noun

self-confidence

See main entry: ↑self-confident
 

moment

mo‧ment S1 W1 /ˈməʊmənt $ ˈmoʊ-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑moment, ↑momentum; adjective: ↑momentary, ↑momentous; adverb: ↑momentarily]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: Latin momentum; ⇨ ↑momentum]
1. POINT IN TIME a particular point in time:
It was one of the most exciting moments in his life.
at this/that moment (=used for emphasis)
Just at that moment there was a knock on the door.
She may be in trouble at this very moment and trying to call you.
I remember the moment when I first saw him after the operation.
Quinn always seems to be in the right place at the crucial moment.
I just this moment (=only a very short time ago) arrived and already Dan wants to know when I’m leaving.
At this moment in time it would be inappropriate to comment on the situation.
From that moment on (=after that time) we were the best of friends.
► Do not say 'in that moment' when you mean ‘at that particular time’. Say at that moment: At that moment, everything stopped.
2. SHORT TIME a very short period of time:
He was here a moment ago.
Can you spare a few moments to answer some questions?
in a moment (=very soon)
I’ll come back to that point in a moment.
for a moment
It was quiet for a moment, then Rae spoke.
after a moment
‘I don’t understand,’ said Louise after a moment.
A moment later we heard a splash.
wait/just a moment (=used when you want someone to wait a short time while you do or say something)
Just a moment; let me put these away first.
We have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice (=very quickly).
3. at the moment British English especially spoken, American English formal now:
Julia’s on holiday in Spain at the moment.
At the moment, the situation in Haiti is very tense.
4. for the moment used to say that something is happening or is true now but will probably change in the future:
Well, for the moment we’re just friends.
For the moment the rain had stopped.
5. the moment (that) somebody does something as soon as someone does something:
He said he’d phone you the moment he got home.
6. the last moment if you do something at the last moment or if something happens at the last moment, it happens at the last possible time
at the last moment
The operation was cancelled at the last moment.
She always leaves everything to the last moment.
7. (at) any moment extremely soon:
The plumber should be here any moment now.
The roof could collapse at any moment.
8. OPPORTUNITY [usually singular] a particular time when you have a chance to do something:
His wife Denise was there to share his big moment (=opportunity to do something great).
choose/pick your moment (=try to choose the best time to do something)
He picked his moment carefully to tell them the news.
This was her moment and she knew she had to take it.
9. moment of madness/weakness/panic etc a short period of time when you do not feel or behave as normal and often do or say something which you later wish you had not done or said
in a moment of something
In a moment of madness I agreed to go with him.
He experienced a brief moment of panic.
10. one moment ... the next/from one moment to the next used to say that a situation changes very suddenly, often in a way which you do not expect or cannot explain:
One moment she’s kissing me, the next she doesn’t want to see me again.
You never know what’s going to happen from one moment to the next.
11. not believe/think/do something for a/one moment especially spoken used to say that you did not believe, expect etc something at all:
He didn’t fool me for a moment.
She had never for one moment imagined that it could happen to her.
12. of the moment the person, idea, word etc of the moment is the one that is most important or popular at the present time:
They interview personalities on a topic of the moment.
the mood of the moment
13. have its/your moments to have periods of being good or interesting:
a movie that had its moments
14. not a moment too soon almost too late:
The ambulance finally arrived, and not a moment too soon.
15. the moment of truth the time when you will find out if something will work properly, be successful etc
16. of great moment old-fashioned important
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ right/perfect I’m just waiting for the right moment to tell her. | The moment is not quite right just yet.
▪ an opportune moment (=a good time to do something) I was waiting for an opportune moment to leave.
▪ a historic moment (=a moment that is important in history) The fall of the Berlin wall was a historic moment.
▪ a memorable moment There have been many memorable moments in this year’s Olymics.
▪ the exact/precise moment Her stomach chose that precise moment to make a loud noise.
▪ the very moment (=used for emphasizing that something happened at a particular time) I could tell something was wrong from the very moment I walked in through the front door.
▪ the present moment (=now) At the present moment, there are 500 students at the school.
▪ an important moment This was probably the most important moment in his life.
▪ a critical/crucial moment (=a very important moment) This was a critical moment in the country’s history.
▪ a defining moment (=something that shows the real character or purpose of something) The win was a defining moment in the boxer’s career.
▪ sb’s finest moment (=when someone was most successful or admired) The performance was one of the band’s finest moments.
▪ sb’s proudest moment (=when someone did the thing they are most proud of) My proudest moment was when my daughter was born.
▪ the worst moment Standing on the edge waiting to do your bungee jump is the worst moment.
■ verbs
▪ capture the moment (=to take a picture, describe something etc that will remind you of a particular time) They captured the moment on film.
▪ enjoy the moment She found herself laughing with him, enjoying the moment.
▪ savour the moment (=enjoy the moment) He seemed to savour every moment of their conversation.
▪ relive the moment (=experience something again by thinking about it, talking about it etc) In court she had to relive the moment her son was murdered.
▪ choose a moment to do something (=do something at a particular time) She always seemed to choose the worst moment to interrupt his thoughts.
▪ dread a moment (=feel anxious or worried about something that will happen) She was dreading the moment when she would have to fire him.
■ phrases
▪ just this/that moment (=only a very short time ago) I had just that moment arrived.
▪ at this moment in time (=now) At this moment in time we cannot proceed with the proposal.
▪ from that moment on (=after that time) From that moment on I saw very little of Dean.
▪ moment to moment/moment by moment (=used for emphasizing that something changes quickly) The colours of the sunset changed moment to moment.
▪ every waking moment (=all the time you are awake) He spent every waking moment in the lab.
▪ at a given moment (=at any particular time) There was no variety at all - you knew exactly what you would be doing at any given moment of the week.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ verbs
▪ take a moment (=use a short time) Coleman took a moment to reply.
▪ have a moment (=have a short time to use) Can you come and see me when you have a moment?
▪ wait a moment Wait a moment while I get my coat.
▪ pause a moment (=stop speaking or doing something for a short time) Lisa paused a moment, then said 'yes'.
▪ hesitate a moment (=not speak or do something for a short time because you are unsure of what to say or do) Paul hesitated a moment then followed her.
▪ spare a moment (=used when asking someone if they have a short time available to spend with you) Can you spare a moment to go through some figures with me?
■ phrases
▪ just a moment (=used when telling someone to wait) Just a moment, I’ll go and get her.
▪ at a moment’s notice (=very quickly) Fire fighters need to be able to get ready at a moment’s notice.
▪ a moment ago I saw him outside just a moment ago.
▪ there’s never a dull moment (=something is always exciting or full of activity) There’s never a dull moment with Chris around!
■ adjectives
▪ a brief moment For a brief moment, he looked directly at her.
▪ a fleeting moment (=a very short time) For a fleeting moment she wanted to run away.
▪ a long moment He was silent for a long moment before replying.
▪ a spare moment (=short period of time when you are not doing other things) She spent every spare moment in the library.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ a time when something happens
▪ time a time when something happens or when you should do something: The last time I saw her she was in high school. | It’s time for you to go to bed. | The best time to visit Scotland is in late May.
▪ occasion a time when something happens. Occasion is more formal than time: They have been seen together on several occasions. | The last occasion the two teams met, the Giants won easily.
▪ moment a particular point in time when something happens: At that moment (=at exactly that time), the door bell rang. | The next moment she was gone.
▪ point a particular time during a longer period of time: At one point during the play she completely forgot her lines. | the lowest point of the holiday

beauty

beau‧ty S3 W2 /ˈbjuːti/ BrE AmE noun (plural beauties)
[Word Family: noun: ↑beautician, ↑beauty; adverb: ↑beautifully; adjective: ↑beautiful]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: biauté, from bel, biau 'beautiful', from Latin bellus 'pretty']
1. APPEARANCE [uncountable] a quality that people, places, or things have that makes them very attractive to look at:
her beauty and grace
an area of outstanding natural beauty
Millions of dollars are spent each year on beauty products.
2. WOMAN [countable] a woman who is very beautiful:
She was considered a great beauty in her youth.
3. POEM/MUSIC/EMOTION ETC [uncountable] a quality that something such as a poem, song, emotion etc has that gives you pleasure or joy
beauty of
the beauty of Shakespeare’s verse
4. ADVANTAGE the beauty of something a particularly good quality that makes something especially suitable or useful:
The beauty of e-mail is its speed and ease of use.
5. [countable] spoken a very good, large etc example of something:
You should have seen the boat – a real beauty.
6. beauty is in the eye of the beholder used to say that different people have different opinions about what is beautiful
7. beauty is only skin-deep used to say that how someone looks is not as important as a good character
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ beauty the quality of being very attractive to look at - used about people, objects, and places: She was greatly admired for her beauty and intelligence. | the natural beauty of the landscape. | The Ancient Greeks created statues of outstanding beauty and dignity.
▪ sb’s good looks someone’s attractive appearance, especially their face and features: With his dark good looks, Jason could have been a film star.
▪ glamour an exciting quality which makes someone or something seem attractive and connected with wealth and success: Men loved her for her beauty and her glamour. | Add a black lace top for a touch of glamour.
▪ aesthetic adjective connected with beauty and the study of beauty: The aesthetic value of their work is easy to appreciate. | the declining aesthetic standards of our civiliization | The aesthetic qualities in a Buddhist sculpture are similar to those in any other work of art.

hospital

hos‧pi‧tal S1 W1 /ˈhɒspɪtl $ ˈhɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Medieval Latin hospitale 'place to stay at', from Latin hospitalis 'of a guest', from hospes; ⇨ ↑host¹]
a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment:
They are building a new hospital.
in hospital British English:
She visited him in hospital.
in the hospital American English:
Two people are in the hospital with serious burns.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to hospital British English, go to the hospital American English The pain got worse and she had to go to the hospital.
▪ be taken/rushed/airlifted to hospital British English, be taken/rushed/airlifted to the hospital American English Three people were taken to hospital after a crash on the motorway.
▪ be admitted to hospital British English, be admitted to the hospital American English He was admitted to hospital suffering from chest pain.
▪ leave/come out of hospital British English, leave/come out of the hospital American English Her mother never left the hospital.
▪ be discharged/released from hospital British English, be discharged/released from the hospital American English (=be allowed to leave a hospital because you are better) It was several weeks before he was released from hospital.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + hospital
▪ a psychiatric hospital (also a mental hospital old-fashioned) (=for people with mental illnesses) He was admitted to a secure psychiatric hospital.
▪ a children’s hospital an important children’s hospital
▪ a maternity hospital British English (=for women having babies) Many maternity hospitals have been forced to close.
■ hospital + NOUN
▪ hospital treatment/care What do older people think of hospital care?
▪ a hospital stay (=the period someone spends in hospital) New surgical techniques mean a hospital stay of less than 48 hours.
▪ a hospital bed There is a shortage of hospital beds.
▪ a hospital ward/room nurses working on hospital wards
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ hospital a large building where sick or injured people receive medical treatment: He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. | the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford | a mental hospital
▪ medical center American English a large hospital, which often has many different departments, including areas for research: a discovery by doctors at the New England Medical Center
▪ clinic a place, often in a hospital, where medical treatment and advice is given to people who do not need to stay in a hospital: a family-planning clinic (=which gives people help and advice about birth control) | a special clinic for people with drug and alcohol problems
▪ hospice a special hospital for people who are dying: They are hoping to raise funds to build a hospice for sick and dying children.
▪ nursing home/old people's home (also home) a place where people who are old and ill can live and be looked after, by nurses: She doesn't want to end up in a nursing home.
▪ sanatorium a place where people recovering after a long illness were sent in the past, so that they could rest and receive special care: He was sent to a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps.
■ parts of a hospital
▪ A&E/casualty British English, emergency room/ER American English the part of a hospital where people who are injured or who need urgent treatment are brought: A&E waiting times have gone down. | A 33-year-old man was brought to the emergency room in a coma.
▪ operating theatre British English, operating room American English a room in a hospital where operations are done: Mrs Barnett was in the operating theatre for 11 hours while the transplant was carried out.
▪ intensive care the part of a hospital where people who are very seriously ill or badly injured are cared for: Mr Dye is in intensive care with head injuries.
▪ unit part of a hospital where a particular kind of treatment is carried out: the burns unit | the fertility unit
▪ ward a large room in a hospital where people who need medical treatment stay: the women's ward | She works as a nurse on a busy hospital ward.

airport

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

stadium

sta‧di‧um /ˈsteɪdiəm/ BrE AmE noun (plural stadiums or stadia /-diə/) [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Latin; Origin: Greek stadion 'unit of length, racetrack']
a building for public events, especially sports and large rock music concerts, consisting of a playing field surrounded by rows of seats:
the new Olympic Stadium
• • •
THESAURUS
■ places where people do sport
▪ field (also pitch British English) a large area of ground, usually covered with grass, where team sports are played: A few kids were playing on the football field. | a hockey field
▪ stadium a large sports field with seats all around it for people to watch team sports or track and field competitions: The atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium was amazing. | a football stadium
▪ ground British English a sports field and the seats and buildings around it, belonging to a particular football, rugby, or cricket team: I met my friends inside the ground.
▪ ballpark/park American English a stadium where baseball is played: Busch Stadium is one of the newest ballparks in Major League.
▪ court an area with lines painted on the ground, for tennis, badminton, basketball, or volleyball: The hotel has four tennis courts and a volleyball court.
▪ diamond the area in a baseball field that is within the shape formed by the four bases. The diamond can also be the whole field: The pitcher stands in the middle of the diamond. | There’s a playground, a picnic area, and a baseball diamond.
▪ track a circular path with lines on it, for running on: In the relay, each runner runs once around the track.
▪ gym a room with machines which you can use to do exercises: He spends an hour in the gym every day.
▪ pool/swimming pool a place where you can swim: He jumped into the deep end of the pool. | I’ll meet you outside the swimming pool.
▪ sports centre British English, sports center American English a building where you can play many types of indoor sports: Why not do exercise classes at your local sports centre?
▪ health club a small sports centre, where you pay to be a member: How much does it cost to join a health club?

style

I. style¹ S2 W1 AC /staɪl/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑style, ↑styling, ↑stylishness, ↑stylist, ↑stylistics, ↑stylization; adjective: ↑stylish, ↑stylistic, ↑stylized; adverb: ↑stylishly, ↑stylistically; verb: ↑style]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: stilus 'pointed stick, stylus, style of writing']
1. WAY OF DOING SOMETHING [uncountable and countable] a particular way of doing, designing, or producing something, especially one that is typical of a particular place, period of time, or group of people:
an attempt to use Japanese management style in a European business
style of
different styles of handwriting
Baroque-/Swedish-/country- etc style
Cuban-style black beans and rice
a Colonial-style house
The dinner will be served buffet-style.
2. SB’S WAY OF BEHAVING [countable] the particular way that someone behaves, works, or deals with other people:
Children have different styles of learning: some learn by seeing, some by hearing, some by doing.
be more sb’s style (=used to say that you prefer something)
I don’t think the parachuting weekend is for me – the art class is more my style.
I like your style (=approve of the way you do things), Simpson.
I can’t ask a man out – it’s not my style (=it is not the way I usually behave).
3. ART/LITERATURE/MUSIC [uncountable and countable] a typical way of writing, painting etc that is used by a particular person or during a particular period of time:
The paintings are in an expressionistic style.
Hemingway’s direct style
in the style of somebody/something
a play in the style of classical Greek tragedy
4. FASHION/DESIGN
a) [countable] a particular design or fashion for something such as clothes, hair, furniture etc SYN fashion:
Car styles have changed radically in the past 20 years.
traditional/modern style
The rooms are furnished in a modern style.
b) [uncountable] the quality of being fashionable:
young women interested in style rather than comfort
in/out of style
Long skirts are back in style.
5. ATTRACTIVE QUALITY [uncountable] a confident and attractive quality that makes people admire you, and that is shown in your appearance, or the way you do things ⇨ stylish:
You may not like her, but she certainly has style.
The team played with style. ⇨ ↑stylish
6. CORRECT WRITING [uncountable] a way of using words or spelling that is considered correct:
It’s not good style to use abbreviations in an essay.
7. in style done in a way that people admire, especially because it is unusual, shows great determination, or involves spending a lot of money
in great/grand/fine etc style
Nadal won the match in fine style, not losing a single game.
⇨ cramp sb’s style at ↑cramp², ⇨ ↑lifestyle

shopping

shop‧ping S2 W3 /ˈʃɒpɪŋ $ ʃɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Word Family: noun: ↑shop, ↑shopper, ↑shopping; verb: ↑shop]
1. the activity of going to shops and buying things:
Late-night shopping is becoming very popular.
shopping expedition/trip
She’s gone on a shopping trip to New York.
I went on a shopping spree (=went shopping and bought a lot of things) at the weekend and spent far too much money.
I’ve got to do some last-minute shopping.
the busy Christmas shopping season ⇨ ↑window-shopping
2. do the shopping to go shopping to buy food and other things you need regularly:
I hate doing the shopping at weekends.
3. British English the things that you have just bought from a shop:
Can you help me carry the shopping, please?
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go shopping She skipped lunch in order to go shopping.
▪ do some/the/your shopping I thought you wanted to do some shopping.
■ NOUN + shopping
▪ Christmas shopping So you've done all your Christmas shopping, have you?
▪ grocery shopping She even enjoys grocery shopping.
▪ home shopping (=buying things at home, for example from a catalogue)
■ shopping + NOUN
▪ a shopping expedition/trip His shopping trip with Uncle Billy had been a thorough success.
▪ a shopping spree (=when you buy a lot of things) He admits to going on a shopping spree with someone else's credit card.
▪ a shopping list (=a list of what you need to buy, especially of food) Always take a shopping list so you are not tempted to buy things you do not need.

garbage

gar‧bage S3 /ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ $ ˈɡɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Anglo-French]
1. especially American English waste material, such as paper, empty containers, and food thrown away SYN rubbish British English:
Can you take out the garbage when you go?
2. stupid words, ideas etc SYN rubbish British English:
You’re talking garbage.
3. garbage in, garbage out used to say that if the ↑data (=information) you put into a computer is bad, the results you get back will be bad, even if the computer program you use works properly
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rubbish especially British English things that people throw away, such as old food, dirty paper etc: People are being encouraged to recycle their household rubbish. | the rubbish bin
▪ garbage/trash American English rubbish: The garbage is collected every Tuesday. | There were piles of trash in the backyard. | a black plastic garbage bag
▪ refuse formal rubbish: The strike has disrupted refuse collection. | It’s a site which is used for domestic refuse.
▪ litter empty bottles, pieces of paper etc that people have dropped on the ground: Parents should teach children not to drop litter. | There was a lot of litter on the beach.
▪ waste rubbish, or materials that need to be dealt with after they have been used in industrial processes: nuclear waste | toxic waste | household waste | The company was fined for dumping toxic waste in the sea.

dish

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