General vocabulary

speak

verb (past tense spoke /spəʊk $ spoʊk/, past participle spoken /ˈspəʊkən $ ˈspoʊ-/) 1 IN CONVERSATION [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to talk to someone about something speak to somebody I spoke to her last Wednesday. 'Hello, may I speak to Jim Smith?' 'Yes, speaking (=used on the telephone)'. I know her by sight, but not to speak to (=not well enough to talk to her). speak to somebody about something I haven't spoken to Steve about all this. speak with somebody especially American English They did not want to speak with reporters. speak of something It was the first time she had ever spoken of marriage. ► see thesaurus at talk (I speak English to myself, I have no friends to spend English with)

shuttle between

verb 1 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]to travel frequently between two places SYN commute shuttle between/back and forth Susan shuttles between Rotterdam and London for her job. repeated travel back and forth over the same route(My life rapidly became reduced to a shuttle between the dorm and the office)

fall

verb (past tense fell /fel/, past participle fallen /ˈfɔːlən $ ˈfɒːl-/) 1 MOVE DOWNWARDS [intransitive] to move or drop down from a higher position to a lower position The tree was about to fall. The book fell from his hands. Enough rain had fallen to flood the grounds. fall down Rob fell down the stairs. She flushed and her eyes fell (=she looked down). 2 STOP STANDING/WALKING ETC [intransitive] to suddenly go down onto the ground after you have been standing, walking, or running, especially without intending to I fell and hit my head. slip/stumble/trip etc and fall He slipped and fell on the ice. fall down Lizzie fell down and hurt her knee. Peter was playing by the river when he fell in (=fell into the water). fall to/on your knees (=move down to the ground so that your body is resting on your knees) She fell to her knees beside his body. 3 DECREASE [intransitive] to go down to a lower level, amount, price etc, especially a much lower one OPP rise The rate of inflation was falling. The island is warm all year round and winter temperatures never fall below 10 degrees. He believes that educational standards are falling. fall from Advertising revenue fell from $98.5 million to $93.3 million. fall to The number of subscribers had fallen to 1,000. fall sharply/steeply (=by a large amount) London share prices fell sharply yesterday. ► see thesaurus at decrease Register In everyday English, people often say an amount or level goes down rather than falls: House prices have gone down again. 4 BECOME [intransitive, linking verb] to start to be in a new or different state fall adj I'll stay with her until she falls asleep. I think that I've fallen in love with Angela. She fell ill with flu. Albert fell silent and turned his attention to his food. fall into The house was empty for many years and fell into disrepair. One false step can mean falling into debt. He fell into despair. 5 BELONG TO A GROUP [intransitive always + preposition] to belong to or be part of a particular group, area of responsibility, range of things, or type of things fall into Many illnesses fall into the category of stress-related illnesses. Leaders fall into two categories. fall within The judge said that this matter did not fall within the scope of the auditor's duties. fall under The job falls under the heading of 'sales and marketing'. Meat production falls under the control of the Agriculture Department. 10 START DOING SOMETHING [intransitive] to start doing something or being involved with something, often without intending to I fell into conversation with some guys from New York. He had fallen into the habit of having a coffee every time he passed the coffee machine.

make

/meɪk/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle made /meɪd/) 1 PRODUCE [transitive] to produce something, for example by putting the different parts of it together I'm going to show you how to make a box for your tools. A family of mice had made their nest in the roof. She made her own wedding dress. The company has been making quality furniture for over 200 years. They met while they were making a film. Make a list of all the things you need. make somebody something He made her a toy horse, using just some straw and bamboo twigs. be made from something Paper is made from wood. be made (out) of something a shirt made of silk make something from/out of something She's very good at making things from old scraps of material. Japanese-made/English-made etc (=produced in Japan etc) 2 DO [transitive] used with some nouns to say that someone does something Anyone can make a mistake. I can't make a decision just yet. I need to make a quick phone call. You could have made more effort to talk to him. He made no attempt to apologize. Could I make a suggestion? There are a few points I'd like to make. The police were called but no arrests were made. I suppose we should make a start on cleaning this room. Stop making such a fuss! 3 COOK [transitive] to cook or prepare food or drink When was the last time you made a cake? John was making breakfast in the kitchen. Who's going to make the tea? make somebody something I'll make you some sandwiches. ► see thesaurus at cook 4 CAUSE [transitive] to cause something to happen, or cause a particular state or condition Its beautiful beaches make this a highly popular area with tourists. It was this movie which made him a star. His attitude made him very unpopular with colleagues. The photo makes her look much older than she really is. make somebody/something do something I like him because he makes me laugh. make something difficult/easy/possible etc The use of computers has made it possible for more people to work from home. make something the best/worst/most expensive etc Over 80,000 people attended, making it the biggest sporting event in the area. The president has made it clear that he is not going to change his mind. Register In written English, people often use cause somebody to do something rather than make somebody do something, as it sounds more formal: His attitude caused him to be unpopular with colleagues. 5 FORCE [transitive] to force someone to do something make somebody do something My parents always make me do my homework before I go out. be made to do something I was made to wait four hours before I was examined by a doctor. ► see thesaurus at force 6 MARK/HOLE ETC [transitive] to cause a mark, hole etc to appear make a hole/dent/mark etc Make a hole in the paper. The cup has made a mark on the table 9 ACHIEVE SOMETHING [transitive] to succeed in achieving a particular position, rate etc He was never good enough to make the team. I don't think we'll make the deadline. 10 GET MONEY [transitive] to earn or get money The plan could cost you more than you would make. They made a profit of £140 million. His one aim in life was to make money. She hopes to make a living (=earn the money she needs to live) from writing children's books. He's made a fortune (=earned a lot of money) selling computers on the Internet. make something out of something How easy is it to make money out of gardening? ► see thesaurus at earn 11 HAVE A QUALITY [linking verb] to have the qualities that are necessary for a particular job, use, or purpose make noun I'm sure you will make a very good teacher. The hall would make an ideal venue for a wedding reception. An old cardboard box makes a comfortable bed for a kitten. GRAMMAR: Linking verbs Make is a linking verb in this meaning. It links the subject of the sentence with an adjective and noun: You'll make a wonderful father. The leaves make a pretty table decoration. 15 BE A TOTAL [linking verb] to be a particular amount when added together Two and two make four. There are nine people coming, plus me, which makes ten. 16 CALCULATE [transitive] used to say what you have calculated a number to be I make that $150 altogether. 17 SPORTS SCORE [transitive] to achieve a particular score in a sports game Surrey had made 92 by lunchtime.

own

/əʊn $ oʊn/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective, pronoun [always after a possessive] 1 used to emphasize that something belongs to or is connected with a particular person or thing and not any other Bring your own equipment. Every dance has its own rhythm. The yacht was intended for the King's own personal use. His face was only a few inches from her own. of your own We have problems of our own. I'd like to have a place of my own (=my own home). your very own (=used to add more emphasis) One day I want to have a horse of my very own. something to call your own/which you can call your own (=something that belongs to you) She just wanted a place to call her own. 2 used to emphasize that someone did or made something without the help or involvement of anyone else She makes a lot of her own clothes. We encourage students to develop their own ideas. It's your own fault for leaving the window open Grammar • You say my own, her own, their own etc: They miss their own country. The town has its own station. ✗Don't say: They miss the own country. | The town has an own station. • You can also say of my own, of her own, of their own etc: I want to have a room of my own. Each house has a garden of its own. verb [transitive] 1 to have something which belongs to you, especially because you have bought it, been given it etc and it is legally yours → possess The building is owned by the local council. You need to get permission from the farmer who owns the land. Many more people now own their own homes. the cost of owning a car publicly/privately owned British English (=belonging to the government or a private organization) a privately owned company GRAMMAR: Using the progressive Own is not used in the progressive. You say: They own several cars. ✗Don't say: They are owning several cars.

afford

/əˈfɔːd $ -ɔːrd/ ●●● S1 W3 verb [transitive] to provide something or allow something to happen The room affords a beautiful view over the city. afford (somebody) an opportunity/chance It afforded her the opportunity to improve her tennis skills. The new law will afford protection to employees.

count on/upon somebody/something

1 to depend on someone or something, especially in a difficult situation You can count on me. With luck, you might cover your costs, but don't count on it. count on (somebody/something) doing something We're all counting on winning this contract. They were counting on him not coming out of hospital. count on somebody/something to do something You can count on Dean to ruin any party. 2 to expect something The presence of Paula was one thing he hadn't counted on. count on (somebody/something) doing something We didn't count on so many people being on vacation.

deal with somebody/something

1 to take the necessary action, especially in order to solve a problem SYN handle a strategy for dealing with disruptive pupils Don't worry, I'll deal with this. deal with a problem/issue/matter etc The council has failed to deal with the problem of homelessness in the city. deal effectively/adequately etc with something They should deal properly and fairly with any complaint. 2 if a book, speech etc deals with a particular subject, it is about that subject These ideas are dealt with more fully in Chapter Four. 3 to do business with someone or have a business connection with someone Most travel agents do not deal directly with these companies. 4 to succeed in controlling your feelings about an emotional problem so that it does not affect your life SYN cope with How's he dealing with the whole thing? COLLOCATIONS - Meanings 1,2, 3 & 4 NOUNS deal with a problem Both countries are having to deal with the problem of violence in urban areas. deal with an issue/matter/question New laws were introduced to deal with the issue. deal with a situation For a while I had no idea how to deal with the situation. deal with a crisis The president has flown home to deal with the crisis. deal with a complaint Working in the Customer Service Department, you become an expert in dealing with complaints. deal with an enquiry Our staff will be able to deal with any enquiries. deal with an emergency All our ambulance drivers are trained to deal with emergencies. deal with a challenge I chose this job because I like having to deal with new challenges every day. ADVERBS deal with something effectively Most schools don't deal with the problem of bullying very effectively. deal with something successfully Most of these issues have now been successfully dealt with. deal with something adequately Our National Health Service does not deal adequately with the question of old age. THESAURUS deal with something to take the necessary action, especially in order to solve a problem We need to deal with problems like pollution and climate change. I spend most of my day dealing with customer enquiries. handle to deal with a problem or difficult situation by making particular decisions - used especially when talking about how well or badly someone does this He handled the situation very well. Most customers were happy with the way their complaints had been handled. tackle to start to deal with a problem, especially one that is complicated We need to tackle the issue of drugs in schools. The government is introducing new measures to tackle online crime. see to/attend to somebody/something to deal with all the practical details of something that needs to be done or organized. Attend to is more formal than see to My son saw to all the funeral arrangements. I have some business to attend to. take care of something to do the work or make the arrangements that are necessary for something to happen - used especially when you do this for someone else so that they do not have to worry about it My secretary takes care of all the paperwork. process if a company or organization processes a letter, form etc, they do the things that are usually done as part of their official system, in order to deal with it It will take a minimum of 14 days to process your passport application. I called their office, and they said that my request was still being processed. deal with a problem/issue/matter etc • Commentary articles deal with issues in, or arising from, research that are also of interest to readers outside research. • But when they are dealing with matters involving other branches of government the courts take a more restrained view of their role. • Charlemagne never had to deal with problems like that. • It deals with issues of humiliation, bitterness, pride and redemption. • How could Columbia deal with issues of multiculturalism and diversity more effectively? • It sometimes helps to deal with problems one at a time, so the goals seem attainable. • Many middle managers also carry out a marketing role when dealing with issues relating to their public. • The best way to deal with problems such as these is to respect the experience of the individuals and understand their goals.

get into trouble

1. To get into a bad or dangerous situation. I think we might get into trouble if we try driving the car on that rickety bridge. If you ever get into trouble out in the water, wave both your arms so the lifeguard can see you. 2. To be reprimanded for something. I am definitely going to get into trouble with my mom if she finds out that I broke the vase. If I'm not home by curfew, I will get into trouble with my parents. 3. To get a woman pregnant outside of marriage. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "get" and "into." You're just 16 years old—if you aren't ready to raise a baby, then you better not do anything to get a girl into trouble.(I can count on my true friends and they never get me into trouble)

go to (into)the trouble

Also, take the trouble; go to the bother or the expense. Make the effort or spend the money for something. For example, He went to the trouble of calling every single participant, or She took the trouble to iron all the clothes, or Don't go to the bother of writing them, or They went to the expense of hiring a limousine. [Second half of 1800s] Also see put oneself out. (She went into a lot of trouble to find book for me) go to the trouble to do something also take the trouble to do something to make an effort to do something: If the police had gone to the trouble of looking up his record, they would not have released him.

dependant

British English, dependent American English /dɪˈpendənt/ noun [countable] someone, especially a child, who depends on you for food, clothes, money etc • However, you do not receive an increment for any week when you or a dependant are receiving another national insurance benefit. • Also note that if your partner earns more than £21.40 the adult dependants increase will not be payable for her or him. • Your life expectancy is another consideration, as is that of your partner and any dependants. • She has no dependants and is now ineligible for advice and assistance.(You can't be dependent on your parents all your life It's too bad to be dependent on your parents when you're grown up )

fulfil

British English, fulfill American English /fʊlˈfɪl/ ●●○ W3 verb (fulfilled, fulfilling) [transitive] 1 if you fulfil a hope, wish, or aim, you achieve the thing that you hoped for, wished for etc Visiting Disneyland has fulfilled a boyhood dream. Being deaf hasn't stopped Karen fulfilling her ambition to be a hairdresser. It was then that the organization finally began to fulfill the hopes of its founders. fulfil an aim/a goal/an objective an analysis of how different countries are attempting to fulfill their political goals 2 to do or provide what is necessary or needed fulfil a role/duty/function etc A good police officer is not fulfilling his role if he neglects this vital aspect. fulfil a requirement/condition/obligation etc Britain was accused of failing to fulfil its obligations under the EU Treaty. Much of the electrical equipment failed to fulfill safety requirements. There is little doubt that the scheme fulfils a need for our community. if your work fulfils you, it makes you feel satisfied because you are using all your skills, qualities etc

in/into trouble

If someone is in trouble, they are in a situation in which a person in authority is angry with them or is likely to punish them because they have done something wrong. He was in trouble with his teachers. [+ with] The person who loaned them to me got into terrible trouble for it. ...a charity that helps women in trouble with the law.

Make(grammar)

Make + object We use make + object to talk about things that we produce or create: She made some coffee. Did you really make this table? There are many expressions which use this pattern: make a claim make a mess make a speech make a complaint make a mistake make a start make a concession make a note make a statement make a date make a phone call make a wish make a difference make a point make an appointment make a fuss make a profit/loss make an effort make a list make a sound Make + object (o) + adjective complement (ac) Music makes [O]me[AC] happy Make + object (o) + noun complement (nc) They made [O]her[NC]team captain for the coming year. Make + indirect object (io) + direct object (do) The chef made [IO]him[DO] a special cake Can I make you a cup of tea or coffee? Make + object (o) + prepositional phrase (pp) with for Can you make a [O]sandwich[pp with for] for Lisa as well? (or Can you make Lisa a sandwich as well?) I've made an appointment for you at the dentist's. We don't use the preposition to in this pattern with make: I made pasta for our guests. Not: I made pasta to our guests. Make + object + adjective (or noun) complement + prepositional phrase with for He made [O]life[AC] [PP with for]difficult for me What would make [O]it[NC]a better book[PP with for]for students? Make meaning 'force to do' We can use make meaning 'force someone (to do something)'. In the active voice, we use it with an infinitive without to: The boss made me work an extra day. Not: The boss made me to work ... However, in the passive voice, we must use an infinitive with to: The people were made to wait outside while the committee reached its decision.

marry in haste

Marry quickly without really getting to know each other

It's not over yet

Meaning there's still hope for something. The only trouble is we won't be able to be here our trouble aren't over yet

in other words

used for saying sth in a different way

stressful

ˈstresfəl/ ●○○ AWL adjective a job, experience, or situation that is stressful makes you worry a lot Moving to a new house is a very stressful experience.(it's a stressful time for all of us)

Take

TIME/MONEY/EFFORT ETC [transitive] if something takes a particular amount of time, money, effort etc, that amount of time etc is needed for it to happen or succeed How long is this going to take? Organizing a successful street party takes a lot of energy. take (somebody) something (to do something) Repairs take time to carry out. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark. take (somebody) ages/forever informal It took me ages to find a present for Dad. take some doing British English informal (=need a lot of time or effort) Catching up four goals will take some doing. take courage/guts It takes courage to admit you are wrong. have what it takes informal (=to have the qualities that are needed for success) Neil's got what it takes to be a great footballer.

work at night/at nights/nights

To work nights means to work the regular night shift. To work at night means to work sometimes during the night. The other variant is wrong, to my ear. I often work nights/at night/at nights (at nights" never used in any situation) I have English classes on Mondays. I have English classes on Monday - I would assume you were talking about next Monday. When we talk about "night school" or "evening school" I think that means "lessons that take place in the evening", not literally "at night". If it is literally "at night", then "She goes to school at night". She goes to school in the evening/after work.

denote

dɪˈnəʊt $ -ˈnoʊt/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] formal 1 to mean something → connote What does the word 'curriculum' denote that 'course' does not? 2 to represent or be a sign of something SYN indicate Crosses on the map denote villages.

Do or make (grammar)

When we use do and make with noun phrases, do focuses on the process of acting or performing something, make emphasises more the product or outcome of an action: When I was [action]doingthe calculations, I [outcome]made two mistakes. I [action]did some work for her last summer; I [outcome]made a pond in her garden. Examples of nouns used with do and make Nouns which combine with do activity/damage favour job task business drawing gardening laundry test cleaning duty harm one's best washing (up) cooking exam(ination) homework painting work course exercise ironing shopping I do the shopping on Fridays usually. Could you do a job for me next week? Who does the cooking in your house? Nouns which combine with make apology coffee excuse love offer remark assumption comment friends lunch phone call sound bed complaint guess mess plan soup breakfast dinner law mistake profit speech cake effort list money progress statement change error loss noise promise tea They made me an interesting offer of a job in Warsaw. Not many building firms will make a profit this year. I have to make a phone call.

(all) on your own(SYN by yourself)

a) alone I've been living on my own for four years now. He didn't want to be left on his own. b) without anyone's help You can't expect him to do it all on his own. I can manage on my own, thanks.

make it

a) to succeed in getting somewhere in time for something or when this is difficult If we run, we should make it. make it to With blood pouring from his leg, he made it to a nearby house. b) to be successful at something, for example in your job He came to the US and not only made it but made it big (=was extremely successful). So far, relatively few women have made it to the top in the business world. make it as He was told he had no talent and would never make it as a professional singer. make it to England look less likely to make it to the finals. make it to manager/director etc How did anyone so stupid make it to manager? c) spoken to be able to go to an event, meeting etc that has been arranged I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to make it on Sunday after all. Nice to see you. I'm glad you could make it. d) informal to continue to live after you have been seriously ill or badly injured Frank was very ill, and the doctors didn't think he'd make it. e) to manage to deal with a difficult experience make it through I couldn't have made it through those times without the support of my boyfriend. f) used to say or ask what time it is according to your own or someone else's watch What time do you make it? I make it ten past three.

versatile

able to do many different things or to be used in many different ways ˈvɜːsətaɪl $ ˈvɜːrsətl/ ●○○ adjective 1 someone who is versatile has many different skills a very versatile performer a more versatile workforce 2 having many different uses The potato is an extremely versatile vegetable. —versatility /ˌvɜːsəˈtɪləti $ ˌvɜːr-/ noun [uncountable] Hegley's outstanding versatility as an all-round entertainer

consist in something

phrasal verb formal to be based on or depend on something Happiness does not consist in how many possessions you own.

priority

adjective before other people or things Members receive priority bookings and reduced ticket prices to all concerts. praɪˈɒrəti $ -ˈɔːr-/ ●●○ S3 W2 AWL noun (plural priorities) 1 [countable, uncountable] the thing that you think is most important and that needs attention before anything else The club's priority is to win the League. first/top/main priority The children are our first priority. After several burglaries in the area, security is now a high priority (=very important and needing attention soon). With so little money available, repairs must remain a low priority (=not important and not needing attention soon). The customer is high on our list of priorities. List your tasks in order of priority (=most important first). 2 [uncountable] the right to be given attention first and before other people or things priority over Buses should have priority over other road users. A young person who has finished the course will be given priority over one who has not. I want to start work on the garden but the house must take priority.(you also get a priority booking for all shows and concerts) COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: the thing that you think is most important and that needs attention before anything else ADJECTIVES a high priority (=very important) Right now, the environment is a high priority. an urgent priority He sees these negotiations as an urgent priority. a low priority (=not very important) At that time, architecture was a low priority. the top/main/number one priority Controlling spending is his top priority. the first priority The first priority for most unemployed people is obtaining a job. the overriding priority (=the most important one) The reduction of inflation must be the Government's overriding priority. somebody's immediate priority (=which must be dealt with immediately) Their immediate priority was to find somewhere to sleep that night. PHRASES a list/set of priorities Marriage isn't very high on my list of priorities. in order of priority (=with the most important first) They asked voters to list issues in order of priority. VERBS set priorities (=decide what the priorities are) With any new project, it's important to set priorities. sort out your priorities (=decide which things are the most important as a way of dealing with a situation) If you've got a lot of things to do, sort out your priorities. make something a priority Lisa had a job, but she'd always made her family the priority. somebody's priorities change As you get older, your priorities may change. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: the right to be given attention first and before other people or things VERBS have priority Couples may have to decide whose career has priority. get priority The breakdown services say that women on their own get priority. take priority (=become the most important thing) Winning the war took priority over everything else. give priority to somebody/something The hospital always gives priority to emergency cases.

motto

brief statement used to express a principle ˈmɒtəʊ $ ˈmɑːtoʊ/ noun (plural mottos or mottoes) [countable] a short sentence or phrase giving a rule on how to behave, which expresses the aims or beliefs of a person, school, or institution 'Be prepared' is the motto of the Boy Scouts. ► see thesaurus at phrase Examples from the Corpus motto • The Mortimer family motto is inscribed above the door -- 'Humilitas'. • Try before you buy is a good motto. • "All my life, " said Sir Humphrey, "my motto has been 'aim high'." • Mind my own business, that's my motto. • But our motto is win with class, lose with class. • Brevity was always Britten's motto, as well as Verdi's. • The school's motto was 'Work hard and play hard'.

deliberate

dɪˈlɪbərət/ ●●○ adjective 1 intended or planned OPP unintentional SYN intentional a deliberate attempt to humiliate her The attack on him was quite deliberate. 2 deliberate speech, thought, or movement is slow and careful He approached her with slow, deliberate steps. verb [intransitive] to think about something very carefully The jury deliberated for four days before acquitting him. deliberate on/about/over There was silence while she deliberated on his words.

deliberately

dɪˈlɪbərətli/ ●●○ S3 adverb 1 done in a way that is intended or planned He deliberately upset her. 2 done or said in a slow careful way He shook his head slowly and deliberately. THESAURUS deliberately if you do something deliberately, you do it because you want to He upset her deliberately. I deliberately kept the letter short. on purpose especially spoken deliberately, especially in order to annoy someone or get an advantage for yourself I didn't push her on purpose; it was an accident. intentionally deliberately, especially in order to have a particular result or effect Very few teenagers become pregnant intentionally. consciously /ˈkɒnʃəsli/ done after thinking carefully about what you are doing, especially because you know what the results of your actions might be Parents pass their values to their children, though not always consciously. knowingly if you knowingly do something wrong or illegal, you do it even though you know it is wrong FBI agents arrested Dillon for 'knowingly making a false statement on a passport application'.

demanding

dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ $ dɪˈmæn-/ ●●○ adjective 1 needing a lot of ability, effort, or skill a demanding job physically/emotionally/intellectually etc demanding Climbing is physically demanding. ► see thesaurus at difficult 2 expecting a lot of attention or expecting to have things exactly the way you want them, especially in a way that is not fair Her mother could be very demanding at times.(you should stand on your own feet because you're already grown up you should protect them you should take care of them you shouldn't be too demanding)

description

dɪˈskrɪpʃən/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable, uncountable] 1 a piece of writing or speech that gives details about what someone or something is like description of an accurate description of the event The booklet gives a brief description of each place. Berlin sounds fascinating from your description. COLLOCATIONS VERBS give (somebody) a description She was unable to give the police a description of her attacker. provide a description formal The diary provides a clear description of farming life in the 1850s. issue a description (=formally give a description of someone to the public) Police have issued a description of the two men they are looking for. fit/match a description (=be like the person in a police description) The first man they arrested did not fit the description given by the victim. somebody answering a description (=a person who looks like someone in a police description) A young girl answering this description has been seen in Spain. ADJECTIVES good Her descriptions of the natural world are very good. clear He gave us a clear description of the situation in the city. detailed Some of his descriptions of the island are very detailed. accurate I don't think the hotel's description of its facilities was very accurate. vivid (=very clear and interesting) The book contains some vivid descriptions of his childhood. perfect We have a perfect description of the man we are looking for. a full description formal (=detailed) Please give a full description of your responsibilities in your present job. a long/lengthy description I didn't want to hear a lengthy description of their holiday. a brief/short description There's only a brief description of the hotel on the Internet. a general description (=not detailed) He started by giving us a general description of the manufacturing process. a graphic description (=very clear and containing a lot of details, usually about something unpleasant) The book has some graphic descriptions of life in the prison camp.

as a consequence (of something)/in consequence (of something)

formal as a result of something Animals have died as a consequence of coming into contact with this chemical. She was over the age limit and, in consequence, her application was rejected.

humiliate

hjuːˈmɪlieɪt/ ●○○ verb [transitive] to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, especially when other people are present SYN embarrass Her boss humiliated her in front of all her colleagues. —humiliated adjective I've never felt so humiliated in all my life.

fulfil a prophesy

if a prophesy is fulfilled, something happens that someone said would happen

stick in somebody's mind

if something sticks in your mind, you remember it well because it is unusual or interesting It's the kind of name that sticks in your mind. (Life is full of many, many events. While we tend to forget most of these events, some of them do stick to our memories because of their profound meanings and values to us)

for your own good/safety/benefit etc

if you do something for someone's own good etc, you do it to help them even though they might not like it or want it I'm only telling you this for your own good. He was kept away from the other prisoners for his own safety

Count

kaʊnt/ ●●● S2 W3 verb 1 FIND THE TOTAL [transitive] (also count up) to calculate the total number of things or people in a group I was amazed at the number of plants - I counted 147. count (up) how many Count up how many ticks are in each box. 2 SAY NUMBERS [intransitive] (also count up) to say numbers in order, one by one or in groups count to Sarah can count up to five now. count by twos/fives etc It's quicker to count by tens (=saying 10,20,30 ...). 3 BE ALLOWED [intransitive, transitive] to be allowed or accepted, or to allow or accept something, according to a standard, set of ideas, or set of rules A linesman had his flag up so the kick did not count. count as Locally produced sales by American firms in Japan do not count as exports. Today's session is counted as training, so you will get paid. count towards Results from the two rounds count towards championship points. 4 INCLUDE [transitive] to include someone or something in a total There are more than two thousand of us, not counting the crew. count somebody/something among something I count Jules and Ady among my closest friends. 5 CONSIDER SOMETHING [transitive] to consider someone or something in a particular way count somebody/something as something I don't count him as a friend anymore. You should count yourself lucky that you weren't hurt.

consist of something

kənˈsɪst phrasal verb to be formed from two or more things or people The buffet consisted of several different Indian dishes. consist mainly/largely/primarily of somebody/something The audience consisted mainly of teenagers. consist entirely/solely of somebody/something The area does not consist entirely of rich people, despite popular belief. Grammar Comparison consist of • You say: My family consists of four people. ✗Don't say: My family consists in four people. • Consist is not used in the passive. ✗Don't say: My family is consisted of four people. be made up of • You say: My family is made up of four people. be composed of • You say: My family is composed of four people. Using the progressive • The verb consist is not used in the progressive. You say: The building consists of four floors. ✗Don't say: The building is consisting of four floors. • However, the participle form consisting is often used: There is a large art collection, consisting of over 300 paintings. THESAURUS consist of/be made up of to be formed from two or more things or people Lunch consisted of sandwiches and fruit. The apartment consisted of three rooms. The audience was largely made up of families. be composed of to consist of something - used especially when saying which natural substances something contains, or what kind of people are in a group Every chemical element is composed of atoms. Venus' atmosphere is mainly composed of carbon dioxide. The team was composed of leading scientists from around the world. comprise /kəmˈpraɪz/ formal to consist of the things mentioned. Comprise can also be used to talk about the people or things which form something The event comprises a champagne reception, two-course lunch, and a fashion show. Men still comprise the majority of people who have the disease. make up (also constitute formal) to be the things or people that form something Women constitute a significant part of the workforce. Toys make up about 10% of the company's sales.

contain

kənˈteɪn/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] 1 CONTAINER/PLACE if something such as a bag, box, or place contains something, that thing is inside it The thieves stole a purse containing banknotes. The museum contains a number of original artworks. GRAMMAR: Using the progressive In meanings 1,2, and 3, contain is not used in the progressive. You say: What does this box contain? ✗Don't say: What is this box containing? 2 WRITING/SPEECH if a document, book, speech etc contains something, that thing is included in it The letter contained information about Boulestin's legal affairs. be contained in/within something The proposed changes are contained in a policy statement. 3 SUBSTANCE if a substance contains something, that thing is part of it This product may contain nuts. Register In everyday English, people often use different phrases to say that something contains something else: The box contained books. → The box had books in it. | The essay contained a lot of mistakes. → There were a lot of mistakes in the essay. | Does this dish contain any meat? → Is there any meat in this dish?

commitment

kəˈmɪtmənt/ ●●○ S3 W2 noun 1 [countable] a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way Are you ready to make a long-term commitment? commitment to Our company has a commitment to quality and customer service. 2 [uncountable] the hard work and loyalty that someone gives to an organization, activity etc I was impressed by the energy and commitment shown by the players. commitment to Her commitment to work is beyond question. 3 [countable] something that you have promised you will do or that you have to do Will the job fit in with your family commitments? 4 [countable] an amount of money that you have to pay regularly I had a lot of financial commitments. 5 [countable, uncountable] the use of money, time, people etc for a particular purpose commitments of food and medical aid of over $4 billion COLLOCATIONS - Meanings 1 & 2 VERBS make a commitment Getting married involves making a serious commitment. give a commitment The government gave a commitment to withdraw all its forces. something requires/demands (a) commitment Nursing as a profession demands genuine commitment. honour/meet a commitment (=do what you promised to do) Will they honour their commitment to a ceasefire? show/demonstrate commitment Throughout her life she demonstrated her deep commitment to the needs of the poor. lack commitment I never get promoted because they think I lack commitment. reaffirm/restate/reiterate a commitment (=give a promise again) They reaffirmed their commitment to abandon nuclear power. ADJECTIVES real/genuine commitment The job demands real commitment to teaching. personal commitment As a company, we expect a personal commitment from our staff to do their best. strong commitment She's known for her strong commitment to women's rights. long-term commitment Having a child together involves a long-term commitment. a lifelong commitment Marriage is a lifelong commitment. full/total commitment Such therapies demand full commitment from the patient. political commitment There was no local political commitment to the proposal. religious commitment Many people have ceased to have any active religious commitment. PHRASES a lack of commitment His lack of commitment to the project was easy to see. a level of commitment This post demands a high level of commitment.

minority

maɪˈnɒrəti $ məˈnɔː-, məˈnɑː-/ ●●● S3 W2 AWL noun (plural minorities) 1 [singular] a small group of people or things within a much larger group OPP majority Gaelic is still spoken in Ireland by a minority. minority of Only a minority of people supported these new laws. small/tiny/substantial/significant minority Gay men are a small but significant minority. minority report (=a report by a minority of a group who do not agree with the others) GRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb? • In this meaning, minority is usually followed by a singular verb: A small minority refuses to cooperate. • In British English, you can also use a plural verb: A small minority refuse to cooperate. 2 [countable usually plural] a) a group of people of a different race, religion etc from most other people in that country People from ethnic minorities often face prejudice. the very large Russian minorities in Ukraine and Moldova children from minority groups the teaching of minority languages in schools minority leader/businessman/student etc American English a school with a high proportion of minority students b) American English someone who belongs to a group like this Businesses are under pressure to hire minorities and women. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a small minority She is one of a small minority of women working in engineering. a tiny minority Only a tiny minority of the population actually commit crimes. a large minority A large minority of women feel happier when their husbands leave them. a substantial/sizeable minority (=a large minority) A sizeable minority of people sleep less than five hours a night without problems. a significant minority (=a large and fairly important minority) A significant minority of older people have difficulty in caring for themselves. VERBS be in a minority Male students are in a minority in this class. represent a minority Old people still only represent a minority of the population. form a minority (also constitute a minority formal) This type of cell forms a minority of the cells in the nervous system. affect a minority The side effects only affect a minority of people who take the drug. MINORITY + NOUN a minority group It's ridiculous to refer to women as a minority group. a minority interest Jazz is a minority interest, but it is still an important part of musical studies. a minority opinion/view This is a minority view among scientists. a minority stake (=a number of shares in a company, equalling less than half the total number) IBM has bought a minority stake in the computer company. a minority shareholder (=someone who owns less than half the shares in a company) A minority shareholder with 10% of voting rights refused to accept the plan.

mentality

menˈtæləti/ ●○○ AWL noun (plural mentalities) [countable] a particular attitude or way of thinking, especially one that you think is wrong or stupid a get-rich-quick mentality I can't understand the mentality of the people who are behind this kind of violence. • Now the whole country is run by a myopic bourgeoisie with a mentality that does not care for the people. • She despised the bourgeois mentality of the professional class. • Often thought to be a relic of the past, the Maintenance Crew mentality is still very much with us.(when you're grown up you should live alone you shouldn't expect your daddy to put money in your pocket that's a wrong mentality)

far-fetched

not easy to believe because it is very improbable adjective extremely unlikely to be true or to happen All this may sound a bit far-fetched, but companies are already developing 'intelligent' homes. • At the time, his ideas were considered far-fetched. • As things stand, any claim that he could muster more than 5 % seems far-fetched. • If this were an outline for a novel it would probably be rejected as too far-fetched. • This approach may seem far-fetched, and there is a danger of reading too much of significance into oral reading errors. • That possibility is not as far-fetched as it may seem from outside. • The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility. • His lawyers argue that the charges are based on a far-fetched conspiracy theory. • The following story seems to be far-fetched, unreal; yet it happened.

not the marrying kind

not the type of person who wants to get married I'm just not the marrying kind.

count somebody/something out

phrasal verb 1 to not include someone or something in an activity I'm sorry, you'll have to count me out tonight. 2 to decide that someone or something is not important or worth considering I wouldn't count him out. If anybody can make a comeback, he can. 3 count something ↔ out to put things down one by one as you count them The teller counted out ten $50 bills.

count somebody in

phrasal verb to include someone in an activity When the game gets started, you can count me in.

pizzazz

pəˈzæz/ noun [uncountable] informal something that has pizzazz is exciting and has a strong interesting style Their new album has plenty of pizzazz.

scheme

skiːm/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL noun [countable] 1 British English an official plan that is intended to help people in some way, for example by providing education or training SYN program American English The money will be used for teacher training schemes. a pension scheme scheme for schemes for two new cross-city lines scheme to do something a new scheme to boost exports pilot scheme (=something that is done on a small scale in order to see if it is successful enough to be done on a larger scale) The pilot scheme proved to be a great success. ► see thesaurus at plan COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES/NOUN + SCHEME a major scheme The government is introducing a major house-building scheme in the area. a new scheme The new scheme aims to reduce street crime by 30%. an innovative scheme (=using new ideas) an innovative scheme to help the unemployed get back to work a grand scheme (=trying to achieve a lot) In the end, the government's grand scheme came to nothing. a pilot scheme (=one that is tried on a small scale first to see if it is a good idea) The programme was introduced into 100 primary schools in a very successful pilot scheme. a training scheme The company runs an apprentice training scheme. a pension scheme Does your employer offer a pension scheme? a compensation/bonus etc scheme (=in which people receive compensation, a bonus etc) a new compensation scheme for accident victims an incentive scheme (=in which people receive money to persuade them to work harder) There is a generous incentive scheme for the sales force. VERBS introduce/launch a scheme The scheme was launched last autumn by the company's education officer. run/operate a scheme Parent volunteers help run the scheme. be covered by a scheme (=be able to benefit from a scheme) All employees are covered by the new bonus scheme.

spend

spend/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle spent /spent/) 1 MONEY [intransitive, transitive] to use your money to pay for goods or services I can't afford to spend any more money this week. spend £5/$10 etc I only want to spend about $20. spend something on something More money should be spent on education. spend something on somebody Mum never spends any money on herself. The repairs cost a lot, but it's money well spent (=a sensible way of spending money). Grammar You spend money on something: I don't spend much on clothes. ✗Don't say: I don't spend much for clothes. 2 TIME [transitive] to use time doing a particular thing or pass time in a particular place spend time etc with somebody I want to spend more time with my family. spend time etc in/at something We'll have to spend the night in a hotel. His childhood was spent in Brazil. spend time etc doing something Stacey spends all her free time painting. 3 a) spend the night with somebody to stay for the night and have sex with someone b) spend the night (at something) if someone spends the night at someone's house, they sleep at that person's house for a night She spent the night at a friend's house. 4 FORCE/EFFORT [transitive] to use effort or energy to do something I love to cook, but I don't feel like spending the energy every evening.

make the meeting/the party/Tuesday etc

spoken to be able to go to something that has been arranged for a particular date or time I'm sorry, I can't make Friday after all. Will you be able to make the next meeting?

success

səkˈses/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable, uncountable] 1 when you achieve what you want or intend OPP failure The experiment was a big success. without success I tried to contact him, but without success. success in doing something Did you have any success in persuading Alan to come? 2 when a lot of people like something, buy something, go to see something etc OPP failure be a big/huge/great etc success The film was a great success. Her book has enjoyed a lot of success (=it has been very successful). The play was a box-office success (=many people went to see it). The show was an overnight success (=it was immediately successful). 3 when someone achieves a high position in their job, on a course, in a sport, in society etc OPP failure Success isn't everything, you know. success in He has already had a lot of success in his career. be a success as a ... (=be successful in a particular job) She wasn't much of a success as a lawyer. She's determined to make a success of (=be successful in) her career. 4 when a business makes a lot of money OPP failure the success of his latest business venture be a big/huge/great etc success The firm wasn't a great success. 5 → success story COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a great success Everyone agreed the picnic was a great success. a big/huge/major success The government claimed the policy was a major success. a resounding/outstanding/spectacular success (=very great success) Financially, the event was a resounding success. great/considerable success This plant can be grown by the absolute beginner with great success. some success The group is already achieving some success. little/no success Attempts to resolve the dispute met with little success. limited success (=not very much success) The attempt to replace coca with other crops has had only limited success. commercial/economic/financial success None of his ideas had any commercial success. academic success (=success in education) There is no evidence that early teaching of reading leads to academic success. electoral success (=success in elections) The electoral success of the far right understandably fills many people in Europe with alarm. military success This military success was achieved at a cost. VERBS have/achieve success China has had considerable success in conserving water since 1983. meet with success (=be successful) We are disappointed that this round of negotiations has not met with success. put your success down to something (=say that your success was the result of it) They put their success down to their excellent teamwork. PHRASES somebody's chance of success They have a good chance of success. the secret of somebody's success (=what makes them successful) A visitor asked Connie the secret of her success with growing roses. the success rate (=what percentage of actions are successful) The success rate in cloning is still extremely low. COMMON ERRORS ► Don't say 'make success' or 'make a success'. Say have success or achieve success.

successful

səkˈsesfəl/ ●●● S2 W1 adjective 1 achieving what you wanted, or having the effect or result you intended The operation was successful. a highly successful (=very successful) meeting successful in (doing) something Were you successful in persuading him to change his mind? 2 a successful business, film, product etc makes a lot of money The show's had a pretty successful run. a highly successful (=very successful) product 3 a successful person earns a lot of money or is very well known and respected Arthur was a highly successful (=very successful) businessman. successful in He later became successful in politics. successful as I think she'll be successful as a photographer. —successfully adverb He successfully completed a master's degree.

succeed

səkˈsiːd/ ●●● S3 W2 verb 1 [intransitive] to do what you tried or wanted to do She wanted to be the first woman to climb Mount Everest, and she almost succeeded. succeed in doing something Scientists claim they have succeeded in finding a cure for cancer. Very few people succeed in losing weight and keeping it off. Register In everyday English, people often say they manage to do something rather than succeed in doing something: Eventually I managed to get the lid back on the box. Grammar • You succeed in doing something: She succeeded in persuading him. ✗Don't say: She succeeded to persuade him. • You can also use succeed on its own: I hope you succeed. • Succeed is not used transitively in this meaning. ✗Don't say: I hope you succeed it. 2 [intransitive] to have the result or effect something was intended to have Unfortunately his plan did not succeed. Register In everyday English, people often say that a method or treatment works rather than succeeds: We tried rebooting the computer, but that didn't work. 3 [intransitive] to do well in your job, especially because you have worked hard at it for a long time succeed as I'm not sure he has the determination to succeed as an actor. succeed in a woman who succeeded in politics 4 [intransitive, transitive] to be the next person to take a position or job after someone else succeed somebody as something Reeves will succeed Segal as Speaker of the House. succeed somebody to the throne (=to be the next king or queen after someone else) Who will succeed him to the throne? 5 [transitive] to come after or replace something else, especially another product This car is intended to succeed the popular Fiesta.

fulfil your potential/promise

to be as successful as you possibly can be We want to make sure that all children are able to fulfil their potential. Draft history is full of players who never fulfilled their promise. • For 15 years, Lindbergh more than fulfilled its promise. • I was wrong: it has not yet fulfilled its promise. • Lewis has begun to fulfil his promise. • But there is grave doubt among environmentalists as to whether the Government will fulfil its promises according to schedule.

stand on your own (two) feet

to be independent and able to take care of yourself informal to be able to provide all of the things you need for living without help from anyone else: She'll have to get a job and learn to stand on her own two feet sooner or later.(You should forget your parents financially you should stand on your own feet because you're already grown up you should protect them you should take care of them you shouldn't be too demanding)

be a waste of time/money/effort etc

to be not worth the time, money etc that you use because there is little or no result We should never have gone - it was a total waste of time. An unrealistically low offer is a waste of time. • As I said, many of these divisions of investigation will be a waste of time. • But it was a waste of time. • He may protest to the auditor that this is a waste of time. • I feel annoyed, it is a waste of time. • Which was a waste of time really, because all I wanted to do was join Granpa on the barrow.

fulfil yourself

to feel satisfied because you are using all your skills, qualities etc She succeeded in fulfilling herself both as an actress and as a mother. • Last year, it seemed he had matured enough to fulfil himself but a cruel succession of injuries denied him. • Maslow showed that, by fulfilling themselves, men could reach contentment and happiness. • I am still ambitious - to fulfil myself rather than become a managing director.

can/could afford

to have enough money to buy or pay for something afford (to do) something We can't afford to go on vacation this year. I couldn't afford the rent on my own. How can she afford to eat out every night? b) to have enough time to do something Dad can't afford any more time off work. c) if you cannot afford to do something, you must not do it because it could cause serious problems for you afford to do something We can't afford to wait any longer or we'll miss the plane. Grammar Afford is followed by an infinitive with 'to': I can't afford to buy a car. ✗Don't say: can't afford buying | can't afford buy

Confirm

to say or show that something is true kənˈfɜːm $ -ɜːrm/ ●●● S2 W2 AWL verb [transitive] 1 to show that something is definitely true, especially by providing more proof OPP refute New evidence has confirmed the first witness's story. To confirm my diagnosis I need to do some tests. confirm that Research has confirmed that the risk is higher for women. confirm what The new results confirm what most of us knew already. Grammar In more formal English, you say it is confirmed that something is true: It was confirmed that the bone was broken. 2 to say that something is definitely true OPP deny The president refused to confirm the rumor. Managers have so far refused to confirm or deny reports that up to 200 jobs are to go. confirm that Walsh confirmed that the money had been paid. confirm what My brother will confirm what I have told you. 3 to tell someone that a possible arrangement, date, or situation is now definite or official Could you confirm the dates we discussed? Smith was confirmed as the club's new manager yesterday. confirm a booking/reservation/appointment I am writing to confirm a booking for a single room for the night of 6 June. 4 to make you believe that your idea or feeling is right confirm your fears/doubts/suspicions etc This just confirms my worst fears. confirm you in your belief/opinion/view etc (that) (=make you believe something more strongly) The expression on his face confirmed me in my suspicions.

getting to know someone

to start to be familiar with someone or something It took a while to get to know the city properly.(To become familiar with a new situation or way of living:settle into, adjust, grow into...) Getting to know someone is the process of acquiring that knowledge; it usually takes months or years. (I just got a new job. I expect that I will get to know my new boss much better over the next few weeks. I'm liking my new job. I'm starting to fit in as my coworkers are getting to know me better. Now that I'm retiring, I'll miss this place. I got to know a lot of interesting people over the years. I was a little sad when I put in my retirement papers; I had gotten to know a lot of interesting people at that job. I still miss them sometimes. Note how, in the first example, get to know is different from meet. The new employee may have already met her new boss, and could perhaps recognize the boss in a crowded store. But knowing a person implies more than that. When you know someone, you understand their personality and quirks: you understand their sense of humor, you know what irritates them, you can tell when they're feeling sad. You know what sports teams they like, you know what they like to do on the weekends, you know their favorite movies or books or television programs. You can also know someone and be getting to know someone at the same time - if you've learned a lot about that individual, but are also still learning new things about that person on a regular basis.) I can say that I know a person only after I have got to know that person. Get to know describes the process, know describes the result.

put something into action/effect/practice

to start using a plan, idea, knowledge etc James was keen to put some of the things he had learned into practice. • Forest managers have been slow to put the plan into practice. • But he came gradually to see its viability and to contemplate ways of putting it into practice. • But there is a long way to go before he establishes a stable government that can put these qualities into action. • Charles, however, was determined to use the farm at Highgrove as a model to put his ideas into practice. • Guide us to recognise how great are your resources, and inspire us to put your plans into action.

go on a trip

to take a trip I enjoy traveling a lot I usually go on a trip with my true friends

terrific

təˈrɪfɪk/ ●●○ adjective 1 informal very good, especially in a way that makes you feel happy and excited SYN great That's a terrific idea! The actress who played the lawyer was terrific. ► see thesaurus at good 2 very large in size or degree a terrific bang He drank a terrific amount of beer.

together

təˈɡeðə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 adverb 1 WITH EACH OTHER if two or more people do something together, they do it with each other OPP alone, separately We've very much enjoyed working together. They've decided to spend more time together. He and my father were at school together. Together they went back inside the villa. IN ONE PLACE if you keep, collect etc things together, you keep or collect them all in one place She keeps all the important documents together in one file. Embarrassed, she gathered her things together and left. Goods of a similar kind should be stored together. IN AGREEMENT if people are together, come together etc, they are or become united, especially in order to try and achieve something Together we can win. The Conference called on all good men to come together to resist socialism. He said that the main purpose of the Baha'i faith was to bring people together. AT THE SAME TIME at the same time Both letters should have arrived. I mailed them together. 'Oh!' they said together. all together (now) (=used to tell a group of people to all say or do something at the same time) Right men. All together now ... push! (working together • I am trying to teach the power of people working together. • So get your roles clear before you begin working together. • We have been working together for the past three days.) (back together • He insisted that the sides get back together. • Older and wiser, Fleetwood is delighted the band he loves so much is back together. • By their third lesson he could strip the barrel and put the pieces back together again faster than the instructor.) (live together • We just can not live together. • She and my father were no longer living together, although they still worked side by side each day in the bakery. • This was when the need to live together came not from the older generation, but from the child's own family. • Anna taught her and made her her own maid and they lived together ever after.) (come together • The two key preoccupations of the coming years came together. • Women from the different organizations have been able to come together and agree on certain basic principles about what they, as women, are fighting for. • Seminars provide an opportunity for students to come together and discuss a particular topic.) (all together (now) • The truly rich can afford the tax advice and the expendable cash flow to avoid paying cap gains taxes all together. • They had dropped out of the human chain of ancestors and descendants that had formerly bound them all together. • Things waited till your defences were down, and then turned on you, all together. • Whatever it was, we never put it all together.)

waste

weɪst/ ●●● S2 W3 noun 1 BAD USE [singular, uncountable] when something such as money or skills are not used in a way that is effective, useful, or sensible waste of Being unemployed is such a waste of your talents. Many believe that state aid is a waste of taxpayers' money. What a waste of all that good work! excessive waste in state spending UNWANTED MATERIALS [uncountable] unwanted materials or substances that are left after you have used something The emphasis now is on recycling waste. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 4: unwanted materials or substances that are left after you have used something VERBS recycle waste How much of our household waste is recycled? dispose of waste environmentally friendly ways to dispose of waste dump waste They were fined for illegally dumping waste. incinerate waste (=burn it) For many years, solid waste was incinerated. reprocess waste (=treat radioactive waste so that it can be used again) The plant reprocesses nuclear waste. ADJECTIVES household/domestic waste Newspapers and magazines make up 10% of household waste. industrial/chemical waste pollution caused by industrial waste hazardous/toxic waste the illegal dumping of hazardous waste radioactive/nuclear waste plans for the safe transportation of radioactive waste organic waste (=waste from plants, fruits, and vegetables) Organic waste can be composted to make garden fertilizer. human waste (=from people going to the toilet) The prison was full of the smell of human waste. WASTE + NOUN a waste pipe a washing machine waste pipe verb [transitive] 1 NOT USE SENSIBLY to use more money, time, energy etc than is useful or sensible Leaving the heating on all the time wastes electricity. waste something on somebody/something Don't waste your money on that junk! 2 NOT USE FULLY to not make full use of someone or something Hannah is wasted in that clerical job. His talents were being wasted as a lawyer. Grammar Waste is usually passive in this meaning. adjective [only before noun] 1 waste materials, substances etc are unwanted because the good part of them has been removed 2 waste land is empty or not looked after by anyone

independent study/learning

when you study on your own, rather than being taught by a teacher The tapes can be used in class or for independent study. • It will make provision for mixed-ability groups much easier to organise, and encourage independent study. • The course manual can be used for independent study. • Would you like to do this as an independent study? • The increased use of independent learning at higher levels within the pathway is reflected in the assessment pattern within the modules. • Councillors will discuss the possibility of funding an independent study into the mine's viability.

within

wɪðˈɪn $ wɪðˈɪn, wɪθˈɪn/ ●●● S1 W1 preposition, adverb 1 a) before a certain period of time has passed We should have the test results back within 24 hours. He fell sick and died within a matter of weeks. Within an hour of our arrival Caroline was starting to complain. b) during a certain period of time the enormous success of televised sport within the last twenty years Within the space of a year, three of the town's factories have closed down. ► see thesaurus at after, during 2 less than a certain distance from a particular place The invading troops came within 50 miles of Paris. Within a five mile radius of Ollerton there are several pubs and restaurants. We live within easy reach of (=close to) the shops. Adjust the driver's seat so that all the controls are within reach (=close enough to touch). within sight/earshot (of something) (=close enough to see or hear) As she came within sight of the house, she saw two men getting out of a car. 3 inside a particular building or area OPP outside Prisoners who died were buried within the walls of the prison. public footpaths within the national park The rooms within were richly furnished. apply/enquire within (=used on notices on the outside of buildings) Baby rabbits for sale. Enquire within. 4 inside a society, organization, or group of people OPP outside There have been a lot of changes within the department since I joined. an attempt to reform the system from within 5 if something stays within a particular limit or set of rules, it does not go beyond that limit We have to operate within a very tight budget. Security firms have to work strictly within the law. You can go anywhere you want within reason (=within reasonable limits). 6 literary or formal inside a person's body or mind OPP outside Elaine felt a pain deep within her. I'm feeling more relaxed within myself. (Do you think happiness lies within you?or does it depend upon other people and external things?)

alternative

ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv $ ɒːlˈtɜːr-, æl-/ ●●○ S3 W2 AWL adjective 1 [only before noun] an alternative idea, plan etc is different from the one you have and can be used instead alternative ways/approach/methods etc alternative approaches to learning Have you any alternative suggestions? An alternative route is along the Via Unione. 2 deliberately different from what is usual, expected, or traditional alternative music/theatre etc Tucson's alternative radio station sources of alternative energy (=energy produced by the sun, wind etc rather than by gas, coal etc) tolerance of alternative lifestyles alternative medicine/therapies (=medical treatment that is not based on the usual western methods) Acupuncture is widely used by practitioners of alternative medicine. noun [countable] something you can choose to do or use instead of something else alternative to Is there a viable alternative to the present system? If payment is not received, legal action will be our only alternative. I had no alternative but to report him to the police. He quickly assessed the alternatives open to him. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a good/attractive alternative If you don't want curtains, blinds are a good alternative. a possible/acceptable/satisfactory alternative I'm busy tomorrow but Wednesday is a possible alternative. a real/serious alternative Co-operation offers the only real alternative. a viable alternative (=that can work as successfully) Hydrogen offers a viable alternative to petrol and diesel. a practical alternative This treatment represents a practical alternative to surgery. a cheap alternative A take-away is a cheap alternative to eating out. a safe alternative Will there ever be a safe alternative to nuclear power? a healthy alternative Low-fat biscuits are a healthy alternative to cake. VERBS have an alternative You have a few alternatives to choose from. offer/provide an alternative If your first choice is not available, we always have alternatives to offer. suggest an alternative Do you have an alternative you can suggest? seek an alternative People are seeking alternatives to meat-based dishes. find an alternative The program is directed to finding alternatives to oil and natural gas. PHRASES have no/little alternative (but to do something) He had no alternative but to resign. leave somebody with no alternative (but to do something) I was left with no alternative but to seek legal advice.

Approximately

əˈprɒksəmətli $ əˈprɑːk-/ ●●○ W3 AWL adverb more or less than a number or amount SYN roughly The plane will be landing in approximately 20 minutes. How much do you think it will cost, approximately? THESAURUS approximately more or less than a number or amount - used especially in technical or scientific contexts The company had total revenues of approximately $2 million. The disease affects approximately 10% of the adult population. about more or less than a number or amount. 'About' is the usual word to use in everyday English It costs about $30 to get a visa. There were about 50 people at the meeting. roughly /ˈrʌfli/ about - used when you are trying to give someone a general idea of the size, amount, or number of something The two countries are roughly the same size. Roughly how many miles do you travel a year? around about a number or time - used when you are guessing I'll be there around 5 o'clock. The BBC broadcasts around 2,000 radio dramas every year.

achieve

əˈtʃiːv/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL verb 1 [transitive] to successfully complete something or get a good result, especially by working hard She eventually achieved her goal of becoming a professor. Wilson has achieved considerable success as an artist. Frances achieved very good exam results. ► see thesaurus at succeed Register In everyday English, people usually say someone gets a result rather than achieves it: He got good grades in his final exams. 2 [intransitive] to be successful in a particular kind of job or activity We want all our students to achieve within their chosen profession. (You must/should achieve all your dreams/goals/aims; no excuse at all. We have finally achieved success)

achievement

əˈtʃiːvmənt/ ●●● S3 W2 AWL noun 1 [countable] something important that you succeed in doing by your own efforts achievement of We try to celebrate the achievements of our students. His great achievement is to make all the players into a united team. somebody's achievement in (doing) something The test measures children's achievements in reading, spelling, and maths. 2 [uncountable] when you achieve something or when people achieve something Roberts is researching the effect of social class on educational achievement. As we climbed the final few metres, we felt a sense of achievement. COLLOCATIONS ADJECTIVES a great/fine/impressive achievement (=one that deserves to be admired) Winning the award was a great achievement. a remarkable/extraordinary achievement (=one that is unusual or surprising and deserves praise) In recognition of this remarkable achievement he was awarded the OBE. a major/important achievement Writing the book was a major achievement. an outstanding achievement (=an extremely impressive achievement) Eisenhower' s outstanding achievement was to avoid war. a considerable achievement (=one that has a large effect) These studies represent a considerable achievement. somebody's crowning/supreme achievement (=the best of several impressive achievements) Her appointment to the Paris post was the crowning achievement of her life. VERBS something represents an achievement (=something is an achievement) Few people realised what an enormous achievement Concorde represented. PHRASES be no mean achievement (=be difficult to achieve and therefore worth admiring) He got the top mark in the country which is no mean achievement. be quite an achievement (=be an impressive achievement) Working and bringing up kids on your own is quite an achievement.

ashamed

əˈʃeɪmd/ ●●○ S3 adjective [not before noun] 1 feeling very sorry and embarrassed because of something you have done ashamed of/at I felt ashamed of the things I'd said to him. be ashamed to do something I'm ashamed to admit that I've never read any of his books. ashamed that She felt ashamed that she had missed her sister's wedding. deeply/bitterly/thoroughly ashamed Alan was deeply ashamed when he remembered what he'd said. Everyone cries sometimes - it's nothing to be ashamed of. be/feel ashamed of yourself You should be ashamed of yourself. 2 feeling uncomfortable because someone does something that embarrasses you ashamed of Many children feel ashamed of their parents. ashamed to be/do something Their behaviour makes me ashamed to be British. GRAMMAR: Comparisonashamed • You feel ashamed of something or someone: She was ashamed of her behaviour. You should be ashamed of yourself! embarrassed • You feel embarrassed by something or someone: I was embarrassed by the fact that I knew nothing about cars. Minna felt embarrassed by her parents. • You feel embarrassed about something: He was clearly embarrassed about what had happened.

embarrass

ɪmˈbærəs/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 to make someone feel ashamed, nervous, or uncomfortable, especially in front of other people He didn't want to embarrass her by asking questions. 2 to do something that causes problems for a government, political organization, or politician, and makes them look bad The revelations in the press have embarrassed the government.

embarrassment

ɪmˈbærəsmənt/ ●●○ noun 1 [uncountable] the feeling you have when you are embarrassed embarrassment at She suffered extreme embarrassment at not knowing how to read. He could not hide his embarrassment at his children's rudeness. to somebody's embarrassment To her embarrassment, she couldn't remember his name. 2 [countable] an event that causes a government, political organization etc problems, and makes it look bad embarrassment to/for The allegations have been an acute embarrassment (=serious and severe embarrassment) to the prime minister. The scandal was a further source of embarrassment to the government. 3 [countable] someone who behaves in a way that makes you feel ashamed, nervous, or uncomfortable embarrassment to Tim's drinking has made him an embarrassment to the whole family. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 1: the feeling you have when you are embarrassed ADJECTIVES great embarrassment To my great embarrassment, my dad started dancing. severe/extreme embarrassment This scandal could cause severe embarrassment to the government. considerable embarrassment (=quite strong) His behaviour was a source of considerable embarrassment to his family. acute embarrassment (=very strong and not lasting very long) There was a moment of acute embarrassment when we realized people were watching. further embarrassment (=extra or additional) His resignation should save the government any further embarrassment. potential embarrassment (=possible) By dropping out of the competition, he was spared the potential embarrassment of losing. obvious embarrassment (=clear for other people to see) He shuffled his feet around in obvious embarrassment. VERBS cause embarrassment Some of his jokes caused embarrassment to the older members of the audience. avoid embarrassment This solution could help both countries avoid embarrassment. hide your embarrassment She started laughing in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. PHRASES a source of embarrassment (=a cause of embarrassment) His views on immigration were a constant source of embarrassment to the party. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: an event that causes a government, political organization etc problems, and makes it look bad VERBS be/become an embarrassment Your behaviour is becoming an embarrassment to the school. be considered an embarrassment (=be thought of as embarrassing) He may be popular abroad, but he's considered an embarrassment at home. prove an embarrassment (=be an embarrassment) The publication of the documents proved a severe embarrassment to the company. ADJECTIVES a big/severe embarrassment This failure was a severe embarrassment to the government. a huge embarrassment (=very big or severe) If the story is true, it could prove a huge embarrassment to the star. a serious/major embarrassment (=severe and important) This episode has been a serious embarrassment for the club. an acute embarrassment (=extremely severe and important) Her memoirs were an acute embarrassment to the president. a considerable embarrassment (=quite severe) The photograph was a considerable embarrassment to the royal family.

impressive

ɪmˈpresɪv/ ●●○ W3 adjective something that is impressive makes you admire it because it is very good, large, important etc The figures certainly look impressive. Among the guests was an impressive array of authors and critics. ► see thesaurus at good —impressively adverb Production standards are impressively high. —impressiveness noun [uncountable]

marry

ˈmæri/ ●●● S1 W2 verb (married, marrying, marries) 1 [intransitive, transitive] if you marry someone, you become their husband or wife → married He married Bea in 1925. I'm going to ask her to marry me on St Valentine's Day. She married young (=at a young age). People in higher social classes are more likely to marry late (=when they are older than is usual). Sophia had, in a sense, married beneath her (=married someone of a lower social class than her). Register In everyday English, rather than saying that two people marry, people usually say that they get married. My parents got married in 1986.

prophesy

ˈprɒfəsaɪ $ ˈprɑː-/ verb (prophesied, prophesying, prophesies) [intransitive, transitive] to say what will happen in the future, especially using religious or magical knowledge SYN foretell prophesy that He prophesied that a flood would cover the earth. There was a great war between the countries, just as the elders had prophesied. ► see thesaurus at predict

risky

ˈrɪski/ ●●○ adjective involving a risk that something bad will happen SYN dangerous Doctors say it's too risky to try and operate. Buying a secondhand car is a risky business. ► see thesaurus at dangerous —riskiness noun [uncountable]

examine

ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ ●●● S3 W2 verb [transitive] 1 to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out more about it A team of divers was sent down to examine the wreck. Hegel's philosophy will be examined in detail in Chapter 4. examine how/whether/what etc In the course, we will examine how and why Spain became a democracy in 1931. examine something for something The police will have to examine the weapon for fingerprints. Register In everyday English, people usually say have or take a look at something or someone rather than examine something or someone: I had a look at the car but I couldn't see anything wrong with it. ► see thesaurus at check 2 if a doctor examines you, they look at your body to check that you are healthy 3 formal to ask someone questions to test their knowledge of a subject SYN test examine somebody in/on something You will be examined on American history. 4 law to officially ask someone questions in a court of law → cross-examine THESAURUS examine to look at something carefully and thoroughly because you want to find out more about it Experts who examined the painting believe it is genuine. Her new book examines the causes of social discontent. A team of divers was sent down to examine the wreckage. The police will examine the weapon for fingerprints. have a look at/take a look at especially spoken to quickly examine something to find out what is wrong with it or to find out more about it. Have a look at is less formal than examine, and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English I'll have a look at your car if you like. inspect to examine something carefully to make sure that it is correct, safe, or working properly, especially when it is your job to do this The building is regularly inspected by a fire-safety officer. Some insurance people have already been here to inspect the damage caused by the storm. Russian and American teams will have the right to inspect each other's missile sites. analyze (also analyse British English) to examine something carefully, especially detailed information about something, so that you can understand it Researchers analyzed the results of the survey. We're still analysing all the data. One of the problems in analyzing the situation is that we do not have all the information yet. study to spend a lot of time examining something very carefully, for example a problem or situation I won't comment till I've had time to study the proposals. A team of scientists has been studying the effects of global warming on Antarctica. review to examine something such as a situation or process to see if any changes are necessary The bank will review its security procedures after last week's attack. scrutinize (also scrutinise British English) to examine something very carefully to find out if there is anything wrong with it Congress is currently scrutinizing the deal.

Booklet

ˈbʊklɪt/ ●○○ noun [countable] a very short book that usually contains information on one particular subject → leaflet a free booklet on drug abuse THESAURUS booklet a very short book with paper covers that usually contains information on one particular subject a free booklet on drug abuse Have you read the information booklet? brochure a thin book with paper covers that gives information on something you may want to buy or advertises something glossy holiday brochures The hotel was nothing like it said it would be in the brochure. The brochure shows you all the different types of washing machine. leaflet a small book or piece of paper, often only one or two folded pages, that advertises something or gives information on a particular subject a leaflet about library services They were handing out leaflets for the Socialist Party. pamphlet a very thin book with paper covers, in which someone writes about their opinions about something, or gives information about something a political pamphlet Paine wrote a pamphlet about slavery. The pamphlet tells you all you need to know about growing cactuses.

effort

ˈefət $ ˈefərt/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 PHYSICAL/MENTAL ENERGY [uncountable] the physical or mental energy that is needed to do something Lou lifted the box easily, without using much effort. Frank put a lot of effort into the party. Learning to speak another language takes effort. 2 ATTEMPT [countable, uncountable] an attempt to do something, especially when this involves a lot of hard work or determination Please make an effort to be polite. somebody's effort(s) to do something Tom's efforts to stop smoking haven't been very successful. Church leaders are prepared to meet the terrorists in an effort to (=in order to try to) find peace. effort at Further efforts at negotiation have broken down. through somebody's efforts (=because of their efforts) The money was raised largely through the efforts of parents. despite somebody's efforts Despite all our efforts we lost the game 1-0. 3 → be an effort 4 PARTICULAR SITUATION [countable] work that people do to achieve something in a particular situation the fundraising effort the international relief effort Everyone did what they could to support the war effort. 5 → good/bad/poor etc effort COLLOCATIONS - Meanings 1 & 2 VERBS make an effort (=try) She made an effort to change the subject of the conversation. put effort into (doing) something (=try hard to do something) Let's try again, only put more effort into it this time. take the effort out of something (=make it easy) An automatic car takes the effort out of driving. something takes effort (also it takes effort to do something) (=you have to try hard) It takes a sustained effort to quit smoking. something requires/involves effort formal (=it takes effort) Trying to get my mother to change her mind requires considerable effort. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + EFFORT successful Their efforts were successful, and they won the contract. unsuccessful Efforts to save the hospital from closure have been unsuccessful. futile (=having no chance of succeeding, and therefore not worth doing) Doctors knew that any effort to save his life would be futile. a big/great effort The government has made a big effort to tackle the problem of poverty. considerable effort (=a lot of effort) The police put considerable effort into finding his car. a supreme/tremendous effort (=a very big effort) It was only with a supreme effort that Roger controlled his temper. a special effort (=one that you do not normally make) I made a special effort to be nice to the children. a constant effort (=one that never stops) Walking was a constant effort. a sustained effort (=one that you continue making for a long time) It will take a sustained effort over the next 5 years to achieve our objectives. a conscious/deliberate effort (=one that you concentrate on in order to achieve something) He made a conscious effort to become a better person. a determined effort (=showing a lot of determination) She had made a determined effort to lose weight. a desperate effort (=one you make when you are in a very bad situation) The fox made a desperate effort to get away. a concerted effort (=involving a lot of different actions, or a lot of people working together) It will take a concerted effort to change the culture of binge-drinking in the country. a joint/team effort (=involving a group or team of people) We had many fine individual performances, but the win was a real team effort. a collaborative/cooperative effort formal (=with different people or groups working together) This was a collaborative effort involving the three largest energy companies. physical/mental effort He struggled back from two sets down to win the match, showing great physical and mental effort. a final/last-ditch effort (=a last effort, when you want very much to achieve something) Sam took a deep breath and prepared herself for one final effort. PHRASES make the effort (=do something that requires some effort) I felt too tired to go to a party, but decided to make the effort. make every effort to do something (=try very hard) I made every effort to see their point of view. make no effort to do something (=not try at all) They make no effort to speak the local language. be (well) worth the effort (=used to say that something is worth doing even though it is hard) It's a difficult place to get to, but it's well worth the effort. an effort of will (=a big effort to do something that you find difficult because of the way you feel) It took a huge effort of will not to cry. with effort formal (=trying very hard) With great effort, he managed to keep quiet. without effort (=easily, without trying hard) Her horse jumped the fence without any effort. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 4: work that people do to achieve something in a particular situation NOUN + EFFORT a relief effort The UN is organizing the relief effort to the region affected by the earthquake. a fund-raising effort The party is planning a huge fund-raising effort later this year. the war effort Taxes were raised to support the war effort.

energy

ˈenədʒi $ -ər-/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL noun (plural energies) [uncountable] the physical and mental strength that makes you able to do things Where do those kids get their energy from? Are you suffering from a lack of energy? The city is full of creative energy. I really put a lot of energy into what I do. He wants to conserve his energy for next week's game (=use as little energy as possible now, so that you have more energy to use later). COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: the physical and mental strength that makes you able to do things VERBS have energy He always has plenty of energy! put some energy into something Try to put more energy into your game. channel your energy into something (also devote your energy to something) (=use most of your energy doing something) She should channel more of her energy into her studies. conserve energy (=use as little energy as possible) The lions spend much of the day sleeping, conserving energy for the hunt. run out of energy (=have no more energy) The players seemed to be running out of energy. lack energy (=have no energy) She lacked the energy to continue. something takes/requires energy Climbing with a full backpack takes a lot of energy. your energy flags (=it becomes less and you become tired) After eight laps of the running track, my energy began to flag. PHRASES be full of energy/be bursting with energy (=have a lot of energy) I felt happy and full of energy. The stage was bursting with energy. a lack of energy Common symptoms include a loss of appetite and a lack of energy. a burst of energy (=a short sudden increase in energy) He tried to summon up one final burst of energy, but his legs wouldn't respond. ADJECTIVES boundless energy (=that seems to have no limit) The children ran up and down the beach with boundless energy. youthful energy (=energy that young people naturally have) She is very talented and full of youthful energy. creative energy (=that makes you want to write, draw, paint etc) We have seen an explosion of creative energy from the band this year. nervous energy (=energy that comes from being nervous or excited) She seems to thrive on nervous energy. ENERGY + NOUN energy levels (=the amount of energy someone has) Regular exercise increases your energy levels.

frequently

ˈfriːkwəntli/ ●●● S3 W2 adverb very often or many times He was frequently drunk. Register In everyday English, people usually say that something often happens, or that something happens a lot, rather than say it happens frequently: I often see him. OR I see him a lot. Examples from the Corpus frequently • Late lesions of the bones and joints occur, and frequently a progressive deafness develops. • The instructions for this clever method are given frequently and are easy to understand. • Many of the peers also described how conflicts frequently arose between themselves and the subordinates.

foster

ˈfɒstə $ ˈfɑːstər/ ●○○ verb 1 [transitive] to help a skill, feeling, idea etc develop over a period of time SYN encourage, promote The bishop helped foster the sense of a community embracing all classes. 2 [intransitive, transitive] to take someone else's child into your family for a period of time but without becoming their legal parent → adopt The couple wanted to adopt a black child they had been fostering.

handout

ˈhændaʊt/ ●●○ noun [countable] 1 money or goods that are given to someone, for example because they are poor people who have to live on handouts from the state a cash handout 2 a piece of paper with information, which is given to people who are attending a lesson, meeting etc Please read the handout.

consequence

ˈkɒnsəkwəns $ ˈkɑːnsə-kwens/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun 1 [countable] something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions consequence of Many believe that poverty is a direct consequence of overpopulation. consequence for Our findings have far-reaching consequences for researchers. with ... consequences He ate some poisonous mushrooms, with fatal consequences. ► see thesaurus at result COLLOCATIONS VERBS be a consequence of something Low energy may be a consequence of sleeping badly. have consequences Taking financial risks can have serious consequences. accept/take the consequences (=understand and deal with them) I'm prepared to accept the consequences of my decision. face/suffer the consequences (=accept the bad results of something you have done) He broke the law, and he will have to face the consequences. consequences follow (=happen) Once the decision has been made, consequences follow. consider the consequences (=think what might happen as a result of something) She jumped into the river without considering the consequences. escape the consequences (=avoid them) I knew I'd made a mistake and that I couldn't escape the consequences. ADJECTIVES the possible/likely consequences What are the likely consequences of these changes? an inevitable consequence (=that you cannot avoid) Loss of mobility is not an inevitable consequence of old age. serious consequences (=bad and important) Too much fishing in these seas has had serious consequences. disastrous/dire consequences (=very bad and damaging) If temperatures continue to rise, it could have disastrous consequences for agriculture. an important consequence This discovery was an important consequence of his research. social/political/economic consequences The rise in food prices has had enormous economic and political consequences. a direct consequence of something (=a consequence directly caused by something) The spread of information has been a direct consequence of the Internet. a natural/logical consequence (=that naturally/logically follows something) Obviously disappointment is a natural consequence of defeat. a negative consequence (=a bad or unpleasant result) the negative consequences of drinking too much alcohol an adverse/unfortunate consequence (=that affects your life, a situation etc badly) Divorce often has unfortunate consequences for children. tragic consequences (=very sad, usually involving death) Someone dropped a burning cigarette, with tragic consequences. far-reaching consequences (=important and affecting many things) The new law is sure to have far-reaching consequences. long-term consequences (=results that last a long time, or appear after a long time) If you smoke it may have long-term consequences.

meaning

ˈmiːnɪŋ/ ●●● S2 W1 noun 1 OF A WORD/SIGN ETC [countable, uncountable] the thing or idea that a word, expression, or sign represents meaning of I don't know the precise meaning of the word 'gleaned'. 2 IDEAS IN SPEECH/BOOK ETC [countable, uncountable] the thoughts or ideas that someone wants you to understand from what they say, do, write etc meaning of The meaning of her words was clear. We'd lost our jobs. meaning behind She hardly dared to understand the meaning behind his statement. PURPOSE/SPECIAL QUALITY [uncountable] the quality that makes life, work etc seem to have a purpose or value Life seemed to have lost its meaning since Janet's death. Her studies no longer seemed to have any meaning. For many people it is religion that gives meaning to their existence. 5 TRUE NATURE [uncountable] the true nature and importance of something meaning of We seem to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. 6 → (not) know the meaning of something COLLOCATIONS - Meanings 1 & 2 VERBS have a meaning The same word may have several different meanings. take on a meaning (=begin to have a new meaning) The word 'chaos' has taken on a special scientific meaning. understand the meaning The pictures help the children understand the meanings of the words. know the meaning Do you know the meaning of the word 'paraphrase'? get somebody's meaning (also take somebody's meaning British English) (=understand what someone is saying in an indirect way) He's not like other people, if you get my meaning. grasp the meaning (=begin to understand the meaning) She suddenly grasped the meaning of his frantic gestures. carry meaning (also bear a meaning formal) (=have a meaning) In conversation, even a pause may carry meaning. convey meaning (=express a meaning) the use of hand signals to convey meaning ADJECTIVES precise/specific/exact The term 'stress' has a precise meaning to an engineer. a hidden meaning She felt there was a hidden meaning behind his words. a double meaning (=two meanings at the same time) Everything he said had a double meaning. the literal meaning The literal meaning of 'telephone' is 'far-away sound'. the ordinary meaning They are a 'nuisance' in the ordinary meaning, not the legal meaning, of that word. the figurative/metaphorical meaning (=different from its usual or basic meaning) The expression has a metaphorical meaning. somebody's/something's true meaning Children understand the true meaning of these words. a symbolic meaning (=representing an idea) Colours often have symbolic meanings; for example, black signifies grief in Western cultures. THESAURUS SENSE 2 meaning the thoughts or ideas that someone wants you to understand from what they say, do, write etc What do you think is the meaning of the poem? the gist the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech Read the story quickly first, just to get the gist of it. I think I understand the gist of what you're saying. the drift/your drift the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something - often used when the ideas are not stated directly The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back. I don't quite follow your drift. the essence the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing The essence of what he is saying is that human character is formed by society. the thrust the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea The overall thrust of her argument is that we need to do more to protect our environment. the substance formal the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing The substance of Marx's views is the same in both of these books. His article lacks substance (=there are no interesting or important ideas in it). the implication the meaning of what someone says, writes etc that is not stated directly, but that people are expected to understand The implication was that they did not consider Harrison to be trustworthy.

survey

ˈsɜːveɪ $ ˈsɜːr-/ ●●○ W2 AWL noun [countable] 1 a set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behaviour → poll carry out/conduct a survey (=do a survey) We conducted a survey of parents in the village. survey of a survey of US businesses survey shows/reveals (that) The survey showed that Britain's trees are in good health. 2 an examination of an area of land in order to make a map of it → surveyor 3 British English an examination of a house or other building done especially for someone who wants to buy it → surveyor 4 a general description or report about a particular subject or situation a survey of modern English literature COLLOCATIONS VERBS carry out/do a survey The survey was carried out by Warwick University. conduct a survey formal (=do a survey) a survey conducted by the British Medical Association. a survey shows/reveals something Our survey showed that many women are afraid to go out alone at night. a survey finds something A survey found that 37 percent of students were born outside the country. a survey suggests something Recent surveys suggest that these are the foreign languages most in demand by employers. ADJECTIVES/NOUN + SURVEY a recent/new survey According to a recent survey, students buy an average of 11.33 books a year for their courses. an annual survey Every council will be required to conduct an annual survey of residents. a national survey A national survey revealed that one in four 15-year-olds smokes regularly. an extensive survey We conducted an extensive survey asking patients to suggest ways in which the service could be improved. a detailed survey The author carried out a detailed survey of 32 organizations in Japan and Korea. an opinion survey Opinion surveys showed consistently that unemployment remained a matter of concern. a customer survey They have begun to listen carefully to their customers, through customer surveys, focus groups, etc. PHRASES the results of a survey The results of the survey have not yet been analysed. verb [transitive] 1 to ask a large number of people questions in order to find out their attitudes or opinions Of the 100 companies surveyed, 10% had a turnover of £50m to £99m. Grammar Survey is often passive in this meaning. 2 to look at or consider someone or something carefully, especially in order to form an opinion about them She turned to survey her daughter's pale face. They got out of the car to survey the damage. 3 British English to examine the condition of a house or other building and make a report on it, especially for people who want to buy it 4 to examine and measure an area of land and record the details on a map There were many voyages to survey the ocean depths in the nineteenth century.

treasure

ˈtreʒə $ -ər/ ●●○ noun 1 [uncountable] a group of valuable things such as gold, silver, jewels etc buried/hidden/sunken treasure 2 [countable] a very valuable and important object such as a painting or ancient document The Book of Kells is Trinity College's greatest treasure. 3 [singular] informal someone who is very useful or important to you Our housekeeper is a real treasure. verb [transitive] to keep and care for something that is very special, important, or valuable to you Jim treasured the gold pocket watch that his grandfather had given him. —treasured adjective [only before noun] A battered old guitar was his most treasured possession.

trouble

ˈtrʌbəl/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 1 PROBLEMS [uncountable] (also troubles [plural]) problems or difficulties trouble with We're having a lot of trouble with the new computer system. Recent stock market losses point to trouble ahead. ► see thesaurus at problem GRAMMAR: Countable or uncountable? • Trouble is usually used as an uncountable noun: Are you having trouble with your car? ✗Don't say: Are you having a trouble with your car? Trouble is not used with 'a'. • The plural form troubles is used when talking about worries or bad experiences that someone has: Tell me about all your troubles. COLLOCATIONS VERBS have trouble He is having trouble getting his message across to the voters. have no trouble We had no trouble finding her house. cause trouble I hope the delay hasn't caused you any trouble. there is trouble There was some trouble at her office, but she didn't say what it was. mean/spell trouble (=mean there will be trouble) They are now much more competitive, which can only spell trouble for their rivals. be asking for trouble (=be silly or dangerous) It's asking for trouble to wear high-heeled shoes on a long walk. avoid trouble We avoid trouble by planning carefully. ADJECTIVES big/great trouble High interest rates spell big trouble for homeowners. terrible trouble I've been having terrible trouble sleeping. endless trouble (=a lot of trouble) They had endless trouble with the water supply. serious trouble I was having serious trouble knowing where to begin. teething troubles British English (=small problems that you have when you first start doing a new job or using a new system) There were a lot of teething troubles in the first year. PHRASES what the trouble is A couple of nurses rushed into the room to see what the trouble was. without any/much trouble (=easily) The work was carried out without any trouble.

valuable

ˈvæljuəbəl, -jəbəl $ ˈvæljəbəl/ ●●● W3 adjective 1 worth a lot of money OPP worthless a valuable painting Their most valuable belongings were locked in a safe in the bedroom. 2 valuable help, advice, information etc is very useful because it helps you to do something Muriel has made a valuable contribution to our company's success. a job that gave him valuable experience 3 important because there is only a limited amount available SYN precious I won't waste any more of your valuable time. THESAURUS WORTH A LOT OF MONEY valuable worth a lot of money and expensive to buy a valuable piece of jewellery The carpet is extremely valuable. priceless so valuable that it is impossible to calculate a price a priceless painting by Rembrandt The statue is priceless. precious metal/stone precious metals such as gold, or stones such as diamonds are very rare and expensive Back in ancient times, coins contained precious metals. The ring was set with dozens of precious stones. worth a lot/a fortune informal to be worth a very large amount of money Some rare baseball cards are worth a fortune. VERY SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT precious very special and important to someone - used about people or things My family have always been precious to me. His free time was very precious to him. the place where I kept my most precious things prized very special and important to someone, so that they want very much to keep it or obtain it The book was one of his most prized possessions. The shells are prized for their beauty (=are considered to be very special). treasured very special and important to someone, especially because it is connected with someone they love the case in which she kept her most treasured possessions The holiday was now a treasured memory. a treasured gift from her grandmother irreplaceable extremely special and important, especially because it is the only one of its kind The manuscripts are said to be irreplaceable. COLLOCATIONS - Meaning 2: valuable help, advice, information etc is very useful because it helps you to do something NOUNS help There can be no doubt that this sort of help is valuable for teachers. advice The booklet contains valuable advice for new mothers. information The police were contacted by a number of people who had valuable information about the bombings. experience The experience you can gain in a small advertising agency will be very valuable. contribution He made a valuable contribution to our work. asset If you have a good network of contacts, you have a valuable asset. source Fish are a valuable source of protein. tool Exercise is a valuable tool in treating depression. VERBS prove valuable (=be valuable for someone) This advice was to prove valuable.

awesome

ˈɔːsəm $ ˈɒː-/ ●●○ adjective 1 extremely impressive, serious, or difficult so that you feel great respect, worry, or fear an awesome responsibility the awesome sweep of the scenery 2 especially American English informal very good Their last concert was really awesome. —awesomely adverb

shameful

ˈʃeɪmfəl/ adjective shameful behaviour or actions are so bad that someone should feel ashamed It's shameful the way some people treat their pets. a shameful family secret

other

ˈʌðə $ ˈʌðər/ ●●● S1 W1 determiner, adjective, pronoun 1 THE SECOND OF TWO used to refer to the second of two people or things, which is not the one you already have or the one you have already mentioned the/your other I can't find my other shoe. One man was arrested, but the other one got away. He kept shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. She took it for granted that each knew who the other was. 2 THE REST used to refer to all the people or things in a group apart from the one you have already mentioned or the one that is already known about the/your other The other hotels are all full. She's much brighter than all the other children in her class. I chose this coat in the end because the other ones were all too expensive. the/your others I can see Julie, but where have all the others gone? 3 ADDITIONAL used to refer to additional people or things of the same kind There are one or two other problems I'd like to discuss. I've got some other friends I'd like to invite. Have you any other questions? among others (=used when mentioning one or more examples) The guests included, among others, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. 4 DIFFERENT used to refer to a different person or thing from the one you have already mentioned or the one that is already known about David and Jessica were playing with two other children. You'd better change into some other clothes. Do you envy other women who seem to manage their lives better? Can we discuss this some other time? There is no other job I would rather do. Saudi Arabia produces more oil than any other country. I hope you will learn to show more respect for others (=other people). some ... others Some people are at greater risk than others. 5 OPPOSITE used to refer to the thing that is opposite you, furthest from you, or moving away from you the other side/end/direction etc You can park on the other side of the street. He lives at the other end of the road. She drove off in the other direction.

forthcoming

ˌfɔːθˈkʌmɪŋ◂ $ ˌfɔːrθ-/ ●○○ AWL adjective 1 [only before noun] a forthcoming event, meeting etc is one that has been planned to happen soon the forthcoming elections Keep an eye on the noticeboards for forthcoming events. 2 willing to give information about something OPP unforthcoming forthcoming about IBM is usually pretty forthcoming about the markets for its products. 3 [not before noun] if something is forthcoming, it is given or offered when needed - often used to say that this does not happen When no reply was forthcoming, she wrote again.

confirmation

ˌkɒnfəˈmeɪʃən $ ˌkɑːnfər-/ ●●○ AWL noun [countable, uncountable] 1 a statement, document etc that says that something is definitely true confirmation of There has still been no official confirmation of the report. confirmation that verbal confirmation that payment has been made 2 a letter etc that tells you that an arrangement, date, time etc is now definite Most hotels require confirmation from a prospective guest in writing. 3 a religious ceremony in which someone is made a full member of the Christian Church

monumental

ˌmɒnjəˈmentl◂ $ ˌmɑː-/ adjective 1 [usually before noun] a monumental achievement, piece of work etc is very important and is usually based on many years of work a monumental contribution to the field of medicine Charles Darwin's monumental study, 'The Origin of Species' 2 [only before noun] extremely large, bad, good, impressive etc Banks and building societies were yesterday accused of monumental incompetence. a monumental task There was a monumental traffic jam on the freeway. 3 [only before noun] relating to a monument or built as a monument a monumental arch

obligation

ˌɒbləˈɡeɪʃən $ ˌɑːb-/ ●●○ W3 noun [countable, uncountable] a moral or legal duty to do something obligation to America's obligation to its allies Employers have an obligation to treat all employees equally. Parents are under a legal obligation to educate their children. You are under no obligation to buy any more books. Greater resources are needed to meet these obligations. the rights and obligations imposed on them by treaties The government must pay for health care for war veterans - it is an obligation we owe to them. a moral obligation to help the poor He stayed with the team out of a sense of obligation. COLLOCATIONS VERBS have an obligation Citizens have an obligation to obey the law. feel an obligation When his mother died, he felt an obligation to continue her work. meet/fulfil/honour an obligation (=do something that you have a duty to do ) The company has been unable to meet its financial obligations. All member states must fulfil their obligations according to the EC treaty. The government failed to honour its obligations under the terms of the agreement. impose an obligation formal (=put someone in the position of having an obligation) A contract imposes certain obligations on employees and employers. owe an obligation to somebody formal (=have an obligation to support, help etc someone) He owed an obligation of loyalty to his king. an obligation arises formal (=starts to exist) the obligations arising out of the treaty PHRASES be under an obligation (=have an obligation) The landlord is under an obligation to repair the house. be under no obligation An accused man is under no obligation to say anything. a sense of obligation the sense of obligation that you feel towards your family ADJECTIVES a moral/legal/social obligation We have a moral obligation to take care of our environment. a statutory obligation formal (=something that the law says must be done) The Local Authority has a statutory obligation to provide education. a contractual obligation (=something that a contract says you must do) The company must refund your money in line with their contractual obligations. a binding obligation (=something that you must legally do, especially because of an agreement) These clauses are legally binding obligations on both parties.

Independent

ˌɪndəˈpendənt◂/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective 1 NOT OWNED/CONTROLLED BY SOMETHING [usually before noun] an independent organization is not owned or controlled by, or does not receive money from, another organization or the government There are plans to split the corporation into a number of smaller independent companies. an independent charity small independent bookshops independent of We need a central bank that is independent of the government. independent school especially British English (=one not owned or paid for by the government) schools in the independent sector independent television/radio/broadcasting etc British English (=not owned or paid for by the government) independent television companies independent film (=one not made or produced by a large film production company) 2 FAIR [usually before noun] an independent organization or person is not involved in a particular situation, and can therefore be trusted to be fair in judging it an independent panel of scientists An independent body (=group of people who work together) has been set up to monitor government spending. There were no independent witnesses to the shooting. independent inquiry/advice/opinion etc (=carried out by or given by an independent person or organization) Human rights groups have called for an independent inquiry into the killings. the results of an independent study 3 COUNTRY an independent country is not governed or controlled by another country India became independent in 1947. 4 PERSON a) confident and able to do things by yourself in your own way, without needing help or advice from other people OPP dependent Now that my sons are more independent, I have more time for myself. an independent young woman He's helping other people with spinal injuries to lead an independent life. independent of By this age, the child becomes relatively independent of his mother. b) having enough money to live, without having to ask for help from other people It was always very important to me to be financially independent. independent of Robert aimed to be independent of his parents by the time he was twenty. SEPARATE if one thing is independent of another, the two are not connected, or the second thing does not influence the first independent of reports from two separate sources entirely independent of one another Three independent studies all arrived at the same conclusion. 8 POLITICIAN [usually before noun] an independent politician does not belong to a particular party Independent candidates won three seats. —independently adverb The two departments operate independently of each other. She had elderly parents who could no longer live independently.