COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild) - читать бесплатно онлайн полную версию книги автора Collins (ч. 106)

X , x /e ks/ (X's, x's )

1 N‑VAR X is the twenty-fourth letter of the English alphabet.

2 When writing down the size of something, you can use x in between the measurements to mean 'by'. □ The conservatory measures approximately 13ft x 16ft.

X chro|mo|some (X chromosomes ) N‑COUNT An X chromosome is one of an identical pair of chromosomes found in a woman's cells, or one of a non-identical pair found in a man's cells. X chromosomes are associated with female characteristics. Compare Y chromosome .

xeno|pho|bia /ze nəfoʊ biə/ N‑UNCOUNT Xenophobia is strong and unreasonable dislike or fear of people from other countries. [FORMAL ] WORD HISTORY xenophobia

Xenophobia comes from the Greek words xenos , meaning 'stranger', and phobos , meaning 'fear'.

xeno|pho|bic /ze nəfoʊ b I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as xenophobic , you disapprove of them because they show strong dislike or fear of people from other countries. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Xenophobic nationalism is on the rise. □ Stalin was obsessively xenophobic.

Xer|ox /z I ə rɒks/ (Xeroxes , Xeroxing , Xeroxed )

1 N‑COUNT [usu N n] A Xerox is a machine that can make copies of pieces of paper which have writing or other marks on them. [TRADEMARK ] □ The rooms are crammed with humming Xerox machines.

2 N‑COUNT A Xerox is a copy of something written or printed on a piece of paper, which has been made using a Xerox machine.

3 VERB If you Xerox a document, you make a copy of it using a Xerox machine. □ [V n] I should have simply Xeroxed this sheet for you.

Xmas Xmas is used in informal written English to represent the word Christmas. □ Merry Xmas!

X -ray (X-rays , X-raying , X-rayed ) also x-ray

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] X-rays are a type of radiation that can pass through most solid materials. X-rays are used by doctors to examine the bones or organs inside your body and are also used at airports to see inside people's luggage.

2 N‑COUNT An X-ray is a picture made by sending X-rays through something, usually someone's body. □ She was advised to have an abdominal X-ray.

3 VERB If someone or something is X-rayed , an X-ray picture is taken of them. □ [be V -ed] All hand baggage would be x-rayed. □ [V n] They took my pulse, took my blood pressure, and X-rayed my jaw.

xy|lo|phone /za I ləfoʊn/ (xylophones ) N‑COUNT A xylophone is a musical instrument which consists of a row of wooden bars of different lengths. You play the xylophone by hitting the bars with special hammers.

Y , y /wa I / (Y's, y's )

1 N‑VAR Y is the twenty-fifth letter of the English alphabet.

2 N‑SING A YMCA or YWCA hostel is sometimes referred to as the Y . [AM , INFORMAL ] □ I took him to the Y.

SUFFIX -y

1 forms adjectives that mean that something is like something else. For example, if something looks silky , it looks like silk, although it is not actually silk.

2 also forms adjectives that indicate that something is full of something else or covered in it. For example, if something is dirty , it is covered with dirt.

yacht ◆◇◇ /jɒ t/ (yachts ) N‑COUNT A yacht is a large boat with sails or a motor, used for racing or pleasure trips. □ …a round-the-world yacht race.

yacht|ing /jɒ t I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Yachting is the sport or activity of sailing a yacht. □ …the yachting regatta.

yachts|man /jɒ tsmən/ (yachtsmen ) N‑COUNT A yachtsman is a man who sails a yacht.

yachts|woman /jɒ tswʊmən/ (yachtswomen ) N‑COUNT A yachtswoman is a woman who sails a yacht.

ya|hoo (yahoos ) Pronounced /jɑːhuː / for meaning 1 , and /jɑː huː/ for meaning 2 . 1 EXCLAM People sometimes shout ' yahoo! ' when they are very happy or excited about something.

2 N‑COUNT Some people refer to young rich people as yahoos when they disapprove of them because they behave in a noisy, extravagant, and unpleasant way. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

yak /jæ k/ (yaks or yak ) N‑COUNT A yak is a type of cattle that has long hair and long horns. Yaks live mainly in the Himalayan mountains.

yam /jæ m/ (yams )

1 N‑VAR A yam is a root vegetable which is like a potato, and grows in tropical regions.

2 N‑VAR Yams are the same as sweet potatoes . [AM ]

yank /jæ ŋk/ (yanks , yanking , yanked ) VERB If you yank someone or something somewhere, you pull them there suddenly and with a lot of force. □ [V n with adj] She yanked open the drawer. □ [V n] A quick-thinking ticket inspector yanked an emergency cord. [Also V + at ] ● N‑COUNT Yank is also a noun. □ Grabbing his ponytail, Shirley gave it a yank.

Yank (Yanks ) N‑COUNT Some people refer to people from the United States of America as Yanks . This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL ]

Yan|kee /jæ ŋki/ (Yankees )

1 N‑COUNT A Yankee is a person from a northern or north-eastern state of the United States. [mainly AM ]

2 N‑COUNT Some speakers of British English refer to anyone from the United States as a Yankee . This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL ]

yap /jæ p/ (yaps , yapping , yapped ) VERB If a small dog yaps , it makes short loud sounds in an excited way. □ [V ] The little dog yapped frantically.

yard ◆◆◇ /jɑː ^r d/ (yards )

1 N‑COUNT [num N ] A yard is a unit of length equal to thirty-six inches or approximately 91.4 centimetres. □ [+ from ] The incident took place about 500 yards from where he was standing. □ …a long narrow strip of linen two or three yards long. □ [+ of ] …a yard of silk.

2 N‑COUNT A yard is a flat area of concrete or stone that is next to a building and often has a wall around it. □ I saw him standing in the yard.

3 N‑COUNT You can refer to a large open area where a particular type of work is done as a yard . □ …a railway yard. □ …a ship repair yard.

4 N‑COUNT A yard is a piece of land next to someone's house, with grass and plants growing in it. [AM ] □ He dug a hole in our yard on Edgerton Avenue to plant a maple tree when I was born. in BRIT, use garden

Yar|die /jɑː ^r di/ (Yardies ) N‑COUNT A Yardie is a member of a secret criminal organization, based in Jamaica, which is especially associated with drug dealing. [BRIT ]

ya rd sale (yard sales ) N‑COUNT A yard sale is a sale where people sell things they no longer want from a table outside their house. [AM ]

yard|stick /jɑː ^r dst I k/ (yardsticks ) N‑COUNT If you use someone or something as a yardstick , you use them as a standard for comparison when you are judging other people or things. □ There has been no yardstick by which potential students can assess schools.

yarn /jɑː ^r n/ (yarns )

1 N‑VAR Yarn is thread used for knitting or making cloth. □ She still spins the yarn and knits sweaters for her family. □ …vegetable-dyed yarns.

2 N‑COUNT A yarn is a story that someone tells, often a true story with invented details which make it more interesting. □ Doug has a yarn or two to tell me about his trips into the bush.

yaw /jɔː / (yaws , yawing , yawed ) VERB If an aircraft or a ship yaws , it turns to one side so that it changes the direction in which it is moving. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V ] As the plane climbed to 370 feet, it started yawing. □ [V prep/adv] He spun the steering-wheel so that we yawed from side to side.

yawn /jɔː n/ (yawns , yawning , yawned )

1 VERB If you yawn , you open your mouth very wide and breathe in more air than usual, often when you are tired or when you are not interested in something. □ [V ] She yawned, and stretched lazily. ● N‑COUNT Yawn is also a noun. □ Rosanna stifled a huge yawn.

2 N‑SING If you describe something such as a book or a film as a yawn , you think it is very boring. [INFORMAL ] □ The debate was a mockery. A big yawn. □ The concert was a predictable yawn.

3 VERB A gap or an opening that yawns is large and wide, and often frightening. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] The gulf between them yawned wider than ever.

Y chro|mo|some (Y chromosomes ) N‑COUNT A Y chromosome is the chromosome in a man's cells which will produce a male baby if it joins with a female's X chromosome. Y chromosomes are associated with male characteristics. Compare X chromosome .

yd (yds ) also yd. yd is a written abbreviation for yard . □ The entrance is on the left 200 yds further on up the road.

ye /jiː/

1 PRON Ye is an old-fashioned, poetic, or religious word for you when you are talking to more than one person. □ Abandon hope all ye who enter here.

2 DET Ye is sometimes used in imitation of an old written form of the word 'the'. □ …Ye Olde Tea Shoppe.

yea /je I /

1 CONVENTION Yea is an old-fashioned, poetic, or religious word for 'yes'.

2 CONVENTION Yea is sometimes used to mean 'yes' when people are talking about voting for or agreeing to do something. □ The House of Commons can merely say yea or nay to the executive judgment.

yeah ◆◆◆ /jeə /

1 CONVENTION Yeah means yes. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ 'Bring us something to drink.'—'Yeah, yeah.'

2 → see also yes

year ◆◆◆ /j I ə ^r / (years )

1 N‑COUNT A year is a period of twelve months or 365 or 366 days, beginning on the first of January and ending on the thirty-first of December. □ The year was 1840. □ We had an election last year. □ …the number of people on the planet by the year 2050.

2 → see also leap year

3 N‑COUNT A year is any period of twelve months. □ The museums attract more than two and a half million visitors a year. □ She's done quite a bit of work this past year. □ The school has been empty for ten years.

4 N‑COUNT Year is used to refer to the age of a person. For example, if someone or something is twenty years old or twenty years of age, they have lived or existed for twenty years. □ He's 58 years old. □ [+ of ] I've been in trouble since I was eleven years of age. □ This column is ten years old today.

5 N‑COUNT A school year or academic year is the period of time in each twelve months when schools or universities are open and students are studying there. In Britain and the United States, the school year starts in September. □ …the 1990/91 academic year. □ [+ at ] The twins didn't have to repeat their second year at school.

6 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone who is, for example, in their first year at school or university as a first year . [BRIT ] □ The first years and second years got a choice of French, German and Spanish.

7 N‑COUNT A financial or business year is an exact period of twelve months which businesses or institutions use as a basis for organizing their finances. [BUSINESS ] □ He announced big tax increases for the next two financial years. □ The company admits it will make a loss for the year ending September.

8 N‑PLURAL You can use years to emphasize that you are referring to a long time. [EMPHASIS ] □ I haven't laughed so much in years. □ It took me years to fully recover.

9 → see also calendar year , fiscal year

10 PHRASE If something happens year after year , it happens regularly every year. □ Regulars return year after year.

11 PHRASE If something changes year by year , it changes gradually each year. □ This problem has increased year by year. □ The department has been shrinking year by year because of budget cuts.

12 PHRASE If you say something happens all year round or all the year round , it happens continually throughout the year. □ Town gardens are ideal because they produce flowers nearly all year round. □ Drinking and driving is a problem all the year round.

13 donkey's years → see donkey USAGE year

When you use year to talk about age, you must use old after it. Don’t say, for example, ‘ ~~She is now seventy-four years~~ ’. Say ‘She is now seventy-four years old ’.

year|book /j I ə ^r bʊk/ (yearbooks ) N‑COUNT A yearbook is a book that is published once a year and that contains information about the events and achievements of the previous year, usually concerning a particular place or organization. □ [+ for ] …an American college yearbook for 1955.

yea r-lo ng ADJ [ADJ n] Year-long is used to describe something that lasts for a year. □ The miners ended their year-long strike in March 1985.

year|ly /j I ə ^r li/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] A yearly event happens once a year or every year. □ The seven major industrial countries will have their yearly meeting in London. ● ADV [ADV after v] Yearly is also an adverb. □ Clients normally pay fees in advance, monthly, quarterly, or yearly.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use yearly to describe something such as an amount that relates to a period of one year. □ In Holland, the government sets a yearly budget for health care. ● ADV [ADV after v] Yearly is also an adverb. □ The school paid $1,300 yearly for the use of our facilities.

yearn /jɜː ^r n/ (yearns , yearning , yearned ) VERB If someone yearns for something that they are unlikely to get, they want it very much. □ [V + for ] He yearned for freedom. □ [V to-inf] I yearned to be a movie actor.

yearn|ing /jɜː ^r n I ŋ/ (yearnings ) N‑VAR [N to-inf] A yearning for something is a very strong desire for it. □ [+ for ] He spoke of his yearning for another child. □ He always had a yearning to be a schoolteacher.

-year-old /-j I ər-oʊld/ (-year-olds ) COMB [ADJ n] -year-old combines with numbers to describe the age of people or things. □ She has a six-year-old daughter. □ …their 200-year-old farmhouse in Ohio. ● COMB -year-old also combines to form nouns. □ Snow Puppies is a ski school for 3 to 6-year-olds.

yea r-rou nd ADJ [ADJ n] Year-round is used to describe something that happens, exists, or is done throughout the year. □ Cuba has a tropical climate with year-round sunshine. ● ADV Year-round is also an adverb. □ They work 7 days a week year-round.

yeast /jiː st/ (yeasts ) N‑VAR Yeast is a kind of fungus which is used to make bread rise, and in making alcoholic drinks such as beer.

yea st e x|tract (yeast extracts ) N‑VAR Yeast extract is a brown sticky food that is obtained from yeast. It can be used in cooking or spread on bread.

yeasty /jiː sti/ ADJ Something that is yeasty tastes or smells strongly of yeast.

yell /je l/ (yells , yelling , yelled )

1 VERB If you yell , you shout loudly, usually because you are excited, angry, or in pain. □ [V with quote] 'Eva!' he yelled. □ [V + at ] I'm sorry I yelled at you last night. □ [V n] Christian pushed him away, yelling abuse. ● PHRASAL VERB Yell out means the same as yell . □ [V P ] 'Are you coming or not?' they yelled out after him.

2 N‑COUNT A yell is a loud shout given by someone who is afraid or in pain. □ Something brushed past Bob's face and he let out a yell.

▸ yell out → see yell 1

yel|low ◆◆◆ /je loʊ/ (yellows , yellowing , yellowed )

1 COLOUR Something that is yellow is the colour of lemons, butter, or the middle part of an egg. □ The walls have been painted bright yellow.

2 VERB If something yellows , it becomes yellow in colour, often because it is old. □ [V ] The flesh of his cheeks seemed to have yellowed. □ [V -ing] She sat scanning the yellowing pages.

ye l|low ^card (yellow cards ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] In football or rugby, if a player is shown the yellow card , the referee holds up a yellow card to indicate that the player has broken the rules, and that if they do so again, they will be ordered to leave the pitch.

ye l|low fe |ver N‑UNCOUNT Yellow fever is a serious infectious disease that people can catch in tropical countries.

yel|low|ish /je loʊ I ʃ/ ADJ Something that is yellowish is slightly yellow in colour. □ …a small yellowish cauliflower.

ye l|low li ne (yellow lines ) N‑COUNT A yellow line is a narrow yellow line painted at the edge of a road to warn drivers that parking is not allowed there, or is only allowed at certain times.

Ye l|low Pa ges N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Yellow Pages is a book that contains advertisements and telephone numbers for businesses and organizations in a particular area, grouped according to the type of business they do. Compare White Pages . [TRADEMARK ]

yel|lowy /je loʊi/ ADJ Something that is yellowy is slightly yellow in colour. ● ADJ Yellowy is also a combining form. □ …black ink, fading now to a yellowy brown.

yelp /je lp/ (yelps , yelping , yelped ) VERB If a person or dog yelps , they give a sudden short cry, often because of fear or pain. □ [V ] Her dog yelped and came to heel. ● N‑COUNT Yelp is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I had to bite back a yelp of surprise.

Yem|eni /je m I ni/ (Yemenis )

1 ADJ Yemeni means belonging or relating to the Yemen, or to its people or culture.

2 N‑COUNT A Yemeni is a Yemeni citizen, or a person of Yemeni origin.

yen /je n/ (yen )

1 N‑COUNT The yen is the unit of currency that is used in Japan. □ She's got a part-time job for which she earns 2,000 yen a month. ● N‑SING The yen is also used to refer to the Japanese currency system. □ …sterling's devaluation against the dollar and the yen.

2 N‑SING [N to-inf] If you have a yen to do something, you have a strong desire to do it. □ [+ for ] Mike had a yen to try cycling.

yeo|man /joʊ mən/ (yeomen ) N‑COUNT In former times, a yeoman was a man who was free and not a servant, and who owned and worked on his own land.

yep /je p/ CONVENTION Yep means yes. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ 'Did you like it?'—'Yep.'

yer /jɜː ^r /

1 Yer is used in written English to represent the word 'your' when it is pronounced informally. [BRIT ] □ Mister, can we 'elp to carry yer stuff in?

2 Yer is used in written English to represent the word 'you' when it is pronounced informally. [BRIT ] □ I bloody told yer it would sell.

yes ◆◆◆ /je s/ In informal English, yes is often pronounced in a casual way that is usually written as yeah . 1 CONVENTION You use yes to give a positive response to a question. □ 'Are you a friend of Nick's?'—'Yes.' □ 'You actually wrote it down, didn't you?'—'Yes.' □ Will she say yes when I ask her out?

2 CONVENTION You use yes to accept an offer or request, or to give permission. □ 'More coffee?'—'Yes please.' □ 'Will you take me there?'—'Yes, I will.' □ 'Can I ask you something?'—'Yes, of course.'

3 CONVENTION You use yes to tell someone that what they have said is correct. □ 'Well I suppose it is based on the old lunar months isn't it.'—'Yes that's right.' □ 'That's a type of whitefly, is it?'—'Yes, it is a whitefly.'

4 CONVENTION You use yes to show that you are ready or willing to speak to the person who wants to speak to you, for example when you are answering a phone or a knock at your door. □ He pushed a button on the intercom. 'Yes?' came a voice. □ Yes, can I help you?

5 CONVENTION You use yes to indicate that you agree with, accept, or understand what the previous speaker has said. □ 'Not everyone has the gift of a husband like Paul.'—'Oh yes.' □ 'It's a fabulous opportunity.'—'Yeah. I know.'

6 CONVENTION You use yes to encourage someone to continue speaking. □ 'I remembered something funny today.'—'Yeah?'

7 CONVENTION You use yes , usually followed by 'but', as a polite way of introducing what you want to say when you disagree with something the previous speaker has just said. [POLITENESS ] □ 'She is entitled to three thousand pounds of income.'—'Yes, but she doesn't earn any money.'

8 CONVENTION You use yes to say that a negative statement or question that the previous speaker has made is wrong or untrue. □ 'That is not possible,' she said. 'Oh, yes, it is!' Mrs Gruen insisted. □ 'I don't know what you're talking about.'—'Yes, you do.'

9 CONVENTION You can use yes to suggest that you do not believe or agree with what the previous speaker has said, especially when you want to express your annoyance about it. [FEELINGS ] □ 'There was no way to stop it.'—'Oh yes? Well, here's something else you won't be able to stop.'

10 CONVENTION You use yes to indicate that you had forgotten something and have just remembered it. □ What was I going to say. Oh yeah, we've finally got our second computer.

11 CONVENTION You use yes to emphasize and confirm a statement that you are making. [EMPHASIS ] □ He collected the £10,000 first prize. Yes, £10,000.

12 CONVENTION You say yes and no in reply to a question when you cannot give a definite answer, because in some ways the answer is yes and in other ways the answer is no. [VAGUENESS ] □ 'Was it strange for you, going back after such a long absence?'—'Yes and no.' USAGE yes

1 Don't say 'yes' if you want to agree with a negative question. For example, if someone says ‘Aren’t you going out this evening?’, say ‘No , I'm not’. Don’t say ‘ ~~Yes, I'm not~~ ’. □ ‘Didn’t you get a dictionary from him?’ – ‘Yes , I did.’

2 Similarly, don't say 'yes' if you want to agree with a negative statement. For example, if someone says ‘He doesn’t want to come’, say ‘No , he doesn't’. Don’t say ‘ ~~Yes, he doesn't~~ ’. □ ‘That isn’t true.’ – ‘Oh yes , it is.’

ye s-man (yes-men ) N‑COUNT If you describe a man as a yes-man , you dislike the fact that he seems always to agree with people who have authority over him, in order to gain favour. [DISAPPROVAL ]

yes|ter|day ◆◆◆ /je stə^r de I , -di/ (yesterdays )

1 ADV You use yesterday to refer to the day before today. □ She left yesterday. □ Yesterday she announced that she is quitting her job. ● N‑UNCOUNT Yesterday is also a noun. □ In yesterday's games, we beat our opponents two-one.

2 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the past, especially the recent past, as yesterday . □ The worker of today is different from the worker of yesterday.

yes|ter|year /je stə^r j I ə^r / N‑UNCOUNT You use yesteryear to refer to the past, often a period in the past with a set of values or a way of life that no longer exists. [LITERARY ] □ The modern-day sex symbol has now taken the place of the old-fashioned hero of yesteryear.

yet ◆◆◆ /je t/

1 ADV [ADV with v] You use yet in negative statements to indicate that something has not happened up to the present time, although it probably will happen. You can also use yet in questions to ask if something has happened up to the present time. In British English the simple past tense is not normally used with this meaning of 'yet'. □ They haven't finished yet. □ No decision has yet been made. □ She hasn't yet set a date for her retirement. □ 'Has the murderer been caught?'—'Not yet.' □ Have you met my husband yet? □ Hammer-throwing for women is not yet a major event.

2 ADV [ADV with v] You use yet with a negative statement when you are talking about the past, to report something that was not the case then, although it became the case later. □ There was so much that Sam didn't know yet. □ He had asked around and learned that Billy was not yet here.

3 ADV [ADV with v] If you say that something should not or cannot be done yet , you mean that it should not or cannot be done now, although it will have to be done at a later time. □ Don't get up yet. □ The hostages cannot go home just yet. □ We should not yet abandon this option for the disposal of highly radioactive waste.

4 ADV [n ADV ] You use yet after a superlative to indicate, for example, that something is the worst or the best of its kind up to the present time. □ This is the BBC's worst idea yet. □ Her latest novel is her best yet. □ …one of the toughest warnings yet delivered.

5 ADV [ADV before v] You can use yet to say that there is still a possibility that something will happen. □ A negotiated settlement might yet be possible.

6 ADV [n ADV ] You can use yet after expressions which refer to a period of time, when you want to say how much longer a situation will continue for. □ Unemployment will go on rising for some time yet. □ Nothing will happen for a few years yet. □ They'll be ages yet.

7 ADV [ADV to-inf] If you say that you have yet to do something, you mean that you have never done it, especially when this is surprising or bad. □ She has yet to spend a Christmas with her partner. □ He has been nominated three times for the Oscar but has yet to win.

8 CONJ You can use yet to introduce a fact which is rather surprising after the previous fact you have just mentioned. □ I don't eat much, yet I am a size 16. □ It is completely waterproof, yet light and comfortable.

9 ADV You can use yet to emphasize a word, especially when you are saying that something is surprising because it is more extreme than previous things of its kind, or a further case of them. [EMPHASIS ] □ I saw yet another doctor. □ They would criticize me, or worse yet, pay me no attention. □ We will not have anything to eat yet again.

10 PHRASE You use as yet with negative statements to describe a situation that has existed up until the present time. [FORMAL ] □ As yet it is not known whether the crash was the result of an accident.

yew /juː / (yews ) N‑VAR A yew or a yew tree is an evergreen tree. It has sharp leaves which are broad and flat, and red berries. ● N‑UNCOUNT Yew is the wood of this tree.

Y -fronts N‑PLURAL Y-fronts are men's or boys' underwear with an opening at the front. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ]

Yid|dish /j I d I ʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT Yiddish is a language which comes mainly from German and is spoken by many Jewish people of European origin.

yield ◆◇◇ /j I ə ld/ (yields , yielding , yielded )

1 VERB If you yield to someone or something, you stop resisting them. [FORMAL ] □ [V + to ] Will she yield to growing pressure for her to retire? □ [V ] Men of courage faced down injustice and refused to yield.

2 VERB If you yield something that you have control of or responsibility for, you allow someone else to have control or responsibility for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] He may yield control.

3 VERB If a moving person or a vehicle yields , they slow down or stop in order to allow other people or vehicles to pass in front of them. [AM ] □ [V + to ] When entering a trail or starting a descent, yield to other skiers. □ [V ] …examples of common signs like No Smoking or Yield. in BRIT, usually use give way 4 VERB If something yields , it breaks or moves position because force or pressure has been put on it. □ [V ] The door yielded easily when he pushed it.

5 VERB If an area of land yields a particular amount of a crop, this is the amount that is produced. You can also say that a number of animals yield a particular amount of meat. □ [V n] Last year 400,000 acres of land yielded a crop worth $1.75 billion.

6 N‑COUNT A yield is the amount of food produced on an area of land or by a number of animals. □ Polluted water lessens crop yields.

7 VERB If a tax or investment yields an amount of money or profit, this money or profit is obtained from it. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] It yielded a profit of at least $36 million.

8 N‑COUNT A yield is the amount of money or profit produced by an investment. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ on ] The high yields available on the dividend shares made them attractive to private investors. □ [+ on ] …the yield on a bank's investments.

9 VERB If something yields a result or piece of information, it produces it. □ [V n] This research has yielded a great number of positive results. COLLOCATIONS yield NOUN

noun + yield : crop, grain, milk

adjective + yield : good, poor

verb + yield : boost, increase, produce

noun + yield : bond, dividend, gilt

adjective + yield : attractive, high, low; average, gross, net, prospective SYNONYMS yield VERB

give in: Officials say they won't give in to the workers' demands.

submit: If I submitted to their demands, they would not press the allegations.

surrender: General Martin Bonnet called on the rebels to surrender.

succumb: Don't succumb to the temptation.

relinquish: He does not intend to relinquish power.

hand over: They handed over their financial affairs to another body.

surrender: Nadja had to surrender all rights to her property.

cede: The General had promised to cede power by January.

yield|ing /j I ə ld I ŋ/ ADJ A yielding surface or object is quite soft and will move or bend rather than staying stiff if you put pressure on it. □ …the yielding ground. □ …the soft yielding cushions.

yip /j I p/ (yips , yipping , yipped ) VERB If a dog or other animal yips , it gives a sudden short cry, often because of fear or pain. [mainly AM ] □ [V ] Far up the west rim of the canyon, a coyote yipped twice. ● N‑COUNT Yip is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …a yip of pain.

yip|pee /j I piː / EXCLAM People sometimes shout yippee when they are very pleased or excited.

YMCA /wa I em siː e I / (YMCAs ) N‑COUNT The YMCA is a place where men can stay cheaply, which is run by the YMCA organization. YMCA is an abbreviation for 'Young Men's Christian Association'.

yo /joʊ / CONVENTION People sometimes say ' yo ' to greet other people or to get their attention. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ Yo, Carl, great outfit man!

yob /jɒ b/ (yobs ) N‑COUNT If you call a boy or a man a yob , you disapprove of him because he behaves in a noisy, rude, and perhaps violent way in public. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Violent and dangerous yobs deserve to be locked up.

yob|bish /jɒ b I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe a boy or a man as yobbish , you disapprove of him because he behaves in a noisy, rude, and perhaps violent way in public. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …yobbish football supporters.

yob|bo /jɒ boʊ/ (yobbos ) N‑COUNT A yobbo is the same as a yob . [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

yo|del /joʊ d^ə l/ (yodels , yodelling , yodelled ) in AM, use yodeling , yodeled VERB When someone yodels , they sing normal notes with very high quick notes in between. □ [V ] You haven't lived till you've learned how to yodel at a tea dance in a mountain hut! ● yo|del|ling N‑UNCOUNT □ Switzerland isn't all cow bells and yodelling, you know.

yoga /joʊ gə/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to become more fit or flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Yoga is a philosophy which first developed in India, in which physical exercises and meditation are believed to help people to become calmer and united in spirit with God.

yo|ghurt /jɒ gə^r t, [AM ] joʊ -/ → see yogurt

yogi /joʊ gi/ (yogis ) N‑COUNT A yogi is a person who has spent many years practising the philosophy of yoga, and is considered to have reached an advanced spiritual state.

yo|gurt /jɒ gə^r t, [AM ] joʊ -/ (yogurts ) also yoghurt N‑VAR Yogurt is a food in the form of a thick, slightly sour liquid that is made by adding bacteria to milk. A yogurt is a small pot of yogurt.

yoke /joʊ k/ (yokes , yoking , yoked )

1 N‑SING [adj N ] If you say that people are under the yoke of a bad thing or person, you mean they are forced to live in a difficult or unhappy state because of that thing or person. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] People are still suffering under the yoke of slavery.

2 N‑COUNT A yoke is a long piece of wood which is tied across the necks of two animals such as oxen, in order to make them walk close together when they are pulling a plough.

3 VERB If two or more people or things are yoked together , they are forced to be closely linked with each other. □ [V n together ] The introduction attempts to yoke the pieces together. □ [V n + to/into ] They want their own currency instead of being yoked into someone else's monetary system. □ [be V -ed] Farmers and politicians are yoked by money and votes.

yo|kel /joʊ k^ə l/ (yokels ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a yokel , you think they are uneducated and stupid because they come from the countryside. [DISAPPROVAL ]

yolk /joʊ k/ (yolks ) N‑VAR The yolk of an egg is the yellow part in the middle. □ Only the yolk contains cholesterol. □ …buttered toast dipped in egg yolk.

YOLO /joʊ loʊ/ YOLO is the written and sometimes spoken abbreviation for 'you only live once', used to say that people should do exciting things and enjoy life. [INFORMAL ]

Yom Kip|pur /jɒ m k I pʊə ^r / N‑UNCOUNT Yom Kippur is the religious holiday when Jewish people do not eat, but say prayers asking to be forgiven for the things they have done wrong. It is in September or October.

yon /jɒ n/

1 DET Yon is an old-fashioned or dialect word for 'that' or 'those'. □ Don't let yon dog nod off.

2 hither and yon → see hither

yon|der /jɒ ndə^r / ADV [ADV with v] Yonder is an old-fashioned or dialect word for 'over there'. □ Now look yonder, just beyond the wooden post there.

yonks /jɒ ŋks/ N‑PLURAL Yonks means a very long time. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …the most wonderful club I've been to for yonks.

yore /jɔː ^r / PHRASE Of yore is used to refer to a period of time in the past. [JOURNALISM , LITERARY ] □ The images provoked strong surges of nostalgia for the days of yore.

York|shire pud|ding /jɔː ^r kʃə^r pʊ d I ŋ/ (Yorkshire puddings ) N‑VAR Yorkshire pudding is a British food which is made by baking a thick liquid mixture of flour, milk, and eggs. It is often eaten with roast beef.

you ◆◆◆ /juː/ You is the second person pronoun. You can refer to one or more people and is used as the subject of a verb or the object of a verb or preposition. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses you to refer to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. It is possible to use you before a noun to make it clear which group of people you are talking to. □ When I saw you across the room I knew I'd met you before. □ You two seem very different to me. □ I could always talk to you about anything in the world. □ What is alternative health care? What can it do for you? □ What you kids need is more exercise.

2 PRON In spoken English and informal written English, you is sometimes used to refer to people in general. □ Getting good results gives you confidence. □ In those days you did what you were told.

you'd /juːd/

1 You'd is the usual spoken form of 'you had', especially when 'had' is an auxiliary verb. □ I think you'd better tell us why you're asking these questions.

2 You'd is the usual spoken form of 'you would'. □ With your hair and your beautiful skin, you'd look good in red and other bright colors.

you'll /juːl/ You'll is the usual spoken form of 'you will'. □ Promise me you'll take very special care of yourself. □ I think you'll find everything you need here.

young ◆◆◆ /jʌ ŋ/ (younger /jʌ ŋgə^r /, youngest /jʌ ŋgəst/)

1 ADJ A young person, animal, or plant has not lived or existed for very long and is not yet mature. □ In Scotland, young people can marry at 16. □ …a field of young barley. □ He played with his younger brother. ● N‑PLURAL The young are people who are young. □ The association is advising pregnant women, the very young and the elderly to avoid such foods.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use young to describe a time when a person or thing was young. □ In her younger days my mother had been a successful fashionwear saleswoman.

3 ADJ Someone who is young in appearance or behaviour looks or behaves as if they are young. □ [+ for ] I was twenty-three, I suppose, and young for my age.

4 N‑PLURAL The young of an animal are its babies. □ The hen may not be able to feed its young.

you ng gu n (young guns ) N‑COUNT [oft plural] You can use young guns to talk about people, especially young men, who have lots of energy and talent, and are becoming very successful. [JOURNALISM ] □ He may have been eclipsed by the young guns, but his films are still very popular.

young|ish /jʌ ŋ I ʃ/ ADJ A youngish person is fairly young. □ …a smart, dark-haired, youngish man.

young|ster ◆◇◇ /jʌ ŋstə^r / (youngsters ) N‑COUNT Young people, especially children, are sometimes referred to as youngsters . □ Other youngsters are not so lucky. □ I was only a youngster in 1935. SYNONYMS youngster NOUN

adolescent: Young adolescents are happiest with small groups of close friends.

youth: …gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops.

teenager: As a teenager he attended Tulse Hill Senior High School.

juvenile: The number of juveniles in the general population has fallen.

your ◆◆◆ /jɔː^r , jʊə^r / Your is the second person possessive determiner. Your can refer to one or more people. 1 DET A speaker or writer uses your to indicate that something belongs or relates to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. □ Emma, I trust your opinion a great deal. □ I left all of your messages on your desk. □ If you are unable to obtain the information you require, consult your telephone directory.

2 DET In spoken English and informal written English, your is sometimes used to indicate that something belongs to or relates to people in general. □ Pain-killers are very useful in small amounts to bring your temperature down. □ I then realized how possible it was to overcome your limitations.

3 DET In spoken English, a speaker sometimes uses your before an adjective such as 'typical' or 'normal' to indicate that the thing referred to is a typical example of its type. □ Stan Reilly is not really one of your typical Brighton Boys.

you're /jɔː^r , jʊə^r / You're is the usual spoken form of 'you are'. □ Go to him, tell him you're sorry. □ I think you're expecting too much of me.

yours ◆◇◇ /jɔ ː^r z, jʊə ^r z/ Yours is the second person possessive pronoun. Yours can refer to one or more people. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses yours to refer to something that belongs or relates to the person or people that they are talking or writing to. □ I'll take my coat upstairs. Shall I take yours, Roberta? □ I believe Paul was a friend of yours. □ If yours is a high-stress job, it is important that you learn how to cope.

2 CONVENTION People write yours , yours sincerely , or yours faithfully at the end of a letter before they sign their name. □ With best regards, Yours, George. □ Yours faithfully, Michael Moore, London Business School.

3 yours truly → see truly

your|self ◆◆◇ /jɔː^r se lf, jʊə^r -/ (yourselves ) Yourself is the second person reflexive pronoun. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses yourself to refer to the person that they are talking or writing to. Yourself is used when the object of a verb or preposition refers to the same person as the subject of the verb. □ Have the courage to be honest with yourself and about yourself. □ Your baby depends on you to look after yourself properly while you are pregnant. □ Treat yourselves to a massage to help you relax at the end of the day.

2 PRON You use yourself to emphasize the person that you are referring to. [EMPHASIS ] □ They mean to share the business between them, after you yourself are gone, Sir. □ I've been wondering if you yourselves have any idea why she came.

3 PRON You use yourself instead of 'you' for emphasis or in order to be more polite when 'you' is the object of a verb or preposition. [POLITENESS ] □ A wealthy man like yourself is bound to make an enemy or two along the way.

4 by yourself → see by

youth ◆◆◇ /juː θ/ (youths /juː ðz/)

1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's youth is the period of their life during which they are a child, before they are a fully mature adult. □ In my youth my ambition had been to be an inventor. □ …the comic books of my youth.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Youth is the quality or state of being young. □ Gregory was still enchanted with Shannon's youth and joy and beauty. □ The team is now a good mixture of experience and youth.

3 N‑COUNT Journalists often refer to young men as youths , especially when they are reporting that the young men have caused trouble. □ …gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops.

4 N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] The youth are young people considered as a group. □ [+ of ] He represents the opinions of the youth of today.

you th club (youth clubs ) N‑COUNT A youth club is a club where young people can go to meet each other and take part in various leisure activities. Youth clubs are often run by a church or local authority. □ …the youth club disco.

youth|ful /juː θfʊl/ ADJ Someone who is youthful behaves as if they are young or younger than they really are. □ I'm a very youthful 50. □ …youthful enthusiasm and high spirits.

you th hos|tel (youth hostels ) N‑COUNT A youth hostel is a place where people can stay cheaply when they are travelling.

you th work|er (youth workers ) N‑COUNT A youth worker is a person whose job involves providing support and social activities for young people, especially young people from poor backgrounds. [mainly BRIT ]

you've /juːv/ You've is the usual spoken form of 'you have', especially when 'have' is an auxiliary verb. □ Now you've got your degree, what will you do? □ Many of the fruits you've tasted on your holidays can be found in supermarkets.

yowl /jaʊ l/ (yowls , yowling , yowled ) VERB If a person or an animal yowls , they make a long loud cry, especially because they are sad or in pain. □ [V ] The dog began to yowl. ● N‑COUNT Yowl is also a noun. □ Patsy could hardly be heard above the baby's yowls. ● yowl|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ I couldn't stand that yowling.

yo-yo /joʊ joʊ/ (yo-yos ) N‑COUNT A yo-yo is a toy made of a round piece of wood or plastic attached to a piece of string. You play with the yo-yo by letting it rise and fall on the string.

yr (yrs ) also yr. yr is a written abbreviation for year . □ Their imaginations are quite something for 2 yr olds.

yuan /juːæ n, [AM ] -ɑː n/ (yuan ) N‑COUNT [num N ] The yuan is the unit of money that is used in the People's Republic of China. □ For most events, tickets cost one, two or three yuan. ● N‑SING The yuan is also used to refer to the Chinese currency system. □ The yuan recovered a little; it now hovers around 8.2 to the dollar.

Yu|go|slav /juː gəslɑːv/ (Yugoslavs ) ADJ Yugoslav means belonging or relating to the former Yugoslavia, or to its people or culture. ● N‑COUNT A Yugoslav was a Yugoslav citizen, or a person of Yugoslav origin.

Yu|go|sla|vian /juː gəslɑː viən/ ADJ Yugoslavian means the same as Yugoslav .

yuk /jʌ k/ EXCLAM Some people say ' yuk ' when they think something is very unpleasant or disgusting. [INFORMAL ] □ 'It's lamb stew and cabbage,' said Malone. 'Yuk,' said Maureen.

Yule /juː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Yule is an old-fashioned word for Christmas .

Yule|tide /juː lta I d/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Yuletide is the period of several days around and including Christmas Day. □ …ideas for Yuletide food, drink and decorations.

yum /jʌ m/ EXCLAM People sometimes say ' yum ' or ' yum yum ' to show that they think something tastes or smells very good. [INFORMAL ]

yum|my /jʌ mi/ ADJ Yummy food tastes very good. [INFORMAL ] □ I'll bet they have yummy ice cream. □ It smells yummy.

yup|pie /jʌ pi/ (yuppies ) N‑COUNT A yuppie is a young person who has a well-paid job and likes to show that they have a lot of money by buying expensive things and living in an expensive way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The Porsche 911 reminds me of the worst parts of the yuppie era.

YWCA /wa I dʌb^ə ljuː siː e I / (YWCAs ) N‑COUNT The YWCA is a place where women can stay cheaply, which is run by the YWCA organization. YWCA is an abbreviation for 'Young Women's Christian Association'.

Z , z /ze d, [AM ] ziː / (Z's, z's ) N‑VAR Z is the twenty-sixth and last letter of the English alphabet.

zany /ze I ni/ (zanier , zaniest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Zany humour or a zany person is strange or eccentric in an amusing way. [INFORMAL ] □ …the zany humour of the Marx Brothers.

zap /zæ p/ (zaps , zapping , zapped )

1 VERB To zap someone or something means to kill, destroy, or hit them, for example with a gun or in a computer game. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] A guard zapped him with the stun gun.

2 VERB If you zap channels while watching television, you change channels using the remote control. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Men like to zap the TV channels, something that can drive certain women berserk.

3 VERB To zap something such as a computer file or document means to delete it from the computer memory or to clear it from the screen. [COMPUTING , INFORMAL ]

zap|per /zæ pə^r / (zappers ) N‑COUNT A zapper is a small device that you use to control a television, video, or stereo from a distance. [INFORMAL ]

zeal /ziː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Zeal is great enthusiasm, especially in connection with work, religion, or politics. □ [+ for ] …his zeal for teaching. □ Mr Lopez approached his task with a religious zeal.

zeal|ot /ze lət/ (zealots ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a zealot , you think that their views and actions are very extreme, especially in following a particular political or religious belief. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was forceful, but by no means a zealot.

zeal|ous /ze ləs/ ADJ Someone who is zealous spends a lot of time or energy in supporting something that they believe in very strongly, especially a political or religious ideal. □ She was a zealous worker for charitable bodies.

zeb|ra /ze brə, ziː -/ (zebras or zebra ) N‑COUNT A zebra is an African wild horse which has black and white stripes.

ze b|ra cro ss|ing (zebra crossings ) N‑COUNT In Britain, a zebra crossing is a place on the road that is marked with black and white stripes, where vehicles are supposed to stop so that people can walk across.

zeit|geist /za I tga I st/ N‑SING The zeitgeist of a particular place during a particular period in history is the attitudes and ideas that are generally common there at that time, especially the attitudes and ideas shown in literature, philosophy, and politics. □ [+ of ] He has caught the zeitgeist of rural life in the 1980s very well indeed.

Zen /ze n/ N‑UNCOUNT Zen or Zen Buddhism is a form of the Buddhist religion that concentrates on meditation rather than on studying religious writings.

zen|ith /ze n I θ, [AM ] ziː -/ N‑SING [usu with poss] The zenith of something is the time when it is most successful or powerful. □ His career is now at its zenith.

zero ◆◆◆ /z I ə roʊ/ (zeros or zeroes , zeroing , zeroed )

1 NUM Zero is the number 0. □ Visibility at the city's airport came down to zero, bringing air traffic to a standstill. □ …a scale ranging from zero to seven.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Zero is a temperature of 0°. It is freezing point on the Centigrade and Celsius scales, and 32° below freezing point on the Fahrenheit scale. □ It's a sunny late winter day, just a few degrees above zero. □ That night the mercury fell to thirty degrees below zero.

3 ADJ You can use zero to say that there is none at all of the thing mentioned. □ This new ministry was being created with zero assets and zero liabilities.

▸ zero in on

1 PHRASAL VERB To zero in on a target means to aim at it or move towards it. □ [V P P n] He raised the binoculars again and zeroed in on an eleventh-floor room.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you zero in on a problem or subject, you give it your full attention. □ [V P P n] Many of the other major daily newspapers have not really zeroed in on the problem. SYNONYMS zero NOUN 1

nought: Sales rose by nought point four per cent last month.

nothing: Homes in this corner of Mantua that once went for $350,000 are now worth nothing.

nil: They beat Argentina one-nil in the final.

ze ro-emi ssion ADJ [ADJ n] A zero-emission vehicle does not produce any dangerous gases. □ …zero-emission electric cars.

ze ro-ho urs con|tract also ze ro-ho ur con|tract (zero-hours contracts ) N‑COUNT A zero-hours contract is a contract where the employer does not have to provide regular work for the employee, but the employee has to be on call in case they are needed to work. [BUSINESS ]

ze ro-su m game N‑SING If you refer to a situation as a zero-sum game , you mean that if one person gains an advantage from it, someone else involved must suffer an equivalent disadvantage. □ They're playing a zero-sum game, where both must compete for the same resources.

ze ro to l|er|ance N‑UNCOUNT If a government or organization has a policy of zero tolerance of a particular type of behaviour or activity, they will not tolerate it at all. □ [+ for ] They have a policy of zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

zest /ze st/ (zests )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Zest is a feeling of pleasure and enthusiasm. □ [+ for ] He has a zest for life and a quick intellect.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Zest is a quality in an activity or situation which you find exciting. □ Live interviews add zest and a touch of the unexpected to any piece of research.

3 N‑UNCOUNT [n N ] The zest of a lemon, orange, or lime is the outer skin when it is used to give flavour to something such as a cake or a drink. □ [+ of ] Mix the rest of the olive oil with the zest and juice of the lemon.

zig|zag /z I gzæg/ (zigzags , zigzagging , zigzagged ) also zig-zag

1 N‑COUNT A zigzag is a line which has a series of angles in it like a continuous series of 'W's. □ They staggered in a zigzag across the tarmac. □ …a zigzag pattern.

2 VERB If you zigzag , you move forward by going at an angle first to one side then to the other. □ [V prep] I zigzagged down a labyrinth of alleys. □ Expertly he zigzagged his way across the field. [Also V ]

zilch /z I ltʃ/ PRON Zilch means nothing. [INFORMAL ] □ At the moment these shares are worth zilch.

zil|lion /z I ljən/ (zillions ) NUM If you talk about a zillion people or things, you are emphasizing that there is an extremely large number of them. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ It's been a zillion years since I've seen her.

Zim|mer frame /z I mə^r fre I m/ (Zimmer frames ) N‑COUNT A Zimmer frame or a Zimmer is a frame that old or ill people sometimes use to help them walk. [BRIT , TRADEMARK ] in AM, use walker

zinc /z I ŋk/ N‑UNCOUNT Zinc is a bluish-white metal which is used to make other metals such as brass, or to cover other metals such as iron to stop a brown substance called rust from forming.

zine /ziː n/ (zines ) N‑COUNT A zine is a magazine about a particular subject, written by people who are interested in that subject rather than by professional journalists.

zing /z I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If you refer to the zing in someone or something, you mean the quality that makes them lively or interesting. [INFORMAL ] □ He just lacked that extra zing. □ There's nothing like fresh basil to put a zing into a tomato sauce.

zing|er /z I ŋə^r / (zingers ) N‑COUNT A zinger is a witty remark, or something that is lively, interesting, amusing, or impressive. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The panelists are left to compress their inquiries into one good zinger of a question. □ I thought it looked like a zinger.

Zi|on|ism /za I ən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Zionism is a movement which was originally concerned with establishing a political and religious state in Palestine for Jewish people, and is now concerned with the development of Israel.

Zi|on|ist /za I ən I st/ (Zionists )

1 N‑COUNT A Zionist is someone who believes in Zionism. □ He was an ardent Zionist.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Zionist means relating to Zionism. □ …the Zionist movement.

zip /z I p/ (zips , zipping , zipped )

1 N‑COUNT A zip or zip fastener is a device used to open and close parts of clothes and bags. It consists of two rows of metal or plastic teeth which separate or fasten together as you pull a small tag along them. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] He pulled the zip of his leather jacket down slightly. in AM, usually use zipper 2 VERB When you zip something, you fasten it using a zip. □ [V n] She zipped her jeans. □ [V n] I slowly zipped and locked the heavy black nylon bags.

3 VERB To zip a computer file means to compress it so that it needs less space for storage on disk and can be transmitted more quickly. [COMPUTING ] ● PHRASAL VERB Zip up means the same as zip . □ [V P ] These files have been zipped up to take up less disk space. [Also V P n]

▸ zip up

1 PHRASAL VERB If you zip up something such as a piece of clothing or if it zips up , you are able to fasten it using its zip. □ [V P n] He zipped up his jeans. □ [V P ] My jeans wouldn't zip up. [Also V n P ]

2 → see zip 3

zi p code (zip codes ) N‑COUNT Your zip code is a short sequence of letters and numbers at the end of your address, which helps the post office to sort the mail. [AM ] in BRIT, use postcode

zi p disk (zip disks ) N‑COUNT A zip disk is a computer disk, similar to a floppy disk but capable of storing greater amounts of data. [COMPUTING ] □ Zip disks could be used to store the equivalent of three music CDs.

zi p drive (zip drives ) N‑COUNT A zip drive is a piece of computer equipment that you use for storing large amounts of data. [COMPUTING ] □ Zip drives help people to organise their important information.

zi p file (zip files ) N‑COUNT A zip file is a computer file containing data that has been compressed. [COMPUTING ] □ When you download the font it may be in a compressed format, such as a zip file.

zip|per /z I pə^r / (zippers ) N‑COUNT A zipper is a device used to open and close parts of clothes and bags. It consists of two rows of metal or plastic teeth which separate or fasten together as you pull a small tag along them. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use zip

zit /z I t/ (zits ) N‑COUNT Zits are spots on someone's skin, especially a young person's. [INFORMAL ]

zith|er /z I ðə^r / (zithers ) N‑COUNT A zither is a musical instrument which consists of two sets of strings stretched over a flat box. You play the zither by pulling the strings with both hands.

zo|di|ac /zoʊ diæk/ N‑SING The zodiac is a diagram used by astrologers to represent the positions of the planets and stars. It is divided into twelve sections, each of which has its own name and symbol. The zodiac is used to try to calculate the influence of the planets, especially on someone's life. □ …the twelve signs of the zodiac.

zom|bie /zɒ mbi/ (zombies )

1 N‑COUNT You can describe someone as a zombie if their face or behaviour shows no feeling, understanding, or interest in what is going on around them. □ Without sleep you will become a zombie at work.

2 N‑COUNT In horror stories and some religions, a zombie is a dead person who has been brought back to life. WORD HISTORY zombie

Zombie comes from an African word zumbi , meaning 'good-luck charm'.

zone ◆◇◇ /zoʊ n/ (zones , zoning , zoned )

1 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A zone is an area that has particular features or characteristics. □ Many people have stayed behind in the potential war zone. □ The area has been declared a disaster zone. □ …time zones.

2 VERB [usu passive] If an area of land is zoned , it is formally set aside for a particular purpose. □ [be V -ed] The land was not zoned for commercial purposes. ● zon|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …the use of zoning to preserve agricultural land.

▸ zone out PHRASAL VERB If you zone out , you stop being aware of what is happening around you, either because you are relaxed or because you are bored. □ [V P ] When I'm on the train, I put on my headphones and zone out. SYNONYMS zone NOUN 1

area: Local authorities have been responsible for the running of schools in their areas.

region: …Barcelona, capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia.

sector: Officers were going to retake sectors of the city.

district: I drove around the business district.

zonked /zɒ ŋkt/ ADJ If someone is zonked or zonked out , they are not capable of doing anything because they are very tired, drunk, or drugged. [INFORMAL ]

zoo /zuː / (zoos ) N‑COUNT A zoo is a park where live animals are kept so that people can look at them. □ He took his son Christopher to the zoo. □ …the penguin pool at London Zoo.

zo|ol|ogy /zuːɒ lədʒi, zoʊ-/ N‑UNCOUNT Zoology is the scientific study of animals. ● zoo|logi|cal ADJ [ADJ n] □ …zoological specimens. ● zo|olo|gist /zuːɒ lədʒ I st, zoʊ-/ (zoologists ) N‑COUNT □ …a renowned zoologist and writer.

zoom /zuː m/ (zooms , zooming , zoomed )

1 VERB If you zoom somewhere, you go there very quickly. [INFORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] We zoomed through the gallery.

2 VERB If prices or sales zoom , they increase greatly in a very short time. □ [V ] The economy shrank and inflation zoomed.

3 N‑COUNT A zoom is the same as a zoom lens .

▸ zoom in PHRASAL VERB If a camera zooms in on something that is being filmed or photographed, it gives a close-up picture of it. □ [V P + on ] …a tracking system which can follow a burglar round a building and zoom in on his face.

zoo m lens (zoom lenses ) N‑COUNT A zoom lens is a lens that you can attach to a camera, which allows you to make the details larger or smaller while always keeping the picture clear.

zuc|chi|ni /zuːkiː ni/ (zucchini or zucchinis ) N‑VAR Zucchini are long thin vegetables with a dark green skin. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use courgette

Zulu /zuː luː/ (Zulus )

1 N‑COUNT A Zulu is a member of a race of black people who live in Southern Africa.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Zulu is the language spoken by Zulus and also by many other black South Africans.

Zum|ba /zʊ mbə/ N‑UNCOUNT Zumba is an exercise programme that uses Latin-American music and dance steps. [TRADEMARK ] □ Zumba turns 10 styles of Latin dancing into an innovative, energetic workout.

zy|gote /za I goʊt/ (zygotes ) N‑COUNT A zygote is an egg that has been fertilized by sperm, and which could develop into an embryo. [TECHNICAL ]

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