COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

3 ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] If two people are apart , they are no longer living together or spending time together, either permanently or just for a short time. □ It was the first time Jane and I had been apart for more than a few days. □ The law forbade spouses to live apart for any length of time.

4 ADV [ADV after v] If you take something apart , you separate it into the pieces that it is made of. If it comes or falls apart , its parts separate from each other. □ When the clock stopped he took it apart to find out what was wrong. □ Many school buildings are unsafe, and some are falling apart.

5 ADV [ADV after v] If something such as an organization or relationship falls apart , or if something tears it apart , it can no longer continue because it has serious difficulties. □ Any manager knows that his company will start falling apart if his attention wanders.

6 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] If something sets someone or something apart , it makes them different from other people or things. □ What really sets Mr Thaksin apart is that he comes from northern Thailand.

7 ADJ If people or groups are a long way apart on a particular topic or issue, they have completely different views and disagree about it. □ Their concept of a performance and our concept were miles apart.

8 PHRASE If you can't tell two people or things apart , they look exactly the same to you. □ I can still only tell Mark and Dave apart by the colour of their shoes!

➋ apart ◆◇◇ /əpɑː ^r t/

1 PHRASE You use apart from when you are making an exception to a general statement. □ There were nine others apart from me and the trainer.

2 ADV [n ADV ] You use apart when you are making an exception to a general statement. □ This was, New York apart, the first American city I had ever been in where people actually lived downtown.

3 PHRASE You use apart from to indicate that you are aware of one aspect of a situation, but that you are going to focus on another aspect. □ Illiteracy threatens Britain's industrial performance. But, quite apart from that, the individual who cannot read or write is unlikely to get a job.

apart|heid /əpɑː ^r tha I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Apartheid was a political system in South Africa in which people were divided into racial groups and kept apart by law. □ He praised her role in the struggle against apartheid. □ …the anti-apartheid movement.

apart|ment ◆◇◇ /əpɑː ^r tmənt/ (apartments ) N‑COUNT An apartment is a set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a large building. [mainly AM ] □ …bleak cities of concrete apartment blocks. in BRIT, use flat

apa rt|ment build|ing (apartment buildings ) or apartment house N‑COUNT An apartment building or apartment house is a tall building which contains different apartments on different floors. [AM ] in BRIT, use block of flats

apa|thet|ic /æ pəθe t I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as apathetic , you are criticizing them because they do not seem to be interested in or enthusiastic about doing anything. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Even the most apathetic students are beginning to sit up and listen.

apa|thy /æ pəθi/ N‑UNCOUNT You can use apathy to talk about someone's state of mind if you are criticizing them because they do not seem to be interested in or enthusiastic about anything. [DISAPPROVAL ]

ape /e I p/ (apes , aping , aped )

1 N‑COUNT Apes are chimpanzees, gorillas, and other animals in the same family.

2 VERB If you ape someone's speech or behaviour, you imitate it. □ [V n] Modelling yourself on someone you admire is not the same as aping all they say or do.

ape|ri|tif /æpe r I tiː f/ (aperitifs ) N‑COUNT An aperitif is an alcoholic drink that you have before a meal.

ap|er|ture /æ pə ^r tʃə ^r / (apertures )

1 N‑COUNT An aperture is a narrow hole or gap. [FORMAL ] □ Through the aperture he could see daylight.

2 N‑COUNT In photography, the aperture of a camera is the size of the hole through which light passes to reach the film.

apex /e I peks/ (apexes )

1 N‑SING The apex of an organization or system is the highest and most important position in it. □ At the apex of the party was its central committee.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The apex of something is its pointed top or end. □ …the apex of the pyramid.

Apex /e I peks/ also APEX N‑SING [usu N n] An Apex or an Apex ticket is a ticket for a journey by air or rail which costs less than the standard ticket, but which you have to book a specified period in advance. □ The Apex fare is £195 return.

apha|sia /əfe I ziə, -ʒə/ N‑UNCOUNT Aphasia is a mental condition in which people are often unable to remember simple words or communicate. [MEDICAL ]

aphid /e I f I d/ (aphids ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Aphids are very small insects which live on plants and suck their juices.

apho|rism /æ fər I zəm/ (aphorisms ) N‑COUNT An aphorism is a short witty sentence which expresses a general truth or comment. [FORMAL ] □ 'What if they gave a war and nobody came?' was one of his generation's favored aphorisms.

aph|ro|disi|ac /æ frəd I ziæk/ (aphrodisiacs ) N‑COUNT An aphrodisiac is a food, drink, or drug which is said to make people want to have sex. □ Asparagus is reputed to be an aphrodisiac.

apiece /əpiː s/

1 ADV If people have a particular number of things apiece , they have that number each. □ He and I had two fish apiece. □ The winners got $23,250 apiece.

2 ADV If a number of similar things are for sale at a certain price apiece , that is the price for each one of them. □ Entire roast chickens were sixty cents apiece.

aplen|ty /əple nti/ ADV [n ADV ] If you have something aplenty , you have a lot of it. [LITERARY ] □ There were problems aplenty at work.

aplomb /əplɒ m/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu with N ] If you do something with aplomb , you do it with confidence in a relaxed way. [FORMAL ]

apoca|lypse /əpɒ kəl I ps/ N‑SING The apocalypse is the total destruction and end of the world.

apoca|lyp|tic /əpɒ kəl I pt I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to the total destruction of something, especially of the world. □ …the reformer's apocalyptic warnings that the nation was running out of natural resources.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Apocalyptic means relating to or involving predictions about future disasters and the destruction of the world. □ …a gloomy and apocalyptic vision of a world hastening towards ruin.

apoc|ry|phal /əpɒ kr I f ^ə l/ ADJ An apocryphal story is one which is probably not true or did not happen, but which may give a true picture of someone or something.

apo|gee /æ pədʒiː/ N‑SING The apogee of something such as a culture or a business is its highest or its greatest point. [FORMAL ]

apo|liti|cal /e I pəl I t I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ Someone who is apolitical is not interested in politics. □ As a musician, you cannot be apolitical.

2 ADJ If you describe an organization or an activity as apolitical , you mean that it is not linked to a particular political party. □ …the normally apolitical European Commission.

apolo|get|ic /əpɒ lədʒe t I k/ ADJ If you are apologetic , you show or say that you are sorry for causing trouble for someone, for hurting them, or for disappointing them. □ The hospital staff were very apologetic but that couldn't really compensate. □ 'I don't follow football,' she said with an apologetic smile. ● apolo|geti|cal|ly /əpɒ lədʒe t I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ 'It's of no great literary merit,' he said, almost apologetically.

apo|lo|gia /æ pəloʊ dʒiə/ (apologias ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] An apologia is a statement in which you defend something that you strongly believe in, for example a way of life, a person's behaviour, or a philosophy. [FORMAL ] □ The left have seen the work as an apologia for privilege and property.

apolo|gise /əpɒ lədʒa I z/ → see apologize

apolo|gist /əpɒ lədʒ I st/ (apologists ) N‑COUNT An apologist is a person who writes or speaks in defence of a belief, a cause, or a person's life. [FORMAL ] □ 'I am no apologist for Hitler,' observed Pyat.

apolo|gize /əpɒ lədʒa I z/ (apologizes , apologizing , apologized ) in BRIT, also use apologise VERB When you apologize to someone, you say that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them. You can say ' I apologize ' as a formal way of saying sorry. □ [V + for ] I apologize for being late. □ [V ] Costello later apologized, saying he'd been annoyed by the man. □ [V + to ] He apologized to the people who had been affected. [Also V with quote]

apol|ogy /əpɒ lədʒi/ (apologies )

1 N‑VAR An apology is something that you say or write in order to tell someone that you are sorry that you have hurt them or caused trouble for them. □ We received a letter of apology. □ He made a public apology for the team's performance.

2 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] If you offer or make your apologies , you apologize. [FORMAL ] □ When Mary finally appeared, she made her apologies to Mrs Madrigal.

3 PHRASE If you say that you make no apologies for what you have done, you are emphasizing that you feel that you have done nothing wrong. □ Union officials made no apologies for the threatened chaos.

apo|plec|tic /æ pəple kt I k/ ADJ If someone is apoplectic , they are extremely angry about something. [FORMAL ] □ It's enough to make them choke with apoplectic rage.

apo|plexy /æ pəpleksi/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Apoplexy is a stroke. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

2 N‑UNCOUNT Apoplexy is extreme anger. [FORMAL ] □ He has already caused apoplexy with his books on class and on war.

apos|ta|sy /əpɒ stəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT If someone is accused of apostasy , they are accused of abandoning their religious faith, political loyalties, or principles. [FORMAL ] □ …a charge of apostasy.

apos|tate /əpɒ ste I t/ (apostates ) N‑COUNT An apostate is someone who has abandoned their religious faith, political loyalties, or principles. [FORMAL ]

apos|tle /əpɒ s ^ə l/ (apostles )

1 N‑COUNT The apostles were the followers of Jesus Christ who went from place to place telling people about him and trying to persuade them to become Christians.

2 N‑COUNT An apostle of a particular philosophy, policy, or cause is someone who strongly believes in it and works hard to promote it. □ [+ of ] Her mother was a dedicated apostle of healthy eating.

Ap|os|tol|ic /æ pɒstɒ l I k/

1 ADJ Apostolic means belonging or relating to a Christian religious leader, especially the Pope. □ The work would be done by an apostolic administrator appointed by Rome.

2 ADJ Apostolic means belonging or relating to the early followers of Christ and to their teaching. □ He saw his vocation as one of prayer and apostolic work.

apos|tro|phe /əpɒ strəfi/ (apostrophes ) N‑COUNT An apostrophe is the mark ' when it is written to indicate that one or more letters have been left out of a word, as in 'isn't' and 'we'll'. It is also added to nouns to form possessives, as in 'Mike's car'.

apoth|ecary /əpɒ θ I kri, [AM ] -keri/ (apothecaries ) N‑COUNT An apothecary was a person who prepared medicines for people. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

apoth|eo|sis /əpɒ θioʊ s I s/

1 N‑SING If something is the apotheosis of something else, it is an ideal or typical example of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The Oriental in Bangkok is the apotheosis of the grand hotel.

2 N‑SING [with poss] If you describe an event or a time as someone's apotheosis , you mean that it was the high point in their career or their life. [FORMAL ]

app /æ p/ (apps )

1 N‑COUNT An app is a computer program that is written and designed for a specific purpose. [COMPUTING ] □ …a basic picture-editing app.

2 N‑COUNT An app is a computer program that is designed for use on a mobile digital device. [COMPUTING ] □ The company recently launched a free phone app that translates conversations while you speak.

ap|pal /əpɔː l/ (appals , appalling , appalled ) in AM, use appall VERB If something appals you, it disgusts you because it seems so bad or unpleasant. □ [V n] His ignorance appals me. [Also V ]

ap|palled /əpɔː ld/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are appalled by something, you are shocked or disgusted because it is so bad or unpleasant. □ We are appalled that such items are still on sale.

ap|pal|ling /əpɔː l I ŋ/

1 ADJ Something that is appalling is so bad or unpleasant that it shocks you. □ They have been living under the most appalling conditions for two months. ● ap|pal|ling|ly ADV □ He says that he understands why they behaved so appallingly.

2 ADJ You can use appalling to emphasize that something is very great or severe. [EMPHASIS ] □ I developed an appalling headache. ● ap|pal|ling|ly ADV □ It's been an appallingly busy morning.

3 → see also appal

ap|pa|rat|chik /æ pəræ tʃ I k/ (apparatchiks ) N‑COUNT An apparatchik is someone who works for a government or a political party and who obeys orders. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

ap|pa|rat|us /æ pəre I təs, -ræ t-/ (apparatuses )

1 N‑VAR The apparatus of an organization or system is its structure and method of operation. □ For many years, the country had been buried under the apparatus of the regime.

2 N‑VAR Apparatus is the equipment, such as tools and machines, which is used to do a particular job or activity. □ One of the boys had to be rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.

ap|par|el /əpæ rəl/ N‑UNCOUNT Apparel means clothes, especially formal clothes worn on an important occasion. [mainly AM , FORMAL ]

ap|par|ent ◆◇◇ /əpæ rənt/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] An apparent situation, quality, or feeling seems to exist, although you cannot be certain that it does exist. □ I was a bit depressed by our apparent lack of progress.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something is apparent to you, it is clear and obvious to you. □ It has been apparent that in other areas standards have held up well.

3 PHRASE If you say that something happens for no apparent reason , you cannot understand why it happens. □ The person may become dizzy for no apparent reason.

ap|par|ent|ly ◆◆◇ /əpæ rəntli/

1 ADV [ADV before v] You use apparently to indicate that the information you are giving is something that you have heard, but you are not certain that it is true. [VAGUENESS ] □ Oil prices fell this week, apparently because of over-production.

2 ADV [ADV before v] You use apparently to refer to something that seems to be true, although you are not sure whether it is or not. □ The recent deterioration has been caused by an apparently endless recession. SYNONYMS apparently ADV 2

seemingly: He is a man with seemingly not an ounce of malice in him.

outwardly: Outwardly this looked like the beginning of a terrific programme.

ostensibly: He gave an interview ostensibly to talk about the economy.

ap|pa|ri|tion /æ pər I ʃ ^ə n/ (apparitions ) N‑COUNT An apparition is someone you see or think you see but who is not really there as a physical being. [FORMAL ]

ap|peal ◆◆◇ /əpiː l/ (appeals , appealing , appealed )

1 VERB If you appeal to someone to do something, you make a serious and urgent request to them. □ [V + to/for ] The Prime Minister appealed to young people to use their vote. □ [V + to ] He will appeal to the state for an extension of unemployment benefits. □ [V + for ] The United Nations has appealed for help from the international community.

2 N‑COUNT [N to-inf] An appeal is a serious and urgent request. □ [+ to ] Romania's government issued a last-minute appeal to him to call off his trip.

3 N‑COUNT [oft N to-inf] An appeal is an attempt to raise money for a charity or for a good cause. □ …an appeal to save a library containing priceless manuscripts.

4 VERB If you appeal to someone in authority against a decision, you formally ask them to change it. In British English, you appeal against something. In American English, you appeal something. □ [V + against ] He said they would appeal against the decision. □ [V n] We intend to appeal the verdict. □ [V + to ] Maguire has appealed to the Supreme Court to stop her extradition.

5 N‑VAR An appeal is a formal request for a decision to be changed. □ [+ against ] Heath's appeal against the sentence was later successful. □ The jury agreed with her, but she lost the case on appeal.

6 → see also Court of Appeal

7 VERB If something appeals to you, you find it attractive or interesting. □ [V + to ] On the other hand, the idea appealed to him. [Also V ]

8 N‑UNCOUNT The appeal of something is a quality that it has which people find attractive or interesting. □ Its new title was meant to give the party greater public appeal.

9 → see also sex appeal

10 → see also appealing SYNONYMS appeal VERB 1

beg: I begged to be allowed to leave.

request: They requested him to leave.

plead: The lady pleaded with her daughter to come back home.

implore: Opposition leaders this week implored the president to break the deadlock. NOUN 2

plea: …an impassioned plea to mankind to act to save the planet.

call: There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement.

request: Vietnam made an official request that the meeting be postponed.

ap|pea l cou rt (appeal courts ) N‑COUNT An appeal court is the same as a Court of Appeal .

ap|peal|ing /əpiː l I ŋ/

1 ADJ Someone or something that is appealing is pleasing and attractive. □ There was a sense of humour to what he did that I found very appealing.

2 ADJ An appealing expression or tone of voice indicates to someone that you want help, advice, or approval. □ She gave him a soft appealing look that would have melted solid ice.

3 → see also appeal

ap|pea l tri|bu |nal (appeal tribunals ) N‑COUNT An appeal tribunal is a special court or committee that is formed to reconsider a decision made by another court or committee.

ap|pear ◆◆◆ /əp I ə ^r / (appears , appearing , appeared )

1 V‑LINK [no cont] If you say that something appears to be the way you describe it, you are reporting what you believe or what you have been told, though you cannot be sure it is true. [VAGUENESS ] □ [V to-inf] There appears to be increasing support for the leadership to take a more aggressive stance. □ [V to-inf] The aircraft appears to have crashed near Katmandu. □ [V that] It appears that some missiles have been moved. □ [V adj] It appears unlikely that the U.N. would consider making such a move. □ [V n] The presidency is beginning to appear a political irrelevance. □ [V adj] He appeared willing to reach an agreement.

2 V‑LINK [no cont] If someone or something appears to have a particular quality or characteristic, they give the impression of having that quality or characteristic. □ [V adj] She did her best to appear more self-assured than she felt. □ [V n] He is anxious to appear a gentleman. □ [V to-inf] Under stress these people will appear to be superficial, over-eager and manipulative.

3 VERB When someone or something appears , they move into a position where you can see them. □ [V ] A woman appeared at the far end of the street. [Also there V n]

4 VERB When something new appears , it begins to exist or reaches a stage of development where its existence can be noticed. □ [V ] …small white flowers which appear in early summer. □ [V ] Slogans have appeared on walls around the city. [Also there V n]

5 VERB When something such as a book appears , it is published or becomes available for people to buy. □ [V ] …a poem which appeared in his last collection of verse.

6 VERB When someone appears in something such as a play, a show, or a television programme, they take part in it. □ [V + in ] Jill Bennett appeared in several of his plays. □ [V + on ] Student leaders appeared on television to ask for calm. [Also V + at ]

7 VERB When someone appears before a court of law or before an official committee, they go there in order to answer charges or to give information as a witness. □ [V + at/in ] Two other executives appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court charged with tax fraud. □ [V + before ] The American will appear before members of the disciplinary committee at Portman Square.

ap|pear|ance ◆◆◇ /əp I ə rəns/ (appearances )

1 N‑COUNT When someone makes an appearance at a public event or in a broadcast, they take part in it. □ It was the president's second public appearance to date. □ He makes frequent television appearances.

2 N‑SING Someone's or something's appearance is the way that they look. □ She used to be so fussy about her appearance.

3 N‑SING The appearance of someone or something in a place is their arrival there, especially when it is unexpected. □ [+ of ] The sudden appearance of a few bags of rice could start a riot.

4 N‑SING The appearance of something new is its coming into existence or use. □ [+ of ] Fears are growing of a cholera outbreak following the appearance of a several cases in the city.

5 N‑SING If something has the appearance of a quality, it seems to have that quality. □ [+ of ] We tried to meet both children's needs without the appearance of favoritism or unfairness.

6 PHRASE If something is true to all appearances , from all appearances , or by all appearances , it seems from what you observe or know about it that it is true. □ He was a small and to all appearances an unassuming man.

7 PHRASE If you keep up appearances , you try to behave and dress in a way that people expect of you, even if you can no longer afford it. □ His parents' obsession with keeping up appearances haunted his childhood.

8 PHRASE If you put in an appearance at an event, you go to it for a short time although you may not really want to, but do not stay. SYNONYMS appearance NOUN

2

looks: I never chose people just because of their looks.

aspect: The snowy street, like the church, assumed a dumb, lifeless aspect.

look: When he came to decorate the kitchen, Kenneth opted for a friendly rustic look.

4

arrival: The coronation broadcast marked the arrival of television.

advent: The advent of war led to a greater austerity.

emergence: …the emergence of new democracies in East and Central Europe.

onset: With the onset of war, oil prices climbed past $30 a barrel.

ap|pea r|ance mon|ey N‑UNCOUNT Appearance money is money paid to a famous person such as a sports star or film star for taking part in a public event.

ap|pease /əpiː z/ (appeases , appeasing , appeased ) VERB If you try to appease someone, you try to stop them from being angry by giving them what they want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Gandhi was accused by some of trying to appease both factions of the electorate.

ap|pease|ment /əpiː zmənt/ N‑UNCOUNT Appeasement means giving people what they want to prevent them from harming you or being angry with you. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

ap|pel|lant /əpe lənt/ (appellants ) N‑COUNT An appellant is someone who is appealing against a court's decision after they have been judged guilty of a crime. [LEGAL ] □ The Court of Appeal upheld the appellants' convictions.

ap|pel|late court /əpe l I t kɔː ^r t/ (appellate courts ) N‑COUNT In the United States, an appellate court is a special court where people who have been convicted of a crime can appeal against their conviction. [AM ] in BRIT, use Court of Appeal

ap|pel|la|tion /æ pəle I ʃ ^ə n/ (appellations ) N‑COUNT An appellation is a name or title that a person, place, or thing is given. [FORMAL ] □ He earned the appellation 'rebel priest.'

ap|pend /əpe nd/ (appends , appending , appended ) VERB When you append something to something else, especially a piece of writing, you attach it or add it to the end of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Violet appended a note at the end of the letter. □ [be V -ed + to ] It was a relief that his real name hadn't been appended to the manuscript.

ap|pend|age /əpe nd I dʒ/ (appendages ) N‑COUNT An appendage is something that is joined to or connected with something larger or more important. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to/of ] The Great British Music Weekend was designed as an appendage to that year's Brit Awards.

ap|pen|di|ces /əpe nd I siːz/ Appendices is a plural form of appendix . [mainly BRIT ]

ap|pen|di|ci|tis /əpe nd I sa I t I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Appendicitis is an illness in which a person's appendix is infected and painful.

ap|pen|dix /əpe nd I ks/ (appendixes ) In British English, the plural form appendices /əpe nd I siːz/ is usually used for meaning 2 . 1 N‑COUNT Your appendix is a small closed tube inside your body which is attached to your digestive system. □ …a burst appendix.

2 N‑COUNT An appendix to a book is extra information that is placed after the end of the main text.

ap|pe|tite /æ p I ta I t/ (appetites )

1 N‑VAR Your appetite is your desire to eat. □ He has a healthy appetite. □ Symptoms are a slight fever, headache and loss of appetite.

2 N‑COUNT Someone's appetite for something is their strong desire for it. □ …Americans' growing appetite for scandal.

ap|pe|tiz|er /æ p I ta I zə ^r / (appetizers ) in BRIT, also use appetiser N‑COUNT An appetizer is the first course of a meal. It consists of a small amount of food.

ap|pe|tiz|ing /æ p I ta I z I ŋ/ in BRIT, also use appetising ADJ Appetizing food looks and smells good, so that you want to eat it. □ …the appetising smell of freshly baked bread.

ap|plaud /əplɔː d/ (applauds , applauding , applauded )

1 VERB When a group of people applaud , they clap their hands in order to show approval, for example when they have enjoyed a play or concert. □ [V ] The audience laughed and applauded. □ [V n] Every person stood to applaud his unforgettable act of courage.

2 VERB When an attitude or action is applauded , people praise it. □ [be V -ed + for ] He should be applauded for his courage. □ [be V -ed] This last move can only be applauded. □ [V n] She applauds the fact that they are promoting new ideas.

ap|plause /əplɔː z/ N‑UNCOUNT Applause is the noise made by a group of people clapping their hands to show approval. □ They greeted him with thunderous applause. □ …a round of applause.

ap|ple ◆◇◇ /æ p ^ə l/ (apples )

1 N‑VAR An apple is a round fruit with smooth green, yellow, or red skin and firm white flesh. □ I want an apple. □ …his ongoing search for the finest varieties of apple. □ …a large garden with apple trees in it.

2 → see also Adam's apple , Big Apple , crab apple

3 PHRASE If you say that someone is the apple of your eye , you mean that they are very important to you and you are extremely fond of them. □ Penny's only son was the apple of her eye.

apple|cart /æ p ^ə lkɑː ^r t/ PHRASE If you upset the applecart , you do something which causes a plan, system, or arrangement to go wrong. □ They may also be friends of the chairman, so they are reluctant to upset the applecart.

a p|ple pie (apple pies )

1 N‑COUNT An apple pie is a kind of pie made with apples.

2 PHRASE If a room or a desk is in apple pie order , it is neat and tidy, and everything is where it should be. □ They found everything in apple-pie order.

3 PHRASE If you say that something is as American as apple pie , you mean that it is typically American. □ Jeans are as American as apple pie.

a p|ple sau ce also applesauce N‑UNCOUNT Apple sauce is a type of sauce made from puréed cooked apples.

ap|plet /æ pl I t/ (applets ) N‑COUNT An applet is a computer program which is contained within a page on the internet, and which transfers itself to your computer and runs automatically while you are looking at that page. [COMPUTING ]

ap|pli|ance /əpla I əns/ (appliances )

1 N‑COUNT An appliance is a device or machine in your home that you use to do a job such as cleaning or cooking. Appliances are often electrical. [FORMAL ] □ …the vacuum cleaner, washing machine and other household appliances.

2 N‑SING The appliance of a skill or of knowledge is its use for a particular purpose. □ [+ of ] These advances were the result of the intellectual appliance of science.

ap|pli|cable /æ pl I kəb ^ə l, əpl I kə-/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Something that is applicable to a particular situation is relevant to it or can be applied to it. □ Appraisal was seen as most applicable to those in management jobs.

ap|pli|cant /æ pl I kənt/ (applicants ) N‑COUNT An applicant for something such as a job or a place at a college is someone who makes a formal written request to be given it.

ap|pli|ca|tion ◆◇◇ /æ pl I ke I ʃ ^ə n/ (applications )

1 N‑COUNT [N to-inf, oft on/upon N ] An application for something such as a job or membership of an organization is a formal written request for it. □ [+ for ] His application for membership of the organisation was rejected. □ Tickets are available on application.

2 N‑VAR The application of a rule or piece of knowledge is the use of it in a particular situation. □ [+ of ] Students learned the practical application of the theory they had learned in the classroom. [Also + to ]

3 N‑COUNT In computing, an application is a piece of software designed to carry out a particular task.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Application is hard work and concentration on what you are doing over a period of time. □ …his immense talent, boundless energy and unremitting application.

5 N‑VAR The application of something to a surface is the act or process of putting it on or rubbing it into the surface. □ [+ of ] With repeated applications of weedkiller, the weeds were overcome. COLLOCATIONS application NOUN

1

noun + application : job, licence, mortgage, patent; asylum, passport, visa; bail

adjective + application : online, postal, written; formal

application + be+ adjective : successful, unsuccessful

verb + application : lodge, make, submit; dismiss, refuse, reject; approve, process, support

2

adjective + application : clinical, industrial, practical; broad, general, wide

3

noun + application : software, web

verb + application : develop; run

5

adjective + application : topical SYNONYMS application NOUN 1

request: France had agreed to his request for political asylum.

claim: Rival claims to Macedonian territory caused conflict in the Balkans.

demand: They consistently rejected the demand to remove U.S. troops.

appeal: Romania's government issued a last-minute appeal to him to call off his trip.

ap|pli|ca|tor /æ pl I ke I tə ^r / (applicators ) N‑COUNT An applicator is a device that you use to put something somewhere when you do not want to touch it or do it with your hands.

ap|plied /əpla I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] An applied subject of study has a practical use, rather than being concerned only with theory. □ …Applied Physics. □ …plans to put more money into applied research.

ap|pli|que /əpliː ke I , [AM ] æ pl I ke I / also appliqué N‑UNCOUNT Applique is the craft of sewing fabric shapes onto larger pieces of cloth. You can also use applique to refer to things you make using this craft.

ap|pli|qued /əpliː ke I d, [AM ] æ pl I ke I d/ also appliquéd ADJ Appliqued shapes or fabric are formed from pieces of fabric which are stitched on to clothes or larger pieces of cloth. □ …a magnificent appliqued bedspread.

ap|ply ◆◆◇ /əpla I / (applies , applying , applied )

1 VERB If you apply for something such as a job or membership of an organization, you write a letter or fill in a form in order to ask formally for it. □ [V + for ] I am continuing to apply for jobs. □ [V to-inf] They may apply to join the organization.

2 VERB If you apply yourself to something or apply your mind to something, you concentrate hard on doing it or on thinking about it. □ [V pron-refl + to ] Faulks has applied himself to this task with considerable energy. □ [V n + to ] In spare moments he applied his mind to how rockets could be used to make money. [Also V pron-refl]

3 VERB [no cont] If something such as a rule or a remark applies to a person or in a situation, it is relevant to the person or the situation. □ [V + to ] The convention does not apply to us. □ [V ] The rule applies where a person owns stock in a corporation.

4 VERB If you apply something such as a rule, system, or skill, you use it in a situation or activity. □ [V n] The Government appears to be applying the same principle. □ [V n + to ] His project is concerned with applying the technology to practical business problems.

5 VERB A name that is applied to someone or something is used to refer to them. □ [be V -ed + to ] Increasingly the term is applied to people succumbing to stress in a variety of people-orientated service industries.

6 VERB If you apply something to a surface, you put it on or rub it into the surface. □ [V n + to ] The right thing would be to apply direct pressure to the wound. □ [V n] Applying the dye can be messy, particularly on long hair.

7 → see also applied COLLOCATIONS apply VERB

4

apply + noun : criterion, method, principle, rule, technique

noun + apply : conditions, principles, restrictions, rules; charges, costs, discount, terms

6

apply + noun : dye, fertiliser, make-up, paint, sunscreen; coat, layer; force, pressure SYNONYMS apply VERB 1

request: Mr Dennis said he had requested access to a telephone.

solicit: He's already solicited their support on health care reform.

appeal: The United Nations has appealed for help from the international community.

ap|point ◆◇◇ /əpɔ I nt/ (appoints , appointing , appointed )

1 VERB If you appoint someone to a job or official position, you formally choose them for it. □ [V n + to ] It made sense to appoint a banker to this job. □ [V n to-inf] The commission appointed a special investigator to conduct its own inquiry. □ [V n + as ] The Prime Minister has appointed a civilian as defence minister. □ [be V -ed n] She was appointed a U.S. delegate to the United Nations. [Also V n n, V n]

2 → see also appointed

ap|point|ed /əpɔ I nt I d/ ADJ [ADJ n] If something happens at the appointed time, it happens at the time that was decided in advance. [FORMAL ]

-appointed /-əpɔ I nt I d/

1 COMB -appointed combines with adverbs to form adjectives such as well-appointed that describe a building or room that is equipped or furnished in the way that is mentioned. [WRITTEN ] □ Sloan looked round the well-appointed kitchen.

2 → see also self-appointed

ap|poin|tee /əpɔ I ntiː / (appointees ) N‑COUNT An appointee is someone who has been chosen for a particular job or position of responsibility. [FORMAL ] □ …Becket, a recent appointee to the Supreme Court.

ap|point|ment ◆◇◇ /əpɔ I ntmənt/ (appointments )

1 N‑VAR [usu with poss] The appointment of a person to a particular job is the choice of that person to do it. □ …his appointment as foreign minister in 1985.

2 N‑COUNT An appointment is a job or position of responsibility. □ Mr Fay is to take up an appointment as a researcher with the Royal Society.

3 N‑COUNT [N to-inf] If you have an appointment with someone, you have arranged to see them at a particular time, usually in connection with their work or for a serious purpose. □ [+ with ] She has an appointment with her accountant. □ …a dental appointment.

4 PHRASE If something can be done by appointment , people can arrange in advance to do it at a particular time. □ Viewing is by appointment only.

ap|por|tion /əpɔː ^r ʃ ^ə n/ (apportions , apportioning , apportioned ) VERB When you apportion something such as blame, you decide how much of it different people deserve or should be given. [FORMAL ] □ [V n prep] The experts are even-handed in apportioning blame among E.U. governments. [Also V n]

ap|po|site /æ pəz I t/ ADJ Something that is apposite is suitable for or appropriate to what is happening or being discussed. [FORMAL ] □ Recent events have made his central theme even more apposite.

ap|po|si|tion /æ pəz I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu in N ] If two noun groups referring to the same person or thing are in apposition , one is placed immediately after the other, with no conjunction joining them, as in 'Her father, Nigel, left home three months ago.'

ap|prais|al /əpre I z ^ə l/ (appraisals )

1 N‑VAR If you make an appraisal of something, you consider it carefully and form an opinion about it. □ [+ of ] What is needed in such cases is a calm appraisal of the situation.

2 N‑VAR Appraisal is the official or formal assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of someone or something. Appraisal often involves observation or some kind of testing. □ Staff problems should be addressed through training and appraisals. [Also + of ]

ap|praise /əpre I z/ (appraises , appraising , appraised ) VERB If you appraise something or someone, you consider them carefully and form an opinion about them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] This prompted many employers to appraise their selection and recruitment policies.

ap|prais|er /əpre I zə ^r / (appraisers ) N‑COUNT An appraiser is someone whose job is to estimate the cost or value of something such as property. [AM ] in BRIT, use valuer

ap|pre|ci|able /əpriː ʃəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An appreciable amount or effect is large enough to be important or clearly noticed. [FORMAL ]

ap|pre|ci|ate ◆◇◇ /əpriː ʃie I t/ (appreciates , appreciating , appreciated )

1 VERB If you appreciate something, for example a piece of music or good food, you like it because you recognize its good qualities. □ [V n] In time you'll appreciate the beauty and subtlety of this language.

2 VERB If you appreciate a situation or problem, you understand it and know what it involves. □ [V n] I never really appreciated the size of the club and what it means to the community. □ [V that] He appreciates that co-operation with the media is part of his professional duties.

3 VERB If you appreciate something that someone has done for you or is going to do for you, you are grateful for it. □ [V n] Peter stood by me when I most needed it. I'll always appreciate that. □ [V n] I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention it.

4 VERB If something that you own appreciates over a period of time, its value increases. □ [V ] They don't have any confidence that houses will appreciate in value.

ap|pre|cia|tion /əpriː ʃie I ʃ ^ə n/ (appreciations )

1 N‑SING Appreciation of something is the recognition and enjoyment of its good qualities. □ [+ of ] …an investigation into children's understanding and appreciation of art. □ Brian whistled in appreciation.

2 N‑SING [oft with poss] Your appreciation for something that someone does for you is your gratitude for it. □ [+ for ] He expressed his appreciation for what he called Saudi Arabia's moderate and realistic oil policies. □ [+ of ] …the gifts presented to them in appreciation of their work.

3 N‑SING An appreciation of a situation or problem is an understanding of what it involves. □ [+ of ] They have a stronger appreciation of the importance of economic incentives.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Appreciation in the value of something is an increase in its value over a period of time. □ [+ of ] You have to take capital appreciation of the property into account.

ap|pre|cia|tive /əpriː ʃət I v/

1 ADJ An appreciative reaction or comment shows the enjoyment that you are getting from something. □ There is a murmur of appreciative laughter.

2 ADJ If you are appreciative of something, you are grateful for it. □ [+ of ] We have been very appreciative of their support.

ap|pre|hend /æ pr I he nd/ (apprehends , apprehending , apprehended ) VERB If the police apprehend someone, they catch them and arrest them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Police have not apprehended her killer.

ap|pre|hen|sion /æ pr I he nʃ ^ə n/ (apprehensions )

1 N‑VAR Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen. [FORMAL ] □ It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future. □ I tensed every muscle in my body in apprehension.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The apprehension of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …information leading to the apprehension of the alleged killer.

ap|pre|hen|sive /æ pr I he ns I v/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is apprehensive is afraid that something bad may happen. □ [+ about ] People are still terribly apprehensive about the future.

ap|pren|tice /əpre nt I s/ (apprentices , apprenticing , apprenticed )

1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] An apprentice is a young person who works for someone in order to learn their skill. □ He left school at 15 and trained as an apprentice carpenter.

2 VERB [usu passive] If a young person is apprenticed to someone, they go to work for them in order to learn their skill. □ [be V -ed + to ] I was apprenticed to a builder when I was fourteen.

ap|pren|tice|ship /əpre nt I sʃ I p/ (apprenticeships ) N‑VAR Someone who has an apprenticeship works for a fixed period of time for a person who has a particular skill in order to learn the skill. Apprenticeship is the system of learning a skill like this.

ap|prise /əpra I z/ (apprises , apprising , apprised ) VERB When you are apprised of something, someone tells you about it. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + of ] Have customers been fully apprised of the advantages? □ [V n + of ] We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.

ap|proach ◆◆◇ /əproʊ tʃ/ (approaches , approaching , approached )

1 VERB When you approach something, you get closer to it. □ [V n] He didn't approach the front door at once. □ [V ] When I approached, they grew silent. □ [V -ing] We turned to see the approaching car slow down. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Approach is also a noun. □ At their approach the little boy ran away and hid. □ …the approach of a low-flying helicopter.

2 N‑COUNT An approach to a place is a road, path, or other route that leads to it. □ [+ to ] The path serves as an approach to the boat house.

3 VERB [no cont] If you approach someone about something, you speak to them about it for the first time, often making an offer or request. □ [V n prep] When Chappel approached me about the job, my first reaction was disbelief. □ [V n to-inf] He approached me to create and design the restaurant. □ [V n] Anna approached several builders and was fortunate to come across Eddie. ● N‑COUNT Approach is also a noun. □ [+ from ] There had already been approaches from buyers interested in the whole of the group. [Also + to ]

4 VERB When you approach a task, problem, or situation in a particular way, you deal with it or think about it in that way. □ [V n prep/adv] The Bank has approached the issue in a practical way. □ [V n] Employers are interested in how you approach problems.

5 N‑COUNT Your approach to a task, problem, or situation is the way you deal with it or think about it. □ [+ to ] We will be exploring different approaches to gathering information.

6 VERB As a future time or event approaches , it gradually gets nearer as time passes. □ [V ] As autumn approached, the plants and colours in the garden changed. □ [V -ing] …the approaching crisis. ● N‑SING Approach is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the festive spirit that permeated the house with the approach of Christmas.

7 VERB As you approach a future time or event, time passes so that you get gradually nearer to it. □ [V n] We approach the end of the year with the economy slowing and little sign of cheer.

8 VERB If something approaches a particular level or state, it almost reaches that level or state. □ [V n] Oil prices have approached their highest level for almost ten years. COLLOCATIONS approach NOUN 5

adjective + approach : different, fresh, innovative, positive; balanced, conservative, cautious, traditional

verb + approach : consider, favour, suggest, try; adopt; require VERB

1

approach + noun : vehicle

approach + adverb : cautiously, gingerly

3

approach + noun : council

approach + adverb : directly, formally, tentatively

4

approach + noun : subject, task

6

noun + approach : deadline, election, holiday, summer; storm

7

approach + noun : age, retirement SYNONYMS approach NOUN 5

method: …new teaching methods.

way: Another way of making new friends is to go to an evening class.

technique: …tests performed using a new technique.

mode: …the capitalist mode of production. VERB

1

near: As he neared the stable, he slowed the horse and patted it.

4

deal with: …the way that building societies deal with complaints.

tackle: The first reason to tackle these problems is to save children's lives.

handle: She admitted to herself she didn't know how to handle the problem.

ap|proach|able /əproʊ tʃəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as approachable , you think that they are friendly and easy to talk to. [APPROVAL ]

ap|pro|ba|tion /æ prəbe I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Approbation is approval of something or agreement to it. [FORMAL ]

ap|pro|pri|ate ◆◇◇ (appropriates , appropriating , appropriated ) The adjective is pronounced /əproʊ priət/. The verb is pronounced /əproʊ prie I t/. 1 ADJ Something that is appropriate is suitable or acceptable for a particular situation. □ Dress neatly and attractively in an outfit appropriate to the job. □ The teacher can then take appropriate action. ● ap|pro|pri|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ It's entitled, appropriately enough, 'Art for the Nation'.

2 VERB If someone appropriates something which does not belong to them, they take it, usually without the right to do so. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Several other newspapers have appropriated the idea. SYNONYMS appropriate ADJ 1

suitable: She had no other dress suitable for the occasion.

right: She'd made the right choice in leaving New York.

fitting: The President's address was a fitting end to a bitter campaign.

proper: The Supreme Court will ensure that the proper procedures have been followed.

apt: …an apt description of the situation.

ap|pro|pria|tion /əproʊ prie I ʃ ^ə n/ (appropriations )

1 N‑COUNT An appropriation is an amount of money that a government or organization reserves for a particular purpose. [FORMAL ] □ The government raised defence appropriations by 12 per cent.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Appropriation of something that belongs to someone else is the act of taking it, usually without having the right to do so. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Other charges include fraud and illegal appropriation of land.

ap|prov|al ◆◇◇ /əpruː v ^ə l/ (approvals )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] If you win someone's approval for something that you ask for or suggest, they agree to it. □ The chairman has also given his approval for an investigation into the case. □ The proposed modifications met with widespread approval.

2 N‑VAR Approval is a formal or official statement that something is acceptable. □ The testing and approval of new drugs will be speeded up.

3 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] If someone or something has your approval , you like and admire them. □ His son had an obsessive drive to gain his father's approval. PRAGMATICS approval

In this dictionary, the label APPROVAL indicates that you use the word or expression to show that you like or admire the person or thing you are talking about. An example of a word with this label is broad-minded.

ap|prove ◆◆◇ /əpruː v/ (approves , approving , approved )

1 VERB If you approve of an action, event, or suggestion, you like it or are pleased about it. □ [V + of ] Not everyone approves of the festival.

2 VERB If you approve of someone or something, you like and admire them. □ [V + of ] You've never approved of Henry, have you?

3 VERB If someone in a position of authority approves a plan or idea, they formally agree to it and say that it can happen. □ [V n] The Russian Parliament has approved a program of radical economic reforms.

4 → see also approved , approving

ap|proved /əpruː vd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An approved method or course of action is officially accepted as appropriate in a particular situation. □ The approved method of cleaning is industrial sand-blasting.

ap|pro ved schoo l (approved schools ) N‑COUNT In Britain in the past, an approved school was a boarding school where young people could be sent to stay if they had been found guilty of a crime.

ap|prov|ing /əpruː v I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An approving reaction or remark shows support for something, or satisfaction with it. □ His mother leaned forward and gave him an approving look.

approx. Approx. is a written abbreviation for approximately . □ Group Size: Approx. 12 to 16.

ap|proxi|mate (approximates , approximating , approximated ) The adjective is pronounced /əprɒ ks I mət/. The verb is pronounced /əprɒ ks I me I t/. 1 ADJ An approximate number, time, or position is close to the correct number, time, or position, but is not exact. □ The approximate cost varies from around £150 to £250. □ The times are approximate only. ● ap|proxi|mate|ly ADV □ Approximately $150 million is to be spent on improvements.

2 ADJ An idea or description that is approximate is not intended to be precise or accurate, but to give some indication of what something is like. □ They did not have even an approximate idea what the Germans really wanted.

3 VERB If something approximates to something else, it is similar to it but is not exactly the same. □ [V + to ] Something approximating to a fair outcome will be ensured. □ [V n] By about 6 weeks of age, most babies begin to show something approximating a day/night sleeping pattern.

ap|proxi|ma|tion /əprɒ ks I me I ʃ ^ə n/ (approximations )

1 N‑COUNT An approximation is a fact, object, or description which is similar to something else, but which is not exactly the same. □ [+ of ] That is a fair approximation of the way in which the next boss is being chosen. [Also + to ]

2 N‑COUNT An approximation is a number, calculation, or position that is close to a correct number, time, or position, but is not exact. □ Clearly that's an approximation, but my guess is there'll be a reasonable balance.

appt Appt is a written abbreviation for appointment .

Apr. Apr. is a written abbreviation for April .

apres-ski /æ pre I skiː/ also après-ski N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Apres-ski is evening entertainment and social activities in places where people go skiing.

apri|cot /e I pr I kɒt/ (apricots )

1 N‑VAR An apricot is a small, soft, round fruit with yellowish-orange flesh and a stone inside. □ …12 oz apricots, halved and stoned. □ …apricot tart.

2 COLOUR Apricot is used to describe things that are yellowish-orange in colour. □ The bridesmaids wore apricot and white organza.

April /e I pr I l/ (Aprils ) N‑VAR April is the fourth month of the year in the Western calendar. □ The changes will be introduced in April. □ They were married on 7 April 1927 at Paddington Register Office. □ He announced that he will retire next April.

A pril Foo l (April Fools ) N‑COUNT An April Fool is a trick that is played on April Fool's Day.

A pril Foo l's Day N‑UNCOUNT April Fool's Day is the 1st of April, the day on which people traditionally play tricks on each other.

a prio|ri /e I pra I ɔː ra I / ADJ [usu ADJ n] An a priori argument, reason, or probability is based on an assumed principle or fact, rather than on actual observed facts. ● ADV [oft ADV after v] A priori is also an adverb. □ One assumes, a priori, that a parent would be better at dealing with problems.

apron /e I prən/ (aprons ) N‑COUNT An apron is a piece of clothing that you put on over the front of your normal clothes and tie round your waist, especially when you are cooking, in order to prevent your clothes from getting dirty.

ap|ro|pos /æ prəpoʊ /

1 PREP Something which is apropos , or apropos of, a subject or event, is connected with it or relevant to it. [FORMAL ] □ All my suggestions apropos the script were accepted.

2 PREP Apropos or apropos of is used to introduce something that you are going to say which is related to the subject you have just been talking about. [FORMAL ] □ Apropos Dudley Moore living in California he said, 'He loves the space, Californians have a lot of space.'

apt /æ pt/

1 ADJ An apt remark, description, or choice is especially suitable. □ The words of this report are as apt today as in 1929. □ …an apt description of the situation. ● apt|ly ADV □ …the beach in the aptly named town of Oceanside.

2 ADJ If someone is apt to do something, they often do it and so it is likely that they will do it again. □ She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about.

ap|ti|tude /æ pt I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ (aptitudes ) N‑VAR Someone's aptitude for a particular kind of work or activity is their ability to learn it quickly and to do it well. □ [+ for ] An aptitude for computing is beneficial for students taking this degree.

a p|ti|tude test (aptitude tests ) N‑COUNT An aptitude test is a test that is specially designed to find out how easily and how well you can do something.

aqua /æ kwə/ COLOUR Aqua is the same as the colour aquamarine . □ …floor-length curtains in restful aqua and lavender colours.

aqua|marine /æ kwəməriː n/ (aquamarines )

1 N‑VAR Aquamarines are clear, greenish-blue stones, sometimes used to make jewellery. □ A necklace set with aquamarines. □ …a large aquamarine ring.

2 COLOUR Aquamarine is used to describe things that are greenish-blue in colour. □ …warm aquamarine seas and white beaches.

aquar|ium /əkweə riəm/ (aquariums or aquaria /əkweə riə/)

1 N‑COUNT An aquarium is a building, often in a zoo, where fish and underwater animals are kept.

2 N‑COUNT An aquarium is a glass tank filled with water, in which people keep fish.

Aquar|ius /əkweə riəs/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Aquarius is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a person pouring water. People who are born approximately between 20th January and 18th February come under this sign.

2 N‑SING An Aquarius is a person whose sign of the zodiac is Aquarius.

aquat|ic /əkwæ t I k/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An aquatic animal or plant lives or grows on or in water. □ …aquatic birds.

2 ADJ Aquatic means relating to water. □ …aquatic consultant Ben Tucker. □ …our aquatic resources.

aque|duct /æ kw I dʌkt/ (aqueducts )

1 N‑COUNT An aqueduct is a long bridge with many arches, which carries a water supply or a canal over a valley. □ …an old Roman aqueduct.

2 N‑COUNT An aqueduct is a large pipe or canal which carries a water supply to a city or a farming area. □ …a nationwide system of aqueducts to carry water to the arid parts of this country.

aque|ous /e I kwiəs/ ADJ [ADJ n] In chemistry, an aqueous solution or cream has water as its base. [TECHNICAL ] □ …an aqueous solution containing various sodium salts.

aqui|fer /æ kw I fə ^r / (aquifers ) N‑COUNT In geology, an aquifer is an area of rock underneath the surface of the earth which absorbs and holds water. [TECHNICAL ]

aqui|line /æ kw I la I n/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has an aquiline nose or profile, their nose is large, thin, and usually curved. [FORMAL ] □ He had a thin aquiline nose.

Arab /æ rəb/ (Arabs )

1 N‑COUNT Arabs are people who speak Arabic and who come from the Middle East and parts of North Africa.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arab means belonging or relating to Arabs or to their countries or customs. □ The Arab world is particularly keen on the use of cardamom with tea.

ara|besque /æ rəbe sk/ (arabesques ) N‑COUNT An arabesque is a position in ballet dancing. The dancer stands on one leg with their other leg lifted and stretched out backwards, and their arms stretched out in front of them.

Ara|bian /əre I biən/ ADJ Arabian means belonging or relating to Arabia, especially to Saudi Arabia. □ …the Arabian Peninsula.

Ara|bic /æ rəb I k/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Arabic is a language that is spoken in the Middle East and in parts of North Africa.

2 ADJ Something that is Arabic belongs or relates to the language, writing, or culture of the Arabs. □ …the development of modern Arabic literature. □ …Arabic music.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] An Arabic numeral is one of the written figures such as 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Ar|ab|ist /æ rəb I st/ (Arabists ) N‑COUNT An Arabist is a person who supports Arab interests or knows a lot about the Arabic language.

ar|able /æ rəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arable farming involves growing crops such as wheat and barley rather than keeping animals or growing fruit and vegetables. Arable land is land that is used for arable farming.

Arab Spring N‑PROPER The Arab Spring is a period of time in and around 2011 to 2012 during which people in the Middle East and Africa tried to achieve democratic reforms. □ Social networking sites played an important role in the events of the Arab Spring.

ar|bi|ter /ɑː ^r b I tə ^r / (arbiters )

1 N‑COUNT An arbiter is a person or institution that judges and settles a quarrel between two other people or groups. [FORMAL ] □ He was the ultimate arbiter on both theological and political matters.

2 N‑COUNT An arbiter of taste or style is someone who has a lot of influence in deciding what is fashionable or socially desirable. [FORMAL ]

ar|bi|trage /ɑː ^r b I trɑːʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] In finance, arbitrage is the activity of buying shares or currency in one financial market and selling it at a profit in another. [BUSINESS ]

ar|bi|tra|ger /ɑː ^r b I trɑːʒɜː ^r / (arbitragers ) also arbitrageur N‑COUNT In finance, an arbitrager is someone who buys currencies, securities, or commodities on one country's market in order to make money by immediately selling them at a profit on another country's market. [BUSINESS ]

ar|bi|trary /ɑː ^r b I tri, [AM ] -treri/ ADJ If you describe an action, rule, or decision as arbitrary , you think that it is not based on any principle, plan, or system. It often seems unfair because of this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Arbitrary arrests and detention without trial were common. ● ar|bi|trari|ly /ɑː ^r b I treə r I li/ ADV [ADV with v] □ The victims were not chosen arbitrarily.

ar|bi|trate /ɑː ^r b I tre I t/ (arbitrates , arbitrating , arbitrated ) VERB When someone in authority arbitrates between two people or groups who are in dispute, they consider all the facts and make an official decision about who is right. □ [V + between ] He arbitrates between investors and members of the association. □ [V ] The tribunal had been set up to arbitrate in the dispute. ● ar|bi|tra|tor /ɑː ^r b I tre I tə ^r / (arbitrators ) N‑COUNT □ He served as an arbitrator in a series of commercial disputes in India.

ar|bi|tra|tion /ɑː ^r b I tre I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Arbitration is the judging of a dispute between people or groups by someone who is not involved. □ The matter is likely to go to arbitration.

ar|bor|eal /ɑː ^r bɔː riəl/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arboreal animals live in trees. [TECHNICAL ] □ …arboreal marsupials which resemble monkeys.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arboreal means relating to trees. [FORMAL ] □ …the arboreal splendor of the valley.

ar|bo|retum /ɑː ^r bəriː təm/ (arboreta /ɑː ^r bəriː tə/ or arboretums ) N‑COUNT An arboretum is a specially designed garden of different types of trees.

ar|bour /ɑː ^r bə ^r / (arbours ) in AM, use arbor N‑COUNT An arbour is a shelter in a garden which is formed by leaves and stems of plants growing close together over a light framework.

arc /ɑː ^r k/ (arcs )

1 N‑COUNT An arc is a smoothly curving line or movement. □ The Aleutian chain is a long arc of islands in the North Pacific.

2 N‑COUNT In geometry, an arc is a part of the line that forms the outside of a circle. [TECHNICAL ]

ar|cade /ɑː ^r ke I d/ (arcades ) N‑COUNT An arcade is a covered passage where there are shops or market stalls. □ …a shopping arcade.

ar|ca de game (arcade games ) N‑COUNT An arcade game is a computer game of the type that is often played in amusement arcades.

ar|cane /ɑː ^r ke I n/ ADJ Something that is arcane is secret or mysterious. [FORMAL ] □ Until a few months ago few people outside the arcane world of contemporary music had heard of Gorecki.

arch /ɑː ^r tʃ/ (arches , arching , arched )

1 N‑COUNT An arch is a structure that is curved at the top and is supported on either side by a pillar, post, or wall.

2 N‑COUNT An arch is a curved line or movement.

3 N‑COUNT The arch of your foot is the curved section at the bottom in the middle.

4 VERB If you arch a part of your body such as your back or if it arches , you bend it so that it forms a curve. □ [V n] Don't arch your back, keep your spine straight. [Also V ]

5 VERB If you arch your eyebrows or if they arch , you move them upwards as a way of showing surprise or disapproval. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] 'Oh really?' he said, arching an eyebrow. [Also V ]

6 → see also arched

arch- /ɑː ^r tʃ-/ COMB Arch- combines with nouns referring to people to form new nouns that refer to people who are extreme examples of something. For example, your arch-rival is the rival you most want to beat. □ …his arch-enemy.

ar|chae|ol|ogy /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒi/ also archeology N‑UNCOUNT Archaeology is the study of the societies and peoples of the past by examining the remains of their buildings, tools, and other objects. ● ar|chaeo|logi|cal /ɑː ^r kiəlɒ dʒ I k ^ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □ …one of the region's most important archaeological sites. ● ar|chae|olo|gist /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒ I st/ (archaeologists ) N‑COUNT □ The archaeologists found a house built around 300 BC.

ar|cha|ic /ɑː ^r ke I I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Archaic means extremely old or extremely old-fashioned. □ …archaic laws that are very seldom used.

arch|angel /ɑː ^r ke I ndʒ ^ə l/ (archangels ) N‑COUNT In the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions, an archangel is an angel of the highest rank.

arch|bishop /ɑː ^r tʃb I ʃəp/ (archbishops ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE In the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches, an archbishop is a bishop of the highest rank, who is in charge of all the bishops and priests in a particular country or region. □ …the Archbishop of Canterbury. □ …Archbishop Derek Worlock.

arch|deacon /ɑː ^r tʃdiː kən/ (archdeacons ) N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE An archdeacon is a high-ranking clergyman who works as an assistant to a bishop, especially in the Anglican church.

arch|dio|cese /ɑː ^r tʃdai əs I s/ (archdioceses /ɑː ^r tʃdai əsiːz/) N‑COUNT An archdiocese is the area over which an archbishop has control.

arched /ɑː ^r tʃt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An arched roof, window, or doorway is curved at the top.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An arched bridge has arches as part of its structure. □ …a fortified arched bridge spanning the River Severn.

ar|che|ol|ogy /ɑː ^r kiɒ lədʒi/ → see archaeology

arch|er /ɑː ^r tʃə ^r / (archers ) N‑COUNT An archer is someone who shoots arrows using a bow.

ar|chery /ɑː ^r tʃəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Archery is a sport in which people shoot arrows at a target using a bow.

ar|che|typ|al /ɑː ^r k I ta I p ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone or something that is archetypal has all the most important characteristics of a particular kind of person or thing and is a perfect example of it. [FORMAL ] □ Cricket is the archetypal English game.

ar|che|type /ɑː ^r k I ta I p/ (archetypes ) N‑COUNT An archetype is something that is considered to be a perfect or typical example of a particular kind of person or thing, because it has all their most important characteristics. [FORMAL ] □ Bristling with vigour, he is the archetype of the modern, global chief executive.

ar|che|typi|cal /ɑː ^r k I t I p I k ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Archetypical means the same as archetypal . □ …an archetypical BBC voice.

archi|pela|go /ɑː ^r kipe ləgoʊ/ (archipelagos or archipelagoes ) N‑COUNT An archipelago is a group of islands, especially small islands.

archi|tect /ɑː ^r k I tekt/ (architects )

1 N‑COUNT An architect is a person who designs buildings.

2 N‑COUNT You can use architect to refer to a person who plans large projects such as landscaping or railways. □ …Paul Andreu, chief architect of French railways.

3 N‑COUNT The architect of an idea, event, or institution is the person who invented it or made it happen. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …Russia's chief architect of economic reform.

archi|tec|tur|al /ɑː ^r k I te ktʃərəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Architectural means relating to the design and construction of buildings. □ …Italy's architectural heritage. □ …the unique architectural style of towns like Lamu. ● archi|tec|tur|al|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ The old city centre is architecturally rich.

archi|tec|ture /ɑː ^r k I tektʃə ^r / (architectures )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Architecture is the art of planning, designing, and constructing buildings. □ He studied classical architecture and design in Rome.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The architecture of a building is the style in which it is designed and constructed. □ …a fine example of Moroccan architecture.

3 N‑UNCOUNT The architecture of something is its structure. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the crumbling intellectual architecture of modern society.

ar|chiv|al /ɑː ^r ka I v ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Archival means belonging or relating to archives. □ …his extensive use of archival material.

ar|chive /ɑː ^r ka I v/ (archives )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The archive or archives are a collection of documents and records that contain historical information. You can also use archives to refer to the place where archives are stored. □ …the archives of the Imperial War Museum.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Archive material is information that comes from archives. □ …pieces of archive film.

archi|vist /ɑː ^r k I v I st/ (archivists ) N‑COUNT An archivist is a person whose job is to collect, sort, and care for historical documents and records.

arch|way /ɑː ^r tʃwe I / (archways ) N‑COUNT An archway is a passage or entrance that has a curved roof. □ Access was via a narrow archway.

a rc light (arc lights ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Arc lights are a type of very bright electric light. □ …the brilliant glare of the arc lights.

arc|tic /ɑː ^r kt I k/

1 N‑PROPER The Arctic is the area of the world around the North Pole. It is extremely cold and there is very little light in winter and very little darkness in summer. □ …winter in the Arctic. □ …Arctic ice.

2 ADJ If you describe a place or the weather as arctic , you are emphasizing that it is extremely cold. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ The bathroom, with its ancient facilities, is positively arctic.

A rc|tic Ci rcle N‑PROPER The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line drawn around the northern part of the world at approximately 66° North.

ar|dent /ɑː ^r d ^ə nt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ardent is used to describe someone who has extremely strong feelings about something or someone. □ He's been one of the most ardent supporters of the administration's policy.

ar|dor /ɑː ^r də ^r / → see ardour

ar|dour /ɑː ^r də ^r / in AM, use ardor N‑UNCOUNT Ardour is a strong, intense feeling of love or enthusiasm for someone or something. [LITERARY ] □ …songs of genuine passion and ardour.

ar|du|ous /ɑː ^r dʒuəs/ ADJ Something that is arduous is difficult and tiring, and involves a lot of effort. □ The task was more arduous than he had calculated.

are /ə ^r , STRONG ɑː ^r / Are is the plural and the second person singular of the present tense of the verb be . Are is often shortened to -'re after pronouns in spoken English.

area ◆◆◆ /eə riə/ (areas )

1 N‑COUNT An area is a particular part of a town, a country, a region, or the world. □ …the large number of community groups in the area. □ She works in a rural area off the beaten track.

2 N‑COUNT Your area is the part of a town, country, or region where you live. An organization's area is the part of a town, country, or region that it is responsible for. □ Local authorities have been responsible for the running of schools in their areas. □ If there is an election in your area, you should go and vote.

3 N‑COUNT A particular area is a piece of land or part of a building that is used for a particular activity. □ …a picnic area. □ …the main check-in area located in Terminal 1.

4 N‑COUNT An area is a particular place on a surface or object, for example on your body. □ You will notice that your baby has two soft areas on the top of his head.

5 N‑VAR The area of a surface such as a piece of land is the amount of flat space or ground that it covers, measured in square units. □ The islands cover a total area of 625.6 square kilometers.

6 N‑COUNT You can use area to refer to a particular subject or topic, or to a particular part of a larger, more general situation or activity. □ …the politically sensitive area of old age pensions.

7 N‑COUNT [usu sing] On a football pitch, the area is the same as the penalty area . [INFORMAL ]

8 → see also catchment area , disaster area , grey area , penalty area COLLOCATIONS area NOUN 1

adjective + area : residential, rural, urban; isolated, remote; deprived, disadvantaged; huge, large, vast, wide

a rea code (area codes ) N‑COUNT The area code for a particular city or region is the series of numbers that you have to dial before someone's personal number if you are making a telephone call to that place from a different area. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use dialling code

arena /əriː nə/ (arenas )

1 N‑COUNT An arena is a place where sports, entertainments, and other public events take place. It has seats around it where people sit and watch. □ …the largest indoor sports arena in the world.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a field of activity, especially one where there is a lot of conflict or action, as an arena of a particular kind. □ He made it clear he had no intention of withdrawing from the political arena.

aren't ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r nt, [AM ALSO ] ɑː rənt/

1 Aren't is the usual spoken form of 'are not'.

2 Aren't is the form of 'am not' that is used in questions or tags in spoken English.

Ar|gen|tine /ɑː ^r dʒənta I n/ (Argentines ) ADJ Argentine means the same as Argentinian . □ …Argentine agricultural products. ● N‑COUNT An Argentine is the same as an Argentinian .

Ar|gen|tin|ian /ɑː ^r dʒənt I niən/ (Argentinians ) ADJ Argentinian means belonging or relating to Argentina or its people. □ …the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. ● N‑COUNT An Argentinian is someone who comes from Argentina.

ar|gon /ɑː ^r gɒn/ N‑UNCOUNT Argon is an inert gas which exists in very small amounts in the atmosphere. It is used in electric lights.

ar|got /ɑː ^r goʊ/ (argots ) N‑VAR An argot is a special language used by a particular group of people, which other people find difficult to understand. [FORMAL ] □ …the argot of teenagers. □ …footballing argot.

ar|gu|able /ɑː ^r gjuəb ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you say that it is arguable that something is true, you believe that it can be supported by evidence and that many people would agree with it. [FORMAL ] □ It is arguable that this was not as grave a handicap as it might appear.

2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] An idea, point, or comment that is arguable is not obviously true or correct and should be questioned. [FORMAL ] □ It is arguable whether he ever had much control over the real economic power.

ar|gu|ably /ɑː ^r gjuəbli/ ADV [ADV before v] You can use arguably when you are stating your opinion or belief, as a way of giving more authority to it. □ Sausages are arguably the most popular food in the country.

ar|gue ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r gjuː/ (argues , arguing , argued )

1 VERB If one person argues with another, they speak angrily to each other about something that they disagree about. You can also say that two people argue . □ [V + with ] The committee is concerned about players' behaviour, especially arguing with referees. □ [V ] They were still arguing; I could hear them down the road. [Also V + about/over ]

2 VERB If you tell someone not to argue with you, you want them to do or believe what you say without protest or disagreement. □ [V + with ] Don't argue with me. □ [V ] The children go to bed at 10.30. No one dares argue.

3 VERB If you argue with someone about something, you discuss it with them, with each of you giving your different opinions. □ [V + with/about/over ] He was arguing with the King about the need to maintain the cavalry at full strength. □ [V + about/over ] They are arguing over foreign policy. □ [V n] The two of them sitting in their office were arguing this point.

4 VERB If you argue that something is true, you state it and give the reasons why you think it is true. □ [V that] His lawyers are arguing that he is unfit to stand trial. □ [be V -ed that] It could be argued that the British are not aggressive enough. [Also V with quote, V n]

5 VERB If you argue for something, you say why you agree with it, in order to persuade people that it is right. If you argue against something, you say why you disagree with it, in order to persuade people that it is wrong. □ [V + for/against ] The report argues against tax increases. □ [V n] I argued the case for an independent central bank.

6 VERB If you argue , you support your opinions with evidence in an ordered or logical way. □ [V adv/prep] He argued persuasively, and was full of confidence. [Also V ]

7 VERB If you say that no-one can argue with a particular fact or opinion, you are emphasizing that it is obviously true and so everyone must accept it. [SPOKEN , EMPHASIS ] □ [V + with ] We produced the best soccer of the tournament. Nobody would argue with that. [Also V that]

8 to argue the toss → see toss SYNONYMS argue VERB

1

disagree: The two men had disagreed about reincarnation.

quarrel: At one point we quarrelled, over something silly.

row: He had earlier rowed with his girlfriend.

squabble: My four-year-old squabbles with his friends.

fight: Mostly, they fight about paying bills.

3

discuss: The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.

debate: The United Nations Security Council will debate the issue today.

thrash out: …a sincere effort by two people to thrash out differences.

dispute: Some economists disputed whether consumer spending is as strong as the figures suggest.

ar|gu|ment ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r gjʊmənt/ (arguments )

1 N‑VAR [N that] An argument is a statement or set of statements that you use in order to try to convince people that your opinion about something is correct. □ [+ for ] There's a strong argument for lowering the price. □ [+ against ] The doctors have set out their arguments against the proposals.

2 N‑VAR An argument is a discussion or debate in which a number of people put forward different or opposing opinions. □ [+ about/over ] The incident has triggered fresh arguments about public spending.

3 N‑COUNT An argument is a conversation in which people disagree with each other angrily or noisily. □ [+ with ] Anny described how she got into an argument with one of the marchers. □ …a heated argument. [Also + between ]

4 N‑UNCOUNT If you accept something without argument , you do not question it or disagree with it. □ He complied without argument.

5 → see also counter-argument SYNONYMS argument NOUN

1

case: Both these facts strengthen the case against hanging.

justification: To me the only justification for a zoo is educational.

rationale: However, the rationale for such initiatives is not, of course, solely economic.

3

row: A man had been stabbed to death in a family row.

quarrel: I had a terrible quarrel with my other brothers.

fight: He had a big fight with his dad the night before.

clash: There were clashes between police in riot gear and demonstrators.

feud: …a long and bitter feud between the state government and the villagers.

ar|gu|men|ta|tion /ɑː ^r gjʊmente I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Argumentation is the process of arguing in an organized or logical way, for example in philosophy. [FORMAL ]

ar|gu|men|ta|tive /ɑː ^r gjʊme ntət I v/ ADJ Someone who is argumentative is always ready to disagree or start quarrelling with other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ You're in an argumentative mood today!

aria /ɑː riə/ (arias ) N‑COUNT An aria is a song for one of the leading singers in an opera or choral work.

arid /æ r I d/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arid land is so dry that very few plants can grow on it. □ …new strains of crops that can withstand arid conditions.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as a period of your life or an academic subject as arid , you mean that it has so little interest, excitement, or purpose that it makes you feel bored or unhappy. □ She had given him the only joy his arid life had ever known.

Aries /eə riːz/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Aries is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a ram. People who are born approximately between 21st March and 19th April come under this sign.

2 N‑SING An Aries is a person whose sign of the zodiac is Aries.

arise ◆◇◇ /əra I z/ (arises , arising , arose , arisen /ər I zən/)

1 VERB If a situation or problem arises , it begins to exist or people start to become aware of it. □ [V ] The birds also attack crops when the opportunity arises.

2 VERB If something arises from a particular situation, or arises out of it, it is created or caused by the situation. □ [V + from/out of ] …an overwhelming sense of guilt arising from my actions.

3 VERB If something such as a new species, organization, or system arises , it begins to exist and develop. □ [V ] Heavy Metal music really arose in the late 60s.

4 VERB When you arise , you get out of bed in the morning. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] He arose at 6:30 a.m. as usual.

5 VERB When you arise from a sitting or kneeling position, you stand up. [FORMAL ] □ [V + from ] When I arose from the chair, my father and Eleanor's father were in deep conversation. □ [V ] Arise, Sir William. SYNONYMS arise VERB 1

develop: A row has developed about the pollution emanating from a chemical plant.

occur: If headaches occur at night, lack of fresh air may be the cause.

result: Many hair problems result from what you eat.

stem from: Much of the instability stems from the economic effects of the war.

ar|is|toc|ra|cy /æ r I stɒ krəsi/ (aristocracies ) N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] The aristocracy is a class of people in some countries who have a high social rank and special titles. □ …a member of the aristocracy.

aris|to|crat /æ r I stəkræt, ər I st-/ (aristocrats ) N‑COUNT An aristocrat is someone whose family has a high social rank, especially someone who has a title.

aris|to|crat|ic /ər I stəkræ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Aristocratic means belonging to or typical of the aristocracy. □ …a wealthy, aristocratic family.

arith|me|tic The noun is pronounced /ər I θm I t I k/. The adjective is pronounced /æ r I θme t I k/. 1 N‑UNCOUNT Arithmetic is the part of mathematics that is concerned with the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of numbers. □ …an arithmetic test.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] You can use arithmetic to refer to the process of doing a particular sum or calculation. □ 4,000 women put in ten rupees each, which if my arithmetic is right adds up to 40,000 rupees.

3 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to the arithmetic of a situation, you are concerned with those aspects of it that can be expressed in numbers, and how they affect the situation. □ The budgetary arithmetic suggests that government borrowing is set to surge.

4 ADJ [ADJ n] Arithmetic means relating to or consisting of calculations involving numbers. □ …simple arithmetic operations such as adding or multiplying numbers.

arith|meti|cal /æ r I θme t I k ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Arithmetical calculations, processes, or skills involve the addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division of numbers.

ark /ɑː ^r k/ N‑SING In the Bible, the ark was a large boat which Noah built in order to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood.

arm

➊ PART OF YOUR BODY OR OF SOMETHING ELSE

➋ WEAPONS

➊ arm ◆◆◆ /ɑː ^r m/ (arms )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your arms are the two long parts of your body that are attached to your shoulders and that have your hands at the end. □ She stretched her arms out. □ He had a large parcel under his left arm.

2 N‑COUNT The arm of a piece of clothing is the part of it that covers your arm.

3 N‑COUNT The arm of a chair is the part on which you rest your arm when you are sitting down.

4 N‑COUNT An arm of an object is a long thin part of it that sticks out from the main part. □ [+ of ] …the lever arm of the machine. □ [+ of ] …the arms of the doctor's spectacles.

5 N‑COUNT An arm of land or water is a long thin area of it that is joined to a broader area. □ [+ of ] At the end of the other arm of Cardigan Bay is Bardsey Island.

6 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An arm of an organization is a section of it that operates in a particular country or that deals with a particular activity. □ [+ of ] Millicom Holdings is the British arm of an American company.

7 PHRASE If two people are walking arm in arm , they are walking together with their arms linked. □ [+ with ] He walked from the court arm in arm with his wife.

8 PHRASE If you say that something costs an arm and a leg , you mean that it is very expensive. [INFORMAL ] □ A week at a health farm can cost an arm and a leg.

9 PHRASE If you hold something at arm's length , you hold it away from your body with your arm straight. □ He struck a match, and held it at arm's length.

10 PHRASE If you keep someone at arm's length , you avoid becoming too friendly or involved with them. □ She had always kept his family at arm's length.

11 PHRASE If you welcome some action or change with open arms , you are very pleased about it. If you welcome a person with open arms , you are very pleased about their arrival. [APPROVAL ] □ They would no doubt welcome the action with open arms.

12 PHRASE If you twist someone's arm , you persuade them to do something. [INFORMAL ] □ She had twisted his arm to get him to invite her.

➋ arm ◆◆◆ /ɑː ^r m/ (arms , arming , armed )

1 N‑PLURAL [oft N n] Arms are weapons, especially bombs and guns. [FORMAL ] □ The group had extensive supplies of arms. □ …arms control.

2 VERB If you arm someone with a weapon, you provide them with a weapon. □ [V n + with ] She'd been so terrified that she had armed herself with a loaded rifle. □ [V n] Arming the police doesn't deter crime.

3 VERB If you arm someone with something that will be useful in a particular situation, you provide them with it. □ [V n + with ] If she armed herself with knowledge, she could handle anything.

4 N‑PLURAL The arms of a city or of a noble family are its coat of arms. Arms is often used in the names of British pubs. □ …china painted with the arms of Philippe V. □ …his local pub, the Abercorn Arms.

5 → see also armed , -armed , coat of arms , comrade-in-arms , small arms

6 PHRASE A person's right to bear arms is their right to own and use guns, as a means of defence.

7 PHRASE If soldiers lay down their arms , they stop fighting and give up their weapons. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

8 PHRASE If one group or country takes up arms against another, they prepare to attack and fight them. □ They threatened to take up arms against the government if their demands were not met.

9 PHRASE If people are up in arms about something, they are very angry about it and are protesting strongly against it. □ Environmental groups are up in arms about plans for fracking in the area. COLLOCATIONS arm NOUN

➊1

adjective + arm : left, right, upper; bare, muscular, prosthetic; folded, open, outstretched

verb + arm : cross, fold, link; raise, wave; break

➊ 6

noun + arm : finance, investment, management, research

adjective + arm : charitable, commercial, investigative

➋ 1

adjective + arms : nuclear; illegal

verb + arms : bear, carry; smuggle, supply

ar|ma|da /ɑː ^r mɑː də/ (armadas ) N‑COUNT An armada is a large group of warships.

ar|ma|dil|lo /ɑː ^r məd I loʊ/ (armadillos ) N‑COUNT An armadillo is a small animal whose body is covered with large bony scales and which rolls itself into a ball when it is attacked. Armadillos are mainly found in South and Central America.

Ar|ma|ged|don /ɑː ^r məge d ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Armageddon is a terrible battle or war that some people think will lead to the total destruction of the world or the human race.

Ar|ma|gnac /ɑː ^r mənjæk/ (Armagnacs ) N‑VAR Armagnac is a type of brandy made in south-west France.

ar|ma|ments /ɑː ^r məmənts/ N‑PLURAL Armaments are weapons and military equipment belonging to an army or country. □ …global efforts to reduce nuclear and other armaments.

arm|band /ɑː ^r mbænd/ (armbands )

1 N‑COUNT An armband is a band of fabric that you wear round your upper arm in order to show that you have an official position or belong to a particular group. Some people also wear a black armband to show that a friend or relation has died.

2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Armbands are plastic rings filled with air that people who are learning to swim wear on their upper arms to help them float. [mainly BRIT ]

arm|chair /ɑː ^r mtʃeə ^r / (armchairs )

1 N‑COUNT An armchair is a big comfortable chair which has a support on each side for your arms.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] An armchair critic, fan, or traveller knows about a particular subject from reading or hearing about it rather than from practical experience.

armed ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r md/

1 ADJ Someone who is armed is carrying a weapon, usually a gun. □ City police said the man was armed with a revolver. □ …a barbed-wire fence patrolled by armed guards. □ The rebels are well organised, disciplined and very well armed.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] An armed attack or conflict involves people fighting with guns or carrying weapons. □ They had been found guilty of armed robbery.

3 → see also arm ➊, -armed

-armed /-ɑː ^r md/

1 COMB -armed is used with adjectives to indicate what kind of arms someone has. □ …plump-armed women in cotton dresses.

2 COMB -armed is used with adjectives such as 'nuclear' and nouns such as 'missile' to form adjectives that indicate what kind of weapons an army or person has. □ …nuclear-armed navy vessels.

3 → see also armed

a rmed fo rces ◆◇◇ N‑PLURAL The armed forces or the armed services of a country are its military forces, usually the army, navy, marines, and air force.

arm|ful /ɑː ^r mfʊl/ (armfuls ) N‑COUNT An armful of something is the amount of it that you can carry fairly easily. □ [+ of ] He hurried out with an armful of brochures.

arm|hole /ɑː ^r mhoʊl/ (armholes ) N‑COUNT The armholes of something such as a shirt or dress are the openings through which you put your arms, or the places where the sleeves are attached.

ar|mi|stice /ɑː ^r m I st I s/ N‑SING An armistice is an agreement between countries who are at war with one another to stop fighting and to discuss ways of making peace. □ Finally, the Bolsheviks signed an armistice with Germany.

arm|load /ɑː ^r mloʊd/ (armloads ) N‑COUNT An armload of something is the same as an armful of something. □ [+ of ] …an armload of books.

ar|mor /ɑː ^r mə ^r / → see armour

ar|mored /ɑː ^r mə ^r d/ → see armoured

ar|mor|er /ɑː ^r mərə ^r / (armorers ) → see armourer

ar|mory /ɑː ^r məri/ (armories ) → see armoury

ar|mour /ɑː ^r mə ^r / in AM, use armor 1 N‑UNCOUNT In former times, armour was special metal clothing that soldiers wore for protection in battle. □ …knights in armour.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Armour consists of tanks and other military vehicles used in battle. [MILITARY ] □ …the biggest movement of heavy British armour.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Armour is a hard, usually metal, covering that protects a vehicle against attack. □ …a formidable warhead that can penetrate the armour of most tanks.

4 → see also body armour

5 knight in shining armour → see knight

ar|moured /ɑː ^r mə ^r d/ in AM, use armored 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Armoured vehicles are fitted with a hard metal covering in order to protect them from gunfire and other missiles.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Armoured troops are troops in armoured vehicles.

ar|mour|er /ɑː ^r mərə ^r / (armourers ) in AM, use armorer N‑COUNT An armourer is someone who makes or supplies weapons.

a rmour-pla ted in AM, use armor-plated ADJ [usu ADJ n] An armour-plated vehicle or building has a hard metal covering in order to protect it from gunfire and other missiles. □ He has taken to travelling in an armour-plated car.

a rmour-pla ting in AM, use armor-plating N‑UNCOUNT The armour-plating on a vehicle or building is the hard metal covering which is intended to protect it from gunfire and other missiles.

ar|moury /ɑː ^r məri/ (armouries ) in AM, use armory 1 N‑COUNT A country's armoury is all the weapons and military equipment that it has. □ He threatened to open the country's armouries to loyal tribes in an attempt to hold off the rebellion.

2 N‑COUNT An armoury is a place where weapons, bombs, and other military equipment are stored.

3 N‑COUNT In the United States, an armoury is a building used by the National Guard or Army Reserve for meetings and training.

4 N‑COUNT An armoury is a factory where weapons are made. [AM ]

5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can refer to a large number of things which someone has available for a particular purpose as their armoury . [BRIT ] □ The strongest weapon in the government's armoury is the price cuts announced on Saturday.

arm|pit /ɑː ^r mp I t/ (armpits ) N‑COUNT Your armpits are the areas of your body under your arms where your arms join your shoulders.

arm|rest /ɑː ^r mrest/ (armrests ) also arm rest N‑COUNT The armrests on a chair are the two pieces on either side that support your arms when you are sitting down.

a rms race N‑SING An arms race is a situation in which two countries or groups of countries are continually trying to get more and better weapons than each other.

army ◆◆◆ /ɑː ^r mi/ (armies )

1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] An army is a large organized group of people who are armed and trained to fight on land in a war. Most armies are organized and controlled by governments. □ After returning from France, he joined the army. □ The army is about to launch a major offensive.

2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] An army of people, animals, or things is a large number of them, especially when they are regarded as a force of some kind. □ [+ of ] …data collected by an army of volunteers. □ …armies of shoppers looking for bargains. COLLOCATIONS army NOUN

1

noun + army : guerrilla, rebel; volunteer, reserve

adjective + army : regular; advancing, invading, retreating

verb + army : command, deploy, lead, mobilize; join; defeat

2

adjective + army : growing, small, vast

A -road (A-roads ) N‑COUNT In some countries, an A-road is a major road. A-roads are narrower than motorways but are wider and straighter than B-roads.

aro|ma /əroʊ mə/ (aromas ) N‑COUNT An aroma is a strong, pleasant smell. □ …the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread.

aroma|thera|pist /əroʊ məθe rəp I st/ (aromatherapists ) N‑COUNT An aromatherapist is a person who is qualified to practise aromatherapy.

aroma|thera|py /əroʊ məθe rəpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Aromatherapy is a type of treatment which involves massaging the body with special fragrant oils.

aro|mat|ic /æ rəmæ t I k/ ADJ An aromatic plant or food has a strong, pleasant smell of herbs or spices. □ …an evergreen shrub with deep green, aromatic leaves.

arose /əroʊ z/ Arose is the past tense of arise .

around ◆◆◆ /əraʊ nd/ Around is an adverb and a preposition. In British English, the word 'round' is often used instead. Around is often used with verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'drive', and also in phrasal verbs such as 'get around' and 'hand around'. 1 PREP To be positioned around a place or object means to surround it or be on all sides of it. To move around a place means to go along its edge, back to your starting point. □ She looked at the papers around her. □ …a prosperous suburb built around a new mosque. ● ADV [n ADV ] Around is also an adverb. □ …a village with a rocky river, a ruined castle and hills all around. □ The drive takes you past mighty Bolton Castle, visible for miles around.

2 PREP If you move around a corner or obstacle, you move to the other side of it. If you look around a corner or obstacle, you look to see what is on the other side. □ The photographer stopped clicking and hurried around the corner. □ I peered around the edge of the shed–there was no sign of anyone else.

3 ADV [ADV after v] If you turn around , you turn so that you are facing in the opposite direction. □ I turned around and wrote the title on the blackboard. □ He straightened up slowly and spun around on the stool to face us.

4 PREP If you move around a place, you travel through it, going to most of its parts. If you look around a place, you look at every part of it. □ I've been walking around Moscow and the town is terribly quiet. □ He glanced discreetly around the room at the other people. ● ADV [ADV after v] Around is also an adverb. □ He backed away from the edge, looking all around at the flat horizon.

5 PREP If someone moves around a place, they move through various parts of that place without having any particular destination. □ In between the talks everyone is milling around and having coffee. ● ADV [ADV after v] Around is also an adverb. □ My mornings are spent rushing around after him.

6 ADV [ADV after v] If you go around to someone's house, you visit them. □ She helped me unpack my things and then we went around to see the other girls.

7 ADV [ADV after v] You use around in expressions such as sit around and hang around when you are saying that someone is spending time in a place and not doing anything very important. □ After breakfast the next morning they sat around for an hour discussing political affairs. ● PREP Around is also a preposition. □ He used to skip lessons and hang around the harbor with some other boys.

8 ADV [ADV after v] If you move things around , you move them so that they are in different places. □ She moved things around so the table was beneath the windows.

9 ADV [ADV after v] If a wheel or object turns around , it turns. □ The boat started to spin around in the water.

10 PREP You use around to say that something happens in different parts of a place or area. □ Elephants were often to be found in swamp in eastern Kenya around the Tana River. □ …pests and diseases around the garden. ● ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] Around is also an adverb. □ Giovanni has the best Parma ham for miles around.

11 ADV If someone or something is around , they exist or are present in a place. □ The blackbird had a quick, wary look in case the cat was anywhere around. □ Just having lots of people around that you can talk to is important.

12 PREP The people around you are the people who you come into contact with, especially your friends and relatives, and the people you work with. □ We change our behaviour by observing the behaviour of those around us. □ Those around her would forgive her for weeping.

13 PREP If something such as a film, a discussion, or a plan is based around something, that thing is its main theme. □ …the gentle comedy based around the Larkin family. □ The discussion centered around four subjects.

14 ADV [n ADV , ADV after v] You use around in expressions such as this time around or to come around when you are describing something that has happened before or things that happen regularly. □ Senator Bentsen has declined to get involved this time around. □ When July Fourth comes around, the residents of Columbia City throw a noisy party.

15 PREP When you are giving measurements, you can use around to talk about the distance along the edge of something round. □ She was 40 inches around the hips.

16 ADV Around means approximately. □ My salary was around £39,000 plus a car and expenses. ● PREP Around is also a preposition. □ He expects the elections to be held around November.

17 PHRASE Around about means approximately. [SPOKEN ] □ There is a Green party but it only scored around about 10 percent in the vote.

18 PHRASE You say all around to indicate that something affects all parts of a situation or all members of a group. □ He compared the achievements of the British and the French during 1916 and concluded that the latter were better all around.

19 PHRASE If someone has been around , they have had a lot of experience of different people and situations. [INFORMAL ]

20 the other way around → see way

arou nd-the-clo ck → see clock

arous|al /əraʊ z ^ə l/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Arousal is the state of being sexually excited. □ …sexual arousal. □ Use this technique to control your level of arousal.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Arousal is a state in which you feel excited or very alert, for example as a result of fear, stress, or anger. □ Thinking angry thoughts can provoke strong physiological arousal.

arouse /əraʊ z/ (arouses , arousing , aroused )

1 VERB If something arouses a particular reaction or attitude in people, it causes them to have that reaction or attitude. □ [V n] We left in the daytime so as not to arouse suspicion.

2 VERB If something arouses a particular feeling or instinct that exists in someone, it causes them to experience that feeling or instinct strongly. □ [V n] There is nothing like a long walk to arouse the appetite. [Also V n in n]

3 VERB [usu passive] If you are aroused by something, it makes you feel sexually excited. □ [be V -ed] Some men are aroused when their partner says erotic words to them. ● aroused ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ Some men feel that they get most sexually aroused in the morning. ● arous|ing ADJ □ Being stroked by a partner is usually more arousing than stroking yourself.

arr.

1 Arr. is a written abbreviation for arrives . It is used on timetables to indicate what time a bus, train, or plane will reach a place. □ …dep. Victoria 19:27, arr. Ramsgate 21:10.

2 Arr. is a written abbreviation for arranged . It is used to show that a piece of music written by one person has been rewritten in a different way or for different instruments by another person. □ 'A Good New Year', sung by Kenneth McKellar, (Trad., Arr. Knight).

ar|raign /əre I n/ (arraigns , arraigning , arraigned ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is arraigned on a particular charge, they are brought before a court of law to answer that charge. [LEGAL ] □ [be V -ed for n/v-ing] He was arraigned for criminally abetting a traitor.

ar|raign|ment /əre I nmənt/ (arraignments ) N‑VAR Arraignment is when someone is brought before a court of law to answer a particular charge. [LEGAL ] □ They are scheduled for arraignment October 5th. □ Crowds appeared at the arraignments, clashing with security forces.

ar|range ◆◇◇ /əre I ndʒ/ (arranges , arranging , arranged )

1 VERB If you arrange an event or meeting, you make plans for it to happen. □ [V n] She arranged an appointment for Friday afternoon at four-fifteen.

2 VERB If you arrange with someone to do something, you make plans with them to do it. □ [V to-inf] I've arranged to see him on Friday morning. □ [be V -ed that] It was arranged that the party would gather for lunch in the Royal Garden Hotel. □ [V + for ] He had arranged for the boxes to be stored until they could be collected. [Also V that]

3 VERB If you arrange something for someone, you make it possible for them to have it or to do it. □ [V + for ] I will arrange for someone to take you round. □ [V + for ] The hotel manager will arrange for a baby-sitter. □ [V n] I've arranged your hotels for you.

4 VERB If you arrange things somewhere, you place them in a particular position, usually in order to make them look attractive or tidy. □ [V n] When she has a little spare time she enjoys arranging dried flowers.

5 VERB [usu passive] If a piece of music is arranged by someone, it is changed or adapted so that it is suitable for particular instruments or voices, or for a particular performance. SYNONYMS arrange VERB 1

plan: I had been planning a trip to the West Coast.

prepare: The Party leadership is preparing for the next election.

organize: In the end, we all decided to organize a concert for Easter.

devise: We devised a scheme to help him.

ar|ranged /əre I ndʒd/ ADJ If you say how things are arranged , you are talking about their position in relation to each other or to something else. □ The house itself is three stories high and arranged around a courtyard.

ar|ra nged ma r|riage (arranged marriages ) N‑COUNT In an arranged marriage , the parents choose the person who their son or daughter will marry.

ar|range|ment ◆◇◇ /əre I ndʒmənt/ (arrangements )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl, N to-inf] Arrangements are plans and preparations which you make so that something will happen or be possible. □ [+ for ] The staff is working frantically on final arrangements for the summit. □ She phoned Ellen, but made no arrangements to see her. □ …travel arrangements.

2 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] An arrangement is an agreement that you make with someone to do something. □ The caves can be visited only by prior arrangement. □ Her class teacher made a special arrangement to discuss her progress at school once a month.

3 N‑COUNT An arrangement of things, for example flowers or furniture, is a group of them displayed in a particular way. □ The house was always decorated with imaginative flower arrangements.

4 N‑COUNT If someone makes an arrangement of a piece of music, they change it so that it is suitable for particular voices or instruments, or for a particular performance. □ [+ of ] …an arrangement of a well-known piece by Mozart. SYNONYMS arrangement NOUN

1

plan: We're making plans for a trip to Mexico.

preparation: Behind any successful event lay months of preparations.

2

agreement: It looks as though a compromise agreement has now been reached

settlement: They are not optimistic about a settlement of the eleven-year conflict.

deal: The two sides tried and failed to come to a deal.

ar|rang|er /əre I ndʒə ^r / (arrangers )

1 N‑COUNT An arranger is a musician who arranges music by other composers, either for particular instruments or voices, or for a particular performance.

2 N‑COUNT An arranger is a person who arranges things for other people. □ …a loan arranger.

ar|rant /æ rənt/ ADJ [ADJ n] Arrant is used to emphasize that something or someone is very bad in some way. [EMPHASIS ] □ That's arrant nonsense. □ …an arrant coward.

ar|ray /əre I / (arrays )

1 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb, usu sing] An array of different things or people is a large number or wide range of them. □ [+ of ] As the deadline approached she experienced a bewildering array of emotions.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An array of objects is a collection of them that is displayed or arranged in a particular way. □ We visited the local markets and saw wonderful arrays of fruit and vegetables.

ar|rayed /əre I d/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If things are arrayed in a particular way, they are arranged or displayed in that way. [FORMAL ] □ Cartons of Chinese food were arrayed on a large oak table.

2 ADJ If something such as a military force is arrayed against someone, it is ready and able to be used against them. [FORMAL ]

ar|rears /ər I ə ^r z/

1 N‑PLURAL Arrears are amounts of money that you owe, especially regular payments that you should have made earlier. □ They have promised to pay the arrears over the next five years.

2 PHRASE If someone is in arrears with their payments, or has got into arrears , they have not paid the regular amounts of money that they should have paid. □ …the 300,000 households who are more than six months in arrears with their mortgages.

3 PHRASE If sums of money such as wages or taxes are paid in arrears , they are paid at the end of the period of time to which they relate, for example after a job has been done and the wages have been earned. □ Unemployment benefit is paid fortnightly in arrears.

ar|rest ◆◆◇ /əre st/ (arrests , arresting , arrested )

1 VERB If the police arrest you, they take charge of you and take you to a police station, because they believe you may have committed a crime. □ [V n] Police arrested five young men in connection with one of the attacks. □ [be V -ed + for ] The police say seven people were arrested for minor offences. [Also V n for n] ● N‑VAR [oft under N ] Arrest is also a noun. □ The Police Department wasted no time in making an arrest. □ Murder squad detectives approached the man and placed him under arrest.

2 VERB If something or someone arrests a process, they stop it continuing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The sufferer may have to make major changes in his or her life to arrest the disease.

3 VERB If something interesting or surprising arrests your attention, you suddenly notice it and then continue to look at it or consider it carefully. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The work of an architect of genius always arrests the attention no matter how little remains.

4 → see also house arrest SYNONYMS arrest VERB 1

capture: The guerrillas shot down one aeroplane and captured the pilot.

catch: Police say they are confident of catching the gunman.

detain: He was arrested and detained for questioning.

ar|rest|able /əre stəb ^ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An arrestable offence is an offence that you can be arrested for. □ Using foul and abusive language to a police officer is an arrestable offence.

ar|ri|val ◆◇◇ /əra I v ^ə l/ (arrivals )

1 N‑VAR [oft with poss, on N ] When a person or vehicle arrives at a place, you can refer to their arrival . □ …the day after his arrival in England. □ He was dead on arrival at the nearby hospital. □ …the airport arrivals hall.

2 N‑VAR [oft with poss] When someone starts a new job, you can refer to their arrival in that job. □ …the power vacuum created by the arrival of a new president.

3 N‑SING [usu with poss] When something is brought to you or becomes available, you can refer to its arrival . □ [+ of ] I was flicking idly through a newspaper while awaiting the arrival of orange juice and coffee.

4 N‑SING When a particular time comes or a particular event happens, you can refer to its arrival . □ [+ of ] He celebrated the arrival of the New Year with a party for his friends.

5 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] You can refer to someone who has just arrived at a place as a new arrival . □ A high proportion of the new arrivals are skilled professionals.

ar|rive ◆◆◇ /əra I v/ (arrives , arriving , arrived )

1 VERB When a person or vehicle arrives at a place, they come to it at the end of a journey. □ [V ] Fresh groups of guests arrived. □ [V prep/adv] The Princess Royal arrived at Gatwick this morning from Jamaica.

2 VERB When you arrive at a place, you come to it for the first time in order to stay, live, or work there. □ [V prep/adv] …in the old days before the European settlers arrived in the country. [Also V ]

3 VERB When something such as letter or meal arrives , it is brought or delivered to you. □ [V ] Breakfast arrived while he was in the bathroom.

4 VERB When something such as a new product or invention arrives , it becomes available. □ [V ] The game was due to arrive in Japanese stores in March.

5 VERB When a particular moment or event arrives , it happens, especially after you have been waiting for it or expecting it. □ [V ] The time has arrived when I need to give up smoking. □ [V ] …the belief that the army would be much further forward before winter arrived.

6 VERB When you arrive at something such as a decision, you decide something after thinking about it or discussing it. □ [V + at ] …if the jury cannot arrive at a unanimous decision.

ar|ri|viste /æ riviː st/ (arrivistes ) N‑COUNT You describe someone as an arriviste when you are criticizing them because they are trying very hard to belong to an influential or important social group which you feel they have no right to belong to. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …political arrivistes.

ar|ro|gant /æ rəgənt/ ADJ Someone who is arrogant behaves in a proud, unpleasant way towards other people because they believe that they are more important than others. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was so arrogant. □ That sounds arrogant, doesn't it? ● ar|ro|gance N‑UNCOUNT □ At times the arrogance of those in power is quite blatant.

ar|ro|gate /æ rəge I t/ (arrogates , arrogating , arrogated ) VERB If someone arrogates to themselves something such as a responsibility or privilege, they claim or take it even though they have no right to do so. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + to ] The assembly arrogated to itself the right to make changes. □ [V n + to ] He arrogated the privilege to himself alone.

ar|row /æ roʊ/ (arrows )

1 N‑COUNT An arrow is a long thin weapon which is sharp and pointed at one end and which often has feathers at the other end. An arrow is shot from a bow. □ Warriors armed with bows and arrows and spears have invaded their villages.

2 N‑COUNT An arrow is a written or printed sign that consists of a straight line with another line bent at a sharp angle at one end. This is a printed arrow: →. The arrow points in a particular direction to indicate where something is. □ A series of arrows points the way to his grave.

arrow|head /æ roʊhed/ (arrowheads ) also arrow-head N‑COUNT An arrowhead is the sharp, pointed part of an arrow.

arrow|root /æ roʊruːt/ N‑UNCOUNT Arrowroot is a substance obtained from a West Indian plant. It is used in cooking, for example for thickening sauces or in making biscuits.

arse /ɑː ^r s/ (arses )

1 N‑COUNT Your arse is your bottom. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE ] in AM, use ass 2 a pain in the arse → see pain

arse|hole /ɑː ^r shoʊl/ (arseholes ) N‑COUNT If one person calls another person an arsehole , they think that person is extremely stupid or has behaved in a stupid way. [BRIT , RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ] in AM, use asshole

ar|senal /ɑː ^r sən ^ə l/ (arsenals )

1 N‑COUNT An arsenal is a large collection of weapons and military equipment held by a country, group, or person. □ Russia and the other republics are committed to destroying most of their nuclear arsenals.

2 N‑COUNT An arsenal is a building where weapons and military equipment are stored.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] You can use arsenal to refer to a large number of tools, methods, or resources that someone has available to help them achieve what they want to do. □ Managers use a full arsenal of motivational techniques to get employees to take risks.

ar|senic /ɑː ^r sən I k/ N‑UNCOUNT Arsenic is a very strong poison which can kill people.

ar|son /ɑː ^r s ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Arson is the crime of deliberately setting fire to a building or vehicle. □ …a terrible wave of rioting, theft and arson.

ar|son|ist /ɑː ^r sən I st/ (arsonists ) N‑COUNT An arsonist is a person who deliberately sets fire to a building or vehicle.

art ◆◆◆ /ɑː ^r t/ (arts )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Art consists of paintings, sculpture, and other pictures or objects which are created for people to look at and admire or think deeply about. □ …the first exhibition of such art in the West. □ …contemporary and modern American art. □ …Whitechapel Art Gallery.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Art is the activity or educational subject that consists of creating paintings, sculptures, and other pictures or objects for people to look at and admire or think deeply about. □ …a painter, content to be left alone with her all-absorbing art. □ …Farnham College of Art and Design. □ …art lessons.

3 N‑VAR The arts are activities such as music, painting, literature, cinema, and dance, which people can take part in for enjoyment, or to create works which express serious meanings or ideas of beauty. □ Catherine the Great was a patron of the arts and sciences. □ [+ of ] …the art of cinema.

4 N‑PLURAL [oft N n] At a university or college, arts are subjects such as history, literature, or languages in contrast to scientific subjects. □ …arts and social science graduates. □ …the Faculty of Arts.

5 ADJ [ADJ n] Arts or art is used in the names of theatres or cinemas which show plays or films that are intended to make the audience think deeply about the content, and not simply to entertain them. □ …the Cambridge Arts Cinema.

6 N‑COUNT If you describe an activity as an art , you mean that it requires skill and that people learn to do it by instinct or experience, rather than by learning facts or rules. □ Fishing is an art.

7 Art is an old-fashioned form of the second person singular of the present tense of the verb be .

8 → see also Bachelor of Arts , fine art , martial art , Master of Arts , state-of-the-art , work of art COLLOCATIONS art NOUN 1

adjective + art : contemporary, modern; abstract, conceptual

Art Deco /ɑː ^r t de koʊ/ also art deco N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Art Deco is a style of decoration and architecture that was common in the 1920s and 30s. It uses simple, bold designs on materials such as plastic and glass. □ …art deco lamps.

ar|te|fact /ɑː ^r t I fækt/ (artefacts ) also artifact N‑COUNT An artefact is an ornament, tool, or other object that is made by a human being, especially one that is historically or culturally interesting.

ar|te|rial /ɑː ^r t I ə riəl/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Arterial means involving or relating to your arteries and the movement of blood through your body. □ …people with arterial disease.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] An arterial road or railway is a main road or railway within a complex road or railway system.

ar|te|rio|sclero|sis /ɑː ^r t I ə rioʊskleroʊ s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Arteriosclerosis is a medical condition in which the walls of your arteries become hard and thick, so your blood cannot flow through them properly. [MEDICAL ]

ar|tery /ɑː ^r təri/ (arteries )

1 N‑COUNT Arteries are the tubes in your body that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Compare vein . □ …patients suffering from blocked arteries.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an important main route within a complex road, railway, or river system as an artery . □ Clarence Street was one of the north-bound arteries of the central business district.

a rt form (art forms ) N‑COUNT If you describe an activity as an art form , you mean that it is concerned with creating objects, works, or performances that are beautiful or have a serious meaning. □ …Indian dance and related art forms.

art|ful /ɑː ^r tfʊl/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as artful , you mean that they are clever and skilful at achieving what they want, especially by deceiving people. □ …an artful political gesture.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you use artful to describe the way someone has done or arranged something, you approve of it because it is clever or elegant. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ There is also an artful contrast of shapes.

a rt-house also arthouse ADJ [ADJ n] An art-house film is a film that is intended to be a serious artistic work rather than a piece of popular entertainment.

ar|thrit|ic /ɑː ^r θr I t I k/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Arthritic is used to describe the condition, the pain, or the symptoms of arthritis. □ I developed serious arthritic symptoms and chronic sinusitis.

2 ADJ An arthritic person is suffering from arthritis, and cannot move very easily. Arthritic joints or hands are affected by arthritis. □ …an elderly lady who suffered with arthritic hands.

ar|thri|tis /ɑː ^r θra I t I s/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Arthritis is a medical condition in which the joints in someone's body are swollen and painful. □ I have a touch of arthritis in the wrist.

2 → see also rheumatoid arthritis

ar|ti|choke /ɑː ^r t I tʃoʊk/ (artichokes )

1 N‑VAR Artichokes or globe artichokes are round green vegetables that have fleshy leaves arranged like the petals of a flower.

2 → see also Jerusalem artichoke

ar|ti|cle ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r t I k ^ə l/ (articles )

1 N‑COUNT An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper or magazine. □ …a newspaper article. □ According to an article in The Economist the drug could have side effects.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to objects as articles of some kind. □ [+ of ] …articles of clothing. □ …household articles.

3 PHRASE If you describe something as the genuine article , you are emphasizing that it is genuine, and often that it is very good. [EMPHASIS ] □ The market is flooded with fakes, so here's how to spot the genuine article.

4 N‑COUNT An article of a formal agreement or document is a section of it which deals with a particular point. □ …Article 50 of the U.N. charter.

5 N‑PLURAL Someone who is in articles is being trained as a lawyer or accountant by a firm with whom they have a written agreement. [BRIT ]

6 N‑COUNT In grammar, an article is a kind of determiner. In English, 'a' and 'an' are called the indefinite article , and 'the' is called the definite article . COLLOCATIONS article NOUN 1

noun + article : journal, magazine, newspaper

verb + article : read; write; publish

adjective + article : in-depth, informative SYNONYMS article NOUN 1

feature: …a special feature on the fund-raising project.

paper: He just published a paper in the journal Nature analyzing the fires.

piece: I disagree with Andrew Russell over his piece on British Rail.

item: There was an item in the paper about him.

ar|ti|cled /ɑː ^r t I k ^ə ld/ ADJ [ADJ n] In Britain, someone who is articled to a firm of lawyers or accountants is employed by the firm and is training to become qualified. □ [+ to ] He was initially articled to a solicitor. □ …an articled clerk.

a r|ti|cle of fai th (articles of faith ) N‑COUNT If something is an article of faith for a person or group, they believe in it totally. □ For Republicans it is almost an article of faith that this tax should be cut.

ar|ticu|late (articulates , articulating , articulated ) The adjective is pronounced /ɑː ^r t I kjʊlət/. The verb is pronounced /ɑː ^r t I kjʊle I t/. 1 ADJ If you describe someone as articulate , you mean that they are able to express their thoughts and ideas easily and well. [APPROVAL ] □ She is an articulate young woman.

2 VERB When you articulate your ideas or feelings, you express them clearly in words. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The president has been accused of failing to articulate an overall vision in foreign affairs. [Also V wh]

3 VERB If you articulate something, you say it very clearly, so that each word or syllable can be heard. □ [V n] He articulated each syllable carefully. [Also V ]

ar|ticu|lat|ed /ɑː ^r t I kjʊle I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An articulated vehicle, especially a lorry, is made in two or more sections which are joined together by metal bars, so that the vehicle can turn more easily. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use rig , trailer truck

ar|ticu|la|tion /ɑː ^r t I kjʊle I ʃ ^ə n/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Articulation is the action of producing a sound or word clearly, in speech or music. [FORMAL ]

2 N‑UNCOUNT The articulation of an idea or feeling is the expression of it, especially in words. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] This was seen as a way of restricting women's articulation of grievances.

ar|ti|fact /ɑː ^r t I fækt/ → see artefact

ar|ti|fice /ɑː ^r t I f I s/ (artifices ) N‑VAR Artifice is the clever use of tricks and devices. [FORMAL ] □ Weegee's photographs are full of artfulness, and artifice.

ar|ti|fi|cial /ɑː ^r t I f I ʃ ^ə l/

1 ADJ Artificial objects, materials, or processes do not occur naturally and are created by human beings, for example using science or technology. □ …a wholefood diet free from artificial additives, colours and flavours. □ The city is dotted with small lakes, natural and artificial. ● ar|ti|fi|cial|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ …drugs which artificially reduce heart rate.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An artificial state or situation exists only because someone has created it, and therefore often seems unnatural or unnecessary. □ Removed from the artificial atmosphere of the fashion show, high-fashion clothes often look cheap and silly. ● ar|ti|fi|cial|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ …state subsidies that have kept retail prices artificially low.

3 ADJ If you describe someone or their behaviour as artificial , you disapprove of them because they pretend to have attitudes and feelings which they do not really have. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The voice was patronizing and affected, the accent artificial.

a r|ti|fi|cial in|semi|na |tion N‑UNCOUNT Artificial insemination is a medical technique for making a woman pregnant by injecting previously stored sperm into her womb. Female animals can also be made pregnant by artificial insemination. The abbreviation AI is also used.

a r|ti|fi|cial in|te l|li|gence N‑UNCOUNT Artificial intelligence is a type of computer technology which is concerned with making machines work in an intelligent way, similar to the way that the human mind works. The abbreviation AI is also used.

a r|ti|fi|cial res|pi|ra |tion N‑UNCOUNT Artificial respiration is the forcing of air into the lungs of someone who has stopped breathing, usually by blowing through their mouth or nose, in order to keep them alive and to help them to start breathing again. □ She was given artificial respiration and cardiac massage.

ar|til|lery /ɑː ^r t I ləri/

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Artillery consists of large, powerful guns which are transported on wheels and used by an army. □ Using tanks and heavy artillery, they seized the town. □ …the sound of artillery fire.

2 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The artillery is the section of an army which is trained to use large, powerful guns.

ar|ti|san /ɑː ^r t I zæ n, [AM ] -zən/ (artisans ) N‑COUNT An artisan is someone whose job requires skill with their hands.

art|ist ◆◆◇ /ɑː ^r t I st/ (artists )

1 N‑COUNT An artist is someone who draws or paints pictures or creates sculptures as a job or a hobby. □ Each poster is signed by the artist. □ I'm not a good artist.

2 N‑COUNT An artist is a person who creates novels, poems, films, or other things which can be considered as works of art. □ His books are enormously easy to read, yet he is a serious artist.

3 N‑COUNT An artist is a performer such as a musician, actor, or dancer. □ …a popular artist who has sold millions of records.

4 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is an artist at a particular activity, you mean they are very skilled at it. □ He is an exceptional footballer–an artist. SYNONYMS artist NOUN 2

artisan: It's great to work with local artisans.

craftsman: The table in the kitchen was made by a local craftsman.

master: …a portrait by the Dutch master, Vincent van Gogh.

ar|tiste /ɑː ^r tiː st/ (artistes ) N‑COUNT An artiste is a professional entertainer, for example a singer or a dancer. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a cabaret artiste.

ar|tis|tic /ɑː ^r t I st I k/

1 ADJ Someone who is artistic is good at drawing or painting, or arranging things in a beautiful way. □ They encourage boys to be sensitive and artistic. □ Mary's got it all so nice–you remember how artistic she always was with colors.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Artistic means relating to art or artists. □ …the campaign for artistic freedom. □ …their 1,300 year old artistic traditions. ● ar|tis|ti|cal|ly /ɑː ^r t I st I kli/ ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ …artistically gifted children. □ Artistically, the photographs are stunning.

3 ADJ An artistic design or arrangement is beautiful. □ …an artistic arrangement of stone paving. ● ar|tis|ti|cal|ly ADV [ADV after v, ADV -ed] □ …artistically carved garden ornaments.

art|ist|ry /ɑː ^r t I stri/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] Artistry is the creative skill of an artist, writer, actor, or musician. □ …portrait sculptors of considerable skill and artistry.

art|less /ɑː ^r tləs/ ADJ Someone who is artless is simple and honest, and does not think of deceiving other people. □ She was curiously artless. □ …Hemingway's artless air and charming smile.

Art Nou|veau /ɑː ^r t nuːvoʊ / also art nouveau N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Art Nouveau is a style of decoration and architecture that was common in the 1890s. It is characterized by flowing lines and patterns of flowers and leaves. □ We lunched at the stunning art nouveau Café American.

artsy /ɑː ^r tsi/ ADJ Artsy means the same as arty . [INFORMAL ]

a rtsy-fa rtsy → see arty-farty

art|work /ɑː ^r twɜː ^r k/ (artworks )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Artwork is drawings and photographs that are prepared in order to be included in something such as a book or advertisement. □ The band have released the artwork for their forthcoming album.

2 N‑VAR Artworks are paintings or sculptures which are of high quality. □ The museum contains 6,000 contemporary and modern artworks. □ …a magnificent collection of priceless artwork.

arty /ɑː ^r ti/ ADJ Someone who is arty seems very interested in drama, film, music, poetry, or painting. People often describe someone as arty when they want to suggest that the person is pretentious. [INFORMAL ] □ Didn't you find her a little bit too arty? □ …an arty French film.

a rty-fa rty or artsy-fartsy ADJ If you describe someone as arty-farty , you are criticizing them for being interested in artistic ideas or activities that most people do not think are interesting or worthwhile. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an artsy-fartsy pretentious film.

as

➊ CONJUNCTION AND PREPOSITION USES

➋ USED WITH OTHER PREPOSITIONS AND CONJUNCTIONS

➊ as ◆◆◆ /əz, STRONG æz/

→ Please look at categories 12 to 23 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.

1 CONJ If something happens as something else happens, it happens at the same time. □ Another policeman has been injured as fighting continued this morning. □ All the jury's eyes were on him as he continued. □ The play started as I got there.

2 PHRASE You use the structure as…as when you are comparing things. □ I never went through a final exam that was as difficult as that one. □ There was no obvious reason why this could not be as good a film as the original. ● PHRASE As is also a conjunction. □ Being a mother isn't as bad as I thought at first! □ I don't think he was ever as fit as he should have been.

3 PHRASE You use as…as to emphasize amounts of something. [EMPHASIS ] □ You can look forward to a significant cash return by saving from as little as £10 a month. □ She gets as many as eight thousand letters a month.

4 PREP You use as when you are indicating what someone or something is or is thought to be, or what function they have. □ He has worked as a diplomat in the U.S., Sudan and Saudi Arabia. □ The news apparently came as a complete surprise. □ I had natural ability as a footballer.

5 PREP If you do something as a child or as a teenager, for example, you do it when you are a child or a teenager. □ She loved singing as a child and started vocal training at 12.

6 CONJ You use as to say how something happens or is done, or to indicate that something happens or is done in the same way as something else. □ I'll behave toward them as I would like to be treated. □ Today, as usual, he was wearing a three-piece suit. □ The book was banned in the U.S., as were two subsequent books.

7 PREP You use as in expressions like as a result and as a consequence to indicate how two situations or events are related to each other. □ As a result of fears about home security, more people are arranging for someone to stay in their home when they're away.

8 CONJ You use as to introduce short clauses which comment on the truth of what you are saying. □ As you can see, we're still working. □ We were sitting, as I remember, in a riverside restaurant.

9 CONJ You can use as to mean 'because' when you are explaining the reason for something. □ Enjoy the first hour of the day. This is important as it sets the mood for the rest of the day.

10 PHRASE You say as it were in order to make what you are saying sound less definite. [VAGUENESS ] □ I'd understood the words, but I didn't, as it were, understand the question.

11 PHRASE You use expressions such as as it is , as it turns out , and as things stand when you are making a contrast between a possible situation and what actually happened or is the case. □ I want to work at home on a Tuesday but as it turns out sometimes it's a Wednesday or a Thursday.

12 as against → see against

13 as ever → see ever

14 as a matter of fact → see fact

15 as follows → see follow

16 as long as → see long ➌

17 as opposed to → see opposed

18 as regards → see regard

19 as soon as → see soon

20 as such → see such

21 as well → see well ➌

22 as well as → see well ➌

23 as yet → see yet

➋ as ◆◆◆ /əz, STRONG æz/

1 PHRASE You use as for and as to at the beginning of a sentence in order to introduce a slightly different subject that is still connected to the previous one. □ The city has some wonderful museums. As for hotels 'Coco Reef' is a great choice.

2 PHRASE You use as to to indicate what something refers to. □ They should make decisions as to whether the student needs more help.

3 PHRASE If you say that something will happen as of , or in British English as from , a particular date or time, you mean that it will happen from that time on. □ The border will be opened as of January the 1st. □ She is to retire as from 1 October.

4 PHRASE You use as if and as though when you are giving a possible explanation for something or saying that something appears to be the case when it is not. □ Anne shrugged, as if she didn't know.

asap /e I es e I piː / ADV [ADV after v] asap is an abbreviation for 'as soon as possible'. □ The colonel ordered, 'I want two good engines down here asap.'

as|bes|tos /æ sbe stɒs/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Asbestos is a grey material which does not burn and which has been used as a protection against fire or heat.

ASBO /æ zboʊ / (ASBOs ) N‑COUNT An ASBO is a legal order restricting the activities or movements of someone who has repeatedly behaved in a way that upsets or annoys other people. ASBO is an abbreviation for 'anti-social behaviour order'. [BRIT ] □ Breach of an ASBO is a criminal offence.

as|cend /əse nd/ (ascends , ascending , ascended )

1 VERB If you ascend a hill or staircase, you go up it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] Mrs Clayton had to hold Lizzie's hand as they ascended the steps. □ [V prep/adv] Then we ascend steeply through forests of rhododendron. [Also V ]

2 VERB If a staircase or path ascends , it leads up to a higher position. [WRITTEN ] [Also V , V n]

3 VERB If something ascends , it moves up, usually vertically or into the air. [WRITTEN ] □ [V ] Keep the drill steady while it ascends and descends.

4 VERB If someone ascends to an important position, they achieve it or are appointed to it. When someone ascends a throne, they become king, queen, or pope. [FORMAL ]

5 → see also ascending

as|cend|ancy /əse ndənsi/ also ascendency N‑UNCOUNT If one group has ascendancy over another group, it has more power or influence than the other group. [FORMAL ] □ Although geographically linked, the two provinces have long fought for political ascendancy.

as|cend|ant /əse ndənt/ PHRASE If someone or something is in the ascendant , they have or are getting more power, influence, or popularity than other people or things. [FORMAL ] □ Radical reformers are once more in the ascendant.

as|cend|ency /əse ndənsi/ → see ascendancy

as|cend|ing /əse nd I ŋ/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] If a group of things is arranged in ascending order, each thing is bigger, greater, or more important than the thing before it. □ Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.

2 → see also ascend

as|cen|sion /əse nʃ ^ə n/

1 N‑SING [with poss] In some religions, when someone goes to heaven, you can refer to their ascension to heaven. □ …the two-day holiday marking the Prophet's ascension to heaven.

2 N‑SING [with poss] The ascension of a person to a high rank or important position is the act of reaching this position. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ to ] …50 years after his ascension to the Cambodian throne.

as|cent /əse nt/ (ascents )

1 N‑COUNT An ascent is an upward journey, especially when you are walking or climbing. □ [+ of ] He led the first ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world's third highest mountain.

2 N‑COUNT An ascent is an upward slope or path, especially when you are walking or climbing. □ It was a tough course over a gradual ascent before the big climb of Bluebell Hill.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft poss N ] An ascent is an upward, vertical movement. □ Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.

4 N‑SING The ascent of a person to a more important or successful position is the process of reaching this position. [WRITTEN ]

5 N‑SING In some religions, when someone goes to heaven, you can refer to their ascent to heaven.

as|cer|tain /æ sə ^r te I n/ (ascertains , ascertaining , ascertained ) VERB If you ascertain the truth about something, you find out what it is, especially by making a deliberate effort to do so. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] It is always vital to ascertain the cause of a continual headache. □ [V that] Once they had ascertained that he was not a spy, they agreed to release him. □ [V wh] Take time to ascertain what services your bank is providing, and at what cost.

as|cet|ic /əse t I k/ (ascetics ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] An ascetic person has a way of life that is simple and strict, usually because of their religious beliefs. ● N‑COUNT An ascetic is someone who is ascetic.

as|ceti|cism /əse t I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Asceticism is a simple, strict way of life with no luxuries or physical pleasures.

ascor|bic acid /æskɔː ^r b I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. [TECHNICAL ]

as|cribe /əskra I b/ (ascribes , ascribing , ascribed )

1 VERB If you ascribe an event or condition to a particular cause, you say or consider that it was caused by that thing. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] An autopsy eventually ascribed the baby's death to sudden infant death syndrome.

2 VERB If you ascribe a quality to someone, you consider that they possess it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] We do not ascribe a superior wisdom to government or the state.

3 VERB If you ascribe something such as a quotation or a work of art to someone, you say that they said it or created it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + to ] He mistakenly ascribes the expression 'survival of the fittest' to Charles Darwin.

asexu|al /e I se kʃuəl/

1 ADJ Something that is asexual involves no sexual activity. □ Their relationship was totally asexual. □ …asexual reproduction. ● asexu|al|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ Many fungi can reproduce asexually.

2 ADJ Asexual creatures and plants have no sexual organs. □ …asexual parasites.

3 ADJ Someone who is asexual is not sexually attracted to other people. □ It is another unfortunate myth of our culture that older people are asexual.

ash /æ ʃ/ (ashes )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Ash is the grey or black powdery substance that is left after something is burnt. You can also refer to this substance as ashes . □ A cloud of volcanic ash is spreading across wide areas of the Philippines. □ He brushed the cigarette ash from his sleeve.

2 N‑PLURAL [usu poss N ] A dead person's ashes are their remains after their body has been cremated.

3 N‑VAR An ash is a tree that has smooth grey bark and loses its leaves in winter. ● N‑UNCOUNT Ash is the wood from this tree. □ The rafters are made from ash.

ashamed /əʃe I md/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ , ADJ that] If someone is ashamed , they feel embarrassed or guilty because of something they do or they have done, or because of their appearance. □ [+ of ] I felt incredibly ashamed of myself for getting so angry. □ She was ashamed that she looked so shabby. [Also + about ]

2 ADJ If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them, often because of their appearance or because you disapprove of something they have done. □ [+ of ] I've never told this to anyone, but it's true, I was terribly ashamed of my mum.

3 ADJ If someone is ashamed to do something, they do not want to do it because they feel embarrassed about it. □ Women are often ashamed to admit they are being abused.

ash|en /æ ʃ ^ə n/ ADJ Someone who is ashen looks very pale, especially because they are ill, shocked, or frightened.

a shen-fa ced ADJ Someone who is ashen-faced looks very pale, especially because they are ill, shocked, or frightened. □ The survivors were ashen-faced and visibly shaken.

ashore /əʃɔː ^r / ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] Someone or something that comes ashore comes from the sea onto the shore. □ Oil has come ashore on a ten mile stretch to the east of Plymouth.

ash|tan|ga yoga /æʃtɑː ŋə joʊ gə/ N‑UNCOUNT Ashtanga yoga is a type of yoga in which you move quickly from one position to another, while controlling your breathing.

ash|tray /æ ʃtre I / (ashtrays ) N‑COUNT An ashtray is a small dish in which smokers can put the ash from their cigarettes and cigars.

A sh We dnes|day N‑UNCOUNT Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.

Asian /e I ʒ ^ə n/ (Asians )

1 ADJ Asian means belonging to or relating to Asia. British people use this term especially to refer to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Americans use this term especially to refer to China, Korea, Thailand, Japan, or Vietnam. □ …Asian music. □ …the Asian community in San Francisco.

2 N‑COUNT An Asian is a person who comes from or is associated with a country or region in Asia. □ Lactose intolerance is very common in Asians and Africans.

Asi|at|ic /e I ʒiæ t I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Asiatic means belonging or relating to Asia or its people. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

aside

➊ ADVERB AND NOUN USES

➋ PREPOSITION USES

➊ aside ◆◇◇ /əsa I d/ (asides ) In addition to the uses shown below, aside is used in phrasal verbs such as 'cast aside', 'stand aside', and 'step aside'. 1 ADV [ADV after v] If you move something aside , you move it to one side of you. □ Sarah closed the book and laid it aside.

2 ADV [ADV after v] If you take or draw someone aside , you take them a little way away from a group of people in order to talk to them in private. □ Will put his arm around her shoulders and drew her aside.

3 ADV [ADV after v] If you move aside , you get out of someone's way. □ She had been standing in the doorway, but now she stepped aside to let them pass.

4 ADV [ADV after v] If you set something such as time, money, or space aside for a particular purpose, you save it and do not use it for anything else. □ She wants to put her pocket-money aside for holidays. □ …the ground set aside for the new cathedral.

5 ADV [ADV after v] If you brush or sweep aside a feeling or suggestion, you reject it. □ Talk to a friend who will really listen and not brush aside your feelings. □ The Prime Minister swept aside concern about the rising cost of mortgages.

6 ADV [ADV after v, n ADV ] You use aside to indicate that you have finished talking about something, or that you are leaving it out of your discussion, and that you are about to talk about something else. □ Leaving aside the nutritional argument, these loaves are better value. □ Emotional arguments aside, here are the facts.

7 N‑COUNT An aside is a comment that a character in a play makes to the audience, which the other characters are supposed not to be able to hear. □ She rolls her eyes and mutters an aside to the camera, 'No wonder I'm stressed!'

8 N‑COUNT An aside is something that you say that is not directly connected with what you are talking about. □ The pace of the book is leisurely, with enjoyable literary and historical asides.

➋ asi de from PHRASE Aside from means the same as apart from . This form is more usual in American English.

A -side (A-sides ) N‑COUNT The A-side of a record that has been released as a single is the main song on it. You can also refer to the side of the record that contains this song as the A-side . Compare B-side .

asi|nine /æ s I na I n/ ADJ If you describe something or someone as asinine , you mean that they are very foolish. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an asinine discussion.

ask ◆◆◆ /ɑː sk, æ sk/ (asks , asking , asked )

1 VERB If you ask someone something, you say something to them in the form of a question because you want to know the answer. □ [V with quote] 'How is Frank?' he asked. □ [V n n] I asked him his name. □ [V n] I wasn't the only one asking questions. □ [V n wh] She asked me if I'd enjoyed my dinner. □ [V wh] If Daniel asks what happened in court we will tell him. □ [V n + about ] You will have to ask David about that. □ [V ] 'I'm afraid to ask what it cost.'—'Then don't ask.' [Also V about n]

2 VERB If you ask someone to do something, you tell them that you want them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] We had to ask him to leave.

3 VERB If you ask to do something, you tell someone that you want to do it. □ [V to-inf] I asked to see the Director.

4 VERB If you ask for something, you say that you would like it. □ [V + for ] I decided to go to the next house and ask for food.

5 VERB If you ask for someone, you say that you would like to speak to them. □ [V + for ] There's a man at the gate asking for you.

6 VERB If you ask someone's permission, opinion, or forgiveness, you try to obtain it by putting a request to them. □ [V n] Please ask permission from whoever pays the phone bill before making your call.

7 VERB If you ask someone to an event or place, you invite them to go there. □ [V n + to ] Couldn't you ask Jon to the party? □ [V n adv] She asked me back to her house. [Also V n + for ]

8 VERB If someone is asking a particular price for something, they are selling it for that price. □ [V n + for ] Mr Pantelaras was asking £6,000 for his collection. [Also V n]

9 CONVENTION You reply ' don't ask me ' when you do not know the answer to a question, usually when you are annoyed or surprised that you have been asked. [FEELINGS ] □ 'She's got other things on her mind, wouldn't you think?' 'Don't ask me,' murmured Chris. 'I've never met her.'

10 PHRASE You can say ' may I ask ' as a formal way of asking a question, which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something. [FEELINGS ] □ May I ask where you're going, sir?

11 PHRASE You can say ' if you ask me ' to emphasize that you are stating your personal opinion. [EMPHASIS ] □ He was nuts, if you ask me.

12 PHRASE If you say that someone is asking for trouble or is asking for it , you mean that they are behaving in a way that makes it very likely that they will get into trouble. □ To go ahead with the match after such clear advice had been asking for trouble.

▸ ask after PHRASAL VERB If someone asks after you, they ask someone how you are. □ [V P n] I had a letter from Jane. She asks after you.

▸ ask around in BRIT, also use ask round PHRASAL VERB If you ask around or ask round , you ask several people a question. □ [V P ] Ask around to see what others living in your area think about their doctors. SYNONYMS ask VERB

1

inquire: I rang up to inquire about train times.

question: This led the therapist to question Jim about his parents and their marriage.

query: One of the journalists queried whether sabotage could have been involved.

2

request: Mr Dennis said he had requested access to a telephone.

demand: The hijackers are demanding to speak to representatives of both governments.

plead: He was kneeling on the floor pleading for mercy.

beg: I begged to be allowed to leave.

askance /əskæ ns/

1 PHRASE If you look askance at someone or something, you have a doubtful or suspicious attitude towards them. □ They have always looked askance at the western notion of democracy.

2 PHRASE If you look askance at someone, you look at them in a doubtful or suspicious way.

askew /əskjuː / ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Something that is askew is not straight or not level with what it should be level with. □ There were no shutters at the windows, and some of the doors hung askew.

a sk|ing price (asking prices ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The asking price of something is the price which the person selling it says that they want for it, although they may accept less. □ Offers 15% below the asking price are unlikely to be accepted.

asleep /əsliː p/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is asleep is sleeping. □ My four-year-old daughter was asleep on the sofa.

2 PHRASE When you fall asleep , you start sleeping. □ Sam snuggled down in his pillow and fell asleep.

3 PHRASE Someone who is fast asleep or sound asleep is sleeping deeply. USAGE asleep

Don’t use asleep in front of a noun. Don’t, for example, talk about an ‘ asleep child ’. Instead, you can say a ‘sleeping child ’. You also don't say that someone is ‘ very asleep ’. You can say that they are sound asleep or fast asleep . □ Chris is still sound asleep in the other bed.

as|para|gus /əspæ rəgəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Asparagus is a vegetable that is long and green and has small shoots at one end. It is cooked and served whole.

as|pect ◆◆◇ /æ spekt/ (aspects )

1 N‑COUNT An aspect of something is one of the parts of its character or nature. □ [+ of ] Climate and weather affect every aspect of our lives. □ [+ of ] He was interested in all aspects of the work here.

2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The aspect of a building or window is the direction in which it faces. [FORMAL ] □ The house had a south-west aspect.

3 N‑UNCOUNT In grammar, aspect is the way that a verb group shows whether an activity is continuing, is repeated, or is completed. For example, in 'They were laughing', the verb is in the progressive aspect and shows that the action was continuing. Compare tense . SYNONYMS aspect NOUN 1

feature: The spacious gardens are a special feature of this property.

point: The most interesting point about the village was its religion.

side: Anxiety has a mental and a physical side.

factor: Physical activity is an important factor in maintaining fitness.

facet: The caste system shapes nearly every facet of Indian life.

as|pen /æ spən/ (aspens ) N‑VAR An aspen is a tall tree with leaves that move a lot in the wind.

as|per|ity /æspe r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with N ] If you say something with asperity , you say it impatiently and severely. [FORMAL ] □ 'I told you Preskel had no idea,' remarked Kemp with some asperity.

as|per|sions /əspɜː ^r ʃ ^ə nz, [AM ] -ʒ ^ə nz/ PHRASE If you cast aspersions on someone or something, you suggest that they are not very good in some way. [FORMAL ]

as|phalt /æ sfælt, -fɔːlt/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Asphalt is a black substance used to make the surfaces of things such as roads and playgrounds.

as|phyxia /æsf I ksiə/ N‑UNCOUNT Asphyxia is death or loss of consciousness caused by being unable to breathe properly. [MEDICAL ] □ Death was due to asphyxia through smoke inhalation.

as|phyxi|ate /æsf I ksie I t/ (asphyxiates , asphyxiating , asphyxiated ) VERB [usu passive] If someone is asphyxiated , they die or lose consciousness because they are unable to breathe properly. □ [be V -ed] Three people were asphyxiated in the crush for last week's train. ● as|phyxia|tion /æsf I ksie I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ A post mortem examination found that she died from asphyxiation.

as|pic /æ sp I k/ N‑UNCOUNT Aspic is a clear shiny jelly made from meat juices. It is used in making cold savoury meat dishes. □ …cold chicken in aspic.

as|pir|ant /əspa I rənt, æ sp I rənt/ (aspirants )

1 N‑COUNT Someone who is an aspirant to political power or to an important job has a strong desire to achieve it. [FORMAL ] □ …the young aspirant to power.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Aspirant means the same as aspiring . [FORMAL ] □ …aspirant politicians.

as|pi|ra|tion /æ sp I re I ʃ ^ə n/ (aspirations ) N‑VAR Someone's aspirations are their desire to achieve things. □ …the needs and aspirations of our pupils. □ …the republic's aspiration to statehood.

as|pi|ra|tion|al /æ sp I re I ʃən ^ə l/

1 ADJ If you describe someone as aspirational , you mean that they have strong hopes of moving to a higher social status. [JOURNALISM ] □ …the typical tensions of an aspirational household.

2 ADJ If you describe a product as aspirational , you mean that it is bought or enjoyed by people who have strong hopes of moving to a higher social class. [JOURNALISM ] □ Fine music, particularly opera, has become aspirational, like fine food or foreign travel.

as|pire /əspa I ə ^r / (aspires , aspiring , aspired )

1 VERB If you aspire to something such as an important job, you have a strong desire to achieve it. □ [V + to ] …people who aspire to public office. □ [V to-inf] They aspired to be gentlemen, though they fell far short of the ideal.

2 → see also aspiring

as|pi|rin /æ sp I r I n/ (aspirins or aspirin ) N‑VAR Aspirin is a mild drug which reduces pain and fever.

as|pir|ing /əspa I ə r I ŋ/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] If you use aspiring to describe someone who is starting a particular career, you mean that they are trying to become successful in it. □ Many aspiring young artists are advised to learn by copying the masters.

2 → see also aspire

ass /æ s/ (asses )

1 N‑COUNT An ass is an animal which is related to a horse but which is smaller and has long ears.

2 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as an ass , you think that they are silly or do silly things. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was generally disliked and regarded as a pompous ass.

3 N‑COUNT Your ass is your bottom. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE ] in BRIT, use arse , bum

4 PHRASE Saying that someone can kiss your ass is a very rude way of expressing anger or disagreement. [AM , INFORMAL , RUDE , FEELINGS ]

5 a pain in the ass → see pain

as|sail /əse I l/ (assails , assailing , assailed )

1 VERB If someone assails you, they criticize you strongly. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day.

2 VERB If someone assails you, they attack you violently. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed + by ] Her husband was assailed by a young man with a knife in a Glasgow park.

3 VERB [usu passive] If you are assailed by something unpleasant such as fears or problems, you are greatly troubled by a large number of them. [WRITTEN ] □ [be V -ed] She is assailed by self-doubt and emotional insecurity.

as|sail|ant /əse I lənt/ (assailants ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Someone's assailant is a person who has physically attacked them. [FORMAL ] □ Other party-goers rescued the injured man from his assailant.

as|sas|sin /əsæ s I n/ (assassins ) N‑COUNT An assassin is a person who assassinates someone. □ He saw the shooting and memorised the number of the assassin's car.