noun

0

reflection

reflection [noun] (THOUGHT)

serious and careful thought

US

/rɪˈflek.ʃən/

UK

/rɪˈflek.ʃən/

Example:

After 30 years as a judge, her reflections on/about justice were well worth listening to.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

reflection

noun

1 (plural reflections) a picture that you see in a mirror or on a shiny surface:
He admired his reflection in the mirror.

2 (no plural) sending back light, heat or sound

3 a thing that shows what somebody or something is like:
Your clothes are a reflection of your personality.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

reflection

re‧flec‧tion W3 /rɪˈflekʃən/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑reflection, ↑reflector; verb: ↑reflect; adjective: ↑reflective]

1. [countable] an image that you can see in a mirror, glass, or water:
Can you see your reflection in the glass?
2. [uncountable and countable] careful thought, or an idea or opinion based on this:
A moment’s reflection will show the stupidity of this argument.
on/upon reflection
At first I disagreed, but on reflection (=after thinking carefully about it), I realized she was right.
3. [countable] something that shows what something else is like, or that is a sign of a particular situation
reflection of
His speech was an accurate reflection of the public mood.
be a reflection on somebody/something (=show how good or bad someone or something is)
On some level, a student’s grades are a reflection on the teacher.
4. [uncountable] the action or process of light, heat, or sound being thrown back from a surface

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reflection

re·flec·tion [reflection reflections] (BrE also old-fashioned re·flex·ion) [rɪˈflekʃn] [rɪˈflekʃn] noun
1. countable an image in a mirror, on a shiny surface, on water, etc

• He admired his reflection in the mirror.

2. uncountable the action or process of sending back light, heat, sound, etc. from a surface

3. countable a sign that shows the state or nature of sth
• Your clothes are often a reflection of your personality.

• The increase in crime is a sad reflection on (= shows sth bad about) our society today.

4. uncountable careful thought about sth, sometimes over a long period of time
• She decided on reflection to accept his offer after all.

• A week off would give him time for reflection.

5. countable, usually plural your written or spoken thoughts about a particular subject or topic

• a book of her reflections on childhood

6. countable an account or a description of sth
• The article is an accurate reflection of events that day.
see on mature reflection/consideration at mature _adj.
See also: reflexion
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French reflexion or late Latin reflexio(n-), from Latin reflex- ‘bent back’, from the verb reflectere.
Example Bank:
• Counselling should encourage reflection on the past.
• He caught sight of her reflection in the window.
• Her reflection in the mirror looked distorted.
• His low level of performance is no reflection on his general ability.
• I saw my reflection in the polished marble.
• In the reflection on the glass door he could see the class behind him.
• Kyle's reflection appears in the glass.
• My reflection stared back at me.
• On further reflection, I'm not so sure it's a good idea.
• She caught him admiring his reflection in the mirror.
• She has some interesting reflections about the spiritual state of the country.
• Such decisions may be made after thoughtful reflection.
• Such studies do not give a true reflection of population needs.
• Teachers should encourage reflection on the part of their students.
• The movie is a poor reflection of Kerouac's work.
• The party needs a period of sober reflection about what went wrong.
• There is reflection of heat from the metal surface.
• They took a few minutes to offer their personal reflections.
• This account is only a pale reflection of the true state of affairs.
• This was a clear reflection of Marc's personality.
• Young people's behaviour is a direct reflection of adults'.
• the reflection of the mountains on the calm waters of the lake
• A period of calm reflection is now needed.
• After a moment's reflection he started to speak.
• He published his reflections on war and peace last year.
• She concludes by providing some reflections on the gains of the previous decade.
• She decided, on reflection, not to take the job.

• We asked them to give us their reflections about the state of the industry today.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reflection / rɪˈflek.ʃ ə n / noun [ C or U ] formal (THOUGHT)

C2 serious and careful thought:

On reflection (= after considering it) , I decided I had been wrong.

After 30 years as a judge, her reflections on/about justice were well worth listening to.

reflection / rɪˈflek.ʃ ə n / noun [ C usually singular ] (SIGN)

C1 a sign or result of something:

The fact that soldiers are on the streets is a reflection of how terrified the government is.

reflection / rɪˈflek.ʃ ə n / noun [ C or U ] (IMAGE)

reflection

B2 the image of something in a mirror or on any reflective surface:

In Greek mythology, Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.

He put silver foil around the fire to increase heat reflection.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

reflection

[rɪfle̱kʃ(ə)n]
reflections
1) N-COUNT A reflection is an image that you can see in a mirror or in glass or water.
  Meg stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror.
2) N-UNCOUNT Reflection is the process by which light and heat are sent back from a surface and do not pass through it.
  ...the reflection of a beam of light off a mirror.
3) N-COUNT: usu N of n If you say that something is a reflection of a particular person's attitude or of a situation, you mean that it is caused by that attitude or situation and therefore reveals something about it.
  Inhibition in adulthood seems to be very clearly a reflection of a person's experiences as a child.
4) N-SING: usu N on n If something is a reflection or a sad reflection on a person or thing, it gives a bad impression of them.
  Infection with head lice is no reflection on personal hygiene...
  The library is unique and its break-up would be a sad reflection on the value we place on our heritage.
5) N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl Reflection is careful thought about a particular subject. Your reflections are your thoughts about a particular subject.
  After days of reflection she decided to write back...
  He paused, absorbed by his reflections.
  ●
  PHRASE If someone admits or accepts something on reflection, they admit or accept it after having thought carefully about it.
  On reflection, he says, he very much regrets the comments.
6) N-COUNT: usu pl Reflections on something are comments or writings that express someone's ideas about it.
  In his latest collection of poems readers are confronted with a series of reflections on death.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

reflection

[rɪfle̱kʃ(ə)n]
reflections
1) N-COUNT A reflection is an image that you can see in a mirror or in glass or water.
  Meg stared at her reflection in the bedroom mirror.
2) N-UNCOUNT Reflection is the process by which light and heat are sent back from a surface and do not pass through it.
  ...the reflection of a beam of light off a mirror.
3) N-COUNT: usu N of n If you say that something is a reflection of a particular person's attitude or of a situation, you mean that it is caused by that attitude or situation and therefore reveals something about it.
  Inhibition in adulthood seems to be very clearly a reflection of a person's experiences as a child.
4) N-SING: usu N on n If something is a reflection or a sad reflection on a person or thing, it gives a bad impression of them.
  Infection with head lice is no reflection on personal hygiene...
  The library is unique and its break-up would be a sad reflection on the value we place on our heritage.
5) N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl Reflection is careful thought about a particular subject. Your reflections are your thoughts about a particular subject.
  After days of reflection she decided to write back...
  He paused, absorbed by his reflections.
  ●
  PHRASE If someone admits or accepts something on reflection, they admit or accept it after having thought carefully about it.
  On reflection, he says, he very much regrets the comments.
6) N-COUNT: usu pl Reflections on something are comments or writings that express someone's ideas about it.
  In his latest collection of poems readers are confronted with a series of reflections on death.

American English

British English

thinking and contemplating

C2 (Proficient)

noun

0

soft drink

soft drink [noun]

a cold, usually sweet, drink that does not contain alcohol

US

/ˌsɑːft ˈdrɪŋk/

UK

/ˌsɒft ˈdrɪŋk/

Oxford Essential Dictionary

soft drink

noun
a cold sweet drink that does not have alcohol in it, for example orange juice

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

soft drink

ˈsoft drink BrE AmE noun [countable]
a cold drink that does not contain alcohol

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

soft drink

ˌsoft ˈdrink [soft drink] noun
a cold drink that does not contain alcohol

compare hard _adj.(¹¹)

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ˌ soft ˈ drink noun [ C ]

A2 a cold, usually sweet, drink that does not contain alcohol

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

soft drink

soft drinks
N-COUNT
A soft drink is a cold, non-alcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice, or a fizzy drink.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

soft drink

soft drink noun, pl ~ drinks [count] : a cold drink that is usually sweet, does not contain alcohol, and is often sold in bottles or cans

0

chip

chip [noun] (FRIED FOOD)

a long, thin piece of potato that is fried and usually eaten hot

US

/tʃɪp/

UK

/tʃɪp/

Example:

fish and chips

Oxford Essential Dictionary

noun

1 (British) (British and American also French fry, fry) a thin piece of potato cooked in hot oil:
We had fish and chips for lunch.

2 American English for crisp
3 the place where a small piece of wood, stone or other material has broken off a larger piece:
This dish has a chip in it.

4 a very small thing inside a computer that makes it work same meaning microchip

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

chip

I. chip¹ S2 W3 /tʃɪp/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: cipp, cyp 'small piece of wood', from Latin cippus 'sharp post']

1. FOOD
a) British English [usually plural] a long thin piece of potato cooked in oil SYN French fry American English:
fish and chips
a bag of chips
b) American English [usually plural] a thin flat round piece of food such as potato cooked in very hot oil and eaten cold SYN crisp British English:
a bag of potato chips
2. COMPUTER a small piece of ↑silicon that has a set of complicated electrical connections on it and is used to store and ↑process information in computers:
the age of the silicon chip
chip technology
3. PIECE a small piece of wood, stone, metal etc that has been broken off something:
Wood chips covered the floor of the workshop.
a chocolate chip cookie (=one that contains small pieces of chocolate)
4. MARK a small hole or mark on a plate, cup etc where a piece has broken off
chip in
There’s a chip in this bowl.
5. have a chip on your shoulder to easily become offended or angry because you think you have been treated unfairly in the past
6. when the chips are down spoken in a serious or difficult situation, especially one in which you realize what is really true or important:
When the chips are down, you’ve only got yourself to depend on.
7. be a chip off the old block informal to be very similar to your mother or father in appearance or character
8. GAME [usually plural] a small flat coloured piece of plastic used in games such as ↑poker or ↑blackjack to represent a particular amount of money
9. SPORT (also chip shot, chip kick) a hit in golf, or a kick in football or ↑rugby, that makes the ball go high into the air for a short distance
10. have had your chips British English informal to be in a situation in which you no longer have any hope of improvement
⇨ ↑blue chip, ⇨ cash in your chips at ↑cash in(3)

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chip / tʃɪp / noun (FRIED FOOD)

A1 [ C usually plural ] UK ( US French fry ) a long, thin piece of potato that is fried and usually eaten hot:

fish and chips

beans/egg/sausage and chips

oven chips (= chips that are baked in a cooker)

A2 [ C usually plural ] US for crisp noun (POTATO) :

a bag of chips

[ C usually plural ] a thin slice of fried maize, banana, or other food that is eaten cold:

banana chips

chip / tʃɪp / noun [ C ] ( also microchip ) specialized (COMPUTER PART)

B2 a very small piece of semiconductor, especially in a computer, that contains extremely small electronic circuits and devices, and can perform particular operations:

a silicon chip

chip / tʃɪp / noun [ C ] (PIECE)

a small piece that has been broken off a larger object, or the mark left on an object such as a cup, plate, etc. where a small piece has been broken off it:

wood chips

Polly fell and knocked a chip out of her front tooth.

This mug's got a chip in it/ out of it.

chip / tʃɪp / noun [ C ] (PIECE)

a small piece that has been broken off a larger object, or the mark left on an object such as a cup, plate, etc. where a small piece has been broken off it:

wood chips

Polly fell and knocked a chip out of her front tooth.

This mug's got a chip in it/ out of it.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

chip

[tʃɪ̱p]

chips, chipping, chipped
1) N-COUNT: usu pl Chips are long, thin pieces of potato fried in oil or fat and eaten hot, usually with a meal. [BRIT]
  I had fish and chips in a cafe...
  Frank Browne shook more sauce over his chips.(in AM, use French fries)
2) N-COUNT: usu pl Chips or potato chips are very thin slices of fried potato that are eaten cold as a snack. [AM]
  ...a package of onion-flavored potato chips.(in BRIT, use crisps)
3) N-COUNT A silicon chip is a very small piece of silicon with electronic circuits on it which is part of a computer or other piece of machinery.
4) N-COUNT: oft supp N A chip is a small piece of something or a small piece which has been broken off something.
  It contains real chocolate chips...
  He was burning wood chips to make charcoal...
  Teichler's eyes gleamed like chips of blue glass.
5) N-COUNT A chip in something such as a piece of china or furniture is where a small piece has been broken off it.
  The washbasin had a small chip.
6) V-ERG If you chip something or if it chips, a small piece is broken off it.
  [V n] The blow chipped the woman's tooth...
  Steel baths are lighter but chip easily.
  Derived words:
  chipped ADJ-GRADED The wagon's paint was badly chipped on the outside... They drank out of chipped mugs.
7) N-COUNT: usu pl Chips are plastic counters used in gambling to represent money.
  He put the pile of chips in the center of the table and drew a card.
8) N-COUNT In discussions between people or governments, a chip or a bargaining chip is something of value which one side holds, which can be exchanged for something they want from the other side.
  The information could be used as a bargaining chip to extract some parallel information from Britain...
  He was not expected to be released because he was considered a valuable chip in this game.
9) → See also blue chip
10) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you describe someone as a chip off the old block, you mean that they are just like one of their parents in character or behaviour.
  Her fifth child was born, a son who Sally at first thought was another chip off the old block.
11) PHRASE If you say that something happens when the chips are down, you mean it happens when a situation gets very difficult. [INFORMAL]
  When the chips are down, she's very tough.
12) PHRASE: Ns inflect, usu have/with PHR If you say that someone has a chip on their shoulder, you think that they feel inferior or that they believe they have been treated unfairly. [INFORMAL]
  He had this chip on his shoulder about my mum and dad thinking that they're better than him.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - chip away at
  - chip in

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹chip /ˈʧɪp/ noun, pl chips [count]
1 : a small piece that has been broken off from something larger
• wood chips
• chips of stone
2 : a place where a small piece of something has broken off
• The cup has a chip in/on it.
3 : a small piece of candy or chocolate used in baking
• chocolate chips
• chocolate chip cookies [=cookies with small bits of chocolate in them]
4 a : a thin, hard, and usually salty piece of food
• tortilla chips especially; US : potato chip
• a bag of chips
- see also corn chip
b Brit : french fry
- see also fish and chips
5 : a small, flat, round piece of plastic that is used to represent an amount of money in gambling games like poker - see also bargaining chip
6 : a very small piece of hard material (called silicon) in a computer or other device that contains many electronic circuits
• computer/silicon chips
- see also microchip
7 US informal : a piece of dried waste matter from an animal
• buffalo/cow chips
8 : chip shot 1 2
chip off the old block informal : someone who looks or behaves like his or her parent
• His son is a real chip off the old block.
have a chip on your shoulder informal : to have an angry or unpleasant attitude or way of behaving caused by a belief that you have been treated unfairly in the past
• He has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he didn't get the promotion he was expecting.
let the chips fall where they may US informal : to allow events to happen without trying to change them
✦This phrase usually suggests that you are willing to accept a result, whatever it may be.
• I will run the best campaign I can, then let the chips fall where they may.
when the chips are down informal : in a difficult situation : when things are not good
• True friends will stand by you when the chips are down.

American English

forms of potatoes as food

A1 (Basic)

noun

0

nuts

nuts [noun] (FOOD)

the dry fruit of particular trees that grows in a hard shell and can often be eaten

US

/nʌts/

UK

/nʌts/

Example:

Sprinkle some roasted chopped nuts on top.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

nut

noun

1 a dry fruit that has a hard outside part with a seed inside. Many types of nut can be eaten:
walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts

2 a metal ring that you put on the end of a long piece of metal (called a bolt) to fix things together

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

nut

I. nut¹ S3 /nʌt/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hnutu]

1. FOOD a dry brown fruit inside a hard shell, that grows on a tree:
a pine nut
roasted nuts
We were sitting round the fire cracking nuts (=opening them).
2.
TOOL a small piece of metal with a hole through the middle which is screwed onto a ↑bolt to fasten things together:
Use a wrench to loosen the nut.
3. CRAZY PERSON informal someone who is crazy or behaves strangely:
My dad is such a nut.
What are you, some kind of nut?
4. golf/opera etc nut informal someone who is very interested in golf etc ⇨ fanatic:
You don’t have to be a sports nut to enjoy skiing.
5. SEX ORGAN nuts [plural] informal a man’s ↑testicles
6. the nuts and bolts of something informal the practical details of a subject or job:
the nuts and bolts of government
7. tough/hard nut informal someone who is difficult to deal with:
He may have softened a bit in his old age but he’s still a tough nut.
8. a hard/tough nut to crack a difficult problem or situation:
Celtic have lost only once this season and will be a tough nut to crack.
9. be off your nut British English spoken informal to be crazy:
You must be off your nut!
10. do your nut British English spoken to become very angry or worried:
I didn’t get home till three – my mum did her nut!
11. HEAD British English spoken old-fashioned your head or brain
sb’s nut
Oh come on, use your nut!

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nut

nut [nut nuts nutted nutting] noun, verb [nʌt] [nʌt]

noun

1. (often in compounds) a small hard fruit with a very hard shell that grows on some trees
• to crack a nut (= open it)
• a Brazil nut
• a hazelnut
• nuts and raisins

see also monkey nut

2. a small piece of metal with a hole through the centre that is screwed onto a bolt to hold pieces of wood, machinery, etc. together
• to tighten a nut

• a wheel nut

3. (BrE, slang) a person's head or brain

4. (BrE also nut·ter) (informal) a strange or crazy person
• He's a complete nut, if you ask me.

see also nuts, nutty

5. (informal) (in compounds) a person who is extremely interested in a particular subject, activity, etc

• a fitness/tennis/computer, etc. nut

6. nuts plural (slang) a man's testicles
more at use a sledgehammer to crack a nut at sledgehammer
Word Origin:
Old English hnutu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch noot and German Nuss.
Example Bank:
• The documentary focuses on the real nuts and bolts of the film-making process.
• a jar full of nuts and bolts
• nut-allergy sufferers
• I cracked a nut and ate it.
• She is allergic to nuts.
Idioms: do your nut ▪ hard nut ▪ nuts and bolts ▪ off your nut

Derived: nut something out

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nut / nʌt / noun [ C ] (FOOD)

B2 the dry fruit of particular trees that grows in a hard shell and can often be eaten:

a Brazil/cashew nut

Sprinkle some roasted chopped nuts on top.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

nut

[nʌ̱t]
nuts
1) N-COUNT The firm shelled fruit of some trees and bushes are called nuts. Some nuts can be eaten.
→ See also groundnut, hazelnut, peanut
  Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E.
2) N-COUNT A nut is a thick metal ring which you screw onto a metal rod called a bolt. Nuts and bolts are used to hold things such as pieces of machinery together.
  If you want to repair the wheels you just undo the four nuts.
  ...nuts and bolts that haven't been tightened up.
3) N-COUNT: usu with supp If you describe someone as, for example, a football nut or a health nut, you mean that they are extremely enthusiastic about the thing mentioned. [INFORMAL]
  ...a football nut who spends thousands of pounds travelling to watch games.
  Syn:
  fanatic
4) ADJ: v-link ADJ about n (feelings) If you are nuts about something or someone, you like them very much. [INFORMAL]
  They're nuts about the car...
  She's nuts about you.
5) N-COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to someone as a nut, you mean that they are mad. [INFORMAL]
  There's some nut out there with a gun.
6) ADJ: v-link ADJ If you say that someone goes nuts or is nuts, you mean that they go crazy or are very foolish. [INFORMAL]
  You guys are nuts...
  A number of the French players went nuts, completely out of control.
7) N-PLURAL A man's testicles can be referred to as his nuts. [INFORMAL, RUDE]
8) N-COUNT: usu poss N Your head can be referred to as your nut. [INFORMAL]
9) PHRASE: V inflects If someone goes nuts, or in British English does their nut, they become extremely angry. [INFORMAL]
  My father would go nuts if he saw bruises on me...
  We heard your sister doing her nut.
10) PHRASE: usu the PHR of n If you talk about the nuts and bolts of a subject or an activity, you are referring to the detailed practical aspects of it rather than abstract ideas about it.
  He's more concerned about the nuts and bolts of location work.
11) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you think someone is difficult to deal with, you can say they are a tough nut or a hard nut. [INFORMAL]
  The Daily Express describes Dr Carey as a pretty tough nut.
12) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR If you say that something is a hard nut to crack or a tough nut to crack, you mean that it is difficult to do or to understand. [INFORMAL]
  Getting out there is in many ways the hardest nut to crack.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

nut

nut /ˈnʌt/ noun, pl nuts
1 [count]
a : a small dry fruit with a hard shell that grows on trees, bushes, etc.
• The squirrel cracked/opened the nut and ate the meat inside.
• walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and other nuts
- see picture on next page
b : the inside part of a nut that is used as food
• The squirrel sat and ate the nut.
• Are you allergic to nuts?
• a bowl of nuts and raisins
2 [count] : a piece of metal that has a hole through it so that it can be screwed onto a bolt or screw - see picture at carpentry; see also lug nut, wing nut
3 [count] informal
a : a crazy or strange person
• That guy is a real nut.
b : a person who is very interested in or enthusiastic about something
• She's a real baseball/car/health/movie/travel nut.
4 nuts [plural] informal + impolite : a man's testicles
• He got kicked in the nuts.
a hard/tough nut (to crack) : a person or thing that is difficult to deal with, understand, or influence
• The team's defense is a tough nut to crack.
• The problem is a hard nut to crack.
• He's a tough nut, but I think I can get him to agree to the contract.
nuts and bolts : the basic parts or details of an activity, job, etc.
• She's still learning the nuts and bolts of the business.
• Tell me what the nuts and bolts of the plan involve.
soup to nuts
- see ¹soup
- nut·like /ˈnʌtˌlaɪk/ adj [more ~; most ~]
• The cake had a nutlike [=nutty] taste.

American English

British English

fruits and seeds and their parts

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

noun

0

snack

snack [noun]

a small amount of food that is eaten between meals, or a very small meal

US

/snæk/

UK

/snæk/

Example:

I had a huge lunch, so I'll only need a snack for dinner.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

snack

noun
a small quick meal:
We had a snack on the train.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

snack

I. snack¹ /snæk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a meal:
I grabbed a quick snack.
Drinks and light snacks are served at the bar.
snack foods like crisps and peanuts
• • •
THESAURUS
■ types of meal
▪ breakfast a meal that you eat in the morning
▪ brunch a meal that you eat in the late morning, instead of breakfast or lunch
▪ lunch a meal that you eat in the middle of the day
▪ tea British English a meal that you eat in the afternoon or evening
▪ dinner the main meal of the day, which most people eat in the evening
▪ supper a small meal that you eat in the evening, in British English; the main meal that you eat in the evening, in American English
▪ picnic a meal that you eat outdoors, consisting of food that you cooked or prepared earlier
▪ barbecue a meal that you cook outdoors over hot coals or wood and eat outdoors
▪ snack a small amount of food that is eaten between main meals or instead of a meal
▪ side dish food eaten with the main course, such as vegetables: I’ll have the salad as a side dish.
▪ course one of the separate parts of a meal, such as the starter or the dessert: a three-course meal

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

snack

snack [snack snacks snacked snacking] noun, verb [snæk] [snæk]

noun
1. (informal) a small meal or amount of food, usually eaten in a hurry
• a mid-morning snack
• I only have time for a snack at lunchtime.
• Do you serve bar snacks?

• a snack lunch

2. (AustralE, informal) a thing that is easy to do
• It'll be a snack.
Word Origin:
Middle English (originally in the sense ‘snap, bite’): from Middle Dutch snac(k), from snacken ‘to bite’, variant of snappen. Senses relating to food date from the late 17th cent.
Thesaurus:
snack noun C
• There's just time for a quick snack.
something to eat • • refreshments •
(a) light snack/refreshments
have/grab a snack/something to eat
stop for a snack/something to eat/refreshments
Example Bank:
• I fixed myself a light snack.
• I got a drink from the hotel snack machine.
• Most office staff prefer a snack lunch to a sit-down meal.
• Order bar snacks with your drinks.
• We stopped at a service station for a quick snack.
• We stopped for a quick snack.
• I only have time for a quick snack at lunchtime.

• I think it's time for a mid-morning snack.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

snack / snæk / noun [ C ]

A2 a small amount of food that is eaten between meals, or a very small meal:

I had a huge lunch, so I'll only need a snack for dinner.

Fresh or dried fruit makes an ideal snack.

Many snack foods are high in salt, sugar, and fat.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

snack

[snæ_k]
snacks, snacking, snacked
1) N-COUNT A snack is a simple meal that is quick to cook and to eat.
  Lunch was a snack in the fields.
2) N-COUNT A snack is something such as a chocolate bar that you eat between meals.
  Do you eat sweets, cakes or sugary snacks?.
3) VERB If you snack, you eat snacks between meals.
  [V on n] Instead of snacking on crisps and chocolate, nibble on celery or carrot...
  She would improve her diet if she ate less fried food and snacked less.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹snack /ˈsnæk/ noun, pl snacks [count] : a small amount of food eaten between meals
• He had a snack of chips and dip.
• between-meal snacks
• I didn't have time for lunch so I just grabbed a quick/light snack.
• peanuts, potato chips, and other snack foods

American English

British English

meals and parts of meals

A2 (Elementary)

noun

0

ice cream

ice cream [noun]

a very cold sweet food made from frozen milk or cream, sugar, and a flavour

US

/ˈaɪs ˌkriːm ˌkoʊn/

UK

/ˌaɪs ˈkriːm ˌkəʊn/

Example:

a tub of ice cream

Oxford Essential Dictionary

ice cream

noun
very cold sweet food made from milk:
Do you like ice cream?
Two chocolate ice creams, please.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

ice cream

ˌice ˈcream S2 / $ ˈ../ BrE AmE noun

1. [uncountable] a frozen sweet food made of milk, cream, and sugar, with fruit, nuts, chocolate etc sometimes added to it:
vanilla ice cream
2. [countable] a small amount of this food for one person:
Mummy, can I have an ice cream?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ice cream

ˌice ˈcream [ice cream ice creams] (also ˈice cream especially in NAmE) noun uncountable, countable
a type of sweet frozen food made from milk fat, flavoured with fruit, chocolate, etc. and often eaten as a dessert; a small amount of this food intended for one person, often served in a container made of biscuit that is shaped like a cone
• Desserts are served with cream or ice cream.
• Who wants an ice cream?
Word Origin:
mid 18th cent.: alteration of iced cream.
Example Bank:

• apple pie with ice cream

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ˌ ice ˈ cream / ˌaɪsˈkriːm / / ˈaɪsˌkriːm / noun [ C or U ]

A1 a very cold sweet food made from frozen milk or cream, sugar, and a flavour:

a tub of ice cream

chocolate chip/vanilla ice cream

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

ice cream

ice creams
also ice-cream
1) N-MASS Ice cream is a very cold sweet food which is made from frozen cream or a substance like cream and has a flavour such as vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.
  I'll get you some ice cream.
  ...vanilla ice cream.
2) N-COUNT An ice cream is an amount of ice cream sold in a small container or a cone made of thin biscuit.
  Do you want an ice cream?...
  They stuffed themselves with ice creams, chocolate and lollies.
  Syn:
  ice

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

ice cream

ice cream /ˌaɪsˈkriːm/ noun, pl ~ creams : a frozen food containing sweetened and flavored cream

[noncount]

• What flavor of ice cream do you like?
• chocolate/vanilla ice cream

[count]

• Would you like another ice cream? [=another serving of ice cream]
- often used before another noun
• an ice-cream parlor/stand/soda

American English

British English

puddings - desserts and ices

A1 (Basic)

noun

0

candy

candy [noun]

a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate, or a piece of this

US

/ˈkæn.di/

UK

/ˈkæn.di/

Example:

a candy bar

Oxford Essential Dictionary

candy

American English for sweet2?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

candy

can‧dy S3 /ˈkændi/ BrE AmE noun (plural candies) [uncountable and countable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: candi, from Arabic qandi 'covered with sugar', from qand 'sugar']

1. American English a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate:
a box of candies
a candy bar
Do you want a piece of candy?
2. mind/brain candy informal something that is entertaining or pleasant to look at, but which you do not approve of because you think it is not serious:
Most video games are just brain candy.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

candy

candy [candy candies candied candying] [ˈkændi] [ˈkændi] noun uncountable, countable (pl. candies)(NAmE)
sweet food made of sugar and/or chocolate, eaten between meals; a piece of this
Syn: sweet
• a box of candy
• a candy store
• a candy bar
• Who wants the last piece of candy?
see also arm candy, eye candy
Idiom: like taking candy from a baby
Word Origin:
mid 17th cent. (as a verb): the noun use is from late Middle English sugar-candy, from French sucre candi ‘crystallized sugar’, from Arabic sukkar ‘sugar’ + qandī ‘candied’, based on Sanskrit khaṇḍa ‘fragment’.
Example Bank:
• People were celebrating in the streets and handing out candy.
• Taking the money would be like taking candy from a baby.
• The kids made straight for the candy aisle.

• a low-fat alternative to candy bars

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

candy / ˈkæn.di / noun [ C or U ] US

A2 a sweet food made from sugar or chocolate, or a piece of this:

a candy bar

a box of candy

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

candy

[kæ_ndi]
candies
N-VAR
Candy is sweet foods such as toffees or chocolate. [AM]
...a piece of candy...
There was a large box of candies on a table nearby.(in BRIT, usually use sweets)

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

candy

can·dy /ˈkændi/ noun, pl -dies US : a sweet food made with sugar or chocolate

[noncount]

• a box/bowl/piece of candy
• The children are fond of candy. [=(Brit) sweets]
• The cough syrup tastes like candy.

[count]

• chewy candies
- often used before another noun
• a candy bar
- see also cotton candy, rock candy

0

sweet

sweet [noun]

a small piece of sweet food, made of sugar

US

/swiːt/

UK

/swiːt/

Example:

She bought a packet of sweets to suck on the journey.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

sweet

noun

1 (British) (American candy) a small piece of sweet food:
He bought a packet of sweets for the children.

2 sweet food that you eat at the end of a meal same meaning dessert:
Do you want a sweet?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

II. sweet² S2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑sweet, ↑sweetener, ↑sweetness, ↑sweetie; verb: ↑sweeten; adverb: ↑sweetly; adjective: ↑sweet]

1. [countable] British English a small piece of sweet food made of sugar or chocolate SYN candy American English:
Eating sweets is bad for your teeth.
a sweet shop
a packet of boiled sweets (=hard sweets that taste of fruit)
2. [uncountable and countable] British English sweet food served after the meat and vegetables part of a meal SYN dessert:
Would you like a sweet, or some cheese and biscuits?
3. (my) sweet old-fashioned used when speaking to someone you love:
Don’t cry, my sweet.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noun

FOOD
1. countable (BrE) a small piece of sweet food, usually made with sugar and/or chocolate and eaten between meals
Syn: candy
• a packet of boiled sweets

• a sweet shop

2. countable, uncountable (BrE) a sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal
Syn: afters, Syn: dessert, Syn: pudding
• I haven't made a sweet today.

• Would you like some more sweet?

PERSON

3. uncountable (old-fashioned) a way of addressing sb that you like or love
• Don't you worry, my sweet.
Word Origin:
Old English swēte, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zoet, German süss, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin suavis and Greek hēdus.
Example Bank:

• I was sucking a boiled sweet.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sweet / swiːt / noun

A2 [ C ] UK ( US candy ) a small piece of sweet food, made of sugar:

She bought a packet of sweets to suck on the journey.

[ C ] US any food with a lot of sugar in it [ C or U ] UK sweet food eaten at the end of a meal:

There was only one sweet on the menu - chocolate cake with cream.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

sweet

[swi͟ːt]

sweeter, sweetest, sweets
1) ADJ-GRADED Sweet food and drink contains a lot of sugar.
  ...a mug of sweet tea...
  If the sauce seems too sweet, add a dash of red wine vinegar.
  ...the sweet taste of wild strawberries.
  Derived words:
  sweetness N-UNCOUNT Florida oranges have a natural sweetness.
2) N-COUNT Sweets are small sweet things such as toffees, chocolates, and mints. [BRIT](in AM, use candy)
3) N-VAR A sweet is something sweet, such as fruit or a pudding, that you eat at the end of a meal, especially in a restaurant. [BRIT]
  The sweet was a mousse flavoured with whisky.
  Syn:
  dessert(in AM, use dessert)
4) ADJ-GRADED A sweet smell is a pleasant one, for example the smell of a flower.
  ...the sweet smell of her shampoo...
  She'd baked some bread which made the air smell sweet.
  Ant:
  foul
5) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something such as air or water as sweet, you mean that it smells or tastes pleasantly fresh and clean.
  I gulped a breath of sweet air.
  ...a stream of sweet water.
  Ant:
  foul
6) ADJ-GRADED A sweet sound is pleasant, smooth, and gentle.
  Her voice was as soft and sweet as a young girl's.
  ...the sweet sounds of Mozart.
  Derived words:
  sweetly ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v He sang much more sweetly than he has before.
7) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as sweet, you mean that it gives you great pleasure and satisfaction. [WRITTEN]
  There are few things quite as sweet as revenge.
  ...the sweet taste of illicit love...
  His success was all the sweeter for being at the expense of Europe's most admired team.
  Ant:
  bitter
8) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone as sweet, you mean that they are pleasant, kind, and gentle towards other people.
  He was a sweet man but when he drank he tended to quarrel...
  How sweet of you to think of me!
  Derived words:
  sweetly ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v I just smiled sweetly and said no.
9) ADJ-GRADED If you describe a small person or thing as sweet, you mean that they are attractive in a simple or unsophisticated way. [INFORMAL]
  ...a sweet little baby girl...
  The house was really sweet.
  Syn:
  cute
10) N-VOC You can address someone as sweet or my sweet if you are very fond of them. [OLD-FASHIONED]
  I am so proud of you, my sweet!
  Syn:
  darling
11) → See also sweetly, sweetness
12) PHRASE: V inflects If you keep someone sweet, you do something to please them in order to prevent them from becoming annoyed or dissatisfied. [INFORMAL]
  Where's the money to keep us sweet?
13) a sweet tooth → see tooth

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

sweet

²sweet noun, pl sweets
1 a [count] : a food that contains a lot of sugar : a sweet food
• I'm trying to cut down on sweets.
b [count] Brit : a piece of candy
• a bag of sweets
c [count, noncount] Brit : a sweet food served at the end of a meal : dessert
2 [noncount] old-fashioned
- used to address someone you love
• Good morning, my sweet.

0

talent

talent [noun] (NATURAL ABILITY)

(someone who has) a natural ability to be good at something, especially without being taught

US

/ˈtæl.ənt/

UK

/ˈtæl.ənt/

Example:

Her talent for music showed at an early age.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

talent

noun
a natural ability to do something very well:
She has a talent for drawing.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

talent

tal‧ent W3 /ˈtælənt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: talent unit of weight or money in the ancient world (9-21 centuries), from Latin talentum, from Greek talanton; from a story in the Bible in which a man gives talents to his three servants, and two of them use them well]
1. [uncountable and countable] a natural ability to do something well:
He has a lot of talent, and his work is fresh and interesting.
talent for
She showed a talent for acting at an early age.
a persuasive speaker with a natural talent for leadership
His latest book reveals hidden talents.
Sadly, she inherited none of her father’s musical talent.
Your brother is a man of many talents.
There’s a wealth of talent in English football.
talent for
She showed a talent for acting at an early age.
2. [uncountable] a person or people with a natural ability or skill:
Britain’s footballing talent
3. [uncountable] British English informal sexually attractive people
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have talent Greg has a real talent for drawing.
▪ show talent Zach was the only one who showed any natural talent.
▪ use your talents They have been using their artistic talents to brighten up the school.
▪ develop your talent Education allows people to develop their talents to the full.
▪ waste your talents They felt their son was wasting his talents and his time.
▪ sb’s talents flourish (=develop successfully) The school created an atmosphere in which young talent could flourish.
■ adjectives
▪ great/considerable/exceptional talent He had a great talent for making money.
▪ real talent She has real talent and with a little help she could go far.
▪ natural talent Ronaldo is a player of immense natural talent.
▪ raw talent (=used to describe someone with natural ability who has not had much training) He’s got lots of raw talent but he needs a good coach.
▪ a hidden talent Have a go – you may discover a hidden talent!
▪ musical/artistic/creative etc talent It was at school that Brian’s musical talents were spotted.
■ talent + NOUN
▪ a talent contest/show/competition Don’t assume winning a talent contest is a passport to success.
■ phrases
▪ a wealth of talent (=a large amount of talent) There’s a wealth of musical talent in New York and other large American cities.
▪ a pool of talent (=lots of talented people) Employers can draw on an enormous pool of talent in this area.
• • •
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

talent

tal·ent [talent talents] [ˈtælənt] [ˈtælənt] noun
1. countable, uncountable a natural ability to do sth well
• to have great artistic talent
• a man of many talents
• ~ (for sth/for doing sth) She showed considerable talent for getting what she wanted.

• a talent competition/contest/show (= in which people perform, to show how well they can sing, dance, etc.)

2. uncountable, countable people or a person with a natural ability to do sth well
• There is a wealth of young talent in British theatre.

• He is a great talent.

3. uncountable (BrE, slang) people who are sexually attractive
• He likes to spend his time chatting up the local talent.
Word Origin:
Old English talente, talentan (as a unit of weight), from Latin talenta, plural of talentum ‘weight, sum of money’, from Greek talanton. The current sense is a figurative use based on the parable of the talents in the Bible (Matt. 25:14–30).
Example Bank:
• Hard work is important, but it is no substitute for raw talent.
• He has been putting his artistic talents to good use.
• He is a violinist of exceptional talent.
• Her talents lay in organization.
• His parents accused him of wasting his talents and abilities.
• Hollywood directors have a marvellous pool of acting talent to draw from.
• It takes real talent to write a great pop song.
• She has a keen eye for spotting talent.
• The banquet gave the chef a chance to flaunt his talents.
• The boy has undoubted talent.
• The company is always looking out for new talent.
• The festival attracts talent from all over the world.
• The theatre visits schools to tap young talent.
• There is a shortage of new comedy talent coming through.
• There is a wealth of talent out there in our schools.
• United have unearthed a real talent in this young defender.
• We are losing our top talent to other countries who pay more.
• Where does her musical talent come from?
• You have a natural talent for storytelling.
• an effort to develop his creative talents to the full
• kids with musical talent
• one of the few teams that relies on home-grown talent
• As a boy, Elvis was entered for a talent contest at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair.
• He's a man of many talents.

• She has great artistic talent.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

talent / ˈtæl. ə nt / noun [ C or U ] (NATURAL ABILITY)

B1 (someone who has) a natural ability to be good at something, especially without being taught:

Her talent for music showed at an early age.

His artistic talents were wasted in his boring job.

talentless / -ləs / adjective

talent / ˈtæl. ə nt / noun [ U ] UK slang mainly humorous (ATTRACTIVE PEOPLE)

people who are sexually attractive:

There was plenty of talent at the party last night.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

talent

[tæ̱lənt]
talents
N-VAR: oft N for n
Talent is the natural ability to do something well.
→ See also talent show
  She is proud that both her children have a talent for music...
  The player was given hardly any opportunities to show off his talents...
  He's got lots of talent.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

talent

tal·ent /ˈtælənt/ noun, pl -ents
1 : a special ability that allows someone to do something well

[noncount]

• a singer with an enormous amount of talent
• I have no musical talent.
• Her artistic/creative talent has been obvious ever since she was a child.
• athletic talent
• a person of talent = a person who has talent
• They sang a duet in the talent show/contest.

[count]

• She has a job that makes the most of her talents.
• His experience, skills, and talents make him perfectly suited for the job.
• He has many talents. = He's a man of many talents.
• He seems to have a talent for getting into trouble. [=he often gets into trouble]
2 : a person or group of people with a special ability to do something well : a talented person or group

[count]

• There are many good players on the team, but she's a special talent.

[noncount]

• The company has hired some expensive legal talent for the trial.
• The team has recruited some of the best talent around.
• The company is doing a talent search to find the right person for the job.
3 [noncount] Brit slang : people who are sexually attractive
• checking out the local talent

American English

British English

skill - talent and ability

B1 (Intermediate)

noun

0

noodle

noodle [noun] (FOOD)

a food in the form of long, thin strips made from flour or rice, water, and often egg, cooked in boiling liquid

US

/ˈnuː.dəl/

UK

/ˈnuː.dəl/

Example:

egg/rice noodles

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

noodle

noo‧dle /ˈnuːdl/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1700-1800; Language: German; Origin: nudel]
[usually plural] a long thin piece of food made from a mixture of flour, water, and eggs, usually cooked in soup or boiling water:
Serve the meat with rice or noodles.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noodle

noo·dle [noodle noodles] [ˈnuːdl] [ˈnuːdl] noun
1. usually plural a long thin strip of pasta, used especially in Chinese and Italian cooking
• chicken noodle soup

• Would you prefer rice or noodles?

2. countable (old-fashioned, NAmE, slang) = noddle
Word Origin:

sense 1 late 18th cent.: from German Nudel, of unknown origin.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noodle / ˈnuː.dl̩ / noun [ C usually plural ] (FOOD)

a food in the form of long, thin strips made from flour or rice, water, and often egg, cooked in boiling liquid:

egg/rice noodles

instant/crispy noodles

chicken noodle soup

noodle / ˈnuː.dl̩ / noun [ C ] US (HEAD)

informal for noddle

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

noodle

[nu͟ːd(ə)l]
noodles
N-COUNT: usu pl
Noodles are long, thin, curly strips of pasta. They are used in Chinese and Italian cooking.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

noodle

²noodle verb noodles; noo·dled; noo·dling [no obj] US informal
1 : to play a musical instrument in an informal way without playing a particular piece of music
• He was just noodling around on the guitar.
2 : to think about something in a way that is not very serious
• It's a thought I've been noodling around with for some time.

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