COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

Hou se of Co m|mons N‑PROPER The House of Commons is the part of parliament in Britain or Canada whose members are elected. The building where they meet is also called the House of Commons . □ The House of Commons has overwhelmingly rejected demands to bring back the death penalty for murder.

hou se of Go d (houses of God ) N‑COUNT A Christian church is sometimes referred to as a house of God .

Hou se of Lo rds N‑PROPER The House of Lords is the part of the parliament in Britain whose members have not been elected. The building where they meet is also called the House of Lords . □ The legislation has twice been rejected by the House of Lords.

Hou se of Rep|re|se nta|tives N‑PROPER The House of Representatives is the less powerful of the two parts of Congress in the United States, or the equivalent part of the system of government in some other countries. □ The House of Representatives approved a new budget plan.

hou se own|er (house owners ) also house-owner N‑COUNT A house owner is a person who owns a house.

hou se par|ty (house parties ) N‑COUNT A house party is a party held at a big house in the country, usually at a weekend, where the guests stay for a few days.

hou se plant (house plants ) also houseplant N‑COUNT A house plant is a plant which is grown in a pot indoors.

house|proud /haʊ spraʊd/ also house-proud ADJ Someone who is houseproud spends a lot of time cleaning and decorating their house, because they want other people to admire it. [mainly BRIT ]

house|room /haʊ sruːm/ also house room PHRASE If you say that you wouldn't give something houseroom , you are emphasizing that you do not want it or do not like it at all. [mainly BRIT , EMPHASIS ]

Hou ses of Pa r|lia|ment N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] In Britain, the Houses of Parliament are the British parliament, which consists of two parts, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The buildings where the British parliament does its work are also called the Houses of Parliament . □ …issues aired in the Houses of Parliament.

hou se-to-hou se also house to house ADJ [ADJ n] A house-to-house activity involves going to all the houses in an area one after another. □ Security officers have carried out a number of house-to-house searches. ● ADV [ADV after v] House-to-house is also an adverb. □ They're going house to house, rounding up the residents.

house|wares /haʊ sweə ^r z/ N‑PLURAL Some shops and manufacturers refer to objects on sale for use in your house as housewares , especially objects related to cooking and cleaning.

house|warm|ing /haʊ swɔː ^r m I ŋ/ (housewarmings ) also house-warming N‑COUNT [oft N n] A housewarming is a party that you give for friends when you have just moved to a new house. □ I'm so sorry I missed the housewarming. □ …a housewarming party.

house|wife /haʊ swa I f/ (housewives ) N‑COUNT A housewife is a married woman who does not have a paid job, but instead looks after her home and children.

house|work /haʊ swɜː ^r k/ N‑UNCOUNT Housework is the work such as cleaning, washing, and ironing that you do in your home.

hous|ing ◆◆◇ /haʊ z I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT You refer to the buildings in which people live as housing when you are talking about their standard, price, or availability. □ …a shortage of affordable housing. SYNONYMS housing NOUN

accommodation: The government will provide temporary accommodation for up to three thousand people.

homes: …the allocation of land for new homes.

dwellings: Some 3,500 new dwellings are planned for the area.

hou s|ing as|so|cia|tion (housing associations ) N‑COUNT A housing association is an organization which owns houses and helps its members to rent or buy them more cheaply than on the open market. [BRIT ]

hou s|ing ben|efit (housing benefits ) N‑UNCOUNT In Britain, housing benefit is money that the government gives to people with no income or very low incomes to pay for part or all of their rent.

hou s|ing de|vel|op|ment (housing developments ) N‑COUNT A housing development is the same as a housing estate .

hou s|ing es|tate (housing estates ) N‑COUNT A housing estate is a large number of houses or flats built close together at the same time. [BRIT ]

hou s|ing proj|ect (housing projects ) N‑COUNT A housing project is a group of homes for poorer families which is funded and controlled by the local government. [AM ]

hove /hoʊ v/ Hove is the past tense and past participle of heave in one of its meanings.

hov|el /hɒ v ^ə l, [AM ] hʌ v-/ (hovels )

1 N‑COUNT A hovel is a small hut, especially one which is dirty or needs a lot of repair. □ They lived in a squalid hovel for the next five years.

2 N‑COUNT You describe a house, room, or flat as a hovel to express your disapproval or dislike of it because it is dirty, untidy, and in poor condition. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I went for a living-in job, but the room I was given was a hovel.

hov|er /hɒ və ^r , [AM ] hʌ v-/ (hovers , hovering , hovered )

1 VERB To hover means to stay in the same position in the air without moving forwards or backwards. Many birds and insects can hover by moving their wings very quickly. □ [V ] Beautiful butterflies hovered above the wild flowers.

2 VERB If you hover , you stay in one place and move slightly in a nervous way, for example because you cannot decide what to do. □ [V ] Judith was hovering in the doorway. □ [V prep/adv] With no idea of what to do for my next move, my hand hovered over the board.

3 VERB If you hover , you are in an uncertain situation or state of mind. □ [V prep/adv] She hovered on the brink of death for three months as doctors battled to save her. [Also V ]

4 VERB If a something such as a price, value, or score hovers around a particular level, it stays at more or less that level and does not change much. □ [V prep/adv] Temperatures hovered around freezing.

hover|craft /hɒ və ^r krɑːft, [AM ] hʌ və ^r kræft/ (hovercraft ) N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A hovercraft is a vehicle that can travel across land and water. It floats above the land or water on a cushion of air.

how ◆◆◆ /haʊ / The conjunction is pronounced /haʊ/. 1 ADV You use how to ask about the way in which something happens or is done. □ How do I make payments into my account? □ How do you manage to keep the place so tidy? □ How are you going to plan for the future? ● CONJ How is also a conjunction. □ I don't want to know how he died. □ I didn't know how to tell you.

2 CONJ You use how after certain adjectives and verbs to introduce a statement or fact, often something that you remember or expect other people to know about. □ It's amazing how people collect so much stuff over the years. □ It's important to become acutely aware of how your eating ties in with your stress level.

3 ADV You use how to ask questions about the quantity or degree of something. □ How much money are we talking about? □ How many full-time staff have we got? □ How long will you be staying? □ How old is your son now? □ How fast were you driving? □ He was asked how serious the situation had become.

4 ADV You use how when you are asking someone whether something was successful or enjoyable. □ How was your trip down to Orlando? □ I wonder how Sam got on with him.

5 ADV You use how to ask about someone's health or to find out someone's news. □ Hi! How are you doing? □ How's Rosie? □ How's the job?

6 CONVENTION ' How do you do ' is a polite way of greeting someone when you meet them for the first time. [FORMULAE ]

7 ADV [ADV adj/adv] You use how to emphasize the degree to which something is true. [EMPHASIS ] □ I didn't realize how heavy that shopping was going to be. □ Franklin told them all how happy he was to be in Britain again.

8 ADV You use how in exclamations to emphasize an adjective, adverb, or statement. [EMPHASIS ] □ How strange that something so simple as a walk on the beach could suddenly mean so much.

9 ADV You use how in expressions such as ' How can you… ' and ' How could you… ' to indicate that you disapprove of what someone has done or that you find it hard to believe. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ How can you tell him such awful lies? □ How could he be so indiscreet?

10 ADV You use how in expressions such as ' how about… ' or ' how would you like… ' when you are making an offer or a suggestion. □ How about a cup of coffee? □ You want Jeannie to make the appointment for you? How about the end of next week?

11 CONVENTION If you ask someone ' How about you? ' you are asking them what they think or want. □ Well, I enjoyed that. How about you two?

12 PHRASE You use how about to introduce a new subject which you think is relevant to the conversation you have been having. □ Are your products and services competitive? How about marketing?

13 PHRASE You ask ' How come? ' or ' How so? ' when you are surprised by something and are asking why it happened or was said. [INFORMAL ] □ 'They don't say a single word to each other.'—'How come?' USAGE how

Don’t use ‘how’ to ask what kind of person someone is. For example, if you are asking someone for a description of their boss, don’t say ‘ How is your boss ?’ Say ‘What is your boss like ?’ □ What ’s his mother like ?

how|dy /haʊ di/ CONVENTION ' Howdy ' is an informal way of saying 'Hello'. [AM , DIALECT , FORMULAE ]

how|ever ◆◆◆ /haʊe və ^r /

1 ADV You use however when you are adding a comment which is surprising or which contrasts with what has just been said. □ This was not an easy decision. It is, however, a decision that we feel is dictated by our duty. □ Some of the food crops failed. However, the cotton did quite well.

2 ADV [ADV adj/adv, ADV many/much ] You use however before an adjective or adverb to emphasize that the degree or extent of something cannot change a situation. [EMPHASIS ] □ You should always strive to achieve more, however well you have done before. □ However hard she tried, nothing seemed to work.

3 CONJ You use however when you want to say that it makes no difference how something is done. □ However we adopt healthcare reform, it isn't going to save major amounts of money. □ Wear your hair however you want.

4 ADV [ADV many/much , ADV adv] You use however in expressions such as or however long it takes and or however many there were to indicate that the figure you have just mentioned may not be accurate. [VAGUENESS ] □ Wait 30 to 60 minutes or however long it takes.

5 ADV You can use however to ask in an emphatic way how something has happened which you are very surprised about. Some speakers of English think that this form is incorrect and prefer to use 'how ever'. [EMPHASIS ] □ However did you find this place in such weather? SYNONYMS however ADV 1

nevertheless: One in three marriages fail. Nevertheless, people continue to get married.

still: I'm average for my height. But I still feel fat.

yet: It is completely waterproof, yet light and comfortable.

how|itz|er /haʊ I tsə ^r / (howitzers ) N‑COUNT A howitzer is a large gun with a short barrel, which fires shells high up into the air so that they will drop down onto the target.

howl /haʊ l/ (howls , howling , howled )

1 VERB If an animal such as a wolf or a dog howls , it makes a long, loud, crying sound. □ [V ] Somewhere in the streets beyond a dog suddenly howled, baying at the moon. ● N‑COUNT Howl is also a noun. □ The dog let out a savage howl and, wheeling round, flew at him.

2 VERB If a person howls , they make a long, loud cry expressing pain, anger, or unhappiness. □ [V ] He howled like a wounded animal as blood spurted from the gash. ● N‑COUNT Howl is also a noun. □ With a howl of rage, he grabbed the neck of a broken bottle and advanced.

3 VERB When the wind howls , it blows hard and makes a loud noise. □ [V ] The wind howled all night, but I slept a little. □ [V -ing] It sank in a howling gale.

4 VERB If you howl something, you say it in a very loud voice. [INFORMAL ] □ [V with quote] 'Get away, get away, get away' he howled. □ [V n] The crowd howled its approval.

5 VERB If you howl with laughter, you laugh very loudly. □ [V + with ] Joe, Pink, and Booker howled with delight. □ [V ] The crowd howled, delirious. ● N‑COUNT Howl is also a noun. □ His stories caused howls of laughter.

howl|er /haʊ lə ^r / (howlers ) N‑COUNT A howler is a stupid mistake. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I felt as if I had made an outrageous howler.

hp hp is an abbreviation for horsepower .

HP /e I tʃ piː / N‑UNCOUNT [oft on N ] HP is an abbreviation for hire purchase . [BRIT ] □ I have never bought anything on HP.

HQ /e I tʃ kjuː / (HQs ) N‑VAR HQ is an abbreviation for headquarters . □ …the European Commission's luxurious HQ.

hr (hrs ) hr is a written abbreviation for hour . □ Let this cook on low for another 1 hr 15 mins.

HR /e I tʃ ɑ ːr/ In a company or other organization, the HR department is the department with responsibility for the recruiting, training, and welfare of the staff. HR is an abbreviation for 'human resources'. [BUSINESS ]

HRH /e I tʃ ɑːr e I tʃ/ N‑TITLE HRH is an abbreviation for 'His Royal Highness' or 'Her Royal Highness' when it is used as part of the title of a prince or princess.

HRT /e I tʃ ɑː ^r tiː / N‑UNCOUNT HRT is given to women and involves taking the hormone oestrogen, usually in order to control the symptoms of the menopause. HRT is an abbreviation for 'hormone replacement therapy'.

HTML /e I tʃ tiː em e l/ N‑UNCOUNT HTML is a system of codes for producing documents for the internet. HTML is an abbreviation for 'hypertext markup language'. [COMPUTING ]

HTTP /e I tʃ tiː tiː p iː/ N‑UNCOUNT HTTP is a way of formatting and transmitting messages on the internet. HTTP is an abbreviation for 'hypertext transfer protocol'. [COMPUTING ]

hub /hʌ b/ (hubs )

1 N‑COUNT You can describe a place as a hub of an activity when it is a very important centre for that activity. □ The island's social hub is the Cafe Sport. [Also + of ]

2 N‑COUNT The hub of a wheel is the part at the centre.

3 N‑COUNT A hub or a hub airport is a large airport from which you can travel to many other airports. □ …a campaign to secure Heathrow's place as Europe's main international hub.

4 N‑COUNT A hub is a device for connecting computers in a network. [COMPUTING ]

hub|bub /hʌ bʌb/ (hubbubs )

1 N‑VAR A hubbub is a noise made by a lot of people all talking or shouting at the same time. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] There was a hubbub of excited conversation from over a thousand people.

2 N‑SING You can describe a situation where there is great confusion or excitement as a hubbub . □ In all the hubbub over the election, one might be excused for missing yesterday's announcement.

hub|by /hʌ bi/ (hubbies ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] You can refer to a someone's husband as their hubby . [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]

hub|cap /hʌ bkæp/ (hubcaps ) also hub cap N‑COUNT A hubcap is a metal or plastic disc that covers and protects the centre of a wheel on a car, truck, or other vehicle.

hu|bris /hjuː br I s/ N‑UNCOUNT If you accuse someone of hubris , you are accusing them of arrogant pride. [FORMAL ] □ It was an act of hubris that was to cost him dear.

huck|ster /hʌ kstə ^r / (hucksters ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a huckster , you are criticizing them for trying to sell useless or worthless things in a dishonest or aggressive way. [AM , DISAPPROVAL ]

hud|dle /hʌ d ^ə l/ (huddles , huddling , huddled )

1 VERB If you huddle somewhere, you sit, stand, or lie there holding your arms and legs close to your body, usually because you are cold or frightened. □ [V prep/adv] She huddled inside the porch as she rang the bell. □ [V -ed] Myrtle sat huddled on the side of the bed, weeping.

2 VERB If people huddle together or huddle round something, they stand, sit, or lie close to each other, usually because they all feel cold or frightened. □ [V adv/prep] Tired and lost, we huddled together. □ [V -ed] The survivors spent the night huddled around bonfires.

3 VERB If people huddle in a group, they gather together to discuss something quietly or secretly. □ [V ] The only people in the store were three young employees, huddled in the corner chatting. □ [V + with ] The president has been huddling with his most senior aides. □ [V -ed] Mrs Clinton was huddled with advisers at her headquarters.

4 N‑COUNT A huddle is a small group of people or things that are standing very close together or lying on top of each other, usually in a disorganized way. □ [+ of ] We lay there: a huddle of bodies, gasping for air.

hue /hjuː /

1 N‑COUNT A hue is a colour. [LITERARY ] □ The same hue will look different in different light.

2 PHRASE If people raise a hue and cry about something, they protest angrily about it. [WRITTEN ] □ Just as the show ended, he heard a huge hue and cry outside.

huff /hʌ f/ (huffs , huffing , huffed )

1 VERB If you huff , you indicate that you are annoyed or offended about something, usually by the way that you say something. □ [V with quote] 'This', he huffed, 'was discrimination.'

2 PHRASE If someone is in a huff , they are behaving in a bad-tempered way because they are annoyed and offended. [INFORMAL ] □ After the row in a pub he drove off in a huff.

huffy /hʌ fi/ (huffier , huffiest ) ADJ Someone who is huffy is obviously annoyed or offended about something. [INFORMAL ] □ I, in my turn, became embarrassed and huffy and told her to take the money back. ● huffi|ly /hʌ f I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ 'I appreciate your concern for my feelings,' Bess said huffily, 'but I'm a big girl now'.

hug /hʌ g/ (hugs , hugging , hugged )

1 VERB When you hug someone, you put your arms around them and hold them tightly, for example because you like them or are pleased to see them. You can also say that two people hug each other or that they hug . □ [V n] She had hugged him exuberantly and invited him to dinner the next day. □ [V ] We hugged and kissed. ● N‑COUNT Hug is also a noun. □ Syvil leapt out of the back seat, and gave him a hug.

2 VERB If you hug something, you hold it close to your body with your arms tightly round it. □ [V n] Shaerl trudged toward them, hugging a large box. □ [V n adv/prep] She hugged her legs tight to her chest.

3 VERB Something that hugs the ground or a stretch of land or water stays very close to it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The road hugs the coast for hundreds of miles.

4 → see also bear hug

huge ◆◆◇ /hjuː dʒ/ (huger , hugest )

1 ADJ Something or someone that is huge is extremely large in size. □ …a tiny little woman with huge black glasses.

2 ADJ Something that is huge is extremely large in amount or degree. □ I have a huge number of ties because I never throw them away. ● huge|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ In summer this hotel is a hugely popular venue for wedding receptions.

3 ADJ Something that is huge exists or happens on a very large scale, and involves a lot of different people or things. □ Another team is looking at the huge problem of debts between companies.

-hugging /-hʌg I ŋ/ COMB [usu ADJ n] -hugging combines with nouns to form adjectives which describe an item of clothing that fits very tightly and clearly reveals the shape of your body. □ …a figure-hugging dress.

huh /hʌ , hɜː / Huh is used in writing to represent a noise that people make at the end of a question if they want someone to agree with them or if they want someone to repeat what they have just said. Huh is also used to show that someone is surprised or not impressed. □ Can we just get on with it, huh?

hulk /hʌ lk/ (hulks )

1 N‑COUNT The hulk of something is the large, ruined remains of it. □ [+ of ] …the ruined hulk of the old church tower.

2 N‑COUNT You use hulk to describe anything which is large and seems threatening to you. □ I followed his big hulk into the house.

hulk|ing /hʌ lk I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] You use hulking to describe a person or object that is extremely large, heavy, or slow-moving, especially when they seem threatening in some way. □ When I woke up there was a hulking figure staring down at me.

hull /hʌ l/ (hulls ) N‑COUNT The hull of a boat or tank is the main body of it. □ The hull had suffered extensive damage to the starboard side.

hul|la|ba|loo /hʌ ləbəluː / N‑SING A hullabaloo is a lot of noise or fuss made by people who are angry or excited about something. [INFORMAL ] □ I was scared by the hullabaloo over my arrival.

hul|lo /hʌloʊ / → see hello

hum /hʌ m/ (hums , humming , hummed )

1 VERB If something hums , it makes a low continuous noise. □ [V ] The birds sang, the bees hummed. □ [V -ing] There was a low humming sound in the sky. ● N‑SING Hum is also a noun. □ …the hum of traffic.

2 VERB When you hum a tune, you sing it with your lips closed. □ [V n] She was humming a merry little tune. □ [V ] He hummed to himself as he opened the trunk.

3 VERB If you say that a place hums , you mean that it is full of activity. □ [V ] The place is really beginning to hum. □ [V + with ] On Saturday morning, the town hums with activity and life.

4 CONVENTION Hum is sometimes used to represent the sound people make when they are not sure what to say. □ Hum, I am sorry but I thought you were French.

5 → see also ho hum

6 hum and haw → see haw

hu|man ◆◆◆ /hjuː mən/ (humans )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Human means relating to or concerning people. □ …the human body. □ …human history.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to people as humans , especially when you are comparing them with animals or machines. □ Its rate of growth was fast–much more like that of an ape than that of a human.

3 ADJ Human feelings, weaknesses, or errors are ones that are typical of humans rather than machines. □ …an ever-growing risk of human error. SYNONYMS human ADJ 3

fallible: They are only human and all too fallible.

imperfect: Human beings are imperfect.

hu |man be |ing (human beings ) N‑COUNT A human being is a man, woman, or child.

hu|mane /hjuː me I n/

1 ADJ Humane people act in a kind, sympathetic way towards other people and animals, and try to do them as little harm as possible. □ In the mid-nineteenth century, Dorothea Dix began to campaign for humane treatment of the mentally ill. ● hu|mane|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Our horse had to be humanely destroyed after breaking his right foreleg.

2 ADJ Humane values and societies encourage people to act in a kind and sympathetic way towards others, even towards people they do not agree with or like. □ …the humane values of socialism.

hu|man gro wth hor|mone (human growth hormones ) N‑VAR Human growth hormone is a hormone that is used to help short people, especially short children, to grow taller. The abbreviation HGH is also used.

hu |man i n|ter|est N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] If something such as a news story has human interest , people are likely to find it interesting because it gives interesting details about the person or people involved. □ …a human interest story.

hu|man|ise /hjuː məna I z/ → see humanize

hu|man|ism /hjuː mən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Humanism is the belief that people can achieve happiness and live well without religion. ● hu|man|ist (humanists ) N‑COUNT □ He is a practical humanist, who believes in the dignity of mankind.

hu|man|ist|ic /hjuː mən I st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A humanistic idea, condition, or practice relates to humanism. □ Religious values can often differ greatly from humanistic morals.

hu|mani|tar|ian /hjuːmæ n I teə riən/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a person or society has humanitarian ideas or behaviour, they try to avoid making people suffer or they help people who are suffering. □ The men were released on humanitarian grounds.

hu|mani|tari|an|ism /hjuːmæ n I teə riən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Humanitarianism is humanitarian ideas or actions.

hu|man|ity /hjuːmæ n I ti/ (humanities )

1 N‑UNCOUNT All the people in the world can be referred to as humanity . □ They face charges of committing crimes against humanity.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [with poss] A person's humanity is their state of being a human being, rather than an animal or an object. [FORMAL ] □ …a man who's almost lost his humanity in his bitter hatred of his rivals.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Humanity is the quality of being kind, thoughtful, and sympathetic towards others. □ Her speech showed great maturity and humanity.

4 N‑PLURAL The humanities are the subjects such as history, philosophy, and literature which are concerned with human ideas and behaviour. □ …students majoring in the humanities.

hu|man|ize /hjuː məna I z/ (humanizes , humanizing , humanized ) in BRIT, also use humanise VERB If you humanize a situation or condition, you improve it by changing it in a way which makes it more suitable and pleasant for people. □ [V n] Jo Robinson began by humanizing the waiting time at the health centre with tea-making and toys for children.

human|kind /hjuː mənka I nd/ N‑UNCOUNT Humankind is the same as mankind .

hu|man|ly /hjuː mənli/ PHRASE If something is humanly possible , it is possible for people to do it. □ She has gained a reputation for creating books as perfect as is humanly possible.

hu |man na |ture N‑UNCOUNT Human nature is the natural qualities and ways of behaviour that most people have. □ It seems to be human nature to worry.

hu |man ra ce N‑SING The human race is the same as mankind . □ Can the human race carry on expanding and growing the same way that it is now?

hu |man re|sou rces N‑UNCOUNT In a company or other organization, the department of human resources is the department with responsibility for the recruiting, training, and welfare of the staff. The abbreviation HR is often used. [BUSINESS ]

hu |man ri ghts ◆◇◇ N‑PLURAL Human rights are basic rights which many societies believe that all people should have.

hu |man shie ld N‑SING If a group of people are used as a human shield in a battle or war, they are put in a particular place so that the enemy will be unwilling to attack that place and harm them.

hum|ble /hʌ mb ^ə l/ (humbler , humblest , humbles , humbling , humbled )

1 ADJ A humble person is not proud and does not believe that they are better than other people. □ He gave a great performance, but he was very humble. ● hum|bly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'I'm a lucky man, undeservedly lucky,' he said humbly.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] People with low social status are sometimes described as humble . □ Spyros Latsis started his career as a humble fisherman in the Aegean.

3 ADJ A humble place or thing is ordinary and not special in any way. □ There are restaurants, both humble and expensive, that specialize in them.

4 ADJ People use humble in a phrase such as in my humble opinion as a polite way of emphasizing what they think, even though they do not feel humble about it. [POLITENESS ] □ It is, in my humble opinion, perhaps the best steak restaurant in Great Britain. ● hum|bly ADV [ADV before v] □ So may I humbly suggest we all do something next time.

5 PHRASE If you eat humble pie , you speak or behave in a way which tells people that you admit you were wrong about something. □ Anson was forced to eat humble pie and publicly apologise to her.

6 VERB If you humble someone who is more important or powerful than you, you defeat them easily. □ [V n] …the little car company that humbled the industry giants.

7 VERB If something or someone humbles you, they make you realize that you are not as important or good as you thought you were. □ [V n] Ted's words humbled me. ● hum|bled ADJ □ I came away very humbled and recognizing that I, for one, am not well-informed. ● hum|bling ADJ □ Giving up an addiction is a humbling experience.

hum|bug /hʌ mbʌg/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's language or behaviour as humbug , you mean that it is dishonest or insincere. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ There was all the usual humbug and obligatory compliments from ministers.

hum|ding|er /hʌ md I ŋə ^r / (humdingers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft a N of n] If you describe someone or something as a humdinger , you mean that they are very impressive, exciting, or enjoyable. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] It should be a humdinger of a match. □ His latest novel is a humdinger.

hum|drum /hʌ mdrʌm/ ADJ If you describe someone or something as humdrum , you mean that they are ordinary, dull, or boring. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a lawyer, trapped in a humdrum but well-paid job.

hu|mid /hjuː m I d/ ADJ You use humid to describe an atmosphere or climate that is very damp, and usually very hot. □ Visitors can expect hot and humid conditions.

hu|midi|fi|er /hjuːm I d I fa I ə ^r / (humidifiers ) N‑COUNT A humidifier is a machine for increasing the amount of moisture in the air.

hu|mid|ity /hjuːm I d I ti/

1 N‑UNCOUNT You say there is humidity when the air feels very heavy and damp. □ The heat and humidity were insufferable.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Humidity is the amount of water in the air. □ The humidity is relatively low.

hu|mili|ate /hjuːm I lie I t/ (humiliates , humiliating , humiliated ) VERB To humiliate someone means to say or do something which makes them feel ashamed or stupid. □ [be V -ed] She had been beaten and humiliated by her husband. □ [V n] His teacher continually humiliates him in maths lessons. ● hu|mili|at|ed ADJ □ I have never felt so humiliated in my life.

hu|mili|at|ing /hjuːm I lie I t I ŋ/ ADJ If something is humiliating , it embarrasses you and makes you feel ashamed and stupid. □ The Party leader suffered a humiliating defeat. ● hu|mili|at|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV after v, ADV adj/-ed] □ Thousands of men struggled humiliatingly for jobs. □ He was caught cheating and humiliatingly stripped of his title.

hu|milia|tion /hjuːm I lie I ʃ ^ə n/ (humiliations )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Humiliation is the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone makes you appear stupid, or when you make a mistake in public. □ She faced the humiliation of discussing her husband's affair.

2 N‑COUNT A humiliation is an occasion or a situation in which you feel embarrassed and ashamed. □ The result is a humiliation for the prime minister.

hu|mil|ity /hjuːm I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Someone who has humility is not proud and does not believe they are better than other people. □ …a deep sense of humility.

humming|bird /hʌ m I ŋbɜː ^r d/ (hummingbirds ) N‑COUNT A hummingbird is a small brightly coloured bird found in America, especially Central and South America. It has a long thin beak and powerful narrow wings that can move very fast.

hum|mock /hʌ mək/ (hummocks ) N‑COUNT A hummock is a small raised area of ground, like a very small hill.

hum|mus /huː məs/ → see houmous

hu|mong|ous /hjuːmʌ ŋgəs/ also humungous ADJ If you describe something or someone as humongous , you are emphasizing that they are very large or important. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ We had a humongous row just because she left. □ Barbra Streisand is such a humungous star.

hu|mor /hjuː mə ^r / → see humour

hu|mor|ist /hjuː mər I st/ (humorists ) N‑COUNT A humorist is a writer who specializes in writing amusing things. □ …a political humorist.

hu|mor|ous /hjuː mərəs/ ADJ If someone or something is humorous , they are amusing, especially in a clever or witty way. □ He was quite humorous, and I liked that about him. ● hu|mor|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ He looked at me humorously as he wrestled with the door.

hu|mour ◆◇◇ /hjuː mə ^r / (humours , humouring , humoured ) in AM, use humor 1 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the amusing things that people say as their humour . □ Her humour and determination were a source of inspiration to others.

2 → see also sense of humour

3 N‑UNCOUNT Humour is a quality in something that makes you laugh, for example in a situation, in someone's words or actions, or in a book or film. □ [+ of ] She felt sorry for the man but couldn't ignore the humour of the situation.

4 N‑VAR If you are in a good humour , you feel cheerful and happy, and are pleasant to people. If you are in a bad humour , you feel bad-tempered and unhappy, and are unpleasant to people. □ Christina was still not clear why he had been in such ill humour.

5 N‑UNCOUNT [adj N ] If you do something with good humour , you do it cheerfully and pleasantly. □ Hugo bore his illness with great courage and good humour.

6 VERB If you humour someone who is behaving strangely, you try to please them or pretend to agree with them, so that they will not become upset. □ [V n] She will actually sit and watch them with me, to humour me. COLLOCATIONS humour NOUN

1

noun + humour : gallows, schoolboy, slapstick, toilet

adjective + humour : black, dark, dry, wry; gentle, self-deprecating

4

adjective + humour : bad, good, ill

hu|mour|less /hjuː mə ^r ləs/ in AM, use humorless ADJ If you accuse someone of being humourless , you mean that they are very serious about everything and do not find things amusing. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was a straight-faced, humourless character.

hump /hʌ mp/ (humps , humping , humped )

1 N‑COUNT A hump is a small hill or raised area. □ The path goes over a large hump by a tree before running near a road.

2 N‑COUNT A camel's hump is the large lump on its back.

3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] A hump is a large lump on a person's back, usually caused by illness or old age.

4 VERB If you hump something heavy, you carry it from one place to another with great difficulty. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] Charlie humped his rucksack up the stairs to his flat. [Also V n]

5 PHRASE If someone gets the hump , they get very annoyed about something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Fans just get the hump when they lose.

hump|back /hʌ mpbæk/ (humpbacks ) N‑COUNT A humpback or a humpback whale is a large whale with a curved back.

hu mp|backed bri dge (humpbacked bridges ) N‑COUNT A humpbacked bridge or humpback bridge is a short and very curved bridge with a shape similar to a semi-circle. [mainly BRIT ]

humped /hʌ mpt/ ADJ If someone is humped , their back is bent so that their shoulders are further forward than usual and their head hangs down. □ I was humped like an old lady.

hu|mung|ous /hjuːmʌ ŋgəs/ → see humongous

hu|mus /huː məs/ N‑UNCOUNT Humus is the part of soil which consists of dead plants that have begun to decay.

hunch /hʌ ntʃ/ (hunches , hunching , hunched )

1 N‑COUNT If you have a hunch about something, you are sure that it is correct or true, even though you do not have any proof. [INFORMAL ] □ I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.

2 VERB If you hunch forward, you raise your shoulders, put your head down, and lean forwards, often because you are cold, ill, or unhappy. □ [V adv/prep] He got out his map of Yorkshire and hunched over it to read the small print.

3 VERB If you hunch your shoulders, you raise them and lean forwards slightly. □ [V n] Wes hunched his shoulders and leaned forward on the edge of the counter.

hunch|back /hʌ ntʃbæk/ (hunchbacks ) N‑COUNT A hunchback is someone who has a large lump on their back because their spine is curved. [OFFENSIVE , OLD-FASHIONED ]

hunched /hʌ ntʃt/ ADJ If you are hunched , or hunched up , you are leaning forwards with your shoulders raised and your head down, often because you are cold, ill, or unhappy. □ A solitary hunched figure emerged from Number Ten.

hun|dred ◆◆◆ /hʌ ndrəd/ (hundreds ) The plural form is hundred after a number, or after a word or expression referring to a number, such as 'several' or 'a few'. 1 NUM A hundred or one hundred is the number 100. □ According to one official more than a hundred people have been arrested.

2 QUANT If you refer to hundreds of things or people, you are emphasizing that there are very many of them. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] Hundreds of tree species face extinction. ● PRON You can also use hundreds as a pronoun. □ Hundreds have been killed in the fighting and thousands made homeless.

3 PHRASE You can use a hundred per cent or one hundred per cent to emphasize that you agree completely with something or that it is completely right or wrong. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ Are you a hundred per cent sure it's your neighbour?

hun|dredth ◆◆◇ /hʌ ndrədθ/ (hundredths )

1 ORD The hundredth item in a series is the one that you count as number one hundred. □ The bank celebrates its hundredth anniversary in December.

2 FRACTION A hundredth of something is one of a hundred equal parts of it. □ He won the final, trimming one hundredth of a second from his earlier time.

hundred|weight /hʌ ndrədwe I t/ (hundredweights ) The plural form is hundredweight after a number. N‑COUNT A hundredweight is a unit of weight that is equal to 112 pounds in Britain and to 100 pounds in the United States. □ [+ of ] …a hundredweight of coal.

hung /hʌ ŋ/

1 Hung is the past tense and past participle of most of the senses of hang .

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A hung jury is the situation that occurs when a jury is unable to reach a decision because there is not a clear majority of its members in favour of any one decision. In British English you can also talk about a hung parliament or a hung council. □ In the event of a hung Parliament he would still fight for everything in the manifesto.

Hun|gar|ian /hʌŋgeə riən/ (Hungarians )

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hungarian means belonging or relating to Hungary, or to its people, language, or culture. □ …the Hungarian government.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A Hungarian is a person who comes from Hungary.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Hungarian is the language spoken in Hungary.

hun|ger /hʌ ŋgə ^r / (hungers , hungering , hungered )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Hunger is the feeling of weakness or discomfort that you get when you need something to eat. □ Hunger is the body's signal that levels of blood sugar are too low. □ Protein helps to fill you up and curb hunger pangs.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Hunger is a severe lack of food which causes suffering or death. □ Three hundred people in this town are dying of hunger every day.

3 N‑SING If you have a hunger for something, you want or need it very much. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ for ] Geffen has a hunger for success that seems bottomless.

4 VERB If you say that someone hungers for something or hungers after it, you are emphasizing that they want it very much. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ [V + for/after ] But Jules was not eager for classroom learning, he hungered for adventure. [Also V to-inf]

hu n|ger strike (hunger strikes ) N‑VAR If someone goes on hunger strike or goes on a hunger strike , they refuse to eat as a way of protesting about something. □ The protesters have been on hunger strike for 17 days. ● hun|ger strik|er (hunger strikers ) N‑COUNT □ The five hunger strikers called off their strike and celebrated the good news.

hung|over /hʌ ŋoʊ və ^r / also hung-over , hung over ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is hungover is unwell because they drank too much alcohol on the previous day. □ He was still hungover on the 25-minute bus drive to work the following morning.

hun|gry /hʌ ŋgri/ (hungrier , hungriest )

1 ADJ When you are hungry , you want some food because you have not eaten for some time and have an uncomfortable or painful feeling in your stomach. □ My friend was hungry, so we drove to a shopping mall to get some food. ● hun|gri|ly /hʌ ŋgr I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ James ate hungrily.

2 PHRASE If people go hungry , they do not have enough food to eat. □ Leonidas' family had been poor, he went hungry for years.

3 ADJ If you say that someone is hungry for something, you are emphasizing that they want it very much. [LITERARY , EMPHASIS ] □ I left Oxford in 1961 hungry to be a critic. ● COMB Hungry is also a combining form. □ …power-hungry politicians. ● hun|gri|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He looked at her hungrily. What eyes! What skin!

hu ng u p ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is hung up about a particular person or thing, you are criticizing them for thinking or worrying too much about that person or thing. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ about/on ] It was a time when people weren't so hung-up about health.

hunk /hʌ ŋk/ (hunks )

1 N‑COUNT A hunk of something is a large piece of it. □ [+ of ] …a thick hunk of bread.

2 N‑COUNT If you refer to a man as a hunk , you mean that he is big, strong, and sexually attractive. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ …a blond, blue-eyed hunk.

hunk|er /hʌ ŋkə ^r / (hunkers , hunkering , hunkered )

▸ hunker down

1 PHRASAL VERB If you hunker down , you bend your knees so that you are in a low position, balancing on your feet. [AM ] □ [V P + on ] Betty hunkered down on the floor. □ [V P + beside ] He ended up hunkering down beside her.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone hunkers down , you mean that they are trying to avoid doing things that will make people notice them or put them in danger. [AM ] □ [V P ] Their strategy for the moment is to hunker down and let the fuss die down.

hunt ◆◇◇ /hʌ nt/ (hunts , hunting , hunted )

1 VERB If you hunt for something or someone, you try to find them by searching carefully or thoroughly. □ [V + for ] A forensic team was hunting for clues. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Hunt is also a noun. □ [+ for ] The couple had helped in the hunt for the toddlers.

2 VERB If you hunt a criminal or an enemy, you search for them in order to catch or harm them. □ [V n] Detectives have been hunting him for seven months. [Also V + for ] ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Hunt is also a noun. □ [+ for ] Despite a nationwide hunt for the kidnap gang, not a trace of them was found.

3 VERB When people or animals hunt , they chase and kill wild animals for food or as a sport. □ [V ] As a child I learned to hunt and fish. □ [V n] He got up at four and set out on foot to hunt black grouse. [Also V + for ] ● N‑COUNT [oft n N ] Hunt is also a noun. □ He set off for a nineteen-day moose hunt in Nova Scotia.

4 VERB In Britain, when people hunt , they ride horses over fields with dogs called hounds and try to catch and kill foxes, as a sport. □ [V ] She liked to hunt as often as she could. [Also V n] ● N‑COUNT Hunt is also a noun. □ The hunt was held on land owned by the Duke of Marlborough.

5 N‑COUNT In Britain, a hunt is a group of people who meet regularly to hunt foxes.

6 PHRASE If a team or competitor is in the hunt for something, they still have a chance of winning it. □ We're still in the hunt for the League title and we want to go all the way in the Cup.

7 → see also hunting , witch-hunt

▸ hunt down PHRASAL VERB If you hunt down a criminal or an enemy, you find them after searching for them. □ [V P n] Last December they hunted down and killed one of the gangsters. □ [V n P ] It took her four months to hunt him down.

▸ hunt out PHRASAL VERB If you hunt out something that is hidden or difficult to find, you search for it and eventually find it. □ [V P n] I'll try and hunt out the information you need. □ [V P n] American consumers are accustomed to hunting out bargains. [Also V n P ] COLLOCATIONS hunt NOUN 2

noun + hunt : murder

adjective + hunt : nationwide, worldwide

hunt + be + adjective : underway

verb + hunt : launch, spark; join, lead

hunt|er ◆◇◇ /hʌ ntə ^r / (hunters )

1 N‑COUNT A hunter is a person who hunts wild animals for food or as a sport. □ The hunters stalked their prey.

2 N‑COUNT [n N ] People who are searching for things of a particular kind are often referred to as hunters . □ …job-hunters. □ …treasure hunters.

3 → see also bargain hunter , headhunter

hu nter-ga therer (hunter-gatherers ) N‑COUNT Hunter-gatherers were people who lived by hunting and collecting food rather than by farming. There are still groups of hunter-gatherers living in some parts of the world.

hunt|ing /hʌ nt I ŋ/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Hunting is the chasing and killing of wild animals by people or other animals, for food or as a sport. □ Deer hunting was banned in Scotland in 1959.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [n N ] Hunting is the activity of searching for a particular thing. □ Jobclub can help you with job hunting. ● COMB Hunting is also a combining form. □ Lee has divided his time between flat-hunting and travelling.

hu nt|ing ground (hunting grounds )

1 N‑COUNT If you say that a place is a good hunting ground for something, you mean that people who have a particular interest are likely to find something that they want there. □ [+ for ] Other people's weddings are the perfect hunting ground for ideas.

2 N‑COUNT A hunting ground is an area where people or animals chase and kill wild animals for food or as a sport.

hu nt sa bo|teur (hunt saboteurs ) N‑COUNT A hunt saboteur is someone who tries to stop a hunt from taking place or being successful because they believe it is cruel to the animal being hunted.

hunts|man /hʌ ntsmən/ (huntsmen ) N‑COUNT A huntsman is a person who hunts wild animals, especially one who hunts foxes on horseback using dogs.

hur|dle /hɜː ^r d ^ə l/ (hurdles , hurdling , hurdled )

1 N‑COUNT A hurdle is a problem, difficulty, or part of a process that may prevent you from achieving something. □ Two-thirds of candidates fall at this first hurdle and are packed off home.

2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] Hurdles is a race in which people have to jump over a number of obstacles that are also called hurdles. You can use hurdles to refer to one or more races. □ He won the 400m. hurdles.

3 VERB If you hurdle , you jump over something while you are running. □ [V n] He crossed the lawn and hurdled the short fence. □ [V ] She learnt to hurdle by leaping over bales of hay on her family's farm. [Also V prep]

hur|dler /hɜː ^r dlə ^r / (hurdlers ) N‑COUNT A hurdler is an athlete who takes part in hurdles races.

hurl /hɜː ^r l/ (hurls , hurling , hurled )

1 VERB If you hurl something, you throw it violently and with a lot of force. □ [V n prep] Groups of angry youths hurled stones at police. □ [V n with adv] Simon caught the grenade and hurled it back. □ [V n] Gangs rioted last night, breaking storefront windows and hurling rocks and bottles.

2 VERB If you hurl abuse or insults at someone, you shout insults at them aggressively. □ [V n + at ] How would you handle being locked in the back of a cab while the driver hurled abuse at you? [Also V n]

hurly-burly /hɜː ^r li bɜː ^r li/ N‑SING If you talk about the hurly-burly of a situation, you are emphasizing how noisy or busy it is. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] No one expects him to get involved in the hurly-burly of campaigning.

hur|ray /hʊre I / also hurrah → see hooray

hur|ri|cane /hʌ r I kən, [AM ] hɜː r I ke I n/ (hurricanes ) N‑COUNT A hurricane is an extremely violent wind or storm.

hur|ried /hʌ rid, [AM ] hɜː r-/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A hurried action is done quickly, because you do not have much time to do it in. □ …a hurried breakfast. ● hur|ried|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …students hurriedly taking notes.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A hurried action is done suddenly, in reaction to something that has just happened. □ Downing Street denied there had been a hurried overnight redrafting of the text. ● hur|ried|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The moment she saw it, she blushed and hurriedly left the room.

3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is hurried does things more quickly than they should because they do not have much time to do them. □ Parisians on the street often looked worried, hurried and unfriendly.

hur|ry /hʌ ri, [AM ] hɜː ri/ (hurries , hurrying , hurried )

1 VERB If you hurry somewhere, you go there as quickly as you can. □ [V prep/adv] Claire hurried along the road. □ [V ] Bob hurried to join him, and they rode home together.

2 VERB If you hurry to do something, you start doing it as soon as you can, or try to do it quickly. □ [V to-inf] Mrs Hardie hurried to make up for her tactlessness by asking her guest about his holiday. □ [V ] There was no longer any reason to hurry.

3 N‑SING [usu in a N , oft N to-inf] If you are in a hurry to do something, you need or want to do something quickly. If you do something in a hurry , you do it quickly or suddenly. □ Kate was in a hurry to grow up, eager for knowledge and experience.

4 VERB To hurry something means the same as to hurry up something. □ [V n] …The President's attempt to hurry the process of independence.

5 VERB If you hurry someone to a place or into a situation, you try to make them go to that place or get into that situation quickly. □ [V n prep/adv] They say they are not going to be hurried into any decision. □ [V n] I don't want to hurry you.

6 PHRASE If you say to someone ' There's no hurry ' or ' I'm in no hurry ' you are telling them that there is no need for them to do something immediately. □ I'll need to talk with you, but there's no hurry.

7 PHRASE If you are in no hurry to do something, you are very unwilling to do it. □ I love it at St Mirren so I'm in no hurry to go anywhere. [Also + for ]

▸ hurry along → see hurry up 2

▸ hurry up

1 PHRASAL VERB If you tell someone to hurry up , you are telling them do something more quickly than they were doing. □ [V P ] Franklin told Howe to hurry up and take his bath; otherwise, they'd miss their train. □ [V P + with ] Hurry up with that coffee, will you. [Also V it P ]

2 PHRASAL VERB If you hurry something up or hurry it along , you make it happen faster or sooner than it would otherwise have done. □ [V P n] …if you want to hurry up the application process. □ [V n P ] Petter saw no reason to hurry the divorce along.

hurt ◆◆◇ /hɜː ^r t/ (hurts , hurting , hurt )

1 VERB If you hurt yourself or hurt a part of your body, you feel pain because you have injured yourself. □ [V pron-refl] Yasin had seriously hurt himself while trying to escape from the police. □ [V n] He had hurt his back in an accident.

2 VERB If a part of your body hurts , you feel pain there. □ [V ] His collar bone only hurt when he lifted his arm.

3 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are hurt , you have been injured. □ His comrades asked him if he was hurt. □ They were dazed but did not seem to be badly hurt.

4 VERB If you hurt someone, you cause them to feel pain. □ [V n] I didn't mean to hurt her, only to keep her still. □ [V ] Ouch. That hurt.

5 VERB If someone hurts you, they say or do something that makes you unhappy. □ [V n] He is afraid of hurting Bessy's feelings. □ [V ] What hurts most is the betrayal, the waste.

6 ADJ If you are hurt , you are upset because of something that someone has said or done. □ Yes, I was hurt, jealous.

7 VERB [only cont] If you say that you are hurting , you mean that you are experiencing emotional pain. □ [V ] I am lonely and I am hurting.

8 VERB To hurt someone or something means to have a bad effect on them or prevent them from succeeding. □ [V n] The combination of hot weather and decreased water supplies is hurting many industries.

9 N‑VAR A feeling of hurt is a feeling that you have when you think that you have been treated badly or judged unfairly. □ I was full of jealousy and hurt.

10 PHRASE If you say ' It won't hurt to do something' or ' It never hurts to do something', you are recommending an action which you think is helpful or useful. [INFORMAL ] □ It wouldn't hurt you to be a bit more serious. SYNONYMS hurt VERB 1

injure: Several police officers were injured in the clashes.

damage: The sun can damage your skin.

wound: The driver of an evacuation bus was wounded by shrapnel.

hurt|ful /hɜː ^r tfʊl/ ADJ If you say that someone's comments or actions are hurtful , you mean that they are unkind and upsetting. □ Her comments can only be hurtful to Mrs Green's family.

hurt|le /hɜː ^r t ^ə l/ (hurtles , hurtling , hurtled ) VERB If someone or something hurtles somewhere, they move there very quickly, often in a rough or violent way. □ [V prep] A pretty young girl came hurtling down the stairs.

hus|band ◆◆◆ /hʌ zbənd/ (husbands ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's husband is the man they are married to. □ Eva married her husband Jack in 1957.

hus|band|ry /hʌ zbəndri/ N‑UNCOUNT Husbandry is farming animals, especially when it is done carefully and well.

hush /hʌ ʃ/ (hushes , hushing , hushed )

1 CONVENTION You say ' Hush! ' to someone when you are asking or telling them to be quiet. □ Hush, my love, it's all right.

2 VERB If you hush someone or if they hush , they stop speaking or making a noise. □ [V n] She tried to hush her noisy father. □ [V ] I had to box Max's ears to get him to hush.

3 N‑SING You say there is a hush in a place when everything is quiet and peaceful, or suddenly becomes quiet. □ A hush fell over the crowd and I knew something terrible had happened.

▸ hush up PHRASAL VERB If someone hushes something up , they prevent other people from knowing about it. □ [V n P ] The star shot him with an air rifle, then offered him money to hush it up. □ [V P n] The Ministry desperately tried to hush up the whole affair.

hushed /hʌ ʃt/

1 ADJ A hushed place is peaceful and much quieter and calmer than usual. □ The house seemed muted, hushed as if it had been deserted.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A hushed voice or hushed conversation is very quiet. □ We discussed the situation in hushed whispers.

hu sh-hu sh ADJ Something that is hush-hush is secret and not to be discussed with other people. [INFORMAL ] □ Apparently there's a very hush-hush project under way up north.

hu sh mon|ey N‑UNCOUNT If a person is paid hush money , someone gives them money not to reveal information they have which could be damaging or embarrassing. [INFORMAL ]

husk /hʌ sk/ (husks ) N‑COUNT A husk is the outer covering of a grain or a seed.

husky /hʌ ski/ (huskier , huskiest , huskies )

1 ADJ If someone's voice is husky , it is low and rather rough, often in an attractive way. □ His voice was husky with grief. □ …Dietrich's deep, husky voice. ● huski|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ 'Ready?' I asked huskily.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a man as husky , you think that he is tall, strong, and attractive. [INFORMAL ] □ …a very husky young man, built like a football player.

3 N‑COUNT A husky is a strong, furry dog, which is used to pull sledges across snow.

hus|sy /hʌ si, [AM ] hʌ zi/ (hussies ) N‑COUNT If someone refers to a girl or woman as a hussy , they are criticizing her for behaving in a shocking or immoral way. [HUMOROUS , OLD-FASHIONED , DISAPPROVAL ]

hus|tings /hʌ st I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL The political campaigns and speeches before an election are sometimes referred to as the hustings . [mainly BRIT ] □ With only days to go before elections in Pakistan, candidates are battling it out at the hustings.

hus|tle /hʌ s ^ə l/ (hustles , hustling , hustled )

1 VERB If you hustle someone, you try to make them go somewhere or do something quickly, for example by pulling or pushing them along. □ [V n prep/adv] The guards hustled Harry out of the car.

2 VERB If you hustle , you go somewhere or do something as quickly as you can. □ [V ] You'll have to hustle if you're to get home for supper. □ [V to-inf] They had finished the exam and the teacher was hustling to get the papers gathered up.

3 VERB If someone hustles , they try to earn money or gain an advantage from a situation, often by using dishonest or illegal means. [mainly AM ] □ [V ] We're expected to hustle and fight for what we want. □ [V n + from ] I hustled some tickets from a magazine and off we went.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Hustle is busy, noisy activity. □ Shell Cottage provides the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of London.

hus|tler /hʌ slə ^r / (hustlers )

1 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a hustler , you mean that they try to earn money or gain an advantage from situations they are in by using dishonest or illegal methods. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an insurance hustler.

2 N‑COUNT A hustler is a prostitute, especially a male prostitute. [INFORMAL ]

hut /hʌ t/ (huts )

1 N‑COUNT A hut is a small house with only one or two rooms, especially one which is made of wood, mud, grass, or stones.

2 N‑COUNT A hut is a small wooden building in someone's garden, or a temporary building used by builders or repair workers.

hutch /hʌ tʃ/ (hutches ) N‑COUNT A hutch is a wooden structure that rabbits or other small pet animals are kept in.

hya|cinth /ha I əs I nθ/ (hyacinths ) N‑COUNT A hyacinth is a plant with a lot of small, sweet-smelling flowers growing closely around a single stem. It grows from a bulb and the flowers are usually blue, pink, or white.

hy|brid /ha I br I d/ (hybrids )

1 N‑COUNT A hybrid is an animal or plant that has been bred from two different species of animal or plant. [TECHNICAL ] □ All these brightly coloured hybrids are so lovely in the garden. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Hybrid is also an adjective. □ …the hybrid maize seed.

2 N‑COUNT You can use hybrid to refer to anything that is a mixture of other things, especially two other things. □ [+ of ] …a hybrid of solid and liquid fuel. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Hybrid is also an adjective. □ …a hybrid system.

3 N‑COUNT A hybrid or a hybrid car is a car that has both an electric motor and an ordinary car engine. It uses the ordinary engine when it needs extra power. □ Hybrids, unlike pure electric cars, never need to be plugged in. □ Hybrid cars can go almost 600 miles between refueling.

hy|brid|ize /ha I br I da I z/ (hybridizes , hybridizing , hybridized ) in BRIT, also use hybridise VERB If one species of plant or animal hybridizes with another, the species reproduce together to make a hybrid. You can also say that you hybridize one species of plant or animal with another. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V ] All sorts of colours will result as these flowers hybridise freely. □ [V + with ] Wild boar readily hybridises with the domestic pig. □ [V n] Hybridising the two species will reduce the red to orange. □ [V n + with ] Some people will take the seeds and hybridize the resulting plants with others of their own.

hy|drant /ha I drənt/ (hydrants ) → see fire hydrant

hy|drate /ha I dre I t/ (hydrates , hydrating , hydrated )

1 N‑VAR A hydrate is a chemical compound that contains water. □ …aluminium hydrate.

2 VERB If a substance hydrates your skin, it makes it softer and less dry. □ [V n] After-sun products will cool and hydrate your skin.

hy|drau|lic /ha I drɒ l I k, [AM ] -drɔː l-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Hydraulic equipment or machinery involves or is operated by a fluid that is under pressure, such as water or oil. □ The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps. ● hy|drau|li|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …hydraulically operated pistons for raising and lowering the blade.

hy|drau|lics /ha I drɒ l I ks, [AM ] -drɔː l-/ N‑UNCOUNT Hydraulics is the study and use of systems that work using hydraulic pressure.

hydro|car|bon /ha I droʊkɑː ^r b ^ə n/ (hydrocarbons ) N‑COUNT A hydrocarbon is a chemical compound that is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon.

hydro|chlo|ric acid /ha I drəklɒr I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Hydrochloric acid is a colourless, strong acid containing hydrogen and chlorine.

hydro|elec|tric /ha I droʊ I le ktr I k/ also hydro-electric ADJ [ADJ n] Hydroelectric means relating to or involving electricity made from the energy of running water.

hydro|elec|tric|ity /ha I droʊ I lektr I s I ti/ also hydro-electricity N‑UNCOUNT Hydroelectricity is electricity made from the energy of running water.

hydro|foil /ha I drəfɔ I l/ (hydrofoils ) N‑COUNT A hydrofoil is a boat which can travel partly out of the water on a pair of flat parts like wings. You can also refer to the flat parts as hydrofoils .

hydro|gen /ha I drədʒ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Hydrogen is a colourless gas that is the lightest and commonest element in the universe.

hy dro|gen bomb (hydrogen bombs ) N‑COUNT A hydrogen bomb is a nuclear bomb in which energy is released from hydrogen atoms.

hy dro|gen per|o x|ide N‑UNCOUNT Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that is often used to make hair lighter or to kill germs.

hydro|plane /ha I drəple I n/ (hydroplanes ) N‑COUNT A hydroplane is a speedboat which rises out of the water when it is travelling fast.

hydro|thera|py /ha I droʊθe rəpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Hydrotherapy is a method of treating people with some diseases or injuries by making them swim or do exercises in water.

hy|ena /ha I iː nə/ (hyenas ) N‑COUNT A hyena is an animal that looks rather like a dog and makes a sound which is similar to a human laugh. Hyenas live in Africa and Asia.

hy|giene /ha I dʒiːn/ N‑UNCOUNT Hygiene is the practice of keeping yourself and your surroundings clean, especially in order to prevent illness or the spread of diseases. □ Be extra careful about personal hygiene.

hy|gien|ic /ha I dʒiː n I k, [AM ] ha I dʒie n I k/ ADJ Something that is hygienic is clean and unlikely to cause illness. □ …a white, clinical-looking kitchen that was easy to keep clean and hygienic.

hy|gien|ist /ha I dʒiː n I st/ (hygienists ) N‑COUNT A hygienist or a dental hygienist is a person who is trained to clean people's teeth and to give them advice on how to look after their teeth and gums.

hy|men /ha I men/ (hymens ) N‑COUNT A hymen is a piece of skin that often covers part of a girl's or woman's vagina and breaks, usually when she has sex for the first time. [MEDICAL ]

hymn /h I m/ (hymns )

1 N‑COUNT A hymn is a religious song that Christians sing in church. □ I like singing hymns. □ …a hymn book.

2 N‑COUNT If you describe a film, book, or speech as a hymn to something, you mean that it praises or celebrates that thing. [mainly JOURNALISM ] □ [+ to ] …a hymn to freedom and rebellion.

hym|nal /h I mn ^ə l/ (hymnals ) N‑COUNT A hymnal is a book of hymns. [FORMAL ]

hype /ha I p/ (hypes , hyping , hyped )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Hype is the use of a lot of publicity and advertising to make people interested in something such as a product. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ We are certainly seeing a lot of hype by some companies.

2 VERB To hype a product means to advertise or praise it a lot. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] We had to hype the film to attract the financiers. ● PHRASAL VERB Hype up means the same as hype . □ [V P n] The media seems obsessed with hyping up individuals or groups. [Also V n P ]

▸ hype up

1 PHRASAL VERB To hype someone up means to deliberately make them very excited about something. □ [V n P ] Everyone at school used to hype each other up about men all the time. [Also V P n]

2 → see also hype 2

hy ped u p also hyped-up ADJ If someone is hyped up about something, they are very excited or anxious about it. [INFORMAL ] □ We were both so hyped up about buying the house, we could not wait to get in there.

hy|per /ha I pə ^r / ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is hyper , they are very excited and energetic. [INFORMAL ] □ I was incredibly hyper. I couldn't sleep.

PREFIX hyper-

forms adjectives that refer to people or things that have a large amount of, or too much, of a particular quality. For example, someone who is hypersensitive becomes annoyed or offended very easily.

hyper|ac|tive /ha I pəræ kt I v/ ADJ Someone who is hyperactive is unable to relax and is always moving about or doing things. □ His research was used in planning treatments for hyperactive children. ● hyper|ac|tiv|ity /ha I pərækt I v I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …an extreme case of hyperactivity.

hyper|bo|le /ha I pɜː ^r bəli/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone uses hyperbole , they say or write things that make something sound much more impressive than it really is. [TECHNICAL , FORMAL ] □ …the hyperbole that portrays him as one of the greatest visionaries in the world.

hyper|bol|ic /ha I pə ^r bɒ l I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hyperbolic language makes something sound much more impressive than it really is. [TECHNICAL , FORMAL ]

hyper|con|nec|tiv|ity /ha I pə ^r kɒnekt I vəti/ N‑UNCOUNT Hyperconnectivity is the use of many systems and devices so that you are always connected to social networks and other sources of information. □ The team is studying the effects of hyperconnectivity on the brain.

hyper|in|fla|tion /ha I pər I nfle I ʃ ^ə n/ also hyper-inflation N‑UNCOUNT Hyperinflation is very severe inflation.

hyper|link /ha I pə ^r l I ŋk/ (hyperlinks , hyperlinking , hyperlinked )

1 N‑COUNT In an HTML document, a hyperlink is a link to another part of the document or to another document. Hyperlinks are shown as words with a line under them. [COMPUTING ]

2 VERB [usu passive] If a document or file is hyperlinked , it contains hyperlinks. [COMPUTING ] □ [be V -ed] The database is fully hyperlinked.

hyper|mar|ket /ha I pə ^r mɑː ^r k I t/ (hypermarkets ) N‑COUNT A hypermarket is a very large supermarket. [mainly BRIT ]

hyper|sen|si|tive /ha I pə ^r se ns I t I v/

1 ADJ If you say that someone is hypersensitive , you mean that they get annoyed or offended very easily. □ [+ to/about ] Student teachers were hypersensitive to any criticism of their performance.

2 ADJ Someone who is hypersensitive is extremely sensitive to certain drugs or chemicals. [MEDICAL ]

hyper|ten|sion /ha I pə ^r te nʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Hypertension is a medical condition in which a person has very high blood pressure. □ He has always suffered from hypertension.

hyper|text /ha I pə ^r tekst/ N‑UNCOUNT In computing, hypertext is a way of connecting pieces of text so that you can go quickly and directly from one to another. [COMPUTING ]

hy|per|ven|ti|late /ha I pə ^r vent I le I t/ (hyperventilates , hyperventilating , hyperventilated ) VERB If someone hyperventilates , they begin to breathe very fast in an uncontrollable way, usually because they are very frightened, tired, or excited. □ [V ] I hyperventilate when they come near me with the needle. ● hyper|ven|ti|la|tion /ha I pə ^r ve nt I le I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …the effects of hyperventilation.

hy|phen /ha I f ^ə n/ (hyphens ) N‑COUNT A hyphen is the punctuation sign used to join words together to make a compound, as in 'left-handed'. People also use a hyphen to show that the rest of a word is on the next line.

hy|phen|at|ed /ha I fəne I t I d/ ADJ A word that is hyphenated is written with a hyphen between two or more of its parts. □ …hyphenated names such as Wong-Shong or Li-Wong.

hyp|no|sis /h I pnoʊ s I s/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Hypnosis is a state in which a person seems to be asleep but can still see, hear, or respond to things said to them. □ Bevin is now an adult and has re-lived her birth experience under hypnosis.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Hypnosis is the art or practice of hypnotizing people.

hyp|no|thera|pist /h I pnoʊθe rəp I st/ (hypnotherapists ) N‑COUNT A hypnotherapist is a person who treats people by using hypnotherapy.

hyp|no|thera|py /h I pnoʊθe rəpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Hypnotherapy is the practice of hypnotizing people in order to help them with a mental or physical problem, for example to help them give up smoking.

hyp|not|ic /h I pnɒ t I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone is in a hypnotic state, they have been hypnotized. □ The hypnotic state actually lies somewhere between being awake and being asleep.

2 ADJ Something that is hypnotic holds your attention or makes you feel sleepy, often because it involves repeated sounds, pictures, or movements. □ His songs are often both hypnotic and reassuringly pleasant.

hyp|no|tise /h I pnəta I z/ → see hypnotize

hyp|no|tism /h I pnət I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Hypnotism is the practice of hypnotizing people. ● hyp|no|tist (hypnotists ) N‑COUNT □ He was put into a trance by a police hypnotist.

hyp|no|tize /h I pnəta I z/ (hypnotizes , hypnotizing , hypnotized ) in BRIT, also use hypnotise 1 VERB If someone hypnotizes you, they put you into a state in which you seem to be asleep but can still see, hear, or respond to things said to you. □ [V n] A hypnotherapist will hypnotize you and will stop you from smoking.

2 VERB [usu passive] If you are hypnotized by someone or something, you are so fascinated by them that you cannot think of anything else. □ [be V -ed] He's hypnotized by that black hair and that white face. □ [V -ed] Davey sat as if hypnotized by the sound of Nick's voice.

hypo|chon|dria /ha I pəkɒ ndriə/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone suffers from hypochondria , they continually worry about their health and falsely imagine that they are ill.

hypo|chon|dri|ac /ha I pəkɒ ndriæk/ (hypochondriacs ) N‑COUNT A hypochondriac is a person who continually worries about their health, although there is really nothing wrong with them.

hy|poc|ri|sy /h I pɒ kr I si/ (hypocrisies ) N‑VAR If you accuse someone of hypocrisy , you mean that they pretend to have qualities, beliefs, or feelings that they do not really have. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He accused newspapers of hypocrisy in their treatment of the story.

hypo|crite /h I pəkr I t/ (hypocrites ) N‑COUNT If you accuse someone of being a hypocrite , you mean that they pretend to have qualities, beliefs, or feelings that they do not really have. [DISAPPROVAL ]

hypo|criti|cal /h I pəkr I t I k ^ə l/ ADJ If you accuse someone of being hypocritical , you mean that they pretend to have qualities, beliefs, or feelings that they do not really have. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It would be hypocritical to say I travel at 70mph simply because that is the law.

hypo|der|mic /ha I pədɜː ^r m I k/ (hypodermics ) ADJ [ADJ n] A hypodermic needle or syringe is a medical instrument with a hollow needle, which is used to give injections. ● N‑COUNT Hypodermic is also a noun. □ He held up a hypodermic to check the dosage.

hy|pot|enuse /ha I pɒ tənjuːz, [AM ] -nuːs/ (hypotenuses ) N‑COUNT The hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is the side opposite its right angle. [TECHNICAL ]

hypo|thala|mus /ha I pəθæ ləməs/ (hypothalami /ha I pəθæ ləma I /) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that links the nervous system to the glands in the body that produce hormones. It is involved in controlling emotions, hunger, thirst, and sleep. [TECHNICAL ]

hypo|ther|mia /ha I poʊθɜː ^r miə/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone has hypothermia , their body temperature has become dangerously low as a result of being in severe cold for a long time. [MEDICAL ]

hy|poth|esis /ha I pɒ θ I s I s/ (hypotheses ) N‑VAR A hypothesis is an idea which is suggested as a possible explanation for a particular situation or condition, but which has not yet been proved to be correct. [FORMAL ] □ Work will now begin to test the hypothesis in rats.

hy|poth|esize /ha I pɒ θ I sa I z/ (hypothesizes , hypothesizing , hypothesized ) in BRIT, also use hypothesise VERB If you hypothesize that something will happen, you say that you think that thing will happen because of various facts you have considered. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] To explain this, they hypothesise that galaxies must contain a great deal of missing matter which cannot be detected. □ [V n] I have long hypothesized a connection between these factors. [Also V ]

hypo|theti|cal /ha I pəθe t I k ^ə l/ ADJ If something is hypothetical , it is based on possible ideas or situations rather than actual ones. □ Ed poses a series of hypothetical situations to see what Mitch would be willing to do if he knew no one would find out. □ …a purely hypothetical question. ● hypo|theti|cal|ly /ha I pəθe t I kli/ ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ He was invariably willing to discuss the possibilities hypothetically.

hys|ter|ec|to|my /h I stəre ktəmi/ (hysterectomies ) N‑COUNT A hysterectomy is a surgical operation to remove a woman's womb.

hys|te|ria /h I st I ə riə, [AM ] -ste r-/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Hysteria among a group of people is a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. □ No one could help getting carried away by the hysteria.

2 N‑UNCOUNT A person who is suffering from hysteria is in a state of violent and disturbed emotion as a result of shock. [MEDICAL ] □ By now, she was screaming, completely overcome with hysteria.

hys|teri|cal /h I ste r I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ Someone who is hysterical is in a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. □ The singer had to leave by a side exit to flee 200 hysterical fans. ● hys|teri|cal|ly /h I ste r I kli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj/adv] □ I don't think we can go round screaming hysterically: 'Ban these dogs. Muzzle all dogs.'

2 ADJ Someone who is hysterical is in a state of violent and disturbed emotion that is usually a result of shock. □ I suffered bouts of really hysterical depression. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV □ I was curled up on the floor in a corner sobbing hysterically.

3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hysterical laughter is loud and uncontrolled. [INFORMAL ] □ I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She says she hasn't laughed as hysterically since she was 13.

4 ADJ If you describe something or someone as hysterical , you think that they are very funny and they make you laugh a lot. [INFORMAL ] □ Paul Mazursky was Master of Ceremonies, and he was pretty hysterical. ● hys|teri|cal|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ It wasn't supposed to be a comedy but I found it hysterically funny.

hys|ter|ics /h I ste r I ks/

1 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] If someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics , they are in a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic. [INFORMAL ] □ I'm sick of your having hysterics, okay?

2 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] If someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics , they are in a state of violent and disturbed emotion that is usually a result of shock. □ It was such a shock I had hysterics.

3 N‑PLURAL [oft in N ] You can say that someone is in hysterics or is having hysterics when they are laughing loudly in an uncontrolled way. [INFORMAL ] □ He'd often have us all in absolute hysterics.