — ['link, bond'] 7. to establish —s
with 8. to cement, strengthen —s 9. to cut, sever;
loosen —s with 10. close, intimate, strong —s 11.
old school -s 12. -s between; to, with (-s to
other nations) ['support for rails'] (AE) 13. a rail-
railroad — (BE has sleeper)
tie II v. l.(D;tr.) ('to equal the score of) to-for
(to - smb. for the lead) 2. (D; tr.) ('to fasten') to
- to (they ~d him to a post) 3. (D; intr.) ('to equal
the score') to — with (our team —d with them for
the lead) 4. (N; used with an adjective) she —d the
rope tight
tie down v. (D; tr.) to-to (he was-d down to his
job
tie-in n. (colloq.) ['relation'] a — between; with
tiers n. ['rows'] in —
tie-up n. ['stoppage'] 1. to cause a - 2. a traffic -
['link'] 3. a - to; with
tiff n. ['quarrel'] 1. to have a — with 2. a minor —
tiger n. 1. a Bengal; man-eating; saber-toothed;
Siberian — 2. —s growl, roar 3. a young — is a cub
4. a female — is a tigress 5. (misc.) to fight like a —
('to fight very fiercely'); a paper - ('one who only
seems to pose a threat')
tight adj. ['stingy'] (colloq.) (esp. AE) 1. - with
(- with money) ['misc.'] 2. to sit - ('to maintain
one's position')
tightrope n. to walk a - (also fig.)
tile n. ceramic; vinyl —
till n. ['money drawer'] to have one's finger(s) in
the — ('to steal from a money drawer')
tiller n. ['rudder'] to ship ('put in place for use')
the-
tilt I n. ['attack'] (colloq.) (BE) 1. to have, make
a — at ['inclination'] 2. a — to, towards ['misc.'] 3.
at full-('at full speed')

tilt
254
tilt II v. 1. (D; intr.) to - to (to - to the right) 2.
(misc.) to — at windmills Do fight imaginary
enemies')
timber n. 1. to float, raft - (down a river) 2. sea-
seasoned; unseasoned ~
time n. ['unlimited duration'] ['entire period of
existence'] 1. — flies; passes 2. in — (we exist in —
and space) ['unlimited future period'] 3. ~ will tell
(— will tell if we are right) 4. in — (in — everything
will be forgotten) ['moment'] ['fixed moment']
['appropriate moment'] 5. to fix, set, specify a ~
for (to fix a — for a meeting) 6. to bide ('wait
patiently for') one's — 7. bedtime; curtain —;
lunchtime; starting ~ 8. the appointed; present;
right; wrong — 9. a closing; opening — 10. a — for
(it's - for lunch) 11. - to + inf. (it's - for us to
leave) 12. — that + clause (it's high time that she
returned home) 13. at a certain — (at a bad —; at
the present -; at that -; at any old ~) 14. by a cer-
certain — (by that — he had left) 15. (misc.) in good
—; in plenty of — ('early enough') ['duration']
['period'] ['interval'] 16. to pass, spend — (she
spends her — reading) 17. to gain, save — 18. to
find — (she somehow finds ~ to jog every day) 19.
to consume, take — (it takes quite a bit of — to
get there; how much ~ will this job take?) 20. to
lose; waste —; to fritter away one's — 21. a long;
short — 22. ancient; former; olden; prehistoric;
recent —s (in ancient —s) 23. (AE) compensatory
— ('free time given to an employee for previously
worked overtime') (BE has time off in lieu) 24.
(AE) equal — (for political candidates on TV and
radio) 25. peak viewing (BE), prime — (what's on
TV tonight during prime —?) 26. (a) record — (she
ran the distance in record —) 27. released — ('time
given for extracurricular activities') 28. travel —
('time spent in going to and returning from work')
29. (the) running — (of a film) 30. — drags 31. —
for (will you have — for an interview?) 32. (misc.)
to kill — ('to make time pass'); to play for — ('to
seek delay'); to take one's — ('to act slowly'); for
a —; for the — being ('for now'); — hangs heavy on
our hands ['conditions during a period'] 33. bad,
difficult, hard, rough —s (during/in hard —s)
['available period'] 34. free, leisure, spare - (what
do you do in your leisure —?) 35. — to + inf. (there
is no — to lose; will you have — to see me tomor-
tomorrow?) 36. — for (— for relaxation; I have no — for
my family) ['period worked'] 37. full ~; overtime;
part — (I work part —) 38. lost — (to make up lost
—; or: to make up for lost —) ['period of serving,
service'] 39. to do, serve — (to do/serve — in
prison) ['tempo, rhythm'] 40. to beat, keep — (to
music, to a song) 41. (mus.) common — 42. (usu
mil.) double; quick — (quick ~, march!) 43. in —
to (the music) ['system of measuring duration'] 44.
to keep, show, tell — (a clock tells —; my watch
keeps good ~) 45. central (US); daylight-saving
(AE), summer (BE); eastern (US); Greenwich
(mean); local; mountain (US); Pacific (US); solar;
standard (AE) - ['schedule'] 46. ahead of - 47.
behind ~ 48. in — for (we arrived in — for the con-
concert) 49. on - (they got there on ~) ['experience']
50. to have a (good) — 51. a good, great, lovely —
(we had a great — on our trip) 52. a bad, rough,
tough, unpleasant — ['timeout'] (sports) 53. to call
— ['occasion'] 54. the first; last; next ~; that; this
— ['end of pregnancy'] 55. her — is near ['misc.']
56. at the same - ('however'); at -s ('occasion-
('occasionally'); for the — being ('at present'); from —
immemorial ('from the earliest period'); in good
— ('when appropriate'); in no — ('very soon'); to
have the — of one's life ('to enjoy oneself
thoroughly'); to keep up with the —s ('to keep
abreast of the latest developments'); to make
good — ('to travel quickly'); to make — with smb.
(esp. AE; colloq.) ('to be successful in attracting
smb.'); to mark ~ ('to be inactive'); — and —
again; or — after — ('frequently'); to live on bor-
borrowed — ('to live beyond the expected time of
death'); pressed for - ('in a hurry'); to work
against — ('to work to meet a deadline'); the — is
ripe for action ('it is time to act'); he died before
his - ('he died prematurely') USAGE NOTES: 1.
The phrase in time can mean 'eventually'~in
time everything will be forgotten. 2. The phrase in
time can also mean 'with some time to spare'~we
arrived in time for the concert. 3. The phrase on
time means 'neither early nor late'-they got there
on time.
time bomb n. 1. to set off a — 2. a — ticks away
time dock n. to punch a —
time limit n. to set a-for
timeout n. to take (a) ~ for
timer n. ['timing device'] to set a —
timetable n. 1. to make up a -2. to issue a- 3. to
follow a - 4. to upset a ~ (see schedule 3)
timid adj. -about
timing n. bad; good -
tinged adj. (cannot stand alone) — with (— with
regret)
tinker v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to-with
tint v. (N; used with an adjective) the windshield
is —ed blue
tip I n. ['gratuity'] 1. to give, leave a - 2. a big,
generous, handsome — (I left a generous — for the
waitress)
tip II v. 1. to —generously, handsomely, liberally
2. (O) we —ped the waiter five dollars
tip III n. ['information'] 1. give smb. a ~ 2. an
anonymous; hot — 3. a — about, on
tip IV n. ['pointed end'] 1. a filter - ['end'] 2. on
the — of smb.'s tongue (the word was on the — of
my tongue; it was on the — of my tongue to say
something)
tip off v. (D;tr.) ('to inform') to-about
tiptoe n. (to stand, walk) on —
tirade n. 1. to launch into a — 2. a blistering,
lengthy — 3. a — against
tire I tyre n. 1. to deflate; inflate a —2. to mount
a — 3. to change; patch, repair; recap; retread a —
4. to crisscross, rotate —s (to reduce wear) 5. to
slash a — 6. a flat — (we had a flat — during our
trip) 7. a worn - 8. a balloon; radial; snow; spare;
steel-belted; studded; tubeless - 9. whitewall -s
10. a — blows out; goes flat
tire II v. (d; intr.) to —of (to— of watching televi-
television)
255
tired adj. 1. dead — 2. — of (I'm — of waiting)
tiresome adj. — to + inf. (it's — to do the same
thing every day = it's — doing the same thing
every day)
tissue n. ['structural material'] 1. cellular; con-
junctival; connective; fatty; granulation; muscu-
muscular; scar — ['soft paper'] 2. cleansing; toilet —
['misc.'] 3. a — of lies
title n. ['appellation'] 1. to bestow, confer a — on
2. to renounce a — 3. an official — ['exclusive pos-
possession'] 4. to give smb. — to smt. 5. to hold — to
smt. 6. clear - to 7. - to (they hold - to the prop-
property) 8. (misc.) there is a cloud on the — ['cham-
['championship'] 9. to win a — 10. to hold a — 11. to clinch
a — 12. to give up; lose a —
toad n. a homed —
toady up v. (d; intr.) to-to (he-died up to the
toast I n. ['browned bread'] 1. to make — 2.
French; melba — 3. a piece, slice of —
toast II v. (C) — two slices for me; or: — me two
slices
toast III n. ['act of drinking to honor smb.'] 1. to
drink; propose a - 2. a - to (we drank a - to her)
3. (misc.) to join smb. in a — ['highly admired per-
person'] 4. the — of (the — of the town; the — of high
society)
tobacco n. 1. to grow, raise — 2. to cure — 3. to
chew — 4. strong — 5. chewing — 6. a plug of
(chewing) —
to-do n. ['fuss'] to make a (big) — over
toe n. 1. to stub one's — on 2. to curl one's —s 3.
the big; little — 4. (misc.) to keep on one's —s ('to
be alert') to tread on smb.'s —s ('to offend smb.')
toehold n. ['footing'] to get a—
toenail n. an ingrown —
toil I n. ['hard work'] 1. arduous, unremitting —
2. physical —
toil II v. (D; intr.) ('to work hard') to - over
toilet n. 1. to flush a — 2. a pay; public —
token n. ['symbol, sign'] 1. to give, provide a — of
2. a tangible - 3. (misc.) by the same - ('for a
similar reason'); in - of ('as evidence of) ['metal
or plastic disc used as a substitute for money'] 4. to
drop in, insert, put in a — (to insert a — into a slot)
5. a bus; subway (AE) —
told adj. all - ('altogether')
tolerance n. 1. to display, show — 2. to have — 3.
-for
tolerant adj. 1. - of (- of criticism) 2. - towards
tolerate v. (K) I will not — his smoking
toleration n. 1. to display, show — 2. — for
toll I n. ['amount levied'] 1. to charge, exact,
impose a - 2. to collect -s (on a bridge, road) 3.
a bridge; tunnel; turnpike (AE) - 4. (misc.) -
free ['damage'] 5. to take a — (on) (the storm took
a heavy —; the earthquake took a heavy — on sev-
several villages) 6. a heavy - ['casualties'] 7. the
death -
toll II v. (D; intr.) to-for (the bell-ed for those
who had made the supreme sacrifice)
tomato n. 1. to grow —es 2. to can —es 3. a rotten
-(also fig.)
tome n. ['volume'] a scholarly —
top
tom-tom n. 1. to beat a - 2. the beat of the -
ton n. 1. a gross; long; metric; short - 2. (misc.)
(BE; slang) to do the - ('to go one hundred miles
per hour) USAGE NOTE: The ton in GB is the
long ton (two thousand two hundred forty
pounds). In the US, the ton is the short ton (two
thousand pounds). The metric ton is one
thousand kilograms and is officially spelled tonne
inGB.
tone n. ['style, trend'] 1. to set the - ['sound'] 2.
dulcet, sweet; harsh; strident —(s) ['manner of
speaking that reveals the speaker's feelings'] 3. an
abusive; angry; apologetic; arrogant; business-
businesslike; condescending, patronizing; decisive;
emphatic; firm; flippant; friendly; imperious;
ironic; querulous; serious; solemn; strident; sub-
subdued; threatening — (their — was friendly) 4. in a
- (in angry -s) 5. (misc.) don't take that - with
me ['signal'] 6. a dial (AE), dialling (BE) -
['pitch'] (ling.) 7. a falling; high; low; rising -
tongs n. 1. coal; curling; ice; sugar — 2. a pair of —
tongue n. ['language'] 1. one's mother, native —
['organ of speech'] ['speech'] 2. to use one's - ('to
speak') 3. to hold one's - ('to be silent') 4. to find
one's — ('to begin to speak') 5. to stick out one's —
(the child stuck out its — at me) 6. to click one's —
7. a coated — 8. (misc.) a — depressor; on
everyone's — ('discussed by everyone'); on the tip
of one's — ('not quite recalled'); —s were wagging
('people were gossiping'); to speak with a forked
- ('to be deceitful') ['manner of speaking'] 9. a
caustic, foul, nasty, sharp; glib; loose — (he has a
nasty -)
tongue-lashing n. 1. to give smb. a (good) - 2. to
get, receive a —
tonic n. 1. to take a - 2. a - for 3. (misc.) a gin and
— ('type of mixed drink')
tonnage n. dead-weight; displacement; gross; net,
registered —
tonsiUectomy n. to do, perform a —
tonsils n. 1. enlarged; inflamed — 2. (misc.) to
have one's — out/removed/taken out
tool n. 1. to use a — 2. a garden; machine; power
— 3. burglar's —s
toot n. (colloq.) to give a —(on a horn)
tooth n. 1. to cut, get teeth (babies are often fret-
fretful when they are cutting teeth) 2. to brush (esp.
AE), clean one's teeth 3. to cap; drill; extract,
pull, take out; fill a - 4. to pick one's teeth 5. to
clench, gnash, grind, grit one's teeth 6. an artifi-
artificial, false; baby (AE), milk; back; front; lower;
permanent; upper; wisdom — 7. an abscessed;
decayed - 8. teeth ache; chatter; decay, rot; erupt
('appear'); fall out; get discolored 9. a set of teeth
10. (misc.) to have a sweet — ('to love sweets'); to
sink one's teeth into smt. ('to become completely
engrossed in smt.'); to show one's teeth ('to show
hostile intentions'); - and nail ('with all one's
strength')
toothache n. toget,havea~(AE)/get,have(a)~
(BE)
toothbrush n. to use a —
top I n. ['devicethatspins*]l.tospina — ['misc.']
2. to sleep like a - ('to sleep soundly')
19—127

top
256
top II я. ['highest point'] 1. to reach the — 2. a
mountain ~; rooftop 3. from; to (the) - (from -
to bottom; we climbed to the —) 4. at the ~
['cover, cap'] 5. to put on, screw on a — 6. to screw
off, unscrew a — 7. a bottle; box; screw — ['misc.']
8. to blow one's — ('to explode in anger'); to go
over the — ('to begin a charge by going over a
parapet'); ('to exceed a limit'); to be on — of a sit-
situation Do be in control of a situation')
topic n. 1. to bring up, broach; discuss a ~ 2. a
controversial; everyday — 3. (misc.) a — of con-
conversation
topple v. (D;intr., tr.) to —from (he was—dfrom
the throne)
topsy-turvy adv. to turn smt. —
torch n. ['portable electric light'] (BE; AE has
flashlight) 1. to turn on a — 2. to flash, shine a —
on ['burning stick'] 3. to light a — 4. to bear a —
['device used to produce a very hot flame'] 5. a
welding - ['misc.'] 6. to put smt. to the - ('to set
fire to smt.'); to carry a — for smb. (colloq.) ('to
remain in love with smb. who does not return that
love')
torment v. (D;tr.) to-into (to— smb. into doing
smt.)
torn adj. ['divided'] (cannot stand alone) —
between (he was ~ between his family and his job)
tornado n. a-strikes (the-struck several cities)
torpedo n. 1. to fire, launch a ~ 2. an acoustic;
aerial; bangalore; magnetic — 3. a — explodes 4. a
— hits; misses its target
torrent n. 1. an angry, raging — 2. a mountain — 3.
(misc.) the rain came down in —s
tort n. (legal) to commit a —
torture I n. 1. to employ, resort to, use — 2. to
inflict — on 3. to subject smb. to — 4. to undergo
— 5. cruel; plain, sheer; sadistic; severe — 6. water
— 7. — to + inf. (it was sheer — to listen to her sing
= it was sheer — listening to her sing) 8. under —
(he confessed under —)
torture II v. (D; tr.) to — into (he was —d into
confessing)
toss I n. ['flipping of a coin to decide an issue'] to
lose; win the —
toss II v. 1. ('to turn and twist') to —restlessly (in
one's sleep) 2. (A) ('to throw') — the ball to me;
or: - me the ball 3. (D; intr., tr.) to - for ('to
decide by flipping a coin') (let's — for it)
total n. 1. to add up, calculate, tally up a — 2. a
combined; grand; sum —
touch I n. ['social contact'] 1. to get; keep, stay in
— 2. to lose — with 3. close — 4. in — with smb.
(keep in close — with me) 5. out of — with (I am
out of — with the present situation) ['feel'] 6. to
the - (smooth to the -) ['physical contact'] 7. a
delicate; gentle, light, soft; heavy — ['sensitivity']
8. to have the common — ('to have the ability to
appeal to the common people') ['ability'] 9. to lose
one's — ['manner'] 10. a bold; distinctive; magic;
man's; personal; woman's — ['detail, stroke'] 11.
the finishing —es (to put the finishing —es on/to
smt.) ['misc.'] 12. a soft — ('an overly generous
person')
touch II v. 1. (d; intr.) ('to stop briefly') to — at
(the ship will - at three ports) 2. (colloq.) (d; tr.)
to — for ('to ask for') (to — smb. for a loan) 3. (d;
intr.) to — on ('to treat briefly') (to — on a topic)
touchdown n. (esp. Am. football) to score a —
touching adj. — to + inf. (it was — to watch)
touchy adj. (colloq.) — about (he's — about his
appearance)
tough adj. (colloq.) ['strict'] 1. - on, with (they
are — on drunk drivers) ['difficult'] 2. (cannot
stand alone) — to 4- inf. (he is — to work with = it
is — to work with him = it is — working with him
= he is a — person to work with) ['unfortunate'] 3.
— that + clause (it's — that you can't be with your
family) ['misc.'] 4. to hang — (esp. AE; slang) ('to
be very firm'); to talk — ('to take a very firm bar-
bargaining position')
tour n. 1. to conduct, operate; organize a — 2. to
go on, make a — of 3. a barnstorming (AE); city;
concert; Cook's; goodwill; guided; lecture; light-
lightning; organized; package; sightseeing; speaking;
student; study — 4. on — (to be on —)
tournament n. 1. to conduct, hold a — 2. a bridge;
chess; invitational; rapid-transit (for chess); tennis
tourniquet n. 1. to apply a — 2. to loosen; tighten
a —
tour of duty n. to do a —
tout v. (colloq.) ('to praise') 1. (d; tr.) to - as (he
was —ed as the next middleweight champion) 2.
(P; tr*.) to - highly
tow I n. 1. a ski —2. to take (a ship) in —
tow II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — a barge into a
port) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of (to — a boat out of a
harbor) 3. (D; tr.) to — to (to — a car to a garage)
towel n. ['cloth, paper for drying'] 1. a bath; dish
(AE), tea (esp. BE); face; guest; hand; linen;
paper; roller; Turkish — 2. a sanitary — (BE; AE
has sanitary napkin) 3. a disposable — ['symbol
of surrender'] 4. to throw, toss in the —
tower I n. 1. a bell; conning; control; fire; TV;
water — 2. a signal — (AE; BE has signal box) 3.
a — stands (one hundred feet high)
tower II v. (d; intr.) to — above, over (as a
thinker, she —s over her colleagues)
town n. 1. a boom; ghost ('deserted'); jerkwater
(AE; colloq.), one-horse, provincial, sleepy,
small; market (BE) - (they live in a sleepy, little
—) 2. a company — 3. smb.'s hometown 4. a
county — (BE; AE has county seat) 5. (misc.) to
come to —; to go to — (colloq.; fig.) ('to go all
out'); to leave —; to blow/skip — (esp. AE; col-
colloq.) ('to leave town suddenly'); (out) on the —
('enjoying city nightlife') USAGE NOTE: In GB,
many places are called towns that would be cal-
called cities in the US. In the US, many places are
called towns or small towns that are villages in
GB. AE rarely uses village for places in the US.
tow out v. (d; tr.) to — to (they —ed the barge out
to the freighter)
toy I n. 1. to make a — 2. an educational; mechan-
mechanical; musical — (to wind a mechanical —) 3. (misc.)
to play with —s; a — car; plane; train
toy II v. (d; intr.) to — with (to — with smb.'s
affections; cats — with mice)
257
trained
trace I n. 1. to leave a — 2. to show a — of (to show
no - of remorse) 3. to lose (all) — of 4. a slight —
(he didn't show the slightest — of intoxication)
trace II v. (D; tr.) to-to (the letter was-d to its
sender)
traceable adj. — to
trace back v. (d; tr.) to — to (she —d her origins
back to the twelfth century)
tracer n. ['inquiry'] (esp. AE) 1. to put out, send
out a — on ['tracer bullet'] 2. to fire a — ['substance
used to follow a reaction in the body'] (med.) 3. to
inject, introduce a — (into the body) 4. to scan
(for) a — 5. a radioactive —
tracing n. to make a —
track n. ['awareness'] 1. to keep — of (to keep — of
expenses) 2. to lose — of 3. close — (to keep close
— of smt.) ['course for racing'] 4. a fast; muddy;
slow — 5. a cinder —; racetrack; running — ['path,
road'] 6. a cart - (BE; AE has dirt road) 7.
(misc.) off the beaten — ('isolated') ['rail'] 8. to lay
—s 9. a double; main; railroad (AE), railway
(BE); single — 10. (misc.) on the wrong side of the
—s (AE; colloq.) (in the poor section of a city')
['recording'] 11. a sound — ['misc.'] 12. the inside
~ ('an advantageous position') USAGE NOTE:
For footraces, track is CE. For horseracing, AE
uses track and racetrack; BE prefers course
and racecourse.
tracks n. ['trail'] 1. to leave — 2. to make — for ('to
go directly to') 3. to cover one's — ['misc.'] 4. to
stop (dead) in one's — Do stop instantaneously')
tract n. ['system of organs'] the digestive; gas-
gastrointestinal; genitourinary; intestinal; respira-
respiratory-
traction n. in — (her leg is in —)
tractor n. to drive, operate a—
trade I n. ['commerce, business'] 1. to carry on,
conduct, engage in — 2. to build up, develop,
drum up, promote; lose — 3. to restrain, restrict —
4. (a) brisk, lively — (they built up a lively —) 5.
fair — 6. domestic; export; foreign, international,
overseas; free; illicit; maritime; retail; wholesale
— (to promote international —) 7. (the) slave — 8.
the carriage — ('business with wealthy people') 9.
— among, between; with (to conduct — with many
countries) 10. — in 11. (misc.) (in) restraint of —
['exchange'] 12. to make a — with smb. 13. a fair —
['occupation'] 14. to ply, practice a - 15. to learn
a — 16. by — (she is a bookbinder by —) 17. (misc.)
a jack of all —s
trade II v. 1. (D; tr.) to-for (she-da knife for
a hat) 2. (D; intr.) to - in (to - in furs) 3. (D;
intr.) to — with (to — with various countries) 4.
(O) she —d me a knife for a spoon
trade hi v. (D; tr.) to -for (she -din her old car
for a newer one)
trademark n. 1. to issue a — 2. to receive, register
a — 3. to bear; display a — 4. to infringe a —
trader n. 1. a fur — 2. a — in
trade up v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to — from; to (to —
to a larger car)
trading n. brisk; slow, sluggish — (slow — on the
stock market)
tradition n. 1. to hand down a — 2. to establish,
start a — (we started a new —) 3. to cherish; main-
maintain, preserve, uphold a — 4. to break with — 5. an
ancient, old; cherished; deep-rooted, deep-seat-
deep-seated, established; family; hallowed; popular; reli-
religious — 6. according to, by — (according to
ancient —; by popular —) 7. in a — (in our —)
traditional adj. — to + inf. (it's — around here to
fly the flag on holidays)
traffic I n. ['movement of vehicles, aircraft'] 1. to
direct — (the police officer was directing —) 2. to
block, hold up, obstruct, tie up — 3. bumper-to-
bumper, heavy; light; rush-hour; slow-moving —
4. air; highway (AE), motorway (BE); inbound;
local; long-distance; merging; one-way; through,
thru (AE); two-way; vehicular — 5. (misc.) the
flow of —; an update on — conditions; a — report
['commerce, trade'] 6. brisk, lively — 7. illegal,
illicit — 8. — in (illicit — in drugs) ['misc.'] 9. (col-
(colloq.) to charge what the — will bear ('to charge as
much as people are willing to pay')
traffic II v. (d; intr.) to — in (to — in drugs)
traffic light n. see light II13-15
traffic ticket n. (AE) ['summons for a traffic viola-
violation'] (CE has ticket) 1. to give smb. a — 2. to get;
pay a — 3. to fix a — ('to arrange to have a traffic
ticket nullified') 4. a — for (the police officer gave
her a ticket for speeding)
tragedy n. — strikes (— struck their family)
trail 1л. 1. to blaze, make; lay out a — 2. to leave
a — (the wounded animal left a — of blood) 3. to
cover up a — 4. a steep; winding — 5. a hiking; ski;
vapor — (to lay out a ski —) 6. on smb.'s — (the
police were on his —) 7. (misc.) the — winds
through the forest
trail II v. (D; intr.) to — behind (to — behind the
leaders)
trailer n. 1. a house — (AE; BE has caravan) 2.
a flatbed; truck (esp. AE; BE prefers trailer) —
train I n. ['row of connected railroad cars'] 1. to
drive a — 2. to shunt —s (onto different tracks) 3.
to board, get on; catch; get off; miss; take a — (we
took a — to the city) 4. to change —s (we'll have to
change —s in Chicago) 5. to flag down; hold; stop
a — (to stop a — by pulling the communication/
emergency cord) 6. a boat; commuter; down (BE)
('from a city'); electric; elevated; express; freight
(AE), goods (BE); hospital; inbound; local; long-
longdistance; outbound; passenger; shuttle; slow
(BE); stopping (BE); suburban; through; up (BE)
('to a city') — 7. a — arrives, pulls in; derails;
leaves, pulls out; stops 8. a — for, to; from (the —
from Exeter to London) 9. by — (to travel by —)
10. aboard, on a — (we met on the —) ['column']
11. a mule; supply; wagon — ['mechanism for
transmitting power'] 12. a power —
train II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to -for (to -for the
Olympics) 2. (D; tr.) to — in (to — smb. in defen-
defensive driving) 3. (d; tr.) ('to aim') to — on (he —ed
his gun on the intruder) 4. (H) they were —ed to
react instantaneously to an attack; they —ed the
workers to be precise
trained adj. 1. — to + inf. (the dogs are — to
attack) 2. (misc.) house-trained (esp. BE; AE pre-
prefers house-broken); potty-trained (BE), toilet-
19*

trainer
258
259
trick
trained
trainer n. an animal —
training n. 1. to give, provide — 2. to get, receive
— 3. intense; thorough — 4. assertiveness; basic;
hands-on; in-service, on-the-job (AE); manual;
military; physical; sensitivity; toilet; voice — 5. —
in (hands-on ~ in the use of computers) 6. the — to
+ inf. (the soldiers did not have the necessary — to
carry out the mission) 7. by — (she's an engineer
by —) 8. in — (he was in ~ for the big fight) ,
traipse v. (colloq.) (P; intr.) they were —sing
around in the park
trait n. an acquired; character; genetic, heredi-
hereditary; negative; personality; positive —
traitor n. 1. a — to (a — to one's country) 2. (misc.)
to turn —
tram (BE) see streetcar
tramcar (BE) see streetcar
tramp v. (P; intr.) to - through the woods
trample v. 1. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (to ~ on
smb.'s rights) 2. (misc.) to — underfoot
trance n. 1. to fall into a — 2. (to be) in a —
tranquillity, tranquility n. 1. to shatter the ~ 2.
(misc.) an air of —
tranquillizer n. 1. to take a — 2. to prescribe a —
for
transaction n. 1. to conduct —s 2. a delicate ~ 3.
business, financial —s 4. ~s between
transcribe v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from; to (to — tes-
testimony from a tape) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ in (to —
speech in phonetic script)
transcript n. 1. an official - 2. (AE) a grade - ('a
student's record')
transcription n. 1. to make a — 2. (ling.) a broad;
narrow; phonetic —
transfer I n. ['act of transferring'] 1. to make a —
2. an electronic; technology — 3. a ~ from; to
['ticket allowing a passenger to change from one
vehicle to another on public transportation'] (esp.
AE) 4. a bus; streetcar; subway —
transfer II v. (D; intr., tr.) to —from; to (she was
—red from New York to Toronto)
transform v. (D;tr.)to —from; into, to (to —cur-
—current from one voltage to another)
transformation n. ['radical change'] 1. to undergo
a — 2. a complete, radical, total — ['transforma-
['transformational rule'] (ling.) 3. to formulate a — 4. to apply
a — 5. to order —s 6. a dative-movement, indirect-
object; imperative; insertion; negative; particle-
movement; passive; question — 7. a — applies
transformer n. a step-down; step-up—
transfuse v. (D; tr.) to - into, to
transfusion n. 1. to administer, give a — 2. to get,
receive a — 3. a blood; bone-marrow; plasma —
transgress v. (formal) (D; intr.) to — against
transgression n. to commit a — against
transistor n. a solid-state—
transit n. l.(esp. AE)mass,rapid —2. in —(dam-
—(damaged in —)
transition n. 1. to make a — 2. a gradual — 3. a —
from; to 4. (misc.) in a state of —
translate v. 1. (D; tr.) to - from; into, to (to - a
book from French into Spanish) 2. (misc.) to — at
sight; to — simultaneously
translation n. 1. to do, make a - 2. (a) close, lit-
literal, word-for-word; free, loose — 3. an
authorized — 4. (a) loan — 5. (a) machine; run-
running; simultaneous — 6. a — from; into, to (a —
from Russian into English) 7. in — (to read a book
in —; the poem is very effective in free/in a free —)
transliterate v. 1. (D; tr.) to — as (to — a Russian
letter as ch) 2. (D; tr.) to — from; into (to — a
text from Cyrillic into Roman letters)
transliteration n. to do a-
transmission n. ['gearbox'] 1. an automatic; stan-
standard; synchronized — ['act of transmitting'] 2. a —
from; to
transmit v. (D;tr.) to — from; to (the results were
—ted to all local stations from the network)
transmitter n. 1. a longwave; radar; radio;
shortwave — 2. a television, TV —
transmute v. (formal) (D; tr.) to-from; into (to
— base metal into gold)
transpire v. (L) ('to become apparent, evident,
known') it —d that he had gone out of town before
the crime occurred
transplant I n. 1. to do a - 2. to reject a - (her
body rejected the —) 3. a bone-marrow; corneal;
gene; heart; kidney; organ —
transplant II v. (D; tr.) to - from; to
transport I (esp. BE) see transportation
transport II v. 1. to - bodily 2. (d; tr.) to - from;
to
transportation n. (esp. AE; BE usu. has trans-
transport) 1. to provide — 2. air; bus; ground, surface;
mass, public — 3. — from; to (to provide — from
the city to the airport)
transpose v. (D; tr.) to — from; into, to (to — a
song into a different key)
transposition п. а — from; into, to
transship v. (D; tr.) to - from; to
trap n. ['device for catching animals or people']
['stratagem for tricking unsuspecting people'] 1. to
bait; set a — for 2. to spring a — on 3. to fall into a
— 4. to lure smb. into a — 5. a booby; death —;
mousetrap; radar, speed —; a sand — (in golf)
['mouth'] (slang) 6. to shut one's —
trapeze n. 1. a flying — 2. on a —
trapper n. an animal; fur —
trash n. (AE; CE has refuse, rubbish) 1. to
accumulate — 2. to dispose of, dump — (BE pre-
prefers to tip refuse) 3. (misc.) (derog.) white —
('poor white people in the southern US')
trauma n. 1. to cause (a) — 2. to suffer (a) — 3. (a)
physical; psychological —
travel I n. 1. air; foreign; sea — 2. — from; to (—
from the United States to Japan)
travel II v. 1. to — extensively, widely; far; far
and wide 2. to — deluxe; first-class; incognito;
light; second-class 3. (D; intr.) to — by (to — by
air) 4. (D; intr., tr.) to — from; to (to — from Lon-
London to Tokyo) 5. (D; intr.) to — across, in,
through (to — in Canada; to — through the Rock-
Rockies) 6. (d; intr.) to — with (to be —ing with a group
of students) 7. (misc.) to — on business; to —
downstream; to — upstream
traveler, traveller n. 1. an experienced, seasoned
— 2. an air — 3. a commercial traveller (BE; CE
has traveling salesman) 4. (misc.) a fellow — ('a
Communist sympathizer')
travesty n. 1. to make a — of 2. a shocking — 3. a
— of, on
tray n. a serving —
treachery n. — to + inf. (it was — to reveal such
secrets to the enemy)
tread I n. ['step'] 1. a firm; heavy; light — ['mark']
2. tire —s ['pattern of ridges'] 3. a worn — 4. a tire
tread II v. 1. (usu. fig.) (d; intr.) to —on, upon (to
— on smb.'s toes) 2. (P; intr.) to — softly
treadle n. to work a —
treadmill n. on a —
treason n. 1. to commit; plot — 2. high — 3. an act
of — 4. — to 4- inf. (it is — to sell military informa-
information to a foreign power)
treasonable see treasonous
treasonous adj. - to + inf. (it is - to deal with the
enemy during wartime)
treasure n. 1. an art — 2. a priceless; real — 3. (a)
buried; sunken — (to find buried/a buried —; to
raise sunken — from the bottom of the sea)
treat I n. ['source of joy'] 1. to provide a — 2. a —
for (their visit was a real — for us) 3. a — to 4- inf.
(it was a — to watch them dance) ['paying for the
food or entertainment of others'] 4. to stand — 5.
(misc.) it's my —
treat II v. 1. ('to describe') to - (a subject)
exhaustively, painstakingly, thoroughly 2. ('to
deal with') to — badly; cruelly; fairly; unfairly 3.
(d; tr.) to - as ('to deal with') (they ~ed us as hon-
honored guests) 4. (D; tr.) ('to cure') to - for; with (to
— smb. for a cold with a new drug) 5. (d; tr.) to —
like ('to deal with') (he —ed him like his own
brother) 6. (formal) (d; intr.) to — of ('to deal
with') (her books — of economic problems) 7. (D;
tr.) to — to ('to provide with at one's own
expense') (to — smb. to a decent meal) 8. (d; tr.)
to — with ('to deal with') (to — smb. with kind-
kindness)
treatise n. 1. to write a - 2. a scientific; theoretical
— 3. a —on, upon
treatment n. ['care'] ['cure'] 1. to administer, give,
provide — 2. to get, receive, undergo — 3. to
respond to — 4. inpatient; medical; outpatient;
radiation; shock - 5. - for (to undergo - for
alcoholism) 6. under — ['method of dealing with']
7. atrocious, brutal, cruel, harsh, inhumane —
(brutal - of prisoners) 8. equal, equitable; fair;
humane; kid-glove, preferential; kind; red-car-
red-carpet; shabby; special; uneven; unfair — (to receive
preferential -) 9. (colloq.) the VIP ('special') -
(they got the VIP ~) 10. the silent - (to give smb.
the silent —) ['description, study'] 11. a cursory;
definitive; exhaustive, lengthy; superficial —
treaty n. 1. to conclude, sign; negotiate, work out
a - 2. to confirm, ratify a - (the senate confirms
all treaties) 3. to break, violate a — 4. to abrogate,
denounce a - 5. a bilateral; commercial, trade;
nonaggression; peace; test-ban — 6. a — between;
with (a — between former foes) 7. a — to + inf.
(they signed a — to settle all border disputes by
arbitration)
tree n. ['woody plant with a trunk'] 1. to grow;
plant a — 2. to prune, trim a — 3. to chop down, cut
down, fell a — 4. to uproot a — (the gale uprooted
several —s) 5. a Christmas; shade — 6. a — grows
7. in; on a — (monkeys live in —s; fruit grows on
—s) 8. (misc.) to climb a —; (colloq.) up a — (AE),
up a gum — (BE) ('stymied'); to bark up the wrong
— ('to be mistaken') ['something resembling a
tree'] 9. a family, genealogical — 10. a clothes;
shoe —
trek I n. ['long trip'] to go on, make a —from; to
trek II v. (P; intr.) to — across the fields
tremble v. 1. (d; intr.) to -at (to -at the thought
of going back to work) 2. (D; intr.) to — from, with
(to — from the cold; to — with fear)
tremor n. 1. a nervous — 2. uncontrollable; violent
—s 3. an earth —
trench n. 1. to dig a - 2. a slit - 3. (misc.) in the
~es (during World War I)
trend n. 1. to create, set, start a — 2. a discernible,
noticeable; general; growing; marked; recent;
unwelcome; welcome — 3. an economic; political
— 4. a — towards
trespass I n. criminal —
trespass II v. 1. (obsol.) (D; intr.) to — against 2.
(D; intr.) to — on, upon (to — on a neighbor's
property)
trespassing n. no —!
trial n. ['legal proceedings'] 1. to conduct, hold a
— 2. to bring smb. to —; to put smb. on — 3. to
stand — for (he stood — for embezzlement) 4. to
go to — (the case went to —) 5. to waive a (jury) —
(the accused waived a jury —) 6. a fair; speedy —
(to get a fair —) 7. a closed; court; jury (or: a — by
jury); open, public; show; summary; war-crimes
— 8. at a - (she testified at his -) 9. on - for (he
was on — for murder) ['test, experiment'] 10. a
field - 11. - by (~ by fire) 12. (misc.) by - and
error ['source of worry'] 13. a — to (they are a — to
their parents)
trial balloon n. to float, send up a—
triangle n. 1. to draw, make a — 2. an acute; con-
congruent; equilateral; isosceles; obtuse; right (AE),
right-angled (BE); scalene - 3. (fig.) the eternal
—; a love —
tribe n. 1. to lead a — 2. a native; nomadic, wan-
wandering; primitive — 3. (misc.) to belong to a —; a
member of a —
tribulation n. 1. to bear, endure a — 2. (misc.)
trials and —s
tribunal n. a high —
tribute n. ['money paid under duress'] 1. to exact
— from 2. to pay — to ['testimonial'] 3. to pay (a)
— to 4. a fitting; glowing; moving, touching — 5. a
floral — ('a bunch of flowers') 6. a — to
trick I n. ['dexterous feat, sleight of hand'] 1. to
do, perform a — 2. a card; hat — ['prank'] ['deceit-
fill act'] 3. to play a — on smb. 4. a clever; dirty,
low, mean, nasty, shabby, sneaky, snide — 5. a
confidence - (BE; AE has confidence game)
['scoring unit in a card game'] 6. to lose; take, win
a — ['misc.'] 7. to do the — ('to be exactly what is
needed'); one's bag of ~s ('one's expertise'); - or
treat! (at Halloween) (see also tricks)

trick
260
trick II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (to — smb. into
doing smt.) 2. (D; tr.) to — out of (she was —edout
of her money)
trickle v. (P;intr.) stragglers kept—ling into camp
trickle down v. (D;intr.) to ~ to (to-to the gen-
general population)
tricks n. (often pol.) dirty -
trifle I n. a mere —
trifle II v. (d; intr.) to - with
trigger n. ['device for releasing the hammer of a
firearm'] 1. to press, pull, release, squeeze a (the)
— 2. a hair ('delicate') — ['device that fires an ex-
explosive'] 3. a — for (a — for an H-bomb)
trim I n. ['good condition'] ['condition'] 1. fight-
fighting - (in fighting -) 2. in - (to be in ~) ['orna-
['ornamental metalwork on a car'] 3. chrome — (he
scratched my chrome ~)
trim II v. (d;tr.) to -from (to -the fat from the
budget)
trimmings n. ['garnishings'] with all the - (turkey
with all the -)
trip I n. 1. to go on, make, take a — (she went on
a —; I've made this — many times; we would like
to take a —) 2. to arrange, organize, plan a — 3. to
cancel; postpone a — 4. an extended, long; short —
5. a business; camping; field; pleasure; return;
round; round-the-world; wedding — (we are plan-
planning a round-the-world —) 6. a — from; to (they
went on a — to Canada; to take a — from England
to Australia) 7. a - through (a - through the
west) 8. on a — (she was away on a —) 9. (misc.) an
ego — ('an action that satisfies one's ego')
trip II v. (D;intr.) ('to stumble') to —on, over (to
— on a rock; she was —ping over every word)
triplets n. a set of —
triplicate n. in — (to prepare all documents in —)
tripod n. on a — (the camera rested on a —)
triumph I n. 1. to achieve, score a — 2. a glorious,
splendid; short-lived - 3. a - over (a - over evil)
4. in — (to return home in —)
triumph II v. (D; intr.) to - over
triumphant adj. -in;over
Trojan n. (misc.) to work like a — ('to work very
hard')
trolley n. ['small wheeled conveyance'] (BE) 1. a
(shopping) — (in a supermarket) (AE has shop-
shopping cart) 2. a tea — (AE has tea wagon) 3. a
sweet — (in a restaurant) ['streetcar, tram'] (AE)
4. see streetcar USAGE NOTE: Wheeled con-
conveyances that are called trolleys in BE are often
called carts in AE. In a library, books are moved
on a trolley (BE) or on a cart (AE).
trombone n. to play the —
troop I n. 1. a cavalry - 2. a Boy Scout; Girl
Scout (AE) -
troop II v. (P; intr.) the children~ed into school
trooper n. 1. (AE) a state ~ 2. (misc.) to swear
like a — ('to use vile language')
troops n. 1. to commit; deploy; dispatch; lead —2.
to review — 3. to station — (in a country) 4. green;
seasoned - 5. defeated; demoralized; victorious
— 6. airborne; armored; ground; irregular;
motorized; mounted; regular; shock; ski —
trophy n. 1. to award a — 2. to win a — 3. a sports;
war—
tropic n. the Tropic of Cancer; Capricorn
tropics n. in the — (to live in the —)
trot n. l.ata~2. (misc.) (BE; colloq.) on the -
all day ('busy all day'); that horse won four races
on the — ('that horse won four races in succes-
succession')
troth n. (formal) to plight one's — ('to make a
promise of marriage')
trouble I n. 1. to cause, make, start, stir up — 2.
to invite, look for — 3. to have — (she had a lot of
— with her back) 4. to go to — (they went to a great
deal of — to arrange the interview) 5. to get (smb.)
into — (we got into — during our trip; she got her-
herself into serious — with the police; they got me into
— at school) 6. to take the - to do smt. (I took the
— to check on her story) 7. to get (smb.) out of —
(I got out of —; she got herself out of —; they got
him out of —) 8. to avoid, steer clear of — 9. real,
serious — 10. back; engine; heart — (to develop
engine —) 11. — is brewing 12. — blows over 13. —
about, over; with (we had — with our neighbors
over the noise that they were making) 14. a bit of
— 15. no — to + inf. (it's no — to call them) 16. in
— (with) (they were in —; he was in — with the
police) 17. out of — (to keep out of —) 18. (misc.)
to put smb. to a lot of —; it is not worth the —;
sending a telegram will save you the — of making
a second trip; she has — going up steps; he had no
— memorizing the material for the test
trouble II v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) to - about (don't -
yourself about the arrangements) 2. (colloq.) (E;
in neg. sentences) she didn't even — to lock the
door 3. (colloq.) (H; in interrogative sentences;
no passive) could I — you to open the window? 4.
(R) it —d me to read that no negotiations were
scheduled; it —d us that they did not write of their
plans
troubled adj. — to + inf. (we were — to learn of
her problems)
troublesome adj. - to + inf. (it is - to be without
electricity)
trousers n. 1. to put on; wear — 2. to take off — 3.
to button up; unbutton; unzip; zip up one's — 4.
baggy; long; short — 5. a pair of — 6. (misc.) a
trouser leg
trousseau n. a bridal —
trowel n. a bricklayer's; gardener's; plasterer's—
truant n. (esp. AE) 1. to play - 2. (misc.) a -
officer
truce n. 1. to agree on, arrange, call, work out a —
2. to violate a — 3. to denounce a — 4. an armed;
uneasy — 5. a — between
truck I n. ['vehicle'] 1. (esp. AE; BE often has
lorry, van) to drive, operate a — 2. a delivery
(AE); dump (esp. AE), dumper (BE), tipper
(BE); garbage (AE); panel (AE; BE has delivery
van); pickup (AE); sound; trailer (AE; BE has
articulated lorry); trash (AE; BE has dustcart) —
3. a tow — (AE; BE has breakdown lorry, break-
breakdown van) 4. a railway — (BE; AE has flat-
car)
truck II n. ['dealings'] to have no — with
trudge v. (P; intr.) to — through the mud
261
turn
true adj. 1. historically — 2. — to (— to one's prin-
principles) 3. — that + clause (it is not — that she has
resigned)
truly adv. (usu. at the close of a letter) (esp. AE)
yours ~; yours very ~; very - yours (CE has
yours sincerely, sincerely yours)
trump n. ['winning card'] 1. to play a — ['final
resource'] 2. to have a — up one's sleeve
trump card n. ['final resource'] to play one's —
n. to play the —
n. to lead — (when playing cards)
n. ['main stem'] 1. a tree — ['large piece of
luggage'] 2. to pack; unpack one's — 3. to ship a —
4. a steamer; wardrobe — USAGE NOTE: On
cars, trunk is AE; boot is BE.
trunks n. bathing.—
trust I n. ['reliance'] 1. to place, put one's - in 2.
to abuse smb.'s — 3. absolute; blind, unquestion-
unquestioning - 4. public - 5. on - (to sell on -) ['cartel'] 6.
to break up a — ['fund'] 7. to set up a — (for a
child) 8. a unit - (BE; AE has mutual fund) 9. a
blind; perpetual — (to place one's holdings in a
blind — during one's term of office) 10. in — for
trust II v. 1. to - blindly, implicitly 2. (d; intr.)
('to believe') to — in (to — in God) 3. (d; intr.) to
— to ('to rely on') (to — to memory) 4. (d; tr.) ('to
entrust') to — with (to — smb. with one's savings)
5. (H) ('to entrust') I -ed her to deposit the funds;
— them to do smt. silly (ironic) 6. (L) ('to believe')
we — that you will keep your word
trust fund n. to set up a — for smb.
truth n. 1. to ascertain, elicit, establish, find; face,
face up to; search for, seek the — 2. to reveal; tell
the — 3. to distort, stretch the — 4. the absolute,
cold, gospel, naked, plain, sober, unvarnished —
5. the awful; bitter; ultimate — 6. (the) historical
— 7. a grain, kernel of — 8. the — that + clause
(the — is that he served in the army) 9. in —
try I n. 1. to have, make a — at 2. (colloq.) to give
it, smt. a — 3. (rugby) to score a — 4. a — at, for 5.
a — to + inf. (they made another — to have the
decision reversed) 6. (misc.) (AE; colloq.) to give
it the old college — ('to make a determined effort')
try II v. 1. to — hard; to — one's best 2. (D; intr.)
('to attempt') to - for (to - for a prize) 3. (D; tr.)
('to subject to trial') to — for (they tried her for
murder) 4. (E) ('to attempt') she tried to tele-
telephone us 5. (G) ('to attempt') he tried jogging, but
his ankles would hurt USAGE NOTES: 1. The
phrase try and do smt. is a colloq. variant of try
to do smt., but has no past tense. 2. The sentence
she tried to jog usu. means that she never was able
to jog; she tried jogging means that she was able
to jog, but gave it up after a while.
tryout n. a —for
try out v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to - for (to - for a
major part in a play) 2. (D; tr.) to - on (to - a new
drug on animals)
tryouts n. to hold — for
tryst n. 1. to keep a — 2. a — with
tsar (BE) see czar
tub n. ['bathtub'] (esp. AE; BE prefers bath) 1.
to fill the - (for a bath) 2. to empty the - (after a
bath) 3. to clean out; scrub (out) a —
tube n. ['channel within a body'] 1. bronchial;
Eustachian; Fallopian —s ['rubber casing'] 2.
an inner — ['hollow cylinder'] 3. an electron;
picture, television; test — 4. a vacuum — (AE;
BE has valve) 5. (slang) the boob — ('televi-
('television')
tuberculosis n. to contract, develop-
tubing n. copper; glass; flexible; plastic; rubber —
tuck v. (d; tr.) to - into (to - a child into bed; he
—ed his shirt into his trousers)
tug I n. ['pull'] 1. to give a - on ['tugboat'] 2. a
seagoing —
tug II v. (D; intr.) to - at (to - at a rope)
tuition n. ['instruction'] (BE) 1. to give — ['pay-
['payment for instruction'] 2. to pay — for 3. free; half
— (to receive free —)
ramble I n. (colloq.)['fall']l.totakea-2.abad,
nasty - (she took a nasty -) 3. a - from ['sign of
recogniton'] 4. to give smb. a — (they wouldn't
give us a —)
ramble II v. 1. (d; intr.) to — into (to — into bed)
2. (d; intr.) to - out of (to -out of a chair) 3. (col-
(colloq.) (d; intr.) to - to ('to catch on to, com-
comprehend') (they didn't - to the meaning of the
clues)
tumor, tumour n. 1. to excise, remove a — 2. a
benign; inoperable; malignant —
tumult n. ['violent, noisy agitation'] 1. to cause -
2. in — over
tune I n. ['melody'] 1. to compose, write a — 2. to
hum; play; sing; whistle a — (to play a — on the
piano) 3. to carry ('sing the notes of) a — 4. a — of,
to (the - to a song) 5. a catchy; lilting - 6. in -;
out of — (to sing in —; she was playing out of —) 7.
to a — (to dance to a —) ['agreement'] 8. in — with
(in — with the times) 9. out of — with ['attitude']
(colloq.) 10. to change one's - ['misc.'] (colloq.)
11. to call the — ('to be in command'); to sing a dif-
different — ('to begin to act differently'); to the — of
('approximately')
tune II v. (d; tr.) to - to (we ~d our sets to the
local station)
tune in v. (D; intr.) to -on, to (to -to a station)
tuner n. a piano —
tune-up n. 1. to do a — (of an engine) 2. an engine
tuning n. fine —
tunnel In. 1. to bore, construct, dig a — 2. a pe-
pedestrian; railroad (AE), railway (BE); wind — 3. a
— caves in 4. through a — (to drive through a —) 5.
(misc.) (fig.) the light at the end of the -
tunnel II v. (D; intr.) to-under (to-under the
Channel)
turbulence n. clear-air —
turkey n. 1. to raise —s 2. to carve; roast; stuff a —
3. a wild - 4. -s gobble 5. a female - is a hen 6.
a male — is a gobbler
turmoil n. in (a) — (the country was in —)
turn I n. ['change of direction'] ['direction'] 1. to
make, negotiate a — (to negotiate a difficult —) 2.
to take a — (the conversation took an interesting
—) 3. a left; right; sharp —; U-turn (to make a U-
turn) 4. a — to (a — to the right) ['proper order,
opportunity'] 5. to take one's — 6. to take ~s at;

262
with (we took ~s with them standing/at standing
guard) 7. to wait one's ~ 8. smb.'s ~ comes (my ~
came) 9. smb.'s ~ to + inf. (it's my ~ to drive) 10.
by ~s 11. in ~; out of ~ ['change'] 12. to take a *~
(the situation took a ~ for the better) 13. a drama-
dramatic; favorable; unexpected; unfavorable ~ (events
took a dramatic ~ for the worse) 14. at the ~ (of
the century) ['short walk'] 15. to take a ~ (let's
take a ~ around/round the park) ['shock'] 16. to
give smb. a ~ (the revelation gave me quite a ~)
['misc.'] 17. at every ~ ('on every occasion'); to do
smb. a good ~ ('to do smb. a favor')
turn II v. 1. ('to change direction') to — abruptly,
sharply 2. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ against ('to become
antagonistic towards'); ('to make antagonistic
towards') (to ~ against one's friends; what ~ed
him against us?) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ for; to ('to resort
to') (she had to ~ to her family for help) 4. (d;
intr.) ('to shift') to ~~ from; to (let's ~ from this
topic to a more pleasant one; to ~ to a new field)
5. (D; intr.) ('to change direction') to — into, onto
(to ~ into a side street) 6. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ into,
to Do be converted, transformed into'); ('to con-
convert, transform into') (caterpillars ~ into but-
butterflies; freezing water ~s into ice; his love ~ed to
hate; they ~ed the meeting into a brawl; the inci-
incident ~ed her into a better person) 7. (D; intr.) to
~ off ('to leave') (to ~ off the main road) 8. (d;
intr.) to ~ on ('to attack') (to ~ on smb. in anger)
9. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to depend, hinge on')
(everything —s on the judge's interpretation of the
law) 10. (D; intr.) Do change direction') to ~- to
(to ~ to the right) 11. (d; intr.) ('to direct one's
attention, efforts') to ~ to (to ~ to a new subject;
she ~ed to the study of art) 12. (d; tr.) ('to direct')
to — to, towards (to ~ one's attention to a new
problem; ~ your face towards the mirror; you
should not ~ your back to the audience) 13. (D;
intr.) to ~ towards ('to face') (~ towards me) 14.
(N; used with an adjective) ('to cause to become')
we —ed the dog loose; worry ~ed her hair gray 15.
(S) to ~ traitor; she ~ ed pale 16. (misc.) to ~
one's back on smb. ('to reject smb.') (see the
Usage Note for grow)
turnabout n. ['reversal'] to do a ~
turn away v. (D; intr.) to ~ from
turnback v. (D;intr.) to — from; to
turn in v. (B) ('to hand over') they ~ed him in to
the police; she ~ed the assignment in to the
teacher; he refused to ~ himself in to the
authorities
turning point n. 1. to mark a ~ (in history) 2. to
reach a ~ 3. a *~ for 4. at a ~ (we are at a ~ in his-
history)
turn off v. (D; intr.) to ~ from; into (we ~ed off
from the main road into a side road)
turn on v. (slang) 1. (D; intr.) to ~ to ('to become
excited about') (to ~ to Beethoven) 2. (D; tr.) to
~ to ('to excite about') (to ~ smb. on to Beeth-
Beethoven)
turnout n. ['attendance'] ['participation'] 1. to
attract a (large) ~ 2. a big, enormous, heavy,
large; good; record ~ 3. a light, poor, small ~ 4.
(a) voter ~
turn out v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to appear') to ~ for (a
large crowd ~ed out for her first concert) 2. (E)
('to prove') the test ~ed out to be positive 3. (L) it
—ed out that they were away on a trip 4. (s) the test
~ed out negative
turnover n. ['movement of goods'] 1. a brisk,
rapid ~ ['filled pastry'] 2. an apple ~
turn over v. (B) ('to hand over') to *~ a thief over
to the police
turnpike n. (AE) ['toll expressway'] 1. (to travel)
by ~ 2. (to drive) on a ~
turn signal n. (AE) to put on, use a ~ (BE has
indicator)
turnstile n. 1. to pass through a ~ 2. a subway
(AE), underground (BE) ~
turn up v. 1. (D; intr.) ('to appear') to — in (she
finally ~ed up in London) 2. (s) ('to appear') (he
~ed up drunk at/for work)
turpitude n. moral-
turtle n. 1. a fresh-water; land; mud; snapping ~
2. (misc.) to turn ~ ('to capsize')
tusk n. an elephant; walrus ~
tussle I n. (colloq.) 1. to get into, have a ~ 2. a ~
about, over; with
tussle II v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ with
tutelage n. under smb.'s ~
tutor I n. 1. a course (BE); private ~ 2. a — to
tutor II v. (D; tr.) to ~ in (to — smb. in physics)
tutorial n. ['course'] 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. to have
a ~ with 3. a ~ about, on
TV see television
TV set see television set
twang n. 1. a nasal ~ 2. (misc.) to speak with a ~
tweed n. herringbone ~
tweezers n. a pair of —
twilight n. in the ~ (in the ~ of one's career)
twine v. 1. (d; intr., refl.) to ~ around, round (the
vines ~d around the tree) 2. (misc.) she has them
~d around her little finger ('they will do anything
she wants them to do')
twinkle п. а — in smb.'s eyes
twins n. 1. fraternal; identical; Siamese ~ 2. a
pair, set of ~
twist I n. ['type of dance'] 1. to dance, do the ~
['act of twisting'] 2. to give smt. a ~ ['unexpected
turn'] 3. an ironic; strange, unusual ~ ['interpreta-
['interpretation'] 4. to give a (new) ~ (to the news) ['ap-
['approach, method'] 5. a new ~
twist II v. 1. (D; tr.) to~ into (to ~ smt. into a
certain shape) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~ smt. out
of shape) 3. (misc.) to ~ smb.'s arm ('to coerce
smb.'); to ~ smb. around one's little finger ('to
manipulate smb.'); the road ~s and turns
twitch I n. a nervous; uncontrollable ~
twitch II v. to — nervously; uncontrollably
two cent's worth n. (slang) (AE) ['opinion'] to get
in, put in one's *~
type I n. ['metal blocks used in printing'] 1. to set
- (to set ~ by hand) 2. boldface, boldfaced; elite;
italic; pica; regular; Roman ~ 3. a font/fount of ~
4. in — (to set a book in ~) ['sort, category'] 5. a
blood — 6. of a certain ~ (a person of that — = that
~ of person)
type II v. 1. (C) ('to typewrite') ~ this letter for
263
tyre
me; or: ~ me this letter 2. (D; tr.) ('to assign to a
type') to ~ as (that actor was ~~d as a villain)
typecast v. (D; tr.) to ~ as; in (to be typecast in a
certain role)
typeface see type 12
typewriter n. 1. to operate, pound (colloq.) a - 2.
an electric; electronic; manual; portable ~ 3. a ~
skips 4. on a ~ (I did the letter on my electric ~)
typhoid n. to contract, develop ~
typhoon n. the ~ hit/struck (several islands)
typhus n. to contract, develop ~
typical adj. 1. ~ of 2. - to + inf. (it was - of her
to say such things)
typing n. to do (the) ~
typist n. 1. a shorthand - (BE; AE has stenog-
stenographer) 2. a clerk-typist
tyranny n. 1. to impose ~ on 2. to overthrow a ~
3. cruel, merciless; ruthless ~ 4. an act of ~ 5. ~
over
tyrant n. 1. to overthrow a ~ 2. a cruel, merciless;
ruthless ~
tyre (BE) see tire I

UFO
264
и
UFO n. ['unidentified flying object'] 1. to sight a
— 2. (misc.) a — sighting
ukase n. ['edict'] to issue a —
ulcer n. a bleeding; duodenal; gastric, stomach;
mouth; peptic; perforated —
ultimate n. ['acme'] 1. the-in (the-in comfort)
2. (carried) to the —
ultimatum n. 1. to deliver, give, issue, present an
— 2. to get, receive an — 3. to defy; ignore an — 4.
to withdraw an —
umbilical cord n. 1. to tie (off) an-2. to cut the-
(also fig.)
umbrage n. ['offense'] 1. to give — 2. to take — at
umbrella n. 1. to open an — 2. to fold (up) an — 3.
a beach — 4. under an — (also fig.)
unable adj. (cannot stand alone) — to + inf. (she
is — to work today)
unacceptable adj. — to
unaccountable adj. —to
unaccustomed adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (—
to public speaking)
unaffected adj. 1. — by 2. to remain —
unafraid adj. —of
unaided adj. —by;in
unamenable adj. (formal) — to
unanimity n. —in
unanimous adj. —in
unappreciative adj. —of
unasked adj. —for
unattended adj. to leave smt. —
unaware adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. — of 2. —
that + clause (they were — that the road had been
closed)
unawares adv. ['unexpectedly'] to catch smb. —
unbalanced adj. mentally —
unbeatable adj. — at, in (— at chess)
unbecoming adj. — of; to (conduct — to an officer
= conduct — an officer)
unbeknown adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (— to
us, they had already left)
unbeknownst adj. (formal) (cannot stand alone)
— to
unbelievable adj. 1. - to 2. - that + clause (it's -
to me that she would commit such a blunder)
" ig adj. — in (— in one's manner)
«- adj. — towards
HUVW.»en v. 1. (B; refl.) he finally — ed himself to
his family 2. (D; refl.) to - of (to - oneself of a
secret)
uncanny adj. 1. positively — 2. — to + inf. (it was
— to see how closely they resemble each other) 3.
— that + clause (it's — that we got here on the
same day after traveling for three months) 4.
(misc.) it's — how much the twins resemble each
other
uncensored adj. togo —
uncertain adj. 1. — about, as to, of (— about the
outcome) 2. (misc.) I am still — (as to) whether (or
not) they are coming
uncertainty n. — about, as to (there was no —
about the matter; there is still some — as to
whether they are coming)
unchallenged adj. togo —
unchanged adj. to remain —
uncharacteristic adj. 1. - of 2. - to + inf. (it was
— of her not to answer her correspondence)
uncharitable adj. 1. - of 2.-to + inf. (it was-of
her to say that)
unchecked adj. to go, remain —
unclaimed adj. to go, remain —
uncle n. (misc.) (colloq.) to say — ('to yield')
uncomfortable adj. (to feel) - about; with (I felt
— about discussing this matter in public)
uncommitted adj. —to
uncommon adj. — to + inf. (it is not — to find
people here who know several languages)
uncommunicative adj. — about, regarding
uncompromising adj. — in; towards (— in one's
attitude; — towards their proposal)
unconcern n. —for,over
unconcerned adj. — about, at, over, with
unconscious adj. 1. to remain — 2. — of
unconventional adj. — to + inf. (it is — to go to
work in shorts)
unconvinced adj. 1. to remain — 2. — of
uncooperative adj. — about; in; towards (— in
working out a compromise)
uncorrected adj. to go, remain —
uncritical adj. -of
unction n. (rel.) 1. to give — 2. to receive — 3.
Extreme Unction USAGE NOTE: The term
Anointing of the Sick is now preferred to Extreme
Unction.
undaunted adj. — by; in (— in one's resolve)
undecided adj. 1. - about 2. - whether + inf. (he
is — whether to go) 3. to remain —
undemonstrative adj. — towards
underbelly n. (fig.; historical) the soft — (of
Europe) ('the Balkans and Italy')
underbrush n. in the —
undercoating n. (on a car) to apply—
undercover adv. ['acting in secret'] 1. to work — 2.
togo —
undergraduate n. a college, university—
underground adv. togo —
undergrowth n. 1. to clear the — 2. dense, heavy;
thick — 3. in the —
understand v. 1. to - clearly, perfectly 2. (d; tr.)
to - by (what do you - by this term?) 3. (H) I
understood her to say that she would attend the
meeting 4. (K) I cannot — his behaving like that 5.
(L) I — that you will be moving here soon 6. (Q)
we do not — why she left 7. (misc.) they don't —
anything about politics; she gave me to — that the
bill would be paid
understanding I adj. —about,of
understanding II n. ['agreement'] 1. to arrive at,
come to, reach an — 2. a clear; secret; tacit; ver-
265
unite
bal; written — 3. an — about; with (we reached a
tacit — with them about the matter) 4. an — to +
inf. (to reach an — to keep a dispute out of the
newspapers) 5. an — that + clause (it was my —
that we would share the expenses) 6. on an — (we
bought the supplies on the — that we would be
reimbursed) ['harmony'] ['comprehension'] 7. to
bring about, develop, promote — 8. deeper;
mutual — 9. — between (to promote deeper —
between nations; to develop mutual —)
understatement n. 1. to make an — 2. to go in for
— 3. (misc.) a masterpiece of—; the — of the year
understood adj. — that + clause (it was — that
everyone would help)
undertake v. (E) she undertook to complete the
project in six months
undertaking n. ['promise'] (esp. BE) 1. to give
smb. an — 2. an — to + inf. (an — to complete a
project in six months) ['task, enterprise'] 3. a
joint; large-scale —
underway adv. to get smt. —
underwear n. thermal —
underworld n. in the —
underwriter n. an insurance —
undeserving adj. — of
undesirable adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to raise taxes
at this time) 2. - that + clause; subj. (it is - that
they be/should be present)
undeterred adj. — by (— by our advice)
undignified adj. — to + inf. (it was — to behave
like that)
undimuiished adj. — by; in (— in stature)
undisturbed adj. — by (— by the commotion)
undoing n. ['ruin'] to prove to be smb.'s — (al-
(alcohol proved to be his —)
undone adj. to come — (her necklace came —)
undreamed,undreamt adj. —of
uneasiness n. 1. to cause — 2. to allay one's — 3. —
about
uneasy adj. — about
unemployed n. ['unemployed people'] the hard-
hardcore-
unemployment n. 1. to cause, create — 2. to elimi-
eliminate; reduce — 3. high; low; mounting; seasonal —
unemployment compensation n. 1. to pay — 2. to
draw, get, receive — 3. to be on — 4. to go on — 5.
to apply for —
unemployment insurance see unemployment
compensation 1,2,5
unequal adj. — to
unequaled adj. — at, in
unerring adj. (usu. does not stand alone) — in (—
in her judgment)
unessential adj. - to
unethical adj. — to + inf. (it was — of them to do
that)
unexcelled adj. — in
unfair adj. 1. — to (— to certain groups) 2. — to +
inf. (it was — to take advantage of the situation) 3.
— that + clause (it's — that she has to work so
hard)
unfaithful adj. - in; to
unfaithfulness n. - in; to
adj. — to; with (the area was — to me;
I was — with the situation)
unfamiliariry n. — with (my — with the area)
unfasten v. 1. (D; tr.) to — from 2. (misc.) to come
-ed
unfavorable, unfavourable adj. — to
unfed adj. togo —
unfeeling adj. — towards
unfit adj. 1. mentally, psychologically; physically
— 2. — for (— for military service) 3. — to + inf. (—
to serve)
unfortunate adj. 1. - for 2. - in
unfriendly adj. — to, towards
ungrateful adj. — for; to (he was — to us for our
our help)
unhappy adj. 1. — about, at, over; in; with (she
was — about/at/over the news) 2. — to + inf. (she
was — to learn the news) 3. — that + clause (we are
— that you cannot visit us)
unharmed adj. 1. to go — 2. — by
unhealthy adj. — to + inf. (it's — to smoke)
unheeded adj. 1. to go — (his advice went —) 2. —
by
unheedful adj. (cannot stand alone) — of (— of
threats)
unification n. to achieve, bring about — (to
achieve — of a country)
uniform I adj. — in; with
uniform II n. 1. to don, put on; wear a —2. to take
off a — 3. a dress, full-dress; fatigue; military;
naval; nurse's; parade; police; regulation — 4. in
—; out of — (he was out of — when he was picked
up by the military police)
uniformity n. —in
unify v. 1. (D; tr.) to — into (they were —fied into
one nation) 2. (D; tr.) to — with
unimportant adj. - for; to
uninformed adj. — about, of
uninterested adj. — in (— in politics)
uninvited adj. to appear, show up, turn up —
union n. 1. to form a — 2. to break up, dissolve a
— 3. a company; craft; credit; industrial; labor
(AE), trade (BE); postal; student —
union shop n. to introduce a—
unique adj. 1. — in 2. — to (— to a certain area)
unison n. in — with
unit n. ['single constituent of a whole'] 1. a basic,
primary — ['military formation'] 2. to activate;
form a — 3. to commit a — (to combat) 4. to deac-
deactivate; disband a — 5. an advance, advanced; air-
airborne; armored; combat; crack, elite;
mechanized, motorized; naval; tactical — (ad-
(advance armored — s have reached the river) ['stan-
['standard'] 6. a message — (used for telephone calls) 7. a
monetary — (the pound is the monetary — of Brit-
Britain) ['single residence'] 8. a rental — ['computer
terminal'] a Visual Display Unit = VDU (BE; AE
has Video Display Terminal = VDT)
unite v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to — against (to — against
aggression; to — one's allies against the common
foe) 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — for (we must — for the
common good; the nation was —d for the struggle
against terrorism) 3. (D; intr., tr.) to — in (we
must — in our struggle against terrorism; to — a
nation in the fight against inflation) 4. (D; intr.,

united
266
tr.) to — into (we had to — the competing factions
into a cohesive whole) 5. (D; intr.) to — with (our
countries must — with each other against the com-
common enemy)
united adj. — in
unity n. 1. to achieve, bring about ~ 2. to destroy,
shatter — 3. national — (to achieve national —) 4.
in — (in — there is strength)
universals n. (ling.) linguistic —
university n. 1. to establish, found a ~ 2. to go to
a —/to go to — (BE) (she goes to a good —) 3. a
free, open; people's — 4. an Ivy-League (US);
redbrick (GB); state (US) - 5. at; in a ~ (to teach
at a —; there is a spirit of cooperation at/in our —)
USAGE NOTE: In BE, one goes to university or,
as in AE, to a university. CE has only to go to a
good university. See the Usage Notes for college,
school.
unjust adj. 1. - of 2. - to 3. - to + inf. (it was -
of him to accuse you without proof) 4. — that +
clause (it's — that our side of the story was never
heard)
unjustified adj. 1. completely, totally — 2. — in
(she was — in complaining)
unkind adj. 1. — of 2. — to 3. — to + inf. (it was —
of him to say that)
unknown adj. — to (the facts were — to us)
unlawful adj. — to + inf. (it's — to drive without a
license)
unleash v. (D; tr.) to ~ against, on (to — a new
arms race on the world)
unlikely adj. 1. (cannot stand alone) ~ to + inf.
(they are — to accept our invitation) 2. — that +
clause (it's ~ that she will attend)
unload v. (D; tr.) to — from (to — cargo from a
ship)
unlucky adj. 1. — at, in; for (— at cards; — in love;
— for some people) 2. — to + inf. (some people
feel that it is ~ to walk under a ladder)
unmarked adj. —by
unmarred adj. — by (the ceremony was — by any
untoward incidents)
unmatched adj. —by;in
unmerciful adj. —to,towards
unmindful adj. (cannot stand alone) — of (— of
danger)
unnamed adj. to remain —
unnatural adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it's — of parents to
reject their own children) 2. — that + clause (it's ~
that members of the same family should fight so
much)
unnecessary adj. 1. — for 2. — to + inf. (it's — for
us to wait) 3. — that + clause (it's — that you
should get involved)
unnoticed adj. to go, pass ~ (the incident went/
passed ~)
unobserved adj. to go ~
unopposed adj. —to
unorthodox adj. — to + inf. (it is — to bypass the
channels of command in the army)
unparalleled adj. ~ in (~ in ferocity)
unperturbed adj. — by (she was ~ by the loud
noise)
adj. 1. — to (he is ~ to everyone) 2. —
to + inf. (it's — to talk to him = it's — talking to
him = he's — to talk to = he's an — person to talk
to)
unprepared adj. 1. — for 2. — to + inf. (I am
unprepared to take on such a responsibility)
unpunished adj. 1. to go, remain ~ (the criminals
went ~) 2. - for
unqualified adj. 1. — for 2. ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to
work as a teacher)
unrealistic adj. — to + inf. (it is — to hope for an
improvement so soon)
unreasonable adj. 1. ~ of (that was — of you) 2. —
to + inf. (it is — to demand that employees work
without a break)
unrecognized adj. 1. to go, remain — 2. ~ by
unreported adj. to go — (the story went —)
unresponsive adj. —to
unrest n.. 1. to foment, stir up ~ 2. civil; labor;
political; social —
unrivaled,unrivalled adj. —in
unsafe adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to drive without put-
putting on seat belts)
unsaid adj. to leave smt. ~
unsanctioned adj. — by (—by custom)
unsatisfactory adj. 1. — in (they were — in their
job performance) 2. — to (— to all concerned)
unscathed adj. togo —
unschooled adj. —in
unscrupulous adj. 1. — in (— in his business deal-
dealings) 2. — to + inf. (it was — of their lawyer to
withhold evidence)
unseemly adj. (formal) ~ to + inf. (it was — of
them to show up at the reception without an invi-
invitation)
unseen adj. to remain ~
unselfish adj. — to + inf. (it was ~ of her to make
the offer)
unsettle v. (R) it —d me to see them quarrel
unsettling adj. — to + inf. (it was — to see them
quarrel)
unshakable adj. — in (~ in one's faith)
unshaken adj. — in (—in one's beliefs)
unshaven adj. to go — (he went — for a week)
unsightly adj. ['not pleasing to the sight'] it was ~
to behold
unskilled adj. — at, in
unsparing adj. ~ of (~ of praise)
unspoiled, unspoilt adj. — by (~ by success)
unstinting adj. (cannot stand alone) — in (~ in
one's praise)
unstuck adj. ['ruined'] (slang) to come — (the
whole scheme came —)
unsuccessful adj. — at, in; with
unsuitable adj. -for
unsuited adj. —to
unsure adj. —of
unsurpassed adj. 1. — at, in (— at learning lan-
languages) 2. ~ by (~ by any competitor)
unsusceptible adj. -to
unsuspicious adj. —of
unswerving adj. — in (—in one's determination to
stamp out corruption)
unsympathetic adj. -to
untainted adj. - by (~ by scandal)
267
use
J adj. - by
unthanked adj. togo —
unthinkable adj. 1. - to + inf. (it would be - to
build a house so close to the river) 2. — that +
clause (it is — that they would even make such an
offer)
untiring adj. (usu. does not stand alone) — in (— in
one's efforts)
untold adj. to remain — (the story remained — for
years)
untouched adj. — by
untreated adj. to go, remain — (the disease went
untroubled adj. - by
untrue adj. — to
untruth /i. to tell an ~
untruthful adj. — about
untutored adj. — in
untypical adj. - of
unused adj. ['unaccustomed'] (cannot stand
alone) — to (they are — to hard work)
unusual adj. 1. — to + inf. (it is — to see snow in
this region; it's — for two world records to be set
in/on one day) 2. — that + clause (it's — that two
world records should be set in/on one day)
unversed adj. (cannot stand alone) — in (— in the
ways of big business)
unwarranted adj. — by
unwavering adj. — in (— in one's support)
unwilling adj. — to + inf. (she is — to participate)
unwillingness n. an — to + inf. (everyone
deplored their — to compromise)
unwise adj. — to + inf. (it would be — to walk
through the park at midnight)
unworthy adj. —of (—of your help; such behavior
is — of you)
unyielding adj. — in (— in one's demands)
up adj. (cannot stand alone) ['abreast'] 1. — on
(are you — on the news?) ['dependent'] 2. — to
(the decision is — to you; it's — to you to decide;
it's — to you whether we go)
upbraid v. (D; tr.) to — for (they — ed him for his
sloppy work)
upbringing n. smb.'s family; religious —
update n. (colloq.) ['bringing up-to-date'] 1. to
give an — on (I'll give you an — on the situation) 2.
an — on (here is an — on the situation)
up front adv. — with ('candid with')
upgrade v. (D; tr.) to — to (our legation was— d to
an embassy)
upheaval n. 1. a violent — 2. a political; social —
upholstery n. leather; plastic; vinyl —
upkeep /i. ['cost of maintenance'] the —of, on (the
— on this machinery is very costly)
upper hand n. ['control'] (colloq.) 1. to gain, get;
have the — 2. to lose the — 3. the — in; over (we
gained the — over them in that contest)
uprising n. 1. to foment, incite an — 2. to crush,
put down, quell, an — 3. an armed; peasant — 4.
an — against
uproar n. 1. to create an — 2. an — over 3. in an —
uproot v. (D; tr.) to — from (they were —ed from
their homes)
I adj. 1. to get — about, over 2. — with (she
was — with me about my expenses) 3. — to + inf.
(she was — to learn of their attitude)
upset II n. ['unexpected victory'] (sports) to score
an — over
upset III v. (R) it upset me to learn of their
attitude
upsetting adj. 1. — to (recent events have been
very — to us) 2. — to + inf. (it was — to learn of
their attitude)
upside down adv. to turn smt. —
upstanding adj. (esp. BE) be - ('stand up') (be -
for the judge; be — for a toast)
uptake n. ['comprehension'] (colloq.) (quick) on
the-
uptight adj. (colloq.) - about
upturn n. 1. a sharp — 2. an — in (a sharp — in the
economy)
upwards adv. — of (— of an hour) ('somewhat
more than an hour')
uranium n. enriched —
urge I n. 1. to feel an — 2. to satisfy an — 3. to con-
control; stifle an — 4. an irrepressible, irresistible,
uncontrollable; natural; sudden — 5. an — to +
inf. (she felt an — to respond)
urge II v. 1. to - forcefully, strongly 2. (H) she
—d me to accept the compromise 3. (L; subj.) we
—d that the bill be/should be passed
urgency n. 1. — about, in (there is no — about this
matter) 2. (misc.) a sense of —
urgent adj. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that they
all be/should be present)
urging n. at smb.'s —(at our — they accepted the
invitation)
urn n. a burial; coffee —
usable,useable adj. —for
use I /ju:s/ n. 1. to make — of 2. to put smt. to
(good) ~ 3. to find a — for 4. to lose; regain the —
of (she lost the — of one arm) 5. to deny (the) — of
(the visitors were denied — of the library) 6. con-
constant; daily; emergency; extensive; external;
internal; official; practical; universal; wide —
(they made extensive — of computers) 7. (legal)
fair — 8. — for (do you have any — for this old
paper?) 9. — in (is there any — in trying again?) 10.
— of (what's the — of worrying?) 11. for — (for
official — only) 12. in — (the copying machine is in
—) 13. of — to (it was of no earthly — to us; can I
be of any — to you?) 14. (misc.) she has no — for
them ('she dislikes them'); to come into —; to go
out of - USAGE NOTE: The following construc-
constructions are variants; the constructions with no prep-
prepositions are colloquial- is there any use in trying
again?—is there any use trying again? what's the use
of worrying?—what's the use worrying?
use II /ju:z/ v. 1. to - widely 2. (D; tr.) to - as
(she —d the candlestick as a paperweight) 3. (D;
tr.) to — for (let's ~ paper plates for the picnic) 4.
(E; in positive sentences and neg. sentences with
never this verb is used only in the past tense to
denote a former practice or state; in interrogative
sentences the infinitive of this verb occurs with
didn't, did not) she —d to work there; there —d to
be an open field here; she never —d to work there;
didn't he - to work here? USAGE NOTE: In

used
neg. sentences with didn't, did not, this verb
occurs with the infinitive and, colloquially, with
the past tense-she didn't use/used to work there.
In old-fashioned BE, constructions such as the fol-
following may occur—used she (not) to work there?
she used not to work there.
used I /ju:st/ adj. (cannot stand alone) ['accus-
['accustomed'] to be; get ~ to (she is — to working hard;
to get ~ to hard work)
used II /ju:zd/ adj. ['employed'] ~ for (this
machine is ~ for making copies)
useful adj. 1. ~ for, to (a combinatory dictionary
is ~ for/to students) 2. ~ for, in (computers are ~
in compiling statistics) 3. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to
know several foreign languages when you are
traveling abroad = it's ~ knowing several foreign
languages when you are traveling abroad)
—¦— ajj ^ to + jnf (jt's _ to try to convince
268
her)
usher v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ into (they ~ed the guests
into a large waiting room) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ out of 3.
(d; tr.) to ~ to (we were ~ed to our seats)
usual adj. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ to ask for permission
before visiting a class)
usury n. 1. to engage in, practice — 2. to condemn;
outlaw ~
utensils n. cooking, kitchen ~
utility n. ['company providing a public service'] a
public ~
utilize v. 1. to ~ fully 2. (D; tr.) to ~ for
utmost n. ['maximum effort'] to do one's ~ (we
did our ~ to help)
utter v. (B) she ~ed a few words to them
utterance n. a prophetic —
U-turn /i. to make a —
1
269
veil
vacancy n. 1. to create a ~ 2. to fill a ~ 3. (misc.)
no ~ (the sign reads no vacancy)
vacation n. ['period of rest'] (AE; CE has holi-
holiday) 1. to spend; take a ~- 2. to be on; go on ~ 3.
an extended, long; paid; short ~ 4. a spring; sum-
summer; winter ~ 5. a — from 6. during a ~; on ~ (she
was away on ~) ['period during which a college or
university is closed'] 7. (BE) the long ~ USAGE
NOTE: Soldiers and sailors go on leave; civilians
go on holiday (BE) or on vacation (AE).
British students go on holiday during the long
vacation/vac.
vaccinate v. (D; tr.) to ~ against (to ~ smb.
against a disease)
vaccination n. 1. to carry out, do a (mass) ~ (of
the population) 2. (a) compulsory; mass ~ 3. a ~
against (to carry out a mass ~ against tuber-
tuberculosis)
vaccine n. influenza; polio; Sabin;Salk; smallpox;
tetanus; yellow-fever ~
vacillate v. (D; in tr.) to ~ between; in
vacuum n. 1. to create, produce a ~ 2. to break;
fill a ~ 3. a partial ~ 4. in a ~ (nothing can live in
a~)
vague adj. ~ about (she was ~ about her plans)
vain adj. 1. ~ about (~ about one's appearance)
2. ~ to + inf. (it is ~ to protest) 3. (misc.) in ~
('without success') (to work in ~); to take the
Lord's name in ~ ('to treat the Lord's name in a
disrespectful manner')
valedictory n. ['farewell speech'] 1. to deliver,
give a ~ 2. (misc.) a ~ address
valid adj. 1. ~ for (~ for one year) 2. ~ to + inf.
(is it ~ to say that Olympic athletes are amateurs?)
valise n. to pack; unpack a ~
valley n. 1. a ~ between (high mountains) 2. in a
— (they live down in the ~)
valor, valour n. 1. to demonstrate, display, show
— 2. uncommon ~ 3. (misc.) the better part of ~
valuable adj. ~ to + inf. (it's — to know languages
if you work in an export firm)
valuables n. to check one's ~ (esp. AE)
value I n. ['worth'] ['monetary, numerical worth']
1. to attach ~ to 2. to place, put, set a ~ on 3. to
acquire, take on ~ 4. an absolute; book; cash;
face; fair; intrinsic; nominal; nuisance; numerical;
strategic; token ~ 5. (economics) surplus ~ 6.
(economics) present ~ 7. a (market) ~ goes
down; goes up 8. at a certain ~ (at face ~) 9. of ~
(a discovery of great ~) ['principles, qualities'] 10.
to cherish; foster ~s 11. enduring; moral;
spiritual; traditional; uncorrupted ~s (to return to
traditional ~s) 12. middle-class; Victorian ~s
value II v. 1. to — highly, very much 2. (d; tr.) to
~ as (to ~ smb. as a friend) 3. (d; tr.) to — at (to
~ a painting at five thousand pounds) 4. (D; tr.) to
~ for (to ~ smt. for sentimental reasons)
valve n. ['device that permits flow'] 1. to grind ~s
2. a ball; butterfly; check; exhaust; gate; globe;
needle; safety; shunt; suction ~ ['membranous
fold that permits body fluids to flow in one direc-
direction'] (anat.) 3. a heart ~ (the patient has a defec-
defective heart ~)
van I n. ['road vehicle'] 1. to drive a ~ 2. a break-
breakdown ~ (BE; AE has tow truck) 3. a delivery ~
(BE; AE has delivery truck) 4. a moving (AE),
removal (BE) ~ ['rail vehicle'] 5. a guard's ~ (BE;
AE has caboose) 6. a luggage — (BE; AE has
baggage car)
van II n. ['vanguard'] in the ~
vandalism n. to commit ~
! n. a weather -~
ard n. in the ~
i v. 1. to— completely 2. (D;intr.)to~from
(to ~ from sight) 3. (D; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into
thin air)
vanity n. to flatter, tickle smb.'s —
vapor, vapour n. to emit a —
vapor trail, vapour trail n. to leave a ~ (high fly ing
aircraft leave ~s)
variable n. (math.) a dependent; independent;
random ~
variance n. ['permission to bypass a regulation']
(legal) (US) 1. to grant a — 2. to apply for a ~ 3. a
zoning ~ ['disagreement'] 4. at ~- with (a theory at
~ with the facts)
variation n. ['deviation, change'] 1. (a) wide ~ 2.
~ in ['modified repetition of a musical theme']
(mus.) 3. ~s on a theme
variety n. 1. to add, lend ~ to 2. (a) wide ~ 3. in a
~ of (in a — of roles)
varnish n. 1. to apply ~ 2. nail ~ (BE; AE has
nail polish)
varsity n. ['college or secondary-school team']
(AE) 1. to make ('be selected to join') the ~ 2. the
junior — 3. on the — (we play on the ~)
vary v. 1. to ~ considerably, greatly 2. (D; intr.) to
~ between 3. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to (prices ~
from ten to fifteen dollars) 4. (d; intr.) (to ~ in
size; they ~ in their opinions)
vault In. 1. a bank ~ 2. (misc.) to keep one's val-
valuables in a ~
vault II v. (d; intr.) to ~ over (he ~ed over the
bar)
veal n. 1. to roast — 2. roast ~
veer v. (D; intr.) to — from; to (to ~ from one's
course; to ~ to the right)
veer away v. (D; intr.) to ~ from
vegetables n. 1. to grow ~ 2. green; leafy; root ~
3. garden ~ 4. cooked; raw; steamed; stir-fried ~
vegetation n. dense, lush, rank ~
vehicle n. ['conveyance'] 1. to drive, operate a ~
2. an all-purpose; amphibious; armored; half-
tracked; motor; passenger; recreational; re-entry;
space ~ 3. a hired (BE), rented, self-drive (BE) ~
['means'] 4. a ~ for (a ~ for spreading prop-
propaganda)
veil n. 1. to draw a — (over) 2. to lift a ~ 3. a bridal

w
vein
— 4. (misc.) under a — of mystery
vein n. ['blood vessel'] 1. to open a — 2. the jugu-
jugular — 3. varicose —s ['mood'] ['manner'] 4. a
gloomy; happy; humorous; lighter; melancholy;
merry; serious — 5. in a certain — (let's continue
our discussion in a lighter —)
velocity n. 1. to develop; gain; lose — 2. muzzle —
3. at a certain — (at the — of sound)
velvet n. (misc.) as smooth as ~
vendetta n. 1. to conduct, lead a — 2. a personal ~
3. a — against
vending machine n. to use a —
vendor /i. a street ~
veneer n. ['superficial gloss'] a thin ~
venerate v. (D; tr.) to — for
veneration n. 1. deep, profound — 2. — for
Venetian blinds n. 1. to close, shut; lower; open;
raise — 2. to install —
vengeance n. 1. to exact, take, wreak — on, upon
2. to vow — 3. to seek — for 4. — for (to take — on
smb. for smt.) 5. (misc.) with a — ('to an extreme
degree') (it started snowing with a —)
venom /i. ['poison'] 1. to neutralize — ['malice'] 2.
to spew, spout —
vent n. ['outlet'] to give — to (he gave — to his
pent-up feelings)
ventriloquism n. to practice —
venture I n. l.toundertakea —2. a business —3.
(misc.) to join smb. in a —
venture II v. (formal) (E) I — to suggest that your
whole idea is unworkable
venue n. ['site of a trial'] a change of ~ (her lawyer
requested a change of —)
veracity n. to doubt smb.'s —
veranda see porch 1,3
verb n. 1. to conjugate, inflect; passivize a ~ 2. an
auxiliary, helping; compound, phrasal; copular
(esp. BE), copulative, linking; defective; irregu-
irregular; main; modal; regular; strong; weak — 3. an
active; passive — 4. an intransitive; reflexive;
transitive — 5. an imperfective; perfective — 6. —s
agree (with); —s govern, take a case (a — agrees
with the subject in number) 7. a — has aspect;
mood; tense; voice 8. —s have complements;
objects
verdict n. 1. to arrive at, reach a — 2. to announce;
bring in, deliver, hand down, render, return a — 3.
to sustain ('uphold') a — (the higher court sus-
sustained the —) 4. to overturn, quash, set aside a —
5. to appeal a — 6. a fair; unfair — 7. an adverse,
unfavorable; directed; favorable; sealed ~ 8. a —
of guilty; or: a guilty —; a — of not guilty; a — for
the defendant; a — for the plaintiff (the jury
brought in a — of not guilty) 9. a — that + clause
(they appealed the court's — that fraud had been
committed) 10. (misc.) to defy/ignore a —
verge I n. ['brink'] 1. on the — of (he was on the
— of a nervous breakdown) 2. (misc.) driven to the
— of bankruptcy
verge II v. (d; intr.) to — on, upon (her actions
—d on the ridiculous)
verify v. (L) the police —fled that she had an air-
airtight alibi
vermin n. 1. to exterminate ~ 2. (misc.) infested
270
with-
vernacular n. in the — (to express oneself in the—)
versatile adj. — at, in
versatility n. 1. to demonstrate — 2. — at, in
verse n. 1. to compose, write; recite —(s) 2. to scan
— 3. free; heroic; macaronic; rhymed, rhyming;
unrhymed — 4. in — 5. (misc.) to cite/give/quote
chapter and ~ ('to indicate one's sources very pre-
precisely')
versed adj. (cannot stand alone) — in
version n. 1. to give one's — (of a story) 2. to cor-
corroborate smb.'s — (of an event) 3. an abridged,
condensed; authorized, official; censored; expur-
expurgated; unabridged, uncut; unauthorized, unoffi-
unofficial; uncensored; unexpurgated; written — (an
uncut — of a film) 4. a movie (AE); stage — (of a
novel)
vertebra n. a cervical; lumbar; sacral; thoracic ~
vessel n. ['tube in the body'] 1. a blood — ['ship,
boat'] 2. to charter a — 3. to launch a — 4. a cargo;
escort; oceangoing —
vest I n. (AE) a bulletproof (BE has bulletproof
jacket); life (CE has life jacket) - USAGE
NOTE: In BE, the basic meaning of vest is 'un-
'undershirt'; in AE, it is 'waistcoat'.
vest II v. (formal) 1. (d; tr.) to — in (to — power
in smb.) 2. (d; tr.) to — with (to — smb. with
power)
vested adj. (cannot stand alone) 1. ~ in (the
power to impose taxes is — in Congress) 2. — with
(Congress is — with the power to impose taxes)
vestiges n. ['traces'] 1. to lose all remaining — of 2.
the last — of
veteran n. a disabled; war (AE) ~ (to retrain dis-
disabled ~s) USAGE NOTE: In BE, veteran
means 'old soldier'; in AE, it means any former
serviceman or service woman, young or old.
veto n. 1. to exercise, impose, use a — 2. to sustain
a — 3. to override a — (Congress overrode the
President's —) 4. a pocket — 5. (legal) a heckler's
— 6. a — of, over
vex v. (formal) (R) it —es me to read such things
in the newspapers; it —es me that they are always
late
vexed adj. (formal) 1. deeply — 2. — about, at,
with (we were — at the mix-up) 3. — to + inf. (they
were — to learn of the delay)
vexing adj. — to + inf. (it is — to read such things
in the newspapers)
vice I n. commercialized; legalized ~
vice II (BE) see vise
vicinity n. 1. the close, immediate —2. in the —(in
the immediate — of the school)
vicious adj. — to + inf. (it was — of him to make
such an accusation)
vicissitude n. the-s of life
victim n. 1. an innocent; unsuspecting — (of) 2. an
accident; amnesia; earthquake; flood; hurricane;
storm — 3. (misc.) to fall — to
victory n. 1. to achieve, gain, pull off (colloq.), 'i
score, win a — 2. a clear, clear-cut, decisive, out- «
right, resounding, stunning; upset — 3. a blood-
bloodless; cheap; glorious; hard-won; hollow; moral;
Pyrrhic; signal; sweeping — 4. a — in; over (a — in)
271
a struggle; a — over an enemy) 5. (misc.) to snatch
— from the jaws of defeat
videotape n. to make a — (of)
vie v. (formal) (d; intr.) to — against, with; for
(she had to — for the prize against very strong
competition)
view I n. ['opinion'] 1. to air, express, present,
put forward, voice a — 2. to harbor, hold a — 3. to
advance, advocate a — 4. to exchange —s 5. to take
a — 6. a cheerful, optimistic, rosy; dim, grave, pes-
pessimistic — (she took a dim — of the matter) 7.
advanced; contrary; conservative; divergent;
diverse; liberal, progressive; modern; old-
fashioned; outdated, outmoded; philosophical;
political; popular; radical; reactionary; slanted;
sound; strong; unpopular —s 8. a — about, on 9. a
— that + clause (they disputed my — that taxes
should be raised) 10. in smb.'s — (in my — the
offer is unacceptable) ['sight'] 11. to get a — of 12.
to block smb.'s — 13. a beautiful, breathtaking,
magnificent, superb — 14. a clear, unhampered,
unimpaired — 15. a bird's eye; close-up; full; full-
length — 16. in, within ~ (in full — of the public)
17. (misc.) to come into — ['perspective'] 18. an
exploded — ['what can be seen'] 19. a rear — 20. a
— from (the — from the window) 21. (misc.) a
room with a nice — (of the ocean) ['aim'] 22. with
a — (with a — to reestablishing diplomatic rela-
relations) ['misc.'] 23. in — of ('in consideration of); a
point of —
view II v. (d;tr.)to — as (she was— ed as a serious
threat to the party leadership)
viewpoint n. 1. a — that + clause (he explained his
— that taxes should be increased) 2. from smb. 's —
vigil n. 1. to hold a—; to keep (a) — 2. an all-night
— 3. a — over
vigilance n. 1. to display, show; exercise — 2. eter-
eternal —
vigor, vigour n. 1. to regain one's — 2. to lose one's
— 3. to sap smb.'s — 4. the — to + inf. (does he
have enough — to get everything done?)
vile adj. (formal) — to + inf. (it was — of them to
issue such a statement)
village n. a fanning (esp. AE); fishing — (see the
Usage Note for town)
village green n. on the —
villain n. an arch, consummate — USAGE
NOTE: In AE, villain is mostly literary or
humorous; in BE slang, it still means 'criminal'.
vim n. ['energy'] with — and vigor; full of — and
vigor
vindicate v. (B) ('to justify') can you — your
actions to us?
vindictive adj. — of (that was — of him)
vinegar n. apple; cider; wine —
vintage n. ['period'] 1. of a certain — (a mansion of
prewar —; a car of ancient —) 2. (misc.) a — wine
viola n. to play the —
violation n. 1. to commit a — 2. a brazen, flagrant;
minor — 3. a moving — (by a motorist) 4. in — of
(he acted in — of the law)
violence n. ['devastating force'] 1. to resort to, use
— 2. excessive — 3. an act of — 4. — against ['dis-
['distortion'] ['harm'] 5. to do — to (the decision does
20—127
vocabulary
— to our whole judicial tradition) ['rioting'] 6.
communal; continuing; racial; sporadic ~ 7. —
breaks out
violin n. 1. to play the — 2. to string; tune a —
virgin n. a vestal — (historical)
virtue n. ['admirable feature'] ['moral excellence']
1. to have a — (our budget has the — of providing
for a small surplus) 2. a cardinal — 3. (misc.) a
paragon of — ['misc.'] 4. by — of ('because of); of
easy — (old-fashioned) ('sexually promiscuous');
to make a — of necessity ('to make the best of smt.
bad')
virus n. an influenza; intestinal —
visa n. 1. to grant, issue a — 2. to extend; renew a
— 3. to get, receive a — 4. to apply for a — 5. to
overstay; violate a — 6. to deny smb. a — 7. to can-
cancel a — 8. an entry; exit; student; tourist; transit —
vise, vice n. ['tool for holding an object being
worked on'] 1. to loosen; tighten a — 2. in a —
USAGE NOTE: The AE form is vise; the BE
form is vice.
visibility n. ['degree of being visible'] 1. good;
limited, poor; marginal; unlimited; zero — (all
planes were grounded because of poor —) ['expo-
['exposure to publicity'] 2. high; low; maximum —
visible adj. 1. clearly, plainly ~ 2. - to (~ to the
naked eye)
vision n. ['sight'] 1. acute; blurred; dim; double;
impaired; keen; normal; peripheral; tunnel — 2.
(misc.) a field of —; a — of the future ['foresight']
3. the — to + inf. (she had the — to make wise
investments several years ago) 4. of — (a person of
great —) 5. (misc.) tunnel — ('narrow horizons')
visit In. 1. to make, pay; schedule a — to 2. to
cancel; cut short a — 3. a flying ('very short'); for-
formal; friendly; informal; official; return; state;
unscheduled; weekend — 4. a — to (this is my first
— to your country) 5. on a — (on a — to South
America)
visit II v. 1. (obsol. and formal) (d; tr.) to - on
(the Lord's anger was —ed on the people) 2. (AE)
(d; intr.) to — with (we —ed with several friends)
visitor n. 1. a frequent — 2. a weekend — 3. (BE)
a prison — 4. (BE) a health — (AE has public-
health nurse) 5. a — from (—s from abroad) 6. a —
to (—s to our city)
vista n. ['view'] 1. to open up new —s (of the
future) 2. a broad, wide —
visual aids n. to employ, use —
visualize v. 1. (d; tr.) to — as (I cannot — him as a
famous star) 2. (J) I cannot — him becoming a
famous star 3. (K) I cannot — his becoming a fa-
famous star
vital adj. 1. — for, to (their aid is — to our success)
2. — to + inf. (it is — to be prepared for any even-
eventuality) 3. — that + clause; subj. (it is — that we be/
should be kept informed of all developments)
vital signs n. to check, take smb.'s —
vital statistics n. to gather; record; report —
vitamins n. to take-
vocabulary n. 1. to command a — 2. to build,
develop, enlarge one's — 3. an extensive, huge,
large, rich — 4. a meager, restricted, small — 5. a
basic; technical — 6. an active; passive —

vocation
272
vocation п. to have missed one's ~ ('not to have
chosen an occupation or vocation at which one is
particularly adept')
vogue n. ['popularity'] ['current fashion'] 1. to be
the — (home computers are the latest ~) 2. to be
in ~; to come into ~; to have a — (BE) 3. to go out
of ~ 4. the current; latest ~ 5. (misc.) to be all the
voice n. ['sound produced by vocal cords'] 1. to
raise one's ~ 2. to drop, lower one's ~ 3. to lose
one's ~ 4. a clear; deep; firm, steady; gentle, soft;
gruff, harsh, raucous; guttural; high-pitched;
hoarse; husky; loud; low, low-pitched; melliflu-
mellifluous, melodious; mellow; metallic; quaking, quiv-
quivering, shaking, shaky, trembling; resonant; rich;
shrill; stentorian; strident; subdued; thundering ~
5. a — breaks, cracks; changes; drops, falls; quiv-
quivers, shakes, trembles 6. in a certain ~ (in a loud ~)
7. (misc.) (to shout) at the top of one's ~ ['expres-
['expression'] 8. to give ~ to ['verbal form indicating the
relation of the verb to its subject'] 9. the active;
middle; passive ~ ['misc.'] 10. an inner ~ ('con-
('conscience'); the ~ of reason
void I adj. ['devoid'] (cannot stand alone) ~ of
void II n. to fill a ~
volcano n. 1. an active; dead, extinct; dormant;
intermittent ~ 2. ~s erupt
volition n. ['act of choosing'] of, on one's own ~
(they agreed of their own ~; to act on one's own
volley n. ['simultaneous discharge of weapons'] 1.
to fire a ~ ['tennis ball in flight'] 2. (to hit a ball) on
the-
volleyball n. to play-
voltage n. 1. to step up (the) — 2. high; low ~ 3.
(misc.) a ~ surge
volume n. ['loudness']l. to amplify; increase, turn
up the — 2. to decrease, turn down the — ['space
occupied in three dimensions'] 3. molecular —
['book'] 4. a rare - 5. a companion - (this work is
a companion ~ to our first dictionary) 6. (misc.) to
speak ~s ('to imply a lot') (a single glance can
speak -s)
volunteer I n. to recruit ~s
volunteer II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — as (to ~ as a
tutor) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for (who will ~ for this
job?) 3. (E) she ~ed to water our plants
vomiting n. to cause, induce ~
voodoo, voodoofem n. to practice-
vortex n. todrawintpa —
vote I n. ['collective opinion as determined by
voting'] 1. to take a - on (a motion) 2. to put a
motion to a ~; to bring a motion to a — 3. to influ-
influence, swing a ~ (recent events swung the ~ in our
favor; the press can influence the ~) 4. to count,
tally the - 5. a close; lopsided; solid; unanimous
— 6. a rising; straw; voice; write-in ~ 7. a ~ on (a
~ on an issue) 8. (esp. BE) a ~ to + inf. (we took
a - to adjourn) 9. by a ~ (by a unanimous ~) 10.
(misc.) a ~ of censure; confidence; no-confi-
no-confidence; thanks ['individual expression of opinion,
ballot'] 11. to cast a ~ 12. to change, switch one's
~ 13. to get, receive smb.'s ~ (you'll never get my
~) 14. the deciding ~ (to cast the deciding ~) 15.
a write-in ~ 16. a — against; for; on (to cast a ~ for
a proposal) 17. the ~s to + inf. (we have enough
~s to carry the state) ['group of voters'] 18. the
conservative; floating (BE) ('unattached'); inde-
independent; labor; liberal; undecided — ['voters as a
group'] 19. to deliver the ~(s); to get out the ~
(the party machine delivered the ~s; a series of
interesting debates helped to get out the ~) 20. a
heavy; light ~ ['right to vote, franchise, suffrage']
21. to get, receive the ~ (in some countries women
got the - after World War I)
vote II v. l.(C;usu. used without for) Congress
~d him a pension 2. (D; intr.) to ~ against; for (to
— against a bill) 3. (d; tr.) to — into (to ~ smb. into
office) 4. (D; intr.) to ~ on, upon (to ~ on a resol-
resolution) 5. (d; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~ smb. out of
office) 6. (E) the committee ~d to approve the
report 7. (L; subj.) Parliament ~d that the alloca-
allocation be/should be reduced 8. (N; used with an
adjective, noun) she was ~d the most likely to suc-
succeed 9. (misc.) to - by a show of hands
voter n. 1. an absentee; floating (BE) ('unat-
('unattached'); independent; registered ~ 2. a ~ regis-
registers (to vote)
voting • n. 1. absentee; bloc ~ 2. (misc.) ~
irregularities
voting lists n. to tamper with ~
vouch v. (d; intr.) to-for (I can-for the truth of
her statement)
voucher n. a gift (BE); hotel; luncheon (BE; AE
has meal ticket); tuition (AE) ~
vouchsafe v. (formal) (E) ('to condescend') she
~d to help
vow I n. 1. to make, take a ~ 2. to keep one's ~
3. to break, violate a ~ 4. a formal, solemn ~ 5.
clerical; marriage; monastic; religious ~s (priests
take religious ~s) 6. a ~ to + inf. (she made a sol-
solemn ~ not to smoke again) 7. a ~ that + clause
(we took a ~ that we would always help each
other) 8. (misc.) to exchange; renew marriage ~s
vow II v. l.(E)she~edtoreturn2.(L;to)I~ed
(to them) that he would be avenged
vowel n. a back; closed; front; high; lax; long;
middle; nasal; open; reduced; rounded; short;
stressed; tense; unstressed ~
voyage n. ['journey by water'] 1. to go on a ~ 2. a
long; maiden; ocean, sea; round-the-world — 3. a
~ to (a ~ to the islands)
Vsign n. to give, make the ~
vulgar adj. ~ to + inf. (it's — to spit in public)
vulnerable adj. -to
vulture n. ~s feed on carrion
vying see vie
273
wall
w
wad n. (slang) (AE) ['amount that one has avail-
available'] to shoot ('spend') one's ~
wade v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ across (to ~ across a
stream) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ into (to ~ into a river) 3.
(d; intr.) to ~ into ('to attack') (the speaker ~d
into the opposing candidate) 4. (d; intr.) to ~
through (to ~ through deep water) 5. (d; intr.) to
~ through ('to read through with difficulty') (to ~
through a long report)
wage In. 1. to draw, earn a ~ 2. to pay a ~ 3. to
freeze ~s 4. a decent, living; minimum; subsis-
subsistence ~ (to pay workers a decent ~) 5. an annual,
yearly; daily; hourly; monthly; weekly ~
wage II v. (D; tr.) to ~ against (to — a campaign
against smoking)
wage bracket n. in a ~
wager I n. 1. to lay, make, place a-on 2. a— that
+ clause (she made a ~ that her team would win)
wager II v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ on (did you ~
much money on that horse?) 2. (O; can be used
with one, two, or three objects) we ~ed him ten
dollars; we ~ed ten dollars; we ~ed him ten dol-
dollars that it would rain
wages n. l.see wage I 2. starvation ~
waggon (BE) see wagon
wagon /i. 1. a station ~ (AE; BE has estate car)
2. a tea-(AE; BE has tea trolley) 3. (esp. AE)
a paddy, patrol ~ 4. (AE) a welcome ~ ('a car sent
with gifts from local merchants to a family that has
just moved into a neighborhood') 5. a Conestoga;
covered — 6. a goods ~ (BE; AE has freight car)
7. (colloq.) (AE) a chuck ('food') ~ (on a ranch)
8. (misc.) on the ~ ('pledged not to drink alcoholic
beverages')
waist n. 1. a slender, slim — 2. around, round the
~ (she wore a belt around her ~)
wait In. 1. to lie in ~ for 2. to have a (long) ~ for
(we had a long ~ for the bus)
wait II v. 1. (BE) (d; intr.) to - at (to ~ at table)
(cf. 3) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for (they ~ed for me; they
~ed for me to leave) 3. (AE) (d; intr.) to ~ on (to
~ on tables) (cf. 1) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ on, upon ('to
attend to') (to ~ on smb. hand and foot) 5. (E) we
are ~ing to go 6. (misc.) to keep smb. ~ing; they
~ed until she returned
wait for v. (H; no passive) we ~ed for them to
leave
waiting n. (G В; on a traffic sign) no-(US has no
standing or no stopping)
waiting list n. on a ~
wait up v. (D; intr.) to ~ for (they ~ed up for him
until he returned)
waiver n. to agree to, sign a ~
wake I n. ['vigil over a corpse'] to hold a ~
wake II n. ['aftermath'] in the ~ (of) (war brings
misery in its ~; in the ~ of explorers came settlers)
wake III v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ to (they woke to the
sounds of music) 2. (d; intr.) (E) (they woke to
find themselves surrounded by the enemy) 3. (s) I
woke refreshed
wake up v. 1. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from, out of (to
~ out of a sound sleep) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ to (to ~
to the danger of inflation) 3. (E) I woke up to find
the house on fire
walk I n. ['journey by foot'] 1. to have (BE), take
a ~ 2. to take smb. for a ~ (BE also has: to take
smb. a long ~ round the grounds) 3. to go for, go
on a ~ 4. a brisk; easy; leisurely; long; nature;
short ~ (to take a brisk ~) 5. a ~ from; to (we took
a ~ from our house to the center of town; it's an
easy ~ from here to school) ['profession'] ['class']
6. from every ~ of life
walk II v. 1. to ~ fast; slow2. (d; intr.) to — across
(to — across the street) 3. (d; intr.) to ~ along (to
~ along a river bank) 4. (d; intr.) to ~ around,
round (to ~ around a house) 5. (d; intr.) to ~ by,
past (to ~ past the library) 6. (d; intr.) to •— down
(to ~ down the street) 7. (D; intr.) to ~ from; to
(we ~ed from the park to the station) 8. (d; intr.)
to ~ into (to ~ into a room; to ~ into an ambush)
9. (d; intr.) to -~ on, over (don't ~ on the wet
floor!) 10. (d; intr.) to - out of (to — out of a meet-
meeting) 11. (d; intr.) to ~ (all) over ('to treat badly')
(they ~ed all over us) 12. (d; intr.) to ~ through
(to ~ through the park; to ~ through a puddle) 13.
(d; tr.) to ~ through ('to help with smt. compli-
complicated') (she ~ed me through the procedure) 14.
(misc.) she ~ed her dog in the park; they ~ed off
the job in protest against the long hours
walk away v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ from (he ~ed away
from me without saying a word; to ~ from an acci-
accident) ('to survive an accident unhurt') 2. (d; intr.)
to ~ with ('to win') (she ~-ed away with all the top
prizes)
walker n. a tightrope ~
walk in v. (d; intr.) to— on ('to come across unex-
unexpectedly') (I ~ed in on an interesting scene)
walking papers n. (colloq.) (AE) ['notice of dis-
dismissal'] to give smb. her/his ~ (BE has marching
orders)
walk off v. (d; intr.) to ~ with ('to win') (she ~ed
off with the first prize)
walkout /i. 1. to stage a ~ 2. to end a ~ 3. a sym-
sympathy ~
walkout v. (D;intr.)to — on('toleave')(she~ed
out on her husband)
walkover v. (d; intr.) to ~ to (he ~ed over to her
table)
walk up v. (d; intr.) to — to (I ~ed up to them and
said a few words)
wall n. 1. to build, erect, put up a ~ 2. to demolish,
tear down a ~ 3. to climb, scale a ~ 4. to paint;
panel; paper ~s 5. to line ~s (to line ~s with book-
bookshelves) 6. a high; low ~ 7. a brick; fire; inside;
outside; retaining ~; seawall; stone; supporting ~
8. (also fig.) a ~ between (the ~ between church
and state) 9. against the ~ (they were lined up/
stood up against the — and shot) 10. (misc.) we
20*

w
wallet
had our backs to the ~ ('we were in a desperate sit-
situation1); (slang) to drive smb. up the — Do frus-
frustrate smb. completely')
wallet n. 1. a leather ~ 2. (misc.) his ~ was bulging
with banknotes
wall off v. (D; tr.) to - from
wallop /i. (colloq.) ['force'] to pack a — (the winds
packed a real —)
wallow v. (d; intr.) to — in (to — in the mud)
wallpaper n. 1. to hang — 2. a roll of ~
waltz v. (colloq.) (d; intr.) to — through ('to com-
complete with ease') (she just —ed through the test)
wand w. 1. to wave a — 2. a magic —
wander v. (d; intr.) ('to stray') to — from (to —
from the subject)
wander away v. (D; intr.) to — from (the children
—ed away from their parents)
wanderer n. a homeless —
wane I n. ['decrease'] ['period of decrease'] on
the ~ (the moon is on the ~)
wane II v. 1. (D; intr.) to — into (to — into insig-
insignificance) 2. (misc.) to wax and —
wangle v. (colloq.) (C) could you ~ an invitation
for me? or: could you — me an invitation?
want I n. ['need'] 1. to fill, meet, satisfy a — 2. to
minister to smb.'s —s 3. for — of (to die for — of
medical care) 4. in — of (in — of a job) ['poverty']
5. in — (to live in ~)
want II v. 1. to-badly, desperately, very much
(they —ed very badly to see us) 2. (d; intr.) to —
for ('to be in need of) (they will never — for any-
anything) 3. (D; tr.) ('to seek') to — for (he is —ed for
murder in three states) 4. (D; tr.) ('to desire') to —
for (we — you for our team) 5. (E) ('to desire') I —
to help 6. (BE) (G) ('to be in need of) your shirts
— mending; the house —s painting; her hair —s
cutting 7. (H; no passive) ('to desire') they — us to
finish the job in two weeks 8. (colloq.) (J) I -
them singing in tune! 9. (colloq.) (M) ('to desire')
I — them to be kept busy at all times 10. (N; used
with an adjective, past participle) ('to desire') we
— the troublemakers removed; I — them ready in
one hour; she —s the house painted tomorrow
want ad n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) 1. to place a ~ 2. to
answer a — 3. to follow, read the —s
wanted adj. ['sought'] 1. - by (~ by tbe police) 2.
— for (— for murder)
wanting adj. ['deficient'] 1. — in 2. (misc.) to be
found —
war In. 1. to conduct, fight, wage — against, with
2. to make — 3. to declare — on; to go to — over 4.
to escalate, step up a — 5. to lose; win a — 6. to
ban, outlaw — 7. to end a — 8. an all-out, full-
scale, total; global, world — 9. a civil; cold; defen-
defensive; holy; hot, shooting; limited, local; offensive;
revolutionary; world — 10. an atomic, nuclear,
thermonuclear; conventional —; star ~~s 11. a
gang; price — 12. a — of aggression; attrition;
extermination; nerves 13. a — breaks out; rages;
spreads (the ~ spread to the Balkans) 14. an act of
— 15. a — against; between (a — against an aggres-
aggressor; a — between former allies) 16. at — with (to be
at — with one's neighbors) 17. (misc.) a theater of
—; a state of — (to be in a state of — with a country)
274
war II v. l.(d; intr.) to — against, with (to — with
one's neighbors) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ over (to ~ over
disputed territory)
war clouds n. —gather
war crime n. 1. to commit a — 2. to prosecute —s
ward n. ['hospital room'] 1. an emergency; mater-
maternity, obstetrics; pediatrics; private (BE) ('not
under the National Health Service') — 2. in, on a
— (to work in the emergency —; who works in/on
this ~?)
warden n. 1. a prison - (AE; BE has governor)
2. (BE) a traffic - 3. an air-raid - USAGE
NOTE: An AE prison warden should not be
confused with a BE prison warder, who in AE is
a prison guard.
wardrobe n. ['clothes'] 1. an autumn (esp. BE),
fall (AE); spring; summer; winter — 2. (misc.) I
bought a whole new — for the cruise
warehouse n. a bonded —
wares n. to hawk, peddle one's —
warfare n. armored; atomic, nuclear; biological;
chemical; conventional; desert; economic; germ;
global; guerrilla; jungle; modern; naval;
psychological; push-button; trench —
war games n. to hold, stage —
warhead n. a nuclear —
warm v. (d; intr.) to — to ('to begin to like') (I was
just —ing to the task)
warm front л. а — approaches; forms
warmth n. body —
warm up v. 1. (D; intr.) to — for (the players were
—ing up for the game) 2. (d; intr.) to — to (after a
few drinks he —ed up to the other guests)
warn v. 1. (D; tr.) to — about, against, of (they
—ed me about his bad temper; I —ed him against
driving on ice; the police —ed us of the pickpock-
pickpockets) 2. (H) they —ed him to be careful; I —ed her
not to go 3. (L; may have an object) she —ed (us)
that the winter would be severe
warning n. 1. to give, issue, send; shout a — 2. to
heed; receive a — 3. an advance; cryptic; dire; tacit
— 4. a storm — 5. a — to (a — to all; let this be a —
to you) 6. a — to + inf. (a — to watch out for
pickpockets) 7. a — that + clause (they issued a —
that the escaped criminals were dangerous) 8.
without —
warpath n. (usu. colloq. and humorous) 1. to go
on the — 2. to be on the — (they are on the —
again)
warrant I n. 1. to issue a — (the court issued a
search —) 2. to swear out a — against smb. 3. to
serve a — on (a — was served on her) 4. an arrest;
bench; death; search — (to sign smb.'s death —)
(also fig.) 5. a — to + inf. (the police have a — to
search the house) 6. (misc.) a — is out for his arrest
warrant II v. 1. (K) ('to justify') nothing -ed his
behaving like that 2. (L) ('to guarantee') I cannot
— that the coins are genuine 3. (formal and rare)
(M) I cannot — the coins to be genuine
warranty n. 1. to give a — 2. an implied; limited;
special — 3. a — expires, runs out 4. a — on (a two-
year — on a new car) 5. under — (the new car is still
under —)
n. a rabbit —
275
warship n. 1. to commission; launch a — 2. to com-
command a —
wart n. to remove a —
wartime n. during, in —
wary adj. — of (be — of strangers)
wash I n. ['laundry'] 1. to do the - 2. to hang out
the — 3. the weekly — ['installation for washing']
4. a car —
wash II v. 1. (D; tr.) to — for (would you please
— the dishes for me?) 2. (misc.) to be —ed over-
overboard USAGE NOTE: In AE, to wash up means
'to wash one's hands and face'; in BE, it means 'to
do the dishes'.
washcloth n. 1. to soap up a —2. to wring out a —
wash down v. (D; tr.) to-with (to-a meal with
a glass of beer)
washing machine n. to run, use a —
wasp n. —s sting
waste n. 1. to cause — 2. to cut down on — 3.
hazardous; nuclear; radioactive; solid; toxic —s 4.
(misc.) to go to — ('to be wasted'); to lay — to ('to
destroy'); a terrible — of time and money
wasteful adj. 1. — of (— of natural resources) 2. —
to + inf. (it's — to use so much fuel)
wasteland n. 1. to reclaim - 2. a desolate -
watch I n. ['timepiece'] 1. to set; wind (up) a — 2.
to synchronize ~es 3. a pocket; self-winding;
waterproof; wrist — 4. an analog; digital — 5. a —
is fast; right; slow 6. a — goes; keeps time; runs
down; stops ['surveillance'] 7. to keep, maintain a
— on 8. a close - 9. on the - for (to be on the -
for bargains) ['sailor's duty'] 10. to stand - И. on
— (several sailors were on —) ['auxiliary police']
(esp. AE) 12. a crime; town — ['preliminary warn-
warning'] (esp. AE) 13. a storm -
watch II v. l.(d; intr.) to-for (to-for the post-
postman) 2. (d; intr.) to — over (to - over one's prop-
property) 3. (I) we —ed them enter the auditorium 4.
(J) we -ed them entering the auditorium 5. (Q) -
how it's done
watcher n. ['observer'] a China (colloq.); Kremlin
(colloq.); poll-
watching n. ['observation'] 1. to bear — (his
activities bear -) ('his activities should be
watched') ['act of watching'] 2. bird —
watchman n. a night —
watch out v. l.(D;intr.)to-for2. (esp. AE)(L;
used in the imper.) — that she doesn't fool you
water I n. 1. to draw, run-(fora bath) 2. to add
— 3. to drink; sip — 4. to pour; spill — 5. to splash;
sprinkle; squirt — on 6. to boil, sterilize; chlori-
chlorinate; distill; filter; fluoridate; purify; soften — 7.
to drain — from 8. to pollute — 9. boiling; carbon-
carbonated; clear; cold; contaminated, polluted; distil-
distilled; drinking, potable; fresh; hard; heavy; holy;
hot; ice; mineral; murky; rain; rose; running; safe;
salt; salty; sea; soda; soft; stagnant; tepid; warm —
10. — boils; evaporates; flows, pours, runs;
freezes; leaks; oozes; rises; vaporizes 11. a body of
— 12. by - (to travel by ~) 13. under - (after the
flood our basement was under —) 14. (misc.) to
make/pass - ('to urinate'); to hold - ('to be
valid') (your theory doesn't hold —); to tread —
(when swimming); — under the bridge ('past
way
events that are done with'); to pour cold — on ('to
discourage'); to keep one's head above — ('to
keep out of difficulty'); toilet — ('liquid used as a
skin freshener')
water И v. (misc.) to make smb.'s mouth — ('to
create a desire or appetite in smb.'); her mouth —s
at the sight of popcorn
watercolors n. to paint in —
waterfront n. along, on the -
waters n. 1. flood — (the flood — receded) 2. coast-
coastal; international; navigable; territorial — 3. in —
(the ship was in international —) 4. (misc.) to fish
in muddy/troubled — ('to attempt to stir up trou-
trouble'); to take the — ('to take a water cure')
water table n. the — is high; low
waterway n. an inland —
waterworks n. a municipal —
wave I n. ['moving ridge on the surface of water']
1. a high, tall; mountainous - 2. a tidal — 3. —s
break (on the rocks); crest ['upsurge'] 4. a crime -
['physical disturbance that is transmitted in the
propagation of sound or light'] 5. light; radio;
sound; transverse —s 6. long; medium; short —s
['brain rhythm'] 7. an alpha; brain — ['period of
weather'] 8. a cold; heat - ['reaction'] 9. a shock
— ['waviness of the hair'] 10. a permanent —
USAGE NOTE: In colloq. BE, a brain wave can
also mean a 'sudden bright idea', which in AE is a
brainstorm. In colloq. BE, a brainstorm is a
'sudden mental aberration'. However, the verb to
brainstorm (as in a brainstorming session) is
now CE.
wave II v. 1. (A) — goodbye to them; or: — them
goodbye 2. (D; intr., tr.) to — at, to (— to them;
she —d her arm at me)
waveback v. (D; intr.) to -at, to (she ~d back at/
to us)
wavelength n. ['manner of thinking'] (colloq.) to
be on the same —; to operate on different —s
waver v. (D; intr.) to — between (to — between
two possibilities)
wax I n. sealing —
wax II v. 1. (s) ('to become') to — indignant; to —
eloquent over ('to express one's enthusiasm con-
concerning') 2. (misc.) to — and wane
way n. ['path, route'] 1. to blaze, clear, pave, pre-
prepare; smoothe the — for (to pave the — for reform)
2. to take the (easy) - (out of a difficult situation)
3. to lead; point, show the — 4. to edge; elbow;
fight; force; hack; jostle; make; muscle; push;
shove; squeeze; thread; tunnel; wedge; work
one's — through; to (to elbow one's — through a
crowd; the battalion fought its — through enemy
lines to the coast; he pushed his — through the
mob; to shove one's — through the revelers; we
made our — to the door; to tunnel one's — to free-
freedom) 5. to twist; wend, wind one's — (the river
winds its — to the sea) 6. to find one's — 7. to worm
one's — (into smb.'s confidence) 8. to know the —
to (do you know the — to the station?) 9. to lose
one's - 10. (BE) a permanent - ('a railroad
track') 11. the — from; to (he kept chattering all
the — from our house to the airport) 12. the —
into, to (the — into the park; can you show me the

weak
276
~ to the station?) 13. the ~ out of (the ~ out of the
city; show me the ~ out of this building; there is no
easy ~ out of this mess) 14. on the ~ (a letter is on
the ~; she is on her ~ to the airport) 15. (misc.) to
work one's ~ through college; out of harm's -*; to
make one's ~ in life; to see one's ~ clear to do
smt.; they went their separate ~s; to come to a
parting of the ~s; by ~ of ('via'); to go the ~ of all
flesh ('to be mortal'); to know one's ~ around ('to
be familiar with procedures') ['room for move-
movement'] 16. to make ~ for 17. in the ~ (to be/stand
in the ~; to get in smb.'s ~) 18. out of the ~ (to get
out of the ~) ['progress'] 19. under ~ (an investi-
investigation is under ~) ['distance'] 20. to come; go a
long ~ ['direction'] 21. this ~; that ~; the other ~
(she went that ~; please step this ~; they went the
other ~) ['aspect, respect'] 22. in a certain ~ (in
every ~; in no ~; in more ~s than one) ['manner,
method'] 23. to find a ~ (they found a ~ to spend
less money on electricity) 24. the proper, right;
wrong ~ 25. charming, winsome ~s 26. that; this
~ (do it this ~) 27. the ~ to + inf. (show me the
~ to work this washing machine; that's the ~ to do
it; there is no easy ~ to learn a new language) 28.
in a certain ~ (in her own ~; in such a ~ that...; in
a small ~) 29. (misc.) to my ~ of thinking; to
mend one's ~s; to fall into evil ~s ['purpose'] 30.
by ~ of (by ~ of apology; by ~ of example; by ~
of illustration) ['effective manner'] 31. to have a ~
with (she has a ~ with children) ['goal'] 32. to get,
have one's ~ (she always gets her ~) ['misc.'] 33.
to make one's ~ in the world; to get under ~ ('to
start out'); in a ~ ('to some degree'); to go out of
one's ~ ('to make a special effort'); to give ~ ('to
collapse'); to pay one's own ~ ('to pay for one-
oneself); to be in the family ~ ('to be pregnant'); by
the ~ ('incidentally'); on the ~ out ('becoming
obsolescent'); there are no two ~s about it ('it is
definitely true'); out our ~ ('where we live'); we
are in a fair ~ to get our new library ('it appears as
if we will get our new library'); this compromise
goes a long ~ towards resolving our differences;
the ~ to smb.'s heart USAGE NOTE: Construc-
Constructions such as to hack one's way through the jungle
cannot be passivized. Compare they hacked a
path through the jungle-a path was hacked (by
them) through the jungle.
weak adj. 1. ~ at, in (he's ~ in mathematics) 2. ~
from, with (~ with hunger)
weakened adj. —by
weakness n. ['quality of being weak'] 1. to reveal,
show ~ 2. ~ in (his ~ in mathematics) ['fondness']
3. a ~ for (a ~ for chocolate)
wealth n. ['abundance of material possessions'] 1.
to accumulate, acquire, amass, attain ~ 2. to dissi-
dissipate, squander ~ 3. to flaunt one's ~ 4. fabulous,
untold; hereditary ~ ['abundance of resources'] 5.
mineral; natural ~ (the natural ~ of a country)
['abundance, profusion'] 6. a ~ of information
wean v. 1. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ a calf from its
mother) 2. (misc.) to ~ smb. away from bad com-
company
weapon n. 1. to load a ~ 2. to fire a ~ 3. to bran-
brandish; carry; draw; handle a ~ 4. to calibrate; zero
in a ~ 5. to lay down, throw down one's ~s 6. a
concealed; deadly ~ 7. automatic; defensive;
heavy; light; offensive; semiautomatic ~s 8.
atomic, nuclear, thermonuclear; conventional ~s
9. (misc.) (they entered the building) with drawn
~s/with ~s drawn; the ultimate ~ ('nuclear mis-
missiles') •
wear I n. ['clothing'] 1. beach; casual; children's;
evening; everyday; ladies'; men's; sports ~
['wearing out'] 2. to save ~ and tear (on)
wear II v. 1. (N; used with an adjective) she ~s
her hair short 2. (s) my patience is ~ing thin
weary I adj. — of (they grew ~ of his preaching)
weary II v. (d; intr.) to ~ of (to ~ of one's job)
weasel v. (colloq.) (AE) (d;intr.) to-out of ('to
evade') (to ~ out of one's obligations)
weather n. 1. to forecast, predict the ~ 2. (good)
beautiful; clear, fair; dry; fine, good, nice, pleas-
pleasant; mild; seasonable ~ 3. (bad) atrocious, bad,
beastly, bleak, foul, gloomy, inclement; threaten-
threatening; ugly ~ 4. (rainy) cloudy, overcast; foggy;
rainy; unsettled; wet ~ 5. (warm) hot; humid,
muggy; sultry; sweltering; tropical; warm ~ 6.
(cold) cold; cool; freezing; polar; windy; wintry ~
7. the ~ clears up 8. ~ sets in (bad ~ set in) 9. in
~ (restaurants lose customers in bad ~)
weather forecast see weather report
weather report n. to give the ~
weather stripping n. to install, put on ~
weave I n. a plain; satin; twill ~
weave II v. l.(C) she wove a basket for us; or: she
wove us a basket 2. (d; tr.) to ~ around, round
(she wove the story around a specific theme) 3. (d;
tr.) to ~ from, out of (she wants to ~ a scarf from
this wool) 4. (d; tr.) ('to insert') to ~ into (to ~
some humor into a plot) 5. (misc.) to ~ in and out
of traffic
web /i. 1. to spin; weave a — 2. an intricate, tan-
tangled ~ (a tangled ~ of intrigue) 3. a spider ~
USAGE NOTE: Spiders spin webs. People
weave webs (the author wove a web of mystery).
wedded adj. (cannot stand alone) — to (~ to trad-
tradition)
wedding n. 1. to officiate at, perform a ~ 2. to
attend a ~ 3. a big; (humorous) shotgun ~ 4. at a
wedding anniversary n. a diamond; golden; silver
wedding cake n. to cut the ~
wedding date n. to seta-
wedding day n. on smb.'s —
wedge I n. to drive a— between; into
wedge II v. 1. (d; intr., tr.) to — between; into 2.
(N; used with an adjective) she —d the door open
wedged adj. (cannot stand alone) ~ between
wedlock n. 1. to join in ~ 2. out of — (born out of
~)
weed out v. (D; tr.) to — from
weeds n. 1. to pull - 2. to kill-
week n. 1. to spend a —(somewhere) 2. last; next;
this — 3. a — from (Tuesday) 4. by the — (she is
paid by the ~) 5. during the — 6. for a — (they
came here for a ~) 7. for ~s (she hasn't been here
for ~s; AE also has: she hasn't been here in ~s) 8.
277
wheel
in a ~ (they'll be here in a ~) 9. (misc.) (AE)
freshman - USAGE NOTE: In the meaning 'a
week from Tuesday', BE also has~a week on
Tuesday, on Tuesday week. Note also the BE
expressions-she arrived a week last Tuesday; she
will arrive a week next Tuesday.
weekday n. on ~s; AE also has: ~s (she works on
~s)
weekend n. 1. to spend a ~ somewhere 2. at (BE),
during, over (esp. AE) the ~ 3. on ~s (I work on
~s) 4. (AE) ~s (she works ~s) 5. (BE) at ~s (he
works at ~s)
weeknight n. on ~s; AE also has: ~s (she works
on~s)
weep v. 1. (d; intr.) to ~ about, over (to ~ over
one's misfortune) 2. (d; intr.) to ~ for (to ~ for
joy) 3. (misc.) to ~ oneself to sleep; I wept on see-
seeing them so poor
weevil n. an alfalfa; boll ~
weigh v. 1. to ~ heavily 2. (d; intr.) ('to count') to
~ against (his testimony will ~ heavily against
you) 3. (d; tr.) ('to balance') to ~ against (to ~
one argument against another) 4. (d; intr.) ('to
press') to ~ on (legal problems ~ed heavily on her
mind) 5. (P; intr.) ('to have a weight') the suitcase
~s quite a lot
weigh down v. (D; tr.) to ~ with (we were ~ed
down with packages)
weigh m v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (the boxer ~ed in at
one hundred fifty pounds)
weight I и. ['amount weighed, heaviness'] 1. to
gain, put on ~ 2. to lose, take off ~ 3. dead; gross;
minimum; net ~ 4. atomic; avoirdupois; birth;
molecular ~ 5. under a ~ (the table collapsed
under the ~ of the food) ['device used for its heav-
heaviness in athletic exercises'] 6. to lift ~s 7. heavy;
light ~s 8. a set of ~s ['importance'] 9. to carry ~
10. to add; attach, give, lend ~ to 11. considerable
~ 12. (misc.) to throw one's ~ around/about (BE)
('to flaunt one's influence'); to pull one's ~ ('to do
one's fair share')
weight II v. (D; tr.) ('to slant') to ~ against (the
evidence was ~ed against me)
weird adj. (colloq.) 1. ~ about (there is smt. ~
about them) 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~ that you
never noticed her)
welch see welsh
welcome I adj. 1. perfectly ~ 2. ~ to (you are ~
to my share) 3. ~ to + inf. (you are ~ to borrow
my car at any time) 4. (misc.) to make smb. feel ~
welcome II и. 1. to bid, extend, give a — to 2. to
receive a ~ 3. to overstay one's ~ 4. a cordial,
enthusiastic, hearty, rousing, royal, warm ~ (we
gave them a rousing ~) 5. a chilly, cool ~ 6. a ~
from; to (we received a warm ~ from the mayor;
the immigrants received a cool ~ to their new
country)
welcome III v. 1. to-cordially,enthusiastically,
warmly 2. to — coolly 3. (D; tr.) to ~ to (we ~d
them to our city)
welcome mat n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) to put out the
~ for smb.
welfare n. ['governmental financial aid'] 1. public
~ 2. (esp. US) on ~ (to be on ~; to go on ~)
['well-being'] 3. to promote the public ~ 4. the
general; public ~ 5. for smb.'s ~
well I adv. 1. to leave — enough alone (AE)/to
leave ~ alone (BE) ('not to interfere with smt.
that is satisfactory') 2. (misc.) are things going ~
with you?
well II n. ['holedugtotapasupplyofwater']l.to
bore, dig, drill, sink a ~ 2. an abandoned; deep ~
3. an artesian; oil ~ 4. a ~ dries up
well-being n. 1. to threaten smb.'s ~ 2. material;
physical; psychological ~
well-disposed adj. ~ towards
well-grounded adj. —in
well-informed adj. ~ about
well-intentioned adj. -towards
well-known adj. 1. ~ to 2. ~ that + clause (it's ~
that she intends to retire next year)
well up v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (her eyes ~ed up
with tears)
welsh v. (this verb is offensive to Welsh people)
(D; intr.) to ~ on (to ~ on a bet)
welt n. to raise a ~ (on the skin)
west I adj., adv. —of
west II n. 1. in, to the ~ 2. (US) the Wild West 3.
(misc.) out ~ (US) ('in the Am. west'); up ~
(London slang) ('to the West End of London from
the East End'); to go ~ (esp. BE; old-fashioned)
('to die')
wet adj. 1. dripping, soaking ~ 2. ~ with (~ with
dew) 3. (misc.) she got her shoes ~
whack I n. (colloq.) ['blow'] 1. to give smb. a ~
['attempt'] 2. to take a ~ at 3. to have the first ~
at ['misc.'] 4. out of ~ (he threw his shoulder out
of~)
whack II v. (colloq.) (O) ('to strike') I'll ~ you
one
whale n. ['sea mammal'] 1. to harpoon a ~ 2. a
blue; bowhead; sperm; white ~ 3. a school of ~s
4. a young ~ is a calf 5. a female ~ is a cow 6. a
male ~ is a bull ['misc.'] 7. a ~ of a good time ('a
very good time')
whammy n. (slang) (AE) ['jinx'] to put a (the) ~
on smb.
wharf n. at; on a ~ (the ship was tied up at a ~)
what determiner, pronoun 1. ~ about, of (~ about
them?) 2. (used in exclamatory sentences) ~ a (~
a day!) 3. (misc.) (colloq.) she has — it takes ('she
is very capable'); to know ~'s ~ ('to understand
clearly what the situation is'); ~ else is new? (esp.
AE); so ~? ~ on earth can she mean?
wheat n. 1. to grow; harvest ~ 2. to grind; thresh
~ (to grind ~ into flour) 3. summer; winter ~ 4.
club; common; drum; hybrid ~ 5. cracked; whole
~ USAGE NOTE: AE has whole wheat bread,
whole wheat flour; BE has wholemeal bread,
wholemeal flour.
wheedle v. 1. (d;tr.) to-from, out of (to-infor-
(to-information from smb.) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ into (to — smb.
into doing smt.)
wheel n. ['circular rim or solid disc joined to a hub
that turns'] 1. to spin; turn a ~ 2. to align; balance;
rotate ~s (on a car) 3. a balance; driving; front;
idler; mill; paddle; potter's; ratchet; rear; retract-
retractable; roulette; spinning; sprocket; undershot;

wheelbarrow
278
water ~ 4. a big (BE), Ferris ~ (in an amusement
park) 5. a ~ spins; turns 6. (misc.) to break on the
~; (humorous) to reinvent the ~ ['device that
turns a car'] 7. to take the ~ 8. a steering ~ (to turn
the steering ~) 9. (to be) at the ~ (who was at the
~ when the accident took place?) ['misc.'] 10. a
big ~ ('an influential person')
wheelbarrow n. to push, roll a ~
wheelchair n. 1. to push a ~ 2. a motorized ~
wherewithal n. ['resources'] 1. the ~ for (to have
the ~ for a trip abroad) 2. the ~ to + inf. (they
didn't have the ~ to conduct a successful political
campaign)
which determiner, pronoun ~ of (~ of them do
you know?) USAGE NOTE: The use of the pre-
preposition of is necessary when a pronoun follows.
When a noun follows, the use of which of the
limits the meaning-which student(s) did you see?
which of the students whom we had discussed did
you see?
whiff n. (colloq.) ['smell, odor'] 1. to get, have;
take a ~ of (to get a good ~ of tear gas) 2. to give
smb. a ~ of smt. 3. at a ~ (she lost consciousness
at the first-of ether)
whim n. 1. to pursue; satisfy a ~ 2. an idle; sudden
~ 3. on a ~ (they went there on a ~)
whine v. 1. (B) she ~d a few words to them 2. (D;
intr.) to — about (he kept —ing about his bad luck)
3. (L; to) he ~d (to us) that he had been cheated
whip I n. ['lash used for whipping'] 1. to crack,
snap a ~ ['dessert made by whipping'] 2. a prune
~ ['member of a political party who enforces party
discipline'] 3. a majority; minority; party ~
whip II v. l.(d;tr.)('tobeat')to~into(to~eggs
into a froth) 2. (colloq.) (d; tr.) ('to bring') to ~
into (the sergeant ~ped the recruits into shape) 3.
(d; tr.) ('to incite') to ~ into (the speaker ~ped
the crowd into a frenzy)
whip hand n. ['control'] to get; have the ~ over
whipping n. ['beating'] 1. to get, receive, take a ~
(from) 2. to give smb. a ~
whip-round n. (BE) ['collection'] to have a ~
whirl n. (colloq.) ['try'] 1. to give smt. a ~ ['hectic
activity'] 2. the social ~
whirlpool n. to be drawn into a ~
whisk I n. an egg ~ (BE; AE has eggbeater)
whisk II v. (P; tr.) ('to move quickly') they were
~ed into the hotel; the important visitors were
~ed through customs
whisk away v. see whisk off
whiskers n. ['beard'] 1. to grow ~ 2. to shave off
one's ~ 3. rough ~
whiskey, whisky n. 1. to age; distill, produce-2.
straight ('undiluted') ~ 3. blended; corn; Irish;
rye; Scotch ~ 4. ~ ages USAGE NOTE: The spel-
spelling whiskey is usu. used in Ireland and the US.
whisk off v. (colloq.) (d; tr.) to ~ to (they were
~ed off to prison)
whisper I n. 1. a stage ~ 2. in a ~ (to speak in a ~)
whisper II v. 1. (B) he ~ed a few words to her 2.
(d; intr.) to ~ about (what were they ~ing about?)
3. (L; to) she ~ed (to us) that she was preparing a
surprise party
whistle I n. ['instrument that produces a whistling
sound'] 1. to blow (on) a ~ 2. a bird; factory;
police; referee's ~ 3. a ~ blows, sounds ['act of
whistling'] 4. to give a ~ 5. a shrill ~ ['misc.'] 6. as
clean as a ~ ('very clean'); to blow the ~ on smb.
('to reveal smb.'s evil intentions')
whistle II v. 1. (B) she ~d a song to me 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ at; to (who ~d at you?) 3. (D; intr.) to
~ with (to ~ with surprise) USAGE NOTE: One
whistles to smb. to attract her/his attention. One
whistles at smb. to express one's feelings about
that person.
white feather n. ['symbol of cowardice'] to show
the-
whiteflag n. ['symbol of surrender'] to show the —
white paper n. ['official government report'] to
issue a ~
white slavery n. to sell smb. into ~
whittle v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at a piece of
wood) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ into (to ~ a reed into a whis-
whistle) 3. (D; tr.) to ~ out of (to ~ a whistle out of a
reed)
whittle away v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at smb.'s
alibi)
whole n. 1. to constitute, form a ~ 2. as a ~ 3. on
the ~ (the situation is, on the ~, satisfactory)
whole hog n. (colloq.) (esp. AE) ['the whole way']
to go (the) ~
wholesale adv. to buy; sell ~
whoop n. ['loud cry'] to emit, let out a ~
whoopee n. (colloq.) ['boisterous fun'] to make —
whooping cough n. to catch (the) ~
wicked adj. 1. ~ of (that was ~ of him) 2. ~ to +
inf. (it's ~ to lie)
wide adj. ['deviating'] (cannot stand alone) ~ of
(you are ~ of the mark)
widow n. a grass; war— #
widower n. a grass —
width n. in ~ (ten feet in ~)
wife n. 1. (old-fashioned) to take a ~ 2. to beat;
desert, leave one's ~ 3. an abused, battered; com-
common-law; estranged ~; ex-wife, former; jealous;
unfaithful ~ 4. (misc.) he had two children by his
first ~
wig n. 1. to wear a ~ 2. to put on; takeoff a ~
wild I adj. ['enthusiastic'] (colloq.) 1. (cannot
stand alone) ~ about, over (audiences went ~
over the new play) ['furious'] 2. ~ with (~ with
anger) ['out of control'] 3. to run ~
wild II n. ['wilderness'] in the-(to live in the-)
wilderness n. 1. a desolate; trackless; unexplored
~ 2. in the ~
wildfire n. to spread like ~ ('to spread very
quickly')
wild oats n. ['youthful excesses'] to sow one's ~
will I n. ['desire'] 1. to impose one's ~ (on) 2. to
implement the ~ (of the majority) 3. the ~ to +
inf. (the ~ to survive) 4. (misc.) a clash of {strong)
~s; against smb.s ~; with a ~ (to work with the ~
to succeed) ['attitude'] 5. to show good ~ 6. to
bear no ill ~ ['choice'] 7. free — (of their own free
~) 8. at ~ (to fire at ~) ['legal document disposing
of an estate'] 9. to draw up, make, make out a ~
10. to change a ~ 11. to administer; execute a ~
12. to probate, validate a ~ 13. to challenge, con-
279
wisecrack
test a ~ 14. to break, overturn a ~15.to repudiate
a ~ 16. a deathbed ~ ['spirit'] ['power to make
decisions'] 17. to break smb.'s ~ 18. an indomita-
indomitable, iron, strong; inflexible ~
will II v. (A) he ~ed his entire estate to her; or:
he ~ed her his entire estate
will III v. (auxiliary) (F) she ~ return
willies n. (colloq.) ['jitters'] 1. to get the ~ 2. to
give smb. the ~ (her behavior gives me the ~)
willing adj. ~ to (she is ~ to help)
willingness n. 1. to demonstrate, show ~ 2. to
express ~ 3. the ~ to + inf. (she expressed the ~
to work for us)
willpower n. 1. to demonstrate ~ 2. the ~ to + inf.
(do you have the ~ to stick to the diet?)
wily adj. ~ of (that was ~ of him)
win I n. to chalk up a ~
win II v. 1. to ~ easily, hands down 2. (D; intr.)
to ~ against (to ~ against considerable odds)
wince v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ at (to ~ at the thought
of going back to work) 2. (misc.) to ~ in pain
winch n. to operate, use a ~
wind I n. /wind/['movement,currentofair']l.an
adverse; balmy, gentle, light; biting, cold, cutting,
icy; brisk, heavy, high, stiff, strong; fair, favora-
favorable; gale-force; gusty; head; raw; tail; trade ~ 2.
the prevailing ~s 3. the ~ blows; falls, subsides;
howls; picks up 4. a blast, gust of ~ 5. a down; up
~ 6. (misc.) as free as the ~ ['knowledge'] 7. to get
~ of smt. ['breath'] 8. to catch, get one's second ~
9. out of ~ ['misc.'] 10. to break ~ ('to expel rectal
gas'); in the ~ ('imminent'); to take the ~ out of
smb.'s sails ('to deflate smb.'); to see how the —
blows ('to see what is likely to happen'); to sow the
~ and reap the whirlwind
wind II v. /waynd/ 1. (d; tr.) to ~ around, round
(she wound the string around her finger) 2. (P;
intr.) the procession wound through the town 3.
(misc.) to ~ smb. around one's little finger ('to
manipulate smb.')
winded adj. ['out of breath'] easily ~
windfall n. ['good fortune'] 1. to get a ~ 2. a sud-
sudden, unexpected ~
windmill n. 1. a ~ turns 2. (misc.) to tilt at ~s ('to
struggle with imaginary opponents')
window n. 1. to open a ~; to roll down a ~ (in a
car) 2. to close, shut a ~; to roll up a ~ (in a car)
3. to clean, wash a ~ 4. a bay; bow; French; lat-
lattice; sash; shop; storm ~ 5. a ~ fogs up, sweats;
frosts over
window shade n. (AE) 1. to lift, raise a ~ 2. to
draw, drop, lower a ~ (BE has blind)
wind up v. ('to end up') 1. (d; intr.) to ~ with 2.
(G) I wound up paying for everyone 3. (P; intr.) to
~ out in the cold 4. (s) he wound up worse off than
when he started
wine n. 1. to make, produce ~ 2. dry; sweet ~ 3.
cooking; dessert; mulled; red; rose; sacramental;
sparkling; table; vintage; white ~ 4. domestic;
imported ~ 5. a house ~ (of a restaurant) 6. ~ fer-
ferments USAGE NOTE: The phrase domestic
wine seems to be reserved for wine produced in
English-speaking countries. English-speakers in
France or Italy, for example, usu. do not refer to
French or Italian wine as domestic.
wing n. ['faction of a political party'] 1. a conserva-
conservative; liberal; radical ~ ['a bird's forelimb'] 2. to
spread one's ~s (also fig.) (the bird spread its ~s
and flew off) 3. (misc.) to clip smb.'s ~s ('to
restrict smb.'s freedom') ['protection'] 4. to take
smb. under one's ~ ['act of flying'] 5. to take ~
(also fig.) 6. on the — ['extension, annex of a
building'] 7. to add a ~ (to a building) 8. see fen-
fender ['misc.'] 9. to wait in the ~s ('to await the
opportunity to take over a job')
wink In. 1. to give smb. a ~ 2. a suggestive ~ 3.
(misc.) I didn't get a ~ of sleep last night; to take
forty ~s ('to take a brief nap')
wink II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at (also fig.: the police
~ed at illegal gambling)
winner n. 1. a likely; sure ~ 2. (misc.) to be on to
a (sure) ~ (at a racetrack)
win over v. (d;tr.) to-to (we won them over to
our side)
winter n. 1. a cold, hard, harsh, severe; mild ~ 2.
in, over (the) ~ 3. in the dead of ~
wipe v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ off ('to erase from') (to ~
a city off the map) 2. (D; tr.) to ~ on (she ~d her
hands on the towel) 3. (N; used with an adjective)
he ~d the dishes dry
wipers n. 1. to turn on the ~ 2. windscreen (BE),
windshield (AE) ~
wire I n. ['long metal thread'] 1. to string ~^2.
barbed; chicken; copper ~ 3. a trip ~ ['cable con-
conducting electric current'] 4. to cross, jump ~s (in
order to start a car) 5. to tap ~s 6. telephone ~s
['cablegram, telegram'] 7. to send a ~ ['finish
line'] (also fig.) 8. (right) down to the ~ ('to the
very end') 9. (misc.) to get in under the ~ ('to
enter barely in time')
wire II v. 1. (A) ('to send by wire') we ~d the
money to her; or: we ~d her the money 2. (d;
intr.) ('to request by sending a wire') to ~ for (she
~d home for some money) 3. (D; tr.) ('to provide
with wire') to ~ for (the auditorium was ~d for
sound) 4. (d; tr.) ('to connect') to ~ to (the explo-
explosives were ~d to the door) 5. (H; no passive) ('to
inform by wire') we ~d them to return home
immediately 6. (L; may have an object) ('to
inform by wire') she ~d (us) that the manuscript
had arrived 7. (Q; may have an object) we will ~
(you) where to meet
wire back v. (L; to) they ~d back (to us) that they
would attend the conference
wireless n. (BE) (now less common than radio)
see radio 1-4
wiring n. 1. defective, faulty ~ 2. electric —
wisdom n. 1. to impart ~ 2. to doubt, question
smb.'s ~ (to question the ~ of an action) 3. (the)
conventional ~; infinite ~ 4. the ~ to + inf. (will
they have the ~ to make the correct choice?) 5. of
~ (a person of great ~)
wise adj. ['sagacious'] 1. ~ to + inf. (it was — of
you to remain silent = you were ~ to remain
silent) ['aware of] (colloq.) 2. ~ to (she was ~ to
their scheme; I finally got ~ to their tricks; they
put me ~ to his tricks)
wisecrack I n. ['flippant remark'] 1. to make a ~

wisecrack
280
2. a — about
wisecrack II v. (colloq.) (L) ('to remark flip-
flippantly') she ~ed that she could earn more money
at home
wise up v. (colloq.) (AE) (D; intr.) to ~ to (I
finally ~d up to his tricks)
wish I n. ['desire'] 1. to make a ~ 2. to fulfill,
realize a ~ 3. to get one's ~ 4. to express a ~ 5. to
respect smb.'s ~ 6. a fervent, strong; unfulfilled ~
7. the death ~ 8. a ~ for (a ~ for peace) 9. a ~ to
+ inf. (they expressed a ~ to visit the museum) 10.
a ~ that + clause; subj. (the editor respected her
~ that the contribution not be/should not be
announced publicly) 11. against smb.'s ~es (the
project was carried out against our ~es) 12. in
accordance with smb.'s ~es ['greetings'] 13. to
extend, offer, send one's (best) ~es 14. one's best,
good, warm, warmest ~es 15. one's ~es for (one's
best ~es for the New Year)
wish II v. 1. (A; usu. without to) they ~ed us
good luck 2. (D; intr.) to ~ for (we were -ing for
cool weather) 3. (E) I ~ to lodge a complaint 4.
(formal) (H; no passive) do you ~ me to stay? 5.
(L) we ~ that he would settle down 6. (misc.) to ~
smb. well ('to hope that things will go well for
smb.')
wit I n. 1. to display, show — 2. acid, keen, mor-
mordant, penetrating, rapier-like, sharp, sophisti-
sophisticated, trenchant ~ 3. dry; quick, ready; sly ~ 4.
(misc.) at one's ~'s end (see also wits)
wit II to ~ ('namely')
witchcraft n. to practice ~
witch-hunt n. to conduct a ~ against
withdraw v. (D; intr., tr.) to ~ from; to (our
troops have withdrawn from the border area; to ~
money from a bank; to ~ to a safer area)
withdrawal n. ['removal of funds'] 1. to make a ~
2. mass ~s 3. a ~ from (a ~ from an account) ['re-
['retreat'] (often mil.) 4. to carry out, make a ~ 5. to
complete a ~ 6. an orderly; precipitate; strategic;
tactical; unilateral ~ 7. a ~ from; to (a ~ to higher
ground)
withhold v. (D; tr.) to ~ from (to ~ information
from the police)
witness I и. ['testimony'] 1. to bear- to 2. false-
(to bear false ~) ['one who testifies'] 3. to produce
a ~ (the district attorney finally produced a credi-
credible ~) 4. to cross-examine; examine, interrogate,
question; interview a ~; to hear ~es 5. to lead a ~
(one should not lead a ~) 6. to swear in a - 7. to
confuse; discredit; trap a ~ 8. a character; compe-
competent; credible; defense; expert; hostile; key, mate-
material; prosecution; reliable ~ 9. a ~ is sworn in = a
~ takes the oath; a ~ testifies (under oath) 10. a ~
steps down 11. a ~ against (a ~ against one's
former accomplices) 12. a ~ for (a ~ for the pros-
prosecution) 13. a ~ to (a ~ to an accident)
witness II v. (K) who ~ed his signing the docu-
documents?
witness box n. (BE) to go into the ~
witness stand п. (АЕ) to take the ~
wits n. 1. to collect one's ~ 2. the ~ to + inf. (he
didn't have enough ~ to realize what was happen-
happening) 3. (misc.) keep your ~ about you! ('stay
alert!'); to live by one's ~
witty adj. ~ of (that was ~ of her)
wizard n. 1. a financial; mathematical ~ 2. a ~ at
(a ~ at solving crossword puzzles)
wizardry n. sheer-
wolf n. 1. ~ves howl 2. -ves hunt in packs 3. a
pack of —ves 4. a young ~ is a pup 5. (misc.) to cry
~ ('to give a false alarm'); to keep the ~ from the
door ('to provide the necessities'); a ~ in sheep's
clothing ('one who disguises hostile intentions')
woman n. 1. to deliver a ~ (of a baby) 2. an attrac-
attractive, beautiful, pretty; average; fat; grown; hand-
handsome; middle-aged; old; short; tall; thin; ugly;
wise; young ~ 3. a divorced; married; single ~ 4.
a career; professional; self-made; working ~ 5. an
anchor ~; businesswoman; newspaperwoman 6.
(AE) a cleaning ~ (BE has charwoman, char) 7.
(BE) a lollipop ~ (AE has crossing guard) 8.
(AE) enlisted women (BE has other ranks) 9. the
other — ('a married man's paramour') 10. (misc.)
a ~ of letters; a ~ of action; a ~ of the world; the
~ of the year USAGE NOTE: The terms career
woman and working woman are becoming old-
fashioned, (see also the Usage Note for girl)
womanhood n. to reach ~
wonder In. 1. to perform, work a ~ 2. to do ~s
for 3. a natural ~ 4. a ~ that + clause (it's a ~ that
we didn't get lost; it's no small — that they had so
much trouble) 5. in ~ (to look around in ~) 6.
(misc.) the seven ~s of the world; the eighth ~ of
the world
wonder II v. 1. to ~ really, very much (I really ~
if they'll come) 2. (D; intr.) to ~ about, at (to ~
about a problem) 3. (O) I ~ why they left
wonderful adj. 1. ~ to + inf. (it was ~ to visit our
national parks) 2. ~ that + clause (it was ~ that
we could see each other)
wonderland n. a scenic-
wont adj. (obsol. and rare) ['accustomed'] (cannot
stand alone) ~ to + inf. (she is ~ to call at any
time)
wood n. 1. to chop, cut ~ 2. to gather ~ 3.
firewood; kindling ~ 4. a cord of ~ 5. (misc.) out
of the ~ (BE)/~s (AE) ('safe from danger')
wool n. 1. to produce ~ 2. to comb; process; sort
~ 3. lamb's; steel, wire (BE) ~ 4. (BE) cotton ~
(AE has absorbent cotton) 5. (misc.) to pull the
~ over smb.'s eyes ('to deceive smb.')
woozy adj. (colloq.) ['dazed, dizzy'] ~ from (~
from lack of sleep)
word I n. ['independent, meaningful linguistic
form'] 1. to coin a ~ 2. to pronounce, say, utter;
write a ~ (to say a few ~s about smt.) 3. to mis-
mispronounce a ~ 4. to distort smb.'s ~s 5. to not
mince any ~s ('to speak frankly') 6. angry, cross,
sharp; choice; fighting; harsh; hasty; heated, hot;
high-sounding; hollow, hypocritical; sincere;
weasel ~s 7. an archaic, obsolete; borrowed; com-
compound; dialectal, regional; foreign; four-letter,
obscene; function; ghost; monosyllabic; native;
nonce; portmanteau; simple; taboo — 8. a guide ~
(at the top of a page in a dictionary, reference
work) 9. (misc.) (upon) my ~ ('really'); to hang on
(to) smb.'s ~s ('to listen to smb. very attentively');
281
worry
in so many ~s ('precisely'); of few ~s ('not talka-
talkative'); ~ for ~ ('verbatim'); she took the ~s right
out of my mouth ('she said exactly what I wanted
to say'); a household ('common') ~; to get a ~ in
edgewise (AE)/edgeways (BE) Do manage to say
smt. in a dispute'); to have the last ~ ('to conclude
an argument'); to put in a good ~ for smb. ('to
plead smb.'s case'); in a ~ ('briefly'); a play on ~s
('a pun'); begin at the ~ go; one's dying ~s
['promise'] 10. to give one's ~ 11. to take smb.'s
~; to take smb. at her/his ~ 12. to break one's ~
13. one's solemn ~; one's ~ of honor 14. one's ~
that + clause (she gave me her ~ that she would
deliver the message) 15. of one's ~ (she's a woman
of her ~) ('she keeps her promises') ['command']
16. to give the ~ ['information, news'] 17. to
bring; send ~ 18. to breathe, say a ~ (don't
breathe a ~ about it to anyone) 19. to get ~ (we
got advance ~ that the contract would be signed)
20. the latest — 21. advance ~ 22. ~ about, of
(there was no ~ of the incident in the newspapers;
she would like to say a few ~s about the incident)
23. ~ that + clause (they sent ~ that they would
be late) ['conversation'] 24. to have a ~ with smb.
about smt. (see also words) USAGE NOTE:
The construction Vd like to have a word with you
usu. indicates that the conversation will be of a
serious nature. Compare I had words with him i
had an argument with him'.
word II v. to ~ smt. strongly
word order n. (a) fixed; flexible; normal; reverse
words n. ['text'] 1. ~ to (a song) ['argument, dis-
discussion'] 2. to have ~ with smb. 3. to weigh ('con-
('consider carefully') one's ~ 4. heated; threatening ~
work I n. ['labor'] 1. to do ~ (they never do any
~) 2. to begin; quit, stop ~ (they quit ~ at one
o'clock) 3. to take on ~ 4. to undo smb.'s ~ 5.
backbreaking, hard; delicate; demanding; dirty,
scut; easy, light; exhausting, tiring; physical ~ 6.
meticulous, precise; shoddy, slipshod, sloppy ~ 7.
fieldwork; paper ~ 8. (misc.) he never does a lick/
stitch (AE)/stroke of ~; to make short ~ of smt.
('to dispose of smt. quickly') ['employment'] 9. to
go to ~ 10. to return to ~ 11. to take off from — 12.
to leave — (early) 13. at ~ (they are still at ~) 14.
out of ~ (they have been out of ~ for a week) ['re-
['result of research, labor, artistic effort'] 15. to
exhibit; hang one's ~s (in a gallery) 16. a literary;
scholarly —17. collected; published; selected — s
18. (misc.) ~ in progress; a ~ of art ['service'] 19.
social ~ (to do social ~) 20. undercover ~ (to do
undercover ~ for the police) ['treatment'] 21.
root-canal ~ (to do root-canal — on smb.) ['misc.'"
22. to go to — on smb. ('to put pressure on smb.'
(see also works)
work II v. 1. ('to labor') to ~ hard, strenuously 2.
(d; intr.) to ~ against ('to oppose') (to ~ against a
proposed law) 3. (d; intr.) ('to labor') to ~ at, on
(they were —ing on a new book; you have to ~ at
being friendlier with people) 4. (d; intr.) ('to be
employed; to labor') to — for (she ~s for a large
firm; to ~ for a living) 5. (d; intr.) to — for ('to sup-
support') (to ~ for a good cause) 6. (d; refl.) ('to
excite') to ~ into (she ~ed herself into a rage) 7.
(d; tr.) to ~ into ('to insert') (she ~ed a few jokes
into her speech) 8. (d; intr.) to ~ through ('to go
through') (to ~ through difficult material) 9. (d;
intr.) ('to progress') to ~ towards (to ~ towards a
common goal) 10. (d; intr.) ('to collaborate') to ~
with (to ~ closely with one's colleagues) 11.
(misc.) to ~ far into the night; to ~ one's way
through college; to ~ one's way through a crowd;
I slowly ~ed my way through the long report; the
committee ~ed to reduce tension; to ~ against the
clock
worked up adj. (colloq.) ~ about, over (he got
himself all ~ over a trifle)
worker n. 1. to hire, take on a ~ 2. to retrain; train
~s 3. to organize, unionize ~s 4. to dismiss, fire,
sack (colloq.) a ~; to make a ~ redundant (as by
eliminating her/his job) (BE) 5. an efficient, hard,
indefatigable; idle; meticulous ~ 6. a blue-collar
(esp. AE); full-time; immigrant; migrant; office;
part-time; skilled; social; undocumented (AE);
unemployed; unskilled; white-collar ~
working hours n. regular; staggered ~ (during
regular ~)
workmanship n. 1. conscientious; delicate,
exquisite, fine; meticulous ~ 2. poor, shoddy ~
workout n. ['exercise'] 1. to get, have a ~ 2. a daily
works и. ['construction projects'] 1. public ~
['preparation'] (colloq.) 2. in the ~ ['operations']
3. to gum up, mess up the ~ ['everything avail-
available'] (colloq.) 4. to give smb. the ~
workshop n. ['working seminar'] 1. to conduct a ~
2. a ~ on
workup n. ['series of tests'] 1. to do a ~ 2. a diag-
diagnostic ~
work up v. 1. (d; refl., tr.) ('to excite') to ~ into
(he ~ed himself up into a rage) 2. (d; refl., tr.) ('to
incite') to ~ to (the orator ~ed the crowd up to a
fever pitch) 3. (misc.) she ~ed her way up to the
top
world n. ['earth'] 1. around, round the ~ (to travel
around the ~) 2. (misc.) to see the ~ ('to travel to
many parts of the earth') ['area, part of the earth']
3. the free; known; Third ~ (in the Third ~) ['do-
['domain, realm, sphere'] 4. the animal; financial; lit-
literary; physical; scientific ~ 5. the academic; out-
outside; real ~ (out in the real ~) ['period'] 6. the
ancient; medieval; modern - (there are many
problems in the modern ~) ['life, being'] 7. to
bring (smb.) into the ~ 8. to come into the ~ 9. the
next ~ ('life after death') ['misc.'] 10. out of this ~
('remarkable'); ~s apart ('very far apart')
world's fair n. to hold, stage a ~
worm v. 1. (d; tr.) to ~ into (how did they ~ their
way into the meeting?) 2. (d; intr., tr.) to ~ out of
(to ~ out of an obligation; to ~ information out of
smb.) 3. (misc.) to ~ one's way into smb.'s confi-
confidence
worried adj. 1. ~ sick 2. ~ about 3. ~ that +
clause (we were ~ that she might not arrive on
time)
worry In. 1. to cause ~ 2. deep, serious ~ 3.
financial ~ries 4. ~ about, over

w
worry
worry II v. 1. (D; intr.) to ~ about, over (they ~
about you; I ~ried about them working so hard; to
~ over trifles) 2. (R) it —ried me that they did not
answer the telephone
worse adj. any ~ (will it be any ~ living in the
city?)
worship I n. 1. ancestor; hero; idol; nature; pub-
public ~ 2. (misc.) a house of ~
worship II v. 1. to ~ reverently 2. (D; tr.) to ~ as
(to ~ smb. as a god) 3. (misc.) I ~ the ground you
walk on
worst n. to prepare for the ~
worth I adj., prep. 1. well ~ (the cost) 2. ~ to
(how much is it ~ to you?) 3. (misc.) ~ one's salt
('worthy of respect for one's work')
worth II n. 1. intrinsic ~ 2. net ~ 3. (legal) com-
comparable ~ (the theory of comparable ~) 4. of ~
(books of great ~)
worthwhile adj. 1. ~ for 2. ~ to + inf. (it's ~ for
you to visit the exhibit)
worthy adj. (usu. does not stand alone) — of (~ of
praise)
would v. (F) ~ you do it?
wound n. 1. to inflict a ~ on/upon smb. 2. to
receive a ~ 3. to clean; dress; suture; swab a ~ 4.
a deep; fatal, mortal; festering; flesh; gaping;
light, slight; self-inflicted; serious, severe; superfi-
superficial ~ (to receive a slight ~) 5. a bullet, gunshot;
knife ~ 6. a ~ festers 7. (misc.) to lick one's ~s
('to recover from a beating')
wounded adj. fatally, mortally; lightly, slightly;
seriously ~
wracked adj. ~ with (~ with pain)
wrangle v. 1. to ~ constantly, incessantly 2. (D;
intr.) to ~ about, over; with
wrangling n. constant, incessant ~
wrap I n. freezer; plastic ~
wrap II v. 1. (d; tr.) to — around (to ~ a blanket
around oneself) 2. (d; tr.) to ~ in (to — a child in
a blanket)
wrapped up adj. ['engaged, busy'] ~ in (they are
all ~ in campaigning)
wrapper n. a cellophane ~
wraps n. to keep apian under ~ (colloq.) Do keep
a plan secret')
wrath n. (formal) 1. to bring down, incur smb.'s —
2. to visit one's ~ upon smb. 3. one's righteous ~
wreak v. (D; tr.) to ~ with (to ~ havoc with smb.)
wreath n. 1. to make, weave a ~ 2. to lay, place a
~ (they laid a ~ at the Tomb of the Unknown Sol-
Soldier) 3. a bridal; Christmas; floral ~
wreck n. ['wrecked car'] 1. to tow a ~ ['person
who has suffered a breakdown'] 2. a nervous ~
wreckage n. 1. to strew — (over a wide area) 2. to
clear, remove ~
wrench I n. 1. monkey ~ 2. (AE) a lug-(BE has
box spanner)
wrench II v. (d; tr.) to ~ from (he ~ed the hand-
handbag from the old woman)
wrest v. (d; tr.) to-from (to— power from a dic-
dictator)
wrestle v. (D; intr.) to ~ with (to ~ with various
problems)
wrestler n. to pin; throw a —
282
wrestling n. arm; catch-as-catch-can; Greco-
Roman; Indian ~
wretch n. a poor —
wretched adj. ~ of (that was ~ of him)
wriggle v. (d; intr.) to ~ out of (he ~d out of my
grip)
wring v. 1. (d; tr.) ('to extract') to ~ from, out of
(the police finally succeeded in —ing a confession
from the prisoner) 2. (N; used with an adjective)
('to squeeze') to ~ a towel dry
wrinkle n. ['crease'] 1. to make a ~ 2. to iron out,
press out ~s ['innovation'] (colloq.) 3. the latest ~
in (the latest ~ in marketing home computers)
wrist n. to sprain one's —
writ n. ['legal order'] 1. to issue; serve a ~ (to
serve a ~ on smb.) 2. to quash a ~
write v. 1. ('to form letters') to ~ illegibly; legibly
2. (A) ('to compose and send') she wrote a letter
to me; or: she wrote me a letter 3. (C) ('to com-
compose') he wrote a recommendation for me; or:
(colloq.) he wrote me a recommendation 4. (d;
intr.) to ~ about, of ('to describe') (to write about/
of the war) 5. (D; tr.) to ~ about ('to compose
about') (she wrote a book about her experiences)
6. (D; intr.) ('to be a writer') to ~ for (she ~s for
popular magazines) 7. (d; intr.) to ~ for ('to
request') (she wrote for a recommendation; she
wrote to me for a recommendation; AE also has:
she wrote me for a recommendation) 8. (d; intr.)
to ~ to ('to compose and send a letter to') (he ~s
to her every day; AE also has: he ~s her every
day) 9. (D; tr.) to ~ to ('to compose for') (to ~
words to a song) 10. (d; intr.) ('to order, com-
command') to ~ to + to + inf. (she wrote to me to
come home) 11. (AE) (H; no passive) ('to order,
command') she wrote me to come home 12. (L; to;
may have an object in AE) ('to inform') they
wrote to us/wrote us (AE) that they would come
home 13. (Q; to; may have an object in AE) ('to
inform') she wrote to us/wrote us (AE) where we
were to meet
write away v. (d; intr.) to ~ for (the children wrote
away for a puzzle book)
write back v. 1. (A) ('to answer') she wrote a long
letter back to me; or: she wrote me back a long let-
letter 2. (D; intr.) to ~ to ('to answer') she wrote
back to me
write off v. (D; tr.) to ~ as (he was written off as
a has-been)
writer n. a free-lance; hack; professional; screen
write-up n. (colloq.) ['account'] to get a (good) —
(in the newspapers)
write up v. (AE)(D;tr.)to~for(to~astoryfor
a newspaper; to ~ smb. up for a decoration)
writhe v. (D; intr.) to ~ in (to ~ in pain)
writing n. 1. cuneiform; hieroglyphic; picture — 2.
creative ~ 3. (misc.) to put smt. in/into ~
writing paper n. personalized ~
writings n. ['written works'] smb.'s collected;
selected ~
wrong I adj. 1. completely, dead (colloq.), totally
— 2. ~ in (I was ~ in going there) 3. ~ to + inf. (it
was ~ of them to gossip = they were — to gossip;
283
I was - to disregard your advice; it is ~ to lie) 4.
~ with (what's ~ with her?) 5. (misc.) everything
went ~
wrong II adv. togo~
wrong III n. 1. to do (smb.) ~ 2. to redress, right,
wrought up
undo a ~ 3. a grievous; irreparable ~ 4. in the ~
(you were in the ~) 5. (misc.) two ~s do not make
a right; to know right from ~
wrought up adj. ['upset'] - over (he gets ~ over
trifles)

Xray
284
Xray n. 1. to do (colloq.), make, take an ~ (the
doctor decided to take an — of my back) 2. to
interpret, read an — (the radiologist will read your
— before you leave) 3. to go for; have an ~ 4. to
have an — taken
xylophone n. to play the ~
285
youth
Y n. (= YMCA, YWCA, YMHA, YWHA,
which are abbreviations of Young Men's or
Women's Christian or Hebrew Association) at the
— (they are staying at the —)
yacht n. 1. to sail a — 2. on a — (they spent the
summer on their —)
yammer v. (colloq.) (D; intr.) to ~ about; for
yank I n. ['tug'] to give a —
yank II v. (colloq.) 1. (d; intr.) ('to tug') to — at,
on (the small girl kept —ing at her mother's apron)
2. (d; tr.) to — out of ('to withdraw') (they —ed
their children out of school)
yap I n. ['mouth'] (colloq.) to shut one's —
yap II v. (colloq.) 1. (D; intr.) to - about 2. (d;
intr.) to — at
yard I n. ['enclosed area'] a barnyard (esp. AE),
farmyard; brickyard; coalyard; dockyard (BE),
shipyard; graveyard; junkyard (esp. AE),
scrapyard (BE); lumberyard (AE), timberyard
(BE); navy (AE); prison; railroad (AE), railway
(BE) - USAGE NOTE: In BE, a plot of land
adjoining a house is called a garden if grassy (a
back garden, a front garden) or a yard if paved (a
backyard, a front yard). In AE, such a plot is cal-
called a yard, whether grassy or paved; a large,
grassy plot can also be called a garden.
yard II n. ['unit of measure'] 1. a cubic; square —
2. by the ~ (to sell carpeting by the square —)
yardstick n. ['standard'] to apply a — to
yarn n. ['fiber'] 1. to spin ~ 2. to unsnarl — 3.
wool(en); worsted ~ 4. (misc.) a ball; hank; skein
of — ['tale, story'] (colloq.) 5. to spin, tell a —
about
yawn I n. 1. to stifle, suppress a — 2. a loud —
yawn II v. to — loudly
year n. 1. to spend a — (somewhere) 2. a bad,
lean; banner (AE), good; happy; healthy; memor-
memorable; peak, record; profitable — (our firm had a
very profitable —; their team had a good —) 3.
smb.'s formative; golden —s 4. every; last; next;
this — 5. the coming; current; past — 6. an
academic, school; calendar; election; fiscal;
jubilee; presidential (US); sabbatical; tax — 7. a
common; leap; light; lunar; sidereal; solar — 8. by
the - (to be paid by the ~) 9. by ('before') a - (by
the — 2000, the population in many countries will
double) 10. for a — (they went abroad for a —) 11.
for, in (esp. AE) —s (they have not been here for/
in ~s) 12. in a - (they'll be back in a ~) 13. in a
(certain) — (he died in the — of the great flood; in
future —s; in —s to come) 14. (misc.) once a —; —
in, — out; the first time in (esp. AE), for (BE) a —;
she is five ~s old; light ~s away; for ~s to come;
up to last ~; children of tender ~s; she had three
~s of college
yearn v. 1. (d; intr.) to-for (to-for freedom) 2.
(E) she —s to return home
yearning n. 1. to express; feel a —for 2. a strong —
3. a — for 4. a — to + inf. (she has a — to visit the
village where she was born)
yeast n. brewer's —
yell I n. 1. to give, let out a-2. a bloodcurdling;
rebel -
yell II v. l.(B)she~edsmt.tothem2. (D;intr.)
to - with (to - with fear) 3. (L; to) he ~ed (to us)
that the house was on fire 4. (N; refl.; used with an
adjective) he ~ed himself hoarse
yellow n. bright; pale —
yellow fever n. to catch, contract —
yelp I n. to give, let out a -
yelp II v. (D; intr.) to ~ at
yen n. ['desire'] (colloq.) 1. to have a-for 2. a-
to + inf. (she had a — to go bowling)
yield I n. ['earnings'] the current — (of an invest-
investment)
yield II v. 1. (B) I ~ed the right-of-way to the
other driver 2. (D; intr.) to - to (they finally ~ed
to our demands; to — to temptation)
yoga n. to practice —
yoke I n. ['wooden frame'] 1. to put a -on (oxen)
['servitude, bondage'] 2. to cast off, throw off the
— (of bondage) 3. a foreign — 4. under a (foreign)
yoke II v. (D;tr.) to-to (to-oxen to a cart)
young I adj. 1. - at heart 2. - in spirit
young II n. ['offspring of an animal'] 1. to bring
forth — (wild animals bring forth their — in the wil-
wilderness) 2. with ~ ('pregnant')
yours pronoun 1. (at the close of a letter) — faith-
faithfully, sincerely, truly 2. (colloq.) - truly ('I,
myself) USAGE NOTE: At the end of letters,
the following combinations occur-Yours (infor-
(informal); Yours ever (BE; friendly); Yours faithfully
(esp. BE); Yours sincerely; Sincerely yours (AE);
Yours truly (AE); Very truly yours (AE). The for-
formulas marked as 'informal' or 'friendly' are usu.
used in letters beginning with Dear George, Dear
Sally. The others are used in letters beginning
with Dear Mr. /Mrs. Smith.
youth n. 1. gilded — 2. in one's —

zeal
286
zeal п. 1. to demonstrate, display, show ~ 2.
ardent, fervent, great; excessive; religious; righ-
righteous ~ 3. ~ for (to show ~ for one's work) 4. the
— to + inf. (does she have enough ~ to finish the
project?) 5. in one's ~ (in her ~ to impress others,
she made many blunders)
zealot n. a religious —
zealous adj. ~ about, in
zebra n. aherdof-(s)
zenith n. 1. to attain, reach a — 2. at a ~ (at the ~
of their power)
zero n. 1. absolute ~ 2. (misc.) — gravity; — hour;
— population growth
zero in v. (d; intr.) ('to concentrate') to— on (they
all —ed in on me)
zest n. 1. to add-to 2. a-for (a-for life)
zigzag n. to make a ~
zip I (BE), zipper (AE) п. (АЕ) 1. to do up
(BE), zip up a ~ 2. to undo, unzip a — 3. a — gets
stuck
zip II v. (P; intr.) they ~ped past us
zodiac n. the signs of the ~
zone I n. 1. to establish, set up a ~ 2. a climatic;
frigid; temperate; time; torrid — 3. a buffer; com-
combat; communications; danger; demilitarized;
drop; neutral; no-parking; no-passing; occupa-
occupation; postal; safety; school; security; towaway;
war ~ 4. an erogenous ~ (of the body)
zone II v. (d; tr.) to — as (they ~d the area as resi-
residential)
zoning n. exclusionary ~
zoo n. at, in a ~ (she works at the ~; wild animals
are well cared for in our ~)
zoom in v. (d; intr.) to ~ on (the camera ~ed in on
the podium)