15 VERB A machine or equipment that runs on or off a particular source of energy functions using that source of energy. □ [V + on/off ] Black cabs run on diesel.


16 VERB If you run a car or a piece of equipment, you have it and use it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] I ran a 1960 Rover 100 from 1977 until 1983.


17 VERB When you say that vehicles such as trains and buses run from one place to another, you mean they regularly travel along that route. □ [V prep] A shuttle bus runs frequently between the Inn and the Country Club. □ [V ] …a government which can't make the trains run on time.


18 VERB If you run someone somewhere in a car, you drive them there. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] Could you run me up to Baltimore?


19 VERB If you run over or down to a place that is quite near, you drive there. [INFORMAL ] □ [V adv] I'll run over to Short Mountain and check on Mrs Adams.


20 N‑COUNT A run is a journey somewhere. □ …doing the morning school run.


21 VERB If a liquid runs in a particular direction, it flows in that direction. □ [V prep/adv] Tears were running down her cheeks. □ [V adj] Wash the rice in cold water until the water runs clear.


22 VERB If you run water, or if you run a tap or a bath, you cause water to flow from a tap. □ [V n] She went to the sink and ran water into her empty glass.


23 VERB [only cont] If a tap or a bath is running , water is coming out of a tap. □ [V ] You must have left a tap running in the bathroom.


24 VERB [usu cont] If your nose is running , liquid is flowing out of it, usually because you have a cold. □ [V ] Timothy was crying, mostly from exhaustion, and his nose was running.


25 VERB [usu cont] If a surface is running with a liquid, that liquid is flowing down it. □ [V + with ] After an hour he realised he was completely running with sweat.


26 VERB If the dye in some cloth or the ink on some paper runs , it comes off or spreads when the cloth or paper gets wet. □ [V ] The ink had run on the wet paper.


27 VERB If a feeling runs through your body or a thought runs through your mind, you experience it or think it quickly. □ [V + through ] She felt a surge of excitement run through her.


28 VERB If a feeling or noise runs through a group of people, it spreads among them. □ [V + through ] A buzz of excitement ran through the crowd.


29 VERB If a theme or feature runs through something such as someone's actions or writing, it is present in all of it. □ [V + through ] Another thread running through this series is the role of doctors. □ [V + throughout ] There was something of this mood running throughout the Party's deliberations.


30 VERB When newspapers or magazines run a particular item or story or if it runs , it is published or printed. □ [V n] The newspaper ran a series of four editorials entitled 'The Choice of Our Lives.' □ [V ] …an editorial that ran this weekend entitled 'Mr. Cuomo Backs Out.'


31 VERB If an amount is running at a particular level, it is at that level. □ [V + at ] Today's RPI figure shows inflation running at 10.9 per cent.


32 VERB If a play, event, or legal contract runs for a particular period of time, it lasts for that period of time. □ [V + for ] It pleased critics but ran for only three years in the West End. □ [V prep] The contract was to run from 1992 to 2020. □ [V ] I predict it will run and run.


33 VERB [usu cont] If someone or something is running late, they have taken more time than had been planned. If they are running to time or ahead of time, they have taken the time planned or less than the time planned. □ [V adv/prep] Tell her I'll call her back later, I'm running late again.


34 VERB If you are running a temperature or a fever, you have a high temperature because you are ill. □ [V n] The little girl is running a fever and she needs help.


35 N‑COUNT A run of a play or television programme is the period of time during which performances are given or programmes are shown. □ The Globe begins a two-month run of the Bard of Avon's most famous and enduring love story.


36 N‑SING A run of successes or failures is a series of successes or failures. □ [+ of ] The England skipper is haunted by a run of low scores.


37 N‑COUNT A run of a product is the amount that a company or factory decides to produce at one time. □ Wayne plans to increase the print run to 1,000.


38 N‑COUNT In cricket or baseball, a run is a score of one, which is made by players running between marked places on the field after hitting the ball. □ At 20 he became the youngest player to score 2,000 runs in a season.


39 N‑SING If someone gives you the run of a place, they give you permission to go where you like in it and use it as you wish. □ [+ of ] He had the run of the house and the pool.


40 N‑SING If there is a run on something, a lot of people want to buy it or get it at the same time. □ [+ on ] A run on sterling has killed off hopes of a rate cut.


41 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A ski run or bobsleigh run is a course or route that has been designed for skiing or for riding in a bobsleigh.


42 → see also running , dummy run , test run , trial run


43 PHRASE If something happens against the run of play or against the run of events, it is different from what is generally happening in a game or situation. [BRIT ] □ The decisive goal arrived against the run of play.


44 PHRASE If you run someone close , run them a close second , or run a close second , you almost beat them in a race or competition. □ We played a top side on Sunday and ran them close.


45 PHRASE If a river or well runs dry , it no longer has any water in it. If an oil well runs dry , it no longer produces any oil. □ Streams had run dry for the first time in memory.


46 PHRASE If a source of information or money runs dry , no more information or money can be obtained from it. □ Three days into production, the kitty had run dry.


47 PHRASE If a characteristic runs in someone's family , it often occurs in members of that family, in different generations. □ The insanity which ran in his family haunted him.


48 PHRASE If you make a run for it or if you run for it , you run away in order to escape from someone or something. □ A helicopter hovered overhead as one of the gang made a run for it.


49 PHRASE If people's feelings are running high , they are very angry, concerned, or excited. □ Feelings there have been running high in the wake of last week's killing.


50 PHRASE If you talk about what will happen in the long run , you are saying what you think will happen over a long period of time in the future. If you talk about what will happen in the short run , you are saying what you think will happen in the near future. □ Sometimes expensive drugs or other treatments can be economical in the long run. □ In fact, things could get worse in the short run.


51 PHRASE If you say that someone would run a mile if faced with something, you mean that they are very frightened of it and would try to avoid it. □ Yasmin admits she would run a mile if Mark asked her out.


52 PHRASE If you say that someone could give someone else a run for their money , you mean you think they are almost as good as the other person. □ If he's my chief opposition, I can give him a run for his money.


53 PHRASE If someone is on the run , they are trying to escape or hide from someone such as the police or an enemy. □ Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.


54 PHRASE If someone is on the run , they are being severely defeated in a contest or competition. □ His opponents believe he is definitely on the run.


55 PHRASE If you say that a person or group is running scared , you mean that they are frightened of what someone might do to them or what might happen. □ The administration is running scared.


56 PHRASE If you are running short of something or running low on something, you do not have much of it left. If a supply of something is running short or running low , there is not much of it left. □ Government forces are running short of ammunition and fuel. □ We are running low on drinking water.


57 to run amok → see amok


58 to make your blood run cold → see blood


59 to run counter to something → see counter


60 to run its course → see course


61 to run deep → see deep


62 to run an errand → see errand


63 to run the gamut of something → see gamut


64 to run the gauntlet → see gauntlet


65 to run rings around someone → see ring ➋


66 to run riot → see riot


67 to run a risk → see risk


68 to run to seed → see seed


69 to run wild → see wild


▸ run across PHRASAL VERB If you run across someone or something, you meet them or find them unexpectedly. □ [V P n] We ran across some old friends in the village.


▸ run after PHRASAL VERB If you are running after someone, you are trying to start a relationship with them, usually a sexual relationship. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P n] By the time she was fifteen she was already running after men twice her age.


▸ run around PHRASAL VERB If you run around , you go to a lot of places and do a lot of things, often in a rushed or disorganized way. □ [V P ] No one noticed we had been running around emptying bins and cleaning up. □ [V P + after ] I spend all day running around after the family. □ [V P n] I will not have you running around the countryside without my authority. [Also V P + with ]


▸ run away


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run away from a place, you leave it because you are unhappy there. □ [V P + from ] I ran away from home when I was sixteen. □ [V P ] After his beating Colin ran away and hasn't been heard of since. □ [V P + to ] Three years ago I ran away to Mexico to live with a circus.


2 PHRASAL VERB If you run away with someone, you secretly go away with them in order to live with them or marry them. □ [V P + with ] She ran away with a man called McTavish last year. □ [V P together ] He and I were always planning to run away together.


3 PHRASAL VERB If you run away from something unpleasant or new, you try to avoid dealing with it or thinking about it. □ [V P + from ] They run away from the problem, hoping it will disappear of its own accord. □ [V P ] You can't run away for ever.


4 → see also runaway


▸ run away with PHRASAL VERB If you let your imagination or your emotions run away with you, you fail to control them and cannot think sensibly. □ [V P P n] You're letting your imagination run away with you.


▸ run by PHRASAL VERB If you run something by someone, you tell them about it or mention it, to see if they think it is a good idea, or can understand it. □ [V n P n] Run that by me again.


▸ run down


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run people or things down , you criticize them strongly. □ [V n P ] He last night denounced the British 'genius for running ourselves down'. □ [V P n] …that chap who was running down state schools.


2 PHRASAL VERB If people run down an industry or an organization, they deliberately reduce its size or the amount of work that it does. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] The government is cynically running down the welfare system.


3 PHRASAL VERB If someone runs down an amount of something, they reduce it or allow it to decrease. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] But the survey also revealed firms were running down stocks instead of making new products.


4 PHRASAL VERB If a vehicle or its driver runs someone down , the vehicle hits them and injures them. □ [V n P ] Lozano claimed that motorcycle driver Clement Lloyd was trying to run him down.


5 PHRASAL VERB If a machine or device runs down , it gradually loses power or works more slowly. □ [V P ] The batteries are running down.


6 → see also run-down


▸ run into


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run into problems or difficulties, you unexpectedly begin to experience them. □ [V P n] They agreed to sell last year after they ran into financial problems.


2 PHRASAL VERB If you run into someone, you meet them unexpectedly. □ [V P n] He ran into Krettner in the corridor a few minutes later.


3 PHRASAL VERB If a vehicle runs into something, it accidentally hits it. □ [V P n] The driver failed to negotiate a bend and ran into a tree.


4 PHRASAL VERB You use run into when indicating that the cost or amount of something is very great. □ [V P amount] He said companies should face punitive civil penalties running into millions of pounds.


▸ run off


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run off with someone, you secretly go away with them in order to live with them or marry them. □ [V P + with ] The last thing I'm going to do is run off with somebody's husband. □ [V P together ] We could run off together, but neither of us wants to live the rest of our lives abroad.


2 PHRASAL VERB If you run off copies of a piece of writing, you produce them using a machine. □ [V P n] If you want to run off a copy sometime today, you're welcome to. [Also V n P n]


▸ run out


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run out of something, you have no more of it left. □ [V P + of ] They have run out of ideas. □ [V P ] We had lots before but now we've run out.


2 to run out of steam → see steam


3 PHRASAL VERB If something runs out , it becomes used up so that there is no more left. □ [V P ] Conditions are getting worse and supplies are running out.


4 PHRASAL VERB When a legal document runs out , it stops being valid. □ [V P ] When the lease ran out the family moved to Campigny.


▸ run over PHRASAL VERB If a vehicle or its driver runs a person or animal over , it knocks them down or drives over them. □ [V n P ] You can always run him over and make it look like an accident. □ [V P n] He ran over a six-year-old child as he was driving back from a party.


▸ run past PHRASAL VERB To run something past someone means the same as to run it by them. □ [V n P n] Before agreeing, he ran the idea past Johnson.


▸ run through


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run through a list of items, you read or mention all the items quickly. □ [V P n] I ran through the options with him.


2 PHRASAL VERB If you run through a performance or a series of actions, you practise it. □ [V P n] Doug stood still while I ran through the handover procedure.


3 → see also run-through


▸ run to


1 PHRASAL VERB If you run to someone, you go to them for help or to tell them something. □ [V P n] If you were at a party and somebody was getting high, you didn't go running to a cop.


2 PHRASAL VERB If something runs to a particular amount or size, it is that amount or size. □ [V P n] The finished manuscript ran to the best part of fifty double-sided pages.


3 PHRASAL VERB If you cannot run to a particular item, you cannot afford to buy it or pay for it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] Radio, unlike movies, did not run to chauffeurs and limousines.


▸ run up


1 PHRASAL VERB If someone runs up bills or debts, they acquire them by buying a lot of things or borrowing money. □ [V P n] He ran up a £1,400 bill at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel.


2 → see also run-up


▸ run up against PHRASAL VERB If you run up against problems, you suddenly begin to experience them. □ [V P P n] I ran up against the problem of getting taken seriously long before I became a writer.

run|about /rʌ nəbaʊt/ (runabouts )


1 N‑COUNT A runabout is a small car used mainly for short journeys. In American English, runabout is used of cars with open tops. □ …a small 1-litre runabout.


2 N‑COUNT A runabout is a small, light boat with a motor. [AM ]

run|around /rʌ nəraʊnd/ also run-around PHRASE If someone gives you the runaround , they deliberately do not give you all the information or help that you want, and send you to another person or place to get it. [INFORMAL ]

run|away /rʌ nəwe I / (runaways )


1 ADJ [ADJ n] You use runaway to describe a situation in which something increases or develops very quickly and cannot be controlled. □ Our Grand Sale in June was a runaway success. □ …a runaway best-seller.


2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A runaway is someone, especially a child, who leaves home without telling anyone or without permission. □ …a teenage runaway.


3 ADJ [ADJ n] A runaway vehicle or animal is moving forward quickly, and its driver or rider has lost control of it. □ The runaway car careered into a bench, hitting an elderly couple.

run-down also rundown The adjective is pronounced /rʌ n daʊ n/. The noun is pronounced /rʌ n daʊn/. 1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is run-down , they are tired or slightly ill. [INFORMAL ] □ …times when you are feeling tired and run-down.


2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A run-down building or area is in very poor condition. □ …one of the most run-down areas in Scotland. □ …a run-down block of flats.


3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A run-down place of business is not as active as it used to be or does not have many customers. □ …a run-down slate quarry.


4 N‑SING When the run-down of an industry or organization takes place, its size or the amount of work that it does is reduced. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …the impetus behind the rundown of the coal industry.


5 N‑SING If you give someone a run-down of a group of things or a run-down on something, you give them details about it. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of/on ] Here's a rundown of the options.

rune /ruː n/ (runes ) N‑COUNT Runes are letters from an alphabet that was used by people in Northern Europe in former times. They were carved on wood or stone and were believed to have magical powers.

rung /rʌ ŋ/ (rungs )


1 Rung is the past participle of ring .


2 N‑COUNT The rungs on a ladder are the wooden or metal bars that form the steps. □ I swung myself onto the ladder and felt for the next rung.


3 N‑COUNT If you reach a particular rung in your career, in an organization, or in a process, you reach that level in it. □ [+ of ] I first worked with him in 1971 when we were both on the lowest rung of our careers.

ru n-in (run-ins ) N‑COUNT A run-in is an argument or quarrel with someone. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ with ] I had a monumental run-in with him a couple of years ago.

run|ner ◆◇◇ /rʌ nə r / (runners )


1 N‑COUNT A runner is a person who runs, especially for sport or pleasure. □ …a marathon runner. □ I am a very keen runner and am out training most days.


2 N‑COUNT The runners in a horse race are the horses taking part. □ There are 18 runners in the top race of the day.


3 N‑COUNT [n N ] A drug runner or gun runner is someone who illegally takes drugs or guns into a country.


4 N‑COUNT Someone who is a runner for a particular person or company is employed to take messages, collect money, or do other small tasks for them. □ …a bookie's runner.


5 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Runners are thin strips of wood or metal underneath something which help it to move smoothly. □ [+ of ] …the runners of his sled.


6 PHRASE If someone does a runner , they leave a place in a hurry, for example in order to escape arrest or to avoid paying for something. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ At this point, the accountant did a runner–with all my bank statements, expenses and receipts.

ru n|ner bean (runner beans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Runner beans are long green beans that are eaten as a vegetable. They grow on a tall climbing plant and are the cases that contain the seeds of the plant. [BRIT ] in AM, use pole beans , scarlet runners

ru nner-u p (runners-up ) N‑COUNT A runner-up is someone who has finished in second place in a race or competition. □ The ten runners-up will receive a book token.

run|ning ◆◆◇ /rʌ n I ŋ/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Running is the activity of moving fast on foot, especially as a sport. □ We chose to do cross-country running. □ …running shoes.


2 N‑SING The running of something such as a business is the managing or organizing of it. □ [+ of ] …the committee in charge of the day-to-day running of the party.


3 ADJ [ADJ n] You use running to describe things that continue or keep occurring over a period of time. □ He also began a running feud with Dean Acheson.


4 ADJ [ADJ n] A running total is a total which changes because numbers keep being added to it as something progresses. □ He kept a running tally of who had called him, who had visited, who had sent flowers.


5 ADV [n ADV ] You can use running when indicating that something keeps happening. For example, if something has happened every day for three days, you can say that it has happened for the third day running or for three days running . □ He said drought had led to severe crop failure for the second year running.


6 ADJ [ADJ n] Running water is water that is flowing rather than standing still. □ The forest was filled with the sound of running water.


7 ADJ [ADJ n] If a house has running water, water is supplied to the house through pipes and taps. □ …a house without electricity or running water in a tiny African village.


8 PHRASE If someone is in the running for something, they have a good chance of winning or obtaining it. If they are out of the running for something, they have no chance of winning or obtaining it. □ Until this week he appeared to have ruled himself out of the running because of his age.


9 PHRASE If someone is making the running in a situation, they are more active than the other people involved. [mainly BRIT ] □ Republicans are furious that the Democrats currently seem to be making all the running.


10 PHRASE If something such as a system or place is up and running , it is operating normally. □ We're trying to get the medical facilities up and running again.

-running /-rʌn I ŋ/ COMB -running combines with nouns to form nouns which refer to the illegal importing of drugs or guns. □ …a serviceman suspected of gun-running.

ru n|ning ba t|tle (running battles ) N‑COUNT When two groups of people fight a running battle , they keep attacking each other in various parts of a place. □ They fought running battles in the narrow streets with police.

ru n|ning co m|men|tary (running commentaries ) N‑COUNT If someone provides a running commentary on an event, they give a continuous description of it while it is taking place. □ [+ on ] For the first time, the film can be watched with a running commentary by the director.

ru n|ning costs


1 N‑PLURAL The running costs of a business are the amount of money that is regularly spent on things such as salaries, heating, lighting, and rent. [BUSINESS ] □ The aim is to cut running costs by £90 million per year.


2 N‑PLURAL The running costs of a device such as a heater or a fridge are the amount of money that you spend on the gas, electricity, or other type of energy that it uses. □ Always buy a heater with thermostat control to save on running costs.

ru n|ning mate (running mates ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] In an election campaign, a candidate's running mate is the person that they have chosen to help them in the election. If the candidate wins, the running mate will become the second most important person after the winner. [mainly AM ] □ His name is being touted widely as a vice-presidential running mate.

ru n|ning or|der N‑SING The running order of the items in a broadcast, concert, or show is the order in which the items will come. □ We had reversed the running order.

ru n|ning time (running times ) N‑COUNT The running time of something such as a film, video, or CD is the time it takes to play from start to finish.

run|ny /rʌ ni/ (runnier , runniest )


1 ADJ Something that is runny is more liquid than usual or than was intended. □ Warm the honey until it becomes runny.


2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has a runny nose or runny eyes, liquid is flowing from their nose or eyes. □ Symptoms are streaming eyes, a runny nose, headache and a cough.

ru n-off (run-offs ) also runoff N‑COUNT [usu sing] A run-off is an extra vote or contest which is held in order to decide the winner of an election or competition, because no-one has yet clearly won. □ [+ between ] There will be a run-off between these two candidates on December 9th.

ru n-of-the-mi ll also run of the mill ADJ [usu ADJ n] A run-of-the-mill person or thing is very ordinary, with no special or interesting features. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I was just a very average run-of-the-mill kind of student.

runt /rʌ nt/ (runts ) N‑COUNT The runt of a group of animals born to the same mother at the same time is the smallest and weakest of them. □ [+ of ] Animals reject the runt of the litter.

ru n-through (run-throughs ) N‑COUNT A run-through for a show or event is a practice for it. □ The band are getting ready for their final run-through before the evening's recording.

ru n time (run times ) N‑COUNT Run time is the time during which a computer program is running. [COMPUTING ]

ru n-up (run-ups )


1 N‑SING The run-up to an event is the period of time just before it. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ to ] The company believes the products will sell well in the run-up to Christmas.


2 N‑COUNT In sport, a run-up is the run made by a player or athlete, for example before throwing a ball or a javelin, or before jumping. □ When I began to compete again, I was struggling with my run-up.

run|way /rʌ nwe I / (runways ) N‑COUNT At an airport, the runway is the long strip of ground with a hard surface which an aeroplane takes off from or lands on. □ The plane started taxiing down the runway.

ru|pee /ruːpiː / (rupees ) N‑COUNT A rupee is a unit of money that is used in India, Pakistan, and some other countries. □ He earns 20 rupees a day.

rup|ture /rʌ ptʃə r / (ruptures , rupturing , ruptured )


1 N‑COUNT A rupture is a severe injury in which an internal part of your body tears or bursts open, especially the part between the bowels and the abdomen.


2 VERB If a person or animal ruptures a part of their body or if it ruptures , it tears or bursts open. □ [V ] His stomach might rupture from all the acid. □ [V n] Whilst playing badminton, I ruptured my Achilles tendon. □ [V -ed] …a ruptured appendix.


3 VERB If you rupture yourself , you rupture a part of your body, usually because you have lifted something heavy. □ [V pron-refl] He ruptured himself playing football.


4 VERB If an object ruptures or if something ruptures it, it bursts open. □ [V ] Certain truck gasoline tanks can rupture and burn in a collision. □ [V n] Sloshing liquids can rupture the walls of their containers.


5 N‑COUNT If there is a rupture between people, relations between them get much worse or end completely. □ [+ in ] The incidents have not yet caused a major rupture in the political ties between countries.


6 VERB If someone or something ruptures relations between people, they damage them, causing them to become worse or to end. □ [V n] The incident ruptures a recent and fragile cease-fire.

ru|ral ◆◇◇ /rʊə rəl/


1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Rural places are far away from large towns or cities. □ These plants have a tendency to grow in the more rural areas.


2 ADJ [ADJ n] Rural means having features which are typical of areas that are far away from large towns or cities. □ …the old rural way of life. SYNONYMS rural ADJ 1


rustic: …the rustic charm of a country lifestyle.


agricultural: …agricultural land.


country: I was a simple country boy from Norfolk.


pastoral: …the pastoral beauty of a park.

ruse /ruː z, [AM ] ruː s/ (ruses ) N‑COUNT A ruse is an action or plan which is intended to deceive someone. [FORMAL ] □ It is now clear that this was a ruse to divide them.

rush ◆◇◇ /rʌ ʃ/ (rushes , rushing , rushed )


1 VERB If you rush somewhere, you go there quickly. □ [V prep/adv] A schoolgirl rushed into a burning flat to save a man's life. □ [V ] I've got to rush. Got a meeting in a few minutes. □ [V to-inf] Shop staff rushed to get help.


2 VERB If people rush to do something, they do it as soon as they can, because they are very eager to do it. □ [V to-inf] Russian banks rushed to buy as many dollars as they could.


3 N‑SING A rush is a situation in which you need to go somewhere or do something very quickly. □ The men left in a rush. □ It was all rather a rush.


4 N‑SING If there is a rush for something, many people suddenly try to get it or do it. □ [+ for ] Record stores are expecting a huge rush for the single.


5 N‑SING The rush is a period of time when many people go somewhere or do something. □ The shop's opening coincided with the Christmas rush.


6 VERB If you rush something, you do it in a hurry, often too quickly and without much care. □ [V n] You can't rush a search. □ [V + at ] Instead of rushing at life, I wanted something more meaningful. ● rushed ADJ □ The report had all the hallmarks of a rushed job.


7 VERB If you rush someone or something to a place, you take them there quickly. □ [V n prep] We got an ambulance and rushed her to hospital. □ [V n with adv] We'll rush it round today if possible.


8 VERB If you rush into something or are rushed into it, you do it without thinking about it for long enough. □ [V + into ] He will not rush into any decisions. □ [V in ] They had rushed in without adequate appreciation of the task. □ [be V -ed + into ] Ministers won't be rushed into a response. □ [V n] Don't rush him or he'll become confused. ● rushed ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] □ At no time did I feel rushed or under pressure.


9 VERB If you rush something or someone, you move quickly and forcefully at them, often in order to attack them. □ [V n] They rushed the entrance and forced their way in. □ [V + at ] Tom came rushing at him from another direction.


10 VERB If air or liquid rushes somewhere, it flows there suddenly and quickly. □ [V prep/adv] Water rushes out of huge tunnels. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Rush is also a noun. □ [+ of ] A rush of air on my face woke me.


11 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you experience a rush of a feeling, you suddenly experience it very strongly. □ [+ of ] A rush of pure affection swept over him.


12 PHRASE If you are rushed off your feet , you are extremely busy. [INFORMAL ] □ We used to be rushed off our feet at lunchtimes.


▸ rush out PHRASAL VERB If a document or product is rushed out , it is produced very quickly. □ [be V -ed P ] A statement was rushed out. □ [V P n] The Treasury was determined not to rush out a new deposit protection scheme. [Also V n P ]


▸ rush through PHRASAL VERB If you rush something through , you deal with it quickly so that it is ready in a shorter time than usual. □ [V P n] The government rushed through legislation aimed at Mafia leaders. □ [V n P ] They rushed the burial through so no evidence would show up. SYNONYMS rush VERB 1


hurry: Claire hurried along the road.


race: He raced across town to the State House building.


dash: Suddenly she dashed down to the cellar.


bolt: I made an excuse and bolted for the exit. COLLOCATIONS rush NOUN


3


adjective + rush : last-minute; frantic, mad


4


noun + rush : evening, morning


rush + noun : hour


verb + rush : avoid, beat

ru sh hour (rush hours ) also rush-hour N‑VAR [oft at/during N ] The rush hour is one of the periods of the day when most people are travelling to or from work. □ During the evening rush hour it was often solid with vehicles. □ Try to avoid rush-hour traffic.

rusk /rʌ sk/ (rusks ) N‑VAR Rusks are hard, dry biscuits that are given to babies and young children. [mainly BRIT ]

rus|set /rʌ s I t/ (russets ) COLOUR Russet is used to describe things that are reddish-brown in colour. □ …a russet apple.

Rus|sian /rʌ ʃ ə n/ (Russians )


1 ADJ Russian means belonging or relating to Russia, or to its people, language, or culture. □ …the Russian parliament.


2 N‑COUNT A Russian is a person who comes from Russia. □ Three-quarters of Russians live in cities.


3 N‑UNCOUNT Russian is the language spoken in Russia, and other countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgystan.

Ru s|sian do ll (Russian dolls ) N‑COUNT A Russian doll is a hollow wooden doll that is made in two halves. Inside it are a series of similar wooden dolls, each smaller than the last, placed one inside the other.

Ru s|sian rou|le tte


1 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that someone is playing Russian roulette , or that what they are doing is like playing Russian roulette , you mean that what they are doing is very dangerous because it involves unpredictable risks. □ You are playing Russian roulette every time you have unprotected sex.


2 N‑UNCOUNT If someone plays Russian roulette , they fire a gun with only one bullet at their head without knowing whether it will shoot them.

rust /rʌ st/ (rusts , rusting , rusted )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Rust is a brown substance that forms on iron or steel, for example when it comes into contact with water. □ …a decaying tractor, red with rust.


2 VERB When a metal object rusts , it becomes covered in rust and often loses its strength. □ [V ] Copper nails are better than iron nails because the iron rusts.


3 COLOUR Rust is sometimes used to describe things that are reddish-brown in colour. □ …turquoise woodwork with accent colours of rust and ochre.

Ru st Belt also rust belt N‑SING In the United States and some other countries, the Rust Belt is a region which used to have a lot of manufacturing industry, but whose economy is now in difficulty. □ …in the rust belt of the mid-west.

rus|tic /rʌ st I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can use rustic to describe things or people that you approve of because they are simple or unsophisticated in a way that is typical of the countryside. [APPROVAL ] □ …the rustic charm of a country lifestyle.

rus|tic|ity /rʌ st I s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the simple, peaceful character of life in the countryside as rusticity . [WRITTEN , APPROVAL ] □ It pleases me to think of young Tyndale growing up here in deep rusticity.

rus|tle /rʌ s ə l/ (rustles , rustling , rustled )


1 VERB When something thin and dry rustles or when you rustle it, it makes soft sounds as it moves. □ [V ] The leaves rustled in the wind. □ [V n] She rustled her papers impatiently. □ [V prep] A snake rustled through the dry grass. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Rustle is also a noun. □ [+ of ] She sat perfectly still, without even a rustle of her frilled petticoats. ● rus|tling (rustlings ) N‑VAR □ …a rustling sound coming from beneath one of the seats.


2 → see also rustling


▸ rustle up PHRASAL VERB If you rustle up something to eat or drink, you make or prepare it quickly, with very little planning. □ [V P n] Let's see if somebody can rustle up a cup of coffee.

rus|tler /rʌ slə r / (rustlers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl, oft n N ] Rustlers are people who steal farm animals, especially cattle, horses, and sheep. [mainly AM ] □ …the old Wyoming Trail once used by cattle rustlers and outlaws.

rus|tling /rʌ səl I ŋ/


1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] Rustling is the activity of stealing farm animals, especially cattle. [mainly AM ] □ …cattle rustling and horse stealing.


2 → see also rustle

rusty /rʌ sti/ (rustier , rustiest )


1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A rusty metal object such as a car or a machine is covered with rust, which is a brown substance that forms on iron or steel when it comes into contact with water. □ …a rusty iron gate.


2 ADJ If a skill that you have or your knowledge of something is rusty , it is not as good as it used to be, because you have not used it for a long time. □ You may be a little rusty, but past experience and teaching skills won't have been lost.


3 ADJ Rusty is sometimes used to describe things that are reddish-brown in colour.

rut /rʌ t/ (ruts )


1 N‑COUNT [usu sing, usu in a N ] If you say that someone is in a rut , you disapprove of the fact that they have become fixed in their way of thinking and doing things, and find it difficult to change. You can also say that someone's life or career is in a rut . [DISAPPROVAL ] □ I don't like being in a rut–I like to keep moving on.


2 N‑COUNT A rut is a deep, narrow mark made in the ground by the wheels of a vehicle. □ [+ in ] Our driver slowed up as we approached the ruts in the road.


3 → see also rutted , rutting

ru|ta|ba|ga /ruː təbe I gə/ (rutabagas ) N‑VAR A rutabaga is a round yellow root vegetable with a brown or purple skin. [AM ] in BRIT, use swede

ruth|less /ruː θləs/


1 ADJ If you say that someone is ruthless , you mean that you disapprove of them because they are very harsh or cruel, and will do anything that is necessary to achieve what they want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ in ] The President was ruthless in dealing with any hint of internal political dissent. ● ruth|less|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The Party has ruthlessly crushed any sign of organised opposition. ● ruth|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …a powerful political figure with a reputation for ruthlessness.


2 ADJ A ruthless action or activity is done forcefully and thoroughly, without much concern for its effects on other people. □ [+ in ] Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a settlement. ● ruth|less|ly ADV □ …a ruthlessly efficient woman. ● ruth|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …a woman with a brain and business acumen and a certain healthy ruthlessness.

rut|ted /rʌ t I d/


1 ADJ [oft adv ADJ ] A rutted road or track is very uneven because it has long, deep, narrow marks in it made by the wheels of vehicles. □ …an uncomfortable ride along deeply rutted roads.


2 → see also rut

rut|ting /rʌ t I ŋ/


1 ADJ Rutting male animals such as deer are in a period of sexual excitement and activity. □ …jokes about bitches in heat and rutting stags. ● N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Rutting is also a noun. □ During the rutting season the big boars have the most terrible mating battles.


2 → see also rut

RV /ɑː r viː / (RVs ) N‑COUNT An RV is a van which is equipped with such things as beds and cooking equipment, so that people can live in it, usually while they are on holiday. RV is an abbreviation for 'recreational vehicle'. [mainly AM ] □ …a group of RVs pulled over on the side of the highway. in BRIT, usually use camper , camper van

rye /ra I /


1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Rye is a cereal grown in cold countries. Its grains can be used to make flour, bread, or other foods. □ One of the first crops that I grew when we came here was rye.


2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu on N ] Rye is bread made from rye. [AM ] □ I was eating ham and Swiss cheese on rye.

rye bread N‑UNCOUNT Rye bread is brown bread made with rye flour. □ …two slices of rye bread.

rye grass also ryegrass N‑UNCOUNT Rye grass is a type of grass that is grown for animals such as cows to eat.

Ss

S , s /e s/ (S's, s's )


1 N‑VAR S is the nineteenth letter of the English alphabet.


2 S or s is an abbreviation for words beginning with s, such as 'south', 'seconds', and 'son'.

SUFFIX -s


1 is added to a verb to form the third person singular, present tense. For example, in 'he never thinks about it', the letter s at the end of the word ' thinks ' shows that the verb agrees with the third person pronoun ' he '.


2 is also added to a noun to form a plural. For example, in 'her beloved cats ', the letter s at the end of the word ' cats ' shows that there is more than one cat.

-'s Pronounced /-s/ after the consonant sounds /p, t, k, f/ or /θ/, and /- I z/ after the consonant sounds /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ/ or /dʒ/. After other sounds -'s is pronounced /-z/. A final -s' is pronounced in the same way as a final -s . 1 -'s is added to nouns to form possessives. However, with plural nouns ending in '-s', and sometimes with names ending in '-s', you form the possessive by adding -'. □ …the chairman's son. □ …women's rights. □ …a boys' boarding-school. □ …Sir Charles' car.


2 -'s is the usual spoken form of 'is'. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'he is' and 'she is' can be shortened to 'he's' and 'she's'.


3 -'s is the usual spoken form of 'has', especially where 'has' is an auxiliary verb. It is added to the end of the pronoun or noun which is the subject of the verb. For example, 'It has gone' can be shortened to 'It's gone'.


4 -'s is sometimes added to numbers, letters, and abbreviations to form plurals, although many people think you should just add '-s'. □ …new strategies for the 1990's. □ …p's and q's.

Sab|bath /sæ bəθ/ N‑PROPER [oft N n] The Sabbath is the day of the week when members of some religious groups do not work. The Jewish Sabbath is on Saturday and the Christian Sabbath is on Sunday. □ …a religious man who kept the Sabbath.

sab|bati|cal /səbæ t I k ə l/ (sabbaticals ) N‑COUNT [oft on N ] A sabbatical is a period of time during which someone such as a university teacher can leave their ordinary work and travel or study. □ He took a year's sabbatical from the Foreign Office. □ He's been on sabbatical writing a novel.

sa|ber /se I bə r / → see sabre

sa|ble /se I b ə l/ (sables ) N‑COUNT A sable is a small furry animal with valued fur. ● N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Sable is the fur of a sable. □ …a full-length sable coat.

sabo|tage /sæ bətɑːʒ/ (sabotages , sabotaging , sabotaged )


1 VERB [usu passive] If a machine, railway line, or bridge is sabotaged , it is deliberately damaged or destroyed, for example in a war or as a protest. □ [be V -ed] The main pipeline supplying water was sabotaged by rebels. ● N‑UNCOUNT Sabotage is also a noun. □ The bombing was a spectacular act of sabotage.


2 VERB If someone sabotages a plan or a meeting, they deliberately prevent it from being successful. □ [V n] He accused the opposition of trying to sabotage the election.

sabo|teur /sæ bətɜː r / (saboteurs ) N‑COUNT A saboteur is a person who deliberately damages or destroys things such as machines, railway lines, and bridges in order to weaken an enemy or to make a protest. In Britain, people who try to stop blood sports such as fox hunting are also referred to as saboteurs . □ The saboteurs had planned to bomb buses and offices.

sa|bre /se I bə r / (sabres ) in AM, use saber N‑COUNT A sabre is a heavy sword with a curved blade that was used in the past by soldiers on horseback.

sa bre-rattling in AM, use saber-rattling N‑UNCOUNT If you describe a threat, especially a threat of military action, as sabre-rattling , you do not believe that the threat will actually be carried out. □ It is too early to say whether the threats are mere sabre-rattling.

sac /sæ k/ (sacs ) N‑COUNT A sac is a small part of an animal's body, shaped like a little bag. It contains air, liquid, or some other substance. □ The lungs consist of millions of tiny air sacs.

sac|cha|rin /sæ kər I n/ also saccharine N‑UNCOUNT Saccharin is a very sweet chemical substance that some people use instead of sugar, especially when they are trying to lose weight.

sac|cha|rine /sæ kər I n, -riːn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You describe something as saccharine when you find it unpleasantly sweet and sentimental. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a saccharine sequel to the Peter Pan story.

sa|chet /sæ ʃe I , [AM ] sæʃe I / (sachets ) N‑COUNT A sachet is a small closed plastic or paper bag, containing a small quantity of something. □ [+ of ] …individual sachets of instant coffee.

sack ◆◇◇ /sæ k/ (sacks , sacking , sacked )


1 N‑COUNT A sack is a large bag made of rough woven material. Sacks are used to carry or store things such as vegetables or coal. □ [+ of ] …a sack of potatoes.


2 VERB If your employers sack you, they tell you that you can no longer work for them because you have done something that they did not like or because your work was not good enough. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] He had sacked the teacher as soon as he heard of her misconduct. ● N‑SING Sack is also a noun. □ People who make mistakes can be given the sack the same day.


3 N‑SING Some people refer to bed as the sack . [INFORMAL ]

sack|cloth /sæ kklɒθ/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sackcloth is rough woven material that is used to make sacks. □ He kept the club wrapped in sackcloth.


2 N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about sackcloth or sackcloth and ashes you are referring to an exaggerated attempt by someone to show that they are sorry for doing something wrong.

sack|ful /sæ kfʊl/ (sackfuls ) N‑COUNT A sackful is the amount of something that a sack contains or could contain. □ [+ of ] …a sackful of presents.

sack|ing /sæ k I ŋ/ (sackings )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sacking is rough woven material that is used to make sacks.


2 N‑COUNT A sacking is when an employer tells a worker to leave their job. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] …the sacking of twenty-three thousand miners.

sac|ra|ment /sæ krəmənt/ (sacraments )


1 N‑COUNT A sacrament is a Christian religious ceremony such as communion, baptism, or marriage. □ [+ of ] …the holy sacrament of baptism.


2 N‑SING In the Roman Catholic church, the Sacrament is the holy bread eaten at the Eucharist. In the Anglican church, the Sacrament is the holy bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.

sac|ra|men|tal /sæ krəme nt ə l/


1 ADJ Something that is sacramental is connected with a Christian religious ceremony. □ …the sacramental wine.


2 ADJ Sacramental is used to describe something that is considered holy or religious. □ …her view that music is a sacramental art.

sa|cred /se I kr I d/


1 ADJ Something that is sacred is believed to be holy and to have a special connection with God. □ The owl is sacred for many Californian Indian people.


2 ADJ [ADJ n] Something connected with religion or used in religious ceremonies is described as sacred . □ …sacred songs or music.


3 ADJ You can describe something as sacred when it is regarded as too important to be changed or interfered with. □ My memories are sacred.

sa |cred co w (sacred cows ) N‑COUNT If you describe a belief, custom, or institution as a sacred cow , you disapprove of people treating it with too much respect and being afraid to criticize or question it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the sacred cow of monetarism.

sac|ri|fice ◆◇◇ /sæ kr I fa I s/ (sacrifices , sacrificing , sacrificed )


1 VERB If you sacrifice something that is valuable or important, you give it up, usually to obtain something else for yourself or for other people. □ [V n + to/for ] She sacrificed family life to her career. □ [V n] Kitty Aldridge has sacrificed all for her first film. □ [V pron-refl] He sacrificed himself and so saved his country. ● N‑VAR Sacrifice is also a noun. □ She made many sacrifices to get Anita a good education.


2 → see also self-sacrifice


3 VERB To sacrifice an animal or person means to kill them in a special religious ceremony as an offering to a god. □ [V n] The priest sacrificed a chicken. [Also V n to n] ● N‑COUNT Sacrifice is also a noun. □ [+ to ] …animal sacrifices to the gods.

sac|ri|fi|cial /sæ kr I f I ʃ ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sacrificial means connected with or used in a sacrifice. □ …the sacrificial altar.

sa c|ri|fi|cial la mb (sacrificial lambs ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a sacrificial lamb , you mean that they have been blamed unfairly for something they did not do, usually in order to protect another more powerful person or group. □ He was a sacrificial lamb to a system that destroyed him.

sac|ri|lege /sæ kr I l I dʒ/


1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Sacrilege is behaviour that shows great disrespect for a holy place or object. □ Stealing from a place of worship was regarded as sacrilege.


2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] You can use sacrilege to refer to disrespect that is shown for someone who is widely admired or for a belief that is widely accepted. □ It is a sacrilege to offend democracy.

sac|ri|legious /sæ kr I l I dʒəs/ ADJ If someone's behaviour or actions are sacrilegious , they show great disrespect towards something holy or towards something that people think should be respected. □ A number of churches were sacked and sacrilegious acts committed.

sac|ris|ty /sæ kr I sti/ (sacristies ) N‑COUNT A sacristy is the room in a church where the priest or minister changes into their official clothes and where holy objects are kept.

sac|ro|sanct /sæ kroʊsæŋkt/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe something as sacrosanct , you consider it to be special and are unwilling to see it criticized or changed. □ Freedom of the press is sacrosanct.

sad ◆◆◇ /sæ d/ (sadder , saddest )


1 ADJ [oft ADJ that/to-inf] If you are sad , you feel unhappy, usually because something has happened that you do not like. □ The relationship had been important to me and its loss left me feeling sad and empty. □ I'm sad that Julie's marriage is on the verge of splitting up. □ I'd grown fond of our little house and felt sad to leave it. □ [+ about ] I'm sad about my toys getting burned in the fire. ● sad|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ Judy said sadly, 'He has abandoned me.' ● sad|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I say farewell.


2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sad stories and sad news make you feel sad. □ I received the sad news that he had been killed in a motor-cycle accident.


3 ADJ A sad event or situation is unfortunate or undesirable. □ It's a sad truth that children are the biggest victims of passive smoking. ● sad|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ Sadly, bamboo plants die after flowering.


4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as sad , you do not have any respect for them and think their behaviour or ideas are ridiculous. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the obsessive rantings of sad old petrolheads.

SAD /sæ d/ N‑UNCOUNT SAD is an abbreviation for seasonal affective disorder .

sad|den /sæ d ə n/ (saddens , saddened ) VERB [no cont] If something saddens you, it makes you feel sad. □ [V n] The cruelty in the world saddens me incredibly. ● sad|dened ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ He was disappointed and saddened that legal argument had stopped the trial. ● sad|den|ing ADJ □ …a saddening experience.

sad|dle /sæ d ə l/ (saddles , saddling , saddled )


1 N‑COUNT A saddle is a leather seat that you put on the back of an animal so that you can ride the animal.


2 → see also side-saddle


3 VERB If you saddle a horse, you put a saddle on it so that you can ride it. □ [V n] Why don't we saddle a couple of horses and go for a ride? ● PHRASAL VERB Saddle up means the same as saddle . □ [V P ] I want to be gone from here as soon as we can saddle up. □ [V P n] She saddled up a horse.


4 N‑COUNT A saddle is a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.


5 VERB If you saddle someone with a problem or with a responsibility, you put them in a position where they have to deal with it. □ [V n + with ] The war devastated the economy and saddled the country with a huge foreign debt.

saddle|bag /sæ d ə lbæg/ (saddlebags ) also saddle-bag N‑COUNT A saddlebag is a bag fastened to the saddle of a bicycle or motorcycle, or the saddle of a horse.

sad|dler /sæ dlə r / (saddlers ) N‑COUNT A saddler is a person who makes, repairs, and sells saddles and other equipment for riding horses.

sad|dlery /sæ dləri/ N‑UNCOUNT Saddles and other leather goods made by a saddler can be referred to as saddlery .

saddo /sæ doʊ/ (saddos ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] If you say that someone is a saddo , you do not have any respect for them and think their behaviour or ideas are ridiculous. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]

sad|ism /se I d I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sadism is a type of behaviour in which a person obtains pleasure from hurting other people and making them suffer physically or mentally. □ Psychoanalysts tend to regard both sadism and masochism as arising from childhood deprivation. ● sad|ist /se I d I st/ (sadists ) N‑COUNT □ The man was a sadist who tortured animals and people.

sa|dis|tic /səd I st I k/ ADJ A sadistic person obtains pleasure from hurting other people and making them suffer physically or mentally. □ The prisoners rioted against mistreatment by sadistic guards.

sado-masochism /se I doʊ mæ sək I zəm/ also sadomasochism N‑UNCOUNT Sado-masochism is the enjoyment of hurting people and being hurt. □ [+ of ] …the sado-masochism of the Marquis de Sade. ● sado-masochist (sado-masochists ) N‑COUNT □ …an island resort where sado-masochists can act out their sexual fantasies.

sado-masochistic /se I doʊ mæsək I st I k/ also sadomasochistic ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is sado-masochistic is connected with the practice of sado-masochism. □ …a sado-masochistic relationship.

s.a.e. /e s e I iː / (s.a.e.s ) N‑COUNT An s.a.e. is an envelope on which you have stuck a stamp and written your own name and address. You send it to an organization so that they can reply to you in it. s.a.e. is an abbreviation for 'stamped addressed envelope' or 'self addressed envelope'. [BRIT ] □ Send an s.a.e. for a free information pack. in AM, use SASE

sa|fa|ri /səfɑː ri/ (safaris ) N‑COUNT [oft on N ] A safari is a trip to observe or hunt wild animals, especially in East Africa. □ He'd like to go on safari to photograph snakes and tigers.

sa|fa |ri park (safari parks ) N‑COUNT A safari park is a large enclosed area of land where wild animals, such as lions and elephants, live freely. People can pay to drive through the park and look at the animals. [BRIT ]

sa|fa |ri suit (safari suits ) N‑COUNT A safari suit is a casual suit made from a light-coloured material such as linen or cotton. Safari suits are usually worn in hot weather.

safe ◆◆◇ /se I f/ (safer , safest , safes )


1 ADJ Something that is safe does not cause physical harm or danger. □ Officials arrived to assess whether it is safe to bring emergency food supplies into the city. □ Most foods that we eat are safe for birds. □ …a safe and reliable birth control option.


2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If a person or thing is safe from something, they cannot be harmed or damaged by it. □ [+ from ] In the future people can go to a football match knowing that they are safe from hooliganism.


3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are safe , you have not been harmed, or you are not in danger of being harmed. □ Where is Sophy? Is she safe? ● safe|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ All 140 guests were brought out of the building safely by firefighters.


4 ADJ A safe place is one where it is unlikely that any harm, damage, or unpleasant things will happen to the people or things that are there. □ Many refugees have fled to safer areas. ● safe|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ The banker keeps the money tucked safely under his bed.


5 ADJ [ADJ n] If people or things have a safe journey, they reach their destination without harm, damage, or unpleasant things happening to them. □ …the U.N. plan to deploy 500 troops to ensure the safe delivery of food and other supplies. ● safe|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adv] □ The space shuttle returned safely today from a 10-day mission.


6 ADJ [ADJ n] If you are at a safe distance from something or someone, you are far enough away from them to avoid any danger, harm, or unpleasant effects. □ I shall conceal myself at a safe distance from the battlefield.


7 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something you have or expect to obtain is safe , you cannot lose it or be prevented from having it. □ We as consumers need to feel confident that our jobs are safe before we will spend spare cash.


8 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A safe course of action is one in which there is very little risk of loss or failure. □ Electricity shares are still a safe investment. ● safe|ly ADV □ We reveal only as much information as we can safely risk at a given time.


9 ADJ If you disapprove of something because you think it is not very exciting or original, you can describe it as safe . [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …frustrated artists who became lawyers at an early age because it seemed a safe option. □ Rock'n'roll has become so commercialised and safe since punk.


10 ADJ If it is safe to say or assume something, you can say it with very little risk of being wrong. □ It is safe to say that very few students make an effort to do quality work in school. ● safe|ly ADV [ADV before v] □ I think you can safely say she will not be appearing in another of my films.


11 N‑COUNT A safe is a strong metal cupboard with special locks, in which you keep money, jewellery, or other valuable things. □ The files are now in a safe to which only he has the key.


12 → see also safely


13 PHRASE If you say that a person or thing is in safe hands , or is safe in someone's hands , you mean that they are being looked after by a reliable person and will not be harmed. □ I had a huge responsibility to ensure these packets remained in safe hands.


14 PHRASE If you play safe or play it safe , you do not take any risks. □ If you want to play safe, cut down on the amount of salt you eat.


15 PHRASE If you say you are doing something to be on the safe side , you mean that you are doing it in case something undesirable happens, even though this may be unnecessary. □ You might still want to go for an X-ray, however, just to be on the safe side.


16 PHRASE If you say ' it's better to be safe than sorry ', you are advising someone to take action in order to avoid possible unpleasant consequences later, even if this seems unnecessary. □ Don't be afraid to have this checked by a doctor–better safe than sorry!


17 PHRASE You say that someone is safe and sound when they are still alive or unharmed after being in danger. □ All I'm hoping for is that wherever my son is he will come home safe and sound.


18 a safe pair of hands → see pair


19 safe in the knowledge → see knowledge USAGE safe


When safe is used to describe people, it is never used in front of a noun. Don’t say, for example, ‘ the safe children ’. You can say that you are safe from something or someone to mean that you cannot be harmed by them. □ They want to keep their families safe from crime.

sa fe area (safe areas ) N‑COUNT If part of a country that is involved in a war is declared to be a safe area , neutral forces will try to keep peace there so that it is safe for people. □ The U.N. declared it a safe area.

sa fe co n|duct also safe-conduct N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If you are given safe conduct , the authorities officially allow you to travel somewhere, guaranteeing that you will not be arrested or harmed while doing so. □ [+ to/from ] Her family was given safe conduct to Britain when civil war broke out.

sa fe de|po s|it box (safe deposit boxes ) N‑COUNT A safe deposit box is a small box, usually kept in a special room in a bank, in which you can store valuable objects.

safe|guard /se I fgɑː r d/ (safeguards , safeguarding , safeguarded )


1 VERB To safeguard something or someone means to protect them from being harmed, lost, or badly treated. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They will press for international action to safeguard the ozone layer. □ [V n + from ] …new guidelines to safeguard bill payers from future price rises.


2 N‑COUNT A safeguard is a law, rule, or measure intended to prevent someone or something from being harmed. □ [+ against ] Many people took second jobs as a safeguard against unemployment.

sa fe ha |ven (safe havens )


1 N‑COUNT If part of a country is declared a safe haven , people who need to escape from a dangerous situation such as a war can go there and be protected. □ Countries overwhelmed by the human tide of refugees want safe havens set up at once.


2 N‑UNCOUNT If a country provides safe haven for people from another country who have been in danger, it allows them to stay there under its official protection. [AM ] □ He tried to rescue his ship after being refused safe haven in a Spanish port.


3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A safe haven is a place, a situation, or an activity which provides people with an opportunity to escape from things that they find unpleasant or worrying. □ [+ from ] …the idea of the family as a safe haven from the brutal outside world.

sa fe house (safe houses ) also safe-house N‑COUNT You can refer to a building as a safe house when it is used as a place where someone can stay and be protected. Safe houses are often used by spies, criminals, or the police. □ [+ for ] …a farm which operates as a safe house for criminals on the run.

safe|keeping /se I fkiː p I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu for N ] If something is given to you for safekeeping , it is given to you so that you will make sure that it is not harmed or stolen. □ Hampton had been given the bills for safekeeping by a business partner.

safe|ly /se I fli/


1 ADV [usu ADV with v] If something is done safely , it is done in a way that makes it unlikely that anyone will be harmed. □ The waste is safely locked away until it is no longer radioactive. □ 'Drive safely,' he said and waved goodbye.


2 ADV [usu ADV with v] You also use safely to say that there is no risk of a situation being changed. □ Once events are safely in the past, this idea seems to become less alarming.


3 → see also safe

sa fe pa s|sage N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If someone is given safe passage , they are allowed to go somewhere safely, without being attacked or arrested. □ [+ from/to ] They were unwilling, or unable, to guarantee safe passage from the city to the aircraft.

sa fe sea t (safe seats ) N‑COUNT In politics, a safe seat is an area in which the candidate from one particular party nearly always wins by a large number of votes. [BRIT ] □ The constituency I live in is a safe Labour seat.

sa fe se x also safer sex N‑UNCOUNT Safe sex is sexual activity in which people protect themselves against the risk of AIDS and other diseases, usually by using condoms.

safe|ty ◆◆◇ /se I fti/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Safety is the state of being safe from harm or danger. □ The report goes on to make a number of recommendations to improve safety on aircraft.


2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft prep N ] If you reach safety , you reach a place where you are safe from danger. □ He stumbled through smoke and fumes given off from her burning sofa to pull her to safety. □ Guests ran for safety as the device went off in a ground-floor men's toilet. □ The refugees were groping their way through the dark, trying to reach safety. □ [+ of ] …the safety of one's own home.


3 N‑SING [with poss] If you are concerned about the safety of something, you are concerned that it might be harmful or dangerous. □ [+ of ] …consumers are showing growing concern about the safety of the food they buy.


4 N‑SING [with poss] If you are concerned for someone's safety , you are concerned that they might be in danger. □ The two youths today declined to testify because they said they feared for their safety.


5 ADJ [ADJ n] Safety features or measures are intended to make something less dangerous. □ The built-in safety device compensates for a fall in water pressure.


6 PHRASE If you say that there is safety in numbers , you mean that you are safer doing something if there are a lot of people doing it rather than doing it alone. □ Many people still feel there is safety in numbers when belonging to a union.

sa fe|ty belt (safety belts ) also safety-belt N‑COUNT A safety belt is a strap attached to a seat in a car or aeroplane. You fasten it round your body and it stops you being thrown forward if there is an accident.

sa fe|ty catch (safety catches ) N‑COUNT The safety catch on a gun is a device that stops you firing the gun accidentally. □ Eddie slipped the safety catch on his automatic back into place.

sa fe|ty glass N‑UNCOUNT Safety glass is very strong glass that does not break into sharp pieces if it is hit.

sa fe|ty net (safety nets )


1 N‑COUNT A safety net is something that you can rely on to help you if you get into a difficult situation. □ [+ for ] Welfare is the only real safety net for low-income workers.


2 N‑COUNT In a circus, a safety net is a large net that is placed below performers on a high wire or trapeze in order to catch them and prevent them being injured if they fall off.

sa fe|ty of|fic|er (safety officers ) N‑COUNT The safety officer in a company or an organization is the person who is responsible for the safety of the people who work or visit there.

sa fe|ty pin (safety pins ) N‑COUNT A safety pin is a bent metal pin used for fastening things together. The point of the pin has a cover so that when the pin is closed it cannot hurt anyone. □ …trousers which were held together with safety pins.

sa fe|ty valve (safety valves )


1 N‑COUNT A safety valve is a device which allows liquids or gases to escape from a machine when the pressure inside it becomes too great. □ Residents heard an enormous bang as a safety valve on the boiler failed.


2 N‑COUNT A safety valve is something that allows you to release strong feelings without hurting yourself or others. □ …crying is a natural safety valve.

sa fe|ty zone (safety zones ) also safety island N‑COUNT A safety zone is a place in the middle of a road crossing where you can wait before you cross the other half of the road. [AM ]

saf|fron /sæ frɒn/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Saffron is a yellowish-orange powder obtained from a flower and used to give flavour and colouring to some foods. □ …saffron rice.


2 COLOUR Saffron is a yellowish-orange colour. □ …a Buddhist in saffron robes.

sag /sæ g/ (sags , sagging , sagged )


1 VERB When something sags , it hangs down loosely or sinks downwards in the middle. □ [V ] The shirt's cuffs won't sag and lose their shape after washing. □ [V -ing] He sat down in the sagging armchair.


2 VERB When part of someone's body begins to sag , it starts to become less firm and hang down. □ [V ] He is heavily built, but beginning to sag.


3 VERB To sag means to become weaker. □ [V ] The pound continued to sag despite four interventions by the Bank of England.

saga /sɑː gə/ (sagas )


1 N‑COUNT A saga is a long story, account, or sequence of events. □ …a 600-page saga about 18th-century slavery. □ [+ of ] …the continuing saga of unexpected failures by leading companies.


2 N‑COUNT A saga is a long story composed in medieval times in Norway or Iceland. □ [+ of ] …a Nordic saga of giants and trolls.

sa|ga|cious /səge I ʃəs/ ADJ A sagacious person is intelligent and has the ability to make good decisions. [FORMAL ] □ …a sagacious leader.

sa|gac|ity /səgæ s I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Sagacity is the quality of being sagacious. [FORMAL ] □ …a man of great sagacity and immense experience.

sage /se I dʒ/ (sages )


1 N‑COUNT A sage is a person who is regarded as being very wise. [LITERARY ] □ …ancient Chinese sages.


2 ADJ Sage means wise and knowledgeable, especially as the result of a lot of experience. [LITERARY ] □ He was famous for his sage advice to younger painters. ● sage|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Susan nodded sagely as if what I had said was profoundly significant.


3 N‑UNCOUNT Sage is a herb used in cooking.


4 N‑VAR Sage is a plant with grey-green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers.

sag|gy /sæ gi/ (saggier , saggiest ) ADJ If you describe something as saggy , you mean that it has become less firm over a period of time and become unattractive. □ Is the mattress lumpy and saggy?

Sag|it|ta|rius /sædʒ I teə riəs/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sagittarius is one of the twelve signs of the zodiac. Its symbol is a creature that is half horse, half man, shooting an arrow. People who are born approximately between the 22nd of November and the 21st of December come under this sign.


2 N‑SING A Sagittarius is a person whose sign of the zodiac is Sagittarius.

sago /se I goʊ/ N‑UNCOUNT Sago is a white substance obtained from the trunk of some palm trees. Sago is used for making sweet puddings.

sa|hib /sɑː b, sɑː h I b/ (sahibs ) N‑TITLE ; N‑COUNT Sahib is a term used by some people in India to address or to refer to a man in a position of authority. Sahib was used especially of white government officials in the period of British rule. [POLITENESS ]

said /se d/ Said is the past tense and past participle of say .

sail ◆◇◇ /se I l/ (sails , sailing , sailed )


1 N‑COUNT Sails are large pieces of material attached to the mast of a ship. The wind blows against the sails and pushes the ship along. □ The white sails billow with the breezes they catch.


2 VERB You say a ship sails when it moves over the sea. □ [V prep/adv] The trawler had sailed from the port of Zeebrugge.


3 VERB If you sail a boat or if a boat sails , it moves across water using its sails. □ [V n prep] I shall get myself a little boat and sail her around the world. □ [V adv/prep] For nearly two hundred miles she sailed on, her sails hard with ice.


4 VERB If a person or thing sails somewhere, they move there smoothly and fairly quickly. □ [V prep/adv] We got into the lift and sailed to the top floor.


5 → see also sailing


6 PHRASE When a ship sets sail , it leaves a port. □ [+ for ] Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World in the Santa Maria.


7 to sail close to the wind → see wind ➊


▸ sail through PHRASAL VERB If someone or something sails through a difficult situation or experience, they deal with it easily and successfully. □ [V P n] While she sailed through her maths exams, he struggled. [Also V P ]

sail|boat /se I lboʊt/ (sailboats ) N‑COUNT A sailboat is the same as a sailing boat . [mainly AM ]

sail|cloth /se I lklɒθ, [AM ] -klɔːθ/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sailcloth is a strong heavy cloth that is used for making things such as sails or tents. □ The mainsails are hand-cut and sewn from real sailcloth.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Sailcloth is a light canvas material that is used for making clothes. □ …red sailcloth trousers.

sail|ing /se I l I ŋ/ (sailings )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sailing is the activity or sport of sailing boats. □ There was swimming and sailing down on the lake.


2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Sailings are trips made by a ship carrying passengers. □ Ferry companies are providing extra sailings from Calais.


3 PHRASE If you say that a task was not all plain sailing , you mean that it was not very easy. □ Pregnancy wasn't all plain sailing and once again there were problems.

sai l|ing boat (sailing boats ) also sailing-boat N‑COUNT A sailing boat is a boat with sails. [BRIT ] in AM, use sailboat

sai l|ing ship (sailing ships ) N‑COUNT A sailing ship is a large ship with sails, especially of the kind that was used to carry passengers or cargo. □ American clippers were the ultimate sailing ships.

sail|or /se I lə r / (sailors ) N‑COUNT A sailor is someone who works on a ship or sails a boat.

saint ◆◇◇ /se I nt/ (saints ) The title is usually pronounced /sənt/. 1 N‑COUNT ; N‑TITLE A saint is someone who has died and been officially recognized and honoured by the Christian church because his or her life was a perfect example of the way Christians should live. □ Every parish was named after a saint. □ …Saint John.


2 N‑COUNT If you refer to a living person as a saint , you mean that they are extremely kind, patient, and unselfish. [APPROVAL ] □ My girlfriend is a saint to put up with me.

saint|hood /se I nthʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Sainthood is the state of being a saint. □ His elevation to sainthood is entirely justified.

saint|ly /se I ntli/ ADJ A saintly person behaves in a very good or very holy way. [APPROVAL ] □ She has been saintly in her self-restraint.

sake ◆◇◇ /se I k/ (sakes )


1 PHRASE If you do something for the sake of something, you do it for that purpose or in order to achieve that result. You can also say that you do it for something's sake . □ For the sake of historical accuracy, please permit us to state the true facts. □ For safety's sake, never stand directly behind a horse.


2 PHRASE If you do something for its own sake , you do it because you want to, or because you enjoy it, and not for any other reason. You can also talk about, for example, art for art's sake or sport for sport's sake . □ Economic change for its own sake did not appeal to him.


3 PHRASE When you do something for someone's sake , you do it in order to help them or make them happy. □ I trust you to do a good job for Stan's sake. □ Linda knew that for both their sakes she must take drastic action.


4 PHRASE Some people use expressions such as for God's sake , for heaven's sake , for goodness sake , or for Pete's sake in order to express annoyance or impatience, or to add force to a question or request. The expressions 'for God's sake' and 'for Christ's sake' could cause offence. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ For goodness sake, why didn't you ring me?

saké /sɑː ki, -ke I / also sake N‑UNCOUNT Saké is a Japanese alcoholic drink that is made from rice.

sa|laam /səlɑː m/ (salaams , salaaming , salaamed )


1 VERB When someone salaams , they bow with their right hand on their forehead. This is used as a formal and respectful way of greeting someone in India and Muslim countries. □ [V ] He looked from one to the other of them, then salaamed and left.


2 CONVENTION Some Muslims greet people by saying ' Salaam '.

sa|la|cious /səle I ʃəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something such as a book or joke as salacious , you think that it deals with sexual matters in an unnecessarily detailed way. □ The newspapers once again filled their columns with salacious details.

sal|ad /sæ ləd/ (salads )


1 N‑VAR A salad is a mixture of raw or cold foods such as lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes. It is often served with other food as part of a meal. □ [+ of ] …a salad of tomato, onion and cucumber. □ …potato salad.


2 → see also fruit salad


3 PHRASE If you refer to your salad days , you are referring to a period of your life when you were young and inexperienced. [LITERARY ] □ The Grand Hotel did not seem to have changed since her salad days.

sa l|ad bowl (salad bowls ) N‑COUNT A salad bowl is a large bowl from which salad is served at a meal.

sa l|ad cream (salad creams ) N‑VAR Salad cream is a pale-yellow creamy sauce that you eat with salad.

sa l|ad dre ss|ing (salad dressings ) N‑VAR Salad dressing is a mixture of oil, vinegar, herbs, and other flavourings, which you pour over a salad. □ …low-calorie salad dressings.

sala|man|der /sæ ləmændə r / (salamanders ) N‑COUNT A salamander is an animal that looks rather like a lizard, and that can live both on land and in water.

sa|la|mi /səlɑː mi/ (salamis ) N‑VAR Salami is a type of strong-flavoured sausage. It is usually thinly sliced and eaten cold.

sala|ried /sæ lərid/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Salaried people receive a salary from their job. □ …salaried employees. □ James accepted the generously salaried job at the bank.

sala|ry ◆◇◇ /sæ ləri/ (salaries ) N‑VAR A salary is the money that someone is paid each month by their employer, especially when they are in a profession such as teaching, law, or medicine. □ …the lawyer was paid a huge salary. □ The government has decided to increase salaries for all civil servants. COLLOCATIONS salary NOUN


noun + salary : base; executive, graduate


adjective + salary : annual, average, basic, monthly; final, starting; competitive, decent, six-figure, top


verb + salary : draw, earn, receive; increase, negotiate, pay SYNONYMS salary NOUN


pay: …their complaints about their pay and conditions.


income: Many families on low incomes will be unable to afford to buy their own home.


wage: His wages have gone up.


earnings: Average weekly earnings rose by 1.5% in July.

sale ◆◆◆ /se I l/ (sales )


1 N‑SING The sale of goods is the act of selling them for money. □ [+ of ] Efforts were made to limit the sale of sugary drinks. □ [+ to ] …a proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia.


2 N‑PLURAL The sales of a product are the quantity of it that is sold. □ [+ of ] The newspaper has sales of 1.72 million. □ …retail sales figures.


3 N‑PLURAL The part of a company that deals with sales deals with selling the company's products. □ Until 1983 he worked in sales and marketing.


4 N‑COUNT A sale is an occasion when a shop sells things at less than their normal price. □ …a pair of jeans bought half-price in a sale.


5 N‑COUNT A sale is an event when goods are sold to the person who offers the highest price. □ The painting was bought by dealers at the Christie's sale.


6 → see also car boot sale , jumble sale


7 PHRASE If something is for sale , it is being offered to people to buy. □ [+ at ] His former home is for sale at £495,000.


8 PHRASE Products that are on sale can be bought in shops. [mainly BRIT ] □ English textbooks and dictionaries are on sale everywhere.


9 PHRASE If products in a shop are on sale , they can be bought for less than their normal price. [AM ] □ He bought a sports jacket on sale at the store.


10 PHRASE If a property or company is up for sale , its owner is trying to sell it. □ The castle has been put up for sale.

sale|able /se I ləb ə l/ also salable ADJ Something that is saleable is easy to sell to people. □ The Oxfam shops depend on regular supplies of saleable items.

sale|room /se I lruːm/ (salerooms ) N‑COUNT A saleroom is a place where things are sold by auction. [BRIT ] in AM, use salesroom

sa les clerk (sales clerks ) also salesclerk N‑COUNT A sales clerk is a person who works in a shop selling things to customers and helping them to find what they want. [AM ] in BRIT, use shop assistant

sa les force (sales forces ) also salesforce N‑COUNT A company's sales force is all the people that work for that company selling its products.

sales|girl /se I lzgɜː r l/ (salesgirls ) N‑COUNT A salesgirl is a young woman who sells things, especially in a shop. Many women prefer to be called a saleswoman or a salesperson rather than a salesgirl.

sales|man /se I lzmən/ (salesmen ) N‑COUNT A salesman is a man whose job is to sell things, especially directly to shops or other businesses on behalf of a company. □ …an insurance salesman.

sales|man|ship /se I lzmənʃ I p/ N‑UNCOUNT Salesmanship is the skill of persuading people to buy things. □ I was captured by his brilliant salesmanship.

sales|person /se I lzpɜː r s ə n/ (salespeople or salespersons ) N‑COUNT A salesperson is a person who sells things, either in a shop or directly to customers on behalf of a company.

sa les pitch (sales pitches ) N‑COUNT A salesperson's sales pitch is what they say in order to persuade someone to buy something from them. □ His sales pitch was smooth and convincing.

sales|room /se I lzruːm/ (salesrooms ) N‑COUNT A salesroom is a place where things are sold by auction. [AM ] in BRIT, use saleroom

sa les slip (sales slips ) N‑COUNT A sales slip is a piece of paper that you are given when you buy something in a shop, which shows when you bought it and how much you paid. [AM ] in BRIT, use receipt

sa les tax (sales taxes ) N‑VAR The sales tax on things that you buy is the amount of money that you pay to the national government, or, in the United States, to the local or state government.

sales|wom|an /se I lzwʊmən/ (saleswomen ) N‑COUNT A saleswoman is a woman who sells things, either in a shop or directly to customers on behalf of a company.

sa|li|ent /se I liənt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] The salient points or facts of a situation are the most important ones. [FORMAL ] □ He read the salient facts quickly.

sa|line /se I la I n, [AM ] -liːn/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A saline substance or liquid contains salt. □ …a saline solution.

sa|li|va /səla I və/ N‑UNCOUNT Saliva is the watery liquid that forms in your mouth and helps you to chew and digest food.

sali|vary gland /səla I vəri glænd, [AM ] sæ l I veri -/ (salivary glands ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your salivary glands are the glands that produce saliva in your mouth.

sali|vate /sæ l I ve I t/ (salivates , salivating , salivated ) VERB When people or animals salivate , they produce a lot of saliva in their mouth, often as a result of seeing or smelling food. □ [V ] Any dog will salivate when presented with food.

sal|low /sæ loʊ/ ADJ If a person has sallow skin, their skin, especially on their face, is a pale-yellowish colour and looks unhealthy. □ She had lank hair and sallow skin.

sal|ly /sæ li/ (sallies , sallying , sallied )


1 N‑COUNT Sallies are clever and amusing remarks. [LITERARY ] □ He had thus far succeeded in fending off my conversational sallies.


2 VERB If someone sallies forth or sallies somewhere, they go out into a rather difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation in a brave or confident way. [LITERARY ] □ [V prep/adv] …worrying about her when she sallies forth on her first date. □ [V prep/adv] Tamara would sally out on bitterly cold nights. ● N‑COUNT Sally is also a noun. □ …their first sallies outside the student world.

salm|on /sæ mən/ (salmon ) N‑COUNT A salmon is a large silver-coloured fish. ● N‑UNCOUNT Salmon is the pink flesh of this fish which is eaten as food. It is often smoked and eaten raw. □ … a splendid lunch of smoked salmon.

sal|mo|nel|la /sæ lməne lə/ N‑UNCOUNT Salmonella is a disease caused by bacteria in food. You can also refer to the bacteria itself as salmonella . □ …salmonella poisoning.

sa lm|on pi nk COLOUR Something that is salmon pink or salmon is the orangey-pink colour of a salmon's flesh.

sa|lon /sæ lɒn, [AM ] səlɑː n/ (salons )


1 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A salon is a place where people have their hair cut or coloured, or have beauty treatments. □ …a new hair salon. □ …a beauty salon.


2 N‑COUNT A salon is a shop where smart, expensive clothes are sold.


3 N‑COUNT A salon is a sitting room in a large, grand house.

sa|loon /səluː n/ (saloons )


1 N‑COUNT A saloon or a saloon car is a car with seats for four or more people, a fixed roof, and a boot that is separated from the rear seats. [BRIT ] in AM, use sedan 2 N‑COUNT A saloon is a place where alcoholic drinks are sold and drunk. [AM ]

sal|sa /sæ lsə, [AM ] sɑː lsə/ (salsas )


1 N‑VAR Salsa is a hot, spicy sauce made from onions and tomatoes, usually eaten with Mexican or Spanish food.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Salsa is a type of dance music especially popular in Latin America. □ A band played salsa, and spectators danced wildly.

salt ◆◇◇ /sɔː lt/ (salts , salting , salted )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Salt is a strong-tasting substance, in the form of white powder or crystals, which is used to improve the flavour of food or to preserve it. Salt occurs naturally in sea water. □ Season lightly with salt and pepper. □ …a pinch of salt.


2 VERB When you salt food, you add salt to it. □ [V n] Salt the stock to your taste and leave it simmering very gently. ● salt|ed ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ Put a pan of salted water on to boil.


3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Salts are substances that are formed when an acid reacts with an alkali. □ The rock is rich in mineral salts.


4 → see also Epsom salts , smelling salts


5 PHRASE If you take something with a pinch of salt , you do not believe that it is completely accurate or true. □ The more miraculous parts of this account should be taken with a pinch of salt.


6 PHRASE If you say, for example, that any doctor worth his or her salt would do something, you mean that any doctor who was good at his or her job or who deserved respect would do it. □ Any coach worth his salt would do exactly as I did.


7 PHRASE If someone or something rubs salt into the wound , they make the unpleasant situation that you are in even worse, often by reminding you of your failures or faults. □ To rub salt in the wounds, the bankers got big bonuses as the rest of us struggled to make ends meet.

sa lt cel|lar (salt cellars ) N‑COUNT A salt cellar is a small container for salt with a hole or holes in the top for shaking salt onto food. [BRIT ] in AM, use salt shaker

sa lt|ed ca ra|mel (salted caramels ) N‑VAR Salted caramel is a soft sweet food made from heated sugar and butter or cream, with salt added as a flavouring. □ He makes shortbread topped with salted caramel. □ …chocolate soufflé with salted caramel sauce. □ …a box of salted caramels.

salt|ine /sɔːltiː n/ (saltines ) N‑COUNT A saltine is a thin square biscuit with salt baked into its surface. [AM ]

sa lt marsh (salt marshes ) N‑VAR A salt marsh is an area of flat, wet ground which is sometimes covered by salt water or contains areas of salt water.

sa lt shak|er (salt shakers ) N‑COUNT A salt shaker is the same as a salt cellar . [mainly AM ]

sa lt wa |ter also saltwater N‑UNCOUNT Salt water is water from the sea, which has salt in it.

salty /sɔː lti/ (saltier , saltiest ) ADJ Something that is salty contains salt or tastes of salt. □ …a cool salty sea breeze. ● salti|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The saltiness of the cheese is balanced by the sweetness of the red peppers.

sa|lu|bri|ous /səluː briəs/


1 ADJ A place that is salubrious is pleasant and healthy. [FORMAL ] □ …your salubrious lochside hotel.


2 ADJ Something that is described as salubrious is respectable or socially desirable. [FORMAL ] □ …London's less salubrious quarters.

salu|tary /sæ ljʊtəri, [AM ] -teri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A salutary experience is good for you, even though it may seem difficult or unpleasant at first. [FORMAL ] □ It was a salutary experience to be in the minority.

salu|ta|tion /sæ ljʊte I ʃ ə n/ (salutations ) N‑COUNT [oft in/of N ] Salutation or a salutation is a greeting to someone. [FORMAL ] □ Jackson nodded a salutation. □ The old man moved away, raising his hand in salutation.

sa|lute /səluː t/ (salutes , saluting , saluted )


1 VERB If you salute someone, you greet them or show your respect with a formal sign. Soldiers usually salute officers by raising their right hand so that their fingers touch their forehead. □ [V n] One of the company stepped out and saluted the General. □ [V ] I stood to attention and saluted. ● N‑COUNT [oft in N ] Salute is also a noun. □ The soldier gave the clenched-fist salute. □ He raised his hand in salute.


2 VERB To salute a person or their achievements means to publicly show or state your admiration for them. □ [V n] I salute him for the leadership role that he is taking.

sal|vage /sæ lv I dʒ/ (salvages , salvaging , salvaged )


1 VERB [usu passive] If something is salvaged , someone manages to save it, for example from a ship that has sunk, or from a building that has been damaged. □ [be V -ed] The team's first task was to decide what equipment could be salvaged. □ [V -ed] The investigators studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage.


2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Salvage is the act of salvaging things from somewhere such as a damaged ship or building. □ The salvage operation went on. □ …the cost of salvage.


3 N‑UNCOUNT The salvage from somewhere such as a damaged ship or building is the things that are saved from it. □ They climbed up on the rock with their salvage.


4 VERB If you manage to salvage a difficult situation, you manage to get something useful from it so that it is not a complete failure. □ [V n] Officials tried to salvage the situation.


5 VERB If you salvage something such as your pride or your reputation, you manage to keep it even though it seems likely you will lose it, or you get it back after losing it. □ [V n] We definitely wanted to salvage some pride for British tennis.

sal|va|tion /sælve I ʃ ə n/


1 N‑UNCOUNT In Christianity, salvation is the fact that Christ has saved a person from evil. □ The church's message of salvation has changed the lives of many.


2 N‑UNCOUNT The salvation of someone or something is the act of saving them from harm, destruction, or an unpleasant situation. □ It became clear that the situation was beyond salvation.


3 N‑SING [with poss] If someone or something is your salvation , they are responsible for saving you from harm, destruction, or an unpleasant situation. □ The country's salvation lies in forcing through democratic reforms.

Sal|va |tion A rmy N‑PROPER [oft N n] The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that aims to spread Christianity and care for the poor. Its members wear military-style uniforms. □ …a Salvation Army hostel.

salve /sæ lv, [AM ] sæ v/ (salves , salving , salved )


1 VERB If you do something to salve your conscience, you do it in order to feel less guilty. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] I give myself treats and justify them to salve my conscience.


2 N‑VAR Salve is an oily substance that is put on sore skin or a wound to help it heal. □ …a soothing salve for sore, dry lips.

sal|ver /sæ lvə r / (salvers ) N‑COUNT A salver is a flat object, usually made of silver, on which things are carried. □ …silver salvers laden with flutes of champagne.

sal|vo /sæ lvoʊ/ (salvoes )


1 N‑COUNT A salvo is the firing of several guns or missiles at the same time in a battle or ceremony. □ [+ of ] They were to fire a salvo of blanks, after the national anthem.


2 N‑COUNT A salvo of angry words is a lot of them spoken or written at about the same time. □ [+ of ] His testimony, however, was only one in a salvo of new attacks.

Sa|mari|tan /səmæ r I tən/ (Samaritans ) N‑COUNT You refer to someone as a Samaritan if they help you when you are in difficulty. □ A good Samaritan offered us a room in his house.

sam|ba /sæ mbə/ (sambas ) N‑COUNT A samba is a lively Brazilian dance.

same ◆◆◆ /se I m/


1 ADJ [the ADJ ] If two or more things, actions, or qualities are the same , or if one is the same as another, they are very like each other in some way. □ In essence, all computers are the same. □ People with the same experience in the job should be paid the same. □ Driving a boat is not the same as driving a car. □ I want my son to wear the same clothes as everyone else at the school.


2 PHRASE If something is happening the same as something else, the two things are happening in a way that is similar or exactly the same. □ I mean, it's a relationship, the same as a marriage is a relationship. □ He just wanted the war to end, the same as Wally did.


3 ADJ [the ADJ , oft ADJ n as n] You use same to indicate that you are referring to only one place, time, or thing, and not to different ones. □ Bernard works at the same institution as Arlette. □ It's impossible to get everybody together at the same time. □ John just told me that your birthday is on the same day as mine.


4 ADJ [the ADJ ] Something that is still the same has not changed in any way. □ It has been rare for the environment to stay the same for very long. □ Only 17% said the economy would improve, but 25% believed it would stay the same.


5 PRON You use the same to refer to something that has previously been mentioned or suggested. □ We made the decision which was right for us. Other parents must do the same. □ We like him very much and he says the same about us. ● ADJ [the ADJ ] Same is also an adjective. □ Tom Wood is a player I admire because he is so honest, and Chris Robshaw has that same quality.


6 CONVENTION You say ' same here ' in order to suggest that you feel the same way about something as the person who has just spoken to you, or that you have done the same thing. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , FORMULAE ] □ 'Nice to meet you,' said Michael. 'Same here,' said Mary Ann.


7 CONVENTION You say ' same to you ' in response to someone who wishes you well with something. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , FORMULAE ] □ 'Have a nice Easter.'—'And the same to you Bridie.'


8 PHRASE You say ' same again ' when you want to order another drink of the same kind as the one you have just had. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ Give Roger another pint, Imogen, and I'll have the same again.


9 PHRASE You can say all the same or just the same to introduce a statement which indicates that a situation or your opinion has not changed, in spite of what has happened or what has just been said. □ …jokes that she did not understand but laughed at just the same.


10 PHRASE If you say ' It's all the same to me ', you mean that you do not care which of several things happens or is chosen. [mainly SPOKEN ] □ Whether I've got a moustache or not; it's all the same to me.


11 PHRASE When two or more people or things are thought to be separate and you say that they are one and the same , you mean that they are in fact one single person or thing. □ Luckily, Nancy's father and her attorney were one and the same person. □ I'm willing to work for the party because its interests and my interests are one and the same.


12 at the same time → see time USAGE same


Don’t use 'like' after the same . Don’t say, for example, ‘ He was not the same like the other boys ’. You can put a noun between the same and as . You can say, for example, ‘She goes to the same school as her sister’. □ Her dress was the same colour as her eyes.

same|ness /se I mnəs/ N‑UNCOUNT The sameness of something is its lack of variety. □ [+ of ] He grew bored by the sameness of the speeches.

sa me-se x ADJ [usu ADJ n] Same-sex people are the same sex as each other, or the same sex as a particular person. □ …women's same-sex friends.

samey /se I mi/ ADJ If you describe a set of things as samey , you mean that they are all very similar, and it would be more interesting if they were different from each other. □ He has written a batch of very samey tunes.

Sami /sæ mi/ (Sami ) N‑COUNT A Sami is a member of a people living mainly in northern Scandinavia. □ The Sami have strong views on environmental matters.

sa|miz|dat /sæ m I zdæt, [AM ] sɑː m-/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Samizdat referred to a system in the former USSR and Eastern Europe by which books and magazines forbidden by the state were illegally printed by groups who opposed the state. [FORMAL ] □ …a publisher specialising in samizdat literature.

sa|mo|sa /səmoʊ sə/ (samosas ) N‑COUNT A samosa is an Indian food consisting of vegetables, spices, and sometimes meat, wrapped in pastry and fried.

samo|var /sæ məvɑː r / (samovars ) N‑COUNT A samovar is a large decorated container for heating water, traditionally used in Russia for making tea.

sam|ple ◆◇◇ /sɑː mp ə l, sæ m-/ (samples , sampling , sampled )


1 N‑COUNT A sample of a substance or product is a small quantity of it that shows you what it is like. □ [+ of ] You'll receive samples of paint, curtains and upholstery. □ We're giving away 2000 free samples. □ They asked me to do some sample drawings.


2 N‑COUNT A sample of a substance is a small amount of it that is examined and analysed scientifically. □ [+ of ] They took samples of my blood. □ …urine samples.


3 N‑COUNT A sample of people or things is a number of them chosen out of a larger group and then used in tests or used to provide information about the whole group. □ [+ of ] We based our analysis on a random sample of more than 200 males.


4 VERB If you sample food or drink, you taste a small amount of it in order to find out if you like it. □ [V n] We sampled a selection of different bottled waters.


5 VERB If you sample a place or situation, you experience it for a short time in order to find out about it. □ [V n] …the chance to sample a different way of life. COLLOCATIONS sample NOUN


2


noun + sample : blood, DNA, saliva, urine; soil


verb + sample : collect, obtain, take; analyse, test; provide


3


adjective + sample : random, representative, small, statistical


verb + sample : analyse, interview, study SYNONYMS sample NOUN 1


specimen: Job applicants have to submit a specimen of handwriting.


example: The plaque illustrated in Figure 1 is an example of his work at this time.


model: …a working scale model of the whole Bay Area.

sam|pler /sɑː mplə r , sæ m-/ (samplers )


1 N‑COUNT A sampler is a piece of cloth with words and patterns sewn on it, which is intended to show the skill of the person who made it.


2 N‑COUNT A sampler is a piece of equipment that is used for copying a piece of music and using it to make a new piece of music.

samu|rai /sæ mjʊra I , [AM ] -mʊr-/ (samurai ) N‑COUNT In former times, a samurai was a member of a powerful class of fighters in Japan.

sana|to|rium /sæ nətɔː riəm/ (sanatoriums or sanatoria /sæ nətɔː riə/) in AM, also use sanitarium N‑COUNT A sanatorium is an institution that provides medical treatment and rest, often in a healthy climate, for people who have been ill for a long time.

sanc|ti|fy /sæ ŋkt I fa I / (sanctifies , sanctifying , sanctified ) VERB [usu passive] If something is sanctified by a priest or other holy person, the priest or holy person officially approves of it, or declares it to be holy. □ [be V -ed] She is trying to make amends for her marriage not being sanctified.

sanc|ti|mo|ni|ous /sæ ŋkt I moʊ niəs/ ADJ If you say that someone is sanctimonious , you disapprove of them because you think that they are trying to appear morally better than other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He writes smug, sanctimonious rubbish.

sanc|tion ◆◆◇ /sæ ŋkʃ ə n/ (sanctions , sanctioning , sanctioned )


1 VERB If someone in authority sanctions an action or practice, they officially approve of it and allow it to be done. □ [V n] He may now be ready to sanction the use of force. ● N‑UNCOUNT Sanction is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The king could not enact laws without the sanction of Parliament.


2 N‑PLURAL Sanctions are measures taken by countries to restrict trade and official contact with a country that has broken international law. □ [+ against/on ] The continued abuse of human rights has now led the United States to impose sanctions against the regime.


3 N‑COUNT A sanction is a severe course of action which is intended to make people obey instructions, customs, or laws. □ As an ultimate sanction, they can sell their shares.


4 VERB If a country or an authority sanctions another country or a person for doing something, it declares that the country or person is guilty of doing it and imposes sanctions on them. □ [V n] …their failure to sanction the country for butchering whales in violation of international conservation treaties. SYNONYMS sanction VERB 1


permit: He can let the court's decision stand and permit the execution.


allow: Smoking will not be allowed.


back: The Prime Minister is backed by the civic movement, Public Against Violence.


support: The vice president insisted that he supported the hard-working people of New York. NOUN 2


ban: The General also lifted a ban on political parties.


restriction: The relaxation of travel restrictions means they are free to travel and work.


boycott: Opposition leaders had called for a boycott of the vote.


embargo: He has called on the government to lift its trade embargo.

sanc|tity /sæ ŋkt I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If you talk about the sanctity of something, you mean that it is very important and must be treated with respect. □ [+ of ] …the sanctity of human life.

sanc|tu|ary /sæ ŋktʃuəri, [AM ] -tʃueri/ (sanctuaries )


1 N‑COUNT A sanctuary is a place where people who are in danger from other people can go to be safe. □ [+ for ] His church became a sanctuary for thousands of people who fled the civil war.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Sanctuary is the safety provided in a sanctuary. □ Some of them have sought sanctuary in the church.


3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A sanctuary is a place where birds or animals are protected and allowed to live freely. □ …a bird sanctuary. □ …a wildlife sanctuary.

sanc|tum /sæ ŋtəm/ (sanctums )


1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you refer to someone's inner sanctum , you mean a room which is private and sometimes secret, where they can be quiet and alone. □ His bedroom's his inner sanctum.


2 N‑COUNT A sanctum is the holiest place inside a holy building such as a temple or mosque.

sand ◆◇◇ /sæ nd/ (sands , sanding , sanded )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sand is a substance that looks like powder, and consists of extremely small pieces of stone. Some deserts and many beaches are made up of sand. □ They all walked barefoot across the damp sand to the water's edge. □ …grains of sand.


2 N‑PLURAL Sands are a large area of sand, for example a beach. □ …miles of golden sands.


3 VERB If you sand a wood or metal surface, you rub sandpaper over it in order to make it smooth or clean. □ [V n] Sand the surface softly and carefully. ● PHRASAL VERB Sand down means the same as sand . □ [V P n] I was going to sand down the chairs and repaint them. □ [V n P ] Simply sand them down with a fine grade of sandpaper.

san|dal /sæ nd ə l/ (sandals ) N‑COUNT Sandals are light shoes that you wear in warm weather, which have straps instead of a solid part over the top of your foot.

sandal|wood /sæ nd ə lwʊd/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Sandalwood is the sweet-smelling wood of a tree that is found in South Asia and Australia. It is also the name of the tree itself.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Sandalwood is the oil extracted from the wood of the tree. It is used to make perfume.

sand|bag /sæ ndbæg/ (sandbags , sandbagging , sandbagged )


1 N‑COUNT A sandbag is a cloth bag filled with sand. Sandbags are usually used to build walls for protection against floods or explosions.


2 VERB To sandbag something means to protect or strengthen it using sandbags. □ [V n] They sandbagged their homes to keep out floods.

sand|bank /sæ ndbæŋk/ (sandbanks ) N‑COUNT A sandbank is a bank of sand below the surface of the sea or a river. □ The ship hit a sandbank.

sand|bar /sæ ndbɑː r / (sandbars ) also sand bar N‑COUNT A sandbar is a sandbank which is found especially at the mouth of a river or harbour.

sand|box /sæ ndbɒks/ (sandboxes ) N‑COUNT A sandbox is the same as a sandpit . [AM ]

sa nd cas|tle (sand castles ) N‑COUNT A sand castle is a pile of sand, usually shaped like a castle, which children make when they are playing on the beach.

sa nd dune (sand dunes ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] A sand dune is a hill of sand near the sea or in a sand desert.

sand|er /sæ ndə r / (sanders ) N‑COUNT A sander is a machine for making wood or metal surfaces smoother.

S & L /e s ən e l/ (S & Ls ) N‑COUNT S & L is an abbreviation for savings and loan . [BUSINESS ]

S & M /e s ən e m/ N‑UNCOUNT S & M is an abbreviation for sado-masochism .

sand|paper /sæ ndpe I pə r / N‑UNCOUNT Sandpaper is strong paper that has a coating of sand on it. It is used for rubbing wood or metal surfaces to make them smoother.

sand|pit /sæ ndp I t/ (sandpits ) also sand-pit N‑COUNT A sandpit is a shallow hole or box in the ground with sand in it where small children can play. [BRIT ] in AM, use sandbox

sand|stone /sæ ndstoʊn/ (sandstones ) N‑VAR Sandstone is a type of rock which contains a lot of sand. It is often used for building houses and walls. □ …sandstone cliffs.

sand|storm /sæ ndstɔː r m/ (sandstorms ) N‑COUNT A sandstorm is a strong wind in a desert area, which carries sand through the air.

sand|wich /sæ nw I dʒ, -w I tʃ/ (sandwiches , sandwiching , sandwiched )


1 N‑COUNT A sandwich usually consists of two slices of bread with a layer of food such as cheese or meat between them. □ …a ham sandwich.


2 VERB If you sandwich two things together with something else, you put that other thing between them. If you sandwich one thing between two other things, you put it between them. □ [V n together ] Sandwich the two halves of the sponge together with cream.


3 → see also sandwiched WORD HISTORY sandwich


This popular snack takes its name from John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich in the 18th century. A keen card player, he used to ask for beef served between two slices of bread, the idea being that he wouldn't get grease on the cards from his hands. His fellow players then began asking for 'the same as Sandwich', which gradually became, simply 'a sandwich'.

sa nd|wich course (sandwich courses ) N‑COUNT A sandwich course is an educational course in which you have periods of study between periods of being at work. [BRIT ]

sand|wiched /sæ nw I dʒd, -w I tʃt/


1 ADJ If something is sandwiched between two other things, it is in a narrow space between them. □ [+ between ] The original kitchen was sandwiched between the breakfast room and the toilet.


2 → see also sandwich

sandy /sæ ndi/ (sandier , sandiest )


1 ADJ A sandy area is covered with sand. □ …long, sandy beaches.


2 ADJ Sandy hair is light orangey-brown in colour.

sane /se I n/ (saner , sanest )


1 ADJ Someone who is sane is able to think and behave normally and reasonably, and is not mentally ill. □ He seemed perfectly sane. □ It wasn't the act of a sane person.


2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you refer to a sane person, action, or system, you mean one that you think is reasonable and sensible. □ No sane person wishes to see conflict or casualties.

sang /sæ ŋ/ Sang is the past tense of sing .

sang-froid /sɒ ŋ frwɑː / also sangfroid N‑UNCOUNT A person's sang-froid is their ability to remain calm in a dangerous or difficult situation. [FORMAL ] □ He behaves throughout with a certain sang-froid.

san|gria /sæŋgriː ə/ N‑UNCOUNT Sangria is a Spanish drink made of red wine, orange or lemon juice, soda, and brandy.

san|guine /sæ ŋgw I n/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are sanguine about something, you are cheerful and confident that things will happen in the way you want them to. □ [+ about ] He's remarkably sanguine about the problems involved.

sani|ta|rium /sæ n I teə riəm/ (sanitariums ) → see sanatorium

sani|tary /sæ n I tri, [AM ] -teri/


1 ADJ [ADJ n] Sanitary means concerned with keeping things clean and healthy, especially by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply. □ Sanitary conditions are appalling.


2 ADJ If you say that a place is not sanitary , you mean that it is not very clean. □ It's not the most sanitary place one could swim.

sa ni|tary nap|kin (sanitary napkins ) N‑COUNT A sanitary napkin is the same as a sanitary towel . [AM ]

sa ni|tary pro|te c|tion N‑UNCOUNT Sanitary protection is sanitary towels or tampons.

sa ni|tary tow|el (sanitary towels ) N‑COUNT A sanitary towel is a pad of thick soft material which women wear to absorb the blood during their periods. [BRIT ] in AM, use sanitary napkin

sani|ta|tion /sæ n I te I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Sanitation is the process of keeping places clean and healthy, especially by providing a sewage system and a clean water supply. □ …the hazards of contaminated water and poor sanitation.

sani|tize /sæ n I ta I z/ (sanitizes , sanitizing , sanitized ) in BRIT, also use sanitise VERB To sanitize an activity or a situation that is unpleasant or unacceptable means to describe it in a way that makes it seem more pleasant or more acceptable. □ [V n] …crime writers who sanitise violence and make it respectable.

san|ity /sæ n I ti/


1 N‑UNCOUNT A person's sanity is their ability to think and behave normally and reasonably. □ He sold the company for $2.5 billion to preserve his sanity.


2 N‑UNCOUNT If there is sanity in a situation or activity, there is a purpose and a regular pattern, rather than confusion and worry. □ We must find ways of introducing some sanity into the currency market.

sank /sæ ŋk/ Sank is the past tense of sink .

San|skrit /sæ nskr I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Sanskrit is an ancient language which used to be spoken in India and is now used only in religious writings and ceremonies.

Santa Claus /sæ ntə klɔː z, [AM ] - klɔːz/ N‑PROPER Santa Claus or Santa is an imaginary old man with a long white beard and a red coat. Traditionally, young children in many countries are told that he brings their Christmas presents.

sap /sæ p/ (saps , sapping , sapped )


1 VERB If something saps your strength or confidence, it gradually weakens or destroys it. □ [V n] I was afraid the sickness had sapped my strength.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Sap is the watery liquid in plants and trees. □ The leaves, bark and sap are also common ingredients of local herbal remedies.

sa|pi|ens /sæ pienz/ → see homo sapiens

sap|ling /sæ pl I ŋ/ (saplings ) N‑COUNT A sapling is a young tree.

sap|per /sæ pə r / (sappers ) N‑COUNT A sapper is a soldier whose job is to do building, digging, and similar work. □ They requested sappers to mend bridges or remove mines.

sap|phire /sæ fa I ə r / (sapphires )


1 N‑VAR [oft N n] A sapphire is a precious stone which is blue in colour. □ …a sapphire engagement ring.


2 COLOUR Something that is sapphire is bright blue in colour. [LITERARY ] □ …white snow and sapphire skies.

sap|py /sæ pi/


1 ADJ Sappy stems or leaves contain a lot of liquid.


2 ADJ If you describe someone or something as sappy , you think they are foolish. [AM , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ I wrote this sappy love song.

Sa|ran wrap /səræ n ræp/ N‑UNCOUNT Saran wrap is a thin, clear, stretchy plastic which you use to cover food to keep it fresh. [AM , TRADEMARK ] in BRIT, use clingfilm

sar|casm /sɑː r kæzəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sarcasm is speech or writing which actually means the opposite of what it seems to say. Sarcasm is usually intended to mock or insult someone. □ 'What a pity,' Graham said with a hint of sarcasm.

sar|cas|tic /sɑː r kæ st I k/ ADJ Someone who is sarcastic says or does the opposite of what they really mean in order to mock or insult someone. □ She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks. ● sar|cas|ti|cal|ly /sɑː r kæ st I kli/ ADV [ADV with v] □ 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.

sar|co|ma /sɑː r koʊ mə/ (sarcomas ) N‑VAR Sarcoma is one of the two main forms of cancer. It affects tissues such as muscle and bone.

sar|copha|gus /sɑː r kɒ fəgəs/ (sarcophagi or sarcophaguses ) N‑COUNT A sarcophagus is a large decorative container in which a dead body was placed in ancient times. □ …an Egyptian sarcophagus.

sar|dine /sɑː r diː n/ (sardines )


1 N‑COUNT Sardines are a kind of small sea fish, often eaten as food. □ They opened a tin of sardines.


2 PHRASE If you say that a crowd of people are packed like sardines , you are emphasizing that they are sitting or standing so close together that they cannot move easily. [EMPHASIS ] □ The refugees were packed like sardines.

sar|don|ic /sɑː r dɒ n I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as sardonic , you mean their attitude to people or things is humorous but rather critical. □ …a big, sardonic man, who intimidated his students.

sarge /sɑː r dʒ/ N‑COUNT ; N‑SING A sergeant is sometimes addressed as sarge or referred to as the sarge . [INFORMAL ] □ 'Good luck, sarge,' he said.

sari /sɑː ri/ (saris ) N‑COUNT A sari is a piece of clothing worn especially by Indian women. It consists of a long piece of thin material that is wrapped around the body.

sar|in /sɑː r I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Sarin is an extremely poisonous gas that is used in chemical weapons.

sar|nie /sɑː r ni/ (sarnies ) N‑COUNT A sarnie is a sandwich. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …cheese sarnies and tinned tomato soup.

sa|rong /sərɒ ŋ, [AM ] -rɔːŋ/ (sarongs ) N‑COUNT A sarong is a piece of clothing that is worn especially by Malaysian men and women. It consists of a long piece of cloth wrapped round the waist or body.

SARS /sɑː r z/ N‑UNCOUNT SARS is a serious disease which affects your ability to breathe. SARS is an abbreviation for 'severe acute respiratory syndrome'.

sar|to|rial /sɑː r tɔː riəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Sartorial means relating to clothes and to the way they are made or worn. [FORMAL ] □ …Sebastian's sartorial elegance.

SAS /e s e I e s/ N‑PROPER The SAS is a group of highly trained British soldiers who work on secret or very difficult military operations. SAS is an abbreviation for 'Special Air Service'. [BRIT ]

SASE /e s e I es iː / (SASEs ) N‑SING An SASE is an envelope on which you have stuck a stamp and written your own name and address. You send it to a person or organization so that they can reply to you in it. SASE is an abbreviation for 'self-addressed stamped envelope'. [AM ] in BRIT, use s.a.e.

sash /sæ ʃ/ (sashes ) N‑COUNT A sash is a long piece of cloth which people wear round their waist or over one shoulder, especially with formal or official clothes. □ She wore a white dress with a thin blue sash.

sash|ay /sæ ʃe I , [AM ] sæʃe I / (sashays , sashaying , sashayed ) VERB If someone sashays , they walk in a graceful but rather noticeable way. □ [V prep/adv] The models sashayed down the catwalk.

sa sh wi n|dow (sash windows ) N‑COUNT A sash window is a window which consists of two frames placed one above the other. The window can be opened by sliding one frame over the other.

sas|sy /sæ si/


1 ADJ If an older person describes a younger person as sassy , they mean that they are disrespectful in a lively, confident way. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ Are you that sassy with your parents, young lady?


2 ADJ Sassy is used to describe things that are smart and stylish. [AM , INFORMAL ] □ …colourful and sassy fashion accessories.

sat /sæ t/ Sat is the past tense and past participle of sit .

SAT /e s e I tiː / (SATs ) N‑PROPER The SAT is an examination which is often taken by students who wish to enter a college or university. SAT is an abbreviation for 'Scholastic Aptitude Test'. [AM ]

Sat. Sat. is a written abbreviation for Saturday .

Satan /se I t ə n/ N‑PROPER In the Christian religion, Satan is the Devil, a powerful evil being who is the chief opponent of God.

sa|tan|ic /sətæ n I k/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is satanic is considered to be caused by or influenced by Satan. □ …satanic cults. □ …satanic ritual.

Sa|tan|ism /se I tən I zəm/ also satanism N‑UNCOUNT Satanism is worship of Satan. □ …black magic and satanism. ● Sa|tan|ist /se I tən I st/ (Satanists ) N‑COUNT □ …a Satanist accused of fire attacks on churches.

sa|tay /sæ te I , [AM ] sɑː te I / N‑UNCOUNT Satay is pieces of meat cooked on thin sticks and served with a peanut sauce. □ …chicken satay.

satch|el /sæ tʃəl/ (satchels ) N‑COUNT A satchel is a bag with a long strap that schoolchildren use for carrying books.

sat|ed /se I t I d/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you are sated with something, you have had more of it than you can enjoy at one time. [FORMAL ] □ [+ with ] …children happily sated with ice cream.

sat|el|lite ◆◇◇ /sæ təla I t/ (satellites )


1 N‑COUNT [oft by N ] A satellite is an object which has been sent into space in order to collect information or to be part of a communications system. Satellites move continually round the Earth or around another planet. □ The rocket launched two communications satellites. □ The signals are sent by satellite link.


2 ADJ [ADJ n] Satellite television is broadcast using a satellite. □ They have four satellite channels.


3 N‑COUNT A satellite is a natural object in space that moves round a planet or star. □ …the satellites of Jupiter.


4 N‑COUNT [oft N n] You can refer to a country, area, or organization as a satellite when it is controlled by or depends on a larger and more powerful one. □ Italy became a satellite state of Germany by the end of the 1930s.

sa t|el|lite dish (satellite dishes ) N‑COUNT A satellite dish is a piece of equipment which people need to have on their house in order to receive satellite television.

sa|ti|ate /se I ʃie I t/ (satiates , satiating , satiated ) VERB If something such as food or pleasure satiates you, you have all that you need or all that you want of it, often so much that you become tired of it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The dinner was enough to satiate the gourmets.

sat|in /sæ t I n, [AM ] -t ə n/ (satins )


1 N‑VAR Satin is a smooth, shiny kind of cloth, usually made from silk. □ …a peach satin ribbon.


2 ADJ [ADJ n] If something such as a paint, wax, or cosmetic gives something a satin finish, it reflects light to some extent but is not very shiny.

satin|wood /sæ t I nwʊd/ N‑UNCOUNT Satinwood is a smooth hard wood which comes from an East Indian tree and is used to make furniture.

sat|ire /sæ ta I ə r / (satires )


1 N‑UNCOUNT Satire is the use of humour or exaggeration in order to show how foolish or wicked some people's behaviour or ideas are. □ The commercial side of the Christmas season is an easy target for satire.


2 N‑COUNT A satire is a play, film, or novel in which humour or exaggeration is used to criticize something. □ [+ on ] …a sharp satire on the American political process.

sa|tir|ic /sət I r I k/ ADJ Satiric means the same as satirical . □ …Ibsen's satiric attack on bourgeois convention.

sa|tiri|cal /sət I r I k ə l/ ADJ A satirical drawing, piece of writing, or comedy show is one in which humour or exaggeration is used to criticize something. □ …a satirical novel about city life in the late 80s.

sati|rist /sæ t I r I st/ (satirists ) N‑COUNT A satirist is someone who writes or uses satire. □ He built a reputation in the 1970s as a social satirist.

sati|rize /sæ t I ra I z/ (satirizes , satirizing , satirized ) in BRIT, also use satirise VERB If you satirize a person or group of people, you use satire to criticize them or make fun of them in a play, film, or novel. □ [V n] The newspaper came out weekly. It satirized political leaders.

sat|is|fac|tion /sæ t I sfæ kʃ ə n/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Satisfaction is the pleasure that you feel when you do something or get something that you wanted or needed to do or get. □ She felt a small glow of satisfaction. □ [+ with ] Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress so far.


2 N‑UNCOUNT If you get satisfaction from someone, you get money or an apology from them because you have been treated badly. □ If you can't get any satisfaction, complain to the park owner.


3 PHRASE If you do something to someone's satisfaction , they are happy with the way that you have done it. □ It is hard to see how the issue can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

sat|is|fac|tory /sæ t I sfæ ktəri/ ADJ Something that is satisfactory is acceptable to you or fulfils a particular need or purpose. □ I never got a satisfactory answer.

sat|is|fied /sæ t I sfa I d/


1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are satisfied with something, you are happy because you have got what you wanted or needed. □ [+ with ] We are not satisfied with these results. □ …satisfied customers.


2 ADJ [v-link ADJ , oft ADJ that] If you are satisfied that something is true or has been done properly, you are convinced about this after checking it. □ People must be satisfied that the treatment is safe.

sat|is|fy /sæ t I sfa I / (satisfies , satisfying , satisfied )


1 VERB If someone or something satisfies you, they give you enough of what you want or need to make you pleased or contented. □ [V n] The pace of change has not been quick enough to satisfy everyone. □ [V n] We just can't find enough good second-hand cars to satisfy demand.


2 VERB To satisfy someone that something is true or has been done properly means to convince them by giving them more information or by showing them what has been done. □ [V n that] He has to satisfy the environmental lobby that real progress will be made to cut emissions.


3 VERB If you satisfy the requirements for something, you are good enough or have the right qualities to fulfil these requirements. □ [V n] The procedures should satisfy certain basic requirements.

sat|is|fy|ing /sæ t I sfa I I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is satisfying makes you feel happy, especially because you feel you have achieved something. □ I found wood carving satisfying.

sat|nav /sæ tnæ v/ N‑UNCOUNT Satnav is a system that uses information from satellites to find the best way of getting to a place. It is often found in cars. Satnav is an abbreviation for 'satellite navigation'. □ We didn't have satnav, so the traditional map and compass took over.

sat|su|ma /sætsuː mə/ (satsumas ) N‑COUNT A satsuma is a fruit that looks like a small orange.

satu|rate /sæ tʃʊre I t/ (saturates , saturating , saturated )


1 VERB If people or things saturate a place or object, they fill it completely so that no more can be added. □ [V n] In the last days before the vote, both sides are saturating the airwaves. □ [be V -ed + with ] As the market was saturated with goods and the economy became more balanced, inflation went down.


2 VERB [usu passive] If someone or something is saturated , they become extremely wet. □ [be V -ed] If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, it should be discarded and replaced. [Also V n]

satu|rat|ed /sæ tʃʊre I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Saturated fats are types of fat that are found in some foods, especially meat, eggs, and things such as butter and cheese. They are believed to cause heart disease and some other illnesses if eaten too often. □ …foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats.

satu|ra|tion /sæ tʃʊre I ʃ ə n/


1 N‑UNCOUNT Saturation is the process or state that occurs when a place or thing is filled completely with people or things, so that no more can be added. □ [+ of ] Reforms have led to the saturation of the market with goods. □ Road traffic has reached saturation point.


2 ADJ [ADJ n] Saturation is used to describe a campaign or other activity that is carried out very thoroughly, so that nothing is missed. □ Newspapers, television and radio are all providing saturation coverage.

Sat|ur|day /sæ tə r de I , -di/ (Saturdays ) N‑VAR Saturday is the day after Friday and before Sunday. □ She had a call from him on Saturday morning at the studio. □ They had a 3-1 win against Liverpool last Saturday. □ The overnight train runs only on Saturdays. □ It was Saturday evening and I was getting ready to go out.

sat|ur|nine /sæ tə r na I n/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Someone who is saturnine is serious and unfriendly. [LITERARY ] □ He had a rather forbidding, saturnine manner.

sa|tyr /sæ tə r / (satyrs ) N‑COUNT In classical mythology a satyr is a creature that is half man and half goat.

sauce ◆◇◇ /sɔː s/ (sauces ) N‑VAR A sauce is a thick liquid which is served with other food. □ [+ of ] …pasta cooked in a sauce of garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. □ …vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce.

sauce|pan /sɔː spən, [AM ] -pæn/ (saucepans ) N‑COUNT A saucepan is a deep metal cooking pot, usually with a long handle and a lid. □ Cook the potatoes and turnips in a large saucepan.

sau|cer /sɔː sə r / (saucers )


1 N‑COUNT A saucer is a small curved plate on which you stand a cup.


2 → see also flying saucer

saucy /sɔː si/ (saucier , sauciest ) ADJ Someone or something that is saucy refers to sex in a light-hearted, amusing way. □ …a saucy joke.

Sau|di /saʊ di/ (Saudis )


1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Saudi or Saudi Arabian means belonging or relating to Saudi Arabia or to its people, language, or culture. □ Saudi officials have dismissed such reports as rumours.


2 N‑COUNT The Saudis or Saudi Arabians are the people who come from Saudi Arabia.

sau|er|kraut /saʊə r kraʊt/ N‑UNCOUNT Sauerkraut is cabbage which has been cut into very small pieces and pickled. It is eaten mainly in Germany.

sau|na /sɔː nə/ (saunas )


1 N‑COUNT If you have a sauna , you sit or lie in a room that is so hot that it makes you sweat. People have saunas in order to relax and to clean their skin thoroughly.


2 N‑COUNT A sauna is a room or building where you can have a sauna.

saun|ter /sɔː ntə r / (saunters , sauntering , sauntered ) VERB If you saunter somewhere, you walk there in a slow, casual way. □ [V prep/adv] We watched our fellow students saunter into the building.

sau|sage /sɒ s I dʒ, [AM ] sɔː s-/ (sausages ) N‑VAR A sausage consists of minced meat, usually pork, mixed with other ingredients and is contained in a tube made of skin or a similar material. □ …sausages and chips.

sau |sage mea t N‑UNCOUNT Sausage meat is minced meat, usually pork, mixed with other ingredients and used to make sausages.

sau |sage ro ll (sausage rolls ) N‑COUNT A sausage roll is a small amount of sausage meat which is covered with pastry and cooked. [BRIT ]

sau|té /soʊ te I , [AM ] sɔːte I / (sautés , sautéing , sautéed ) VERB When you sauté food, you fry it quickly in hot oil or butter. □ [V n] Sauté the chicken until golden brown. □ [V -ed] …sautéed mushrooms.

sav|age /sæ v I dʒ/ (savages , savaging , savaged )


1 ADJ Someone or something that is savage is extremely cruel, violent, and uncontrolled. □ This was a savage attack on a defenceless young girl. □ …a savage dog lunging at the end of a chain. ● sav|age|ly ADV □ He was savagely beaten.


2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] If you refer to people as savages , you dislike them because you think that they do not have an advanced society and are violent. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …their conviction that the area was a frozen desert peopled with uncouth savages.


3 VERB [usu passive] If someone is savaged by a dog or other animal, the animal attacks them violently. □ [be V -ed] The animal then turned on him and he was savaged to death.


4 VERB If someone or something that they have done is savaged by another person, that person criticizes them severely. □ [be V -ed] The show had already been savaged by critics. □ [V n] Speakers called for clearer direction and savaged the Chancellor.

sav|age|ry /sæ v I dʒri/ N‑UNCOUNT Savagery is extremely cruel and violent behaviour. □ [+ of ] …the sheer savagery of war.

sa|van|nah /səvæ nə/ (savannahs ) also savanna N‑VAR A savannah is a large area of flat, grassy land, usually in Africa.

sa|vant /sæ v ə nt, [AM ] sævɑː nt/ (savants )


1 N‑COUNT A savant is a person of great learning or natural ability. [FORMAL ] □ The opinion of savants on the composition of the lunar surface.


2 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as an idiot savant if they seem to be less intelligent than normal people but are unusually good at doing one particular thing. □ …an idiot savant, an autistic with a gift for numbers.

save ◆◆◇ /se I v/ (saves , saving , saved )


1 VERB If you save someone or something, you help them to avoid harm or to escape from a dangerous or unpleasant situation. □ [V n] …a final attempt to save 40,000 jobs in the troubled aero industry. □ [V n + from ] A new machine no bigger than a 10p piece could help save babies from cot death. □ [V n + from ] The performance may have saved him from being eliminated. ● -saving COMB □ His boxing career was ended after two sight-saving operations.


2 VERB If you save , you gradually collect money by spending less than you get, usually in order to buy something that you want. □ [V ] Most people intend to save, but find that by the end of the month there is nothing left. □ [V + for ] Tim and Barbara are now saving for a house in the suburbs. □ [V n] They could not find any way to save money. ● PHRASAL VERB Save up means the same as save . □ [V P + for ] Julie wanted to save up something for a holiday. □ [V P n] People often put money aside to save up enough to make one major expenditure. [Also V n P ]


3 VERB If you save something such as time or money, you prevent the loss or waste of it. □ [V n] It saves time in the kitchen to have things you use a lot within reach. □ [V n n] I'll try to save him the expense of a flight from Perth. □ [V + on ] I got the fishmonger to skin the fish which helped save on the preparation time. [Also V n on n] ● -saving COMB □ …labor-saving devices.


4 VERB If you save something, you keep it because it will be needed later. □ [V n] Drain the beans thoroughly and save the stock for soup. [Also V n n]


5 VERB If someone or something saves you from an unpleasant action or experience, they change the situation so that you do not have to do it or experience it. □ [V n] The scanner will save risk and pain for patients. □ [V n + from ] She was hoping that something might save her from having to make a decision. □ [V n n] He arranges to collect the payment from the customer, thus saving the client the paperwork.


6 VERB If you save data in a computer, you give the computer an instruction to store the data on a tape or disk. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] Try to get into the habit of saving your work regularly. □ [V + as ] Import your scanned images from the scanner and save as a JPG file.


7 VERB If a goalkeeper saves , or saves a shot, they succeed in preventing the ball from going into the goal. □ [V n] He saved one shot when the ball hit him on the head. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Save is also a noun. □ Their keeper made an unbelievable save at the end.


8 PREP You can use save to introduce the only things, people, or ideas that your main statement does not apply to. [FORMAL ] □ There is almost no water at all in the area save that brought up from bore holes. ● PHRASE Save for means the same as save . □ The parking lot was virtually empty save for a few cars clustered to one side.


9 to save the day → see day


10 to save face → see face ➊


▸ save up → see save 2 SYNONYMS save VERB 1


rescue: He had rescued her from a horrible life.


recover: Police raided five houses in south-east London and recovered stolen goods.


extricate: …extricate the survivors.

sav|er /se I və r / (savers ) N‑COUNT A saver is a person who regularly saves money by paying it into a bank account or a building society. □ Low interest rates are bad news for savers.

-saver /-se I və r / (-savers ) COMB -saver combines with words such as 'time' and 'energy' to indicate that something prevents the thing mentioned from being wasted. □ These zip-top bags are great space-savers if storage is limited.

sav|ing ◆◇◇ /se I v I ŋ/ (savings )


1 N‑COUNT A saving is a reduction in the amount of time or money that is used or needed. □ [+ of ] Fill in the form below and you will be making a saving of £6.60 on a one-year subscription.


2 N‑PLURAL Your savings are the money that you have saved, especially in a bank or a building society. □ Her savings were in the Post Office Savings Bank.

sa v|ing gra ce (saving graces ) N‑COUNT A saving grace is a good quality or feature in a person or thing that prevents them from being completely bad or worthless. □ Ageing's one saving grace is you worry less about what people think.

sa v|ings and loa n also savings and loans N‑SING [usu N n] A savings and loan association is a business where people save money to earn interest, and which lends money to savers to buy houses. Compare building society . [mainly AM , BUSINESS ]

sav|iour /se I vjə r / (saviours ) in AM, use savior N‑COUNT A saviour is a person who saves someone or something from danger, ruin, or defeat. □ [+ of ] …the saviour of his country.

savoir-faire /sæ vwɑː r feə r / N‑UNCOUNT Savoir-faire is the confidence and ability to do the appropriate thing in a social situation. [FORMAL ] □ He was full of jocularity and savoir-faire.

sa|vour /se I və r / (savours , savouring , savoured ) in AM, use savor 1 VERB If you savour an experience, you enjoy it as much as you can. □ [V n] She savored her newfound freedom.


2 VERB If you savour food or drink, you eat or drink it slowly in order to taste its full flavour and to enjoy it properly. □ [V n] Savour the flavour of each mouthful, and chew your food well.

sa|voury /se I vəri/ (savouries ) in AM, use savory 1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Savoury food has a salty or spicy flavour rather than a sweet one. □ Italian cooking is best known for savoury dishes.


2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Savouries are small items of savoury food that are usually eaten as a snack, for example with alcoholic drinks at a party or before a meal. [BRIT ]

sav|vy /sæ vi/ N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone as having savvy , you think that they have a good understanding and practical knowledge of something. [INFORMAL ] □ He is known for his political savvy and strong management skills.

saw /sɔː / (saws , sawing , sawed , sawn )


1 Saw is the past tense of see .


2 N‑COUNT A saw is a tool for cutting wood, which has a blade with sharp teeth along one edge. Some saws are pushed backwards and forwards by hand, and others are powered by electricity.


3 → see also chain saw


4 VERB If you saw something, you cut it with a saw. □ [V prep/adv] He escaped by sawing through the bars of his cell. □ [V n] Your father is sawing wood.

saw|dust /sɔː dʌst/ N‑UNCOUNT Sawdust is dust and very small pieces of wood which are produced when you saw wood. □ …a layer of sawdust.

sa wed-off sho t|gun (sawed-off shotguns ) N‑COUNT A sawed-off shotgun is the same as a sawn-off shotgun . [AM ]

saw|mill /sɔː m I l/ (sawmills ) N‑COUNT A sawmill is a factory in which wood from trees is sawn into long flat pieces.

sawn /sɔː n/ Sawn is the past participle of saw .

sa wn-off sho t|gun (sawn-off shotguns ) N‑COUNT A sawn-off shotgun is a shotgun on which the barrel has been cut short. Guns like this are often used by criminals because they can be easily hidden. [BRIT ] □ The men burst in wearing balaclavas and brandishing sawn-off shotguns. in AM, use sawed-off shotgun

sax /sæ ks/ (saxes ) N‑COUNT A sax is the same as a saxophone . [INFORMAL ]

Sax|on /sæ ks ə n/ (Saxons )


1 N‑COUNT In former times, Saxons were members of a West Germanic tribe. Some members of this tribe settled in Britain and were known as Anglo-Saxons .


2 ADJ Something that is Saxon is related to or characteristic of the ancient Saxons, the Anglo-Saxons, or their descendants. □ …a seventh-century Saxon church.

saxo|phone /sæ ksəfoʊn/ (saxophones ) N‑VAR A saxophone is a musical instrument in the shape of a curved metal tube with a narrower part that you blow into and keys that you press.

sax|opho|nist /sæksɒ fən I st, [AM ] sæ ksəfoʊn-/ (saxophonists ) N‑COUNT A saxophonist is someone who plays the saxophone.

say ◆◆◆ /se I / (says /se z/, saying , said /se d/)


1 VERB When you say something, you speak words. □ [V with quote] 'I'm sorry,' he said. □ [V that] She said they were very impressed. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Forty-one people are said to have been seriously hurt. □ [V n + to ] I packed and said goodbye to Charlie. □ [V n] I hope you didn't say anything about Gretchen. □ [V wh] Did he say where he was going? □ [V so ] It doesn't sound exactly orthodox, if I may say so. [Also V to-inf]


2 VERB You use say in expressions such as I would just like to say to introduce what you are actually saying, or to indicate that you are expressing an opinion or admitting a fact. If you state that you can't say something or you wouldn't say something, you are indicating in a polite or indirect way that it is not the case. □ [V that] I would just like to say that this is the most hypocritical thing I have ever heard in my life. □ [V that] I must say that rather shocked me, too. □ [V that] Dead? Well, I can't say I'm sorry.


3 VERB You can mention the contents of a piece of writing by mentioning what it says or what someone says in it. □ [V that] The report says there is widespread and routine torture of political prisoners in the country. □ [V with quote] You can't have one without the other, as the song says. □ [V with quote] 'Highly inflammable,' it says on the spare canister. □ [V so ] It is a pervasively religious school and believes whatever the Bible says is so.


4 VERB If you say something to yourself , you think it. □ [V + to ] Perhaps I'm still dreaming, I said to myself.


5 N‑SING [oft more/some N ] If you have a say in something, you have the right to give your opinion and influence decisions relating to it. □ [+ in ] The students wanted more say in the government of the university.


6 VERB You indicate the information given by something such as a clock, dial, or map by mentioning what it says . □ [V n] The clock said four minutes past eleven. □ [V that] The map says there's six of them.


7 VERB If something says something about a person, situation, or thing, it gives important information about them. □ [V amount + about ] I think that says a lot about how well she is playing. □ [V n + about ] The appearance of the place says something about the importance of the project.


8 VERB If something says a lot for a person or thing, it shows that this person or thing is very good or has a lot of good qualities. □ [V amount + for ] It says a lot for him that he has raised his game to the level required. □ [V n + for ] It says much for the author's skill that the book is sad, but never depressing.


9 VERB You use say in expressions such as I'll say that for them and you can say this for them after or before you mention a good quality that someone has, usually when you think they do not have many good qualities. □ [V n + for ] He's usually smartly-dressed, I'll say that for him. □ [V n] At the very least, he is devastatingly sure of himself, you can say that.


10 VERB You can use say when you want to discuss something that might possibly happen or be true. □ [V that] Say you could change anything about the world we live in, what would it be?


11 PHRASE You can use say or let's say when you mention something as an example. □ If funds start arriving in January, construction can begin in, say, June.


12 PHRASE If you say that something says it all , you mean that it shows you very clearly the truth about a situation or someone's feelings. □ This is my third visit in a week, which says it all.


13 CONVENTION You can use ' You don't say ' to express surprise at what someone has told you. People often use this expression to indicate that in fact they are not surprised. [FEELINGS ] □ 'I'm a writer.'—'You don't say. What kind of book are you writing?'


14 PHRASE If you say there is a lot to be said for something, you mean you think it has a lot of good qualities or aspects. □ There's a lot to be said for being based in the country.


15 PHRASE If someone asks what you have to say for yourself , they are asking what excuse you have for what you have done. □ 'Well,' she said eventually, 'what have you to say for yourself?'


16 PHRASE If something goes without saying , it is obvious. □ It goes without saying that anything fried is going to be high in oil and thus calories.


17 PHRASE When one of the people or groups involved in a discussion has their say , they give their opinion. □ The Football Association have had their say.


18 CONVENTION You use ' I wouldn't say no ' to indicate that you would like something, especially something that has just been offered to you. [INFORMAL , FORMULAE ] □ [+ to ] I wouldn't say no to a drink.


19 PHRASE You use to say nothing of when you mention an additional thing which gives even more strength to the point you are making. □ Unemployment leads to a sense of uselessness, to say nothing of financial problems.


20 PHRASE You use that is to say or that's to say to indicate that you are about to express the same idea more clearly or precisely. [FORMAL ] □ All the B Vitamins work synergistically. That is to say, they are more potent when taken together than when used separately.


21 CONVENTION You can use ' You can say that again ' to express strong agreement with what someone has just said. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ 'Must have been a fiddly job.'—'You can say that again.'


22 to say the least → see least


23 needless to say → see needless USAGE say


Don’t put a word such as ‘me’ or ‘her’ directly after say . For example, don’t say ‘ The woman said me that Tom had left .’ Say ‘The woman said that Tom had left.’ □ She said (that) they were very pleased.

say|ing /se I I ŋ/ (sayings )


1 N‑COUNT A saying is a sentence that people often say and that gives advice or information about human life and experience. □ We also realize the truth of that old saying: Charity begins at home.


2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The sayings of a person, especially a religious or political leader, are important things that they said or pieces of advice that they gave. □ [+ of ] The sayings of Confucius offer guidance on this matter.

sa y-so N‑SING [oft with poss] If you do something on someone's say-so , they tell you to do it or they give you permission to do it. [INFORMAL ] □ Directors call the shots and nothing happens on set without their say-so.

scab /skæ b/ (scabs )


1 N‑COUNT A scab is a hard, dry covering that forms over the surface of a wound. □ The area can be very painful until scabs form after about ten days.


2 N‑COUNT People who continue to work during a strike are called scabs by the people who are on strike. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He hired scabs to replace strikers. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Scab is also an adjective. □ The mill was started up with scab labor.

scab|bard /skæ bə r d/ (scabbards ) N‑COUNT A scabbard is a container for a sword and can hang from a belt.

scab|by /skæ bi/ ADJ If a person, an animal, or a part of their body is scabby , it has scabs on it. □ He had short trousers and scabby knees.

sca|bies /ske I biːz/ N‑UNCOUNT Scabies is a very infectious skin disease caused by very small creatures and makes you want to scratch a lot.

sca|brous /ske I brəs, skæ b-/ ADJ If you describe something as scabrous , you mean that it deals with sex or describes sex in a shocking way. [LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the scabrous lower reaches of the film business.

scaf|fold /skæ foʊld/ (scaffolds )


1 N‑COUNT A scaffold was a raised platform on which criminals were hanged or had their heads cut off. □ Moore ascended the scaffold and addressed the executioner.


2 N‑COUNT A scaffold is a temporary raised platform on which workers stand to paint, repair, or build high parts of a building.

scaf|fold|ing /skæ fəld I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Scaffolding consists of poles and boards made into a temporary framework that is used by workers when they are painting, repairing, or building high parts of a building, usually outside.

scald /skɔː ld/ (scalds , scalding , scalded )


1 VERB If you scald yourself , you burn yourself with very hot liquid or steam. □ [V pron-refl] A patient scalded herself in a hot bath. □ [V -ed] …a child with a scalded hand.


2 N‑COUNT A scald is a burn caused by very hot liquid or steam.

scald|ing /skɔː ld I ŋ/ ADJ Scalding or scalding hot liquids are extremely hot. □ I tried to sip the tea but it was scalding. □ …scalding hot water.

scale ◆◆◇ /ske I l/ (scales , scaling , scaled )


1 N‑SING If you refer to the scale of something, you are referring to its size or extent, especially when it is very big. □ [+ of ] However, he underestimates the scale of the problem. □ The break-down of law and order could result in killing on a massive scale.


2 → see also full-scale , large-scale , small-scale


3 N‑COUNT A scale is a set of levels or numbers which are used in a particular system of measuring things or are used when comparing things. □ …an earthquake measuring five-point-five on the Richter scale. □ The higher up the social scale they are, the more the men have to lose.


4 → see also sliding scale , timescale


5 N‑COUNT A pay scale or scale of fees is a list that shows how much someone should be paid, depending, for example, on their age or what work they do. [BRIT ] □ …those on the high end of the pay scale.


6 N‑COUNT The scale of a map, plan, or model is the relationship between the size of something in the map, plan, or model and its size in the real world. □ [+ of ] The map, on a scale of 1:10,000, shows over 5,000 individual paths.


7 → see also full-scale , large-scale


8 ADJ [ADJ n] A scale model or scale replica of a building or object is a model of it which is smaller than the real thing but has all the same parts and features. □ Franklin made his mother an intricately detailed scale model of the house.


9 N‑COUNT In music, a scale is a fixed sequence of musical notes, each one higher than the next, which begins at a particular note. □ [+ of ] …the scale of C major.


10 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The scales of a fish or reptile are the small, flat pieces of hard skin that cover its body.


11 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Scales are a piece of equipment used for weighing things, for example for weighing amounts of food that you need in order to make a particular meal. □ …a pair of kitchen scales. □ …bathroom scales.


12 VERB If you scale something such as a mountain or a wall, you climb up it or over it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] …Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to scale Everest.


13 PHRASE If something is out of scale with the things near it, it is too big or too small in relation to them. □ [+ with ] The tower was surmounted by an enormous statue, utterly out of scale with the building.


14 PHRASE If the different parts of a map, drawing, or model are to scale , they are the right size in relation to each other. □ …a miniature garden, with little pagodas and bridges all to scale.


▸ scale back PHRASAL VERB To scale back means the same as to scale down . [mainly AM ] □ [V P n] Despite current price advantage, U.K. manufacturers are still having to scale back production. [Also V n P ]


▸ scale down PHRASAL VERB If you scale down something, you make it smaller in size, amount, or extent than it used to be. □ [V P n] One factory has had to scale down its workforce from six hundred to only six. □ [V -ed P ] The Romanian government yesterday unveiled a new, scaled-down security force. [Also V n P ]


▸ scale up PHRASAL VERB If you scale up something, you make it greater in size, amount, or extent than it used to be. □ [V P n] Since then, Wellcome has been scaling up production to prepare for clinical trials. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS scale NOUN 1


degree: Politicians have used television with varying degrees of success.


size: He knows the size of the task.


extent: The full extent of the losses was disclosed yesterday.


magnitude: No one seems to realise the magnitude of this problem.

scal|lion /skæ ljən/ (scallions ) N‑COUNT A scallion is a small onion with long green leaves. [AM ] in BRIT, use spring onion

scal|lop /skɒ ləp, skæ l-/ (scallops ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Scallops are large shellfish with two flat fan-shaped shells. Scallops can be eaten.

scal|loped /skɒ ləpt, skæ l-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scalloped objects are decorated with a series of small curves along the edges. □ The quilt has pretty, scalloped edges and intricate quilting.

scal|ly|wag /skæ liwæg/ (scallywags ) N‑COUNT If you call a boy or a man a scallywag , you mean that he behaves badly but you like him, so you find it difficult to be really angry with him. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ] □ It's his idea of a joke, I suppose, the scallywag.

scalp /skæ lp/ (scalps , scalping , scalped )


1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your scalp is the skin under the hair on your head. □ He smoothed his hair back over his scalp.


2 VERB To scalp someone means to remove the skin and hair from the top of their head. □ [V n] He pretended to scalp me with his sword.


3 N‑COUNT A scalp is the piece of skin and hair that is removed when someone is scalped.


4 VERB If someone scalps tickets, they sell them outside a sports ground or theatre, usually for more than their original value. [AM ] □ [V n] He was trying to pick up some cash scalping tickets. in BRIT, use tout

scal|pel /skæ lp ə l/ (scalpels ) N‑COUNT A scalpel is a knife with a short, thin, sharp blade. Scalpels are used by surgeons during operations.

scalp|er /skæ lpə r / (scalpers ) N‑COUNT A scalper is someone who sells tickets outside a sports ground or theatre, usually for more than their original value. [AM ] □ Another scalper said he'd charge $1000 for a $125 ticket. in BRIT, use tout

scaly /ske I li/


1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A scaly animal has small pieces of hard skin covering its body. □ The brown rat has prominent ears and a long scaly tail.


2 ADJ If someone's skin is scaly , it has dry areas and small pieces of it come off. □ If your skin becomes red, sore or very scaly, consult your doctor.

scam /skæ m/ (scams ) N‑COUNT A scam is an illegal trick, usually with the purpose of getting money from people or avoiding paying tax. [INFORMAL ] □ They believed they were participating in an insurance scam, not a murder.

scamp /skæ mp/ (scamps ) N‑COUNT If you call a boy a scamp , you mean that he is naughty or disrespectful but you like him, so you find it difficult to be angry with him. [INFORMAL ] □ Have some respect for me, you scamp!

scamp|er /skæ mpə r / (scampers , scampering , scampered ) VERB When people or small animals scamper somewhere, they move there quickly with small, light steps. □ [V prep/adv] Children scampered off the yellow school bus and into the playground.

scam|pi /skæ mpi/ N‑UNCOUNT Scampi are large prawns, often served fried in breadcrumbs. [mainly BRIT ]

scan /skæ n/ (scans , scanning , scanned )


1 VERB When you scan written material, you look through it quickly in order to find important or interesting information. □ [V n] She scanned the advertisement pages of the newspapers. □ [V + through ] I haven't read much into it as yet. I've only just scanned through it. ● N‑SING Scan is also a noun. □ [+ through ] I just had a quick scan through your book again.


2 VERB [no passive] When you scan a place or group of people, you look at it carefully, usually because you are looking for something or someone. □ [V n] The officer scanned the room. □ [V n + for ] She was nervous and kept scanning the crowd for Paul. □ [V prep] He raised the binoculars to his eye again, scanning across the scene.


3 VERB If people scan something such as luggage, they examine it using a machine that can show or find things inside it that cannot be seen from the outside. □ [V n] Their approach is to scan every checked-in bag with a bomb detector. [Also V , V for n] ● scan|ning N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …routine scanning of luggage.


4 VERB If a computer disk is scanned , a program on the computer checks the disk to make sure that it does not contain a virus. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] The disk has no viruses–I've scanned it already.


5 VERB [usu passive] If a picture or document is scanned into a computer, a machine passes a beam of light over it to make a copy of it in the computer. [COMPUTING ] □ [be V -ed + into/onto ] The entire paper contents of all libraries will eventually be scanned into computers. □ [be V -ed + in/on ] Designs can also be scanned in from paper.


6 VERB If a radar or sonar machine scans an area, it examines or searches it by sending radar or sonar beams over it. □ [V n] The ship's radar scanned the sea ahead.


7 N‑COUNT A scan is a medical test in which a machine sends a beam of X-rays over a part of your body in order to check that it is healthy. □ He was rushed to hospital for a brain scan.


8 N‑COUNT If a pregnant woman has a scan , a machine using sound waves produces an image of her womb on a screen so that a doctor can see if her baby is developing normally.


9 VERB If a line of a poem does not scan , it is not the right length or does not have emphasis in the right places to match the rest of the poem. □ [V ] He had written a few poems. Sid told him they didn't scan.

scan|dal ◆◇◇ /skæ nd ə l/ (scandals )


1 N‑COUNT A scandal is a situation or event that is thought to be shocking and immoral and that everyone knows about. □ …a financial scandal.


2 N‑UNCOUNT Scandal is talk about the shocking and immoral aspects of someone's behaviour or something that has happened. □ He loved gossip and scandal.


3 N‑SING [oft N that] If you say that something is a scandal , you are angry about it and think that the people responsible for it should be ashamed. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is a scandal that a person can be stopped for no reason by the police. COLLOCATIONS scandal NOUN 1


noun + scandal : accounting, corruption, drugs, sex


adjective + scandal : corporate, financial, political, public


verb + scandal : expose, uncover; investigate; cause

scan|dal|ize /skæ ndəla I z/ (scandalizes , scandalizing , scandalized ) in BRIT, also use scandalise VERB If something scandalizes people, they are shocked or offended by it. □ [V n] She scandalised her family by falling in love with a married man.

scan|dal|ous /skæ ndələs/


1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scandalous behaviour or activity is considered immoral and shocking. □ He spoke of scandalous corruption and incompetence. ● scan|dal|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He asked only that Ingrid stop behaving so scandalously.


2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Scandalous stories or remarks are concerned with the immoral and shocking aspects of someone's behaviour or something that has happened. □ Newspaper columns were full of scandalous tales.


3 ADJ You can describe something as scandalous if it makes you very angry and you think the people responsible for it should be ashamed. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It is absolutely scandalous that a fantastic building like this is just left to rot away. □ …a scandalous waste of money.

sca n|dal sheet (scandal sheets ) N‑COUNT You can refer to newspapers and magazines which print mainly stories about sex and crime as scandal sheets . [AM ] in BRIT, use gutter press

Scan|di|na|vian /skæ nd I ne I viən/ (Scandinavians )


1 ADJ Scandinavian means belonging or relating to a group of northern European countries that includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, or to the people, languages, or culture of those countries. □ The school starting age in many Scandinavian countries is 7.


2 N‑COUNT Scandinavians are people from Scandinavian countries.

scan|ner /skæ nə r / (scanners )


1 N‑COUNT A scanner is a machine which is used to examine, identify, or record things, for example by using a beam of light, sound, or X-rays. □ …brain scanners. □ …a security scanner that can see through clothes.

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