A2 (Elementary)

pepper

I.   noun

I. pep‧per1 S3 /ˈpepə $ -ər/ noun
 [Language: Old English; Origin: pipor, from Latin piper, from Greek peperi]

 1. [uncountable] a powder that is used to add a hot taste to food:
   • salt and pepper ⇨ black pepper, white pepper
 2.
   [countable] a hollow red, green, or yellow vegetable, eaten either raw or cooked with other food SYN bell pepper American English⇨ sweet pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper

plan

I. plan¹ S1 W1 /plæn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑plan, ↑planner, ↑planning; verb: ↑plan; adjective: planned ≠ ↑unplanned]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: 'drawing of a building at ground level'; partly from Latin planum 'level ground', partly from French planter 'to plant']
1. INTENTION something you have decided to do:
His plan is to get a degree in economics and then work abroad for a year.
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
There’s been a change of plan – we’re not going to Ibiza after all.
the best plan British English (=the best course of action)
Your best plan would be to take a taxi.
2. METHOD/ARRANGEMENT a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail
plan for
The chairman outlined the company’s plans for achieving a 10% growth in sales.
plan to do something
There are plans to turn the site of the factory into a park.
3. MAP a drawing similar to a map, showing roads, towns, and buildings
plan of
a street plan of London
4. DRAWING
a) technical a drawing of a building, room, or machine as it would be seen from above, showing the shape, size, and position of the walls, windows, and doors ⇨ ↑elevation(4), ↑section¹(7), ↑ground plan(1)
b) a drawing that shows exactly how something will be arranged:
I have to organise a seating plan for the dinner.
5. plan A, Plan A your first plan, which you will use if things happen the way you expect:
We’re going to find a restaurant and buy a meal. That’s Plan A.
6. plan B, Plan B your second plan, which you can use if things do not happen the way you expect:
It’s time to put Plan B into action.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ verbs
▪ have plans I have no plans to retire yet.
▪ change your plans We had to change our plans at the last minute.
▪ abandon/give up your plans The city authorities have abandoned their plans to host the Super Bowl.
▪ cancel your plans The weather got worse, and we had to cancel our plans to have the party outdoors.
▪ shelve a plan (=cancel your plan, although you may do it later) The plan had to be shelved because of lack of money.
■ phrases
▪ a change of plan The day before my flight, my boss phoned and said there’d been a change of plan.
■ adjectives
▪ sb’s immediate plans (=what they are going to do next) So what are your immediate plans after graduation?
▪ the best plan British English (=the best thing to do) I think the best plan is to take the train.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ have a plan Don’t worry – I have a plan.
▪ make plans (=prepare for something) Mary has been busy making plans for her wedding.
▪ come up with a plan (=think of a plan) The chairman must come up with a plan to get the club back on its feet.
▪ devise/formulate/draw up a plan (=make a detailed plan, especially after considering something carefully) He devised a daring plan to steal two million dollars. | The company has already drawn up plans to develop the site.
▪ carry out a plan (=do what has been planned) The bombers were arrested by the security forces before they could carry out their plans.
▪ keep to/stick to a plan We’re sticking to our original plan.
▪ abandon/scrap a plan (=decide not to continue with it) The plan was scrapped because it was too expensive.
▪ announce/unveil a plan (=officially tell people about it) The government unveiled its plans for a shake-up of the health system.
▪ approve a plan The plan was approved at a board meeting on 24 December.
▪ reject a plan The plan was rejected on the grounds that it would cost too much money.
▪ outline a plan (=describe it in a general way) They listened as he outlined his plan.
▪ implement a plan formal (=to do what has been agreed as part of an official plan) To implement its plans, the company has entered into a partnership with another software developer.
▪ shelve a plan (=not continue with it, although you might continue with it later) The plans will be shelved until an alternative access to the site can be found.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + plan
▪ ambitious The plan was very ambitious, but it worked.
▪ detailed The generals drew up detailed plans for the invasion.
▪ cunning/clever/ingenious They devised a cunning plan to get back their money. | The gang devised a cunning plan to rob the bank.
▪ a five-year/ten-year etc plan Unesco has a 25-year plan to provide basic education to all.
▪ a grand plan (=a plan that involves doing a lot of things in order to achieve something big) Marrying the countess was all part of his grand plan.
▪ a master plan (=a detailed plan for dealing with a complicated situation) The governors came up with a master plan for saving the school.
▪ a business plan We’ve developed a business plan to take over the company.
▪ a peace plan Both sides have agreed to implement the UN peace plan.
▪ a rescue plan (=a plan for saving a company, economy etc) Which rescue plan offers the company the best prospects of survival?
▪ an action plan My accountant developed a detailed action plan with specific targets.
■ phrases
▪ go according to plan (=happen in the way that was arranged) If everything goes according to plan, we’ll finish in January.
▪ a plan of action Ministers are discussing a plan of action to deal with the crisis.
▪ a plan of attack (=a plan to attack or achieve something) At this stage, you go back to the office and work on a plan of attack.
▪ a plan of campaign British English (=a plan to achieve something) What we need now is a plan of campaign.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'do a plan'. Say make a plan.
• • •
THESAURUS (for Meaning 2)
▪ plan a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail: Leaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.
▪ plot/conspiracy a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of people: There was a plot to assassinate the President. | a terrorist conspiracy
▪ scheme British English an official plan that is intended to help people: The government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.
▪ strategy a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of time: the company’s business strategy | The government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts. | We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
▪ initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aim: a peace initiative | a major new initiative to tackle street crime
▪ policy a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problem: the government’s immigration policy | It’s company policy to allow people to work from home.
▪ programme British English, program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long time: a five-year programme which will create 2000 new jobs | federal programs for low-income housing

spend

spend S1 W1 /spend/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle spent /spent/)
[Date: 1100-1200; Origin: Partly from Latin expendere ( ⇨ ↑expend) and partly, later, from Old French despendre, from Latin dispendere 'to weigh out']
1. MONEY [intransitive and transitive] to use your money to pay for goods or services:
I can’t afford to spend any more money this week.
spend £5/$10 etc
I only want to spend about $20.
spend something on something
More money should be spent on education.
spend something on somebody
Mum never spends any money on herself.
The repairs cost a lot, but it’s money well spent (=a sensible way of spending money).
2. TIME [transitive] to use time doing a particular thing or pass time in a particular place
spend time etc with somebody
I want to spend more time with my family.
spend time etc in/at something
We’ll have to spend the night in a hotel.
His childhood was spent in Brazil.
spend time etc doing something
Stacey spends all her free time painting.
3.
a) spend the night with somebody to stay for the night and have sex with someone
b) spend the night (at something) if someone spends the night at someone’s house, they sleep at that person’s house for a night:
She spent the night at a friend’s house.
4. FORCE/EFFORT [transitive] to use effort or energy to do something:
I love to cook, but I don’t feel like spending the energy every evening.
5. spend a penny British English spoken old-fashioned to ↑urinate – used when you want to avoid saying this directly
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ spend to use money to buy things: I bought two skirts and a T-shirt and I only spent $50. | How much do you spend a week on food?
▪ go through something (also get through something British English) to spend all of an amount of money over a period of time – used especially when saying that someone spends a lot of money: I got through all my money in less than a month, and had to get my parents to send me more.
▪ go to great expense to spend a lot of money in order to do something, because you think it is important or special: The party was wonderful – they had obviously gone to great expense. | There’s no need to go to great expense.
▪ squander /ˈskwɒndə $ ˈskwɑːndər/ to waste money on unnecessary things, instead of saving it or using it carefully: His son had squandered the family fortune on gambling and women.
▪ splash out British English informal to spend a lot of money on something you really want or will enjoy: Let’s splash out on a bottle of champagne. | People often splash out for Christmas and then regret it later.
▪ blow informal to spend a lot of money on something, especially on something that you do not really need: Her husband blew all their savings on a new sports car.
▪ economize to spend less money: We’re trying to economize by eating at home instead of going out for meals.

airport

air‧port S3 W3 /ˈeəpɔːt $ ˈerpɔːrt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a place where planes take off and land, with buildings for passengers to wait in ⇨ airfield:
The plane landed at Heathrow Airport.
Her family went to see her off at the airport.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ terminal a big building where people wait to get onto planes: The airline uses terminal 4. | Smoking is prohibited inside the terminal building.
▪ runway a long hard surface on which aircraft land and take off: The plane was taxiing along the runway.
▪ the tarmac an area covered with tarmac outside airport buildings: He stepped off the plane onto the tarmac.
▪ check-in (desk) a place where you report your arrival at an airport
▪ departure lounge the place where you wait until your plane is ready to leave
▪ departure gate the place you go through to get on your plane: Will passengers for flight BA670 please go to the departure gate.
▪ baggage reclaim (also baggage claim) American English the place where you collect your cases and bags after a flight
▪ immigration the place where officials check the documents of everyone entering the country: Be prepared for long queues at immigration.
▪ customs the place where your bags are checked for illegal goods when you enter a country: We had our bags checked at customs.
 

dish

I. dish¹ S2 W3 /dɪʃ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: disc, from Latin discus 'disk, plate']
1. a flat container with low sides, for serving food from or cooking food in ⇨ bowl:
a serving dish
an ovenproof dish
dish of
a large dish of spaghetti
2. the dishes all the plates, cups, bowls etc that have been used to eat a meal and need to be washed
do/wash the dishes
I’ll just do the dishes before we go.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often use the expression do the washing-up (BrE) or do the dishes (AmE), rather than wash the dishes.
3. food cooked or prepared in a particular way as a meal:
a wonderful pasta dish
The menu includes a wide selection of vegetarian dishes.
This soup is substantial enough to serve as a main dish (=the biggest part of a meal).
4. something that is shaped like a dish:
a soap dish
5. informal old-fashioned someone who is sexually attractive
⇨ ↑side dish, ↑satellite dish
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ food noun [uncountable and countable] things that people and animals eat: You can buy good fresh food in the market. | Do you like Japanese food?
▪ dish noun [countable] a type of food that is cooked in a particular way: a traditional English dish | They also offer vegetarian dishes.
▪ speciality British English, specialty American English noun [countable] a type of food that a restaurant or place is famous for: Fish dishes are a specialty of the region. | Home made pies are one of the hotel’s specialities.
▪ delicacy noun [countable] an unusual food which people in a particular place like to eat: The local delicacies include laverbread (boiled seaweed). | I was keen to try out the local delicacies.
▪ diet noun [countable] the type of food that someone usually eats: You shouldn’t have too much salt in your diet. | In the Andes, the main diet is beans, potatoes, and corn.
▪ cooking noun [uncountable] food made in a particular way, or by a particular person: Herbs are used a lot in French cooking. | I love my Mum’s home cooking.
▪ cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/ noun [countable] formal the food you can eat in a particular restaurant, country, or area: Italian cuisine | Trying the local cuisine is all part of the fun of travelling.
▪ nutrition noun [uncountable] food considered as something that is necessary for good health and growth: a book on nutrition | Many homeless people suffer from poor nutrition.
▪ nourishment /ˈnʌrɪʃmənt $ ˈnɜː-, ˈnʌ-/ noun [uncountable] goodness that you get from food, which helps your body to stay healthy: There's not much nourishment in fast food.
▪ fare noun [uncountable] formal the kind of food that is served in a place – used especially when saying how interesting it is: In China you can feast on bird’s nest soup and other exotic fare. | Dinner was pretty standard fare (=the usual kind of food).

II. brush² S3 BrE AmE verb
1. CLEAN/MAKE TIDY [transitive] to clean something or make something smooth and tidy using a brush ⇨ sweep:
Don’t forget to brush your teeth.
2. REMOVE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to remove something with a brush or with your hand
brush something off/from etc something
Ella brushed the crumbs off her jacket.
He brushed the tears from his eyes.
3. TOUCH LIGHTLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] to touch someone or something lightly when passing them:
Something brushed her shoulders.
brush against
I felt her hair brush against my arm.
brush past
Nell brushed past him in the doorway.
4. PUT SOMETHING ON SOMETHING [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put a liquid onto something using a brush
brush something with something
Brush the pastry with milk.
brush something over/onto something
Brush a little oil over the top of the pizza.
⇨ brush something under the carpet at ↑sweep¹(15)
brush somebody/something ↔ aside phrasal verb
to refuse to listen to someone, or refuse to consider something SYN dismiss:
He simply brushed all my objections aside.
brush somebody/something ↔ down phrasal verb
1. to clean something using a brush:
He was brushing the pony down.
2. brush yourself down to use your hands to remove dirt from your clothes, especially after you have fallen
brush somebody/something ↔ off phrasal verb
to refuse to listen to someone or their ideas, especially by ignoring them or saying something rude:
Corman brushed off the accusations. ⇨ ↑brush-off
brush up (on) something phrasal verb
to practise and improve your skills or your knowledge of something that you learned in the past:
I must brush up on my French before I go to Paris.

build

I. build¹ S1 W1 /bɪld/ BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle built /bɪlt/)
[Word Family: noun: ↑build, ↑builder, ↑building; verb: ↑build, ↑rebuild; adjective: ↑built]
[Language: Old English; Origin: byldan]
1. MAKE SOMETHING [intransitive and transitive] to make something, especially a building or something large:
The purpose is to build new houses for local people.
The road took many years to build.
They needed $3 million to build the bridge.
It is the female birds that build the nests.
Developers want to build on the site of the old gasworks.
a row of recently built houses
build somebody something
He’s going to build the children a doll’s house.
2. MAKE SOMETHING DEVELOP (also build up) [transitive] to make something develop or form:
She had built a reputation as a criminal lawyer.
She’s been busy building her career.
Ross took 20 years to build up his business.
build (up) a picture of somebody/something (=form a clear idea about someone or something)
We’re trying to build up a picture of what happened.
3. be built of something to be made using particular materials:
The church was built of brick.
4. FEELING (also build up) [intransitive and transitive] if a feeling builds, or if you build it, it increases gradually over a period of time:
Tension began to build as they argued more frequently.
In order to build your self-esteem, set yourself targets you can reach.
5. build bridges to try to establish a better relationship between people who do not like each other:
Peter needs to try and build bridges with Lizzie.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ build to make a house, road, wall, bridge etc using bricks, stone, wood, or other materials: A new stadium will be built for the Olympics.
▪ construct to build a building, bridge, machine etc. Construct is more formal than build: The council plans to construct two new schools.
▪ put up something to build a wall, fence, or building, or put a statue somewhere. Put up is less formal than build: The neighbours have put up a new wooden fence.
▪ erect formal to build a wall, fence, or building, especially a public building, or put a statue somewhere: A monument to the Canadian soliders was erected in Green Park.
▪ throw something up British English informal to build something very quickly: Developers have hastily thrown up family homes in the area.
▪ put together to make something from its parts, for example a piece of furniture: It took an hour to put the bookcase together.
▪ assemble formal to put all the parts of something such as a machine or a piece of furniture together: A line of robots assemble the cars.
build something around something phrasal verb
to base something on an idea or thing and develop it from there:
Successful businesses are built around good personal relationships.
build something ↔ in phrasal verb
to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc:
You could build in a wardrobe with mirrored doors. ⇨ ↑built-in
build something into something phrasal verb
1. to make something so that it is a permanent part of a wall, room etc:
There are three cash machines built into the wall.
2. to make something a permanent part of a system, agreement etc:
Opportunities for reviewing the timings should be built into the plan.
build on phrasal verb
1. build something on something to base something on an idea or thing:
Our relationship is built on trust.
2. build on something to use your achievements as a base for further development:
The new plan will build on the success of the previous programme.
3. to add another room to a building in order to have more space
build something ↔ on
We’re planning to build on a conservatory.
build up phrasal verb
1. INCREASE GRADUALLY if something builds up somewhere, or if you build it up, it gradually becomes bigger or greater:
the rate at which the pension builds up
build something ↔ up
The museum has built up a fine art collection. ⇨ ↑build-up
2. DEVELOP build something ↔ up to make something develop or form
build something ↔ up into
He’s built up the family firm into a multinational company.
3. FEELING if a feeling builds up, or if you build it up, it increases gradually over a period of time:
If you don’t express your feelings, frustration and anger can build up.
build up something
You have to build up trust.
4. MAKE HEALTHY build somebody/something ↔ up to make someone well and strong again, especially after an illness:
Taking exercise will build up your strength.
5. PRAISE build somebody/something ↔ up to praise someone or something so that other people think they are really good, or so that they have more confidence:
The coach has been building his men up before the match.
6. build up sb’s hopes (also build somebody's hopes up) to unfairly encourage someone to think that they will get what they hope for:
Don’t build your hopes up too much.
build up to something phrasal verb
to prepare for a particular moment or event:
I could tell she was building up to some kind of announcement.

full

I. full¹ S1 W1 /fʊl/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English]
1. NO SPACE containing as much or as many things or people as possible, so there is no space left ⇨ empty:
The train was completely full.
Don’t talk with your mouth full.
The class is full, but you can register for next term.
full of
The kitchen was full of smoke.
be crammed/stuffed/packed etc full of something
Ted’s workshop was crammed full of old engines.
half-full/three-quarters full etc
McQuaid filled his glass until it was three-quarters full.
The bath was full to the brim (=completely full) with hot water.
full (up) to bursting British English informal (=completely full)
The filing cabinet was full to bursting.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people often say that a place is packed when it is full of people:
▪ The trains are always packed in the rush hour.
2. INCLUDING EVERYTHING [only before noun] complete and including all parts or details:
Please write your full name and address on the form.
The Health Centre offers a full range of services.
Lotus will not reveal full details until the Motor Show.
The BBC promised a full investigation.
I don’t think he’s telling us the full story (=everything he knows about the matter).
3. HIGHEST AMOUNT/LEVEL [only before noun] the greatest amount or highest level of something that is possible SYN maximum:
rising prosperity and full employment
The charity helps disabled children reach their full potential.
Few customers take full advantage of off-peak fares.
Parker was driving at full speed when he hit the wall.
in full leaf/bloom
The roses were now in full bloom.
4. HAVING A LOT OF SOMETHING be full of something
a) to contain many things of the same kind:
a garden full of flowers
His essay was full of mistakes.
The music papers were full of gossip about the band.
Life’s full of surprises, isn’t it?
b) to feel, express, or show a lot of a particular emotion or quality
full of excitement/energy/hope etc
Lucy was a happy child, always full of life.
He was full of praise for the work of the unit.
c) to talk or think a lot about a particular thing:
She was full of plans for the wedding.
5. FOOD (also full up British English) [not before noun] having eaten so much food that you cannot eat any more:
No more, thanks. I’m full.
6. EMPHASIS [only before noun] used to emphasize an amount, quantity, or rate
three/six etc full days/years/pages etc
We devote five full days a month to training.
His pants rose a full three inches off his shoes.
7. BUSY busy and involving lots of different activities:
Before her illness, Rose enjoyed a full life.
Go to bed. You’ve a full day tomorrow.
8. RANK having or giving all the rights, duties etc that belong to a particular rank or position
full professor/member/colonel etc
Only full members have the right to vote.
a full driving licence
9. be full of yourself to have a high opinion of yourself – used to show disapproval:
My first impression was that he was a bit full of himself.
10. be full of crap/shit/it not polite a rude expression used to say that someone often says things that are wrong or stupid:
Don’t listen to Jerry. He’s full of it.
11. CLOTHES made using a lot of material and fitting loosely:
a dress with a full skirt
12. BODY large and rounded in an attractive way
full figure/face/breasts etc
clothes for the fuller figure
13. TASTE having a strong satisfying taste:
Now you can enjoy Nescafé's fuller flavour in a decaffeinated form. ⇨ ↑full-bodied
14. SOUND pleasantly loud and deep:
the rich full sound of the cello
15. full price not a reduced price:
If you’re over 14, you have to pay full price.
16. in full view of somebody so that all the people in a place can see, especially when this is embarrassing or shocking:
The argument happened on stage in full view of the audience.
17. be in full swing if an event or process is in full swing, it has reached its highest level of activity:
By 8.30, the party was in full swing.
18. full speed/steam ahead doing something with as much energy and effort as possible:
With last season’s misery behind them, it’s full steam ahead for the Bears.
19. be full of beans to be excited and have lots of energy
20. (at) full blast informal as strongly, loudly, or quickly as possible:
The heater was on full blast but I was still cold.
a car stereo playing Wagner at full blast
21. (at) full tilt/pelt moving as fast as possible:
She ran full tilt into his arms.
22. be in full cry if a group of people are in full cry, they are criticizing someone very strongly:
Anyone who’s seen the world’s press in full cry can understand how Diana felt.
23. to the full (also to the fullest American English) in the best or most complete way:
Ed believes in living life to the full.
24. come/go/turn full circle to be in the same situation in which you began, even though there have been changes during the time in between:
Fashion has come full circle and denim is back.
⇨ ↑fully, ⇨ have your hands full at ↑hand¹(29), ⇨ draw yourself up to your full height at ↑draw up(4)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ full containing as much or as many things or people as possible, so there is no space left: The train was nearly full. | The cupboard was full of clothes. | He spilled a full cup of coffee on the carpet.
▪ filled with something full of something – use this about a container when a lot of things have been put into it: The envelopes were filled with cash.
▪ stuffed full of something completely full of something – use this about a container when lots of things have been put into it, often in an untidy way: The case was stuffed full of clothes.
▪ packed completely full of people – use this about a room, train etc: a packed restaurant | The courtroom will be packed with journalists.
▪ bursting (with something) extremely full of something: Her wardrobe was bursting with coats and shoes. | a small garden bursting with fruit and flowers
▪ crammed so full that you cannot fit anyone or anything else in – often used when you think there are too many people or things: In summer, the hotels are crammed with tourists. | The resort’s crammed beaches are uncomfortable in summer.
▪ teeming (with something) /ˈtiːmɪŋ/ full of people, animals etc that are all moving around: The rivers are teeming with fish.
▪ overflowing used about a container that is so full that the liquid or things inside it come out over the top: an overflowing bathtub | The drawers were overflowing with magazines.
▪ overloaded used about a vehicle or a ship which has too many people or things in it: an overloaded fishing boat | The trucks are often grossly overloaded (=far too overloaded).

save

I. save¹ S1 W1 /seɪv/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑save, ↑saver, ↑saving, savings, SAVIOUR/SAVIOR; verb: ↑save]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: salver, from Late Latin salvare, from Latin salvus; ⇨ ↑safe¹]
1. FROM HARM/DANGER [transitive] to make someone or something safe from danger, harm, or destruction ⇨ rescue:
Emergency aid could save millions threatened with starvation.
a new treatment that could save his life
She was determined to save her marriage.
the campaign to save the rain forests
save somebody/something from something
He saved the child from drowning.
2. MONEY [intransitive and transitive] (also save up) to keep money in a bank so that you can use it later, especially when you gradually add more money over a period of time:
He managed to save enough to buy a small house.
So far, I’ve saved about £500.
save for
I’m saving up for a new car. ⇨ ↑saver
3. NOT WASTE [transitive] (also save on something) to use less money, time, energy etc so that you do not waste any OPP waste:
We’ll save a lot of time if we go by car.
Everyone is being encouraged to save energy.
ways to save money on heating bills
energy-saving/time-saving etc
money-saving ideas
4. TO USE LATER [transitive] to keep something so that you can use or enjoy it in the future:
We’ll save the rest of the food and have it later.
save something for something
I had a bottle of champagne which I’d been saving for a special occasion.
5. COLLECT [transitive] (also save something ↔ up) to keep all the objects of a particular kind that you can find, so that you can use them:
I’m saving up vouchers to get a cheap air ticket to the States.
6. HELP TO AVOID [transitive] to help someone by making it unnecessary for them to do something that they do not want to do:
If you lent me £5, it would save me a trip to the bank.
save somebody doing something
I’ll take the shopping home in the car to save you carrying it.
save somebody the trouble/bother (of doing something)
I’ll get a taxi from the station to save you the trouble of coming to collect me.
7. KEEP FOR SOMEBODY [transitive] to stop people from using something so that it is available for someone else:
Will you save me a seat?
save something for somebody
We’ll save some dinner for you if you’re late.
8. COMPUTER [intransitive and transitive] to make a computer keep the work that you have done on it:
Don’t forget to save before you close the file.
Did you save the changes that you made?
9. SPORT [intransitive and transitive] to stop the other team from scoring in a game such as football:
The goalkeeper just managed to save the shot.
10. you saved my life spoken used to thank someone who has helped you out of a difficult situation or solved a problem for you:
Thanks again for the loan – you really saved my life.
11. save sb’s skin/neck/bacon informal to help someone to escape from an extremely difficult or dangerous situation:
He lied in court to save his own skin.
12. save the day to stop things from going badly and make a situation end successfully:
A local businessman saved the day by donating £30,000 to the school.
13. save face to do something that will stop you from looking stupid or feeling embarrassed:
A compromise must be found which will allow both sides in the dispute to save face. ⇨ ↑face-saving
14. saving grace the one good thing that makes someone or something acceptable:
His sense of humour was his only saving grace.
15. somebody can’t do something to save his/her life informal to be completely unable to do something:
He couldn’t draw to save his life!
16. save your breath spoken used to tell someone that it is not worth saying anything, because nothing they say will make any difference to the situation:
I tried to explain, but she told me to save my breath.
17. save somebody from themselves to prevent someone from doing something that they want to do but that you think is harmful
18. RELIGION [intransitive and transitive] in the Christian church, to free someone from the power of evil and bring them into the Christian religion:
Jesus came to save sinners.
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THESAURUS
▪ save to gradually collect money by not spending all the money you have, especially when you regularly put some of it in a bank: She doesn’t earn much, but she still manages to save a few dollars each week. | We’re saving for a deposit to buy a house.
▪ set/put aside to regularly save part of the money you earn, especially over a long period of time: You should start setting aside part of your earnings as retirement savings.
▪ scrimp and save to try to save money by spending less on the things you need and by saving what you can, especially when you do not earn very much: My parents scrimped and saved for years to send me to college.
▪ squirrel something away informal to keep something, especially money, in a safe place to be used later: I wanted to surprise her, so I squirreled away a couple of dollars a week to spend on a present.
▪ economize to spend less money by buying only the things that you really need, or by buying cheaper things: Weddings can be expensive, but you can economize by doing some things yourself.

zero

I. ze‧ro¹ /ˈzɪərəʊ $ ˈziːroʊ/ BrE AmE number (plural zeros or zeroes)
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: zéro, from Arabic sifr 'empty, nothing']
1. the number 0 SYN nought British English:
Make x greater than or equal to zero.
2. the point between + and – on a scale for measuring something, or the lowest point on a scale that shows how much there is left of something:
The petrol gauge was already at zero.
3. a temperature of 0º on the Celsius or Fahrenheit scale
above/below zero
It was five degrees below zero last night. ⇨ ↑absolute zero, ↑sub-zero
4. none at all, or the lowest possible amount
sb’s chances are zero (=they have no chance of success)
Mike’s chances of winning are virtually zero.
From 1971 to 1976 West Vancouver experienced zero population growth.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ zero the number 0. Also used when saying there is nothing at all: A million is written as one followed by six zeros. | a temperature of zero degrees | Our chances of success are virtually zero.
▪ nil British English zero - used especially in the results of sports games: United won the game three-nil. | In rural areas, employment opportunities are almost nil.
▪ nought British English spoken zero – used in calculations and figures: It has increased by nought point seven five per cent (=0.75%).
▪ O used to say the number 0 like the letter O: The code for Oxford is 0 one eight six five (=01865).