COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

2 ADJ If you speak in an urgent way, you show that you are anxious for people to notice something or to do something. □ His voice was low and urgent. □ His mother leaned forward and spoke to him in urgent undertones. ● ur|gen|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ in ] She was surprised at the urgency in his voice. ● ur|gent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ They hastened to greet him and asked urgently, 'Did you find it?'

uri|nal /jʊra I n ^ə l, [AM ] jʊ r I n ^ə l/ (urinals ) N‑COUNT A urinal is a bowl fixed to the wall of a men's public toilet for men to urinate in.

uri|nary /jʊə r I nəri, [AM ] -neri/ ADJ [ADJ n] Urinary means belonging to or related to the parts of a person's body through which urine flows. [MEDICAL ] □ …urinary tract infections.

uri|nate /jʊə r I ne I t/ (urinates , urinating , urinated ) VERB When someone urinates , they get rid of urine from their body.

urine /jʊə r I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Urine is the liquid that you get rid of from your body when you go to the toilet.

URL /juː ɑːr e l/ (URLs ) N‑COUNT A URL is an address that shows where a particular page can be found on the World Wide Web. URL is an abbreviation for 'Uniform Resource Locator'. [COMPUTING ] □ [+ for ] The URL for Collins dictionaries is http://www.collinsdictionary.com.

urn /ɜː ^r n/ (urns )

1 N‑COUNT An urn is a container in which a dead person's ashes are kept.

2 N‑COUNT An urn is a metal container used for making a large quantity of tea or coffee and keeping it hot.

us ◆◆◆ /əs, STRONG ʌs/ Us is the first person plural pronoun. Us is used as the object of a verb or a preposition. 1 PRON A speaker or writer uses us to refer both to himself or herself and to one or more other people. You can use us before a noun to make it clear which group of people you are referring to. □ Neither of us forgot about it. □ Heather went to the kitchen to get drinks for us. □ They don't like us much. □ He showed us aspects of the game that we had never seen before. □ Another time of great excitement for us boys was when war broke out.

2 PRON Us is sometimes used to refer to people in general. □ All of us will struggle fairly hard to survive if we are in danger. □ Each of us will have our own criteria for success.

3 PRON A speaker or writer may use us instead of 'me' in order to include the audience or reader in what they are saying. [mainly FORMAL ] □ This brings us to the second question I asked.

4 PRON In non-standard English, us is sometimes used instead of 'me'. [BRIT , SPOKEN ] □ 'Hang on a bit,' said Eileen. 'I'm not finished yet. Give us a chance.' USAGE us

In standard English, don’t use ‘us’ as the object of a sentence when we is the subject. Don’t say, for example, ‘ We bought us some drinks ’. You say ‘We bought ourselves some drinks’. □ After the meeting we introduced ourselves .

US /juː e s/ also U.S. N‑PROPER [N n] The US is an abbreviation for the United States . □ The first time I saw TV was when I arrived in the U.S. in 1956. □ They are to inherit 100,000 U.S. dollars.

USA /juː es e I / also U.S.A. N‑PROPER The USA is an abbreviation for the United States of America .

us|able /juː zəb ^ə l/ ADJ If something is usable , it is in a good enough state or condition to be used. □ Charity shops and jumble sales welcome usable clothes. □ Half of the island's population has no usable English.

USAF /juː es e I e f/ also U.S.A.F. N‑PROPER The USAF is an abbreviation for the United States Air Force .

us|age /juː s I dʒ/ (usages )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Usage is the way in which words are actually used in particular contexts, especially with regard to their meanings. □ The word 'undertaker' had long been in common usage. □ [+ of ] He was a stickler for the correct usage of English.

2 N‑COUNT A usage is a meaning that a word has or a way in which it can be used. □ It's very definitely a usage which has come over to Britain from America.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Usage is the degree to which something is used or the way in which it is used. □ Parts of the motor wore out because of constant usage. □ If your water usage is very small, it may be worthwhile opting for a meter.

USB /ju ː es bi ː/ (USBs ) N‑COUNT A USB on a computer is a place where you can attach another piece of equipment, for example a printer. USB is an abbreviation for 'Universal Serial Bus'. [COMPUTING ] □ The device plugs into one of the laptop's USB ports.

USB stick (USB sticks ) N‑COUNT A USB stick is a small object for storing digital information that you can connect to the USB part of a computer or other device. [COMPUTING ] □ My history lectures are saved as PowerPoint files on a USB stick.

use

➊ VERB USES

➋ NOUN USES

➊ use ◆◆◆ /juː z/ (uses , using , used )

1 VERB If you use something, you do something with it in order to do a job or to achieve a particular result or effect. □ [V n] Trim off the excess pastry using a sharp knife. □ [V n] He had simply used a little imagination. □ [V n to-inf] Officials used loud hailers to call for calm. □ [V n prep] The show uses Zondo's trial and execution as its framework.

2 VERB If you use a supply of something, you finish it so that none of it is left. □ [V n] You used all the ice cubes and didn't put the ice trays back. □ [V n] They've never had anything spare–they've always used it all. ● PHRASAL VERB Use up means the same as use . □ [V P n] It isn't them who use up the world's resources. □ [V n P ] We were breathing really fast, and using the air up quickly.

3 VERB If someone uses drugs, they take drugs regularly, especially illegal ones. □ [V n] He denied he had used drugs.

4 VERB You can say that someone uses the toilet or bathroom as a polite way of saying that they go to the toilet. [POLITENESS ] □ [V n] Wash your hands after using the toilet. □ [V n] He asked whether he could use my bathroom.

5 VERB If you use a particular word or expression, you say or write it, because it has the meaning that you want to express. □ [V n] The judge liked using the word 'wicked' of people he had sent to jail.

6 VERB If you use a particular name, you call yourself by that name, especially when it is not the name that you usually call yourself. □ [V n] Now I use a false name if I'm meeting people for the first time.

7 VERB If you say that someone uses people, you disapprove of them because they make others do things for them in order to benefit or gain some advantage from it, and not because they care about the other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Be careful she's not just using you. □ [be V -ed] Why do I have the feeling I'm being used again?

8 → see also used ➊

➋ use ◆◆◇ /juː s/ (uses )

1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Your use of something is the action or fact of your using it. □ [+ of ] The treatment does not involve the use of any artificial drugs. □ …research related to microcomputers and their use in classrooms. □ [+ of ] We are denied use of the land by the ruling classes. □ [+ of ] He would support a use of force if the U.N. deemed it necessary.

2 N‑SING If you have a use for something, you need it or can find something to do with it. □ [+ for ] You will no longer have a use for the magazines. □ [+ for ] They both loved the fabric, but couldn't find a use for it.

3 N‑VAR [oft adj N ] If something has a particular use , it is intended for a particular purpose. □ Infrared detectors have many uses. □ It's an interesting scientific phenomenon, but of no practical use whatever. □ French furniture was designed for every use. □ [+ for ] The report outlined possible uses for the new weapon. □ [+ as ] …elderflower water for use as an eye and skin lotion. □ [+ of ] We need to recognize that certain uses of the land upon which we live are simply wrong. [Also + in ]

4 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] If you have the use of something, you have the permission or ability to use it. □ [+ of ] She will have the use of the car one night a week. □ [+ of ] …young people who at some point in the past have lost the use of their limbs. □ [+ of ] You will have full use of all the new leisure club facilities.

5 N‑COUNT A use of a word is a particular meaning that it has or a particular way in which it can be used. □ [+ of ] There are new uses of words coming in and old uses dying out.

6 N‑UNCOUNT Your use of a particular name is the fact of your calling yourself by it. □ [+ of ] Police have been hampered by Mr Urquhart's use of bogus names.

7 PHRASE If something is for the use of a particular person or group of people, it is for that person or group to use. □ The leisure facilities are there for the use of guests. □ He raises crops mainly for the use of his family.

8 PHRASE If you say that being something or knowing someone has its uses , you mean that it makes it possible for you to do what you otherwise would not be able to do. [INFORMAL ] □ Being a hospital Sister had its uses.

9 PHRASE If something such as a technique, building, or machine is in use , it is used regularly by people. If it has gone out of use , it is no longer used regularly by people. □ The system he created is still in use today. □ The site has been out of use for many years.

10 PHRASE If you make use of something, you do something with it in order to do a job or achieve a particular result or effect. [WRITTEN ] □ Not all nursery schools make use of the opportunities open to them. □ …making use of the same bottle time after time.

11 PHRASE You use expressions such as it's no use , there's no use , and what's the use to indicate that a particular action will not achieve anything. □ [PHR v-ing] It's no use arguing with a drunk. □ There's no use you asking me any more questions. □ What's the use of complaining?

12 PHRASE If you say it's no use , you mean that you have failed to do something and realize that it is useless to continue trying because it is impossible. □ It's no use. Let's hang up and try for a better line.

13 PHRASE If something or someone is of use , they are useful. If they are no use , they are not at all useful. □ [+ to ] The contents of this booklet should be of use to all students. □ [+ to ] I'm sorry, I've been no use to you.

used

➊ MODAL USES AND PHRASES

➋ ADJECTIVE USES

➊ used ◆◆◇ /juː st/

1 PHRASE If something used to be done or used to be the case, it was done regularly in the past or was the case in the past. □ People used to come and visit him every day. □ He used to be one of the professors at the School of Education. □ I feel more compassion and less anger than I used to.

2 PHRASE [with neg] If something used not to be done or used not to be the case, it was not done in the past or was not the case in the past. The forms did not use to and did not used to are also found, especially in spoken English. □ Borrowing used not to be recommended. □ At some point kids start doing things they didn't use to do. They get more independent. □ He didn't used to like anyone walking on the lawns in the back garden.

3 PHRASE If you are used to something, you are familiar with it because you have done it or experienced it many times before. □ I'm used to having my sleep interrupted. □ It doesn't frighten them. They're used to it.

4 PHRASE If you get used to something or someone, you become familiar with it or get to know them, so that you no longer feel that the thing or person is unusual or surprising. □ This is how we do things here. You'll soon get used to it. □ He took some getting used to.

➋ used /juː zd/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A used object is dirty or spoiled because it has been used, and usually needs to be thrown away or washed. □ …a used cotton ball stained with makeup. □ He took a used envelope bearing an Irish postmark.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A used car has already had one or more owners. □ Would you buy a used car from this man? □ His only big purchase has been a used Ford.

use|ful ◆◆◇ /juː sfʊl/

1 ADJ If something is useful , you can use it to do something or to help you in some way. □ [+ for ] The slow cooker is very useful for people who go out all day. □ [+ in ] Hypnotherapy can be useful in helping you give up smoking. □ The police gained a great deal of useful information about the organization. ● use|ful|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the problems to which computers could be usefully applied. □ We need to find ways of dealing creatively and usefully with our feelings. ● use|ful|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] His interest lay in the usefulness of his work, rather than in any personal credit.

2 PHRASE If an object or skill comes in useful , it can help you achieve something in a particular situation. □ The accommodation is some distance from the clubhouse, so a hire car comes in useful. SYNONYMS useful ADJ 1

helpful: The following information may be helpful to readers.

effective: Simple antibiotics are effective against this organism.

valuable: The experience was very valuable.

beneficial: …vitamins which are beneficial to our health.

worthwhile: The President's trip to Washington this week seems to have been worthwhile.

use|less /juː sləs/

1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If something is useless , you cannot use it. □ He realised that their money was useless in this country. □ Computers would be useless without software writers. ● use|less|ly ADV □ His right arm hung rather uselessly. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The car had rusted almost to the point of uselessness.

2 ADJ If something is useless , it does not achieve anything helpful or good. □ She knew it was useless to protest. □ …a useless punishment which fails to stop people trafficking. ● use|less|ly ADV □ Uselessly, he checked the same pockets he'd checked before. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the uselessness of their research.

3 ADJ If you say that someone or something is useless , you mean that they are no good at all. [INFORMAL ] □ Their education system is useless. □ [+ at ] He was useless at any game with a ball.

4 ADJ If someone feels useless , they feel bad because they are unable to help someone or achieve anything. □ She sits at home all day, watching TV and feeling useless. ● use|less|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …the sense of uselessness and the boredom of empty days.

Use|net /juː znet/ N‑UNCOUNT Usenet is a computer network that links newsgroups on the internet. [COMPUTING ]

user ◆◇◇ /juː zə ^r / (users ) N‑COUNT A user is a person or thing that uses something such as a place, facility, product, or machine. □ Beach users have complained about people walking their dogs on the sand. □ [+ of ] …a regular user of Holland's health-care system. □ [+ of ] …a user of electric current, such as an electric motor, a lamp, or a toaster.

u ser-frie ndly ADJ If you describe something such as a machine or system as user-friendly , you mean that it is well designed and easy to use. □ This an entirely computer operated system which is very user-friendly. □ …user-friendly libraries.

u ser group (user groups ) N‑COUNT A user group is a group of people with the same interests, who use a particular product or service. □ PLATFORM is an alliance of more than 80 rail user groups. □ There is always someone else online in the patient user group.

user|name /juː zə ^r ne I m/ (usernames ) N‑COUNT Your username is the name that you use when accessing a particular computer, program, website, or service. □ I typed in my username and password and the screen was just blank.

ush|er /ʌ ʃə ^r / (ushers , ushering , ushered )

1 VERB If you usher someone somewhere, you show them where they should go, often by going with them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n prep/adv] I ushered him into the office. □ [V n prep/adv] They were quickly ushered away.

2 N‑COUNT An usher is a person who shows people where to sit, for example at a wedding or at a concert. □ He did part-time work as an usher in a theatre.

3 N‑COUNT An usher is a person who organizes people who are attending a law court in Britain.

▸ usher in PHRASAL VERB If one thing ushers in another thing, it indicates that the other thing is about to begin. [FORMAL ] □ [V P n] …a unique opportunity to usher in a new era of stability.

USMC /juː es em siː / also U.S.M.C. N‑PROPER USMC is an abbreviation for United States Marine Corps .

USN /juː es e n/ also U.S.N. N‑PROPER USN is an abbreviation for United States Navy .

USP /ju ː es pi ː/ (USPs ) N‑COUNT The USP of a product or service is a particular feature of it which can be used in advertising to show how it is different from, and better than, other similar products or services. USP is an abbreviation for 'Unique Selling Point'. [BUSINESS ] □ Fabulous lake views are the USP of this single-storey home.

usu. usu. is a written abbreviation for usually .

usu|al ◆◆◇ /juː ʒuəl/

1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Usual is used to describe what happens or what is done most often in a particular situation. □ It is a neighborhood beset by all the usual inner-city problems. □ She's smiling her usual friendly smile. □ After lunch there was a little more clearing up to do than usual. □ It is usual to tip waiters, porters, guides and drivers. ● N‑SING Usual is also a noun. □ The barman appeared to take their order. 'Good morning, sir. The usual?'

2 PHRASE You use as usual to indicate that you are describing something that normally happens or that is normally the case. □ As usual there will be the local and regional elections on June the twelfth. □ The front pages are, as usual, a mixture of domestic and foreign news.

3 PHRASE If something happens as usual , it happens in the way that it normally does, especially when other things have changed. □ When somebody died everything went on as usual, as if it had never happened.

4 business as usual → see business

usu|al|ly ◆◆◇ /juː ʒuəli/

1 ADV [ADV before v] If something usually happens, it is the thing that most often happens in a particular situation. □ The best information about hotels usually comes from friends who have been there. □ They ate, as they usually did, in the kitchen. □ Usually, the work is boring. □ Offering only one loan, usually an installment loan, is part of the plan.

2 PHRASE You use more than usually to show that something shows even more of a particular quality than it normally does. □ She felt more than usually hungry after her excursion. □ He was more than usually depressed by problems at work. SYNONYMS usually ADV 1

normally: Social progress is normally a matter of struggles and conflicts.

generally: I generally say and feel too much about these issues.

commonly: Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.

usurp /juːzɜː ^r p/ (usurps , usurping , usurped ) VERB If you say that someone usurps a job, role, title, or position, they take it from someone when they have no right to do this. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Did she usurp his place in his mother's heart?

usurp|er /juːzɜː ^r pə ^r / (usurpers ) N‑COUNT A usurper is someone who takes another person's title or position when they have no right to. [FORMAL ]

usu|ry /juː ʒəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Usury is the practice of lending money at a high rate of interest. [DISAPPROVAL ]

ute /juː t/ (utes ) N‑COUNT A ute is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground. Ute is an abbreviation for 'utility vehicle'. [AUSTRALIAN , INFORMAL ]

uten|sil /juːte ns ^ə l/ (utensils ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Utensils are tools or objects that you use in order to help you to cook or to do other tasks in your home. □ …utensils such as bowls, steamers and frying pans.

u|ter|ine /juː təra I n, [AM ] -r I n/ ADJ Uterine means relating to the uterus of a woman or female mammal. [MEDICAL ]

uter|us /juː tərəs/ (uteruses ) N‑COUNT The uterus of a woman or female mammal is her womb. [MEDICAL ] □ …an ultrasound scan of the uterus.

uti|lise /juː t I la I z/ → see utilize

utili|tar|ian /juː t I l I teə riən/ (utilitarians )

1 ADJ Utilitarian means based on the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. [TECHNICAL ] □ It was James Mill who was the best publicist for utilitarian ideas on government. ● N‑COUNT A utilitarian is someone with utilitarian views. □ One of the greatest utilitarians was Claude Helvetius.

2 ADJ Utilitarian objects and buildings are designed to be useful rather than attractive. □ Bruce's office is a corner one, utilitarian and unglamorous.

utili|tari|an|ism /juː t I l I teə riən I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Utilitarianism is the idea that the morally correct course of action is the one that produces benefit for the greatest number of people. [TECHNICAL ]

util|ity /juːt I l I ti/ (utilities )

1 N‑UNCOUNT The utility of something is its usefulness. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Belief in the utility of higher education is shared by students nationwide. □ [+ of ] He inwardly questioned the utility of his work.

2 N‑COUNT A utility is an important service such as water, electricity, or gas that is provided for everyone, and that everyone pays for. □ …public utilities such as gas, electricity and phones.

uti l|ity room (utility rooms ) N‑COUNT A utility room is a room in a house which is usually connected to the kitchen and which contains things such as a washing machine, sink, and cleaning equipment.

uti l|ity ve |hi|cle (utility vehicles ) N‑COUNT A utility vehicle is a vehicle that is designed to travel over rough ground. [AUSTRALIAN ]

uti|lize /juː t I la I z/ (utilizes , utilizing , utilized ) in BRIT, also use utilise VERB If you utilize something, you use it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Sound engineers utilize a range of techniques to enhance the quality of the recordings. □ [be V -ed] Minerals can be absorbed and utilized by the body in a variety of different forms. ● uti|li|za|tion /juː t I la I ze I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft n N ] □ [+ of ] …the utilisation of human resources.

ut|most /ʌ tmoʊst/

1 ADJ [ADJ n] You can use utmost to emphasize the importance or seriousness of something or to emphasize the way that it is done. [EMPHASIS ] □ It is a matter of the utmost urgency to find out what has happened to these people. □ Security matters are treated with the utmost seriousness. □ You should proceed with the utmost caution.

2 N‑SING If you say that you are doing your utmost to do something, you are emphasizing that you are trying as hard as you can to do it. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ He would have done his utmost to help her, of that she was certain.

3 PHRASE If you say that something is done to the utmost , you are emphasizing that it is done to the greatest extent, amount, or degree possible. [EMPHASIS ] □ My limited diplomatic skills were tested to the utmost. □ The best plan is to continue to attack him to the utmost of our power.

uto|pia /juːtoʊ piə/ (utopias ) N‑VAR If you refer to an imaginary situation as a utopia , you mean that it is one in which society is perfect and everyone is happy, but which you feel is not possible. □ We weren't out to design a contemporary utopia. □ …the social utopias of revolutionary peasants.

uto|pian /juːtoʊ piən/

1 ADJ If you describe a plan or idea as utopian , you are criticizing it because it is unrealistic and shows a belief that things can be improved much more than is possible. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was pursuing a utopian dream of world prosperity. □ A complete absence of national border controls is utopian.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Utopian is used to describe political or religious philosophies which claim that it is possible to build a new and perfect society in which everyone is happy. [FORMAL ] □ His was a utopian vision of nature in its purest form.

ut|ter /ʌ tə ^r / (utters , uttering , uttered )

1 VERB If someone utters sounds or words, they say them. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] He uttered a snorting laugh. □ [V n] They departed without uttering a word.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use utter to emphasize that something is great in extent, degree, or amount. [EMPHASIS ] □ This, of course, is utter nonsense. □ …this utter lack of responsibility. □ A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.

ut|ter|ance /ʌ tərəns/ (utterances )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's utterances are the things that they say. [FORMAL ] □ …the Queen's public utterances. □ …a host of admirers who hung on her every utterance.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Utterance is the expression in words of ideas, thoughts, and feelings. [FORMAL ] □ [+ to ] I will give free utterance to my complaint.

ut|ter|ly /ʌ tə ^r li/ ADV [ADV with v] You use utterly to emphasize that something is very great in extent, degree, or amount. [EMPHASIS ] □ Everything about the country seemed utterly different from what I'd experienced before. □ The new laws coming in are utterly ridiculous.

U -turn (U-turns )

1 N‑COUNT If you make a U-turn when you are driving or cycling, you turn in a half circle in one movement, so that you are then going in the opposite direction.

2 N‑COUNT If you describe a change in a politician's policy, plans, or actions as a U-turn , you mean that it is a complete change and that they made the change because they were weak or were wrong. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ by ] …a humiliating U-turn by the party.