A1 (Basic)

four

four /fɔː $ fɔːr/ BrE AmE number, noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: feower]
1. the number 4:
She is married with four children.
They arrived just after four (=four o'clock).
Luke will soon be four (=four years old).
2. on all fours supporting your body with your hands and knees:
He was down on all fours playing with the puppy.
3. in fours in groups of four people or things:
The boxes were stacked in fours. ⇨ ↑foursome
4. [countable] a hit in ↑cricket that scores four ↑runs because it goes over the edge of the playing area
5. [countable] a team of four people who row a racing boat, or the boat that they row
6. the four corners of the Earth/world literary places or countries that are very far away from each other:
People from the four corners of the world have come to Ontario to make it their home.

three

three S1 /θriː/ BrE AmE number
[Language: Old English; Origin: thrie, threo]
1. the number 3:
They’ve won their last three games.
We’d better go. It’s almost three (=three o'clock).
My little sister’s only three (=three years old).
2. in threes in groups of three people or things:
Teachers taking part will be asked to work in threes. ⇨ ↑threesome, ↑third

two

two /tuː/ BrE AmE number
[Language: Old English; Origin: twa]
1. the number 2:
I’ll be away for almost two weeks.
We have to be there by two (=two o'clock).
His family moved to Australia when he was two (=two years old).
2. in twos in groups of two people or things:
I’d like you to line up in twos, please. ⇨ ↑twosome
3. put two and two together to guess the meaning of something you have heard or seen:
I saw him leaving her house and I put two and two together.
4. that makes two of us spoken used to tell someone that you are in the same situation and feel the same way:
‘But I don’t know anything about children!’ ‘Well, that makes two of us.’
5. two can play at that game spoken used to tell someone that they will not have an advantage over you by doing something because you can do it too
6. a year/a week/a moment/an hour etc or two spoken one or a few years, weeks etc
7. two sides of the same coin used to talk about two ways of looking at the same situation
8. two heads are better than one used to say that two people are more likely to solve a problem or think of an idea than one person working alone
9. be in two minds (about something) British English, be of two minds (about something) American English to be unable to decide what to do, or what you think about something:
I was in two minds about whether to go with him.
10. two cents (worth) American English informal your opinion or what you want to say about a subject:
Everyone had to put in their two cents worth.
11. two’s company, three’s a crowd used to say that it is better to leave two people alone to spend time with each other
⇨ don’t care two hoots at ↑hoot¹(5), ⇨ two/three etc of a kind at ↑kind¹(5), ⇨ be two/ten a penny at ↑penny(11), ⇨ in ones and twos at ↑one¹(3), ⇨ it takes two to tango at ↑tango²(2), ⇨ kill two birds with one stone at ↑kill¹(13), ⇨ no two ways about it at ↑way¹(54), ⇨ fall between two stools at ↑fall¹(32)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ pair two things of the same type that you use together. Also used about two people who do something together or who you often see together: a pair of shoes | a pair of socks | Winners will receive a pair of tickets for the show. | The pair were arrested six days after the killing. | They're a funny pair! | The British pair will be playing in the final on Saturday.
▪ a couple (of something) two things of the same type, or a very small number of things: There were a couple of empty seats at the table. | Do you have any stamps? I just need a couple.
▪ couple noun [countable] two people who are married or having a sexual relationship: a married couple | The couple met at university.
▪ twins noun [plural] two children who were born on the same day to the same mother: The twins look very alike. | identical twins
▪ duo noun [countable] two people who perform together or who are often seen together: a comedy duo
▪ duet noun [countable] a piece of music written for two people to play: They played a duet by Brahms.
▪ twice two times adverb: The group meets twice a week. | She sneezed twice.
■ for two people
▪ for two for two people: A table for two, please.
▪ double bed/double room a bed for two people, or a room that has a bed for two people in it: I'd like to book a double room.
▪ twin beds/twin room two separate single beds, or a room with two separate single beds: We asked for a twin room, and they've give us a double room.

one

I. one¹ S1 W1 /wʌn/ BrE AmE number
1. the number 1:
They had one daughter.
one hundred and twenty-one pounds
Come back at one (=one o'clock).
Katie’s almost one (=one year old).
2. one or two a small number of people or things SYN a few:
There are one or two things to sort out before I leave.
one or two of
One or two of us knew him quite well.
3. in ones and twos British English alone or in pairs, rather than in large numbers or groups:
Guests arrived in ones and twos.

sun

I. sun¹ S2 W1 /sʌn/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sunne]
1. the sun/the Sun the large bright object in the sky that gives us light and heat, and around which the Earth moves ⇨ solar:
The sky was blue and the sun was shining.
2. [uncountable] the heat and light that come from the sun ⇨ sunny:
Too much sun is bad for you.
in the sun
We sat in the sun, eating ice cream.
the warmth of the afternoon sun
3. [countable] any star around which ↑planets move
4. everything/anything etc under the sun used to emphasize that you are talking about a large range of things:
You can buy jeans in every colour under the sun.
5. catch the sun British English, get some sun American English if someone catches or gets the sun, they become slightly red or brown because they have been outside in the sun
⇨ make hay while the sun shines at ↑hay(2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ the sun shines When I woke, the sun was shining.
▪ the sun beats down/blazes down (=shines with a lot of light and heat) The sun beats down on us as we work.
▪ the sun comes out (=appears when cloud moves away) The rain stopped and the sun came out.
▪ the sun rises/comes up (=appears at the beginning of the day) As the sun rises, the birds take flight.
▪ the sun sets/goes down (=disappears at the end of the day) It is a good place to sit and watch the sun go down.
▪ the sun sinks (=gradually disappears at the end of the day) The sun sank lower and the breeze grew cool.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + sun
▪ the hot/warm sun The hot sun beat down on the men working.
▪ the blazing/burning sun Tourists trudge around in the blazing sun.
▪ a bright sun It was a warm day with a bright sun overhead.
▪ the morning/afternoon/evening sun We ate breakfast outside in the gentle morning sun.
▪ the midday/noonday sun They all sought shade from the blazing midday sun.
▪ the rising/setting sun (=the sun as it appears/disappears) The fields were ablaze with light from the setting sun.
■ phrases
▪ the sun is high/low in the sky They walked until the sun was low in the sky.
■ nouns
▪ the sun’s rays This moisturiser will also protect skin from the sun’s rays.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ in the sky
▪ star a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.
▪ planet one of the large objects that goes around the sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars: The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.
▪ sun the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe: The sun came out from behind a cloud. | a dying sun
▪ moon the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet: The moon rose in the night sky. | Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.
▪ asteroid a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars: the asteroid belt
▪ pulsar a type of star that is far away in space and produces ↑radiation and RADIO WAVES
▪ quasar an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightly
▪ supernova a very large exploding star
▪ constellation a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name: The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.
▪ galaxy one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe: Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.
▪ the universe all space, including all the stars and planets: How many planets in the universe have life?
II. sun² BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle sunned, present participle sunning)
sun yourself to sit or lie outside when the sun is shining ⇨ sunbathe:
The beaches were full of families sunning themselves.

leave

I. leave¹ S1 W1 /liːv/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle left /left/)
[Language: Old English; Origin: læfan]
1. GO AWAY [intransitive and transitive] to go away from a place or a person:
My baby gets upset when I leave the room.
Before leaving the train, make sure you have all your belongings with you.
Leave the motorway at Junction 7.
leave at
The plane leaves at 12.30.
leave for
I tried calling him, but he’d already left for work.
leave (something/somebody) soon/now/later etc
If he left immediately, he’d catch the 7.30 train.
leave (something/somebody) to do something
Frances left work early to meet her mother.
leave somebody doing something
Never leave children playing near water unattended.
leave somebody to something
I’ll leave you to it (=go away and let you continue with what you are doing).
My youngest boy has not left my side (=has stayed near me) since his daddy was killed.
leave somebody in peace (=go away from someone so that they can think, work etc alone)
Just a few more questions, then we’ll leave you in peace.
2. STOP [intransitive and transitive] if you leave your job, home, school etc, you permanently stop doing that job, living at home etc:
Over the past two years, 20 staffers have left.
leave home/school/college etc
How old were you when you left home (=your parents’ home)?
My daughter got a job after she left school.
The lawsuit will be postponed until the president leaves office.
leave a job/country/Spain etc
Many missionaries were forced to leave the country.
It seems that Tony has left the band for good (=permanently).
leave (somebody/something) to do something
Laura left her native England to live in France.
3. leave somebody/something alone
a) to stop annoying or upsetting someone:
Oh, just leave me alone, will you?
Leave the boy alone, he can make up his own mind.
b) to go away from someone so that they are on their own:
Six-year-old Gemma had been left alone in the house.
c) to stop touching something:
Leave that alone. You’ll break it.
d) (also leave well (enough) alone) to stop being involved in or trying to change a situation:
Why can’t they just leave well alone and let us concentrate on teaching?
4. LET SOMETHING/SOMEBODY STAY [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make or allow something or someone to stay in a place when you go away
leave something/somebody in/with/behind etc
Are you leaving the kids with Grandma on Saturday?
As soon as I’d shut the door, I realized I’d left the keys inside.
Did anybody leave a jacket behind last night?
She left her son in the care of a friend.
leave somebody to do something
He left Ruth to find her own way home.
Students were left to their own devices (=left alone and allowed to do whatever they wanted) for long periods.
leave somebody for dead
The girl had been attacked and left for dead.
5. NOT CHANGE/MOVE SOMETHING [transitive] to let something remain in a particular state, position, or condition
leave something on/off/out etc
You’ve left your lights on.
She must have left the phone off the hook.
leave something open/empty/untidy etc
I wish you’d stop leaving the door open.
The trial left many questions unanswered.
leave a space/gap etc
Leave the next two lines blank for the tutor’s comments.
Drivers should always leave room for cyclists.
leave something doing something
I’ll just leave the engine running while I go in.
Don’t leave tools lying about.
leave something to do something
Leave the pots to soak overnight.
6. RESULT OF ACCIDENT/ILLNESS/EVENT [transitive] if an event, accident, illness etc leaves you in a particular condition, you are in that condition because of it:
An explosion at a chemical plant has left one worker dead and four injured.
leave somebody with something
Although the infection cleared up, he was left with a persistent cough.
leave somebody doing something
The incident left her feeling confused and hurt.
The announcement has left shareholders nursing huge losses.
7. be left (also have something left) if something is left, it remains after everything else has gone, been taken away, or used:
I’ve only got a few dollars left.
There were a couple of seats left at the back.
We don’t have much time left.
He pointed to what was left of the house (=used when very little is left).
All that was left was a pile of bones.
be left over
After we’ve paid the bills, there’s never much left over.
They ate some bread rolls left over from the night before.
8. LETTER/MESSAGE/THING [transitive] to deliver a message, note, package etc for someone or put it somewhere so that they will get it later:
She left a message on his answerphone.
leave somebody something
Can you leave me some money for the bus?
leave something with somebody
Ian left this note with me.
leave something for somebody
A guy left these flowers for you.
9. DELAY [transitive] to not do something or to do it later than you intended:
Leave the dishes. I’ll do them later.
So much had been left undone.
leave something until the last minute/until last
If you leave your preparation until the last minute, you’ll reduce your chances of passing.
I left the best bit until last.
I want to think about it. Can I leave it for now?
I’m afraid you’ve left it too late to change your ticket.
leave it at that (=used to say that you will not do any more of something, because you have done enough)
Let’s leave it at that for today.
10. LET SOMEBODY DECIDE/BE RESPONSIBLE [transitive] to let someone else decide something or be responsible for something
leave something to somebody
Leave it to me. I’ll make sure it gets posted.
The choice of specialist subject is left entirely to the students.
leave it (up) to somebody to do something
I’ll leave it up to you to decide.
She leaves it to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
leave doing something to somebody
Is it okay if I leave writing the results to you?
leave something with somebody
Leave it with me, I’ll fix it for you.
He’s not the sort to leave things to chance (=take no action and just wait to see what happens).
leave somebody with no choice/option (=force someone to take a particular action)
You leave me with no choice but to fire you.
leave somebody to do something British English:
Clive moved to London, leaving Edward to run the Manchester office.
11. HUSBAND/WIFE ETC [intransitive and transitive] to stop living with or having a relationship with your husband, partner etc:
Martha was always threatening to leave, but I never believed her.
leave somebody for somebody
Mr Rushworth left his partner of 10 years for a younger woman.
12. WHEN YOU DIE [transitive]
a) to arrange for someone to receive your money, property etc after you die SYN bequeath:
Aunt Alice died, leaving almost $5 million.
leave somebody something
Hugo left me his mother’s ring.
In his will, he had left all his children a small sum of money.
leave something to somebody/something
Have you thought of leaving a gift to charity after you die?
b) leave a wife/children etc used when someone dies before their wife, children etc:
PC Davis leaves a wife and three small children.
13. MARK [transitive] to make a mark that remains afterwards
leave a mark/stain/scar etc
The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth.
He staggered to the door, leaving a trail of blood.
Make sure that you don’t leave any footprints.
14. NOT EAT/DRINK [transitive] if you leave food or drink that you have been given, you do not eat or drink it:
‘I’m really hungry now.’ ‘That’s because you left half your lunch.’
He rose from the table, leaving his brandy untouched.
15. leave somebody/something standing (also leave somebody/something in the dust American English) informal to be much better, quicker, more successful etc than someone or something else:
In terms of fitness, he discovered that Kate left him standing.
16. leave a lot/something/much to be desired to be very unsatisfactory:
Inspectors say health and safety procedures at the factory leave a lot to be desired.
17. MATHEMATICS [transitive] in a sum, to have a particular amount remaining:
Three from seven leaves four.
18. leave something aside/to one side to not think about or consider one part of something for a time, so that you can consider another part of it:
Leaving aside for a moment the question of expense, what would your view be of the suggested changes?
19. leave somebody/something be old-fashioned to not upset, speak to, or annoy someone or to not touch something
20. leave go/hold of something British English spoken informal to stop holding something
21. leave it to somebody (to do something) American English spoken informal used to say that no one should be surprised that someone does something, because it is typical or expected of them:
Leave it to you to have the whole day planned out!
22. Elvis/somebody/something has left the building especially American English informal used humorously to emphasize that something is definitely over or that someone has gone and will not return
⇨ somebody can take it or leave it at ↑take¹(21), ⇨ be left holding the baby/bag at ↑hold¹(26)
• • •
THESAURUS
■ to leave a place
▪ leave: Just as I was leaving the house, the phone rang. | We left early to avoid the traffic.
▪ go especially spoken to leave somewhere: Come on, boys, it’s time to go. | When does the next bus go?
▪ set off especially British English to leave somewhere and begin a journey: The following day we set off for Vienna.
▪ take off if a plane takes off, it leaves the ground at the beginning of a flight: Our plane took off late because of the fog.
▪ emigrate to leave your own country in order to live permanently in another country: In 2002, his family emigrated to New Zealand.
▪ depart formal to leave – used especially about trains, buses, planes etc: Coaches depart for the airport every 30 minutes.
■ to leave school/college etc
▪ leave especially British English to finish studying at school or college, usually at the age or time when people normally finish: When James left school, he worked for a while with his father. | She found it hard to get a job after leaving university.
▪ graduate to successfully finish your studies at a college or university, or at an American high school: Kelly graduated from Harvard with a degree in East Asian Studies. | Approximately 80% of Americans graduate from high school.
▪ drop out to leave school, college, or university before your course of study has finished, because you do not want to continue with it: I failed my first year exams and decided to drop out and get a job.
▪ quit American English to leave school without finishing your course of study: He quit school at fourteen to work and help support his family.
■ leave your job
▪ leave: I left my last job because the salary was so low. | Why don’t you just leave?
▪ quit to leave your job permanently because you are not happy with it: After enduring months of harassment, Mrs Collins decided to quit her job. | I’ve told them I’m quitting.
▪ resign to officially announce that you have decided to leave your job: The company director was forced to resign over the scandal.
▪ hand in your notice/resignation to write an official letter to your employer saying that you are going to leave your job on a particular date: You have to hand in your notice at least four weeks before you leave.
▪ retire to leave your job in order to stop working permanently, usually because you have reached the age when most people stop working: After forty years of working for the bank, Karl retired in May. | He had to retire because of ill health.
leave somebody/something ↔ behind phrasal verb
1. to not take someone or something with you when you leave a place:
I think I might have left my wallet behind.
He departed for Washington, leaving the children behind with their mother.
2. if a person, country, or organization is left behind, they do not develop as quickly or make as much progress as other people, countries etc:
In class, a child with poor eyesight can soon get left behind.
a fear of being left behind by better-organized rivals
3. (also leave somebody/something behind you) to permanently stop being involved with a person, place or situation:
It’s time to leave the past behind.
Although Armstrong overcame the circumstances of his birth, he never really left New Orleans behind.
4. (also leave somebody/something behind you) to move away from someone or something:
They had left the city behind and were heading into open country.
Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind.
5. (also leave something behind you) to produce a thing or situation that remains after you have gone:
He drove off, leaving behind him a trail of blue smoke.
the mess the previous government left behind
leave off phrasal verb
1. to stop doing something
take up/pick up/continue (something) etc where somebody left off (=continue something that has stopped for a short time)
Barry took up the story where Justine had left off.
leave off doing something British English informal:
‘Will you leave off nagging?’ he snarled.
2. leave somebody/something off (something) to not include something such as someone’s name in a list or other document:
Why was her name left off the list?
leave somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb
1. to not include someone or something:
She outlined the case to him, being careful not to leave anything out.
leave somebody/something out of something
Kidd has been left out of the team.
2. be/feel left out to feel that you are not accepted or welcome in a situation:
New fathers often feel left out when baby arrives.
3. leave it out! British English spoken used to tell someone to stop lying, pretending, or being annoying

best

I. best¹ S1 W1 /best/ BrE AmE adjective [superlative of good]
[Language: Old English; Origin: betst]
1. better than anything else or anyone else in quality, skill, how effective it is etc:
He won the best actor award.
What’s the best way to cook this fish?
The best thing to do is to stop worrying.
it’s best to do something
It’s best to go later in the season.
easily the best/by far the best (=much better than anything else)
John’s idea is by far the best option.
Our pilots are given the best possible training.
We use only the very best ingredients.
2. best friend the friend that you know and like better than anyone else:
She was my best friend in college.
3. best dress/shoes/clothes etc clothing that you keep for special occasions:
I put on my best suit for the wedding.
4. the next best thing something that is not exactly what you want but is as similar to it as possible:
If sterile equipment isn’t available, the next best thing is to clean equipment with disinfectant.
5. best of all used to introduce the fact about a situation that is even better than the other good things:
It’s clean and well-located, but best of all, it’s affordable.
6. best before British English written on food packets with the date that the food should be eaten before:
Best before 13 July.
a best-before date
⇨ be on your best behaviour at ↑behaviour(2), ⇨ your best bet at ↑bet²(2), ⇨ the best/better part of at ↑part¹(6)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ the very best He’s one of the very best players around.
▪ easily the best The series was easily the best TV drama this year.
▪ by far the best One girl stood out as by far the best singer.
■ adjectives
▪ the best possible We sold the house at the best possible time.
▪ the best available The tuition we offer here is the best available.
■ nouns
▪ the best way to do/of doing something The best way to learn a language is to live in a country where it is spoken.
▪ the best thing to do The best thing to do is to apologize immediately.
▪ the best way forward (=the best way to make progress or deal with a problem) We believe that a merger is the best way forward for the business.
▪ make the best use of something Making the best use of space is important in any room.

language

lan‧guage S1 W1 /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: langue 'tongue, language', from Latin lingua]
1. ENGLISH/FRENCH/ARABIC ETC [uncountable and countable] a system of communication by written or spoken words, which is used by the people of a particular country or area:
How many languages do you speak?
one of the best-known poems in the English language
2. COMMUNICATION [uncountable] the use of written or spoken words to communicate:
the origins of language
3. STYLE/TYPE OF WORDS [uncountable] a particular style or type of words
legal/medical/technical etc language
The letter was written in complicated legal language.
spoken/written language
The expression is mainly used in written language.
ordinary/everyday language
He is able to explain complicated ideas in simple everyday language.
literary/poetic language
The plays are full of old-fashioned poetic language.
language of
the language of science
4. SWEARING [uncountable] informal words that most people think are offensive
mind/watch your language spoken (=stop swearing)
bad/foul/abusive language
5. strong language
a) angry words used to tell people exactly what you mean
b) words that most people think are offensive SYN swearing
6. COMPUTERS [uncountable and countable] technical a system of instructions for operating a computer:
a programming language for the web
7. SIGNS/ACTIONS/SOUNDS [uncountable and countable] signs, movements, or sounds that express ideas or feelings
language of
the language of bees
the language of dolphins
⇨ ↑body language, ↑sign language, ⇨ speak the same language at ↑speak(11)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ speak a language Can you speak a foreign language?
▪ use a language The children use their native language at home.
▪ learn a language Immigrants are expected to learn the language of their new country.
▪ master a language (=succeed in learning a language well) She had had a long struggle to master the Russian language.
▪ know a language He had lived in Japan, but did not know the language.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + language
▪ a foreign language He found learning a foreign language extremely difficult.
▪ the English/Japanese/Spanish etc language She had some knowledge of the Spanish language.
▪ sb’s first/native language (=the language someone first learned as a child) His first language was Polish.
▪ a second language (=a language you speak that is not your first language) Most of the students learned English as their second language.
▪ modern languages (=languages that are spoken now) The school has a good modern languages department.
▪ a dead language (=a language that is no longer spoken) She didn’t see the point of learning a dead language.
▪ an official language (=the language used for official business in a country) Canada has two official languages: English and French.
▪ a common language (=a language that more than one person or group speaks, so that they can understand each other) Most of the countries of South America share a common language: Spanish.
■ language + NOUN
▪ the language barrier (=the problem of communicating with someone when you do not speak the same language) Because of the language barrier, it was hard for doctors to give good advice to patients.
▪ a language student/learner Language learners often have problems with tenses.
▪ a language teacher a book for language teachers
▪ language teaching recent developments in language teaching
■ phrases
▪ sb’s command of a language (=someone’s ability to speak a language) Does he have a good command of the language?
• • •
THESAURUS
■ different kinds of language
▪ dialect a form of a language that is spoken in one area of a country, with different words, grammar, or pronunciation from other areas: Cantonese is only one of many Chinese dialects. | the local dialect
▪ accent the way that someone pronounces words, because of where they were born or live, or their social class: Karen has a strong New Jersey accent. | an upper class accent
▪ slang very informal spoken language, used especially by people who belong to a particular group, for example young people or criminals: Teenage slang changes all the time. | ‘Dosh’ is slang for ‘money’.
▪ terminology formal the technical words or expressions that are used in a particular subject: musical terminology | Patients are often unfamiliar with medical terminology.
▪ jargon especially disapproving words and phrases used in a particular profession or subject and which are difficult for other people to understand: The instructions were written in complicated technical jargon. | ‘Outsourcing’ is business jargon for sending work to people outside a company to do. | The letter was full of legal jargon.
■ techniques used in language
▪ metaphor a way of describing something by referring to it as something different and suggesting that it has similar qualities to that thing: The beehive is a metaphor for human society.
▪ simile an expression that describes something by comparing it with something else, using the words as or like, for example ‘as white as snow’: The poet uses the simile ‘soft like clay’.
▪ irony the use of words that are the opposite of what you really mean, often in order to be amusing: ‘I’m so happy to hear that,’ he said, with more than a trace of irony in his voice.
▪ bathos a sudden change from a subject that is beautiful, moral, or serious to something that is ordinary, silly, or not important: The play is too sentimental and full of bathos.
▪ hyperbole a way of describing something by saying that it is much bigger, smaller, worse etc than it actually is – used especially to excite people’s feelings: In his speeches, he used a lot of hyperbole. | journalistic hyperbole
▪ alliteration the use of several words together that all begin with the same sound, in order to make a special effect, especially in poetry: the alliteration of the ‘s’ sound in ‘sweet birds sang softly’
▪ imagery the use of words to describe ideas or actions in a way that makes the reader connect the ideas with pictures in their mind: the use of water imagery in Fitzgerald’s novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ | She uses the imagery of a bird’s song to represent eternal hope.
▪ rhetorical question a question that you ask as a way of making a statement, without expecting an answer: When he said ‘how can these attitudes still exist in a civilized society?’, he was asking a rhetorical question.

Brazilian

I. Bra‧zil‧i‧an¹ /brəˈzɪliən/ BrE AmE adjective
relating to Brazil or its people

run

I. run¹ S1 W1 /rʌn/ BrE AmE verb (past tense ran /ræn/, past participle run, present participle running)
[Word Family: noun: ↑run, ↑rerun, ↑runner, ↑running, ↑overrun; verb: ↑run, ↑outrun, ↑overrun, ↑rerun; adjective: ↑running, ↑runny; adverb: ↑running]
[Language: Old English; Origin: rinnan]
1. MOVE QUICKLY USING YOUR LEGS
a) [intransitive] to move very quickly, by moving your legs more quickly than when you walk
run down/up/to/towards etc
I ran down the stairs as fast as I could.
He was running towards the door.
She turned and ran away.
The boys ran off into the crowd.
run to do something
Several people ran to help her when she fell.
The children came running out of the house.
Women ran screaming, with children in their arms.
Jane struggled free and ran for her life (=ran in order to avoid being killed).
Hurry! Run for it (=run as quickly as possible in order to escape)!
He picked up the child and ran like hell (=ran very quickly, especially in order to escape). not polite
b) [transitive] to run a particular distance:
Firefighters are to run 500km to raise money for a children’s charity.
He ran the length of the corridor.
2. RACE
a) [intransitive and transitive] to run in a race:
I’d never run a marathon before.
run in
Murray has said she will consider running in the 3000 metres.
b) [transitive usually passive] if a race is run at a particular time or in a particular place, it happens at that time or in that place:
The Derby will be run at 3 o'clock.
3. ORGANIZE/BE IN CHARGE OF [transitive] to organize or be in charge of an activity, business, organization, or country:
For a while, she ran a restaurant in Boston.
Many people don’t care who runs the country.
Courses are currently being run in London and Edinburgh.
Many people belong to a pension scheme run by their employers.
well/badly run
The hotel is well-run and extremely popular.
a state-run (=controlled by the government) television station
4. DO SOMETHING/GO SOMEWHERE QUICKLY [intransitive] to do something or go somewhere quickly:
Run and ask your mother where she’s put the keys.
run to
I need to run to the store for some more milk.
5. BUSES/TRAINS ETC
a) [intransitive] if a bus, train etc service runs, it takes people from one place to another at fixed times:
The buses don’t run on Sundays.
run to
The number 61 bus runs to the city centre.
b) [transitive] if a company or other organization runs a bus, train etc service, they make it operate:
They’re running special trains to and from the exhibition.
6. COMPUTERS
a) [intransitive] if a computer program runs, it operates
run on
The software will run on any PC.
b) [transitive] if you run a program, you make it operate:
The RS8 system runs both Unix and MPX-32.
7. MACHINE/ENGINE
a) [intransitive] if a machine or engine runs, it operates:
She got out of the car and left the engine running.
run on electricity/gas/petrol etc (=get its power from electricity etc)
Most cars run on unleaded fuel.
run off something (=use something for power)
It runs off batteries.
b) [transitive] if you run a machine or engine, you make it operate:
You shouldn’t keep the engine running when the car is standing still.
I often run the washing machine more than once a day.
8. TAPE
a) [intransitive usually progressive] if a tape is running, it is recording:
She didn’t realize the tape was running as she spoke.
b) [transitive] if you run a tape, you make it move backwards or forwards:
Run the tape back to the beginning.
9. NEWSPAPER/TELEVISION
a) [transitive] to print something in a newspaper or magazine, or broadcast something on television:
The company is running a series of advertisements in national newspapers.
A local TV station ran her story.
b) [intransitive] if a program runs on television, it is shown. If a story runs in a newspaper or magazine, it is printed:
The series ran for 20 episodes and was extremely popular.
Conan Doyle’s stories ran in ‘The Strand’ magazine.
10. FAST/OUT OF CONTROL [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move too fast or in an uncontrolled way:
Her car ran off the road and into a tree.
The truck ran out of control and hit a house.
11. USE A VEHICLE [transitive] especially British English to own and use a vehicle:
I can’t afford to run a car.
A bicycle is relatively cheap to buy and run.
12. TAKE SOMEBODY IN YOUR CAR [transitive always + adverb/preposition] informal to take someone somewhere in your car SYN drive:
Shall I run you home?
run somebody to something
Let me run you to the station.
13. IN AN ELECTION [intransitive] especially American English to try to be elected in an election SYN stand British English
run for
Salinas is running for a second term as President.
an attempt to encourage more women to run for office
run against
Feinstein will win if she runs against Lungren.
14. SOMETHING LONG [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] if something long such as a road or wire runs in a particular direction, that is its position, or that is where you put it:
The road runs along a valley.
Developers want to run a road right through his farm.
Run the cables under the carpet.
The Sierra mountain range runs the length of the north west coast of Majorca.
15. MOVE SOMETHING ON A SURFACE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move something lightly along a surface:
Charles ran his fingers through her hair.
Run the scanner over the bar codes.
16. FLOW [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to flow in a particular direction or place:
Tears started to run down her cheeks.
Water was running off the roof.
17. TAP [intransitive and transitive] if a ↑tap is running, water is coming out of it, or if you run a tap, you make water come out of it:
Did you leave the tap running?
He ran the tap until the water was really hot.
18. run a bath to fill a bath with water:
I could hear her running a bath upstairs.
run somebody a bath
Could you run me a nice hot bath while I finish my meal?
19. SB’S NOSE [intransitive] if someone’s nose is running, liquid is flowing out of it
20. OFFICIAL PAPERS [intransitive] if something runs for a particular length of time, it can officially be used for that time:
The contract runs for a year.
My car insurance only has another month to run.
21. PLAY/FILM [intransitive] to continue being performed regularly in one place:
The play ran for two years.
22. HAPPEN [intransitive] to happen in a particular way or at a particular time:
Andy kept things running smoothly (=happening in the way they should) while I was away.
He was given a further three month prison sentence to run concurrently.
The course runs over a three year period.
23. AMOUNT/PRICE [intransitive] to be at a particular level, amount, or price
run at
Inflation was running at 5%.
run to
The cost of repairing the damage could run to $5000.
24. STORY/ACCOUNT ETC [intransitive and transitive] if a story, discussion etc runs in a particular way, it has those particular words or events:
The story runs that someone offered Lynch a further $500.
‘President’s marriage really over’ ran the headline in a national newspaper.
25. run its course if something runs its course, it continues in the way you expect until it has finished:
Recession in the country has run its course and left an aftermath of uncertainty.
26. something will run and run British English if a subject, discussion, event etc will run and run, people will continue to be interested in it for a long time:
This is a story that will run and run.
27. THOUGHTS/FEELINGS [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a feeling runs through you, or a thought runs through your mind, you feel it or think it quickly
run through/down
A feeling of excitement ran through her body as they touched.
The same thought kept running through his mind.
A cold shiver ran down my back.
I felt a sharp pain run down my leg.
28. run high if feelings run high, people are very angry, upset, excited etc:
Tension ran high and fights broke out among the crowd.
Feelings have been running high in the town, following the murder of a young girl.
29. run sb’s life informal to keep telling someone what they should do all the time, in a way that annoys them:
Don’t try to run my life!
30. run for cover
a) to run towards a place where you will be safe, especially to avoid bullets:
He was shot in the leg as he ran for cover.
b) to try to protect yourself from a bad situation or from being criticized:
His success at backing winning horses has had the bookmakers running for cover.
31. COLOUR IN CLOTHES [intransitive] if colour runs, it spreads from one piece of clothing or one area of cloth to another when the clothes are wet:
The T-shirt ran and made all my other clothes pink.
32. PAINT/INK [intransitive] if paint runs, it moves onto an area where you did not intend it to go
33. run a check/test/experiment etc to arrange for someone or something to be checked or tested
run a check/test/experiment etc on
Ask your doctor to run a test on your blood sugar levels.
34. HOLE IN CLOTHES [intransitive] if a hole in ↑tights or ↑stockings runs, it gets bigger in a straight line
35. run drugs/guns to bring drugs or guns into a country illegally in order to sell them ⇨ ↑drug runner, ↑gun-running
36. run in the family if something such as a quality, disease, or skill runs in the family, many people in that family have it:
Diabetes appears to run in families.
37. run a temperature/fever to have a body temperature that is higher than normal, because you are ill
38. run a mile informal to try very hard to avoid a particular situation or person because you do not want to deal with them:
If someone asked me to marry them, I’d probably run a mile.
39. run late/early/on time to arrive, go somewhere, or do something late, early, or at the right time:
I’m running late, so I’ll talk to you later.
If the train runs on time, we’ll be there by ten.
40. be running scared to feel worried because someone who you are competing against is becoming very successful or powerful:
The party are running scared.
41. come running
a) informal to react in a very eager way when someone asks or tells you to do something:
He thinks he’s only got to look at me and I’ll come running.
b) especially spoken to ask someone for help, advice, or sympathy when you have a problem
come running to
Well I warned you, so don’t come running to me when it all goes wrong!
42. run your eyes over/along etc something to look quickly at something:
He ran his eyes along the books on the shelf.
43. run before you can walk to try to do something difficult before you have learned the basic skills you need:
A lot of language students want to run before they can walk.
44. run a (red) light informal to drive quickly through a red TRAFFIC LIGHT instead of stopping
⇨ ↑running¹, ⇨ cut and run at ↑cut¹(38), ⇨ be/run/go counter to something at ↑counter³, ⇨ run deep at ↑deep²(4), ⇨ run dry at ↑dry¹(4), ⇨ run low at ↑low¹(4), ⇨ run somebody ragged at ↑ragged(5), ⇨ run rings around somebody at ↑ring¹(8), ⇨ run riot at ↑riot¹(2), ⇨ be running short at ↑short²(2), ⇨ run somebody/something to earth at ↑earth¹(14), ⇨ run to fat at ↑fat²(6), ⇨ run somebody/something to ground at ↑ground¹(19), ⇨ run to seed at ↑seed¹(4), ⇨ run wild at ↑wild²(1), ⇨ be up and running at ↑up¹(22)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ run to move very quickly, by moving your legs more quickly than when you walk: My five-year-old son runs everywhere. | I go running twice a week.
▪ jog to run quite slowly for exercise over a long distance: A few people were jogging in the park.
▪ race/dash to run somewhere as quickly as you can, especially because you have to do something urgently: He dashed across the road to the police station. | We raced to the bus stop and got there just in time.
▪ sprint to run as fast as you can for a short distance: I saw the runners sprinting past. | He sprinted up the stairs.
▪ tear to run very quickly and without really looking where you are going, because you are in a hurry: He tore down the street and around the corner.
▪ charge to run quickly and with a lot of energy, so that you might knock down anyone or anything that gets in your way: They all charged out of the school gates at 4 o'clock. | Dennis charged through the door into my office.
▪ take to your heels to start running away very quickly, especially to escape or because you are afraid: The men took to their heels as soon as they saw the police.
▪ leg it British English informal to run away very quickly, in order to escape from someone or something: I legged it before the cops came.
▪ lope especially literary to run easily with long steps – used especially about tall people with long legs: John loped across the street to meet me.
■ animals running
▪ trot to run fairly slowly, taking short steps – used especially about horses and dogs: A little dog was trotting behind her.
▪ gallop if a horse gallops, it runs very quickly: The horse galloped off across the field.
▪ bolt to suddenly run somewhere very fast, especially in order to escape: Suddenly a fox bolted out from beneath a hedge.
run across somebody/something phrasal verb
to meet someone or find something by chance:
I ran across him at a conference in Milan.
I ran across some old love letters while I was clearing out a cupboard.
run after somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to chase someone or something:
He ran after her, calling her name.
2. informal to try to start a sexual relationship with someone:
He’s always running after younger women.
3. spoken to do a lot of things for someone else as though you were their servant:
I can’t keep running after you all day!
run along phrasal verb spoken
used to tell a child to leave, or to tell someone that you must leave:
Run along now! I’ve got work to finish.
Oh, it’s late. I’d better be running along.
run around (also run round British English) phrasal verb
1. to run in an area while you are playing:
The children were running around in the garden.
2. informal to be very busy doing many small jobs:
Maria was running around trying to get the house tidy.
We were all running around like headless chickens (=trying to do a lot of things, in an anxious or disorganized way). ⇨ ↑runaround
run around after somebody phrasal verb informal
to do a lot of things for someone else as though you were their servant:
I’ve spent all day running around after the kids.
run around with somebody phrasal verb informal
to spend a lot of time with someone, especially someone that other people disapprove of:
He started running around with a gang of teenagers.
run away phrasal verb
1. to leave a place, especially secretly, in order to escape from someone or something
run away from
Toby ran away from home at the age of 14. ⇨ ↑runaway²
2. to try to avoid dealing with a problem or difficult situation
run away from
You can’t just run away from your responsibilities.
3. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them:
They ran away together to get married.
run away with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them – usually used to show disapproval:
His wife has run away with another man.
2. run away with you if your feelings, ideas etc run away with you, they start to control how you behave:
Don’t let your imagination run away with you!
3. your tongue runs away with you if your tongue runs away with you, you say something that you did not intend to say
4. run away with the idea/impression (that) spoken to think that something is true when it is not:
Don’t run away with the impression that he doesn’t care.
5. informal to win a competition or sports game very easily:
The Reds ran away with the championship.
run something by/past somebody phrasal verb
1. to tell someone something so that they can give you their opinion:
Let me run some figures by you.
I just wanted to run it past you and see what you thought.
2. run that by me again spoken used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said because you did not completely understand it
run down phrasal verb
1. run somebody/something ↔ down to drive into a person or animal and kill or injure them:
Their daughter was run down by a car.
2. run somebody/something ↔ down informal to criticize someone or something in a way that is unfair:
There’s a lot of good things about homeopathic treatment. I’m certainly not running it down.
3. if a clock, machine, ↑battery etc runs down, it has no more power and stops working
4. to make a company, organization etc gradually reduce in size, especially in order to close it in the future, or to gradually reduce in size
run something ↔ down
Many smaller local hospitals are being run down.
The business had been running down for a long time.
5. if a supply of something runs down, or if you run it down, there gradually becomes less of it:
Crude oil reserves are running down.
run something ↔ down
Electricity generating companies are running down stocks and cutting purchases.
6. run down something to read a list of people or things:
Let me just run down the list of people who’ve been invited.
7. run somebody/something down to find someone or something after searching for a long time:
I finally ran him down at his new office in Glendale. ⇨ ↑rundown, ↑run-down
run somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb British English
1. to drive a new car slowly and carefully for a period of time so you do not damage its engine
2. old-fashioned if the police run a criminal in, they catch him or her
run into somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to start to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation:
He ran into criticism after remarks he made in a television interview.
run into trouble/problems/difficulties
The business ran into financial difficulties almost immediately.
2. run into hundreds/thousands etc to reach an amount of several hundred, several thousand etc:
The cost of repairing the damage could run into millions.
The list ran into hundreds of pages.
3. to hit someone or something with a vehicle SYN crash into:
He ran into the back of another car.
4. informal to meet someone by chance:
Guess who I ran into in town today! ⇨ run yourself into the ground at ↑ground¹(13)
run off phrasal verb
1. to leave a place or person in a way that people disapprove of:
Amy’s husband had run off and left her with two children to bring up.
2. run something ↔ off to quickly print several copies of something:
I’ll run off a few more copies before the meeting.
3. run somebody off something to force someone to leave a place:
Someone tried to run me off the road.
Smith had run them off his property with a rifle.
4. run something ↔ off to write a speech, poem, piece of music etc quickly and easily:
He could run off a five-page essay in an hour.
5. run off at the mouth American English informal to talk too much
6. run something ↔ off to get rid of weight by running:
I’m trying to run off some of my excess fat!
run off with somebody/something phrasal verb informal
1. to secretly go away with someone in order to marry them or live with them – used to show disapproval:
Liz shocked us all by running off with a married man.
2. to steal something and go away:
a con-man who makes a habit of running off with people’s savings
run on phrasal verb
to continue happening for longer than expected or planned:
These things always run on longer than people imagine.
run out phrasal verb
1.
a) to use all of something and not have any more left:
I’ve got money you can borrow if you run out.
run out of
They ran out of money and had to abandon the project.
He’d run out of ideas.
b) if something is running out, there will soon be none left:
We must act now because time is running out.
My patience was running out.
His luck had run out (=there was none left).
2. if an agreement, official document etc runs out, the period for which it is legal or has an effect ends SYN expire:
My contract runs out in September.
3. run out of steam informal (also run out of gas American English) to have no more energy or no longer be interested in what you are doing:
The team seemed to have run out of gas.
4. run somebody out of town old-fashioned to force someone to leave a place, because they have done something wrong
5. run somebody ↔ out to end a player’s ↑innings in the game of ↑cricket by hitting the ↑stumps with the ball while they are running
run out on somebody phrasal verb
to leave someone when they are in a difficult situation – used to show disapproval:
He ran out on her when she became pregnant.
run over phrasal verb
1. run somebody/something ↔ over to hit someone or something with a vehicle, and drive over them:
He was run over and killed by a bus.
She got run over outside the school.
2. run over something to think about something:
Mark’s mind raced, running over all the possibilities.
3. run over something to explain or practise something quickly:
I’ll just run over the main points again.
4. run over (something) to continue happening for longer than planned:
The meeting ran over.
The talks have run over the 15 November deadline.
5. if a container runs over, there is so much liquid inside that some flows out SYN overflow
run something past somebody phrasal verb
to ↑run something ↑by someone
run round phrasal verb British English
to ↑run around
run through phrasal verb
1. run through something to repeat something in order to practise it or make sure it is correct:
Let’s run through the first scene again.
2. run through something to read, look at, or explain something quickly:
Briefly, she ran through details of the morning’s events.
3. run through something if a quality, feature etc runs through something, it is present in all of that thing:
This theme runs through the whole book.
4. run somebody through literary to push a sword completely through someone ⇨ ↑run-through
run to somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to reach a particular amount:
The cost of repairing the damage could run to $1 million.
The treaty ran to 248 pages.
2. [usually in negatives] British English to be or have enough money to pay for something:
Our budget won’t run to replacing all the computers.
3. to ask someone to help or protect you:
You can’t keep running to your parents every time you have a problem.
4. sb’s taste runs to something if someone’s taste runs to something, that is what they like:
His taste ran to action movies and thrillers.
run up something phrasal verb
1. run up a debt/bill etc to use so much of something, or borrow so much money, that you owe a lot of money:
She ran up an enormous phone bill.
2. to achieve a particular score or position in a game or competition:
He quickly ran up a big lead in the polls.
3. run something ↔ up to make something, especially clothes, very quickly:
She can run up a dress in an evening.
4. run something ↔ up to raise a flag on a pole
run up against something/somebody phrasal verb
to have to deal with unexpected problems or a difficult opponent:
The museum has run up against opposition to its proposals.
run with something phrasal verb
to be covered with a liquid that is flowing down:
His face was running with blood.