Parvin fell and sprained her ankle.
The joint (= place where two bones are connected) between the foot and the leg, or the thin part of the leg just above the foot
Parvin fell and sprained her ankle.
ankle
noun
the part of your leg where it joins your foot
ankle
an‧kle /ˈæŋkəl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: ancleow]
1. the joint between your foot and your leg
break/twist/sprain your ankle
Janet slipped on the stairs and twisted her ankle.
slender ankles
2. ankle socks/boots socks or boots that only come up to your ankle
ankle
ankle [ankle ankles] [ˈæŋkl] [ˈæŋkl] noun
the joint connecting the foot to the leg
• to sprain/break your ankle
• My ankles have swollen.
• We found ourselves ankle-deep in water (= the water came up to our ankles).
• ankle boots (= that cover the ankle)
Word Origin:
Old English ancleow, of Germanic origin; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old Norse; related to Dutch enkel and German Enkel, from an Indo-European root shared by the noun angle.
Example Bank:
• I had a broken ankle.
• She has long legs and slender ankles.
• We waded through the river, ankle deep in mud.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ankle / ˈæŋ.kl̩ / noun [ C ]
B1 the joint (= place where two bones are connected) between the foot and the leg, or the thin part of the leg just above the foot:
I fell over and sprained/twisted my ankle.
See picture foot
© Cambridge University Press 2013
ankle
/æŋk(ə)l/
(ankles)
Your ankle is the joint where your foot joins your leg.
John twisted his ankle badly.
N-COUNT: usu poss N
ankle
an·kle /ˈæŋkəl/ noun, pl an·kles [count] : the joint where the foot joins the leg
• I hurt/twisted/sprained/broke my ankle.
• ankle boots [=boots that cover only the foot and ankle]
A knee injury
The middle joint of the leg, which allows it to bend
A knee injury
knee
noun
the part in the middle of your leg where it bends:
I fell and cut my knee.
knee
I. knee1 S2 W2 /niː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cneow]
1. the joint that bends in the middle of your leg:
Lucy had a bandage round her knee.
on your knees
She was on her knees (=kneeling), weeding the garden.
sink/fall/drop to your knees (=move so that you are kneeling)
Tim fell to his knees and started to pray.
a knee injury
2. the part of your clothes that covers your knee:
His jeans had holes in both knees.
3. on sb’s knee on the top part of your legs when you are sitting down:
Daddy, can I sit on your knee?
4. knees knocking (together) if your knees are knocking, you are feeling very afraid or very cold
5. on your knees in a way that shows you have no power but want or need something very much:
He went on his knees begging for his job back.
6. bring somebody/something to their knees
a) to defeat a country or group of people in a war:
The bombing was supposed to bring the country to its knees.
b) to have such a bad effect on an organization, activity etc that it cannot continue SYN cripple:
The recession has brought many companies to their knees.
7. put/take somebody over your knee old-fashioned to punish a child by hitting them
8. on bended knee(s) old-fashioned in a way that shows great respect for someone
⇨ learn/be taught something at your mother’s knee at ↑mother1(4), ⇨ the bee’s knees at ↑bee(5), ⇨ weak at the knees at ↑weak(13)
knee
knee [knee knees kneed kneeing] noun, verb [niː] [niː]
noun
1. the joint between the top and bottom parts of the leg where it bends in the middle
• a knee injury
• I grazed my knee when I fell.
• He went down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
• She was on her knees scrubbing the kitchen floor.
• Everyone was down on (their) hands and knees (= crawling on the floor) looking for the ring.
• My knees were knocking (= I was frightened).
2. the part of a piece of clothing that covers the knee
• These jeans are torn at the knee.
• a knee patch
3. the top surface of the upper part of the legs when you are sitting down
Syn: lap
• Come and sit on Daddy's knee.
more at the bee's knees at bee, on bended knee at bend v., at your mother's knee at mother n., weak at the knees at weak
Word Origin:
Old English cnēow, cnēo, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch knie and German Knie, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin genu and Greek gonu.
Example Bank:
• He dropped to one knee.
• He hugged his knees to keep warm.
• He patted her knee reassuringly.
• He refuses to wear a knee brace.
• He slapped his knee as he rocked with laughter.
• He was on his knees, searching for the missing spring.
• He went down on his knees and begged for forgiveness.
• He's snapped a ligament in his knee.
• His leg was missing below the knee.
• I balanced the pile of books on my knees.
• I injured my knee and had to have surgery.
• I rested my chin on my drawn-up knees.
• I was on my hands and knees, looking for my key.
• I went down on one knee to plug in the vacuum cleaner.
• If you hear the crash-landing warning, put your head between your knees.
• Rita felt her knees weakening.
• She had a blanket draped across her knees.
• She sat on her father's knee while he read her a story.
• She sat on her father's knee= lap while he read her a story.
• She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest.
• She would ask for a rise, but would not beg for one on bended knee.
• Suddenly her knees buckled and she fell to the floor.
• The blow knocked him to his knees.
• The children had learned these stories at their mother's knee.
• The fuel shortage brought the country to its knees within weeks.
Idioms: bring somebody to their knees ▪ bring something to its knees ▪ put somebody over your knee
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
knee / niː / noun [ C ]
B1 the middle joint of the leg, which allows it to bend:
The baby was crawling around on its hands and knees.
He got/went down on his knees (= got into a position where his knees were on the ground) in front of the altar.
She took the child and sat it on her knee (= on the part of the leg above the knee when sitting down) .
See picture body
the part of a piece of clothing that covers the knee:
She was wearing an old pair of trousers with rips at the knees.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
knee
/ni:/
(knees, kneeing, kneed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Your knee is the place where your leg bends.
He will receive physiotherapy on his damaged left knee.
...a knee injury.
N-COUNT: oft poss N
2.
If something or someone is on your knee or on your knees, they are resting or sitting on the upper part of your legs when you are sitting down.
He sat with the package on his knees...
= lap
N-COUNT: poss N, oft on N
3.
If you are on your knees, your legs are bent and your knees are on the ground.
She fell to the ground on her knees and prayed...
N-PLURAL: poss N, usu on/to N
4.
If you knee someone, you hit them using your knee.
Ian kneed him in the groin.
VERB: V n
5.
If a country or organization is brought to its knees, it is almost completely destroyed by someone or something.
The country was being brought to its knees by the loss of 2.4 million manufacturing jobs...
PHRASE: V inflects
1knee /ˈniː/ noun, pl knees [count]
1 : the joint that bends at the middle of your leg
• I fell down and hurt my knee.
• She suffered a serious knee injury.
• His knees trembled/shook with fear.
• She dropped/fell/sank to her knees [=she knelt down] and begged for forgiveness. = She got down on her knees and begged for forgiveness.
• He got/went down on one knee and proposed to her.
• If you want to clean the floor properly, you have to get down on your (hands and) knees [=you have to kneel down on the floor] and start scrubbing.
- see picture at human
2 : the upper part of your leg when you are sitting
• His little granddaughter sat on his knee.
3 : the part that covers the knee on a pair of pants
• Her jeans had holes at the knees.
4 : a forceful hit with a bent knee
• She gave him a knee to the stomach. [=she kneed him in the stomach]
bring (someone) to his/her knees : to completely defeat or overwhelm (someone)
• The general vowed he would bring the enemy to their knees.
- often used figuratively
• The increase in oil prices could bring the economy to its knees. [=it could greatly hurt the economy]
learn (something) at your mother's knee : to learn (something) when you are very young
• I learned to speak French at my mother's knee.
on bended knee/knees
- see 1bend
weak at/in the knees
My grandson, Brian, has curly, yellow hair
Having curls or a curved shape
My grandson, Brian, has curly, yellow hair
curly
adjective (curlier, curliest)
with a lot of curls opposite straight:
He's got curly hair.
curly
curl‧y /ˈkɜːli $ ˈkɜːrli/ BrE AmE adjective
1. having a lot of curls OPP straight:
long dark curly hair
2. British English curved in shape:
cows with curly horns
—curliness noun [uncountable]
curly
curly [curly curlier curliest] [ˈkɜːli] [ˈkɜːrli] adjective
(curl·ier, curli·est)
having a lot of curls or a curved shape
• short curly hair
• I wish my hair was curly.
• a curly-headed boy
• a dog with a curly tail
• curly cabbage leaves
Opp: straight
Example Bank:
• She wished she had naturally curly hair.
• Your hair's gone all curly!
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
curly / ˈkɜː.li / / ˈkɝː- / adjective
curly
B1 having curls or a curved shape:
He has blond, curly hair.
These pigs all have curly tails.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
curly
/kɜ:(r)li/
(curlier, curliest)
1.
Curly hair is full of curls.
I’ve got naturally curly hair...
Her hair was dark and curly.
≠ straight
ADJ
2.
Curly is sometimes used to describe things that are curved or spiral in shape.
...cauliflowers with extra long curly leaves.
...dragons with curly tails.
≠ straight
ADJ: usu ADJ n
curly
curly /ˈkɚli/ adj curl·i·er; -est [also more ~; most ~]
1 : having curls
• She has curly hair and blue eyes.
2 : formed into a round shape
• curly french fries
• The dog's tail is curly.
Today is the day my wife does the laundry.
The dirty clothes and sheets that need to be, are being, or have been washed
Today is the day my wife does the laundry.
laundry
noun (no plural)
clothes and sheets that you must wash or that you have washed same meaning washing:
a pile of dirty laundry
laundry
laun‧dry /ˈlɔːndri $ ˈlɒːn-/ BrE AmE noun (plural laundries)
1. [uncountable] clothes, sheets etc that need to be washed or have just been washed:
She did the laundry (=washed the clothes etc) and hung it out to dry.
Ben was folding laundry.
clean/dirty laundry
a pile of dirty laundry
2. [countable] a place or business where clothes etc are washed and ↑ironed
⇨ air/wash your dirty laundry at ↑dirty1(7)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ do the laundry (=wash and dry dirty clothes) I cleaned the kitchen and did some laundry.
▪ fold the laundry (=fold clothes after they have been washed and dried) He was folding the laundry and watching TV.
▪ hang out/up the laundry (=put the laundry outside on a line to dry) My mother was hanging out the laundry in the sun.
■ adjectives
▪ clean/dirty laundry a bag of dirty laundry
■ phrases
▪ a bundle/pile of laundry a pile of laundry waiting to be put away
▪ a load of laundry (=an amount that fits in a washing machine) I do at least one or two loads of laundry every day.
■ laundry + NOUN
▪ a laundry room There's a washing machine in the laundry room.
▪ a laundry basket Pete put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket.
laundry
laun·dry [laundry laundries] [ˈlɔːndri] [ˈlɔːndri] noun (pl. laun·dries)
1. uncountable clothes, sheets, etc. that need washing, that are being washed, or that have been washed recently
Syn: washing
• a pile of clean/dirty laundry
• a laundry basket/room
2. uncountable, singular the process or the job of washing clothes, sheets, etc
• to do the laundry
• The hotel has a laundry service.
3. countable a business or place where you send sheets, clothes, etc. to be washed
• the hospital laundry
• a laundry van
Word Origin:
early 16th cent.: contraction of Middle English lavendry, from Old French lavanderie, from lavandier ‘person who washes linen’, based on Latin lavanda ‘things to be washed’, from lavare ‘to wash’.
Example Bank:
• Here's a brief laundry list of what needs fixing.
• The hotel offers a free laundry service.
• The housekeeper cooks, does the laundry and cleans.
• There was a pile of clean laundry on her bed.
• Have you done the laundry yet?
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
laundry / ˈlɔːn.dri / / ˈlɑːn- / noun
B2 [ U ] the dirty clothes and sheets that need to be, are being, or have been washed:
I've got to do (= wash) my laundry.
[ C ] a business that washes clothes, sheets, etc. for customers
© Cambridge University Press 2013
laundry
/lɔ:ndri/
(laundries)
1.
Laundry is used to refer to clothes, sheets, and towels that are about to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed.
I’ll do your laundry...
He’d put his dirty laundry in the clothes basket.
= washing
N-UNCOUNT
2.
A laundry is a firm that washes and irons clothes, sheets, and towels for people.
We had to have the washing done at the laundry.
N-COUNT
3.
A laundry or a laundry room is a room in a house, hotel, or institution where clothes, sheets, and towels are washed.
He worked in the laundry at Oxford prison.
N-COUNT: usu sing
laundry
laun·dry /ˈlɑːndri/ noun, pl -dries
1 [noncount] : clothes, towels, sheets, etc., that need to be washed or that have been washed
• There's a pile of dirty laundry in the laundry basket.
• clean laundry
• a laundry bag
• I have to do the laundry today. [=to wash the dirty clothes, towels, etc.]
- see also dirty laundry
2 [count] : a business or place where clothes, towels, sheets, etc., are washed and dried
• work at/in a laundry
• The patients' sheets are sent regularly to the hospital laundry.
There are plans to build a new mall in the middle of town.
A large, usually covered, shopping area where cars are not allowed
There are plans to build a new mall in the middle of town.
mall
(also shopping mall) (American) noun
a large building that has a lot of shops, restaurants, etc. inside it
mall
I. mall S3 W3 /mɔːl, mæl $ mɒːl/ BrE AmE noun [countable] especially American English
[Date: 1700-1800; Origin: mall 'long path used for playing a game called "pall-mall"' (17-19 centuries)]
a large area where there are a lot of shops, usually a covered area where cars are not allowed SYN shopping centre:
Let’s meet at the mall and go see a movie.
a huge new shopping mall ⇨ ↑strip mall
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ shop especially British English, store especially American English a building or place where things are sold: She's gone to the shops to get some milk. | a clothes shop | Our local store has sold out of sugar for making jam.
▪ boutique a small shop that sells fashionable clothes or other objects: a little boutique which specializes in bath products.
▪ superstore British English a very large shop, especially one that is built outside the centre of a city: Out -of-town superstores have taken business away from shops in the city centre.
▪ department store a very large shop that is divided into several big parts, each of which sells one type of thing, such as clothes, furniture, or kitchen equipment: He went around all the big department stores in Oxford Street.
▪ supermarket (also grocery store American English) a very large shop that sells food, drinks, and things that people need regularly in their homes: Supermarkets have cut down the number of plastic bags they distribute by 50%.
▪ salon a shop where you can get your hair washed, cut curled etc
▪ garden centre British English, nursery especially American English a place that sells a wide range of plants, seeds, and things for your garden: Your local garden centre can advise you on which plants to grow.
▪ outlet formal a shop that sells things for less than the usual price, especially things from a particular company or things of a particular type: The book is available from most retail outlets.
▪ market an area, usually outdoors, where people buy and sell many different types of things: I usually buy our vegetables at the market – they're much cheaper there.
▪ mall especially American English a large area where there are a lot of shops, especially a large building: A new restaurant has opened at the mall. | We used to hang around together at the mall.
▪ strip mall American English a row of shops built together, with a large area for parking cars in front of it: Strip malls can seem rather impersonal.
II. ˈshopping mall BrE AmE (also mall) noun [countable] especially American English
a group of shops together in one large covered building
mall
mall [mall malls] [mɔːl] [mæl] [mɔːl] noun
(also shopping mall) (both especially NAmE) a large building or covered area that has many shops/stores, restaurants, etc. inside it
• Let's go to the mall.
• Some teenagers were hanging out at the mall.
compare arcade
See also: shopping mall
Word Origin:
mid 17th cent.: probably a shortening of pall-mall, a 16th and 17th cent. game. The current sense dates from the 1960s.
Collocations:
Shopping
Shopping
go/go out/be out shopping
go to (especially BrE) the shops/(especially NAmE) a store/(especially NAmE) the mall
do (BrE) the shopping/(especially NAmE) the grocery shopping/a bit of window-shopping
(NAmE, informal) hit/hang out at the mall
try on clothes/shoes
indulge in some retail therapy
go on a spending spree
cut/cut back on/reduce your spending
be/get caught shoplifting
donate sth to/take sth to/find sth in (BrE) a charity shop/(NAmE) a thrift store
buy/sell/find sth at (BrE) a car boot sale/(BrE) a jumble sale/a garage sale/(NAmE) a yard sale
find/get/pick up a bargain
At the shop/store
load/push/wheel (BrE) a trolley/(NAmE) a cart
stand in/wait in (BrE) the checkout queue/(NAmE) the checkout line
(NAmE) stand in line/ (BrE) queue at the checkout
bag (especially NAmE) (your) groceries
pack (away) (especially BrE) your shopping
stack/stock/restock the shelves at a store (with sth)
be (found) on/appear on supermarket/shop/store shelves
be in/have in/be out of/run out of stock
deal with/help/serve customers
run a special promotion
be on special offer
Buying goods
make/complete a purchase
buy/purchase sth online/by mail order
make/place/take an order for sth
buy/order sth in bulk/in advance
accept/take credit cards
pay (in) cash/by (credit/debit) card/(BrE) with a gift voucher/(NAmE) with a gift certificate
enter your PIN number
ask for/get/obtain a receipt
return/exchange an item/a product
be entitled to/ask for/demand a refund
compare prices
offer (sb)/give (sb)/get/receive a 30% discount
Example Bank:
• The website is a virtual shopping mall.
• They hit the mall for a wild shopping spree.
• They reported him to mall security.
• They spend a lot of time at the mall.
• teenagers hanging out at the mall
• ‘Where'd you get those earrings?’ ‘At the mall.’
• Let's go to the mall.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
mall / mɔːl / / mɑːl / noun [ C ] ( also ˈ shopping ˌ mall )
B1 a large, usually covered, shopping area where cars are not allowed:
There are plans to build a new mall in the middle of town.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
mall
/mɔ:l, mæl/
(malls)
A mall is a very large enclosed shopping area.
N-COUNT
mall
mall /ˈmɑːl/ noun, pl malls [count]
1 : a large building or group of buildings containing stores of many different kinds and sizes
• They spent the afternoon shopping at the mall.
- see also strip mall
2 : a public area where people walk
• a pedestrian mall
He skied down the hill.
To move over snow on skis
he skied down the hill.
>> ski verb (skis, skiing /, skied /, has skied) :
Can you ski?
We went skiing in Austria.
II. ski2 BrE AmE verb (past tense and past participle skied, present participle skiing, third person singular skis) [intransitive]
to move on skis for sport or in order to travel on snow or water ⇨ skiing:
I’m learning to ski.
We skied down to the village of Argentière.
verb (ski·ing, skied, skied)
1. intransitive (+ adv./prep.) to move over snow on skis, especially as a sport
• How well do you ski?
• We skied down the slope one by one.
2. go skiing intransitive to spend time skiing for pleasure
• We went skiing in France in March.
see also skiing, waterski
Word Origin:
mid 18th cent.: from Norwegian, from Old Norse skíth ‘billet, snowshoe’.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
ski / skiː / verb [ I or T ]
B1 to move over snow on skis:
He skied down the hill.
Shall we go skiing?
© Cambridge University Press 2013
ski
/ski:/
(skis, skiing, skied)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Skis are long, flat, narrow pieces of wood, metal, or plastic that are fastened to boots so that you can move easily on snow or water.
...a pair of skis.
N-COUNT
2.
When people ski, they move over snow or water on skis.
They surf, ski and ride...
The whole party then skied off.
VERB: V, V adv/prep
• ski‧er (skiers)
He is an enthusiastic skier.
N-COUNT
• ski‧ing
My hobbies were skiing and scuba diving.
...a skiing holiday.
N-UNCOUNT: oft N n
3.
You use ski to refer to things that are concerned with skiing.
...the Swiss ski resort of Klosters.
...a private ski instructor.
ADJ: ADJ n
2ski verb skies; skied; ski·ing : to move or glide on skis over snow or water
[no obj]
• He loves to ski.
[+ obj]
• I have skied that mountain before.
- see also water-ski
- ski·er noun, pl -ers [count]
• My brother is a very good skier.
• Skiers love fresh snow.
I hate rainy weather.
Raining a lot
I hate rainy weather.
rainy
adjective (rainier, rainiest)
with a lot of rain:
a rainy day
rainy
rain‧y /ˈreɪni/ BrE AmE adjective
1. a rainy period of time is one when it rains a lot SYN wet:
a cold rainy day in October
I hate rainy weather.
the rainy season
2. save something for a rainy day to save something, especially money, for a time when you will need it
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rainy a rainy period of time is one when it rains a lot: a cold rainy day in October | The weather continued to be rainy. | The rainy season is in July.
▪ wet rainy. Wet and rainy mean the same and are used in the same way: In Cyprus during the winter, you’ll only have the occasional wet day. | The wet weather is expected to continue. | another wet summer | It's been wet all week.
▪ damp if the air feels damp, there is a lot of ↑moisture in the air and it may be raining slightly: It was a cold damp day. | a damp November morning
▪ showery raining for short periods: the cool, bright, showery weather of early April | The weather will be showery, with some sunny intervals.
▪ drizzly raining slightly, with a lot of mist in the air: The morning was grey and drizzly.
▪ grey British English, gray American English if the sky is grey, there are a lot clouds, and it looks like it will rain: The next morning, the sky was grey. | Then, as if by magic, the sun burst through what had until then been a rather grey day.
rainy
rainy [rainy rainier rainiest] [ˈreɪni] [ˈreɪni] adjective (rain·ier, rain·iest)
having or bringing a lot of rain
• a rainy day
• the rainy season
• the rainiest place in Britain
Idiom: save/keep something for a rainy day
Word Origin:
Old English rēnig (see rain, -y).
Example Bank:
• I went there during the rainy season.
• This valley is said to be the rainiest place in Britain.
• We woke up to a rainy day.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
rainy / ˈreɪ.ni / adjective
B1 raining a lot:
We had three rainy days on holiday, but otherwise it was sunny.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
rainy
/reɪni/
(rainier, rainiest)
1.
During a rainy day, season, or period it rains a lot.
The rainy season in the Andes normally starts in December.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
If you say that you are saving something, especially money, for a rainy day, you mean that you are saving it until a time in the future when you might need it.
I’ll put the rest in the bank for a rainy day.
PHRASE
rainy
rainy /ˈreɪni/ adj rain·i·er; -est [also more ~; most ~] : having a lot of rain
• It's been rainy all day today. [=rain has been falling all day]
• rainy weather
for a rainy day informal : for a time in the future when something will be needed
• He set a little money aside for a rainy day. [=he saved a little money so that he would have it if he needed it in the future]
• I have some money that I'm saving for a rainy day.
After his puberty he never shaved his mustache.
Hair that a man grows above his upper lip
After his puberty he never shaved his mustache.
moustache
(British) (American mustache) noun
the hair above a man's mouth, below his nose:
He has got a moustache.
mustache
I. mous‧tache BrE AmE (also mustache American English) /məˈstɑːʃ $ ˈmʌstæʃ/ noun [countable]
hair that grows on a man’s upper lip ⇨ beard:
He’s shaved off his moustache.
II. mus‧tache /məˈstɑːʃ $ ˈmʌstæʃ/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: moustache, from Italian mustaccio, from Medieval Greek moustaki, from Greek mystax 'upper lip, mustache']
the usual American spelling of ↑moustache
mustache
mus·tache [mustache mustaches] (NAmE) (BrE mous·tache) [məˈstɑːʃ] [məˈstɑːʃ] noun
1. a line of hair that a man allows to grow on his upper lip
2. mustaches plural a very long mustache
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
moustache ( US usually mustache ) / mʊˈstɑːʃ / / ˈmʌs.tæʃ / noun [ C ]
moustache
B1 hair that a man grows above his upper lip:
Groucho Marx had a thick, black moustache.
See picture hair
© Cambridge University Press 2013
moustache
/məstɑ:ʃ, AM mʊstæʃ/
also mustache
(moustaches)
A man’s moustache is the hair that grows on his upper lip. If it is very long, it is sometimes referred to as his moustaches.
He was short and bald and had a moustache.
N-COUNT
• mous‧tached
...three burly, moustached middle-aged men.
ADJ
mustache
mus·tache US or chiefly Brit mous·tache /ˈmʌˌstæʃ, Brit məˈstɑːʃ/ noun, pl -tach·es [count] : hair growing on a man's upper lip
• He used a small pair of scissors to trim his mustache.
• He decided to grow a mustache.
• The actor was wearing a false/fake mustache.
- see picture at beard
- mus·tached US or chiefly Brit mous·tached /ˈmʌˌstæʃt, Brit məˈstɑːʃt/ adj
• a mustached man [=a man who has a mustache]
He was carrying a heavy load on his right shoulder.
One of the two parts of the body at each side of the neck that join the arms to the rest of the body
He was carrying a heavy load on his right shoulder.
shoulder
noun
pronunciation
The word shoulder sounds like older.
the part of your body between your neck and your arm
shoulder
I. shoul‧der1 S2 W2 /ˈʃəʊldə $ ˈʃoʊldər/ BrE AmE noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: sculdor]
1. BODY PART [countable] one of the two parts of the body at each side of the neck where the arm is connected:
She tapped the driver on the shoulder.
He put his arm around her shoulders.
His shoulders were broad and powerful.
2. CLOTHES [countable] the part of a piece of clothing that covers your shoulders:
a jacket with padded shoulders
3. MEAT [uncountable and countable] the upper part of the front leg of an animal that is used for meat
shoulder of
a shoulder of pork
4. be looking over your shoulder to feel worried that something unpleasant is going to happen to you
5.
a) a shoulder to cry on someone who gives you sympathy:
Ben is always there when I need a shoulder to cry on.
b) cry on sb’s shoulder to get sympathy from someone when you tell them your problems
6. shoulder to shoulder
a) having the same aims and wanting to achieve the same thing SYN side by side
shoulder to shoulder with
We are working shoulder to shoulder with local residents.
b) physically close together SYN side by side:
Blacks and whites stood shoulder to shoulder in the stands to applaud.
7. on sb’s shoulders if blame or a difficult job falls on someone’s shoulders, they have to take responsibility for it:
The blame rests squarely on Jim’s shoulders.
8. put your shoulder to the wheel to start to work with great effort and determination
9. ROAD-SIDE [countable] American English an area of ground beside a road, where drivers can stop their cars if they are having trouble ⇨ ↑hard shoulder, ↑soft shoulder
10. CURVED SHAPE [countable] a rounded part just below the top of something
⇨ give somebody the cold shoulder at ↑cold1(7), ⇨ have a chip on your shoulder at ↑chip1(5), ⇨ be/stand head and shoulders above the rest at ↑head1(29), ⇨ rub shoulders with at ↑rub1(5), ⇨ straight from the shoulder at ↑straight1(10)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ shrug your shoulders (=raise them to show that you do not know or care about something) Susan just shrugged her shoulders and said nothing.
▪ hunch your shoulders (=raise your shoulders and bend them forwards slightly) He hunched his shoulders against the rain.
▪ look/glance over your shoulder (=look behind you) He glanced over his shoulder and grinned at me.
▪ sb’s shoulders shake (=because they are crying or laughing) His shoulders were shaking and tears of laughter were running down his face.
▪ sb’s shoulders slump/droop/sag (=move downwards because they are sad or tired) ‘You 're right,’ he sighed, his shoulders drooping.
▪ sb’s shoulders heave (=move up and down because they are crying or breathing deeply) She turned her back again, her shoulders heaving, her eyes blind with tears.
▪ straighten/square your shoulders (=stand with your shoulders straight, in a determined way) She squared her shoulders and knocked on the door.
■ adjectives
▪ broad/wide He was of medium height, with broad shoulders.
▪ strong/powerful He had powerful shoulders and a thick neck.
▪ massive/huge Dean shrugged his massive shoulders.
▪ narrow/slim Her dark hair spilled over her narrow shoulders.
▪ thin/bony shoulders She put her arm around the girl’s thin shoulders.
shoulder
shoul·der [shoulder shoulders shouldered shouldering] noun, verb [ˈʃəʊldə(r)] [ˈʃoʊldər]
noun
PART OF BODY
1. countable either of the two parts of the body between the top of each arm and the neck
• He slung the bag over his shoulder.
• She tapped him on the shoulder.
• He looked back over his shoulder.
• She shrugged her shoulders (= showing that she didn't know or care).
• an off-the-shoulder dress
• He carried the child on his shoulders.
-SHOULDERED
2. (in adjectives) having the type of shoulders mentioned
• broad-shouldered
see also round-shouldered
CLOTHING
3. countable the part of a piece of clothing that covers the shoulder
• a jacket with padded shoulders
MEAT
4. uncountable, countable ~ (of sth) meat from the top part of one of the front legs of an animal that has four legs
OF MOUNTAIN/BOTTLE, ETC.
5. countable ~ (of sth) a part of sth, such as a bottle or mountain, that is shaped like a shoulder
• The village lay just around the shoulder of the hill.
SIDE OF ROAD
6. countable (NAmE) an area of ground at the side of a road where vehicles can stop in an emergency
• No shoulder for next 5 miles.
see also hard shoulder, soft shoulder
more at have a chip on your shoulder at chip n., give sb the cold shoulder at cold adj., be/stand head and shoulders above sb/sthhave a good head on your shoulders at head n., (have) an old head on young shoulders at old, rub shoulders with sb at rub v., straight from the shoulder at straight adv.
Word Origin:
Old English sculdor, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch schouder and German Schulter.
Collocations:
Physical appearance
A person may be described as having:
Eyes
(bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
Face
a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
full/thick/thin/pouty lips
dry/chapped/cracked lips
flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache/ (especially US) mustache
Hair and skin
pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(BrE) ginger/grey hair
straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
a bald/balding/shaved head
a receding hairline
a bald patch/spot
a side/centre/(US) center (BrE) parting/ (NAmE) part
Body
a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
big/wide/narrow/slim hips
a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
thin/slender/muscular arms
big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Example Bank:
• He hunched his shoulders against the cold wind.
• He slung the sack over his shoulder and set off.
• Her shoulders lifted in a vague shrug.
• His broad shoulders heaved with sobs.
• His frozen shoulder has stopped him from playing tennis.
• I tapped the man on the shoulder and asked him to move.
• In an aggressive situation, we stand tall and square our shoulders.
• Inhale, drop your shoulders and raise your chest.
• Keep the feet shoulder width apart.
• My shoulders dropped with relief.
• Roll your shoulders forward and take a deep breath.
• She was crouched with her head forward and her shoulders bent.
• The bullet hit him squarely between the shoulder blades.
• The child sat on her father's shoulders to watch the parade go by.
• The route of the procession was lined with police officers standing shoulder to shoulder.
• When I asked him why he'd done it he just shrugged his shoulders.
Idioms: looking over your shoulder ▪ on somebody's shoulders ▪ put your shoulder to the wheel ▪ shoulder to cry on ▪ shoulder to shoulder
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
shoulder / ˈʃəʊl.də r / / ˈʃoʊl.dɚ / noun (BODY PART)
B1 [ C ] one of the two parts of the body at each side of the neck that join the arms to the rest of the body:
I rested my head on her shoulder.
Then she put her arm round my shoulder and gave me a kiss.
She glanced nervously over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening.
See picture body
shoulders [ plural ] the top part of a person's back:
He was about six feet tall with broad shoulders.
"I don't know what to do about it," said Martha, shrugging her shoulders.
the parts of a piece of clothing that cover the wearer's shoulders:
The shoulders look a bit tight. Do you want to try a larger size?
a jacket with padded shoulders
[ C ] the part of a bottle that curves out below its opening [ C ] US for hard shoulder
-shouldered / -də r d / / -dɚd / suffix
to be broad/narrow -shouldered
shoulder / ˈʃəʊl.də r / / ˈʃoʊl.dɚ / noun (RESPONSIBILITY)
sb's shoulders used to refer to the responsibility that someone has or feels for something:
A huge burden was lifted from my shoulders (= I became much less worried) when I told my parents about my problem.
Responsibility for the dispute rests squarely on the shoulders of the president.
shoulder / ˈʃəʊl.də r / / ˈʃoʊl.dɚ / noun [ C or U ] (MEAT)
a piece of meat that includes the upper part of an animal's front leg:
I've bought a shoulder of lamb for Sunday lunch.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
shoulder
/ʃoʊldə(r)/
(shoulders, shouldering, shouldered)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Your shoulders are between your neck and the tops of your arms.
She led him to an armchair, with her arm round his shoulder...
He glanced over his shoulder and saw me watching him.
N-COUNT: oft poss N
2.
The shoulders of a piece of clothing are the parts that cover your shoulders.
...extravagant fashions with padded shoulders.
N-COUNT
3.
When you talk about someone’s problems or responsibilities, you can say that they carry them on their shoulders.
No one suspected the anguish he carried on his shoulders...
N-PLURAL: poss N
4.
If you shoulder the responsibility or the blame for something, you accept it.
He has had to shoulder the responsibility of his father’s mistakes...
= accept
VERB: V n
5.
If you shoulder something heavy, you put it across one of your shoulders so that you can carry it more easily.
The rest of the group shouldered their bags, gritted their teeth and set off...
VERB: V n
6.
If you shoulder someone aside or if you shoulder your way somewhere, you push past people roughly using your shoulder.
The policemen rushed past him, shouldering him aside...
She could do nothing to stop him as he shouldered his way into the house...
He shouldered past Harlech and opened the door.
VERB: V n with aside, V way prep/adv, V past/through n
7.
A shoulder is a joint of meat from the upper part of the front leg of an animal.
...shoulder of lamb.
N-VAR
8.
see also cold-shoulder, hard shoulder
9.
If someone offers you a shoulder to cry on or is a shoulder to cry on, they listen sympathetically as you talk about your troubles.
Roland sometimes saw me as a shoulder to cry on.
PHRASE: usu PHR after v
10.
If you say that someone or something stands head and shoulders above other people or things, you mean that they are a lot better than them.
The two candidates stood head and shoulders above the rest...
PHRASE: PHR above n
11.
If two or more people stand shoulder to shoulder, they are standing next to each other, with their shoulders touching.
They fell into step, walking shoulder to shoulder with their heads bent against the rain...
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR
12.
If people work or stand shoulder to shoulder, they work together in order to achieve something, or support each other.
They could fight shoulder-to-shoulder against a common enemy...
PHRASE: usu v PHR
13.
a chip on one’s shoulder: see chip
to rub shoulders with: see rub
1shoul·der /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ noun, pl -ders
1 [count] : the part of your body where your arm is connected
• He rested the baby's head on his shoulder.
• He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
• She carried a backpack on one shoulder.
• He has broad shoulders.
- often used figuratively
• The responsibility for the failure falls squarely on her shoulders. [=she is completely responsible for the failure]
- see picture at human; see also cold shoulder
2 a [count] : the part of an animal's body where a front leg is connected
• The horse is five feet high at the shoulder.
b : a cut of meat from the shoulder of an animal
[count]
• a shoulder of lamb
[noncount]
• We had pork shoulder for dinner.
3 [count] : the part of a piece of clothing that covers your shoulders - usually plural
• The jacket is tight in the shoulders.
• The blouse has padded shoulders.
4 [count] : a part of something that is near the top and that resembles a person's shoulder in shape - often + of
• the shoulder of the hill/bottle
5 [singular] US : the outside edge of a road that is not used for travel
• They pulled over to the shoulder to fix the flat tire.
- called also (Brit) hard shoulder,
a good head on your shoulders
- see 1head
a shoulder to cry on
1 : a person who gives you sympathy and support
• She's always been a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.
2 : sympathy and support
• He offered me a shoulder to cry on when my husband left me.
have a chip on your shoulder
- see 1chip
head and shoulders above
- see 1head
look over your shoulder : to worry or think about the possibility that something bad might happen, that someone will try to harm you, etc.
• You can never feel confident in this business. You always have to be looking over your shoulder.
rub shoulders with
- see 1rub
shoulder to shoulder
1 : physically close together
• Everyone was standing/squeezed shoulder to shoulder on the crowded bus.
2 : united together to achieve a shared goal
• I stand shoulder to shoulder with the other legislators in this effort.
Don't blame it on others!
to say or think that someone or something did something wrong or is responsible for something bad happening
Don't blame it on others!
blame
verb (blames, blaming, blamed )
to say that a certain person or thing made something bad happen:
The other driver blamed me for the accident.
blame
I. blame1 S2 W3 /bleɪm/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: blamer, from Late Latin blasphemare; ⇨ blaspheme]
1. to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad:
Don’t blame me – it’s not my fault.
I blame his mother. She does everything for him.
blame somebody/something for something
Marie still blames herself for Patrick’s death.
The report blames poor safety standards for the accident.
The decision to increase interest rates was widely blamed (=blamed by many people) for the crisis.
blame something on somebody/something
One of the computers is broken and she’s blaming it on me.
The crash was blamed on pilot error.
2. somebody/something is to blame (for something) used to say that someone or something is responsible for something bad:
Officials believe that more than one person may be to blame for the fire.
partly/largely/entirely etc to blame
Television is partly to blame.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say something is someone's fault , rather than saying they are to blame:
▪ He was to blame for the accident. ➔ The accident was his fault.
3. I don’t blame you/you can hardly blame him etc spoken used to say that you think it was right or reasonable for someone to do what they did:
‘She’s left her husband.’ ‘I don’t blame her, after the way he treated her.’
You can hardly blame him for not waiting.
4. don’t blame me spoken used when you are advising someone not to do something but you think that they will do it in spite of your advice:
Buy it then, but don’t blame me when it breaks down.
5. somebody only has himself/herself to blame spoken used to say that someone’s problems are their own fault:
If he fails his exams, he’ll only have himself to blame.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ blame verb [transitive] to say or think that someone or something is responsible for something bad that has happened: Democrats have blamed Republicans for the failure to reach an agreement. | Police blamed bad weather for a series of accidents on the roads. | For many years I blamed myself for her death. | They blamed the failure of the business on the economic downturn.
▪ put/place/lay the blame on somebody/something to say who or what you think is responsible for something bad that has happened, often unfairly or wrongly: Don’t try to put the blame on me! | Subsequent investigations placed the blame squarely on city officials. | Farmers have laid the blame for their problems entirely on EU policies.
▪ say it’s sb’s fault especially spoken to say that someone is responsible for something bad that has happened: Are you saying it’s my fault that we lost the game?
▪ hold somebody responsible to say that someone is responsible for something bad that has happened, because it was their duty to prevent it from happening: He was held personally responsible for the failure of the project.
▪ take the rap informal (also carry the can British English informal) to be blamed and punished for something that you did not do, or that someone else is also responsible for: He expects his wife to take the rap for him. | Alan’s colleagues decided to let him carry the can.
blame
blame [blame blames blamed blaming] verb, noun [bleɪm] [bleɪm]
verb
to think or say that sb/sth is responsible for sth bad
• ~ sb/sth (for sth) She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death.
• A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire.
• ~ sth on sb/sth Police are blaming the accident on dangerous driving.
Verb forms:
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French blamer, blasmer (verb), from a popular Latin variant of ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare ‘reproach, revile, blaspheme’, from Greek blasphēmein, from blasphēmos ‘evil-speaking’.
Thesaurus:
blame verb T
• She blamed the police for failing to respond quickly.
criticize • • attack • • condemn • • denounce • |formal censure • • rebuke • • castigate •
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure/rebuke/castigate sb/sth for sth
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure the government/president
blame/criticize/attack/condemn/denounce/censure/rebuke/castigate sb/sth publicly
Example Bank:
• A spokesman said that bad weather was partly to blame for the delay.
• Blaming the victim is characteristic of any prejudice.
• He is widely blamed for masterminding the attacks.
• I don't blame Jack for the mistake.
• The government has been widely blamed for the crisis.
• Whenever something goes wrong, everyone blames it on me.
• You can hardly blame Peter for being angry with her.
• You can't really blame them for not telling you.
• Call her if you like but don't blame me if she's angry.
• If you lose your job you'll only have yourself to blame.
• She blamed the government for failing to respond to the crisis.
• She doesn't blame anyone for her father's death.
Idioms: I don't blame you ▪ don't blame me ▪ only have yourself to blame ▪ to blame
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
blame / bleɪm / verb [ T ]
B1 to say or think that someone or something did something wrong or is responsible for something bad happening:
Don't blame me (= it is not my fault) if you miss the bus!
Hugh blames his mother for his lack of confidence.
Hugh blames his lack of confidence on his mother.
You can't really blame Helen for not want ing to get involved.
I don't blame sb C2 said in order to tell someone that you understand why they are doing something and that you agree with their reason for doing it:
I don't blame him for getting angry - she's behaving dreadfully.
'I decided to leave.' 'I don't blame you!'
be to blame C1 to be the reason for something that happens:
The hot weather is partly to blame for the water shortage.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
blame
[ble͟ɪm]
♦♦
blames, blaming, blamed
1) VERB If you blame a person or thing for something bad, you believe or say that they are responsible for it or that they caused it.
[V n for n] The commission is expected to blame the army for many of the atrocities...
[V n on n] The police blamed the explosion on terrorists...
[V n] If it wasn't Sam's fault, why was I blaming him?
N-UNCOUNT
Blame is also a noun. Nothing could relieve my terrible sense of blame.
2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N for n/-ing The blame for something bad that has happened is the responsibility for causing it or letting it happen.
Some of the blame for the miscarriage of justice must be borne by the solicitors...
The president put the blame squarely on his opponent.
3) VERB: usu with brd-neg If you say that you do not blame someone for doing something, you mean that you consider it was a reasonable thing to do in the circumstances.
[V n for -ing] I do not blame them for trying to make some money...
[V n] He slammed the door and stormed off. I could hardly blame him.
4) PHRASE: v-link PHR If someone is to blame for something bad that has happened, they are responsible for causing it.
If their forces were not involved, then who is to blame?...
The policy is partly to blame for causing the worst unemployment in Europe.
5) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone has only themselves to blame or has no-one but themselves to blame, you mean that they are responsible for something bad that has happened to them and that you have no sympathy for them.
My life is ruined and I suppose I only have myself to blame.
1blame /ˈbleɪm/ verb blames; blamed; blam·ing [+ obj] : to say or think that a person or thing is responsible for something bad that has happened
• Don't blame me. You are responsible for your own problems.
• Don't blame me for your problems. = Don't blame your problems on me.
• The company blames the poor economy for its financial losses. = The company blames its financial losses on the poor economy.
• My father always blames everything on me.
• I blame the poor harvest on the weather.
blame the messenger
- see messenger
have yourself to blame
✦If you have only yourself to blame or have no one to blame but yourself, then something is your fault and nobody else's.
• She has only herself to blame for her money problems.
not blame
✦If you say that you wouldn't/don't/can't blame someone or can hardly blame someone, you think that person has a good reason for doing something.
• After the way he treated you, I wouldn't blame you [=I would completely understand] if you never spoke to him again.
• You can hardly blame her for being angry.
to blame : responsible for something bad : deserving to be blamed for something.
• Who's to blame for these problems?
• He says he's not to blame for the delays. [=he did not cause the delays]
• Poor communication is at least partly to blame. [=at fault]
