C2 (Proficient)

optimism

optimism [noun]

the quality of being full of hope and emphasizing the good parts of a situation, or a belief that something good will happen

US /ˈɑːp.tə.mɪ.zəm/ 
UK /ˈɒp.tɪ.mɪ.zəm/ 

خوشبينى

Example: 

I prefer optimism to pessimism.

من‌ خوشبينى‌ را به‌ بدبينى‌ ترجيح‌ مى‌دهم‌.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

optimism

 noun (no plural)
the feeling that good things will happen opposite pessimism

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

optimism

optimism /ˈɒptəmɪzəm, ˈɒptɪmɪzəm $ ˈɑːp-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: French; Origin: optimisme, from Latin optimum; ⇨ ↑optimum]
a tendency to believe that good things will always happen OPP pessimism
grounds/cause/reason for optimism
Recent results must give some cause for optimism.
There are grounds for cautious optimism.
mood/sense of optimism
a new sense of optimism in the country
optimism (that)
There was optimism that an agreement could be reached.
optimism about
I don’t share his optimism about our chances of success.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
great optimism The team was in a mood of great optimism.
considerable optimism These figures indicate that we can go into next year with considerable optimism.
cautious/guarded optimism (=the belief that a future situation will be good or better than before, although you cannot be not sure) The U.N. sees cause for cautious optimism in what has been achieved so far. | He expressed guarded optimism about the company's future.
false optimism (=optimism based on wrong ideas or information) In his speech he warned against false optimism about the immediate future.
initial/early optimism (=optimism that you feel at the start of a process, especially when it does not continue) There was initial optimism about a breakthrough in relations between the two countries.
new/renewed optimism (=optimism that you start to feel again, after you stopped feeling it) The new leadership has brought renewed optimism.
■ verbs
express optimism Diplomats expressed optimism about the progress of the talks.
share somebody's optimism (=feel the optimism that someone else feels) After so many problems, I found it hard to share his optimism.
optimism grows His optimism grew as the time came nearer for his release.
optimism prevails/reigns (=optimism is the strongest feeling) Despite the crisis, optimism prevailed.
■ phrases
be grounds/cause/reason for optimism The lower crime figures are certainly grounds for optimism.
a mood/sense of optimism A mood of optimism prevails in the White House.
a wave/surge of optimism (=a sudden strong feeling of optimism) The team are riding a wave of optimism after their recent victory.
be (little/no) room for optimism (=have a possibility that things might get better) There is little room for optimism in the current financial situation.
be full of optimism (=be feeling that good things will happen) The 1970s began full of optimism and confidence about world development .

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

optimism

 

 

op·ti·mism   [ˈɒptɪmɪzəm]    [ˈɑːptɪmɪzəm]  noun uncountable ~ (about/for sth)
a feeling that good things will happen and that sth will be successful; the tendency to have this feeling
optimism about/for the future
We may now look forward with optimism.
a mood of cautious optimism
There are very real grounds for optimism.
Both sides have expressed optimism about the chances of an early agreement.
Opp:  pessimism  
Word Origin:
[optimism] mid 18th cent.: from French optimisme, from Latin optimum ‘best thing’, neuter (used as a noun) of optimus ‘best’.  
Example Bank:
Despite the crisis a cautious optimism prevailed.
Her optimism turned out to be misplaced.
I find it hard to share his optimism.
The 1970s began still full of optimism.
The government expressed optimism about the success of the negotiations.
The news caused a wave of optimism.
There are now very real grounds for optimism.
There was a note of optimism in his voice.
We can look to the future with considerable optimism.
When the 1970s began, we were still full of optimism.
great optimism for the future
renewed optimism among mortgage lenders
• He returned with renewed optimism about the future.

• Some people talked of a mood of cautious optimism.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

optimism / ˈɒp.tɪ.mɪ.z ə m /   / ˈɑːp.tə- / noun [ U ]

C2 the quality of being full of hope and emphasizing the good parts of a situation, or a belief that something good will happen:

There was a note of optimism in his voice as he spoke about the company's future.

Judging from your exam results, I think you have cause/grounds/reason for cautious optimism about getting a university place.

→  Opposite pessimism

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

optimism

[ɒ̱ptɪmɪzəm]
 N-UNCOUNT
 Optimism is the feeling of being hopeful about the future or about the success of something in particular.
  The Indian Prime Minister has expressed optimism about India's future relations with the USA.
  ...a mood of cautious optimism.
 Syn:
 confidence
 Ant:
 pessimism

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

optimism

 

op·ti·mism /ˈɑːptəˌmɪzəm/ noun [noncount] : a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen
• Both of them expressed optimism about the future of the town.
• The early sales reports are cause/reason/grounds for optimism.
• Most of us reacted to the news with cautious/guarded optimism. [=a feeling that something good may happen but will not definitely happen]
• There is growing optimism that the problem can be corrected.
• He maintains a sense of optimism, despite all that has happened.
- opposite pessimism

dim

dim [adjective] (NOT CLEAR)

Not giving or having much light

US /dɪm/ 
UK /dɪm/ 

کم نور

Example: 

This light is too dim to read by. 

این نور برای مطالعه بسیار کم است . 

Oxford Essential Dictionary

dim

 adjective (dimmer, dimmest)
not bright or clear:
The light was so dim that we couldn't see anything.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

dim

I. dim1 /dɪm/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest)
[Language: Old English]
1. DARK fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well OPP bright:
in the dim light of the early dawn
a dim glow
2. SHAPE a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light:
The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist.
3. take a dim view of something to disapprove of something:
Miss Watson took a dim view of Paul’s behaviour.
4. dim recollection/awareness etc a memory or understanding of something that is not clear in your mind SYN vague:
Laura had a dim recollection of someone telling her this before.
5. EYES literary dim eyes are weak and cannot see well:
Isaac was old and his eyes were dim.
6. FUTURE CHANCES if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good:
Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim.
7. in the dim and distant past a very long time ago – used humorously
8. NOT INTELLIGENT informal not intelligent:
You can be really dim sometimes!
—dimly adverb:
a dimly lit room
She was only dimly aware of the risk.
—dimness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
dark if a place is dark, there is little or no light: The room was very dark. | No, you can’t play outside, it’s too dark. | It was a dark night with clouds covering the moon.
dimly-lit a dimly-lit building or place is fairly dark because the lights there are not very bright: a dimly-lit restaurant | The church was dimly lit.
dim a dim light is fairly dark: The camera can take good pictures even in dim lighting. | The evening sky grew dim.
darkened a darkened room or building is darker than usual, especially because its lights have been turned off or the curtains have been drawn: The prisoner lay in a darkened room. | The play starts with a darkened stage, and the sound of a woman singing softly.
gloomy a gloomy place or room is not at all bright or cheerful: The bar was gloomy and smelled of stale cigar smoke.
murky dark and difficult to see through – used especially about water: the murky waters of the lake | I could hardly see him in the murky light of the bar.
pitch-dark/pitch-black completely dark, so that nothing can be seen: It was pitch-dark inside the shed.
shady a shady place is cooler and darker than the area around it, because the light of the sun cannot reach it: It was nice and shady under the trees. | They found a shady spot for a picnic.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dim

dim [dim dims dimmed dimming dimmer dimmest] adjective, verb   [dɪm]    [dɪm]

adjective (dim·mer, dim·mest

LIGHT
1. not bright
• the dim glow of the fire in the grate

• This light is too dim to read by.  

PLACE

2. where you cannot see well because there is not much light

• a dim room/street  

SHAPE

3. that you cannot see well because there is not much light
• the dim outline of a house in the moonlight

• I could see a dim shape in the doorway.  

EYES

4. not able to see well

• His eyesight is getting dim.  

MEMORIES

5. that you cannot remember or imagine clearly
Syn:  vague
dim memories
• She had a dim recollection of the visit.

(humorous) in the dim and distant past  

PERSON

6. (informal, especially BrE) not intelligent

• He's very dim.  

SITUATION

7. not giving any reason to have hope; not good
Her future career prospects look dim.  
Word Origin:
Old English dim, dimm, of Germanic origin; related to German dialect timmer.  
Thesaurus:
dim adj.
1.
The light was too dim to read by.
faintweaksoft|literary thin
Opp: bright
dim/faint/weak/soft/thin light
a dim/faint/soft glow
a dim/faint outline
Dim, faint or weak? Dim describes light in a room or place when it is not bright enough to see clearly; faint describes a particular point of light which is hard to see; weak usually describes sunlight that is not bright.
2.
They stepped into the dim and cluttered shop.
gloomydrearydingy
Opp: bright
a dim/gloomy/dreary/dingy room
a dim/gloomy corridor/interior/street
a dim/gloomy/dreary place/day  
Example Bank:
He seems incredibly dim sometimes!
He was good-natured but rather dim.
The living room looked dim and shadowy.
A dim lamp swung in the entrance.
A voice came from the dim interior.
It was hard to see in the dim glow of the streetlights.
Owls' eyesight is good in dim light.
She was a pleasant but rather dim young woman.
The light is too dim to read by.
The room was dim because the curtains were half drawn.
The room was very dim with a murky greenish light.
They stepped into the dim and cluttered little shop.
Idiom: take a dim view of somebody

Derived Word: dimness 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) (NOT CLEAR)

C2 not giving or having much light:

The lamp gave out a dim light.

He sat in a dim corner of the waiting room.

We could see a dim (= not easily seen) shape in the fog.

literary If your eyes are dim, you cannot see very well. a dim memory, recollection, etc. C2 something that you remember slightly, but not very well:

I had a dim recollection of having met her before.

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

 

dimness / ˈdɪm.nəs / noun [ U ]
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) informal (NOT CLEVER)

not very clever:

He's a nice guy, but a little dim.

Don't be dim!

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

 

dimness / ˈdɪm.nəs / noun [ U ]
 

dim / dɪm / adjective ( dimmer , dimmest ) (NOT POSITIVE)

not likely to succeed:

The company's prospects for the future are rather dim.

 

dimly / ˈdɪm.li / adverb

The room was dimly lit.

I dimly remembered seeing the film before.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

dim

/dɪm/
(dimmer, dimmest, dims, dimming, dimmed)

1.
Dim light is not bright.
She stood waiting, in the dim light...
ADJ
dim‧ly
He followed her into a dimly lit kitchen.
ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed
dim‧ness
...the dimness of an early September evening.
N-UNCOUNT

2.
A dim place is rather dark because there is not much light in it.
The room was dim and cool and quiet.
ADJ
dim‧ness
I squinted to adjust my eyes to the dimness.
N-UNCOUNT

3.
A dim figure or object is not very easy to see, either because it is in shadow or darkness, or because it is far away.
Pete’s torch picked out the dim figures of Bob and Chang.
= faint
ADJ
dim‧ly
The shoreline could be dimly seen.
ADV: usu ADV with v

4.
If you have a dim memory or understanding of something, it is difficult to remember or is unclear in your mind.
It seems that the ’60s era of social activism is all but a dim memory.
= hazy
ADJ: usu ADJ n
dim‧ly
Christina dimly recalled the procedure...
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj

5.
If the future of something is dim, you have no reason to feel hopeful or positive about it.
The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
bright
ADJ

6.
If you describe someone as dim, you think that they are stupid. (INFORMAL)
ADJ

7.
If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting–it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes...
The houselights dimmed.
VERB: V n, V

8.
If your future, hopes, or emotions dim or if something dims them, they become less good or less strong.
Their economic prospects have dimmed...
Forty eight years of marriage have not dimmed the passion between Bill and Helen.
VERB: V, V n

9.
If your memories dim or if something dims them, they become less clear in your mind.
Their memory of what happened has dimmed...
The intervening years had dimmed his memory.
VERB: V, V n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1dim /ˈdɪm/ adj dim·mer; dim·mest
1 : not bright or clear
• I found her sitting in a dim [=dark] corner of the restaurant.
• a dim [=obscure, faint] light
dim stars : not seen clearly
• Just the dim outline of the building could be seen through the fog.
2 : not understood or remembered in a clear way
• We had only a dim [=faint, vague] notion of what was going on.
• I have a dim memory of your last visit.
- see also the dim and distant past at distant
3 : not likely to be good or successful
• Prospects for a quick settlement of the strike appear dim. [=unlikely]
• (US) The industry faces a dim [=grim] future.
4 : not good or favorable - used in the phrase dim view
• The author's dim view [=bad opinion] of politicians is apparent throughout the book.
• She takes a dim view of human nature. [=she believes that people are naturally bad]
• Many fans take a dim view of [=many fans are unhappy about] recent changes in the team.
5 informal : not intelligent : stupid or dim-witted
• She found him pretty dim at times.
- dim·ly adv
• The lights were shining dimly.
• a dimly lit room
• I dimly remember him.
- dim·ness noun [noncount]
• the gray dimness of dawn

fraud

fraud [noun] (crime)

The crime of getting money by deceiving people

US /frɑːd/ 
UK /frɔːd/ 

کلاهبرداری

Example: 

He got the money by fraud.

او پول‌ را از راه‌ كلاهبردارى به‌ دست‌ آورد.‏

Oxford Essential Dictionary

fraud

 noun

1 (no plural) doing things that are not honest to get money:
His father was sent to prison for fraud.

2 (plural frauds) a person or thing that is not what they seem to be:
He said he was a police officer but I knew he was a fraud.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

fraud

fraud /frɔːd $ frɒːd/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: fraude, from Latin fraus 'deceiving']
1. [uncountable and countable] the crime of deceiving people in order to gain something such as money or goods
tax/insurance/credit card etc fraud
He’s been charged with tax fraud.
electoral fraud
She was found guilty of fraud.
2. [countable] someone or something that is not what it is claimed to be:
I felt like a fraud.
The police exposed the letter as a fraud.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ crimes of stealing
robbery noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of stealing from a bank, shop etc: £100,000 was stolen in the robbery. | The gang carried out a string of daring robberies.
burglary noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of breaking into someone’s home in order to steal things: There have been several burglaries in our area.
theft noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of stealing something: Car theft is a big problem. | thefts of credit cards
shoplifting noun [uncountable] the crime of taking things from shops without paying for them: They get money for drugs from shoplifting.
fraud noun [uncountable and countable] the crime of getting money from people by tricking them: He’s been charged with tax fraud. | credit card fraud
larceny noun [uncountable] especially American English law the crime of stealing something: He was found guilty of larceny.
phishing noun [uncountable] the activity of tricking people into giving their personal details, bank numbers etc on the Internet, in order to steal money from them: One in four computer users reports that they have been hit by phishing attempts.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fraud

fraud [fraud frauds]   [frɔːd]    [frɔːd]  noun
1. uncountable, countable the crime of cheating sb in order to get money or goods illegally
She was charged with credit card fraud.
property that has been obtained by fraud

a $100 million fraud

2. countable a person who pretends to have qualities, abilities, etc. that they do not really have in order to cheat other people
He's nothing but a liar and a fraud.

She felt a fraud accepting their sympathy (= because she was not really sad).

3. countable something that is not as good, useful, etc. as people claim it is 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury’.  
Thesaurus:
fraud noun
1. U
The property had been obtained by fraud.
dishonestydeceitdeception
be guilty of/accuse sb of fraud/dishonesty/deceit/deception
practise/obtain sth by fraud/deceit/deception
use/admit/confess to/deny fraud/deception
2. C
He helped prevent a $100 million fraud.
informal scamracketgamecon
a $100 million fraud/scam/racket
a/an insurance/financial fraud/scam
operate/run/be involved in a fraud/scam/racket
control a fraud/racket 
Collocations:
Crime
Committing a crime
commit a crime/a murder/a violent assault/a brutal killing/an armed robbery/fraud
be involved in terrorism/a suspected arson attack/people smuggling/human trafficking
engage/participate in criminal activity/illegal practices/acts of mindless vandalism
steal sb's wallet/purse/(BrE) mobile phone/(NAmE) cell phone
rob a bank/a person/a tourist
break into/ (BrE) burgle/ (NAmE) burglarize a house/a home/an apartment
hijack a plane/ship/bus
smuggle drugs/weapons/arms/immigrants
launder drug money (through sth)
forge documents/certificates/passports
take/accept/pay sb/offer (sb) a bribe
run a phishing/an email/an Internet scam
Fighting crime
combat/fight crime/terrorism/corruption/drug trafficking
prevent/stop credit-card fraud/child abuse/software piracy
deter/stop criminals/burglars/thieves/shoplifters/vandals
reduce/tackle/crack down on knife/gun/violent/street crime; (especially BrE) antisocial behaviour
foil a bank raid/a terrorist plot
help/support/protect the victims of crime
Investigating crime
report a crime/a theft/a rape/an attack/(especially BrE) an incident to the police
witness the crime/attack/murder/incident
investigate a murder/(especially NAmE) a homicide/a burglary/a robbery/the alleged incident
conduct/launch/pursue an investigation (into…); (especially BrE) a police/murder inquiry
investigate/reopen a criminal/murder case
examine/investigate/find fingerprints at the crime scene/the scene of crime
collect/gather forensic evidence
uncover new evidence/a fraud/a scam/a plot/a conspiracy/political corruption/a cache of weapons
describe/identify a suspect/the culprit/the perpetrator/the assailant/the attacker
question/interrogate a suspect/witness
solve/crack the case
more collocations at justice  
Example Bank:
detectives from the fraud squad
He helped prevent a $100 million fraud.

It was said that the property had been obtained by fraud.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

fraud / frɔːd /   / frɑːd / noun [ C or U ] (CRIME)

C2 the crime of getting money by deceiving people:

credit card fraud

He is fighting extradition to Hong Kong to face trial on fraud charges .
 

fraud / frɔːd /   / frɑːd / noun [ C ] (FALSE)

C2 someone or something that deceives people by saying that they are someone or something that they are not:

She was a psychic who was later revealed to be a fraud.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

fraud

/frɔ:d/
(frauds)

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.

1.
Fraud is the crime of gaining money or financial benefits by a trick or by lying.
He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception...
Tax frauds are dealt with by the Inland Revenue.
N-VAR

2.
A fraud is something or someone that deceives people in a way that is illegal or dishonest.
He believes many ‘psychics’ are frauds who rely on perception and subtle deception.
N-COUNT

3.
If you call someone or something a fraud, you are criticizing them because you think that they are not genuine, or are less good than they claim or appear to be.
...all those fashion frauds who think they are being original by raiding the tired old styles of the ’60s.
N-COUNT [disapproval]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

fraud
fraud /ˈfrɑːd/ noun, pl frauds
1 : the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

[noncount]

• He was found guilty of bank fraud.
• credit card fraud

[count]

• He was the victim of an elaborate fraud.
- see also wire fraud
2 [count]
a : a person who pretends to be what he or she is not in order to trick people
• He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.
b : a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people
• The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.

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