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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List boat /bəʊt $ boʊt/ noun [C] a vehicle that travels across water adjectives/nouns + boat a small/little/tiny boat They left me alone in a small boat in the middle of the ocean. a fishing boat The fishing boats go out to sea early in the morning. a sailing boat BrE a sailboat AmE The lake was full of sailing boats. a rowing boat BrE a rowboat AmE We took a rowing boat out on the river. a canal boat also a narrow boat BrE (=for use on canals) We had a holiday on a canal boat in France. a pleasure boat (=a small boat that people use on a lake, river etc) The river is frequently used by pleasure boats, particularly in the summer. verbs + boat sail a boat We sailed the boat across the ocean. row a boat They were rowing the boat as fast as they could. take a boat out Why don't we take the boat out on the river? get/climb/step onto a boat I helped her get onto the boat. get/jump/step off a boat He jumped off the boat into the water. launch a boat (=put it in the water) Where's the best place to launch the boat? steer a boat (=control it so that it goes in a particular direction) She steered the boat towards the shore. tie up/moor a boat (=tie it to something so that it stays in that place) The boy jumped on to the bank and tied up the boat. | How much does it cost to moor a boat here? anchor a boat (=put a metal object attached to the boat by a rope into the water, so that the boat stays in that place) He anchored his boat about 25 metres from the beach. meet sb off the boat Her family were waiting to meet her off the boat. boat + verbs a boat sails somewhere The boat sailed into the harbour. a boat sinks Our boat sank in a storm. a boat capsizes/overturns (=turns over in the water) He stood up suddenly and the boat capsized. a boat rocks (=moves from side to side in the water) The little boat was rocking in the wind. a boat drifts (=moves without any power) The boat drifted out to sea. boat + nouns a boat trip You can take a boat trip to the islands. a boat race There's a boat race on the river tomorrow. prepositions by boat The beach can only be reached by boat. in a boat I've never been in a boat before. on a boat Everyone on the boat was seasick. Boat or ship? A boat is smaller than a ship. THESAURUS: boat yacht a large boat with a sail, used for pleasure or sport sailing boat BrE sailboat AmE a boat that uses one or more sails rowing boat BrE rowboat AmE a small boat that you move through the water with oars dinghy a small open boat used for pleasure, or for taking people between a ship and the shore catamaran a sailing boat with two separate hulls (=the part that goes in the water) trimaran a sailing boat with three separate hulls barge a large low boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying heavy goods on a canal or river canal boat also narrow boat BrE a boat that you use on canals canoe a long light boat that is open at the top and pointed at both ends, which you move along using a paddle. Canoes are for one to three people kayak a light boat for one or two people, that is pointed at both ends and covered on top. A kayak has round holes on top in which the people sit, and you move it along using a paddle punt a long thin boat with a flat bottom that you move by pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river - used for pleasure houseboat a boat that is specially made so that you can live on it pleasure boat a small boat, for example a sailing boat or a rowing boat, that people use on a lake, river etc: People were out on the lake in pleasure boats. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases boat noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List base2 / beɪs/ verb to use something as a basis Grammar Base is usually used in the passive, and is always followed by on (or upon in more formal English). adverbs base sth mostly/mainly/largely on sth The students' grades are based mostly on test scores. | Their diet is based largely on rice. base sth solely/entirely/exclusively on sth (=only on something) The case against him is based solely on a single complaint from one customer. base sth partly on sth The decision will be based partly on the candidate's qualifications and partly on their interview. base sth loosely on sth (=in a way that is not exact) The movie is based loosely on his life. base sth firmly on sth (=in a way that will not change) These findings are based firmly on the evidence presented to the committee. nouns base a decision/judgment/conclusion on sth I prefer to make a decision based on all the facts. | The court must base its judgment on the legal argument. base an argument on sth His argument is based on a misunderstanding of the situation. base figures/calculations on sth These figures are based on data from the Bank of England. | These calculations are based on the rate of inflation staying below 4%. base results/findings/observations on sth They based their findings on the statements of people who had witnessed the accident. base an assumption/belief/opinion on sth (=something you believe to be true is based on something) Many of their beliefs seemed to be based on superstition. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases base1 noun base2 verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List baby /ˈbeɪbi/ noun a very young child phrases a baby is born Let me know as soon as the baby is born. a baby is due (=is expected to be born) When is your baby due? give birth to a baby Sue gave birth to a baby boy. verbs + baby have a baby She had her first baby when she was 16 years old. be having/expecting a baby (=be pregnant) My wife's expecting a baby. deliver a baby (=help a woman to give birth to a baby) Usually your baby will be delivered by a midwife. abandon a baby (=leave your baby somewhere because you do not want it) The baby was found abandoned outside the hospital. | A disturbing number of babies are abandoned by their mothers. change a baby (=change its nappy) Could you change the baby for me? look after a baby (=take care of it) Will you look after the baby for half an hour? feed a baby She picked up the baby and began to feed her. breast-feed/bottle-feed a baby (=give it milk from your breast, or from a bottle) 63% of new mothers breast-feed their babies. wean a baby (=start giving it solid food) What is the best age to wean a baby? lose a baby (=have a baby that dies when it is born too soon) She was three months pregnant when she lost the baby. abandon a baby (=leave your baby somewhere because you do not want it) The baby was found abandoned outside the hospital. | A disturbing number of babies are abandoned by their mothers. Don't say She is waiting a baby. Say She is expecting a baby. Have a baby or be having a baby? If a woman has a baby, it is born: She had the baby at home (=it was born at home). You often use having a baby when saying that a woman is pregnant: My sister is having a baby and she has to go to hospital for regular check-ups. baby + verbs a baby arrives (=it is born) I'd like to decorate the nursery before the baby arrives. a baby is conceived (=the woman becomes pregnant) The baby was conceived soon after they were married. a baby cries/screams The baby cried all night. a baby moves/kicks After about 20 weeks, you will feel the baby moving inside you. a baby is teething (=teeth are appearing in its mouth) If your baby starts crying a lot, he or she may be teething. a baby feeds (=drinks its milk) Don't talk to the baby when he's feeding. adjectives a young/small/little/tiny baby Young babies need a lot of sleep. | She's just a little baby. a two-day-old/six-month-old etc baby You can't go into work with a three-month-old baby. a newborn baby (=recently born) There's plenty of help and advice for people with newborn babies. an unborn baby (=not yet born) Drinking alcohol is bad for your unborn baby. a healthy baby She gave birth to a healthy baby girl. a contented baby (=usually happy) Danielle was a lovely contented baby. sb's first/second etc baby Is this your first baby? a premature baby (=born before the normal time) Lesley's baby was three weeks premature. a test-tube baby (=a baby that is produced when scientists put the sperm and the egg together and then put it into the mother's body) She was the world's first test-tube baby. a stillborn baby (=born dead) We offer help and support to parents of stillborn babies. an unwanted baby Unwanted babies were frequently abandoned in the streets. an illegitimate baby (=born to an unmarried mother) The number of illegitimate babies is rising. baby + nouns a baby boy/girl She's just had a baby girl. a baby son/daughter/brother/sister The little boy now has a baby sister. the baby boom (=the period when a lot of babies are born) He was born in the baby boom of the 1960s. baby food/milk/clothes/seat/blanket etc The baby likes his new baby food. baby talk (=language used to talk to babies) He always spoke correctly - no baby talk. baby teeth (=the first set of teeth that fall out and are replaced by adult teeth) a baby monitor (=a piece of equipment that lets you hear a baby in a different room) baby wipes (=wet pieces of material you clean a baby with then throw away) THESAURUS: baby toddler a baby who has learned how to walk: The playground has a special area for toddlers. infant formal a baby or a very young child: The disease is mainly found in infants. little one spoken informal a baby, or a small child up to the age of about three: How old is your little one? young the babies of an animal or bird: Kangaroos carry their young in a pouch. litter a group of baby animals that are born at the same time to the same mother: Our cat has just had a litter of six kittens. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective Other words and phrases awkward adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List back1 /bæk/ noun [C] 1. part of the body on the opposite side from the stomach and chest adjectives a bad/sore/aching back He suffers from a bad back. a stiff back I was suffering from a stiff back and needed to get some treatment. sb's lower/upper back He felt a sharp pain in his lower back. a strong back He had a strong back and was used to carrying heavy loads. a broad back He had a broad powerful back and strong shoulders. verbs your back hurts/aches My back aches when I've been sitting in front of my computer for a long time. hurt/injure your back He hurt his back while playing basketball. lie on your back She was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling. massage sb's back She gently massaged his back. hit/pat/slap sb on the back My father slapped me on the back to congratulate me. straighten your back She stood up and straightened her back. break your back She broke her back in two places after falling from her horse. an animal arches its back (=raises it in a curved shape) The cat arched its back and hissed at her. back + nouns a back pain/injury/problem More working days are lost in Britain through back problems than through any other single health problem. back trouble She's still experiencing back trouble after the accident. a back muscle He was suffering from a strained back muscle. a back exercise I'll have to do some back exercises in the gym. a back massage/rub She gave him a back massage to relieve the pain. a back specialist (=a doctor who specializes in back problems) I was sent to see a back specialist at the local hospital. prepositions on your back She was carrying a small child on her back. a pain in your back She complained of a pain in her back. with your back to sb/sth He was standing with his back to the wall. phrases keep your back straight Keep your back straight and bend your knees when lifting things. turn your back on/to sb/sth She turned her back on him. give sb a pat/slap on the back He gave her a slap on the back and wished her luck. sit/stand back to back The two boys were standing back to back. the small of your back (=the lower part of your back where it curves) I keep getting a pain in the small of my back. 2. the part of something that is furthest from the front prepositions the back of sth I can see the back of their house from my window. at the back I could see a tin of tomatoes at the back of the cupboard. in the back We put our luggage in the back of the truck. down the back She found some coins that had fallen down the back of the sofa. around/round the back The incident had taken place around the back of the Berkeley cinema. to/towards the back She went towards the back of the hall. | He walked to the back of the classroom. phrases back to front (=the wrong way round so the back is where the front should be) He was wearing his pullover back to front. THESAURUS: back rear the back part of a building or vehicle. Rear is more formal than back: The carpark is situated at the rear of the hotel. | They went around to the rear of the house. ANTONYMS → front1 applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective Other words and phrases back1 noun back2 adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List back2 adjective at, on, or in the back of something nouns the back page The sport is on the back page of the newspaper. the back row We were sitting in the back row of the cinema. the back door/entrance The thieves broke in through the back door. the back garden She was sitting in the back garden. the back end The back end of the truck hit our car. sb's back teeth I have a pain in one of my back teeth. an animal's back leg/paw The dog stretched out his back legs. a vehicle's back seat She was sitting in the back seat of the car. THESAURUS: back rear seat | entrance | door | window | wall | wheel | end | part in the back part of a building or vehicle. Rear is more formal than back: The rear seats of the car are very comfortable. | A quiet street led to the rear entrance of her apartment block. | Miss Beard arrived at the rear door of the house. | He gave a wave through the rear window. | There was some damage to the rear end of the truck. | They went around to the rear part of the house. ANTONYMS → front2 applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective Other words and phrases back1 noun back2 adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List background /ˈbækɡraʊnd/ noun 1. the kind of family that someone has, or the kind of work or education experience someone has had adjectives/nouns + background different backgrounds The two women come from totally different backgrounds. social background Universities aim to attract students from a wide range of social backgrounds. ethnic/cultural/religious background (=which race, culture, or religion your family comes from) London has people from every ethnic background. class/socio-economic background (=the kind of class you come from) Smokers often come from poorer socio-economic backgrounds. | Class background is an important factor when it comes to jobs. a working-class/middle-class/upper-class background She came from a comfortable middle-class background and she had never had to deal with these problems. a poor/deprived/disadvantaged background (=from a poor family) The school has a high percentage of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. | His poor background made it more difficult for him to become a doctor. a wealthy/privileged background (=from a rich family) All the top jobs were taken by people from privileged backgrounds. family background Many kids lack a stable family background. professional background Managers can come from a wide range of professional backgrounds. educational/academic background The interviewer will ask you about your educational background and work experience. verbs have a background She has a scientific background, but is very interested in the arts. prepositions from a ... background Young people from a wealthy background are more likely to go to university. a background in sth Students with a background in chemistry will probably find the course easier. phrases come from a background Mark and I came from very similar backgrounds. a range of backgrounds People from a wide range of backgrounds go to watch football. 2. the events and facts that explain why something happens in the way it does or why something is like it is verbs give the background also provide the background formal The guide gives a detailed background to the history of the area. form the background The work I did in 2005 forms the background to this research. explain the background Let me explain the background to the decision. adjectives the historical/political background The article provides the historical background to the war. background + nouns background information/details He was able to give background information about the events leading up to the accident. | A visitors' centre provides background details about the history of the abbey. background knowledge The students did not have any background knowledge of the subject. background reading This book is good background reading for anyone interested in military history. prepositions the background to sth The background to these concerns has been a deepening crisis in the economy. the background for sth His experiences during the war provided the background for much of his work. against a background of sth The decision was made against a background of political tension. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective Other words and phrases background noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List backlog /ˈbæklɒg $ -lɒːg, -lɑːg/ noun a large amount of work that you need to deal with, which should have been dealt with earlier adjectives a large/huge/enormous/massive backlog The courts have a large backlog of cases. a growing backlog We have a growing backlog of problems. verbs have a backlog I have a huge backlog of work to do. clear a backlog (=finish dealing with it) He had to stay late at the office to clear a backlog of paperwork. deal with a backlog The company is trying to deal with the backlog of orders as soon as possible. a backlog builds up (=it develops) A backlog of questions had built up. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective Other words and phrases backlog noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bad /bæd/ adjective 1. not good nouns a bad time/day/year It has been a bad time for many businesses. | She had just had a bad day at school. a bad situation/experience The situation was so bad that they didn't know what to do. bad news I'm afraid I have some bad news. the bad thing/aspect/point The bad thing is the widening gap between rich and poor. a bad effect Alcohol has a very bad effect on your liver. a bad idea/decision I knew this was a bad idea. a bad mood/temper He was in a bad mood all morning. a bad grade/mark I got bad marks in my test. bad weather The plane was delayed by bad weather. bad luck It was bad luck that it rained on the day of our picnic. adverbs pretty bad It has been a pretty bad week. unbelievably/incredibly bad It is an unbelievably bad state of affairs. notoriously bad (=everyone knows that something is bad) Food at the restaurant is notoriously bad. verbs get worse The situation is getting worse. prepositions bad for sb/sth Some people say that meat is bad for your health. phrases sth is in (a) bad condition/a bad state The table was in bad condition. THESAURUS: bad poor quality | standard | condition | design | workmanship | performance | health | eyesight | diet | hygiene bad - used especially when something is not as good as it should be. Poor is more formal than bad: There were complaints about the poor quality of the materials. | The house was in very poor condition when we first arrived. | People criticized the government's poor performance. | A poor diet can lead to ill health. | The disease spread because of poor hygiene. disappointing start | end | result | performance | sales | response | news | year | season not as good as you hoped or expected: It was a disappointing start to the campaign. | Her exam results were disappointing. | The team has had a disappointing season. unpleasant experience | surprise | shock | task | feeling | sensation | smell | taste | memory not pleasant or enjoyable: Many people think a trip to the dentist is an unpleasant experience. | Changing a baby's diaper is often an unpleasant task. | There was a rather unpleasant smell coming from the bin. negative impact | effect | results | consequences | reaction | feedback | publicity bad - used especially about effects or people's reaction to something: The bad publicity had a negative impact on sales. | We are starting to see the negative effects of climate change. | This decision will have negative consequences for the economy. | There was a lot of negative feedback from viewers when the programme was shown. | The company was anxious to avoid any negative publicity. grim news | future | prospect | reality | picture | reminder | warning | task bad and worrying or depressing: Workers were given the grim news of the job losses. | His films show the grim reality of war. | The report paints a grim picture of conditions for women in the country (=it describes a bad situation). undesirable formal behaviour | consequences | outcome | effects | side-effects bad and not wanted: The school works to reduce undesirable behaviour. | The policy had some undesirable consequences. detrimental effect | impact | influence | consequences a detrimental effect is bad because it causes harm: The detrimental effects of tourism can easily be seen. | The changes could have a detrimental impact on staff morale. | He believes that television has had a detrimental influence upon society. unfavourable formal conditions | circumstances | climate | response | reaction unfavourable conditions are not good for doing something. An unfavourable reaction shows that you do not like or agree with something: The conditions are unfavourable for an agreement. | Under such unfavourable circumstances it was not possible to continue with the project. | Their request received an unfavourable response. You can also say that something is not very good: The restaurant looked nice but the food wasn't very good. ANTONYMS → good (1) 2. having a serious effect and causing problems, harm, or injury nouns a bad accident Dan was injured in a bad accident on the freeway. a bad mistake Marrying him was the worst mistake she had ever made. a bad problem People don't realise how bad the problem is. a bad injury/cut The player suffered a bad leg injury. a bad cold He had a bad cold and was sneezing. verbs look/sound bad The injury looked quite bad. Describing things that are bad Bad is a very common word. In more formal English, it is usually better to use more formal words such as serious, severe, or grave. THESAURUS: bad serious problem | accident | injury | illness | disease | damage | crime | danger | trouble | consequences | blow | mistake | error | omission bad - used especially when you want to emphasize how bad something is: Obesity is becoming a serious problem in many Western countries. | Her car was involved in a serious accident. | He has a serious illness that prevents him from working. | The fire caused serious damage. | Kidnapping is a serious crime. Don't say a bad crime. Say a serious crime. Don't say a bad disease/illness. Say a serious disease/illness. severe damage | problem | blow | pain | injury | depression | illness | flooding | drought very serious - used about problems, injuries, and illnesses: The building suffered severe damage in the explosion. | Her father's death was a severe blow to her. | The disease causes severe pain in the chest. grave danger | risk | threat | mistake | error | situation | consequences | problem | injustice very bad and worrying, especially because people are in danger and the situation may get worse. Grave is more formal than serious or severe: The building is in grave danger of collapse. | The decision was a grave error. | If the trade negotiations fail, this could have grave consequences for the world economy. | Terrorism is a grave problem. | The judge said that a grave injustice had been done to the two men. desperate situation | shortage | need | battle | struggle a desperate situation is very bad and it does not seem possible that it will improve: We were in a desperate situation with no house and very little money. | There is a desperate shortage of food and medicine. acute pain | illness | shortage | problem | anxiety very bad - used about a problem or about an illness that becomes bad very quickly: He was suffering from acute chest pains. | There is an acute shortage of nurses. 3. not skilful nouns a bad player/driver/singer There are a lot of bad drivers on the roads. a bad student/teacher He was a bad student who never did any work. a bad cook Not all men are bad cooks. bad French/Spanish etc The waiter's English was as bad as my Spanish. a bad game/performance/speech etc He had one bad game for England but that doesn't make him a bad player. a bad grade/mark I got a bad grade in English. a bad job (=used when someone did not do something well) The mechanics did a bad job on the engine. adverbs really bad He's a really bad swimmer. rather/pretty bad The singing was pretty bad. unbelievably/incredibly bad Her spelling is unbelievably bad. prepositions bad at (doing) sth Scientists are often bad at communicating the importance of their work. THESAURUS: bad poor performance | management | student | leader | manager | English | pronunciation | spelling | grammar bad. Poor is more formal than bad: The team gave a poor performance in Saturday's game. | He was a very poor student in high school. | His English was poor and it was difficult to understand what he was saying. ANTONYMS → good (2) 4. behaving in a way that is morally wrong, or doing things that you should not do nouns a bad man/woman He was a bad man and I knew I couldn't trust him. a bad boy/girl/child/dog Don't do that, you bad boy! bad behaviour You shouldn't reward bad behaviour. a bad habit It's difficult to break bad habits. THESAURUS: bad naughty child | boy | girl | schoolboy | schoolgirl | dog a naughty child or pet behaves badly: The children have been very naughty all morning. | Get down, you naughty dog! immoral behaving in a way that is morally wrong: They believe that homosexuality is immoral. | Having a mistress is usually considered to be immoral. evil man | woman | person | spirit | dictator | tyrant | genius | mastermind | empire | deed | plan | intentions doing things that are very bad or cruel: He was described by police as one of the most evil and dangerous men in Britain. | The charm is believed to keep away evil spirits. | He was an evil dictator, responsible for the deaths of millions. | One day he will be punished for his evil deeds. | Although he beat her, she refused to help him with his evil plan. wicked witch | man | woman | person | stepmother | thought | plan | thing doing things that are very bad or cruel: The wicked witch turned him into a frog. | He was, in the judge's words, a very wicked man. | She was a cruel and wicked woman to let his father die in that dreadful place. | Mrs Hellyer and her family were not wicked people; she knew them. | His mind was full of wicked thoughts. | How dare you say such a wicked thing! Wicked or evil? Wicked and evil are very similar. Evil sounds even stronger than wicked. Wicked is often used in stories: a wicked witch The main difference is collocation - you say an evil spirit (not a 'wicked' one) or an evil genius/mastermind/dictator (not a 'wicked' one). ANTONYMS → good (3) applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bad adjective bad-tempered adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bad-tempered /ˌbæd ˈtempəd/ adjective BrE someone who is bad-tempered becomes easily annoyed and talks in an angry way to people nouns a bad-tempered man/woman Her husband was a disagreeable, bad-tempered man. a bad-tempered look/voice "What garden?" said Ben, in a bad-tempered voice. You can also use bad-tempered about games in which there are a lot of angry arguments: In a bad-tempered match, Jason Ramshaw had his jaw broken. verbs get bad-tempered He gets bad-tempered when he thinks about the future. prepositions be bad-tempered with sb I was wondering why she had been so bad-tempered with me recently. THESAURUS: bad-tempered moody often becoming annoyed or unhappy, especially when there seems to be no good reason: Myra can be a bit moody sometimes. | a moody teenager irritable easily annoyed about small things, especially because you are tired, upset, or worried: I hadn't had much sleep and was feeling tired and irritable. | Since Steve quit smoking, he's been really irritable. | You're turning into an irritable old man. grumpy/grouchy old man | old woman | person | mood easily annoyed and often complaining about things - used especially when talking about people you know well. These words sound much gentler and less critical than bad-tempered: I think I'm becoming a grumpy old woman. | She isn't usually a grumpy person. | He woke up in a grouchy mood. | There's no need to be so grumpy! be in a bad/foul mood to be feeling annoyed or unhappy, so that you do not speak in a normal friendly way to people - used especially when this only lasts for a fairly short period of time and is not part of someone's usual character: Leave him alone - he's in a foul mood today. | By the time I got home at 9 o'clock, I was in a really bad mood. have/have got a short fuse informal to be likely to become angry very suddenly, especially in an unreasonable way: Be careful what you say to the Colonel - he's got a very short fuse. cantankerous written old man | old woman bad-tempered and complaining or quarrelling a lot - used especially about old people: The hotel owner was a cantankerous old woman. | In later years, she became quite cantankerous. THESAURUS: bad-tempered → angry applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bad-tempered adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List badly /ˈbædli/ adverb (worse /wɜːs $ wɜːrs/worst /wɜːst $ wɜːrst/) to a great or serious degree adjectives badly damaged Both cars were badly damaged in the accident. badly hurt/injured/wounded Fortunately no one was badly hurt. badly bruised/burned/swollen His face was badly burned. | Her ankle is still badly swollen after she fell last week. badly beaten (=hit very hard many times) He was badly beaten and stabbed. badly affected Albania was badly affected by industrial unrest. badly hit (=badly affected) Businesses have been badly hit by the economic slowdown. badly shaken (=very upset or frightened) Both boys were badly shaken by the incident. badly decomposed (=decayed by a natural process - used about dead bodies) The body was badly decomposed and had been in the water for a long time. verbs want sth badly Caroline wanted the job badly. miss sb badly (=feel very sad because you are not with someone you love) Lucy was missing Gary so badly. suffer badly The town suffered badly during the last war. hurt badly My leg was hurting badly. phrases be badly in need of sth (=need something very much) He felt badly in need of some sleep. go badly wrong (=go wrong in a serious way) Things started to go badly wrong for Eric after he lost his job. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases badly adverb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bag /bæɡ/ noun a container made of paper, cloth, plastic etc, used for carrying things adjectives/nouns + bag a plastic/paper bag Store the mushrooms in a paper bag in the fridge. a leather bag She was carrying a smart leather bag. a carrier bag (=for carrying shopping, usually made of plastic) The supermarket no longer gives free carrier bags. a shopping bag BrE a grocery bag especially AmE She loaded her shopping bags into the back of the car. a school bag Hey, don't forget your school bag! a sports bag I noticed that the man was wearing trainers and carrying a sports bag. a bin bag/dustbin bag BrE a garbage bag AmE (=a plastic bag for putting waste in) Use the black bin bags provided by the council. a travel bag (=a suitcase or bag you take when travelling) Your travel bag must not weigh more than 15 kilos. a shoulder bag (=one that you carry over your shoulder) Big shoulder bags are fashionable this year. an overnight bag (=a small suitcase or bag for a short stay somewhere) I put some clothes in an overnight bag and got in the car. an evening bag (=a small bag that a woman takes out with her in the evening) She put her lipstick in a black velvet evening bag. a tote bag AmE (=a large bag for carrying things) She pulled a scarf out of her tote bag. a sponge/toilet bag (=for carrying your soap, toothpaste, shampoo etc) I left my sponge bag in the hotel bathroom. a clutch bag (=a small bag that a woman holds in one hand) For the evening all you need is a little clutch bag. a beach bag (=to take to the beach) I bought a big striped beach bag. Handbag is written as one word. verbs carry a bag Let me carry the bags. put sth in a bag She put her make-up in her bag. open/close a bag The customs officer opened my bag. pack a bag (=put things in it preparing to go somewhere) Mum packed a bag for a day at the beach. unpack a bag She unpacked her bags and put her clothes away. empty a bag I've emptied my bags and I still can't find it. look/search/rummage (around) in a bag (=search for something in a bag) Ivor was rummaging in the bag for his camera. a bag contains sth The bag contained some old clothes. a bag holds sth I don't think that bag will hold all those books. prepositions in a bag What's in the bag? a bag of sth There was a bag of potatoes on the kitchen counter. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bag noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List baggage /ˈbæɡɪdʒ/ noun the cases, bags etc you carry when travelling Grammar Baggage is an uncountable noun. It is not used in the plural. Don't say baggages. adjectives/nouns + baggage hand baggage (=bags that you are allowed to carry with you onto a plane) You are only allowed one item of hand baggage on the plane. excess baggage (=baggage that weighs more than you are allowed to take on a plane) Passengers will be charged for excess baggage. verbs + baggage check (in) your baggage (=take it to the desk at an airport when you confirm your arrival for a flight) I checked in my baggage and waited for my flight. carry your baggage Passengers have to carry their baggage onto the ship. pick up/collect your baggage After picking up our baggage, we went to the arrivals hall to meet my parents. search/go through your baggage Customs officers went through everyone's baggage. screen baggage (=put it through a machine to search it) It is common practice to screen all passengers and baggage at airports. baggage + nouns baggage allowance (=the amount of baggage you are allowed to take on a plane) There's a 20 kilo baggage allowance. the baggage compartment (=the place on a plane, train, bus, or ship where baggage is carried) I put my briefcase into the overhead baggage compartment. baggage reclaim also baggage claim AmE (=the place where you collect your baggage after a flight) We waited for almost an hour in baggage reclaim. a baggage trolley BrE a baggage cart AmE Wait here while I go and get a baggage trolley. a baggage car (=the part of a train where baggage is carried) The guard locked the baggage car behind us. a baggage room AmE (=a place in a station, where you can leave your bags and collect them later) I'll meet you in the baggage room at the Greyhound station. a baggage handler (=one of the people who put baggage on and off planes) A strike by baggage handlers caused major flight delays. phrases an item/piece of baggage How many pieces of baggage do you have? applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases baggage noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bail /beɪl/ noun money left with a court of law to make sure that a prisoner will return when his or her trial starts phrases be released/freed on bail also be remanded on bail BrE (=be given bail and allowed to stay out of prison, usually until a trial takes place) The men were released on police bail after spending 24 hours in custody. | Barlow was remanded on bail until the trial date. apply/ask for bail The defendant did not apply for bail during the 15-minute court hearing. be held without bail The judge ordered that Jones be held without bail. | He is being held without bail pending another hearing. verbs be granted/given bail Smith was granted bail when magistrates adjourned the case. be refused bail Carter has been refused bail and will remain in custody. get bail His wife says he hopes to get bail. set bail (=say how much bail someone must pay) Judge Philip Moscone set bail at $2 million. | Bail was set at $30,000. post bail also put up bail (=pay the amount set as bail) He had to post bail of $100,000 before he could fly home to Canada. | Why can't you ask your father to put up bail for you? oppose bail (=ask a judge not to grant bail) The Essex police opposed bail, and Mathews was remanded in custody. jump bail also skip bail BrE (=not return for your trial as you promised) He jumped bail and fled the country. adjectives/nouns + bail police bail BrE (=bail given to someone by the police while deciding whether to charge them with a crime) She was released on police bail. conditional/unconditional bail (=bail which has or does not have rules and conditions) Both men were given unconditional bail by the court. bail + nouns a bail application also an application for bail He was remanded in custody last Tuesday and will make a fresh bail application tomorrow. | The judge refused his application for bail. a bail condition As one of his bail conditions, Jones was ordered to stay in Manchester. a bail hearing (=a meeting of a court, that decides whether someone should be given bail) His bail hearing is set for 9 November. a bail bond (=a sum of borrowed money left with a court by the person receiving bail) You are covered for a bail bond of up to £5,000 under your motor insurance policy. a bail bondsman (=a person or company that provides bail bonds) a bail hostel (=a place for people on bail who do not have a permanent home) He was sent to a bail hostel in Bristol until the case came to trial. prepositions on bail Carpenter is free on bail while he appeals his conviction. | She was murdered by a man who was out on bail for assault. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bail noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bake /beɪk/ verb [I,T] to cook bread, cake, and other food in an oven, using dry heat adverbs freshly/newly baked I love the smell of freshly baked bread. nouns bake bread We bake all our own bread. bake a cake/pie/pizza She's going to bake a cake for his birthday. | We decided to bake an apple pie. bake a potato Bake the potatoes in a pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. bake fish Bake the fish slowly. Bake or roast? You usually use roast about meat. When you roast potatoes or other vegetables, you cook them in an oven using oil or fat from meat. You usually use bake about bread and cakes. When you bake potatoes, you cook them in an oven using dry heat only. THESAURUS: bake → cook1 applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bake verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List balance /ˈbæləns/ noun 1. your ability to stand or walk steadily, without falling verbs lose your balance (=become unsteady) He suddenly felt weak and he lost his balance and fell over. | She nearly lost her balance as the bus suddenly moved forward. keep your balance (=stay steady) The sea was so rough that it was hard to keep my balance. regain/recover your balance (=become steady again) He held on to the rope until he regained his balance. knock/throw sb off balance The punch was hard enough to knock him off balance. prepositions off balance The branch knocked him off balance and he fell off his bicycle. phrases a sense of balance Cats have a good sense of balance. 2. a situation in which there is the right relationship between things adjectives a good/healthy balance I try to eat a good balance of fish, meat, and fresh vegetables. | Are you eating a healthy balance of foods? a fine balance (=hard to achieve) She manages to strike the fine balance between being a boss and being a mom. a delicate balance (=easily damaged) Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere upsets the delicate balance of gases. the right/proper/correct balance With sport, you have to find the right balance between competition and fun. the natural balance These chemicals will upset the natural balance of the pond. the ecological balance Human activity is ruining the ecological balance of our planet. the political/military balance By this time, the political balance in the Cabinet had altered. verbs get/find/achieve/strike a balance (=succeed in getting the balance right) Finding the right balance between home and work is difficult. | It is necessary to strike a balance between the needs of employers and employees. keep/maintain/preserve a balance Try to keep a balance between your spending and your earnings. | A business must maintain a balance between profit and financial risk. upset/disturb/disrupt the balance (=make it less equal or correct) They don't want to upset the delicate balance of power in the region. change/alter/shift the balance Will this election alter the balance of power in the Senate? | We want to shift the balance towards preventing the disease rather than treating it. redress/restore the balance (=make it equal or correct again) What can be done to redress the balance in favour of the victims of crime? the balance changes/alters/shifts After the strike, the balance of power had changed in favour of the workers. prepositions a balance between things You won't be happy unless you keep a balance between work and leisure. phrases the balance of power The US wants to see the balance of power in Asia maintained. the balance of nature Cutting down the forests seriously upsets the balance of nature. your work-life balance (=between your work and the rest of your life) He is finding it difficult to get a good work-life balance. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases balance noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bald /bɔːld $ bɒːld/ adjective having little or no hair on your head verbs go bald He started going bald when he was in his thirties. bald + nouns a bald head The professor was a small man with a bald head. a bald patch/spot He had a bald patch at the back of his head. a bald man A large bald man was sitting opposite me. adverbs completely/totally bald My father went completely bald when he was in his early forties. almost bald His head was almost bald, except for a few hairs at the back. prematurely bald (=bald at an unusually young age) He was tall and prematurely bald. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases bald adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List ball /bɔːl $ bɒːl/ noun a round object that is thrown, kicked, or hit in a game or sport verbs + ball throw a ball Suzy threw the ball to Matthew. catch a ball He's useless at baseball; he can't even catch a ball. play with a ball The dog was playing with a tennis ball. bounce a ball He was in the yard bouncing a ball against the wall. hit/kick/strike a ball He swung the bat and hit the ball as hard as he could. | Greg kicked the ball to Will. head the ball (=hit a ball with your head in a game of football) Rooney headed the ball into the top corner. pass a ball (=kick or throw it to someone) He passed the ball to his team-mate. get/win the ball Then the Cowboys managed to get the ball again. miss the ball (=not catch or hit it) I was trying hard but I kept missing the ball. drop the ball He ran in to score when the keeper dropped the ball. control the ball (=make it move in the direction that you want) The striker took one touch to control the ball and another to score. cross the ball (=kick a ball across a playing area) He ran to the byline and crossed the ball into the penalty box. run with the ball His ability to run with the ball and score goals is first class. give away/lose the ball (=pass it to the opposing team) If you keep giving the ball away in midfield, eventually the other team will punish you. keep/retain the ball (=not give it to the opposing team) Teams like Arsenal and Barcelona are masters at keeping the ball. ball + verbs a ball rolls The ball rolled just past the hole. a ball bounces In tennis, the ball must only bounce once. a ball flies/sails/soars (=moves through the air) The ball flew over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. a ball rebounds (=hits something and moves back and away from it again) The ball hit the goalpost and rebounded. a ball hits/strikes sth The ball hit the ground once before bouncing over the line. nouns + ball a tennis/cricket/golf/rugby/soccer ball She was practising hitting golf balls. a ping-pong ball A ping-pong ball is very light. a billiard/snooker/pool ball He hit the snooker ball into the pocket. a bowling ball The bowling ball knocked down all the skittles. a beach ball (=a large light ball used on the beach) Dad, will you blow up the beach ball? ball + nouns a ball game I'm not very good at ball games. ball skills His main assets are his amazing ball skills and a tremendous work-rate. In American English, a ball game means a baseball game: We watched the ball game on TV. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases ball noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List ballet /ˈbæleɪ $ bæˈleɪ, ˈbæleɪ/ noun a performance in which dancing and music tell a story without any speaking adjectives classical ballet I love watching classical ballet, because the dancers always look so graceful. modern ballet In modern ballet, the dancers do not have to wear special ballet shoes. verbs go to the ballet I sometimes go to the ballet at Covent Garden. perform a ballet Tchaikovsky's ballet was performed for the first time in 1877. study/learn ballet He won a scholarship to study ballet in London. teach ballet She teaches ballet in a small private studio. ballet + nouns a ballet dancer She trained as a classical ballet dancer. ballet dancing Ballet dancing is much less popular among men. a ballet class/lesson When I was a child, my mother sent me to ballet lessons. a ballet school He studied at the Royal Ballet School. a ballet teacher Volkova was the best ballet teacher in London. a ballet company (=a group of dancers who perform together) The National Ballet Company will give a performance of 'Sleeping Beauty'. ballet shoes She needs a new pair of ballet shoes. ballet music She was sitting in her chair listening to Tchaikovsky ballet music. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases ballet noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List balloon /bəˈluːn/ noun [C] 1. a small rubber bag that is filled with air and used as a decoration or toy verbs blow up a balloon also inflate a balloon formal She helped me blow up the balloons for the children's party. burst a balloon He burst the balloon with a pin. a balloon floats I watched the balloon float up into the air. 2. a large thing that is filled with gas, which flies in the sky nouns + balloon a hot-air balloon He wants to go for a trip in a hot-air balloon. a barrage balloon (=a large balloon that floats in the air to prevent enemy planes from flying near the ground) Barrage balloons were used mainly against low-flying aircraft. phrases go up in a balloon We went up in a balloon over the mountains. a balloon comes down The balloon came down in the middle of a field. balloon + nouns a balloon flight/ride Enjoy a balloon flight over the Yarra Valley. a balloon race They set off yesterday on a transatlantic hot-air balloon race. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases balloon noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List ballot /ˈbælət/ noun an occasion when people vote, usually in secret adjectives/nouns + ballot a secret ballot (=one in which nobody knows how any other person has voted) The chairman is chosen in a secret ballot. a national ballot There was a national ballot to choose a new leader. a strike ballot The union held a strike ballot. the first/second/final etc ballot In the first ballot, none of the leadership candidates won a clear majority of the votes. a postal ballot (=one where people send in their votes by post) The result of the postal ballot should be known in a month. verbs hold/organize a ballot The workers have organized a ballot to decide whether or not to go on strike. ballot + nouns a ballot paper (=a piece of paper on which people put a cross to show how they wish to vote) The ballot papers are being counted. a ballot box (=a box in which voters put their ballot papers) The minister was photographed putting his ballot paper in the ballot box. prepositions in a ballot He got more than half the vote in a ballot of 200,000 party members. by ballot The vote will be decided by ballot. applause noun apple noun appliance noun applicable adjective application noun apply verb appointment noun appreciate verb appreciation noun approach1 noun approach2 verb approval noun approve verb approximately adverb architecture noun archive noun area noun argue verb argument noun arid adjective arise verb arm noun army noun aroma noun arrange verb arrangement noun arrest noun arrival noun arrive verb art noun article noun articulate adjective artificial adjective artist noun artistic adjective ascend verb ashamed adjective ask verb asleep adjective aspect noun assault noun assemble verb assess verb assessment noun asset noun assignment noun assistance noun assistant noun association noun assume verb assumption noun asylum noun atmosphere noun attack1 noun attack2 verb attain verb attempt noun attendance noun attention noun attitude noun attraction noun attractive adjective audience noun authentic adjective author noun authoritarian adjective authority noun authorization noun autumn noun available adjective avenue noun average1 noun average2 adjective avert verb avid adjective avoid verb awake adjective award1 noun award2 verb aware adjective awareness noun awesome adjective awful adjective awkward adjective baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun Other words and phrases ballot noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List ban /bæn/ noun an official order that prevents something from being used or done verbs put a ban on sth also place/impose a ban on sth formal The government imposed a ban on smoking in public areas. lift a ban (=end it) Following protests, the ban was lifted. support/oppose a ban Would you support a ban on plastic bags? give sb a ban/get a ban He was given a three-match ban after being sent off against Cologne. | You could get a ban for dangerous driving. face a ban He faced a four-year ban after failing a drugs test. enforce a ban (=make sure that people obey it) The police don't seem to be enforcing the ban. break/defy a ban (=not obey it) They have openly defied the international ban on torture. comply with a ban (=obey it) Some countries refused to comply with the ban. serve a ban (=not be able to do something for a period of time because of it) After serving a two-year ban, he returned to competition in 2006. a ban applies to/covers sth (=it concerns something) It is a blanket ban covering all marches. adjectives/nouns + ban a complete/total ban They are seeking a complete ban on nuclear testing. an outright/all-out ban (=a complete ban - used for emphasis) An outright ban on gun ownership would not prevent gun crimes, because many guns are owned illegally. a blanket ban (=including all possible cases or types) They imposed a blanket ban on beef products from Europe. a permanent ban (=forever) Many people think there should be a permanent ban on whale hunting. a lifetime ban He faces a lifetime ban from athletics. an immediate ban The group has called for an immediate ban on fur farming. a three-year/six-month etc ban She got a twelve-month ban for drinking and driving. a temporary ban There is a temporary ban on fishing in the area, in order to give fish stocks a chance to recover. an international/worldwide/global ban (=everywhere in the world) He called for an international ban on landmines. a nationwide ban (=everywhere in a country) There was a nationwide ban on strikes. a constitutional ban (=written in a country's system of rules) Many Republicans want a constitutional ban on abortion. an export/import ban There is an export ban on this type of technology. a driving ban BrE He was given a three-year driving ban and a fine. an advertising ban Is an advertising ban a denial of freedom of speech? a chemical weapons ban a global chemical weapons ban prepositions a ban on sth They want a total ban on cigarette advertising. phrases call for a ban (=say there should be one) Senators called for a ban on French products. a ban comes into effect/force (=it starts being used) The ban will come into force on March 29th. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases ban noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List banana /bəˈnɑːnə $ -ˈnæ-/ noun a long curved tropical fruit with a yellow skin verbs eat a banana The monkey was eating a banana. have a banana I had a banana for breakfast. peel a banana (=take off the skin) She peeled the banana and began eating it. pick a banana The bananas are picked when they are still green. adjectives a ripe banana These bananas aren't ripe yet. a green/unripe banana Green bananas should be left a day or two to ripen. banana + nouns a banana skin/peel You can put the banana skin in the bin. a banana tree/plant Banana trees grow well in hot countries. a banana plantation He is working on a banana plantation in Queensland. a banana grower/producer Ecuador is the largest banana producer in the world. a banana leaf The dish consists of stuffed aubergines baked in a banana leaf. Banana skin or banana peel? British speakers usually say banana skin. American speakers can say banana skin or banana peel. phrases a bunch of bananas He bought a bunch of bananas at the supermarket. a kilo/pound of bananas A kilo of bananas costs £1.50. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases banana noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List band /bænd/ noun [C] a group of musicians, especially a group that plays popular music adjectives/nouns + band a rock/jazz/pop/blues etc band Charlie was a drummer in a jazz band before he joined the Rolling Stones. the school band Helen plays the trumpet in the school band. a live band (=one that is actually playing music, not a recording of someone playing music) There's a live band at the club on Saturday nights. | The entertainment includes a disco and live band. a boy band/girl band (=consisting of attractive teenage boys or girls) He used to sing in a boy band. a brass band (=a band of brass instruments such as trumpets and trombones) A brass band was playing in the park. a big band (=a large jazz band) Big bands were popular back in the 1940s. a dance band (=one that plays music you can dance to) On stage, a dance band was playing swing tunes. a military band (=musicians who play music on military occasions) She liked military bands and the exciting music they played. a marching band (=musicians who march as they play) The Ohio state marching band was at the front of the parade. a one-man band (=a street musician who plays several instruments at the same time) The entertainers included clowns, jugglers and a one-man band. a tribute band (=one that plays the songs of a famous group, and tries to sound and look like them) We went to see an Abba tribute band last night. a steel band (=a group of musicians playing special steel drums) I could hear the sound of steel band playing in the distance. verbs + band play/sing in a band (=be a musician or singer in a band) Budd played in a rock band. join a band He started learning the saxophone and joined the school band. form a band (=start one) They formed their own band and released a single. Don't say make a band. lead a band (=be the lead singer, musician, or conductor of a band) He led his own blues band in Memphis during the 1950s. conduct a band (=stand in front and direct how they play) During the set, he was invited up to conduct the band. leave/quit a band Brian quit the band halfway through the tour. band + verbs a band performs/plays The band is performing live on Saturday night. | The band was playing a song by the Beatles. a band strikes up (=starts playing) The band struck up the national anthem. a band records sth The band has finished recording several songs for the new album. a band releases a song/record etc (=makes it available for people to buy) The band has just released a new song. a band tours (=plays in several different cities or countries) The band plans to tour the UK next summer. band + nouns a band member/member of a band He was one of the original band members. a band leader (=the conductor of a brass band, military band, or big band) Glenn Miller was one of America's favorite big band leaders. prepositions in a band All the guys in the band had long hair. with a band We were the backing singers with his original band. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases band noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bang /bæŋ/ noun a sudden loud noise adjectives a loud bang I was woken by a loud bang on the front door. a big bang There was a big bang, followed by a cloud of smoke. a huge/massive/terrific/tremendous bang also an almighty bang BrE The bomb exploded with a massive bang. verbs make a bang The washing machine made a loud bang and stopped working. go bang (=make a sudden loud noise) I was driving along the road when the engine suddenly went bang! hear a bang She heard a sudden loud bang outside her window. prepositions with a bang The door shut with a bang. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bang noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bank /bæŋk/ noun 1. a business that keeps and lends money adjectives/nouns + bank a big/large/major bank Deutsche Bank is one of Germany's major banks. a high street bank (=one of the ordinary banks that most people use) There's a lot of competition between the major high street banks. a commercial bank (=an ordinary bank, or one that deals with large businesses) What was the role of UK commercial banks in the debt crisis? an investment/merchant bank (=one that buys and sells stocks and shares etc) Investment banks are able to earn huge amounts of money. a central bank (=the main financial authority in a country) The Bundesbank is the central bank of Germany. a savings bank (=one that accepts your savings and provides mortgages) If I were you I would keep your money in a savings bank. a clearing bank (=one of the banks in Britain that uses a central office when dealing with other banks) large commercial customers of the clearing banks the World Bank (=an international organization providing financial help to developing countries) The road building was funded by the World Bank. verbs + bank go to the bank I have to go to the bank at lunchtime. pay sth into the bank She paid the cheque into the bank. take sth out of the bank He took 1,000 euros out of the bank on Friday. borrow sth from a bank You may be able to borrow some money from the bank. rob a bank They killed four policemen while robbing a bank. bail out a bank (=give it financial help to stop it failing) Is it right that governments use taxpayers' money to bail out banks? bank + verbs a bank lends/loans sth The bank lent me £10,000 to help me start the business. a bank funds/finances sth (=it provides the money for something) The banks financing the project have been asked for more money. a bank issues sth (=it provides something) Banks issue credit cards to millions of people every year. a bank charges (sb) sth Banks charge interest on bank loans. a bank collapses/crashes (=it suddenly fails) They lost all their savings when the bank collapsed. bank + nouns a bank account I'll put the money into my bank account today. your bank balance (=the amount of money in your bank account at a particular time) You can check your bank balance online. a bank statement (=a list showing all the payments into and out of a bank account) I used to get a written bank statement once a month, but now I have to look online. a bank loan What's the interest rate on your bank loan? a bank robber/robbery The bank robbers were never caught. | Extra security was introduced after the bank robbery. a bank card You can withdraw money using your bank card. a bank note (=a piece of paper money) He paid with a $10 bank note. a bank manager Could I make an appointment with the bank manager, please? a bank clerk (=a junior worker in a bank) He began his career as a bank clerk. bank charges Will I have to pay bank charges on this account? prepositions in a bank We have very little money in the bank. 2. land along the side of a river, lake, or canal adjectives/nouns + bank a river/canal bank He runs along the canal bank every morning. the far/opposite/other bank (=the one furthest from you) There was no bridge to get to the opposite bank. verbs a river bursts its banks (=the banks collapse and water comes over them) The river had burst its banks and water was pouring down the streets. prepositions on the banks of sth He enjoys fishing on the banks of the River Tees. along the banks of sth A row of houses was built along the banks of the river. 3. a large sloping mass of earth, sand, snow etc adjectives/nouns + bank a steep bank There's a steep bank looking onto the football ground. a grassy bank She was sitting on a grassy bank, reading. a muddy bank Children would slide down the muddy bank on plastic bags. a sand bank In the middle of the shallow water was a sand bank. prepositions a bank of sth She was injured when she skied into a bank of snow. down/up a bank He ran down the bank after the dog. | I could see John further up the bank. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bank noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bankrupt /ˈbæŋkrʌpt/ adjective without enough money to pay what you owe verbs go bankrupt The firm went bankrupt before the building work was completed. be made bankrupt also be declared bankrupt formal (=a court officially says someone is bankrupt) Her father was made bankrupt and they had to move out of their home. adverbs almost/nearly/virtually bankrupt The country was virtually bankrupt when he took over. In everyday English, you say that a company goes out of business when it cannot continue trading. In more formal or technical English, you say that a company or person is insolvent (=they do not have enough money to pay their debts). You can also say that a company goes into liquidation (=it closes and sells off everything it has in order to try to pay off its debts). baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bankrupt adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bankruptcy /ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/ noun (plural bankruptcies) the state of being officially unable to pay your debts verbs face bankruptcy The company now faces bankruptcy. be forced into/driven into bankruptcy Many small firms are being forced into bankruptcy. avoid bankruptcy The airline narrowly avoided bankruptcy. bankruptcy + nouns a bankruptcy order The court will not make a bankruptcy order unless it is satisfied that the individual cannot pay his debts. bankruptcy proceedings (=the official process of declaring that a company or person is bankrupt) The firm became subject to bankruptcy proceedings. a bankruptcy court The London Bankruptcy Court was told that Pearlman had debts of more than two million pounds. bankruptcy laws Changes are needed to prevent people who can repay their debts from hiding behind bankruptcy laws. phrases be close to bankruptcy The company was close to bankruptcy following a massive drop in profits. be on the verge/brink/edge of bankruptcy (=close to bankruptcy) He was on the verge of bankruptcy, with debts of over £800,000. go into bankruptcy The business went into bankruptcy, owing their customers more than 12 million dollars. file for bankruptcy (=officially ask to be declared bankrupt) The company filed for bankruptcy, revealing a net debt of more than $18 billion. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bankruptcy noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bar /bɑː $ bɑːr/ noun 1. a place where alcoholic drinks are served verbs go to/into a bar Tony went into the bar and ordered a drink. drink in a bar He spent all day drinking in a bar. hang out in a bar informal (=spend a lot of time in a bar) I was lonely, so I started hanging out in my local bar. run a bar (=be in charge of a bar) Mr Mills and his wife had been running the bar for two years. nouns + bar a hotel bar Would you like to have a drink in the hotel bar? a cocktail bar We arranged to meet in a cocktail bar before going out to dinner. a wine bar He took me to a trendy wine bar. a karaoke bar (=where people sing a popular song while a machine plays the music) The karaoke bar across the street was even noisier than usual. a singles bar (=a bar where people who are not married or in a relationship can meet) We met in a singles bar. adjectives a public bar BrE (=a room in a public house where drinks are sold at lower prices than in other rooms) The public bar was full of workmen. a licenced bar BrE (=one with a licence to sell alcohol) The restaurant has a licenced bar. a gay bar It took me a minute to realize that I had walked into a gay bar. bar + nouns bar staff The bar staff began clearing up at the end of the evening. a bar owner/manager A bar owner can lose their licence for selling alcohol to someone under 18. a bar fight He got in a bar fight over a girl. bar snacks (=food, such as crisps or nuts, that is served in some bars) The pub has a good selection of beers and bar snacks. a bar stool Ken sat on a bar stool and ordered a beer. prepositions in a bar I ended up in a bar near the station. at the bar Several people were at the bar, waiting to be served. Bar or pub? In American English, people usually say bar. In British English, people usually say pub. A bar is used about part of another building such as a hotel or restaurant: They arranged to meet in the hotel bar. The bar also means the counter where you can go to buy drinks: He went over to the bar and ordered another pint of beer. THESAURUS: bar → piece 2. a place where you can buy a particular kind of food or non-alcoholic drink nouns + bar a coffee bar I arranged to meet her in the student coffee bar. a sandwich/snack bar I usually get something from the sandwich bar for lunch. a salad bar (=a part of a restaurant where you can serve yourself to a range of salads) When you've chosen your pizza, please help yourself from the salad bar. a burger bar (=an informal restaurant selling burgers and fast food) The kids all hang out at the local burger bar. a juice bar (=a place selling fruit juices, usually freshly made) The leisure centre also has a restaurant and a juice bar. a sushi bar (=that sells Japanese dishes, which consist mainly of pieces of fish on rice) Have you tried that new sushi bar in town? a tapas bar (=a bar or informal restaurant serving small dishes of Spanish food) Madrid is full of great tapas bars. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bar noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List barbecue also barbeque AmE /ˈbɑːbɪkjuː $ ˈbɑːr-/ noun a meal in which food is cooked on a metal frame over a fire outdoors, or the frame used for cooking this meal verbs have a barbecue We're having a barbecue this evening. cook sth on a barbecue Dad is cooking sausages on the barbecue. barbecue + nouns barbecue sauce Pour the barbecue sauce over the grilled chicken. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases barbecue noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bargain /ˈbɑːɡən, ˈbɑːɡɪn $ ˈbɑːr-/ noun something you buy very cheaply or for much less than its usual price adjectives a good/great bargain I got some great bargains in the sales. | Lunch is £19.50 and it is a really good bargain. an amazing/incredible/fantastic/terrific bargain The house they bought was an amazing bargain. a real bargain You can sometimes pick up a real bargain in the local market. an absolute bargain I think £100 for a year's membership at a gym is an absolute bargain. verbs look/search/hunt for a bargain In January the stores are full of people looking for bargains. get a bargain Shoppers always like to think they are getting a bargain. find a bargain If you shop around, you might find a bargain. pick up/snap up a bargain informal (=find one) You can often pick up a bargain at an auction. bargain + nouns a bargain price In the sales you can get a fully fitted kitchen at a bargain price. | Good watches don't come at bargain prices. a bargain buy At £3.99, this app is a real bargain buy. a bargain hunter (=someone looking for a bargain) Bargain hunters queued for hours before the store opened. bargain hunting We went bargain hunting in the January sales. the bargain basement (=part of a large shop below ground, where the price of goods is reduced) Everything is reduced to clear in the bargain basement! baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases bargain noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List barrier /ˈbæriə $ -ər/ noun a problem, rule etc that prevents people from doing something, or limits what they can do Grammar Often plural. adjectives/nouns + barrier trade barriers Removing trade barriers helps to create a free market. | He advocated the removal of trade barriers. the language barrier (=the problem of not understanding people who speak a different language) Living in China was hard for me at first because of the language barrier. cultural/racial/class/social barriers Dr King helped African Americans overcome the racial barriers that held them back for so long. artificial barriers I think the artificial barriers created by society lead to conflict between the sexes. a psychological barrier Being unemployed for a long time creates a psychological barrier to getting a job. technical/legal/political barriers Most of the technical barriers have been solved. bureaucratic barriers This is one of many bureaucratic barriers preventing trade. regulatory barriers Regulatory barriers have been an obstacle to international co-operation between police forces. verbs put up/build barriers also erect barriers formal Sometimes managers put up barriers, which can make it hard for staff to communicate with them. create/set up barriers Creating trade barriers may protect jobs in the short term, but will eventually lead to job losses. remove/eliminate/get rid of/lift barriers Will changing the law remove all the barriers to trade? break down/tear down barriers The social barriers between the two communities have gradually broken down. cross barriers also transcend barriers formal (=avoid barriers that usually exist) Music has this wonderful ability to cross cultural barriers. reduce/lower barriers We should be trying to reduce barriers between social classes, not create them. overcome barriers (=deal with them successfully) There are still many barriers to overcome. barriers stop/hinder sb/sth She did not let social barriers stop her from achieving her goal. prepositions a barrier to sth The high cost of childcare remains the biggest barrier to women returning to work. a barrier between sb/sth His stupid pride had become a barrier between them. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases barrier noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List base1 /beɪs/ noun 1. the bottom part of something adjectives a heavy base The lamp's heavy base prevents it from tipping over. a round/square/triangular/circular base Each of the columns supporting the wall stands on a square base. a metal/wooden/concrete base You need a frying pan with a solid metal base. prepositions the base of sth The base of the statue is made of stone. 2. a place from where an organization or group does its activities adjectives/nouns + base a military/naval/air/air-force base Clark Air Base was the largest air base outside the US. sb's home base The company controls its world operations from its home base in Detroit. verbs have a base The airline has its base in London. establish a base The company wants to establish a base in Europe. build a base The US began building military bases inside Afghanistan. base + nouns base camp The mountaineers set up base camp at the foot of the mountain. 3. a starting point for doing something adjectives a good/excellent base His work provided a good base for other scientists. a solid/firm/strong base (=one that you can build upon) Learning to play the piano gave me a solid base for learning other instruments. a sound/secure base (=one that is dependable and will not change) A degree provides you with a sound base on which to build your career. a broad base (=one that includes many different things or people) The first year of the course aims to provide students with a broad base of knowledge. verbs have a base The family now have a solid base on which to build for the future. provide a base This report will provide the base for future discussions. build a base The company aims to build its customer base by 50%. give sb a base/provide sb with a base His research provided us with a good base for our work. prepositions a base for sth Their manufacturing industry should provide a secure base for future growth. 4. the people, organizations etc that are needed for someone or something to be successful adjectives/nouns + base a power base (=the people in an area whose support makes a politician or political group powerful) The party's traditional power base is in the north of the country. an economic/monetary base (=one relating to trade and the management of money) Germany has a strong economic base. a manufacturing/industrial base (=all the companies in a country that make goods in factories) The country's manufacturing base has been declining for years. a customer/client base (=a group of people who buy a product or service) The company wants to expand its customer base to include more young people. a fan base (=a group of people who like someone or something a lot) The band has a strong fan base in Europe. verbs have a base China has a growing manufacturing base. establish a base The company has already established a large customer base. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases base1 noun base2 verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List baseball /ˈbeɪsbɔːl $ -bɒːl/ noun an outdoor game between two teams of nine players, in which players try to get points by hitting a ball and running around four bases adjectives professional/amateur baseball He started playing professional baseball after high school. major-league/minor-league baseball Some kids dream of becoming a major-league baseball player. nouns + baseball men's/women's baseball The Boston Men's Baseball League is the largest adult baseball league in Massachusetts. verbs play baseball He plays baseball for the New York Yankees. watch baseball I enjoy watching baseball on TV. baseball + nouns a baseball game Do you want to go to the baseball game? a baseball player Babe Ruth was probably the most famous baseball player of all time. a baseball team He is captain of the Texas Rangers baseball team. a baseball fan 58,000 baseball fans crowded into Candlestick Park. a baseball bat/cap/glove He was wearing his baseball cap back to front. | He is throwing a ball against the wall and catching it in a baseball glove. | She swung the baseball bat and hit the ball. a baseball stadium/park/field They're building a new major-league baseball stadium. a baseball league The Chinese Professional Baseball League was formed in 2002. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun Other words and phrases base1 noun base2 verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/ adjective 1. used about the most important or necessary part of something, or about something that you need to know in order to understand something nouns the basic idea/concept The basic idea is easy to explain. | He was unfamiliar with the most basic concepts of chemistry. basic information/facts Customers are looking for basic information about the products. | You should start by giving the basic facts. basic knowledge/understanding/skills The book assumes that the reader has a basic knowledge of the subject. | It is important that children learn basic skills such as reading and writing. a basic question The interviewer will ask you some basic questions about your education and work experience. a basic part/element of sth He showed me the basic elements of the system. basic rules/principles Most people understand the basic rules of healthy living. | The basic principles underlying all the systems are the same. a basic right People have a basic right to control their own lives. basic needs also basic requirements formal The body has several basic needs including food, sleep, and exercise. basic research/education/training We need basic research into the causes of mental illness. the basic structure/pattern/framework All computers have the same basic structure. basic pay/salary/pension (=the money you get before any special payments) On top of the basic salary, there are numerous other benefits. basic services/amenities (=services that everyone needs, for example water and electricity) They lack basic services such as water and electricity. prepositions basic to sth These medical techniques are basic to the control of infection. THESAURUS: basic fundamental principle | belief | values | problem | question | issue | difference | right | aim more important than anything else - used for emphasis: Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of any democracy. | the fundamental beliefs of Christianity | The fundamental problem is a lack of resources. | They still haven't answered the fundamental question. | Race was one of the fundamental issues which divided America. | There are some fundamental differences between their philosophies. | Liberty is a fundamental right. | The fundamental aim of education is to prepare students for life. | These values are fundamental to our society. | This issue is of fundamental importance. core business | issue | belief | values | skill | area | part | element | teaching | concern more important than anything else - used for emphasis: The company's core business is selling food and household products. | To me the core issue is why are so many of these inner city schools so inferior? | The party has abandoned its core values (=the things that it believes to be most important). | The school focuses on teaching the core skills of reading and writing. | The group focused heavily on its three core areas of research. | Information technology is a core part of our work. | The great world religions share many of the same core teachings. Core or fundamental? These words mean the same thing and are used with many of the same collocations. Fundamental sounds more formal. essential part | element | ingredient | point | feature | aspect | characteristic | difference | problem used when saying that something is very important, especially because you cannot do something without it, or something cannot exist without it: Meetings and discussions are an essential part of many jobs. | Confidence is an essential ingredient in business. | The essential point is this: either we act now, or the whole future of our planet is uncertain. | Change and diversity are essential characteristics of the natural world. | One of the essential differences between humans and computers is that humans are more likely to make mistakes. | The essential problem is that we don't have enough time. central role | issue | theme | part | question | concern very important and having a lot of influence or receiving a lot of attention: Religion plays a central role in her life. | Personal responsibility is a central theme in his work. | For many economists, the central question is how to create a free market which is also a fair one. | Creating jobs is central to government policy. underlying cause | aim | objective | principle | factor | problem underlying causes, aims etc are basic and important, but are not immediately obvious, or not stated directly: When treating any health problem, it's always important to consider the underlying causes. | Their underlying aim was to increase profits. | Painting and photography are very different, but many of the underlying principles are the same. | Stress is an underlying factor in many illnesses. | We still haven't dealt with the underlying problem. THESAURUS: basic → simple 2. not high level, or not advanced nouns a basic knowledge/understanding I only have a very basic knowledge of the Chinese language a basic skill Students learn basic skills such as reading and writing. a basic technique The course covers the basic techniques of sailing. basic training The new police officers receive three months of basic training. basic equipment/tools Hospitals are short of basic equipment such as needles and bandages. a basic model The basic model only costs $100, but it has a very small memory. THESAURUS: basic elementary course | level | textbook elementary courses, books etc teach students about the most basic parts of a subject: I only took an elementary course in biology. | The book is designed for adults at elementary level. | He published a series of elementary textbooks on astronomy. rudimentary knowledge | skills | training | tools | equipment if you have a rudimentary knowledge of something, you know a little about it. Rudimentary tools and equipment are very basic and can only be used for doing very simple things: She only had a rudimentary knowledge of the sport when she started playing. | If you only have rudimentary computer skills, you may have difficulty finding work. | The soldiers are given rudimentary training in handling explosives. | Only rudimentary hand tools were available to them. | Many of the schools are without rudimentary equipment such as blackboards. Rudimentary or basic? Rudimentary sounds a little more formal than basic. Rudimentary is often used about the simplest and most basic things. plain language | English plain language uses simple and clear words, so that you cannot misunderstand the meaning: The poem uses plain language which anyone can understand. | She explained what the document meant in plain English. primitive method | technology | tools | weapons | form primitive methods, tools etc are very basic compared to more modern ones, and are usually not as good: The primitive methods of construction meant that houses only lasted for a few years. | The recording was made using very primitive technology. | The workers had to use very primitive tools when building the temple. | Their primitive weapons were useless against tanks and machine guns. | The people got food from hunting and from primitive forms of agriculture. crude method | attempt | version | form | shelter made or done using very basic methods or materials, and therefore not very accurate or effective: The researchers used a rather crude method of measuring productivity. | The myths were a crude attempt to explain the origins of the universe. | In New York and Paris, the first crude versions of modern films were shown. | The plant breeders used a crude form of genetic engineering. | They made a crude shelter out of a few branches and some leaves. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases basic adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List basis /ˈbeɪsəs, ˈbeɪsɪs/ noun (plural bases /-siːz/) the facts, ideas, or things from which something can be developed adjectives a good basis Love and trust form a good basis for marriage. a sound/firm/solid basis Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career. verbs be/form the basis of sth This research will form the basis of a book. provide a basis for sth The poem provided the basis for an interesting class discussion. become the basis of/for sth His design became the basis for the new engine. serve as a basis for sth The document will serve as a basis for negotiations. establish/lay the basis for sth (=create something from which something can be developed) The agreement established a sound basis for international commerce. phrases on the basis of sth (=because of a particular fact or situation) A decision will be made on the basis of your answers to a number of questions. have no basis in fact (=not be true) Many of these rumours have no basis in fact. THESAURUS: basis foundation the thing on which something is based, especially something important that continues for a long time: His work laid the foundations for modern mathematical science. | If your essay has a good structure, this will give you a solid foundation on which to build your argument. the cornerstone the most important thing that something depends on in order to be successful, especially in business and politics: Free speech, after all, is the cornerstone of our democracy. | He told the governors that education would be the cornerstone of his agenda. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases basis noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List basket /ˈbɑːskət, ˈbɑːskɪt $ ˈbæ-/ noun a container made of thin pieces of plastic, wire, or wood woven together, used to carry things or put things in adjectives/nouns + basket a shopping basket She paid for the apples and put them in her shopping basket. a wastepaper basket BrE a waste basket AmE He threw her letter in the wastepaper basket. a picnic basket We took a picnic basket and a rug. a laundry/clothes basket (=for dirty clothes) Will you please put your dirty socks in the laundry basket? a bread/fruit/flower basket There was a bread basket on the table. | He had a fruit basket sent up to her hotel room. a dog basket The puppies were sleeping in the dog basket. a wicker basket She stores her vegetables in pretty wicker baskets. a hanging basket (=for putting plants in and hanging outside) All the shops had hanging baskets outside their doors. a Moses basket BrE (=a basket that a small baby sleeps in) The baby was sleeping in its Moses basket. verbs put sth in/into a basket Put the fruit in the basket on the table. take sth from/out of a basket We were all surprised when she took a little dog out of her basket. carry/hold a basket She was carrying a basket of flowers. | He reappeared holding a basket of plums. a basket contains sth She was holding a basket containing wool and knitting needles. a basket is filled with sth The basket was filled with loaves of bread. prepositions a basket of sth A basket of logs sat next to the fire. in a basket Is the dog in his basket? phrases a basket full of sth She prepared baskets full of food. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases basket noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List basketball /ˈbɑːskətbɔːl, ˈbɑːskɪtbɔːl $ ˈbæskətbɒːl, ˈbæskɪtbɒːl/ noun a game played indoors between two teams of five players, in which each team tries to win points by throwing a ball through a net verbs play basketball She has been playing basketball since she was 12. watch basketball I often watch basketball on TV. basketball + nouns a basketball game/match Are you going to the basketball game? a basketball player He dreams of becoming a professional basketball player one day. a basketball team He plays for the New York Knicks basketball team. a basketball court The college has several indoor basketball courts. a basketball league She plays in the American Basketball League. a basketball tournament/competition The Philadelphia 76ers won a four-team basketball tournament. basketball practice We have basketball practice every Wednesday evening. a basketball coach My dad used to be a high school basketball coach. basketball shoes He was wearing a pair of Air Jordan basketball shoes. adjectives/nouns + basketball professional/amateur basketball Professional basketball players can earn a lot of money. college/high school basketball Joe used to play college basketball and he's very fast on the court. men's/women's basketball Women's basketball is just as exciting as the men's game. Basketball or basket? Don't confuse basketball (=the game) and basket (=the thing that you throw the ball into). Don't say I like playing basket. Say I like playing basketball. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases basketball noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bath /bɑːθ $ bæθ/ noun 1. an occasion when you wash your body in a bath verbs have a bath BrE take a bath AmE She usually has a bath in the evening. | How often do you take a bath? give sb a bath He's upstairs giving the baby a bath. need a bath After a week of camping, I really needed a bath. run a bath (=put water in a bath) I went upstairs and ran a bath. adjectives/nouns + bath a quick bath Do I have time for a quick bath? a long bath A long hot bath is a great way of relaxing. a hot/warm/cool bath Why don't you have a nice warm bath? a relaxing/soothing/luxurious bath (=which makes you feel relaxed or very comfortable) Treat yourself to a long luxurious bath. a bubble bath (=with nice-smelling bubbles in it) She likes to relax by taking a bubble bath. a steam bath (=one in which you sit in a very hot steamy room) Why not have a steam bath or a sauna? a Turkish bath (=one in which you sit in a very hot steamy room, have a massage, then take a cold shower or bath) A Turkish bath makes you feel very clean and relaxed. a bed bath BrE a sponge bath AmE (=an occasion when a sick person is given a wash in their bed) The nurses will give him a bed bath until he is able to take a shower. bath + nouns bath time (=the time when someone usually has a bath) Come on, Lucy, it's bath time. bath water The bath water is getting cold. a bath towel She handed him a soft white bath towel. a bath mat (=a mat inside or next to a bath) A rubber bath mat inside the bath can prevent accidents. bath salts/oils/crystals (=substances that make bath water smell nice) She took a hot steamy bath with bath salts. bath toy (=for a child to play with in the bath) Bath toys are great for babies who've just learned to sit. 2. BrE a long container for washing yourself in verbs get in/into the bath Old people often have difficulty getting into the bath. get out of the bath I had to get out of the bath to answer the phone. soak in the bath Try soaking in the bath to ease your aching muscles. lie in the bath He's been lying in the bath for an hour. fill/empty the bath I forgot to empty the bath. adjectives/nouns + bath a spa/whirlpool bath (=one with a special device to move the water around) The bathroom in our hotel room had a whirlpool bath. a corner bath We took out the corner bath and replaced it with an ordinary one. a freestanding bath (=not attached to a wall) There is a large freestanding bath in the centre of the bathroom. a sunken bath (=lower than the level of the floor) You go down two steps into a sunken bath. a baby bath (=a small plastic bath for babies) She's getting too big for the baby bath. bath + nouns bath taps The water coming out of the bath taps was freezing cold. prepositions in the bath "Where's Ben?" "He's in the bath." This meaning of bath is used in British English. In American English, people say bathtub. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases bath noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bedroom /ˈbedrʊm, -ruːm/ noun a room for sleeping in adjectives/nouns + bedroom the main bedroom also the master bedroom formal (=the biggest bedroom in a house) The master bedroom has a view of the sea. the spare bedroom (=for visitors) She set up a home office in the spare bedroom. your own bedroom (=that you do not have to share) I want my own bedroom - I hate sharing with my sister. a hotel bedroom All the hotel bedrooms have a telephone and a balcony. separate bedrooms She and her husband have separate bedrooms. a single bedroom (=with a bed for one person) We have one single bedroom and two doubles. a double bedroom (=with a big bed for two people) I'd like to book a double bedroom for two nights, please. a twin bedroom (=with two single beds) Would you prefer a double or a twin bedroom? a study bedroom (=for students, with a bed and a desk) In my first year at university I had a really tiny study bedroom. an en suite bedroom (=with its own bathroom) The hotel has 100 en suite bedrooms. verbs share a bedroom with sb He shares a bedroom with his two brothers. bedroom + nouns the bedroom door/window/wall/floor etc Did you shut the bedroom window? bedroom furniture The bedroom furniture was old and falling apart. a bedroom scene (=part of a play or film that happens in a bedroom and often involves sex) Do actors get embarrassed when filming bedroom scenes? baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases bedroom noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List battery /ˈbætəri/ noun an object that provides a supply of electricity for something such as a radio, car, or toy adjectives a flat battery BrE a dead battery AmE (=with no more electricity in it) The car's got a flat battery. a low battery (=with little electricity in it) He could see the battery was low on his laptop. a rechargeable battery (=one that you can use again after putting more electricity in it) The camera uses rechargeable batteries. a spare battery (=an extra one, in case you need it) Take a torch and spare batteries. nouns + battery a car/torch/phone battery Have you checked your mobile phone battery? verbs + battery change/replace the battery (=put a new battery in something) You may need to change the battery in the smoke alarm. charge/recharge a battery (=put more electricity in it) It takes eight hours to fully recharge the battery. | When the red light comes on, you should recharge the battery. use batteries also run on batteries The clock runs on two 9-volt batteries. put a battery in sth She had put new batteries in the radio. take the battery out also remove the battery formal I'll take the batteries out while I'm not using it. drain/discharge a battery (=make it lose electricity) If you forget to turn your car's lights off, it drains the battery. disconnect a battery We had to disconnect the battery to stop the burglar alarm from ringing. battery + verbs a battery runs out/runs down (=there is no more electricity in it) I think the batteries are running out. battery + nouns battery power You can plug your laptop in or use it on battery power. a battery charger (=a piece of equipment for charging batteries) Don't forget to pack your battery charger. battery life (=how long a battery produces electricity) My old phone had a longer battery life. the battery compartment (=the part of a piece of equipment where the batteries go) Take the batteries out of the battery compartment. a battery pack (=a type of battery used in video cameras, laptop computers etc) You have to recharge the battery pack after about 3 hours of recording. phrases battery-powered/battery-operated a battery-operated hairdryer | A lot of children's toys are battery-powered. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases battery noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List battle /ˈbætl/ noun 1. a fight between opposing people or armies adjectives/nouns + battle a fierce battle They captured the town after a fierce battle with government soldiers. a bloody battle (=with a lot of killing and injuries) The temple was the scene of a bloody battle in 1984. a pitched battle (=a violent battle between groups of people, usually not soldiers) Students fought pitched battles with police during the demonstrations. a running battle (=that continues or is repeated over a long time) For ten days, American units engaged in a running battle with the enemy. a gun battle Two men were left wounded after the gun battle. a street battle He was killed in a street battle in 1998. verbs fight a battle also engage in/wage a battle formal He pretended he was a soldier, going to war and fighting battles. do battle (=fight) The army was ready to do battle again. win/lose a battle Who won the Battle of Gettysburg? a battle rages (=a fierce battle happens) People hid in basements while the battle was raging. battle + nouns a battle scene The battle scenes are quite different from those in other films. a battle cry (=a loud shout to encourage your side and frighten the enemy) the sound of their battle cry as they prepared to attack battle fatigue (=mental illness caused by frightening experiences in a war) He returned from the war suffering from battle fatigue. prepositions a battle between sb He was injured in a battle between rival gangs. a battle against sb Why did the Celts lose the battle against the Romans? the battle for sth The battle for the Atlantic intensified. at a battle Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in battle Richard III was killed in battle in 1485. phrases lead/send sb into battle He died leading his men into battle. prepare (sb) for battle Every general has his own method for preparing his troops for battle. ready for battle Every ship was ready for battle. the field of battle They showed great courage on the field of battle. 2. an attempt to solve a difficult problem or change an unpleasant situation adjectives/nouns + battle a long/lengthy battle His long battle with alcoholism is no secret. a tough/hard battle (=difficult) He faces a tough battle to prove his innocence. a fierce/bitter battle The two companies fought a bitter battle to win the contract. a running battle (=that continues or is repeated over a long time) Her running battle with mice has not yet ended. an uphill battle (=very difficult) For most people losing weight is an uphill battle. a constant battle As a student, life was a constant battle against debt. a losing battle (=one that is going to fail) She was fighting a losing battle to stop herself from crying. a legal/courtroom battle They wanted to avoid an expensive courtroom battle. a custody battle (=in order to become the main carer of a child, after a divorce) He is fighting a bitter custody battle over his three children. verbs fight a battle also wage a battle formal The police are fighting a tough battle against crime. | Many areas around here are waging a constant battle against vandalism. do battle with sb They had to do battle with producers to keep the scene in the movie. win/lose a battle It's essential to win the battle against inflation. | a brave little girl who lost her battle against cancer face a battle Paul faces a frantic battle to be fit for the match in November. prepositions a battle with sth She died after a long battle with cancer. a battle against sth The battle against car crime continues. a battle between sb The battle between James and his insurance company has not yet been resolved. a battle for sth Scientology has fought long battles for acceptance as a religion. a battle over sth There would be a battle over who paid for dinner. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases battle noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beach /biːtʃ/ noun an area of sand or small stones at the edge of the sea or a lake adjectives a crowded beach In the summer the beaches get very crowded. a quiet beach (=with few people on it) The beaches on this side of the island are quieter. a deserted/empty beach (=with no one on it) We took a boat to a deserted beach. a pebble/shingle beach (=covered with stones or very small stones) The lake has a small shingle beach. a sandy/rocky beach Corfu is known for its sandy beaches. | They anchored the boat off a rocky beach. a white/golden beach (=with white or golden sand) The house was beside a dazzling white beach. a private/public beach The hotel has its own private beach. | The public beaches were very dirty. a secluded beach (=one that is peaceful, has few people, and is not near other places) We had a picnic on a small secluded beach. an unspoilt beach (=not made worse by tourism) The island is famous for its unspoilt beaches. a palm-fringed beach (=with palm trees along the edge) Palm-fringed beaches border the beautiful blue ocean. a sun-drenched beach (=very sunny) We go to Greece for the sea air and the sun-drenched beaches. a nudist beach BrE nude beach AmE (=where people wear no clothes) We soon realized that we were on a nudist beach. verbs lie on the beach I find it boring just lying on the beach all day. go to the beach They've gone to the beach for the weekend. walk on/along the beach She loved to walk along the beach in the early morning. a beach stretches somewhere A sandy beach stretches almost the whole length of the coast. beach + nouns a beach holiday BrE a beach vacation AmE (=spent mainly at the beach) She loves beach holidays, while he prefers city breaks. a beach resort (=a place near a beach where people go on holiday) This is one of the most popular beach resorts in Greece. a beach hut (=a small building on the beach for storing things such as swimming or sports equipment) a row of brightly painted beach huts a beach house (=a house on a beach or near a beach) We stayed at our friends' beach house for the weekend. a beach bar/restaurant (=on the beach) We watched the sun go down from the beach bar. a beach towel They spread out beach towels and opened parasols. beach volleyball/football (=played on the beach) Who wants a game of beach volleyball? prepositions on the beach We've been on the beach all day. at the beach They spent the morning at the beach. go to the beach Why don't we go to the beach today? baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases beach noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bear /beə $ ber/ verb (past tense bore /bɔː $ bɔːr/, past participle borne /bɔːn $ bɔːrn/) to bravely accept or deal with a painful, difficult, or upsetting situation phrases can't bear/be unable to bear sth Fiona was unable to bear the thought of selling the house. | She was afraid she wouldn't be able to bear the pain. can hardly bear sth (=find something very difficult or upsetting to do) He was so ashamed that he could hardly bear to look at her. be hard to bear The situation was very hard to bear. | Overcrowding makes prison life even harder to bear. be more than sb can bear He sometimes felt the grief was more than he could bear. | The humiliation was more than he could bear. as hot/long/much etc as you can bear Make the water as hot as you can bear. bear the brunt of sth (=be in the worst position and have to deal with something) Shareholders will bear the brunt of the company's financial troubles. | Black people continue to bear the brunt of most racial violence. grin and bear it (=accept something without complaining) It was a horrible job but she had to grin and bear it. | Passengers could be insulting, and stewardesses just had to grin and bear it. bear + nouns bear the pain He knew that he couldn't bear the pain much longer. bear the heat/cold Some people find it hard to bear the heat in the summer. bear the strain/pressure Mark couldn't bear the pressure of the job any longer. | Experts were worried the financial system would not be able to bear the strain. bear the thought I can't bear the thought of living without you. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases bear verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beard /bɪəd $ bɪrd/ noun hair that grows around a man's chin and cheeks adjectives a long/short beard The old man had a long white beard. a black/white/grey etc beard The pirate was small man with a black beard. a big/small beard The guy had long hair and a big beard. a pointed beard He had a small moustache and a pointed beard. a full/luxuriant beard (=with a lot of hair) He wore a luxuriant beard that was red in colour. an unkempt beard (=not neat or clean) His beard was tangled and unkempt. a straggly beard (=long and not neat) The young man had a scraggly red beard. a neatly/closely trimmed beard His closely trimmed beard had turned the color of snow. a goatee beard BrE (=a pointed beard only on the chin) I looked at the little man with his white goatee beard. a bushy beard (=with a lot of hair that sticks out) A bit of food was stuck in his bushy beard. a wispy beard (=thin) He was a frail figure with a wispy beard. verbs have a beard Karl Marx had a beard. wear/sport a beard (=have a beard - used in written descriptions) The actor sported a neat black beard. | Some of the men wore beards. grow a beard He's not old enough to grow a beard. shave (off) your beard When he shaved off his beard, he looked a lot younger. trim your beard (=cut it, especially to make it look neat) He trimmed his beard in the mirror. stroke your beard Karlinsky stroked his beard and smiled. Have, wear, or sport a beard? You usually say have a beard. Wear a beard is used mainly in written descriptions. Sport a beard sounds rather literary, and is often used when saying that someone has a particular type of beard. THESAURUS: beard stubble short hairs on a man's face, when he has not shaved: He had a few days' stubble on his chin. sideburns also sideboards BrE hair that grows on a man's cheeks: Elvis had long sideburns. facial hair hair that grows on your face: The cream is good for getting rid of unwanted facial hair. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases beard noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beat /biːt/ verb 1. to defeat someone in a game, race, election etc, especially by getting more points, votes etc than them adverbs easily beat sb Jason easily beats me at chess every time we play. narrowly beat sb (=by only a few points, votes etc) New Zealand narrowly beat South Africa. comfortably beat sb (=by more than a few points, votes etc) He comfortably beat the other candidates in the election. comprehensively beat sb (=in a clear and definite way that leaves no doubt) It was only the second time we had been so comprehensively beaten. soundly beat sb (=in a clear and definite way that leaves no doubt) In each event she soundly beat her opponents. prepositions beat sb at tennis/golf/chess etc My brother always beats me at chess. beat sb by 3 points/2 goals/20 votes etc The Italian team beat France by two points. phrases beat sb into second/third etc place He was beaten into second place in the Monaco Grand Prix. beat sb hands down informal (=beat someone very easily) He should be able to beat them all hands down. Beat or defeat? Beat is more informal and is the usual word to use in everyday spoken English. Defeat is more formal and is the usual word to use in writing. When talking about wars and fighting, you usually use defeat: The Greeks defeated the Persians in a famous battle. 2. to hit someone phrases beat sb unconscious The guards beat him unconscious. beat sb to death He was nearly beaten to death. beat sb about/over the head (=hit someone's head) The soldiers beat her about the head with their rifles. beat the living daylights out of sb informal (=beat someone very badly) His father threatened to beat the living daylights out of him if it happened again. adverbs be badly/severely beaten She was badly beaten, but she survived. be savagely/brutally beaten (=in a violent and cruel way) He had been savagely beaten as a child. beat sb mercilessly (=many times, without caring whether you hurt someone) Her husband would beat her mercilessly if he caught her talking to other men. prepositions beat sth with a stick/your fist etc When she refused to give them money, they beat her with sticks. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases beat verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beautiful /ˈbjuːtəfəl, ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ adjective very nice to look at, or giving you a lot of pleasure nouns a beautiful woman/girl/baby Marilyn Monroe was one of the world's most beautiful women. beautiful face/hair/eyes She has beautiful blonde hair. a beautiful place/country/city South Africa is a very beautiful country. beautiful countryside/scenery/view From the terrace there is a beautiful view over Sorrento. | This part of the United States has some incredibly beautiful scenery. beautiful day/morning/weather (=with blue skies and a lot of sunshine) The weather was beautiful and the sky was blue all day. beautiful music The music was so beautiful that it almost made me want to cry. a beautiful book/film/poem He wrote some of the most beautiful poems ever written. a beautiful flower Her husband bought her some beautiful flowers for her birthday. a beautiful voice He sings with a beautiful deep voice. a beautiful sound/smell/taste The roses have a beautiful smell. verbs look beautiful Diana looked beautiful in a long silk dress. adverbs really/absolutely beautiful Thank you for the flowers. They're absolutely beautiful. | It was a really beautiful morning. incredibly/extraordinarily beautiful (=extremely beautiful) Fall in New England is incredibly beautiful. stunningly/breathtakingly beautiful (=extremely beautiful in a surprising way) The Arctic dawn is stunningly beautiful. hauntingly beautiful (=beautiful, and often a little sad, in a way that you remember for a long time) The singer had a hauntingly beautiful voice. exquisitely beautiful (=beautiful in a delicate way) An exquisitely beautiful butterfly landed on the leaf. Describing men You don't normally use beautiful about men. You use good-looking or handsome. THESAURUS: beautiful handsome man | boy | prince | face | features a handsome man or boy looks very attractive: Dan was a strong handsome man. | The boy was very handsome. | She dreamt that a handsome prince would marry her. | She remembered his handsome face and deep brown eyes. | Thelma stared at Mr Beckham's handsome features. Handsome is also sometimes used in literature, to describe a good-looking woman who has a strong face: His mother was a tall handsome woman. good-looking man | woman | boy | guy | girl | couple | face a good-looking person looks attractive. Good-looking is much more common in spoken English than handsome or beautiful: There are no good-looking men in our office. | Marie is a tall, good-looking woman. | Sam was a good-looking boy and he knew it. | He's a good-looking guy, but he's a bit boring. | Mimi and Helga were both good-looking girls. | Laura and Robert were a very good-looking couple. | His good-looking face was very close to hers now. | Her husband is incredibly good-looking - he looks like a movie star. | Do you think he's good-looking? pretty girl | woman | child | baby | face | dress | clothes | flower | village | town | garden | colour a pretty woman, girl, or baby looks nice and has a nice face. A pretty thing or place looks nice, but is usually not very big: There were lots of pretty girls at the party. | The woman was very pretty. | Gwen had been a pretty child. | What a pretty little baby! | She has a very pretty face. | That's a pretty dress you're wearing. | Lots of little girls like dressing in pretty clothes. | The plant had pretty pink flowers on it. | They stayed in a pretty little village in the mountains. | This pretty town has some lovely buildings. | The villa has a small but pretty garden. | The curtains are a very pretty colour. You can also use pretty about names that sound nice: Annalise? That's a pretty name. attractive woman | man | girl | town | location | appearance an attractive person looks nice, in a way that makes you want to have a relationship with him or her. An attractive place or thing is nice to look at: I think she's a very attractive woman. | He was still a very attractive man, in spite of his age. | An attractive girl came over and asked if he wanted a dance. | It is an attractive town and there are plenty of things to see. | Hotels are often built in attractive locations. | If food has an attractive appearance, it often seems to taste better as well. | A lot of men found her attractive. cute informal baby | kid | boy | girl | animal | dog | puppy | picture | face nice to look at - used about animals, babies, and children: The baby is very cute. | Danny was a cute kid. | He's a cute little boy. | Their little girl is very cute. | There were pictures of cute animals all over the wall. | What a cute little dog! | Cute puppies were used to advertise the product. | There was a cute picture of a kitten. | The baby had such a cute face. In informal American English, people also use cute about someone who looks attractive in a way that makes you want to have a relationship with him or her: I think Joe's really cute! lovely BrE spoken place | house | garden | view | smile | colour | picture | day | weather | name very nice: It's such a lovely place. | They have a lovely house in the country. | Outside the hotel is a lovely garden. | The rooms have lovely views of the lake. | He has a lovely smile. | The dress is a lovely colour. | There was a lovely picture of him in the newspaper. | It's a lovely day today, isn't it? | The weather has been absolutely lovely. | I think Natasha is a lovely name. | She looks lovely in her wedding dress. gorgeous spoken dress | man | woman | girl | place | colour | flowers | day | weather extremely nice to look at - used mainly by women: I love your dress. It's gorgeous! | She dreamt of kissing this gorgeous man. | He is always surrounded by gorgeous women. | Who is that gorgeous girl sitting next to him? | Thailand is a gorgeous place for a vacation. | His eyes are a gorgeous blue colour. | He gave me some gorgeous flowers. | It's such a gorgeous day - it seems a shame to be in an office. | The weather has been gorgeous all week. glorious weather | day | morning glorious weather is very good, with blue sky and a lot of sunshine: Everyone was at the beach, enjoying the glorious weather. | It was a glorious sunny day. | It was a glorious September morning. picturesque village | town | surroundings | setting | view | house | cottage | harbour | landscape | countryside a picturesque place is pleasant to look at, especially because it is old and interesting: We stayed in the picturesque village of Herisau. | Rye is a picturesque town which is hundreds of years old. | The hotel is situated in picturesque surroundings. | This village is in a picturesque setting. | There are picturesque views from the house. | We drove past rows of picturesque houses. | Picturesque cottages surround the village green. | We looked at the boats in Malcesine's picturesque harbour. | The picturesque landscape of Devon has inspired many painters. | Take a journey through picturesque countryside. magnificent view | scenery | setting | surroundings | building | palace | animal | horse very big, beautiful, and impressive: There were magnificent views over the old city. | The train travels through some magnificent scenery. | The castle is a magnificent setting for a wedding. | The event was held in the magnificent surroundings of Dartington Hall. | Canterbury Cathedral is a magnificent building. | Louis lived in the magnificent palace of Versailles. | The Bengal tiger is a magnificent animal. | The king is sitting on a magnificent white horse. stunning view | scenery | countryside | setting used about people who look very beautiful, or about places that are very beautiful and impressive: There is a stunning view of the city. | Alaska has some stunning scenery. | You can enjoy the stunning countryside of Northumberland. | The hotel is in a stunning setting. | The whole place is simply stunning. | You look stunning in that outfit. breathtaking/spectacular view | scenery | landscape | beauty a breathtaking or spectacular view is very beautiful and impressive in a surprising way: There are breathtaking views from the top of the mountain. | The river flows through some spectacular scenery. | The landscape is breathtaking. | Austria is a place of breathtaking beauty. exquisite object | flower | jewellery | detail | beauty used about things that have very beautiful small details: The museum is full of exquisite objects that were made by skilled craftsmen. | The plants have exquisite blue flowers. | The shop sells exquisite gold jewellery. | The statues are carved in exquisite detail. | They were impressed by the exquisite beauty of the furniture. ANTONYMS → ugly (1) baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases beat verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beauty /ˈbjuːti/ noun a quality that makes someone or something very nice to look at or listen to adjectives great beauty She was a woman of great beauty. natural beauty Visitors are attracted by the island's natural beauty. breathtaking/stunning beauty (=great and surprising beauty) The region is famous for the breathtaking beauty of its mountains. exquisite beauty (=great beauty because something is very delicately made) Visitors are impressed by the exquisite beauty of the carving. sheer beauty (=the fact that something is so beautiful) The sheer beauty of the music made him want to cry. unspoilt beauty They want to protect the unspoilt beauty of the desert. feminine beauty She represented the ideal of feminine beauty at the time. verbs + beauty admire/enjoy the beauty of sb/sth He was admiring the beauty of the stars in the night sky. | They stopped to enjoy the beauty of the view. enhance the beauty of sb/sth (=make someone or something seem more beautiful) Her dress enhanced the beauty of her eyes. preserve the beauty of sb/sth All visitors are asked to follow the rules and regulations in order to preserve the beauty of the park. capture the beauty of sb/sth (=succeed in showing the beauty) Adams' photographs capture the beauty of the landscape. be fascinated/captivated/entranced by the beauty of sb/sth (=feel that you like someone or something very much because they are very beautiful) He was captivated by her beauty, and fell in love with her immediately. be impressed/struck by the beauty of sb/sth I was struck by the beauty of her face. be overwhelmed by the beauty of sb/sth (=feel so much emotion about someone's or something's beauty that you cannot think clearly) I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape. beauty + verbs sb's/sth's beauty fades (=it goes away slowly) Over the years her beauty had faded a little. beauty + nouns a beauty product The shop mainly sells beauty products such as make-up and lipstick. a beauty contest/competition (=a competition in which women are judged on how attractive they look) When she was younger, she won several beauty competitions. a beauty queen (=the winner of a beauty contest) She used to be a beauty queen before she became a film actress. prepositions the beauty of sth They want to protect the beauty of the English countryside. phrases an area of outstanding natural beauty (=a name given to an area of England and Wales which is protected because it is very beautiful) The Lake District is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Beauty is also used to mean a woman who is very beautiful: She had been a great beauty and had appeared in movies. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases beautiful adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List because /bɪˈkɒz, bɪˈkəz $ bɪˈkɒːz, bɪˈkəz/ conjunction used when you are giving the reason for something: "Why can't I go?" "Because you're not old enough." We didn't enjoy the day because the weather was so awful. adverbs mainly/mostly because I decided to go with them, mainly because I had nothing better to do. largely/chiefly/primarily because (=mainly - more formal) The island is popular chiefly because of its beaches. just because Just because you're older, it doesn't mean that you know better than me! only because I lent him the money only because I trusted him. simply because Many exam candidates lose marks simply because they do not read the questions properly. partly because Hubert never experienced any fear, and this was partly because he was not particularly intelligent. precisely because (=for exactly that reason - especially when this is the opposite of what you expect) People like his books precisely because they are difficult to understand. THESAURUS: because due to/owing to used to give the reason why something has happened. Due to and owing to are more formal than because: The delay was due to a problem with the ship's engines. | The parade had to be cancelled owing to bad weather. through because of something. Through is used especially when saying why someone succeeded or failed to do something: They won the game, more through luck than skill. | He failed the test through his own carelessness. thanks to used when explaining that something good has happened because of someone's efforts, or because something exists: Thanks to modern medicine, the disease can now be cured. since/as used when giving the reason why someone decides to do something or decides that something is true: Since it was a nice day, we decided to go to the beach. | I thought Kevin was out as his car wasn't there. | As it's Friday, why don't we go home early? | Seeing as you're here, I thought we'd have a chat (=another way of saying -'as' or 'since', used in spoken English). Since is often used at the beginning of a sentence. out of because of a particular feeling or quality: He started reading the book out of curiosity. | I only asked out of politeness. | She agreed to help out of kindness. | He did it out of revenge. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Other words and phrases because conjunction Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List become /bɪˈkʌm/ verb to start to have a feeling or quality, or to start to develop into something or do a job adjectives become accustomed His eyes were becoming accustomed to the dark. become famous Everyone wants to become famous. become popular/fashionable Cycling became popular at the beginning of the last century. become interested/excited He became interested in philosophy at university. become angry/worried/unhappy etc Pauline became concerned about her health and decided to see a doctor. | Virginia first became depressed at the age of 13, following the death of her mother. | He was becoming angry, and was staring fiercely at me. become tired/weak/ill I became very tired and I could not swim any more. | She became too ill to walk. become confident She says the course has helped her become more confident as a businesswoman. become certain/sure/inevitable War was becoming inevitable. become quiet/silent The teacher waited for the class to become quiet. become hot/cold/warm/cool The climate is likely to become warmer. become red/green/blue etc His cheeks became red. nouns become a teacher/doctor/writer etc She wants to become a doctor. become president/chairman/king/queen Obama became president when he was 47. become a man/woman/adult At 18, you legally become an adult in the UK. become a member Latvia became a member of the European Union. become a part/feature Chips became part of the British diet during the 19th century. become a problem Pollution has become a major problem. THESAURUS: become get better | worse | used to | angry | upset | bored | worried | confused | interested | excited | old | tired | ill | sick | rich | hot | cold | wet | dark | late | difficult to start to have a feeling or quality. Get is more informal than become and is used especially in spoken English: The team is getting better and better (=they keep getting better all the time). | Things are getting worse. | She soon got used to living in a foreign country. | Please don't get angry with me. | There's no need to get upset. | Children get bored easily. | The names sound very similar and it's easy to get confused. | I don't understand what everyone is getting so excited about. | His parents are getting old now. | She never seems to get tired. | What would happen if you got ill? | Everyone dreams of getting rich. | It's getting hot in here. | My lunch is getting cold. | Certain kinds of fabrics shrink if they get wet. | It gets dark at about eight o'clock. | We'd better go home - it's getting late. | It is getting difficult to breathe. Get or become? Get is more commonly used in informal contexts, for example when talking about your feelings, the temperature, or the weather: I'm getting tired. It's getting very hot. Become is the usual word to use in more formal English, for example in essays and reports. With some adjectives, you can only use become. You say become clear/obvious/apparent (not 'get'): It soon became clear she was lying. You say become certain/sure/inevitable (not 'get'): It became certain they would win the election. You say become extinct (not 'get'): Dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago. Both get and become are often used with comparative forms: Things are slowly getting better. The disease is becoming more common. grow old | accustomed | impatient | bored | tired | concerned | rich to become, especially gradually. Grow sounds rather formal and is used especially in written descriptions: Some people are afraid of growing old. | We have all grown accustomed to using credit. | Several hours passed and Melissa grew impatient. | She grew bored, and gazed out of the window. | He was growing tired of politics. | She grew concerned over how much money her family was spending. | The city grew rich from the tourist trade. turn red | green | blue | brown | grey | black | cold | cooler | warmer | nasty | violent to become - used especially when something changes and becomes a different colour: His face turned red. | The water had turned bright green. | The paper turns blue when you dip it in an alkali. | Apples quickly turn brown after the skin is peeled off. | Her hair had turned grey and she looked very pale. | The sky had turned black and all the street lights were on. | The weather is expected to turn cold again. | We can eat outside once the weather turns warmer. | The man suddenly turned nasty. | The demonstration turned violent, and several protesters were killed. go crazy | mad | quiet | silent | blind | dark | red | green | blue | brown | grey | black to become - used especially about people's behaviour or about colours: The world is going crazy. | I must be going mad. | Everyone went quiet when we walked in. | He went silent, so she apologized. | My aunt went blind when she was in her 40s. | The sky suddenly went dark. | His face went bright red. | In a certain light the sea goes green. | Your hair is going grey. come undone | loose | apart to become - used when something becomes separated or broken: Her shoelace came undone. | The screws had come loose. | His marriage was coming apart. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb Loading... 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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bed /bed/ noun 1. a piece of furniture that you sleep on verbs go to bed What time do you go to bed at night? get into bed/get out of bed She got into bed and turned out the light. climb/crawl into bed Lucy climbed into bed and fell asleep straight away. | We finally crawled into bed at three in the morning. jump into/out of bed I jumped out of bed and ran over to the window. lie in bed Simon lay in bed thinking. stay in bed (=not get up early or at the usual time) At the weekend it's really nice to be able to stay in bed. get sb out of bed (=make someone get out of bed) His mother couldn't get him out of bed in the mornings. put sb to bed (=put a child in their bed) I put the baby to bed at 7 o'clock as usual. send sb to bed (=make a child go to bed as a punishment) She was sent to bed without any dinner. be tucked up in bed The children were all tucked up in bed. share a bed with sb Do you mind sharing a bed with your sister? make the bed (=tidy the sheets and covers after you get up) Don't forget to make your bed before you go out! change the bed (=put clean sheets on it) You should change the beds every two weeks. wet the bed (=urinate in bed) Small children often wet the bed. take to your bed written (=go to bed because you feel ill) Guy had a stomach ache and took to his bed. adjectives/nouns + bed a warm/comfortable/cosy bed I wish I was back home in my nice comfortable bed. a soft/hard bed It was difficult to sleep on the hard bed. a narrow bed A child lay sleeping on a narrow bed. an unmade bed (=one that has not had its sheets and covers tidied) He threw his clothes on the unmade bed. a spare bed (=a bed for visitors to your home) Come and stay any time - we have a spare bed. a single bed (=for one person) There was only a single bed. a double bed (=a large bed for two people) Would you like a double bed or twin beds? twin beds (=two single beds in a room) The hotel room had twin beds. a king-size/queen-size bed (=a very big double bed) I need a duvet cover for a king-size bed. bunk beds (=two single beds joined together one above the other) The kids love sleeping in bunk beds. a feather bed (=a bed with feathers in the mattress) She lay back on the feather bed. a camp bed (=a simple bed that folds up) When we have visitors, I have to sleep on a camp bed in my parents' room. a sofa bed (=a sofa that folds out to become a bed) I slept on a sofa bed in the lounge. a four-poster bed (=with tall posts at each corner) The bridal suite has a huge four poster bed. a hospital bed There is a shortage of hospital beds. bed + nouns bed covers/clothes (=sheets, blankets etc) She pulled the bed covers up to her chin. bed sheets The bed sheets need changing. bed linen (=sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers) Where do you keep the clean bed linen? prepositions in bed "Where are the children?" "They're in bed." out of bed I'll speak to him about it when he's out of bed. before bed (=before you go to bed) I always have a drink of warm milk before bed. phrases the foot of the bed (=the bottom of the bed) I woke up to find someone standing at the foot of the bed. (it's) time for bed She sat and sewed until it was time for bed. 2. the area at the bottom of the sea, a river etc phrases the sea/river/ocean/lake bed Starfish live on the sea bed. Seabed and riverbed are often written as one word. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases bed noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bee /biː/ noun a black and yellow flying insect that makes honey verbs a bee buzzes Bees buzzed around the flowers, collecting pollen. a bee stings (=it makes a hole in your skin which is often painful) She was stung by a bee as she walked through the field. a bee flies somewhere A bee flew in through the open window. bees swarm (=a lot of bees fly together) Bees swarmed around the lavender bushes. keep bees My dad used to keep bees and sell the honey. attract bees Try to plant bushes that will attract bees to your garden. nouns + bee a honey bee (=a bee that makes honey) Honey bees live in big groups. a bumblebee (=a type of large bee) Bumblebees are among the first insects to appear in the spring. a worker bee Worker bees do most of the important work for a hive, such as gathering pollen. a queen bee The queen bee is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive. a killer bee (=a type of bee that is more likely to sting people than an ordinary bee) Killer bees spread northward to New Mexico. bee + nouns a bee sting For most people, a bee sting is painful, but not serious. a beekeeper Beekeepers have to wear protective clothing. a beehive (=the place where bees live or are kept) The time has come to take the honey from the beehive. adjectives angry bees The two men were stung more than 40 times by angry bees. phrases a swarm of bees (=a large group of bees) A swarm of bees flew out of the hive. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases bee noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List before /bɪˈfɔː $ -ˈfɔːr/ preposition earlier than something or someone: Let's meet at our house before the show. Larry arrived home before me. Before leaving, he checked that he had all his things. adverbs just before Hugh arrived just before the ceremony. nouns before breakfast/lunch/dinner I usually take a shower before breakfast. before (the) class I spoke to the teacher before class. before the end/beginning of sth The new road should be completed before the end of the year. before 10 o'clock/midnight/midday etc Make sure that you're back before 5 o'clock. phrases the day before yesterday (=two days ago) We only got back from Scotland the day before yesterday. not before The police arrived, not before the thieves had got away. before long (=used when saying that something happened soon after another thing) Other students joined in the protest, and before long there was a crowd of 200 or so. THESAURUS: before by no later than a particular time or date: The children are usually in bed by 9 o'clock. | We have to be out of our hotel room by 10 o'clock. prior to formal before something happens - used especially in official English: Please arrive at the airport two hours prior to departure. earlier before now, or before the time you are talking about: I saw her earlier. | I had sent the letter earlier in the week. previously before now, or before a time in the past: He previously worked as an electrician. | The show starred a previously unknown actress called Jennifer Aniston. in advance before something happens - used especially when talking about the arrangements for something: Let me know in advance if you are going to be late. | The landlord wants three months' rent in advance. beforehand also ahead of time before something happens, especially so that you are ready: I wish we had known about all this beforehand. | It's always best to decide beforehand how much you want to pay. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases before preposition Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beginner noun someone who has just started to do or learn something adjectives an absolute/complete/total beginner I was a complete beginner and I had never played golf before. a real beginner If you are a real beginner, you won't understand even the most basic words of the language. a false beginner (=someone who has studied before, but is still at a low level) The course is for students who are false beginners. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases beginner noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List beginning /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/ noun 1. the start or first part of an event, story, period of time etc verbs mark the beginning of sth (=be the beginning of something) This event marked the beginning of a ten-year worldwide depression. signal/herald the beginning of sth (=show that something will happen soon) The release of Mandela signalled the beginning of the end of South Africa's racist system. see the beginning of sth (=be the time when something important starts to happen) The 1970s saw the beginning of a technological revolution. adjectives a new beginning The country needed a new government and a new beginning. Don't say a fresh beginning. Say a new beginning or a fresh start. prepositions at the beginning The store opened at the beginning of February. | There is a quotation at the beginning of the book. in the beginning In the beginning I found the work quite hard. since the beginning Since the beginning of the year, 238 soldiers have been killed. from the beginning I opposed this war from the beginning. phrases right from/at the beginning from/at the very beginning (=used for emphasis) He had been lying to me from the very beginning. | That's what I suggested right at the beginning. from beginning to end This piece of work was a challenge from beginning to end. start at the beginning (=start a story or activity at the first part) Just start at the beginning and tell us exactly what happened. sth is just/only the beginning (=used to emphasize that many more things will happen) Signing the contract is just the beginning of a long process. THESAURUS: beginning start the beginning of something, or the way something begins. Start is a little less formal than beginning: Tomorrow marks the start of the presidential election campaign. | It was not a good start to the day. | The runners lined up for the start of the race. | We wanted to give our marriage a fresh start (=one in which you forget about all the problems and bad things that have happened). | I knew from the start that it wasn't going to be an easy climb. commencement formal the beginning of something - used especially in official contexts: Tomorrow marks the commencement of the academic year. | The commencement of the contract is on January 1st. origin the point from which something starts to exist: He wrote a book about the origins of the universe. | One idea concerning the origin of human language is that humans began to copy the sounds of nature. | The tradition has its origins in medieval times. Origin is often used in the plural. the onset of sth the time when something bad begins, such as illness, old age, or cold weather: An active lifestyle can delay the onset of many diseases common to aging. | The weather became colder, marking the onset of winter. dawn literary the beginning of an important period of time in history: People have worshipped gods since the dawn of civilization. | Apples have been with us since the dawn of time. | Here we are, at the dawn of a new age of genetics and the biosciences. | At the dawn of the 21st century, nations depend more on each other than at any other point in human history. birth the beginning of something important that will change many people's lives: We have seen the birth of democracy in South Africa. | The birth of the environmental movement was in the 1960s. | This was the birth of a new nation. ANTONYMS → end1 (1) 2. the early signs or stages of something that later develops into something bigger or more important Grammar Always plural in this meaning. adjectives humble/modest beginnings She rose from humble beginnings to become a senator. small beginnings From small beginnings the firm grew into a major computer manufacturer. early beginnings The Royal Society had its early beginnings in informal meetings. prepositions from ... beginnings We learn how the planet evolved from its beginnings to its present state. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases beginner noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List behave /bɪˈheɪv/ verb to do things that are good, bad, sensible etc adverbs behave badly/disgracefully/outrageously I think he behaved very badly towards you. behave differently Children sometimes behave completely differently at home and at school. behave oddly/strangely The dog's owner noticed that it was behaving oddly. behave sensibly/responsibly I'm sure you'll behave sensibly while I'm away. behave properly These kids don't know how to behave properly in restaurants. behave impeccably (=extremely well) We expect you to behave impeccably when you are on a field trip representing your school. prepositions behave with dignity/courage etc These people behaved with great dignity even when they were abused and insulted. phrases behave like/as if/as though (=as if a particular thing is true, usually when it is not) He behaved as if he had never met me before. THESAURUS: behave act to behave in a particular way, especially in a way that seems unusual, surprising, or annoying to other people: Tina's been acting very strangely lately. | What makes grown people act like that? | He acts as if he owns the place. treat to behave towards someone or deal with someone in a particular way: She said that he'd treated her really badly throughout their two-year marriage. | I was well treated while I was in prison. | I'm sick of my parents treating me like a child. conform to behave in the way that most other people in your group or society behave: Employees feel under pressure to conform to the rules. | Young people sometimes want to rebel and therefore they refuse to conform. conduct yourself formal to behave in a particular way, especially in a situation where people will notice and judge the way you behave: Public figures have a duty to conduct themselves responsibly, even in their private lives. | By the end of the course, you should be able to conduct yourself with confidence in any meeting. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases beginning noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List behaviour BrE behavior AmE /bɪˈheɪvjə $ -ər/ noun the way that someone behaves and the things that they do adjectives good/bad behaviour It is important to reward good behaviour. | The boys were suspended from school for bad behaviour. normal/abnormal behaviour They thought their son's behaviour was perfectly normal. | Were there any signs of abnormal behaviour? aggressive/violent/threatening behaviour His behavior became increasingly violent. strange behaviour What could be causing her strange behaviour? antisocial behaviour Antisocial behaviour such as spitting and swearing in public will not be tolerated. acceptable/unacceptable behaviour This sort of behavior is completely unacceptable. appropriate/inappropriate behaviour formal (=suitable/not suitable in a situation) Inappropriate behaviour must not be ignored. human/animal behaviour The scientific study of human behaviour is known as psychology. | detailed observations of animal behaviour criminal behaviour There are many theories as to what causes criminal behavior. sexual behaviour a survey of human sexual behaviour behaviour + nouns behaviour problems She teaches children with behaviour problems. verbs change your behaviour also modify your behaviour formal He has no reason to change his behaviour. affect/influence sb's behaviour The genes we inherit influence our behaviour. examine/observe sb's behaviour Scientists examined the behaviour of mice injected with the drug. explain sb's behaviour (=be or give a reason for it) That's the only way I can explain her behaviour. excuse sb's behaviour (=make someone's bad behaviour acceptable) He's very tired, but that doesn't excuse his behavior. apologize for sb's behaviour David apologized for his behaviour towards me. sb's behaviour gets better/improves His behaviour in school has improved. sb's behaviour gets worse also sb's behaviour deteriorates formal Children's behaviour often deteriorates when they are anxious about something. prepositions sb's behaviour towards/toward sb She complained about her boss's inappropriate behavior towards her. phrases standards of behaviour The school expects certain standards of behaviour from its students. | It's a parent's job to instruct children in acceptable standards of behaviour. a pattern of behaviour Different patterns of behaviour exist in different cultures. be on your best behaviour (=be behaving as well and politely as you can) I want you both to be on your best behaviour at Grandad's. THESAURUS: behaviour conduct formal the way someone behaves in public or in their job - used mainly in official or legal contexts: Bates was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct (=noisy and violent). | The committee found him guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. manner the way someone behaves when they are talking to or dealing with other people, which is shown in their expression, their voice etc: She had a pleasant friendly manner. | Suddenly his whole manner changed, and he started shouting. | His initial manner towards her had been rather formal. demeanour BrE demeanor AmE formal the way someone looks and behaves, which shows you something about their character or feelings: She maintained a calm demeanour at all times. | Wenger's demeanor suggested that he was not happy with the situation. antics someone's behaviour - used when you think it is silly, funny, strange, or annoying: The drunken antics of some English football fans have brought shame on the country. | The actor is becoming known for his increasingly bizarre off-screen antics. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases behaviour noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List behind /bɪˈhaɪnd/ preposition adverb at or towards the back of a thing or person: Behind the house there was a beautiful old oak tree. verbs go behind sb/sth The sun went behind a cloud. stand behind sb/sth I turned to speak to the person standing behind me. sit behind sb/sth The manager was sitting behind a huge desk. follow behind sb He set off down the road with the rest of us following close behind. creep up behind sb Someone could easily creep up behind us. get stuck behind sb/sth I got stuck behind a truck on the way to the airport. shut/close the door behind sb Jane shut the door behind her. nouns + behind the man/woman/car etc behind The car behind was hooting impatiently. THESAURUS: behind at the back BrE in (the) back AmE behind something, especially a building: There's a small garden at the back of the cottage. | Their house has a pool in the back. at/to the rear written behind something, especially a building. At/to the rear sounds rather formal and is used especially in written descriptions: They parked in a small carpark at the rear of the hotel. | There is a small seating area to the rear. in the background if someone or something is in the background, it is behind the place where the main activity is happening: If you look carefully at the painting, you will see several men sitting at a table in the background. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun Other words and phrases behind preposition, adverb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List belief /bəˈliːf, bɪˈliːf/ noun the feeling that something is definitely true or definitely exists adjectives a firm/strong belief It is still my firm belief that we did the right thing. a strongly/deeply held belief (=that you believe very much) Many strongly held beliefs have been proved wrong. a common/popular/widespread/widely held belief (=that a lot of people believe) There is a common belief that educational standards are getting worse. | The article expressed the widely held belief that unemployment leads to crime. a mistaken/false belief There is a mistaken belief that being famous is the most important thing in life. a sincere belief (=based on what you really feel is true) We have a sincere belief in the power of art to enhance human life. a passionate belief He had a passionate belief in justice. religious/political beliefs People of all religious beliefs come here to pray. verbs have a belief also hold a belief formal You must always have the belief that you can succeed. | He held this belief until the day he died. share sb's belief She does not share my belief that things will improve. respect sb's beliefs It is important to respect other people's beliefs. defy/beggar belief (=be extremely surprising) It beggars belief that something like this could happen. belief + nouns a belief system His political views are an important part of his belief system. prepositions a belief in sth She has a strong belief in God. beliefs about sth Our beliefs about women in the workplace are very different. beyond belief (=so extreme that it is difficult to believe) His rudeness is beyond belief. phrases it is my belief that It is my belief that technology makes life better. contrary to popular belief (=opposite to what most people think) Contrary to popular belief, boys are not usually better at maths than girls. be based on the belief that Our policies must be based on the belief that the planet's resources are finite. do sth in the belief that (=do it because you believe something is true) Thieves broke into the building in the mistaken belief that there was expensive computer equipment inside. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases belief noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List believe /bəˈliːv, bɪˈliːv/ verb 1. to be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth adverbs strongly/firmly believe I strongly believe that all children deserve a good education. passionately/fervently believe (=be extremely sure) She passionately believes that what she is doing is important. genuinely/honestly/sincerely believe Do you honestly believe it was an accident? wrongly/mistakenly believe Many people wrongly believe that the disease can be caused by eating too much sugar. it is generally/widely believed that (=most or many people believe that) It is generally believed that stress can affect the heart. phrases (I) don't believe a word of it (=used to say strongly that you do not believe something) He says he'll have the money ready for me tomorrow, but I don't believe a word of it. THESAURUS: believe accept explanation | story | version of events | to believe that something is true, especially because someone has persuaded you to believe it: His wife accepted his explanation for why he was late. | I don't accept their story. | Leah had slowly come to accept her brother's version of events. take sb's word for it especially spoken to believe what someone says is true, even though you have no proof or experience of it: I don't know anything about him, so I'll just have to take your word for it. | You don't have to take my word for it - go and see for yourself. | "Cakes are very easy to make." "I'll take your word for it." give sb the benefit of the doubt to believe what someone says, even though you think it might not be true: Unless you have proof, you should give him the benefit of the doubt. to believe something that is untrue be taken in also fall for sth informal story | excuse | claim to be tricked into believing something that is not true: I can't believe she fell for that old excuse! | A lot of people were taken in by these claims. swallow informal story | explanation | lies to believe a story or explanation that is not true, especially when this makes you seem silly: His aunt had swallowed his story unquestioningly. 2. to believe that someone or something exists prepositions believe in God He started to pray, even though he did not believe in God. believe in miracles/ghosts etc Hearing that she was alive was almost enough to make me believe in miracles. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases believe verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bell /bel/ noun an object or piece of equipment that makes a ringing sound, usually as a signal bell + verbs a bell rings I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance. a bell rings out (=rings loudly) The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war. a bell sounds/goes (=a bell makes a sound, especially an electric bell or warning bell) He raced for the school gates when the bell went. a bell chimes (=rings several times, especially in order to tell you the time of day) The bells of Princeton University chimed the hour. a bell tolls (=rings slowly, when someone has died) The church bell was tolling in the distance. a bell tinkles (=a small bell rings with a high sound) The little bells on the horse's harness tinkled merrily. verbs + bell ring a bell She rang the bell, and a maid opened the door. press the bell (=press a button to ring a bell) Irina pressed the bell for the nurse (=to call the nurse). answer the bell (=go and see who is ringing the bell) He dashed downstairs to answer the front door bell. nouns + bell the door bell At that moment the door bell rang and Sophia went to answer it. a church/temple bell She woke on Sunday morning to the sound of church bells. the school bell She used to ring the school bell at the end of the day. a bicycle bell He rang his bicycle bell to warn us to get out of the way. a cow bell (=worn by a cow) People use the phrase wedding bells when saying that a couple are going to get married: Mark and Bridget seem very happy and we expect to hear wedding bells soon. phrases a peal of bells (=the sound of bells being rung several times) At midnight a peal of bells rings out. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bell noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List belongings /bɪˈlɒŋɪŋz $ bɪˈlɒːŋ-/ noun the things you own, especially things that you can carry with you adjectives personal belongings All students have a locker where they can store their personal belongings. sb's most precious belongings (=the things which are the most important to you) She kept her most precious belongings in a box under her bed. verbs take your belongings with you Don't forget to take all your belongings with you when you get off the train. pack/pack up your belongings (=put them in a bag or suitcase) She packed all her belongings into an old suitcase. collect/gather your belongings Joe gathered his belongings and got ready to leave. go through/sort through your belongings (=search through them) He went through all his belongings trying to find his passport. rifle through sb's belongings (=quickly and carelessly search through them) The man was rifling through my belongings, looking for something to steal. prepositions among your belongings They found the letter among his other belongings. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases belongings noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List belt /belt/ noun 1. a band of leather, cloth etc that you wear around your waist adjectives a wide/broad belt Around his waist he wore a broad leather belt. a narrow/thin belt The dress has a narrow belt. a leather/plastic/silver belt He wore a big leather belt. verbs wear a belt She was wearing a belt with a gold-plated buckle. buckle/fasten/do up your belt She put the robe on and fastened the belt. unbuckle/unfasten/undo your belt He unbuckled his belt and took his jeans off. loosen your belt After he finished eating, he loosened his belt a little. tighten your belt She tightened the belt of her coat and turned up the collar. Tighten your belt is usually used metaphorically to mean 'try to spend less money than you used to'. nouns + belt a gun/sword belt (=for holding a gun or sword) One protester tried to grab an officer's gun belt. a money belt (=one with a pocket for money) belt + nouns a belt buckle He undid his belt buckle. 2. an area across or around a place, which has particular things or people in it adjectives/nouns + belt a wide/narrow belt Along the coast is a wide belt of sand dunes. | Most of the population is located in a narrow urban belt. a mountain/forest/desert belt Where two continents collide, a mountain belt is formed. a coastal belt This narrow coastal belt is mainly desert. a shelter belt The house is protected by a shelter belt of trees. the industrial belt (=where there are a lot of factories) He claimed that the industrial belt of Silesia was 'the most polluted part of Europe'. the green belt BrE (=land around a city where building is not allowed) The government has said it will protect the green belt. the corn/cotton/wheat belt (=where corn etc is grown) Dust storms hit the wheat belt in the 1930s. the rust belt/the Rust Belt (=where many factories have closed) The Rust Belt states saw entire industries die in the early 1980s. the commuter belt BrE (=an area around a large city from where people travel to work in the city every day) House prices are high in the London commuter belt. the stockbroker belt BrE (=an area around a city where rich people who work in the city live) She lived in a big house in the stockbroker belt. the asteroid belt The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter. prepositions a belt of sth The hotel is screened from the nearest road by a belt of trees. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases belongings noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bend /bend/ noun a curved part of something, especially a road or river adjectives a sharp/tight bend (=that changes direction suddenly) Drivers usually slow down when approaching a sharp bend. a hairpin bend (=a very sharp bend in a road) The road wound up the mountain in a series of hairpin bends. a slight/gentle/wide bend (=that changes direction slightly or gradually) Ahead of us there was a wide bend in the river. a blind bend (=that you cannot see around when you are driving) Never overtake another car on a blind bend. a left-hand/right-hand bend (=going towards the left or the right) Take the turning just after the left-hand bend in the road. the first/next/final bend They rounded the final bend in the long drive and the house came into view. verbs come around/round a bend Suddenly a motorbike came around the bend at top speed. round/take a bend He rounded the bend much too fast. negotiate a bend (=go round a sharp and difficult bend) The lorry knocked the sign over while trying to negotiate the bend. prepositions a bend in sth There's a bend in the pipe. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bend noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List benefit AC /ˈbenəfɪt, ˈbenɪfɪt/ noun 1. an advantage or improvement that you get from something, especially one that helps you in your life adjectives/nouns + benefit a great/major/substantial benefit The changes have brought great benefits to the organization. a real benefit To get some real benefit from the exercise, you should continue for at least half an hour. a direct benefit The money raised has been of direct benefit to the students. a lasting benefit These plans are likely to result in lasting benefit to the whole of our district. the full/maximum benefit of sth They will have the full benefit of our facilities. economic/social/environmental etc benefits Tourism has brought considerable economic benefits to the island. health benefits We all know the health benefits of eating green vegetables. mutual benefit (=for both people, companies etc involved) Our two companies are working together for mutual benefit. potential benefits (=that you might get) The potential benefits of the scheme must be weighed against the costs involved. verbs get/gain a benefit also gain/derive a benefit formal If you do not exercise regularly, you are unlikely to get any benefit. enjoy the benefits We're enjoying the benefits of living in a warm climate. have the benefit of sth I never had the benefit of a university education. | All the hotel rooms have the benefit of a balcony. reap the benefits (=enjoy the advantages of something you have worked hard to get) He was looking forward to reaping the benefits of all his hard work. bring/provide benefits The new bridge has brought considerable benefits. have benefits Breastfeeding has health benefits for both baby and mother. see/appreciate the benefit of sth (=realize that it brings advantages) Some English people can't see the benefit of learning another language. sth outweighs the benefits (=something is more important than the benefits) Make sure that the risks don't outweigh the benefits. prepositions the benefits of sth What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses? benefit for/to sb This project will have benefits for everyone involved. | More efficient production is a benefit to all factories. the benefit from sth Some patients will get no benefit from this treatment. with/without the benefit of sth Most people manage without the benefit of servants. phrases be of benefit to sb (=be useful or helpful to someone) His coaching has been of benefit to all the players. | I hope that the decision taken today will be to the benefit of the whole nation. be to sb's benefit (=be helpful to someone) They oppose all change unless it is to their benefit. for the benefit of sb (=for someone to use) There is also a gym for the benefit of staff. for your own benefit (=for yourself) He used the money for his own benefit, instead of using it to help other people. THESAURUS: benefit → advantage 2. BrE money from the government for people who are sick, unemployed or have little money verbs claim benefit (=apply for it and get it) You may be able to claim benefit. get/receive a benefit Are you receiving any benefits? live on benefits Since he lost his job the family has been living on benefits. be entitled to/eligible for benefit (=be able to get it) Because she has savings, she is not entitled to any benefits. lose your benefit (=not get it) If you refuse a job offer, you could lose your benefits. nouns + benefit state benefits (=from the government) The family is dependent on state benefits. welfare benefits She lied in order to get extra welfare benefits. child benefit (=for people who have children) Child benefit will not now be paid to higher income families. housing benefit (=to help pay someone's rent or mortgage) The housing benefit covered the cost of their rent. prepositions be on benefit He hates being on benefit. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases beneficial adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bent adjective no longer straight Adverbs and phrases slightly bent Stand with your knees slightly bent. bent double (=with the top part of your body leaning forward towards your legs) He breathed in deeply, bent double in pain. bent in the middle/bent in two The knife was bent in the middle. keep your head bent She kept her head bent so that Josie couldn't see her face. nouns bent metal/wire etc I cut myself on a piece of bent metal. a bent old man/woman (=not standing straight) The door was answered by a bent old woman. THESAURUS: bent twisted ankle | knee | metal | wreckage | remains | branch | trunk having a bent shape that turns around - used especially when something has lost its natural straight shape: I had a twisted ankle. | His knee was all twisted. | All that was left was a pile of twisted metal. | They looked inside the twisted wreckage of the car. | He climbed up a twisted tree trunk. curved surface | line | wings | beak | knife | sword | blade bent in the shape of part of a circle, especially naturally or because something has been made that way: The mirror has a curved surface. | You could see the long curved line of the beach stretching into the distance. | The plane's wings are curved. | The bird has a long curved beak. | The dagger had a curved blade. warped wood | plastic | board | window | door bent or twisted into the wrong shape because of heat or dryness: The house has warped wooden floorboards. | The windows are warped and won't open anymore. crooked teeth | nose | spine | path | street | stick not straight, but bending sharply in one or more places, especially in a way that looks different from normal or does not look right: He had crooked teeth. | The witch had a crooked nose and a long thin face. | The boys at school used to make fun of me because I have a crooked spine. | They walked along a crooked path through the forest. | We got lost in the narrow crooked streets of the old town. | The guide had an old crooked stick. | The picture looks crooked - can you move it up on the left? wavy line | hair having smooth bends in it, usually in a regular pattern: The pictures were separated by a thin wavy line. | She shook back her brown wavy hair. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bent adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List best1 /best/ adjective noun better than anything else or anyone else Grammar As a noun, best is always used in the phrase the best. phrases one of the best It's one of the best restaurants in New York. easily the best/by far the best (=much better than the others) The series was easily the best TV drama this year. | One girl stood out as by far the best singer. the very best (=the best - used for emphasis) The very best athletes compete at the Olympics. the best in the world/the country The university is one of the best in the world. make the best use of sth Making the best use of space is important in any room. nouns the best way The best way to learn a language is to live in a country where it is spoken. the best thing (to do) The best thing to do is to apologize immediately. the best place to be/live London is the best place to be if you like going to the theatre. the best person for the job I've worked with her before and I believe she's the best person for the job. best + adjectives the best possible We sold the house at the best possible time. the best available The tuition we offer here is the best available. verbs want the best Parents naturally want the best for their children. think it best to do sth (=think that you should do something) I thought it best not to mention the matter. ANTONYMS → worst baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List best2 /best/ adverb 1. more than others verbs like sb/sth best Which jacket do you like best? know sb/sth best Those who know him best say he has a great sense of humour. suit sb best Choose the style that suits you best. be best remembered for sth as sth (=for a particular reason, more than any others) He is best remembered for his role in 'Casablanca'. 2. in a way that is better than any other verbs work best Use the method that works best for you. describe sth best The feeling can best be described as like falling from a tall building. explain sth best Which of these theories best explains the behaviour of voters? understand sth best We understand the visual signs best. be best achieved Communication is best achieved by personal contact. phrases how best to do sth We discussed how best to deal with the problem. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bet noun an agreement that someone will be given money if something happens, and lose money if it does not happen verbs put/place/lay a bet She placed a bet on a horse called Lucky. make a bet He made a bet with her that she couldn't be silent for three hours. win/lose a bet France won the game and I won my bet. | He lost the bet, but he hasn't paid me yet. have a bet Are you going to have a bet on the race? put a bet on (sth) He asked his brother to put a bet on for him. take/accept a bet (=accept someone's money as part of a bet) They're taking bets on the result of the election now. Place, put, or make a bet? You usually place/put a bet when gambling on the result of a horse race or a game: I put a bet on a horse and it came last. You use make a bet about more informal arrangements where you predict what will happen: We made a bet that the first one to get to the pub would buy the drinks. Lay a bet can be used in both meanings. adjectives/nouns + bet a £50 bet/$100 bet etc Someone placed a £1,500 bet on the horse at odds of 14-1. a big/small bet He felt confident enough to make a big bet. a good/safe/sure/fair bet (=someone or something that is likely to be successful or to happen) It's a safe bet that he will win. | I think Stephen is now an extremely good bet for the world championship. a bad bet (=a bet that you did not win, or are unlikely to win) She made what turned out to be a bad bet. an outside bet (=someone or something that is not expected to be successful by many people) He is a reasonable outside bet for the job. prepositions a bet on sth I put a bet on a race and I lost my money. for a bet He dived off the bridge for a bet. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bet noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List better /ˈbetə $ -ər/ adjective, adverb the comparative form of 'good' or 'well' adverbs much better/a lot better The weather is much better today. slightly better/a little better also a bit better informal She woke up feeling slightly better. infinitely better (=very much better) The new system is infinitely better than the old one. marginally better (=only very slightly better) The team did marginally better in the next game. even better The show was even better than I expected. verbs get better The situation should get better soon. feel better Are you feeling any better? phrases there is nothing better than sth There is nothing better than having praise from someone whose work you respect. THESAURUS: better superior better, especially in quality: German cars are far superior. | He thinks men are superior to women. | This is a superior product. preferable formal more suitable or useful - used when saying which one you prefer: Cash would be preferable. | Anything would be preferable to the system we have now. be an improvement on sth to be better than something that existed before: The engine is a huge improvement on previous diesel engines. have the edge to be slightly better than another person or thing - used especially when saying which one will win in a game or competition: Federer is likely to have the edge in Sunday's game. | For me, this film has the edge over the others. be miles ahead (of sb/sth) also be streets ahead (of sb/sth) BrE informal to be very much better than someone or something that you are competing against: The company is streets ahead of its rivals. there's no comparison spoken used to emphasize that one person or thing is clearly much better than someone or something else: There's no comparison between the two teams. | "Which apartment do you prefer?" "Well, there's no comparison. The first one we saw is bigger, quieter, and has much nicer furniture." ANTONYMS → worse baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases better adjective, adverb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bias AC /ˈbaɪəs/ noun an unfair attitude which makes you treat one person or group better or worse than another adjectives/nouns + bias political bias New reporting is often affected by political bias. personal bias During the job interview, you should be careful to avoid personal bias towards or against the candidate. ideological bias (=a bias that comes from a particular way of thinking about the world) Historical accounts often contain some political or ideological bias. liberal/right-wing/left-wing etc bias Many Republicans claim that the US media has a liberal bias. a strong/marked bias There is a strong bias against older women. a clear/obvious/blatant bias The press showed a clear bias towards the ruling party. racial/cultural bias There is evidence of racial bias in some court cases. | The test questions may have a cultural bias, and children from non-British homes have difficulty answering them. gender bias (=a bias concerning men and women) There is a gender bias in many toys: pink kitchens for the girls, blue cars for the boys. class bias Is there a class bias in who gets admitted to universities? patriotic bias (=a bias in favour of your country) There is a patriotic bias in favour of the England team. media bias The candidate complained of media bias against him in the run-up to the election. verbs have a bias against/in favour of sb The college has a bias in favour of middle-class students. show/display/demonstrate bias The referee is not allowed to show any bias toward either team. accuse sb of bias He accused the newspaper of having a liberal bias. avoid bias Teachers are careful to avoid bias towards any student. reflect/reveal a bias The way the questions were worded reflected a bias against fat people. eliminate/reduce bias The participants are chosen at random, in order to reduce bias. overcome bias Women are still working to overcome traditional bias in the workplace. prepositions a bias against sb The article shows a bias against women. a bias towards/toward/in favour of sb An analysis of national television news revealed a significant bias towards the government. without bias The information must be presented without bias. phrases be free from bias The news is supposed to be free from bias. anti-American/anti-intellectual etc bias He accused the newspaper of having an anti-French bias. pro-British/pro-government etc bias Israel accused them of a pro-Arab bias in their Middle East policies. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bias noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bicycle /ˈbaɪsɪkəl/ noun a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing its pedals with your feet verbs ride a bicycle Riding a bicycle is very good exercise. Don't say drive a bicycle. get on/get off your bicycle I got on my bicycle and cycled over to Rob's house. mount your bicycle formal (=get on it) Sara mounted her bicycle and rode off. pedal a bicycle I used to see her pedalling her bicycle around town. push/wheel a bicycle (=walk beside it pushing it) She was wheeling her bicycle and talking to some friends. fall off/be knocked off your bicycle He was knocked off his bicycle by a careless driver. bicycle + nouns a bicycle ride They went for a 50 km bicycle ride. a bicycle helmet Always wear a bicycle helmet. a bicycle pump (=for putting more air in a tyre) a bicycle wheel/tyre My front bicycle tyre is flat. a bicycle shed (=a place for keeping bicycles in) He built a bicycle shed in the back yard. a bicycle rack (=a metal frame that you can attach your bike to) There are some bicycle racks in front of the station. a bicycle shop also a bicycle store AmE Your local bicycle shop can advise you about what is the best bike for you. prepositions on a bicycle They saw a few boys on bicycles. by bicycle In many cities, it is too dangerous for children to travel by bicycle. Bicycle or bike? In everyday English, people usually say bike: I ride my bike to work. Bicycle sounds rather formal. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bicycle noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bid /bɪd/ noun 1. an offer to pay a particular price for something, especially at an auction adjectives/nouns + bid a high/low bid There were several high bids for the painting. an opening bid (=the first bid at an auction) The opening bid was only $10. a final bid She was successful with a final bid of £9,500. the winning bid A wealthy Chinese businessman made the winning bid for the painting. a rival/competing bid (=competing with someone else's bid) Shareholders will have to choose between two rival bids for the football club. verbs make a bid A film company made a bid for the film rights to the book. put in a bid/place a bid also submit a bid formal (=officially make a bid) Property developers have put in a bid for the land. receive a bid They received four bids for the company. attract a bid The business attracted bids of over £2 billion. accept a bid An auctioneer may refuse to accept any bid below a certain price. reject a bid The team has rejected a bid for its top player. invite bids (=say something is for sale) The company is inviting bids for its nine hotels. prepositions a bid for sth They put in a bid for the house. a bid by/from sb The company rejected a bid by US Airlines. 2. an attempt to do or get something adjectives/nouns + bid a successful bid The agency made a successful bid for funding. an unsuccessful/failed bid He made a failed bid for the presidency. a desperate bid Knox made a desperate bid to stop the ball reaching the goal. a rescue/escape bid Helicopters were brought in to help with the rescue bid. | Two prisoners made an escape bid. a takeover bid (=an attempt to buy another company) Staff are afraid that the takeover bid will threaten their jobs. a hostile bid (=an attempt to buy another company that does not want to be bought) The company faces a hostile bid from a major US firm. a leadership bid His leadership bid ended because of the affair. a presidential bid (=an attempt to become president) He had supported Reagan's 1980 presidential bid. an election/re-election bid Carter lost his re-election bid in 1980. verbs make a bid The party is making a serious bid for power. launch/mount a bid The city launched a bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. succeed/fail in a bid to do sth We succeeded in our bid to reach the final. | Terry failed in his bid to keep the story out of the newspapers. a bid succeeds/fails The bid failed when officials rejected the plan. | If his bid succeeds, he will be the first person from the college to play for his country. prepositions a bid for sth The ex-president made another bid for power. in a bid to do sth Stores installed cameras in a bid to reduce crime. phrases a bid for freedom (=an attempt to escape) The prisoners made a bid for freedom but they were soon recaptured. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bid noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List big /bɪɡ/ adjective 1. large in size nouns a big house/building They live in a big house in New York. a big country/city/place Canada is a big country. a big road/river There is a big road outside the school. a big company/organization His father works for a big oil company. a big smile/grin She came out of the room with a big smile on her face and said "I've got the job!" Using big about people When you use big about people, it usually means that they have a lot of muscles, or they are fat: He was accompanied by two big bodyguards. I'm getting too big for these jeans. You also use big about people in your family who are older than you: She's my big sister (=my older sister). ANTONYMS → small (1) 2. very noticeable, important, or serious nouns a big effect/impact The internet has had a big effect on our lives. a big difference There is a big difference in the price. a big change It was a big change in my life. a big advantage/disadvantage Our team had a big disadvantage, because we had never played together before. a big problem Don't worry - it's not such a big problem. a big mistake Marrying him was the biggest mistake she had ever made. THESAURUS: big → important (1) ANTONYMS → small (1) 3. large in number or amount nouns a big increase/decrease There has been a big increase in the number of people looking for work. a big cut/reduction/fall The sign says there are big price reductions. a big profit/loss The company announced big profits. a big population The city has a big population. You usually say a large amount, not a 'big' one. You also usually say large numbers of people/things, not 'big' ones. THESAURUS: big Senses 1, 2, & 3 Academic Writing In academic writing, it is better to use a more formal word instead of big. For example, you can say a large area instead of 'a big area' or a major cause instead of 'a big cause'. You can find more information about these alternative words below. large number | amount | quantity | proportion | increase | profit | area | man | woman large means the same as big, but is more formal. You use large when talking about the size, number, or amount of something: The museum attracts a large number of visitors. | The computer can store large amounts of data. | They found large quantities of weapons. | A large proportion of the food we buy is wasted. | There has been a large increase in the number of cars on the roads. | Oil companies make large profits. | Large areas of the forest have been destroyed. | He pointed to a large man in dark glasses. | Larger women sometimes have difficulty finding nice clothes. Big or large? You don't use large when talking about the importance or seriousness of something. For example, you say a big problem (not a 'large' one), a big mistake (not a 'large' one), and a big effect (not a 'large' one). great success | change | difference | number | variety | advantage | honour | mistake very big - often used when something is very impressive, important, or serious: The show was a great success. | We are living in a time of great change. | Having the money has made a great difference to our lives. | The female lays a great number of eggs. | The store sells a great variety of household goods. | The great advantage of wind power is that it does not harm the environment. | It is a great honour to receive this award. | It would be a great mistake to ignore this evidence. major part | role | factor | problem | issue | change | cause | source | contribution | impact big and important: Women's health is a major part of our work. | He played a major role in the team's success. | Exercise is a major factor in preventing heart disease. | Pollution is a major problem. | The cost is likely to be a major issue. | There has been a major change in government policy. | Long working hours are a major cause of stress. | Banking was a major source of employment. | He made a major contribution to modern science. | The new technology will have a major effect on people's lives. considerable amount | number | degree | proportion | part | interest | importance | influence | success | progress large in amount, number, or degree. Considerable is used especially in formal English: They have already spent a considerable amount of money. | A considerable number of children live in one-parent families. | There is still a considerable degree of confusion. | A considerable proportion of the workers are women. | A considerable part of the land is not being used. | This subject is of considerable interest to scientists. | His writings are of considerable importance. | Jones had a considerable influence on young musicians. | The company has had considerable success. | Considerable progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go. substantial amount | number | part | proportion | increase | progress | change large in amount or number. Substantial is used especially in formal English: They invested a substantial amount of money. | A substantial number of his poems were written there. | A substantial part of Britain's trade is with Europe. | The disease affects a substantial proportion of the population. | There was a substantial increase in taxes. | Substantial progress has been made in the last twenty years. | Substantial changes are needed. Considerable or substantial? These words mean the same and can both be used about numbers and amounts. Considerable is used with a wider range of words. You say considerable importance (not substantial importance). You say considerable interest (not substantial interest). ANTONYMS → small (1) 4. famous THESAURUS: big → famous Words meaning 'very big' see → huge baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases big adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bike /baɪk/ noun a bicycle verbs ride a bike I learned to ride a bike when I was six. go somewhere by bike/on a bike I usually go to work by bike. | Every Sunday he goes to visit his mum on his bike. get on/off a bike He got off his bike and walked with her for a while. rent a bike also hire a bike BrE You can rent bikes and explore the island's cycle paths. nouns + bike a racing bike He bought a cool new racing bike. a mountain bike (=a strong bicycle for riding over rough ground) They went out for a ride on their mountain bikes. an exercise bike (=used for exercising indoors) I usually go on the exercise bike first at the gym. bike + nouns a bike ride I like going for long bike rides in the country. a bike race The Tour de France is a famous bike race. a bike rack (=a metal frame that you can attach your bike to) All stations should provide bike racks for passengers. a bike shed (=a small building for keeping bikes in) They used to meet behind the bike sheds at school. a bike lane (=a part at the side of a road for bikes to ride in) He was riding in the bike lane. a bike path The city has several bike paths and jogging trails. prepositions by bike You can explore the area by bike. on a bike Ben came past the house on his bike. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bike noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bill /bɪl/ noun 1. a written list showing how much you have to pay for something adjectives/nouns + bill a big/huge bill We got a huge bill for the repairs to the house. an electricity/gas/phone etc bill The gas bill keeps going up every year. legal/medical bills If you have no insurance, how do you pay your medical bills? a hotel bill He paid the hotel bill by credit card. a tax bill There are various ways you can reduce your tax bill. an unpaid bill She had unpaid bills amounting to £3,000. an outstanding bill (=still unpaid) He still didn't have enough to pay his outstanding bills. an itemized bill (=giving details about each thing on it) An itemized phone bill lists every call you have made. verbs pay a bill Have you paid the phone bill? | Most people pay their bills on time. settle a bill (=pay all the money that you owe) She went down to the lobby to settle the bill for their rooms. foot the bill/pick up the bill (=pay for something, especially when you do not want to) Taxpayers will probably have to foot the bill for the project. ask for the bill (=ask for the bill in a restaurant) If you're ready to go, I'll ask for the bill. get/receive a bill They'll have a shock when they get the bill. run up a bill (=have to pay a lot of money for using or doing something) It's easy to run up a big bill on your mobile phone. send sb a bill Send me your bill and I will pay you in full. face a bill (=have a lot to pay on a bill) They were facing a mounting legal bill. cut/reduce a bill We need to find a way to cut our fuel bill. share the bills (=each pay part of them) My housemates and I share the bills. a bill comes to sth (=it is for that amount) The bill came to $60. prepositions the bill for sth The bill for the repairs came to $650. In American English, people often use check about a bill in a restaurant: The waiter brought the check. THESAURUS: bill check AmE a bill that tells you how much you must pay in a restaurant: Can I have the check, please? invoice a document that lists the goods that a company has sent, or the services they have provided, and tells you how much you must pay. It is often sent from one company to another company: I sent in an invoice for the work I had done. | She received an invoice for £200. | Payment is due ten days after receipt of the invoice. tab informal a bill that is added up at the end of a period of time, especially for food or drinks that you have had in a restaurant or hotel: People staying in the hotel can order food or drinks to be put on their tab. 2. a written proposal for a new law adjectives/nouns + bill a defence/finance/education etc bill Monday's debate on the defence bill lasted all night. a controversial bill (=causing a lot of disagreement) There is a controversial bill to increase taxes on pensions. a draft bill (=not final) This is a draft bill - no final decision has been made yet. a private member's bill BrE (=proposed by a member of parliament who is not a minister in the government) a private member's bill aimed at preventing young people using sunbeds verbs pass/approve a bill (=accept it so it becomes law) The Senate passed the bill by 96 votes to 3. vote for/against a bill The opposition parties are planning to vote against the bill. veto a bill (=not allow it to become law) The president said he would veto the bill. reject/throw out a bill They rejected a bill to limit arms exports. introduce/bring in a bill (=start using it) The government introduced a bill to provide stiffer penalties for terrorists. propose a bill (=suggest it) He proposed a bill to ban smoking in public areas. draft a bill (=write it) Experts from the labour ministry helped draft the bill. | He drafted a bill that would make it illegal for personal information to be used without getting permission first. debate a bill The bill is still being debated in Parliament. phrases a bill becomes law It will be several months before the bill becomes law. a bill goes through Parliament We want this bill to go through Parliament as quickly as possible. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bill noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bin /bɪn/ noun BrE a container for putting waste in nouns + bin a rubbish/waste bin The rubbish bin needs emptying. a wastepaper bin (=for paper you throw away) I threw the letter straight in the wastepaper bin. a litter bin (=a bin in a public place) Please put all your rubbish in the litter bin. a recycling bin (=for rubbish that you can recycle) Those plastic cartons can go in the recycling bin. a wheelie bin (=a big bin on wheels kept outside a house) They come to empty the wheelie bins on Friday. a pedal bin (=that you open by pressing a lever with your foot) There is a pedal bin in the bathroom. verbs put/throw sth in the bin also chuck sth in the bin informal Just put the wrapper in the bin. bin + nouns a bin bag/liner (=that you use inside a bin to keep it clean) We need some more bin liners for the kitchen bin. the bin men (=the people who take your rubbish away) Which day do the bin men come? baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bin noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bingo /ˈbɪŋɡəʊ $ -ɡoʊ/ noun a game played for money or prizes, in which numbers are chosen by chance and called out, and if you have the right numbers on your card, you win verbs play bingo My sister likes to play bingo. win money at bingo Vera won £20 at bingo. bingo + nouns a bingo hall also a bingo parlor AmE The old cinema had been made into a bingo hall. a bingo game/a game of bingo They raised money for charity by organizing bingo games. a bingo card I crossed off all the numbers on the top line of the bingo card. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bingo noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bird /bɜːd $ bɜːrd/ noun a creature with wings and feathers that can usually fly adjectives/nouns + bird a wild bird There are hundreds of different kinds of wild birds in the area. a migratory bird (=that moves to different regions for summer and winter) Migratory birds stop here on their way to Africa. a flightless bird (=that cannot fly) The emu is a large flightless Australian bird. a wading bird (=a bird with long legs that stands in water to catch fish) The lake is home to many different types of wading birds. a game bird (=that people shoot and eat) They hunt game birds such as ducks and pheasants. Songbird and seabird are usually written as one word. verbs a bird flies Some birds fly incredible distances. a bird soars (=flies very high in the sky) We watched birds soar in the blue sky above. a bird swoops (=it suddenly flies down) The bird swoops on its prey. a bird flaps its wings (=it moves its wings up and down) The baby birds were trying to flap their wings. a bird sings (=makes musical sounds) I woke up to hear the birds singing outside. a bird chirps/twitters (=makes short high sounds) Birds chirped to one another from different branches of the tree. a bird squawks (=makes a loud unpleasant sound) The bird in the cage started squawking. a bird nests also a bird builds a nest Many birds are nesting on the river banks. a bird lays its eggs The bird lays a single egg on the ground. a bird pecks (at) sth (=makes small movements with its beak) Some birds were pecking at the remains of a sandwich. a bird perches (=stands on something above the ground) Beautiful white birds perched on the tree's branches. a bird migrates (=flies to different regions for summer and winter) The birds migrate from South America to North American breeding grounds. a bird hops (=makes small jumping movements) A small bird was hopping across the grass. bird + nouns a bird species/a species of bird Many of the island's bird species need protection. a bird reserve/sanctuary (=a place where birds are protected) This part of the coast is now a bird sanctuary. a bird table BrE (=tall wooden object in a garden with food on it for birds) There was a bird table in the garden. a bird feeder (=something that you hang with food inside it for birds) She put some peanuts in the bird feeder. Birdwatcher, birdwatching, and birdsong are usually written as one word. phrases a flock of birds (=a large number of birds together) Suddenly a flock of birds flew up into the sky. a bird of prey (=that hunts and eats small animals) A big bird of prey was circling over our heads. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bid noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List birth /bɜːθ $ bɜːrθ/ noun the time or process when a baby comes out of its mother's body phrases sb's date of birth especially BrE sb's birth date especially AmE (=the day, month, and year you were born) Please give your name, address, and date of birth. sb's place/country of birth I wanted to find out my father's place of birth. the time of birth They believe that the position of the planets at the time of birth determines a person's fate. birth + nouns the birth rate (=the number of babies born somewhere) The country's birth rate has decreased dramatically. a birth defect (=something wrong with a baby when it is born) About 11% of babies have birth defects. a birth certificate (=an official document showing when and where you were born) Her birth certificate says she was born in 1972. birth weight (=a baby's weight when it is born) Many factors may affect a baby's birth weight. sb's birth mother (=someone's natural mother, who may not be their legal mother) I was adopted when I was two because my birth mother couldn't look after me. sb's birth parents (=someone's natural parents, who may not be their legal parents) When I was 18, I tried to search for my birth parents. a birth plan (=a plan of what type of birth you would like) Make sure you discuss your birth plan with your midwife. verbs give birth (=produce a baby from your body) Most women in Britain give birth in hospital. celebrate sb's birth They are celebrating the birth of their first child. register a birth (=officially tell a government department that a baby has been born) Failing to register a birth is illegal. attend a birth In Britain most fathers attend the birth of their children. adjectives/nouns + birth a premature birth (=when a baby is born before the normal time) Smoking in pregnancy has been linked to premature birth. a multiple birth (=when a woman has two or more babies at the same time) The chance of a multiple birth is about 1 in 100 for the average woman. a home birth (=when a woman gives birth at home, not in a hospital) I decided I wanted a home birth for my second child. a hospital birth Many women choose hospital births. a natural birth (=one that does not involve medical assistance or drugs) She wanted a natural birth. a difficult/easy birth It was a difficult birth and she took a long time to recover. a caesarean birth BrE a cesarean birth AmE (=one in which a woman's body is cut open to take the baby out) The number of caesarean births has increased. a water birth (=one in which a woman sits in water) She hoped to have a water birth. a live birth (=when a baby is born alive - used especially in technical English) Last year 69% of live births were to women in their thirties. prepositions at birth He only weighed 2 kilos at birth. from birth Henry has been blind from birth. the birth of sb My husband was there at the birth of both our children. THESAURUS: birth → beginning (1) baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases birth noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List birthday /ˈbɜːθdeɪ $ ˈbɜːr-/ noun the day that is an exact number of years after the day you were born adjectives Happy Birthday! (=said to someone on their birthday) Happy Birthday, Linda! sb's 1st/18th/40th etc birthday It's Mum's 50th birthday tomorrow. sb's next birthday She'll be 18 on her next birthday. sb's last birthday On his last birthday, he was 93. verbs have a good/nice etc birthday Did you have a nice birthday? get sth for your birthday What did you get for your birthday? give sth to sb for their birthday I never know what to give him for his birthday. celebrate sb's birthday He will celebrate his 90th birthday on August 25th. remember sb's birthday (=remember to send a card or present) She always remembers my birthday. forget sb's birthday (=forget to send a card or present) Oh no! I forgot his birthday. mark sb's birthday (=celebrate it by doing something) The book was published to mark his 70th birthday. share a birthday (=have the same birthday) My friend and I share a birthday, so we sometimes have a joint party. birthday + nouns a birthday card Don't forget to send her a birthday card. a birthday present Have you got Lou a birthday present yet? a birthday party Can you come to my birthday party next Saturday? birthday celebrations the president's 60th birthday celebrations a birthday treat (=something special you do on your birthday) What would you like to do for a birthday treat? a birthday meal Where are you going for your birthday meal? a birthday cake She had a birthday cake with 21 silver candles on it. the birthday girl/boy informal (=the person whose birthday it is) Here comes the birthday girl! prepositions on sb's birthday That photo was taken on my birthday. for sb's birthday He always buys her expensive presents for her birthday. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases birthday noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bit /bɪt/ noun informal 1. a small piece of something adjectives a little/tiny/small bit The floor was covered in tiny bits of glass. prepositions a bit of sth He wedged the door open with a bit of wood. phrases fall/come to bits (=separate into many different parts because of being old or damaged) The book was so old that I was afraid it would fall to bits. take sth to bits (=separate the parts of something) Tony loves taking old radios and computers to bits. break/smash (sth) to bits The vase fell and smashed to bits on the concrete floor. rip/tear sth to bits She grabbed the letter and ripped it to bits. be blown to bits (=be completely destroyed by a bomb) The aircraft was blown to bits. THESAURUS: bit → piece 2. a little or a small amount adjectives and phrases a little bit She only ate a little bit. just a bit Just a bit of sugar for me. a teeny/teensy bit informal (=a very small amount) Can I have a teeny bit of the cake? I'm supposed to be on a diet. not the faintest/slightest bit (=not at all) They didn't seem the faintest bit surprised. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bit noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bite1 /baɪt/ verb (past tense bit /bɪt/, past participle bitten /ˈbɪtn/, present participle biting) to use your teeth to cut, crush, or chew something prepositions/adverbs bite into sth When he bit into the apple, he found it had a delicious taste. bite off sth She bit off a piece of bread. bite through sth The mice had bitten through one of the power cables. bite sb on the leg/hand etc The dog bit the boy on his leg. be badly bitten (=in a way that causes a serious injury) The child was lucky not to have been badly bitten. nouns bite your nails I wish I could stop biting my nails. bite your lip (=used especially when someone does this when trying to stop himself or herself from saying anything) She bit her lip and let him speak first. You also use bite about insects and snakes making a hole or mark on someone's skin: I got bitten by a mosquito. THESAURUS: bite chew to keep biting something that is in your mouth: Helen was chewing a piece of gum. | He was chewing on a cigar. gnaw if an animal gnaws something, it bites it repeatedly: The dog was in the yard gnawing on a bone. nip sb/give sb a nip to give someone or something a small sharp bite: When I took the hamster out of his cage, he nipped me. nibble to take a lot of small bites from something: A fish nibbled at the bait. | She sat at her desk, nibbling her sandwich. sink your teeth into sb/sth to bite someone or something with a lot of force, so that your teeth go right into them: The dog sank its teeth into my leg. | He sank his teeth into the steak. chomp on sth informal to bite something and chew it in a noisy way: The donkey was chomping on a carrot. | He was chomping away on big slice of toast. sting if an insect stings you, it makes a very small hole in your skin. You use sting about bees, wasps, and scorpions, and bite about mosquitoes, ants, spiders, and snakes: I got stung by a bee. | She stepped on a wasps' nest and must have been stung at least 20 times. baby noun back1 noun back2 adjective backfire verb background noun backlog noun bad adjective badly adverb bad-tempered adjective baffling adjective bag noun baggage noun bail noun bake verb balance noun balanced adjective bald adjective ball noun ballet noun balloon noun ballot noun ban noun banana noun band noun bang noun bank noun bankrupt adjective bankruptcy noun bar noun barbaric adjective barbecue noun bare adjective bargain noun barrier noun base1 noun base2 verb baseball noun basic adjective basis noun basket noun basketball noun bath noun battery noun battle noun beach noun bear verb beard noun beat verb beautiful adjective beauty noun because conjunction become verb bed noun bedroom noun bee noun beer noun before preposition begin verb beginner noun beginning noun behave verb behaviour noun behind preposition, adverb belief noun believe verb bell noun belongings noun belt noun bend noun beneficial adjective benefit noun benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun Other words and phrases bite1 verb bite2 noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bite2 /baɪt/ noun 1. the act of using your teeth to cut or crush food, so that you can eat it adjectives a big/large bite Pierce took a large bite of his sandwich. a small/little bite She ate her food in little bites. verbs take a bite She picked up the sandwich and took a bite. have a bite Can I have a bite of your apple? prepositions a bite of sth Chew each bite of food slowly. a bite from/out of sth The dog had taken a bite out of the roast beef. phrases in one bite Antonio can eat a burger in one bite. 2. an injury caused by an animal or insect biting you nouns + bite an insect/mosquito etc bite My arm was covered in insect bites. a dog/snake etc bite Dog bites can be serious. | Thousands of people die from snake bites every year. adjectives a nasty bite BrE It looks like a nasty bite. verbs give sb a bite Some fish can give you a nasty bite. get a bite I got a lot of mosquito bites when we were camping. bite + nouns a bite mark He had a bite mark on is neck. prepositions a bite from an insect/animal The disease is passed through a bite from an infected mosquito. 3. a small amount of food or a small meal that you eat You often use this meaning of bite in the phrase a bite to eat. phrases have a bite to eat We had a bite to eat in the car. get a bite to eat Do you want to go out and get a bite to eat? stop (off) for a bite to eat Do you want to stop off for a bite to eat at the next town? grab a bite (to eat) (=quickly eat some food) I grabbed a bite before going to class. a quick bite (to eat) Lunch was a quick bite in the canteen. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases bite1 verb bite2 noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bitter /ˈbɪtə $ -ər/ adjective 1. having or causing strong feelings of anger, unhappiness, or disappointment verbs feel bitter Patsy feels very bitter about losing her job. sound bitter Howard was trying hard not to sound bitter. remain bitter She remained bitter about their divorce for many years. adverbs increasingly bitter He became increasingly bitter about what had happened. nouns a bitter battle/dispute He was involved in a bitter dispute with his former employer. a bitter fight/struggle There was a bitter struggle between them for control of the company. a bitter debate The country now faces a bitter debate over the issue of abortion. a bitter disappointment The result was a bitter disappointment for us. a bitter blow (=something that affects you very badly) His death was a bitter blow to her. a bitter memory She had bitter memories of her relationship with Alan. bitter rivals The two businessmen are bitter rivals. prepositions bitter about sth He was still bitter about the way he had been treated. phrases know/learn/find out sth from bitter experience (=because of unpleasant experiences in the past) Jane had learned from bitter experience that love doesn't always last. bitter and twisted (=behaving strangely because of being very bitter) You'll end up bitter and twisted if you don't learn to forgive. 2. having a strong taste which is not sweet nouns a bitter taste The medicine had a bitter taste. bitter oranges/lemons Bitter oranges are good for making marmalade. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases bitter adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List black /blæk/ adjective, noun the darkest colour, like the sky at night adjectives and adverbs completely black The screen went completely black. deep/dark black The adult birds have deep black feathers. jet black (=very dark - used especially about someone's hair) He had jet black hair. pitch black (=a place is completely dark, so that you cannot see anything) It was pitch black inside the cave. inky black (=as dark as is possible) The sky was inky black, with bright jewels of stars. matt black (=black that is not shiny) The board was painted with matt black paint. prepositions in black Fenella was dressed entirely in black. | Each product has a white label printed in black. phrases as black as night/coal/pitch/ebony Her eyes were as black as coal. black with soot/dirt/smoke His face and hands were black with dirt. black and white A black and white dog was sitting outside the shop. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases black adjective, noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blade /bleɪd/ noun the flat cutting part of a tool or weapon adjectives a sharp blade Be careful - the blade is very sharp. a blunt/dull blade (=not sharp) This blade is too blunt to cut anything. nouns + blade a razor blade (=for removing hair from your face or body) I need to buy some razor blades. prepositions the blade of a knife/sword/saw She rinsed the blade of the knife under running water. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blade noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blame1 /bleɪm/ verb [T] to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad prepositions blame sb for sth Marie still blames herself for Patrick's death. blame sth on sb Don't try to blame everything on me. adverbs always blame sb/sth You can't always blame other people for what happens. unfairly blame sb I felt that I was being unfairly blamed for their problems. be widely blamed (=by many people) The authorities have been widely blamed for making the situation worse. phrases be the one to blame (=be the person who should be blamed) I'm the only one to blame for what has happened. be partly to blame Some people think that television is partly to blame for the increase in violence among young people. have no one to blame but yourself He should have checked that there was enough fuel in the car, so he has no one to blame but himself. THESAURUS: blame put/place/lay the blame on sb/sth to say who or what you think is responsible for something bad that has happened: The other driver tried to put the blame on me and said that I should have seen him. | Subsequent investigations placed the blame squarely on city officials (=very definitely). | Farmers have laid the blame for their problems entirely on EU policies. say it's sb's fault especially spoken to say that someone is responsible for something bad that has happened: Are you saying it's my fault that we lost the game? hold sb responsible to say that someone is responsible for something bad that has happened, because it was their duty to prevent it from happening: He was held personally responsible for the failure of the project. take the rap informal also carry the can BrE informal to be blamed and punished for something that you did not do, or that someone else is also responsible for: He expects his wife to take the rap for him. | Alan's colleagues decided to let him carry the can. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blame1 verb blame2 noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blame2 /bleɪm/ noun responsibility for a mistake or for something bad verbs get the blame (=be blamed) I always get the blame for his mistakes! | Sam knew that if something went wrong, he'd get the blame. take/accept the blame also shoulder the blame formal (=say that something is your fault) No one was prepared to take the blame for the disaster. | Do you accept any blame for what happened? | Parents must shoulder the blame if their kids behave badly. put/pin the blame on sb also lay/place the blame on sb formal (=blame someone, especially when it is not their fault) Don't try to put the blame on me. | Everyone laid the blame for the crisis on the government. shift the blame (onto sb) (=blame someone for something you did) She always tried to shift the blame onto her brother. apportion/assign blame formal (=find someone to blame for something) He seemed to want to apportion blame for her death. share the blame He admitted he shared the blame for their World Cup defeat. absolve sb from blame formal (=say that something is not their fault) He was absolved of all blame. the blame lies with sb (=used to say that someone is responsible for something bad) In this case, the blame lay with the police. prepositions the blame for sth Much of the blame for the current crisis lies with the government. phrases accept your share of the blame The media must accept its share of the blame for this problem. point the finger of blame at sb (=say that someone is responsible for something bad) I couldn't believe it when they started pointing the finger of blame at me. place the blame squarely/firmly on sb (=blame someone in a very definite way) The investigation placed the blame squarely on the mayor. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blame1 verb blame2 noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blank /blæŋk/ adjective with nothing on it nouns a blank sheet of paper He was staring at a blank sheet of paper, wondering what to write. a blank screen When I turned on my computer, all I got was a blank screen. a blank space Write your answer in the blank space under the question. a blank expression/look/face (=showing no emotion) She was looking out of the window with a blank expression on her face. verbs go blank (=become blank) The screen suddenly went blank. leave sth blank You can leave the last page blank - I'll fill it out later. phrases my mind went blank (=you suddenly can't remember something) In the interview my mind went blank and I couldn't think of anything to say. THESAURUS: blank → empty benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blank adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blanket /ˈblæŋkət, ˈblæŋkɪt/ noun a cover for a bed, usually made of awool adjectives a thick/heavy/warm blanket She gave me a thick blanket to keep me warm. | He snuggled down into the warm blankets. a thin blanket The blankets were too thin to use in winter. a woollen/wool blanket The bed was covered with a brown woollen blanket. an electric blanket (=a blanket with wires in it, heated by electricity) She switched on the electric blanket to warm the bed. nouns + blanket a picnic blanket He spread the picnic blanket under a tree. a beach blanket We sat down on the beach blanket and looked at the sea. verbs wrap sb in a blanket The baby was wrapped in a blanket. cover sb/sth with a blanket His mother covered him with a blanket and put a cushion behind his head. throw a blanket over sb/sth She threw a blanket over the sleeping child. pull a blanket up/over you He pulled the blanket over his head and went to sleep. huddle under the blankets (=lie under the blankets with your body curled up) He lay huddled under the blankets, his eyes closed. prepositions under/beneath a blanket They were nice and warm under the blankets. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blanket noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blaze1 /bleɪz/ noun a big dangerous fire - used especially in news reports adjectives a huge/massive blaze Four people died in a huge blaze at the factory. verbs + blaze put out a blaze also extinguish a blaze formal (=stop it burning) Staff managed to put out the blaze before firefighters arrived. fight/battle/tackle a blaze Nearly 80 firefighters fought the blaze for three hours. control a blaze also bring a blaze under control It took several hours to control the blaze at the hotel. contain a blaze (=keep it in one place and stop it from spreading) Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze. start a blaze The blaze was started accidentally. cause/spark a blaze An electrical fault sparked the blaze. blaze + verbs a blaze breaks out also a blaze starts The blaze broke out on the third floor of the building. a blaze spreads The blaze quickly spread to a neighbouring house. a blaze destroys sth The blaze destroyed most of the school. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blaze1 noun blaze2 verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bleak /bliːk/ adjective without anything to make you feel happy or hopeful nouns a bleak future/prospect/outlook My father lost his job and we faced a bleak future. | The factory and its workers face the bleak prospect of closure. | The outlook is particularly bleak for the construction industry. a bleak picture/impression The report painted a bleak picture of life in this war-torn country. a bleak vision/view Orwell's book contains a very bleak vision of the future. a bleak place/landscape The landscape is very bleak in winter, when there are no leaves on the trees. a bleak look/smile/expression (=without any hope) She came out of the hospital with a bleak look on her face. bleak despair His mood was one of bleak despair. verbs look/seem bleak The company has lost a lot of money and the future looks bleak for the workforce. | Her life seemed bleak after he died. remain bleak The economic situation remains bleak. adverbs pretty bleak (=rather bleak) Things are pretty bleak at the moment. THESAURUS: bleak → depressing benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases bleak adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List bleed /bliːd/ verb to lose blood from your body adverbs bleed heavily/profusely (=a lot) He was bleeding heavily and he looked very pale. bleed easily She bleeds easily and she has to be careful not to cut herself. prepositions bleed from a wound/a part of your body The boy was bleeding from a cut on the side of his head. phrases stop the bleeding If you hold up your arm, it will help to stop the bleeding. bleed to death She bled to death before the doctors could save her. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases bleed verb Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blessing /ˈblesɪŋ/ noun 1. something that is good about a situation, which makes you feel pleased adjectives a great blessing Having my parents living nearby has been a great blessing, as they often take care of the children while I work. a real blessing The dishwasher has been a real blessing! a mixed blessing (=it has both good and bad effects) Living next to a supermarket is rather a mixed blessing. verbs count your blessings (=think about how lucky you are) The weather is terrible and we're counting our blessings that we decided to cancel our trip. sth can/could be a blessing (=it can/could be a good thing) Not being able to speak the language can be a blessing sometimes. prepositions sth is a blessing for sb The higher prices for corn have been a blessing for farmers. phrases it's a blessing (that)... It's a blessing no one was badly hurt. sth is a blessing in disguise (=something that seems unlucky, but actually has a good effect) The fire was a blessing in disguise, as the insurance paid for the house to be completely redecorated. sth is a blessing and a curse (=something has very bad effects, as well as good ones) The invention of the petrol engine has been both a blessing and a curse. | Being beautiful can at times be more of a curse than a blessing, because people don't see the real person behind the looks. 2. someone's approval or encouragement for a plan, activity, idea etc adjectives sb's official blessing The plan now has the official blessing of the principal. sb's full blessing (=complete approval) The author gave his full blessing to the film version of his book. verbs give your blessing to sth The board has given its blessing to the scheme. ask (for) sb's blessing Eileen wrote to her father to ask his blessing. receive sb's blessing The plans have not yet received an official blessing. prepositions with sb's blessing The aid operation began, with the blessing of the United Nations. without sb's blessing They were determined to marry, with or without their parents' blessing. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blessing noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blind /blaɪnd/ adjective unable to see verbs go blind (=become blind) My aunt was slowly going blind. be born blind Harry was born blind. adverbs almost/nearly blind She's almost blind in her right eye. totally/completely blind He had measles as a boy, and it left him totally blind. partially blind She is 78 and partially blind. half blind The sun on the snow was so bright that he was half blind by the time he reached the town. legally blind AmE (=someone who US law says is blind, even if they can see a little) Paterson was the first legally blind governor in the US. blind + nouns a blind man/child/person He goes to a school for blind children. You can also say the blind (=blind people): He goes to a school for the blind. phrases blind in one eye/your left eye/your right eye The accident left him blind in one eye. | My mother was blind in her left eye. (as) blind as a bat humorous informal (=unable to see things very well) I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses. blind with tears/rage She screamed at him, her eyes blind with tears. THESAURUS: blind visually impaired formal unable to see very much, or unable to see at all. Visually impaired is used especially in official contexts, and is the politically correct use: Visually impaired students can record lectures and listen to them at home. partially sighted only able to see a little: My grandmother is partially sighted and she can't really read books anymore. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blind adjective Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List block /blɒk $ blɑːk/ noun 1. a piece of hard material such as wood or stone with straight sides adjectives a big/large/huge/massive block Huge blocks of stone were transported from the quarry. a solid block The guitar was carved from a solid block of wood. a concrete/stone/wooden block The street ended at a wall of grey concrete blocks. phrases a block of stone/marble/granite The Pyramids were built from massive blocks of stone. a block of wood Carefully position the base on the blocks of wood. a block of ice It was freezing and my feet felt like blocks of ice. THESAURUS: block → piece 2. a large building divided into separate parts adjectives/nouns + block an apartment block I met him at his apartment block in Manhattan. an office block She works in a 27-storey office block. a tower block BrE (=a tall building with apartments or offices) She lived on the 17th floor of a tower block in East London. a high-rise block (=with many levels) The area is full of huge concrete high-rise blocks. a science block (=part of a school or college with science labs) The new school science block has just been completed. phrases a block of flats BrE Three new blocks of flats were built on the land. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases block noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blockade /blɒˈkeɪd $ blɑː-/ noun the use of soldiers or ships to surround an area, in order to stop people or supplies entering or leaving adjectives an economic/financial blockade The economic blockade was lifted in April. a naval blockade A naval blockade was imposed to prevent supplies reaching the country. verbs impose a blockade A blockade was imposed on the Spanish port of Cádiz. end/lift/remove a blockade He urged the US to lift its blockade of Cuba. maintain a blockade It was uncertain how long Russia would maintain the blockade on Georgia. prepositions a blockade of/on sth President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval blockade of the island. | Moscow has imposed a blockade on its small southern neighbor. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun Other words and phrases blockade noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blockage /ˈblɒkɪdʒ $ ˈblɑː-/ noun a situation in which things are unable to pass through a pipe, tube etc adjectives a complete blockage Heart attacks are usually caused by a complete blockage of the coronary arteries. a partial blockage The patient had a partial blockage of the intestine. a temporary blockage The condition is caused by a temporary blockage of the blood flow to the brain. verbs cause a blockage The blockage was caused by bits of food which had got stuck in the pipe. clear a blockage The plumber came to clear the blockage under the sink. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blockage noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blog /blɒɡ $ blɑːɡ/ noun a web page containing information or opinions from a particular person or about a particular subject, to which new information is added regularly verbs write/keep a blog He writes a blog about his life as a professional gambler. read a blog A lot of people read her blog. start/create a blog I decided to create a blog and share my passion for food with other people. post a blog (=write entries for a blog on the internet) He began posting a blog last year that criticised the government. update a blog (=add new things to it) I update my blog every week. blog + nouns a blog entry/post Have you read his latest blog entry? benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blockage noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blood /blʌd/ noun the red liquid inside your body blood + nouns blood pressure High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack. sb's blood type/group The most common blood type is O positive. a blood cell The red blood cells carry oxygen. a blood vessel (=a tube in your body through which blood flows) The blood vessels that lead to the heart were damaged. the blood supply If the blood supply to the brain decreases, you feel dizzy. the blood flow Fat reduces the blood flow to the surface of the skin. a blood test Blood tests proved he was not the father. a blood sample The doctor took a blood sample and sent it away for analysis. a blood transfusion (=putting more blood in someone's body for medical reasons) The patient needed a blood transfusion after the operation. a blood donor (=someone who provides blood from their body for the medical treatment of other people) Blood donors normally give blood without expecting to be paid for it. a blood clot (=a mass formed when blood dries or sticks together) Blood clots in the legs are potentially fatal. blood poisoning (=a serious illness in which an infection spreads through your body) If the cut is not treated, he could die of blood poisoning. verbs + blood give/donate blood (=provide it from your body for the medical treatment of other people) The Health Service is asking for more people to donate blood. lose blood He had lost a lot of blood and was very weak. draw blood (=make someone bleed) I got scratched by my kitten, but luckily it didn't draw blood. blood + verbs blood flows A quick walk will get the blood in your legs flowing again. blood circulates (=moves around your body) A special machine keeps the blood circulating while the organs are removed. blood trickles (=moves slowly in a thin stream) The blood was beginning to trickle down his leg. blood oozes (=comes out slowly) Blood oozed from a cut on his forehead. blood gushes/streams (=comes out very quickly) Blood was gushing from a cut on his wrist. blood clots (=it forms a solid mass and stops flowing) The blood should clot and stop the wound from bleeding. prepositions in sb's blood The doctor might test the sugar levels in your blood. blood from sth Blood from a cut on his forehead ran down his face. phrases be covered in blood His face was covered in blood. be caked with/in blood (=covered with dry blood) The cat's fur was caked with blood. be spattered/splattered with blood (=covered with small spots of blood) Today the only sign of violence is the walls spattered with blood. loss of blood She suffered a massive loss of blood. a drop of blood Police found tiny drops of blood in the apartment. a pool of blood The body was surrounded by a pool of blood. a trickle of blood (=a small amount flowing from something) A trickle of blood was coming from his nose. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blood noun blood pressure noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blood pressure /ˈblʌd ˌpreʃə/ noun the pressure with which blood flows from your heart around your body adjectives high/low blood pressure If you have high blood pressure, you are more likely to have a stroke. | Fainting can be caused by low blood pressure. sb's blood pressure is normal The doctor said that his blood pressure was normal for someone of his age. verbs take/check sb's blood pressure (=measure it) The nurse will take your blood pressure. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blood noun blood pressure noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blossom /ˈblɒsəm $ ˈblɑː-/ noun a flower or the flowers on a tree or bush nouns + blossom cherry/apple/orange/peach blossom The cherry blossom is very beautiful at this time of year in Japan. phrases sth is in blossom (=it has flowers on it) I visited when the apple trees were in blossom. sth is in full blossom (=it has a lot of flowers on it) The cherry tree was in full blossom. the blossom comes out (=it appears) The blossom usually comes out in May. the blossom is out (=it has appeared) The orange blossom is out already. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blossom noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blow /bləʊ $ bloʊ/ noun 1. something bad that causes difficulty, sadness, or disappointment for someone adjectives/nouns + blow a big/major blow Not being selected for the team came as a big blow. a serious/heavy blow The banking crisis was a serious blow to the economy. | The loss of his job was a heavy blow. a severe/terrible/awful blow The news was a terrible blow for his family. a bitter/cruel blow Their defeat was a bitter blow. a damaging/crippling blow Climate change could deal a crippling blow to a way of life that has existed for centuries. a devastating/crushing/shattering blow (=one that has an extremely bad effect) Losing her husband was a devastating blow. a body blow (=a very severe blow, which makes someone or something very likely to fail) The scandal could be a body blow to his political career. a mortal/fatal/death blow (=one that causes something to finish or fail completely) The star's departure dealt a mortal blow to the show. the final blow The final blow was when the company announced that it was closing down. verbs suffer/receive/take a blow The team suffered a blow when they lost their best player. deal a blow to sb/sth The 1982 drought dealt a devastating blow to the country. deliver a blow Opinion polls delivered a nasty blow to the Tory leader. inflict a blow The arrests inflicted a serious blow to the organization. soften/cushion the blow (=make it easier to deal with) To soften the blow, the company agreed to pay them a year's salary. prepositions a blow to sth/sb He had suffered a blow to his pride. a blow for sb/sth The closure of the school will be a big blow for the students. phrases come as a blow to sb (=be a blow) His sudden death came as a huge blow to us all. be a bit of a blow BrE informal (=be disappointing) The result was a bit of a blow for the team. 2. the act of hitting someone or something hard adjectives a heavy/hard/powerful blow The injury was caused by a heavy blow to the chest. a glancing blow (=hitting someone or something on the side) Their car was struck a glancing blow by a big truck. a painful blow He got a painful blow in the ribs from another player. the fatal blow (=which kills someone) They could not prove which of his attackers struck the fatal blow. verbs receive/take a blow During the game, he received a blow to the head. give sb a blow The other boxer gave him a powerful blow to the jaw. strike/deliver a blow Who struck the first blow? aim a blow at sb/sth I aimed a blow at his nose. land a blow (=succeed in hitting someone when you try to) She managed to land one blow on the side of his head. ward off/parry a blow (=stop a blow from touching you) He raised an arm to ward off the blow. dodge a blow (=move so that a blow does not touch you) I managed to dodge the blow. exchange blows (=hit each other) The girl watched as the two men exchanged blows. rain blows on sb (=hit someone many times) Terrified and angry, she rained blows on him. prepositions a blow to/on sth He died from a blow to the back of the head. a blow from sth/sb A blow from someone's elbow broke his nose. | A blow from one of the men holding him knocked him down. phrases come to blows (=start hitting each other as a result of an argument) They often argued and on one occasion almost came to blows. with one blow/with a single blow He knew how to kill a man with a single blow. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blow noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List blue /bluː/ adjective, noun the colour of the sky or the sea on a fine day types of blue dark/deep blue She had deep blue eyes. pale/light blue He was wearing a pale blue shirt. bright/brilliant blue The sky is bright blue. navy blue (=very dark blue) I bought a navy blue sweater. sky blue (=blue like the colour of the sky) The staff wear sky blue uniforms. royal blue (=bright deep blue) She chose a royal blue dress. electric blue (=very bright blue) The fish were electric blue. cobalt blue (=a strong dark blue, used by artists) The picture shows a gold pyramid on a cobalt blue background. prepositions in blue Who's the woman in blue? | He wrote some comments in blue. phrases a shade of blue The room is decorated in different shades of blue. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases blow noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List board /bɔːd $ bɔːrd/ noun 1. a flat vertical surface used for writing or showing information on verbs write sth on the board The teacher wrote the word 'democracy' on the board. put sth (up) on the board She put a notice on the board saying when the next meeting would be. Noticeboard is usually written as one word: There was a message pinned on the noticeboard. Noticeboard is used in British English. In American English, people say bulletin board. Blackboard and whiteboard (=used by a teacher for writing on in a classroom) are usually written as one word. Scoreboard (=used for showing the score in a game) and billboard (=a big board for advertisements) are written as one word. 2. a flat piece of wood that you do something on nouns + board a cutting/drawing/ironing etc board I need a cutting board for the bread. Breadboard, skateboard, chessboard, and surfboard are written as one word. 3. the group of people who make important decisions and rules for a company or other group phrases the board of directors/trustees The board of directors met yesterday. the board of governors (=in a school) She sits on the board of governors. the chairman of the board James Clark has been named chairman of the board. a seat on the board He gave up his seat on the board after 40 years' service. at board level (=at a senior level in a company, involving people on the board) The policy was approved at board level. the board of examiners The board of examiners will publish lists of the candidates' results. verbs be on the board also sit/serve on the board His father is on the board at the company. | She sits on the board of governors of the BBC. appoint/elect sb to the board They agreed that an independent chairman should be appointed to the board. join the board Last year she joined the board of the Boston Foundation. resign/retire/step down from the board Those four men should resign from the board for the good of the company. chair the board (=lead it) He chairs the board of senior managers within the corporation. the board meets The board met last week to discuss the proposal. adjectives/nouns + board the executive/governing board The governing board gave its approval to the plan. an advisory board The department ignored the recommendations of its own scientific advisory board. a review board The review board will look into the decision. the editorial board (=which makes decisions about what is published) She is a member of the editorial board of Prospect magazine. an examining board (=one that organizes examinations) If there is a complaint, the examining board will re-mark the paper. the school board AmE The school board voted on the appointment. board + nouns a board member Two board members resigned earlier this year. a board meeting An emergency board meeting will have to be held. prepositions on the board Everyone on the board was in agreement. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases board noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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Home My account Help Logout Collocations Study Centre Academic Collocations List boast /bəʊst $ boʊst/ verb to talk too proudly about your abilities, achievements, or possessions: He boasted that he could throw the ball further than anyone. prepositions boast about sth He's always boasting about how much money he has made. boast of sth The company is inclined to boast of its success. THESAURUS: boast brag to boast in a way that annoys other people. Brag is more informal than boast: He was bragging about how many girlfriends he had had. | I don't think they have anything to brag about. | Paul bragged that his car was better than theirs. crow to boast about something you have achieved, when other people have been less lucky or successful: Nordstrom and his supporters are still crowing about winning the lawsuit. gloat to behave in a way that shows that you are proud of your own success and happy about someone else's failure: The Australians are still gloating over their victory over England. | The liberals are gloating and celebrating all over town. | I haven't come to gloat! We all have to lose sometimes. benevolent adjective bent adjective best1 adjective, noun best2 adverb best-selling adjective bet noun better adjective, adverb bewildering adjective bias noun bicycle noun bid noun big adjective bike noun bill noun bin noun bingo noun bird noun birth noun birthday noun bit noun bite1 verb bite2 noun bitter adjective black adjective, noun blade noun blame1 verb blame2 noun blank adjective blanket noun blaze1 noun blaze2 verb bleak adjective bleed verb blessing noun blind adjective blinding adjective blissful adjective block noun blockade noun blockage noun blog noun blood noun blood pressure noun blossom noun blow noun blue adjective, noun blunt adjective board noun boast verb boat noun body noun boil verb boiling adjective bold adjective bomb noun bond noun bone noun bonus noun book1 noun book2 verb booking noun Other words and phrases board noun Pearson Longman | Terms | Privacy | Cookie Policy | © Pearson Education Ltd. 2013

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