A2 (Elementary)

sausage

sausage [noun]

a thin, tube-like case containing meat that has been cut into very small pieces and mixed with spices

US /ˈsɑː.sɪdʒ/ 
UK /ˈsɒs.ɪdʒ/ 
Example: 

fried/grilled pork sausages

Oxford Essential Dictionary

sausage

 noun
a mixture of meat, spices, etc. that is pressed into a long, thin skin:
garlic sausage
sausages and chips

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

sausage

sausage S3 /ˈsɒsɪdʒ $ ˈsɒː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Old North French; Origin: saussiche, from Late Latin salsicia, from Latin salsus 'salted']
1. a small tube of skin filled with a mixture of meat, spices etc, eaten hot or cold after it has been cooked:
pork sausages
2. not a sausage! British English old-fashioned informal nothing at all:
‘Have you heard from Tom yet?’ ‘No, not a sausage!’

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sausage

saus·age [sausage sausages]   [ˈsɒsɪdʒ]    [ˈsɔːsɪdʒ]  noun countable, uncountable
a mixture of finely chopped meat, fat, bread, etc. in a long tube of skin, cooked and eaten whole or served cold in thin slices
beef/pork sausages
200g of garlic sausage
see also  liver sausage
Idiom: not a sausage  
Word Origin:

late Middle English: from Old Northern French saussiche, from medieval Latin salsicia, from Latin salsus ‘salted’, past participle of salere ‘to salt’, from sal ‘salt’.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sausage / ˈsɒs.ɪdʒ /   / ˈsɑː.sɪdʒ / noun [ C or U ]

sausage

A2 a thin, tube-like case containing meat that has been cut into very small pieces and mixed with spices:

fried/grilled pork sausages

half a pound of garlic sausage

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sausage

[sɒ̱sɪʤ, AM sɔ͟ːs-]
 sausages
 N-VAR
 A sausage consists of minced meat, usually pork, mixed with other ingredients and is contained in a tube made of skin or a similar material.
  ...sausages and chips.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

sausage

sau·sage /ˈsɑːsɪʤ/ noun, pl -sag·es : spicy ground meat (such as pork) that is usually stuffed into a narrow tube of skin or made into a small flat cake

[noncount]

• Would you like any/some sausage?

[count]

• breakfast sausages
• They bought sausages for the picnic.
not a sausage Brit informal + old-fashioned : nothing
• What did they find? Not a sausage.

grape

grape [noun]

a small round purple or pale green fruit that you can eat or make into wine

US /ɡreɪp/ 
UK /ɡreɪp/ 
Example: 

black/white/red/green grapes

Oxford Essential Dictionary

grape

 noun
a small green or purple fruit that we eat or make into wine:
a bunch of grapes

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

grape

grape /ɡreɪp/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: crape, grape 'hook, bunch of grapes']

one of a number of small round green or purple fruits that grow together on a ↑vine. Grapes are often used for making wine:
a bunch of grapes
grape juice
red seedless grapes ⇨ sour grapes at ↑sour1(5)
• • •
THESAURUS
grape one of a number of small round green or purple fruits that grow together on a ↑vine. Grapes are often used for making wine: I've brought you a bunch of grapes. | Different grape varieties produce wines of widely different character.
vine (also grapevine) a plant that produces grapes: There are 2,000 acres of vines in England, compared with 2.6 million in France. | He left the grapes on the vine as long as possible — sometimes even late into October.
vineyard a piece of land where grapevines are grown in order to produce wine: The wine is from one of Germany's most famous vineyards.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grape

grape [grape grapes]   [ɡreɪp]    [ɡreɪp]  noun

a small green or purple fruit that grows in bunches on a climbing plant (called a vine). Wine is made from grapes
a bunch of grapes
black/white grapes (= grapes that are actually purple/green in colour)
We picked grapes in the south of France last summer.
see sour grapes at  sour  adj.  
Word Origin:
Middle English (also in the Old French sense): from Old French, bunch of grapes, probably from graper ‘gather (grapes)’, from grap ‘hook’ (denoting an implement used in harvesting grapes), of Germanic origin.  
Example Bank:
• The peasants used to tread the grapes in huge vats.

• lovely sweet grapes

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grape / ɡreɪp / noun

grape

A2 [ C ] a small round purple or pale green fruit that you can eat or make into wine:

black/white/red/green grapes

a bunch of grapes

seedless grapes

grape juice

the grape [ S ] humorous

wine

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

grape

[gre͟ɪp]
 grapes
 1) N-COUNT Grapes are small green or dark purple fruit which grow in bunches. Grapes can be eaten raw, used for making wine, or dried.
 2) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, PHR after v If you describe someone's attitude as sour grapes, you mean that they say something is worthless or undesirable because they want it themselves but cannot have it.
  These accusations have been going on for some time now, but it is just sour grapes.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

grape

grape /ˈgreɪp/ noun, pl grapes [count] : a green, dark red, or purplish-black berry that is used to make wine or is eaten as a fruit
• a bunch of seedless grapes
- see color picture
- see also sour grapes

English translation unavailable for main course.

receive

receive [verb] (GET)

to get or be given something

US /rɪˈsiːv/ 
UK /rɪˈsiːv/ 
Example: 

Did you receive my letter?

Oxford Essential Dictionary

receive

 verb (receives, receiving, received ) (formal)

spelling
Remember! When the sound is , there is a spelling rule: I before E, except after C, so you spell receive with EI (not IE).

to get or accept something that somebody has given or sent to you same meaning get:
Did you receive my letter?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

receive

receive S1 W1 /rɪˈsiːv/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑receipt, receipts, ↑receiver, ↑reception, ↑receivership, ↑receiving, ↑receptionist, ↑receptor; adjective: ↑receptive ≠ UNRECEPTIVE, ↑received; verb: ↑receive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old North French; Origin: receivre, from Latin recipere, from capere 'to take']
1. BE GIVEN SOMETHING to be given something SYN get:
All the children will receive a small gift.
receive something from somebody
She received an honorary degree from Harvard.
receive attention/affection/support
She received no support from her parents.
receive payment/money/a pension etc
They will be entitled to receive unemployment benefit.
receive a prize/award/gift etc
He went up to receive his award from the mayor.
receive education/training
16 to 18-year-olds receiving full-time education
Lee received 324 votes (=324 people voted for him).
REGISTER
Receive is a rather formal word, which is used especially in written English. In everyday English, people usually use get.
▪ What did you get for your birthday?
▪ She got a degree from York University.
2. BE SENT SOMETHING formal to get a letter, message, or telephone call, or something which someone has sent you
receive something from somebody
He received a letter from his insurance company.
If you would like to receive further information, return the attached form.
We have received numerous complaints about the noise.
3. TREATMENT formal if you receive a particular type of medical treatment, it is done to you:
He received hospital treatment for a cut over his eye.
4. REACTION TO SOMETHING [usually passive] to react in a particular way to a suggestion, idea, performance etc ⇨ reception:
The film was well received by critics (=they said it was good).
He received the news in silence.
5. be on/at the receiving end (of something) to be the person who is affected by someone else’s actions, usually in an unpleasant way:
She found herself on the receiving end of racist abuse.
6. receive an injury/blow formal to be injured or hit
7. PEOPLE formal to officially accept someone as a guest or member of a group
receive guests/visitors
She isn’t well enough to receive visitors yet.
receive somebody into something
She was later received into the Church.
8. BY RADIO
a) if a radio or television receives radio waves or other signals, it makes them become sounds or pictures
b) to be able to hear a radio message that someone is sending:
Receiving you loud and clear!'

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

receive / rɪˈsiːv / verb [ T ] (GET)

A2 to get or be given something:

Did you receive my letter?

I received a phone call from your mother.

They received a visit from the police.

She died after receiving a blow to the head.

Members of Parliament received a 4.2 percent pay increase this year.

(of a radio or television) to change a signal into sounds and pictures

→  See also reception (RADIO/TELEVISION)

to be able to hear someone's voice when they are communicating with you by radio:

I'm receiving you loud and clear .

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

receive

[rɪsi͟ːv]
 
 receives, receiving, received
 1) VERB When you receive something, you get it after someone gives it to you or sends it to you.
  [V n] They will receive their awards at a ceremony in Stockholm...
  [V n] I received your letter of November 7.
  Syn:
  get
 2) VERB You can use receive to say that certain kinds of thing happen to someone. For example if they are injured, you can say that they received an injury.
  [V n] He received more of the blame than anyone when the plan failed to work...
  [V n] She was suffering from whiplash injuries received in a car crash.
 3) VERB When you receive a visitor or a guest, you greet them.
  [V n] The following evening the duchess was again receiving guests...
  [V n] The shop assistant received me indifferently while leaning on a counter.
 4) VERB: usu passive If you say that something is received in a particular way, you mean that people react to it in that way.
  [be V-ed prep/adv] The resolution had been received with great disappointment within the PLO...
  [be V-ed with adv] The proposals have been well received by many deputies.
 5) VERB When a radio or television receives signals that are being transmitted, it picks them up and converts them into sound or pictures.
  [V n] The reception was a little faint but clear enough for him to receive the signal. [Also V]
 6) VERB If someone receives stolen goods, they buy or are given things that have been stolen [mainly BRIT, LEGAL]
  [V n] He went to prison for receiving stolen scrap iron...
  [V n] He received the shoes when stolen, and then passed them on to the men who would sell them.
  Syn:
  fence(in AM, use handle)
 7) PHRASE If you are on the receiving end or at the receiving end of something unpleasant, you are the person that it happens to.
  You saw hate in their eyes and you were on the receiving end of that hate...
  Bullying can indeed be distressing and frightening for those at the receiving end.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

receive

re·ceive /rɪˈsiːv/ verb -ceives; -ceived; -ceiv·ing
1 [+ obj] : to get or be given (something)
• You will be charged a late fee if the electric company does not receive your payment on time.
• I received a letter/call from her yesterday.
• You will receive a discount if you spend over $100.
• This spring he'll receive [=be awarded] his PhD in physics.
2 [+ obj] : to react to (something) in a specified way
• She received the news of his death with remarkable calmness.
- often used as (be) received
• Her new book was well/poorly received by the critics. [=the critics liked/disliked her new book]
• The results of the study were received with considerable skepticism.
3 [+ obj] formal : to welcome (someone) in usually a formal way
• The ambassador received [=greeted] his guests as they arrived at the party.
4 [+ obj] : to accept (someone) as a member of an organization, church, etc. - + into
• She was received into the church/university.
5 [+ obj]
a : to suffer (an injury)
• He received [=got] a broken nose when he slipped and fell on the ice.
b : to be given (a punishment)
• She received a heavy sentence from the judge.
6 [+ obj] : to experience or take (a medical treatment)
• He receives an injection once a week to treat his allergies.
• Only one of the patients receiving the new treatment is experiencing bad side effects.
• He received a kidney transplant.
7 [+ obj]
a : to get (signals that are sent to a television, radio, etc.)
• We were unable to receive the broadcast.
• A satellite receives the signals and then sends them back to earth.
b : to be able to hear (someone who is talking to you on a radio)
• I'm receiving you loud and clear.
8 American football : to be the player or team to which the ball is kicked when play begins

[no obj]

• They won the coin toss and chose to receive.

[+ obj]

• They chose to receive the kickoff.
9 [+ obj] law : to buy or take (goods that have been stolen) illegally
• He was found guilty of receiving stolen goods.
on/at the receiving end
✦If you are on/at the receiving end of something bad or unpleasant, you are the person it is directed at.
• It's not often that I find myself on the receiving end of such insults.

nature

nature [noun] (LIFE)

all the animals, plants, rocks, etc. in the world and all the features, forces, and processes that happen or exist independently of people, such as the weather, the sea, mountains, the production of young animals or plants, and growth

US /ˈneɪ.tʃɚ/ 
UK /ˈneɪ.tʃər/ 
Example: 

This new technique of artificially growing cells copies what actually happens in nature.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

nature

 noun

1 (no plural) all the plants, animals, etc. in the world and all the things that happen in it that are not made or caused by people:
the beauty of nature

2 (plural natures) the way a person or thing is:
Our cat has a very friendly nature.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

nature

nature S1 W1 /ˈneɪtʃə $ -tʃər/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑nature, ↑naturalist, ↑naturalism, ↑naturalization, ↑naturalness, the supernatural, ↑natural, ↑naturist, ↑naturism; adverb: ↑naturally ≠ ↑unnaturally, ↑naturalistically, ↑supernaturally; adjective: ↑natural ≠ ↑unnatural, ↑supernatural, ↑naturalistic; verb: ↑naturalize]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: French; Origin: Latin natura, from natus; ⇨ ↑nation]
1. PLANTS/ANIMALS ETC [uncountable] (also Nature) everything in the physical world that is not controlled by humans, such as wild plants and animals, earth and rocks, and the weather:
We grew up in the countryside, surrounded by the beauties of nature.
nature conservation
the laws/forces of nature
The inhabitants of the island fight a constant battle against the forces of nature.
in nature
All these materials are found in nature.
Disease is nature’s way of keeping the population down.
2. SB’S CHARACTER [uncountable and countable] someone’s character:
a child with a happy, easy-going nature
sb’s nature
It’s just not in Jane’s nature to lie.
by nature
She was by nature a very affectionate person.
I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn’t agree to help us.
Of course she’s jealous – it’s only human nature (=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have).
3. QUALITIES OF SOMETHING [singular, uncountable] the qualities or features that something has
nature of
They asked a lot of questions about the nature of our democracy.
He examined the nature of the relationship between the two communities.
exact/precise/true nature
The exact nature of the problem is not well understood.
different/political/temporary etc in nature
Any government funding would be temporary in nature.
Capitalist society is by its very nature unstable.
4. TYPE [singular] a particular kind of thing
of a personal/political/difficult etc nature
The support being given is of a practical nature.
of this/that nature
I never trouble myself with questions of that nature.
5. in the nature of things according to the natural way things happen:
In the nature of things, there is bound to be the occasional accident.
6. be in the nature of something formal to be similar to a type of thing:
The enquiry will be more in the nature of a public meeting than a formal hearing.
7. against nature not natural, and morally wrong:
They believe that suicide is against nature.
8. let nature take its course to allow events to happen without doing anything to change the results:
The best cure for a cold is to let nature take its course.
9. back to nature a style of living in which people try to live simply and not use modern machines:
city workers who want to get back to nature in their holidays
be/become second nature (to somebody) at ↑second1(10), ⇨ the call of nature at ↑call2(12)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nature

 

na·ture [nature natures]   [ˈneɪtʃə(r)]    [ˈneɪtʃər]  noun

 

PLANTS, ANIMALS
1. (often Nature) uncountable all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people
the beauties of nature
man-made substances not found in nature
nature conservation  You cannot use ‘the nature’ in this meaning: the beauties of the nature. It is often better to use another appropriate word, for example the countryside, the scenery or wildlife
• We stopped to admire the scenery.

We stopped to admire the nature.

2. (often Nature) uncountable the way that things happen in the physical world when it is not controlled by people
the forces/laws of nature
Just let nature take its course.
• Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less.

see also  Mother Nature  

 

 

CHARACTER

3. countable, uncountable the usual way that a person or an animal behaves that is part of their character
It's not in his nature to be unkind.
She is very sensitive by nature.
We appealed to his better nature (= his kindness).

see also  good nature, human nature, second nature  

 

 

BASIC QUALITIES

4. singular the basic qualities of a thing
the changing nature of society
It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem.
My work is very specialized in nature.

• The future by its very nature is uncertain.  

 

 

TYPE/KIND

5. singular a type or kind of sth
• books of a scientific nature

• Don't worry about things of that nature.  

 

 

-NATURED

6. (in adjectives) having the type of character or quality mentioned
a good-natured man
more at the call of nature at  call  n., the forces of nature at  force  n.
Idioms: against nature  back to nature  in the nature of something  in the nature of things  
Word Origin:
Middle English (denoting the physical power of a person): from Old French, from Latin natura ‘birth, nature, quality’, from nat- ‘born’, from the verb nasci.  
Thesaurus:
nature noun
1. U
Take time to appreciate the beauties of nature.
the natural worldthe environmentthe wildlifewildlifeecosystemhabitat
in nature/the environment/the wild/an ecosystem/a habitat
(a/an/the) marine/terrestrial/aquatic environment/life/wildlife/ecosystem/habitat
protect the natural world/the environment/… life/wildlife/habitats
2. C, U
It's not in her nature to be unkind.
characterpersonalitytemperamentselfmake-up|formal dispositionpersona
by nature/temperament
in sb's nature/character
a violent nature/character/personality/temperament
a generous nature/character/disposition
Which word? Nature is used about sb's normal way of behaving; character is used especially about sb's moral behaviour; personality is used especially about whether sb is confident, shy, etc. with other people.; temperament is mostly used about whether sb normally stays calm, or gets angry, etc.
3. sing.
It's difficult to define the exact nature of the problem.
characteressencestuffspirit
in nature/character/essence/spirit
the very nature/character/essence/stuff/spirit of sth
preserve/capture/convey/reflect the nature/character/essence of sth
Nature or character? Use nature to talk about the basic qualities of abstract things, such as society or risks; use character to talk about the qualities of buildings, places and other physical things, especially qualities that make a place or thing seem different or special.  
Word Family:
nature noun
natural adjective (≠ unnatural)
naturally adverb (≠ unnaturally) 
Example Bank:
Are you aware of the nature of the risks involved?
Because of the detailed nature of the work, I have to use a very fine brush.
By its very nature a secret service is not open to public inspection.
Given the nature of this matter, I am inclined to think it should be managed by you personally.
He believed in spending half an hour each day to relax and commune with nature.
He had a vicious side to his nature.
He has an inquisitive nature.
He's not by nature an inquisitive person.
Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.
His love of nature was expressed through his wildlife paintings.
His theory provides a remarkable insight into the nature of the British constitution.
I'm not clear about the exact nature of their relationship.
It is important to define the nature of the problem.
It was against his nature to tell lies.
It's highly unlikely that this mound was produced by nature.
It's not in his nature to complain.
It's only human nature to want more money.
Mother Nature had served up some terrible weather for their cruise.
Mother Nature's way of dealing with overpopulation
Nature had endowed her with exceptional vitality.
People are always taking advantage of her good nature.
The Buddhist goal is to realize the true nature of the world.
The gentle lower slopes belie the true nature of the mountain.
The legal concept of insanity is of a different nature from the medical.
The method employed will depend on the nature of the task.
The parties would not reveal the exact nature of the dispute.
The victim has not been identified because of the sensitive nature of the case.
Their problems are of an economic nature.
Their strategy was essentially political in nature.
There was no point appealing to her better nature.
They define sexual harassment as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature.
This new information does not change the nature of our findings.
We appreciate beauty in nature.
We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back to nature.
We built our house in the country because we wanted to get back= be close to nature.
We can only treat the injury and then let nature take its course.
We need to understand the true extent and nature of the problem.
a debate concerning the nature of violence
matters of a routine nature
people who live in the country and are close to nature
the dual nature of man as a physical and spiritual being
the expressive part of his nature
the international nature of the business
the subjective nature of an odour
the unsatisfactory nature of the meeting
A lot of nature conservation is about protecting habitats.
Decisions of this nature often take a long time.
Don't worry about things of that nature.
Her illness was Nature's way of telling her to do less.
His books were mainly of a scientific nature.
It seemed against the laws of nature that such a creature could even exist.
It's not in her nature to be unkind.
My work is very specialized in nature.
She is very sensitive by nature.
Take time to appreciate the beauties of nature.
The forces of nature are constantly reshaping our world.
The talk addressed the subject of the changing nature of our society.
We appealed to his better nature.
• What's the nature of his work?

• White phosphorus is so reactive that it is not found in nature.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nature / ˈneɪ.tʃə r /   / -tʃɚ / noun (LIFE)

A2 [ U ] all the animals, plants, rocks, etc. in the world and all the features, forces, and processes that happen or exist independently of people, such as the weather, the sea, mountains, the production of young animals or plants, and growth:

her love of nature

This new technique of artificially growing cells copies what actually happens in nature.

a nature article/book/programme

Nature the force that is responsible for physical life and that is sometimes spoken of as a person:

Feeling tired-out is Nature's way of telling you to rest.

Nature gave these tiny creatures the ability to reproduce quickly when food is abundant.

Word partners for nature (LIFE)

the forces of / laws of nature • a nature lover • be found in nature • in nature • nature conservation

Word partners for nature (TYPE)

the nature of sth • [different/temporary, etc.] in nature • of a [confidential/similar, etc.] nature • the exact / precise / true nature of sth • the changing / complex / political / serious nature of sth • alter / change / reflect the nature of sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

nature

[ne͟ɪtʃə(r)]
 natures
 1) N-UNCOUNT Nature is all the animals, plants, and other things in the world that are not made by people, and all the events and processes that are not caused by people.
 → See also Mother Nature
  The most amazing thing about nature is its infinite variety.
  ...grasses that grow wild in nature.
  ...the ecological balance of nature.
 2) N-SING: with supp, oft n N, also by/in N The nature of something is its basic quality or character.
  Mr Sharp would not comment on the nature of the issues being investigated.
  ...the ambitious nature of the programme...
  The protests had been non-political by nature...
  The rise of a major power is both economic and military in nature.
 3) N-SING: with poss, also by N Someone's nature is their character, which they show by the way they behave.
 → See also human nature
  Jeya feels that her ambitious nature made her unsuitable for an arranged marriage...
  She trusted people. That was her nature...
  He was by nature affectionate.
 4) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something is against nature, you think that it is unnatural.
  All these activities are against nature.
  Syn:
  unnatural
 5) PHRASE: PHR after v If you want to get back to nature, you want to return to a simpler way of living.
  She was very anxious to get away from cities and back to nature.
 6) PHRASE: N inflects, PHR with cl If you say that something has a particular characteristic by its nature or by its very nature, you mean that things of that type always have that characteristic.
  Peacekeeping, by its nature, makes pre-planning difficult...
  One could argue that smoking, by its very nature, is addictive.
 7) PHRASE: PHR after v (politeness) Some people talk about a call of nature when referring politely to the need to go to the toilet.
  I'm afraid I have to answer a call of nature.
 8) PHRASE: PHR with cl If you say that something is in the nature of things, you mean that you would expect it to happen in the circumstances mentioned.
  Of course, in the nature of things, and with a lot of drinking going on, people failed to notice...
  Many have already died, and in the nature of things many more will die.
 9) PHRASE: PHR n, usu v-link PHR, pron-indef PHR If you say that one thing is in the nature of another, you mean that it is like the other thing.
  There is movement towards, I think, something in the nature of a pluralistic system...
  It was in the nature of a debate rather than an argument.
 10) PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR to n If a way of behaving is second nature to you, you do it almost without thinking because it is easy for you or obvious to you.
  Planning ahead had always come as second nature to her...
  It's not easy at first, but it soon becomes second nature.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

nature

na·ture /ˈneɪʧɚ/ noun, pl -tures
1 also Nature [noncount]
a : the physical world and everything in it (such as plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) that is not made by people
• the beauty of nature
• She is a real nature lover. = She really loves nature. [=she loves to spend time outdoors]
• He devoted himself to the study of nature.
• That is a color not found in nature.
nature photography
nature conservation
b : the natural forces that control what happens in the world
• the forces of nature
• Hunger is nature's way of telling you to eat.
• Gravity is one of the basic laws of nature.
- see also call of nature, freak of nature, mother nature
2 : the way that a person or animal behaves : the character or personality of a person or animal

[count]

• She has a competitive nature. [=she is competitive]
• The differences in their natures was easy to see.
• an animal with a gentle nature [=a gentle animal]

[noncount]

• The children took advantage of the teacher's good nature. [=the teacher's kindness]
• She's very competitive by nature.
- see also good-natured, human nature, ill-natured, second nature
3 : a basic quality that something has

[count]

- usually singular; often + of
• the nature of steel
• What is the true nature of democracy?
• Because of the fragile nature of the manuscripts [=because the manuscripts are fragile], the museum keeps them behind glass.

[noncount]

• Her writing is humorous in nature. [=her writing has humorous qualities]
4 [singular] : a particular kind of thing
• What is the nature of your problem? [=what kind of problem do you have?]
• papers of a confidential nature [=papers that are confidential]
• His medical condition is not of a serious nature. [=is not serious]
• You'll need to bring a toothbrush, soap, and things of that nature. [=other similar things]
get/go back to nature also return to nature : to spend time living in a simple way without modern machines, electricity, etc.
• They went on a camping trip to get back to nature.
let nature take its course : to allow something to happen without trying to control it
• The injury should heal within a few weeks if you just let nature take its course.

menu

menu [noun] (FOOD)

a list of the food that you can eat in a restaurant

US /ˈmen.juː/ 
UK /ˈmen.juː/ 
Example: 

The waiter brought the menu and the wine list.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

menu

 noun (plural menus)

1 a list of the food that you can choose in a restaurant:
What's on the menu tonight?
Can I have the menu, please?

2 (computing) a list on the screen of a computer that shows what you can do:
Go to the menu and click New.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

menu

menu S3 /ˈmenjuː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1800-1900; Language: French; Origin: menu 'small, full of details', from Latin minutus; ⇨ ↑minute2]
1. a list of all the kinds of food that are available for a meal, especially in a restaurant:
Could we have the menu, please?
on the menu
Is there any fish on the menu?
a three course set menu (=dishes which you do not choose for yourself)
2. a list of things on a computer screen which you can ask the computer to do:
Select PRINT from the main menu.
pull-down/drop-down menu (=a list of choices which appears when you CLICK ON a place on the screen)
menu-driven (=operated by using a menu)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
read/study the menu Sandy read the menu, but didn’t see anything he wanted to eat.
look at/see the menu (=read the menu) He looked at the menu and decided to have the salad.
plan a menu (=decide what foods will be served) Erika began planning a menu for the dinner party.
choose/order something from the menu He ordered a chicken dish from the menu.
offer a menu The restaurant is offering a three-course menu for New Year’s Eve.
have a good/long/unusual etc menu The new restaurant on Fifth Street has an excellent menu.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + menu
extensive (=with many different dishes on it) The menu is extensive and adventurous.
a dinner/lunch/breakfast menu There is an extensive dinner menu, and seafood is a speciality.
a set/fixed menu (=when the cook decides which dishes will be served to you, rather than you choosing for yourself) Dinner is three courses from a set menu.
an à la carte menu (=a menu listing many separate dishes which you choose from) In the evening there is a full à la carte menu.
a children’s menu I asked the waiter if there was a children’s menu.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

menu

menu [menu menus]   [ˈmenjuː] Click to play   [ˈmenjuː] Click to play noun
1. a list of the food that is available at a restaurant or to be served at a meal
to ask for/look at the menu

What's on the menu (= for dinner) tonight?

2. (computing) a list of possible choices that are shown on a computer screen
a pull-down menu
see also  drop-down menu  
Word Origin:
mid 19th cent.: from French, detailed list (noun use of menu ‘small, detailed’), from Latin minutus ‘very small’.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
Example Bank:
Chef Nigel Crowther will expand the menu to include several vegetarian options.
Go to the topic menu in the upper right hand corner.
Many menus now list ingredients.
Many restaurants do a very reasonable set menu at lunchtime.
May we have the menu?
Passengers are offered a daily choice of menu.
She completely changes her seasonal menus every few months.
The chef was chalking the daily specials on the menu board.
The menu changes daily.
The restaurant changes its menu every six months.
What's on the menu this evening?
You'll find it in the topic menu.
a menu offering many vegetarian dishes
a ten-course tasting menu

buttons that make it easy to navigate the on-screen menu

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

menu / ˈmen.juː / noun [ C ] (FOOD)

A2 a list of the food that you can eat in a restaurant:

The waiter brought the menu and the wine list.

What's on the menu today?

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

menu

[me̱njuː]
 menus
 1) N-COUNT: usu sing In a restaurant or café, or at a formal meal, the menu is a list of the meals and drinks that are available.
  A waiter offered him the menu...
  Even the most elaborate dishes on the menu were quite low on calories.
 2) N-COUNT A menu is the food that you serve at a meal.
  Try out the menu on a few friends...
  The menu is all-important. Every component of every meal should create contrasts.
 3) N-COUNT On a computer screen, a menu is a list of choices. Each choice represents something that you can do using the computer.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

menu

menu /ˈmɛnˌjuː/ noun, pl men·us [count]
1 a : a list of the foods that may be ordered at a restaurant
• I'd like to see your lunch menu, please.
• What's good on the menu today?
• There are two chicken dishes under eight dollars listed on the menu.
b : the foods that are served at a meal
• When you're planning a dinner party, the choice of (the/your) menu is very important.
2 : a list of things that you can choose from
• a menu of television programs especially; computers : a list shown on a computer from which you make choices to control what the computer does
• You can save your work by choosing “Save” from the “File” menu.
- see also drop-down menu, pull-down menu

dessert

dessert [noun]

sweet food eaten at the end of a meal

US /dɪˈzɝːt/ 
UK /dɪˈzɜːt/ 
Example: 

For dessert there's apple pie or fruit.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

dessert

 noun

spelling
Remember! You spell dessert with SS.

something sweet that you eat at the end of a meal same meaning pudding:
We had ice cream for dessert.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

dessert

dessert /dɪˈzɜːt $ -ɜːrt/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: desservir 'to clear the table', from servir 'to serve']
sweet food served after the main part of a meal
for dessert
What are we having for dessert?
• • •
THESAURUS
■ parts of a large meal
hors d'oeuvre (also starter British English, appetizer American English) the small first part of a meal: a tempting plate of hors d'oeuvres including olives and small pieces of roast beetroot
main course (also entrée especially American English) the main part of a meal. entrée is used especially on restaurant ↑menus: For the main course we had cheese and onion pie. | The menu includes a few hot entrées.
dessert (also pudding British English or sweet British English) sweet food eaten at the end of a meal: What do you want for dessert? | They serve a wide range of desserts, including ice cream and home-made apple pie.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dessert

des·sert [dessert desserts]   [dɪˈzɜːt]    [dɪˈzɜːrt]  noun uncountable, countable
sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
What's for dessert?
a rich chocolate dessert
a dessert wine
(BrE) the dessert trolley (= a table on wheels from which you choose your dessert  in a restaurant)
compare  afters, pudding, sweet  
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent.: from French, past participle of desservir ‘clear the table’, from des- (expressing removal) + servir ‘to serve’.  
Collocations:
Restaurants
Eating out
eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
go (out)/take sb (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
have a meal with sb
make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Yamada)
reserve/ (especially BrE) book a table for six
ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
In the restaurant
wait to be seated
show sb to their table
sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
hand sb/give sb the menu/wine list
open/read/study/peruse the menu
the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
taste/sample/try the wine
the waiter takes your order
order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house (BrE) speciality/(especially NAmE) specialty
serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee
complain about the food/the service/your meal
enjoy your meal
Paying
pay/ask for (especially BrE) the bill/(NAmE) the check
pay for/treat sb to dinner/lunch/the meal
service is (not) included
give sb/leave (sb) a tip 
Example Bank:
The waiter asked us if we'd like to order a dessert.
This chestnut pudding is a rich dessert with a festive flavour.
• We finished off with a dessert of honey and nuts.

• We had mousse for dessert.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dessert / dɪˈzɜːt /   / -ˈzɝːt / noun [ C or U ]

A2 sweet food eaten at the end of a meal:

a dessert fork/spoon

For dessert there's apple pie or fruit.

If you make the main course, I'll make a dessert.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

 dessert

[dɪzɜ͟ː(r)t]
 desserts
 N-MASS
 Dessert is something sweet, such as fruit or a pudding, that you eat at the end of a meal.
  She had homemade ice cream for dessert...
  I am partial to desserts that combine fresh fruit with fine pastry.
 Syn:
 sweet, pudding

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

dessert

des·sert /dɪˈzɚt/ noun, pl -serts : sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal

[count]

• She doesn't care for rich desserts.
• a chocolate dessert

[noncount]

• Coffee and tea will be served with dessert.
• We had ice cream and apple pie for dessert.
- sometimes used before another noun
• They asked to look at the dessert menu.
dessert plates

salad

salad [noun]

a mixture of uncooked vegetables, usually including lettuce, eaten either as a separate dish or with other food

 

US /ˈsæl.əd/ 
UK /ˈsæl.əd/ 
Example: 

Serve the risotto with a mixed salad.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

salad

 noun
a dish of cold vegetables that have not been cooked:
Do you want chips or salad with your chicken?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

salad

salad S2 /ˈsæləd/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: salade, from Old Provençal salada, from salar 'to add salt to', from sal 'salt']

1. a mixture of raw vegetables, especially ↑lettuce, ↑cucumber, and tomato:
Would you like some salad with your pasta?
a spinach salad
toss a salad (=mix it all together, usually with a dressing)
2. raw or cooked food cut into small pieces and served cold
fruit/potato salad
 

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

salad

 

salad [salad salads]   [ˈsæləd]    [ˈsæləd]  noun

1. uncountable, countable a mixture of raw vegetables such as lettuce, tomato and cucumber, usually served with other food as part of a meal
All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
Is cold meat and salad OK for lunch?
a side salad (= a small bowl of salad served with the main course of a meal)
a salad bowl (= a large bowl for serving salad in)

see also  Caesar salad, green salad

2. countable, uncountable (in compounds) meat, fish, cheese, etc. served with salad

• a chicken salad

3. uncountable, countable (in compounds) raw or cooked vegetables, etc. that are cut into small pieces, often mixed with mayonnaise and served cold with other food
potato salad
• a pasta salad

see also  fruit salad

4. uncountable any green vegetable, especially lettuce, that is eaten raw in a salad
salad plants
Idiom: your salad days  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French salade, from Provençal salada, based on Latin sal ‘salt’.  
Collocations:
Cooking
Preparing
prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
Cooking
heat the oil in a frying pan
preheat/heat the oven/(BrE) the grill/(NAmE) the broiler
bring to (BrE) the boil/(NAmE) a boil
stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
reduce the heat
simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
brown the meat for 8-20 minutes
drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
Ways of cooking
cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially NAmE) cookies/(BrE) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
toast bread/nuts
microwave food/popcorn/(BrE) a ready meal
Serving
serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
dress/toss a salad
dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper 
Example Bank:
Is the steak served with a side salad?
• She tossed and dressed the salad.

• The sandwiches came with a rather limp salad garnish.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

salad / ˈsæl.əd / noun [ C or U ]

salad

A2 a mixture of uncooked vegetables, usually including lettuce, eaten either as a separate dish or with other food:

Toss (= mix) the salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

Serve the risotto with a mixed salad.

a salad bowl

cheese, egg, etc. salad

cheese, egg, etc. with salad

cooked or uncooked vegetables cut into very small pieces and often mixed with mayonnaise:

potato salad

rice/pasta salad

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

salad

[sæ̱ləd]
 salads
 1) N-VAR A salad is a mixture of raw foods such as lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes. It is often served with other food as part of a meal.
 → See also fruit salad
  ...a salad of tomato, onion and cucumber.
  ...potato salad.
 2) PHRASE If you refer to your salad days, you are referring to a period of your life when you were young and inexperienced. [LITERARY]
  The Grand Hotel did not seem to have changed since her salad days.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

salad
sal·ad /ˈsæləd/ noun, pl -ads
1 : a mixture of raw green vegetables (such as different types of lettuce) usually combined with other raw vegetables

[count]

• For dinner we had roast chicken and a salad.
• a salad of fresh/local greens
• a spinach salad
• I tossed the salad with some oil and vinegar and set it on the table.

[noncount]

• a bowl of salad
• Would you like soup or salad with your sandwich?
salad greens [=vegetables that are grown for their leaves and commonly used in salads]
2 [count, noncount] : a mixture of small pieces of raw or cooked food (such as pasta, meat, fruit, eggs, or vegetables) combined usually with a dressing and served cold
• a delicious pasta/potato/fruit salad
• chicken/tuna salad

worry

worry [verb] (PROBLEM)

to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened

US /ˈwɝː.i/ 
UK /ˈwʌr.i/ 
Example: 

Don't worry, she'll be all right.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

 verb (worries, worrying, worried /, has worried)
to feel that something bad will happen or has happened; to make somebody feel this:
I always worry when Mark doesn't come home at the usual time.
Don't worry if you don't know the answer.
There's nothing to worry about.
What worries me is how we are going to get home.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

worry

I. worry1 S1 W2 /ˈwʌri $ ˈwɜːri/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle worried, present participle worrying, third person singular worries)
[Word Family: adjective: ↑worried ≠ UNWORRIED, ↑worrying, ↑worrisome; noun: ↑worry, ↑worrier; adverb: ↑worryingly, ↑worriedly; verb: ↑worry]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wyrgan 'to strangle']
1. BE ANXIOUS [intransitive] to be anxious or unhappy about someone or something, so that you think about them a lot
worry about
I worry about my daughter.
You’ve really got no need to worry about your weight.
worry (that)
She worried that she wasn’t doing enough to help.
worry over
Dad worries over the slightest thing.
Don’t tell Mum about this – she’s got enough to worry about (=she already has a lot of problems or is very busy).
2. don’t worry spoken
a) used when you are trying to make someone feel less anxious:
Don’t worry, darling, Daddy’s here.
don’t worry if
Don’t worry if you can’t finish all the questions.
b) used to tell someone that they do not need to do something
don’t worry about
Don’t worry about sorting them out – I’ll do it later.
c) used to tell someone that you will definitely do something:
Don’t you worry, I’ll make sure he does his fair share.
3. MAKE SOMEBODY ANXIOUS [transitive] to make someone feel anxious about something:
The recent changes in the Earth’s climate are beginning to worry scientists.
I didn’t tell Mum and Dad – I didn’t want to worry them.
what worries me is .../the (only) thing that worries me is ...
The only thing that worries me is the food. I don’t want to get food poisoning.
Doesn’t it worry you that Sarah spends so much time away from home?
worry yourself (=feel anxious, especially when there is no need to)
You’re worrying yourself unnecessarily.
4. not to worry British English spoken used to say that something is not important:
Not to worry, we can always go another time.
5. nothing to worry about spoken used to tell someone that something is not as serious or difficult as they think:
It’s just a check-up – nothing to worry about.
6. ANNOY [transitive] to annoy someone SYN bother:
The heat didn’t seem to worry him.
7. ANIMAL [transitive] if a dog worries sheep, it tries to bite or kill them
worry at something phrasal verb
1. if an animal worries at a bone or piece of meat, it bites and shakes it
2. if you worry at a problem, you think about it a lot in order to find a solution

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

worry

worry [worry worries worried worrying] verb, noun   [ˈwʌri]    [ˈwɜːri] 

 

verb (wor·ries, worry·ing, wor·ried, wor·ried)
1. intransitive to keep thinking about unpleasant things that might happen or about problems that you have
Don't worry. We have plenty of time.
~ about sb/sth Don't worry about me. I'll be all right.
He's always worrying about his weight.
~ over sb/sth There's no point in worrying over things you can't change.

~ (that)… I worry that I won't get into college.

2. transitive to make sb/yourself anxious about sb/sth
~ sb/yourself (about sb/sth) What worries me is how I am going to get another job.
~ sb/yourself + adj. (about sb/sth) He's worried himself sick (= become extremely anxious) about his daughter.
it worries sb that… It worries me that he hasn't come home yet.

it worries sb to do sth It worried me to think what might happen.

3. transitive to annoy or disturb sb
~ sb The noise never seems to worry her.

~ sb with sth Don't keep worrying him with a lot of silly questions.

4. transitive ~ sth (of a dog) to attack animals, especially sheep, by chasing and/or biting them
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
Old English wyrgan ‘strangle’, of West Germanic origin. In Middle English the original sense of the verb gave rise to the meaning ‘seize by the throat and tear’, later figuratively ‘harass’, which led to the sense ‘cause anxiety to’ (early 19th century, the date also of the noun).  
Example Bank:
Don't bother Harry— he has enough to worry about as it is.
Don't let it worry you unduly.
Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.
Don't worry the driver with unnecessary requests.
Don't worry too much about it.
I can't help worrying about the future.
She worries a lot about crime.
Stop worrying, Dad, we'll be fine.
We can't help worrying for your safety.
What really worries me is what we do if there's nobody there.
You do worry unnecessarily, you know.
He's worried himself sick about his daughter.
I worry that I won't get into college.
What worries me is how I'm going to get another job.
You worry too much.
Idioms: no worries!  not to worry

Derived: worry at something 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

worry / ˈwʌr.i /   / ˈwɝː- / verb (PROBLEM)

A2 [ I ] to think about problems or unpleasant things that might happen in a way that makes you feel unhappy and frightened:

Try not to worry - there's nothing you can do to change the situation.

Don't worry, she'll be all right.

It's silly worrying about things which are outside your control.

[ + (that) ] She's worried (that) she might not be able to find another job.

B2 [ T ] to make someone feel unhappy and frightened because of problems or unpleasant things that might happen:

You worried your mother by not writing.

[ + that ] It worries me that he hasn't phoned yet.

The continued lack of rain is starting to worry people.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

worry

[wʌ̱ri, AM wɜ͟ːri]

 worries, worrying, worried
 1) VERB If you worry, you keep thinking about problems that you have or about unpleasant things that might happen.
  Don't worry, your luggage will come on afterwards by taxi...
  [V about n/-ing] I worry about her constantly...
  [V about n/-ing] I work in a school so I don't have to worry about finding someone to look after my little boy...
  [V that] They worry that extremists might gain control.
 2) VERB If someone or something worries you, they make you anxious because you keep thinking about problems or unpleasant things that might be connected with them.
  [V n] I'm still in the early days of my recovery and that worries me...
  [V n] `Why didn't you tell us?' - `I didn't want to worry you.'...
  [V-ed] The English, worried by the growing power of Prince Henry, sent a raiding party to Scotland to kill him...
  [it V n that/to-inf] Does it worry you that the Americans are discussing this?
 3) VERB: oft with neg If someone or something does not worry you, you do not dislike them or you are not annoyed by them. [SPOKEN]
  [V n] The cold doesn't worry me...
  [it V n if] It wouldn't worry me if he came to my house, but I don't know if I would go out of my way to ask him.
  Syn:
  bother
 4) N-UNCOUNT Worry is the state or feeling of anxiety and unhappiness caused by the problems that you have or by thinking about unpleasant things that might happen.
  The admission shows the depth of worry among the Tories over the state of the economy...
  His last years were overshadowed by financial worry.
 5) N-COUNT A worry is a problem that you keep thinking about and that makes you unhappy.
  My main worry was that Madeleine Johnson would still be there...
  The worry is that the use of force could make life impossible for the UN peacekeepers...
  His wife Cheryl said she had no worries about his health.
 6) CONVENTION You say not to worry to someone to indicate that you are not upset or angry when something has gone wrong. [INFORMAL]
  `Not to worry, Baby,' he said, and kissed her tenderly.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1wor·ry /ˈwɚri/ verb -ries; -ried; -ry·ing
1 : to think about problems or fears : to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen

[no obj]

• We didn't want you to worry.
• Don't worry. You'll be fine.
• Don't make your parents worry.
• When they didn't call after two hours, we began to worry.
• They were fine. We needn't have worried.
- often + about
• Let the travel agent worry about the details.
• Haven't we got enough to worry about?
• We don't have to worry about choosing a restaurant. [=someone else will choose a restaurant]
• The nurse said her condition was nothing to worry about. [=her condition was not serious]
• I'll take care of it. Don't worry about a thing.
- sometimes + over
• She worried over her husband's health.

[+ obj]

- + that
• Medical experts worry that a new strain of the virus will be more difficult to contain.
• We worry that children don't get enough exercise.
• My parents worry [=fear] that I won't go to college.
2 [+ obj] : to make (someone) anxious or upset : to cause (someone) to worry
• His poor health worries me.
• What's worrying you? [=what is causing you to feel upset?]
• It doesn't seem to worry him that rain is in the forecast.
• We didn't tell you about the accident because we didn't want to worry you.
Don't worry yourself. [=don't be upset or concerned]
• He worried himself sick [=he was extremely worried] before the exam.
not to worry informal
- used to say that there is no cause for concern or worry
• “It looks like we're almost out of milk.” “Not to worry. I'll get some more when I go to the store this afternoon.”
worry at [phrasal verb] worry at (something) chiefly Brit
1 : to pull, twist, or bite (something) repeatedly
• The dog was in the corner worrying at a bone.
2 : to try to solve (a problem) by thinking about it for a long time
• She kept worrying at the problem all day.

church

church [noun] (BUILDING)

a building for Christian religious activities

Example: 

The town has four churches.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

church

 noun (plural churches)
a building where Christians go to speak to God (to pray):
They go to church every Sunday.

grammar
When we talk about going to a ceremony (a service) in a church we say in church, to church or at church without 'a' or 'the': Was Mr Poole at church today? We use a or the to talk about the building: the church where we got marrieda historic church.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

church

church S1 W1 /tʃɜːtʃ $ tʃɜːrtʃ/ noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: cirice, from Late Greek kyriakon, from Greek kyriakos 'of the lord', from kyrios 'lord, master']
1. [countable] a building where Christians go to worship ⇒ cathedral:
a short church service
church bells
2. [uncountable] the religious ceremonies in a church:
Mrs Dobson invited us to dinner after church.
My parents go to church every Sunday.
at church
We didn’t see you at church this morning.
3. [countable] (also Church) one of the separate groups within the Christian religion:
the Catholic Church
4. [singular, uncountable] the institution of the Christian religion, and all the priests and other ministers who are part of it:
the church’s attitude towards marriage
separation of church and state

COLLOCATIONS
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + church

the local church (=the one in a particular area, or near where you live) The local church dates from the 12th century.
a parish church British English (=the main Christian church in a particular area) This is the parish church for three villages near here.
a country/town church an attractive country church surrounded by trees
a (Roman) Catholic church I followed the crowds to the Roman Catholic church for Mass.

verbs

go to church (also attend church formal) (=go to a regular religious ceremony in a church) Do you go to church?
marry/get married in a church I’d like to get married in a church.

church + NOUN

a church service (=a religious ceremony in a church) There’s a church service at 10:30 every Sunday morning.
a church hall (=a large room in a church) The dance was held in the church hall.
church music church music for small choirs
church bells I could hear the church bells ringing.
a church tower I looked at the clock on the church tower.
a church spire/steeple (=a church tower with a pointed top) The tall church spires could be seen from far away.
the church choir (=a group of people who lead the singing in a church) Steve’s a member of the local church choir.
a church wedding (=in a church) She wants to have a church wedding.

THESAURUS (for Meaning 3)
religious group

church one of the different groups within the Christian religion – used especially in names: The Roman Catholic church is expanding. | members of the Church of England
denomination a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion: Our staff come from churches of all denominations. | Several denominations have developed among Jews.
sect a religious group that has separated from a larger group: He is a leader in the powerful Ansar Sunni Muslim sect.
cult an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion: Members of the cult all committed suicide on the same day.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

church

 

church [church churches churched churching]   [tʃɜːtʃ]    [tʃɜːrtʃ]  noun
1. countable a building where Christians go to worship
a church tower
• The procession moved into the church.

• church services

2. uncountable a service or services in a church
How often do you go to church?
(BrE) They're at church (= attending a church service).
(NAmE) They're in church.

• Church is at 9 o'clock.

3. Church countable a particular group of Christians
the Anglican Church
the Catholic Church
• the Free Churches

see also  denomination

4. (the) Church singular the ministers of the Christian religion; the institution of the Christian religion
The Church has a duty to condemn violence.
the conflict between Church and State
to go into the Church (= to become a Christian minister)
see a broad church at  broad  adj.  
Word Origin:
Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek kuriakon (dōma) ‘Lord's (house)’, from kurios ‘master or lord’. Compare with kirk.  
Culture:
churches and cathedrals
In Britain churches are landmarks in every town and village. Their tower or spire (= a cone-shaped structure on top of a small tower) can often be seen from far away. Churches are used for worship by the Church of England, Roman Catholics and other groups, while some Nonconformist Churches use chapels or halls. The church and church hall, a building used for meetings and Sunday School, were formerly the centre of the community. Now, far fewer people attend church and this has resulted in some churches being closed or used for other purposes such as housing.
Cathedrals may belong to either the Church of England or the Roman Catholic Church. Many cathedrals were built as part of a monastery, for example Durham was started in the 11th century by Benedictine monks. Some of these cathedrals are called minsters, e.g. York Minster, and they were originally centres for teaching Christianity. St Chad’s in Birmingham dates from the middle of the 19th century and was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in England since the Reformation. A cathedral is the headquarters of a bishop or archbishop. Canterbury Cathedral is the headquarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is head of the Church of England.
Many people visit churches and cathedrals to admire their architecture. In Britain churches are usually built of stone, with a tower or spire at the west end. Bells are placed high up in the tower and rung by long ropes before services. In villages the church is approached through a gate, sometimes a lychgate (= a gate with a roof over it), which leads into the churchyard where people are buried. The main entrance is usually on the south side. The church porch has a noticeboard and often a seat in it. Cathedrals are large churches, usually built in the shape of a long cross with a central tower. Older cathedrals are often in a quiet grassy cathedral close.
The earliest stone churches date from the Anglo-Saxon period (6th-11th centuries). Norman churches, from the 11th and 12th centuries, are massive structures. Rounded arches over doorways and windows are a distinctive feature of Norman architecture. Examples of Norman cathedrals are those at Durham and Ely.
The English Gothic style of the 13th-15th centuries is characterized by pointed arches and increasingly ornate designs for the vault. Windows were tall and narrow in the Early English period (13th century), and later, in the Decorated period, had tracery (= lace-like patterns) at the top. In the Perpendicular period (15th century), they were greatly increased in size and filled with stained glass (= small pieces of coloured glass in a lead frame) showing pictures of saints. Ceilings with elaborate fan vaults (= curved strips of stone spreading out from a point, with patterns between them) are supported by flying buttresses that lean at an angle from the wall and form an arch. Salisbury Cathedral is a characteristic Early English building. Exeter Cathedral dates mainly from the Decorated period and Gloucester Cathedral with its fan vaults is typical of the Perpendicular period.
Some later buildings, such as St Paul's Cathedral designed by Christopher Wren, are more like classical temples, with a central dome and spire added. Wren and James Gibbs, designer of St Martin-in-the-Fields, influenced architects in America: Christ Church in Philadelphia is a copy of St Martin. But the modern Coventry Cathedral, designed by Basil Spence in the 1950s, is a hall-like church with narrow stained-glass windows.
In the US the earliest churches were one-room buildings made of wood that were used also as schools. Most communities now have several churches in varying styles. Some are made of stone in order to look like old English churches, some are small, plain buildings made of brick or wood, and others are modern buildings with glass walls. Storefront churches are found in shopping streets and look like shops/stores. 
Collocations:
Religion
Being religious
believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation
be/become a believer/an atheist/an agnostic/a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist, etc.
convert to/practise/ (especially US) practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.
go to church/(NAmE) temple (= the synagogue)
go to the local church/mosque/synagogue/gurdwara
belong to a church/a religious community
join/enter the church/a convent/a monastery/a religious sect/the clergy/the priesthood
praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God
Celebrations and ritual
attend/hold/conduct/lead a service
perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a mitzvah
carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite
go on/make a pilgrimage
celebrate Christmas/Easter/Eid/Ramadan/Hanukkah/Passover/Diwali
observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan
deliver/preach/hear a sermon
lead/address the congregation
say/recite a prayer/blessing
Religious texts and ideas
preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam
study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha
read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the gospel/the Torah
be based on/derive from divine revelation
commit/consider sth heresy/sacrilege
Religious belief and experience
seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom
strengthen/lose your faith
keep/practise/practice/abandon the faith
save/purify/lose your soul
obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law
be/accept/do God's will
receive/experience divine grace
achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana
undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation
hear/answer a prayer
commit/confess/forgive a sin
do/perform penance 
Grammar Point:
school
When a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the: When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used: I’ll meet you outside the school. Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way: Her husband spent three years in prison.
note at college, hospital  
Example Bank:
Do you go to church?
He left the Church after a loss of faith.
He loves all the high church traditions— incense and processions and vestments.
He served the church for over sixty years.
He went into the Church when he was 23.
He went into the Church= became a priest when he was 23.
Linda joined the local Methodist church.
Mrs Parsons wasn't at church this Sunday.
She was actively involved in church groups.
The Catholic church teaches that life begins at conception.
The church is dedicated to St Paul.
The church was consecrated in 1250.
The early Church believed miracles were proof of who Jesus was.
There's an interesting organ in the church.
They're at church.
We decided not to get married in church.
a chamber concert at our local church
• a church youth group

• Church is at 9 o'clock.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

church / tʃɜːtʃ /   / tʃɝːtʃ / noun [ C ] (BUILDING)

A2 a building for Christian religious activities:

The town has four churches.

a church spire/tower

a church hall (= a building belonging to a church, with a large room for meetings)

 

church / tʃɜːtʃ /   / tʃɝːtʃ / noun (ORGANIZATION)

[ C or U ] an official Christian religious organization:

All the local churches were represented at the memorial service.

He went on a walking trip with some of his friends from church.

[ U ] an occasion when this organization meets as a group of people:

I'll see her after church.

They go to church every Sunday.

church services

the Church [ S ] Christian religious organizations:

Some people think the Church shouldn't interfere in politics.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

church

[tʃɜ͟ː(r)tʃ]
 
 churches
 1) N-VAR A church is a building in which Christians worship. You usually refer to this place as church when you are talking about the time that people spend there.
  ...one of Britain's most historic churches.
  ...St Helen's Church...
  I didn't see you in church on Sunday.
 2) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft adj N, N of n A Church is one of the groups of people within the Christian religion, for example Catholics or Methodists, that have their own beliefs, clergy, and forms of worship.
  ...co-operation with the Catholic Church...
  Church leaders said he was welcome to return.
  ...the separation of church and state.
 3) PHRASE: oft v-link PHR You can refer to an organization, group, or area of activity as a broad church when it includes a wide range of opinions, beliefs, or styles.
  The party has responded by trying to become a broad church that appeals to devout pensioners, Munich punks and aerospace engineers...
  It rapidly became apparent that rock'n'roll was a very broad church indeed.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

church

church /ˈʧɚʧ/ noun, pl church·es
1 a [count] : a building that is used for Christian religious services
• This is the oldest church in town.
• They would like to be married in a church.
- often used before another noun
church bells/weddings/services
b [noncount] : religious services held in a church
• They go to church [=attend church services] every Sunday.
• I didn't see you at/in church last Sunday.
2 or Church [count] : a particular Christian group
• He is a member of the Catholic/Baptist/Anglican Church.
• What church do you belong to?
3 [noncount] : the Christian religion seen as an organization : the institution of the Christian religion
• the church's attitude toward divorce
• the separation of church and state

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - A2 (Elementary)