A1 (Basic)

watch

I. watch¹ S1 W1 /wɒtʃ $ wɑːtʃ, wɒːtʃ/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: watch, watcher; adjective: watchful, watchable; verb: ↑watch]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wæccan]
1. LOOK [intransitive and transitive] to look at someone or something for a period of time, paying attention to what is happening:
Do you mind if I watch?
We sat and watched the sunset.
watch carefully/closely/intently etc
He watched helplessly as Paula fell into the icy water.
Watch carefully. You may learn something.
watch (somebody/something) with interest/amusement/delight etc
Harriet watched him with interest.
watch somebody/something do/doing something
I watched him go, then went home.
Ruth could not bear to watch her parents arguing.
watch to do something
I watched to see how he’d react.
watch television/a film etc
The debate was watched by 97 million viewers.
Most parents don’t know what their kids are watching on TV.
watch what/how/when etc
It’s useful to watch how other pilots handle the glider.
2. BE CAREFUL [transitive] to act carefully in order to avoid an accident or unwanted situation
watch (that)
Watch he doesn’t run into the road.
She’s a student and has to watch her budget closely.
Watch your head on the shelf.
watch what/how/where etc
Silly old fool! Why doesn’t he watch where he’s going?
Watch what you’re doing! It’s spilling everywhere!
Watch yourself (=be careful) in Madrid; there are some rough areas.
watch what you say/your tongue/your language/your mouth etc (=be careful not to hurt or offend people by what you say)
Employees should watch what they say in personal emails.
watch your weight/watch what you eat (=be careful not to get fat)
He may be a former athlete, but he still has to watch his weight.
3. PAY ATTENTION [transitive] to pay attention to a situation that interests or worries you to see how it develops
watch closely/carefully
American companies are watching Japanese developments closely.
The government will watch the progress of these schemes with interest.
4. CARE FOR [transitive] to stay with someone or something so that nothing bad happens to them:
She watches the kids for us occasionally.
5. SECRETLY [transitive] to secretly watch a person or place:
I feel like I’m being watched.
6. watch your step informal to be careful, especially about making someone angry:
He soon saw he’d have to watch his step with some of these guys.
7. watch your back informal to be careful because other people may try to harm you
8. watch the clock informal to keep looking at the time because you are worried or bored:
anxious mums watching the clock
9. watch the time to make sure you know what time it is to avoid being late
10. watch it spoken used to warn someone to be careful:
Watch it, there’s a car.
11. watch this space informal used to tell people to pay attention in the future because things are going to develop further – used especially in newspapers
12. one to watch someone or something that people should pay attention to because they are interesting or exciting:
In the tournament so far, Italy’s Stefania Croce looks like the one to watch.
13. watch the world go by to relax outside by just looking at the people around you:
lingering in a pavement café, watching the world go by
14. you watch informal used to tell someone that you know what will happen:
He’ll win this time, you watch.
⇨ watch somebody like a hawk at ↑hawk¹
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ watch television We watched television all evening.
▪ watch a programme/film/show They were watching a film on TV.
■ adverbs
▪ closely I watched him closely while he was giving his evidence.
▪ carefully She watched very carefully and did exactly as he did.
▪ helplessly He watched helplessly as his son was swept away by the waves.
▪ intently (=with a lot of attention) Her father was watching her intently as she worked.
■ phrases
▪ with interest/amusement etc A small crowd of people were watching them with interest.
▪ in horror/amazement etc He watched in horror as the flames engulfed his house.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ watch to look at someone or something for a period of time and pay attention to what is happening: They were all watching the game. | I watched him get out of his car. | We are watching carefully to see how the situation develops.
▪ keep an eye on somebody/something to watch someone or something carefully so that you are prepared if anything bad happens: The doctors are keeping a careful eye on her. | Can you keep an eye on my bag for me? | Keep an eye on house prices before you decide to sell.
▪ observe to watch someone or something carefully in order to learn more about them: A 24-hour camera is being used to observe the birds’ behaviour. | During your teacher training you will be encouraged to observe lessons.
▪ monitor to watch a situation carefully to see how it changes over a period of time: Class teachers are responsible for monitoring the progress of each student. | Economists are monitoring the situation carefully.
▪ spy on somebody to watch someone secretly in order to find out what they are doing: He hired a private detective to spy on her. | In the 1960s, government agencies were spying on everybody.
■ someone who watches something
▪ spectator someone who watches an event, especially a sports event: There were 4,500 spectators at the game. | a crowd of spectators
▪ viewer someone who watches television: Millions of television viewers listened to the President’s speech. | programmes for younger viewers
▪ audience the people who watch a play or performance, or the people who watch a particular television programme: The audience roared with laughter and clapped. | It attracted a television audience of seven million.
▪ onlooker someone who watches something happening without being involved in it, especially in the street: A man was standing on the roof, watched by a crowd of onlookers below.
▪ observer someone who watches and pays attention to particular situations and events, because they are interested in them, or it is their job: She was a shrewd observer of human nature. | a political observer who writes for The Independent newspaper | The United Nations has sent military observers to the Sudan.
watch (out) for something phrasal verb
to pay close attention in a particular situation because you are expecting something to happen or you want to avoid something bad:
She stepped outside to watch for the cab.
What problems should I watch out for when buying an old house?
watch out phrasal verb informal
used to tell someone to be careful:
You’ll become an alcoholic if you don’t watch out.
watch over somebody phrasal verb
to protect someone so that they are not harmed:
There must have been an angel watching over me that day.

refrigerator

re‧fri‧ge‧ra‧tor S3 /rɪˈfrɪdʒəreɪtə $ -ər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
British English formal or American English a large piece of electrical kitchen equipment, shaped like a cupboard, used for keeping food and drink cool SYN fridge ⇨ freezer

sofa

so‧fa /ˈsəʊfə $ ˈsoʊ-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Arabic; Origin: suffah 'long seat']
a comfortable seat with raised arms and a back, that is wide enough for two or three people to sit on SYN couch, settee British English

table

I. ta‧ble¹ S1 W1 /ˈteɪbəl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin tabula 'board, list']
1. FURNITURE a piece of furniture with a flat top supported by legs:
The food was served on long tables. ⇨ ↑coffee table, ↑dressing table
2. RESTAURANT a table for people to eat at in a restaurant :
I've booked a table for two.
3. SPORT/GAME snooker/billiard/ping-pong etc table a special table for playing a particular indoor sport or game on
4. LIST a list of numbers, facts, or information arranged in rows across and down a page
table of
a table of results
the table of contents
5. on the table an offer, idea etc that is on the table has been officially suggested and someone is considering it:
The offer on the table is a 10% wage increase.
6. turn the tables (on somebody) to change a situation completely, so that someone loses an advantage and you gain one:
The tables were turned in the second half, when Leeds United scored from the penalty spot.
7. under the table informal money that is paid under the table is paid secretly and illegally:
Payments were made under the table to local officials.
8. MATHS times table a list that young children learn, in which all the numbers between 1 and 12 are multiplied by each other SYN multiplication table
three/four etc times table
He’s 12 years old and still doesn’t know his three times table.
9. GROUP the group of people sitting around a table:
His stories kept the whole table amused.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ set/lay the table (=put knives, forks etc on a table before a meal) The table was set for fourteen.
▪ clear the table (=take plates etc off) Do you want me to clear the table?
▪ sit at a table He was sitting at a corner table.
▪ sit around a table We sat around the table and talked.
▪ get up from/leave the table She stood up from her chair and left the table.
▪ book/reserve a table (=in a restaurant) I've booked a table for four at a local restaurant.
■ NOUN + table
▪ dinner/breakfast table Will you clear the breakfast table?
▪ bedside/kitchen/dining-room table They were chatting around the kitchen table.

bath

I. bath¹ S2 W3 /bɑːθ $ bæθ/ BrE AmE noun (plural baths /bɑːðz, bɑːθs $ bæðz, bæθs/) [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: bæth]
1. if you take a bath, you wash your body in a bath:
After a week of camping, I really needed a bath.
have a bath British English take a bath American English:
I’ll have a bath and go to bed.
How often do you take a bath?
I’ll give the children their bath (=wash them in a bath).
2. British English a large long container that you fill with water and sit or lie in to wash yourself SYN bathtub American English
3. water that you sit or lie in to wash yourself:
a hot bath
She ran a bath (=put water into a bath).
4. a bathroom, used especially in advertising:
All our luxury bedrooms have a private bath.
5. a container full of liquid in which something is placed for a particular purpose
bath of
Plunge the fabric into a bath of black dye.
6. baths [plural]
a) British English old-fashioned a public building in which there is a swimming pool
b) a public building where people could go in the past to wash themselves:
the Roman baths at Cirencester
7. take a bath American English informal to lose money, especially in a business deal:
We took a bath in the market over that stock.
⇨ ↑birdbath, ↑bubble bath, ⇨ throw the baby out with the bath water at ↑throw¹(37)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a bath especially British English, take a bath especially American English She usually has a bath in the evening.
▪ give somebody a bath He's upstairs giving the baby a bath.
▪ get in/into/out of the bath I had to get out of the bath to answer the phone.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + bath
▪ a quick bath It's easier to take a shower than a quick bath.
▪ a long bath A long hot bath is a great way of relaxing.
▪ a hot/warm/cool bath Why don't you have a nice warm bath?
▪ a bubble bath (=with nice-smelling bubbles in it) She likes to destress by taking a bubble bath.
■ bath + NOUN
▪ bath time (=the time when someone, usually a child, has a bath) Come on, Lucy, it's bath time.
▪ bath taps British English The water coming out of the bath taps was freezing cold.
▪ a bath towel She handed him a soft white bath towel.
▪ a bath mat (=small rug on the floor by the bath) The bath mat was soaking wet.
▪ bath water The bath water is getting cold.
▪ bath salts/crystals (=a substance that you put in a bath to make it smell nice) She bought me some lavender bath salts.
▪ bath toy (=for a child to play with in the bath) Bath toys are great for babies who've just learned to sit.

shower

I. show‧er¹ S2 /ˈʃaʊə $ ʃaʊr/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: scur]
1. FOR WASHING IN a piece of equipment that you stand under to wash your whole body:
Why does the phone always ring when I’m in the shower?
I’d like to use the shower if that’s all right.
The bathroom has a separate shower cubicle (=a shower in a separate part of the room).
2. ACT OF WASHING an act of washing your body while standing under a shower:
I need a shower.
take a shower
Nick rolled out of bed and took a shower.
have a shower especially British English:
Mary loves having a hot shower after she’s been swimming.
3. RAIN a short period of rain or snow:
More heavy showers are forecast for tonight.
a shower of rain
a snow shower
A few wintry showers are likely.
4. LOTS OF THINGS a lot of small light things falling or going through the air together
shower of
Peter kicked the fire and sent up a shower of sparks.
A shower of leaves fell towards the ground.
5. PARTY American English a party at which presents are given to a woman who is going to get married or have a baby:
We gave a shower for Beth.
a baby shower
6. PEOPLE [usually singular] British English informal a group of stupid or lazy people
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rain noun [uncountable] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: The rain has stopped at last. | There had been heavy rain during the night.
▪ drizzle noun [uncountable] light rain with very small drops of water: A light drizzle was falling as I left the house.
▪ shower noun [countable] a short period of rain that can be heavy or light: More heavy showers are forecast for tonight. | a light shower of rain
▪ downpour noun [countable usually singular] a short period of very heavy rain that starts suddenly: A sudden downpour sent us running for shelter. | a torrential downpour
▪ hail noun [uncountable] frozen rain that falls in the form of ↑hailstones (=small balls of ice): The hail and high winds have destroyed many of the county’s crops.
▪ sleet noun [uncountable] a mixture of snow and rain: The rain had turned to sleet | Sleet and snow fell.
▪ the rains noun [plural] heavy rain that falls during a particular period in the year in tropical countries: The farmers are waiting for the rains to come.
▪ monsoon noun [countable ] the heavy rain that falls between April and October in India and other southern Asian countries: The monsoon is late this year. | the monsoon season

life

life S1 W1 /laɪf/ BrE AmE noun (plural lives /laɪvz/)
[Word Family: noun: life, lifelessness, lifer; adjective: lifeless, lifelike, lifelong; adverb: lifelessly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: lif]
1. TIME SOMEBODY IS ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the period of time when someone is alive:
Learning goes on throughout life.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
in sb’s life
For the first time in my life I was happy.
I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life!
I’ve known John all my life (=since I was born).
His main aim in life was to have fun.
It was one of the best days of my life.
The accident scarred him for life (=for the rest of his life).
She knew she’d feel guilty for the rest of her life.
Raj spent his life caring for others.
Bonington spent his entire adult life in France.
We don’t know much about the poet’s early life (=when he was young).
Poor diet can lead to a whole range of diseases in later life (=when you are older).
She married late in life (=when she was fairly old).
He’s a life member (=continuing until he dies) of the club.
2. STATE OF BEING ALIVE [uncountable and countable] the state of being alive:
The right to life is the most basic of human rights.
Danny was a cheerful little boy who loved life.
Two firefighters risked their lives to save the children.
3. WAY SOMEBODY LIVES [countable usually singular] the way you live your life, and what you do and experience during it
lead/live/have a ... life
The operation should enable Bobby to lead a normal life.
She just wanted to live a quiet life.
Having a baby changes your life completely.
The family moved to Australia to start a new life.
Ken’s whole life revolved around surfing (=that was the main interest and purpose of his life).
You shouldn’t let your boyfriend rule your life (=control and affect everything you do).
My grandmother had a hard life (=a life full of problems).
She’s led a very sheltered life (=a life in which you have been protected from unpleasant things).
a life of crime/poverty/misery etc
He had been drawn into a life of crime.
4. PARTICULAR SITUATION/JOB [uncountable and countable]
a) the experiences, activities, and ways of living that are typical of being in a particular job, situation, society etc:
Why do so few women enter political life?
the British way of life
city/country/village etc life
Noise has become one of the main pollutants of modern city life.
army/student/college etc life
He missed the routine of army life.
Are you enjoying married life?
b) the time in your life when you are doing a particular job, are in a particular situation etc
sb’s life as something
Now a celebrity chef, he rarely talks about his life as an army cook.
Sara admits to having affairs throughout her married life.
Most of his working life was spent in the shipyards.
5. social/personal/sex etc life the activities in your life relating to your friends, your family, sex etc:
I don’t need advice about my love life.
traditional views of family life
Children need a caring and happy home life.
6. HUMAN EXISTENCE [uncountable] human existence, considered as a variety of experiences and activities:
My Aunt Julia had very little experience of life.
Life has a way of changing the best of plans.
For some people, religion gives life a meaning.
daily/everyday life
the frustrations and disappointments of everyday life
I try to see the funny side of life.
7. TIME WHEN SOMETHING EXISTS/WORKS [countable usually singular]
a) the period of time during which something happens or exists
life of
The issues will not be resolved during the life of the present parliament.
start/begin/come to life as something
The building began life as a monastery.
b) the period of time during which something is still good enough to use
life of
What’s the average life of a passenger aircraft?
Careful use can extend the life of your washing machine. ⇨ ↑shelf life
8. LIVING THINGS [uncountable]
a) the quality of being alive that people, animals, plants etc have and that objects and dead things do not have:
Ben felt her neck for a pulse or any other sign of life.
In the springtime, everything comes to life again.
b) living things, such as people, animals, or plants:
Is there life on other planets?
human/animal/plant/bird etc life
The island is rich in bird life. ⇨ ↑wildlife
9. be sb’s (whole) life to be the most important thing or person to someone:
Music is Laura’s whole life.
10. life and death (also life or death) used for emphasizing that a situation, decision etc is extremely urgent and important, especially because someone is at risk of dying:
Don’t call me unless it’s a matter of life and death.
a life or death decision
A doctor’s job involves life and death situations.
11. GAME [countable] a chance in a game, especially a computer game, in which you can be defeated or do something wrong and can still continue playing:
He’s up to level five and still has three lives left.
12. ACTIVITY [uncountable] activity or movement:
The house was quiet and there was no sign of life.
She was always so cheerful and full of life.
13. INTEREST/EXCITEMENT [uncountable] a quality of being interesting or exciting:
Try to put some life into your writing.
The game really came to life after a magnificent goal from Rooney.
A gifted teacher can really bring literature to life for his or her students.
14. come to life/roar into life/splutter into life etc to suddenly start working:
Finally the car spluttered into life.
15. make life difficult/easier etc to make it difficult, easier etc to do something:
Surely computers are supposed to make life easier, not more complicated!
make life difficult/easier etc for
Why make life difficult for yourself?
16. the life and soul of the party British English, the life of the party American English someone who enjoys social occasions and is fun and exciting to be with
17. life and limb formal your life and physical health – used especially when this is threatened in some way:
She risks life and limb every day in her job as an undercover investigator.
18. get a life! spoken used to tell someone that you think they are boring and should find more exciting things to do:
You guys should just stop moaning and get a life!
19. that’s life (also such is life) spoken used to say that something is disappointing but you have to accept it:
Oh well, that’s life!
20. life’s a bitch spoken not polite used to say that bad things happen in life
21. this is the life spoken used when you are relaxing and doing something you enjoy:
Ah, this is the life! Lying on the beach, sipping cool drinks.
22. the shock/surprise/game etc of sb’s life the biggest shock or surprise, the best game etc that someone has ever had:
I had the surprise of my life when I saw John standing there. ⇨ have the time of your life at ↑time¹(41)
23. how’s life? spoken used to ask someone if they are well, what they have been doing etc:
Hi Bob! How’s life?
How’s life been with you?
24. life goes on spoken used to say that you must continue to live a normal life even when something sad or disappointing has happened:
We both miss him, but life goes on.
25. a life of its own
a) if something has a life of its own, it seems to move or work by itself:
The ball seemed to have acquired a life of its own.
b) if something has a life of its own, it exists and develops without depending on other things:
Slowly but surely, the project is taking on a life of its own.
26. cannot for the life of me spoken used to say that you cannot remember or understand something even when you try hard:
I couldn’t for the life of me remember his name.
27. life’s too short spoken used to say that you should not waste time doing something or worrying about something:
Forget about it. Life’s too short.
life’s too short for
Life’s too short for moping about.
life’s too short to do something
Life’s too short to bear grudges.
28. not on your life spoken used as a reply to a question or suggestion to say that you definitely will not do something:
‘Are you going to go and work for him then?’ ‘Not on your life!’
29. the woman/man/girl etc in your life the woman or man you are married to or are having a relationship with – used especially in advertisements:
This is the ideal gift for the man in your life.
30. PRISON [uncountable] (also life imprisonment) the punishment of being put in prison for the rest of your life
be sentenced to/get/be given life
He was sentenced to life for the murder.
I think she should get life. ⇨ ↑life sentence, ↑lifer
31. ART [uncountable] when you paint, draw etc something you are looking at, especially a person or animal:
She’s taking classes in life drawing. ⇨ ↑still life
32. frighten/scare the life out of somebody informal to make someone feel very frightened:
Don’t do that! You scared the life out of me!
33. there’s life in the old dog yet spoken used to say that although someone or something is old, they are still able to do something – used humorously
34. live/lead/have the life of Riley informal to have a very easy and comfortable life and not have to work hard:
He spends all day lounging by the pool and living the life of Riley.
35. BOOK/FILM [uncountable] the story of someone’s life SYN biography:
Boswell’s ‘Life of Johnson’
36. the next life (also the life to come), life after death the time after death, in which some people believe life continues in another form:
She expects to meet her dead husband in the next life.
⇨ as large as life at large¹(7), ⇨ change of life, ⇨ for dear life at dear³(6), ⇨ double life, ⇨ high life at high¹(22), ⇨ a new lease of life at lease¹(2), ⇨ quality of life at quality¹(5), ⇨ real life at real¹(3), ⇨ real-life, ⇨ true to life at true¹(9), ⇨ walk of life
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ save sb’s life The money you give will save the life of a child.
▪ risk your life He risked his life to help Jews during the Second World War.
▪ lose your life (=die) Hundreds of people lost their lives on the first day of the fighting.
▪ take a/sb’s life (=kill someone) All cultures consider it wrong to take a life for no reason.
▪ take your own life (=kill yourself) He was depressed and decided to take his own life.
▪ claim the life of somebody (=kill someone – used of a thing) The disease claimed the lives of up to a quarter of the population.
▪ cost lives/cost somebody their life (=result in deaths/in someone’s death) That decision may have cost him his life.
▪ give your life/lay down your life (=die in order to save other people, or because of a strong belief) These men gave their lives during the war to keep us free.
▪ endanger the life of somebody They wanted to capture the gunman without endangering the lives of his hostages.
▪ spare sb’s life (=not kill someone, when you could kill them) She begged him to spare the life of her son.
▪ be fighting for your life (=be so ill or injured that you might die) One badly burned man was fighting for his life in hospital.
▪ cling to life (=try to stay alive, even though you are very ill or injured) She clung to life, despite the pain.
■ phrases
▪ owe your life to somebody (=be still alive because of someone’s actions) The victim said he owed his life to the stranger who helped him.
▪ take your life in your hands (=put yourself in a dangerous situation) Just crossing this road is taking your life in your hands.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'the cost of life'. Say the cost of living.
 

toilet

toi‧let S2 /ˈtɔɪlət, ˈtɔɪlɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: toilette 'cloth put around the shoulders while arranging the hair or shaving, toilette, toilet', from toile 'net, cloth', from Latin tela 'something woven']

1. [countable] a large bowl that you sit on to get rid of waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
He flushed the toilet (=pulled the handle so that water ran into the toilet to clean it).
2. [countable] British English a room or building containing a toilet SYN bathroom, restroom American English:
public toilets
3. go to the toilet especially British English to pass waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
Mummy, I need to go to the toilet!
4. [uncountable] old-fashioned the act of washing and dressing yourself:
She finished her toilet.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to the toilet (also use the toilet especially British English) He got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
▪ need the toilet British English (=need to use the toilet) Does anyone need the toilet before we set off?
▪ flush the toilet (=make water go through it to clean it) I heard someone flush the toilet.
■ adjectives
▪ a public toilet especially British English He set off across the square in search of a public toilet.
▪ a disabled toilet British English (=one for disabled people) Is there a disabled toilet?
▪ an outside toilet (=one that is outside a house, not in it) The house was small, with no hot water and an outside toilet.
▪ an indoor toilet Many cottages lacked a bathroom or indoor toilet.
■ toilet + NOUN
▪ toilet facilities Toilet facilities are available at the bus station.
▪ the toilet seat He always left the toilet seat up.
▪ the toilet bowl She was scrubbing the toilet bowl.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'go to toilet'. Say go to the toilet.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ toilet British English a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house or in a public place: He locked himself in the toilet. | the public toilets
▪ bathroom a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house. In British English, bathroom is used especially when you want to be polite. In American English, it is the usual word to use: He asked to use the bathroom.
▪ restroom American English a room in a public place that has one or more toilets in it: She went into the store to use the restroom.
▪ lavatory formal a room with a toilet in it. In American English lavatory is used mainly for toilets in a public building or on a plane. In British English it is used both about public toilets and toilets in people’s houses: public lavatories | He didn’t have time to visit the lavatory.
▪ loo British English informal, john American English informal a room with a toilet in it. Loo is very common in everyday spoken British English: ‘Where’s Chris?’ ‘He’s in the loo.’ | Can I use your loo? | Where’s the john?
▪ bog British English informal a very informal word for a toilet, which is not considered polite: The nearest bog was miles away.
▪ the ladies British English, the ladies’ room American English a public toilet for women: Where’s the ladies? | I need to go to the ladies’ room.
▪ the gents British English, the men’s room American English a public toilet for men: I followed him into the gents. | I’ve got to go to the men’s room. Excuse me.
▪ latrine an outdoor toilet in a camp or military area: The latrines were in a shocking state.
▪ urinal a type of toilet for men that is attached to a wall: He was standing at the urinal.
▪ potty a bowl that babies use as a toilet: Does he need his potty?
▪ commode a chair with a bowl in it, used as a toilet, especially in hospitals and homes for old people: She has to use a commode.
▪ bedpan a container which is used as a toilet, especially in hospitals by people who are too ill or weak to get out of bed: I had to change the bedpans.

desk

desk S2 W2 /desk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Medieval Latin; Origin: desca, from Latin discus 'dish, disk']

1. a piece of furniture like a table, usually with drawers in it, that you sit at to write and work:
Marie was sitting at her desk.
2. a place where you can get information or use a particular service in a hotel, airport etc:
the reception desk
the check-in desk
3. an office that deals with a particular subject, especially in newspapers or television
the news/sports desk
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ tidy How come your desk is always so tidy?
▪ cluttered (=covered with papers, books etc in an untidy way) His desk is so cluttered he can't find anything.
▪ empty (=that no one is using) There are one or two empty desks in the office.
▪ a school desk The children are at their school desks by 8:30 in the morning.
▪ an office desk I got back from holiday to find piles of papers on my office desk.
▪ a writing desk (=that you use for writing letters etc) Under the window was a small writing desk.
▪ a wooden/mahogany/rosewood etc desk He sat at a plain wooden desk.
■ verbs
▪ sit at a desk I don't want to do a job in which I'm sitting at a desk all day.
▪ get up from your desk He got up from his desk to welcome the visitors.
▪ tidy your desk I need to tidy my desk.
▪ clear your desk (=remove all the papers etc from it) It's a good idea to clear your desk regularly.
■ desk + NOUN
▪ a desk job (=working mostly at a desk in an office) He left his desk job to become a gardener.
▪ a desk drawer I think I left my car keys in the desk drawer.
▪ a desk lamp Don't forget to switch off the desk lamp.