C1 (Advanced)

consciousness

consciousness [noun] (UNDERSTANDING)

the state of understanding and realizing something

US /ˈkɑːn.ʃəs.nəs/ 
UK /ˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs/ 
Example: 

Her consciousness that she's different makes her feel uneasy.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

consciousness

 noun (no plural)
the state of being able to see, hear, feel and think:
As she fell, she hit her head and lost consciousness.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

consciousness

consciousness W3 /ˈkɒnʃəsnəs, ˈkɒnʃəsnɪs $ ˈkɑːn-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑subconscious, ↑unconscious, ↑consciousness, ↑unconsciousness; adverb: ↑subconsciously, ↑consciously ≠ ↑unconsciously; adjective: ↑conscious ≠ ↑unconscious, ↑subconscious]
1. [uncountable] the condition of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you:
David lost consciousness (=went into a deep sleep) at eight o'clock and died a few hours later.
She could faintly hear voices as she began to regain consciousness (=wake up).
2. [uncountable and countable] your mind and your thoughts:
The painful memories eventually faded from her consciousness.
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness.
research into human consciousness
3. [countable] someone’s ideas, feelings, or opinions about politics, life etc:
The experience helped to change her political consciousness.
4. [uncountable] when you know that something exists or is true SYN awareness:
This will increase public consciousness of the pollution issue.
⇨ ↑stream of consciousness
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
lose consciousness (=go into a type of deep sleep that is not normal) As she fell, she hit her head and lost consciousness for several minutes.
regain/recover consciousness (=wake up) I wanted to stay at the hospital until he regained consciousness.
return to consciousness When I returned to consciousness, my head was throbbing with pain.
bring somebody back to consciousness The doctors were unable to bring her back to consciousness.
drift in and out of consciousness (=be awake and then not awake, and then awake again, etc) He had a high temperature and was drifting in and out of consciousness.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

consciousness

con·scious·ness [consciousness]   [ˈkɒnʃəsnəs]    [ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs]  noun uncountable
1. the state of being able to use your senses and mental powers to understand what is happening
I can't remember any more— I must have lost consciousness.

• She did not regain consciousness and died the next day.

2. the state of being aware of sth
Syn:  awareness
• his consciousness of the challenge facing him

class-consciousness (= consciousness  of different classes in society)

3. the ideas and opinions of a person or group
her newly-developed political consciousness
issues affecting the popular consciousness of the time
see also  stream of consciousness  
Example Bank:
He claims that it's a form of false consciousness for working people to vote.
Hip-hop exploded into popular consciousness at the same time as the music video.
I left the room with full consciousness of the impression I would make.
In some cultures shamans use drugs to alter consciousness.
Our role as educators is to develop a critical consciousness among our students.
She hit her head on a rock and lost consciousness.
She sees racism as a form of false consciousness, where a society collectively believes untrue things about other races.
The cold water brought me back to full consciousness.
The idea firmly lodged itself in the public consciousness.
The words slowly entered her consciousness.
These memories became an important component of Polish historical consciousness.
They have succeeded in raising consciousness on many issues.
When she regained consciousness she was in a hospital bed.
a book that has changed cultural consciousness in the US
a change that altered our collective consciousness forever
a decline in civic consciousness and a growing indifference to public affairs
a growing consciousness of environmental issues among children
a key position in feminist consciousness
a new consciousness about the health consequences of pesticides
a new political consciousness among young people
a sense of ethnic consciousness among Lithuanian Americans
an altered state of consciousness
imagery that has entered the national consciousness through the media
powerful states of cosmic consciousness
the modern study of animal consciousness
the practices that are used by yogis to reach divine consciousness
to aspire to a higher consciousness
Her consciousness of the challenge that faced her did not put her off.
In popular consciousness he will always be a hero.
The memory remained deep in his consciousness.
• There has always been a strong social consciousness in the city.

• We need to raise people's consciousness of environmental issues.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

consciousness / ˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs /   / ˈkɑːn- / noun [ U ] (UNDERSTANDING)

C1 the state of understanding and realizing something:

[ + that ] Her consciousness that she's different makes her feel uneasy.

Working in an unemployment office had helped to raise his political consciousness.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

consciousness

[kɒ̱nʃəsnəs]
 ♦♦♦
 consciousnesses

 1) N-COUNT: usu sing, usu poss N Your consciousness is your mind and your thoughts.
  That idea has been creeping into our consciousness for some time.
  Syn:
  awareness
 2) N-UNCOUNT: with supp The consciousness of a group of people is their set of ideas, attitudes, and beliefs.
  The Greens were the catalysts of a necessary change in the European consciousness.
  Syn:
  awareness
 3) N-UNCOUNT: supp N You use consciousness to refer to an interest in and knowledge of a particular subject or idea.
  Her political consciousness sprang from her upbringing when her father's illness left the family short of money.
  Syn:
  awareness
 4) N-UNCOUNT Consciousness is the state of being awake rather than being asleep or unconscious. If someone loses consciousness, they become unconscious, and if they regain consciousness, they become conscious after being unconscious.
  She banged her head and lost consciousness...
  He drifted in and out of consciousness.
 5) → See also stream of consciousness

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

consciousness

con·scious·ness /ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/ noun, pl -ness·es
1 [noncount] : the condition of being conscious : the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you
• She experienced a brief loss of consciousness. = She lost consciousness [=became unconscious] briefly.
• He slowly regained consciousness [=became conscious again; woke up] after the surgery.
2 a : a person's mind and thoughts

[count]

- usually singular
• The realization first entered my consciousness when I was a young child.
• The memory was forever etched in her consciousness.

[noncount]

• The medication caused her to enter an altered state of consciousness.
- see also stream of consciousness
b [noncount] : knowledge that is shared by a group of people
• The events have become part of the national consciousness.
• a crisis that has faded from the public consciousness [=that the public no longer remembers or thinks about]
3 : awareness or knowledge of something specified

[count]

- usually singular
• a magazine that aims to raise the political consciousness of teenagers [=to make teenagers more aware of political issues]
• I was impressed by his consciousness of our situation.
• She developed a strong social consciousness. [=she became aware of important social issues]

[noncount]

• He hopes that he can raise public consciousness of the disease.

solid

solid [adjective] (COLOUR)

describes a metal or a colour that is pure and does not have anything else mixed together with it

US /ˈsɑː.lɪd/ 
UK /ˈsɒl.ɪd/ 
Example: 

a white rose on a solid blue background

Oxford Essential Dictionary

 adjective

1 hard, not like a liquid or a gas:
Water becomes solid when it freezes.

2 with no empty space inside; made of the same material inside and outside:
a solid rubber ball
This ring is solid gold.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

solid

I. solid1 S3 W3 /ˈsɒləd, ˈsɒlɪd $ ˈsɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑solid, ↑solidarity, ↑solidity, solids, ↑solidification; verb: ↑solidify; adverb: ↑solidly; adjective: ↑solid]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: solide, from Latin solidus]
1. FIRM/HARD hard or firm, with a fixed shape, and not a liquid or gas:
The lake was frozen solid.
It was good to be back on solid ground again.
Is the baby eating solid food (=bread, meat etc) yet?
The ship’s sonar can detect the presence of solid objects in the water.
2. ONLY ONE MATERIAL consisting completely of one type of material
solid gold/silver etc
a solid gold cup
solid wood/pine/oak etc
a chest made of solid oak
3. NOT HOLLOW having no holes or spaces inside OPP hollow:
a solid rubber ball
a shrine carved out of solid rock
4. WITHOUT SPACES continuous, without any spaces or breaks:
It’s not safe to pass when the lines in the middle of the road are solid.
5. STRONGLY MADE strong and well made OPP flimsy:
a solid piece of furniture
The frame is as solid as a rock (=extremely solid).
6. GOOD AND LONG-LASTING a solid achievement or solid work is of real, practical, and continuing value:
five years of solid achievement
The first two years provide a solid foundation in the basics of computing.
7. DEPENDABLE someone or something that is solid can be depended on or trusted SYN sound:
a solid reputation
The prosecution in this case has no solid evidence.
You can rely on Wylie for good solid advice.
a solid Labour stronghold (=where people always vote for this party)
8. CONTINUING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION informal used to emphasize that something continues for a long time without any pauses:
The lecture lasted two solid hours.
five hours/two weeks etc solid
On Saturday I went to bed and slept fourteen hours solid.
9. packed solid informal if shops, trains, buses etc are packed solid, they are full of people
10. on solid ground confident because you are dealing with a subject you are sure about, or because you are in a safe situation:
To make sure that he was on solid ground, he confirmed his findings with others.
11. GOOD British English informal good
12. DIFFICULT British English informal very difficult:
I couldn’t do any of the maths last night – it was solid.
13. SHAPE technical having length, width, and height SYN three-dimensional:
A sphere is a solid figure.
14. IN AGREEMENT be solid British English to be in complete agreement:
The workers are 100% solid on this issue.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

solid

solid [solid solids solider solidest] adjective, noun   [ˈsɒlɪd]    [ˈsɑːlɪd]

adjective  

NOT LIQUID/GAS
1. hard or firm; not in the form of a liquid or gas
The planet Jupiter may have no solid surface at all.
The boat bumped against a solid object.
She had refused all solid food.
It was so cold that the stream had frozen solid.

The boiler uses solid fuel.  

WITHOUT HOLES OR SPACES

2. having no holes or spaces inside; not hollow
They were drilling through solid rock.

The stores are packed solid (= very full and crowded) at this time of year.  

 

STRONG

3. strong and made well

These chains seem fairly solid.  

 

RELIABLE

4. that you can rely on; having a strong basis
As yet, they have no solid evidence.
His advice was always solid and practical.
This provided a solid foundation for their marriage.

The Irish team were solid as a rock in defence.  

 

GOOD BUT NOT SPECIAL

5. definitely good and steady but perhaps not excellent or special
2008 was a year of solid achievement.

He's a solid player.  

 

MATERIAL

6. only before noun made completely of the material mentioned (that is, the material is not only on the surface)

a solid gold bracelet  

 

PERIOD OF TIME

7. (informal) without a pause; continuous
The essay represents a solid week's work.

It rained for two hours solid this afternoon.  

 

COLOUR

8. of the colour mentioned and no other colour

One cat is black and white, the other solid black.  

SHAPE

9. (geometry) a shape that is solid has length, width and height and is not flat

A cube is a solid figure.  

IN AGREEMENT

10. in complete agreement; agreed on by everyone
The department was solid against the changes.
The strike was solid, supported by all the members.
see also  rock solid  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin solidus; related to salvus ‘safe’ and sollus ‘entire’.  
Thesaurus:
solid adj.
1.
The stream was frozen solid.
hardstiffrigid|approving firm
Opp: liquid
solid/stiff/rigid material
a solid/hard/firm surface
2.
She always gives solid and practical advice.
goodsoundvalidlogicalwell founded
Opp: flimsy
a solid/good/sound/valid/logical reason/basis
solid/good/sound/valid evidence
solid/good/sound advice
3. only before noun
a bracelet made of solid gold
purerefined
Opp: hollow
solid/pure/refined silver/gold  
Example Bank:
Support for the plan remained rock solid.
The ice felt solid enough.
The songwriting quality is consistently solid.
The water was frozen solid.
There is pretty solid evidence to show that the disease is caused by poor hygiene.
2006 was a year of solid achievement.
A solid silver bracelet was among the items up for auction.
Each piece is individually made in solid gold.
He flung open the solid wood door.
He's a good, solid player.
Her advice is always solid and practical.
It was so cold that the stream had frozen solid.
The boiler uses solid fuel.
The door was solid as rock.
Their friendship provided a solid foundation for their future together.
There's solid evidence to show he wasn't there when the crime took place.
Trade remained solid throughout the year.

Under her bare toes the floor felt real and solid.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

C1 describes a metal or a colour that is pure and does not have anything else mixed together with it:

solid gold/silver candlesticks

a white rose on a solid blue background

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

solid

[sɒ̱lɪd]
 ♦♦♦
 solids

 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n A solid substance or object stays the same shape whether it is in a container or not.
  ...the potential of greatly reducing our solid waste problem...
  He did not eat solid food for several weeks.
  Ant:
  liquid
 2) N-COUNT A solid is a substance that stays the same shape whether it is in a container or not.
  Solids turn to liquids at certain temperatures...
  No baby should be given any solids before four months old.
  Ant:
  liquid
 3) ADJ-GRADED A substance that is solid is very hard or firm.
  The snow had melted, but the lake was still frozen solid...
  The concrete will stay as solid as a rock.
 4) ADJ: usu ADJ n A solid object or mass does not have a space inside it, or holes or gaps in it.
  ...a tunnel carved through 50ft of solid rock.
  ...a solid wall of multicoloured trees.
  ...a solid mass of colour...
  The car park was absolutely packed solid with people.
 5) ADJ: ADJ n If an object is made of solid gold or solid wood, for example, it is made of gold or wood all the way through, rather than just on the outside.
  The taps appeared to be made of solid gold.
  ...solid wood doors.
  ...solid pine furniture.
 6) ADJ-GRADED A structure that is solid is strong and is not likely to collapse or fall over.
  Banks are built to look solid to reassure their customers...
  The car feels very solid.
  Derived words:
  solidly ADV-GRADED ADV with v Their house, which was solidly built, resisted the main shock.
  solidity [səlɪ̱dɪti] N-UNCOUNT ...the solidity of walls and floors.
 7) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you describe someone as solid, you mean that they are very reliable and respectable.
  You want a husband who is solid and stable, someone who will devote himself to you...
  All the band come from good, solid, working-class backgrounds...
  Mr Zuma had a solid reputation as a grass roots organiser.
  Syn:
  reliable, dependable
  Derived words:
  solidly ADV-GRADED Graham is so solidly consistent.
  solidity N-UNCOUNT He had the proverbial solidity of the English.
 8) ADJ-GRADED Solid evidence or information is reliable because it is based on facts.
  We don't have good solid information on where the people are...
  Some solid evidence was what was required...
  He has a solid alibi.
  Syn:
  reliable
 9) ADJ-GRADED You use solid to describe something such as advice or a piece of work which is useful and reliable.
  The CIU provides churches with solid advice on a wide range of subjects...
  All I am looking for is a good solid performance...
  I've always felt that solid experience would stand me in good stead.
  Syn:
  sound
  Derived words:
  solidly ADV-GRADED ADV with v She's played solidly throughout the spring.
 10) ADJ-GRADED You use solid to describe something such as the basis for a policy or support for an organization when it is strong, because it has been developed carefully and slowly.
  I am determined to build on this solid foundation.
  ...a Democratic nominee with solid support within the party and broad appeal beyond.
  ...Washington's attempt to build a solid international coalition.
  Syn:
  firm, strong
  Derived words:
  solidly ADV-GRADED ADV adj/prep, ADV with v The Los Alamos district is solidly Republican... So far, majority public opinion in Egypt seems solidly behind the government's policy. ...a society based solidly on trust and understanding.
  solidity N-UNCOUNT ...doubts over the solidity of European backing for the American approach.
 11) ADJ: ADJ n, -ed ADJ If you do something for a solid period of time, you do it without any pause or interruption throughout that time.
  We had worked together for two solid years.
  Derived words:
  solidly ADV-GRADED ADV with v People who had worked solidly since Christmas enjoyed the chance of a Friday off.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1sol·id /ˈsɑːləd/ adj
1 : firm or hard : not having the form of a gas or liquid
• Concrete is a solid material.
• particles of solid matter
• When ice melts, it passes from a solid to a liquid form.
• I was on a liquid diet when I was sick because I couldn't digest solid food.
• His muscles are very solid. [=hard]
• I was glad to get off the plane and back on solid ground.
• The pond was frozen solid.
2 : having no space inside : not hollow
• a solid rubber ball
• a solid object
3 a always used before a noun : made entirely from the specified material
• The ring is solid gold/silver.
solid oak/cherry/mahogany furniture
• a chunk of solid marble/granite
b : consisting only of the color specified or only of one color
• I prefer solid colors like blue or green instead of plaids and stripes.
see color picture 
4 : having no breaks, spaces, or pauses
• The road was divided by a solid yellow line.
• We talked for three solid hours. [=we talked for three hours without stopping]
- often used figuratively
• The rain fell in solid sheets. [=the rain fell very heavily]
• The stores are always packed solid [=very crowded] during the holidays.
• The hotels in the city were booked solid for the conference.
5 [more ~; most ~]
a : good and able to be trusted to do or provide what is needed
• He plays solid defense.
• The team's defense is very solid.
• She gave a solid performance.
• She's a good, solid player.
b : having a strong basis : good and dependable
• His friend gave him some good, solid advice.
• The company has built/established a solid reputation.
• She had solid reasons for her decision.
• Students need a solid foundation in language skills.
• The prosecution has no solid evidence.
• He had a solid alibi.
• Financially, the company is (as) solid as a rock. [=the company is in very good condition]
6 [more ~; most ~] : strong and well-made
solid furniture
• This chair is very solid.
7 US : agreeing with or supporting something (such as a political party) in a completely loyal and dependable way
• She is a solid Democrat/Republican.
8 geometry : having length, width, and height : three-dimensional
• a solid geometric figure
- sol·id·ly adv
solidly constructed furniture
• a solidly built athlete
• She put her feet solidly [=securely] on the ground.
• Her reputation was solidly established.
• a solidly Republican area/suburb [=an area/suburb where most people vote for Republicans]
• Environmentalists were solidly [=completely] opposed to drilling in the area.
• The quarterback played solidly during the second half.
- sol·id·ness noun [noncount]

self-conscious

self-conscious [adjective]

nervous or uncomfortable because you know what people think about you or your actions

US /ˌselfˈkɑːn.ʃəs/ 
UK /ˌselfˈkɒn.ʃəs/ 
Example: 

He looked uncomfortable, like a self-conscious adolescent.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

self-conscious

 adjective
worried about what other people think of you:
She walked into her new school feeling very self-conscious.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

self-conscious

ˌself-ˈconscious BrE AmE adjective
1. worried and embarrassed about what you look like or what other people think of you
self-conscious about
Jerry’s pretty self-conscious about his weight.
2. self-conscious art, writing etc shows that the artist etc is paying too much attention to how the public will react to their work
—self-consciously adverb:
The boys posed rather self-consciously for the photo.
—self-consciousness noun [uncountable]

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

self-conscious

ˌself-ˈconscious [self-conscious self-consciously self-consciousness]       adjective
1. ~ (about sth) nervous or embarrassed about your appearance or what other people think of you
• He's always been self-conscious about being so short.

• She was a shy, self-conscious girl.

2. (often disapproving) done in a way that shows you are aware of the effect that is being produced
The humour of the play is self-conscious and contrived.
Opp:  unselfconscious 
Derived Words: self-consciously  self-consciousness  
Example Bank:
He studied her in a way that made her very self-conscious.
• He's always been self-conscious about being so short.

• Taken aback by her frankness, he gave a little self-conscious laugh.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

ˌ self- ˈ conscious / ˌselfˈkɒn.ʃəs /   / -ˈkɑːn- / adjective

C1 nervous or uncomfortable because you know what people think about you or your actions:

He looked uncomfortable, like a self-conscious adolescent.

 

ˌ self- ˈ consciously / ˌselfˈkɒn.ʃəs.li /   / -ˈkɑːn- / adverb

 

ˌ self- ˈ consciousness / ˌselfˈkɒn.ʃəs.nəs /   / -ˈkɑːn- / noun [ U ]

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

self-conscious

 1) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n Someone who is self-conscious is easily embarrassed and nervous because they feel that everyone is looking at them and judging them.
  I felt a bit self-conscious in my swimming costume...
  Bess was self-conscious about being shorter than her two friends.
  Derived words:
  self-consciously ADV-GRADED ADV with v I glanced down at my dress jacket a little self-consciously... She was fiddling self-consciously with her wedding ring.
  self-consciousness N-UNCOUNT ...her painful self-consciousness.
 2) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone or something as self-conscious, you mean that they are strongly aware of who or what they are. [FORMAL]
  They were forged by them, moreover, into a self-conscious nation as early as the 10th century...
  Putting the work together is a very self-conscious process.
  Derived words:
  self-consciously ADV-GRADED ADV adj The world which the book inhabits seems too self-consciously literary, too introverted... The place is as self-consciously trendy as they come.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

self-conscious

self–con·scious /ˌsɛlfˈkɑːnʃəs/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : uncomfortably nervous about or embarrassed by what other people think about you
• She's self-conscious whenever she has to give a speech.
- often + about
• He's very self-conscious about his appearance.
2 usually disapproving : done in a way that shows an awareness of the effect that is produced : done in a deliberate way
• the self-conscious irony in the play
• a self-conscious attempt to win people's sympathy
- self–con·scious·ly adv
• He self-consciously smoothed his hair.
- self–con·scious·ness noun [noncount]

self-centred

self-centred [adjective]

only interested in yourself and your own activities

US /ˌselfˈsen.t̬ɚd/ 
UK /ˌselfˈsen.təd/ 
Example: 

Robert is a self-centred, ambitious, and bigoted man.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

self-centred

ˌself-ˈcentred BrE AmE British English, self-centered American English adjective
paying so much attention to yourself that you do not notice what is happening to other people SYN selfish
—self-centredness noun [uncountable]

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

self-centred

ˌself-ˈcentred [self-centred self-centredness]       (especially US ˌself-ˈcentered) adjective (disapproving)
tending to think only about yourself and not thinking about the needs or feelings of other people
Derived Word: self-centredness
See also: self-centeredness  
Example Bank:
a somewhat self-centred individual
She's completely self-centred.

Your father's too self-centred to care what you do.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

ˌ self- ˈ centred UK disapproving ( US ˌ self- ˈ centered ) / ˌselfˈsen.təd /   / -t̬ɚd / adjective

C1 only interested in yourself and your own activities:

Robert is a self-centred, ambitious, and bigoted man.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

self-centred

 ADJ-GRADED (disapproval)
 Someone who is self-centred is only concerned with their own wants and needs and never thinks about other people.
  He was selfish, he was self-centred, he was stingy, but he wasn't cruel.(in AM, use self-centered)

trendy

trendy [adjective]

modern and influenced by the most recent fashions or ideas

US /ˈtren.di/ 
UK /ˈtren.di/ 
Example: 

trendy clothes

Oxford Essential Dictionary

trendy

 adjective (trendier, trendiest) (informal)
fashionable:
a trendy new bar

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

trendy

I. trendy1 /ˈtrendi/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative trendier, superlative trendiest)
influenced by the most fashionable styles and ideas:
a trendy Bay Area restaurant
—trendiness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
fashionable popular at a particular time: fashionable clothes | It was fashionable to have red hair. | His theories were fashionable in the 1980s.
trendy informal modern and fashionable – often used in a slightly disapproving or joking way: a trendy tie | a trendy restaurant | The area has become very trendy and a lot of artists live there.
stylish adjective fashionable and well-designed in an attractive way: She was wearing a stylish two-piece suit. | The furniture looked very stylish and modern.
cool adjective informal fashionable – used especially when you think someone or something looks good: Michael looked very cool in his dark jacket and sunglasses. | a cool shirt
happening [only before noun] informal adjective a happening place is fashionable and lively: London has always been a happening place.
be in fashion verb phrase to be fashionable at a particular time: The Sixties look is back in fashion.
in adjective informal fashionable at a particular time. In is not used before a noun, except in the phrases below: Pale colours are in. | New York was the in place to be. | Yoga has become the in thing to do.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

trendy

trendy [trendy trendies] adjective, noun   [ˈtrendi]    [ˈtrendi]

adjective (trend·ier, trendi·est)(informal)
very fashionable
trendy clothes  
Example Bank:
People are buying them just to be trendy.
She wasn't a trendy sort of person.
These views were typical of trendy academics in the 1960s.

Derived Words: trendily  trendiness 

 

noun (pl. trendies)(BrE, informal, usually disapproving) a trendy person

young trendies from art college

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

trendy / ˈtren.di / adjective informal

C1 modern and influenced by the most recent fashions or ideas:

trendy clothes

a trendy nightclub

He writes for some trendy magazine for the under-30s.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

trendy

[tre_ndi]
 trendier, trendiest, trendies
 1) ADJ-GRADED If you say that something or someone is trendy, you mean that they are very fashionable and modern. [INFORMAL]
  ...a trendy London night club.
  ...middle-class kids in trendy clothes.
  ...women who want to look trendy.
 N-COUNT
 A trendy is someone who is trendy. ...a lively and informal city-based television network dedicated to the urban trendy.
 2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n (disapproval) If you describe someone who follows new ideas as trendy, you disapprove of them because they are more interested in being fashionable than in thinking seriously about these ideas. [INFORMAL]
  Trendy teachers are denying children the opportunity to study classic texts.
 N-COUNT
 A trendy is someone who is trendy. ...another example of what happens when you get a few trendies in power.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1trendy /ˈtrɛndi/ adj trend·i·er; -est [also more ~; most ~]
1 sometimes disapproving : currently popular or fashionable
trendy fashions/clothes/restaurants
2 often disapproving : liking or tending to like whatever is currently popular or fashionable : influenced by trends
• a group of trendy young professionals
- trend·i·ly /ˈtrɛndəli/ adv
• She dresses very trendily.
- trend·i·ness /ˈtrɛndinəs/ noun [noncount]
• He tries to avoid trendiness when he buys new clothes.

keep track

keep track [idiom]

to make certain that you know what is happening or has happened to someone or something

Example: 

My sister has had so many different jobs, I find it hard to keep track ( of what she's doing).

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

keep/lose track of somebody/somethingto pay attention to someone or something, so that you know where they are or what is happening to them, or to fail to do this It’s difficult to keep track of all the new discoveries in genetics. I just lost all track of time.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

keep track

C1 to make certain that you know what is happening or has happened to someone or something:

My sister has had so many different jobs, I find it hard to keep track ( of what she's doing).

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

14.
If you keep track of a situation or a person, you make sure that you have the newest and most accurate information about them all the time.
With eleven thousand employees, it’s very difficult to keep track of them all...
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

keep track

 idiom

Definition of keep track

to be aware of how something is changing, what someone is doing, etc.There's so much going on that it's hard to keep track.—usually + ofKeep track of your little brother for me, will you?It's her job to keep track of how the money is spent.I watch the news to keep track of current events.

genius

genius [noun]

very great and rare natural ability or skill, especially in a particular area such as science or art, or a person who has this

US /ˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ 
UK /ˈdʒiː.ni.əs/ 
Example: 

Einstein was a (mathematical) genius.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

genius

 noun (plural geniuses)
a very clever person:
Einstein was a genius.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

genius

genius /ˈdʒiːniəs/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: 'spirit who guards a person or place', from gignere; ⇨ ↑genital]
1. [uncountable] a very high level of intelligence, mental skill, or ability, which only a few people have:
The film reveals Fellini’s genius.
work/writer/man etc of genius
Wynford was an architect of genius.
a stroke of genius (=a very clever idea)
At the time, his appointment seemed a stroke of genius.
a work of pure genius
2. [countable] someone who has an unusually high level of intelligence, mental skill, or ability:
Freud was a genius.
musical/comic/mathematical etc genius
a genius at (doing) something
My father was a genius at storytelling.
3. a genius for (doing) something special skill at doing something:
That woman has a genius for organization.
Warhol’s genius for publicity
• • •
THESAURUS
skill [uncountable and countable] an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practised it: He plays the piano with great skill. | communication/language/computer etc skills | The course will help you improve your communication skills.
talent [uncountable and countable] a natural ability to do something well which can be developed with practice: She was a young artist with a lot of talent. | She showed a talent for acting from an early age. | He is a man of many talents.
genius [uncountable] very great ability, which only a few people have: The opera shows Mozart’s genius as a composer. | Picasso was a painter of genius.
gift [countable] a natural ability to do something very well, which you were born with: You can see that he has a gift for the game. | Winterson has great gifts as a writer.
flair [singular, uncountable] skill for doing something, especially something that needs imagination and creativity: The job does require some creative flair. | She has a flair for languages.
expertise [uncountable] specialized knowledge of a technical subject, which you get from experience of doing that type of work: The technical expertise for building the dam is being provided by a US company.
a/the knack /næk/ [singular] informal a special skill for doing a particular thing, especially a simple everyday thing: Breadmaking is easy once you get the knack. | He has a knack for making people feel relaxed.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

genius

ge·nius [genius geniuses genii]   [ˈdʒiːniəs]    [ˈdʒiːniəs]  noun (pl. ge·niuses)
1. uncountable unusually great intelligence, skill or artistic ability
the genius of Shakespeare
• a statesman of genius

• Her idea was a stroke of genius.

2. countable a person who is unusually intelligent or artistic, or who has a very high level of skill, especially in one area
a mathematical/comic, etc. genius
• He's a genius at organizing people.

• You don't have to be a genius to see that they are in love!

3. singular ~ for sth/for doing sth a special skill or ability
He had a genius for making people feel at home.
Idiom: somebody's good genius  
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin, attendant spirit present from one's birth, innate ability or inclination, from the root of gignere ‘beget’. The original sense ‘spirit attendant on a person’ gave rise to a sense ‘a person's characteristic disposition’ (late 16th cent.), which led to a sense ‘a person's natural ability’, and finally ‘exceptional natural ability’ (mid 17th cent.).  
Thesaurus:
genius noun C
He was a comic genius.
prodigybrainmastermind
Opp: dunce
the genius/brains/mastermind behind sth
a true/child genius/prodigy
a great/scientific genius/brain 
Example Bank:
In a flash of pure genius, she realized the answer to the problem.
It was a stroke of genius on my part to avoid such awkward questions.
She has a genius for sorting things out.
a work which shows real genius
a writer of genius
his genius for pinpointing the absurd
He was a man of great genius.
He was undoubtedly the greatest comic genius of his age.
In flash of pure genius, the answer came to her.
It's undoubtedly a work of genius.
She was at the peak of her creative genius.
She's a genius at getting things organized.
Some people say that there is only ever one true genius born in each generation.
That was a stroke of genius.
• You don't have to be a genius to see that this plan is not going to work.

• You're an absolute genius!
» About this dictionary, how to enable pronunciations,... click here to view details.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

genius / ˈdʒiː.ni.əs / noun [ C or U ] ( plural geniuses )

C1 very great and rare natural ability or skill, especially in a particular area such as science or art, or a person who has this:

(an) artistic/creative/musical genius

Einstein was a (mathematical) genius.

From the age of three, she showed signs of genius.

It was such a brilliant idea - a real stroke of genius.

evil genius literary a person who has a strong bad influence over other people:

The film was about an evil genius who wanted to control the world.

have a genius for sth to be especially skilled at a particular activity:

She has a genius for raising money.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

genius

/dʒi:niəs/
(geniuses)

1.
Genius is very great ability or skill in a particular subject or activity.
This is the mark of her real genius as a designer...
The man had genius and had made his mark in the aviation world...
Its very title is a stroke of genius.
N-UNCOUNT

2.
A genius is a highly talented, creative, or intelligent person.
Chaplin was not just a genius, he was among the most influential figures in film history.
N-COUNT

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

genius

ge·nius /ˈʤiːnjəs/ noun, pl -nius·es
1 [count]
a : a very smart or talented person : a person who has a level of talent or intelligence that is very rare or remarkable
• Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were great scientific geniuses.
• a musical/artistic/creative genius
• You don't have to be a genius to see that this plan will never work.
b : a person who is very good at doing something
• He was a genius at handling the press.
2 a [noncount] : great natural ability : remarkable talent or intelligence
• She's now widely recognized as an artist of genius.
• He's admired for his comic/artistic/scientific genius.
b [singular] : a great or unusual talent or ability - usually + for
• She has a genius for knowing what will sell.
• He had a genius for getting into trouble. [=he often got into trouble]
3 [singular]
a : a very clever or smart quality
• The (sheer) genius of his theory was not immediately recognized.
b : a part of something that makes it unusually good or valuable
• My plan is simple—that's the genius of it.
• The genius of these new computers is their portability.
a stroke of genius : a brilliant and successful idea or decision
• Deciding to relocate the company was a stroke of genius.

labor

labor [noun] (WORK)

Practical work, especially that which involves physical effort

US /ˈleɪ.bɚ/ 
UK /ˈleɪ.bər/ 
Example: 

The car parts themselves are not expensive, it's the labour that costs the money.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

labor

 American English for labour

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

labor

I. labor AC /ˈleɪbə $ -ər/ BrE AmE
the American spelling of ↑labour
II. labour1 S2 W1 AC BrE AmE British English, labor American English noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑labour, ↑labourer; verb: ↑labour]
1. WORK [uncountable] work, especially physical work:
The garage charges £30 an hour for labour.
Many women do hard manual labour (=work with their hands).
Workers withdrew their labour (=protested by stopping work) for twenty-four hours. ⇨ ↑hard labour
2. WORKERS [uncountable] all the people who work for a company or in a country:
a shortage of skilled labor
We need to reduce our labour costs.
3. BABY [singular, uncountable] the process of giving birth to a baby
in labour
Meg was in labour for ten hours.
Diane went into labour at 2 o'clock.
a long/short/difficult labour
The labour pains were unbearable.
labour ward/room (=a room in a hospital where women give birth)
4. a labour of love something that is hard work but that you do because you want to
5. sb’s labours formal a period of hard work:
After several hours' gardening, we sat down to admire the results of our labours.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + labour
skilled/unskilled labour Employers want to keep skilled labour because of the cost of training.
cheap labour (=workers who have low wages) Women and children were used as cheap labour.
casual labour (=workers who do jobs that are not permanent) The industry makes use of a large supply of casual labour.
child labour The shoe company was accused of using child labour in its factory.
slave labour Cotton was grown using slave labor.
■ labour + NOUN
the labour force (=all the people who work in a country or for a company) We need an educated labour force.
the labour supply (=all the people available to work) What was the effect of the war on the labour supply?
the labour market (=the people looking for work and the jobs available) the percentage of women in the labour market
a labour shortage Immigrants came into the country to fill the labour shortage.
labour costs There was pressure to keep down labour costs.
III. labour2 AC BrE AmE British English, labor American English verb [intransitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑labour, ↑labourer; verb: ↑labour]
1. to work hard:
They laboured all day in the mills.
labour over
I’ve been labouring over this report all morning.
labour to do something
Ray had little talent but labored to acquire the skills of a writer.
2. labour under a delusion/misconception/misapprehension etc to believe something that is not true:
She had laboured under the misconception that Bella liked her.
3. labour the point to describe or explain something in too much detail or when people have already understood it
4. [always + adverb/preposition] to move slowly and with difficulty:
I could see the bus labouring up the steep, windy road.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

labor

labor AW [labor labors labored laboring]   (especially US)

=  labour

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

labour UK ( US labor ) / ˈleɪ.bə r /   / -bɚ / noun (WORK)

C1 [ U ] practical work, especially that which involves physical effort:

The car parts themselves are not expensive, it's the labour that costs the money.

manual labour (= hard work using the hands)

C1 [ U ] workers, especially people who do practical work with their hands:

skilled/unskilled labour

labours ( US also labors ) [ plural ] literary all the effort and hard work that have been involved in doing a particular piece of work:

Are you tired after your labours?

West was paid very little for his labours.

Retirement is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labours.

 

labour UK ( US labor ) / ˈleɪ.bə r /   / -bɚ / noun [ C or U ] (BIRTH)

C2 the last stage of pregnancy from the time when the muscles of the womb start to push the baby out of the body until the baby appears:

labour pains

She went into (= started) labour at twelve o'clock last night.

I was in labour for twelve hours with my first baby.

No two labours are ever the same.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

labor

[le͟ɪbə(r)]
 see labour

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1la·bor US or Brit la·bour /ˈleɪbɚ/ noun, pl -bors
1 a : physical or mental effort : work

[noncount]

• A day's labor should get the job done.
• Getting the job done will require many hours of difficult labor.
• menial/manual labor

[count]

• He rested from his labors.
✦A labor of love is a task that you do for enjoyment rather than pay.
• Restoring the old car was a labor of love for him.
✦When you enjoy the fruits of your labor/labors, you enjoy the things that you have gained by working.
• She worked hard for many years, but now she has retired and is able to enjoy the fruits of her labor/labors.
b [noncount] : work for which someone is paid
• The cost of repairing the car includes parts and labor.
2 [noncount]
a : workers considered as a group
• an area in which there is a shortage of cheap labor
- often used before another noun
• a labor dispute
• The company sought to cut labor costs by increasing its efficiency.
• The company has a history of poor labor relations. [=the workers and the managers of the company have had many disputes]
• the labor force [=the total number of people available for working]
b : the organizations or officials that represent groups of workers
• The proposed new law is opposed by organized labor.
3 : the process by which a woman gives birth to a baby

[noncount]

• She went into labor this morning.
• She has been in labor for several hours.
• She began to have/experience labor pains this morning.

[singular]

• She had a difficult labor.
4 Labour [singular] Brit politics : the Labour Party of the United Kingdom or another part of the Commonwealth of Nations
• a proposal that is opposed by Labour

gifted

gifted [adjective]

Having special ability in a particular subject or activity

US /ˈɡɪf.tɪd/ 
UK /ˈɡɪf.tɪd/ 
Example: 

A gifted dancer/musician

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

gifted

gifted /ˈɡɪftəd, ˈɡɪftɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
having a natural ability to do one or more things extremely well ⇨ talented
gifted musician/artist/teacher etc
She was an extremely gifted poet.
academically/musically/athletically etc gifted
his musically gifted son
gifted child (=one who is extremely intelligent)
gifted with
Gifted with a superb voice, she became the Opera’s leading soprano.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

gifted

gift·ed [gifted]   [ˈɡɪftɪd]    [ˈɡɪftɪd]  adjective
1. having a lot of natural ability or intelligence
a gifted musician/player, etc.

gifted children

2. ~ with sth having sth pleasant
He was gifted with a charming smile.  
Example Bank:
He's very gifted at maths.
Their helpers are gifted with amazing powers of patience.
a naturally gifted athlete
academically gifted children
gifted in the art of healing
He's an extremely gifted young player.
She goes to a school for gifted children.

She's especially gifted at art.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

gifted / ˈɡɪf.tɪd / adjective

C1 having special ability in a particular subject or activity:

a gifted dancer/musician

clever, or having a special ability:

Schools often fail to cater for the needs of gifted children .

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

gifted

[gɪ̱ftɪd]
 1) ADJ-GRADED Someone who is gifted has a natural ability to do something well.
  ...one of the most gifted players in the world...
  He was witty, amusing and gifted with a sharp business brain.
  Syn:
  talented
 2) ADJ-GRADED A gifted child is much more intelligent or talented than average.
  ...a state program for gifted children.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

gifted

gift·ed /ˈgɪftəd/ adj [more ~; most ~] : having great natural ability : talented
• He's an extremely gifted student/athlete.
• a school for gifted children
gifted with
✦To be gifted with something is to have it as a special ability or quality.
• She is gifted with a talent for playing the piano.
• He is gifted with a good sense of humor.

repetitive

repetitive [adjective]

Involving doing or saying the same thing several times, especially in a way that is boring

US /rɪˈpet̬.ə.t̬ɪv/ 
UK /rɪˈpet.ə.tɪv/ 
Example: 

A repetitive job/task

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

repetitive

repetitive /rɪˈpetətɪv, rɪˈpetɪtɪv/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: adjective: ↑repeated, ↑repetitive, ↑repetitious, ↑repeatable ≠ ↑unrepeatable; noun: ↑repeat, ↑repetition; adverb: ↑repeatedly, ↑repetitively; verb: ↑repeat]
done many times in the same way, and boring
repetitive work/tasks/jobs
repetitive tasks like washing and ironing
The song was dreary and repetitive.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

repetitive

re·peti·tive [repetitive repetitively repetitiveness]   [rɪˈpetətɪv]    [rɪˈpetətɪv]  adjective
1. saying or doing the same thing many times, so that it becomes boring
Syn:  monotonous

• a repetitive task.

2. repeated many times
a repetitive pattern of behaviour
Travel sickness is caused by the effect of repetitive movements.
Derived Words: repetitively  repetitiveness  
Example Bank:

• Machines can now perform many repetitive tasks in the home.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

repetitive / rɪˈpet.ə.tɪv /   / -ˈpet̬.ə.t̬ɪv / adjective ( also repetitious )

C1 involving doing or saying the same thing several times, especially in a way that is boring:

a repetitive job/task

 

repetitively / -li / adverb

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

repetitive

[rɪpe̱tɪtɪv]
 1) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) Something that is repetitive involves actions or elements that are repeated many times and is therefore boring.
  ...factory workers who do repetitive jobs...
  Suddenly music that seemed dull and repetitive comes alive.
 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n Repetitive movements or sounds are repeated many times.
  This technique is particularly successful where problems occur as the result of repetitive movements.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

repetitive

re·pet·i·tive /rɪˈpɛtətɪv/ adj
1 : happening again and again : repeated many times
• an injury caused by repetitive wrist movements
• a repetitive pattern
repetitive stress/strain
2 : having parts, actions, etc., that are repeated many times in a way that is boring or unpleasant : repetitious
• She left the job because the work was too repetitive.
• At the risk of being/sounding repetitive, I must remind you again to be careful.
- re·pet·i·tive·ly adv
• an injury caused by repetitively flexing the wrist
- re·pet·i·tive·ness noun [noncount]

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - C1 (Advanced)