o ne-woman ADJ [ADJ n] A one-woman performance or business is done by only one woman, rather than by several people. □ She has already presented a one-woman show of her paintings.
on|going /ɒ ngoʊ I ŋ/ ADJ An ongoing situation has been happening for quite a long time and seems likely to continue for some time in the future. □ There is an ongoing debate on the issue. □ That research is ongoing.
on|ion /ʌ njən/ (onions ) N‑VAR An onion is a round vegetable with a brown skin that grows underground. It has many white layers on its inside which have a strong, sharp smell and taste. □ It is made with fresh minced meat, cooked with onion and a rich tomato sauce.
on|line ◆◇◇ /ɒ nla I n/ also on-line
1 ADJ If a company goes online , its services become available on the internet. [BUSINESS , COMPUTING ] □ …the first bank to go online. □ …an online shopping centre. □ …an online catalogue.
2 ADJ If you are online , your computer is connected to the internet. Compare offline . [COMPUTING ] □ You can chat to other people who are online. ● ADV [ADV after v] Online is also an adverb. □ …the cool stuff you find online.
3 on line → see line
on|looker /ɒ nlʊkə r / (onlookers ) N‑COUNT An onlooker is someone who watches an event take place but does not take part in it. □ A handful of onlookers stand in the field watching.
only ◆◆◆ /oʊ nli/ In written English, only is usually placed immediately before the word it qualifies. In spoken English, however, you can use stress to indicate what only qualifies, so its position is not so important. 1 ADV [ADV before v] You use only to indicate the one thing that is true, appropriate, or necessary in a particular situation, in contrast to all the other things that are not true, appropriate, or necessary. □ Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb. □ Only here were the police visible in any strength at all. □ 44-year-old woman seeks caring, honest male for friendship and fun. Genuine replies only. □ A business can only be built and expanded on a sound financial base.
2 ADV You use only to introduce the thing which must happen before the thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence can happen. □ The lawyer is paid only if he wins. □ The Bank of England insists that it will cut interest rates only when it is ready.
3 ADJ If you talk about the only person or thing involved in a particular situation, you mean there are no others involved in it. □ She was the only woman in the company's legal department. □ My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had - the only company.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] An only child is a child who has no brothers or sisters.
5 ADV [ADV before v] You use only to indicate that something is no more important, interesting, or difficult, for example, than you say it is, especially when you want to correct a wrong idea that someone may get or has already got. □ At the moment it is only a theory. □ 'I'm only a sergeant,' said Clements. □ Don't get defensive, Charlie. I was only joking.
6 ADV You use only to emphasize how small an amount is or how short a length of time is. [EMPHASIS ] □ Child car seats only cost about £10 a week to hire. □ …spacecraft guidance systems weighing only a few grams. □ I've only recently met him.
7 ADV [ADV n] You use only to emphasize that you are talking about a small part of an amount or group, not the whole of it. [EMPHASIS ] □ These are only a few of the possibilities. □ Only a minority of the people supported the Revolution.
8 ADV Only is used after 'can' or 'could' to emphasize that it is impossible to do anything except the rather inadequate or limited action that is mentioned. [EMPHASIS ] □ For a moment I could say nothing. I could only stand and look. □ The police can only guess at the scale of the problem.
9 ADV [ADV before v] You can use only in the expressions I only wish or I only hope in order to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing. [EMPHASIS ] □ I only wish he were here now that things are getting better for me.
10 CONJ Only can be used to add a comment which slightly changes or limits what you have just said. [INFORMAL ] □ It's just as dramatic as a film, only it's real. □ Drop in and see me when you're ready. Only don't take too long about it.
11 CONJ Only can be used after a clause with 'would' to indicate why something is not done. [SPOKEN ] □ I'd invite you to come with me, only it's such a long way. □ I'd be quite happy to go. Only I don't know what my kids would say about living there.
12 ADV [ADV to-inf] You can use only before an infinitive to introduce an event which happens immediately after one you have just mentioned, and which is rather surprising or unfortunate. □ Ryle tried the Embassy, only to be told that Hugh was in a meeting. □ He raced through the living room, only to find the front door closed.
13 ADV [usu ADV adj] You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is. [EMPHASIS ] □ It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply. □ She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected.
14 ADV [ADV before v] You can use only in front of a verb to indicate that the result of something is unfortunate or undesirable and is likely to make the situation worse rather than better. □ The embargo would only hurt innocent civilians. □ She says that legalising prostitution will only cause problems.
15 PHRASE If you say you only have to or have only to do one thing in order to achieve or prove a second thing, you are emphasizing how easily the second thing can be achieved or proved. [EMPHASIS ] □ Any time you want a babysitter, dear, you only have to ask. □ We have only to read the labels to know what ingredients are in foods.
16 PHRASE You can say that something has only just happened when you want to emphasize that it happened a very short time ago. [EMPHASIS ] □ I've only just arrived. □ The signs of an economic revival are only just beginning.
17 PHRASE You use only just to emphasize that something is true, but by such a small degree that it is almost not true at all. [EMPHASIS ] □ For centuries farmers there have only just managed to survive. □ I am old enough to remember the Blitz, but only just.
18 PHRASE You can use only too to emphasize that something is true or exists to a much greater extent than you would expect or like. [EMPHASIS ] □ I know only too well that plans can easily go wrong. □ When the new baby comes along, it is only too easy to shut out the others.
19 PHRASE You can say that you are only too happy to do something to emphasize how willing you are to do it. [EMPHASIS ] □ I'll be only too pleased to help them out with any queries.
20 if only → see if
21 not only → see not
22 the one and only → see one
o n-me ssage ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a politician is on-message , they say something that follows the official policy of their party.
o.n.o. In advertisements, o.n.o. is used after a price to indicate that the person who is selling something is willing to accept slightly less money than the sum they have mentioned. o.n.o. is a written abbreviation for 'or near offer'. [BRIT ]
ono|mato|poeia /ɒ nəmætəpiː ə/ N‑UNCOUNT Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words which sound like the noise they refer to. 'Hiss', 'buzz', and 'rat-a-tat-tat' are examples of onomatopoeia. [TECHNICAL ]
ono|mato|poe|ic /ɒ nəmætəpiː I k/ ADJ Onomatopoeic words sound like the noise they refer to. 'Hiss', 'buzz', and 'rat-a-tat-tat' are examples of onomatopoeic words. [TECHNICAL ]
on|rush /ɒ nrʌʃ/ N‑SING The onrush of something is its sudden development, which happens so quickly and forcefully that you are unable to control it. □ [+ of ] The onrush of tears took me by surprise. □ [+ of ] She was screwing up her eyes against the onrush of air.
on|rush|ing /ɒ nrʌʃ I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Onrushing describes something such as a vehicle that is moving forward so quickly or forcefully that it would be very difficult to stop. □ He was killed by an onrushing locomotive. □ …the roar of the onrushing water.
o n-scree n also onscreen
1 ADJ [ADJ n] On-screen means appearing on the screen of a television, cinema, or computer. □ …a clear and easy-to-follow menu-driven on-screen display. □ Read the on-screen lyrics and sing along.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] On-screen means relating to the roles played by film or television actors, in contrast with their real lives. □ …her first onscreen kiss. ● ADV On-screen is also an adverb. □ He was immensely attractive to women, onscreen and offscreen.
on|set /ɒ nset/ N‑SING The onset of something is the beginning of it, used especially to refer to something unpleasant. □ [+ of ] Most of the passes have been closed with the onset of winter.
on|shore /ɒ nʃɔː r /
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Onshore means happening on or near land, rather than at sea. □ …Western Europe's biggest onshore oilfield. ● ADV [ADV after v] Onshore is also an adverb. □ They missed the ferry and remained onshore.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Onshore means happening or moving towards the land. □ The onshore wind blew steadily past him. ● ADV [ADV after v] Onshore is also an adverb. □ There was a bit of a wind and it was blowing onshore.
on|side /ɒ nsa I d/
1 ADJ In games such as football and hockey, when an attacking player is onside , they have not broken the rules because at least two players from the opposing team are between them and the goal when the ball is passed to them.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a person or group of people is onside , they support you and agree with what you are doing. □ The company is phoning shareholders in an attempt to bring them onside.
o n-si te → see site
on|slaught /ɒ nslɔːt/ (onslaughts )
1 N‑COUNT An onslaught on someone or something is a very violent, forceful attack against them. □ [+ against ] The rebels responded to a military onslaught against them by launching a major assault. [Also + by ]
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to an onslaught of something, you mean that there is a large amount of it, often so that it is very difficult to deal with. □ [+ of ] …the constant onslaught of ads on American TV.
on|stage /ɒ nste I dʒ/ ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] When someone such as an actor or musician goes onstage , they go onto the stage in a theatre to give a performance. □ When she walked onstage she was given a standing ovation.
o n-the-jo b → see job
o n-the-spo t ADJ [ADJ n] On-the-spot things are done at the place that you are in at the time that you are there. □ Rail travellers who try to avoid paying their fares could face on-the-spot fines.
onto ◆◇◇ /ɒ ntu/ also on to In addition to the uses shown below, onto is used in phrasal verbs such as 'hold onto' and 'latch onto'. 1 PREP If something moves or is put onto an object or surface, it is then on that object or surface. □ I took my bags inside, lowered myself onto the bed and switched on the TV. □ Smear Vaseline on to your baby's skin to prevent soreness.
2 PREP You can sometimes use onto to mention the place or area that someone moves into. □ The players emerged onto the field. □ Alex turned his car on to the Albert Quay and drove along until he found a parking place.
3 PREP You can use onto to introduce the place towards which a light or someone's look is directed. □ …the metal part of the door onto which the sun had been shining. □ …the house with its leafy garden and its view on to Regent's Park.
4 PREP You can use onto to introduce a place that you would immediately come to after leaving another place that you have just mentioned, because they are next to each other. □ …windows opening onto carved black-wood balconies. □ The door opened onto a lighted hallway.
5 PREP When you change the position of your body, you use onto to introduce the part your body which is now supporting you. □ As he stepped backwards she fell onto her knees, then onto her face. □ I willed my eyes to open and heaved myself over on to my back.
6 PREP When you get onto a bus, train, or plane, you enter it in order to travel somewhere. □ As he got on to the plane, he asked me how I was feeling. □ 'I'll see you onto the train.'—'Thank you.'
7 PREP Onto is used after verbs such as 'hold', 'hang', and 'cling' to indicate what someone is holding firmly or where something is being held firmly. □ The reflector is held onto the sides of the spacecraft with a frame. □ She was conscious of a second man hanging on to the rail.
8 PREP If people who are talking get onto a different subject, they begin talking about it. □ Let's get on to more important matters. □ So, if we could just move onto something else?
9 PREP You can sometimes use onto to indicate that something or someone becomes included as a part of a list or system. □ The Macedonian question had failed to get on to the agenda. □ The pill itself has changed a lot since it first came onto the market. □ Twelve thousand workers will go onto a four-day week at their factory in Birmingham.
10 PREP If someone is onto something, they are about to discover something important. [INFORMAL ] □ He leaned across the table and whispered to me, 'I'm really onto something.'. □ Archaeologists knew they were onto something big when they started digging.
11 PREP If someone is onto you, they have discovered that you are doing something illegal or wrong. [INFORMAL ] □ I had told people what he had been doing, so now the police were onto him.
on|tol|ogy /ɒntɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Ontology is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of existence. [TECHNICAL ] ● on|to|logi|cal /ɒ ntəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …the ontological question of the relationship between mind and body.
onus /oʊ nəs/ N‑SING If you say that the onus is on someone to do something, you mean it is their duty or responsibility to do it. [FORMAL ] □ If you ordered something, then the onus is on you to pay for it. [Also + of ]
on|ward /ɒ nwə r d/ also onwards In British English, onwards is an adverb and onward is an adjective. In American English and sometimes in formal British English, onward may also be an adverb. 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Onward means moving forward or continuing a journey. □ They have two flights a day to Bangkok, and there are onward flights to Phnom Penh. ● ADV [ADV after v] Onward is also an adverb. □ The bus continued onward. □ [+ to ] He measured the distance to the nearest Antarctic coast, and onwards to the South Pole.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Onward means developing, progressing, or becoming more important over a period of time. □ …the onward march of progress in the British aircraft industry. ● ADV [ADV after v] Onward is also an adverb. □ I can see things just going onwards and upwards for us now.
3 ADV [from n ADV ] If something happens from a particular time onwards or onward , it begins to happen at that time and continues to happen afterwards. □ From the turn of the century onward, she shared the life of the aborigines.
onyx /ɒ n I ks/ N‑UNCOUNT Onyx is a stone which can be various colours. It is used for making ornaments, jewellery, or furniture.
oo /uː / → see ooh
oodles /uː d ə lz/ QUANT If you say that there is oodles of something, you are emphasizing that there is a very large quantity of it. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] The recipe calls for oodles of melted chocolate.
ooh /uː / also oo EXCLAM People say ' ooh ' when they are surprised, looking forward to something, or find something pleasant or unpleasant. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ 'Ooh dear me, that's a bit of a racist comment isn't it.'. □ 'Red? Ooh how nice.'
oomph /ʊ mf/ N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone or something has oomph , you mean that they are energetic and exciting. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ 'There's no buzz, there's no oomph about the place,' he complained.
oops /ʊ ps, uː ps/ EXCLAM You say ' oops ' to indicate that there has been a slight accident or mistake, or to apologize to someone for it. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ Today they're saying, 'Oops, we made a mistake.'
ooze /uː z/ (oozes , oozing , oozed )
1 VERB When a thick or sticky liquid oozes from something or when something oozes it, the liquid flows slowly and in small quantities. □ [V ] He saw there was a big hole in the back of the man's head, blood was still oozing from it. □ [V adv] The lava will just ooze gently out of the crater. □ [V n] The wounds may heal cleanly or they may ooze a clear liquid.
2 VERB If you say that someone or something oozes a quality or characteristic, or oozes with it, you mean that they show it very strongly. □ [V n] The Elizabethan house oozes charm. □ [V + with ] Manchester United were by now oozing with confidence.
op /ɒ p/ (ops )
1 N‑COUNT An op is a medical operation. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …breast cancer ops.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Ops are military operations. □ Flt Lt Beamont had completed a 200 hour tour of ops in December 1941.
op. In music, op. is a written abbreviation for opus . □ …Beethoven's Op. 101 and 111 sonatas.
opac|ity /oʊpæ s I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Opacity is the quality of being difficult to see through. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Opacity of the eye lens can be induced by deficiency of certain vitamins.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to something's opacity , you mean that it is difficult to understand. [FORMAL ] □ Its dramatic nuances were often generalised to the point of opacity.
opal /oʊ p ə l/ (opals ) N‑VAR An opal is a precious stone. Opals are colourless or white, but other colours are reflected in them.
opal|es|cent /oʊ pəle s ə nt/ ADJ Opalescent means colourless or white like an opal, or changing colour like an opal. [LITERARY ] □ Elaine turned her opalescent eyes on him. □ …a sky which was still faintly opalescent. ● opal|es|cence N‑UNCOUNT □ The sunset was making great splashes of fiery opalescence across the sky.
opaque /oʊpe I k/
1 ADJ If an object or substance is opaque , you cannot see through it. □ You can always use opaque glass if you need to block a street view.
2 ADJ If you say that something is opaque , you mean that it is difficult to understand. □ …the opaque language of the inspector's reports.
op. cit. /ɒ p s I t/ In reference books, op. cit. is used after an author's name to refer to a book of theirs which has already been mentioned. [FORMAL ] □ …quoted in Iyer, op. cit., p. 332.
OPEC /oʊ pek/ N‑PROPER OPEC is an organization of countries that produce oil. It tries to develop a common policy and system of prices. OPEC is an abbreviation for 'Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries'. □ Each member of OPEC would seek to maximize its own production.
o p-e d ADJ [ADJ n] In a newspaper, the op-ed page is a page containing articles in which people express their opinions about things. [AM , INFORMAL ]
open ◆◆◆ /oʊ pən/ (opens , opening , opened )
1 VERB If you open something such as a door, window, or lid, or if it opens , its position is changed so that it no longer covers a hole or gap. □ [V n] He opened the window and looked out. □ [V ] The church doors would open and the crowd would surge out. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ …an open window. □ A door had been forced open.
2 VERB If you open something such as a bottle, box, parcel, or envelope, you move, remove, or cut part of it so you can take out what is inside. □ [V n] The Inspector opened the suitcase. □ [V n] The capsules are fiddly to open. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ …an open bottle of milk. □ I tore the letter open. ● PHRASAL VERB Open up means the same as open . □ [V P n] He opened up a cage and lifted out a 6ft python. [Also V n P ]
3 VERB If you open something such as a book, an umbrella, or your hand, or if it opens , the different parts of it move away from each other so that the inside of it can be seen. □ [V n] He opened the heavy Bible. □ [V ] The officer's mouth opened, showing white, even teeth. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ Without warning, Bardo smacked his fist into his open hand. □ His mouth was a little open, as if he'd started to scream. ● PHRASAL VERB Open out means the same as open . □ [V n P ] Keith took a map from the dashboard and opened it out on his knees. □ [V P ] …oval tables which open out to become circular. [Also V P n]
4 VERB If you open a computer file, you give the computer an instruction to display it on the screen. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] Double click on the icon to open the file.
5 VERB When you open your eyes or your eyes open , you move your eyelids upwards, for example when you wake up, so that you can see. □ [V n] When I opened my eyes I saw a man with an axe standing at the end of my bed. □ [V ] His eyes were opening wide. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ As soon as he saw that her eyes were open, he sat up.
6 VERB If you open your arms, you stretch them wide apart in front of you, usually in order to put them round someone. □ [V n] She opened her arms and gave me a big hug.
7 ADJ If you describe a person or their character as open , you mean they are honest and do not want or try to hide anything or to deceive anyone. □ [+ with ] He had always been open with her and she always felt she would know if he lied. □ She has an open, trusting nature. ● open|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …a relationship based on honesty and openness.
8 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe a situation, attitude, or way of behaving as open , you mean it is not kept hidden or secret. □ The action is an open violation of the Vienna Convention. □ Hearing the case in open court is only one part of the judicial process. ● open|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the new climate of political openness.
9 ADJ If you are open to suggestions or ideas, you are ready and willing to consider or accept them. □ [+ to ] They are open to suggestions on how working conditions might be improved.
10 ADJ If you say that a system, person, or idea is open to something such as abuse or criticism, you mean they might receive abuse or criticism because of their qualities, effects, or actions. □ [+ to ] The system, though well-meaning, is open to abuse.
11 ADJ If you say that a fact or question is open to debate, interpretation, or discussion, you mean that people are uncertain whether it is true, what it means, or what the answer is. □ It is an open question how long that commitment can last.
12 VERB If people open something such as a blocked road or a border, or if it opens , people can then pass along it or through it. □ [V n] The rebels have opened the road from Monrovia to the Ivory Coast. □ [V ] The solid rank of police officers lining the courtroom opened to let them pass. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ We were part of an entire regiment that had nothing else to do but to keep that highway open. ● PHRASAL VERB Open up means the same as open . □ [V P n] Can we get the fencing removed and open up the road again? □ [V P ] When the Berlin Wall came down it wasn't just the roads that opened up but the waterways too. [Also V n P ]
13 VERB If a place opens into another, larger place, you can move from one directly into the other. □ [V + into/onto/to ] The corridor opened into a low smoky room. ● PHRASAL VERB Open out means the same as open . □ [V P + into/onto/to ] …narrow streets opening out into charming squares.
14 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An open area is a large area that does not have many buildings or trees in it. □ Officers will also continue their search of nearby open ground.
15 ADJ [ADJ n] An open structure or object is not covered or enclosed. □ Don't leave a child alone in a room with an open fire. □ …open sandwiches.
16 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An open wound is one from which a liquid such as blood is coming.
17 VERB If you open your shirt or coat, you undo the buttons or pull down the zip. □ [V n] I opened my coat and let him see the belt. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Open is also an adjective. □ The top can be worn buttoned up or open over a T-shirt.
18 VERB When a shop, office, or public building opens or is opened , its doors are unlocked and the public can go in. □ [V ] Banks closed on Friday afternoon and did not open again until Monday morning. □ [V n] …a gang of three who'd apparently been lying in wait for him to open the shop. □ [V -ing] …opening and closing times. ● ADJ Open is also an adjective. □ His shop is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm.
19 VERB When a public building, factory, or company opens or when someone opens it, it starts operating for the first time. □ [V ] The original station opened in 1754. □ [V + to ] The complex opens to the public tomorrow. □ [V n] They are planning to open a factory in Eastern Europe. ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Open is also an adjective. □ …any operating subsidy required to keep the pits open. ● open|ing (openings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] □ He was there, though, for the official opening.
20 VERB If something such as a meeting or series of talks opens , or if someone opens it, it begins. □ [V ] …an emergency session of the Russian Parliament due to open later this morning. □ [V n] They are now ready to open negotiations. ● open|ing N‑SING □ …a communique issued at the opening of the talks.
21 VERB If an event such as a meeting or discussion opens with a particular activity or if a particular activity opens an event, that activity is the first thing that happens or is dealt with. You can also say that someone such as a speaker or singer opens by doing a particular thing. □ [V + with ] The service opened with a hymn. □ [V + by ] I opened by saying, 'Honey, you look sensational.'. □ [V n + with ] Pollard opened the conversation with some small talk. [Also V n + by ]
22 VERB On the stock exchange, the price at which currencies, shares, or commodities open is their value at the start of that day's trading. [BUSINESS ] □ [V prep/adv] The stock had opened at $71. □ [V adj] The dollar opened almost unchanged.
23 VERB When a film, play, or other public event opens , it begins to be shown, be performed, or take place for a limited period of time. □ [V ] A photographic exhibition opens at the Royal College of Art on Wednesday. ● open|ing N‑SING □ [+ of ] He is due to attend the opening of the Asian Games on Saturday.
24 VERB If you open an account with a bank or a commercial organization, you begin to use their services. □ [V n] He tried to open an account at the branch of his bank nearest to his workplace.
25 ADJ If an opportunity or choice is open to you, you are able to do a particular thing if you choose to. □ [+ to ] There are a wide range of career opportunities open to young people.
26 VERB To open opportunities or possibilities means the same as to open them up . □ [V n] The chief of naval operations wants to open opportunities for women in the Navy. □ [V ] A series of fortunate opportunities opened to him.
27 ADJ You can use open to describe something that anyone is allowed to take part in or accept. □ A recent open meeting of College members revealed widespread dissatisfaction. □ A portfolio approach would keep entry into the managerial profession open and flexible. □ …an open invitation.
28 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something such as an offer or job is open , it is available for someone to accept or apply for. □ The offer will remain open until further notice.
29 → see also opening 6
30 PHRASE If you do something in the open , you do it out of doors rather than in a house or other building. □ Many are sleeping in the open because they have no shelter.
31 PHRASE If an attitude or situation is in the open or out in the open , people know about it and it is no longer kept secret. □ The medical service had advised us to keep it a secret, but we wanted it in the open.
32 PHRASE If something is wide open , it is open to its full extent. □ The child had left the inner door wide open.
33 PHRASE If you say that a competition, race, or election is wide open , you mean that anyone could win it, because there is no competitor who seems to be much better than the others. □ The competition has been thrown wide open by the absence of the world champion.
34 with open arms → see arm ➊
35 to open the door → see door
36 to keep your eyes open → see eye
37 with your eyes open → see eye
38 to open your eyes → see eye
39 to open fire → see fire ➋
40 to open your heart → see heart
41 the heavens open → see heaven
42 an open mind → see mind ➊
43 to open your mind → see mind ➊
44 to keep your options open → see option
▸ open out → see open 3 , open 14
▸ open up
1 → see open 2 , open 13
2 PHRASAL VERB If a place, economy, or area of interest opens up , or if someone opens it up , more people can go there or become involved in it. □ [V P ] Demand is outstripping supply since the market opened up. □ [V P + to ] He wanted to see how the country was opening up to the world. □ [V P n] These programmes will open up markets for farmers. [Also V n P , V n P to n]
3 PHRASAL VERB If something opens up opportunities or possibilities, or if they open up , they are created. □ [V P n] It was also felt that the collapse of the system opened up new possibilities. □ [V P ] New opportunities are opening up for investors. [Also V n P ]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you open up a lead in a race or competition, you get yourself into a position where you are leading, usually by quite a long way. □ [V P n] The Chinese team had opened up a lead of more than two minutes.
5 PHRASAL VERB When you open up a building, you unlock and open the door so that people can get in. □ [V P n] Three armed men were waiting when the postmaster arrived to open up the shop.
6 PHRASAL VERB If someone opens up , they start to say exactly what they think or feel. □ [V P + to ] Lorna found that people were willing to open up to her. USAGE open
Opened is the past tense and past participle of the verb open . You only use it when you are describing the action of opening something. For example, 'A tall man opened the front door'. Don’t describe the position of a door by saying that it ‘is opened’. Say that it ‘is open’. □ The door was open and the sunshine streamed in.
o pen-ai r also open air
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An open-air place or event is outside rather than in a building. □ …the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park. □ …an open air concert in brilliant sunshine.
2 N‑SING If you are in the open air , you are outside rather than in a building. □ We sleep out under the stars, and eat our meals in the open air.
o pen-and-shu t ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a dispute or a legal case as open-and-shut , you mean that is easily decided or solved because the facts are very clear. □ It's an open and shut case. The hospital is at fault.
open|cast /oʊ pənkɑːst, -kæst/ also open-cast ADJ [ADJ n] At an opencast mine, the coal, metal, or minerals are near the surface and underground passages are not needed. [BRIT ] in AM, use strip mine , open pit
o pen day (open days ) N‑COUNT An open day is a day on which members of the public are encouraged to visit a particular school, university, or other institution to see what it is like. [BRIT ] in AM, use open house
o pen-doo r also open door ADJ [ADJ n] If a country or organization has an open-door policy towards people or goods, it allows them to come there freely, without any restrictions. □ …reformers who have advocated an open door economic policy. ● N‑SING Open door is also a noun. □ …an open door to further foreign investment.
o pen-e nded ADJ [usu ADJ n] When people begin an open-ended discussion or activity, they do not have a particular result, decision, or timespan in mind. □ Girls do better on open-ended tasks that require them to think for themselves. □ …open-ended questions about what passengers expect of an airline.
open|er /oʊ pənə r / (openers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] An opener is a tool which is used to open containers such as tins or bottles. □ …a tin opener.
2 → see also eye-opener
o pen hou se
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone keeps open house , you mean that they welcome friends or visitors to their house whenever they arrive and allow them to stay for as long as they want to. □ Father Illtyd kept open house and the boys would congregate in his study during their recreation time, playing cards or games.
2 N‑VAR [oft N n] An open house is a day on which members of the public are encouraged to visit a particular institution or place to see what it is like. [AM ] □ [+ at ] A week later, Sara and I attended open house at Ted's school. in BRIT, use open day
open|ing ◆◇◇ /oʊ pən I ŋ/ (openings )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] The opening event, item, day, or week in a series is the first one. □ They returned to take part in the season's opening game. □ …the opening day of the fifth General Synod.
2 N‑COUNT The opening of something such as a book, play, or concert is the first part of it. □ [+ of ] The opening of the scene depicts Akhnaten and his family in a moment of intimacy.
3 N‑COUNT An opening is a hole or empty space through which things or people can pass. □ [+ in ] He squeezed through a narrow opening in the fence.
4 N‑COUNT An opening in a forest is a small area where there are no trees or bushes. [mainly AM ] □ [+ by ] I glanced down at the beach as we passed an opening in the trees. in BRIT, usually use clearing 5 N‑COUNT An opening is a good opportunity to do something, for example to show people how good you are. □ Her capabilities were always there; all she needed was an opening to show them.
6 N‑COUNT An opening is a job that is available. □ We don't have any openings now, but we'll call you if something comes up.
7 → see also open
o pen|ing hours N‑PLURAL Opening hours are the times during which a shop, bank, library, or bar is open for business. □ Opening hours are 9.30am–5.45pm, Mon–Fri.
o pen|ing ni ght (opening nights ) N‑COUNT The opening night of a play or an opera is the first night on which a particular production is performed.
o pen|ing time (opening times )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] You can refer to the time that a shop, bank, library, or bar opens for business as its opening time . □ Shoppers began arriving long before the 10am opening time.
2 N‑PLURAL The opening times of a place such as a shop, a restaurant, or a museum is the period during which it is open. □ Ask the local tourist office about opening times.
o pen le t|ter (open letters ) N‑COUNT An open letter is a letter that is published in a newspaper or magazine. It is addressed to a particular person but is intended for the general reader, usually in order to protest or give an opinion about something. □ The Lithuanian parliament also sent an open letter to the United Nations.
open|ly /oʊ pənli/ ADV [ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If you do something openly , you do it without hiding any facts or hiding your feelings. □ The Bundesbank has openly criticised the German Government.
o pen ma r|ket N‑SING Goods that are bought and sold on the open market are advertised and sold to anyone who wants to buy them. [BUSINESS ] □ The Central Bank is authorized to sell government bonds on the open market.
o pen-mi nded ADJ If you describe someone as open-minded , you approve of them because they are willing to listen to and consider other people's ideas and suggestions. [APPROVAL ] □ [+ about ] He was very open-minded about other people's work. ● open-mindedness N‑UNCOUNT □ He was praised for his enthusiasm and his open-mindedness.
o pen-mou thed ADJ [usu ADJ after v, ADJ n] If someone is looking open-mouthed , they are staring at something with their mouth wide open because it has shocked, frightened, or excited them. □ They watched almost open-mouthed as the two men came towards them. □ The finale had 50,000 adults standing in open-mouthed wonderment.
o pen-ne cked also open-neck ADJ [ADJ n] If you are wearing an open-necked shirt or blouse, you are wearing a shirt or blouse which has no buttons at the top or on which the top button is not done up.
o pen pi t (open pits ) N‑COUNT An open pit is a mine where the coal, metal, or minerals are near the surface and underground passages are not needed. [AM ] in BRIT, use opencast mine
o pen-pla n ADJ An open-plan building, office, or room has no internal walls dividing it into smaller areas. □ The firm's top managers share the same open-plan office.
o pen pri s|on (open prisons ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] An open prison is a prison where there are fewer restrictions on prisoners than in a normal prison. [BRIT ] in AM, use minimum security prison
o pen que s|tion (open questions ) N‑COUNT If something is an open question , people have different opinions about it and nobody can say which opinion is correct. □ He thought it was an open question whether sanctions would do any good.
o pen sea |son N‑UNCOUNT If you say that it is open season on someone or something, you mean that a lot of people are currently criticizing or attacking them. □ [+ on ] It was open season on journalists and academics.
o pen se |cret (open secrets ) N‑COUNT If you refer to something as an open secret , you mean that it is supposed to be a secret, but many people know about it. □ [+ that] It's an open secret that the security service bugged phones.
o pen sou rce also open-source ADJ Open source material is computer programming code or software that anyone is allowed to use or modify without asking permission from the company that developed it. [COMPUTING ] □ Supporters say open source software is more secure.
o pen-to p also open-topped ADJ [ADJ n] An open-top bus has no roof, so that the people sitting on the top level can see or be seen more easily. An open-top car has no roof or has a roof that can be removed. □ The team drove through the streets of Leeds city centre in an open-top bus.
O pen Uni|ve r|sity N‑PROPER In Britain, the Open University is a university that runs degree courses online and using the radio and television, for students who want to study part-time or mainly at home.
op|era ◆◇◇ /ɒ pərə/ (operas )
1 N‑VAR An opera is a play with music in which all the words are sung. □ [+ about ] …a one-act opera about contemporary women in America. □ …an opera singer. □ He was also learned in classical music with a great love of opera.
2 → see also soap opera
o p|era house (opera houses ) N‑COUNT An opera house is a theatre that is specially designed for the performance of operas. □ …Sydney Opera House.
op|eran|di /ɒpəræ nda I / → see modus operandi
op|er|ate ◆◆◆ /ɒ pəre I t/ (operates , operating , operated )
1 VERB If you operate a business or organization, you work to keep it running properly. If a business or organization operates , it carries out its work. □ [V n] Until his death in 1986, Greenwood owned and operated an enormous pear orchard. □ [V ] …allowing commercial banks to operate in the country. □ [V -ing] Operating costs jumped from £85.3m to £95m. ● op|era|tion /ɒ pəre I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] Company finance is to provide funds for the everyday operation of the business.
2 VERB The way that something operates is the way that it works or has a particular effect. □ [V adv/prep] Ceiling and wall lights can operate independently. □ [V adv] The world of work doesn't operate that way. ● op|era|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the operation of the benefit system.
3 VERB When you operate a machine or device, or when it operates , you make it work. □ [V n] A massive rock fall trapped the men as they operated a tunnelling machine. □ [V ] The number of these machines operating around the world has now reached ten million. ● op|era|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …over 1,000 dials monitoring every aspect of the operation of the aeroplane.
4 VERB When surgeons operate on a patient in a hospital, they cut open a patient's body in order to remove, replace, or repair a diseased or damaged part. □ [V + on ] The surgeon who operated on the King released new details of his injuries. □ [V ] You examine a patient and then you decide whether or not to operate.
5 VERB If military forces are operating in a particular region, they are in that place in order to carry out their orders. □ [V prep] Up to ten thousand soldiers are operating in the area. SYNONYMS operate VERB
1
run: His stepfather ran a prosperous paint business.
manage: Within two years he was managing the store.
control: He now controls the largest retail development empire in southern California.
2
function: The machine is functioning normally.
work: The pump doesn't work and we have no running water.
3
work: Do you know how to work this washing machine?
control: …a computerised system to control the gates.
op|er|at|ic /ɒ pəræ t I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Operatic means relating to opera. □ …the local amateur operatic society.
op|er|at|ing /ɒ pəre I t I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Operating profits and costs are the money that a company earns and spends in carrying out its ordinary trading activities, in contrast to such things as interest and investment. [BUSINESS ] □ The group made operating profits of £80m before interest.
o p|er|at|ing room (operating rooms ) N‑COUNT An operating room is the same as an operating theatre . [AM ]
o p|er|at|ing sys|tem (operating systems ) N‑COUNT The operating system of a computer is its most basic program, which it needs in order to function and run other programs. [COMPUTING ]
o p|er|at|ing ta|ble (operating tables ) N‑COUNT An operating table is a table which a patient in a hospital lies on during a surgical operation.
o p|er|at|ing thea|tre (operating theatres ) N‑COUNT An operating theatre is a special room in a hospital where surgeons carry out medical operations. [BRIT ] in AM, use operating room
op|era|tion ◆◆◆ /ɒ pəre I ʃ ə n/ (operations )
1 N‑COUNT An operation is a highly organized activity that involves many people doing different things. □ The rescue operation began on Friday afternoon. □ The soldiers were engaged in a military operation close to the border. □ …a police operation against organised crime.
2 N‑COUNT A business or company can be referred to as an operation . [BUSINESS ] □ Thorn's electronics operation employs around 5,000 people. □ The two parent groups now run their business as a single combined operation.
3 N‑COUNT When a patient has an operation , a surgeon cuts open their body in order to remove, replace, or repair a diseased or damaged part. □ Charles was at the clinic recovering from an operation on his arm.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [in/out of N ] If a system is in operation , it is being used. □ The scheme is expected to be in operation by the end of March.
5 N‑UNCOUNT [in/out of N ] If a machine or device is in operation , it is working. □ There are three ski lifts in operation.
6 PHRASE When a rule, system, or plan comes into operation or you put it into operation , you begin to use it. □ The Financial Services Act came into operation four years ago. □ Cheaper energy conservation techniques have been put into operation in the developed world.
op|era|tion|al /ɒ pəre I ʃən ə l/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A machine or piece of equipment that is operational is in use or is ready for use. □ The whole system will be fully operational by December.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Operational factors or problems relate to the working of a system, device, or plan. □ We cannot give any more details at this stage for operational reasons. ● op|era|tion|al|ly ADV [oft ADV adj, ADV after v] □ The device had been used operationally some months previously.
op|era|tive /ɒ pərət I v/ (operatives )
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] A system or service that is operative is working or having an effect. [FORMAL ] □ The commercial telephone service was no longer operative.
2 N‑COUNT An operative is a worker, especially one who does work with their hands. [FORMAL ] □ In an automated car plant there is not a human operative to be seen.
3 N‑COUNT An operative is someone who works for a government agency such as the intelligence service. [mainly AM ] □ Naturally the CIA wants to protect its operatives.
4 PHRASE If you describe a word as the operative word , you want to draw attention to it because you think it is important or exactly true in a particular situation. □ As long as the operative word is 'greed', you can't count on people keeping the costs down.
op|era|tor ◆◇◇ /ɒ pəre I tə r / (operators )
1 N‑COUNT An operator is a person who connects phone calls at a telephone exchange or in a place such as an office or hotel. □ He dialled the operator and put in a call for Rome.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] An operator is a person who is employed to operate or control a machine. □ …computer operators.
3 N‑COUNT An operator is a person or a company that runs a business. [BUSINESS ] □ …'Tele-Communications', the nation's largest cable TV operator.
4 N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] If you call someone a good operator , you mean that they are skilful at achieving what they want, often in a slightly dishonest way. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ in ] …one of the shrewdest political operators in the Arab World.
5 → see also tour operator COLLOCATIONS operator NOUN
2
noun + operator : computer, machine, train
adjective + operator : experienced, skilled
3
noun + operator : hotel, mobile phone, network, rail
op|er|et|ta /ɒ pəre tə/ (operettas ) N‑VAR An operetta is a light-hearted opera which has some of the words spoken rather than sung.
oph|thal|mic /ɒfθæ lm I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Ophthalmic means relating to or concerned with the medical care of people's eyes. [FORMAL ] □ Ophthalmic surgeons are now performing laser surgery to correct myopia.
oph|thal|molo|gist /ɒ fθælmɒ lədʒ I st/ (ophthalmologists ) N‑COUNT An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases and problems affecting people's eyes.
oph|thal|mol|ogy /ɒ fθælmɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Ophthalmology is branch of medicine concerned with people's eyes and the problems that affect them.
opi|ate /oʊ piət/ (opiates ) N‑COUNT An opiate is a drug that contains opium. Opiates are used to reduce pain or to help people to sleep.
opine /oʊpa I n/ (opines , opining , opined ) VERB To opine means to express your opinion. [FORMAL ] □ [V with quote] 'She's probably had a row with her boyfriend,' Charles opined. □ [V that] He opined that the navy would have to start again from the beginning. [Also V + on/about ]
opin|ion ◆◆◇ /əp I njən/ (opinions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N , N that] Your opinion about something is what you think or believe about it. □ I wasn't asking for your opinion, Dick. □ He held the opinion that a government should think before introducing a tax. □ Most who expressed an opinion spoke favorably of Thomas.
2 N‑SING Your opinion of someone is your judgment of their character or ability. □ [+ of ] That improved Mrs Goole's already favourable opinion of him.
3 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the beliefs or views that people have as opinion . □ Some, I suppose, might even be in positions to influence opinion. □ [+ about ] There is a broad consensus of opinion about the policies which should be pursued.
4 N‑COUNT [usu sing] An opinion from an expert is the advice or judgment that they give you in the subject that they know a lot about. □ Severe, prolonged pain, especially at rest, needs a medical opinion.
5 → see also public opinion , second opinion
6 PHRASE You add expressions such as ' in my opinion ' or ' in their opinion ' to a statement in order to indicate that it is what you or someone else thinks, and is not necessarily a fact. □ Well, he's not making a very good job of it in my opinion.
7 PHRASE If someone is of the opinion that something is the case, that is what they believe. [FORMAL ] □ Frank is of the opinion that the 1934 yacht should have won.
8 a matter of opinion → see matter COLLOCATIONS opinion NOUN
1
adjective + opinion : objective, subjective; humble; strong; informed, valid; forthright, honest
verb + opinion : express, voice
opinion + verb : differ, vary
3
adjective + opinion : legal, medical, scientific
verb + opinion : divide, polarize, split
opinion + verb : shift, swing
opin|ion|at|ed /əp I njəne I t I d/ ADJ If you describe someone as opinionated , you mean that they have very strong opinions and refuse to accept that they may be wrong. □ Sue is the extrovert in the family; opinionated, talkative and passionate about politics.
opi n|ion for|mer (opinion formers ) also opinion maker N‑COUNT Opinion formers are people who have a lot of influence over what the public thinks about things.
opi n|ion poll (opinion polls ) N‑COUNT An opinion poll involves asking people's opinions on a particular subject, especially one concerning politics. □ An opinion poll showed that his popularity had dived by a third since the election.
opium /oʊ piəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Opium is a powerful drug made from the juice or sap of a type of poppy. Opium is used in medicines that relieve pain or help someone sleep.
opos|sum /əpɒ səm/ (opossums ) N‑VAR An opossum is a small animal that lives in America. It carries its young in a pouch on its body, and has thick fur and a long tail.
op|po|nent ◆◇◇ /əpoʊ nənt/ (opponents )
1 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] A politician's opponents are other politicians who belong to a different party or who have different aims or policies. □ [+ in ] …Mr Kennedy's opponent in the leadership contest. □ He described the detention without trial of political opponents as a cowardly act.
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] In a sporting contest, your opponent is the person who is playing against you. □ Norris twice knocked down his opponent in the early rounds of the fight.
3 N‑COUNT The opponents of an idea or policy do not agree with it and do not want it to be carried out. □ [+ of ] …opponents of the spread of nuclear weapons. SYNONYMS opponent NOUN 1
adversary: His political adversaries were creating trouble for him.
rival: He eliminated his rivals in a brutal struggle for power.
enemy: The Government's political enemies were quick to pick up on this mishap.
opposition: The main opposition parties boycotted the election.
op|por|tune /ɒ pə r tjuːn, [AM ] -tuː n/ ADJ If something happens at an opportune time or is opportune , it happens at the time that is most convenient for someone or most likely to lead to success. [FORMAL ] □ I believe that I have arrived at a very opportune moment. □ The timing of the meetings was opportune.
op|por|tun|ism /ɒ pə r tjuː n I zəm, [AM ] -tuː n-/ N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to someone's behaviour as opportunism , you are criticizing them for taking advantage of any opportunity that occurs in order to gain money or power, without thinking about whether their actions are right or wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The Energy Minister responded by saying that the opposition's concern for the environment was political opportunism.
op|por|tun|ist /ɒ pə r tjuː n I st, [AM ] -tuː n-/ (opportunists )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as opportunist , you are critical of them because they take advantage of any situation in order to gain money or power, without considering whether their actions are right or wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …corrupt and opportunist politicians. ● N‑COUNT An opportunist is someone who is opportunist. □ Like most successful politicians, Sinclair was an opportunist. □ Car thieves are opportunists.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Opportunist actions are not planned, but are carried out in order to take advantage of a situation that has just occurred. □ He made the game safe with a brilliant opportunist goal.
op|por|tun|is|tic /ɒ pə r tjuːn I st I k, [AM ] -tuːn-/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as opportunistic , you are critical of them because they take advantage of situations in order to gain money or power, without thinking about whether their actions are right or wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Many of the party's members joined only for opportunistic reasons. ● op|por|tun|is|ti|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ This nationalist feeling has been exploited opportunistically by several important politicians.
op|por|tu|nity ◆◆◇ /ɒ pə r tjuː n I ti, [AM ] -tuː n-/ (opportunities )
1 N‑VAR [oft N to-inf] An opportunity is a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do. □ I had an opportunity to go to New York and study. □ [+ for ] I want to see more opportunities for young people. □ …equal opportunities in employment.
2 → see also photo opportunity SYNONYMS opportunity NOUN 1
chance: The electoral council announced that all eligible people would get a chance to vote.
opening: Her capabilities were always there; all she needed was an opening to show them.
possibility: There were several possibilities open to each manufacturer.
op|pose ◆◇◇ /əpoʊ z/ (opposes , opposing , opposed ) VERB If you oppose someone or oppose their plans or ideas, you disagree with what they want to do and try to prevent them from doing it. □ [V n] Mr Taylor was not bitter towards those who had opposed him. □ [V n] Many parents oppose bilingual education in schools.
op|posed ◆◇◇ /əpoʊ zd/
1 ADJ If you are opposed to something, you disagree with it or disapprove of it. □ [+ to ] We are utterly opposed to racism in all of its forms.
2 ADJ You say that two ideas or systems are opposed when they are opposite to each other or very different from each other. □ [+ to ] …people with policies almost diametrically opposed to his own. □ This was a straight conflict of directly opposed aims.
3 PHRASE You use as opposed to when you want to make it clear that you are talking about one particular thing and not something else. □ We ate in the restaurant, as opposed to the bistro. SYNONYMS opposed ADJ
1
hostile: Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.
averse: He's not averse to publicity, of the right kind.
2
conflicting: There are conflicting reports about the identity of the hostage.
opposing: I have a friend who has the opposing view and felt that the war was immoral.
contrary: This view is contrary to the aims of critical social research for a number of reasons.
op|pos|ing /əpoʊ z I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Opposing ideas or tendencies are totally different from each other. □ I have a friend who has the opposing view and felt that the war was immoral.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Opposing groups of people disagree about something or are in competition with one another. □ The Georgian leader said in a radio address that he still favoured dialogue between the opposing sides. □ The batter from the opposing team stepped into the batting box.
op|po|site ◆◇◇ /ɒ pəz I t/ (opposites )
1 PREP If one thing is opposite another, it is on the other side of a space from it. □ Jennie had sat opposite her at breakfast. ● ADV [ADV after v] Opposite is also an adverb. □ He looked up at the buildings opposite, but could see no open window.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The opposite side or part of something is the side or part that is furthest away from you. □ …the opposite corner of the room.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n, v-link ADJ , Also v-link ADJ to n] Opposite is used to describe things of the same kind which are completely different in a particular way. For example, north and south are opposite directions, and winning and losing are opposite results in a game. □ All the cars driving in the opposite direction had their headlights on. □ I should have written the notes in the opposite order.
4 N‑COUNT The opposite of someone or something is the person or thing that is most different from them. □ Ritter was a very complex man but Marius was the opposite, a simple farmer. □ Well, whatever he says, you can bet he's thinking the opposite.
o p|po|site nu m|ber (opposite numbers ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your opposite number is a person who has the same job or rank as you, but works in a different department, firm, or organization. [JOURNALISM ] □ The French Defence Minister is to visit Japan later this month for talks with his Japanese opposite number.
o p|po|site se x N‑SING If you are talking about men and refer to the opposite sex , you mean women. If you are talking about women and refer to the opposite sex , you mean men. □ Body language can also be used to attract members of the opposite sex.
op|po|si|tion ◆◆◇ /ɒ pəz I ʃ ə n/ (oppositions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Opposition is strong, angry, or violent disagreement and disapproval. □ The government is facing a new wave of opposition in the form of a student strike. □ [+ to ] Much of the opposition to this plan has come from the media.
2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb, usu sing, oft N n] The opposition is the political parties or groups that are opposed to a government. □ The main opposition parties boycotted the election, saying it would not be conducted fairly.
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb, usu sing] In a country's parliament or legislature, the opposition refers to the politicians or political parties that form part of the parliament or legislature, but are not the government. □ …the Leader of the Opposition.
4 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The opposition is the person or team you are competing against in a sports event. □ [+ for ] Poland provide the opposition for the Scots' last warm-up match at home. SYNONYMS opposition NOUN 1
resistance: Calls for cuts in agricultural export subsidies are meeting resistance.
hostility: There is hostility among traditionalists to this method of teaching history.
disapproval: His action had been greeted with almost universal disapproval.
op|press /əpre s/ (oppresses , oppressing , oppressed )
1 VERB To oppress people means to treat them cruelly, or to prevent them from having the same opportunities, freedom, and benefits as others. □ [be V -ed] These people often are oppressed by the governments of the countries they find themselves in. □ [V n] We are not normal like everybody else. If we were, they wouldn't be oppressing us. [Also V , V n + with ]
2 VERB If something oppresses you, it makes you feel depressed, anxious, and uncomfortable. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] It was not just the weather which oppressed her.
op|pressed /əpre st/ ADJ People who are oppressed are treated cruelly or are prevented from having the same opportunities, freedom, and benefits as others. □ [+ by ] Before they took power, they felt oppressed by the white English speakers who controlled things. ● N‑PLURAL The oppressed are people who are oppressed. □ …a sense of community with the poor and oppressed.
op|pres|sion /əpre ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Oppression is the cruel or unfair treatment of a group of people. □ …an attempt to escape political oppression. [Also + of ]
op|pres|sive /əpre s I v/
1 ADJ If you describe a society, its laws, or customs as oppressive , you think they treat people cruelly and unfairly. □ The new laws will be just as oppressive as those they replace. □ …refugees from the oppressive regime.
2 ADJ If you describe the weather or the atmosphere in a room as oppressive , you mean that it is unpleasantly hot and damp. □ The oppressive afternoon heat had quite tired him out.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An oppressive situation makes you feel depressed and uncomfortable. □ …the oppressive sadness that weighed upon him like a physical pain.
op|pres|sor /əpre sə r / (oppressors ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] An oppressor is a person or group of people that is treating another person or group of people cruelly or unfairly. □ Lacking sovereignty, they could organise no defence against their oppressors.
op|pro|brium /əproʊ briəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Opprobrium is open criticism or disapproval of something that someone has done. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] His political opinions have attracted the opprobrium of the Left.
opt ◆◇◇ /ɒ pt/ (opts , opting , opted ) VERB If you opt for something, or opt to do something, you choose it or decide to do it in preference to anything else. □ [V + for ] Depending on your circumstances you may wish to opt for one method or the other. □ [V to-inf] Our students can also opt to stay in residence.
▸ opt in PHRASAL VERB If you can opt in to something, you are able to choose to be part of an agreement or system. □ [V P + to ] He proposed that only those countries which were willing and able should opt in to phase three. □ [V P ] He didn't exactly opt out because he never opted in.
▸ opt out PHRASAL VERB If you opt out of something, you choose to be no longer involved in it. □ [V P + of ] … powers for hospitals to opt out of health authority control. □ [V P ] Under the agreement the Vietnamese can opt out at any time.
op|tic /ɒ pt I k/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Optic means relating to the eyes or to sight. □ The reason for this is that the optic nerve is a part of the brain.
2 → see also optics
op|ti|cal /ɒ pt I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Optical devices, processes, and effects involve or relate to vision, light, or images. □ …optical telescopes. □ …the optical effects of volcanic dust in the stratosphere.
o p|ti|cal fi |bre (optical fibres ) in AM, use optical fiber N‑VAR An optical fibre is a very thin thread of glass inside a protective coating. Optical fibres are used to carry information in the form of light.
o p|ti|cal il|lu |sion (optical illusions ) N‑COUNT An optical illusion is something that tricks your eyes so that what you think you see is different from what is really there. □ Sloping walls on the bulk of the building create an optical illusion.
op|ti|cian /ɒpt I ʃ ə n/ (opticians )
1 N‑COUNT An optician is someone whose job involves testing people's sight, and making or selling glasses and contact lenses.
2 N‑COUNT An optician or an optician's is a shop where you can have your eyes tested and buy glasses and contact lenses. □ Some may need specialist treatment at the optician's.
op|tics /ɒ pt I ks/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Optics is the branch of science concerned with vision, sight, and light.
2 → see also fibre optics
op|ti|mal /ɒ pt I m ə l/ → see optimum
op|ti|mism /ɒ pt I m I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Optimism is the feeling of being hopeful about the future or about the success of something in particular. □ The manager expressed optimism about adding to his squad before the transfer window closes. □ …a mood of cautious optimism.
op|ti|mist /ɒ pt I m I st/ (optimists ) N‑COUNT An optimist is someone who is hopeful about the future. □ Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year.
op|ti|mis|tic ◆◇◇ /ɒ pt I m I st I k/ ADJ [ADJ that] Someone who is optimistic is hopeful about the future or the success of something in particular. □ The President says she is optimistic that an agreement can be worked out soon. □ Michael was in a jovial and optimistic mood. [Also + about ] ● op|ti|mis|ti|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Both sides have spoken optimistically about the talks. SYNONYMS optimistic ADJ 1
hopeful: Surgeons were hopeful of saving the sight in Sara's left eye.
positive: Be positive about your future and get on with living a normal life.
bright: The boy was so bright and animated.
cheerful: Jack sounded quite cheerful about the idea.
op|ti|mize /ɒ pt I ma I z/ (optimizes , optimizing , optimized ) in BRIT, also use optimise 1 VERB To optimize a plan, system, or machine means to arrange or design it so that it operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] The new systems have been optimised for running Microsoft Windows.
2 VERB To optimize a situation or opportunity means to get as much advantage or benefit from it as you can. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] What can you do to optimize your family situation?
op|ti|mum /ɒ pt I məm/ or optimal ADJ [usu ADJ n] The optimum or optimal level or state of something is the best level or state that it could achieve. [FORMAL ] □ Aim to do some physical activity three times a week for optimum health. □ …regions in which optimal conditions for farming can be created.
op|tion ◆◆◇ /ɒ pʃ ə n/ (options )
1 N‑COUNT An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives. □ He's argued from the start that America and its allies are putting too much emphasis on the military option. □ What other options do you have?
2 N‑SING [N to-inf] If you have the option of doing something, you can choose whether to do it or not. □ [+ of ] Criminals are given the option of going to jail or facing public humiliation. □ We had no option but to abandon the meeting.
3 N‑COUNT In business, an option is an agreement or contract that gives someone the right to buy or sell something such as property or shares at a future date. [BUSINESS ] □ Each bank has granted the other an option on 19.9% of its shares.
4 N‑COUNT An option is one of a number of subjects which a student can choose to study as a part of his or her course. □ Several options are offered for the student's senior year.
5 PHRASE If you keep your options open or leave your options open , you delay making a decision about something. □ I am keeping my options open. I have not made a decision on either matter.
6 PHRASE If you take the soft option , you do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation. [mainly BRIT ] □ The job of chairman can no longer be regarded as a convenient soft option. COLLOCATIONS option NOUN 1
noun + option : career, treatment
adjective + option : attractive, cheap, easy, healthy; available, safe, viable
verb + option : choose, exercise, select; consider, discuss, explore SYNONYMS option NOUN 1
alternative: New ways to treat arthritis may provide an alternative to painkillers.
choice: You've got three choices: small, medium or large.
op|tion|al /ɒ pʃən ə l/ ADJ If something is optional , you can choose whether or not you do it or have it. □ Sex education is a sensitive area for some parents, and thus it should remain optional.
op|tom|etrist /ɒptɒ mətr I st/ (optometrists ) N‑COUNT An optometrist is the same as an optician . [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use optician
o pt-out (opt-outs )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An opt-out school or hospital has chosen to leave local government control and manage itself using national government money. [BRIT ] □ …teachers at opt-out schools.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to the action taken by a school or hospital in which they choose not to be controlled by a local government authority as an opt-out . [BRIT ] □ More freedom and choice will be given to parents, and the school opt-outs will be stepped up.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] An opt-out clause in an agreement gives people the choice not to be involved in one part of that agreement. [mainly BRIT ] □ …an opt-out clause.
4 N‑COUNT You can refer to the action of choosing not to be involved in a particular part of an agreement as an opt-out . □ …a list of demands, such as opt-outs from some parts of the treaty.
opu|lent /ɒ pjʊlənt/
1 ADJ Opulent things or places look grand and expensive. [FORMAL ] □ …an opulent office on Wimpole Street in London's West End. ● opu|lence N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the elegant opulence of the German embassy.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Opulent people are very wealthy and spend a lot of money. [FORMAL ] □ Most of the cash went on supporting his opulent lifestyle.
opus /oʊ pəs, ɒ pəs/ (opuses or opera )
1 N‑COUNT An opus is a piece of classical music by a particular composer. Opus is usually followed by a number which indicates at what point the piece was written. The abbreviation op. is also used. □ …Beethoven's Piano Sonata in E minor, Opus 90.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an artistic work such as a piece of music or writing or a painting as an opus . □ …the new opus from Peter Gabriel.
3 → see also magnum opus
or ◆◆◆ /ə r , STRONG ɔː r /
1 CONJ You use or to link two or more alternatives. □ 'Tea or coffee?' John asked. □ He said he would try to write or call as soon as he reached the Canary Islands. □ Students are asked to take another course in English, or science, or mathematics.
2 CONJ You use or to give another alternative, when the first alternative is introduced by 'either' or 'whether'. □ Items like bread, milk and meat were either unavailable or obtained only on the black market. □ Either you can talk to him, or I will. □ I don't know whether people will buy it or not.
3 CONJ You use or between two numbers to indicate that you are giving an approximate amount. □ Everyone benefited from limiting their intake of tea to just three or four cups a day. □ Normally he asked questions, and had a humorous remark or two.
4 CONJ You use or to introduce a comment which corrects or modifies what you have just said. □ The man was a fool, he thought, or at least incompetent. □ There was nothing more he wanted, or so he thought.
5 CONJ If you say that someone should do something or something unpleasant will happen, you are warning them that if they do not do it, the unpleasant thing will happen. □ She had to have the operation, or she would die.
6 CONJ You use or to introduce something which is evidence for the truth of a statement you have just made. □ He must have thought Jane was worth it or he wouldn't have wasted time on her, I suppose.
7 PHRASE You use or no or or not to emphasize that a particular thing makes no difference to what is going to happen. [EMPHASIS ] □ Chairman or no, if I want to stop the project, I can. □ The first difficulty is that, old-fashioned or not, it is very good.
8 PHRASE You use or no between two occurrences of the same noun in order to say that whether something is true or not makes no difference to a situation. □ The next day, rain or no rain, it was business as usual.
9 or else → see else
10 or other → see other
11 or so → see so
12 or something → see something
SUFFIX -or
forms nouns that refer to a person who performs a particular action, often because it is their job. For example, a sailor is someone who sails.
ora|cle /ɒ rək ə l, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oracles ) N‑COUNT In ancient Greece, an oracle was a priest or priestess who made statements about future events or about the truth.
oral /ɔː rəl/ (orals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Oral communication is spoken rather than written. □ …the written and oral traditions of ancient cultures. □ …an oral agreement. ● oral|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ …their ability to present ideas orally and in writing.
2 N‑COUNT An oral is an examination, especially in a foreign language, that is spoken rather than written. □ I spoke privately to the candidate after the oral.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use oral to indicate that something is done with a person's mouth or relates to a person's mouth. □ …good oral hygiene. ● oral|ly ADV [usu ADV after v] □ …antibiotic tablets taken orally.
o ral hi s|to|ry (oral histories ) N‑VAR Oral history consists of spoken memories, stories, and songs, and the study of these, as a way of communicating and discovering information about the past.
o ral se x N‑UNCOUNT Oral sex is sexual activity involving contact between a person's mouth and their partner's genitals.
or|ange ◆◆◇ /ɒ r I ndʒ, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oranges )
1 COLOUR Something that is orange is of a colour between red and yellow. □ …men in bright orange uniforms.
2 N‑VAR [oft N n] An orange is a round juicy fruit with a thick, orange coloured skin. □ …orange trees. □ …fresh orange juice.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Orange is a drink that is made from or tastes of oranges. □ …cola or orange. WORD HISTORY orange
Did you know that the word orange comes from the Arabic naranj ? The initial n sound was lost because it got confused with the indefinite article a .
o r|ange blos|som N‑UNCOUNT The flowers of the orange tree are called orange blossom . Orange blossom is white and is traditionally associated with weddings in Europe and America.
or|ang|ery /ɒ r I ndʒri, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (orangeries ) N‑COUNT An orangery is a building with glass walls and roof which is used for growing orange trees and other plants which need to be kept warm.
or|angey /ɒ r I ndʒi, [AM ] ɔː r-/ ADJ Orangey means slightly orange in colour. ● ADJ Orangey is also a combining form. □ The hall is decorated in bright orangey-red with black and gold woodwork.
orang-utan /ɔːræ ŋuːtæ n/ (orang-utans ) also orang-utang , orangutan , orang-outan N‑COUNT An orang-utan is an ape with long reddish hair that comes from Borneo and Sumatra.
ora|tion /əre I ʃ ə n, [AM ] ɔːr-/ (orations ) N‑COUNT An oration is a formal speech made in public. [FORMAL ] □ …a brief funeral oration.
ora|tor /ɒ rətə r , [AM ] ɔː r-/ (orators ) N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] An orator is someone who is skilled at making formal speeches, especially ones which affect people's feelings and beliefs. □ [+ of ] Lenin was the great orator of the Russian Revolution.
ora|tori|cal /ɒ rətɒ r I k ə l, [AM ] ɔː rətɔː r-/ ADJ [ADJ n] Oratorical means relating to or using oratory. [FORMAL ] □ He reached oratorical heights which left him and some of his players in tears.
ora|to|rio /ɒ rətɔː rioʊ, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (oratorios ) N‑COUNT An oratorio is a long piece of music with a religious theme which is written for singers and an orchestra.
ora|tory /ɒ rətəri, [AM ] ɔː rətɔːri/ (oratories )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Oratory is the art of making formal speeches which strongly affect people's feelings and beliefs. [FORMAL ] □ He displayed determination as well as powerful oratory.
2 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An oratory is a room or building where Christians go to pray. □ The wedding will be at the Brompton Oratory next month.
orb /ɔː r b/ (orbs )
1 N‑COUNT An orb is something that is shaped like a ball, for example the sun or moon. [LITERARY ] □ The moon's round orb would shine high in the sky, casting its velvety light on everything.
2 N‑COUNT An orb is a small, ornamental ball with a cross on top that is carried by some kings or queens at important ceremonies.
or|bit /ɔː r b I t/ (orbits , orbiting , orbited )
1 N‑VAR [oft in/into N ] An orbit is the curved path in space that is followed by an object going round and round a planet, moon, or star. □ Mars and Earth have orbits which change with time. □ The planet is probably in orbit around a small star.
2 VERB If something such as a satellite orbits a planet, moon, or sun, it moves around it in a continuous, curving path. □ [V n] In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first satellite to orbit the Earth.
or|bit|al /ɔː r b I t ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An orbital road goes all the way round a large city. [mainly BRIT ] □ The M25 London orbital road was proposed in 1905. in AM, use beltway 2 ADJ [ADJ n] Orbital describes things relating to the orbit of an object in space. □ The newly discovered world followed an orbital path unlike that of any other planet.
or|ca /ɔː r kə/ (orcas or orca ) N‑COUNT An orca is a large black and white killer whale.
or|chard /ɔː r tʃə r d/ (orchards ) N‑COUNT An orchard is an area of land on which fruit trees are grown.
or|ches|tra /ɔː r k I strə/ (orchestras )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play a variety of different instruments together. Orchestras usually play classical music. □ …the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
2 → see also chamber orchestra , symphony orchestra
3 N‑SING [N n] The orchestra or the orchestra seats in a theatre or concert hall are the seats on the ground floor directly in front of the stage. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use stalls
or|ches|tral /ɔː r ke strəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Orchestral means relating to an orchestra and the music it plays. □ …an orchestral concert.
o r|ches|tra pit N‑SING In a theatre, the orchestra pit is the space reserved for the musicians playing the music for an opera, musical, or ballet, immediately in front of or below the stage.
or|ches|trate /ɔː r k I stre I t/ (orchestrates , orchestrating , orchestrated ) VERB If you say that someone orchestrates an event or situation, you mean that they carefully organize it in a way that will produce the result that they want. □ [V n] The colonel was able to orchestrate a rebellion from inside an army jail. □ [V -ed] …a carefully orchestrated campaign. ● or|ches|tra|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …his skilful orchestration of latent nationalist feeling.
or|ches|tra|tion /ɔː r k I stre I ʃ ə n/ (orchestrations ) N‑COUNT An orchestration is a piece of music that has been rewritten so that it can be played by an orchestra. □ Mahler's own imaginative orchestration was heard in the same concert.
or|chid /ɔː r k I d/ (orchids ) N‑COUNT Orchids are plants with brightly coloured, unusually shaped flowers.
or|dain /ɔː r de I n/ (ordains , ordaining , ordained )
1 VERB When someone is ordained , they are made a member of the clergy in a religious ceremony. □ [be V -ed n] He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1982. □ [be V -ed] Women have been ordained for many years in the Church of Scotland. □ [V n] He ordained his own priests.
2 VERB If some authority or power ordains something, they decide that it should happen or be in existence. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Nehru ordained that socialism should rule. □ [be V -ed] His rule was ordained by heaven. □ [V n] The recession may already be severe enough to ordain structural change.
or|deal /ɔː r diː l/ (ordeals ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft with poss] If you describe an experience or situation as an ordeal , you think it is difficult and unpleasant. □ She described her agonising ordeal.
order
➊ SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION USES
➋ COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
➌ ARRANGEMENTS, SITUATIONS, AND GROUPINGS
➊ or|der ◆◆◇ /ɔː r də r /
1 PHRASE If you do something in order to achieve a particular thing or in order that something can happen, you do it because you want to achieve that thing. □ Most schools are extremely unwilling to cut down on staff in order to cut costs.
2 PHRASE If someone must be in a particular situation in order to achieve something they want, they cannot achieve that thing if they are not in that situation. □ They need hostages in order to bargain with the government.
3 PHRASE If something must happen in order for something else to happen, the second thing cannot happen if the first thing does not happen. □ In order for our muscles to work efficiently they need oxygen, which is provided by the lungs.
➋ or|der ◆◆◆ /ɔː r də r / (orders , ordering , ordered )
→ Please look at categories 12 and 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If a person in authority orders someone to do something, they tell them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] Williams ordered him to leave. □ [V n prep/adv] He ordered the women out of the car. □ [V with quote] 'Let him go!' he ordered. □ [V n with quote] 'Go up to your room. Now,' he ordered him.
2 VERB If someone in authority orders something, they give instructions that it should be done. □ [V n] The President has ordered a full investigation. □ [V n to-inf] The radio said that the prime minister had ordered price controls to be introduced. □ [V that] He ordered that all party property be confiscated. □ [V n -ed] The President ordered him moved because of fears that his comrades would try to free him.
3 N‑COUNT If someone in authority gives you an order , they tell you to do something. □ [+ to-inf] The activists were shot when they refused to obey an order to halt. □ [+ for ] As darkness fell, Clinton gave orders for his men to rest. □ They were later arrested and executed on the orders of Stalin.
4 N‑COUNT A court order is a legal instruction stating that something must be done. □ She has decided not to appeal against a court order banning her from keeping animals. □ He was placed under a two-year supervision order.
5 VERB When you order something that you are going to pay for, you ask for it to be brought to you, sent to you, or obtained for you. □ [V n] Atanas ordered a shrimp cocktail and a salad. □ [V ] The waitress appeared. 'Are you ready to order?'. □ [V n n] We ordered him a coffee.
6 N‑COUNT An order is a request for something to be brought, made, or obtained for you in return for money. □ [+ for ] I did manage to place an order for a blazer the right size.
7 N‑COUNT Someone's order is what they have asked to be brought, made, or obtained for them in return for money. □ The waiter returned with their order and Graham signed the bill. □ They can't supply our order.
8 → see also holy orders , mail order , postal order , standing order
9 PHRASE Something that is on order at a shop or factory has been asked for but has not yet been supplied. □ The airlines still have 2,500 new aeroplanes on order.
10 PHRASE If you do something to order , you do it whenever you are asked to do it. □ She now makes wonderful dried flower arrangements to order.
11 PHRASE If you are under orders to do something, you have been told to do it by someone in authority. □ I am under orders not to discuss his mission or his location with anyone.
12 your marching orders → see march
13 a tall order → see tall
▸ order around in BRIT, also use order about PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is ordering you around or is ordering you about , you mean they are telling you what to do as if they have authority over you, and you dislike this. □ [V n P ] Grandmother felt free to order her about just as she wished. [Also V P n]
➌ or|der ◆◆◇ /ɔː r də r / (orders , ordering , ordered )
→ Please look at categories 19 and 20 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 N‑VAR [oft a N , oft in/into N ] If a set of things are arranged or done in a particular order , they are arranged or done so one thing follows another, often according to a particular factor such as importance. □ Write down (in order of priority) the qualities you'd like to have. □ Music shops should arrange their recordings in simple alphabetical order.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Order is the situation that exists when everything is in the correct or expected place, or happens at the correct or expected time. □ The wish to impose order upon confusion is a kind of intellectual instinct. □ Making lists can create order and control.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Order is the situation that exists when people obey the law and do not fight or riot. □ Troops were sent to the islands to restore order last November. □ He has the power to use force to maintain public order.
4 N‑SING When people talk about a particular order , they mean the way society is organized at a particular time. □ The end of the Cold War has produced the prospect of a new world order based on international co-operation.
5 VERB The way that something is ordered is the way that it is organized and structured. □ [be V -ed] …a society which is ordered by hierarchy. □ [V n] We know the French order things differently. □ [V -ed] …a carefully ordered system in which everyone has his place.
6 N‑COUNT [usu of supp N ] If you refer to something of a particular order , you mean something of a particular kind. [FORMAL ] □ Another unexpected event, though of quite a different order, occurred one evening in 1973.
7 N‑COUNT A religious order is a group of monks or nuns who live according to a particular set of rules. □ [+ of ] …the Benedictine order of monks.
8 → see also ordered , law and order , pecking order , point of order
9 PHRASE If you put or keep something in order , you make sure that it is tidy or properly organized. □ Now he has a chance to put his life back in order. □ Someone comes in every day to check all is in order.
10 PHRASE If you think something is in order , you think it should happen or be provided. □ Reforms are clearly in order.
11 PHRASE You use in the order of or of the order of when mentioning an approximate figure. □ They borrowed something in the order of £10 million.
12 PHRASE If something is in good order , it is in good condition. □ The vessel's safety equipment was not in good order.
13 PHRASE A machine or device that is in working order is functioning properly and is not broken. □ Only half of the spacecraft's six science instruments are still in working order.
14 PHRASE If a particular way of behaving or doing something is the order of the day , it is very common. □ Hot strong tea is the order of the day here, but coffee is becoming more and more popular.
15 PHRASE A machine or device that is out of order is broken and does not work. □ Their phone's out of order.
16 PHRASE If you say that someone or their behaviour is out of order , you mean that their behaviour is unacceptable or unfair. [INFORMAL ] □ You don't think the paper's a bit out of order in publishing it?
17 to put your house in order → see house
18 order of magnitude → see magnitude SYNONYMS order VERB ➋1
command: He commanded his troops to attack.
instruct: 'Go and have a word with her, Ken,' Webb instructed.
direct: The Bishop directed the faithful to stay at home. NOUN
➋3
instruction: They were told to leave, but no reason for this instruction was given.
ruling: Goodwin tried to have the court ruling overturned.
demand: They rejected the demand to remove U.S. troops.
decree: He issued a decree ordering all armed groups to disband.
➌ 2
organization: The organization of the book is not very well thought-out.
system: …a flexible and relatively efficient filing system.
arrangement: …an arrangement of dark-blue armchairs around a coffee table.
pattern: A change in the pattern of his breathing became apparent. VERB ➌5
arrange: He started to arrange the books in piles.
group: The fact sheets are grouped into seven sections.
sort: He sorted the materials into their folders.
organize: He began to organize his materials.
o r|der book (order books ) N‑COUNT When you talk about the state of a company's order book or order books , you are talking about how many orders for their goods the company has. [mainly BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ [+ for ] He has a full order book for his boat-building yard on the Thames.
or|dered /ɔː r də r d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An ordered society or system is well-organized and has a clear structure. □ An objective set of rules which we all agree to accept is necessary for any ordered society.
or|der|ly /ɔː r də r li/ (orderlies )
1 ADJ If something is done in an orderly fashion or manner, it is done in a well-organized and controlled way. □ The organizers guided them in orderly fashion out of the building. □ …seeking an orderly and peaceful resolution to the crisis.
2 ADJ Something that is orderly is neat or arranged in a neat way. □ Their vehicles were parked in orderly rows. ● or|der|li|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ A balance is achieved in the painting between orderliness and unpredictability.
3 N‑COUNT An orderly is a person who works in a hospital and does jobs that do not require special medical training.
or|di|nal num|ber /ɔː r d I n ə l nʌ mbə r / (ordinal numbers ) N‑COUNT An ordinal number or an ordinal is a word such as 'first', 'third', and 'tenth' that tells you where a particular thing occurs in a sequence of things. Compare cardinal number .
or|di|nance /ɔː r d I nəns/ (ordinances ) N‑COUNT An ordinance is an official rule or order. [FORMAL ] □ …ordinances that restrict building development.
or|di|nari|ly /ɔː r d I nərəli, [AM ] -ne r I li/ ADV [oft ADV adj, ADV before v] If you say what is ordinarily the case, you are saying what is normally the case. □ The streets would ordinarily have been full of people. There was no one. □ …places where the patient does not ordinarily go.
or|di|nary ◆◇◇ /ɔː r d I nri, [AM ] -neri/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ordinary people or things are normal and not special or different in any way. □ I strongly suspect that most ordinary people would agree with me. □ It has 25 calories less than ordinary ice cream. □ It was just an ordinary weekend for us.
2 PHRASE Something that is out of the ordinary is unusual or different. □ The boy's knowledge was out of the ordinary. □ I've noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
o r|di|nary sha res N‑PLURAL Ordinary shares are shares in a company that are owned by people who have a right to vote at the company's meetings and to receive part of the company's profits after the holders of preference shares have been paid. Compare preference shares . [BRIT , BUSINESS ] in AM, use common stock
or|di|na|tion /ɔː r d I ne I ʃ ə n/ (ordinations ) N‑VAR When someone's ordination takes place, they are made a member of the clergy. □ [+ of ] …supporters of the ordination of women.
ord|nance /ɔː r dnəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Ordnance refers to military supplies, especially weapons. [FORMAL ] □ …a team clearing an area littered with unexploded ordnance.
O rd|nance Su r|vey map (Ordnance Survey maps ) N‑COUNT An Ordnance Survey map is a detailed map produced by the British or Irish government map-making organization.
ore /ɔː r / (ores ) N‑VAR Ore is rock or earth from which metal can be obtained. □ …a huge iron ore mine.
orega|no /ɒ r I gɑː noʊ, [AM ] əre gənoʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Oregano is a herb that is used in cooking.
or|gan /ɔː r gən/ (organs )
1 N‑COUNT An organ is a part of your body that has a particular purpose or function, for example your heart or lungs. □ …damage to the muscles and internal organs. □ …the reproductive organs. □ …organ transplants.
2 → see also sense organ
3 N‑COUNT An organ is a large musical instrument with pipes of different lengths through which air is forced. It has keys and pedals rather like a piano.
4 → see also barrel organ , mouth organ
5 N‑COUNT You refer to a newspaper or organization as the organ of the government or another group when it is used by them as a means of giving information or getting things done. □ [+ of ] The Security Service is an important organ of the State.
or|gan|die /ɔː r gəndi/ also organdy N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Organdie is a thin, slightly stiff cotton fabric.
o r|gan grind|er (organ grinders ) also organ-grinder N‑COUNT An organ grinder was an entertainer who played a barrel organ in the streets.
or|gan|ic /ɔː r gæ n I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Organic methods of farming and gardening use only natural animal and plant products to help the plants or animals grow and be healthy, rather than using chemicals. □ Organic farming is expanding everywhere. □ …organic fruit and vegetables. ● or|gani|cal|ly ADV □ …organically grown vegetables.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Organic substances are of the sort produced by or found in living things. □ Incorporating organic material into chalky soils will reduce the alkalinity.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Organic change or development happens gradually and naturally rather than suddenly. [FORMAL ] □ …to manage the company and supervise its organic growth.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] If a community or structure is an organic whole, each part of it is necessary and fits well with the other parts. [FORMAL ] □ City planning treats the city as a unit, as an organic whole.
or|gani|sa|tion /ɔː r gəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ → see organization
or|gani|sa|tion|al /ɔː r gəna I ze I ʃən ə l/ → see organizational
or|gan|ise /ɔː r gəna I z/ → see organize
or|gan|is|er /ɔː r gəna I zə r / → see organizer
or|gan|ism /ɔː r gən I zəm/ (organisms ) N‑COUNT An organism is an animal or plant, especially one that is so small that you cannot see it without using a microscope. □ …the insect-borne organisms that cause sleeping sickness.
or|gan|ist /ɔː r gən I st/ (organists ) N‑COUNT An organist is someone who plays the organ.
or|gani|za|tion ◆◆◇ /ɔː r gəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ (organizations ) in BRIT, also use organisation 1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An organization is an official group of people, for example a political party, a business, a charity, or a club. □ Most of these specialized schools are provided by voluntary organizations. □ …a report by the International Labour Organisation.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The organization of an event or activity involves making all the necessary arrangements for it. □ [+ of ] …the exceptional attention to detail that goes into the organisation of this event. □ Several projects have been delayed by poor organisation.
3 N‑UNCOUNT The organization of something is the way in which its different parts are arranged or relate to each other. □ [+ of ] I am aware that the organization of the book leaves something to be desired.
or|gani|za|tion|al /ɔː r gəna I ze I ʃən ə l/ in BRIT, also use organisational 1 ADJ [ADJ n] Organizational abilities and methods relate to the way that work, activities, or events are planned and arranged. □ Evelyn's excellent organisational skills were soon spotted by her employers. □ She will be prepared to take on a variety of organizational roles in the future.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Organizational means relating to the structure of an organization. □ The police now recognise that big organisational changes are needed.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Organizational means relating to organizations, rather than individuals. □ This problem needs to be dealt with at an organizational level.
or|gan|ize ◆◆◇ /ɔː r gəna I z/ (organizes , organizing , organized ) in BRIT, also use organise 1 VERB If you organize an event or activity, you make sure that the necessary arrangements are made. □ [V n] In the end, we all decided to organize a concert for Easter. □ [V n] …a two-day meeting organised by the United Nations. □ [V n] The initial mobilisation was well organised.
2 VERB If you organize something that someone wants or needs, you make sure that it is provided. □ [V n] I will organize transport. □ [V n] We asked them to organize coffee and sandwiches.
3 VERB If you organize a set of things, you arrange them in an ordered way or give them a structure. □ [V n] He began to organize his materials. □ [V n] …the way in which the Army is organised.
4 VERB If you organize yourself, you plan your work and activities in an ordered, efficient way. □ [V pron-refl] …changing the way you organize yourself. □ [V n] Go right ahead, I'm sure you don't need me to organize you. □ [V -ed] Get organised and get going.
5 VERB If someone organizes workers or if workers organize , they form a group or society such as a trade union in order to have more power. □ [V n] …helping to organize women working abroad. □ [V ] It's the first time farmers have decided to organize. □ [V -ed] …organised labour. SYNONYMS organize VERB
1
arrange: He arranged an appointment for Friday afternoon at 4:15.
set up: …an organization which sets up meetings about issues of interest to women.
plan: I had been planning a trip to the West Coast.
3
arrange: He started to arrange the books in piles.
group: The fact sheets are grouped into seven sections.
sort: He sorted the materials into their folders.
order: …a carefully ordered system in which everyone has his place.
or|ga|nized ◆◇◇ /ɔː r gəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use organised 1 ADJ [ADJ n] An organized activity or group involves a number of people doing something together in a structured way, rather than doing it by themselves. □ …organised groups of art thieves. □ …organised religion. □ …years of steadfast, organized resistance.
2 ADJ Someone who is organized plans their work and activities efficiently. □ These people are very efficient, very organized and excellent time managers.
-organized /-ɔː r gəna I zd/ in BRIT, also use -organised COMB [ADJ n] -organized is added to nouns to form adjectives which indicate who organizes something. □ …student-organized seminars.
o r|ga|nized cri me in BRIT, also use organised crime N‑UNCOUNT Organized crime refers to criminal activities which involve large numbers of people and are organized and controlled by a small group.
or|gan|iz|er ◆◇◇ /ɔː r gəna I zə r / (organizers ) in BRIT, also use organiser 1 N‑COUNT The organizer of an event or activity is the person who makes sure that the necessary arrangements are made. □ The organisers of the demonstration concede that they hadn't sought permission for it. □ She was a good organiser.
2 → see also personal organizer
or|gano|phos|phate /ɔːgæ noʊfɒ sfe I t/ (organophosphates ) N‑COUNT Organophosphates are chemical substances that are used to make crops grow or protect them from insects.
or|gan|za /ɔː r gæ nzə/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Organza is a thin, stiff fabric made of silk, cotton, or an artificial fibre.
or|gasm /ɔː r gæzəm/ (orgasms ) N‑VAR An orgasm is the moment of greatest pleasure and excitement in sexual activity.
or|gas|mic /ɔː r gæ zm I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Orgasmic means relating to a sexual orgasm. □ Testosterone does not increase their erectile or orgasmic ability.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Some people refer to things they find extremely enjoyable or exciting as orgasmic . [mainly JOURNALISM , INFORMAL ] □ …jerking the neck of his guitar in orgasmic fits of ecstasy.
or|gi|as|tic /ɔː r dʒiæ st I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] An orgiastic event is one in which people enjoy themselves in an extreme, uncontrolled way. □ …an orgiastic party.
orgy /ɔː r dʒi/ (orgies )
1 N‑COUNT An orgy is a party in which people behave in a very uncontrolled way, especially one involving sexual activity. □ …a drunken orgy.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an activity as an orgy of that activity to emphasize that it is done to an excessive extent. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ of ] One eye-witness said the rioters were engaged in an orgy of destruction.
ori|ent /ɔː rient/ (orients , orienting , oriented ) or orientate
1 VERB When you orient yourself to a new situation or course of action, you learn about it and prepare to deal with it. [FORMAL ] □ [V pron-refl + towards/to ] You will need the time to orient yourself to your new way of eating.
2 → see also oriented
Ori|ent /ɔː riənt/ N‑PROPER The eastern part of Asia is sometimes referred to as the Orient . [LITERARY , OLD-FASHIONED ]
ori|en|tal /ɔː rie nt ə l/ (orientals )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Oriental means coming from or associated with eastern Asia, especially China and Japan. □ There were Oriental carpets on the floors. □ …oriental food.
2 N‑COUNT Some people refer to people from eastern Asia, especially China or Japan as Orientals . This use could cause offence.
Ori|en|tal|ist /ɔː rie ntəl I st/ (Orientalists ) also orientalist N‑COUNT An Orientalist is someone from the West who studies the language, culture, history, or customs of countries in eastern Asia.
ori|en|tate /ɔː riənte I t/ → see orient
ori|en|tat|ed /ɔː riənte I t I d/ → see oriented
-orientated /-ɔːriənte I t I d/ → see -oriented
ori|en|ta|tion /ɔː riənte I ʃ ə n/ (orientations )
1 N‑VAR If you talk about the orientation of an organization or country, you are talking about the kinds of aims and interests it has. □ …a marketing orientation. □ To a society which has lost its orientation he has much to offer. □ The movement is liberal and social democratic in orientation.
2 N‑VAR Someone's orientation is their basic beliefs or preferences. □ …legislation that would have made discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal.
3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Orientation is basic information or training that is given to people starting a new job, school, or course. □ …a one-day orientation session.
4 N‑COUNT [usu with poss] The orientation of a structure or object is the direction it faces. □ [+ of ] Farnese had the orientation of the church changed so that the front would face a square.
ori|ent|ed /ɔː rient I d/ or orientated ADJ If someone is oriented towards or oriented to a particular thing or person, they are mainly concerned with that thing or person. □ [+ towards ] It seems almost inevitable that North African economies will still be primarily oriented towards Europe. □ [+ to ] Most students here are oriented to computers.
-oriented /-ɔːrient I d/ or -orientated COMB -oriented is added to nouns and adverbs to form adjectives which describe what someone or something is mainly interested in or concerned with. □ …a market-oriented economy. □ …family oriented holidays.
ori|ent|eer|ing /ɔː riənt I ə r I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Orienteering is a sport in which people run from one place to another, using a compass and a map to guide them between points that are marked along the route.
ori|fice /ɒ r I f I s, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (orifices ) N‑COUNT An orifice is an opening or hole, especially one in your body such as your mouth. [FORMAL ] □ After a massive heart attack, he was strapped to a bed, with tubes in every orifice.
ori|ga|mi /ɒ r I gɑː mi, [AM ] ɔː r-/ N‑UNCOUNT Origami is the craft of folding paper to make models of animals, people, and objects.
ori|gin ◆◇◇ /ɒ r I dʒ I n, [AM ] ɔː r-/ (origins )
1 N‑VAR [usu with poss, oft in/of N ] You can refer to the beginning, cause, or source of something as its origin or origins . □ …theories about the origin of life. □ The disorder in military policy had its origins in Truman's first term. □ Their medical problems are basically physical in origin. □ Most of the thickeners are of plant origin.
2 N‑COUNT [usu poss N , oft of/in N ] When you talk about a person's origin or origins , you are referring to the country, race, or social class of their parents or ancestors. □ Thomas has not forgotten his humble origins. □ …people of Asian origin. □ They are forced to return to their country of origin.
origi|nal ◆◆◇ /ər I dʒ I n ə l/ (originals )
1 ADJ You use original when referring to something that existed at the beginning of a process or activity, or the characteristics that something had when it began or was made. □ He was unable to identify the original name of the site.
2 N‑COUNT If something such as a document, a work of art, or a piece of writing is an original , it is not a copy or a later version. □ When you have filled in the questionnaire, copy it and send the original to your employer. □ For once the sequel is as good as the original.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An original document or work of art is not a copy. □ …an original movie poster.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An original piece of writing or music was written recently and has not been published or performed before. □ …its policy of commissioning original work. □ …with catchy original songs by Richard Warner.
5 ADJ If you describe someone or their work as original , you mean that they are very imaginative and have new ideas. [APPROVAL ] □ It is one of the most original works of imagination in the language. □ …an original writer. ● origi|nal|ity /ər I dʒ I næ l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ He was capable of writing things of startling originality.
6 PHRASE If you read or sing something in the original or, for example, in the original French , you read or sing it in the language it was written in, rather than a translation. □ He read every book or author it deals with, often in the original. □ The texts were sung in the original Italian. SYNONYMS original ADJ
1
first: …the first few flakes of snow.
initial: The aim of this initial meeting is to clarify the issues.
aboriginal: Most Canadians acknowledge that the aboriginal people have had a bad deal.
5
fresh: These designers are full of fresh ideas.
novel: The very idea of a sixth form college was novel in 1962.
innovative: …products which are more innovative than those of their competitors.
origi|nal|ly ◆◇◇ /ər I dʒ I nəli/ ADV [ADV with v] When you say what happened or was the case originally , you are saying what happened or was the case when something began or came into existence, often to contrast it with what happened later. □ The plane has been kept in service far longer than originally intended. □ France originally refused to sign the treaty. SYNONYMS originally ADV 1
initially: Initially, they were wary of Simon.
at first: At first, he seemed surprised by my questions.
first: I met him first at his house where we had a chat.
firstly: Firstly, it is needed for hormone production.
ori gi|nal si n N‑UNCOUNT According to some Christians, original sin is the wickedness that all human beings are born with, because the first human beings, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God.
origi|nate /ər I dʒ I ne I t/ (originates , originating , originated ) VERB When something originates or when someone originates it, it begins to happen or exist. [FORMAL ] □ [V prep/adv] The alfalfa plant originated in North Africa. □ [V n] I suppose no one has any idea who originated the story?
origi|na|tor /ər I dʒ I ne I tə r / (originators ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] The originator of something such as an idea or scheme is the person who first thought of it or began it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …the originator of the theory of relativity.
or|na|ment /ɔː r nəmənt/ (ornaments )
1 N‑COUNT An ornament is an attractive object that you display in your home or in your garden. □ …a shelf containing a few photographs and ornaments. □ …Christmas tree ornaments.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Decorations and patterns on a building or a piece of furniture can be referred to as ornament . [FORMAL ] □ …walls of glass overlaid with ornament.
or|na|men|tal /ɔː r nəme nt ə l/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Ornamental things have no practical function but are put in a place because they look attractive. □ …ornamental trees.
2 ADJ Something that is ornamental is attractive and decorative. □ …ornamental plaster mouldings.
or|na|men|ta|tion /ɔː r nəmente I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Decorations and patterns can be referred to as ornamentation . [FORMAL ] □ The chairs were comfortable, functional and free of ornamentation.
or|na|ment|ed /ɔː r nəment I d/ ADJ If something is ornamented with attractive objects or patterns, it is decorated with them. □ [+ with ] It had a high ceiling, ornamented with plaster fruits and flowers.
or|nate /ɔ r ne I t/ ADJ An ornate building, piece of furniture, or object is decorated with complicated patterns or shapes. □ …an ornate iron staircase. ● or|nate|ly ADV [usu ADV -ed] □ Eventually they reached a pair of ornately carved doors.
or|nery /ɔː r nəri/ ADJ If you describe someone as ornery , you mean that they are bad-tempered, difficult, and often do things that are mean. [AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The old lady was still being ornery, but at least she had consented to this visit.
or|ni|thol|ogy /ɔː r n I θɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Ornithology is the study of birds. [FORMAL ] ● or|ni|tho|logi|cal /ɔː r n I θəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] □ …a member of the Hampshire Ornithological Society. ● or|ni|tholo|gist (ornithologists ) N‑COUNT □ That area is an ornithologist's paradise.
or|phan /ɔː r fən/ (orphans , orphaned )
1 N‑COUNT An orphan is a child whose parents are dead. □ …a young orphan girl brought up by peasants.
2 V-PASSIVE [no cont] If a child is orphaned , their parents die, or their remaining parent dies. □ [V -ed] …a fifteen-year-old boy left orphaned by the recent disaster.
or|phan|age /ɔː r fən I dʒ/ (orphanages ) N‑COUNT An orphanage is a place where orphans live and are looked after.
ortho|don|tist /ɔː r θədɒ nt I st/ (orthodontists ) N‑COUNT An orthodontist is a dentist who corrects the position of people's teeth.
ortho|dox /ɔː r θədɒks/ The spelling Orthodox is also used for meaning 3 . 1 ADJ Orthodox beliefs, methods, or systems are ones which are accepted or used by most people. □ Many of these ideas are now being incorporated into orthodox medical treatment.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as orthodox , you mean that they hold the older and more traditional ideas of their religion or party. □ …orthodox Jews. □ …orthodox communists.
3 ADJ The Orthodox churches are Christian churches in Eastern Europe which separated from the western church in the eleventh century. □ …the Greek Orthodox Church.
ortho|doxy /ɔː r θədɒksi/ (orthodoxies )
1 N‑VAR An orthodoxy is an accepted view about something. □ These ideas rapidly became the new orthodoxy in linguistics. □ What was once a novel approach had become orthodoxy.
2 N‑UNCOUNT The old, traditional beliefs of a religion, political party, or philosophy can be referred to as orthodoxy . □ …a conflict between Nat's religious orthodoxy and Rube's belief that his mission is to make money.
ortho|paedic /ɔː r θəpiː d I k/ also orthopedic ADJ [ADJ n] Orthopaedic means relating to problems affecting people's joints and spines. [MEDICAL ] □ …an orthopaedic surgeon. □ …orthopedic shoes.
os|cil|late /ɒ s I le I t/ (oscillates , oscillating , oscillated )
1 VERB If an object oscillates , it moves repeatedly from one position to another and back again, or keeps getting bigger and smaller. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] I checked to see if the needle indicating volume was oscillating. ● os|cil|la|tion /ɒ s I le I ʃ ə n/ (oscillations ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] Some oscillation of the fuselage had been noticed on early flights.
2 VERB [no passive] If the level or value of something oscillates between one amount and another, it keeps going up and down between the two amounts. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] Oil markets oscillated on the day's reports from Geneva. □ [V -ing] …an oscillating signal of microwave frequency. ● os|cil|la|tion (oscillations ) N‑VAR □ [+ in ] There have always been slight oscillations in world temperature.
3 VERB [no passive] If you oscillate between two moods, attitudes, or types of behaviour, you keep changing from one to the other and back again. [FORMAL ] □ [V + between/and ] The president of the Republic oscillated between a certain audacity and a prudent realism. ● os|cil|la|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ between/and ] …that perpetual oscillation between despair and distracted joy.
os|mo|sis /ɒsmoʊ s I s/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Osmosis is the process by which a liquid passes through a thin piece of solid substance such as the roots of a plant. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the processes of diffusion and osmosis.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu by/through N ] If you say that people influence each other by osmosis , or that skills are gained by osmosis , you mean that this is done gradually and without any obvious effort. [FORMAL ] □ She allowed her life to be absorbed by his, taking on as if by osmosis his likes and dislikes.
os|si|fy /ɒ s I fa I / (ossifies , ossifying , ossified ) VERB If an idea, system, or organization ossifies or if something ossifies it, it becomes fixed and difficult to change. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] It reckons that rationing would ossify the farm industry. □ [V ] British society tended to ossify and close ranks as the 1930s drew to their close. [Also V into n]
os|ten|sible /ɒste ns I b ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Ostensible is used to describe something that seems to be true or is officially stated to be true, but about which you or other people have doubts. [FORMAL ] □ The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies. ● os|ten|sibly /ɒste ns I bli/ ADV [usu ADV with cl/group] □ …ostensibly independent organisations.
os|ten|ta|tion /ɒ stente I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's behaviour as ostentation , you are criticizing them for doing or buying things in order to impress people. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ On the whole she had lived modestly, with a notable lack of ostentation.
os|ten|ta|tious /ɒ stente I ʃəs/
1 ADJ If you describe something as ostentatious , you disapprove of it because it is expensive and is intended to impress people. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …an ostentatious wedding reception.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as ostentatious , you disapprove of them because they want to impress people with their wealth or importance. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Obviously he had plenty of money and was generous in its use without being ostentatious. ● os|ten|ta|tious|ly ADV □ Her servants were similarly, if less ostentatiously attired.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can describe an action or behaviour as ostentatious when it is done in an exaggerated way to attract people's attention. □ …his ostentatious waves and gestures. ● os|ten|ta|tious|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Harry ostentatiously began inspecting the contents of his bag.
os|teo|path /ɒ stiəpæθ/ (osteopaths ) N‑COUNT An osteopath is a person who treats painful conditions or illnesses by pressing and moving parts of the patient's body.
os|teo|po|ro|sis /ɒ stioʊpəroʊ s I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones lose calcium and become more likely to break. [MEDICAL ]
os|tra|cism /ɒ strəs I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Ostracism is the state of being ostracized or the act of ostracizing someone. [FORMAL ] □ …those who have decided to risk social ostracism and stay on the wrong side of town. □ [+ from ] …denunciation, tougher sanctions and ostracism from the civilised world.
os|tra|cize /ɒ strəsa I z/ (ostracizes , ostracizing , ostracized ) in BRIT, also use ostracise VERB [usu passive] If someone is ostracized , people deliberately behave in an unfriendly way towards them and do not allow them to take part in any of their social activities. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed] She claims she's being ostracized by some members of her local community.
os|trich /ɒ str I tʃ, [AM ] ɔː st-/ (ostriches ) N‑COUNT An ostrich is a very large African bird that cannot fly.
OTC /oʊ tiː siː / ADJ [ADJ n] OTC is an abbreviation for over-the-counter . □ …the first OTC heartburn drug. □ …head of OTC trading at PaineWebber Inc.
oth|er ◆◆◆ /ʌ ðə r / (others ) When other follows the determiner an , it is written as one word: see another . 1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use other to refer to an additional thing or person of the same type as one that has been mentioned or is known about. □ They were just like any other young couple. □ The communique gave no other details. ● PRON Other is also a pronoun. □ Four crewmen were killed, one other was injured. □ In 1914 he (like so many others) lied about his age so that he could join the war effort.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use other to indicate that a thing or person is not the one already mentioned, but a different one. □ Calls cost 36p per minute cheap rate and 48p per minute at all other times. □ He would have to accept it; there was no other way. ● PRON Other is also a pronoun. □ This issue, more than any other, has divided her cabinet. □ Some of these methods will work. Others will not.
3 ADJ You use the other to refer to the second of two things or people when the identity of the first is already known or understood, or has already been mentioned. □ The Captain was at the other end of the room. □ Half of PML's scientists have first degrees, the other half have PhDs. ● PRON The other is also a pronoun. □ Henry was holding a duster in one hand and a kitchen pail in the other.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You use other at the end of a list or a group of examples, to refer generally to people or things like the ones just mentioned. □ The quay will incorporate shops, restaurants and other amenities. □ Place them in a jam jar, porcelain bowl, or other similar container. ● PRON Other is also a pronoun. □ Descartes received his stimulus from the new physics and astronomy of Copernicus, Galileo, and others.
5 ADJ You use the other to refer to the rest of the people or things in a group, when you are talking about one particular person or thing. □ When the other pupils were taken to an exhibition, he was left behind. ● PRON The others is also a pronoun. □ Aubrey's on his way here, with the others.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] Other people are people in general, as opposed to yourself or a person you have already mentioned. □ The suffering of other people appals me. □ She likes to be with other people. ● PRON Others means the same as other people . □ His humour depended on contempt for others.
7 ADJ You use other in informal expressions of time such as the other day , the other evening , or the other week to refer to a day, evening, or week in the recent past. □ I rang her the other day and she said she'd like to come round.
8 PHRASE You use expressions like among other things or among others to indicate that there are several more facts, things, or people like the one or ones mentioned, but that you do not intend to mention them all. [VAGUENESS ] □ He moved to England in 1980 where, among other things, he worked as a journalist. □ His travels took him to Dublin, among other places. □ They produce thin sheet steel to be used by the motor car industry, among others.
9 PHRASE If something happens, for example, every other day or every other month , there is a day or month when it does not happen between each day or month when it happens. □ Their food is adequate. It includes meat at least every other day, vegetables and fruit. □ Now that their children have grown up she joins Paddy in London every other week.
10 PHRASE You use every other to emphasize that you are referring to all the rest of the people or things in a group. [EMPHASIS ] □ The same will apply in every other country.
11 PHRASE You use none other than and no other than to emphasize the name of a person or thing when something about that person or thing is surprising in a particular situation. [EMPHASIS ] □ It is based on an incident involving none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
12 PHRASE You use nothing other than and no other than when you are going to mention a course of action, decision, or description and emphasize that it is the only one possible in the situation. [EMPHASIS ] □ Nothing other than an immediate custodial sentence could be justified. □ The rebels would not be happy with anything other than the complete removal of the current regime. □ They have left us with no other choice than to take formal action.
13 PHRASE You use or other in expressions like somehow or other and someone or other to indicate that you cannot or do not want to be more precise about the information that you are giving. [VAGUENESS ] □ The Foundation is holding a dinner in honour of something or other. □ Somehow or other he's involved.
14 PHRASE You use other than after a negative statement to say that the person, item, or thing that follows is the only exception to the statement. □ She makes no reference to any feminist work other than her own.
15 each other → see each
16 one after the other → see after
17 one or other → see one
18 this, that and the other → see this
19 in other words → see word
oth|er|ness /ʌ ðə r nəs/ N‑UNCOUNT Otherness is the quality that someone or something has which is different from yourself or from the things that you have experienced. □ [+ of ] I like the otherness of men's minds and bodies.
other|wise ◆◆◇ /ʌ ðə r wa I z/
1 ADV You use otherwise after stating a situation or fact, in order to say what the result or consequence would be if this situation or fact was not the case. □ Make a note of the questions you want to ask. You will invariably forget them otherwise. □ I'm lucky that I'm interested in school work, otherwise I'd go mad.
2 ADV You use otherwise before stating the general condition or quality of something, when you are also mentioning an exception to this general condition or quality. □ The decorations for the games have lent a splash of colour to an otherwise drab city. □ …a blue and gold caravan, slightly travel-stained but otherwise in good condition.
3 ADV [ADV with v] You use otherwise to refer in a general way to actions or situations that are very different from, or the opposite to, your main statement. [WRITTEN ] □ Take approximately 60mg up to four times a day, unless advised otherwise by a doctor. □ All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
4 ADV [ADV before v] You use otherwise to indicate that other ways of doing something are possible in addition to the way already mentioned. □ The studio could punish its players by keeping them out of work, and otherwise controlling their lives.
5 PHRASE You use or otherwise or and otherwise to mention something that is not the thing just referred to or is the opposite of that thing. □ It was for the police to assess the validity or otherwise of the evidence. □ I was feeling really ill, mentally and otherwise.
other|worldly /ʌ ðə r wɜː r ldli/ also other-worldly ADJ [usu ADJ n] Otherworldly people, things, and places seem strange or spiritual, and not much connected with ordinary things. □ They encourage an image of the region as an otherworldly sort of place. □ …a strange, other-worldly smile.
OTT /oʊ tiː tiː / ADJ If you describe something as OTT , you mean that it is exaggerated and extreme. OTT is an abbreviation for 'over the top'. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …an OTT comedy cabaret revue.
ot|ter /ɒ tə r / (otters ) N‑COUNT An otter is a small animal with brown fur, short legs, and a long tail. Otters swim well and eat fish.
ouch /aʊ tʃ/ EXCLAM ' Ouch! ' is used in writing to represent the noise that people make when they suddenly feel pain. □ She was barefoot and stones dug into her feet. 'Ouch, ouch,' she cried.
ought ◆◇◇ /ɔː t/ Ought to is a phrasal modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. The negative form of ought to is ought not to , which is sometimes shortened to oughtn't to in spoken English. 1 PHRASE You use ought to to mean that it is morally right to do a particular thing or that it is morally right for a particular situation to exist, especially when giving or asking for advice or opinions. □ If you get something good, you ought to share it. □ You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You've created this problem.
2 PHRASE You use ought to when saying that you think it is a good idea and important for you or someone else to do a particular thing, especially when giving or asking for advice or opinions. □ You don't have to be alone with him and I don't think you ought to be. □ You ought to ask a lawyer's advice. □ We ought not to be quarrelling now.
3 PHRASE You use ought to to indicate that you expect something to be true or to happen. You use ought to have to indicate that you expect something to have happened already. □ 'This ought to be fun,' he told Alex, eyes gleaming.
4 PHRASE You use ought to to indicate that you think that something should be the case, but might not be. □ By rights the Social Democrats ought to be the favourites in the election. But nothing looks less certain. □ Though this gives them a nice feeling, it really ought to worry them.
5 PHRASE You use ought to to indicate that you think that something has happened because of what you know about the situation, but you are not certain. [VAGUENESS ] □ He ought to have reached the house some time ago.
6 PHRASE You use ought to have with a past participle to indicate that something was expected to happen or be the case, but it did not happen or was not the case. □ Basically the system ought to have worked. □ The money to build the power station ought to have been sufficient.
7 PHRASE You use ought to have with a past participle to indicate that although it was best or correct for someone to do something in the past, they did not actually do it. □ I realize I ought to have told you about it. □ Perhaps we ought to have trusted people more. □ I ought not to have asked you a thing like that. I'm sorry. □ I'm beginning to feel now we oughtn't to have let her go away like that.
8 PHRASE You use ought to when politely telling someone that you must do something, for example that you must leave. [POLITENESS ] □ I really ought to be getting back now. □ I think I ought to go.
oughtn't /ɔː t ə nt/ Oughtn't is a spoken form of 'ought not'.
oui|ja board /wiː dʒə bɔː r d/ (ouija boards ) N‑COUNT A ouija board is a board with the letters of the alphabet written on it. It is used to ask questions which are thought to be answered by the spirits of dead people.
ounce /aʊ ns/ (ounces )
1 N‑COUNT [num N ] An ounce is a unit of weight used in Britain and the USA. There are sixteen ounces in a pound and one ounce is equal to 28.35 grams. □ [+ of ] …four ounces of sugar.
2 N‑SING You can refer to a very small amount of something, such as a quality or characteristic, as an ounce . □ [+ of ] If only my father had possessed an ounce of business sense. □ [+ of ] I spent every ounce of energy trying to hide.
3 → see also fluid ounce
our ◆◆◆ /aʊə r / Our is the first person plural possessive determiner. 1 DET You use our to indicate that something belongs or relates both to yourself and to one or more other people. □ We're expecting our first baby. □ I locked myself out of our apartment and had to break in.
2 DET A speaker or writer sometimes uses our to indicate that something belongs or relates to people in general. □ We are all entirely responsible for our actions, and for our reactions.
O u r La dy N‑PROPER Some Christians, especially Catholics, refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, as Our Lady . □ Will you pray to Our Lady for me?
O u r Lo rd N‑PROPER Christians refer to Jesus Christ as Our Lord . □ Let us remember the words of Our Lord from the gospel of Mark.
ours /aʊə r z/ Ours is the first person plural possessive pronoun. PRON You use ours to refer to something that belongs or relates both to yourself and to one or more other people. □ There are few strangers in a town like ours. □ Half the houses had been fitted with alarms and ours hadn't.
our|self /aʊə r se lf/ PRON Ourself is sometimes used instead of 'ourselves' when it clearly refers to a singular subject. Some people consider this use to be incorrect. □ …the way we think of ourself and others.
our|selves ◆◇◇ /aʊə r se lvz/ Ourselves is the first person plural reflexive pronoun. 1 PRON You use ourselves to refer to yourself and one or more other people as a group. □ We sat round the fire to keep ourselves warm. □ It was the first time we admitted to ourselves that we were tired.
2 PRON A speaker or writer sometimes uses ourselves to refer to people in general. Ourselves is used as the object of a verb or preposition when the subject refers to the same people. □ We all know that when we exert ourselves our heart rate increases.
3 PRON You use ourselves to emphasize a first person plural subject. In more formal English, ourselves is sometimes used instead of 'us' as the object of a verb or preposition, for emphasis. [EMPHASIS ] □ Others are feeling just the way we ourselves would feel in the same situation. □ The people who will suffer won't be people like ourselves.
4 PRON If you say something such as 'We did it ourselves ', you are indicating that something was done by you and a particular group of other people, rather than anyone else. □ We villagers built that ourselves, we had no help from anyone.
SUFFIX -ous
forms adjectives that indicate that someone or something has a particular quality. For example, a person who is humorous often uses humour.
oust /aʊ st/ (ousts , ousting , ousted ) VERB If someone is ousted from a position of power, job, or place, they are forced to leave it. [JOURNALISM ] □ [be V -ed] The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists. □ [V n] Last week they tried to oust him in a parliamentary vote of no confidence. □ [V -ed] …the ousted government. ● oust|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ …an accounting scandal that led to the ousting of its chief executive.
out
➊ ADVERB USES
➋ ADJECTIVE AND ADVERB USES
➌ VERB USE
➍ PREPOSITION USES
➊ out ◆◆◆ /aʊ t/ Out is often used with verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'pull', and also in phrasal verbs such as 'give out' and 'run out'. 1 ADV [ADV after v] When something is in a particular place and you take it out , you remove it from that place. □ Carefully pull out the centre pages. □ He took out his notebook and flipped the pages. □ They paid in that cheque a couple of days ago, and drew out around two thousand in cash.
2 ADV [ADV after v] You can use out to indicate that you are talking about the situation outside, rather than inside buildings. □ It's hot out–very hot, very humid.
3 ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] If you are out , you are not at home or not at your usual place of work. □ I tried to get in touch with you yesterday evening, but I think you were out. □ She had to go out.
4 ADV [ADV adv/prep] If you say that someone is out in a particular place, you mean that they are in a different place, usually one far away. □ The police tell me they've finished their investigations out there. □ When he's not filming out east, Allen lives in the Cotswolds.
5 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] When the sea or tide goes out , the sea moves away from the shore. □ The tide was out and they walked among the rock pools.
6 ADV [ADV n] If you are out a particular amount of money, you have that amount less than you should or than you did. [mainly AM ] □ Me and my friends are out ten thousand dollars, with nothing to show for it!
➋ out ◆◆◆ /aʊ t/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a light or fire is out or goes out , it is no longer shining or burning. □ All the lights were out in the house. □ Several of the lights went out, one after another.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If flowers are out , their petals have opened. □ Well, the daffodils are out in the gardens and they're always a beautiful show. ● ADV [ADV after v] Out is also an adverb. □ I usually put it in my diary when I see the wild flowers coming out.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something such as a book or CD is out , it is available for people to buy. □ …cover versions of 40 British Number Ones–out now. ● ADV [ADV after v] Out is also an adverb. □ The French edition came out in early 1992.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If workers are out , they are on strike. [INFORMAL ] □ We've been out for two and a half months. ● ADV [ADV after v] Out is also an adverb. □ In June last year, 26 people came out on strike protesting against a compulsory 65-hour week.
5 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] In a game or sport, if someone is out , they can no longer take part either because they are unable to or because they have been defeated.
6 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] In baseball, a player is out if they do not reach a base safely. When three players in a team are out in an inning, then the team is out .
7 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that a proposal or suggestion is out , you mean that it is unacceptable. □ That's right out, I'm afraid.
8 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that a particular thing is out , you mean that it is no longer fashionable at the present time. □ Romance is making a comeback. Reality is out.
9 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that a calculation or measurement is out , you mean that it is incorrect. □ When the two ends of the tunnel met in the middle they were only a few inches out.
10 ADJ If someone is out to do something, they intend to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ Most companies these days are just out to make a quick profit.
➌ out /aʊ t/ (outs , outing , outed ) VERB If a group of people out a public figure or famous person, they reveal that person's homosexuality against their wishes. □ [V n] A New York gay action group recently outed an American Congressman. ● out|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ The gay and lesbian rights group, Stonewall, sees outing as completely unhelpful.
➍ out ◆◆◆ Out of is used with verbs of movement, such as 'walk' and 'pull', and also in phrasal verbs such as 'do out of' and 'grow out of'. In American English and informal British English, out is often used instead of out of .
1 PHRASE If you go out of a place, you leave it. □ She let him out of the house.
2 PHRASE If you take something out of the container or place where it has been, you remove it so that it is no longer there. □ I always took my key out of my bag and put it in my pocket.
3 PHRASE If you look or shout out of a window, you look or shout away from the room where you are towards the outside. □ He went on staring out of the window. □ He looked out the window at the car on the street below.
4 PHRASE If you are out of the sun, the rain, or the wind, you are sheltered from it. □ People can keep out of the sun to avoid skin cancer.
5 PHRASE If someone or something gets out of a situation, especially an unpleasant one, they are then no longer in it. If they keep out of it, they do not start being in it. □ In the past army troops have relied heavily on air support to get them out of trouble. □ The economy is starting to climb out of recession.
6 PHRASE You can use out of to say that someone leaves an institution. □ You come out of university and find there are no jobs available. □ Doctors should be able to decide who they can safely let out of hospital early.
7 PHRASE If you are out of range of something, you are beyond the limits of that range. □ Shaun was in the bedroom, out of earshot, watching television. □ He turned to look back, but by then she was out of sight.
8 PHRASE You use out of to say what feeling or reason causes someone to do something. For example, if you do something out of pity, you do it because you pity someone. □ He took up office out of a sense of duty.
9 PHRASE If you get something such as information or work out of someone, you manage to make them give it to you, usually when they are unwilling to give it. □ 'Where is she being held prisoner?' I asked. 'Did you get it out of him?'. □ We knew we could get better work out of them.
10 PHRASE If you get pleasure or an advantage out of something, you get it as a result of being involved with that thing or making use of it. □ We all had a lot of fun out of him. □ To get the most out of your money, you have to invest.
11 PHRASE If you are out of something, you no longer have any of it. □ I can't find the sugar–and we're out of milk.
12 PHRASE If something is made out of a particular material, it consists of that material because it has been formed or constructed from it. □ Would you advise people to make a building out of wood or stone?
13 PHRASE You use out of to indicate what proportion of a group of things something is true of. For example, if something is true of one out of five things, it is true of one fifth of all things of that kind. □ Two out of five thought the business would be sold privately on their retirement or death.
PREFIX out-
You can use out- to form verbs that describe an action as being done better by one person than by another. For example, if you can outswim someone, you can swim further or faster than they can.
out|age /aʊ t I dʒ/ (outages ) N‑COUNT An outage is a period of time when the electricity supply to a building or area is interrupted, for example because of damage to the cables. [AM ] □ A windstorm in Washington is causing power outages throughout the region. in BRIT, use power cut
ou t-and-ou t ADJ [ADJ n] You use out-and-out to emphasize that someone or something has all the characteristics of a particular type of person or thing. [EMPHASIS ] □ Much of what has been written about us is out-and-out lies.
out|back /aʊ tbæk/ N‑SING The parts of Australia that are far away from towns are referred to as the outback .
out|bid /aʊ tb I d/ (outbids , outbidding ) The form outbid is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. VERB If you outbid someone, you offer more money than they do for something that you both want to buy. □ [V n] The Museum has antagonised rivals by outbidding them for the world's greatest art treasures.
out|board /aʊ tbɔː r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] An outboard motor is one that you can fix to the back of a small boat.
out|bound /aʊ tbaʊnd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] An outbound flight is one that is leaving or about to leave a particular place.
out|box /aʊ tbɒks/ (outboxes ) N‑COUNT An outbox is a folder on a computer or phone where emails that are waiting to be sent are stored. [COMPUTING ] □ If there is no signal it will just sit in my outbox until I resend it.
out|break /aʊ tbre I k/ (outbreaks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If there is an outbreak of something unpleasant, such as violence or a disease, it suddenly starts to happen. □ [+ of ] At the outbreak of war, he enlisted as a private. □ The cholera outbreak continued to spread.
out|build|ing /aʊ tb I ld I ŋ/ (outbuildings ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Outbuildings are small buildings for keeping things in or working in which are near a house, on the land belonging to it.
out|burst /aʊ tbɜː r st/ (outbursts )
1 N‑COUNT An outburst of an emotion, especially anger, is a sudden strong expression of that emotion. □ [+ of ] …a spontaneous outburst of cheers and applause. □ [+ against ] There has been another angry outburst against the new local tax introduced today.
2 N‑COUNT An outburst of violent activity is a sudden period of this activity. □ [+ of ] Five people were reported killed today in a fresh outburst of violence. □ [+ of ] …this first great outburst of nationalist student protest.
out|cast /aʊ tkɑːst, -kæst/ (outcasts ) N‑COUNT An outcast is someone who is not accepted by a group of people or by society. □ He had always been an outcast, unwanted and alone.
out|class /aʊ tklɑː s, -klæ s/ (outclasses , outclassing , outclassed )
1 VERB If you are outclassed by someone, they are a lot better than you are at a particular activity. □ [be V -ed] The hotel is serviceable, but outclassed by its bistro. □ [V n] Few city hotels can outclass the Hotel de Crillon.
2 VERB If one thing outclasses another thing, the first thing is of a much higher quality than the second thing. □ [be V -ed] These planes are outclassed by the most recent designs. □ [V n] The story outclasses anything written by Frederick Forsyth.
out|come ◆◇◇ /aʊ tkʌm/ (outcomes ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] The outcome of an activity, process, or situation is the situation that exists at the end of it. □ Mr. Singh said he was pleased with the outcome. □ [+ of ] It's too early to know the outcome of her illness. COLLOCATIONS outcome NOUN 1
noun + outcome : treatment; election, student
adjective + outcome : adverse, negative, positive, satisfactory; likely, possible, predictable, probable; eventual, final
verb + outcome : affect, decide, determine, influence; await, predict; achieve SYNONYMS outcome NOUN 1
result: These people have developed asthma as a direct result of their work.
end: The police force is being manipulated for political ends.
consequence: An economic crisis may have tremendous consequences for our global security.
out|crop /aʊ tkrɒp/ (outcrops ) or outcropping N‑COUNT An outcrop is a large area of rock sticking out of the ground. □ [+ of ] …an outcrop of rugged granite.
out|cry /aʊ tkra I / (outcries ) N‑VAR An outcry is a reaction of strong disapproval and anger shown by the public or media about a recent event. □ The killing caused an international outcry.
out|dat|ed /aʊ tde I t I d/ ADJ If you describe something as outdated , you mean that you think it is old-fashioned and no longer useful or relevant to modern life. □ …outdated and inefficient factories. □ Caryl Churchill's play about Romania is already outdated.
out|did /aʊ td I d/ Outdid is the past tense of outdo .
out|dis|tance /aʊ td I stəns/ (outdistances , outdistancing , outdistanced )
1 VERB If you outdistance someone, you are a lot better and more successful than they are at a particular activity over a period of time. □ [V n] It didn't matter that Ingrid had outdistanced them as a movie star.
2 VERB If you outdistance your opponents in a contest of some kind, you beat them easily. □ [V n] …a millionaire businessman who easily outdistanced his major rivals for the nomination.
out|do /aʊ tduː / (outdoes , outdoing , outdid , outdone )
1 VERB If you outdo someone, you are a lot more successful than they are at a particular activity. □ [V n] Both sides have tried to outdo each other to show how tough they can be.
2 PHRASE You use not to be outdone to introduce an action which someone takes in response to a previous action. □ The New York Times, not to be outdone, launched a rival service.
out|door /aʊ tdɔː r / ADJ [ADJ n] Outdoor activities or things happen or are used outside and not in a building. □ If you enjoy outdoor activities, this is the trip for you. □ There were outdoor cafes on almost every block.
out|doors /aʊ tdɔː r z/
1 ADV [be ADV , ADV after v] If something happens outdoors , it happens outside in the fresh air rather than in a building. □ It was warm enough to be outdoors all afternoon. □ The ceremony was being held outdoors.
2 N‑SING You refer to the outdoors when talking about work or leisure activities which take place outside away from buildings. □ I'm a lover of the outdoors. □ Life in the great outdoors isn't supposed to be luxurious.
out|er /aʊ tə r / ADJ [ADJ n] The outer parts of something are the parts which contain or enclose the other parts, and which are furthest from the centre. □ He heard a voice in the outer room. □ …the outer suburbs of the city.
outer|most /aʊ tə r moʊst/ ADJ [ADJ n] The outermost thing in a group is the one that is furthest from the centre. □ …the iron beam on the outermost part of the bridge.
ou t|er spa ce N‑UNCOUNT Outer space is the area outside the earth's atmosphere where the other planets and stars are situated. □ In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into outer space.
outer|wear /aʊ tə r weə r / N‑UNCOUNT Outerwear is clothing that is not worn underneath other clothing. □ The latest in sports bras are colorful tops designed as outerwear.
out|fall /aʊ tfɔːl/ (outfalls ) N‑COUNT An outfall is a place where water or waste flows out of a drain, often into the sea. □ During the winter months, great flocks of gulls gather at rubbish tips and sewage outfalls.
out|field /aʊ tfiːld/ N‑SING In baseball and cricket, the outfield is the part of the field that is furthest from the batting area.
out|field|er /aʊ tfiːldə r / (outfielders ) N‑COUNT In baseball and cricket, the outfielders are the players in the part of the field that is furthest from the batting area.
out|fit /aʊ tf I t/ (outfits , outfitting , outfitted )
1 N‑COUNT An outfit is a set of clothes. □ She was wearing an outfit she'd bought the previous day.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an organization as an outfit . □ He works for a private security outfit.
3 VERB To outfit someone or something means to provide them with equipment for a particular purpose. [mainly AM ] □ [V n + with ] They outfitted him with artificial legs. [Also V n + as ]
out|fit|ter /aʊ tf I tə r / (outfitters ) also outfitters N‑COUNT An outfitter or an outfitters is a shop that sells clothes and equipment for a specific purpose. [mainly BRIT ] □ …J. Hepworth, the men's outfitter. □ …a sports outfitters.
out|flank /aʊ tflæ ŋk/ (outflanks , outflanking , outflanked )
1 VERB In a battle, when one group of soldiers outflanks another, it succeeds in moving past the other group in order to be able to attack it from the side. □ [V n] …plans to outflank them from the west.
2 VERB If you outflank someone, you succeed in getting into a position where you can defeat them, for example in an argument. □ [V n] He had tried to outflank them.
out|flow /aʊ tfloʊ/ (outflows ) N‑COUNT When there is an outflow of money or people, a large amount of money or people move from one place to another. □ [+ of ] There was a net outflow of about £650m in short-term capital. □ [+ of ] …an increasing outflow of refugees.
out|fox /aʊ tfɒ ks/ (outfoxes , outfoxing , outfoxed ) VERB If you outfox someone, you defeat them in some way because you are cleverer than they are. □ [V n] There is no greater thrill than to bluff a man, trap him and outfox him.
out|going /aʊ tgoʊ I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use outgoing to describe a person in charge of something who is soon going to leave that position. □ …the outgoing director of the Edinburgh International Festival.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Outgoing things such as planes, mail, and passengers are leaving or being sent somewhere. □ All outgoing flights were grounded.
3 ADJ Someone who is outgoing is very friendly and likes meeting and talking to people.
out|go|ings /aʊ tgoʊ I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL Your outgoings are the regular amounts of money which you have to spend every week or every month, for example in order to pay your rent or bills. [BRIT ] □ She suggests you first assess your income and outgoings. □ …monthly outgoings. in AM, usually use outlay , expenses
out|grow /aʊ tgroʊ / (outgrows , outgrowing , outgrew , outgrown )
1 VERB If a child outgrows a piece of clothing, they grow bigger, so that it no longer fits them. □ [V n] She outgrew her clothes so rapidly that Patsy was always having to buy new ones.
2 VERB If you outgrow a particular way of behaving or thinking, you change and become more mature, so that you no longer behave or think in that way. □ [V n] The girl may or may not outgrow her interest in fashion.
out|growth /aʊ tgroʊθ/ (outgrowths ) N‑COUNT Something that is an outgrowth of another thing has developed naturally as a result of it. □ [+ of ] Her first book is an outgrowth of an art project she began in 1988.
out|guess /aʊ tge s/ (outguesses , outguessing , outguessed ) VERB If you outguess someone, you try to predict what they are going to do in order to gain some advantage. □ [V n] Only by being him can you hope to outguess him. □ [V n] A very good investor will outguess the market.
out|gun /aʊ tgʌ n/ (outguns , outgunning , outgunned )
1 VERB [usu passive] In a battle, if one army is outgunned , they are in a very weak position because the opposing army has more or better weapons. □ [be V -ed] First Airborne Division was heavily outgunned by German forces.
2 VERB If you are outgunned in a contest, you are beaten because your rival is stronger or better than you. □ [be V -ed] Clearly, the BBC is being outgunned by ITV's original drama. □ [V n] He soon hit top speed to outgun all his rivals in the opening qualifying session.
out|house /aʊ thaʊs/ (outhouses )
1 N‑COUNT An outhouse is a small building attached to a house or very close to the house, used, for example, for storing things in.
2 N‑COUNT An outhouse is an outside toilet. [AM ]
out|ing /aʊ t I ŋ/ (outings )
1 N‑COUNT An outing is a short enjoyable trip, usually with a group of people, away from your home, school, or place of work. □ [+ to ] One evening, she made a rare outing to the local discotheque. □ …families on a Sunday afternoon outing.
2 N‑COUNT In sport, an outing is an occasion when a player competes in a particular contest or competition. □ Playing in England's first outing, he suffered a whiplash injury to his neck.
3 → see also out ➊ 3
out|land|ish /aʊtlæ nd I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe something as outlandish , you disapprove of it because you think it is very unusual, strange, or unreasonable. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ This idea is not as outlandish as it sounds.
out|last /aʊ tlɑː st, -læ st/ (outlasts , outlasting , outlasted ) VERB [no passive] If one thing outlasts another thing, the first thing lives or exists longer than the second. □ [V n] These naturally dried flowers will outlast a bouquet of fresh blooms.
out|law /aʊ tlɔː/ (outlaws , outlawing , outlawed )
1 VERB When something is outlawed , it is made illegal. □ [be V -ed] In 1975 gambling was outlawed. □ [V n] The German government has outlawed some fascist groups. □ [V -ed] …the outlawed political parties.
2 N‑COUNT An outlaw is a criminal who is hiding from the authorities. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
out|lay /aʊ tle I / (outlays ) N‑VAR Outlay is the amount of money that you have to spend in order to buy something or start a project. □ [+ of ] Apart from the capital outlay of buying the machine, dishwashers can actually save you money.
out|let /aʊ tlet/ (outlets )
1 N‑COUNT An outlet is a shop or organization which sells the goods made by a particular manufacturer. □ [+ in ] …the largest retail outlet in the city.
2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] An outlet or an outlet store is a place which sells slightly damaged or outdated goods from a particular manufacturer, or goods that it made in greater quantities than needed. □ …the factory outlet store in Belmont.
3 N‑COUNT If someone has an outlet for their feelings or ideas, they have a means of expressing and releasing them. □ [+ for ] Her father had found an outlet for his ambition in his work.
4 N‑COUNT An outlet is a hole or pipe through which liquid or air can flow away. □ …a warm air outlet.
5 N‑COUNT An outlet is a place, usually in a wall, where you can connect electrical devices to the electricity supply. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use socket
out|line ◆◇◇ /aʊ tla I n/ (outlines , outlining , outlined )
1 VERB If you outline an idea or a plan, you explain it in a general way. □ [V n] The mayor outlined his plan to clean up the town's image.
2 N‑VAR [oft in N ] An outline is a general explanation or description of something. □ [+ of ] Following is an outline of the survey findings. □ The proposals were given in outline by the Secretary of State.
3 V-PASSIVE You say that an object is outlined when you can see its general shape because there is light behind it. □ [be V -ed] The Ritz was outlined against the lights up there.
4 N‑COUNT The outline of something is its general shape, especially when it cannot be clearly seen. □ [+ of ] He could see only the hazy outline of the goalposts.
out|live /aʊ tl I v/ (outlives , outliving , outlived ) VERB If one person outlives another, they are still alive after the second person has died. If one thing outlives another thing, the first thing continues to exist after the second has disappeared or been replaced. □ [V n] I'm sure Rose will outlive many of us. □ [V n] The U.N. is an organisation which has long since outlived its usefulness.
out|look /aʊ tlʊk/ (outlooks )
1 N‑VAR [usu sing, oft in N ] Your outlook is your general attitude towards life. □ [+ on ] I adopted a positive outlook on life. □ We were quite different in outlook, Philip and I.
2 N‑SING The outlook for something is what people think will happen in relation to it. □ The economic outlook is one of rising unemployment.
out|ly|ing /aʊ tla I I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] Outlying places are far away from the main cities of a country. □ Tourists can visit outlying areas like the Napa Valley Wine Country.
out|ma|noeu|vre /aʊ tmənuː və r / (outmanoeuvres , outmanoeuvring , outmanoeuvred ) in AM, use outmaneuver VERB If you outmanoeuvre someone, you gain an advantage over them in a particular situation by behaving in a clever and skilful way. □ [V n] He has shown once again that he's able to outmanoeuvre the military.
out|mod|ed /aʊ tmoʊ d I d/ ADJ If you describe something as outmoded , you mean that you think it is old-fashioned and no longer useful or relevant to modern life. □ Romania badly needs aid to modernise its outmoded industries. □ The political system has become thoroughly outmoded.
out|num|ber /aʊ tnʌ mbə r / (outnumbers , outnumbering , outnumbered ) VERB If one group of people or things outnumbers another, the first group has more people or things in it than the second group. □ [V n] …a town where men outnumber women four to one.
ou t of → see out ➍
ou t-of-bo dy ADJ [ADJ n] An out-of-body experience is one in which you feel as if you are outside your own body, watching it and what is going on around it.
ou t of da te also out-of-date ADJ Something that is out of date is old-fashioned and no longer useful. □ Think how rapidly medical knowledge has gone out of date in recent years.
ou t of doo rs also out-of-doors ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If you are out of doors , you are outside a building rather than inside it. □ Sometimes we eat out of doors.
ou t-of-po cket
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-pocket expenses are those which you pay out of your own money on behalf of someone else, and which are often paid back to you later.
2 → see also pocket
ou t-of-the-wa y also out of the way ADJ Out-of-the-way places are difficult to reach and are therefore not often visited. □ …an out-of-the-way spot.
ou t of tou ch
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Someone who is out of touch with a situation is not aware of recent changes in it. □ [+ with ] Washington politicians are out of touch with the American people.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are out of touch with someone, you have not been in contact with them recently and are not familiar with their present situation. □ [+ for ] James wasn't invited. We've been out of touch for years. [Also + with ]
ou t-of-to wn
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-town shops or facilities are situated away from the centre of a town or city. □ …shopping at cheaper, out-of-town supermarkets.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Out-of-town is used to describe people who do not live in a particular town or city, but have travelled there for a particular purpose. □ …a deluxe hotel for out-of-town visitors.
ou t of wo rk ADJ Someone who is out of work does not have a job. □ …a town where half the men are usually out of work. □ …an out of work actor.
out|pace /aʊ tpe I s/ (outpaces , outpacing , outpaced ) VERB To outpace someone or something means to perform a particular action faster or better than they can. □ [V n] These hovercraft can easily outpace most boats. □ [V n] The economy will continue to outpace its foreign rivals for years to come.
out|pa|tient /aʊ tpe I ʃənt/ (outpatients ) also out-patient N‑COUNT [oft N n] An outpatient is someone who receives treatment at a hospital but does not spend the night there. □ …the outpatient clinic. □ She received psychiatric care as an outpatient.
ТЕЛЕГРАМКанал с обзорами, анонсами новинок и книжными подборками
Книжный Вестник
Бот для удобного поиска книг (если не нашлось на сайте)
Поиск книг
Свежие любовные романы в удобных форматах
Любовные романы
Детективы и триллеры, все новинки
Детективы
Фантастика и фэнтези, все новинки
Фантастика
Отборные классические книги
Классика
ВКОНТАКТЕБиблиотека с любовными романами, которая наверняка придётся по вкусу женской части аудитории
Любовные романы
Библиотека с фантастикой и фэнтези, а также смежных жанров
Фантастика
Самые популярные книги в формате фб2
Топ фб2
книги